Margaret Frances

I woke up with you on my mind because it’s Mother’s Day.  Memories have a way of becoming sweeter I think the older you get and the further away they are from reality.  I found a photograph of my mother when she was probably around 15 or so.   No clue as to where it was taken or the circumstance.  It’s an unusual picture in that it’s a strange angle which I liked immediately that’s why it caught my eye – it was unexpected.   I found this black and white window of time in a box of photos I was sifting through mindlessly as one does when you’re not looking for anything in particular; you’re just somehow doing it for no reason.  Just passing time.

Mother had already left us at this point when I came across this photograph.   There was no one to really ask about it.  Daddy said he had never seen the photograph.  Her sister and brother were long gone as well.   She had no relationship with her sister, Aunt Lucille.  I never knew why they didn’t speak.  When I quizzed mother she would shake her head and say she didn’t know.  Surely she had an inkling.  Her brother, Uncle Henry who I never really knew was killed tragically on my 6th birthday;  I believe it was my 6th.  It could have been a year before or after.  It’s all fuzzy now.  That was the year I wanted a pup tent so badly I thought I would die if I didn’t get that pup tent.  How or why I was focused on a pup tent is beyond me but darn it I was obsessed.   What woke me up that birthday was a scream.  More of a wailing scream when I go back to that day.  I was puzzled and immediately unsure if I should get up or wait and see if it came again.  I ended up cautiously opening my door and listening seeing if I could figure out what had happened to make someone pierce my morning birthday slumber.   I heard muffled noises from the kitchen as I silently tip-toed down the stairs.    My father came out and put his hands on my shoulders I knew something was horribly wrong from his ashen face.  He turned me around but not before I saw my mother.   She was bent over sitting in a chair at the kitchen table.  Her hands in her hair.  She was rocking back and forth.  I tried to keep my head turned to see but my father ushered me into the living room.   I don’t remember much about the day.  I did get my pup tent but it seemed very insignificant at that point.  I wasn’t sure why.  I didn’t know why everyone was so upset but I could feel that something horrible had happened.   I later found out my Uncle Henry’s wife had shot and killed him then killed herself.   My mother adored my Uncle Henry.   He drove this sporty little Mercedes convertible.  His wife who I cannot remember her name for the life of me as I sit here in bed typing this sipping my morning coffee with Scotties scattered in various stages of napping.  I don’t recall either of them.  I think they were partiers of sorts which my mother was NOT.   I have a very good memory of younger days so not remembering anything of them means I wasn’t exposed to them in the least.  I don’t recall ever going to their home. I do remember going to my Uncles jewelry store in Lakewood Heights.  Who knows – he could have been in the mafia for all I know.  I remember seeing a photograph of them.  His wife had jet black hair and maybe was Asian but I’m uncertain.   I just know that my mother didn’t like her even though she never said she didn’t like her.  It was more of a feeling on my part.   How did I go down this rabbit hole?  I’m rambling – sorry.

Back to this photograph- my mother was beautiful. Everyone always commented on her beauty.  They surely had American Indian heritage because of the cheekbones.  My mother had large brown eyes, very pale skin and lovely brown hair.  Her mother was stunning.  Pale skin with high cheekbones, intelligent cornflower piercing blue eyes and shiny black hair.  When I see pictures of them they were so tiny waisted I wondered where their internal organs were kept.    Mother grew up in Tallapoosa Ga.   A large farmhouse.  Wish I could find it.   I’ve driven through the town on the way to Birmingham.  Quaint.  So many questions – no answers.  Hm.

What do I remember the most on this strange mothers day of quarantine-ville?  I remember your pound cakes.  You always saved extra batter for me so that I could lick the bowls and blender.   You never did this for my older sister because she tended to be chubby whereas I was skinny.  I was the only member of our family who loved blackberry jam.  You kept the jar on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator door so that I could easily find it.   When you made biscuits you always made a special pan for me with petite biscuits.  You didn’t do that for my older sister which may explain why she hated me for all of my childhood.  Well…. I was a pesky kid sister so it was more that I’m certain.   I remember the way your skin looked and felt.   You were religious about your skin being soft.   Morning creams nightly creams.  Your hands were velvety.  I never wanted to forget your skins unique fragrance.

I was so independent.  Forgive me for not being the best daughter I could have been.  I have no idea what you thought of me but I knew you loved me.  And I loved you.   I was so ready to be in the world and go do see.   I wanted freedom.   All you could do is watch me leave.

I am thankful for so many things you gave to me.  Mainly love.   I remember daddy telling me that there was another little girl before me you were thinking about adopting.  For whatever reason it didn’t work out.  Thankfully I was next in line.

Thanks for loving me even though I wasn’t the easiest teenager to love I’m sure.   Thanks to my grandmother and Aunties who let me run free in the summers in Powder Springs at their farmhouse.  Thank you to women who have played the role of mothering me through the years.   You are near and dear to me.

And to my birth mother – Lydia – Thank you for loving me more than anyone.

I need more coffee.

