This fall I will turn fifty, a point of dread for me since my mother turned fifty. Of course I was only 8 at the time and thought my mother would shrivel up and die. I mean, really - half a century seemed ANCIENT! Of course, as the magic age has steadily approached my opinion has changed. I know I won't shrivel up once my birthday arrives. Or at least I hope not.
But in preparation for this momentous occasion I decided to learn new skills, or resurrect skills not used since my childhood. First up on the list: plant a garden for the purpose of canning and freezing food for the winter.
My father's family were farmers and every year, no matter where we lived, there was always a garden. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, not to mention trips to the big farmer's market would provide plenty of fresh vegetables for the months when good produce was hard to find. While it isn't such a necessity to have a personal garden any more, nothing can beat the taste of good, fresh produce.
Helpful hubby promised to be of assistance and my father-in-law plowed the garden up at his farm, about an hour north of where we live. After carefully searching the Internet for heirloom seeds (plants which can produce seeds for replanting) I made my selections and off we went to create our first garden together in 25 years of marriage.
Little did I know that I have married the only man in North Georgia to never have spent any time in a garden!
Join me for my series: So... You Want to Plant a Garden! as I provide a play-by-play commentary on my summer project. It will make you laugh. I promise!
Friday, September 7, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
25 Randon Things About Me...
1) My mother was in a math honor society, my father was an aeronautic engineer and I have problems adding 2 + 2 without a calculator.
2) There was a family portrait of my great-great-great-great-great grandmother where the eyes followed where ever in the room you were standing. I would not go into that room after dark unless all the lights were on and someone came with me.
3) I love old movies. It is great to share with my parents movies they saw during the 30's, 40's, and 50s.
4) When I was in elementary school, my grandmother used to pick me up from school every day. It started being embarrassing about 5th grade, especially after the police stopped her one afternoon for driving 15mph in a 45.
5) My husband and I have worked together 24/7/365 for 17 years. It works because we are usually never stressed at the same time.
6) When I was a child, I used to think that if I didn't do things in the same order every day something bad would happen to me. That was the beginning of my OCD. I still do the same routine every morning: shower, moisturizer, teeth, makeup, hair. Steve thinks I am really weird.
7) I always wanted a dog as a child, but my mom and dad both had issues about dogs.
8) One of my favorite memories of my dad is from when I was a teenager. I worked at Six Flags and he and I got home from work about the same time every morning (God bless the night shift!). We would sit up for hours and discuss every time from politics to religion to absolutely meaningless crap, but it was great because it was just us two.
9) My brother, sister and I all married left handed people, but only one of our offspring is left handed (my sister's daughter).
10) My first boyfriend was from Cumming and grew up on a farm.
11) I had a near death experience as a child. It has shaped my view on Heaven, God and the afterlife ever since.
12) I love horses and always wanted to work with them until I found out there was no money in it. I love the time I spend volunteering at Blue Skies. Winston Churchill once said "There is something about the outside of the horse that is good for the inside of a man" and i firmly believe that is true.
13) I am scared of certain heights. I cannot dive, but I love roller coasters. I love glass elevators, but cannot stand at the edge and look down. I think it is because I was pushed off a high dive as a child. (By my swim teacher of all people!!)
14) My children are my greatest accomplishments. They are each amazing in different ways. I know they will be close even after Dad and Mom are long gone.
15) I would rather read a good book than watch a bad movie. Do not try to understand my reading tastes - they range from biography to science fiction. One summer I decided to read nothing but Russian novelists.
16) Soon my first book will be published. I think everyone will like it. At least, I hope so.
17) My sister and I were never close until we got older.
18) If I am your friend, know that I will stick up for you till hell freezes over unless you throw me under the bus. Then - it is on.
19) When we retire I want to spend at least a year travelling with Steve and the dogs in an RV. Afterward we can settle down and live out our days.
20) If I could go back and start again from, say 9th grade, I cannot think of many things that I would change.
21) My favorite sport is soccer.
22) I didn't think this would be as hard as it has been.
23) Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?
24) I only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. The game itself (GO Steelers!!!) gets too slow.
25) I love my family and pray for them each every day.
