May Magic

[papmom3]

Happy Mom's Day everyone!! Hope you are all enjoying some downtime and pampering!!
My dogs didn't even get me flowers but they did leave some "presents" in the yard that I managed to to pick up by accident while picking up the yard waste LOL!!
Lav-so sorry about your son's colleague. So very sad even if it is a hazard of the job.
Tree-welcome back but you didn't stay long did you LOL!! You do so much driving-how do you do it?? I do understand the need to vanquish the invasives but doing it all alone is so hard. At some point you have to say uncle I think or win the lottery or move to a condo!!
Everyone has been so busy planting and doing outside projects!! I finally got the time to do something in the yard but it wasn't much. The heat and my muscles got the best of me. Still, i managed last nite to remove the Xpen fencing I had put up against the little chain link fence a few years ago. I put up these 4 ft high panels because the snow has been so high the past few years and little LM had no qualms about jumping over. Now his is gone (sniff sniff) and the other 2 dogs have very good boundary sense. There was also very long grass growing between the 2 fences and I was getting worried about ticks. So, today I got on my hands and kness and pulled it all out! My trimmer had run out of line last fall and I never replaced it. I also cut down my burning bush which I believe had died over the winter. Just a stump now. I also managed to trample my 2 peonies last nite but I think I have saved them. I still have trimming to do, grubbing out to do, mowing and mulch to spread. I may splurge on some blueberry shrubs to plant in this barren space. I also need to find something to put against the fence to block out the grass growing from my neighbor's side. I really want to put in a stockade fence but just can't afford it. I looked at lattice today with the smaller holes-$90 for 24 feet. EEK!
And this is just the small dog yard!! I'm too overwhelmed to even think of the rest of the yard. And no, I can't hire anyone this year, not even my nephew!!
Work has been busy, then not busy, then busy. Graduation in 2 weeks. Then ????
Saturday was an all day agility trial. Not our best day-lots of handler mistakes for sure. But some very bright spots as well! It was fun tho!
Cyn is right, the outdoor stuff means sacrificing other household chores. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming..... Hope you got your screens in Cyn !!
No AC quite yet-ceiling fans are doing the job so far.
Dill-interesting observations about the Donald!
Star-where are you going again? Sorry, my memory is shot these days!
Hi Pauly! Hope its not getting to hot in Vegas for you! Desert gardening must be so different from here?
Have a great week all!!

[SnoopyC]

Good morning all...

Good to see Pap and Cyn back.

Hello to Dill and Lav.

Pauly, hope you are well.

Have a great Monday.

[Lavande]

Good Monday morning friends!

Overcast again but we should see some sun later

Dill, it doesn't seem right to have the AC on in May but I just don't do well in humid conditions, never did
Sounds like your granddaughter kept you busy!

Cyn, glad to see you!
Cut yourself a break with all that outside work, it's tough. Even with the two of us working around here Mother Nature still wins every time. We have been planting lots of new stuff here to create a natural hedgerow between us & YB's brother's property. In addition to the 30 forsythia, 5 red twig dogwoods, 2 oak trees we are now adding a couple of elderberry plants (to feed the wildlife around here). This is all preparation for when my SIL decides to sell her great big house. It's pretty obvious that YB is not interested in making friends with any potential new neighbors. I'm just staying out of it - not my problem. I hope you get some help soon installing the AC units!!!

Papmom, you're as busy as ever
Staying happy & healthy is what it's all about!

Star, hope you have a great day!

Pauly, please check in - we are here!

Have a good AF Monday everyone!

Lav

[dill]

Hello All, Here is my wreath:

IMG_0329.jpg

It was fun and easy to do and the best part is, no glue of any kind. The flowers are removable and can be reused elsewhere and I can redecorate the grapevine as the seasons change. The class gave me the confidence to do it the first time so now I am sure I can make another one whenever I wish! The Saturday class was yet another benefit of being AF. I wouldn't have felt like participating in such an even if recovering from another Saturday hang over!

So good to see you Cyn and Papmom. Greetings Lav, Star and Pauly.

