Dogs

That would be our Emma.  She loves to go hunting with Jock and his dogs and she is quite the retriever.  She enjoys swimming in the lakes and the freedom to wonder around.  

It is Monday all day and I already have a computer problem.   Nope, you don't want to hear all about it.   Hopefully, one of these days, it will get back to normal.   Sixteen ad on computer changes, I didn't ask for, threw the machine into a maze of uncertainty and I am not computer literate so it means problems to just try to get anything done.  The change has created bright circles when I try to take a picture and add it to the blog.   I finally got this one to come up.  So I am not going to burden you with complaints.  I am going to ask son John to rescue me one more time.   Google is telling me some one in Tel Aviv has hacked int my machine....I hope Norton caught up with it.    There has been a lot of activity lately.    Wish the hackers would get  something better to do with their time.   

So I'll be back when things are 'fixed' , so mind your manners, stay healthy and happy and watch out for the hackers.

Be good, be kind, be gentle and love one another .   Hug to all.

Sunday

One of those photographs where you can find all kinds of things if you study it long enough and use your imagination.I see a spider web, a butterfly, a big snake and a fat mouse.

Interesting days ahead.   Keep a watchful eye and ear.  

Yesterday was a fun day.  I had visitors.    My neighbor Joseph is a Seventh Day Adventist and he knocks on my door once a month on a Saturday morning, bringing a friend with him.   This time it was William who was the chief of our local Indians, a warm and caring man and so easy to like.   Its the smiling eyes, they get you every time.    A little later, Mary, Joe's wife, came over to check on the new puzzle on the table.  She's a good puzzle maker and seems to know just where those pieces are.    La Verne came in and joined us and tried to find some pieces but forgot her glasses so was having troubles  making the pieces match.    The puzzle is difficult at most as it seems to have a fitted piece only to find it really doesn't fit after all.   Once the piece is in you need a derrick to remove it.    It has a lot of dark area so I'll need all the help I can get.   Stop in, I'll let you out after you find ten pieces.

Pat came over with some salmon to cook up  so we marinated it for a bit, the put in a sweet potato to bake.   I didn't wrap it in foil, as I should have, so it leaked all over the oven floor.    Later,  when I  put the salmon in later to broil,  smoke billowed out of the oven and the fire detector made loud noises.  We rushed around opening doors and windows so the smoke was gone before it had a chance to fill the house.    No food was spoiled and we had our delicious dinner .   So now I believe in that old adage of things happen in threes.   First my neighbor Alice locked her oven  by mistake and could have had a nasty fire but breaking the circuit shut the electricity off and all was well in the end.   Then La Verne left a pot on her stove and forgot it and had lots of smoke damage which has taken a week to clean up by professionals.   Then last night my potato fiasco .    So the moral of the story is to be careful and pay attention to what you are doing in the kitchen these day s.  With the holidays coming up we will be spending more time in the kitchen baking and cooking.   So pay attention and don't turn your back on the stove.   

It is shopping day so I am off to the grocery store.    What to have, what to have. . .  for meals this week . . . I'll figure it out when I get there.     So happy shopping day if you go today.   Choose wisely and healthy.   Don't forget to smile at the clerks, they work very hard and put up with some crotchety folks along the way.    It really isn't their fault the prices are so high.    It shouldn't take long as we don't have to read labels as the law didn't pass this past election to let us know what is in our foods.   We take our chances and hope we survive the 'gmo' tactics.  Something to think about.  Right now I am curious as to why  the print size changed...I didn't do it.    I still have the complain to Google tab on the right of the computer...wonder if I should go there.....um....better not, I might lose the ability to get back to the starting point.    Go, make your  Sunday worthwhile...good deeds, bend the knees, grin a lot and don't forget a bear hug or two.    Hugs to all.

New!

Wonder when our st ores will come up with this one....just  walk around, check out what you want , touch the screen and when you get up tot he register it will be there waiting for you.  Can't even imagine how this will work.

What the new car panels will look like.    

The latest gadget replaces all of the above.     Wow!   Technology on the rise.

The weekend is here and it cant come soon enough for some folks.    I have a little pop up on the right  corner of my screen that tells me t o "Complain to Google"  wish I knew why. . . I can probably think of a few reasons.

Well we made it to the new Goodwill Store here in Brookings, and I have to tell you those that beckoned them into our town should be ashamed of themselves.   They have taken over the Pharmacy store which had such class and filled it with every conceivable piece of junk they could find from all of their stores and it looks like a huge junk shop.  the books they get for free are priced at five dollars and up for the hard backs.  I didn't check on the paperbacks.   I couldn't get out of there fast enough.   It is unfair competition to the 'doggy thrift store' and  I hope the town folks realize it.  

