My Gardens, My World - Around the House; Backside

The Princess Project

What better way to begin my garden journal in its 40th year than with the completed and  final major project?  Today is Mother's Day 2026.  I had wrote about The Princess in previous posts which I inherited from my mother by way of her maternal uncle. One year ago, I took the 40 pound bronze sculpture to be appraised at Grant's Farm in St. Louis, Missouri during the PBS Antique Roadshow.  It had been in a dark place since my mother's death in 1993 and in my childhood home under the dark stairway since her uncle's death in 1957.  It is here now in its final resting place in the light watching over me in My Gardens, My World.  I have added a Bohemian garden flag representing my heritage with my parent's homeland, Czechoslovakia.  I have also included two old glass lamps my father had found and liked but never used in our home in Virginia.  I will likely add other memorabilia to enjoy this space close to my heart and home.

The concrete steps in the above photo are the last concrete pour from our mixer that has been instrumental in so many landscape projects over the years.  The first project was a concrete pad for a dog pen shortly after we moved here in 1986.  After the Britney hunting dog named Toffee was gone, the pad served as a foundation for a garden shed.  The plants seen here include creeping Jenny (yellow-green) as ground cover that comes back every year in the stone block planters.  I buy a variety of annual coleus that grows well in this partially shaded area. Closer to The Princess are tall pots that I buy different annuals for each year.  Now it has sweet potato vine (yellow-green) and purple petunia plants for the fill & spill with red geraniums for the thrill aspect.  There are also the same petunia and geranium in the hanging planter on the wall behind The Princess.  The second tier stone block wall is a sitting area to view the gardens and enjoy a fire in the chiminea.  There are long roasting forks hanging on the wall alongside the magic hour (sun/moon) metal wall art. The Princess sets on a stone block pillar I built that has a time capsule sealed inside with childhood memorabilia.  The stone block wall at the top of the steps contains a garden in full sun.  There are two blueberry bushes to the rear which should produce this year hopefully as it is their third year.  I have several native rose poppy mallow vines as ground cover in this boxed garden along with spring bulbs such as crocus, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.  I keep a clay saucer with marbles scattered here and there around the landscape to retain water for pollinators and butterflies that visit.

I will continue with all the separate garden and landscape projects immediately Around the House but this post is about the Backside only.  The above photo is the southwest corner.  The house and a large oak tree shade the backside of the house area morning to mid-day but this corner gets little shade except for the blueberries against the wall that are more protected. It is easy for me to dump used coffee grinds from the above deck to keep their soil acidic. I can water all of it by standing on the deck above at the end of the carport. The rainwater from the roof gutters lead away from the house into a separate raised garden. 

This is the view of the south corner looking north along the backside of the house.  We have a full walkout lower level with a sidewalk between the stone block planters and the grass yard.  Along the sidewalk we planted lirope (monkey grass) which has a blue spike flower in late summer.

View of backside of house from middle of center steps off patio looking south.  This area is mostly shaded from the oak tree and house.  The coleus do very well here.

View of backside of house from middle of center steps off patio  looking north.  Two concrete pots on either side of the steps contain large clear and rose quartz crystals obtained from Arkansas. This is a full afternoon sun area past the water hydrant.  It was planted last year with gladiolas and dahlias which should be dug up and stored every winter but were left in and came back this year. I have planted coleus this year closer to the steps as the oak tree has gotten larger over the years and now mostly shades this portion.  We also plant four different herbs near the north end by the shop door which makes it easy to cut for cooking use. Cilantro is self-seeding, sage usually comes back most years but basil and rosemary need new plants each year.  At the corner are lemon thyme and chives.

Blooming Sage

Lemon thyme & blooming chives with a drainage area in between from a pipe laid under the sidewalk.

Blooming dahlias come in a variety of colors

Full view of backside of house close to noon in mid-May.  The large oak tree casting the shadow in the above photo moves the shade over the deck as the sun sets in late afternoon.

Next post will describe the area Around the House; Northside.

