The End of May

Finding a way to put the pictures on the blog is working although it is like going in a back door instead of a front door.    I can get the pictures on now but I can't break where I want to and if I start fooling around then I lose them.   So the gripe continues as I say a prayer that 'those' in power of change will go back to 'normal' . . . sounds like I am talking politics early this morning.  


The butterfly picture was sent to me yesterday from Colorado.  Judy has lilacs blooming and the butterflies love it.   I thought for a minute that it was a Monarch but on a second look, I don't think so.  I wonder just what species it is, but it really doesn't matter as it is very beautiful to look at.  I am hoping for a butterfly or two to come into my back yard this summer.   They seem to love the  honey suckle and the pink tea tree.


The latest news seems to be a change in the pyramid for foods.   I hear we are going to get a new one.   I thought I'd take a good look at these pictures as they seem to have everything that we could possibly need to stay strong and healthy.    Hey, I made a jean dish for dinner last night and you might like to try it.  I am sure someone chef has already made it, only fancier, but it was simple to do and I think you might even like to try it.    Take those long stems off the baby spinach as they can stick in your throat and cause trouble.   Tear them up and put them in a bowl, slice up a half of a tomato, about four mushrooms, a half of a small white onion, some green pepper cut up small, a few frozen green beans, dribble some sea salt and some black pepper over all.   Get out your big black iron skillet and put some olive oil and about a teaspoon of vinegar in it, put it on medium heat and then dump in all of the ingredients from the bowl.   Let it simmer for a few minutes, just long enough for the green beans to thaw and viola!!!  Dinner is ready.  A side of a fancy cracker or two and you have it made.   


So today, remember one more month has gone by the wayside.  It seemed to be a very long month of very unusual and colder weather for our area.   We cannot complain as we have not had the horror other states have had during the tornado season with the added floods to contend with.   I am off to light a candle or two today and hope you will take time out to do the same.  It can't hurt, in fact it might just help if we all make up our minds to bend a knee and offer our eyes up into the wild blue yonder.  Who knows what little angel might catch sight of the light of your candle.    Today "Simple Truths" newsletter talks about time . . . "Nobody can manage time . . but you can manage those things that take up your time."    "Time is Expensive.  As a matter of fact 80% of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us 2% of our results."   "Time is perishable.  It cannot be saved for later use."  "Time is measurable.  Everybody has the same amount of time, pauper or king.  It is not how much time you have, it is how you use it."  "Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone."  "Time is a priority.  You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities."   So think about all that for a second or two and then go out in your world and make every second count.   Hugs to all.

MEMORIAL DAY

Good Morning.     It is Memorial Day and the festivities have been going on for days.   Now, today, we can relax and enjoy the rest of the holiday and hopefully share some time with family and friends. 

Choose your words wisely for once they leave, you cannot get them back... so make sure the words that flow from your mouth are words of love and maybe even a little wisdom.   

This picture had to do with some funny remarks about men and women and this particular one had to do with a man's understanding of women . . . maybe, by the time he gets to the last page. . . but, I wouldn't count on it. 

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and got out away from all the mundane cares of each day.   Maybe you were lucky enough to be able to visit a grave yard and put a flag on a grave of one of our heroes, and the men and women that did give their lives for us, should be honored, not just on Memorial Day but every day.    They gave their all . . . we can offer our prayers, works and sufferings for them.     The pictures of the graveyards overseas in the different countries was mind boggling and the number of those we lost is hard to reconcile.    So today, keep them in mind as well as remembering the youngsters overseas right now who are trying to do do the impossible.

So today, make your seconds count.    Relax, and have a cold beer with your feet up and let the 'better' half do the cooking.     Don't forget the mustard and the ketchup.     Hugs to all.

The Experiment

Good morning.    Son John found a way to let me show some of the pictures I filed away a week ago, before the changes made to bloggers.   It is a round about way to get where I wanted to go but it worked and that is half the battle. 

This particular picture is of a vacation home in Rhode Island.   I had notes to tell you all about it but they have gone by the round file and all I can tell you is that some folks have found a way to earn a free vacation there.   I wouldn't mind spending a day or two there , but only if I were in good company.

As for the owls, I thought they were beautiful birds.  I often get e-mails about animals and the pictures are always striking as each of the species have a beauty all their own .   I wrote a story about a barn owl and could have used a picture like this one.  


My neighbor came by last evening to say hello and check up on me.  She is the maker of the best clam chowder in town and she always saves a bowl for me.    I supply the clams and juice on occasion so that entitles me to a hot steaming bowl of clam chowder.  So I have my lunch planned for today.   She was telling me our newest neighbor is feeding the gulls, now I know why I have so much gull poop on my porch and walkways.   He is from the big city so I assume he thinks the gulls need to be fed.  He is the one who moved in a lot, a big lot, of marine 'stuff' from anchors to hawsers and his front yard looks strange but once a 'marine buff', always a 'marine buff' and we have learned to ignore it all.   Now how to tell him not to feed the gulls . . . I was thinking I could tell him feed the gulls and it as okay as long as he walked around with a pooper scooper and cleaned off our porches, roof tops and walkways.    I'll wait until his wife comes home and have a conversation with her, maybe she has a 'way' with him.