I'm headed out the door to do battle against the invasives in my little corner of the world, before the heat of the day. I also have my annuals to plant. :happy2:

[treegirl]

Hi all -

Beautiful wreath Dill! How terrific to take a class that gives you such confidence - and ending up with something that can be 4 seasons. Loved the comment about Saturday mornings...great reminder.

Star - I meant to say how excited I am that you are liking the Dream book! Isn't is amazing? Each morning when I check the images that I've written down, and I'm surprised to see the meanings. I feel like I'm really being given a LOT of information through dreams right now - stuff that is crazy and doesn't add up on face value: a crack in a wall, an undressed doll, a post office, Dick Tracy (!), but when I put the pieces together, there seems to be a real message there. Good luck and have fun with it all.

Pap - I hear ya on the yard. I think you are smart to pick one small area and just do something there, when you look at the whole it can be really intimidating, especially without funds to throw at it! Take care in the heat - it has absolutely undone me.

Lav - Elderberry bushes for the wildlife? What else would be good? I have trouble planting things deeply here, as it's all ledgy rock (welcome to New England), but I really want to replace some habitat - I feel badly that I've taken out so many honeysuckle, and trimmed back other things that normally the birds would use. I haven't even had time to research what shrubs would be good, so thanks for that piece of info - any other ideas are welcome! So sorry to hear about your son's co-worker. That must be really hard for your son to go through. Bless those guys that do that extreme work.

Pauly - hope the heat is not too intense - I remember late May and June as being really hard, getting used to the heat again each year.

Early this morning I got some screens washed and put in, so this afternoon there is at least some air moving around. HB will be back (after a month's absence!) on Wednesday, so we'll be able to get the A/C units in the windows. Kind of hate to put them in, as it really cuts down on the possibility of a breeze, but oh well!

Take care all, and wishing you a great Tuesday as well. I'll be doing another 10 hour day tomorrow - into NYC again - so I may not be up to writing tomorrow night when I get back. Always wishing everyone Best Days ---

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Dill, loved your wreath, how pretty. I have had my air conditioning on since day one. If it is hot, I have to sleep, and with hot flashes...forget it.

Lav, wow, lots of planting, it will look more and more beautiful as the years go by.

Cyn, take care. I had a dream today and after reading the book, realized what it could mean. It is very interesting, thanks again for mentioning it.

Pap, have a good week.

Pauly, hope to hear from you soon. I read that you were upset on another thread, so just want to encourage you in any way I can. All of us do.

Have a great Tuesday. Oh, I am leaving really early tomorrow, bringing my tablet but sometimes this site does not let me on on other devices, I can only read, not post. We'll see. Have a good one.

[Lavande]

Good Tuesday morning friends

Another hot & humid day on the way. I am thankful for the AC!

Star, wishing you a safe journey & I hope a good visit with your Dad :hug:
I hope you can stay connected with us.

Cyn, I Googled something for you:

http://ct.audubon.org/plant-native-species-0

I always look for native plants & usually can find what I need at a local-ish plant farm. Natives vary state to state & I think it's important to include them in your landscaping I hope you have a safe trip today & don't wear yourself out!

Greetings Dill. I love the wreath, good job! Did you hang that on an outside door? The birds around here would be building a nest in it I'm sure, ha ha! We had some grapevines at our last house & I made some awesome wreaths. I remember soaking the vines to soften them & make them more pliable.

Greetings Papmom & Pauly, check in when you can.

I'm kid watching from 2:45 until 9 or whenever their mother gets here tonight. I will be busy!!
Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav

[dill]

Cyn, Glad you got some screens in and have been able to have fresh air inside. It's one of my favorite things about Spring. That said, I'm also glad Mr. Tree will be there to help get in the window A/C units. You would wilt without them when the summer gets roaring. I'm assuming you will still have some windows with screens too. Right? Mr D and I read a new technique on the internet for handling the larger honesuckle that you can't dig out. It was recommended to cut the stump close to the ground and then paoint the stump with round up. We tried it this Spring and and waiting to see if it worked.

