Say It Ain't So

I "pansified" my gardens, and I am doing OK (today).

After the winter from hell (hell must have also frozen over), I could not wait to color my little world with flowers.  When the temperatures finally went up last week, and buds were seen on trees, I drove to a local nursery and over-purchased many pansy plants, probably too many. I desperately wanted spring to finally arrive and I needed to surround myself with new life.  What a glorious weekend we had with temperatures reaching up to the low 80's.  Friends were seen, dinners were eaten outside, and blossoms on the trees were more appreciated than ever before.  That horrid season was over, done with, gone, ended, finito. Winter was now just a bad memory.  Planning for the better days ahead was the conversation heard most.  Then, Sunday, a new weather report was issued and it included the words, "freezing temperatures and snow".  How could that be?  It is April, for goodness sakes. This morning I saw on the news that this was already happening to areas in the south and the poor, weather-plagued Midwest. Snow, hail, winds, slippery, dangerous roads were all brought up again, and our hearts sank with that prediction.  However, what I saw next gave me encouragement and hope.  This new arctic blast will only last two days and then it is smooth sailing ahead.  The sun will shine again, buds on the trees will continue to open, the colorful birds will nest and my pansies will survive this latest blast.  We all will survive!

You just have to have hope, high hopes.

Are Your Socks Too Tight?

The date says spring, the snow to come says differently, but I am doing OK




I have read quite a few books about the Kennedys and one of the things that impressed me was how the family would sit down to a meal and discuss what was going on in the world and how each person could make it better.   Everybody was encouraged to be part of the conversation, including the youngest child. 


When the stars align in the right way, we also like to sit down to a family meal.  It is not always easy as life is busy and the grandchildren's activities are varied and many.  However, recently most of us were able to get together for my daughter's birthday.  Our conversations were not as cerebral as the Kennedy's, but we touched on subjects that seemed important to us; like how does one wear their socks.   For the past few years, my granddaughters have worn different patterned socks on each foot. We all agreed that was a bold statement about being individuals and we praised them for having their own style. Listening to all this, I never thought that "my" sock habit would come under scrutiny, but then I saw my daughters glance down to my shoeless feet.  A look of horror and disgust came over their faces. What great fashion faux pas had I committed now.?  My socks matched; they were clean; there were no holes.  They were warm and comfy and I thought acceptable in the presence of company.  However, it was not the socks that brought criticism, it is how I wear my socks" that seems to be their concern.  I wear them loose at the toes and to their reproaching eyes, it is not acceptable.  Who knew?  I turn my toes up, I like to stretch out; I like wiggle room; I want my toes to live free.  Apparently, this is "gnarly". I listened to their objections, pulled them tight, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.   So now, after this deep conversation, I realize that when my children tell me they are coming over, I should pull my socks tight, or they might be making one of  those 
"What's going on with mom?" calls.

I never thought that my socks would give me away.

The Art of Being Busy

Snow is finally melting and I am doing OK.

My life used to be extremely busy, but I didn't notice because that was just the way it was.  The treadmill of my life was constantly on.  There was always something I had to do, someone that I had to assist, and places I had to be.  Then I retired to do with time as I wanted and I did not do well for quite awhile.  I have slowly adjusted and accepted life as it is because that just is the way that it is.  I do socialize quite a bit as I am very fortunate to have good friends and a wonderful family   I also found a volunteer job where I am needed but it is only for a day a week which leaves 6 other days to fill with busy work. That is easy to do in the spring and summer as there is much outside that I enjoy doing or visiting.  The winter, though, does drag on. Last week I found myself washing my walls.  I started by wiping a spot by an electrical outlet,  but then I noticed more that needed my attention and three hours later I had completely cleaned most of the walls on one floor of my home.  Yes, I know what you are thinking.  "Arleen has gone over the edge."  You may be right.   "Busy work" is not fun and not satisfying and Lordy, Lordy, I should be able to think of more interesting things to do with my time.  However, looking at a You Tube the other day, I realized that there are so many other people out there who also seem to have time on their hands.

Washing a wall gives you a clean wall, but who cares.  Making people laugh by doing silly things is much more productive.  

Next week I may start training my cats to do something funny and maybe will enlist hubby. I'll see what they do with an aluminium foil ball. Video to follow.

