Move Over Martha Stewart, The Duchess is in the House!

I had Justine and Forrest and Peter, Kristin & Co. over for dinner FINALLY! I've been trying to get them here for over a year! So, I thought I would make these BEAUTIFUL appetizers for my guests! I was ABSOLUTELY beside myself with delight over how nice these salami wrapped tomatoes came out! It's failry simple....use Boursin cheese and chop up fresh basil into it. Then, you take one slice of salami, a scoop of the cheese and then set the grap tomato in it. Delicately tie a chive around the bundle to keep it all in place. Yes, an hour later....I felt BETTER than Martha Stewart! :-) Some of my friends think I have too much time on my hands. To me, it's a love that I have for entertaining dinner guests and trying out new things! Certainly, I wouldn't make it if they were here every night! :-)

Guys, I had a great time! Forrest....LOVE the vodka tonics! Thanks for putting Sam's college money into the BEST VODKA in the WORLD! He, he, he!

T-Mad, Pro-Golfer

So Peter and I went Golfing on Friday! We've had it on the calendar for over a month! My first whole, I had a really nice swing and a nice shot---straight ahead! I wasn't far behind Peter....who had trailed off into the woods! The next twelve swings were not so good. I was on the fairway to hell. Then, we decided if we cracked open a little beverage, it would help us with our swing....IT DID!!!! I played the last nine holes like a pro-golfer! Peter may disagree but that's because he's jealous! :-) He, he, he!

I ended up calling Justine to be a little bragadocious! I was so impressed with my game and was busting out of my skin with excitement! She got a good laugh as Peter and I were in disagreement with how my game was going!

The day ended with a stop at a local farm stand where Peter and I got some good deals on melons and fresh corn! We even got to see the farmer himself sporting some boxer shorts! Only in Maine! I called Peter and told him I thought the guy came out to offer us good deals in hopes that I might find him attractive! :-) He, he, he! I told him we got the deals because I was so cute! :-)

Thanks Peter!!!! That was a good time and great fun!

BOOOOOO WHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

This Tomato Horn Worm has gotten FAT on my Roma Tomatoes in the last three days!!!!!!! I have waited all SUMMER long to finally have these babies on a plate with basil and fresh mozzerella and to my HORROR, this is what I found when I went to look at my little babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There were three that I could see with PILES of eggs at the base of my plant! What a complete disappointment. :-((( Now I know why I have to pay the big bucks to get produce in the grocery store! I would never be able to be a true "farmer"! Pam, if you are reading this and have some tomotoes, could you help out a sad friend????

These little buggers feed on leaves and stems of tomato plants. Ocasionally they will also eat the fruits later in the summer months. They also feed on peppers, eggplant and potatoes. They can defoliate a plant in just a few days. A bunch of them can spell disaster.
Control
1) Hand Pick:
(YUCK!) They are so big you cannot miss these guys. If you don’t want to touch them I recommend cutting them in half with the kitchen scissors. In the fall when you turn your garden pick out the pupae and destroy.

2) Introduce Parasitic Wasps:
Parasitc Wasps (Braconid Wasps) lay their eggs on the larva. If you see little white things on the worm don’t kill the worm, place it in a jar with a fresh leaf and keep feeding it until the wasps do their job. These are the cocoons of the wasp and their larva feed inside the host and will kill it. This guy has just met his maker!
3) Soap Spray:
Spray the undersides of the leaves with a soap mixture to kill the eggs at the first sign of seeing the moths. A hard spray of water will also help if your plants are strong enough. Wiping the eggs off with alcohol on a q-tip is effective.
4) Bt:
Use as directed on label.
5) Companion Planting:
Plant marigolds as they may be a deterrant. Marigolds Stink to a lot of different bugs.

So my friends, I am greiving over the loss of these things that I have cultivated! In THREE days....gone!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to take gasoline and light fire to the bastards! The only problem being, I'd probably light myself on fire too by mistake!

At the Lake

My father....sporting his best white T-shirt! He, he, he!!!! This was a picture of my parents and I standing very carefully on the deck that is loosly covered with plywood! Dad has spent every weekend down here helping Gerry build John's house. We are very thankful for his help!

My mother and I walked down to see the house and to tell the men that dinner was going to be ready! I wanted a picture of the three of us with the view of the lake behind us. My mother....who is completely scared of heights, was dragged out onto the deck for this photo! She told me her butt cheeks were squeezed tight because she was so scared....can you see it in her smile??? I have giggled about it since I loaded it from my camera!!!! I am pretty good about heights and have climbed many moutains so it was quite simple for me. At one point when I was backing up, she screamed, thinking I was going to fall through an open area. I'm glad, that no matter my age, my mother still worries about me! :-) I love you mom and dad! Thank you for all your blood, sweat and tears---for giving up part of yourselves and raising me to be the person I am today! :-)

Back From Texas!

