Thought-Collage Thursday // Riddles

Where on earth does the time go? It’s the middle of May!

5 minutes ago, it was May Day, and suddenly the month is halfway gone, school is about to be let out, graduation parties are happening in earnest and spring seems awfully late this year (a little snowstorm on Sunday and Monday???).

snow on mothers day

What do 30 kale seedlings, 14 tomato plants, a couple dozen pepper plants, zinnias, daisies, cauliflower and cabbage, 4 cubic feet of vermiculite, 9 cubic feet of peat moss and a bunch of bags of compost have in common?

mothers day snow message on picnic table

They are not in my garden, as they SHOULD be on Mother’s Day weekend because they are waiting for some sunny warm days to happen, you know, in a row! Do I seem bitter about the spring snow? Because I obviously am.

Where in the world are DP and Tara?

heading to paris

Paris. In France. Or maybe London, in England today? Not sure which. But they are somewhere 8 hours ahead of us.

the eiffel tower in paris

I am watching Kai while they are gone. He is a little bruiser and quite independent.  He is 16 months of power and speed. But when he runs to me with his little arms up, I scoop him close as fast as I can, before the moment passes.

Yesterday, I was cuddling him for his nap and I swear a blanket of deja vu swept over me and I felt like I was in my 20s again – a young, energetic mommy. It was a heady moment, so sweet.  And Dave and I still have our co-parenting rhythm, I have found – the gentle give and take and ins and outs of baby-chores: diapering, bathing, feeding, diapering again, playing cars on the floor. We were once top experts in our field, with so many babies in the 1980s!

malakai

But at about 1 am I woke up with aching back, neck and shoulders and realized, uh no. I’m not in my 20s anymore. I am a Nonna in my 50s. Ha! But Malakai’s darling squeals and trails of cheese crackers and Hot Wheels do take me back. Memories…

How is it possible to just so deeply love this many people I have known for 11 years or less?

It’s like – I couldn’t have imagined them and then, *poof,* here they are and I cannot fathom anything without them. I could ramble on about them all, I actually could. But suffice to say, Steph gave me these shots for Mother’s Day. And I just want to give them all a *kiss-kiss* from Nonna. grandkids 2014-May Mother's Day aa Tonight is Gavin’s last band concert of the year. It’s scheduled to be outside. Hope the rain holds back. He’ll be 11 soon, and officially a middle-schooler.

Here is the low down, left to right (above): Hunter (9 1/2); he is holding Eva (5 months tomorrow), she lives to smile with her whole heart and face; Then there is Averi (6); Gunivere (8 1/2) is holding Bailey (who is 1 and wants to run); Gemma May  (7 next week) got glasses recently; Amelie Belle (4); Malakai (16 months) making a getaway; and finally the one who started it all, Gavin (turning 11 in June).

grandkids 2014-2

The lovely and fair Guinivere, as soft and sweet, thoughtful and gentle as she looks (but also sharp and wry, with a sense of humor that comes out of nowhere) just became an official business woman. She has been sewing decorator pillows (by machine, then stuffing, then finishing by hand) for $3 each to raise money for a camping trip at the zoo.

Guini pillow

She worked really hard and sold lots more than she even needed to reach her goal and her mommy said she felt the pressure of deadline order filling. But she did it. And she did it well. I am so proud of her.

Which is worse: failing at something, or not even trying?

I think almost everyone would say that not trying would be so much worse than trying something and then failing at it. But maybe the question is really this, Which is worse: failing at something you had the courage to try, or feeling ashamed by others’ reactions when you fail at something?

Forget Hunger Games, the shame game is the most deadly in the world. Though we understand that failure is just experience in the making, a stepping stone to something really great, the heaviness of having shame heaped on when it happens keeps us from trying the things we were born to try. Shame says:

  • You did it wrong. You shouldn’t have tried.
  • You have now ruined it for everyone else in the universe.
  • I hope you’ve learned your lesson.

Shame is a liar.

