Good Morning!!

Busy Time Square in New York City.  It has been a long while since I set foot there.    Someone said that if you stood in Time Square long enough you would meet someone you knew.     Can't prove that by me, but then I didn't stay there very long.

Ha, ha,   talk about getting even....I still love to check out the sky and enjoy the art gallery in the skies.

A man of talent.  No easy task . . . what an artist.    Wow!!

It is Thursday already;  daughter Patricia is visiting old friends and today she is going out turkey shooting.    She will have tales to tell on her return.        She missed out on the first session of painting one hundred and fifty rocks of all shapes and sizes.    There were ten of us ready willing and able to the task.   We didn't know what to do or how to do it but it was fun trying to follow a few pictures and create some little garden bugs.    I think the two little ones caught on right away and had such fun making up garden bugs of their own.    Clever and they really did a good job.    We will have one more session next week and finish up the job and we will all be superior bug artists by then.  The pizza treat was delicious well worth another visit and a chance to finish up our artistic talent for painting rocks.

 

Here at Ridgemont, everything was quiet.   There was a special tea at Stafford House, which is down the road, but I opted out as I had the rock painting to do.   I will hear about it today if any of my table mates attended.    There were not many at dinner yesterday, maybe the sunshine is giving them the wandering bug and they are all out and abut having a good time.  I hope so.   Vinnie and I had a nice long read and we are a bit more than half way through the book.    He delights in following the old battle lines and has a retentive memory so fills in some of the details of the battles like one of the generals plotting an advance.    He would have made a good leader but he was too young to be in the fray.   When he joined the Navy it was a time to 'see the world' and he did.

 

Our published author, Rose, has a new book out.   not sure if she is going to put one in our library or not.  She used to be a roving reporter for the local newspaper here in Port Orchard, for years, and did a tremendous job.   She decided to write a novel when she retired and then a sequel to it.   I am looking forward to reading this one.  Meanwhile, Doris has come back to the dining room.  I wondered if she had moved away as she disappeared and no one seem to know where she went or what happened to her.   I found out she had broken her arm in a fall and she spent a lot of time with her daughter until her arm mended.  It is nice to have her back.    Our ninety-nine year old Doris, the cookie maker, has been out more than in for the last month.  Everyone loves her and she is being wined and dined.   She said she will be glad when all this feasting is over as her clothing is getting tighter by the day.   She is such a lovely lady and has a terrific sense of humor.    Forever young. . . what a way to be.

 

So keep that in mind and be forever young and you will find yourself smiling a lot.    Be a good friend, a mentor, and help a younger member along.    I am sure there are younger members of your family that could do with a little encouragement and a lot of hugs from 'an old soul' like YOU....well, you are not 'that' old but experience counts, so share . . . tell a tale or two;  not all as they are still to young for all that worldly stuff....smile...... be a sweet loving human being who loves to share YOU with those you like and love.    You can share tales with me anytime.   Be good, be kind, be gentle and give away a lot of hugs today. . . send a verbal one, I can always use a boost or two from friends like you.    Hugs to all.

 

 

 

Wood

Smooth, elegant, designed for comfort and beauty.

A rocking chair every household should have , although I loved holding the little one in my arms.

What a beauty.    The god of the woods.    love that moustache.

a fancy doorway, love the trim.

You would need a huge room for this table.  What a beauty.   

There is so much beauty in wood as we marvel and love having huge trees surround us  in our forests and our neighboring wood lands.    We marvel at the trucks hauling the huge fallen trees and wonder what is to become of them.   Here we see the end results and know there is rhyme and reason to our fallen trees.     One piece of beryl alone makes a beautiful table.  A walk in the redwoods brings peace and harmony.   A walk in the woods brings serenity and silence.      A touch of the bark of the tree brings wonderment of the strength and beauty of God's work.    Wish I could remember so I could quote the poem "Trees" which ends with 'only God can make a tree."   

I caught up with some filing for Christine yesterday.  She had a couple of good size projects to keep me busy and I enjoyed every minute of it.    I was treated to lunch in a bakery restaurant down  in town.   The counter glass case was filled with a selection of huge donuts and coffee buns .  I looked but didn't indulge as they serve real turkey in their sandwiches on homemade  bread  which make the taste buds sit up and dance.   We returned to the work at hand and got quite a bit accomplished.   A never ending chore, filing is like dusting , never ending.  

Meanwhile Miss Patricia is off on a mini vacation.  She is holding court in Gold Beach, enjoying a fishing morning, a walk along the stream looking for agates, watching Emma cavort with Jock's dogs and having a swim.    She is having fun and will take time out to visit some friends in Brookings.   Am I jealous?   Yeah!!  But, only a little.   

I had an e-mail from granddaughter Erin yesterday and was happy to hear that the flu bug had finally taken flight.   The Islands got a big dose of some kind of strange virus .   She made store manager and seems to like running a health food store.    I bet she is learning a lot about health food and pill forms but I hope she is eating real food and staying healthy...smile.

