What a Morning

I haven't been keeping up with my blog but thought I needed some time off.  A short vacation from the keys was needed since the hands haven't wanted to cooperate.

I jumped out of bed this morning with the crazy tune, Play That Funky Music, going around and around in my head.  I don't know where that came from but it certainly isn't my kind of music.  I must have heard it on TV last night while listening to a list of the oldies.  My idea of the oldies is A Summer Place, Theme from Moulin Rouge and so on.  I love the Canadian Tenors and The Three Tenors.  Now that's music and they have voices worth listening to.  I know, I'm an old fart, but where on earth did I come up with Play That Funky Music?  At least it got me out of bed because I couldn't just lay there with that darn song going through my brain.  What made matters worse was I knew the words to it!  I must have regressed during the night's sleep.

Oh well, I could think of worse things to happen.  Like me deleting all my photos so I didn't have anything special to post to my blog.  My spoiled cat will have to do.  She's pretty special though.  She lets me know when I need to go to bed nights by gently pawing my arm and then she follows right behind me.  She also  makes sure I wake up every morning by walking up and down the length of my body.  I'd really like to sleep later than 5:00 a.m. but that seems to be her choice, not mine.  Usually it's to let me know that the feral cat is outside on the patio waiting to be fed. Oh such a life.

Hubby is sleeping and my dishes await.  I didn't feel like doing them last night and thought what the heck, it's not as if I have a great social life so why not just leave them and watch a great TV show?  I'd just wash them and there would be others to replace them.  The TV program won out and this morning I can't even remember what it was.  I hope my day goes better.

You all have fun today, it's Saturday!

Hugs

Yesterday

I took pictures yesterday while walking down my driveway just to see what I could spy to snap a picture of and loved this one especially.  It was later in the day so the color of the sky is beautiful and the contrast of the Hemlock branch shows the pure loveliness of it,  dark against light, and why I was so taken with this particular picture.

I didn't get a thing done that I had planned on.  I started reading a book while hubby was sleeping so it was very quiet in the house and he slept past noon.  We had company show up at 3:30 and we sat and drank iced tea at the patio table and just took in the beautiful cool day and the slight breeze.  It was wonderful.  After company left, I came in and got my book and went outside to read it at the table.  I was well into the book and didn't want to put it down.  It was so exciting that I fell asleep, book in hand and no inkling of just when I conked out.

It was a perfect day, no hurrying to go anywhere, just enjoying the patio and watching the chipmunks and listening to the soft cooing of the mourning doves.  That alone was enough to send me off to dreamland.  I came inside as it was getting dusk and started something simple for supper.  Hubby called me to the door and said, "Look up."  Okay, I looked up but couldn't see anything.  Then I spotted them, my two owls sitting on a branch and outlined against the darkening sky.  The smaller one flew down and landed just above my head.  He kept making these little mewling sounds and turning his head in a circular motion.  I did the same in return for as long as my neck allowed.  I kept talking to him and he stayed right there, almost too close for comfort.  I thought he might fly down and get caught in my hair.  They were amazing and I finally came back inside.  I don't know how long they perched there but it was a gift to end my day.  I have a feeling this will not be the last of them.

This morning the pest control man is here to spray outside for those large black ants and also the carpenter bees.  The ants just give me the creeps because they are all outside the the door and when opened, they scramble to get inside.  Every year we have a problem with them for a short while and then they cease.

This afternoon is a trip to the doctor and after that lunch somewhere with AC and no loud music blaring. I usually get a sandwich and end up giving the other half to hubby. It never fails now when you go to a nice restaurant, the music is so loud you can't talk with one another.  I'll ask that they turn it down since it's more for the wait staff than the customers.  There's nothing worse than trying to eat and digest your meal with the thump, thump, thumping of the bass turned to full volume.  I feel as if I must eat to the beat!

It's so pretty out again today and I hope it stays on the cool side.  By cool I mean less than 80 degrees.  If I could order my weather it would be a perfect 72 with a nice breeze.  I don't want much, just perfect weather so I can be outside and enjoy the summer.  We either have cold or hotter than hell here.

This is another picture I took yesterday.  It was flying all over the place and each time it landed, it wasn't long enough to snap the photo.  Yesterday was definitely a dragonfly day, much to my delight.  Here he finally landed on the stone wall and I had the lens already adjusted to the perfect setting in order to get him.  I never knew there were so many different kinds of dragonflies.  I remember when I was young my mom used to tell me if I didn't stop talking all the time, the sewing needles would sew my lips shut.  I didn't know that dragonflies were the same as sewing needles.  That shut me up when I was outside, for a little while anyway.  I never considered myself a chatterbox but I'll have to check with my aunt about that.

