LIFE AT CARDENAS

SOME OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES...TODAY

2012-01-18T18:42:00.000-08:00

LETS GET TOGETHER

2012-01-15T18:21:00.001-08:00

THREE THINGS

2012-01-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

I have discovered three things in the past month that are worth sharing.

One: The pressure cooker.

I grew up in the era of "pressure cooker terror", so it's taken me 30 years to get rid of that fear and purchase one of these marvels. Pot roast in 30 mins? Whole chicken, stewed, in 20? Collards in 10? Yes, yes, yes! I LOVE my pressure cooker! I can cook a whole meal in less than an hour by just cooking one thing, dishing it, then putting the next thing in, cooking, etc, and only one pot to clean? Yes!

Two:

Snore? I do, sometimes, apparently. And I knew it was true because I would wake up with a sore throat. It's especially true if I eat bread near bedtime, or have more than one glass of wine, or drink it too late. So one day I found one of Lilly's jersey headbands, (the kind you might wear during sports to keep your bangs out of your face), and strapped that thing under my chin and over my head before I fell asleep. When the lights were out. Miracle! The one pictured is made specifically for snoring...I just think a 50 cent band is sufficient.

Three:

Words with Friends, which in my case, is usually, Words with Strangers, as I play "random opponents" most of the time. I have lost pretty badly to someone going by Bea3333 who scored a 98 point word against me...of course, she just must be cheating.

THE YEARS

2012-01-05T15:24:00.001-08:00

CURIOSITIES

2012-01-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas was wonderful, and the entire last 3 weeks have been so wonderful! Having all your children around, their respective spouses, children, boyfriends, and them all getting along great, laughing and playing games, having serious heart to heart discussions, eating meals together, etc....what an incredible blessing! Incredible, really.

Ruby left this morning with her boyfriend, Spencer, who is stationed at New River and was driving her back so she could catch her early morning flight out of Jacksonville tomorrow. We really enjoyed having the cowboy from Texas with us. Fit right in. And crazy about my girl, as she is about him. She always adds a lot of humor to just about anything, and is constantly sending me funny pictures she finds online.

Here are a few of them:

This is her "response" to her Sgt. who was irritated that she kept using red ink, which he apparently has issues with. He said something about her being homeschooled, which was quickly followed by this equation:

Here are Ruby and Lilly after going to The Nutcracker ballet in Raleigh. They were in the parking lot at Cookout, sitting on the car and eating burgers, fries, and I'm sure, milkshakes...

Two days after my surgery, I thought, like a fool, that I'd do fine at the flea market all day...

I felt like dooky and about passed out a few times. I sat down, and promptly fell asleep in this booth, while Spence, Ruby and Tim listened to an old lady tell them all about her life: her mom married her off to a 29 yr old man at 13. She got pregnant right away, and when her time to deliver came, he dropped her off at a clinic, supposedly. She was taken to the basement, a student nurse delivered this now-14 yr old's baby, then proceeded to drop it on the floor, on it's head, which killed it. She was never able to have children after that. She also never saw that man again. She married another 57 years ago, and now he weighs 550 lbs, is a recluse, craps in a bucket, wipes his butt and throws the soiled TP into the hallway, and sits back down in the recliner in which he lives. The room this recliner is in has empty water bottles piled shoulder high all around him.

How's that for a life?

This is Spencer Holt, Ruby's boyfriend, practicing lassooing. He got her.

In 2011 I had a daily, tear off calendar last year which was really entertaining.

This was one of my favorites:

The "Lilly Pulitzer" patterned Jeep in Cameron Village...A Lilly Pulitzer dress is expensive enough. How much do you reckon that car paint job cost?!

Mira with her uncle, "Tinton". It's a powerful mutual love.

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

2011-12-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace.

As I sat in my living room, alone, feeling quite sorry for myself, in both physical and emotional pain, I began to sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There's just something about that name..." and just the singing of his precious name lifted my spirits. Then I sang Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, and I felt a flood of tears swell in my heart and eyes. Even in loneliness and pain, His name is above all names, and his power above all powers.
During a brief interlude with the Christian faith, the singer Sting wrote a song titled, "Whenever I Call Your Name", in which he states, "whenever I call your name, I'm already praying."

Then I got on my blog and checked everyone else's, only to find plenty of encouragement from those whose faith rests in Christ, whose joy and strength is in Him, and I regained some of my strength from their faith.

That's a wonderful thing about faith. It is not a private concern. It is a spiritual power that supercedes the flesh, and affects everyone that hears the name of Jesus, the nature of His love, the power of His glory, the mercy of His being.

I thank you Lord, for the faithfulness of your followers, of the ones that love you with all their heart, soul and might.

CHRISTMAS

2011-12-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

We decided as a family to get together for at least one Sunday a month since it seems that if we don't plan something specific, then we are just playing catch-up with everybody, and that won't do. Life is too short. This month we met up at Kenneth and Liliana's in Cary. Nohra, Liliana's mom, is visiting for a few months.

Here are my five: Kenneth, Lilly, Georgia, Ruby and Winston

All of us. My camera setting was clearly not adequate for indoor photography...we'll have to try again Christmas day.

Here's Mira eating all the Nutella off the crackers...

Winston and Ruby fooling around at PF Changs for lunch after Christmas shopping.

The young crowd left over from the annual Christmas Party...Lilly, Jessica Hagar, Jonathan Mangum, Ruth Bibby, David Duncan, Zach and Kendra Duncan, Luke Barrese, Jacob and Daniel Duncan, Jonathan Doss, Winston, Spence, Ruby, Rachael Pierce.

Kenneth messing with my camera.

Merry Christmas everyone!

LEARNING STILL

2011-12-15T16:41:00.000-08:00

I love to learn new, interesting things every day. My father used to tell me that if I paid attention, I could learn something new daily. Sometimes I learn the hard way, but they can be the best learned lessons. Most of the time though, now that I am aging I suppose, they come the easy way, by observation.

These past few weeks I learned that even though I screwed up many years ago in a poor decision making trap, all out of vanity and pride, God was interested in helping me solve the problem now. He's been there all along, waiting for me to realize that although I didn't seek the Lord's will prior to my poor choice, he patiently waited for my moment of 'aha' to hit.

Four months ago I finally said, "Lord, I ask for you to find a way for me to reverse what I did." And voila, done.

If a child of mine does something foolish and then repents and asks for help resolving the effects, I would be delighted, no? So why would I think that God would just say, "You made your bed, lie in it."

Because that's our baseline thinking is. We think that way sometimes, shamefully.

Here I am on the front porch swing with my sweetie pie, who's loving on me so good!

This is my iphone. I learned how to replace a broken screen yesterday. I was so bloomin' excited. I dropped my phone last week and the glass screen shattered. The phone was still functional, the lcd hadn't been damaged, so I wanted to have it repaired. I had observed a man fixing his phone while watching a you tube video a few months ago, so I decided to check for a tutorial and there it was. Looked pretty straight forward and do-able. So I ordered the replacement kit on ebay for $8 and it arrived yesterday. I sat down with my pad, watched the video while using my repair kit, which included all the tools I needed, and the new glass replacement screen. And there it is! Smooth and good as new.

This is our Christmas tree this year. I learned last week that I do not have to go with everyone to pick it out. They can do it themselves perfectly fine. I think it's one of the prettiest trees we've had. It's almost 10ft tall, all bright and beautiful. And I just stayed home and rested while they it picked out and everything is just fine...very nice. I like that lesson learned, alot.

Glad Tim doesn't follow my blog. He'd probably not like this picture of himself. He looks so...unmanly? But that's what a sweet grandbaby will do to you, I guess.

I also learned this week that grampa here is sort of...intimidated, you might say, by his little girl here. He just doesn't really know what to do with her. He's afraid she doesn't like him. But she's a fearless, active little thing, and he's always afraid to pump up the play-time with her. So she's like, "Where's Winston?" (or Tinton, as Mira says.)

I also learned this week that the "change of life" as my dear mother in law used to call it, can make a big difference when you are trying to keep up with appointments. I had all sorts of errors last week in my appointment book. Clients showing up for services whose name I either omitted altogether, thus double-booking, or wrongly penciled in as someone altogether different. This proved to be quite an irritating challenge, one, I should note, I handled pretty well, thankfully. It helps I have the most awesome clients ever!

I'm looking forward to what I'll learn tomorrow.

HO HUM

2011-12-02T16:04:00.001-08:00

Well, not a whole lot going on over here, just everyday, wonderful life. Here you see Mira doing what Lilly's doing...which is what Mira does all day now, whatever everyone else is doing, and more. She's repeating everything too. Georgia hurt herself the other day and said, "SSHHHHHugar!" which was quickly followed by Mira saying "SHugar" too!

I've been attempting to find a new car, since Tim's had it with the BMW ($). While I was at the Honda place in Cary off of 64, the sunset was amazing. Wish the photo would do it justice.

And this is an idea...sometimes I couldn't figure out what was in the tubs without testing it. So I taped the labels onto the jars. It was great. I switch them out when I can.

HOW TO CATCH A MAN

2011-11-26T16:57:00.001-08:00

MARINES AND TATTOOS

2011-11-19T08:58:00.001-08:00

Life has been pretty busy lately. Mostly business has been pretty busy lately. I find myself working through a day without eating hardly anything and then, at about 4, Bam! Food! And the weight piles on...and the gym gets put off...and the madness of that lifestyle is wearing on me poorly. I am determined to get it all sorted out today. I will eat lunch, somewhere between my 3rd and 4th client, I will go to the Y or even better, a park, and walk at least 3 miles, and use the wonderful steamroom, take a long shower, and actually shave my legs, which resemble Winston's about now.

Here are a few pictures. I'll skip showing you my legs.

Ruby in her uniform going to the Marine Birthday Ball. Everyone I've shown this to tells me she looks like an advertisement from the 50's. Except for the "rubyfied" iphone.

Ruby's newest, and very large, tattoo. A memorial to her grandma Beck...the photo was taken at Easter and Tim is one year old here. I am amazed at how accurate it is.

An action shot of Winston in a paintball battle...getting ready for the SeALS.

My beautiful and very grown up youngest two children in Blowing Rock last month.

Lilly and Winston will be turning 18 and 15 in a few weeks!

I have no new pictures of my 'chanchita'! So here is a retrospect...my precious.

Can't wait for the new one in March!!

FLORIDA

2011-11-15T10:37:00.001-08:00

This is Victoria Lane, in Dunedin, Florida. I stayed for a weekend at a hotel down the street and decided to take a walk Saturday through the town. To the right of this walkway is a crushed shell drive, grassy private lawns and the ocean. It was so pretty...the weather was beautiful. I came across a house for sale.

It's a beauty, on about 3-4 acres, with ancient Oaks, Spanish Moss all over them.

Very cool old place.

I couldn't get in, but took this picture of the living room through the front door glass. It's about 20 ft to the fireplace. I went around the whole house taking photos through the windows and screen doors.

The bay view from the front porch. Dock included!

Carriage house out back.

On the airplane home I was looking through some magazines and found this:

Another reason to homeschool, as if we need one.

A FEW MORE

2011-11-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

That bed up there...Just think about it for a minute....

A tattoo Ruby did on a friend a few weeks ago.

Ruby as Amy Winehouse for Halloween.

Winston as Sweeney Todd in Blowing Rock for Halloween. Won 3rd place!

A couple of things I found thought provoking....

PECULIARITIES

2011-10-25T05:46:00.000-07:00

A few odd things from this week. We watched the pumpkin carving demo at the Fair last week and came home to promptly try it out. No way. Just no way. Didn't have the right pumpkin, the right tools or the right skill. Wish this was what I had ended up with.

My favorite pumpkin at the State Fair...the pursed lips are the most amazing part of this thing.

Here's my second favorite.

And then yesterday I was at a new, (amazing) chiropractor, Swiss Spine Clinic. He is indeed Swiss, and very good. I picked up a Time magazine in the waiting area and saw a few statistic-type things I thought were interesting.

And my favorite:

During my lengthy interview and check up, Dr. G asked me repeatedly whether I'd been in a wreck, (which I haven't in 35 years) and after treating me I left, was driving very responsibly through the parking lot at a nearby Bojangles, when someone hits the gas hard as he backs up. Right into me. Hard. I do mean hard. My car went sideways about 3 feet.

I felt so bad for the kid. He was 16, in a brand new Nissan Altima, still bearing his temporary plates. He was really nice, immediately called his mom, told her what had happened, took the blame entirely and it went smoothly from there on out.

I was really impressed with his car. As hard as I was hit, his corner bumper with which he hit me was dented good, but otherwise, in amazingly good condition.

I promptly called Dr. G and left a message about my jinx, and a need for another appointment.

At least I don't have to pay for either.

NOT MUCH...

2011-10-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

I did my best to get her to look into the camera, but she was watching something out the window whilst finishing off her favorite treat at Gramma's house, organic lollipops.

You can see I have short hair again.

Pisses me off.

I know better. You read the instructions first, ALWAYS. I didn't though, I was in a hurry and haste indeed made waste...of my hair. I fried it so bad with a tryout product I had to cut a full year of hair growth. It takes a LONG time for my hair to grow. Bad part is, as if that wasn't bad enough, I still have a good 2 inches of still dead hair left to cut.

But little by little it'll be, and I won't see long hair for very long time now.

This is Winston's artwork on the back of a blank skateboard. He woodburned it over a period of many hours. It has inspired him to do more designs and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.

That's about it. for now!

HOMEMADE SOUP

2011-10-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Boil several beef bones to release the flavorful marrow into the stock. While boiling, add a whole onion, a couple of garlic cloves, a handful of celery leaves with a couple of stalks, a couple of whole carrots.

Cook this for an hour or two at a med-high heat. Strain.

You can store it in the fridge for a long time if you just pour the bone stock in some mason jars. The fat will rise and harden, forming a seal, so it will be good even for weeks.

