03/01/2023

SAD is winning this round;

not feeling like I'm going to 

make it . . .

I know, I understand, I get it;

the low temps, the threatening

snow and perhaps above all,

the dark! I simply can't take it

all in. It threatens, envelops,

punishes and I am no longer

all present and accounted for.

I hurt, I'm shaky, I can't even

really see properly. It is ever

so frightening to be so out of

it, that grandiose IT . . . naught 

is recognizable. The tears come

unbidden, solve nothing and I

don't want to be here anymore.

Ever so glad that hope springs

eternal, that tiny little gleam in

my present dark! Methinks my

fireplace is calling my name.

May actually save the day . . .

one can only hope . . .

 - - -

Seasonal Affective Disorder,

A mood disorder characterized by

severe depression that occurs at 

the same time every year. SAD

symptoms include depression,

fatigue and social withdrawal.

Treatment includes phototherapy,

talk therapy and medications.

02/28/2023

Been missing you of late . . .

you know, that young woman

you used to be!

That young college student, so

young she participated in a bra

burning march against the Viet

Nam war . . . caught, fined . . .

That incredibly young wife who

would have done anything and

everything to make things work.

So full of hope and expectations!

That young mother who would

have died for her children at any

given moment, but so ignorant

of all that was required . . .

That young teacher, so full of hope,

longing to save lives in the face

of each and every student to cross

her path . . .

And now, this olde woman, so 

full of dreams and memories of

yesteryear; how will she survive?

Who is she? Who has she become?

I do hope to get to know her . . .

to know this olde moi. I pray I am

not disappointed . . .

"I have traveled through

madness to find me."

~danny alexander

02/27/2023

"I'm a paradox. I want to be happy,

but I think of things that make me

sad. I'm lazy, yet I'm ambitious. I

don't like myself, but I also love 

who I am. I say I don't care, but I

really do. I crave attention, but

reject it when it comes my way. 

I'm a conflicted contradiction. If 

I can't figure myself out, there's no

way anyone else has." ~Unknown

Methinks there has never been a

better written statement re Libras.

Not sure even the author knows.

While I wouldn't admit to laziness

and I accept that modicum amount

of attention . . . that whole, "I'm a

conflicted contradiction," fits to a T.

In thinking about this, there's prob

naught wrong with contradictions.

Rather make life interesting, if you

ask me. Alas, we've been taught to

watch out for them and that's just 

wrong.

As a kid, I was reminded from time

to time that the C-word was a bad

thing. A positive pattern was to be

sought. Every and all needed to 

make sense. Still, I simply couldn't

help myself. And, I do treasure the

above words. They make it all right

somehow.

When my time comes, I want this

on my stone . . . 

"She was a most interesting 

contradiction . . . "

02/26/2023

"Throw away the idea that you

need to pause your life until you

are fully healed. This is just a 

different way of being attached to 

perfection. Real progress happens 

when you make better decisions in

the midst of living." ~yung pueblo

Not sure if it's moi, or we Libras

that continually await perfection

to set in so we can get on with life.

And then, I read Yung Pueblo.

Diego Pérez puts forth a mountain

of wisdom for one so young. And,

I'm listening, paying attention for

all I'm worth. That old phrase, 

"Out of the mouth of babes . . . "

comes to mind.

I am truly amazed at the different

venues where wisdom pops up.

The book you happen to be reading,

a sign post along the side of the road,

bits and pieces from the infamous 

FB, basically, everywhere you look.

I'm getting the idea that if one is

actually looking, wisdom can be

found anywhere and everywhere.

Sooooo long to pay attention and

learn . . .

 - - -

Diego Pérez is the writer behind the

pen name Yung Pueblo. The name

means young people. It serves to 

remind him of his of his Ecuadorian

roots, his experiences in activism,

and that the collective of humanity

is in the midst of important growth.

02/25/2023

"A person with a warrior's heart

can summon internal strength

seemingly out of nowhere and 

face their battles with outrageous

strength and resolve. It's not

simply an attitude or a decision.

It's a gift. It's who they are."

