Creative Handicap Railing

Some of you know that I have a medical conditon called RSD or CRPS. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It is a neurologic disorder that causes constant pain and some physical limitations.

After our House fire and the rebuilding, we put in a jacuzzi bath tub that I LOVE. It really helps calm things down and gets me going a little easier. We elected to put in a handicap railing so I could get myself in and out of the tub when I am home alone.

I have always had a mental thing about it being so WHITE and GLARING. I am sure i am the only one it bothers but that is okay.

Recently the little girls were taking a bath and I was looking at it and lamenting about it being so white and ugly. So I went into my studio, got some paper I knew i had stashed and my MOD PODGE and i decoupaged the darn thing. The girls stood in the tub and helped me.

I then decided it had to have a hint of humor so I pulled out my letters and glued on a message. " Help Yourself" 911

It is very pretty now and makes me smile.

BUSY BUSY BUSY

hi all

Things have been crazy around here lately. John had to have 'unexpected' surgery.
He had an old sports injured knee that he has been babying for years. He was confident he could make it to 60 before he had a total knee replacement. Well a few weeks ago he fell, tore ligaments, and as the saying goes, 'they couldn't put him back together again'. so they did a total knee replacement.

He is doing a lot of rehab and is in a lot of pain still. But every day is a little bit better. He will be home another 7 weeks or so. poor guy. Not much fun when you are so limited in what you can do.

But we are enjoying the time together and it has been so nice to have the kids here to help me out.

SPRING HAS BLOSSOMED!!!

Okay let's be real here. I see everyone posting pictures of beautiful spring blossoms as a sure sign of Spring.

Here at OUR house, these dandelions are the sure sign that spring has arrived!!!
Forget the fat red breasted robins hopping about pulling up big fat juicy worms. These suckers are blooming 'amok' all over the yard and flower beds. I don't have to do anything to make them multiply--they reproduce in the blink of an eye, laughing the entire time!

I was positive yesterday there were only three yellow heads in the back yard. This morning there must be 3 ZILLION!

I know. I know. I forget their true worth. I had handfuls of these 'pitty flowers mommy for you" through the years and proudly displayed them in small glasses all over the house. Now grand daughters are bringing them in to share their beauty with me.

I remember as a child my brothers and I, or my friends would pick the small yellow heads and hold them up under each other's chin's. If a yellow 'shadow' appeared then you "liked butter or mustard" If not, then you didn't like either. I used to hold great store in that undeniable 'truth.'

How many fuzzy seed heads did you pick, make a wish, then blow into the air to see them float lazily across the yard---hopefully to land in the neighbor's lawn and not yours?

And what about the dandelion necklaces and bracelets we made picking the stems and tying the ends together? The finest 'jewelery' of childhood.

My parents had a friend that made dandelion wine every year. As regular as clock work, they received a fifth of that wine every Christmas.

I don't remember seeing them ever drink it. I just remember it being pink and I was disappointed it wasn't yellow.

So cheers to the 'dandelion' the true harbinger of spring!