I will admit that I was dreading this road trip to the East Coast. But our friends had just gotten a lake house, and we had a week of vacation to do something fun with, and we really wanted to get away from our flooded yard.
To save money we decided against the plane tickets and decided to load up our trusty? SUV. I spent a little time putting together a bag of goodies for each of my daughters. Coloring books for the 2 year old. Activity books for the 8 year old. And a brand new box of crayons for each. But the one thing that really turned our trip into a fun family adventure was the License Plate Game. Now I know I could have gone old school and used paper and pen. Or I could have stepped it up a notch and gotten a paper map of the U.S.A. But this LOOKED neat, and it was made to last and it had parts that wouldn’t get lost in all the car’s crevices. Most of all.. It would be a “new” toy for Bella. And THAT is what she lives for. So.. Off we went. I didn’t expect to have to pull it out right away, but boredom set in quickly. But let me tell you. The moment I pulled that out, the hunt began in earnest. My husband dove head first into it. He wouldn’t let one car go by without checking the plates. They found Maine and Tennessee and West
Virginia. Every time he would find a new one, my daughter would squeal and say “good job Dad!” Then he would explain where to find it on the map. It was educational. And It was way cool. And it didn’t get old for TWO DAYS.

The ride home is a completely different story.

But as I sit here at work, thinking about the summer, it has been a REAL BUMMER. I’m fortunate enough to have a work schedule that gives me my afternoons free to enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors. In recent years I have come to really enjoy spending time in my garden. Now looking at my garden gives me a stomach ache. I look out the window and I can see my plants wilting. They are literally drowning. I sometimes put on my rain boots and wade out to see what’s up. But it just makes me feel worse. I think back to the early spring when things were just starting to green. At the time I was thinking it was going to be a great year! Not so much.

Now I know it could be worse. That hail storm that went through the valley destroyed a lot of gardens. People at EAA have been stuck in mud. Folks in Appleton have ruined belongings lined up at the curb.

But I just wanted to be sad for a moment about the plants I’ve lost. I’ll get over it. Especially because my Hydrangeas are LOVIN’ all this wet weather. And I LOVE my hydrangeas! You’ll see those in a later post. Right now I’m mourning the loss of a viburnum and my favorite phlox.

But seriously, we live in one of those places where we don’t have to leave our little area of the world to escape, explore or just experience something new. Have you ever been to Kohler? It’s like it’s only little world with unbelievable food, hospitality like you’ve never before experienced and a spa that is divine.
What about Door County? Sunsets to write home about. Beautiful parks. Wonderful people. And a great game of bean bags at the AC Tap. When it comes to Door County I could go on and on and on. But I’m running out of time before I have to pack my bags for a trip up the Peninsula. Ask my co-workers about the Waupaca area and they will have you planning your next family trip. Like a little more adventure? A day out on a charter boat, fishing for salmon can get your heart pumping. There are so many fun and unique places you probably haven’t heard of. (Just keep watching Good Day Wisconsin for more ideas)

When we only have a day, or even a couple of hours, and don’t want to waste a beautiful summer day — we head to the beach! For 25 dollars we bought a yearly pass to Wisconsin’s State Parks and THIS is what we got. Blue skies, endless fun in the sand, and some picture perfect moments only 40 minutes from our front door.

A friend asked me on my birthday what my goals are for the future. I asked her if she meant for the year or for my life? She said either. My answer was coastal living. Even though it was only for a couple of hours, I have already reached my goal.

I’d like to send her back today.

I met up with my college friends over the weekend in NYC.
One of them accused me of being addicted to my iphone.
I only updated my Facebook twice and showed her a couple of neat photo apps.
I mean, that was nothing.
If she only knew about my TRUE obsession and how much time I REALLY spent on my word games.
I was a little embarrassed.
So I kept my iphone tucked away.
Until I was seated comfortably(?) at the airport.. With a MILLION other people zeroed in on their iphones!

So here’s a list I compiled from email, voice mail, facebook and actual face-to-face encounters.

WD-40 (which it seems is made from fish oil_
Toothpaste
hairspray (cheaper the better)
vodka (the older the better)
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (lots of votes. don’t use on skin)
Zout laundry spray
Rubbing Alcohol
Peanut Butter (for stains on clothes)
Spin n Span
Mom’s Magical Goop
Motsenbockers #3
“Awesome” (at Dollar Tree)

Thank you! And stay tuned… I’ll let you know if it works!

