In my own backyard!

While I was waiting for the painter to finish my livingroom (which by the way looks GORGEOUS) I ventured out on a walk to the Lime Kiln Park which I've ventured through before but having more time to kill I was able to really take it all in. It's a gorgeous park with nice paved (and non-paved) walking trails alongside the river.

This is quite the jewel for the little slice of paradise that I call home. I sat alone with my thoughts along the bank on a ridge jutting out over the river. Soon I heard the welcome sounds of children's laughter and saw three young kids trying to walk upstream, falling, sliding back to where they started, righting themselves and venturing on again. They were so filled with glee and determination that I envied them. When was the last time that I did something like that? Did I ever? Will they remember that day when they're as old as I am? I certainly hope so.

My pedometer only recorded a little more than a mile but I'm pretty sure I put on 10 or at least that's what my out-of-shape calves and back seemed to tell me this morning. I really need to do this more often!! No more excuses.


I walked to a podcast of NPR's 'Speaking of Faith'. I love listening to Krista Tippett but am often doing something that doesn't balance well with just sitting and listening, so with the help of my wonderful grandson, Manny, we figured out how to download all her programs onto my Ipod. With my earbuds gently inserted and my Ipod tuned into Krista's segment on 'Stress and the Balance Within' with Esther Sternberg:

(http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/202008/stress/particulars.shtml)

I ventured out with no particular destination in mind (the greatest way to go). Oh how appropriate this segment was for where I'm at in my journey. Sternberg suggests that faith, family, friends, laughter can help us to be more healthy -- both emotionally and physically. Stay tuned . . .

The Memorable Outfit

We've decided to hire someone to paint the livingroom this time around. Gregg feels he's just too damn old to strain his neck on the ceiling and I feel that I've got better things to do with my time. So, my friend Jan's son has offered to take on the challenge. We moved out all the furniture, found all the missing cat toys and realize how large the livingroom actually is without all the furniture! Perhaps I should declutter somemore? Nah! But I did get into that trunk that holds all the pictures (had to lighten it so we could budge it) and found this picture of Carrie at 6 weeks old -- she's wearing the outfit that I saved for the quilt I made CeCe.

Geez, I calculated when this picture was taken and it must have been back in 1977!! I can't be that old, no way!

Happy Birthday CeCe!

My awesome family at CeCe's birthday party

We celebrated CeCe's 10th birthday today -- better late than never seeing as it was officially on the 11th! Wow, that means next year will be her golden birthday! We'll certainly need to begin planning that party earlier! Anyway, I got this silly frugal notion in my head that I should make her something instead of buying her something from the store . . . for some reason I saved the outfit that Carrie wore for her first photo and got the brainy idea that someday I'd make a quilt and add that to it. So, Wednesday became the day that my creative juices were overflowing and I started cutting out squares from the excess fabric that I've been collecting over the years. Uncle Harold made me a template for me awhile back and I remember him asking (a couple of times) if I didn't want it larger than 4x4" . . . after I cut out well over 250 little 4x4 pieces of fabric and sewed them together I now realize why he questioned my logic!! However, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out; there are a couple of pinches and places where the pattern didn't quite line up but I told CeCe that those mistakes were double helpings of love. She told me there weren't any mistakes that it was perfect. Awwwww.

Me and the birthday girl

The Quilt

The pieces I'm referring to are in the center of the second row -- a little cowboy and cowgirl.

Career Crossroads

I went to this simply amazing workshop last night: Crossroads Career Network. It was held at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield WI (www.elmbrook.org/resources/crossroad.asp). I don't know how I've missed this resource -- it's exactly what I need. The workshop reignited the faith in myself that YES, I can actually do this -- with some help.

In Crossroads we get the opportunity to network with like individuals in different phases of their journey as well as hear from speakers who have successfully managed a career crosswords in their life, and learn about relevant topics such as resume development, interview tips, networking, changing career paths, and much more. Breakout sessions after the main presentation allow career explorers to ask questions in a small group setting and learn more about a variety of career related subjects.

