Getting Rid Of The Trash Of Life

It's Sunday and we are making a final push of effort in our yard clean up project. It has been difficult in the heat. We are just wiped out when we finish. It will be nice to get to the point of having our yard back under control. So much trimming needed to be done! We had an extra clean up project courtesy of a stranger.... Someone parked on the curb by our house and broke a bunch of auto glass out onto our sidewalk. Unsettling as the possible scenarios about this run through your head. Why were they parked right by our house? What the heck?!  Window glass was strewn all over the sidewalk and curb. I'd like to think it is as simple as someone locking their keys in the car and they just decided to break the car window rather than call a locksmith in the middle of the night? I asked my neighbors if they heard any disturbance, nobody had.

Broken tempered window glass...

Well anyway, back to our ever growing pile of yard waste...Trash pick up is sometime this next week. It will feel good to have the yard back under control. The garage is next, oh boy!

We so appreciate that the city of Phoenix allows us to pile up yard waste and any other trash for free pick up quarterly! We try to take advantage of the opportunity by really piling it up lol. Oh boy can we pile up trash! Lots of tree waste!

We had a nice lunch out after we finished this ...Vietnamese food and for dessert Boba. This little sweetie is the easiest person to feed! She likes everything and really enjoys eating. We split a mango smoothie with honey Boba.  She devoured every last drop and pearl!

.

We have a Boba place that we frequent called Tea and Snow. It is in the Mekong Center in Mesa,AZ

They have a wonderful assortment of Boba drinks, smoothies and shaved ice selections. Thai Dessert and exotic healthy treats with mung beans. Being married to a Vietnamese man I have been fortunate to broaden my palate and try a lot of different cuisines. This is a nice alternative to a milkshake lol.

This child is precious and enjoys everything you offer to her. The easiest child to feed. She will try just about anything!  

I wrote this about a year ago. I am sharing it again because it explains my frustration and dealings with CPS the first time around. I currently have a grandchild within the system who has been abused.  Her abuser, is not being brought to justice. This individual split the scene and is in hiding. Nobody is looking for him! It's too hard so the system is just putting the case on the back burner. Nothing is being done!  This legal system here in Phoenix is over taxed with cases and is on the verge of allowing yet another case near and dear to my heart to fall apart! I am tired of spoon feeding the system! " You can lead a camel to water, but you can't make them drink..." They will say anything and placate you but the reality is law enforcement simply isn't working on your case. The way this current case is being handled further perpetuates my dislike and mistrust of the system as a whole! I would like to see justice for this case as it is sick and twisted! I want to make sure this child will never be victimized again by this individual.

In the following case, a simple law being put into place would have made justice possible. I would love to understand more about what precluded CPS from being able to hair follicle drug test in this particular case. Someone can simply say no when asked to submit to a drug test when a child has been seriously injured while in their care? Police have no trouble getting people tested who are under suspicion of DUI to submit to testing. Why does someone with a history of drug abuse get to decline a hair follicle drug test when asked to do so by CPS?  In this case this mere oversight created a miscarriage of justice for this beautiful little girl and for her mother, my daughter.

Just as before I am fighting the plight and giving it the good fight! I will do my best to be vocal and take a stand regarding heinous crimes against children. Just had no idea I would be living this so close to my heart! Both of these incidents are heart wrenching and graphic!

Two Year Old Left Unattended By Drug Impaired Father, Falls Into Fire.

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This story is hard for me to tell. Everytime I think of this it makes my blood boil. I get so pardon the expression, Pissed Off! This is my beautiful Granddaughter, Elizabeth June. She is four years old now. The pic in the pool was taken just a few days ago on our vacation. The featured pic of her on the swing was taken right before the tragic misfortune and she was two. I’m going to tell this story from my Gram perspective. I’m sure my daughter Britt has her own…

Britt had just gone through divorce. Her ex had serious drug impairment/ addiction issues for which he chooses not to address. In court this was known and the judge had set up supervised visitation for him. His parents were to be supervising his visits with the children at their home. The ex lived with his parents. Britts’ three kids would spend the night on Saturday’s over there. This ex had been a mess for a long time. He didn’t care who knew it. I had seen him so impaired he would fall asleep standing up. Just out of it! Britt did all of the driving because he was always drug impaired at the end of their marriage.

