Book Review - Sleeping with Anemone

As I'm reading right along, I almost forgot to share the latest installment the Flower Shop Mystery series by Kate Collins, Sleeping with Anemone. 

As usual, Abby finds herself in the middle of a mess.  Only this time though, there are three attempted kidnappings, vandalism and the issue of stolen merchandise to heat up the situation.  While Abby is hot on her soapbox of stopping animal cruelty, she ends up unknowingly in the possession of something someone wants pretty badly.  Badly enough to kill for.  Marco, her hot bar owning boyfriend, is there to serve as her 24/7 bodyguard until they can figure out who's determined to get their hands on her.  Loved it!  Fun, fast paced page turner. 

Happy Reading!
Mandy

Playing Dead

Some days I'm torn between overwhelming joy in watching my girls and others overtaken by exasperation.  Tonight was a mix of both.  Our youngest usually has me rolling with her "say it like it is" matter of fact personality, but the homework thing frustrates me to no end.  Here's the thing, there are two competent, able bodied adults living in this house, but when it comes to homework other than math, she refuses to ask her daddy for help.  There have been a number of nights that I'm coming in late with our oldest from volleyball practice to find her at the table patiently waiting for me to help with reading homework.  My question is always the same, "Did you ask your dad?", and her response is always the same, "Daddy's not good at reading.".  That's not true, he reads just fine, but because it's not something he enjoys for "fun", he's not good at it.  I've done this before, but tonight it worked better because everyone was in the room.  "What would all of you do if I up and died tomorrow?".  Daughter #2, "I'd ask Daddy for help with my homework."  "Well then, pretend I'm dead and ask your dad."  Remarkably enough, she took the science page across the room and they figured it out.  They even enlisted big sister.  That freed me up to finish up dinner.  After she was done, she came in for a hug and a quick kiss and I told her I was glad I wasn't dead; she told me she was too! 

So, for about ten minutes tonight I played dead.

Aromatherapy Herb Garden

Amongst getting the pool put up and backyard organized, I jumped right into getting my herb garden set up.  I think I posted last summer about wanting to do an aromatherapy garden this year, so it's really more geared to the yummy smells instead of practical uses. 

Mrs Burn's Lemon Basil, Orange Thyme, Aussie Sweet  Basil

Lemon Verbena, Cinnamon Basil, Curly Leaf Parsley

Beebalm Red, Sicilian Oregano, Munstead Lavender

Pineapple Sage, Purple Bush Basil, Creeping Thyme, Lemon Balm

Chocolate Mint

There's an Italian Oregano sitting all alone that was put in a pot like the Chocolate Mint on the other side of the blocks.  I'm going to try to find recipes to use them, but my favorite thing is just smelling them.  The Lemon Balm and Pineapple Sage...oh and the Lemon Verbena are by far the most delicious!   The Cinnamon Basil is scrumptious too and I really stumbled on that one.  Shelby's guinea pigs will appreciate the Curly Leaf Parsley, as that's like Catnip for them.  The chairs are going to be painted red and then it will be perfect!  It's the perfect spot to read or visit with a friend while mussing the leaves to stir up the delicious smells. 

My Vick's Plant is close, but since she's quite happy in her spot I don't want to push my luck with her.  I'm on my second or third try from Amy's cuttings and am finally growing one!

Vick's Plant

I wish I could put the smells through the Internet, but you'll just have to go to your local garden nursery in the meantime.  Everyone should own the Lemon Balm and Pineapple Sage! 

Mandy

Five Question Friday

It's Friday, and the girls and I had the day off!  Today is kind of a citywide holiday because of Fiesta celebrations.  Today was the Battle of Flowers Parade, and schools close as well as certain parts of the city.  My office is at the starting point for the parade, so good luck getting in and out of there for work when the roads are baracaded off!  They actually use our office for the parade headquarters for the Battle of Flowers and the Fiesta Flambeau (Saturday night) parades.  Employees can bring their families to watch the parade from bleachers within the fenced parking lot, but I opted to have the pool installed instead.  The girls and I might go down tomorrow night, but I'm not 100% certain on that just yet.  It is a lot of fun though, and any reason is a good reason to get a day off! 

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?
My favorite of sign of spring is when the green starts popping up around the dried brown branches of my plants.  You can usually find me outside this time of the year poking around and looking to see if there were any slight changes from day to day...love it!

