Some Missions Accomplished

 I finally found my storage box with my Fall decorations in it!! 

I don't have much. It doesn't take much these days to keep me happy. I don't need every inch of my apartment cluttered with stuff... anyway, I did a couple things. 

This is my table decoration. Yes, I know .... it's not time for the pilgrims yet but she is holding a pumpkin so I guess that counts, right? 

I made this little fall arrangement and set it atop my jewelry cabinet

There's a couple of things sitting here and there but I didn't take pictures of them. 

And, on to other stuff

I stayed awake a lot last night. I am not like most authors who plan out their books, have a notebook filled with ideas of how it will go, know the plot from beginning to end. Most of my chapters are thought out in the middle of the night, one by one. I let my inner voice take me on this writing journey. 

Well, last night I started thinking about the next chapter and hours later I had every chapter written in my head . 

I like the direction it is taking and I am quite excited to move along and get it done. But, I am not telling... not one hint. Sorry, you'll have to wait 'til it's published. 

We got little effects from the Hurricane whatever his name was that hit the coast. By the time it got to us it was just rain and not a great deal of that either. Sure feel for those closer to the coast, though. My son in north alabama wasn't hit bad either. 

I made some new snacks for my football watching on Saturday. It was Pepper Jelly Pinwheels. 

The tortillas worked fine and BTW I used 2 instead of one and it worked great. But, I wonder how they would be using crescent rolls instead of the tortillas. 

Guess that's all for this Monday Morning. Hope you have a wonderful week. 

A Nor'easter Week

Fall is here. Can you  believe it? 

It decided to turn cool. This Nor'easter is making my ears and nose cold. I am NOT going to turn my heat on but you can bet I am going to put my feet on the heating pad while I watch my Saturday college football. Roll Tide!! 

My week has been interesting. I am less willing to drive in the rain now at this age than ever. I don't even want to do it in a drizzle. Wednesday I had a dental appointment and guess what... it was drizzling!! I told myself I was brave and I must have believed myself 'cause I took off in that yucky mess and made it fine. Glad that trip was successful! 

Friday was a pretty day. Thank God for sunshine!! My car needed it's yearly inspection and I had an eight o'clock appointment to get it done. I mean, I don't usually get up 'til 8 but once again, I told myself I could do it and I did. Another successful trip. I'm getting pretty good at this!! 

I may pull out my Fall decorations tomorrow and make this place look more seasonal. I don't do much.. there's no storage for a lot of stuff and I just don't have the energy to be lifting and tugging at boxes that hold things I really don't need. We'll see how that goes. 

I spent two days going through some old keepsakes I have stored in totes under my bed. I told you storage was in short supply around here! What memories all of that drug up along with a ton of dust and used tissues I had blown my nose on and somehow they had hidden under my bed. I got rid of that mess and then cleaned up and neatly arranged my keepsakes back to await another day when I want a little trip down memory lane. 

I'll share a couple of my keepsakes that I am so proud of... 

This is my grandfather's school book. He signed the inside of it with his name and date... 1886. 

Another one that I treasure: a V-Mail sent to me during WWII from a friend who was serving in Italy. I was 10 years old at the time so this letter is 82 years old now.  

The envelope that it came in.

I hope you have a fabulous weekend. And, if you are rooting for a college football team I hope your team wins!!

Rockets and Robots

                            The fourth is over!

I hope you did not get caught in all the storms that hit the east coast, messing up celebrations. My dau. Susan's family got nearly blown away and totally drenched escaping from a fireworks site. 

Me, I stood on my balcony and watched what I could see of the fireworks display being shot off downtown. Trees do get in the way sometimes. 

I know it was a special day, the television kept telling me it was! Yet, for me it was just another fourth, a time to remember that we fought hard and won our freedom. I had ancestors who did the fighting. Geez, my family has been here FOREVER....

It's hotter than blazes here so I am staying in my apartment and giving up thanks on a regular basis for the man who invented air-conditioning. I am old as the hills, so I know what it feels like to not have that cooler than cool air blowing all the time. I remember summers that were scorchers but we had never been exposed to anything else so it was just normal. It's funny how we get used to something and think we can't live without it.

I was thinking the other day about the Jetsons. Remember that tv show from way back when where Rosie, the robot was the maid? 

We all were saying, 'never in a million years will there be a man-made machine that can do what humans do.'  Well, folks, a million years have passed and those robots are taking over!! I even saw where there is an entire soccer team of robots playing soccer. CRAZY!!

It might be interesting to watch a game.... one team of robots, the other team real honest to gosh humans. Wonder who would win!

The Snow Falleth....

 Well, it got here. Such fun to watch the snow falling and so thankful I was inside and warm and safe. The wind was horrific... 

That is supposed to be a video that shows the wind but something happened in the transfer. Oh well. 

Someone went for a walk. I don't see dog tracks so they weren't out walking their dog... Who in the world would be out in temps in the teens just to stroll around!! I don't get it. 