~Ted G

Methinks I have found in the 

words of Ted G, the person I 

wish to be when I grow up . . .

I know and honor those times 

in my life when internal strength

has been required, nay demanded,

of me. It seems you don't even

think about it 'til it's over. I'm not

even certain I could rise to the

occasion if I were allowed to

ponder it.

I imagine we all possess that

strength and resolve needed to

serve our children, families and

friends. Yet, there are those who

would say we must be whole 

ourselves in order to serve others. 

Great idea . . . still, methinks no

mother would ponder herself re

her own position before trying 

to save her own children.

One the things that touches me

are these marvelous pieces of

beauty and wisdom we can still

find in our world today. Alas,

we see so much sorrow, betrayal,

ugliness . . . I somehow need to

see beyond and contemplate the

beauty we also have.

Sooooo pray for personal growth!

May it be . . .

02/24/2023

"Maybe the desire to make

something beautiful is the

piece of God that is inside

each of us." ~Mary Oliver

I so enjoy Mary Oliver's

work. She reminds me the

grandeur of Mother Nature

outbids, outdoes, outshines 

each and every other sorrow 

of this world.

And yes, even winter and

her freezing snows are by 

far more glorious than all 

the nasties this world has 

to offer.

So today, when I venture

forth 'mongst these piles 

of snow, I will hold Mary 

Oliver close to my heart.

she sings of mother

and her nature to behold

bless her memory

 - - -

Mary Jane Oliver, American

poet who won the National

Book Award and Pulitzer Prize.

Her work is inspired by nature

stemming from her lifelong

passion for solitary walks in

the wild. 1935 - 2019

Wikipedia

02/23/2023

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr  ~!@#$%^&*()_+

Years and years to finally become

me, myself and I . . . the who I am,

as it were, and it only takes the gal

nigh onto an hour to lay me low!

But, I got even . . . went out and

ate three chocolate covered dough-

nuts. Got home and made brunch

type margs!

God in heaven, I'm supposed to

brush more than the usual three

times a day, floss, insert magic

brushes as well as poke and prod

with this god-awful instrument 

of torture.

I asked my doc if I might outlive

the denture scare . . . Did she re-

assure me? Did she wish me well?

Hell no! She answered . . .

     "I certainly hope so."

And not to forget, I have to return

in three months! Not sure what I'll

do to get even then. That might

require some serious planning and I

intend to really sin this time around! 

Wanna join moi? Send in your apps

with serious ideas attached! I may,

or may not, include you . . .

02/22/2023

Nervous as a cat on a hot tin 

roof this a.m. Nothing like an

early visit to the local dentist 

to rather set my fears afire!!!

I remember getting a kick out

of going as a kid. Perfect teeth

and the gift of a piece of candy

afterwards. You may appreciate

the irony.

Still, I suppose being naughty

for 70 plus years with eats and 

afters are finally taking their

toll.

My wish is to still be naughty

but not end up with dentures.

At my age, should be do-able!

I think if I survive the date with

the deadly doc, I may just take 

my guy out for breakfast. Although,

it may be snowing pretty heavily

by then.

Methinks someone should take

this winter Colorado weather to

the dentist and see how likable

it is! 

God help me . . . can't decide

which I hate more . . . winter

or the dentist . . . although, the

visit is an hour and winter lasts

more than a couple of months.

Easy pickin' . . .

02/21/2023

"Silence is loaded with answers."

~Unknown

This unexpected bit of wisdom

showed up on my doorstep this

early a.m. and set me a ponder . . .

I've been a bit of a chatty Patty

my entire life. I can remember

my parents taking the odd drive 

and daddy would tell me that I 

needed to be silent for half an 

hour. Obviously, I obeyed, but 

it nigh onto killed me.

I still enjoy . . . but perhaps,

conversing more than talking.

And, I'm daring to think I'm

even beginning to shut up from

time to time. Maybe someone

else would like to get a word

in edgewise?!

I find I actually like listening 

to others prattle. Maybe I learn 

something or maybe I don't. Still, 

it's interesting! I get a kick out of 

sussing out what things different 

people like to talk about.