So today, be sure you eat well.   Eat healthy.   Eat a lot of the good salad makings but be sure you add a good steak now and then it is good for the blood and circulation, besides it taste good.  I'd like a good prime rib dinner...yum....but beggars cannot be choosers so I'll settle for a hamburger.

Be good, be kind, be gentle. . . go out there today and let loose with a smooch or two.    A kiss on the cheek feels like butterfly  wings.   So be a butterfly.   Hugs to all.     

Political Cartoons

Catch up time in case you have missed out on the news recently.    The political cartoonist seem to be paying a lot of attention to Hillary  although equal time goes to The Donald and the bumper crop of runners.    I don't know about you but I am tired of all the in fighting.   Running for President has become ugly and so un-American.   We need and want someone who is strong enough to lead ;  someone grown up;   someone who is honest . . well that lets a few dozen out of the running.   Words are easy to come by. . . actions tell a different story. Politics sure has an ugly side to it.    Pay attention to what is going on as you will have to make up your mind how you want to place your vote . . . maybe someone will join the fray and lead the way and we wont have to throw our vote away on 'the lesser of two evils.'    Don't lose hope, one never knows what might come along and give us an opportunity to find an honest politician.....good luck with that one.

 

I should heed the advice of the wise folks and never talk politics or religion;  a lost cause;   and a personal choice.

 

A quiet day at Ridgemont.  Weather was sunny but cold and the wind was up.    I am waiting for a warm day of sunshine with no wind so I can get back to my walk up to the corner and back.    Today is going to be a work day for me as  Christine is picking me up to do some filing for her.    It is a busy job and a fun one for me.    Putting things in order is a challenge and fun.   Almost as much fun as finding pieces of a jug saw puzzle.    The Forest scene I am working on is quite a challenge and very slow, but, it is coming together and I am enjoying the challenge.

 

So today look for a challenge to overcome and try your hand in solving a problem or two.     It is time to think of what to plant and which vegetables you want to grow this summer.     Don't forget the chard.   Tomatoes are a given;  the rest is personal choice of your own favorite vegetables.     Put in a blueberry patch as I've used all mine up.   Are you listening Jock?   One can not survive without them.    I had blueberry waffles twice this week...yum.

 

You have work to do today so get busy , but not so busy that you do not find a few seconds to share with those you like and love.    Be good, be kind, be gentle and hug a lot as it makes for smiles that brighten your day.    Share soft words and a bit of kindness.  Look around and you will find the right time to 'knock someone's socks off' and make their day and yours as well.  Hugs to all.

 

 

Good bye Easter

A truism.     And a lot of folks love roughing it.    Not me, scared of the dark, the bugs, the mosquitoes, the noises of the dark of night.   A true sissy. . .city bred. . . I'll stay at the local motel while you camp and we will meet half way.

A bit irreverent but cute. . . we will let this little chick grow and then find a reason to cook it up;  maybe a clean mouth would help. 

Say good bye to Mr. rabbit until next Easter.   What a beauty.    

I hope each and every one of you had an Easter to remember .     I had a quiet one as  Christine had a niece, by marriage, join her for the day.    I decided not to join them as it is a long time between their visits and I am sure they had much to catch up on.   Instead I had a tea party here at Ridgemont and Lil came down to share time and some of her home baked cookies with me.    We had a great visit and learned a lot about each other.    Lil headed right for the jig saw puzzle and found a piece much to her surprise and hoped to find more but this puzzle is a doozy and not as easy as the picture on the box.   Pat came over later and helped to put some of the clumps together.    It is coming along, but has a way to go.

 

Vinnie and I had a read for about an hour, and then later, he came down to say hello and brought a lovely adult coloring book with crayons as a surprise and gifted me.   I invited him to join us for a cup of tea but he declined.  I told him I had left a basket of Easter Candy on the upstairs desert table so he hurried up  to fill his candy dish before they are all gone.   There were not many at the dinner yesterday as the family members usually come bye to treat them to a family outing.   Those that stayed enjoyed ham and scalloped potatoes and carrots, along with a gelatin type of pie that had a strawberry color, different, not chocolate crème which I as hoping for.     Smile, never satisfied.   But, I do like crème pie and making it disappear.

 

So now we start thinking about enjoying a change in our weather as we head into late  Spring and early Summer.   It will be here before we know it.    It is too early for a vacation but not to early to think about plans for one.    Will you be part of the campers spending your time off in the forest, or will you be a beach bum for a week or two?    Some will travel;  where will you go?   Just remember your camera!!   If I were rich I would plan a summer off going all around the country to visit each one of you.  What a trip that would be.    I would start here on the west coast and head east and go all the way to Rhode Island.   I'd even go to Georgia and visit Walter.  I'd see John and Jo in Delaware, Andy and Bob in Arizona, Lynn in Pennsylvania .  Mike and Mari in Virginia; My Michael in Nevada;   the list goes on and on and it would be such a special trip. . . ah, if only the machines had paid off, I'd be on my way.   smile.

