Sometimes……

Gardening can be a frustrating thing……

“Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise.”  ~Michael P. Garafalo, gardendigest.com

These pictures, other than giving me  a chance to play with some settings on my camera without whining and complaining about “one more” shot….

They were supposed to be my

“First crop” pictures……

Wound up being my “only crop” pictures…..

The garden was a miserable failure wonderful learning experience this year.

With the exception of fits and starts of a few strawberries at a time…that were yummy….

The spaghetti squash that was SO promising in these pictures, literally stopped growing after I took these pictures, and even with all our attempts to water daily, just shriveled and died, along with my dreams of yummy garlic and olive oil sautéed (hey look spell check adds the little do hickey!)  squash…..and the tomatoes literally cooked on the vines before I even had a chance to pick them.  Got two cucumbers and they stopped growing. The green beans literally dried on the vine before they were ripe.

It was just so darn hot this summer.

So we dug it all under, hit the farmer’s  market and said,

“better luck next year”!

I think I will invest in some “black gold” from down the road to fertilize next summer. No room for a compost pile.

Then I say to myself – I am the only one who truly enjoys this whole process, or eats the fruits of  the labor. Why do I continue to plant a garden year after year when we live within practically walking distance of a dozen markets?  (although I am learning many of them do not grow everything they sell and it is still shipped in – NOT green at all !)

Of that I am not totally sure.

Except that I enjoy it!  My fondest memories from being young are being barefoot in my grandmother’s “truck patch” and “putting up” the beans and tomatoes with her every year. I vow one year to make my own pickles as well as she did. There is nothing quite so tasty as a home canned bread and butter pickle.

So I guess for me, it is an attempt to maintain a childhood memory, as well as enjoy a fresh off the vine cucumber in June over fresh greens I grew myself, with a side of marinara I made from my tomatoes, along side a nice crostini with homemade pesto on it.

Not much better than that!

Winged Angels

Where is this summer going? The days have just been so busy and so full of “to do”, they are just flying by!

Going through my picture folders last night, I scrolled past these, and on the 12 anniversary of my mom’s passing, the significance of this dragonfly came down on me again, and the emotion of the morning these were taken came rushing back. Since writing helps me work through this stuff – here goes.

 

It was a few weeks ago, just a few weeks into my nephew moving in here with us -  coming on the heels of a few whirl wind weeks – Disney, Relay, travelling for the 4th of July, K turning 16 – topped off by a 19 year old house guest – I was feeling pretty raw.

I guess I was due for a melt down.

Fatigue from the previous weeks. The emotional roller coaster of K’s birthday, and my nephew’s return, topped off by adjusting to him suddenly living here, and the quirks and adjustments that were expected and a ton that were not.

Guess I was due.

So I  melted down. One Saturday night. Questioned our choices, prayed about it. Cried about it all.

The next morning, Sir Fartsalot and I were tending the garden, pond and bird feeders as we often do early on a Sunday morning. The sun was shining, and I was feeling better, the patio and garden always does that for me. But I was still recovering from the night before.

And – this guy would just not leave us alone. Hard to see in the pictures, but it’s wings were the most vivid blue and black I had ever seen on a dragon fly. The pictures do not do the color justice. And honestly, he just sat there, watching us. Flying off and coming right back. Seemingly unafraid.   Hung out around us and the pond until we were finished.

I melted down again.

Oh pu-leeze, I said to myself , get a grip!!

But you see – I have long held the quiet silent belief that occasionally angels can present themselves to us here on earth in the winged creatures. I heard it somewhere and it resonated with me, and stuck with me. It helps that I love winged creatures here on earth.  Very very often, the few times, really only once a year, that my brother, sister and I and our families manage to spend some time together, there is a dragon fly or butterfly somewhere, at some point, usually one that does not leave us quickly. May be a childish selfish belief, but I like to think it may be my mom sharing in our togetherness, which she loved, and keeping an eye on us.

One of the aspects of my melt down the night before was, with everything that was going on around us, my mom’s absence was for the first time in a long time, glaringly obvious – sharing in the joys we were experiencing as well as the challenges we were facing.  I would have given anything to hear her advice on what was going on. Have her tell me it would all work out. I also  knew in my heart if she was still with us, I can be selfish enough to say, she would have taken care of some of the responsibilities that were falling on me, or she would have had another solution….so I was allowing myself a lot of emotion.

And to get up the next morning, and the first thing we encounter is this winged creature who seemed to follow us, watch us, be with us, was almost too much for me.  I allowed myself the brief consolation that this was the sign I begged for the night before, that what we were doing was the right thing, it would all work out and yes, my mom was still near us, watching and guiding.

True or not, Who knows. But, hey, whatever gets me through the rough patch right?

And, we have not seen it once since.

Coincidence?

Thursday Randomness

I am feeling very random today.

Mind going in 100 directions.

Feeling a bit like this.

