Back Again

He doesn't  get mad, he gets even.

Now to see and hear the courage of their convictions . . .the American people have spoken.

Something to remember to do every day. 

I had written a few words but they all sounded like such a waste.  I deleted them and will try again.  We all know what is going on and we all know we have to be a small part of helping to make things right again.    It is going to be a new and a long year so wake up and smell the coffee as the old adage says.  Pay attention to what is happening and do what  you can to help make things right.

I have a few chosen words for those spam makers who keep trying to get into the computer. . .to do what?   I don't have anything that would do them any good.    What do they get out of trying to 'screw up' your computer.   There is no profit in it.  There is no fun in it .  There is a strange mind set  out there who have nothing to do with their time.   Wish they would get a life.

I am off to make my coffee, fix myself some breakfast and decide what I want to do with my day.  So, I'll let  you go and decide what you want to do with your day .   I think a down day is in order so we can regroup and get ready for Christmas.   the music swells, the ornaments are waiting to be hung on a tree, if you can find out where you stored them.    the 'makings' to buy, baking to be done. . . yep, today is a day to rest as you probably wont have much rest time in your immediate future.  And, come to think of it , that isn't all bad.    

Make your list , check it twice and be very good to those who were naughty but nice.    Put a lilt in your voice and sing out loud.   It brings out the best in YOU.   Hugs to all.

     

ICELAND

I didn't know there were sea stacks in Iceland.  Aren't they different, strange and eerie.

Even the trees are different.   

Baby its' cold outside.

A weekend.  The turkey and trimmings have been put to rest and now that Black Friday is over  we can settle down and start thinking of that  list of folks we want  to gift, hopefully with homemade trinket s and goodies to make them smile.  My first priority is daughter Christine who has a  December birthday . . . not smart planning on my part, but then who does plan those things.   This year she is going to get a fun box, something to make her smile.   Pat and I have been working on it so this week we can wrap and send.   Somewhere I have wrapping paper, but where?   I'll start with the garage and the Christmas ornament  boxes . . . yep. . . time to think about decorating.   Wonder if I sold the Christmas tree with its lights at the last  yard sale.  I think I did.  I sold off some ornaments as well;  um. . . should be interesting to see if I did save any thing.   Well, I'm downsizing and anything that can go will go.  So I have my work cut out for me today.   I hope you have work cut out for you to do today.   I hope you find where  you put all your Christmas things and have fun decorating your home.   Get busy , make it beautiful and do keep Christ in Christmas.    

In case you haven't noticed the Christmas music is filling the airways.   My little radio is blasting the old tunes and I am humming away.   I still have the "the weather outside is frightful, . . .let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, going through my mind.   I don't think the folks in upper state New York or the folks without power would agree, but the tune is fun and the first snow fall beautiful.  Watch out for the little ones and high snow banks.  That was quite a scare for those two youngsters that got buried in a snow bank.   So thankful it was not a disaster.   We have rain storms coming in with gray skies of every shade, even a little patch of white so we will see what the day will bring.    I may have to shop for a small tree.  

Go, be good, be YOU. . . the hug in motion . . . the one who lights up a room . . .  the one who knows  how to make your world a better place.    Hugs to all.

Burp!!

To depict Black Friday.   Are you up before the birds to go Christmas shopping this morning?   

A good thing or most of us would get lost trying to find the way.

Crab Season is about to begin.    YUM!!!

 

Serenity at its best.   

Black Friday;  what a name?  what a game!   what a shame!    So the merchants mark their products up one hundred percent, mark an item or two down ten or twenty percent and expect you to buy 'made in China' at a fabulous bargain . . . quality before quantity . . .choose wisely as you remember to keep Christ in Christmas.  

Be good, be kind, be sensible.    Give you body a chance to regroup from your Thanksgiving Day feast.  I hope you enjoyed Macy's parade. It was spectacular.  As Angie said on her Facebook, you got to see some of the Broadway shows that you would never ,otherwise, get to see.   Speaking of seeing, Pat and Erin brought over a film called "Maleficent" , quite the fairy tale, put it on your list.  Strange, eerie and entertaining.   Our little turkey was done before we knew it and delicious.   There must be at least three pounds hanging around to work off this week.   I wonder if a turkey leg is a tasty breakfast food. . .think I will go find out .   Coffee is on and I'm almost awake.

