Underneath It All

Pared down to the core

Revealing what is really 

underneath it all.

Fluffy and cute but burdened with 

too much, can't see clearly.

Leave it to me to use dog grooming as a metaphor

what do you need to shed?

everyone will tell you what 

they believe 

you and your home

SHOULD 

look like

But what if that is not you?

Should you have what the Jones' have?

More importantly does every wish need to,

deserve to be, fulfilled?

We cannot all be best in show.

Should we even attempt to be?

I WILL tell you

to have only what works for you;

not what any blog, or magazine

or tv show demonstrates.

If it's stored in old boxes,

shoved in closets,

cluttering up the garage

so that you can't even park in there

then it does not have value.

I am NOT saying

do not have stuff.

I have stuff.

If it no longer works for me,

out it goes..sold, given to friends, or donated.

I AM saying

your stuff should matter,

if it is in your home,

if it's important to you,

then it deserves a place of honor.

Storing relatives' belongings in boxes

because of guilt is not honoring that person,

or their possessions. 

Holding on to anything you May

need in the future should be evaluated honestly.

My clients are rolling their eyes - 

they've heard it ad nauseam

Home size has gone from an average

983 square feet in the 1950's

up to 2300 sq feet in the 2000's,

average remember..50% have even more space

while family size has decreased with each census,

 and yet.....

Storage facilities increased over 75%

in the past 12 years alone, and most report 90% occupancy

and the average length of use is over 15 months.

Average credit card debt is $7,000.

More distressing... if you look only at households with 

debt it rises to $15,000.

I am beating a very dead horse, I know..

I'm entitled to as an old grey mare

but while walking yesterday I saw many open garages

piled nearly to the ceiling-front to back-side to side

with an aisle to walk through

 broken and leaning boxes...

2000 square feet inside of the home

full..

groom 

your

 life

what matters is 

underneath it all

It Doesn't Take Much

it doesn't take much 

i glance around and notice comfort

Good Tidings

left out all year to remind me of my friend Carole

large heart also from her

tangibles to connect 

simple scene of waiting mail

  details

glimpse of sunshine and reflected antler, a morning gift

dark hearts are hidden among the light

i have learned this 

i intentionally surround myself 

with reminders of the universe

affirmation needed 

 good times remembered

 summer days with DD and Shakespeare

cloth from the costumes of '03

soon to be a graduation gift - "fabric of our lives"

 loved patina of this fountain..but silent

except for annoying motor

life is not etched in granite

evaluate, repair, give away or walk away

flotsam and jetsam

some folks 

seem busy for the sake of busy

wallow and thrive... in drama

keep digging instead of climbing out

the universe coughs up a lot

but you almost always have choices

i threaded wire through tubing and attached it bent...

now a lovely sound is tucked into a corner

evaluate - repair

added orphan door to tabletop

cloche brought in from outside

sometimes it takes a while to notice

a good pairing

evaluate - re-pair

 my polka dot cup of Joe

suits the tableau

suits me

“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” 
― William Morris

simple comforts

it doesn't take much

embrace what works 

stop tolerating what does not

 discover what truly matters

and what doesn't

make things happen for you

not to you

Z

I'll Stop - I Swear

don't piss off the fairies

broken and abused find a home

concocted this last night

it's loud WoOt!

Discount roses at market,

they arrived too late at the store for Easter

 the gal said...5 bucks!

My mom's pitcher, older than me

talk about dappled light

Fell asleep out here last evening

on my new lounge.

I normally have to pay my yard guy 100.00

to come clean up in a day what took

me over a week to accomplish.

Dancing toward 60 isn't what it's cracked up

 to be when it comes to chain saws and gutters.

So..in my head that means I had an extra 100.00

in the budget to splurge.

Saw a pretty decent padded lounge

 in front of the market for 129.00

Right color, 6 adjustable positions

I grabbed it.