2026 My Gardens, My World

 My Gardens, My World

It is the first week of May.  There's a full moon to start the month and it will also be full on the last day.  In April, the ArtemisII mission went to the moon and back in 10 days and showed us the dark side for the first time in history. Closer to home, the dark side of the earth is reflected in it's people who continue to support the corrupt government currently in power and the source of the present darkness.  On this earth, I must seek a refuge from this great darkness.  My garden has increasingly become my world until the light comes back as I know it will!

People and counties that had once liked us and worked with us no longer respect us.  Trump has surrounded himself with self-serving people like himself that do whatever he wants.  He has challenged our system of checks and balances in most every negative way possible. Trump continues to prove that he does not have the American peoples's best interest in mind as our leader through his actions. He lies while making his own truths. Yes, Trump is not the first politician to do this but he has done the most harm in our 250 year history.  People are suffering because of his unnecessary actions and executive orders.

The current Trump administration has become even more outrageous and bold this past year.  Pope Leo XIV characterized Trump's threats against the people of Iran as "truly unacceptable." This American-born pontiff issued a rare direct rebuke after Trump threatened on Easter Sunday to destroy "a whole civilization" if Iran didn't meet his deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz. Following the threats, Pope Leo urged global citizens to contact political leaders to work towards peace and emphasized that the intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure cannot be morally justified.  While he later praised a temporary ceasefire announced by Trump, Pope Leo continued to condemn the "idolatry of power" and "tyrants" who manipulate religion for military gain. Pope Leo's outspoken stance triggered a public feud.  There has recently been a turn in leaders standing up to Trump which is also reflected in Trump's historically low poll numbers. I am thankful for a pope that is both bold and courageous enough to stand up for peace and for mercy.

The phrase "tranquillity of order" comes from Augustine of Hippo, especially in his work The City of God. By this, Augustine means that true peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but a state where everything is rightly ordered: where our hearts are aligned with God, our relationships are just, and each part of life is in harmony with its proper place.

The artist Banksy invites us to question authority, to reflect on the cost of conflict, and to consider whether true peace can ever be imposed by force... or whether it must begin, as all lasting peace does, within the human heart first.

The reflection of the dark side of the American people continued with King Charles on his recent epic trip to America.  His calm, common sense and dry humor cut through as he torched Trump's entire presidency in front of congress and the whole world.  He defended NATO, Ukraine, the rule of law, the climate, and free trade while Trump has spent every day in office shredding all of it.  Both political parties gave King Charles a standing ovation after standing ovation.  A foreign king had to come to Washington to remind America what real leadership looks like. The speech, marking the semiquincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence, emphasized the enduring UK-US partnership in addressing global uncertainty, environmental challenges, and technological advancements highlighting that Magna Carta principles continue to form the foundation of our shared liberty. I am grateful that King Charles words were accepted so widely as even Trump appeared to admire him and respect King Charles; if not his power.  "Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions." ~ Anonymous.  Well played King Charles!

2026 is my 15th Year of Retirement.  It is an appropriate time to look back to 2011 when I started this blog to prepare for retirement as stated in the Introduction using my intuition to live my best life to make and meet goals for the rest of my life.  It has become a good platform for me to share what is important to me at the time with interested viewers who may find some commonality.  As of today, there has been nearly 85,000 views and many comments sent to me privately.  I decided from the beginning to use this site as more of a personnal journal to share rather than seeking the marketability aspect offered by goggle to make money.  There has never been and likely never will be ads.  I am free to express myself and that has been very therapeutic for my mental health.  Goggle eventually quit bothering me to show me how to make money by doing this.  There are plenty of tools available and help to change directions if I wanted.

If you are a follower, thank you for joining me on my path.  Anyone is welcome!  For all viewers that found me by googgling a topic, I hope you eventually found what you were looking for.  Keep seeking and growing.  At age 72, I am still seeking and growing.  The path is narrowing and I am slower now.  My health is good.  My happiness is what I make it.  My prosperity is comfortable.     

So Spring 2026 is again time for hope and renewal.  Travel plans have been cancelled for this season due to my husband's recent health issues.  I have become more of a caregiver since his stroke in October 2025.  I pray he is improving.  I am optimistic as I continue to create my world around my yard as a gardener.  There is a 40 year history here in Hermitage, Missouri since we moved to this house in 1986 and created the gardens and landscape. I will remember and consider successes and failures as I move forward. I have found much joy this year staying close to home, my priority.  

