I’ve been a little lacking in keeping up with this blog since we found out we were moving back home last year. It’s been a whirlwind—hubby’s new job offer came while we were in Disney last September, and three and a half weeks later we were packed and moved. Easy-peasy, right?
Beauty of Spring
Just as spring was starting to fully bloom in North Carolina, Hubby, Pup, and I had to make an unexpected trip to Pennsylvania. Because we had an already-scheduled vacation in our hometown a couple of weeks later, I ended up spending three (very cold) weeks sleeping in my childhood bedroom.
Just starting to come back around in early April.
When we arrived at my parents’ house in early April, we were amazed at the difference between eastern Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Everything was still bare—no leaves on the trees, very few flowers. At the end of our trip, flowers were blooming and the trees had buds. Our allergies were a mess! 😉 Essentially, Pennsylvania was where North Carolina was three weeks earlier. (Yup, we got to go through peak pollen season in two states. Fun stuff. No wonder we were both sick this week!)
North Carolina Welcome Center
I have to be honest, while I watched the changes happening on our trip, I didn’t think much about how much would change at home in North Carolina. I’m not sure why, but I was expecting it to look about the same as it did when we left. It probably had something to do with the fact that we usually only travel for a few days or a week, so in my head, we weren’t gone long enough for a drastic change. I should have known better, but I didn’t really think it through.
The view from the same spot a few weeks later.
On Sunday, we came back to summer views and perfect spring temperatures. Tons of bright flowers, full leaves on the trees, and no more yellow cloud of pollen. It is beautiful, and just being outside lifts my mood immediately. Even better, the summery view from my desk makes me crave beaches and boardwalks—which is perfect when writing a coastal mystery! 😉
What does it look like outside where you are? Has spring taken over, or is it still working? Do you find the bright days of spring lift your mood as much as mine? Does it make you think of beach-bound road trips? 😉
Family Rivalries and Opening Day
One of my favorite days of the year is here again! Yay for Opening Day!
I have always been a Phillies fan, but I married a Red Sox fan. For those of you that follow baseball, you know this is not usually an issue. Philadelphia is an NL Team and Boston is an AL team. They rarely play one another, and when they do, it is only one series a year.
At a Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs game (the Triple-A Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies)
Because of the lack of overlap, over the years I have become a Red Sox fan and my husband now considers himself a Phillies fan. Except when they play each other, of course! 😉
So, imagine our surprise when the 2015 MLB schedules were released and we realized (thanks to a change in scheduling) that the two teams play each other not once, but in two series in 2015–including on Opening Day. 😱
A house divided.
Now, Hubby and I are a just a bit competitive. We like to heckle, and we like to gloat. And the fan of the losing team may like to pout a bit. (We share our prediction on who that will be, based on what we saw in Spring Training, but anything can happen–that’s why they play the game!).
Luckily, tonight we are back on the same team–we will put away our baseball differences, pick up our cheerleader pup (who is named Cameron–as in Cameron Indoor Stadium, home of the Duke Blue Devils), and cheer our little hearts out during the NCAA finals–this time for the same team. 🙂
Resting up before tonight’s game. 😃
For the record, Hubby is used to living in a house divided. He is a Red Sox fan and a Duke fan. His older brother is a Yankees and UNC fan. Which says a lot about Hubby–he loves a good rivalry! 😉
Are you a sports fan? What are your favorite sports? What are your favorite teams? Who are you rooting for in tonight’s NCAA Basketball Finals? Oh, yeah, and #GoDuke #GoPhillies 😉 <3
It’s Pumpkin Season: Paradise Pumpkin Pie
My mom didn’t cook very often when I was a kid, and she almost never baked. It wasn’t that she wasn’t able–she is actually a very good cook. But, she doesn’t really enjoy cooking, where my dad does, so he took the cooking duties.
The holiday meals were the one thing she did enjoy cooking, and this pie always topped off our Thanksgiving dinners. This is one of my absolute favorites, although I have taking over the tradition of making it.
I have actually made it twice already this year, although Thanksgiving is still over a month away, and i am sure I will make it a few more before the holidays are done. I get a lot of requests for the recipe, so I decided it is time to share. 🙂 Read More
Lending a Helping Hand
One of my favorite thing about my community theatre group, CAST, is the family atmosphere. My mom, dad, brother, and I all performed in my first show with this awesome group in 1996. Today, my husband and I perform together each year. We are joined by many other families, both on stage and behind the scenes.
By spending so much time together (three to four days a week from January through late April, early May), the theatre group becomes a family. By this time of year, we are acting like a close family, with love, friendship, laughter, and yes, even an occasional disagreement. 😉 Read More
The Best Summer Job Ever
Those of you that have been following along on Facebook and/or Twitter may know that yesterday was Pookie and my anniversary, and today is his birthday. So, I thought I would share with you all how amazing my husband really is. 🙂
Pookie and I met when we were both working a summer job as lifeguards. He was working the entrance to a lazy river, helping people into tube for the ride. I was helping them back out at the end, a few feet away. Read More