If stress can kill you, there's no doubt that I should be dead from it. Living with this male man-child has beaten me down more than anyone can imagine. I've tried to vent a little to a family member, and once to a friend, and both said that I should kick him out, make him leave, that's what they would do......it's easier said than done folks.  My emotions get in the way of doing what's best for me.

He has stolen from me, everything from my wedding band to cash and checks. I've talked with the sheriff, and his deputies. They "have a talk with him".  He's had counseling and promises of counseling, or at least what passes for that in our area.  There was a visit to a psychiatrist, then the second visit was via video conference. The third video conference, when I had questions about just exactly when he would actually advise us about what to do about his behavior, I was informed that his counselor would be handling that because his job was simply to prescribe his meds, the counselor would handle the behavior problems.                                                                      
I freaking understand that there are problems when dealing with ADHD but there has been little help available in preparing him to live in an adult world and taking on adult responsibilities.  I've done as much as I know how to do.

I'm tired. Mind, body, and soul.

breath

"But grief makes a monster out of us sometimes . . . and sometimes you say and do things to the people you love that you can't forgive yourself for.”                               ........Melina Marchetta.

My South, The Delta

Greg Isles  said it best in his book, The Quiet Game,

"The Delta smells of hardwood forest, creek water, kudzu, bush-hogged wildflowers, and baking earth. The competing aromas blend into a heady restart you'd never find in a Northern city.                                                          

     

This area used to boast it's share of rich, gentlemen planters who's fortunes were made from the white gold cotton crops that fed Northern and European Mills. Plantations stretched as far as the eyes could see, and more on both sides of the Mississippi River. Lumber was also king while it lasted. "                                             

Exactly.

Yes I have.

Did you know?

Did you know that some storm systems can hold more water than the Mississippi River?  I wouldn't want one of those to rain on me.

Another Monday

 

Try-out

Trying a post from my Kindle. This could come in handy for doing a quick post.,,,,,tell me about the good old days.

Blogaversary

Eleven years ago today I began blogging. I think my first post was a couple of sentences about rednecks.

Then, an especially awesome event happened later that same day, Alexis, aka, the Chick, came into this world and started immediately exploring her surroundings. She's still exploring and is so intelligent. 

Happy 11th birthday little southern Chickie.

A Personal Photo Challenge - Shadow Play

I wasn't going to do this challenge because things have been up and down here but Miz Donna Staas reminded me and I decided to go through old photos I've done in the past to see if any were worthy.  I hope to some day have just a smidgen of the talent that our hostess, Miz Donna from TN has.  Not sure of these but here they are:

 

Here is our Beans when she was a baby. She was pretending to be asleep while partially sitting beneath our oak tree.  The leaves were barely moving but there were a few shadows about when she was out of the sun.

Some of my favorite shadows and shades are on the lost road where I have taken many photos over the years.

Shadows across Zach's face as we sit in the truck waiting for tae kwon do to start.

 Y'all need to click over to see all the other folks who played with shadows this week.

Busy and Frustrating

I was on the phone for hours today with the school office, the counselor, the principal, the resource office, the college, and finally the Sheriff.  I know a little more than I did but not a lot and the Sheriff was kind enough to correct a huge mistake that was made.  Tomorrow I'll go pick up Zach's transcript, get his things from his lockers, and hopefully find out something about credit recovery for at least one semester of Algebra III this summer (keep your fingers crossed!)  We will also meet with the Sheriff tomorrow to see about some possible counseling options.

It's frustrating to try to communicate with people who don't actually care if you are familiar with what you want to know and need to know.  I am thankful for the ones who do.

Please keep us in your prayers because I don't want to lose my patience in my old age and end up in jail.  They tell me the coffee sucks there.

Oh, and I have to get him enrolled and ready for Homeschooling this week.  That alone might be a cause for jail time.

Brick Pile Keeps Growing

I wonder how long it'll take me to have enough to build something? 

I wanted something to drink and something sweet so after going through that dreaded Wally World earlier I stopped by the Sonic Drive-in for a med. mocha/caramel java chiller figuring that would kill two birds with one stone,,,ah,,,brick.  The young lady brings Zach's route 44 sprite and my java treat so I gave Zach his and sat mine on the dash in order to pay her.  Then, all I did was reach up to get my chiller to sit it in the drink holder and wouldn't you know that I grabbed too close to the top and spilled about 10 ounces of that icy, icky, sticky, cold, messy, stuff on the steering wheel, the floor, my pants, and anywhere else it could drizzle and meander to.

