Clouds and a Recipe

We had clouds in our sky yesterday, lots and lots of them, some like in the picture, but more that were huge billowy ones filling the sky with hope of a beautiful spring day . . . but, there goes that wonder word again, squalls were in the offering. Just about the time I decided I could get a little yard work in, the rains would come, didn't stay long, but long enough to get everything wet. I had other 'fish to fry' so went in and looked up an old cupcake recipe that I used to make often. The recipe has to be over fifty years old and was given to me by a co-worker who brought these delicious chocolate cupcakes in to share after her grandmother baked up a batch or two. They were like red devil food cake and so delicious. It was such an easy recipe, one you cold pull out when you saw unexpected company coming up the driveway, grab a bowl, litterally throw in the ingredients and twenty minutes later serve the cupcakes with a hot cup of coffee or tea. So in case you are in the mood for a delicious cupcake here is the recipe:

Place in a large bowl:

1 egg

1/2cup of cocoa

1-1/2 cups of flour

1 tsp of salt - scant

1 tsp of baking powder

1/2 cup of milk

1 tsp. of vanilla

Last add 1/2 cup of boiling water

Beat ONCE until smooth . . . Bake in a 350 degree oven for twenty minutes. Test with toothpick. Frost them with your favorite frosting, or dust them with powdered sugar.

I'm leaving you early this morning as Pat is on her way to pick me up to have our first day of selling at our garage sale. Believe it or not it is fun and we will see some of our favorite yard sale folks out and about early this morning. Actually the sale is advertised in the paper for Saturday and I think this year there are more than one hundred and twenty sales. When we have one we cannot go to the others so we are missing out on some treasures. Pat's friend, Katie, is coming over to give us a hand and if all goes as I expect I will take over the book department and start sorting them out. I like them neat, facing the same way so the folks can check them out without messing up my neat piles . . . well you know that isn't going to last long but that is not important, what is important is that they buy them all. I have no room 'at the inn' to restock them at home.

So today, it's Friday, TGIF, I can see the smile on your face right now. A whole weekend coming up to do as you please . . . um . . . wonder what pleases you? A sleep in, a catch up on house cleaning, an outing away from it all . . . nah . . . you are all going to go into the kitchen and try out my recipe for delicious chocolate cupcakes. Enjoy! Make your seconds count. Hugs to all.

Pink Sky

When I looked out my window yesterday morning I saw a pink sky similar to this one. It really is a beautiful sight to see although according to legend a pink sky in the morning, sailor take warning . . . well, yesterday turned out to be a sunshine day and not a storm in sight. A calm ocean and no wind, for once, I was not able to register a complaint about weather. I did manage to get out and get a few chores done and found a lovely book on beading for my friend Marge. She is making some of the most beautiful jewelry pieces you would ever see. It takes time, patience and creativity to finish a pendant or a bracelet and believe me she has a special talent to share. Pat and I were driving up by her house when there, on her street, we caught up with her returning from my house where she had left me some Blue Agave, which is an organic sweetener. I had talked about not knowing or ever hearing about this type of sweetener and now I am an owner of a bottle of it. The label says that it is one and one-half times sweeter than sugar so you can use less of it. It is one hundred percent organic Agave nectar. Now I have to catch up with Marge and get some lessons on how to use it in cooking and baking. I'm a tough old bird when it comes to drinking my coffee and tea straight. Now I am wondering if this Agave nectar can be used in making cookies and such, if so how much would be used. I guess I will just have to find out.



Are you ready for the Royal Wedding? It is going to cost over thirty three million dollars in protecting the visiting royalty and probably that and much more for the pomp and circumstance of the wedding itself. I am curious enough to want to see some of the activities but I doubt I will sit and watch it for hours. I have things to do, like helping Pat get ready for the city wide garage sale this weekend. We worked a little yesterday in rearranging some of her treasures and she does have some. It is hard to collect beautiful things over the years and then find you have more than you have room for and they have to go. Sad, because they are still as beautiful as the day found and they have not lost their usefulness, yet there is just not enough room to house it all. The biggest surprise at the end of the year when we get ready for this particular event, we find that we have collected or amassed books, books and more books. I came home with two yesterday and know I'll find more when I go over them again today. Here at my place, I don't have any room for more books and sometimes wonder if I will have the time to read all that I know have. Yet . . . books, and I have to admit pictures, are one of my passions. So, what is another book or two . . . I'll find room.


