1. A Quiet, relaxing weekend with no chaos
2. No obligations
3. No chores
4. A great BBQ
5. His favorite foods, drinks, desserts
6. To attend a sporting event
7. Family activity like a game or sport
8. To be appreciated

© 2010 by Debbie Glade, Smart Poodle Publishing. All rights reserved.

Click here to read last week’s comic.

My daughter and I decided to make 2 collages, with a travel theme, for her dorm room walls, as she is off to UPenn in the fall. She made one, and I made the other. We used travel stickers (that look old) that came in a tin from a museum gift shop. In order to give the pictures texture, we glued some interesting things on the collages – old buttons, pins, foreign coins, old stamps, old keys, a tiny padlock, feathers, miniature items from a doll house, pressed leaves, hot sealing wax, piece of an old passport, old airmail letter envelope, ripped section of a subway map, cut out from a safetly brochure from an airplane.

We used thick watercolor paper and heavy duty glue. It was a lot of fun! Now we need to find some shadow box frames to put them in.

Vicky was happiest when she was in the fields with her llamas

If you take the time to think about all the interesting ways you’ve met the friends you have, you’d realize quickly that life is a long series of coincidences combined with fate. In 2005 my husband, John, daughter, Rachel dog, Gigi and I took a summer vacation through GA. We found Second Time Around Mini Farm online in the small, historic town of Washington, GA. We made a reservation there because the owner, Vicky, posted on her site that she welcomed pets with open arms.

Vicky teaching Rachel how to show a llama

Upon arriving at Vicky’s farm, we became instant friends, kindred spirits of sorts. Our 2-day reservation turned into a much longer stay. Her farm, the way I remember it with her and her llamas there, will always be my favorite place on earth. For many years, Vicky was an interior designer for yachts, and her eye for design resulted in a most beautiful planned and landscaped mini llama farm. There was a tranquility and comfort about this place that words cannot describe. Lucky for us, we were able to experience it for ourselves several times, because we returned to the farm over and over in the past few years. It isn’t every day that a city person can be a llama farmer for a week, but Vicky invited us to experience that firsthand. She even asked Rachel to show one of her llamas at an event in Ocala one year. It was a most memorable experience.

Vicky doing what she did best – showing her llamas and winning ribbons

In between our visits to the farm, we spoke often on the phone, lending support and celebrating life’s greatest moments. She was like a sister to me.  And her scarlet macaw, Mo, had a crush on me. We had a lot of laughs. Vicky had a magical way of communicating with animals that few others can; she was Dr. Doolittle.  When a baby sheep was born, Vicky put him in diapers and brought him to bed with her at night. Whenever a baby llama was due to be born (and there were many times), Vicky set her alarm to get up every hour to check on the mama, night after night. If she ever got word that a farm animal was too ill to be kept, she adopted that animal and nursed it back to health. And Vicky came up with the best names for her animals. Like “Stuff,” short for “Cornbread Stuffing,” and “Red Moon Rising.” When I told her that our dog died, she held a memorial for her at the farm.

Vicky and Rachel paddling on the pond

Sadly, Vicky was recently experiencing some hard times and had some personal setbacks that overwhelmed her. Tragically she chose to end her life last week. Naturally, it’s difficult to accept this mournful and shocking news. As I look back at stacks of photos from our visits with her, I cannot help but admit that I took for granted that she’d always be around and that there’d be more good times at the llama farm. The “what ifs” and “should haves” race through our minds. But they’re simply not productive.

During happy times, John, Rachel and Vicky line dancing to loud music with Mo

Vicky, I hope you knew that you were loved by us and all your many friends you welcomed to your farm. We will always miss you for your kindness, generosity, loyalty and caring ways. You were passionate about your work and an inspiration to many. Does it sound cliché to say that our lives have been enriched because we knew you?  And that you taught us many wonderful things? Or made a positive difference in the world? And you had a whole lot of love to give? I hope not, because they are all true.

