Mission Accomplished

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
-Patti Sue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

Yesterday I ran the Pittsburgh Half-Marathon. Actually, allow me to clarify; my artificial heart valve and I ran the half-marathon.

Running the 13.1 mile course proved the most physical and mentally challenging task I've ever taken on. I did it though, and I'm still feeling the euphoria.

Though my legs throb and ache, and going up or down steps presents a cumbersome challenge, I enjoy the pain. It reminds me of the struggle. It emphasizes the journey.

Thank you, legs, for carrying me through each step of the race.

Thank you, mental fortitude, for pushing through when all rational screamed to stop.

Thank you, heart, for beating strong and well.

Thank you, body, for allowing me to push you to the limit.

Having the opportunity to participate in such a motivating event touched my spirit in a way I can't begin to explain. Perhaps it rekindles old memories of days when I wasn't so healthy, or maybe it reaffirms my belief in making healthy decisions. Either way, looking around at the 17,000 runners had a very emotional effect on me.

It was only 6:30 in the morning, yet people of all ages, each with their own unique story, were lined up and ready to push their bodies to the limit. I teared up during the National Anthem.

2 hours, 6 minutes, and 3 seconds after starting, I crossed the finish line.

So many people take their health for granted. I, however, am thankful and blessed. I'm a survivor. My mission, for now, has been accomplished.

Put Some Spring in Your Step

"Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life."

~Unknown

I learned from a young age that shoes serve as an ultra necessary ingredient to a successful outfit. My mother dearest and Mamoo taught me well.

I wish Mamoo could see these. She, more than anyone, would get a sincere kick out of my little creations and new business venture.

Call Me Dorothy

"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race."

~H.G. Wells

Donning a pony tail, flip-flops, and sunglasses, I proudly pedaled myself all over town today. Enjoying the sun on my face and the wind at my back, I felt 7 years old again. I've reached the age where I no longer care how I appear to others. I was smiling and giggling as I zipped through neighborhoods, zoomed along main roads, and climbed cumbersome hills. Thank you, bicycle. I had a most wonderful time.

For the spring, summer and early autumn, I'm planning on taking my bicycle everywhere: the fruit market, library, little coffee shop. Well, anywhere that doesn't require a professionally groomed look, anyway. Goodbye automobile! Adios petroleum drinking machine! Toodle-do carbon emitting engine!

Just wait until you see how stunning my bicycle appears when sporting a little basket and horn. Oh I simply can't wait. I'm practically clicking my heels at the thought.

My Workshop

"You're writing the story of your life one moment at a time."

~Howard Martin

Do you have a place to go where you can enjoy the quiet, get lost in thought, and make fun, crafty treats?

I covet the time spent in my little room. It serves as a hideaway, a club-house of sorts, for my creative daydreams.

I'm very thankful for this space.

A Tour With Grayson

"Plants cry their gratitude for the sun in green joy."

~Astrid Alauda

Greetings, blog readers. Allow me, Grayson P. Squirrel, to give you the lay of the land here at La Casa de 403. It's quite a posh little hang-out, if I do say so myself. Please, sit back, relax, and take a peek at the lawn from my lovely vantage point.

I'll be honest, I'm a bit biased when it comes to this neighborhood. The aged oak trees and their plentiful acorns have an intoxicating effect on me. It's quite something, really.

Just the other day, as I stopped to admire some lovely forsythia--and dig up a snack or two, I couldn't help but to notice the growth of Dott Avenue Forest. Amazing! I'm sure that in a few short years, I'll have plenty of new trees to climb around and hide out in. Cha-Ching!

Would ya look at that? Grow, little trees! Grow!

You'll probably never believe this, but some lady that takes care of the flowers around here practically did a little jig when she noticed her clematis survived the intense winter. I'm quite sure she has issues. She seems nice enough though. I mean, sometimes she throws old bread outside for the furry and feathered creatures. Hey, I'll take it. You won't hear me complaining.

And, hello heavenly blue sky! Don't you just love to lay in the grass, roll on your back, and peer up at this? aaahhhh....

This, friends, is my most favorite spot to bury acorns. Please, keep this to yourself, OK? I have a hearty stash and if it goes missing, I'll know who spilled the nuts.

Just this afternoon, the Queen Bee and her mother, planted these. I'm rather pleased. They add quite the splash of vibrance and color. All the more reason for those squirrels on the east side to be jealous. Pfft.

And this, folks, ends my part of the tour. Feel free to explore and look around, just don't pick up any acorns or poke your nose in the windows of the house. A scary fur-monster lurks inside and it will chase you. I swear. It happened to me before.

