Stand Up For What You Believe, VOTE!

In this day and age when there is a rampant sense of entitlement, many women forget that the right to vote was EARNED, not given to us. It was a right we had to fight for. It was less than a hundred years ago, ninety-two to be precise, when women were finally granted the right to vote in all the states of the union. It took a constitutional amendment to give us that right, yet so many squander it. It baffles me when women say they are not going to vote. When they use the "It doesn't matter who is in office, it's all the same" adage.
I just don't get that thinking. 

I cannot understand people, especially women,  who do not value the democratic process enough to get involved. Democracy is what makes this country so great. It gives us a say in how our country is run. It's your "two cents".  Your contribution to the decision making process.  Don't you have an opinion? Don't you KNOW where you stand and what you stand for? I sure do. 

I make it a point to vote in every election. My candidates may not always win, but I know that my voice is heard. I know that I did not stand by the sidelines while others stood up for me. I stood up for myself. I put in my two cents and let my vote be counted among those who had a say in how their country was run.
Tomorrow is election day and I truly hope that you too will stand up for what you believe in and get out there and vote for your candidates. The people who you feel will do right by you, for you. Don't let others talk for you. Don't squander this right that so many women fought so hard to earn...
get out and vote!
And may my candidate win! =)

"You have a blog, but you haven't blogged in a long time!"

I just got back  from market on Wednesday. I know, I know, market ended on Monday but for those of us in the Northeast getting home was a bit of a challenge. You've heard it all over the news so I'll spare you my ordeal. Suffice it to say that by the time I left, I was on a first name basis with the concierge at the Hyatt. We're like "THIS", (crossing fingers, as in "tight", LOL)

I found tons of great stuff at market and the goodies have started  to arrive (more on that on another post), but I wanted to check in this morning because my Facebook feed is loaded with Market recaps and it reminded me that I too have a blog that needs a recap, and more importantly, that I wanted to check in and recount the meeting I had with someone at market.

Here goes; Me: "Hi I'm Brenda, from Pumpkin Patch Primitives." Stranger: "Oh, I know who you are. You have a blog, but you haven't blogged in a long time." Me: (eyes like deer in headlights) yeah, I guess you could say that..." >>Awkward<<<

So, here I am blogging. See???? I'll try to work on my blogging. 

Man, I can't believe she called me out like that... 

Don't Sell My Son Short!

I read an article today that brought back to light the fact that parents of children with autism must never give up. We must advocate for our children, we must fight for them to have the things that other people take for granted. Including, but not limited to basic health care.

It's a sad reality that in this day and age when it's all about choices,  and alternatives, I had to go to THREE orthodontists to find one, that only after telling him that he had been my niece's orthodontist, and that he should not sell my son short because he did not know me (yes, he too did tell me that he thought GP "would not respond well to this treatment", as if anyone "responds well" to people yanking on their teeth, hello!?) He stopped short of telling me "He looks great with those fangs!" but was ready to escort me out before I gave him "the speech"and reiterated that my son does not stand alone, I stand with him and I KNOW that he can and will do, what he is taught to do. I told him that I had braces and that that orthodontic treatment is not rocket science. Oh, yes I did. I told him that my son brushes his teeth on his own, and he is SIXTEEN years old, and has never had a cavity... and THAT alone, should tell him how seriously we take dental health in my house. I told him that he was selling my son short and yes, I stopped just one sentence away from telling him, "You are discriminating against my son because he has autism!"After twenty minutes he said he would  consider the treatment and meet with me again in three months.... at which time he finally agreed to take him on as a patient. You'd think I was asking for charity, asking for free health care, or special considerations. I asked for none of the above. I asked him to stop prejudging my son... and he did, and for that I am grateful. I still see the reservations in his eyes when we go for follow ups but it's not a popularity contest, it's dental care. 

GP hates his "new look", but he no longer has fangs...AKA crowding. 

I wondered then (when I was arguing my case for treatment), and I wonder now, how many parents of typical children actually have to convince a doctor/ optometrist/orthodontist/etc. to provide basic care for their  child. I bet that not too many. Something as basic as braces, I mean, really? I took GP to two optometrists who told me he didn't need glasses.. and the kid is blind as a bat! REALLY? 

It was the THIRD optometrists who finally said, "It's not an autism tick, he needs glasses!" and just like that, he no longer squints... hello?

Yes, special needs children have "basic" health care problems, but did you know that autism is a "pre-existing condition", like heart disease, when we change health care providers?  Holy cow, I almost flipped when I was told that we might not be covered for some services because of GP's "preexisting condition". He has autism, not heart disease... but what if it was heart disease??? I could be in this Mom's shoes. Karen Corby has a story to tell, and you just have to have strolled in the special needs healthcare path to see that this could happen to any of us who have children (young men, as they are growing older by the minute!) with special needs. 

