Liam has a Red Sister

MOM HAS PLANTS EVERYWHERE

In the fall of 2016, my indoor plant addiction was shaken out of its dormancy when I was gifted with a variety of plants. My dear friend had selected two identical groupings of house tolerant plants to assist in my recovery from surgery. Don't know about my colorectal surgery? I wrote about it. Of course...
here is the blog story.
http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2016/10/it-began-with-three-numbers.html
My friend had sent me 8 plants, 2 duplicate sets...actually there were more as each pot had several potential offshoots. I replanted. Fertilized. Learned about them. What they liked...what they did not.
Rotated them around the house. I loved them because they were a tangible gift from my friend. And they needed me and distracted me during unforeseen post op complications.
See photo collage following
top left
Pothos...also called devil's ivy...grows long vines which you can drape and in which you can hide drinks, See my iced tea, left and wine, right.
middle.
Kalanchoe, croton, kalanchoe.
top right
Liam with another pothos
bottom
croton. kalanchoe

They thrived. And surrounded us with love and life. I shared their progress with my friend. She cheered them on.
But my friend did not thrive.
She died unexpectedly on December 1st 2017. Here is Barb's story.

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2018/01/love-aunt-barb.html

Her plant gifts then became more essential to her memory. I was propelled towards increasing my indoor garden. Maybe as a tribute to Barb

Various ways I accrue plants
You know of the gifts
Next are

1-Planned Purchases
This year I started with a visit to Hicks Nurseries for their annual January sale. 
On the right
The two bromeliads were purchased at the sale. I had never heard of this plant category but was drawn to the color and their tropicality. It basically is a pineapple.

On the left
I bought this one in 2005; it was alone on a table in Hicks, No tag, no info. Had the idea someone carried it around then changed his/her mind and dumped it on a convenient table. Was small and fit on the front passenger seat of my car. It is now ceiling height and 3 feet wide. Liam's eating and drinking area are at its base. Schefflera.

and

2-Rescues  
I rescue plants from King Kullen, Stop n Shop and our local florist.
I believe they need saving because are put out there to catch a shopper's eye for seasonal displays and then ignored...sometimes unrelated plants are stuffed into one small container...they are over-watered. Some are dusty...some hidden... Usually not labeled.
But what are they?
A Pinterest pal's plant board pin alerted me to an app- PictureThis -that identifies plants
You send in a pic and it offers likely matches. It works!
I tested its accuracy against plants I am sure of and it is phenomenal in its percentage of correct matches.
See the app in action via screenshots. My photos were submitted and I selected the match.

and in person in our home
top
English Ivy, bamboo palm, flowering kalanchoe.

bottom
two Ming aralias
Thank you to Picture This...I now know my rescues

And our newest acquistion
In the first week of April, we visited friends in Port St. Lucie. My heightened desire for plant acquisition dovetailed with my active awareness of local plantings. I was drawn to our friends' new plants. Was told they are Ti plants...a quick google check expanded the name list to red sister, cabbage palm, good luck plant, palm lily... The Ti was pronounced tee, not tie as I had been saying. I decided to call them Red sisters.
A latent visual memory emerged of my parents' Tampa home. I am sure there were Red Sisters there.
I knew I had to have one.
Here are my friends' plants...outside, in front of their house

PORT ST LUCIE RED SISTERS

During our stay, I began noticing them all over and augmented my visual education with reading about them
Qualities and Uses
they are:
red, purple, orange, yellow, chocolate, pink, green
edible
liqueurs
hula skirts
leis
surfboard covers
sleds
good luck
sacred
medicine
Australian
Polynesian

a link about them
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordyline_fruticosa

and another way to obtain a plant
3-Order from Amazon

I contacted Hicks and they told me the Ti plants would be coming in to them in June and July.  Okay. A day passed. I had to have one. So I sent away for it. It was coming from Florida. I looked at its origin point and it was one of our favorite places to visit with my parents, Ybor City. Its next stop was St. Petersburg. Another hangout. The places we frequented with my parents. We will have a living testimonial to memories of my parents tenure in Florida

Liam's Red sister arrived Monday April 16. Two feet high with a zip lock bag over its root-ball. We posed root-ball in my paw, hugging Liam close-an official family portrait. Mom and sister and brother.
Liam leery from the start. Could not wait to get away. He has a good reason.

There is a catch and it is a big one.

The Red Sisters are poisonous to dogs.

Liam cannot lick or kiss his red sister.

No worries

He prefers chocolate for his poison.