The kids were very young. The oldest Tommy, was 6. Nathan was 4 and Lizzie was 2 years old. During what was supposed to be a supervised visit with Dad, the unthinkable happened. Dad started a fire in a pit outside in the yard. He had the two youngest out there with him. Dad went to the garage to go get high as was his routine… Before leaving, he told 4 year old Nathan to watch Lizzie. In Dad’s absence, Lizzie got up and fell into the fire! Her left leg lingered on those coals… Dad had left the kids unattended by the fire to go get high?! Grandparents were inside when this all took place…no supervision…

When I first got the call, I dropped to my knees… I knew the Grandparents had been in denial about the seriousness of his drug addiction but I thought they would see to it that the kids were safe. Along with being terrified for Liz, I was so angry that this could happen! We didn’t realize at first how extensive the injury was. The Grandparents had down played it to my daughter. When my daughter arrived at the Maricopa County Burn Center, she could see that things were serious. My daughter Delcee and I watched the boys for Britt so she could be with Liz. Two days in, I went to visit Liz. When I got there she was in a treatment room receiving treatment. I could hear her blood curdling screams all the way down the hall! This made me furious! Tears welled up and I saw the nursing staff look at me with compassion… I will never forget hearing those tortured screams…

When my daughter got back to the room with Liz, we discussed the incident and she went to talk to the social worker. She had been so busy with Liz that she hadn’t a chance to discuss the situation with the staff. The social worker called the police and CPS when he heard the accounting of the incident. Meanwhile, four year old Nathan was feeling horrible because his Dad had told him to watch Liz. He saw the whole thing happen and thought he was responsible for not watching his sister. We of course explained to him this wasn’t his fault.

Meanwhile, the Grandparents that had been down playing this tragedy were not at the hospital much. When they did come ,they would try to feel out the situation by grilling the nurses about who had been to the hospital rather than how Liz was…they were insisting it wasn’t a big deal. Liz remained in the hospital for over two weeks! She had two pig skin graft surgeries within a week. She went through weekly treatments for over a year…. My daughter Britt did daily treatments with medicated creams. She had to dress the wounds, wear compression garments. For awhile we didn’t know if she would have issues with her knee joint . She had 3rd degree burns all down her leg to her ankle. It was horrific! The care that she received from the Maricopa Burn Center was exceptional! The outcome today is terrific considering the depth of the burns. She is however very scarred for life in many ways.

The pic of Liz holding the stuffed doll was taken in the hall of the burn center on her last day of treatment after more than a year of visits to that center. We are so grateful for the level of care they provided to Liz! She is a tough little girl with a ton of spirit and determination! I’m so relieved with how well she has done through it all! I also appreciate my daughter for having been so patient and dedicated to keeping up with the therapy, treatments and special care she had to administer daily for months!

You are thinking alls well that ends well right? No…thats just the medical aspect. The legal aspect has not been mentioned. The police went to the Grandparents home and concluded that Dad left the kids unattended. They charged him with three separate misdemeanor charges. My daughter bless her heart was so busy with all of her children, trying to get her AA online and a full time job she had no energy to fight. She asked me to take that up for her, so I did! Having her signed proxy, I went to court for her. I talked to the prosecutors and took them pictures of the injuries. The prosecutor looked at me and asked “why aren’t they charging him with a felony?!” So, they sent the case to the county for felony filing. I’m not sure where the case got hung up and messed up but it did… The case was never excepted by the county for felony filing. We couldn’t tell if CPS failed or if the police did from the beginning . The case was heard in Mesa Municipal Court and it never made fit there! We would sit and listen to shoplifting, traffic violations…. This case was far different than the other cases we would hear. I tried my best to make sure that justice was done and that this druggy Dad had to realize what he had allowed to happen. This court case went on for two years! Dad would ask for repeated continuances for as long as he could. Meanwhile, he had other pressing legal issues like domestic violence involving his new girlfriend. Even contempt of court, probation violations…all within the municipal court system in Mesa, AZ!

When all was said and done and we finally got to court, we were really disapointed… He was given a mere slap. He spent only a few days in jail and more probation. It was really amazing to see how the judicial system works…the prosecutors were sorry they couldn’t do more…somewhere this criminal case went terribly wrong! We are sure that CPS dropped the ball with this case as they did with many other cases. Our AZ Governor Brewer took our CPS agency to task because is was so fatally flawed. They are rebuilding a new child protection agency. Anyway, I fought long and hard for justice for Liz…I didn’t get it through criminal court…

Several times within the two years of legal issues I had the press wanting to do the story. I was in such dismay over how the criminal aspect was playing out. My daughter feared retaliation from the family of the ex. She never felt secure enough to tell her story. She was so busy living daily life trying to keep everyone going that she didn’t have the energy. No body was interested in hearing the story from me, I’m just the Gram…I never heard an apology of any kind from the other Grandparents…when we went to court the other Gram would be threatening toward me. She would follow me into the bathroom to corner me asking what I was doing there…If the kids had been hurt during my watch I would apologize up and down to everyone.