Lav, wow! You fashioned your own wreaths from the vines?! Good gracious! That sounds like kind of hard work. The wreath I made was a store-bought grapevine wreath. Hey, we did some crazy stuff when we were younger, eh? I wouldn't have the energy for some of it now, but it was fun at the time!

Star, have a fun trip! We will miss you and I do hope you can manage to post a little bit, maybe even tell us of some of your adventures.

Papmom, pace yourself on the yardwork. It does help to break it down into small areas and do a little at a time. I know that's easier said than done, but really, do try.

Pauly, I too read on another thread that you are struggling right now. I hope you don't mind if I comment here. Progress comes in many forms and we each have our own journey. I hope that you will stick with us. I have not had a straight line in my journey. Few of us have. But I decided to keep posting no matter what. Never give up giving up! Posting keeps us in the game, and we are in it to win it! So are you.

I've been pulling weeds today and no sooner do I get done in one spot than I look at another spot that is dreadful! But, I am telling myself I don't have to do it all in one day!

[treegirl]

Morning all -

Had a good working trip yesterday, and was able to get a quick visit in with my cousins who were visiting NYC; I swung by their hotel on the way to Grand Central - lots of walking in the heat (pulling my little suitcase with computer and supplies), but it worked. With lots more of these long days on the horizon, I'm so glad that HB is returning today. Arranging the dog care for each day is as trying as going to work! Will pick HB up this evening - NOT from LaGuardia, thank goodness, but from a different airport - still 1.5 hrs away, but a beautiful drive through the countryside, so that will be a bonus.

Lav, hope you lived through your long child-care day! Thanks for the link - today I also received a newsletter from Margaret R "A Way to Garden' that lists lots of natives to support the butterfly population, so that is timely advice.

Star - I missed the news that you are going to see your Dad. Big Hugs to you, and lots of support coming your way. Wishing you safe travels.

Dill - take care with all that weeding! Sometimes I think that's the hardest; all that bending over. I have a little cart that I can sit on and roll around - I've actually been able to cull a few dandelions that way. I'm lucky that with all the rock in the soil here, the honeysuckles can't get their roots down low. I can usually pull them out. And now I'm harvesting the shoots by pulling up as well - OUT! OUT!

Pap, hope you are doing OK. Pauly - check in, please we care!

OK, off to have a much-needed office day, and to get the house and dogs ready for HB's arrival (dogs will get their first bath of the season!) Wishing all a great day

[Lavande]

Good morning friends & happy Hump day!

We've been blessed with cooler weather for today & tomorrow so I will get out & get set some weed pulling done!!!
Yesterday went well despite my oldest grandson being sent home from school sick. He was a little feverish but otherwise OK. Don't know what that's going to blossom into, we shall see.

We sat here last night listening to the Philadelphia FD radio at the scene of the Amtrak derailment. Vey sad & scary situation. Six people lost their lives, nearly 150 hospitalized. Victims (the walking wounded) were being transported to 4 area hospitals via bus!! WOW!!

Star, wishing you safe travels today!

Dill, the 'crazy stuff' we did when we were younger likely contributed to the achy hands I have now, ha ha!! Bending grape vine, doing macramé flower pot holders & stuff with heavy jute twine, etc. Only when you are young, huh?

Cyn, take it easy on yourself! You do not need to make everything perfect for your husband's arrival. He should be happy just returning home after a month being away. I would certainly enlist his help with the heavy chores!!

Greetings Papmom & Pauly!

I'm skipping Curves & heading right out to my garden, yay!!
Have a great AF Day everyone!

Lav

[paulywogg]

Hello ladies, well a few of you read that I had a fall,a serious fall!didn't feel comfortable posting here cuz I didn't want to bring that garbage here as I'm new to this thread and I know you've all been sober for a long time, lav has known me for awhile now and I could just imagine her rolling her eyes"jeez, not again" haha I'm sure she's not mean like that but sheesh enough is enough! I would love if some of you could share some skills that you used early in your quit if you have some time, if supps helped,nutrition, how you changed your mindset, it wasn't actually even me wanting to drink really, it was just, I dunno? If I knew exactly why,id have been able to stop for good by now,it sounds like everyone is doing good, hope everyone is having a nice evening

