Memories Remembered

 Lovely weather!! Cool, sunny and I could live in this kind of weather forever!! 

Yesterday I conducted the second session of a Recalling Your Memories workshop here at the Commons. It's just so darn important to record what happened in your life so that your grandchildren, great-grands and so on will know where they came from and who they have as ancestors. It doesn't matter how... handwritten in a notebook, in a computer file, Recorded with your cellphone.... JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO IT. 

We actually are having fun listening to each other's childhood antics as each one reads their notebook entries. And, believe you me, there's some doozies. 

One read about a plane ride when she was young where the plane's landing gear did not deploy so they did a belly landing and had to scoot down those long slides out of the plane.

Another told of seeing a snake crawl into a hole in her flower garden so she got her husband's pistol and shot several shots into the hole hoping to kill the thing. (that was my story)

Another told of relocating a groundhog out of their yard to have it return and they did it again, same results. Guess it liked their yard. It was coming back long after they sold their house.

And, so on.....

I have a large theme binder full of pages of my and my husband's life from birth to now. I wrote down everything I could and he could remember. Our children will have a ball with that. 

My Shirley came today so we could go to lunch and she noticed some OLD letters lying on my dresser. Had a fit over them and I told her I had a whole stack of letters that me and her Dad exchanged from back in the '40s and 50s. They are all tied with a blue ribbon. She made a suggestion that I should have thought of years ago... they need to be in archival preservation.

So, I just ordered the supplies to do just that. That makes me feel good. I am doing something to preserve our past. If you think I want to be forgotten a year or two after I'm gone forget it!!  I've got proof all over the place of all the things that made me what I am today. The rest is up to those I leave behind! 

More on Grounding

 I am just blown away by the responses I got to my last post on grounding. If my willingness to share my success with grounding helps just one other person I am so happy. 

The medical/pharma folks have long kept natural and inexpensive cures from us all in the name of making money. If you google grounding/earthing today it will tell you that there have not been enough studies, no verified proof that that works. Yet, Dr. Laura Koniver who is a medical doctor has had articles published in medical journals and lists a ton of resources to back her claims. and there are many others. But, enough of that. 

I am so new to this so I hesitate to tell you anything at all about how it works (there's tons of material that can do that well) but I do want to say that the earth is an electrical field... so are our bodies. Heck, I didn't know I was a walking-around light bulb. haha. Some people may say I am short a light bulb or two. he he. But, when those two fields connect the neurons head through your body and immediately your brain goes into a restorative mode, you get more relaxed and those neurons go to work on so many parts of your body.

Not every body is alike. Isn't it wonderful that we all are so different!! So, the results for one person won't be the same as another but I made a long list of what good grounding CAN DO for your body. Here are just a few: 

1. Mood lifts

2 Circulation improves because our blood cells tend to clump together and the flow slow down. With grounding your blood cells start to break apart from the clumps, your blood flows more smoothly and can access more parts of your body in a faster and better way. However, if you are on a blood thinner... check with your doctor before grounding.

3. Our gut and our brain work hand in hand  and grounding improves the vagal nerve so that communication between the two can be faster and healthier.

4. It helps with sleep

5. It also boasts the thyroid, your metabolism improves and your cortisol goes down. 

                           Now, on to other things. 

                   My son Michael arrived last Tuesday. 

We had a couple days of just catching up and then he headed over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel to the Eastern part of Virginia. 

He is meeting up with his buddy Carl and his wife to explore some Tall Ships that are in port at Cape Charles. 

My granddaughter (Shirley's daughter) lives on the Eastern Shore and she is enjoying having them around. 

He and his puppy, Sadie, come back to my apartment on Tuesday. More visiting scheduled and next weekend is Shirley's birthday so we will celebrate that and then he'll head back to Alabama. 

                                It's a busy time for us! 

Grounding Makes Sense

                             I am really nervous about this post!! 

I told you I would give more about my newfound energy and so here it is. But, you may laugh, you may think I am nuts or you'll just shake your head and walk away. I can only tell you it is working for me so I am a huge believer. 

I have been grounding for 5 weeks now and I am just blown away by the changes in my life. 

So, you are asking 'what's grounding'. We've been told all our lives we needed to be outdoors, breathe fresh air, get our feet dirty. Grounding is connecting our bodies to Mother Earth. It all has to do with the electrical charges that are in the earth and in our bodies and interacting. Most diseases are caused by inflamation in our bodies and grounding helps get rid of that inflamation plus other things. 

