Ruby Day

The rain has stopped for almost 24 hours and I am doing OK


Grandchildren

Saturday,  hubby, granddaughter Ruby, and I went on our postponed trip to Baltimore Harbor.  Hurricane Irene cancelled the first one and it looked like Friday night's downpour might do the same.  However, the rain stopped sometime in the early hours, and we were on our way at 6 A.M.  Rather than driving and fighting the traffic, we took a chartered bus tour which left us off at the front of the Aquarium at 10 am and would pick us up at 5 pm.  So began Ruby Day!

Ruby is eight years old and is a combination of Lucille Ball,  Pee Wee Herman, Sponge Bob, with a dose of the Keystone Cops thrown in.  She is a ball of energy, loves being a comedian, and has me smiling all the time,  She looks  like her mother when she was young, and that warms my heart.  So much about her personality though, reminds me of myself as a child. 


I'd like to say the trip down was uneventful, but unfortunately right before we were to stop for breakfast, Ruby decided to brush her very long blond hair; then she rolled it up into the plastic brush right to her scalp.  Suffice it to say that a half hour later,  my frenzied hubby with a nail clipper freed her.  She never cried or even whimpered, and I was so proud of her.   However, she did lose a good size ball of hair in that debacle. " Not to worry", she said, "it will be OK."




We got to the aquarium before the crowds and were able to view a 4D film about the animal kingdom without waiting on line. I had never experienced 4D and it was quite something. The movie was only about 10 minutes long, but during it we were snowed upon, rained upon, blown upon, and then kicked in the back of the chair when the screen showed a killer whale jump out of the water and grab a dolphin.   It was great fun. 


There is so much to see and experience at this marvelous place and I tried to share some of my limited knowledge about sea life to Ruby.  She accepted it in the beginning but later on said, "Mamama, this is the weekend, and I don't want to learn anything on the weekend."  Maybe she has something there.  It is good to have time to free your mind.


The rest of the afternoon was spent roaming around the harbor and seeing the historic ships and sights, listening to the bands, and trying to pick out a restaurant to have our dinner.  We chose an Irish eatery that was two floors above ground and where we could look out into the harbor.  This was the most crowded, so we figured it must be good.  I usually think of Irish Cuisine to be an oxymoron, but the food was delicious and we all enjoyed our meal.  Ruby wanted desert and chose the triple chocolate cake which was oozing with sauce.  Her face and hands were covered with chocolate and she said to me that if she was at home she would just stick her whole face into it.  I am so glad she was able to repress that thought.


The day ended at 9 pm when we pulled into our driveway.  We went in the house and Ruby hugged me and told me that it was the best day ever and looked into my eyes and said, "I love you so much".


So ended Ruby Day, one of my best days also.

Hair-Raising

Feeling nostalgic, but I'm doing OK.

Memories of

My youngest daughter stopped by for dinner the other night and while we were munching on appetizers, hubby brought out this large suitcase filled to the brim with pictures.  He had just found them recently while looking for something else in the basement.   We opened it up and there were envelopes upon envelopes filled with memories of our lives.

These pictures range from the 1960's to the late 90's.  Now that is a big chunk of history right there.  What I could not help noticing, was my change of hair styles.  It told a story in itself.  The early 60's was the" bubble or bouffant (preferred by many white-haired women of today), to the Sassoon cut at about '64 (Beatles), to the Afro in the 70's (anarchy) . I can say this last one was not the most natural look for a blue eyed, red haired Irish-American, but I thought I looked really cool. As the years progressed my hair seemed to get bigger and bigger, with it  reaching it's pinnacle in the 80's.  I don't think Marie Antoinette had hair so large.  The big do's of the day and the need for hair spray might alone have done more damage to the Ozone Layer than anything else.  The 90's brought it down, and I think it might have to do with getting comfortable with myself.  I have kind of kept close to that style since, only there is less, shall I say, body to it now. 

