Spilt Smoothie Makes for Fun

 Remember me telling you in my last post how I'd been down in the dumps but that I was feeling better?

Let me tell you what happened!!

I was on speaker phone with dau Susan and her son's fiance, Kelsey. That Kelsey is just a gift from God. She's so much fun, so bright, so smart, so kind. Anyway, put those two together and you can't stay in a dark hole for long!!

They were trying to help me so suggested that maybe I could try out a new recipe and asked what was in my refrigerator. Bad idea!! I say, 'yellow squash, yogurt, 1/2 slice of ham, eggs, milk ... and oh, a jar of pickles'. They about croaked! 

So, Kelsey started figuring out how I can make an omelet. Then she said, no how about a smoothie?

Somehow, we just moved on to other things and then said goodbye but I was feeling much better. Then Susan texted me, 'You have a delivery from Instacart in a few minutes'. Oh Goody. What?

It is a huge salad (mixed greens, blue cheese, strawberries, nuts and balsamic vinegarette). There are also a tub of chicken salad and one of potato salald and this HUGEMOUNGOUS bag of frozen mixed fruit. Oh... a smoothie out of the fruit. I get it now. 

But, I'd told them I don't make smoothies because I have a large blender and it's heavy, hard to clean etc, etc, excuse after excuse. The next morning I get up to find a box at my front door. It's a Magic Bullet. 

They call... want me to make a video of me making my smoothie. So, I get my yogurt out of the fridge, the frozen fruit and some water and I turn it on. Hey, it's working!! 

I took the container off the machine and set it on the counter. (I'd already taken the lid off it) and as I reached for the Yogurt to put it back in the fridge, I knocked over that smoothie and most of it went all over my countertop. And, it was on video. I'm not accident-proof and I have proof I am not. 

But, engaging in such a fun adventure with those girls just lifted me right out of my funk.

 I wonder if there is someone out there that each of us needs to lift up right now. Think about! 

                                                                    

                      QUOTE FOR THE DAY

"When one door of happiness closes another opens; but often we look so longat the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."         Helen Keller

A True Story

 Well, I just let myself get down in the dumps and wasn't sure how I was going to get out! Ever had that feeling?

Life just gets overwhelming sometimes. But, I am feeling alright now. Whew, glad that's over.

There's not one thing going on around here... so what's this post going to be about?

I guess I'll just tell you a story, a true one at that: I hope it's not a bedtime story and puts you to sleep!

Back in the mid '60s my husband was Communications Officer at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

That duty was really different for us....so much more social, important events to attend, etc, etc.  At the end of the first year we were involved in the reviewing of the troops, 

 the graduation 

and of course, the traditional 'climbing of Herndon Monument'.  

I had a vantage point to observe as the midshipmen ran out to the monument, which had been slathered with grease, to begin the ascent. They were shirtless, barefoot, ready for the challenge. 

Can you imagine trying to climb a straight up and down a concrete (I guess it's concrete) structure!!! 

They slipped and slid, they'd try again. And, finally one would reach the top to place a hat on top. Mission accomplished! 

The midshipmen are truly dedicated to their studies so for 4 years that is their focus. But, honey, let me tell you! When they graduate there's a line of couples outside the Academy Chapel waiting to tie the knot. They are so many of them that each couple is shuffled in, then shuffled out just as soon as the vows are spoken. There's a schedule to keep, folks. 

I sat on a bench outside the chapel one afternoon and watched a ton of brides and their grooms march inside to become man and wife. Why do they say man and wife? Shouldn't it be husband and wife? Anyway. I hope they all lived happily ever after. 

Making the Most of Life

 How are you today? I hope everyone is fine and staying out of the heat (if you have heat where you are) and that you are well and happy,

There's nothing more wonderful than being healthy! The older you get, the more your body starts to fall apart. I wish I'd known more about how to take care of mine in years past but the info just wasn't out there. Or maybe I didn't listen. When we are young we think we will live forever!! From this side of the fence, let me tell you... we won't. We are like cars, the older we get the more our parts wear out. And... there's no replacements for most of them. 

Oh, geez, where was I going with all that, anyway? I am so blessed to be as healthy as I am and have the good mind that I do at my age. Every day I thank God above for being able to enjoy life. One of my joys is the friendship I have with my blogger buddies. You guys are just the greatest ever!

I've been trying to get back into the rhythm of writing every day... Working on my second novel and I am so slack about it all. Yet, I can't wait to get it finished. I can't have it both ways. I need to discipline myself... 

The story is about a little girl who lives in a coal mining camp, has little worldly goods but has to go to a town school where the rich kids go. (boy, can I relate to that). I didn't live in a camp but the rest is correct. She gets bullied because she is poor. Then she and her best buddy come upon a hobo who is camping beside a creek. They befriend him and then he ends up murdered. 

