tiny dancer

When I was a little girl
all I wanted to do

was dance....

just like

KATE

 this is Kate

ready for her first

ballet class

just about a year

ago to the day.

She already was showing

natural ability.

Don't you love

the serious look

on her face?

All ready for her first recital.....

just 4 months after she began

Every ballerina gets flowers!!!

and then summer camp

attending her first full length ballet performance

NUTCRACKER

and now a year later

pictures by Leigh in this year's ballet costume

graceful......

one year later.... my tiny dancer

growing up.

long before we knew it

THIS trip

came along

LONG

before

we knew

by the very next year

on the very same

day

we'd be MARRIED!!!!!

Here are some photos

from a glorious trip

to Washington, D.C.,

October 3rd, 4th, and 5th

2008.

The Washington Cathedral

Mount Vernon

 and my favorite

LINCOLN MEMORIAL

at sunset....

spring is in the air

and i am

already thinking

of all the fun

excursions we can

go on!

these pictures

are from beautiful

st. augustine, florida

where karl and i

spent our anniversary.

beautiful Flagler College

palm trees

Casa Monica Hotel;

Castillo de San Marcos

AND of course
st. augustine beach.....

at sunset.......

til later, llb~

a little thing called love

today is

valentine's day;

the day for love and chocolate

and flowers,

however

as i considered

today's post

i kept coming back

to these pictures

of my beautiful daughter

on a horse.

don't you think

love is....

a girl

and her horse.

DREAM BIG.....

exhausted from the work.....

isn't she cute??!!!

all i do is dream of you

my daughter Kate

will be doing her jazz dance to this

at her recital in April!!!

Isn't this the most

adorable song??!!!

this weekend will be chili

I made this last weekend

for the Superbowl;
(yay PACKERS!)

it was delicious!

You have to love

anything with

CHOCOLATE!

I used HERSHEY

but you definately

could use any kind

of your choice.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE CHILI

prep time: 15 minutes

cook time: 2 hours 30  minutes

                                                                                                        
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
1-1/4 pounds ground round beef
1-1/3 cups chopped onion
1-1/3 cups hot water
2-3/4 (14.5 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with garlic, undrained
1-1/4 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1-1/4 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1-1/4 (14.5 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained 

1/4 cup and 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
2-3/4 teaspoons chili powder
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1-1/4 teaspoons of salt

Directions:
1. Combine ground round and onion in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring until beef is browned, about 5 minutes.
2. Transfer cooked beef and onion to slow cooker. stir in water, tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, corn, chocolate chips, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook on high until chili begins to bubble, about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook until thick, about 3 hours.

foggy weather

foggy, misty days,

shades of brown, green and grey

and a few yearling calfs, scared to come too close;

curious from a distance

will become braver each day....