So today, Thursday of your working week, know that there are over a hundred yard sales going on here in Brookings. If you find your way here you are bound to find something you just cannot live without. Make your seconds count today as they fly by and before you know it another new month is in the offering . Count your blessings as many folks are hurting today. Paula tells me she sits in her hallway when the tornado alarm goes off and waits for the storm to pass. So far it has not touched down in her town, but it has been touching down in towns close by. There are so many people throughout the States that have lost everything. It is going to be a time of rebuilding and some of the help has to come from those of us who have been more fortunate in not having the horrendous storms and floods. Think positive, dig deep and help. Hugs to all.

A Spring Day

We had a sunshine day yesterday, all day, and what a pleasure it was to go out into the garden and check the newest bright red Rhody and see how big the 'tea' tree has grown. Pat brought over a couple of bags of sand so I could fill in an area where all the rain water has created little sink holes. The garden needs a lot of attention this year and the first bag of clippings has gone, now to get busy and fill another. Want to help? I am very good about sharing.

The birds were out in the open field next to our place. Black birds of good size. I had fed the bird feeders and the little budgies were up on the electric lines waiting patiently for me to disappear so they could get to feasting. The older budgies used to come and sit on the fence and then eat their fill, but this new crop seem a bit shy and wont come near the feeder until I am long gone from the area. All I want to do is get a good picture , but so far haven't been able to get the idea across that I am one of the good guys.

Okay, okay, here is the latest finished puzzle which took about a week to get done. I was not going to do anymore for awhile but when my friend Marge came in with a big smile and not one, but two puzzles, I couldn't resist. This one was not easy and it took a lot of organizing to finally get it done.

It had castles, people on the bridge, lots of trees all of miniature size so it took some time to finally get it together. It was fun, but I am not going to do any more for awhile . . .maybe the next rainy season. I have six more in the closet that need attention Andrea and Bob sent to me for Christmas. I have four boxes on the top shelf filled with puzzle pieces waiting to be done. So I am well stocked and have plans for the next winter season. If you come by, you can help.

Marge came by in her little blue car and we went up to Pancho for lunch. We met Eunice there and the three of us caught up with each other as it has been a long while since our last lunch of fish tacos. I had been there recently for the fish taco salad . . . fish tacos without the tortilla; all delicious no matter how served, but I chose the chicken enchiladas for a change. It was fun to converse about the world in general but our conversation about sugar proved to be interesting. I never thought of it as a poison but in a way it is as it makes us all fat. I had no idea there are other kinds of good sugars out there. Boy, the older I get the more I learn how much I really do not know. Guava sugar, never heard of it. Eunice is well versed in what is really good for the body so we learned a lot. Eunice went off to grocery shop and Marge came in for a cup of tea so I got to enjoy her company a little longer. What a difference it makes in a day when a friend drops by.

So today, think about that and if you can make a little time to stop by and see a friend, do it, it will do you both good. It is hump day, that middle day of your week that tells you the weekend is on its way and this one will bring a new month...May....May flowers, I can hardly wait. Make your seconds count and plan to get out and smell the flowers. Hugs to all.

Erin's Pictures

When my granddaughter Erin was here last week she and her friend,Jimmy, took their cameras for a walk along the beach. Lucky the day was bright, one of the few we had recently with a hint of sunshine so when I asked her to remember to send me a few I could share on my blog, I received twenty-nine. Yeah ! She's no slouch.


I see the green vegetation caught her eye and being one of 'those' who looks for pictures within 'things' I see a beautiful big fat rabbit hiding in the rocks, or is it a squirrel? hard to tell as the ears are in the shadows. I see a woman's face and a child, and if you look closely at the greenery you will find another little animal to make you smile.

Low tide and the sea grass looks healthy and thriving. Seaweed and pebbles, wonder if there were more beach rocks to look at.

There are a lot of these little critters on the beaches here in Oregon. They play hide and seek and scatter about hoping for a tidbit or two.

This is a good shot. I wonder where it is. I haven't seen it in my beach walks. It reminded me of the Devil's Cauldron at a Newport, R.I. beach. Eons of erosion by the ocean and the rocks finally have to give in and let the water have its way.

