And down came the fence!

Tuesday evening, hubby and his strapping woman decided
to go ahead and take down the remainder of the fencing.
Boy, does it open up this space so much!
Now I can really see the possibilities.

It rained really hard Tuesday night, and so filling on Wednesday
was delayed until the afternoon when things dried out a bit.
But, 14 loads of fill dirt later, we are nearing the time for topsoil!

Oh, and the divine irony of this pool demo?
Check out the neighbor's yard on the street behind us...
Yep, this week, they are putting in a pool!

My brave, brave boy...

We arrived at the oral surgeon's office at 7:55. They called us back around 8:15 and got Sam changed into a gown, took his vitals, and told him that Ms. Marion and Dr. J would be in to see him in a bit. Dr. J, who is just such an effervescent person, came in with a big smile and reassuring words for Sam. Then, Ms Marion, the CRNA came by. What a wonderful woman. She spoke to Sam fully on his level and assured him that he'd be just fine. We then walked down to the procedure room, covered with a warm blanket, and sat in the chair as they attached ECG leads and a blood pressure cuff. He was being so brave, but when Ms Marion came back in with a "friend" to keep him company, I knew all would be well. It was "Morris the Monkey" and Sam embraced him with gusto to his chest. Then, I held his hand as Ms Marion put the mask towards his face and let him "smell the bubble gum." As soon as he closed his eyes, I smiled and went back to the waiting area. It was 8:45. At precisely 9:15, they came out and called for me. It was done and Sam was in recovery. Yes, that fast. I walked in to see him awake and still being oh, so brave, with the gauze in his mouth. We stayed in there for another 30 minutes or so, and then changed back into his shirt to go home. Easy, breezy.

On the way home, he was not at all thrilled at the prospect of having to keep the gauze in his mouth for a bit longer, but was patient and co-operative just the same. We stopped at the drugstore to get his antibiotics and pain medication and headed for home. He was a bit annoyed with the numbness of his mouth and lips as he tried to talk around the gauze, but I assured him it would be out soon and feeling would return. We took a pain pill when we got home and played on the computer while holding a cold pack to our jaw. Finally, at 12:30, he decided to "rest his eyes" and did so until 3PM. We are happily eating Popsicles, pudding, and ice cream, and overall, it could not have gone better. Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers.

As he looked at his teeth they saved for him, he said, "Mom, these will be great for the Tooth Fairy!" Indeed, I am sure they will bring great rewards.

Prayers please...

We have to be at the oral surgeon's office at 8AM for
Sam's wisdom teeth to be extracted.
All prayers are appreciated and coveted.
Thanks to you all...

No turning back now!

I came home from work yesterday, and this is
what I saw IN the pool!

Uh, I'd say there's no turning back now!
This was the beginning of five dump truck loads
of fill dirt being rearranged into the pool area.
Watching this guy was like watching a surgeon do robotic surgery.

After it was all spread out, this neat little remote control
operated gizmo, compacted the dirt like nobody's business!
Tomorrow, we'll get the rest filled up and then the topsoil delivered!
And, I have to report that the arbor vitae are happy and watered
in the woods while awaiting their replanting. :c)

Get ready, get set.....

Boy, I wish I weren't so very spatially challenged. I had the very bright idea to get some large pots to put three arbor vitae in while we relocated them in order for the dump truck to be able to fill the pool chasm. We waited until the last minute to move them, so they'd hopefully be a wee bit less stressed, and so that is how we found ourselves out by the pool last night to move three arbor vitae. We won't mention the fact that I was at church earlier in the day, when my pager went off on vibrate, and I had to leave in the middle of the sermon to go into work, yet again, and treat a guy with a soft tissue infection in his leg, nope. Anyhow, bottom line is that I did not get home until almost 6PM, and so there we were at the fence line, shovels and mattock in hand. Once I realized quickly that the pots I purchased were way too small, the only other thing we could do was to go back to the tree line behind the house and dig three holes. Uh, did I mention it has not rained really well in a couple of weeks? And, that we live on a chert hill? Never mind. Dig we did. Three large holes.