There is no doubt Christmas is coming as one house has their lights up and on already.   Rushing the season, I'd say .   The stores are at the ready and we went to the "Bird Store" where the yard art is interesting and pricey.   A lot has been done with rocks and shells making them into tiny creatures to put in or around the garden.   The copper water drains are interesting and clever but so is the price.   They are selling jewelry made by a local artisan  and have a new 'antique' corner.   So it really was a looking expedition and I came home with one hard back book to read  which I found at the Star of the Sea thrift shop.   

So, go, poke around your town and see what is out there, new, old, or maybe you are lucky enough to have a mall.   You know the drill,  make a list, check it twice and remember who is naughty and nice.   Remember to keep your wits about you and not overdo.   You have plenty of time so remember to keep Christ in Christmas and you will be much happier. BUT, take time to enjoy Thanksgiving .  Save a few pennies for the needy, call a friend today and check up on them.  Don't forget the Food Bank is going to need a lot of help this year.   Check your pantry and see what you have to donate.   Be magnanimous.   Hugs to all.

We Woke Up.

A truism.     When you get  to be a senior it becomes a day to day proposition.  So we know when we wake up and move that we have a new day to  celebrate.   We do every second of it.

I like this picture.   The map of America turned bright red . . . now if the news is out and we have spoken , both parties should put their shoulder to the problems and solve them one by one until we have our feet on the ground and our shoulders to the wheel;  just like the picture indicates.    We have work to do, so do not blink.  Keep a watchful eye on what is going on in Washington, D.C. as the future of our children and grandchildren is at  stake.    A budget is necessary and needed.   Big spending needs to shrivel and jobs need to come about so keep an eye open and we need to know who is going to show up as a strong and forceful leader.   Don't fall asleep at the wheel...pay attention.

Meanwhile, I hope you woke up to a bright and beautiful day, or even a colder and rainy day wouldn't be all bad, just so you spend your seconds doing all of the things  you have to do, want to do, and then have some fun .  There is a new puzzle on the table this morning and it is going to be a' doozy'.   If you are in my  neighborhood, stop in, I like helpers, just know you have to place the pieces back where you got them.   Yep, I'm organized . . .makes everyone crazy. 

They had opening day at the new Good Will store yesterday so maybe I'll get over there today and see what they have done with the old pharmacy.    My couch deal has fallen by the wayside twice now so maybe I'll see if they will come and get it.   It is a beauty and has a bed in it and the mattress is still in the original plastic, never been abused.   Some one will put it to good use.   Down sizing is a slow process.   You choose a piece to depart with and then look at it closely and tell yourself it is much to nice to do away with.   Of course, you wouldn't have bought it in the first place if you didn't 'love' it, or it was a gift from someone special and you treasure it. . . I am beginning to realize why folks don't bother to downsize and leave the choices to someone else in the family, someone not attached to every item.   But, I really am more realistic than that and I have already done away with a lot of dust collectors, books, and a few borrowed pictures have been returned.   So off I go to have my coffee and check around and see what I can do away with today.   Before I go, gather round and get your singing voice in order as I think Andrea is having a birthday today....am I right?   I hope so . . . HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO  YOU.   HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR ANDREA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.  I HOPE YOUR DAY IS FILLED WITH SMALL MIRACLES.    

Hugs to all.

  

Elections

Remember what these are....erasers . . . you can make a mistake, erase it , and brush  away the errors.  

Think of the fun of making that kind of cash work  in helping our wounded warriors or our poor folks waiting for the economy to change.   It is going to be interesting to see what the newly elected are going to do about bringing back America to it s rightful position in our world.   If we have accepted the down trodden for centuries and made our soil the place everyone wants to be then know it takes our good mixture to make it work.   

Poor Me . . . Nobody loves me!!  And he wonders why.

The folks got out and voted.  They put their trust into the Republicans to show what they can do to truly bring hope and change back to America.   They have a chance to show what they can do.   They better take the right steps as 2016 is around the corner so if they want to keep their jobs, they better work hard .  They  have much to do, and so do we as we keep watch over their efforts.   We need to keep apprised to all of the happenings and events ongoing these next two years.   We need to be alert and stand up and ' yell'  if they slack off.    We put them in there, now let us make sure they earn their pay check.  

Be alert, be wise, be good and kind and gentle but as Teddy Roosevelt said . . . "carry a big stick"  and as you have seen your vote is a really big stick.    Don' forget your good deed for today.    Hugs to all.

Stuff!

One of the sights we see when Fall comes in with all its raving beauty.   

