Good Morning!

A beautiful tiger cat.  What a beauty!!  

Sounds like something Mother Teresa would say as she reminded us to do our good deeds every day and  not just once in a lifetime.   We have no idea what some of our family, friends and neighbors are going through right now.   Maybe, just maybe, if we stopped to listen, to pay attention we would find a way to help ease a little of the pain. and remind ourselves 'there but by the grace of God go I'.

On the other hand there are those who live their lives in not so quiet desperation;  attention is the name of the game, loneliness is most likely the cause.  So, today, give a little of yourself and see if you can bring a ray of sunshine to someone you care about.

Today is a day to become a wise old owl.  Look around and pay attention , someone needs a hug.

Christmas is coming and in the preparation we all go a little crazy.   We tend to be all wrapped up in paper wrappings and forget that kindness is one of the best gifts we can bestow on our love ones.   Take time out today to see...really look, and see who has a need for a hug, a listening ear, a smile...someone woke up with a heavy burden and YOU may be the one who can lighten the load.   It never hurts to be kind, to be loving and to 'be there' for someone you care about.    Look around today, stop, look and listen and be the bright light that leads that someone into a day of sunshine and away from the shadows.   

So today, be a good example of love and light, kindness and open arms to embrace our family and friends and lead them into a bit of your warmth and love.   Be a lover, it doesn't hurt a bit.  Hugs to all.

It's Coming Closer!!

Emma had her beauty treatment yesterday, she is all
ready for Christmas, new toy, new toy;  she could open a shop with all she now has.   

A serenade ---ready------We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas,  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Son John loves this man. . . He tries hard to emulate him but is never successful.   It isn't Christmas until old Ebeneezer  puts in his appearance.    "One for a penny, two for a show, three to get ready and GO MAN GO!!!!   Let loose, you cannot take it with you....no matter how hard you try.

It's only money!!!   Ha, ha....it's only money...spend...spend....and spread a little Christmas cheer around.

What to buy?  What to buy?   Books are always a good choice.  

A new day, a new storm, winter is here, weather is iffy, got to Walmart yesterday and believe me finding a parking place was not easy.  I think everyone and his brother were out Christmas shopping.   Smiling faces, a few greetings which was nice, no strangers at Christmas time.  It is good to feel the spirit of Christmas , not a scowl in the store.    I walked the aisles for exercise, did a bit of shopping in the grocery section and bought a bag of those luscious tangerines.   I am smiling as that song "Tangerine" comes to mind every time I see them.   Patricia stayed on for a puzzle session and got quite a few pieces.  It is beginning to take shape and is a tough one...we wouldn't have it any other way.    Stop in, I am sure your name is on a piece or two.    

It was quiet here as the folks hunkered down and watched their favorite shows on the television.   Hallmark does a great job of 'happy ending' tales .  Our dining area looks very festive with a huge tree all decorated and beautiful.   Lovely fragrant wreaths on the walls and our Gina handing out smiles with the food.    

The Christmas greetings are a boon and I am glad to hear from you and know you are enjoying Christmas preparation time....it says in small print...ha,ha,ha....we are all alike, cannot wait for Christmas time then gripe, groan and moan over that shopping time and what to get for each one on our list.   Excitement reigns high even thought we pretend it is a lot of 'bother'   .... we wouldn't have it any other way.    So today, get out that list, check it again and make sure you have not missed anyone.   Don't forget the bell ringers.  Don't forget to mail out a few cents to the organizations that do so much good for those who have nothing.    Count your blessings and SHARE.  Isn't that a lovely word.  S H A R E . . . that is what makes Christ in Christmas.   Go be Christlike!! Hugs to all.

Monday, Monday. .

I don't know about your purse, but mine is beginning to look a lot like this...Christmas shopping is fun but has found a way to make a piggy squeal.We wouldn't have it any other way!

I wish you rainbows today.