Flying into the Sun

 

 



When spring comes, I will be OK

Some of the blogs I have read today have to do with people seeing the birds coming back to their area. Two of my favorite writers, Cro,of Magnon's Meanderings and Joanne, of Cup on the Bus wrote about their sightings of Cranes and Blue Herons.  Any sign of the promise of the coming spring brings great joy to us who have been beaten up with the storms and solitude of this wretched winter.

Due to the oversupply of bird feeders in my yard, we have become "destination point" for many species of the northeastern American continent.  One lovely thing about the snow (yes, I said lovely) is that it is a wonderful backdrop for the colors that these birds bring.  We have hundreds of Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Red-Winged Black Birds and I am always in awe of the beauty that these creatures add to the landscape.

In December of 2012, I was awakened by my husband in the morning and told to look out the window.  Sitting in the tree closest to my house sat Turkey Vultures that appeared to be looking in my window contemplating dinner.  That was not exactly a happy greeting to start the day.   I wrote about it in a post then and included was this picture.

 

Not an encouraging sight.

This year, though,  they have been replaced by more pleasant looking Pheasants.  Yes, we do see them in many of the fields and farms in my area, but never have I spotted them in my yard.  First we saw the rooster.


 
and if you have noticed my header picture, you will see his hens in the background.



He walked among the brush towards the creek which flows through our wooded area.  The ladies stuck together, I supposed discussing the merits or not of their chosen one. 

I tried to follow them with my camera, but once deeper in the trees and the bushes, their color was morphed into the background. 



Hopefully the scenes from my backyard will change soon and instead of the above, I will look out to this.



Looking forward to a season change and the sight of many Goldfinches.

Right now, though, I wish I was surrounded by Flamingos and sipping a yummy tropical drink.

All You Need Is Love

So much snow, so much anxiety, but all in all, I am doing OK.

When I was young, I was a hopeless romantic.


I am no longer that starry-eyed idealist, but I am still sentimental. However, marriage is not easy and everyone has had their good and bad times.  Hormones take the place of thinking in early love, and after 46 years together, mine have gone the way of my high heels (which are in the back of my closet covered with dust).  But hey, I can still be wooed by chocolates, as nothing says love like  good candy.  My sweet tooth is still intact.

I told hubby to forget the flowers this year and because of the icy roads, we will forgo a dinner out. I have a frozen pizza in the fridge and that sounds just fine to me.  However, we will exchange funny cards and have a good laugh.  We will enjoy some fine wine, share a bag of M&Ms and then he will fall asleep in his old man's chair and I on the couch.  It is just comfy that way. 

There is a lot to be said for "comfy"

To Keurig or not to Keurig

Digging out from the snow most days lately, but I am doing OK.



I love the smell of coffee, but have never enjoyed its  taste.  I learned at an early age how to perk a good pot for my parents, but after tasting it, I decided to stick to milk.  My mom also had a rule that children should not drink this caffeinated drink until they were of a certain age, and it was always assumed it was when we moved out of the house.  Being Irish Americans, we were allowed to drink decaf tea when we reached 12, and that has been my drink of choice since then.

Hubby also does not drink coffee, although in the past few years he does have a cup at work when he gets there in the morning.  We have happily gotten along without a coffee pot taking over precious space on our counter top for 46 years.  However, when our children left home, three of them went to the caffeine well and became junkies. I broke down and bought a small coffee maker that I keep on a shelf in the basement, only to be taken out during the holidays.  Any other time the unwritten rule is, if you want it, bring it with you.

Then Keurig became the next big thing and everybody had to have one.  I just dismissed it when friends showed me theirs and gushed over it ad nauseam.  "See, Arleen, it makes tea also" they would say.  With my old lady attitude, I would say, "I've got a kettle for that."   Eyebrows would raise and they would walk away probably talking about what an old fart I was.

In November, hubby made a quick run to the store to get some butter and came home with a large box.  He had this guilty smile on his face and presented me with a Keurig.   I sent him for butter and he came home with a big, expensive coffee maker.  I was not happy and the shock on my face when he told me how much it cost turned his smile into a frown.  He gave me all his reasons for buying it ( it was on sale) and because I felt somewhat bad about my negative reaction, I relented.  He placed it on the counter and set about making some fancy brew.  

He is happy, my family is happy and they are all wired happily together.  Things could be worse.

Maybe, when no one is looking, I will make myself some hot chocolate on that machine - but I will never tell.