I never understood why they fought the insurance claim against their property. I would have called my insurance company right away to instruct them to please take care of my Granddaughter! Strange bunch those people are! They still enable that son, to this day he still lives with them. He doesn’t pay child support to my daughter. He doesn’t have a job and still does drugs. My daughter is convinced he will just die one day.

I want to give you some insight into my view of this. When this all happened, my daughter Britt was working full time at a daycare. She took the kids with her to work and made very little money for many hours of work. She was attending Community college taking a full class schedule of online courses. Not to mention trying to attend to the needs of her small kids. Being a single Mom was tough enough! After the horrific thing happened, my daughter and her kids started this downward spiral. Britt had to miss three weeks of work. So, that translates to no money for nearly a month. She had to drop her classes because she couldn’t do school. She had physically, emotionally way too much on her plate. We tried to help but she just went under. I watched her have a breakdown. A disconnect…she physically cared for the kids but emotionally she shut down. She handed the legal crap to me and didn’t seem to care but, she did care… She just couldn’t fight…

I felt helpless in all of this and I was so angry! I had to watch my kid with her three little kids go into this downward spiral through no fault of her own! Her situation seemed so hopeless and daunting! I kept wondering how she was going to get through it? She chose to just stay emotionally detached and just kept on doing what she had and could do. She is working at a gym daycare, taking the kids with her. Working tons of hours. She got back into school with a new goal. I’m proud to say that she is almost finished with her AA and a Paralegal Certification! Almost to the point of making much better money! She is a wonderful Mom and a great person! I couldn’t be more proud of her. We are very close and I really understand all that she has been through. I even understand her not wanting to fight. I took that all up for her…I’m glad I can be done now… That was exausting…

Maybe now I can put to rest all of this awfulness. I wasn’t able to help with getting justice for Liz in criminal court, that was unfortunate. I would love to figure out where this criminal case went wrong, lobby the injustice that precluded Dad from taking a mandatory drug test. That would have been our whole case right there. Lobby that part of the law and call it Lizzy’s Law…
* I have added a pic of the injury so that you can see and understand how serious it was. I warn you, the following pic is graphic! It doesn’t show that the injury extends down to her foot. The pic is right after skin graft surgery.

Update:
Talk about turning lemons into lemonade…
*My daughter Britt is finishing up the last of her classes. She will graduate in Dec. with her Paralegal Certificate and her AA. She just started an internship with a personal injury law firm! When the accident occurred Britt had no clue which direction to take her education. She was unsure… Since, she changed her direction, worked like heck and soon will find herself in a terrific career! Oh my goodness, I’m so happy with what she has been able to do. I think she is so incredibly awesome! I couldn’t be more proud of her!

Casual Conversations Are Inviting And Enlightening

If you were to come for a visit, this is probably where we would sit. Not fancy but pretty comfortable.

My family room is just that...we watch tv here and hang out here.

My oldest daughter Brittany and I had a conversation yesterday. We actually sat down and talked. She told me about a lovely bed and breakfast place they had just stayed at with her boyfriends parents. She explained every detail about the décor and the homey feel... she kept telling me that it was me... the decorating the entertaining. The meal preparation, all me. I have thought about this before myself. I know that she is right, I would be very happy to own a bed and breakfast. I love to decorate for the seasons and I work hard to keep things nice and I cook well... It would be a great job fit for me! It only takes money lol! Lots of money. I sure could see myself doing this though and, enjoying it! My daughter knows me well!

It was so nice to just sit down and have a conversation with her! That has been lacking in my life, just chatting. People are always so busy running around and checking their phones. How about the art of conversation! How long has it been since you had a really nice conversation with someone?

Britt hates this pic lol. I took this pic at Korbin's party the other day. We all looked drenched and we were. We had a nice storm right before the party that dumped a massive amount of rain and wind! The whole storm lasted about 15 min. Monsoon season is almost over I believe. We find the storms to be exciting and rather fun. Lots of humidity in the air...

