Time of Sorrow

I have'nt been posting in awhile as I lost my oldest sister, Eileen, to cancer on May 19th and traveled to California to be with her family and attend her funeral. This happened fast and was totally unexpected so I am numb and unable to function at this momemt. I will be spending my time working hard in my yard and trying to get my heart and mind to rest. Will be posting when times are happier. Thanks to everyone who has sent me prayers and blessings.

God bless,
Gail

All the many things I have been up to

 I recently went over to Boise, Idaho and saw 'Sugarland' in concert. They put on such a wonderful show. I traveled through snow, hail, rain and wind to get there, but it was well worth the trip. I have not boogied so hard in a long time. Yep, that's me on the right. Quite tipsy and diggin' every minute of it. I wiggled and jiggled everything that would. The security kept trying to get me to stay in my seat but as you can see, I won. Had a few others join me after a bit, but I never stopped until the music was over. What an awesome show!

Since I have been back home I have been very busy with my new puppy I also brought back with me. (yeah, I'm a glutton for punishment) Her name is 'Pearl' and she is a mini Aussie. She is 6 weeks old and a little spitfire. She keeps me up through the night but Onyx is learning to enjoy having one of her own to play with. Now if she had come with potty training, it would have been so much nicer for me.

Can you see how cute she is? They play so well together. Something I did'nt think Onyx would do, but they get along really good so far. They are letting each one know who's boss.

We have had a couple of nice days of sun here lately so have begun to do some yard clean up. Since I could'nt find a big hunk of a man to help me out I bought a tractor instead to  help with the work around here.  I'm new to the tractor thing but will get the hang of it soon enough. Been practicing moving boulders and some compost about. I guess I'm turning into a real farmgirl after all. This here is my new ride. What do ya think? It's no man but it'll do what I ask of it.              

                                                 I've started to dig up the ground down the slope going to my chicken coop, to put in some posts for walking on. It helps to have better traction in winter and I could use all the help I can get to climb back up the darn thing. It may not look like much, but I'm not gettin' any younger. Hope to put in some landscape with retaining wall and plants so I can quit having to weed eat and mow down here. It is not real easy to do on a slope to begin with. I darn near have turned over my riding mower a few times. Besides, I want to put in a low maintance, drought resistant yard.

I hope to have this looking a lot prettier by the time this summer is over. It will probably take me that long to get it done. I have all the plans in my head, now just have to keep busy making them happen. No time to be idle, got too much on my plate and we have very short summers.

I've gone crazy for F's

FRIENDS

I've never had a lot of friends in my life until now. Karen, whom I met last July, sent me these wonderful dishcloths she made, in the mail the other day. I should have figured out she was up to something when she asked me what color my kitchen was, but I'm a little slow.  She sells these and many other items on her etsy shop http://www.kpaints.etsy.com/ . Check out all the pretty things she makes.

I had been looking at these, off and on, wondering if they would really work, they do! It is like having a scrubber, sponge and cleansing cloth all in one. Wait! That's what it is. I love how they work.  I even had to purchase some for my daughter, who never seems to have any cloths at all in her kitchen. I think she will love them as much as I do. 

These would make nice Mother's Day gifts too. (hint)

FABULOUS

Saturday I received my first Mail Art in the mail and it was from farmgirl 'grammygail' from the MJ site. Look at the work she put into it, isn't it pretty? This is really a great way to let your artsy side show and have fun making them too. Then you get to send them off to someone whose name was sent to you, you get a new name each month, and you receive from a different person as well. It will be fun to see all the different talents of many women around the country. And purhaps make some new friends along the way.

FUNNY

Our local group of Charming Chicks had a girls nite out last Friday nite. First we went to the El Palcio's restaraunt and had margaritas and lots of appetizers, listened to April (she's the one at the head of the table) tell us her horrow stories about camping and flying on planes. They were horrible to her, but had each of us in stitches. From being removed from the plane (first time flying) to having her campsite attacked by bears and her spending the nite in her truck. That gal's a hoot! I had'nt laughed so hard in a long time.

Then after taking a few pics of our evening, we walked, a bit tipsy you think? (Cheryl and myself)  to the Ross Ragland theatre across the street from El Palcio's (nice windy nite air) to watch the Diva Nation Four Bitchin Babes. These ladies can tell you a story of what being a woman is like, which is hilarious! They do so while playing guitar and piano.

This was a nite to remember with good friends, good food, and a whole lot of laughter. I hope there will be others.

So now that I have caught up on what has been keeping me busy, it is time to remember to "Live like there is no tomorrow, Laugh until you pee your pants, and Love with a big heart".  To my good friends now and to those I hope to meet, keep smiling. :)