Tag: life

Glorious

 Oh, what a beautiful morning.. .oh what a beautiful day….

Seriously, we’ve had some incredible weather this weekend, and we took full advantage by cleaning up and planting and mucking and brushing horses and walking and talking, etc…

My son picked his favorite chick and has been spending quality time with her….

 

Driving down Route 1 Saturday night, we spotted this Cupola type vent at the thrift store and Mike is probably going back today to make an offer. This is the same place that I found my Mobo Bronco metal horse, and the man who runs the place isn’t big on -making a deal-. 
 
 
 
 


 The side porch has been scrubbed with bleach and Ben is happily sunning himself once again. Danes don’t have much of a coat, so the winter months are hard on a big boy like this… he’s had to be indoors most of the time this winter with brief runs out to the yard to do his business. 

 
 
 
I had forgotten all the bulbs we planted last fall around the fenceline in the backyard. They’re coming up in full force, atleast sixty or so tulips, should be a pretty show in a few weeks time.


 

I got the pansies I bought at Balleks last week in the ground and bought this blue ceramic birdbath for $35 at Ocean State Job lot.  It’s huge, a great  deal for such a big piece of pottery.  I’ve also cleaned up my “seaside real estate garden” and had to dig out some large clumps of grass that were threatening to take it over.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Once the perennials fill in, this  area will look much more abundant with blooms
and greenery.
 

 
 

 The zinnia seeds have sprouted, veggies still under the dirt.

 

Last summers geraniums have been brought out to the greenhouse after wintering on a sunny window sill inside….

 
 
 …and dear Opie was a bit incredulous yesterday as he realized he was going BACK TO WORK!  I’m not much of  a winter rider with the ground frozen hard and my tolerance for cold weather at ZERO once I’ve spent an hour mucking and breaking up ice buckets .  Indeed, I am a fair weather rider, and so Opie gets months of off-duty living.  Today he gets front shoes back on and we are set to go!   All of the horses are shedding their winter coats. Quite often I return from the barn wearing what they shed off. 
 
 
 
 


 
We’ve got some busy weeks ahead… an eighteen birthday,  Senior Prom, first horse show of the season for K and Max, Easter Dinner here at this old house with the extended family –
 
It’s all good –  and.. it’s a new day, people.  Make it a good one.
 


Do I even admit this?

… but first I’ll show you the haircut we discussed yesterday (thank you SO much, Stephen, your tips are wonderful and right on, and you are so generous to give us all so much information). 

 I love my stylist, she is a beautiful, spirited, kindhearted young thing, not to mention talented with hair and color.  We discussed some important stuff about hair  and a certain celebrity’s hair style, a photo I had in my possession and my reluctance to chop too much of it off even though as we age, most of us can’t really wear the long hair we lust after and pull it off gracefully.  

 This is what she came up with, and I walked out of there one happy girl.   I have naturally shiney hair, but it’s lost a little luster as I’ve aged.    A glaze gives hair a beautiful sheen and enhances and deepens your natural color, and that’s what we’ve done here.   This was a real simple blowout, too, just took a few minutes with a big round brush, no flat iron necessary. An easy cut that I can maintain.  For a girl like me who has little patience for standing in a bathroom primping, that’s really important.

 
The before shot below shows you the difference in keeping a good cut and its layers
trimmed.. the face framing gives you a face lift!
So I’m going to keep this new layered look neat,  a trim every few months
because seriously, that’s an easy face lift, no?
 
 

You’re probably wondering what my guy thinks of it, because after all he is the one who told me it looked ratty and needed something.   Well… here-in lies the rub.   Just before I went to the salon, I visited with a friend’s dog to give it a potty break while it’s family is at work and school.  While there, I left my car keys on the bumper of the Jeep.  I have no idea why.  Just hush.

After the dog walk, I hopped back in the Jeep and headed down the road a few miles, to where said husband was working on a job site. We chatted, he had to go to a meeting, I had a hair appointment.

 I start the Jeep…. no I don’t.  

What the….?????  No keys.

 Then I remember… OMG THE BUMPER!!… You see.. those STUPID %&$@# auto start key fobs… will still start your car even if your keys are outside the vehicle on the back bumper!!!!… hence, I got to my next destination.  My keys, the ones on the bumper?  Did not.  

  The husband had to go searching for my keys along the route I took while I got my haircut, then he went and got my OTHER set of keys and brought them back to me at the Jeep location.  For the past few hours I have been searching for said keys, and I’m sure you can guess that outcome.

As for my haircut?  He could give a flying F at this point, the cold truth be told.  I just called Jeep dealer and this haircut will cost me about $750. when all is said and done. 

Ummm… but I love it?…..  