 

Okay, I'll quit daydreaming  as Easter brings about new beginnings and lovely day dreams of what is to come.    We will all be in for some surprises, so let us hope and pray they are all good ones.    Remember you have work to do, a few good deeds to share and a lot of hugs and kisses to dispense with.    A wide smile, sunshine eyes and open arms....ah......what a day you are in for.  Go...hug a lot.      Hugs to all.

 

 

 

Happy Easter

May today, this new  beginning of Easter morning, bring happiness to your door step.
May you find love and laughter awaiting you today.
May you discover a big surprise among the jelly beans
May  you reach out and touch someone you like and love
May you be all that you can be today
May you be healthy with sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self confidence, friends . . . Maintain them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life . . . the six best doctors in town. (a quote from  Facebook).
May you follow the path of Jesus and find your way to a better and more wonderful life.

MAY YOU ALL have a mimosa this morning;   a decent breakfast and spend you Easter Sunday dong exactly what you want to do.    Living and Loving. . . the only way.

Hugs to all.

Easter Saturday

I wish I could make the print bigger so you could read what has become of America by this gentleman;  sad commentary as the author asks what has happened to the land of the free and the home of the brave.   

The wild mustangs of Nevada.

 

 

Good Easter Saturday morning.   A quiet day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.    The girls and I went out to dinner at the Lighthouse , my Easter treat instead of chocolates and other fattening delights.    Chris had her favorite salad and chose the chip type dish to share.   Pat ordered her salad and I ordered clam chowder in a bread bowl which was hot and delicious.    Chris told us about her meeting with the Gallery folks and there are going to be a lot of wonderful art shows in the future along with plans to 'restore' the gallery.   It is one of the oldest buildings in town and in good condition but there is always room for improvement.   We opted for the kitchen where we spend a lot of time.   New shelves in the offering and that is good news.  Chris was telling us about some of the new shows coming up.   There is to be one by "Two Old Geezers" which should be delightful.     I have a painting by one of them;  three kittens hovering over a lazy frog.  The expressions are hilarious and make me laugh out loud.  If that frog ever jump or croaks those kittens will take off like a lightening bolt. 

 

Karen, our director here at Ridgemont, and her husband, Larry, put on an Easter breakfast for us Good Friday morning.   They cooked up pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage;  delicious orange juice and plenty of hot coffee.    The tables were set with white cloths;  a center piece of Easter delights and a tiny basket of chocolates to take home.     About twenty showed up and that was good.    Everyone enjoyed having a cooked breakfast and being served by our two wonderful young ladies who do a lot of hard housekeeping work around here.     We all enjoyed ourselves and are thankful for a manager who delights in making special plans just for us.

 

So today, do a  bit of planning on your own.   Find a few good reasons to celebrate someone you like and love.    A little treat, unexpected, a good way to show how much you appreciate having them in  your lives.    Stop at the bakery, pick up some donuts and go wrap on their door and tell them to put the coffee on....you will see some smiles.    Today is the day the priests bless the water so if you want some holy water to sprinkle over your home, today is the day to stop by and pick some up.    I'm laughing as that used to happen back in my early childhood;  could be they have entirely different plans now a day.   You could ask.    It was traditional to sprinkle holy water over the house so it was blessed and safe.   We probably need it more in todays world.   

 

Be good, be kind, be gentle.  Think of somebody other than yourselves today.  There are a lot of hurting folks around you that could use a smile, a hug, a kind word and a tiny bit of your attention.     Be brave, be stalwart, be YOU.  Hugs to all. 

 

 

Good Friday

The noise he hears is not bombs going off but Michele watching from the sidelines.  Our tax dollars in action.  

A hanging bridge in Costa Rica.    Bet it sways when you walk on it.   Not for me.  I'm a sissy.  We crossed a small one in Spokane some years ago and that was more than enough for me.    I like solid ground.

Butterflies and flowers make such a great combination.

Good Friday, almost the last day of lent and hopefully we are already for a glorious Easter Sunday.   I watched the Passion movie last evening on television and this new version portrays the crucifixion of Christ as a horror story.  It really is, in its own right, but this version was done to the point of nausea.  There is no way Christ did not suffer all that was pictured but they took it to extremes if that is possible.    I am surprised they didn't have a car chase and blow up the entire area.  

 

Easter always brings memories of childhood and getting up to go to Mass every morning.   Partaking in all of the ceremonies leading up to Easter Sunday.    The blessing of the palms,   the blessing of Holy water and the stations of the cross every Friday.   The somber purple covered statues in church and the long forty days of lent . . . then. . . Easter Sunday morning with music soaring, the statues uncovered, the choir bursting in song and the little ones dressed up in organdy and Mary Jane pattern leather.    A chocolate bunny or some yellow eggs of marsh mellow.    Topped with ham for dinner.    Christ had risen and it was a reason to celebrate.     Think back to your Easter memories and smile.

