Saying "Good-bye"....

Saying "good-bye".... I needed a few days to think about this post because I wanted to express the joy of loving a pet and a furry friend less than the loss. So I've been thinking about the early days when we first brought our Chesapeake Bay Retrievers "Annie" and "Spice" home. First of all, we had no intention of having more than 1 dog in a little Cape Cod style home. Things happen. But off we went to a breeder across the Bay Bridge of Maryland to see a litter of new Chessies.

My husband and I sat on the floor in a fenced in porch among a litter of furry, curly brown pups and chose "Annie".  Several weeks later we make the trek back to bring her home.

 all settled...

6 months later

 I went on an estimate for a friend of mine that had a cleaning business and was on maternity leave...

I noticed they had a Chessie like "Annie"

 and I commented that we had one too.

The owner said "Do you want another one?"

My quick reply was "no thanks" with a grin.

To which he said "we have her sister and too many animals for our neighborhood covenant. let me go get her."

He brought up a 6 month old dog they had been tying in their basement 

with a cord from a telephone. Her hind leg had raw, red, infected lines where it had grown into her skin and had been removed.

They had never taken her to the vet and were treating it with a horse liniment.

"Spice" came home with me that day.

"Annie" and "Spice" became sisters of the heart.

They ignored other dogs and cats that arrived.

Shared goodies...

We lost "Annie" to Cancer a few years ago. "Spice" has been plodding 

along doing pretty well for a girl of 16. An old gal.

Early this week she had a stroke and we had to make a decision to "say good-bye" and we did. 

Very sad and we miss her so. But knowing her and "Annie" - pure joy.

They give their love with such enthusiasm. 

Such a Life lesson.

She's wearing her signature red collar. "Annie's" is purple.

 Her tennis balls. Next to her sister.

My friend Sherri will

spread wildflower seeds on their graves again in the Spring.

My brown-eyed girls.

Love, Momma 

White Wednesday....From a different point of view!

Flowers in the window box,
cat upon the sill,
sun shining in the sky
to do with as you will...

Spring brings hope and flowers too
to brighten any day
to show us we are not forgot
and cherished in a way.

Love is blind but oh so fine
it happens now and then,
when our time is spent and shared
between a special friend.

The birds they sit high in a tree
while you may listen to their song,
with spring you feast your eyes upon...
how can that be wrong?













Flowers in the window box,
cat upon the sill
sun shining in the sky
your day yet to fulfill.

      we all have our views....

a vignette with a White Wednesday twist!  jennifer

Don't Let Life Ruffle Your Feathers!

Beauty, symmetry, nature, color and my friends James and Karl. Yes, I said James & and Karl.
Karl, because when he was little he asked if I thought it would be ok if he gave his little girlfriend a bouquet of feathers instead of flowers. I said "I'd be thrilled if someone gave me feathers Karl!". I hope she was...

A feather symbolize a new beginning! It means a new life ahead. A feather symbolizes hope and it means that the feather in the indian tribes means good luck.

So, I started looking at feathers outside, and they'd appear here and there. It gave me this little burst of pleasure. A grey one, a brown one, a white one & rarely a blue one.

 Then my dear Friend James passed away. The morning of the service I was walking into the church and on the ground was a little brown feather. I thought "Ok James, you're here.". I never dreamed I would feel the enormous loss I did that day. When we arrived at his home,as I walked to the front door - another feather. And I said "Ok James,now you're tweeking my sense of humor." I smiled.  

I would say six months later, I attended a spiritual & healing seminar. Not something I would normally seek out. I have strong faith and belief in God but I  don't want to get in touch with realitives that have passed on. One subject that did come up was FEATHERS. I said " I always seem to be finding feathers.". The speakers and group - not new to the gathering - said that 'feathers suddenly appearing could be a way for people who had passed on the reach out to people on Earth'. Is it true? I don't know. But every time I find a feather....I think of James and smile. THE END. Jennifer

 

P.S. I use feathers on some of the cards I design. Karl has chickens and saves pretty feathers for me. He has also been known to find one, or two or three on a woodland hike with his mom.