SOUP

A qt. of bone stock

A qt. of water

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Half a bunch of celery, sliced

6-7 carrots, sliced

1 onion, chopped

1 large can diced tomatoes

6-7 potatoes, cut up

1/2 head of cabbage, sliced/cut

2 Tb fresh parsley (or 1 dry)

You can add anything else you like: browned beef, leftover steak, cooked chicken,

Canned peas, beans, any kind

Corn, sweet potatoes, rice.

Most anything you have in your fridge or pantry will do.

Add 1-2 TB salt, 1 TB pepper, 1 tsp sage, 1 TB turmeric.

Some people like to add sugar/worstershire sauce/tomato paste....

Cook briefly till carrots are barely soft. Turn off and let rest on stove while you get your bread ready.

Enjoy.

MY SWEETIE

2011-10-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Remember those coconut popsicles I was looking for in my previous post?

This is why I was craving them. Mira had fallen earlier in the week and hit her mouth pretty hard, so Georgia and Michael gave her a good old cure. A cold, delicious coconut popsicle, Gramma's favorite.

DAY OFF OR OFF DAY?

2011-09-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

I was so looking forward to having a Saturday off last week. I had plans to stay at home, get some minor things done that had been hard to get to, since when I am not working in the salon, I am running Winston somewhere for classes, or doing daily household chores like cooking, grocery shopping, etc.

I was especially excited because NO ONE would be home all day but me. You know how rare that is? That also means I can do a whole lot of little things, or a whole lot of nothing, and it's ok. I decided to do a pictorial journal of my Great Day.

It went like this:

I fried a plantain (favorite!) and brewed some good green tea. Ate it all.

Then I found a small bag of sweet potato fries, cooked them and ate some, threw the rest away.

Not worth it.

To make up for the flavorless fries, I baked some spicy, nutty cheese crackers, and had several with a thick, frothy demi-tasse of cuban espresso.

All the while listening (and dancing to) to salsa music full volume.

Then I had to print up a bunch of pictures, ( I find wallet size is perfect now), cut them and put them in an album. This would have taken a lot of time, but halfway through, I realized that I am missing about 4 months of photos so I had to stop, wait for the others to appear on someone else's camera or computer. Still waiting...

This is my salon waiting room in the making. Sat down at the computer to shop for a rug and a coffee table online. Not a good idea. Overstock had over 9000 oval rugs...just wore myself out, and needed to move.

So, being a good housewife...

I did some laundry. I don't know where my clothes are.

Since I hadn't had enough carbs (!), I decided to make poppudums. Butter, stick in the microwave for 30 seconds and,

voila, crispy poppudums. I love saying that. Poppudums. Not as much fun typing it.

I you like lentil flour and cardamon, you might sorta like these. Naw, don't waste your money. Even if you do like lentil flour and cardamon.

I was feeling pretty icky by now, and decided I was too bored to cook and/or eat. So I juiced my late lunch.

I laid down on the sofa with my big glass of yummy veggie juice, (don't get jealous) and decided to read the last three magazines that came in that week.

I found these horrid "outfits" among many others...hard to find the winner of the "worst ever", but these speak for themselves.

And who doesn't need "Twilight Inspired"styling tools? Me, me, me!!

Some creative add

Finished reading my magazines, about an hour's worth...decided I should make these, because I really needed them. But I didn't have chocolate, the key ingredient; I could walk to HT and pick it up but I was still in my pajamas (at 3pm) and hadn't taken a bath yet, so no.

Instead, I made soup stock with a bag of bones I found in the freezer looking for a coconut popsicle.

Nom, nom.

And what would I find on top of the fridge, in the way back, in a basket, under some granola bars? Nekots! And Nekots are great for taking on a stroll through the property.

Walked down to our soon to be defunct pond. Don't know where the water is going or why, after 75 years, this pond is drying up. Got depressed, headed home.

Not before admiring some of the prettiness around my back yard. I decided to place the grill cover back on the grill. Picked it up, and within about 15 seconds began to feel a lot of pin-pricks all over my legs and arms.

It freaked me out. Looked down and I had disturbed an enormous colony of red fire ants under the cover in the dirt.

I thought you could see them here. I sure as - could. Soon I started to feel real weird, realized I was having a reaction to the approximately dozen bites, so I ran inside and drank benadryl.

No, I didn't take a picture of the benadryl. I was too woozy by the time I thought about it.

I was so woozy, in fact, I thought it would be a great idea to go down to Harris Teeter,
for that chocolate AND some wine!

I did. I bought it and ate it, and drank it. You talk about feeling like crap.

I was worthless by the time my family came in about six o'clock.

Drunk with a glass of wine and benadryl, bloated from the carb-feast, depressed about the pond and my failure to have a Great Day, and still pretty grungy.

So I went to bed...and didn't fall asleep till about 2 am.

Need I say I did not go to church the next day.

MISCELLANY 2

2011-09-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

I found a few pictures in Lillian's camera of our beach trip this summer...

The "nap chair" as the great papasan came to be known. Kenneth and Liliana on their first day.

Winston, Mira, Michael and Georgia.

Lilly and Winston somewhere goofing off. And now back to the beach...

The men: Michael, Winston, Kenneth and Tim, getting ready to ride a wave. One of his favorite things to do, and force others to do as well!

The women, Georgia, Mira, Lillian, and Liliana...

Kenneth, thankfully, always retains that child-like joy.

Me and my sweetie.

Lillian and Robson Spinelli, after she worked with him on a fashion show (doing hair) at Babylon in downtown Raleigh. This is what she's always wanted to do, and did really well with it, so she is quite pleased as you can tell!

Ruby and one of her friends, sporting her new "vintage-y" look.

Mira eating Yellowfin Tuna Sashimi and loving it.

And finally, Lillian participated in a sprint triathalon at White Lake this month. 250m swim, 7 mile bike ride, 2 mile run. Very excited to have completed it well.

SUMMER MISCELLANY

2011-09-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

I took this in the early morning soon after the sun rose and made my day...I love sunflowers, especially in my old milk jars.

Lilly took this of Mira at the beach this August. It's been 14 months now and I still can't get over having a blonde, blue-eyed grandbaby!

Mira and her daddy, rolling in the waves.

This one is for Ruby, who can't believe Winston is about as tall as Tim!

This is Winston at Boy Scout Summer camp, in the first frame of a photography class project where he had to tell a story in photos. He went fishing and caught a big one...you should see what happens next.

AUGUST 1985

2011-09-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Winston and I drove to Fayetteville to pick up a sofa for the waiting room in my salon, formally known as my schoolroom. As I passed Northwood Temple on Ramsey Street, I recalled to Winston the day of my deliverance there, one August evening in 1985.

I never tire of the story, of how I finally succumbed to the multiple invitations from the ladies who came to the salon, witnessing continously of how God had restored their lives. Mine needed serious restoration, or better yet, complete overhaul. I was unhappy, aimless, like a ship tossed about the ocean, I was a woman of 24 tossed about life by the forces around me.

I stepped inside on a Wednesday night prayer meeting, I heard them sing songs to the Lord with great joy and unity. Then they prayed for people in the church and without, and several prayed in tongues. Having just read Acts and beginning the book of Revelation, I recognized what was happening, and God used that moment to cement the knowledge that his Word is Truth.

I sat down, and the preacher, Pastor John Hedgepath, who is still there after 42 years, began to teach/preach. I didn't hear a thing, my ears were ringing, my thoughts spinning, my heart breaking. I felt a strong urge to cry when all of a sudden he stopped talking and said, "The Holy Spirit is telling me someone has to get saved right now. I need to be quiet now. Someone needs the Lord right this minute. If you need the Lord, get up and come down."

I was up in an instant, and headed down the aisle to where he indicated, and before I reached the front of the church, I was transformed into a new creation. There were two other women that night who surrendered to the Lord along with me. It was a momentous night.

When I woke up the following morning, it was as though a murky film had been removed from my eyes, my mind, my being. I saw everything from a different view, the sky, the birds, the trees, all manifested the perfect glorious creation of God. I had joy for the first time ever. I had peace for the first time ever. Not the kind of "peace" I had experienced sitting quietly and not being disturbed, but an inner, deep peace that was unimaginably full of hope.

God is faithful, sufficient, merciful, and full of grace. I have known His tangible Prescense every day for 26 years since that night. I can touch his garment for my healing, I can speak to him for my comfort, I can pray to him for answers and direction, I can serve him knowing the work will go into eternity.

The only thing better than living in Christ is dying in him. Not that I feel I am ready. My heart, although his, still longs for my children, my grandchildren, and my family, especially those who have refused to look to the Almighty lover of their souls.

PLAYING CATCH-UP

2011-09-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

School has started, Ruby's back in Hawaii, summer is ending, the hurricanes are here. Love this time of year!
Since the bulk of Winston's schooling this year is being taught by professors, I have time for different experiences now.
Mondays, while he is at TCC for Forensic Science and Spanish, I get to go to Trader Joe's once again, and sit for a cup of tea at the coffee shop. Wednesdays, while he is way up in north-north Raleigh for Comparative Worldview, Algebra, Reading and Writing, I investigate what's around there, take care of shopping and other things, and then get to eat out at some cool little place I've never been to before after picking him up. Thankfully, Lilly has been off the last 3 weeks and has joined me, making it a lot of fun for the three of us to be together.
She will take up the picking up part of this day, when she begins at Paul Mitchell The Academy next Tuesday, and then her and Winston will be going out to different things in the evening to avoid the 5 o'clock traffic rush.

Michael, Georgia and Mira at Tony's Bourbon St. Oyster Bar, Cary. Good food!

Lilly with her new fringe, and proud of it.

Anthony's Gourmet Market at LaFayette Village, on Falls of the Neuse Rd. LOVE it! Like a mini-Wholefoods, but gourmet.

The following pictures are different shots of Lafayette Village. It's got a small village European flair, and very quaint. The shops are delicious and all are food oriented so far. It appears to just have opened.

Then off to the Museum of Art, where we found a few things we liked.

Yesterday Mira and her mom and dad came over for dinner and she discovered the canning pot, half full of water, in the kitchen, on the floor. And made good use of it!

Loves to sit with the dogs on their beds. They're her buddies.

In the canning pot, bobbing her head. She'd stick it in the water, pull it up, and lick the water dripping down her face, as the rest of her got soaked.

And this is yours truly, at 18, holding my firstborn child, Kenneth. Beside me is Yomaira and her daughter Gissell, who sent me this picture after I found them on FB. This was taken on the day of G's christening, in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1979!

MORE FROM RUBY

2011-08-24T05:43:00.000-07:00

This is a painting Ruby did on her Gunny Sgt's desk.

Amazing!

Flying over Aghanistan.

NEED A CHANGE

2011-08-19T20:06:00.000-07:00

Instagram of Lillian

I have been so irritated looking at that fatty photo of Winston I got desperate and had to post another one, so I could look at an agreeable sight every time I check on other people's blogs through mine.

Not much to say, other than I have worked a lot this week, making up for lost time; Ruby is on her way back to Hawaii now; I finally watched the 3rd "Pirates" movie tonight at the $1.50, and thought it sucked, (except for the mermaids part); Lillian got into Paul Mitchell The Academy in Raleigh(that's what it's called); and school is about to begin in earnest this week for Winston, and I got fined $100 for letting my salon license go overdue.

That's my news for the week.

SNIPPETS

2011-08-16T05:45:00.000-07:00

If this doesn't discourage him from getting unhealthy, nothing will!

Photo by FatBooth, an iPhone app, which I quickly deleted.

Here is Mira at the house on Topsail playing with the cornhole boards. You see Winston under the board, peering up from the hole and Mira knows a good time when she sees one. Especially with her uncle Winston!

At the Patio Playground Putt Putt/Awesome Arcade/Ice Cream Shop/Bike Rental/Cool Music place, our FAVORITE place at Topsail Beach. There is a wall at hole 2 where everyone writes their name. The kids are always hoping Kim, the owner, hasn't painted over theirs every year (there is a neverending paint job going on there). And here is Lillian's. Apparently she didn't find it in '09...

Michael and Georgia started their family's spot this year. Can't wait to see a few names added to the list!

And this was sweet.

IT WENT BY QUICKLY

2011-08-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

My Ruby is leaving Afghanistan today!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at her, will you? Does she not look confident, joyful, solid, healthy, beautiful? Y'all just cannot imagine how I feel when I look into her face and see that woman she has become. I am so proud of her, I could scream. Well, I have, several times already.

It'll take her a week to get to Kaneohe Bay, the Alana Moana Mall, and Hope Chapel Church. Wish I was there to greet her!

The "birds".

I DO NOT MISS IT

2011-08-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

I am asked sometimes if I miss eating cooked food, and don't I get hungry? Truth is I am fully nourished if I eat all my raw food and juice, so my body has no "hunger" feeling. It's totally different than when I ate mostly cooked food. I ate "good" food, as we say, not much junk. But I still had desire to eat between meals, and would graze the kitchen, check out the chip drawer, open the fridge...I'd also have hunger pangs when I went several hours without eating.

Now I fully realize that what the body is really telling you is not, "Fill me with food." or merely, "Feed me.", but rather, "Nourish me." I ingest so much nourishing food now that I don't have that hungry, need to eat feeling anymore.

This is a lunch I enjoy on occasion, when not juicing. It is Kimchee (raw, fermented and delicious), raw, unpasteurized olives, and gruyere cheese made from raw sheeps' milk. I eat this little crispy flat bread from Spain which I love, and I had some not raw wine.

Breakfast was fresh strawberries, vitamin c water, green tea, and a slice of ezequiel cinnamon-raisin bread. How about eating out? It's not that hard, really.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fatoush at Baba Ghanouj in Cary. I get this alone usually, but sometimes I enjoy some hummus with their awesome pita bread.

Went to dinner with Winston at Outback in Cary...I was so dissapointed! I've heard all about it for years, finally go and, BLAH. Winston got a 14 oz sirloin, which was good, but not exceptional. I got the seared, (raw) Ahi tuna, with steamed green beans. OK. Not great like Peak City Grill's seared Yellow Fin Tuna.