Not my car but the view looking out my dining room window. 

I did venture out ONE STEP on my balcony so I could take the picture below. 

Pond half frozen over with snow on the ice. First time I've seen that! 

So, now it's here. I just wish the temps would warm up. Wind chill factor when I got up. -3 degrees. Now, folks that's cold in my book! 

Manna From Heaven

 Pooh! It barely snowed but it's colder than a chicken's behind in an ice storm. Okay, maybe not that cold. You northern folks would call me out on that. But, it was below freezing and we southern gals aren't comfortable with those temps. It's not warmed up enough to keep the melting snow (what little there was of it here at my apartment) from freezing. Shirley lives 30 miles northwest of me and they got it all. Should have gone up to her house if I wanted some white stuff. 

I had the strangest thing happen to me today. I opened my front door to put my garbage out for pickup and there were 13 bags of groceries sitting on my stoop. Lordy mercy, 'honey chile, I ain't ordered no groceries.' 

pardon the washed out look... my lens fogged over the minute I opened that door!! 

Did some phoning around, been waiting for hours for someone to claim them but so far.... no sign of any hungry people looking for grub. So, it looks like I may have won the grocery lottery!! Hey, it's Christmas all over again! 

I'm a bit down today. Not sure why. Maybe it's the weather... and they say that there is cold, cold air around for days yet. I cancelled a dental cleaning for tomorrow. I am not going to get out in that mess!! 

I did a watercolor a couple days ago. I usually don't do line and wash (where you draw the outline in ink then watercolor in the hues) but I liked it. I do like to sketch so maybe this will give me the best of two of my artsy worlds. 

I sure hope you all are staying warm. The older I get, the colder I get so I have been bundled up pretty well during all this frigid air. It's nice to sit in my recliner with a warm blanket pulled up to my chin and watch tv. I saw 'Eleanor the Great' on Netflix. It was cute and I enjoyed it a lot. 

Glorious October

                          October is here!

Well, actually it's been here 3 days already, came in while I wasn't watching!

So happy for the cooler weather. the hint of fall in the air and dragging out a sweater to wear as I head out this morning. 

QUOTE

"Tomorrow is another day. But, so was yesterday."  

Rene Ricard

Hot tamale!

It is so hot here! It may be where you are, too. If not, count yourself lucky. Heat index 110 today and lord bless those street pavers who have been working in our parking lot all day long in this heat. The air conditioner is having a heck of a time keeping up so I have all the ceiling fans going and a floor fan. The air conditioner is over 20 years old. It had better hang on 'til this heat wave is over. 

I had not cranked my car in about a month so I decided to get an early start this morning. Headed to Wendy's for a sausage biscuit .... at 8 a.m. and the air was so hot already and so heavy I could not breathe. Wendy's was only a block away so I made a quick trip of it and was soon back in my apartment. 

Once a long time ago (back in 2003 and 2004) I had my knees replaced. After all this time the muscles surrounding the titanium knee joints have stretched and so I am not as steady as I once was. At least that is what I am blaming it on. So, my son suggested that I order one of those leg exercisers and it arrived a couple days ago, 

That thing weighed a ton! But, I've been using it. It didn't come with an instruction book although you can set it all sorts of ways... and the company's name is nowhere to be found (on the exerciser, on the wrapping paper, on the box). Guess I will have to go on Amazon and look up what I ordered!! Then, maybe I can figure how to use it!

If you are in this heat... try to stay cool and hydrated. 

I have a book of quotes that I have collected or wrote myself over the years. I think I will end each post with one of those. Hope you enjoy them. If not just ignore. You won't hurt my feelings! 

"God intends for us to have a life of joy. But, we get in our own way or we let others get in our way. My advice is to keep your eyes on God, live peacefully and pray." 

Willie Latane Barton 

It Feels Like Spring!

 It's gorgeous weather! Oh my, how I wish it would last but unfortunately some cold fronts are moving in and we will lose this beautiful, warm sunshine! I am so ready for Spring. Years ago I wrote a poem about The wind and spring and such.... 

I sat out on my balcony... no sweater... and it's February, folks. I saw something I don't believe I had ever seen before... and y'all, these are so out of focus but the branches got in the way... but it was two hawks sitting on a limb together. I am used to just seeing one at a time. And, I am quite the hawk finder. I am first to spot them in trees, on electric lines or whatever when we are traveling. 

Shirley came to get me this morning. It's Thursday so, do you know what is served at Cracker Barrel on Thursdays?  Yep, turkey and dressing. I just need a shot of that ever so often to soothe my southern soul! As good as that dressing is, it still does not measure up to my Mama's. Now, my Mama could make some wonderful cornbread dressing! I never developed the knack, sorry to say. 

Hope you all are having a bit of this 'spring like' weather. If not, I hope it comes to you soon. Hugs to each of you! 

It Snowed!

 Wow!

And, the white stuff came down! Boy, did it! 

Not sure about the inches of snow we got but it was enough and so pretty. 

