Sweet Potators

In the last hour two good friends have posted statuses about their pets on Facebook.... The first made my heart ache.  A friend is putting her dog of 13 years to sleep this afternoon.  She and her family have loved this dog like another member of the family. The other post warmed my heart.  It said: "I wish I could put my bird on a leash and fly him next to me as I ride my bike.  I love him. :)" Pets leave a mark on our hearts like no other.... It's been almost 10 months and I still check for Maddy when I come in the door, wake up in the morning, go to bed, when I come in the kitchen and see her spot on the back door rug. In the next life I know it'll be a fight between Ally and I on who gets to keep Maddy... guess we'll have to be big girls and share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHkvan-NFnM Have TOTALLY been in love with this song for a while now... Could prolly listen to it for a thousand years, too, without ever tiring of it.

One day I'll get around to why I have this connection to St. Francis... Trust me though, it's pretty awesome. It's February 19, 2014 and I'm finally getting back to this... My maternal grandfather, who I was closest to and felt a bond with more than any other family member (or anyone for that matter) was named Francis... Francis Reid Barton. I love(d) him more than words can express.  I felt completely and unconditionally loved by him. When he died I felt such heartache and loss. He passed away from cancer when I was 20. As I sit and type this I can barely get through because my eyes are overflowing with tears. I still miss him soo much. But I believe wholeheartedly I'll see him again. During every difficult struggle or happiest moment in my life I've felt him with me.  I'm never ever looking for it.... I'll just all of a sudden realize he's there... like if I looked over my shoulder there he'd be. ...

The thing I like about all three photos is what I'd call 'determination'... The large hyacinth I planted several of when we first moved in, and pulled up a few years later.  Now, ten years has gone by and one lone stalk is back.  There's nothing like looking out your front window on a bright spring day and seeing color where you didn't expect it.   The second, the daffodil, I planted dozens of 4 years ago... this is the first and only time one has ever blossomed.  Patience is a virtue (not really in my case... I just never got out in the fall to dig them all up and plant a whole new batch, LOL!).  The third, I planted gobs and gobs of in a bed ten feet away... don't know how they made their way to where they are now... maybe a bird or a squirrel. In any case... all three totally make me smile. 

Wow... April's really started off with a bang.  :-| Sarcasm. That's all there is.

Got my lovely spring sinus infection a bit early this year... so I didn't really get around to photos of 'fun' and 'jump'.  I mean, how do you take a picture of 'fun' when you're just laying there surrounded by mentholatum-soaked tissues and the entire contents of your purse.  AND 'jump'?  Sorry, I wasn't gonna jump with my head ready to explode. So, here we are on day 3... 'in my car'.  Hmm.  That'd mean I'd have to get out of my jammies and actually go OUT.  Guess I could always go to Sonic for a slushie. We'll see. Lori... would you like a diet coke?  ;-)