In just a couple of years.

Two years ago:

Ah, I can still smell the way he smelled as we lay in bed following his birth looking at each other. The midwives had left, the doula had gone back to her babies and Daddy had taken big sister to another room to sleep for the night.
It was just him and I.
He was newly labeled with his first name (middle took a little more time to decide on)
And looking at me alertly

Definitely in my top 5 moments in life..
Hours old, 1st time out of bed!

And so he grew

One year ago:

Still cuddly, eating cake proudly on Daddy's lap at the gathering of folks; "For me?" he seemed to ask with his twinkling eyes. What a wondrous day that was. Both Meemaws were there to celebrate.
You snuggled to sleep blissful at the end of the day.

One year old!

Today:
You woke a bit cranky, not really wanting to hear any "Happy Birthdays" until you were ready. Then it was like you realized the day was IT!
You sat up and said, "Blow out candles?"
We went to the kitchen and the excitement began.
You had a birthday breakfast of corn pancakes which you scarfed down!
Then we got out your 'new to you' classic FP Circus Train and lit the two candles on your birthday ring.
Sissy was more than happy to help with the blowing!

We spent the rest of the day 'C style'

Birthday ice cream!
You got many phone calls, one from a friend who I feel will always have a special bond to you...
Just that he is calling makes me goosebumpy. (Although, I did say something about bosoms or something BEFORE I knew who it was...)

Right after his phone call.

Ahh, your life is just getting started!

IHOP follow up

I had a bad experience at the Fort Stockton, TX IHOP this summer and wrote a letter about it to the main office...

well, the next day (9/5/2008), I received the following email reply:

Dear Ms. B:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us concerning your experience at the IHOP in Fort Stockton. While it is always disappointing to learn that we have not lived up to our guest's expectations, it is invaluable to receive feedback so that we are able to continually improve our level of guest satisfaction.

We are sorry to learn of the service level and food quality you encountered at this franchised location. However, please be assured that the matter will be shared with the proper individuals to address your concerns.

I have forwarded your concerns to IHOP's Franchise Business Consultant for the Southwest region. They will contact the franchise owner regarding your recent dining experience in this restaurant. We are confident that the franchise owner or his representative will contact you shortly to better understand your concerns. It is our hope that you will once again allow us to earn your trust.

Thank you for keeping us informed.

Sincerely,

Teara P.
Guest Services Representative
IHOP Restaurant Support Center


Now, more than a month later--nothing.
I'm thinking that the problem may lie WITH the franchise owner, not just his employees..
I just don't think that I would let my investment be so trashed. Then again, this restaurant is visited by a majority (I'm betting 90%) transient population so they could actually start over the NEXT day with a whole new clientele like nothing ever happened.
I'm sure this also makes it hard to find other employees also. Literally the only businesses in this town are hotels and restaurants.
IHOP is the only place that is open 24hrs.
Ft Stockton is in the middle of a vast expanse of nothing in west Texas. We actually had to visit a few hotels before we found a place that had a room even. There are a lot of travellers and one employee of a hotel told us that the oil companies rent out blocks of rooms for their workers for weeks at a time.

I guess I'll wait and see what happens...

Magic Garden

About 10ish years ago, we had a wonderful garden out back along our north wall.
We have talked about it since then. Trying to get moving on a new one.
While I was in PA last month, I decided that I was willing to get to work on a new one.
A bunch of friends lent their strength and talents to help us get it up and running.

First we needed to have a plan and measurements
We decided to place it along the east wall this time. Our north wall now houses a tree and a pretty big cactus.



Then we needed to begin by digging a trench to put in the beams for the bed edges.



Then we needed posts to edge the bed and sealer for the posts.
Bryce found a local company that provided soy based none toxic sealer.



After the beams were sealed, they needed to be cut and laid in the trenches , secured by re bar.



Next on the agenda is to get all the concrete chunks and rock out of the bed,



till the present soil and then add a load of topsoil.

Then, well, we'll plant!
We're still researching the vegetables we want to do this season...

Here's a little snippet from my childhood that has been inspiring (even though it is only marginally connected to actual gardening...):

A bunch of mamas, a lot of jars with wicks, about 100 kids, some very sweet feeling beeswax, sweet smeeling scents and sweet looking colors

....And one homey comfy house!

I don't want to get anyone in trouble so let me just say that:

• Someone I live near knows someone who is married to someone who might have a connection to "get stuff"

• This stuff has recently, possibly, maybe but not for sure, included some things that might be able to be used to create scented gifts such as candles.
• The said items were then driven across town, allegedly, to another, undisclosed location where they were put to use....
• You didn't hear any of this from me though..

What to do with all these jars?

I bet we could make candles!

Wide assortment of styles

Rainbow palette of results!


Ahh, what a fun productive day!!
I started out thinking of gifts and now I want them all for me ;)




Oh, yeah, And there were only two minor injuries..

There oughta be a 12 step program..

...I love, I'm not embarrassed to admit,
97.5FM
(If you're near Phoenix, you know what I mean)
I am seriously down with OPP
It just makes me want to shake my head when I'm driving.
I had to slap in a Dead bootleg from the 80's and turn it up REAL loud to break away from the--
old school funk

Quick trip to Meemaw's

The end of September:

We were able to find some cheap airline tix and head out out Meemaws for a few days.

We packed a lot of fun into the short time we were there.
We celebrated cousin Morgan's 4th bday,
went to the National Aquarium in Baltimore


the National Aquarium has banned strollers, so they provide Kelty backpacks for older babies and Kelty soft front packs for babies.
I had brought the ring sling but wanted to try out their things too. Carson obliged.

The kids loved the 'columns of bubbles'

Carson got up close and personal with sea life

They got to see the dolphin show

up close even

We got to watch the volunteers feed the sea turtle.

They told the kids that the turtle was rescued from a pile of pollution in the bay and they had to take off one of his fins to save him. He eats 8 heads of lettuce, twice a day. All the rays and the sea turtle are fed and cared for by specially trained volunteer divers.


checked out Chocolate World (that place never gets old)

I spent many a hot summer day there with friends, violating the "Keep arms and hands inside car at all times" rule repeatedly...It was (and still is) free, UNTIL they suck you in at the end of the delicious smelling 'factory tour ride' by dropping you off in an insanely large pit of chocolate products...

Of course, I found out that most of the products that I grew up *loving* are not vegan, phew!
Apparently the "special" in the Hershey's Dark is milk chocolate swirled in...



It was really surreal to see my kids doing what I grew up doing. Again, a full circle thing I guess.