Garden of Pansies and A Little Dirt Never Hurt Anyone...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

 

Celebrating two birthdays today with lunch at my house. You're probably thinking that I celebrate a lot of birthdays, since I blog about them often. Yes, I do! As a matter of fact, I enjoy doing it. I also like not getting up everyday to go to the office / job. That allows me to have my friends and family for lunch, dinner, or whatever occasion arises.

The birthday girls -  Regenia and Beth share the same birthday - October 17th - and we celebrated them today.

 Happy Birthday Regenia

Happy Birthday Beth

 

Today was what I call a fun garden of pansies and a little dirt.

 A little garden of pansies!

Close up view of purple pansies in little yellow watering can! 

Oversized purple chargers with yellow dishes fit perfectly

with the purple and yellow pansies. 

I thought it was very fitting to use pansies today in lieu of cut flowers.  Using a purple and yellow color pallet reminds me of fall - yet - not the typical pumpkin orange you think of for October.   I adore the purple and yellow pansies, with big oversize purple chargers, and my yellow dishes for today's lunch.  The yellow dishes I've had since 1981 - I received them when I got married. 

Close up view of yellow pansies in miniature purple garden tub

A little bite of dirt never hurt anyone, right?  "Dirt Cake" for dessert tops off our little garden fun luncheon.  A big hard sugar candy flower for garnish.  The oreo dirt cake is so easy, fun, and tasty, too!  As for the hard sugar candy garnish - well, it's technically edible, but I don't recommend it. 

Our dessert today - Oreo Dirt Cake in miniature purple garden tub,

garnished with sugar candy flowers.

I've made these dirt cakes in the past and they are always delicious and fun to decorate.  Years ago, my sister and I made individual dirt cakes in miniature clay flower pots - gosh, I think we made about 100 of them.  We used gummy worms as garnish - aka worms crawling in the dirt.  It was exhausting, making so many at a time, and for years, I had no desire to make them again.  Today's dirt cakes were in miniature purple garden tubs - how cute are these?  

Beth and Me at the luncheon today. 

Three girls / gals / ladies / women - whichever term fits - enjoying lunch - talking, laughing, and catching up.

Regenia and Me at the luncheon today!

I think we are all of these -- we are GIRLS - we are GALS - we are LADIES - and we are WOMEN! 

Happy Birthday Beth and Regenia!

Today, I'm going with Happy Birthday to these two LADIES!!  Both of these ladies are gracious and kind with a lot of dedication to their families, churches, and friends.  Happy Birthday Beth and Regenia!

With Love,

Gayla

 



20th Anniversary Race for the Cure in LR - October 19, 2013

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Ladies, do monthly self exams and get a mammogram!!!

Another successful Susan G Komen Race for the Cure in downtown Little Rock today.  What fabulous people we have in Arkansas, to turn out in such a big way for the Race for the Cure.  Today was the 20th anniversary race in Little Rock.

Today's Official Photo of me :-)



I love this sign - Little Rock definitely ROCKS the Komen Race for the Cure 5K!

My neighbor and friend, Linda; and me, today!

I woke up this morning to the noise of rain falling consistently.  Oh NO, it's raining!  Do I go anyway?  I did - and oh, how I am glad I did.  The rain stopped and it was a perfectly beautiful day.

I'm always in awe of the many many thousands of people walking and / or running the event in support of breast cancer research and our continued efforts in working towards finding a cure for breast cancer.  

Photos from today...

Me --- Before the Run/Walk

After --- Me and my pink shoes and all the beads thrown from the crowd!

L to R:  My neighbor, Linda, and me

Me --- Survivor carpet entrance... I'm an 8 yr. survivor!

My gear -- I am Bib Proud!

I have participated in this event each year since 2005, when I walked my first SGKomen event, bald, just two weeks after my last chemotherapy session.  I AM BIB PROUD!!   I have NEVER participated in this great event without being a REGISTERED participant.  I know many people fail to register, and participate anyway - I am proudly not one of them. 

