TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!

I wanted to post photos to show everyone what I did today but once again, I'm being told I can't up load photos as I've reached my limit. This is really putting a damper on my blogging.

So, I'm going to have either spend a lot of time going through all my photos and seeing which ones I want to delete from my blog. Or, I'm going to have to pay to keep blogging.

I'm to tired to do either one tonight. I'm just going to tell you I had a blast today and I'll share my day with you soon.

I'm also having a small dinner party tomorrow in honor of the final LOST show. I'll share that with you later too.

Just wanted to let you all know I have not given up posting on my blog...yet.

A CHERRY WAY TO START THE DAY TABLESCAPE

This week I thought it would be fun to do a Tablescape for breakfast. Something cheerful and bright. Simple, yet fun.

I picked a cherry theme. I saw this material and knew right away I wanted to use it for a Tablescape.

But, rather then make a tablecloth out of it, I decided to make two runners. That way, it's not so formal but still adds that pop of color for the table.

I used my big red plates. I sure have gotten a lot of use out of these. Also, the red flatware that I have used many times too.

I found these cute cherry plates at TJ Maxx and knew they would be perfect for this setting. Plus they were only $2.99 a plate so how could I pass that up?

I used a cute little glass that my friend gave me as part of my Christmas gift last year. Rather then use it for a drink, I'm going to put a fresh fruit salad in it.

This sweet little red and white polka dot pitcher was found at TJ Maxx also. It was in the clearance section for $2.99 also. I just added a little bit of the fabric on the handle and added some white hydrangeas from my garden.

The little cherry salt and pepper shakers came from Debra's Cottage. I love that shop! So many unique things there.

The double runners also serve as place mats.

I love these glasses. I got them at Debra's Cottage awhile ago too. Little cherries are hand painted.

Now I surely won't be having wine with breakfast but I will enjoy my juice in this glass.

The cherry plates have a slight wave to them. You can sort of see it here in this picture.

I just had to show you another shot of these cute salt and pepper shakers. I love them.

For napkins I used the same material as the runners. These are very easy to make and I recommend you try making your own if you have not yet done so. You don't even have to sew them. You can use iron hem tape.

For those who want to know here is where I purchased everything:

Red dinner plates - K-Mart
Cherry salad plates - TJ Maxx
Red Flatware - Target
Cherry Wine glasses - Debra's Cottage
Table runners and napkins - I made them with material from Joann's
Napkin rings - Pier One Imports
little glass with red bottom used as fruit dish - Gift from friend
Red and white pitcher - TJ Maxx
Cherry Salt and Pepper shakers - Debra's Cottage

I'm going to link up to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. Plus stop by there and check out all the great tablescapes if you have not yet done so.

OLD TOWN TEMECULA

After our great meal at The Lazy Dog yesterday, we drove to Old Town Temecula. There are old shops, buildings and lots of history here.

One of the stops we made was at this great store called Serendipity. With a name like that, it has to be good. Right?

Well it was. Not only did they have lots of old antiques but it had lots of other things too.

My favorite part was the gardening area. They had so many cute things there. Like this great potting table. I love how they used an old window as the back.

I also loved how they turned this outdoor bistro chair into a planter. Very cute.

They had several plants and flowers potted in old clay pots. Loved the weathered look.

This bee hive was my favorite piece I saw all day. Wouldn't it be perfect for a Bee themed tablescape!

When I saw it was $100 I said forget it. To much for my blood. But I do love it.

There are many old historic buildings still standing today. Though they are now used for different things.

Like this old Bank building. It was a Bank built in 1914. It still has the old hitching posts and granite curbing.

In 1943 the bank closed and the building has been used for other things since. It is now a Mexican Restaurant.

The old vault is still there though.

This building was built in the 1890's and was the first Mercantile store. It now is the Community Theater.

You will find shop after shop and almost every other one is an Antique store. I could have spent all day here.

However, my sister, Patty, isn't a lover of antiques so I didn't make her go in them with me. I figured I could go back on my own some day.

Built in 1917, St. Catherine's of Alexandria's Catholic Church, was the first church building in Temecula.

You can even get married here today.

Sadly, it was locked when we were there. I really wanted to see inside. I love little old churches.



This is the Rock Monument. This marks the area that became known as the Southern Emigrant Trail. It became a road widen by the passage of wagons belonging to the Mormon Battlalion, a group enlisted by the government to fight in the Mexican/American war.

This road led gold seekers and eager homesteaders on their way through the valley.

As you can see Joseph Smith was one of those people. I'm not Mormon but I believe he is an important person in the Mormon church. One of the founders, I think.

I love going to old towns and seeing all the old historic buildings. I walk along the streets and wonder what it was like all those years ago.

Do you like to go to old historic towns too?

THERE'S A NEW DOG IN TOWN

A new restaurant called LAZY DOG that is! The town is Temecula, CA.

It doesn't actually open until May 20,2010 but they were having a mock run today where friends and family of the staff could go and enjoy a meal for free.



We got to go because my nephew, John, is the head chef and is even part owner of this great restaurant! I'm so proud of him.

He has been in charge of everything in the kitchen. From ordering the food, hiring and training the staff to making sure all the food is cooked to perfection.

When you walk up to the restaurant you can see touches that let you know this isn't just any restaurant. This is a fun restaurant that has many extra cute touches. Like the dog paw print on the fireplace screen outside.

A big paw print at the top of the building.

Inside, the place is warm and cozy. Almost like you are in a huge dog house.

We didn't order off the main menu. They had a special menu for us. Just a hint of things that are on the regular menu they will be using once they open.

Yes, the owners are all big lovers and everywhere you look, you can tell how much they love and adore dogs.