*sigh*

The Dog Whisperer

“Spiritual fulfillment doesn’t have to mean belief in a religion or
disbelief in science… Whether one believes in an unseen, all-knowing
force, or the wonder of science and the
universe, or simply the beauty of the human spirit, nearly every one of
us feels an inner longing to feel part of something bigger than
ourselves.” 

– Cesar Millan 


I love this guy… not just because I’m a dog lover.  Do you know his -story- ?  He came to America to better his life. He began his journey here as a very young homeless man living under a highway overpass.  He immediately started a job search, no easy feat under the circumstances.  His first job was at a dog grooming facility , existing on those lovely convenience store hot dogs and water. As it became clear he had a natural way with dogs…he was eventually able to create the Pacific Point Canine Academy.  Jada Pinkett Smith became one of Millan’s first clients and supporters, (he was at that time also a limousine driver) – and she  provided him with an English tutor for a year. Then, Cesar  created the Dog Psychology Center, a 2-acre facility in South Los Angeles —specializing in working with large breed dogs.  Nat Geo took notice and we all know him now as the Dog Whisperer.  He has also been open about his struggle with depression, hoping to help others who might be suffering as well. 

Cesar, you will never read this, I’m sure.. but I’m putting it out into the Universe anyway.. you’re a class act all the way.  The world is a better place because you are in it.

 

When there isn’t an answer worth hearing

This is the view out my back window tonight, I just took it with my phone, no flash.. amazing.  See the neighbors lights off in the distance?   I love this kind of scene, so peaceful.

 Tonight, though, it just makes me sad.  A young man in our small community decided to take his own life yesterday in the nearby state park.   God only knows what kind of emotional pain must have tortured him enough to end his life at such a young age, with so much to look forward to.  The world at that age should be your oyster. 

 I’m only guessing he just couldn’t see the light off in the distance, the possibilities…. Couldn’t find a safe haven from whatever demons followed him and dragged him down. With a drastic decision he’s left all that behind  and now his family will mourn their loss. Is there ever an acceptable answer for such a tragedy?

RIP dear Tommy,  I didn’t know you but I mourn your loss, I feel sorry for your pain and my heart hurts for your family tonight.

*****

49

Yesterday was my 49th birthday.  I could go on and on about the aging process, trying to age with grace… and the realization that I am now probably more than – at the halfway mark – of my life span.  But today all I feel is lucky .. to be here, to be healthy, to have this family I cherish and to be able to care for the animals I also call my family.

 What are my goals from here?  Well, some of them have been squashed with this hearing impairment… but there are always opportunities if we venture to look, muster  a little courage, step outside our particularly comfortable box and look around.  I might open that shop again.   I hope to continue advocacy for animals in need, especially the dogs… such beautiful souls.  I might expand that out to humans as well, not sure the direction I should take yet, but I’m working on it.  I’m going to be honest here for a minute and tell you I used to think I wanted to volunteer at a homeless shelter, see if I could make a difference in those lives.   I visited with a local church group, bringing a meal to share with them.   I’m embarrassed to tell you it scared me.  The level of mental illness and instability actually scared me enough not to want to return.  What a coward, I tell myself, and yet there it is.

  So I’ll figure it out, and with a little luck and elbow grease I hope to have years to work on it, help others, support my family in the ways that I do.   Another 49 to go?  That’s asking a lot, but I’ll ask anyway.

Mom made my favorite Irish meal last night…. Thanks Mom!  any leftovers?  First reader to guess all the components of this meal gets the Luck O’ the Irish! 

It’s a new day, all –  Make it a good one.

On Friends and Fairies….

  We spent a lovely evening in the company of friends last night – the Viking, who also happens to be the one and only “J” who helped us rebuild This Old House, and his wife Raven, who is a fairy in her other life. 
 Raven’s Herb Shed blog HERE
Events HERE

Their home – Moonshadows

It’s rare to get such a personal glimpse of a fairy’s home life…
they are elusive creatures, don’t ya know.

Raven was gracious with my curiosity and gave me a tour of her wardrobe.

It ***Sparkles***
… Fairy dust abounds…
I got to try on a pair of wings!
..choosing a small set, as I am not accustomed to flying…

How to make fairy dust  – HERE

 One of my favorite prints…

Midsummer’s Eve by Edward Robert Hughes

 

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies,
the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to
say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”



– John Lennon

 Believing in fairies.. or faeries…  is believing in the magical world of nature spirits. Grown ups most often lose touch with the magic of childhood…who couldn’t use a little whimsy in their life. 

Todays Random Riles

My orange crayfish was eaten by my Jack Dempseys overnight.  When I peered in the tank this morning I saw half of him in the sea grass and the other half missing.  The aquarium folks said he’d be fine but they were wrong.  I kinda hate having put him in that position.  Yes I know it’s a -crayfish-.  Still. 
We are one world. We are all of  the human race. It could be such a Utopia for every single being.. we have the resources.   WHY.. can’t we get along. WHY is there senseless war after war, torture, poverty, homelessness, suffering… all avoidable.  And yet we’ll never rise above it, and I think… eventually destroy ourselves completely.  
Never get into a political -discussion- with family on FB and think it’s going to end well.  It won’t.  Also, never assume you know someone just because they are family.  Their true nature can astound you and it probably will.