 

Pat is smiling again as she got her car back long before the mechanic said he could get a replacement starter in.  Not a new one, a rebuilt one with a years guarantee.     She was surprised and happy.   Me too, that means I'll get to see her.      Chris has some work for us today so we will be busy and then share some lunch today.  Not a bad idea at all. 

 

This morning Karen, our manager here at Ridgemont is putting on an Easter breakfast for us.  She has enlisted the aid of her husband, a good guy, always willing and able to  volunteer.    We have no idea what she has in mind but it will be fun to find out.    Getting dressed before ten is going to be strange.    Habits change.   Once upon a time getting up meant getting dressed right away , making the bed , having breakfast and off to work; but then comes a time when retirement looms and habits change and getting dressed by ten a.m. is the norm . . . if you  have no plans for the day.    Rising at four a.m. means a nap in the chair, sleeping through the commercials and having at least two breakfast breaks;  yes, retirement does bring on change.

 

So, make the most of this somber day.   Reflect on its meaning.    Keep in mind that you want to emulate Christ and in doing so your good deeds will soar, your love will blossom and your touch will be gentle.    There are many to pray for today;  give that some thought.    Light a candle or two.   Don't hesitate to kneel.    Send those thoughts and deeds up into the heavens and make this Easter weekend one to remember.   Be good, be kind, be gentle . . . be YOU.  Hugs to all.   

Walking

Now here is a pretty mushroom with stems that curl on their own.  I wonder what they taste like or if they are part of the forbidden fruits.    Sure are pretty;.  Love the reflection of the sun on them.   Grace and beauty combined.

Thinking of a morning walk...join the crowd.    A lovely safari picture but I do not think I'd be comfortable leading that parade, jeep or no jeep.

The exercise bunch in D.C.   smile.....   just a new method to get around.   Sure doesn't exercise the legs but I bet those little mobiles are fun to get around in.

Well the rock painting was not last night .  Christine had mixed her dates.   It is next week.    I was all set to go to the meeting, had an old shirt on  to absorb all those little drops but had to settle for a quiet time here in Ridgemont.    I enjoyed lunch with the ladies as Margie visited us.  A birthday lad;y, ninety two this week, a former long time nurse and a very religious lady.   She loves to laugh and we had fun talking about all those new and different 'things' that come along with old age.   She dose not come every day because she is never hungry.   She hasn't had much of an appetite for some months now, but, she finally realized she was getting weak so has made more of an effort to come to the dinner table.   She lets her soup get cold before she eats it.  We were teasing her about only eating her soup and taking her dinner plate back to her apartment.   We are sure she dumps it, but have no proof.   There are several ladies who are rail thin and food does not appeal to them.  I think there is a time when the body starts to shut down and some have a loss of appetite first.    As I have said many times, food is our fuel and it is to our advantage to make sure we eat a good balanced diet.    Balance is the key word especially when one has a sweet tooth.   

I had a good read with Vinnie yesterday, a bit more than halfway into the sequel of '"War and Remembrance".    A few words about Italy and that brought about some conversation about travel.    Vinnie would love to travel and when he makes his billions he is going to go around the world and I can go too.    I don't think I should pack my bags yet., but it was fun to talk about places and faces that we could visit.    As you can tell, we digress and the chapters wait for our return.

 

So today if you have the wander bug, think about where you want to be.   I am betting you are anxious to visit the grandchildren and catch up on some family hugs.    Easter Sunday would be a good day for that.   Make your plans and get going, life is short at best.    Enjoy your family as often as you can and be sure to include some 'best' friends.   Don't forget some Easter chocolates , even a bunny cake would be a treat.   Pack your smile, exercise those arms for hugging and don't forget the hostess gift.   

 

Be good, be kind, be gentle;   use soft words;   light up your eyes and then open up those arms...ah!!!  Love does make our world go around.    Hugs to all.

Mid Week

A Nazi submarine .  WWII vintage  found in Lake Ontario.    How close it came.   I am still reading to Vinnie about World War II and the high hope Hitler had to rule our world.    Curiosity killed the cat...satisfaction brought it back...wouldn't you like to know the story on this submarine.   What happened, what made it sink, and what happened to the crew.   Did they survive and make America their home far away from Hitler?    Did they all die?   An unsolved mystery.

A face in a flower, pop eyes, long nose and a mustache. . . the old gardener caught in a bloom.   See those rocks, well tonight I will join a group of lovely ladies and paint some.  Christine has another project and her crew are about to embark on the painting of birds and bees and other little creatures of the outside world.  The basic colors were added yesterday as the sun came out and stayed and the one hundred fifty rocks got a color bath.  It should be fun.  

Yesterday, the Silvertones, a group of lovely older women came to sing for us.    Hearing nine sopranos  singing some of the old tunes we are all familiar with had toes tapping and voices rising.    It had been some time since they came to entertain us and it was good to see and hear them again.   There was a cupcake treat and a drink for those who wanted a snack.   We joined in for a couple of tunes and no one is too old to stand for the tribute to our flag.   A little church music, a few honors for St. Patrick and of course we all went down memory lane for the Easter parade.;... "Put on your Easter bonnet ; ;with all the frill upon it ..."    and a good time was had by all.    A little music goes a long way in making a day special.

