With a Little Help From My Friends

I need some help and what better place to go than to my blog friends out there! Sweety and I are planning on driving back to Denver to visit our son. He's going to be leaving for overseas again next year so we want to make another trip back to visit him.

We are trying to coordinate our trip with some things we are having to take care of here on the homefront. We'll either be going in October or November. We'll be driving up Highway 80 across Nevada and Utah, hitting Highway 15 south in Salt Lake City and then on over to Colorado on Highway 70.

I need some advise from all you Nevada, Utah and Colorado bloggers out there. Would it be better to try to go in October or November weather wise? I know that the weather is unpredictable, but generally speaking.

Also, what are the must see places to see, must stop at restaurants to go to?

Thanks so much!!! I know I can count on my blogging friends!!!!!

(and, yes, Maggie is going too!!!)

Make Someone's Day

Did you ever have one of "those" days where, looking back, you should have just saved yourself a lot of trouble and stayed in bed? You know what I mean. Things go from bad to worse no matter what you do. You get up in the morning and BAM! Then another BAM, then another. Whoa, I didn't see that coming! BAM! Maybe it's best when bad things come in clusters. Do it all at once. Get it all over. OK, I can do this.......then BAM!!!!! Is it life? Is it cosmic payback? Is it Karma?

I had an idea for a blog post the other day so I'm going to write about it here today as I'm on the receiving end myself.

Do you ever feel something nudging you to pay someone a compliment and then shoo that thought away? Well, don't! Just jump in there and say it. I really feel that it is God's angels tapping you on the shoulder telling you that that person needs to hear it. We all need affirmation from time to time. A comment such as, "you look so good today!" "love that sweater!" "that was so nice of you to do." may be just what they need to hear. Life may have just thrown them a curve ball and that one little compliment is what they need to hold on to.

We never know what personal tragedies or just plain old bad days people are having to carry around just by looking at them. They may not look like a whimpering mess. They may appear to be the most put together person in the world. But.......tap, tap! Say it, tell her she's wonderful. Tell her you appreciate her. Tell her she looks good. Whatever has come into your mind. Just do it!

So, with that, thank you Anna from the bottom of my heart. You really made my day!!!

Dust

To say that my dad was eccentric is an understatement. He came out of poverty from the hills of Kentucky and worked hard to improve his life, joined the army, served in World War II, worked at Kellogg's of Battle Creek, moved to California and went into business for himself. He flew private planes and doted on his grandchildren. That being said, he did have his idiosyncrasies. One of which was that he trusted no one. Nope, no one. I think in some way that's why I have an analytical brain. I don't take things for face value. I love a good mystery book or movie and try to figure out the solution before the ending. I always credit it to years of reading Nancy Drew but I know Dad has something to do with it as well.

Throughout my childhood I would sit in the back seat of our car with my two sisters listening to Dad say, "That car looks suspicious." He'd write the license plate number in the dust on the dash "just in case" he needed to do something with it. We'd sit in the back and roll our eyes, never daring to say anything to him. He never did anything with those numbers. Just added to them every time we went somewhere. Didn't everyone live like that!?!

I now live in the central valley of California, Almond orchard central. Every year at this time the almonds are harvested. Some nice person doesn't climb a ladder and pick those little nuts one by one by hand. Oh, no! A farm worker, like the one at the end of my street this morning, climbs on board a shaker. It's a devious piece of farm equipment that I swear was invented by Tim Burton, or in the least, could be in one of his movies.

It's driven up to the unsuspecting tree, it's long arms are wrapped around the trunk like a warm September hug, they turn on the motor and WHAM! A whole lot of shaking is going on!!!! The nuts fall to the ground and the contraption moves on to the next innocent little tree and this goes on, ad nauseam. The first time I saw one in action I was driving by in my car and I almost ran off the road and peed my pants laughing as it is quite comical to watch. After the nuts are all on the ground, another piece of farm equipment comes by and sweeps them up, deposits them via conveyor belt into a waiting truck where they are then taken to an almond place and processed. (You can tell by my professional vernacular that I am no farmer!)