In this day and age, I am sickened to think that this could happen to my son; but I know it could, because I've already told more than a handful of healthcare providers, "Don't sell my son short!", and they always do. 

We Have TWO Winners!

The winners of the two Busy Bees kits are, drumroll please,

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts and Lola @...and Sew On

Thanks to all who joined in the fun and shared their great gardening tips. 

Nature Waits For No One

 This morning I was sweeping the patio when I came across this beauty. 

I stopped and stared, and came in for a closer look. 

It's so perfectly round and absolutely beautiful... and it's stuck under a net in an "abandoned" pond. I felt sad that I had not found someone to clean out the ponds before the plants  "woke". Then I realized that it's already July. I've been so overwhelmed with all the things that have gone wrong with this house, that I just haven't made the time to make a list and prioritize things that are "time sensitive". 

I could beat myself up about it or I can forgive myself and try to do better next year. I choose to live and learn. Nature has once again reminded me that she waits for no one. 

A gentle reminder that time passes, even if you're not "ready"... 

Bees Are A Gardener's Best Friend, A Giveaway!

Where would your garden be without the Bumble Bees, huh? You gotta love these guys who just come along and pollinate your little garden and ensure that you will have seeds after your blooms, for free! 

If you're anything like me, you collect seeds and scatter them in the hopes that you will score some free plants. Hooray! It doesn't always happen, but when it does it's literally a gift from above.

I can't give you blooms or ensure that the bees will visit your garden but I am happy to share my love of gardening and appreciation of Bumble Bees with all who love these little guys by giving away 

TWO Busy Bees Wool Felt Runner Kits. (10"x26")

Kits include the pattern, all the wool felt you will need to complete the top, the backing and I'm even adding the the embroidery threads and needle to ensure that all you have to do is remove the sizing and start crafting. 

It's a sweet pot  and all you have to do to be in the drawing is leave a gardening tip in the comments. Thanks for sharing your tips, and joining in the fun. Good luck!!

Winners will be drawn next Friday 7/6/2011

All anonymous posts will be removed. 

You know who I am, 
what makes you think I don't want to know who you are? 
Check the backlink on your post to make sure it goes to your email address or your blog.  You should be "linked" to your comment, in some way.  I appreciate all your comments but I will not hunt you down to give you a prize or post a "looking for" . I will contact the winner via email. Sorry. 

Summer Blooms

One of my favorite Summer pastimes is gardening. It had been years since I ventured out into my garden at our old house. Mostly maintenance work since I quit smoking and being in the garden was my "trigger". My flower beds were mature and some of my plants grew to almost six feet tall. I had a small garden and my motto was, "If it doesn't bloom, I'll dig it out!" Pretty straight forward. 

When I purchased this house, one of the most overwhelming tasks I knew I would have to undertake would be landscaping. If you have ever been to Lowe's, Home Depot or God forbid, your local nursery, you know that gardening is not inexpensive, and that shopping for plants takes on a whole new meaning when you are going through pot after pot looking for plants that have "babies" that can be divided in the fall and net you the largest bed. Getting a bang for your gardening buck takes work!

Before I could start planning my garden renovations I had to wait and see what was actually planted in my space. I knew that with two Koi ponds in the backyard and a  stone wall this was no ordinary garden. This must have been a gardener's garden, at some point. With that in mind, I waited patiently for the garden to come alive. 

The Winter Landscape looked bleak. Only the hardscape told me this garden would be magnificent.

It seemed to take forever but eventually Spring arrived and it brought Bearded Irises, flowering trees. Tons of Lily of the Valley but no tulips. Sigh.....

The Irises were beautiful but what I really wanted to know was what color the Daylilies would be.

 Summer brought beds of Original Orange Day Lilies. Yes, that is their real name  (Hemerocallis Fulva). I am thankful they are not pink. I am thankful they are plentiful and I am thankful that unlike the Hostas, they bloom big and bright, and I will not feel the need to dig them up. LOL. Yes, I have been digging up plants... lots and lots of them. I have started replacing plants I don't care for with plants that remind me of home, my old home, my first home. A backbreaking job for sure, but one that has already started to show promise.  

I found Catmint, Salvia and Jacob's Ladder at Lowes. My first thought was "Oh, they're so small!" but alas, I know they will soon grow to rival the ones I left behind... and they have taken off running. I feel hopeful that my garden will soon reflect not what someone else left behind, but the love and care that I put into it. One plant at a time.
Hope your garden is blooming and calling to you. Have fun!!!