I watched a video about grounding, had never heard of it in my life! But, I was bored, couldn't find anything to watch and when I started I could not stop. That day I walked outside, sat down on a bench by the pond, took my shoes off and planted my bare feet on the ground. Of course, I was immediately joined.... by the geese looking for food. 

I discovered that you could buy grounding pads so I ordered one. I am not an outdoors person and knew summertime would chase me inside so pads seemed to be the answer.

I placed my new pad in front of my chair in the living room, plugged it into the grounding outlet on a nearby electrical plug and every time I watch tv I sit with my bare feet on that pad. You should get at least 30 minutes a day and it doesn't not matter how much you do. No harm done. 

Within a couple days I began to feel different.

 I have not changed one single thing about my life (my habits, my eating, my activities etc) 

Here is what I have gained through grounding. I am still on the 'wait and see' path but like I say I have changed nothing else. So, it must be the pad.

1. SLEEP ... before I had trouble falling asleep and often would wake up and stay awake 2 or more hours during the night.

        Now I go to sleep almost immediately and I sleep very soundly all night (except for bathroom visits)

2. MOOD.... Before, I suffer from some depression and have for several years taken a low dosage of Zoloft. Even then I would still  have bouts of sadness, lack of motivation.

Now.... I have been in the best mood for 5 weeks, not one down minute 

 3. MOTIVATION... before I would awake and just dread getting out of bed, lie there until I just had to get up and then I'd wander aimlessly around

Now.. I hop out of bed, fresh and excited. I ask myself 'what can I get into today?'

4. DIZZINESS    ... before I had periods of dizziness, especially at bedtime. Had to sleep on two pillows, could not turn my head except very slowly or the room would spin, etc.

Now... I am on one pillow and I toss and turn like normal with no dizziness at all.

5. ACID REFLUX    ... Before, I have taken prescription meds for acid reflux for years. If I missed 1 dose by the next day I was hurting. 

Now... I am on my 5th day without that medication and not one sign of heart burn. So far!! 

6. ENERGY... before, by 2 or 3 in the afternoon I was spent... just over for the day. I'd collapse into a chair. Got nothing done after that time except the absolute necessary

        Now.. I am still going strong all day... I might slow a bit mid afternoon but I perk back up and not be exhausted 'til bedtime. 

Remember, I am 92 and I thought my lack of motivation,  energy level, sleeplessness etc. was all due to age. 

I am very hopeful that I continue to feel this good, 10 years younger and ready to take on the world. I know people are skeptical about grounding. If you want, there are tons of videos on YouTube to watch. I would recommend any of them that featured Clint Ober or Dr. Laura Koniver. 

Gee, I wonder how many of you are running for the hills right now. Ha ha. 

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.

Packing up, Flying Out

 I just wanted to post a quick note. I will try to have time to post about the Kentucky Derby Party tomorrow but I am in the midst of a very busy and exciting time. My grandson is getting married on May 9th to a lovely, sweet woman named Kelsey. 

At least two weeks ago I set my luggage on my spare bed and started gathering what I would need to take with me to Sea Island, Georgia where the wedding will take place. I mean,  at this age, you sort of worry that you'll forget something important... so, I started that 'gathering' early on. Lucky I had that spare bed!! 

I am being organized, I think, but you just watch..... I'll forget something. I have already packed my underwear and gowns, 3 pair of hose  in case one runs!! Yes, I wear hose when I need to. All  you 'young'ens go barelegged now but I'm old school. 

I've even packed some thread and a needle (just in case the bride or someone else splits a seam or loses one of 900 kazillions buttons she has down the back of her gown). 

I have a bag of candy that I just love so I am taking that for us all to snack on.... you have no idea how many times over the past week I have been tempted to rip open that bag and dive in! But, I've been a good girl. Gee it was hard, though. 

The wedding is taking place at a friend of the groom's summer home. And, we will be staying at the house. Geez, I  bet they might have needle and thread... nah, people don't sew anymore so I am safe by taking my own. 

The bride and groom along with his mom, fly from NY down to Ga on Monday. I will leave Virginia that same day and the four of us will have the rest of the week to 'pull our hair out' before the ceremony begins. Weddings are so stressful. But, what a beautiful event it will be. I can't wait!! 

Nuts About My Computer

 I painted yesterday. Never could get the background like I wanted it but I finally just quit. Sometimes that's the best thing to do... if it isn't working, just quit. But, I'll share my effort with you anyway. 