This little one will eat anything you put in front of her, just about. I have yet to see her turn down something...raw, cooked, vegetable, whatever. Here she is ready to go with Gramma to market.

SERENDIPITY

2011-07-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Raw fooding has been a lot easier now that my emphasis is healing my body. In the past I had engaged in this form of eating out of interest, curiosity or to see if I could lose weight. But displaying all the symptoms of sinus cancer was enough to make it stick this time. In this photo you see the ingredients to my favorite green juice. I got the recipe off a documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". It consists of one green apple, a thumb-sized piece of ginger, half a lime, 1 cup spinach, 2 cups kale, 1 large cucumber, 5-7 carrots,

2 stalks celery, approx. 1 cup parsley.

I put these through my Champion Juicer, and re-juice the ground up vegetables you see in the bowl. I end up with very little waste and a good amount of juice.I drink this for lunch most every day.

I drink at least this much daily. When I started a week ago, I would drink up to 2 quarts at a time. Now I am satisfied with about 3 cups a day. I drink it down at one time, not sipping it as most people seem to do.

Breakfast: this is usually a variety of fresh fruit as seen above. I will eat about 2 cups of this and down 1 ounce of flaxseed oil to offset the assimilation of sugar. About 4 days a week, though, I make a concoction that is really kind of gross.

This is what it contains: 1 heaping tablespoon of Green Superfood, which is the main reason it's gross. This has every green thing known to man, including 4 seaweeds, all raw, ground up into a powder. 1 oz flaxseed, which isn't easy to swallow either; 8 grams of vitamin C; 2 oz each of Aloe Vera and 13 Fruit Super Concentrate, and then I top it off with half cup of homemade kombucha tea.

It makes about a pint of...whatever you call it. I shake this up in my blender cup which has a whisk ball inside that helps it all mix well.

Then all throughout the day, when I remember, I drink this Papaya leaf tea, which has a good history of anti-cancer properties. It contains an enzyme that eats away at the protein that is so tightly woven around cancer cells, which is what makes it so difficult for your own immune system to combat the cancer. By building up my immune system with all the above mentioned concoctions and all the raw food I can handle in between drinking (which is not much) and breaking down the surface of the bad cells, I have made amazing improvement with the sinus issue in just 4 short weeks.

Mira and Winston.

And of course, our little Mira. And her beautiful mom.

LUNA'S LIVING FOODS

2011-07-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

Since going 85% raw this month, I have been challenged to find appropriate items to eat when I go out. A salad is raw, yes, I hear you. But, it's not just about being raw, it must be the highest nutrition possible, and, if at all possible, organic. This last thing is almost impossible. A restaurant with raw, organic food? Maybe in Chapel Hill...

But I am in Charlotte, and the Queen City has some good offerings.The one at the top of my 'go-to' list is Luna's Living Foods. This little place is situated in an old building (next to an organic local weekend farmer's market) and it's owner, Juliana Luna-Powell, happens to be from Colombia. Bonus. She opened Luna's 4 years ago, and it is highly successful. This is a woman of culinary and ethical integrity. Everything is, if at all possible, organic. And raw. And definitely nutritious. She has vats of fermenting kombucha tea, tubs and tubs, shelves and shelves, jars and jars full of wholesome, fresh food items. As I sat there waiting for my breakfast to be served, a man came in carrying 3 cases of fresh greens and many other good for you vegetables.

They (all the groovy workers) looked at Lilly and I with amusement when we came in: she in her pearls, powder pink ruffled silk blouse, and white shorts; me clearly not the earthy type (to them at least). I ordered a glass of fresh carrot juice which was outstandingly fresh and sweet with ripe juicy carrots.

I ordered the Biblical Breakfast: 3 slices of lightly toasted
homemade cranberry-walnut bread, with freshly made peanut butter/almond butter and fig 'preserves', slices of the best peaches ever, slices of sweet oranges, raspberries and strawberries, with fresh, organic maple syrup drizzled on the plate. AMAZING. Lilly didn't eat a thing. She waited for lunch with Luke at IKEA.

COLORADO

2011-07-19T14:19:00.000-07:00

Garden of the Gods

I was looking through some pictures my parents had taken of a trip through Colorado 45 years ago, and this is almost identical. Very cool.

My sister Marta and her husband Glenn.

It was a beautiful day to be outside, as most days seem to be in Colorado summers. I like what the girls behind me were doing for a photo op.

The slender line going up the side of this mountain is a formerly used railway...can you imagine coming DOWN? I would be completely useless getting off that train! But now it's used by hikers, apparently. No train.

If you look closely you will see a little blue speck on the rock face, it's a rockclimber. Some guys had ropes, but many others definitely did not. While I was in Colorado Springs (4 days) SEVEN free form climbers died.

These two pictures were taken at an old mine where the company has continued to mine, but have maintained the old mine buildings, making it a real fun place to go. You can go inside all these old, dilapidated buildings and let your imagination go.

The mining trucks are so large, it's really difficult to envision the magnitude of the size. That's my sister inside the rim.

Colorado Springs has a landscape that a lot of people find wonderful...can't say I'd like to live there, but I can appreciate it's beauty. I was glad to look out of the plane and see all the green-ness of North Carolina. It's truly beautiful.
Glad to get back to my family, my home, my business, my friends. Some trips just lend themselves to a better reflective attitude, and inspire thankfulness for what you have, who you love, and the type of life you live. I guess Co. Spr.'s arid-ish landscape and wide open views did just that.

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

2011-07-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Surrounded by the righteous or the ungodly, I am in the presence of God.

The righteous, in peace or in trial, I see the Presence in their eyes, I hear it in their conversation, I sense it in their being.
The ungodly, confident or broken, I see the void in their eyes, I hear it in their conversation, I sense it in their being.

I love the unity of the body of Christ, his people, the unseen thread of joy and hope that tangibly binds us together regardless of our culture, heritage, age, sex. I love the unspoken understanding that we are sisters, brothers, adopted by God through Christ.
I hate the deception of the body of Satan, his subjects, the unseen thread of slavery and false hope that binds these poor souls to the enemy of God in every culture, heritage, age and sex. I hate the blindness and ignorance that they are all on a broad and easy way to hell.

I am beyond joyful that one day, 26 years ago, I asked God, "If you are willing, make me clean." like the leper...and God answered in mercy, "I am willing." I have no greater joy than to know my children walk in The Truth.
I am beyond grieved that days, weeks, months and years pass, and the rejectors of God's truth do not recognize their subjection to The Liar, and their need for reconciliation, and God's willingness and desire to embrace them in everlasting, perfect love that would satisfy every longing of their souls.

I was once one of the ungodly, God-less, wondering what the point was, and coming to the ignorant conclusion that life was just to live and death was just...well, I didn't really understand death, and avoided any conclusions as I didn't feel any of them were accurate, or just.
I used to lie down in the evenings, miserable with my own days, wishing for an inner happiness that didn't depart with the laughter and company of friends. I would hope things would be fulfilling in the future, as I accomplished those things I hoped would bring fulfilment, marriage, children, home, independence, being "my own person", whoever that would be.
I thought if I went to hell,(and I didn't have many doubts I would), that I'd just be there with my friends, partying and carrying on as I did here on this earthly life. I didn't fool myself into believing that life ended at the last breath, as many love to do, I knew good and well there was a God, but what I didn't know, was that there is a Kingdom and a dominion "principalities of the powers of the air" ruled by a very real Devil, and that his greatest power over humankind is that very ignorance.
First that he doesn't really exist, and second, if hell is real, it's not bad. Or, maybe there is no life after death, it's all about the here and now.

And once the deceived exhale for the last time, they will be in a state of suffering where one second will be worse than all the physical, emotional, and mental suffering they have experienced all of their lives. And Satan, victorious, rules hell delighted at the horror of their eternal torment. That's HIS plan, not God's. Hell was created for him and his demons, and his greatest pleasure is to drag as many of God's created beings there as possible.
BUT...
The Lord God Almighty, the ruler over all creation, the judge of mankind, the lover of every soul, has a way of escape. It's Christ. He already made the way clear for all of us, and it is through faith in God, through Christ, that we have access to God, and the power to be free from the power of Satan. It is the righteousness of Christ that God sees when he looks upon us, the love for God and His kingdom, His people, His work.

I was one of the lost souls, and one day I saw Christ in the life of a joyful lady. I wanted "it", whatever it was that made her different, and God, seeing my sincere desire, waited until I understood my need for His presence more fully, and my willingness to just surrender to His love.
I am a new creation, walk in light and wisdom, increase in love and joy, and look forward to each day because it brings me closer to the Lord and lover of my being.

TOUGH LIFE?

2011-06-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here is "someone's" to-do list for one day this week...must be nice to be 17 and on summer break.

And this was on my to-do list...delicious wild blackberries!! Got two colanders full, and just finished making some jam. Now for some sweet sourdough bread, or a warm toasty Bay's English Muffin, with melty butter dripping on my fingers, and a spoonful of Blackberry Jam.

ONION SYRUP

2011-06-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

I developed a respiratory tract irritation about 5 weeks ago that turned into that irritating, ongoing, exhausting cough that produces a thin film of phlegm and refuses to break up and come to a dignified end. So having to endure more coughing at the beach, I made up my mind to get well once I returned home. No sense in trying on vacation.
I remembered a Colombian remedy that was used for people with asthma and other bronchial disorders. It was onion syrup. I had a friend whose mom made it every time he began his wheezing attacks and was amazed at how quickly he got well. This is how it's made. Cheapest medicine ever.

Slice a red onion, preferably organic, in slabs. Lay a layer of sugar, preferably organic, at the bottom of a glass or porcelain bowl. Approximately 2 tablespoons. Then start layering onion, sugar, onion, sugar.

When done, cover the plate with plastic wrap or bow cover. Let it sit on the countertop, in an area that does not get a lot of sun, for several hours.

As soon as you see syrup formed, you can start taking it. I take it by the tablespoon, or two, whenever I feel like it. Just tilt the bowl, stick the spoon in and drink it down. It is very sweet and you don't get the onion-y taste till after you swallow it. It's not really very disagreeable, though it may sound like it. It is definitely effective. My mess is rapidly thickening, and coming out. My cough is gone with exception of the release of phlegm. (that is one butt-ugly word).
The syrup will become less onion-y as you consume it, and you can, if you think the onion has any life left in it, make an extra attempt to extract all the goodness from it by adding about 1/3 cup more of sugar and chopping the onion in the bowl. The original mix yields about 10 tablespoons of syrup.
I hope you try it one day, it is really worth it!

TIM THE AIRPLANE

2011-06-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

When the kids were little, Tim used to play airplane with one of his great-grandmother's stools. They would sit in it, he'd make them "press the starter" which was the bottom of the leg, and fly them around the house. Mira was introduced to the plane and flown around the house on Father's day, but doesn't quite know what to think of it.

TOPSAIL 2

2011-06-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

This is Godwin's Grocery which has been around since the early 50s. The owners, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin, live upstairs where Mr. Godwin grew up. His dad owned the building and operated the grocery store before him. The present Mr. Godwin told me that he wanted to "see the world" when he turned 18 and enlisted in the Navy, traveled 4 years, and decided Topsail Beach was the BEST place in the world. He came back with his wife, and has been here, childless, ever since. It's such a throwback to the 60's...but if you forgot something, Godwin's got it.

Mr. Godwin, at his usual post, 10 hours a day. He is ready to retire, he says, and wants to sell the building and business, and move to Florida with his wife, which is where they spend a few weeks every year. Tim, Mr. Money himself, got the figures from him last summer. He is asking 750.000 and he brings in, get this.. 300.000 a year, 80.000 of which is his pay. I LOVE this little store, and hope someone who loves it even more will buy it, keep it so we can continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

Then there is the Roller Skating rink, also built in the late 50's. Miss Doris still works it every day from 7-10. She and her husband Sonny are amazing skaters, even at their age, which I take to be close to 80. George Hamilton the 3rd, a man who had a couple of musical hits about 25 yrs ago, was in Topsail last summer to celebrate his birthday during a family reunion. Someone told Doris about this, and she decided to do something very special for him as a gift. When his family came in to skate, she had them sit down and she proceeded to perform a dance, on roller skates, to his record! She found it in her attic, and he was brought to tears as she danced her heart out for him.

Doris also happens to be Topsail Beach's postmistress. The Post Office is below the rink, in her building. When I mailed out Ruby's birthday cards from there this week, she asked me about her. Ruby broke her arm one night about 7 or 8 years ago, and we were bound to Doris then. We exchange Christmas cards, and she encloses free passes to the skating rink every year. She copied Ruby's address and said she wanted to send her a birthday card too.There ought to be more people like her.

The original benches, floors, cutouts, even some of the old skates are still around. Guess what else? All her music is 45s played on an ancient record player. The sound and feel is so vintage, so fun. There is no A/C only window fans...

Doris and Sonny have one son, who has no interest in the rink. Who knows what will happen to it? I always daydream that someone will buy it and keep it as is. Maybe George Hamilton the 3rd.

Quarter Moon Coffee and Book Store. An everyday stop for all of us . LOVE! She has so much stuff in here you can find something new everyday. Iced lattes, yum!

These turtles are in a lot of the businesses, who sponsor the artist who paint it for the price of $1000 to raise money for the Turtle Hospital. I'm not a fan of that place, ever since the day several years ago when I went in on the tour. They had 4 tanks, about 4 turtles, all injured, who were being rescued. A man who was on the tour happened to ask the tour guide/volunteer how much it cost to rescue the one turtle we were looking at. It was about to be released and had been there 3 years. The girl said, I will never forget...$100.000 !!! Unbelievable. You could feed, educate, house, clothe and give medical care to 2000 orphans in India for a year. Or 200 for 10 years, 100 for 20 years....Someone should make paper mache babies and children and have sponsors for $1000 each. Wonder who would buy?