Here's what I am enjoying this morning:

Did you get any snow? I think it covered most of the Eastern part of the U. S. 

Paint and Snow

 I was disappointed in awakening this morning to a light snow after being promised a bigger one! But, I'll take what I can get! There is just something so magical about snow! 

Last night, before the snow started, Shirley and I joined a bunch of the residents here at the Commons for a paint and sip. No wine.... just sparkling cider! Guess they don't want us old ladies to party too much. hehe. 

I'll tell you, those little teeny tiny pots of paint were hard to open, hard to use and my white one was nearly empty. I guess I just paint better at home with what

 I am familiar with. But, we both enjoyed it a lot. 

I just couldn't resist posting this what with the college football championship and the NFL super bowl just around the corner.

My Heart is Heavy

 

This Sunday morning I want to take time to send my love, prayers and support to all those people affected by Hurricane Helene

We have hurricanes... we expect damage on the coast... but never, in a million years did we expect the devastation a hurricane caused in the mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia. They certainly never thought something like that would take their lives, their homes, their way of life. Floods of that nature just don't happen high in the mountains. 

I am heartbroken by all the images flooding the tv, internet etc. It really is beyond my comprehension. A lot of families lost loved ones and no amount of words or comfort can heal the hole in their hearts. 

I probably have acquaintances affected by this storm. There are ones I wonder about. I do know that my niece living in Greene County, Tennessee posted she was so thankful to be able to go to a relatives house to get a shower and wash her hair. Her home was not damaged but the entire county has no  water. 

Things like entire highways being impassable, I40 shut down and will be for years probably. The Blue-Ridge Parkway closed in definately. Oh how beautiful a drive that was! The Appalahian Trail damaged so badly it will take years to recover. Hearing that made me wonder if hikers were lost. That Trail always has hikers on it. 

So, let us all be thankful for the souls saved, hold in our hearts those who lost their lives and do what we can to help out.  

A Bug and a Flood

 

yep, an old tummy bug hit me Tuesday morning and it has laid me low ever since. But, it did, however, give me a chance to catch up on some streaming. Dau. Susan said I should watch a series 'Perfect Couple' on Netflix. 

So, I got started and before I fell asleep last night I had finished the thing. Talk about keeping you guessing. See, there was a wedding going on in Nantucket but the night before the ceremony one of the bridesmaids comes up dead in the Ocean. And, you just keep wondering which one of those nutty people did it! 

I am not going to tell.. you gotta read the book or watch the series to find out. 

It has been raining so much here but we didn't get as much as a lot of places. Son Michael used to live in Southport, N. C. He posted some pictures from there on facebook. I am so thankful that he isn't living there in that mess now. 

They will have a lot of rebuilding of roads it looks like. 

Hope you all stay dry, safe and happy.

Hugs 

A Little Bit of This & That

I just loved the comments I received in my last post. Reading about all your 'memories' of how things used to be just made me feel like I could see you each and every one, in that situation. I enjoyed it so much and I want to thank you for being so gracious in answering. You are the best. 

I went for my 3 month check-up with my surgeon last Monday. It's been a year since my lumpectomy and so they now are 'graduating' me to every 6 months to be checked. She said I was doing fine. Anytime I can get the 'fine' response to any test, I feel like celebrating. 

I just couldn't help using that graphic above. I swear, if it doesn't stop raining we all are going to be looking for us an ark. Noah, you out there somewhere, come by and pick me up!

Our lunch bunch went to Amici's for lunch yesterday.

When I told my son about our plans, he said I should try the caprese bites. Well, you never go wrong if you follow your son's advice (at least not mine).

I tell you, they were so good. Not that you could say they were 'bites'. At least 5 or 6 bites in each one and I savored every single morsel. 

A bit messy ... I did drop some of that balsamic dressing on my white pants. But, I'll get it out. 

The Olympics start today.

Do you plan on watching? 

I definately want to see the opening ceremony. I've been to Paris twice in my lifetime, been on the Seine River... can't wait to see how they do the opening on the river instead of in a building. 

Here's a picture I took of one of the bateaus on the Seine River. 

1986

A word of wisdom for today:

"If you can't take it with you, then enjoy the heck outta it while you can."

Conquering the Hot Weather

 It is so hot!

Guess the whole country is sweltering but that doesn't make it any easier to realize you are not alone in your 'suffering'. 

I am holed up in my apartment, the AC running continuously, just thinking about times I have experienced cooler spaces. The beach is one. We never go in mid-summer, preferring to go in spring. These are pictures from times like that. I hope it makes me feel a bit cooler... I believe I can imagine a breeze drifting through. 

or perhaps if I can't be at the beach I could at least have some ice cold watermelon. 

Oranges are very refreshing when they are cold, as well. and, did you know you can peel an orange or tangerine and place the slices in the freezer for 15 minutes. Oh, Yummy...I can just taste those right now. 

Please try to stay comfortable.... Fall will eventually get here.