A Little More of the Story

So we got the news on June 7 at 9 am.

Several things were going on in the Wright house at that time.  Roman's friend Sophie was staying with us for a few days.  Roman had opening night for the two-weekend run of her musical that night.  Josh and Roman were leaving for Super Summer on Monday.

Richard and I sat in the parking lot at Southwest Hospital for about an hour trying to wrap our brain around this news.  We immediately called my ob-gyn who we trust, Dr. Dosser.  He recommended the surgeon that did my previous surgery, Dr. Cooke, and an oncologist that he uses, Dr. Geister, and he said he would fax my reports to them right away.

We also decided that we would not tell our children until after SS.  Three days was just not enough time to process and then head off to a highly emotional camp.  Our kids look forward to SS and we wanted them to go with no distractions and be able to let the Lord work in them without this being their focus.  We also knew it was going to be a difficult three days trying to keep it from them! (and it was!!)  But it was the right decision to make.

Josh was working that day and we got Roman and Sophie off to the movies at noon.  That's when we started making the calls.

Typically, a person with cancer doesn't really need an oncologist until after surgery.  But, with my tumor, we were waiting on biopsy results that would indicate three things:  if it was positive for estrogen and progesterone and if it was positive/negative for HER2.  If it was positive for the hormone markers, I could take Tamoxifen right away and it would stop the growth of the tumor.  Because of this, I needed to get in with an oncologist right away.

So our very first call was to Dr. Geister's office.  The girl was very sweet but let us know that they hadn't received any paperwork and that he was booking THREE WEEKS OUT!!  I immediately fell apart.  The very first call we make and it's a brick wall. I have cancer and I needed to see a doctor RIGHT THEN!  I hang up and just cry.  In the next few minutes, Todd Hannon is on the phone with Richard and Joan Day has called me.  She is telling me that Dr. Geister is the best and that I have to get in with him and she has the name of his nurse, etc.  At the same time, Todd is on the phone with Richard telling him that his step-mom, Denice,  is an oncology nurse in Dr. Geister's group. 

Then Richard is on the phone with Denice and she says to him, "Dr. Geister is a great doctor but if I had breast cancer, I would go to his partner, Dr. Theobald."  She goes on to tell him that her brother-in-law is Dr. Theobald's nurse.  She then makes an appointment for us directly.

We immediately see God at work in this situation and we felt such peace having such a strong recommendation from Denice.  I am convinced she might be working in that group of doctors for "such a time as this" especially now that we've met Dr. Theobald. She is already precious to us and we trusted her immediately.  When she looked me in the eye and said, "I care about you and I will get you through this"...I believed her!  It's amazing how that one phone call from Todd helped us start digging out of the black hole we had just dropped into.

Dr. Cooke's office closed at noon that day so we had to wait until Monday to make an appointment with him but we were able to see him on that Thursday while the kids were gone to camp.  Which was good...since we wanted to have some kind of solid info when we told all our kids.

In the meantime, we told only a few of our closest friends.  Our biggest objective was that it not get out until we had told the kids but we also knew that we needed prayer and support.  

I should say a few things right here.  First of all, one of our "parking lot thoughts" was that we do not know anyone that has had breast cancer.  Not one single person.  We had no immediate resource that we could turn to for "personal experience" guidance.

And, I had the most difficult time praying those first few days.  One reason is that in order for me to hold it together in front of my children, I really couldn't give it a lot of thought and I needed to think about it to pray about it.  I found myself saying "flare prayers"...you know the ones...bursts of begging for help and healing and understanding but not really even a complete sentence.  But I knew my friends were covering me with prayer...standing in the gap for my family when we couldn't stand on our own.  

And then Lisa Nail sent me the most perfect verse:  Romans 8:26. "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be expressed in words."  

Geez...this post is a gazillion miles long already but I want to end it by saying that I wrote in my journal that first Monday that I had no anxiety.  Even now, I've only had a few, brief anxious moments and I'm so grateful for that.  I know it's because I have a heavenly Father who is with me every moment and He loves me so much!

I really will get to how my breast cancer got its alias, toe cancer!  But for now, my family wants breakfast!

The Adventure Just Got Real

I have toe cancer. 

Well...not really.

I have breast cancer but, for reasons I will explain later, we refer to it as toe cancer.

I've decided to bring my blog back up out of the ashes (I can't believe it's been 2 1/2 years since my last post!) because it seems like a good way to get information out to my precious friends and family.  People want to know what I know and I get that.  I would want to know if it was someone important to me!  And, they feel like they're "bugging" me with a phone call or a text so this just seems like the best way to take care of all that.

So...welcome to my world.  Here's what we know right now:

I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.  I will have a bilateral mastectomy on July 12 followed by at least 12 weeks of chemotherapy...or "satan in liquid form" as I like to call it.

And here's how we've gotten to this point over the last 3 weeks:

You might have heard about this little event that happened in Moore on May 20th...not just Josh's 17th birthday but the massive tornado that wiped out huge parts of our community.  While we were out cleaning up in our neighborhood that week, I felt a lump in my left breast and it was a little tender.  It didn't feel any differently than the cysts that I've had in the past but since May is my mammogram month, I called to make an appointment only to find out that I had just had a mammogram in August.  I'd forgotten that my mammo's had gotten off after my surgery in 2011 on my right breast for Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS) which was just some pre-cancerous cells...no big deal...so I thought! 

Anyway...my doctor made the appointment for me for May 31...mammogram with ultrasound.  After the US the radiologist told me I needed a biopsy because what she was seeing "worried her." I had a biopsy the following Tuesday and then met with the radiologist the following Friday to get the results.  That was 3 weeks ago today.

There was an incident with a pink pillow and another with Richard and I laughing hysterically as we were bawling our eyes out in the radiologist's office, but those are stories for another day.

This post is long enough.  Plus I have to go get my pre-op lab work done today and then do some shopping with Roman.

I look forward to sharing more...there are already parts of my story that I never want to forget so I need to write it all down.  God has been in every detail and has shown Himself in so many ways already!  He loves me and He is walking with me and when this is all over, I hope He is glorified in every way!

The week I was waiting on biopsy results, I read this verse and wrote it in my journal:

But I am poor and needy yet the Lord thinks upon me.  You are my help and deliverer; do not delay, O my God.  Psalm 40:17

And the day before I got the results:  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear.  Psalm 46:1-2

David was writing about God helping him against men who wanted to kill him.  My enemy is a little different...it's inside me but wants to kill me all the same.  But my God is bigger and I know he wants the best for me!

Grateful.



 

The PW's future BFF cooks, part deux

Mocha Brownies. Just the name of these sweet treats made my mouth not just water, but GUSH! Then looking at the picture in the cookbook where the icing is as thick as the brownie just about put me over the edge.

OH.

MY.

GAH!

Let me back up here a minute. Between the Eggs In The Hole and now, I did make two other recipes from the cookbook. (That is The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond in case you're just tuning in. Another shameless plug? Yes, please!)

I made her Beans and Ham and the Chicken Spaghetti. The B&H were so similar to the way I make them, I didn't get that excited about it.

When I made the CS, I decided to send half of it to my friend that wasn't feeling well and the kids at the other part. If I remember correctly, Cutest Boy and I had dinner plans that night so I never even got to taste it. It did get rave reviews from the Wright children, though, with many requests for it since!

Back to those delish brownies!

I've been making those box-mix brownies all my life and have loved them that whole time. Betty and Duncan were my favorite peeps, kwim? Well, that's all changed now. These are so easy to make and very yummy. Low cal...they are not.

coughcough4sticksofbuttercoughcough

Take a look at this picture

Maybe once I conquer this cookbook, I will master some photography skillz!

Next up...PW's cinnamon rolls. My first adventure with YEAST!!

Yikes!

Christmas Oh-One-Oh Faves

It's January 2011 which means we just came out of December...one of my favorite months of the year. Giving gifts is one of my love languages which means that getting gifts melts my butter, too! It certainly isn't all about the gift-giving...I love that everyone is focused on Christmas so even if they don't mean to be, they are focused on Christ. He was and is the greatest gift ever given!