And this is the Beach Shop Grill, the best restaurant in this area. There are only 3, but this would be the best most anywhere you put it. It was renovated this Winter by it's owner, who is an amazing businessman. I don't like the crap brown he painted it. It used to be beach blue and had just enough cache inside to make it nice for dinner, without loosing the beachy ambiance. Now it's very chic, black, tan, white...I find it dull. But only the feel. The food is amazingly good. Open 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. His wife makes the deserts which are absolutely fabulous. Last night I had the coconut cream pie and it was perfect.

Lilly and I witnessed a beach wedding this evening, and as much as I love this place, I would never ever get married on this beach. It's windy, and the waves are constantly crashing in making a racket. Not a quiet calm place at all. There weren't enough seats for the guests, so about 20 of them ended up standing. Then the wedding party came on out and it was composed of 4 girls, about 3-16 yrs of age. One stood on the grooms side and the other 3 on the bride side. There were only 2 guys, one down on the beach which we thought was pretty old to be getting married. Very portly and grey too. The bride comes onto the deck and she's beautiful, blonde and young. This was interesting....we were glued, trying to figure out who this old guy at the front was. A young man, about the bride's age, comes out and walks down the "aisle" with her, and we all ( about 30 spectators on the restaurant next door's deck) let out a sigh of relief, everybody saying things like, OK, that's good. and, Oh, OK. and, Glad to see it's him. etc.

Well, they walk on down, and darn if he doesn't hand her over to the old dude! We were all so shocked we actually laughed and clapped in delight over this turn of events. Everybody up there was just having a blast, like the woman next to me said, "Great! Dinner AND a movie!" The tide started to come in real fast, and was lapping at the priest's garments as the wedding ended. While one of the attendants sang a song, accapella, 3 dogs got into a fight about 30 ft down the beach and scared the dooky out of her, and she stopped, then began to laugh in embarrassment, to finally pick up where she left off. Good entertainment.

It was a good end to a great day!

TOPSAIL 1

2011-06-16T16:17:00.000-07:00

Topsail Beach is, as you know, one of my favorite places to spend time at. I have been enjoying my time, from 7 am to 11 pm, every day, taking advantage of every single minute every day. No cuts, no color, no blowouts...just walks, bike rides, beach, sound and family. The weather's been amazingly perfect, the days have lasted forever.
Thought I'd post some pictures over the next few days reflecting some of the things I love and some I'm not keen on in here in lala land.

First, I love to see my children hanging out with one another. Winston and Lilly have been playing with the x-gyro, riding bikes/skateboard, walking the dogs, and attending the youth ministry-all together. It's hard to conclude that all my "kids" are adults now. Just look at them!!

This is Emma Anderson Chapel, which happens to have a marvelous youth ministry every summer, is across the street from us this time around. We rented a good old fashioned beach cottage with knotty pine paneling and screened in porch. I love this chapel.

I also love old cinderblock homes in Topsail. This one is on my favorite part of the island, the sound, and in my favorite area of Topsail Beach, south of Patio Playground, The Quarter Moon and The Beach Shop Grill.
I have looked at this place and wanted to fix it up for years. I watch it deteriorate every year, but still dream on. I love this little shack.

If I could restore that cinderblock place, I'd plant a lot of Laurel...it's all over the island, and blooms for weeks. Love this Laurel.

The quiet sound. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. This little access is right next to the cinderblock remodel where I will plant my Laurels.

And finally, probably the ONE thing I hate the most. Every American living room is set up like an altar to the TV set. All the furniture in a circle facing the all-mighty tv set, as if bowing down to it. Drives me insane. No love here.
There is so much more I love here. Getting pictures and posting again soon.

ORGANIZING POLISH?

2011-06-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

When I first started the salon 2 years ago, I did manicures and pedicures, so I had a mess of nail polish. When I decided to focus only on hair, I sold most of the polish and all the equipment to a nail tech, and kept "a few". Georgia, Lilly and I went through it and chose our favorites. Two years later, I have a basket with all the polish, files, nippers, scrubbers, etc piled in there and kept buying more. So this morning I decided to go through it and organize at least a color chart...or two. We have about 60 bottles. I came up with a pretty good idea, though. We wrote down the brand and color by scheme ( rose, red, peach, glitter, darks, etc) and then brushed a dollop of polish beneath the name. Now we can just look at the pages, choose a color, and then go fetch it.

I put some real light blonde streaks in Lilly's hair at her request. Did a "convertible" as it's termed. If she parts her hair on the left, she has this massive blonde streak streaming down both sides on top at the part; but if she parts it on the other side, she has just natural hair with some blonde peeking down the side of her face. Really pretty.

Now we are getting ready for Georgia and Michael's Cornhole tournament, cookout, etc.

I leave you with Mira. Hopefully the video will upload, and have sound....she is bullying Hawk.

WINSTON SALEM AND SUMMER BEGINS!

2011-05-30T09:42:00.000-07:00

We see here why this city is one of my son's favorite places! His name is everywhere...

We spent 4 days in Winston Salem attending the NCHE conference where we saw lots and lots of friends, ate fabulous food, bought great books, and attended excellent seminars. The crowning moment was Lilly's graduation. She graduated with a 3.75 grade point average which qualified her for the coveted golden cord.

Here she is just before going down to the graduation ceremony with Tim, proud as punch.

This was interesting. Looked them up online to see what it was all about. (Community involvement and belief in the one supreme being, as they put it)

Terri Wolk, me and Winston having fun after dinner.

Sweet as Sugar's back wearing one of mommy's creations. I love this part of this baby.

And finally, Tim, posing for a photo to send to Ruby...I think I have one that looks almost identical taken when he was about 6!

ODE FOR MEMORIAL DAY

2011-05-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio to former slaves.
Brilliant and gifted, he had to work as an elevator operator to support himself, due to his race hindering the social acceptance of his true worth.
Having suffered many years with turberculosis, and seeing an end to his marriage, he became an alcoholic while his depression grew. He died at the age of 33, by which time he had written 12 books of poetry, 4 books of short stories, a play and five novels.

ODE TO MEMORIAL DAY

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

DONE are the toils and the wearisome marches,

Done is the summons of bugle and drum.

Softly and sweetly the sky overarches,

Shelt'ring a land where Rebellion is dumb.

Dark were the days of the country's derangement,

Sad were the hours when the conflict was on,

But through the gloom of fraternal estrangement

God sent his light, and we welcome the dawn.

O'er the expanse of our mighty dominions,

Sweeping away to the uttermost parts,

Peace, the wide-flying, on untiring pinions,

Bringeth her message of joy to our hearts.

Ah, but this joy which our minds cannot measure,

What did it cost for our fathers to gain!

Bought at the price of the heart's dearest treasure,

Born out of travail and sorrow and pain;

Born in the battle where fleet Death was flying,

Slaying with sabre-stroke bloody and fell;

Born where the heroes and martyrs were dying,

Torn by the fury of bullet and shell.

Ah, but the day is past: silent the rattle,

And the confusion that followed the fight.

Peace to the heroes who died in the battle,

Martyrs to truth and the crowning of Right!

Out of the blood of a conflict fraternal,

Out of the dust and the dimness of death,

Burst into blossoms of glory eternal

Flowers that sweeten the world with their breath.

Flowers of charity, peace, and devotion

Bloom in the hearts that are empty of strife;

Love that is boundless and broad as the ocean

Leaps into beauty and fulness of life.

So, with the singing of paeans and chorals,

And with the flag flashing high in the sun,

Place on the graves of our heroes the laurels

Which their unfaltering valor has won!

POOR THING

2011-05-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Ruby's friend busted his kneecap playing dodgeball while on deployement and had to be shipped back to Hawaii...what a sad way to end your tour in Afghanistan, right.

Well, on the flight home, he realized he was in the company someone on the same plane that every Marine in the world would give his kneecap gladly for an opportunity to meet. She had been on some charity work apparently.

Needless to say, he sent his picture promptly to everyone he knew.

Poor guy!

Mother's Day

2011-05-11T15:07:00.000-07:00

Kenneth and Liliana gave me this beautiful potted Azalea;

Winston gave these fragrant Lilies;

Georgia and Michael gave me a beautiful bouquet of wild roses with honeysuckle vines, but instead of a photo I took a video!

They also gave me this handmade (by Georgia) card, which is a shopping gift to etsy. Can't wait. The card itself was a gift, it was so beautiful.

And Tim finally put up my Christmas gift from him...this amazing, amazing chair, in the most amazing spot...It's got a magazine/reading glasses/phone holder, and a cup holder! It is so comfortable.

No post is without a shot of Mira. Here she is recovering from a sinus infection and a little pinkeye, which her momma healed her from with alternative treatments. Such a good momma, such a sweet baby.

An Osama Poem From Ruby

2011-05-02T05:28:00.001-07:00

There was a man who had a beard, but he was no saint nick,

he wore a turban on his head, like a true Afghani prick.

a coward, he ran for many years, cuz Allah offered no protection,

from Uncle Sam's relentless kids, so he hid far from detection.

He plotted and murdered in the wilderness, but we found him in a mercedes,

so we shot him dead, right on the spot, and sent him straight to hades!

Cornhole and Mira

2011-04-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Kenneth trying his hand at Cornhole, Georgia cheering on her husband, Lilly looking on, and Tim doing baby duty.

Michael"s uber-awesome Cornhole boards, which he painted himself.

Our uber-awesome pipsqueak, Mira.

Winston was sick, otherwise he'd be eating all her sugar.

This is a little sequence of photos.

FROM NOON TILL THREE

2011-04-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

"...there was darkness over all the land."

"And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit.

Then, behold, the veil of the trmple was torn in two from top to bottom and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened ; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;"

"...So the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake, and the things that happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

"...

ANGRY BIRDS

2011-04-17T11:54:00.000-07:00

Ever since I got an iPhone, Winston has been trying to convince me to get 'Angry Birds". It's apparently really popular and fun and addictive. I kept saying no, no, no. Then we went to Best Buy to purchase a new computer and we played around with the Motorola Zoom, which is phenomenal, and if it weren't $800 I would seriously consider getting it.

Angry Birds was on it and Winston stayed in that one spot playing that and some Zombie-shooting-maze game, for about 45 mins. I went over to see what the fuss about AB was and NO, I did not get it. I mean I don't GET IT. Seriously, how can people spend hours playing that mindless, silly game?

But they do.

CHECK THESE OUT!

2011-04-15T15:22:00.000-07:00

I wore some mega shoes in my day, but I don't think I could've ever handled these! There was even a glitter-gold pair...they were so ridiculous the picture wouldn't load.

Lilly and I are in Wilmington for a couple of days of down time, and the shops are pretty unique. Lots of very expensive, independent designer, places to go, look and hopefully walk right back out without any money having exchanged hands. :-)

You're in luck! Check THESE out!

EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK

2011-04-07T15:50:00.000-07:00

I'm at that point where I have let so much time pass, and so much has happened, and I want to post all about them, but I don't have the time, or the photos, and it's irritating me to no end.

So here is my best attempt at a minor recap of the past couple of weeks.

As always, our little Mira is full of activity, growth and personality. She is steadying herself standing without holding on, talking a LOT (don't know where she gets THAT from), and generally just being nearly perfect.

Mira in the garden with Lilly, making sure the soil is organic.

Uh-huh!

Been in touch with Ruby somewhat, and I've wanted to post her letters and emails, but with what time?!! Dang. I thought surely at 50 I'd have more of it. But no, I decided to open a business. It's going amazingly well, so well in fact, that the schoolroom is now being converted into a waiting room, doors are being installed to separate the living areas from the business area and keep kids (and adults) from roaming into my house while here on hair appointments. %-{

Tim replaced the wood door with a glass one going from the salon to the new waiting room. He forgot to ask me whether I wanted it painted or stained. It'll be white real soon!

These doors were in our home when we rescued it and we kept them in a barn for 15 yrs hoping to be able to use them someday. They were apparently old store-front doors, and so big Tim had to cut the bottom off by about 8 inches and the sides by 3. The original iron hardware was still in it and we kept as much as could be reused. The handles are brass and soon will be shiny along with the glass which will hopefully be in soon too.

Salon gift of the month: an Easter basket full of organic and healthy goodies, gift certificates and other gifts...can't wait to see who wins it.

I've also been restocking my retail shelves, and researching new items, techniques, classes and shows.

Day 4: the black is the deepest cancer of the area. Where the tiny red "freckle" was.

The cansema thing on my lip went well. I suffered a LOT of pain, and felt quite cancerous for a few days, about 6. Then, on day 7, the eschar came off, and on day 8 my body shut down from both the physical stress on my body, and the stress of other things. I spent all day Sunday sitting or laying down, weak as water. I didn't hardly even eat! That's how weak I was. You wouldn't think something that looks so inconsequential, albeit gross, could throw me out so bad. But that is the bad thing about Adrenal Insufficiency; you never fully recover. Bummer. The hole will hopefully fill in better than my nose did since it's fleshier and it wasn't nearly as deep.

This is Day 10.

Oh, and I've spent hours trying to find a place to rent in Topsail Beach for my family, during a week we can all go...that's been hellatious. But I succeeded. YAY! Gotta wait till June now, but hopefully it'll be here real soon.

Lilly graduates in 6 weeks! She is going to her Senior Prom tomorrow night with a great friend, Luke Joiner, in an absolutely fabulous dress (she, not he!) that we bought in Apex forever ago.

Oh! And I am an official "Farmgirl". See, I even got the car sticker. Part of the "sisterhood" now. How special. It's like a Keepers at Home group for grown women. You earn badges and everything. Hahahaha! Seriously. I can't wait to embroider my 'official Henrietta sisterhood badge' and attach it to something. An apron, probably. Next thing you know, that'll be my next series of posts...

