No Cookie for You

When I heard Katie Couric tonight say that Bake Sales were against the law now in California due to the rising percentage of obesity in children, I laughed out loud. I am sorry. This is ludicrous. And that is not a rock singer.

The incident she was reporting about was this one. I think one of the kids made a great point:

“I know obesity is a big problem, and it’s good the school cares,” said Sam Cardoza, a senior who briefly became a successful entrepreneur last year when chocolate chip cookies were banned from the cafeteria. “At the same time, you shouldn’t stop a kid from buying a cookie.”

The problem, of course, is never as simple as it's presented though, is it? Kids are fatter, so let's not let them have cookies? I don't think so myself. I know plenty of kids, including mine, who ate cookies all their lives and don't have a weight problem.

It's not the cookies. It's not the sweets at the Bake Sales. Well, what is it then!!? Maybe it could be too many trips through the fast food lane? Or, Maybe it's as simple as science! Energy in...does not match energy out.

I know people try to break it down into groups of facts like:
You must eat
'the right foods'
'low fat foods'
'natural foods'
'no junk foods'
'healthy foods',
'etc.'
'more raw foods'
and yes, all those things play a part. But still - a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. If you eat 3500 calories more than you burn, you will gain a pound. You have to move people!

And, I will tell you true, you better start getting in the habit of moving before you get too old! That metabolism of ours -s-l-o-w-s- down, as we age!

But still, I like this idea from the article:

In Berkeley, birthplace of California cuisine, food served at school is free of bovine growth hormones, irradiation, hydrogenated oils and known genetic modification.

And the idea that the schools or the states or the federal government or whoever had it, about taking physical activity out of the school day? That was dumb. Just plain dumb.

So basically, if you give a mouse a cookie, he's got to move it, move it, he's got to move it, move it ...

Veterans Day

I love the Google Icon today. I'm sure this is only for today that it will be there.

But to the Veterans, I salute you.

Just a thought

Self Manage

There is a huge hole in the heart of all our educations. It is where the skills and abilities of self-management should be. No one teaches us how to manage our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and behaviour, so we find it hard to manage the four Rs – relationships, roles, responsibilities and resources. So let’s get started. Consciously choose the quality of your thoughts today – accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and clean up the waste. Everything, which means everything in your life, begins with your thoughts

~~From Thought for Today Website

I wonder how many parents talk with their children about what they think, the ideas they come up with and where they got them. I wonder how many parents have the time these days to discuss with children how they feel about things, how they perceive things.

I don't remember this type of discussion during my childhood at all. But I do enjoy this type of discussion with my children.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

In the middle of reading the Constitution, I decided to look up recipes.

I love food blogs and found this one called Make Food Not War,

which featured a recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins! What a great idea for Fall! I love chocolate chips in anything.

So, guess what I'm making for the Thanksgiving Family Feast! Yum! I'll probably try substituting brown sugar for white and maybe try applesause instead of oil, as I do that in Banana Bread and it works out fine.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease and flour the pan or use paper liners.

Mix sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin, and water together in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spice, salt, and chocolate chips. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir just until blended. Do not overmix.

Pour into muffin tins and bake 20-25 minutes.

African Proverb

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle,
When the sun comes up, you better start running.

That. Is. Thought Provoking.

I found this proverb in a book by Thomas L. Friedman called, The World Is Flat. Very interesting read.

The Preamble

WE the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I can recite the Preamble from memory.

But I am really not sure how much of The United States Constitution I really know!

So I am reading it here.

I have no idea how long this is going to take me.

What kind of a Muffin are You?

You Are a Blueberry Muffin

You are a nurturing, domestic, homey person. Of all the types, you are the most likely to make your own muffins at home. You don't like to rock the boat, and you're most content when you're making everyone else happy. You are very loyal. You'll defend your family and friends, even if you secretly disapprove of what they're doing. You tend to be a bit shy and withdrawn. You don't make friends quickly or easily. But once you do make a good friend, the chances are high that you'll be friends for life.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?

Well, I like nuts in my muffins. Blueberry is good, but chocolate chips are great! I'm not sure how I scored Blueberry, but oh well, that's today's Muffin Test!

"What are you doing?"

#1 son came in and asked us that this morning.
We said, "Cleaning out the back of the refrigerator."
"What's back there?" he asked.
"Another country" I answered.

One would have to live on a dirt road to understand the automatic accumulation of dust and dirt that can migrate into a home. In spaces and places one would not venture thought to find a settling of God's earth in one's home.

But, anyway, that task is done! And Yay!

I'm back to Flylady's first chore - the shiny sink. I give Flylady the highest of recommendations. If anyone is having a problem scheduling the house keeping because you are too tired or too busy or too stressed to even know where to start (all of those apply to me), Flylady can get you going.

If I follow her daily load of wash suggestion - in and out - life stays a lot easier. I find I used to spend my Saturdays totally doing loads of laundry. I would find an old Lifetime movie on the telly, something sappy, and do the laundry all day. But, with the load a day method during the week, I rarely have to do laundry on the weekends, unless I decide to do that chore. That is one thing I found really freeing.

I, also, like the timer routine. Set the timer for 15 minutes for a task, when it rings you walk away and go on to something else. Eventually, you are cycling around your entire house on a regular basis, and the tasks become easier and quicker.

It just becomes easier to see an actual end, although there really is never an end, it becomes an order one can measure in their mind. Actually, I think that is a kind of a Francis Bacon thing --

Do not overwork the mind any more than the body; do everything with moderation.

Election Day - 2008

Regardless of how the vote turns out - and I am not feeling that Senator Obama has secured the vote, even though it may appear so, according to some pundits - anything can happen (legal or illegal, sad to say)

but regardless, this day will go down in history. First Black Man in the White House, or First Woman is the White House. Historical.

I sure hope everyone who had the right to vote, did vote! We need unprecedented numbers in this election.

Stretching the Truthiness

Why is it that people who run for political office in this here, the United States of America, feel that they must exaggerate, embellish, or just plain lie to the people of this country? Check out Fact Check: The Myths that won't go away.

Doesn't it just help keep us dumber to think that this is the way we have to be addressed? How boring it is to sort through the spin of words that spew freely out of the mouths of otherwise, seemingly, intelligent people. It gives me a headache.

They should all be ashamed of themselves. I am tired of tit-for-tat. I am tired of being treated like I can't hear the truth and deal with it. Just give me a chance.

A Story about Canvassing

The title of the article is My Wife Made Me Canvass for Obama; Here's What I Learned
I read this on the Yahoo News page. It made me smile.

I like life when people get more out of things than they expected.

When was the last time you smiled?

Smiling! Smiling, according to research, tranmits information as it ignites the pleasure circuits of others. I feel shy when I smile at strangers. So, I give them a kind of no-teeth smile most times. I want to smile big, but at the last minute I feel shy.

I do smile at babies freely. Babies are smile ignitors. And, I think it's known, without to much study, that babies can make you act silly, too. And little kids that come up to you just talking away, they are smile ignitors, too.

Actually, there was a study published in the journal Pediatrics that found the smile of an infant sets off "an explosioin of brain chemicals in the mother." Fantastic experience!! Happy brain chemical explosion!!

It feels so good, that the reaction of the mother, than causes her to continue to do things that will make the baby continue to smile, and according to research, this sets off a feeding freezy of smiles that cause all these happy reactions in the brain - back and forth, back and forth - and this frenzy, feeds these "every-tightening emotional bonds!" What a cool way to makes bonds!

