"Happy Armed Forces Day"

 To all who serve, both past and present.

Where would we be without you?

"Happy Armed Forces Day"

It's day 6 of a radical surgery.....

It's day 6 of my recovery from surgery and I'm so glad to be past it all.  This really hit me harder than expected.

What I had done ........

 Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy; Laparoscopic Supracervical  ... it is called a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, uteroscaral ligament colposuspension cystoscopy and anterior and posterior colporrhaphy.

Boy that is a mouth full. 

I did not intend to talk about this on my blog but today's news of "Angelina Jolie's" decision to have a total mastectomy has me thinking even more that I made the right decision for myself.

Over the years there has been so much cancer in my family. My mom, her mom, and her 3 sisters all had one form or another of a deadly cancer.
I've been living with the fear and although each year I had the testing done to detect cancer in my system this deadly disease seemed to have jumped my generation and went on to my then 22 year old daughter (today she is 44 and doing great) who was diagnosed with  cervical dysplasia and part of her cervix removed at such a young age.

This past few years I've been suffering with a very large fibroid and it gave me such problems and after talking to my doctor we decided to remove it along with my uterus and since there was so much cancer to be concerned with we also removed the ovaries,  tubes and part of the cervix.  The reason why only part of my cervix was removed,  we needed to use the remaining part  as an anchor to reinforce the vaginal wall that was prolapsing from the weight of the volly ball size fibroid. (yes I said Volly ball)  You would never have know I had such a large fibroid as I wear a size 6 slacks. Where it was hiding is beyond me?  I lost 8 lbs since the surgery!

I could have lived with all this until someone told me I had cancer but like "Joli" I was not wanting to wait for that to happen and when the news of her surgery came  today I wondered how she would feel of having the surgery I had.  She is young, 37, and she may still want more children?  Her Breast Cancer percentage went from 86% down to 5% and that is a lot.  The article said she was not thinking of removing her ovaries (her mom died from ovarian cancer at a young 56yrs) at this time.
My surgery just put my breast cancer scare down by 50% as all the reproductive organs are connected somehow. 

I'm feeling so good about what I had done and now can look to the future without this one worry.  
I'll have to tell you all, this type of surgery has left me in such pain.  Just today I got up and walked around without my hot pad pressed against my tummy.  I am still on the pain meds but I can think clearer and that is a plus.  I was told it will take another few weeks until I'm back to normal but my mind is at ease for once in many years.  

Since the news came out today about "Jolie" there is also more talk on how many other women have chosen to do this sort of elective surgery to save their lives.  It may seem radical but we all deserve a long and happy life.  
If any of you have had this on your minds talk to your doctors and look into your family tree.  As I said before I had 5 women in my family die from these reproductive cancers and this was a large part of my decision although not one had Breast Cancer.  Two did have ovarian?  I don't have that worry any more.

I'll be taking another week or two then will  get back to blogging.  
Take care of yourselves.

   

 

Thoughts on Mothers Day 2013

 When Mothers Day comes around my heart still seems a bit sad.  I am missing my Mom just as much as I did the day she died.  Why she chose Mothers Day 1998 to leave this world has my mind smiling  as I know Mom wanted us to be sure to remember the day..  All of you out there who have lost your Moms know the feeling, one that always comes to our hearts each day of the year.  I can still hear her voice and smell her sent.  Her loving ways are still with me and with much love I'm sending all the vibes I can muster up to the heavens to her on this Mothers Day.

 As a Mom  I want to thank my kids for all the wonderful years they have given me.  My three all live in different areas of the country and it's been 9 years now since I've had the pleasure of having them all under my roof together.  The photo below is my son and two beautiful daughters. 

Gina, Cyndi and Tom

 This past April my Gina gave me a new grandson. Little Henry had the pleasure of joining his three brothers, Dad and Mom and is such a lucky boy to have joined this happy loving family.

 My kids have always been there for me over the years and spending time with them has been a priority when we can manage to get together.  I received such a sweet gift the other day from my  daughter-in-law Michelle.  

(makes me think she likes him)

 The marriage between Michelle and Tom gave me my wonderful grand daughter  Eve.  This young lady is as sweet and grown up as she can be and I'm so proud of her.  She called me the other night so excited, "Grandma I got a job"  Her first at the tender age of 14 and "it's in a comic book store"

 My daughter #1, Cyndi.  This girl (woman) has made me so proud.  She has been working so hard to build a great life for herself,  bought her first home this past year and has turned it into her dream.  When I need help or anything Cyn is always the first to come running. 

