Beat the Blogger-Blues with the new and improved....

..Slump-Buster!

{Sister Kathleen of the Order of the SullivanSisters found this hat and said she thought of me..WTFlip?}

Now we have the technology (and the technicolor) to make these slump-busting-blogger hats available to the public!

But wait, for just the processing fee of $19.95, you can add these Funk-a-delik shades! They come with a complete instruction booklet on how to go from "Blue" to "Cool", from "Flobby to Funky" in one easy step! Okay..maybe a two-step for you..

Also included, the "vogue" CD track by Madonna, which will show you how to "vogue,vogue,vogue" in her words.


With the Slump-Buster hat, you can be a strong Irish-Viking warrior.. or a BigBaadButt on a Harley..


Possible Side Effects:

Some people experienced loud laughter, fits of hysteria, screams from babies and small children.

Must be used externally only.

May trigger unleashed aggression in some viewers.

Wearing the Slump-Buster hat in highly-humid climates, especially the shower, may cause "limp horn-dysfunction" otherwise known as "LHD"

If LHD lasts more than 4 hours, seek a drier climate and do not consult a physician ( he may refer you to a psychiatrist)

After all, you do want to be seen as horny- right??

Fishy-kisses to everyone!

-me ....and my alter-ego, Labhaoise {Irish for warrior maiden}-

Yeah..that's what I'm talkin' about!

Excuses for not having anything to blog about..

1.




Hmph. I got nuthin'...

Seriously..not a thing..

I think I'm depressed about Farrah and Michael and Billy and Ed..


It's a lot of people either close to my age or just a little older..dang.

I really don't want to live forever, and they probably didn't either..but still...it makes one think...


I really want NOT to waste any precious time..but I need to work. Would love to see everything I can see..but I need to work to make the money to do that.

It's that "inner fight"..

I really am pretty satisfied to be an armchair traveler, but then I feel badly about "watching" instead of "living"..

And I'm in a constant state of tired, but I fight sleep 'cos I don't want to miss anything.

I want to eat..to taste everything and enjoy food and make my mouth happy..but I am feeling and looking better by not eating as much as I normally would like to.


I want to go and to and play and be silly and be with family and be alone and be meditative and relax and not think but not waste anytime of what my thinking-cap could do..

I want to be 5 and 16 and 30 and 65..and 83..

I want wisdom and grace..and to act like a child and swing on a swing..

I want to craft and make art and spend every minute with my love and not be in another room..or disconnected from what he's saying or doing..but I want to loose myself in my art...

I want to walk barefoot and dance in high heels..and squish warm mud between my toes..and have ballet slippers.in pink..with ribbons..


I'm a mess.

WaaWaa - what a baby.

I know..I REALLY know how blessed I am..so it's just once in a while this little inner-child brat comes out.



How about you? You in a slump?

-me

Hello? Yes, we do have a line.....do you have a reservation??

Seating is limited..however, if you'd like to wait on the roof, or maybe at the "bar" (hahaha.. I crack me up sometimes..bar..get it..the pole is like a bar??..oh, never mind..

Anyway, as you can see, our feeder is getting plenty of traffic..even had one big 'ol bully-bird there..

"Look over there! He's HUGE! No. Don't look!...Just keep eating..don't make eye contact..we don't want any trouble.."

"nomnomnom..good seeds, huh? nom nom nom..Let's get outta here.."
(do birds smack their lips..ah..beaks?? Hmmm..)

"heh heh heh..gets 'em every time..now I got da place to me-self.."

"Geesh! Hey Lard-Butt.. ever heard of a salad ??"

Braxton, as usual, is quite unimpressed. Quite bored actually..thinks he shall take a nap..it's one of the things he does soooo well :-)

PS- They're having an adorable give-away at:
http://magicmoonlightstudio.blogspot.com/2009/06/july-giveaway.html

Go enter!!

Badda....

Get it? Badda....bing.

So on our walk this morning we took some great photos of....stuff.

Plain old telephone pole, right??



nuh-uh...

....it a picture of a mercat!

Hmm...what? you don't turn on your head when looking at things?

Rust. Truck rust. Flatbed truck rust. Cool rust. Cool..

"Grab the chickens in Mable, we're getting weather!"

"Morning reflections"
..I think that's supposed to have a deeper meaning...

Snapdrgons or Sweetpeas? I always get those 2 mixed up..

Wooden fence. White. Chippy. Love it.

..chain link fence dressed up in yellow..good color on it..see Junior?
Here kitty, kitty..

Graveyard for appliances.

"Rust in piece(s)."

Do you spot the deer in the photo below?

Me neither.

But he was there yesterday. I didn't have my camera when he was there, so you'll just have to use your imagination..isn't he magnificent??

Same flowers. Same question: sweetpeas or snapdragons?

..have a fun day or 2 this week-end.

-me

Now, the greatest of all the visit...love, family, trust, personified in photos..

Through the years...

..always the four of us...



He wore this shirt just for me...breast cancer pink.. "Real cowboys wear pink.."

Big brother extrodinaire..


He drives his red tractor through the small town of Arivaca on the Fourth of July with the little girls on the "float"...and of course, his American flag...

His tractor, like all of us, worn & tired..missing a few parts...

This is just where he should be..in his home, in his beloved Arizona..good books..good light..good wine..



Driving him for radiation in Tucson..his remarkable, strong hands, looking much like our Father's..

One of his favorite roles..that of "Grandpa"..

..and that of brother..

The three Sullivans -(before I was even a twinkle in my Father's eye...)