2. What was your best birthday ever?
My best birthday ever was the year my friends kidnapped my house and did room redo's for the livingroom and kitchen.  One of my best friends, Toni, is an interior designer and she wrangled the rest of the girls, got a house key from my hubby and they went to town.  I had been going over paint colors for both rooms and Toni used the exact ones I had chosen.  I had asbolutely no idea until I walked in the house that evening and started bawling!   We finished the night at my favorite Thai restaurant. 

3. What is your favorite dessert?
My favorite dessert was fried cheesecake with vanilla/cinnamon icecream, but the restaurant that served it closed.   Delicious doesn't even begin to cover it!  Home desert is always warm brownies with vanilla ice cream.  I'll stop because I have a favorite desert for just about every mood, kind of day, etc.! 

4. What is the best excuse you've ever used to get out of a ticket?
I've only gotten one ticket at this point in my life and there was no getting out of it.  I'm sure it didn't help that when the officier asked me if I had contact on, my response was, "I sure hope so.  If I didn't, you would probably be pulling me out of a tree."  Sometimes I just have no control over what pops out of my mouth, I was also 18 at that time!

5. Do you wake up before your alarm, with your alarm, or after hitting snooze several times?
I either wake up with my alarm or before it.  Usually I wake up singing and moving my foot to whatever song comes on.  The snooze button would only get me in deep trouble, so I've never gone there!

To join in, stop by Mama M's at My Little Life. 

Pool Happenings...A Giant Sandpile

They're in the backyard now putting up the new pool...wahoo!!  One of the things we had to do was have 7 yards of sand delivered prior to them coming out this morning.  We had the sand delivered yesterday afternoon and I had forgotten how much fun my girls had in the sand.  I thought, who needs the coast when you can have a giant sand dune in your own driveway!

I didn't realize I downloaded this, but it works so hey...here's a video.

Daughter #2 stayed out until 9 and made herself a little dugout!

She was back out this morning before the guys needed the sand for the backyard.  She's concerned that there won't be any left and wants to stow away a bucket!

Dottie had to walk over and check it out too.  She made the mistake of coming across the street and Amy tossed her up on top to see if she liked it.  She layed for a while with the attitude "This is the biggest litter box ever and it's all mine!"...she's the only cat I tolerate in case you're wondering if I jumped off the deep end!  She's a trip though and recently we were appointed "God Parents" for the two dogs and Miss Dottie in case something happens to their people parents. 

More on the pool to follow, they're out they're digging and leveling away!

Days 14 & 15

Day 14... A Photo I Love

Our oldest is a blooming photographer and this is a photo she took of our youngest at the piano a few summers ago. 

Day 15...A Bible Verse

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will reoice over you with singing."

Something about knowing that my God sings over me makes me feel pretty stinking special, and I like it!

Mandy

Days 12 & 13 Wrapped Into One

Day 12 comes with a loaded question...What I believe?  As far as religious beliefs, I've said before that I'm a born again, spirit filled believer.  I grew up in a pretty strict, over the top religious setting and grew up where pants were out of the question for girls as was cutting your hair and makeup.  Hallelujah my parents came to their senses and introduced us to a non-denominational church when we were in our mid-teens!  It sounds like we belonged to a cult, not so...just grew up in the United Pentecostal world.  It's amazing how much one thinks they know when they really don't know much at all.  Before I offend anyone, if that hasn't already happened, I still have friends in that religion...family as well, so my intent is not to offend at all.  We're all entitled to our beliefs and I wouldn't trade for the way I was raised because some of my core beliefs come from that, but I'm thankful for the freedom we have now. 

I believe that inside each of us, God has planted a seed for success.  It doesn't matter how you were brought up, what kind of family you come from or your financial situation.  Each one of us has the ability to make something of ourselves and be the person that God envisioned from the beginning.  Too often, people get hung up on circumstances and never reach their potential, this hurts my heart.

Now on to something a little lighter, Day 13...My Goals.

They're really pretty simple.  I'd like to be debt free (ok, I can dream can't I), and to work because I enjoy it and not because I have to.  I'd like to see my girls grow up, loving Jesus and living lives of their own that they're proud of.  I'd like to one day rid my house of all the clutter that seems to overtake it more often that I'd like.  For being a planner, you'd think I'd have more to say! 

