Congratulations!

We've been celebrating lots of achievements over the past week. So, here are our shout outs:

Congratulations to Ariana for pulling A's in both of her college classes this past quarter!

Congratulations to Alex for making the pet parade with WAVA for his chicken coop and egg tending duties!

Congratulations to Anni for meeting many of her achievement goals this quarter!

Congratulations to writing pals, Lisa and Judith, for sending out their stories!

And finally Congratulations to hubby, David. We made to the 30 year mark! (And had a wonderful anniversary celebration)

Luck of the Irish, Avila style.

Here are the shamrocks, all green and bright,

Here's the new door, all shiny, too white.

Here are the windows with green galore.

And here are mom and Anni, inside the door.

The bulletin board was decorated with care.

Walk beneath this doorway only if you dare.

Even the mantal was sporting the green,

And so was the farm box that came in between.

Baker Alex is making green cookies to munch.

And we're back to the shamrocks, here by the bunch!

Happy Paddy's Day everyone. We had Irish lattes and green eggs for breakfast. Tea was Irish with shamrock cookies (thanks baker Alex!). Dinner was a variation on corned beef and cabbage with carrots and new potatoes (crockpotted, then briefly roasted) with good Irish ale and whole wheat raisin soda bread (thanks assistant baker Anni). Delish!

Julie Ann's Most Excellent Writing Adventures! Part 1

Fishing boat in Lincoln City, post tsunami alert.

Lincoln City Beach

US Coast Guard conducting a search the day after the tsunami.

Another beach view

More coast guard, ship and helo.

Boat on a big wave.

Boat over the wave!

I attended a writing workshop in Lincoln City with writing pals, Lisa and Judith. The weather featured big storms and a tsunami alert! We had fun, wrote lots, and got very, very little sleep. We also bought way too many books back with us from North-by-Northwest and Powell's bookshops.