THE DUST WILL WAIT

Yesterday I poked my nose across the fence and asked my neighbor, Lois, if she had seen any hummingbird moths this year. She responded in the negative and asked if I knew the reason. I didn't. Across the street lives Bill. He in his eighties and sees and knows everything. So I mosied on over there and asked his opinion. "By Golly," he quipped, when he finally understood what I was asking. (He is nearly deaf), "You know I haven't seen any of those critters, either." Today was a long day -- Friday is a love-hate day for me. I work until 6, and then I come home and usually get to have dinner somewhere with our friends Bud, Vee, and little K. Tonight we ordered pizza. Before they and the pizza showed up, I scampered out to the back fence to empty my small counter top composter into the big black bin. AND GUESS WHAT I ENCOUNTERED. You betcha - the first White-Lined Sphinx Moth of the season. The camera was sitting beside the computer where the hubby had downloade...

Karmyns budding artists. Two years ago, when my Ben'jammin was 3 1/2 and my Buttercup was just barely 1, both of them drew a picture for grandma's calendar. 'Jammin drew a bluebird. I thought it would fly! Buttercup gave me a flock of bluebirds. I'm sure I see a beak in there! Don't you?

The "falling sun" looked like a Great Ball O' Fire! ...

(Tessy in the flower bed Saturday following me around as I deadheaded.) Friday night Tessy (The Contessa) slipped out an opening door sometime near bedtime and could not be coaxed back inside. Several times this has happened in the past and I've been able to trick her or scare her into returning to the house. Other times I have fretted into the wee hours of the morning. It just isn't safe to let a cat outside at night that has been declawed. (She came to us declawed and spade.) This time I was so tired that I said, "tsk, tsk!" (or something near that) and formulated a new plan. I pressed the electric gargage door so that it stopped at about 4 inches off the ground. She would be able to get back into the garage, and then into the family room through her special cat door. I hoped for her safe return. About 4 a.m. I woke with some of my usual aches and pains. After grabbing my "blankie" and walking down the hall to the...

I dedicate my 100th post to the hubby. He has been BEHIND me all the way. He has never BUTT ed into my bloggin time. He's the best hus BUN d anyone could ever pray for. He works hard at his second ca REAR and still has time to make our yard beautiful. The END . (kudo's to Ian for the link to the demotivational posters.)

Welcome Fall. A water lily feeling a bit blue. A surprise guest that a sneaky neighbor left by the pond. Dueling Pinks. Zucchini, cobblestones and sod. Summer is officially over. Shhhhhh.... it isn't quite apparent at our house yet.

I was tagged by both Julie and Amanda . Therefore I think it is only fair that my skinny alter-ego, Me2, be allowed to respond along with me. Some of you may have already met. She can be uncouth. So, here we go. Four Jobs I have had in my life. 1) ME. When I was just a kid I picked strawberries. ME2. I ate them 2) ME. As a teenager (when teens were allowed to work) I was the window trim girl on a paint crew. ME2. I flirted with the men. 3) ME. In my 20's and 30's I worked up the ladder in a brokerage firm to become a registered broker, but worked on a team. ME2. Tried to get some rich old geezer to name me on his Last Will and Testament. 4) ME. In my 40's I worked in the investment division of a bank Trust Department. ME2. Farted in the elevator when the auditor rode up. Four Movies I could watch over and over. 1) ME. It's a Wonderful Life ME2. E V E R Y Christmas. I survive by drinking egg nog. 2) Me. Princess Bride ME2. I only acquiese so I can chant 'Humperdinck...

(Or can I buy this mirror on E-Bay?)

If you really want to recognize how small we are in this universe, you may want to check out Supernova 2006X . I had a long drive today that gave me ample opportunity to use my CD player and the radio. During one of my 'push the seek' button on the radio moments I came across a discussion on the "Cosmically Terrifying Read of the Day." The topic was a Supernova that was detected on February 18, 2006 by Swift, a satellite launched to look for gamma-ray bursts. This particular one was coded (named?) GRB060218. The experts say the detonation began with a 33 minute gamma-ray burst. That didn't mean much to me until the speaker explained that all previous gamma-ray bursts from space have lasted only a few seconds. (I giggled at first because it sounded like some kind of male bonding ritual.....well, anyway.... back to the cosmos...) After being identified by the orbiter, it was observed by amateurs all over the world. "This explosion released so much energy that ...

K was born on September 17, 1999 . She had rosy checks, fat little fingers, and the biggest smile you could fit on a cherubs face. You might have mistaken her for the blue-eyed strawberry blonde doll in the All American Girl series. This kid was always little miss bright and happy. There was one problem in K’s life, however. Her mother had a substance abuse problem. It happened one morning when K was just past three. She woke up to a very quiet house, and she tip toed out of her bedroom and called out, “mommy, mommy, where are you?” There was no answer. K walked in to another room where she discovered her mother once more in a stupor. This time she could not wake her. There was a reason. Her mother had died during the night. …………………………………………………… There was a young woman named Vee Smith and her older husband Bud who had prayed for a child. They had experienced 14 years of hope and heartbreaking miscarriages. Bud was bitter, and Vee's spi...

