Exactly HOW supportive?

The subject for my post today started last night when hubby and I were watching "The Marriage Ref", a new show on NBC. The theme of the show has to do with husbands and wives presenting a minor squabble that they have been repeatedly bickering over, but this time...after input from 3 celebrity panelists, the host of the show 'Makes The Call' as to which one of them is "Right"!
   Last night one of the couples, whose career was doing sort of like Carnival magic tricks, was on. Their squabble was that now the husband wanted to add a new TRICK to their act...Knife throwing...AT HIS WIFE!!! Yikes! Needless to say, she was not into it!!! LOL The panelists proceeded to discuss which one of them was right, and exactly how far a spouse was expected to go to be supportive!

This got me to thinking about my hubby and how far he has gone over the years in order to support me. MUCH farther than "The Extra Mile"!...It started years ago when I worked 3-11 p.m. in another state, about 40 minutes away. We had only one vehicle at the time and after a long 10 hour day of work himself, and energized by two Ho Hos and a Twinkee probably, he would drive all the way down, pick me up, and drive all the way back...EVERY DAY...without one ounce of complaining.
  There has been many such situations over the years...too many to mention in fact. And now that I have many health limitations, because of systemic arthritis and other things, he has, in effect, become my care giver as well! Not to mention that this has also caused him to become the one primarily in charge of cleaning, not only our home, but also humidifiers, air purifiers, and my C-Pap machine...on a regular basis! And even I get a little spit and polish from time to time too *Teehee*...with side orders of songs sung off key, the corniest jokes you've ever heard, and dancing! Truly, he has been priceless!!! And all the while I sit without a care and crochet the goodies that he raves about with his work mates, and wears, no matter how they look!
  So, as with last night's "Marriage Ref", "I'm ready to make the call...He Wins!!"..... BUT he does NOT get to throw knives!!! {Poem below}
   (This post would not have had the same feel without the help of these two illustrations that I was enthusiastically allowed to use by artbytrudy, a very talented ETSY seller http://www.etsy.com/shop/artbytrudy Painting is her passion and you can tell in every item in her shop! Please check her out!)
 
                                                                              

Loved Enough

He vacuums my floors,
and washes my tubs;
Cooks me good meals,
and gives nightly back rubs.

He drives me to meetings,
and carries my bags;
And when we go walking,
he zigs when I zag.

I`ve never cleaned an oven
(He does it willingly).
He also shops for grocery,
and at night he reads to me.

I`m the one that does the laundry;
But he helps me with the dusting,
and does all the endless repairs
that keep our old car from rusting.

There`s also other things he does,
like cuddling with me at night,
and being a gentle, unselfish lover
who can dance like its going out of sight!

There`ll  never be anyone more loyal,
or more competitive at playing a game;
or anyone as hard of a worker.
I`m very thankful to carry his name.

I know it must seem selfish
that I can get him to scratch my head,
or fill my water cup for me,
or help me make the bed.

Yes, I know I`m loved enough;
He just wants to make me happy;
And whatever I need he'll do;
I come first, and he`ll do it snappy.
Loved enough?-Yes I am, and quite sappy!

Sisters...

My backyard is quiet most of the time, with flowers on my patio, and an occasional critter. But just like my relationship with my sisters, even the calmest place can sometimes be... hilly!
  I have a whole lot of sisters...brothers too.  And strangely enough, we didn't all grow up together at the same time! Some of us have different fathers and different mothers, and our growing up took place in different states even. But my relationship with my sisters has shaped me over the years...Me and 2 of my other sisters were the dynamic trio. The 2 of them would have taken a bullet for me if I needed them to. Thankfully we didn't have THAT kind of childhood and I never needed them to!... One of my sisters, the "Second in command" I call her, because she was the next one in line birth-wise but always seemed as though she was the oldest, has been the one I've had the most awe of,... and the most animosity with!!! You see, I was afraid of everything and she was afraid of NOTHING! Not even my mother, who at 5 foot 4 had a commanding presence...and a quick switch!! But my sister always  stood up to Ma, made all of the battle plans for the 3 of us, and...stood in the line of fire to protect us if anything ever got a little hairy!... BUT in later years she was also the one who stole my powder, perfume, and make-up every time I turned my back!!!

The youngest sister, "The baby" we called her, was the exact opposite! She always wanted to cuddle, looked up to me, and took my side when the Second in command wanted to fight about something. But she could also be a pain in the neck to get to do anything!!! She always had to be talked into it, or dragged kicking and screaming!!...Now that we're older I recognize how much I learned from them and how much I am a product of what rubbed off from them in growing up with them. THANK YOU my sisters, for my bravery no matter what problem comes along. I now know I can handle anything! And thank you for my affectionate loving spirit, which keeps me hopeful and positive minded for all of the other people that come in and out of my life.....You are the flowers in my backyard now!