I'm grateful that Britt and I had the time for a nice chat yesterday. She really inspired me to think about what I want to do when I grow up!

For now, I'm living this in more ways than one...

Casual Conversations written by Rick Davies

Living It The Hard Way The Ineffectual Nightmare Of CPS Protocol In AZ

I can't express enough how unsatisfactory our Child Protective Service is here in Phoenix. I'm trying to do the best that I can with this circumstance. My frustration is mounting as we navigate through this process. We have a new case worker. This is 5th case worker we have had in the 8 months I've had Alissa. The most unsettling part is feeling so unimportant.  I get this feeling every time I have to deal with this agency. It is pathetically sad really. I'm angry that more isn't being done to ensure the long term safety of my Granddaughter. It's very obvious that these workers are just pushing paper. They have no interest in their clients.

 They send someone out who is required to make a monthly visit. It's the same thing every month. They ask questions not giving a damn about my answers. God forbid I should have a question or a need for an answer about something. I can't tell you how many times I have been told that they don't get involved in or with a process. The attorney that was assigned via the court for Alissa, told me how she wouldn't be involved or know anything about a criminal case involving abuse of this child! Well then what the heck do you lady?! I didn't say that but I sure thought it!

 They are so compartmentalized and ready to tell you they don't handle this or that, not their job. Passing the buck/ responsibility to different entities within the system. A vicious cycle of disclaimers and excuses. I feel so bad for anyone having to deal with the callous lack of care throughout this division of state government. You really understand how little anyone cares for your family and the child involved! Nobody is really looking at the needs or the facts of the case and circumstance.

I fear that I have been stuck with a $400.00 bill for childcare. CPS authorized a preschool program
my Granddaughter was attending. They were going to pick up the cost. It was only a part time.
program 3 days a week. I have been getting emails from the school district for a $400.00 bill that they were supposed to pay. We are now under threat that this will go on our credit report!  I also can't enroll Alissa in any programs until the bill is paid ! So she is stuck at home with this Gram...

My daily life is complicated enough without having to chase my tail trying to get anywhere with this agency. Sometimes it takes two weeks for anyone to get back to me. I completely understand why AZ has such a huge need for foster parents. Who in their right mind would want to have to rely on this system for any kind of support? If you are financially well off maybe you could afford to take this on. Putting up with the callous unfeeling, uncaring individuals another point of contention! I admire anyone who would want to subject themselves to this willingly?

I find this so sad from my vantage point. From what I understand, I think the criminal case has fallen
through the cracks. So when this child goes home, I believe her abuser will move back into the home.
 Unfortunately, she will be slated for more abuse. I live an hour away from where she will reside so, I won't see what is going on. I have to just trust that CPS knows what the hell they are doing in returning this child! I air my concerns and I just get blank stares back at me. I feel totally helpless and hopeless regarding the outcome of all of this. I thought in the beginning that I could really do some good in taking this on. Now, I feel that not only am I not able to help effectually long term, nobody gives a damn! The most tragic part is now, she knows the difference! She has lived in this lifestyle for almost a year, going back to that environment is going to be so overwhelming. Dirt poor with no prospect for change! Ugh, so then I've got to wonder, what did we really accomplish for this child? Gave her a reprieve for a little while only to have to go back into an unbearable hard life. Now she will feel and understand the difference, what a harsh reality...

I find this whole thing a no win situation! It's probably a good thing that I don't drink because I can
see myself wanting to escape in a bottle of something often! Guess I'll stick to playing music as my
drug of choice...oh and chocolate.  I don't think their is a big enough box of chocolate to ease what I feel in my heart. Pass the Kleenex please...Awww, damn!

Praying For Time written by George Michael

Cake Baking For Cheaters A.K.A Semi- Homemade

 

Yesterday was my Grandson Korbin's B-Day. He turned 8. I made this cake for him. Not the best looking but tasty. For the life of me, try as I might, I'm no cake decorator! My cakes are not the prettiest but this one is really delicious. What you don't see here is the end result when you cut the cake. I layered batter of different colors here and the effect is really cool for kids cakes. I was too busy socializing with the family to take a pic of the inside of this cake? Lol try it, the kids will love it! It looks tye dyed...

 I used two Betty Crocker French Vanilla flavored cake mixes...

 I added food coloring to make the different colors of cake batter...I also had plain colored batter in the bottom of my springform pan and (1) 9in. round cake pan.