Recipe for success.... Grapefruit Spinach Salad & a friend

Laughter is an audible expression or the appearance of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy (laughing on the inside). It may ensue (as a physiological reaction) from jokes, tickling or other stimuli. It is in most cases a very pleasant sensation.

Grapefruit Spinach Salad Recipe

Serving Size 1 (350g) (Calories: 161-not including 2 tbsp bacon)
Recipe makes 6 servings


Ingredients:

1(16ozs) package fresh spinach leaves
3 large grapefruits, peeled and sectioned
3 large oranges, peeled and sectioned
1(6ozs)can sliced water chestnuts, drained
Dressing:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil                                   
3 tablespoons grapefruit juice
2 tablespoons wine vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 dash Tabasco sauce


Garnish:
1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons bacon bits( or 3-4 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled)
You can also top with cooked chilled shrimp or  grilled chicken


Directions:
Wash spinach, break into bite size pieces
& arrange in a salad bowl. Top with grapefruit
 & orange sections and water chestnuts.
Mix dressing ingredients together until well blended & pour over salad and chill for 30 minutes.
To serve, garnish with mushrooms and bacon.


** Cooks note: - this dressing is tart. Add sugar or Splenda, to taste, if you prefer it
sweet.

sippy drinks with friends go well too

plan a shopping trip, a movie, a party, spring yard sales, your gardens, blog ideas, craft projects, laugh about old and new times

Bluebird Notes Sweetest Blog of the day!

If you want to meet someone

that will win your heart,

stir your imagination &

tempt your taste buds....

visit BLUEBIRD NOTES

she's a sweetie!

Happy Birthday Honey!

Happy Birthday
John!

I could never forget

my best guys special

day!

I may forget a lot of other

things - but not this!

Happy Birthday Hon!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday! Happy Bday!

Happy Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Happy Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday!

Happy Bday!

Love, Me I love you! Love, Me I love you lots! I love you more! Love, Me

K is for KARL - OKAY?

e is for egg


b is for basket



k is for karl

My friend Karl is cool. He is 7. He wanted to have his own business. Something he could do. So his parents Marty and Gretchen discussed the possibilities with him when he was 5 and they came up with an egg business. It worked - and so has Karl. In fact Karl has managed to acquire quite a few savings bonds with the earnings from his egg business. I chicken sit when they are on vacation. Karl also saves feathers for my card making business. He is a hard working guy and I am very proud of him. His job description includes: feeding and watering his feathered friends, gathering and cleaning the eggs, putting them in cartons and marking the date, refrigerating them, keeping track of orders, noting his sales and money. I buy these orange yolked yummies as often as I can and they are delish - $2.00 a dozen and well worth it. They are also organic and brown. Along with this entrepreneurship, Karl assists his father with his beekeeping business and has done so since the age of 3. Their label - what else "Buck Naked Farm".

My friend Karl..... the egg and bee and honey man! Karl is kool!

Hello Neighbor...

the girls of john pickett road

thank you for being my friends

and neighbors

we have something special ...

just a phone call away

in this busy world - that means

so very much to me.

Friends - Love comes in many colors

Dear Michelle,

We've been friends for many years - how the time has flown! My sons are huge, your girls are no longer babies, through sickness and in health. God has tested us both. You are most certainly the bravest woman I know. And there are so many courageous women in the world. I also know your strength comes from your faith. It isn't always so - but you fight the fight - to be with family and friends - your girls. There are moments of solitude when you feel afraid, torn, lost, worn out - you cry, you vent, you rage and you pray ... most of all you pray. We've spoken of it many times. You've brought me closer to God. You've saved my life in your own soft and funny way. I don't even know if you truly know that - but it's true. And although when you're in the hospital, or having chemo or bouts of sickness in any way it can possibly be - you're in my heart - deep in my heart - where God is. He knows it and so do you and I. Stay well a little longer this time - so I can hear your soft voice on the phone when we laugh at life. You know I love you. Always, J

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me,

all who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest."

