recaps of the last six weeks

20.   Random. Ness.  Not exactly Stream of Conscious. Ness.

Does anyone know what kind of BUG this is? 

I know what kind of bug this one is... but. Holy. Mary. Mother of Jesus.  Look at the size of this la cucaracha. 

And God gave this slimy vegetable a Gorgeous Flower.  The OKRA is thanking you, God! 

Have you ever noticed the odor of Marigolds?  Frankly, they STINK. 

Unless, of course, the scent that waves to my nostrils is somewhat skewed due to an AFRIN addiction that killed my taste buds and sense of smell.  So, take it from me, JUST SAY NO TO AFRIN !!



a taste of summer

How about just a plate of tri-colored bell peppers for lunch?

or dinner?

Personally, I think this is so much better than popcorn kebabs!

or marshmallow skewers!

Party menus are on my mind.

Party food is on the menu.

I am sitting here planning a special family celebration.

No surprises.  No gigantic parties.  No gags.

My wonderful husband will soon be celebrating a birthday... a big ONE.

like the big FIVE-OH.

I cannot believe it.

As I am sure he cannot believe it, as well.

He looks great for being two weeks shy of 50.

He looks young.  He acts young.  He thinks young.  Hell, he is young!

I wonder what he will look like in two more weeks!?

And just think, he will be 50 for two weeks before his third girl is born.

Unless, she graces us with early presence.

Ahhhh, the big FIVE-OH.

more spring awe

a peach tree

(planted in honor of the beloved "momotaro"; a children's story from Japan)

a fig tree

(planted in honor of an incredible trip to Croatia)

I love creating symbolisms from the smallest things that happen in life.   

From a fond memory. 

From an experience. 

From a moment. 

From a feeling. 

When I look upon the green spring backyard, I remember. 

I remember the feeling of happiness...

from Michigan.

from Croatia.

from Tokyo.

from life itself.

My apologies as I post more spring photos. I know you are probably tired of seeing/reading about Spring.

But I just know this spring is a beautiful start to a continued year of blessings, health, and happiness.

Boats and Beans and Barbeque?

or is it "Oats and Beans and Barley Grow?"

In November, my daughter's school had "Pilgrim Day" in honor of Thanksgiving.  The day was filled with fun activities; making butter, donning pilgrim or Native American costumes, weaving baskets, creating drums, eating corn and popcorn, and learning about seeds. 

Corn kernels, sunflower seeds, and bean seeds ... were observed.  I have no idea where the seeds came from -- probably someone's kitchen pantry.  The seeds were placed into a clear plastic bottle and used as a Native American maraca.

Recently, I found the plastic seed maraca stuffed into my daughter's closet.  I pulled it out so that I could dispose of it.  Two weeks ago, we took the seeds to the backyard -- to an area of mulch that nothing grows except weeds.  (AND I have tried sowing in that patch of mulch for three years now.)  We decided to spread the seeds for the visiting squirrels and birds to eat. 

Last weekend, my husband entered our home and asked, "What did you do?" 

What an open-ended question... HUH!

How shall I answer??  I have many automatic answers to fire off, but I need to know to what is he referring, so that I can save the good responses for a more serious crisis mode.

The question should have been stated as:  "What did you plant in the undesirable plot of mulch where nothing ever grows?" 

Answer:  "We decided to feed the squirrels and birds some new (or perhaps, old) seeds." 

Apparently the neighboring critters were not fond of our choice of disposed seeds because we now have 30 bean plants or more growing in an unusual space of mulch.  We have no idea what type of beans. 
My daughter is amazed at how the beans happened.  We did not plant them.  We just threw them.  Out.  Rid.  Dispose.  My daughter took her photo of beans and bean story into share with her class. 

The Moral of the Story:
Amazing things can happen when you least expect it!

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary - How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells.

And pretty maids all in a row.

The garden has been planted:

okra

 (it's a southern slimy vegetable thing)

jalapenos

bell peppers

banana peppers

roma tomatoes

eggplant

cucumbers

The trees are blooming:

fig

peach

apple

The vines are growing:

grapes

I.LOVE.SPRING.TIME!

My Mornings; 5 - 9 am

Unfortunately, I have learned to become a morning person.  For 38 years, I was a night person.  And then I married the 'love of my life morning person' and became a mom to more 'little morning people'. 

The cats go out for their morning carousing at 4AM.  They return about 5AM, depending on the weather conditions and temperatures.  Most mornings upon their return, the cats bring home a surprise.  This surprise could be a cockroach, a gigantic moth, any other bug or insect, a bird, a squirrel, a mouse, a rat, or a snake. 

Lately, it is garden snakes.  They love to bring these snakes home.  ALIVE. 

{ALIVE, because that is part of the game we play every single day - "CATCH THE CRITTER"!}

Recently, the cat snuck back in the house before 5AM and brought a playdate.  A visitor.  However, this particular playdate did not want to play "TAG" any longer and he took off to start his own game of "HIDE AND SEEK". 

I was not quite bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4:40AM... so I missed the game of "TAG".  Apparently, I also missed the game of "HIDE AND SEEK".

Later on, I decided to do a load of laundry.  DARKS.  I picked up the load from the basket (that was sitting on the floor), threw it in the washing machine, poured in detergent and other harsh chemicals, pushed START, heard the rinse cycle, the spin cycle, and the final beeper. 

I started to throw the load into the dryer when I noticed a string had come out of a jacket or shorts or something.  I reached in to grab the string.  And since it is now 5:33AM, my coffee has kicked in and my eyeballs have been pried open. 

Good Lord, Mother of Mercy, Praise Jesus, Holy Shit ...

I washed a snake.

I wish I could say I didn't have a full load and that I have taken up snake-washing in all my free time.  When his friends see him back in the garden, all squeaky clean and shiny, his friends will be lining up for this new snake spa treatment!

PS  For all you PETA people, this was an accident.  I do not participate in snake washing.  Snake handling.  Snake anything.  And the snake survived the washing!  He is happy to be back in his garden hole.