I will assess my life at this point and write about where I am on this path.  I will begin with what is closest to me and occupies much of my time - My Gardens!  I will begin looking at them in more detail and write about the individual spaces we have created in our 40 year old landscape.  At this point, I have no idea how many posts it will take to create this updated gardening journal but I'm pretty sure my attention and efforts will include the months of May and June as this is the best time for gardening.  

Welcome to My Gardens, My World!  First Turtle of 2026 in my yard came up to me to be fed a treat and be petted.  It still had the number "7" on its shell which I marked last year.                  

Turtles are my Spirit Animal!

                        Patience, endurance, protection.  

                         Slow and steady wins the race!

2026 Getting Through Winter - Challenging Times

                                                         Virginia Bluebells

I'm sure happy that Spring is here!  I am so hopeful for a renewal time especially after recent family health challenges during the worst political atmosphere in my life.  My faith has kept me uplifted so far but everyday I have to find the strength to keep it.  So far, so good!

I do this by mentally detaching from the world in prayer and positive thoughts.  It has been especially hard since my husband's stroke last October.  I can only escape for a short while since my caregiving is necessary and I must be available.  It is not possible for me to ignore the many negative political issues caused directly by a bad administration.  I can, however, limit my viewing attention but there is something seriously outrageous happening most everyday that pulls me in because it directly affects my life and people I care about.

I am realizing that I cannot separate my husband's health issues from the negativity brought on by the current administration.  That makes me very sad.  I'm not sure exactly when my husband changed from the liberal democrate I married over 50 years ago but I do know he voted for Trump the first two times much to my disappointment.  I have always been a liberal Democrat and always will be. He says he didn't vote for him in 2024 but until recent months, he appeared to support all Republican policies.  I don't think he is checking all sources for correct and true information as I do with several unbiased news organizations.  It is very difficult for me to connect with him in many ways.  I cannot argue with him because now his heart is weak.  Stress has always been the biggest issue that affects my health with diabetes.  I have to take care of myself so I can stay healthy and also be his caretaker now.  Thankfully, I am in a good place with my health the past couple years but it is hard work to manage and maintain.

I am challenged after a tough winter to stay healthy, find something positive in each day, and attend to my husband's health needs.  

So I have made a Top Ten List of Getting Through Each Day:

10.  Be attentive and prioritized household needs by paying bills on time, keeping good food available, addressing any house or yard maintenance or repair.

9.  Keeping track of both mine and Keith's medicine and appointments.  In the past few months, he has had a stroke, esophagus blockage which included emergency surgery and corrective surgery later, many AFib episodes passing out a couple times with one head injury from a fall, a body sore needing medical care, and shingles which did not surface.  There has also been issues with both our hearing aids which was recently resolved.  He was to have cataract surgery but he chose to cancel at this time.   There's his possible sleep disorder that will be addressed soon.

8.  Make effort to stay in touch with relatives and friends who are few and far between in our Golden Years.

7.  Keep regular social activities together such as going to Mass each week either in Hermitage or Bolivar.  

6.  Attend my social meetings each month such as Friends of the Library, Sisters in Christ, and Master Gardeners.

5.  Keep regular exercise schedules.  For me, that includes Silver Sneakers classes 4-5 days a week. I have recently started back to swimming and plan to do some bicycling again.  For Keith, I keep track of his time away from home alone to exercise. We both have Lifeline alert devices.  He must be inactive on AFib days. Together we walk or do some yard work.  He is currently learning to live with his condition which has had two EMT calls in the past three weeks.

4.  Eat and sleep regularly making good food choices.  We both have different sleep needs, diets, and hunger times.  We each take care of our own food needs but I will fix enough for two now and then.  Eat out at least once a week together when we have our "date day" which includes a movie and shopping.  He is addressing his sleep issues soon by going to a sleep disorder professional. 

3.  Go with Keith to his medical appointments as well as the six trips to the hospital so far since his October 2025 stroke; 5 emergencies.