Don't you love trees of all kinds.   This one has special appeal.   Seems to be having a tough time existing in our world, but then we all know about that.   You have to admit it is beautiful, just the way it is...just like you.

A new week.  No new words.   The Saturday Tea was a huge success and the ladies, who went from Ridgemont, had a wonderful time and are ready for the next one in the Spring.   They were surprised by the size and scope of paintings within the gallery walls and have intentions of returning to take a better and longer look at the work of the local artists.    Ridgemont was quiet yesterday, everyone regrouping from the weekend.   The annual dinner at Debbys took place on Saturday also and we had to miss out on the treats and the warm welcome she has for all of us each year.   Debby is the daughter of one of our ladies who is housed here in Ridgemont.  She has a luncheon twice a year for all of her mother's friends and we look forward to a visit with her and her family.  They have a big beautiful home right on the water.   She goes all out and serves a delectable luncheon so we had conflicting dates this year and couldn't be in the same place, so had to make choices. Hopefully next year they wont be on the same date as it is a shame to miss out on all the goodies.  So having told you all of this already, I am left without much to write about this morning.  The weather has turned cold, no snow or rain , but threats of what is about to come this way.   We will have to go to the grocery store and stock up on some extra treats in case the storm is as bad as predicted, so far it has been all talk and no action.  When the action does come we will have to stay in but that is not all bad as our cooks come up with some treats for us and we find 'things' to do...how about those Christmas movies?   Of course they are a bit 'goopy' , silly and romantic but we wouldn't have them any other way.   

So get started on your week.   Hopefully your weather is staying 'good' so you can get out and about.  Finish up that shopping and don't forget to take time to stop by church and light a candle for all the reasons necessary to make life 'good'.   Stop and pick up a treat and make sure you share a cup of coffee or tea with a friend who is shut in .   Our Jock is recuperating from a back operation and doing pretty good.  He is not happy having to stay low but you can imagine how he is plotting and planning his hunting and fishing trips as soon as his back allows him 'out the door'.   So if you are in his neighborhood, stop in and swap some tall tales of fishing and hunting and help him with the 'recovery' time.   

Be good, be kind, be gentle.    Be a friend.   Be a person who is not afraid of a walk in hug, the best kind, try it you may find you really like it and want more.    Don't forget a good deed, take one of those names off of the Christmas trees in the stores and buy someone you don't know a special gift just because you can.   Spread a little Christmas love around....go....do it......and your heart will secure in the warmth of the glowing embers of being kind, generous to a fault and best of all loving.  Hugs to all.

Good morning!

A heavenly sign we love. . . colors of the rainbow . . .

It is three thirty a.m., I know, all good folks are fast asleep dreaming good dreams and then there is ME!!!  What can I say?   The body clock is off kilter and said it was time to get up ..so up I got, have hot coffee in hand, and need a refill already . . . an empty cup will not keep the juices flowing.