Keep fightin' Larry. We're all behind you whispering..

"ride, Larry, ride...."

-me

OK, so it was not ALL serious and photogenic and atristic..or even "pretty"..

yeeeeah, whenever we girls get together, it's really, seriously, something else..

totally.

seriously.

Take last Friday night. After dinner at Larry & Cilla's. It was late. We were tired.

Did we let that stop us? Noooooo..

Once back at Gerri's...

Recipe for a side-splitting evening:

{Disclaimer..wine was involved..}

Ingredients:

3- sisters

1- niece-photographer/videographer

3- paper-facial-masks that look like thick computer paper (Gerri used to be with Elizabeth Arden salons at VP of HR and got samples)


1- bottle of wine..any color, any type, any year...

1-digital camera and 1 flip-camera (video)

Directions:

Place paper on face. Cut holes for eyes and nose (holes do not need to be made to actual eye/nose ratios - example: Gerri's one beady eye and my ginormous eye holes...Kathy's are.. ..perfect... because, well..she's Kathy..)




Wet face. Put paper on face. Wet paper. Peel. Drink.




Add wine.

Not to face. Ingest the wine..

Feel and look 10 years younger!

OK, maybe look 10 hours younger, however, act 52 years younger.

Next: How to moon people without ever taking your pants off:

1. Hop into truck back seat - squeeze into backseat by folding down front seat and crawling in

2. Ride to Estate in back seat with 3 other people and 2 (two) friendly dogs in truck

3. Sail across 35-miles of rough, dusty, bumpy gravel roads with 3 other people and 2 (two) friendly dogs

4. Park truck on the world's narrowest street and have to endure the stares and verbal abuse of elderly men in golf carts saying, "You're taking up the whole street!"

5. Attempt to get outof said truck by swinging your adorable Sketchers-shooed feet out from the back-seat, and feel them dangle 10 inches above the hot pavement of the too-narrow subdivision, while enduring yet another verbal berating by yet another old fart in a friggin golf cart..

"We're purchasing furniture and we'll move the truck as soon as it loaded, Groucho-Grumpy-Gramps... Go hit a ball or something...so..go..FOUR! or hit a boogie (bogy?)..a ball" (always wanted to say that..)

Try to squeeze out of backseat...hanging by something.. ..butt's not THAT big..something's terribly wrong. (!) ...feet are swinging trying to touch down..arms are flailing...face is turning red in the heat...

Riiiippp..

..ooooh-kay. Cool air rushing where no cool air should be..no blood..just shreds of what was previously known as my JEANS and my screamin' yellow PANTIES hanging down.

Well, at least my feet are now on solid ground.

Alrighty Pops-and-the-golf-cart-gang , where are ya now that I can officially moon ya??


"So we loaded up the truck and move to Beverly..Hills that is.. (uh..Arivaca hills)
{no} swimmin' pools {or } movie stars.."

{notice the 'readers' AND the magnifying glass? ?? Naw - she doesn't need glasses..but we WERE afraid of her starting a FIRE!}

Hurumph..

-me

The textures of Arivaca Arizona...

Beautiful watercolor of Larry and his dog, Paddy and a small girl on his ranch..painted by a good friend.

When I say this place is remote...it's rEMoTe! About 15 miles from the Mexican border, we can actually sit on Gerri's front porch and see the mountains of Mexico..and not too far away.


It's unlike the lower, more flat desserts I am used to living in- this is the high grasslands.. ..rocky, sometimes muddy..not a lot of cactus, lots pf mesquite trees and scrub brush..


The colors of the rocks are impressive. Purple, pinks blue and indigo.

The trees are the regular brown trunks but the foliage is a soft, rich green.


There are remnants of cholla cactus - cholla (pronounced 'choya') some high-dollar western-themed furniture is made from it now, but I remember as a child, hating (!) that dumb cactus-stuff.

Theirs...$1072.00Ours.. $3.98

Prickly-pear.. the jelly is fantastic..and if you leave the thorns, you can floss at the same time :-)

Prickly Pear and Mesquite tree..

Barbed wire..meant to keep cattle in and intruders out - even that hard, pointy stuff can be made into things of beauty...


The earth is red..and the wetter it gets.. the redder it gets. The mornings are cool (relatively) and the days are hot (non-relatively- it's just plain H.O.T.) but the very early mornings? Ahh, magnificent. That's why you could find us walking at 5 am..to beat the heat and smell the smells. They were wonderful.

even muddy reflections become a thing of beauty..

One morning I awoke facing the front windows, which, when you're out in the wilds, you can leave open and uncovered, I saw the horses just getting around, shaking and whinnying. Like something out of a movie..


When we drove to Cilla & Larry's for dinner, going up their hillside road, a coyote came out and meandered across the road right in front of us..at first I thought it was a dog..yeeeeah..here Puppy Puppy..

It stopped and I fumbled for my camera..he walked away. Gerri put the car in reverse...there he was again..camera ready? Yep.

Coyote... gone? Yep.

Back-up again..couldn't catch up with him but what an entrance to Larry's ranch. I could just see Larry up there, watching, saying,

"Okay, que the coyote.."

Birds. Many many birds. Seems they are on the migratory path of all sorts of great birds. Just fun to sit and try to distinguish who was who..

{to the best of my knowledge, these two could be George & Gracie...}

This birdie-Momma was smart - nesting in the bottom of a roll of wire so the hawks don't see her nest..

And, yes, he has a couple of Candy Bouncers - those retro metal chairs I love so much?