I'm very excited to share that I spent four days at S.M.U. training to administer the Harrison Assessment! I will utilize the Harrison Assessment in my practice management business. The Harrison Assessment (for those who are not familiar) is a questionnaire that is used to measure suitability and eligibility for any job. The assessment is 99% deception proof and measures 130 behavior traits! It is backed by 20 years of research and is proven to be an effective decision-making tool...both in identifying specific tratis to be successful in any job and its ability to evaluate traits against a specific job. I already have a couple of people who are willing to let me run one report so that I can get my final certification with Miss Ava in Australia!!!! :-)

I really have to thank Winn Padgett and Jim Povec for investing thousands in me getting this training. It is an honor and a privelege and I cannot wait to work with you in the near future! It's really amazing how things show up for me in my life! As most of my friends know, I have done a lot of training with Landmark Education and am currently taking the "Commitment Seminar"--To empower you to create and live from commitments that leave you enlivened and fulfilled. The first night of our seminar, was the same night that we had a BAD rain storm pass through that left most of central Maine without power. We still had the seminar!!!!! That was the night that Jim called and said, "I'd like you to go to Texas and get this training and will offer it to you for free (a savings of $3K). All you have to do is get there". I thought to myself, "Here you are, taking the commitment seminar, you are commited to living a life you love.....it would be preposterous for you not to do this"! Operating a that level of commitment, I had to enroll my husband in the possibility of this trianing---enhancing my business. I had to manage work and coverage for being gone. What I found really powerful was that when I CHOSE going to Texas and was commited to living into the future of my career, it was easy! There wasn't anything that showed up in my space as "difficult" or "hard to do". It just happened!!

I assert, that when you share your life and share what you're up to, the world gives you what you need! :-) Four years ago, I was Tonya---not really sure of myself, not smart enough to "DO THAT", overweight, in counseling for panic and anxiety disorder! Four years later, I'm Tonya, Professional Life Coach & Practice Management Consultant. I have created a plethora of friends who know me as my word. When I say something is going to happen, it happens. I've maintained a healthy weight, I love life and am commited to making a difference in anyone's life who choses so! When I am clear about what I want, I get it and I don't let life stop me EXCEPT when I chose to let life stop me!

There it is my friends! ME! I love who I am and also love who I am for other people! :-)

Cruising Around

So Mik and Jay surprised me with a visit this weekend! I NEVER get company out here unless we have a dinner party! I was so excited I told them to take off their jackets and opened a bottle of wine! It was a nice visit and I all but begged them to stay! Ha, ha, ha! They were cruising around and I was excited to be there FIRST stop---ya that's right Joleeen! :-) He, he, he!

Thanks guys! That was fun!!!!!!!!!!!

Progress on the Lake!

Here it is!!!!! My father and Gerry have been working on the porch all day! She's going to be a beauty! I can't wait to see what it looks like once the deck boards are down! Bailey and made several trips down there today. I think when Bailey is missing this fall we will find him down at the lake. He LOVES it! Gerry has even gone to the extreme of building Bailey a ramp to get in and out of the house through a window. This is because Bailey is such an old man he doesn't have the same hind leg strength that he once did.



Grandpa John will be able to see the progress when he comes up to visit next week! Bailey will enjoy his company! I'll keep everyone posted on the progress! :-)

The Medievil Party!

Here it is!!!! MONTHS of planning, coordinating, delegating, and TA DA!!!! This year's river party went off without a hitch! Kim and Gary created the "castle walls"....everything was just PERFECT! Despite the incredible heat, most of the guests dressed according to Medievil times! I had such a hard time choosing what pictures to post! I took 100 pictures! The detail...even down to the food. We had cornish hens, corn on the cobb....everything had to be eaten with your hands...no silverware! :-) Anyway, it was a blast!!!!!!!!!!! Joe and Barbie are the perfect host/hostess! There were games that we played....archery, jousting etc! I'm sure the poeple driving by wondered what on earth we were doing riding on a lawn mower, hauling someone with a stick! It's enough to make you giggle for a lifetime!

I'M BACK!

I have been out of state training and just getting back! I know there has been some phone calls from friends telling me that I'm getting a little stale (thank you Justine)! :-) I also didn't realize that I have some "secret admirers" of my blog....Miss Tracy. Or shall I call you the "blog stalker"....He, he, he! I'm honored to think that people love to read about what I have to share! :-)

I'm just getting back from Texas and I have pictures from my Medievil party to post. I've been a complete slacker! Busy, busy, busy! I PROMISE that I will update it all by Friday!

So, I will end with this.....I take a class every Tuesday night. My friends, Forrest & Justine, are kind enough to have me for dinner before I go. They call it "Tuesday's with Tonya". Tuesday afternoon, Justine calls me at work and leaves me a message stating that she and Forrest are serving steak and popovers, along with fresh veggies and brownie sundies ! She wanted to know if it was a meal fit for the duchess! :-) I called her back with enthusiasm and COULDN'T wait to get out of work to go over for dinner and social fun! She also usually has a margarita mixed up for me as I walk through the door!! Now, I ask myself, how did I get to be so lucky? :-)

It's times like this that I am reminded how fortunate I am to have wonderful friends in my life. I love you all and love what you add to my life!

PS: Tracy, really, I promise not to have such a lapse in posting! :-) He, he!