The Drama Continues

I spoke too soon, they came over after all. Son, DIL and kids, I mean. I was pleasantly surprised. I immediately gave J his birthday card containing $, apologized profusely, gave him a big kiss and hug and took pictures. After visiting a while, we went to lunch at La Cabana Mexican Restaurant. It was nice to see both my kids and their families together in one place. At the same time, it was kind of bittersweet, wondering how long it would be before we would all be together again. As we were waiting for our food my daughter 'teared up' when we talked about it. What a difference ten years can make! How did we end up this way? Once again, it's called 'life'!
We came back to my house and tried to teach the children how to play Yahtzee, then they all had to get ready to go back to their dad's and have family portraits made. The house is a wreck, but I don't care. It means that they are here, even if for just a short while. I want to savor every moment with them. I don't want to waste precious time dwelling on forgotten birthdays. My babies know that I love them and that's all that matters.
I am puppy sitting with Elvis' brother, Marty, my son's puppy. The two pups have been playing non-stop all day. I'd better go referee!

Later, Ya'll!

OK, so what's up with blogger? I have been trying for a week to upload pictures! I know some of my fellow bloggerites have had the same problem. What gives? GRRRR...Now I'm getting irritated!!!!!

So, how was your day? I went to church this morning just to sing in the choir. We sang an awesome song called 'Total Praise'. Everyone was totally into it..in both services. Wow! I had so much to do today that I snuck out after we sang. I still had to get some pillows for the new bedroom. I went to Ross to see what they had and found two nice ones for 5.99 each. I also found a dark green jaquard throw with fringe and a soft fleece blanket. I also wanted to finish hanging the swags I made for the kitchen windows. It all looks so nice, if I do say so myself! I'll post some pictures one of these days if blogger will co- operate.

Faith is so important to me. It's what keeps me going. So why do I get this knot in my stomach just about every Sunday morning? Why do I just want to get in my car and drive far away from here? It's all I can do to be civil to 'you know who' sometimes, the anger and disappointment are always just under the surface. When will it end? Why am I here? So many questions, but no answers.
Only God knows, I guess.

I hate being a drag, so I'll quit whining now. I'm going to concentrate on having fun with my kids this week. Can't wait to hug my babies and spend time with my sweet daughter.

Bye for now, ya'll

I've decided to keep this blog name for now. I just haven't been inspired or creative enough to come up with another one, but I'm sure one day, or one night in my sleep, one will just pop into my mind. I'm sure that it will be so clever and appropriate that I will wonder why I didn't think of it sooner!

I am sitting at this computer at 4:00am Saturday morning! I was awakened by sirens about an hour ago and I can't get back to sleep. I will be dragging by the time I get off work this afternooon. I know I booked myself too tight and will probably run behind all day. Oh well, they will just have to take a number and wait! I hope Loretta brings a new crossword puzzle book with her, cuz she will need it. I have my clients spoiled anyway because I usually keep on schedule. I know hairdressers are notorious for keeping people waiting, but not me. It makes me crazy to have clients sitting and staring at their watches, waiting like nervous cats! However, today I don't care! I've had a slow week and I need to make some cash since I will be off all next week.

I will pick up daughter and her family at the airport bright and early Monday morning, then we will be off to a fun filled week! They will spend the first few days with her dad and his wife. My son and his family are coming in from big-D so all the cousins should have a good time getting re-acquainted. On Wednesday we are planning to go to Galveston for a few days. I haven't been there in years, because I always go to the beach with the kids when I'm in Florida. We are staying at a friends beach house, but probably won't go near the water because it's still too cold. We want to check out the new Schlitterbahn water park or Moody Gardens. There are a lot more restaurants along the seawall, too. Then, there's always The Strand for shopping and eating. I'm also planning a family get together next Saturday at my house. I even invited the ex and his wife and two little boys. It can be awkward sometimes because of underlying issues, but the most important thing is that my kids get to see everyone and spend time with all their family as much as possible in the short time that they are here.
Hope the weather co- operates!

