As soon as I got home the kids munched into them and I grabbed the remaining four and placed them all over the house- taking pics of them in bizarre locations!

Smiling boy seemed quite delighted to see the photos on the computer and now keeps asking, “Mommy- can I see the apples?”

Here are my favorites!

What about you? Do you like tiny things??

I long to get in the car and just drive and drive. I’d roll down the windows and suffer the knotty consequences later. I’d turn the music up high and start to dream of what little roadside cafe should be my stop for lunch or for that matter dinner.

If you want to come along then come. We’ll talk of life and read each other stories or maybe not talk at all. We’ll just watch the highway stretch out in front. And be grateful for the company.

And I love home.

Being called a homebody isn’t an insult. It’s the truth.

So now my workweek is over and it’s 8:30 at night and all is settling down. I’m sitting here watching Alton Brown’s show about Bananas and reveling in my comfort zone.

The way I make myself comfortable is I first

Light a candle

And some incense

And then just relax with a few of my favorite things:

My woven baskets

My wall hangings

My favorite art

(photographer Luke Batten- my brother)

If you can’t guess it already I’m a little crunchy granola. I like it that way.

Now I’m off to fall asleep to The Food Network or the Olympics. Night night everyone!

Who doesn’t love a good tater tot? Throw a bunch in a hot oven, crisp them up and serve with lots of ketchup! My husband loves to pop a few in his mouth and pull out a Sling Blade impersonation, “Taters, mmhmmm….”

And the kids? They are uncharacteristically quiet as they gobble them up.

I try not to serve it too often. Why spoil them?

I was out the door heading off to an early AM Saturday clinic here in Guam when the raindrops caught my eye.

So delicate and untouched.

I love to cook. Something about the smell and the feel of the ingredients under my hands. As I chop away the tension also starts to flow. That is unless there are screaming kids under my feet. Then I’m yelling, HOT STOVE! EVERYBODY OUT!

But as they get older they join in with me and we have some fun. The littlest one likes to sit on the counter and give me a heart attack as he reaches for the knives!

They even like to cuddle and watch The Food Network. I’m not lying. They sit really still and watch as The Barefoot Contessa- Ina Garten chops and dices.

John always looks at me and says, This thrills you doesn’t it?

And I say, Yes sir it does!

What about everyone- Do you like to cook? Were you taught by someone or did you learn on your own?

We are about to celebrate our one year anniversary here on the tiny little island of Guam and it’s really starting to feel like home. It’s funny how it takes about a year to become accustomed to a new place. Once you go through all the seasons and celebrations, you start to create new memories. And you even look forward to the little things, the things you’ll miss when you’re gone.  Like the flowering trees. They are everywhere.

This pretty tree surprised me the other day! Can you guess what it is? Oh and don’t look at me for the answer, I have no clue. Someone else out there has got to know. Dad?

1. green planet – bali, indonesia, 2. Paradise lost, 3. Girl Dancers, Ubud Bali, 4. Little Balinese, 5. Ulian Macekan Agung Klungkung, part 1, 6. Bali, 7. Bali, 8. Bali, 9. rumpi

I jumped in that dirty, but oh so mine car, because Counting Crows was in the CD player and I don’t have it on my iPod yet. Each time I get in the car- the clock rolls back and I’m in the mid 1990s again.

It was before med school, marriage and kids. It was during a time when a summer internship in Ventura kept my weekdays busy. I’d commute home to LA on the weekends and work 24/7 for a few days and then head back up to that peaceful town. Nights were spent running. On the beach and down through town, my feet flew. I’d play the Counting Crows over and let it fill my soul. It was a carefree time.

I rolled the windows down today and felt warm tropical breeze float over arms, through my hair. It was like I was running again and it felt good. Sullivan Street from that CD is my favorite. I never get tired of it.

.

What’s your song?

Here are the rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?- Sheila

2. What is your favorite food?- Pasta

3. What high school did you go to?- Red Bluff

4. What is your favorite color?-Green

1. Sheila Rowbotham and Mike Gonzalez, 2. night @siem reap* 06, 3. Pencarrow Coast Road, 4. Beautiful old lady from Darap(Sikkim) village

5. Who is your celebrity crush?-Dennis Leary

6. Favorite drink? Red Wine

7. Dream vacation?-Colorado

8. Favorite dessert? Cookies

1. ode to dennis leary, 2. pentacon six tl wannabe edward hopper edward olive, 3. Weathered Sunset, 4. everyday’s fortune

9. What you want to be when you grow up? Happy

10. What do you love most in life?My family

11. One word to describe you.persistant

12. Your flickr name: Dr. Cason

1. The Earth is God’s Canvas., 2. Mocha’s and Enoki’s Babies Day #1, 3. One Dollar, Sir!, 4. Reflecting – Ida Cason Memorial Chapel