Well, Hello New York, It's Us.

Remembering back to last month and doing OK.

My Christmas gift to my family this year was to take them all to New York City to see the sights of the holiday season.  Fourteen out of sixteen smiled and said, "Great", although I know some of them were not as enthusiastic as the others.  However, they did not want to hurt my feelings so the tickets were purchased.  We live about 2 1/2 hours away by chartered bus and on December 21st, we all hopped aboard and I kept my fingers crossed.

















After two successive weekends of snowstorms, we were lucky to have chosen a Saturday that was sunny and warm.  We arrived in the city an hour early, so we rearranged the schedule and began our tour at Toys R Us (for the grandchildren) which is on 44th and Times Square.

 It was early in the AM so I did not expect it to be crowded.   Wrong, wrong, Wrong!  Apparently, word got out that Arleen's family would be there, and thousands came to join us.




We then proceeded to lunch at Becco's on 46th and 9th, one of my favorite NY restaurants, not only because of the food, but also because of their good, cheap wine.

After lunch we sprinted to Rockefeller Center on 50th and 5th Avenue. There we were greeted by what could be described as the population of a mid-sized country and they had also brought along 13 of their relatives.  Oh, how glad I was that I had that wine at lunch.  Here my schedule said "2 hour free time" and we all broke up into small groups.  Most of that time was about getting through the crowds.  We found refuge in the Museum Store and took our pictures of the outside scene from inside that very pleasant store.  We also bought a few wonderful items.




I was born in New York and lived my first 16 years there.  The city excites me, I love everything about it, including the multitudes of people and all its craziness.  My children grew up in rural Pennsylvania; they like hills and dales, fauna and flora, deer and birds and cows. Wusses', all of them.  Next time though, if I suggest a trip to NY, I will plan it for the spring when millions will not be there to see a damn tree that was grown in Connecticut.   (It was very beautiful though.)



We did a lot of walking, saw quite a bit, (Times Square was a trip in so many ways) and despite the crowds, it was a good day.  I had a great time, made some fond and funny memories, and will always love, love, love New York. 

What Polar Vortex?

Staying inside and I am doing OK.

My daughter and her family, who live in the Monterey Bay area of California, visited us during the Christmas holidays.  Because of the large snowstorm we had, they delayed their return for a day.





At 5:30 am on Saturday morning, they left for home when the temperature here was a bone chilling -6 degrees.

The next afternoon they sent me these pictures.




7 yr. old Poppy "in the moment.".

Everything is Zen in California.

However, back in Pennsylvania, Baby Buddha, in my not so Zen garden, is freezing his buns off.

The old Noggin

Playing games and doing OK.

I do not own a smart phone.  The dumb one does me just fine.  My daughter offered me her "old" one (which was a 2012 model) and I politely said no.  I like to think for myself and figure things out, even though thing don't come as easily as they did before.  There is a lot to be said for delayed gratification and having the joy of remembering something that was buried in the depths of my brain, even if it takes me a day or so.  I know it will pop back...... Eventually.  I worry that if I don't use it, I will lose it.

Proving who is right.
So today, while we were having a larger snowstorm than expected (all those brilliant meterologists with all their technology were wrong), I went about thinking about some of the events that had happened lately.

I noticed that in all the media footage of what is happening in South Africa, I saw little despair in the people's faces because the great man Mandela had died, but more of the joy that he had lived.

The winter weather has been brutal across the US this week.  TV showed cars spinning out on ice and snow and people stranded in airports frustrated and complaining.  I certainly feel their pain as snow has played a role in some unfortunate incidences in my life.  However, I know that no matter how much we plan our lives, Mother Nature often has the last say, so plan less and go with the flow.  It is less aggravating and more exciting.

Purple, which comes in many shades, is really very pretty.  I must put more in my gardens next year.

On the other hand, people and things that are not pretty,

Seasons Greetings

Shopping done, house decorated, presents wrapped, cards sent and I am doing OK.

I have been busy and in a few days my daughter and her family from California will be visiting.  I am extremely blessed to have all of my children and their families with me during this happy season.  We will laugh, share food, (even tofu) and stories and be grateful for all we have been given.  We will also be crazy (like most families) and if things go wrong, we will all find the fun in it - eventually.

