Thursday, October 10, 2024

A BAKE SALE AND CRAFT FAIR

 It's great to be back! I hope I can maintain the energy! Ha! 


I'll have a table this Saturday, at a local bake sale and craft fair, selling my memoir and a few Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I'm really looking forward to it. It's sure to be fun, even if I don't sell many books. 😊

If anyone reading this lives near me, let me know and I'll send you the address and information. Please stop by! There's sure to be tons of yummy baked items. 😍


I'll be back sometime soon! 

(old photo!)


(old photo!)


(Current photo. Sheesh, I got old! LOL)


Thursday, September 26, 2024

IT'S AUTUMN - MY FAVORITE SEASON

 Hello there! Is anybody out there?! Yes, it's me. (or is it I?)

I'm attempting to start blogging again....

To Be Continued...


"Yelling really loud can sometimes ease tension…and sometimes it makes everyone else in the library jump out of their skin." – Maxine


Thank you Mevely and Jeanie for your comments! (I also okayed a comment from Sandie, but it's not showing up...)






Thursday, September 15, 2022

* IT'S SO GOOD TO BE BACK*

Once again, I am stunned about how long it's been since I blogged.

 No excuses this time...just that I hope to post more often.

 ~~~~~

I'm happy to say that life is so much better again and not because anything extraordinary happened, but because I remembered how to...

 

Bloom Where I Am Planted!  


And I really love it when blooming includes fruit and chocolate! 



I do believe in myself.




I'm back to my old wacky self...and I DO mean OLD! 😊



                            And autumn is coming soon...my favorite season! 


 Oh, one more thing. I am thrilled to say my friend (living intentionally) 
and I are meeting for lunch next Wednesday! I'm looking so forward to it!

(I have no idea why my paragraphs aren't following my orders to post properly. 
If anyone has answers, pleat let me know!)



 

Thursday, June 23, 2022

* I Haven't Been Here in Two Months! *

I am alive. Just been lazy about any kind of writing, including blogging, and just kind of depressed. 

As I read my previous post, I must confess that I haven't done anything about "living intentionally". But it did at least remind me to email my friend about lunch. 

I've been down lately. Our world is in such chaos. 

My country's leader is incompetent.

My beloved vehicle, a 2009 Equinox just shot craps and we'll have to sell it for parts. We only had about 6 more months until it was paid off. 

I want peace and harmony, the kind I can only find in my dreams...

I know that so many others have a terrible life and I feel guilty for being sad and depressed, but right now that doesn't help.

I DO have some happy news to share. Sometime after my previous post,

Ron and I adopted this sweet Beagle! His name is Spark and we call him Spark, plus Sparky, Sparkle, AND sometimes we forget and call him Charlie! 😊



Isn't he beautiful? He's only 2 years old, which is very different for us. We were going to adopt another senior dog, but this guy came to our attention, and we couldn't say no! (He reminds us so much of Charlie, and I have trouble not calling him Charlie! Spark is all beagle and Charlie was a beagle/mix.)

That's another long story, so I'll save it for another day. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

  • From the 1998 movie:  Pleasantville [almost at the end of the movie]

  • (David's mom) I used to think, "This was it. This is the way it was always going to be. I had the right house. I had the right car. I had the right life.""
  •  (David) "There is no right house. There is no right car."
  • (David's Mom) "God, my face must be a mess." [she had been crying]
  • (David) "It looks great."
  • (David's Mom) "Honey, it's really sweet of you, but I'm sure it does not look "great.""
  • (David)  "Sure it does. Come here."
  • (David's Mom)  "I'm 40 years old. I mean, it's not supposed to be like this."
  • (David)  "It's not supposed to be anything. Hold still."
  • (David's Mom)  "How'd you get so smart all of a sudden?"
  • (David) "I had a good day."
