Happy St. Patrick's Day..........

I don't have but a microscopic amount of Irish descent..........

I have done a lot of work on my family tree and for the most part the luck of the Irish does not run through my veins........

Is that why I don't like corn beef and cabbage????

I do, however, like corn bread, corn dogs, corn casserole and corn on the cob.......

Yet everything about cabbage does not appeal...........

But I do enjoy the spirit that this day brings to those who are descendants of the clover.....

I enjoy the enthusiasm and feel the pride of the Irish today.........

Wishing four leaf clovers to all those applicable..............

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

The "Music Maker"........

My husband and I excitedly Skyped with our college freshman a couple days ago.......

He is an incredible guitarist and is unreal on the piano..........He is a music major......

As he is getting ready to complete his second year of university, he has a heavy heart....

He is weighing big life decisions regarding that major.......

School has always been something that is important to him.....He has always worked very hard at his academics.......

But it's no longer just academia that is on his heart........He's almost 20 years old and I feel the weight of his future, in his voice and on his face........

Music is his love and his heart........But it's a tough gig........

I pray that he keeps honing this gift and this talent no matter what he decides for his major....That decision is entirely his to make.......

We could not be more proud of this "music maker"...............

He is definitely a "dreamer of dreams"and our dream come true.....

Angels on the Road.........

It's official........there is an angel on the road today........my sophomore!!

Although this is the second time I have watched a child that has grown right next to my heart drive out of my driveway ALONE........it doesn't get easier......

It's the strangest feeling.........

How can this tiny, head full of blonde curls, baby boy be driving BY HIMSELF????

I dislike very much when my children are on the road. Not because I don't think they are well prepared and good drivers, but because of all the dangers there are operating a motor vehicle.....

Driving is a dangerous endeavor.......

I have one request for anyone behind the wheel today and forever..........

Please drive safely and responsibly........Life is too valuable and too short to gamble or take unnecessary risks..........

I pray that you will heed my request and remember.......

There are angels on the roadway.........

My angels and I am sure some of yours as well......

Footloose and Chocolate-Free..........

It's that time of year again.......My sophomore's High School Musical.......

This year it's "Footloose"..........

Last year I made these cookies......360 of them for "Anything Goes"......

This year I decided to make cupcakes instead..........3 different kinds......yes, 360 of them....

They will be tagged with three of the song titles........

Pink Lemonade will be tagged "Almost Paradise"......

German Chocolate Rolo will be " Let's Hear It For The Boys"......

Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough will be "Footloose"............

Over the weekend I made these for the tops of the chocolate cupcakes:

Really cute and really fun.....

I will share the final cupcakes when they are complete next week!!!!!!!

I'm all baked-out today!!!! I have no desire for any chocolate whatsoever!!!!!!

That's really good for my weightloss efforts!!!!!!

Happy Monday!!!!!

Taking a "snow day"or three...........

Over the past ten years, our two older children attend a school with a week in February titled "Ski Week".............

My third and final child attends our local public school that does not have the same week off......

For the past 10 years we have been taking her out of school for 1-3 of those days during "Ski Week" so that together, as a family, we could spend some much needed time together.........Away from any outside pressures, academics or stress.......just have a couple days of much needed quality time......A Snow Day or two if you will........

My daughter is in the 7th grade this year, and again, we took our much needed few days of family time together...............She needs this, we all do......

The school mailed a very disturbing letter regarding these "unexcused" three days off last month....

I am incensed and disappointed by this.......I have had children at this school for the past ten years.......

I am a tax payer.....My daughter is doing well in all her classes...... We arranged our absence with all her teachers more than a month prior....... Is this unreasonable? She is not chronically absent.....we do this once per year!!!!

Is it necessary to send a harassing letter to parents for telling the truth about a family trip? It would be "excused" if I would have lied and said she was sick.......But I always told the truth about it when I called in her absence.........

Is this system, that I pay for, encouraging dishonesty? Is this just about money and the fact that my daughter's seat will not be counted for those three days and therefore not funded?

What is the public school system coming to? Especially in California?

I am seriously considering an alternative education for my daughter.........privately or from home.....Public schools are no longer spending OUR money and OUR time dedicated to educating our children but rather the broken-down, bureaucratic politics of funding policy and union-driven stipulations.......

Families should be granted a few personal days for mental health, for family health, or whatever health.....for rolling around in the snow together.......

I feel a blizzard coming, don't you.........

Calling all snow angels.............

Hope and light...........

This is my my visual metaphor for the future..........

The light ahead of me is visible.......I can see it and feel it.......I can see the outlines, muted shadows, of what lies ahead......

Daylight savings starts in a few days and I can already feel my body anticipating longer days, the energy from longer sunlit hours, and the yearning for spring.........

My hydrangeas are full of new green leaves awakening from their woody naps......

My roses bushes are no longer bare of any life.........

The grass is starting to turn a much deeper shade of green and it even feels softer under my feet....

I am starting to itch to be outside, anywhere........

The orchard needs spring care, the pool chairs that have survived another winter need cleaning....

I am beginning to sketch some ambitious summer projects and anxiously awaiting my college sophomore's arrival for a short "spring-break" visit!!!!

For now, I am enjoying the view, even though it is still unclear..........

There is hope and light......

I can feel it..........,