Quiet

 From this little patch of earth comes fresh healthy vegetables and they are brought in and shared as Jock came in last evening and grilled up a salmon to die for.    I don't know what rub he used this time but all I can tell you is that the salmon melted in your mouth.  Erin made brochettes which was delicious and didn't last very long and Pat's salad was exceptional.  It must be all those real true garden tomatoes.   Dinner at Pat's . . . lucky me to be invited.    We had a little room for Marie Calendar's Razzle Dazzle pie;  if you haven't tried it, do, I highly recommend it as it has a taste all its own.

How true.   What is that old adage . . . 'listen and learn'.   I remember a ride up into the mountains of Nevada and a stop at a clearing, a meadow filled with the aftermath of a snow storm.   There was nothing moving, no airplanes flying over, no cars on the road, no birds about, just silence.  How strange and wonderful to 'hear' and 'feel' silence.  We rode on and around the corner there was a vista of a valley far off, surrounded by high mountains, nothing moving, not a soul around, a feeling of peace and contentment.

Another truth.     We are all born with a creativity within.  It takes time to find out what it is, but once we do there is no stopping us.

So today, the start of your weekend to do what you want to do;  and some of the things you really don't want to do. but have to do..... shuck them all and go about enjoying your seconds today.  You have earned a day to yourself.    Don't forget to smile with your eyes and give someone a 'bear' hug today.   Hugs to all.

More of the Same

More orchards in bloom

How different and how beautiful this rare orchid is.

 

 

I just read that the big Yosemite fire was started by a camper.    the largest fire in California history. A camp fire that went astray.    How sad for all.   This picture reminded me of my son John who was a firefighter all through college, and I have a picture of him very similar to this one.

As you know Bob and Andrea are building a new home in the mountains in Arizona.  It is coming along and they are hunting for new appliances.    Bob sent this tome yesterday to show me their new sink.  He offered to send me the name of his plumber . . . I suggested he just send the sink and include the wine.   Everyone should have a sink just like this one in their bar.    What bar?  I'm lucky to have a sink and a bottle of wine.  I love his sense of humor.  of course when they do come for a visit they always bring a special bottle of wine . . .maybe I'll put ice in my sink and rest the bottle in it.

Daughter Christine has been very busy these days.  she works at home and has plenty to do, and also does volunteer work in many community activities in which telephone and meetings take up a lot of time. When she visited me last, she took time out to put one of my novels on Amazon.  It was accepted as I told you in a former blog and my copies came fast and well done.  Jock called to tell me he ordered one which was great to hear but I would have given him a free one as he shares all of his garden produce with me.   I have mailed off a couple of books to a fan or two and last evening I had an e mail from my daughter telling me my book is now on Kindle.   She has already put my newest novel "Decades" in to Amazon and it has been accepted so that will be coming soon.   So I have awarded her the title of agent;   I knew she had a love of books and expected her to grow up and become an author in her own right.  Maybe one day she will write a novel, I hope so.  I wish I had her computer smarts but I am lucky I know how to turn the computer on.   I needed to find a way to get my novels published as Joanne of our hometown Yarak Publishing had to regroup after some health issues.   She and I came along way working together on all of the  novels I did do....about fifteen in all.   She still has one of my novels she wants to do but I can let her off the hook and give her a chance to heal as I  have the new technology to use and she can continue with all of her smaller projects that are much easier for her to keep up with.    It is a fascinating field but a lot of really hard work.    Writing was the easiest part, yep, started a new one.  I said I wanted to be the Grandma Moses of writing short novels, one you can pick up and read on a trip and finish . . . I might make it yet.

So think about what you love to do and get busy doing it.    Each one has a talent all their own, just take time to discover what you talent is then jump in and make good use of it.     Don't put yourself on hold for you can waste a lot of your precious seconds.     Get out there and strut your stuff . . . make someone happy and that someone is YOU.     Hugs to all.


 

Mornin!!

Here's one I forgot to add on my wine list yesterday.   

An orchid for today, "pretty in pink"!