There are weather only peeps. 

Some love to gossip. Others

offer the profound. These are my

faves. Again, if I listen, I learn.

I swear, I'm going to listen up . . .

Silence is indeed a gift! I might

even learn something!

02/20/2023

Oh my God! Pure ambrosia!

One of my daughters bought

me a French Press and taught

me how to use it. Okay girls,

just spread the guilt around!

I should have been drinking

this for years!

There's no mistake about it,

coffee in all its guises, has 

to be one of the greatest gifts

the gods ever granted mankind.

Having said that, bet you any-

thing 'twas the goddess that

invented the French Press.

I have three different kinds

of delectable manjares and

I'll be trying them all out in

this bit of a miracle; make 

no mistake!

I find it rather annoying that

I then mess it all up by adding

creamer; I somehow escape

perfection, alas!

Not sure even a midnight 

marg could compete with this!

Salud to one and all! 

02/19/2023

"You can take her out of the folk

tale and the forest, dress her up

and distract her with control, but

beauties who are taught to whisper

never stray far from the singing

sorcery screaming in their souls."

~Ann Marie Eleazer

'Twas my first encounter with the

written word this a.m. and I was

wowed beyond the pale; make no

mistake!

I pray there might be just a tiny

bit of a description of me in there

somewhere. Maybe not, but still,

it's who I want to be when I grow

up.

Remember when you were a child.

You'd thumb through the magick

of storybooks and long to find

yourself 'mongst the pages you

found there?! That feeling has

never left me. And, when I read

Ann Marie, I feel so bereft I could

break down and sob.

I am beyond grateful that I do live

in my own magickal kingdom, get

to share it with my wild ones and

see Mother Nature up close and

personal each and every day of my

life.

And, I do so love talking to my

dad. There are days I feel bereft

that I can no longer climb my

own mountains. Still, I can see

it and envision those many things

that go on there.

Ever, ever grateful . . .

Ann Marie Eleazer has always

considered herself a bit ancient,

haunted and otherworldy, who

enjoys enchanted flights through

the dark fairy tales and magical

places she's been drawn to since

childhood. Google Books

02/18/2023

"Winter is a wicked, haughty one,

she is. She gives us one last zinger 

of cold weather full of snow, just 

to say, 'I gotcha!' But then, the snow

melts and the world has water to feed

the rivers, the trees and all the people."

~Alice Sueltenfuss

Per usual, been having some naughty

thoughts. Has to do with waking up

to around 0 degrees with a tad more

snow on the ground. Okay, make that

10 inches one time and 13 the next.

I would think we'd all get tired of

hearing me bitch about the dark 

months. But this morning, my dear

dear friend up North, mailed me the

above quote . . . her own! It's such a

positive way to look at both winter

time and her snows.

Methinks I'll be reading this every

a.m. at the break of day in order to

get on the positive train. Indeed,

the gift of water is priceless and I

am grateful.

I'm also well-pleased that our pipes

have only frozen up twice so far.

My guy insulates them by wrapping

them in some new fangled gift of

the gods and presses a button. Seems

to really help.

Living in a 135 year old cabin has 

its deets, but I swear, he's sussed out 

most of them.

So here's moi, getting an entirely new

outlook on these cold, snow packed

months. If I lapse, pray call me on it.

I'll have it coming; make no mistake!

Now, just get out the hot chocolate and

Bailey's . . .

02/17/2023

"This busy, materialistic 

nonsense is not for me. I

belong in a witchy cabin

in the forest somewhere

w/my books, wild berries

and a pet fox." 

~Brooke Hampton

Seems, Brooke is talking

'bout me again! And yes,

I do have foxes, mapaches,

bob cats, the odd mountain

lion and bears as well! Not 

sure if its good or bad they

feel so comfortable here,

but they are not pets!

I particularly love it when

the deer and elk stroll thru.

Such beauty and grace. 

Once in a while, they sack

out in the back yard, take 

in some sun and luxuriate.

We could learn from them.