An extrovert during Covid 19

Firstly and completely coming from my heart I truly hope everyone is OK during this morbid crisis we are experiencing as THE WORLD – I almost said nation but NO it’s the WORLD —  as a species I suppose.  I know people have died and will die.  I worry every day about health industry (my daughter who is a nurse) service industry all these fine people.   But I’m ready for it to be OVER.  God I feel as if I’m on a weird movie set just waiting for someone to yell CUT!  CUT ALREADY!!!

It was the dream that started all of this.

I had a very bizarre dream last night.  I’ve always had very vivid dreams – this dream began as a trip of some sort – I can remember being on a very long plane ride. I had my books, my Baily’s on ice, my itty bitties, friends – when we finally exited from the plane we were in Europe somewhere – maybe Italy.  The sun was warm when we walked out of the airport.  A feeling of happiness and excitement.   I was driven to a lovely home where I unpacked.   I then drove the friends who were traveling with me to another location dropped them off but I then realized I couldn’t recall how to get back to the house I was in.   Suddenly I realized I’m going to miss my flight home.  I frantically tried to find my way back to the house to gather my passport and itty bitties (these are very petite animals I travel with – small stuffed ones- I know I know – eight year old here – ANYWAY)….  at some point the dream morphed into I was part of this family from Victorian times – I was very limited in anything I could do.  I was a young girl around 10 maybe. My clothing itched and was uncomfortable.  Very strict schedule – I was always looking out the window longing for freedom.    When I woke up this morning I let the girls out (my three wee Scotties) made coffee came back to sit in bed and look through my emails texts and social media which is my usual schedule.  This dream continued to pop up in my head then I realized I must write about it here on my blog.    It’s obvious now – I’m feeling completely TRAPPED!! I know I’m shelter in place in a safe place but for someone who is an extrovert I’m about to go BONKERS.

I am incredulous that we can’t continue our normal lives.  I understand how this happened I’m just whiny today and wish for it to be over NOW!!!!!  :::hurling myself on the floor and having a proper hissy fit::::::::

For the introverts out there it’s business as usual.  Don’t get me wrong – I adore my house.  I’m fine being at home for a bit.  But for a month??? Please do not let it be MORE.  Luckily-  I have my wee Scotties running around like banshees which is very comforting. I have my books, my writing projects, tons of movies, YouTube, my art collection, my shoes (thank goodness for shoe shopping right?)   I have so many lovely people I have the honor to call friends.   Thank goodness for ZOOM and others who are posting videos and shows to keep me entertained (especially new friends Douglas and Dewey who are a GODSEND).   I don’t HAVE to be entertained – But I DO need to be around people places and things.  I need to travel.   And yes – it’s a NEED.  I’m hard-wired to GO DO SEE.   I get high at the airport – because of all the wonderful people bustling about.  I’m very sensitive to people – always have been.  As a young child I didn’t understand it – as a 54 year old I now get it – some people are just sensitive in a way others are not.   I get people instantly – the good bad and the ugly.   The ugly ones I steer clear of – but I get you.   Almost like speed reading but not a book its a person.  I love people!! At this moment even the ugly ones!!!

I’m a survivor – so I’ll be fine.  I wonder how many other extroverts are coping with this caged feeling.   The good thing is that I can open the door and go for a walk drive somewhere.   I can manage the caged feeling when it peeks.

On a good note – I have many projects I can bury myself into.  Writing, videos I’m working on for both business and another project called Two Cab Gab.  Just wait!  See what I did there – I distracted myself and it worked.  I’m smiling now.  I’ve always been able to play well by myself – I just REALLY enjoy playing with others! Snap.

Check on your friends – especially the extroverts – we may appear normal and all happy and optimistic – which I am for the most part.  But we are still human – and this caged feeling sucks beans.  BEANS I TELL YOU!

I feel much better now.   Thanks for listening everyone!

If you need me – I am completely here for you.  ZOOM is a godsend.  Truly.

xxoo and more xxooo from Speckled Egg Cottage in Frog Hollow of Atlanta or my other home Thistle Patch Cottage of Woodlawn in Birmingham. I go between the two secretly.  Because I can! :::::bwahahahahah  ::::::wiggling toes merrily::::::

Love you mean it.

Oh! The other images I found this morning that reflect some of the weirdness of this shelter in place zone.  Good grief please end soon.

I’m a very visual person – I love finding images that reflect mood – Thankfully mine passed quickly this morning – just talking to my dearest one Julesbee (thanks girl love you mean it) and my daughter the Doodle makes me smile. Last night I had a special one pop over for a distanced cocktail ( we were careful I assure you).  She has to remain a secret.

????????????????????????????????????

 

When I become a Ghost

Interestingly enough, I’ve always felt that I would never die.  Peter Pan Complex – never grown up and never grow old.  Terrified of it.  Like most people I suppose.  Maybe it’s my age, or what I do professionally that has softened the blow for me, that yes….. I will absolutely die at some point because that’s just part of life. It’s not a horrible thing – whatever happens next will be quite wonderful I bet.  I think many will be completely surprised at what happens – we all have our own religious ideas of what that might be.  I’ve always wanted to come back as the ghosts in Topper. Remember that old black and white show?  And then of course there’s the fabulous movie my favorite of many favorites called The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.  ::::dreamy sigh:::::: I have ALWAYS wanted my very own ghost Sea Captain.  Sorry guys!! Just give the me salty ghost of a sea captain and I’m a happy camper! LOL  I would consider taking a live one… only if they live up to the one in the movie.  So.