Maya Angelou has a way with words , along with a beautiful bird.  

It is Thursday all day and I enjoyed a visit from my granddaughter.   We had a gab feast as her trip to Rhode Island and Connecticut left her with lots of questions on our family history.    Lucky for me I had written up a history for my children and now she can have a copy too.

    I wish you could have been sitting here listening to some of the conversation about her trip.    She had her favorite spots, many of them but it seems Greece and Croatia were tops on her list.  She lost her lap top so lost some pictures but she has more than enough to tease an adventurers taste buds.    She and Donaleo stayed with some really nice folks and met some very well off and some very poor, yet it didn't make a difference as they were wined and dined with love and acceptance.    They reciprocated in kind and are ready to do it all over again, but not for awhile as Erin leaves the end of the month for Kenya, Africa for Peace Corps training and finding her way in some village there.   She told of the high cost of living in the big cities of Europe.  She enjoyed the smaller villages where she had a chance to taste the real foods of the areas.     She and Donaleo introduced a few American dishes to their host families and did a few chores here and there.     'Couch surfing' as it is called is very interesting as is the people you meet along the way.  

We ended our day with dinner out.  Pat joined us and we had our fish tacos.    Erin missed those so had no trouble enjoying every bite.     She is going to make a few dishes for us this week so maybe I'll have a new recipe or two for you before the week is over.

Make your Thursday special and share a smile and a hug today.     Go out the door with an attitude that says 'come world, come get me' and make everyone want to follow you.    Be wise, be smart and be kind for it begets love and understanding.     Go . . . enjoy today.   Hugs to all. 

Wine!

Hope you have an 'easy' day.

Clever.  I'll look at the opener with a different point of view after seeing this.

Wine prices are catching up with gas prices, maybe we had better plant some grapes.

Who needs wine to hum or sing . . . but I am sure it helps the vocal tones after the first glass or two. 

I got a kick out of the pictures about wine.    I had to move to California to become a wine drinker and then it was really under protest as it was not my favorite libation.    But, like all good things it takes time to adjust the taste buds and now a glass of Merlot with a lovely dinner makes the taste buds sit up and take notice.      I still think a hot cup of coffee or some green tea has a better taste and is more to my liking but let me say that I still never say no to a good glass of wine with dinner.

It is hump day.   I had a call that Russell was not doing well so my reading session is cancelled for today.    I hope you will take a minute to say a prayer for Russell as he is failing.   Going on ninety-six is not only an adventure but a lot fewer steps to the Garden Gate.     He may rally and be up to another reading session.   Maybe a card will cheer him up.    I can do that.  

Every day should be a day to pay attention to the seniors in your life.   Think what joy you bring with a call or a visit.     Hey, a bottle of wine wouldn't hurt and the hugs and smiles will last a long, long, time.   Get busy and make this a Senior Day.  Hugs to all.

Sayings

How true.     Winnie the Pooh Bear, one of my all time favorites says it like it is.

Another truism.   We just have to keep plugging along and the more we try the better we get.

An we don't think colors mix well.    This little bird shows us how its done.

A reason to smile.   We all know we live in a crazy world and we have to be a bit touched to live in it.

We had a touch of rain yesterday, not much to brag about.  I'd say more like an Indian Summer day with sunshine and blue skies and a few clouds scudding by. The fires in our area, all six of them are either contained or about to be.    Say a prayer or two for those under the smoke filled clouds of the Yosemite Fire as the folks up in Nevada have had a long hot smoke filled summer.   We did too, but no where as much as others have had to contend with.    It is Tuesday, all day, so make the best of it.   Granddaughter Erin is busy trying to whittle here four pages of things to take to Kenya list.   Primitive will be in her vocabulary for some time, her own cooking utensils, survival food until she gets accustomed to the foods of Kenya.   She has a video of how to speak Swahili and it is very interesting but you have to have a retentive mind and I'm sorry to say I don't.    I watched the video and hoped to glean a bit of a new language and it sounded easy with a great teacher but my mind didn't hold the words even for a short time.   It is a good thing I am not going to Kenya.   One young lady volunteer has been doing a blog and that has added a lot of positive news to the new group getting ready to go over there and start helping others.  Meanwhile we are enjoying having Erin right here.   

