Garden Update!

JUNE!!

Wow, when Greg and I got back from Oregon, the garden had practically exploded with veggies and new growth! John and I are having so much fun. We enjoy going out there every evening to see what's new. We are picking little tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash almost every night. The cucumbers are also doing quite well. We ate our first "celebrity' tomato with our dinner a couple of nights ago and it was amazing. There's just something so rewarding about eating your own fresh grown veggies. There's no tomatoes in the grocery stores right now, but we had our own! Yeah! A few new pics:

And finally: another gardendog picture! Elvis is the laid back supervisor of the backyard garden!

Old McDonald had a Farm! (kind of)

So, a sure sign that we're getting older is that we've planted a garden for the first time! We have constructed a raised bed garden out of cedar. It was a kit that we ordered from the internet, and it's just lovely. We've planted zucchini, yellow squash, red and yellow peppers, onions, basil, and lots of tomato plants. We planted several varieties of tomatos, large and small, just to see what worked. This is an experimental year for us, since we're newbies. But so far, we're quite pleased. It's so much fun to come home in the evenings to see how it's progressing. John is really proud of it! A few pictures. The first one from the first day we planted everything.

The next are from yesterday (april 30)

Our First Pepper!

A Missing Friend...

One of my former classmates and friend has gone missing. Please click on the following link for more information: www.findjohnglasgow.com
I remember John as being very sweet and quiet. He found love with another classmate, Melinda. Melinda and John have lived a very happy, fulfilling, and satisfying life. They've raised a bright and successful son. And now this. I can't even imagine what Melinda is going through right now. The not knowing has to be terrible. Please say a prayer that he will be found. Thanks.

January is already gone!

How the heck did that happen? I kept meaning to update my blog all month long, and somehow never got around to it!
We had a wonderful Christmas. We were blessed to have Amanda and Kyle join us for their first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. It was fun introducing Kyle to all our crazy traditions; Christmas Eve Candlelight service, followed by appetizers at Chili's, the Christmas pajama tradition, the annual "giving of the loot" by Papa. It was so much fun!
The house is quiet again, now that everyone is gone. John and I are settling back into our empty nest routine. It's kind of nice to get back to our new normal.
Have a blessed New Year!

Six Things that Drive Me Crazy!

Owning a store is awesome. I love the freedom and independence of being in business for myself. But sometimes the same customers who are my bread and butter, who I bend over backward trying to please, and whose business I work hard to earn can drive me flippin’ crazy. Thus I present:
My top six list of things that drive me crazy.
6) The “Wal-Martization” of America has made people think that they can return anything at anytime for whatever reason, without thinking about how it affects a small business. “Yeah I bought these 4 months ago and my kid doesn’t want to play anymore and I just want my money back” ….I’m sorry what????? Your kid doesn’t like football/baseball whatever and it’s somehow MY fault? Ummmm….no. I don’t even think so.
5) Customers who have no idea what size their child wears, or how much they weigh. Then blame us if we sell them the wrong size pant, pad or helmet. Even though we beg them to bring in their child for a proper fitting, they somehow think we should have a sixth sense or something. Weird.
4) Helpless customers who can’t (or won’t) maintain anything, then gripe at us when their equipment gets damaged. Yeah, your treadmill belt is shredded because you didn’t adjust it, and somehow that’s our fault. Right…A customer yesterday brought in a pair of shoulder pads that their child had tangled up the straps and laces. It was a mess. She brought it in for US to detangle. Seriously.
3) Parents who don’t watch their children when they’re in the store. Their little precious angels climb all over the equipment in their muddy nasty cleats, sometimes tearing belts or damaging ellipticals. When I say nicely, “sweety, get off the equipment please” Mom looks at me like I’m Satan or something. Watch your kids Mom…Please?
2) Grown men who tromp in the store with their muddy filthy shoes, displacing items, then just leaving golf clubs, packages, gloves etc. lying around. (Ususally in the wrong department) I have my own family to clean up after, can’t you at least put something back where you got it? Pretty please?
1) Cell Phones!! Customers come in the store yakking away about something of obviously earth shattering importance, and I don’t know whether to offer to help them or not. When I ask if they need help, I get the impatient “index finger wait a minute” signal, when I don’t I get the impatient “Can’t somebody help me?” comment. Grrrrrrrrr. Hang up the freaking phone people!

Yeah!!! I did it! A Digital layout!

I created a digital layout! And flattened the layers, and saved it as a jpeg, and uploaded it here. A HUGE accomplishment for me, trust me! All the elements used are from twopeas. I even learned how to create a curve using one of the tutorials online. I am so stinking proud of myself right now. I did get a little confused during the whole process, but hopefully some of it sunk in. I really like digital scrapping, though I can already tell I'm going to HAVE to get a removable hard drive to save all the stuff on.