I made this pudding according to the pie set of directions on this box. Bought whole milk to use rather than the 1% we drink around here lol. Creamier...After my cake layers and this pudding were completely chilled, I filled the layers with the pudding. I had a three layer cake and I used all of the pudding!

I frosted the cake with this Buttercream flavored Betty Crocker frosting. I decorated the cake with blue icing around the bottom and then the sprinkles. I had some really

 cute jellied lollipops so I took the jellies off the stick and used them for decorations in the center of the cake. I like using candy on cakes to decorate! Especially for kids...

I was so amazed at the big hugs I got from Korbin for this cake! I thought he wouldn't be that interested in it but he was! He loved this cake.

                       Daughter Delcee with birthday boy Korbin, Kadee and husband Sam

Brittany Paige

                                                              Here I am with Delcee

Nathan and Korbin

                                                                                                                 Kadee and Mom

Alissa

We met over at a Peter Piper Pizza. A fun time was had by all. I so enjoy getting together for birthdays!

I was so pleased with the size and taste of this cake that I am going to do this again. 2 boxes of cake make a really nice tall cake!

                                                                           Lizzy

                                                            House written by Elton John

Have a great day, whatever comes your way!    

Bust A Move In The Street And Trump This...

Clarice on my amplifier...

Oh geez poor thing, if she only knew what shes lounging on. Wait till I turn it on lol awww... I've been hard at work practicing a few things this week. I guess thats why Clarice is hanging out with me in my music room. Today is Monday and I have a whole bunch of things that I need to do. I did however judt accomplish my 2 mi power walk. Even jogged some of it. It's now 7:00 am and I'm sitting here with you!
I was thinking about Donald Trump of all people. I have been watching the news and keeping a breast of the speeches and his interviews. At first I thought he was just kidding around and a distraction. The more I hear him speak the more I am beginning to believe he is exactly what the
country needs! Come on, his track record as a shrewd business man tells a lot! We need the best
money guy to get us all out of this economic rut! Trump knows people and I believe that he could assemble the finest team of people to get us out of the hole we are in. Hey, I'm all in... I would love to be employed by this man!  Wonder if he has any job openings for displaced housewives in Phoenix?

All kidding aside, the more I think about the issues/ problems America is facing Trump is a perfect fit! Keep an open mind and think of the connections, the experience Trump has with international trade. His ability to assemble the best teams possible for tasks at hand. His confidence, his experience negotiating deals... I really think we all better rethink what Trump could foreseeably do for our country! Who better than a big money guy?!!! He won't claim to know how to do everything and I believe he will research and hand pick the best people for the issues that need to be resolved! Trump makes sense to me! I am usually so uninvolved in politics, I usually dread  the whole process! I'm actually excited about this race! This could get interesting! I heard Trump say that the press has been unkind to his message. Editing his sentences and misconstruing his meaning and words... I'm sure he must feel like this!

Critic's Choice written by Robert Lamm

Click here to play ➡️ Critic's Choice written by Robert Lamm

Hopefully you can find some time in your day to  reflect on some positive things that you have recently accomplished.

Take the time to feel some accomplishment in your life . Here's what I would like to encourage you to do... Go outside and do a dance of joy in the street! I did  exactly this today after I got back from my
walk. First I looked up and down the street to make sure nobody was watching lol. I had my headphones and iPod on. I was listening to Earth, Wind and Fire so it was easy to just bust a move right there in the street!

Doing the dance of joy in the street is silly, exhilarating and great for the soul! Have a great day,
whatever you do!
                                   

My Self Indulgent Peter Pan Escapism

More yard clean up this weekend. These mesquite trees grow like weeds! They have thorns and are nasty to work with. This will teach me to wear long pants while I work with these trees. It isn't a real yard project without a blood sacrifice lol...

This is ugly not serious and just made me more determined to accomplish this project. It has felt good to work hard physically. I'm finding that I have a lot of aggression that I need to get out. This chore is helping me to do that. I have a ton of foilage to cut off limbs today and stack.  

I have been without a mic stand for a month lol. Mine broke while I was adjusting it. That'll shut you up real quick lol. I so miss it! I guess

tomorrow I will venture out and buy a new one. I have had a little musical break and I look forward to getting back at it. Can't wait to see what I can create next. Some more writing is in the works. Think I'll attempt a blues song! I have the lyrics partially written for this.

Meanwhile, here are a few of my own favorites that I have done...

