If You Need Cheering Up-Buy Shoes

With only a few days left in this month and so many highs and lows, I can only imagine what the rest of the year will bring. I have taken on some things that were out of my box so to speak but each day brings a surprise.

Our new granddaughter is almost two weeks old and it is hard to believe how things can change in a little bit of time. Her birth brought me both tears and laughter for so many reasons. The road ahead will be filled with twists and turns a hundred times over.

This past weekend I participated in my sixth State Conference for what is now Business Women of Missouri. I am a few days away from becoming the President of our local group, Sedalia Business Women. It is going to be something completely new for me. I made the trip to the conference with a very wonderful friend. She is the sister I wished I'd had and I can always expect laughter in some way when I am with her. This weekend was no surprise.

Actually I think we may have figured out we might be shopping enablers of each other. It may or may not be a good thing but lets just say the shoe industry made out like bandits this weekend. In our defense we did have a purpose in a few of our purchases in thinking of others. For me I bought a much needed pair of work boots for my hubby and she bought a pair of pumps for a shopping challenge/donation. The other pairs were lets just say icing on the cake. But we got joy, laughter until we hurt and it will be something we will never forget.

Sometimes when your days get blurred together it is a breath of fresh air to have people around you that you know will make the sun shine on your day-even if it's raining.

Thanks

Spring Has Definitely Sprung

I have definitely cleared away the long winter doldrums that I seemed to encounter all season long. My vitamin D levels were almost what seemed non-existent in my opinion. As soon as the temperature got above 60 degrees and the sun came out my winter clothes were quickly packed away, my Capri's were on and I felt like an excited child. Sound familiar? I have spent several days out in the yard either doing some spring cleaning and planter weeding and as if I don't have enough on my plate (somehow the plate I have seems small maybe I had better upgrade to a platter) I got the bright idea to start a container garden this year.

With the high price of produce in the stores I decided why not be healthy and economical at the same time. One of the things on my honey-do lists was to clear off the patio and plan my attack of a container garden. After reading a Facebook favorite "The Dinner Garden" it put my mind into motion to start small. I have a small herb garden with basil, chives, rosemary and lavender. A couple tomato, green and yellow peppers and strawberries. I have my fingers crossed that I will have some success.

I have my childhood memories with my grandpa and our tremendous backyard farm. In those days he cleared the area, prepared the soil and I was the planter and tender. Anything you could imagine we had: squash, tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, cabbage, carrots, radishes. A variety of fruit trees and flowers. He was the farmer Connor of the block. I have very fond memories of sitting in the midst of the dirt, pulling out a large carrot and eating it dirt and all.
Not a care in the world. We didn't do it because of the economy, we did it because it brought joy to both of us and a great sense of accomplishment. He was great friends with the horticulture teacher across the street at the junior high school so I couldn't help but feel another since of pride that my classmates across the street were also benefiting from grandpa's green thumb.

I will keep my finger's crossed that my container garden will be a success, but I will have a little help in spirit... By the way--celebrate Earth Week by planting a little something.

Dad's and Daughter's A Special Connection

As the week officially starts the days tick by when life flashes before your eyes. Our little girl will soon be a mommy herself. Yes, it is very hard still to believe. I am amazed at how each little thing that goes by makes me go back on my own personal journey before our daughter was born. The parallels are sometimes their. She is the same age I was when I had her brother, she has had some of the same body issues that I had carrying her. Although it has been a lifetime ago, their are some things that never change.

Recently when her Dad was home, as always Jennifer came by to check on her Daddy. I have always been amazed at that father/daughter bond I had always heard people talk about. It started the day she arrived, rather fast 23 years ago. Unlike with when her brother was born, her Dad got to cut the cord between mother and daughter and probably a little bit of that connection from then until just a few years ago. I wasn't the first one they handed her too, her Dad was right their, arms outstretched to receive his not so little (9 lbs 15 oz, in 8 minutes, with no drugs)bundle of joy. The first picture taken was of the two of them. I remember early the morning after she was born he had went down to the gift shop and returned with a brown and white bunny hand puppet. He walked right in the room, up to the portable bassinet with puppet on hand and leaned over and greeted his new daughter.

When she was sick usually the first thing out of her mouth was "where's my Daddy"? After the big earthquake "I want my Daddy, when is Daddy going to be home"? Her Dad was the one who would hold her when she had to get shoots of any kind. It was always a little comical because she would try to bargain any way she could with him but somehow he would get her to calm down and take it.

Yes a few times the words "Well if you won't do it , Dad will" did come out of her mouth. Yes we had our blowups. Yes we are a little bit alike. Although I have always thought she looked more like her Dad, females do find their times to stick together.

I think the turning point for us was when she went away to photography college. On the other side of the country the calls would come frequently. The conversation of I don't know if I can do this came to me and the no option of coming home until you finish and my frequently visits to her helped build a different bond.

But the special connection still holds. Recently after a trip, David mentioned that he had been looking for a hand puppet. He wanted to find one for our soon-to-be granddaughter Hadleigh.
"You don't think Jennifer would be upset do you?". "It is something between her and I". I really didn't know what to say. Still even as I type this tears come to my eyes. I told him I really wasn't sure but he should ask her.

I know she still has that multiple washed, old rabbit somewhere. She like her Granma Edith Amazetta never threw special things away. But I am pretty sure if one appeared Jennifer would get the connection. Also I think Granma Edith would get a little laugh that she will have a little namesake in 2010.