One of the byproducts of the shaking is the dust. We have no rain here during the summer growing season so things are pretty dry, dusty and dirty. The dust is everywhere and they even have to put "low visibility" signs on the streets because it's downright dangerous at times to drive through it as you can't see a thing. It makes it's way down the streets and through the fields and into my little house and all over my furniture. I can dust one minute and it's back the next. It's a futile pursuit, but one I keep at because I have the misguided hope that at some point I will triumph!

During this time of year when the morning light is streaming into the house I can see the dust particles dancing in the air. You could write your name in the dust on my buffet in the dining room. Heck, you could write the Gettysburg Address on it! I just look at it and think of Dad and those license plate numbers on the dash.

M.I.A.

I know, I've been missing in action! Actually, not much action has been going on here In The Garden but the same old, same old. Not getting things done, too much drudge work. Like I said, same old, same old.

I've been having computer problems as well. It started getting slower......and slower...... and slower. It kept hanging up and closing and basically driving me nuts. I took it in to our little town's local computer repair store. I love having a little shop locally that I can trust. They are awesome. I didn't have any viruses, thank goodness. They did put in a new hard drive and a new search engine. I went from Safari to Firefox. Most things are the same but I have a little tweaking to do. If you know me very well you know that I hate change so even a little change drives me nuts. Hmmmmmmmmmm.............

As soon as I get all settled I'll get you all catch up on what's been going on in my little corner of the world. In the meantime, give out hugs. They are free!!!

Out of the Darkness

This Sunday, the thoughts of the nation, if not the world, will be on the events that happened on September 11, 2001. Our family did not lose a loved one in that terrible tragedy. However, we did lose someone earlier in that same year.

This is a picture of my nephew, Paul, the eldest son of my middle sister. Paul was so close to my husband and I when he was little and it was like he was our own child. He was especially close to my daughter. He was proud of his service in the United States Army and served during Desert Storm. Sadly, on a July day in 2001 when he was just 36 years old, for a reason we will never know, Paul took his own life. Our lives and our world would never quite be the same again.

In the years since he died, I have been so taken aback by the number of people that I have discovered that suicide has affected. It has been a friend, a co-worker, a nurse, a shop owner, the list goes on. Many have had someone in their family who saw, for a brief moment, no way out of their personal pain. They leave behind a legacy of grief and guilt. "Why didn't I know?" "What could I have done?" "If I had only....."

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. With more than 33,000 lives lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor their work more urgent. September 4th starts National Suicide Prevention week and culminates on September 10th with World Suicide Prevention day on September 10th. Through this organization, Out of the Darkness Walks are being held across the country to raise funds for research and education .

Why do they call it Out of the Darkness? For some, the pain and perceived shame is too difficult to talk about. We need to do all we can to support those around us who are hurting. We need tell those out there that see no "way out" that there is indeed a door of compassion and help they can reach for. We need to let those left behind know that there are others who know what they are going through and that they have our support and understanding.

This Saturday, September 10th, four generations of women in my family, including Paul's Mother, will participate in the Out of the Darkness Walk in Modesto to honor his memory. We covet your prayers during that day. I know it will be difficult for us all. If you see it in your heart to donate to this organization, please contact me via my email and I will give you the information needed to do so.

Thank you so much.

Labor Day

Maggie here. Mommy is taking the weekend off because it's Labor Day weekend. That makes no sense to me since shouldn't you "labor" on Labor Day? Humans! Anyway, she told me I had to work and earn my keep by writing this post. She was mumbling something about the price of dog food and grooming. I hope she goes and takes a nap soon so I can do the same thing.

I'm going to make this short and Scottie sweet. Everyone out there have a wonderful holiday weekend and be safe out there on the highways. And if there is a furry loved one in your family, tell them Maggie says hello!! Arooooooo!

PRAYERS NEEDED!

Please remember to keep all those in the path of Hurricane Irene in your prayers. My blog friend, Nancy, of Strawberry Mallard is one of those being evacuated from a home she just moved to. I'm sure there are more bloggers out there that you know, as well as family and friends that are going to be affected.

May the Lord keep them in His protective arms and send angels to calm their fears.

Public Service Announcement!

Unless you have been stranded on an island somewhere in the middle of the ocean you have heard about The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. She has become a household name in the blog universe. She has published her life story, written a children's book and put together a wonderful cookbook. She's also currently working on a second cookbook. All this while home schooling her four adorable children, helping with the ranch, becoming an accomplished photographer and doing the occasional public appearance. Last year she had a "throwdown" with Chef Bobby Flay and she won!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Well, bloggers out there, Ree is going to have her very own cooking show on Food Network! All I can say is it's about time and good going to the folks at Food Network.

