* IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE 2015 *

Merry Christmas to All!

 

I'm sharing some photos of Christmastime 2011.....Our tree, sweet Vern, and homemade cookies!

 

I really wanted to make homemade Christmas cookies again this year, but it just didn't happen. Maybe if it finally gets cold, and we have snow, I'll make them....for New Year's Day?!

 

 

 

Wishing everyone peace and happiness.

* A GROCERY STORE ENCOUNTER.....*

I posted this on Facebook this evening and want to share it here, too. 

 

I stopped at a local grocery store today, to buy just one thing....a very important thing. A package of rawhide bones for our dear Vern! (Actually, I bought two packages because he goes through them pretty fast.) Walking from my car to the store entrance, I saw a woman standing on the sidewalk about 50 feet from the door, holding a leash with what looked like a beautiful, very young black Labrador puppy. For a brief moment, I thought she was waiting for a car to come and pick them up, but when I saw her talk to another shopper in front of me, I was pretty sure what was going on. As I got closer, she called out to me, "Would you like to have a puppy?" I kept walking and replied, "I would LOVE to, but I can't right now!" I thought how ironic it was that I was there to purchase chew-bones for my beloved, Vern, who is 14 years old, has a bit of dementia, and cannot hear any more...and I worried about that puppy. I thought about saying something to the employee inside at the Service Counter. Did they know the woman? Was it legit? Should I call the Humane Society? Usually someone has a cardboard box with a sign "Free Puppies" on it, and so I just didn't feel right about it...and yet I did none of those things, but hoped that someone would stop and give that beautiful puppy a loving, forever-home. What would you have done? I'm still thinking about that little puppy....

 

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.” - Dean Koontz

* JUST PLAIN SILLY *

Since it's winter and I do quite a bit of driving in the dark, the following funny quote, from one of my *favorite movies, always pops into my head:


State Trooper: Do you have any idea how fast you were going?

Del: Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it's very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.


You're probably asking yourself what this has to do with my driving...

Well, I think a couple of the tiny fuses that light up my dashboard have quit working, because for a few weeks now, I can only see how much gas is in the car! No other gauges are lit up, like if I need oil, or if my car is overheating, etc. Also, I have no idea how fast I'm driving (which is usually pretty darn fast!) or anything about the RPMs.

So, I just pretty much "go with the traffic flow" and hope for the best.

Now, that is just plain silly, isn't it??!!


*Oh, and the name of that movie.....

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

 

 

 

Traffic cop checking out the situation

 

But the radio still works...clear as a bell!





* NEW THOUGHTS ON FOLLOWING MY BLISS *

Last week I had one of those moments where a thought just popped into my head and made perfect sense. I was in bed, trying to go to sleep, but my brain had other ideas...ha ha! Get it...my brain had other "ideas"!? (Sorry for the groaner, but I'm still going pretty much on lots of coffee and a lack of Zzzzs... due to working three full days and three half days last week.)

So...the thought that popped into my head was all about "following your bliss"... and isn't that what my blog and I are all about?! You've seen the following poem on my side bar:

"Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn't know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.”
-- Joseph Campbell

 

Both of my part-time jobs just happened to come along, when I wasn't even looking!

"...you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,
and doors will open..."
 
And yes, both jobs are rewarding and fun, and yes I'm following my bliss!

And then a powerful thought: Stop worrying about whether I'm writing or not writing...Enjoy where I am at this moment, and the writing will come.

~~~

 

When my friend, Robin Theiss, first told me about Joseph Campbell's quote, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I immediately felt like those words had been written especially for me. I still find it very powerful every time I read it. 

 

I hope all of you are following your bliss, but if you aren't, please give it a try.

 

Wishing you all a beautiful, blissful 2nd week of December!



 

 

A horse drawn carriage on Main Street in old St. Charles, Mo.
This was taken in December of 2009.



* YIKES, IT'S DECEMBER! *

Right now, my two part-time jobs are kickin' my butt! Yesterday when I got into my car, I had to stop and think which job I was going to and which highway I needed to get on! LOL

Actually, it's not that bad, but I'm looking forward to working only one job after this Saturday. (Have I even mentioned the two jobs? Long story as to how I came upon the second one and got hired the day of my interview, even after I was AN HOUR LATE for it!)

My posts will probably be even fewer this month, but I hope everyone knows that you're always in my thoughts. Maybe I'll just post a photo or two every now and then....

 

December 2008

... like these two wacky pictures of myself from December of 2008. Gosh, it doesn't seem that long ago!