Don’t you just wish we would call its’ bluff more often? I want to master the art of “the shrug,” the oh-well, I tried. I did my best. I love people who can take flying leaps, outrageously stumble, then tumble, skid on their knees into brick walls, get up, hobble away with a smile and say, “Ok – next time, I think I will..” Yes! Those kind of people amaze me.

Keep trying!

BTW-what the heck with the vermiculite?

I used to be able to buy course grade vermiculite for about $3 per cubic foot at a garden center in Westminster. They closed and I need a new supplier. Now I am paying more than $10 per cubic foot.

Vermiculite is magic, though. It makes up 1/3 of Mel’s suggested Square Foot Gardening soil mixture, which, when made to spec never has to be replaced in your garden. Various composts + peat moss + vermiculite = amazing garden!

mel bartholomew all new square foot gardening

As I understand it, vermiculite is made from mica and other minerals being heated to the point of “explosion,” puffing up like popcorn! It’s like tiny, rock-looking, little sponges that soak up moisture and keep it in the soil near the plants’ roots where it is needed. It also keeps the soil from getting hard and compacted.

I am creating more tomato space in the garden this year (of. course!) and I just had to pay more than $50 for 5 cubic feet of this stuff. I am willing to raid a vermiculite stash in the night, trash bags in hand, if anyone knows where I might find such a place?

#tbt Throw-back Thursday time again!

Since I am having memories of when our kids were little so strongly this week, well, I’ll share from that era. You know I always tells you the 1980s were a blur, as we added to the family in rapid-fire succession. Oh, they were sweet days. Big hair. Silly children. Songs, church, gerbils, bikes, face paint, kids clubs, walking to school and oh, so many hugs and kisses and love among us!

rocky and dessa august 1987

At the beginning of the movie, “While You Were Sleeping,” the Sandra Bullock character is recalling her childhood and they were depicting scenes from her hazy, muted memories and she says something like, “I just don’t remember it being so…orange.” haha. I feel somewhat the same!

Daddy & Baby napping

Baby Dessa napping with her handsome daddy. Summer 1983.

Jordan, Rocky and Stormie

Does it go without saying that I, like my mother before, would not be caught without lots of sailor-inspired outfits for my children. We even brought one to their little cousin, Jordan one year!

stormie 1

Stormie’s first birthday.

Stephanie on her dedication day

Getting Stephie ready for her dedication at church, summer 1982.

tara turning two

Tara’s 2nd birthday.

Rocky on his dedication day

Rocky’s dedication day. Fall 1984.

fall 1982 church directory

One of those church directory photos. They are always the worst! But still, October or November 1982. My little family in Kokomo.

Jeanie 1987

I was the picture of a pastor’s wife, I think. Pantyhose and dresses at almost all times! Fall 1987, when the kiddos were 1 1/2 – 8 years old.

Well, this was quite the mish-mash of memories and thoughts and garden frustrations. But that is what Thought-Collage Thursdays are all about.

Please let me know if you have the answers to the riddles of life that swirl in my head, and plague my existence…especially if your know where I can get that vermiculite! :)

 

35 thoughts on “Thought-Collage Thursday // Riddles

  1. I simply desired to thank you very much once more. I do not know the things that I would have followed without these thoughts contributed by you over this area of interest. This has been an absolute terrifying scenario in my opinion, nevertheless being able to see the specialized technique you treated the issue forced me to jump with contentment. I’m thankful for the work and have high hopes you know what a powerful job you are undertaking educating people today using your web site. Most probably you’ve never got to know all of us.

  2. I wish to convey my admiration for your kind-heartedness for folks who really want assistance with this important niche. Your special dedication to passing the solution all around turned out to be remarkably informative and have specifically permitted guys and women just like me to achieve their targets. Your new warm and helpful recommendations denotes a lot a person like me and especially to my peers. Thank you; from all of us.

  3. I’m just commenting to make you know what a impressive experience my child enjoyed studying the blog. She learned numerous issues, most notably what it’s like to have an incredible helping nature to get folks really easily learn about chosen very confusing things. You truly did more than our own expectations. Many thanks for imparting those interesting, healthy, explanatory not to mention unique tips about this topic to Sandra.

