Gifts and Bonus Gifts

Although my flash was too bright and I had no zooming options using my daughter's little camera, I think you can see how great my little sugar bowls from Gary are.

Now, the longhorn sugar bowl has been packed up as it will be a gift, but I couldn't resist putting them together for the shot. And, the little yellow vase in front was a bonus gift!

We do bonus gifts in our family. We decided it was fun to get a gift at Christmas or your birthday, but it was even more fun getting two (or more). So, we give each other gifts, and bonus gifts. Bonus gifts are not expensive, but thoughtful or fun little items - a desk calendar, a key chain, a CD, a handmade item, etc...

Our favorite potter, Gary, has this idea down, don't you think?

Now, to veer off-track, the colonel (we all know and love him) is already bugging me and we haven't even spoken more than two sentences to each other this morning. I'll keep you posted if any weirdness happens today.

Happy Monday!

Normal Again

My kiddo is back to school (and this is when the angels REALLY sing - hear 'em?).

God bless antibiotics.

Okay, and for other things...check out this longhorn sugar bowl that is soon to be mine. Well, mine to give as a gift, but I am hoping to order up another one for myself. I think am becoming a sugar bowl addict.

This post looks destined to be a hodge-podge of stuff, but what the heck?

The "colonel" just called in...he overslept (big surprise), but since he has a dentist appointment at 9am, he'll just come in after that (angels singing again).

Tonight is College Night. Speaking of which, will you check out the stadium and arena for our school district?? It's better than the stadium we had at the University of Houston back in my day. That's where College Night is being held tonight. I think we're going. Of course, if Nicole doesn't make up all the work she missed being sick, we might be revisiting 11th grade again.

Well, I am at working, listening to Pandora Radio's Quick Mix... currently playing James Taylor;s Country Road.

Kid in school, colonel not expected for hours, and a fabulous longhorn sugar bowl making it's way to Texas....life is good, angels sing, and peace reigns for a while.

Amen.

Puffin Cups

Oh yes, that's right, Gary, from The New And Improved Potter's Blog, now known as Gary Rith Pottery Blog, but once called "The Potter's Blog" sent me a BONUS gift - not one, but TWO puffin mugs!

Gary, if you're reading this, don't worry - the check is in the mail. (Can you hear that raspy laugh of that cartoon dog about now?) Seriously, it's there. In a blue postal box right across the street at an official post office.

I think I have a longhorn sugarbowl in the works, too.

Life is good!

Dad

(my dad)

I am so fortunate to still have my dad with me. He'll be 73 in November, but I just don't think he looks it.

He certainly doesn't ACT it - he's extremely active and always on the go. Since retiring, he's lived on Grand Cayman Island, started a new career on the island, retired again, remarried to a wonderful woman, and has traveled around the world (literally), has a house on a lake near Houston and a ranch (complete with longhorns and a horse) not far from the lake.

Oh, they just got a little place in Riudose, New Mexico to escape the heat.

He wears me out with all he's got going on as a retired person.

Oh, and on top of all that, he's always "there" for us. Dad isn't, to be truthful, the best communicator when it comes to feelings, but we know. And that's good enough.

Today will be Jerry's 3rd Father's Day. He's a really good dad to our daughter.

Our daughter, however, is spending the night at a friend's house... wonder when she'll come home to spend Father's Day with her dad?

I'll let ya' know.

(nicole's dad)