To be Brittish

I have decided I would like to become British . I am truly enchanted with the tales and ways of the many blogs I read. These ladies have a charming way of expressing themselves. I love the English country side , the simple way of living and enjoying life. I think I shall try!

Long time coming

It has been a long time getting to this place. Eight and a half years and we have a Christmas tree! It may not be as big as we use to have or as pretty and it came to our home without our choosing, but never the less it is a Christmas tree.

I do like our little tree although I am very torn about acting like a normal family when we are not complete. I do think our angels are also enjoying our little tree.

Merry Christmas to our angels.

Never in my thoughts could I ever have imagined that in my life I would have some of the experiences I have had in the last 8 1/2 years. I spent an incredible weekend in L.A. this working on the Onelegacy float for the Rose Bowl Parade. Through our sadness of losing our Tim so many opportunities to grow and so many wonderful people have come into our lives.

Tim is one of 77 organ donors to be honored this year in the Rose Bowl Parade on January 1.2010. on the Onelegacy float. The float will be #10 in the lineup.

We were invited to Pasadena to decorate a floragraph of Tim. The floragraph was a computerized photo mounted on foam board. The photographs were shaded so that we knew where to apply the color. All of the materials used to decorate every inch of the float are natural. Dyed cream of wheat, poppy seeds, popcorn, dryed flowers etc.

Starting was the hard part. To see Tim's face and to know how we got there was a bittersweet feeling. My niece Laura, her new husband Brian and Tim's heart recipient's wife Cora and myself spent the day creating Tim's floragraph. I think we did a pretty good job if I do say so myself.

Tim never seems to amaze me. After 8 1/2 years he is still making a statement!

http://www.donatelifefloat.org/prod/components/media_center/video/video_120509.html

time

time
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

I seemed to have slipped into a new time in my life and I am not so sure I like it. It was not so long ago that people asked me "how many children do you have?". The other day while out and about I was chatting with an older woman and she asked me "If I had any grandchildren?".

How could time have passed me by so quickly without me noticing? Pretty soon someone someday will write about a nice old lady they were chatting with and they will be talking about me.

Where does the time go?

Fall

Fall
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

The summer flowers in the garden are starting to wilt
The leaves on the trees are turning golden brown and fluttering to the ground
Can you feel it in the air

Apple stands on the side of the road
Warm days and cool crisp nights

My favorite time of year

Sailing

Sailing
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

I have never been truly sailing before. What an experience! Kate invite 30 of her friends for a day on the bay for her 26th birthday. Rick and I were among the crew that set sail from the Ramp in San Francisco on one of the hottest days of the year.

Smooth going out to Alcatraz...and then the sails went up and we were sailing! The boat started to lean like you see in a photo. Well, I guess I wasn't paying too much attention, I was wrapped up in my thoughts, the next thing I knew EVERYONE else was on the upside of the boat and I was hanging on for dear life!!! All I could do was laugh. I do have to admit I was very frieghtened but it was great fun!

Sailing

Sailing
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista