This could be the end

This morning I had a bit of time before I had to go see patients, so I was trying to get things better under control at home. You see, I spent two weeks in LA in training, came home for a week and promptly spent 70 of those hours working - then went back out to Palm Springs for a National Sales Meeting. Cue home again - working a 60 hour week - then driving up to see my folks for Father's Day weekend.

Don't get me wrong, I love the new job and my hope is that 6 months down the line, when the field has been plowed and all the seeds have been planted, I will have more time to do those things I want to do homebound. But right now, my house looks definitely unmothered and this morning I realized that the grocery situation had reached a level of desparation that had to be attended to -

So I went to Wally world and filled up my cart - after checking my work e-mail for fires of course. Josh had a couple of friends stay over, so I got the brilliant idea to make some cinnamon rolls - yes, the kind you just unroll and pop on a pan - it was a moment of weakness.

So I baked the cinnamony goodness one pan while I was putting away the groceries, and then I popped in the second pan. Just then I looked up and discovered that every goat we have - save Harry - was outside of our fence - including Mary and John, who are only a couple of weeks old.
So I went out, shored up the fence after telling those rascals to climb their little butts back under the fence. That task completed, I came back in - washed my hands like I was off to perform surgery and got back to breakfast.

I iced the first set of rolls, washed the grapes, set out plates, then went off to take a shower.

In the midst of the conditioner cycle, Angus started barking. I don't know if I've told you about Angus yet. You may remember Koda and Miley - my two beautful Pyreneese/Newfoundlan cross pups. Well, Koda got sick - and then sicker and while I was away at my first set of training, he died. Heartbroken doesn't even begin to describe it. When I came home, I found a gal with a pure pred Pyreneese - same temperment, different face - and his name is Angus. He is all about pleasing the family - and takes it quite personally if you have a cross word for him. He is 4 months old now.

Anyway - I had to rinse and get dressed. I entered the kitchen to find 3 dogs on my kitchen table, neatly polishing off those cinnamon rolls. "You get out of here! and a moment later then were back outside. Angus was waiting at the base of the table for them to get out, then he looked up at me, wagged his tail and went back to lay down.

On the way up the mountains, there was a logging truck which had lost a part of it's load - delaying me 40 minutes - but I was rewarded at the doctors office when she asked about a patient and I could tell her I had already talked to her - nice.

During pump training I parked my car in the shade and left the moon roof open - to keep the inside from boiling. When I returned, there was a cat inside, rifling around in my empty pistachio container- who looked just like Kitten Bob. It was not, though, and after a couple of seconds of trying to figure out how to get out of this car - he rushed past me.

Just a weird day...

Week Two of the New Job

Let me first say that working from home is fantastic. I love being able to work on home stuff - like folding laundry, while listening to a telecast. It has forced us to clean out the carport, remove the linoleum from the sunroom - and make it into an office, and fold a huge mountain of laundry and sort things in our room - so that we can use what we have. I love it.

I have been all over my territory these last two weeks - I was in the mountains yesterday and will be out by fancypants lake later today for training, after I join the nurses at BIG UNIVERSITY hospital for lunch. I feel like I am spending a lot of time in the car - and that my phone may in fact have grown attached to my ear!

I am putting in a LOT of 15 hour days right now - and I am actually looking forward to training in LA so that I can get a little break.

In other news, I will be seeing both of my cousins that weekend - and it should be great fun - makes the whole trip worthwhile!

I will get caught up on what's happening with the rest of the world, just as soon as I get these dishes done.

Happy Earth Day - a little early

Justin and I are going on a retreat this weekend - a Marriage Encounter to be exact - so I wanted to leave you with a little food for thought early on Earth Day.

Now what kind of a granola head would I be without saying something about Earth Day?

Yahoo! has a great site here with lots of links and information about what a person can do to get started.

You see, it isn't all about being a tree hugger - it is about personal responsibility and making sure we don't make such a big mess that our kids can't clean it up.
We buy as many things that are minimally processed as possible. We buy local produce if we can - and cage free eggs - organic creamer - we use Shaklee cleaners whenever possible - or orange oil - and Burt's Bees reigns in the bathroom.

As an aside, if you spend time outdoors, they have a carrott oil spray that feel FANTASTIC on your skin.

We use the more expensive energy saving light bulbs - which cost more up front, but have lowered our energy bills significantly. Even the flood lights are the compact kind.