And there's that beautiful gift of Christmas break: 2 full weeks of NO SCHOOL!! yipppeeeeeee!! That is enough of a gift for me! (Notice I'm making this statement well after CBOTB had some presents under the tree for me!)

Oh, and the family time...there was lots of it this year and it was really wonderful.

I thought I should make a note of my favorite things from Christmas this year before my forgetfulness sets in. :)

1.) Patrick and Brandon spending the night on Christmas Eve so we could all wake up together on Christmas morning! Sweet!
2.) Marshmallow guns
3.) Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls for breakfast (yes, there will be a separate post about this crazy adventure...my first time ever to use yeast!)
4.) Marshmallow gun fights
5.) Sock Monkey hat on Roman Beth
6.) Marshmallows all over the house...and I mean ALL OVER!!
7.) Labrador Retriever from Cutest Boy just like Christmas 15 years ago
8.) More marshmallow gun battles
9.) Just Dance 2...from Josh, to me
10.) Christmas lights at Chesapeake, the dancing lights on Norman Street and the Griswald-type lights on the house by FBC Moore.

2011 is off to a great start. As I type, I'm listening to Roman at her music lesson with Mrs. Yeager. My heart swells listening to her pure, beautiful voice. God definitely gave her a gift that resides in her vocal cords!

I don't make resolutions but I am making a few plans: 1 - have more fun, 2 - never eat so much that I'm miserable full, 3 - JUST DANCE!!

Lunar Eclipse

Tuesday, December 21, 2010.

Lunar Eclipse on the winter solstice...hasn't happened since 1663...or something like that. We (the Wrights) couldn't miss that but we (the parent Wrights) couldn't stay up til 2 a.m. and Josh was still in school so he couldn't stay up that late either. So we set our alarm and decided to get up in time to just get a glimpse of it to say that we saw the great event.

And that's what we did.

We got up. We went outside. We looked. And, we went back to bed.

Or so I thought. (More on that in a minute.)

In my groggy state, I didn't grab my camera to get any pics so these are borrowed from my friend Jenny Lawless. She did a great job.


This 2nd picture is basically what we saw...the beautiful reddish, copper colored moon. It was beautiful even through sleepy eyes.

But the best part happened the next morning.

Josh comes in to breakfast and gives me "the look" and then,in a voice that, if a voice could roll its eyes then his would have been rolling, says "I guess the eclipse didn't happen."

He didn't remember us getting him up and going out in the front yard to look at the moon! That would explain why he marched himself out there in only his boxers!

He doesn't remember a thing which just cracks me up! I guess he'll have to wait another few hundred years to get in on the action!

My First PWC Recipe

First of all, I am not a professional chef. The most exotic thing I cook is a grilled pork chop with a pineapple salsa. That's my go-to dish when we have friends over in the summer...it can be impressive only because it takes forever to chop all those veggies for the salsa!

I won't be sharing any of PW's recipes on here. You should rush out and buy this cookbook and drool over it the way I do. The photography and glimpses into ranch life are so enjoyable!

Back to my cooking adventure...

This is an egg-in-the-hole. It's the first thing I cooked from the cookbook. And, I'm sure if Cutest Boy and I weren't already married, he would sweep me up and rush me to Vegas to make sure I didn't get away!

I've made these several times now for the fam and they love them! My favorite part? I toast the cut-out circle of bread along with the EITH and it is soooo yummy!

Now's the time...drop everything and get to Barnes and Noble, Target, Amazon...where ever you get your books and BUY THIS COOKBOOK!! You, too, can have your life changed...just like Roman Wright!

B...who is happy to report 3 copies of this book have been purchased by her friends since she started this crazy obsession!

Pioneer Woman

Obsession.

Definition: 1.) To have a fixation on something. 2.) A cologne by Calvin Klein. (From Beverly's dictionary!)

I have the first one. I'm completely and totally smitten with "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" cookbook.

It all started when...

My friend, Charlotte, was raving about this cookbook she had gotten. I had heard of Pioneer Woman's blog and had seen her on the Today Show once but I didn't know any of her story of how she came to "be." So I went back to her blog and nosed around a little and read about how she was a city girl turned ranch wife. She has such an easy style of writing, I felt like she was chatting just with me!