Anyway….  my post this morning has nothing to do with any of the above other than…. my book in my office that I’ve begun called ‘When I Become A Ghost’.  I’ve been up for about an hour or so. Coffee is made, my bed is covered in Scotties (both flannel sheet Scotties and the real kind of scottie dogs). Still in my red and white striped flannel pjs, fluffy socks on.  Jumped back into bed to write this before I started my day.  This was the first thing I wanted to do.  My faithful cup of coffee is by my side in the lovely lemon mug my dear friend Panda gave to me.   I can look out the window and see the most lovely trees that are changing from yellow to a brilliant orange.  I’m smiling.  Happy.  Wiggling my toes every now and then.  Back on to the subject about the ghost book.

My ghost book is for my family.  Instead of “Do this when I Die’ title it’s more humorous I think being called When I become a Ghost.  I told my daughter about this, a few friends, my attorney.  My daughter was completely mortified and showed this by several eye rolls which made me think she was going to levitate or something.  It serves as instructions.  This is very important.  Do you know how many clients I have when I meet them to do an estate sale who are in frantic mode because they don’t know anything they can’t find anything they are in chaos because the deceased did not leave instructions.   Well.  I’ll get a gold star for this when I’m floating around.

My book of instructions entails the following:

•  introduction with something quippy to ease the loss for my family and friends. Heck, they might be happy – teasing of course. I hope.  Not too sad just a little (although hopefully I’ll still be around just more transparenty)
• passwords to all my accounts and a list of those accounts
• bank accounts and information on those
• life insurance info (boy will you be happier at this point! Live in Paris if you wish!)
• a few special letters to give to people (I decided NOT to write the ugly ones….. although….. )
• who gets what specifically houses, property whatever that is at the time
• a WILL (most important people!!!)
• instructions for me specifically (cremation baby! Burn baby Burn!) Prepay this if you can
• What to do with those ashes (boy will you be surprised! One part of it is secret…..)
• Celebration of life and a signature cocktail (big party coming!)
• My obituary ….. yes I wrote it myself! There’s even pictures!
• Throw away anything in my night stand – very important. You wouldn’t BELIEVE some of the very personal things we find in night stands getting ready for an estate sale! Some things we have no idea what in the world you do with them! :::::blushing::::::
• Instructions for my businesses
• blah blah blah

anyway…  you get the picture.

Here’s a link to many more things to think about.  Click HERE  

Sure.  People don’t like to think about dying.  It’s scary because we’ve never done it before.  Can you imagine what a relief it would be if we died a few times every few years and get the feel of it.  Exactly. Old hat.   I’ve had too much coffee. lol My mind goes all over the place.

I think for me personally, by leaving specific instructions in my ghost book, I’ve taken a big chunk of the anxiety out of the way.   Peace of mind so to speak.

Now…… I’ve given you something to think about today.  Go forth and do it!!

xo

Not a ghost – yet!

Faithfully yours….. Kimy

 

 

The new digs

I awoke this morning all smiles.  I kissed and hugged each scottie girl as I gently pushed them away so that I could exit my bed.  I made French press with the creamer I finally remembered to purchase yesterday.  My grocery store has upped it’s game and has a shiny new aisle full of wine.  I walked up and down the aisle twitching my nose happily.  Wine does that to me.

The new house —   it’s a cottage (actually a bungalow – I prefer cottage) from 1930.  I love a home with a history.   As I sit here writing it’s complete chaos around me with boxes, papers, more boxes, unhung art, etc etc etc – said in a King and I sort of fashion — all around me.   I find myself wishing for a good gust of wind to bring Mary Poppins in to do that thing she does where everything magically moves to where it’s supposed to be.  The problem with all that, including the fact that Mary Poppins is in England at the moment, is that these things don’t have a ‘supposed to be’ place…. yet.   That’s the fun of it I think.  Finding out where my treasured items are supposed to be in the new house.

I’ve named the new digs as I name everything I just heard you say – Speckled Egg Cottage.   I love the word speckled so it’s a given.  Plus a speckled egg just like a Dapple Gray Horse makes me grin.  I really did just grin you didn’t see that part.    I moved literally about a mile away from my beloved La Petite Maison de Joie – into Frog Hollow, East Point, Ga.   We are about 15 mins S of the city being Atlanta.   About 2 mins to the Tyler Perry Studios here at the recently defunct Fort Macpherson.  Historic College Park, East Point, and Hapeville make up the Tri-Cities just S of Atlanta.   A very quaint historic district.   I’ve always admired Frog Hollow and boom – now I live here!

