Jayce Goes Natural!

Didn't have a post ready and so I thought....what could be better than Jayce.....naked??? I have been very busy.....hence the lack of posts. I went in for a routine check up today with one of my doctors and I have to have another cat scan and some different meds for a week or so. Nothing serious...but just not fun. So...I may or may not get to post alot next week....but I'll be back.  Please hang in there. I have some great Good Will finds, a make over in "The Rev's Office", a fun "party" theme night at home with friends, and a recipe for home made German food. In the mean time.....let me find some clothes for that "nekkid dog"!

Hugs,

Cindy

My Constant Companion!

 I know for some of you....."beauty is in the eye of the beholder" may apply here. But to me...Jayce is incredibly beautiful...inside and out. I love all 3 of my dogs but have a very strong bond with Jayce. Long story as short as possible...Jayce was to be a therapy dog of sorts. I was going to use him at school with my special needs kids and then with regular ed kids to talk about how kids are kids...regardless of the differences in their appearances.

Didn't really work.....Jayce became too bonded with me and wouldn't really interact well with others. The name Jayce means...."one who heals". At first, I was disappointed. Later, I realized....Jayce was much smarter than I. As hard as it has been for me to admit it, I needed him....just for myself.

And just so you know....I'm not one of those weird people who dress their dogs and think they are their kids. Jayce has NO hair, except the small amount on his head, his tail, and his feet. He gets very cold in the airconditioning AND he wears a belly band because despite my BEST attempts at housebreaking he still marks. And so underneath his cute little pants....he has on a cheap diaper tied on with a bandana.

Before you start telling me I didn't try hard enough, remember I taught special needs Kindergarten kids for years. You can't find tougher folks to potty train. Jayce takes the cake! The truth is that cresteds are a primitive breed who just naturally mark their territory. Translation??? I'll be buying huggies forever because around here......Jayce is the MAN!

Hugs!

Cindy

I've been at this mountain long enough!

There is a point in the Old Testament when Moses and his folks have been at the foot of a mountain for quite a while. As usual, they were complaining about it and trying to figure out what to do about it. Probably hoping for another Red Sea Miracle....and that God would just flatten it out for them so that they could just walk on over. Finally, God had just had enough and He said...."Look, You have been at this mountain long enough. Now do something!! It's time. It's not moving. You can either go over it or go around it or sit at the bottom and learn to accept the fact that this is where you are this is the view you have and just live with it!"

To be truthful, God didn't exactly say ALL of that....I took a few liberties...but in essence that is what He meant. You've got this mountain in front of you. You don't like it...so do something and quit complaining.

Well, I've had a mountain and here it is...............

This is the view from my "new, at home, office". If you are wondering if we have a very skinny woman stuck into the side of our house, never fear. Those are simply panty hose that "The Rev" has put over the dryer vent so that it will not get gook into our ac. Where on earth do you think he found those things? I didn't even know they made panty hose anymore?

Now, I have always wanted to be able to pull my desk up to a window with a view while I "work". After all, Mrs. Rawlings had Cross Creek, Beatrix Potter had Hill Top. And I have a pair of panty hose waving in the breeze......well if the dryer is on they are waving....otherwise they just sort of hang there.

Today was my day. I had been at this mountain long enough. I pulled my desk from one side of the room and placed it squarely in front of the window facing that mountain, jumped into the jeep, and headed to Home Depot.

After a few bucks, some sweat and dirt..........I now have this view

I need to make a few adjustments to the plants to cover some of the mountain peeping through...but I have a hummingbird feeder and a bird feeder right on my window. Hopefully, I will have some winged visitors.

OK, ....one mountain down..........................

Hugs,
Cindy

Old Books and A Vintage Travel Trailer

This is one of my favorite books and after a little arm twisting in order to get him to read it, it is also "The Rev's."  Cross Creek by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is amazing. It tells of her life in the backwoods of what was essentially a Florida Swamp during the 1930's. Ms. Rawlings was one tough cookie!

While sitting on her front porch, looking out at the lake near her home, she wrote "TheYearling." Mrs. Rawlings fell in love with this  area of Florida and the people of the area fell in love with her. Today, many people miss this............"The Real Florida" as they hurry by to the beach or Disney World or some other concrete paradise.  BUT "The Rev" and I discovered it years ago and when we walk onto Mrs. Rawlings property at Cross Creek.....it is with reverence and respect. And so............what does all this have to do with "Miss Betty"?

While picking FRESH oranges from Ms. Rawlings orange trees last winter we had a BRIGHT IDEA! We decided that we would come back and spend 2 weeks camping in a park nearby and canoe Cross Creek (the scene of many of her escapades) and see what adventures we might find.