Go . . . make today special, just like YOU.     Hugs to  all.

Thanksgiving Day

MAY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU HAVE A DAY OF PEACE, TRANQUILITY AND  LOVE SHARED WITH THOSE YOU LOVE.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Be good, be kind, be gentle, be a spirit of love today.  Share the left overs with the home bound and don't forget the hugs.
hugs to all.

More of the Amazon Forest

Colorful birds amazing 'she' is talking and 'he' is listening.  Wonder what he did.

and 'the river runs through it' . . . 

a contrast  of color.

Birds of a feather. . . bet they are tasty.

Probably beautiful but I just  am afraid of a garden snake, imagine what I would do if I met up with this one.  

I enjoyed the attachment that came in showing the flora and fauna, the birds and the scenes of the Amazon Forest.  I hope you did too.    

Our celebration of granddaughter Erin's birthday was delightful.   The restaurant  is decorated for Christmas with hundreds of streamers of lights of every color and garlands attached to the ceiling.  Santa sits in a corner of the entrance to meet and greet you when you walk in the door.   We were early birds so had the choice of tables.  It was hard to choose from the menu as the food is excellent and each entrees tempting.    The ribs are always excellent but so are the fish dishes or the steaks.   Patrica and I had a glass of Merlot while Erin chose a hot chocolate drink in a huge cup that was filled with a hidden mixture of spirits and topped with creme.  Yes, we tasted it and it was delicious , just a little too sweet for me.   They serve a salad in a bowl that would feed at least two people.   Pat and Erin went for the shared plan.  For a couple of extra dollars  you can order whatever pleases your fancy and you share the fish or the meat and each gets a salad, a baked potato or other choice, and a vegetable.  It works out so much better than having a huge plate and asking for a doggy bag.   I , of course, had the ribs and I must say they were mouth watering.  Erin was presented with a large piece of lemon cake with a candle in its center and three forks.  Well, she couldn't eat all that desert by herself.  

I am off to have my coffee and wake up.  There is work to be done.   Be good, be kind, be generous, but most of all be loving.    A smile, a hug, a kiss goes a long way in making your day bright and beautiful.   For those of  you in stormy weather, go carefully.   We had a colorful beautiful awesome sky last evening, which may mean sunshine and warmth today.    Don't forget  one good deed.  Hugs to all.

Rare beauties

The Bird of Paradise;  My favorite flower.    Exotic, different, full of mystery.

Birds in far away  places have a beauty all of their own.   I love to receive attachments , which I can share, so you can enjoy the wonders of the strange and the exotic.    The pictures are of the Amazon Forest and there are more to share tomorrow.  Thanks to the wonderful photographers who wander the world and take time to share their  amazing talent , catching the sights and sounds of the far away places in our earth.   

A day closer to Thanksgiving and a reminder to count our blessings.   I am off to shop today.  Erin is home and our world brightens.   I have apples to buy as I promised her an hot apple turnover from the oven.    A late birthday present and a tasty one.   One of my favorite deserts.  Um. . .come to think of it, I have several favorite deserts, and I bet you do too.  Get busy and make your favorites as the family and friends will be ready to devour every crumb.

I wish my family were going to be here but the weather is going to be nasty and travel is going to be horrendous be it by car or plane.    John and Jo are cooking in.   Christine may join a friend and have dinner out.   Mike is chipping ice and feeding the horses up their on the horse ranch in Nevada.   So it is going to be a quiet  holiday for all of  us.   I would much rather have them safe than have them on the road fighting to get here for a day or two.   We have decided May will be our celebration month and everyone will come and we will make up for lost time.  

The coffee is ready, and so am I.   I am off to enjoy it.    Wake up and smell the coffee at your house.    Put a smile on  your face and get ready for a new day.   Make those seconds count.   Don't forget your good deed for the day.   Don't pass up a chance to feed the little kettles around town.   Be wise, be smart and be careful.    Hugs to all.

