Ellis Island

Photo Challenge: Day 17

2012-02-17T09:39:00.000-05:00

time:

This is what time I woke up today, felt like I'd been hit by a garbage truck and promptly made a doctors appointment. Sick sucks. Sorry. No edit today.

Photo Challenge: Day 16

2012-02-16T23:57:00.001-05:00

something new:

And you thought I had forgotten. Well, I've been under the weather today, which means under the wire. I am just barely going to get this posted, but you should know, this author? She's like Phillippa Gregory. So good! Happy Reading, y'all!

PS.. Excuse the Christmas jammies. I told you. I've been sick!

Photo Challenge: Day 15

2012-02-15T21:34:00.000-05:00

First off, I have to say I'm a little miffed that no one commented on the goose heart. That hurts people. Hurts my heart. Hardy, har, har....

Anyway, today's installment:

phone:

Yes, my phone is still ancient. I'm due for an upgrade at the end of the month. I'm still not sure how I feel about smart phones, but I think that's all they sell nowadays. : )

Photo Challenge: Day 14

2012-02-14T11:18:00.000-05:00

Today's challenge is one I have been looking forward to since Saturday. And it is not for the weak stomached...or faint of heart for that matter. I realize that I didn't actually take this picture today, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. You see, our good friend Bill went hunting and Mark and I helped cut up the meat. Ah, yes, you see where this is going. Now you see, I don't want anyone to be offended, because I have respect for life. Human or animal. If you know me at all, you know I try to find a home for any stray animal or person who needs it. When we hunt, we eat the meat. That's the only way I will hunt. For food, people. So, all that said and myself defended, I give you day 14.

heart:

A goose heart, to be exact. I was fascinated by it. Having taken anatomy and physiology, I took the picture then promptly dissected this heart. I found the chambers of the heart (I think) and the vena cava. Really, really cool. A learning tool and such respect for the life that this tiny organ once fed.

Happy Valentines day!

Photo Challenge: Day 13

2012-02-13T22:25:00.000-05:00

blue:

I was thinking about today's challenge while sipping my tea...and here is what I came up with!

That's blue enough for me!

Photo Challenge: Day 12

2012-02-12T13:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a list to update you, in case you are lost about what's going on with the contest:

Today's project was easy, because we just started remodeling our closet in the kitchen! As always, it proves interesting when we begin to remodel. : )

Here's another closet..already remodeled, and much prettier for it. : )

Happy Sunday!

Photo Challenge: Day 11

2012-02-11T22:27:00.002-05:00

makes you happy:

Mr. Fix-It always makes me happy. : )

Photo Challenge: Day 10

2012-02-10T17:54:00.000-05:00

Self Portrait:

I'm too picky about pictures of myself. This challenge was harder, in my opinion. I made my mama decide. : )

Photo Challenge: Day 9

2012-02-09T18:26:00.000-05:00

Front Door:

This was the most boring task to date. That is, until I went rogue and snuck onto some property and took pictures of a door I thought was pretty. : ) I made Mark come along for safety, but kept him in the dark about what we were doing so he could not be held responsible for my actions. What a sweet little wifey I am.

Photo Challenge: Day 8

2012-02-08T19:45:00.001-05:00

Sun:

Well, today couldn't have been a crappier day to capture the sun. It was overcast. All. Day. Long. When Mark came home from work, he found me in the office with the camera pressed to my forehead. When he asked me what I was doing, I told him I was thinking and trying to be inspired. I explained to him about the photo of the day and how I was never going to see the sun again... (wah, wah), he embraced his inner nerd, and this is what we came up with.

Courtesy of the Starwalk Application on his iPhone. Is this a total cop out? If you think so, I will totally get one of Ryan's books, find a sun and take a picture. Today, folks, there was just no other way. Special thanks to Mark for being a nerd.

Photo Challenge: Day 7

2012-02-07T13:30:00.000-05:00

Button(s)

So, I thought today's challenge was sort of boring. Therefore, I got really carried away looking for buttons. It's really too bad I don't have a jar tucked away somewhere just loaded with buttons. That would have been more fun! I did have a nice time tracking down buttons I thought were neat, anyway.

my woolly hat...

our hunting gear...

my old man sweater

my favorite boots...

jeans waiting to be put away...

From Marks closet...

I guess I had a little more fun than I thought. Happy buttoning! : )

Photo Challenge: Day 6

2012-02-06T19:43:00.001-05:00

Dinner

It's "clean out the fridge night " at casa de Ellis. I found leftover beef stew. Isn't it weird how some things taste better after a few days? All the ingredients must get together in there, shake hands and become merry acquaintences over a few days time.

Photo Challenge: Day 5

2012-02-05T11:13:00.001-05:00

10:00

This is what we look like every weekend at 10:00AM. Unless we're hunting.

Piled in bed. With dogs. That's where the love is.

Photo Challenge: Day 4

2012-02-04T20:55:00.000-05:00

Stranger:

(or in my case, strangers... because I love to people watch!)

What I learned: Little old ladies like hot pink nail polish, too. (Did you scroll back up to look?) Chivalry is not dead. And lastly, you don't need to travel to London to wear a yellow rain slicker.

Cheers.

Photo Challenge: Day 3

2012-02-03T18:36:00.000-05:00

Hands:

This is my mothers hand. She made sausage with biscuits and gravy tonight for me and Mark. Nothing like a little country cooking, made by mamas hands. : )

Photo Challenge: Day 2

2012-02-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

Words:

I have loved this sign and what it says since I was a little kid. Today seemed like the perfect day to go capture it. The spirit of the Little Gipsie Tea Room lives on.

Photo Challenge: Day 1

2012-02-01T23:27:00.001-05:00

My view today:

Reaching for spring. It's been a gloomy day here in Kingston. Lots of rain, and not a flower in sight. My geraniums are holding their own inside, but they look so bare and naked it's a little gloomy. At least they're reaching out to one another.

Photo Challenge

2012-02-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

You know. 'Cause all the cool kids are doing it.

Here's what you do:

Prayer Lists

2012-01-21T22:57:00.000-05:00

I'm sure it true that about 90% of the people who read this have a facebook. Those of you who don't...where the hell have you been? Crawl out from underneath that rock you call home and get one. It's the wave of the future, people. Anyway...lately, I felt so much pressure from facebook to pray for people. Let me amend that. I feel compelled to pray for people. I've been invited to two prayer groups for a girl I barely know and another for a boy that I have never met. These groups are amazing support systems, and I feel grateful to call myself a part of them...but these groups coupled with all of the problems my family and friends are having are making my prayer list and my heart very, very heavy. Do you ever feel that way? Heavy hearted? And when someone you know on Facebook (or whatever media site you frequent) posts a request for prayers or a problem they are having and you post that you will be praying or lifting them up...do you always do it? I mean that seriously. I have had to start writing down all the people and their problems or ailments to pray for because there are actually too many to remember. I tried for a while to get through them in my head, just thinking of them, but the list got so long that I was falling asleep during my prayers and that made me feel guilty. Does this happen to you? I spoke to a friend about this and she told me that when she posts to someones status that she is praying that she feels like that is when she lifts that person or problem up.

What do you do?

Here's what my list looks like at the moment...(I will protect the folks who's prayer needs aren't especially public by omitting last names...

Rachel Ruppe, in a car accident
Caleb Wilson, in a car accident
Jenny - safe pregnancy
Mandy- safe pregnancy
H.- peace and happiness and health
M.-peace
Grandparents- health and peace
Wayne- happiness
Christin- peace and health
EmiB- stepdad, son, family
EmiG- husband traveling with job
B.O.- dad, peace, stress relief
Brothers- direction and guidance

And these are the ones I can remember off the top of my head..there are many more. And then of course I pray for the things I am thankful for.

It's a little overwhelming, but God never puts more on us than what we can handle...

I just wish he didn't trust me so much.

Ryan and Mater

2012-01-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

My favorite shortstack came to stay the night with us this weekend. That boy sure does make me happy. You know, he really is the most sweet and caring, thoughtful little boy I know. He's more than happy. He's a delight to be around.

We watched Cars 2 about four times. We played "cars" while we watched Cars 2. We ate Spaghetti and then I blew up the air mattress for him to sleep on in our room. You might have thought I had told him we were going to Disney. We just squealed! And then he fetched his Tow Mater Pillow from upstairs and requested to watch Cars 2 again. He slept in and woke up asking for toast and Oatmeal and Cars 2.

I now know that if I am ever on a game sure where the million dollar question is "Who is Lightning McQueen's best friend?" I'm gonna get the million, with TOW MATER. : ) Here are a few pictures. Even Bruiser played along...Enjoy!

Love this little boy with all my heart.... as he likes to say, "we have the Most fun!"

Bird Brain

2012-01-08T14:01:00.000-05:00

This hunting season has been the slowest one yet. The weather just hasn't been cold enough up north to drive the birds down, so we haven't seen a lot. It hasn't kept me from taking awesome photos though, which makes getting up at 4 or 5AM totally worth it.

When you're out in the dark this early in the morning, you're able to watch the sun rise. You feel the temperature rise. You watch the animals in their element. You have solitude. Time to not think about your worries of the world. I feel closer to God this way. I feel closer to myself. I ignore the cold, I ignore everything that bothers me. I am at peace, not only with myself, but with everything around me. Good is so good.

I encourage each and everyone of you to find the thing in your life that gives you this.

2012, bitches

2012-01-08T13:54:00.000-05:00

In an effort to keep 2012 chill and drama free, Mark and I celebrated with just two of our good friends this year. OK, that's not really true. We're just old and decided we weren't partying this year. : )

What you see is what you get. Beth and I finally got a great picture of the two of us together. Mission accomplished.

Bill gave Mark a break and DJ'd the little party for us.

We drank champagne out of solo cups to keep things classy.

Mark made Black and Red's for himself and Bill.

And I continued my love for all things Lady Gaga.

No resolutions made this year, so I feel like I am already ahead of the game to not disappoint myself. Happy New Year, nuggets.

Had myself a merry little Christmas

2011-12-27T00:57:00.000-05:00

Ah. Christmas is over, and this year I'm not glad. For Mark and I, Christmas is usually a hectic 2 days of rushing around, slinging gifts at people and trying to eat at least a few bites at each place. Somehow, this year, the stars aligned and all was calm, all was bright.

We started a little early and exchanged gifts with Bill and Beth on Friday night. They loved what we got them and you could tell. (isn't that the greatest feeling? Knowing you did well with your gifting?) Anyway, Mark got some shells for hunting and I got a tropical smoothie gift card. Holla!!! Mango Magic Smoothie here I come! Somehow I managed not to take any pictures. I'm sure Bill and Beth don't care, but I do! : (

On Saturday we headed out for 2 grandparent stops and a stop at my sweet in-laws house. At Mark's grannies house, we ate a huge meal and played grannies version of dirty santa...which consisted of her buying random gifts, handing them out and then having us try and bargain with one another for them. It was adorable, and we had many many laughs.

Mark ended up with some pain patches and some heated neck wraps. If you could have seen the expression on his face when I held up the nutcracker (which I later traded for some sweet measuring cups) and the pain patches he somehow ended up with, you would have cried. I nearly did. I traded the pain patches for some ice cream scoops. I thought it was a pretty sweet deal myself. Mark initially opened a snow globe and ...wait for it.... a fanny pack. Like I said, we laughed ourselves silly.

Next we headed over to My grandmothers house. She was able to come home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for a couple of hours! We were so glad to have her home!

I was hoping she wouldn't grow tired of all the pictures we were taking, and she didn't! She just said, "let me hold Ryan and I will be fine!" Bless her. She is so sweet and adorable. My family is so blessed to have her with us! We had another huge dinner, supplied by my aunt Carolyn. It was AMAZING! Prime rib and veggies. Yum, yum!

After lots of eating and plenty of talking, we finally got around to opening presents. I swear I had more fun watching Ryan shred paper than anything else! He went nuts! Our family gathered in the living room like we always do and got to work. Little elf Ryan helped hand the gifts out, a tradition Holly is passing on to him, which I think is so cute! After everyone had their presents, Ryan said, "OK, everybody, let's Go!" We all laughed and he got busy. Very busy. He opened everything from a Spiderman Tent to a Cars toothbrush set and holder. The boy was on fire! We all sat around and watched him laughing. It was hilarious! He's shout out things Like, "Mommy! Look! I got this thing!" or "Hedda, look! This is mine!" I think it was largely in part to him that of Christmas was so fun this year. It's normally hectic or there's tension, but not this year. It was all about this....

That boy can SHRED some paper. : )

After we left Grandmother's house, we had yet another stop to make, but we were in good cheer and that always helps! We stopped off to exchange gifts and visit with Mark's parents. This is always our last stop on Christmas Eve. It's a small to do, no food, just good laughs and company and a few presents. Naturally, there's always a little booze, too.

Darlene tried on her new robe and Ken got a new Zip pullover. They were making a ham for the next day, so I caught Ken at the stove making his magic glaze! The ham turned out incredible! We always have such a good time when we visit with Mark's parents, and this year was no exception. We looked through some pictures, exchanged gifts and headed home with a boatload of ham. : ) When Mark and I got home, we put in Christmas Vacation. It's a yearly tradtion to watch it on Christmas Eve when we get home. I usually make it all the way through, but Mark is usually worn out from over eating and travel. This year we both made it through and went to bed just after midnight. We must have earned some serious Christmas karma this year, because that never happens! We went to bed and like I always do, I woke up at 4AM. I swear, I am still a kid at heart! I manged to fall back asleep, but got up again at 7AM and called it good. I decided to be a good wife and wait an hour before waking Mark up. I also made him coffee. He probably thought he was still sleeping when he woke to the smell of coffee! (I can be a good little wifey on Christmas!)

The house was quiet on Christmas morning this year. A huge change from years past when we've had friends and family all here with us on Christmas morning. I have to say, I really liked it. Blissful would be my exact words. There was no rush, no fuss and it was just us. The first time thats happened since we moved into this house! Mark got some serious warm stuff for hunting, jeans a new movie-Bad Teacher, a coozie for hunting and a lot of other clothes. I got books, new hunting gloves, lotions an awesome under armour jacket and underwear. Super happy couple!

