Love is All You Need…

June 29, 2015 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

This past Friday was a great day for love. We went to Tulsa to attend the wedding of a young lady and her beloved. It was a beautiful church ceremony and a really fun reception at the Hard Rock hotel.

Our son, Chris, was one of the ushers. This is him with a dear friend:

They had a photo booth set up at the reception so this happened:

Our 34th anniversary was last weekend but since we were going to be in Tulsa anyway, we decided to celebrate this weekend instead. Saturday we slept in after a rather late night. We decided we’d like to see the Women’s World Cup game so we found a sports bar/restaurant – Fat Daddy’s. I had read some reviews, one of which highly recommended the Reuben sandwich. I decided to go with that, along with onion rings. Both were absolutely delicious:

Reuben and onion rings at Fat Daddy's in #Tulsa

We ate and hung out for awhile watching the game. It wasn’t the most exciting game we’ve ever seen and since we were a little sleepy we decided to go back to the hotel for a little nap since we would up late again that night.

After a nice nap we went to Charleston’s for a light dinner (soup and salad) before heading to Shrine, a music venue where we had tickets to see “Let’s Zeppelin“, a Led Zeppelin tribute band. We had no idea if they’d be any good but the tickets were only $8 each so it was certainly worth a shot. They were surprisingly good and we thoroughly enjoyed the show. They were also really nice guys and we ended up chatting with them for awhile afterwards.

A friend of ours manages a food truck and it happened to be set up across the street from Shrine. After the show we went over to visit with her. It was well after midnight and we were a little hungry so we got some food from the food truck. It was exceptionally good and really hit the spot.

I think it was almost 3 a.m. before we turned in for the night so we didn’t get out of the room until a little after noon Sunday. Our food truck friend had recommended the Dilly Diner for brunch/lunch so we decided to give it a try. I love chicken and waffles so when I saw that on the menu that’s what I had to order. The food was really good and I love the fact that much of their food is locally sourced and all made from scratch.

After lunch we checked out a record store but didn’t find anything we couldn’t live without. We decided to head on home after that.

It was a nice little getaway and a fun way to celebrate 34 years of marriage.

Take the #selflovechallenge – Celebrating Womanhood Event

September 5, 2014 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Celebrating Womanhood #selflovechallenge

Hosted by Living, Learning, and Loving Life, Cabin Goddess, Tea with Dee, Living This Moment, and Teachable Scotts Tots Homeschool.

For the past two years, we’ve let you get away with shining the spotlight on another woman. This year, it’s all about YOU. As women, we often have trouble putting ourselves front and center. We’re not important, not pretty, not smart, not talented. Just not enough.

But that is SO not true, and we challenge you to break through that barrier. Join the #selflovechallenge on September 16, and share three positive things about yourself. If you don’t have a blog, share on Facebook, Twitter, a favorite email loop (as long as they don’t mind off-topic messages), or just write it on a Post-it note and put it on your bathroom mirror.

Men can participate, too, but we really want women to embrace this. You are amazing, and it’s time you owned it!

Your three things can be just one comment each, or you can give background or elaborate in some way. The positive things can be anything: a physical trait, a talent, a facet of your personality, or anything else you can think of.

The only rule is that you can’t add any qualifiers.

YES = I have beautiful eyes.
YES = I get a lot of compliments on my eyes.
NO = I have pretty eyes. At least that’s what people tell me.
NO = I guess I have pretty eyes, but no one can tell because of these stupid glasses.

Just acknowledge and accept that you have gorgeous eyes and move on. 😉

We’re not looking for affirmations here. Find three things you can love about yourself just as you are. Sure we can all improve something, but you are amazing RIGHT NOW! If you honestly can’t think of anything, ask your friends and family. You should love yourself unconditionally, but sometimes we need a little help realizing that there is something about us to love.

Join our Facebook page, and help us spread the word. We’ll have a linky up on the 16th for you to share your posts.

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Just because…

July 31, 2014 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

David brought these gorgeous flowers home to me a couple of days ago. Just because. They were specially arranged for me by a sweet friend who works at the local florist shop. Aren’t those peonies spectacular? And then yesterday my mom bought me some stargazer lilies. Just because.

I’m a fortunate girl.

Happy New Year – 2014

January 2, 2014 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

Happy New Year!

In this year which stretches out before us, all shiny and new, I wish for each of you:

laughter – from giggles to tears-streaming-down-your-face guffaws
quiet moments of reflection
discovery
music to lift your spirit and touch your soul
daily rituals to ground you and give life structure
big dreams
colorful sunsets
hugs from someone you love
steaming cups of something hot and delicious
restful sleep

Make time to read a good book, taste something new, draw a picture, make music, blow bubbles, dance in the kitchen, grow something. Take long walks, daydream, sing, sign up for a class, buy yourself some flowers, go to the zoo. Count your blessings, forgive, call your parents, write a letter and say “I love you” often.

