Plant Pink For A Cure

I love pink flowers, but I also purchased and planted these because a portion of the proceeds gets donated to 'Susan G. Komen For The Cure'. The flower on the bottom is the "Allure Light Pink Zonal Geranium" and the flower on the top is the "Dahlietta Louise (Rose & White) Dahlia". Lowe's sells these if you're interested.

My mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so I have a personal interest in supporting the cause. She's a petite little woman, but has been tough enough to win this battle and will be 84 years old this August.

We have a pretty typical mother/daughter relationship, i.e. we don't always get along so swell. After Dad died, my son mentioned that maybe Grandma and I should live together like in the Golden Girls (which was one of his favorite shows when he was very little). My first reaction was "you're joking, right?" An arrangement like that would drive both of us completely mad. (crazy-mad not angry-mad) She has a much more active social life than I do, and I enjoy solitude when I get home. I like my steak juicy, and she eats hers crispy. We are almost complete opposites in most aspects. But alike in that we both read a lot, like funny movies and have a love of education and the classroom.

Ah yes... I hope I'm not the only daughter who has a difficult time defining a mother/daughter relationship. It is what it is.

Life is Good!

Jake lives life large and loves it. He's an incredible therapist, without uttering a word (well at least words I can understand.) When I spend time with him I'm immediately grounded and my priorities become properly aligned. It's magic. Jake listens to me without judgment, let's me play with his toys and gives the most wonderful hugs & kisses.

I'd like to be more like Jake. Only already potty-trained. He makes his world into what he wants it to be with a few simple toys, and he has no problem adapting to whatever environment he's in. Jake watches and learns. He learns to do the things he wants and needs to do, and ignores the rest. Very wise.

I have a lot to learn from my grandson.

Tool Time

Yummy coffee again this morning.

Been organizing my supplies in preparation to start working on a beveled glass candle holder design I've been thinking about. When/if I finish the project I'll post a picture to share. I'm excited to use my new soldering gun. Love those gadgets and tools. I should eventually build a little workshop somewhere in my house, but for now my dining room table is the hub of the creative action here. My friend Lori has a great workshop in her basement! (My workshop-envy is showing.)

I've also been developing some ideas for jewelry development. (Another outlet I dabble in occasionally.) That's what I do - I dabble. (Fun word - dabble.) And making jewelry gives me more opportunity to play with tools.

I can't believe that it's Memorial Day weekend and I still have planting to do in my garden. Mostly vegetables left to plant. My flowers are looking fantastic so far. And I tried some new plants this year; cranberries, coffee trees, and a daisy tree. I'm giving one last attempt to grow lavender. This is the 4th year for me and lavender, and if it doesn't work out this time it'll be my last year. The garden shop lady told me to mulch the heck out of it this fall, so that's what I'll be doing. Any tips on growing lavender would be welcome.

Reading Addiction

I am addicted to reading. There... I admit it... I've said it out loud.

Here's what I've read recently:

• Maya Angelou's series of her self-biographies,
• Alexander McCall Smith's "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series
• Jodi Picoult - Several of her books
• Lisa See's "Red Princess" books
• Ursula K. LeGuin - "Earthsea" series, as well as several others
• Sharon Kay Penman's medieval mysteries
• Sharan Newman's "Catherine LeVendeur Mystery" series
• The Secret Life of Bees
• Marley & me
• many, many historical fictions
• many historical biographies

Reading focuses my brain, gives me an opportunity to escape the 'real world', as well as an opportunity to learn.

I love to learn and to teach. The classroom environment is the perfect place to discuss and debate, to be open to new ideas and to express your own ideas.

Gee... just listen to me waxing philosophically!

Morning Coffee

Hmmm... what to write today? I'm enjoying some particularly tasty coffee today. I have one of those Keurig K-Cup coffee makers, and bought a box of Heifer Hope Blend coffee. I'm one of those people who try to support good causes and global community & environmental improvement. This coffee is Fair Trade Certified and donates a portion of each purchase to the Heifer International organization. I'm very impressed with this organization and plan to become more involved upon my retirement. Read more about it at http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/?msource=kw3075&gclid=COGGx8zQyJoCFRJ4xgod9w_a3Q

As an Aquarius and child of the 60's I'm still trying to heal the world. I'd really like to take a 'volunteer vacation' but have overwhelmed myself with information (this is SO typical of me),
that it renders me at a point of no decision at all. They all sound so worthy to me, but I have to admit my own limitations (call me a baby if you want to, I prefer to call it "realistic"). I can't see myself living in a tent in the rain forest... not crazy about sharing my sleeping bag with other living creatures. I like to teach, and think I'm pretty good at it, so would lean more toward something to do with teaching. I'd really like to visit and teach in Africa. The children there seem so hungry for education, and it's an area of the world that will really have a global impact in our future.

Spring - The Time for Fresh Starts

My good friend Lori tells me that I need to dedicate a specific time each day to blog. So I'm giving it a try. Don't know how much I have to share that will be as interesting as the other blogs I've read, particularly Lori's. Hers is fantastic.

My interests are eclectic (I like that word, it's a nice one), scattered and unfocused. Please, no psychological interpretation; my son is in that field and has already given me the full analysis. Actually, I've taken credit many times for being the reason he chose to study and practice psychology. And if he ever writes a book or publishes a thesis, I expect to be the case study he references.

At this time my attention is focused on getting my flowers and veggies planted, decluttering my house (which bugs the devil out of a person very special to me), sewing (I'm making a "Bob the Builder" pillow for my precious grandson), preparing my beveled glass pieces so I can start making the candle holders I'm interested in... well, ok see how I mis-use the word "focused"?

And of course I read every night too. Sometimes I have 2-3 books going at one time.

Pictures that I post will be those that represent factors of my life; things that impact my life, my day and my moments.

I hope that I can provide stories about my adventures that will entertain you, thoughts and opinions that interest you, and reflections that touch you.