We let the dogs open stockings too.... Bruiser didnt enjoy sharing... which makes me feel guilty because there's no picture of Magoo enjoying HIS stocking because she was all up in his buisness, SO to be fair, I won't post a picture of that. :) (I'm sure you're glad.. this post is long enough already and I'm not done yet!) After a fun morning alone, we head to Christmas Lunch with Mark's other grannie. This side of the family is always wild and fun. The babies have multiplied yet again this year. Grannie says she's lost track of how many grandchildren and great grandchildren there are, but I think combined, it's somewhere close to 16 or 17 and there's at least one more on the way. Grannie stays busy at Christmas! : )

So yes, the post is finally drawing to a close! Our Christmas was merry and bright. We enjoyed every single moment of holiday fun we had. We spent time with our wonderful friends and family. We rejoiced in the true meaning of the season. Without His love, none of this would be possible.

So from our home to yours,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night..

*Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas- Frank Sinatra

Reasons

2011-12-12T17:14:00.000-05:00

So, the main reason it has taken me so long to post here, is because I am finally working! It feels amazing! I am sitting with an elderly man, which hardly qualifies as work, even though I worked 48 hours last week! -and he is so sweet. I'm not sure how long it will last, but I am grateful for anything right now. It feels good to contribute! I also went to the doctor to talk babies. Since we haven't been trying long, he's not worried that it hasn't happened yet. We are going to wait another 6 months and see where we are then. I have been so tired lately. (Which either means I have been out of the workforce WAY too long, or....) Either way, I am more relaxed because I'm not sitting around the house wondering and bored. You know what they say, Idol Hands...

Keeps us in your prayers. We're happy, but we would love an addition to our family. God knows the plan. I trust in Him.

*Cruisin'- Smokey Robinson

New in Hunting

2011-12-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

This hunting season has been a slow one. I have managed to get some awesome pictures and I also got to visit Johnson Bottoms and hunt in a new place. The season may have been slow, but we haven't lacked in the fun department. The weekend Before Thanksgiving, we went out to dress the blind. You have to redo it every year, and it's always blood and sweat. No tears, unless you get sweat in your eyes. Mark and Bill hunted at Johnson Bottoms the first weekend. It's part of the TWRA Blind drawing on the Hiawassee Refuge. I couldn't go the first weekend. (Only for to a blind, I was the odd girl out.) The second weekend we went to our blind, and last weekend I finally got to road trip, too! 4AM came early. It's a long drive down there!

Scout had a great time down at Johnson Bottoms. She is much improved since last year! : )

The week before we went to Johnson Bottoms was quite eventful. At the start of the morning, we forgot Marks gun. So, we were running a little behind (which I hate!). We agreed to meet Bill at the boat ramp. We got the gear loaded into the boat and took off. AS we were pulling up to the bank, Bill was telling us where to go and what to do. I stepped out of the boat and grabbed some gear. My hip boots somehow got stuck in the mud.....I ended up going for a swim. Let me tell you. The Clinch is cold in the summertime. At 6:15AM in November? It's EFFING COLD. Bill fished me out of the water. Luckily I only fell in a couple of inches of water. My butt was soaked and the water ran down into my hip boots, soaking my pants and socks, too! Awesome! Bill asked me right then did I want to go home. My pride and ego slightly bruised, I firmly said No, Sir. Mark and I headed up to the blind where we surveyed the damage. There I stood.. naked from the ass down in the duck blind. (I wish I had put that on my list of 100 things I want to do, it would have been marked off with force that day!) He pulled off his waders and gave me his extra pants he was wearing. For some reason he had an extra set of socks in his blind bag. The bottom of the back of my shirts were a little wet, but we had nothing else to put in me so I just lived with it. I wrapped up in a coat and asked Mark for a minute to myself. I counted my many blessings...named them one by one. A while later we used a plastic bag from somewhere and sandwich bags our breakfast was wrapped in to put over the socks (and gloves covering my feet so I could put the waders back on to stand up.

Here's what I looked like after we got back to the boat ramp. Check out those wet clothes I'm holding!

Yes. I stayed the whole day. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. It also gives us something to laugh about. I won't lie. It also keeps the guys from thinking women shouldn't be in the blind...not that the two guys I hunt with would ever think that...but I get total street cred. : )

*I'm Still In Love With You- Al Green

Thanksgiving Belated

2011-12-12T16:34:00.000-05:00

I've had several people mention to me the lack of new material here. Geeze, people! If you are reading, then comment! I had no idea so many of you stop by to read about my crazy life. : )

So, I think I left off somewhere before Thanksgiving. Well, it's been a whirlwind dudes. November was crazy. I did manage to look pretty on Thanksgiving, though! Thanksgiving was a mess. We ended up having Thanksgiving at my grandmothers house without her. Honestly, it was WEIRD. My aunt did come either, so it was a small gathering, even for that side of the family which is usually about nine people.

We also got to see this little turkey, too. Light of my world, I tell you!

After we left there, we went to Mark's grannies for dinner. I so enjoy getting to spend time with his family. The are a bunch of loons, and you can always count on a laugh and probably a shot or two out behind the barn from Uncle Jimbo. : ) We headed home for a few hours and set out that night for Walmart. Epic Fail. Whoever decided to open Walmart the night before Black Friday was more evil than Shredder. We got there and people had already opened the shrink wrapped sales bins for the midnight sale. There was nothing left for us to buy. I was hot! Actually, I was SO mad, that I briefly considered not getting up at all on Friday morning to shop. In the end, we got up at 10, had breakfast and went shopping. It was a great day and we managed to get all of our shopping done except for one another. All in all, not too shabby.

I know it's belated, but I hope your Turkey Day was a success!

*I'll Do Anything You Want Me To: Barry White

Pity Party Fail

2011-11-16T14:53:00.000-05:00

Have you ever just had the kind of day where everything seems to be going the wrong way? That was yesterday for me. It started the night before when I went to bed. I laid down in my normal fashion. Snuggling up to my warm husband, already 3 hours ahead of me in sleep and pressed my cold feet into the back of his calves. Pure bliss. That man radiates the heat! I said my prayers, closed my eyes and waited for sleep to come. It did not. Instead, I began thinking about all of the things in my life (or other peoples lives) that I wish I could change.

I thought about my sweet grandmother in the nursing home. Have I mentioned she fell and broke her hip? Had to have surgery? Is now in a nursing home in Oak Ridge? No? Well, there it is. I thought about how weird it would be to have Thanksgiving in her house without her. From there, my mind started developing plans for how we could get her home to eat and visit..but then, I'll bet she would be sad to have to go back afterwards...Should we just take Thanksgiving to her? Those thoughts rambled and rolled around for a while. I thought of other members of my family and their plights to just get by. I thought of how hard my mom is struggling to care for her ailing parents and balance a job on top of that.

You see where all of this is going. Anyway, after about an hour of crappy thoughts, I began to think that I REALLY needed to stop thinking and fall asleep. It was raining. I opened my eyes and thought, I will just lay here and listen to the rain. At that exact moment THE RAIN STOPPED. Apparently God had other plans for me. So, I started trying to think of nice things. Redecorating my kitchen. Remodeling the bathroom. Redoing the hardwoods. The list goes on and on.

I finally fell asleep. When I woke up, I realized I was running slightly late for a job interview. Awesome! After a mad rush and a whores bath, I was out the door and headed to Knoxville. The interview went OK, so we'll see how that goes. Afterwards, I decided to go and visit my grandparents. Grandmother in the nursing home and granddad at home. After seeing grandmother, who has lost so much weight and is battling Alzheimer's, I was through. My grandfather would have to see me another day. (Which made me feel guilty, obviously.)

I started home under a grey sky and drizzling rain. I won't lie. My day was just shot. I decided to throw myself a pity party. I headed to Sonic and bought the most delicious, disgusting thing I could think of. Super Sonic Cheeseburger and tots. When I got home, I put on my favorite sweats and settled in for a marathon of NICS-which always drones out a crappy day and tore into that burger like Tom Hanks from Cast Away. Guess what?? Found a big ass hair in it. Pity Party complete! Tears rolling.

Sigh. Started my period yesterday too! Guess that means no baby this month.

I ended my day with a good phone call, and flushed my pity pot. Took some medicine and went to bed. Can I have a do over?

Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company

Fall Fun

2011-11-14T14:52:00.000-05:00

I think I left off last at those orange pants... Still want a pair, but I think they may have jinxed us or something.. Anyway, Halloween has come and gone. We hardly have any candy left at all. We only had one trick or treater that night...but he was so stinkin' cute!

We also got into the fall spirit just before Halloween with some pumpkin carving and cookie decorating. We are masters of fall over here....

A good time, indeed. No costumes for Mark and I this year, and you know I was disappointed about that. I love to dress up! There's always next year though, and I saw some amazing black swan and avatar make-up tutorials!

I need some pants like this

2011-10-10T20:13:00.000-04:00

The Vols may be a little down on their luck this year, but Derek Dooley's Orange pants continue to inspire me.....

Source

i'm in love

2011-10-10T19:59:00.000-04:00

Have you met Lauren? She's the amazing girl with freckles who like to run and eat ice cream. She also introduced me to Phillippa Gregory. Now she's my hero. She mentioned this fantastic author when I went through my English phase. I found The White Queen and The Other Queen for $4 a piece at Books a Million. Sold! The Red Queen I found at Kroger. It was pricier, but worth it. Lauren sent me a message this weekend that she was coming home from D.C. and was prepared to loan me some books! I'm so excited and can't wait to get my hands on them.

*sources

Thank you Lauren!! You're the best!

a new season begins

2011-10-10T19:40:00.000-04:00

Hunting Season started again this weekend and we encountered some serious fog. No geese this weekend, but alas, that's not what I was shooting anyway.

There's what the face behind the camera looks like! Pretty, no?

Candi and Chad got Married!

2011-10-10T19:36:00.000-04:00

This is a super belated post, but Mark and I were so thrilled to be a part of Candi and CHad's wedding day. They are such sweet friends of ours, and we truly wish them the best. Those two are FUNNY.

I was having a really good hair day. : )

Mark did sound for the reception. Isn't he smokin' hot? : )

Candi's dress was so pretty and her hair and make up were flawless!

It was SUCH a beautiful day for a wedding!

Best wishes to Candi and Chad!!

Mark's Little Helper

2011-10-10T19:30:00.000-04:00

Most of you know that when Ryan comes over, we like to let him do whatever it is we are doing. If it's raining and we are inside, he like to help me cook or clean or brush the dogs. Most of the time, we are outside and he just LOVES to help Uncle Mark work on things. So far, he's helped mow, burn brush, stack up the wood pile, work on the lawnmower and countless other things. Working on the lawnmower really seems to be his favorite thing to do, though. Almost every time he comes over, he asks Mark is they are going to work on it. (Mark does side jobs working on other peoples small engines. Our lawnmower only gets its blades sharpened and routine maintenance.) Anyway, Mark wears gloves while he works and he always gives Ryan a pair of purple latex gloves to put on while he's working.

Ryan's love for gloves has gotten a little out of control. It adorable really. About a month ago, he had his first trip to the dentist. It wasn't going well. The dentist prepared to get started anyway and put on a pair of gloves. It turned the entire visit around. Ryan demanded a pair (actually, several pairs) and they gave them to him. He was a happy camper after that. : )

A week ago, my grandfather (Ryan's GREAT grandfather) was in the hospital. Ordinarily, Ryan would be super bored and probably acting out. Instead, Papaw told Holly to get him some gloves so he could "work" on him to help him get better. SO CUTE.

Further compounding his love for gloves, Mark ran to Lowes for a few items the other night when Ryan was staying over. When he returned, Ryan was in the bathtub. Mark came in and asked Ryan if he had been good while he was gone. "Yup!" Ryan replies. Mark promised him a present since he had been good and to come see him in the office when he was all clean. So we hurried the rest of the bath and went to investigate....

Ryan got a pair of "heavy duty work gloves" with Disney's Cars on them! He was over the moon and helped Uncle Mark work on all kinds of things for the remainder of the night!

why I love Thursdays

2011-10-05T18:02:00.001-04:00

There's McDreamy....

*source

There's McSteamy...

*source

Avery (who I like to call McYummy)...

*source

Owen..(Who I like to call McArmy)...

*source

Alex..(who can sometimes be McAsshole, but Derek is filling in for him at the moment.)

*source

Every Thursday is such a joy. : ) See you tomorrow, Grey's Fans!

the beach! a story in pictures...

2011-09-20T23:43:00.000-04:00

On the road!

Happy Little Beach dweller

Beach Bum

We made it!

The missing Blues Brother: just add lemonade!

Proof we cooked, and didn't let the gangsters do it every night.

Chungification

Getting my ass kicked by a wave.

one of many beautiful skylines...

blood red sunset

my favorite couple

Crabbing and shelling

Gangster shows beach bum just how to fly a kite.

This one knows how to relax! and makes a mean sangria!

ready to leave, but always ready to come back.

*Every body Have Fun Tonight- Wan(g) Chung

HOPE

2011-09-20T22:28:00.000-04:00

A seemingly small word..packed with a punch. I've felt a little hopeless recently, and I'm beginning to feel that things are on the upswing. I've still been seeing a therapist, and she's phenomenal! I'm thinking of making some big personal changes in my life and with the help of many, I think it just might be possible.

Sometimes, it takes a village. Sometimes it takes trusting that little voice in the back of your head.

Trying to psyched

2011-08-30T14:36:00.000-04:00

It shouldn't be that hard! Apparently, I'm worried about being jinxed. Mark and I are set to leave for the beach on Friday. After what happened last year at beach time, I'm having problems getting ready. As a matter of fact, I haven't packed the first thing. Did I mention we leave in 3 days? Wait a minute... I think I just had a panic attack.

Totally not me. I'm usually HYPED by this point to go. What's the dealie, 'yo?

*Hotel California- The Eagles

blacklight bowling

2011-08-22T15:09:00.000-04:00

FUN, FUN, FUN! : )

*Katy Perry- Firework

5 Years

2011-08-22T15:00:00.000-04:00

Slideshow design made with Smilebox

5 Years looks pretty damn good. Also, we figured out what the traditional gift is. It's wood. AS usual, we put our own spin on it, and went to DollyWOOD, came home and power napped and then went bowling. (The floors are WOOD!)

*Coldplay- Yellow

So Much

2011-08-22T13:32:00.000-04:00

Seriously. I have so much to catch up on, I'm not sure where to begin. August always seems to fly by, and so it has. The month of August is almost over! Mark and I ventured out into the wilderness with Bill to get our hunting blind set up. We built a nice little blind on the point of an island on a Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago. I'm super excited for hunting season to start because that means I'll be outside with the camera in tow!

There was a lot more to it than what these pictures show. when we got out there, that point was empty. We had to build a frame, tack up the palm, use spray paint to darken it up a bit, and then we added cat tails to brush it up. It took about 2 hours, and luckily it wasn't smoldering hot that day. We did bring home a few ticks and I had two spots where chiggers got to me. Lovely.

