Subject: Now you can have her even on the first date.

From: "Gretchen Keller" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 23:11:12 +0900

Just paste this address on picture to visit us

but the commonality between each experience was- it was out of my hands. i occasionally fell in love with someone who couldn't be had. i occasionally had to run from someone who wouldn't let me go.
just a phone call one night. she had an aneurysm. and although this was a surprise of the worst kind, it was the most spiritual time of my life. much good and understanding has come through that loss.
i know some people don't love the whole valentine's thing. but it is so fun to me! i don't care if the greeting card company made it up- any day where i get to be pretty, treated with sweetness, have a declicious dinner and some romance is right on in my book.

say hi to gilbert and the kids. with love, k.m.
it transported me back in time to simpler, sunnier days, and it's been making really happy to stare at today.

dinner: i kind of snack or have a lunch type meal again. dinner is tricky because i still need to prepare dinner for my family. so i do. but i'm not super hungry at night so i just eat whatever. broccoli, a little of what they're having, or snacky stuff, or chicken wings, or crispy thin crust pizza. but! i always end the day with a low carb ice cream bar.
Quilt kits finally all done

i will i will i will. please hold me accountable if you don't see the results posted next week. the inspiration pieces: yep
and as i've been laying in my misery, i've been thinking a lot about that penny, and just how lonely i'd be if she wasn't there with me. 

and again, when you are at a good weight and having regular cycles, you can absolutely add in a lot more whole wheat and whole grain foods, as well as all fruits and vegetables and other "good carbs" like beans. if your cycles get a little kooky or you gain weight, that's when you know you need to reduce again.
I'll show you what i've been working on soon- they're presents and i have to give them away first. have a nice monday!

i have never been an animal person. i swore i'd never have a dog. who wants to pick up poop? not me. but somehow in my baby hungry weakness i was convinced to relent by the other two mccalebs who said they desperately needed a puppy. fine. whatever, just take care of her and pick up the poop.
cate: what did you play on the computer, then?

this week i am getting all my ducks in a row so that this weekend i can hole up and sew myself some desperately needed skirts for church and summer. 
and the dishes she cleans for me!! i don't even have to rinse before putting things in the dishwasher anymore! and how warm she keeps my toesies while i'm sitting at the desk working on the computer! who needs slippers? it seems her only desire in life is to be close to us. and all she asks for is an occasional pet and some food and water. truly, my lowest maintenance friend.

she follows me around all day, just in case she might be needed for something, anything. cute little penny is just a wee dog, but she feels strongly that part of her duty is to scare the crap out of anyone who gets near our house, just so they know no one is going to mess with her family, not on her watch. she is undeterred by bigger animals and scary men- they all get yelled at to stay away.
me, 1982

remember how i was so proud that my room was clean and i was knitting? well, i still am.  
Taking the valentines, happy girl

cate and i went through some of the free options around the web for valentine's to download and print. 
cate chose these pretty little traditional valentines cards from bunny cakes. i love them.

how have you been surprised? what can i say?
i do have one faithful companion who is braving the germs: penny the pug russell.

all day the kids hung out at that corner, played on that grass, got drinks out of that hose, went through the secret passage way in the juniper bushes, and only left the area to go "around the block" over and over again. sometimes it was on bikes with banana seats, sometimes roller skates, sometimes big wheels, sometimes walking, even occasionally on skateboards with cardboard boxes on them (our "cars"). 
plan to be surprised.

what a few hours on a sunny day can do for you...
well, as it turns out, it was me who needed her the most. i think if the test of the greatest among us is the one who will be the servant, than penny wins in this house...ok, animal people...i get it. i really really get it.