Wrapped up tight, wanting to cocoon.

School starts in three weeks. Not sure how I feel about that.

I love having these creatures and their friends around, but they are in serious need of some routine and as K puts it, “My social life is crap in the summer” – Her friends always seem occupied.

It is hard too, with my nephew staying with us, he has had his friends here a lot. Older than my two.Finding a balance of including him but also getting our family time.  Still finding a balance of rules. we haven’t even gotten to this stage with our own kids yet, so are flying by the seat of our pants. He is doing so well minding the rules we have set up and his friends seem like good kids with goals, and jobs.  But he is a huge distraction. So when school starts we will need to once again rebalance what we are finally balancing now.

I am so glad we can be here for him right now. Sir Fartsalot is imparting a lot of  “life skills” education upon him. I am blessed with a husband who has been patient and caring, whom my nephew adores and listens to with baited breath. He is teaching him to drive, THANK GOD, because since my accident I am too jumpy in the car even with Sir Fartsalot I can not even imagine trying not to crawl out the windshield driving with a 19 year old.  He is a large presence, kid with a big personality, so the house has been full of teasing and laughter and noise and music and cooking and other big kids. Also the reason, my grocery bill has gotten insane, and the dishwasher is going constantly.

But. It.Is.Good.

I started running! Running makes me hungry!

Told you I was random.

I originally only started because in a moment of insanity when I hit my goal weight, I challenged myself to run a 5K that I usually walk every October. I realized three weeks ago, that it is coming fast and I hadn’t started, so I ran one night while Sir Fartsalot and I were out for our walk. I am now up to about a mile at a time, walk breaks and maybe another mile. The scary part? I am *almost* enjoying it. One problem, Sir Fartsalot is totally lame has a neck problem that flares up when he runs, and the kids look at me like I have five heads if I ask them to go with me. So as much as I am  enjoying it, I really do not like being alone. Last night, C did agree to ride bike along with me, and that made it much easier. Will I keep it up after the 5K? Not sure, but the tone I am seeing in my thighs and calves maybe nice incentive!

 

I hate this time of year in the garden.

Although this guy was a fun find while we were weeding last night!

The vegetable garden went by way of the weed pile a few weeks ago. We just could not water enough and everything was frying on the vines, and I just gave up.

All of the flowers are finished with their first bloom, there is so much brown and transition right now that it is almost painful to look out and see. I dead headed last night, and that helps but then everything is sticks and stalks, pretty much looking , well I guess like I feel some days!

I am managing to keep this looking nice this year.

My front door chair.

The front porch is getting an overhaul from me. First painting the chairs. I informed Sir Fartsalot{Calling him that is really starting to feel wayyyyy to natural!}   that it is time to paint the shutters, you probably heard him groan in your part of the world, and I believe RED is in order.  Which means lots and lots of coats. But since I LOVE to paint, that shall be my job!

The rest of this month is going to fly.

I will try not to be so random tomorrow.

Sooooo cool!!

We’ll take a break from “Name the Fish-bowl Family” -

I LOVE photography – and linked to this blog from another,

this gal has taken it upon herself to take photos of strangers. Yup, complete strangers, some with stories. It is pretty cool to read. Thought I would share the link with you. 

http://whimsywispers.blogspot.com/

Wish I was brave enough to do something like this. But reading her little snid bit of story, it seems she maybe wasn’t at one time either. So once again, the theme may be about pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone and finding out a little more about ourselves, and maybe learning something fun and new in the process.

It is decided!

There were a lot of names tossed around.

The kids suggested, of course, and vetoed anything else,

Mr. Fartsalot

Then a friend suggested to at least title him “sir” -

So – J’s new bloggie name -

“Sir” Fartsalot

Oy.

He suggested Mr. Crabby,I agreed with that,  but the kids vetoed that. Family Man, just didn’t stick, and Sir Fartsalot does interestingly enough, fit.

For being such a mild mannered, slip under the radar, don’t make waves kind of guy – does he ever enjoy a good crop dusting in a store, trapping the kids in the car with his gaseous emissions, and prides himself in farting as he gets INTO the car. Why he can not relieve himself  before he steps in is beyond me. The most embarrassing is when he sits at the score table on Saturday morning bowling, blatantly, discretely with no pause or attempt to even pretend it is someone else, farts as loud as he can. I can handle any fart joke or gas, but that irritates the heck out of me, as I think THAT  is rude. So – I would say the name fits.

So – as I was thinking of what to call the rest of us, if we have given J the royal title of Sir – then I remembered, a thought from wayyyyy back when J and I first started living in sin  cohabitating when I was in college.  Our first answering machine message. You know the old fashioned machines where you actually had a tape in the machine that you could rewind and tape over, both of you could talk into the speaker. And we were young, and excited to have our first “space”, we of course had to subject anyone who called to an annoyingly dorky “personalize” our message.