A terrific storm came through - wind, then thunder, with rain and lightening soon to follow. Within minutes it had cooled to 58 degrees..imagine..


Dinner with candlelight - something they do every night - isn't that just wonderful??

A heart- in the place mat {accidentally..or not..} just a random piece of the material..

Lookie at these teensy tiny mushrooms! And, do you see another heart??

Hearts are everywhere :-)

So, have a heart, give your heart, open your heart, heartfelt wishes and fishy-kisses ..

-me

"Woodn't " you like to know...

..all about Arizona wood? Well, I can't teach you anything about it, but I can show you some...

When I brought my camera in and uploaded the photos, my sister looked at them while I was in the other room.

She said "Well, they're pretty...but I really don't share your love of wood..bet Lisa (her daughter) will like them."

(She's a published photographer..and she DID...she looked at all the photos and said "I really like the ones of the wood....)

So, there.

Have a little tummy issue tonight, so I just wanted to show the the wood pictures. Tomorrow I'll show you "textures of Arizona"..

Whoopie..your own travel guide.

...sha- boom, sha-boom.

-me

Hi everyone !! {me waving frantically from home...}

Heart rock cafe....

Whew.

Just Whew.

No, actually, it's also.... heehee, wowzer, ahhh, #)($*)@! and "We can do this.."

Nah. 'Whew' petty much sums it up.

Let me start by saying Larry is doing really well - brave, strong, handsome as ever, worrying about how everyone else is handling this devastating turn.

He will have 7 more rounds of radiation, and then, it's just enjoy life...no more can be done. (at least from the medical community..)

However, he told the three of us he will continue to fight, be positive, hopefully ride again, enjoy his ranch, until God calls him home.

Yeah. I know. Hard.

Boyhowdy-hard.

But sooo very glad I went (after the plane missed ME..),we laughed, cried, acted silly, tore my pants ( stay tuned for the rest of this story), drove by many memories..proved my lack of focus as well as lack of navigation..and saw for myself the pain and stress this horrible suckie-cancer has one everyone who loves him...or knows him..or has ever had any encounter with him..or anyone who has come face-to-face with this...stupid, insidious disease.

But for now, until I catch up with all that I have missed with you, I made a few colleges to show you the beautiful part of the country I just spent the past 5 days in:

Food. Of course. Pretty-as-a-picture food that was as good as it looks.

Ever had grilled sweet potato slices on a sandwich? I have.
Mmmm..

Morning walk greeters...

Furry-love of all sorts..oh and a little feathered-love too..


Morning sky-night sky..reminds me of a quote..

"Is the sunset any less beautiful than the sunrise?"

It was said in relationship to age..and yes, we will have beautiful new sunrises and beautiful sunsets..we will be shown beauty and love at both ends of our "day"..

-me

Hello Arizona, have I reached tha party to whom I am speaking??

Well, it's that time - going to Tucson to see Larry - the Kindergarten Cowboy -
Yep, he's got the three of us to contend with until Sunday afternoon...


I'll be out of the blogging scene until Monday or Tuesday and I again want to thank all of you for your continued prayers, support and laughter. All y'all will be missed...but I want you to "tawk amongst yourhselves.."

And, here's a little letter to my sisters who will be fetching me from the airport:

Hey Gerri and Kathy,

Can't wait to see you both again. It's been a long time and many pounds. So, what are you weighing in at nowadays? At night? With your shoes on?? (these things are important to us..)

Gerri, I understand you've lost weight without trying. Can I just say that I think that's totally mean & unfair and ...Oh, and don't wear black because, as you know, it'll make you look smaller and I won't be able to find you at the airport. {snark snark}

Kathy, I certainly don't want you to miss seeing me so I'll let you know what I'm wearing.

I'll be in a screamin' lime green jacket with jeans and blue/green plaid Mary Jane's on my feet. Just my normal "blending in with the Snow-birds of Arizona" outfit. Although I will not have a camera around my neck and no sandals with black socks..and none of those wrap-around-your-entire-head sunglasses either...

I will have white spiky hair which I achieved ON PURPOSE with the aid of copious amounts of ridiculously-over-priced hair product....and I'll be carrying my traveling companion, a small fuzzy brown bear.. ..stuffed.. as I'm sure we'll all be by the week-end's end..

Please don't hold up a sign with my name on it like you've seen in the movies.

Unless you're picking me up in a limo..at which point, I would like to see a sign, but only if you are wearing back as in a chauffeur's uniform.... but not the hat because I think they look stupid.

But the '80's Magnum PI sunglasses are a must. And don't smile - I think that's a rule with chauffeurs. Or is that the Buckingham Palace guards?

Speaking of "Buckingham" remember that I too am dieting and cannot have any bucking-ham. I do admit, however, I am getting pretty tired of bucking-chicken breast.

Let's try tuna! I understand Arizona is a big fish producing state..or was that Alaska?? It was an "A" state, that I know...

As a reminder, any money spent, and secrets revealed or chocolate consumed are to be kept in the strictest of confidences.

Stories told can be for educational/entertainment and/or genealogical (as opposed to gynecological..) in nature and facts are optional..

Oh, and about the Arizona sun...I have no tan. Nada. I am whiter than white - almost iridescent if you will..sort of, um, Tanorexic....and I live n Utah.

And I don't own a cowboy hat - I have snow boots - so a gardening hat is what I use to stay OUT of the sun..and I will be wearing it..

This is to let you know that I will not be wearing it to embarrass you; that is just an added bonus.