➡️ Do You Dream Of Me written by Michael W. Smith

➡️ Fool's Overture written by Roger Hodgson

➡️ Hide In Your Shell written by Roger Hodgson

➡️ Downstream written by Rick Davies

Click here to play ➡️ Tender Years written by John Cafferty

And of course my own original...

➡️ Something More Than Nothing

This holds a special meaning as I live Something More Than Nothing on a daily basis... 

I keep hoping to find my own money making niche so that I don't have to feel dependent! 

➡️ Lost In The Game

A romantic fantasy... Who Controls The Stars ( my latest original ).

Although I will never fully give up on my dream of accomplishing something lucrative and gratifying with my music I am more realistic. The romance is pretty much gone. I'm coming to realize that this is only a dream that I alone  hold onto for my self preservation.  The Peter Pan part of me who does not want to grow up! The childhood savant in  me that wants to be heard...

Dynamic Energetic Glass Breaking Phenom

It isn't even fall yet but I felt compelled to bake a pumpkin pie.

It just sounded so good, and, it is! I follow the recipe on the can. Mine is a little different because I add molasses! About 3 or 4 tablespoons of molasses. It is scrumptious!

From my previous post and this pie you can see that I am longing for fall. I'm looking forward to being able to decorate the house for fall next month. However, it won't feel like fall here until November. It is typically hot here through Halloween.

We aren't even through monsoon season. More storms are coming this upcoming week. It has been pretty mild this year, nothing very eventful. The rain is nice when we can get it. The dust, not so much!

Today I will be graced with a visit from daughter Delcee!

Although she lives locally, we haven't seen each other much lately. She is a busy gal with her two children, husband and job. I'm always thrilled to see this grown child of mine lol. She is fun to talk to and so witty. We laugh! She is the youngest of my three older kids. She was 13 when I had Zoe. A tough age to be knocked out of the Princess seat lol. She handled it pretty well... 

We both have an interest in the paranormal. She has an interesting mind. We call her the " glass breaker".When she was a teenager, I recall that a coffee mug in the sink broke spontaneously when she was looking at it. The particles and pieces of the mug danced in the sink as if they were energized...it was so strange! I remember looking at this thinking what the hell?! Later, at stressful times in her life glass would break randomly.  Most memorably when she was a server at Macaroni Grill. She was stressed with upcoming college finals. 

She walked by the wine bar and two bottles of wine just burst. She called me shortly therafter, she was really shaken. The staff was perplexed, they could find no good explanation as to how they broke. This 

happened a few times to Delcee. 

She is full of energy! 

This pic is a few years old but I love it. 

It seems that this glass breaking happens when Delcee is under a particular type of stress? 

The Temptations Of This Displaced Homemaker And Of QVC

Look at all of this gorgeous stoneware. So lovely for fall! I would collect stoneware Temptations pieces for every season and holiday if I could. I don't know what it is about this that I love so much but the designs and vibrant colors are beautiful! Here are a few of my favorite pieces...

Fall leave oval baker

Pumpkin 13X9 baking dish with wire rack and lid

Pumpkin bowls

Fall leaves platter with lidded bowl

Sunflower 13x9 inch Baker

These are just some of the beautiful stoneware pieces for fall that I just love! I just marvel at the amount of product QVC moves! You don't have a minute to decide!If you want it, you have act so quickly to purchase it or it is gone! I suppose it's a good thing that I don't have a lot of extra money because this would be one of my indulgences. Hey, it could be worse lol...I would have the most beautiful Thanksgiving/ Fall table with these lovely accent pieces and I'm sure that my family would also enjoy the ambience!

I know that I'm not alone dreaming of Temptations stoneware! They sell out so fast! While I'm dreaming how bout 3 sets of these, service for 12...

Floral Lace Dinnerware in the Fall color

Talk about the hostess with the mostess ...this would set a lovely table!

Colour My World written by Chicago...

When Do I Get To Win

Sometime in the pretty near future this little gal will probably be going home to Mom. I have had this little gal for the past 8 months. She has taught me a lot about life and living from her vantage point. She's a survivor! She is an amazing soul who is wise beyond her four years. She has an abundance of coping skills and knowledge way beyond what a four year old should have. An absolutely amazing child. I hope that things will be different for her when she goes home! I hope she will be able to count  on and trust her environment and those around her! If not then I believe that she is wise and very capable of telling someone things are not going well! She is the most articulate four year old I have 

ever met! I'm teaching her my phone number in song form. We sing my phone number. I have told her that if she ever wants or needs to she can have someone call me! I know that she will too!