  •  ~~~~~~~~~~~

  • When I first saw this movie and ever since then, those lines made me stop and think about MY life, because many times it was up-and-down, and I'd think practically the same words as David's mom. This isn't how I saw my life years ago.
  • Why did these things have to happen the wrong way, and/or why didn't other things go the right way?
* Note: One very happy item to share. Our youngest son, Mark, is coming home Sunday, the 26th to visit for a couple of weeks. Wish he could stay a lot longer, but I'm grateful to see him at all. 😊

Saturday, April 2, 2022

* LIVING INTENTIONALY *

I posted this on my Facebook page earlier today 
and wanted to also share it with my blog friends. 

 I met a lovely woman almost 20 years ago, and although we haven't actually been in each other's company very often, when we do email each other it's usually because of serendipity: "I was JUST thinking of you!"

When we met, I didn't think we had anything in common, and yet we have that connection that I haven't had with many people in my life, and that's why it's so special.
We've emailed about getting together for lunch for about two years, and because of Covid and other responsibilities, it still hasn't happened.
In her latest reply, she wrote: "Let us please try to be intentional about getting together this spring/summer!"
When I first read it, that word "intentional" just sounded "nice." But after reading it a few more times, I looked up different meanings for it, and came across "intentional living," and websites and blogs all pertaining to living an intentional life. Although I'm happy 99% of the time, I'm also living by "habit", not by intention.
I'm so happy this happened to me today. Please send good vibes to me that I can begin this journey.




Thursday, March 31, 2022

* SPRING - WINTER - SPRING - WINTER *

Today was a cold and dreary day, which is how the entire month of March always seems to be. As the title of this blog post says, we've had crazy weather which seems to be normal for most of the country/world. 

I love hearing the birds chirping in the mornings. That is one of the things that brings me joy. I also love to hear wind chimes, as long as they're not banging too much, as in a horrible wind storm. 

Tomorrow is April 1st. My husband always used to try to play tricks on his teenage sons. It worked for a few years, but then they got wise to him, and the jokes were gone. (He never tricked me with any of his wild stories. I knew him too well.)

I'm looking forward to long days of sunshine, warmer temperatures, the feeling of warm breezes, and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. 

Below are random photos I came across this evening, that have been posted on my blog over the years.  


I liked the way the sun and shadows looked
 on the wall and the items on the table. 

This was our living room in what we refer to now as 
"The Big House". 



A cute set of salt & pepper shakers.  

 
 
(I haven't unpacked my collection yet, 
because I have boxes left to unpack!) 



Four friends from grade school and Girl Scouts! 

Cheri, Barb, Becky & Christy


 

"The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but the long and winding road has the better soundtrack." -- Robert Brault



Friday, February 11, 2022

* IT'S OUR ANNIVERSARY! *

Today is our wedding anniversary ... our 39th.

What? How can that be possible? 
It seems like 20 years ago, 
and yet in reality it's almost twice as long as that!

Ron bought me red roses, which was a wonderful surprise! 
He's certainly gotten me flowers before, 
roses, carnations, etc. but it still was a surprise.


My eye surgery was this past Monday, Feb 7th. 
It took longer than the first one on my other eye
a few years ago, but that was explained to me up front.

I go back Monday, Feb 14th for my post-op check up.
My vision is still a little "off" which was also explained. 
My eye is supposed to "relax" soon 
and my vision to be back to normal. 

I certainly hope I'll be able to see well enough
 to go back to my part-time job sometime soon. 
I'm getting a bit bored. 😀