That's it for today, have places to go and things to do.  Hubby drives so I don't have to worry about getting a parking place at the doctor's.  I just don't parallel park anymore and never liked it to begin with.

Have a nice day and appreciate all you have.

Hugs

When Will This Heat Wave Cease?

All my flowers are now zilch to I bought out some lilys that were given to me by a friend, and took a snap or two of them.  They really cheer up this page don't they?

I took the weekend off due to the heat and all my problems with the computer.  The same applies to today.  It must be all the air conditioners and fans running to make this heat bearable.  Strange, I don't remember minding the heat that much when just a girl, but I had the river to keep me busy and I could jump in and out of the water at whim.

So far the weekend consisted of me watching TV and cooking when I absolutely had to.  Hubby was okay with that but complains that nothing tasted the same.  Well of course not, you take out the salt, the spices with salt added and the high fat mozzarella cheese and naturally the flavor is not the same. All in all though, I thought the substitutions were fairly good and I enjoyed it.  I did make extra for today thank goodness.  I'm already like a wet noodle.  I'll try making it another way to see if he likes that one better.  He never complains, just puts that, "It doesn't taste the same as you used to make."  Teeth grit...

I need to go out and shop today instead of letting hubby go.  I only need three items and hubby went out for those yesterday.  He came home with a large bag of Salt and Pepper potato chips, ice cream, large rolls and a loaf of bread.  Also mixed candy, strawberry cheesecake, etc.  Yes, I will go myself and the bill will be cheaper.  I can get in and get out in just a few minutes because I know where things are in the store.  Hubby likes to make a day of it.  I guess once retired, it's something to do with his day, and since he never went with me and the three kids when I really needed him, there's a lot of new things for him to discover.  I don't blame him, it's just when waiting for the ingredients to finish the meal in order to get it cooked, 3 hours is a long time to wait.  I did fall asleep while waiting though so it worked out for me too

I just opened the patio door and found it to be much less muggy than the previous week.  Last night was bad and I didn't sleep much at all.  So today my tail is dragging and if I put my dishes away and reload the machine, I'll be doing something. Now that's an accomplishment.  I washed the floor a day or two ago and my back is still angry with me.

All the kids went camping for the week but came home every day over the 3 day weekend.  New tent never got sprayed to keep it dry in case of rain and of course it rained all weekend off and on.  Today starts a new week so I hope they make out okay. The sun is out so as to help with drying out the tent.  I know they will need more ice and expect a call at anytime.  I'm making large ice cubes as fast as the fridge can do so and bagging them. 

Our skunks came back, strutting their stuff along the rock wall.  Momma, and her three young ones.  Hubby saw them and called me so I got to see them all together, following in formation like good little troops.  They make it worthwhile for me when I see something cute like that.  Nature is full of surprises.

I haven't seen the owls again so guess they have moved on to better hunting grounds.

That's it for now.  The mind is just not clicking today so while hubby sleeps, I'm going to go back and take a nap.  It's early yet.

Have a great day and make it special.

Hugs

Boat For Sale!

This is the infamous boat that my hubby bought two years ago and spent months refurbishing it to the great state it is now in.

There had been no discussion about buying a boat, he just lugged it home one day and end of discussion. I shake my head a lot sometimes.  We live in the woods and there are no marinas near here.  To launch this beauty is an act of congress.  First you have to find a place to launch it and wait in line for ages while other boaters launch theirs.  Each time the boys tried to go out in it, they gave up waiting.  Twice they actually managed to find a place in Groton, and happily launched it, expecting a great day of fishing after all their work of getting the boat free from the trucks hitch while others honked horns at them to hurry.  Upon getting free from the dock, they enthusiastically were on their way.  Lunches packed and cold drinks in the cooler, it was going to be a great day with dad.

After about an hour, hubby didn't feel so well (he's been in the Navy and on ships for 6 years), so the boys carefully watched him thinking it was his heart.  They couldn't believe it when he leaned over the boat and let go!  Surprise, the poor man was seasick.  Hey, no bait they had something better.  Not funny but gee whiz, they never expected that.  Old Dad told them to go ahead, he would be okay in a few minutes.  The few minutes went by and his face was looking green so the boys turned the boat around and got their dad back to the boat launch to bring him home.

