Let's Dance!

This has been a draft sitting in Blogger just... well, sitting. I'm currently working on something; so, I thought to just go ahead and publish this bit after inserting dates. Enjoy.

I plcked up writing again back in late April (2016) after a long hiatus. This piece was started May 9th (2016). I played with it a few times and then abandoned the effort. It is based on a dream I had of a dog who knew how to dance and how violence tore us apart. I heard music in my mind when I first started writing this. And, in my dream, I saw a dog and me dancing with pure joy.

Please keep in mind that this is just piddling writing (journaling) -- nothing is ever perfect when I write...

We met one day,
feet tangling
to know one another,
to tango, foxtrot.

{Let’s Dance.
Giving Glory to God, Hallelujah.
Let’s Dance!
Rejoicing in the life we have.}

The day came, life dealt a cruel blow
Separated the two of us.
Looked high and low,
Looking high and low,
For one another.

One kept searching,
the other bonded with another.

In accident, a day came
I found you.
And, we came together rejoicing!

{Let’s Dance}

I looked up and realized
sacrifices need to be made
giving up the one I looked for.

It’s only temporary;
God willing.

Both mourned and lived.
Duties performed.
Loving others
until the day and call came
reuniting us once more.

Taking time to grieve losses
Coming together when the other is ready
because life is meant for rejoicing….

{Let’s Dance}

I am a nosy observant person -- this is all part of being deaf and being constantly aware of my surroundings. Plus, I take joy seeing others puttering about taking care of the things they enjoy such as their animals (e.g. chickens) and gardens.

When we first moved here, I was extremely happy to see an older couple that often puttered about on their land behind us. They are “the gardeners” in my mind. I often wished I could see their goats and chickens; but, they are hidden from our view. It always thrills me to see a Billy Goat or two on the rare occasions they are let loose around their house.

This couple is always dressed in a long sleeved shirt and a wide brim hat… until recently. I noticed the lady out and about in her nighty and robe. I would like to think that I am the inspiration for that because I will often go outside with my lounge wear.

I used to worry about going outside in my loungewear (PJ pants and a t-shirt or a sweatsuit in the winter). But now, I just do not care. On the days when I am not feeling well, it is too much effort to change into street clothes and it takes a lot out of me to do this one tiny task. Instead, I will just put on a long-sleeved work shirt (over the t-shirt) and my snake proof boots to take care of my garden and cats. At least, the things I am passionate about will not get neglected.

It pleased and tickled me to see the gardener lady taking care of a few things she cares about in her nighty and robe. There is nothing to be ashamed of as long as you are decent and covered. I imagine she is taking care of her chickens. I even saw her once in the morning getting the burn pile started in her nighty and robe.

I just pray that she is not sick and if she is, she will get well soon. I know all too well how a body can get depressed when you cannot do anything and if you try too hard, you will crash and burn. If I continue to take care of the things I love, I will be okay (in the long run). I hope and pray she will be too and return to her normal self soon. And if she does not, that is okay too as long as she remains active like me.

By the way, I refuse to wear pajamas when I go out and about (e.g. shopping). If I cannot make the effort to get dressed in street clothes, then I am not well enough to go out and about. I refuse to look like the people of Walmart. After all, I still have some standards.

Mother Made Me Cry Today...

Mother made me cry today straight from the grave.

I unpacked a box with my name on it that came from the folk’s house. I found some wooden roses I had given to her when I graduated from college. She had taped a card with a kitty and ribbon on the front and added her own decorative ribbon. I thought it was cute and had always assumed she used the card to complement the roses.

I felt a lump inside the card. So, I untaped the card and found the original ribbons I used which were my school colors along with a note inside written by my mother.

You see, Mother was not the most expressive person.

Lee Ann gave me these roses at the graduation at S.H.S.U. on May 13,2006. We were all so proud and happy for her and had a great party at the lake.

And today, she managed to make me cry straight from the grave.

I thank you Mother for leaving a note with the roses. I knew Daddy was proud of me. It did my heart good today to know that you were also proud of me.

Note: I found the roses and note on January 14, 2015 and wrote in my journal the same day. The first sentence (above the first picture) is unedited. But the rest of the entry is edited and I added pictures to turn it into this blog post.

Word Games {in Journaling}

Sometimes I do silly things when I try to get myself to write.