I probably won't be blogging a whole lot next week either. In fact, I won't be able to get to the computer because all their stuff will be piled up in this bedroom!

I got the herbs planted yesterday after I got home from work. I made a new wreath for the front door, got plenty of food and Blue Bell ice cream...I'm ready for the crowd! Elvis won't know what to think when he sees the girls! I'm sure they will love him and he will be happy to have all that attention!

It's now 4:30 am. I think I'll take nap before I have to get up and get ready another fun day in the world of hair. Yeah right! I'm just gonna put myself on auto-pilot and go for it!

Have a nice week, ya'll

Crazy Weather & Stuff

Can you believe it's 36 degrees tonight? Last week I was turning on the A/C, now I'm cranking the heat back on! You know what they say about Houston weather..."If you don't like it, wait five minutes and it will change". I just hope it warms up by the weekend when the kids arrive. We are planning a day trip to Galveston sometime during the week. Warm weather would be nice.

Today I went to the plant place across the street from the shop and bought some herbs. I have a perfect location for an herb garden outside my kitchen windows. I found Italian oregano, lemon balm, rosemary, sweet basil, spearmint, peppermint and chives. I didn't get any parsley because it looked a little puny. I also like dill, but couldn't find any. I'll try to grow some from seed. I like to slice small pickling cucumbers and fresh tomatoes, add chopped dill, vinegar, salt and pepper and a little sugar. Let it all marinate at least an hour and served chilled. Yum! It will be so nice to have my own little bed of fresh herbs to cook with!

I haven't written about the world of hair lately...every one has been fairly easy to deal with...no weird stuff has happened to any one. Since I have had Elvis every one seems to want to talk about him and/or their own dog. I didn't realize so many people have dogs. Mini dachshund are very popular dogs apparently because I have heard lots of wiener dog stories. They are fun little dogs. I got in from work rather late tonight and Elvis was so glad to see me that he peed all over the floor! How cute!

I do stay busy at the salon, though. I had a new client come in on Tuesday for highlights. I didn't want to stay that late, but I just can't stand to turn down a new person. She was very happy with her new look and I got home just in time for American Idol!

Poor little Kevin Covais is history. I knew he was going to get the ax this week. I like Bucky, but I fear he will be the next one to bite the dust. Him or Lisa Tucker. And what about Kelly Pickler...Simon's naughty little 'minx'? Hmm?

Ya'll remember to keep Mike in your thoughts and prayers. His Mom is having some complications due to ongoing health problems.

Well, it's time to call it a night. I have another busy day in the world of hair tomorrow.

Later, ya'll

Changes and Things

I'm thinking about changing the name of this blog. I just dreamed it up as I was setting this thing up and I've never been happy with it. I'm open to suggestions, so feel free to share.

I have been busy decorating the front bedroom and it is looking very pretty. I decided to go with a French Country garden theme, in colors of burgundy, mauve, soft green and taupe, picking up the colors of the floral spread and pillow shams. I didn't have time to paint the walls, but since I will be buying a new spread and shams eventually, I wanted to wait. I bought an unfinished ledge shelf at Michael's, painted it a soft green, then antiqued it. It will be hung in the computer corner, displaying pictures of the kids, etc. I still need a curtain rod and new lampshade for the beautiful crystal lamp that was a gift to my daughter when she got married. I brought the pair of lamps back with me the last time I visited. They didn't fit in her new home and I didn't particularly have a place for them either, but I wanted to keep them because of their sentimental value. Besides, they were quite an investment back when they were purchased!

As I look around this newly decorated room and see the gallery of my children and grandchildren's pictures, it reminds me of how quickly time has flown by. We have all been through many changes, some good, some not so good, but that is what life is all about, isn't it? There's not a person on this earth who, if given the opportunity, wouldn't go back and change some things along life's journey. Life truly is like a tapestry, our experiences woven together like so many different threads and textures. The pretty side is displayed for the world to see...the 'ugly' side, with all the knots and bumps, carefully hidden from view. No two are alike, but each one beautiful in it's own way, knots, bumps, tangles and all. And the best part is that God loves both sides! He forgives us when we knot things up and if we will allow him, He can make something beautiful from the tattered pieces.

