Before and After

Before

After...

...six weeks of planning, rototilling, digging, and planting.

Two apple trees, one cherry tree, two blueberry bushes, one Japanese Maple, one quaking aspen, assorted flower plants, and SIXTY bags of cedar bark mulch...

I have learned that a garden is like a child.

You never feel like you've done enough

but when you aren't looking things start to bloom.

High School... here she comes!

A father... knows exactly what those boys at the mall have in their depraved little minds because he once owned such a depraved little mind himself. In fact, if he thinks enough about the plans that he used to have for young girls, the father not only will support his wife in keeping their daughter home but he might even run over to the mall and have a few of those boys arrested. ~Bill Cosby

On the first day of Jr. High I watched my suddenly grown up girl straighten her hair, put on make-up, and leave for school without me... for the first time ever... and I marveled at how fast baby girls grow up.

But on the night before the last day of Jr. High I realized just how fast they truly grow.

She has a brilliant mind, fantastic grades, great friends, and a delightful personality.

Her classmates voted her the class "Peacemaker".

She also has the proudest Mom around.

Still here STOP

No, I haven't fallen off of the earth... although I've been very close to the edge lately. So much has happened in the last few months, so many things I could have blogged about, and yet every time I sit down to write I have no words. I have always been a dysfunctional journalist... most girls who keep journals write down their deepest secrets, fondest hopes, and greatest emotional moments... My childhood journals were detailed accounts of days in which nothing happened. For the emotional times of my life... my parents divorcing, moving, all of Junior High... there is no record. I just couldn't write about things that really mattered to me. My friends and regular readers of this blog probably aren't surprised at all by this little revelation. If I stop talking or writing it usually means that something is going on and when I finally write about what's been happening in my life it's with the skill of a telegraph operator.

"Rain over working in the garden STOP worrying about job and money STOP Zane failing classes girlfriend a problem grounded STOP dining room my new office love it STOP girls growing up too fast STOP Ian and girlfriend fighting STOP girlfriend suicide threat STOP I visit scary apartment STOP More fighting STOP Ian moves home for awhile living in my office STOP dishwasher and computer die STOP Delaney's friends to new school next year STOP Taylor finishes jr hi looks like she's 20 at grad dance STOP Zane's grades up test scores amazing STOP now I have two kids in high school STOP I'm old STOP bought a new computer STOP"

There you go.. three months of blogging in one economical paragraph. Exciting isn't it? I will expand on some of this later but today I just need to break through my stage fright and get something posted to the blog!

Over and out.