I had friends over last night for part business part cocktail hour wine cheese sort of thing.  Very much a pop up considering I ran to the grocery store with the new wine aisle because I had yet to actually open the refrigerator in the new digs.   After the appropriate amount of Cabernet, cheese, crackers, cucumbers, carrots and these very large beets which I’ll roast at a later date were bagged I scurried home excited to sit in the new cottage in the deemed living room area and enjoy the evening.  Yes we were among boxes and unhung art etc even though it’s chaos it was pleasing.  So pleasing that we sat up and talked for quite some time.   The house has a great vibe.   It’s happy I’m here.   I can’t really hang art until the inside is painted my signature pale bluish green (Tranquility is the name of the paint chip).   My art always looks FAB in this bluish greenish color.

It’s going to be a wonderful home – I’m sure of it.   Stay tuned for more progress. You can always find the house at #speckledeggcottage on google.  I love hashtags.  Shortcut to whatever you are following.

Have a super weekend filled with the hint of Fall (even though it’s high 90’s here in the South there’s  a slight HINT of cold late in the evening ha!), coffee with friends, a great Cab in the evening, good books , and anything else that makes you happy and content.   Oh! And Scotties.

Toodles

Much love…. Kimy

 

You can’t skip chapters……

Good Morning!  Life has been twirling swirling and doing a few cartwheels lately.   This is a good thing.  Truly.

I’ve recently rejoined the YMCA after much internal debate.   I forgot just how much I enjoy being at the gym.  I was a complete gym rat in my 20s and 30s.  I was an avid racquetball player – very competitive.  In other words,  I could most assuredly kick your ass then close with a bless your heart afterwards –  then throw in a big smile for good measure.   ::::beaming:::::   I’ve always been interested in learning Tai Chi.  I’m taking the class soon at the Y.  I’ll never forget being in San Francisco years ago- sitting in a quaint café for breakfast and watching hundreds of people in the park across the street from the restaurant in perfect unison doing Tai Chi.  It was mesmerizing.

So many people places and things make me happy.  If you’re around me you add so much to my life.  Know that.   Of course my pups add joy and silliness.  Bumble the newest pup completely did a #nobumbleno and nibbled on the new carpet I just put down.  ::::sigh::::: Oh well.  It adds character to it I suppose.   Plus she’s so incredibly adorable how can you stay mad?  I didn’t actually ‘see’ her doing the destruction – Bumble told me a small hippopotamus came in and did this.   It does look like a hippo bite.  So… we’ll go with that.  And yes…. my dogs speak to me.  Don’t yours?

There’s a wind chime of sorts I have hanging behind me on the deck as I sit here writing this morning.   There is NO wind whatsoever.  Still as the desert.   The chimes will shake suddenly making the most wonderful ‘tinkle tinkle tinkle’.  It’s startling considering there’s NO WIND to shake this chime.  When I look up it appears as if some invisible hand is shaking them up and down.   I wonder………  it’s the wondering that makes it an important event.

I’ve been very active of late doing some pleasing things like…… riding my bike on the Atlanta Beltline.  What an asset to the city.  I’ve also walked it many times most recently with Di.  Meeting Julesbee in the morning to walk it again.   I so enjoy being around masses of people. That’s also why I love being at the airport.   It’s the energy that sparkles all around me when I’m in a group of people.  I think that’s why I love the gym so much.  Everyone in their own world doing something for their benefit alone.  It’s inspiring.

What prompted me to sit this morning and write to you, is that I recently had blood taken for a life insurance policy.  I went online this morning to see the results and thankfully all were within normal range.  No diabetes, no high cholesterol no liver disease no high or low anything.  All perfect.  I’m so incredibly thankful that’s the case.  So many are battling something health wise and my time will come at some point I’m sure with this aging process (Although I’m in complete denial of that – I have the Peter Pan Complex never grow up never grow old thing going on…. don’t tell me otherwise thank you very much).   I’m THANKFUL… thank you body that I’ve completely fed too many  Krispy Kreme donuts (the hot sign WAS ON …. so….. )  too many cans of butter crème frosting (can you tell I have a sweet tooth – I’m pulling that sweet tooth in my imagination to get rid of it! Georgia O’Keefe said sugar will kill you… and it will).   I’m thankful and appreciate to you my body that is mine and only mine.    I’ve earned every 53 years of this body and it’s mine!! All mine!!!

That’s what I have to give you this morning.  Scotties, perfect blood work, the body of a 53 year old, cocktails, dinners, friends, gym, walking, biking, plants out my front door, thinking, doing, going, seeing.  Being present.   Taking the good with the not so great.

You can’t skip chapters in your life.  Savor the good bad and the ugly.   They are all yours unique to you.   Find the magic and the joy in life.  What makes you happy.  What doesn’t cut it out whether it’s a bad habit or people.   Do what’s best for you – grab life by the ears and hold on!

xo

Kimykins

** make sure you follow the cocktail… I mean blog so that you don’t miss a tale!  Leave a comment if you care ! Best to you! ** 

Waiting on snow……. in the South

There’s nothing quite as maddening as waiting on snow….. in the South.  I have too many things on my to do list….  for this to happen today.