 Below is another gift I received in the mail, just today.  I belong to a great group of women,  "Coast Guard Moms".  We had a gift exchange for Mothers Day and the gift is a beautiful mosaic cross.  In the center is the Coast Guard insignia.  How did she know I have a collection of crosses scattered around my home? How did she know how special the USCG is to me and my family?

Mothers Day comes and go's each year but each day to me is Mothers Day just knowing and having my children.  They make my life special and I can say with great pride, 

"They have made my life what it is today"

Wishing all the Moms and Dads and Grandparents,  Caregivers and Guardians, who take care of and raise kids.

"Happy Mothers Day"

15th Annual Community Water-Wise Awards .. Do I have a chance?

 Today I entered a contest.. 

Tampa Bay Water is accepting applications for the 15^th Annual Community Water-Wise Awards program. If your yard incorporates Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles with attractive design, it may have what it takes to win! The application is online at tampabaywaterwise.org and must be received by June 30, 2013.

If you are a resident, business, builder or other organization in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as well as the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey, you are eligible to apply!

 For the past 9 years I've been working so hard to get this yard "Florida Friendly"

When I first moved in it was a messy slope and every time the rains came it would wash the soil down into the creek.  The only way I could see saving the soil was to create barriers of brick pavers and as much ground cover as I could.  Well I think I've finally achieved this with  many plantings that created roots to stop the erosion.  I also now do not need as much water to keep it all alive.

The contest asked for only one photo so I hope this collage is ok because it's the one I sent?

I do think I have a good chance because I went into their past winners and I can see I'm right in there.

See the past winners here 

What do you think? Please be honest with me because I'll be chewing my nails until it's over. 

I sent in my application today although I have a few months before they will send out someone to walk my yard (July)... (that is a good thing because I can still add a few things to make it even better).... The Prize is a simple stepping stone for my yard and that would really make me happy because it's acknowledging my hard work. 

Wish me luck!

 I'm linking up to
Outdoor Wednesday 
Share Your Cup Thursday 
Tuesdays Garden Party 

Garage Sale Pitcher and Vase... for the bathroom?

This past Saturday I found two sweet little vases.  Well one is a pitcher but they both will be nice with some kind of flowers in them.  I thought the white would work on a shelf in my newly painted bathroom but then when I saw the blue one... it just looked better.
Each of these cost me all of a dollar.  So I splurged and bought some silk daisy's from Michaels.

 The paint color I bought for the walls  said "Billowy Down" so why is it looking blue? Must be the light and the camera because when I'm in the bathroom it looks white?
I'm not sure what to put on the opposite wall.... will have to venture through Home Goods next week.  Maybe 4 prints to go over the tub?  Floral or something?
You may notice the hand towel hanging on the hook under the shelf.. it's one of my moms.  She has been gone almost 17 years now and this old ratty towel hangs in my bathroom no matter where I am... brings me joy just to see it. 

 

Oh I hate the color of the tub!  Really!

My plan, in a few weeks,  I will get the paint and finish tub and tile in white.  I want that  "Old French Farmhouse" look in this bathroom and It will happen eventually. But for now it looks so empty.

The counter top is making me so happy now that it's not the ugly yellow laminate.  My plan to add another sink to this rather large vanity was put on hold since the budget is laughing at me.... so it will only get a new fancy faucet.  I've been doing research on how to install the new faucet.  Wish me luck with this!

(now this photo, the walls look green?  take my word for it, their white)

Rain is on the way.  Our rainy season is coming early.  That means storms each afternoon for the next few months.  I just love our loud stormy afternoons.  My garden loves it too!

BTW... 

Leave it to Pinterest to make ya feel dumb...Peeling An Orange, Like A Boss. Cut or pull the top and bottom circles from the orange/tangerine. Then slit between two sections and roll it out. MIND BLOWN.

Have a wonderful week everyone because 

I sure am. 

I'm linking up to

Share your Cup 

Another busy day working on the upstairs bath and my Hoya is blooming....

Today was another one of those busy days for me.  I went back to working on my upstairs bathroom  but first I needed to go out and water most of my potted plants. Our heat is back and in just one day they all dry out.  I noticed on the upstairs balcony the Hoya was blooming.  They are the sweetest flower clusters and mine are pink although they do come in white and lavender.  The plant has very long trailing vines and the flower has a waxie feel about them.  I think they feel and look like china.  I don't get an aroma but some say this flower does have one?

