Dunes at The Beach at Corolla

 Besides working on my novel yesterday, I painted a watercolor.... and did some laundry!! Productive day, eh? 

I have a renewed energy for which I am thankful. More about that in a day or two. 

Here's my new painting. I loved the sky, wasn't as happy with the grasses growing on the dune.. But, a painting is in the artist's mind and I guess that was what was in mine. hehe. 

A Shot in the Arm

 Nothing like a 'shot in the arm' to jerk you up and get you going. 

I started a sequel to my 'Springtime in Magnolia' book ages ago and then I just ignored it. I had 80 pages written but for some reason I stalled and couldn't get 'unstalled'. 

But, the other day I opened that file back up on my computer and decided I'd give it a look-see. I needed some info to move me forward so I asked ChaptGPT for information about an unexperienced young man starting a job at a bank in the late 1940s. I like to be factual and I had no clue about banking then or now. 

Well, as I chatted with GPT I got so fired up and the next morning I spent 4 hours at the computer writing and writing and correcting and editing. I gotta get this novel finished. I mean, folks, I don't have years and years to write. These old hands are already giving me a lot of trouble. Of all things my index finger on my dominant hand locks up (trigger finger, they call it). Some times I can get it unlocked fairly easy and other times it just does not want to turn loose and is so painful when I force it. So,  yes I need to write while I can. 

Or... maybe it can be fixed. Got an appt. with the dr. Monday. We'll see how that goes. 

I published 'Springtime in Magnolia' in the fall of 2013. About time I got that sequel done, don't you think? 

Making Our Life's Music

 This is a post I did for a facebook group that I head up 'Accidently Aging. Women Living Their Best Lives' 

 I feel that women have been muchly ignored over the years and we are slowly making our mark in this world. So, I started that group. If you are interested and are on Facebook you might want to check it out, join the group or just ignore it. No big deal. We do what's best for us, right?

Now, here's the post: 

A number of us just sit around waiting for life to happen. How sad is that? We should all be active in making the plans and then executing those plans to make our lives the very best that they can be.

There is a quote by Mark Nepo that I think addresses this problem very well. I liked it so well it is now jotted down in my "Quote Journal".

"The life of every soul waits like sheet music to be played. What good are we if that music is never played." (Mark Nepo)

Priceless advice. Tune your violin, pick up the bow and make the music of your life.

A Weird Dream

                  Now, I can have me some weird dreams!! And, usually I remember what I have dreamed. 

I had the wildest dream last night. It must have been because of the recent wedding of my grandson and his beautiful bride but believe me, there is no comparison. His wedding went so smoothly, was so touching, just perfect. This dream wedding however was a riot. 

                         

               Let me tell you about my dream:

I have an acquaintance who says she's getting married and she tells me the time and date. How I got so involved, the dream never revealed! But, here I am in the middle of everything and the day of the wedding arrives and there have been no plans made, no venue, no gown, no preacher, no cake... nothing. It's 10 a.m. and the wedding is at 2 so my husband (God rest his soul) and I start to pull together this wedding. We find a church we can use, a friend loans a white dress and my husband and I head to Wal-Mart to buy a cake to serve. It's just a plain white layer cake but it has purple flowers all around it. That'll have to do. I get them to sell me a bag of icing so I can decorate it up a bit. Oh we need some drinks. The salesperson suggests Gaterade! Then we discuss Sprite or Coke. I don't think we ever decided. We still don't have a person to perform the wedding and then it hit's me... 'Honey, you are a preacher,' I say to my husband (which was true in real life) 'you do it'. 

Well, the bride drags in at last minute fully unprepared and we surprise her with having everything ready. It's 2 and time..... for me to wake up.

I woke up just chuckling... what a time I'd had in my dream. Now it was time to get up and get real! 

Do you have crazy dreams? Do you remember what you dream? What do you think a dream means or does it at all?

                                           Happy Dreams!!

I Shall Hear Clearly Soon

 What a day Tuesday.

Hadn't been to Olive Garden in years. There's not one close to me but Shirley had driven me to Southpark for an appt about my hearing aids and there was an Olive Garden just calling my name!!

I tried something new to me, cheese ravioli covered with meat sauce and that more than yummy salad! I scoffed as much as I could and brought the rest home for dinner that night. Enjoying it twice is better than once, don't you think?

Once lunch was over, it was on to Sam's Club for my hearing test. I knew I was hard of hearing but it was discerning to find out how much!! Not so bad in the low frequencies but the high ones... dang.... My left ear had severe loss and my right one had PROFOUND loss. And, on top of that I have tinnitus that I have to deal with. Bummer. Had that for years! 

My new hearing aids will be in in two weeks. I can't wait. 

Buying Myself a Bouquet

                                   I love flowers

But I don't have a green thumb nor a good place to grow my own.