Now, maybe I am naive, but I thought getting the 4 1/2-5ft. arbor vitae out would not be that big of a deal. Ahem. Those suckers put down some rather strong surface roots, they do. And the smaller one, which was the last one we dug up, was heavier and better rooted than it's neighbors! By 8PM, I had scratches all up and down my arms, smelled like a Christmas tree, but by golly, they were moved. Bring on the dirt!!

Hope these three arbor vitae can survive back here for a few days!

Pimp my tool box!

We were at Lowe's yesterday as husband was looking for
a small tool box to have in the downstairs garage.
He works on his mower and such down there and the tools
are spread all over the place. As we were walking down the
aisle looking at the Kobalt brand tool boxes, we came upon this big daddy!
I had to laugh as husband drooled over this dream box which
has, not only a place for every tool under the sun, but a small
refrigerator AND a Pioneer sound system installed within.
Yep, a new MTV show... Pimp My Tool Box!

P.S. No, he did NOT bring this home!

Exhaustion finally catches up

This was as full a week as I can remember at work. I've never caught up with sleep from Tuesday, and slept fitfully Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, mainly because in the early evening, I'd sit down to watch the news, and drift off to sleep for 30 minutes. I was sooooooo looking forward to Friday and the weekend, especially since we did not have any inpatient dives and I could rest up. I made a point NOT to sit in my glider rocker last night so that I would not drift off to sleep and have a hard time falling asleep later. I am serious when I say that by 9PM, I could hardly hold my eyes open. I was ready to fall into the bed, and for a hard, deep sleep to fully consume me. I did not so much as put the covers under my chin when I heard my pager go off in the kitchen.

"Hello, Jayne? It's the transfer center. We've received a call about a woman who was scuba diving in a quarry and ascended too fast. They want to transfer her here for treatment." I am not kidding when I say that I almost just burst into tears. It was like a bad nightmare. I told her to call the MD on call and let him get the details and have him call me. A few minutes later the phone rang. It did not sound like a decompression issue, but could possibly be something like trapped air as she was complaining of shortness of breath. He authorized the transfer. I was so tired, I could hardly put together a coherent sentence. The thought of going back in to work, and being there again most of the night.... well, I just knew I couldn't. Husband was beside me saying, "You need to find another job." When the MD offered to call someone else to see if they might come in for me, I could do nothing but thank him profusely and tell him that if they couldn't, I'd come.

When I hung up, the tears came. I don't do well with continued lack of rest, and this week brought that home to me. So, when the phone rang again in a few minutes and he said, "Jayne, we've got it covered. Get some sleep," I was beyond relieved. I truly am not sure I could have done it. I put the phone down, closed my eyes at 9:45, and did not awaken until 8:45 this morning. Boy, do I owe you one my dear co-worker.

Come on little Nobby... bloom hither

Back in July of 2007, I rescued this sweet orchid
called Nobby's Amy from Lowe's. I was intimidated
to bring one home as I'd always heard that they require
a good bit of care to survive. When I brought it home,
this bloom stem was present, but the plant itself was
pitiful and it needed some good TLC.

Since that time, I've had to repot it, and I've diligently watered
and fertilized, but alas, no new bloom stems have appeared.

Here she is today below with wonderfully healthy leaves.
Lots of new leaves over the past two years, but no blooms.
Oh, well.
I'll keep watching and waiting...

No easy answers

We watched President Obama last night as he tried, yet again, to explain WHY we HAVE to have some health care reform in this country. There are no easy answers, but one thing everyone can agree upon is that there has to be a change from the current way of doing things. It seems to scare people to death to have a public option, but I am telling you, we are paying for those who have no coverage now, so I can't understand why people think it's a bad idea. There are millions and millions of people with no health insurance who show up at the ER and in the hospital after bad accidents (case in point, the house fire victim I treated Tuesday morning), and have no way to pay for it. Who pays? YOU and ME. The government already manages Medicare/Medicaid, and though they are not perfect, most people are satisfied with what they have. It is sad to me that the entire issue has become so politicized and that so many scare tactic are being thrown about to make people fearful that their choices will be limited and that they will be on some years long waiting list.