Weeks later, thinking that day was just a fluke and due to the heat, they got their dad a special hat and motion sickness medicine.  Then they all started out again on a day of cool breezes with cloudy skies.  Load the boat, arrive at boat launch, get the boat in water and away they go.  It didn't take long for them to realize that it just wasn't going to happen.  Dad was upchucking again and told them he was sorry to ruin another day of trying to go fishing with them and to bring him back to shore.

The boat has sat for the past summer and now hubby realizes it just isn't his cup of tea.  So, the boat, motor and trailer sit at the end of our driveway with newly made For Sale signs on it.  It's a beautiful lawn ornament.  Just think, if it doesn't get sold, I can fill it with petunias next year and have them drape over the sides adding colorful beauty and maybe catching some attention.  Hubby is now concentrating on building a nice deck and maybe next year we will have a pool.  Maybe this year if we vote for the blow up pool that is easily taken down at the end of the summer.  Son is seriously thinking of this.  We already went the other route and we were the ones cleaning it every day.

Now the sons just drive to a fishing spot and fish till their hearts content.  They are 'catch and release fishermen', they just do it for the relaxation and have no intention of bringing any fish home.  Neither of them like fish.  Can you imagine that after reading all this???

Have a great day people, I'm running errands while it's cool out.  The sun will soon be up and the heat will descent upon us again.  Oh well, I'll not complain.

Hugs

Breezy, Cool, and Beautiful So Far

I've been trying for the past half hour to insert this last picture of my morning glories to my blog page.  The hot, burning days have wiped out my vines and no matter how much I babied them, the day after day brutal heat burned them mercilessly.  But I have these few pictures to remember and enjoy their lasting beauty.

I don't know about you but I have received some mighty strange mail recently.  One was an invitation from a funeral parlor inviting me to a showing and pre-planning with refreshments to boot.  You can bet I turned that down.  Next came a last minute opportunity to buy insurance so as not to leave a burden on my children for funeral expenses.  Would you believe there was also a flier with caskets in a paper that we don't usually get telling us the price of the cheapest caskets and up.  I vouch for the $299 one.  I bet it's made of pressed paper.  All the better to be absorbed into the earth.  My owls also brought a message.  I thought they were my guides, not so I'm informed.  An owl visiting is a messenger of death.  Okay, enough of that.  Nobody is going to scare me to death.  I'll go on my own terms if possible.  All these things coming one after the other and also the commercials on television.  Enough is enough.

Hubby and I were talking about what we'd like to do for our big 50 anniversary and thought a ride on the Essex train for a two hour excursion through beautiful Connecticut in October would be perfect.  Olde Thyme's Restaurant would serve a gourmet meal in the splendor of an old dinner coach.  I like that idea.  With our luck it would be full of noisy children so that puts a damper on it for me.  In my head I'm picturing an elegant coach with a quiet dinner for two.  Keep thinking about it, and put things in perspective and in a positive light.  It just might be surprisingly nice.

Or we could go to our beloved Vermont for a long weekend and really enjoy ourselves.  Hubby calls it a miniature West Virginia and we have gone every year since my mom and dad took us on a trip with them for their anniversary.  It was beautiful and mom and I loved all the little craft shops, and beautiful baskets.  After all these years though, I've had my fill of crafts and baskets.  I've been giving them away for ages.  A house can only hold so much and right now we need room for us to walk in.  I can no longer navigate the beautiful treasures set out here and there.  My staggering wreaks damage so to protect myself, I'm parting with them to people who love them and I have an affection for.

It gives me so much satisfaction to be the giver of something very dear to me and see another receive joy from the giving.  I was a Seraphim angel collector but am now parting with some of them, something I never thought I would do.  Angels surround us in every room except the den  with the owl pictures, and the bathroom of course.  I didn't quite think the bathroom was the place for them.  A picture maybe but not the real article.

My kitchen garden window is filled with crystals, coral from Florida which I bought since you are not allowed to gather coral from the ocean.  I agree with the reasoning behind that rule. I also have gem stones still in the formations from the earth and they glitter when the light hits them just so.  Not like the jewelry which has been cut and polished, just the real thing in their actual element.  Odd little shells and pieces of sea glass collected in a bottle. Beautiful colored and shaped rocks from out west which I had to hide in the drawers of the RVso hubby wouldn't  realize I was on the rock bit again. He even helped me when he came across one he knew I would love. These are my treasures and I watch them radiate their beauty everyday in the light of the sun.   Mm, these are the best treasures, gifts from our Mother Earth. 

Of course we all know our real treasures are our loved ones and we must remind them daily of our love for them.  Treasures are what you find you joy in. Our mates, parents, children and grandchildren,  and also our memories of those no longer with us physically.