Last night's workshop was on LinkedIn -- the phenomonal social networking site. The presenter was Wayne C. Breitbarth (http://www.mmmoffice.com/), he was introduced as the LinkedIn guru for Southeastern Wisconsin. I can certainly see why!! He was energetic, engaging, funny, knowledgeable, and many additional adjectives that I can't seem to come up with right now. I was impressed with myself when he asked how many in the room were on LinkedIn and I raised my hand -- along with about 75% of the attendees. OK, so maybe I'm not so much of a trend setter afterall . . . when he asked how many people have over 500 connections I quickly realized that this guy travels on a different cyberspace highway than I . . . when he asked for 100 connections about 3/4 of the LinkedIn group raised their hands . . . 50, some more. I was hoping that he'd get to my level of exposure (25) but he passed on that.

So, what did I learn?

- Cool, my profile is 100% complete (hooray)

- I should try and get at least 60+ connections to get the value of my network

- Need to review my home page often to see who's looking at my profile (build hope)

- Join some more groups and be active in them

- Research, try, research some more

So, once I figure out this whole SN thing: blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter I'll be on my way to being totally plugged in, right? Here I come . . .

The Cat who stole my heart -- or something like that

I just finished reading this awesome book, 'Dewey - The Small Town Library Cat who Touched the World' and cried so much that I had to go into the house so the neighbors wouldn't think there was something wrong with me. Not that the book was all that sad but just that it touched a piece of my heart that has been filled with Zack and Vinnie . . . the part that has been empty for far too long.

Zackie has a way of knowing just when I need him by me to lift that burden of dispair from my heart. He'll linger around just long enough for me to regain myself and then wander off somewhere for a nap. Vinnie's still trying to figure things out but has already woven his little paws into my heart.

The author (Vickie Myron) is a relentless woman who struggled through an alcohlic husband, single motherhood, a teenage daughter, and cancer. Not sure, but after raising two daughters I could almost bet that the teenager came a close second to the cancer. Still she continued in her mission to support her small little town's library and make it a warm and safe place for everyone. She learned alot from Dewey and wrote what he taught her:

Find your place.

Be happy with what you have.

Treat everyone well.

Live a good life.

It isn't about material things; it's about love.

And you can never anticipate love.

How true that is. Someone told me a long time ago that the Eskimos have over 50 words for snow because its so important to them. I think that we have about as many if not more words for love; here's a couple of mine that come to mind:

- A gentle hand when you're down

- A smile from across the room

- A brush against your leg from your cat

- A picture of times past

- The laughter of a child

- A hug

- Lilacs

- Family

- Friends

- Memories

Add some of yours:

Family Matters

My weekend has been marvelous and it's only Saturday! On Friday I picked up my cousin, Lori, and her daughter from the airport; they were flying in from DC for cousin, Chris' graduation. Once we figured out how to get Gracie's carseat safely secured in my car we were off to meet Uncle Marv and Aunt Marlene for brunch at this awesome little coffee shop in Hartford, PERK PLACE. When you go there you HAVE TO visit the bathroom -- it's quite unique. After brunch we went to their house so Uncle Marv could get his grandpa fix with little Gracie or was it his excuse to watch 'Sponge Box Square Pants'?

Saturday cousin Chris (and about 10,000 others) graduated from UW-Whitewater with his Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. We are so, so, so very proud of him!!

Then he announced to us that he asked his girlfriend, Holly, to marry him!!! We are so happy to have her join our family. Chris is one lucky guy!!

In Search of a Green Thumb

I'm trying to get my internal clock back into synch with a work-day clock (just in case) and awoke shortly after Gregg left for work; did my household chores and promptly fell back to sleep on the couch but at least I gave forth the effort.

Later I went out to Uncle Harold & Aunt Bessie's for lunch and to see the beginnings of Aunt Bessie's gardens. She adds and subtracts from it each year and it's so pleasing to be on the receiving end of her subtractions! This year she's trying something new with an area where there used to be a tree. I'm sure it'll look lovely -- check back later.

Her gardens are in bloom throughout Spring, Summer and some even into the Fall.

After dinner I went to a gardening workshop at the Home Depot in the Falls. Over 20 had registered but I was the only one who showed up so I had a one-on-one seminar with this friendly, uber-talented, young girl, Amanda. That's the thing about younger kids -- it didn't phase her that no one else showed up -- I would have been a mess. Instead she held my attention, answered my questions, came up with some landscaping ideas and even taught me a few tricks. Extra bonus -- I got to take the pot home!