I'm ready to be relieved of the daily responsibility of raising a four year old. I am however really worried that things at home aren't going to be good long term for this little gal. I still have the same fears for this child. I worry that Mom, ( my daughter ) isn't capable of giving this child the stable home she deserves! If I'm honest, I don't think my daughter is doing as well as she has led CPS to believe. I know my daughter has the right to prove herself and she has to the system. I just don't know if it's a long lasting life change.

I am happy that I was able to have this time to really get to know this child. Bless her heart, she has had it pretty good here. Shes knows this and although she loves Mom, she doesn't really want to go 

home! She has been very vocal about not being ready to go home. She will be sad to leave this lifestyle. The sad thing is now, she knows the difference! OMG! I feel bad. This whole mess has so many layers to it. You never know in life what may be asked of you to do. I'm still not certain how all 

of this will go long term. I did however step up and fulfill the affirmation that I wrote last year. I could feel all of this coming-

I wrote an affirmation for myself...

Whatever I touch, there I prosper monetarily. Whatever touches me, I will make better.

 I fulfilled the "I will make better"portion of this affirmation. Now I would like to work on the "prosper monetarily" portion of this!

I want to get back to my life and what I was doing! Yet I have this intense torn up heart for this kid! Ugh. I will have to sort it all out...

I know a lot of Grandparents are raising G-kids. I just thought maybe I'd have some time for myself before I'm old! I'm sure everyone in my shoes feels this way. If I could figure out a way to make money while raising this child I would feel better about doing it! I need to make money! 

They have a title for people like me. They call us "displaced housewives". Where's the rehab for this 

lol?

Win written by David Bowie

Win written byWin Written by David Bowie

Coffee Inspired

It's feast or famine with the creative process. Have you ever noticed that creativity seems to come in waves? When you're hot you're hot and when you're not, you're really NOT! I wish creativity was something that you could turn on and off on demand.

As I sit here and ponder my next creative endeavor, I am reminded of something my wise mother used to say to me often..." Be careful of what you want, you might get it." This piece of peculiar wisdom has been true too many times. Following are my own thoughts of, "Oh damn, I zigged when I should have zagged! " The notorious reprimand we give ourself after something we thought that we wanted to have happen simply isn't what we thought it would be. The woulda, shoulda, could've epiphany we 

have when life doesn't go according to plan. Especially when you have no real plan other than to 

make it through whatever you have fashioned for yourself lol.

I have had plenty of those types of experiences! We hope we learn and grow from them. We assume 

and have been told that experiences,  (even bad ones), give us character. When you look upon your 

life and the choices that you have made, you see not only bad choices but the resolution of those choices. How exactly you dealt with adversity and overcame these difficulties. I'm not sure what the point of all of this testing of ourselves is but every person must choose and design their life experience.

Some of us are better than others at designing and creating their careers. They decide early on what 

role they want to play in society. They understand themselves really well. They understand through

interest, skillset and strengths just who they want to become professionally. They seem to be able to 

hone in on the right vibe/network in which to create, showcase and excel/ flourish!

Others of us flounder around trying things, but never come to a finite conclusion where they fit in any one particular career. Kind of feeling like they are on the outside looking in. We work hard at everything we try to do...hard working within whatever it is that we endeavor to do... We just never feel as if we are getting anywhere. So much of this life on earth is about financial success and net worth. Aspiring to be the best, make the most money and have all of the finest toys. Work hard/play 

hard...

All of this is fine but at what cost to our families? I run by a liscensed daycare facility on my jogging 

route. What I see is heartbreaking...kids playing on the playground is a given...but, their are always a 

few who come up to the gate, looking outward with a blanket or stuffed animal in tow. Tears and wails of saddness from missing Mom and Dad. Breaks my heart. I just want to scoop them up and 

hug them.

I am also reminded from my Mom's passing this very poignant realization...we come into this world without a stich of anything...not even clothing...we leave this planet  without even taking our lipstick...  What happens in between that we choose for ourselves ...important yes! All about making 

money? I'm thinking, not so important. The knowledge and information that we gain by having experienced life, living and adversity...Priceless!

Where's My PhD 

I get the biggest kick out of watching them succeed! This you will always have my dears  the beginning of your dream. Life's triumphs are but far and few between- and all that is coming, of yet,
remains to be seen.