I wish you all the happiness that the holidays can bring.  No matter what is happening in your life at this time, I ask that you look for joy, any joy, because that is the food for the heart and soul.  I have gotten through all these chapters of my life, because I have always had hope and hope is where the sun shines through all the clouds.  I can tell you that my heart has been aching these past six weeks and bad news keep coming at me daily, but I hold on to those I love and know that I will be OK.

Find a reason to laugh and love and know that it is presence, not presents, that people want, that it is kindness that counts, and everybody (even those who are invisible in our society) is somebody.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Seasons Greetings to you all.  See you next year.

Sentimental Journey

It is late fall, and I am doing OK

As I look back at my life, I know I have always done the things that were expected of me.  I have also done things that were not expected of me.  I had more fun doing the latter.

Happiness is about surprising ourselves and, just possibly, someone else.

Smile, It's Worth the Effort

I am having a rough month, but I am doing OK.

Did you get up this morning and step onto the cat's recently excreted hair ball?  You hop into the bathroom and after cleaning your feet  and gagging, you find that the battery in your toothbrush went dead and the water in the toilet wouldn't stop running.  Signals like that don't bode well for the day and you have a feeling that the next few hours are also headed for the crapper. But things don't have to be that way.  Pick yourself up, and find a reason to smile.  



Now wasn't that better.

The History of Wood

A cold wind is blowing, but I am doing OK.

My husband has not retired yet, but last night I saw him sitting in his "old man's chair" with a cat on his lap and watching a two hour program about wood on The History Channel.  At that moment, I saw my future.  

Anne

Today is hard, my heart is broken, and I am not doing OK

I had a friend, a very dear friend.  She made me laugh; she inspired me; she taught me how to look for joy.  She would tell me she was scared, she thought she was not strong, but I did not know anyone more courageous than her.  Life knocked her down and she experienced much loss and pain, but she kept on going because her heart was full of love and she needed to share it with others.

After a twenty year battle with lymphoma, and many remissions, Anne left us on Sunday.  She touched so many people and it can be said that to know Anne was to love her.  I last spoke to her on Wednesday and her voice was strong, which always gave me hope, even though I knew that time was getting shorter. I expected the phone call would come, but I always hoped for a miracle.  The miracle, though, had already happened.  In her life she had made bad days good, made the hardest heart smile, and innocence real.

Anne was a beautiful person in all ways.

Most of us live lives that may seem unimportant on the world stage. We don't think great thoughts, make great discoveries or invent the next big thing.  We live quietly, suffer annoyances, bare up under pressure, and relish the good times we get.  The years pile up and sometimes the days might be more about enduring than enjoying. Too many of us cloud our lives with negativity but we all have a choice on how we color each of our days. My friend, Anne, was always a bright yellow light, birthdays were always happy birthdays, and she was grateful for each moment of her life.  She made a difference, her thoughts were sweet and kind, and good times with her were the best.  They say it is not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.  I say it is also measured by those whose lives you touch and I, and those who knew Anne, were touched by an angel.

I'm Not Your Honey

Too many little annoyances lately, but I am doing OK.

When my mom got very ill and was in the hospital twelve years ago, I noticed that all the nurses and staff called her "honey".  As sick as she was and as grateful she was for the care she received, being called by that term would arouse her ire.  She was a strong, intelligent woman in a vulnerable state and she thought it demeaning that strangers would address her in that way.  She was still a person and was nobody's honey.  My dad always called her "dear" because she was that to him, but sweet and gooey she was not.

Last weekend we went to the Movie Tavern to see Tom Hanks' newest movie, Captain Phillips (very good).  The waitress, a very chatty individual who seemed to want to tell all her customers her life story ( she was 41, had a 20 year old daughter who was driving her crazy, blah, blah, blah),  asked my husband what he would like to eat and drink.  After putting his order into her little computer, she turned to me and said, "And what can I get you, HONEY.  Holy Moley, I have now been put into the fragile, feeble, old chrone category by a twit.  I thought I had a few more years left before I hit my "doting" stage in life.  I wanted to scream at her, "I am still vital, I contribute, I still have a brain, I know what is going on, and I use apps.  But I didn't and remained the polite person I am.

She called me "honey" three times that evening. Her tip was reduced by 3%.  In the end, old ladies rule.

I'm Screwed

Having a love/hate relationship with my computer, but I am doing OK.