2) There was a family portrait of my great-great-great-great-great grandmother where the eyes followed where ever in the room you were standing. I would not go into that room after dark unless all the lights were on and someone came with me.
3) I love old movies. It is great to share with my parents movies they saw during the 30's, 40's, and 50s.
4) When I was in elementary school, my grandmother used to pick me up from school every day. It started being embarrassing about 5th grade, especially after the police stopped her one afternoon for driving 15mph in a 45.
5) My husband and I have worked together 24/7/365 for 17 years. It works because we are usually never stressed at the same time.
6) When I was a child, I used to think that if I didn't do things in the same order every day something bad would happen to me. That was the beginning of my OCD. I still do the same routine every morning: shower, moisturizer, teeth, makeup, hair. Steve thinks I am really weird.
7) I always wanted a dog as a child, but my mom and dad both had issues about dogs.
8) One of my favorite memories of my dad is from when I was a teenager. I worked at Six Flags and he and I got home from work about the same time every morning (God bless the night shift!). We would sit up for hours and discuss every time from politics to religion to absolutely meaningless crap, but it was great because it was just us two.
9) My brother, sister and I all married left handed people, but only one of our offspring is left handed (my sister's daughter).
10) My first boyfriend was from Cumming and grew up on a farm.
11) I had a near death experience as a child. It has shaped my view on Heaven, God and the afterlife ever since.
12) I love horses and always wanted to work with them until I found out there was no money in it. I love the time I spend volunteering at Blue Skies. Winston Churchill once said "There is something about the outside of the horse that is good for the inside of a man" and i firmly believe that is true.
13) I am scared of certain heights. I cannot dive, but I love roller coasters. I love glass elevators, but cannot stand at the edge and look down. I think it is because I was pushed off a high dive as a child. (By my swim teacher of all people!!)
14) My children are my greatest accomplishments. They are each amazing in different ways. I know they will be close even after Dad and Mom are long gone.
15) I would rather read a good book than watch a bad movie. Do not try to understand my reading tastes - they range from biography to science fiction. One summer I decided to read nothing but Russian novelists.
16) Soon my first book will be published. I think everyone will like it. At least, I hope so.
17) My sister and I were never close until we got older.
18) If I am your friend, know that I will stick up for you till hell freezes over unless you throw me under the bus. Then - it is on.
19) When we retire I want to spend at least a year travelling with Steve and the dogs in an RV. Afterward we can settle down and live out our days.
20) If I could go back and start again from, say 9th grade, I cannot think of many things that I would change.
21) My favorite sport is soccer.
22) I didn't think this would be as hard as it has been.
23) Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?
24) I only watch the Super Bowl for the commercials. The game itself (GO Steelers!!!) gets too slow.
25) I love my family and pray for them each every day.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
My Life Is So Interesting...
So, I love animals. All animals, but my favorite (forgive me my puppies!) are horses. I have been horse crazy since I was a little girl. My earliest memories are of a pony ride at the fairgrounds in Florida when I was no more than three years old. Ever since that moment, I knew these magnificent creatures would be in my life.
I now have three equine members of my family: Penny (Registered Name: How Much Money) a lovely 16yo Quarter Horse mare with good lucks and a loving personality. She was my daughter's first horse and considers my dear daughter her personal property. Second is AraBella, part Welsh Pony part Arabian. Bella was my first rescue adoption. She had given birth only to have her foal stolen by the alpha mare in her pasture. It has taken over a year to get her back on track and happy. She loves to jump and has a typical pony attitude.
My newest addition came last summer - Vince. Registered Name - Vincent Van Versa, Vince is 12yo and has just been confirmed as having been exposed to EPM, a parasitic infection in horses which attacks the Central Nervous System. The symptoms Vince has include tripping, loss of balance and moodiness. After much conversation we have elected to take him to the University of Auburn vet school for further testing.
Every source I have read in the past twenty-four hours since our suspicions were confirmed in a blood test says time is of the essence in treatment of EPM. While I do not want to subject Vince to unnecessary pain, I do want to know for sure if this is EPM or just a neurological problem. Also, it is important to keep a journal of good days and bad days to track his progress.
