CELEBRATING VISITORS TO THE ZINNIA GARDEN

It's a happy day when we have so many visitors to the zinnias.

Have I mentioned zinnias are my favorite flower?

I can't help but take lots of pictures of them. They bloom for so long and as they morph they change into something new and different in the process. Look close... they look like little cakes. At least they do to me.

I would challenge any talented cake designer to make one! Sculpting cakes like flowers is a whole market! As delicious as they look!

We had one other visitor to the zinnias.. a humming bird! I was taking pictures of the white butterfly, and a hummingbird flew up. My gasp of delight scared it away.

Celebrating summer! Celebrating completion of summer term at school! Celebrating life & zinnias!

Ebay Vintage Jewelry

a lovely clip with carved glass center
(currently for sale)

coming up soon on ebay - some miscellaneous vintage/antique bits and pieces

one of the most stunning pieces I've ever sold - a fine silver cameo by famous silversmith HENRYK WINEGRAD

and this, a cloissonne water lily, early 1900 corsage pin. The enameling on this was absolutely beautiful. How do we resist?!

Ebay & Etsy Vintage Jewelry

Here are a few of the things I've had on ebay lately and my usual stock at Etsy. Some of the items I've sold recently were hard to part with, they are so beautiful.

Please visit my shop if you have a chance: User ID THANKNUKINDLY

My etsy shop : signofthedimes

Thanks!

Kitty Litter ~ An Update

Looks like I will have to put up with the worn path to the toilet, and kitty litter stuck between my toes....

.... the Snaps... is fine!

Babes In Diaper Land

Oops, Lane thinks the water's too cold!

Evan wants to play some ball!

Lane

Ezra, always happy!

Keelyn, Hunter, Lane, Evan & Ezra

Just look at these beautiful babes in diaperland...

My nephew, great-nephews and niece.. all in diapers.. or nothing at all! Aren't they cute?!

Mister Snapper The Cat

mister snapper the cat is in the hospital
has a blockage in his man-cat parts
i thought briefly about just waiting it out
laid in bed thinking about what to do
then realized I really had to pee
then thought how mister snapper must feel the same way
only much, much worse
I got out of bed, looked online about cats and UTI's
cats with blockages can die within 24-48 hours
so then I grabbed the phone book and called his vet
they said bring him in RIGHT NOW, and by the way that will be an extra 60 bucks because its an emergency
sure enough, mister snapper had blockage and they needed to operate right away

so we are waiting to hear now how he did in surgery

I feel bad for waiting and deliberating on what to do
my pets are all getting old and starting to have problems
but I do love them

On the paperwork I had to check which box applies:
is your animal ______family_______companion_______pet
I didn't hesitate to mark the "family" box

mister snapper is a manly cat
he likes his toilet water
and he likes to sit in the window
and sometimes sneaks out side to eat grass and lay in the sun
or perch near the birdbath
he's become much more cuddly in his older years

I nursed his broken hip when he fell off the roof (or its possible the ex accidentally backed over him)
he liked to bring me presents of freshly chewed shrews
he proudly held them in his mouth and then flung them in the air
poor things
and at night he would climb the roof and sit by the boys bedroom window upstairs

he's a great cat
you think about all this stuff when your "pet" gets sick

I suppose had they told me it would cost a gazillion bucks to fix him, I'd have tried to come up with the money to make him better
but luckily they charged a fair rate, less than I expected actually

mister snapper's supposed to come home monday
let's hope the news is good!

Beloved Zinnias!

I was going to write about the ants invading my kitchen like wildfire on dry trees. I was going to write about this blasted heat wave... I no longer do well in summer. I was going to write about how I found out someone has invaded my privacy and has gotten into my email account. I was going to blast about tolerating ants and heat, but not hackers. Or more like stalkers.

But since there's nothing else I can do but be mindful, watchful and... change my password.... I'm going to treat myself to something more soothing and which I dearly love: ZINNIA'S.

Zinnia's are my favorite flower. They are easy to grow, easy to keep. They bloom for as long as you let them. If you cut them, they bloom even more. They don't ask for much, just some water. They come in all shapes and sizes and colors of the rainbow. They are blissful! I love to watch how some will turn their head to follow the sun. But mostly I love how they change as they open. They start out as a big, round bulbish bud. Then they start to open and look like FIREWORKS as the leaves pop out. Then the leaves unfold and they are GLORIOUS! And then the middle pops up like a dome and then these sweet little flowers circle around the dome like a garland. SPLENDID!

Aren't they wonderful? Inspiring?

Smacking an ant off my shoulder, while fanning myself as I sit here. I feel better already.

Sign of the Times ~ How Time Flies

This lovely tranquil spot happens to be where I take my night class. We have a break and I come out here and enjoy the serenity.

RELAY FOR LIFE, my sister is a survivor!

This is my sister Kitty's luminary at the Relay For Life. (more on that soon!)

Sign of the Times

A sure sign of the times... we are all so busy we don't even have time for each other. But, do make time for what is important to you for TIME IS SHORT! I always joke that "Life is like a roll of toilet paper ~ the closer you get to the end, the faster it seems to go." Isn't that so true?

So I've decided to go back to school, because I STILL don't really know what I want to be when I grow up... but at least I am heading in a positive direction and I'm really proud that I ACTUALLY am doing it. I tried to talk myself out of it. I said outloud that I didn't know if I could do it. My sister and my niece said "YES YOU CAN!!!" And then when the financial aid seemed like it wasn't going to go through in time, I almost was glad... (it did come through in time) but then I realized that I NEEDED to go out of my comfort zone and do this. Part of it was my mindset that I might not be smart enough. But most of it was that I was just AFRAID to try it, to jump forward, to leap into the unknown. And of course now I am glad that I am doing it. IT'S HARD! It requires a lot of organization, planning, concentration. Not to mention juggling... juggling family time, cleaning the house, sleeping, homework, class time (on Thursdays I am in class for 6 hours) and the absolute knowledge that it is CERTAINLY TRUE what they tell you, that for every hour of class you should expect 2 hours of homework.

So, I am making the time, (and the leap!) into college. For me, for my family, for my future! Step outside of your comfort zone ~ there's a lot of life there waiting for you!

WOO HOO