So today, open your eyes to your surroundings and see what you can see. Last evening my neighbor stopped in with a flower pot in hand. She had a medium size pot with artificial flowers and was grinning from ear to ear. Our new neighbor has finally moved into the house on the other side of La Verne, two houses up from me, and is a pastry chef, or had been one for years. She sent this gift to La Verne with the idea that she should share it with me. It took a minute to discover that the pot was new and plastic, the dirt was not dirt but chocolate cookie crumbs and within those crumbs was two different kinds of pudding . What a surprise and how delicious. Some folks are clever and creative. I put some into a bowl and have it ready to share with daughter Patricia when she comes by today. Now I wish I had taken time out to take a picture of it to share with you. How and when the new neighbor whose name is Nickey, had time to bake with all the boxes and stuff surrounding her, is beyond me. When they came up with their moving van and opened the door they were in for a shock as some skunks had gotten under the house and made a nest there. Mess is a small word for the problems they faced, but they faced them, and are now slowly getting around to a to-do list that will take time. And we thought we had it tough . . . make your seconds count today as you go about your business with a smile on your face. Hugs to all.

It's Monday

It is Monday the 25th of April, 2011 and our Easter holiday is over . . . it seemed to take a long while to get here. then in a blink of an eye it was over . . . how fast it went as we changed plans a dozen times. After awhile we decided to go over to Crescent City and visited the Harvest Cafe where the food is excellent, as is the service. Everything is 'healthy' so we gave up going to a buffet where we would over indulge and enjoyed a delicious breakfast omelet with the Easter ham and eggs, a little green pepper, some onion served with home fries cooked in a rice oil I never heard of. We stopped by the casino for a few minutes . . .more like an hour. . . and won some, lost some, and came out even, so we were winners. We met Maggie at the theater and saw "Water for Elephants" which is well done and the actors excellent. It was interesting enough that I did not doze through it and that is nothing short of a miracle. Maybe reading the book gave me the incentive to stay awake, and paying five dollars and fifty cents for a medium box of popcorn certainly awakened a few nerves in my body, and we have the nerve to complain about the high prices in the grocery store. It is ludicrous as to what everyone is doing out there in the business world . . . coffee a dollar and a half in the restaurant, sometimes two, they are out of their minds. I'll remember to order just water in the future. "Someone" is out to spoil all our fun, or being a Depression baby, I remember five cent popcorn in a large bag.

The importance of being political. How our life style has changed in a very short while. You would think our leaders would be working hard to put folks back to work, fight the cartel on gouging on gasoline, instead of politics as usual. the hardest part is knowing half of the money is going overseas to the cartel countries richer than Midas.

There was a picture on television yesterday showing Harry Reid of Nevada, along with five other senators hobnobbing with some high folks at a huge casino in some foreign country. I can understand Harry's interest as Nevada runs on gaming, but why the other five on vacation with him? They are heading for China . . . it would be interesting to find out why. Meanwhile you will have to give up something to afford to fill you car with gas to get you to and from work. Car pooling would help, even though it would be an inconvenience, but it would cut back a little of the expense. Of course if most had a job then one wouldn't have to 'sweat the little stuff'.

So today, start your week off with some good thoughts about what you can do to help yourself through this economical disaster. Food prices go up right along with the gasoline so think menus and cutting back, and be sure to use up all of the leftovers. Stop and count your blessings though there are many people in the world, and especially in our own states, that are having to live with the loss of everything they owned. Fires in Texas, tornadoes in Arkansas, and flooding in half the mid states. Dip into your pocket and send a check to the Salvation Army knowing they are out there trying to help those in need. Meanwhile, keep 'a stiff upper lip' and get on with your seconds today, and know Blue Monday will pass . . . it always does. Hugs to all.

Happy Easter Sunday Morning

I had an e-mail about new inventions that was interesting. How come I do not have stairs within my abode so I could use this kind of a bookcase instead of the overloaded one I do have. I know the answer is less books but that would be like less jelly beans when you have your hand in the bowl. It is a clever idea though and reminds me of my daughter Eileen who told me, in all earnestly, that when my need was great there would always be a place for me in her home. She would have a bed for me under her staircase then promptly had son Michael fill it in with something similar to this picture.

Now this must be what is known as a friendly neighbor fence. I'm not sure I want to give up my privacy , how about you? Now if Pat had one of these 'holes' in her fence, Emma would have her nose stuck to the glass as she would be watching her three dogie friends next door playing in their yard and she would be howling to the winds in her want to get over there to play with them. Um . . . not a good idea.

Having a fancy egg poacher may be fine for some folks, but I go back to the old fashioned 'dropped egg' which does a fine job of poaching eggs. Come to think of it, I might just go out to the kitchen and drop a couple of eggs for my Easter Sunday breakfast. Pat and I are going off later to see what kind of buffets are out there, but we also saw that there is a movie playing we would like to see and that may take presidence over a fancy meal. There is nothing wrong with a ham sandwich and a desert today . . . desert!!!! Yeah!!!!Fresh strawberries are out in bulk form at Fred Meyer's store today , warm home made biscuits from the oven, topped with real whipped cream, or a hot fudge sundae, but then there is lemon meringue pie . . . decisions, decisions, ah . . .lent is over, and it is about time.