I have been trying to write a blog for a week now, but my Mr. Dell is not cooperating.  The dashboard on Blogger is not coming up and I am unable to do anything.  Since my reliable Apple iPad shows everything just fine, I suspect that something nasty has attached itself to my elderly computer.  You know how scammers and spammers prey on the old and vulnerable, well they got me and my Dell pretty good.

I have had this iPad for almost two years now and sometimes use it for writing my posts.  However, I don't know how to do the iCloud bit or play around with apps to get the things I need. Everything changes so quickly in technology and instead of taxing my brain with things that will be different next week, I just work around what I know and avoid the frustration.

Hopefully, I will get out of this mess by next week and resume my blog with pictures. Maybe I will have my 10 year old granddaughter come over to work on it with me as this techie stuff is second nature to kids.   Everybody over 50 is using their brains for more cerebral things - at least that is what I tell myself.

Why I Am Glad My Son Studied Computers

Took some time to enjoy the waning days of summer and I am doing OK.

In my last post, I wrote about how the hickory tree in my backyard attempted suicide and took a neighboring cherry with it.  Another old soul, also a cherry, was injured in the melee, but will survive, albeit without some limbs.  With the help of my daughter's friend and dear hubby testing fate, the branches that were hanging on and close to the ground were cut off and the area cleaned up. It was a very big job and a lot of sweat was spent. The good thing is that half of the hickory tree could be saved.  Unfortunately, the tree next to it had to be completely removed, and it was done in a quick manner, a la Marie Antoinette.  Its passing was mourned and tears were shed. 

What was left was a branch of about 30 feet in length hanging capriciously from the split trunk. The other half was sprawled sideways in the other direction and spanned a few trees.  This had to be left to a professional.  After calling five different companies (some did not have the equipment, others said they would come, but never showed up), we found a young man who was willing to take the job for a very reasonable fee.



He came last Friday.  As I watched him and his assistant, my throat was in my stomach.  Holy moly, how does his mother let him do that. ?







Needless to say, I was a Nervous Nelly during the two hours this young man, Zack, flew through my trees on an orange rope. 

I am so grateful that back in the 80's and 90's my husband worked for a computer company and my son became enamored with all the hardware and software that he would bring home (legally).  Andy went to college, got his degree and has a successful career. He travels to far-off places, has his adventures but doesn't do anything in his job that would cause his dear old mother to pull her hair out because of stress.  However, I bet he would love to change jobs with Zack for a day or two because that young man certainly looked like he was doing something he loved and by the look on his face when he had completed the job, he had had a great time.

Free to be, free to be, but not me.  A three-step ladder will take me as high as I wish to see.
 

The View

Some people see the rose, other's only see the thorns, but if you are careful, you can hold a thing of beauty in your hands and be OK.



A person gets up in the morning and sees the sun come up.  He smiles and says, "What a wonderful day this can be!"

Another looks out, sees the sun, the blue sky and in the far distance, a small white cloud.  He examines the cloud for awhile and says that there is a little grey mixed in the vapors and it could mean that we may have rain. After giving it a little thought, he is sure it will be a big downpour with possible flooding and destructive winds.  This could wipe out all the summer crops and the price of food will skyrocket.  People will die from starvation and those that are left will go to war over the scarce resources.  Humanity, as we know it, will end.  Only rats, roaches, a few hedge fund dealers and pessimists will survive.  Good news for him.

Tic, Tic, Tic

Loving all the seasons of life, and doing OK.

 

This year my birthday was one of those that was divisible by 10.  I am not going to say,  "Where did the time go", because in contemplation,  I know where it went.

 I didn't notice it going by so fast when I was raising four loving children, nor did I notice it as I accumulated lifelong friends.  I didn't notice it when working in my gardens because every summer I would plan what to do the next year.  I didn't see it when my children reached all the milestones in their lives because I was always so proud.  I didn't notice it when I went on vacations and had wonderful adventures and made memories.  I didn't notice many things, because I was living life.

However, I did notice it when I held my first grandchild in my arms and knew that part of me will continue on for generations.  Time tapped on my shoulder again when I retired and I missed people who I had come to see everyday and loved being part of their lives.  I also missed purpose, but then I reinvented myself and found joy. 

I am more mellow now, life is not as busy, but still interesting.  I can walk six miles without breaking a sweat (on cool days), put in large gardens that fill my soul, and hold my grandchildren close. I always look forward and attempt to ignore the negativity that surrounds me.  I try never to say no, although fear now creeps in.