So, Shirley and I went to the End of Nowhere Flower Farm near where I live to see what they had in the way of cut flowers. The owner has this cute little stand that every Saturday during flower season she puts bouquets on the shelves for you to pick and pay sort of thing.

                    We'd never been so it was an adventure.

Out in the country, down a narrow winding road, farms on each side, cows and horses watching us go by. And, finally we come to the place. Isn't this just the cutest thing?

I snitched these photos off her website and they are not focused. Sorry

Shirley and I both chose mixed bouquets (sunflowers, sweet william, winged everlasting, and pincushion blossoms) 

Very summery, don't you think?

    I knew what the sunflowers and sweet william were but had to look up the other two flowers.

                        This is the pincushion blossom

and this one is winged everlasting

Did you know that? I didn't but now I do. 

I wonder how long I will remember which is which!! 

Sankaty Lighthouse and More Fun

 In 2004 Susan took me, Elbert, Brittany and Owen on an adventure. We went to Maine, Rhode Island and of course, we traveled through Conn. And, we spent several days on Nantucket. It was such fun.

We ate a picnic on the beach. It was a bit chilly but we enjoyed the food and companionship so much.

We visited Sankaty Lighthouse

explored some really rough terrain... it was a blast

So, the last couple of days I have been doing a watercolor of Sankaty Lighthouse using our photograph from there as a guide.

Key Lime Pie Cures Anything

 Feeling more upbeat today. It's amazing what an outing will do for you... not to mention the turkey and dressing. And, you gotta have cranberry sauce with it. We always ask for extra!! Besides, Cracker Barrel has rocking chair to enjoy. 

Getting new hearing aids turned out to be a bust! Shirley had tried to get in touch with them to make an appt but wasn't successful so we thought we'd just give it a try. Geez, we were in the neighborhood anyway. Seems the man who owned the audio portion of Sam's Club sold out so there was no one there. Well, it's not the only Sam's club in the area so we'll try another one. 

What are we going to do now! I seldom make suggestions which drives Shirley nuts. She says she hates making all the decisions but I think she loves to be in charge. I just always don't want to be a bother but I spoke right up and said, 'I want to go to Michael's crafts. I need new paint brushes.' Had a great time wandering up and down the aisles just looking at things that I would have scoffed up when I was younger. But, I just looked, got my brushes, a pool noodle and an American flag. 

I bet you anything you are wondering what in the world am I gonna do with a pool noodle! I can just hear those brain waves twirling! You see, I have this neighbor that lives under me who thinks if she hears one single sound out of my apartment it's cause for complaint. I've never had anyone else complain before so I guess it is her, I am not making more noise. Probably less. 

So, when I turn my Roomba on it has a habit of bumping into doors, walls, .... you get the picture. I thought if I slit that pool noodle down it's length and slid it around the outer part of my Roomba it wouldn't make as much noise. I just gotta figure out how to anchor it around that thing. Glue? Nah... tape maybe. We'll see. 

It was a gorgeous day and only like 2 p.m. so Shirley asked me if I was hungry. I mean, we just ate  but she's thinking dessert at one of our favorite eating places, Decoys. Oh yes... there's always room for that. We both got key lime pie. 

But, while the waitress was waiting on our order Shirley was muttering under her breath about whether to get pie or maybe some of their fabulous hushpuppies. When we got our pie, that sweet waitress brought us a basket of hushpuppies, too. On the house! I think I would have been happy just with those. They are so good. 

So, yes, I do feel better today. I do have to say that the sweet, caring, thoughtful comments I got on that last post made a huge difference in how I felt. Thank you, each and every one of you for caring. Love you girls!! 

Getting Out of The Dumps

 I was down in the dumps this morning, have been inching in that direction for days. 

1. I know that I am isolated too much

2. I know that I am stuck in a rut seeing the same residents and doing the same thing all the time.

3. I know that I see a slow-moving decline edging it's way into my life.

4. I know that I should be on top of the world that I am doing as well as I am

5. Now, what to do about it.

It helps that Shirley will pick me up around 11 tomorrow to eat at Cracker Barrel... It's turkey and dressing day!!

It helps that we will then go to get me some new hearing aids. Can you believe that I LOST my hearing aids at the wedding in Georgia? We never did locate them so I am in the market for new ones. 

It helps that I just watched a documentary on Grounding/Earthing. It sounds weird, I know! But, I asked ChatGPT about it and was told it isn't fully supported by the scientific/medical community. Well, duh..I've known for years that the medical field isn't interested in trying things that will take away their profits. 

Chatgpt said it would be beneficial to be outdoors. sit with my bare feet in the  grass, connect with nature. It can't hurt a thing and will get me out of this apartment. Now, if it will just stop raining! EVERY DAY THIS WEEK!

Writing

 This really made me chuckle. 

I have kept a journal (diary) most of my life. There are things in there that might not need to be read by others but mainly it's okay. It's just my life and how I lived it. But, I had wondered whether I should destroy my journals before I die or not. I finally decided to just either cut out or mark out what little bad was written in them and leave the good stuff for my descendants to enjoy.