Have a great day and enjoy your treasures daily.  

Hugs

Don't Let the Little Things Get You

It's strange how some of life's most beautiful moments can be ruined by the thorns of life.  Evidently someone doesn't like my blog and instead of just not reading it, has responded with little nasty remarks.  I take it in stride and just remember the porcupine who always has to send out a barb to ruin somethings or some one's day.  I consider him to be a porcupine and that said, will continue on with my blog.

I spent this morning out taking pictures of the most mundane things.  On the forest floor there is all kinds of beautiful moss growing and yes, I did take a picture.  Also of two ant hills that look monstrous to me and I wondered if it was really ants or those ground wasps.  I wasn't taking any chances since I did destroy one of them with my big feet and felt a quick getaway was the answer.

The ground there was so thickly carpeted with dead leaves that my foot sank and kept right on going deeper as I realized I was in a hole.  All in all, I found everything fresh and interesting after the soaking rain of yesterday.  I spied a bench around the fire pit and sat for a few minutes just enjoying the scent of the woods and pines.  I really miss the camping we did years ago with our three young sons.  Hubby was born 100 years too late because he built us a little tree fort and also made a sink for me between the tree branches with a hose to drain the water for washing my hair.  Of course we had to haul hugs containers of water because I needed to clean up every day and made the boys do the same.  "Oh mom, we don't wash or brush our teeth on a camping trip.  Nobody does."  Well, I had news for them, we DO.  Three little boys playing in the woods can get might grubby and their sweaty little heads made my nose itch so it was shaved heads and washing with a wash cloth for them.

I really miss those days of  adventure and discovery.  Everything was such a 

 delight to them and even now, they are fishermen, (they catch and let loose), and they enjoy the woods as much now as they did then.  They were so easily pleased and the fighting among them quieted when out in the woods.  They listened to the critters at night and would ask what that noise was.  They learned quite a bit about nature from their nature nut mom.

Of course there were emergency runs to the nearest hospital when we accidentally disturbed a hornets nest and they quickly embedded themselves in the head of my youngest who was only two years old.  We just left everything, hopped in the car and headed for the Emergency Room.  When we were stopped by a state trooper, he could see the crown of bees on the little guy's head and told us to follow him to the hospital and don't worry about the speed.  He would clear the way for us.  It was heart breaking to see them pull out the hornets one by one and the little trickles of blood left behind.  When all had been removed, the doctor gave us medication and earlier had given him a shot in case he was allergic to bees.  He was not the same little guy who had happily left with us for our 'adventure.'

We were all so wiped out after that experience, we just kept on driving home, leaving all our camping equipment there.  Hubby went back a few days later and gathered up what was left after some serious looting by someone needing equipment.  Well, at that point we just said they were welcome to it.

It's funny how I started out having no idea what to write about and the memories just overtook me.  Sometimes our memories are the best part of our lives later in life. Our little guy is no longer with us so my memories are all I have left of him.  Such sweet and funny memories they are.

Have a great day and make some memories to fall back on later.

Hugs

It's Sunday and My Day of Rest

Yes, more owls.  I just wanted to show off this pretty little guy who seems to blend right into those tree limbs.  It's a favorite of mine because of the coloring or less so, of the branches as the light hits them.

Last night my guys went to the Thompson Speedway and I had so many plans.  I did manage to strip my bed and wash the linens.  Then back down to dry them, that way getting some of exercises done and out of the way.  I find that rocking in a rocking chair really gives the legs and feet a workout so that's something I can easily manage.  Heck I could just rock for hours outside and spy something interesting to catch with the camera.  This morning I caught a beautiful dragonfly.  I hope it comes out nice.

And then I could cheat and go to a nursery and take pictures of the flowers there.  With my allergies I don't think that idea is up to snuff for me.  Mine are all dying from the heat wave but a few are really trying to hang in there.

Oops, I meant to insert a flower but this got in my way.  Isn't he a prize?  Take heart, I only have about 8 or 9 more. LOL.  Notice the darkness of the photo and yet the lichen still shows up on the tree.  I think this is my favorite even though it isn't very clear.  Santa, I need a new camera!

Well, I just finished washing my kitchen floor a few minutes ago with the help of the walls and chairs, counters to hold onto for balance.  I am now going to get dressed and head for the stores to buy bird feed and one of those Swiffer wet mops.  It has to be easier than the way I do it.

You all have a wonderful summer day in this 90 degree and above heat.

Hugs