When our water heater goes kaput - we are looking at buying one that is tankless - or at least uses some solar heating - we live the the South and have so many warm days that it seems silly to use energy to heat the water when the sun is already working hard to heat everything else!
Our dishwasher and washing machine use a gray water system - which means that teh water goes back into the yard so that the water isn't wasted - or sent to a wastewater treatment plant where energy and chemicals are used to clean the water.

We put up bubble wrap which came around things from Amazon - to help insulate the windows in the winter.

We throw anything organic that we can into the compost pile - and we reuse all the glass jars and try to buy things with minimal packaging.

When we looked at buying cars we paid attention to mileage and fule efficiency - not only for cost - but to assure that we didn't contribute any more than necessary to the fossil fuel problem. With my new job there will be travel - and there is a good possibility I may choose a hybrid as my next car - if I can afford it. But in the mean time, I get my oil changed and try to keep my tires filled to make sure the present cars are as efficient as possible.


The sustainable farm we have is as much therapy as it is environmentally friendly, but is serves both purposes well. The rabbits are warm and furry and take my mind off the dishes left to be washed - then their little pellett droppings fertilize my garden, enabling me to grow organic vegetables and feed my family. That garden is grown without pesticides - and with just enough left over that the birds and the squirrels will also be fed. That part of the lawn doesn't have to be mowed either - well that and the portion covered in trees. Reducing the emissions from our house. I don't use pesticide or Miracle Gro on the yard. Intentionally - it isn't good for the frogs or teh crawdads in our creek - and it kills birds.

There are plenty of opportunities for us to make changes in the way we do things - so that we take care of the land we are entrusted. This Earth Day take a minute and look around at all the beautiful things which surround you - and take a minute to take care of your Mother.

Logansport...

About ten years ago, one of my cousins and I started doing a little geneology research - and that is where I found out that I accidentally named my son Jacob after my great, great grandfather, Jacob.

My family has lived in Logansport since the early 1800's, and back in the 40s and 50s Loner Lumber built many of the houses in the neighborhoods bordering Logansport High School. I remember driving through those neighborhoods with my folks on Christmas Eve, talking about how the family had built many of those houses. My Great Uncle Herman still lives in one. When the business folded, my granfather and 6 of the 8 kids moved out to Kansas City, where much of the family still is, but my dad and his brother stayed in Indiana.

I lived on High Street for a couple of years, in a house that was just three doors down from where my father grew up, and about two blocks away from where my mom grew up - bordering Riverside Park. I had a lovely old home -it was huge, with pocket doors and a 26 foot kitchen - I think it is still blue - 1324 if you drive by...That is still my FAVORITE house of all time. The big mint green one, with the spire, where the mayor used to live - that was where my dad's family grew up -they played baseball at Riverside park. My folks used to meet on High Street and walk the last little bit to school together when they were dating - the school is now where Marsh sits, right there on Market and Broadway - the iron fence, where they walked through the gates.

My son, Josh, received his first Reconciliation and Communion in the same church as my parents, and it is still decorated by a big golden figure of Jesus, right as you come over the bridge from the river. I loved that church and it always feels like home. My mother's dad and step mom were buried from that church, aunts and uncles were married in that church - and some day, my own parents receive their final blessings there as well. Baptized, married and buried my dad says.

When I think of Indiana, it is often that drive from Indy to Logan that comes to mind - the sycamore trees, the corn fields, the little green oasis as you pass through Deer Creek... I loved it there and my memories of the time I lived there are some of my best ever.

If you travel to Logan, make sure you stop off and get a Spanish Hot Dog - and a root beer in a mug, not to go - there is no comparison.

Thank you for asking about Logansport - it was a great trip down memory lane on a cold Monday morning...

The Short List

Well, all of my garden, which was in fact planted two weeks before it was supposed to be, survived the freezing temperatures this weekend. I was very thankful until I went to look over things this morning - and found Sheila DIGGING UP AND EATING ALL OF MY RADISHES.

She is on my short list. Oh no you don't - don't ooh and aw about how cute she is - little rascal...

We had two puppies that my daughter rescued, and we lost one to parvo, while I nursed the other one through it. Oddly enough, now she has mange. I wonder if she decided it was a pretty good deal to be inside and just rolled in something so she could stay inside. Um I just realized I have been outsmarted by the dog. Great.

In the love springs eternal category, is this story, sent to me by my husband who knows I love a good love story. Enjoy....

bad mamma, bad mamma....