  4. I am just commenting to let you be aware of what a impressive experience our child enjoyed going through your web page. She learned such a lot of issues, not to mention what it is like to possess a marvelous coaching character to make folks clearly learn a number of problematic subject areas. You truly did more than people’s expectations. Many thanks for presenting such helpful, trusted, informative and in addition easy tips on your topic to Evelyn.

  5. Thanks a lot for providing individuals with an extremely nice opportunity to read articles and blog posts from this blog. It really is so pleasurable plus packed with fun for me personally and my office co-workers to visit the blog a minimum of three times per week to study the fresh issues you have. And of course, I’m so actually amazed for the impressive creative ideas served by you. Some two ideas in this post are indeed the most suitable we’ve ever had.

  6. I’m just commenting to let you know what a beneficial encounter our princess gained browsing the blog. She learned a good number of things, not to mention what it is like to have a marvelous coaching style to get other individuals without difficulty understand specified tortuous topics. You undoubtedly did more than our own expectations. Thanks for displaying these priceless, dependable, explanatory as well as easy guidance on your topic to Sandra.

  7. Thank you so much for providing individuals with remarkably wonderful possiblity to read critical reviews from this blog. It’s always so awesome and also packed with amusement for me personally and my office mates to search your website a minimum of three times in a week to read through the newest guides you will have. And of course, I’m also actually fascinated considering the tremendous inspiring ideas served by you. Selected 1 areas on this page are particularly the most impressive we have ever had.

  8. I wanted to jot down a quick note so as to thank you for some of the splendid ideas you are giving here. My long internet investigation has at the end been recognized with useful tips to exchange with my friends and classmates. I would declare that we readers actually are unequivocally lucky to live in a great place with many wonderful people with valuable advice. I feel really blessed to have encountered your web page and look forward to plenty of more pleasurable times reading here. Thank you again for everything.

  9. I would like to show thanks to you for rescuing me from such a instance. Because of researching through the the net and seeing concepts which are not beneficial, I thought my entire life was gone. Being alive devoid of the strategies to the issues you have resolved by means of the post is a crucial case, as well as the kind which might have badly damaged my entire career if I hadn’t encountered the website. The competence and kindness in playing with all the pieces was valuable. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a solution like this. I’m able to at this point look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for your high quality and effective guide. I will not be reluctant to endorse your blog to any person who requires tips about this subject.

  10. My spouse and i got very happy when Edward managed to complete his studies because of the precious recommendations he made in your weblog. It is now and again perplexing to just be handing out tricks some other people might have been selling. And we also see we need the writer to thank for this. The specific illustrations you made, the straightforward website navigation, the friendships you can aid to foster – it is most unbelievable, and it’s leading our son in addition to us recognize that this issue is pleasurable, which is unbelievably mandatory. Many thanks for all!

  11. Thank you for each of your efforts on this site. My mom really loves setting aside time for investigation and it is simple to grasp why. We all hear all of the lively mode you create invaluable tips by means of your web blog and even invigorate response from some others on this subject so our own girl is truly starting to learn so much. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You’re performing a fantastic job.

  12. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with such a wonderful possiblity to read from this website. It’s always very ideal and as well , jam-packed with a great time for me personally and my office acquaintances to search your site on the least 3 times a week to read through the latest secrets you have got. And lastly, we’re certainly impressed considering the spectacular ideas you serve. Selected two areas in this posting are unquestionably the most impressive we have ever had.

  13. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with an exceptionally breathtaking possiblity to read articles and blog posts from here. It is usually so great and stuffed with a great time for me personally and my office peers to visit the blog more than thrice in a week to learn the latest guides you have. And definitely, I’m also usually pleased concerning the very good creative concepts served by you. Selected two tips on this page are basically the most suitable we’ve ever had.

  14. Thanks so much for giving everyone remarkably superb opportunity to read from this website. It can be very nice and also packed with amusement for me and my office colleagues to search your blog at the very least thrice weekly to find out the fresh issues you will have. And indeed, I am certainly motivated with your excellent tactics served by you. Certain two facts in this posting are completely the simplest we’ve had.

