Happy Tuesday! Let's take a walk

Well, Baby J just left for awhile, so I am dragging Beloved to the grocery store. Not great fun for either of us, but better together than just going alone. the weather in the South Bay is perfect. Should be out for a walk instead of household stuff. Maybe we'll stop for lunch somewhere we can people watch. Hold hands an walk around a bit. It's that kind of day.
But then I really have to get back here. I went on laundry strike this last week and the dirty clothes multiply when left too long. So I will wash, dry, fold and put away while thinking of wonderful place to walk.
Ever been to Buschart Gardens? Dear friend Beverly introduced me years ago. Almost too beautiful to believe. In my mind, I'll be walking there today.

“We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lost sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.”

Here is where I'd like to go today:

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to", said the Cat.
"I don't much care where-" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matte which way you go", said the Cat.
"As long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation.
"Oh, you're sure to do that", said the Cat, "If you only walk long enough."
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Let everyone know what kind of flower you are!

I am a Snapdragon "Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh." What Flower Are You?

I'm slow, but I can be taught

I'm learning to not hate those emails that come from friends with "please fill this out, send back to me and forward to a million of our friends..." on them. the problem I have had is that I could never find anything clever and new to say.
But my ever optimistic friends Laurie and Robin just don't give up. The latest version asks the reader to answer the questions for the sender. That by itself made it different enough to not delete. I enjoyed reading what one friend thinks the other is like. So why am I writing this? My sister. Lorna. She actually sent one back to me already filled out. It made me cry, then made me smile. Now I have to fill it out for her, but that's easy.
Your challenge is to send this on to someone. Make them cry and smile just to know how well you know them. It will make their day.
Where did we meet? When Mom was pregnant, I spoke to you.

Take a stab at my middle name? Marie, although I thought it was Tuiti Fruiti.

Do I speak a second language? Some Spanish.

Am I a cat lover or dog lover? Yes, but you had a dog.

Do I smoke? Heaven’s no.

Color of my eyes? Beautiful baby blues, just like mine.

Do I have any siblings? Duh! Two beautiful sisters and one brother.

What's one of my favorite things to do? With closed eyes, enjoy the smell of the ocean, the wind in your hair.

What's my favorite type of music? Don’t know this one, rock and roll?

Am I taller than you? Nope.

Am I shy or outgoing? Outgoing, usually, but shy because you don’t like to be around lots of strangers, unless it’s on your terms.

Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules? You follow rules, but say so when you don’t agree.

What is my birth month? The beautiful spring month of April.

Have you ever heard me sing? Yes, and like me, we couldn’t get paid for it, maybe paid to stop.

How many children do I have? Three by birth, plus a precious grandchild, Jamie.

Have we taken photographs together? Many, many, many.

When is the last time you saw me? A couple weeks ago, you flashed a beautiful smile to me on our phones, but in person, a couple Christmases ago.

When will I see you again? Hoping soon.

Have we ever had a falling out? Have probably gone some time without speaking, but we both always know, nothing can alter the love and respect we have for each other.

If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing
that I would bring? A picnic basket, complete with blanket, fresh fruit, sunscreen and hopefully a toothbrush for both of us.

Am I right handed or left handed? Left, and a very creative lefty at that.

What type of work do I do? The most important of jobs, you raise children, you are a wife and homemaker, you cater occasionally, but you always cater to others.

dental work

My dentist doesn’t hurt me. I worked for him as a chairside assistant for a couple of years during the stone age. Technology has come a long way, but the fact that he is gentle hasn’t changed.

I would go more often if it weren’t so expensive. I broke a tooth the other day and today I had a root canal for about the cost of a used car. Forget about the crown the tooth will need next. I just won’t chew on that side ever again. Or smile. Or talk. Who am I kidding? Of course I will get the work done. I wonder if Dr. I will take my first born in trade.