Meanwhile, Vinnie didn't get his read in as I was out gallivanting around at Fred Meyers  and then lunch with Pat at her house.  We made one of those sandwiches with the green pepper, sweet onion and roast beef. . . a favorite and delicious.   Try making one today for your lunch and you will not be sorry;   put a little olive oil in your big black skillet, toss in some strips of green pepper and white sweet onion and let simmer for a few minutes;   add some strips of roast beef and let it heat through, then add thin slices of mozzarella cheese.  A good sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce, have the buns ready and fill them up , sit back and enjoy.

Speaking of Vinnie, he didn't make the sing-a-long but he did manage to get to the dining area before clean up time and came down with five or six cupcakes to share.    Sent him home with them so he could have them for another day.  His diet isn't working and he wonders why.   He is now all excited about becoming a chef in his own right and intends to take up cookie making. . .um. . . wonder if the fire alarm will be a part of that scenario.     Like a true dieter, he talks about losing weight with a cupcake in each hand.

So today, bake a cupcake or two and invite a neighbor over for a cup of coffee an  share some of the local news around your area.    Friend Eunice called last evening and told me that Brookings weather has been wet and it didn't let up much when her family members came to visit all the way from the Midwest.    They had some experiences with their travel schedules but did make it and enjoyed their time in Brookings.     They were awed by the size of the sea stacks and Eunice said they took their camera for a walk every day, rain or shine.    The sink hole is still in the middle of the highway and it will take a lot of money and time before it is back to normal.    The Subway restaurant was robbed.....but the crook was caught up in Gold Beach and will be singing a different tune in a jail cell.    Yes, I miss Brookings and walks on the beach and friends who found their way to my door.   

Be good, be kind, be gentle and take time to do that good deed, or two, today.     Know that someone is depending on you for a smile, a hug and a bit of your time.   share YOU. . . a gift that your family and friends count on.   Hugs to all.   

 

Fun

1. That Angie is a great photographer.  Her latest picture of a sunset....now that is a beauty.    I  cannot see the sunrise or sunset from the apartment windows here.   When summer comes I will make it a point to walk outside and take a peek at some of the natural beauty that surrounds. us.

What a beautiful and different picture of a waterfall.     Nature at its best.

Coffee is brewing and I am more than ready for it.    It is five thirty and I am awake, not unusual, late to bed and early to rise.     Not sure if it makes me wise but I am working on it.    The invitation to lunch at the gallery proved to be lovely.  A catered affair, tasty tiny chicken salad sandwich, a cup of delicious broccoli soup, a small cup of blueberries and other fruits , topped of with tiny rounds of cheese cake.   The ladies did an outstanding job of decorating.  Tiny baskets filled with chocolates and vases of jonquils that brighten the room.   The company was excellent and it was fun to share time with some really nice folks.   I am already looking forward to the June tea.

 

Speaking of food, and I often do, one of my favorite things to do,   Doris came knocking on my door with three big and beautiful breakfast buns straight out of the oven.   I saved one for the girls and ate one before it could cool off...yum....she manages to bake every day it seems as the smells emanate from her apartment.    I thought of devouring another one this morning and let the girls split one but that seemed a bit selfish so I didn't.   My good deed for the day...smile.

Not much to talk about this  morning as I was away yesterday and didn't catch up with the news, if any, well that isn't the truth of the matter as waiting for Patricia to pick me up for the luncheon there was a man knocking at the door to get in.  He had forgotten his key.  A new man, named Scott, who was moving in.  We had a short conversation and he wondered if folks were friendly here .    It is tough being the new kid on the block.     It wont take him long to discover the folks he wants to lunch with, usually the folks reach out and make a new person feel welcome.    He is a native of this area so probably already knows a lot of people.   

 

I am off to pick up a prescription this morning...the third one....the doctor hasn't come up with one that my system will tolerate.  I have a burned throat from the last two.    We are at odds.   I blew yesterday so will have to apologize to the young lady that mans his phones.    The bp pill I took was doing great;  no reason to change as I can't have a teen age count at this age.    Some doctor's are pig headed and then there are patients who are bull headed...um....never the twain shall meet.

 

If you are heading for a check up, be careful, be wise, be mindful that the doctor is not a god with a miracle cure.    Your body tells you a lot if you listen.    Good diet, exercise, a walk around the block, fresh air and sunshine when you get it....can't beat that prescription.    Be good, be kind, be gentle.     Try not to 'blow your top' today;  it isn't always easy, but worth a try.    Call a friend, cheer someone up, hugs are small miracle workers . . .so. . . what are you waiting for?   Go hug away.   Hugs to all.

