I don’t know what this flower is but I remember it growing along the fence at the daycare center my mom took my brother and me. It was located at the hospital where she worked as an emergency room nurse.  The smell of the flower is distinct. The small buds blossom into a variety of colors. And they attract bees. I remember the daycare play yard located right next to the hospital and alongside a railroad track. The yard was made of mulch and smelled like sawdust.  There were several huge tires we played in plus a sandbox with very gritty sand and a swing set.  I was around 4 – 6 years old.  Isn’t it funny how this flood of memories comes back  just by seeing a flower?

The rest of the photos are some other flowers we found today on our walk:

A wall of azaleas in full bloom.

I think these are pansies.

This bed lines an entire block – it really is beautiful in person.

And I proudly display the one LONE flower in my yard.

]]> http://leanneslife.com/2010/03/28/flower-power/feed/ 6 http://leanneslife.com/2010/03/15/happy-5th-anniversary-to-me/ http://leanneslife.com/2010/03/15/happy-5th-anniversary-to-me/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:08:57 +0000 Leanne http://leanneslife.com/?p=988 Five years ago I started this blog to share my stories and adventures of my life in Hong Kong. I was headed overseas for a 4-month assignment and thought a blog would be a cool, inexpensive way to stay in touch with my family and friends. The blog was originally named “The Life of Leanne”.

me, Mike Hyland at Hong Kong Disneyland, 5 months before Grand Opening

I can’t believe 5 years have passed. Since then I’ve been back to Hong Kong for another 2-month stint in 2006, spent 6-weeks in Paris in 2007, toured Madrid and Barcelona in 2007, been to 4 Super Bowls (7 total) and so much more (WDW Moms Panel, Disney Parks Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and so much more.)

Super Bowl XL in Detroit  and trying to look deep in thought in Paris 2007.

What kind of a mom would I be if I didn’t bring out the baby photos!?! (Please don’t click away – these are worth seeing and there’s not very many of them.)

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jefferson. Total action shot!!

Here’s a photo of Ashley- my very first dog. She lived to be 14 years old and was quite a girl! She was an awesome dog.

And then came Mikita in December 2007.

And following Mikita’s arrival was the re-friendship with Mike.

I’ve had some really wonderful life moments shared with you here on the blog. I’ve been struggling lately trying to figure out where it goes from here. I have to be honest, I’m confused with all the advice I read on blogging and the “rules” they establish for bloggers and realize I don’t fit into this realm, based of what they consider the “right” way to blog. I blog about everything in my life – my dogs, my man, my friends, my work life, my home life… everything. Yet the “experts” say I should have a niche and focus. This thinking has me all confused and wondering if I should even continue on.
But I will. I enjoy this, even if it’s not what a blog expert says it should be. I hope you continue to read my blog. It will be what it has been for the past 5 years – a blog about my life. A blog about what I do, who I am, what makes me happy. I don’t write this for advertisements so I have no guiding light other than my heart. I hope you continue to stop by once in awhile and enjoy what you see.

Location:  Orlando, Florida

Outside Temperature:  68-degrees

Water Temperature:  57-degrees

Dogs say:  Let’s Swim!

Mom says:  Not me!

Gotta get the ball out of the water.

I can get to it this way.

I’m going in.

Got it!

Ah – Let’s do it again – about 30-times!

Happy Sunday everyone.

]]> http://leanneslife.com/2010/02/21/the-first-swim/feed/ 2 http://leanneslife.com/2009/11/04/wordless-wednesday/ http://leanneslife.com/2009/11/04/wordless-wednesday/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:27:59 +0000 Leanne http://leanneslife.com/?p=857 My Canine Wordless Wednesday

Me:  “Hello”

Caller:  “Hi. I’d like to know if my 3 suits and curtains are ready yet?”

Me:  “Yes. Come pick them up tonight”

Ha!! Now those were the kinds of phone calls my grandmother used to get. I would answer her phone in the afternoons. But I can say it’s very doubtful that I will ever be talented enough to get those kinds of calls.

I decided to revisit my sewing talents.  I used to sew quite a bit back in the 80’s.  I made blouses, skirts, dresses for me and my mom.  The garments were never award winning, but I had the honor of telling everyone that I made them myself.  As time went on, my life got busier and I let go of the hobby. I remember selling my old sewing machine at a garage sale and wondering as the new owner walked away with it if I had made a mistake or not.

But worry no more.  I lucked out in getting my new machine.  I purchased it through an airline mileage reward program.  It arrived last week and I couldn’t be more excited!  I picked up the sewing table for it at our neighborhood garage sale this weekend for $10 bucks.  What a deal.

I went to Joanne’s Fabrics this weekend to browse around for fabrics, patterns and ideas.  Oh my – the price of patterns have definitely skyrocketed since the 80’s.  I remember the average price being around $3 each. Not anymore.  The going rate per pattern was $15 – 17! Yikes!   Fortunately, the store was having a huge sale with all the McCall’s patterns on sale for $.99 each.  I purchased the maximum allowed – 10 patterns.  Note to self – keep an eye out for those kinds of sales.  Whoa!

I’m ready to start my first project.  I bought three different fabrics – all really pretty in the violet/fuchsia/blue color family.  You can be sure I’ll post something here on the outcome.

Mikita insists on being part of my new hobby.

And this is how the day ends.

I’ve done you wrong.  You showed me how to earn respect and gain control of my dog.  I just didn’t follow through. Now, I’m paying the price.