My little piece of heaven is

a great deal of work. Can't

even imagine the work my

guy goes through to provide

wood for the long winter

months. The pipes freeze,

the water is't potable, to say

naught of five min warm-ish,

often cold, showers. I'm not 

even going to talk 'bout doing 

the laundry.

Now, ask me if I'd live any-

where else?! Nooooo way

in hades! It's pure heaven here!

And here's a secret for you to

keep under your hat . . .

. . . Margs at the cabin taste

better than anywhere else in

the world!!! 

Salud . . .

02/16/2023

Of late, several people have 

asked me about my beliefs. 

Occurs to me that I could 

address this here . . .

My father told me when I 

was 13 that he realized I was 

a Pantheist. Looking back, I 

am wowed by both his open 

mind and that he waited until 

I began my teenage years to 

share this with me.

Obviously, I had to ask him 

what he meant by this. He  

explained that a Pantheist is

a person who loves Nature. 

He said that he saw just how 

much I loved being outside, 

walking, hiking, and taking 

full moon rides.

I confess, now that I'm about 

a 100 years old and it's only 

minus two degrees outside, I 

often observe Mother Nature

from the window. I enjoy 

watching nature specials and 

reading nature based books. 

And those rides I liked as a 

kid are now one of the things 

I love most.

I don't question how she came 

about. Maybe created, perhaps

evolved, but bottom line . . .

Mother Nature is the great 

love of my life.

Yes daddy, Pantheist I am and 

ever will be.

02/15/2023

Morning of the day after . . .

OMG, it's snowing w/a speed

unknown to mankind as I know

it!

My lover tells me this happens

every winter, but methinks he's

the one who forgets rather than

moi!!!

I've heard a rumor we're to get

11 inches . . . not so bloody sure 

I can even contemplate such an

idiosyncrasy . . . pray, let me be

wrong!

Soooo, I'm trying ever so hard

to remind myself of the virtues

of winter and snow . . . actually,

not bloody likely!

Opening my mind here, what 

is snow about actually?! . . .

Metaphorically speaking; sins

forgiven, dark covered in light, 

a new beginning, moisture most

needed . . .

As a long time member of the

SAD community, I still love my, 

"Spring, summer and fall." 

~Aphrodite's Child

Confessing here . . . we have

ten inches, but who's counting?!

02/14/2023 - Valentine's Day

"You're the strangest person I

ever met," she said, and I said,

"you too," and we decided we'd

know each other a long time.

~Brian Andreas

I love today, Valentine's Day.

I've been waiting ever so long

for it to come 'round! I think for

most, it's about lovers, couples,

and that's lovely. But for me, it's

all about friendship.

I feel lucky to have grown up

in a school where the teachers

insisted that each of us bring a

Valentine for everyone in the

classroom. No fun being left 

out, ever!

I always loved making my own

as did other kids around me. To

this day, I get a kick out of putting

something together and sending

them to my girlfriends.

Today, let's do remember our 

family and friends, loved ones, 

those special few we keep ever 

in our hearts. Many ways to

celebrate . . . a telephone call,

an e-card or e-mail . . .

"Let's know each other a long 

time."

- - -

Saint Valentine was a 3rd-century

Roman saint, commemorated in

Western Christianity on Feb 14.

From the High Middle Ages, his

Saint's Day has been associated

with a tradition of courtly love. 

He was born in Temi, Italy and

died on February 14, 269 AD.

Wikipedia

02/13/2023

"Instead of finding a new form

of social media, we should all

go back to bonfires, tailgate

parties, porch sitting, cruising

with the radio playing."

Hippies, Gypsies, Bohemians

Amusing quote . . . and it's not

that I long for yesteryears. But,

seems to me we may've thrown

out the baby with the bath water,

as it were.

Think about it, no reason why

we couldn't have the best of

both worlds . . .

There is naught wrong with 

appreciating those wonders of 

our modern world. So lovely to 

have hot running water, a phone 

easily carried in our back pockets, 

computers that open the world

to us.

Still, this shouldn't mean that we

could get killed crossing the street

because our eyes are stuck in the

cell phone. Our fams needs us, 

need for us to actually share and

talk to each other.