~~~~

“A woman of vision may have lost her eyesight, but she can see afar; because through her mind, she conceives far beyond what eyes can see.”

― Gift Gugu Mona, Woman of Virtue:


Friday, January 21, 2022

Brrr, It's Cold Outside

 It's Friday night and half the country is freezing! Our temps have been up and down and crazy, but I think our coldest was this morning. The weather icon on my cell phone said 1 Fahrenheit !!

Just one little tidbit of news. My presentation for last Tuesday, the 18th, at the library was canceled due to Covid! It's a fairly small library and too many of the employees were out sick. They hope to be able to reschedule.

I hope to write another blog post soon. 

Bye for now. Stay warm if it's cold where you are. Stay cool if it's hot where you are. And stay safe and well!


“Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people's legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world.” – Sarah Addison Allen, "The Sugar Queen"

 

   

Monday, January 10, 2022

* IT'S JANUARY 10, 2022 & STILL NO SNOW! *


1) Have I mentioned I have double vision again like I did a few years ago? And did I actually tell y'all then that I had double vision??

It started for no reason (just as before), but this is different because sometimes I can see if holding my head a certain way. Last time that wasn't the case.

I got to the point recently where I didn't feel safe driving, and my neck hurt from bending it a certain way. It's a good thing I only work two days a week now, because Ron drives me to work, and picks me up to come home. (it's about 45 miles each way.)

I will have surgery (like last time) to correct the problem and I wish it was right away, but I still have an appointment for another consultation on January 24, with the surgeon. 

2) I had been scheduled to speak at our local library since before I developed the double vision...and it's next week - January 18th! I explained to the woman in charge about it and she is going to help in any way she can. I can read okay if I look straight ahead, and I intend to look at the people most of the time.

I was asked to speak because of the recent Chicken Soup for the Soul book I have a story in. The attendees will be seated at tables, and the woman in charge is bringing a crockpot of chicken soup. What a fabulous idea! 

I'm also going to have a raffle for copies of the book, and also my memoir. 

I'm looking forward to a (I hope) fun evening. I've never been nervous to speak to people before, so I hope this goes smoothly.



"Yelling really loud can sometimes ease tension…and sometimes it makes everyone else in the library jump out of their skin." – Maxine      Gotta love that Maxine!


Sunday, December 5, 2021

* OKAY, IT'S DECEMBER AND I CHANGED MY BACKGROUND! *

I'm beginning to feel Christmasy, and I hope I continue to do so. 

Soon, I'm going to make cut-out Christmas cookies, which I haven't done since around 2013. I'll post photos when I do. Probably next weekend.

We've had such warm temperatures, it doesn't feel like December, so baking cookies should keep me feeling Christmasy!

I hope everyone is well. We've been doing pretty good. 

Bye for now! 


May the blessings of Christmas fill your life today 
and through the coming years.


Tuesday, November 23, 2021

* WHAT? NOW IT'S ALMOST THANKSGIVING!

 I apologize for not posting anything since October 5th! 

All I can offer for a reason is just being too busy.

Below are just a few of my favorite Thanksgiving Day images. 


Drawn by Mary Engelbreit
A wonderful local artist who is known world-wide.

~~~~~~~


Some of you might remember my Nostalgic Sunday posts. 
I'm adding this to my Thanksgiving post because I love 
everything about Mayberry, and I'm picturing them 
having turkey dinner here!

~~~~~~~


My favorite plate of my Four Freedoms collection. 

No words needed!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

(I'm thankful for my friends.)


Tuesday, October 5, 2021

WHAT? IT'S OCTOBER ALREADY? IT'S AUTUMN...MY FAVORITE SEASON?

 Hey everyone! I honestly can't believe the last time I posted anything here was July! 

I'm fine. My family is fine. Work is fine. Green Kitty is fine. 

My excuse for not posting is the usual...been working a lot and tired (therefore sleeping!) a lot. 


I must share some of my favorite fall pictures and quotes below. 

These pictures are all pretty old and you've probably seen them before, but aren't they pretty?












Well, this is all for now. I hope all of you are safe, healthy, happy, and enjoying where you are in life!

Sunday, July 18, 2021

* GREEN KITTY EXPLANATION *

Okay...here is the explanation about Green Kitty's name! (At that time, various stray cats were coming to our front porch to eat food we put out for them, and some of them liked it so much they hung around a lot.) The other cats/kitties that visited much be feral cats because they've never let us get very close to them. We have a new little family that we're trying to get close and pet them, because they are adorable and we'd love for them to be adopted.)

Ron and I gave all the stray kitties various names so we'd know who was who! The guy below is Green Kitty. Then there was White Socks because he was mostly all black except for white on all four legs, that looked like socks. 

Also, grey striped kitty.

Black and White kitty.

Etc.

Another visitor! We call this guy Green Kitty, because of his tiny green collar with a tiny bell. We found out he had an owner who moved away...and just left him!


This was taken in April. We took him in soon after that.
He is so much fun! Ron and I are amazed we have a kitten in our house

Oh, and we bought him a new green collar !

P.S. So, this is why I mentioned to Stephen T. that he would never guess about the name! :)

Monday, July 12, 2021

More Fun at Barnes & Noble

I don't think I've written about "Green Kitty" on my blog. I've been spending too much time on Facebook again. I swear, I need to set a timer and when it goes off...so does Facebook!