The annual December Tea was held at the Gallery yesterday and I talked four ladies into going along with me.  They had no idea what they were getting in to, and they had not taken time to visit the gallery so they were in for a treat.   It was raining, better than the snow flakes that showed up earlier and dissipated, and our Louie , umbrella in hand, came out to the car to escort us in.  I love Louis, he is kind, gentle and so thoughtful, a young man of incite and warmth.  Evelyn got to see all of those lovely tea cups and saucers she donated to the Gallery.   Lois, Doris and Betty were very impressed with the Gallery High Tea.    They want to go back when it is not crowded with tea drinkers and see all of the art work.  They were really impressed with the gallery and its crew who made the 'Tea' a fun event on a rainy Sunday afternoon.  There was a good crowd and there were many more tables set up in the newly opened areas.   The red chair back covers looked grand and much like a Christmas scene, all set in the best of silverware and the lovey tiered center piece in which the young high school girls brought out some very tasty treats.   They started with cranberry muffins, so tiny and delicate and I have to add delicious.   There were three tiered tiny sandwiches that melted in the mouth and the last tier of the center piece held several varieties of tiny delicious deserts from miniature cream puffs to an assortment of tiny Christmas cookies.    If anyone went home hungry it certainly was not the fault of the Gallery crew.   Another well done job and a huge success.  The tea was served by Louis and another gentleman.  There were two kinds of tea, one the color of cranberries but not sweet in flavor, very delicious and the other was an English tea that had a delicious taste all its own.    The cups were filled over and over and I would say "a good time was had by all"...the teas are fun and the crew should be given a medal for all the good work they do.  Daughter Christine's birthday and Louie announced it...I didn't...she gave me fair warning..smile.....but Louis is a showman and nothing scares him, not even Christine.   So she had to stand and listen as we sang her Happy Birthday.  I'm still smiling!! And, last but not least, my daughter Patricia played chauffeur to the ladies of Ridgemont and got them there safely and back home.    She is an excellent driver and her prayer were answered when the snows held off and even the rain was just a bit of mist...ah!!! prayer answered....smile.

All in all, a very successful Sunday outing and another great memory of afternoon tea at the gallery with some very nice people.   One amazing sight is the 'putting things back into place' as the gallery members clear the tables before the last guest is out the door.    Practice makes perfect...smile.

Hopefully today we will take Christine out for a birthday lunch or dinner.   She did get to open her gifts and she was surprised and pleased for someone who has everything...smile!!   She was delighted with her gift certificate for a morning latte at the local restaurant not far from home.  You will know where she is early of a morning.   So daughter Christine embarks on a new year, don't forget to wish her good and happy days.

As for me, I am going to go for a refill and turn on the news and see what happened during the night.   Hopefully something good.   Make your today merry and bright. . . if you haven't had a chance to go to a tea party....have one of your own...invite a neighbor, a family member or just old friends in and celebrate each other...hugs are a specialty of the house....special treats are always welcome and it all goes into making today special ..just like YOU.    Hugs. to all.

A New Day!!

And the wise old philosophers said . . . Happy Birthday to YOU...Happy Birthday to YOU...Christine....Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!  and many more!!!!!  I love you.    

I would love to have found some Dragon Flowers just for you...we will have to go look for some soon.

Later today I will open a special bottle of wine and toast you...um..on second thought maybe a roast or two..smile!!!

To the lover of dragons, may your new year be filled with good health a bit of wealth and a lot of love and laughter!   Happy Birthday Christine. . . Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

December, snow, cold, and our favorite holiday about to come.  I thought my daughter was going to be born on Thanksgiving but she decided not to enter this world until she was ready and days went into weeks and Christmas was coming...and so was she....she made it early though and brought love that took my breath away.    This beautiful bright loving child brought the true meaning of love into my life.   If I were to recap her life, I would sound like a bragging horn that never stops.   She has been beautiful, bright, giving, loving and it never stops.   Christine was the right name as she was , it seemed, determined to wait for the holiday. . . and there was a lovely adopted Italian grandmother of the same name that wanted to be remembered.    Life is filled with awesome moments and the birth of a child has to be number one on any list.   So today we celebrate Christine.....

all together now....  the music is in your head so sing out loud.....
Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Christine, Happy Birthday to YOU......and many more!!!

Today is the Tea so we will all be having high tea this afternoon at the Gallery.   We had a snow storm yesterday and drop some inches on the roads.   Hopefully the driving will be safe and the roads clear.    All of the tables are sold out and everyone is at the ready so it should be another successful tea.   Four of my Ridgemont ladies are going and Patricia will play chauffeur . The big problem, at the moment, is what to wear.  Have you ever stood in front of your closet door, peered into its depths and know that there is nothing you want in there to wear to this special tea.....now if only I could remember what I wore to the last one...smile.....probably pick out the exact same outfit and all the loving folks will tell me how lovely I look....it never fails and after all it is the 'tea' that counts.  

