Indian Summer Black-Eyed Susans

Eight years ago this coming summer we moved into our current home on Dandelion Trail.  It was just being finished and so had not a plant in the yard.  Yard?  How about Carolina (or rather Clemson) orange clay mud.  We did have sod put down - having three little boys and white carpets in several rooms, there didn't seem to be any other options.  We had left behind a yard that we had also started from scratch but was then filled with flowers and bushes and trees.  It was hard to have a vision for what our new yard would become. 

It was the beginning of July when we moved in, and it was blazing hot.  I went up to Lowes to see what I could add to our yard in blazing July and found one of my favorite purchases. 

Black-eyed Susans.  Indian Summer variety.  They were gorgeous.  Huge.  And bright Yellow. 

I splurged and bought 15.  It was one of the best splurges I have ever made.  Every year they have returned.  They are not guaranteed to come back, but with a little bit of attention I have made my 15 plant purchase multiply almost unbelievably.  I think I re-planted at least 50 plants last spring.

The purple coneflower has paid back well too and returns every year without any extra attention.

So too with my several varieties of daisies,

but the daisies don't live all summer like the black-eyed susans do.

But these are my babies.  I had a scare about 4 summers ago.  They all got mildew on them and then died out early.  It was awful.  I didn't know if they would return the next spring.  When they did I was so relieved and started experimenting with ways to keep them coming back. 

Last year I decided to try dividing them and learned the hard way that Indian Summer Black-Eyed Susans don't like to be split.  I think all the ones I split died, but the babies that I repotted and moved to better spots - thrived! 

This time of year can worry me.  The weeds are in heaven and taking over.  My hubby as well as our occasional landscaper friend wants to rid the yard of all weeds.  But right now, all my perennials are growing right next to the weeds.  Yes, the first year, I lost several plants to weed killer.  So I get a little nervous waiting for them to start showing their pretty flowers so it is obvious that they are flowers.

This is one plant in front.  It produces a plethora of beauty from May through October.  In the background is a different type of purple coneflower - I think it is called Texas coneflower.  It has spread all across my front garden.

In about 4 to 6 weeks I should have a bunch ready to transplant.  I'd be glad to share.  Come by and I'll give you one for your yard. 

Some Pelican Pics and and few more from a wonderful Florida Vacation

Well, I was trying to upload some pictures to blog about. Then I changed my mind and hit cancel. Now the bloomin' site won't go to my computer so I can pick the pictures I wanted to upload. So, instead of pictures of my favorite flowers that I was going to blog about, you get a picture of a funny pelican that I took in Florida a few weeks ago. He was balancing on the front of the boat and those webbed feet were working overtime to keep him on this thin edge of the boat.

 

I got the picture thing fixed and decided to stick with the Pelican theme.  I Really like this guy napping!  I have always seen pelicans at the beach, but this was the first time I found out where pelicans hang out during the day - or in between their beautiful flights over the ocean.  They go to the marinas.  The find a post or a boat to hang out on, and if they are lucky, someone will come in from fishing and clean the fish near them. . . that's what they are really hanging out waiting for - free lunch.  This guy was dreaming about his lunch.

He was watching me waiting for me to fall in the water while taking his picture.  I know he would have laughed.

This was Grayson's birthday - and his birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa.  They came by our trailer at 8:30 in the morning while we were all still schnozzing and took him off for a special breakfast - he had pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream.  Then they took him to Cowabunga Surf Shop for a boogie board - - - well, this long board caught his eye instead (most likely because it had yellow wheels - he is a sucker for anything yellow)  When he came in from his special date with Grandma and Grandpa - his eyes were twinkling and he was smiling from ear to ear! 

That night we celebrated his birthday on the beach with friends watching the full moon rise.  Jim Moir suggested I try some silhouette shots and this is what I came up with for Grayson's birthday picture.  He decided this night that this is where he wants to celebrate his birthday from now on - - at the Beach. 

After a few experiments with me laying on my belly in the sand and playing with my settings, Jim shot this one for me.  That is the moon, not the sun.  Thanks, Jim.

And one last one of the funny pelicans waiting for their free lunch.  The guy was actually cleaning fish right next to where I was sitting to get this shot and there were about 15 pelicans all swimming right in front of him.

