Filed under Favorite Quotes, kindness, Poohisms
Roberto Rizzo Rock Painting, robertorizzoart.net, Hidreley, BoredPanda.com
Filed under Rock Art, Stone/Pebble Art
Filed under Amazing Animals, Awe-Inspiring Photography
Filed under Stone/Pebble Art
Although our last spring frost is technically April 5th here, there are signs of spring everywhere I look outside! I couldn’t be more ready.
Yesterday I planted the elephant ear bulbs I’ve had in our garage in a trash can of Mel’s Mix (soil alternative). The bulbs were ‘slimy’ on the outside (ICK!) but I dug the deepest holes I could in the planter and planted them. I have no clue what will happen – if anything – now. If they DON’T sprout new growth, we’ll look around and see if we can get replacement bulbs. We really enjoyed the display last year.
Our tulip tree is blooming!
It’s hard to be down when Mother Nature’s beauty is blooming its heart out all around you.
Happy Sunday!
Filed under Mother Nature, Seasons
It’s rainy here, making me glad I have a warm, dry house.
It also makes me want comfort food, and I have trouble staying away from ‘bad’ things.
In general, I do pretty well, but then the gremlin inside my head tells me, “It’s been over a year since you had a ________. It wouldn’t hurt to have just one…” Yeah, right. And then we move on to President’s Day, and National Pickle Week, and the whole thing crashes.
Today I’m trying to distract myself by working in the yard, if Mother Nature will cooperate. It is not raining this very minute, so maybe I can get my elephant ear plants re-planted.
I noticed yesterday that in addition to my daffodils lifting my spirits, our tulip tree is blooming! Talk about signs of hope for the future!
So, I will finish my coffee, keep my mouth firmly shut otherwise, and stay busy.
Wishing myself luck….
Filed under Challenges, DIET!, Gardening
Four years ago Amber was born and soon came to live with us. She is a yellow lab.
We had done some research before getting her, and saw that labs tend to be a bit hyperactive for the first two years, but then they settle down.
Amber did not get the memo.
(I remember my parents, both only children, sitting me down at times for ‘serious discussions.’ They would calmly tell me that they had read the book (probably Dr. Spock) and that they realized that I was apparently going through the ‘terrible two’s.’ They had decided that I would SKIP this stage, moving right on to whatever came next. The talks really didn’t work that well, but I understand their motivation.)
Amber HAS calmed down – to be fair – but still is a maniac. She does pretty well when nothing is happening and we are by ourselves. The minute anyone ELSE comes, she acts as though she has never seen us before. All the time we’ve spent trying to train her goes out the window.
Since she weighs 95 pounds, it isn’t ‘cute’ that she wants to run right up to you, jump up, and lick you in the face. We have baby gates all over the house so that we can contain her. She is sneaky, and very smart, knowing that we can’t pay attention to her every minute. She calmly waits and then goes into the kitchen and eats my husband’s treats off the counter, leaving only the container on the floor, coming in where we are in the living room, smiling and belching. My husband and I try really hard to remember to close the baby gate between the living room and the kitchen, but we’re old and we get busy…
My other worst time is when she is outside and I come out, usually going out to the shop to check on my husband, or out to the garden. When she sees me, her eyes light up and she comes running FULL SPEED. She has knocked me flat onto my back on the ground several times. I now try to hurry to a tree, or at least turn sideways to give her a smaller target. She doesn’t mean to hurt me, but the damage is done before she tries to lick my face.
If I had to describe Amber in one word, it would be ‘EXUBERANT.’ The love for life and wish to experience all there is overflowS in this sweet dog. I wish her parents were smarter…
Filed under Amazing Animals, Challenges, Family
I have had a really nice celebration this year. My husband was raised not making a big deal of birthdays, so he doesn’t do much on anyone’s birthday, his own included. He simply doesn’t think of it. My friends and relatives make up for him, though, making me feel VERY special. I have received cards and texts, phone calls, and TWO Lunch Bunch Fridays where two weeks ago, the waitresses/friends at the Pizza Barn got me some really nice foaming soap and a tall, heavy candle that smells like Cranberry-Mandarin. Heavenly!
My birthday fell exactly between two Fridays this year, so that always complicates things on when we celebrate. Yesterday my Lunch Bunch friends gave me a special birthday lunch. I got some really luxurious hand cream (the foaming soap and the really nice hand cream are wonderful for chapped hands from all the hand washing we do now), and then a gorgeous plant (Mime Rose) with a solar-powered glass hummingbird to put in the pot.
