Gifts from the Sea, and other Places!!!

This morning I was attempting to declutter some areas. I take baby steps, maybe even crawl. Crawling on my bedroom floor, packing up one of my favorite gifts of all times, my sand-dollars from Keith and Kelly. They were a Christmas present many years ago. They had gathered them off the coast of Maine, hundreds of petite jewels. Then shipped them in a box to me, not to open until Christmas. They were with us in Georgia that Christmas, and retired to the basement on Christmas Eve early, to make my present. All through the night they arranged all of the sand-dollar shells in a huge glass jar, with all of the sand-dollars facing out, it was a masterpiece. It was like a puzzle. Through the years the jar had cracked and this year I decided to take them all out and wash them and maybe place they in another beautiful container. As I touched each one and thought about where it came from, and how precious it was, and how much I loved this gift, I was reminded of all the odd, wonderful gifts I have received in my life. Mom gave me my "Annie" doll one Christmas, I was in my 20's and this was my first rag doll. There was a note inside, to the effect, that My Annie was coming home to me. I still have her upstairs wrapped in a pink shawl from when I was 4, that was a gift from a neighbor. Mom also sent me giant pine cones from "The Farm" my first Christmas in Pennsylvania, such a fun box to open. My friend Jamie has given me so many fun,thoughtful gifts, but the Mali Prayer Beads for my birthday, she gave to me early, thinking I needed them to get me through Ward's funeral. She was right. My brother's signed photo of Ted Neely from Jesus Christ Superstar, had me howling. It was made out to me, my brothers know me so well. Susan this year sent me a Rolling Stones, luggage tag, I smiled, we will always remember walking home from the Gator Bowl to San Marco after our first Stones concert. Gifts from the heart, I'm going to keep them all, the hell with the clutter!!!! OOPs I mean to hell with being organized!!! I think???

Here Kitty, Kitty...

That's right we have two cats, its only fair that I give them some blog time, since my last entry was about Miss Lucy.

Lainey-bird, is my son Ward's cat. After Ward died, we didn't know if Lainey would ever let us take care of her, but she did, and we do. Lainey has only three legs, from an accident involving tires and a car and her being run over as a kitten. Not a great beginning for the little one, but Ward loved her through all her short comings and she through his. She hops like a rabbit and is the size of a small child!!! She is big, the vet says toooooo big!! What do vets know anyway?? she has three legs, let her enjoy something!!!!

Diana is a cat that Ward and I picked up?? paid for,"yes" paid for at the pet store, it was calling my name!!! Ward said "Mom you are so impulsive!" and " What is wrong with that??" said I. Diana is a calico, and just a lover, curious and cat-like!! Where Lainey is more like a Buddha.

They both add something special to our family, as all our pets have through the years.

Howard and Mallard, the ducks. Mack, 14 years with us, poodle. Copper, 12 years with us, crazy dachshund. Precious, feral cat from Kroger, at least 12 years. Many birds that I cant remember their names, and many rabbits, Butterscotch being my favorite, she came from the state fair!!!!

What is a house without animals?? Clean and quiet?? who needs that??

LU-CY, I'm Home!!!!!!

Recently in the news they (who are they???) have been discussing how a Lab and a two year old are about the same. Really??

Her vocabulary, OK she isn't talking, YET.

Words that Lucy knows are many. Back-yard, park, walk, paper, ball, bone, sit, snack and at least 50 or so more choice, Princeton bound vocabulary.

Her highness is just over a year old, and as black as Michael Jackson used to be, God rest his crazy soul.

Our house is on "Lucy-time", she has us all jumping through hoops. We have tried to dog-proof the house, but remember she is smart, ask the scientist!!!

This young canine is afraid of the dark, deer , cars and birds, she has some issues, but they make doggie meds for these little minor anxieties!!!

We are all smitten and in love with this big black lab.

These scientists were so right about the study they did, My Lucy is as smart as a 2 year old, they just failed to mention that she would stay a toddler forever!!!!

MOTHER CLUTTER!!!!!!!

I could have used the "F" curse, but clutter may come close.

The first week back to school leaves me, to quote Waffle House, scattered and smothered!!!!

I go back to work, and we all act like we have been raised by wolves. Clothes piled everywhere ,grabbing my legs as I walk by, "Wash me, and bring me back that lady that was home this summer"!

Our sweet ,Lucy Mae, has already visited the vet for separation anxiety and eating a digital camera!!!!

The attention to detail goes out the window when mommy returns to work and without detail, CLUTTER WINS!!!!
I love a clean house, I also love stuff!!! Books, and magazines, stacked to see Jesus. Photos and antiques that call my name. My collection of 30 different canes in the hallway is wickedly fun, and I do love bowls and chairs. Clutter makes a home to me, a "lived-in" look fits.
Disarray causes utter confusion to me, so I have to get organized while I work outside the home!!, I will , it just takes me longer each year. Plus, I do have cleaning help, whom I love dearly, they save me. They know my clutter, and they clean around it. They also know when I have gone back to work, I think they allow more time to be at The Barons!!!! because for sure some Wolves have been with them lately!!!!