Totally worth it though. This blind will be one of our regular spots, and I am super pumped!

After we got our blind set up, we headed back to shore and Mark and Bill shot some skeet. I've never seen anyone do this before then, and I was kind of in awe. It seems hard.

Good times. : ) Looking forward to hunting season!

*The Civil Wars- Barton Hollow

Man Brain

2011-08-03T14:20:00.000-04:00

Mark is a romantic guy when it comes to holidays and stuff. I am more of a year round romantic with less emphasis on dates and meanings. I want it all day everyday. So, we were snuggling on the couch over the weekend and we had the following conversation...

M: How many days is it?

H: How many days until what?

M: Heather, what month is this?

H: Uh, August, right?

M: Yes.

H: (silence.)

H: (wears a look on face that screams WHAT???)

H: How many days until WHAT???

M: (grinning)

H: !!!!!!!!

M: You think about it.

(Several Hours pass)

M: Did you figure it out yet?

H: Did I figure what out yet?

M: Let me get this straight. You have already forgotten trying to remember what you couldn't remember?

H: What????

M: You know. I asked you how many days were left?

H: Oh. Yeah. No idea what you were talking about.

M: OK.

H: (sits quietly for a few minutes.) Oh! Our anniversary is this month!

M: Yes. Yes it is. Do you know how many days are left until our anniversary?

H: Hang on. I gotta get my cell phone.

M: And why is that?

H: Because that way I can look at what the date is.

M: You don't remember our anniversary date?

H: That's right. I have man brain. (searching for cell phone)

M: Hmmm... which means I have...

H: Yep. You have woman brain. (searching for anniversary date)

M: Where does this leave us??

H: As confused as ever, I suppose....OK, yeah. Our anniversary is August 19th. So that's 18 days from today.

M: Do you know what the traditional gift is for 5 years?

H: Here we go again.....

M: What? I'm just asking!

H: Well, if you're asking me because you want to know if I know it, then no....

M: And if I'm asking because I need to know it too?

H: Either way we are going to have to google it, dude.

*************************************************************************

So now, it is 16 days until my anniversary. If you didn't know, the traditional gift is wood. (The modern is a clock.) I'm sure I will try to come up with something creative...but in all honesty what I want is a night out on the town. DRESS UP edition. I wanna look super hot. I want him to look super hot. And then I want us to take our super hot selves out for some fun, get donuts at midnight, come home and watch some Squidbillies.

Love is predictable sometimes...and sometimes that's the best part.

*25 or 6 to 4- Chicago

all the crying

2011-07-28T22:05:00.000-04:00

Hi y'all! There's no easy spin on this...I'm still in therapy. It's a REALLY good thing. I love it more and more each time I go. With any kind of happiness comes responsibility and work. Oh my God, the WORK. I've been talking to my therapist about understanding myself a little better. In other words, I am trying to figure out who I am really am, and the kind of person I want to be. FOR ME.

Judy says (Oh, my therapists name is Judy, by the way) that every big thing is comprised of many, many little things. A relatively simple thing at first but when you are thinking in terms of who you are, it's kind of complex really. Anyway, tonight, I was thinking about myself and the tiniest things that make me...well, me. I thought of a few and since this blog is a place that I frequent on a fairly regular basis, I thought I would keep a running list here. When I can't remember who I am, I will know where to look.

* I cry in Military situations. I mean all of them. Any sign of bravery or valiance, courage or patriotism and I weep. I hear the National Anthem, see the American flag blowing in the breeze, or even those sappy shows that show the soldier coming home from Iraq to surprise his family. It's all waterworks. I think it's the sense of pride that wells up inside of me, and then I am quite overcome. I guess I am very proud of our service men and women.

*I really am a southern girl. I like ice tea and football on fall Saturdays. I can shout at a coach (or the TV) about a bad call on fourth and long with the best of the men in my family and many of my girlfriends can do the same thing. I like to go hunting, even if I'm not shooting the gun and waiting to capture the perfect sunrise with my camera. I chased lightening bugs as a little kid and put them in mason jar with holes poked in the lid. I know when to say 'Yes Ma'am' and Thank You, and I know how to cross my legs without making them go numb. I have a mouth like a sailor, and know when it's time to shut the hell up. Rides in a truck on a sunny afternoon with the windows rolled down make me smile. Amazing Grace always makes me cry. I'm Southern and I like that.

*I really love animals. I can appreciate most insects, even- as long as they are at a safe distance. If you have read this blog with any regularity, you know how much I love my dogs. (And any other person's dog, for that matter.) I'm allergic to cats, so I'm not as fond of them as some people might be, but no one- not even me, can deny how cute kittens are. Even the critters of the animal kingdom I don't like have a beauty that can be appreciated. Over the fourth of July while camping, I had to pee. I was headed back to the latrine when I felt something stick to my arm. I had very nearly walked into a very large spider web. Goosebumps on my arms, I very gingerly backed away. I took out my sure fire and aimed. Just above the high beam of the light sat a spider. Her web was very simple. She was carefully wrapping a small moth that had the bad luck of flying into her strings. I sat there for a moment, taking it in, shivered and went to retrieve my friend Jackson, who likes spiders. He told me a lot about her, which I appreciated and then we left her alone. (I found a new place to pee.) Really, the only animals I don't appreciate are ticks and mosquitoes. I know they have purpose too, spreading disease and all, but I just have no use for them, myself. My love for animals is very healthy. A part of myself that I could develop more. I like that.

That's all for now.... Hopefully, there will be more to come. Slowly, as I work on it...but surely.

*Foolish Games- Jewel

Judgey

2011-07-25T10:48:00.000-04:00

I woke up this morning with purpose. I made a phone call, and was seriously derailed from my sunny outlook. So, I got on facebook looking for some cheerful post to make me realize that I was feeling a bit sorry for myself and to get my ass up and going. You know, enjoy life. I ran across a post from a girl I am not really friends with, talking about how she is pregnant. Again. With like, her fifth or something. This was the point I started judging... and for what?

You know, sometimes a person just gets all they can take before blowing up. Reading this, you are probably judging me...thinking.. what the EFF does she have to moan and groan about? Well, I'll tell you. The person I called first thing this morning actually called me last night looking for help. When I called her back today, I had some great news for her and then she blew me off. It's incredibly frustrating to try an help someone who won't help themselves. SO, I judged.

Then, I judged someone for being pregnant, (I am awesome.) which is lowest of the low..and only because I am ready to have kids, had a bad morning, and somehow decided that She shouldn't have 5 kids before I can have one. To you, sort-of-friend-from-facebook, I apologize. I know that was wrong, and I wish you nothing but happiness.

Do you judge? Are you more likely to do it when you are upset or angry? I know I am. So, I got it off my chest and now I am off to clean the house because Lord knows, if anyone walked in here right now, they would judge me in a heartbeat. And I would care. Just a little.

*Come Together- Aerosmith

what love looks like

2011-07-20T22:12:00.000-04:00

I am just so BLESSED. This guy makes me so happy, I could sing. But I won't.

You so wouldn't like it. He gets it though.

Love my man!

*Be My Baby- The Ronettes

July Babies

2011-07-20T20:50:00.000-04:00

July is a BUSY month for Mark and I in the way of birthdays and this year we added one to the list!

July 9th was baby Marley's FIRST birthday!

This Saturday, my grandmother celebrates her 89th Birthday!

On Tuesday, Mark's Grannie celebrates her 90th birthday!

Next Friday, Holly celebrates her 28th birthday!

After that, August Birthdays start.... : )

I was just thinking of all of these people, and wanted to give them a shout out. : )

Many Happy Returns!

*Margaritaville- Jimmy Buffett

this one is for the birds

2011-07-19T13:52:00.000-04:00

Somehow, I have taken an active interest in birdwatching over the past year. I credit this interest to all the hunting I did last year. Watching the skies for signs of duck and goose for hours on end will do that, I suppose. My interest for watching birds at home started rather innocently. As a wedding gift, my Aunt from my dads side bought us this beautiful glass bird feeder that I never really bothered to keep full. Apparently, times are changing. See: little old lady syndrome. At the beginning of spring, I

decided it was pertinent that we feed the wildlife around us. So we bought a new feeder and took the pretty one out onto the back deck and mounted it so we could watch a little more closely. The food we bought must be good because It attracts cardinals, blue jays, doves, robins, chickadees and a variety of wrens and birds I couldn't identify. The cardinals are the most prevalent and there is one in particular I have taken to calling Bully.

Do you see him there on the feeder? He doesn't look it from here that far away, but he is HUGE. When he eats, no other birds are allowed to eat. He even runs the blue jays off and that is saying something because those guys are mean! I so wish I had a better zoom lens, because up close, he is really beautiful. Though he isn't solid red, (which makes me think he may be a juvenile) he has this mottled look to his feathers that is really beautiful. That and he is very funny to watch. Once Bully flies in to eat, the doves form a row on top of the roof and wait for him to leave. (Our doves are so fat, you could get some serious meat off of them.) The wrens are little, but they are brave. They like to swoop in and grab a bite, then dive off. They don't plan on staying when they come in- not that Bully would let them, anyway. The squirrels have also found the feeder. It's a shame I didn't have the camera on me at the time, but Saturday morning Mark called me into the kitchen to look at the feeder. There was a squirrel hanging from the bottom of it, trying desperately to get a few morsels. It's easily a 10 foot drop to the ground from that feeder. The squirrels are brave little soldiers, though.

It seems that I am not the only person in the house who has taken an interest in the bird/squirrel watching. Ryan likes to take his little chair into the bathroom and watch from there. Somehow, I lost the picture proof, but I am sure to have other opportunities to catch him in action. : )

The birds and squirrels aren't the only wildlife teeming around here... yesterday while plating some flowers, I caught this little guy trying to hide in one of the vines I was weeding...

Isn't he lovely? I will say he scared the crap out of me at first. For starters, his tail was hidden from sight and my first thought was, "Shit! A snake!" Upon further inspection, (and a few prods with a twig) I discovered his tail (salamander?) and then his feet, which are admittedly very hard to see because they are black (OK, a lizard of SOME variety) and blend with the soil. I'm guessing this are some sort of defense mechanisms, but what kind I am not sure. : ) Maybe he is supposed to look like a snake... makes him seem more dangerous? I'm not sure, but he is awfully pretty.

Happy Tuesday to you all... : )

*Pawn Shop- Sublime

the importance of loving yourself

2011-07-18T12:25:00.000-04:00

I always seem to involve myself a little too extensively in other peoples problems. In turn, I always wear myself out and either get physically sick or emotionally sick, which in all reality is much harder to cure. It's really easy to get angry with people when you think about how easy their problems would be to solve if they would just DO exactly what you tell them to. Sadly, life isn't that easy. That's why therapy is hard. You have to work at solving your problems. Sometimes you feel selfish for just working on yourself instead of trying to rescue other folks from what you clearly see to be certain doom. The point is, you can live your life and be happy if you are too busy trying to live someone elses just to make them OK. For me, this seems to be the hardest lesson of all... I've been reading and rereading this quote over the last few days...

"No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change."

Profound, yet so simple. bringing it to mind helps so much...if I can remember to do it.

it should be illegal to be this cute

2011-07-11T23:08:00.000-04:00

Baby Love. Aw.

Really. I mean, seriously!

Whew!

2011-07-11T22:57:00.000-04:00

It took me an entire week (and several smoothies...more on that later) to recover from my vacation/camping extravaganza!

To say we ate all weekend would be the understatement of the century. Be we sure did eat good! I bought these cool frozen breakfast bags that we sauteed over our campfire in the mornings. Bill fashioned an awesome cooking grate that we used to make these giant hamburgers. They were completely amazing. Of course it wouldn't be the fourth if July without watermelon, so there was some of that too, and s'mores of course!

Sometimes blogger sucks, y'all. It wouldn't turn these pictures around no matter how nicely I asked it to. It's totally jacked up, but we'll make do. : )

We spent several nights out in the wilderness and we even got to take the dogs! I think they were incredibly happy to not be left behind and they did copious amounts of snooping through the woods, peeing on things they shouldn't have, begging for food and in Bruiser's case, batting her eyelashes for beer.

We also got to check out JT's new boat and holy cow, it's amazing. He has everything you could think of. A huge sound system, wake boards and tubes, a built in cooler, and best of all, a fantastic captain and first mate. : ) We are so lucky to have friends this nice and welcoming! Mark did get a little bored since he still isn't supposed to do a whole lot with his, and we didn't want to re-injure it, he made like a perv and started taking pictures of me in my bathing suit. Sleazeball! : ) He did take one that I sort of liked, see below. My rack looks great from an aerial, upside down view. Thanks, honey!

It was a great weekend to be with friends and family. Mark had a lot of family who were able to join us this year. His grandmother, his mom and dad, his aunt and her boyfriend, and my mom and Wayne and Ryan were all able to make it out. Mark was a little stressed at the beginning of the day, but as usual, it all fell together at the end and he and "the crew gave us a fantastic show.

This year, we packed up early and headed home after the fireworks instead of heading back down to camp for another night like we normally do. It makes the weekend so much better when we aren't taking down camp, freeing the street of debris from the show and trying to recuperate all in one day. My mom stayed the night with us and we were even able to sneak a peek at the pictures I had taken from the show.

Ryan being there was SO much fun. His expression was priceless! Every time something lit up the sky, he would shout, "Hedda! LOOK! They're SO BIG!!" and then he would laugh and smile. He was so funny! I was so glad Wayne brought him out! This was my first year getting to watch the fireworks with him because they usually take him to the park. Since Holly was out of town, Wayne decided to bring him to the "El Pad" and we're so glad he did! (Mark also needed the help with all the fireworks, so we are thankful for that as well!

These two pictures are priceless! Click to make them larger. In the first you can see members of "The Crew" in action. The second one is the are much more easily identified. Special thanks to JT, Andrew, Jackson, Mark, Eric, Ronnie and Wayne. You guys made it awesome!

I hope your Independence Day weekend was as awesome as mine was. I'm ready for more camping already!

Love to all!

*It's Like That- Jay-Z

Tough Gets Going

2011-07-01T13:54:00.000-04:00

I am so flipping tired. And overwhelmed. Did I mention how tired I am? No? I'm so tired. Anyway, Mark and I are headed out into the great outdoors for a couple of days. It always cleanses my soul to get into the the trees and dirt and not shower for a few days. Hmm.... Dirty on the outside equals clean on the inside? Here's hoping.

We're going with these guys. ALWAYS a good time. : )

Maybe I'll come back looking like this: Dirty, but relaxed!

Happy Independence Day, Y'all. I hope it's a BLAST!