So, I will be starting a new blog, in addition to this one and my CATALYST - Guardian Rising blogs. While I will try to keep this blog positive and display my usual acerbic wit, occasionally my trials with Vincent may spill over. If it does, I ask you to bear with me. As with any writer, my personal life affects what I write. Believe it or not, it takes a lot of effort to be pithy.
With this I mind, I close with tonight's thought. Animals were put on this planet as man's companions. Our treatment of the animal kingdom in general is appalling, and I weep for the innocents sent to the hell of slaughter or gas chambers because of man's incompetence and cruelty. As a species we should be ashamed of how we treat the animals of the world.
No, I am not a vegetarian. However I do eat organically raised hormone free beef and free range chicken and eggs from chickens that have been fed a vegan diet. I also do not eat any animal with which I have developed a personal relationship or who are not meant for food, it - horses. Not everyone suscribes to my ideology and that's fine. This is America - we all have a right to say what we want. You have the right to not read this blog.
But I remind you of this - would you eat your family dog?
I now have three equine members of my family: Penny (Registered Name: How Much Money) a lovely 16yo Quarter Horse mare with good lucks and a loving personality. She was my daughter's first horse and considers my dear daughter her personal property. Second is AraBella, part Welsh Pony part Arabian. Bella was my first rescue adoption. She had given birth only to have her foal stolen by the alpha mare in her pasture. It has taken over a year to get her back on track and happy. She loves to jump and has a typical pony attitude.
My newest addition came last summer - Vince. Registered Name - Vincent Van Versa, Vince is 12yo and has just been confirmed as having been exposed to EPM, a parasitic infection in horses which attacks the Central Nervous System. The symptoms Vince has include tripping, loss of balance and moodiness. After much conversation we have elected to take him to the University of Auburn vet school for further testing.
Every source I have read in the past twenty-four hours since our suspicions were confirmed in a blood test says time is of the essence in treatment of EPM. While I do not want to subject Vince to unnecessary pain, I do want to know for sure if this is EPM or just a neurological problem. Also, it is important to keep a journal of good days and bad days to track his progress.
So, I will be starting a new blog, in addition to this one and my CATALYST - Guardian Rising blogs. While I will try to keep this blog positive and display my usual acerbic wit, occasionally my trials with Vincent may spill over. If it does, I ask you to bear with me. As with any writer, my personal life affects what I write. Believe it or not, it takes a lot of effort to be pithy.
With this I mind, I close with tonight's thought. Animals were put on this planet as man's companions. Our treatment of the animal kingdom in general is appalling, and I weep for the innocents sent to the hell of slaughter or gas chambers because of man's incompetence and cruelty. As a species we should be ashamed of how we treat the animals of the world.
No, I am not a vegetarian. However I do eat organically raised hormone free beef and free range chicken and eggs from chickens that have been fed a vegan diet. I also do not eat any animal with which I have developed a personal relationship or who are not meant for food, it - horses. Not everyone suscribes to my ideology and that's fine. This is America - we all have a right to say what we want. You have the right to not read this blog.
But I remind you of this - would you eat your family dog?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
It's Not Fat Tuesday But They Still Party In NOLA
Since this past weekend, I have been visiting a city I had managed to avoid for 49 years of my life - New Orleans, LA. Why have I avoided this wide spot on the Mississippi? Well, let me think:
1 - I don't drink. Don't get me wrong. I am not one of those holy roller Southern Baptists who disavow drinking as sinful. Jesus drank wine and so did Abraham and Noah. Drinking of itself is not wrong, it is the obsessive drinking that becomes the problem. I don't do either. Just wore out my taste buds early I guess. Watching all the drunk people in New Orleans starts out funny, but the later the hour, the worst it gets.
2 - It is below sea level. Well, most of New Orleans is below sea level. The French Quarter is 10 feet above sea level. So, always remember to always know where your life vest is, just like on a cruise ship. And when the Hurricane spotters say leave - get the heck out of Dodge (or in this case, New Orleans!)
3 - I am not a prude, but half dressed barely legal teenage girls dressed in thongs and stilettos with pasties trolling for men from the doorway of the Hustler 'Gentlemens' Club were pure raunchy. Do their mama's know they dress like that in public?