We had a great time looking at those old pictures.  There were those that I took when I met my hubby on a vacation to Michigan to visit my sister in the late 60's.   Three days after our first hello, I knew he was the one.  He proposed on our 12th date and our 30th date was our wedding ceremony.  Looking at the pictures, I remember what a cutie he was, blond hair, all-American, Robert Redford type boy - he was what we called in my youth - a hunk!  Over the years his hair turned dark, then gray, and today he remains with  a full head of hair, and is still quite a handsome man.   Nothing  has been easy, like most marriages, but we have weathered it through and will be celebrating our 45th anniversary next year.   It is mind-boggling when I think about it. When we started out, we were not unlike the characters from the movie, he a mid-western conservative and I, well, a strong willed, left leaning liberal who was all for protesting the war.   We felt like strangling each other many a time, but after an argument, he realized that I was always right -  not. 
I am happy to say though that I have brought him to my political thought of mind, albeit it, a little more moderate.

Have you seen a picture of Robert Redford lately.  His face has aged (he is 75), but his hair hasn't.  However,  he will always be Hubble to me.  Be still my heart!

So, it's the laughter, we will remember, when we remember The Way We Were.

Thoughts on Aging from a 10 Year Old

Coming out of the doldrums and doing OK


Lovin' Those Kids



My granddaughter Emma, age 10, was complaining about a substitute teacher to me. 

"She was grouchy, Mamama (yours truly), and really old.  The teacher just kept saying, move away from there, get over here, and things like that." 

 As she was telling me this story, Emma changed the sound of her voice to this shrill, squeaky tone to mimic this poor lady.    I shook my head and sat down with my always sweet grandchild and explained to her that just because the woman was older, did not mean she wasn't a good teacher, and probably with all the experience she had, she was better than most.   I pointed to myself and said,

"I'm old and do you think that I can't do things well anymore." 

 "Oh no, Mamama, you are not old and she was a lot older than you." 

I knew she was wrong about that, but I did not interrupt that statement.  I should not have paused though, because Emma continued.

 " You know, if you got some wrinkle cream like they show on TV, and did something different with your hair, you would look way younger." 


Conversation over.

Age discrimination starts young.

Speak of the Devil

Being nice around difficult people



Things I said                                        What I was thinking


1) Oh sure---------------------------------------- No way.
2) Beautiful baby----------------------------- Looks like your father-in-law.
3) We have to do lunch ------------------  On a Sunday, in the middle of the week.
4) I'd love to help, call me -------------- Thank God, I have caller ID.
5) Wow, that's some colorful outfit.--- Wow, that's some colorful outfit!
6) Whatever you want --------------------- You always get  your way anyhow.
7) I respect your opinion ------------------ Idiot.
8) You haven't changed a bit ---------- Some people never grow up.
9)  I'm happy for you ----------------------- You braggart
10) No --------------------------------------------- I wonder if it included dinner


I was taught to be a kind person and I hope that I have been that.   There are times though, when I am in a conversation with someone that I have considered mean and spiteful, that I have held my tongue for the want of not lowering myself to their standards.  Sometimes, after I leave the situation, I mutter to myself for hours about how I should have spoken up or just slammed them with a biting remark.   Nah, that wouldn't work for me, I am too guilt ridden, and besides, what I think doesn't  matter to them anyway.


I am already feeling bad about writing this, but you won't tell anyone about my dark side, will you?

From My Window

Water, water, everywhere, but I am doing OK

The Gods are not being kind.
This year has been an extreme, extreme.    It seemed like it rained most of  the spring, early and mid-summer were like the Sahara desert with record breaking heat and sun, and August brought us back to constant humidity and storms.  I think I spent more time in my house trying to avoid the adverse conditions rather than being outside enjoying, what used to be, the best part of the year.  I know we in the mid-Atlantic states have not been the only ones being affected by these awful weather patterns.  I have heard the word "disaster"  used on an almost daily basis on the world news these past few months.