For example, on this day (December 19), all I could write was the word “blank” because I was feeling blank. And, I sat there for a while. I then started playing with that one word changing, removing or adding a letter. I then started writing with a 1-3-5 syllable sentence scheme. I think you will understand once you see it below. And no, this is NOT poetry. It’s just a game I created on the spur of the moment to write some utter nonsense and get my creative juices flowing.

Now please, do not judge me. This is just part of my writing (or journal if you prefer). It’s not meant to be perfect and there will be spelling and grammar mistakes (intentional or not). I do a little editing here and there; but, for the most part, it is an unedited raw form.

I was just having some fun. And, I think I succeeded. At least, I wrote something and had fun at the same time. And, honestly, I thought some of you might enjoy reading this. It first starts out a little serious and structured and then becomes downright silly. There is even one place where it should be two sentences; but, I didn't include a period. So, it is a conundrum. What am I really saying? Also, you might actually be surprised or shocked by the ending.

Blank

is this sheet,

the opposite of

Black.

Not a mark

on which I feel the

lack.

Emptiness,

forever my friend,

ack!

Why is this?

Constantly I must

ask.

In my soul

darkness comes like an

asp.

Sorrow rolls,

Agony-Anguish,

Gasp.

Why must I

endure and fail to

Grasp.

it’s futile.

From within my soul

rasp.

I’ve become

unseen and actions

rash.

I must stop

the disappearing

trash

the Silence.

My presence becomes

brash.

Visible

became I without

bras.

Ha!

Feline Friday: Gopher Hunting - Part III

As soon as I took this last picture of Gracie in my last Feline Friday's post, Abby Gail took over the hunting and I put my camera down. I had taken many pictures of her gopher hunting - It was the same ol’ same ol’ stuff.

At one point, Dan (and I) decided to bury the hole since there was too much activity by the gopher. We then went about our business and I kept an eye on Abby. She soon went back to that spot and started acting like a terrier digging uncovering the hole. There is not much I/we can do except let her be a cat.

Unphotographable Moments #10

This is a picture I did not take of Abby Gail (flying backwards) spread eagle in the air about three feet of the ground with a tiny creature simultaneously appearing inches away from its hole in the ground.

~ November 8, 2014 ~

When I witnessed this, I immediately screamed and panicked. After Abby Gail landed, her whole being screamed “what do I do with it now?” She cautiously approached the tiny creature, bopped the gopher on the head and immediately hopped backwards because the gopher snapped back.

By this time, Dan had reached Abby and grabbed her leash. He held Abby in check and examined the gopher from a short distance. He informed me (via sign language) that the gopher had bloody gashes on his (or her) hind leg. He also told me to grab my camera.

I was able to quickly snap a few pictures in spite of my concern and nervousness. It looked like the gopher was not seriously harmed. Dan eventually guided it back to its hole that it came out of with a long piece of wood. At first, the gopher fought back; but, once he (she) reached the hole from whence it came, it perked up and scampered back into the ground. The gopher should survive as long as his (her) wounds doesn’t get infected.

When Dan saw the pictures I took (which are shown below), he said they were awesome. That made me feel good because most of the time, I feel like I am shooting and getting squat. I have to say that when I opened up the pictures to view, I thought they were rather good too. This is a rare thing for me to feel these days about my pictures.

{To see a larger image, go here.}

{To see a larger image, go here.}

I know we probably should have killed the gopher; but, I have such a tender heart and do not believe in killing critters unnecessarily even if they are a nuisance in the landscape. I do see cats -- strays, ferals, and the ones belonging to Gardener – hunting off our land from time to time. I have to confess that I secretly hope they find and kill a gopher or two. After all, some of these cats eat only things they are able to catch.

Anyway, Abby was so pleased with herself. She was also so exhausted that she slept like the dead for hours once we went back indoors.

Five Minute Friday: Tell

Tell

To read the details about "Five Minute Friday", go here.

I am not linking up at the Five Minute Fridays linky party for various reasons of my own. So, if you stumble across this via search or whatnot and happen to be one of these participants, I bid you welcome. But please, treat me kindly and I thank you in advance.

I have a confession. I have been doing my own version of “Five Minute Fridays” when the mood strikes me. This started a month or so ago. It is not limited to one day a week or even five minutes. Yes, I break the rules. After all, some rules are meant to be broken, correct?

I just write from my heart and then I go back and edit the heck out of what I wrote. That is another rule I am breaking. You are not supposed to edit what you have written. I confess that I find it hard to believe that the vast majority of the “stories” being shared with the world are unedited and unaltered. If they are truly unedited and unaltered writings, then I bow down to their mastery of this particular skill.