I have book club tonight up in Ellijay where my cabin is.  I was to head N around noon — it’s only about an hour and some change from the city.  The perfect getaway.  N. Ga has become a Little Napa of sorts — with winerys and vineyards welcoming guests to come sit sip and stay a while.   Tonight was to be the first meeting of the Ellijay Literary Society.  We were set to meet at Ellijay Coffee House which is my nest when I’m up at the cabin.  I sit, sip a latte write read work dream rewrite my to do lists…etc etc etc (said in a very King and I sort of way).  This is my 3rd book club.   I’m sort of a cat lady but with book clubs.    I think 3 is my limit.  Just like dogs.  3 dogs.  3 book clubs.  That’s the limit she said.    Friends will say ‘how do you have time to do all that you do?’.  I look at them…. blinking… thinking ‘what all do I do?’  I suppose to some I am fairly active (ok..maybe a lot).  But there’s so many things to do go and see.  Also…being single (again) I CAN do anything basically…that I want to do.  And THAT…. my friends……  makes me a very happy girl.  ::::wiggling my toes merrily:::::  Anywho…… we’ve rescheduled book club for Thursday evening (note to self to change that!).

Back to the impending snow……

If you’ll recall the big one in 2014 —    

And the really big one which I do not recall at all.  I was 12ish. Blizzard of 1977.  

I do remember walking up to Stroups the little store at the corner of the entrance to our street where I grew up in Morrow, Ga.  My sister and I walked up to the store…there were no cars because of all the snow.  It didn’t seem overwhelming or anything…  but then again…. I was 12.  So.   I just remembered being in awe that we were allowed to walk up to the store by ourselves.  Of course we also went through the woods to get there which my parents would have completely put my older sister on major restriction for doing that.  I mean… HELLO…. creepy woods!!!

A quick recap of the snow in 2014 – I was intown meeting Di for a quick lunch…. snow flurries began to sprinkle down while I made my way to Buckhead…   ‘Its not going to stick’ I remember clearly thinking.   It’s just snow.  Good grief.   By the time we ate..chatting away as mother nature plotted and planned…  I left thinking I could scoot over to Goodwill on Roswell Rd one of my favorites.   I turned to look up as I got into my car… for the first time realizing the parking lot was now white.   I still had doubts…  but instead of heading to Goodwill, I got onto 400 headed S back to Historic College Park (only about a 25 / 30 minute drive no traffic).   As traffic almost completely stopped on 75 downtown I prayed feverishly to the Gods that be please please just let me make it home.   I just want to GO HOME….   THANKFULLY I did make it home about an hour later.   But many thousands were stranded on the roads left to the kindness of strangers.  Thankfully there were many kind strangers around that day.  And what to my wondering eye should appear? A text from my neighbor to come have Snowapacolypse cocktails which I did.  I braved the frigid dangerous snow to walk next door carrying a bottle of wine as we sat and giggled and cheered to the weather.   Cocktail hour in the South has come upon us indeed.

So far no snow.   Schools have closed.   I have errands to run.  I’m still going to run them.  Another snow experience……I remember my trip to Maine – Kennebunkport to be exact.  Years ago with Di.   It snowed the day we were to leave.  We awoke to a complete white out.   It was so deep the cars were almost buried.   We were set to fly home later that day.   All I could think is we’ve GOT TO GET OUT OF THIS FROZEN HELL AND TO THE AIRPORT.  Everyone at the hotel we were staying in didn’t seem to be too worried.  It was the last day of the season because they closed due to this kind of weather. They reopened in the Spring.  I remembered the movie The Shining…. and all that snow.  That’s the curse of an over active imagination in situations such as this.   So many images begin to swirl through your head.   Snow plows came…   we skidded all the way to the airport.   My hands were clenched in a claw around the handles by the door.   It was maddening.  Fun trip though in hindsight.  Snow and all.  :::smiling sheepishly::::

Well….. today is Tuesday…. so on the ‘to do list’ for the house is cleaning the living room and sunroom.  Maybe I will…maybe I won’t….  it’s all up in the air because of the snow of course.   It’s now 10:13 – no snow still.

I’m off to run errands…..  toodles.   Snowballs and all.

I’ve taken pics of my nest here in Atlanta to share…….  I would take pics of the snow….but I digress.  You’ll see where I sit in the mornings to sip my coffee and go through emails etc….  covered in quilts in the sunroom overlooking a bamboo forest in the back.  There’s a massacre of defluffed stuffed toys from Bumble the newest of the Scotties.  Cricket is shy and chose to sit poised at the end window watching for snow.   Amazing to think I live 5 minutes from the airport… I rarely hear planes… unless they are diverted.  The historic district here is quite lovely.   One of the oldest in Atlanta.  Home of prestigious women’s Cox College back in the 1800s (it burned).  Now we have Woodard Academy previously Georgia Military Academy.  Lovely old homes and some cool new ones.   And then there’s my wee chalet.  You can see Cricket the Scottie gazing out the window …. waiting for…. you guessed it.  Snow.

**Make sure you follow Kimy’s world to see if in fact…. snow ever showed?**

 

 

 

 

Happy 2019!!!

Can you imagine?!  2019 already.  Wow.

