I couldn't even tell ya where this picture was taken...
there were so many stops along the way!
So Many Roads
Wow... I may not have always kept my "day job" back then but once all my cash had run out... even with a miracle ticket ... I had to make money some how to get from show to show.
The parking lots were filled with vendors and I was one of the many. I wrapped hair... sold food... and I picked up the art of beading. I made earrings, necklaces, berets and other decorative pieces. I sold my bead work, beads and even my own cloths once or twice.
But I also picked up some really beautiful beads along the way as well.
I don't reminisce these days to often...
and
as sad as it is to say
music just isn't as BIG a part of my life as it use to be.
I wish it were.
Back then...
there were not many moments in a day
that music didn't fill the air.
I still listen to music...
just not like I use to.
I also haven't done any beading in YEARS.
A few days ago during a class video chat...
Language Arts
Mary discovered that I use to make jewelry.
After class, she was showing off some of her jewelry to the girls when my girlfriend made a comment like
"of course you love to bead and make jewelry."
That is when I told her that Mary had no idea that I ever did bead-work.
To add to Mary's surprise...
she found out that I still have a lot of my beads stashed away out in the shop collecting dust.
Mary couldn't believe that I had all these beads and never told her.
I have to say that I am a little surprised as well.
It isn't like I was keeping it a secret.
Or was I?
Honestly...
I think I am still mourning that part of my life!
I really do have some wonderful memories
fragmented as they may be.
LOVE
Mary wanted to make something for a Birthday present...
So, I figured it was time to find those beads,
dust them off
and
Pass 'em On
Check out these beautiful earrings Mary made!
And to go with it...
a
Homemade Card
with a little cardboard, duck tape, fabric, sketch paper...
Yesterday, I started the day off getting myself to an early doctor's appointment.
Not usually one of my favorite things to do.
Especially these days when there is rarely any positive news.
However...
I have decided that in spite of myself,
I choose to put one foot in front of the other and keep trucking.
After leaving the doctor's office
I decided to stop beating myself up for not having any of my seeds started.
I went and picked up some
HERBS!
My daughter behind my every step reminding me that I was NOT to get any VEGETABLES.
That was her and her Dad's department now.
Then I went to my favorite vegetable stand
Tarheel Too
and picked up some produce.
My favorite buys for sure were the in season
Local Asparagus & Strawberries
Yummy!
I also picked up some essential for that juicer I bought a while back and have only used once.
I am determined not to give up on myself...
I have too much to loose!
So... Happy!
After helping her mother with some transplanting,
which she now loves to do...
Mary went to check the mailbox before she headed down the street to visit her favorite red headed 1 year old ( a future babysitting client).
To her absolute joy she found an envelope addressed to her.
It was from her
Awesome...
Aunt Ginny
A belated Birthday gift...
and if you want my opinion,
the belated gifts are the best gifts.
You receive them when you don't expect one
making them all that more special!
I Love 'Em
Handmade original earrings by Daisynconcrete (aka Aunt Ginny!)
Wow!
She couldn't wait to put them on
and she wasted no time calling her to thank her.
Seeds of Change
Technically I am suppose to leave the vegetables to Bill and Mary...
However...
I figure since I am responsible
for my own healthy choices.
And I am planting flowers and herbs for teas and juices...
then planting some spinach and leaf lettuce
would be OK.
Both Bill and Mary
forgave me.
I don't think I stepped on too many toes.
Herbs
Parsley
Thyme
Those dang chickens love my newly planted pots...
so I put these lovely sticks in them to keep the chickens out.
Once they are established they tend to leave them alone.
They only prey on the young and vulnerable.
Evil Biddies!
But I sure love those eggs with some...
Fresh Dill
Strawberry Baskets
Another favorite of our chickens...
are strawberries!
We had a great crop in the garden several years ago that would even re-seed themselves.
They have been long gone.
We all need to spread our wings
but until then
we will make due with what we have.
As much as I love my girls to free range
I think we are going to have to keep them a little more confined.
At least till we can get some more grass growing and/or some sacrificial plants.
Between the chickens and the dogs we have very little grass left,
no wonder they keep heading to the garden for treats.
Grass in this sandy soil
is not especially common at the beach.
We had lots of grass till we started raising chickens.
But it takes some work to simply have grass,
now if we want both chicken, grass and vegetables
we are going to have to get
CREATIVE!
Mint
Now that this has become established
I was able to remove the sticks
and put them in the thyme.
Yummy...
I can taste the Ice Tea now!
Lavender
I better get some Chicken Sticks in this pot before I am killing some chickens.
This is one of the first plants that I tried planting when I moved in with Bill over 15 years ago. I was determined to have Lavender in my garden. Oh man... I killed so many lavender plants in my attempts to have lavender. But after years and years of trying, I eventually had BEAUTIFUL lavender plants in my garden.
Unfortunately they are now gone... so it is time to Start Again!
It's That Time
I just ordered Mary's End of year testing supplies. I can't believe that we are getting close to that time already.
We have had a really good year. I am so happy that we decided to Homeschool Mary. We have certainly had our struggles ... but we have managed to find our way and are better people for it. I feel pretty safe to say we will NOT be going back to public school again.
As much as Mary LOVES her sports... we are NOT willing to sacrifice her emotional well being, one on one education, learning to THINK not test, morals vs superficial social skills and most importantly... the special bond that we have as a family. Choosing to raise our daughter with intention and love that reinforces our priorities and values is the best choice we have ever made for our daughter.