New Monday

The Donald's Pent House 

A week just flew by. . . Easter on its way and lent will be over and done with for another year.    It seemed quick this year, maybe because I intended to make a little sacrifice but then blew it royally and now feel like I really did nothing.  Well nothing is what I did.   That once a week desert just opened the door for a daily treat so my intentions went out the door. 

There is no special news this morning as I had a stay at home day yesterday, read to Vinnie, watched the raindrops and did a bit of reading, listened to some music, hummed a lot,  A new visitor at the table yesterday, one who loves to talk and barely takes a breath between words.  On and On about seasonings of food, kinds of food we should eat, what foods contain, what we should be careful of and on and on and on.   Ginny sighed a bit as she later said. ."I am the opposite of her" and she's right as she hardly says a word.  It took months for her to finally add a word or two to conversations.    Everyone is different, but one or two have to be on stage all the time and it does get weary.  the give and take conversations are much more fun. 

 

My neighbor Evelyn came to ask me to come over to her apartment to see the terrarium she made at the local green house.  She was invited by her daughter-in-law and had no idea what she was getting in to.    She chose a white cast iron holder with small glass doors and filled it with one large rock and several tiny colorful plants.   It came out just right and she is very proud of it.   The class cost $65.00 which included all the materials used and the teacher.    I remember we used to make those years ago and if I remember right we used glass containers.    If I remember correctly, we did one as a Scout project. I am glad to see it back as it is a very lovely art project .  Maybe you can find a little container and fill it with small rocks and tiny plants;  a lovely Easter center piece for your table.   I think that would be a fun project.

 

So, I am off to have my coffee and wake up.    

A frozen sub base. . . bet this cost a lot of money to make. . . they big thinkers should find a way to put it to good use.   An ice skating rink comes to mind.

.  A place to rest.  I like the stone pathway.   

Enjoy your Monday, plot and plan a good week and make yourself useful.    Get out your Easter bonnet and add a flower or two.    One never knows when an invitation to walk in the parade will come your way.    I wonder if the children are all dressed in their organdy dresses and Mary Jane shoes.    the boys in long pants and a tie...all grown up for the Easter Parade.  I came across a picture of three of my children on Easter when we were up in Spokane for a year.  I actually made the organdy dresses and I don't really know much about sewing.    Lucky it was a cold Easter Sunday and the cold and wind made for winter coats and no one could see all those fancy stitches....now that was heaven sent.

 

 

Be good, be kind, be gentle.    A good deed multiplies into sun rays and basks you in the warmth of love and friendship.  Go for it.   Be magnanimous today;  go for three good deeds and see what happens.    Hugs to all.

 

Once Upon A Time

A few times I've been asked if I came across county in the covered wagons...nope.....a little before my time but I did make the cross country trip several times dragging five children kicking and screaming so I have an idea what these folks went through.   

How lucky we were not to have to have worn those hoops.   Wonder who thought that one up.

The Saint Andrea fault line and the chosen spot for Disneyland.   History has a way of repeating itself and we have been waiting for 'the big' one for a long time.   Imagine the earth opening up and swallowing Disneyland.

We have a lovely sweet and funny lady who drives the bus when we go 'on tour' and is a master of many lifetime tales which set us all laughing out loud.    She loves to make things and does a fantastic job with cards.  She comes every few months and holds a class and yesterday was one of those days.   Only six showed up but we had fun and we came out with two lovely Easter cards.   It is a chance to be artistic and creative.  all the ladies did very well and are looking forward to making Christmas cards this year.   She tells us it will be in July as she is going to be very busy the rest of the year.   She is a 'jack of all trades' and a very good driver when we go out on special trips.  She is blessed with a delightful sense of humor and loves to tell us tales of her childhood when she spent her summer months on her grandparents farm.    My day was topped off with a trip over to Pat's house , another few episodes of "House of Cards" and a delicious dinner of special huge hotdogs and some scalloped potatoes from a new and tasty recipe.;;  Christine brought some delicious apple crisp she made along with some ice cream , a veritable feast enjoyed by all.  Good food, good company and hugs;  life can be beautiful.

 

So here it is Sunday and we may have some sunshine.  If so, I am going for a walk.    I'll have to bundle up as it gets cold when the sun comes out.  I haven't figured out the Northwest weather yet.   I'll have to check my camera and see if I can take a few pictures along the way.  If the rain comes back then I will find a cozy spot and hunker down with a good book.    Presently, I am enjoying another Clive Cussler adventure about a very crafty bank robber back in the days of the old west.  It is called "Chase" , one of his page turners.

 

So find yourself something you want to do and like to do and make your seconds fly.   Be good, be kind, be a leader today;  lead to the waiting arms of someone you love;   lead to outdoors where you can exercise those legs and walk across the pathway to a neighbor for a coffee break and bring along a tasty morsel with you.   I remember going over to Minnie and Hobie on a Sunday morning for pancakes...hugs and smiles....so special and  a delicious hardy breakfast with neighbors who knew how to be neighbors.     So give YOU a break and enjoy Sunday morning with those you love and like. The other alternative is for you to cook up a batch of pancakes , scramble an egg or two, add a bit of ham or bacon and don't forget coffee, tea or cocoa, the choice is yours and then call a neighbor to join you and tell them breakfast is ready and they will beat a path to your door.    Throw the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and take a walk around the block and enjoy a leisurely  Sunday morning.  Didn't you know that is what Sunday mornings are for!!  Hugs to all.