Woof, Woof

Liam's Larder leads to Lard

MOM, NO DIET PLEASE

Liam has reached 42 pounds, a load for a one quarter doxie. We are thinking he should stay around 35 pounds. The vet has said that the doxie long back suffers from extra weight. In another one quarter genetic makeup, Liam has the beagle nose for food. The energy of the Irish Setter and Dalmatian in his remaining two quarters of DNA have not been enough to offset this creeping weight gain.

I am wrestling with this problem on our walk. We run into Liam's friend Piper and his human Mark. Piper is 8. Liam is 10 1/2. Mark tells me their metabolisms slow as they age. Of course! I still am surprised about my ignorance. My first dog. Okay. He has Piper on Fat Dog food. Upon returning home I research. There is a entire world of old fat dog products.
We put a plan in action.

Step1
We buy old fat dog food. Mixing it each day with the higher calorie we currently use until only the new food remains. Liam is wild about the new food. Salmon.


Step 2
We cut out snacks.
No boney stuffed with treats anymore.
No cookie jar.

Step 3
Aggressive walks. This helps me as well on my Fitbit goals.

But Liam is not giving up easily. He circles and sneaks and watches every meal.

He stalks Liam's Larder (the tin mini garbage can holding his food) from all angles. Trying to open it. Sends in his cousin James (see bottom shots) to help get the lid up.

LIAM RECRUITS JAMES

 That failed as James liked the toys better than aiding Liam in his quest.

SAD LIAM

 After two weeks he is down to 41 pounds.
minus 1
We are moving in the right direction.

Woof, Woof

Rescue Me

LIAM WATCHING OLYMPICS

I am an Olympic fanatic. I love and watch every hour of every day of coverage. The winter Olympics are my favorite. The settings and background, indoor venues, equipment and apparel are a feast of sensory and visual beauty...snow, mountains, ice, fireplaces...and the cacophony of color in its hats and scarves and jackets of many countries

LIAM WATCHES ALL THE EVENTS

Four years ago the winter Olympics were held in Sochi. And there were the Sochi pups.  And it was Gus Kenworthy who rescued them. I wrote about them. Here is Gus's Instagram post with some of the puppies followed by the blog links for my LiamLicks stories from 4 years ago.

SOCHI PUPS

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Sochi

http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/search/label/Sochi%20strays%20find%20homes

and now
From USA TODAY:
Nearly four years after helping rescue Mamuchka and her litter from Sochi, Kenworthy knows his place.
Gus Kenworthy jokes he’s been superseded by Mamuchka, the dog, with his own mother.

“My mom is actually obsessed with her,” Kenworthy said. “She likes the dog more than she likes my brothers and I. She has a grandchild now. My oldest brother has a daughter, and between the daughter and the dog, she’s like, I don’t care about anybody else.”
Kenworthy became the most famous for rescuing strays from the Sochi Olympics, but several others brought home dogs from those Games. Snowboardcross star Lindsey Jacobellis rescued a pup, as did Amanda Bird, the marketing and communications director for USA Bobsled & Skeleton. Both named their dogs Sochi.
here is the story link
https://usat.ly/2nQ9yjb

Four years later Gus is at it again. The dog meat trade is huge in South Korea.
South Korea does not have a good pedigree on its treatment of dogs. Here is a description of what goes on
https://usat.ly/2o0EBc5
and requests I received

Gus and his partner visited a dog meat farm
Here is what Gus posted on his Instagram

"I was told that the dogs on this particular farm were kept in 'good conditions' by comparison to other farms," Kenworthy, 26, said. "The dogs here are malnourished and physically abused, crammed into tiny wire-floored pens, and exposed to the freezing winter elements and scorching summer conditions."

The farm Kenworthy visited is being shut down, and the newly-free canines will be brought to the U.S. and Canada and placed in "fur-ever homes," he explained.

"I adopted the sweet baby in the first pic (we named her Beemo) and she'll be coming to the US to live with me as soon as she's through with her vaccinations in a short couple of weeks," Kenworthy wrote of his new family member. "I cannot wait to give her the best life possible!"

MATT, GUS AND BEEMO

 Here is the story with photos of the dogs and the farm
 http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/gus-kenworthy-boyfriend-rescue-puppy-south-korean-dog/story?id=53324769

Gus did not win any medals this time around. We watched as he struggled.

He did not have to win a medal to be a hero.

We had to help. Liam was sad about his Korean cousins.