Say a prayer...

Angelina Jolie goes to Afghanistan. Take a look.

Thank the good Lord for what you have, and say a prayer for those in distress.

Are you voting?

Each state is different. Find out what you need to do for your state. If you haven't registered by now, you can probably kiss your right to complain good-bye. But check anyway.

Here are the requirements for Florida:

1. Be a citizen of the United States
2. Be a legal resident of both the Florida and of the county in which you seek to be registered
3. Be 18 years old (you may pre-register if you are 17)
4. Not now be adjudicated mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other State

Registration deadline: 29 days before the election

We voted early. I hope that works out in the long run for the country. I hope the election goes smoothly. I hope there are no kinks in the armor of the voting machines, and ballots and the people who are responsible for them. I hope people don't decide not to vote because "their side" appears to be winning. I hope this is the biggest voter turn-out ever, and that it turns out to be fair.

Kenny had a Birthday!

Dear Kenny,

Happy Birthday to one of the way coolest kids I know, and that is taking into consideration the entire planet! I am proud to be your Great Aunt and friend. I truly love you, (and your mama and your daddy and your big brother!) I am proud of you. I am proud that you show your love for your family, and that you make a great effort at your school work.

I still remember going to the hospital the day you were born. You have grown into such a great kid. Remember to keep trying hard to be the best you can be. You were born into a family of people who love and care about you. Don't ever hesitate to call any of us should you need anything.

You will do great things. You are one of the best!

Love you greatly,
The Great Aunt Sasha

Note: Re: photo --
Kenny and his brother Kody had a great baseball season! We enjoyed some of the best baseball we have ever seen while attending one of their games. They have continued to show improvement. You can't ask for any more than that! Our family looks forward to good things from both these young men!

It's all good

Last week I was going to blog about how Flylady.net was my new best friend, as my house keeping situation was just peachy keen and aesthetically pleasing. Then, somewhere along the line, all the stuff that I had put away flew out of its assigned place and wanted to show itself and collect some dust.

It is frustrating. For me, at least.

But, I have learned enough with Flylady, whom I still highly recommend, that you can jump back on that train at any time, and it doesn't take much to get yourself back in place, well, some place...

I think I left off at the part where I was supposed to take down my shower curtain and wash it. Somehow, that job overwhelmed me.

I was torn between a dollar and a dime. I couldn't decide which was more cost efficient i.e. buying a new shower curtain or using soap, water, energy (both mine and the world's -- and if we got all existentialist we might say they were the same thing),

so I belabored the task, as if it might be the end of the world, traveling in and out of the store, unable to make the decision to buy the shower curtain (or not),

Such procrastination, as this, is foreboding and pit falling. Which is just a fancy way of saying, I really didn't wanna mess with the shower curtain, so basically I shot myself in the foot, meaning, I stopped doing most things in the house, ran out of every cleaning necessity I had, while avoiding the store emphatically because of that blasted cheap vinyl shower curtain, and so I began an exercise program.

I decided that my state of mind was caused by depression which in turn must be caused by something I was or was not doing, and since I was not doing exercise that must be the root of all evil, as alas there must always be something to blame, after all this is America and nothing is our fault, you know, and everything has a root.

So, I've been exercising for two days. There is not a place on me that does not ache, twinge or creek.

As for that shower curtain - well, it's not dead yet. NASA was knocking on my door asking for samples of a new life form that was signaling from my house on their radar screens, as my shower curtain was, well...let's just say, *gross* can have several meanings, shapes and forms.

NASA is making me sign papers that exempt them from prosecution, after I agreed to let them tent my house, and spray us down with some powdery stuff that smells like kool-aid; they say it's routine, so at least I know I'm not the only one with problems of this sort.

I realize now that I'm also having problems in the area of decision making and should, most likely, seek counseling on this. After I make that appointment, I'll be getting in touch with the orthopedic surgeon and taking physical therapy and it looks like that shower curtain could end up costing a whooping Three Grand.

For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost ....
that's the way it goes sometimes.


For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

Nothing , maybe, something, maybe

One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything. ~ George Lichtenberg

Is coming to terms another word for acceptance?

I posted that the other day, and then today, I found this quote by Robert Frost --

"Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever's going. Not against: with."

I thought that was so interesting. In doing that, making it over your own way, you are no longer the salmon swimming up stream. You are the flower growing along side the weeds on the side of the railroad track. People will notice. They will drive by quickly, but a little glance at you might help them through their day.

My thoughts are much consumed by the election coming up in our country. I want to like and respect all the candidates, but I can't.

I do feel we, as in the 'we' meaning our country, are in such a mess. Maybe I feel that way because we are among the unemployed. Maybe it is because of the money needed to pay for the insurances required to live in the country. Insurance companies have such a grip on us. Maybe it's because gas is crunching our food budget. I do like peanut butter and jelly, so perhaps, I will be one of the survivors.

Madam B has a job now. And because of the gas she uses to get to work, she was talking about quitting. But, jobs are hard to find these days. I remember a time when I didn't like a job, I'd quit, and go out immediately and get another one. Not so anymore. So, we are wrestling with wanting her to have the experience. Chalking the cost of gas, insurance, etc. up to education, experience and something on your resume. Do I know if this is best? Not any more.

There was a time I might have known for sure, but not now. Not right now. I'm not sure right now of what I know for sure. Maybe tomorrow I might. Than again, not. Seems that the surer you are of things, the closer you are of your expiration date on the planet. But, that could be wrong, too.

Are you sure?

One's first step in wisdom is to question everything - and one's last is to come to terms with everything. ~ George Lichtenberg

Is coming to terms another word for acceptance?

An absolute can only be given in an intuition, while all the rest has to do with analysis. ~~ Henri Bergson

So no matter what you decide, it came from your gut anyway?

If you're not confused, you're not paying attention. ~ Tom Peters

I am so paying attention.

Deregulation - A complex Theory

"the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, deregulation is the act or process of removing rules or regulations."

I'm sure there is a good reason for doing that. I just can't think of one. I guess it is suppose to encourage competition. But you know, I can't think of any competition that doesn't have rules, can you?

So, it's leaving me lost in understanding why we wouldn't have some degree of regulation when the nation's economy is based on things that need regulating? Just askin' ... especially when people are involved.

I will not pretend to be a Politico-In-the-Know-of-Those-Things kind of a person because I have more questions than I have answers. And, I am open to hearing someone's explanation of such things.

I know that if I had practiced deregulation in my house, it would not have worked. Rules worked. Standards worked. But that's just us.

People who write articles on deregulation say it is too complex to explain.

"The general consensus is that deregulation can have widespread benefits, albeit complex ones that are sometimes slow in coming and not equitably distributed, which may help explain the implementation strategies adopted to date. (James Heskett)"

Alrighty then! Thanks for that.

It seems that deregulation would involve man always doing the right thing. Is that humanly possible?

Seems a good plan would be to save my money under my mattress because in the long run, it all seems to even out that way. As first you have made a lot of money in the market because of interest - then when you need it, it's gone, because someone lent your money to someone who didn't have enough money to pay it back because, why was that again?...I can't think of a reason to do that...Lucy, you got alotta es plainin' to do...

So, really, it looks like you break even while someone else uses your money, if indeed you do break even, at all. Yes, complex for me.

