For some reason I wake up at 5:53am each morning. How weird is that? Then, if I try to roll over for a bit more snooze, someone's nose is quietly in my face until I open my eyes and acknowledge her. Mr. Stilwell said Abby would just stand there until you got up to let her out. I am not that patient when it comes to going to the bathroom.

I have been going out front first thing in the morning to trim the dead blooms off the Knockout roses. Meg says this is a must so that the bushes can knock us out with more blooms. It is nice and cool and I can hear birds, the cows nearby, a rooster occasionally, and the obnoxious pitbull next door. It is a very pleasant way to start the day, sans pitbull. Meg has an amazing green thumb and Mom and Dad are becoming the gardeners extraordinaire. I hope I can keep up. Of course, I did have a potato from the garden for dinner last night. Just one, you say? Well, I only need one. So there.

Rose by Farrell Eaves' magic camera

I remember in maybe the third grade, Daddy helped me with my science fair project. I was comparing the growth of corn and lima bean seeds. I had to start seeds and then stop their growth at different stages. We made a big mounting board and had little jars on each side where you could see the seeds as they progressed. I think the holders were probably those mounting pieces from Dad's pegboard in the shop and the little plastic jars for were for nails. I think I had matured plants, too. Not bad for a girl, huh?! I won third place and have always included that on my curriculum vitae as an important kudo to be recognized.

Hope you get to smell roses today... not listen to pitbulls...

 Stress
So I took the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale test today and about passed out. Good thing a few experiences have moved along or you would be peeling me off the floor! Many of the items I checked were about changes and that will work itself out. Whew! Others were surrounding Jim's accident or my health and those issues will improve with time, also. The scale indicated my stress level was enough to make me ill. Duh!

So I went to the Happiness Project and lo and behold, an older post reminded me of what Mom or maybe Dad used to say: "This too shall pass." And boy, is that true! Oh, for hindsight when you are at the front of the horse. And wow did Dad need to sue that fellow for the "Don't sweat the small stuff" idea. Farrell Eaves lived by that before Richard Carlson was born. I remember when I was living in Mississippi and something horrendous was happening with the septic tank at the house. Imagine a septic tank in sand at the bayou, would you? Dad and I were talking on the phone and he told me that even if a bulldozer drove right through the middle of my house, as long as no one was hurt, things would be alright. I will never forget that and it was almost 30 years ago.

The kitchen window

I am going to have a "This too shall pass" day. When I look at things to sort or weeds, I will smile and know they will not be there some day in the future. When I think about the house at Larcom Lane not selling or the price going down, down, down, I am going to put another piece of furniture on Craigslist. Happy TTSP!

Ok, call me crazy. Everyone else does. After falling in love with Daisy, Meg's newly adopted 6-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, I have adopted Abby. She is 11 years old and is amazing!!! ( Notice, Monte, I am avoiding the word "awesome". Meg and I are expanding our expressive vocabulary.)

Abby comes from a family where both adults have fibromyalgia and Steve just had serious back surgery. She is a highly trained hunting dog who hasn't been hunting for several years but is so much fun because she is so smart, follows commands so well, and can catch a ball or frisbee midair! Whoo-hoo! Vaughn absolutely loves that and has been practicing throwing the frisbee. She works well here as there is a fence. She makes me get outside!

Now I have small, medium and large doggies!