It changes with the blink of an eye...

It seems like the bottom fell out of my happiness in just a matter of days.

My special friend Max died. Now, to those of you who don't have pets, this won't mean much. But Max was with me for almost 13 years, from the instant he took his first breath, until I sat beside him during the final moment when his gentle heart stopped. He lived with me through a lot of good times and a few really bad ones, and unlike some people in my life, he never changed his tune, never lied, never stopped being there when I needed him the most. The cancer showed no signs at all, I took him in for a regular checkup and the vet hit me with the bomb that he only had a couple of weeks to live. I was totally unprepared for how fast he went from a happy, fat, "waddle man", to dying.

There is a very conspicuous hole in my world without that orange fuzz ball of a cat...

In a moment of poignant irony, my lemon suddenly dropped all its leaves, the last one almost at the same time that Max died. I am pretty sure that they are evergreen, and I am not sure why the tree started faltering. It was as if giving up its lemons took away all the reasons the tree had to live for.

Lemon trees are supposed to be good luck, so I wonder where all mine went. It all happened so fast !! It has left me in a fog.

I will be mourning for quite a while.

I pray that you and your world are in a much happier frame of mind.

Gong Hay Fat Choy in the Year of the Pig

Gong Hay Fat Choy! So this is the year of the Pig, and according to the scholars in this field, a year of turmoil for most of the Chinese zodiac signs. Something to do with the fact that a pig is a water sign and it conflicts with fire (where the fire is I have NO idea.) This article came to me courtesy of my cousin, Don. Thanks Don!

Welcome to the Year of the Fire Pig!The Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Calculated according to precise astrological observations, it essentially is the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice and is always named after an animal in the Chinese Zodiac paired with one of the traditional five Chinese elements.The Year of the Fire Pig begins on February 18 and will be observed all around the world by a 15-day celebration including colorful parades, fireworks, family reunions, and sumptuous meals. Chinese astrologers predict that this will be an unstable year filled with conflict, because the Pig is a water sign, and water is incompatible with fire. Many people will experience sweeping changes, but there will be plenty of opportunity for prosperity for those who are able to meet the challenges and find a place of inner calm.To find out what you can expect this year, order your complete 2007 Chinese Forecast. Meanwhile, here's a quick look at how your sign will fare:Don't know your Chinese sign? Click here to find out.

Rat:The Year of the Fire Pig is very prosperous for the industrious Rat. You will achieve important goals, and you will have a great deal of freedom to do as you please. You can live the good life by following your nose and trusting your intuition, as it will guide you toward a good source of income that you earn by using your natural talents.

Ox:This isn't likely to be a stellar year for the Ox, but if you stay focused and work hard, you'll have everyone's respect. It might seem like others are having a lot more fun than you, and this probably will be true. Rather than grumbling about how life isn't fair, learn to appreciate the good things you do have and the people who love you. Next year will be better.

Tiger:The Year of the Pig promises to be a lot of fun for the Tiger, who will be very popular and in social demand. Many of the invitations you get will be to parties, but there also will be opportunities to mix fun with working for your favorite humanitarian causes. Single Tigers have a good chance of meeting a new romantic partner as a result of all this networking.

Rabbit:The Rabbit has a natural affinity with the Pig, so 2007 should be an excellent year for you. Your biggest challenge will be overcoming your natural shyness to take center stage and revel in the adoration that is heaped upon you. In both your professional and your private life, resist the temptation to downplay your talents and accomplishments, and take credit where credit is due.

Dragon:Dragons are trailblazers, and you will get many opportunities to put your maverick ingenuity to good use in 2007. By heading in a new direction, you could net both recognition and financial rewards. The key lies in expressing your true talents and following your heart. Nothing less will get results. Leave behind your fear of not having enough, and cultivate abundance consciousness. Let your enterprising spirit soar.

Snake:The Pig and the Snake are natural enemies, so this is not going to be the best of years for you. The Snake does not tolerate change very well, and changes are likely in 2007. Even when they are for the better, they may seem too abrupt for comfort. Fortunately, your natural endurance and social grace will carry you through. Hedge your finances by setting aside some funds for a rainy day.

