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Baby momma drama.....baby dad mad.....ain't nobody got time for that. Real talk. Over the past few months my world has been consumed with the completion of my daughter's education with an MD and a PhD. I have blogged about it, cried about it, shouted about it, and damn near been kicked off of FB for posting about it. It really is amazing. And......it has been based in a true partnership in parenting which should be talked about because it isn't the normal narrative. At 15 a girl should be picking classes not co parents or life partners but since that is exactly what I did I want to give a shout out to my daughter's father and say, "Great job!" As teen parents we realized quickly we wouldn't be a couple. As adult parents we are both married to great people....just not each other. Me, for 20 years. Yup. Sooooo....we have 2 additional parents and personalities in the mix, and at the center of it all........we have my girl. (so I know it is "our"...

This post is an ode to the old garden standard....the HOSTA. One of my personal favorites....and the one my youngest boy, as a toddler, called Hosties! heehee! When I first became acquainted with this "can't kill it wonder" it was growing wildly down many a side fence. Full of weeds and holes from a "slug" fest or two....or three. Yuck! Then I was given a piece by a good friend and...well....the rest is garden history. Variegated and slug resistant varieties shown here All of my plants in the back garden have been gifts or splits. (and I don't mean gymnastics!) The azaleas in the photo above were dug out of a lovely school Principal's yard. She was divorcing. He hated the bushes that she had grown to love. He was keeping the house. She would be damned if he destroyed them. Ummm, so sorry....let me get my shovel. (Really? I can't make this up!) The hostas come from a lovely couple that dig each other as much as they dig their yard....

I have a confession to make.......I am a gift wrap snob. I know, it's wrong. But what can I tell you. Some people have loads of shoes....me, I have a gift wrap stockpile. And, ummmm.....I have been know to wrinkle my nose at generic store wrap. I mean, you have to make your packaging POP! heehee. So, imagine my anxiety when I read the most beautiful shower invite that clearly states "please bring packages unwrapped" Oh my. What is a girl to do? Shakes, hives, sweats. I gotta think. Eureka! Shrink wrap it is! But 1st.....what to get? I checked the registry and saw lots of kitchen items. Sturdy, practical, and a great gift for a gal that loves to cook. Hmmmmm, these will not be cute unwrapped. And, well, cute matters! (Start thinking of how cute the invite was and know I need to step my game up!) So I need a receptacle to put it in! Wine bucket it it! But....I wouldn't exactly call it special.......no worries. EVERYTHING, and I mean everything is better personalized...

You may remember I did a short post on my simple cure for sadness....sending notes! Since that post I have sent many.....near and far, and while it is a gesture toward someone else...it really is for me. I just LOVE it. And I suspect some folks may think it is a bit weird or.....as Sweet Brown would say..."Ain't nobody got time for that!!" So imagine my surprise and delight when I received a package in the mail yesterday...... Ummmmm hmmmmmm. Fed ex. What? Yup! And....who could it be from? Someone who read this? A close friend or family member? NOPE!! This cute card and box with two little Black Angels (I collect these) came to my door from someone I worked with......wait for it......10 years ago!!!!!!!!!!! And haven't talked to since then!! OMG!! And you know what? You would have thought I hit the lottery!! My boys wanted to know..."who is it from?" Earlier in the day we had a neighbor stop by out of the clear blue and say..."Do you have any tea?...