2.  Ask God every day to guide me to make decisions that are pleasing to Him. Think positive thoughts.  Give my sorrows to Christ. Cry when needed.  

1.  Pray for myself and family every morning and night for good health, happiness, and prosperity. Look for joy and expect it!

                Early Spring at the Ha Ha Tonka State Park Spring

2025 November & December Events

End of the year events are full of family and fun times even when health issues are of concern.  This year was no exception but required more of an effort on my part to get past the sadness that usually arrives this time of year.  I miss family that have passed away. I have to be aware of my own health issues and take care of myself so I can be strong and helpful for others who also have health challenges.   It is also the time of year that the days get shorter and have less sunlight which contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for many people or the lesser version simply called the Winter Blues. 

A positive attitude is necessary.  Traditions help to get into a routine and the holidays are full of them especially for those that consider themselves religious.  This year was a challenge for me but I am thankful for routine and mustered up the energy to make the time memorable. I organize and file my pictures captured from the year's events.  Putting together this blog may be therapeutic as it helps me find and appreciate my blessings. It is very satisfying to complete a post and push that publish button.  It helps me to move forward and grow in the new year.  Maybe it helps others with similar situations or at least helps them to understand.  This was a year when I found blessings in abundance that were there when I really needed it!  God knows.

My greatest blessing is my family who came together at my home for a combined Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Beti & Keith Pearson, Jacob & Cora (Thompson) Pearson, Sarah (Pearson), Chris, & Kayleen Mills

What an abundance of food that was gifted and/or available for me to prepare a feast for all!  I did not make my traditional kolache this year for the first time that I could remember.  I was happy to see my niece, Amanda, continued the family tradition as she shared a photo with me of her kolache baking.  Jacob and Cora sent a case of kolache to our house early before their visit which was thoughtful and diminished any pressure to bake I may have imposed on myself this year when I really wasn't into it.  They also sent a case of their favorite honey-wine (mead) in many different flavors which would add to a festive spirit.  Then Keith's cousin Chuck Courtney from Iowa sent us a Honey Baked Ham again this year.  We could then get a smaller turkey that takes less time and have enough meat.  Keith took charge of the turkey which he does well in the Green Egg cooker outside with just the right seasoning in a spatchcock method. I was happy to make all the side dishes which began the day before and left me with time to enjoy family more!  Keith had also just bought an ice cream machine (Ninja) to add homemade ice cream to the desserts. 

The weather before family came at the end of November was warm enough for Keith to get out and fish by himself at Stockton Lake.  He and his cousins didn't have much luck the last time they visited just before Keith had his stroke October 4th.  I was happy that he was back on his meds and had success this time.  He caught 14 white bass in just a couple hours right before Thanksgiving!  They went in the freezer as we had plenty of food for our family feast.

The warm weather continued and much of the country experienced a rare showing of the northern lights for several nights.  This was a very special blessing I will always remember as I had never seen anything like it before!  Then it was time for the Light Up the Lake drive-thru display in the Damsite Park on Pomme de Terre Lake a few miles from our home.  This is the 5th year and it had grown to about 100 displays from area businesses and churches.  We enjoyed it several times until it was taken down after New Years Eve.
 

                                          Case of Kolache

Case of Mead

   Honey Baked Ham

14 White Bass 

Norther Lights Displayed over the PDT Office in Hermitage on November 12th

Light Up the Lake Displayed on PDT Lake November and December

Family Thanksgiving Dinner

Family card games played on my mother's embroidered table cloth that she brought over from her homeland of Czechoslovakia in 1939

We Celebrated Jacob's 45th Birthday

First Snowfall on December 1st 

Bobi Kitty Loves Christmas!

Christmas decorations in my home were displayed from mid-November 2025 to January 3, 2026 this year simply because of the combined holidays when family would come to my house.  Last year, I had put up the little tree along with the Thanksgiving decorations when family came.  Cora was very pleased and it really motivated me to do more.  In previous years, I had decorated for Christmas just the week before and it all was put away before New Years.  We had Kayleen for 5 days after Christmas which included Keith's 77th birthday and New Years.  The weather had turned colder and staying inside was mach brighter!  Kayleen had all her presents ready to open and enjoy. Bobi Kitty had his bag of treats and a new catnip toy.

