TCRG Returns ~ The Fountain

Remember last summer when we were working on cleaning up the yard? 
And there was a fountain.  It was hidden beneath all the weeds and overgrowth. 
And it was gross. 



Remember?  Here it is in it's less glory filled days. 

 We started the clean up last year, cleaning the weeds away, trimming back the overgrown bush that wanted to be a tree, moving the rocks out of the flower bed, etc.   It started to look real nice. 



See, you can almost see the little pond



So this year, we've stepped it up a notch.  Monday night, we spent a lot of time outside.  Moved all the rest of the river rocks, cleared away all the weeds, and started cleaning out the actual pond.  GROSS!  Now don't get me wrong, I'm ok with getting dirty, I'm ok with foul smells...I'm a Mom, and I live in the country, it happens.  But seriously!  

In this pond, we spent a good hour pulling out each of the rocks and washing them off.  We scooped out all the old water, leaves, and mud, scrubbed the algae and mold off the sides of the tank, rinsed, scooped, rinsed, scooped, rinsed, and scooped once more before filling with fresh water.  It's lovely.  D even got the pump working again, so it's truly a fountain now with a soothing babbling brooke sound.  Give it a few more "touch up" times and she'll be shining like the top of the Chrysler Building!



But, of course, no good deed goes unpunished.  Guess what happened. 

You guessed it folks, ANOTHER FREAKING RASH!!!  This time, Dr. Google has diagnosed a case of Chiggers.  Originally, we thought Pond Mites, although I am not even sure there is a thing as Pond Mites, but it sure made sense at the time.  Good thing Dr. Google says these will clear up on their own with a little cortizone to help with the itching. 
So, the lesson in this edition of TCRG...don't clean your fountains or ponds.  Just kidding :)  Maybe not dive into nasty water infested with the unknown without proper protection.

'Ol Girl

It's no secret that we love our dogs.  Our 'Ol Girl, KV has been getting on in age, and aging not so gracefully. 

I know I've talked about before, "How will I know?"  And people always say, "She'll tell you." 

Let me say to those people, it doesn't work that way.  Dogs are voiceless.  They can't "tell you". 
Sure they can act different, and their mannerisms can change, they hint at it, but they don't "tell you". 
They can't "tell you" anything.  Not with clear intentions anyways.
So when it comes to that time, it's all on you. 
And it's the most excruciating decision I will ever make. 

KV was only in our lives for a short time, really, only 2 years.  She was an old lady living in the shelter.  She just needed a place to live out the rest of her days with some dignity, and to be loved.  And did we ever love her! 

She is the sweetest girl, the best friend, and the perfect addition at the perfect time. 

When she first came, we read that Sheltie's do not like to have thier faces touched, to be careful as they will sometimes nip or snap if hands are on or near their face.  Not our girl, her favorite thing was to have her long nose stroked and her eyes rubbed.  She would fall asleep if you rubbed her 'eyebrows' just right. 

Pure Sweetness wrapped in tumors and fur. 

Not going to spend a lot of time on this as it breaks my heart all over again every time I talk about it. 

Friday, April 20, 2012 was KV's last day with us.

I do have to say a special THANK YOU to my love, Deron.  He took care of everything so all I had to do was be with her.  To give her special treats, play ball one last time, and hold her beautiful face until she lay peacefully in the arms of God.   

We brought her home and laid her to rest, near the same fence she paced 'barking' at passing cars, squirrels, and tossed softballs.  Addie made it nice for her. 

There is a beautiful RED plant yet to be found that will be perfect, we'll know it when we see it, just like KV. 


The Rainbow Bridge Poem
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent; Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Giving Up Makes One Happy

A few weeks ago, I ready this AMAZING article.  It got me thinking, and pondering, and really thinking deep.  You know me, the Deep Thinker :)  It is amazing though, here are a few of the highlights - and my unsolicited thoughts on them.

Give up on your need to always be right.
There are too many people who just can't handle being wrong.  And there is NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING WRONG!  But sometimes, folks just can't even handle the thought of being wrong.  Even if there are risks.  Risks such as ending relationships.  Risks such as causing others pain.  Risks such as acting like a giant Jackwad.  Whatever is powering that overwhelming need to answer someones statement with "No It's Not" needs a swift kick in the STFU button.  It's ok to be wrong.  It's called a Learning Experience.  The article says "Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?"  And then I thought, is that really a question!?  The need to be right all the time, does not belong on the top of a priority list.  This one takes time! 

Give up on your need for control. 
Definitely something I have learned and (sometimes continue to) struggle with.  The me that I am today is nothing like the me I was 10 years ago (in this aspect).  It's ok to just relax and let things happen sometimes.  As hard as it is, it's ok.  YOU can't control anything but YOUrself and YOUr actions.  So let go of the need to control situations, events, people, etc around you.  YOU CAN'T!  It's just not possible.  The saying says, "Let Go And Let God".  So, do it.  God said so.

Give up complaining / Give up the luxury of criticism / Give up labels/ Give up on blame.
Last month we had a training at work, "Living in a Complaint Free World".  Hold your sighs, it was AMAZING!  And if it was up to me, the entire world would be forced thru this training!  The man who put the program together is a Pastor, therefore, works with a lot of people, therefore can give real life examples of what his point is.  Since this training, I have been making a conscious effort to stop complaining, as you are encouraged to do.  And it's hard! Sometimes you don't even realize how much you do it, but once you pay attention, and stop (or at least cut back because obviously no one is perfect and we don't expect you to be), you realize how much good there is around you!  Stop looking for and inviting the bad.  The good WILL find you!  Positive thinking and working through difficult situations without negative thoughts can work wonders.  Try it.  And criticism, well...please, don't criticize something you know nothing about, it makes you look like an ass.  And if you know all about it, please step up and work to change it.  Sitting around complaining and criticizing and placing blame and all that other stuff does nothing, except bring all the people around you down, and I don't want to be around you then.

Give up your resistance to change. 
Changing is what makes the You, you were 20 years ago, the You, you are today.  Change is good.  Change is healthy.  Change helps you deal with things and people around you.  Change helps you to determine what you really want in your life, and what you don't.  Change helps you move on.  Personally, I was deathly afraid of change for way too long.  I'm still afraid, not deathly, but still afraid.  Change can be scary.  Change can pose risks.  Change can seem like an insurmountable task.  But it's worth it.  If you don't like something, make a change.  And like my good friend MJ says, "If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change".  Start with the (wo)man in the mirror!

Give up living your life to other people’s expectations.
Is your life yours?  Or are you trying to live a life that someone else expects you to live?  There are a plethora of people who live their lives according to what someone else (parents, friends, coworkers, clergy, etc) thinks is best for them.  This one was especially hard for me to wrap my head around because I did this myself for way to many years.  People get so wrapped up in pleasing everybody else, living up to other's expectations, that they lose sight and control (this control is good) of their own lives.  Don't forget who YOU are!  Don't forget what makes YOU happy, what YOUR goals are, how YOU want to succeed, where YOU want to go.  Don't forget about YOU!  You have this one life, this one you have right now.  Own it.  Live it.  Make it YOURS!!  I got a fortune cookie once, and the fortune is stuck to my computer monitor, it says, "It is impossible to please everybody.  Please yourself first."

Visit 15-things-you-should-give-up-in-order-to-be-happy to view the entire article.