Oh, and just in case anyone is thinking of breaking into my house to steal the money under my mattress, I already used it at the grocery store.

I'm trying to think of something one could deregulate and it turn out well. What could be done, that could be done well without rules of some kind? Even the universe we live in has rules. It sets its own, and we either follow them, or we mess things up.


I think cats might live by deregulation. They follow no rules. They do respond to a squirt bottle. Maybe we needed squirt bottles on Wall Street?

A Blog Entry - For Reference

Having Mr. B home and unemployed is such a transition in thinking. If we are to worry not, and fret not, at our situations in life, if we are to think in terms of all things working out for the best ~ I'm thinking, we must practice this in our day to day living, to get it done, to make it real in one's life. But, having no guaranteed income, per se, is devilishly challenging in common every day life -- At least, I find it so!

But, here we are.

I have decided all will be fine. As we uusually are fine, and as we usually come out even all the time - I'm beginning to adjust to the feeling. It did take a couple of weeks.

I have many good things to look forward to. I have a great relationship with my family, extended and immediate. I have many good friends. And, I live in a place where I can walk to a store and the bank for anything necessary. I can even walk to the library and the post office. It's a small town I live in with a population of about 11,000, give or take. Let's just say, there's always a place to park.

So, I am holding to the opinion that all will be well. It's enriching in life to have challenges. It's great training to overcome obstacles presented to you. It's a true life learning lesson to decide on harnessing an unknown problem and working it out for your survival (in this case paying the bills and eating!). We are on that path right now. I think I'll be able to keep my sanity and my wits about me. Those silly little wits! They do run to and fro!

Last appointment (hopefully)

Tomorrow is my last doctor appointment, I do believe, on this long saga of appointments regarding all this pain I started having around July. I am very close to pain free, but I feel extremely weaker because I haven't been doing anything!

It's been an expensive trip. I will be on the billing records of the Orthopedic Center in my town for years to come - at least they do take payments. I'm sure it will take about 4 years to pay them off.

My foot - I don't know. I did finally get my inserts, but don't know how they are going to work because you have to wear them for an hour a day at first and then work up, gradually, to longer, so your spine has time to adjust to being right after being wrong all these years. That sounds like a tough assignment to me, but I'll give it a go.

The other stuff - shoulder pain and what the doctor said was carpal tunnel -- I had to see the neurologist who gave me a test that was the most barbaric and painful test I have ever experienced!

They did a test called a Electromyography:

For an EMG, a needle electrode is inserted through the skin into the muscle. The electrical activity detected by this electrode is displayed on an oscilloscope, and may be heard through a speaker.

After placement of the electrodes, you may be asked to contract the muscle (for example, by bending your arm). The presence, size, and shape of the wave form -- the action potential -- produced on the oscilloscope provide information about the ability of the muscle to respond when the nerves are stimulated.

It.
WAs.
HoRRIble.
It was pushing push pins in your body and then sending electricity into you while you had to clinch your muscles on demand.

I would call that test bordering on barbaric. You would think with all the brilliant minds in the world,* that we would have come to a better way to test for this result. That was extremely painful.

The carpal tunnel test was bad enough. It was like someone just stabbing your funny bone over and over again. You could stand it, but it was no piece of cake. The results of that were that I do have some carpal tunnel going on, but not enough to operate, just enough to cause me to drop things and keep going back to the doctor to have it checked. Apparently, it's not something one should take lightly.

Let me insert a warning here: The new generation of computer kids should learn how to do exercises to avoid that carpal tunnel problem of the future!

The neurologist said, after all that (and he agreed with me that it was barbaric) that I do not have a pinched nerve. I do have bone spurs in my neck. I have no idea what the results of that will be. The Orthopedic Surgeon will tell me about that tomorrow.

I did try doing some digging today, fixing a small walkway, and it didn't go as well as I would have hoped. I've lost more strength than I wish. Oh well. Something to do. Regain my strength and get back out there. And work on ways to avoid to cycle of pain.

*Jackson Browne

You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do. ~~ Olin Miller

Easy Peasy Spinach Quiche Souffle

Okay, big hit here ...
This was so easy!

Spinach Quiche

1 pkg. Stouffers Spinach Souffle - thawed
2 eggs - slightly beaten
3 Tbs. milk (I used 2 1/2 TBS creamer)
1 tsp. white onion - finely chopped
1 clove garlic chopped
1 1/2 cups grated cheese (I used cheddar and colby)
1 9" unbaked deep dish pie shell

I sauteed the onion and garlic for a bit in some olive oil and then just added that to everything else in a bowl and mixed it, poured it into the shell and baked it at

400 degrees for 45 minutes

It's one of those recipes that you can add anything, too. You can add some sausage or ham, or black olives. And changing the cheese choices will change the flavor. For a little spice, there's always my favorite - crushed red pepper! Just be careful going up that notch!

Is twenty six years a long time?

Suppose it depends on what you are doing.
Like being alive - no, not a long time.
Growing a beard? A very long time.
Being a tree? A good long time.
Being married?
I don't know!

Seems like it's about a long time, but not really.

We went out to dinner and shared a meal (it's costly these days to do anything! Even go to Barnes and Noble.) We sat at the bar because we weren't dressed up, but this is a nice little place right down our street. We were going to order take out, but the atmosphere was relaxed and because it was a Thursday night, not crowded, and we didn't feel out of place so much.

And I didn't realize that people at the bar, talk to each other like they are old friends whether they know each other or not. It's was kind of refreshing in a way. It was not a 'bar' type atmosphere, just a nice little restaurant.

The lady who tended the bar gave us a free (huge, giant) chocolate chip cookie because it was our anniversary. I thought that was nice. We brought that home to Madam Blueberry, and this made her very happy.

So what's it like to be married for 26 years?

I'll have to think about that answer.

Easy Peasy Meal - Meatlballs

I get raves every time I fix this - and it's so easy, I can't take any credit.
I'll share it here as I think, it's one of those recipes that once you make it, you can go wild and add what you want.

Frozen Meatballs (1/2 a package)
One package of Au Jus gravy
One can cream of potato soup
one medium onion chopped fine
three cloves of garlic chopped
3 cups of water

One crock pot (if you don't have a crock pot, you have to stay home while it cooks on the stove)

Mix the liquid ingredients in the crock pot.
Add onions and garlic, stir well.
Add meatballs.

Turn crock pot on low and forget about it for five hours. If you need to get it jump started, you can put it on high for less time. Maybe on high for the first hour and then turn it down. Whatever. I think it will turn out just fine.

Sometimes I add a tsp of crushed red pepper for a nice bit of pizazz. You can add carrots and celery, or whatever veggies are left in the 'fridge (cut them small so they will cook through in the amount of time you are leaving the crock pot on.) I think even corn would work. It's just one of those recipes ...

You can serve this with anything. Rice, potatoes, noodles, garlic bread and a veggie (or not if you have enough in the pot), or just put them in a sub with some melted cheese.

I often make the whole package of meatballs and then just double the rest of the stuff. I put the extra in the freezer for the next week.


The Frozen Meatballs are precooked, so if you make your own, just put a bunch in the freezer and add them to the crock pot with the other ingredients.

Nothin' to it,
But to do it ...

Friday after Fay

This was one of those days. One of those days in which you had a million plans and you didn't do any of those things.

I got up late. I made coffee.