If you’re anything like me (which hope there’s not too many of ‘me’ running around – world would be in chaos but happy) I love sitting down the week before the upcoming new year plotting and planning.   Doing the usual new years resolutions, a vision board / book for good measure – looking over everything again and cementing this in my brain.  Goals are set –

For me – I’m very visual – the vision board plan really works.   I have a minor version I use on post it notes which is just a bulleted version of goals/ outlines of my life without the photos that I use in my yearly planner.  Yes — I have to have a planner!  I’m very tactile and enjoy writing something down and marking it off.   I buy the year at a glance with the weekly version also in there – that way I use the weekly pages as to do notes and go back and make sure I’ve done everything I needed to do.  Works really well for me considering I own and run two companies, have many balls up in the air.   I sat down with a dear friend, Jake Rothschild (if you know ice cream then you know Jake – Jakes Ice Cream – Irwin Street Market in Atl on the beltline )  at his delightful home around the corner from me (his house is called Sweet Selma Farms – it’s an urban farm – he has chickens and turkeys) his home was previously a tackle shop I think as the story goes.   So it’s a very unusual home.  Much like mine.   We sat with his two story tree twinkling as a roaring fire glowed in the corner.  The tinkle tinkle of the fish tank as candles were lit and wine was poured.   We cut photos from magazines and worked on our vison books.   It was quiet, mindful and purposeful.

The most important part of any year is what is the MOST important thing – which if done everything else will fall into place around that.   For me – it’s health / active lifestyle.    I’ve been very still lately it seems.   I think the divorce took so much out of me emotionally.   Being still –  in bed watching movies covered in Scotties.   Time to get up shake it off and GO DO SEE.

So #1 is health / active lifestyle.   Work, travel, projects anything else will completely fall into the best place if #1 is taken care of.

Work is very important –  then there’s travel which is a given.  Writing projects –  my house projects – getting the rentals ready to go.

Life is good and it’s what you make of it.   Work hard play hard.

I’m heading up to the cabin this afternoon.   This will be the first time I take the new pup Bumble.    I need to buy a harness for her.   It should be very interesting indeed.   Pip and Cricket are great in the car.  Pip sleeps in her bed in the back looking out the window.  Cricket always has to be in my lap wedged between the drivers side door and my leg.   That’s always her spot.   I’ve never taken Bumble on a trip except when she was little and couldn’t really leave her at home yet.  I’m pretty sure Bumble will want to sit with Pip.

I see a hot tub in my future, a roaring fire – libations and post it notes with more focused points of my 2019.   It’s all coming together folks.

Ok…. Off to do my errands then pack up to leave.

More in 2019!!!!

**Make sure you follow my blog to see where life has taken this southern gal…… ** 

 

 

 

Graduation Today

The Doodle (aka my daughter Laura) graduated today with a 2nd degree in Nursing from Samford University.  I’m so proud I could POP.  POP I tell you.  When she graduated from University Of Alabama a few years back with her first degree, you kind of sit back and think… ok what next?  She began talking about nursing, and then began this two and a half year journey that finished today.  Remember when she first drove off after high school?

I have to tell you — I didn’t realize I was going to feel so…. sad!  Don’t get me wrong.. I’m ecstatic she graduated and even spoke at pinning ceremony.  A high honor for sure.   Once again…. so proud I could POP! See?!!! I just popped.  Literally.

I just dropped Jennie off — my girlfriend who accompanied me for the graduating festivities including the pinning on Friday and graduation today.  It hit me like a brick wall.  Her apartment in Birmingham will not be hers any longer.  She’s accepted a job in Atlanta at Children’s Healthcare which is a BIG DEAL.  She’ll be in NICU residency.   I can’t even imagine.  (popping again)

She’s moving out of her apartment in a week.   Her nest in Birmingham.  Where she’s studied hard, and ate sushi and lived for years now.   She’s packing up to move back up to Atlanta.  Her beau is there who I adore,  Lee.  I’m in Atlanta too where of course I’ll see her.  I have homes in both Birmingham and Atlanta for business.

I can’t explain this sadness.  It came out of left field.   It makes me sad to know her apartment will not be hers any longer.   She’s extremely ocd about being organized.  Everything in it’s place.   Her closet is just so – from shoes to dresses.  Her backpack always full of books.  Her class schedule and her planner.   Her couch where she would sit for hours and regroup from a hard exam or study or just sleep.

I’m excited for her – gosh I love her so very much.  I’m so proud of the smart, beautiful articulate driven woman she’s become.   She’s not a little girl, or even a college student any longer.   I’m biting my tongue begging her to start a master program or…. anything.  She’ll be working now.  No more Spring Breaks.  No more can you bring me Chick fil A between classes.  Can you get me Real and Rosemary I’m exhausted from studying.   I’ve named her Nurse Doodle which I think she secretly likes.  #nursedoodle I teased I would get her lab coat inscribed.   She cringed but smiled.

I’m surprised by my reaction – it got worse the closer I got home.  Thinking about her empty apartment.  That’s what made all of this so real.  I’m literally sitting here crying.   Oh good grief.  I think this is normal.  Right?!  It’s a huge passage.  She’s turned the corner.   She’s all grown up ‘really’ this time.   Now on to her making her life her own.