I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend and finish it up today with a clam bake or a hot dog on the bar-b-qu.   The weekend flew by and Pat and I sat in the dry warmth of the Gull restaurant for brunch and watched the rag tag parade go by.   There have been a lot of changes since my early days of parade watching.   I remember several marching bands along with beautiful floats and lots of flags flying during the Memorial Day parade.   The governor, the mayor and a lot of the business men and women rode in cars and waved as they went by.   Times have changed and I am thankful for those in the community  who did try to make our holiday a bright one.


So today, enjoy the rest of the holiday as you divide your seconds up and enjoy the day.    I have to go send my son a thank you note for making it possible to pull up a picture or two.    Find reasons to smile and be good to each other.    Hugs to all.

A Rainy Day

Good morning.  It is Saturday morning and it is Memorial Day Weekend with a lot going on about town, even in the rain.  The dauntless spirit prevails.    Pat and I are going over to the Port to see what kind of fresh fruit and vegetables the new 'market' has.   Hopefully some of the vegetables I love.   Son John sent me a basket of fruit and a lovely plant for my birthday and the fruit has been delicious and keeps well in the refrigerator.   I have had big fat juicy plums and great apples, while I had to wait awhile to enjoy the pear.  It didn't take long for it to ripen and then it didn't take long to gobble it up.   


The computer problems still remain.    I am not even sure this blog will take as the starter page refuses to leave and my complaint seems to go unnoticed.    I think daughter Patricia is right about how obsolete our machines get as newer, faster and more expensive machines hit the market and want our attention.    The electronic world seems to be moving faster than ever and our machines are obsolete before they leave the market place.    There should be a place of us, those who are content with having a machine to help us enjoy our contact with the outer world.   I did complain about the bouncing ads that make it impossible to type a full sentence without losing half the words.  I was told that the ads were what kept the cost down and why we had low fees for our road into the internet.    Ads are one thing and I understand the need for money and for fame but I don't see why they have to bounce all over the screen and invade the computer.  Hopefully the general public will get fed up and refuse to buy any products that bounce across the screen.   Okay, enough . . . I've been on a 'tare' about the computer changes I never asked for and do not want to bore you anymore.   If the problems are resovled I'll be back with the blog, if not, then it has been a special treat to converse with all of you each day.    


So today, make your seconds count, don't forget to say a prayer for those who gave their lives for 'us'.   Go out and about and have some fun today, a holiday weekend, what could be better than that?   Hugs to all.

TGIF Again

Good Morning.   It is Friday and one day closer to the weekend.  It seems to me I have written those words more than once.  I am beginning to feel like I am in a rut as I want to go back to the normal way I was able to bring up a lovely picture, or at least a funny one, and tell you about life in my my neck of the woods.   If I am not mistaken, the bush picture was taken from a moving car.  I am hoping to use it, along with others in a new poetry book.    Right now I would be happy if I could pull up some of the current pictures in "My Pictures."

The picture of Emma playing with her friend who comes over to play with her a couple of days each week.   They have a great time visiting and exchanging toys after a lot of running around the yard.    It wears them out.  I think that is the intent and purpose of their owners so they can have an uninterrupted visit and a cup of coffee.

What are you going to do with your weekend?    It is Memorial Day and there should be a lot of activities to join into.    The library book sale started on Thursday of this week and by the first days end the room was in shambles and the crew was trying hard to put things in order for another go round the next morning.  I managed to find four books by my favorite authors so have enough reading for the summer months, if it ever gets here.  We are having winter weather, strange and colder than normal but we cannot complain as we look at the pictures and read the stories of those in the mid states who are suffering untold agonies.   The spirits resilient so I am sure we will be hearing about the rebuilding process and will be amazed at the come back.    I do wonder how many will move out of the tornado alley though.     It is one of nature's elements I don't think I would want to live with.    

So today, remember those folks and pray for all of them.    Get off your duff and do some one chore you have been neglecting.    I am.   Make your seconds count and find reasons to laugh out loud as it is magic for the spirit.  Hugs to all.

P.S. and don't ask about the way the words are printing out as I have no clue. 

Good Morning

How are you this morning?    I hope each and everyone of you are gearing up for the Memorial Day Holiday.  Here in Brookings there are a lot of exciting venues starting with a parade down our main street even though a squall or two has been predicted.    The Garden Club is having the plant sale and I am looking for a plant called "Piers Andromeda" for my garden.   If you haven't seen this plant then you are missing out on something not only beautiful but so different it draws you to it like bees to nectar.     The pale white cluster looks like grapes from a distance but the soft tiny petals belie this and the bright red flower is an amazing surprise as it peeks out from green leaves.    It really is different and grows into a huge bush.   Now all I have to do is find one.