Then, there's a major blank. Somewhere between getting up and almost noon, a friend I was going to visit called and told me she wouldn't be home. Drat! I thought, I just lost my last incentive for getting out of the house today!

I had thought I would go to the hospital to take my mother in law some decent food, as she says there is none in there, but I found out that my father in law was going to be released today - so needing an incentive still to get out the door -

I decided to mow the lawn. Not my lawn. My mother in law's lawn. Have I ever mentioned that I am not gifted in this area? Mowers and Me. That was not a book written with me in mind.

This mower we have is a push kind with some kind of automatic 'bar' thing, that if you hold it in, the mower goes by itself. Sorta. It doesn't necessarily go the right way. It just goes somewhere. Like into the flower beds and over flowers, and maybe my mother in law will be so tired she won't notice those huge divots in her yard.

Luckily for all concerned, the mower ran out of gas. I have concluded that I am in terrible shape physically.

When my mother in law found out I ran out of gas, she told me there was more in the shed. I told her it was raining.

In the real picture, I did get some things done. I did not spend the day doing nothing. But, in the abstract of the picture, I didn't accomplish the things I was hoping to accomplish --

and I think, what it is, is that I'm going to have to be in the mood to do those things.

However, that is not a good thing -

"...don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work. - Pearl Buck

Those things are not ingrained habit things. Those things are outside of the discipline of my character things. Those things are a struggle for me, still.

But, one day! It may not be this day! But one day - and soon! I shall move past this place and into that place of ... what was I talking about again? Oh yeah, doing things I don't want to do ...

So when I do that ...

I'll probably blog about it here.

You're never to young for a ....

Pacemaker? Well, apparently not. See that fellow in the blue shirt and the khaki pants up there dancing? ...the one coming around in the swing with a smile...

Yeah, that guy,

That's my father in law. He's 91. He's been having trouble with his heart not pumping right for a little while now, so in an effort to stop going to the ER at 1 in the AM, like we did again this Sunday, the doctors put a pace maker in his Irish heart this morning.

Hope to see him dancing again soon!

The Twilight Series

Well, I've pretty much decided that I won't bother with reading the rest of this series. I read the first book, Twilight by Stephenie Meyers, and it was okay (I was on vacation, relaxing by a pool in the most beautiful weather; had I not been on vacation, I'm not sure I would have stuck with it.)

I kept waiting for the story to evolve. I could see good things in there to address - like the differences that people feel about 'groups' and how we label people to protect ourselves - And each time I put it down, I thought, well surely, this next chapter ...

but, it stayed a teenage love story with the heroine Bella keeping secrets from her father, all the while her boyfriend, the Vampire Edward, wanted her to share with her father the fact that he was in her life (I realize, now, how mature he was as he was likely hundreds of years old!).

And then, Bella almost gets killed, how many times, I can't remember?; and there, always to save her with his super V-powers (like flying and mind reading and all general coolness), is her Vampire Hero.

He's a good Vampire, as he doesn't feed on people, but still, this seems like a precedent that is going to become an annoying hardship in the relationship - Kinda of like a Lois Lane-Superman situation falling into style. Poor Edward! His only job will be rescuing the clumsy, beautiful Bella!

Anyway, the reason I'm not going on with the series is (mostly) because the people I know that have read the other two books don't seem all that blown away. And, I think I can predict the ending. So, I'm thinking, why bother.

I have read reviews on line for the next two books and there are people raving; I suppose because I wasn't burned deeply with passion for the first book, I'll most likely pass for now.

But, to each their own.

For the people who love the books, they have found that something wonderful to experience in finding a book series that keeps you engrossed - And That,
now, that,
is (maybe) better than dark chocolate!~

Tropical Storm Fay is passing by

When you name weather, it must get really angry. Outside, Tropical Storm Fay sounds just like a hurricane. There are sheets of water over the windows, and I can't see my road. There are warnings everywhere for everything, but yet,

Mr. B's place of employment said they had to report to work today. (Good Grief) And when the men got there, risking life through this torrential dangerous weather, they said, 'Go on home, we have no work today.'

Mr. B had givin his notice last Friday, and why he bothered to drive down there today (45 minutes at 6 AM into a worse part of the storm), I do not know. Something to do with being an honorable man, but sometimes these lines get all blurry for me.

Those are man's lines. And man, is a lot of times, an idiot. Well, actually, when man gets involved with money, or a corporation... the idiocy has a much better chance of showing itself.

We will most likely lose power. I've got the coffee on.

It's a new day

Enjoy it.
Whatever happened yesterday that was bad, forget about it.
Think good thoughts,
Do good things
for yourself and others,
Smile and wave,
Eat chocolate,
Do a little dance,
Drink water,
Read a poem,
Start a new book,
Memorize something,
Smell a flower,
Don't watch television,
Draw a picture,
Learn something new,
The past is done,
The time is now,
Only now,
Live like you believe that.

If this is Thursday....

I don't know why, but I feel likes it's Monday. Although, I wish it were Friday, but I'm not sure why about either of those thoughts.

I really have much going on, and much that I need to do, and some that I want to do.

The Doctor appointments are really cutting into my time! I decided to make the most of the physical therapy, and I consider that my work out time (I mean, they do have me on the exercise bike for 10 minutes,you know?) But the driving to and fro - bummer at today's gas prices and then the time crunch - well, I listen to audio tapes, but still,

what is neglected is my house and spending time with my daughter! Who doesn't really mind because summer is almost over and her boyfriend (of 2 years) is over a lot and soon that will change. Actually, next week school will start here.

My house - Oh, I can't even go there. I've had two cups of coffee, and I still haven't cranked up to Flylady.net speed this AM. But she is the real deal should anyone have the desire to get it all together. I trust her completely to keep me on track.

My cards and letter pile to write is high.
My bills - yikes!
My yard! - double yikes! But it's been raining and doctor says I can't do what I wish to right now! Wah.

What else can I complain about this morning? Ha. Ha. Not a durned thing.

Because the bottom line is -

It's all good.

A Good Thing to do:

Positive thoughts, train them into your brain. Squash those negative thoughts, stop them in their tracks and reroute them or rephrase them - what do you need them for anyway? Can you answer that question? Let me know if you can find a reason because I cannot.

In the words of Henry Ford - If you say you can't, then you can't.

There. Can't be much simpler than that, now can it?

The True Neverending Story

Remember the book, or the movie, The Neverending Story? For me, that would be Motherhood. I am the motherboard and gladly connected to the hearts of my children. I will love them no matter what, no matter when, no matter where, I will love them.

The connection I have may be one that some people might not understand. I don't really understand it either! I just know it's big, it's HUGE, it's bigger than I ever, EVER imagined a feeling could be. How can you know this will happen to you?

It's like it took wings. And then, it took off, and it's still flying. The neverlanding plane from heart to heaven to God's eternal home in the sky.

I am thinking about this so much lately because of their ages, the time has come to let them go. Let them fly away on their own, live their lives as they will, choose their mates, and extend their families. Which to me, is only more love added.

No matter how it all presents itself, I shall be blessed

Happy Birthday, Nanette

Today is my sister's birthday.

I'm not even sure how old she is any more! I just know she is a very special person to me, a really terrific friend, and someone with whom I can share the deep things of my life.

I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. I am extrememly happy when she comes to visit, or I can visit her. We always have a good time, drink some wine, share some jokes and gain weight. (drat! why is that!)