I always enjoy the sunrise each morning and it is especially nourishing for my soul this time of year.  It is also a quiet time of prayer to thank God for all my blessings.

Another health event occurred for Keith after his October 4th stroke.  On December 7th, we were eating a Sunday dinner after church at the Rusty Spoon located in Weaubleau.  Keith had a piece of pork tenderloin get stuck in his esophagus and he could not swallow or dislodge it by himself easily as he had done in the past by coughing.  We packed up our meals and went home.  After a couple hours, he realized that this was an emergency situation and called EMT using his Lifeline device for the first time.  He was taken by ambulance to CMH hospital and by 8 PM had an emergency procedure (EGD). The meat was half removed and half pushed into the stomach.  Because of the swelling and the fact that he was on blood thinning meds, the procedure was incomplete at this time to do a biopsy and stretching.  I stayed overnight with him and brought him home early the next day.  He is on liquid/soft food diet until the EGD could be completed the following week.  He was off his blood thinning meds but his heart went into AFib in the hospital while prepping so the procedure could not be done and was cancelled.  He is now rescheduled at the end of January for the EGD but not until a cardiologist consult can be made.  So now we wait and he continues his liquid/soft food diet.  It is a challenge but we can be grateful that Keith was able to enjoy all that delicious Thanksgiving food before this event happened!  Most of the leftovers were added to the freezer  or given to Sarah's family to take home.  But there was one more thing...

Two large seafood packages arrived on the 18th from Jacob and Cora.  Fortunately, this year's seafood present from them included clam chowder and lobster bisque which Keith could eat right away. Everything else went into the freezer!

Keith was doing well taking care of himself fixing his own meals.  Fortunately, he had recently bought himself a juicer in addition to an ice cream maker.  So I was free to take care of myself by fixing my own regular meals and continuing my exercises.  I was determined to continue biking so I found time in mid-November's nice weather motivated by my granddaughter.  This was the first year we could ride bikes together!

Beti Biking Below the PDT Dam 

Biking Together in the Neighborhood

When my 72nd birthday came, I was on my own to celebrate.  I had done this before by driving to Lake of the Ozarks with a handful of store coupons to shop for myself and Christmas presents for others.  I also treated myself to a steak dinner at Chili's complete with a rich dessert.  I always like to walk after a big meal so I treated myself to a 320 step climb up and back at the spring at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.  I had done this climb countless times before beginning in the1980s.  But I had not done it since I pulled the hamstring in my leg shortly after our trip to Italy in 2024 where I climbed the 463 steps of the Duomo (Brunelleschi's Dome) in Florence.  I had used these Ha Ha Tonka State Park steps over the previous winter before that trip to get in shape.  I considered it a gift to myself for this birthday to try it again.  It was not difficult and I was able to return and do it again before the end of the year in good weather.  I also wear a Lifeline device when I'm outdoors by myself especially.

Beti's 72nd Birthday on December 17th at Chili's Restaurant

Birthday Dinner of Steak with Mushrooms, Loaded Potato, & Asparagus

Birthday Lava Cake with Ice Cream & Coffee

Ha Ha Tonka State Park View of the Spring Area from the Stairway

When I was near the top of the stairway, I met four young men; one in Army uniform complete with full backpack.  They were very fit and very friendly saying hello to me and allowing me enough room to pass on the narrow steps.  I casually mentioned what a beautiful day it was for a hike and that it was my 72nd birthday.  They were very cheerful as they sang "Happy Birthday" to me after asking my name to include it in the song and be patient while I recorded them in my iPhone.  I tried to download it here on my post but it may be to large a file to view for everyone.  I will keep it on my phone to enjoy over and over and it did load to Facebook.  It was the nicest gift from strangers to add to this healthy climb gift to myself for my special day!