I set things up, putting the flowering plant with hummingbird in the window. Last night when we were taking Amber out for her last outing of the day, I noticed the hummingbird was glowing, changing colors, and reflecting in the window! I’ve taken some pictures this morning, and I’ll try to get some tonight when the hummingbird is changing colors.
You have to look carefully to see the hummingbird up high above the mime roses.
You can see the hummingbird high above the plant in this picture a bit more easily.
Here’s a close up of the glass hummingbird. At night, it turns different colors, simply glowing and reflecting in the glass of the window. It’s stunningly beautiful. Hats off to the people who created this.
I just called my Lunch Bunch friend, thanking her again for such a wonderful gift. I love the mime roses, and I love the hummingbird. I’m a lucky lady. I’ll try to get pics tonight and share them with you tomorrow. :0)
Filed under Friendship, Gardening
Rock Painting – Roberto Rizzo – robertorizzoart.net – Hidreley – BoredPanda.com
Filed under Rock Art, Stone/Pebble Art
Filed under Amazing Animals
Some of my body parts are ripening more than others today.
I had a glorious massage this morning. My massage therapist had surgery early in November, and it was last month before she was able to give massages. The ice and snow made us reschedule, so this morning was my first massage in a LONG time. She told me she didn’t remember me ever being so tight and knotted up, and I’ve been going to her for several years. I knew I had been under some pressure, but as she worked on me, I could feel it. One place in particular, I almost came up off the table. I felt SO much better after she finished.
I came home, fixed us lunch, and then spread out under my throw in my recliner. I slept for 3 hours! I guess this is the first time in awhile I’ve felt really relaxed. I feel almost as if I could simply slither to the floor out of my chair right now. :0)
My husband and I had our first COVID vaccine shot last Monday morning. They are doing a mass injection effort in Fort Smith through Health Depot, one of our local pharmacies. I happened to call at the right time and was able to get an appointment for 11:00 on Monday. We used the GPS to find the church where the injections were being given. I had no idea what to expect, how long we would be there, etc.
What we found was a delight. We went into the church, filled out a two page form and were immediately told to go to one of several stations in another room. I sat down, got my shot, and was asked to go sit in some chairs and wait for them to bring my IDs and a card. We waited maybe 5 minutes. A man came, gave everything back to us, explained that we had an appointment to get the 2nd injection on March 29th at the same time and place. And that was it. We were there maybe 10 minutes total. The shot didn’t even hurt!
For the next couple of days, our arms were sore, but that was it. I feel so lucky to be able to get this protection and that we lucked into a place that was so well organized. We are in the high risk group as far as dying from the virus, so my mind is resting more easily now, too.
Right before I took my nap today, my husband had propped the back door open. Soon after we started eating our lunch, a sound came that was music to my ears – the generator turned on for its weekly test! We now listen each week to make sure it’s working. This probably won’t last forever, but it’s so comforting to know that we have backup power if we need it. AND I don’t take for granted the fact that we had water throughout the ice and snow storms where so many good people around us had pipes that burst or no local water at all. Things are starting to get back to normal now, but it’s another thing for which to be very thankful.
I hope that good things are happening for you, too.
Filed under taking care of yourself, Thoughts on a ________
ROCK PAINTING by Roberto Rizzo, robertorizzoart.net – article on Boredpanda.com by Hidreley.
Filed under Rock Art
Last night I awoke as if someone had nudged me at 1:30. I tried to go back to sleep, but sounds and thoughts surrounded me and I got up to go downstairs a read a bit to get sleepy again.
I ended up eating some turkey. There is something about being awake in the middle of the night that makes me ravenous. I ate and read and then went back up to bed.
Today I feel guilty, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do it again…..
Filed under DIET!
I received this from my SIL yesterday and I’m still smiling. I love it. I had a pretty good, quite birthday yesterday. Apparently I’m a bad one to hold grudges because I still resent being described by ANYONE as “elderly,” no matter how sweetly is it said. If I am with them when they say it, I will bite them in a leg, and I have NOT had my rabies shot.
Our weather is iffy, but I’m trying to replant my elephant ear bulbs. What I’ve read,though, says to wait until all chance of frost is past, and that is April 5th here, so I guess I need to wait a bit longer.
A lot of my daffodils froze, but I have bunches blooming their heads off around the yard. Even my husband remarked about them when we left to go to town yesterday.
This is the group I call “Debbye’s Bouquet.” I had a good friend who died of breast cancer several years ago. True to her nature, at her funeral two barrels were set up at the door of the church. We were asked to grab a handful of daffodil bulbs as we left and to plant them in her memory. I thought that was a truly wonderful idea. Every spring her bouquet comes up, giving me hope.