Love to all.......

*Bruce Springsteen- Born in the USA

Saber's Story, part 2

2011-06-28T00:32:00.000-04:00

My original thought after writing part one, was to take a week to process our loss and to make a running list of all the funny, happy things I could remember about my sweet girl. Like most things that I 'plan' it didn't work out the way I had hoped and we got a whole other pile of crap dumped on us just before I got busy with it. There are family things that I won't go into BECAUSE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A WHOLE NEW POST. Moving on. One of the big things was Mark's thumb. It was still really bothering him on Monday so he went to the doctor. As it turns out, his thumb was not "totally fine" as I reported before. The bones were actually bruised. Though the doctor did commend us for how clean the wound was, because he had absolutely no infection. (They gave him an antibiotic, anyway.) SO. They actually put him in a half cast (one you can remove so you can clean wounds underneath), wrapped him up in an ace bandage and out him out of work for three days. The man drove me nuts. When Mark is at home, he likes to DO things. (Have you ever seen a post more littered with CAPITOL LETTERS than this one? I think not.) Anyway, he was stir crazy and I felt guilty that I didn't take him to the ER over the weekend. So for three and a half days I tried to entertain him. I had no luck. We mostly watched movies and stayed up late. On Thursday, he went back to the doctor and they told him no work until he had a follow up with our family doc. His follow up was today and they've put him in a NEW brace that looks very Forrest Gump. So Sexy.

With all that, and the family BOMB, the wedding I photographed Friday and a host of other things. I have barely found time to eat and shower let alone mourn my poor dog. I'd like to think it's a good thing, that I'm being shown that life does go on, but I'm a little bitter. Not at Mark of course, but with other things that are once again out of my control. Grrrr.

So here is what I can come up with off of the top of my head about my sweet girl. to be the remedy to the "bad" post...

Mark and I found Saber at East Town Mall. "How much is that doggie in the window?", I remember asking Mark. We got the guy to get her out for us and we went into that teeny, tiny room with a bench barely big enough for one person, let alone two and a puppy, to play with her. She was so sweet. Still a puppy, she was fuzzy. And she enjoyed chewing on Mark's shoelaces and biting my fingers. She had the most exquisite puppy breath and I remember telling her so. She licked my face and then bit my ear. I was sold. Mark was not. We left without her that day and for several days I bugged him and bugged him to please, please, please go back and get that doggie in the window. At the time, we lived with his parents and he didn't think they would let us get a puppy, but I had other ideas. I talked up her cuteness to his mom and dad. Didn't work. I told them I would pay for her. Didn't work. I was getting discouraged and finally starting to accept defeat when Mark and his dad brought her home the next day. I was so shocked... my window doggie!! Excited didn't cover what I was and it was the total opposite of what Saber was. She was terrified. She crawled under a bench and wouldn't come out for days after we brought her home. I guess living behind glass for part of your life will do that to you. Sensory overload must suck. The first night she was with us, we made her a bed in our room and fell asleep. A little while later we were cleaning up poop. Then pee. Then poop again. How much poop could one dog hold?????? It was a long night, but a bonding one as well. We still laugh when we talk about it.

Another great memory of Saber is when she had a litter of puppies. She had them in the backseat of my car on the way to Kingston. Poor old girl. It was this same litter that we kept Bruiser from. Saber was such a good mother. She was super tolerant of all the crazy fools we brought up to see her and the new puppies. She would corral them when a storm came and curl her self in a circle around them. And when all of the other puppies were gone, she continued to look after Bruiser for the rest of her life. Bruiser still hasn't recovered from losing Saber. She's not eating well and cries to be inside with us all the time. It speaks volumes to the kind of mother Saber was. Saber made a great grandmother, too. When Bruiser had her first litter, Saber laid right next to the whelping box while Bruiser labored. She was older when Magoo was born, but she didn't mind him snuggling her when no one was looking.

Saber loved to run. It was actually a JOY when we bought this house because she was finally going to be able to run free. The two houses we lived in before had no fence she she had to be tied out when she went outside. We made a big deal of it, taking her in on a leash to the yard. When we let her loose she took of like a cannon and wouldn't come in for two whole days. She LOVED it.

Saber also loved cats. Well, kittens really. Twice we kitten-sat for friends and she was happy to let them make biscuits on her belly as long as they were content. She tried giving the kittens a bath too, but was vehemently rejected on both counts.

Saber really loved babies, though. When Mark's cousin Logan was born, his Aunt brought him out to the house. She laid him down on the bed for a nap and Saber laid at the foot of the bed, on the floor, while he slept. Every time one of us would come in to check on the baby, she would inspect us closely while we did it, just to make sure he was alright. When Logan got a little older, we would sit him in his carrier in front of the TV and he would laugh. Saber laid right next to the carrier, watching him carefully. When he cried she would lick his feet. If that didn't cheer him up, she would nervously come find one of us and "woooo" until we came and got him. That is quality babysitting, 'yo.

I could tell so MANY stories about how awesome she was...the memories are really flowing now.

-When Josh Jackson died, she crawled into my lap (she was still small at that time) and licked the tears from my face.
-When my dad died, she spent two days in bed with me. I don't think she even left to eat or pee.
-When Ryan got big enough, She let him roll around on top of her without complaint.
-When Mark got the Flu, she kept a watchful eye on him and alerted me when he moved. : )
-When Mark was in the knee stabilizer, she laid with him for days on end watching movies and eating bits of sandwich and cheeseballs.
-When Mark and I went on vacation and left her with a sitter she didn't like, she peed on our bed. (So sweet.)
-When Mark's dad pissed her off, she would shit IN his shoes. Or right in front of the door to their bedroom.
-When she got up in the mornings, she was very vocal. If you talked to her, she would "wooooo" right back at you. She was so funny.
-She hated a bath. WITH PASSION.
-She LOVED bacon.
-She could shake with both paws, sit and lay down. She learned it all in one day and decided that would be all she learned. I so with I had started with STAY.
-She loved to ride in the car.
-She loved Frosty Paws.
-She LOVED snow. Though we get precious little of it here in East Tennessee, when we did get some, she would act like we had called, had it delivered just for her, and then added bacon flavoring to it. She ate it, she rolled in it, She shoved her nose down into it and threw it into the air. She even SLEPT in it. That dog LOVED snow.
-She was our FIRST everything. Before buying a house, before getting married, before joint checking accounts, before we bought a car. She was the first thing Mark and I ever did together. She was so special to us. So important. So LOVED.

We miss her, but she's here in the backyard anytime we want to visit. I even painted a rock for her graveside to mark it. She was SUCH A GOOD DOG.

Saber's Story Part 1

2011-06-19T22:59:00.000-04:00

I'm not even sure where to begin...the good or the bad? I guess I'll start with the bad and finish with the good.

It all started about 3 months ago. Mark and I had noticed before then that Saber had slowed down considerably but at the time, we just attributed that to her age and breed. Then, back at the end of April we noticed she was having a really tough time with the stairs. For instance, when going down the stairs, she would sometimes trip or even fall, plunging down one flight to the landing. So, we made an appointment with the vet thinking she probably had arthritis in her hips. The vet confirmed arthritis not only in her hips but also in her knees which was probably the main culprit of her accidents. We were given a drug called Remedyl and another drug the helped with bladder issues. (Something that we had been battling for a short time as well.) We had to go back a week later for a liver check because Remedyl can damage a dogs liver. The problem was, the Remedyl made little difference whatsoever. It seemed like Saber was actually doing worse and I had begun to notice that she was constantly walking circles, and always turning right. She also seemed indifferent sometimes and did not really want any attention. In fact, she sort of shied away from it all together. Our vet did a few tests. She checked her ears and eyes thoroughly. She mentioned to us that all these things together were starting to sound like a brain tumor. She offered us the holy mother of blood work and thyroid tests, but we needed some time to think and assess at home. A month went by and nothing happened. Saber still acted the same, maybe worsening a little. Everything came to head a week ago, Thursday.

***************************************

Mark and I were hanging out here at home. I was in the office and he was in the living room with all three dogs watching TV. When he called out for me, I just KNEW something was wrong. I am sure you've had this feeling at one time in your life or another, but when he called out for me, the tenor in his voice, the pitch, the way he said it, was all wrong. I threw my book aside and hurried into the living room where I saw him on the floor with my baby, Saber. I could tell she was having some kind of seizure just by looking at her. She was rolled onto her left side and her legs were drawn up, but kicking. Her jaw was clenched down and I could see blood and lots of saliva coming out of her mouth. Her eyes were wide and she looked terrified. I ran to them and Mark moved over to make room so I could assess what was happening. I ran into the kitchen and found a wooden brush we use for basting and slid it in between her teeth. I was really afraid she was going to bite her tongue off. Next, I slid my left arm underneath her neck and around her right leg towards her belly. I took my right arm over her body and pulled her to me. I held her that way for about 5 minutes, until she acted like she wanted to stand. I kept my arms around her firmly, but still held on and talked softly to her until she sort of came around. She was having a hard time walking. Her feet were dragging but she was making it. We gave her water and she seemed better. A little while later, she wanted to go out and we took that as a good sign and went out into the yard with her. Mark kept his eye on her and I called the emergency line at the vet. I remember thinking how weird it was to be calling, as it was a phone number I had never had to use before. The vet on call (not our normal vet) told us to keep an eye on her and to call our regular vet in the morning. If she had another one that night we were to bring her in straight away. I told Mark what was going on and promptly freaked the hell out.

*********************

It was a very long night, to say the least. We gave her 2 Benedryl to calm her down so she could sleep. Mark had training the next day, so my wonderful friend Bill helped me load and take her to the vet. The situation we were in at this point wasn't good I suspected, but I never realized just how bad it was. Our vet, who is a saint, you'll find out later, told me we better go ahead and run the blood work and the thyroid test. Everything came back beautifully. Saber was healthy. Perfect. This led us back to the conversation about the brain tumor. We could run an MRI and find it definitively, but even if we did, what would we do with that information? Have her remove it? No. We wouldn't. Saber was 10 years old, which is pretty old for a big dog. Less than that, there is just no way we could afford an MRI that would run somewhere in the neighborhood of $1500.00 and then do nothing with the information, save the cost of brain tumor removal surgery. Our vet told us the best thing we could do would be to take care of her and love her as we always have. It was possible that the seizure was a one time thing or at the very least might not happen again for a long time. It was a possibility that we could even still have months of years with our girl. She sent me home with 1 large syringe of Valium in case it did happen again, to be given rectally, since Mark or I neither one knew how to give it to her intravenously. We were also supposed to try and keep track of her good days versus bad days, just in case. So, we brought her home and treated her like the Queen of Sheba. We let her sleep wherever and whenever she wanted. We gave her bacon and all sorts of other things we wouldn't normally let her have. We stayed home with her or came home early to try and keep her safe, happy and comfortable. And I am so glad we did.

*************************************

Flash forward to Friday. Mark and I were helping with a huge barbecue to take place yesterday. We worked most of the day Friday away from the house getting ready for it. We got home Friday night and something wasn't right. I knew it before I got out of the car. Usually when we arrive home, Bruiser and Magoo are the first to the fence row to greet us. Saber usually gets there a few minutes later, (my poor, old, slow baby) and the wait until we are out of sight to run to the back door to bed let in. Not one of the dogs appeared at the fence row. Ominous. Thinking back, I am sure Mark thought this was bad too, or at the very least weird, though I didn't ask him. We were both hurrying to get inside, at any rate. I heard Bruiser barking. When I opened the door to the back porch, I could tell right away that something had happened. There was a crunch under my feet. Seashells. Our metal tub for beer had been knocked over and there were seashells from all of our beach trips inside of it. The glider I just painted recently was knocked over. Magoo was hiding under the table, and the chairs were splayed out across the deck. Bruiser was on the apron just off of the porch, up against the siding. Barking in cowardice. Saber was nowhere to bed found. I remember asking Mark to get a flashlight but getting it myself instead. (Adrenaline makes you stupid. Focused, but stupid.) We didn't go far to find her. We were calling to her and doing the whistle she knows as ours when we glimpsed her. She was making a wide circle in the yard, but I could instantly tell, even in the dark that something was wrong. It was almost like she was wounded. She would limp and fall, try to get up, shoot forward, and fall again. Something was very wrong. Her collar was also missing. Once we finally got a hold of her, my eyes were able to take in the mess that she really was. She was covered in mud and there were drops of blood here and there. Her fur was wet, sticky with drool. In her eyes she wore a very dazed stare. She did not know our touch, but seemed to recognize our voices. It was awful. We managed to get her up on the deck to clean her up a bit. We used baby wipes and it took forever. There was no way I would let her stay outside, but I am vain enough that I didn't want my carpet destroyed. A bath was completely out of the question. We were sure that another seizure had occurred, but it was too late to give her the Valium. We dosed her with the benedryl again and we all fell into bed around 1AM.

******************

An hour later we woke to a screaming dog. In the short time that had elapsed, she had managed to work her way into Marks closet and had begun seizing when we woke up. Mark rolled out of the bed and into the floor with her. I ran to get the Valium. Somehow, while I was gone, she managed to get turned around and somehow bit him. I had to leave her for about 10 minutes to tend to Mark's wound. It wasn't bad, but bad enough to bleed and HURT. (It's still jacked up, but mending.) After bandaging him up, I went back downstairs to find that she was still seizing and had knocked over both bedside tables, pooped in the floor and had wedged her self in the space between the bed and the wall, about 4 inches wide. Assessing the situation, I thought I would try to give her the Valium. This did not go over well. That syringe was large and me in a panicked state jamming it up her butt was probably not too comfortable for her. She shot the Valium and shit out against the wall so quickly, I don't believe for a minute that very much of it stayed in there. I didn't believe, but I hoped. I took her into the bathroom and pinned her in. After a while she calmed down and I was able to clean the wall, the carpet and put our bedroom back together a little. Next I googled dog bites. Never, never do this at 4AM. Trust me on this. At 4:30AM, I started the Chili for the cookout. I figured we wouldn't be attending, but a promise is a promise. It needed to be ready. At 5:30 She had another seizure. At 6:30 Mark and I switched out watch. At 8AM, he let her outside and called the vet. Our vet told us to bring her on in. We had left the truck at Bill and Beth's to load stuff for the cookout, so we headed over there, borrowed Bill's dog box and headed home. By the time we got back she had obviously seized again because her tongue was bleeding heavily. We loaded her into the dog box and headed for the vet in Sweetwater.

