Phew...

I've been one busy lady here.  Since I work alone on my Courtyard Garden Wall, I don't have anyone to take a picture of me working.  And to take a "selfie" - well, you'd never be able to see more than my face and my BIG hat!  So, a wheelbarrow filled with dirt and a shovel will be it today.  When it's not too cold or too rainy, I have been outside [and that hasn't been much].  But I have gotten some things done.  The "Puppy Pen" I built

in the Garage, is not there any longer.  After 2 weeks of trying to get the Pups to "go" out there...they absolutely REFUSE to.  They stand there and look at me...wondering "why does mommy want us to "go" out here?  We always go in the Puppy Pen outside."   So, I dismantled it and moved 70 blocks and caps to the drive-way...put out my FREE sign and within the hour...they were all gone!  Yippee!!

Then I thought I would use the wheelbarrow to move dirt to the Wall Garden in the front.  That didn't go too well.  My knee [which has had 7 surgeries] hurt almost immediately...and then my back and shoulders got too sore to do anything else.  Just 2 wheelbarrows full of dirt made it there.  I had to quit.  

I ended up having 3 back to back rainy days to try to recover.  While I did, I tried out different shoes to find some that were more sturdy than others...and I ended up with a tie-on pair of sneakers.  I also practiced the motion of digging the dirt up from the fallen wall...turning and throwing it into the wheelbarrow, filling it up...rolling it to the wall and taking the dirt, turning and throwing it into the wall.  It was both the action of digging the dirt from against the wall and turning that created the problems.  I've dislocated both shoulders a few times over the years so shoveling into a firm wall of dirt didn't feel too good.  But I found a way around that.  

So the next time I tackled the dirt, I went on the other side of the wall and used to shovel to loosen the dirt from the wall.  It worked!  Looser dirt, less pressure to shoulders.  I also found a good way to stand that kept my right knee more stable...preventing it from turning too much with every shovelful.  Remembering that I had only been able to do 2 wheelbarrowsful of dirt the last time...I figured I would set a goal of doing 5...then stopping for the day.

When I was finished with the 5th wheelbarrowful of dirt...I felt fine and continued.  I wound up doing 15 that day!  No pictures to show...because it doesn't look like much was done.  But, believe me, having that front section filled with dirt...is BIG to me!!

 Then more rain came...and stayed.  So, I've been busy inside the house.  

More on that and Jury Duty, another day.

I am joining TOHOT today...stop by and see who else is.

What a Surprise!!

My son, Stephen, surprised me with a box of these incredible, mouthwatering creations for Mother's Day! What a wonderful surprise!!! Thanks!  Love you!

Each strawberry was dipped and covered with nuts, chocolate chips or additional drizzle. The end result is a heavenly combination of flavors.

4 Strawberries Dipped in Milk with Chopped Almonds
4 Strawberries Dipped in Dark with Chocolate Chips
4 Strawberries Dipped in White with Dark Swizzles

Shari's Berries

Live One Day at a Time by Joyce Meyer

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.  —Matthew 6:34

Most of us have enough to handle today without worrying about tomorrow. God will give you grace for today, but He will not give you grace for tomorrow until tomorrow arrives.

So often people worry about something that never happens. When you begin to think about the “what ifs,” the door opens for fear and worry. Some people worry so much that their worries become fear, and often the things people fear manifest in their life.

Do not allow yourself to dread tomorrow. Just know that God is faithful. It is comforting to know that whatever tomorrow may hold, He holds tomorrow. His grace is sufficient to meet the need. Do not waste today’s grace by worrying about tomorrow. Live one day at a time and you’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish for Christ.

---

From the book Ending Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2004 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Come Join Me...I'm Celebrating!

SURPRISE!

Yes, 8 years ago May 3, 2008 I began blogging.  In the early stages of blogging, I just blogged about anything, at least I think I did.  I don't remember my first post and I don't have it here on this blog.  Some time ago, when I changed my Blog Name and started a new blog, everything was supposed to be added to the Blog, but wasn't.  That's OK.  That doesn't upset me.

I've had many blog names...and finally in late December [actually New Year's Eve] 2014, I decided to start this blog.  I transferred everything I could from the old blog and started 2015 with Jan's Place.

Over the years...things change...and change they did.  

• I went from a No-Dog household to a 3-Dog Household.  Love them all.  Still miss Benny.
• I started out with a small garden that grew and grew and eventually built a Garden Wall/Courtyard to grow pretty flowers, herbs and veggies in...and it worked out keeping the Pups in the yard.
• I posted mostly about interior design then began posting about domestic violence, my home tours and even posting recipes.

But, 2015 brought the biggest changes to my life and to my blogging...

• First off, right after the new year, my husband was mistakenly diagnosed with cancer, but we didn't know it was a mistake for about 7 weeks.
• Meanwhile, during that time, many tests were done and many hospital, testings, doctor visit bills mounted up.
• Found out that when hubby retired, he didn't take Medicare Part B...so there was no co-pay, we had WE-PAY-ALL!
• Hubby's alzheimers got worse and he got depressed and mean.  I was under siege in my own home. 
• Then surprisingly and with no notice, he moved out.  He has never called, we haven't talked about anything more than taxes and a bill or some piece of mail and then it's only about that.  He never came back home, like he said he was planning to do when he left.
• I forgave him, almost immediately after he left...because he certainly wasn't anyway, shape or form the man I had married 9 1/2 years earlier.
• I've learned to do everything around here by myself.  The Pups and I are healthy and strong and get along well.
• I've lost a total of 69# since April of 2015.
• Although I feel widowed, I know that I am not - and neither am I divorced.  So, I feel a bit "stuck".  I don't fit into singles groups...I am uncomfortable in Olden People's Groups...I don't fit into married groups...so...I'm still looking for a spot for ME.

Let's see, if I blog another 8 years, it will be 2024...and I'll be ?how many? years old.  We won't go there.  It won't be toooooo old.  LOL!!

Thanks for stopping in today to help me celebrate 8 years blogging!!