Upsetting the spider ecosystem …

Yesterday was a whirlwind! Ever had a day like that? It all started rather early and ended rather late! We had guests for dinner and I felt the need to have everything in order - inside and outside of the house! As I was rushing in with all the groceries to cook up the yummy feast, I noticed that the window well in the front of our house needed some attention. The challenge with this project was ... (drum roll) THE SPIDERS! As I started stirring up the leaves, spiders of all shapes, sizes and colors started dashing and darting everywhere! I was tearing up their ecosystem and it was pure pandemonium. Spiders and I have never been friends and this experience made me loathe them even more …. I have chills just thinking about the hairy, eight eyed creatures! {Ugh} ...

Long story short, the window well is now clean and spider free! I always get a good laugh (at myself) when I reflect on the reasons that cause me to take on the ‘tough stuff’ like spiders in the window wells or making homemade lasagna from scratch … and making sure the bathrooms sparkle.

Now that I really think about it, I think it’s safe to say

that the guests upset MY ecosystem! :)

Cheers to spiders, dinner guests and sparkling mirrors! Did we have a good time? Absolutely and the lasagna was M’M’ Garlic Italian Good!

Note to self: Don’t ever let the leaves pile that high again in the front window well.

{Beautiful}

Today was the longest day of the year. But like many other days, it felt like the shortest.
I was driving home tonight and heard a very great song on the radio. The lyrics jumped out at me and inspired me to share them …

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like

It's a beautiful day

Don't let it get away …
“Beautiful Day” by U2

PS ...
Don’t let them get away – the beautiful days …!!

U2 Site -
http://www.u2.com/

Fresh squeezed lemonade ...

You know it's summertime when ...

You find the following email in your inbox -

Hi! Just wanted to spread the word that the kids of the 1300 block of Kimball are selling fresh squeezed lemonade and having a bake sale tomorrow with proceeds going to the Tri-Cities Food Bank (we'll also have a box for food donations). We're starting at 10 a.m. at our place--hope to see you there!

**************
Sounds like a fun little party on Kimball Street - I can't wait to join the fun. See you there :) ...
ahhhhhhhh I can already taste the fresh squeezed lemonade!

Cock-a-doodle-doo

Ever had something trigger a funny memory and it caused you to sit down

and have a good think blended with a smile? I had one of those tonight ...

I think I'll call it a 'thinking smiling moment' for short it's a TSM.

This particular TSM has to do with lemon juice, roosters and my Dad.

When I was younger, he loved to hear my brother, Travis, and I

make the sound of a rooster. He thought it was the best thing ever.

So we would practice and show off our cock-a-doodle-doos with

each other. Of course, our Dad always won.

We asked him what his secret was and he told us it was lemon juice.

We wanted to sound like he did with our doodle-doos and decided to

heed his advice. He was more than happy to pour us a glass of lemon juice

and watch us slurp it down and then re-attempt our rooster calls.

Did it help? Go try it and let me know! :)

Cheers to 'Thinking Smiling Moments' ... I love when they hit!

French Vanilla ... My favorite flavor!

Try this yummy Italian Soda Recipe -

OK have you ever had an Italian Soda?? If not ... Please make yourself one. Below is the recipe:

20 ounce glass
1/4 cup of half & half
1/4 cup of your favorite flavor syrup
cubed ice (fill the cup with cubed ice - the more ice the better)
club soda

First - fill the glass with ice.
Next - pour in the syrup then add the half and half
Fill the rest of the glass with club soda.
Stir it all up ... Then top with whip cream.

Ahhhhhhhhh - Cheers to summertime!

Chalk Art in JUNE ...

Baby face ...

A dragon (by my son Kaleb)

Captain Jack Sparrow



Peter Pan

A Sail Boat

Chalk Art Saturday

June 9, 2007

Wow... today has been one exciting day! My husband performed songs from his soon-to-be released CD from 8:00 am until 2 pm (as part of the event) ... We met some really neat people, wiggled like a fish (a lot) and were totally amazed at the artistic talent. :)

"Thank you" for coming out and adding your authentic style and magic to the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland. It was a beautiful day ...