Well, I was trying to upload some pictures to blog about.  Then I changed my mind and hit cancel.  Now the bloomin' site won't go to my computer so I can pick the pictures I wanted to upload.  So, instead of pictures of my favorite flowers that I was going to blog about, you get a picture of a funny pelican that I took in Florida a few weeks ago.  He was balancing on the front of the boat and those webbed feet were working overtime to keep him on this thin edge of the boat. 

March 11, 2011

March 11, 2011.  I ran today.  I clocked out a 2 mile route around my neighborhood, and then I ran/walked it twice.  I even took my dog, Rex with me for a mile.  I probably ran 2 miles total.

Yep.  I'm gonna give it another try.  And I'm gonna blog about it.  So, you get to be my witnesses.  I think I'm ready to bump it up a notch.  I am afraid to actually put this in print contemplating signing up for a little triathlon or a half marathon.  In my mind, though, I don't want to just sign up for one.  I want that to become who I am.  I have run a half marathon before believe it or not!  But afterwards I quit running.  I want my exercise to be not just about one event.  I want it to be part of my life.

PART of my life.  I think that is important too.  I heard a quote a week ago from a pastor on the radio (ugh! can't remember which one).  He said, "I am not a BODY with a soul; I am a SOUL with a body."  I don't want my focus to be all about my body.  I don't want my body or even my health to become an idol.  And in our society it is that!!!!!!!  So, this is my BALANCE paragraph.  I want my exercising to fit into my life.  I want it to work with my mothering my family - my husband and boys.  I even want it to work into my friends. 

When it comes to that, I may have to come back and tweak my goals.  I currently have two very good friends that are my WALKING buddies.  We are serious WALKERS.  We walk 6 miles at a time several times a week.  I don't want to lose those commitments - those relationships that have developed through exercise. 

For me, exercise is very relational now that I think about it . . . hmmmm, Dale and I jogged ALOT while dating - around downtown Charleston, over the James Island Bridge, on Folly Beach (where he eventually proposed to me).  I jogged with baby Ben in his little umbrella stroller all around our first neighborhood and even our second neighborhood after we moved to Anderson (will have to blog about one particular jogging trip where his arm cast fell off and I didn't even know it until an hour later and had to go back and pick it up off the sidewalk). 

Our third neighborhood added a second child, a double jogging stroller and a dear friend and her little boy, Carl.  Kristen and Carl would meet us on most mornings for a quick stroll around the neighborhood that went longer and longer until we realized we were walking and pushing heavy strollers for 5 - 6 miles!  That led to a few jogs and then one jog with just one baby in the stroller that equalled 9 miles.  THAT is what led to the half marathon. 

Around this time, Dale and I started working out at a small friendly gym with a guy, Tony, that was one of Dale's patients and had been trying to get him to come "train" for some time.  I trained with his wife, Shelia.  About the same time, I started walking with a neighbor from our current neighborhood, Karen.   We walked most mornings after dropping off our kids at school for an entire school year - two years ago.  And then their school situation changed.  Then Shelia's situation changed and I swapped and started training with Tony too.  Last year was a year of walking with a friend from church, Sarah, as well as working out with Tony.  Somewhere in there I messed up my knew - tore or damaged my meniscus.  It was scary to think I might not be able to exercise - might not be able to run or walk. 

In between all this history, I have little jaunts of jogging 3 - 5 miles, but I haven't done that in a while.  This blog isn't about weight, but just one little input - with all the working out and walking, I haven't seen a change in the weight.  That is more than just a little discouraging.  It's frustrating.  It's maddening.  It doesn't add up.  The weight bothers me enough, though, to give it I can't say one last another attempt. 

Blogging is such a good thing.  I'm thinking this out on paper as well as "talking" it over with my friends and family.  I would really like your input and suggestions.  Dale has been in the same boat with me, but he has stuck with training with Tony two times a week.  I have just recently gone to just exercising with Sarah and Elizabeth and I have a few other options to tap into.  I think I am trying to find something I can do with Dale and in some ways, I don't want to pass him up.  But then again, I feel like he has done the same for me.  He has watched my struggle with weight and exercise and I wonder if he might not be holding back so he doesn't blow right past me.  Health wise we are both in dire straights and exercise doesn't seem to have made much of a difference.

My other options I have considered are racquetball.  I played casual racquetball in college and LOVED it!!  I would need to find someone to play with.  My other idea is tennis.  There is a tennis court next to Dale's office.  It seems to be a relational game and it is outdoors (in the sunshine).

