* A Prayer or Two *

When most people think of the The Beatles, I doubt if "prayerful music" comes to mind. We all have our favorite songs of theirs, ranging from the very first pop/rock tunes until the final more contemplative recordings.

Somewhere in my past....maybe 15 or 20 years ago....two of those songs became prayer-like to me. The music and lyrics would pop into my mind, just when I needed them. I'd either sing out loud or only "in my head," depending on whether I was alone or not.

Those two songs are:

The Long and Winding Road

Let it Be

I've read various so-called explanations about the lyrics of these songs, and it doesn't matter to me what the "real" meaning is or isn't. I know what they mean to me and that's all that counts.

What about you? Do you have certain "prayerful" songs that aren't considered hymns?


"There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is." ~William P. Merrill

* Nostalgic Sundays *

   A beautiful Sunday in October.

"Opie. Aren't you a bit chilly in that short sleeved shirt?"

"Heck no, Aunt Bee. I'm a kid."

(The above dialogue is not from the show. They are my words.)

Why did adults always think we needed a coat or sweater just because they were cold? And how many of us do that today?  ☺

My back yard neighbor's...taken in 2009.

My front yard and street...taken in 2009.

No, the fall colors are not like this yet, but I eagerly anticipate them.

 

 

 

"Once you begin looking, you may be surprised to discover just how much joy your world has to offer." --Thomas Kinkade

* I WONDER... ABOUT ROBERT BRAULT *

It's Friday....time for another I Wonder!

 

I am extremely grateful and happy to know Robert Brault. Some of my blog friends also know Robert and his writing genius. If you think you don't know him, you've probably read one of his hundred (or thousand?) quotes, and just didn't realize who the author was. If you Google Mr. Brault, you'll see what I mean.

Not too long ago, he let us in on some BIG news. Northern Sun is publishing a 2012 wall calendar and a set of note cards, with Robert's amazing thoughts and quotes, plus some beautiful photos. Oh my goodness. Can you say, "Christmas Gifts?!"

I've already placed my online order for one calendar and one set of note cards....for now. I'll buy more, as soon as I figure out how many I need!

I Wonder: How many of his 2012 calendars, and note card sets will be purchased online  just today?

Please click on the Northern Sun link and take a look, and maybe place an order!

What would be more fitting than to close with a Robert Brault quote today??

 "I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar." -- Robert Brault

* 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.)

Welcome to my newest followers, Lani and Hensrule. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

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.

* Nostalgic Sundays *

Thoughts about Nostalgic Sunday:

When I was a young girl, Sundays meant going to Mass. Sometimes my mom made homemade donuts after we got home. That was a special treat. Other times, we had bacon and eggs, or pancakes. No plain old cold cereal on a Sunday. (We never went out to eat for breakfast! Whoever heard of such a thing?! In fact when I was really young, I'm pretty sure the only times we ate out was when we were on summer vacations, and stopped at those roadside restaurants. That, too, was special.)

Sundays meant the "funny papers" or just the "funnies." Even when I was too young to read, I still loved to lie on the floor and look at all the colorful drawings, trying to figure out what each little story was about.

Sunday evenings also meant certain TV shows: The Ed Sullivan Show. The Wonderful World of Disney. Lassie. I wasn't very old when I'd already figured out that Lassie lived with a bunch of not-too-smart humans. (Whenever our previous dog, Tiger-Gal, would bark at us because she obviously wanted something, The Ronald and I would say to her, "What is it girl? Is it Timmy? What?? He fell down the well?! OMG!")

And that brings me to the submission I sent Friday evening to Chicken Soup for the Soul. It's the humorous story about our first dog, Rocky, and his encounter with a houseplant. ☺

(I Can't Believe My Dog Did That!)

"Now, Andy, before you go traipsing around the country on any manhunt, you come along home and have dinner first." -- Aunt Bee        

* Are You Kidding Me? *

OMG! Only this minute did I see that in my Profile Photo, I look just like Maxine! (see post below) Hand on face, open mouth, and I guess she's wearing glasses??!!

Only difference is.....I'm happy 99% of the time.....and Maxine is crabby 100% of the time! 
Oh, and I need to be holding a cup of coffee!  ☺

"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day." -- Unknown

* A Waggish Wednesday *

I'm in a silly mood tonight which is usually quite common for me. It made me think of the word "waggish" which I discovered a year or so ago. I looked back through my old posts just now and noticed that not only was it one year ago, it was in the month of September! I used it for two post titles. One on the 15th of September 2010, and one on the 30th.


If you've known me for very long, you know I love it when these ♪♫ Twilight Zoney ♪♫ things happen to me. These Cosmic Sensations. These Serendipitous Happenings. You get the idea.

So, what is my waggish post for tonight. (By the way, "waggish" mean roguish in merriment and good humor, mischievous, merry, droll, comical, and funny.....Pretty much describes me!)

Uh...maybe THIS is why I'm feeling so kooky tonight!

I'm feeling good because I'm writing. Last night I submitted a short-short fictional story for a contest.

AND I'm writing a story for "Chicken Soup for the Soul; I Can't Believe My Dog Did That!" I'm working on a humorous story I began some time ago. It's about our first dog, Rocky. I don't have any digital photos of him, but he looked very similar to Tiger Gal. I would be thrilled, obviously, if the story was accepted for publication!

Welcome to my newest follower, Kelley. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!


"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja-vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before." Steven Wright

* Gratitude - Optimism - Bliss *

Tons of things are going on in my life these days. Most are wonderful. Some...not so much. But because I stay optimistic 99% of the time, that's how I manage to feel when I fall asleep at night. Optimistic. Blissful. Grateful.

As I dug through mountains of papers in my office this afternoon, I found a page I had torn out of Country Living magazine last November. I loved the display of white dishes, blue and white patterned dishes, and tiny white pumpkins. I'll share the beautiful quote below that appeared on that page.

Welcome to my newest follower, Andrea. I hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! Thank you!

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life...It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." -- Melody Beattie