Don't know how to arrange the yard just yet,

this guy is big, but nap-a licious

I don't want my looming neighbors to be able to see

me sleeping out here..

yep, usually in mismatched pj's,

so it may stay crowded in this space for a bit.

Until it is too hot to nap.

I'll stop with the garden now - I swear

don't know what's come over me this year

Happy Birthday Chania

my dear friend

( go over to Razmataz and buy yourself a pretty bauble

your birthday is coming, you deserve it)

A good weekend wish for everyone

Z

Gone To The Birds

A few years back I spent untold hours
each evening

 watching a pair of eagles nest 

and eggs hatch and eaglets fledge
on a live feed.

I gasped each time one of them seemed

 perilously near the edge and 

nearly wept at the nest covered in snow and winds blowing

 so hard that my eyes would sting in sympathy..
When they were calling to each other,
Howie and Justice could hear them
 and they'd run in circles and bark.
Indoor exercise

To say I was obsessed is a gross understatement;
me and a couple hundred thousand others were the club.

I stumbled across these new guys through 

another world conservancy charitable group
 I help and now...

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

remains #4 in my bookmark bar

I waited anxiously for this to arrive

bird of paradise project

and loved every minute..be sure to visit all the links

and marvel at the commitment of these men.

8 years 18 expeditions

It's only 4 minutes to watch this...

the big day 2012

big day 2013 is coming up in a few weeks

red tail hawks

and now I am addicted once more.

Meet Big Red and Ezra

red tail hawks

Reality TV
for real

Grab a cup of Joe,
your kids, your grand kids
 and marvel at this planet.

Sonja have some tea 

Z

A Robin Came To Visit

Every few years a stray comes to my garden.

To make me happy I believe,

perhaps sent from Dad?

They are VERY rare here.

COLOR? Bright color in Z's garden?

yep and pigs fly

First Pink

As budget allows a few more annuals will be added.

My wee space is nearly done,

and I am done in..

C'mon by for a visit girlfriends.

Blessed Be

Sunflowers in Utah

Blessed Be

Enough With The Yard Z

Making progress

Working around the house from

north face to south face.

All the empty pots, tubs and wagons will soon have flowers.

Opposite side of walkway

The bud became a bloom

The sun rises in the east and slowly lights up 

this side each morning,

peeking through the trees.

Those are bottle brush soon to be filled with red 'brushes".

They are 20 years old and on their last legs..

Certain times of the year you get bee bombed

when you walk along the path.

Had coffee here on the porch this a.m.

Doorway into the sun porch that you all like.

I see I need to retighten all the twinkle lights out here,

they're a mite droopy.

Of course Howie snuck into this pic,

I almost made it without him photo bombing..

I'll finish up the yard this weekend.

I'll spare you the dog run and such.

Enough of my yard already!

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend with 

their loved ones.

I'm playing yard hooky with a pal today.

(oh and Ellie I wanted to write you

but you are "no reply comment",

with no email address...

BC is a lovely place, indeed it is)

Z

Spring Cleaning In The Green

Worked in the yard all day.

Leaf blower running off and on off and on.

Roses bushes coming on strong in rose garden.

I bought the weather vane for my Dad, 

over 20 years ago.

He sent it back to me before he died.

Banks roses still with me and

the trumpet vine is flourishing.

Yes that is neighbors roof

we're all crammed in around these parts.

Most of pea gravel in this area cleaned of leaves.

That curve is the rose garden and extra seating for parties.

Side yard cleaned up waiting for plants to give bursts of color.

I'll be heading to nursery this weekend.

Justice peeking through front gate.

Repaired three fountains, the sound is once again 

following you from front door, up the side and into the rear yard.

Walkway is so monotone until plants arrive,

then all the old pieces pop.

Yes, it all stays out year round, weathering away.

Howie in foreground checking it all out

I have completed about 1/3 of the yard.

Once I'm done, it'll be good until late fall

when I have to do it all over again.

I suppose it is still easier than dealing with snow.

Today was high 70's 

Don't hate me

We'll soon be in the 100's