Spring

Jonquils and or Daffodils , look alike to me.    Early blooms make us smile.   

Picture clouds make us smile too.   There is nothing like sitting and finding pictures in our skies.   these look a lot more like wind clouds so it is hard to find pictures;  Use your imagination and see fish in the sea.

Friday went by quietly.  A resident meeting and we were treated to ice cream.   Karen, our manager, talked about needing ideas for future outings.    She and her husband are going to put on an  Easter breakfast for us.  A lot of work but they do it so easily and love to treat us.   She talked about maintenance and some of the projects ongoing.   The hallways are getting a coat of paint and the patios on the first level are going to be spruced up.   Her safety tips are always good and a reminder of  loose throw rugs can and do cause a lot of falls.  So the words are for our own benefit and a reminder for you too as I bet you have some of those throw rugs around your house and never give thought to a fall and a broken hip.   Better to be safe than sorry.

 

Plans are in the offering to make a trip over to the Sydney Gallery and Christine is already making plans for a treat.   I think the ladies would enjoy seeing the art  and meeting some of the artists and photographers.    I am always surprised that they have never been to the gallery or a few other spots downtown Port Orchard.    The town is filled with tiny antique stores.  It would be fun for them to reminisce and take a peek at some of those antiques that used to be a part of their everyday.

 

Of course, the hardest part of taking the trip anywhere is using the walkers.   They are a God-send and keep the folks up and moving but they are also cumbersome in small quarters.    From my experience down town the largest antique shop would be best as the aisles are wide and each booth has an abundance of 'things' from long ago.     When I talk of all these kinds of things about being older and getting around, it is not to scare you but to prepare you for a time when you will become a true wheeler . . . and most of the younger folks actually do open the door for you.   

 

So today, when you are out and about, keep an eye open for one of those 'old' folks and open a door for them.    Always put a smile in your eyes and wish them well, it may be the only greeting they get for the day.    Take time to be a ray of light that makes their day.    An easy good deed for you today.     Be a sunbeam and enjoy today.    Hugs to all.

 

Pics

The Cherry trees are in bloom in Washington, D. C .   The Jefferson memorial looks very inviting.  

3.064 coffee cups to make this picture of the Mona Lisa.  A very clever artist.

Levi is home from his Alaskan Fishing job and his daughter is very happy to welcome him home.

Three orphans who are buddies forever. 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed St. Patrick's Day and a delicious dinner of your choice.    I enjoyed being in the kitchen, cutting up all the vegetables and cooking them in the meat juices.   Turned out to be a delicious meal  and left no room for desert.  Christine brought over those lemon tarts and I saved mine for later today.    I watched "House of Cards", now in its fourth season, and Kevin Spacy along with the entire cast do a 'bang-up" job of telling a political story that speaks loudly of corruption, murder and mayhem.  

 

I had a nice long distance phone call with an old friend which was warm and wonderful.    The words flow from family news to political views and all of the changes that have taken place in our world.    Age wise we are within a year of each other, so, the complaints or I should say, the thoughts, flow to like events as the body closes down slowly.    Like the changes in our world, we are not overly elated about the changes in our bodies.   . . .  but, we are lucky as we are both moving and doing.  Of course our pace is a lot slower, and that isn't at all bad.

 

Here it is Friday all over again;  clam chowder day.   I marvel at what they put into a clam chowder.    The cooks have ideas all their own.  Sometimes there is corn.  Sometimes there is even a clam.   Sometimes it is more like potato soup.   If it is hot it is tasty;  if it isn't then you leave it for the garbage can.     Sometimes you can stand your spoon in it.   Sometimes you just shake your head and opt for the main dish and leave the clams to themselves.  This week we actually had two days when the food was better than usual;  maybe a new cook?  Wouldn't that be nice.    One can only hope and there is always yogurt down in the refrigerator to tide one over.    

 

So enjoy your Friday seconds.  Put them to good use.    Stay in touch with friends who not only like you, but love you;  cherish them.    Remember to have a friend, you have to be a friend.     Take the time to share YOU with those you love and even like.    Don't forget to light a candle for those who have gone before us.  Remember our young folks in the service and send them an Easter card.    Lent is almost over, soon we will celebrate 'a new beginning' and that is nothing short of a miracle.    Plan now how you are going to get your fresh start.    Be good, be kind, be gentle a light touch is almost as good as a bear hug. . . not quite. . . but it does have meaning to the someone you choose to share your time with.   Hugs to all. 

 

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

A beautiful shamrock . . .luck of the Irish.