Sisters

Sisters-on the family curve
sometimes just get on your nerve;
But, sisters will a purpose serve,
they will your life preserve.

Sisters-sometimes they're at war;
and sometimes they "do" go too far.
All sisters want to be the star-
not follow where you are!

Sisters-they don't care a bit!
When fighting they will never quit!
But, sisters, all your jokes they get;
and, when with you, they fit!

Sisters-are your family.
Sisters, see the things you see;
Sisters, knew the girl you'd be,
and set your spirit free.

Sisters-beside you they live;
and sometimes drain you, like a sieve;
But sisters, their last dime will give,
and will your bad forgive.

Sisters-no one else can knock;
and wow!-the memories they unlock.
A sisters smile can stop the clock-
'cause sisters "They Just Rock!"

Parents-with the seasons flow.
Boyfriends-they will come and go.
Brothers-by your side will grow.
But, sisters ease your woe;
and one shared heart you know.

Special thanks to the two wonderful etsy shop owners who allowed me to use their silhouettes for this post. They are Sam of matouenpeluche http://www.etsy.com/shop/matouenpeluche ...and PhoebeDea http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhoebeDea . These two items are just a drop in the bucket of all of the wonder things you will find in their shops. Please check them out!

Beauty!

Welcome to the backyard... It was pretty quiet around here most of the day, except for watching my hubby go from window to window, staring at a robin in the backyard. Next thing I know there was a squeal of glee and he went running for the camera! I would love to be able to share that lovely photo of his robin with you, but alas...the beautiful robin got away! But the whole ordeal got me to thinking about how much beauty there is around us, and how our busy lives make us miss it most of the time.
  This isn't my first time thinking about beauty. I wrote today's poem about beauty when I was in my early 30s. And NO! I'm not in my early 30s anymore! But even at this age...*gulp*...50, I still know beauty when I see it. And Etsy is FULL of it!!! I'd like to share a few photos with you of items of beauty that I found on etsy. And I'd like to thank each and every one of these beautiful-eyed  etsy owners...and great photographers...for the privilege of being able to share their beauty with you...First is this beauty from mistflowerphoto. It's title? "LIGHT LUNCH 8X10 fine art photographic print lustre" http://www.etsy.com/shop/mistflowerphoto ...Then this one. It's title reads: "NEW 3 piece set-Chocolate Brown Peony Flower with vintage rhinestone Brown skinny Headband AND Chocolate Brown combo Newborn Baby Infant Newborn Toddler Girls" by DolceVitaMia. http://www.etsy.com/shop/DolceVitaMia

"Hanging Rain-10X15 Fine Art Photographic Print" by Kjdphotography http://www.etsy.com/shop/kjdphotography ..."The coreopsis effect-Fine art flower photography print (10X10) BOGO SALE" by Raceytay http://www.etsy.com/shop/Raceytay ..."Sun Dog-Vertical Rainbow 5X7 Original Photograph" by giftforallseasons http://www.etsy.com/shop/giftforallseasons ..."Hand in Hand-Framed Vintage Black and White Photograph" by GoodBehavior http://www.etsy.com/shop/GoodBehavior ...And lastly, and sweetly beautiful, "Giraffe Kiss Print" by my friend and photographer extraordinaire, LittleFoxPhotos. http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlefoxphotos
  Please check out, not only these photos, but all of the beauty in their shops!...Poem is below.

..

Beauty

The sun is peeking through.
Its beam is flowing to the ground.
The Autumn at it's new peak,
and the leaves are fluttering down.

A baby girl's joyous laughing,
legs and arms kicking everywhere.
A mother, when she's  nursing,
playing with her baby's  hair.

The gentle rain, when falling
on a southern old tin roof.
A toddler's gap-faced grinning,
when they've  lost their first front tooth.

A man with long, bow legs,
walking slowly down the street.
A colorful spring flower,
visited by a bumble bee.

A person who is kind,
and smiles at everyone they meet.
An artist's painted picture,
with the last brush stroke complete.

An "I love you" that's said
just because they wanted to;
and the person that gives hugs
when they hear an "I love you".
(And there's  other beauty too.)