I am almost embarrassed to say it now. Here was our first phone message -  Both our voices of course…..

“You have reached the humble abode of Sir J---. and Lady A---, we not in the castle right now, so please leave a message after the beep and we will get back to you!”

yes, we were THAT couple.

Fitting that we should decide on a “sir” title for J now!  Thanks Marlene!

Oh is that a memory I would rather forget but am so glad I can recall with a smile. Seems like a lifetime ago.

Now – names for the rest of us…and I would rather stay away from Prince and Princess…..we are heading to the Renn. faire most likely this weekend, so maybe something will stick!

Carnival Fish

One guess as to what time of  year it is here.

The text - {noted edited for punctuation and proper text as to spare you the agony of translating}

“Do we have a fish tank?”

The groan.

reply - “We have a bowl that is it, why?”

“I won five fish”

Second groan.

reply - “why”

“because I want them”

*sigh*

reply - “Are they beta – they can’t all live in one bowl”

“No goldfish.”

*Double sigh*

Yes, it is carnival time! Which means carnival goldfish!!

Spending the kids well earned money on cheap stuffed toys they just “have to have” and goldfish that have a life span shorter than a fruit fly.

I introduce you to …

btw they are on their second set of names in less than 12 hours…..

Gibbs, Probee, Jethro, D’nozo

{Notice a theme here?}

and Jack Sparrow

{musta run out of names, but she also said he is the only one that is a different color – sort of a light grey color. His name was MJ – aka Micheal Jackson last night - *snicker* you can figure out why}

Of course, because they will never survive in the beta bowl we have, K had to go out today and spend her hard earned money on a tank. I talked her out of the huge one she wanted.

I have basically said I am through with these pets anymore. We have been through the fish, a zillion times, lizards, hamsters, have a guinea pig no one pays attention to, and I take care of “our” dog .

I.will.not.touch.this.tank.

You can almost hear Jack begging for mercy – but he did brandish his knife and dive into the mouth of the dracken, so this should be nothing!

PS – There are some names in the running for J -

Sir Crabbypants, or Mr/Sir Fartsalot

Guess which one the kids are voting for?

Ok…

I have decided -

This guy -

my most favorite guy on the planet – well wait…

This one is my most favorite guy on the planet….

But….

Anyway……

Tonight he wins as my most favorite…..

But he needs a bloggy nickname…..I am growing weary of initials…while serving a function, granting a small amount of anonymity to those I love, they are boring! My loves have so much more personality than K, J,and C represent…so I have decided to start with  the Big J.

But I need some help!

So I will now take suggestions!

I am trying to think of words to describe him -

Let’s see – he is a hard worker, who likes his comfort, a family man who loves to tease his kids, generous yet he can be very very stingy. He is a consummate researcher, and problem solver. Loves his wine, good food and kahlua. Drives me nuts on a daily basis because things have to be “just so” most of the time.  He will one day be the old man on the porch yelling at the kids to get off the grass and not giving their balls back when they accidently come over the fence.

He is spoiled beyond belief but only because he deserves it.  And I love to do it.

K has taken to just calling him Old Man, but that is way over done!

Forced Family Fun Night

“Forced” not so much, thank goodness! I tease, even though I know if they had a better option they would rather not hang out with us, I am sure. But also “forced” because *I* did decide what we were doing and when. Thankfully, the kids still do not mind when we plan things for a Saturday night.

Things have been a bit nuts around here all summer. I don’t think since we got home from Disney we have spent any time together as a family. The kids and I , yes, but all of us not so much. My nephew has come to stay with us the last month, so nothing around here has been usual or typical for awhile.  Who would have thought adding one person to the household could make things so crazy!

So I decided we were due for a family night. Everyone was pretty cooperative since I did choose our favorite thing to do – mini golf, eat dinner and have ice cream.

Off we go! They just totally tolerate me  LOVE when I take pictures of them in the car! *not*

Off to Bubba’s for burgers…..

Then Putt U for mini golf. We didn’t get to golf in Disney and it is one of our favorite family activities, so I thought it would be nice to do tonight. The weather was perfect, we really planned well lucked out. C  said, “It feels like we should be with another family.” When I asked him why, he says, “Because we usually do this with other people!” Which is exactly why we made a family date night!

And the *real* C shows his true colors. Showing that we are always very appropriate in public. Teehee….

God I love these people.

As usual I take such a dorky un-posed looking  lovely picture.

 

Like I said we are always totally appropriate and normal in public. See K in Jim’s glasses? I took this because you could see us in them.

This was C’s response to K’s pose with the flag. Don’t tell I think he is totally manly cute. Shhh…..

And as usual when J tried to take a picture of the three of us, we wind up laughing cause he can be such a dork.

Then we hit Inside Scoop for ice cream….

Really crappy lighting and uncooperative subjects who wanted the camera to go away big time!  But I HAD to blog our night! :)