For a perspective of a Canadian's viewpoint, who DOES have a universal health program, check out Bonnie's wonderful blog post about her experiences. Now, I ask you? Can we not at least do a version of this here to cover those who can't get coverage otherwise?

Blurry days and nights

At work, we rotate call so that we each take it a week at a time, which means with six of us, we are only on call for a week every six weeks. We get paid a flat rate/hr for taking call and then if we get called in, it is time and a half. I was not on call this weekend, but as I said, the nurse who was on call had never done a critical vent patient by herself, and so I was her back-up. I was there Saturday night from 9:30PM until 2:45AM, and then back on Sunday morning at 8:30AM to 11:30AM and again from 2:30PM until 5:30PM. When I got home Sunday, I was beat, and took a long nap. I went to bed Sunday night and awoke refreshed Monday morning, ready to go to work.

I worked all day Monday, and got into bed around 10:30PM. I was not sleeping well, and was tossing and turning, trying to get to sleep, when the phone rang at 12:30AM... uh-oh. Then I remembered that my call week started Monday. I saw the caller ID and knew it was the hospital. I truly had not even really been to sleep good. "We have a house fire victim with smoke inhalation injury and a load of carbon monoxide who needs a treatment."

I slogged out of bed, got dressed, brushed my teeth, told hubby who was awake by then that I had to go in, and headed to to hospital, 40 minutes away. I arrived by 1:15 and we got the patient up from the ER and in the chamber by 2AM. I think my brain was just on autopilot at that point. He was sick, really sick. The MD and I finished his treatment and I called the Shock Trauma Unit to come help me transport him up there around 5:15AM.

I got back down to our department and started the cleaning up of everything to be ready for our Tuesday morning patients. Finally, at 5:45, I went to one of our exam rooms, fell on the bed, and tried to sleep. My eyes were binging around in my head, the adrenaline still flowing. I must have sort of fallen asleep, as I awoke at 7AM with the sound of our tech arriving to open the unit. Once I was fully awake, I headed back to the HBO area to give report to our CHT, and told him I'd stay to help get the other critical patient in we dove over the weekend. By the time CSICU got him down to us, and we got him in, it was 8:15. Finally, the adrenaline was slowing and I knew I had to go, before I would not be able to drive myself home. I left the parking garage and got home around 9:30 Tuesday morning. Believe it or not, I ate a sandwich before fully crashing into my bed, and sleep finally overtook me. It's been a blurry, blurry few days. And, although the 20 hours of time and a half will surely help in filling/landscaping the pool, I am praying (really praying) for a quiet weekend.

Soon uh will be done

This is the anthem we will sing at church a week from this Sunday.
It's an African American spiritual written by William L. Dawson in 1934
as part of the Tuskegee Choir Series and is so powerful. I hope we
can do it justice with only our twelve voices.... It's so very beautiful.
Enjoy this version by the very talented MSU Concert Chorale!

Can you?

"To learn to look with compassion on everything that is;
to see past the terrifying demons outside to the bawling hearts within;
to make the first move toward the other, however many times it takes to get close;
to open your arms to what is instead of waiting until it is what is would be;
to surrender the justice of your own cause for mercy;
to surrender the priority of your own safety for love --
this is to land at God's breast."

---Barbara Brown Taylor
An Altar in the World

Another day...

