Overhaul has moved...

While I won't be shutting down this site, I have found the blogger app for IPad far more convenient for publishing with photos...  If you are interested, come join me at "Musings". You can get there by checking out my profile and clicking on my blogs!

Happy Birthday to A Great Guy!

It appears as if the warning has disappeared from this blog!  Oh, Overhaul... Have I missed you!

Now where did I leave off?

Maybe it is best to have a new beginning....and so with that, I want to wish my husband, Wayne, a very Happy Birthday!  Today won't be the way you might have imagined spending your birthday, honey.  You are escorting my children to their father's funeral.  There aren't too many men who would do that.

Mandi said it best...as she usually does.  She posted this on Facebook on her BD.

I was going to write this under my status...but I wanted to put it right here. Thank you for the beautiful flowers and the wonderful song today...but most of all, thank you for always being so loving and supportive. My heart would feel so empty if it wasn't for the huge void you filled...you balanced the role of "step parent" so amazingly...giving just enough respect to my Father, but still loving

 me and making me feel like your little girl too....you will never know how much that truly means to me. There are no words for the role you have played in mine and my brother's life...and for that, I am forever grateful! I know the role you steped into isn't always the easiest but you have always done it with such pride and love....and we all felt that. Thanks Wayne, I love you ♥ xoxo

So Happy Birthday to the best dad, stepdad, and husband EVER!   We are sooo fortunate.

Once more...

"My Zero Waste" is also reporting they are clean and free from virus.  Don't you just love the computer world?

Coming soon....

There are changes afoot.  Unfortunately "Overhaul" must be closed.   Some of you have reported a "Malware" warning on this blog.  Hubs investigated and found that the problems may have originated from "My Zero Waste." 

I know that this blog is clean.  My husband works in the computer industry so he would know, however, we can not get rid of the warning message.

So for now, I think I will take my leave, and hopefully will return in the fall in the form of a new blog.

I will continue to visit your blogs throughout the summer, however.  Thank you for your friendship.

Wendy

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We were like ships that passed in the night.  13 years spent together was such a small piece of a life  troubled by addictions...a life destined to be shorter than we would have wished.

A long time ago...as I was leaving...unable to struggle any more...unable to compete with a bottle and anger...I somehow was able to separate the man from the addiction..and I left all anger, all bitterness, all blame...behind.

Perhaps you did not know that.  You distanced yourself from your children.  You created huge wounds that may never heal.  If ever I felt anger towards you, it was because of this.  

How I longed to hear you say the words that would have served as a healing balm.  "I am sorry.  I regret.  I love...  You were right." 

Those words have finally been said to your children as you leave them...one last time.  

Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you....

Do not fear that your life has been in vain.  You have left the best part of you in three children that you helped bring into this world.  They are amazing people.  They are wonderful parents...in spite of everything that you and I did, or did not, do.

Your life has been spent in darkness.  Death will bring light and peace.  Do not fear.

 God bless you in the next part of your journey, Ray.

I have been busy! Honestly!

I haven't been posting lately...but I have been busy!  I know...  That is a worn out excuse...but true nonetheless!

The last few weeks I have spent more time outside than I can remember ever doing so.  I have planted flowers (food for the soul) and vegetables (food for the belly.!)

Would you like a look at my garden?  Please remember that it is a work in progress...

I saved seeds from my Morning Glories and planted them in the planter box which was built by my dad.  I also put several Dill Pickle cucumbers in with them as an experiment.

The Rhubarb, I did not have to plant.  Like Time...there never seems to be enough of this plant to go around.  I like to share with friends and family and what is left goes in my freezer..  As I write this, I am waiting for a Rhubarb Meringue pie to cook.  Looking for an excellent recipe?  Go to Cooks.com

The gardens above are the works-in-progress that I spoke about.  Last year I planted lots, and harvested NOTHING from these beds.  The weeds took over, and I declared defeat.   I used a different tactic this year.  I put down thick cardboard, and layered leaves, grass clippings, soil and vegetable mix in the top garden.  Although there is only about a 5" depth to the matter, I decided to plant anyway, and just see what happens.  I did not finish the layering of matter on the bottom bed but dumped veggie mix and black soil in mounds and planted several different varieties of squash.  They seem to be doing well, as do the tomatoe, pepper, and cucumber plants above.

I have another garden that did very well last year.  In this garden, I have planted tomatoes and peppers and cukes too.  Along one side are ever-bearing strawberries.  Eventually this garden will be reserved for strawberries only, but I used the empty spaces to plant vegetables this year.

Lastly...I have planted several more blueberry, raspberry, and grape bushes.  I also have a gooseberry bush to go in the ground.

I brought wild blueberry bushes from my daughter's home in Sudbury last year.  They, too, are doing well.

So...  Can you see why I haven't posted in a while?  I promise to work on that, but for now...I have to go and weed the above!

My Amazings at OneTrueMedia.com

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Summer 2012! Love love love it!!

The Story of Glass Gem Corn: Beauty, History, and Hope

The Story of Glass Gem Corn: Beauty, History, and Hope

The Best Laid Plans....

Well...  My "Me" day turned into a "We" day on Wednesday.  That is ok.  Family first, and this family has had quite a week.

My 9 year old grandson was admitted to hospital to investigate the possibility of diabetes.  He was unwell and had shown a blood sugar of 13 when the doctor investigated.  His mom put him on a diet and was able to knock his blood sugar down to 8, however, the doctor felt it best that he be admitted for overnight observation.

