C, C and more C!

Brian's new iPhone has an excellent video camera.  So now we get video whenever and wherever!  We can't get enough of Charlotte's antics.  She turned 18 months today and continues to show us signs of what an intelligent and indepent lady she will be.  What a cutie!

My shopping diva.


Charlotte is trying to take care of her baby, but she just can't help but dance!


Working on motorboat at MVP pool

My homemade Oreos

I finally got around to downloading some pictures and realized I never got to share my Oreo cookie success story.  Over a year ago Brian came across this recipe on SmittenKitchen.com.  After Brian made me an ice cream cake for Mother's Day, I had to follow suit.
Although it was a two day process, it was well worth it.  I highly recommend the recipe. The cookies are a nice understated chocolate with a perfect sugary filling.  They stayed fresh for at least a week.  I will make these over and over again.

After 4 years in this house, Brian and I finally came to terms with the fact that we will never invest the time, sweat and creativity into doing our own landscaping.  Fortunately, I have an HJWL friend who's husband owns Bosch's Landscaping.  So I felt very comfortable going to them for an honest estimate (and also wanted to show them appreciation for their many donations to HJWL).  Today, the work was completed and we LOVE it!  It looks clean, sharp, and most of all, low maintenance. It also helps a bunch with curbside appeal.

Before: Notice the overgrown rose bush, sunk in rock border and (since we didn't take care of it this summer) an abundance of weeds.

After:  The two heights are now one smooth grade.  There are rhododendrons at the picture left, wintergem boxwood to the right, and scattered dianthus carnations which should eventually make a nice groundcover.  The tracklighting was kept but nicely placed and we now have a nice rounded border.  I don't think the picture does it justice really.

Side garden before:

Side garden now:  Stella d'oro daylilies (yellow), "Regal Splendor" Hostas, and Pardon Me daylilies (red).

Close up of garden right:

Now:

Thank you for a professional and affordable job Bosch's!