I am sitting on my comfy chair looking outside as sheets of rain explode on the road.   Flash flooding is happening all around us, and most rivers and streams have overflowed.  More percipitation is expected in the next week. The ground is so saturated with the rainfall from Irene and the these last storms, that the water has no place to go.  Possible tornadoes were reported in the states south of us, so I would imagine that we will hear some word of these happening here also.  I don't want to think about it; I am already exhausted from it all. 

So, like my cat, I go from window to window looking out as life is going on.  My trees are still standing, the flowers are colorful and, my oh my, the grass is so green.  They are telling us there are new storms in the Atlantic and hurricane season has another month to go - just what I wanted to hear.

I am wondering what the weather is like on the moon these days.  I really ned to get out of here!

My Retirement - Peck of Peppers

Not up to par today, but doing OK

Look before you leap.


I have always loved hot, spicy food.  Instead of "have", I should say "had".  Over the years, when dining out, I always chose the menu items that had a one or two peppers listed beside them.  Trips to the hospital after eating some of these meals convinced me that my stomach was no longer cast iron, so I have amended my diet.  It was hard to give up, as I like food that has taste and is not boring.  However, time has marched on and what I could once easily consume, can now spell terminal heartburn.


My son always plants hot peppers.  Those little suckers grow like no other veggie, and each produce a very heavy crop of torture.  He is always so proud of his garden, but especially his chilies.  On Saturday, during our family and friends outing to a Wine Festival, Andy brought along his prized crop for people to taste.  A couple of people who have come along with us to this event before, volunteered to try them.  We also had a newbie and he, showing no hesitancy, opted to take the chance.  I have to say, he did very well, and seemed no worse for the effort.  Not sure he was putting on a brave face, and wonder how he felt a little later.  Nothing like meeting new people and then being given a pepper bomb.  Boy, we sure know how to welcome people.


On Monday, I had family over for a Labor Day celebration.  One of my menu items was small, sweet stuffed peppers.  I had bought them from a container that I thought were labeled "mild".  That morning I made my Italian sausage stuffing and started to clean and prepare the peppers.  I cut the tops off and felt a tickle in my throat.  The more I cut and cleaned, the worse my cough became.  I did not think much of it in the beginning, as I have been having a cough from my allergies and thought this was the cause of my distress.  By pepper #5, I realized I had a problem.  I checked on-line and saw that sweet peppers were mostly light green or yellow, and most of the hot ones were red, like I had. My hands started tingling and then got warm, followed by burning pain.  I washed and washed them in cold water, applied ice, put my hands in milk, all good antidotes, but they only relieved the pain for a few minutes.  My daughter came over a few hours later and suggested a baking soda paste and that seemed to work the best.  However, by this time, my chest hurt and I was not feeling too well.  It is two days later and I still cannot completely bend my hand into a fist and my throat is still sore.  It is getting better though.  It was determined that what I was preparing for my family was not a mild, tasty treat, but rather, depending upon which expert in my family you want to believe, was a Scotch bonnet or habanero, both quite potent.  My days of cooking "gourmet food recipes" is now over.  I may be back to Pablum and white rice.   

My Retirement - Picking Up the Pieces

Irene is done and gone, and I am doing OK

Recovering

I think we have all heard enough about Irene.  She was a bad storm, wasn't as destructive as expected in some areas, but for others, it was a disaster.  I had a bad weekend, including holding fort in our basement for an hour because we were alerted that one of the storms passing through my town could spawn a tornado.  That did not happen, but I had quite a bit of anxiety waiting for the time to pass.

The rain came down in sheets but the wind gusts were not the  50 to 70 mph that had been forcasted.  They were in the 25 to 45 mph range, but that was more than enough to put some of my trees in a slanted position.





There is quite a bit of flooding and some people chose not to heed the warnings and drove into water, only to have their cars stall or float away.  You have to wonder what could be so important that they had to go out during a Category 1 hurricane.  There are some very sad stories today because of mistakes people made.