As my younger sister, she has had to put up with me always, always, _always_ nosing into her business. She tells me something and I say, "well, here's what you should do...." Poor Nana, never has a chance. Big sister is, like, in the roll of being "in charged" of her. But, I did find out from her, recently, that she is very used to my doing that and doesn't resent it all that much. That is a load off my mind!

So, Happy Birthday my darling, beautiful sister. May this day and every day be filled with joy and love. May the sun shine sweetly at you in the morning and may the stars bid you a restful night's sleep. Know in your heart, that all is well.
And may the Lord continue to bless you and keep you close.

This is William....

...he eats fire.

(Editor's note: William is a street performer in Key West. He put on a really great show. And I thank the Gypsy for helping me clarify)

Thirty two years ago today,,,

...my heart was opened wide, and it seems like it was placed outside of my body, and given into the hands of a tiny, little being. I became a mother for the very first time.

I am sitting here trying to think of how to describe the part of the world that became alive to me. I can't find the words to capture or frame how it felt to hold in my arms that small precious infant being.

I am glad that God has allowed me to remember all the details of those days, those first moments, those first everythings. I am forever thankful, forever blessed, and forever will I feel special to have the experience of being a mother. There is no other experience to replace it, none like it, none as fulfilling that I have known.

I love my children. They have my heart, and they always will.

Happy Birthday to my first born son. Happy, Happy Birthday.

A house in my childhood

My parents were married in this house. The house was built by my great grandfather. We are not sure when. It's fun to try and figure out the dates and all. My family was one of the early Key West families. My grandfather was born in 1908, so somewhere before that, this little white house was built.

It was weird when I saw it this weekend. Somehow, along the lines of time, the house got tiny!! I remember this house as HUGE -- running through it barefoot with my cousins in tow. Those were the days when Key West was, well, something it's not today. It was just a small beach town and we walked everywhere in our bathing suits and in barefeet that never complained. Not worrying about one thing in the whole wide world.

Pirates off the coast of Key West

Even further south

... from where I live in Florida, are the Keys. So that's where I'll be for a few days.

Kenny and Kody, alert, your letters are in the mailbox.

Grandma Rita and Madam B will keep an eye on all my beautiful plants.

Stocked up the fridge for Mr. B, just to make it a bit easier for him.

So all should be well ~

Listen to my good friend Albert Einstein:

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.


Miss Roxie says, "Choose Wisely."

First day of August 2008

Let's see ~
Ten things about August ...
okay, well maybe not ten...

1. I will be writing to Kenny and Kody this week. Kenny is patiently waiting for me to send him his reward letter for his hard work on his book reading. And Kody did come through and sent me a letter, also! I better send out two to make up for lost time!

2. Two birthdays in August. My sister and #1 son.

3. I am going to the Keys for a week. Hooray.

4. After I get back from the Keys, I have to continue more therapy for my foot, and get the results of the MRI and see a neurologist, (and regarding that, my guess is that I injured myself gardening. I should write a book about "How Not to Garden" or "Ways to avoid the Doctor While Gardening" - and I may have carpal tunnel, but like, who doesn't?)

5. My foot therapy - what a riot. I have three more weeks of therapy~ and after three days, my hip is hurting and I was so frazzled yesterday after so many extra things and doctor appointments thrown in my life's mix, that I locked my keys in my car!

But, in the end, it's like a little mini workout time at the gym. Not a bad deal at all.

6. Is there six? I miss my gardening. Is this how injured sports players feel? Hahaha. I wonder.

Cats Who Study....

...are smarter than cats who don't.

(Warning: some cats may appear to be sleeping on books. Same thing. Also, cats are well known for reading upside down. In their sleep.)

Hey Dude, Where's my Monday?

I was supposed to hook up with Flylady and clean 15 minutes of clutter in my living room today. I don't know what happened. I did do the daily load of laundry and some stretching. I know I did some other stuff. Drat! I should have blogged this morning, then I could remember what I did!

I got up early. I know that.
And then,
I don't know what happened.

I know I had a doctor's appointment today. It was the orthopedic surgeon. I went for a follow up for some pain in my neck and arm and hand. Anyway, now I have to get an MRI - geesh.

It's like just when you are at the age of feeling content with your mind and spirit, your body goes haywire! I know this is from the gardening. The digging with the shovel. I know it is. I'm not a construction worker. My frame is not made for it. Drat. Oh well - that's the way it goes. (And doctor bills, ahhhh, no mercy)

And tomorrow, I start physical therapy for my foot. This should be interesting. If this works to take the pain away, I will be surprised, surprised, surprised.

Also, I pick up my orthodetics. Those inserts that go in ugly shoes. And they are telling me I have to pay for them. Duh. I already paid for them. This should also be interesting.
And. I have to pay _up front_ for the MRI! Good grief. I mean, my insurance company is not the greatest with the friendly benefits. Basically, Blue Cross Blue Shield gets you in the door. I'm charming and have a good payments reputation. I may be able to talk them into something else.

Six quirky things

...about me.

Tim's Mom tagged me to write six quirky things about me.

Here are the rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged me.
2) Mention the rules.
3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about myself.
4) Tag 6 other blogger's by linking to them.
5) Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.

So 6 uninteresting quirky facts about myself are . . .

1. I make my husband weird lunches with stuff that's left in the 'fridge. Yesterday, it was two slices of turkey, a left over cooked hamburger with cheese melted on it, lettuce, sliced onion, sliced red pepper, banana pepper juice (as there were no more peppers left in the jar), with hot mustard on rye.

2. I don't like other people's germs. I have to make myself not think about other people's germs. I could easily be phobic.

3. I really don't like telling people long stories unless they are funny or really interesting. And then I don't like being interrupted. I am polite about this, but I really get annoyed when people interject their great stuff into my great story. But in the end, they never know.

4. I like coffee fresh. When people offer me coffee, I find a polite way to ask 'how old is this coffee?'

5. I am a (retired) hairdresser. I don't mind cutting people's hair. But I am a quirky mess about touching hair that's not freshly washed. Maybe that's the germ thing, though.

6. I wish someone would massage my feet.

I don't have anyone to tag.

That is a photo of Pickles. I call it 'Fat Cat in a Chair'

Half the year

Do we realize that half the year is gone? Where did it go? I am grateful for my blog so I can at least remember some of it!

I had a wonderful visit with my sister last week. She came to visit and stayed part time with my mom and part time with me. We enjoyed our time together, and it went by some quickly. I do love my sister.

This week I'll spend time getting my house back in order. Flylady.net is focused on the living room, so that will be good. I'll pull in Madam Blueberry to help me, so maybe we'll get some other things accomplished ... maybe.

I have to post my 6 quirky things about me as I've been tagged by Tim's Mom, but I like to figure out that linking inability first.

Let's see, follow up on doctor today, bank, bills to pay, letters to write, grocery shopping, meal planning ...

But I got some new plants in. That was fun. Things are looking good out there! I'm working on a couple of new themes. Making a new area for a butterfly garden. I have already attracted two new species of butterfly. That is amazing to me!

It was a good half a year. I am looking forward to the next.

But here I am today. Yeah. I will enjoy it.

This is beautiful

This is a beautiful view of the earth. The music is lovely.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. ~~ Psalm 24:1

Free Rice

I found this site while looking around at some gardening blogs.

It's called Free Rice.