So today, go out in your new finery and hum "The Easter Parade" as you walk out and about and participate in the joy of Easter Sunday. Put on your Easter bonnet and saunter about like you know what your doing. Smile at everyone you meet and plot and plan a tasty dinner in or out, ending with the desert of your choice. It is a day of new beginnings, a day to start fresh leaving all those bad habits behind. Light a candle so you don't stumble along the way. Make your seconds count and know that each and every one of us have reasons to cry but even more to laugh out loud. Spread the hugs today just because you can. Hugs to all.

Easter Memories

It was always fun to decorate eggs for the Easter egg hunt and fill the children's baskets with chocolate ones as well. Over in Germany, Volker Kraft started an Easter tradition in 1945 by hanging plastic eggs on a tree on his farm. Soon his wife and children were using real egg shells and it became a family tradition working for weeks before Easter to fill the tree. In 2011 there were 9,500 eggs so the fruit of their labor has added up to a very beautiful sight to see.

People must come from miles around to get a look at this tree. I thought there was a lot of work to dying a dozen eggs and cannot imagine the time and effort it takes to decorate this tree every year.

I wonder how soon the other trees will look like this. It seems to be a labor of love and a wonderful way to celebrate the Easter season.

I mentioned Holy Thursday in an e-mail this week which evoked memories of 'days of yore' and my friend Pauline asked if I kept the three hours of silence on Good Friday which brought back a myriad of memories of the Lenten season. As very young children we were steeped in the traditions of lent. Holy Week, now called Spring Break by many, sent us to Mass every morning, a trip to the alter for ashes on Ash Wednesday and the Stations of the Cross on Friday afternoons. Holy week was special as we got to wash the windows inside and out during the three hours of silence on Good Friday. Of course we started off being silent but the faces were made, the tongue sticking out and giggles soon overtook us and as hard as we tried silence did not prevail. Let me say our intentions were good. Today is Holy Saturday and this is the day when the priest blesses the water and the Pascal candle, traditions that are meaningful but long forgotten. The entire church is somber in its purple covers and once I worked with some ladies to lift a statue of the Blessed Mother down from a side altar. Two ladies had climbed up to lift the statue from the altar and I, Katrina the Great, thought I could stand under and guide the statue down. When they let loose, I got the full brunt of the weight and had to make a special trip to the doctor's office where I was introduced to the longest needle I've ever seen. It took awhile for the back to mend but the statue was saved. But Easter Sunday the entire church would come to life and gave us a reason to celebrate as the music started loud and clear and the choir voices rang out. Yeah . . . traditions do have a special place in our lives; sad there have been so many changes within the church and within ourselves.

So today, the beginning of your Easter weekend, think about some of the old traditions you used to celebrate and take a mental walk down memory lane and enjoy some of the sights and sounds of Easter. Easter . . . Hope . . . Courage . . . Love! What more could we ask for? Hugs to all.

Beauty in the Desert"

"A pleasing quality associated with harmony of form or color,excellance of craftsmanship,truthfulness, originality or another, unspecifiable
property." so says the American dictionary as I looked for a new word to put with the pictures this morning. Cousins Andrea and Bob live in the Arizona desert where they have a view of the mountains and spend both time and energy developing a garden. Here you can see for yourself how successful they are.

Color and form . . . it is right here to look at. How can such a prickly cactus give birth to such beauty? One of natures mysteries.

The long bulbous cacti comes alive in the spring.

This one must be very special as it looks like it belongs in a bride's bouquet, without the thorns of course.





Thanks Andrea and Bob for the pictures and your words. The two of you have been hard workers all your life and you deserve to retire to your lovely oasis in the desert. I just wish it were not so far away so I could stop in and have some desert with coffee and share some good company. Enjoy your seconds and send more pictures for my blog.

So today, if you feel like sending pictures of your 'place in the sun' , do so, and I'll put them on my blog to share with everyone. Each of us has a different idea of the ideal place to live and I am wondering about you . . . come on, share a picture and story with me . Granddaughter Erin sent me some pictures which I have to sort through. I don't have one of her new apartment in the city, or the special little cafe where she stops for bagels and lox . . . now that is an incentive to make a visit to the city. Friend Jo lives in a historical community, now that would make a good write up. John shares pictures of his digs in Alaska, not the apartment building but the surrounding areas. Son Michael lives in a small trailer on a horse ranch in Nevada and that has beauty all its own, in fact, I have blogged about that ranch before. Paula has a little house in tornado country and is hoping that they soon pass and leave her house standing. Now that is down right scary. Cousin Pauline lives in a huge old home in Newport, R.I. overlooking the ocean and has shared many stories about her years when she housed visitors who came to this beautiful city to take part in the special events. Home is where the heart is, so share. Make your seconds count today and everyday. Good Friday . . . silence from twelve to three, meditate and light a candle today. Hugs to all.