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"Happy Birthday to Beti" sung by 4 nice young men near the top of the stairway at Ha Ha Tonka State Park 

(may or may not be able to view here)

Mills Family - Sarah, Chris, Lilly, & Kayleen Mills

(Christmas gift photo laminated on natural wood)

The Mills Family drove from Springfield, Missouri to Omaha, Nebraska and Blencoe, Iowa to visit my side of the family for Christmas dinner time and then drove to Oklahoma to spend time with Chris's mother and her husband.  Before they left on their roadtrip, a nice Christmas dinner was put on by Chris's father and his wife in Greenfield, Missouri and I was invited. Making effort to visit family no matter how far away is always worth it and this year we were blessed with great weather for traveling.

Omaha, Nebraska - Sarah (Pearson) Mills, Kayleen Mills, and Kayleen (Osius) Moss from Texas.   Kayleen Moss is my brother Ed Osius's granddaughter and the namesake for my granddaughter.  She has two children that are close to my granddaughter's age.  They all met for the first time.

The day after the Mills Family came back to Missouri, Kayleen spent 5 days with us in Hermitage where she got to open all her presents.  Her favorite was a horse stable for Wildstar the unicorn and we both played with it for hours.  Our house comes alive when she is here and so full of joy!

On December 30th, we celebrated Keith's 77th birthday with another drive through the Light Up the Lake Christmas displays nearby.  We had cake and ice cream at home.  Keith spent most of his birthday in Springfield by himself to shop for a new Apple watch which he researched previously for the medical monitoring benefit capabilities.

Keith & Kayleen with His 77th Birthday Cake & Ice Cream

Holiday Cookies Brought to Us by the Pillsbury Doughboy this Year Hoo - Hoo!

The temperature set records for our area that week with a high of 76 degrees.  The heather plant in my yard bloomed for us to enjoy on the 27th.  God's blessings kept coming as He knows what makes me smile!  

We had a nice walk below the dam at Outlet Park nearby.  Keith had walked farther than he had in a long time and Kayleen enjoyed all the favorite swings and things she had known since she had been coming to this park at age 4; same ones her mother enjoyed back in the 1980s.  

Kayleen looks so big on one of her two favorite old horse swings.  This one was named Ethel as in Fred & Ethel.  Maybe that was what her mother had named them. 

The year ended with Keith and I staying up to welcome the new year with a toast and a kiss.  The neighbors woke up anyone who fell asleep with a grand display of very loud fireworks as they do every year.  I managed to stay awake with coffee and working a jigsaw puzzle.  Kayleen managed to stay awake as long as she could and fitted many pieces to the puzzle before she announced that she would lay down for a short nap.  She didn't even wake up to all the loud fireworks across the street!  

Bobi Kitty and Kayleen join us in wishing everyone a very 

Happy New Year!

2025 October Events & Seasonal Changes

 October started out with some big changes beginning with a medical event.  Keith had a stroke on the 4th while we were attending the Apple Festival in Versailles, Missouri.  I had noticed the classic signs and got him to emergency care.  He was tested and under observation for a couple days/nights then released since it appeared that he was back to normal with no resisdual signs remaining. It was likely brought on because he had not taken his blood thinning meds for a couple weeks.  The AFib condition that had been diagnosed a couple years ago was very irregular and infrequent so he had not thought he needed the meds all the time.  Now he knows better.  

On October 5th, I said goodbye to the last hummingbird at my feeder on my deck.  I believe it was sent to cheer me up as I sat alone on Keith's first night in the hospital.  I was praying that both will come back home again.  I did leave the feeders up for the rest of the month as I typically wait until after Halloween.  I was happy to hear that Keith was coming home sooner than later!  I also had Bobi Kitty to comfort me during this time as I know he was sensitive to changes going on especially after Keith came home.  He was very attentive!

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                 Bobi Kitty waiting by the door behind Keith's chair.

It was also the time of much activity in our yard as the flowers put on their final blooms before the upcoming frost typically mid-month.  It is the best show of the year!  We have an increase in butterfly activity especially the super generation monarchs.  The honeyvine milkweed is their late season host plant and we have an abundance in our gardens.  I think all of nature may appreciate life more as the final days of abundance are coming to a seasonal end.