Why do I do this exercise? I do it for journaling, personal therapy, and so much more. It is a safe place to express my thoughts, figure out things, and release my soul. When I find the time, the inclination, or a thought crosses my mind, I write in short bursts. And, I hope to gain courage to share a few of them with the world. I feel like I need to tell the world my story; but, I am an extreme introvert and it is exceedingly difficult to do this very thing.

The above was quickly written and mostly unedited. The prompt for the latest Five Minute Friday was “tell”. I am not pleased with my effort. I fear some will be offended and / or hurt. So, there you go. This is why I rarely share my thoughts and my soul.

I wrote the following on the day of my father’s birthday (July 23). I decided to post it on his facebook wall. So, I will share it here for posterity sake.

Dad, I so wish you was still here with us so that I could wish you a happy birthday. Most of all, I wish that we could just sit, converse and visit with one another.

You have been such a strength and inspiration to me and, I am sure, for all of us. I know that you would have encouraged me to persevere and to keep on keeping on with life. It has been a struggle the past couple of years; but, whenever I have a situation, I think of you and know you would have kept on moving and going forward. Because of you, I do not want to give up.

Thank you for being the Daddy I needed in my life. Thank you for being a great example when life and health knocks you down. Thank you for being you. I wish I could tell you this face to face. At least, I still have this wall to write down some of my thoughts.

Lord have mercy, tears still fall down on my face.

Here is another I have written on August 8, 2014 when a clear thought crossed my mind while standing in the shower. I knew I had something to write about and found the time (to write).

“It’s not cold; but, I feel cold.”

I was standing in the hot shower and I feel cold when this thought runs across my mind. This is not a feeling of what most people would think of as cold. It is a feeling of frozenness of an emotional kind. I am just benumbed. I do not feel like doing anything and have not accomplished anything for days on end. I am in hibernation. It is a survival mechanism when life and/or emotions become too much for me to handle. I have to retreat from the world.

Note to my readers: I think it is part of being an extreme sensitive (both empathetic and personal) and insecure introvert. Every personality test I have taken comes up with INFJ (or an extremely similar name). I do not think deafness plays a critical part; but, I do not discount it either.

(For more information on the INFJ personality, check out a description here.)

I believe the reason for this happening at this time of my life is I am still dealing with the death of my mother who passed away August 13 of last year (2013).

Unphotographable Memories 8 and 9

Why Unphotographable? As explained years ago, I took it one step further and included moments in time remembered with such clarity and refuse to be forgotten. I thought it would be a excellent way to practice and stretch my writing abilities.

This is a picture I did not take of a dark gray cat lying flat as she can be amongst the Phloxes (wildflowers) intensely watching a hummingbird drinking nectar from an Indian Paintbrush.

{Witnessed and written in March 2014}

This is a memory forever engraved on my mind standing frozen with closed eyes while a pair of swallows circled so closely around me, feeling the brush of wings and hearing a tiny single squeak.

{Experienced and written on April 3rd 2014. This was a scary awesome blessing. }

Unphotographable Memories #6 and #7

Why Unphotographable? As explained years ago, I took it one step further and included moments in time remembered with such clarity and refuse to be forgotten. I thought it would be a excellent way to practice and stretch my writing abilities.

This is a picture I did not take of a half-grown gray cat flattening herself as flat as she can be on the dead brown ground while intensely watching a huge raptor sailing low through the air towards her.

{Witnessed and written on January 4, 2014)

By the way, this made me hit the pure panic button. I went running yelling and the stupid bird banked up immediately. I will never forget it because that was the closest encounter I have ever had with one of these birds and let me tell you, they are beautiful soaring through the air.

This is a picture I did not take of an adolescent kitten getting in the way of an elderly Maine Coon (huge cat) standing up with raised paws with an attitude of “hahahaha you can’t get past me”.

{Witnessed December 2013 and written in January 2014}

Note: This was very similar to the viral video except Chessie did not attack Abby – she just quickly pinned her down with a paw and walked over her leaving Abby in a state of shock.

}

A Few Thoughts and a Link Roundup

I have been busy changing my template within Blogger to include threaded and numbered comments. It is not as simple as clicking on a button within Blogger to include this feature. My template is my own with the help of external software and it is all in code. But, I think I have it now as it appears the numbering system is working and comments are threaded; but, I have yet to test the reply (threaded) button out. If any of you do test this out, please let me know if it blows up! Thank you in advance!

