39 is oh so fine....

As the sun nestles into the evening sky, on a wonderfully
quiet beach along the St.Lawrence...

my husband, some friends and I sprawled out on
blankets to celebrate my 39th birthday.

Freshly baked breads still warm to the touch coupled with delectable cheese
made from neighboring hands danced on each taste bud while the tide splashed at our feet.

I blew out the candles, but didn't make a wish...
I had a lot to be thankful for at that very moment.

For me, each birthday is a memory to cherish. I'm thankful for each
day that I get to spend with loved ones. As my mother would say "life is good".

39

I celebrate 39 years of life today.
Here are a few of my favorite things....

Once I got started I found it very difficult to stop.

There are so many simple pleasures in life.

Things not people...that list would be way too long.

What are a few of your favorite things?

Thank you for stopping by today...I really do appreciate it.

Cupcakes to fight Ovarian Cancer...

How do I start this? Hum, let me think..... O.k. today I was reading a post at Zen Cupcake and noticed an adorable cupcake followed by some magical, inspirational, down right cool words. (Note: she is also hosting some "sweet" giveaways ending today, hurry up, go over there and win something...try not to drool while looking at all the yummy cupcakes.)


Almost exact Quote: Click here to Make Virtual Cupcake. $1 Donation Benefits Fight Against Ovarian Cancer for Each Cupcake You Create. (You can click there and get started...)

Cupcakes and fight against ovarian cancer, how cool! It is especially cool to me since I am an Ovarian Cancer Survivor.....(Woo! Hoo!) A few weeks ago I wrote a post about my battle. (Here) Well, I didn't actually say what I was fighting, I just alluded to it while I wrote about some of my feelings. I was 20 years old and scared poop-less, but with truly talents and caring doctors (with good research funds), nurses, friends and family I am here today and can help fight the fight. Statistics on Ovarian Cancer.

Join me in the fight, it only takes a few minutes and you could be saving someone's life.....like mine.

You a have a couple options: you can sign up under your own name and register to win a new Red Hot Red Washer and Dryer from Electrolux, you can sign up under Zen Cupcake (log in:zencupcake password:cupcake) or mine (log in:AnnOnandOn password: lowman08). It really doesn't matter as long as you do it, right. Now, go send some cupcakes and make Mama proud. :D

A couple reminders:
If you want to be a part of the "I love being carded!" card swap click HERE.
If you want to be a part of my 100th ($25.00 gift card)post gift-a-way, click HERE.

Have a wonderful Sunday...call a friend....hug your kids....make some cupcakes!

Fun tagging..... What I've Done

"What I've done"

Two Little Monkeys, (the most adorable twins) tagged me!
Here is what you need to do, bold the things you've done & post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lighten storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child- Oh,I wish and can not wait to highlight this!
16. Had food poisoningOn my birthday
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language-Still...
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied- Yes, but no...
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. ???
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter ???
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar ???
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car-Leased
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve
86. Visited the White House ????
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- My husband!
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club- I want to...anyone offering?
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
These lists are always fun. For a few of them I do not remember, so I put ???. I hate having a bad memory. Thanks Two Little Monkeys for inviting me to do this. I am actually going to pass this on because I love to see the answers. It is great getting to know people.
Alaska Mis(s) Adventures

Pioneer Woman
Scribbit
Mmmmm.....Smell this!

The Art of Knitting

I am outwardly jealous of those who can knit and/or crochet. I long to sit by a crackling fire, the dog at my feet, soft music playing, sipping a hot toddy, home spun yarn in my lap and the delicate sound of my clicking needles.

Stomp the Ground. Punching fists in the air. Arg.

I have been staring at this misleading book my husband bought me two years ago. "Learn to Knit in Just One Day" Right, I think they left out a subtitle, "Unless your an Idiot and/or Left Handed". There's that left handed thing again. I am not even going to place the blame. I just can not knit...or crochet and it saddens me. Sigh. I then went on line to watch someone instruct the challenged. I even tried to have my grandma teach me. She laughed off my "silly" attempt. I am sure she thought I was just kidding, but I wasn't. The usual jokes were spewing from my lips to conceal the hidden disappointment in my skills. The light at the end of my tunnel doesn't have knitting needles and I just can not except it. I toss and turn through countless nightmares with taunting knitting needles and yarn.

I solved part of the problem Saturday. I went to a local Holiday Craft Show. The bestest (not a real word) part was that it was at my place of work. So, I got to spend 5 hours picking through, pining over and paying for my obsession. I secretly stalked Helga, one of the craft masters, as she chatted in her thick German accent to merry customers while crocheting. The room was full of cackling hens catching up with one another. I was filled with delight. "These are a few of my favorite things...."

By 4:00, I had emptied my pocket of "tip" money and purchased enough items to fill my backpack. Gleefully I began my trot home to the mobe. Once there, I wrapped my self in my new scarves (that's right plural) and hats. Not until beads of perspiration started to roll down my neck did I pull the garments off.

Now I sit here once again with that $#@&ing book in hand ready to face my short comings. I went to a motivational website to pump up my thoughts. I need that "can do" attitude.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it. W.C. Fields Ummmm, Mr. Fields that is not going to get me a handmade scarf.

On every thorn, delightful wisdom grows, in every rill a sweet instruction flows.
Edward Young....right back at you Eddie! Now that's more like it....I'm off to stare at my book.

Can you knit? Or crochet? Do you wish you could? What would you make?

Anniversary

Two years ago when we said "I do" was the same day 44 years ago that my parents spoke those same words. Yesterday, my husband and I celebrated another year of marriage. We spent the entire day together talking, laughing and reminiscing. For the last six years we have been sharing our lives together. With love in our hearts and our dreams in our hands we'll continue to share tomorrow.

Happy 46th Anniversary Mom and Dad! We love you....