Hidden by a Hair Curtain

It’s official…I can no longer hide.

Last week I got my long, thick, flowing hair chopped off. I’m talking short (but still feminine, according to the hairdresser.) What made me decide to have it cut? The courage of my sister Shannon convinced me to do it.

Shannon has long been the person that I most admire. She is smart (able to do crossword puzzles without cheating), beautiful (many people think that she’s actually much younger than I am) and successful (a nurse for many, many years, but more like a doctor). Even more, Shannon is very much the extrovert. I tend to try to blend into the walls and not be noticed, unless I’m teaching a horticulture class. Shannon, on the other hand, is the shining star in the middle of the room. Everyone loves, admires, and respects her.

Shannon recently took a drastic step and had her hair dyed bleach blonde, and then had shocking pink color added to the front and all around the sides and back, in a bowl shape. It's AWESOME. Most people would look ridiculous, but on Shannon it’s a work of art. She can tell the world "I’m being creative, and if you don’t like it you can kiss my a**!" and stand proud.

I followed Shannon’s lead recently. In a moment of "I can do it"-ness, I asked my hairdresser Chris to hack it off, so that I looked like Reba from one of the earlier years. The pile of hair on the floor kept getting bigger and bigger. When I finally looked in the mirror, I saw a self-assured (if somewhat round-faced) woman staring back at me. My hair ROCKED.

Here I am, nearly a week later, trying to be confident. I found that I used my long hair as a shield against uncomfortable situations. I could tip my head forward, and my hair would fall down around the side of my face, shielding me from reality. My hair was my curtain. (Did you ever notice that your hair is never the same as when the hairdresser does it?)

I need to learn confidence and pride in myself, something that a lot of "chubby" women like myself tend to lack. It’s going to be a tough road, but by challenging myself and expanding my horizons, I can make it.

I think I’ll go paint my fingernails black or bright red as the next step in my confidence therapy. Good-bye, pale pink….hello, aplomb!

A Stroll....3

See what I mean about the fabulous sky? It sets off the lilies perfectly.

A Stroll....2

Since I'm having trouble downloading pictures (I'm on dial-up) I thought I'd do just a picture at a time.

Remember when I said the garden was glowing? Here’s proof. The photos aren’t doctored up because I have absolutely no clue on how to do anything like that. I just happened to catch the sun hitting the brilliant yellow daylilies at the right time. Cool, huh?

A Stroll Through the Gardens

A Stroll Through the Gardens
Today was one of the most beautiful days of the 21st century. The sun was brightly shining in the robin’s egg blue sky, causing the flowers to absolutely glow in the gardens. I’d like to think it was their “welcome back, we missed you!” glow, but I probably had nothing to do with it. (Thank you, God, for this beautiful day.)
After spending an extremely enjoyable day with Erin and Jaden (Alana stopped by for about an hour as well) I came home and grabbed my camera, a Kodak EasyShare CX7330, 3.1 mega pixel memory maker for my feeble mind. I wandered around the yard, photographing everything that called out for my attention. I was able to capture 49 images before my batteries gave out. Luckily Max has a Kodak EasyShare C530 that offers 5.0 mega pixels, so I was able to take another 51 pictures before I had to rest (still recuperating from surgery.)
I’m going to attempt to attach some of my favorite snapshots to this blog. Unfortunately, my computer skills are rather limited (we can’t all be good at everything, right????) so please bear with me.
Since my mind is a rusty trap, I find it beneficial to list all plant names on metal tags. In order to avoid the tragedy of weather-related paint disappearance, the exact information is placed on the back as well as the front. If there’s room, I add the date planted and some of the characteristics of the plant. Latin names are very important to know, so I try to include them, as well.
Not all plants are labeled as a lot of the daylilies that I have are experiments. My deceased friend, Sandy Ellis was a true genius at hybridizing daylilies, and she taught me how to do so. It’s kind of like eating M&M’s…..once you start you just can’t stop.

Here’s one of the front gardens (the Weeping Cherry Garden.) See the hypertufa containers? I love to make them in my spare time. The small reddish daylily is ‘Burgundy Babe’. Man, does this daylily produce! There were many, many blooms prior to today, and the various bud sizes indicate that I will have many, many blooms to come. I’ll cross this daylily with a larger, darker one that doesn’t perform as well, hoping to get a large dark lily that will knock my socks off.