Easter decorations

I admit that I put up my holiday decorations way too early. Easter is no exception. I found a new birdie friend at Lallee's Cottage . She is quite the chickie in the dining room giving me some attitude.
Never fails to make me smile. Even today. I am on my way to the dentist to have a broken tooth looked at. So my smile is a bit sideways, but my dentist is good. I will be in good hands. And the chickie will be smiling when I return.

Baby J escaped and went for a little run today after church. The twirly dress was just too fun for her to ignore.


she ran from Grandpa and laughed so hard, she fell. Not to worry, she just needed to show me her knee and all was well.
and she was off again.
the fabric of this dress is my new crush. I love how cheerful and colorful it is. I went way overboard(sorry, couldn't help myself) and had several tops, skirts and bottoms made of this fabric. You will be seeing more as the weather improves.

Classics never go out of style

Remember when women’s pants sat at your waist? These days, this style is called
“classic”. And “modern cut” pants start at your hips when you are standing but just go ahead and sit down and they end up somewhere south of the border. Anything that comes near your belly button is not modern enough. That’s ok. I can live with “classic”.
So, the other day I saw the funniest thing to come around the bend in a long time when I saw the photo of a runway model wearing Kermit the frog. I almost peed myself.

Missy, Queen of the Yard

I have wondered what it is about turtles and tortoises that draws certain people to them. We really didn’t plan to have turtles. They just kept adopting us. Whatever brought us to this point, we live with an African sulcata, the largest mainland tortoise species in the world.
We have had turtles. However, a couple of red-ear sliders and a box turtle do not prepare you for a tortoise. I asked questions before I bought. What do they eat? What would they need for housing? What diseases do they get? Answering these questions gave me a sense of confidence that I could care for one of these beauties. Ty even agreed to take on this job after I was gone. You know they live a loooong time.
When I first got Missy, she was very shy. However, I learned that she will do anything for a strawberry, so this way we got to know each other. She has a sweet tooth. I also found out she is a picky eater. Who would have thought?
In the winter she stays warm in an aquarium in the garage and occasionally visits us in the house. But when the weather warms up, Missy gets going. She patrols our back courtyard with that funny tip toe walk of hers. This is her land and she knows it. When I am in the yard, she follows me around. I’m never sure if she is begging for a treat or making sure I don’t move her stuff.
She grows slowly but steadily each year. I used to be able to hold her in the palm of my hand and cuddle her under my ear. These days it takes two hands and some muscle to get her around. But in my eyes she is still the little sweetie I brought home.
She is a nice tortoise. If she were human I would be friends with her. She has a gentle way about her and is very patient with Tommy, the crusty, one eyed box turtle who also lives in the yard. He tries his macho act on her and she just walks away. Her size doesn’t scare him. But the indifference just bugs him to death.
It is a good tortoises are solitary animals. Having 2 of these would be silly. Like having 2 elephants. I can see having 1. But 2 is just asking for trouble

my mom

My beautiful sister and my mom sent me a box of old photos. Many were of my young family in years past. My weight and hairstyle changed with each season. The faces of my babies look out at me over the years and remind me how much I love them. Then I saw photos of my Mom with my babies. I looked at my mother’s face. Really looked. Reading her face is like revisiting a favorite book from childhood. I know the words by heart; I can see them in my mind. I can put the voices to the dialog. The pictures are a bit faded but all the more dear. The pages are certainly older, worn and smudged. But my little hands made those smudges years ago as I lingered over the story and the quiet time. I know my mom’s face by heart, but still I look, and I remember loving her for all my life.

Top of the morning to you

When I was in school, everyone who didn’t wear green on St. Patrick’s Day got pinched. Wonder if that still happens?

I am married to an Irishman. I have raised Irish children. I’ve cooked their food and taken their blarney. Why? Because they are the most loveable and charming rogues. For heaven’s sake, their eyes actually twinkle. No I am of the more practical German heritage. You might imagine my loved ones seem like aliens to me sometimes. Their funny dispositions and crooked smiles never fail to make me all gooey and loving and well, happy.

I will kiss my own leprechauns and have a lucky day,

Ruth