So, I am off to get dressed and get ready for a fun day.    Wish you were here to go along....tea for two, you and me...tea for two..la, la, la.....there is something about a cup of hot  tea that does wonders for  our 'self'.....there is nothing I know of that says you cannot make a good hot cup of tea, sit back , relax, ad enjoy it...call in a friend or neighbor and put your feet up....don't forget the crumpets!!!!  Hugs to all.

A New Day!

Patricia and I had a ride to Manchester yesterday , a lunch break and the biscuits and gravy were excellent;  breakfast food for lunch, why not?   Try it, you may find you like it!!

The view across the water from our stop at Manchester;  a favorite spot , and a restaurant that serves biscuits and gravy that keeps one coming back.

I keep telling you..hugs.....they make our world go around in a harmony all its own.

This is what the parking lot looks like this morning.  We had snow, looks like about three inches on the car roof tops.  The ground is covered, maybe about three or four inches and the bushes are all blanketed in snow..a pretty sight...Winter....looks beautiful when   you are inside looking out at a winter wonderland, not sure the folks treading to the doorway of the hospital wing feel the same way.  I'm inside, warm and toasty, while they are trudging through a good six inches of snow.  It is a lovely sight and I am sure the first of many more to come before winter leaves us.    Snow has the peaceful look to it and brings back so many winter memories of the years long gone bye.   Each snow drop , if examined closely, would be a reminder of many seconds we spent out on a winter morning walking on the huge mounds pushed up by the slow plows;  the icicles on the trees creating what is called pogonip.   It fills the mind, the heart with a million winter memories.  How lucky we are to be where the seasons change into magnificent wonders for us to enjoy.  

A day with daughter Patricia yesterday, and a fun one.   A ride down to Manchester, a favorite spot where the restaurant serves delicious food.  We had it all to ourselves so early in the day and the waitress sat us at a little table in front of the fire place with the glowing embers burning bright. Cozy and warm, excellent biscuits and gravy...of course;   it is a delicious lunch..try it, you may find a new favorite.   It was quiet, no one about, the parking lot had a few cars but not a person in sight.  We had a view of Seattle across the water.  No ferry boats in sight.   A quiet peaceful scene to behold and enjoy.   A favorite ride as I have mentioned before, one we like to take and enjoy.  We thought of moving there but it is so isolated it would not be a good move for us, but that does not stop us from returning there as often as we can.  It has a special feel to it, one that makes you feel welcome and content.  Another spot added to our lists of places we love to visit.  I have a list of such places and Newport, R.I. tops it.   Branford, Connecticut comes out near the top, and a little farm house in Salem, Massachusetts comes close to the top of my list.    Brookings, Oregon  and Crescent City in Oregon and if I took time I would come up with quite a long and list of special places.  Friend Hoby told me once I had no roots;  he was right, I have no roots planted in one spot, but many, little bits and pieces that leave an open door to return again and again.    Like a big tree, the roots spread out and the memories grow deeper and spread more all the time.   I find I have nothing to be sad about as I am content as my heart finds a place to love and enjoy while I am right there.  

I hope you and yours have a wonderful winter day; hopefully with some snow to play in.   Shoveling is like playing..honest, it doesn't hurt a bit.   Exercise those muscles it keeps them strong.   Then..break time...preferably shared with a family member or a friend or two....jelly donuts and hot coffee, or cocoa if you prefer.   Can't think of a better way to while away an hour or two.    Hugs in the mix and you have it made today....go for it....be good, be kind, be gentle and celebrate a winter day.    Hugs to all.

Five A.M.!

One of our miracles, a tiny seed, an awesome flower with a beauty all its own.  

A reminder, don't forget a trip out to the cemetery during the holidays and put a little tiny wreath on the grave sight of your loved ones.    A short visit, a short prayer, and the three little words that says it all.    Out of sight, but never out of mind and always in our hearts.

