Again- Fall how I love you!

Ok- I know that this is a status update thats going around Facebook like wildfire


I was going to complain about the heat, but 1) It isn't 109 degrees. 2) I'm not 5,700 miles from home. 3) I'm not dressed in a full BDU uniform and helmet while carrying 70+ lbs. 4) There is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today. Thank you to all who serve.


And I COMPLETELY agree with the sentiment behind it. Honestly since my days of working for the Navy as a civilian I have had a HUGE amount of respect for our men and women in the armed forces. Actually it was probably before my Great Lakes days that attitude was firmly implanted. I often have issues with whatever President happens to be serving at that time but I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have the upmost resprect for those serving in the military; especially for those deployed. I know deployment is often a very lousy time for those serving. I also will NEVER understand those who give service members a hard time because they don't agree with X war or Y conflict. They are doing what they were ordered to do. Nothing more nothing less. Its their job just as your job is whatever it its. I'm willing to bet you don't always agree with what your boss wants you to do.

Anyway back to the Facebook status while I really do understand the sentiment and am incredibly thankful to those serving I also really don't want to feel like I'm a wimp or a heartless wretch because I'm longing for cooler weather. I love fall. If you've followed my blog for awhile its pretty evident that Fall is my favorite season. I love everything that goes along with Fall. The back to school preparations, the harvest and all that goes along with it (hopefully some sort of putting by food this year!) and the upcoming cooler weather. I love and really miss bonfires. Man its been a LONG time since I've been to a good bonfire. There is something about still wearing shorts and a sweatshirt and sitting with your favorite drink by a raging bonfire. Right now I'm having a flashback to a bonfire I went to my freshman year of college and I decided to "feed" the bonfire from my bottle of vodka. I will never say that common sense prevails especially when drinking! The bonfire was at my friend Devin's house (actually his parents house) and they lived out in the country in Pekin and owned a bar in town. That meant we had a great source for alcohol and lots of land to enjoy. Unfortunately the police in Pekin are real a**holes. Seriously- ask anyone who grew up around here! Anyway, at the said bonfire I was all of 18 (and had just turned 18 a few weeks into my freshman year thanks to a late birthday) and was drunk as a skunk. For some reason I thought splashing vodka in the fire was great fun and Devin has never been able to tell me no. Next thing I know I see the flashing red & blue lights announcing the police arrival. Most of the attendants of the bonfire took off running into the woods. Whether I was stupid, drunk or a combination thereof I just casually put my bottle down and stood there. The police came up and talked to Devin and then asked me a few questions. One of the officers actually thanked me for not running and told me that I should just head home. Um ok sir. Yes my drunk happy ass drove home. Not intelligent and definitely something I hope I wouldn't do now.

Ok- now that you've shared a walk down memory lane with me lets go back to my love of fall. Yesterday Princess Bear (PB) and I were in HyVee grabbing a few things. I love HyVee because they also carry some magazines that aren't carried at too many other locations like Country, Country Extra and Farm & Ranch Living. The new copy of Country Sampler is out and full of Fall decorating ideas and whatnot. Yes I was all a twitter! I was reading Farm & Ranch Living and there was a picture of this gorgeous front porch that was decorated for fall & I was in love! I want that front porch. You know the one- rockers with a table inbetween so you can put your glass of lemonade or sweet tea on it. Some random pumpkins placed about and Halloween decor decorating the front of the house.

I'm actually making a couple of decorated notebooks for a few different purposes. I'm going to start a gratitude journal. How can you not be more appreciative when you are finding something to be grateful for daily? I'm also doing an Awws & Ah's Inspiration notebook. It will most likely contain various quotes I find inspiring and pictures like this porch that remind me of my future dreams. Also pictures of just flat out adorable things. If you read First (for Women) magazine the last few pages that are typically cute animal pics are the kind of thing I'm talking about. Things I can look at and smile. Just like the picture I printed that has the picture of the boxer sitting in the drivers seat of a car with the caption reading "FINE! I'll drive myself to the dog park" OK- imagine that and tell me you aren't laughing!!!

Ok I'm so kind I just went and found the pic (and a few other for you!). Enjoy! Smile! Hell- give a giggle! :)

Oh how I miss Fall!

Okay- I am fully aware that I should be enjoying this time that my daughter has off of school and my garden is blooming. I just find it difficult when the heat just zaps the life out of you. It has been awful here for several days and its going to be several more before it lets up enough to be noticeable. Princess Bear (PB) can't control her body temperature and overheats in normal weather let alone what is going on now. Of course if we had our big pool we'd be loving life. PB does have a 6' round inflatable pool. She loves it. I went in it with her the other day and have since had a problem with this bite like things so I'm leery of putting her back in there. She was supposed to have her first horseback riding show with CIRT (the place she goes for horseback riding therapy) tomorrow. There is no way that can happen. She is doing vacation bible school this week and next week. The one this week is completely new to her. Its at the church her tutor is part of. So far she likes it a lot. Its a lot of bang for my buck too. The 5 days cost $20. Each night dinner is provided for the kids and the last night for the whole family. She's also received a bracelet, T-shirt and a CD of songs that they play daily. The VBS that starts on Sunday is one that she's going to for the past 2 years and they are really good with her & she really enjoys it.