Okay, so there it is.  March 11, 2011.  I started running again.  I'm thinking about trying a triathlon (love swimming, don't hate running, not crazy about road biking - might be riding a yellow beach bike for that part), or signing up for a half marathon.  But I don't want it to become a one time thing.  I want to take it up a notch in a way that fits into my life, into my family, into my ministry.

PS.  I love spellcheck!!

A Blurb from January 2009 and a Favorite book on Depression

This first part is from a note I wrote on facebook in January of 2009:

I have wanted for some time to journal through some of my depressive episodes, but usually I don't have enough energy to do it. And to be honest, I feel so bad, it's never something I want to remember.
Well, I think today is worth remembering.

Yesterday was a very busy, fun-filled day. Kristin and her 3 kids came to visit and my day was filled.
I had an appt. to work out that morning.  I dragged/drug myself out of bed to make it there just a few minutes late, squeezed in a quick trip to the tanning bed (that seems to help with the depression), and got back home with barely enough time to get ready for company.

So back to today. . . it was supposed to snow, but as it so often does here, no snow, and very sad children had to be sent off to school. I caved in to depression and fell back into bed once they were on their way and snuggled into my bed for a while.

I have been reading a book on "how to get things done when you are depressed" so I have all those things on my mind, but it's hard to try new things in the middle of January when it's cold outside, so I got dressed (little Victory) took vitamins and meds (little Victory) then gave in to the pull of the computer. (better than falling back into bed). After checking email, pulled up solitaire - which I told myself last night while reading that little book, that I wasn't going to let myself do anymore. . . oh, well, it could be worse.

And Praise God, He "plays" solitaire too. Or at least He does when I play it - or at least He did today. Dale has a busy, crazy day today and God nudged me to pray. So, I prayed while playing solitaire on my computer today. Better than last year when I prayed curled up on my bed and could only think, "Jesus help me." over and over - but that was a blessing at that time too. God knows I struggle. He knows I am but dust, and He is teaching me that over and over. I prayed and prayed today for other people not just me. And now, with a little smile on my face and peace in my heart, I am writing my first blog/note. So far I'm not going to let anyone read it, but I might after a while. It is a start. I am far from well, but God is teaching me things - really so very much through this illness of depression.

Yeah!!  This winter wasn't that hard - not as hard as the winter of 2009.  I had my days.  On some days I was really tired, and so I took a nap.  I have 2 walking buddies that I meet on 3 to four days a week and walk fast and talk.  Not being a morning person, this has helped me get going and being a girl, I love to talk (if you hadn't noticed, I live with 4 boys - that don't like to chat like their mamma does.)  I also work at my husband's office one day a week now.  I dress nice on that day, and I do something other than taxi kids back and forth.  Lately I have been working on photography before and after shots of his patients - something creative and that I love doing.

Those are some of the things I have worked into my life that help on both good days and bad days.  I want to really put in a plug for the book I mentioned in my above blurb.  Get It Done When You're Depressed  It is one of the best books I have read about depression.  It gave many many practical suggestions from an author that knows and has fought against depression.  But the biggest thing I got from the book was something I am not sure the author did intentionally.  She referred to depression as something separate than the person.  She put the blame on the illness rather than the person.  She talked about depression as if it were an illness and NOT WHO I REALLY AM.  She said things like: 
"Depression doesn't want to do anything and never will. 
Depression judges you harshly. (but in your own voice) 
Depression takes away your ability to make decisions. 
Depression makes you feel like you're carrying a heavy weight.
Depression follows you around and talks to you.
Depression takes away your pleasure and makes you cry.
Depression makes you feel hopeless gloomy, and sad.
Depression makes you doubt everything you do."

Before reading this book I would have said these "same" things but this way:
I don't want to do anything.
I can't . . . I am . . . I feel . . .
I can't make decisions.
I feel like I am carrying a heavy weight.
I feel hopeless, gloomy and sad
I doubt everything I do.

Depression is a very deceitful illness - makes you forget who you are and makes you think you are the problem when Depression is the problem.


.

I made it!!

It's March 7.  I made it.  I made it through February.  I made it through November, December, January and February.  I made it to spring.  The forsythia and daffodils are blooming - - blooming yellow.  I made it.  Thanks to all my friends and family that have walked with me through another winter.  You have prayed for me; you have hugged me; you have asked me how I am - knowing that I might not be doing okay.  You have loved me - like Jesus loves me.  He loves me on the good days and the bad days. 

February - I need to blog a little more about February, but for now, I just want to post a blog.