~~~

Welcome to my newest follower, Dawn.

 

I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thanks so much.

 

P.S. - Dawn, please leave a comment with your blog or website. When I click on your photo, a link pops up for about one second and disappears before I can even click on it.

 

 

                                              ~~~

 

 

"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it's June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?" - Dr. Seuss

 

 

* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAY 8 *

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

Wow, tomorrow is Thanksgiving! How did the fourth Thursday in November arrive so fast?!

 

 

I just love these adorable pilgrim salt & pepper shakers!

They're from the grocery store, Publix, which is in the South.

My sister, Marian, sent them to me as a little gift in 2010.

 

Both of these photos are a bit blurry.
I'll have to take new pictures,
just as soon as I dig through more boxes! J

 

I was a bit melancholy the first couple of years we didn't have all of our grown kids and grandkids over for our Thanksgiving get-together. We always had our dinner the Saturday before most actual holidays, because it just made it so much better for them. No pressure and/or guilt about trying to make it to X number of houses, and X number of dinners....but this year, I am feeling much happier about going to one of their homes tomorrow! All I'm bringing is a couple of bottles of wine!

 

 

 

One of my favorite Thanksgiving/Christmas movies:

Miracle on 34th Street...the original, in black and white.

 

 

Fred: That baseball player sure looks like a giant to me.

 

Susan: Sometimes people grow very large, but that's abnormal.

 

Fred: I'll bet your mother told you that, too.

 

 

~~~

 

 

* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAY 7 *

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

 

THIS SAYS IT ALL, DOESN'T IT?

 

 

 

* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAY 6 *

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

The TV show, The Waltons, began when I was a senior in high school. I immediately loved it for several reasons:

 

I like movies and programs about past eras, particularly the 1930s through the 1960s.

 

It was about family values, love, hard work, etc.

 

I loved the way it was narrated by the "real" John-Boy, Earl Hamner, Jr., and knowing that many of the stories were true or based on true events.

 

I dreamed of having a home with lots of kids, parents, and grandparents, all living under the same roof. Since my own childhood certainly wasn't like that, I wished for something similar when I got married. Ahh, the dreams of an 18-year-old girl. Maybe that kind of life was down one of the paths in my future...until that crowbar changed everything! J

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although my family isn't as large as The Waltons', I'm very happy with the way things turned out! And I have so many friends who are like family members, and that number seems to grow all the time!

 

 

 

~~~

 

 

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of our thanksgiving." - W. T. Purkis



* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAY 5 *

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

 

Speaking of thankfulness, I was very thankful to have the day off today...and my sweet Vern allowed me to sleep realllllyyyyyy late! (after his one-quick-go-outside-come-back-in-trip at 6:00am)

 

Then I spent a mostly lazy afternoon and evening, watching some football on TV, did a couple of loads of laundry and folded towels that were still in a basket from ___ days ago! (How grateful I am to have those clothes and towels, and electricity to clean/dry them.)

 

 

I also got a few groceries (of which I'm so appreciative)... lunch type snacks to take to work, and a small pork roast, red potatoes, and frozen corn and peas. My supper will be all ready for me when I get home from work tomorrow...because it will cook in the crockpot most of the day. Yum! I can hardly wait to get back home tomorrow!  J

 

And speaking of food, combined with my countdown to Thanksgiving.....below is one of my newest sets of Salt & Pepper shakers which I purchased at a nearby Kirkland's.

 

A turkey in a roaster

Take the turkey out of the roaster,

 and voila' ...

the turkey is the Pepper

and the roaster is the Salt!

 

These are almost as small as they look. Each piece is about 2-1/2" wide. I think they're just so cute! (The least expensive items always bring me joy.)

 ~~~



Oh, I almost forgot to mention that one of my favorite "weather events" happened yesterday....snow flurries! It was so pretty coming down and obviously didn't stick since our weather has been fairly warm.

~~~

 

 

 



“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” — Cynthia Ozick



* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAYS 3 & 4 *

 

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

 

I forgot all about yesterday's post! I'm so sorry! I worked long hours, (and have the same schedule today) so I thought I better do my post now! J



 

One of my favorite coffee mugs! Harvest Blessings on one side.......



....And a scarecrow on the other!



This is the first cloche I made. (I'd never even heard of them until I saw a post on Marty's blog http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/search?q=Marty

All of these things make me think of autumn, obviously, but especially of Thanksgiving!

Have a beautiful day today/this evening.....wherever you are!

* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING - DAY 2 *

* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

 

 

I never spent Thanksgiving at my grandparents' home when I was a little girl. I'm sure it was because they lived hundreds of miles away from us and time just didn't allow it. I sometimes wished we could be there with them, and would go around our house singing the song in the You Tube video below:

 

 

 

And of course, my wishes also included the snow and the horse-drawn sleigh! 

 

 

 

 

"I suppose I will die never knowing what pumpkin pie tastes like when you have room for it." ~Robert Brault http://rbrault.blogspot.com/

 

(Ahh, my friend Robert Brault has written more amazing words of wit and wisdom than anyone else I know! His books can be purchased on Amazon.)



* MY COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING *



* Countdown to Thanksgiving *

 

 

 



It just occurred to me that I'd like to post something about Thanksgiving, beginning today and "hopefully" every day until the Big Day, November 26th. (I wrote "hopefully" because I am working a lot of hours right now, but I'm sure I can at least post something short and sweet if I'm totally worn out!) I'm not even sure yet what I'll write about, but I will be sharing a variety of thoughts and feelings. 

This morning I thought about one of my favorite movies: Planes, Trains & Automobiles. There are several parts that I love to watch over and over, and others I tend to skip through (thanks to DVDs, etc.) It's fun seeing the St. Louis airport and watching Steve Martin walking near it, and through it. Some of the quotes I laugh at the most aren't going to make it to this blog post, due to the "language," but they are hilarious!

Here's some I'd like to share (all three quotes are in totally different scenes) and if you've seen the movie, you'll definitely recognize them:

Neal: He says we're going the wrong way...
Del: Oh, he's drunk. How would he know where we're going?


State Trooper: What the hell are you driving here?
Del: We had a small fire last night, but we caught it in the nick of time.
State Trooper: Do you have any idea how fast you were going?
Del: Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it's very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going.