St. Patrick

Boston, Massachusetts was famous for its St. Patrick Day parade

You can kiss me even if I was not Irish....smile.



Bubble and Squeak...Corned Beef and Cabbage along with Irish Soda bread and potatoes, carrots, turnips and don't forget the mustard.

I am heading over to Patricia's house this morning to cook up a big batch of corn beef and cabbage.   You are invited  . . .   all you have to do is come.    I can't promise green beer but I am sure there is a bit of libation around somewhere.   Granddaughter Erin favors this dish.  I hope she is making it over there in Hawaii.   How we miss her.    Jock usually joins us as would Mike and John and Jo;  all lovers of a good Irish meal.    It is a tradition.  I wonder where it started.  I wonder who started it.    Everyone loves a good dinner and this particular one is very  tasty.    Don't forget the mustard for the cabbage as it makes it taste extra good.    The left overs are equally delicious and in the end a hash to tickle the taste buds;   not a bit of waste , a full belly and a sigh of satisfaction.    Don't forget to add a bit of vinegar to your corn beef while it is cooking.   And you are all adopted Irish for the day.

 

What did I do yesterday?   I visited Patricia and watched the beginning of a new season of "House of Cards" .    Over here in Ridgemont they were busy testing the new fire alarm system and the noise is heard around the world....gets your attention.   They are testing again today but I will be having that Irish dinner I just talked about.     The alarm is loud, no worry about hearing it and wondering what it is.  Believe me, you can probably hear it where you are.    Safety for us in case of fire.  Let us hope and pray it never has to be a true alarm as some of the folks here would have a very hard time trying to evacuate.  Most can't use stairs and the elevators don't work when there is a fire so it is best to be prepared and hope it never comes about.

 

The food seems to be improving.   Well, the crab cakes which really are shrimp cakes tasted pretty good.    I have to laugh as if the main dish is tasty the desert is awful and if the desert is really tasty then the main dish is awful.    Haven't figured that one out yet.    I can't even begin to describe the puddings, but a mixture of apple pieces into some kind of a pudding is sacrilegious . . . you would think desert would be the saving grace of the institution food chain.   Yuck!!!   Okay, I'll stop . . . on occasion we do have a tasty morsel but not often...smile.

 

So today, enjoy St. Patrick's Day and be Irish.    Cook up some corn beef and cabbage and call in a neighbor or two.  Tell an Irish tale or a joke or two and you will be smiling all the while.     Don't forget to hum an Irish tune and if you are up to a bit of a jig wont harm you.     Share your smiles.   Share YOU with those you love and like.   Today is a great day to be Irish.  Hugs to all.

 

 

Good Morning To You!!

Emma

Rain

Some mornings you cannot get anything to work, a ghostly cloud hangs over your head and you start off the day with everything going in the opposite direction of what you intend.   I could go into the spiel about computers and how they refuse to cooperate when you want them to;  or, I could go into a harangue about the pictures that don't want to come through.   There are a lot of things to gripe and groan about but I am not going to play that game.  I am just going to write a few words about a lot of nothing special and give you some peaceful time all to yourselves.

Tuesday was quiet around Ridgemont.   My girls were busy with Gallery duties, meetings and catch up work at home.   I read to Vinnie for an hour and caught up with an area we just didn't want to read.   The holocaust which hurts the mind, the heart and the eye to even try to read.  So we skipped a few pages and got back to what was beginning to happen as the huge carriers were hastily repaired and set out to face the huge Japanese armada on its way to crush the world.   Vinnie bought a maple tree, a tiny seedling which will a life time to grow.    He had shown it at his table and one of the ladies sitting there took a negative attitude about planting a tree around this area.  She had nothing to say that he wanted to hear.  He wanted to plant something, even if only in a big pot.  She questioned his choice but he ignored her and classified her as 'a negative shrew' .  He found a spot to plant it but then was knocking at my door looking for a spade.  I could offer a spoon.

 

Rosemarie came down to choose a book to read.   She read one of  my stories and after some comments about the misplaced commas, decided that I tell a good story and she wanted more.   She took two;  so now to wait for the other shoe to drop.   Telling her I write like I talk and don't pay attention to all the correct grammar I don't even remember , as to rules and regulations, nor do I care. . . I just want to tell a story and I do. I'd like to be perfect, honest, but that would be a lost cause.  Perfect I am not , never was and I am afraid I never will be.    It is much too late to ask her to be my editor.

 

So, I am off to await the sound of the fire alarms.  They are being tested today, several times, loud and clear we understand.   I have one by my door way so I should reverberate with the musical sound of the alarm as the apartment shakes and reacts to the shrillness of the alarm.  It is loud.  It is long.   It is a pain in the you know what, but a necessary evil.

 

Enjoy today, find reasons to brag a little about your accomplishments.    Sit and ponder what you can do to make your corner of the world a better place.   It may mean you have to give of yourself;  a wonderful gift and a necessary one.   Be good, be kind, be gentle, be YOU.  Hugs to all.