I signed the survivor pink wall last Wednesday at the Race Space



Excited to add my signature again this year to the 2013 Survivor Pink Wall of signatures at the Race Space! The lei around my neck (above photo) is because last Wednesday this bubbly lady walks up and asked what day it was? If you replied "hump day" you got lei 'd and a cookie! :-)   Cute, I think!

Pink breast cancer ribbon made of iron by my brother-in-law

My sister's husband made this pink breast cancer ribbon of iron.  They display it in their yard, during the month of October, in my honor.  I love it and what a special honorarium.

A huge beautiful arrangement of fresh cut pink flowers from a dear friend! 

A wonderful gesture of celebration and inspiration to me.

The card which came with the flowers!

The Pink Ring

Yesterday, I had lunch with my dear 86 year old friend of 30 plus years.  After we were seated at our table, Virginia reaches in her purse and hands me this ring.  She says "this is not a valuable ring, but it is the first ring I bought myself as an adult - it's pink, and I want you to have it in honor of your Susan G Komen race tomorrow, and to honor you as a survivor."  I'm lost for words except to say I love it beyond words. 

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I'll leave you with a little walk down memory lane with photos from previous Race for the Cure events...

2012...

Last year - 2012 Central Park, NYC, Race for the Cure

Memorabilia from the NYC run in Central Park

Blair - 2012 - SGKomen - Central Park - NYC

Central Park - SGKomen Race for the Cure - NYC

2012 Central Park, New York City, with Blair

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2011...

October 2011 Train for the Cure - War Memorial Stadium

Photo by SGKomen Foundation Photographer

Training Group at War Memorial
(yes, I'm in there)

SGKomen Race for the Cure - 2011 

Group at the starting line!

Me - 2nd row center in my pink shirt and pink survivor cap!

This was my first year to actually RUN the event

instead of walk it!   

2011 - Little Rock - with my Sam - my cheerleader!

Sam is my favorite guy from my old Fitness Center. 

He greeted me at the fitness center many many mornings - telling me, yes, you CAN run,  all you do is put one foot in front of the other and train!  I love this young man.  I call him my adopted son.    No doubt in my mind, I am a runner today because I met Sam!

October 2011 - Little Rock - with my sister! 
She was my 'rock' during my chemo days!

Little Rock Race for the Cure 5K

Pasta Party Wine Bottle by Susan G Komen Foundation;

Survivor hard hat from Survivor Parade!

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2010...

A sweet lady, Vicky, wears my name on her back!

Survivor signatures on the SURVIVOR WALL - 2010

"5 yr. Mark"

I walked the Race for the Cure in 2010 with my best friend from high school, Gena. I am so sorry I don't have a photo of us! We took one with my phone but I've since changed phones and lost it.    :-(

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2009...

2009 - Little Rock with my sister, Vickie

2009 - Little Rock - with a friend before the walk

2009 - Little Rock

2009 - Survivor Parade - silliness

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 2008 - I couldn't find any pictures from '08

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2007...
Arkansas State Capitol, Bureau of Legislative Research girls (survivors.)  The powers at be purchased us pink feather boas to wear.  We had to turn them back in after the Komen race - the following year they would give them back to us to wear again. 

2007 - Little Rock - State Capitol Pink Boa girls: Margie, Gayla, and Janice!

We had so many feathers on us we look like BIG birds indeed!  I hated those feathers (and still do.) 

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2006...

Blair and I walked together in 2006!

Blair and Me - 2006 - Little Rock

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2005...

The Tapley Foursome...

L to R:  Natalie, Me, Vickie, and Blair - 2005 - Little Rock

The Tapley Foursome are: my daughter, Blair; me; AND my sister, Vickie; and her daughter, Natalie.