Then it was into my painting clothes and up to the bathroom I went to finish plastering areas where I took out the 1970's china TP, soap and tooth brush holders.  They match the tub and tile, a really deep cream color from the era.  Once I finish with the walls I'm going to attempt to paint the tub (that is for another post) and install a new white toilet.  
  After pulling out the holders  I used a scrap of drywall and plaster to repair the holes.

  Then I installed the new wood medicine cabinet.  Looks so much better than the old rusty outdated 1970's cabinet that was there.  I was surprised how easy it was to remove the old and install the new one.. just a matter of 4 screws then plastering the torn and broken spots in the dry wall that I created when moving out the old.

The walls are being  painted a  fresh coat of Behr,  
"Billowy Down" paint.
See what I mean about the ugly tub and tile.  I priced new but the budget just laughed at me.  Strange but my shower stall is tiled in a white color?

I'll tell you now that I've painted the kitchen counter I have so much more faith in all the new paints out there that are budget friendly.  It's been three years now since doing the kitchen counter top and it's holding up wonderfully.  I did the counter in this bath just three days ago and paid all of $19.99 for a quart and I still have about half  the can left.
From the old 1970's yellow laminate to a very soft "Ash" (gray) color and it really looks nice with the white walls and vanity.  I noticed the tub, tile and toilet are cream. Sink and shower tile is white. Wonder who put this room together because it's all original to the house?

This beauty below will be installed into the sink.  Now this excites me to have a new faucet.  

A tall faucet!

 I spent about 4 hours patching and painting and now I'm tired.  Time to sit still for the evening and continue on with my latest project, a cross stitch bib for my grandbaby Henry.  He is just 6 weeks  so this one will work in a few months.  I have plenty of time to finish.

 Feels good to sit!  Tomorrow is Sunday and it's my day of rest. Well maybe?

"Have a good weekend everyone"

I'm linking up to
Sunny Simple Sunday 
Sew Darn Crafty 
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 
Tuesdays To Do List 

 

Warning, Watch out ladies. Mirror Image.. interesting, very interesting....

 Watch out when you or your family are in a dressing room, hotel room, or bathroom away from the home.

 I didn't know this, but I sure will remember it now!
How can you tell when you are in a room, restroom, motel etc. with a mirror or a 2-way glass?

Here's how: I thought it was quite interesting! And I know in about 30 seconds you're going to do what I did and find the nearest mirror.   Do you know how to determine if a mirror is 2-way or not? A policewoman who travels all over the US and gives seminars and techniques for businesswomen passed this on.

When we visit toilets, bathrooms, hotel rooms, changing rooms, etc., how many of you know for sure that the seemingly ordinary mirror hanging on the wall is a real mirror, or actually a 2-way mirror (i.e., they can see you, but you can't see them)? There have been many cases of people installing 2-way mirrors in female changing rooms . It is very difficult to positively identify the surface by looking at it.
So, how do we determine with any amount of certainty what type of mirror we are looking at?

TWO WAY GLASS IMAGE MIRROR

Just conduct this simple test: Place the tip of your fingernail against the reflective surface and if there is a GAP between your fingernail and the image of the nail, then it is GENUINE mirror. However, if your fingernail DIRECTLY TOUCHES the image of your nail, then 
Warning,  IT IS A 2-WAY MIRROR!

"No Space, Leave the Place" 
So remember, every time you see a mirror, do the "fingernail test." It doesn't cost you anything.
 

Watch out, remember,  

No Space, Leave the Place

I'm linking up to Jennys  letter "W"

 Alphabet Thursday

 

Catching up on a few projects that I just let slide....

My up stairs bath was a project I started almost three years ago and just this week I got back to working on it.
 You know how it is, one thing leads to another and it just did not get finished.   The vanity was old builder grade brown wood and I painted it with the hopes of getting a new counter top with the addition of a second sink but finances did not permit so the ugly yellow laminate won the battle and stayed. 
  
Then there was the cross stitch I started last year for my daughters family... at the time there were only three little boys and just this past April they were blessed with baby boy #4.  Well I had to find a way to add this new addition and I squeezed Henry into the design.

 The only spot I could find to put Henry was between mom and dad cat and it worked out perfectly.