Pictures of me

I figured that if I was going to talk to you all on a regular basis, you should at least have some idea of what I look like...or LOOKED like! So I decided to share these pictures of me. And interestingly, I wrote a poem of the same title many years ago. It's down below...This subject actually had it's genesis early yesterday, when I sent some pictures to my nephew, pictures he had never seen before. I don't know how, but I became one of, if not THE keeper of the family pictures. His reaction at seeing himself as a baby  reminded me of how pictures can hold so many memories, and can make you thankful that you grew up!!!

  WARNING: These pictures may have you running for your photo album, with matches! LOL But at any rate, I hope they give you a smile this morning. They did me! :-)) (The poem will explain them.)

WOW! That's a lot of memories! Who would have ever thought that this handsome hubby (Minus the lovely plastic bag on his head) would have poetic dreams of...ME!!! That's why I love him!

Pictures Of Me

Looking through the pictures
of myself throughout the years,
in all my photo albums,
shows the laughter and the tears.

Me-posing in a hat
on the stairs, at Montrose Street;
Me-standing in the kitchen,
stirring food and tasting meat.

In my nursing uniform;
underneath our new fish tank;
Me-standing with dad's  friend,
next to a car that would not crank.

In my aqua green prom gown;
in my black skirt (When I was skinny);
On the first night here from Georgia-
Hair looked bad! Didn't  have a penny!

On our wedding day,
my hair cut short; The wind was blowing;
On our honeymoon,
with purple skirt, and ruffles flowing.

These are just a few
of the snapshots caught in time;
You can picture them,
through the scenes all down in rhyme.

I love me...& what I do

Have you ever heard the expression "If you don't like yourself nobody else is gonna like you either?" Well, I heard that a lot when I was young, growing up in the South. I always was bigger than all the other kids and I had a wetting the bed issue...really, a weak bladder,...that caused me no end of problems!!! One particular incident had me jumping out of the School bathroom window.  We were having a Spelling Bee, with everybody standing in a line around the room heading toward the blackboard to spell their word, and it was taking TOO LONG to get to me! Long story short...I didn't make it! *Shivering at the memory!*

 I told you that to say this: Sometimes you just have to get past things that happen to you and learn to love YOU! That's what my poem is about today too. But that'll be later...My learning to love myself included my getting good at something...Crocheting! It built a lot of confidence in me. It started with a book "Like" this one, "The Good Housekeeping Needlecraft Encyclopedia". With the pictures inside, and simple to follow instructions, I was able to teach myself the beginnings of confidence!

 

  Now I am what I would call an "Expert" crocheter...with only a few days where I want to run out of the room and jump out of the window!!!...Nowadays I'm in the habit of doing intricate and complicated projects just to keep my mind occupied and interested...Unless there's a flower involved! Anybody's that's seen my flower necklaces in my "Wuglyees" etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/wuglyees would attest to that!

 I'm working on 3 hats at the same time right now! A blue one, a brown one, and a black one. I do a few rows of one until I get tired of that color, then I move on to the next color!

The creative brain RUN AMUCK!!! LOL But in the end I'll have 3 more soft beauties for my online shop! I love me...and I love what I do!!!

"I Love Me!"

I love me.

I love the happy me.

I love the fact of me.

I love the silly me.

I love me.

I love the confident me.

I love the cooking me.

I love the sexy me.

I love me.

I love the cuddly me.

 I love the caring me.

I love the beautiful me.

I love me.

I love the supportive me.

I love the sporting me.

I love the giddy me.

I love me.

I love the quiet me.

I love the talkative me.

I love the pensive me.

I love me.

I love the sensitive me.

I love the thoughtful me.

I love the world, with me.

I love me.

I love the patient me.

I love the stylish me.

I love the smiling me.

I love me.

I love the creative me.

And the one who created me,

because he helps relate to me

why I love me.

And I do love me!

The Old and The New

The backyard rested yesterday, while I rested last night! Yay! 8 whole hours of sleep,... and everything stayed in it's place! (For those of you who saw yesterday's post!) Rest looks good on a backyard...and on an old body.

  Before I went to bed last night I was looking through my old photo albums. I didn't realize how many of my old craft projects I had actually photographed. I guess, back then, I wasn't sure if I'd ever do another project, so I wanted to document the event of getting something finished! I'd love to hear about and see some of your old projects...whether you finished them or not, and whether you liked them or not! I know that can be a factor when you start going back into the mire of things long past....My first projects were not even crochet!  This was a little puppy and kitten latch hook project, and a crocheted doily made with crochet thread instead of yarn. I am SO glad I kept at it until I found something I loved to do...it wasn't latch hooking or doily making...just saying!

