Seasons Change

I had a rough day today so I went in search of fairies. I needed time by myself as moms sometimes do, so I stole away to my own little fairy place.

I found the clearing where they have their gatherings.

 Where trees become rocks and rocks become trees,

And as I walked further, I found the place where the fairies live...

In an old hollow stump, far away from everything.

Shhhh... a fairy!

And in a blink of the eye, she was gone. 

Along my path I found one of their hidden places. 

In the summer it will be covered in green, but winter laid it bare... 

visible to the meandering fairy hunter.

So I simply stood and stared in wonder at the reaching vines that made this lovely fairy dwelling.

I could imagine young boy fairies swinging like Tarzan from vine to vine, then letting go and fluttering down to the leaf-carpeted earth on delicate, translucent fairy wings.

Look! A fairy apartment building!

And after my walk among the fairies, I went back into town for a little retail therapy where I found these...

But I didn't buy any, because I'm too cheap.

You see, today I took the dogs to the vet where I learned that my sweet Brandy Ann has cancer. If we had plenty of money, of course I would have the vet do what they can to lengthen her life. As it is, we don't have extra funds. Brandy has also suffered from terrible allergies her whole life and has had to stay on a steroid called Prednisone. Taken for short periods of time, this medication is a good thing for those who need it, but taking it for years and years... well, after this long it will have damaged Brandy's organs. 

So for now, we'll keep chasing fairies, knowing that sooner or later, all fairies blink out. One never knows how long a fairy will stay, but the memory of seeing a real fairy... well... that lasts forever.

 Artwork by C. Atkinson.

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For All The Parents of Special Needs Kiddos - and other caregivers!

Here is the link to a GREAT article on CNN about the stress we caregivers deal with, and what stress can do to us...

PLEASE remember to do things for yourself on a regular basis... and please remind me to take this advice too (LOL).

Click >  Can caring make you sick?

Cow... MOO!!

The other day The Skink made up her first song. It was sweet and her little voice went up and down in the best tune she could muster. The words could not be understood. For about a minute, the song went on. It went something like this:

"Asha leber no ahtamaaaa, prillee doofa dub meee,
Moper dukah pooshie new, adah Cow...     MOO!"

In that moment, the joy that filled me was akin to what Beethoven's mother must have felt when he first showed his musical talent. The song had a substance and  clearly, to The Skink at least, a story... about a Cow.

As it happens, The Skink's favorite animals happen to be horses and cows. Her favorite toy - the one she doesn't want to sleep without - is a Beanie Baby cow that is black and white. She carries it about the house. Every so often the cow takes flight, and upon landing a small voice joyfully yells "Moo!" It's the one toy she has that has explored the interior of the washing machine many, many times. It's the one toy I really need to locate a doppelganger to... just in case!

Iraq's favorite item at the same age was a pink blanket. Lucky for us, the blanket's identical litter mates were sold in every Wal-Mart across the country. Though Iraq no longer requires the constant companionship of the blanket today, I believe we still have about 6 pink blankets tucked safely away in a drawer. Luckily for us, The Skink's reaction to having to go to bed without her prize cow would never reach the magnitude of the melt-downs we used to witness on the few occasions Iraq's pink blanket wasn't ready and waiting in her bed.

Last Christmas I looked everywhere for cow toddler bedding. I found CowBOY and CowGirl bedding, but no plain ol' cow bedding... so I ended up making some.

Yup - found pink and "cow" striped flannel and accented it with a black & white cow print for the bedspread and dust-ruffle.

And yes, she loves it!

Here are some new Skink shots of the day...

The COW is never too far behind... MOO!

With Daddy on the front porch swing.

Skinks -N- Roses

Hypotonia... Skink style!

Just... The Skink!

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