(Sunrise off my deck back in 2007)

So, last night hubby and I were having a date night while Sam was staying
with his Nana and Papa. We rented, and were watching The Day the Earth Stood Still,
which I was quite enjoying, though I must say, was not initially excited to see.
The phone rang and it was one of our physicians who had received a call
about a patient in a large nearby city who needed emergent HBO. I was not
on call, but the nurse who is, had not done a critical patient by herself, and
so of course, I said I'd come. Seems he'd had a cardiac surgery and developed
what they thought might be a gas embolism to the brain. HBO shrinks the
trapped air, and can help to resolve that which is potentially causing the insult.

We all arrived at the hospital by 9:30, as they were going to Life Flight him in
but as it always goes, they were "a bit late getting started" and so we did not
get him at our facility until 10:45 or so. Long story short, we did his treatment
and transferred him to one of the intensive care units and I clocked out at 2:45 this
morning. I got home, fell into bed by 3:45 and am now up to go back in and
do two more treatments today. Just another day in our neighborhood.
But, any day you can possibly help to save a life is another good day.
Any day you can see another sunrise is a good day, yes?
I love my job.
I need sleep, but I do love my job.

Eastern Black Swallowtails

My sister, the butterfly propagator, sent me these photos of her
new Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillars she found the other
day on the fennel she planted for them!
She put them in a container on her front porch.

And here is the beauty that emerged on Easter morning
from a chrysalis that over-wintered in her garage.
My sissy, the butterfly whisperer.

Yes, you are so handsome!

Good evening ma'am.
I hope you don't mind my occupying your fence.

Wait, let me show you what I can do!

Isn't my throat patch beautiful... are you attracted to me?
I have to make sure the other Green Anoles know
this is MY fence spot as I impress the ladies, you know.

To say thank you

My friend Mata posted a wonderful blog entry about the importance
of expressing appreciation to others. As I read her post, it inspired me
to think about what I could do to let people know how much I
appreciate their efforts and kindness. So many times, we are touched
by someone's kindness, but we fail to really let them know how much it meant.

When I take Sam out to eat, the server finds him waiting to order, along
with his Thomas the Tank Engine book. When my big, almost 17 year old, tells
the server he wants "lots of biscuits and French fries" and they
"get" him, it means so much to me. When they knowingly smile
at me, interact with him, and make sure he is well taken care of in
the biscuit department, and even offer a to-go box for later, it
makes me happy beyond measure. How nice it would be to be
able to leave a card on the table letting them know how much
their kindness and understanding is appreciated.
Thanks for the food for thought Mata.


"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -- Aesop

Circling the premonition

Do you ever have a premonition?
Some might call it a feeling in your gut?
Something is wrong, and you just know it?
I hope and pray my gut feeling is wrong.
I don't want to think of the worst,
but my medical background leads
my brain to places of rationality,
and there are times, I wish I didn't
know so much as a nurse.

At times, being so clinical and rational
makes you face potential facts more quickly.
I won't expound, except to say my worry is not
for me or for my husband, but for my daddy.
Please pray that my premonition is wrong.

Grunt, curse, and repeat again...

So, the belt on our treadmill was getting pretty worn in the center, and we had noticed it was harder and harder to keep it centered on the deck. We called to order a new one, which arrived last week, but alas, no instructions on how to install it. I emailed the vendor, and a nice service rep, Shane, kindly emailed me the instructions below (with photos). Over the weekend, hubby and I decided to get the belt changed out. All tools assembled, we headed to the basement...

