Tiff's top 5....flowers

".........These are a few of my favorite things..."

in my opinion the best color to get!

 I am such a girl right now but I am willing to admit to LOVING to get flowers (hint Jake).
My all time favorite flower is available at Easter time. I guess what I love most about this flower is the smell.. It is sooo sweet. They are not very expensive and you can usually find them everywhere. They are a great gift to bring to a Easter dinner or have a a table setting. I place them throughout my house to remind me how pretty it is about to get outside... Unfortunately I do not have a greenthumb (YET) and I end up with a semi-graveyard of them outside when it is time to plant them. They do comeback every year too. So when your invited to dinner for Easter bring your hostess a flower for her efforts!

spring!

i found this picture online...can you imagine how wonderful this place must smell?

i have never found this color anywhere...so pretty!

 

 

These flowers are called Hyacinths and like I stated before smell amazing!!!!!! I learned while quickly researching that they were the favorite of king Louis XV of France.

My Second favorite flower is the Plumeria blossom. They are found all over Hawaii and make beautiful Leis and head pieces.They are most fragrant at night in order to attract it's pollunating moths. The flower has no nectar.

Tahitian sunset if my favorite color this blossom comes in

pretty in white

My third favorite is also a Hawaiian flower, the Hibiscus. They come in all color and varieties. Every color and variety was the official territorial flower. It wasn't until 1988 that the yellow hibiscus (which is native to the Islands) was selected to represent Hawaii the state.

i can't chose a favorite color but this orange mix sure is in the top

the red is probably the most common color

Hawaii's state flower

Waterlilies are the most interesting to me because how they grow...in the water and wild like. This summer I am going to try to improve (A LOT) my gardening skills. I really want to have a waterlily in my front yard fountain. I just need to find a waterlily that can grow in harsh conditions (me) and shallow water.
Funny story from when I was little... I would always play Indians with my cousins and my name was ALWAYS waterlily not tiger-lily (the famous Indian Princess).

The fourth choice is the Daffodil. The classic spring starter of the season. They come in an array of colors but the most common is the yellow.

the classic

The classic Rose, my fifth and final favorite. Although the list could go on and on I choose the rose. The rose has been used in history all over the world a decorating flower, medicine, small source of vitamin c, and for fragrant purposes. No matter what color they are simply beautiful. I favor the victorian species not the wild open buds.

the wild rose

I love this color mix

Collinsville man pleads guilty in child porn case

Collinsville man pleads guilty in child porn case




"I heard the news today oh boy" - Beatles lyrics to a song that kinda brings tone of the article... well not really.
OK so hear I go. I have wanted to comment on this for quite some time. You see I used to be friends with this man. I can't claim him as a real man because what kind of man would do this?!
I met him in high school. He played football with some of my close friends. He played amazingly if my memory serves me correctly. On Friday nights we would sometimes go to his mom's house and party. (same basement he filmed his porn-gross).

if you have time or the enrgy google him.There are a few articles about him. Some talk about him and his family.

Looking back, it is weird to think of him as a pedophile. A creeper yes but not a pedophile. I guess you can't really tag those people in a crowd though. I breaks my heart for that little girl. I have a little friend a year younger than her and I would seriously kill someone if they took advantage of her in anyway. I cannot believe this?!
Weird enough that it breaks my heart for him that he turned out that way..... He had a tremendous future. He was an all-American football player (or something) in college. Did a lot (academics-wise) more than anyone in his family. What the heck made him into a creep?!
It was news to me that he was into this sort of thing. He never really had a stable girlfriend in high school. He was always really inappropriate though with every girl. Steven NEVER tried anything with me...could be because those boys would have destroyed him.
It makes me sick to my stomach. Not to switch this to me but I just wanted to post something of a reaction to this.
Yeah it is old news but holy crap everytime I think about it I want to cry for that younge girl.
How did it get to that point? How was she able to get to hang out with an adult alone without her mother knowing? How was she able to be his "girlfriend" and repeatidly go to his mom's house without anyone asking questions? Why didn't she tell on him? Who else has he done this too?



It is hard to believe this could happen to anyone. Or that anyone would be able to do such a thing....or that someone would desire a child?

Lucy Lue and Desi too...

So we decided to get our second doggie. Desi is a yellow lab and is 11 months old.
Let me back up and start from the beginning. My Boyfriend's birthday was the 10th and I had teased him that I wanted to get him our second dog. We have wanted to get a buddy for Lucy but Jake thought that it wasn't time. Lucy still needs a bit of training with jumping and little things like that.


Friday after work, Jake told me that he had called the breeder that his Uncle purchased from and there was a dog that we should check out. It was out of nowhere and we hadn't really saved any money for a pure breed. This breeder has a waiting list for some of their dogs. A couple of cardinal's players have gone there too! So if was an opportunity that didn't come around very often. The opportunity was that they had a couple dogs that they were going to breed with from a recent "batch" that weren't perfect. For example one of their testicles didn't drop correctly,etc. They only breed "perfect" dogs. So on a beautiful Saturday we went on a long drive. An hour and a half to get there, even a ferry ride (Brussels), through country side and river roads. It was a great drive . I lived up in the bluffs of Grafton when I was younger, so part of the drive brought me back.
We finally got there and they were dogs everywhere. Different buildings and a huge barn. 88M acres total including farming land and a pond.
Long story short the breeder paired us with our Desi. He was awesome in the truck. We drove from the breeder to Webster Groves animal hospital. The breeder had a deal with that hospital so our first checkup would be free and he still needed his rabies shot. The doctor's office took forever the drive there was ridiculous..I was ready to get home! 2 hrs to get in the checkup room and forever for the vet to come in...He wasn't going to the house how dirty and stinky he was so he needed to go to a groomer. I couldn't describe the smell and doubted that I myself would be able to get his totally cleaned. So to get to a groomer the dog must have had a rabies shot. We called everywhere and ended up getting into Petsmart in Belleville. That was another 2hr ordeal.
We finally got home and introduced the two dogs in the front yard. The rest is history. They are best buds. Right now they are laying together on my feet. We love love love them. They are a bit of a handful at the moment because of Lucy the little one loves to attack him. They play forever then lay next to each other. It is very cute.. Dogs are like children, you can't keep your eyes off them because they are constantly challenging the boundaries. So far so good, just don't ask me in the mornings...They have a 6am pee and eat time and then HAVE to play.They won't go back to bed until I am ready to be awake....Ugh! What did we get ourselves into??????????My favorite thing about Desi is that he is 100lbs and little Lucy attacks him so fiercely. He bites back but nothing like he is capable of.Which I like because we plan on having kids in the next 3 years. He comes to me to save him from her when he gets tired of it.
I will edit and post pics very soon. Jake needs to email me some since my phone pics never show up.

Meaningful and quoted...

"More than at any time in history mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, the other to total extinction. Let us pray that we will have the wisdom to choose correctly"-Woody Allen.

This quote inspires to understand that no matter what road you choose you will have to overcome some challenge. There is no easy route to choose in life. Even if you decide to stay dormant and contribute nothing to self or society... This is a path chosen and the challenge is to not full fill anything which could be a hidden psychological goal (or something).
I love this quote because two people could be raised in the same situation and the outcome of each lives result in exact opposites. The human process is so interesting. Life is really what you make of it and what you do with the choices that you make...the paths/crossroads,etc....the word crossroads always gets Bone thugs n Harmony stuck in my head. I miss the 90s lol.

"This we know:
All things are connected
like the blood
Which unites one family.
Whatever befalls the earth
Befalls the sons and daughters of the earth.
Man did not weave the web of life:
He is merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web,
He does to himself."- Chief Seattle

I read this after refecting on the Crossroads quote. How wise this quote is....

"In art, economy is always beauty"-Henry James
Money is what drives many to do what we do. To be an "successful" artist you most get the word out....sex sells so does what is popular.  
It is funny how in society people try and think of themselves as unique. Yes we are to a degree but look around....it's fashion. You can look at a photo and know what year or around what year it was by what people are wearing. The same goes with art. No offense to friends and family (you are all unique) but inspiration is kind of like stealing an idea....my opinion.


"People cannot stand to much reality"-Carl Jung
turn off the tv and look around. The real thing is here and not marketed (ususally). 

"I Love Lucy"

Happy late Valentine's Day!!!!
Saturday I had an amazing day at work...really. I came home and a beauty queen greeted me at my front door. Jake surprised me with a new puppy. Completely surprised because he never folds on ANYTHING. The deal was we were going to wait until April when the weather would be getting nicer and easier to house train in.

After we were denied adoption at Hope Animal Rescue (still an amazing place) he was going to go buy one from a breeder. He went shopping for a doggy gate at Petsmart on Saturday and they had 4 animal rescue agencies there with animals to adopt. It must have been fate (or Jake is a sucker for a cute girl) there she was!

Her first day at our house

She came from Bendl, IL and is 6months old. The Bendl rescue society is ran by a bunch of sweet old ladies. The founder/owner is in her 80s....how great is that? I know what I want to do when I retire... Probably not because I would be arrested if I did.
After Jake adopted her and got her kennel, food, dishes, etc he took her on a tour of his family. Everyone fell in love with her. The rest of the family that was unable to meet her is coming over this Sunday. She is a lucky girl.

