Monday Snapshot

Six months ago this dog would puke within minutes of getting in the car

She loathed a car ride like I loathe the dentist office

 

One trip to the groomer we decided to change things up and put her in the front seat...her world hasn't been the same since.

 

Now she loves the car...she hears the jingle of the keys or sees me getting my purse and she is by the back door waiting for us. No more dragging her to the car...she beats us there.

 

She wants to go everywhere with us and gets rather ticked when we leave her at home.

 

And if she doesn't think the car ride is long enough I get what you are seeing in the picture above...

 

she refuses to get out of the car and pretends she doesn't hear you.

 

"Stella" <ignore>

 

"Stella get out" <ignore>

 

"Stella do you want a treat?" <slight ignore before she bolts to the treat cabinet>

 

Sometimes having a smart dog isn't all it's cracked up to be....

Step 3: Meander More

Step 3: Meander More

 

In my attempt to find a better balance in my life I have given myself "steps".

 

This week I have attacked step 3....

 

 

Meander More

 

 

I love to jump in the car, head in any direction and find someplace new...

 

meandering recharges my soul and keeps me grounded during my wanderlust phases (which happens quite often).

 

 

Today I dropped off the boys at school and headed East toward the Fresno Foothills.

 

It's a good hour drive to the foothills and I wasn't sure what I would find....

 

I didn't find much but getting out and driving was what I needed.

 

Alot of winding roads

orange groves

loud tunes on my ipod....

 

 

It was a great way to restart my meandering....

 

 

 



Mothers Day Roses

A few shots of my beautiful Mothers Day Roses.

They opened up perfectly!!

 

 

 

Well shoot.....

 

This was NOT the summer accessory I was hoping to wear!!!

 

After a year of a non-healing Achilles tendon I'm now in a boot. We are trying to stay away from surgery but this beautiful thing is the last option. I have to wear it for a month and then back to the doctor to see if it has healed.

 

It's huge, it's heavy, it's ugly, it makes doing even the most simplest of things difficult....needless to say I'm doing a lot of TV watching and not much else right now.

 

And just for anyone that is wondering....standing on top of a loose toilet seat, with one of these on your foot while you are trying to reach for something on the highest shelf....not a good idea.

 

ouch....thud.....

Two mothers that made Me

I am so blessed to have two mothers:

 

One mother gave me life (above right).

 

She made the most loving yet difficult decision to place me for adoption

 

She carried me for 9 months and then had to say good bye

 

As fate would have it; we got to say hello when I was 18 years old and it has been the a wonderful blessing for me to have her back in my life.

 

 

 

My mom (above left)

 

taught me how to use that life that I was given and not to waste one single day.

 

She taught me how to be passionate.

 

She taught me how to be resilient.

 

She taught me how to love.

 

 

 

Two women who never met but had one sweet little baby in common - ME.

 

Oh how I wish they would have been able to meet -

my mom passed away before we were able to make that happen.

 

 

Two women who loved with all their heart

 

and

 

I am the product of those two amazing women.

 

 

Now as an adult I see both of my moms in myself:

 

I see my birth mom's artistic touch

 

I see my mom's passion for motherhood

 

I see my birth mom's sense of humor

 

I see my mom's love for learning

 

 

Happy Mothers Day to my moms!

 



Step 2: Play

 

 

Step 2: PLAY

 

I'm slowly working through this whole

stay at home mom

thing

 

I am not good at it!!

 

I tried it once before and only made it 6 months so this time

around I am trying to approach it differently.

 

One thing I am not good at is playing.

 

I don't relax - I don't let go

everything I do is based off of lists, calendars, to-do sheets.

 

I must have a goal to everything I do.

It's the Type-A / Accountant in me that's for sure.

 

The last week or so I have really been focusing on why

I can't play and how to change that about me.

 

The boys are all for helping me learn how to play again......

 

 

 

The pool is warm....the suit has been purchased

 

While I may never dive off the board I am slowly learning

 how to put aside the to do list and relax a bit.

 



Wheat

 

 

For the past few months the neighboring fields

have been green with Spring wheat.

 

Now it's turned dry and wheat harvest has begun.

 

Harvest always makes me sad because it's the last of the Spring

 planting to be harvested

 which means Summer

is right around the corner (aka HEAT)