Reporter covered in possibly toxic foam reporting on Irene.

Newscasters were on the job for close to 72 hours.  Weather junkies were in their glory. I know it was important to get the latest updates as this was a serious situation but it was constant and they talked ad nauseam, repeating the same stories over and over.  The stations posted their people where the wind was the strongest, the water was the deepest or where the weather conditions were the worst.

Boys just have to have fun

 The reporting went on for almost three days. We were grateful to have any comic relief. 

On Sunday, Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm and the rain subsided.  Then at about 5 pm, the sun came out.   We put the deck furniture out again and sat down for a "sigh of relief" dinner.  It feels good to breathe out again.

Today, myself and those in Irene's path, bagan the cleanup.

My Retirement - Batten Down the Hatches

Waiting for the storm, and doing OK.

Thar she blows.

 Most of the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states are getting ready for Irene.  It is story #1.  Since hubby came home from work, the weather channel has been on in two rooms of my house.  Not only will we have anxiety about the storm when it actually happens (if and when it heads our way), we have to have at least two days before to prepare and worry.  I understand about preparedness, however, most of us can do little about it and will stand our ground and hope for the best.  I am not on the coast, where the worst scenerio is being shown, but we expect to get a peice of it. The TV weather people live for these times and are in their glory telling us about every little possibility of this storm, over and over and over again.

About five or so years ago, we had plans to go to the Outerbanks in North Carolina.  About a week before we were going to leave, the weathermen were talking about doom and gloom for that area because a large hurricane was in the Atlantic. I was concerned but still looked forward to a vacation in a beautiful home on the beach with my friends.  The day before we were to leave, I got some news from my doctor that I had a medical problem and driving to North Carolina was out of the question.   Three days later, when I returned to the hospital for a test, they cleared me, so hubby and I  packed the car and headed down south, into the eye of Armageddon.  Hey, I love my friends.   The sky was cloudy, there was no wind, and the storm never came.  Instead, the hurricane rounded the Outerbanks, turned into a tropical storm, and came right up to the Philadelphia area (where I live) and dumped quite a bit of water and caused some flooding.    Meanwhile, we had a great time drinking some Margaritas, while looking at sunsets from our deck overlooking a calm sea.

Yes, I am nervous about Irene, but it is out of my hands.  Tomorrow is supposed to be a beautiful day and even if it is not, I am going to find a way to enjoy it.  Actually, I will probably be collecting my almost 150 potted plants from my gardens and putting them under my deck - just in case.  Maybe Irene will just take a right and head out to sea.  I am hoping for the best, but will be prepared for the worst.  I do think that other areas like NY are in for quite a nasty ride, but where are you going to put 8 million people.  There is just so much you can do. 

My plan is to stay safe, be reasonable and stock the house with bread, milk and wine - again, just in case.

My Retirement - Shake, Rattle and Roll

The earth is shaking but I am doing OK.

It would never happen here!

I live on the east coast where we sometimes get the remnants of hurricanes, an occasional tornado, but nothing earthshaking.  I was cleaning my cupboards and had my dishes on my kitchen island.  All of a sudden, the dishes started to rattle.  I thought I had not stacked them correctly and rearranged them.  A few minutes later my son Andy called me to tell me that we just had a 5.9 earthquake.  Wow!  We don't have earthquakes, the west coast gets them.  The news stations are saying it started in Virginia and was felt as far as New York.  That is quite a large area to be affected.  Buildings are being evacuated in some areas, but have not gotten any news of places around here. 

This has been quite a year for the earth. 

Company is coming

Busy, busy, busy, but I am doing OK

Fun times ahead!
Company will be here in a few weeks and it is a reason to clean up, spruce up and fix up. You need to have visitors once in a while to spur you on to tackle those projects that you have put off .  Hubby doesn't seem to have the energy to do the painting and repairing that I would like him to do, but he works hard all day, so I don't nag.  It will be up to me to do the DIY projects and I plan to get this ball rolling quickly before my enthusiasm peters out.