And so...during the day I'll be doing this ( well not exactly...this is a lake in Savannah and not a creek in the deep, dark swamp of  Florida). And at night, we'll be resting in "Miss Betty".  We won't be going until late September but I have already changed her theme. Since we will be doing alot of canoeing in Florida, what other theme should we have but bugs, frogs, birds....and so on. Enjoy "Miss Betty's new look."

Lots of thrifted goodies and even some Dollar Tree and Michael's items used in this quick theme change. One thing I love is the small comforter at the end of the bed. It is really a comforter for a toddler bed. I loved the hedge hog,mushroom, squirrel, bird theme and it was 75% off which I loved even more. Perfect for just a cover while watching tv after those long days canoeing in the creek.

And finally....the thing I never go camping without.........

I keep thinking that it will help me overcome my fear of bears........it hasn't. And there are black bears in Florida. And while I am not going to be in Montana with grizzlies ( which I was and never saw one)....there are still bears....and to me a bear is a bear and a snake is a snake....and that is all I have to say about that.

Hugs,
Cindy

A New Toy!

I know I promised to tell you the connection between "Miss Betty" and old books BUT.....it's going to have to wait one more day because we have a new toy at Barkley Hall and we are VERY excited!

A NEW BIKE....oh wait, let's count those wheel's Bella....one, two, three???  Oh.....a new trike for mama. That's right...mom's a little shaky on her own two feet right now so it is better not to invite trouble ( or further injury to her head) by putting her on something with 2 wheels but 3 wheels........now she should be good to go with that!!!

Bella looks all dressed up and ready doesn't she?? Jayce and Fresca were checking it out too. Of course, you can see that it is still inside. We are "practicing" before we take this machine out on the open road but we will be ready any day now.......yep..any day now we will be cruising the streets of Savannah in this cutie.

Hugs,
Cindy

Old Books/Bella finds a cat in Barkley Hall!

Old books are my favorites.......my friends. I treasure the words hidden within and love well worn exteriors.   As strange as it may sound, these 2  books have a tie to "Miss Betty". More on that tomorrow.

I love to read and many people have asked me about getting a  Kindle. BUT.....I just can't make that leap yet. I could NEVER give up the joy of holding a book in my hand, flipping the pages, the feel of the old cover ( ok..ok...I know all about germs....but I still love my books, especially old ones...... so the germs probably died 10 years ago.)

This is the only cat we have at ALL, of any kind, in Barkley Hall. Bella has just discovered it and I'm not sure she really likes it. I don't have the heart to tell her that it looks a little like her. Check out the eyes! And you can't see it, but the ears bear a strange resemblance as well.

Hugs,

Cindy

Do they make a GPS for blogs?

If you had so kindly signed on as a follower of this blog....somehow you were lost :(  

Please follow again. Warning.......this is what is likely to happen when you try to follow me in anything though!! Remember, I am from Savannah...Life is like a box of chocolates and all that stuff.......

Hugs

Cindy

A Great Way to Spend a Summer Afternoon!

Look Familar?? Remember these good old days? "The Rev" and I ( along with 18 of our closest friends) went to his Alma Mater to see their production of Barefoot in the Park. It was very well done and a wonderful way to spend a hot July afternoon in Savannah Georgia.

Hugs!

Cindy

SHHH!!

Finally, some peace and quiet in Barkley Hall!

Enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,
Cindy

The Journey Continues!

One of my favorite quotes is by Claude Monet. He had this to say " It is on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.

Alot has happened to me over the course of the last 4 years. My life has been filled with much personal pain. In March of 2010, I had a SAH of the brain. I spent 10 days in Neuro ICU. Even now, when I see my doctors, they still look at me and say, "you should not be alive."

I would not stop. I returned to work for the remainder of that school year and worked during the past school year. I was going to be tough. I was not going to let the pain, either the physical pain or the pain in my heart get to me.

But eventually, it all became too much. I gave up all outside activites ( such as blogging...some of you may remember me from A hairless dog, a rabbit, and Savannah Moss), slowed down at church, and tried to slow down at work. Even that was not enough and finally I faced the fact that I was not the young chick I was before my illness and so I retired.

And now, like Monet, I find myself observing life in a new way, reflecting on life in a different manner. Every day I spend some time digging and delving into some part of myself that has been hidden away....even from myself.

And so I have decided to blog again, for alot of reasons. I hope you will

join me. I can't promise that every post will make you laugh, or be some absolute great thrifting post, but I can promise you that every post will be real.........

I cannot end this first post without saying Thank you Colleen. If I never write another post,  If I never meet another person through blogging.......just having met you  has made it all worth it!  There are no words............

Hugs to all!!

Cindy