****************************************

She seized at least 3 more times on the way down. The seizures had begun to roll one into another. We could hear her screaming most of the way there. The windows up and music did not drown out her cries. I will be haunted by this for many years. When we were 10 minutes away, Mark called the office to let them know what was going on and that they needed to be ready. The told us not to bring her in, for one of us to come in and let them know we were there. Mark went in and I went around back to my girl. I let the tailgate down and she was laying down in the crate finally. She was panting and honestly, I could barely recognize her. Between the mud, the blood, the drool and the vacant look in her eyes, I knew it was time. Our vet reached me at that time and the first thing she did was put her arms around me and I lost it. She told me how sorry she was that it had come to this so quickly. She held me in that parking lot for a few minutes and Shhhh'd my sobs. Mark came out a few minutes later with the vet tech and our vet asked me if we were ready. My only thought was to please, please make her stop hurting. It took a few minutes for all of us to coax her out of the crate. She was so, so tired but still trying to fight. That's my girl. Fighting until the end. Once we got her out, it took a few sedatives to finally get her calmed down. Laying there in the parking lot of her office, on the tail gate of our truck, our vet ended her suffering. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I realized I could let go of her collar. She wasn't going to run anywhere. Still and quiet for the first time in her exuberant life, my girl was gone. I cried. Of course, I cried. I cried while the last few patients of the day drove in and parked. Got their dogs out, and stared wordlessly at the scene we were causing in the parking lot. I even briefly considered kicking the ass of a beautiful German Shepard that was barking at my dead dog. I buried my face in her still soft, though blood spattered and muddy fur and I cried. Mark was crying too. He had his left arm around me and his right hand on her head. We cried together for a long time. Finally, I looked up into the eyes of my vet. Very softly she said "She's gone." I nodded numbly and then she told us that she and the tech would wrap her up for us and put her back in the box. She said when the tailgate shuts, you guys can leave. I looked up at Mark and he nodded. So we kissed her nose and got into the truck. Mark said "Could they have been any nicer?" I don't think they could have.

**************************************

Coming home, we were very quiet. It wasn't until Mark pulled over that I realized how close to home we were...or how BLACK the sky was. I looked like 7:00 at night. The clock said 12:11. It was going to rain. Mark said we needed to tarp the box. We got out and got it covered just in time. It was pouring. When we pulled in at the house, neither one of us could bear to let her stay in the truck while it rained, even though it was tarped. We unloaded her and took her into the backyard underneath the deck. It was two hours later before was could start digging her grave. We let a very confused Bruiser and nervous Magoo into the back yard. They immediately found the box and laid down next to it in some sort of vigil. While digging, I asked Mark how deep did we need to dig? His answer was a good one. We dig until we feel better. So that we did. When the hole was deep enough, we lined it with honeysuckle. We brought the crate over and very gently lowered her in. She was swathed in a blanket. Our vet had been so careful with her. A simple kindness shown by someone who has done this countless times, but was a gesture so immeasurably wonderful to us. We placed more honeysuckle on top, and together with Bruiser and Magoo, we said our goodbyes. We covered her up and used a rock as a small headstone. And then we cried some more.

*********************************

today was a sad, sad day.....

2011-06-18T22:34:00.000-04:00

It's too painful to talk about today. Maybe I can do it tomorrow, but just so I remember....

Our sweet Saber girl.. February 10, 2001- June 18, 2011.

She's already so missed.

Birthday Bonanza

2011-06-05T20:04:00.000-04:00

There was a whole lot of this all day on Saturday. : )

We had the best time, and I couldn't be happier, more proud or more exhausted. Being the hostess with the mostess requires a lot of blood, tears and mostly sweat. Good thing we had plenty of cold water in the kiddie pool and spraying in every direction thanks to some seriously good water guns and water blasters.

Happy 3rd Birthday to the sweetest boy I know. I hope you had the best birthday yet, little man!!

Love,

Aunt Hedda

*Judas- Lady Gaga

another year in review

2011-06-02T22:15:00.001-04:00

It's SO hard to believe that our little munchkin will be 3 in just a few days time. I'm leaving the third Birthday picture out to do a party review with, hopefully on Sunday. In case you missed it before, I did a review of year TWO and ONE and they are just as sweet, if you can imagine. So, for now, I give you 24-36 months.

Happy 2nd Birthday! June 2010

Hair raising July 2010

Hamming it up, August 2010

Always joking around- September 2010

Yoda- October, 2010

Our favorite little turkey- November 2010

Fun with play d'oh- December 2010

New digs! January 2011

Playing outside- February 2011

Always on the move- March 2011

Growing like a weed- April 2011

Becoming a little man... May 2011

Love you SO MUCH baby boy!! Can't wait to celebrate with you on Saturday!!

Love,

Aunt Hedda

*The Beatles- Hey Jude

spreading out

2011-06-02T21:29:00.000-04:00

This work thing sure does throw a wrench into my day. I have (somewhat) settled in to my new job. I have two girls who sit to my left and a window on my right. I get the feeling that before I got there, they barely spoke to one another. That's just how I roll. This week I remembered how boring office work can be. Sure, it makes your day go by quickly- most of the time, but there really is no excitement in it at all. UNLESS YOU MAKE SOME. This must be why I feel like those girls didn't talk much before. Suddenly, they seem to be mischievous at work! Long before I got there, someone dubbed our row of cubicles "cell block A." We heard about that today and in keeping with that context, Tara, the tattooed vixen who sits on the end, promptly dubbed her self TBone, and made Katie, the girl who sits between Tara and I -who seems to be of the sweet/southern variety, her bitch. I decided to be Miss Hizzle, maker of shivs. That's quality work entertainment.

Back to my original thought. My day is much more spread out in some ways and compact in others. On the one hand, I get up much earlier and am actually earning money for the work I am doing. My day is therefore longer and more monetarily productive as well. On the other hand, because my day is longer and I'm adding a 35 to 40 minute drive each way, it seems much, much shorter. I get up, get ready for work. I work. I drive home from work. I eat and/or make dinner. I facecrack. I go to sleep.

How on earth do people find time to workout? Or spend time with their families? Or do a DIY project? Or do yard work? Or eat a meal that is totally healthy? Or live a healthier lifestyle? Or have sex? I am so friggin' tired when I get home that I barely have the energy to make dinner. Maybe I am still adjusting. I sure hope so. Because if I have to quit sex all together and feel my ass getting bigger and bigger all day long in that office chair, I'm not gonna make it. Oh, and uh, I guess I'd like to see my family some, too.

Just sayin'.

Twilight?

2011-05-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

A beautiful day out on the lake .....

ends perfectly with this..... I hope your weekend was as beautiful as mine. Happy Memorial Day!

wheeeeeeee!

2011-05-19T22:48:00.000-04:00

Whoa. Only 6 days since my last post, but it feels like EONS. First things first, I guess. I got a job. A real life, wake up at the same time everyday, put make up on in the morning, bugging out on the first day, JOB. I'm fairly certain that Mark is happier than me. I actually haven't told many people. I guess because I've been kind of lazy for the last year and a half and if I didn't make it, I didn't want to seem like a giant loser. No going back now I guess. Cat's outta the bag. It's on the Internet. I did manage to keep a three day weekend, (score: Heather 1, job 0) which makes me incredibly lucky. I'm working in the billing department at a clinic in the big K. It's going alright. Enough said about that. : )
Pictures. I feel so guilty. I haven't taken a picture in almost a week. I miss it. : ( I'm also doing a wedding in June. Holy crow. Still bugging out about that, but imma be takin' that risk, boo. It should be fun.

My bestie, CoCo turned 30. We have officially kissed our twenties goodbye! I love that crazy bitch. (I feel no remorse calling her that because 1. she knows it's true and 2. she calls me that, too.) I STILL haven't celebrated with her, because her sis took her away to VEGAS for a birthday weekend without me, but am hoping to have a lunch date with her one day next week. Doesn't really compare, does it? Love you, CoCo!

Mark and I celebrated my return to the work force by not cleaning up after ourselves all week and ordering out tonight. We tried the new place Copeland's here in town and it did not disappoint. Homemade potato chips? Sign me up! Everything was great. I highly recommend you check it out. Yum...

On to things of very little importance. I'm pretty pissed Off the Map didn't make it to Season 2. I was really liking that show. On the plus side, Grey's is back. STOP reading here if you haven't watched the season finale yet (what did we do before Tivo and DVRs? Oh, wait, I still have neither of those) ...... OK. Meredith and Derek fighting and making up? That's Grey's! Alex being a complete ass? Totally Grey's. Christina doing whats best for Christina? So Grey's. It's back kids. Can't wait till fall! : )

Of even lesser importance? I am exhausted. I've been to bed this week every night at 10. Dudes.. that's a record.

Hope your week has been a good one! Here's to a weekend filled with relaxation and moderate quantities of booze. (if you so choose.)

Later gaters...

*Love Song- 311

explosion and perspective

2011-05-13T21:03:00.001-04:00

I had grand intentions of firing off part of this post yesterday, but blogger was down and it made me feel Freeeee!!!!!! So, even when it came back on this afternoon, I forgot to blog. Oops. This one is important to me, and so much better late than never.

First. Yesterday, Mark and I had an argument. See? We are actually normal people who don't want to suck face all day long and have our own moments of marital skirmish. : ) On his way home from work yesterday, Mark called me and was going on about how he was going to get this wood chipper from a friend. Great! He told me about how he planned to do it and even though I was thinking there were better things we could do with the money he would use to buy it, I was happy that he was happy.... The conversation then moved to what our plans were for last night. I asked him would he go with me to a band concert at our high school Alma Mater IF we got done mowing early enough. He exploded on me, wondering why I was changing our plans...BLAH BLAH BLAH... When I told him I was disappointed, he asked why was I so mad and what do you know, 3 seconds later, he hung up on me.

I'd like to interject at this point that Mark is a wonderful husband. He truly is, but he knows what buttons to push when he is mad. My ULTIMATE pet peeve is being hung up on. It's rude and hurts my feelings. Two things I do NOT tolerate.

So, when he got home, I had already changed into shorts and a t-shirt and had my ipod in trying to start the mower. (With no luck, dammit. WHY, WHY must mechanical things always fail me when I am in the middle of an argument? -Wait, that's got to be a God thing. God must have wanted us to kiss and make up.) Anyway, he walks out into the back yard and looks at me, gesturing that he wants to talk. With enormous effort, I pulled my earphones out and in my sassiest, southern, pissed off voice, said: "OH! Now you wanna talk to me?" Yeah, total bitch baby.

Of course we ended up working it out. We always do, because that's just us. He also fixed the mower. (The spark plug was uncovered. Dammit.) We finished the yard and our elderly neighbors walked over to the fence row and invited us over for beers. We gladly accepted because they are awesome! This is the first time in five years that we've had anything more than a few fence row chats or a few laughs. Can I just say that these two people are wonderful? They entertained us with tales from their early life as a young married couple. We also learned the MR. had been to jail and that Mrs. had gone and bailed him out. (He had been caught with moonshine in his vehicle...which might not have been as bad if he hadn't been sipping it on the way home!) The entire time they talked, they were holding hands and laughing and I realized something.... 56 years of marriage is a lot to celebrate. There were ups and downs good times and bad times, but they made it. They're STILL making it! And in today's day and age, that's really saying something. So, I'm celebrating my argument. I'm also hoping that in 49 years or so, Mark and I will be grey and wrinkled and that I'll be telling some silly young couple (without even knowing it) to celebrate it all.

*Jessie's Girl: Rick Springfield

too many irons in the fire

2011-05-11T12:39:00.000-04:00

I sat down this morning and made a "To Do List". It wasn't short. Read on...

Clean House
Laundry
Dinner
Give the dogs a bath
Return Movies
Walgreens
Kroger
Pot Plants

That's just today. The things I have committed to doing the rest of this week are insane as well...

10AM Thursday- Interview
11AM Thursday- Doctors Appointment (Gonna have to cancel that one)
12PM Thursday- Sit with a friend who had surgery
5PM Thursday- Take pictures for a friend's children who are in a dance recital
9PM Thursday- Grey's Anatomy (Ok, technically, thats not a committment, but STILL. Not missing it. )
10AM Friday- Sit with Friend who had surgery
2PM Friday- Go pick up boat tires
10AM Saturday- Fun Day for Mark's Work
6PM Sunday- Kyle's Graduation from College!
9AM Monday- Babysit

Where is May going?????? I don't want to sound like I am complaining, either... I want to do each and every one of these things...I just wish they didn't all decide to occur on the same weekend! And if I land the job? It's seriously going to complicate things..

*Kings of Leon- Molly's Chambers

Mamas I Love...

2011-05-08T14:10:00.001-04:00

Here I am with Mark's mama, the sweetest mother in law on the face of the planet. She always knows how to make me laugh and is an expert in southern cooking and flower planting. I love her very much. : )

Here is my sis... She is a great mother to my sweet nephew, Ryan. She is my go to girl for all things fashion and family oriented. I admire her many, many talents. I'm lucky to have her in my life..

Here is my grandmother. I idolize her for her kindness and charm. She also happens to be the blue ribbon winner of lace cookies, hugs and iced tea. She has a wild flower garden that she has kept up for over 50 years that would break your heart. I love her so, so much.

And then there is MY mama. She has compassion and grace. She knows the proper way to say things and her love of God is truly inspiring. I admire her strength and charisma. She makes a MEAN Beef Stew and is in love with her grandson...I love her...

Happy Mother's Day to all of my favorite mamas... and to all of you mamas who are reading this....Enjoy your day!

*Open Arms- Journey

love and the English

2011-05-05T01:00:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I have a love affair with English royalty. Just recently I have indulged myself on The Tudors, Elizabeth, Elizabeth the Golden Age, Sense and Sensibility and just tonight, The Young Victoria. Ahhhh....

I don't really consider myself to be a romantic kind of girly girl. I like hunting, being outdoors, camping, and anything else where I can be outside and feeling vital. When it comes to the passionate and usually torrid love affairs of early England, I. AM. A SUCKER. To me, there is simply nothing more romantic than billowing dresses, bowing and curtsy-ing, speaking both languidly and proficiently, stolen glances and forbidden love. I really cannot help myself.

Tonight, while watching The Young Victoria, I was reminded of how much I really love my husband. I know I tell him everyday, but there was something so familiar about the way that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were laying together on the morning after their wedding that reminded me of the so rare Saturday mornings that my husband and myself do exactly the same thing. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married only twenty years. He died at age 42 of Typhoid. Queen Victoria had his clothes laid out for him every morning and night until she died 39 years or so later... she was 81.

Love like that is so rare, it seems. That mushy, lovey-dovey, never stop looking at me that way kind of love...

