Homemaking and a few other things

I shall call this post... . We've been settled into our new home for almost a month now and boy it feels good. There was a lot of work involved but it was worth it. We love the layout and the coziness of the house.

The bravo goes to Hrishi for all hanging the pictures and especially for the very nicely done collage of Ella's pictures.

I have been thinking of this little project to spruce up a bit the grassy and bit boring landscaping. I think a little color can go long ways. I love the weather is warm and summery here long into the fall season. Folks in the gardening dept tell me that I should be able to "stretch out" my annuals through a couple of years. Today I was finally able to start my project. Ella helped too but cautious as she's highly allergic to molds, grasses, pollen, etc. 

Here's the finished product:

With some nice loving tender care, they'll grow and bring even more color. We are particularly excited about the hibiscus.

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned my real age which is 37. We spend half of the day in the doctor's office getting Ella skin tested for her allergies. We got some good news: she tested negative to dogs, cats, bird feathers, and horse hair, yahoo!!!! You cannot imagine the joy and excitement that came over her, well later after we left the doctor's office. The old and not so good news were that she's highly allergic to molds and dust mites, pollen, grasses, and trees. Oh well, we'll continue with medication (year round) and might start allergy shots. She's absolutely terrified of shots in general but has agreed to give them a try. We are so proud of her. So we came her and got into celebration mode, well almost. We made chicken and beef fajitas and Shu and Andrea brought guacamole. Of course we had cake. Red velvet, my favorite. Although I was emotionally exhausted from the doctor's office experience (she didn't take the whole skin test very well), and at some point I just felt like getting into my PJs and laying on the couch with a big slice of cake, I got it together and had a good time with the family and friends. 

All the beautiful cards I got. To those I add the Facebook and text message wishes that did make my day, thanks for all the wonderful family and friends who remembered that it was my birthday.

Some pictures from the doctor's office. I love it that we were able to be all there, cry, and fuss together, and then laugh together.

Hrishi carefully examining the reactions on her back. He got quite a few right.

Those really big ones are the milk and peanuts, the other big ones are molds, dust mites, and grasses/pollen.

With the little gift she got.
                                                

I love my sweetheart!

She'll be starting subcutaneous desensitization, that is allergy shots in layman's terms, in a few weeks. We're hopefully that those will help in the long run with dealing a little better with environmental allergens. Last night I couldn't really sleep well thinking of all the extra deep cleaning I somehow have to fit in. Sigh...

It was a great day though and wouldn't have it any other way. 

Now a few pictures from beautiful Del Lago in Magnolia. That place is so peaceful.

And a few of our amazing neighborhood. The lake is right behind.

(Now, these are some amazingly beautiful and flagrant flowers/bushes. They would look wonderful in our backyard!!)