Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Happy Fall, Y'all! (Just a Little Late...)

Hi, Everyone!
 
I have been a baaad blogger...
 
How can a person suddenly have too much time on their hands,
 
yet accomplish so little?
 
That's what's happening with me here.
 
Empty nest.
 
My children will tell you I spend too much time checking on them...
 
(I worry!)
 
Sweet little Cyrus has been sick...
 
(More worrying, especially since he can't tell me how he feels...)
 
He is well, now, thank goodness.
 
Everyone is in place for the moment.
 
So what happens now?
 
I decided at the beginning of summer that I was going to lose weight ~
 
(the weight I gained when I ate and then didn't die after breast cancer in 1999) ;^)
 
...and I did!
 
Well, I still am...not quite at my goal yet.
 
But you know what?
 
I have learned (first hand)
 
that when a woman "of a certain age" loses a lot of weight,
 
it makes her gall bladder very unhappy...
 
Who knew?
 
Not me, that's for sure.
 
But that's what happened.
 
I get to take medicine for a little while
 
 and eat unsweetened applesauce and Jello.
 
Then surgery, probably.
 
(Much preferable to gall bladder attacks.)
 
~
 photo oct85_zps7c32aec6.jpg
~
Sweet Cyrus...feeling much better now.

~
 photo oct81_zps6a2a644e.jpg
~
Did I ever think I would say "Too many tomatoes"?

Nope.

~
 photo oct82_zps071b5cdb.jpg
~

Marigolds to decorate with!

~
 photo oct83_zps52ac727b.jpg
~

Heirloom okra, destined to become Vultures...

~
 photo oct84_zpsc3766b21.jpg
~
Ready for drying in the oven...

~
 photo oct87_zps10488b60.jpg
~
Leo has taken to sitting on the okra vultures like a hen.

no matter what stage they are in...

even with still-wet sealer on them!

~
 photo oct86_zps5f47dde5.jpg
~

And finally, Cypress Vines...

everywhere!

Like last year, if any of you would like seeds,

I would be more than happy to send you some ~

just leave me your address in a message ~

it may take me a little while,

but I'd be glad to share!



And how is your Autumn shaping up??

Love,
 
Photobucket

24 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos Anne! So glad Cyrus is feeling better... I would worry too! Your vultures are awesome, and how funny Leo likes to guard them!

    Hope you are feeling okay - take care!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WHAT GORGEOUS pictures! Your kittys are adorable! I laughed at the gained weight and then did not die lol! That is exactly what I would do if I thought I was going to die, eat every morsel of the food I always deprive myself of

    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cyrus and Leo are gorgeous! I hope you feel well soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my goodness Anne, I am so glad to check in and finally see you back to blogging again. We have had a sick pup here that is almost back to being himself a week and a half later. Our vet didn't have a clue to what was wrong! YIKES!!! I am glad to hear your sweet Cyrus is on the mend. It's so hard not to know what to do for pets when they are feeling so poorly. I hope you are feeling better real soon. Be good to yourself Anne!!!
    Your cypress vines are thicker than the ones I planted from the seeds you sent. I am enjoying them bloom. The red came up first then pink and at last I noticed some white just a week ago. I planted mine in pots. I will try some in the ground next time! I see the brilliant blooms and I smile and say, "Thank You Anne"!!!
    Happy Autumn!!! <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful photos full of positive energy. Happy autumn to you to Anne! Kisses to Cyrus and Leo!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely Photo's Anne!!!
    Happy Autumn to you♥
    xoxo
    Dena

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lovely photos. Your cats are so pretty. Glad Cyrus is back to normal. I have 5 cats and also worry when one of them is feeling a bit off.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dear Anne - sorry about your gallbladder - I had a friend have the same thing happen to her when when she lost weight. Wonder why??
    As always your blog is beautiful...love those pumpkin colors. Also glad Cyrus is feeling better too. Take care and don't over do. Hugs Pixie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Anne,
    It's so good to hear from you!
    So sorry about you being sick, hopefully you will feeling better, and even if it means surgery, it will be better than feeling sick every day.
    You are a wonder.. with all that you've been through, you still have a wonderful sense of humor :)

    My cypress vine didn't do so well this year. Thanks again for all the seeds. I'm going to keep trying to grow one, and hopefully next season I will be successful.
    Utah just may not be a great climate for cypress vines :)

    Have a wonderful day, my friend.

