“From the backstabbing co-worker to the meddling sister-in-law, you are in charge of how you react to the people and events in your life. You can either give negativity power over your life or you can choose happiness instead. Take control and choose to focus on what is important in your life. Those who cannot live fully often become destroyers of life.” - Anais Nin



I decided to peruse Wolfgang'shttp://gazing-into-the-abyss.blogspot.com/ quote since it hit me over the head when I went to his blog. I believe Butterflyhttp://ramblingsofawindblownbutterfly.blogspot.com/ had said something similar a while back.



I want to choose happiness and let the negativity go. It uses so much energy. And I am too old to waste energy on anything!



And I don't want to destroy anyone or anything.

J's room is finished as far as the walls go. We still have his furniture to paint which I saved until he came back from a week with Dad.

This is a shot of the picture my mom painted in watercolor for him for Christmas last year. It's gonna look awesome on either the red or the taupe wall. I left it down so he could tell me where it should go.

This is a bit better shot but still the colors aren't as good as in person. I am very pleased with the room as is J.

Today we get started on the priming and painting of the headboard, desk and bookcase. What makes it so much easier is the thin paint roller.

My newest accidental acquisition. A friend had these bob-tail kittens (actually only one is bob-tail) which my family is ga-ga for. I mentioned she had some to my brother and his wife who were passing through. He told me to get them so I picked them up for him. When he stopped by, the old wifey said she didn't want them after all- they were too wild. (Grrrr) I can't take them back to the friend ( I guess I could but feel it would be rude) so here they are. I am going to haul them over to my mom's house anyway even though she said she didn't want them. They would be great barn and farm cats. My brother will probably take the bob-tail home, too.

Can you see that little guy on the leaf? He is a spice bush swallowtail caterpillar. Yeah, baby, that's the kind of stuff I just learned last week among a ton of other things!

These photo are in our outdoor classroom at school. During my watering interlude yesterday I spied him rolled up in the leaf of a very small native spice bush. I can't wait to show this sort of stuff to my kids at school.

I know I'm a geek and a dork but I wholeheartedly accept that title.

This is my new concern- E is a permit driver. AAARRggghhh!

I have been so tired commuting back and forth from this workshop for the outdoor garden, I haven't even had energy to comment on anyone's blog or post on mine.
I know you miss me but buck up and just wait it out. I'll be back.
(Big whoop, I know)

J working on his room.

I have taught him to remove baseboards, outlet plates, sand down putty filled holes, "cut in" paint in the corners, and roll on the paint, even the ceiling. He moved his bed and much of his other crap out of the room, too. And together we have talked and listened to music while we worked. We have a pretty good time doing any sort of thing like this. It makes me happy. And he is thrilled with the re-do.

We have everything done but the last coat rolled on. I think I'll sand his baseboards down while they are off and re-apply some since whoever put the varnish on was blind or drunk. Big spots missing any varnish.

Next week I will primer and paint his headboard, bookcase and desk "BlackJack" black. (He was all over that name)

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My son forwarded this important info to me:

Tick Removal (tis the season)Please forward to anyone with children . or hunters, everyone!! Thanks!A School Nurse has written the info below -- good enough to share -- And it really works!!I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick.This is great, because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and let it stay on the repulsive insect for a few seconds (15-20), after which the tick will come out on it's own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"

Please pass on: everyone needs this helpful hint.

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Three times this week I had conversations about the idea that a person is one with their mother but they learn how to have relationships from their father. It's not 100% but many times it appears it is true. This morning while my brother and his wife were visiting, we launched into it with regard to our dad. Seems very true in our lives when we did the comparison. Guess I should elaborate but it's too deep for my word and thought usage quota right now.

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My friend Andrea is hosting a women's night at her house tonight. It is a mix of spiritual and religious fellowship with a shot of Mary Kay sales. Only Methodist would add the make-up sales! Anyway, I am going to attend.

Andrea is a very spiritual person. I am surprised at times when she relates something to me that has taken place and then says "It's a God thing" as in God is behind it. I know many people live with that assurance and belief and I understand and appreciate that fact. Many of my closest friends are very religious as well as a good portion of my family. I do respect that.

I just feel very distant from any of it. I have very little spirituality. I don't feel I have purposefully closed myself off from it. It just doesn't resonate within me. What is spirituality anyway?

The good thing is Andrea is also a thinker and open to people being very different from the mainstream religious folks. She is very accepting and understanding. I am very drawn to that aspect of her. And tonight she plans on bringing us together in discussion of people and relationships with each other and God, as women who need and want to understand oursleves and those we love.

Some times I have to ask if I am really open to people and love and close relationships. I feel true closeness to my mother and 3 friends I have know every possible thing save one about me. I reveal true feelings, feel tenderness and wonder at their friendship, care deeply for their happiness and give as well as receive from their presence in my life. I am purposeful and thoughtful in maintaining my relationship with them.

My children are a success in that way as well. I am doing everything in my power to develop our relationship to it's fullest potential(remind me I said that the next time I am doubting myself).

Then there is Wildman. I am successful there in the same way, I believe, but I don't need him in my life.

Ok, I'm done. Just things swirling around in my head.

Hope you all have a great weekend that come without a price.