I am so grateful and humbled that I have found that...

Thank you, mi amore....

unity

2011-05-02T01:58:00.001-04:00

These few words were spoken no more than two hours ago by our President, Barack Obama.

"And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history. Whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for our people or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place. Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. "

And already people are fighting. They are fighting over stupid things like freedom of speech-which actually isn't a stupid thing at all, more so that the people who are so free to say what they like are the stupid ones...you may well count me as one of them. As much as it is their right to say one thing, it is my right to say another, or to even disagree. It's not a one way street people, remember that when you post you facebook statuses and then get pissed off because someone doesn't agree with what you are saying...

I'm cross, if you can't tell. I too posted a facebook status. One that hoped for unity for our country and within the two hours that passes, I saw countless people fighting. On the whole, it is completely discouraging and disheartening. Is it so wrong to try for unity? I know everyone doesn't have to have the same opinion, I jut wonder why it's so flipping hard for people to compromise.. or even shut the hell up and listen!

Osama bin Laden is dead. That may not end the war, but as someone who had a friend in one of the towers that day, it's sort of a relief. My friend Tony DIED that day. He died because some asshole thought it would be a good idea to drive a plane into a few buildings to prove a point. The only point that was proved by that, (IN MY HUMBLE OPINION) was that in the face of adversity, we are UNITED. People. Not politicians. Not Red States or Blue States. Just regular old me and you.

I am saddened and will continue to be saddened by the people. I will continue to be relieved by Osama bin Laden's death. I will continue to pray for our troops. Most of all, I will continue to be proud to live in this great country..because I love it here, and no matter what anyone wants to say, I will always believe that we are united. Some way, somehow.

sunny days chase the clouds away

2011-04-28T14:16:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I set a personal record for the most time watching the weather. It started around 2PM and I think I was still watching at 11:45PM. That's a long time so, it's a good thing I like Todd Howell. : )

The weather in East Tennessee was severe to say the very least. Every 45 minutes we were under some sort of warning. Tornado was my least favorite, but flood and thunderstorm were a close second and third, respectively. I called my sister and she came over with my favorite boy to keep me company. WE stayed in the basement all day and later on, I realized that our garage was flooding. Which is muey bueno because out garage is tiny and leads into the basement and our bedroom. So, I had to wake cranky pants up and get him to help me wet vac our garage. Let me tell you... he was SO ~~thrilled~~ pissed.

Later on, I started watching footage of the tornados from Alabama. It was heart wrenching. I was watching one with a huge tornado some guys were filming from the interstate. The entire time I kept thinking, MOVE! GET OUT OF THERE! Luckily, the men filming were OK. Many from the rest of the state were not..and will continue to not be OK for a long time... I wish there was something more I could do.

This morning I woke with the intention of taking my camera out to capture damage done by the storms. To my surprise, many of the places around here came out unscathed. The flood waters have even subsided from all of the usual places. When I thought about traveling to Knoxville and Loudon to capture damage, I immediately decided that was really to depressing and invasive, so I decided to try and capture some of the beauty that comes from rain and storm systems like the ones we were berated with yesterday.

Like the greenery, for instance....

and the clouds....

Things always seem calmer after the storm....I do SO hope your family and friends are safe and well after the crazy yesterday brought...

*Lady Gaga- Born This Way

zoom zoom...

2011-04-25T12:21:00.000-04:00

This weekend flew by. So fast, in fact, that I almost forgot it was Easter. Until Saturday night when my mom called to remind me. (Thanks, Mom!) Thursday night, Mark and I embarked on a journey of pain. We helped a lady he works with rake her yard. Why, Oh WHY I forgot to take before and after pictures is beyond me, but it was totally worth it. : ) I got some serious cardio in, and Lee is an amazing person who's just cool to be around. We worked on the yard Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Lots of leaves, people! Saturday was the busiest of all. We went out to the lake lot to spray for ticks early that morning and then had a pancake brunch with Bill, Beth and Kyle. After that we scooted over to Lee's to finish up her yard. After rushing home, I showered (pulled off two ticks- YUCK.) and headed out to a photo shoot for the lovely Ellen and her boyfriend Michael. Ellen was nominated to attend the Dogwood Ball this weekend and I was lucky enough to take some pictures for her.

Talk about beautiful people! After the photo shoot, I rushed home to get ready for a dinner with some of my favorites- Bill, Beth, Paul and Mary. We hit up Don Edwardo's in Kingston and sat on the patio with mixed drinks and some excellent serenading from w guy who stepped out of a mariachi band. (No pictures, sorry!) Anyway, we were supposed to go and hear a band after that, but I just couldn't move I was so tired. We went home to chill and started mixing drinks and the evening just turned into one of those things that was meant to be. JT stopped by and Holly came over, too. We stayed up until 3 listening to music on the back porch. And then I promptly overslept on Easter Sunday.

After we finally got ready Sunday afternoon, we made the trip to my grandparents house to celebrate Easter. Mark ended up fixing a pipe under their sink and I took about 300 pictures of Ryan. (I can't help myself. This photo stuff is FUN. )

This kid can work a camera. That's just all there is to it! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I really need to start some laundry and think about cleaning my house. : )

*Automatic Stop- The Strokes

endorphins

2011-04-21T15:58:00.000-04:00

It's AMAZING what a little exercise will do for your body and soul. I hit the track today and did a very slow mile. Like, about a 16 minute mile. I was also nearly lapped by a grannie wearing spandex. Talk about a pick me up! : )

In all honesty, I kind of felt like crap when I left for my walk, but after I got done I felt great! I can't wait for Mark to get home and get this weekend jump started. Oh Happee Day!

Enjoy your weekend, ladies and gents!

*Tom Petty-American Girl

on the radar

2011-04-20T00:41:00.000-04:00

My friend Mandy is an amazing photographer. Have you seen her work? She's a budding photo bug, taking classes at night and being super momma by day. I'm super jealous of her! I WISH I could take some photography classes, but right now, it's just not in the cards. I'm just going to have to rely on my instincts and trial by error for the moment. : ) Anyway, I was reading Mandy's blog tonight and she was really kind of down. She was hoping to have more bookings by this point because she, like myself, is doing photo shoots for free- just to get experience. I was giving her a little pep talk comment (like she has so kindly done for me in the past) when I thought of something... What is the deal with all of these people recently who have gotten into photography? I have several friends who have found their way into the photo world, and while I am very happy for them, I can't help but wonder... WHY?

It's no small secret that I love taking pictures. Have you visited this blog before? Ha. Why I never invested in a camera (a GOOD camera) years and years ago, I have no idea. I could have saved a lot of money having throw away cameras bought and processed. When I say that I love taking pictures, I really mean it. I have 2.. YES TWO Rubbermaid Totes (the extra heavy duty kind) that are full of old pictures and negatives. I also have many, many shoe boxes full of the same thing, pictures draped over every inch of my house that will stand still and then about a zillion more on my computer here at home once I discovered the digital camera. We actually had to get a new computer because I have so many pictures I bogged our old one down. I guess saying I like to take pictures is really the understatement of my 30 years on this planet.

Sorry. Tangent.... um, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, photography. Yeah. People are taking pictures like maniacs these days. One person I am friends with on facebook is trying to start a photography business. Actually, we are not really friends and I haven't seen him since I was literally in elementary school, so hopefully he doesn't read this. Anyway, his pictures are...well.... not so cute? Oh, God. Why am I even saying this? Karma is going to strike me down... but really. WHY? I mean, I just wouldn't be proud of some of the pictures he posted.... Like, I would have deleted them from my hard drive immediately. That said, there are other folks who are clearly armatures who are taking GREAT photos. What gives?

I was sort of hoping to turn my hobby into something that might generate a little income, and I'm not saying that I never will, but with the cameras they make these days, I think it's going to be a lot tougher. Hopefully my passion for taking pictures will overrule these other peoples mere interest in it. They are flirting with photography. I am MARRIED to it. : )

I feel like I have to add that sometimes it feels like anything that I want to do, someone else comes along and does it better..or first, really. I think I kind of want for this to be my thing...and everyone is doing it. I'm an against the flow kind of girl.. I don't like being on the bandwagon and that's the way it sort of feels. Arg....

So, I guess the thing is this..... I'm bitching. Sorry. It's late.

*TiK ToK- Kesha ('cause she's cray cray.)

love

2011-04-18T16:38:00.000-04:00

I have fallen in love with my new editing software. So happy with it, in fact, that I decided to share a few more pictures... just for funsies....

Olivia is a wonderful little model! Happy Third birthday to you, little one!

*Unchainged Melody- Righteous Brothers

editing

2011-04-16T23:58:00.000-04:00

I've been going through photos and editing.. Let me know what you think. Really. Positive or negative. I can take it. Although, I think they look pretty sweet!

Thanks for checking it out....: ) Much love!

Jessie J- Price Tag

drugged

2011-04-13T21:58:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling under the weather since my last post. Everything came to a head Saturday morning when I was trying to get my yard sale on. I ended up at the walk-in clinic that day, and to my surprise back at my regular doctors office yesterday afternoon. I left after he gave me 3 mystery pills, cough medicine and a breathing treatment IN OFFICE. He sent me home with 4 scripts.

I'm tired. I retired and I'm tired. I'm also ready to shake this funk.

No music. Just tired.

flowers and awesomeness

2011-04-08T23:26:00.000-04:00

A whopping nine days since my last post. I feel like I have neglected my blog and blogging buddies! It's been sort of busy, sort of not. Allergies are getting the best of me today. Since I've been taking allergy meds, the pollen took residence in my lungs. Last night I started losing my voice and my throat was sore, so I did two hot toddys and a warm bath, which helped really not at all. Today I started taking Mucinex (-isn't that a disgusting name? anyway,), and it has helped some. I HATE a chest cold. They are worse than anything else if you ask me. YUCK.

I've been playing with my camera a bunch in the last few days because everything is just so pretty right now. There are shades of pink and purple everywhere and tulips galore. The dogwoods have bloomed out, too. The older I get the more I love flowers.

We also had my birthday party last weekend, and can I just say WOW? I had so much fun. It was Eighties themed and most people participated. All of the ones who didn't brought presents, so that was pretty awesome, too. : )

Yo, B. Check us out. We're Funky.

In other news, the crazy cat hoarders from next door are being evicted. Or so we are told. I'm so happy about this turn of play I'm about to wet my pants. They have been cleaning out their storage unit in the back yard, so I am hoping everything plays out swiftly. As in they really do move and we inherit awesome news neighbors who like to plant flowers and listen to good music. They may have one male cat, but it has to be fixed. And if I'm being perfectly honest, they won't have a cat at all, they'll be dog people and we'll be best buds. Are you looking for a house to buy? We are fun people to have as neighbors. Unless you have a ~~cat~~ horde of unfixed felines. Then of course, all bets are off.

So! On the crazy front. I got my first 2 week appointment. Apparently, I am doing well enough that I may go 2 weeks without professional intervention. : ) It's nice on the pocketbook, too. I also had a job interview today and that's always uplifting. Still not sure what I wanna do, but I'm trying.

I hope your week has been awesome. : )

*James Blunt- Beautiful Dawn

Thirty- Insight

2011-03-30T17:50:00.001-04:00

My last post of the 30 days of 30 starts now. : ) I can't say how good it has felt, writing each day. Granted, most of the stuff is boring to most people probably, but I can't help but think that it hones my writing skills and helps to clear my mind. Most of the stuff I write about here is family related or event related, but it felt so good to write about the everyday normal happenings as well. My blog has become a diary of sort in the last month. A diary that is in no way personal or private because, well, it's at the mercy of the Internet. It also feels pretty damn good to acknowledge to other people that I am not a perfect person, daughter, sister, wife or friend, but what I have learned (and will probably have to continue to learn) is that no one is perfect at anything they do. Even star athletes, celebrities and rocket scientists have off days. While other peoples lives may certainly seem perfect, they are in fact flawed as well. Some people are just afraid to admit it and try to keep up the facade of a picture perfect life. That said, I don't know which is harder...struggling to admit our imperfections or struggling to hide them.

From here on out, I may or may not post everyday. As much as I would like to, I also really need a job. I'm fortunate enough to stay home, but not sane enough to do it all day by myself. I need more interaction with people than just the Internet and Facebook, and that's a totally different compulsion all together. Turning thirty did have its thought provoking side and there are a more than a few things I have realized about myself. 1. I may be a hypochondriac. 2. I have to stop setting myself up for expectations for which I cannot possibly attain. 3. I need to work on me. A whole lot. The things I'm doing to remedy these things? 1. Today I had a physical. Yes, I faced fate and after blood results come in tomorrow, I will know pretty resolutely if there is anything wrong with me other than being crazy. 2. I'm setting smaller goals and going to try to maintain attainable parameters of each one. 3. I'm in therapy. There are just somethings (at this point) which I cannot discuss with the Internet. This is frustrating because I really love to spill my guts about most things here and there are just a few things that are untouchable, but only because they are not my stories to tell.

There is something I would like to tell all of you. You being any person that stumbles across this blog post and who cares about me. Many of you do not realize how nice it is to have someone who will listen silently, or give constructive feedback and I am sure there is an equal number of you who do know how nice that feels. So, thank you for listening. From the bottom of my heart. Especially when I get on tangents or feel low and sound depressing. Thank you for understanding. Thanks for liking me anyway.

*How Deep is Your Love- The Bee Gees

29 + Enzo

2011-03-29T18:37:00.000-04:00

Today was your average day. I got up, showered, got dressed and then ate breakfast. This afternoon I went to the grocery store with one of my favorite people in the world, and now I am waiting on Mark to get home so he can grill some chicken for the Mexican Fiesta I am making. Just a regular day. : )

I did get to work on the bookshelf last night, and in record time, I finished The Art of Racing in the Rain. So, so good, people. The book is written from a TV watching dog named Enzo's perspective. It's light hearted with some really deep stuff in it, made simple to read and understand because it comes from a canine perspective. Think Marley and Me but not so sad at the end. I cried for days over Marley and Me. The book is thought provoking, but obviously a very easy read. I chewed through it and would reread it, I liked it so much.

My favorite quote from the book is:

"That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny. Be it through intention or ignorance, our successes and our failures have been brought on by none other than ourselves"

— Garth Stein

*Be Good to Yourself- Journey

a very happy birthday

2011-03-28T21:59:00.000-04:00

Today I turned 30. Whoop, whoop, ding, ding! 30 feels pretty great. My birthday was very chill and simple. Exactly what I wanted. I was surrounded by family and had red velvet cake for breakfast/lunch. A pretty sweet way to start out my 30's. I did my elaborate post last night, so today I'll keep it simple with pictures. My grandfather (Gia) also had a birthday today! He's 89 and a real gem.