I happened upon it from a blog that is written by the daughter of one of the gardening bloggers, but I have lost the link for her. When I come upon it, I'll post it. She's a young writer and is reviewing books. Very interesting.

Are some days like this?

What Kind of Spice Are You?

You Are Basil

You are quite popular and loved by post people. You have a mild temperament, but your style is definitely distinctive. You are sweet, attractive, and you often smell good.

What Spice Are You?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Basil is so easy to grow! It requires so little care. It blooms and blossoms and provides such flavor, and I love the smell. I don't mind being Basil!

More rain on Wednesday

That's an old photo I just came across of Bill and Sean. It's probably about 4 or 5 years old. I lost a bunch of my photos in files. I thought about this one recently, too, when Sean and Kellie (Sean's girlfriend) were going to jump from an airplane last Friday. However,

Sean and Kellie didn't jump. The weather was not considered good enough. Oh,happy day. But that's all postponed, as they want to do this in a couple of weeks. Right now, they are planning on vacationing with her family in North Carolina where they will ride wild horses. At least, they are on the ground.

Bill and Adrienne are in St. Petersburg on a business trip. Their little doggie, Cooper, is here at my house. I have realized that they have a bad leaving strategy. They brought Cooper over here. Said good-bye and 'stay' to Cooper and went out the door.

He went immediately into my bedroom and pooped on the floor.

I think a better plan would be, to leave him at home, as they go out all the time, and then let one of us go over and get him; then bring him over here. I think then, he wouldn't feel rejected or left behind. But, what do I know about dogs?

I just thinking that my plan would be more like a rescue than a leaving.

July 18, 2008

My darling adventurous #2 son, is planning on celebrating the one year of his anniversary, of meeting the girl he is crazy about, by together, jumping out of an airplane. I don't quite see the logic, but sounds as if precedents are being set here.

So. 9 AM tomorrow morning in Miami, they will jump together out into the sky. I'm not surprised that Sean would want to do this. This is the boy he is. He is blessed with kinesthetic intelligence. And he has always wanted to fly jets and jump out of a plane!

So. I'm not surprised.

But tomorrow I'll be praying, as soon as I finish my prayers from tonight, and spend my day waiting for the call and the invitation to view the video that will be taken of their flight, as you can jump with a camera on your head! What a world we live in.

I know that after tomorrow, nothing for them will ever be the same!

Lions for Lambs

This is one of those films that dropped off quickly from the box office being given really bad reviews. Actually, I don't recall one good review.

I saw it last night. I liked it. I didn't like what it said, though; the film is on a topic that can make you uncomfortable. It said, pretty much, if you do nothing for your country, just what do you expect? If you talk the talk without walking any kind of walk, what do you expect? Do you believe what the media writes? How do you know it's true? Where have you been? What have you done to say you know what is right?

It asked all those questions and more.
Who is accountable?
Are we accountable for nothing in our country?
It's almost like you can't even say, "oh well, I vote." Then, it's "well good for you...now, what do you really know about what you are voting for or whom?"

There are overlapping stories in the movie that show we are all one if you look hard enough. A political science professor (Robert Redford), a Republican Senator (Tom Cruise) and a journalist who has seen and heard probably all the bs (Meryl Streep) try to cope with the places they are in life right now. They are different ages and have seen different times, but all can and are affecting the world right now.

I found it thought provoking.

Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and a very good unknown supporting cast.

Part of the bad wrap was the fact that the film was said not to be entertaining, that it went around in circles, well, know what? So does the world, just keeps spinning 'round.

Joe Cool The Magic Boy

Okay. So now I love Flylady

(That's Jasper wondering what all the fruckus is about just because he wants to sleep in the bathroom sink!)

Flylady.net. The place to go if you really, really, really have a desire to get your house up to standards that you and your family deserve. My friend, Leslie (Tim's Mom) told me about her years ago. Flylady starts off with making your kitchen sink shiny. I guess I was not emotionally mature enough to handle her the first time around! Now, I love my shiny sink. My. How I have grown.

She was about to drive me mad at the start of the reintroduction, though. Every night, telling me to go to bed (albeit she be right, mate!), and every morning, telling me to "swish and wipe", and clean my sink -- grrrr -- but she was right, is right, I should say!

In the end, it's all about habits. Small little habits that you need to form early, that would be helpful, but if you did not, NOT to worry -- you can retrain that ole brain of yours. Don't ever think you can't! As Henry Ford said, "If you think you can't, then you can't."

It's a recipe for disaster if you think you can't and keep telling yourself you can't about doing things. If you really want to do them, then, my guess is, as uneducated as it might be, is that you can!

I'm going to take the evening off and watch a movie with Mr. B. Lions and Lambs. My sister said it was good, so that's all I need to know. Ready for a glass of wine and some relaxation time.

Joni Mitchell: Rock Photo, June 1985

JMDL Library: Joni Mitchell: Rock Photo, June 1985

If you scroll down this article, you will see a photo of Jackson Browne that Joni Mitchell took. It is a double exposure that turned out very cool.

Random acts of thinking

1. Visited Barnes and Noble three times last week with my nephews. I had a few books one day piled next to me. But, I meet this very interesting young mother with her two darling children and talked with her for about three hours. Books are great, and I love them. But, people...people are unique, charming and wonderfully irreplaceable.

I may never see this young lady again, but I know that I will never forget her. The Beautiful Margaret.

2. My pain threshold shot past where I could stand it, and I found myself spiraled back to the orthopedic doctor again. It's steriods and anti-inflammatory meds, again, heavy doses for two weeks, and then I have another visit, and we will decide a course of action.

I did like his attitude, though; he thinks all will be well, if I just DO WHAT HE SAYS. He says I am aggravating *my condition.* That made me think of that song line, "I just dropped in, to see what condition my condition was in..."

So, I'll give it a try. Which means, no gardening. Blahs on that. But it's raining this week, so, maybe that's a good thing.

3. The Twilight Series. Every time I turn around, I hear about it. I guess I'll go ahead and read it.

Madam Blueberry was all excited when I told her that the hard cover of, I think it's the third book?, has an iron on decal with the names Edward and Jacob, so you can choose which one you support. The Beautiful Margaret told me this. She was reading the series, too!

4. I mailed Kenny his next letter in the series of his money making deal with The Great Aunt Sasha (that is moi). Let's see how he fairs. I sent him a list of questions to be answered from the book What Your Second Grader Needs to Know.

Kenny is tough. And smart. I am interested to see what he sends back to me!

5. I was just thinking about Sean, and he walked in the door! Wow, these steriods have given me super powers!

What kind of flower are you?

I am a Daisy What Flower Are You?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You are just a sweet person. When a friend needs a shoulder to cry on, you are happy to offer yours with a box of tissues as well. Once in awhile, you wish you could be a little more dramatic but then sensibility sets back in and you know that you are perfect the way you are."

Leftovers

Cheese and crackers. June is done! Good Grief. Has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet? I mean, it will be time to be searching for those special cookies recipes and asking each other 'what are we going to get grandma this year' purr rity soon...I kid you not.

I am getting bogged down again, so I signed on with FlyLady.com. And now, I remember what it was, when I signed on years ago, that I didn't stick with her.

Oh, her instructions and ideas are all good! But those first few days your inbox is filled, filled, and filled! with emails telling you fairly much the same thing over and over, but it's all good advice, no denying that, it just gets overwhelming, and they send you an email at 10 o'clock every night and tell you to go to bed! Which, they are probably right about -
and I will go to bed in a minute...