I have not had the time to go through the garage conversion pictures to post a DIY update; so, that will be coming later. Instead, today I am posting a few links I have been saving. Confession: I started saving links in WORD several weeks ago and then I accidentally overwrote those links with a cut and paste recipe from facebook and then saved it absentmindedly. So, I had to start all over again about a week ago. Sheesh.

In the meantime, I will be busy from here on out due to the fact that the weekend is here and a holiday is approaching. It will soon be Thanksgiving here in the states. If you do not hear from me within the next week or so, you know why. I hope all of you will have a great weekend and a wonderful week! For those of you who live in the states, be safe at this holiday time!

• Crafting, Sewing, Quilting
• Inattentive Quilting: A Cautionary Tale

  There is a 100 Things Every Quilter Should Do list. How about a list of things quilters should NOT do such as this (at the above link)? I thank God I have never done this. My mother was a fabulous seamstress and, as far as I know, she has never done this. However, her own Mother has done this and lived with it for the rest of her life.

• Extended Sewing Bobbin Holder

  An IKEA hack using skinny straws.

• Free Craftsy class: Piece, Patch, Quilt: Basic Quiltmaking skills

• Organization
• Free Printable Calendar for 2014

  Monthly Calendar you can use in a binder. Perfect for die hard Flyladies who use a notebook for their routines and more. FYI: I am no longer a diehard Flylady. However, I am still into routines and flying along with chores.

• Photography
• Start to See Photographically in Six Easy Steps

We are living in a time of unlimited free shutter clicks. This is both an advantage, and a disadvantage for you as a photographer. On one hand, the learning curve is faster, easier and definitely a lot cheaper. On the other hand, many photographers have a tendency to shoot without taking much care in their composition and rely on the occasional lucky shot.

Stop shooting randomly and start photographing with intent. Before you click that shutter, ask yourself: “What do I want to convey? What story do I want to tell?” There are many ways to achieve this, here are few easy steps to help you step up your game, no matter what camera or lens you use.

• Landscaping and Gardening
• Why Prairies Matter and Lawns Don’t

The carelessness of the American people’s obsessive compulsion for such silly and lowly turfgrass goals extends far beyond the failure they are set up for in regards to their quest for the unsustainable and unattainable “perfect lawn”. As noted before, lawns are suicidal – we are poisoning ourselves, our children, and our water for something that is wholly obtuse and unneeded. Why not be productive and grow a garden instead?

• Food and Holiday
• Thanksgivukkah

  A rare convergence of the American holiday of Thanksgiving and the first day of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah on November 28, 2013. The last time this happened was 1888 and the next time will be in the year of 79811 (providing the Jewish calendar does not change). Here is an article in Chicago Tribune about this: Thanksgivukkah 101.

Naming Neighbors

Do you ever come up with names for you neighbors? – The ones, in this day and age, you never (or rarely) meet? I do. Dan gets amused whenever I refer to a particular property by my personal name for each one of them.

When we first bought this house, the man across the road immediately got a name in my mind. He is “The Farmer” to me. The man has a bull, cow, mule, dog and some chickens. The dog is the livestock's constant companion. I think there are baby chicks as there were little moving black specks among the flock. Let me tell you, the hens and the rooster are HUGE! Anyway, the cow gave birth last year and I believe he sold it sometime within the last month. I am assuming the cow is pregnant again and will give birth again sometime this fall. The name “The Rancher” would be more appropriate considering he does not farm (garden). But, “The Farmer” is stuck in my brain.

The next neighbor to get a name is a man who introduced himself to us one day while we were doing yard work. He lives next door. He is actually the assistant pastor or a youth minister of a local church. So, it is “The Preacher” for me.

The next neighbor to get a name is the one straight across the road from us. He is “The Welder”. He does welding work from time to time and you can see sparks flying. Once in a while, I am fortunate to hear the ringing of metal from being pounded with a hammer.

Then you have “The Gardeners”. When I first saw one of them, he had the biggest red tractor and was giving rides out back on his land to one of his grandkids. They also have a huge greenhouse on the land. We met them one weekend and I actually think it is the lady that is the gardener and the man just supports her efforts. They have lived in this area for years, were schoolteachers, are childhood sweethearts and significantly older than us. Even though I now know their names, “The Gardeners” is stuck in my mind. Not only do they own a business selling plants, they also have free range chickens (allowed to roam all over the property) and goats. Their goats gave birth to a total of 17 kids (so far) this spring. Eeeps!