Day 11...My Favorite TV Shows

What are my favorite tv shows?  Let's see, I have a number of them.  While the list might be long, I DVR most of them and watch them on the rare days when I have nothing to do or when Bob's hunting or fishing.  There are also those lovely days when our girls are sick and need me at home.  I'm not happy that they're sick, but an unexpected day of nothing is always welcome!

Castle
NCIS (the original and Los Angelas)
Law and Order SVU
Body of Proof
Rissoli and Ilses
The Closer
Til Debt Do Us Part
The Biggest Loser
Undercovers
CSI (all three of them)
House Hunters (US and International)
Diner, Drives and Dives

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.  I guess the ones listed are really my favorites!  Sorry, Mother...no pictures!

Cactus Monday

A new succulent garden, not my own, but that of my neighbor friend, Amy.  I absolutely love what she did with pieces she had and new little guys of all shapes, textures and colors.  Here's a view of the entire garden and a close up or two. 

 

Mine will be ready to share in a few weeks, but I had to clean the back porch off first!  What a mess I had going, but we're getting there. 

Be sure to swing by and visit Teri at Teri's Painted Daisies for more Cactus Monday treats!

Happy Cactus Monday!

Flower Shop Mysteries

I've slacked off in sharing the Flower Shop Mysteries by Kate Collins with you as I've finished them.  I've finished A Rose From the Dead and Shoots to Kill which were both a lot of fun.  So far, I think Shoots to Kill is my most favorite.  I've got three more to go and then I can go pick up her newest release, Night of the Living Dandelions!!  I'm about half way through Evil in Carnations, and if you like a good mystery you've got to pick these up and get to reading! 

In A Rose From the Dead, Abby is working a booth trying to drum up business for her flower shop at a funeral home convention when the person responsible for the event ends up dead in you'll never guess, a coffin!  Met several weirdos like one oddball who thinks she can capture someone's soul music as they are departing the earth and a wack job who wants to bury people in burlap bags to save the earth.  As usual, Abby's right in the middle of the commotion and almost ends up needing her soul recorded upon it's departure as well!

Shoots to Kill found Abby the victim of identity theft.  Not the normal let me steal your social security number and rack up some nice bills for you kind though.  An old kid that Abby used to babysit came back to town and wasn't satisfied until she invaded every inch of Abby's life including a good stab at her boyfriend, Marco.  Abby's got gumption and I like that!

Thirty Days of Me...Days 9 and 10

After this post, I'll be back on track.

Day 9 is sharing a picture of you and your friends.

Here's one of me and my friend, Rose, at last year's Flambeau parade with her youngest sneaking into the picture.





My friend, Amy and I after putting up my greenhouse, hers followed. 

I have a few other friends, but I'm not sure where their pictures are right now.  I have them on paper, but am being to lazy to scan anything today.

Day 10 is something I'm afraid of.  That's of hard because I'm not really a fearful person.  There is one thing that causes me great worry though sometimes and that is something happening to my mother.  Her mother died 14 years ago of Lou Gehrig's Disease shortly after our oldest was born.  For the longest time, anytime my mother would be on a new medication for the pesky migraines, I would freak out.  My mother can barely handle Tylenol, much less hard core meds.  I can always tell she's taken something because her speech sounds like a stroke victim.  One time I was certain they had overdosed her and was frantic because I'm 800 miles away.  One time she came in to visit me for the weekend after being on some crazy diet and I could hardly keep myself together while she was here because she was so thin and all I saw every time I looked at her was my mammaw.  I know she'll die some day, but I will handle it much better if it's just old age and not some horrific disease like my grandmother had.  This is really out of character for me because honestly I don't worry about much.  I know my children are always surrounded by and that they're always safe from harm, but for some reason the way my mammaw died just freaked me out where my mother is concerned.

I suppose I should add that I'm don't like being outside in the dark...not even in my own backyard!  That comes from watching too many CSI episodes where you never know what might jump out and get you.  Nope, I would call my mother to talk to on the phone each night this past winter when I'd go out to adjust the heater with the flashlight in hand!  If she wasn't available I'd sing out loud or make my girls or husband "help" me!  I am a chicken, I'll admit.  I also lock doors, but I consider that just plain smart.