There is going to be a quilt show which always draws a crowd.   The folks who quilt have much to brag about as they come up with some unique and beautiful designs.    I tried to make a quilt or two in my time and like trying to make clothing, I found it was not my forte.    I enjoyed the actual piecing and sewing but couldn't make it come out like it should.  God forbid I ever tried to wear anything I made, with my luck, I probably sewed the neck shut.    I once had a friend, who was a wonderful seamstress and could make anything, tell me not to even try and that was after taking home a blouse I had cut out.  She never did tell me what I did wrong, but by her vocal expressions I figured I had done some one thing I should not have.   Come to think of it, in school the nuns tried to teach us to make fancy stitches on special cloth they used for the altar . . . now I know why mine was never chosen.


We will be out and about as the artists are showing in the gym.   Last I heard there were over a hundred pictures to be juried.   I hope my friend Sharon Guinn has a couple of her art works in there.   She usually walks off with a prize or two.    The other artisans will be showing their wares in the school gym and it is always fun to walk around and see the things they come up with.   


So today, as you near the end of your work week and have festivities to attend, remember to take time out and just relax and catch up with yourself.     Let the dust kitties alone for this weekend and get out there and make merry.    Most of all take the time to remember what the day really stands for and do a little soul searching and find a prayer or two for the men and women who gave their all for each one of us.   I'm for lighting a  candle or two and send a prayer up for the safety of those now overseas.    Join me in this endeaver and then grab a hot dog and don't forget the mustard.   Hugs to all.

Hump Day

Good morning.   I have been writing for about five minutes only to have the words disappear as I write.  I have no idea where they are going or why.   The same for the pictures, the albums have hundreds of pictures in them and will load up so I can choose one but the ones I put on today are not showing up.    So without grousing about the changes that are effecting the e-mail and the blog, I'll write a little about what interested me in the e mails this morning.

There was a delightful series about measurements starting with the width of standard railroad  rails which were originally built by the English and the exact same gauge was used for wagon wheels which had to do with the long distance roads in  England.   Rutted roads came from Roman times when the legions rode chariots with wheels wide enough as two horses asses.  


Now, our most modern mode of transportation, our rocket ships with two boosters attached to the sides of the main fuel tank (made in a factory in Utah) have to be shipped by train through a tunnel just a little wider than the railroad tracks . . . so our most advanced technology is determined by the width of two horses asses.    Um . . . the word progress comes to mind.


So today, remember those who have lost everything to tornadoes and flooding.     They have a very long road to get back to 'normal'.     Be kind and generous.    Make your seconds count, don't waste them.  Take pride in yourself and the work you do and share a hug or two as they feel good and make the heart beat stronger.    Hugs to all.

Cold Winds

Good morning.    It is almost the end of May and we are having cold winds with our sunshine.   The winds are strong so there is no chance I can enjoy puttering around the yard.    I suppose I could put on my winter coat and go out there with a clipper in hand but let's face it I am lazy at heart and what's a few dozen more weeds among friends.


The picture problem remains and I have hope that it will be changed back and I can show you some of the pictures I put aside yesterday,if not, I will have to try and verbalize so you will know what peeked my interest.   For one thing there was a very informative e-mail about Tinian Island in the Pacific Ocean, a forty-mile flat green dot in the vastness of the Pacific ocean.   It is over grown and dirty, but it was 'the spot' where World War II was won.

The Seabees built this airstrip so that 30,000 Marines could land here as a jump off spot to other island of the Pacific.  The B29 superstructure launched the Enola Gay and on August 5, 1945 the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.  There was so much more to the story and so many wonderful pictures as the words told of the take over of the Islands by the Japanese and the horror they wrought when they enslaved the Okinawan and Korean people.   A picture of cliffs jutting from the sea was the spot the Japanese Emperor ordered his people to commit suicide, over 5,000 died , and some became prisoners.   There was a lot more written about the history of World War II in words and pictures I have never seen before.  

As I sit here typing away, I can look out my window and see a huge black cloud hovering , yet there is light blue sky about it and hopefully it will move on and we will warm up a bit.    Friend Marcia is coming by this morning with goodies.  She has been baking again.    This lady is like the battery bunny, always up to something, and seems to have the same energy.  She was gifted some round tubs and has been busy filling them with soil and is going to grow a garden and intends to put up pole beans, apples from her neighbors tree and tomatoes too.   I envy her energy and her knowledge and ambition as the words "I used to" comes to mind.    I hope to talk her out of a jar or two of whatever she puts up and even offered to weed a bucket or two.    I know her prices will be much better than Freddys and a lot healthier.  