FREEDOM!!!!!

At long last my husband has released my proverbial chains from the couch. Today he took me to Erin's house to drop off the movie, and then onto the oriental restaurant in town. I will admit that the trip wore me out, but oh, my, it was wonderful to see the world again!

In the afternoon my fabulous pink-haired sister Shannon and her middle daughter Robyn, along with Robyn's daughter Brianna, stopped by to visit. Shannon walked with me around the yard so that we could admire the blossoms, blooms and buds. It was like heaven, weeds and all (I did manage to bend over and pull out a few while she wasn't looking.)

Tomorrow I will wander the yard with my camera so that I can post some pictures. I can't wait.

Oh, how I enjoyed my freedom! I can truly sympathize with those less fortunate; i.e., the elderly in nursing homes, patients in long-care facilities, prisoners, and so forth. Once again, I am reminded how truly precious life is. My wish is that everyone else in this constantly-changing world can appreciate the beauty of nature, the wonder of life, and the costly privilege of FREEDOM.

Bonkers

Have you ever felt like you HAD to get out of your house, or you’d go totally bonkers? I’m close to that point. VERY close.

On Monday, July 7, I had a minor surgery. I slept off the effects of the anesthesia for the first few days, even to the point of falling asleep while eating a bowl of chicken noodle soup. Family members waited on me hand and foot. As the usual primary care giver, I initially sucked up the attention. It was nice (and rare) to be the recipient of so much thoughtfulness. Sometimes I wonder if I’m actually loved by my teenage daughter and chronically grumpy husband. My fears were put to rest post-surgery. After all, it takes a LOT of love to help someone go to the bathroom, pull up and down pajamas, and clean up bloody messes. Definitely not a Hallmark moment, but they probably DO have cards for it.

The wonderful Erin, Steve and Jaden, Brandon and Bryan, and sister Shannon (who took me to and from the hospital) made sure that I was well cared for. I’ll have to think of something really nice to do to repay their patience with me, and the kindness and gentleness of their care. Even my sorority sisters of Beta Sigma Phi brought over meals. Yep, I was spoiled!

Now I’m ready to get on with life. Hubby, however, is very careful about what I’m doing. This morning there was a water garden club meeting for Central Illinois Water Gardeners. He wouldn’t let me go! It’s true that I have a SLIGHT tendency to overdo things…okay, a STRONG tendency to overdo…but I’m going stir-crazy. I look out the picture window in the living room that overlooks the unfinished koi pond, the hundreds of purple and white coneflowers, the ever-growing Kentucky Bluegrass lawn, and weeds. Oh, how I desperately want to be outside! The countless varieties of daylilies are in bloom, teasing me with splashes of color when I sit at the table in the sunroom. Brilliant pink impatiens beg for Miracle Gro so that they can explode over the rock borders, softening the edges of the area.

Indigo buntings flock to the feeder in front, gorging themselves on safflower seeds as they brighten the scenery with their brilliant hue. Equally vivid are the American goldfinches, vying for space on the mesh stocking-like feeder that hangs from a shepherd’s hook just off the back deck. The nut feeders are empty, leaving the usual wide variety of woodpeckers, flickers, and nuthatches with no reason to hang around for my viewing pleasure. Hopefully I can sneak out tomorrow (it’s raining again so I can’t do it tonight) to fill them.

Okay, I’m done whining now. I’ll drown my gardening urges by ordering new and exciting plants through the gardening catalogs that litter the coffee table. Then I’ll re-watch the movie "Martian Child" that Erin & Steve brought over (excellent movie, by the way…if you haven’t seen it, you need to) and drink a cup of hot tea as a companion to my biscotti. My state of "bonkers" is now under control.

Perhaps tomorrow the rain will stop and I will be able to go outside, camera in hand, to permanently capture the beauty that I have helped to create. I will honor my family’s wishes to not overdo anything so that I suffer no setbacks.

Next week, however, I will be a gardening fool!

Critters in the Gardens

Our bi-level home, in dire need of remodeling, is located on a wee bit more than two acres in the middle of nowhere. Directly behind our little slice of heaven is 75 acres of virgin lumber, which connects to the region’s state recreation area (how that differs from a state park, I’ll never know.) Each side of the property is crowded with shag bark hickories, a few varieties of oak trees, yummy sassafras, and the world’s largest supply of poison ivy.