BY ANY OTHER NAME

We are just three days into the new school year and today I started thinking about names. Who named these precious children, and what were they thinking???

Naming a child is not for the faint of heart. Children grow up and that most perfect name that you pick out goes with them.

I have two step-sons that were named by the time I made an appearance in their lives. My other three were ALL MINE to name, and Bill agreed. ( I think I asked him??)

We used family names, so it seemed painless, I love their names. They are the most beautiful names I have ever heard.

Thomas Ward, after my brother Tommy and Uncle Ward, such strong names. One day Ward asked me if I knew that his named spelled backwards is DRAW??? I certainly did not think about that during 26 hours of labor, but I will take full credit for it if you become a famous artist!!! He graduated from Atlanta College of Art !

William Hartley, (Hart), named after Bill and my grandmother Hartley, now that is a grand name. Hart Baron, seriously may be the best name ever. During middle school Hart came home and asked me if I knew his named rhymed with FART!!! No angel, during my second c-section that did not cross my mind!!

Emma Lea, after Bill's grandmother and my sister, precious sweet name. She is called everything except Emma. Em, Em-Em, E-ma, sister girl.
All angels unaware.
I have called their names in my sweet Mommy voice and also in my "666" Satan's mistress voice!!!! Always with LOVE .
What's in a name??????
I think a whole lot of love.

Crack open a cookbook PEOPLE!!!!

I love Julia Child.

I use to love cooking.

After reading "My Life in France" and seeing the movie "Julie and Julia" I may revisit the kitchen!!!

Julia, my personal friend, (that is the way she seemed) taught many of us baby-boomers to enjoy cooking out of the box. Especially in the south, where we learned to fry the table napkins, a change was welcome.

She touched food, really touched it, like a new lover. Butter smeared on everything that moved or didn't. She smelled her food, and licked her fingers, and celebrated a new pot or pan. To see her use a wire whisk, you desired all food to have a meringue !!! My friend makes me want to grate cheese again, not to buy it in a bag!!

what happened to cooking?? We all had babies for one, Julia had time to cook. We can make time, even if its once a week, to slice and dice, and sear. Get the pots off the back burner, and find all the lids.

We all, men included, need to find the joy in cooking again. Her joy was palpable, I want some of it.

Ms. Child reminds us to slow down, make a cake from scratch, use fresh food, enjoy good wine, good friends and family.

I love Julia Child soooooo much, bon appe'tit !!!!!!!!

School Supplies in AUGUST???

The dog days of summer have just begun,its August!!! So why is Fulton County starting school next week?

No student or teacher should be in front of each other until after Labor Day, what happened??

My protests are in vain, we will see the yellow bus come rolling through neighborhoods Monday morning.
I feel a tinge of sadness when I see the buses, for so many years I saw my babies get on that clunker of a bus. Their sweet little faces pressed on the windows, waving until we are both out of sight. My babies are grown now, but my memories of each school year beginning is so vivid, but it was in September!!!!

I still like to buy school supplies, new pens, pencils, folders, notebook paper, a book bag or two, someone will need them.
New school supplies hold such promise, a clean slate.
School in August, grade "F"

There she blows!!!!!

Don't get me wrong, I love the ocean. I grew up in and around the ocean most of my life. Salt water heals me, hearing it, smelling it, but not going into it!! I have not been knee-deep in the ocean since "Jaws".

So when on our vacation to visit sons and grandsons, my daughter-n-law, Miss Emily suggested we go for a 4 hour whale watching trip, I jumped at the chance to be miles from land!!!

We loaded up and set sail, so to speak, from Gloucester, Mass., the home of The Perfect Storm, minus George Clooney.

We departed on this huge vessel, or as I called it, a Big Boat.

I was so excited that I out ran everyone to the top of the deck, to get the best seats. Bill, Emily, Adrian and Baby Finn and I were on an adventure. I felt free as the gulls above me, and a peace filled me like only the ocean can. As far as our eyes could see, water, and more water, and more!!!

The ocean can hypnotize you, after a couple of hours, you think you see whales and mermaids riding them!!! The tour lady told us to look for water spouts, that come from the blow holes, and she was right, they were all over. We were in the middle of whales, I had to hold my hand over my heart, it was a religious experience. They began to show themselves jumping and waving, and tails held high. Left side, right side, their majestic bodies and sounds, like a ballet . I felt like they enjoyed us visiting, I hope so, because if they didn't my other thought was I was an intruder and that made me feel bad. So I just believed they were thrilled to put on such a dance for us. Crazy humans, hanging onto the rails.

No wonder Jacques Cousteau hung out in the ocean so much, you were speaking to him,

Royal Kings and Queens of the ocean, wonderful creatures. Thank you.