More on the wedding....

Some random wedding thoughts, now that I can think!

I couldn't cry all weekend, even though the mother of the groom cried non stop at every single event. Picked up the chairs for the ceremony, she cried; unloaded the chairs at the ceremony location, she cried; met the florist, she cried; saw K at the front of the aisle, she cried; etc. etc...it was sweet and touching, but I just didn't have any tears. I was too flipping busy to cry. People were asking me questions for two solid days, and I had so much to do, I really didn't even have time to think about crying! That is until I walked down the aisle and plopped my butt into the seat next to my Daddy (who was already tearful) and the music started and I saw K's reaction when he saw A at the top of the stairs for the first time in her wedding gown. Wow. What a beautiful moment. THEN I cried. Finally. Sweet tears of joy that my daughter found somebody who so obviously LOVES her socks off. What more can a Mom ask for?

We had everybody over for coffee and donuts the next morning, and the newlyweds came over and opened their wedding gifts from the night before. It was a great morning, very relaxed and fun, everybody was tired but in great spirits.

After everybody left, and the adrenalin wore off, exhaustion hit me like a freaking sledgehammer. Several other Mom's had warned me of this, but you can't imagine it until you feel it. I couldn't move I was so tired.

The weeks leading up to the wedding it felt like this: if you've had children, remember the moment when you went into labor and you realized that things were in motion that you couldn't control, and then at that moment, you realized that this was IT and your life was going to be completely, totally different from that moment on? That's what having my daughter get married felt like. Happiness and joy and business and planning for months, then, WOW this is IT! No turning back...here it goes....and then....we had a new son. Life is definitely a journey...

A couple more pics...some from the rehearsal dinner (we did the groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner so people would actually eat it) and more from the wedding:

The grooms cake: see the bride and groom on top?

A and her brother:

Our family:

Their Wedding

Here's a few photos from A & K's wedding. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot for an outdoor wedding, which we all worried about! They were both beautiful, and more than a few tears were shed during the ceremony. They were just so sweet! The pastor was so wonderful, and gave a very heartfelt and personal message. Here's a few pictures. It was a wonderful day...

6 Months

So apparently 6 months in advance is not "advance" enough to plan a wedding. Did you know that people book wedding sites 1 year or more in advance? Sheesh! I didn't think we'd be able to find a place for this shindig! But we did...it will be lovely. It's a local farm with a pavillion for the ceremony and a large air conditioned room for the reception. Think "rustic" not country. That's what we're going for. She already has her colors and her flowers picked out. She's spoken to the preacher. So, technically whether I get anything else done, the wedding is on! We ordered the cakes too. She's going with cupcakes. How cute will that be? I keep tearing up when I imagine her coming down that staircase on her Dad's arm. And I know it will be here before I know it. I'm just going to concentrate on staying in the moment, like I did her senior year of high school, so I don't forget a moment...........Breathe....

So...I'm going to be a Mother-in-Law

I'm going to be a mother in law!! I can't even beleive it...it just sounds so foreign to me. Kyle proposed to Amanda a week ago, and we're still kind of in overwhelmed mode.
We're very happy but we have a whole lotta planning to do! John was laying in bed last night and out of the blue said,"I'm going to be giving my daugher away"...I think the realization just at that moment hit him. Poor guy.

November

It's November...wow the year has passed so quickly! So much has happened...Another year older, another year married, my son graduated. Funny how life seems to glide by, almost nonchalantly, especially when measured in moments like those. You know, you're looking forward to your birthday, then it comes and passes, you look forward to graduation for months and months, then it comes and passes. As a mom, I dreaded taking my baby to college, but it came and passed. Just like that.
We've slowly adjusted to the empty nest. It's just dreadfully quiet sometimes, and I find myself wishing for something more. Just not sure what the "more" is. I wish I could travel, but I'm locked in to the store. I wish I could go see my neice and nephew, my brothers; it just can't happen right now. Maybe one day I'll have that freedom...I just hope that time is soon.
Happy fall ya'll...Thanksgiving (and Christmas) is on the way.

Oops!! He did it again!

Well, apparently I have the most accident prone son on the planet. To date here are his injuries:

Broken collarbone, broken hand, broken finger, pulled groin muscle, broken nose (twice) 3 concussions, countless trips to the emergency room, and one very terrifying ambulance ride. And now....drumroll please...

He's cut his foot between the big toe and second toe. He was playing some game, in the mud (yeah, I know I know) and lacerated his foot on something in the mud. The mud got so far up into the laceration that the doctor at the emergency clinic wouldn't sew him up. So he had to go to a foot surgeon the following morning to have it surigically cleaned. YUK!! And yep, he's now on crutches, and flip flops are entirely out of the question for quite some time.

