Please Be Kind

I'm typically not one to share video's on my blog, as a matter of fact this is the first time ever I have chosen to do so.

I was so moved by this performance, the message it sends is very powerful.

I grew up lacking in self confidence. No matter how I portray myself on this blog, I still struggle with issues of self confidence. Most of them I have been able to overcome, but a few lurk around from time to time. 

Please be kind to every person, every day.
Never  make assumptions.

The Girasole Lady
(Yes-I love Simon)

If you are reading this on my actual blog page, and not through a reader, please scroll to the bottom of my blog and click on the large round button on the Play List to turn off my blog music. 
Thank you

Last Week's Wrap-UP

                        At last, after all the past months of waiting,  Ryan, Tonya, Laci and Mia are together as a family under the same roof, in their beautiful new home. I couldn't be happier for them.  It's a good life, full of fun, and adventure.
Tonya and the Babies had their last night at Momma's house. Tonya, as always, tells a touching story.

 (gee...do you see the resemblance!)

When the moving dust settled, I realized just how quiet my little home had now become.
Yes- I'll admit it... It's been a little too quiet when I am home by myself.  Laci lived with us since the day Mia was born on 7/31/2011, and Tonya with both the girls have been staying here every day since Mia came home on 8/25/2011 from UC Davis. It certainly doesn't help that Caveman has been working 12 hour days plus Saturdays, and that it rained literally every day last week too. I've scrubbed and cleaned, the kitchen, the pantry, the living room, the craft room, the laundry room, and the dining room. I have a few more deep cleaning areas that I yet need to tend. My cure for everything is to keep busy. A little sun wouldn't hurt either.

 Silly- huh. I see Tonya and the girls everyday. Today is the first day I haven't been up to Tonya's since she moved out last Sunday. I couldn't imagine to be a mother who has children living hundreds, even thousands, of miles away from her. I love that all three of my daughters are "home-town" girls who plan on staying put. I'm sure, if ever faced with the situation, I would be supportive, and  loving, towards their decision, but I can guarantee you my heart would be breaking inside. Go ahead-- call me selfish, it's true. I can't change that right now-so that's my story and I'm stickin to it!

I've never been good at change anyways, good or bad. I always make it through the changes in life, bringing the good along and leaving the bad behind.  It's just the way I am.
"This to shall pass".... 

To celebrate being in the new home, Tonya and Ryan had a family dinner yesterday. One of many, many more to come in the future.

This morning I went grocery shopping. I have a stew in the Crock Pot, and some cookies to be baked.  It's been a gray and rainy weekend for the most part, but I see the sun is trying to make an appearance. I'm gonna run outside and take some pictures......

Jasmine on the front porch just waiting to burst open with wonderful smelling flowers.

We planted a Western Red Bud a few months ago, and it is getting ready to flower. It seems really happy in the spot where we planted it.

Peek inside the Green House. We built the shelves and put them in a couple of days ago. Now I need to get busy and start my seeds. I'm a little worried, I am not a very good seedling momma.





I bought some Alyssum and Johnnie Jump Ups a couple of weeks ago, and haven't gotten around to planting them yet. They look pretty cute just sitting on the garden bench.

 Look... there is something growing inside the Green House.This Sunflower sprouted, all by itself. I think I am going to plant some durable ground cover underneath the shelves.

 Johnnie Jump up from, who knows when, making an appearance.

                                                                                 I transplanted these Hydrangeas a week ago to the small garden. They were not happy where they had been the year before, and they almost died!!!!

 The Crab Apple tree out front is in full bloom.

 Succulents on the front porch are blooming. I love succulents. Look at the intricate flowers they have. Succulents are so easy to grow. My front porch faces the west, so it's a great area for Succulents.

I'm wrapping up this Sunday and looking forward to another week ahead. Tomorrow I am sure I will be headed up to love on my Grand Babies. The sun is suppose to shine tomorrow, right before a few days more of rain. I'll be checking in a little later this week.

The Girasole Lady

A Different Kind Of Pinterest

Long, very long ago, before Pinterest came about, I created my own sort of old fashioned Pinterest.

I invested in plain white binders (my favorite 1-1/2 inch D-ring), and clear sheet protectors. The binders have a clear pocket on the front, so I slip in a pretty picture to serve as the cover. I gathered inspiring pictures, articles, project and crafty ideas, decorating, gardening, DIY, antiquing, collectibles, anything that inspired me, from magazines. I would then slip the cut out pages in the clear sheet protectors and fastened them into the binder. I've a vast collection of all sorts of inspiring ideas. A large part of my inspirational pages came from my Country Living magazines, I've been a subscriber since the 80's.  When I feel the need for a little inspiration I gather up the binders and look through all pages. It has taken me a number of years to collect all this stuff, it didn't happen overnight.

I have recently learned that Pinterest has some copyright infringement and actual stealing issues, something that I would never intentionally participate in. Because my blog is my personal life story,  I would hope that someone would not "pin" a picture from my blog without my permission. I would certainly not want to pin something from a fellow blogger without asking. With Pinterest there is no way to guarantee that this wouldn't happen.

I follow a blog, Quiet Life, Donna is a wonderful woman, and I respect her thoughts and opinions on many topics. I want to share her blog post here regarding Pinterest.  Donna also linked to this article about legal issues regarding Pinterest.  
Please, please, read this article if you have a Pinterest account.

I too, love Pinterest. Although, I have to admit it was somewhat addicting and fairly time consuming. It was easy to sit at the computer and look at just a few things, then those "few" things lead to another and another, until an hour(s) passed before I could pull myself away. Ya- I'm weak like that!

I've decided to stick to my old fashioned Pinterest, binders and all.

Sad to say, but I have deleted my cyber Pinterest Boards, it's just not for me.

The Girasole Lady

Babies/Green House/Swing Set

There are so many things I love about March.

#1- My sis, Jen, had a beautiful BABY Boy on March 3rd. 

Justin Michael 3/3/2012

9lb 4oz

(ya-sis I still have you beat by 2oz)

I can hardly wait to love him and kiss him and squeeze him!

#2- Daylight Savings Time begins March 11th.
#3- Spring comes on March 20th. 

Saturday Caveman and I finished the Green House.

It took the better part of the day to complete the construction.

 It measures about 6ft x 8ft, a perfect size to begin with. 

It has a sliding front door and two windows on the roof for ventilation.

 As soon as we were done with the Green House, Caveman and I set out to get a swing set for the Grand babies. I had to strike fast while the "constructing" mode was hot.

Bright and early Sunday morning, yes the weather was AMAZING all weekend, we struck out for yet another project. 

The last swing set we put together was for our children years ago. 

 Putting together the swing set was a breeze compared to the Green House. 

Before lunchtime Laci was able to try it out.

What a wonderful weekend. 

The Girasole Lady