I Wrote a Post This Morning

But somehow it disappeared on me.  I looked and looked and noticed the post I wrote yesterday also was gone.  Since my photo was of this old cemetery, do you think spirits might be the guilty party?

I never did get anything done today.  I went out to make up my last three planters but the pollen was so heavy and made it so hard to breathe that I used common sense and came inside and kept my windows closed.

When we first moved here 35 years ago, this cemetery was a favorite place to go.  It was wonderful to sit down cross legged in the sweet smelling grass and read or write a short poem.  My children and I would wander among the very old head stones and read the names and dates.  We even found one belonging to a horse, well loved evidently because there was a tribute for him also.  How unusual I thought, but my sons thought it was neat and would tell everyone how they found a horse cemetery.

Tomorrow it will rain and I can finally get my planting done.  Maybe the mosquitoes will have pity on me but if not, I will be well covered in bug spray. After I will come inside and take a nice warm shower.  Anything to help the old bones and aches and pains.

Have a wonderful day, what is left of it.

Hugs

Off To A Bad Start

I really tried to get here yesterday but I had so many flowers to plant and only so much oomph.  The flowers won out but not without some regretful moments due to my failure to realize the pitfalls.

For instance, I forgot how much those bags of soil weight when you have to heft 40 pounds of dead weight and empty them into a large wheel barrel.  Out of 8 bags, I managed to open and pour out 5 of them.  No longer will I fall for the Potting Soil as it was wet and like mud!

I have 3 nice planter boxes on the stone wall and yes, I do like color but at what price?  Enough to make me do it again this afternoon.  I just forgot that all the muscles in the body are somehow connected and wonder why the cords in the back of my neck are so sore along with chest muscles and backache.  Two Aleve last night after coming in the house and then I was out like a light.  This morning I was out there again but so were the mosquitoes so will attempt it after the sun is out for awhile. That excuse sounds good enough to me so I'll stick by it. Also hubby will be up and can help me lift the heavier planters once I get them set.

The picture window above shows all our snow from this past winter in the background.  I'm so thankful that has passed.  We were up to our buns in snow this year and such a cold spring too.  One thing is for sure, we can never count on our New England weather.  The colorful items here and there are my crystals, coral, shells, gemstones, old bottles and whatever else happened to catch my fancy.  Even rocks, and there are many of them.  Most I brought home from Colorado and Arizona hidden in bags.  Hubby said no more rocks so I had to hide them in shopping bags from shops I had made purchases from. Sneaky, but they were just too hard to resist.

The sun is now out.  Glory!  Now I have no excuse not to get back to my planting.  I can see an early bed time coming again.

Have fun in the sun and remember to smile a lot.  Frowns just cause wrinkles and there's no way to hide them at my age. :(

Hugs

Cloudy, Cool and Rain Soon

This worn out critter seems to be my twin this morning.  No sleep, trying to keep my eyes open and my legs steady.  I have already walked into walls this morning so am looking forward to an adventurous day.  Anything can happen!

I mashed up fresh strawberries and bought a delicious butter pound cake last night.  We are going to visit my Aunt today and take her out for brunch.  I figured we could have the strawberry shortcake for dessert when we get back to her house.  I just have to make a quick stop to buy the whipping cream. I will be very careful not to walk into any doors or displays in the grocery store.  This imbalance goes along with the allergies and hopefully once it rains the pollen will go down a bit.

It really is a sad looking day out there today.  I'll have to make sure I take a very quick cat nap when I get off the computer, even if it's an hour I'm sure it will help.  I just feel like Gumby, you have to move my legs in order for me to go forward and hold on tight so I don't fall over.  My aunt is going to be sooo proud of me if I do something to embarrass her at  her favorite eating spot.

Well, the shower calls and I have to dig out my best looking sweats to wear.  It's cold out there and damp too, so the old bones don't like it. Maybe tomorrow will be much better and I can make up all my planters.  That will make me smile! 

I'm wishing everyone a sunny day even though the sun is nowhere to be seen.  It's inside that counts and mine is telling me I'm going to have a great day no matter what the weather.

Hugs

The After Effects of Mother's Day

Good morning, and a beautiful morning it is.

When I sit down to write in my blog, I have no idea of what I'm going to say and what comes out is just by chance.  However, this morning with my face all swollen and my jowls hanging, eyes about to bug out, I feel like Miss Piggy.

Yesterday, for Mother's Day, my hubby took me shopping for plants to make my flower boxes for the stone wall which is the only place I can now reach in order to water and care for the soon to be flowers.  We went to 4 different places, buying here and there as certain beauties caught my fancy.  Jacob's Ladder was one I had never seen before and is a perennial so I bought three just in case one or more died on me. I hope I still have my green thumb though because buying plants and flowers can be expensive.  And then there's the cost of the soil!

I had asked my son to buy me 'dirt' for my planters for Mother's Day.  On that day I was looking forward to enjoying putting my hands in the warm soil and getting busy on my planting.  Well, he and his wife bought me a beautiful flower arrangement, a sunflower flag to put on my house, and yes, two bags of soil.  He said there was no way he was going to just buy me dirt because when the guys at work asked him what he bought his mom, he would have been embarrassed to say 'dirt'!  LOL, I do love that man I gave birth to, but sometimes he just has me in stitches with laughter.