I'm also trying to come up with some things for us to do that are fun but not going to break the bank. I'm going to put all of the ideas I come up with on slips of paper. I'm going to have PB decorate a jar and then we'll put the slips in there. After she does her "schoolwork" and cleaning we'll pull a slip from the jar. Now I just need to come up with some good ideas!

Things are a bloomin'!

I know I shouldn't be surprised but after not really paying much attention to the garden for a week because of Princess Bear (PB) being sick and then me going down the same rod but its amazing how much happens in a garden in a week!!!! Here are some pics:

Take a look at the right hand side of the photo- the muskmelon vine is growing up the air conditioner unit and over some tomato cages my dad threw down! It's alive!!!!

The eggplants are growing HUGE leaves but no flowers yet. The peppers are doing well. We've already harvested several sweet banana peppers.

Yes there are LOTS of tomato plants. I'm hoping to can some ketchup and spaghetti sauce! Ignore the weeds in the walkway!

The brussel sprouts are doing well. Broccoli and cabbage are doing ok (again- ignore the weeds!!!)

The basil is growing like gangbusters! I need to get some fresh tomatoes from the farmers market because mine aren't near ready and a bit of fresh mozzerella and yum!

The downside is that the Japanese beetles are everywhere. I'm not joking it was almost a biblical proportion infestion. We set out a few of the phernome (?) traps. I also went out there and hand picked them off the apple trees. A cup of beetles anyone???

eee gads!

Ok- so its been a long time- again! I do admit that most of my summertime time goes to Princess Bear (PB). As we speak we are having a near historic moment in our little family. This is the 2nd (count 'em folks!), 2nd night since she was born that I have spent away from PB. We had some serious bug go through the house in the past week. My mom was the first down and then PB went down on Monday. Poor baby felt so bad about throwing up in the sink. She knows mommy is a sympathetic puker but the sink I can deal with! My dad was hit on Tuesday night and I was midday Wednesday. I actually called my mom at work & told her if I ever found out who shared this with her to bring it home would die a slow painful death- and I was pretty damn serious at the time. It also make me very happy that I had taken PB to my sisters for a family dinner and fireworks on Sunday since Monday was an obvious no go. It was neat driving back into town and across the bridge- we saw 5 different sets of community fireworks. So I spent most of Wednesday and Thursday just knocked out. For some reason this hit me the worse out of the four of us. I wound up with the highest temp and general icks. I was not happy. So this morning I decided that my still naseous butt that has a tendancy to get car sick WAS NOT going to sit in the car for 3 hours to get to Chicago for my cousins wedding. I'm bummed because there are family members I'd really like to see but not if I was going to be wishing for death. So around noon today my parents and PB left for Chicago. Know what I didn't know? How absolutely sweet my daughters voice is on the phone! She called around 6pm tonight to give me the rundown and again at 11pm. So far it seems like everyone is still alive and coping relatively well. My dad's stomach bug is biting him again but my momm hasn't threatened PB within an inch of her life so I'm happy.

Once again our pool plans have been foiled by a malicous bitch. I found out without a doubt who called us into the city last time. There was no reason for it other than she was a mean hearted bitch. Well PB was having too much pleasure playing in her new pool. Although we'd been cleared for a permit the laws changed and the old witches daughter (who is trying to sell the witches house) decided to call the city again. The city guy felt so bad. He actually implied that we should take it down so he could take a pic showing the dismantled pool and then put it back up. Yeah- does he know how much the water bill was after filling a 5000 gallon pool was???? So now the grass is slowing dying due to a vinegar bath at this womans house. Yes I know its childish and not going to solve anything but in an odd way it made me feel a bit better. They didn't have to hold my child after going for her last swim while she was crying asking what she could do for the rest of the summer. I don't believe that this woman who doesn't even live in this town called this "violation" in. Once again let me tell you that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get into our backyard, ergo the pool. Our neighbors to one side felt so bad. The husband is in the family construction business and promptly gave my dad the name & number of an electrician so we could get the required electric source and he's looking for some economical source of 4' fencing for the entire yard.

So that has been the last week in my life. I'm about tired- why I don't know! I've spent tonight catching up on In Plain Sight and Burn Notice. I guess my body is telling me to take it easy. So take it easy I will. More about PB's horseback riding therapy and tutoring soon!