LIAM HELPS

Woof, woof

Tattoo Tribute

THIS IS THE PLACE

This story is the second part of my Barb tribute and blog grief process. Part one is my blog story of January 11th, scroll down if you missed it. Loving sharing it.
Now the tattoo. I have a Barb photo from several years ago taken at the Philadelphia Flower show. A monarch butterfly landed on her head, at the top of her fabulous reddish perfumed curly hair  He stayed for a bit. See upper left...the butterfly settled in...

I thought that's it! A butterfly tattoo to remind me of her in this delightful photo.
And I'll add in my signature semicolon theme for my sigmoid colectomy.
http://www.birminghambowelclinic.co.uk/treatments-sigmoid-colectomy/
and the semicolon project. Cover all my events at once.
http://www.upworthy.com/have-you-seen-anyone-with-a-semicolon-tattoo-heres-what-its-about

I found a semicolon butterfly on Pinterest (there were many) and made the appt.at
https://kingsavetattoo.com/

I did my usual research. I knew the pain level areas and have not had a problem with the pain with previous tattoos. Here are the tattoo pain areas on the map. I had planned to have it done on the inside of my forearm but read a few comments about that area being highly sensitive. Does not indicate it to be so on the map but I switched to the outside as a result of my reading.
My assigned artist, Will, did airdrop between our iPhones to pop the photo from my phone to his. He printed the photo and showed me the stencil he made. I asked that the wings be facing away. He flipped it. Perfect. Once the stencil is transferred to your body part you are asked to observe it in the mirror before proceeding with the etching. Looks good. Cool. Exactly what I want.
What I did not notice or realize was that the mirror reversed the picture. No problem for the butterfly. He can be in any position. But my semicolon was now reversed. See below. I did not see it at the shop. I was in tattoo glory-land.
It was later when I removed the bandage for my first look that I saw the reversal. The period on top of the comma is fine...a dot is a dot..but my comma curves right not left. Whoops. See photo of my completed tattoo

SEMICOLON REVERSED

I have a mirror image. What is that? An image that is reversed from left to right, as it would appear if seen in a mirror; a reflection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_image

And it was permanent. I sort of was in a bit of shock. Probably most folks would not notice the semicolon at the base of the butterfly. Don't bring attention to it. I had to though. I thought how dopey I had been...and thinking of dopey, remembered Barb and I had fave words. Dopey was one. Not too mean, a bit affectionate. Not to be taken harshly in judgment. And I had done a dopey move. I have a reversed semicolon on my butterfly tattoo. And there is nothing I can do about it.

Here I am trying to show how I made this mistake. The semicolon is correct in the mirror. I sorta think it is quirky and charming.  More Barb/Carol fave words.

Only took a little bit of time to accept the tattoo. It is unique and my creation. I smile when I think of  Barb. That's what I wanted. I have my semicolon butterfly mirror image tattoo.
Dopey.
Maybe it will become a trend.

Woof, Woof

Love, Aunt Barb

WHERE IS MY AUNT BARB?

A few weeks of nothing. The absence of her presence resounding... emails unanswered, No Thanksgiving cards. Never ever happens. We don't usually text. Not our way. Barb did not have a smart phone until recently. Worried.

I texted Sunday Nov 26 
Me 
How are u? Thinking of you
Hope ur Thanksgiving was a happy one  
She answered Monday Nov 27
Barb 
How do you always know when something is wrong? Have been in the hospital with endocarditis for two weeks as of last Sat. Am better.

Me
I felt it...we are connected
And there was no word from u
Glad to hear you are better
 
Barb
Thanks. We are connected. Hope your holiday was great.

Me
It was a good one
Thank you 🙏🏻

On Thursday Nov 30
Barb slipped into an on and off coma
sudden and unexpected complications
too many for her to overcome
She died Friday Dec 1

The services took place 10 days later  See where she was
 http://www.torregrossafuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/3363429/Mingoia-Barbara/view-condolences.php

We wrote
Condolence From: Carol McNiff

As I get ready to face the world each day you are with me at each step In the prep. The products, the jewelry, the accessories, the thriving plants, treasured decor...all from you.
I have been rereading our emails, numbering in the thousands, hearing your voice and mine in return, like we are chatting. Wow, what we shared! And such strong and honest opinions about TV shows, politics, books, events, fashion, people. I am up to Dec 2016 and smiling as I read about what we thought of Top Chef. The new season started Thursday and it is the first time I did not have a follow up email from you in my inbox.
You were a LiamLicks loyalist...reading every blog story and providing loving Barb feedback.
Miss you every minute of every day. Thank you for enhancing my life.
Love always is how you signed each card. Love always back, Carol

Saturday December 09, 2017

Condolence From: Liam McNiff

Aunt Barb,


Mom told me you left us. I am sad. You were the best Aunt I could have had. Thank you for the cards, emails, yummy gifts. We use one of the tins you sent for my treats, We think of you whenever I bark for more, which is often.