This time of the evening I use my lap top without the cord plugged in so that helps me put it away within an hour because that is already the only amount of juice I will have.

so, right now, these days, it's all about tricking myself and making these little side deals with Fly Lady to clean my sink (made it two days now!) but my big job - my desk - is coming up. I'm giving myself a month. I really don't know if that's to long or to short, but it sounds realistic to me now.

Most likely the only reason I'm thinking about it so much is that I am stuck inside because of the rain. I was able to clear our some overgrown areas and I was glad about that. Put in an Avocado tree, wonderful ...It's just a never ending palate out there, and I love it.

~~I wrote that the other night...
today I moved that twisty lavender tree off my porch. And yesterday, I cleaned out some beds and clipped back some things and transplanted several things so I could put the tree where I decided to put it. I was outside for about 5 hours and I didn't really want to come in. But I knew, the body can only take so much.

It's really my fingers that hurt. Mr. B's says it's just like any other muscle and that because I'm using it so much in one day, it hurts. I hope he is right. I'm hoping it's not like arthritis or something like that.

My father in law said to me yesterday, "I had no idea you liked this kind of thing" (meaning gardening),
and I said, "well,
you know...
I had other stuff to do before. I needed to get my kids off the ground. Now I have time for this."

I do not regret a single minute I spent at home with my kids. Not one teeny tiny single moment. And I would do it all again, and this time, I'd pay even more attention.

That time goes by so fast - hug 'em and love 'em while you got 'em.

I have to plant a tree...

...and I'm not in the mood for a cook out.

Actually, I think what is "wrong with me" is that I have not been out in my garden - working!! It's been raining, raining, raining, and that's really a good time to go out and dig, but it's just not worked out for me.

But here's the deal - my thing I have to do...I have a tree on my porch (The tree in the photo), and I really should not have done this, but, I love the way it twist and turns its self, and for some reason, I don't know why, I'm losing my mind? I saw it in a dream? Like I said, I don't know...

but I decided I wanted that tree growing right up on my porch, but when Mr. B saw what I had done i.e. stapling that tree to the outside of the porch area, (that second photo is the tree tacked up to the porch),

and he said, "oh, why did you do that?" He said it very quietly, but this lead me to believe that maybe it was not such a good idea? He denies that he meant anything at all, but come on, after 25 years? I can take a hint.

So, tomorrow, I have a day off...
so I need to plant this tree.

Not in the mood

I have not been in the mood for blogging. I have had a lot on my mind and perhaps, too much on my mind, and therefore, it just piles high and spills over into a mishmash of nonsense. Nonsense. Ummm, now that's a word I haven't used in a long time...

Mr. B switched the functions of two rooms in our tiny house. He moved our bedroom into a bit bigger room and put his speakers and a TV and other audio equipment in the smaller room and made himself a Music Room.

And I have discovered something about myself. I am jealous! I am jealous of the fact that he can, physically do these things! There is no way I could move the furniture he did from one room to another without hiring a crew! And he did it all in one day -- And, he didn't decide to do it until 1 in the afternoon!

I think about what I would be like if I was strong - like bull! I don't have hedges in my front yard yet because I can't dig the holes! I find this very frustrating. But I suppose I should not dwell on it.

I know that the tasks that lie ahead of me for the next week are the things that are boring to me. So I am dancing around them like a silly butterfly. Like putting stuff away and organizing things in a way I will remember where they are. I have no idea what is the missing function in my brain that makes that so difficult!

I shall not ponder that right now. I must get about the business of straighting up this place. Again ....

And blogger is doing weird things here. I just tried to add a link and couldn't; I tell ya', it's tough some days!

Weeds love the rain and Cake

Oh they do, oh they do....

It's been a rainy week in South Florida. My plants looks great, my mother in law mowed my lawn (how's that for living in heaven?) and my weeds are loving every single minute of this!! They try so hard to compete for the space, I almost hate to yank them out!

Lots of people mulch. And, they say that helps with weeds maintenance and with keeping the ground moist for the roots of the plants and all. I am not against mulching, but I prefer ground cover. I love it.

It's gives my garden a richer feel. I like the look of growing things in the spaces, rather than mulch. It's just a preference. It's means nothing in the larger scale of things.

I love blue drawf. That's my absolute favorite ground cover, along with portulaca or moss rose, it's sometimes called. I have pink, yellow and orange.

A friend asked me, 'wouldn't ground cover be like weeds and try to take the nutrients from your plants?' "Well," said I, I as in the me person who doesn't really follow all the gardening rules, "it's prettier, to me; I think it's cheaper, and it seems that many ground cover plants don't have deep roots like weeds do."

But, what do I know? I feed my plants coffee grounds, banana peels and tea bags. My roses seem fine growing in between the blue drawf and the moss rose. What can I say? Maybe we are all kind of weird here...

Today I found out I will be getting some free cake! --

Here's what happened:

I decided that I wanted to make a kind of special treat for Rita and Steve, my in laws, who live next door; I mean, after all, she mowed my lawn, you know?. And they like plums and different fruits, too.

I found this recipe for a kind of muffin that had a plum inside. But , I couldn't find the kind of tin I needed to bake this muffin thing in without going out to buy one, and I didn't want to do that, unless I find time to go to the thrift shops. (I've been listening to my sister the Freegan)

I saw on the back of a pound cake recipe that you could bake the pound cake in a 9 x 5" pan as a loaf (and I have a loaf pan! Hallejulah!)

, and I got this idea that I could put the plums on the top and make it be this Plum Loaf Cake. It sort of worked, but it made a huge mess in my oven.

The cake mix, I made correctly, and the pan size was correct, but the cake just kind of 'sploded all inside my oven. It ran everywhere! (But it was good smelling and tasted great!!)

I put in the mix, and layered the plums on the top (cut them in quarter sections) and then sprinkled them with cinnamon sugar. and let it bake. Like a pineapple upside down cake, the fruit doesn't stay on the top.

Anyway, I decided to call the Betty Crocker people and tell them what happened. I asked them if maybe it was because I used a glass pan. They couldn't find anything wrong in what I had done, they apologized and said they would send me a coupon for a another cake mix. I thought that was nice. But, I really wonder if it happened because I used a glass loaf pan? They said, 'no' that they don't know what went wrong. (we remeasured the pan from every angle while they had me on the phone.

Rita and Steve LOVED my Plum Loaf Cake! I'm going to make it again, only next time in something else. I'll post a photo. It's very pretty and very, very tasty.

Mr. Podiatrist Head

I did go to the foot doctor today. I have found out that I have 'deformed feet'. Are your second and third toes longer than you big toe? Well, if they are....your feet are 'deformed'. His word, not mine.

He was a young man, but hopefully, he does know what he is doing, even if he doesn't have a keen sense of wording in his deliverance to you of your condition.

There are many different reactions you get from people when you tell them you are going to a podiatrist without being sent to one because of some reason that someone else with a medical degree discovered. But oh well, I knew that something was wrong. After 6 decades of standing on these long skinny things ~ they were beginning to speak to me. And they said, "man, you gotta sit down. we can't stand here anymore, and don't even try to dance..."