October was my month to host Bunco and after 12+ years with these ladies, each time gets a little tougher to buy just the right gift that will bring out the savage beast in each of them causing a riot when it's time to pick your prize. (Sidebar: seriously...belly button lint could cause a smackdown some nights. That's just how we roll! I do love those ladies but that's another post in itself!) So I bought the cookbook.

And I read the cookbook. Or, at least I read as much of it as I could without opening it all the way so as not to break the spine so no one could tell I had been reading it in case someone else won it. (insert big sneaky smile here)

So when Bunco came, I rolled and I rolled and I rolled those dice. And, I won. And I picked that cookbook. And the next day, I sat on my couch and read it cover to cover!

And, I'm pretty sure Ree Drummond and I would be bff's if she lived a little closer! She seems very.........hmmm, what 's the word......REAL! Probably because she is. She's an Okie...like me. She homeschools...like me. She cooks...better than me. She's a country girl...like I used to be. She's humorous...like I want to be!

We could seriously hang out!

So, after the love fest I got a brilliant idea! I'm going to cook everything in it and blog about it. Yes, I stole the idea from the movie "Julie and Julia." But, my cooking adventure will be called "Ree and Beverleeeeeee!" (I crack myself up!)

I've already made 5 things. Yipppeeeee! To quote Roman Bethany Wright: "Pioneer Woman has changed our life for the better!"

That made me giggle! Next post: Eggs-In-The-Hole.

Yum.

Beverleeeeee

How I Spend My Mornings

A few months ago, my friend Lisa and I decided to start walking in the mornings after we dropped our kiddos off at school. We were starting slow...just the days Roman was in school. And we were going on a "walking tour" to satisfy our shared disease: adult-onset ADHD.

We decided to walk at all the parks that we knew about in south OKC. We started at Earlywine. Then we walked at Red Oak. We didn't go to South Lakes cuz it seems too deserted and scary in the mornings. But we did go to the Memorial Park in Moore. They were all wonderful...but then we decided to check out Little River Park and then...and then...

I don't want to exaggerate or anything but it was SMASHINGLY BEAUTIFUL!! EXTRAORDINARILY, OUT OF THIS WORLD FABULOUS! There are ponds and squirrels and little old people who are friendly and miss us when we don't get to walk.

OK...I don't really know if they miss us but we like to think they do!


So we decided to settle down and be exclusive with LRP. And we are so happy there!

Look at these pictures...need I say more?

I didn't think it could be more beautiful and then
came the Fall. Ahhhhh...happy sigh.

So, along with a beautiful view, I get to enjoy 40
minutes of hardcore chatting with a sweet friend
who has known me since 1 month after I met
Cutest Boy.

Oh yeah...and I'm doing something good for my
ticker! We're pretty much walking at least 4 days a week now.

I just don't think I could be more blessed!

B-dawg
(who turned 43 today and is spending the day in my jammies having all my meals cooked for me and watching movies with the CBOTB!)

Favorite Things

There are some things in life that just give a girl pure, unspeakable joy.

For me...it's the automatic car wash on Telephone Road. Ahhhhh. I get that some girls enjoy the pedicure or massage or an afternoon of shopping and lattes but all I need is that 3-minute ride through the brushes and waterfalls and blowers and I could pass out from the exhilaration I feel when it's over.

Cue the music:

After I put my car in neutral, I give the carwashguy the thumbs up. I slowly start my journey. First the light foaming soap that dots the windshield. The wonderful clean smell perks up my senses. Then the giant brushes whooooosh against the side of the expedition. The giant mop slides up my windshield with a swishing sound leaving the prettiest pattern on my windshield. Then, oh sweet pickles, a gigantic sheet of water washes all the soap away like a gentle rain on a summer day.

What happens next is almost too much for me to take. It's the Triple Action Shine soap. Foaming suds in three colors - pink, blue and yellow - that smells like bubble gum and cotton candy all at the same time. I about hyperventilate with my face pressed to the air vents trying to smell it over and over again before it's gone.

Another pass under the fabulous waterfall and then it's on to the row of dryers all aimed at my car. It's all I can do not to roll down the windows and stick my head out to feel the power of those puppies!