Feel free to tip your tour guide, as tips are much appreciated. And, be very careful crossing the street. Look both ways and then run. Run very quickly.

Restful Weekend

"I like the word 'indolence.' It makes my laziness seem classy."

~Bern Williams

Why are p-jammer pants and oversized sweatshirts so cozy?

My weekend consisted of yarn, tea, snacks and time with my puppy and hubbo.

Heaven. Absolute Heaven.

Springtime Love

"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul."

~The Koran

We're in the middle of a rather harsh spring-time storm. Tucked away under the bed, Little Peep hides, frightened by the rumbling thunder and pounding rain. I, on the other hand, pace nervously, ever so concerned about my tiny flower friends.

Just the other day I purchased a bundle of poppies, my newest flower obsession. Always an admirer, this spring I figured I'd plant a few of my own. Watching them grow and finally bloom has provided an insane amount of fun for a rather simple girl like me. I so hoped for vibrant orange petals, and as you can see, my wishing paid off.

Please, rain, don't destroy my little botanical wonders. Deal?

Little Messages, Big Hearts

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

Albert Einstein

Yesterday afternoon I found myself engaged in a wonderful recess time conversation with my colleagues. We were outside enjoying the sunshine and de-stressing after an intense three days of standardized testing. If you've ever spend any significant time in a school setting, you completely understand the rarity of such adult conversations.

Anyway, while I chatted away, a few of my students interrupted me with shouts of, "Mrs. Wheeler, come see what we made! Come see! Hurry! Come see!"

I hate to think that I showed even the slightest bit of annoyance at their request, but I probably did. Shame on me. However, once I saw what they wanted to me see I filled with warmth.

Upon close inspection, it appears that these lovely ladies spelled out sweet nothings to me with dandelions. So sincere, so sincerely sweet.

Look closely, K spelled out "Mrs. Wheeler Rocks!"

J wrote, "#1 teacher!"

E's mulch writing says, "Mrs. Wheeler is kool!"

And, not to leave out my puppy, Charlie T., my sweeties made me a dandelion depiction of my furry dogger.

Thank you, creative ones. You brightened my day and warmed my heart.

Bless you.

Princess Posies

"The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color."

~Hans Hofmann

Lately, I've made a serious attempt to add some color to my wardrobe and to the decor of 403. I really love color, but because I detest when things look "busy" or "cluttered," I hesitate to use it in an abundant amount. I prefer simple and plain with an added accent here and there. Think vanilla icing with colored sprinkles.

Therefore, my recent purchase at a local nursery really made my head spin. I wonder if I'm going through some type of personal crisis? Pink daisy-looking flowers? Really?

I mean, they are pretty and all, but they just scream "princess" or "beauty-queen wanna be"-- two things that I've always made fun of and found ridiculously humorous.

But, joking aside, I'm really head over heals for these little darlings. They give the budding lawn and blue sky a dash of unexpected color. And that I enjoy; very, very much.

Cheers to spring and color and pretty pink flowers!

A Tastebud Treat

"Sit down before fact like a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads, or you shall learn nothing."

~Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895)

I'm pretty much addicted to this tantalizing vegetarian treat. Dubbed "Bean Stuff," this combination of Edamame and corn will have you reaching for seconds and thirds and quite possibly fourths. In fact, it's perfectly reasonable that you will nosh away until the entire bowl holds only traces of the deliciousness that previously existed.

I, personally, enjoy a generous serving for lunch and then again after school for a pre-gym snack. Between the texture and subtle flavor, I honestly can't get enough. Perhaps you'd like to make some, too?

"Bean Stuff"

Mix together the following ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of peanut oil

1 Tablespoon of Rice Vinegar

1 Teaspoon of Soy Sauce

2 Tablespoons of Sesame Seeds

Then:

Cook 2 cups of Edamame and 1 cup of corn according to the package

Run under water to cool

Drizzle the dressing over the veggies and stir gently

Refrigerate and serve chilled

Finally:

Enjoy every last, delicious morsel.

This Life

"You deserve the fun, the joy, the freedom and the pure goodness that flows through the experiences of love that indwells you. The choice is yours."

~from the book: The Intelligent Heart

In so many ways I've been blessed in this life. If something happens to me tomorrow, say I go to the doctor and am told I have terminal cancer, I'd still consider myself to be ahead of the game.

What I'm about to tell you, dear reader, risks making me sound seriously strange. Strange, as in you may very well think that I'm mentally disturbed. But, deep breath, here it goes...