I often find that people are amazed that I do as much as I do on the computer. I tell them it's like how I drive a car! I can drive that thing but just don't put me under the hood to fix something. That's what tech guy (son-in-law) is for!

It must have been 1989 when I got introduced to a computer. I was heavy into doing genealogy and decided I needed a way to keep it besides the tons of info I had on pieces of paper. 

So, I walked into Radio Shack (remember those?) and told the guy I needed something. I'd never even seen a computer but he showed me once and convinced me it was what I needed. I walked out of there with it under my arm. 

Got home and I managed to plug into the electrical outlet but now, what? So, a call to my son and he walked me through turning it on.....

And, the rest is history. 

I wrote my first book that was published on it. I cussed it alot during that time, too. I got on Myspace and later on Facebook. Just lately I was talked into getting on Instagram but I'm not nuts about it. For a few years I had a YouTube channel but I've not kept that up. I do enjoy some of what's offered on YouTube. 

And, I've been blogging since 2008. I do love my computer! And the friends I make on there.

But, as I said, don't ask me to fix any problems. It's just fun and I'm no technician. 

How long have y'all been blogging? 

A Perfect Life

 This journey that I've been on to find ME has been so interesting. And, I'm still finding out something new about myself every day! I'm loving it.

On April 10th I posted something about the woman that is my "life coach". She comes once a month and always has a 'project' for us to tackle. The latest one was this:

During the night a miracle happened... you awoke to find that you were living your PERFECT LIFE.. What would that life look like? 

Well, now, that was mind-provoking. You'd think I would say something like, I'd be healthy, rich, traveling, eating at fancy restaurants, have a perfect family and staff so I didn't have to do anything. HA HA. 

Here is what I said:

1. I would never get cancer again. I mean, I've had it twice already. Isn't that enough! There is always a niggling in my head saying, 'suppose you do'. 

2. I'd know that the lives of my children were as good as it could  be. There's some changes that need to happen there.

3. I would never again feel guilt in saying the word, NO.  I wish I'd learned that years ago.

4. I'd be an elegant lady with perfect manners and have a real sense of fashion. I always feel like I am not put together very well. 

5. I'd find out I just won the lottery. I'd hire an assistant and the two of us would travel to all those places I've always wanted to go. 

Here's the thing. If you'd like to play along, I hope you will post your perfect life in the comment section. That will be some fun reading!

Finding Yourself

 We gals have all led lives that were and are filled with giving and caring. When my husband died in 2011 after 11 years of Alzheimers, I rattled around in our big house just wondering what I was supposed to do next. It was very unsettling. 

I'd been a wife, a mother, a caregiver, a caretaker, a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker... Whoops got off on a nursery rhyme tangent there! But, you get the picture. 

I did not know who I was supposed to be. Some months of therapy helped. Then I started reading self-discovery books. The ones that helped the most were "The Artist's Way" and 'The Original me". 

It's been quite a journey and one I would not have missed for anything! Every day, through every new door opening to me I became more aware of who I was as a person. The real me!! and I am still seeking and searching for new and exciting facets of my life. 

I am ticked that all this happened so late in my life. But, there is a time and place for everything under the sun. And, this was my time. 

I hope you girls will start on your own journey to becoming your authentic self. You just might be surprised at what lies deep inside of you.

A Romaine Tale

 Sometime you just stumble upon something and then you say, 'Why have I not known about this before now?'

This post is about romaine lettuce. Yep... just lettuce.

I grew up on iceberg, then switched over to butter lettuce and occasionally use mixed greens but you might say I was 'stuck in a rut.'

Then came that surprise grocery delivery on Jan. 26th and there was this bag with 3 heads of romaine lettuce in there. I started to give it away. I really did but then I thought better of that idea.

Fast forward to Feb. 20 when I ate the last of that lettuce. It was still fresh, green. I only lost 3 outer leaves in these 3 weeks that I had it. 

Living alone I'd get so mad when I'd buy lettuce and in a couple days it would wilt, turn brown and in the trash it would go. Then, I got smart. I started wrapping my lettuce with a wet paper towel (don't wash the head of lettuce first) and dropping it into a small plastic grocery bag. Didn't close it or anything, just tossed it into the crisper drawer of the fridge. 

Let me tell you... it works wonderfully with romaine! Like I say. I ate the last of that 3 weeks after getting it. 

Now, I am hooked on that stuff! Just think what a surprise someone gave you can change your life. Well, maybe not my life but certainly my taste in the green stuff. 