Horse:The Horse will feel very restless in 2007, making this a highly unpredictable year. How you fare depends largely on your attitude. If you respond to the demands of others by being rebellious and bolting out the door, you'll experience ups and downs, especially regarding your finances. If you'd rather have some stability and security, form good working relationships and be a team player. The choice is yours.

Goat:The Goat isn't the most social of signs, but you'll do well this year if you leave the comfort zone of home and family in order to expand your social network. The Goat and the Pig are natural allies, so you could have quite a bit of fun if you make an effort to meet new people. Don't worry, they'll love you, and they'll find many ways to show their appreciation.

Monkey:You'll need to work hard to stay upbeat and positive in the Year of the Pig, but your efforts will pay off handsomely in terms of connections and material rewards. The Pig is a big party animal, so your best bet is to stay social and use your Monkey charm to talk your way into the hearts and minds of those who can help you. Maintain a can-do attitude.

Rooster:Has anyone ever told you that you could use a little tact? If not, be advised that in the Year of the Pig, you'll get what you want by being more diplomatic and lightening up. Doing so will assure that you get fair compensation for your hard work and diligence. Better still, it could win the heart of one special person. Overall, this should be a quite romantic year for you.

Dog:The Dog will be very busy in the Year of the Pig. Not only will you do a lot of social networking, but you will engage in many activities to help your fellow humans. You will receive lots of praise and attention for your efforts, so prepare yourself to be in the spotlight. Just be sure to balance all that activity with some serious downtime so that you don't wear yourself out.

Pig:Simply put, the Pig can have it all in his own year. You are generous by nature and have much to give, and now you can expect to get even more back. Entertaining will be very much on your mind, with lavish parties and great company. Yet you'll also be devoted to your work, and the payoff could be quite grand. Get your original ideas out and circulating, as all eyes are on you now.

Dreamin...

Did you ever want something soooo much it made you sigh every time you thought about it~~ even though it was impossible?

There is a frail, pallid house for sale near where I live. Leaning onto the garage is a decaying wreck of what was a shed, and the house itself is past its prime. It is a small house, too, no doubt its one of many factors that has kept it from being sold in prolonged months, even though other houses in the area have been snapped up almost immediately upon hitting the market.

I pass this plot on the way to inevitable destinations of school and the market. Despite its condition, I think about this lonely house frequently, although I’ve never even been inside. I dream of what color I’d paint it, of fixing it up, and planting gardens. I tell the kids as we drive by, “Someone should give me that house, because I’d take care of it.” They just roll their eyes... But I am old enough now that I am ready to just settle down and take root. It isn't so unusual to want a home of your own, is it?

Unfortunately, giving it to me is about the only way I’d ever be able to possess it. There is no way that I’d ever be able to pay for it; no matter the price ~ single mothers on social security just aren’t home buyers. That’s understood within the universe of common irrationality.

I don’t quite know what calls to me from this little place. I’ve always been attracted to the small ones… my cozy cottage. I tell myself, it’s so tiny; no one would be out much if they bought it for me, and they’d get the supreme satisfaction of watching me make something special out of its listless hull and making it a HOME. I’d take what I pay now on rent and put it towards improvements, that’s a good reason to make a present of it… isn’t it?

Yeah, it’s a pipe dream, I know. But a girl can dream, can’t she?!

My meyer lemons are finally ripe!

Well, all that patience has finally paid off. My little meyer lemon tree finally gave up those 2 big ole' lemons. It looks soooo bare! But the lemons are just beautiful. Thin skinned, gorgeous color, fragrant... to die for!
For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, I bought myself a lemon tree in June from the Nichols Garden seed company. A lovely little tree arrived already in flower. Although it had 10 flowers, we ended up allowing only 2 lemons to grow to maturity, so that the tree wasn't too overburdened! And this week, we were rewarded with those lemons.
So tonight, there will be a lemon pie in my house! I have a recipe from the food network for Meyer Lemon Buttermilk tart, and it is delicious.
I hope everyone has a wibderful surprise in store for them, and I really hope you check out the places I talked about. They're some of my favorites, and I know that they will be yours, too!