The last person to get a name from me is the neighbors who live on the other side of us. “The Clothesman”. Seriously. But, the dude living there apparently likes to hang his clothes on a clothesline. It also appears that he does his own laundry as I never see the lady’s or the kids’ clothes hanging on the line. So, it is “The Clotheman” for me. Ha! We have not personally met them; but, they do seem to be nice folks.

Do not get me wrong. I am just naturally observant. I think it is just part of being deaf. If there were anything to be out of place, then I would know something is majorly wrong. Also, I am naturally interested in the livestock and the gardening going on around me. I am learning all I can before actually diving into the care of livestock and gardening. It is obvious that no one gardens around here and I now know why. It is hard work fighting against critters. Plus, it is much easier to hop in a vehicle and go down the road to HEB (10 to 15 minute drive) for all your vegetables, fruits and herbs. However, I have to say that there is something satisfying about growing a garden even if you never harvest anything. At least, I am trying and am determined to keep on trying until I succeed.

So, there you have it. You have just learned something new about me. Yes, I know I am weird. Ha!

A Few Words III

Has it really been a month since I last posted? I thank all of you readers for hanging in there with me. I am not sure what I will do in this blog in the future. There may be changes due to the fact that I just do not have the time or the inclination to blog these days especially since it is now summertime.

• Weather and Gardening:

  The weather has been fabulous here. It has been a very unusual spring. It is usually blazing hot by this time of the year. But, most days, it has been cool. It is even cool this morning; although it will get into the high 80s (F). But, reports indicate a cool front is coming through and temperatures will be low once again. A high of 77 (F) is indicated for Saturday – extremely odd for where we are living.

  I am thankful for the cooler weather I mentioned because it is giving the major plants we planted over a month ago a chance to establish itself before the blazing summer heat strikes. I have mentioned before that we have two apple trees and a lemon tree. All of them are doing well. I also have a blackberry bush that I planted and to be honest, I am surprised it is doing well. It even produced a few measly blackberries!

  As for my garden, it is not doing well. We are fighting critters (most likely gophers) eating our fragile plants. We will build several screens to protect future plantings. I am determined to try again in the fall in spite of my disappointment with the spring gardening.

  I do believe that laying down hardware cloth in the ground has worked. The critters cannot come from below the ground. However, they are coming from above ground and eating off the tops of the plants. I have lost all my cucumber plants which I wanted so badly for pickling. I also lost quite a few pea plants not to mention the carrots. I had planted garlic; but, critters dug into the ground and destroyed them.

  I do have strawberry plants thriving; but, the berries keep getting eaten. I also have bell pepper plants growing and they seem to be doing well. The herbs are thriving too and so are the marigold plants that I put in the middle of the garden.


• Home:

  We are making very slow progress on the house. Dan is currently working on transforming the kitchen lighting situation. I looked for something to replace the current light; but, I did not find any that I like and would work. So, Dan and I came up with the idea of ripping out the current framing (trim/molding) and replacing it with a design of our own. Actually, I designed it from memory of something I seen in the past and he is doing the wood work. I think it is going to look very nice. We shall see when he is done with the project. And yes, I will take after pictures. (The above picture is a before picture).

  I have so many ideas floating around in my head and many of them are projects that will both functional (for us) and a good thing for the cats. For example, I have seen modular bookcases; but, most are not aesthetic pleasing to me and/or do not fit in with our current design/architecture (ranch/craftsman) not to mention they are mega expensive! So, I went a searching and found something that I think would work with a few modifications and Dan will build them. They will provide a way to showcase my Krystonia figurines and allow the cats to get up high.


• Photography:

  I still take pictures regularly. However, I have not really challenged myself in this area. It takes time to process each picture and make them blog worthy as they are shot in RAW format. But, I am planning on sharing them with everyone soon.



Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Lee Ann on Pinterest

• Health:

  Since my last post I had not really suffered a headache or migraine until several days ago. I discovered that emotional distress will bring on a migraine almost immediately. My one personal fault is that I am too hopeful, naive and forgiving. I need to deal with a few issues that are both past and present related in order to heal.

  In the meantime, I am doing better than I have before. I think I am ready to get back into walking and general exercising once again. We shall see how well I do when I begin again.