  15. A lot of thanks for all of your effort on this website. Gloria takes pleasure in doing internet research and it’s obvious why. Most people learn all about the compelling method you present sensible guides through your web site and therefore boost response from website visitors on the area of interest then our simple princess is in fact studying a lot of things. Enjoy the remaining portion of the new year. You have been performing a stunning job.

  16. I wish to voice my appreciation for your kindness in support of men and women who really need help with in this idea. Your special commitment to passing the message around appears to be unbelievably practical and have empowered many people much like me to attain their aims. Your new useful publication signifies a whole lot a person like me and extremely more to my colleagues. Warm regards; from each one of us.

  17. I have to show some appreciation to you just for bailing me out of such a crisis. As a result of browsing throughout the internet and coming across thoughts which were not powerful, I assumed my life was well over. Being alive without the presence of answers to the problems you have resolved as a result of this posting is a critical case, and the ones which could have badly affected my entire career if I hadn’t discovered your website. Your primary natural talent and kindness in playing with every part was valuable. I am not sure what I would have done if I had not discovered such a step like this. I can at this point look forward to my future. Thank you so much for this high quality and sensible help. I will not be reluctant to endorse your web sites to any person who should receive guidance about this situation.

  18. I needed to draft you one tiny word in order to thank you very much again just for the fantastic strategies you have shown on this website. It was so remarkably open-handed of people like you to grant easily what many of us would’ve distributed as an ebook to make some profit for themselves, notably given that you might have done it in case you wanted. These inspiring ideas also served to become fantastic way to be certain that the rest have similar desire the same as mine to learn great deal more when considering this issue. I am certain there are some more enjoyable times in the future for folks who find out your site.

  19. I happen to be commenting to let you be aware of of the brilliant experience my friend’s princess obtained browsing your web site. She figured out a wide variety of pieces, which included what it’s like to possess a very effective teaching nature to let other individuals just completely grasp a variety of complicated things. You really surpassed her desires. Thanks for displaying those effective, dependable, edifying and also unique tips about this topic to Emily.

  20. My husband and i have been thankful when Louis could round up his survey from your ideas he came across through the web site. It is now and again perplexing to just choose to be giving for free steps which often other folks may have been making money from. And we all understand we have got the writer to be grateful to for that. All the illustrations you have made, the easy web site navigation, the friendships your site help foster – it’s many overwhelming, and it’s leading our son in addition to our family do think this topic is awesome, which is certainly pretty indispensable. Thanks for all the pieces!

  21. I wanted to put you one little bit of word to finally give many thanks the moment again on your pleasant methods you’ve featured on this page. It has been generous with people like you to convey publicly exactly what many individuals could possibly have sold as an ebook to get some cash on their own, even more so given that you might well have done it if you considered necessary. The secrets additionally served to be the easy way to be aware that most people have a similar interest just like my very own to see very much more with regard to this condition. I know there are several more pleasant moments ahead for folks who look over your website.

  22. I want to express thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from such a matter. After exploring throughout the online world and getting techniques which were not productive, I figured my life was done. Existing minus the strategies to the issues you have fixed as a result of your good guide is a serious case, as well as the kind which might have in a negative way affected my entire career if I had not discovered your web page. The ability and kindness in maneuvering almost everything was tremendous. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a subject like this. It’s possible to at this point look forward to my future. Thanks for your time so much for your expert and results-oriented help. I will not be reluctant to suggest the sites to any person who desires assistance about this subject matter.

  23. I precisely wanted to thank you so much all over again. I do not know the things that I would have sorted out in the absence of these thoughts discussed by you about this concern. It had become a real fearsome setting in my view, however , considering the very professional manner you solved it made me to jump with contentment. Extremely happy for this information and thus hope that you know what a powerful job that you’re carrying out training the mediocre ones using a web site. Most likely you have never encountered any of us.

