japanese beetles again...

every year

we have them and there's nothing you can do to keep them away

~

sure

you can spray your trees

and

the ground

and

use bags to trap them

but

they're still there

in swarms

having a smorgasbord with your plants

mating

and

then quickly dying

until

their relatives show up the following year

to start the whole process all over again

~~

and

guess what

?

they really don't even bother me at all

especially

compared to

the lady asian beetles

that will inhabit

~by the thousands~

the porches out at our cottage

later this summer

~~

lady asian beetles resemble lady bugs

but

stink

and

leave yellow trails from bodily fluids on anything they come in contact with

ceilings

curtains

walls

floors

furniture

~~

just wait for that post

it won't be pretty

*

walk this way

over here to my other home

where

hopefully you'll laugh at my sick sense of humor

*

I was determined to do good...

dani

has been working on an amazing project

and

when she asked if I would be interested in helping her

well

let's just say

I was honored

this is how it goes

~~

she sent me two dollars

asking me to do something with it

that would hopefully make the difference in the life of someone

and

then if at all possible

document it for her

the two dollars were burning a hole in my pocket

while I kept looking and listening and watching and waiting for a perfect opportunity

and

then yesterday

after I had exhausted myself at

~art fair on the square~

I headed down state street a bit

to do what I love to do

~people watch~

and

came across these two boys

who were just starting to unzip the cases protecting their guitars

then out came the

"saving for california"

sign

and

I was hooked

~~

I started the pot

by

throwing the two dollars dani trusted me with

into the open guitar case

{actually tucking it under the sign as the wind was blowing important things around}

and

stood back and listened

to two fabulous dueling acoustic guitars

while a latin beat danced in my head

and

watched

and

watched others

watching

and

after 15 minutes

their case was cradling ten dollars

and

I slowly walked away with a huge smile on my face

thinking to myself

how often lately I feel like I've been in the right place at the right time

and

wondering

if this just happens all on its own

or

if it's possible to create these scenarios yourself

?

~~~~~

whatever it is

I feel blessed

and

if you're wondering

yes

the oldest one of these boys reminded me so much of john mayer

and

the charismatic and amazingly talented younger one

well

I just wanted to take home due to his extreme cuteness

*

I'm also playing over here today

he's adored...

you

have given me more laugh lines than I ever thought possible

you

understand my thoughts even when they don't make any sense to me

you

warm my feet when they're cold

you

bring me saltines and sprite after a night of being sick

you

reassure me with your eyes when I'm facing something tough

you

balance me when the world is trying to push me sideways

you

have answers when I question myself

you

tell me I'm amazing and that I can do whatever it is I'm thinking about

you

always tell me my butt looks good in my jeans

you

never complain when I take too long to get ready

you

always surprise me at christmas with the perfect gifts

you

go anywhere with me when I ask

you

take deep breaths for me when my chest feels like it's being crushed

you

laugh at me all the time

you

buy the groceries when I just can't face the idea of food shopping

you

run out late at night if I need anything

you

don't complain when I read in bed and the light's shining in your eyes

you

are my knight in shining armor

{or in this case a felted animal hat}

and

you light up my life more than you'll ever know

*

so I asked her....

"how in the world do I ever thank my blog loves for being my guardian angels and saying such amazing things to me when I really needed their support"

and

she told me

"someday all of them will have beautiful wings like mine to go along with those beautiful hearts I keep seeing and feeling because they've earned them"

and

then I turned and slowly walked away

and

when I glanced back at her

she winked at me

and

mouthed

"they really are amazing aren't they"

and

then tears filled my eyes while I covered my heart

knowing that here

I am blessed

*

how do I protect him now...

remember

when you could just slide a baby gate into place and be reassured that your child would be

safe from harm

and

you'd be considered a good mom for doing so

?

yeah

me too

~~

I can remember days when an ear piercing

screaming baby who hadn't slept for hours

could bring me to my knees with a pain that was similar to walking on broken glass

but still

I cuddled him and kept his little body safe

~~

I can remember chasing after a toddler for days on end

while he explored his world that I had determined safe with every step he took

wondering if this if what it felt to train for a marathon

~~

I can remember sitting in the front row at a school play

praying that my child wearing a costume that I had created at home in the late hours of the previous week

remembered where he was supposed to stand

knowing how embarrassed he'd be if he forgot

and

that somehow if he did

I'd feel as if it were my fault

~~

and

then all of a sudden he grew too fast and spiraled upwards through the middle school years

with a speed that would challenge a tornado

fighting the sports I wanted him to play

and

complaining about every class and every teacher

and

left everything blurry and kind of windburned

but

I loved him for who he was becoming

~~

which brings us to today

where I am worried all the time

about the boy who towers over me now and has a zest for life

with a

"nothing can harm me"

attitude

that causes me to lose hours of sleep

and

frustrates me and scares me

and

often makes me wonder if I did too much

or not enough

~~

but

now I think back

realizing he's always had that attitude

and

I've always loved that part of his personality

but

when all of that is wrapped up into a teenager instead of 4 year old

or a 13 year old

it takes on a life of it's own

which can bring a parent back to her knees

~~

but

this time

to pray

*

what makes simple, simple ?

is it the curve in your loved one's posture

when he bends down to let your face fit just right in the crook and the warmth of his neck

when you reach up for a kiss

?

is it a vintage mirror filled with scratches and discoloration

that you love

even if it slightly distorts how you look

?

is it the blinding color of an orange plant

in an otherwise dull looking patch of prairie grass

that is just starting to open its eyes

?

is it a new bead

that you fell in love with while shopping with your hubby

waiting patiently to be touched and played with

?

is it a new set of wooden clothespins

that sits patiently waiting for you

to figure out how to make them look old

?

~~~~~

these are just a few of my beautiful and simple things today

for

christina's project

~~

what's simple things are bringing a smile to your face

?