I haven’t been posting much…really.

But I have discovered that I enjoy cooking, inventing, something for my family, and it seems that I enjoy cooking more.

David sees that in me anyway.

So I hope you are enjoying it too!

Well, it took a friend coming from Alabama to say that our yard was turning into a jungle, for us to do something about it.

Me, well, I am not allowed to do a lot. I try to follow those rules. Arguments would occur. It is really a better marriage if this does not occur. So…

We cut back expenses in the winter months, and let go our wonderful yard man, Mr. Nuebauer. He took care of everything, weed and feed, trimming the trees and bushes, edging the yard, and caring for the grass. We have maintained mowing once…maybe twice. But all of the weeds have taken over, and I couldn’t really say anything (see above).

So…one picture of before:

So…my wonderful husband, David and our children Carmen and Stephen went to work…Embarrassed I believe.

Stephen mowed. This was his second time mowing. Much better this time. We tried to get him to watch where he had already mowed, and to look for spots that needed to be redone.

Carmen weeded with David. She also took care of the racking of the oak leaves in the back, and helping with the planting of the Vincas.

David. Dug up dead bushes, weeded the flower bed closest to the house, and then planted the Vincas (when I got tired).

And the partial results:

This was a blank spot from the driveway in between the sidewalk…and drive.
I planted these flowers, and then watered.

It still needs a ton of work…but we are on way.
It was fun doing it as a family. It was nice sitting in the shade, watching my loveys do what I bid. I love cleaning, and growing…taking pride in our home.

So, no longer a jungle…we are on our way to having a beautiful yard again.

David has decided to try fishing.

It really is complicated. A rod, line, lures or bait, and of course, fish.

I enjoyed a nice Sunday morning at church, then home for lunch and relaxing on the dock.

We took Dexter. He seems to enjoy the birds flying by.

Although it was a nice afternoon on the dock, it did not produce any fish. The water was murky, it was overcast, and was supposed to rain. It didn’t.

Actually, the only thing David did catch was the Wal-Mart bag that blew off of the dock. He could only retrieve it with the hook. ha.

It was a nice afternoon.

I love just sitting and watching my baby, enjoy trying something new.

I love just sitting on this dock.

Stephen has been attending Cotillion classes since the beginning of fall 2008. He has attended several dance classes, and some etiquette classes.

He enjoys getting dressed up. It is so much easier for a boy than a girl. For Carmen, hair, nails, dress, shoes…etc.

Stephen changed his tie. Precious.

Stephen has had a pocket knife for over a year. I have not let him do anything with it…

Until yesterday, (Easter Sunday) when he came to me once again wanting to whittle. Well, he found a stick that was worthy…and off he went …to the porch, and spent the next 4 hours trying to make a kayak (miniature).

He did get his thumb sliced…small slice (just enough blood to wipe it on his shirt). After placing a band aid on that spot, he was back to work.

Not more than this has been accomplished! So…another day hopefully, he will have it finished.

Why is it that we all want to strive to do things, but are always so busy doing things, we never quite get to the things we want to do….confused. Me too. Me not we…always me.
Time…the need to things…cleaning, washing, cooking (want as well)… the want to things cooking, scrapping (scrapbooks), sewing, painting, decorating.
Need to but really want to things…cleansing of closets…both for myself and others! ha. Organizing of piles of stuff that seem to endlessly continue to grow…up and out… The garage, oh, the garage. It is such a want…a NEED…but takes every one’s input, every one’s want…and there are too many other things getting in the way. Work for one. Kids two. Life: three – one hundred!

Schedules? Do you make them up for something to go by, or do you not put anything in a schedule, and fly by the seat of your pants? I am in between…somewhere, in between!

Guilt? I have it when I sit down, and do nothing. I have it when I am with one child and not the other. I have it when I want to spend time with friends, not family. Guilt. Shameless guilt. No one makes me feel guilty – I do it to myself. Why? German – is my normal excuse. My mother was German, and so I must be productive, always doing something. My Lupus has put a thorn in my side about that. Really can’t do everything that I enjoy (cleaning cobwebs -yes I enjoy this), and not rest or stress out about it. And, yes, I do stress about cobwebs. Doesn’t everyone?

So, my goal after reading “The Pioneer Woman”, and her purging of closets, and dressers for all 6 of her family…goodness! I can’t keep the kitchen clean enough to eat in it. How does she do it…ah, yes, productive!

Goal this week…clean out closet! At least my closet. We will see. =)

Why is it such an indulgence…having a pedicure?

Today, was down day for me…that normally consists of sitting on the couch, normally being catered to by my sweet, loving, husband David, on the couch, not moving much, and IF I do…well, it is to tend to the needs of the body, nothing more or less, with drugs…drugs to cope with the swelling and pain.

Today was different. Hurting. Swollen, still am, yet here I type…away the moments of the day.

Okay…back to toes…it is a pure indulgence…sweet. You sit in this chair, that gently massages your back, as your feet are in warm to hot water…then some stranger (that you may or may not know by name), starts to clean your feet. Mind you, it is NOT about your feet being cleaned or groomed by any means, it is an art. First, tending to what needs to be done…then the lotion. Ah, the lotion. A reminder this is happening while the chair you are siting in massages your back and neck…feet. My feet hurt…from the ankles down, heck, from the hips down on my down days. Feet…back to the feet…

It hurts to walk, move, hurts to touch. But this is indulgence remember. Jessica (the strangers name) knows me well enough to not put pressure on the massage of the lower part of the legs. Spots on the bottom of your feet are supposed to help certain organs, and Jessica (in her own words) starts in the kidney areas, then the joints…then stomach…

Ouch.

“A rose by dawn…broke by noon” is the OPI (nail color) that I chose for the day. Pink is a great color. Feminine. Pure girlie. Down days are meant to be girlie. Feminine. Well, for me that’s all that matters…Pink, glitter. Perfect. Lotion, soft, hurts when massaged to nothing. But on down days, toes – it is the greatest pleasure.

Everyone should have a down day…one that you go either by yourself or with girlfriends…just go. It is so uplifting. No matter the cost.

We (David and I) ended up attending the Stage Crafters play “Life after high school” at the Fort Walton Beach auditorium…and saw a so-so show…but it was good to dress up (with the toes), and attend the show with my loving husband.

A good night.
still hurt.
but a good night…