What a beautiful picture of their home and flowering plants. There is still a little snow in the mountains but far away from the heat of the desert.

And the visit ends

Daughter Patricia says Good morning. Erin is packing up her car getting ready to return to San Francisco and finish out her spring break with a side trip to Yosemite. Her friends are waiting patiently for her return. Patricia will be sad for a short while as she gets used to the empty nest feeling one more time. It is such fun to have our children come home even if it is for a short time and we have to let them go back to their own lives. Emma is going to be moping around today. She will go to Erin's room and look for her, then sit by the door hoping she will come out and play with her. We will probably be moping around a bit too.

Granddaughter Erin invited her mother and me out for Pancho's fish tacos last evening. We had a wonderful few days that have gone by much too fast. We did some good visiting, some terrific eating and saw a movie or two. It wasn't all play though as Erin helped her mother get the garage ready for the upcoming city wide yard sale at the end of this month. How we wished she could have stayed on to help with that. It is so nice to see a vibrant young woman work hard and make it look so easy . I'd like to bottle up some of that energy and save it for another day, like the sale day, when we will be wishing her back with us. She tells us she will be back in June so that is not that far away.

Yes, the sun did come out for two days and it was awesome, still a bit cold, but it felt so good. Erin came in the rain and another storm is due in today so she will be riding down the coast hopefully before it breaks. My granddaughter was out and about with her camera but hasn't had time to post her pictures for me to share. She took several in the restaurant of her mother and me and I am anxious to see them. Her trip around the area should prove to be interesting so hopefully she will find time to send them along so I can share them with you. Meanwhile son John is up visiting the Fairbanks area with his friend Jo and they are having a great time. They have seen some of the frozen rivers beginning to break up as it warms up in Alaska. As for the rest of my family, Christine is busy helping out at the local gallery with plans for a community event. If all goes as planned she will be coming for a visit in May. Then Michael is enjoying seventy degree weather for a change and still 'shoveling horse manure' as he waits for the news of a job opening up. He has been lucky to live on a horse ranch and be put to work earning his keep as he helps with the feeding and care of the horses. A man of many talents, thank God. I wonder if construction jobs will ever be the same. What a horrible mess our country is in.

So, you hear enough of that 'mess' without my digressing to the maelstrom of bad news we are inundated with on a daily basis. I am off to have my coffee and wake up . . . about time! Make your seconds count this Thursday and get ready to celebrate Easter and new beginnings. Ham or Lamb? That is the question . . . me, I'm going buffet and have it all. Hugs to all.

Late Night TV

Good morning. I am late getting up this morning. I had one of those nights in which my book kept me good company. I could have gone out to my easy chair and turned on the TV but that would have meant leaving the warmth of my bed. I do understand that the late comedians are spreading their humor each night but it is not often that I stay awake to listen to them. I had no idea I would receive an e-mail yesterday with a few of their late night musings or quotes. You know they are finally opening up about our politicians, but this time they took on the president. I am adding a few, in case you missed seeing or hearing them.

"Q. Have you heard about McDonald's new Obama Value Meal?
A. Order anything you like and the guy behind you has to pay for it. " --Conan O'Brien


" Q. What does Barack Obama call lunch with a convicted felon?"
A. A fund raiser. --Jay Leno


"Q. If NancyPelosi and Obama were on a boat in the middle of the ocean and it started to sink, who would be saved?"
A. America! --Jimmy Falion

"Q. What was the most positive result of the "Cash for Clunkers" program?
A. It took 95% of the Obama bumper stickers off the road." -- David Letterman


"Q. What's the difference between Obama's cabinet and a penitentiary?
A. One is filled with tax evaders, blackmailers, and threats to society. The other is for housing prisoners. ---David Letterman



So today, know you should have stayed awake a little longer so you could keep up with what is going on in Washington. D. C. and as one of the old comedians used to say . . . "You aint seen nothing yet." This President has the blind fold on his eyes when it comes to spending every nickel he can get his hands on. He is out to make a billion dollars to run to hold the job he has not been able to handle. It takes experience, lots of it, and insight and we are desperately in need a strong leader to put America back on its feet. As one of the political analysts said recently, 'watch what he does, not what he says.' so pay attention and listen and look. It is hump day, mid way to a Easter celebration and I am trying to decide what I want to have for a desert . . . um . . . I'm thinking. Hugs to all.