So today, give some thought to growing a small garden of vegetables for your own table.   If things keep up as they have been lately, we may be seeing some of the old 'victory gardens' back.   I think I read something in our local paper about two of the senior members thinking about doing just that.   Oh for a real true garden tomato . . . a BLT for lunch . . . yeah!   I wouldn't mind that, but first I had better go and have my coffee and wake up.   Make your seconds count, every one of them .  Hugs to all.

Here is a Rhody to brighten your day.

It Is Monday

Good morning.  It is Monday, May 23, 2011 and I am like the gorse that is growing wild along the highways and biways.   The invasive beautiful weedy plant is taking over just like the invasive  invasion of 'change' that has brought our country down to a standstill and this computer to a step away from being thrown out a window.   " Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can, seldom in a woman, but never in a man"  I think I am about to be the first female in history with no patience of any kind and certainly no kind words to that 'imp' behind the box called 'computer' . . . yeah!!!  I do have another name for it, but you would think me very unlady like to use it.


Now the picture area is in place but it only brings up a few albums which contain the pictures I have taken over the last few years.   I think one has 109 in it, and, if I were to pull this up and 'upload' it I would have to wait for all 109 to load up . . . makes perfect sense to someone in Google Land, but I have other thoughts on this subject.   The gorse was available, for whatever reason, so I pulled it up and at least you have a picture to look at.

My guest has left after a weeks stay and I am both happy and unhappy.   It was so nice to see Jane and being a scrabble enthusiast we played and played . . well, I did win one big time, but we won't go into the others.     We went to the Port, stopped at a Sunday yard sale on the way, had delectable fish nuggets at the Hungry Clam and did a lot of walking for exercise along the board walk.   Yes, you are right....I did leave the camera at home . . . think I have reached the age where I need notes to my notes.


All in all we had a good visit, lots of conversation, found we are complete opposites in Politics.    I just figured I am older and wiser ....so we didn't continue don't that road.    We had a lot of laughs and a few tears over some of  the events that happened in our lives.   Jane thought she might want to live  right here in Brookings but it is much too soon for her to make that type of a decision.   She needs to check out some other areas where she would not be so isolated and one of her main goals is to become a very good weaver.  She wants to take classes and go on to college or a place where they teach the more classic designs.   Hopefully she will find her nitch and settle down so we will see more of her.


I did find out I am a pain in the arse as I am set in my ways . . . is picky a good word?   I think so and it fits me rather well.     Closing drawers and doors after folks is not my idea of fun when I have a place for everything and everything in its place....see, I told you...picky.....taking over ones crossword puzzle is not my idea of a good guest.....ha....ha.....all kidding aside having a 'daughter' visit is fun and the empty nest is going to be one more time to 'get used to it'.  . . but I never do.     I gripe, I groan and moan but in the end I am blessed with family and friends who are so very special.


So today, the start of a new week, almost the end of the month and a holiday coming up.   Get out the summer bar-b-que things and shine them up for good use.  Invite a friend or two over and have a hot dog or two.    Don't forget a cold beer or soda pop, even ice tea isn't all bad.     The work week will go faster than you think so get ready to celebrate with flags flying, a prayer for those who are gone before us and special prayers for those still over in the far away places.  I bought a raffle ticket from the 'red shirts' who volunteer to send packages to those over in those places and what a job they do....take a peek and then buy a ticket or donate to the cause.  It is costly to send packages by mail.   Wouldn't it be nice if the Post Office gave the packages a free ride....guess if they were not close to bankruptcy they would.....say a prayer anyway.  Hugs to all.

A Way To Go

I am not sure about the newest change in my life but this morning I could upload a picture as you can see here.   I can't get on to the 'usual' area where I added a few new pictures and will have to find out why, or maybe they even went to the 'la,la,land' of computerdom.     I've been told "practice makes perfect" so I will continue to try to master the newest 'change' even though I still feel there was absolutely nothing wrong with the 'old way' . . . not being stubborn, just truthful.

That is our Emma trying very hard to give her visitor one of her toys, or maybe she is trying to get one of her toys back from her little visitor.    Pat has a friend who bring her dog over to play with Emma hoping they will both wear out and not need so much attention.    Emma has grown into a beautiful dog but continues her puppy ways and finds it hard not to just 'love you to pieces' and she does endlessly.

So today, Sunday, make your seconds count and do something special just for you.    I will continue to master the changes in the computer, even the waking up to having a PC Power Spread going full tilt finding errors in my programs to the tune of 243 then telling me to check the fix it but not before it brings up the fact they are selling you this particular program.    I am wondering how they can just log into your computer and start a search program without permission.  Well, I do not know what the 243 errors are, but I do know my own scan was put to work this week and that everything was just fine.    Keep your eyes open and listen good as you go about today because there is some one out there wanting to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge all over again.    Just be careful.   Hugs to all.

Saturday evening

Hello Everyone.   I miss writing my blog every day.   There is something going on that will not let me put up pictures and  most of today would not even let me write.    Son John has gone behind the scenes and does not find anything to fix.   I have sent all of the http notices, the error report, and have done what I can, but even though he said he put up a picture, it didn't show.  So something is amiss and I miss blogging.

