Just Melanie

Saturday 9: A Few Of My Favorite Things

Hey, everyone! Right now we're in a big freakin' family argument because my oldest, Chloë, wants to treat everyone to something for dinner... However, I have super-strong, scientifically-backed, non-emotional convictions about eating vegan and will not sway, plus I have... Read more →

Not A Creature Was Stirring...

Well. Except the chickens. The chickens want to be fed. The sun was up, after all, and roosters and hennies do not keep quiet. Foraging while impatiently waiting for their Christmas breakfast Ahh, Chloë to the rescue with Fine Dining... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: It's The End Of 2018 As We Know It

Welcome back, homeslices! 🤣 I woke up sick as a DAWG today 😞😭🤧😷, so I'm not feeling the (self) love. I know just being "here" with all of y'all will cheer me up, though, so let's bring it! 😍🤩💗💖 Link... Read more →

Saturday 9: Unbreak My Heart

Hey, folks, welcome back! I'm going "basic bitch" by, yes, writing this post in Comic Sans. I'm just in the mood for it. Live and let live. My grandmother used to tell me, when I'd forgotten to call or write... Read more →

Ten Years Back

I just found some fotos from this week in 2008, and wow! The kids have changed so much. Sophia was so blonde - and that cute little button nose! ♥ Jack's teeth were so cute to me - look at... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: 65 Questions, Part The First

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing, another fun meme presented for us by Bev Sykes of "Funny the World." Link up here if you want to join us today! Sorry for my late posting; another migraine is currently kicking my ass.... Read more →

Independence Day Foto Album

Okay, so maybe this post is about a month late, but that's about how my life is running these days. And okay, so, maybe I hardly even remember the Fourth of July this year, but my best-laid plans had to... Read more →

Saturday 9: My Funny Valentine

Hello, hello! Welcome back to the fray. Make sure you link up here to play along this week, and let's jump right into the fray! ~*~*~*~*~ Saturday 9: My Funny Valentine (1991) Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: HodgePodge

Welcome back, party people. Link up here to play along this weekend. Let's get started! ~*~*~*~*~ January was National Mentoring Month. Have you ever had a mentor? Been a mentor? How would you rate the experience? I was a knitting/crocheting... Read more →

Sunday Stealing: Friday Question Meme

Welcome back, strangers! Link up here if you wish to thieve along with the rest of us today. ~*~*~*~*~ Have you ever tried to learn (or re-learn) a foreign language as an adult? Which one? What worked for you? I... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Advent Days 1-9

Here in Boise, my family and I are going through our 2017 Advent calendar. So far, of course, we've completed activities out and around Boise since the first. Every year, I assemble an Advent calendar with a treat and an... Read more →

2017 Birthday Season Continues...

Birthdays, birthdays, everywhere! On Thursday, my darling firstborn child, Chloë Raine, turned 16 years old! I cannot believe it; I'm in stupendous shock. How can it be? And yet it is. Though her birthday was on the 7th, we decided... Read more →

Sundays In My City: Spirit Of Boise Balloon Classic

Hey, y'all! Make sure you link up with Claudya over on her blog today to show off your hometown, so we can travel the world together! So, here in Boise, Idaho, there is an annual hot air balloon festival, called... Read more →

A Walk With My Curly Girly

Today, I needed some caffeine and rustled up enough change to go get some kind of diet cola from someplace. Chloë decided to go with me, so we could have a little mommy-and-me time. It's harder to come by now... Read more →

Boise: Scenes From A Family Drive About Town

Today, Moday the First Day of SPRING! all five of us had reason to get in the car and drive around together. I'll get to the reason in a moment. I figured, since we were going to take a leisurely... Read more →

Random Snaps

Sophia brought me this gigantic hibiscus flower from the bushes outside. I can never stop this child from bringing me flowers picked from the property. Eh. Anyway, it was so enormous, I needed a photo. Chloë's hair has gotten so... Read more →

Jungle Island 2016

Last year, I took the kids to Miami's Jungle Island near Miami Beach. Rob wasn't able to go, having had appointments at the VA all day. We bought annual passes for the five of us at the time, but due... Read more →

Wordless Wednesday: Heritage Horse Show

Day One This past weekend, Sophia entered her first equestrian show in Plantation, Florida. We arrived around 0745 on Saturday for her first five classes in the Hunters division for Beginning Crossrails. [Yeah, yeah, this entry is supposed to be... Read more →

Wordless Wednesday: Sophia's First Equestrian Show

So I'm not quite going to be "wordless" today, because I never am. You guys know. Our Sophia, 11, has been taking horse riding lessons at Miami International Riding Club for eight months. This weekend, she will be exhibiting her... Read more →

Wordless Wednesday: Pinto's Farm Visit

This week, I'm going to be posting pictures from our trip to Pinto's Farm, here in Homestead, Florida, in the agricultural area known as the Redlands. We went for an Easter weekend about 10 days ago, and I've been sadly... Read more →