On the whole, the house is in pretty good shape, it just needs a little TLC. It is nothing that a can of paint and a few nails won't fix.











The guest bathroom is in need of an update.. Hubby worked on it  awhile ago and it serves its purpose but needs a little touch-up.  Because my visitors are family, I will get some Charmin.

I plan on using my best china and crystal as I want to impress.  Right now I am planning the menu.  I have chosen quite a few gourmet items that I think they will like.  I will just have to remember to remove the cellophane before serving.

My guests are wine affectionados.  Hubby has been busy checking out the stores for the very best to serve. We also have some fine wine that he made about 30 years ago from a recipe that has been handed down for generations.  I have been told that if you add a bottle or so of vodka to it,  you have pure heaven.

Time's a' wasting and I need to get on the stick.   I have so many more ideas that I want to put in place. My adrenalin is pumping now!

Can't wait to see Chris and Fay so we can celebrate, once again, the closeness and love of family.

Sunny Side Up

Vacation time is over and I am doing OK

The Son of  the Old Philosopher, (1959)

A few weeks ago the Sunday supplement in our newspaper printed an article on how to be happy.  Amidst all the bad news lately, I thought that maybe it would be a good time to check this out. One of the questions in the quiz was "What piece of happiness advice from a Disney movie is actually backed by scientific evidence?"  They gave four choices and the answer was "Think Happy Thoughts" from Peter Pan (the boy who never wanted to grow up).  They said that just imagining yourself laughing can reduce sadness.  I can agree with that because laughter not only lifts your spirits but also everyone's around you.  However, laughing all the time can get you a bed in the funny farm also.

I feel that I am a relatively contented old soul, my personal life has been good, and I consider myself  pretty lucky to have experienced so much love in my life.  However, I do suffer from  Irish Worrying Syndrome, otherwise known as IWS.  Currently there is no medicine or cure for this affliction and it is hereditary.  I married a Polish man hoping that this malady would be diluted in the genes and my children would escape this curse.  I forgot to check though to see if there was a disease called PWS and apparently there is.  Our descendants have no chance. However, now that I have that information from this article, I will sing my heart out and make the worrying go away.  Just listen to Elmo, a young philosopher:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ob8sr9ZX0&feature=player_detailpage

 I am wearing my big happy face now!

From Sea to Shining Sea

Packing up soon and doing OK.

Jerseylicious
I wonder about this popularity of the  phenomenon called  Jersey Shore.  It is a reality show about this group of characters in their mid-twenties who butcher the English language, make rude and crude remarks, fight and argue, and mainly talk about nothing. However, they do attract a large international audience (30 countries).  I have never seen the show but have observed excerpts and watched the cast as they guested on different programs. I don't get it. What is so interesting about them?  My college educated daughter loves to watch it and I just shake my head.  I have heard some people call it their guilty pleasure.  It's not mine. I can think of many more pleasures that I would love to feel guilty about.  When I spend my time watching TV,  I look for well-told stories, funny comedies (they are few and far between) and entertainment on public television.  Yeah, time has passed me by, but I am OK with that.

This month I will be vacationing at the New Jersey shore.  No, it is not Seaside Heights where the Jerseylicious gang hang out, but rather a family-centered town where you can't even order a glass of wine at a restaurant.  That won't bother me as I am reminded of my adventure in California and almost falling on my face after one glass of their fine wine.  True, it was a combination of six varieties, but I have been careful since that incident.  The old grey mare ain't what she used to be.....

So, in the span of a few weeks, I have visited both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.   There is a myriad of differences in their cultures,  but they have one thing in common - the crazies.  Judge for yourself.

Jersey crazies

California crazies

I really think California is holding all the cards in this contest.