I’m re-reading “Now and Then” # 35 of 40 in Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. I have thoroughly enjoyed re-immersing myself in the amazing world he created. I will be a bit sad when I get to the end of the series. Several good, well meaning writers have tried to continue his legacy, but they seem just a shadow, so I don’t try to read them anymore. I’m just feeling very lucky I found the original and have a collection to treasure.
Make your Wednesday a good one.
The above is a quote from Michelle Shocked
I am 74 today – older than dirt – older but not wiser – still ornery and kickin’ .
I have started a petition – in my own mind at least – to obliterate the word, “Elderly.” Supposedly, this includes people 60 and above. Every time I hear the word, realizing that the people uttering it are referring to ME, I get hostile.
“I’ve enjoyed every age I’ve been and each has had its own individual merit. Every laugh line, every scar, is a badge I wear to show I’ve been present, the inner rings of my personal tree trunk that I display proudly for all to see. Nowadays, I don’t want a “perfect” face and body; I want to wear the life I’ve lived.”
— Pat Benatar
I’m just getting a good start now. Right at this moment, I’m feeling a bit older than usual, though. My husband and I got our first shot of the COVID vaccine yesterday. My arm is a bit achy, and I’m not feeling very energetic, but that is a TEMPORARY condition, and this one time I’m glad I’m ‘old enough’ to get something.
I am full of plans for spring. I want to re-plant the elephant ear plant bulbs I’ve been storing in the garage for the winter. I want to repair our irrigation system where the cold weather busted one of the pvc pipes we use to water our plants. I am eager to uncover my raised bed planters so I can get spring veggies started.
I have ideas rattling around in my head for things I can try in my art room. In fact, I’m planning to spend part of my birthday today up there. :0)
“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”~ Sophia Loren
It’s a nice day, so I’m going to spend time on my elliptical trainer in the garage, and then do a good, long session of yoga stretches this afternoon.
“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.”
— George Bernard Shaw
I truly love finding things to post on this blog. There is so much to share that is hopeful!
“As long as I am breathing, in my eyes, I am just beginning.” — Criss Jami
Filed under taking care of yourself
Filed under Amazing Animals, paintings I love
We spent from before lunch until 6:30 in the evening, but we got the new garage door opener installed and running yesterday. I am definitely coming back ( in my next life) as a combination weight lifter and basketball player who majored in fixing things.
The main thing that strikes me about the new opener is how QUIET it is compared to the one we replaced. I’m also very grateful we don’t have to manually haul the door up and carefully let it down now. A device that does that at a touch of a button is definitely a good thing. :0) It would be very nice if our garage were as clean as the one shown in the nice image above. No such luck.
We are resting today, still pretty whipped out with all the labor yesterday. The weather is gorgeous with reasonable temperatures and lots of sunshine. I will try to at least walk around the yard awhile before the afternoon is over, just to smile at the sun a bit, if nothing else.
I’m enjoying book # 29 “Widows Walk” by Robert B. Parker. I think there are 40 in the Spenser series, and I am truly enjoying revisiting his wit, sense of humor, wonderfully drawn characters, and clean writing.
I have spaghetti sauce in the slow cooker for dinner tonight. Nice Sunday.
I hope that YOUR Sunday is a good one, too.
Filed under Amazing Animals, paintings I love
My sister-in-law told me this morning that she and her Mah Jongg group helped their friend John celebrate his 80th birthday. She said, “He dressed up with a walker and shawl and scarf to get in the spirit of the moment. Lots of good chatter and neighbors honking as they passed. We think we gave him a “proper” 80th birthday.”
This is a beautiful example of the goodness of people even in the midst of the horrible pandemic, and I’m proud to be on the same planet. John’s wife was in the group originally. She passed away and her husband John was inducted into the group by this caring bunch of people. What a happy way to show John he is valued!
May we add our “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!” to the celebration.
Filed under Friendship, giving, kindness
There was a sweet red cardinal trapped inside this bottle bird feeder this morning. I think it was the same one that was trapped in there once before, but the last time he freed himself after awhile. This time I decided that maybe he is mentally impaired and I couldn’t just leave him there.
He just walked out when I took the bottle down – meaning that if he hadn’t freaked out, he would have been easily able to extricate himself.
It is my observation over many years that the female cardinals check out feeding areas for the males. They come and see if the food is good and the area is safe. If nothing bad happens to them, the beautiful male red cardinals show up and eat. Maybe the females have spoiled the males so much in the past that they are borderline incapable of fending for themselves…
Now the cardinals – and all the other sweet birds, have two filled bird feeders, plus seeds in the shovel bird on the edge of the deck, plus two containers of suet, plus water ready.
