Before March 31, 2006

Everything is pretty much a 'before'.. a blank canvas. Funny... its like life. How often do we get to start with that pretty much blank canvas and get to make a totally different look. I think its easier when you're older.. easier to let go of the old things and repaint the whole picture. That's where I feel life is at the moment. Lots of health issues that have forced me to change many things. Not a bad thing.. time to slow down some.- just enjoy what IS.

As usual the morning is beautiful and with it comes assumed energy and a long list of what to do. Its those long lists of things needing doing that tire me out.. and the deciding what to do first. Sometimes I sit for a few minutes on one of the porches just absorbing the freshness and coolness of the morning and considering what to do with the day. Each day is another gift.. how much do we really appreciate it, and how many times do we just pass the time. Not many days ago I was lamenting within myself that it seems our days are made up of just getting from one day to another. The soul (??) sole purpose simply being another day. My thought was "without a vision, My people perish" - so true of everyday life also.... and so to put some vision and some dreams into our lives. ..or to allow Him to put them there since it is He Who orders our steps and directs our paths.

Yesterday was a wonderful day.. so peaceful, joy filled.. Ricky called and left a message. That was thoughtful of him. My assumption is that Suzi had him call. Jess did not and that worries me. Whens she's in trouble she doesn't call Grandma.. I love that child so much. I would still give even my life for her life to be straightened out.. One day as I was driving and praying for her I told God that I would lay down my life that miinute if I thought it would mean from that moment on, she would have perfect peace and be in a very secure place with no more problems like she's going through... He gently said. "I've already done that".. What a Savior! I remind myself of this often.

I saw a beautiful little bottle in a thrift store yesterday.. so slim and graceful.. and it was half price, but I was so weary, I put it back and came home. How foolish. As soon as I was home I regretted it, but to go back was another 5$ in just tolls. LOL hardly worth the 99 cent bottle for my olive oil. lol. How many times do we 'miss the moment' and there is no going back for those moments. Lord help me to ...as they say.. Live in the moment.. make the most of each moment as it comes.. whether its to nap.. and really enjoy it.. or....move mulch.

Our side porch was moving a couple of nights ago.. or so it looked.. bunches of big ants in one corner and investigating a route to the roof. . NO NO NO.... I sprayed with Raid Ant and Roach several times. They didn't like the shower, but were back in not very many minutes.. over and over. Last night I took the Terminate and sprayed the same area. There were NO ants a little later in the evening.. and none this morning. I need to get out the Amdro and the spray for around the house. We don't seem to have any termite problems here, but have every sort of ant I can imagine from those tiny sugar ants to the huge carpenter ants. I used terazacide last year and several months later thought we ought to have our 'bug man' come and spray even though we'd seen no live bugs in the house except an occasional palmetto bug who wandered in the open kitchen door. He said whatever I'd used was working wonderfully.. time to do it again. No bugs inside to speak of, but the ants could walk away with the house!

I think I'd better move all the mulch away from the house. In an effort to keep the weeds down, I'm probably inviting all sorts of breathing things to move into and under the house. So tday I'll move a bit of the mulch..and rake well all within a couple of feet of the house.. and then perhaps spray tomorrow morning. As for now.. off to the grocery store for some necessities.

I moved another few wheelbarrows of mulch onto some flower beds. I use that term loosely because for now they are JUST beds, not much for flowers there. I'm still torn about whether to plant the things directly into the soil.. it looks like good soil.. and putting everything into pots and simply mulching up to the tops of the pots.

My arms have had it today, so perhaps I'll just start some seeds. I think first those 4 o'clocks and the cleomes because they're going to give a big impact as far as color goes. Both of them will take afternoon shade if needed.. and both will take the full Florida sun.