I think that just about covers it. I look forward to seeing you and the long and frightening car ride to your lovely ranch..ette.

You YOUNGEST sister..

-me

{all images are from PC Crafter's Hug Club - Bird's Life 1 & 2}

Getting ready for my trip to Arizona..

..and Kathy sent me this joke - I thought it was pretty good because I work for an on-line genealogy and DNA company..


Family Tree of Vincent Van Gogh:


His dizzy aunt ----------------------------------------------- Verti Gogh
The brother who ate prunes------------------------------- Gotta Gogh
The brother who worked at a convenience store ------ Stop N Gogh
The grandfather from Yugoslavia ----------------------------- U Gogh
His magician uncle -------------------------------- Where-diddy Gogh
His Mexican cousin ---------------------------------------- A Mee Gogh
The Mexican cousin's American half-brother ------------ Gring Gogh
The nephew who drove a stage coach --------------- Wells-far Gogh
The constipated uncle ------------------------------------- Can't Gogh
The ballroom dancing aunt -------------------------------- Tang Gogh
The bird lover uncle ------------------------------------- Fla-ming Gogh
The fruit loving cousin -------------------------------------- Man Gogh
An aunt who taught positive thinking ------------------ Way-to-Gogh
The little bouncy nephew ----------------------------------- Poe Gogh
A sister who loved disco -------------------------------------- Go Gogh
And his niece who travels the country in an RV --- Winnie Bay Gogh
----------------------
There you.. GOGH. . . (I know..baaaad!)

Hope you have a sunny day tomorrow - we've had rain for 13 of the 15 days of June :-)
-me

Short post, Red plaid shoes and wet puppies..

Well, that about wraps up my Sunday..

OK, "Luuucy, you got some 'splaining to do..."

Found some great, comfortable inexpensive shoes at WallyWorld a couple of weeks ago.

I liked them. Mr. B said they "look like you"..

April said "They look like clown shoes..yeah, they look like you.."

..don't know what happened to the sweet, lying girl I raised to tell me I look fAblOUs NO MATTER WHAT..maybe she remembers me saying..

"If I ever dress like that..just shoot me.."

Anyway, back to the shoes..I bought the blue/green pair to wear to Alyssa's graduation.

..but I saw they also had a red/orange pair..but my jacket was lime green, so I got the blue/green..

Well, today, as I wrote out my grocery list (yes, I know how lucky I am to have Mr. B actually LIKE to grocery shop..) I half-kiddingly wrote "red plaid shoes, size 10"..yes, we come from a long line of big-feet..

You know what? He brought home yogurt, bread, mouthwash and...red plaid shoes!

Can you imagine? He just sashayed up to the register with red plaid shoes, size 10..like it was nothing!

Maybe he manly-walked up more than actual "sashay-ing"..matter of fact, I'm certain he VERY manly walked up to the register with Greek yogurt, whole grain bread and red plaid Mary Jane shoes, size 10..

Well, I wanted to thank him, so I volunteered to give Braxton a bath..


Mr. B said he wanted to trim him a little first, so about 15 lbs of hair later, here's the little guy..




Gotta love a man who buys Women's shoes and grooms puppies, huh?

Yeah, I sure do :-)

How do I look, Lulu??

You look fabulous..gotta go now, before they can catch me..

Have an excellent Monday, okay?

-me

Fun day at a church sale..

I wasn't going to go out Estate salesing today. nope. I wasn't. Nuh-uh.

I wasn't going to go yard or garage saling. I decided.

Didn't even look at the ads on-line. I was going to just go cold turkey - after all, it was gray & threatening to rain ..it even sprinkled on us on the morning walk..

No, I was not.

However......Mr. B went to get his coffee (yes, I usually make coffee for us, but I was out of my CoffeeMate Vanilla Caramel, so I didn't make any..and Mr. B reminded me...he doesn't use CoffeeMate...oops)

Anyway, when he came back, he said "maybe I shouldn't say this but the Lutheran Church is having their parking lot-yard sale today.."

Weeelll, I certainly didn't want to disappoint him..so I agreed to go...

Yay!I always get lucky at those church sales...

..well, that didn't sound right..I didn't mean "lucky" as in um..you know..lucky..

Okay, so here's the treasures (there could have been more, but I am budgeting, you know..)

{forgive the color -or lack there of - new batteries are on tomorrow's shopping list}

Cute little bird-box. She's all sparkly and cute - brand new..$1.00

A round tin with these sassy coasters - really cute and fun..$1.00

Cookie cutters - $.50 each


Wooden centerpiece for summer - really festive! $3.00

And this is the bEsT! Darling, great condition books with wonderful illustrations. The "Poems & Graces" is illustrated by one of my favorites - Jessie Wilcox Smith. Wonderful! I'll get some scanned tomorrow so you can use them in your artwork or projects..

Have a wonderful Sunday and oh, next time your hubby asks you to go to a church sale, just smile and have a great time..he deserves it ...hehehehheheee..

OK, so what could be better than....

Friday?

How about..payday Friday??

Better that that?

First day in 10 without rain-day ? (oops, it just started up again...)

OK, so now you're pushing it...what could be better than a no-rain-payday-Friday??

ALL YOUR PRAYERS HAVE HELPED!

Seriously! Larry's out of the hospital, is home (shhhh...even though he's a bit ..um..farther away from the hospital that what they told him he could be..shhh..)