There's so much news to share about this beautiful black kitty. I'm sure everyone is already thinking...Why is his name Green Kitty when he is obviously not green! May I just say for now, that it's kind of a long story, but I need to get back to my actual writing I'm doing! Yes, working on memoir sequel and stories for submissions to various places!!

I just had to buy this coffee mug at B&N because....well LOOK! Our kitty is this one's twin!

More to come soon, but I really have to do other stuff right now! 





Sunday, July 11, 2021

Chicken Soup for the Soul - At Barnes & Noble

I stopped by the Barnes & Noble in St Peters, Missouri on the way home from work Thursday. My friend, Jo still works there part-time. That's where we met a "few" years ago.


I worked during November and December and spent more than I earned! (I really don't remember what year that was. I think Mark was in high school!)

Thursday, May 13, 2021

* The Books are Here. The Books are Here! *

My Chicken Soup for the Soul books arrived yesterday! Ron took some pics of me, and most of them weren't too awful. (I usually hate the way I look in pictures!)



This particular book would be a perfect gift for just about anyone. A belated Mother's Day gift, a birthday, graduation, a gift to yourself, etc. It's available online and in book stores. 

Next week, someone from my local newspaper is going to interview me for an article next month. I'm still waiting to hear from a few other people, too. 

Thursday, April 22, 2021

* IF IT'S THURSDAY, MY WEEKEND IS ALMOST HERE ! *

 Hello All ~

I'm still working 4 days a week & driving that long commute, but I really do love my job, so it's worth it. 

Just stopping in to say Hello and I miss writing blog posts, reading blog posts, and staying up past 8:00 at night! Ha ha!

I AM writing again though, too, which feels so good! 

Sending y'all hugs and hope everyone is well. 


Saturday, March 13, 2021

* Something New & Exiting From Chicken Soup for The Soul *

Chicken Soup for the Soul is publishing a special book "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Read, Laugh, Repeat" on May 4th as a fundraiser for nonprofits that provide love and laughter to patients in hospitals and hospice, from the very young to the very old.

My story, “A Bittersweet Victory” was chosen to go in the book!
(They have chosen various humorous stories, by various writers that have already been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. My story was included in "The Dog Really Did That?" from 2017)

It will be featured at Walmart (in the US and Canada), Target, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and many other booksellers. 🙂

* I will share more information as I get it! *

And oh my gosh, the cover definitely made me laugh! I love it!


https://www.chickensoup.com/files/book_cover_art/cover_art_236119.jpg




I am so proud to be part of this special publication!

Sunday, February 28, 2021

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday.



If you're like me, you're probably hoping life will get back to normal sometime soon. 
(And as Forrest Gump would say, "That's all I have to say about that.")


Today I'm going to post just a couple of my favorite quotes. 
I love all kinds, especially depending on what mood I'm in. 

Some make me pause and ponder. 

Some make me smile within my soul. 
&
Some move me to tears, while others make me laugh. 


"Back on its golden hinges, the gate of memory swings. And my heart goes into the garden and walks with the olden things." -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox


"All those who believe in psychokinesis - raise my hand." -- Steven Wright


“Each of us is a book waiting to be written, and that book, if written, results in a person explained.” -- Thomas M. Cirignano


"The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but the long and winding road has the better soundtrack." -- Robert Brault


"We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are." -- Anais Nin


I hope you enjoyed them, and I'll see you next week!

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

* I'M ALIVE AND WELL - HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY *

I can't believe it's February 2021 and in a few hours, it will be Groundhog Day! I've posted before about the movie, with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. I just love this movie for so many reasons. Bill Murray's character is such a jerk in the first half or so of the movie, and then a transformation comes over him...because of what/who? Have you seen the movie? I've seen it a zillion times and it never gets old. 


HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!

"Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties
 'cause it's cold out there today."



"Hey now, don't you tell me you don't remember me 'cause
 I sure as heckfire remember you."



"NEEDLE-NOSE NED?...NED RYERSON?" ..... "BING!"




"IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! ..... LET'S LIVE HERE!"


(photos courtesy imdb.com and archive.dailypicture.net)

"Love is the answer. Shine on us all. Set us free. Love is the answer." -- EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

(P.S. I know this song is not used in the movie, 
but I love the music and lyrics, and it's perfect for the ending. 
Bill Murray's character is finally set free....when he realized love was the answer.)