I believe I had just surpassed the exceptionally mature 7 year-old mark, when I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night, with my eyes glued to an age appropirate documentary on the topic of reincarnation. That's perfectly normal, right? I'm sure all second graders watch the Discovery Channel when they suffer from severe insomnia.

While I could humor you by giving a play-by-play of the people and their current and past lives, I won't. I'll spare you the horrid details, as simply recalling them gives the heebie-geebies.
ohh-ba-lah.

But, what I will tell you is that for years and years, I would lay awake at night and pray that if reincarnation was real, and if I was reincarnated, that I would return to the same life with the same family. Very strange, right? Well, it's true. Very, very true. And sometimes, on days like today, I'm reminded why.

I have a fantastic family- a family that never forgets about me. A family that always makes me feel loved and cared about and important.

Thank you for today. I loved every minute.

And, if reincarnation is real, and if I am reincarnated, I still pray for everything to stay the same.

My Morning

"There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun."

~Pablo Picasso

It's raining outside, so I'm making the best of it.

And, if you know me well, there's nothing like some marshmallow Peeps and Crayola markers to put the happy back in my morning.

Color your world. Add some sweetness to your day.

Serving Up Sunshine

"The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine

of the light of letters, is simplicity."

~ Walt Whitman

Hi, friends.

The sunshine was streaming through the windows and the hyacinth graced the air with the most fragrant scent. It almost had me picking up the phone and calling you to come over for fresh-squeezed lemonade and warm butter cookies.

Aren't days like this simply beautiful? I feel so blessed.

Love,

Me

Tip-Toe...Through the Daisies

"You have to decide if you're going to wilt like a daisy,

or if you're going to go forward and like the life that you've been granted."

~K. Costner

I've got a little idea I'm working on for after Easter.

I'll be sure and fill ya'll in.

Happy Weekending!

The Madness Continues

"Knock on the sky and listen to the sound."

~Zen Saying

I. love. to. knit.

Presenting, Little Man Moccasins- Slow Poke.

My March Madness has nothing to do with basketball, obviously.

Little Man Moccasians

"It is better to create than to be learned,

as creating is the true essence of life."
~Barhold Georg Niebuhr

Allow me to introduce my first pair of purchased Tiny Sweet Feets.

"May you always walk in sunshine.

May you never want for more.

May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door."

~Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I'm indulging in some fine green tea. Ha.

Sprouting

"The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect, but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves."

~Carl Jung

Creative play appeared on the menu today.

My Sunday was full of knitting and granola baking; a delicious combination of a few of my favorite things ~ imagination and food.

A few weeks ago this Easter grass was but a mere pile of seed and dirt.

However, add a couple gentle, watery mists and a few rays of sunshine and~ wa-la ~ it turns into a growing green chlorophyll machine.

Although these little sweet feets have a bit more growing to do, they're well on their way to being tiny treats for some cutie babies.

Ahh...~ may the sprouting continue!

More Time, Please

"Each moment is a doorway to time travel. Being in this very moment and no other, time as we know it stops. You can Freeze-Frame and stop. Then you can make another choice. You can stay in the same holographic pattern or you can choose a different one."

~ Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart

I somehow find myself worrying about time. Since my little-tyke days, I've consistently had this ongoing battle with the clock. And, unfortunately, it's getting worse.

I have so many things on my "to-accomplish" list that I honestly worry I'll never have time for them all.

Please, make no mistake, I'm not talking of laundry and chores and mundane tasks- I refuse to worry with those. Rather, I am speaking of meaningful days and authentic experiences.

Take a moment and think of all there is to learn, try, do, and see. I have quite the imagination and I don't like the idea that I only have 60-ish more years to experience life.

Sometimes I think about that and it makes me sad. Today is one of those days.

Oh please, don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful life and I want it to go on forever- just like it is now, but perhaps with a bit more freedom from the same old routine.

Change is good and I need to make things happen- CK style. (grin)

Planning for Picnics

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

~Charles Dickens

This morning, the sun streamed through the kitchen door and blanketed my body with warmth as I let the pupparoo out for her morning potty break.

"What is this familiar feeling?" my skin wondered. "Could it be? Could it really be? Could it actually be a bit of solar generated warmth?"

Mr. Golden started my entire day off on the right foot. I enjoyed my breakfast and then started dreaming of picnics- a day outdoors with good food, beautiful weather, and wonderful friends. You know the kind of day...the one that begins in the early afternoon and ends when campfire embers are reduced to nothing more than smoldering ashes.

I live for that.

What better way to enjoy this day than to have my own little array of indoor picnic goodies? I'm all set for a weeks worth of healthy, picnic style lunches. Be jealous- it's alright. (wink)