All too quickly, it's over. I have to shake myself out of the state of lethargy it puts me in, put the car in gear and get the heck out of there before the guy behind me rams me right on out of the chute!

All for $7. Seriously...it's the best 7 bucks I spend in a week's time.

I'm off to find some mud to drive through so I'll have a reason to go back! I'm sure Cutest Boy wonders why I need to wash the car so often when we haven't had rain in weeks! Don't tell him!

You've Gotta Have a Goal

And the goal for the Wright family? Well, it's to get in the pool once every month until next summer.

Every month.

That includes January and all the other months that might have REALLY cold weather.

And when I say "the Wright family"...I mean Cutest Boy and Josh.

Seriously, they are going to do it. I do not know why but I will have my video-ing camera ready every time!

Last night was a beautiful night. At around 8:30, the sun was down and it had really cooled off. I think it was 70-ish degrees...cool enough for a hoodie. We had a fire in the fire pit and had just had smores and Josh said "I'm going in." The most shocking part of that? Roman said "Me too!"

So that's the video! My crazy baby Wrights jumping in the 68-degree water. Roman looking like she had never swam a day in her life and Josh moving through the water at lightning speed!

Where was Cutest Boy? By the fire, of course!!

Peace, love and polar bear plunges!

B

First day, Second time

August 24, 2010. The 1st day of 6th grade or, as I prefer to call it:
"it will be over before you know it and my baby will be graduating and leaving me day."

Please take a few minutes to get a snack or cup of coffee while I try to quit sobbing hysterically!

6th grade at Veritas means a move to the upper school. Roman wasn't so excited about that and I'm sad to report that, even now 4 weeks in, she doesn't really like it very much. :( Not sure why. I don't think she knows exactly why, either. But she is rocking along!

I love that girl! Even though she keeps disobeying me when I tell her to stop growing up!

How to spend the day when it's 105* outside

They say a picture's worth a thousand words,
right?

(These pictures would tell a much better story if I could EVER get them in the order I want them!! grrrr!!)

You might say it's been a tad warm in the Heartland this summer. I say it's been downright H.O.T!!! Many days in the 100's with a heat index 10 degrees above the real temp. Just miserable! There's not a much better way to beat the heat than by being in the water.

So...we put in a pool. This cute little sea turtle lives on the top step. I love him!

These rafts/floating-pieces-of-furniture were given to me by my friend Joan. This is how it went:


Joan: I have some rafts I want to give you.
Me: You have a pool. (thinking they were the little $2 floaties from wal mart)
Joan: We won't use them. Richard (her cutest boy) buys stuff like this and just puts it out in the building. Let me help you carry them out to your car.

Seriously??? They were in huge boxes and they are the most fun in the pool!! You can get about 8 6th graders on the white one!! Thank you, Joan!!

And this is a full view of the pool and deck. **happy sigh**















And, what do I say about this picture? What is there to say, really? He's 14. That pretty much sums this up!!


It looks like he's really letting loose!! hahaha

And, that's how we spend these super hot days. Ahhhh...

First day, First Time

So it was the first, first day of school for the Wrights yesterday. Roman starts next week and I'll have to do this all over again.

Doesn't this one look so sad to be headed off to high school?














Yeah...about that. He wasn't sad one bit. He didn't even consider my offer to stay home and spend the day with me. He didn't even look back when he went to jump in the car that was taking him to school! Not that I REALLY expected him to come back and give me one more hug...that only happens in the movies, right?

Well, he went. He conquered. He loved it. And, he went back today.

He's gonna be fine at Moore High School...he'll be better than fine. He's gonna ROCK it!!

I love that boy.

Video Killed The Radio Star

Remember that song from waaaaay back in the day? I think it came out right after MTV and VH1 debuted on television. It was a "one hit wonder" by the Buggles.

"Facebook has killed the blog" could be their next big hit, I think.

Ahhhhh...Facebook. I do love it. It brings the great big ol' world down to the size of my computer screen. I get to know the everyday details of my friends' lives...when babies are born, when kiddos lose teeth, when my son is "in a relationship," and then when he's not. I've reconnected with people I knew in high school and friends that have moved away. I've used the "ignore" button so as NOT to connect with a few people.

