Photo: closeup of a dandelion clock
When I was a kid it was such a treat to blow the fuzz off of a dandelion clock. I still enjoy it, but not when I find them in my garden (hmmmm…do you think it any coincidence that they only seem to pop up in the children’s area?)
Picutre: closeup of two purple clematis flowers on a vine.
Doesn’t the inside of the lower flower look rather threatening?? :)
Photo: a photo of my breakfast last Saturday. A brownish colored softboiled egg sitting in a white ceramic eggcup. The ‘cap’ of the egg is removed and the yolk is showing through. A white mug is in the background.
On weekends we enjoy eating French-style around here. John softboils the eggs, toasts a baguette and brews some of his super-good lattes for the grownups and steamed milk w/vanilla or lavender for the kiddoes. I just sit back and enjoy. :)
So I spent the morning in our bank credit union, working out details of the best way to safeguard the money we’re saving for the kids’ education. I selected the 529 savings plan and made various choices about the ways to invest the money within that plan (based on my kids’ ages, the level of risk involved with the investments, etc).
Though I’d done my homework before I met with the investment guy, I still felt unsure about some of the details and deferred to his expertise at various points. I came away pleased about the decision to open the accounts, but also self-critical about the fact that I’d also been ‘sold’ a particular investment product when I wasn’t completely sure about all of the details.
I feel that I need to become more savvy about investments. I know just the basics and use this knowledge to make what I hope are wise decisions. But perhaps the rest of you have some financial gurus that you trust? Can you point me to where you look for advice on investments and money management solutions?
Longing is like the Seed
That wrestles in the Ground,
Believing if it intercede
It shall at length be found.
The Hour, and the Clime —
Each Circumstance unknown,
What Constancy must be achieved
Before it see the Sun!
~Emily Dickinson
When we lived in Utah, Memorial Day was a day to deliver flowers to cemeteries. Now it’s just another 3-day weekend to enjoy with the family and to celebrate birthdays (wow, I know so many people born within a few days of me!).
Can I just say how lovely it is to have time to relax, to read, to get caught up on things? Yesterday we spent the afternoon and evening with my sister and her posse. So fun (and can I say how many myriad ways I am dreaming of spending my new HomeDepot giftcard??)! Today we’ll do garden time and hang out with some more friends at an afternoon birthday potluck.
John here, and I’ve “hacked” into Jana’s blog (okay, she left her computer on and already logged into blogger–no l337 h4k0rz here). I just wanted to let all you pilgrimgirl fans know that it’s Jana’s birthday today! Wish her a happy one! :D
Picture: Pink rose with drops of water on the petals.
This rose is so small, that the green ‘stems’ you see around it are actually blades of grass. It’s from a mini-rosebush that I received as a gift a few years ago.
Picture: a closeup shot of a gold-colored marigold with various marigolds of reds, oranges and yellows in the background.
A bit of sunshine for this very overcast day…
:)
Picture: Closeup photo of a fuschia flower with pale pink outer petals and deep purple inner petals.
For those of you celebrating today, let me send my best wishes to you. May this day be full of peace, joy, and love. :)
No pretty flower picture today. Because it’s come to my attention (thanks to my Outhouse friends) that my online persona doesn’t really match up with “me.” For all of you who only know me online and might have this rosy-colored view of Jana, well this is for you:
-I like fart jokes. I make at least one potty-humor comment at dinner each evening.
-My house is a mess. When I cleaned out the fridge last week I found a ton of stuff that had expired in December of last year.
-I like to swear & cuss, especially around John. I’m downright sailor-ish at times.
-I can touch my tongue to my nose and I will perform this “skill” for just about anyone, just about anytime.
-I can be pretty mean. I have strong opinions about most topics and I use big words in an attempt to demean those that I’m arguing with.
-I frequently snort when I laugh.
-When I run into my old boyfriends I often, rather heartlessly, ignore them.
-Sometimes I use my disability as an excuse when I am perfectly capable of doing things. It’s just my way of getting out of things that I don’t want to do.
-During the middle of the day while the kids are at school and John’s at work I frequently do my schoolwork sitting in bed in my underwear. Ignoring the door or the phone. Come to think of it, I rarely answer the phone anytime of day. And I’m horrible about returning messages.
-I don’t like it when people interrupt me when I’m on email.
-I run red lights when no one else is around.
-I bike in ‘no biking’ areas of campus.
-I have a double-chin, but I don’t post photos that show it.
-I enjoy the attention that my ‘different’ body brings. I can walk down the street showing my bionic leg and know that nearly every eye is on me. There’s a headiness to getting so much attention.
-In yoga class I’m rather proud that I’m better at many of the poses than the ‘able-bodied’ participants.
-Sometimes when John is working on something that’s important to him I distract him with sex.
-I kiss my cats more than my husband.
-I manipulate people (especially men) by smiling at them and saying what I think they want to hear.
-If you go out to lunch with me, I will probably dominate the conversation.
-I am frequently uncomfortable with the way other people smell.
-My garden is a big mess of weeds right now. Taking flower pictures is my way of avoiding the ugly needs-work spaces.
-I usually drive my kids to school while I’m still wearing my pajamas.
-I buy things online because I don’t want to be hassled with having to go to a brick & mortar store.
-Sometimes I assign my kids to do the chores that I don’t want to do myself.
-I almost never have any money in my wallet because I don’t want the hassle of going to an ATM or getting cash back at the store.
-I throw away loose change that I find around the house rather than having to put it in a receptacle and roll it for deposit at the bank.
-Sometimes I use schoolwork as an excuse when I want to evade a previous commitment.
-I wrap my leg around John’s legs at night even though I know he doesn’t like it much. And I don’t let him reciprocate.
-I’m not always careful about separating other family members’ laundry by color and fabric although I get really annoyed if they aren’t careful with my clothes.
-If I buy a container of fresh pineapple, I usually eat it all myself even though CatGirl really likes it, too.
-Sometimes I’m too lazy to turn off the bathroom light before I go to bed even though I know it makes it hard for John to sleep.
-I’m not nice in the mornings.
-I play games to win.
Picture: close up view of the inside of an orange nasturtium flower.
Nasturtiums are one my favorite flowering vines. I love how cheery the blossoms look as they tumble over fences and other garden spaces. And fortunately they aren’t as invasive as morning glory or trumpet vine. :)
Picture: a cluster of small blue flowers
Happy Easter my friends. I hope this day will be one of renewal, peace, and joy for each of you.