I embrace my age as I have lived longer than many, but gosh darn it, I wasn't done being young.

How You Doin'

After a month off, I have returned to Blogland and I am doing OK.

Between working on my gardens, taking care of grandchildren, going on a vacation, and solving the great problems of the world, I come back to Blogger feeling refreshed and renewed. Well, maybe that might be exaggerating things a little, but I am going with that positive thought. 

Speaking of refreshed and renewed, and because tomorrow is The Fourth of July, our Independence Day, (and that I am having quite a few people over for a party that I have to work on today), I am going to reboot a post that I wrote two years ago for this holiday. 


Of Thee I Sing

I am fortunate to live in a 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 Thursday, there will be a ceremony at the site which will be attended by local dignitaries and a core group of citizens that gather every year to remember.

Land where my father died,
Land of the Pilgrims' 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 ev'ry mountainside

Let Freedom Ring!

Now, let's barbecue.  Who wants a burger and who wants a dog?

.   

Memorial Day

They say we are civilized, we have evolved, but.....

And the beat of the drums goes on.

Why?

When will we ever learn that war is not the answer?

I have lived more than six decades, through 4 major wars and countless smaller conflicts.

Bless all who have served and bless their families.

Off and On {and this is not referring to my mental status}

I have been out of town for awhile, and being home now feels comfy and OK.

My daughter and her husband asked me to move into their house and watch my granddaughters and the BIG, constantly shedding dog for 8 days while they vacationed in Mexico.   It was my pleasure to do so as anytime with those girls is a joy for me. However, before unpacking, I had to learn their house as there are things there of which I am not familiar.

My home, which is twelve years old, has fairly new appliances, and although I find the refrigerator door (that has to be closed with precision or else it beeps at you), quite annoying, I get along very well with all the shiny stainless steel things that surround me.  Every year though (or even every week), companies improve (?) and update their models in order to compete in the market.  Sad to say, my abilities have not done the  same.  I have not been improved or updated in over a decade and really get frustrated by the constant changes that technology dictates.  Today, what should be simple appliances, now come with 50 page manuals.  Who reads manuals and why should we?

My daughter had just bought a new washer, dryer, oven, and dishwasher for her house.  They are all  attractive and according to Molly, very efficient. 

The washer has 42 options and very small print.


The drier has 39 and very small print.


The dishwasher has 15, all in very small print and inside the door (who looks there?).



And the oven, that blasted oven, with the timer that constantly beeps even though I continually pushed "cancel" (wrong option), has printing so-o-o small, anyone over 35 would have to use a magnifying glass to see all those choices The display is large enough to spread words out and in bold, but they choose to group them close together, with options that have options.  I had to get my face so close to it that one of the burners could have singed that errant hair that sometimes grows on my chin.


















Then I had to learn the pond.  It worked two days, and for some reason after my granddaughter and I cleaned out the filter, and added water, it flooded the patio and kept tripping the GFI switch. The water feature remained off for the rest of my time there.



On the last day, one of the toilets broke.  I did not take pictures of that.

Yes, I did learn to use all those new and efficient appliances, they all worked well, and the girls got hot meals and clean clothes.  I am not one to look back and say things and times were better long ago, but I have to say, they were a lot easier when it was just an On and Off type world.

Whining

I have been away for awhile, but I am doing OK.





















These past two weeks have been the prettiest of the year.  All the flowering trees bloomed, the azaleas were magnificent, and every tree came alive.  Unfortunately, they clogged up my sinuses and my head feels like it has blown up 10 fold.  My eyes are beyond itchy and red and my headaches can bring me to my knees (OK, I do exaggerate). Basically, everything above my shoulders has had a reaction to this lovely spring. 

Some years are worse than others, and this one seems to be a doozy.  Now I can help myself by staying indoors, but how can I do that after a long winter and with the call of the garden singing to me.  It is something many of us put up with because the things we love are more important to us than our comfort.  I am also very allergic to cats, yet I have two that are indoors and two more who are our (unofficially) adopted outdoor feline friends.  Yes, I am my worst enemy when it comes to my health, but I can't give up what makes me smile and gives me joy.  