Let me tell you, 10 ounces doesn't look like a lot until it's covering the entire inside driver's side of your pickup.

Jax licked me all the way across the yard to the door.  Puppy and Jasper took over there to get their licks in until I got out of those pants.

A tub of soapy water later and the truck and I are not icky, or sticky anymore.  But then I spilled some coffee in the microwave.

Calf rope! I give!

I do the Stupidest Things!

THIS was supposed to be posted here but instead it is HERE.  My lucid moments don't last very long.

"Selfish?"

Am I being selfish for wanting to be respected, valued, and considered by my children?

Miz Donna's Photo Challenge. Layering Textures.

I had a reminder about Miz Donna's Photo Challenge: Layering Textures so I took several deep breaths and decided that this might be a good way to slowly get back into the blogging mode.

So, here goes. I hope my attempts are ok.  I chose to use two photos that I took a week ago.

original photo

Autumn leaves using a cracked texture in Perfect Effects 3.

 

Original photo

Autumn Thistle after using the Earth texture effect from Perfect Effects 3.

I always enjoy these photo challenges and wish to say thank you to Miz Donna for hosting them.

It's time for another of Miz Donna's Photo Challenges.  There will be a bunch of great links to great shots of FLOWERS over at her place so be sure to click over and take a look.

Bitterweed

 

 

 

 

 “A weed is but an unloved flower.”
― Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Primrose

 

“The earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thank you for giving us these chances to use our cameras Miz Donna!

Photo Challenge: What I Love About Spring!

Did everyone have fun with this challenge? It's been Spring-like here most of the time but there have been a few days that's made me wonder if Winter has been harder to shake this year. It's not too late to join us, just sign in and post your link over at the Photo Challenge Blog.  We love to see what others shoot!

I love the smell of the fields after a Spring rain and the growing crops peeking up out of the soil. The photo below is corn.

“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.”
― Virgil Kraft

It's amazing to watch the winter wheat fill it's heads with grain to be harvested in a few weeks.

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

 

 

How awesome it is to see the blooms open up once again as the days grow warmer and longer.

“She turned to the sunlight
    And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
    "Winter is dead.”
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

“I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer.”
― Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle

Don't forget to click over to our Challenge Blog and click the blue links to see all the other wonderful shots for this challenge!

Simplicity: A Personal Photo Challenge

It's time for Miz Donna's Simplicity Photo Challenge!  I had some shots that I was certain would be for my post until this morning woke up with a foggy haze so I had to use a couple of shots to show off our simple countryside.

Something which is easy to understand or explain is simple.

 

 

Simplicity can be used to imply beauty, purity, or clarity.

It can refer to a simple living lifestyle.

 

 

It was a most enjoyable Challenge Miz Donna and I'll be looking forward to the one in May. Please remember to visit the Challenge Link to view more Simplicity photos.

Photo Challenge: Still Life (2nd try)

I hate it when I've worked so hard on a post and find that this blogger is a fruitcake and posted her challenge photos on the Challenge Blog rather than where she was supposed to!

I hope everyone was able to visit all of our talented challengers by visiting our Photo Challenge Blog and clicking their links.  My photos are also posted there because I'm so ditzy.

Photo Challenge: Words

Here I go again, giving it another try with another challenge because I so love to see the photos that my blog buds come up with for each one.  Leave a comment if you'd like and be sure to click the blue links on our Photo Challenge Page so you can view all of the wonderful shots that our other challengers have taken.

Words on a sign to tell a little of the history of the near-by town of Helena, AR.

My e-reader has nicks and smudges but it's becoming more and more full of words for me to read.

Another sign with words telling us some more of the history of Helena, AR.

Don't forget to check out all the  other great "shooters"!

A Personal Photo Challenge: Black and White Photography

I didn't realize my friend had also chosen today for her Black and White Photography Challenge until after I'd also chosen that day to do one but I still wanted to do both so figured out this way to do it.  Hopefully it will be ok.  Be sure to click on her link to enjoy her awesome talent with a camera as well as all of the others who are participating. Thank you Miz Donna for allowing me to join your challenge too.

Sunflowers on Presidents Island, Memphis, TN.

 

Bird Chatter

 

Spring trying to raise her head.

Thanks you again Miz Donna! It was fun!!