A reminder for those of you who live in Oregon or are going there for a visit during the holidays.  The spectacular light show ,

I did get to Shore Acres a few times to see the wonders of the ocean and the lovely gardens but never at Christmas time.   My intentions were good but there was always a reason not to make the trip down there..too long...too cold...too late...too anything and everything but getting in the car and driving down there.   A spectacular sight....and who knows, I could make it down there yet.  I had my annual check up yesterday and did remember my doctor as I was sure I would not remember what he looked like as it had been six months since I last saw him and that was a first time.  He is an older man, a soft man, smiling eyes and is never in a hurry.   He said if he will be able to walk as good as I do at my age he will be happy . . . what he probably never thought of was that cars were a luxury and walking was it...walk or stay home.    So the early beginnings brought about strong legs and a strong will;  if you want to get out and about you walked...and we did.    My biggest problem is skin from years of sunburns and outdoor living.   I am to see a dermatologist and hopefully find a creme or some one thing that will make me 'spotless' again. So, I have no news of a single deterioration, just the normal getting old stuff that makes wrinkles and the like a 'thing' of beauty.  You just didn't know I was going to be beautiful one day....and it is coming....I hope...

The new puzzle graces the puzzle board and it is a mean one.   It is going to be a very difficult one as I have spent several days just trying to get the frame done.  All white, a little cream and very light brown so everything has to be tested until the right spot is found.  It is coming along but it isn't going to be easy.  Well if it were easy, I wouldn't want to do it.    Everyone needs a challenge to  stay awake and alive.   I'd rather play the slots but puzzles fill in until I can get there..smile!!!

The weather prediction is for snow but so far it has been just words and no sign of a flake.   It is cold.   When it comes I'll be singing a different tune.   We have a lot of hills around here so you know driving is not easy.   Think San Francisco and you will be able to visualize a little of what we have here.    If they roped off the streets the kids would have a ball sliding down hills.   I wonder if they have any areas for the kids to use sleds; if not, they should as they have the right mix to a winter wonderland.   

Here in Ridgemont it is very quiet.   The did have a small bazaar in the hospital wing yesterday and Pat came over and she and I went to it.   They had some homemade items that were well done and the most delicious peanut brittle...yum.....ate it all.   I found a set of dish cloths that were embroidered and well done but they were of dogs and I wanted cats.  The lady said she had some at home and would be happy to get them to me.   So Pat is going to do the honors and I'll have one more gift crossed off my list.  It has been years since I have seen those clever weekday dish cloths, especially with french knots...you remember those, I bet.

So, I am off to get dressed and I think, if it is not storming, I am going for a ride out with Christine today.    She has a meeting to go to in one of the smaller towns nearby and invited me to ride along.  I can browse while she attends the meeting.   I like that idea, so say a tiny prayer for good weather. Storms have been in the news all week, haven't hit here yet but are on the way...snow up int he mountain areas and down here maybe a flake or two.  Time will tell whether it will be an in or an out day.

I hope you have a day out planned for your shopping, or for visiting, or for just because you can go out the door and enjoy the day.    Stop in and visit a friend who is home bound.   Don't forget to pick up the telephone or that special 'pad' and share some greetings and some news.    Stop by your church and light a candle for those who are in the hospital . . . Jock is coming along slowly but not a happy camper, hates being confined...so add a prayer for him...he needs it...smile.    Mr. Impatient, you know the type.   It's okay Jock, we understand, for their but by the Grace of God go I....impatience is part of the healing process.  

Be good, be kind, be gentle.   Use your eyes to light the way today....put a smile in them....no glaring at anyone today even if they do cut you short as they pass you by.    What is that saying.....'patience is a virtue, possess it if you can, seldom in a woman, but never in a man."    Okay, gentlemen, we ladies are prone to an off day too....go....make your day bright and beautiful just like YOU. Hugs to all.