Tag: life

Just this

Today is one of those days
 when the weight of things
feels heavier.
Even the sky isn’t sure of itself..
moody, sunny, blue, grey, clouding over periodically. 
It’s the kind of day where I just want to say to the universe…
stop the nonsense.. not one more negative thing, please.
***
Life can be such a wonderful, wonderous thing…
and there is enough natural disaster to make it difficult going…
So why do we, as humans, INFLICT more.. on each other.
Aren’t we supposed to be smarter than that?
Or are the smarts the problem…
Ignorance would be bliss?
***
Why do people who come together for a good cause..
who’s hearts are in the right place..
who’s mission is worthy…
let ego and drama get in the way of their good work and efforts. 
That saddens me…and it seems to come between women more than men.
**** 
  
I think CNN is a curse.
Most news outlets for that matter.
Do I want to know about the sick individual
who dismembers an innocent man, violates his body
and then mails his body parts to various places?
Oh, and let’s have the WORLD know about it..
so we can torture the victims family with continual -in your face- coverage..
and give some other sick individual ideas.
*** 
Rumor has it Cas*y Anth*ny is selling her story…
a book? A made-for-TV movie?
Say it ain’t so.
People, please don’t buy it if this comes to be.
I’m still flabbergasted that she walks free.
***
Is it really so hard to be “decent”? 
What is it about the simple act that gets lost in translation.
If every single person could just be DECENT in their interaction with
other humans, other animals,  with the environment.., in politics.
the world would be in such a better state.
It doesn’t cost a dime to be decent, compassionate, considerate, KIND.
***
Hows that for heavy.
I must be particularly perimenopausal today..
you’re welcome.
***
I’ve been out in the garden trying to wash all this off
with the dirt.. it’s cleaner out there.. you know?

Come stroll through the gardens…

  …and I’ll share with you some of what’s been tugging at me lately.  Those who know me well might have over the years deemed me a bit… oh, shall we say.. restless.  I’ve worn many hats and have managed to pursue some interesting and creative endeavors.  My jobs outside the home have varied greatly but none are what you would call a bonafide career.  I have several talents, but am the master of none.   I know all too well what it feels like to be cooped up in a windowless office on a beautiful summer day.  And I know the dread of having to meet a deadline… still have those dreams… even the missing homework dreams!   I bet you know the ones.

    I know what it takes to be a  single working mom with a child in daycare, and a stay-at-home mom who’s social life revolves around the grocery store,  sticky cheerios, legos, dirty diapers, pooper scoopers and plastic wading pools.  I’m intimately familiar with the wonders and woes of owning your own business, of blending well and not so well with another in a  partnership. I know the joy of success and the sting of failure.

   
   What I NEVER knew was that all along, no matter what I was doing or not doing… who I was pleasing or not pleasing… as long as I was doing my best, doing what I felt was right, taking care of what needed tending and being kind whenever possible…- being the best me I am capable of being – …  It has  always been.. ENOUGH.     Even now,  as I find myself without a specific Job Title or an impressive long career at the age of 47…with  no little ones requiring my full attention 24-7 and no clock to punch…  I’m not sure what I will be next.  And you know.. I think I’m really OK with that.. with all of it. 

Why does it take us so long to approve of and embrace who we are…
no apologies, full acceptance.
If we don’t see our own worth,
how can we expect  anyone else to believe it?

My 18 year old niece wrote on her facebook wall recently…
” I wish I were a brown eyed brunette.”
She’s a beautiful blue eyed blonde. 
*sigh* 

Where do you go…..

…to decompress?
Do you have a place  you escape to
when you need to air it out..
breath it in…
let it go?
I find a walk in pure Nature
is the best soul soother,
stress reliever, reminder..
that we are oh so small in this big universe.
It has a way of telling me to
just be in the minute and enjoy what’s before me.
We all need to do that now and then.
If I could just bottle the scent of those glorious beach roses….

Determined

  Barn swallows are a determined lot… we’ve had them nest in all three of the barns we’ve had over the past 24 years.  Barn rafters make natural sense… they are out of the way of traffic up in the eaves, they can come and go as they please through the big open barn doors.. and there are plenty of bugs just below them and out in the paddocks.   For some reason, at This Old House.. they’ve chosen the kitchen slider porch instead of the barn,  where there is heavy pedestrian traffic.  The dogs sit right underneath them!  I don’t get it.  However.. I’m enjoying the process.  Type A husband is trying real hard to ignore the mess underneath the commotion.

He’s been scolding us continuosly…

….Annoyed that he has to fly off every time we enter and exit.
I told him he could stay, but some things you just have to figure out for yourself.

 This was built in two days.  Pretty amazing. 

With all the rain and mild temps this week.. the gardens have flourished…


I don’t always watch American Idol…
but I’ve checked in on the progress this season now and then…
for two reasons…
Steve Tyler and Phillip Phillips..
I just love them both.

And Phillip… you are a man for the ages..
what creative talent you have..
love for your family…
..just a geniune hometown boy with a real love for you music.
I do believe your version of “Home” is my favorite song. Ever.
I think anyone listening to this will feel uplifted…the soul stirred..
…will feel like they are truly home.
 As if you’ll read this 🙂

See  his version of HOME  HERE…

The Graduate

Words failing me as I try to describe
the pride I feel for this young woman before me.
She is…..
first..a walking miracle.
Courageous. Determined.  Strong beyond strong.
Conscientious. Thoughtful.  A Joy to her family…  
…A Graduate, with honors.
Proud.. we are. Beyond measure.
Grateful, too….
Amen.

 Trying it on….

Friends…

Her favorite Academic Advisor…Mr. G.

Family… at Water Edge after.

Cousins…

My Aunt and my sister Sue…. 
you’re amazed at how much we look alike, aren’t ya.
She’s my BFF.

Mom and cousin Andy and a much deserved Irish Coffee…

Now here’s where you come in….
In the comments section, leave one piece of Life advice you would give this
brand new college graduate… something you wish your 22 year old self knew
back in the day… or something you’ve learned along the way that you know to be true,
that we each should know for sure.
 

Inside Outside and a Me Me about You

This is what it looks like at 7am this morning at This Old House…
Inside…
two kids home from work and school, sharing cold misery.
Note the roll of paper towels at hand for nose blowing.
now THAT’S misery, if you ask me. 
Think I oughta head out to CVS for tissues?… the shame of it. 
Meanwhile, standing mopey on the deck are dogs who don’t
wanna get wet, but really gotta go!
I’ve got a 9am vet appointment for all four dogs for annual check up.
What was I thinking???…..
And finally, a Me Me about YOU
if you care to join in.
Leave your answers in the comments section…
please.. I need entertainment today.
1. What name would you choose for yourself if you could have been named
something other than what you were given?
2. If you could blink your eyes and be anywhere at all for a nice long weekend
of relaxation or recreation, where would you go, and with whom?
3. Three of your favorite foods…
4. If you could add a room to your current living quarters,
what would it be?
5. If you won 5 million dollars,
how do you absolutely know you would spend a portion of it?
my answers:
Rowan.
St. John, Vida de Mar Villa  with my family
Guacamole with tortilla chips
A really good cheesecake
the best kind of lobster roll.. cold, salad like.
Hot tub greenhouse.
I’d open a homeless shelter for people and animals.
A Halfway house, sort of.
I have ideas about it…..

Good Morning!

And please, take that quite literally!
thank you Hilary – love this.
So today is the tomorrow….
make it a good one 🙂
My favorite breakfast,which I just finished.
birds in a nest. 
Udi’s gluten free bread, my own chickens’ organic eggs..
One of these was a blue egg, can you tell?   🙂 
Have a great weekend, all.
I am one of the designated drivers to the Semi Formal!
You know I’ll be taking pictures..


Grow

Growing things is hard to do when the soil is dry.
No snow this winter, not much rain this Spring so far..
Weird. The lawn and gardens are actually dusty dry.
It makes for alot of watering added to farm chores.
There are some pretty things sprouting and blooming, despite the drought.

Peas.

Do you remember “helicopters” that drifted down on the breeze?…
Did you pick them up and split them, put them on your nose?
Why do we stop doing things like that…
age does not always equal wisdom.

I don’t care that these are considered a weed.
They’re beautiful.

and..
we should all do more of this. 



Glorious Weather

O

h, the feel of being out in the warm spring air…

petals aflutter and bees adrift.
Chickens bug-hunting
and boys bike riding..
Onions, peas and pansies watered
Tulips make their debut
Off to a girls only party for the Dog Days Crew!
..and my thoughts are with the folks of the midwest..
hoping the storms lose their wickness
and all will be ok.