I am sorry that I have not been keeping up as I usually do with my blogging friends.  It has been difficult for me to read lately as my eyes hurt and are very strained. I am using eye drops but so far they haven't made a difference. I also have bouts of vertigo caused by something going on with my hearing and I am one dizzy dame.  I keep putting off going to a doctor as I think I will be better tomorrow, and some days that is true.  Besides, he will only tell me what I know and give me advice that I will ignore. He will punish me by sending me a big bill.  Insurance is not what it used to be. 

It is going to rain this week which will be good for my newly planted gardens and will be good for me as the pollen will decrease. I see a reprieve coming.



 

My Winter Love Affair

It is warm and wonderful and I am doing OK.



I am not a collector of anything. Yes, I have plenty of junk, but it is all diversified. As I move along in years, I realize that I have way too much and besides trying to pass my treasures on to my children (who have politely said no), I have tried to curb my desire to buy more. However, during the cold months of winter when I am being couped up in the house too much, I find myself on the computer checking out the latest of the must haves for the gardens.  Now, most of the time I am sensible and just look, but then the days become greyer and greyer and the snow falls and my resolve softens and, and......I give into the charms of Mr. Amazon and Mr. Burpee. 

Now it is time to pay the piper.  Mom told me never to trust anyone who had easy answers to everything.  She warned me not to push any buttons and a cart half empty is better than one half full.  I was weak and so the seeds have been sent, the plants and gardening supplies will follow and the bill for my indiscretions will appear in my mailbox on May 1st. 

Bless me Father for I have sinned..., but the devil made me do it.  It was not my fault at all, it was Mr. Apple, Mr. Dell, Mr. Microsoft and above all, Mr. Internet.  I am just a sucker for the Mr.'s.



 

Dog Days

The Magnolias are in bloom (achoo), and I am doing OK

The arrival of spring with its sunshine and longer days brings with it a renewed energy.  The snowy days are gone and we notice that nature has put the bounce back into our step.  The song birds are chirping, the squirrels are scampering around the trees, and the old groundhog has come out of his hole to check out my gardens for potential food supplies. I also just saw my first bumble bee going from flower to flower on my Azalea bush.  It is time for busy bees to do their thing.

Yes, the pleasant weather is back and all creatures great and small have come out to play.  Well most have, but maybe not my son's four year old lab, Champ.  He is not exactly a bundle of energy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Fe2tAMIAg&feature=player_detailpage#t=18s

 

His companion, Brandy, could be a little more enthusiastic also.

 

 

Get those dogs some doggie Red Bull or at least, some Vitamin Water.

 

News Worthy?

I saw a daffodil in bloom yesterday and I am doing OK.



Courtesy of Microsoft.

I have loved reading the newspaper since I was a little girl.  My dad would always bring home The Journal American, one of New York's main newspaper (long defunct) and my sister and I would fight to get to read it first.  My parents always talked about what was going on in the world and even bad news was not filtered.  I was interested in politics, the latest big story, and of course, Dear Abby.  Now, however, EVERYTHING is so sensationalized and it is hard to tell what is important, what is real and what is just BS.  Today, though, newspapers are a dying industry. We get our news from the media outlets that are too numerous, very competitive and on 24 hours a day so that even a chicken crossing a road becomes a "Breaking Story".  I seldom read the paper today or watch the news on TV. It is never on my radio station in the car.  It has to be a major story that will impact my life or my loved ones for me to sit down and listen to the whole gory mess.  There is just so much bad news, which is now gathered from every little corner in the world, and a person's sense of hope and peace can easily be shattered on a daily basis.  I only want to deal with what is happening in my own back yard, on my street, in my town.  I want to live a more positive life and have good will towards the majority of people I meet along the way. I have no need to read about all the horrors that are taking place.  I 

I can't, however, live in a vacuum.  There is always the Internet.  Today's headlines on my cable supplier's site read like this:

- North Korea Vows Restart of Nuclear Reactor
- Cheesteak Store Renamed.  Slur Dropped  
- Georgia City Votes to Require Ownership of Gun
- Pa Inmate Denies Hiding Phone in Prosthetic Leg
- Trump Drops 5 M Lawsuit on Ape Joke

One is so frightening, I can't even think about it.  The others are either about the inane or insane and knowing about any of this does not enhance my life.  Why is an inmate having a phone in his prosthetic leg worth knowing about.  I am not inviting him to dinner.  Actually though, it might be interesting if he did come and his leg started ringing.  I wonder what his ring tone would be.