What I am wondering is where's my PhD ? A life of hard knocks has been the life for me.. I've earned it and I'd like to know which University, hands out diplomas, to people  just like me? Life experience and plenty of hard places...I found my way out of many tight spaces. In retrospect I can see, the wisdom in all thats come to be but I still want that PhD!

That frame-able reminder of all that I've been through. Knowing it's been worth something and that others see it to. The work it's been to get here and the sense of pride I feel. It might sound silly to you, but to me it's a big deal!  I want that piece of paper that acknowledgement to me, a handshake and a nod from alumni and  faculty...  The accomplishment that comes after all the hard works done...I want my second act now, it's time to have some fun!

Be a mover and a shaker and really kick some ass but do it with dignity and hopefully with class. Be a world beater but be kind to those you meet, be the best that you can be and don't feel you have to
compete. For the world has plenty of room for those with PhD's in life experience, this I tell myself when I'm tired and delirious.

For those who have taken care of others and been the overseers, I want to impart kudos to you for you really are great leaders! For teaching the world that it's ok to help others accomplish a goal. Makes you instrumental in the world,as a whole! For it takes a village as one wise woman proclaimed. You can take that knowledge and hopefully no shame, that you have helped the greater good and probably overcame- obstacles  in abundance, frustration and some blame.

So this I have to say, Congratulations on earning this degree! The School Of Hard Knocks
acknowledges your hard work and tenacity! I give to you this honorary degree of PhD in Applied Life Science of Hard Knocks and Misery. Now go out there and make this ole world a better place to
be! The possibilities are endless for those  with this degree.

Philosophers, life coaches and writers all take heed, their are no greater teachers than our lives that we all must lead. The education comes to us all in different ways, the hows and whys differ but the result is all the same. Whatever our misfortune, our plight to overcome, we look upon our history, this is what we draw from. We find a way to make "it" work whatever "It", may be and this is how we navigate life's harsh adversity.

So when you gaze upon my plaque and question my credentials, I'll have you look into my soul  and show you my life's hurdles. That got me to this place of honor that I hold today . This I will always look upon, cherish and display!  For I have  knowledge and wisdom that only life can teach. I feel
accomplished and confident that I have truly reached, a level worthy of excepting this prestigious
PhD, and I'm so glad Ive had the chance to learn all  that I can be!  Now here's to fun and happiness for all eternity!  Learnings done and funs begun and maybe I will see, the journey that I took, didn't come from a book...It came from me!

Paying Attention To My Own Backyard...

I don't suppose that this looks like much work but it is. Especially when it's HOT! Geez it's been miserable. 112 today here in Phoenix. Still over 100 at midnight. In the high 90's at 6:00am.  We have a free bulk trash pickup quarterly here in Phoenix. I do a lot of yard work right before the pickup date along with whatever I just need to toss out. The mesquite trees we have are a royal pain. They always need to be clipped and grow like weeds between trimmings. I am starting this clipping process a few weeks before the pickup date. This is a slow process as I have to clip all of the folage off of the branches.

Yard work will kick your butt in 100 degree weather. You power down water but just working hard in the intense sun and heat fully hydrated,  made me tired. I did however feel as if I had made a big dent in this yard clean up project. This yard in the winter and spring is really cute. This yard isn't lavish or fancy but when it's cleaned up, it's a nice place to be! I love the yard.

Tire swing! G-kids, all 7 of them love this big tire swing.

Not fancy but comfortable!

This yard allows us to enjoy our inflatable waterslide...

Family reunions

I quite literally hugged this tree today. I love this gorgeous tree and I admire it often. 

My favorite part of my backyard, this majestic mesquite tree. This tree and the yard  sold the house to me 10 years ago next month. I could invision family gatherings, and kid friendly place to be. This yard has served us well. Allowing room enough for everything we have asked it to do from camping  out in two tents to 100 folding chairs and tables for a beautiful, charming New Years Eve wedding! Lots of wonderful memories full of family and friends breaking bread and listening to Bread in this yard! 

Speaking of Bread, ( Sorry, couldn't resist ). 

My cover of Guitar Man on SoundCloud 

Guitar Man written by Bread (cover)

I admit to being a tree hugger in my own backyard. Ok, Maybe I've even talked to this tree a few 

times...

I Love My Backyard!

Ps. Is it any wonder I talk to trees? Lol just sayin...