Change happens,

Life goes on.

Be thankful for every day.

Good, bad, come what may!



Time to get ready for church!


Happy Sunday, ya'll

Let's Rodeo!

We went to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo last night at the Reliant Center. There were 57,946 people in attendance. This thing is huge! The entire city 'Goes Texan' during rodeo time, so we put on our boots and jeans and joined in the fun. We rode the shuttle bus to Reliant Center because the traffic is a b****. The commute to the park n ride lot where we caught the shuttle to the rodeo took almost an hour and a half, but at least I didn't have to drive all the way there and pay to park. Many of the local restaurants have food booths set up outside in the parking lot. Vendors of all kinds were set up in the exhibit hall. I didn't buy anything, but it was fun to look. The livestock exhibits and judging is in the back of the arena. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, we made our way into the rodeo arena and found our seats, just in time for the opening ceremonies. Cowboys with names like Howdy Cloud, Ty Elliot and Shay Good rode bulls, bucking broncos and wrestled steers. The calf scramble is always fun. A bunch of kids and about half as many calves are turned loose in the arena. They have to catch a calf, harness him and lead him into the center of the arena. They get a calf to keep and raise during the year.

However, the main attraction is the entertainment. This rodeo goes for the big names ya'll. Alan Jackson was the man of the hour and he was awesome! Chronicle correspondent Joey Guerra gave him a pretty favorable review in today's Houston Chronicle, except for the dig he made during a cover of Hank Williams Jr's Texas Women. He inserted the line, "I'm a Cowboy fan/Not a Brokeback man," which drew cheers from the crowd. Guerra criticized Jackson for the statement, but apparently the crowd agreed with Jackson. Ya think? I think Mr. Jackson has a right to his opinion, so there, Mr. Guerra! Alan Jackson is a class act as far as I'm concerned. BTW, this is his 14th year to perform at HLSR.

We (The Man and I) had a nice evening, all in all. Except for a few minor tangles, we got along pretty well. Go figure... you think he's turning over a new leaf? I remain cautiously optimistic.

Yee Haw again, Ya'll!

Spring has Sprung in South Texas

The days are getting longer, so there was plenty of daylight left when we got home from work yesterday. We put the leash on Elvis and went for a walk 'out back'. The woods are coming alive with new growth. This little pond is full of water from the recent rains, which makes the frogs happy. They were croaking and chirping. In a nearby bog I saw wild irises and pretty marsh grasses. I even found dewberry vines in full bloom. I hope I get to the ripe berries before the critters do! The chickadees were flitting about, feeding on the tender new buds of the oak trees. There were lots of fresh deer tracks. After dark the night before, we spotted five does feeding in the open field to the left of the pond. These woods are home to all manner of wild life and plants. It makes me sad when I think about the day that they will be destroyed in the name of progress, to make way for more houses or businesses. The land where my home sits was once wooded, so it is only a matter of time before this little section of forest meets the same fate. I know that part of the land is a county easement and greenbelt designated for drainage and runoff. At least that will stay intact. However, the open field were the deer like to feed is for sale. It's frontage is on the four lane main thoroughfare, so it is a commercial tract. The woods to the right of the pond have been 'logged' recently. The pine trees have been removed and sold, probably to make more lumber, to build more houses! Oh well, I will enjoy it as long as it is here, meanwhile, I will plant my own forest. I started today by planting two pine saplings and an oak tree.

Happy spring, ya'll!