We look pretty dang good, I think! Ryan helped me open some of my gifts...and then we helped "pawpaw" open his, too... always the little helper, that one. : )

I feel like rockin' out, but since I turned 30, I think I'll just chill instead.

Demanding a new level of respect, youngins'.

*Birthday- The Beatles (because it fits.)

backwards and forwards

2011-03-27T22:27:00.000-04:00

Sitting down to write this entry is a lot harder than I thought it would be. If you had asked me when I was 15 where I would be when I turned 30, the answer probably would have been similar to this: Married with 2 kids, teaching school, white picket fence, etc. If you had asked me the same question when I was 20, I would probably responded with: Married, kids, doing my part in making the world a better place, settling down. If you had asked me the same question a mere 5 years ago, I still wouldn't have the right answer. Predicting the future for ones self is tough. There is no glass orb into which we can look and decide if the direction our life is going is the path we want to stay on; or even like. In 2 hours and some change I turn 30. Am I where I thought I would be? No. Do I like where I am? I do.

The one thing I got right was marriage. I'm very lucky in the sense that I seem to have found the one person in the world that I can't (or wouldn't want) to live without. Mark is right for me in all of the ways that matter most. I believe God picked him especially for me and I am so thankful for that. The kid department is where I missed. I really want to have children, and soon. You know, when I was about 10 I told people I didn't want to have kids. It wasn't until about five years later that I considered having any. Now, I can't think of anything I would like more than to expand my family. It's funny how our priorities and wants change as we get older, isn't it? As far as a profession goes, I still really don't know what I want to do. It's hard to grasp that maybe I'm not meant to be anything wildly impressive. Those are bonds that are tough to shake, because as a child, I was told I would go to college, and become a teacher, or a lawyer or a doctor. Missed there, too, but I am ever so slowly beginning to realize it's not about what you do or have, it's who and what you are. The idea sounds simple, but it's actually much, much harder to grasp. I don't think I'm settling, I just think I am realizing finally that I can do whatever it is that I want. I just don't know yet what that is... but I think I'll get there. On the world, I can think of so many lessons I have learned and things I've seen that might make the world a better place. The thing is, I think until everyone gets it, that might be a bigger hunk to chew on than I am seriously capable of. I think I'll just go on trying to recycle, trying to be a good person and trying to see the good in people.

I have settled down. A lot. I used to think of myself as a wild horse, unable to be broken, and in some ways, I still am. I just don't drink like a fish anymore, hop into some random guys van to go hear a concert or be quite as naieve as I used to be, but I still love to dress quirky, sing loudly in the car and rescue animals off of the side of the road. All good things, I think. Less spontaneous, but more wise. Wisdom seems to be a gift we are given gradually. Which tends to suck from time to time, but usually we learn the secrets we need along the way.

As for the future, like I said before, I have no idea where I will be in another 10 years. Which is exciting now, instead of scary- there's some wisdom! What I would like to see is a few kids, some adventure, many good laughs, a hobby I feel talented at and Love. Ooodles and Oooodles of Love. I think I'm on the right track and if I don't get too scared this might just be the best ride I've ever been on. 30 feels pretty damn good, and technically, I'm just trying it on. I still have another 2 hours and 15 minutes to be 29. The last hours of my twenties have been pretty sweet. I'm looking forward to things unknown and although the unknown can be scary, my biggest hope for my self is to just embrace it. To live in each moment and try hard, so hard not to constantly look for bigger and better things...because sometimes the best gift is the present. And I have an awesome partner in crime to share it with....

Happy Birthday, to....me. Well, almost..

: )

*Raise Your Glass- Pink

shopping

2011-03-27T18:18:00.001-04:00

Day 27. Mark took me shopping for my birthday today-which technically isn't until tomorrow, but I was game! We scoped out Old Navy and wouldn't you know, I didn't find anything I liked. : ( Highly unusual for me! I did find several things at borders I like though. The bookshelf is going to get some attention next month!

*Source

Mark got a book too.....

*Source

Isn't he cute? Anyway, after some serious book shopping and a fantastic hot chocolate, we headed to the Olive Garden and let me tell you. IT. WAS. SO. GOOD. I haven't eaten there in probably two years or more and it was better than I remembered. I had raspberry tea, salad, bread sticks and Seafood Alfredo. MMMMmmmmmmmmm. : ) We are now home a getting ready to finish Season 6 of Weeds!

Another Post to come later on my year as a 29 year old. Should be insightful....and funny too, hopefully!

*What's the Frequency, Kenneth? - R.E.M.

dogs and wine

2011-03-26T21:39:00.000-04:00

The more wine I drink, the more creative I get.

and also, the more I love my faithful subjects.

26

2011-03-26T17:17:00.000-04:00

The weather today was uncooperative in the extreme. No photo shoot for me. : (

However, I made the BEST of my day and spent a good 4 hours snuggling with my main squeeze. We ordered pizza and watched part of the newest season of Weeds. Good times, seriously. I have been little more than a slug today and it has been fabulous. As Beth said, "How many opportunities do you get to spend snuggled up with your husband all day, especially on a Saturday?" I think I can go along with that. : )

There's still a minute possibility that DEC and I might get together and shoot something inside, so even though I really wanted to shoot outdoors, I will take what I can get. Maybe we'll do portraits. We'll see.

I hope you have enjoyed this rainy Saturday as much as I have. This rare gem of a day may be dreary, but sure did sparkle in my eyes!

*Gin Blossoms- Hey Jealousy

busy little bees

2011-03-26T12:53:00.000-04:00

I didn't post yesterday, (25) and I am hoping to get 2 posts in today. Sorry for the delay! Yesterday morning I woke up with my hubby! That's a big thing considering the fact that I usually don't remember seeing him in the morning and I don't see him again until about 6:30PM! Anyway, after basking in that, Mark headed to Knoxville to do some shopping at Sam's and I went down to the old shop to help Bill pull up some expanded metal that we need for camping season. After sifting through some of the rubble, (and that was creepy!) we took a few odds and ends down to the shop to the girls. After that I met up with mark at my sisters apartment and got to visit with my mom and grandparents for a while too! : )

Later on, I got to meet Dec! He is the photographer I was telling you about. Last night was note taking and camera holding lessons. Apparently I am doing something right! I hold my camera well! I also got a few tips on how to reduce camera shake by using a tree or my shoulder. : ) I learned a little about Histograms and I am hoping to put that to more practical use this afternoon when I go for my practical lesson!

Dec is not only a kick-ass photographer, but he is also a super cool guy. A Virginia gentleman, with stories out the wazoo. After the lesson, we drank a few and listened to jokes. Beth made a fantastic supper of grilled chicken with stuffed potatoes and pasta salad. YUM YUM YUM. Tonight we are having ribs, and I'm pretty pumped because that woman can COOK.

Mark went to the "Auction" yesterday and got a new double barrel. I'm pretty stoked to see that thing in action. He's just stoked in general. : )

OK, more on all this later, just wanted to catch up.

*Stranger Inside- Shinedown

more practice and other fun things

2011-03-25T00:02:00.000-04:00

10 minutes to spare! Day 24 was productive in an emotional way. I went back to the therapist this afternoon and she says (insert "my therapist says" joke here.) that I have made progress this week. Standing up for myself earns me a gold star! It's also frustrating though because I was like, "OK, what next?!" More of the same. Not that it's a bad thing, but I need more practice, I guess. It's like in school when the teacher assigned a book report not due for three weeks. I would go home and be done in a week. It's HARD knowing there's no goal day in sight and that I can easily beat that goal if I work hard enough. Sigh.... Therapy, man. I'm working on it.

In other news, my birthday is Monday! I'm so excited for this weekend. Mark's off, and we got plans! Tomorrow we are going to an auction and having dinner. Saturday I'm meeting a new friend and getting a photography lesson. This guy (Dec) from Virginia is cousin by marriage to a friend of mine and life long photo bug. He is coming in to visit and my sweet friend Beth and she arranged a lesson for me! (Side note: MANDY! I can't wait to see what I come up with, and yes, I promise to share any wealth of information I come across. I promise!) Sunday is still up in the air and Monday I am going to spend with Gia because we have the same birthday! 30 and 89, baby! Here we come!

So, Happy weekend to you!

*James Brown- Please, Please, Please

practice makes perfect

2011-03-23T18:29:00.000-04:00

An hour ago, I put some of my "therapy" to use. I had a simple conversation with someone we'll call "Rachel" about the way she makes me feel sometimes. I am constantly fearful that if I tell people how I really feel, that I will be rejected in one way or another. Thus, I hide my feelings and bury them so that I won't be cut out from other peoples lives. The problem with this is that I in turn end up inwardly sad or angry and the person I have those feelings about doesn't realize it because I DON'T TELL THEM.

Turns out, I'm at fault, too. So, I'm trying to make me better. It's not always easy though.

Today was such a rainy, rainy day. Ryan and I snuggled on the couch watching cartoons and it was completely blissful. I can't remember the last time let me cuddle him for even five minutes, let alone two whole hours! We always have a good time when we get together! I love that little guy!

Now, I am making a pizza for Mark and I to enjoy on this blah evening. I'm hoping for some more cuddle time tonight. Man, I sure am needy!

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go- Wham!

a lady, a baby, an older lady and some mexican

2011-03-22T15:38:00.000-04:00

Holly took me out today for an early birthday lunch! It was absolutely yummy and she and I (and out super cute mini date, Ryan) had the best time. Anyone that knows me, knows I LOVE MEXICAN! We were able to eat outside on the patio and the weather was warm and lovely. Ryan pitched bits of his quesadilla and fries across the balcony to the birds. He kept asking us why the birds wouldn't come near him, and when we started laughing, he started laughing. He said, "that is SO funny, dude!" He truly is an amazing little boy. My sister has done an excellent job with him- but I could just be bias. : )

So, a big thank you goes out to my sister today! Thank you for the fun and wonderful lunch! Love ya, sis!

Now, I am planning on heading outside to plant a few more flowers. I hope the yard is full of them this year! 22 days down....less than a week until I am 30!

Get out and enjoy the sunshine!

*Be Somebody- Kings of Leon

Twen-tee-one

2011-03-21T22:05:00.000-04:00

My day started early. I was wide awake at 5AM with a belly ache. Mark was already up and showered, getting ready for work. It's not too often that he sees me at that time of day and I guess when he saw me tromping up the the stairs, hair flying in twenty one different directions and still in my underwear and t-shirt, I sort of scared him.

M: "Damn baby, you're up early."
H: "....................."

M: "You're in a good mood. Why are you even walking around? It's not even light out yet."
H: "....................."

M: " You know you could talk to me... I never get a coherent response out of you before I leave for work."
H: "Where is the pepto?"

M: "See? You're not even making sense right now."
H: "What about me asking you for the pepto didn't you understand?"

M: "There's my girl. Have a good day. Love you...."

yeah, I'm so not a morning person. My bellyache did go away eventually but I never really went back to sleep. Ryan got here around 11:30. We spent the day running errands. He is such a joy!

Not 10 minutes ago, right as I was starting this post, Mark was heading to bed. I kissed him goodnight like I always do and told him to have a good day tomorrow and that I loved him. He disappeared for a few minutes and returned when the following conversation ensued....

M: "There are no sheets on the bed."

H: "Oops. Yeah, I forgot to put them back on. I washed them today. They are in the dryer."

M: "Yeah, I know."

H: "So you trudged back upstairs because your arms and legs are broken to tell me that there are no sheets on the bed?"

M: "Help me."

H: "No."

M: "C'mon. Please?"

H: "Sorry, I'm busy blogging. Can't you see how important my work is here? I am changing lives!"

M: "You can blog about this conversation if you help me put the sheets on. it will only take a minute."

H: "I'm going to do that anyway. Because you amaze me."

M: "I amaze you?"

H: "Yeah. It amazes me that you think you can bargain with me about blogging and laundry."

M: "Touche.......Are you gonna help me though?"

H: "Of course I am. I just wanted to give you a hard time."

M: "Thanks babe. What would I do without you?"

H: "You'd never wash your sheets is what I'm guessing."

Man, I love that guy. : )

*Oh Shelia- De-Javu

Twenty

2011-03-20T23:27:00.000-04:00

Today was a wonderful day. The weather was wonderful, I got no phone calls and I spent some quality time with my main man.

We spent the afternoon just doing stuff together. We cleaned out his truck and went over to visit with his parents for a while. Later on, we came home and he made me dinner- shrimp, fillet and tenderloin (all grilled) and rice with broccoli. After that we spent a few hours out on the back porch playing Angry Birds on Mark's new iPhone. : ) Simple and wonderful.

And sorely needed. Mark has worked his butt off this month and I have missed him dearly. It's incredibly hard for me to imagine what it would be like if he were in the military or drove a truck or even worked out of town for a living like my dad did. I just wouldn't make it, I don't think. I am simply not cut out for that kind of lifestyle. When it comes to my husband, I need him close by. I need him to confide in and act stupid around. Really, I just need to be around him.

My birthday is one week from tomorrow. I had originally thought that he and I would take a little road trip just the two of us. Now I am thinking I really don't care what we do. As long as we're together. : )Aw....feel free to throw tomatoes at me the next time you see me, because I am such a sap!

I hope your weekend was as lovely as mine was....

Happy week!

*Cheeseburger in Paradise- Jimmy Buffett

18 and 19 Combined

2011-03-19T14:50:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I forgot to post yesterday! Not the first time I have neglected my duties, but I have posted everyday of March and was doing fairly well! Alas, yesterday and today were days of fun and excitment, and I am using that as my excuse for the late posting. : )

Yesterday Mark grilled Tuna Steaks, Squash and Zuccini on the grill and then he and I plus my sweet Coco ate out on the back porch and enjoyed the evening together. After it got late and Mark started sneezing, we came inside and watched Get Low. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it. It's about a man from Tennessee who attends his own funeral while still alive. Bill Murray and Robert Duvall star in it. So Good!

Today Courtney and I got up early and packed a picnic and headed out to Ozone. We just needed a girls day and had planned to do it earlier in the week. We packed (and Courtney cooked and prepared) pasta salad, chicken salad, bread, boursin cheese, crackers and red velvet mini cupcakes. We also toted a bottle of champagne out there. I think several people thought we were on a date. (Not that we really care, but I guess it did sort of appear that way to some of the people out there.)

The day really was worth all of those pestering things that Coco is doing to me right now as I post this. They (she and MARK) are bugging the ever loving shit out of me as I write, so I am signing out.