Boy, you can tell that I have run out of anything interesting to post about. Reducing to talking about lettuce is pretty low!

I Put On My Bitch Lipstick!

 Well, I did it! 

Put on my bitch lipstick and headed to the dentist office. Like I said, I'm mostly non-confrontational but this was an exception! 

I asked to speak to the head of scheduling. Ain't nobody in charge it seems!!

So, the older lady that's been there forever asked me what I needed and I slid my appt card across in front of her and said, 'I was here for this appointment last Wednesday and was told I was not scheduled for that'. 

She fiddles around on her computer, then she goes and pulls my record... there it is, plain as day, Jan. 7th at 11 a.m. but it was not on her computer so when I showed up at the desk on Wednesday, they did not have it on their schedule. I told her that was not my fault....

Seems the nurse wrote my appt. card and entered the info into my record (back in the office where I got my cleaning) but she never entered it into the scheduling system. And, this has happened twice! 

So, I said, 'So, I guess each time I get an appt. I need to tell the nurse to be sure it gets to scheduling. That's not my job.' 

The woman could tell I was fusterated, annoyed, my voice getting a tad loud so she pats my arm and says they'll figure something out. 

Seems I am going to be given a free floride treatment for all my trouble....

Well, hell, I bet my insurance company will be tickled pink. That doesn't help me in the least since I have insurance that covers that. 

But, at least, I got that off my chest and they are more than aware now to be more diligient in the future when they are dealing with me. 

I wiped off my bitch lipstick* and came home. 

*my daughter, when she has to confront anyone about some displeasing matter says she puts her bitch lipstick on before she tackles the problem.

2026 Goals

 

I didn't make resolutions! I, instead, made goals. Then I made a page for my scrapbook journal about those goals. Maybe it will help to remind me where I am headed this year. At the end of the year we will see how it went! 

Quote

'When we limit our belief in our own potential to grow, we also limit our incentive to grow'

                                  Mary Pipher

Goals For 2026

Well folks, it's time to start thinking about making New Year's resolutions! 

Geez, I dislike that phrase! Resolutions? They are made and then promptly forgotten. 

                            I say we ''Set Goals" instead.

Goals keep us focused, on task, and gives us such satisfaction at their completion.

                             Here's my Goals for 2026

1. Finish that book I am writing and get it published. I'm about half-way through when I just quit! So onward, I go!

2. Exercise more. I've never liked exercise but I know I need it now more than ever. So, onward I go with that goal as well.

3. Learn something new each week. Anything from a new word to a new skill. Learning keeps us young and connected. 

4. Finish reading the Bible from cover to cover. I am almost there.

                            What are your Goals For 2026? 

Living Our Best Lives

 Yesterday set the mood...

Shirley and I attended a performance of 'The Nutcracker' at our local art center. Local talent, all but the sugar plum fairy, whom they imported. haha

It was such a delightful event. I hadn't seen that dance since my granddaughter danced in a performance how many years ago!! She has a grown son now so it was awhile. 

A little 5 year old sat next to me. The place was sold out so Mommy had to sit just behind her. She was quite nervous about it all to begin with and then that child got so caught up in all the excitement of the Nutcracker and the little mice and so on. Pretty soon her body was pressed up against my arm. It did my soul good to see all of that through a child's eye again. I loved it. 

So, on to other things. 

My college football team (Alabama) played like junior high kids on Saturday and lost the SEC championship. I turned off the tv at halftime. So, here's  what I did instead.....

I'm pretty old. And, I have had a pretty good attitude about growing old,  I think. I have spent some time over the last years discovering who I was and what I was supposed to do with these last remaining years. I regularly get comments from others that I inspire them. I don't know about that. I am just being me but it has been a dream of mine to set an example for  others. And to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. 

I see so many older ones that just sit around waiting to die, no interest in anything, constantly complaning about everything, making themselves and everyone around them miserable. I decided a while ago that I was not going to be that person, nor was I going to be around people who are constantly negative. 

So, on Saturday afternoon instead of watching my football team lose a game, I set up a facebook group for us older women. It's open to anyone of a 'certain age'. I have 20 members so far and I hope it grows. I want us women to be there for each other, to support each other

My blog is so dear to my heart. I have made so many wonderful friends here and sure want to keep them close to me forever. I won't give that up but, I just wanted to do something a little different as well as keeping my blog going.  This woman must have tooooo much time on her hands. haha

If you are interested in joining, go to facebook and look us up. We'd love to have you. 

Who Likes Fruitcake?