All kidding aside, this is a town with as many people types as stories about them. Everyone we have met has been friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and only a few have been truly drunk. Maybe I need to change my opinion. Perhaps another order of beignets and some cafe au lait? Bon.
Tomorrow - touring the French Quarter
1 - I don't drink. Don't get me wrong. I am not one of those holy roller Southern Baptists who disavow drinking as sinful. Jesus drank wine and so did Abraham and Noah. Drinking of itself is not wrong, it is the obsessive drinking that becomes the problem. I don't do either. Just wore out my taste buds early I guess. Watching all the drunk people in New Orleans starts out funny, but the later the hour, the worst it gets.
2 - It is below sea level. Well, most of New Orleans is below sea level. The French Quarter is 10 feet above sea level. So, always remember to always know where your life vest is, just like on a cruise ship. And when the Hurricane spotters say leave - get the heck out of Dodge (or in this case, New Orleans!)
3 - I am not a prude, but half dressed barely legal teenage girls dressed in thongs and stilettos with pasties trolling for men from the doorway of the Hustler 'Gentlemens' Club were pure raunchy. Do their mama's know they dress like that in public?
All kidding aside, this is a town with as many people types as stories about them. Everyone we have met has been friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and only a few have been truly drunk. Maybe I need to change my opinion. Perhaps another order of beignets and some cafe au lait? Bon.
Tomorrow - touring the French Quarter
Friday, January 27, 2012
It Is Elementary...
..That I do not like to have my picture taken. For this reason I have always been the person working the camera, so I won't be caught by surprise. Also my weights yo-yos and illness didn't always lend to great pictures plus I have had silver hair since my son was born 24 years ago. It was hard to be grey when all my friends were still blond. So for years I colored my hair to just about every shade of blond and light brunette that Loriel every made.
Alas, soon the hair color no longer worked, not even when done professionally and I decided to bite the bullet and be the first of my 'crowd' to let it go natural. Of course, my helpful Hubby promised to straighten up his own mess, starting that if I looked my age he would act his. Well the hair is silver but some days, HH is more trouble than my son who is 23 and Hyper Active!.
However a new picture was needed as an author's photo for the new book, CATALYST: Guardian Rising so with much apprehension I contacted a few photographers whose numbers I obtained from our local barter collective. One called me right back, Gina C Photography. It took a week from session to final edit and she was a delight to work with.
So the end result if on its way to the publisher and can also be found on my facebook page. Personally for a 49 year old who works outside most of the year I think I look awesome. And for the first time in a while, I kinda feel awesome too.
Alas, soon the hair color no longer worked, not even when done professionally and I decided to bite the bullet and be the first of my 'crowd' to let it go natural. Of course, my helpful Hubby promised to straighten up his own mess, starting that if I looked my age he would act his. Well the hair is silver but some days, HH is more trouble than my son who is 23 and Hyper Active!.
However a new picture was needed as an author's photo for the new book, CATALYST: Guardian Rising so with much apprehension I contacted a few photographers whose numbers I obtained from our local barter collective. One called me right back, Gina C Photography. It took a week from session to final edit and she was a delight to work with.
So the end result if on its way to the publisher and can also be found on my facebook page. Personally for a 49 year old who works outside most of the year I think I look awesome. And for the first time in a while, I kinda feel awesome too.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Rain, Sunshine, Warm and Cold - Welcome to Georgia
Having lived in Georgia a majority of my life, I am never surprised by the weather. There is no true 'normal' when it comes to our weather, especially at this time of year. One day it is raining and 65 degrees and the breeze is from the South. Then the wind will blow harder from the North followed closed by sunshine and freezing temps. Take this pattern and repeat for three months and you have Georgia in the winter.
The only good part of winter here? It brings about a glorious spring. When the dogwoods pop out and the azaleas bloom and the breeze from the South bring a hint of warmer days to come there is not a place in the world I would rather be then here. Living for a while in South Florida, I grew inured to the blooming of flowers and the leaves on the trees. Then we were transferred to Atlanta.