To finish what I started, hubby and I came home with plants galore and more 'dirt'.  This morning I am paying for it because I forgot to take my allergy pill.  Now I look like a real beauty,  eyes are swollen and so scratchy that I have decided to just bring all the plants and planters out of the car and leave them for a few days, although I'm just itching to get started.  To be sure I won't miss taking my allergy pill this morning!

Now I must get busy on all the paper work I have waiting for me.  Years and years of hospital bills, records that were important at the time, and I've gone back to year 1992 so far.  So the flowers will wait and maybe I can unearth my kitchen table again so we can finally eat off it, and also put my lovely flower arrangement in the middle to add some color. I so long for that to be accomplished.

Wishing you a beautiful day.  May you know laughter and love.

Hugs

Today Is Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day.  It is a beautiful sunny day, and perfect for taking Moms out for breakfast or to pick plants to make up their flower boxes to enjoy throughout the spring, summer and maybe fall if we're lucky.
I haven't had my mom for over 30 years, but my special mom, pictured here, is the aunt who helped raise me and who I went to whenever I was hurting or just needed some hugs and love. My Aunt Ethel, being celebrated by one of her daughters.  A very loving and caring daughter I should add.

Today just seemed to be the day I started a new year with my focus on all my blessings and those that I had for just a little while but were blessings none the less.  Everything we go through, good and bad, helps us to grow.  In wisdom, in love, and with a deeper understanding of how real life is.

So today I count my blessing and honor you my sweet Auntie.  You have been my anchor and you have helped shape who I am today.  Because of you I have always had a constant in my life.  Your love has been there for me through most of my storms and also in my happiness.  I love you very much and have always known that you love me. 

Hugs from your niece. The one who sang all her wants to you and you had to sing back to me in turn.  I smile when I remember that and those special chocolate birthday cakes you made for me with the boiled icing, like eating melted marshmallows.  You are the best aunt anyone could wish for.  Happy Mother's Day. You have my heart and each day you are in my life is a special gift which I cherish.

I hope those of you who still have your Mom will tell her how you feel about her before it's too late.  It's far better to speak your words of thanks and love now rather than hold them in and live with regret.  I'm so thankful I showed my love for my mom and don't have to live with that hurt and guilt in my heart like so many I know.

All you moms out there, enjoy your special day.  Today you are Queen!

Hugs

Depression In Winter, a Poem

Depression In Winter, by Jane Kenyon



There comes a little space between the south side of a boulder
and the snow that fills the woods around it.
Sun heats the stone, reveals a crescent of bare ground:
brown ferns, and tufts of needles like red hair, acorns,
a patch of moss, bright green...

I sank with every step up to my knees,
throwing myself forward with a violence of effort,
greedy for unhappiness -
until by accident I found the stone,
with its secret porch of heat and light,
where something small could luxuriate, then
turned back down my path, chastened and calm.
 
 
It seems these cold days are coming upon us more quickly than usual. I was out pulling down my Morning Glory vines and tried to retrieve some of the seed pods for next spring.  My daughter in law has put away all my yard statues and now it looks so bare out there.  Now I only see the quick flash of color as the birds fly by, anxious to beat the squirrels to the feeders.
 
I tend to get sad this time of year
and this type of poem about nature appeals to me.  I hope you enjoy it too.
 
Have a great day and enjoy the sunshine while we may.
 
Hugs

Why I've Been Away

Not because I wanted to be but because of illness due to a number of autoimmune diseases.

Future blogs will be brief since I can't sit for that long and type.  I also won't be able to go off on my little trips to take pictures.  I guess I will have to go to Photo bucket and see what I can find there.

How about this crazy weather?  First it was so hot we couldn't breathe and suddenly we turned cold without our Indian Summer.  Hopefully we will not go into an early winter with lots of snow.  I don't know, I'm not too happy with our Connecticut weather.

We are still putting up with the squirrels robbing the bird feeders, the skunks eating the cats' food.  We have grown to two feral cats plus a few kittens someone dumped off.  They are a wild little bunch but they come to eat also.  If only I could catch the cute little grey one.  All of them really, in order to take them to the shelter to be cared for and given their shots and spayed.  We don't need anymore critters and they will be better off.  They will learn to socialize and find homes with people who will care for them.

Our skunk family has now grown to four and they come in turns, terrorizing the hubby and boys.  They now carry flash lights and make lots of noise so as to scare them off before they startle them and they (the skunks), cut loose.  The only problem is, the skunks are not afraid and even shooing them off doesn't bother them.  Hubby turned the hose on the the biggest and oldest one in order to get to the patio door.  I covered my mouth to keep from laughing.  It's the same old, same old.

I will have to think back for special memories for my future blogs.  I'm unable to do much now and while I still remember, will share some favorite stories with you.

We will be celebrating our 50th anniversary October 15th so am so happy we have made it.  Out of all those years I'm sure I can bring forth a smile to share.

Have a wonderful day and until I can meet you here again, special autumn wishes.  Enjoy the colors, smells and apples that spell out autumn loud and clear.

Hugs