 Just before Thanksgiving I received a package delivered to my front door. 

                      It was a fruit cake I had ordered. 

I had made fruitcake over the years, I'd bought the Claxton slices in the grocery store, I'd ordered them from online but they just weren't all that good.

However.... what's Christmas without fruitcake, right?

I saw an advertisement for this fruitcake and decided to try it. It's made by the monks at Assumption Abbey in Missouri. I was not disappointed at all. That cake is  GONE. I've ordered another one. 

Let me tell you a little about the monks who make these cakes. Monks ordinarily make their living by farming or having a dairy. But, the monks in Missouri are on poor land and they had to find some other way to get some cash flow. Ta Da.... they'd make fruitcakes.

A famous chef helped them get started and the monks have been doing this for years now. They just bake, bake, bake... the cakes are injected with rum and let set to 'ripen'. Not anything like any fruitcake I've been had. 

Just thought I'd share that little tidbit with you... just in case you like fruitcake!

On A Journey of Self-Discovery

 Personally I have never been a fan of  'long-winded' blog posts. And, here I am doing one. But, please bear with me. This is just on my heart to share this with you all.

I was a shy, awkward country girl who never seem to fit in at school, no friends near where I lived. My self-esteem was pretty low. 

By the time I was 17 I was a new bride, a new mom at 18. And, so I took on those roles of Mother and Wife when I was in my mid-teens. And, those are the roles I played for decades! With our busy life I had not time to concentrate on me.

When I was 65 my husband and I moved from Alabama to Virginia. A couple years into being in our new home I met a woman who fascinated me. She was into healthy eating, connecting with nature, mediation, yoga, self-discovery. That was so new to me and I wanted to know more. I've always been a curious sort and love to learn about new things. My talks with her were so enlightening. 

My first self-help book I ordered was 'Who Will Cry When I Die' by Robin Sharma. I quickly became a follower of his and I began to delve into who I really was. I felt that there was more to this individual walking around in my shoes than just wife and mother. By this time my kids were all grown and I was the full-time caregiver for my husband who had Alzheimers. 

Who was this person that my Mother had given birth to. I wanted to find out. So, I set out on a self-discovery journey of my own. 

I read lots of books, most of which were 'crap' (excuse the expression) but I have found a few that has opened my mind, my heart and my soul that made me dig down and bring up all those old fears, wounds, scars that I had shoved so deep inside me over the years. I began to discover a sense of peace, of calm, of truth and being authentic. Oh, I'm not there yet but I know more of who I was meant to be, of who I can be, of peace and happiness and just a sense of being alive than I have ever felt. 

Some of my problem was not knowing that we all are capable and should set boundaries for ourselves.  When I discovered that I could request ... no, demand.... boundaries, wow, that gave me such a sense of freedom to be me. I've learned to be more open to forgiveness, to even forgive myself and especially those who have hurt me. This life is too short to  hold those wounds as sacred evidences of past wrongs. 

I'm working hard on that low self-esteem and it is a work in progress. I've had a great life, I've done a ton of things in those years, but I feel like I wasn't worthy or good enough so it always felt like it was someone else who did all that stuff, who travels all those miles, who held weeping mothers in my arms in MADD, who served on committes, who wrote books, and painted and quilted and so much more. BTW... singing is not on that list. 

'The Artist's Way' is a favorite book, so is 'Original Me' and now I am reading 'The Awakening'. All exellent sources to guide us to a better place in our lives. I also really enjoyed 'Women Rowing North'.

I encourage you to find your own path, your own self. You may be wonderfully surprised. 

And, I end with this... With an open heart I embrace each and every one of my blogging buddies. You are such a blessing to me. Love you. 

Just Find Me Some Good Food!

                  If anything can happen, it will happen to me and Shirley!

A lunch date and we decided to go to one restaurant, but we got lost and ended up a block from another place that we had eaten several times before. We were hungry .. we just parked and went in to Place #2. 

Neither of us was 'feeling it'. The items on the menu just didn't click for us. I finally selected a chicken salad sandwich and fries. Shirley got 2 sides. The chicken salad was just cooked chicken chopped fine with some mayonaise mixed into it... no taste. So uninteresting. And, my fries... they were limp as a wet noodle!! No crisp to the outside, mushy inside. We gave up after a few bites and left.

Got in the car and we look at each other and asked 'What just happened? We just spent $35 and we are still hungry. I get this idea that we should just find place #1 and get us another lunch. 

