What's Next?

So now that I've completed the April 2011 A to Z Blogging Challenge, what's next?

My plate is very full, having pushed aside many things, while endeavoring to produce a noteworthy post nearly every day. Now I will need to peel back the layers to uncover each neglected task and aggressively take them on -- one by one -- hopefully emptying that plate.

It is spring, and our yard has been crying out for attention like a mournful puppy. We've raked and mowed, overseeded and watered, but now it's the weeding and planting (ever wonder what happened to all those bulbs??!)...plus a little bit of pruning. Then there's all the fall debris that still needs to go to yard-recycling.

Our closets, the basement and the garage are all bursting with things for Goodwill, the Veterans, and a possible garage sale. But before any of those tedious projects can begin, there is the simple matter of catching up on my dishes, laundry and other basics in life to clear the clutter. Sound familiar?

And, I have yet to mention any time for reading, bike riding, amigurumi, journal writing, artwork, letters, ukulele, hiking, indoor gardening and piano. At times I wonder how others stay on top of all their interests. I truly need to lock myself down to more of a schedule, just to stay ahead of any possible regrets in the years ahead. Especially since I'll be turning the big 6-0 this summer.

We have a tremendous plan for our 25th (Silver) Anniversary, less than a month away. June 1st is the actual day, but on the eve we will have our favorite chef come into our home to prepare us a fantastic dinner with wine by candlelight. Plus, our live-in mothers will both be out of town that entire week, so we'll be free to make a few day-trips without any other responsibilities (except Ginger, our Cocker Spaniel). What a delightful time this will be for just the two of us!

Guess that about wraps it up for now on What's Next?

-- without pond-ering too deeply, that is :~)

"Q" is for Quirky?.....Quite.

Have you ever had a friend live with you where it should never have worked out, but it did, and neither of you really know how or why? In fact, no one else can figure it out either? Well, I have. And, I'm not talking about my husband ...although he could probably fit this scenario equally well.

There were actually 3 of us (including my husband) who considered renting this wonderfully large one-level home we affectionately called, The Hacienda. Entering from the portico, the front door opened into a 27'x25' room with a massive, 3-way, red brick fireplace, towering up through a custom made skylight, right in the middle of the 15-foot ceiling.

I saw right away how it could work. But the 2 of them? Well...one called it strange and the other said too weird. Apparently, they were trying to convince me that it was a bit, uh...quirky.

We looked at a number of other cute cottage-like homes, rambling ranches, and even upscale condos. None seemed to compare to The Hacienda, in both size and character.

Finally, we all agreed and moved into this exquisitely quirky house, complete with an enclosed courtyard, Swedish sauna and step-down patio opening to the 18th fairway of someone's private golf course.

I divided up the huge room, which provided for an entry foyer plus 3 living areas -- one for conversing, another for dining along side the long wall of patio windows, and the third for comfy entertainment -- all with imaginary walls. We decided quirky was good and loved it.

In the days ahead, I began to discover just why our friend could accept quirky so easily -- it's what she was. Quirky? Quite right.

          "Every man had his own quirks and twists." 
                                                      ~ Harriet Beecher Stowe 

This may be so. But having a few, and being one, are slightly different concepts. I'm talking about far more than just a peculiarity of behavior, you know...an idiosyncrasy. What I'm talking about are consistent, yet unpredictable and unexpected, uniquely strange, oddly funny, somewhat cute and always present...character traits! 

In today's terms, I believe it's called: random. But the 3 of us decided the best word at the time, was...quirky. 

And that became her very endearing nickname: Quirky.

Big Chief, he loves squaw

Here's the unexpected part. Quirky decided that each of us had to have a nickname because she had one. For my husband, she chose Big Chief.

It was partially taken from a childhood nickname his dad had tagged him with, so others would be aware to watch what they said when he came into the room...Hi there, Chief Big Ears! 

She labeled me as The Deepster. If a person was willing, I could lead them down enticingly unfamiliar yet intriguing paths of thought, into the wee hours, without blinking an eye. It became a sort of trademark of mine. 

Nearly 9 years later, and that nickname grew into my inspiration for the title of this blog  -- all from those months at The Hacienda. I probably should add, one of her favorite movies back then was The Wizard of Oz, and I hadn't even thought of that when I went and picked out the picture for this post! Now that's quirky.

Well, there you have it. Three unlikely characters -- Quirky, Big Chief, and The Deepster -- living in an equally quirky, yet magnificent house. We don't know how or why, but it worked. How awesomely cool is that!

                                    Quirky?........Quite. 

"G" is for Ginger

2008 proved to be quite an eventful year for me. 

The four of us -- my mother, my husband, his mother with her Bijon Frise, and me -- all moved into this little green remodeled ranch-style house built in 1980. Nothing too fancy, but it was home.  

In fact, some of you may have read the story of how my husband dug a hole for the koi pond in the frozen, mud-packed, March earth amidst the roots of the aspen trees just outside our front door. 

By July we needed to replace our teal 1993 Ford Crown Victoria, so we chose to lease a new red Mazda CX-9. A wise choice, but I'd never recommend acquiring a new car in the first year after closing on a home.

What's all this have to do with "G" for Ginger!?

Well...not even a month later, we found ourselves looking for a way to break up boredom, when I suggested driving down the road to where an animal rescue tent had been set up...just to take a look. So that's what we did...with one exception.

I was ready to leave when my husband informed me that we didn't drive down there just to go home empty handed. Yikes! This really wasn't part of my plan to break up boredom. I turned towards him and said, "But there's only one dog here that I'd be interested in...that tiny female blonde Cocker Spaniel." She just sat there -- upright, sort of regal-like -- quietly observing everything going on in the midst of all the chaotic hub-bub. 

We soon learned how that little dog had lived her entire 5 years as a puppy-mill mommy, still showing evidence of nursing her last litter. The only home she had ever known was a wire crate about 2 feet off the ground. Sadly, green grass, toys and a vet were foreign to her, as was good food and exercise. That made it a done deal.

Once home, we  began to try on a dozen or more names over the next few days. The Rescue had named her Chloe, but that was not going to work for us. We finally chose Gingersnap, but decided to shorten it to Ginger. Somehow, it just seemed to fit.

So...they call this the kitchen.

Actually, I kinda like this grooming thing.

All mine!

This is a... toy.

They let me pick my bed out all by myself!

Am I dreaming or is this real?

Looking good and knowin' it : )

Practicing my new "p-l-e-a-s-e?"

This is where I learn tolerance.

Aaahh... MY chair!

Didn't know I'd fit under here so nicely :)

You moved MY rug.

Get off!?

Let me think about this...

Okay... but I want it back.

Finally, where it's supposed to be.

Do you want to... play?

They say I'm a little... dear?

Well, there it is. In a mere 6 months we had managed to move into our own home, lease a brand new car, and rescue a dog. Yes, 2008 was quite an eventful year indeed, as were these last two with our Ginger.