Merry Christmas! Blessings Abound!

Meet Charlie! We were blessed with his birth several days prior Christmas, so the whole family greeted him with open arms over the holiday. This aunt's heart literally melted when she got her hands on him. 29 bodies flying around the house, and this precious angel baby just rested peacefully. His mom, Kate, is Kevin's youngest sib, and presented us with Evie just 3 years ago. Why is it that the clock stops ticking when a newborn is in your arms, and you just can't take your eyes off him? The day passed way too quickly, that's for sure!

As we played the "Get a gift, take a gift" game, I eyed the Chicago popcorn can that Uncle Mel had so intuitively selected, and when my turn came, I grabbed it, and then tried to keep the rest of the room distracted until the game was finally over, and my popcorn was safe! (With me!)Be sure to visit Garrett's if you are in the greater Chicagoland area. Scrumptious! The gift though, which made us ooh and awe, was definitely the CES 2011. Grandpa Charlie (note the name) creates a hand crafted gift from wood each year. Each year we recipients anticipate with excitement opening that year's CES model. This year he out did himself. We each received a cross for our homes. Mine, created from Aspen and Mahogany, is in my opinion, the most beautiful of all. Thank you Grandpa! We have already found it a home on our entry way wall! We are blessed.

After attending Christmas Eve service with the family, we headed south, with Kevin at the wheel. He did a spectacular job of getting us home so our kids could be tucked in their own beds about midnight. (Important for them even though they are now both legally adults!) As we went thru the day's mail, I came upon a box for me from my cousin. As the name of this blog implies, I like pigs; flying ones at that. So I occasionally receive flying pigs of all kinds. Upon opening the box, I saw two of these adorable guys:After further inspection, I saw a note explaining that not only had my cousin hand crafted this himself, but also used the walnut wood from my grandfather's farm (established in 1930) and the southern yellow pine from his shed which was just recently taken down. The thoughtfulness of this gift really overwhelmed me. Little did my grandfather who was born in 1892 in Germany, know that a shed he was building on Midwest farm land would be used in 2011 by his grandson to create a lovely gift for his granddaughter, who would pass these ornaments down to his great grandchildren. Again, that overwhelming feeling that I am blessed.

I know that each person reading this is blessed as well, in their own way. Just take the time to notice these blessings and to feel grateful for them!

Merry Christmas 2011, and God Bless!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

The Christmas Cactus has come through yet again this season. This plant is precious to me as it was given to me by my mother who was given a start many years ago from my grandmother. I remember admiring my grandmother's huge plant on her sun patio, and those memories come alive as I see my plant thriving.

It's also beginning to smell a lot like Christmas with the oven in full operating mode these days. I took this plate to a "Wrapping party" which is a fun way to wrap gifts, and share holiday treats.
The sounds of Christmas are filling our home while I'm busy decorating the tree, and starting to work on the cards.
Thanks to my awesome hubby, Kevin, and to ebay, I can put THIS under the tree for me. Now I will have visions of future sewing projects dancing in my head! Yippee!

Well, the sugar cookies are calling for icing - ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

Green Eyed Chocolate Junkie

I like to think of myself as a happy, well rounded, healthy person. Typically I delight in others happiness, and don't usually find myself feeling jealous. Because of this, I was surprised this week after viewing a photo so kindly shared via Skype by my first born, that I was feeling slightly annoyed and even green with envy regarding her most recent outing in Paris to a chocolate shop where she was able to drink hot chocolate (actually more like warm, melted chocolate) while eating the most beautiful, drooling inflicting, chocolate treasures.