Thirty Days of Me...Days 7 and 8

Technically we're on Day 9 of this Thirty Days of Me thingamabob,  but I'm behind so I'll tackle days 7 and 8 today and double up tomorrow.

Day 7 - My Favorite Movies

Here are a few of my favorite movies.

Dirty Dancing - I still love this movie, this is one of the few movies that I can watch over and over, even back to back if it's a marathon.  My husband teases me about it, but there's just something about this movie that causes it never to get old for me.

The Sound of Music, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  I love, love, love musicals!!  Not new musicals that have no story line, but the old ones if you please!  I could watch these too over and over.

The Blind Side, Shall We Dance (adore Richard G.), Pretty Woman, and Grease.  Gee, the musical theme keeps popping up. 

I enjoy movies with dancing and music with a beat too like Save the Last Dance and Step it Up.

Last but not least is my thing for Elvis Presley, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.  My all time favorite Elvis flick is Blue Hawaii, I could probably watch that as much as Dirty Dancing.  I've always had a thing for black and white movies too, still do.   

Day 8 - A place I've traveled to

When I was I think 4 or 5, my dad was moved to Turkey and he got to take the family with him.  We packed up and make the trip across whatever ocean it was and lived in Turkey for almost 2 years.  That was an adventure that I'll always remember.  I associate the diesel gas smell from city buses with the downtown streets of Turkey and that's immediately followed by the smell of fresh baked bread.  Rainier cherries are a special treat that remind me of the open markets.  Chain grocery store baklava fails to compare to what my taste buds remember from 30 years ago.  I can still count to five in Turkish and say hello and goodbye, but can't spell it so you're spared from that. 

Several years ago, my husband won a contest at work and received a trip to Cancun.  My mother came in to stay with our girls and we went off for a honeymoon that we never had.  It was absolutely beautiful with bougainvilleas that were out of this world gorgeous!

Have a great night!
Mandy

Good-Bye Red Tip

Yesterday was a little exciting at our house.  We're getting a larger pool next week and needed a 6 foot opening for the bobcat to get through.  In order to have that large of an opening, my husband announced that the Red Tip bush was coming out...wahoo!!!!  I have wanted that thing out for the 13 years we've lived here, but he said it would be too much work to take it out. 

Now you see it...

This bush has probably been there forever and so we weren't sure how difficult it would be to come out.  We also didn't want to rip up the walkway that our neighbors have on the other side of the fence, so my husband soaked it daily for several days.  Our neighbor friend brought over his tool truck, there are benefits to having a Mac Tool salesman as a friend, and the fun began.

I was going to share a video, but it's taking way to long so that could be another day.    

Then the guys had to do their man cheer for a job well done.  No more Red Tip!!

Once the pool is in place and the fence rebuilt, rose bushes are coming in! I'm extremely excited about that because I've wanted roses for a long time, but didn't really have a good spot for them.  As it turns out, we'll have them on either side of the house.  Funny thing, my husband is the one who suggested them...definitely a keeeper!

Thirty Days of Me...Day 6...A Picture

A picture of something that makes me happy is the order of the day. 

These are from last summer while our girls were at my parent's house.  Daughter #2 turned 10 on this day and for her birthday, Daughter #1 took her for the ride of a lifetime!  You can see Daughter #2 is holding on for dear life and Daughter #1 is focused and on a mission...to scare the wits out of her sister most likely!

Mandy

Thirty Days of Me...Day 5...My Siblings

Today I get to talk about my sister, Bridgett since Day 5 of Thirty Days of Me is dedicated to siblings.  My sister is fifteen months younger than me and while we're close in age, we're 180 degrees apart in personality.  She's always been bigger than me height wise, which is saying much since I'm 5' 1/4".  I mention this because her thrill when we were younger was to torture me.  One day we were by ourselves while our mother was at work and she chased me around the house with a knife.  I bolted out the front door and ran to the neighbor's house.  She wouldn't have actually hurt me, but she did a good job at pretending to.  The best I ever did was dropping a wooden block, a little 2x2 thing off the 3rd story of our treehouse (without the tree) on her head.  She wasn't hurt, but it's the closest I'd ever get to payback for the torture.  There was the time she volunteered to trim my hair when we were teenagers and she butchered it.  I think our mother was madder than I could have been about that one. 