So, let's turn on that sweet music

we would have never had in the

days of yore, sit by the fire and

maybe even hold hands!

And yes, the best of both worlds

to us all . . .

02/12/2023

"She is a

    meditating

    manifesting

    wine drinking

    spell casting

    sage burning

    aura cleansing

    hybrid smoking

    moon worshipping

    crystal collecting

woman"

~Luilianna Coutinho

Thumbing through some odd

bits of poetry this early morn, 

I ran onto the above. What a 

tribute! Almost makes me wish 

it had been written about moi.

Still, got me to thinking . . . 

Alas, it's almost too easy 

to concentrate on all things 

negative. What I love about 

Coutinho's poetry, is her joy 

in the wondrous.

I pray she be contagious!

We could all use a visitation

with love, joy and beauty in

these dour times . . .

- - -

Liliana Coutinho is a curator 

and programmer of Debates and

Conferences at Culturgest, Lisbon.

Docotor in Aesthetics, Art Sciences

by Univ. Paris 1, she is a researcher

at IHC - FCSH/UNL, visiting prof

at the Post-Grad Course in Contemp 

Art Curatorship.

02/11/2023

"Tip your server. Return your

shopping cart. Pick up a piece

of trash. Hold the door for the

person behind you. Let someone

into your lane. Small acts can

have a ripple effect. That's how

we change the world." Unknown

There's those concentric circles

again . . . all sizes, overlapping

each other. I read about these 

small bits of wisdom and realize 

once again, these tiny actions, 

may make someone else's day.

Now that I'm about a hundred

years old and living on half a

retirement, I think to myself,

there isn't much I can do to 

help. Then, I read something

like this and realize there's all

kinds of things I can do to make

my small world brighter.

I'm thinking! I'm thinking!! 

I can take out the trash. Prep 

treats for the recycle guys, 

send a few cards . . . Noooo,

I already do these little bits.

I'm going to come up with

some things that I don't do

already. I just want to make

my own tiny world a slightly

better place.

I do know, some of us don't

really bother because we can

do so little. We think only the

big things count . . . sooooo

not true and I'm going to make

a real effort . . .

02/10/2023

"Everything that happens to

you is your teacher. The secret

is to learn to sit at the feet of

your own life and be taught

by it." Ancient Pagan Roots

I had a wow moment when I

read this bit of wisdom early 

morn . . .

Under the umbrella of amazing, 

I have had a crazy, incredible, 

awesome, scary, thrilling, blest 

life . . . and it ain't over yet!

Obviously, we all learn from 

our experiences, but I had never

given any thought to the idea

that I might be actually learning 

from myself.

Probably the greatest lesson I've

had is that of acceptance. Being

an eccentric like my father before

me, self-acceptance didn't come

easy, nor did it come early on.

I've come to see though, that in

accepting myself, I can easily

accept others as they are. That

must be the real gift.

Speaking of gifts, I love giving.

Methinks there is naught in this

world quite as wondrous as an

unexpected gift. Alas, seems I

make others feel uncomfortable.

So yes, I can see that I do learn

from myself . . . Now, if I could 

only learn to stop being so damn 

defensive . . . This must be coming

from that old perfectionist in me.

Whoever said that growing  up is

easy, didn't know what they were

talking about! Damn!

02/09/2023

"In life, the only difference

between stumbling blocks 

and stepping stones is how 

you choose to use them."

muses from a mystic

One of my goals for this year

is to be and/or become more

positive. So, I read and collect

memes such as the one above.

Obviously, some are simply

ludicrous whilst others remind

us of time worn wisdom.

Positivity is indeed important.

Still, this doesn't mean we

should put on blinders to the

realities of the life we live in.

War will not diminish because

we have a positive attitude.

Hunger, famine, floods . . . all

part of reality. I'm trying to suss

out what we and our positivity

can actually do to make a

difference.

I fear we are oft overwhelmed

by the horrors of life and thus

do naught. Obviously, this is

not the answer.

If each of us would strive and

commit, to making the space

around us a better place . . .  

we would have overlapping

circles of a better place to be.