Most of my family and friends know my feelings about chocolate as evidenced by the many gifts over the years of chocolate treats, cookbooks, and even attire referencing it (see photo of my feet as I write this!) My life philosophy can be summarized as follows: Daily dilemmas- solved with chocolate. Happy occasions- celebrated with chocolate. Sorrows- drowned in chocolate. Boredom- abated by chocolate. Exercise- rewarded with chocolate! There you have it...I am the definition of a "chocolate junkie". Oh well, I guess there are worse things in life than being a green eyed chocolate junkie. Such is life.
On a brighter note, December has arrived which means Sarah returns this month! Can't wait to give her big hugs. In the meantime, our holiday decorations are currently being rediscovered in various boxes, and being placed around the house. Last week we had a day of winter weather, so I snapped this picture:
Warm wishes to all of you as you make your way through this season shopping, baking, writing cards, visiting with loved ones, and of course.....eating lots of CHOCOLATE!!

Blessings Abound!

It's the time of year to reflect on the blessings which are present all around us. Whether a big event like getting a defense verdict in a trial in which you were on the defense team, or a small thing like walking out your front door into the fragrant fresh air on a sunny day, and all the events in between, it is evident that we have much for which to be thankful.

Between my husband and me we have four parents. After a summer of heart issues in a couple of them, we are thankful they are all still with us. I'm thrilled that Miss Fanny has found a new home where the love between them is all mutual. So fun to watch!

As a mom of a teenage son, I was especially grateful for the uninterrupted time he and I were able to spend together a few weeks ago on a college visit. We mixed some fun into the trip as well. The Astronaut Hall of Fame was close by so we spent hours wandering thru the exhibits, imagining the possibilities that come through space explorations. We laughed together as we discussed that had our entire family been present, we would not have been able to be as thorough and spontaneous as we both wanted. The conversations, laughs, and exploring we did together I will hold dearly in my memory bank.

(Yes, he looks like an alien, but he really is our son)

Prior to that trip, I was blessed to have R&R (both in CA and abroad) with my best friend who happens to be my hubby of 25 years. We had lots of time to reflect on our lives together and our dreams for our future as empty nesters which is approaching at lightning speed. We both are wondering how in a blink of an eye our babies can possibly have morphed into these two incredible individuals.

I find it interesting that the things for which we are most grateful are not material things at all, but relationships. So as you trudge through this Holiday season, make time for those you hold dear. Think about spending time on your loved ones instead of money. Consider spending your money on those who really do need it. It will make you feel better at the end of the day.

Here are a few I think are really worthwhile:

Boone County's Love Inc. A more global cause could be: Falling Whistles, or KIVA.

There are many animals that need our funds as well: A Horse Sanctuary,

Heart for Dog Rescue, Indianapolis Humane Society, to name a few.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Housewife of Boone County visits the OC

Little did I know when I jumped on a plane with Kevin for a quick trip to the West coast, that a surreal experience was in store for me. Understand that had I chosen to forego said trip I would be doing the typical "Housewife of Boone County" things: mucking stalls, doing laundry, scrubbing toilets, fertilizing the field...(or refer to my July 2010 post) much much different than life for a "Housewife of Oranage County." Let me explain. Upon our arrival at the John Wayne Regional Airport we were whisked away in a black Lincoln with tinted windows where iced water bottles were placed by each seat. After a quick ride down the "PCH" or the Pacific Coast Highway to you and me, we arrived at our destination in Laguna Beach - The Montage Resort. Not only did the Reception clerk check us in, but she also toured us around the property before depositing us in our room where a bottle of champagne was already being iced and a bowl of fresh fruit brightened the entryway. Of course the view from our balcony was breathtaking.

A quick stroll through the property confirmed the beauty of the location with countless varieties of flowers and plants (meticulously cared for by dozens of staff members) leading down to a lovely sandy beach where Catalina Island could be seen way off in the distance. Whew!

After we got settled, we realized that with the time difference we had completely missed lunch and dinner East coast time, but our real dinner wouldn't be served for hours. To remedy the situation, we walked (yes! -under our own power, no driver required, much to the staff's dismay) a block down the road to Ruby's Diner (imagine our Steak 'n Shake.) Again it was clear to us we weren't in Boone County when we looked at the menu and found Tofu burgers, bunless burgers, hi-protein lettuce wraps, etc. in addition to the usual hamburger, fries, and shake options. It didn't take us long to realize as we made our way around the resort that whenever staff members saw us they stopped in their own tracks until we passed. At first I thought maybe I was taking up too much of the walkway...but no. After multiple tests, I concluded that this was required. Unnerving, or described with an "S" word, SURREAL. A few nights later having a night cap at the hotel bar, the bartender explained the "Four S's" each staff member, regardless of rank, is required to perform at the first sight of a guest. STOP! STEP ASIDE! SMILE! (and make eye contact), and make an appropriate SALUTATION! There you have it- Surreal!