    {{hugs}}
    Kerin

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh dear poor Cyrus. I'm glad he's feeling better and making friends with vultures:) Sorry to hear about the gall bladder. I had gall stones once...it was not fun:( I hope you fell better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. So nice to see you are back, Anne, I have missed your wonderful sense of humor and gorgeous photos. So glad Cyrus is feeling better and Leo is being so 'helpful', but sorry to hear you may need surgery. Congratulations on your weight loss, though! It is not so easy! Hugs xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Glad that Cyrus has recovered. Dealing with sick cats can be very difficult, I know from experience.
    Regarding that gall bladder thing, do not worry too much. Stay away from fatty foods like cheese and bacon. Stick to your weight loss regime and the problems will fade away for the gall bladder as well as the waistline.
    Love those vultures. Really clever.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm glad that your sick kitty is feeling better, poor little thing...
    I'd love to see a close up of the vulture made with dried okras. You are so creative.

    I've lost lots of weight as I work it off on the farm and i'm at my 10 year mark of taking estrogen blocker after breast cancer. However I don't worry about my gall bladder as it was removed years ago. Gall bladder pain is no fun at all...

    Hugs,
    JB

    ReplyDelete
  14. Cyrus is gorgeous..Hope you are both on the mend..Missed you..

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Anne and it's good to see you posting! What a beautiful blog you have, and I've always loved seeing your crafts. I am still keeping my eye out for a kitten, or even an older cat that needs a good home. I love cats. Yours are beautiful.

    I would really love some of the seeds. Thank you so much for the offer. I'm in NC, and will be looking up some information on them to see when and how to plant them in this area. Some things we find here are actually planted in the fall and come up in the spring when the soil warms up.

    My address is LindaLee Sherman, 137 Woodland Dr., Havelock, NC 28532.

    Again. I thank you and will be keeping you in prayer to improve health wise. Keep up the great work with your crafts and blog.

    ReplyDelete
  16. oh such a cute banner and blog
    love those kitty cats (:)

    ReplyDelete
  17. These are fantastic photos and an especially beautiful cat.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Anne!! I haven't been a good blogger either! I just love all your photos. The kittens look so pretty! We adopted a new to our family cat into our home this summer! She is a white Turkish Angora mix. We love her and the other cats are getting to know her :) I am glad I don't have to think about empty nest yet. I will probably go a little nuts! Gall bladder problems are terrible. Oh, no. I sure hope the pain goes away fast.
    Blessings,
    Susie
    Blessings,
    Susie

    ReplyDelete
  19. As someone recently diagnosed with breast cancer, it's encouraging to read that you're still alive:)

    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello Anne! I missed this post, and have so enjoyed catching up this evening. I'm so glad that your Sweet little Cyrus is feeling better, and I so hope YOU continue to feel better too! And finally, the cypress vine is amazing, I've never heard of it, I wonder if it will grow here in Virginia?

    Take care and be good to yourself!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am so happy to see you posting, dear Anne...I have been thinking about you! :)
    Totally in love with your gorgeous fur babies, and thank goodness Cyrus is all better.
    And you, please take good care....I'm so sorry that your gall bladder is giving you trouble. Sending lots of love and healing thoughts to you. You are one of the brightest rays of sunshine in blog land!!
    So does this mean the vulture festival is coming up? :)
    I hope you post pics if you have a chance....
    And I am excited for the cooler weather...your gorgeous brooch goes on my coat lapel! :)
    Hugs and blessings,
    - Irina

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful pics Anne, I have had cyprus vine for several years. I used to have it on my mailbox.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Now I see you made the vultures from okra. Now that is brilliant! You are one talented lady. A friend of ours was just saying that he is not liking the empty nest life. His daughter has been gone for several years but his son just went to college this year and he can't get used to it. I had a hard time leaving Yusef in Colorado this summer. Still strange at times not having him with us but for the most part I'm pretty okay with it. I know that this is his time and I know that I raised him well so it is all good. Did you need surgery after all? My cousin just had it a couple of months ago. I hope you are doing well now. Cyrus too. Best wishes, Tammy

    ReplyDelete

I love your thoughts and comments, and I read each and every one! Sometimes life gets in the way, though, and it takes me a while to respond...Thank you for understanding! ♥...Time is precious, and the time you have taken here is truly appreciated!