A Few Words II

This is just a small update. I may return to blogging in May. In the meantime, I am doing well and have kept myself busy. I got really sick once and I was frustrated with several things causing me to want to give up on life; so, I called a break on most things online including blogging.

• Health

  I mentioned in my last post that I accidentally discovered nitrates triggering migraines; so, I tried eliminating them from my diet. I have been steadily improving ever since. I have not had a migraine in approximately three weeks now. All I have had were low-grade headaches. What is amazing to me is that I have been steadily feeling better and I am able to accomplish more these days. I am still not 100%; but hey, I am happy being 70 or 80% these days! I haven’t felt this good in a very long time. It is amazing to think that nitrates affected me that badly. So, no more ham and such unless they are nitrate free. There is some delicious bacon that I can have that is preservative and nitrate free and I am extremely thankful because I do love me some bacon. Ha!


• Home (House)

  Dan has steadily working on putting down baseboards and shoe base. He only has a little left in the den to do and then we move onto caulking and touchup. We will then move onto the exterior of the house before doing the bedrooms.

  I have been steadily unpacking boxes in what would eventually be the guest/gaming/exercise room. But, for right now, it is my sewing room until we get the garage conversion done. While unpacking, I have dreamed up plans to convert one of the closets into something functional I can temporarily use. As a result, I dragged Dan to Habitat for Humanity Restore to look for a few things. We found another solid door for $13 which will be used when the garage conversion is completed. I am thrilled with that purchase. I looked through used countertops and found one that would work for $15. I also looked for some things to set the countertop on; but, I will have to build something with Dan’s help. I plan on taking before and after pictures of the work being done in the closet.


• Spring

  This place is like a little bit of heaven to me. I let the cats out every morning and it is just teaming with life out there. We have hummingbirds visiting us daily. And, I have seen house finches, swallows, a pair of gorgeous scissortails and some red winged black birds. Wildflowers are all over the land. The bluebonnets are still around; but, most have gone to seed. We have only seen a few paintbrushes. I am hoping to see more next year. There are thousands of false dandelions all over the land. Some sunflowers have recently sprouted and I call them happy faces. We also have what I believe are milkweeds. As a result, I am hoping to see some Monarchs (butterflies). Speaking of Monarchs, I am seeing plenty of butterflies fluttering about and bees too!

  The weather has been very unusual here in Texas this year. It got so warm that I pulled out my shorts. This is typical of Texas where we live. We have a very short spring and then it is summer (blazing hot) for seven, eight or nine months. Yesterday morning, while the cats were out exploring, I noticed a wall of dangerous clouds in the distance coming our way. So, I went outside to keep an eye on the situation. It was interesting watching the storm system get closer and closer; but, I was shocked with the temperature suddenly dropped about 15 degrees and the wind became fierce. I was immediately chilled to the bone. I had to dig out some warmer clothes! So, we are currently having a short winter in spring. The temperatures should return to normal early next week (90s F).


• Gardening

  I have had two wonderful weekends of feeling rather well and accomplished a lot with Dan’s help. I was sad when each weekend ended. We purchased topsoil one weekend and filled in the garden bed. The following weekend, we purchased some plants. We currently have strawberries, three different herbs and some bell peppers planted in the garden bed. I have three different kinds of potatoes planted in a special tall pot. I also planted some Marigolds in the middle of the garden bed in hopes it will keep some pests away. And, I planted some seeds in a special little greenhouse. I am hoping to have carrots, peas, and cucumbers. We shall see if they sprout. If they do, I will transplant them into the garden bed.

  The new trees we planted are doing very well. The Granny Smith is actually thriving and blooming. The Dexter Golden is slowly getting in new leaves. The lemon tree/bush is also doing well. All of the plants that I have planted several weeks ago, with the exception of a lavender plant, are doing well. I am pleased with my efforts. I just hope this summer will not be so harsh; but, knowing where we live, it most likely will be a tough summer. But, I am planning on pampering every single one of them plants.

A Few Words

Much has been happening in the last few weeks that caused me to do a blogging break. I am still more or less on a blogging break because I am focusing on life at the moment. I will write and post pictures whenever I find the time and inclination to do so as blogging can be time consuming.

• Health

  I still have health issues that give me grief from time to time. Most of the time, I think I am getting better and then wham, I get sick. But honestly, I think the episodes are getting farther apart. At least, I feel like I am able to accomplish more these days. Also, I accidentally discover that nitrates can bring on migraines BIG time for me! So, in addition to avoiding HFCS and MSG, I am seeking to avoid nitrates. Ugh!