To top off all the service during the day, each night not only was our bed turned down, but we each had a fluffy pair of slippers perfectly placed on a white pressed linen square by the bed which had a sleeve of fancy chocolates waiting for us. During all of this, I really just wanted to tell them to relax...if I weren't here, I'd be at home in Boone County, Indiana, loading up my poop truck with muck buckets! So, if your travels ever call for you to be in Orange County, CA, opt for the Montage so you too can pretend to be a STAR while enjoying the breath taking views of the Pacific Ocean in the lap of luxury!

No trip to LA would be complete without a meal shared with Kevin's cousin Gregory who we fondly refer as our family's "Forrest Gump," but only in a positive way! (He's even running the LA Marathon for a great cause...please consider donating!)Having lived in LA and worked in the "business" for several years now, he has had his fair share of famous/interesting encounters. As we learned this time, he expanded his "encounter" territory recently as he travelled to London to see his Chicago Bears play at Wembley Stadium, ending up with a photo of himself between Hall of Fame Steelers Running Back Jerome Bettis and NFL Commissioner Goodell. Not only was he called on to ask a question during the press conference, but also was quoted in the Chicago Tribune (see link!) We also heard about his visit with our Sarah in Paris. Funny that after years apart, it was in Paris of all places, that they reconnected. It is proof positive that family values have been instilled in both of these young adults. We are so proud of both of them! I figured here would be a good spot to insert a photo of these cousins from years past...but after scouring the photo albums, I could only come up with this one circa 1992.

Most pictures of Gregory involved a rambunctious giggling Eric...as seen here! We look forward to our next story filled meal with Greg, and in the meantime, wish him well on his "Forrest Gump" like running and encounters!

Terrific Trip!

I am blogging from the comfort of my own home office, which is proof that it IS possible to leave an 18 year old son in charge when you leave the country - without him burning down the house, or forgetting to feed our four-legged friends (or himself for that matter!) Yay Eric! We are proud of you!

With that said, on to my most recent update of When Pigs Fly Zville happenings! Remember that glorious weather mentioned in the previous post? Well it followed us across the ocean to London where we spent a few days sampling the drawn ales and taking in the city on a Fat Tyre Bike Tour,

which we highly recommend if your travels take you to London, Barcelona, Paris, or Berlin!The tour includes all kinds of facts and stories. I was surprised that London has over 7 million people, and "The City of London" which is the one mile square at the very center, (where we were staying) has over 300,000 people working in it every day.

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben were just of few of the sights we took in. We wound our way through St. James Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Park where we walked thru the Princess Diana Memorial gardens.

From London, we left on a train heading SE through the lovely English countryside then under the English Channel (which only took about 20 minutes to do in this high speed train) and into France arriving in Paris two and a half hours later where we were thrilled with the opportunity to witness Sarah in her everyday environs. It really fills our hearts with pride as we watch our "little girl" maneuver in a big city using a second language as comfortably as her native one. She took us through the Louvre which serves as her classroom one night a week. If you have to take a Renaissance Art class, where better? Many objects on display are really breathtakingly beautiful.

Once again we jumped on bikes and headed out to see a city, this time at night - what a sight it is. The grand architecture well lit against the night sky dazzles the eyes. The night was capped off with a Seine River cruise seeing the monuments, churches, and buildings from a different perspective. What fun we had, and Kevie did a spectacular job keeping the tour moving from the "deirriere" earning himself a T-shirt!

I just can't say enough about authentic French chocolate crepes, freshbaguettes, and chocolate croissants - other than they are the reason my clothes currently do not fit!

