Saturday, June 14, 2008

A Milestone In My Life


Tomorrow I will be not only celebrating Father's Day with JD, but I will be celebrating an important milestone of my own too. Tomorrow will mark the day, one year ago when I found the strength to lay the cigarettes down and walk away. I still find myself thinking about a cigarette from time to time when I feel stressed. It really is just a matter of seconds though and the thought is gone. I haven't regretted it one time since I quit. I was really quite hooked on smoking. I had my routine as to when I smoked...... First thing in the morning I had to have those cigarettes with my coffee. I needed the smokes to read the mail. Meal time included a cigarette before I started cooking, as well as a few trips outside for a smoke while the food was cooking. After the meals the food just didn't digest right unless I smoked a cigarette. When I wanted a snack I would often substitute that urge with a cigarette. Then of course who can go to bed at night without first having a cigarette to help unwind. There were any number of other things that would require a cigarette as well. I tried to stop smoking several times before without success. I wish I could tell you that I did it on sheer will power alone, but I didn't. My family doctor wrote a prescription for me for Chantix with several refills. I am proud to say that I quit without any refills. I give JD a lot of credit for enabling me to quit. He was once a smoker and quit without the any aids, just plain old fashioned will power. He freely praised me for my efforts and told me time and time again that he is always willing and ready with any support that I need. He cheered me on as I went.





I wanted to share some more pictures of the beauty that surrounds us on the mountain ridge. This is just a sampling of the wild honeysuckle that we have growing all around the property. It is heavenly to smell that sweet aroma of the honeysuckle in the evening and as we drift off to sleep at night.




Year before last I decided to start planting perennials, so eventually I can just do my plant clean up in the fall and sit back and enjoy the flowers in the spring with the least effort. I planted these Coreopsis in an old metal wash tub. Talk about a hardy and easy to care for plant..... this would be the one. Not only is it all that, but it's dainty little flowers are a sight to behold.



JD found this little fellow wandering around in the yard just outside of bedroom door this morning. While JD was telling me I needed to take a look at it, I was grabbing the camera. I had figured out a few years ago that living where we do, we will see quite a parade of different animals over time. This little guy was quite a nice surprise though.




He either had a moment of being camera shy or she needed to powder her nose. I always thought that turtles lived close to water. Someone please correct me if I am wrong on that. We have run off here on the mountain of rain and snow , but no streams, creeks or lakes up this high. There is no permanent standing water up here.


We figure this little guy did some traveling to get here. Either that or a water spout picked him up and he fell out of a cloud with some of this rain we have been having. If that is the case then it not only rains cats and dogs, but a few turtles too.

~~~

I have decided to change the name of my blog to "Moodscapes". The change won't take place until next week some time though. This is just a heads up so you won't think you have somehow ended up on the wrong blog when you come to visit.


Have a wonderful weekend!


14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your 1 Year Non Smoking Anniversary !!!!!!!!!

That's courageous !
I am sure it cannot be easy, my hubby stopped after his heart attack last Oct,I wish my mother had stopped she died of lung cancer and I can tell you its a painful death that I would not wish on anyone.When I see someone smoking I want to tell them how their story will end.To you tho I wish you Many Congratulations!!

Judypatooote said...

Yes CONGRATULATIONS.....I wish my hubby would have quit...he smoked three packs a day, and died at 56... I love honeysuckle, and I bought three plants and planted them next to my fence....they are yellow and huge, and have no smell. I thought I bought the smelly ones, but heck, I think I'm going to have to dig them out....

Your turtle is cute....my grandson has one and it is called Ernestine and it's huge....it was given to him by an uncle who got it from a girl in neighborhood that had him for a science project....she came with rules....Walk every day....amongst other rules...LOL she is an Asian one, go figure.... judy

Mike Golch said...

I'm glad that you stopped smoking a year ago.I quite the use of those coffin nails July 16 1994.It is also my wife Celestine's birthday. great posting.

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I'm so glad you kicked the habit, Jo. Congratulations on your one year anniversary!

Wild honeysuckle is my favorite flower scent. I love it! A bouquet will make the whole house smell good. And it's free!

Your turtle is actually a box turtle, or land tortoise. They don't stay in water and can actually drown. They drink occasionally from puddles or creeks, but get most of the water they need from the plants they eat. They're still fairly common around here, but not as much as they were when I was growing up. They're also protected these days.

Hope your weekend is good, Jo! :o)

Love and hugs,

Diane

Hopefulsl said...

Hi Jo!
Just wanted to congratulate you on 1yr. not smoking!!
I too am a smoker. Quit twice, Once on my own and once with the help by my doctor. That is my next step to do, but i stopped drinking two and a half years ago. One thing at a time.
Cute picture of the turtle!! I see Diane J beat me to your question about turtles.
Tracy & I grew up with all kinds of animals, turtles were one of them.
They lived right in our back yard.
basically living off of plants!
Please tell your husband JD that I
liked his story. I couldn't figure out how to leave a comment on his blog... I'm still learning the computer. (giggle,giggle)
Anyway, CONGRATS TO YOU!!!!!
Stacy also known as hopefulsl.

BClark said...

Way ta go!!! Good for you in more ways then one. I quit quite some time ago, but know how hard it is. I tell people that all I would have to do is pick one up and I would be hooked again.
Your turtle might be a tortas (sp), one lives on land the other in the water. It would be so wonderful if I could spell,lol. Enjoy your weekend.

Betty said...

Jo, congratulations on your anniversary of one year since you quit smoking. I applaude you for that accomplishment. I have never been a smoker, but I have often heard that quitting smoking is harder than quitting eating so much in order to lose weight and I know how hard that is. So, I'm sure it wasn't easy for you to quit. Love the pictures of the turtle.

Tracy said...

Congratulations Jo! What a huge accomplishment. You should be very proud of yourself.

Loved the pictures. My sis is right we grew up with so many animals in our back yard, one being a turtle. That brings back memories.

I hope you and JD have a wonderful fathers day spending it together.

Peggy said...

Congratulations!!!! How proud you have to be of such a accomplishment! Love the photos from your garden. Beautiful flowers

Shelley said...

Congratulations! How wonderful for you and your family. You were blessed with such strength because you are always an inspiration to others.

Girl Raised in the South said...

Cudos to you for doing such a hard thing. My husband quit ten years ago, never one since then, and I'm still thankful daily that he was strong enough to do so.

Mountain Mama said...

Congratulations to a non smoker!!!
I smoked for 29 years and have been free for 17 years now. It does get easire, believe me. I thought about cig's occassionally after I quit but that only lasted a few years. I learned that the craving for nicotine was not what had me hooked. It was the habit itself.

Your Honeysuckle looks just like mine which I got a start from my mom. She got her's from her mom. It does smell wonderful.

farmlady said...

One whole year after that much smoke. Wow! Good for you. Hope you keep your resolve. You will!!

Coreopsis in an old metal tub and turtles raining from the sky? Sounds wonderful!

I think you have the "good life" Jo.

Brenda said...

Hi Jo, I've come over from my sister, Reva's blog (Gifting Each Day). Congratulations on a wonderful milestone! It's great to have the good support of your husband.
God bless,
Brenda :)