May 2014 be filled with blessings beyond your wildest dreams.

Memory Lane Monday ~ Uncle Ed

July 23, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 3 Comments

I had intended to share some special memories of my Uncle Ed in today’s post but this has been a really difficult day for me and I just can’t do it. Maybe one of these days but not just yet. Instead I’ll just share a few pictures.

This was taken at the Dana Point harbor in 2010, the last time I saw my uncle before he became ill. That’s my Aunt Dee on the left (I was named for her) and their grandson, Matt.

These next two pictures were taken about 22 years ago when my parents took both of my kids and my niece, Lauren, to California on a special trip. These girls loved to “fix” Uncle Ed’s hair every chance they got and he was so patient about it.

What a beautiful man:

This last picture isn’t of my uncle but it’s one of my favorite pictures of David and me. I use it as my profile picture on Facebook much of the time. The reason I’ve included it is because Uncle Ed took it. I am the picture taker in my family but rarely end up in any photos myself. After I took the picture at the top of this post, Uncle Ed asked me to hand him my camera and he took this:

Thank you, Uncle Ed. For everything.

The Hippie and the Pirate: A Love Story (Part 2)

June 27, 2013 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

The Hippie and the Pirate – A Love Story

Part 2: Love is Blind

I could barely wait for our our next youth group meeting in the hopes I’d see David again. As Sue and I entered the room I nervously glanced around. I didn’t see him but it was still a few minutes until our official starting time. The room was arranged with chairs and tables in a large circle. Sue and I sat on the side of the circle facing the door. My heart skipped a beat when he entered the room just as we were getting started. And then I watched in dismay as he sat down next to “Bambi” (name changed to protect the dumb).

Well. That was that. “Bambi” was the bubbly, blonde, cheerleader-type (okay, so I was a cheerleader myself but not that “type”) of our group and all the boys drooled over her. She was a pretty airhead in a tight t-shirt who loved to laugh and flirt with the guys. I’ve never understood the attraction for that type but it’s certainly undeniable. And lest you think I’m being unfair about the dumb part, here’s a little story about Bambi. One day while playing a game of co-ed softball she connected with the ball, apparently for the first time. She was quite excited about it and started running toward base. Third base. No, I’m not making this up. And you know what? The boys thought it was adorable.

So I was pretty sure that signaled the end of any possibilities I had with him. I mean, there I was, a shy brunette who was in the gifted class at school. How could I compete? After youth group was over we all usually stood around in groups outside, waiting for our rides, trying to impress one another or feeling inadequate. As Sue and I went outside I spotted David. Talking to Bambi. Sigh…

Then he saw me and immediately headed my way. I don’t remember what we talked about. I’m not sure if that’s when I found out that he should have been wearing glasses or if that came later. Turns out he couldn’t see me across the room when he came in so he sat down by Bambi because he was late and she was near the door. He told me later that when he finally realized I was there he was afraid he’d blown it.

I’m not sure if that’s when we exchanged phone numbers or if that came a little later. I do know that we both became very serious about youth group and began attending faithfully. Which probably didn’t fool anyone.

If you missed Part 1 of our love story, you can read it here.

I do…

June 23, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

This afternoon David and I attended the wedding of my cousin’s son. It’s always sweet to witness young love in its beginnings.

The whole wedding was quite personalized but I do believe this “takes the cake”:

We had a wonderful time visiting with some of my out-of-town cousins and then went out for a late lunch with my parents and one of those cousins.

We’ve spent the rest of the day watching the early episodes of Cheers while David alternates ice and a TENS unit on his neck which has been in spasms the past several days. Yes, we are living large today.

The Hippie and the Pirate – A Love Story

June 20, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

Before neither of us can remember the details, I thought it would be nice to write our love story. Here is part 1 (update: with links to parts 2 and 3):

The Hippie and the Pirate – A Love Story

Part 1: How We Met

It was sometime early September 1976, probably on a Wednesday since that was when our church youth group met. We were going to Montclair to play miniature golf and then get ice cream at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour afterwards.

Now, to set this story up a bit you have to know that I had just turned fourteen a couple of weeks before this outing. I had never dated anyone. Heck, I had only (reluctantly) put away my baby dolls on my 13th birthday the year before. I had, however, been talking on the phone with a boy from church in the weeks preceding. We kind of, sort of liked each other. Well, to be truthful he was more interested in me than I was in him. But he was a nice kid and I wanted a boyfriend.