Gripes, Groans and Moans

"Rock Fish" by Sharon Guinn


You see that huge shark with the big teeth and the smiling face, well that was not me this morning. I woke up to find the television cable was off and the computer was down. It was fine when I shut it off and went to bed last night. I didn't hear any storms coming in from the ocean, in fact we had sunshine yesterday, which you know I have been waiting patiently for, and it felt sooooo good... so I got out the telephone book and called Charter. I got a really nice young man and he was very calm, cool and collected as we progressed in our talk about computers not being up and running. I think I lost it when he said "we will send someone on the 20th, Wednesday about four o'clock in the afternoon " . . . I was really very good, honest, but I did let him know I was not happy and knowing I had done nothing to mess things up, I reminded him that his worker would not get in the door if there was a bill attached. After a few minutes he turned me over to a young lady who was giving me a date with their worker. . . but, after about an hour I had another call and this time I was told that all was working and for me to try my tv and computer. Yeah...working.....it seems that some construction people cut a line this morning, so my date with the worker was cancelled and I am free to go out my door tomorrow. All in all, I am feeling pretty good as I am catching up with my computer e-mail and right now, as you can see, I am talking to YOU . . . Just know how happy I am that I can say that. What would I do without a daily visit with all of you???? I'd be very sad.



So today, check all of your equipment and make sure everything is up and running. Send me an e-mail just because you can. As for me, I am going to have lunch with my daughter Pat and granddaughter Erin. Erin is leaving us tomorrow, much too soon to suit us. She's a joy and we are already counting the weeks when she an return and share a little more time with us. Make your second count as you enjoy today. Hugs to all.

Dreamiing

A spring morning, calm and peaceful with blue skies and sunshine . . . I am dreaming of it, in hopes it will come to Oregon sometime soon . . . and it will eventually, but when is the big question. I really am not complaining about the rain, honest, I like having small ponds in my yard even if the seagulls ignore them. I am not sure why the seagulls are spending more time on the garage roof these days, but I have an idea that they are trying very hard to get away from the wind and the wild ocean waves, or have found the bird feed and are too lazy to fend for themselves. I tried to take a picture of ten of them on the roof next door, but it came out hazy and the birds didn't show up enough for you to be able to see them. Maybe they will come back when the sun shines.

We did it. We finally wore Emma out. She had three of us to demand attention from yesterday and she got a lot of it, enough to wear her out and send her off to dreamland. Emma is finally growing up but just a little bit. It seems she is in no hurry to have to mind her manners. She is a beauty and twice the size we thought she would be. She is smart and quick and can mind her manners when she wants to. The trouble is she never wants to. Pat tells me she is just a puppy and will settle down eventually . . . sounds good but I do have my doubts. All in all, she is a sweetheart and a very important member of the family even though her escapades would fill a good size book.

A really beautiful picture of fall colors which I couldn't resist showing this morning as we wait for the rain to stop and spring to finally get here. This one reminds me of visits to Rhode Island where I once lived. The trips down to Exeter where the country roads were filled with the color of the changing season. How beautiful it was and how often I have stared at pictures, just like this, to regain the feeling of nature in its coat of colors. In Nevada it was the golden Aspen trees and here in Oregon it is more green unless, of course, you want to mention the yellow gorse invading the highways. I think it is lovely in color but the damage it does belies that fact. All I feel when I look at this picture is a bit of nostalgia for some wonderful days of yore. Yeah, Rhode Island always kept a piece of my heart.

So today, the start of a new week, Holy week, a somber time of meditation, purple covered statues in the churches and not a soul visiting within. The candles are lit and brightened up the foyer and their light lifting up the good intentions for each of you. Take time to meditate and offer up a little prayer of hope for each and everyone of us. Hugs to all.

After The Tsunami

Good Afternoon. I had the Security Check come on this morning for hours so lost the original blog I had almost finished. I didn't know I could shrink the screen and continue on. I was under the impression once the program kicked in to check the innards of the computer I would be better off far away from it. It is suppose to kick in after midnight but I don't leave the computer on. so when I do turn the computer on, there it goes and it takes hours. So while this was going on I was invited out to brunch as my granddaughter was cooking up her lemon ricotta pancakes with fresh fruit and lots of hot coffee. To say it was delicious would be the understatement of the year. She is turning out to be an excellent cook and seems to love it. We did clean the plates and if there were flowers on them when we started, there sure were none when we got finished. The ladies had not one, but two Harry Potter movies to watch. The latest one is out and although I am not a Harry Potter fan, I did enjoy some of the movies. I get lost in the dark screens and the quick change of pace and characters, but, I can understand why the children flock to the movie theater to see them. They tell me the books are better but I haven't taken time to read them. So, to make a long story short, I am just getting in and finishing up my computer time for the day.