That's what we did. Have you ever done that? Had two lunches within an hour of each other. It was funny as heck and we kept laughing about it. But, Place #2, the food was good. I had soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. There was plenty of food and flavor and we were happy. 

On a sadder note

My Susan lost her best buddy last weekend. She'd had him for 8 years but poor fellow got cancer and couldn't make it any longer. 

Snickers was attached to Susan's hip from day 1. It's a tough time for her so just give her a thought and prayer. I am sure she'd appreciate it. 

Surrendering

 Talk about life being dull around here! But, then I guess it's my own fault. 

I did go to the drs. twice last week. Why is it, that the dr. is about the only place you go when you get older?

I made a couple new recipes. One, a magical lemon cobbler, is now in my garbage can..... I started making it thinking I had all the ingredients and I didn't, so I improvised and it flopped big time. I didn't need all that sweet stuff anyway!! 

(not my photo.... you don't want to see what mine looked like!)

It's getting cooler now so I spent the morning dragging all my summer clothes out of the closet. Got all nice, warm things hanging in there now. Watch it turn off warm again!!

Oh, I did surrender last week. Nope, I wasn't in a battle and come up with a white flag... well, I sort of did. I've been resisting using a walker. Now, I can walk fine without assistance on level surfaces and there was this thing about having a walker that just screamed "YOU ARE OLD... YOU ARE USELESS". Boy, pride can be our biggest enemy. 

My daughter asked me, 'Well, when did you think you'd get old enough to need a walker, when you're 100?"  It sure wasn't now at age 91 but I knew it was hampering my freedom. I just can't go up and down curbs, slants, etc. without some help. So, for a dr. visit last week I dragged out that walker I've had forever and used it. It was amazing how much more confident I felt. The heck with pride!!

Those of you who asked if Miss P (from my last post) was moving into a place where she'd have more assistance. Not Miss P. She'd have stayed here if she could but her husband passed away awhile back and without his income she just couldn't afford to stay here. She's moving to D. C. to live in a garage apartment that her son has. Oh, that woman is independent.. no assisted living for her. We are missing her already. 

I painted a watercolor last week. Funny thing... when I scanned it the background and shadows came out blue. On the original it was grey. 

Guess I'll tootle along... nothing much else to yak about. Take care. 

Storing Up For Winter

 

Yesterday afternoon I sat down at the table on my balcony and just watched the breeze fluffing the leaves. Some fell, some hung on for dear life. The fountain was going, the water splashing around. I could hear a rustle somewhere and saw a dark object in a nearby tree. 

It was a squirrel. I'd never seen a squirrel in that particular tree. They are usually scampering up and down the pine trees past the driveway, chasing each other out one limb and then another. I grabbed my camera. 

There, evidently, was some sort of nut or seed pod on that tree and he was having himself a feast! I sat and watched him run out a limb, grab something to eat and scoot back to this one spot to munch on it. He did it over and over. Getting fat for the coming winter, I guess.

Gee, I wonder if I can use that as an excuse that when I eat more than I should I can say I am storing up for the wintertime!

A Great 'Sunday Morning'

 As usual, on a Sunday Morning, I tuned into CBS's 'Sunday Morning'.

In the world of television with all it's various opinions, reality shows which are NOTreality at all and the stupid sit-coms, 'Sunday Morning' is a breath of fresh air. 

I really miss Charles Karault but Jane Pauley is 'growing on me'. 

I learn so many interesting things by watching that show. it's just good, basic facts which is rare to find these days.

Take that Silicon Valley exec who had a stroke. It left him mute and paralysized from neck down. Most people would just give up. But, this guy is playing cards, writing song lyrics and connecting with his grandchildren all through robotics. Amazing!

And, the strange little buildings in southern Italy with roofs made of layered stone (nothing holding the stones in place). Well, I wouldn't want to go inside (it might cave in) but what a unique idea. I wonder why they started building them like that... 

We lived in Hawaii for a short period of time. And, I left there with a plumeria lei around my neck. I found out on ;Sunday Morning' that due to farm land in Hawaii being gobbled up with urban sprawl and the environment changes, Hawaii has a shortage of blossoms to produce those beautiful leis. As things do, that craft is evolving into using more stable items such as shells, bark etc. instead of the flowers. A way of life is disappearing there as everywhere else. 

I wonder if you are still curious about the world, if you still love to learn things and too, if you are concerned about the amount of false information we are being exposed to? 

I don't think we should ever stop being like a child, with open eyes, open heart and open mind. 

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.