Giving up sugar is a really really really hard thing to do.    Really. 

It snowed again this morning… not much, but the residual grey day hovers like a wet wool blanket.

The repair people are here fixing the refrigerator for the third time. It’s just a few years old, a sub zero.  Things oughta be made better, the way they used to be.  My grandmothers “ice box”  probably saw thirty or so years of service.  We pay much more for things now and get much less.   It ain’t right. 

I finally watched the Hunger Games and it’s sequel over the weekend.  I found it incredibly disturbing, twisted, highlighting the worst in human nature. Or should that read -government-?   Am I the only one who felt that way?  I don’t know… judging by it’s popularity, maybe so.

-just sayin. 



Finding the Bright Side


  Attitude is everything.  As I mature I discover this to be one of the biggest truths in life. No matter how determined we are, we can’t dictate exactly how things will go, what will change and what will remain the same. Nothing is sure but death, taxes and the unpredictability of weather.  And Twinkies, Slim Jims, Twizzlers and Coke.  I’m pretty sure those four things would survive any apocalypse.

  As I sit here at the computer, my hands, feet and face sting from the thaw after morning chores. I am not discouraged by the winter that just keeps chilling, snowing and blowing.  Instead, I am grateful for the beauty outside my windows, for the good health to carry out the chores, for the good fortune to be able to feed the troops and the animals, and for my husbands big excavation equipment, currently in the State Forest digging a  Bronco out of the snow after a certain family member and his friends decided to see how far they could go in the snow  last night.    Wearing shorts and sneakers. ….. Ah, youth.  


“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch
of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for
home.” 
– Edith Sitwell


  Because of the cold temps and snowy tundra, we’ve been spending more time around the kitchen table at meal time, more time by the fire watching the Olympics, more time as a family in general.  So often the outside world beckons us in all directions.  This opportunity for togetherness, despite it’s chill factor, is a gift. 

The Mr. and I did some gator riding through the trails yesterday…

 
…and got just a little stuck.

 
After a little back and forth and some shoving, cursing and flooring it…
 we were free again. 
Hey, stupidity is not always wasted on the young. 
The picture currently in my header was yesterdays morning moon…
the winter moon is just beautiful.
I’ve now got some serious boot wear I found stuffed in the back of the mudroom closet
  -my sons snowmobile boots from a few years back, when we wore the same shoe size.
They are mammoth…each boot weighing probably 10 lbs.. all the better for
some leg toning, right?
Attitude. 
The dogs are content to run outside, do their thing, and come right back in.
We always dig a run for Ben, because he will not “go” near the house…
he wants some privacy.  If we don’t dig that path,
he stands at the gate looking miserable.

 Frasier is not so finicky.

The skies have been the bluest blue.
Picnic anyone?
It’s a new day, All –  make it a good one!

One of these days, Alice….

BOOM!.. Right to the moon!!!
*sigh*
 Sometimes, especially when I think I’m coping rather well with my loss of hearing… the reality of it creeps in on me again and I could get pretty depressed about it if I let those feelings settle.  
 Yesterday I got a lot accomplished around here.  I was particularly happy with the paleo soup and banana bread I had just finished making for last night’s supper.  One pan was pretty sticky and I decided to leave the hot water running over it for a -few minutes- to help me get the pan clean. 
Hearing impaired people lose the ability to hear most running water unless you happen to be standing next to Niagara falls. 
So .. back to the running water.  I ran upstairs to do some laundry… came back downstairs to fold done laundry.. checked e-mail, wrote a blog post… then remembered I needed to turn that hot water off and clean the pan.  As I walked back into the kitchen I stepped in a puddle.  The puddle covered half the kitchen floor.   A measuring cup I had used to cook… covered the drain hole and the sink flooded.. and then spilled over… and over… and over.   Even the basement needed mopping.  Many many soaked towels, carpets and curses later.. the mess is cleaned up.  HOWEVER… our hardwood floors are buckling.
If I had been a person with normal hearing, I would have heard the water hit the floor the second it did so. 
To my husband’s credit and much to my surprise, when he arrived home last night he did not blow a fit, visualize Ralph Kramden right here.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a mess of towels to sort out, some wet carpet to move around, and an appointment at the Jeep Dealership to see if they can get the dead mouse out of the engine, because the stench is hideous.
It’s a wonderful life, though, isn’t it?   It’s a new day, all.   Never ever leave a running sink unattended, OK?
Ok.
.