 As for the counter top I taped it and painted the color I was going for in the bath, grey and white (the old blue walls will change to soon) but once I put on the grey I chose,  I realized it was awful (much too dark and muddy looking)  and ran to the HD and bought a new color called "Ash"...

 Oh yes, a much calmer color and I really like how it turned out.

 I think the bathroom reno bug has come back to me and I pulled the old dated towel bar, tooth brush and soap dish from the walls.  My patch is not perfect but once dried I'll sand it smooth before the wall paint go's up. My mind sees a wooden towel rack with shelf on top and that means I need to hit the garage sales for this.
As for the soap dish and tooth brush rack, not going to replace. I keep our toothbrushes in the drawers.  Do you know how the toilet sprays around your bathroom when flushed, if the lid is not put down first?

 Well all I can say is ewwww!  You have a choice, put the lid down or put your brushes out of the way!

 My cross stitch is finished and all I need to do now is find a packing box to fit then to the post office heading for OKC. 

The  bathroom will be done in steps over the next few weeks.  I'll squeeze in a hour here and there until I finally get it done.

Funny thing I looked on my list of projects and there are 7 all together that are almost half finished.  

Why do I do this to myself?

"Have a great week everyone"

I'm linking up to
Adorned From Above 

A beautiful day to piddle around the house and yard.

I walked out my front door this morning and heard the chirp-chirp of little ones in the flower pot.  As much as I wanted to get a better look at the newly hatched baby Finches I left it alone.  Mom and Dad have been flying in and out for several weeks now and my coming and going has not seemed to bother them.  The Hoya in the pot has not been watered for weeks and still looks good so I'm leaving the new family alone. These little Finches are so loud as they sit in the tree most of the day, right by the front door.  It's a nice sound and I think I'll miss it once the family leaves the nest.

Today was a day full of different chores.  I clipped many of my herbs and set them to dry.  My kitchen window is the best place to hang them. Below is a good bunch of Oregano that fills the kitchen with it's wonderful sent.

The all ready dried bunch has been hanging for about two weeks and today I picked the tiny leaves from the stems and put them into one of the little plastic storage containers that line my herb shelf in the pantry. Growing my own Oregano is so much better than buying a jar of dried from the store.  The flavor is so much more intense and flavorful.  I have two very large plants that have been outside now for about three years and each year they seem to get bigger.

My Rosemary bushes are also thriving.  Compared to other plants in my neighborhood mine are so small.  Could be because I'm always clipping them to use in cooking.  My neighbors just grow them for hedges  and never use the herb.
A great way to use the large stems.. when you BBQ  put your veggies on the stems instead of using regular skewers.  You will not believe how the rosemary flavor gets into the food as it cooks.  Yes, if you eat meat use the stems the same way.  
Since my neighbors cut down a rather large Hickory tree this past week  I saw the sun in my kitchen window for the first time since living in this house... I was so excited and clipped rosemary and put into water to root.  It will take a few weeks but I have all the time in the world.  Will be nice to have a few new plants. 

As you can see my kitchen widow is a busy place.  Always full of my favorite things.  Basel rooting is another constant thing going on there. 

I noticed this past month my garden bench has seen better times.  With all the weather it's endured over the past 8 years it's starting to rot really bad.  The bench is way down by the creek and no one but the critters sit on it so I'm not afraid anyone will be hurt.  It's nice to look at from the back deck.  Decorative you might say.  

But I don't want to loose it or toss it in the trash (I got it out of someones trash years ago)   No surprise it's rotting, each rainy season the creek rises and the water comes up to the seat on this bench and it sits in the water for a few days.   But it always dries out and has served me well.  The ground below is just a modge podge of weeds, ferns and clover and always green and pretty. 

 Today I used some scrap wood and liquid nails and glued the boards to the legs with hopes of keeping it standing.  But first I used some craft paint and tried to match the color.   Might give this wonderful bench at least one more summer season to delight my garden?  I might just use some left over white spray paint and change the look?  It's not a very professional job but then no one looks at it way down there except me.

Today was a beautiful sunny day and a great day to piddle around the house and yard.  You know those days where you have no real plans and just see and do all the things you have not had time to get done.
Tomorrow is Saturday, that means yard sales.  I'm on the look out for some flower pots to put some really nice flowering bulbs my niece sent me for my birthday.  They will look good on the deck. 

Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend everyone. 

I'm linking this post to
 Sunny Simple Sunday 
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 
Fertilizer Friday