Toe Flowers and Ring Tans

While the toes aren't exactly beautiful, the artwork on my big toes is pretty cute. The man who did my pedicure gave me the most relaxing leg & foot massage, and then convinced me that I needed toe flowers! You have to know that anyone who massages your feet can talk you into anything ... um, almost.

I was with my slightly broken, but on the mend niece, Kate. She treated me and her stepdaughter, Abby, to our pedicures. Abby's was just what every 11-year-old girl should have for her first toe-painting: turquoise nail polish with white polka dots and 3 different-colored flowers on each big toe. It was awesome. Kate got toe flowers too, which I think helped her mood if not her bumps, bruises and healing road-rash. The flowers make me remember how lucky we are to still have her in our world; she could so easily have been sent to another. Her accident was a bad one.

As for the ring tan, I've been working on that since the weather got nice enough for me to walk outside without gloves. Amazingly, around here this year, that was about May 1! I've worn my father's wedding ring on my left index finger for years and this is the year I got a really good ring tan. It's not worth a photo but is my little secret trophy. Oh, I have a pretty good watch tan too. :)

My trip to Utah to help Kate was a good one. I think I helped, maybe mostly just by being there. I put a lot into the blender--baked pasta, yogurt smoothies, pea soup, fruit salad, etc. Kate is an incredibly good sport about eating everything in a liquid state. Her injuries were/are serious and I was kind of sorry to leave because she still needs someone there. But her sweetheart of a husband, Ryan, is a rock for her, and his kids, Nathan and Abby, are doing all they can to help and to let her know she's loved. It was heartwarming to witness the power of love, how it's support at its best.

I got to see my stepdaughter, Leanne, and her husband, Ashley. They live on the east side of Salt Lake City and came all the way to Kate's house to see me. I was so happy. The two couples went out with me to a great Thai restaurant. The four 30-somethings hit it off really well and that evening was just a joy for me. Leanne & Ashley were more relaxed and funny than ever and I just enjoyed myself to the hilt. They have a really good life and it's really fun to watch them grow. (Once a parent, always a parent, even when the "kids" are adults!)

This weekend my older daughter, Emily, is coming to Plattsburgh (!!) with her family and I cannot wait to see my grandgirls. This is their first visit since moving to Cleveland and the amazing Gunns are driving through the night to get here--it's a straight 10 hrs. for a lone adult and probably anywhere from 10.5 to 12 hrs. with kids in tow. But the girls should sleep pretty much all the way so that should work out great. We'll have them out here for a few hours, I'd guess. And dinner either Thursday or Friday. I'm so excited.

All for now. I'll once again say I'll try to get back here more often. I just have to keep convincing myself that anyone finds anything I do, interesting...