So I am now living a life of ignorance and bliss.  I am informed enough by filtering out 99.9% of what they tell me I should know.  I did enjoy the story about Donald Trump suggesting that he is related to an ape though.  I am sure that one is not an exaggeration.

Moonglow

Feeling melancholy, but I am doing OK.

The moon was bright and beautiful tonight so I took some pictures from my back porch. 

If you are in the northern hemisphere, you may be looking at  the same thing as I.  It is not as if I haven't witnessed this thousands of times in my life, but each time I see that bright, beautiful golden ball in the sky, I have a feeling of wonder in my heart.  It makes me think about all that surrounds me; it gives me peace.  In the best of times, and in the most difficult of times, I look for the light of the moon to shine on me.

My Mom used to sing, "I See the Moon" to me all the time.  I then sang it to my children and then my grandchildren.  The tune always put them to sleep, a peaceful, restful sleep.  I looked it up on You Tube and there are many variations of this song.  I tried to find the one that I am familiar with, but none quite sounded like the voice of my mother.  (I told you that I am melancholy tonight). 

Well, this did not exactly sound like my mother either (her voice was a wee bit higher), but I need to get out of this mood.  So here is a puppet giraffe singing my favorite lullaby.

They say the moon affects our mood, and they are probably right.  I am sitting here watching a puppet with a not-so-good voice, croon my favorite lullaby and I am  getting choked up as I sing along with him/it.  It must be a combination of my age, the moon, and memories.  What does it matter, I am enjoying the sight of a beautiful night sky and that is a good thing.  Just don't tell my kids; they might be thinking it is time to consider "what to do about Mom."

 

I am not howling - yet.



Birding Around

Seeing some wild skies, but I am doing OK

So I said to hubby, "Hubs, I think you may have gone overboard with all of your bird feeders."





And then the 37 turkey vultures came.



They all know that dinner is served at 6.
 

High on Sugar

Getting close to turning the corner on February, and I am doing OK

Winter forces me to stay inside too often, facing tasks I hate to even think about, no less do, trying to fill the day, moving, moving, going nowhere. Cook, I say to myself, create, fill the house with wonderful smells and the grayness of the day will go away. I open up the fridge and it is filled with food that I made days ago for the same reason. Ignoring this, I continue on my pursuit to accomplish something. Soup, I will make soup. It is hardy, perfect for winter and I have all the ingredients.  I have made so much soup this winter, hubby has been complaining.  He reminded me the other day that he still has his teeth and would love something to chew upon.  So I make cookies, lots of cookies.  I take a few dozen with me to work on Thursdays.  They are all grateful and that makes me feel so good that I go home and make more of them.  The oven is going constantly; butter, flour and sugar must be bought on a weekly basis and if the sun doesn't shine soon and I continue with this obsession, Weight Watchers will cancel my membership and burn my card. 

Today I made the most scrumptious chocolate chip cookies.  Hubby came across this recipe on Yahoo and it was submitted by Alison Roman.  Alison, dear Alison, we could become best friends, because your cookies were Divine.   Here are the ingredients for......... Ta Da............

 Delicious Salty Chocolate Chunk Cookies. 



1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 cup of butter, room temperature
3/4 cup of packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup of  powdered sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 large egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
8 ounces of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chunks
Sea salt

Place racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat at 375 degrees.  Whisk flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and baking soda in medium bowl and set aside.

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter, brown sugar, sugar and powered sugar until light and fluffy - 3 to 4 minutes.  Add egg yolks, egg and vanilla.  Beat, occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl, until mixture is pale and fluffy, 4 - 5 minutes.  Reduce mixer speed to low, slowly add dry ingredients, mixing just to blend.  Fold in chocolate.

Spoon rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart.  Sprinkle cookies with ground sea salt.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

This is what you get.



Chocolate and salt, a perfect food!

The recipe said you would get two dozen, but I got three dozen.  I made them small because:  1) a smaller cookies gives me less guilt, 2) there are more cookies to love.

They say the cloudy cold days will continue till at least Saturday so there will be more baking going on.  Although I know not to fool around with perfection, next time, when I make these cookies I will use almond extract instead of vanilla and add chopped walnuts.  Hubby will like the walnuts as then he will have something to chew.  Got to satisfy those choppers.