We enjoyed meeting Sarah's host mother, Patricia, a native Parisian. Her lovely apartment is located in a quiet neighborhood (17, for those of you familiar with the city) and has a wonderful sports center right across the street where Sarah has joined a Track Club and runs each day.

Our visit had to end too soon, as it always does, but we left Sarah feeling confident that she is maximizing her opportunities and absorbing the culture all around her. If you find yourself in Paris before Christmas, she makes an outstanding tour guide!

We left the great weather behind and came home to wet, windy, and 40s. The rain gage has risen to the 3" mark, so I do believe our draught is officially over! I guess it's time to dig out the gloves and scarves.....

Blue Skies Galore!

Glorious autumn days...again and again. I will certainly try to remember these days when the cold gloom of winter seems endless! The blue of the sky this past week was as deep as I've ever seen it here in Indiana - truly amazing. As you can see from the picture below, harvesting has begun. Each year when I hear the combines in the field next door, my pulse quickens and I find myself out in the yard camera in hand, snapping away. Why I find the whole process so thrilling is somewhat baffling - but needless to say, I have plenty of pictures for the Harvest Album! Also, I never grow bored watching the horses graze contently in the pasture while the cats are hunting their prey, and the dogs are chasing each other around in circles.

Friday night was Eric's Senior night for football. It was great that both sets of his grandparents and

Aunt KJ were on hand to see his game. He has worked very hard for four years, so it was nice that he was honored in front of the home crowd. The eighty degree weather helped make the night enjoyable too.

Saturday was one for the "Perfect Fall Day" record books between the weather, the company I was with (my own two favorite guys in addition to my adorable niece and her dad), and getting to see our beloved Boilermakers crush Minnesota. We even introduced Eric to the Triple X where he downed the Boilermaker Pete Burger. Speaking of Purdue Pete,

The Purdue All American Marching Band paid tribute to American Superheroes, so it was only appropriate that Purdue Pete would show up in a cape wearing his own "SuperPete" costume and ride on top of the World's Largest Bass Drum! We really enjoy watching our family friend, a Jr. at Purdue, who IS Purdue Pete make such great lasting college memories.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your October and stop every so often to enjoy the various colors, sounds, and smells that are all around! (Oh - and Go Boilers!)

October Happenings

As a parent, I am always amazed when I realize that some nugget of advice given to my child through the years actually STUCK! So read it for yourself....on Sarah's blog this week! But I really can't take the credit for said advice because I got it from this one:as she clearly exudes a positive attitude as evidenced by this photo that I snapped as she came out of recovery from her successful heart surgery last week! I only hope at 83 I can be just like her! The newest member of their family by the way, Fanny, has settled in quite nicely.

This past week was a whirlwind of activity - A fun Colts game, where I got to catch up with a few former work buddies and had an awesome view of the football field sized American flag (the only good view from our seats however),

an amazing Elivs Costello concert with my sweetie, and dinner at my new favorite Indy pizza place: Napolese

The weather has been amazingly beautiful which reminds me why I love AUTUMN, not only that I get beautiful bday flowers (thanks Chonna!), but also because I get to spend lots of time outdoors enjoying the crisp air, blue skies, and vibrant colors!

Here's one last photo for your viewing pleasure - Duncan from a different perspective! Have a fabulous week!

Happy Birthday LINDA!

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Linda, Happy Birthday to you! Kings and Queens and Princes too want to wish you all that's new, so WHICH DAY WHAT DAY WHAT DO YOU SAY? BIRTHDAY? Happy Birthday to YOU!"

That's right, its my dear sister's birthday so I have to make sure she knows how SPECIAL she is! From the minute she arrived:, all of those homemadechocolate birhday cake celebrations that started when she was ONE: , to her great smile: , she has always been the best sister a girl could ever ask for, leading the way, setting great examples:

So today, I want to wish her the best of birthdays, just wish I could be there to celebrate with lots of laughs. But I'm sure your family will oblige!

Love you Lindee!!