 

I call this my infamous SGKomen year.  The no hair - two weeks out of chemo - first year to walk the 5K.  Basically, little memory of the day.  Frankly, I hate the picture.  My body had just been pumped full of poison and I felt like sh-t and looked like it, too!  I thought I'd die before my feet crossed that finish line.  I just wanted to go home! 

2005 - during chemo - my wigs - powering on day by day!

At my desk getting ready for a legislative committee meeting.

Not a Komen pic - one of the few pic I have during 2005 - my chemo/wig days!

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I'll end with one of my favorite Susan G Komen photos from 2006...

Survivor and Co-Survivor Photo by Susan G Komen Foundation - 2006

Blair and me - My wig days and one of my favorite photos with my daughter.

The Komen Foundation took survivor and co-survivor photos and put them on posters for decorations at the pasta party.  I am wearing pink boxing gloves - the pink you see in the forefront of the picture.  The theme in 2006  was "Live for Today, Fight for Tomorrow."  This is the photo used of Blair and me!

 

Pink is beautiful,

Gayla

 



Where There's A Will; There's A Way!

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Ladies, do monthly self exams and get a mammogram!!! 

Do you ever get an idea in your head and it just will not go away?  Me too!  That's what happened last week...

 

My refrigerator in the kitchen doesn't seem to function the way I want it to function.  Especially,  if I have guests and do any type of larger scale cooking.  This means that it holds nicely my little dab, of this and that, perfectly, as long as there's no friends or family in and as long as I don't cook a special dinner or holiday celebration.  My frustration comes when entertaining my friends or family and during the holidays.

 

There's an apartment size refrigerator in my basement.  That means up and down the stairs for any overage refrigeration needs.  Up and down - Up and down - Up and down!  Ugh!  My mind starts to churn.  Hmmmm, why don't I put that in the garage.  It would be right outside my kitchen door.  It would be - what, maybe - three steps away.  But, WHERE in the heck can it fit.  The garage is full.  But, where there's a will - there's a way.  My mind starts churning...

 

Well, I could move the portable shelving rack which houses stuff I seldom use.  Floral supplies such as glass vases; clear bubble bowls for fresh cut flowers; votive candle holders; tall skinny glass vases for a single stem; clear blocks to elevate food trays; an abundance of clear glass plates, boxed neatly and labeled; extra clear glass punch cups, boxed neatly and labeled.  Items I seldom use, but am glad I have them - they come in handy when they are needed.  And, where there's a will - there's a way. My mind starts churning...

 

Maybe the portable shelving rack will fit in the laundry room, just  m a y b e.  I'll measure it and see.  Well, it would be tight - but appears doable!  Ghee, that means I have to take everything off the shelf/rack - move it in the laundry room - and put everything back on the shelf/rack.  But, where there's a will - there's a way.  I'm going to do it!

 

Yay, it worked!  Now, I've got to get the smaller refrigerator moved from the basement to the garage!  It's not a full size, but it's not a dorm size either.  It's an apartment size fridge!  I'm pretty strong - maybe I can help my husband do it.  NO!  that didn't work.  Tried it - NO.  My neighbor behind me lifts weights in his basement.  When out in my yard, I often hear him grunt and moan during his workouts while lifting some pretty heavy weight.  Collin might help.  Yes!! 

 

Yay, it worked!  Whew, that's much better.  My overflow of refrigeration items are now just a few steps away.  No more running up and down the stairs to the basement.  I am thrilled with this little - big accomplishment. 

 

But, why is my mind still contemplating more???  Because when I moved the shelving/rack thing from the garage to the laundry room - I noticed a broom closet not being utilized very productively.  It would be so nice to have shelves in that closet - then house my serving trays, serving dishes, cake plateaus, punch bowl, candlesticks, etc.  Now, that would be nice.  Yes, once again, where there's a will - there's a way. I'm going to do it!  