Even the signs on the bathroom are a hint at how they are forever thinking about their dogs.

I love these signs. Notice how the boy dog has his leg lifted up. To cute!

There are paw prints everywhere. Even on our table. It reminds me of the hidden Mickey Mouses at Disneyland. They are everywhere, but sometimes you have to search for them.

This sign is over by the bar.

I have to admit, I was laughing and smiling through out my whole visit here. There is so much to see and being a big dog lover myself, I enjoyed it all.

My favorite item was the fire hydrant with dog bone levers they have for the beer on tap. Very clever if you ask me.

As much as I adored the decor of the place, the food is what will bring you back again and again.

My sister, Patty, had these Ribs, mashed potatoes and veggies. She said they were by far, the best ribs she has ever had.

My photo didn't come out that great as I had my camera on the wrong setting. Trust me though, if it taste as good as it looked and smelled it was like heaven.

I got cheese pizza. First of all, it was big enough to feed a family of four. However, it was so good, I couldn't stop eating it and I had 1/2 all by myself. I took the other 1/2 half home.

I think I just found my new favorite place for pizza. It was that good.

Even though we were stuffed from our meal, we had to try the dessert. Patty got Apple Cobbler with ice cream and whipped cream on top.

It was served warm and the ice cream was melting making each bite a perfect blend of warm crunchy goodness with cold creamy smooth wonderful flavor.

I had an ice cream sundae. It was huge! Served in a darling dog bowl was three scoops of great vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate and raspberry sauce, whipped cream, nuts and a banana.

As hard as I tried, I couldn't finish it all. Believe me when I say, I tried too. I was just to full from all the pizza. But, it was so good.

We had a blast, the staff was so nice and professional. I don't have one bad thing to say. I'm not just saying that because my nephew works there either. It really was a fun and enjoyable time and I can't wait to go back real soon.

FIELD OF HONOR 2010

Today I went to Newport Beach where they were having a celebration to honor the men and women of the Armed Forces.

They put up 1776 American Flags which represented the first year we became a free Country.

For those who wanted, you could purchase a flag for $45.00 and not only do you get the flag at the end of the weekend celebration but they would tie a yellow ribbon around it and you could add the name of your loved one who served in the Military to honor them.



We had no idea what to expect as this was the first year they had done this.

The park was up on a hill that over looked the Coast line below. From the streets below you could see hundreds of flags flying in the wind.

The start of the park was all the flags from the different branches of the Military.



As you walked, the pathways were lined with flag after flag. Each one represented someones loved one.

Most flags had the yellow ribbon with a name attached. Someone who stood up and bravely defended our Country at some time in our history.

We purchased a flag in honor of my brother Gregory Kennedy, who died while he was in the Army. He was only 18 when he died.

This is his flag.

My sister, Patty and I were there as they were attaching some names to the ribbons. So they allowed us to put our brother's name on his ribbon.

I have to admit it was very emotional for us. Even though he died many years ago, I felt him there with us. Standing proudly as we honored him.

I know he would be happy to have a flag flying in his honor.

After we left, we thought about it and talked how we wished we would have gotten flags for our other brother, Gene and our Dad. We agreed we would do that next year.

This year, we had to quickly decide what name to put on the flag and since our brother Greg was actually in the service when he died his name was the one we picked.

We didn't even think about Gene because he is still alive. Yet, we found out these were to honor all those in the Military. Both living and dead.

Pictures can not do this experience justice. I stopped and read name after name on the flags and said a prayer for each one.

It broke my heart think about how young most of the people were when they were in the Military and how scared they must have been as they fought in the wars.



I thought of all the men and women who are over seas fighting right now. Also, those who are waiting to be shipped out. Or those who will soon follow in their footsteps and enlist.

I'm so thankful for all these men and women. Without them, where would our Country be?

Some of the ribbons showed the person was KIA or killed in action. How sad.

Some had the pictures of the person attached to the flag, but not many. I think it would be nice if next year, everyone attached a photo. They make it much more personal.

They also had some vehicles that were used in years past. Like this old Military Police vehicle.

This was one of the jeeps from World War II. I thought about the people who rode in this vehicle. What was is it like to be driving in this jeep. Were they heading towards their death? Where they going to rescue someone?

Looking inside the jeep you can see that it couldn't have been any more simple inside. Just start it and go! No radio, no aircondition, no heater. Not much comfort either.

I'm sure they felt every bump and were jerked around like crazy as they rode in here.

At the top of the park there was this monument. It is permanently installed.

The day was overcast and a bit chilly down at the beach. It seemed to add to the somber mood.

We came across this one flag that had a MIA flag attached to it. It wasn't until then that it dawned on me there are still those family members who have no idea what happened to their loved ones.

I felt ashamed that I had forgotten about those men and women.

Were they killed? Were they captured? Are they still alive? They have no idea. How heartbreaking.

This is the name of one of those brave men still MIA.

I remembered in high school wearing a copper bracelet with the name of someone who was MIA. Do you remember those?

I recall being so happy when I found out the man named on my bracelet made it home.

They also had this car, along with the son of the man who drove it and rescued many people.

This is the car and if you click on the photo to blow it up, you will see a man in a uniform. That is the son of the man who was deemed a hero. He was telling stories about his dad and what a brave man he was.

I'm really happy we went today. I've noticed the older I get, the more I'm touched by our Military and those who serve our Country.

I feel like we don't do enough to honor them. So, whenever I see little acts like this one, I want to participate.

If I could, I would shake each one of their hands and thank them in person for all they have done and all that they continue to do. Each one, is a true hero in my eyes.