Today is snuck off with the niece-ette for some Auntie Barb fun time.  And, yes, we did have a nice afternoon. 

Our rirst stop was at our community garden plot.  The rotertiller guy is coming this week and the stepping stones left by the previous plot "owner" needed to dug up and moved, along with tending to our baby pea plants getting rid of the nasty weeds.

As I dug up the old walk way Elizabeth just marveled at the life under the stones.  Then, she wanted to help with weeding.  For every weed I dug and dropped in the container Elizabeth dumped at least a shovel full of dirt.  I made a newbie auntie mistake and only realized as I went to dump the weed in the composter I needed to dig through a bucket full of dirt to find the weeds.  Next time the little dear gets here own bucket!

Here she is....first DIG: 

 Then DUMP:

 Help with the peas, and finally.....

 ICE CREAM!!!!  

 What a nice day, for me....

...just get your little white dog to PUKE all over the bed at 5:25 am!!!!

Poor pupkins!  

She's feeling better now, resting on the red leather chair.  She relocated over to this piece of furniture after she hurled all over the couch, which followed the bed incident...

This has been inevitable.  And, in spite of that I'm still pouting about the state of my new situation.

Here's the scoop - I've been wearing contacts almost 3/4 of my life.  Yes, a very very long time.  And I've had ZERO problems with them.  I'm lucky...pop them in and go all day.  No issue what so ever.  

Well age has caught up with me.  Literally over the last couple of months I've been on a down hill slide, and not a fun one like when I'm on skis.  The problem is I cannot read or work on my computer if I'm wearing my contacts.  Given I'm chained to my computer most days, this is a problem.  I've been experimenting with reading glasses, or not wearing my contacts.  Both options seem to work, sort of.  But, going back and forth ultimately gives me a headache.

Out of desperation I made an appointment with my eye doctor.  I was positive there must be some solution...maybe now is finally the time for Lasik??  Well, I left there disappointed.  I do have some options, and I will give it a try, but nothing sounded all that rosy.

First, I don't need bi-focals (yet).  I guess this is a good thing.  My eyes work just fine to read, when they aren't corrected for distance.  Lasik won't help.  Apparently if I get them surgically corrected I'll have trouble reading all the time.  My options are:

(1) wearing contacts and using reading glasses as needed,

(2) wearing my regular glasses and taking them off to read,

(3) trying one contact for distance, training my brain to use that eye for distance, coupled with training my brain to read with the other un-corrected eyeball.   

Since I've done 1 and 2 I think I need to try 3....but my brain is really fighting this idea.   People, do you have any other ideas?  I need some encouragement here!  Argh!!!

(Quiet mantra to myself:  at least I can see, thankfully I have my vision, and options....repeat, repeat, repeat...) 

....you go to 7 am Mass, then ski in a crazy spring blizzard which includes noisy and stinging snow pellets and fog, followed by a yummy Easter dinner with the Niece and Newphew-ette!  

Happy Easter to you all....

 Tomorrow all the winter toys go into storage until the fall.       It's time to tune up the bike!    

A couple of months ago Mikey, one of the terriers, was diagnosed with a very serious blood disorder.  His red blood cells went crazy, and began procreating at an amazing rate.  He had more than twice the normal quantity of these cells which is life threatening.  

Apparently this disease is very rare.  It was diagnosed more by accident, than on purpose.  He went in for some dermatitis issues and through routine blood work it was discovered.  The symptoms are really subtle...over time he had become more lethargic, lost some weight, and did seem to be drinking a bit more water...but there weren't really any flashing warning lights. 

The good news is that after many, many visits to the vets office for some good old fashioned "blood letting" coupled with a daily medication he's back in the "normal range".  He feels good, and is much sassier than I've seen him in a couple of years.  The downside is the medication has side effects....such as hair loss. He has lost most of his long, crazy hair.  He's down to his soft, downy undercoat....it's taking some time to get used to...he really doesn't look like his 'old self'.  

And, since the medication impacts "hair" and toenails are "hair" they are not doing so good either.  They are all getting ready to fall off, which is very painful, as I know first hand from my chemo experience.  The vet says once they do fall off, he'll feel better, which again I agree with based on my own toenail drama.   I just feel sooo bad.  I really struggle each day when I give him the medicine which keeps him alive and spunky, only knowing it's causing him toe distress.

BEFORE:  

NOW (and I know, he is still incredibly cute handsome!):  

I really don't know how parents manage when they have kids with cancer or other such illnesses....it must be excruciatingly painful to take the little ones to infusion centers to kill the bad stuff, which also makes them really sick to boot.  I completely understand it's to save a life, but still, very, very painful.

Maybe some day we'll live in a world where all this pain will be a thing of the distant past??? 

As a Michigan State Alum I'm really excited to see the Spartans in the NCAA Final 4 Championship game.  I would be lying, fibbing and telling a huge mis-truth if I even implied I follow my Spartans on a routine basis (or on even a once in a while basis).  

Regardless, Woo Hoo!  I started paying attention as they began moving through the bracket, and now I'm just as excited as most.  Unless you count my Brother-in-Law.  He loves loves loves Michigan State sports...it's his "thing".  So, guess who is in the picture below....all ready to get in the stadium and support MSU???

Really, aren't they just the cutest??? 

I am such a proud mama!  I have seedlings!  

I am just amazed at how quickly seeds turn into sprouts which turn into little delicate plants.  I can just taste the Pico De Gallo I'm going to make with my just harvested tomatoes, peppers and cilantro....my mouth is watering.  

......and bestest friends....