Beautiful Weather in the Desert!

We have had the BEST weather here in the desert. 

It's been right around 90 for the last few days. 

Considering last week it got up to 109... 

this is like living in paradise.

The Mr. and I are having another stay-cation while he is home for the week. Played a little golf, hit a few restaurants,  and of course I did a little shopping at the SALES!

But I would like to share some pictures of my daughter's and granddaughter's
visit from last year's spring break. 

Here we are sitting around the clubhouse pool.

My granddaughter found something she wanted at Home Goods. She collects Giraffes.
Thank goodness I convinced her that it would not fit on the plane, 
because even at clearance it was 499.00.


So we visited the Living Desert Zoo, 
in Palm Desert, in search of more Giraffes.

This guy just wanted to hide behind a tree. 

She got to 'pet' these animals.

There were wonderful gardens of various desert plants.

There are also beautiful views too see. 
I see those mountains every day, 
but I would much rather see those smiling faces!

What's 'girl time' without a pedicure?!

We also had to 'play' a little, so we went to the clubhouse
and played some Bocce Ball with Grandpa. 

That's Grandpa having fun. 
Yes... that is a smile.

 I think riding in the golf cart with her mom 
was when my granddaughter had the most fun. 



Oh wait... 
It was actually when SHE 
got to drive the golf cart.

We went to the new section of the development 
after the contractors had gone for the night. 

Her daddy had to go right out and buy her a golf cart when she went home.
But, something tells me that he and her mom may have also wanted one.

I would LOVE to move closer and have an 
enormous house where we could gather 
once a month for a big family dinner... 

But in the meantime I will try to enjoy the desert, 
especially when we have days like this.

Another nice view of our golf course. 


xoxo 
Bunny Jean

Don't forget, 
the Bunny Hop will be ready to link up to 
at 4:00 Pacific Time. See you then :)

A Rainy Day Read...

Today I'm joining Chari over at

Happy to Design for her

Sunday Favorites.

I will give her link at the bottom.

~~~

I first wrote this back in the Fall when we

were having a spell of rainy weather.

Well... we will be having a few stormy days

again and it made me think of this post.

It is the beginning of our tornado season here

in Texas.  Something I don't look forward to.

You can go here to read about my

experience with tornadoes.

~~~

It's another rainy day here in North Texas.

A very good day to curl up and

read a good book or blog...

(or two... or three.......).

So, If you don't mind...

I thought I would show some brighter decorating this time.  Not that I don't LOVE the warm and cozy Autumn colors.

The following pictures were taken before my

 dining room fell into Fall!

All I need is a cup of tea and biscuits.

The dining table was moved so that I

 could show you the china hutch.

This is my Spring dish collection.

That green display stand is from

HomeGoods. Love that store!

This silk flower arrangement was a gift...

From my dear friends at Ethan Allen in

Northern California, near the Nappa Valley.

It was given to me at my farewell party

when we were moving to Texas.

Here are some of my Mary Engelbreit 

pretties. Do any of you like ME?

The Garden Angel is by Jim Shore and was given to me by my daughter Angie.  Her wings fell off... so I guess she is a "fallen angel"!? 

DD also gave me the Mary Engelbreit

(ME) grandmother cup,

before her daughter was born.

The cat represents my yellow cat Norton. 

He was big and acted more like a dog

than a cat. He followed me everywhere.

I lost him to the Coyotes in California.

This is a favorite picture.

"When a child is born,

so is a grandmother"

I bought another ME picture in our little 

town's gift shop in Rancho Murieta, Ca. 

(Before we moved to Texas) 

It is a private golf community and is built

on a game reserve... or is it a preserve?

It was full of deer, wild turkeys, bobcats,

rattlesnakes, AND coyotes! 

The shop owner was an artists and

she painted the flowers on the matting

before she framed it.

~~~

Anyway... My tea is brewed so...

back to my afternoon

of relaxing and reading.

Now... where are my glasses?

~~~

Now don't forget to go visit Chari 

over at Happy to Design.

Thank you Chari for hosting

this weekly event.

Unique Storage Idea

Everyone is familiar with these

*shoe storage thingies*.

They don't hold very many pairs

of shoes and take up lots of room.

I don't need this anymore.

Not after Hubby built me my

fabulous shoe shelves!

If you missed my closet redo a

few weeks ago, you can see it here.

But don't forget to come back here

to see this weeks new storage idea.

My seldom used/casual shoes

go into this cute trunk.

It is very sturdy and well made,

and is absolutely ginormous inside!

I found it at HomeGoods.

I love that store!

It has real leather trim...

and nice sturdy hardware.

So this is what that *shoe thingy*

is doing now.

It now holds all  some of my old

magazines that I must keep.

It rolls away under my clothes.

It can also go under the bed. 

~~~

Please visit Susan over at

Between Naps on the Porch

for Metamorphosis Monday.

Thanks Susan!

Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage

is also hosting an event.

Visit The Shabby Chic Cottage

for Transformation Thursday.

Thanks Gina!

(link will be added on Wed. p.m.)

Don't forget to see my newest

Giveaway details here.

Closet Shelves and Cubbies = Organization!

I have a "new" master bedroom closet.

Okay... so it's not really new,

but it sure feels like it.

~~~

First of all, Hubby painted the walls a semi-gloss vanilla. Sounds boring... but I just wanted it bright and neutral.

   

It had been painted a FLAT beige/taupe that absorbed all the light. The cheap light fixture, and it's placement, only adds to the problem.

Poor Hubby thought he was only painting. I didn't want to ask for too much all at once.

Ha... he should know better by now... 'cause then I asked him to remove two sections of the clothes rods.

I know this sounds crazy, but he trusts me :)

But it didn't stop there! I convinced him that I needed shoe shelves... he tried to convinced me that I needed fewer shoes. 

Marriage is full of compromises.

So... while he was making shoe shelves, I was trying to downsize my shoe "collection".  Shhh... I just had to keep some most of them. You will see where they are in just a minute.

My purses are in these bins.
Two or three in each one.

I used to match my shoes to my purses... something that  no one does much anymore.

Yes, I did get rid of some of those too :(

Miscellaneous things are in

the bins in the top shelf.

Moving from left to right,

to the double clothes rod.

Wondering where those extra shoes are?

Why in that brand new trunk that

I picked up at HomeGoods.

I replaced this plastic bin.

With this decorative trunk. 

I am worried that the trunk is too "busy".

What do you think?

Then... moving to the right a little more...

is another bunch of cubbies and bins.

I love organization!

Makes life so much easier...

don't you think?

My socks are sorted by black, white and navy. I also have belts, scarves, and hats in the other bins. Costume jewelry and reading/sunglasses are in the plastic drawer bins.

Of course they are sorted by sub type and also placed in little tiny zip top bags. It makes finding a pair of earrings so easy.

I  will show you the last wall next week...

after I get dresser painted.

Edit: Go here to see next week's post.

Oh... you might be asking where 

are Hubby's clothes.

Well... they are in his closet,

of course!

~~~

Thanks for stopping by.

I haven't had much time to work on my blog...

but I have been reading yours. 

I know that all of you are busy too, but try to look at as many of this weeks participants as you can.

Let them know when you stop by...

that make us all feel good :)

 Visit Susan

Between Naps on the Porch

Visit Kimba

A Soft Place to Land

Visit Gina

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Visit Twice Remembered

 

Make Your Monday