While she liked to torture me, she has a thing for animals.  Her heart melts for an animal and she's had a ton of them.  She used to bring home stray cats, dogs, whatever she came across and my parents humored her.  She still has a thing for pets and at one point had a pig, not a little pot-bellied pig, but a full grown sow!

Bridgett has the most gorgeous naturally spiral curly hair and I have hair that's straight as a board.  She used to wear it long, but now keeps it short like the picture below.  It's funny because I have my dad's features; eyes, hands, feet, and build but I look just like our mother and Bridgett looks just like our dad.  We can't deny each other though either!

Mandy

Thirty Days of Me...Day 4...My Parents

Day 4 of the Thirty Days of Me is about my parents.  Let's see, my dad's name is Tommy and my mother's is Sherree.  They met when my dad was stationed in Lubbock, and visited my mother's church.  I'm pretty sure they were smitten with each other from the get go, but I don't remember all the details.  Here's a picture from their honeymoon.

Dates are not my specialty, but I do know that one day this month, I think it's the 12th, they'll celebrate their 37th anniversary.  My dad retired from the Air Force as a Major my senior year in highschool and my mother was usually a stay at home momma.  While I'm a little prejudice, I'm pretty sure that I've got the best parents ever put on the earth!  They raised me and my sister in a home filled with acceptance and unconditional love.

A more recent photo of the great looking couple.



Mandy

Thirty Days of Me...Day 3

Continuing with the Thirty Days of Me theme, here's day three...My First Love

When I thought about this, my first thought was, "I suppose that's the guy I dated through most of high school." But I thought a little more and thought I'd go back a little further.  When I was maybe 12 or 13, we lived across the street from this kid that was several years older than me.  I think his name was John, but what I really remember was that I was just infatuated with him.  He had the scruffy Bon Jovi hair style going and would spend hours in the street on his skateboard.  He'd talk to me, but I doubt that he knew I had a crush on him.  I don't remember if we moved first or if he did, but that was that.  Not as juicy as the high school love huh, but a lot more innocent!  

Hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday!
Mandy

Thirty Days of Me...Days 1 and 2

My Blogger Friend, Julie from A Succulent Life had this thirty day meme on her blog today that she saw on another friends blog.  I like things like this and maybe, just maybe this will help get me back into the habit of blogging everyday!  I hope others will join in, I suppose I like things like this because I'm a little nosey and enjoy learning more about people that I know.  If you're game, copy and paste the thirty days from below and post away.
Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you’ve traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you’re afraid of
Day 11-Favorite TV shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you’re looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you’ve learned
Day 25-Favorite memory
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

Like Julie, I'm going to have to tackle two days today since I'm obviously a day behind.

Day 1 - Introduce, Recent Picture and 15 Interesting Facts

You know by now that my name is Mandy, the facts can tell you the rest.

This is the most recent picture I have, seeing as how I really try and avoid them!  However, these new pj's were super cute and I had to send a picture to my mother.  Yes, they're piggies...you'll learn more about that if you keep reading.  On to the "interesting" facts...

1.  I love to read, mainly Christian fiction, but have found that I really enjoy the cozy mysteries too!
2.  I enjoy Sudoku and word games, currently I'm a Words with Friends fanatic. 
3.  Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher.  The closest I got to teaching was teaching the children at church.  After trying the various ages, my favorite is the 3 and 4 year olds.  Something about that age just captivates me!
4.  I married a man that is 14 1/2 years older than me, and quite happy I have him.
5.  We got married on my 20th birthday in Las Vegas.  Both our families lived in different states at the time, and I thought this would be easier.
6.  My dream job would be owning my own bookstore with a succulent nursery attached.  My friends all say I belong in a nursery.
7.  I have been married 15 1/2 years and we have two daughters, ages 14 and almost 11.
8.  Growing up, I learned to play the piano and then the clarinet.  Never cared for sports at all until our oldest wanted to play volleyball in the 5th Grade...wow what that did to my dull life!
9.  I had my tonsils taken out at 32 and it was a walk in the park.
10.  I collect pigs and have been since I was pretty young.  Hence the reason I grabbed the piggie pj's without looking at the tag.  I'm sure I'll do a post one day (or several) on my collection.
11.  I love big words, the bigger the better! 
12.  I am a spirit filled believer, but I believe that's also a post for another day.  I'll leave it as I love Jesus and couldn't imagine going through life without Him!
13.  My tastes in music could confuse people, and my coworkers swear that I "go clubbing in secret"!  My iPod on shuffle is fun, you might go from a gospel song to something by Pitbull and then jump to Elvis followed by Yanni.
14.  I suppose because I like big words, it's only natural that I have to know the real name of all my plants.  It took me forever to get my neighbor friend to quit calling Calibrochoas "mini petunias"...they're not the same thing. 
15.  I love to laugh and sometimes will get myself laughing so hard over something that I just thought in my head that I can't breath.  Those are the moments that my husband just says, "You're mother's at it again."  Sometimes it can last a while.  What can I say, I crack myself up!! 