And, I don't think he'd mind (he knows all about all of you sending up prayers and support) here's his email to me:

A few weeks ago, I started to lose control in my left arm and hand. Because of my minor stroke last July, and my cancer my doctor ordered a brain scan.

Saturday, June 6, I was on my horse just to see how well I could ride with a bad arm and hand. It was awkward but I did OK. I dismounted back at the house and tied the horse. Later I went to mount up and ride back to the corrals to unsaddle and put him up. I mounted awkwardly because of my left hand an arm. The horse sensed something was wrong and started to move off. I tried to hold him back but lost balance and couldn’t. I’m not sure just what happened, maybe a spur caught him or whatever. He started to buck and after about four jumps, I couldn’t hold on. I landed, pretty hard, on my left shoulder. Before the horse wreck, I could move the fingers on my left hand – after the wreck, I couldn't.

An ambulance took me to UMC and when the neurosurgeon/trauma doc checked the brain scan that I had just days earlier, he found that my cancer had spread to my brain. The tumors are too many and too dispersed for surgery. My treatment will be ten days of whole brain radiation and I will also be participating in a UA research study on a “chemo pill”. The idea is to extend the treatment to the tumors. Apparently the brain can only tolerate so much radiation and by continuing the chemo pill after radiation, treatment continues.

I will also be getting physical therapy for my hand and arm. I’m taking some drugs now to reduce the inflammation in the tumors and I’m getting some control back. I am feeling pretty good but still a little weak but I still have some fight in me! OOH RAH!!! - Love, Yo Bro

Sooo, can you tell he's a former Marine? Yep..all "OOH RAH!" and spit & vinegar..

And the advice he received from our Canadian Cousins {Hello Wilf & Janie!} , the sentiment many of you have shared with him was ..

"Stay on the horse as long as you can"

Again, thank you all from the depths of our hearts for your prayers, your laughter, your tears and your love.

Wednesday I fly to Tucson where my 2 sisters will pick me up then drive the hour and a half to Larry's.

With the "Golden Girls" around (3 count 'em, three little sisters!) he won't have a chance to be down in the dumps for long :-)


Have a great Saturday and may God bless all of you, my sweet friends...

-me

Have you heard the commercials for "CARFAX"?

You know, they say "always ask for the CARFAX Vehicle History Report.... Don't buy a lemon!"

Weelllll....I think single women should have a MANFAX History Report available..their tag line could be..."Don't get a jerk!"

Wouldn't you want a report from his former "Date-ees" as to his, ah, over-all.. mileage?


How about his "Wear & Tear"...you know..if there's been any body work?


If his radiator is radiating? Is his transmission transmitting? If his sparks are sparking ..

and are his pistons....um......mmm......working?


How he handles the curves?

A rough-built off-road vehicle for enjoying the great outdoors..there's nothing this one can't handle....

What kind of gas?? Well, maybe not so much..

Does he use his brights when things get foggy? Or is he a little... dim...


I can see the report now...

"He is great when the road is smooth..but be careful when there's any bumps!"


or "He has stability and comfort but at the expense of high mileage.."


"He's the perfect family-van.... ah..family-man.."


"Smooth lines.." Oh, that may not be a plus..

"Has his odometer been set back.... (his 'reported' age??)"


"Convertible??"

Just watch out for the racy- fast-sporty-expensive ones - they're always compensating for some shortcoming...heehee


-me

ps- if Ozzy Osborne were a dog....

Things I would never have expected to hear from Hubby..

OK, so this man is a grandfather, a listener of Country music almost exclusively.... He loves fast food and loves to eat.. Those are important to this entry..


..and remember, he only watches one TV channel for 2.5 minutes at a time...

1. "Is Fergie still with the Black Eyes Peas or has she gone solo?"

Me: WHAT??

2. "I think that shelf is too busy - you should group it into one .. vignette.."

Me: Huh??

3. " The fat grams are a little high, however, the fiber more than makes up for that.."

Me: Who ARE you??

{the love of my life..that's who}

Heard any "surprise" comments lately??

-me

Teensy things that make me happy..

We all have the BIG ones..you know, God, family, friends, pets..


But sometimes I get just the biggest chuckle, grin, happy from the simplest of happenings...


Like Mr. B's truck doors - we've been experiencing some issues with them not locking automatically when they are supposed to - and then not opening when they are suppose to, or the driver's side locking, but not the passenger's.

Oh, and, yes, they warranty just ran out. Of course.


So, I move the truck into the driveway when I get home after I put the Silver Pearl in first..{my cutie-car..}

..so when the truck's doors actually lock, both of them, and I don't have to go around to the passenger's side..yeah..I'm happy.


Then, when the undershirts I wear (in place of the used-to-be-bras) come out of the dryer and not have to be turned right-side-out?

You got it..happy..

I know, I could insure they come out that way by actually turning them prior to washing and drying them..but that's not the same thing..then it wouldn't be such a delight to go "Yay!" when I see one that's right-side-out..

surpriseyhappyness..

...new window cleaner from Windex - the one that you use outside- spray then scrub then spray and windows are steak free? No drying with paper towels or squeegees? It worked! Happy happy me.

Oh, Mr. B brought me one of those disposable toilet brushes - YAY! No more of those plastic "concealer-thingies" that you put the yucky-dirty brush in to hide it.. And, it even has a hook to the tank for the handle.

Whoopie..!

..and I really mean that..


..oven mitts without the holes - you know, the holes you discover just as you lift the heavy casserole..

..a hubs that replaces the tp AND puts the seat down..