We arrived here in the heart of summer, July I believe it was, so the heat and humidity were familiar. Then came fall and the glorious colors I had never experienced before. The crispness in the air and the smell of campfires competed with deep blue sky and a touch of chill in the air from the north. The winds began to blow again, removing the last of the now brown leaves from their perches and reminding us that winter would soon be here again.
Don't get me wrong. I love the beach. I love the touch of a tropical sun on my skin. But I love the change of seasons too, especially the way my city changes along with the seasons. I lived here and there and I've visited around and about but when push comes to shove, North Georgia is my home. Always.
The only good part of winter here? It brings about a glorious spring. When the dogwoods pop out and the azaleas bloom and the breeze from the South bring a hint of warmer days to come there is not a place in the world I would rather be then here. Living for a while in South Florida, I grew inured to the blooming of flowers and the leaves on the trees. Then we were transferred to Atlanta.
We arrived here in the heart of summer, July I believe it was, so the heat and humidity were familiar. Then came fall and the glorious colors I had never experienced before. The crispness in the air and the smell of campfires competed with deep blue sky and a touch of chill in the air from the north. The winds began to blow again, removing the last of the now brown leaves from their perches and reminding us that winter would soon be here again.
Don't get me wrong. I love the beach. I love the touch of a tropical sun on my skin. But I love the change of seasons too, especially the way my city changes along with the seasons. I lived here and there and I've visited around and about but when push comes to shove, North Georgia is my home. Always.
Friday, January 13, 2012
I Think This is a Recycled Year
2012 is already under way and it seems to me this is like another year already past. I just can't remember which one. As I grow older it feels more and more that nothing original happens anymore. Just the same stupid stuff happening in new random order.
Take for example the presidential primaries for this election. Not one of the candidates in the Republican party is trying to say anything new. In fact, they don't really say anything about anything except to flame whoever is in first place, dragging up decades old dramas and skeletons which may or may not affect that candidate's judgment or ability to be President. Helpful? Not at all. Tiring? You have no idea.
While I am grateful for our democratic process, I came across an article the other day stating that only millionaires can afford the run for public office. Which begs the argument, how can any of these politicians say they represent the majority when the majority of the population are not the rich? Who do they really represent?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could design a robot as a candidate? Then we could program them with our values, our ideas for improving government and the economy. They would be impossible to bribe - what could you tempt them with? Of course, a large EMP bomb would take out all the robots and leave us leaderless, but that might be an improvement over the past few years? We wouldn't have the sex scandals but we would be vulnerable to all the robots banding together to wipe out humanity.
'Sigh'. There is no perfect system of government. There is no perfect politician. There is only the process we are currently wading through. Come summer 2012, the Democratic Party will again present Barack Obama as their offering to the public. Who knows who the Republicans will settle upon. And there are Libertarian and Green Party entries in most states as well. And not a one of them really is in step with "We the People".
This is just like any other year. Except different. But similar. Oh, you know what I mean.
Take for example the presidential primaries for this election. Not one of the candidates in the Republican party is trying to say anything new. In fact, they don't really say anything about anything except to flame whoever is in first place, dragging up decades old dramas and skeletons which may or may not affect that candidate's judgment or ability to be President. Helpful? Not at all. Tiring? You have no idea.
While I am grateful for our democratic process, I came across an article the other day stating that only millionaires can afford the run for public office. Which begs the argument, how can any of these politicians say they represent the majority when the majority of the population are not the rich? Who do they really represent?
Wouldn't it be nice if we could design a robot as a candidate? Then we could program them with our values, our ideas for improving government and the economy. They would be impossible to bribe - what could you tempt them with? Of course, a large EMP bomb would take out all the robots and leave us leaderless, but that might be an improvement over the past few years? We wouldn't have the sex scandals but we would be vulnerable to all the robots banding together to wipe out humanity.
'Sigh'. There is no perfect system of government. There is no perfect politician. There is only the process we are currently wading through. Come summer 2012, the Democratic Party will again present Barack Obama as their offering to the public. Who knows who the Republicans will settle upon. And there are Libertarian and Green Party entries in most states as well. And not a one of them really is in step with "We the People".
This is just like any other year. Except different. But similar. Oh, you know what I mean.
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