  24. I and my pals were viewing the great pointers on your website while then came up with an awful feeling I never expressed respect to the blog owner for them. Most of the men had been absolutely glad to study them and have now in actuality been using these things. I appreciate you for truly being indeed thoughtful as well as for going for variety of tremendous things most people are really eager to be aware of. My honest regret for not saying thanks to you sooner.

  25. I in addition to my guys were actually examining the excellent secrets and techniques on the website and unexpectedly I had a horrible feeling I never thanked the web blog owner for them. The people appeared to be very interested to read all of them and already have quite simply been taking pleasure in those things. Appreciation for indeed being indeed helpful and for pick out such marvelous resources millions of individuals are really needing to learn about. Our own sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to sooner.

  26. I simply had to thank you very much yet again. I’m not certain the things I might have sorted out in the absence of the entire aspects discussed by you on that problem. It seemed to be the terrifying issue for me, but discovering a specialized way you handled it took me to cry over gladness. I will be thankful for the guidance and as well , hope that you recognize what an amazing job you are carrying out training most people using your webpage. I know that you’ve never come across any of us.

  27. I together with my guys have been looking at the good strategies found on the blog then then got a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to the web blog owner for those secrets. All of the ladies came consequently very interested to learn them and have in effect honestly been making the most of them. Thank you for indeed being quite accommodating and for opting for these kinds of terrific information millions of individuals are really needing to understand about. Our honest apologies for not saying thanks to you sooner.

  28. My husband and i ended up being quite delighted when Raymond managed to do his preliminary research out of the precious recommendations he grabbed from your very own web pages. It’s not at all simplistic just to happen to be offering tricks which the rest may have been making money from. Therefore we discover we have got you to be grateful to for this. The specific illustrations you have made, the straightforward blog navigation, the relationships you can aid to promote – it is everything sensational, and it is facilitating our son and our family feel that this matter is satisfying, and that is incredibly serious. Thanks for all!

  29. I am just writing to let you understand what a exceptional discovery my wife’s girl found viewing your web page. She figured out several things, which included how it is like to have a very effective coaching mindset to have most people without problems grasp chosen tortuous subject matter. You undoubtedly did more than readers’ desires. Thanks for showing these productive, dependable, educational and also easy tips on this topic to Gloria.

  30. Thanks so much for providing individuals with an extraordinarily terrific chance to read in detail from this website. It’s usually very nice and also full of fun for me personally and my office friends to search your blog at least three times a week to find out the new tips you have. Of course, I’m certainly impressed for the brilliant inspiring ideas served by you. Selected 4 facts in this posting are easily the most efficient I have had.

  31. A lot of thanks for all your labor on this website. My daughter really likes engaging in internet research and it’s easy to see why. All of us learn all of the powerful ways you provide reliable tactics through this web site and as well as invigorate response from other people on that concern while my princess is always starting to learn a lot. Take pleasure in the rest of the year. You are doing a superb job.

  32. Thanks a lot for providing individuals with a very memorable chance to check tips from this site. It is often so enjoyable and also full of amusement for me and my office acquaintances to search the blog a minimum of three times weekly to read the newest secrets you have got. And of course, I am just at all times astounded considering the wonderful things you give. Certain 4 tips in this posting are certainly the simplest I’ve ever had.

  33. I want to convey my passion for your kindness in support of all those that actually need help with your question. Your real dedication to passing the message throughout was pretty valuable and have usually helped women just like me to get to their desired goals. The warm and friendly guidelines means this much a person like me and somewhat more to my colleagues. Regards; from all of us.

  34. I want to show appreciation to you just for rescuing me from this type of crisis. As a result of looking out throughout the internet and finding tips which are not beneficial, I believed my life was gone. Living without the presence of approaches to the difficulties you have solved through your main guideline is a critical case, and the kind that could have adversely affected my entire career if I hadn’t noticed your web page. Your main talents and kindness in controlling all the details was important. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not encountered such a thing like this. I’m able to at this time look forward to my future. Thanks a lot so much for your specialized and effective help. I will not think twice to suggest your web page to any person who should get recommendations about this subject matter.

Leave a Reply to off white hoodie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *