DIY Cactus

Les Cactus Totémiques has these adorable cactus with a pdf download with the pattern. 

Make these cactus too! With easy to follow instructions.

 

"Story of Flowers"

 
Botanical Animation “Story of Flowers”
Produced by AMKK
Directed by Azuma Makoto
Illustration by Katie Scott
Animation by James Paulley

#MarchForOurLives has changed me

You will not be surprised to hear that the last year+ has been hard for me and anyone who can see the obvious in front of them ... Trump is corrupt, lying, money-laundering, racist AND he is our president. And since last November I have spent every minute reading every story, article, watching every video to figure out what is going on in our government. I admit, I am scared to death. What scares me more than anything is that 33% of Americans believe Trump has been chosen by God to lead our country? That I have severed relationships with family and friends who think Trump is a good choice for President. I will not be convinced that he has one ounce of good in him, I will not try to "listen the the right's point of view" in this matter. 

I understand why many people are upset about out economy. God knows, David and I work our asses off to try and stay relevant and technologically up to date in an ever-changing work force. We moved to find jobs. We left places we loved to find a job. So yes, we know how hard it is to make a living. But that did not stop us from giving it our best shot. 

I have been living on the edge for a year trying to figure out how folks can NOT see what he is. It is like being in mourning, I don't really want to laugh at jokes or watch something funny. I want to be as real as possible and keep my eyes open for every second, this shit show we call the Trump presidency changes players and gets closer to nuclear war, deregulating our environment back 40 years, bringing hatred and racism back to the forefront of our culture.

Putin has Trump in his pocket, that much is obvious. Who knows how long this joke will go on but we know we have at least until 2020 to suffer through it.

BUT today, I have felt lifted higher than I can remember. To watch these kids... these smart, articulate, passionate kids stand up for their right to be safe in their class rooms is almost more than my heart can bear. Last month I felt I was losing hope for the future and today I am FULL OF HOPE their future! So as I wipe tears from my eyes, I can say, tomorrow I will wake up and fill so much better than yesterday. And those politicians not paying attention will be out of a job very soon.

A sister I never knew

This week started off with a big family secret bouncing out of the darkness through DNA testing. My mind is still reeling with the facts from the past, revelations that are both devastating and thrilling ... I have a sister! 

I gave Matt and Bri a DNA testing kit for Christmas, they took the test and sent it in. We read all the results with fascination. It was interesting and David and I promised to take the test soon. 

 A few nights ago Matt received an email from a woman who came up as a match on his DNA testing as a relative. At first I told him to delete it thinking it was spam but the more he read, the more the facts shot out at me, the more I thought, there might be something here. I asked him to forward me the email so I could take a closer look. In five minutes, I had the person's info, where she lived, worked and her Facebook page so I knew it was a real person ... not a bot or someone from a foreign country phishing. After clicking through her photos on Facebook I came across one photo that had Matt, Bri and I falling out of our chairs. This beautiful woman, with hazel eyes, had my mom's eyes, nose and smile. Any one who knows my mom, has seen photos of my mom can not dispute the fact that she could be her twin!

Within 30 minutes I was emailing Susan, explaining I was Matthew's mother and I would like to talk to her about her DNA test. Another 30 minutes I had a response with her story.

Hello!

Thank you for responding so quickly. I really wasn’t sure if anyone would actually respond. My best friend gave me the DNA test for my birthday and it took me a few months to decide to even send in the sample. And what a shock to see that I have a blood relative as close as a cousin. And then to have a response!!  I’m beyond excited.

I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on 12/17/1957. I was in foster care for two years and adopted on 1/14/60. My parents raised me in Springdale Arkansas. I have a brother, Ross, who was also adopted. He is 2 years older than me (and was reunited with his birth mother several years ago).

I hired a private investigator who was able to find my birth mothers name but could never locate her. Dianne Moreland Hawkins was the name she said was my birth mother. I have nothing on paper, just the word of the PI. I have no information about my birth father.

According to records I received from social services in Arkansas, my birth mother was separated or divorced from her husband. She already had a daughter who, I think, was less than two years old. (A half sister!!) She conceived me with another man, left town to give birth then returned home, I assume.


Sincerely, Susan

I emailed her right back and said ... I think I am your sister! I think we were both taking a deep breath of reality? Unreality? I sent her several photos of mom and asked her to call me. And there ended her 20+ years of searching for a half-sister and the beginning of me having a sister I never knew about.

Now we are in the process of talking and learning about each other. Piecing together facts that we have and information from the adoption agency. Many tears. Many thoughts of gratitude. Many more of confusion of a secret so buried.

So now off Susan and I go into the future! More to come. ;)

PS a photo from Susan!