The show is slated to start this Saturday, August 27th. Check out the link to her show for more information and check your local listings for the time in your neck of the woods. Set your TIVO or Direct TV or sit in front of your television set until it comes on. This is going to be HUGE!!!

Good luck, Ree!!!!

*Disclaimer: The fact that I have on my bucket list to either meet Ree or win one of her many contests had nothing to do with my glowing report of her upcoming show. But if it helps..........

The Help

Have you read IT? Have you seen IT? I think if anyone asked anyone on the planet that question right now they wouldn't even have to ask what they were talking about. Everyone knows it's all about The Help right now.

I started to read the book when it first came out. But after a nasty run in with our local librarian I was unable to finish it. (I won't go into the gory details. Just suffice it to say that I don't agree with their renewal policies.) At the time I didn't know what a classic, powerful book it was or I would have broken down and purchased it so I could finish it. In fact I think the only reason I even started to read it in the first place was because the main character's name is Skeeter and that's my husband's nick name. We don't call him anything else.

There hasn't been a time in the past two years that I haven't seen it somewhere either on book shelves, book club reader lists or on book review blogs. Then it was announced that it was being made into a movie and I knew that this was something special that I needed to look into.

My clever sister's (see previous post) friend is in town visiting and I suggested that we go see it. All I can say is WOW!!!! When was the last time you were in a theater where there was laughing, crying, clapping and cheering? This movie is not to be missed. Take your daughters, mothers, sisters, friends. Take the men in your life as well. They will love it, too! It is life altering.

After watching the movie, we walked across the street for lunch where we ate outside. While we were there a group of ladies came by, obviously on their way to see the film. They were all dressed in the period from the film, the early sixties. They looked like they were all on their way over to Hilly's house for bridge! I wish I would have run over and taken their pictures. It was adorable!!

I ran down to Target and bought the book as they had it on sale for $10! I'm going to snuggle down and read it soon.

Suffice it to say this book (and the movie) is a true phenomenon. Kathryn Stockett has done an exemplary job. The book should be on every school's must read list. It will go down as a modern classic.

So, what are you waiting for? Go. Go now. Read the book. Go see the movie. Let me know what you think!

One word of warning. When you go see the movie, take kleenex!!

My Clever Sister

I gave my sister a stack of decorator magazines one day. Shortly thereafter she called and asked if I had seen the pot rack in one of them. She had been wanting to hang a pot rack in her kitchen, but until she gets rid of the fluorescent light box "thingy" she really can't hang a regular one. Do you all know what I mean? A large rectangular box with plastic opaque panels hanging smack dab in the middle of the kitchen over the island? So dated. Anyway, she copied the magazine which is a perfect plan "B"! I actually like it better than her plan "A". Sadly, I don't know which magazine it was from to give credit where credit is due.

She went out and purchased a bronze shower curtain rod and hung it over her sink. She loves antiques, but also dark colors and more eclectic items than I do. Her home has turned out warm and inviting, with treasures everywhere you look.

Is this not the most clever thing you have ever seen? She's had lots of fun going out and finding items to hang from it.

See that old frying pan? That is a frying pan my mom used "out in the country" when we had our farm in the 1950's! Fried pork chops, country gravy, homemade biscuits. Sorry, I digress.....The wood handle is too wobbly to safely use the pan anymore so I gave it to her to christen the pot rack. The potato masher was our grandmother's. Something I also had tucked away. Although I treasured the pan and the masher, it made so much more sense to me to give them to her where they would be utilized rather than hidden.

Other items such as the strainer and the sifter have been found here and there. The dried lavender rounds out the affect along with the meat hooks

Like I said, isn't my sister clever?

*My daughter had an issue with a dated fluorescent light fixture in her kitchen and this is what she did. She took the "box" and the light fixture completely down. It left marks on the ceiling and the area was really too low to hang a fixture so she framed in a recessed rectangle, taping, texturing and painting it. She chose pretty hanging lights that she installed. It turned out great and she did it all herself!!! Proud mama here!!!