  The new things and artisans of etsy are many and beautiful!!! These are a couple of my favorites. Cindy, of cinlynnboutique http://www.etsy.com/shop/cinlynnboutique who makes the most interesting and well made purse pulls and bracelets...and has a beautiful section for wedding items too! You can also find her on Twitter @Beadlynn7 ...Next is  http://www.etsy.com/shop/abeadonawire or @etsyjodi on Twitter, who makes the most fun jewelry you'll ever see! Cakes, telephones, and toasters on wearable rings!...Then there's  http://www.etsy.com/shop/KatesCache who makes the most adorable bears and other animals. PERFECT as gifts for little ones who are in the market for their first stuffed friend that they want to keep for life!...And Raceytay on etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/Raceytay who, after I ran across her shop on etsy,...and spent a lot of time just staring...I found myself crying over the memories it evoked and the beauty of her work. Check it out and let me know what YOU think. In fact check out all of these beautiful shops!

Okay, talk to you tomorrow. On to some new projects of my own...3 crocheted hats I'm trying to finish! See you in the backyard tomorrow! Here's today's poem:

Blankets Of Love

I make blankets, in my own time;

putting love in every stitch;

I let no one rush the process;

I'm not concerned with getting rich.

Crocheting brings about a calm

that nothing else quite seems to do;

I get such joy from choosing patterns,

and from choosing colors, too.

The more intricate-the better;

that gives me much more time to think,

'cause I slow down, so I can read it

keeping brain cells in the pink.

Just the steady, jutting motion

of my needle's in and out

makes me remember who its for,

and what the pattern's all about.

I made a blanket for my sister,

with kittens crocheted all around;

and another one, for Tammy,

with her name written up and down.

I made a special one last year.

(made lovingly-to give away)

It marked the 20 years of love

that we remembered on that day.

We threw a party for our friends;

We had good food, and dancing too;

and on the blanket, it was written:

'Roses are red, violets are blue'.

That was a special blanket;

but special is always what I say

'cause I put the time into them

so that they won't easily fray.

They are blankets made with love

that I'm proud of-from 'chain one';

To watch the faces of receivers

is, without doubt, half the fun.

So-if I ever make a blanket

for your anniversary,

or your wedding, or engagement,

here's the thought you'll have from me:

That 'I love you very much,

and making it was fun to do;'

and that 'with every single stitch

my every thought had been of you!'

Hubby Power!

I want to say "Welcome to my backyard!" in a cheery upbeat voice this morning, but my groggy voice is coming out. I didn't get a good night's sleep last night...which is really nothing NEW...but last night it was particularly irritating for me.

  But before I get all talky, talky,...let me show you the view I have of my backyard this morning.  It's the view I'm looking at from my bed. YES, I'm still in bed!!! No commentary YOU!!! Oh, that's right...I can't hear you anyway! LOL

  The reason I didn't sleep good is because of this gadget. It's a C-Pap machine. I have sleep Apnea. I found out just recently after a stay in the hospital because of a 7 day long stint with terrible headaches. Last night I put my machine on before bed, as usual, but I woke up very...VERY...early this morning with an extremely dry mouth (from mouth breathing all night, I guess), and this machine WAS NO LONGER ON MY FACE!!! Apparently I got sick of it during the night (it probably was interfering with my Hawaiian hula dance I was doing with my hubby in "Virtual Hawaii"...IN MY DREAMS...Poetic dreams! *Teehee*). I found it going full steam, and loudly, and with the face mask lying nicely ON THE OVERHEAD HEADBOARD!!! (I'll stop yelling now.) I have no memory what-so-ever of taking it off!

   Hubby says I mumbled something about being cold, but he dismissed it and went back to sleep. Isn't he wonderful?!...Actually, he IS wonderful! That's really what this post is about this morning. He has been priceless and loving throughout this whole ordeal...other health issues included. (I'll talk about that another time.) I wanted to show you my handsome "tall drink of water", as a friend of mine referred to him.

  Many of my poems were inspired by him, while I was awake...and while I was getting some GOOD sleep and having poetic dreams of him. My poem today will let you know what I mean. You read...I'm going back to bed with this view.

My Super-Hero

He has x-ray vision,

but he`s as blind as a bat.

He sees straight to my heart,

but cannot see my fat.

He`s as strong as an ox,

but as gentle as can be.

He`s sexy in his shorts,

and in a suit-a sight to see!

He`s my super-hero,

even though he can't  fly;

He doesn't drive a Bat-Mobile,

or freeze time with his eye.

But the things that he can do

far outweigh the things he can`t;

and they give the word "Super-Hero"

a whole new slant!