Facebook suits me. At least it suits my adult ADHD. It's quick. It's all on one page. It's easy to follow. But, my blog...my sweet blog. I was supposed to be "writing it all down" for the little Wrights and their little Wrights so they would know me and know about our life.

For example, how would they remember laughing all the way home from church last night because of the Wombat game we had just played in youth...at one point, Cutest Boy almost had to pull over because we were all laughing SO HARD!!! I thought Roman was going to pass out!!

So...I. must. blog. more.

I think I'll start where I left off in May. Remember my garden? It's just 2 posts back if you want to look. Planting and growing had just begun. The rows were neatly kept and all was well.

And then, it happened. Just like I said it would! The cucumbers and squash overtook everything.......the green beans got bushy........the tomatoes toppled their cages......and the watermelon, oh the watermelon - it even grew onto the fence. Aye yi yi. It got buggy and scary in there and I haven't been back. I took this picture from waaaaay up on the porch cuz I don't want to get too close!!
















I did venture in to pick this lovely watermelon the other day before I heard something in the green bean bush and high-tailed it out of there.















And this is what it looked like on the inside!! It was delicious and well worth the wait! The best thing is that there is another one this size in there right now and 2 other smaller ones. I can't wait!!

I do have a better plan for next year's garden. I'm only planting a few things...and nothing like green beans that make a bush for grasshoppers and snakes to hide in. No corn...it didn't work at all. Better, stronger cages for the tomatoes. And maybe a separate garden just for watermelons!!

Now I'm wondering...can I grown pumpkins this fall???

I just might try.

:)

Caution!

What do you do when you find this note on the powder room door?

Here's what you DON'T do: Open the door!!

It was a real warning sign left by one of Josh's friends on the bathroom door. And, he meant it. Really, really meant it. (picture me holding my nose and fanning with the other. pew-eeeeee)

Collin spends a lot of time at our house. We love him like a son. But, the difference between him and Josh? Josh wouldn't warn you about the bathroom...he would push you in there and hold the door shut!!

Thanks, Collin!

Who Knew?

Who knew I was such a gardener?? Look at how my garden is growing! There are onions, radishes, tomatoes, corn, green beans, 3 kinds of peppers, squash, cucumbers, watermelons and sunflowers...just because I love sunflowers!

I get out there and hack the weeds and water and talk to the plants.

I know, I know. It's still the spring season. I haven't had to get out there in 100-degree sunshine yet.

But for now...I put my cute hat and gloves on and enjoy it all I can! My cherry tomato plant has blooms on it!!! OH MY GOSH!! It won't be long!



And, look at my other mad skillz! These are Roman's super cute toes I just painted. Of course, it leaves me with the burning question: Am I too old to have polka dot toes??

:)

I hope my next post isn't about tornado damage...we're expecting severe weather tonight! Yuck.

A funny thing happened on the way to gym...

This a true story. No names have been changed to protect the innocent...the innocent being Josh The Amazing. :)


So, I'm laying in the tanning bed, so relaxed that I'm one song away from being asleep. My phone rings. I ignore it. It rings again. I stick my tongue out at whoever is calling and ignore it again - unhappy at the intrusion on my mini-vacay at the beach.

When I finally check the phone, it was Josh calling from school. He left me this message:

"Uh, mom, uh, there's been some confusion and someone, uh, thought that I mooned some people. It's all a big mistake but you have to call Mrs. Baker anyways."

Immediately, I do what every good mom would do: I burst out laughing!! Josh Wright showing his buttermilk biscuits to the world??? I don't think so.

So, I call the school. My friend, Cindy Guthrie the secretary answers. "Hey Cindy. It's Beverly" Cindy: "Bwahahahahahahahaha" Me: "I know, right?" She puts me through to the assistant principal, Mrs. Baker. "Hi Mrs. Baker. This is Josh Wright's mom." More laughter.

When I finally get the story, it seems that on the way to gym - which means a pass by the elementary school - some girl told Josh to pull his pants up. (Maybe he had "pants on da ground, pants on da ground, lookin' like a fool wit his pants on da ground.) So, being the goofy 13-year-old boy he is, he pulls his jeans down and takes off running like a goober. It was drop-off time at the elementary school so several parents and students were "scandalized" and hauled their cookies in to the principal to let her know about the obscene behavior going on outside!