Depending on age, means and

other factors, some circles will

be small and others larger. But,

we have to start somewhere. I

want to commit to making the

circle in which I live, a better

place to be. 

Methinks 'twould require both

consciousness and constancy. 

Let's pay attention and act!!!

02/08/2023

"Take a cold tater and wait."

~E.M. Bartlett, 1883 - 1941 

My dad used to cite this every

time my little bro and I would

claim hunger. 

I'm so grateful my dad survived

WWII. And, I know there was

a lot of mental anguish that went

along with this entire episode in

our history. 

Still, the one liners, quotations,

the old songs, always erupted

from his lips. Can't help but

wonder if somehow they helped

him in his own time of sorrow.

Stories abound . . . waiting for

supper, waiting for guests to

arrive, awaiting Thanksgiving

dinner . . . and supposedly this

sparked an idea for Bartlett and

his song.

In our own lives today, we all 

do plenty of waiting . . . payday

to arrive, the children to visit,

get the bills paid and the grocery

shopping done, a dream holiday,

our ships to come in.

Seems I've eaten plenty of cold

taters and am ever waiting for

something. We could learn some-

thing from our kids of today. 

They don't wait for anything. In 

fact, they refuse to . . . they make 

things happen. 

Just who I want to be when I grow

up; make no mistake!

02/07/2023

"Note to self: All you have to do 

is show up. Be late. Be scared. 

Be a mess. Be weird. Be confused. 

Just BE there. You'll figure out the 

rest as you go." ~Nanea Hoffman,

founder of Sweatpants and Coffee.

I imagine that nigh onto all of us

have done exactly this from day 1. 

We probably just never put it into 

words. We've all been there, done

that . . . late, scared, mess, weird,

confused . . . but, we do show up.

We tend to spend our time poking

at ourselves for all things bad, real

or imagined. Maybe it's our moms'

voices, doing the best she could to

make us the people we are today.

But hell, we're all grown up now

and we get to be our own voice.

What if we were to say, "Our do

was so much fun. I was able to

visit with more friends," rather

than, "Hardly anyone showed up."

"I just love this outfit," instead of,

"Damn, I think I'm gaining weight."

Or, "Glad we have transportation,"

better than, "So wish we could

afford a new car."

God only knows where we actually

get all of our built in negativity.

Still, we're adults now; high time

we pat ourselves on the back. After

all, we've been 'figuring it out' all

these years.

Let's honor our own selves, give 

us a hand and a much deserved

standing ovation!

02/06/2023

"Embrace uncertainty. Some of the

most beautiful chapters in our lives

won't have a title until much later."

the idealist

Being a Libra w/the most imbalanced

scales ever, I suppose I qualify for the

above quoted loathing of uncertainty.

As a tiny child, I liked, nay needed,

placement perfection. I can remember

friends over and me saying, "I think

you'd be more comfortable on this

chair rather than the bed." Heaven

forbid they should have wrinkled my

carefully made bed.

Obviously, I am who I am, but I've

fought my entire adult life to be more

open, more accepting, thus reducing

those pesky Libra qualities to a more

reasonable acceptance level.

Hey, I only wash the dishes once a day,

whereas I used to wash them as they

dirtied! Go figure! I also straighten the

bed rather than fastidiously making it

16 times a day. I'm slowly improving.

So, let's not mention I sweep under 

the table after every eating episode.

Nor, should we look too closely at 

me going down the stairs in the

middle of the night to put one solo

dirty dish in the sink.

Trust me, I'm working on it and the

above quote is a decent reminder. 

Think I'm going to leave ashes in

front of the fireplace untended for

a few days. Not sure I'll be able to

though . . .

02/05/2023 - Old Souls

"There is a beautiful thing inside 

you that is thousands of years old

Too old to be captured in poems.

Too old to be loved by everyone

But loved so very deeply

by a chosen few." ~Nikita Gill

I imagine we all have different

views on life after death. Having

said that, there is an expression

that really moves me. 

"She's an old soul; he's an old soul." 