AAH!! It's Monday

Nevada had some beautiful double rainbows as well.    Mike Amacher sent this picture via Facebook and it is a 'show stopper'..  I can just imagine the valley and the Sierras off in the background.   Yes, I miss beautiful Nevada.  Thanks Mike, you have a winner on your hands.

Even the leaves know the symbol of love.  One of my favorite kind of picture as  you can see so many wonders within.  Fascinating and so full of wonder.  Can you see the tiny bird leaving the nest; a beautiful butterfly on the stem of a leaf; a horse with a white mane; God's name written on the leaf;  a lovely dancer; an angel, a rose  and a tiny animal, maybe it is a mouse in the the house.   A great photographer I cannot give credit to; but I am thankful for the chance to escape to the wonders of his photograph.

Monday all day, the start of a new week and a busy week ahead as Thursday is Thanksgiving.   A day to share with family and friends .  Worry about the waist line after the holidays.  The holiday is much more important so indulge to bulge.  The First of the New Year you can go on the annual start of a diet and be good for at least a day or two.   There is much to do, so it is time to make that list and go shopping.    Don't even think of perfection;  just go with the flow and relax and put on your brightest and best smile from your eyes, greet your guests with a walk in hug then sit back and enjoy every moment of your holiday.   No talk of politics or religion;  no family quarreling;  no 'besting' one another.  Put some love and life into the meaning of Thanksgiving.   Don't forget patience is a virtue.  Hugs to all.

Good To Know!!

I'll have to put marhmallows on my shopping list.  At this time of year we never know when a sore throat  looms.

For those of you with cars, think of the extra mile you can get out of a little more gas.

I haven't tried this one.  Good to know when those expensive flowers arrive from your special admirer.

Wish I had known about this a long time back.  It would have saved a lot of pain digging around for the illusive splinter. 

Now this I am going to try .

Good to know.   Will I remember when I have an upset stomach?   Guess I'll make a copy and pin it on the refrigerator door.

We can always use a hint or two and Life Hacks attachment had a few I had not  seen before so thought I'd share them this morning.   I love to learn something new every day.    Think of the money I could have saved buying all those ant spray deals when I could have put some salt in water and sprayed....live and learn.    

Sunday morning, cold this morning as the heat is kicking on.   Granddaughter Erin's birthday and she will be here tomorrow so we can help her celebrate.  We are hoping for a break in the weather so she has clear dry roads to travel on.   I better shop for some green apples today and get that apple pie ready.  One of her favorite deserts.   

I keep setting my moving time back , mostly because I am not ready.  There is so much to do when down sizing and it is a slower process than I thought.   I figured I'd look around , decide what I want to keep and what I want to discard but that is much easier said than done.   I have to organize, plan and then decide as there is a bit of history in the possessions we collect.  We start out with making a house a home and that means that you surround  yourself with 'things' you love.   I am a book and picture person so choosing favorites is far from easy.   I have already put some pictures in yard sales and miss each one I gave u p.  There is a  place on the wall that seems empty.   Yet I have enough pictures to share with each of you if you were close by.    I hung a few different ones in the living room and show off Erin's beautiful colorful photographs which are poster size and very bright and colorful.   They add  so much to the bare wall.   I even have a painting of Hawaiian flowers I did some thirty years ago and it could stand a new frame.   So there was an apartment ready for the first of the year but not for me...I can't see moving up into snow country in the beginning of winter.    Maybe I'll be ready by summer when the weather is better.  You know what happens when you decide to give up books.  You reach for one, check the title, open the book and start to read;  wonder how long it will take me to get through all of my books.   Speaking of books "Valley Haven" is about to be introduced on Amazon.   I am anxious to get a peek at the hard copy but have to wait until the first week of December.   It may be  my last novel;  but then . . . . smile.

Enjoy your Sunday.    Take a ride out and look for rainbows if you have 'weather' in your area that blends the clouds and moisture to make the beauty of nature come alive.    A good deed, a happy face, an invitation out makes for a good day.  Go, see what  you can do to make someone smile today.  Hugs to all.