I have company, Jane is here for several days and we have made it around town so she can enjoy the sunshine.  She is a scrabble player and has gotten all the good tiles . . . ha.ha.  . . . well today I got them so she is still up a game on me and tomorrow we will try again.    We enjoyed the Port today and the tents are up with the artisans who work in jewelry and some in leather.    We saw the first of the bright deep cherries and some of  the red with more yellow in baskets and they were not cheap.   The fish nuggets at The Hungry Clam were very tasty and the walk along the boardwalk helped the calorie count afterwards.    I was tempted to go into the ice cream store but didn't.  


So I am keeping busy.  I am enjoying my company.   I will be much happier when I can pull up some pictures and share them with you.     I am just glad I can write tonight.  So hang in there and don't give me up.  There has to be an answer to this current 'update' . . . a  supposedly better way to blog....I have news for them....it is not a better way....I don't like it even a little bit.     I want my old blog back!!!   


So tonight enjoy your Saturday night hopefully with some good family members and friends.    Stay well and happy and patient.   Hugs to all.  

Patience

Good morning. Google has decided, all on its own, to change the font, the way to pull up a picture and probably a few other things I know nothing about and will find out the hard way. I have some kind of 'error on page' that doesn't seem to 'yell' for attention and I have no way of knowing wht it is or how to correct it. Oh to have one of you here to put your magic minds and fingers to work. Why can't things be left as is until you decide you want change in your life. Why is it that anyone can make changes that effect you and there is little or nothing you can do about it . . . and it isn't all politics. . . . it can be anything at any time . . . um . . . do I sound like I am becoming an endless octogenarian with nothing to do but gripe . . . sorry, don't mean to be negative, but, I am not happy when I cannot just go about my own business as usual and have the joy of commisserating with my family and friends. Oh well . . . it will eventually be sorted out and I will find my self blogging again and pulling up a picture or two to amuse you or brighten your day. If you can read this minute print, good for you, I had to go find my glasses . . . good thing I knew where they were. If any one of you has an answer to this particular problem, please, don't be shy, sing out and let me know what keys to push.

I'm off to play more scrabble with Jane today. I am off to have my therapy treatment and massage by a young handsome therapist with magic fingers. . . I'm off period....but you all know that. Enjoy your seconds, make them count, work on patience, offer up a prayer or two and get a soul in heaven . . . I think I got at least a dozen in yesterday and hopefully as many more today. Hugs to all.

Thursday morning

Good morning this bright and cold morning. It seems as though the warmth of sunshine comes later in the day. It was very warm after five p.m. last evening so I opened windows to let some of the house heat out and settled down for a game of scrabble. Jane is here visiting and she is a scrabble player, a good one, beat me both games. We were bragging about our fish tacos so she invited us out to Panchos and she tried the fish taco salad and found it to be every bit as delicious as we bragged about.


I am disappointed I cannot find the way to put up my pictures this morning. There is suppose to be some one word on the list that will allow this but so far I haven't found it. I do not like the fact that changes can be made and there is no control over the blog. It was working just fine and from the letters that poured in complaining about the changes, maybe Google or whoever is responsible for making the changes will put it back and let us continue with a program that worked just fine. It popped up with a message about a tab being opened, showed the old heading to get to a picture but then let me down when it wouldn't finish the 'done' part and show the picture on the blog . . . so I gather there is a problem . . . but how to fix it? I don't have a clue.


As Groucho Marx said, "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, find it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." It goes for making computer changes without input.


So today, be of good cheer, practice patience and know you are one day closer to your 'time out' and plan a time for rest and relaxation. Meanwhile Jane is thinking of settling down in Brookings so is going to look around and see what is available in the mobile parks. She spent seven years in Hawaii and doesn't want to be far away from the ocean. I gather her two weeks in Portland convinced her to try the coast to settle down.


Make today a good one, smile a lot, and use your seconds wisely. Hugs to all.

Hello

Pictures from John .
. . . this was from saturday, spring sprung . . . everything is green and the ducks are on the pond nesting . . .

You're What?

Good morning. You have seen and heard the expression about being 'up to your ass in alligators' and this picture brought that to mind. How many times have we felt that we are about to be eaten alive by all of the negatives in our lives. We all have them whether we like it or not. We can protect ourselves if we have sense enough to climb up and out of the alligator pond and get on to the positive side of life. Sometimes easier said than done, but never so impossible that we have to sit and do nothing. So keep that in mind and give yourself a pep talk and enjoy your seconds before they run out.