Critters of all make and models occupy the woods around our house. Once when I was spreading mulch in the Welcome Garden (all gardens have names…this one is by the driveway, near the road, and is decorated with a small pineapple statue. I read somewhere that the pineapple is a welcome symbol.) I felt as if I was being watched. There, at the edge of the woods, sat rather shaggy red fox. It looked at me with a nonchalant eye, then trotted across the driveway and to the woods on the other side. It was probably on its way to tell the rest of the woodland creatures about the goofy human with her butt up in the air.

Deer sightings are a daily occurrence. On the sunny Saturday day that I held my daughter’s high school graduation party, the kids were thrilled to see a doe walking up the driveway. She was headed toward the Hosta patch, and I could swear that she had drool halfway to the ground. You could read it in her eyes…this deer was hungry, and ‘Tattoo’ and ‘Strip Tease’ were on the menu! The kids laughed hysterically as I grabbed the gold paper party horn from the table and flew out the front door, blowing an obnoxious "BLAAAAAATTTT!" and scaring the poop out of Bambi’s mother.

Yesterday, while conducting a quick garden tour, I noticed that all of the buds were chewed off of the top of my ‘Pompon’ (a full, peachy beauty) daylily, as well as most of the other daylilies and the ‘Blushing Bride’ hydrangea. I have a feeling that the fat and happy doe was lurking in the undergrowth, glowing with the sweet taste of revenge. Touché, Mrs. Bambi….you win this round.
You’d think that with our two extra-large Siberian huskies (the female is so wide she can be used for a coffee table) the rabbits would avoid our yard, but NOOOOO. The bunnies have ascertained that when the dogs are in their kennel, they have run of the back yard, where the most delicious and expensive plants are kept. Sometimes I hear the dogs howling in their wolf-like voices and I imagine that the rabbits are parading in front of the kennel, thumbing their noses and wiggling their evil little cotton tails so that they can work up a big appetite. I’ve found a portion of latticework along the deck that has a rabbit-size hole chewed into it. They are probably quietly plotting to take over the world, one garden at a time, starting with mine. Remember when they do that you heard it here first…move over, Sylvia Brown!
Snakes are almost as plentiful as ants, or so it seems. This region is supposedly free of poison snakes, but we have found copperheads in the yard near the koi pond. The vast majority of the snakes are actually the good guys…garter snakes, bull snakes, and the occasional unidentified serpent. They keep the rodent population in check, so they are welcome here anytime. I just prefer that they would have a bicycle flag attached to their backs so that I’m not so surprised when I stumble upon one. My pants would stay dryer that way.

The bane of my existence is the dreaded Japanese Beetles. These coppery green voracious eaters devour anything that is slower than they are. This includes marigolds and rhubarb, which are supposed to be unappetizing to the cursed beetles. As a Master Gardener I have had extensive training on how to deal with the pests. (Hand pick the beetles and drop them into a jar of soapy water or use a product like Sevin to spray plants that are expensive or important to me, etc.) Instead I am tempted to use flame-throwers or nuclear weapons to eradicate the demons. In my deepest, darkest fantasies the Japanese Beetles morph until they will only eat poison ivy. Perhaps the entomologists of the world can work on that.

Coyotes, stray dogs and feral cats, bats, tons of birds, and moles also share our space. Rumor has it that there are wildcats and mountain lions as well, but I’ve never seen any of them. As long as they leave my gardens alone, and forget about eating the family pets, we can cohabitate in peace.
Housework and remodeling can wait for a rainy day. While the sun is shining, I’ll spend all of my time in the yard, working in the gardens and watching the critters that come to visit.

..and a good time was had by all...

Celebrations

Oh, how I love holidays. It doesn’t matter WHAT we’re celebrating, as long as I can bring the family together for food and fun. Sometimes my kids and ‘almost kids’ (we’re so close that I feel as if they are my kids) make fun of me because I tend to go slightly overboard. My goal is to host parties that the little ones will fondly remember long after I’m gone.

Today was no exception. The celebration of the freedom of our country is indeed the perfect time for families to gather together and make merry.