..seeing little birds have found our Main Street Seeder..

happyhappyhappyhappy..

What teesny things make you happy??

Betcha can't think of them without smiling...

See? Told ya..
Kissy Kissy..
-me

I really love Garrison Keillor..

Through all this sadness and worry, I have been shown such light.

From you, my sweet friends, and your love, support and prayers. To a family you've never met..to a brother you've never known..

And seeing my darling granddaughter, Alyssa, post on the "what are you doing now" portion of Facebook..

"I'm praying for my Uncle.."

Imagine. An 18 year old-college-bound-too-cool-for-this-world-girl posting this so all her friends could see as well..

To my boss, who as I marched into his office and promptly told him..

"I have never used any sick days and my vacation days are all used up, so I'm going to need to take a few days off to be sick in the very near future..probably a Thursday and Friday and I'm going to be flying to Arizona to see my brother and I am expecting sick pay because, well, one certainly can't miss any hours on the paycheck you know.."

..said to me..

"well, yes, you do look a little sickly..must be that slow-moving sickness that you have and it might require a Thursday and Friday {in the near future} to fully feel better enough to come back to work on oh, let's say a Monday.."

Thank you.

Thank you all.

And it's noticing an article in Sunday's paper by Garrison Keillor and tearing it out, to be read at a later time..like tonight when I couldn't keep my focus on the dumb TV shows that were droning on in the background..

The title, aptly, is..

"Remember, life is good, no matter the disappointments"

And I won't write out the whole thing, and because it was syndicated, I'll bet you can Google it (I really love that Google..and Garrison Keillor)..

But what he wrote, and the timing of when I read it was a tiny miracle..and that's what we need right now..tiny miracles.

Not HUGE ones, although curing cancer and making an avocado with a smaller seed would be on my top 10 list..

He speaks of a young girl at a party he attended- casually sitting down at a piano and playing Chopin Prelude No.2 in A minor...exquisitely. An unplanned moment..serendipity..

"and played so beautifully, it transformed the entire evening..transformation is no easy trick: it's what art promises and usually doesn't deliver. But she did."

"It was so much more than we deserved to hear..
the plane falls , the good man is gone (John Updike), the company slides, the lawn turns brown, but with Chopin you come back to the basics: Do I regret this life?"

He talks about the depressing "old-age monologues" and the "air of regret"..

He goes on.."Poor Me, I Am Unaccountably 65, My Brain Is Leaking, My Legs Are Gone, Where Has It Gone, The Beauty And The Dream?"

Then he writes.. "What makes me love cities, despite the uproar, are the constant reminders of the generosity of life, the readers on the subway, the cheeses in the deli, the pictures in the gallery, the musicians in the park. The Exuberant salad eaten amid bus exhaust and the drawn faces of passers-by. Life is good, no matter the disappointments -O God, the disappointments.

Just square your shoulders and give them your utter best. Life is insurmountable, but we mount up every morning and ride forward."

Thank you dear dear friends for giving us the strength to mount up once again, and like Larry loves to do, ride again every morning.

Teensy tiny miracles..

-me

Just a note..

Because you all have been so very supportive, helpful, caring and loving, I want to let you know what's been happening.

My brother Larry, has been fighting stage 4 lung cancer for almost a year..his cancer was and remains inoperable.

Larry is 10 years older than me and has always been my hero- even the age difference, or maybe because of if it, he has always been bigger than life to me, as I am certain, all big brothers are all younger siblings.

Me & Larry circa 1961

He called on me a few times during his chemo knowing I had faced my own battle and for the first time in my life, I felt I had something to offer him..my experience.

My sisters had not been through chemo although they were within my staunch network of strength during my crisis.

But this was MY time now, to be strong, to be the voice of experience. I told him of my experiences, not to frighten him, but to give a realistic view of what was ahead.

I didn't sugar coat it, I wanted him to know what was going to be happening. A doctor who has seen it all still has not "been there".. and there are times when they don't or can't tell you what to expect, and when things start happening, you fear the worst.

The chemo was rough and the radiation, the easiest part for me, was extremely hard on him. He was undergoing some experimental processes and that path was unknown.

He loves horses and all thing associated with riding, roping and living the western way of life. So it was not a surprise that while undergoing chemo, he rode often. He lives in a remote area and has the freedom to ride minus distractions.

It was while going out for another ride on Saturday that his left hand was numb...to the point of him falling off his horse and hitting the ground full force.

My sister and Larry's wife, Cilla were instrumental in getting the help to transport him to Tucson, where the medical staff first thought it may have been a small stroke.

It was not. The CAT scan confirmed that the lung cancer has spread to his brain and the swelling of the brain is causing the numbness in his hand.

This, too, is inoperable.

Although hesitant to call for fear I may upset him by crying, I decided to take my chances. I wanted to hear his voice and possibly his great Irish laugh..and I did.

My very first question to him was "How's Choppo?" (the horse)

He laughed deeply and said "He's fine. And if you're wondering, I am too.."

We spoke briefly and I am in the process of making plans to go see him (with the rouse of having a "sister's weekend"....shhh! )

My heart is heavy, but knowing he is not currently in pain (other than his back from the fall from Choppo) and that Cilla and Gerri and his family are near to him, I can make plans for my visit, knowing good and well we'll stay up too late laughing and telling the same old stories over and over and knowing that what will be ..will be.

We may not be able to control the circumstances, but we CAN control how we deal with them.


Thank you all from the very bottom of my soul..you have been extraordinary in your love and support and I am better for knowing all of you..