 

How can I get this done???  My husband might be able to do it - but - lordy - do I dare ask him?  He isn't the handy dandy handyman type of guy.  It would really be stretching it to ask him to do it.  But, I might be up to asking.  I'll need to ponder and think about it.

 

It would be so nice, though!  I'd love to have all my serving pieces stored in one location.  Afterall, that closet only has a couple things in it.  It's definitely not being utilized wisely.   OMG, he thinks he can do it!  Hold me up!  I'm about to fall over in shock! 

 

Yay, Yay, Yay!  It's done!  I love it!  My serving trays, chafing dishes, punch bowls, cake plateaus, and candlesticks fit perfectly.  I painfully measured and customized each shelf so each piece would fit perfectly.  I won't bother you with all the mishaps, curse words, and frustration that came along with getting the shelving in.  The end result is that I absolutely love it!  I love all three of my little musical chair move abouts.  

 

The shelving rack from the garage to the laundry room fits nicely.

 

The second refrigerator moved from the basement to the garage is wonderful!

 

The customized shelving in the old broom closet houses my serving pieces beautifully.  

 

What's next?  OMG - please do let my mind start churning again.      

 



Backyard Renovation Phase II begins...

~~The Gayla Pink Apple~~

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Ladies, do monthly self exams and get a mammogram!!! 

The fall months rolling around, and the cooler temperatures in the air, have me starting on Phase II of my backyard garden renovation.

 

My to do list looks like this...

1.  Repair broken brick steps;

2.  Remove rotted landscape timbers;

3.  Extend brick retaining wall;

4.  Privacy wall or screen on patio to block the dog agility course in the neighbor's back yard;

5.  Perimeter walk / path;

6.  Pergola!

That's ALL!  Whoa! 

 

Phase II of the backyard renovation is a little lengthy, but the bottom line is prioritizing the list.  Seems every project is a big project.  Some things on my list are "needs" and others are "wants."  The needs are pulled to the top of the to do list!  You get that, don't ya? 

 

Since the brick steps were broken and dangerous, they became the first project.  Sounds simple - but, it's not.  Since I can't rebuild old loose brick steps myself, that means hiring someone to do it.  It takes time searching to find a brick guy that I trust, who will give me a reasonable price, and do a reasonably good job.  More than that - someone that will show up and do it! :-)  This means calling my garden club council ladies - avid gardeners are always in the know!

 

Brick guy hired and he showed up!  I'm pleased!  He did what I asked him to do.  Check item #1 off my list!  And, a bonus!  He can do items #2 and #3 - remove the rotted landscape timbers and extend the brick retaining wall. 

Check! Check! Check!

Progress being made!

Here are a few pictures... 

October 5, 2013 work begins

Brick guy starts repairing the brick steps. 

In this photo, the top step has been repaired and the rest shows the condition of the steps before he started.  One had to be very cautious to walk down the steps - they were borderline dangerous.  Keep in mind, this is repair work using the same bricks and making them safe again. 

Brick steps finished! 

Need to replant the liriope on the right side that had to be removed.

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Item #2 - Remove old landscape timbers...

Old rotted landscape timbers were removed. 

Ready to extend the brick retaining wall.  

Another view!

Item #3 - Extend brick retaining wall... 



 

Extending the Brick retaining wall is complete - still need sides to steps.

Almost finished!  This photo really doesn't show the improvement to match the reality of it.  I think in a fairly short time the color difference will not be as pronounced.  I knew the brick wouldn't match.   I mean, seriously, how can you match brick that's this old?   I'm OK with it not matching, some of the cascading ground covers along with the small variegated ivy and the small green needle-point ivy will cascade down over the brick, some day!



 It's FINISHED!!! October 12, 2013

Still need to smooth out the dirt pile. 

The brick retaining wall extended, where the rotted landscape timbers were removed, is now finished.  The color difference is already diminishing a little!   Hopefully this will hold the dirt now. 

 

Back to my "to do" list.  Hmmmm, what, if anything, will be next?  I don't know, yet.