Then, in this latest issue of the AARP magazine I found this: 

As I said, I really got a good chuckle out of this! 

The Correspondent

 I have had the best luck in my reading material lately. Thanks to my Susan who keeps giving me books to read. Last night I finished The Correspondent and was completely taken by surprise.

You see, I started that thing and just couldn't figure out who the characters were so I thought 'hey, this is a dud.' The whole book is nothing but letters different people have written to each other, the main one being Sybil. But, it all started making sense and before I knew it, I couldn't put it down. 

A completely original format.. well, maybe not original but certainly not the regular style of writing. I think it was refreshing to read something out of the norm.

And, you know what! I used to love to write letters and did so a lot. Then came email, then texting ... you get my drift. Letter writing is a lost art. But, this book put me back in touch with the feel I always got when I either wrote a letter or received one. I think we ought to bring back Letter Writing!!

I recommend this book. It's all about loss and grief, and joy and sadness, and adventure and love and finding yourself. Pretty much how life really is. Let me know if you have read it or when you do, I would be interested to know your take on it. 

Seeing Savannah

 I had flown down early for the wedding but I was riding back with a daughter and son-in-law. None of us had ever been to Savannah we decided we'd take a trolley tour of the place. So glad that we did. 

Savannah is a charming city. I wouldn't mind living there but that is not in the cards. There are 22 parks! They are all over the place and provide such a calm, peaceful area for people to go. And old buildings and cobblestone streets. Of course, the streets were a bit bumpy to ride over but what the heck. 

It was the day after Mother's Day and I was presented a pink carnation by our tour ticket salesperson. He was such a jolly soul and we loved meeting him. 

I took a ton of pictures so I won't bore you with all of them.  haha but here is a smathering of what we enjoyed. 

One of the many parks in Savannah

Oldest operating restaurant on Savannah's waterfront. Was an old restore cotton warehouse.

The street is made of ballast stones that were put in the small ships arriving from overseas for balance. Unloaded and then used to pave streets. 

Waving Girl statue honors Florence Martus who waved a cloth to welcome ships entering Savannah port for over 40 years, her faithful dog beside her.

A city of live oaks loaded with Spanish Moss

Big Duke Alarm Bell constructed in 1872 as a fire alarm for the city. was also rung at end of Spanish-American War

A familiar sight on Savannah's streets

Me busy taking photos. 

My daughter Shirley 

The Wedding

Wedding day arrived...

and wouldn't you know it.... here's comes a thunderstorm about 2 p.m. and soaks the lawn where the ceremony was to take place. Terrace furniture was stowed elsewhere and quickly replaced with chairs for the guests. Flowers were arranged to form an altar and then the music starts and here she comes down the aisle. 

I loved the brides dress... it was sooooo her. 

The vows they wrote for each other were so personal and meaningful. 

            Just look at that grin on my grandson's face!!

The ceremony was beautiful even if we were all crammed together on the terrace. And, too soon it was over and the couple were walking back down the aisle.... Mr. and Mrs. Murray... my new granddaughter-in-law. I couldn't be happier for I feel they are a true match for each other. She's been around for 8 years so I think they've stood the test of time already. 

The groom loved his granddad dearly and looked up to him and revered him. So, before the ceremony I drew him aside and told him that his  granddad was there with us... and then I pinned his granddad's wedding ring (75 years ago) into the breast pocket of his suit to have it close to his heart during the ceremony. It was truly emotional for us both. 

After the ceremony we had a lovely, delicious meal on the lawn (under a tent) 

And, then we danced the night away.

Youngest grandson with his girlfriend

The groom's Mom (my daughter Susan) dancing with her son, Owen

Shirley dancing with her nephew

Two of my granddaughters. 

Sea Island, Georgia

 What a dad-gum tooting fun-loving week!! Oh my.. such fun, such love, such tiredness! This old body protested greatly but I just kept going 'til it was all done and I was home again. Here I am... dragging luggage and myself into my front door yesterday late in the day, ready for some quiet time!

I arrived at the house where the wedding would take place last Monday a week and a half ago and enjoyed days with the bride and groom as well as my daughter (the groom's mom). This post is about the house (a summer home of a friend of the groom's parents) in Sea Island, Georgia. Just had to share some of the beauty of the place with you all before I get more into the wedding. 

The front entrance staircase

Looking down on the fountain at the front entrance

The terrace outside the kitchen

Me enjoying my lunch on that terrace

The pool. I did not go in the pool but I did relax poolside reading a good book. 

My reflection in the mirror of one of the downstairs bathrooms.

I love a terracotta roof. This on is tiled with Palm Beach Mission tile. 

the view from my bed where I lay for hours watching that big ole moon shine on the ocean. 

Yes, it was quite an exciting week... and I have lots more to share with you in a day or two.