And the perfect ending was the rain ... it came at exactly 2 pm and began to wash the art away.

Cheers to the moments that matter :) ...

The 8th Annual Chalk Art Festival
Saturday, June 9th 2007 (8:00 am to 2:00 pm)
Richland, WA

We are very excited about tomorrow's chalk art festival in the Uptown Shopping Center. Feel free to come sing along with us and decorate the sidewalk with your authentic style ... :)

I'm excited for everyone to hear songs from my husband's soon-to-be released CD ... !! We've had a lot of fun with this project!!! :) My personal favorite song from the albom is called- Superman Can. (It has a nice little 70's flavor to it!!)

See you tomorrow!!!

PS - We'll be set up by the breezeway on the Jadwin side

of the Uptown Shopping Center.

Just follow the music and the WiggleLikeaFish.com banner!
© Illustrations by Jennie Stanfield

The Place you LIVE ...

Have you ever thought about the spot you live and the way it plays into your life?

I have! Amazing how buildings and places add to the flavor and style of who we are!
Cheers to the places we live, the food we eat, and people we meet ...

Stone Soup

703 The Parkway
Richland, WA 99352

(509) 943-4542

Need a place to stop for lunch?
Stop in at Stone Soup and order anything from their menu!!

The atmosphere is fun and inviting and the food is oh so yummy ... :)

Special Memory: Meeting my best friend from high school, April,

for lunch to celebrate my 34th birthday!

She and I have been friends for over 20 years! ...

I love you April!

(The above photo is a glimpse of their back door) - cute huh?

Wild Goose Design

610 The Parkway
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 943-3006

Embellishments for the Home, Body & Soul ...

(This shop inspires me!!)
Special Memory: I had my very first booksigning at this shop.
Thank you Bonnie for believing in me and for helping me achieve a DREAM!

The Octopus Garden

Uptown Shopping Center
George Washington Way side

Richland, WA

This store has been here for as long as I can remember.
I like the huge variety of crazy cards and funny gifts.
I smile everytime I think of this place :) ...

Not pictured:
The Columbia, Yakima & Snake Rivers ...
I've spent countless hours along the banks of all 3 of these rivers and
and so thankful for the influence of each.

If you happen to make a trip to Richland ..

Feel free to check out a few of my favorite places
and create a few special memories of your own!

Invite Happiness IN!

{Invite}
To request the presence or participation of
in a kindly or courteous way

Dear Happiness,
I invite you to join me today
in all my little moments!
(Try saying that out loud!)

How did that feel? Have you ever simply invited happiness in? Happiness is a sensitive creature it comes and goes (in most people’s lives.) I believe many of us have forgotten how to treat ‘happiness’! I like to think of happiness as a dear friend. And without her, my life would be quite empty and dull.

Close your eyes and picture in your mind someone who is very dear and special to you. How do you feel when you think of this person? Now close your eyes and picture yourself without this person in your life. It’s probably a hard thing to imagine!

That’s how I think of happiness! I can’t imagine life without it! So, in order to keep it and have it – I must treat it special. And my little, unique and creative way to do that is to simply invite her to join me all the time!
(I think ‘happiness’ likes that and is more apt to stay.)

This little moment matters –
Here’s the invitation I use (feel free to borrow it – or make your own!) You may want to post this around your home or in the car.

Dear ‘Happiness’,
You are invited to join me in my journey called LIFE!
When – Always!
Where – Everywhere!
Time – 24/7
Place – My home, my heart, my LIFE!
Thank you!
I’m so glad you’re part of my little moments.
Love,
(Your name here.)

Excerpt from "It's the Little Moments that Matter"
26 simple steps to enrich every moment of your life!
By Wendy L. Christensen