You Capture - Joy

Once again I started with the definition. I always think I know the meaning of a word but sometimes it's just my impression of what it means and it's a little off kilter so here's what I got: the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation

Are here are the pictures that to me scream JOY!








So I guess the definition of joy for me on this special day would be Carrington and Racecar!

For more joyful pictures go to Beth's Ishouldbefoldinglaundry site

And when you see how happy all these pictures make you, you'll want to join in the fun so go take a couple of pictures and POST EM!

The Name Game

I love my koi. They may not be real tame but they are my pets. And they all have names. I mean they all should have names. The truth is that each one has been named but I've found out that if the name doesn't fit, it doesn't stick. Especially after a long winter where they hibernate at the bottom of the pond and you don't seem them for 3 months or more. If it wasn't a good name, it's gone in the Spring. So I'm hoping for some help in the naming of the poor, neglected koi whose name didn't fit and therefore didn't stick.

Here's an example of how we choose names. This is one of the new guys who is still in the nursery (aquarium) in the house and who is going to be released in the big pond this weekend.







Isn't he pretty? He has beautiful iridescent coloring and flowing fins which qualify him as a butterfly koi. And his name is Stealth. And it's going to stick. Why? Because when he's in the pond, he's virtually invisible. Looking down on him, his silvery black coloring against the black pond liner renders him almost impossible to see. Hence, his name is Stealth.

But the other three koi in the aquarium need names and preferably before they enter the world of the big pond. So maybe we can start with this guy:





He's what we call a platinum koi. He also has a nice iridescent quality but although you can't see it here, there's some very light, undesirable orange on his back. We've had platinums before. Most recently we had Moonshine and prior to that we had two named Whitey and Kracker. So we need a name for this guy. Please leave a suggestion in the comments section. If your suggestion is chosen, not only will you have the unmitigated pleasure of being the sponsor of his name but there will be a prize involved as well.

Let's see what you come up with. Thanks for your help.

Sigh.....

I had my appointment today where the doctor assessed my ankle and decided what our next course of treatment would be. To be honest, I was hoping that he wouldn't have me walking my complete route right away because I don't feel completely healed and it's a LONG walking trip that I take everyday. But I was hoping, and confident that he would agree, that I could start walking at least a couple of hours a day. But no. He said we'll see again in 10 days. There's still swelling and there's still discomfort and I still wake up at night when I turn my foot while I'm sleeping. So I have mixed feelings. I'm glad we're looking for complete healing before he turns me loose but I'm so frustrated. I've GOT to get moving. I want to cut my grass. I want to do a least part of my route. I want to clean up my flower beds and start making my ponds beautiful.

The height of my frustration came yesterday. What a touching, moving day it was. I participated (but couldn't walk in) the March of Dimes - March for Babies. I was part of Team James and Jake, a cause very near and dear to my heart. But, although I could fund raise and be there, I couldn't experience the walk. And there's something so fulfilling about finishing that route. You feel like you're doing it for all the babies whose names are on your back. You feel like you've REALLY done something physical to show how much you care. So I did the next best thing. I stationed myself where I could catch pictures of all these wonderful, beautiful, loving team members who did finish the walk.

















And some people got back before I was ready. Here they they are:



There were a couple more I didn't catch so to see pictures of the whole team, go here where Beth and other members of the team have posted some really wonderful pictures.

I couldn't walk but I was so happy to be a part of this amazing team. What a thrill!

Something's Fishy

Well it's almost time and I can hardly wait.

Last year when we went to the Chicago Koi Show, our intention was to buy one large, breeding size koi. But when we got there, it was way too hard to pick out just one so for the same money we picked out seven. I called them the magnificent seven because I thought they were so special. Well, it's not good to take too much pride in your koi because that (or something) caused the demise of my three favorite. A beautiful, fast growing green one, a gorgeous tri-colored butterfly, and a black and gold one named Goldmine. There are technical names for these types but I haven't learned them yet.

Anyway, here are the four that are left:









Now the big event that is coming up is that soon the young koi that we've kept in the aquarium (or inside nursery) are going to join these big guys in the big pond outside:



And soon after that, the winter pond will turn to a summer pond and it will be beautiful again with lots and lots of happy koi that I'm hoping against hope will spawn lots of little koi this year.

You Capture - Letters

I thought 'rustic' week was hard but I think 'letters' week is much harder. Like last week I turned to the dictionary for help. And it didn't. Letters meant pretty much what I thought it meant. Either written communication or symbols that represent sounds of speech. Way too abstract for my analytical mind. I need very specific direction.

Then last night we went to Ariel's open house and I spotted these letters:


They seemed kind of all encompassing but I felt like I could do better so I turned to letters that have special meaning for me with two sons in the Army:



Still not knowing if I'm on the right track, I started looking for letters everywhere and I found these:



I felt a little uncomfortable taking a picture of the inside of someone's garage, so I decided to finish with my best letter of all. It's a T but it says so much more than a letter:

Falling + Being Sick = YIKES!!!!!

So I wrote about falling here and here and about being sick here. If you read these posts, you'll know that I found both of these situations dreadfully inconvenient. There was a plus side though and that is that the doctor (or a total of 4 doctors that I saw) prescribed that I not walk on my appointed rounds until at least next Monday. I miss my customers and I miss the exercise but I have to admit that I enjoy going home on a nasty, cold, rainy Spring day when the object of my appointed rounds is particularly difficult to handle. Like today. So it's all good, right? Wrong.

Because my unceasing exercise was the only thing that kept my weight from ballooning at an unprecedented pace. Now the lack of that exercise coupled with my unceasing boredom at home from not being able to do much of anything has caused the unthinkable. Weight gain. Not a little - a lot. Prior to getting sick I had been on vacation for a week which resulted in the usual weight gain but I expected to remedy the situation shortly after returning to work by walking 9 or so miles everyday. And just when the initial soreness was starting to fade and the pounds were starting to drop, I fell...and got sick....and you know the rest.

Fortunately my foot and ankle are feeling better..not great...but lots better and I fully expect to get back to normal, or at least start working towards normal, next week.

And until then, I get to watch more HGTV and learn more about decorating and spaces and buying houses and it's SO interesting. I'm seriously addicted and it influences my feelings about how I can improve my own space and that's all good.

I Heart This Cause

Today I must write about something that is very important and close to my heart.

On Sunday, April 26th, I will be participating in the March of Dimes - March for Babies walk in Valparaiso. Previously, we've suffered the loss of identical twin grandsons, James and Jake; and two more grandchildren, Jonathan and Grace. All four perfect, midterm babies died before they had the chance to see the light of day. I held each of these perfect little babies in my arms and the heartbreak is unimaginable. My eyes fill with tears just thinking of the pain. So I'm participating in the hope that maybe by participating someone, someday will be spared the agony of losing a grandchild and watching a child suffer through such a terrible loss.

Although unable to walk the 6 miles due to my foot/ankle injury, I'm participating because I'm committed to the March of Dimes mission to celebrate babies who are born healthy and to raise funds for babies who need help to survive and thrive, and I would be grateful if you would join me in this worthy cause.

If you can help, please do. Just visit here to make an online donation. No amount is too small.

Thank you so much.