There are those who would use the

expression literally. But, I think 

most use it as a way of honoring

deep thinkers, the wise ones, the

old souls.

This is truly what I love and honor

in my older friends. That insight,

the wisdom lacking in those of us

who are younger and have less

experience.

There is no doubt, when we lose

an oldster, we are losing a bank

of knowledge and experience

second to none.

I think back fondly of my father.

I could ask him anything. Often

he would take a few moments to

respond. Whether to marshal his

thoughts, recollect an old memory,

or decide how best to answer, his

wisdom was priceless. 

I've come to believe that there are

certain practices that can lead us

to wisdom . . . Reading the thinkers,

albeit ancient or modern. Pondering

our actions and the results. Perhaps,

a different avenue would have 

brought different results. Listening,

really listening, has to be absolutely

without par.

I so long to accrue true wisdom

before entering that great unknown.

I wish for two things, only one over

which I have control . . .

The one I can . . . needs be I take 

my own advice. I don't think wisdom

simply lands in one's lap. Listen up!

Secondly, I pray I am gifted with

more time to acquire the depth

that brings true wisdom. 

May it be so . . .

"Meet me in the middle of your story 

when the soul is worn but wise."

~Angie Welland-Crosby

02/04/2023

"We need to sit on the rim of

the well of darkness and fish

for fallen light with patience."

~Pablo Neruda

Since Winter Solstice, the days

are charged with elongation.

Every evening, I look for the

light to last for yet another little

while. So far, I have witnessed

no change. I do understand that

the daily changes are minuscule,

still . . .

My soul longs for the light. I've

strived to be more patient this

time around. I get that I need to

spend more time outside, but

the below 0 weather and deep

snow only encourage me to sit

by the fire even more.

I've been reading some positive

affirmations about the dark of

winter. I appreciate suggestions

along the idea of hibernation,

soul searching, reading, resting,

quiet time.

I am acting on said suggestions

to the best of my ability. But, it's

dark when I wake up and dark

wayyyyy before bedtime. There

are times when I simply break

down and sob.

Having lived lo these hundred

years, I do know light is coming.

Yet, seems I have the patience 

of a two year old!

I find that rather disappoints me!

02/03/2023

I sooooo love learning and

studying . . .

Books will ever be a fave as

I simply like their feel and 

scent. And, reading simply

makes my heart glad!

I enjoy those articles sent me

and looking up interesting

topics on the internet.

Listening to others talk about

things they know about is a 

special gift.

Show and tell, albeit in person

or via an educational program

is priceless.

Everywhere we look, there

exists things to be learned.

May we ever remember that

college, university, grad school

are only one way to study.

Pray I still had many, many

years to keep on learning . . .

Teach me! Teach me!

02/02/2023

They say winter is upon us . . .

I know! I know! And I have 

the proof!

We've been running from 7

degrees below zero to 11

above these past few days.

It has snowed off and on, so

we have quite an accumulation.

Finally had to have our parking

area plowed as several people

have gotten stuck in it.

Last, but not least, our pipes

are frozen. Makes for rather

interesting water needs. Soon,

we'll be bringing in snow to

melt in order to flush the jane.

I find myself longing for a

shower . . . I'm reminded of

poor Jesus coming out of the

tomb and saying something

along the lines of, "I stinketh!"

So, all of you enjoying your

modern homes and facilities,

you might just get a kick out

of trying a 135 year old cabin

on for size . . .

. . . as for moi, I love it!

02/01/2023 - 12:01 a.m.

Oh my God . . .

My guy may just be the most

amazing lover ever . . .

There I was, sleeping soundly,

minding my own business, as it 

were, when all of a sudden I am 

awakened by the the sound of a 

popping cork . . .

He approaches my side of the 

bed with a bubbling glass of

champagne. "Wake up,"he says,

"here's to you; your Dry January 

is over."

Such fun! Amazing! Never seen

the like . . . In all the years I've

been doing Dry January, this has

never happened.

Must say . . . life with Mr. Russel

is never boring!!! Methinks I'll

have yet a few more . . .

Salud!