Winter Thoughts

Nevada Folks are some of the best.   They love  to share.    Hopefully  there are many more open doors for those that can  use a good hot nutritious meal.   

Napa Valley 

Sedona, Arizona

San Juan Island

Three beautiful places to run away to if you have the time, the money and the inclination to run away from the cold, the snow, the icy winds of the beginning of winter.    Think of those poor folks up in upper state New York with seven feet of snow . . . now that is some storm and only the beginning of the winter season.    It is the time of year we think of running off to someplace that is warm and toasty.   A good thought but not practical for most of us.   February comes to mind, by then you are more than ready to run away.  Daughter Patricia and I talk about it every year but are usually much to broke after Christmas spending to go much further than the corner of our street.  The thought is good though and it always helps to look at the pictures of far away places where the sun is shining and the temperature is perfect.  Dreams and dreamers;  the necessary elements to get through the winter storms.  Lucky it is holiday time and the mood changes and we all get much too busy to think about anything but spreading a little cheer right here at home, and basking in the heat of our kitchens.

The weekend is here, time to shop for our upcoming feast and plan the time for baking.   One apple pie this year as Erin is bringing up her special birthday cake to share with her mother and I.   It is a special cake made in a bakery down in the San Francisco area, creamy, fattening and delicious.   So we have much to look forward to.   I hope that you do too.   Stay warm, healthy and happy.    Don't forget to think of others as the need is always there.   One good deed, not too much to ask.  Be aware of your blessings and count them every day.   By the way there is a veritable feast of Christmas movies on the television which I guarantee will put you in a Christmas mood.   Predictable but fun.    So forget black Friday and cuddle up in your warm chair and get in a Christmas mood once you survive the Thanksgiving feast.   I knew that would make you smile.  Hugs to all.

Hunting

The end of our rainy day yesterday.    We had a double rainbow in our skies.   

Jock dressed for forty below zero and lot s of snow in Wyoming .  

It looks like the sixty below zero and the heavy snows of Montana were just right to take down this big guy. 

The hunters catch.    Jock grew up on a ranch in Montana and learned early to become a man of the land.   He is a hunter and a fisherman and chooses to live off of the land.   I told him that I admired his ability to be a survivor, as if it isn't clean, packaged and in the store I'd starve to death.  Jock had a wonderful time and we are ready to hear all those tales he has to tell.

More of Jane Seabrook's Furry Logic

It never fails, or answer a telephone;  now it is probably when you pick up one of those gadgets.

A cute 'ism' . . . bet there is plenty of chocolate . . . reminds me of that old song " one summer day, in the month of May, a burly bum came hiking,  Down the sugar lane , through the candy cane a lookin for his liken;  He strolled along as he sang his song in the land of milk and honey, where a bum can stay for many a day and he don't need any money. Oh the buzzin of the bees in the cigarette trees near the soda water fountain, with lemonade springs in the big rock candy  mountain."  I have forgotten some of it, but I bet your humming along.

So sing out, have a great day and remember to be joyous;  isn't that a lovely word . . . smiling, happy, content . . . what a way to spend our weekend.    Hugs to all.

Smile!!

Yep, all in the same boat ;  makes life so easy.   Her name is ???  Oh well, honey, sweetie, doll fit s the bill. 

We all have mornings like this.   Coffee!!!  

The artist knew what he or she was doing.   How beautifl.    I'd hang it up on my wall, how about  you?

Jane Seabrook is an illustrator and a designer from Auckland, new Zealand.  She made magic when she authored the Furry Logic books .   The animals above are part of that.  There are a few more coming so watch the next blog.  What a talent.  I bet the children and adults love her books. 

Someone has a sense of humor.    Wonder if rubbing a little of that Coors on the bird would make it any tastier.

