Jaci Dawn

I baby sat tonight & had no time to blog, but I did take photos today. So I leave you with a short photo essay of The Goose That Got Left Behind.

The week has fairly flown past. My head is so full of ideas and plans! I hope my body can keep up with my brain.

I have decided to paint the studio blue with white trim. I bought a wood display case last summer at a yard sale – nothing special, just something that was in a church or school as a trophy display case. It is in storage right now, but when I move it back in, I’ll prime it (there’s a special primer that will block the varnish from leeching through the paint) and paint it white with ivy growing all over it. That was I get around the husband’s moratorium on murals in the house.

I want to pick up a double futon or a small hide-a-bed sofa for the room, too, so it can still double as a guest room.

Of course, my computer will move up there, too. I’ve decided to look for an inexpensive modern computer desk for that – something that isn’t bulky.

The weekend can’t get here soon enough so I can start painting…

Just my mind in overdrive.

(photo #218)

A yard sale find.

I am dealing with a migraine tonight, so not much to say. It started with an ocular migraine this morning during our staff meeting (the blindness lasts for about 30-45 minutes, typically).

If you follow the link and read the article, there’s a very decent graphic of an ocular migraine. Mine are similar to the graphic, except that what I see is something akin to ferris wheel lights in the dark: little neon lights that blink and move. The first hint that I have one coming on is a blind spot in the center of my vision. then the lights come one and the swirling blind spot gets larger. I’m all right if I don’t have to drive, write or read during the time that I have the migraine.

Ocular migraines are unnerving. I had the first one in my late teens and I have noticed that I can go months without one, then I will have a whole cluster of them. If I take an aspirin at the outset, I can reduce the time and duration of the lights, but if I can’t get to any aspirin, I just figure on 30-45 minutes of not being able to see very well. I CAN see around the swirling lights, but I lose one side of my peripheral vision or I lose the very center of my vision. Like I said: it is unnerving.

And sometimes after I have an ocular migraine, I will get a headache. Tonight, I have a headache.

It is time to give the computer a reat.

I keep telling my walking partner that you have to look closely at things. She’s learning, I think. For one thing, she knew these innocent-looking toadstools were actually Faerie condominiums.

You just have to be quick.

Sure enough, if you pay attention you will see faeries at play!

like a lamb. We did have a gorgeous red sunrise today, so perhaps the lion is sitting out over the Pacific Ocean, waiting to pounce.

In celebration of the mild entrance, I thought I’d share a photo of the Valentine my love bought me.

It’s a bud vase held by a pewter grey photo stand (the card is in the slot for the photo). Don said he knew I am always struggling to find a tiny vase for the tiny flowers in my garden (and early crocuses as it happens).

Pretty sweet.

They are gone.

Pretty much lock, stock and barrel: gone. Toys, clothes, diapers: gone.

Four months later, it all ended in one day.

My grandbabies walked out of the house (or were carried) at 10:30AM this morning on the wings of all the hopes and dreams of their parents.

Sam made several trips back to get their worldly goods. On one of those trips, he brought a pint-sized “helper” who was missing “Baba” something fierce. Zephan and I watched Bugs Bunny cartoons while Sam & help carried off more of their worldly belongings. Then we had to go out and look at the cars that were being loaded. Zephan wanted to know where his car was and why his car seat was in Baba’s pick-up truck. He wanted to go into the backyard to say good-bye to “Puppy”. He’s very confused.

They picked a beautiful weekend to move: mostly sunny, warm, not a drop of rain.

They moved about 13 miles from here into a two-bedroom/2-bath apartment with a little fenced yard. That is going to be quite a change from their last living quarters. Can you believe a family of four fit into this room?

They spread out into the living room and kitchen, too.

Sam said that when Zephan saw his bed in the back of Baba’s truck, he cried. He was just getting used to it being in this corner.

My first project will be to wash the walls and paint the room before I move anything back into it.

It is going to seem so strange to come home to quiet now.

I am going to miss saying “Night-night monsters” all the way up the stairs.

If we had any champagne in the house, we’d probably uncork it and toast to the quiet.

If Arwen & Sam had a bottle of champagne in the apartment, they would probably uncork it and toast to “Home Sweet Home All Our Own!”

We all survived and it ended cordial. There were no big family fights, not even any minor skirmishes. We all did what we had to do and we all just loved on little boys as much as we could. I am happy we had to opportunity to be there for our children.

Now it is time for all of us to write out new adventures and launch our dreams.

My friend Krystal commented on yesterday’s post about how much Javan is beginning to look like Zephan. I would almost disagree because, of course, I can see marked differences. But I’m not about to disagree.

The funny thing is, I edited two photos of the boys yesterday just for tonight’s post, and the title of that post? Look Alikes.

It’s in the eyes.

And not to be outdone, there’s Justin:

Okay, I threw Justin in there for kicks (and because he is so darn cute!).

Let’s consider those eyes again:

They could be twins.

And that is hysterical.

I do not remember if I have blogged about it yet or not, but it appears that the boys will be moving out very soon. Sam and Arwen have filled out paperwork and are hoping to sign papers on their new apartment some time this weekend! The original plan was for them to stay here for six months to get all their bills paid off and some money saved, but they were able to pay off their bills in four months.

They are itching for their own home. Of course, Arwen will be “nesting” in the next few months, getting ready to have her baby.

I will miss having the boys underfoot all the time, but I will also be very happy to see them move into their own home.

We won’t know for certain until Saturday when Sam & Arwen go to sign papers: apparently getting into this apartment hinges on their income level and the number of people in the household. So think good thoughts for them, please? We’re all ready for this cozy living situation to come to an end!