The Quiet Life of Violet

# 2, Fly a Kite

While in Canada, I unexpectedly got to complete one of my 26 goals.

Number 2, "Buy a kite and figure out how to fly it," just waltzed right into my lap while on a walk with Leigh-Ann, her Momma, her Grandma and Kody's girlfriend, Miss Halie. I wanted to see the waters of Lake Winnipeg, so we leashed up the pups (Tom and Momma's pup, Ruby) and went on an adventure!

Leigh-Ann's Mom was super awesome and pushed me over bumps and lumps and across the grassy terrain. She's pretty much a SuperMom.

Grandma was the only person without someone/thing to push/walk (Leigh-Ann + Tom, Halie + Ruby and Momma + Me), so she did a bit of exploring along the way. Hidden in the trees, she found, you guessed it, a kite. It was a sad, abandoned little kite with a short string and no handle, but it had heart. Grandma tied the end of the string to her camera  as a makeshift handle (brave!) and handed it to me, thus completeing #2, "Fly a Kite."

1,300 Things to Be Thankful For (week 24)

(Previous posts)

576. Bowls of steel cut oatmeal with plump raisins and cinnamon.

577. Willem Dafoe, actor.

[source]

578. Women who discreetly nurse in public.

579. The first wear of a new pair of tights.

580. Eighteen count pack of organic eggs.

581. Capers in pasta dishes.

582. Full length mirrors.

583. Yawning dogs.

584. When little kids omit letters while singing the ABC's.

585. Winesap apples, organic, locally picked.

586. The book, Goodnight Moon.

587. Mini size contact lens fluid samples from the optometrist.

588. Daddy's 58th  Birthday.

589. "Booty rubs" -- getting my butt cuddled when I feel crummy or sad.

590. "Burning the midnight oil."

591. Fortune cookies with relevant fortunes.

592. Hot oven baked, baked potatoes with crispy skin.

593. Huge heating pads with snugly covers.

594. Shadow play.

595.  Q-tips and getting lots of earwax out of your ears after a hot shower.

596. Stephanie Nielson, blogger.

597. Napkins tucked into shirts before a messy meal.

598. Children's drawings taped up on the refrigerator.

599. Dustin's scrambled eggs... I don't know HOW he does it, but they're AMAZING.

600. Taking a "stroll" after dinner.

Up a Mountain, On a Boat.

Last weekend, Bubby and I, along with Miss Natalie and Mr. Matt, drove north to Forbestown (a tiny little town by Oroville) to spend the weekend with Matt's parents.

The four of us:

• Matt is the funniest, kindest smart-ass anyone could ever meet.
• Natalie is my little Wisconsinite Pixie (she grew up in Green Bay), with a heart of gold and a snappy, sexy little sense of humor that I adore.
• Dustin.. well, you know. That boy is my everything. He's hot and sweet and had the best "skin"smell ever. I tell him that I hope our babies smell like him, because it's just the most fabulous experience to be in his presence and breathe him in.  
• Me. What can I say about me? I like soup. I have five toes. Carnations are one of my favorite flowers. My toots rival those of the fattest men (and I don't even deny it).

So, that's the four of us.. the Fantastic Four.

Here is our mini-vacation, in pictures:

 

26 While 26

Today is my Birthday -- I'm a Summer Solstice baby! To commemorate my 26th year of life, I've made a list, "26 While 26" and will be sharing with you as I complete things I hope to experience and/or achieve.

26 While 26

1. Buy or plant Peonies and enjoy their frilly beauty .

2. Buy a kite and figure out how to fly it.

3. Have a baby, get pregnant or at least be actively trying.

4. Make and sell at least ONE bath and body product. (I can do one, right? That's doable.)

5. Continue to keep this blog, the Quiet Life of Violet up and running.

6. Get a drawing tablet!

7. Go to three concerts.

8. Sew an article of clothing.

9. Visit Leigh-Ann in Missouri (if possible)!

10. Go camping with Bubby.

11. Celebrate our 6 year anniversary with something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue.

12. Read one new book per month.

13. Ride a real train, preferably in the mountains or across the starry plains.

14.  Grow real vegetables this summer and eat them.

15. Watch one "classic" movie per month. I need to acquaint myself with some of the best movies ever made!

16. Create my logo, design my business cards, order my supplies and GET MY BUSINESS GOING!

17.  Try really hard to make Dustin's lunch (to go to work with him) everyday.

18. Visit (gulp) 10 new beaches this year.

19.  Get at least one of the phrase tattoos that I've been dreaming of.

20. Crochet something that doesn't end up looking like a Christmas tree.

21.  Build more muscle in my arms and torso (a bubble butt would be nice, too).

22. Do something selfless at least twice a month.

23.  Buy a (cute?) record player and play a real record.

24. Keep my car clean. And, by "clean" I mean REALLY clean. Someone get me a hand held dust buster and some window cleaner STAT!

25. Be honest with people. Really honest. Not A-hole blunt honest, but I want to be a good friend and not hold things back.

26. Get 100 followers on this blog. Oh boy, that's a lot. Wish me luck!

Enjoy the longest day of the year!

1,300 things to be Thankful For (week 3)

51. Being free.

52. Salt and pepper pistachios.

53. Having  enough money to eat really well.

54.  The first time Trent Reznor touched a piano.

55. Freshly sharpened number 2 pencils.

56. The first application of a new lipstick.

57. Dustin's butt.

58. Good brow days. (If you're a girl, you'll know what I mean.)

59. My neck.

60. Feeling peppy when you know the words to the song on the radio.

61. Pixie cuts on cute girls.

62. Laying in bed, with Bubby, both of us on our own laptops.

63. Corned beef.

64. Hats with buckles on pilgrims.

65. Taking goofy pictures with siblings.

[2006]

66. The smell of a darkroom where real film and photo paper are used.

67.  Being lazy on Sundays.

68. Minty, tingly Burt's Bee's chapstick.

69. Blood, red and thick.

70. Putting away all of the laundry.

71. Dancing with your Daddy at your wedding. <3

[2004]

72. Cornflakes (with milk ((almond!)), in crepes with bananas, strawberries and chocolate syrup or just out of the box.)

73. Cars with air conditioning.

74. The cooing of a dove outside my window.

75. Watermelon, ice cold or room temperature, with a little salt and lime.