I am so sorry for neglecting you these past weeks- but things have really been on the move around here!
Last Wednesday I had a bit of surgery - teh girl kind so I won't bore you with gory details. Suffice it to say it was really easy - and I feel better already. Wish I would have done this months ago.
Thursday and Friday I had off - so I planted a couple rows of spinach in my garden then put a Bartlett pear tree and another Peach tree in the yard. My cherry trees bloomed - and I am hopeful that I might actually get some cherries this year.

Saturday I took Josh to get his learners permit. In true understated fashion, he came back from the test and said: Mom, I don't know how someone could not pass that test - it wasn't hard at all.

Saturday night we went to my sister in law's house. There are 5 family birthdays all around the same time, so we celebrate them all together. Justin has an "adopted brother" who also celebrates with us. Every year we get him something - and he never gets anything for Justin. So, I waited until Justin was done and when this guy still didn't give him a present, I put his gift back in the bag to take home. Is that horrible???? I'm not sure - but it irks me to keep giving to someone who feels no need to reciprocate even though he has the ability. That is one of my pet peeves - people who just sponge off of the good-heartedness of others to fill their seemingly endless pit of needs.

On Monday night, Justin got a job offer from a company he had been temping with - finally after all these months our days of penny pinching are coming to an end. We celebrated by taking the family out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant - and though we spent a bit of cash, there will be leftovers for many meals to come!

After dinner, I dropped off Josh at a friend's house. I love how even as a teenager he still kisses me goodbye. He is headed to Panama City, which I found out later is where most of the kids from his high school will be. Great. I told him to have a good time - but come home a virgin and without a tattoo. Yes, I know that is blunt, but for heaven's sake, I remember the silly things kids did on Spring Break when their parents weren't around - and you know how it goes - if you don't say it specifically, then kids think they can get away with it.

Have I mentioned how much I adore the porch? When I come home I can change clothes then stand out there and watch the ducks in the creek and the goats climbing up those fallen tree trunks - there is no medication like a little time with nature. I tied out a hammock and now in the evening when I return phone calls I can lay out there and look up at the moon through the shagbark hickory tree - it is just lovely. Since those dogs destroyed all my herbs last summer, I have put the little pots up on my porch - even the strawberries are sprouting now - which makes me a happy girl!

I took Dale's advice and signed up for a blessing in my e-mail each morning. Today it was talking about how we plant the seeds of our future, how we must quickly pull up those weeds that threaten to choke that future and how we can live in abundance by being careful about what we have planted. And the little song from some movie: the love you take is equal to the love you make... keeps playing in the back of my mind.

Things on the work front are interesting these days. I can't elaborate at the moment, but promise to when there is some finality. I am unabashed in my desire to try to change the world, though it seems to be one person at a time rather than those big brushstrokes that famous people use. That's okay with me - I have too colorful a past to be famous - but it sure would be nice to be financially sound as well as altruistic.

Some days suck...

This is a picture of my folks from last year - Father's Day if I remember correctly - just outside of the Roof Garden at Indiana Beach.

I talked to my mom last night for a long time. Seems that the radiation bought some time, but isn't doing all they want it to do for the cancer - and the kidneys are being shut off - so my dad is having surgery today - getting a line installed for dialysis.

They have been dealing with this for two years now, and I think it is a testament to how well my dad took care of himself for all those years, that he has been able to withstand all the chemicals coursing through his veins. And a testament to their faith - that they just keep trying even when it doesn't look so promising.

I wish I could fix it - I wish there was something else to do - but in the end, as in all else, we do teh best we can and rely on God to make up the difference. Sufficient unto the day.

And if you have a minute - say a prayer for them - pray for peace in their hearts, pray for strength - and healing wouldn't be bad either.

*update* in true Loner fashion, my dad decided things were too big of a mess at the hospital this morning - that there were too many problems - so he just called me and was on his way home. Apparently surgery is delayed - and he may be waiting for Dr Ash himself to insert the Ash split. You just never know,.

Not falling for this!

If there was one thing I could change it would be my fear of heights - well, not heights exactly, but the fear of falling and falling and falling to my death - from something high up.

When I lived by the rim of Canyon de Chelly - it was bad - since I wanted to look down, but it scared the crap out of me. I forced myself to look anyway - but a small part of me was always morbidly waiting for one of my family - or me - to fall right off the side. Sick, I know.