RUBY

2011-04-02T05:24:00.000-07:00

Well, here is our first picture of Ruby in Afghanistan. We were so excited to see her!!!! Although she is smiling here, the email this photo was attached to had some very sad news. One of the helicopters in another squadron in Hawaii had just gone down and a 22 yr old new father and husband had died; the pilot, after facing 10 hours of surgery to restore his face, is liable to be charged, and there is a female marine injured as well. The Marine that died was getting out next month.

Personally, Ruby is doing great, having completed Corporal courses and is now up for Sgt. She finished 5th in a class of 45 and had a PT score of 298 out of 300. She has had many manifestations of the Lord's prescense, guidance and love, and lots of opportunities for witnessing and worship. If you want to write or send her something, call me, and I will give you her address. 919.480.4160

I'D BE ONE BIG PUSS POCKET IF

2011-03-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is the same area 3 months ago.

...I put Cansema all over my face, I think.

This little freckle appeared out of nowhere above my lip about 3 weeks ago so I kept my eye on it. It was reddish, tiny, and didn't do anything, but it didn't go away, either. So, out comes the lovely and effecient Cansema black salve and within two seconds of applying it on the spot, its burning like hellfire. Which means it's cancerous flesh. I suspected as much, but you still kind of hope it's just a little blemish of some sort.

So you lucky ones get to watch me go from yuck to yuckier, then cancer free. At least that 1/2 inch section above my lip! It's super swollen, as you can see, The yellowing is the body's defenses (puss) creating a barrier and the darker area(s) is where the "freckle" is.

For the sake of my family, friends and clients, (imagine me leaning over you, shampooing your hair with this thing on my face) I keep it under a bandaid, which is not an easy task considering the location. Yes, it hurts like before, but 800mg of ibuprofen usually does the trick.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT IT DID TO MY NOSE, GO TO BLOG ARCHIVE AND CLICK ON JULY 2009

BREAKFAST

2011-03-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite breakfasts is the super protein rich scrambled eggs with ham, and a side of homemade bread toasted, with lots of butter. The most important thing about it, as in other meals, is the quality of the food you are using. Boar's Head Smoked Ham is great for this dish. A slice per person, cut up in little squares.

Add cubes of sharp cheddar cheese, to give it a little salty-tangy flavor.

Mix a teaspoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter in a frying pan. The oil will keep it from sticking and the butter will add flavor and crispiness to the edges.

Sea salt. No, all salt is NOT the same. This stuff is flavorful, lots of minerals as it should be, as opposed to bleached out and super salty. It's actually delicious. About a half teaspoon. In Colombia we had a description of a dull person as one who was "like an egg without salt."

Good large farm raised, cage free, free range eggs. Two per person, scrambled. Pour into hot skillet.

When the eggs set up a little, put all the cheese, salt and ham in there and stir. Let it sit on medium heat till you see the edges getting thick and the cheese is soft. Turn the broiler on in the oven.and when the whole thing looks somewhat solid with a little wetness on top, stick it in the oven.

In the meantime slice up some good hearty bread and toast it. Slather with good, old fashioned butter.

Brew some coffee, any way will do. Here is Lilly's French press filled with a good portion of hot Maragogype from Trader Joes'. She likes to grind a little fresh cinnamon in it and add a small amount of raw sugar.

This is it! When it is ready, it will be solid but soft, golden cheesy and delicious.

This was a meal for four, so we slice it pie-like.

YUMM!

Then go kiss the cutest baby around you.

WHAT A WORKOUT

2011-03-11T18:40:00.000-08:00

So I was headed out to the Y for a much needed workout, when I decided to drive right past it and into Marshall's parking lot. I got a cart from the get-go, knowing how that goes: "I'm only getting a couple of gifts, I don't need a cart.", next thing you know you are spilling over with, well, everything.
I went straight to the back, where the wonderful Marshall's mess is; the frames, vases, kitchen items...I found a couple of really good hostess gifts, then proceeded to the other great area. The perfume/lotions/french soap area. I found a few fragrant soaps, packaged in beautiful boxes. Well, I thought I should just look around a little, since I was there. Except I was hungry and thirsty. So I went back to the kitchen area, found (and promptly ate) a small-ish box of cashew brittle. Real butter, real cashews, real brown sugar, real calories. And a bottle of water from Hawaii, no less. Only at Marshall's.
Over to the coat/jacket area. Of course I found two.
I was tempted, almost beyond control, to look at the shoe department, but I was strong, (and ashamed) and went on to the checkout counter.
I finally headed out to the gym, but it was about 4:45 and I thought it was Saturday today, so I assumed it would be closing at 6. Not enough time for both a workout and the steam room/shower. So of course, steam room won out. I went to my locker, undressed, wrapped up in a towel and headed to nirvana. Only it was half-nirvana. Thin, tepid steam, cool tile benches. I stayed in about 15 minutes, but it just wouldn't heat up good. So I went into the sauna. The dry, tepid sauna. Where I met a woman who happened to tell me she cut the steam room off because, somehow, that was supposed to reset the timer. (!) Then we both proceeded to go between the sauna and steam room in hopes it would actually be hot and steamy, but no. It just cleared out like a spring-time morning.
I'm feeling the 650 calories of sugar I ate earlier, but realize there is not enough time to workout, so I shower, dress, dry my hair and put on my face.
I can't work out that hard any more.

FEBRUARY HAZE

2011-03-05T08:50:00.000-08:00

February? What February? I don't remember much about it at all, it just whizzed by in a cold, wet, grey haze.

There was Georgia's 25th birthday, which we celebrated by going to the Triangle Rock Club where Lilly and Winston joined Michael and Georgia in climbing like pros. Tim and I watched Mira, who will be climbing real soon, no doubt.

Then there was G and M's trip to Maui; I had care of Mira for the whole week. Love that baby! She is such a sweetheart and probably one of the prettiest babies in the world. We had our "times" as we say. On one occassion she decided not to lay down and nap, and kept standing up in loud protest, although she was dead tired. I'd lay her down and she'd get right back up. So I finally started (gently) thumping her little squirrel hands when she put them on the rails to get up, and she'd rub them on the sheets and put them right back up. We did this about 20 times. She was real mad by now, and I was just as patient as Job, definitely a result of age... So, realizing she had to submit for her own well being, I placed a folded recieving blanket on the crib, flipped her over belly down over it, and quickly tied a knot across her back, pinning her little arms to her side. She was "fit to be tied". Except she just surrendered and fell asleep within one minute.

The rest of the week was pretty normal, and the cold wind blew Michael and Georgia into the car at the airport, weary from the plane rides and time change, glad to see their little girl.

Got a letter from Ruby, and a call...both wonderful. She told a story about a Marine that takes lots of body building supplements which increase testosterone, and was mad because some rats were getting into it. One night, he heard the rat getting into his stuff, and turned on the light to see a set of rat pawprints leaving a path in the ever present dust. But there was something unusual about the print. When he found the rat, it's testicles were so large they dragged the ground, hence the weird print!!

I believe if I was that man, I'd quit taking that mess.

Other than that, I'm glad March is here, and the daffodils I planted in the fall are all coming up, bright and beautiful yellow.

THE UGLY SIDE OF LIFE

2011-03-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

I'ts terrifying how quickly life can get ugly. Just one minute, one bad choice, one turn away from convictions, one untamed foolish desire...how shockingly easy and quick. And how devastating it can be. One moment a virginal girl decides to give into a moment of strong desire, a married one touches someone other than their spouse, a young boy decides to take a peek at pornography, an aimless youth decides to see what getting high is all about, a man takes a hit from crack, a mother looks away from the road to text, a young man decides that drinking a lot might be fun.
I wish I could go back to a time of no cell phones, no computers. When my friends and my family and I would write letters to one another, when I could walk in the woods without feeling like I have to have my phone on me, when I saw teens in the mall actually talking, a lot, to each other, not plugged up with iPods and cell phones in hand, nose to the phone, blank look in the eyes.
I don't want to worry about whether all the brain cancer deaths in my circle of friends is caused by wifi, cell towers, nuclear power, radiation, chemicals in their coffee.
I want to see babies at their mother's breast, as long as possible, women delighting in their children rather than listening to them beg for discipline and attention, then shout at them to shut up. I want to see young boys and girls talk to the elderly with interest and respect, and have loving, old grammas whose house they love to go to.
I want to return to a time of no satellite tv, no cable, just a handful of chanels that most of the time don't have that much to watch and when they do, the whole family can sit together and not fear the obscenity of Victoria's Secret ads.
I want people to go to the local doctor and get herbal medications, and non invasive treatments for their ailments, instead of standing 30 deep at Walmart's pharmacy waiting for 300 dollars worth of pills that treat the symptoms, and do not heal the body.
I want to see people reading books, writing and drawing, on PAPER, with pencils.
I want to see a van drive by without a dvd player on for the 30 minute ride to Cary, and instead hear Raffi songs playing from the player, and all the kids singing along.
I'd like to see more families bow in prayers of thanksgiving in restaurants, and enjoy each other's conversation and company.
I'd like to go fishing, pick vegetables, lay in my hammock, cookout, have friends over for card games, instead of driving to Blockbuster to pick out another movie, after walking the aisles desperately seeking something clean, while being defiled cover by cover.
I want to look into the eyes of young people without seeing the destruction of innocence gone.
I want to look into the eyes of adults without seeing that they feel the same way I do.

CHECKING LYRICS

2011-02-20T17:14:00.000-08:00

Winston, being a good son, gave me a list of fourteen songs to check lyrically, before downloading them onto his iPod. Only THREE passed. Only THREE!
I was astonished, mortified, perplexed, as to why he would be wanting to listen to these songs regularly. They aren't filthy, or even dirty, but untrue, depressing, angry, foolish, and meaningless to one who has Christ as a guide.
What is it? The music. The same thing that made me want to listen to Barry White's sex-songs when I was his age. Except my parents didn't even pay attention. Years ago, Tim bought a workout station and a bike and made a home gym out in a barn. To help me stay distracted and work out longer, I decided to buy a cassette of some of my old favorites, Barry White being one of them. I love his voice, and I love the music. But as I went through the songs, and listened, which is what we do when we want to be righteous before God, I stood amazed at the fact that my parents ever let me listen to this dirty mess, let alone bought the music for me!
When you just read the lyrics to a song, without the music, whether clean or dirty, old or new, Christian or not, it takes on a whole new face. Do it. Take the songs you like to hear, or stuff you just listen to "absentmindedly" and read the lyrics with no music. The way you know whether or not you should be listening to them is picture yourself reading them to your mother, or, if a believer, to the Lord. It'll amaze you to see how much garbage you listen to.
A while back, there was a site called screenit where you could pull up a movie and it had reviews of each movie, and categories, such as profanity, violence, sex and nudity, etc. It quoted the movie verbatim. When I looked up movies that I had already watched with my kids, I was so upset that the noise and the visual impact of the movie sort of fogged over, or distracted me to the degree of acceptance.
I was appalled by my lack of carefulness, and grew to practically hate the TV.
I bought a clearplay cd player recently and it is fantastic. I can safely watch just about anything I want and it is cleaned up. But how to do it with music?
There is only one way. Use biblical earphones and speakers.

THINGS I LEARNED IN JANUARY

2011-02-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

I learned one day, quite unexpectedly, as I entered the 10 dates I'd eaten as a snack into my daily calorie count, and they added up to 500 calories, that dates are REALLY REALLY high in calories. And I love dates...

Also learned that another favorite snack of mine, pistachios, are approximately 750 calories per cup! This is after I ate about half a cup, and thought maybe I should check before polishing off the rest.

This is pretty horrible. Did you know who the one person responsible for introducing meth to the world? Adolf Hitler. He wanted his scientists to develop a drug that created "super soldiers" that would never tire... and look here. The man is still killing people, even in death.

I learned, or remembered all over again, that I am a steam room addict. I don't look like this gal, all poised and neat and tidy. The steam room doesn't look like this either, I can't see a bloomin' thing in it. Once I turn the steam on, it's blind time, as I enter the room precariously inching toward the tile benches, hoping I won't sit on someone. I can stay an hour in there, oblivious to everything else. I wish I was there now.

I learned that I am scared for Ruby's safety, and what the next 7 months will bring; that I have to learn to love the Lord better so that I can experience how "perfect love casts out fear." Is that possible?

Christ is there with her, and here with me. That is a wonderous fact.

SPEEDING ALONG...

2011-02-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

Time is, not me. Things happen every day, I wake up, live in the day, go to bed, and it starts all over again. I look back and realize that Christmas was nearly TWO months ago...unreal.
Ruby is in Afghanistan as of this week, working 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, for 7 months. Pray for her. Her computer went viral the night before she left Hawaii, and they can't use cell phones, so we went from looking forward to Skype-ing (she said there was wi-fi in her "can") to no sight of her...NOT sitting well with me right now. She says she will by a notebook laptop once there, (because the IS an MCX) and we can hopefully Skype then.
Georgia turned 24 yesterday and we celebrated by going to the Triangle Rock Club, one of her favorite things to do, and Lilly tried rock climbing and bouldering for the first time. She was, unsurprisingly, very good at it, and LOVED it, which means now she needs all the gear and a membership. She lucked out in that Winston's MMA school is right next door and he goes twice a week for 2 hours each time! So I guess Lilly and Georgia will be exceedingly buff by summer. Then we went out to Jack Astor's for dinner, (not good, for the first time ever) and then home to cake and gifts. Great fun.
Tim's house is up for sale, it's beautiful, big and expensive. Hope someone loves it soon! We have great hopes for it.
Wellspring Salon is going gangbusters, and I am planning on moving to a slightly larger area next door in what used to be my mother-in-law's home, in June. We'll see how that plan goes.
School is going, Lilly will be graduating from High School this May and Winston will be the last one.
Mira is sweet, active, smart, beautiful. I am enjoying her so much! I get to enjoy her for a whole week, 24/7 at the end of this month when Georgia and Michael go to beautiful Hawaii for a trip to Maui that Michael won for being such an awesome (#1) salesman! Can't wait.