He and I were supposed to meet up for this youth group outing but I got cold feet about it and decided I really didn’t want to lead him on. So I talked to him before we boarded the bus and told him I just wanted to be friends. I had no way of knowing that I had just cleared the way for the love of my life.

My cousin, Sue, went on the trip and we sat together on the bus. We lived next door to one another and were best friends. I don’t remember all that much about the miniature golf but I do remember the ice cream parlor. They had this dessert called the “Pig Trough” which consisted of THREE banana splits. If you ate the whole thing you got a badge or ribbon or something that said “I made a pig of myself at Farrell’s”. Well, of course several of the boys had to do this.

On the bus ride back I decided to walk to the back of the bus to talk to one of the guys who had “made a pig of himself”. I was usually very shy so I’m not sure how I got up the nerve, although I had known him quite awhile. As I was standing there in the aisle (yeah, we were quite safety conscious in the 70s) a girl asked me if I knew who the guy was who was sitting behind her. Apparently she had asked him his name and he wouldn’t tell her. He happened to be sitting with Brian, who used to be in the car pool my mom drove when we attended private school. Maybe that’s what gave me the courage but I simply asked him what his name was. He promptly replied, “David Piercy” then nudged Brian who gave me his seat. The girl gave me a dirty look then spun back around in her seat.

We talked the rest of the way back on the bus. I had recognized his last name and it turned out I knew his eldest brother, Rick. My brothers and I always entered the Park and Recreation track meets each year and Rick had been in charge of those. Other than that I really don’t remember what we talked about but I do know that we hit it off immediately and conversation was easy, even for a shy fourteen year old girl.

I later found out that David had looked out the bus window just as we met and noticed the sign which said how many miles it was to Victorville, where we both lived. Remember this detail because it will come up again later in our story. As we returned to the church parking lot we made plans to see one another at the next youth group meeting.

I had felt a little bit guilty about deserting Sue on the bus but she was very understanding and eager to hear all about David. It wouldn’t be the last she’d be hearing about him.

And that is how it all began.

~~~~~

Part 2: Love is Blind

Part 3: First Kiss

Starry, starry night

April 30, 2013 By Deanna Piercy 1 Comment

David and I had such a lovely time together last night. He had spent the whole day repairing our water heater and I had weeded a little over half of one of my raised garden beds, plus did some mowing. We took a short break for a late lunch at around 4 p.m. and by the time we had both showered it was nearing 9 p.m. and neither of us wanted much to eat. He toasted some homemade bread for himself and made a fresh pot of coffee. I took a plate of cheese, crackers and grapes out to the front porch and nibbled while listening to music.

When it got dark David took our zero gravity chairs and his telescope out into the front yard. Knowing that we enjoy stargazing, a friend shared a link on Facebook letting us know that we would be able to see Saturn and its rings. And we did! It was really cool to be able to clearly see the rings.

We sat out there for perhaps two hours, reclining in our chairs, holding hands and just soaking in the beauty of the night sky. We spotted six satellites crossing the sky and three shooting stars. There is nothing quite like spending a warm night outdoors with the one you love, listening to the crickets and pondering the mysteries of the night sky. I’m looking forward to many more starry, starry nights with my sweetheart.

Celebrating Womanhood ~ Bloggers Wanted

August 30, 2012 By Deanna Piercy 1 Comment

Hosted by Living, Learning, and Loving Life, Cabin Goddess, CrazyLadyx5, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave, Tea With Dee, alchemyofscrawl, and Retro Housewife Goes Green.

For one day, we want to drown out negativity and celebrate the beauty and pride of women.

These days it seems that some people want us to be ashamed of being women. They want us to believe that we’re less: less intelligent, less important, less human. There is so much negativity out there. For one day, we want to flood the internet with positive messages about women. On September 16, 2012 we’re going to write positive blog posts about women, and we invite you to join us.

You can write about anything:
• Motherhood
• Sexuality
• Being a wife
• Being single
• Being a female in the armed forces
• Being a military wife
• Being a woman who works full-time
• Being a daughter
• Friendships
• A specific woman in your life or women in general
• Absolutely anything else you can think of that is something postitive about being a woman or celebrates women.

This isn’t about ranting about the stupid remarks cavemen make. This is all about positive posts about women. Guys, you can participate, too. You can write about your mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend, or women in general. You don’t have to be mushy (although you certainly can if you want) but you do have to be respectful. This event is all about loving, respecting, and celebrating women.

Add your blog to the linky below so we can send you a reminder before the event. Then go tell your friends. Blog about it, tweet it, post it on Facebook and Google+. Join the Facebook page and share it. Use the hashtag #womenrock to help spread the word. Let’s make such a positive statement that we drown out the negative remarks.

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