BJ if you come to Wynne we will have to get together. I live pretty close to Memphis.
Sherry tonight or tomorrow night (can't remember if the ad for it was last night or today) at 8:00 pm the dog show will be on Animal Planet. Is that the same one?
Welcome Joanie, you have a wide age group on your kids. Guess that is why you said two litters. lol
Getting to know you!
Hello all! Never know where to start on my life,as I reach the higher end of years I look back and still can't see it all. I was born in upstate NY,near the catskills. Moved from there at a very early age to be taken by my grandparents to Ct. This is where my grandfather worked with the railroad. My parents were two people that should never have met never mind having a child.My grandfather was a drunk and an evil man that liked to touch and should not have. My grandmother was a dowdy little woman that was afraid to open her mouth. Life went on like that for many years.My birth father who was the son of the grandparents..came back from the war. He had been in prison camp and came back more of a drunk than his father. He married a mean little woman that couldn't stand me because I was the product of the first wife.I was beaten,sexually abused and life went on. Till I hit my early teens granfather died and I rejoiced.I was thought to be a bad and ungrateful girl. I tried to tell the family no one wanted to hear no one wanted to make waves. I found my birth mother..No joy in that she had at that time been married and remarried. And needed me more to be the adult than she was. I had one very best friend she was the only one I knew could be trusted with my family, her's had not been much better. To tell you the whole story at one time would be to long for me to go on.. It is still hard to talk about it..Where was that TV mom and dad that treated their kids with love. I always looked for it never found it. when I can regroup I'll tell you more. not many people know about my life..except my present husband and my two wonderful children. cinnabor
Joanie, the best way to get kids to enjoy gardening is to start them out with something that gives them a lot of "bang for the buck". One of the best plants I did that with was pumpkins. The preparation for one hill is not too hard (unless you start with sod that needs to be removed). Stick in seeds and let her water it gently to keep it moist. She will have fast growth, big blooms and then pumpkins.
Another good way is plant some bulbs in a pot. She may even be able to force some and have them bloom in the winter. I fell in love with gardening as child because of Easter lillies.
This message was edited Jan 14, 2005 6:49 PM
To Only1joanie: My Dad is a gemologist and has one of the most comprehensive crystal collections in the U.S. The really amusing thing is that if you look-up the name of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society's President, he has my last name. My Dad was the president of the G&M society here in California for years before he retired. Our surname is extremely rare so we must be related somehow.
To OldFlowerGirl, the photo you sent was breath-taking. It looked like my idea of Heaven. Thanks-Bagpypr
Cinna sounds like you have overcome a start in life that would beat many folks.
I don't know why or how I posted what I did. It was one of those times when reading about everyone brought back so much. Now that It's said I'm glad It's out. I won't go on with all the rest of the mess called my life,except to say the last 25 yrs has been great, some health problems that almost took me, but I found a prince and I now feel blessed. Everyday I thank God for my life now. cinnabor
Cinnabor,
I think we all find a moment in our life where we unload. You won't find one person her that is going to condemn you.
Up until i was about 17 i thought that my brothers were my full brothers. When i got mad at my mom i went to the courthouse and did search on her child support records. Lo and behold, their father was paying child support and i was mentioned no where. So i asked my mom about it and woohoo, did she get mad. How DARE i get myself involved in her business. About 6 years ago she finally gave me his name and what she knew about him.
About 5 years ago, thanks to google and a few other search engines i found my father. What a joke. I probably floored him because he answered the phone and my first question is "are you chuck maple?" he said yes, then i asked if he worked for the railroad and was he a tree cutter in iowa, he said yes....then i probably gave him a heart attack when i said "i think i'm your daughter"...he totally denied it. I was crushed and heartbroken.
Well about a year after that everything still lead back to him so i called again. This time someone else answered the phone. I hemmed and hawed, and then finally said "look this is going to sound pretty strange, but i think i'm your sister" he floored ME when he said "what took you so long to call back"!!!
So, i know have 1 sister that i've always wanted and 3 brothers. My father still denies me. I speak to his wife, my siblings mother, about once a year and i talk to my uncle (his brother) and his wife about 3 or 4 times a year.
I'm a dead wringer for my aunt. Hes the only one that still denies it. Everyone else just looks at him like hes nuts.
Whatever grandiose plans of a renunion that i had were shattered the day he denied me. After hearing all the horror stories about him, i guess its a good thing that he didnt raise me or have an influence in my life, but its still incredibly hard to deal with knowing he was nothing more than a sperm donor.
I talked to his wife just the other day and she said he's bed ridden and sick. I told her that i have made peace with him but that when he did pass, I HAVE to see him. Just one of those things i guess. Ironically, they moved from Iowa to Louisiana a few years ago. He lives only 5 hours or so from me.
Jen
Cinnabor I juste wanted to give you a big (((((HUG)))))) Your a real survivor.
Thanks for the hug...Hugs feel so good. All that happened to me in the past made me who I am today and I like that person. Everyone must learn that in order to survive you must look to yourselves and love you first because if you do not love yourself you can love no other. I get hurt easilly,I haven't mastered that,. I never will understand why some people have a need to belittle others to make themselves feel good. Again thanks for the (((HUG))) We all can use them cinnabor
(((Cinna))) I feel honored that you trust this group enough to share. You too, (((Jen))).