She loves to nap like her momma

we assume she this is her favorite spot (living room in front of table and tv) because she is the center of attention still

Like I mentioned she is 6months old. The rescue people told Jake she is a beagle/lab mix. Everyone that has met her thinks she is a beagle/pit mix. They probably told him because pits get a get a bad rap but I love pits! She is very well behaved, especially for a puppy. We are in the process of crate training now. She is house broken and doesn't go on furniture.

momma using her like a pillow in front of the TV

hooked- dang we sleep a lot!

Her first night she had a lot of visitors. Everyone was trying to help us come up with a name. I decided on Lucy because she is funny. So the 2nd one will have to be a boy and name him Ricky of Dezzy..."I Love Lucy"...
I am a happy person. I start my mini vacation today too!

I am from....



 

 
I am from Micheal and Pamela, Carol and George
I am from Catholic and some Lutheran worshippers
I am from closed and open minds

I am from wine enduldgers, chain smokers, great debaters, deep thinkers, couch potatoes, busy bodies, yeard experts and beautifiers, music snobs and appreciators

I am from an army encounter, a German experience, and a Texas drama
I am from Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois and Missouri
I am from the world's capital in horse radish farming, the largest Catsup bottle, the Kahok purple and white pride

I am from sticking to your guns, enjoying what is in front of you, appreciating the moment, getting together because you want to not out of convience

I am from raising him his first six years, assisting raising her for her first 23, being his number one for 17, and his number two for 11 or so

I am from every version of humor, education and collared-work
I am from distant trips at 5 star hotels, camping in the woods with no electric, laying on the couch with no plans or worries

I am from am eclictic group
I am from a football player, a cheerleader, a basketball player, a sqweaker, a drama geek, a singer, a dancer, a model, a two-stepper, a clown, a tattoo canvas

I am from a love that knows no boundaries, he loves me at my best and my worst

I am from islands, the city, the country, the bluffs and the east side of the muddy river.
I am from the best and proud to be free Country of this world.

I am from much more than you could imagine or possibly want to know. Get into my heart, my spirit, my trust and your knowledge could grow.





dog insane in the membrane

So I wrote about how awful giving up my precious Scoot was. I am going to reveal something EXTREMELY personal which will probably hit a cord with one of you. I struggle with depression. Every person in life has struggle at one time or another with depression. Mine was and is triggered by certain times of the year. The reason I bring up Scoot and depression is because since then (giving him up) I have never felt the same. The experience SERIOUSLY was me giving up my child and I never have got used to being without him. HE WAS A DOG wth!
Well I have decided that my life is accepting of the need to filling that self inducing void...I have decided to rescue another dog. This time I will rescue two though for selfish reasons. My reason for the need for two is the fact that dogs are pack animals. They NEED companionship more than humans. I work full-time and go to school full-time just like before when I had to give Scoot up. I am not giving up my dreams of full filling the need to get a bachelors degree. At this time in my life (a year ago-sounds a little crazy) I feel I got it together. Writing my own schedule and knowing how to balance is what I mean. My boyfriend and I are the perfect team as well. I know that when I have to work late he will be there as the "Dad" and take care of their needs.
Also his mom (one of my favorite people in the world) lives a mile away and comes to the house and takes care of repair men,etc when we are unable to take off of work. She will be a wonderful grandma!
 
Two dogs are just a natural choice. They keep each other company when the owner is at work. They can play, snuggle or make a mess together. We have a big house and the perfect breeze-way room for them to play in while we are away.

So I have been reviewing HOPE animal rescue because I know people that have adopted from there and found a few dogs I was interested in meeting. I fill out an online application and get DENIED... Can you believe? I was honest but also didn't give ALL the info about my ordeal with Scoot.
The response was that with A SMALL LIFE CHANGE that I DUMPED off my dog!!! That was very hard to read... I thought and still do think that I made the right decision for that time. I was a single mom and my roommate (with her dog) moved to Arnold and I to a much smaller apartment. I also was going to start school full-time. Searching for a new home was rough too. How could no one I knew want him? He was the bestest dog ever!!!! Well many did but were unable to have dogs themselves or had the same problem....no time to take care of a social, energetic dog. Or had a dog that wasn't good to have around other dogs.
Long story short basically... Jake was upset and applied to adopt. HE WAS DENIED due to having the same address as me. My "dumping" put him on the no adoption list...:(

wish there was a pic without the guy holding the puppy

I found out that he is going to a breeder this weekend or next week to get me a baby... Happy Valentine's and Anniversary to me! We are going to rescue the second dog in a couple months...

Please give me your opinions..Be nice I am delicate.