Chloe Art

Marty dropped these off tonight. Chloe created them this morning.

I think she was reading their bird books again!

Tomato Delivery Service

We have been away. Have you missed us? The girls had some time with their dad, and I had some time with adults. We are all back from our respected travels. There were the usual reunions...

There were also a surplus of tomatoes to be harvested. So many in fact that we needed to give some away. We found some willing recipients in our neighbors Doug and Marty. Marty is home recuperating from surgery and was more than happy to have some dropped off today. So Alexa headed out with her box.

Pretty yummy looking huh?

She was lucky enough to get a cookie payment for her tomatoes.

and one for Chloe too...

We will be picking more tomorrow. Wonder which neighbor we can deposit some on next.

A Parade

Chloe's school had a parade down Church Street to announce their opening as a magnet school this year. It took place Thursday morning at 9:15. Since I was not able to go, my neighbors Doug and Marti went down to cheer for Chloe and took pictures. The parade finished at the Flynn Center, and the kids all attended a kick off celebration.

Check out the cute kid singing into her hand made megaphone behind the banner!

Along with my guest photographers today there is also a guest story teller...

Chloe's version of the events is as follows, " The two first grade classes were squished together in the front. I even saw people open their windows to see the parade. I had a really fun time. We walked to the Flynn Center. We saw people talk at the Flynn. Did you know that Lawrence Barnes School was an Academy too? It was really fun. My favorite part was when I saw some Wheeler kids up on the stage doing a dance. They were fourth grade or fifth grade. They did a really good job. There was really good music. I even got to be chosen for the lucky kid who got to go on stage. I was with Kamil and Stephanie. We performed a show called the River Alligators. I was the alligator. There was blue tape of the floor to show the river."

It's A Match!

Thank you to all the positive energy that contributed to the good news that Marty has a match donor for a kidney. It is all very powerful indeed. It appears that the donor is a friend of hers from NYC. What an amazing woman! The surgery is scheduled for August, so of course Marty is excited that she will be able to walk Chloe by September. It is such a relief to know that good things really do happen for good people! Karma, karma, karma.

I am beginning to think there is a real connection to posting things on a blog (kidneys... car repair) and things really happening.

Maybe at some point the universe can find me a decent guy. I'll be patient... clearly you have more pressing requests. You know, if you think of it. I'll consider the leering guy last night while I was painting my porch railing your attempt at humor.

The Power of Positve Energy

I received some news today that has left me very sad. I decided to write about it with the hope that if enough people know and send good energy it will help. I have two amazing people who live next door to me. My neighbors Doug and Marty are old enough to be my parents. They are amazingly good to me. The first winter that I was on my own after my marriage ended we got this HUGE snow storm on Valentines Day. I mean it closed my school for three days! Chloe was four years old and Alexa was eleven months. That winter I had been shoveling my driveway out with Alexa in a backpack on my back. It was really hard work. That storm was so intense it would have taken me forever to open my driveway up. I think I counted three times that Doug came over with his snow blower to clear it. I never even had to ask he just did it.

The first time I ever went out on a date in ten years; Marty came over to babysit for me. She fussed over me and told me I looked beautiful. She gave me a total pep talk to get out the door. And now, of course, there is what they do for Chloe. Every morning they take Chloe into their house when I leave for work. She eats her breakfast, and then they do art projects together. Until it is time for school. Then they walk her to school. She has had the best year of school (preschool was so hard for her)and I know that it has a lot to do with the relaxed way she gets to start her day.

I was talking with Marty today as we so often do- over the backyard fence. I asked her is she was still willing to have Chloe over in the morning next year. I didn't want to presume. It is a huge commitment to have me at your door at 7 AM every morning. She mentioned that they love having Chloe in the morning, and she wants to do it forever. She said there was a small glitch. She went on to share that she has kidney disease. Marty's kidneys are failing. She is on the list for receiving a transplant. In classic Marty fashion she is more worried about who will take care of Chloe in the morning while she is recovering. She was adamant that it needs to be a very kind and loving person. I have no idea what I will do about that, but it is a problem that work out.

Marty is an amazingly kind person. She gives me regular pep talks. I can be talking to another neighbor and find out she has been talking about me and telling people that they just have to meet with me. She is like my own personal fan club. She is such a positive force in the world. I think they world needs to send Marty some good energy back.