It is Tuesday morning the 17th of May and here we woke up to cold and rain. I cannot complain as son Michael woke up to snow. Nevada is famous for snow even in the month of July. Those Sierra mountains seem to hide their peaks in tons of snow and the good side is that it makes the water level great for the oncoming summer months. Life is a balance, like a see saw, with it comes ups and downs. Philosophical this morning as I start the newest year of my life. I wonder what is in store for me this year? I wonder if I will travel this year? I'm thinking about it. I have a very bad habit of putting myself on hold . . . don't have to, just do. I keep thinking of reasons not to travel because of some of the changes ongoing in my body. Then, I get to thinking whatever could happen will no matter if I am here or somewhere else, so I had better get off my 'wait and see' policy and do some of the things I truly want to do. Sounds good . . . and then I think of all it takes to go anywhere and get up out of a chair or a booth. Booths should be off limits to octogenarians as they are almost like a booster seat . . . although I think a booster seat for adults should be the next craze. So I'll go back to musing about my plans for this year and think about them a bit more, maybe on a more positive side.



So today, weigh your stress level and decide what you will allow and what you wont allow and make your seconds work for you and make sure that person on the other end of your see saw weighs as much as you do so the ups and downs even out and you enjoy the ride. I'm off to spend my birthday check on some miracle grow for my new plants, a few colorful annuals and a big fat juicy hamburger with mushrooms and onions . . . if you were here I'd treat you too. Hugs to all.

Return Trip

Good morning, it is May 16th the start of a new year for me and I am still reeling from all of the attention I received over the weekend as the celebration of my birthday continued. I had decided I wanted to stay home for dinner and not go out to a fancy restaurant. I had been wined and dined for a week or more and a hamburger sounded just right. Pat came over with the makings and friend Maggie was going to join us and play a game of scrabble . . . well, that was the intent, but . . . in walks Maggie with a bag full of Chinese food and what a treat we had. So I didn't go out but the fancy food came in and we enjoyed every mouthful. I shared my carrot cake which Pat made and it was scrumptious. Not much left as I talked Pat into making a smaller cake this year . . . am I crazy? Yeah!!! There is a piece left and I am not sharing this one. La Verne, on the other hand, made me two loaves of cinnamon bread so you know what I am having toasted this morning for my breakfast. It is not going to take long to put back that five pounds I lost at this rate, well, maybe . . . just maybe, a bit of garden work will offset it all.

Driftwood and a shark's face I see. On the way back from Coos Bay we stopped at our favorite town of Bandon where the old town is a treasure trove of galleries and shops. We usually just stop to have a bit before heading home, sort of a half way stop for us and we don't take time to see Bandon as a whole. This time we took a ride down and around the water and found a whole area of homes that are vacation rentals and there are several hotels and motels in the area. We had no idea. The bar was rough with huge waves pounding into shore spraying the rocks and keeping the boats in. It was misty and a storm was coming in so the water was wild.

We saw these steps leading from one of the homes down to the beach. I was reminded of Pauline in Newport who has her forty steps leading to the ocean. I thought she would get a kick out of seeing these steps leading to the Bandon beach area. You can see a lot of driftwood at the base.

Here is the Rose of Sharon bush that is just beginning to bloom. You can see it has a lot of blossoms coming this year. It was spectacular last year but not as thick and bushy. I am beginning to find out that the more I prune back the bush the bigger and wider it gets. I am anxious to see it bloom and will take a picture when it does.

So today, enjoy the start of your new week. Pay attention to the candidates as they line up for the next Presidential election. We have a long road to travel before we get to the voting booth. Monday is always an iffy day as we are still in our weekend mode. It is hard to give up the freedom of our weekend and buckle down to business again, but don't despair, time flies 'faster than a speeding bullet' so know your weekend will be back sooner than you anticipate. I have housework that needs attention as I get ready for company this week. Summer is coming and I am looking forward to 'family' guests who don't mind writing their name in my dust. I have a sign that says "Dust Kitties in Progress, do not disturb." so come and we will ignore the 'mess' and go looking for agates on the beach and enjoy the sunshine . . . if it every stays out long enough around here. Make your seconds count, enjoy everyone of them. Hugs to all.

Birthday Fun

It is May, the month of birthdays around here as daughter Patricia and I celebrate our special days. We go through the usual verbiage of not buying gifts and just plot and plan a dinner out somewhere together, sounds good, but that is not what we do as we Taurus love to give as well as to receive . . . and we do both so well. The rhodys are in bloom so it is time to recognize May and the two of us have had a ball.

Pat asked what I wanted for my birthday and of course I said 'nothing' . . . let's just eat out . . . but I admired some pots that I would like to have for the new area in the front of the house and before you know it I had these beauties. They have to be re-potted with some colorful flowers but that is another trip yet to take.

We went to Coos Bay and along the way we saw that May was celebrating the wild gorse which is really very pretty but very intrusive and kills most anything in its path. It is taking over the Oregon highways and we saw many acres of this wild blooming plant from our own Brookings all the way to Coos Bay.

