Porch curtains

8-4-10 copy-cat brain
Earlier this summer I was reading one of my usual blogs I follow, which is about living in a smaller home: The Jewel Box Home... and I came upon this picture of a porch which looked so charming, comfortable and an inviting place to hang out. HERE

I thought to myself if I ever have a house with a porch, I'm going to hang a curtain like this.

Then the funny thing is when I was spending time at the KC house in late July....

.... Greg was complaining about the sun coming in the front door in the late afternoon and heating up the living room. It was then I realized I do have a porch which NEEDS a curtain.

So I added a functional curtain and an old chair. I never thought my wish would come true so fast! It's not as charming as it could be, but it's a start.

Gardening is complicated

8-3-10 confused brain

Last Thursday the hot weather finally broke a bit and the humidity was down, so I used an hour of vacation time to do some weeding out in the front garden.

I headed out at 7:30 AM covered in bug repellent and started tackling the weeds and overgrown mess. For some strange reason, as I was pulling out unwanted plants, I started thinking and getting “philosophical” about Arizona… (so bare with me on this)…

A few years ago, a plant entered my garden. I started to like this plant since it produced berries which the Robins enjoy eating in the fall. Molly warned me that this was an invasive plant and would spread. But since I found value in this plant I allowed it to stay for a few years.

Molly was right….. my garden NOW is totally out of hand. Over the last few years I did not keep this plant under control. I got distracted by Greg in Kansas City (i.e… distracted by making large profits with cheap labor, distracted by war, distracted by arguing between the political parties…. etc). I only have myself to blame, since I was not doing my job as a gardener.



Now what do I do? Well, I’ve got to invest some time in this garden now, probably more time and work than it would have taken to keep it in control over the past few years. I think I can understand what Arizona wants to do. Doesn’t the weeding need to start some place?

But what do I do about my hungry Robins, who thrive on these delicious berries? I like attracting birds to my yard. I get a lot of enjoyment out of bird watching in my yard.

By now, I had been out weeding for an hour and a half and the 9:00AM church bells rang and my body was starting to get worn out. It was time to stop for now, even though there was still so much more work to be done. At this point, I thought to myself, “boy, I could sure use a source of some cheap $5 an hour labor to finish the job for me” …. Oh no… did I just say that?... guess that is just an example of ME wanting it both ways.

By now, you are probably as confused as I am about my “philosophical thoughts on Arizona”.

Gardening is complicated, immigration is complicated....

Weekend

8-2-10 lounging brain
This weekend I really tried hard to rest and relax.... I was only half successful at it. I did take a good 2 hour nap Saturday afternoon, which was wonderful.

This came after a quick trip up 40 miles north to Ames. Greg had the National Buick Car Show he wanted to attend. I dropped him off at 11:00 AM, and I went to meet up with my co-worker friend Renee for lunch. Renee had been caring for her youngest granddaughter Maci, while her parents were at a horse show.

Maci is 2.5 years old.... cuter than a bug! Stubborn as a mule, so I've been told.... well "strong willed" anyway.... probably like any normal 2 year old.

While Renee was getting the drinks, Maci and I waited at the table. Let's do a fun caption game with this picture..... What was Maci thinking while she had to wait at the table without Grandma?



Post your caption in the comment section please :)
For more pictures of Maci click HERE: at Grandma's blog!

I could kick myself... I had planned to deliver a package to Renee. That was part of the reason for your meeting. Along with other items I needed to get to her, I had a surprise for Maci. But it's probably not something a 2 year old would really appreciate. But I'll get it to her sooner or later.

Wholeness

8-1-10 changed brain
In July I decided it was time for a new look, but I didn’t find enough time during vacation to play around with all the new template choices offered…. So finally in August I picked one to try.... I just kept it simple.

With living my life in two cities, Des Moines and Kansas City, and holding down a full-time job in Cancer Research while working on my true passion of creating ART….. I have come to not only need “simple”…. But appreciate “simple” as well. I’ll take “simple” where ever I can find it.

I have updated my blog title to read, “Split in Two, yet approaching wholeness” . This (WHOLENESS) realization came to me during my vacation. Being “split” in many directions is a challenge, but also such an opportunity for growth in more ways than I would have ever imagined.

Currently my life feels wide, broad, and fulfilling…. Full of love, family, friends and new adventures….. I’m going to enjoy it to the fullest and be grateful, since I know I won’t live a split life forever…. At some point the winds will shift and the time will come to move in a different direction.

Girl Power: My heroine

7-30-10 pooped brain
July is coming to a close, and I find myself pooped out from all the activities of the month. My "girl power" is currently very weak. August is already over-booked, so at a time like this, I will need to take a close look and prioritize the most important things to the top of my list.... and let go of others.

Speaking of "girl power", my current heroine is Elizabeth Warren. She is fighting for me, aka: a regular everyday working person. I just want to make enough money to live life out of poverty. I am not striving for riches, I just want to work, I want to give a little, save a little and be happy to live on the rest.

I do believe in the need for stronger consumer financial protection. The U.S. middle class is evaporating fast, and if a finger isn't put in the dike soon... our country will evolve into a poor country, with a few rich people and corporations running the show.

HERE is a tiny piece on Elizabeth Warren.... along with video (actually a very funny video) Enjoy the laugh from California Girl on her blog Women of a Certain Age.

Another farm, another state

7-29-10 bird brain
I read a blog called Synch-ro-ni-zing. It appears this blogger, Ruth, lives on a farm in Michigan, maybe a little like Molly in Kansas. They have chickens and Molly has chickens.

Check out Synch-ro-ni-zing HERE to see some cool pictures.

Below are pictures from Molly's I took on Girls Weekend on th Farm.




This is just one of many chickens I was attracted to... then Peeps wanted attention from me. I think Peeps is a bit over protective of me!

GWOTF: the wrap up

7-28-10 animal brain
GWOTF ended with a trip out to visit and feed the animals Sunday afternoon. It was hot out and I’d rather be back in the pond floating, but we walked down from the main house and hopped on the “mule” truck. Peeps came along.... but not on the truck.



Of course the animals are use to being hand fed and were willing to come out of their cool watering hole to visit us.


Ann fed a lama, Kelley was posing with the donkeys....
Thanks Molly for another fantastic Weekend on the FARM!



Oh... and I forgot to post this funny picture of peeps and the pigs! Oink Oink Renee!