The rain is back and no complaints.    We are due to have some big wind so that will make the white caps sing and the whales will stay hidden as the go up the coastal waters.  Rocky never showed so the grass is growing thick and high, there are purple flowers on those 'green things' that have never shown up before;  the hedge has become a barrier and the weeds are in their glory.   Not much I can do to tame the wild garden but sit bye and admire Mother Nature enjoying those tiny rain drops that have become a nurturing blessing to the parched earth.  When Rocky does come, if he does, he had better bring some good working tools as he is going to need them.

The week is flying bye and I am thinking of  a Thanksgiving menu.   It rarely changes as we love the basic menu that we have enjoyed for a life time.   Going out sounded good for a very short time.  Cooking in sounds much better . . . how could I survive without those leftovers.?   The best part of the holiday meals.   So, make your list and check it over and go and pick out the best of the best so your Thanksgiving will be memorable.   If you have family enjoy each and every one.  Greet them with a bear hug they will never forget.   If you do not have family then invite a friend or two who may be alone and could use an invitation.  And, if you do not want to cook in then plan to go out.  the church folks put on a big spread for those who have needs of good food and a bit of friendship.   You can help and have a holiday you will never forget.    And remember all that you have to be thankful for . . . faith, hope and love which never goes away when you put all your good deeds to work.    Share YOU as that is the most important part of any holiday.   Hugs to all.

Fall Colors

I lost the picture of the house without the color.  It was just all green.  Fall came along and this is what happened to all of the vegetation that covers this home.    Strange and beautiful, wonder if they have nesting birds.

the attachment had contrast pictures and each one more beautiful as the season changed and Fall arrived.   I would like to see the pictures with all four seasons represented.    Isn't Mother Nature perfection in itself . . . every color has a meaning.

A combination of colors.  A lovely sunset.

Hump day, I hope you take time to look up and see the gorgeous colors in our skies.   We have been treated to wind clouds lately and the sky is filled with magnificent swirls and circles and floating angels with wings spread for all the world to see.   I like the picture clouds too.   How lucky we are when we take the time to stop, look and listen .   A sunrise is as beautiful as a sunset;  and a rainy day has a beauty all its own.   Rain drops leave patterns on your windows and turn the leaves of the trees into dancing fairies.    Beauty all around us, we just have to take the time to stop, look and listen.

I hope you noticed I added a recipe for Cranberry bread  on the blog late  yesterday.   I made four loaves and when La Verne came in for her visit, she was just in time to have warm cranberry bread and creme cheese.  She took the rest of the loaf home so she could have some for her breakfast this morning.    If  you look closely you will note that there is no oils or fats in the recipe.    Try it, I think you will like the taste and texture.

Pat and I had a pizza party and watched "Reckless" on the Netflick as our treat yesterday.    Jock returned from his hunting trip and said he really enjoyed his hunting even though it was way below zero temperatures, lots of heavy snow.   He is going to come in and cook up some of that deer meat he brought back.   I've never tasted it so am not sure I like game-taste;  I'll have to try it and see how I like it.  As long as I don't picture a baby deer in the headlights I'll be fine....smile.    Pat deserves a medal for taking care of three dogs.   Poor Emma feels like an orphan once the other two go out the door.    You should hear Gunner and Joey when they realize their master is home.   Barking, tails wagging and no hesitation when he opens the door and they start for home.  We are glad Jock is back safe and sound.    

Daughter Christine tells me she is ready to send my new (very old) novel to be published .  I had hopes my Christmas shopping would  be done...it may yet .  I'll let you know as it will come out on Amazon, for those interested in reading what may be my last novel.   The novel is titled "Valley Haven" and it was my  very first attempt  at writing a 'book';   It sat in the computer for  years and was edited and edited and edited until I thought it was  ready for print.   I worked so hard on it, I kept it in the background and now it is finished, complete, ended...finally....just hope , if you read it,  you will fall in love with some nice folks who live in a Nevada valley.

I called a friend and made a lunch date for today.   Pick up your phone and call someone you like to share some time with and get together and catch up with each other.    Don't forget the one good deed for today;  two if you feel generous  and three isn't a bad number either.    Be good, be kind, be gentle . . . stretch those arms and encircle someone you love and like.  If you are smiling your world is bright and cheerful; if not, you are sulking then it had better be all alone.   Hugs to all.