OUT TO PLAY

2011-02-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

BIRTHDAY #50

2011-01-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

Mira with her beloved Uncle Winston. These two love each other to pieces.

I turned 50 on Thursday, and, not to make you jealous or anything, I had an awesome day of indulgence. First I had a great breakfast at home with my family, went to the DMV for a license renewal, and then headed out to Dara VanDeusen, THE BEST massage therapist around, for a 90 minute massage.

Then a quick lunch of some Asian food, before getting a wonderful pedicure by Danny at Hair and Nail Spa.

I then drove to the Kraft Family YMCA for a 30 minute steam bath, a hot shower, got fixed up and headed home.

All the family went to Tacos Mejico for dinner and gift opening, then walked home where we indulged in Georgia's frozen Tiramisu she fixed as my birthday cake. Fabulous.

Finished of the evening with Bible study and my dear sisters in the Lord, which also showed up with gifts and cake, and scones and cards...Laura even gave me a red hat. I looked for the purple dress but she gave me book with musings of that mindset.

Wonderful day.

My little pipsqueek helping me celebrate my birthday in one of her momma's old baby dresses. She looks a litttle sleepy here.

I asked for "neutral" colored Tom's shoes. This is Tim's idea of neutral! hahahahaha

This beautiful ring is from Lilly.

And these are tickets to the circus from Georgia and Michael, plus $ to buy drinks at the RBC...so fun!

Betcha you can't guess who this is from! He only owns 27 himself...

I lost my knife at the airport, again, trying to go through security with a pocketknife in my purse, again! So Winston gave me this cool one.

We tease Tim every time he gives me a bottle of cognac because he ends up drinking it all himself. This was the second half of his gift.

And all my Bible study friends brought delicious cake and scones and cards...so sweet of them.

I'D LIKE IT IN YELLOW, PLEASE

2011-01-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

I spent a total of 5 hours on the phone in a 15 hour period with the people from AT&T and BlackBerry trying to figure out what the deal was with my phone. I ended up finding the problem, believe it or not, a great feat for a non-techie like me.

So, after doing everything possible to find a problem with my software or carrier, BlackBerry tech boy (a "tier 2" no less!) finally tells me what I already know...it's the phone.

So they are sending me a new one. Yay.

I was looking up some images to post here to keep this from being even more boring than it really is, and found this one. THIS is the one I want! Unfortunately, in America, we like black phones, apparently. This one was manufactured for India. Those colorful people.

Also on a positive note: I weighed 4 pounds less this morning than I did last week.

What that's all about I do not know. Maybe it's the 1200 calorie days, or the actual moving on my feet rather than shifting on my butt all day. Or maybe it's not drinking an entire bottle of wine in a 24 hour period. You think? ( I only did it once. Well, twice.)

Whatever, it's good. Still a long way to go but it'll be successful. This time.

LONG TIME

2011-01-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

How boring, isn't it, to go to a blog and find it hasn't been updated. You feel cheated, and wonder why someone can't just put something up.
I don't know exactly why I have been absent from the blog world, because I really do enjoy posting and reading others' blogs, and I get frustrated myself when I find no new updates for a week or two.
As of last week, I had gained a total of 10 lbs since the begining of November. Just burns me up. So I joined the YMCA with Lilly and Winston, since Tim joined O2 Fitness all on his own. I win! The Y is amazing and not too far.
So I began working out 4 times last week. Not too hard, just trying to figure out what I can do right now. I also got onto a calorie counting/food journaling/ nutrition recording website, so I can really stay on top of things.
I did drop a little weight, which is good, but seeing as it's so early in the game, I am not counting on more than one pound a week for the next 20 weeks. That'll put me at the weekend of the homeschool conference coincidentally, so I am excited about that.
In addition to losing 20 pounds, I really feel it needful to get my heart conditioned again. I was huffing and puffing going up stairs recently, and anything above a decent paced walk just takes my breath away. Not cool.
So, off to a good start.
In addition to all this, I am regaining my time with the kids, as the salon got way out of hand last semester, requiring an enormous amount of time and biting into my family time. Also not cool.
And, my dang BlackBerry is giving me a fit. Everything that can go wrong with it has, and I have to get it straightened out cuz I am not buying a new phone!
So, no pretty photos for now. But soon, I hope.

2011-01-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

I was looking for some new photos to post, except they are all still on my camera...and I am too lazy to upload them now.

I found all the Christmas Party family pictures and was amused, as always, at the predictable fun we have when taking shots.

You've already seen this picture, but if you've kept up with my blog for any length of time, you know that when it comes to Lilly and Ruby's photos, they are not as predictable as some might expect. Lilly knows by now to take at least three pictures before they ever get "normal". Of course if Ruby smiled sweetly right off the bat that would not be normal for us.

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

And now with Winston:

No.1

No.2

CHRISTMAS PHOTOS

2010-12-28T06:27:00.000-08:00

I am officially a matriarch...my main goal in life! Tim and I the night of our Christmas Party.

The guys: Kenneth, Winston, Tim and Michael

My wonderful family from left to right:
Michael and Georgia , Ruby, Liliana and Kenneth, Mira,Tim and I, Lillian, Winston

The at-home men

Even Toto dressed for the party. I LOVE this picture. Poor Toto didn't get to show off his outfit since he was locked up in Winston's bedroom all night.

Ruby and Lillian : prettiest raindeer in the world.

Ruby is enjoying "the baybeeee" as she calls Mira Julieta.

This is what happens between shots at my house. I think this photo tells more about each individual than all the rest. Georgia and Michael....!!!

FINAL GREENVILLE

2010-12-18T15:44:00.000-08:00

Finally got these to upload!

Sam and Julie Gill

Jesse and Bobbie Gill

The groom, Daniel Doss and his bride Jessica.

Christmas lights in downtown Greenville.

Wish I had something to say, but honestly, I feel like my head's about to bust open from a nasty headache.

GREENVILLE 2

2010-12-15T07:38:00.000-08:00

Lilly with an awesome tree

The reason for going to Greenville in the first place was to attend the wedding of Daniel Doss to his cheerful and lovely fiance, Jessica. I do have pictures of them dancing, of Gramma Doss dancing, of the Gill bros. and their wives, the mother of the groom, etc, but they will NOT upload. It's really pissing me off. It was freezing in SC the whole weekend and I didn't take very warm shoes, like a fool. So I had to buy socks, and refusing to drive unless there are no other options, I went to the only store on Main St. that sold socks, Mast General $tore. It was either pay $18 bucks (!) for ONE PAIR of super warm socks, or $100 for a pair of warm shoes. I opted for socks.

My very $pecial, very warm $ocks

This is a terrible picture of the Westin Poinsett's lobby, but it'll give you an idea of the 1920's feel of the place. That's what I love about the Westin corporation. They will restore an old place to it's former glory if they can. The beds are the Heavenly Beds, with 4 sheets and 2 different weights coverlets, plus about 8 pillows per bed, every size, density and shape.

Priceline, bid $100 and go.

GREENVILLE 1

2010-12-12T18:39:00.000-08:00

If you've never been to Greenville, SC for a few days, more specifically the historic downtown area, you should go in the Spring or Fall for about 4 days. Get on Priceline and bid $100 for a room at the Westin Poinsett Hotel, and enjoy. You can walk just about anywhere you want, the restaurants are great, the shops are fun, and Reedy Creek Park is beautiful. The sidewalk from the Westin on up Main St. has these plaques in it with quotes. LOVE this idea! Here is one.

IS CHRISTMAS ALL ABOUT CHRIST?

2010-12-03T06:25:00.000-08:00

I love the Lord with all my heart soul and mind. As you read this, do not forget that life-changing fact.

Many times since coming to faith in Christ, I have been thankful for not having been raised in the church. Many more times than that, I wish I had.

Christmas, however, is one of the former times, when I marvel at the zeal with which believers cling to the teaching that December 25th is ALL about the birth of Jesus, and "don't ever let them tell you otherwise"! They lay guilt trips on many Christians, tellling them not to be so involved in the commerce, the gifts, etc, as they themselves stand in line for hours waiting for the latest tech gift "of the year".

A great pet peeve of mine.

If it is so, then get rid of the date first, as it is the date chosen by the (catholic) church to adapt a time of year where many, many pagan gods were worshipped. Saturn's god, and the festival of Saturnalia, which lasted from Dec. 17 to the 24th. The birthday of the sun gods Attis and Mithias... guess what day? The 25th. They celebrated with...guess what? Gifts, flowers, and candles. They had to adapt because the people would not stop, it was so fun.

The history of Santa is a pagan spirit who appeared in medieval summer plays, with white beard, holly in hair. Children would write letters to him and burn them in the fireplace at wintertime.

Kissing under the misltletoe is an ancient druid rite.

The Yule Log was the entire trunk of a tree that was brought inside at Yuletide, when fortunes were determined and the dead walked the earth! They'd place one end of the trunk in the fireplace and burn it down bit by bit till the season was over.

I love Chrismas time. It's full of lights, color, music, parties, special shows, gift giving and recieving, family, traditions, and the knowledge that a new year is just around the corner. That's why I love it.

If you were to eliminate all the above mentioned, ALL of it, what would it be to you?

Why do you think unbelievers can fully participate in such a "christian" holiday and be totally engaged?

Where in the scriptures do we see such hoopla over the birth of Christ? It was a humble birth, in a manger, and presented to shepherds first, and whoever happened to be around. The angels rejoiced then. When do they rejoice now? When one gets saved from hell, when they stand in the precense of the Almighty.

I just don't believe in pretending when it comes to The Truth. If we want to celebrate Christ's birth, by all means, we should. But for heaven's sake. Clearly divide the two celebrations in your mind, at least.

And stop getting all pissy when worldy institutions, who do not believe to begin with, do not say "Merry Christmas" to you. Why should what they say matter? Is it not the world? When the church stops, then you can get worried.

NOVEMBER LIGHT

2010-12-01T19:59:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about November is the light. The color of the sky on a clear sunny day is a crisp blue and the sunlight that streams through the windows makes everything feel homey, light, fresh. I took a few pictures this day, and my favorite subject is first. Miss Mira Julieta. She is now 4 months old, and I do have the priveledge of seeing her real often, and her mother of course!

She has taken a liking to that magenta colored platypus....a beany baby called Patty. She generally doesn't like laying on her belly, but this day she was a happy camper looking around. She seems to like the crazy quilts her great grandma made. I can't get her tickled like everyone else can. I just eat her up and tell her she's beautiful, that I love her, and then try to get in as much baby stuff as I can. Like changing diapers, feeding, rocking her to sleep, etc. Here she is looking at Tim who is just cooing over her behind my back.

My living room looking inviting...doesn't it? I don't spend as much time in there as I used to. When we first moved in the house, I would sit on the sofa at night and marvel at the fact that I could look up, 11 feet, and see the stars in the sky, the trees in the yard, everything. When I look at pictures like this, I am filled with love towards my home, and am thankful to have lived my entire married life in two comforting and comfortable old homes with a lot of heritage and history.

Well, there IS a picture of the 23cu.ft. freezer I had to defrost this week, it just won't load. Probably out of embarrassment. Georgia said it looked like someone had been murdered in it. The door had been left open, it seems, overnight at least, and the strawberries oozed out of a container all the way down the door, and settled in pools on the door shelves, sticky, nasty and making everything smell like over-ripe berries. Got it done in record time though! Thanks to Eva's ingenious idea that I put a constuction light at the door to heat things up a bit. I actually have room in it now. It might have to do with the items I took out to get rid of. Cow organ meats, anyone?

READY FOR THESE TO DIE!

2010-11-17T09:57:00.000-08:00

Not the people, the hair! Who ever thought this was boy-appropriate? If Winston ever attempted this, I'd rename him....something. And then have him shave it himself. Really, how masculine is this?

And of course, the famous Pob, going on it's SIXTH year of popularity. Honestly, it doesn't look good on EVERYBODY.

Have you ever studied the rear-end of a chicken? Well look no further. Just look at the back of this lady's head. And the wings on the front end to boot.

Oh yeah! So hot! RIGHT! So affected, so yuck.The whole shebang. Especially the one on the right. Lord!

He's soooo bad-a** isn't he. Even at 60. Puhleeeze. Can we say 'paraphynalea"?

One of my pet peeves. Highlights in a man's hair. Eeeew!

And the worst highlights are when they are in a man who's headed to 60 years of age...and if that wasn't enough...another pet peeve of mine, he FLATIRONS it!

Got this off a British site. Pretty amusing.

IGUANA, SNAIL, SNAKE...

2010-11-14T16:42:00.000-08:00

So what do Iguanas, Snails and Snakes have in common beside the fact that they all slither?

They are delicious, that's what. I had Escargot at Coquette last night, where Tim and I ate our 27th anniversary dinner, thanks to Firebird having a one hour wait time. Yay for me. I LOVE Coquette, a french restaurant/cafe at North Hills. The Escargot, although not in the shell, were really good. Followed by Coq au Vin, YUM!

You may wonder about the Iguana and Snake. I would. When I was living in a dirt-floor house, whose toilet was a hole in the back yard, in a town without electricity or running water, without money, belongings, or family, a friend fed me once a day for 6 months.

He and his wife lived a block away with their baby daughter, and had enough pity on me to feed me. Nando had, in cocaine-induced idiocy, blown 1/4 of his brain out playing Russian Roulette with a 3 out of 6 loaded revolver. He was of Turkish descent, 3rd generation Colombian. With this eccentric cultural tendency mixed with a semi-functioning brain, he was one of the kindest and toughest men I have ever met.

His wife, Yomaira, would have me over every day at about 1 pm for lunch. All the food was cooked by Nando, and no questions could be asked. It was all fabulous, and one day he told me that his meat consisted primarily of snakes and iguanas.

All his stews and dishes were so good, I could care less. He made the best turtle soup I have ever eaten till this day.

MORE OF A GOOD THING.