Love to all....

*Red, Red Wine- UB40

spring is in the air

2011-03-17T18:12:00.000-04:00

Day 16. Today I had my second appointment with the psychologist and she has confirmed that I am crazy. : ) Just kidding, she says a lot that I'm not gonna talk about here, but I really like this chick. On to the rest of my day!

After my appointment, I came home and planted Cannes. I am super excited about this and pray that they bloom and don't get taken under my a hard freeze. Luckily, it's St. Patricks Day and that will keep LUCK on my side! I also dug up my elephant Ears and moved them to the other side of the house so that they have plenty of room to spread out. Those things get massive in the summer and they were just taking up too much room where they were residing. I put out more food in my bird feeder and checked the contents of my kitchen compost to see how it was coming along. It looks disgusting, so I am guessing that means I am right on target.

After all of that, I decided to go and lay in the backyard in this mess...

and Magoosley decided to join me.

I also took a few pictures of the cool stuff we bought to spice up our back porch...

There are two other signs, one that says, "You are making me nervous." and "People will tell you a lot if you listen." We found all of it at Burke's over in Rockwood for super cheap! The lizard is my favorite. : ) Aside from that, I have just been enjoying the sunshine. Mark has to work tomorrow and Saturday, not looking forward to that, but Coco is coming to stay Friday night and she and I are going for a hike and a picnic, best friend style. Those pictures should be entertaining.

Much love and rays of sunshine to you on this St. Patricks Day!

*Ace of Spades- Motorhead

Picasso in my dining room

2011-03-16T13:38:00.000-04:00

Day 15. Can't believe I have written everyday! I'm rather proud of that! Ryan is here today, making the day special on its own and we decided to do a little painting. He's so into colors and talking so well these days! Every time I gave him a new color he'd say "Thank you, Hedda!" He is just happy as a clam and being around him brings so much love and light into my day! Here are a few pictures of the future Picasso...

PS.... I don't know if I mentioned...this baby got a haircut. I miss his locks!

He is just so much fun. I love being a kid when he's around! : ) Happy Wednesday to you!

*Cherry Bomb- The Runaways

bookshelf and light

2011-03-15T23:33:00.001-04:00

14 days down....Today has been a really good day. I didn't really do a whole lot, but my time was spent wisely today and that seems so rare. I took Holly and Ryan to visit with my mom. She is doing so much better today and she has no bruising somehow, even though all of the airbags in her car deployed. It's a possibility that the bruises my not show until tomorrow, but for now she seems to be doing so well. I am so happy and grateful. I spent some time with my grandparents today, just us and Ryan while mom and Holly went to survey the damage to the car. The four of us ate brownies and made animal shapes from play-doh at the kitchen table that I used to sit and play at as a child. It was just a really nice afternoon. After dropping Holly at work, Ryan and I came back to my house and made sandwiches and watched 'Megamind'. After his other sweet Aunt, Mary Ann, came to pick him up I sat and read until Mark got home. We sat quietly together in the office, me reading and him checking emails and returning messages. A little while later he spoke saying "Heather, look at the sun hitting those bushes... they look like like neon...only on fire..."

and so they do....

I was so glad Mark glanced up at just the right moment and spoke. Not only would I have missed that beautiful scene, I wouldn't have been able to share it with him. After taking pictures, we got up and together made one of our favorite suppers...one we like to call BRINNER (breakfastfordinner). He made the bacon, because he does it best. I made the eggs, scrambled soft, just the way we like them. We had toast and fruit and orange juice. Mark went to bed shortly after brinner. I, up until about 20 minutes ago, plowed my way through the rest of The Help.

*Source

This book is one of the most inspiring books I've read since Eat Pray Love. It's just a beautiful book. The short version of what its about would be a women who dares to write a book about the lives of "the help" during the early 1960's. "THe Help" actually helps her write the book and somehow the find a kind of friendship somewhere in the middle. The maids were black women who weren't treated well back then by most. It's hard to believe that those times aren't so far behind us, and that some people still treat not only women of color and all other nationalities this way, but they mistreat the men, too. I can't even wrap my head around the concept well enough to tell anyone properly, but if you want to read something informative, slightly thrilling and at the same time uplifting, this book is going to make it's mark on your soul. I really really loved it. I love Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter SO MUCH right now.

*Don't Go Breakin' My Heart- Jesse McCartney

family stuff

2011-03-14T14:14:00.001-04:00

Thirteen is traditionally an unlucky number. Today is not the thirteenth, it's the fourteenth. Today is the 13th day of 30 days of 30 and it was unlucky.....for my mom. This morning, my mom was in a wreck. She is at home resting now, but her car is probably totaled. I got the call at 6:31AM this morning. She was in the back of an ambulance headed to the hospital. Scared the living shit out of me. I made it the hospital at turtle pace. People were on their way to work and school and I hit every traffic zone imaginable. I'm really hoping I didn't get my picture taken for speeding. : (

Anyway, like I said, she's home resting now and going to be fine according to the doctor. I'm just so grateful she is OK. When I got home, I called my Aunt C. to tell her what had happened and we had the most amazing conversation. It felt so good to be able to confide in her and reconnect. I really needed that.

Keep my mama in your prayers.... Love to all...

*California Dreamin- The Mamas and The Papas

creativity

2011-03-13T20:39:00.000-04:00

I finally managed to get with it on my signs and they look amazing! We also opened our back porch for business today, which is where I currently sit, drinking a Stella and enjoying the ambient lighting. There really is NOTHING like being outside. I haven't taken any pictures in a few days and hope to remedy that very soon. Mark's worked all weekend, and I aim to spend some quality time with him before he goes to bed. The Stella is making me feel like a rock star.

That's all for today! 12 days down!

Much Love....

*Free as a Bird- The Beatles

lovely eleven

2011-03-12T16:19:00.000-05:00

Today (day 11!) has been lovely. Simply put, I have followed my own agenda, because Mark is working all day today and tomorrow. He took me out yesterday (after passing his CORE exam) and together we picked out some things for the back porch. We found some really cute signs and a few object de artos. We also got a center plate for our table and picked out some candles and beads to go in it. Today, after finishing The Girl That Kicked The Hornet's Nest, I got out on the back porch and started scrubbing away winters funk. It's simply glorious outside, and I don't want to waste too much time on the computer, so I will make the rest of my post quickly. I'm re-potting some geraniums to add to both the front and back porch and this evening I am spending with my lovely. I miss him when he works this much.....

Hope your day is going splendiddly....

*Slow Ride- Foghat

Ten

2011-03-11T15:59:00.001-05:00

Today is day 10 of 30 days of 30. Re-read that sentence. I had to and I wrote it. Anyway, mother nature gave me something to write about today and I reckon she is pissed off. Japan suffered at the hands of a huge earthquake. It hit 8.9 on the Richter scale- which as I understand it, is the 5th largest earthquake in history. It didn't end there. The earthquake caused tsunami waves in Hawaii, which is more than 3,000 miles away. Holy HugeWaves Batman. Mark's cousin K.D. lives in Hawaii, but we heard from her mother early this morning and she, her boyfriend and their dogs (yay!) made it to high ground in plenty of time, thank goodness.

*Source

I'm ashamed to admit that I thought a tsunami was a sort of storm. (am I the ONLY one who thought this?) Anyway, I looked it up, because according to news reports, that didn't really go along with what I was thinking. According to wikipedia, a tsunami is is a series of water waves (called a tsunami wave train) caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, usually an ocean, but can occur in large lakes. Tsunamis are a frequent occurrence in Japan; approximately 195 events have been recorded. Owing to the immense volumes of water and the high energy involved, tsunamis can devastate coastal regions. Tsunami's have been called Tidal Waves in the past. (That makes more sense to me now...) OK, now I get it... The shock waves from the earthquake created waves which spread out as far as coastal California. That's some serious vibration, if you ask me.

I hope KD in Hawaii gets back home soon...and Cassie in California says she's on Tsunami watch, but I hope she keeps her ass inside, because she LIVES on a boat. Stay safe girls... Love you both...

Brain Waves Disturbia

2011-03-10T12:15:00.000-05:00

Today I am having lunch with one of my favorite people in the world and then I am going to see a psychologist to find out whats wrong with my brain. : ) Day 9, here I come. It's nothing to worry about, but thats the exact problem. I worry entirely too much and about things which I cannot possibly control. So, I am going to go see this lady and see if she can help me manage my worrying. I have seen a psychologist before and he was a tremendous help in giving me tools to help manage my emotions. There have been so many things occur over the past year- both within my family and outside of it, that I feel like I haven't really dealt with anything. I've placed band aids over bullet holes and things just haven't healed properly. That's all I will say about that.

I'm pretty darn happy about my decision. At anyrate, I am doing something for me. It's Heather for the win- FOR HEATHER.

*Culture Club- Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (how fitting is that?)

The Girl That Played With Fire

2011-03-09T14:36:00.000-05:00

Today I finished The Girl That Played With Fire and it was sooooo good. I actually liked it more than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and for several reasons. First off, the book just flowed better. In The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, it started slow and ended that way too. I realize some people may criticize me for saying that, and don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but the mystery was solved a good 100 pages before the book actually ended. Not until the last three pages did I again get excited. That said, The Girl That Played With Fire was slow in places too, but was thrilling right up until the end. That's one of the best parts of a book for me. It leaves you wanting more. The other thing that made me like "fire" better, was that I already had a sense of Larsson's flow and wording. He's Swiss and they speak a little differently, so that was hard to get a grip on in the beginning. The Girl That Played With Fire was one of the best reads I've seen in a while. I highly recommend you go out and get it. Then stay up all night reading it, just like I did. : )

This afternoon I plan to wash my sheets, do a little painting project for a friend and then start The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (third book in the Millennium Trilogy). Super thrilling, no? Well, I'm excited. Day 8 is chugging right along!

*Starship- We Built This City

Lent

2011-03-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Hey...no I'm not Catholic, but the idea always intrigues me about Lent. Wikipedia states that Lent is "in the Christian tradition, the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Lent is a time of sacrifice for Jesus. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, alms giving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Conventionally, it is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently. The forty days represent the time that, according to the Bible, Jesus spent in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan."

OK. There are about a 100 things I can think of to give up for Lent, but most prominently the thing I think I would benefit from is giving up the word "YES." I saw yes far too often, and most always at my own expense. Giving up "yes" will allow me to focus more on myself and also allow me to devote more time in my life to God. My sweet friend Mandy over at Knieses' Pieces was saying on facebook this morning she was having trouble deciding what to give up for Lent. When she said that, it occurred to be that I didn't really know anything about Lent aside that you were supposed to give something up for a while. Perhaps she will have more insight for me, but I can't thank her enough for putting the idea in my head.

So, I'm giving up Yes for God, and it makes me feel pretty good to say it and think about it. Special thanks to God for putting Mandy on my friends list. : )

So for day 7, I plan to get closer to God and hopefully throughout the rest of this process, I will learn somethng too.

*O River- Central Funktion

creativity

2011-03-08T11:26:00.000-05:00

Today (day 6) I got in touch with my creative side and went to Walmart and bought painting supplies. I bought several canvases, some brushes and some paint. I also got pots to re-pot some of my flowers that I managed to move inside before winter got to them. They are now huge and hopefully not root bound. I also bought some Cannes (or Caneys as we in the south like to call them) and am hoping to get them planted in place of my elephant ears sometime this week. I'm moving the elephant ears around to the side of the house where they can take over the way they want to. In short, I will be painting and planting for the next few days. : )

Ryan picked out a little pot and some flowers to put in it too. Pictures of that to come soon. : )

Yesterday I also had a little melt down. I've been feeling that need to cry for several days now, and yesterday it came to a head. Luckily, I have a man and a woman in my life who are strong enough to catch me when I fall. I just need to learn that when I need that safety net, it's there, and to not be terrified to use it.

*Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangster- Geto Boys

power nap

2011-03-06T20:36:00.000-05:00

Day five and today I finished The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo and took a nice long power nap. The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo was a wonderful read. I got through it fairly quickly considering the number of times I had to put it down. Stieg Larsson was a phenomenal writer. The book centers around sexual violence against women and parts of it are really twisted. (Right up my alley.- the weirder the better, I say!) An author is trying to find out what happened back in the sixties with a wealthy buisness mans neice who mysteriously dissapears. It's pretty thrilling! I'm starting The Girl Who Played with Fire tonight. I expect it will be pretty awesome as well.

I realized today when I had nothing better to report than my nap and finishing of a great book, that not everyday can be something fantastically special. That's part of life, and I accept that. That said, today was a pretty great day. Even though it rained, it was the perfect day to nap and read and eat too much.

I hope your weekend was amazing....

*Mr. Roboto- Styx

fowl play

2011-03-06T00:15:00.000-05:00

Day 4 and I do not disappoint you. Today I ate flying prime rib and beheaded two pheasants.

All in a days work. : ) The picture is of POOR quality because Mark took it with his cell phone. Anyway, those are pheasants in the bowl, and shortly thereafter, I removed their heads from their bodies. I have a special set of skills, people. The flying prime rib (Canadian goose- YUM!) we prepared fairly rare with a horseradish cream sauce. Can I just tell you? It was so GOOD.
Thanks to Bill and Beth for helping me make day 4 something to remember!

Black and Yellow- Wiz Khalifa

day 3

2011-03-04T16:25:00.000-05:00

The kitchen compost is coming along nicely. I would post a picture, but tell me, do you really want a picture of decaying fruit and vegetables? I think not. So far there are banana peels and some onion and pepper scraps. I am sure I will have coffee grounds to add through the weekend as well, as Mark drinks it like a fiend on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Last night I set my alarm for no reason. I didn't have to be anywhere or have anything in particular on my agenda, but I thought that sounded like a boring day and decided to do whatever my heart so desired when I got up. This morning I got up, had breakfast (greek yogurt with honey and banana- YUM!) After breakfast and a few chapters of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, I decided that I would get out and tackle some serious yard work. I raked the flower beds and bagged leaves for the majority of today and even though I am a little sore, I feel fabulous. Mother Nature is treating me right! I also got the house clean and dinner is ready to be cooked.

I'm hoping for Margaritas later on the back porch. : )

*Help Me Rhonda- The Beach Boys

stately

2011-03-03T17:58:00.000-05:00

I sent a message to my Senator a few weeks ago about cutting the funding to Headstart, and today I got a response! It feels good to have a say so in government decisions and I hope to hear more back from Senator Bob Corker!

I also came up with a pretty good quote/mantra last night as I was falling asleep.

"Nuture yourself. It is solely your responsibility. " -Me!

*Red, Red Wine- UB40