Source: zazzle.com via Gifts by Genius on Pinterest

• Mother

  Dan and I went to see Mother for her birthday the first weekend of March. While traveling to see her, we got a message that she was being sent to the hospital. She had a severe infection among other issues and her dementia seemed worse. We went straight to the hospital. She knew who we were. However, it was humorous to hear that she said we were from Canada!

  We split our time with one of my brothers and his family and with Mother at the hospital. She was released four or five days later and went straight into hospice care. The final stage of her life. I grieve in my own way.



Source: behance.net via Byungsoo on Pinterest

• Currrent Odd Desire

  For some odd reason, I want to learn how to dance. Why? Mother has always wanted to go to a ball; but, never got the chance. Years ago, she once mentioned that she wanted all of us to dress up in tuxes and ball gowns and dance at her funeral. At that time, I was shocked and said I would not do such a thing. I told her that I might dress up but there was no way I was going to dance at her grave.

  As time passed, I realized that she was trying to tell me that she wanted us to live and enjoy the littlest and biggest things in life at least once. So, even though I am not big on dancing and have no desire to go to a ball, I think I would like to learn how to dance (a waltz).



{Lemon Tree}

• Spring

  Spring is officially here. Well, we are under a cold spell at the moment. I am very glad our apple (Granny Smith and Dorsett Golden) and lemon trees that we purchased last weekend are in the ground. I insisted on staking a space where the garden shed and chicken house will go before planting the trees. I wanted the trees to shade the chicken house in the future; so, we needed to do a little figuring and plotting before planting the trees. It was extremely windy while we did this; so, I nearly froze to death. I had to wear modified ear muffs because my ears hurt so bad from the biting cold winds. I am so glad I (we) staked everything because I can now envision what I would all look like on the land.

  Anyway, the trees would do better in the ground instead of pots as it is going down near freezing temps in the night. I also planted Rosemary, which I originally thought were Lavender. Sheesh. They look so similar that I am not surprised I made that mistake. Anyway, when we were at a Home Depot this past weekend, I found Lavender and purchased a few pots. So, we now have Rosemary and Lavender planted along the back of the house.


We also bought some wood to build a 4 x 8 plant bed last weekend. We are going to build them one at a time when we have the inclination to work on the project. The bed itself is made; but, we need to get topsoil to fill in the bed and put down some hardware cloth just in case we do have moles and whatnot. Personally, I think the hills of sand/dirt I see popping up from time to time are from weird beetles in the ground. But, it does not hurt to be safe than sorry. I am getting excited about this current endeavor; but, to be honest, I have not thought much about what to grow in this first bed. It is how I have dealt with life lately – one thing at a time. And, when that is done move onto the next step. So, when the bed is finished, I will then think about what to plant in there. After all, at the rate I work, it may not even get done until fall. Ha!
• House

  The work on the house is going slowly; but, it is getting done. I wish I could help; but, I am extremely scared of power tools and I have no patience for painting. Dan is a much better painter than I. He gets it on right the first time. Moi? I tend to make a mess! Anyway, the work could get done quicker if Dan worked in the evenings; but, there is no rush and honestly, I rather he rest in the evenings after he has worked (for a living) all day. So, weekends are the only time work is being done on the house. Dan would buy stuff he needs for the weekend on Fridays before coming home from work. This way the cost of supplies is spread out over time.

  The casings on the doors and windows in both the hallway and den are finished. The baseboards are being put down at the moment. I am going behind him filling in holes with wood putty. He has taught me how to sand them once dried. So, I will be doing that also. I am real pleased with how they are looking at the moment. When the casings and baseboards are done, Dan will do the caulking. And then, we will paint and touch up.

  We will move onto the office when the hallway and the den is completed as it is more or less unpacked. Dan just needs to decide on colors. When I first asked Dan what color he wanted for the walls, he immediately said Red as in the classic Ford Mustang red, white and blue colors. I was shocked. Bright Red walls? Ugh! I had thought it would be green because that is his favorite color. Since it is his room, I am trying not to interfere; but, I may have to get to nagging him in a couple weeks because we should paint the walls before putting up the casings and baseboards.

  I am thinking of moving to the outdoors instead of doing the office. The house needs some minor repair work anyway. I am wanting to paint the house (shutters, porch, siding and trim). I think now is a good time to do this before it gets blazing hot. We have the paint. We just need a few supplies. Also, by doing this first, it would give Dan a little more time concerning the office.