2010-11-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

Let me start with the 2 day hair show Lilly and I attended in Charlotte. First night we stayed at the Hilton which was awesome. Lilly ordered room service breakfast for herself...oink! It was enough for both of us, which was nice, since I had only raw oatmeal in my umpteenth time attempting 70% raw.

Unsuccessful, I might add.

Anyway, the hair show...I've NEVER seen so much bad hair in one place! It was downright embarrasing seeing 80% of all the attendees with horrid color and cuts, weirdweirdweird hairstyles and REALLY tacky clothes. I know. I sound so darned arrogant. But truthfully, it was, well, bad.

The shows were fun, got some new info, learned some new techniques, but I think I'll skip it next year.

Last week we went to Blowing Rock to spend our usual halloween vacation there. Unfortunately for us selfish tourists, someone let the cat out of the bag and there were five times more people there than ever before. It did make for a more varied parade though. I tried to get the pictures in order here, but I'm tired and it takes too much effort. How lazy can you get?

Our new addition to the trip was Mira, and all her cuteness and cute outfits, as you can see by the photos.

Tim and Mira wearing a little cap Georgia crocheted on the way up to BR.

Mira helping me play solitaire.

At the Village Cafe, waiting for our wonderful, fresh breakfast next to a warm fire.

Guess who won the costume contest...again?!

Winston as a werewolf. It was absolutely phenomenal. He came up with the idea, and Lilly excecuted it beyond amazing.

Georgia, Mira and Lilly

At the Blowing Rock Grille, on Sunset Dr. Lilly with Mira and the best Vodka Rigatoni you will ever taste.

The parade is so fun, especially when whole families get into it.

Winston and the lovely Mira.

This family was a riot. There was a tiny baby, a few weeks old, in the pram, dressed in costume too! The mom had made the outfit for baby.

Got to do one 12 mile hike while there, but no more. It was strenous enough, all uphill for six miles all downhill for 6 miles. The weather was beautiful, we missed Ruby like crazy, and loved having Mira.

Now we are back to school, work, housebuilding, and planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It'll be here all too soon.

SHACKLEFORD BANKS

2010-10-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

After watching the most disturbing shows on TV ( aliens caused a nuclear war which led to The Flood, and shark attacks) Winston and I went to sleep discussing the probability that the key to our room opened all the rooms, since it also opened the front door of the Inn, (!) and everyone else had to let themselves in (!!).

We woke up bright and early, ate breakfast, got coffee at Port City Java, and headed out to Morehead with plenty of time.

When we got to the dock, we were thankful to find the Hooper family, who was in turn thankful to see us. That's always a good sign. We boarded the boat which stopped to let everyone fish in different spots along the way. Spent about 1 1/2 hours on that. Then off to Shackleford, to see the famous wild horses and search for sea critters.

From right to left: Josh, Terri, Kevin, Amanda and Melissa Hooper.

Winston with his first catch.

Docked at Shackleford

The weather was absolutely fabulous. A little chill in the wind, but the sun shining through a bright blue sky.

Josh and Winston fishing.

I got to walk down the beach on Shackleford for a long time, then joining everyone for the final critter hunt in the water. Talked to Terri a lot, then joined the Hoopers for dinner at the R____ Duck. Can't remember the name. OK food, not great. Regretted not going to THE famous Sanitary Restaurant...for 27 yrs I've heard of it, and never gone, and here I was next door to it and went to this other place on recomendation. Ordered clam chowder...it was brothy, not creamy or manhattan-style. The clams were cut in long strips.... not great. But healthy :)

The drive home was pleasant, Winston and I talked about a lot of stuff, listened to The Buena Vista Club, (his choice, my pleasure) and the LaughUSA channel.

Found all well at home.

Very blessed and thankful.

Good night.

FINALLY, VACATION AND BLOGGING

2010-10-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

I miss blogging. I miss others blogging. It seems I have little time to do anything significant on here, so I have not been very motivated. I finish work and check my email, check my website, and that's about it. But this evening I am at Stenneman's Inn in Wilmington, on an overnight stay with Winston. I signed us up for a field trip tomorrow, thinking it was at Fort Fisher, and booked this room in the historic part of town on the waterfront, which is one of our favorite places. But I found out that the field trip is in Shackleford Banks, two hours away. So instead of a leisurely morning tomorrow in town, and a quick drive to Fort Fisher, it's a fast and early breakfast, a two hour drive there, a 4 hour field trip, then a 3 hour drive home. YUK. It could boil my blood, and the temptation to stay in Wilmington and hope the activity gets cancelled is great,. But, I'll be a good girl, and do what I have to.

In the meantime, we are having a great time. Our room is nice, 2 stories, and on Front Street, within walking distance of everything we are interested in. The weather is nice, Winston has managed to skateboard all over town with me walking, we've been to Planet, Second Helpings, Momentum, Kilwins, and various other weird spots. We ate lunch at Chops and had the best Reubens made, with orangades. We ate dinner at Riverboat Landing, got a table for two for on one of the balconies facing the river, and watched the sun set over the USS North Carolina battleship. Winston had his favorite dish, Roast Duck, and I had Parpadelle Chicken and Mushrooms in tarragon, with sundried tomatoes and grilled asparagus, along with a half bottle of Italian wine. HMMMMMMM. Thankfully (!) I had a $25 coupon from Restaurants.com which I paid $2 for... What a wonderful evening. Back to our room, and we'll see what tomorrow brings.

HOW'S THIS FOR WINTER?

2010-10-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

Dare we complain?

ROCK ON!

2010-09-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

Mira following my habit...I sucked the same two fingers till I was 12 yrs old and the dentist installed a retainer in my mouth with 3 wires running from front to back, on the palate. They were curved outward, so I couldn't close my mouth and suck at the same time. I reckon 12 yrs old was old enough.

WHERE CURSORS COME FROM

2010-09-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

MORE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

2010-09-13T13:54:00.000-07:00

Tim once again has worked his magic on Miss Don't-Put-Me-Down. Mira loves the outdoors, the swing and grampa singing to her while at both. Tim thinks it's the greatest thing in the world to do.

Winston with his Helios Cafe latte...he took after his momma in that regard.

And, hair of course. This is an updo from a class I attended, and no, I cannot do that, not yet. Mr. Ron Hawkins can, in about 20 mins! Great class, great teacher. On the right is Dara, my wild massage therapist, (THE best) with her violet hair. The pic doesn't do it justice, and my lighting is not good. It's purple-y. A color only Dara could pull off.

BABY SWINGS AND PEEING IN THE SINK

2010-09-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Mira Julieta is one of those little babies that finds her comfort mainly at mom's breast. I don't mean in the way all babies do...I mean as in Georgia is Mira's pacifier. She'll get just enough milk in to be temporarily satisfied, fall asleep (or not) and within an hour is crying for more, and the cycle begins all over again. So getting her to be content on her own can be a challenge sometimes. She is progressing daily in the 'having to be satisfied' department, but I remembered the good ol' baby swing one day. I found one on Craigslist for cheap, picked it up and we tried it out on her that evening. Georgia was cutting Michael's hair in the salon and I was being blessed with my precious grandbaby, then she wanted to suck. So I tried the swing out and she got this (above) look on her face. It soon turned to the one below. Good ol' swing!

Isn't she CUTE!!!? And she pees on comand...really. Georgia has trained her to pee when she tells her to! After all, Georgia said, why train them to be continously peeing and pooping in their diapers for 2-3 years, only to have to re-train them to go in the potty? Never thought about that when I had mine. Just followed suit like everyone else, believing what they said about having to wait till they are "ready". Here you have a 2 year old that can do minor chores, speak, obey, feed themselves, even dress themselves, and they are expected to poop and pee in a diaper because they are not capable of doing otherwise? I don't think so. Ever see the photos of women in rice paddies with their naked babies strapped onto their backs? You reckon they have pee and crap running down their backs? No. How about the latino children, who as soon as they stand on their own two feet about 9-11 mos old are put in panties? Anyway...Mira peeing on command is also quite cute, to a granma at least!

JUST FOR LAUGHS

2010-09-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

IT'S IN THE DETAILS

2010-08-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

After taking a shuttle to the airport with our 3 extra large suitcases, as the kids followed in Ruby's Beetle, I went to the curbside check-in counter. The gentleman asks me what flight and name, please, and proceeds to look up my info on the computer. You know that puzzled sort of look people get when they can't find you on their lists? And that sick feeling you get in the pit of your belly when you fear the worst? Well, they both happened. He asks me if maybe I go by another name? I say there should be THREE Becks on that flight. He asks me for my paperwork which I apprehensively hand over, figuring he'd find a problem in a second that I had a month to foresee. He unfolds the paper, the top half of which has my arrival itinrerary and the bottom half the departure itinerary...I had folded it in half to make it easier to look at (!) and behold...there on the fold, in small, pale grey print, it says "Flight departs on Friday August 20".

At the Honolulu airport, eating those amazing donuts from the Portuguese bakery in Kailua

It was Saturday, noon, to be exact.

I had checked out, I'm out of money, have now lost my tickets (3 of them!) to return home. I went to the ticket counter and the Lord provided the finest, most patient and helpful lady in the world for me. I was about to cry, thinking, how in the world am I going to make it home, what am I going to do, Tim's going to kill me, Lilly starts cosmetology school on Monday, I have no where to go, Tim's going to kill me, etc...

when the Lord reminds me that He "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" and money should be the least of my concerns, and time is but for a moment. Relax, and pray. So I tried the first and did the second.

The lovely lady finds return flights but on the following day, arriving in Raleigh Monday. At only $150 more per person...and here I was freaking out because I thought we were going to have to repay the full price!

Ruby found, and paid, for a room at the Hale Koa, a military hotel in Waikiki, (fabulous) and Lovely Lady referred me to a baggage storage company ($20) and we all proceeded to thank the Lord for another day in Hawaii.

We toured the 'Iolani Palace, and went to the hotel, saw 5 brides, one wedding in session, ate dinner, watched a movie and went to bed early. Sunday we got to go to church with Ruby again, ate lunch, and then went to the airport.

The flights were smooth, managed some sleep, got in to RDU Monday at 9:30am. Dead tired. Still am, but I have a day full of clients and I'm hoping I'll hold out till tonight. Lilly, having missed her first day of school yesterday, left this morning, but must've been real tired. She decided to use her GPS and it took her to Sanford, 45 mins away! Sanford! She knows Lillington's a straight shot down 401, she's been to the campus 3 times...she must REALLY be tired.

SNORKELING, SUBMARINING, SWIMMING, HIKING....works for me!

2010-08-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

The view from the top of Diamond Head

On the plane there

One of the views from the sub

Buddhist Monk horn blowing Ruby's dash decor (it's male)

Lilly, Ruby and Winston in the sub Ruby and the Samoan dancer

Hanauma Bay

One of two sets of staircases up D. Head

HOPE CHAPEL, THE ILIKAI AND ART

2010-08-16T02:41:00.000-07:00

This is the view looking out of the front of Hope Chapel, Kaneohe Bay, the church Ruby's a member at. I attended the 8 o'clock worship service while the kids went with Ruby to teach her 5th grade kids, whom she claims, and the kids agree, are the smartest kids ever.

Then we all worshipped together at 10, followed by a wonderful time of fellowship when many of the members stay after services for lunch, which is provided by a man who sells all the food gives the proceeds for ministry.

Hope Chapel was wonderful, friendly, vibrant and real.

The Ilikai, blue and white in the middle, behind the lagoon, where we spent Sunday afternoon.

Here we are at PF Changs in Waikiki belatedly celebrated Ruby's 19th bday with a phenomenal meal. See the Italian family behind us? This was their position all night...sourpusses.

OK, I know I've said a lot about the Asian tourists, but here's a little more. This is the Apple store downtown where they have about 100 iPhones and iPads laying around for everyone to play with. And that's just what they do for hours by the hundreds.

Also, as we walked in and out of the Vuitton store, slack-jawed at the designer-brand obsessed, wealthy asian people by the DOZENS purchasing windbreakers for $1000, sunglasses for $300, purses and luggage for thousands. UNBELIEVABLE. To make it worse, a few feet from the store front, was a street performer doing a mediocre job at playing a keyboard and singing. Nobody was standing around listening or giving money. As we walked passed and felt some pity for this poor soul who seemed to be playing the same keys over and over again, we looked closer and realized he was crippled. His right arm hung useless and deformed and he stood on one leg. He was thin, but clean and as neat as he could afford. Ruby and I about cried with shame at the extremes. We gave him some money, and upon looking at the bucket, I'm not surprised he's thin at all. How do we ever complain? God forgive us.

Here is the photo of an artists work. He was so talented.

Then off to bed with "I Love Lucy" looking forward to a submarine ride tomorrow.

FAMILY DAY AT THE BELLOWS

2010-08-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

On Saturday morning we took a helicopter flight all around the island of Oahu, and got to see everything imaginable. I wish our wonderful pilot had a little less of an accent in English so I could've understood what he was saying more. What a treat to see everything from the air, and what a generous gift to us from Ruby.

In the afternoon we went to The Bellows, which I think is a USAF private-type beach. It was absolutely Hawaiian beautiful. It was Family Day for the USMC...how providential. I have videos of the drive there, the beach and of a tug of war between the two top teams, but I don't know if my connection is fast enough to upload. We ate, walked the beach, met some people, and came up for air amidst the sea of testosterone once in a while.

She is still the Ruby we all know and love. On the return trip, we stopped at the Goodwill Thrift store and spent the entire hour laughing at her mess as did the rest of the shoppers, while she pulled dress after dress out of the rack and commented in her inimitable, quick-witted way. Then we went down to the beach here at Waikiki, which is packed all weekend, dawn to night, with families having picnics, playing games and lots of beach people. We ate shaved ice, watched the master shell horn blower of Hawaii and his students, and a group of older Hawaiian women sing and play strings.