Max, the Working Man

My husband Max decided to accept an overtime bid by working day shift at the power plant. He came home at 3:30, attempted to replace the ceiling light in the living room, and sat with me for a short time while I stoked the flames of the fire pit. After briefly playing with the little ones, he withdrew to his bat cave bedroom for a three-hour nap in preparation for the midnight shift. Sadly, Max missed out on the majority of the revelry of the day. Luckily, he reaped the benefits of the fire pit, as I packed hamburgers (cooked over cherry and oak wood), kick-ass potato salad, Nacho cheese Doritos, and a piece of moist chocolate cake in his Herman Munster size lunchbox.

The REST of the Family Present

My elderly parents (check a future blog for some belly laughs regarding their lives) were the first to arrive at our country home, eager to see their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They love being around the kids, enjoying the antics of the hyperactive and imaginative masses of energy (and fueled by sugar) while reminding us that THEY get to go home by themselves.

Erin and her husband Steve, as well as their children Jonas, Adylynn and Jaden were next. Erin is my niece, but she feels more like my daughter. We are all very close and see each other nearly every day. They probably get sick of me!

Brandon, my 26-year-old son, and his wife Jessica, as well as their little miracle baby Bryan, were also here. Jessie & Brandon were recently married in Las Vegas (yet another blog-to-be) on June 11, 2008. Laughs abound when Brandon is around. I have bribed Brandon & Jessie into naming their next three children Shelly Lea…but we all know that they will renounce the fact when the time comes!

Alana is my beautiful 18-year-old daughter. She and her boyfriend Will are currently residing in the bedroom in the corner. Nope, I’m not thrilled with the situation, but that’s the way it is until we can get the two of them moved into their new apartment. (It’s just weird knowing that a BOY is sleeping with my baby! Sometimes I feel like creeping into the bedroom into the middle of the night and beating him senseless with a big stick. Too bad I’m a pacifist.) She’s expecting a baby in January and I’m doing everything humanly possible to assure that they will name the baby Little Shelly. Of course they have a different opinion on what to name the baby…go figure. Again, there will be more blogs about this subject in the future.

Fun & Games

It’s like orchestrated chaos when we get everyone together. The four children, two of them almost three, one nearly five, and a six year old, enjoyed a wide variety of activities. Today’s adventures included playing in a ball pit that I found at a garage sale for $2.00 (side note – never trust the lady collecting money when she says "No, there’s no leaks in this ball pit!") and blowing bubbles with utensils from a 25 piece variety pack bubble set. Little Bryan, in a state of euphoria from being allowed to run with the big kids, drank the bubble solution from the pipe. I’m glad I don’t have to change his next dirty diaper! In the late afternoon we broke out the big container of popper streamers, which left the deck and back yard covered in multi-colored paper shreds. The big kids (a.k.a. Brandon, Erin, Jessie, Alana and Will) were delighted with the poppers. I must admit that I partook in the streamer craziness for a short time, and had a blast doing it.

The snappers turned out to be a big disappointment. I’m talking about the little wonton shaped papers that have a pinch of explosive powder. When you throw them on the driveway they’re supposed to give a loud and obnoxious but harmless SNAP! Only one in ten popped. It was rather funny watching the little ones throw them down as hard as they could, but I think I’ll pass on the poppers next year.

The glow sticks, unlike the poppers, were lots of fun. The kids took them into the windowless hallway to frantically wave their arms and see the glow of the pretty colors. Later that night, Erin, Steve, Jonas, Ady and Jaden took me into town so that we could watch fireworks. We all started out wearing a necklace of glow sticks, but it ended up that I had all of them. You could see me coming from a mile away! Luckily my glowing didn’t interfere with the magnificence of the fireworks display. The kids "ooohed" and "ahhhhed" (while Ady covered her ears) as they watched the shower of colors. The small-town display held big-town professionalism. Pink dandelion shapes happen to be my personal favorite. I admit to giving quite a few "ooohs" and "ahhhs" myself!

Recuperating

Laziness isn’t normally in my daily grind, but this morning I was the depiction of a sloth. I took many catnaps on the couch and stayed in my jammies until one-ish. I’m now taking a break from doing two loads of dishes, cleaning the refuse of the day, and vacuuming the plethora of paper pieces. It’s worth all of the before and after effort of having a party when I think about the smiling faces and hysterical giggles of the kids, both big and little, when they are having the time of their lives.