I agreed to not dig up any additional garden beds until I get back to work but that doesn't mean I can't dream and design . . . think I can convince Gregg to put in a Japanese maple, some heather, a rock garden, and a water feature???

Moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone

I've been trying real hard to stay busy and optimistic and I've got to say, it's working. There are so many projects at home that I've wanted to do as well as assistance I can offer to my church, the community, and other groups I'm involved with. Such as:

• Friends of Plum and Plum Islands -- check out our latest newsletter at www.plumandpilot.org
• Albright Church -- I taught a computer game workshop last week Wednesday to a group of eight adult students. I warned them that gaming can be addictive but the other advantages far outweigh the risk; i.e., increase intelligence, exercise logic; think, focus, challenge; test motor skills and reflexes; safely interact with other players, anonymously; escape; green element; free. Check out their awesome website at http://www.albrightumc.net/. I'm teaching an Ebay selling workshop next week for them.
• Relay for Life -- As a mother of a survivor and a daughter of a strong woman who lost her fight to cancer I have volunteered to be the team leader for Relay for Life. Check our site out at: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09MW?team_id=484741&pg=team&fr_id=16123&fl=en_US&et=1TpDynmcpLqyi-liPw4VmQ..&s_tafId=276106
• WPTV On Air Fundraiser -- I've always wanted to do this and am delighted that Christie thought to ask me to join her; check them out at: http://www.mptvfriends.org/volunteeropportunity.html
• Menomonee Falls -- I'll be helping with a great event to introduce rain barrels to our community; check out their site at: http://www.menomonee-falls.org/index.asp?NID=534

Then, last but not least is my job search. This in itself is close to a full time job but well worth it.

Introducing VINNIE!!

Ever since we got Zackie I've been wanting to find another bundle of bliss disguised in the form of a cat. Gregg finally got sick of the me trying to convince him (with help from my wonderful daughters) that he caved in on Saturday. I've been searching PetFinder for the last couple of months and found a Manx that looked similar to Zackie but he was in Illinois and Gregg just wasn't going to drive 2-1/2 hours for a cat . . . so plan B . . . we took a look at the Waukesha Humane Society and the cat I had in mind for him to look at left an hour before we arrived; the Wisconsin Humane Society has an outreach at Southridge Shopping center so we headed out there but they closed a 1/2 hour before we arrived there; so we rushed out to the Wisconsin Humane Society and looked at all the cats there but didn't find anything on our first run through. We missed one in the corner as there were others looking at him so Gregg suggested we take a look at that one before we left (little did I know that he already had sneaked a peak). When I saw him my heart melted -- even though he wasn't a Manx he had the same colors as Zackie!!

Don't you just love his little pink nose?

Recognizing that this was 'the moment' Manny immediately went to get a counselor and as soon as I held him in my arms he snuggled up (I guess they train them to do that) and melted my heart. Manny held him and he did the same thing. Gregg knew there was no way we were going to go home without him and went out to the car to get the cage.

The little guy did quite well with all the excitement and even slept with the kids. Zackie's still a bit leary about him but there's no hissing or cat fights . . . yet.

As you can see, he's a bit smaller than Zackie (about half his size) but is 2 years older. He was named 'Lucky' but I wanted to have a 'V' name and Carrie thought of 'Vinnie' -- I tried it on him and yes, it works!! So, Lucky Vinnie -- you've found a forever home, and a 'little' brother!

Vinnie

Zackie

Folk Art

Unfortunately I didn't get the dream job that I was so hoping for :-( But, I wish the person who did land the job the best of success as I know how hard she worked for it -- just a bit harder than I did and that's saying alot!

So, when I awoke I decided that I'm not going to feel sorry for myself and got up, threw a load of laundry in the washer, showered and went outside to plant the sedum that I got at the fantastic gardening workshop that I went to on Saturday at Albright with my friend Jan, her husband Rick and son Daniel. As I went to put the weeds I'd gathered into my new compost bin I walked past the pieces of wood that I pulled from Jan and Rick's wood pile . . .

My creativity started to kick in . . .

Yes, I probably should have removed the red scraps of material that Jan and I tied to the long pieces that stuck out of the truck bed! Perhaps the birds will help me remove them . . .

Ta Da! I planted some bird house gourd and sweet pea seeds so it should look quite interesting a bit later in the season -- stay tuned!