                     Swallowtail Butterfy on a Mexican Sunflower


So Keith is back home on a Monday morning after his stroke on Saturday. Tuesday we are back to our normal Tuesday routine which includes brunch at First Watch at Lake of the Ozarks, a $6 movie matinee with free popcorn at Eagles Landing, and ice cream at Andy's Custard.  We also do some shopping before coming back home.  When we are done early enough before it gets dark, we stop at Ha Ha Tonka State Park on the way home and walk to the Spring Area.

                  Keith says "Cheers" with his coffee at First Watch as things get back to normal 

           Beti on deck at the Spring Area at Ha Ha Tonka State Park

Bobi Kitty enjoying the newly fallen leaves in the yard on a warm sunny autumn day

I am a volunteer for The Friends of the Library and worked our yearly book sale in Hermitage which includes gift basket raffles and bake sale

One day when granddaughter got off half day from school, I picked her up and we went Mall Shopping.  

In our garden on a fennel plant, Kayleen mastered the art of "bopping" the swallowtail caterpillar to release a forked, fleshy, gland from behind the head called an osmeterium.  This defense pops up when it is threatend, releasing a foul-smelling chemical that startles and deters predators.  I also tell her not to do it more than twice or that would be mean.

The regular October event each year for most of the past 25 years is a trip to Hot Spring, Arkansas.  We always stay at The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa.  I have written so much about our trips here in many different blogs so if you want to see more, just use the Search This Blog tool on the main page and enter "Hot Springs" or a related topic.

       The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa in Hot Springs, Arkansas 

Beti & Keith at the hot water pools across the street in the 

National Park

Free hot steam facials from the pools in the National Park!

Enjoying time together in the hot tub built into the hillside behind  

The Arlington at the 7th floor level at the end of the hallway to our room

Keith & Beti enjoy the rocking chairs while people watching along the main street from the Fordyce Bathhouse.

My daily spa time includes "The Works" - thermal bath, sauna, towel packs, and massage.  At least one time each trip I include a special facial.  Each year after several days of treatments, I take a close up selfie to see how "gracefully" I have aged.  I am just a few weeks from my 72nd birthday here.  I like to think my good health has much to do with these yearly spa trips to take in the "healthy thermal spa vapors." There is much information and history available about this process which is practiced in special thermal water spa areas around the world.  

A daily part of the spa process is exercise.  The Natioanl Park across the street from The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa has many trails from the top of the mountain to the main street below along Bathhouse Row.  In between is a beautiful brick Promenade with natural hot springs' steam escaping in many places.  I have enjoyed walking this area countless times.  I especially like this time of year in late October when the super generation monarchs come through on their way to winter in Mexico. It is almost magical to walk along the paths with these beautiful butterflies who are enjoying the abundant blooms through the steam clouds close to the ground and rising. I like to think being in tune with Nature has something to do with being in Hot Springs, Arkansas at this time.  Love is all around!

I appreciate nature. I have a healthy respect for what I know is true but cannot understand.  I have hope that things I don't understand will work out as they should.  I have faith in a Higher Power. I will always believe that "Love conquers all" (Latin: Amor Vincit Omnia).

                             Super Generation Monarch Butterfly

We always make it back to Missouri before Halloween.  The scenic drive is six hours and is at the time for the leaves on the trees to change colors.  It is a beautiful drive especially on Scenic Highway 7.    

This is the third year I have been invited to join my granddaughter and her friends for Trick or Treating in Springfield, Missouri.  They know all the best neighborhoods that decorate for Halloween to the extreme.  I was asked by Kayleen (Stitch) to dress up as Lelo as in "Lelo & Stitch."  Her friend was the Angel character. 

I had no idea about these characters but enjoyed the opportunity to have long dark hair again and to act like a 6-year old for a couple hours!  Come to find out, "Lilo" has several meanings:  most famously as a Hawaiian name meaning "generous one."  It is also a German diminuitive of names like Elizabeth (meaning, "my oath of God").

The Stitch and Angel characters are aliens and Lelo is an orphan.  Lelo is known for being obsessed with Elvis and the word "Ohana" which means "family."  "Family" means "no one gets left behind, but if you want to leave, you can."  I think I'll keep this costume and the memories it brings.  Love IS all around!

                                         Ohana