My mother was diagnosed with diabetes in her late 40's and was what they referred to as a "Brittle diabetic".  Her diabetes was very difficult to manage.  Watching her go through her trials was difficult, and when Dustin was diagnosed, it knocked the feet out from under me.  We were lucky, it seems.  Dustin is pre-diabetic and his diabetes can be managed by a healthy diet.

You cannot isolate yourself from troubles...not even for a day...but...you can choose when to get involved, how and with whom.  It is also important to set limits on the demands that are placed on you.  In order to be strong for others, you must stay strong by looking after yourself.

I am slowly learning this...

Have you ever had...

...a "me" day?  A "me" day is a day that you choose to isolate yourself from the needs and news and wants of other people.  It is a day that you choose as yours...a day that will be spent recuperating and licking the wounds that life has inflicted upon you.  It is a holiday of sorts...a "staycation".

How you spend a "me" day is your choice.  You can wile away the day lying in bed with a good book.  You can sit in front of the computer screen or television.  You can choose to answer the phone...or not.  You can paint...or knit...or garden...or not.

A "me" day is not governed by other people's expectations. 

I am writing this at 11:00.  I am still in my PJ's.  I have read a few dozen blog posts, and I am preparing to finish a painting that I started too long ago.  I cannot do much about the hand that life deals me or my family, but what I can do is nurture this bruised soul of mine.

Today is my "me" day.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom....

I love you.

The Red Admiral Butterfly

It seems as if this is a bumper year for the Red Admiral Butterfly. A boom in the butterfly population is called an "irruption", and happens every 12 years or so...and we are lucky enough to witness it this year!

At first glance, you might confuse this fellow for a Monarch as their colours are similar.  They are smaller, however, and almost appear like a shaggy version of the same, but if you look closer, the differences will be evident.

Wikipedia has an informative description of the admiral here.

The lifespan of these butterflies is approximately 3 months.  They overwinter in Florida and Texas.  Eggs are laid in their host plant, which is the Stinging Nettle.  You might notice a curled leaf.  This is how the red Admiral protects her eggs.  She wraps the leaf around them, cuddling them and protecting them from the elements.

It is worth mentioning that the Stinging nettle does just that...  It stings on contact and leaves an annoying rash.  For this reason, many will remove it from their garden, but please, reconsider.  Not only does the Nettle have many medicinal properties, it acts as a nursery for these beautiful little creatures.

Flowers for Leontien

Thank you DJanity  (http://djanstewart.blogspot.ca/2012/04/flowers-for-leontien.html) for posting this story. I am going to participate by sending MY hugs, and my picture to Leontien, who is a brave young lady and who just so happens to be battling cancer.

Leontien, I am touched by your story.  I wish you courage, and great strength.  You are in my prayers...

For you...

Why?

I was recently asked why I always look at the worse case scenario,  My daughter asked me that question on a recent visit.  We had sat watching her young son swim, and I had gazed over to the adult pool which was empty at that point in time.  I saw ripples in the water and asked what it was.  She told me that it was a result of the pump which was circulating water.  I said that I hoped that it wasn't anyone in trouble...and that is when she asked me why...why do I think the worst?

That question has lingered since I was asked it.  Why do I?  Perhaps it is fear....Nobody wants to witness a sorrow, so I think I try to anticipate an impending incident before it happens.  I have nursed for over 35 years.  I have seen the very worst.  I have heard the very worst.  Many of the ill and dying that I cared for were the result of incidents that could have been prevented.  If that doesn't inspire fear in your heart, nothing will.

So.. do I try to protect myself, and the ones I care about by alerting them to potential dangers?  Perhaps.

Is fear, cynicism, and negativity a hereditary trait...or is it an environmentally acquired trait?  Did  I acquire this tendency at home, or is this a societal disease?

I don't believe that I am cynical... nor do I believe that I am negative.   I believe that I am fearful.  That is all. 

I try to think the very best of others.  I believe that people, for the most part, act with the very best of intention.  (I know that my family members do...  I hope that the strangers I encounter do too.)  As a habit, I think the best of others until I am proven wrong.  Not everyone does.

I have family members who are suspicious of every action or word.  (They even are suspicious of the motives of their own family members.)  The first response from their lips is one of negativity... but fear of motive, and suspicion is thankfully, not a trait I acquired.  Why do I say that?  Because their fears...their cynicism... and their negativity make others feel unhappy and nervous.

I don't know why I am the way I am...but what I do know is that when I express a fear without reason, I make others nervous and unhappy.

I am going to work on that...

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.

Helen Keller

A Look at Life on the Farm!

Chores!
1. Take out garbage... Check!
2. Let chickens out! ...Check!
3. Look at chickens!...Check!
4. Take pictures of chickens!....Check!
5. Clean kitchen....
6. Look at chickens....Check!
7. Go shopping....
8. Make dog biscuits.....
9. Look at chickens!....Check!
10, Repeat the above!

 

Introducing Rusti and Clara Poolay!

I brought my girls home from work last night.  One of the maintenance staff at work kindly gave me two chickens, as his flock was becoming too large.  We got them situated in their new digs where they spent an uneventful night.  I, on the other hand, did not sleep well.  I worried about foxes and weasels, coons and stray dogs all night long....

They survived their first night in the condo and seem to be settling in.  These birds are about a year in age.  They ran wild at their last abode.  I am sure that they were treated well, because they look very healthy.

I am thrilled.  Thank goodness for small pleasures!

Our Coop!

Thanks to the efforts of my son, and my hubby, I now have a chicken coop!  Do you know how long I have wanted chickens????

This little gem is big enough for two to three chickens.  A friend has several Banties which he is going to give me.  I am SOOOO excited!!!