With deep gratitude..
-me

Calling all Angels...

Girls, (and any boys who read this) we need your help once again.

My brother has taken a turn, and the cancer appears to have spread..

You all came through for us before. Now, more than ever, we need your prayers, karma, good thoughts, and beautiful vibes again.


Please join in our world of prayers for my brother, to have peace and be pain-free. To be strong and fight, and never, ever, give up.

For him to know that he is loved by many..and has friends around the world..


For his wife and family to feel the strength of all your good thoughts.

For God to send His Angels to wrap their sweet arms around all of us and make us strong and brave.

And to all of you I send my thanks and my love..

"Cancer is not what I am. It's not a gift or a curse. It's not a blessing in disguise. It's not the scourge of God, not the Red Badge of Courage, nor is it a purely clinical phenomenon. We are who we are, regardless of a few funky cells."-Joni Rodgers

Love,

-me

Here I am...

..with not too much to write about..

Ho hum..

How about some advice?

Yeah, I could be an advice columnist...

Okay..ready??


1. Sleep in when you can...


Is it Monday??


No..

Are you sure??

Yes..
2. Once up..have a good breakfast...



3. Try not to be a Grumpy-Gus..
4. Think happy thoughts..
5. Eat plenty of greens..
6. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize...

7. Aim high...
8. When invited to a costume ball..be inventive..go as a PEZ dispenser..

9. Always bring a hostess gift to a party..

10. Do not over eat...
11. Attempt to "fit in"..
12. Watch your alcohol intake...
13. Try to have a little decorum...
14. If someone does make a fool out of themselves..avert your eyes..



14.Try to achieve a Zen-like state..
15. And remember, it's all about the fun!

16. When you're too tired to stay a minute longer...


17. Go home & get a good night's sleep...

Well, that's it for tonight..

Bye..

-me

ps - all DARLING photos can be found on one of my mostest favorite sites..www.cuteoverload.com Go there. Trust me, you will love it :-)

Flutterbys and puppies...

My son came over the other day and saw this in the Scrabble trays and said..


"Doesn't "puppies" have 2 P's?"

"No."

"No?"

"Nope - it has....3 P's...hahahahahaha"

Ahhh...{sigh} I crack me up sometimes...

(my Scrabble set of letters only contained 2 P's when I got them at an Estate sale - you try spelling 'puppies' with one 'p'..)


We went on our walk this morning and.....OH! OH! OH! I almost forgot!!

There was a BIRD at the feeder this morning!

Yay!

I saw her feeding (no, I really can't tell..) and she kept looking around, then back to eating, then looking around. I think she feels she's hit pay-dirt and doesn't want anyone else to find us.


Hmmm...I'd better get the word out..


Anyway, while we were walking, we spotted this gorgeous flutterby fly by and then light on this bush-tree thingy. Then she OPENED her beautiful wings to show us just how pretty she was..it was pretty spectacular..

The only thing I had with me, other that the pups, was my cell phone -and I've never been to much on cell phone photography, but I thought I'd take a chance..

..look how pretty..

The pups were interested for a nano-second then went back to checking their "pee-mail"..but I kept snapping.

Finally they were tugging for me to go, so off we went..me smiling and those two completely unaware of what we had just seen..or maybe they just weren't that impressed.

So, let's see what we see tomorrow! Who knows..maybe a whole family will be dining at the Main Street Seed Company :-)

PS - I "discovered" { and totally used some of her cute cute works in this post} a really sweet artist on Etsy purely by accident - so you need to go view her gallery - her works are innocent and fresh and child-spirited..

krisblues's Profile

"Brooklyn-based artist Kristiana Pärn was born in Estonia in 1979; she launched her art career there at age of seventeen. After graduation and studies with Estonian painter Marje Berlokko, she moved to New York City to study illustration at the School of Visual Arts. She now lives and works in Prospect Heights. "
She calls her trees "Marshmallow Trees" and it easy to see why - ah yes, 2 of my faves - marshmallows and giraffes!

For more info about upcoming shows, please visit www.kristianaparn.com

PPS - I emailed her to ask permission to show her work and she graciously emailed me back and granted her permission- wasn't that neat?!

-me

When is "Betty" not a "Betty"??

So, I have known a few "Betty''s in my life...

Can even say some of my best friends are "Betty" 's..

There's Betty from Joy in Our Lives....


and Betty Boop...

...and Betty Rubble....



And who doesn't like Betty Crocker? Oh yeah, that was Sara Lee..but I always liked Betty Crocker better anyway..

and of course, who could forget Bette Davis (different spelling - same pronunciation)

Betty Grable...

..and Betty White..
Okay, so maybe some of those "Betty" 's can't totally be called "my best friends" because they actually didn't ever know me ..well maybe they did but by the name "one of your millions of fans"..

But here's a "Betty" that's not a "Betty" at all..never has been "Betty"..probably never will.


Well, that's not entirely true either...


Ella, our precocious 5 year old granddaughter, has for whatever reason, decided to call her Mommy, our daughter Brandi, "Betty".


Not "Mommy" or "Mama" , "Honey" or even "Brandi"...


Betty.

And she thinks it's totally funny..


..Ella, not Brandi..who can get extremely frustrated by her darling daughter calling her "Betty" in the supermarket..

Oh, what's going on in that little ever-growing mind, Miss Ella??


Maybe this Grammie, you know, "Betty" 's Mother, doesn't want to know....

"peace out"..

Say goodnight Betty..

-me..and Ella , "Betty" 's daughter..