Wordy Wednesday {On Valentine}

Mini MMs 8/2/2012 {for a challenge I never completed}

Valentine’s Day is coming up. I have to confess that I am not a fan of the holiday. I think this goes back to my elementary school days. It was just a popularity contest – who gets the most cards. And I, of course, would be one of those who would get the fewest.

I even had a teacher who had a rule that each student must give a card to everyone in the class. I was thrilled with this rule; but, when card exchange event occurred, I was sorely disappointed because I received only a few. When she asked if everyone received all their cards, I said no. I remember seeing disappointment all over her face and scolding the class. From that day on, Valentine’s Day was just another holiday to dislike and I was so happy that it was done away with upon entering Junior High (which was sixth grade for us).

So there you have it, how I learned to dislike Valentine’s Day. And indirectly, I have come to dislike roses and extravagant gifts over the years, because to me, it is all falsehood. In other words, it is faked and/or an obligation to do something for those you love.

I think the expression of love should not be forced by a holiday. I have to ask. Should not every day be Valentine’s Day? In other words, when you love someone, you express that to them any time and any day. You do not need to wait for a special day. Every day is special. Why wait for the one day of the year when it may be too late? After all, no day is guaranteed to anyone. Tell or show your love one now and often.

Now, don’t get me wrong. If your loved one’s love language is “receiving gifts”, then give them gifts. But you do not have to do it only holidays like Valentine’s Day or even Christmas day. Yes, they most likely love the whole holiday thing as it makes them feel loved; so, do not exclude the holidays. However, I think gift giving can also be done on ordinary days.

Well, I think you get the point from all the rambling I have just done. I hope and pray none of you were offended by my thoughts concerning Valentine's day.

Live every moment, love every day, cause before you know it, precious time slips away.” ~Reo Speedwagon

Wordy Wednesday (A Note)

It has been a long time since I have done a Wordy Wednesday. Life has been busy and I had a tough time adjusting to limited internet access. And, both of us dealt with sickness. I believe Dan caught the cold/flu from me and combine that with allergies, it brought him down. His immune system is fabulous and it is rare to see him so sick. In fact, he had to take a day off from work. He has not done that in years. I was shocked and worried about him; but, he recovered nicely.

Contented Lioness {Chessie} 11/1/2012

Anyway, now that the holidays are over, things have settled down and I am healthy once again, I am planning to gradually bring back my regular posts including the Macro Mondays. The macro pictures may or may not be recent. However, they will be pictures that I have not posted on my blog (or elsewhere).

You will probably see more pictures of the work being done on the house – especially in the “week of pictures” posts. We have been making steady progress with the house. Dan is doing a fabulous job on the casings and baseboards. He took a break last weekend to help me paint the kitchen. We had trouble finding the trim I picked out for the kitchen this past weekend and I was disappointed. However, Dan went looking at the Lowe’s near where he works last Monday and found them. I was absolutely thrilled! Once I get the trim painted and he puts them up, we will be done with the kitchen (with the exception of the cabinets which will be done as a last project).

I will be filling up the holes in the walls of the living room and the hallway left by previous owners in preparation for painting this weekend. We learned a valuable lesson from doing the kitchen – paint the walls first before putting up the new casings and baseboards. And yes, I have already chosen the paint color. We are making slow and steady progress with the little things. Sometime in the near future, we will get started on a major project – the garage conversion.

My sewing cabinet/cutting table is being returned to us and it is still NOT fixed. The shop could not find the materials. However, they said the manufacturer has the parts in spite of not making this particular model. The problem is that they are moving headquarters and will not be able to ship until May. We opted to have the furniture returned to us so that I can use it to bolt up my fabrics and free up the kitchen island. I may not be able to use it to sew; but, I can still use it to cut fabrics and wrap them onto “bolts”. Anyway, the movers will give us a check for the cost of the parts. Dan will order them and fix the cabinet himself when the parts come in.

I am looking forward to spring. There are a lot more life to photograph during the spring, summer, and fall. Winter has been rough so far. I am hoping that this spring will be beautiful due to receiving rain and having colder weather than usual.

In the meantime, I hope everyone is having a safe winter. I know that it snowed up North (Texas). There were reports of sleet near where we live; but, we have not seen evidence of any snow, ice, or sleet. It just has been colder than usual and I do not do well with the cold weather! But, I am surviving.

Piece,