What they didn't know is that Josh always...and I mean ALWAYS...has on a pair of boxers and at least one pair of shorts under his jeans. That day the shorts were silver Nike ones that apparently look skin-toned from a distance!! No real mooning going on here, folks!

But we have had the best laugh out of this - it seriously makes us laugh so hard we cry!

And, we're left with the burning question: Is this just the beginning????

Aye yi yi.

Before and...

...Well, it's going to be awhile til the after pics are ready!

But, look what Cutest Boy did for me! He tilled my garden spot.

Today, I bought onions and cabbage to plant. I wanted to get potatoes planted but I cannot find the right kind of potatoes - the kind with "eyes"on them. And, I'm in a little bit of a farming pickle...today's St. Patrick's Day and you're supposed to have your potatoes in the ground by TODAY! (That's according to my mom who says it comes from the Farmer's Almanac.)

And she believes in the Almanac. She lived and breathed by the Almanac when I was young. It not only determined planting but harvesting, fishing, raising chickens and most of the milestones of my life, I'm sure. I grew up in a home where the Almanac was more present than a Bible.

I'm not going to garden by the Almanac myself. I'll do it the way I've done most things in my life...by the seat of my pants and on a wing and a prayer!

We had a garden before at the 18th street house and it went something like this: We bought cute gardening gloves. We planted and planted and checked the garden every day for new growth. We talked to the new plants and told them to be strong and grow tall. We about burst with pride and excitement when we got a tomato or a cucumber. Then...the weeds came. They were followed by the extreme Oklahoma sun and heat. An insect or two lived in the plants surprising the farmer in her cute hat and gardening gloves. We couldn't eat another squash and besides they were growing to 10 pounds since we only checked it every few weeks now IF there happened to be a cloudy day. Finally, Cutest Boy just tilled it all up.

But, not this year! I'm older. I'm a southerner. I'm supposed to garden. I will share my bounty with my neighbors and friends and they will praise my gardening skills. I will see it through - all the way to the fall!

Or not! **wink**

But for now, these guys are my new best friends!

We will be spending hours together...working the soil, tending the garden. Can't wait to pull my first tomato off the vine!

Peace, love and garden-grown peppers,

B

Things You Cannot Do with Fakey-Jakey Nails

1.) Pick celery strings out of your teeth
2.) Get a good scratch going (they're smooth as glass)
3.) Pick up the bobby pin you dropped in the sink
4.) Open the "pop top" can of mandarin oranges you want to put in your salad
5.) Text
6.) Clean out your other finger nails

I should get a pool going for how long these lovelies will last on my fingers! The lovely pointing and gesturing is getting old fast and I really need to scratch my arm!!

B

You wan cryt-ul jel?

I am 40-ish years old. One would think that I have done most of the basic things in life by now. I've gotten an education. I've married. I've given birth. I've swam in the ocean. I've eaten calf fries.

But today, for the first time in my LIFE, I got (in the words of the fabulous Laura A) my nails did! Looky at those fabulous snausages! That Marla W...she's pretty incredible with her multi-talented self.

They are kinda cool to have. I'm doing a lot more pointing and gesturing today!

But, in keeping with my A.D.D. self, these nails have caused me to give thought to a few things!

The first is.............what is the most attractive pose for your hand and fingers if you want to take a picture of your new claws? I'm tellin' ya - I took 10 pics and only liked this one! If I had more time, I would have found a hand double!

And, of course, getting my nails done, I could only think of Anjelah Johnson's "Nail Salon" that you can find on YouTube. (If I could link it, I would!!) If Marla had told me I had a crooked finger, I would have wet myself! And she says "You wan cryt-ul jel?" interpreted as "You want crystal gel?" and I fall off my chair laughing so hard! Seriously, you MUST google it! And, don't forget my absolute fave on YouTube, Bon Qui Qui at King Burger. Sweet georgia brown it is hysterical!! Go check it out!!

Peace, love and painted nails,

B