Another shot from the highway. I missed the area where the fields are loaded with this gorse, and it has taken over acres of land from Brookings, where it is just beginning to show, all the way to Coos Bay some hundred or so miles north of us. I am wondering if it follows all the way up north along Highway 101. The thing about the gorse, from what I understand is the creosol it contains that burns hot and fast. I would think this would be dangerous, especially because we have so much forest land.

Son John asked what I would like for my birthday and I said a hug . . . well I got a surprise and here it is a lovely plant and a basket filled with special fruits.

Granddaughter Erin sent me two boxes of these delectable strawberries covered with fancy chocolate with nuts and sprinkles. The cookie cake was delicious as were the strawberries. I shared them as I could never devour them fast enough for them to keep and I was not sure freezing them would do them any good, besides I usually love frozen anything.

Lovely pink bags for shopping, a check to spend as I want, and beautiful cards from family and friends . . . now you know why I think birthdays are so very special and should be celebrated. Today will be phone call day and both Christine and Michael will sing to me, a family tradition. I had a surprise call from Eileen and John which was wonderful. It is so good to hear the voices and catch up on what they have been doing. So know that I consider myself a very lucky lady even though those penny machines were not very good to me in Coos Bay. I had fun and I guess that is what really matters. I want to win the big one as I have so many ideas of how I could treat my family and friends . . . guess you will all have to settle for a hug when I see you.

And then there was and Easter surprise with this beautiful African Violet from daughter Pat. It seems to love where it is and I hope it grows to be a beauty as I do not have green thumbs. I forgot to take a picture of the lovely begonia which is now in one of those lovely pots out front. Well, Mother's Day is in May also, so you know I was gifted with flowers and hugs Jock came in with a beautiful bouquet that is on my coffee table and brightens the entire room.

So today, Sunday, go about spending your seconds and making them count. Hopefully you have someone close by that is having a birthday soon and you can think up some fun surprises. Shower your love ones with hugs and kisses and let them know how special they are . . .being "Queen for a Day" or "King for a Day" makes their world go round. Hopefully, when it is your special day you will be crowned as well. Let me know when and I'll contribute to the festivities and send a hug too.

My heartfelt thanks to my children and my family of friends . . . YOU all really made my day.

Hugs to all.

Impatient Driver

Good morning. I received this e-mail and got a big chuckle out of it. We are all aware of the impatient driver and I am sure each one of us has had our moment when we would like to pass the 'land whale' going thirty five in a sixty five mile zone, or some one just poking along sight seeing as they go. I have heard of elephant's having a long memory but this one seems to have a sense of retribution. Shove your car close to my rear and see what happens . . . a great lesson for those who think they know it all.

It is Saturday morning . . . now I know why you are smiling. I am betting some of you are still bundled up and toasty warm in your bed knowing the alarm clock is not about to go off and disturb you. Do not sleep your seconds away though, get up and get going and have some fun today. I am having a 'home' day, have to catch up with a few household chores and then I am going to sit and read about "The White Queen" . . . yeah, another historical novel full of intrigue and mystery. I had two days away and did use my camera so need to up load and then blog about what I did see. Pat and I are both Taurus the Bull and celebrate our birthdays from the seventh of May through the fifteenth of May and find every excuse in the book to have a fun time. We haven't missed yet as we wined and dined our way through to Coos Bay. I found upon entering this fair city, the wood chip piles must lend credence to something like hay fever as I sneezed seven time on the way in. I don't know what the desk clerk thought of my watery eyes, maybe I had something in my eye or was just a very 'down' person. She eyed my hand full of Kleenex as if I had the germ of the century and didn't smile until I mentioned the word 'allergy'. She could identify with that as she commiserated on her allergy problems. We just find 'sisters' no matter where we go.

Before I leave today, I want to thank each and every one for the lovely cards and gifts. More on that tomorrow. Talk about "Queen For A Day" . . . well I think I have been "Queen" for at least two full weeks now and I am going to hate giving up my title. Make your today a good one. Don't waste your seconds as they are so very important to you and those you love. Remember it takes so many fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown, so practice the smile muscles all day. Share a few. Hugs to all.

Older and Wiser

Good morning. A couple of more cartoons about getting older, a road we all have to travel and it might as well be with a smile on our faces as crying doesn't help a bit. If we all had our money invested in the pharmaceutical companies we would all be very rich and if we were really truly intelligent we would be careful about taking their well advertised 'stuff' and let them starve a bit. I grew up with an old Irish woman who didn't believe in doctors and her idea of a cure was to 'get over it', or 'growing pains, or the best one was 'offer it up and get a soul in heaven'...they all worked just fine.

This makes me smile. It is a question we all should have asked . . . ha. . . ha!

How quick the cartoonist is to let us know what the headlines are. There are so many stories ongoing and it is hard to believe half of what we hear as the word spreads in so many different directions. We are over indulged with the current topic of what is going on every where in our world and the newscasters jump from one calamity to another giving us the 'drill' without ever a 'retraction' when new developments need to be told about the actuality of what is going on in our world. Right now nothing seems to be a truth and all those headlines and new people seem to forget what happened yesterday . . . as if it never did. We hear so little of our fighting men the the hardships of being away from their families. We hear little of the men coming home maimed for life or what our politicians are doing to help them have a future. The horrible events happening to our people in our own states gets set aside for the next 'big' catastrophe and all the while it seems that the next election is taking precedence over all.