Ok.   I feel better now.   I just needed to cry it out.

I really am so very very proud of her.   Every test was a nail-biter.  Every new semester harder than the one before.  Then actually thinking about employment which she gained immediately before even graduating!!  yes — I’m EXTERMELY proud of this girl.  :::::beaming:::::::

She wanted to celebrate last night at Chez Fon Fon we had a blast!!! Long wait which is normal especially for a Friday evening.   She glowed.  She had just been pinned.  Such an accomplishment.   We toasted Nurse Doodle!  Today was actual graduation.  Celebrating all around!!! Cheers and woots!!!

Adulting is hard sometimes.  Actually many times.   Smiling again.

Humor me.  Here’s all of these brilliant youngsters walking in to be pinned

This is the BEST PART — Laura Kennedy Davis speaking at pinning ceremony

This is graduation from Samford today.  Skip up to 1:18 where she is announced.   What a day!!!

*Make sure you follow my blog to see what’s going on in #kimysworld 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charleston SC – Annual GF trip Dec 2018

A GOOD friend knows all your stories…. a BEST FRIEND helped you write them.

So many of you know my yearly Dec bestie trip with Di. We are two peas. Very different in many ways however very much alike in others. We travel well together. You know what I mean. You have friends who are completely dear to you… BUT ….. can you travel with them? Not everyone is travel worthy.
For instance…. Diane and I can go for periods of being quiet. No need for words. We just enjoy being in each others company. We can be in our own little worlds (for me it’s #kimysworld ) and she can do the Di thing. We have similar sleep patterns. We go to bed early we get up early. We go for periods of amazing conversations…. spilling our souls and we know the other one completely understands. We enjoy good food and amazing coffee. We love books…. she’s a quilter I am not but admire the heck out of her craft. We find quilt shops when we travel. I love quilts so it evens out. We both love cocktails and a good martini. She’s very corporate I’m an overtly creative business owner. We bonded years ago in a Single Parent class at Peachtree Presbyterian in Atl. If you’re an adult and in Atlanta you’ve probably been to the single parent class at PP. I’ve met some of my dearest friends there. Gee whiz I’ll probably head back there again at some point. Being single and all and a parent to boot.
Speaking of friend who you don’t travel well with…….. I’ll NEVER forget ‘that trip that shall not be mentioned’ where we took another friend with us to DC. :::::cringing:::::: this particular friend who actually sadly none of the original group of this friend level are friends with her any longer. For various reasons (mainly she’s selfish, narcissistic, a taker not a giver… oh but I do digress ::::coughing her name begins with the letter after J….:::::: ) Anywho…… on this DC trip during December.. think cold, Christmas cheer, etc…. this particular friend slept until noon, stayed up until wee hours of the morning… talked loudly on the phone when we were in bed, and watching TV loudly….. it was pure hell I tell you. HELL. There ended up being a bitter argument the first full day of the trip between Di and one whose name begins with the letter after J.   Incident caused by the one named with the letter after J.  Completely. I was there.  One storming off to sob and one being really piffed who stood very still turning red and redder.   I just stood there blinking thinking OH MY GOD WE HAVE 4 MORE DAYS LEFT :::blink blink blink:::: I took a deep breath knowing I had to be the peace maker. Good lord don’t ruin my upcoming cocktail hour were my real thoughts. Cocktail hour must be saved!!!! Everyone made peace, I smiled a LOT during the trip.  Di and I vowed to NEVER ask her on another trip…. LIKE EVER. Which we never ever did. Well… she did invite herself (yes…. she actually did) on a family trip with my dad… she ended up flirting with my father so much that my dad took me aside and said “I think she really likes me”. Mortified…I took the one whose name begins with the letter after J aside and said “stop sitting in my dads lap”. EXACTLY. ::::::rolling my eyes and turning red:::::::
Di and I started our Dec trips years ago…. we’ve been all over the US… back to special places like DC and Key West several times. Seattle was a wonderful trip – we’ve never really had a bad trip – ever I don’t think. Well.  Except with you know who see above.  We decided to return to Charleston this year. I’ll show you our pictures at the end.
We found the first night a lovely place to nest called Darling Oyster House – and darling was it!! The cocktails were divine and food tasty. We were at Hanks our last night which is a given….HELLO! We enjoyed the Charleston Jazz Christmas Concert. Have you ever been to Spoleto Festival in Charleston ? A must! We shopped, we drank we slept and talked enjoying the charm of Charleston. We had lunch at Poe’s Tavern on Sullivan’s Island which is my favorite place not because it’s really great food it’s because it’s in celebration of Edgar Allen Poe! AND it’s on Sullivan’s Island which I love. We popped in on an estate sale of all things on Sullivan’s Island. I bought a piece of original art and a few planters. I love estate sales!!! I took a sabbatical of sorts a few years back to Charleston. I nested on the beach at the lighthouse on Sullivans Island almost every night – writing, dreaming, sipping Firefly sweet tea vodka watching the sunset. Reading, people watching… it’s a magical place indeed. People ask about our wee traveling companions ‘the mice’….. we bought these precious felted creatures on our Toronto trip. They travel with us because it’s silly and fun. Don’t you think?
Next year (we start planning the next year literally while we are on the current trip) we may go to Boston. Or Telluride. Or……… ?
What are some of your favorite trips you’ve had with friends?
To friends and trips……. life is short take the trip!!!
#kimyanddi

