Grandparents....

Krissygirl (as Grandma Bea always called you!)

Been thinking a lot about our grandparents lately.  Probably because our last living grandparent, Grandma Veronica passed a way a year ago.  I feel kind of lost without our grandparents.  We were so lucky to have all four of them for so long and then three for even longer.  I'm going to think/work on this...what they each meant/mean to me....you too!

Heidi

Cinnamon brooms!

RUN to Trader Joe's and get yourself a cinnamon broom....was so excited this week when I walked in and smelled them before I saw them!  It makes your house smell heavenly!  I hang it on the back of a door (they're not the prettiest thing to display).  They had them last year (when I was just getting hooked on TJ's) and I just knew they'd be back!  Heidi

One week...

In one week, the country will be sending a message to Washington...hopefully it will be a very clear one.  I'm praying that it is a message from THE PEOPLE.   A message of less government, less spending and maybe even term limits.  In my business of political fundraising, I've learned one thing....that there are MANY people that could serve as a member of Congress...I meet them at every event....smart, involved and savvy people with incredible ideas.  Our Congress members quickly believe they know better than us...the average voter.  They are WRONG.  I believe the average American believes in what our founding father's built this country on...the premise that our government should represent us.  When they don't, it's up to us to find one of us to jump in and run against intrenched, arrogant polticians.

Hoping my candidate wins...Dan Kapanke...great man of integrity and honor.  I've never met a harder working canidate.

Don't forget to VOTE.  Heidi

p.s. heard my son telling my husband this in the car the other day..."if you want to be closer to Jesus, read the bible, if you want to meet Jesus, text while driving." 

Busy Lives

So much going on, we haven't had time to blog!  That's the typical life of every family.  Since Halloween is fast approaching, I thought now would be a good time for a little chat on the subject.  In our house we love Halloween!  We are lucky enough to still have someone who is at the appropriate age to put on a costume and go door to door.  My husband lights the fire pit and stands outside to distribute the candy, while we go get the load. It's really a highly awaited day at our house.  We look forward to it every year!  Lights, pumpkins, gravestones and anything we can find to make the house look spooky and enticing. Our goal is get as many kids to our house trick or treating....bring it on!

 I only have one problem, and one pet peeve....dark houses!  I find that the investment of $20 worth of candy is outweighed by seeing the kids excitement and of course the costumes.  We have quite a few younger people on our block, 20's and 30's, without kids.  Every year their houses are black.  I don't really understand it.  You are a homeowner, your job as a homeowner is to be there and pass out candy.  Ok, that may be a little dramatic, but its true.  What if all the houses on their block were black when they went 10 years ago??  So, what's your take on Halloween sister?

To read or not to read

I know we have chatted about books and reading on another blog, but since you posted a new book, I thought we could revisit the subject. I am not currently in a book group.  I was in one for about a year or a little longer. A couple of us would organize, read the book and plan the place to meet.  We had fun, but most of our members would not read the book.  We never talked about the book, so really it was Girls Night Out.  I love a night out, but if it is a book club, we should really be talking about the book.  Am I right??

I am trying to start something for fall, maybe a Book Club or maybe just Girls Night Out.  I know it is hard to read with our busy lives.  I have not read a whole book in about 4 months, but I do believe reading is something we should do.  We would often find either a great wine bar, or restaurant with great app's to have our "meetings". We have so many cool places to go to in the Twin Cities. Best place we found for a book club night in Saint Paul, is Cafe Latte. Great soups, salads, wine, pizza or just cheesecake and coffee.  Large tables to spread out as well.

Cafe Latte's Tres Leches cake

Krista

Just a little note on my Sister...she's an observer.  That rare and good characteristic has led her to excellent judgement of character and motive.  Sissy, you were right!  And that is all I'm going to say on that.

I think this is the best autumn on record in Wisconsin.  And the most beautiful.  Forecast is, once again, 70's and sunny all week (just like the last month!).  And the colors are amazing!  Will take some photos today and try to remember to post them tomorrow.

Reading a great book (I'm on a roll with good books lately)...the Gargoyle.  My friend Sally picked it for book group and it's definitely outside our normal comfort zone.  I can't put it down.  It's about a burn victim.  It's also about reincarnation. 

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

A New York Times Bestseller
The Gargoyle: the mesmerizing story of one man’s descent into personal hell and his quest for salvation.
On a dark road in the middle of the night, a car plunges into a ravine. The driver survives the crash, but his injuriesconfine him to a hospital burn unit. There the mysterious Marianne Engel, a sculptress of grotesques, enters his life. She insists they were lovers in medieval Germany, when he was a mercenary and she was a scribe in the monastery of Engelthal. As she spins the story of their past lives together, the man’s disbelief falters; soon, even the impossible can no longer be dismissed.

More About The Gargoyle

An Interview with Andrew Davidson
View the Reader’s Guide
Read an Excerpt

Someday....

Top 5 Bucket List - Places I Need to See

1. Santorini, Greece
Beautiful beaches on the Aegean Sea, wine and architecture. The island is the site of one of the largest volcanos, the beaches are the remains of it. Beautiful!



2. Turks & Caicos, Caribbean
Beaches, beaches and more beaches.  Made up of 40 different islands. 1 hour flight from Miami.


3. Hawaii
Everyone that has been there, always say "You need to go!", "It's Beautiful". Enough said.


4. Italy- Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan
Art, architeture, history, food and shopping. Sign me up!



5. Paris
Restaurants, shopping, museums, theatre, Eiffel Tower, Louvre and flea markets. 

Escapes

I'm in campaign mode sista...no time to cut and paste pics, but my bucket list of places I must see includes:

1.  Switzerland - flew over the Alps and landed briefly, but have not visited.  From the air, one of the most     beautiful countries I've seen...can't wait to explore it!

2.  South Africa - home of my Green family.  Chris loves SA and we can't wait to go as a family.

3.  England - just spent a short time in London - must spend much more time exploring this gorgeous county.

4.  Italy - of course starting in Portofino at the Splendido Hotel!!!  And Rome.

5.  Tanzania - many more visits are a must - to see our school and explore more of the country.  I LOVE this country.

Those are my top five....many more if given the opportunity...Norway of course, Greece, the Maldive Islands, Germany....

Heidi

If only I could go....

Love that site!  Wow!  It does take you to a better place.  I do that sometimes, drift off and think about places that I need to go see, or places I've been and need to go back.  It usually takes me to a tropical place.  Never to a snowy place....boy does that say it all.  Not a winter person anymore.  What are places on your bucket list that you need to see or great places you have heard about that you would like to see....sister...pics please!
-Krista

Hotel Splendido

http://www.hotelsplendido.com/web/ospl/hotel_splendido.jsp

I've had this link on my favorites for years...when I need a mental break, I go to the website and imagine being on vacation in Portofino.  I've never been there, but I will go there...someday.  In the meantime, I just click.  Heidi

I think I'm exhausted.