I have a friend/therapist/assistance who asked me the other day if I had ever taken classes in writing. and if I followed the writing rules, like plotting out the book before starting etc. I just laughed and said 'NO'. I often write a chapter in my head while I lie awake at night. There's no planned out plot. There's not a ton of notes on how it will turn out. It just happens. I guess that makes me an unconventional author! haha. 

So, maybe I need to put this post to rest and open up my book file and write some in it. Do my daily writing task. 

Will they find out who killed the hobo? Will Ruthie be a hero or be ridiculed more? Who knows? Maybe tonight when I can't sleep I'll find the answer to one or more of those questions. 

                        QUOTE FOR THE DAY

'Writers don't wait for their ship to come in; they write their way out to it'.         Sam Horn 

Celebrating Independence

 Independence Day...

That's tomorrow, the 4th, but we here at the Commons celebrated today. Had us a nice, cool salad lunch on tables all decorated in red, white and blue. No fireworks, though. They don't allow us to have fire around here!! Besides, fireworks are for nightime and this was LUNCH.... 

I made a new recipe. Grape Salad. I'd had my first in Alabama when I was visiting my son recently. I just loved the cool, crispy crunch of the grapes slathered in this yummy sauce. I made a big bowl of it today and now I have at least half of it in my refrigerator. But, I've discovered something. The reason I love that stuff so much is not the grapes, it's that yummy sauce. Who can turn down cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla all whipped up into a froth. When I made it for my salad today, I actually scaped the bowl with my spoon (well, actually it was my finger) and left that bowl clean as a pin. Better than cake dough any day. 

What are all you doing for the 4th? I guess I shouldn't ask that of my friends outside the U. S. but heck, you are gonna be doing something tomorrow, even if it's just going to work. I guess I will watch what I can see of the fireworks display from downtown. The trees have grown up so tall between me and the event so I only see the tallest ones, (the fireworks, not the trees). 

I certainly hope that everyone enjoys their day whatever it may bring. Stay cool, stay healthy and just keep on keeping on. 

Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness Or So I've Been Told

 I've spent the last three days doing a project well overdue to be done. My office was a mess. I'm not completely finished but I am nearly there. It makes me feel good, so proud that I got off my lazy behind and did it. Life should be so much more simple and fun. 

this was the closet before I dragged everything out....

and how it looks now. 

There's even room for my walker which I seldom use. It still looks sort of messy but I know where EVERYTHING is and can pull it out on a moment's notice. 

I didn't take a picture of my bookcase but here it is after I organized it and got rid of some books and other things. 

Ready for my next quote?

It's by Marcus Aurelious

"No one has the right to tell you that you need to do something you don't want to do."

No one told me I  had to clean that closet and when I decided to do it 'cause I wanted to.... it felt good. 

Testing My Patience!

 This week has been anything but fun. I know y'all are tired of me griping about my dental woes but believe me, you are not nearly as tired of hearing about them as I am having them!

I had another root canal due on Monday. They are easy so I wasn't worried about it. Took the print out sheet from my dentist showing a diagram of my teeth and it marked which one it was she was to do. Guess what... after it's all over she tells Shirley (who always sits in on the explaining part) that she has done the wrong tooth! 

I guess she forgot the print out I had handed her and when she put the exray up on the screen it somehow flipped itself (or somebody flipped it) and she did the one next to it. Dear God in Heaven.... But, that tooth was already working it's way to a root canal in about 8 months so that's done already. And, I go back on July 11th to get the REAL tooth done. And, bless her heart, she said she'd not charge me for this one. Well, I hope not. I mean, I have spent a fortune on my mouth and she's gotten a good chunk of that money. 

Oh.... wait.... that's not all.

During the procedure I felt a rush of fluid in my throat. She had that rubbery thing in my mouth to hold back that sort of thing but this escaped and I started gagging and coughing. Seems that somehow the diluted bleach that is used in the proceedure escaped that rubbery thing and I now have a irritated throat. It took forever to get that cleared up so she could continue. That should have been a warning sign that things were not going to go well.

After I got in the car Shirley took one look at me and gasped. I had a large blister in one corner of my mouth. So, back to the dentist we go.... The dr. said I'd bitten myself but have you ever heard of a blister being caused by a bite? 

That's all over... til the next time.

                   Now on to something great.

I made me a Nacho Breakfast this morning. I promised you some new recipes. This one is super. 

You could do all sorts of things with it like adding salsa, chopped onion, top with more cheese etc. I am so stuffed right now. And, look how healthy it is. 

" In the past I let others walk all over me. I had no idea what boundaries were or why they were important and necessary. I was too eager to please, to be liked, to be appreciated. Once I began to set boundaries, my life became more peaceful because I then had the power over my own life."

                                                                                                        Willie Latane Barton