Of Spring and Decorating

Spring is right around the corner! Yay! I had to turn on the AC in my car today it was so warm. All the garden centers have put away the fire wood and chimaneas. Now they are abloom with colorful annuals, flowering shrubs and hanging baskets, just waiting to find a home. I admire them from afar because I know there will be another frost or two before spring actually arrives. I always wait until the end of April or first of May to put in my annuals, just to be on the safe side. I will go ahead and buy a few hanging baskets to spruce up the back porch, though. I wish I could just snap my fingers and have a beautifully landscaped back yard instead of the barren weed patch that is there now. I have had two beautiful back yards in previous homes, all planted by yours truly. Both of those yards would fit into this back yard that I have now! I even painted a mural on my storage shed in my last yard. It had a picket fence with daisies and ivy trailing on it, wisteria vine and a pink climbing rose on either side of the door. On the door I painted a wooden arch with more ivy, a hanging basket of asparagus fern, a bird house, a topiary and an herb garden growing in a wooden box. Across the top of the door I wrote: 'She Who Loves a Garden...' from a Mary Englebreight book. I painted little vines with tiny white flowers on the letters. I even painted a Monarch butterfly flitting amongst the flowers. I had milkweed growing nearby and always had Monarchs laying their eggs on it. Later I would see a huge green and black striped caterpillar eating every leaf in sight. Once I found a crysallis hanging from a nearby plant, but missed seeing the butterfly actually hatch. I loved that yard!

I have a lot to do in the next few weeks to get the house ready for 'the kids' visit. My daughter and her family are coming for a visit during their spring break the last week of March. I still need to furnish one of the bedrooms. I am buying a white trundle day bed from a friend to put in it. I want the room to be a 'girls room'. This will also by my office/computer room, so I don't want it too frilly...more bright and fun! The rest of the house is OK, still no window treatments in the family room or kitchen. I just haven't been in the mood to deal with all that, what with all the drama going on in the 'domestic situation'. It seems to be settling down a bit, so it looks like I will be staying around for a while. I might as well do a little more decorating. The house will at least 'show' well if it ever needs to be put on the market. In the meantime, I can enjoy it. Besides, I am, therefore I decorate!

Well, little Elvis is pooped. He had his puppy class this evening and had quite a work out, but he is learning all his commands and making friends with the other pups. The wild and crazy chocolate lab came back, darn it. He shreiked and slung slobber the entire time. The other pups had a hard time concentrating because he is such a distraction. I wonder if it would do any good to call the instructor and complain, er discuss my concerns.

Night ya'll!

Who Dressed the Dogs up?

I have a client who has a tea cup chihuahua about 2 years old. She takes the dog everywhere she goes. In fact, I met her at the nail salon last year about this time. I noticed the dog all bundled in a baby blanket on her lap as we were sitting next to one another getting our nails done. I commented on how cute he was and we started talking. She told me that she got the dog after her son was killed in car accident. She went on to tell about how the puppy had brought her comfort and helped fill a void as she went through the grieving process. She also suffers from lupus and is unable to work, so she and Peanut are inseparable. I believe the dog would grieve himself to death if anything ever happened to her. She was in today and as usual, brought 'Peanut' along. Well, this little guy was all decked out in a camouflage tank top and hat. He was wearing goggles that co-ordinated with his camo. He always wears a necklace ( which is really a ladies bracelet). He has quite an extensive wardrobe and is always dressed in a cute outfit.

It seems that the trendy thing to do these days is to dress your dog in cute outfits. So, should I buy Elvis a few t-shirts? What about a hat? On second thought, I don't think he would stand for a hat to be strapped to his head. He'd probably rip it off and tear it to shreds! He wears a tiny camouflage bandana around his neck sometimes, but I think a simple t-shirt would be OK too. I did make Elvis a cape and he tolerated it fairly well, but he hasn't worn it in public yet.

Peanut fills a need in my friends' life, as Elvis has done for me. So what if we put clothes on them. They love us unconditionally and tolerate our goofy behavior!

When I was a kid, we had lots of cats and kittens. My sister and I would put our doll clothes on the cats and pretend they were our babies. Or, sometimes we would just pretend that the cat was a baby wearing a 'kitty suit' if they wouldn't let us dress them up. Same principle, different era!

If Elvis doesn't like wearing clothes, I'll just pretend that he's a baby wearing a puppy suit. So there!

It's a beautiful thing, ya'll!