1.Remove motor hood.
Easy enough... two screws, we're done. This won't be so bad!
2.Remove screw from foot rail on each side.
Again, two small screws, and it's off! Man, this is a breeze!
3.Remove base caps on right and left with a Phillips screw driver. (bottom hole)
Get the right angle, and they snap right off. We're cruisin' along!
4.Using an Allen wrench, remove the bolts that hold on the rear roller by turning counter clockwise.
OK, so these puppies are a bit... grrr....tight... but off they came. We are invincible!
5.Remove the rear roller.
Boy this bolt holding this roller on is positioned way down in there.... ugh... finally, it's out.
6.Remove the bolt that holds on the front roller by using two 13mm wrenches.
Uh, that bolt? Down in there? Uh, OK. There's not much navigating room. The &^%* socket keeps slipping off of it.... almost... tongue held just right. Whew. It's off.
7.Remove the front roller.
This sucker is heavy. But, OK, it's off and lined up by the wall with all the other parts and bolts.
8.Slide foot rail to the end of the unit.
Slide? Seriously? How about take a rubber mallet and a yardstick and bang it an inch at a time to get the dang thing to "slide" off? Jeeps. OK, they're off.
9.Remove eight deck bolts, (four on each side) using 5m Allen wrench that came with unit. Take deck and belt off of unit.
These are also a bit.... tiiiiight...OK, almost have them. I have lube all over my hands now...and this deck is very.... awkward to hold... ouch, my toes!
10.Install new belt using above steps in reverse order. Be sure to add lube for new belt.
OK, so we cleaned all the surfaces under the belt deck nicely and vacuumed up all the dust, and we've added new lube to the deck surface. Greasy, greasy silicone. The belt is on! TA-DA! Now, it's time to put everything back together by going backwards with the instructions above! Yay! We did it! It's all back together and we smile and wipe our brows!
11.When adjusting the tension on the belt, turn bolts on each side the same number of times. Start the belt and adjust as needed.
OK! We're ready to adjust the belt.... uh, wait a minute. Houston, we have a problem. Seems... um... that Shane...um... sent the wrong belt. Seriously? Seriously. Alrighty then. Reverse course. Take the "new" belt OFF. Grrrr... serious potty mouth language abounds. Side by side we measure..... it's 2 3/4" too long.
SHANE!!!!!!!?????????????????????

Another wonderful quote...

(Sunrise in Ormond Beach, FL- 2004)

Another snippet from Barbara Brown Taylor's An Altar in the World:

"Reverence stands in awe of something-- something that dwarfs the
self, that allows human beings to sense the full extent of our limits--
so that we can begin to see one another more reverently as well.
An irreverent soul who is unable to feel awe in the presence of things
higher than the self is also unable to feel respect in the presence of
things it sees as lower than the self, Woodruff says. This raises real
questions about leaders, especially religious leaders, who cite
reverence for what is good as their warrant for proclaiming whole
populations of people evil."

And so it begins

Uh, well... I'd say we're pretty committed now. :c)
Thanks to everyone for your good ideas and suggestions about
our pool demo/landscaping. Yesterday, we decided to go ahead
and get the tarp off and start getting the liner out. We got started
early, around 9AM, but with the humidity, it soon began feeling like
we were in a cooker. Hubby and I cut the entire liner away from the
pool, and then cut it into manageable strips so we could put in into
contractor sized garbage bags for disposal. There was a sheet of 1/8"
foam behind it, and we found that the side walls are made of metal.
The bottom was a hard packed sand. I won't even go into how nasty
the liner was, especially in places where it was still damp.

We had already planned to take down the fencing ourselves as well.
So, truly, all I need is someone to truck in fill dirt, and maybe a foot
of topsoil for planting. We'll be talking to some people this week to
get estimates on the fill alone and then we'll deal with the landscape plans.
I am just happy we've gotten a good start.
Whew. I am quite the strapping woman, I am!

Sticker Shock

Gulp. OK, so we knew when we decided to fill the pool in that it was not going to be cheap. I called the landscape person we have used for other projects, and with whom we've had great experiences in the past. She came out at the end of May to look at the area and talk to me about what might work best. Because of the rainy May we had, she and her crew have been behind, and so she told me it might be a few weeks before she got back to me with a plan and proposal. Fine. We had nothing but time. In the meantime, we went ahead and drained the pool of the water so that we did not have a cesspool growing as it got hotter and hotter. We simply kept the area covered with the trampoline tarp.

