BIG plans for the garden mean a big job ahead.

What a gorgeous day! We were blessed with sunny skies and temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.

I was up and out early this morning to do my weekly cleaning for Mom and for Wee. When I got home Peach was just finishing raking and sweeping up out front. It's so nice to get rid of the 'dirtiness' of winter. Earlier in the day I had planned on taking advantage of the beautiful weather to get some work done outdoors, but couldn't decide whether to start in the back yard or the front. Peach getting the work done out front was so much appreciated, and took the decision out of my hands about where to start.

After making a cup of tea I headed out back. Peach had already moved our new patio set out there and I couldn't wait to get it set up. Unfortunately I didn't do any work outdoors last fall which means I have even more to do now that spring is here. We have major renovation plans for both the front garden and back garden this year. We became sidetracked from some of the cleanup work this afternoon discussing the garden plans. Of course, I also had to move the patio furniture around a half dozen times until I found just the right spot for everything. Or should I say just the right spot for today .... tomorrow may be quite a different story. I tend to not know if I like something until I leave it overnight and then look at it with fresh eyes the next day. We did accomplish quite a bit today, although there is still so much work ahead.

Thankfully, we'll be blessed with the same beautiful weather for the rest of the weekend :)

Back to School Shopping

So, shopping today was like Christmas shopping in September. The stores were insane! And obviously I was insane for being out in them.

The girls had a couple of gift cards to use, so I foolishly took them out when I went shopping for groceries. It's been a long time since I took the kids grocery shopping. Usually, that's been peach's and my time out without the kids. As unexciting as that sounds, it's been our thing to do together.

So off we went, peach, pudge, gingo and I. We decided we'd shop for the clothes before the groceries. Gingo is just like me; very indecisive. She found lots of stuff that she liked, but wanted to keep looking just in case she found something better. I couldn't keep pudge away from the summer clearance clothing. She wanted to look at tank tops and flip flops. I told her I wasn't spending money on summer clothing as we were heading into fall.

I had been telling the girls all morning that I couldn't afford to buy them anything more than a pair of pants and a top to start school. Constantly cautioned them that if they bugged for more, they'd end up with nothing. Well, they were really good; I was the one who kept saying "oohh, look at this!" or "try this one on." In the end, after all was said and done, we spent over $200 on back to school clothes for the 2 of them. Their gift cards amounted to less then $20. George and Lou were working today, but I'm sure it'll hit the fan when they find out their sisters went out and bought new clothes while they got nothing.

After 3 stores for clothes shopping, we hurried to make the 3 stores we had to get to for grocery shopping. I was stressed, and now I'm pooped. The girls are thrilled with their new stuff. Peach and I both got a big hug and kiss from each of the girls and I 'thank you' which I appreciated. Sometimes I feel they get so much, that it's not truly appreciated. It meant a lot to me that they took that 30 seconds to acknowledge something they hadn't been expecting.

As stressed as I was, I also enjoyed the experience. As my girls get older, I know they'll need me less for things like shopping for clothes and won't always want my input or company.

I'll take what I can now, and enjoy it while it lasts.

Today's Horoscope Said it Had to Happen.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 — Nov. 22)
The last thing you need now is an exercise in futility. If something just isn't possible, it isn't possible. Accept as much and don't worry. For you the outlook has never held forth more promise. A recent struggle simply had to happen.

I disagree.

There is never an excuse for violence. I just can't seem to get that through. It's OK to be mad. It's OK to be emotional. It's even OK to argue. But it's how you get mad; how you show your emotions and how you argue that is important. It's easy to get along when things are going well. It's how you treat each other when things aren't going so well that counts.

It will make or break a relationship.

In this case, it's breaking the relationship and you don't see it.

• You intentionally bully and scare someone you claim to love ....
• You use your vehicle as a weapon, endangering not only the one you claim to love and yourself - but also others; strangers who are not involved and absolutely should not pay the price for your rage ....
• You are constantly spouting off negative and derogatory comments and remarks to the one you claim to love ....
• You use fear, shame and guilt to overpower, and completely turn a situation around trying to justify your actions; saying you reacted the way you did because of the one you claim to love ....
• Constantly threaten the one you claim to love; threaten to hurt, threaten to shame, threaten violence - even threaten to bring harm to people and things that are important to the one you claim to love ....

It's all about control. And right now, you've got it all contrary to what you believe.

If this is how you love someone, you really should be ashamed.

There was no beautiful in my today.

Just terrorizing anger and paralyzing fear.

Does it count as a post, if I only post to say I have no post?

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

I've never understood this MMORPG thingy.

Peach plays a lot, and I find I get quite pi$$ed at the amount of time he spends online. Especially when there's laundry, dishes, kids ... basically life going on.

I'm a realist (read here: "I'm the adult.") I don't have time for games; for fantasy stuff. I've always prided myself for living in the real world. Peach, on the other hand, is everything I'm not. (Read here: "he's the child.") We are complete and total opposites. It's one of the things that he thinks makes us 'perfect' for each other.

However, this weekend I decided to try and understand - for peach's sake. And for the sake of peace in the house and my own sanity. Clearly, even though I don't understand it, it is something my husband has an interest in. I want to share his interests as much as he shares mine. He's always encouraging and supportive of me and my hobbies/interests.

I guess if I want to continue to refer to myself as the adult, I need to behave and respond as such.

We'll see how it goes. Wish me luck.