And now a brief message from our sponsors...

Good Evening "Birds",



I am writing on behalf of my clients, the Honorable Mr. and the Exquisite Mrs. B of Main Street , USA, hereby and furthermore known as "The Wonderful People"


It seems they have on several occasions invited, made welcome and expected a visit from you, hereby known as "Much Anticipated Guests"


It has come to our attention and dismay that after pleading for your visit, "The Wonderful People" actually placed an adorable house-shaped container filled to the brim with many enticing sorts of seeds, things and...stuff.. that highly educated sales people said would be of your liking.


And at no time since the placement of said buffet have you made your presence known to "The Wonderful People"..

You, as the "Much Anticipated Guests" must know what distress you are causing to "The Wonderful People"..

Liquid refreshments, in the alluring shade similar to a fine Rose- ayye wine has been offered....


Last year, in approximately the same time frame, one Mamma-Sweetie-Bird took refuge in the eves of "The Wonderful People's" home, awaiting the birth of her adorable twins, George & Gracie...

..but you, the "Much Anticipated Guests" have nary a straw lifted to inhabit said eves..even after the careful extrication of the aforementioned Ms. Mamma-Sweetie-Bird's tiny but sturdily built habitat, a task that Mr. "Wonderful People" risked life & limb to retrieve..

The Wonderful People have offered their newly but remorsefully purchased fountain as your
private bird bath.

"The Wonderful People" have planted brightly colored flora and fauna {what IS fauna anyway?} with no other agenda other than to be a beacon of light, a GPS of sorts... the most beautiful sort(s) ..

But still, the lovely little cottages stand empty...........okay, they hang empty..like the hearts of "The Wonderful People"..
..forcing them to place plaster idols to aleviate their pain...

Ah, "Much Anticipated Guests", we are bereft with sadness at your lack of decorum..your ruthless disregard for the hospitality shown on your behalf.


It is our wish and desire that you reconsider your summer-cottage plans and include a wonderful, albeit brief, visit to the home of ..


With much kindness and anticipation, we wait breathlessly for your reply.

Signed,
Wherehaveallthebirdiesgone,longtimepassing

PS - would it freakin' kill ya to stop by?????

..ahem..pardon me..

-me

Anatomy of a thunderstorm..

We heard a loud roll of thunder tonight when Mr. B and the pups were taking a walk..

At least we thought it was thunder..

When we looked outside, the sky was a teensy bit gray & cloudy..then all of a sudden we saw this..

Oh.
My.
Gosh.

It was SOOO LOUD! And somehow, frightening and patriotic at the same time. One can certainly understand why the folks in New York were nervous seeing a low flying huge plane last month.


It's "Air Force Week" and this was a wonderful display of flying. I only wish I had my camera ready sooner. It was MUCH more impressive in real-life!


The neighbor boys got ready to protect the chickens from any unwanted intruders - even those in jets..

Braxton & Lulu didn't seem to mind either...but Grandma Evelyn looks a little nervous!


Shortly after they stopped circling, the storm blew in.

Maybe it was in answer to the "thunder-like" noises they were making..Mother Nature probably said ,

"Oh yeah? Bring it on. Let ME show you how it's done.." Then the real thunder (and lightening) came in with a vengeance. And just as quickly as it came in, it left.


Huh. Well, I guess ole MN (those who know Mother Nature well get to call her that) is just like any other strong woman..let 'em know you're mad...show 'em your strength and how loud you can be if provoked, and once your point is made, get over it and carry on without a grudge or resentment.

And that "I told you so" Yeaaaah, that'll come tomorrow when the humidity rises...

Have a fun, spring, stormy, Air Force kind of day. Rest easy - the Good Guys are here to protect us..

-me

The "Smells" of summer...

No, not the usual ones like cut grass, which I do so love...


But the ones less thought about...like Bonnie Bell 10-06 Astringent..


I lived in Arizona with my brother and his wife at the time and I kept it in the refrigerator..a cool break in the hot summer day was to get a cotton ball and put that on my face. I can still remember the smell..Do they even make that anymore?

Sea Breeze was a good alternative..at that time, Bonnie Bell was sort of a luxury..


And Noxzema. I used to get sunburned..a lot..{trying to tan you know..pre-any knowledge about skin cancer..} So I would slather Noxzema on my sunburned shoulders..


Speaking of sunburned..the smell of Coppertone still takes me back..SPF?? Who heard of such a thing..I wanted a tan..and I wanted it N.O.W.


I had Mr. B pick up some sun-block the other day and I put some on my arms..I guess some got on my fabric purse 'cos every time I go in it, the aroma of summers past goes to my head..even the sun block smells like summer!


Then there was Skin-So-Soft. A good mosquito repellent. I still do love this stuff, but the mere smell takes me back to 1965..my 15th year on planet earth.


Love's Baby Soft..this was just Pre-Estee Launder Youth Dew..


All the boys smelled like Jade East..and Stridex pads..{I used to keep these in the fridge, too} The Stridex...not the boys..


Oh, and speaking of boys..look at this ad for Midol I found...


Hahahaha! Talk about "racey"..and I used to get high on Midol ..not on purpose..it's just that I had, and still have, a very low tolerance for any sort of drug ..I'd be all loopy..Geesh!

Anyway, a trip in the "Way-Back" machine once more.

Be careful in the sun, cool yourself in the summer and be not-crabby with the cramps (and not be a spaz - it has an "Anti-Spasmotic").

Sound advice from my Mother..

-me