Vicky welcomed 1000′s of visitors every year and especially enjoyed teaching kids about llamas

As for me, I’m really glad I made you that pie out of the crab apples on your tree. Though I must say I was shocked as I watched you devour the entire thing with your bare hands in one sitting. It’s a great memory to have.

Vicky and me, the very last time I saw her

Vicky, If there are llamas in heaven,

I know you are joyful now.

• 4 colored popsicle sticks
• white glue
• yarn
• 1 piece white paper – card stock
• markers
• single hole punch

Overlap 2 Popsicle sticks and glue them together. (see photo) Do this with 2 sets of sticks and then glue them together in a cross. Let this dry well. Draw outlines of 4 butterfly shapes on a piece of 8.5 X 11″ white card stock. You can get inspiration from books or photos and illustrations online or copy those in the photo above. Cut out the shapes and color them with markers on both sides. I used different designs on each side of the butterflies, so there are 8 different designs total. They look best if you outline them in black. Punch a hole in the head of each butterfly. Cur 4 strands of yarn to the lengths you want. 2 should be longer than the other 2, but there should be matching pairs. Tie the butterflies to the ends of the popsicle sticks. Take another stand of yarn and tie around center of sticks where they meet to make a hanging strand for the mobile.

There’s a lot of talk about packing and planning a summer vacation, but often we forget about preparing our home properly before leaving:

http://www.clipartheaven.com

• Clean out your fridge and get rid of all dairy products, eggs, leftovers, and other highly perishable foods.
• Do not leave any bread, potatoes, tomatoes or other food on your counter.
• Wash and put away all dishes. Do not leave dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
• If you have a pet that is leaving with you, don’t leave dog food in his dish,
• Take out all garbage, and have a neighbor bring the can back to the back or side of your home after garbage day.
• Run the disposal for an extra long time.
• Clean out your A/C filters and set temp to 78 – 80.
• Leave a car in your driveway so it looks like you’re home, or ask a neighbor to park there periodically.
• Make sure no valuables are left in your cars in your driveway.
• Lock your car doors.
• Leave a normal message on your answer machine, and do not say you will be unavailable for a while.
• Set at least one inside light on a timer to go on just before it get dark outside.
• Make sure outside lights will go on as well as timers.
• Ask a neighbor to get the mail every day, or better yet, install a mail slot in your front door.
• Also ask a neighbor to check for door hangers or packages/deliveries.
• It is better to have a neighbor pick up your newspapers than cancel delivery. To would-be robbers it will seem more like you are home.
• Make sure a family member, friend or neighbor has a key to your home and the phone number where you will be staying.
• If you are going to be away for a long time, have someone come into your house every week to check on it, open and close curtains, bring in mail and flush toilets.
• Don’t talk about leaving town in public places or to tellers at your bank, etc.
• Also ask someone to water your plants inside and out if need be. Or put your inside plants in the bathtub with several inches of water so they can continually feed.
• Considering turn off your water at the main valve to prevent any leaking or flooding.
• Turn off the hot water heater.
• Prepare your outdoor patios by cleaning up any loose items in case of a storm or valuables.
• Cut your grass and do your regular landscaping before leaving. Overgrown grass and weeds scream out that you are out of town, so have this taken care of during your absence if you will be gone a long time. Grass grows very fast during the rainy season.
• Make sure all doors and windows are locked.
• If you have a house alarm, make sure it works properly and that your alarm monitoring company has the proper contact info for the people who can access your home and have the alarm code.

If you travel often, make a check list on your computer that you you can refer to again and again of everything you need to do before leaving town.

By preparing your home well, you will be able to relax more while away.  Bon Voyage!

Yet another clever book I reviewed for LA Parent Magazine,  Ask Dr. Fisher About Planet Earth. Check out the review now!

Inside of a perfect strawberry

Lazy Dawg

Awesome heirloom tomato salad

Flowering Bush

I reviewed Reach for the Stars by Serge Bloch for LA Parent Magazine. Very cute book!

© 2010 by Debbie Glade, Smart Poodle Publishing. All rights reserved.

Click here to read last week’s comic.