Meanwhile the e-mail I received yesterday had so many pictures of sea creatures found after the huge tsunami in South East Asia. Some have never been seen before. Some as ugly as sin and some you wouldn't eat if they paid you too. I love my fish dinners, but I am not sure I would even want to try any of these.

So it is a little late in the day to tell you to relax and enjoy our Sunday, but there is still enough time to plot and plan a nice dinner, in or out, your choice. We did get to the Nautilus last evening for the scallops and they were every bit as good as I told you they would be. If you come this way for a visit, we will have to go there so you can try them too. It only took until three p.m. for light to break through the gray clouds. I can't call it sunshine, but a brightness that was good to see. I haven't heard how many inches fell in the last three days but you can bet we are setting some kind of a record. Our newspaper came out with the fact that the city fathers dropped the ball and didn't respond to the committee for our annual Art Festival so they are not going to have it this year. It is one very big disappointment as people come from miles around to attend the festivities on the board walk and the artisans travel here as well to join the group that we have here who are very talented. So if you were planning on coming for the event, know it has been cancelled for this year. Meanwhile we have the city wide yard sale coming up the end of this month and that should be fun.

Sweet dreams when you get there. I am off to catch up on the news. Make your seconds count. Hugs to all.

Pretty Faces

There was an e mail that came in yesterday with a story about husbands and told tales of their wants and needs. It was well done as it alluded to the good and bad habits of our 'significant others' be they boy friend, pal, husband or just a male you hear about. In the end it told of the virtue of owning a cat which reminded me of a plaque that said "you haven't lived, until you have been ignored by a cat." Meanwhile enjoy the photos. You know you will want to go and adopt one.of these lovable creatures. AAH! ! !

I wish I knew what each puppy was. This looks like a little beagle pup to me. The very first dog we owned was a tiny beagle and we lived in Navy housing so there was not yard area and no place for an active puppy to survive. We were both off all day so in all fairness to the puppy we found a home on a farm and it survived to be a beautiful big dog with the run of the entire farm.

Now this little one looks healthy and hardy. Love the collar.

What a face! Pug nose, sleepy eyes and freckles . . . must be the Irish in him.

What a sad looking little pup. One look and you know you want to take her home. Look at those ears. Can't you just hear, 'pet me, pet me' . . . one snap of the fingers and this one would be up and bounding about with two balls in her mouth.

Here is a cutie, alive, alert, and ready for fun. With pups like these how could you ever be lonely. They require lots of attention and in return give you unconditional love.

Well not everyone. We are supporting the oil cartel and 'he' gives a leg up to Brazil to start digging for oil so we can buy it from them . . . um . . . wonder where your vote will go in 2012 as our illustrious president is starting on the road to a BILLION dollar run for keeping his job. Insult to injury, sure hope you are all paying attention to what is going on in our world.

So today, Saturday, the beginning of a nice weekend with more stormy spring weather, but, not so bad that you cannot get out and shake a little office dust off your shoes. Maybe a movie is in the offering today as a couple of good ones are coming out. Lucky me, I have my granddaughter Erin here for a few days and she gets to choose her favorite restaurant and we will enjoy a catch up on what has been going on in her life. She was in for a while yesterday and showed me some of the things my camera can do . . . I didn't know that! There is a lot I don't know. Now if we had a little sunshine we could go on a picture taking jaunt and maybe, just maybe, you would get some pictures that were not out of focus or grainy. No complaints though, you are lucky I know which button to push to get the pictures I do. Oh to have a young brain....okay, I'll settle for the fact this one is still working. Make your seconds count and have a great day, a day to remember. Hugs to all.