Mom sent an Alex and Ani bracelet to you which you will never get to wear. Don’t worry it is your royal purple not the hated peridot. She is wearing its twin and will never take it off. Another company you introduced us to!

Love always,
Your nephew, Liam

Saturday December 09, 2017

I understand the stages of grief.

I know people comfort and distract themselves in various ways to get through loss. Eat too much, eat too little. Drink. Exercise. Clean. As an addictive personality I already do all those. I came up with something else. I got a cold that I have had on and off (mostly on) since Dec 16. I went to my internist to make sure my lungs were clear because I had the cough from hell. They are fine. Barb had gotten into trouble last Dec with a cold which morphed into lung clots. My internist felt sorry for me. and so did I. I knew nothing can be done for a virus. The uncommon cold which would not leave. I decided to write about Barb to distract myself.

 
1-Correspondence between Liam and his Aunt Barb
Liam and his Aunt Barb maintained a separate correspondence
here are some exchanges
Liam's comments with a peridot green background. Barb, an August Virgo, hated our birthstone. She has violet shading for her messages

Dear Liam,
Thank you so much for the lovely flowers. It was so thoughtful of you to think of sending me something for St. Joseph's day. I didn't realize that your middle name was Joseph - but now that I think about it - it seems like the perfect middle name for you. My father's name was Joseph, too.
The flowers were perfect. Your mother was smart enough to order from my favorite online flower company - ProFlowers - and they put each stem in separate tubes of water so the flowers remained fresh and vibrant.
Thanks again,
your Aunt Barbara

Oh Aunt Barb,
I am so happy. I did know that your Dad was Joseph and that you used to bring in pastries on March 19th, so I wanted to make it special for you.
Daddy Paul's middle name is Joseph but it really is not legal 'cuz it is a Confirmation name.
Glad the flowers were still good. They do a good job.
Woof
Love
Liam

Dear Liam,
I'm glad you received your gift and am happy that you enjoyed it. Too bad you had such a traumatic birthday but at least it will be memorable.
Enjoy the rest of your present and have a happy year.
Love,
A.B.

Dear Aunt Barb,
I have never received such a luscious basket, so many choices, so tasty and so addictive. I was allowed to have quite a lot since I suffered through that storm on my birthday. I was so happy and sleepy all night. This was a win win for everyone!
Mommy took a pic which she will send you so you can see what a gorgeous job they do
Love and Licks
Liam

Hi Aunt Barb,
I barked and barked when the doorbell rang. I smelled the goodies. So many yummy treats and wrapped so beautifully. I will enjoy slowly (though I know I could eat all quickly) and with fond thoughts of you. Mom plans to show it in LL this week.
Love and Licks
Liam
Dear Liam,
So glad you got your treats early so you can enjoy before all the fuss of
the holidays. I hope they taste as good as they look.
Love,
Aunt Barb

My dear nephew,
Thank you so much for the beautiful card. It is wonderful to be remembered by you. You are the only nephew who has remembered me and I sincerely appreciate you and your sweetness.
Love,
A. Barb

Subject: Birthday Gift!
Thank you so much Aunt Barb! Such perfect choices you made... Natural baked treats are what my Mom wants for me and these are soooo yummy and healthy. My teeth need some good safe plaque removers and my chew toys will take care of my 7 year old teeth of which I am so proud. Mom has included pix to show you!
And guess what? We entered the birthday pic in an Instagram contest so maybe we will win hashtag #dogust... I am there with the other doggies
Thank you!
Love and Licks
Liam

Dear Liam,

So glad you got the gift on your Bday. Thank your Mom for the great pics. Seven years looks good on you!

Subject: Cards, We Got Cards!

Thank you to Carol and Paul for your lovely card.

Thank you to my sweet Liam for your funny and wonderful card.

Love you all

Barb

Subject: For Liam

So glad you got your gift! Sorry it is a little early, but I wanted to be sure you got it on time. Still a Leo gift.

Love you, Aunt Barb

Early is great! Mommy will make it last
Liam  

AUNT BARB GIFTS

2-OUR FRIENDSHIP

 I created collages of what we shared

ENTERTAINMENT

READING

CULTURE

FOOD AND DRINK

TRAVEL

LIFESTYLE

3-AFTERWORD

Barb's nephew Liam has been supportive.
He stays with me in the den
keeping company with me and the cold that has taken up residence in my body

MISS YOU LOTS

Woof, Woof