Filed under Amazing Animals
Filed under Stone/Pebble Art
Things have been challenging here lately, and my reaction to it is to tense up, sleep sporadically and poorly, and ‘scrunch up’ so I hurt all over – being stiff and sore.
My old lady yoga stretches are saving my life. I try to routinely do about 35 minutes of so, just to stretch things out. Lately, I am taking more and more time in my efforts to relax and rejuvenate. It really helps.
I’m grateful to Cat Kabira who makes wonderful yoga DVDs for getting me started. She has such a kind manner, stressing that it doesn’t matter if you can touch your toes or not, or if you cannot fold yourself into a paper airplane in a particular pose. She says that the relaxation, breathing, and stretching as far as you can at the time is what is important. I would have given up almost before I started if I hadn’t been lucky enough to find her on the Sixtyandme.com website.
Now I do my own routine, spending as much time as I need to in order to make up for the day’s challenges. I feel much better after I do my practice.
Filed under exercise, taking care of yourself
Friends and family are priceless; but maybe even more appreciated with all we are dealing with today.
When I got to the computer this morning, I had emails from two of my favorite people in the world. I don’t feel as if the day has started without hearing from them. They ground me. We can share anything and everything and don’t have to worry about judgment. And we CARE about each other. If that isn’t priceless, I really don’t know what is.
In about an hour, we will go to Lunch Bunch. Every Friday for over 17 years, we go and share a bite to eat and catch each other up on what has happened during the past week. We share hopes and dreams, help each other through sadness. Our core group remains the same, though Lunch Bunch changes on how many people come each week. I am so grateful I have two wonderful friends who mean the world to me.
When the world is hostile, angry, and dangerous – and we need to be careful about everything we do and say – loving, and having the love and care of friends and family, will help us through to better times. May we all “make our souls blossom.”
Filed under Attitude, Challenges, Encouragement, Family, Friendship, kindness
I told you recently that gremlins have taken over our home lately. We have had to move from one thing needing repair or replacement to the next over and over and over, all starting when we were iced in for a week and then snowed in for another week last month.
One of the important things was that our generator didn’t do its automatic weekly test. My husband was unable to start it manually, either. Thank goodness we didn’t need it while the weather was so challenging. We recharged the battery that we just bought a little over a month ago and I bought a new air filter, and we made sure the oil was good, but that wasn’t enough. My husband took out the starter motor. We called around and found a guy who fixes small motors, and drove to Ft. Smith – leaving it with him. He called later and said he was unable to fix it, but that he had a new one we could buy.
My husband went back to Ft. Smith, bought the new starter motor. On his way home he had a flat and managed to get to a tire place to buy a used tire to get him home. We ordered two new rear tires for the Vette.
My husband installed the new starter motor in the generator and tested it. It RAN! He left it set on automatic weekly testing. I put the time of 12:20 today for the test on my calendar. I set my alarm so I could open the door and HEAR it start for the test. It was 12:23 when the motor turned on and started the generator!!!!! It ran for 10 minutes and shut itself off.
ONE PROBLEM SOLVED!
We got the two new rear tires and headed for the local tire place, with me following my husband there. They installed the new tires, but told him that he needed new FRONT tires ASAP. So – we ordered new front tires…
While we were waiting for those to arrive, we took the Vette to the dealer in Ft. Smith because the turn signals weren’t working. I followed him there and we left the vehicle, asking them also to look at whatever holds the exhaust system up because it was rattling, and the headlights, which opened up, but were recalcitrant about going back down when we push the button. They called us back, wanting $1200 to fix the exhaust system and they wanted to change the headlights. My husband told them to JUST fix the turn signals. (That entails taking the whole front off the Vette). They called us later that day, so we made a second trip to Ft. Smith to pick up the Vette.) They charged us $211 for the turn signals. My husband says if the exhaust system rattles get louder, we’ll take it to Midas. He will ignore the problem on the lights, since that isn’t a safety issue.
Today we received the new front tires and have now left the Vette at the local tire place for them to put them on. They will call us when it is ready.
So we will have TWO of the several problems we have had one after the other FIXED – or as fixed as we can afford. :0)
Two remaining problems is that the heater in the shop isn’t working and the garage door opener quit. We have contacted the propane people about the shop heater and we have ordered a new garage door opener. The company wanted around $900 to install a new garage door opener, but we ordered one for $250 and will install it ourselves – we hope.
If you see the gremlins, please catch them for us. We will see if they can be appeased…
Filed under Challenges, Housekeeping - Maintenance
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