Emergency, Emergency

Spending time with  my granddaughters and doing OK

False Alarm

No one would ever describe me as a calm, passive person.  When things go awry, I have been known to be excitable.  I do not realize I am doing this and think that although my blood feels like it is running through my body at an extreme rate, I am showing no sign of this to the outside world.  I also think that I look like I did at 40, so you see I tend to lie to myself.

Yesterday, while watching my granddaughters, an alert came on the TV.  We were expecting thunder storms so I just thought it was a weather warning that they seem to constantly stream across the airwaves.  They do this so often lately, I tend not to pay too much attention. However,  this was not from the media, but rather an official government warning.  It stated " This is an alert to immediately  evacuate Chester County."  They gave no reason and no information, just get out of town - now.   Since I live in Chester County with a nuclear power plant within 5 miles, and also had my grandchildren with me,  my adrenalin started pumping a little faster.  I looked at all the TV channels but they had gone back to their regular programming.  How could this be since they had just told 1/2 million people to evacuate.  My grandchildren, who were in another room, playing on the computer and watching the Nickelodeon channel,  also saw the announcement and became frightened.  I called my son and husband who were at work in the county and they said they had not heard anything about this.  I have no radio so I piled my grandchildren in the car to listen to the news station and was going to drive around the block to see if there was any movement in my neighborhood.  Again, nothing.   I then knocked on my neighbor's door hoping they would  know what was going on.  They were  aware of the warning and were also in panic mode.  However, on checking the Internet they saw that there was an incident about 30 miles away where a hydrogen tank had partially exploded.  The evacuation was for a few block area in the county and people were asked to leave their homes just around the site.  Along with relief, came anger and some vile words, which I saved for when the children were not around.  How could this happen, how could they make an announcement like that?

Last night I listened to one news program hoping they would explain this incorrect broadcast.  Again, nothing.   So why doesn't anyone apologize for making this misstatement.  I can usually find some humor in situations, but this one I can't.  There wasn't any mass-exodus, no accidents, no one physically hurt, but they scared quite a few people and it certainly doesn't instill faith in our emergency notification policies.

Grrr

 I am really mad!

Mistakes

My mind still feels like it is on vacation, but doing OK.

    Losing It.

Do you ever feel you are going batty?  You write something down, reread it, and think, fine - done.  Two days later, you look at it again and you think, how did I do that, was I having a brain drain?  You find spelling errors or typos, even though you had used spell-check - or thought you did. You have gone over the top with placing commas, used wrong tenses of  verbs,  and run-on sentences have run amok.  You don't think you use to do this; you prided yourself on your command of the English language, yet you have used a word which sounds the same as another but with a different spelling and meaning.  Well, that is where I am finding myself now. How did I not catch this or that when I quickly proofed? "Quickly" might be the problem..  At this point, I should probably write, leave it alone for a day or so, re-read, leave it alone for another day, and then a week later, with a fresh perspective, do my last run-thru and publish.  However, by that time, I probably would have changed most of what I originally wrote and added some new errors.  Can't win, but don't judge me too harshly, I eventually correct myself.  I am just in my over-the-hill stage of life.

At my last job we received a letter that told us that payment would be anally. I have to admit that the missing "u" made my day. 

Tomorrow I will correct this post.

Ain't What She Used To Be

A break in the heat and I am doing OK

Wine Shopping

Since my daughter has chosen to live in the beautiful surroundings of California wine country, hubby and I have indulged in a little taste of the grape while on our visits.  Not that we don't do it in the less-than-fine wine country of Pennsylvania, but California  does have the edge.





In the past we have visited Sonoma and Napa Valleys, which have some of the most beautiful real estate in the USA. These places are so breath-taking, that you must hold a full glass of wine in each hand in order to keep your balance.






The Santa Cruz mountains is another beautiful
spot known for it's wineries.  The steep terrain can make one queasy, but the scenery is worth it. The majestic  redwoods are throughout  and there are 14,000 acres of of planted vineyards. 