Tony Hawk's Pro-skater Provolks Much Hatred and Wrestling

Things I'm thinking about-

The kids and I are going to Chicago the last week of the month with a school class. Last time we went on a trip with this group, I got there an hour early to board the travel bus and we got the next to last seats on the bus. That's right, smack dab in the wafting fumes of the bathroom. And to top it off, a youngster puked right next to my seat before we even took off. Lovely. And we were always chastised verbally by the tour guide for not getting off the bus in a timely manner once we were in D.C. Uh, excuse me. There were 50 people that had to get off in front of us. We can't very well climb over the seats!
I plan on camping out in the parking lot this year and I will not be moved! We will get front seats if I have to wield a weapon!!!!

My father is once again in his nursing home. Right before my mom left for Michigan, the nursing home sent him once again to a hospital geriatric psych ward to evaluate and change meds, a different place than the last time. Ugh. The home doesn't tell anyone before they do it and I am damn hot about it. However, this place did a wonderful job of finding meds to work and he now resting much more peacefully as well as eating and interacting. He looked good when I saw him and I made him laugh talking to him about Hee Haw from the old days.

J and I bought paint to use in his bedroom this week. I didn't consult him when we moved in what color he would like his bedroom so I painted it a very buttery yellow. Mistake but he didn't really complain too loudly so when he mentioned he'd like to paint, I was okay with it.
This kid is completely into Asian stuff so we bought a gorgeous deep red (shhhh, don't tell anyone it's called Ruby Slippers), a taupe and a black for accents. I managed to not swallow my tongue when he said he wanted red walls. I managed to convince him one big red wall would suffice for effect and taupe on the other 3. Black desk, book case and headboard. He plans on doing some Japanese lettering around his door frame. The one good from this style is "less is more" so he has to pare down. We start today.
E is ready to add an alternate color over her lilac walls with a glaze additive. She wants to make her room more dramatic with a darker color so we found a color called "orchid" which is a deep clear blue periwinkle. We will probably work on that after Chicago. I don't think I can live the next 2 weeks with bedroom furniture in the hallway and living room.

My best friend, Andrea and I have been discussing serious plans for some time now for a Christmas tree farm. We also want to grow pumpkins. She and her husband own 150 acres they currently rent out to a farmer with cattle. She wants to work this into a business for retirement. This is a bit freaky since back in the 80's, I investigated growing Christmas trees and having a sales farm. When the first lovely Mr. Greeny and I were married, we lived on acreage I planned to do that with. Too bad I was more interested in a divorce. I might have been already growing 'em now.
We also have talked about a camp or "school" (term is loose) for kids that has art and music appreciation, old fashion arts and crafts (candles, soap, wreath making, refinishing and reupholstering furniture, gardening, writing, you get the picture.The elementary art teacher is a good friend as well and she is on board with this. It would be a large undertaking and it's only in the discussion stage right now.
We are in the process of trying to locate a camp near St. Louis that is similar to our concept so we can visit. There is also an academy of fine arts near Eureka Springs, Ark. that has whole semesters offered to kids. We need to visit there as well.
This idea sprang up a few years back when my daughter and I were thinking up ways to make money during the summer while we were out of school. I mentioned it would be cool to offer a day camp to 5th and 6th graders that included a cooking day, maybe music and book discussions, writing, sketching, vintage movies, gardening or houseplant demos, refinishing or upholstering furniture, things kids don't have adults leading them to try. Anyway, it never came to fruition. But I think the idea has a lot of merit so it may come about eventually.

I read John Grisham"s " A Painted House". What a good book. Many of the places he refers to are right down the road from where I grew up.
One thing is for sure. I can't check any more books out since I can't do a damn thing until the book is finished.

Next week the kids are with their dad. I have a 4-day class to hammer out ideas for the outdoor classroom usage. It's offered by the Mo. Dept. of Conservation and we get paid!!! I wonder if anyone will notice I AM NOT A TEACHER! I asked my building principal ( close friend) if I really should be taking one of the 4 places offered our school and he insisted I go. Oky doky. I will be representing Title I, yeah, that's it.

I just found out I have a hair cut appointment in less than 15 minutes. I am a mess.
Toodles...

Variation of a Theme

My favorite flower bed. It has the best stuff from cone flowers and beebalm to castor beans, sunflowers, white pine and a red bud tree. I also use it for a hospital for ailing shrubs since it has the best soil in all my yard. This bed actually started out as the grass wads from my garden, piled high until turning into perfect soil. Surprise! And it's position in relation to the nosy, mean neighbor and my patio couldn't be more perfect. I also planted some ornamental gourds next to the fence.

A third of my "Bull's Blood" beet crop. I have pickling them in mind. It is so true that if you get greedy and leave too many plants in the row when you thin, you won't be rewarded with more but less. I pulled a third and will pull the rest at the end of the week to see if they grew a bit more with the room provided

I picked my "knuckle" squash (E's name for them) and summer crooked neck last night. There must be a million of the little buggers gonna come off in the next few days! I grill both the knuckle and summer squash with a bit of olive oil and garlic parsley salt. Delectable. I need to find a recipe to can it. Maybe a spicy squash pickle?
My Lemon Boy and Beefsteak tomatoes are ready for salsa and a tomato salad.