Poppies...

The profile picture on this page is called The Corn Poppy, by Kees van Dongen.  I got to see it in person when I visited my friend in Houston.  I love poppy flowers!

This weekend, we went to the Botanic Garden and saw plenty of poppies that were as beautiful as art.

As time goes by...

Next month will be the 9 year anniversary of my Grandmama passing away.  That's just so strange to think about.  It seems like it was only yesterday.

It has been 8 years and 11 months since I've seen my Great-Uncle, Grandmama's brother.  Today, he was here waiting with us while my mom had a double mastectomy to remove the cancer that was trying to make a run for it.

I was sitting back with mom in pre-op, when I saw his white headed, bow-legged self walking in.  He gave me a hug and said, "hey you girl."   I didn't know if he knew it was me, or my sister.  But, I took the hug happily all the same, and we sorted out later "which one" I was.

We visited a bit while mom was in surgery.  And then again once she got up to her room afterwards.  It was in her room that I felt like Grandmama may as well be sitting in the room with us.

I guess because I was only ever really around him along with her.  Tonight when I heard his voice, in this quiet hospital room while my mom slept from the pain medication, I expected to hear Grandmama's laugh peppered in.

But, it was quiet.  And, I so keenly missed her.

That was not the feeling I expected to feel today.  Time goes by, but still I wish she were here.  She would have been just the right person to have around today.

Mother's Day...

This was my view after lunch today.


Laying here.


Max slept most of the day away on Mother's Day.  He had a double dose of medicine which knocks him out pretty hard after having seizures all afternoon yesterday.  So, it was a quiet Mother's Day...which is okay, but I kind of missed the wild man's talking all day.

They all made it a good day.  We planted some in our garden.  And I got some new toys for the kitchen.  In the end, I'm treated like a queen every day from my whole crew.  Every Sunday is a funday  around here.  So, if we have a little funky day on a holiday marked on the calendar, it's still a good day.

Doves and Grandparents...

For the third Tuesday in a row, we've woken up to the white stuff!  The first week, they called it a blizzard and called off school, and we barely got a dusting.  The second week, we got a foot of snow over two days.  And today we got a heavy spring dumping only to have it nearly all melted by this afternoon.

When I opened the door to let the dogs out this morning, I was greeted with one of the most lovely sights I've seen. 

The white flakes were still lightly falling, the sun was shining, garden ornaments covered in a veil of  heavy snow.  On the tree sat a couple of doves.  Seeing them there, it made me think of my grandma and grandpa.  A couple snuggled up in the snow, mates for life, just enjoying the beauty of it all.  

They've been here as long as we've lived here, and I've never named them.  But, forever more, I'll call them Grandma and Grandpa.  Just so long as they stick around, since George loves to run them off. 

Fabulous Saturdays...

I love a beautiful Saturday.

It's the one day I feel relaxed all day.  We take the morning slow...and do what we want through the day.

Today, after a week of snow and seizures, Max was in a fabulous mood and we got out of the house.  We ran a few errands, and ate a picnic at the park.

It was a fabulous day which called for something fabulous to wear.  So, I wore my most fabulous shoes.



Husband must have liked this shot, since he took it as I was eating my lunch on the park bench, next to this fella who was busy watching ducks and jumping fish in the pond.



Fab, fab, fab Saturday.

A nice cuppa...

Max's weekly schedule has picked up significantly this school year.  That's not a bad thing, it's just - busy.

For so many years, we didn't have much going on.  He didn't have school, he only had therapy a couple times a week.  And he snoozed a lot!

Now, I rarely sit down until 3:00 in the afternoon.  He has therapy every day except Fridays.  And has two sessions of school over video chat with his classmates daily, as well as his teacher coming for an hour three days a week.

From 3:00-5:00 I try to catch up on phone calls or do some laundry, or whatever else I can fit in before the evening schedule picks up.

Thursday and Friday are a little easier on the schedule.  I usually have more time to make phone calls, and answer emails that have piled up all week.  I also occasionally will sit and have a nice cuppa.

I have a special cabinet where I keep my tea and teacups.  Each cup is from someone special, or from some place special.

It's always nice to sit, holding a cup of hot tea and think of a special someone, or special place.

Now, back to phone calls and emails!

Morning Crunchy...

I tend to shy away from telling people what to do.  I think it stems from my feeling of not wanting to be told what to do.  So, I doubt I'll be too preachy about diet things on here.  It is simply a place for me to put my ideas and thoughts about why it works for me.  

That said, this change in our way of eating has really made me feel better.  There are so many studies out there about how cow dairy is unhealthy these days, unless you milk Bessy yourself in your clover covered field.  But, again, while I read some of those studies - because my husband is quite adamant about it - it isn't why I've stopped eating cow dairy.  I stopped because it makes me feel gross.  All the other reasons found in studies are just bonus to me.

I do still eat dairy...just not cow dairy.  I eat goat and sheep cheese and coconut milk for my recipes calling for milk.  We use goat butter, and Steve eats goat yogurt every morning.  Max gets fortified rice milk in his daily food blends and he and Abbey both eat coconut yogurt.  And we all like coconut ice cream.

This morning, I had a huge bowl of yogurt for my breakfast.  

That's almond yogurt.

I added some goodies in it...here comes the crunchy. 




Here we have granola, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.  So, so crunchy.  I may as well roll around in some patchouli and rename myself Wilting Flower. But, it is so delicious! 



Chia seeds seem a lot like poppy seeds to me, as far as taste and texture go. They are packed with fiber, protein, minerals, omega-3, and antioxidants.  I've used them in some recipes where you soak overnight and they turn into more jelly like...that's totally a love or hate texture thing for people.  I like it, like little jell-o balls.  Some people just really don't like the texture though.

The granola is gluten free Udi's granola.  I like it for all the nuts and dried fruit in it.  

And finally, the hemp seeds are probably my favorite bit.  They taste like chopped up nuts with a real light flavor not as nutty as nuts.  (How's that for a great description?)  Really, the way I most describe them is "grassy"...but that just sounds weird, so I said nutty.  I really like the taste of them, and you can read more about the benefits on the link above.  They are full of protein, omega fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants and minerals.