A few years ago we stopped and did a tasting at Bonny Doon.  The personnel were happy (who wouldn't be if you worked at a winery called Bonny Doon) accommodating, and great fun.  We had a few sips that day and I felt I was in a scene from the movie Sideways.  BTW, since that flick, I have never drank Merlot. 

Bonny Doon

This year's wine tasting was a little different and eliminated that nail biting trip up the mountains to visit some of the more than 200 vineyards. In the past few years a group of those wineries have set up stores, restaurants and outdoor cafes in the middle of the town of Santa Cruz.  Although we missed the beautiful scenery along those curving  high-elevation roads, we did get to enjoy the very colorful aspect of the town itself.  Santa Cruz is one cool place!

We started out at Bonny Doon again, and for a small fee, we tasted 5 wines.  For those who have never had the pleasure of this experience, a taste is about 3 to 4 sips.  Everything was fine and festive (although, due to the crowds, it lost some intimacy it had at it's previous location, ) and we chose two different wines to bring home with us.  At our second stop on the tour, I got to try the first wine of the selection and started to feel a little woozy. Between both wineries, I had drank less than a glass, and I was already down for the count.  I took a seat and waited for hubby, but I was not feeling well.  They had to take old grandma home.  Was it my age, had I lost my mojo?  Woe is me.

We have plans in September to go to a wine festival in PA.   Here the wines are not as renowned, nor as good.   I may do better as it could be the degree of sophistication that threw me off.   I might just have been out of my element in California.  I don't speak wine talk, tend to spill when I swirl, mispronounce the pompous words, and really don't smell all those aromas they tell me are in there.   I guess that I am just a cheap date - one of the things that hubby likes about me. 

My Retirement - Where the Cool Breezes Blow.

Back home and doing OK

California Dreamin'

While most of the country was suffering though record-setting high temperatures, hubby and I enjoyed the cool breezes and perfect temperatures along the Monterey Bay, CA coastline.  The fog  creeps in (like little cat's feet) in the morning but by noon we are enjoying the warm California sun.

We watched the surfers in the early morning (daughter and son-in-law)

Visited the fish

                                                                                                          

Enjoyed watching the wonder in our granddaughter's eyes.

Did some berry picking by the sea

Fruits of our labor - Strawberries and Olallieberries

Yes, I said Olallieberries (cross between the loganberry and the youngberry, which itself is a cross between the blackberry and another berry (raspberry and dewberry, respectively).   Yeah, whatever that means.

And took in some of the cultural attractions.

Good time had by all!

My Retirement- Inappropriate

On vacation and doing OK

What did you say?

Children are notorious for spouting out just what is on their mind.  How many of us just wanted to run and hide when one of our little ones said the wrong thing to the wrong person.  You sit there and cringe as the words come out of their mouth and you quickly try to think of something to divert attention away from the offending comment.  However, most people have been in that situation at one time or another and even if you are the one being being asked why your eyes are crooked or your teeth so big, you understand as it is out of the mouth of babes and therefore innocent.

Now we go to the other end of the spectrum - adults with no sense.  After a man that I became related to 44 years ago spouted out a totally nonscensical remark to some children that took me back and had me reeling, dear son-in-law piped in and said "It is really hard to be a man, we just can't help ourselves."  "Being one step before Neanderthal", I said.  "Yep, that's it" he said.  Now I get it; it just had to be explained to me.  In a few million years they should be evolved.

My Retirement - What happened to "Less is More"?

Getting tired and run-down but I'll be OK

Plans gone astray.

This was my year to cut back on things, less planting, less planning, less anxiety, less, less, less of everything.  Easier said than done!  I am sitting here, still anxiety ridden, still have too many plants to care for, and have plans coming out the wazoo.  How did this happen.? After much introspection, I realized it is who I am, and at this point of my life there little chance that I will change, but I need to get a handle on things.  So I am going to take a break from blogging for a few weeks and sit back and relax, relax, relax.  I will check in on all the blogs that I have come to enjoy and look forward to reading, I just won't compose until I have something to say.   However there are so many good things on my plate and new adventures to experience that I am sure in a few weeks I will be back and feeling healthy.

