it's all about freedom, country, red, white, and blue......

Meg taking her Oath 27 June 2011 at United States Military Academy

..i must first apologize for neglecting this blog for the past 3 weeks, yet, my life has truly NOT allowed the time necessary to just sit and blog.  ...the reason?   ... i just sent my youngest child off to the United States Military Academy. 
this means TONS of things have been happening.... spending as much time with her creating great memories, getting her name changed prior to leaving for West Point (which was complicated by the fact that she turned 18 on the day she left, so we had to literally wait until we sat in the airport to sign all the paperwork ~ she wanted to change her name for approximately 7 years to just my maiden name instead of her hyphenated name <her dad hasn't seen or contacted her since she was 4..jerk....another story there...>)...    meanwhile, she had banquets, packing, cleaning, giving away of clothing, putting away childhood books, paintings, stuffed animals, etc.)   ....we ate at all her favorite restaurants, and believe me, being a "foodie" myself, and raising her with good food, she has many favorite restaurants...   so, needless to say, with an awesome birthday/send off BASH at the beach the day before she left, i was a tad busy..  i have pictures to develop, this blog to catch up on, a youtube video to make, the beginning of my marykay business, trying to get some peeps on JuicePlus+ (i'm all about natural, holistic wellbeing).  ....i'm teaching swimming lessons to a few children, babysitting in exchange for a running "tab" at the tattoo parlor with an awesome tattoo artist who is becoming a fast friend.
     ...... the empty nest is here.  it's happened.... i find myself tearful unexpectedly.... i keep picking up my guitar (just started learning 3 weeks ago thanks to my awesome nephew...<we worked a deal>  ....i of course got the better end.... he gave me a guitar and lessons, i painted him a painting of his favorite guitar.... i sobbed when i finished painting it (sentimental 'ol fool that i am) & i must say, it's a good painting....

Dylan's Epiphone painted by nicole

then, i get up, wander around my apartment.... and yes, you can eat off my floors... i tend to get compulsive when i'm anxious or stressed, and we all KNOW i can't eat away my crap anymore, so i paint, i strum, i hum, i pray, i CLEAN, and CLEAN.   thank goodness for my sister's pug, my rescue dog, who is actually rescuing ME.... she needs to go OUT, be fed, loved, petted, bathed, cared for.....    i made my ever famous sugar free banana/apple/pecan bread into muffins yesterday...mmmmmm... only 30 minutes to bake instead of an hour, creates portion control and now, i can freeze what i don't eat up right away, because i don't have that hollow~legged meanager to eat me out of house and home anymore... and yes, my grocery bill is going to
allow some savings now... WAHOOT!

      .....so this blog is all over the place... let me close with, the 4th of July is coming...  it is my FAVORITE HOLIDAY besides christmas.... i don't know why.... my home has a section of the good 'ol red, white, and blue.  flags are everywhere.  baskets with those colors... paintings.... wall hangings... i crave a good tailgate at the skyway bridge to watch the fireworks... hotdogs, burgers, and for me, make it a steak on the grill, corn on the cob, watermelon, eggface strawberry cake with whipped cream, and YES, i put blueberries and strawberries on it and make it into a FLAG cake, of course...  enjoy this video of all the military academies singing our NATIONAL ANTHEM...

my father's cemetary

Meg with my father's tombstone
19 April 1942 - 27 December 2010
USMA, West Point graduate Class of 1963

please be grateful for our freedom, the men and women who protect us and serve... and put on your red, white, and blue, go to a parade, enjoy your family, have a picnic, eat healthy, thank a soldier, hug your children, do something off that couch and celebrate the 4th.
godspeed,
xxoo~nicole