Several Dahlia's have been hanging on. An earlier post mentioned that we had lost the marjority of them to some fungus. Today, on my hubbys birthday, one of them has decided to show it's face. It is a sign of hope and determination. All three of our amazing daughters have taken their turn this year facing and enduring a painful trial. They have grown, reached for the sun, and bloomed. Courage and beauty has been their fruit. I love them and every fiber of my being hurts when they hurt. Our Jen will face this loss and draw on her faith in God, the Healer. Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Today we are in a state of disbelief and tearful mourning; the premature death and birth of our grandson. There was a room prepared for him in our hearts; we already knew him in anticipation. I would have called him 'my little guy Kai.' We now turn our prayers to our daughter, Jen, as there are complications. Malachai is a Hebrew word that translates as "my angel."

Yesterday I thought about our trip in 1997 to New York. The thoughts prompted me to pull out the photo album and look for a picture of us at the World Trade Center. But this was the best one. Either the hubby or Amanda took this photo from the Empire State Building looking towards the twin towers. We visited the twin towers that day and I felt dizzy when I looked straight up from the plaza. I also recall all the vendors and their watches, t-shirts and what nots. One of the watch vendors followed for quite some time, not to sell us a watch, but to get a phone number for our lovely Amanda. She told him she lived in Washington, and that was a pretty long-distance call. He responded by saying it was just a short rail trip from New York. He was thinking of the other Washington.

Here are some things we saw: Yesterday was a gorgeous day. So we went to a Garden Party. We have already been approached by the Hospice Fund Raising chairperson to consider having our back yard on the "Hospice Pond Tour" for next year. We weren't sure what that involved, so we bought tickets and toured the parade of "ponds" in this years fund raising event. We had the opportunity to see what strangers have done in their front and back yards; plus, the added benefit of spending the day together having fun. What better way to get some tips, or figure out what we like by seeing what others have done. These are pictures of some of our favorites. Our landscaping in the backyard hasn't been finished - after having to have it all torn out this year. However, if it's looking good next year we will probably open our back yard to support the hospice program.

Be sure to check it out ! You don't have to be a blogging chick to participate. And yes, my entry does prove that I'm an old chick.

I remember the exact moment I heard that President Kennedy bad been shot. The teacher was crying at his desk when I walked into the classroom and I had never seen a man cry. The room, my standing in quiet awkwardness, the smell of a dusty chalkboard and my wet shoes remain like a photograph etched in my mind I remember on that day in January 1986 when I received a quick call at work with word that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded after take off. In the office across from me sat my favorite co-worker, a World War II Veteran, B-17 Bomber Pilot. He listened to my news, but I recognized his tacit disbelief as he turned to find his radio. The audible squeak in his chair matched the physical shiver of apprehension in my spine as we sought confirmation. Neither of us spoke as we listened to the news bulletin. The smiling face of the first teacher in space, Christa McAuliffe, haunted the tears that flowed freely from my heart that day. I remember where I was on 9-11-01 when I first...

Stealing ideas from Robin's blog . But full of something from Ree's. Your Brain's Pattern You have a dreamy mind, full of fancy and fantasy. You have the ability to stay forever entertained with your thoughts. People may say you're hard to read, but that's because you're so internally focused. But when you do share what you're thinking, people are impressed with your imagination. What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Snapping pictures from the passenger seat at 70 mph. This one was taken at a stop signal as we arrived in Portland on Thursday evening.

Here is a digital picture of one of my paintings that I just had matted. I need to pick out a frame. She is someone else's grandaughter and was a class project. I loved the way the sun speckled her face, ribbon, and dress through the shadow of the little straw hat. Yes I made some boo-boo's. But please don't look for them this time.

Don't you wish that life was like a straight road. You could view what lay in your path ahead, there would never be any curves, and you would never be suprised by any life events because you could always see so far in the distance that you would be perpetually prepared. Our Curly Mops daddy made a nearly successful attempt to end his life in the wee hours last thursday morning. We are heart sick. Depression is a disease that can be terminal. The symptoms often include denial of ill health and the refusal to seek treatment. Without help and without hope they sail too close to the edge of the cliff. It only takes a small gust of wind to drive them into the rocks - shattered. Matthew 11: 28,29, 30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

About 20 years ago I was driving a little yellow 70 VW Bug. I remember exactly which street I was puttin' along on when my youngest leaned forward from the back seat and asked, "Mommy, is there an end to the world?" My eldest daughter remembers this question and the moment in time as clearly as I do as she is ten years older and was sitting in the front seat. (She was born of my short first marriage. The two younger sister are spawn of the hubby.) I can't forget the breath catching in my throat and my heart following a close second. This was a season of my life during which I was not believing - in much of anything. A quick brain storm whirled through my head. Then, even faster, I formulated a carefully worded response that I hoped wouldn't freak her little mind out. The eyes of front seat daughter looked at me with brows up and just a quirk of a smile on one side of her mouth. She was hanging on this one like white on rice and would slice and dice me if she tho...