Thank you all for reading my nonsense. I am so appreciative to my followers for taking the time to visit my blog.  I will see you in September, if not before.

My Retirement - Cool Girl

Hot summer and I am doing OK

The "In Crowd"



Most people, at some point of their lives, want to belong to the hip, cool crowd.  We want to be popular and accepted.  As we mature, this becomes less important as our values change.  Being an individual and being true to ourselves and beliefs are more what we aspire to be.  However, there is always that yearning to be accepted by some one or some group.


There is a comedian named Kathie Griffin who has a show called "My Life on the D-List.  I have never watched the program, but I have seen her on other talk shows and she is not my cup of tea. I find her foul-mouthed and cruel.  However, the title of her show is funny and we all might have related to this at some point in our lives, especially in our younger years.

To many people I have appeared to be an extrovert, but deep inside there has been this lump in my belly that screams "I'm scared".  I have used a sense of humor to hide this dark secret.  Over the years, I have learned to be comfortable with myself and although I lack confidence in many aspects, I find that I now fit my britches very well.  Wish it happened sooner. 

As a teenager and young woman, I was never on the "A" list. Once or twice, I may have hit the border line B-;  think I belonged on or around C; know I touched the D and maybe E or F,  so I guess I traveled in many circles. I look at the C group as being sort of nerdy, naive but opinionated, doesn't walk between the lines bunch of people. It is a real comfy place to be.  This group does not have to be perfect, but we are inventive, Miss or Mr. America we aren't, but we are Bill Gates. We can move up the list as Bill did, but where can you go if you start out in "A". 

Now though, in the latter part of my life, I look at my smart, funny friends and see that yes,  somewhere along my life, I moved up.  This is the greatest group of people ever.  Our friendships have lasted almost 40 years and we have had a wonderful time.  Our kids admire our closeness and think we are cool.  Cool, I finally made it, or maybe I always was and didn't know it.

My Retirement - A Party of Friends

Holiday is over and I am doing OK

Good Times

I have been a very fortunate person.  I came from and am in a loving family, always had a friend, worked at places where I met terrific folks and yes, life has been good to me.   I was never a part of the jet set, never drove a Cadillac, never traveled to exotic places, but home has been where my heart truly is. My children are educated and on their own and I am proud of the job I did getting them there.  My siblings are so special to me and we have a deep, loving relationship that is supportive and kind.

Yesterday I sat under the shade of my willow tree with some friends and family, listening to music, having a little of the grape, laughing about the ordinary things in life and having a good time.  How grateful I am for my blessings.

My Retirement - Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Big Weekend and I am doing OK

Of Thee I Sing

I am fortunate to live in a very historical area of the US. Brave soldiers fought and died on this land to bring about this great experiment known as America. I am surrounded by the ghosts of the past wherever I go and swell with pride at the sacrifices that they made for all of us who reside in this land of freedom.

My county tis of thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty,
Of thee I sing.

Cemetery near Valley Forge, PA

About a mile from my home there is a cemetery where twenty-two Revolutionary War soldiers are buried. I drive by this site many times a week and only stopped by a few times to reflect.  There are no names written on their graves, they are unknown, but not forgotten. On Monday, there will be a ceremony at the site which will be attended by local town councils and a core group that gather every year to remember.

Land where my father died,
Land of the Pilgrim's Pride,

Soldier's huts at Valley Forge

Not too far down the road is Valley Forge Park. This was where Washington and his troops of about 11,000 men encamped during the winter of 1777-1778. Many died because they were ill equipped with supplies of clothing and food. In June they left to pursue the British who were heading toward New York







This is Washington's headquarters where he stayed along with his aids. His wife Martha also joined him for a few months that winter. The building is 80% original.





The park is a beautiful place to go to reflect and be thankful for the country that we love.


From every mountain side

Let Freedom Ring!