Weather

Good morning. The weather is always with us 'whether we like it or not' and I hunted for pictures to show what we have been putting up with for weeks of spring cold, rain, a peek at the sun now and then leading us to think summer will soon be here. I wouldn't take bets on how the rest of the country feels about weather as this has been on of the most dramatic winter and spring no matter where you live. For the most part we are very fortunate to have the weather we do and I should not complain . . .but I do . . . shame on me! We could have snow right here in the valley as one more storm comes in. Some time ago I wrote a poem about "Storming On the Coast" Winters here, the storms arrive/rain and wind and snow/creating foggy mists/that hid the sunshine glow. I lay abed and listen/as the winds bring in the rain/it pelts and swirls along the eaves/it shakes and rattles, quivering/making moaning sighs/tinkling wind chimes/as the noise rises high. I settle in my comforter/made of feathers oh so light/and close my eyes and listen/as I pray for loved ones plight/watching lightening strikes above/as thunder booms/and hail comes down/on this stormy night." Pat tells me it rained all night but I must have had a deep sleep because you couldn't prove it by me. Today granddaughter Erin is wending her way up the coast from San Francisco and a storm is in the air. Hopefully it will be an easy drive, rain or no, and she will arrive safe and sound. Do parents and grandparents ever stop worrying about their children and grandchildren driving on the roads, especially a long lonely trek ? We may worry, but you can bet your boots they do not give it a second thought. It is just a chance to visit home where love abounds and lots of hugs wait. Most likely a home cooked meal, yes, Pat is baking her enchilada special and if you are in the neighborhood, drop in, it is a dish to ooh and aah over. She usually makes a lot more than we can devour. Riding over by the Port we noticed high 'dirty' waves as the blue patches showed. This picture was taken awhile ago but it gives you an idea of what we were looking at. The wave riders were not out and that seemed a shame as the waves were building and just right for a ride to shore. So today, no matter what the weather, make your seconds count. It is Friday, my, how did it get her so fast? For those of you working in an office it may seem endless and long to get here, but for some of us time has a way of getting away from us. Waiting for Erin to get here will seem so long, yet once she is here it will seem like the time double times and she will have to return to her students and her life. Well, that is as it should be, but you will know that we will enjoy every minute with her and already put in reservations for the Nautical where the Bay scallops and spinach on angel hair pasta awaits the taste buds. Wish you were here. Hugs to all.

Late

Usually you find that I am a very early riser and there was little or no difference today, but the computer guru hiding behind the scenes was playful and decided that I should just walk away and wait patiently for the 'air waves' to clear. I have no idea what was going on behind the scenes. When I left computer land last evening the powers that be were going to upload seventeen (17) new changes which I will never know as I have not the slightest idea how to check on what 'they' do until it shows up when I am trying to keep up with the familiar. So I shut off the computer and went and made my coffee, had an English muffin and put the frame together for a new jig saw puzzle that friend Marge brought over to keep me busy. She's making sure I do not get bored and caught up with some mundane housework. It looks like we are in for a cloudy day, maybe a little rain, but that will not deter our plans as Patricia and I will have a day away and catch up on some of the small chores waiting for our attention. I know we are heading for The Star of the Sea to light a few candles for all. We have a post office stop so Pauline can have some short novels to read by that author, you know the one ....what's her name? .... oh yeah, Jean M. Sullivan. Well if you haven't read 'her' don't knock 'her' as the feed back has been pretty good for an amateur self published writer. This year has not been a very good year for friends of the author. Jo Anne, a talented self publisher, had an operation that set her back for some time. Lucky for her the problem was caught and resolved so she can now get on with living. She told me last call that she is beginning to feel energy she thought had lost her for good. It is good news and we can all use good news. While Jo Anne is mending, Pat Stewart, the owner of the little Words and Picture Book Store has been given sad news and has to retire. She has a heart problem and it is time to give herself a vacation far away from running a very busy business. She is a sweet and wonderful lady, and, she had done a lot for the community. The artists will miss her as she opened her shop and made a gallery and it became one of the best stops for the Art Walk every second Saturday each month. My books that were on assignment have been returned and it makes me sad. Some sold, some did not, but they were out there and that created a sense of pride. So today, know that some of your closest acquaintances are having a problem or two and could use a pat on the back, a token card of your appreciation for their help along the way. It is pay back time, so get busy and think about those who really are friends, but in disguise. How lucky we are that we have come across such folks. Make your seconds count. If you are using a walker, get out there and walk around the block; if you are lucky enough to get out and garden, plant a few fresh vegetables and a flower or two. If you are out and about, stop in and surprise someone but if you decide to stop in and see me, just do not bring along one of those great big buttermilk donuts. I still have a week and a half until Easter. Meanwhile, after the chores I spoke about, we have a yard sale to prepare for. The big annual city sale is coming up and there is a lot to be done. If your nearby, come on over and we will put you to work and you can have first pick. Smile a lot today, it is really very good for you. Hugs to all. Your laugh for the day.