r and r

Flying to New Orleans for the
running and reign of the Roberts Royalty
in the Mardi Gras Marathon.
I think we are going to have a lot of fun!
{they just hope to finish--I am v,v glad I am a sign holder}
[photo by iancowe]

snowflakes

Thank you, February, for your generous gifts of snow!
We have loved each and every snowstorm,
snow day, snow man and cup of hot chocolate,
with accompanying marshmallows!
{print from sarahjanestudio etsy}

winter races

We have an entire yard filled with snow and it has me
reflecting back on our favorite canine's Christmas visit.

Tulip meeting one of the dogs next door; or did each of these
black labs think they were seeing a reflection of themselves?

Tulip said where she is from canine friends romp in the dog parks.
"What's up with this fence?"
"Well, let's get on with it."
"Let's play."
Notice T had already been playing as evidenced by the
tell tale snow on her nose and legs.

She pranced to the left, then to the right,

then said, "Come on, I'll show you how it's done."
"Run alongside the fence as fast as you can,

make a fast turn around,

sprint, sprint, sprint,

barrel around the tree,

emerge in an all out run

then fly like the wind."

"Phew," they said.
"you sure can run!"
Tulip said yes, mam, one of her owners is training for a marathon;
therefore, she runs a lot in a place down south where
it doesn't snow and there is Creole and Cajun food.
They inquired if that's what she was looking for
behind the tree.
"No, smelling bunnies."
"Let's run!"

Our black and yellow lab neighbors soon got the hang of it.
They ran over and over and over.
Tulip almost thought she saw her reflection again.

Every time Tulip stopped, they would watch her

intently

then beg her to play.

She happily obliged their every wish.
I say, "Tulip, come back and play in all the snow!"

this, I believe

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."
~Anne Bradstreet
{flickr photo by Steffe}

winter flounce

Have a ruffly weekend!
{tumblr photo}

tunnelling

Neighbor boy having fun in his
snow fort!

old to new

Without a pattern, even.
Jennie, you are just the snow woman and Bailey's meow!
{Bailey was the lucky feline recipient of the mouse toy}

king cakes

Happy Mardi Gras Day!
I like this article about the holiday;
especially the column on its misconceptions.
{flickr photo by Rob & Amy}

love continues

The magic of romance and the season.

{flickr photo by Imapix}

happy heart day

As my sweetheart is in Florida for a week long golf trip
we shall be sharing our love today via the telefono.
Possono avere un buco in uno!
Ti amo!
{May you have a hole in one. I love you.}
[illustartaion by etsy Little Brown Dog Studio]

sweetness

Mmmmm. Mmmm. Mmm.
Need a sweet for your sweet?
Sister, friend or neighbor--
whomever you want to share your love
choose french pistachio nougat made with local farm
fresh cream and butter with raw, organic nuts

or Fleur de Sel, caramel with French sea salt
for a sweet and salty union.
All yumminess can be found in the
etsy shop haveitconfections.
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Write on your heart that every day
is the best day of the year.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
{tumblr image}

xoxo

I heart these darling muslin bags!
And the red ribbon used for the drawstrings.
{find them in MinnieMillers etsy shop}

In almost two weeks time

we will be flying to the Big Easy where
Mr R and our youngest daughter will be running
the New Orleans Mardi Gras Marathon.
Guess what?!!
You will never believe it-- we almost didn't either.

Royal Treatment

Congratulations to our 2010 King and Queen of Carnival!

Rock'n'Roll Mardi Gras Carnival King

– Steve Roberts of Ohio

As you can see on the link we will have an entire VIP weekend!
Hoo rah!

celebrate!

My understanding is that various (every?)

krewes are donating a float for the
Saints to ride upon for the
Super Bowl Champions
celebration parade.
Incredibly generous and unprecedented!
I love that this parade was being held
whether they had won or not;
that's the spirit of this city!
Celebrating this team that has lifted and unified these
people who have not only survived but thrived!
This is a text we received from our girls
a few hours ago,
"Sitting in chairs on the side of Poydras Street
at the foot of the Superdome.
This moment is unreal!!!!!!"
It will be quite a celebration--
Cajun food, music and the Who Dat Nation!
They know how to do parades in the Big Easy!
{Live coverage on CNN at 6:00 EST}

mama always knows best!

Yesterday, on the way home from school,

I pulled off to the side of a snow covered street
in our neighborhood
to allow emergency vehicles pass me by.
And what a fleet it was...
led by an ambulance,
followed by one, two, three, four (4!) firetrucks
{one of which was a huge ladder truck}
caboosed by a Fire Battalion SUV.
I quickly said a prayer for whomever sent for them.
After they were safely well past me I continued on--
to realize they had turned onto our court.It turned out a neighbors house had a gas leak.
As our court was completely full, stem to stern,
of emergency vehicles
I obviously couldn't get home.
I was told by one of the fire fighters I could park my car
on the side street and walk to my house.
Oh dear.
I was not prepared...at all!
In my Saints celebratory wear,
I was wearing these shoes--
not conducive to walking our snow packed slippery street.What had I been thinking?
Obviously, I hadn't been.
When we finally were allowed down our cul de sac,
after our neighbors house was deemed safe,
the first thing I did,
was put my Uggs on my feetthen added my extra pair of boots
to my trunk of emergency gear which includes
a heavy coat, gloves, water and a snack,
a scraper, flares, a container of kitty litter
{for traction} and a small shovel.
My mother will cringe when she reads thisbut I want you to be prepared!
I thought I was but not as fully as I could be
and now am--rest assured Mom.
And thank you for the boots!
**mwah**
{photo one by flickr jeisimmons}

record breaker

Super Bowl 44 is the most watched program
in television history--
WOW!!!!
{AP photo}

dem Saints

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!!!!
Congratulations!!!!!
{AP photo}

XLIV

The Super Bowl!!!!!
Geaux Saints!!!!!!!!!!

more mail love

A note I popped in our mailbox this morning
for our Saturday delivery lady.
It says good luck to her team {the Colts}
but that I hope The Saints win tomorrow.
More importantly, I thank her for delivering our mail
in such wintry conditions and to travel safely!
Thank you, Mr R for shoveling a wide swath
in front of our box so she can deliver the mail!

winter blues?

Need an injection of color to brighten you up?
Bid on this intensely hued pair of chairs-
I would be picking these up...if I lived in Australia.

mail love

On our front porch, under the snow,
was a surprise FedEx delivery.
Our New Orleanian lovelies sent us these t-shirts.
Who dat?!
Thank you!

yip, yip, yip

Our lamp post when I arrived home from
an early release from the school day!
Joy!
I then shoveled our driveway and sidewalks.
Fun!
Thank you snow fairies.

hurrah!

Even more exciting yesterday than the snow,
which is incredibly hard to top,
was Emily's fantastic news.
Congratulations!!!
So many doors opening...all in a row.
Whoot whoot!

beautiful whiteness

Ohhhh...it was so fun to awaken yesterday,
Groundhog Day,
to a surprise half inch of snow!
I say, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!"
It is winter after all.
{flickr photo by ~aspidistra~}

to the groundhog

Will you
Won't you
See your shadow?

Will it
Won't it
Really matter?

Do you
Don't you
Grin to see

People
Take you
Seriously?

Happy Groundhog Day!
{both google images}

welcome...

month of

{flickr photo by jallas}