I'm making light of this, but please pray that infection doesn't settle in there, which is a big concern because of all he mud and guk that was in there.

Uninspired...

Haven't posted anything in awhile. I just haven't been very inspired. My life's pretty dull right now.
Went to see Les Miserables in Dallas. It was beautiful. The actor who played Jean Valjean had the most amazing voice. It gave me chills. I think Phantom of the Opera is still my favorite. My DS sat on the edge of his seat, watching intently. I know he's just chomping at the bit to get back to acting.
He's been gone so much this summer, I feel like he's already left for school. DD has been home a couple of times. This last time she came all by herself, and it was so nice to be able to take care of her and baby her a little bit. It's the Mom in me, I can't help but revert into full blown maternal role sometimes.
Money's tight, business is good, but we're still just barely squeaking by. Gonna be a long 4 years...makes it harder when all your friends are loaded and spending money like drunken sailors. Oh well...God has a plan for us, I've just got to remember that.

Almost an empty nester...

DS graduated Friday. I cried a little bit. But I think I must be saving my big crying fit for when we take him to school. I was just way too busy the day of graduation to get too emotional,and when I started to I kind of stomped it down and wouldn't allow the tears to come. Lots of family came in, and we had a party afterwards to celebrate his graduation. I was really proud of how he took the time to visit with them...it was just really sweet to see him spending time with them all. I love that kid...

Prom!

Prom was so great for DS. He enjoyed it so much. His date was gorgeous...he was gorgeous. They literally danced all night. I'm hoping he made memories to last a lifetime.

Devastated..... and pissed

The son of one of my friends committed suicide yesterday morning while they were at church. I don't even have the words for how I'm feeling right now. Worried for my friend. Hurting for my friend. and pissed at her son. Why, in God's name did he do this? He left a wife and 15 month old baby, and a path of grief and destruction in his wake. He's always been the type to run away...I'm thinking this was the ultimate "running away"...It's just so sad...and pointless....His death will forever be tied to so many things in their lives. This was supposed to be a wonderful time in their life, and the life of their family. It just doesn't make any sense. I guess suicide never does...I'm sure in time I'll have a more compassionate attidude, but right now, my loyalty and emotions are with her....I can't even imagine how much pain she's in over this....

Happy Easter!

Easter was wonderful. Went to early church. Went to Starbucks. Came home, rested and visited with the fam. Went to Wally World and got bedding plants and came home and played in the dirt. Then we had a cookout for John's birthday. We absolutely had a blast. Mom and Dad came over, and we just hung out and visited. It was truly a wonderful, wonderful day.

Amazing!

Phantom of the Opera just completely blew me away. The guy who played the Phantom did a phenomenal job. His singing literally gave me chill bumps. The Music of the Night was the prettiest I've ever heard. Our seats weren't that great, but it was wonderful just being there. And my "church lady" clothes were just fine. I was amazed at the variety of clothing styles there. For example, the one that cracked me up the most was the tatooed biker chick in a red long beaded gown. She looked like she was really excited to be there. Her date however, had on his Khaki cargo shorts and gross t shirt. Why? Why? Why? Come on dude, have a little consideration for you date. She looked so gorgeous compared to you. What the heck were you thinking. Lordy. People never cease to amaze me.
I've started a countdown til my DS's graduation. Lots to do, and no time to get it all done. First and foremost is getting the backyard pretty again, since it's been totally destroyed by Daisy the Devil Dog. I'm sure whatever I plant will be chewed, spindled and mutilated by the end of May anyway, but I'll try. I'm eternally optimistic! Happy Easter!

Hooooraayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!

I get to go see Phantom of the Opera tomorrow night, and I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am. Except I'm extremely nervous that I won't be dressed properly, like I have "going to the Opera" clothes hanging in my closet. Like I'm living in Salem with the cast of Days of our Lives, who seem to get dressed up constantly and go to fancy balls all the time. Nope, I'll be wearing my "church lady" clothes, and hanging out with High School kids, but I don't freakin' care, because I get to get out of the store, out of town, and I get to escape for the whole evening! Yaaaaaaayyyy!!! I'm so freakin happy!!!!
Yeah, ......sigh.....I have no life, and it doesn't take much to thrill my little small town girl soul!

The brats are wearing me out!

Most ridiculous item of the day...Seriously? Are you kidding me? A woman came in the store yesterday with her son. Looking for a jockstrap. He was embarrased of course. Whatever. Mom proceeded to ask if we had UnderArmor brand jocks. That was the only kind he would wear. Ummm....no......We just carry the basic jock that all guys wear. He'll only wear UnderArmor jocks. Seriously? You're raising your kid to be that much of a brand snob? You're going to drive all over town searching for an UnderArmor jock for your snotty little brat? Seriously....???? Sheesh......That's just sad and pathetic. What great values you're instilling in your boy.