June came and went and although I was in touch with her several times, she did not have a proposal to show us yet. Husband became rather impatient as June morphed into July, and called her himself the first week of July. She told him she'd have something to show us by this week, and on Thursday called to say she would be by on Friday evening to show us what she'd come up with in terms of a plan for the area.

So, yesterday afternoon late, she came out to show us this beautiful and well thought out plan for the area. Initially, she proposed a "sunken garden" area, but we explained that the sides of the pool are metal, which pretty much means we'll have to fill in the entire area with soil. When she came out in May, she mentioned "re-doing" the beds surrounding the pool which now are a straight line of holly and arborvitae to "soften" the look since we'll be taking down the fencing. But, when she came out yesterday, those beds were not addressed at all. Nope. And as she explained the plan she designed, she said, "I tried to stay within the budgeted amount, but just could not." Gulp. As I looked at the total amount, a good $3000 more than we'd intended to spend, combined with the fact that it did not even include "softening" the beds surrounding the pool, my heart sunk.

We kindly listened to her proposal and then told her we needed the weekend to discuss it, and we'd let her know something by the first of the week. As soon as she was out the door, we both turned to each other with deer-in-the-headlights looks and basically decided that we'd have to go back to the drawing board. I can't even imagine we can't get it done for the money we've budgeted, and so we called a contractor friend, who will be getting in touch with someone he knows to get us a better price on the fill-in and then we'll deal with the landscaping issues. What a disappointment. Nothing is easy I suppose, but money is money, and in this day in time, budgets are a necessity. Stay tuned...

Altars all around us

Recently, my friend Ginger reviewed Barbara Brown Taylor's new book, An Altar in the World. I was excited to hear that she had a new book out as I thoroughly enjoyed her book Leaving Church which I read last year. When I read Ginger's review, I immediately found the book on Amazon and downloaded it to my Kindle. I am halfway through it, and also heartily recommend it. I love how she focuses on the fact that if we look, we truly can see God in most anything and any situation. Nature as an altar, other people as an altar... altars all around us.

These passages really struck a chord with me as we see more and more bloodshed around the world in the name of religion and belief systems:

"I know that nothing strengthens community like a common enemy. I know that when religious people are feeling overwhelmed by a world with little use for their ancient truths, they can find new meaning by identifying a great evil to oppose. I know that the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are especially vulnerable to the formation of "oppositional identity," both because the stories of their struggles with their enemies have been make sacred in their scriptures and because monotheists-- one-true-God-people --have never wasted much charity on those who do not acknowledge their one true God. Here is a law as reliabe as gravity: the degree to which we believe our faith is what makes us human is the same degree to which we will question the humanity of those who do not share our faith."

... "We have just enough religion to make us hate one another, " Jonathan Swift once observed, "but not enough to make us love one another." Because we are human, which is to say essentially self-interested, we are always looking for ways to add a little more authority to our causes, to come up with better reasons to fight for what we want than "Because I want it, that's why." If we can convince ourselves that God wants it too--even if that means making God in our own image so we can deny the image of God in our enemies--then we are free to engage in combative piety. We are free to harm others not for our own reasons but in the name of God, which allows us to feel holy about doing it instead of just plain bad."

So much truth in those paragraphs, no? Kudos to Barbara Brown Taylor for writing a book which makes us all think about how we can better experience "God" in our lives.

Life Lessons

This email is currently circulating, but I found it lovely and worth sharing for those who may have not yet seen it...
The original email said that Regina is 90, but upon investigating, I found a link to her site
and a correction about her true age. Funny how things get embellished on the web.

********************************************************
Written By Regina Brett
of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

"To celebrate growing older,
I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Shoring up the nest

My sister has some ginormous arborvitae behind her house,
and one night last week, heard a baby bird chirping away near the ground.
She found this rather recently hatched baby on the ground.
Upon inspection in the arborvitae, she found a nest which had
seen better days, with another viable baby still in it.
She shored up the nest as much as she could, put this little
one back in with its sibling, then watched and waited to see who
might come to tend this nest.