And I am to fidgety to do that, ~ I gotta dance~ so, Mr. Podiatrist has convinced me I need some man made support. The support system he proposes is not cheap (and you don't even get to choose colors or fabric!), and of course, my insurance company, Blue In the Face Blue Cheapos, will not cover his suggestion not even a tiny bit. Not a percentage, not a tittle, not a mark! Cheapos!

The Insurance Company must think that Mr. Podiatrist doesn't know what he's doing. Otherwise, one would think, that they would help give one what a Professional Foot Doctor says one needs, I mean, as far as I can have a knowledge of things....I would think an insurance company would WANT to help your FEET. Gladly. But no.

So, I made arrangements to get a second mortgage on the homestead, so I can get these things for my feet that are going to change my life, that only go in ugly shoes, no cool shoes, of course, as those would cost $250.00 more for extra special made ones, and which, of course, they won't even order ANYTHING until you Pay In Full for EVERYTHING, sign over your car and give them the keys to your storage shed....and in three weeks I will have a brand new life (spent in real ugly shoes).

I will be able to golf with Tiger Woods, play some hoops with Michael Jordan, throw a few with Tim Tebow, and run a marathon. No prob. Looking forward to it.

Yeah. Let's hope Mr. Podiatrist Head knows what he is talking about.

A Sunny Tuesday in South Florida

1. Well, that rain I, and a zillion people were wishing for, did come these last few days. Plants looks happy, yard looks green, my dirt road looks like a holding pond.

I did notify the county about this road I live on. They did some work on a service road adjacent to my road and while they were doing that, the biggest trucks in the county, used our road a lot. That made huge, elephant size holes in our road, and when it rains, well, it's bad Mr Cunningham...so I emailed the county about it; now, it's a wait and see will they do something before I have to email them again.

2. I have a little fun going with two of my nephews. They write letters to me; I send them money. Now this summer I've sent them each a book ~ part of the Core series ~ One of the boys is going in Second Grade and one in Fifth Grade. So this summer, we will be mailing back and forth about the contents of the books!

This gives me a relationship and time with my nephews that I wouldn't have because I don't get to see them that often. So, I'll be the Aunt Sasha that sends money when you write her ~

Benjamin Franklin said,

If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

So, I figure, I'm emptying my purse into their heads, and paying ahead towards their future interests! It can never hurt!

3. I babysat my son and his fiance's puppy dog this weekend. Oh gee, what an experience that was. I mean, it's not terrible by any means, but I never know what I am doing with a dog. I don't have that gifty thing that some people have with dogs. I don't know that I read them all that well. So, few mistakes? Yes ~ but he's alive and well, and I'm sure he will be genuinely happy to see the ones who can read his dog language.

4. I've finally decided to go to the foot doctor today. It took me long enough.

5. I have discovered Gardening Blogs. There are Others out there who feel that Gardening is a passion. It's just drawing me in something fierce! My project right now will be rooting plants I have. Why? Because I am out of money for new things and this is what I will have to do right now, if I want more plants in my yard. I love it.

Actually, I think I am going to start a Gardening Blog of my own. I think I'll center it around my gardening adventures and great quotes I love - Like Shakespeare's quotes...I'll be making that a reality soon.

6. Right now I have some deadlines to make ~ I've had my second cup of coffee so on with the day!

It's June....

It's hotter than ...many places that are hot as a devil's dungeon.
The rent's due.
The humidity is 1000 degrees attitude.

It's Hurricane Season, and we watch the crabs. If they leave, we buckle down. One June birthday for us, one of my most favorite nieces --if I recall correctly.

I haven't finished two books I started last month and ended up reading a total trash read on Tom Cruise. Sometimes, you just need that kind of mindless blah-blah.

Gas prices are making people very, very upset. Up to over $4.00 a gallon at the cheapest places here pretty much. Hess was holding at $3.99 on Friday, we'll see today when I venture out. Guess we gotta suck it up and not buy stuff from Walmart here in America? Garage sales will boom? Thrift shops will thunder? There is some good stuff in those thrift shops...

I've got food in there for dinner for today, but I will have to start all over for tomorrow. Grocery shopping bores me.

Released two butterflies this weekend. Got tomatoes poppin', and some kind of bean that I can't recognize, my lettuce went holey on me, but the basil and other herbs are doing great.

So the day is hoppin'
And here we go ...

Try hard to not spend time repeating the bad dance steps!! And smile.
Have a good day.

Tu Tranquilo,

Miss Roxie

"So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key."
~The Eagles, "Already Gone"

I wish it would rain...

You see, I cannot stand _not_ to work in my yard! (I was out there at 7:30)

But I really need to address my house - as in more than, "Hello, House" ....There is actually getting to be no where to sit! And a gardener must have rain to feel good about not being outside!

This is going to be difficult!

I have another butterfly hatching this morning -- I will call her Monica, after a very lovely friend of mine -- and it looks like another one will join in the blossoming this afternoon or tomorrow.

Right now, I must force myself to get going on this inside arena of where I live.

When gardeners garden, it is not just plants that grow, but the gardeners themselves.
- Ken Druse

As the month comes to a close...

...I feel like I am white water rafting. Everything just keeps moving along at this galloping pace. Oh well, that might be horse back riding...Things are going along swimmingly fast...anyway,

The butterflies ~
What a riot this is! I found a caterpillar this morning and one last night that I brought into the protected fold. Then, this afternoon, my little nephew came over and declared, "Look! Aunt Sasha, a caterpillar!" and it was right at the front entrance! There must be some kind of a beaming signal going out alerting them that they can come here for safety.

I have to take another count of how many I have. In raising butterflies, one must be careful that they keep a correct count lest you discard one by accident when you tidy up the homefront. I must have 16, but I will correct count them in the morning.

When one decides to do a thing as this, one must commit to the responsibility of taking care of a life. It's not that much work, but it must be steady on. And it is the most fulfilling feeling to see them burst forth and then take off!! I love it.

Mr. B's job -
No words. It's just the same. Lots of hours, not very much money. He has made a couple of connections for the work he wants to do, though. He has had three side jobs, so we are thankful for that.

He comes home so late at night. He feasts on dried up dinners and does not complain. He says I am a great cook. I think he is greatful that I do cook for him.

All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind. ~~Aristotle

Roses -
Ah, by any other name, you would still love them...

Who knew there was a Mozart Rose!? Not me, but now I would love to get one! I am absolutely supremely fond of my roses. They are not so hard to grow. I'm not sure why people say they are.

I'm not that special of a gardener - at all - and they grow for me and bloom for me all the time. I'm still learning the 'special things' to do for them. The one thing I feed them is coffee grounds. Other than that, H20 and affection is what they get.

Not all my roses have a fragrance. Some of them do more than others, actually, but if you breath them in really deeply, they are soft and lovely.

Perfumes are the feelings of flowers.- Heinrich Heine

The trouble with gardening is that it does not remain an avocation. It becomes an obsession.~~Phyllis Mcginley

Happy Birthday, Mary

This is Mary!

She emerged from her chrysalis late this morning. She is named after a friend of mine with whom she shares a birthday! She is so beautiful. She spent most of the day drying her wings.

Madam B helped in the release this evening. Mary spent some time visiting and when she was ready to fly, she lifted herself effortlessly and took sofly to the wind. We hope she stays around.

Well, we spoke of the changes that would find us farther on

And it left me so warm and so high

But as I stepped back outside to the grey morning sun

I heard that highway whisper and sigh

Are you ready to fly?

~~~Jackson Browne