She is off and running. . . running off at the mouth!!

I haven't heard the news as yet  this morning, so have no idea how the election came out  yesterday . . . hopefully everyone got out and voted . . . voted to make it a bit more difficult for 'the king' to rule all by himself.

Hey Paula, this is what the finished product looks like.  You will say my name more than once this winter when you  are looking for that one piece that you swear is missing.  It really is a fun one.    Don't give up and no getting even...smile.

Hump Day, colder and maybe a little more rain today.  Yesterday, while shopping for some groceries, I discovered Tuesday is senior day and there is a tiny savings;  every penny counts.  I also discovered that the produce was just in and the clerk was filling the bin with good looking tomatoes and cucumbers.  I bought some and found both were delicious, so the name of the game is to go when they are filling the bins with new produce.   I know it takes a while to truck in, then to fill the bins, so the trick to  getting  something eatable is to go to the store when they get it in....not several days later when it starts to turn.  No more once a week shopping, it doesn't pay .  The trick is to plan a couple of meals and buy fresh.    I think the trick is to become aware that when the produce is marked down it is on its way out.  The meat counter was a walk bye;  the prices are outrageous , even the small turkey breast is a king's ransom.     So there was nothing wrong with left over spaghetti last night, in fact the flavor was even better the second time around.   Of course the Merlot didn't do any harm, and helped the taste buds.  

So take time out to find out when your store gets their produce in and then shop.  It is time to start thinking of soups and stews.  Maybe a lasagna would be a nice change.  It is the weather for baking, so maybe I'll make some cookies as the cookie jar is empty.   Molasses Crinkles are tasty or maybe the filled mince meat cookies would be a good choice.   I'm making me hungry so off I go to fix blueberry pancakes, and have my coffee so I can wake up.    So join me  and make some for you.  I'm going to go check on the news and see how the voting came out.   Be good, be kind, be gentle and help someone 'up' today.   Hugs to all.

Who is Who!!

Aunty Dee and the ladies up at the Tea Room.   You can see a few of the tea pots behind them;  just think those shelves go all around the room and each one is filled to the brim.  Dee tells me they come  down twice a year to be washed by hand.  I wonder if I should volunteer;  um. . . better not, I'm dropping pretty things all the time.

 

A old friend who looks pretty good for a man of ninety.   A man of words, kind and loving.

A friend of fifty years, A poet.   A World War II veteran who parachuted out of the skies in France as the enemy shot them as they floated down.    A lucky survivor, a man or honor and integrity.   A good man to know and love.

Former President George W. Bush has never been to busy to keep in touch with the wounded warriors.    He invites a few to his ranch ten weekends every year all expenses paid.   

Coming up . . . Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.    I always wanted to take my children to New York and let them enjoy t hose huge balloons, but the price was never right . . .sigh.

I hope Hillary Clinton does not run.   I think she has done more than her share in a life time without much success.

Tuesday, all day, the weather is getting colder and the furnace is kicking on more.   Pat and I took La Verne out for an early birthday dinner.  She loves Prime Rib and we tried to go to the Ship and Shore restaurant but they now only serve it on Fridays and Saturdays.  The big 'deal' is over so the price is back up.   We went to the Monday night Prime Rib dinner at the casino and the price did go up but they served it in a much nicer fashion.  You have access to the soup and salad while you wait for your cut of meat and whatever potato you choose, free beverage and a lovely chocolate pudding to finish off your meal.  It was much better this time and we enjoyed reminding La Verne of her new birthday number.   Seventy-five and alive;  can't beat that.  We had changed the clocks back so darkness came much faster.  Riding home in the dark with car lights high, some folks just don't want to dim their lights and they wonder why they get a finger salute. . . too bad they can't see it....smile.

Granddaughter Erin has landed a temporary teaching job at a school for the deaf .  Someone noticed her resume and they called and set  up a telephone interview and are working with her to fill in until they can hire a full time teacher.  She is working on getting a teaching certificate of her own.    I am betting she fits in so well that they will help her get her certificate.  She has the experience and a fantastic resume behind her.   The school is in Salinas, California, so we are all waiting to hear what it is like.    Yesterday was her first full day.  It will be interesting to see how this all plays out as there is wedding talk this year, and Donaleo is going to finish up his classes in Hawaii and wants her there.  Decisions, decisions, 

So when you are making  your decisions as to what you want to do today, be kind, be gentle, be smart.  Give a helping hand to those in need.    Pray for those wounded warriors, they shouldn't have to beg for help.   It should be there for them.  Remember not to frown as it causes wrinkles you cannot get rid of.    You use less muscles when you smile and it lights up your world and all those around you.    Hugs to all.