So if we have to choose between school sports and homeschooling then it is HOMESCHOOLING hands down!
Her pitching coach feels confident that if she stays on the path she is on now... he is sure that she will be picked up by a college team with a full ride without playing school ball.
Mother of Invention
Necessity!
I haven't really been to crafty or creative lately.
The closest I have gotten to even partially creative, would have to be picking out what fabric I was going to use for the patches on my tattered skirts
and some
Wash Rags
There may be a scarf and a hat thrown in there.
Patches
Schoolwork Done
Now it is time for some...
Lunch
Lets start with a nice Alkaline Juice: Cucumber Carrot Lemon Celery Spinach Apple
Not bad but next time... I think I will REMOVE the lemon peel!
Green Gourd Creations
has been at a bit of a stand still. I did manage to update my Etsy site yesterday. All my items had expired So, I updated only the pieces that were not seasonal. I still have MANY Christmas Gourds and Halloween Gourds in stock but figured that I would wait to list the Christmas stuff till July.
I may not be where I want to be... however I am exactly where my feet are!
Acceptance is an acquired ability. Always an opportunity to practice!
It is Spring Break and all common sense is gone once this bridge is crossed.
Please folks...
don't forget to pack your patience and courtesy when you come on vacation.
We don't have much surplus to spare if you don't.
Happy, Happy Birthday Girl
Surprise...
Then the Icing on the Cake
To top this birthday off she got to take
2 of her friends to see...
Sierra Hull
in concert. Look at her standing beside Sierra... she was absolutely starstruck!
What a super young lady. As sick as she was and she still was able to be sweet, polite and pose with her fans after the show.
She can be my 12 year old's idol without a doubt.
Sierra Hull & Highway 111
This is from the actual show. I found it on Youtube. Someone up in the balcony must have taken this video. We were down on the front row right in front of Sierra and Zach. What an awesome show! Sierra was really sick and blowing her nose all evening. But dang... her playing was certainly no worse for wear.
This is one Birthday present that was as much enjoyable for us as it was for Mary.
Bill and I
have made some changes this spring. I have officially passed the hoe and spade over to Bill. He and Mary are the official tenders of the vegetable garden now. And have left me to the flowers and herbs. Wow! I don't even really know how to respond to this. It feels kinda "uncomfortable".
He has come to me on more than one occasion now in full frustration over the chickens! I have to chuckle even as I type this... How many times have I asked him to PLEASE help me come up with a way to keep those girls from shredding my every planting effort. He will finally see how emotionally draining it is to work so hard to keep those chickens from wasting all my vegetables only to have a few stragglers make it and then only to succumb to blight and the dreaded squash and stink bugs. I bet it won't take 4 years to come up with a successful chicken barrier now that he is doing the vegetable gardening.
He usually is in charge of potatoes, grapes and sometimes corn. This year it is the the whole sha-bang. I am really excited!
Which leaves me to more leisurely gardening.
Water Gardens
I have sorely missed my mornings by the pond. So it is time to get back to it.
Landscaping
Beauty and Vitamin C
Rose Hip Tea anyone? It will be nice to get back into preserving my medicinal plants.
Aroma Therapy
I will miss this smell... This is the last of the Wisteria, only a few stragglers remain.
It is time for me to get back to basics... the beauty, stillness and quietness of gardening.
Time to commune with the pollinators and work in harmony with them. And leave the chickens to Bill!
Lady Banks Roses
Seems they have survived their fence trauma and have come back full and happy.
Clematis
Lipstick Salvia
After cutting back all the years of growth in my beds and mourning the loss of so many plants from my neglect, the storm, the fence and the assault from the neighbors when putting up the new fence....
It is nice to see that I still have some beautiful life left in this old yard.
Softball Season
This is my husbands favorite time of the year.
He an Mary practice EVERY day.
She is starting to put some consistent heat on that ball.
Look out...
she is also really nailing those inside and outside corners!
An Unstoppable Duo
The new dropped 3rd strike rule in 12 U
has shown to be a very difficult concept to adapt to in this age group.
However, our catcher laughs and says...
"What dropped strikes? I don't drop ANY balls!"
"Atta Girl, Haley"
Easter
We don't have to hide eggs for Easter anymore...
Our gals are doing a fine job...
all on their own.
Horse Show Season
Unfortunately Mary had to miss her first ICSC Show because it landed on Opening day of Softball.
It is very difficult for her to choose...
but she won't let her team down.
Being the pitcher kinda makes it a little hard to miss a game without anyone really noticing.
But she has been putting in a lot of work with Phoenix...
and
it paid off!
Showtime
This was her 3rd show ever and she was a little nervous...
I think first show of the season is just like that.
Plus she decided to try showing in Dressage Suitability and a new division this year.
Field Hunter Division, which neither have classes for her age group, like Hunt Seat.
It is a new addition to the ICSC show class list (a test drive)
And is an all ages class with not many participating yet.
She was kinda wishing that she had signed up for the Hunt Seat classes.
Since there are more people in the Huntseat 12 and under classes.
But look at this
Big "Beautiful" Boy!
He really isn't a dainty Hunt Seat horse.
Mary doesn't care about that though...
he is her ...
Best Friend
What an incredible bond these two have! What ever she chooses to do will be fine, as long as they do it together. It's all about teamwork.