Love comes in many colors.

Friendly Friday

if friends were flowers

i'd pick you!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Faith Will Set You Free or I love My Girlfriends Too Much To....

My Granny Panty Story

I used to wear Granny Panties - horrid
I know. And I had my best girlfriends
promise me should anything ever happen to me - they would be in charge of emptying out my bra and underwear
drawers before anyone came to go through my things. How'd they'd get so luck you might ask? That's what sisters of the heart are for.
But it never set right with me because they'd
always say "how'd we get that job?".
So I decided to go through all my bras and underwear -

I know you know what I'm talkin" about -

especially since I had lost 55 lbs. ( size 9 I am NOT) and throw out all saggy, baggy, elastically impaired, butt worn, boob extended, power released, pushed, pulled and torn butt and boobie holders.

Girls I bought NEW!

and set my friends free!

MAKE MINE WHITE - the great give away

MAKE MINE WHITE!
Ok- I'm a TJ Maxx, Home Goods,
Marshall's, thrift stores, yards sales,
auctions SHOPPER. GUILTY!
So I have 4 of this, 2 of that, service for 6 or 8 of this or that or 1. All neat to have friends or family over for a change. BUT.... I am going through a minimalist phase - and switching to all white - to simply simplify. Other ladies have had the brilliant idea - even Martha S. I've just been diagnosed with a mass in my left kidney - the kidney goes - I rest - and I'm having a GREAT GIVE AWAY. I've boxed up every doll ( just an expression) and dish for friends to choose because I'm a firm believer in the rippling effect of giving.

Make Mine Moss - Garden That is!

I have a very mossy area in my yard and my friend Gretchen came up with one of her typically creative ideas....

a moss square garden - so I said "why the heck not?" "This will probably only take 10 minutes." or "This is a no brainer."

"You can find those at..." or "I think I saw them ..."

"I'll bring you some...", "Why haven't you...", " I see you haven't planted those..." Thankfully, she's always there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen or someone to make me laugh so hard I pee in my panties! That's what friends are for...P.S. she has a cool yard and gardens too.

Favorite Friends - Cindee's Garden Site

Cindee's Garden...... Thank you Cindee for reaching out and viewing my site

touching me with

friendship and

and generosity.

Can it be true that 'friendship is as comfortable as an old shoe'?

Copper Star Farm Woodbine Maryland

Come and let me introduce you to my friend Emily at Copper Star Farm

in Woodbine, Maryland. You can look up their site at

www.copperstarfarm to see the furries, family and friendlies. They have babies due this spring and if you happen to live in the area - contact them to see if you can stop by for a visit. If you've never seen a miniature donkey - you are missing something special! I once met one on a farm near us - his name was "Matthew" - ironically my 28 year old son's name - if you had met him as a 3 year old or as a teen - you would have understood. Momma Jennifer

Lettuce Wraps for Spring

Avocado Lettuce Wraps
12 servings
Ingredients
1/2 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lime juice or lemon juice
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
10 cherry tomatoes, quartered
6 Bacon Strips, cooked
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
12 small butterhead lettuce leaves or leaf lettuce leaves
Preparation
1. Combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and chili powder. Stir in avocado, celery, tomatoes, bacon strips, and walnuts.2. Spoon scant 1/4 cup salad into center of each lettuce leaf. Wrap leaf around salad. Secure with wooden pick. Serve immediately.Helpful HintsShop for avocados that are firm, yet ripe when you're planning on chopping them. It's easiest to first halve the avocados, then remove the pit and peel them.

Soft lettuce leaves, such as Bibb, Boston, or leaf lettuces, work best in wraps,

Crisper salad greens are harder to roll.