Meanwhile the States that have not had some big natural disaster are trying to keep up the summer events to bring the folks together for fun and festivities. This is a picture of the Oyster Feast in Oregon. I had no idea folks thought that much of the oyster. Now shrimp or lobster would attract a larger crowd I'm sure and a good plate of fish and chips would be quite a lure. We are gearing up around town for some summer events here and I think they are having the 'slamin salmon derby' and hopefully the big Art Festival. It gives us something other than negative news to think about.

So today, make your seconds count. You are closing in on another weekend and hopefully a sunshine one. Leave the negativism to the reporters and don't turn on anything electric, go out breathe fresh air, meet up with a friend or two and laugh out loud . . . it's so good for the soul. I am off for a ride to Coos Bay and have my camera in hand. I may see a whale's tail yet. Hugs to all.

To Fairbanks

Good morning. Alaska is very beautiful and rugged and full of roaming wild animals, tons of snow and high mountains that hide in the mist. This is a picture son John took of a highway stop on the way to Fairbanks to visit the Chenga Hot Springs and hopefully get a view of the northern lights. From this angle it looks like you would need snow shoes to get to where you are going. There is a lot of snow up in 'them thar hills.'

The inside of the Ice Museum and they do have sleeping rooms here. I wish I had the brochure that tells the tale. Maybe we can google it and find out a lot more about it. John is busy at the moment but next trip home he will fill me in with all the details of the trip he and Jo made to Fairbanks. And . . . from what I did hear they did not get to see the northern lights, missed them again . . . well, guess they will just have to return and try again.

John and Jo saw a lot of these. I'm not certain if they are Canadian Geese or not. Plump little guys. Love the long shadows. No snow on the ground where they are standing . . . made me think of that song about 'muddy roads ahead'.

A musk ox, wouldn't want to cross paths with this big guy. Maybe it is a she, I can't tell, but he or she is very beautiful and big. It looks like a woolen blanket in the making.

Only the mirror is not made of ice, everything else is made of ice. Well, my friend Jo is made of sugar and spice and everything nice.

Here is the Museum, beautiful itsn't it? I am hoping to hear more of the details about this place and especially the hot pools. I used to go to the hot springs in Nevada and it was such a wonderful experience . . . not an ache or pain and so easy to exercise the entire body without strife.



So today, hump day, it may be the right time to think about a trip up to Alaska to see all the wonders that are there. I thank my son for posting his pictures so I could copy them and show them on my blog today. Arm chair travel is a bit easier than trouncing around in the snow filled State, but being there would be something else again. So now you have seen summer and winter pictures of the Alaskan wilds, all you have to do is plan your vacation and go and see if for yourself. Make your seconds count and enjoy every one of them. Hugs to all.

Crescent City Beach Area

Good morning. The seagulls were having a meeting out in the ocean. I haven't seen that many in one place since I moved here. There was another batch further down and they were floating around not making a sound. Either the fish were close in and they didn't have to work hard for their meal, or they were worn out looking for them. Strange creatures but beautiful.

There are a lot of rocks out in the ocean. Here at Crescent City you can see how the lay of the land is. They are more prone to tsunami waves than some of the other towns along the coast as they are wide open and have a more inviting entrance. There was a tsunami wave that almost wiped out the city in the sixties. When we had the last tsunami wave come through a month or so ago, they had a lot of damage to their piers and the boats in their harbor. No time is lost in getting everything ship shape again as we didn't see any signs of the problems they had with their pier. The fishermen do not fool around as fishing is their main job, be it commerical fishing or charter fishing.

This snap was to the north. Not a soul in sight, nor a bird. It was a sunny day but a lot of cold wind. I had hoped for a walk along the beach area but it was just too windy.

The whales love to play in this rock formation. Pat saw one about a week ago, tail and all. I haven't seen a whale's tale yet and I keep looking. We took our sandwich over to the beach yesterday and watched for whales but all we got was white caps and cold wind.

so today, when you are out and about enjoying your weather, look around and see what there is to see. Make it a fun day as it is only Tuesday of your busy week. I am finding out what therapy is all about . . . no, not my head, although that has possibilities, my arm is acting up from arthritis more than anything else. I think if I stopped trying to pull all the weeds up it might stop the pain, but that old adage of 'use it or lose it' keeps coming to mind so I keep trying to play Katrina The Great and tug and lift like "I used to." I have met a tall handsome therapist who greets me with a smile, has a small machine that has heat and a cream to make the sore spot go away. . . um. . . . hope he isn't in a rush!!! Enjoy your seconds and smile. Hugs to all.