Cinnabor and MsJen, I'm so sorry for the school of hard knocks you had to go thru. It's wonderful that you both have risen above all this and made such great adults.(((((((Here's a big hug for you both)))))))
I have come to a point in my life also, where I can say I am thankful with where I came from and what I had been though, as it has made me who I am today!
Thank God for time & wisdom and the ability for us to learn and grow from our "hard places".
I feel honored to call you all my friends! ((((HUGS TO ALL))))
Margie
MSJen, I wish you good luck in finding closure with your biological father. Life throws us some pretty good curve balls sometimes. Remember that you'll always have your eternal Father and he will never deny you. :D
Hi to all you wonderful people. What a group I have found....and such wisdom. I was going to "let it all hang out" about my life, but after reading this, mine was a piece of cake. Also, I would be proud to be included as one of The GOBs, (I'm 64). As to the mention of not feeling up to par at times, my expression from the horsey time of my life was.....I feel like I was rode hard and put away wet. Horse people will really understand that.
My love and prayers to you all. I hope that I may call you my friends...
Nancy Lee
At first it really did bother me and i went through a slew of emotions. It took time for me to remember what i had right in front of me.
My dad, who has been in my life since about 7 has been the foundation of who i am. He legally adopted me at 13 and gave me his name. He's the one thats been there through the ups and downs, bailed me out of some pretty situations, is called g'pa by my kids......all the joys of being a father!! HE'S my dad...
I hear such sadness from my new found siblings and cringe at the thought of the horror stories they tell. One of my brothers commited suicide 2 thanksgivings ago and that is one of the hugest things i regret, that i was never able to meet him. I know that he's at peace now, tho.
My sister is amazed that i'm not only a spitting image of the family, but that the traits of chuck are so strong in me. If i wasnt a believer before that genes played a huge part in a person, i am now. There are too many similarities that i have in commen with that side of the family that i dont with my moms side.
Jen
Nancy Lee, you can call me friend and I am sure the rest of the people here would say ditto.
I really like how people who rarely post or are new contributing to this thread. Thanks to you all.
Cinnabor and MSJen,
What wonderful, strong women you both are to overcome such hardships in your life. I both commend and admire both you ladies for your strength and ability to rise above your history and not allow it to rule who you are now. All those who caused you such pain will pay the price at one time or another, while you will come out smelling like a rose.....or maybe a Brugmansia!!!!!
Mel
wow, what an honest and moving thread. Such amazing people here.
I was an airforce brat, and went to 15 schools by the time I graduated. I got to see lots of the country, and meet lots of people, but it took a long time to realise it took work to keep friends. I'm so glad I've learned how to do that. I worked 20 years as a nurse, almost all either teaching or providing life-support. I worked as a flight nurse, it was the most amazing job, and many years in ICU with the best job being in the open heart ICU. I worked in the acrtic, where you worked hard and played even harder. My folks are still married after 52 years, although they had some terrible times, they did the best they could with what they had. I've made some stupid choices in my life regarding lovers, but I've learned from them all and I feel they have helped make me who I am today.
I don't work anymore, I have a chronic autoimmune disease that limits my activity, but I do what I can when I can. I have a wonderful partner, and can't imagine a life with this person. These last 5 years, even with being sick, have been the best for me.
I've always been a bit of a gardener, trying to push the limits. Now it's brugs and some other tropicals that keep me interested.
Linda
Linda, you lucky girl to live on Vancouver Island. It's my spiritual home. Thanks for sharing!
Hi, I am new. I just joined today.
I have been married for 20 yrs and have 3 kids. One in college and 2 in middle school.
I am new to gardening and have had fun playing around with stuff this last summer. I was feeling really well last summer. I have lupus and it puts limits on what I can and can't do and when I can do it...
When my lupus flares, I tend to hermitize. I have found myself pouring over garden catalogues and reading garden forums.
I have a yellow brugs that I bought on sale at a garden store last summer. I was given a start for a pink one and a white one. I can't wait to get them outside and pray that they will flower this year.
I am interested in trying new things and would be tickled pink to find some named Brugsmansias and Daturas and not break the bank. LOL
Hi Spuds...Welcome.
I am relatively new also and you have found a great home. Everyone is so helpful with not only plants, but life in general. Everyone seems to have such understanding large shoulders. Those will Brugs will be glad to help.
NOTE TO ALL MY FRIENDS:
I changed my sign on name to Happy_1. Chefnl just did not seem appropo on this site. Everyone had a name of what they felt, now so do I thanks to all of you.
Nancy Lee
Oh Nancy, so much easier to type too. LOL! Nut4Spuds, this isn't the best time of the year to get cuttings unless some of the members in the south or west have extra stuff. Mine are all gone until next fall, but would be happy to help you then or maybe even in the summer if they grow well this year. Welcome to the brug forum. I'm sure you will love it here and in all the other forums of interest to you. Daves is a great place to meet people and make some great trades, etc. Hang in there. I'm sure help is on the way.
Shirley
Welcome Spuds, everyone on the site has been the new person before with only a couple of brugs. Watch out they have a way of multiplying until in the winter your house starts to look like a nursery or you need a greenhouse. Glad your here!
A warm welcome from Sunny (tho not today) Calif. Spuds. You'll fine the nicest folks on the whole web right here on DG. It won't take you long to get way too many Brugs, beleive me. Last year at this time I didn't even know what a Brug was, now I have over 30 between the cuttings & seeds, & one's even gonna bloom that's inside. I can't wait... My first bloom!
Welcome!
Welcome to the Brug Forum, Spuds.