* CLAUDIA LOST HER BATTLE *

A very dear friend of ours, Claudia Mundell, lost her fight with cancer earlier today.

http://claudiapage-bookie.blogspot.com/

She and I "met" through blogging and shared lots of things in common: writing, tea cups and tea pots, doilies, wind chimes, enjoying time out on the deck, and our canine companions. We actually met in person one evening in one of those serendipitous ways! Claudia, you will be missed by so many, but at least your writing lives on for all to enjoy.

I've been told there will be no services, which makes me sad, but that must've been Claudia's wishes.

I don't know if anyone has her blog password, so for now, the last post on it is from July 12.

In the days to come, I hope to post more things about Claudia, but for now, just wanted to get the word out. 

* You can type Claudia in the "Search this blog" box on the right column, directly below my memoir cover, and see more posts about this lovely woman. *

The link below will take you to the post I wrote past May, right after I learned about Claudia's cancer.

http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2016/05/our-dear-friend-claudiaaka-bookie.html

* WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY *



The Ronald realized a long time ago that I am very easy to please, which is something I'd already known for years! We talk about it off and on in an abstract kind of way; wondering why some people behave the way they do.

 

Are we just born with certain traits or do we learn them? What exactly do we inherit from our parents and other ancestors?

 

I like to believe that my way of looking at life is a combination: I was born with some happy characteristics and I also learned by example. In my very young years, I was a bliss child. There was lots of happiness and smiles, laughter and love, and a general feeling of security and contentment in my home.

 

Taking these photos gave me great joy which continues every time I look at them.

 

I took this yesterday while driving to my chiropractor's office.

This is in his parking lot.

There were tons of gorgeous clouds, but I just couldn't get the right views.

So many were big, fluffy cotton-ball-like .....

and others were dark.

 

My old shell chimes hanging under our patio umbrella.

 

 

Vern lifting his paw. See him smiling at me!

Vern and his water cup at Sonic.

 

I took him there for an ice cream treat because

he had a traumatic time getting his nails clipped. Aww...

 

Double rainbow!

 

This one was taken from inside my car.

 

This one from outside my car.

I wanted to show how high the rainbow was

when it began to curve.

 

 * Click on the photos for a larger view. *

* P.S. June 25th: Susan, at Writing Straight from the Heart, surprised me by posting her interview with me! Please stop by if you're not tired of reading about my memoir.There's also a photo of Vern, so that's a perk! :)

 

It also gives me pleasure to smile and offer my help to others. So many people go through life in a kind of fog, and don't even notice the beauty around them. Am I saying that I'm always cheerful and exuberant? Gosh, no! But, how about 90% of the time? I'd say Yes!

 

 

 

"There is a voice in the Universe urging us to remember our purpose for being on this great Earth. This is the voice of inspiration, which is within each and every one of us." -- Dr. Wayne Dyer

* NOSTALGIC SUNDAY *

It's Time for Another Nostalgic Sunday!

(With a bit of a repeat post)

I first posted the following on Sept 28, 2011. Only one day away from exactly two years ago! How's that for Cosmic Karma?! I'm sharing it again today because of the symbolism of keys and doorknobs opening the way to success. And, because I also love wind chimes, which many of you are already aware of. 

(Did you know that if you're reading a Blogspot blog, you can search for archive blog posts in several ways? If you want to zero in on a certain word, such as....chimes....the easiest is to just type the word in the small search area in the upper left hand corner. All blog posts with that word will appear.)

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

* Doors Open & Keys Turn *

I've collected a few things over the years and shared an item or two on my blog. Somewhere along this journey of mine I became very interested in decorative doorknobs and vintage-looking keys.

When I began this collection, the idea of them having a deep meaning never entered my mind, until just recently. Ahhh.....doorknobs open doors (to success) and keys turn the locks (to success.)

And didn't you just love Aunt Clara on the TV show, Bewitched?? 

Aunt Clara: Wouldn't you like to see my doorknob collection?
Phyllis Stephens: I beg your pardon?
Samantha Stephens: Aunt Clara collects doorknobs.
Aunt Clara: I have three thousand.

Part Two

I'm still unpacking and sorting and deciding what goes where, and I just came across another decorative, antique looking, key-door-latch thingy that I bought last year! So, I took a couple of hurried photos to add here.

Can you see the tag is still on the back? It will definitely be in my office/guest room, along with the others....if there's room!

I took this picture in a store a few weeks ago! (It wasn't on sale, so I didn't buy it, but I needed to remember what it looked like...and where I saw it!) Could it be any more perfect?? Chimes, a doorknob, and keys!!

Wishing all of you a wonderful, blissful week. Find your own keys to open the doors and windows in your life.

~~~~~

"Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel, by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt, or fear." -- Dan Millman

"Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person we become." -- Jim Rohn

 "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." -- Anonymous

** A Wondrous, Waggish Thursday **

Today was a glorious day. I sat on our deck for a few brief moments in the warm, bright afternoon sun. Tiger had wanted to go out and so I joined her, thinking it would be good to soak up a little Vitamin D. After running around the yard and rolling in the grass, she stretched out on our back driveway and watched the world go by. I swear, just about every single thing that dog does, makes me smile or laugh.

(This obviously isn't an outdoor photo, but this is what Tiger did outside in the grass today!)

The wind rustled the leaves, still green and clinging to the tall tree limbs. The chimes swayed and tingled, making me smile all the more. What a wonderful life, I thought to myself.

After going back inside the house, I decided to take a couple of pictures of the chimes, right through the screen window in the kitchen. This window is right over my kitchen sink and I've written before about how much I enjoy seeing and listening to the chimes, and the birds or squirrels, and the beautiful trees.

Notice the "action" photo I got on this one! The movement of the weight & chimes, swaying in the wind!

You can also see part of our back driveway I mentioned. The brownish grass is on a large, steep hill that goes up into the corner of our yard. Not enough rain and too much heat this summer!

All of the fencing and trees that are shown are not ours...they belong to our neighbors behind us. We live at the end of a cul-de-sac, which means we have a pie-shaped yard: tiny front yard, but very large back yard. In this picture, I was trying to get more of the trees, which I did, but I missed the weight hanging at the end of the chimes! Oh well...you all know that it's there! As you can probably see, some of the trees are evergreens, and the others turn the most beautiful shades of yellow, gold, red, and orange. Every autumn, I take pictures of them, and I'll be sure to post some of those when the time comes.  

Also, I'd like to say Thank You and Welcome to my 3 newest followers: Colie's Kitchen, Dave, and L.E. Neighbour! Please feel free to comment anytime you wish!

"Happiness is an attitude.  We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong.  The amount of work is the same."  ~Francesca Reigler