Del: You're in a pretty lousy mood, huh?
Neal: To say the least.
Del: You ever travel by bus before?
[Neal shakes his head]
Del: Hmm. Your mood's probably not going to improve much.

~~~

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's time again for another Nostalgic Sunday!

Those of you who've read my memoir may remember the chapter titled, "My Sister, My Mother, My Friend," which was about the death of my sister, Jo Ann in 1984, and how the death of Ray Charles in 2004 related to it.

When Jo Ann died, each of her three siblings: sister Marian, brother Mike, and I were given a few things of hers to keep. Somehow I was the one who received a large cardboard box of 33-1/3 record albums, and most of those LPs were Ray Charles records.

At that time I still had a turntable and speakers, and listened to records quite often, but hardly ever listened to any of hers. With each move Ron and I made, the box came along with us of course, and was stored in a basement or closet. As the years went by, I kept thinking I really should get a nice stereo system and play some of those LPs, to honor Jo Ann. I certainly didn't need to listen to them to think of her. No, that happened every single day.

More years went by and I even considered trying to sell some of them, but something inside me just wouldn't allow that.

Fast forward to now - November 2015. Just a couple of days ago, I noticed on a Facebook photo that one of my nephews had a cool looking stereo system and tons of LPs. Knowing his love of a widespread of music (he was in a band in Texas), I asked if he'd like to have some or all of Jo Ann's albums, as soon as I could get an inventory sent to him. Just from memory, though, I knew there were LOTS of Ray Charles albums. He is thrilled to have them, and others that I'll find when I dig through the box. I am so thrilled this all happened, and Jo Ann's records will stay in the family, and be listened to, and loved!


Postscript: I own a few Ray Charles CDs and listen to them mostly when speeding along the highway on a long trip! J



"I never wanted to be famous. I only wanted to be great." - Ray Charles

 

 

* YIKES, IT'S NOVEMBER *

As most people my age seem to say these days.....

Time is flying by way too fast.

I can't believe it's ________ ! (fill in the month)

Why can't time drag by, the way it did when we were kids?

I certainly say all those things and more. One of my favorites is:

Poster from the 1966 movie, "Stop the World. I Want to Get off."

Alas, that's not possible, and besides, if it WAS, where would I go?? I guess I'd just float around in space, and that would be awful. That wouldn't accomplish anything! So, I've learned to stop thinking (too much) about the passing of time, and just enjoy the Here and the Now as much as I possibly can.


Below are some photos I took about a week ago along the boardwalk where Vern and I go for our strolls. I'm so happy that I did, because the leaves were at their peak! Since then, it's been rainy and windy and the leaves are falling....and I love to walk through them, making crunching noises! Yes, I'm still a kid at heart!

* If you click on each photo, you'll see a much larger view.

"Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” - -  Lauren DeStefano, Wither

* A LITTLE BOOK NEWS *

Have you read any good books lately?

What are you reading now?

 

 

Although I still need to write reviews on my blog for two books I read recently: The Flying Circus, by Susan Crandall, and for Adventures of a Chilehead: A Mini-Memoir with Recipes, by Sharon Lippincott...I did leave reviews for them on Amazon. Loved them both!

I'm currently attempting to read a couple different books, which I've never been good at, especially if I'm really involved in one particular book! I'll have to decide which one to stick with for now, finish it, and then move on...

One of those books is due to having a fantastic day at Dollar Tree a week or so ago. If you're like me, you stop there for one or two particular items and end up spending more than a couple of dollars! I bought FIVE books and they all look like they'll be great reading material. I'll post more about them soon, including the titles and cover photos!

A couple of notes about my memoir, From Pigtails to Chin Hairs: A Memoir & More...

Have you heard of The Fussy Librarian? My memoir is currently highlighted on it: $3.99 for the Kindle edition.
http://www.thefussylibrarian.com/for-readers/books/size/25?GenreID=18&ContentTypeX1=1&ContentTypeX2=4&ContentTypeX3=8


I'm also having a Goodreads give-away which ends October 26 Please stop by and enter if you'd like to win one of four free paperback copies of my memoir. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/157880-from-pigtails-to-chin-hairs-a-memoir-more 

* DO YOU LIKE TO READ IN THE BATH TUB? *

found on Google on various sites



I've never been able to understand how anyone can possibly read a book while soaking in a bath tub...and actually enjoy it! I tried it a time or two, always with unfavorable results. Maybe I should point out first that I don't even LIKE to take baths. I much prefer showers.

Even if you have a "book holder," what about turning pages? Aren't your fingers wet? And after you've been reading for a while, don't you want to get out of that lukewarm, or actually COLD water??

Call me nutty, but I just can't imagine that being a comfy, relaxing way to read.

SO, when I came across the above photo, I thought to myself, I've just GOT to find someone to make one of these for me! (and for it to NOT cost a fortune!) Since I'm so short, I'm sure I would fit nicely in it!

And it would be similar to a window seat which is something I've always wanted. I remember watching a TV show or movie, many years ago, as in my childhood, where a teenage girl lounged on a window seat cushion, eating a red apple, and reading a hardcover book! (yeah, that had quite an impact on me!) So, it was one of those material things I dreamed about and longed for that never happened.

Nowadays I have a daybed near a window and that would be such a close equivalent...but for now it's one of Vern's beds! Actually, when we moved into our condo, we placed the mattress directly on the carpet, so Vern could take just one step, and voila'. Previously, he'd have to get a running start and jump up onto the bed. So, it is HIS bed until the sad time arrives when it is no longer needed.

This was taken at the townhouse, when Vern was still able to jump up onto the bed.



What about you? Baths or showers?

Reading while in one or the other? J

 

Happy Monday, everyone! Have a beautiful, blissful, "autumnly" kind of week!

* YIKES - IT'S OCTOBER! *

Wasn't it just five or six days ago that I wrote about it being September 1st ?? As I've said before, sometimes I wish I could lasso the earth and slow it down...a lot! But, since I'm not Superman or Superwoman, I guess I'll have to skip along the treadmill of life with everyone else! (I don't jog...I skip! It's much more fun.)

So if life must rush along, then I'm glad it's autumn again...my favorite time of the year, and October is my favorite month for various reasons: birthdays, football season, the St. Louis Cardinals in the playoffs! J  Go Cards!

I just love this comic strip. I think it came out in 2012 because that's when I first posted it.
Thank you, Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutts!

Below are some of my favorite quotes about autumn:

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!" - Humbert Wolfe

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." - George Eliot

 

"Listen to the trees as they sway in the wind. Their leaves are telling secrets...." -- Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration 

 

 

 

* I LOVE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES *

Yes, I love inspirational quotes, and I've definitely been in need of some new, fabulous ones. I'm thrilled to have found Twyla Tharp and to share two quotes that really knocked me out this morning...in a really good way!

~~~

“When you're in a rut, you have to question everything except your ability to get out of it.” -

Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life


“I read for growth, firmly believing that what you are today and what you will be in five years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read.”  -

 Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life            

 

~~~