[Lavande]

Pauly, glad you're back :hug:
I know you have tried & tried but all I can say is just keep trying. It will all click for you but not if you stop trying.
I quit over & over & over before finding MWO! I just didn't really know how to stay quit & I had no support system.
The support I found here from like-minded folks, the Hypno CDs & finally convincing myself that I just had to stay quit all helped me get to where I am. I honestly used the birth of my first grandson as a spring board. I knew that if I wanted to spend any quality time with him I had to change my ways.
You have Louie & you spend a good deal of time with him. Surely you can use him as your motivator :hug:
I also got so sick & tired of disappointing myself that I needed to end that cycle.
Try treating yourself with a little kindness & loving self-care. It really does make a big difference

[Lavande]

Good Thursday morning friends

I'm off to get my Curves on!
Have a great AF day one & all!

Lav

[dill]

Hello Everybody, looks like another fabulous day! Yesterday it felt so nice outside that I spent a pretty good amount of time outside weeding and clearing away brush at a comfortable pace. I didn't post in the morning bc I was drawn outside early. I thought I'd get to post while resting in the afternoon but we left earlier than usual to go have a meet up with Mr. D's brother and wife. We meet with them periodically at a halfway point between us to touch base and have dinner. This time we met at my in-law's gravesite and freshened the silk flowers by the headstone. I thought about how short life is and how the time I have left should be spent. Wouldn't it be sad to spend the rest of that short time still trapped in that perpetual daily cycle of hangover, recover, drink that pushed everything else to second tier? That constant remorse and depression and shame? What a sad thing to be trapped in that cycle right up to the day you die. I will be honest here: I still wish I could drink like a normal person. The truth is I cannot and when I try it only brings me short term relief and leaves me with long term misery. When I look at it from this perspective, I am grateful that I can choose to be AF. I am so much happier this way. I need to focus on how absolutely silly it is to wish I could still drink like a normal person. That's really distorted thinking! There are so many more important things!

Lav, I think the hypno CD's were a really big help too. Sadly, I let a friend borrow them and I never saw them again. She had a lot going on in her life and had to make a couple of moves and my CD's got lost in the shuffle. I don't know that it matters too much. I wouldn't have lent them to her if I still felt as if I needed them.

Star, I hope you are well. Thinking of you.

Cyn, Did you get those AC units in? I took 2 window screens to the hardware store last week for repair. They are done now so I will go to the hardware store today and pick them up. I don't know how much this will cost. The windows are 72"x36". I'll let you know the cost for future reference.

Pauly, my biggest advice is to keep trying, no matter what. When you have a relapse, just analyse it and learn from it, then move forward. Never give up.

Hi Papmom!

Let's all enjoy this day with clear heads and heart felt gratitude.

[treegirl]

Morning all -

Lav, Ha Ha - the house needed a serious cleaning anyway - it has gotten left behind during all the outside stuff and all the driving. It felt good to have a clean, organized house again. Glad that we have some cool days now so that putting in the window AC units doesn't have to happen all in a rush...actually I kind of dread it - it means one less window per room to have fresh air coming in; but when it gets hot again it will of course be a big help.

Dill, how nice to meet and be with family. Thanks for mentioning the graves, I feel so bad that I don't have the opportunity to get to tend my folks' graves this Memorial Day. The next chance I'll have is in September - so I'll probably throw the dogs in the car and do a road trip then. You also wrote such great thoughts on the 'why' of sobriety...who wants to live that with monkey on their back 24 -7? Thanks for the perspective.

Pap - hope you are well.

Star - thinking of you on this journey.

Pauly - we all tried over and over and over before our long-term quits. ODAT is crucial - but then honor the length of the days you accumulate. I agree 100% with Lav, and also would say that a crucial switch is to stop thinking of AL as a reward in any way shape or form. It is not, and can NEVER be a reward; it is a horrible poison for us that leads to nowheresville. Keep trying. You can do it.

Wishing all a good day - my NY client switched me from today to tomorrow, and as I am seriously worn out, and didn't want to make the trip there today anyway, I'm thrilled. Whew! Take care all -