Wow...if you've made it through all that, you're good!  One day down and one day to go...

Day 2 - Meaning behind your blog name

I started blogging because I was googling succulent names and kept coming up on all these great blogs.  Not sure what to call it, I figured A Few of My Favorite Things was as good as any.  Succulents, books, my daughters, other plants...these are some of my favorite things.  I also love musicals and this title reminded me of The Sound of Music, a favorite movie.  It's a happy song and I'm usually a happy girl. 

Have a great weekend!
Mandy

Five Question Friday

It feels like a a bit like forever since I've tended to my blog.  I've been reading everyone else's, but haven't had much energy to comment or post myself until tonight.  It's just been a little busier than normal.




1. Have you ever had surgery?
I have had two surgeries, the first was when I was 10 or 11 and I'm still traumatized by it.  One of my teeth grew into the roof of my mouth and they went in, dug it out and moved it over.  A few years in braces and all was normal, however the fear of needles in my mouth still freak me out!

The second one was much more pleasant.  I had my tonsils taken out at 32. I never had issues with my tonsils until shortly after I turned 32.  That whole year I graced my ENT's office with my presence at least once a month with tonsillitis.  After treating the required number of cases, we set the date to have them taken out. Everyone told me it was the most horrific surgery every, but my experience was quite the opposite.  By day three, I was downstairs opening the door for people who brought food for my husband and kids.   A good friend spent the entire time in bed miserable.  Believe me, I'm not tough...just have a really good God who knows I don't take well to a lot of pain!I got two weeks off of work while my girls were off for Christmas break which was really nice though.   The worst part was surviving on mush for the two weeks...gained it all right back, plus some!!

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?
I've never had to ride in an ambulance, which is probably a good thing since I get car sick being in the back of moving vehicles.  I believe that might make the situation a bit more ick!
3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?
I'm pretty calm in the heat of the moment and cry after the fact.  When our oldest daughter was in 6th grade, I got a call from the school nurse right after lunch.  "Mrs. B...Caitlin is in the nurses office, she slit her wrist."  "What?!"  The nurse responds, "she was using a box cutter opening a knife and it cut her wrist."  "I'm on my way!"  I told my boss I had to go, put on my hazard lights and flew down the highway making it to the school in record time.  While I'm driving like a Nascar driver, I'm on the phone with my mother calmly asking her to pray.  I'm sure I called my husband, but I don't remember that.  I parked at the front, ran in to the nurses office to find my daughter sitting between a nurse and the campus security officer looking a little pale with one of the assistant VP's standing over her.  They signed her out for me and we took off again with hazard lights to the emergency room.  I know I called my husband then and told him we had it under control.  It was so close to the vein you don't want to nick that again, I knew my God was really great...it could have been really bad, but it ended up just being a fun picture and a great conversation piece!  Oh, they don't give the kids box cutters anymore either!  Good thing for them that I wasn't all worked up about it too. 

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?
Flowers for me!  I have several gardens if you count all the different beds, plus my succulent collection that takes over the back porch.  I've tried veggies that our guinea pigs like, but I think I'll leave the veggies to my neighbor friend.  I do have 4 yellow squash plants that she brought over for me when she weeded out her plants. 
5. When did you move out of your parents house?
I moved out of my parents house at 18 after I graduated.  A family friend had an apartment that they needed someone to take over the lease for and I was excited to be able to afford it.  I don't know that I'd do it differently either.  I've always been a bit independent and it worked for me.

If you'd like to participate, pop on over to Mama M's at My Little Life.

Mandy