The whole ordeal was pretty uneventful.. Until I met Laurie.

She was wearing a pink hat to cover the fact that she had lost her hair.

But what was most memorable about meeting her was her positive attitude.

She told me (in the 4 minutes or so that we talked) that she had originally gone in for a colonoscopy. (If I remember correctly, it was because a family member had been diagnosed with colon cancer.)

After the all clear on the colonoscopy.. Her docs suggested while she was there she should have a mammogram.

And that’s when they found the breast cancer.

Laurie looks like she’s my age. Her kids are older.. Maybe in middle and high school. But my age!

That’s when it hit me .. How lucky I was to have that piece of good news in my hand.

But it was lucky for her, too, that her doctor urged her to get that mammogram.

It actually took me a year to finally do it. My doctor’s office kept calling to remind me and I kept putting it off. I don’t know what I was worried about. I was in and out of there in about 20 minutes. And it DID NOT HURT. I repeat.. DID NOT HURT. Maybe it’s because I breast fed my children.. but it was a piece of cake.

 
So here’s my October is Breast Cancer Awareness message for you. GET A MAMMOGRAM.

Laurie did.. And it saved her life.

Just imagine what I can do next year with an ENTIRE SEED PACKET of impatiens seeds!!!

And that is my story of my $1 impatiens.

Along the way Good Day Wisconsin’s executive producer also tried to grow flowers and veggies from seed. You’ll soon read why she failed. You’ll also learn how she found a way to still gardens on a budget.

AND NOW A WORD FROM DANIELLE:

I also started planting seeds when Rachel did, but I didn’t have the patience to keep up with them.
But to be honest, I didn’t give them the care they needed, plus my dog Lambeau got hungry and ate some of the seeds, dirt and all.
So I decided to scratch the seeds and buy plants with buds already on them, those she stayed away from for the most part, except she did get to a hosta I bought before I got it planted in the ground.
I started enjoying planting when I was in high school, my friend Cara and I got a job at a local greenhouse and learned so much. We worked throughout the winter, ironically, planting seeds. And once spring came, that’s when we got to see all of our hard work come to life, the colors and smells throughout the greenhouse were amazing.
I learned a lot in the many years I worked there, but I also have learned a lot while planting at home.
Here are some of my tips, wait until the end of May and early June to get things planted. This is also safe, considering we get frost sometimes late in May.
Watch for sales, I didn’t buy any plants that were full price.
My best purchase, a flat of impatiens for $10.

Another thing I learned, shop around. I probably bought flowers from 6 different stores and greenhouses.
I also fertilized on a weekly basis, from June through August.
And if you’re planting in large containers, instead of filling it all with potting soil, my dad found some styrofoam for me, so we broke that down and filled the containers about 3/4 of the way and then added soil to the top, so I saved on potting soil and if you have to move the container, it’s much lighter.

“Diseased” is how horticulturist Mark Konlock described my seeds. But I persevered. I transplanted the good ones. Took some fresh seeds and planted them directly in the ground. And look! Some success! (Despite the efforts of one very annoying rabbit)

I also bought some starter tomato plants from a neighbor with a bright green thumb. $1.25 each and they are amazing. Especially the ones I planted directly in the ground and not in containers. (Yellow Pear on left. Brandywine on right)

So here’s what I learned:

*Gardening takes a lot of time and WATER!!!

*You CAN save $$.

*BUNNIES destroy plants.

*The “fruits” of your labor are very rewarding.

 So it it?? We’ll never know. We could have gotten a culture taken and sent off to the lab. But the results take 5 to 7 days!! By then I hope to have her BACK IN SCHOOL where she belongs. I talked to another doc who said there is a “rapid” test but it’s not very accurate.

The vaccine isn’t available around here. And the treatment can give you the same symptoms as the flu itself.
What??!!!

So.. We walked out with advice to get rest and plenty of fluids. I felt so bad for bringing my germ infested daughter to the doctor’s office.

And I feel bad for Bella. She LOVES LOVES LOVES school. And was so excited to start second grade. Her new school outfit has been sitting out all week long. Waiting. I mean she loves school so much that she squealed when I told her I was picking up some homework from her teacher and bringing it home with me.

Bottom line. Lots of questions about the H1N1 and we will hopefully get some answers next week. Dr. Al will join us live on Good Day Wisconsin on Tuesday with some helpful information. Until then.. Wash your hands thoroughly. (I know that’s what he would say)