 

**make sure you follow my journey through life by signing up on the blog – or FB!

 

 

 

 

 

I just realized

Oddly enough — I cannot stand to read directions.  It’s as if I think I have some kind of divine connection with whatever the product is and I just don’t need to read the directions.  Point made just this very moment when I touched the button to turn on the tree and realized there are also colored lights on the tree.  Who knew? Obviously not me….. because I didn’t read the instructions.  Well cool!

So how did your Thanksgiving turn out? Good I hope.   I felt very blessed for all the activities and invitations.   That’s the interesting part about the post D word (divorce) are the dynamics change – the friends shift – it is what it is.   It’s the nature of the beast.  Interesting enough when I divorced ‘the one who shall not be named’ – I was the one to retain all the medical community friends – even though he was the doctor – he was such a….. well. You get the drift.    Very thankful for friends and those relationships that continue on.   Of course things change its just a fact of life.  Change isn’t necessarily always bad – I suppose I’m a sort of chameleon of sorts – I’m able to be flexible enough to shift from to being single again.  Although I sort of feel as if I was single all along.   I’m rambling – forgive me.   I feel as if a faucet has been turned on and I must write write write — which goes into rambling at times.  ::::wrinkling my nose and smiling::::::

My Thanksgiving recap – my son and I joined neighbors and friends at the Pritchards home.  This is the day before Thanksgiving.  George works for me hosting estate sales and his wife Linda is a flight attendant at the age of 71!! Is that just incredible or what! She’s completely my hero.   It’s always a delight to have any event at their home.  They completely have everything down to a ‘T’.  From dishes to decorations to food.  Lunch was incredible!   THEN….  that evening Andrew and I ubered to the Sun Dial downtown Atlanta.   It’s the lovely iconic round building you’ll see in our skyline.  Sadly, about 2 years ago a small boy was killed in the rotation of the floor (pinched to death I think which is horrific) thus the floor does not rotate at the moment.   Which is a bummer for sure.  It’s the only accident they’ve ever had since opening in 1967.   Hopefully they’ll be up and turning again soon.  Anyway… if you live in Atlanta you’ve seen the building and hopefully you’ve had cocktails and dined in the restaurant.  It’s quite lovely.  You can’t beat the view that’s for sure.

Thanksgiving day, I saw my son off as he headed to his dads (the one who shall not be named) for the holiday.  I drove down to Newnan to see my twin nieces and the baby Charlotte who is really, truly, I’m not being biased here I don’t think  — just the cutest darn two year old you’ll ever see.  She’s just incredibly darling.  I’m sure you’ll agree.   I got my Charlotte fix then headed North of the city to my besties house – completely thankful for friends who actually like to cook.   Di can cook let me tell you.   We had Watergate Salad (a very political green concoction) candied yams, corn casserole, turkey that was picture perfect and cranberry sauce.   It was very tasty indeed.   I watched them put up their tree – as she uncovered ornaments many of them I was traveling with her when she purchased them… I realized —  agonizingly so…. that I forgot my ornaments at the now X husbands house.  :::::::deep sigh::::::::  Snap.   I really don’t want to even see him much less ask for the ornaments back.  But they are some really special ones in there….from travels and kids and snap.   I’m going to have to ask for them back.   Maybe I can get him to leave them on his front porch.   UGH.  :::::: deep sigh again::::::   I emailed him.  Hopefully they’ll be returned.   I’ll keep you posted.

My Thanksgiving ended with cocktails at my other besties house and neighbor.   We have this table with all these collected items that get changed and moved as the days roll on.  It’s our alter to life I’ve named it.   Somewhat witchy I suppose which adds even more appeal.   I finally was able to spill the beans that our other bestie Jennie secretly married Stephen who she’s been with for about what….4 years now?  I’ve been DYING TO TELL ANYONE!!!!!  I was sworn to secrecy…..  and I kept the damn secret much to my chagrin.  Fudge.   I did keep the secret… she finally told her kids and all the other important people family wise thus I was able to finally tell Anda.   Extremely happy for her.   ::::dreamy sigh::::::

Anda and I tootled down to Senoia this afternoon.  It’s about 45 minutes from the city —  it’s where they film the hit show ‘The Walking Dead’ which is a favorite among many.   Sweet quaint town – we had dinner at MacGuires Irish Pub.  Very good.

I am happy to report that Bumble is playing well with Pip and Cricket.  She’s still the pesky younger sister but they’ve made great progress.

Ok.  I’m all written out for the evening.  Off to soak and read ‘How to live a charmed life’ very good book.  Then slip between my thick soft flannel sheets with slumbering Scotties.   Sweet dreams! xxoo

**Make sure you follow this blog of  wackiness that my life is – we’re also on FB – Woot!