Winston and I headed back on the streets, stopping in at the Ferrari store to check things out. Ferrari wallet:$295, Ferrari Car Spray:$60. Very cool store, didn't buy anything...In fact, I have not purchased anything at all, except food, coffee and a classic movie for a couple of bucks at the GFA to watch last night.

THE REST OF THE STORY

2010-08-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

As you can tell, I was still in jet lag mode when I wrote the last post. I forgot to elaborate on the $7 eggs. We rented an apartment in Waikiki so we could prepare out own food half the time in order to save money and DO stuff, rather than eat out all the time. So, Lilly Winston and I walked a few blocks out to the Ala Moana Center, which is an enormous, gigantic concoction of stores. There are several hundred, Gucci, Vuitton, Fendi (where Lilly about fainted at the sight of the Fendi-model-like manager, all she could say is "That man...") Tiffany, Coach, Dior, Chanel, you get my drift. Mixed in this lot were a few more 'average' shops, where we dared enter, look and leave.
Kona Coffee, supposedly the 'finest in the world', is $40 a lb. I beg to differ. I can say that because I actually bought half a pound (which nearly killed me) and the Maragogype at Trader Joes is 10X better.

We made it to the Foodland Grocery store at the center, which is average Hawaii priced. Filled my grocery cart with luscious papayas, fresh pineapple, and real meals. The eggs which I buy at home for $2.75 a dozen were $7.50!! For a dozen eggs! Half gallon of organic milk, $5. A frozen pizza $10. Just remember when you come here to double however much you think you'll spend, on the extravagant side. Within 2 days, between groceries, bag check-in, and airport food, our expenses neared $500. It'll be slim pickin's from now out, with the exception of our adventures. Experiences are usually worth the money, but purchases, rarely.

We went to the beach yesterday afternoon, after recovering from the Ala Moana, and watched the cutest japanese children and their cute parents have a blast. We also got the benefit of seeing lots of bikini speedos, and a woman change from her swimsuit into her clothes, underwear and all, under a towel, right there on the beach. Besides seeing her bra strap across the back, she did a darned good job.
Ruby joined us at the beach and then we watched a tear jerker movie, an ancient asian doing an hour of tai-chi, and a buddist monk blow his shell-horn to the four corners of the earth at sunset, and went out for a who-knows-how-many-miles-you-can-walk-in-4-hours search for a restaurant. We finally found the main strip, with more chi-chi shops, (I swear, there were at least 3 more Vuitton shops) watched lots of street entertainers, and found a place to eat. California Pizza Kitchen of all places. Recommendation: get the Pear-Gorgonzola pizza.

ALOHA AND $7 EGGS

2010-08-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

Well, we arrived 16 hours after leaving RDU, but with only a 6 hour difference in time. When we went to bed at midnight last night, Lilly had been awake a full 21 hours and having consumed 2 cups of coffee and a Goody's, hence no nap on the flights, was literally a zombie during our 12:30 meal.
Ruby met us at the airport in her little green VW Bug, complete with Hawaiian stickers and a pink surfboard atop. We were so excited to see her. She looks great!
Our room at the Ilikai is wonderful, and at 5:30 this morning I sat out on the lanai and watched the sun rise over the Marina. I have never been anywhere where everyone is a tourist...weird and not real fun. And how can a country as small as Japan put more tourists in Hawaii than the US? But, beginning tomorrow, after we recover fully today, and Ruby gets off for the next 9 days, it will be one truly adventerous day after another.
Right now I am about to go out to the beach (Waikiki) and swim in the clear blue water with my kids, come in to a hot shower and long nap, then wait for Ruby to come in and take us wherever she wants.
Friends, I am so Blessed!

HAWAII TEN-O

2010-08-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, August 11th, the LONG awaited trip to Oahu begins! To say I am excited is a ridiculous understatement. I get to spend time with Ruby, and Winston and Lilly get to travel out of the continental US for the first time, and we get TEN whole days!!! How awesome is that?

Ruby's already planned a climb on the Stairway to Heaven, a helicopter ride all around Oahu, hiking to the waterfalls, luaus, snorkeling, going down in a sight seeing submarine, surfing, shark cage-ing, and that's just part of it. I want to see Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona, Queens Palace, the Dole Plantation, and a few other places. I don't know 10 days is enough. I should return tan, fit and healthy...and real happy to be so blessed.

I MISS MY BLOG

2010-07-31T16:02:00.000-07:00

The salon, close to 30 hrs work, hosting my sister, mothering, housework, wiving, cooking, readying for a new school year, and attempting to get some down time. That's what I'm up to. It seems every time I get to the computer, I have just enough time to check and answer emails, check my website, order products for the salon, and that's about it. How irritating. I am so thankful for the success of the shop, and at the same time, I yearn for the extra time to just relax with everyone here at home.

Hopefully, I will have it under wraps by the time I come home from vacation. I keep reminding myself that it is worth it, after all, I am paying for our trip to Hawaii with salon money. How could I complain?

My sister Marta came down for a few days to visit and see Mira and her mom and dad. Here she is with Winston, Tim and Lilly.

She and I at the train station in Cary, seeing her off.

Michael, being effecient and ambidextrous, with the lovely Mira.

Tim and I at Topsail last month. Don't get many of these...

Beach Shop Grill, with most all my children, missing my Ruby.

MIRA JULIETA COLON

2010-07-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Here she is. Mira (mee-rah) Julieta Colon. To you non-spanish speaking people, Mira Juliet Colon.

A perfect little creation in Christ with a full-grown soul. She smells sweet, is sweet and I could eat her up. We have to visit Georgia and Michael individually because we practically fight over her, and Winston isn't even here yet!

OH! WHAT A DAY!

2010-07-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

I am a grandmother, finally. Georgia and Michael had their daughter, Mira, about 1 am last night, and praise God, all is well. She weighed in at a little over 7 lbs and measured about 19 inches. Mom, Dad and baby are resting, and God gave them a good ol' southern rain-stormy day to recoup from the long night. Pray for Georgia as she recovers from a hard delivery.
Mira Julieta (mee-rah hoo-lee-eh-tah) Colon is beautiful, pink and content, she has a lovely head of hair, Michael's lips and Georgia's baby countenance, calm and quiet. We praise the Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, the lover of our souls, the sustainer of our faith, the author of all good things. Thank you to our dear friends and family who prayed so faithfully.

I also had a mentally imbalanced, OCD client yesterday, on whose lovely hair I worked, get this, for SIX HOURS! I kid you not. Found me online. Came in with a portfolio of 20 yr old models' photograps from a variety of magazines. She is 54. Also brought with her all her shampoo, hair oil, gel...as well as the names, numbers and descriptions of haircolor she had decided on were best for her of the product website of color I use. I should have stopped when she made the remark that in 30 yrs of getting her hair colored, there had been only one stylist who could do her hair. She would drive, get this, from Richmond, VA to Myrtle Beach SC, every 6 weeks to get it done. RED FLAGS, SIRENS. She had driven for over 2 hours to get organic color. I did what she wanted. The result wasn't perfect enough. It was beautiful But she looked in the mirror and said "I just can't live with this. I just can't believe this is happening!" Highly altered. It had been 3 hours since she walked into the salon. My daughter was in labor, and my next client, whose appointment should've started 30 mins ago, sat patiently waiting, in disbelief. I say, " I will be glad to go over your hair next week. Wear it a few days and call me, we'll schedule an appointment." She turns to me and tells me 'oh, no! it must be done now! I cannot go out like this! I would have to wear a hat or something... no, no, this wont do. It's got to be now." I'm so stressed by now, I just want her to go. I tell her she has to wait till my next client is done...2 hours later. She says, OK. She pops her head in to ask, when will it be done? several times. I'm ready to call Holly Hill. For her or me, I don't know. I finish the client, OCD is still there. I take her, do what she wants, again, and 3 hours later, she is horrified at the results, which were the same as the initial. Beautiful. I don't understand, she says. What happened? I tell her organic color is just not for her, obviously, (and neither am I). She's very distressed, and says, 'How are we going to settle this?" RED FLAG$! RED FLAG$! "What do you want in payment?" I told her the total of the bill, which is about 1/2 of what it would've been everywhere else. "Oh, I just can't pay you. I just can't. You don't really expect that, do you? I'll have to go get my hair totally redone elsewhere." By this time I was sweeping the hair off the floor, keeping my breathing as rythmic as I could, concentrating real hard on every nook and cranny in the floor, praying, praying, praying. "Just pay me what you think you should. I spent 6 hours on your hair, I've done everything possible to satisfy you, I've spent at least $50 of products on your hair in addition to 100 foils, and a haircut. " She gave me half of the bill, and left. I promptly went to Bellini's with Tim, drank a glass (or 3) of wine, and turned my attention to my grandbabies iminent birth. I swallowed the bitterness along with the meal, and blew up like a dead possum so that I couldn't even keep my pj bottoms up.
This morning, I am working on a client, another highlight foil job. Except she's a doll. The phone rings. "Diana, this is Colette." (crying uncontrollably) "Please, oh please don't do this to someone else.." and I hung up. And prayed for her. She is a troubled woman, and I have to avoid these things if I want to live. I mean live. How sad, to be so miserable.

OK, WE'RE READY

2010-07-11T15:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, 2 baby showers down, one baby to go.

Lots of generous friends doing a pop quiz on baby trivia. Did you know:

The average money spent on a baby during it's first year (no medical cost included) is $7000?

And that the average American child eats 15 lbs of cereal in one year?

Judy Safrit-Bowen, Laura and Sam Kelly, Lilly

Trying out the non-toxic baby wipes...loved them! Val Nolfo, Lilly

Having a good time. Heard about a man who taught a family of children whose last name was Pigg. They named their children (this is true) Ima, Heza, Sheza, Eura.

Soon to be mama, Georgia, happy, blessed and waiting.

RANDOM PHOTOS

2010-07-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

Georgia modeling a peculiar seashell Kenneth and Liliana in front of their home

Awwww!

Lilly and one of her boxer puppies

What we do and what we'll look like one day...

2010-07-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

Cafe Helios, Glenwood Ave....what's left of that amazing cup of latte. I can't show you what's left of the Cupcake Shoppe's amazing coconut cupcake...

Park your car near Hillsboro/Glenwood and take a stroll down both sides of the street one day soon. You won't regret it.

BLACKBERRY JAM TIME

2010-06-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

The blackberry vines on our property are drooping with dark, large, juicy, sweet/tart fruit. It was hard to not eat them all. Had it not been for the fact that they are so prolific this year and we picked 5 quarts these past few days and I can't seem to get enough to eat. But I remembered the delicious Blackberry Jam someone gave us last summer, which we spooned onto thick slices of freshly toasted, buttered homemade bread, and I decided to try my hand at it.

3 qts blackberries, one packet of pectin. Mash berries, pour in pectin, (you probably could use 2 packets) and set to medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. After one minute of a hard rolling boil, pour in 8 cups sugar, bring to same boil for a full minute.

Make sure your jars are sterilized. Fill jars to 1/4 inch from the brim. Cap off and set in canner which is now boiling furiously.

Remove after 5-10 minutes.

Set out to cool. Put up all except the one you'll be eating out of tomorrow morning at breakfast. Yum!

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

2010-06-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

Topsail Beach, where all is well...

Patio Playground is still there, with it's eccentric owner still getting hot under the collar over a disrespectful kid one moment, and then dancing and singing to Tony Bennett the next, the cacophany of stringed lights haphazardly strung wherever there was a hook, and the entire place painted in a crayola-box variety of colors that would give most people vertigo.
We had the requisite night storm, with it's massive bolts of lighting and peals of thunder. Also the entirely too-hot day, 104 to be exact, when everyone thought it was a good idea to go out at 11 and come in at 2, only to find great painful discomfort that lasts for the rest of the vacation. But somehow it doesn't hurt enough.

Winston, Lilly and Amanda

Liliana and Kenneth

Michael, showing mad skills on the skimboard!

Kenneth's first experience with surfing...

Winston, taking full advantage of the food liberties.

Michael, Georgia and Ash

Sweet Ash with his proud owner.

Tim acting old.

Tim acting young.

And finally, me. Upside down, but enjoying the last bits of sunset on Saturday evening.

We had a great time. And again, for I cannot say it enough, how blessed I am for the love of my family towards one another.

" Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen"

Hiatus

2010-06-19T11:27:00.001-07:00

I don't like to get online, go to my blog and find the Anger post there every day for so long, so I'm sure y'all don't care for it either. But, alas, I'm at Topsail, and my computer is at home, so I can't post photos from the coffee shop's computer. So, Monday, be looking. Got lots of good photos, good stories.

ANGER

2010-06-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Anger. Just the word itself is stirs up the discomfort and unease anger creates. It's a lack of self control, combined with pride, arrogance and lack of love. The Bible expresses a lack of love as hatred. There is no middle ground with this powerful, destructive...what would you call it? Emotion? I don't think it's all in the heart; I think it's greatly in the mind, in the soul. Roots of bitterness, fear and pride bring forth trees bearing fruit of control, verbal abuse, mental abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse. All issues of control and frustration. The sad thing is the inability of the angry ones to ask for forgiveness. When they do that you know there is hope. But when all they say is "Sorry, if you..." or "Sorry, if I..." or "Sorry, but if you..." you are left with a sense of helplessness that weakens the very fabric of mutual love, tolerance and respect.

Anger is destructive, vile, wicked. Seek forgiveness. It's the only cure.

RIP x 2

2010-06-08T19:01:00.000-07:00

Well, there is no photo to put up today. Not a whole lot of joy goin' round the Beck house on this beautiful, breezy spring day. The fairy tale lasted 48 hrs. Charlie, the boxer in the post before the last, killed Bella, the little chihuahua Lillian had just bought. Charlie was immediately taken to the vet and put down. So in the span of 2 hours we went from going for a nice jog, looking forward to the day with a happy puppy, to 2 dead beloved pets.
Charlie has a history of attacking small animals, but for some idiotic reason we had not put him outside yet. I was going to do it today. But I was an hour too late. Lots of sadness today.