Farewell

I am done for awhile.
I have forgotten how to breathe.
I have forgotten why. to. bother.
I am raging against the universe -
what was once perfect and beautiful - is gone.
and so am I.
till next time -
with only pieces of my heart -
Michelle

My other half of my heart (my hubby) - and one of my "babies" (my almost 20 year old daughter) are here this week.
Dominican Republic.








putting a roof on one of these churches and planning for the future of building more....




Let me tell you JUNE is NOT a fun month weather-wise in D.R.! To say it's humid would be a huge understatement!
Please keep them in your prayers!

My 17 year old son and the littles and I all miss them terribly - but we're holding down the fort and keeping it all running smoothly! :)

Have a blessed weekend!
With all my heart -
Michelle

WHERE I'M FROM

Linking up with Steph over at Adventures in Babywearing...

Where I’m from
I am from the islands – nestled in blue waters, from grapenuts and peanutbutter toast for breakfast.

I am from many houses, always moving – the beginnings of my gypsy soul.

I am from the hibiscus flowers , and the mini bouquets that I made Barbie hold for her endless weddings to Ken & GI Joe.

From the Belgian shepherd “Lady” who patiently wore baby bonnets and was always my trusty side kick – pulling me on my roller skates.

I am from singing little ones to sleep and sharp sense of humors, from “Meahmeah”, “Nana”, Hellman’s and Phoenix’s.

I am from the family oriented and the family proud. Grudge holders and givers. Country music and Classical. Watching “Papa’s” shuck oysters, plant gardens or paint watercolors that would win awards.

From “Sweet dreams Honey Bunch” and “Mares eat oats” and “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam”.

From dolls and stuffed animals ALWAYS in family groups, “boo boo no nose kitty”, from unicorns and rainbows and stickers. Mary Janes, breakfasts with Santa and balloons from Buster Brown shoe store.

I am from hearing coffee grinding early in the morning and then the smell of fresh coffee brewing shortly there after.

I am from both rushed Sunday mornings at Church and peaceful Sunday mornings at home. Swimming in the canal or playing outside riding bikes “till the streetlights came on”.

I'm from Hawaii, St. Petersburg, Paradise, sugar free, vegetarian “hippy” child with the weird lunches containing no bread.

From the “self employed” and the fear that came with trying to explain that.

From the family picnics where someone always passed out, the Thanksgivings where someone always argued, and the swimming pool that you had to stay outside all.day.long. always trying to “dry off” so you could go inside….inevitably forgetting and jumping back in….starting the endless cycle over again.

I am from those who never went grey but went blonde instead, from those who love to read out loud, from rich one day and dirt poor the next. From “this side of the family doesn’t talk to that side of the family”.

I am from all of this and more. A little girl who dreamed big dreams. Who had NO clue what life would hold - beyond “Puff the magic dragon” and “Xanadu”...but felt certain that since she could sing them both - she would be okay. She IS okay :)




You too can tell us where you're from - here is the template -
Make sure to link up and tell me in the comments if you get the chance to take that stroll down memory lane ;)

Have a blessed day!
With all my heart- Michelle

Gardening tastes good!

I was busy working to conquer my black thumb the other day out in the garden area.....I noticed Malachi was quiet (never a really good sign unless they're sleeping)
So I asked him..."Snapper, what are you doing?" This is what he was doing....
eating dirt! He turned around, stuck out his tongue (covered with mud) and said "eewww"
(so of course I had to snap a pic with my cell phone)
But...funny thing is..he went back for seconds! Before I could get him away from the bag of "miracle grow" he had another handful in his mouth! YUCK!
Hmmmm wonder if he'll "miracle grow" and now be my kid who is 7' tall?
lol

(well so much for wordless Wednesday...just had to tell you the story behind this one :)
ewwwwww!

Have a beautiful day!
~ With all my heart!
Michelle

With a landscaping business, the guys are often the recipients of bountiful blessings of fruit!! Homeowners who tire quickly of TONS of mangos - bring out the boxes and load 'em up!
SO....this past weekend I stood at the sink and peeled...and peeled...and peeled...and cut...and diced....and then stirred...and stirred....(and well you get the picture)
TA DA! Mango Strawberry preserves!
Now with this batch I skipped the sugar (aren't you proud of me?)and used apple juice instead.
It turned out FABULOUS!
I wound up with 3 quarts.....8 pints and 8 mini pints (those cute little jelly jars)
One of the pints we ate straight out of the jar :) YUM!
What a blessing it will be to have a taste of tropical summer even when the mango's are gone!

OH.....my garden is GROWING! Now those of you who have been here awhile following my blog will know what a super HUGE deal this is!
So...I have to beam with pride over my babies all growing green and lush......
I have 8 cucumber plants
5 squash (yellow crookneck)
6 pots of onions
1 large rubbermaid of rhubarb plants
2 HUGE tomato plants
10 smaller tomato plants
1 large pot of spinach
1 large pot of mint
1 large pot of lemon balm

I can't tell you what a thrill it is...I PRAYED big time that I could overcome my black thumb!!! I have read everything I could get my hands on...I water...I talk to them... :)
So...next up....I am going to grow potatoes and sweet potatoes vertically! - it looks easy peasy....circle up wire around some posts...plant the plants...add dirt and mulch as they grow....getting higher and higher...then by the time the plants reach the top of the wire....they are happy and green..then they die off - you tip the pillars over and harvest the potatoes! YAY!
I'll keep ya updated!



Well - off and running!
~With all my heart - thanks for visiting!
Michelle

Wordless (kinda) wednesday surprise!

SURPRISE!!! "TRIPLETS" LOL
TWO GIRLS AND ONE BOY
THE MAMA'S NAME IS "BABY" SO...THIS
IS BABY AND HER BABIES :)
BOSTON TERRIERS ARE JUST WONDERFUL
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THESE NEW ADDITIONS
(FOR A FEW MONTHS AT LEAST)
IF I'M NOT CAREFUL MY KIDS WILL HAVE THEM NAMED
AND WE'LL BE KEEPING THEM.
(NO....WE CAN'T!...SERIOUSLY...I MEAN IT....)
:)
So....it's a "sorta" wordless wednesday LOL

~With all my heart
Michelle