The next day, the mystery was solved!
A female Northern Cardinal came in chirping and upset in the
vicinity of the nest. Because the baby was on the ground yet again,
my sister decided to give it a better measure of safety and put the
entire thing down into a Country Crock container. We're not sure if
this was a first time mom, or if something tried to get to her nest, hence
rendering it less sturdy for her babies. None the less, she happily came
back to the nest to tend her babies, and at least now can be assured that
they won't fall out on the ground until they are good and ready.

Fly, baby, fly!

We were watching the news last night when I heard a bluebird
warble very close by, and it sounded like a baby.
I got up to look out the window just in time to see this little
baby fly from my deck to one of the large pines in the back
as dad chased away something he considered a threat.
This is the second brood to fledge this season, and that
brings the total of new bluebirds on Chickadee to 10!

Beautiful music

I am always on the lookout for new music. I love the Genius feature in iTunes which
offers other music you might like depending upon what you are currently listening to.
As I have been listening to Catherine MacLellan lately, I have been given other artists
to check out that are similar, and here is one I found just this week. Sandra McCracken
is an artist out of Nashville, and has a very pure and lovely sound. She often sings
along with her husband, Derek Webb, also an accomplished musician. Check them out
in the nice video below and see what you think.
(What is it with all the Mc/Mac singers I am finding lately?) :c)

Macro hopper

This little guy was on a palm frond in one of my planters on the deck
yesterday afternoon. He was only maybe 1/2" in length?
He caught my eye as I was watering, and when I took these and
then put them on the computer, I was amazed to see all his splendid
detail and multiple colors! I Googled some grasshopper sites and
think he's probably a Scudder's Katydid Nymph?

Independence Day

(Print by Nat Farbman)

Happy July 4th to all!
As we celebrate our country's birth,
may you have many blessings to
count, and good times to remember
with family and friends.

I want to be Rachel!

"If I see a road, I'll take off. I don't even know where it goes, and I don't care. I just want to find out." -- Rachel

God love this woman. I want to be her when I grow up!

Sentence Completion Meme

(Zinnias from my parent's yard back in July 2006)

I am going to owe Jane a royalty of some sort....

Sentence Completion:

1. I’ve come to realize that my last kiss… was born of 20 years of knowing and heeds me a good day ahead.

2. I am listening to… Catherine MacLellan sing to me.

3. I talk… more than I listen sometimes, and always with my hands.

4. I love…life.

5. My best friend/s… are relationships I wish were deeper and closer.

6. My first real kiss… shocked me to my toes.

7. Love is… a decision.

8. Marriage is…something that takes work, grace, and growing.

9. Somewhere, someone is thinking… Michael Jackson's children do not seem to possess any of his genes?

10. I’ll always… see people as individuals and show kindness.

11. The last time I really cried was because… the truth was spoken and it hurt.

12. My cell phone… helps me stay connected on a daily basis.

13. When I wake up in the morning… there is comfort in my routine.

14. Before I go to bed… I read my Kindle.

15. Right now I am thinking about… why this family of Barn Swallows chose my home to roost.

16. Babies are… proof that life will go on.

17. I get on Myspace… uh, never? (Sorry to all those people who send me invites.)

18. Today I… encouraged a brand new Plastic Surgery resident during his first Hand Clinic.

19. Tomorrow I will be… having fun, as I am off and Sam and I will go to lunch after we see the wonderful Dr. S.

20. I really want to be… fully aware and living each day as if it were my last.

Perching places

The baby Barn Swallows roosting under my porch. :c)


Here is a short video I shot from our dining room window so you can see
where the Barn Swallow babies are perching to be fed and where they were
in relation to the window where I shot yesterday's photos.
As I was shooting it, (sorry for the bad lighting) mom flew to the front
porch and perched on top of one of the columns where she has her babies
roost each night! Meanwhile, dad kept feeding and towards the end of the clip,
flies in to feed one of the three.