I haven't seen the Grand Canyon because I am afraid of the drop - though I love looking at the pictures. And now this story about an amazing platform that will let you go over the cliff and get a bird's eye view.

But unless I overcome my fear, these pictures are the closest I will ever get - and that makes me sad.

Hello kiddies

I am applying for a job with a Fortune 500 company, and since three people from work now read my other site, along with the inlaws, I decided to scooch!

Thanks for coming by- and I promise to download the pictures of all the babies and my house goat Louise!

Whew!

Part One: Bourbon
Friday night we went to dinner club with my friend Irene. Seems one of the couples in her club had to stop coming - so we were added. Her husband kept encouraging me to have one more drink - three bourbons, two Irish Coffees and a cream liquor ( or three) later, I couldn't drive home. Bill is in his eighties - and true to the Irish Rogues I have known in the past he joked that he wasn't trying to ply me with liquor, unless of course it was working! I made some great fig cake - though the chocolate guiness puddings were a little rough. We had so much fun that when it got to midnight, we were surprised -but left anyway. They are so genuinely charming - just down to earth and practical - I have really enjoyed them.

Part Two: Summer Already
Saturday was fanatastic - I woke the kids with a bagpipe and drum cd - quietly at first- then full force. I made bacon and oatmeal and fried potatoes - mmm Irish breakfast.
We got downtown to the parade and what should we find but Summer! She was dressing out for the parade, but that other person who was supposed to be in costume with her bailed. So we brought her with us instead. It was cold, but we managed to get a sunburn in spite of that. Only 4 peices of candy, though. What the hell is that? I thought that was a big part of the parade- to throw candy at the kids??? Anyway - after the parade Summer's fiance' changed out of his costume and we went out to eat at the Greasy Spoon.

This city landmark is known for no nonsense burgers and onion rings - great chili fries and chili dogs. If you don't know what you want when you get to the counter, they'll send you to the back of the line. The counter person yells: whatll ya have? whatll ya have?" Then yells back your order. We bulked up on grease and cholesterol - and loved every second of it. While Ivan was quiet in the beginning, the inner geek of the gentlemen at our table kicked in and they spent most of lunch talking about movie stuff.
I should be able to post some pictures tonight - but the USB cable was messed up and I couldn't get them to download.
After we went home, we settled in to dinner of Corned Beef and Cabbage - and new potatoes, and carrots and honey oatmeal bread ( that did in fact have flaxseeds, but you wouldn't have minded, it was like oatmeal cookies in bread form - I'm having it again today for lunch!)

Part Three: Running
Sunday we were on cleanup duty after coffee and donuts. while this means we are assured a donut for breakfast - it also means we are stuck at church until 11:20. We wiped tables, vacuumed and swept the floor and got to spend a while with my friend Mary from church.
My friend Irene, who provided the hooch on Friday night, asked me to go with her for a luncheon to join the K of C Columbiettes. Little did we know that we were stuck there from noon until 4pm. Holy moses. But the ceremony was painless and the sausage and peppers at the end was good - so no complaints here!
I got home only to find that Josh and his three buddies needed a ride about half an hour away to a birthday party - so back in the car I went. I got home about 15 minutes before CCD where we practiced for Confirmation on Wednesday.
Confirmation practice went well, I am astounded, though, by the number of people who feel it is appropriate to yell in the sacristy - it makes me tired when people act like their opinion is more important than what is best for the group... but that is a whole other issue.
On the way out of church, I called Justin - offered to stop and pick up something for dinner since it was only the two of us - and Jake. Justin was out putting all the animals away, and I was looking forward to sitting down for a bit.

I walked in with my Taco Bell tacos - pleased with myself for managing to get dinner by 9 after the day I had - when I heard one of Josh's friends in the front room. Seems they upset the mother who was picking them up and she came at 8 instead of 11. 10 tacos was not going to feed 6 people - especially since four of them eat like teenagers. Thank God for a well stocked pantry - I whipped up chipotle brown rice - a can of Organic Black beans -with green chiles added in - then I sauteed up some shrimp and grilled a couple pork chops.
Miraculously, 30 minutes later there was dinner - and I even had a little rice and beans left over. Crisis averted.
By bedtime, I was whipped - but a little Kahlua knocked the stress right out of me - oh yea, have you ever seen Conan the Destroyer? It is on our free movies right now - and it was better than I thought it would be - or that might have been the Kahlua.