Enjoy your Tuesday.    Start with a positive attitude and that will get you up and moving in the right direction.   Bend the knees a little in thanksgiving for all the blessings you do have and add a few thoughts to those who have so little.    You still have time to bar-b-qu and invite some family and friends over to share a little of the tuna you canned or bought .   If you are in my neighborhood take time out and I'll share and all it costs you is a smile and a hug.   Hugs to all.       

Here Kitty!

This little one is up for adoption at the Kitsap Animal Shelter.   I bet it wont be homeless long.  Look at those eyes, how can you resist?     

The Oregon Newsletter came in with this lovely picture of Cannon Beach.   I wouldn't mind a ride up the coast and a visit here now that the summer crowd has gone. 

Your smile for today.    This picture came in with a little quip about asking this senior if she would rather have Alzheimer or Parkinson disease?  Being old doesn't mean being dumb, according to the tale as she answered "Definitely, Parkinson as it is better to spill half m wine than to forget where I keep the bottle."

Words to ponder.     Each of us has our own path to walk.    What is that adage about 'the grass is always greener';   and we find it is not . . . or that 'walking in anothers shoes"  then we discover the path we are on isn't  half as bad as we thought when we get a look and feel of another walking along beside us. Our pathway is filled with hills and valleys;   straight walk ways and curves, and we have a tiny voice within that is like a tiny alarm giving us fair warning of right and wrong.     Our paths are filled with choices and some are harder to make than others.   Along the way we may have help or be become a helper, but in the end our path is ours to walk and I, for one, wish each of you joy in living.    If you get to a hard place . . . 'pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again'.     It's Monday the start of a new week fraught with all kinds of decisions to make . . . like . . . who shall I hug today?    who shall I call today?    who shall I invite into my life today?     The choices are yours, make them good ones.     Hugs to all..    

She's Home!!

Yeah!!! she's here. . . got my hugs, got some Chan's special and we enjoyed a dinner together.   She looks wonderful, has a bit of jet lag and was anxious to catch up with herself.   She will put her pictures in order and we will have a session or two and I'll hear all about places and faces.    It is going to be fun time for all of us.     Yes, I will keep you posted, just be patient.

Erin brought me a new coffee mug from Iceland.

The cover of my new book.

 

The finished hotel in Smith River.    The Lucky Seven.  We haven't been invited to see the finished product.   We will have to stop in and see what it looks like and find out what they ask for an overnight stay.    I wonder if they put in a pool and a hot tub, guess we'll have to go and find out.

The finished balloon puzzle.    I just couldn't get my arms up high enough to get a good clear pictures.   That pop eye muscle I damaged a week ago still hurts, but it slowly changing for the better.  I don't think it will ever be strong again but at least I can lift a coffee cup.

Sunday already and Labor Day weekend.    Endings of Hot August Nights for some , fire storms throughout the States and we keep hearing that it is going to be a very cold winter.  No sense worrying about what our future will hold as we only have today . . . yes, one day as it comes . . . what is that old adage about 'yesterday is already gone, tomorrow will be today when it gets here' so. . . live and enjoy today.  It's Jo's birthday . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.!!   Did you sing along?   I hope so, perks you right up and gets your 'engine' started even before your first cup of coffee.    I hope someone you love walks in the doorway today and you get a hug or two.     I hope you find a penny, face up, and pick it up for good luck.    I just hope that you are feeling good with healthy energy and lots of pep and vinegar to make your day as special as you are.     Start your September with a song in your heart . . isn't there one about 'falling leaves';  I can hear Roger Williams playing the piano version...ah!!!!   And of course, there is 'put on your old gray bonnet, with a blue ribbon on it, and we'll hitch old Dobbin to the Sleigh . . . So hum...it is so good for you.    Go, make today merry and bright.   Hugs to all.