06/10/2021

Yesterday our, d) all of the above,

surprised us with a spread for our

new moon celebration.

It was luscious . . . two kinds of

grapes, watermelon, crackers and

little red-wrapped cheeses. What

a treat; wish I could recall it all!

I love all of it . . . friends getting 

together, sharing eats, telling tales

out of school, celebrating the cycles

of our beloved Mother Earth. The

five of us had such a wonderful 

time.

I feel so wealthy, rich in friendship.

I thank the Universe for the good

that still exists in these perilous 

times!

feeling gratitude

love me some june valentines

the gift of friendship

06/09/2021

"Green was the silence, wet was the

light, the month of June trembled

like a butterfly." ~Pablo Neruda

It has always troubled me how

Winter steals about two thirds of

Spring . . . thank the gods Spring 

is finally here. I was beginning to

suspect that Mother Nature had

somehow eclipsed Spring this 

year.

We were able to sit out under our

fave tree for hours yesterday . . .

We listened to the gurgling of the

pond, hoisted a glass or two of

homemade wine with a bestie,

told tales our of school and simply

enjoyed!

Beginning to think, hope, imagine

that I may live after all! Bless a

true Spring, finally arrived . . . and

we have an entire Summer to look

forward to! 

Now, if only we can have a true

Autumn and Mr. Winter doesn't

get greedy and take over . . .

so love me some sun

out of doors heat drinks and chat

shine on sunny days

*Dedicated to Jennifer Teets

06/08/2021

"It does not matter how slowly 

you go so long as you do not stop." 

~Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC 

Me thinks Confucius needs to return

from the ages and pound this into

my head. Really, it's rather sad how

I want everything right NOW! 

I'm happy to go on a diet, but I want

to lose 20 lbs. by tomorrow. I need to

go see my friend in New Mexico, but

I'd rather the drive were 20 minutes,

not five and a half hours. I have to go

to SAMS for groceries, but I just want

them delivered to my car. So, don't

like walking around the store for an

hour or more. 

I'm getting a clue here . . . not only

am I impatient, but I seem to be into

instant gratification. Can't help but

wonder if this is all part of today's

values . . . I want it and I want it

NOW! 

Think I'm going to give this a ponder.

There are a lot of miracles out here

that are worth the wait. I just need 

to remember this! 

take your time dear heart

what is the rush anyway

slow down and enjoy

06/07/2021

Courage is perhaps what it's all about . . .

After writing about fear yesterday, I

asked myself,  "How about focusing 

a bit on its opposite rather than 

concentrating only on the negative?"

I also recognize there's courage and

then there's courage! It takes great

courage for some to even face the

day as life is so difficult for them.

It takes great courage for bullied

children of all ages to even go to

school. As a teacher, this malady

enrages me almost more than any

other sin!!!

I look at people of different walks

of life rather than status quo, and

bow in amazement at what they

have to put up with from the 

unfriendlies! Can't even imagine 

the courage it must take to be 

anything from eccentric to any 

kind of other in today's society!

Special children, those with specific

needs, are often disregarded, ignored

and not treated like the other kids. 

What courage these children must 

have to face these daily mistreatments.

In thinking about these courageous 

peoples, and others we may not know

about, I find myself much moved,

wowed in fact! Something to think

about and have a good look-see at

how I treat everyone!

pray grant me courage

tis needed for one and all

lest we forget fear

06/06/2021

We had a thunder/lightening/rain storm

last night to end all storms. I do not

know if childhood fears were awakened

in me but, I was quaking in my boots. 

I kid you not, I was truly afraid!

Once I got the adult version of me back 

in gear, I began to ponder fear, fear as

its own entity . . . And yes, storms did

make me quake in my little boots as a

child!

Looking at fear square in the face, I 

see I am afraid of the strangest things. 

Losing my way to a given destination,

not dressed right for a certain occasion,

will I be able to carry on a conversation

as I've been out of the loop for a few 

years?!

The sad thing is, when faced with each

of these things, I do just fine . . . so then,

why all the fear?! I suppose it's a natural

human reaction, but really, at my age?!

Disgraceful!

Can't help but wonder if it has something

to do with being closer to the end rather

than the beginning of one's life. I'll have

to ponder . . .

fearful as a child

how old did i say i was

lose fear already

06/05/2021

I grew up drinking tea; decaf, of course.

I was allowed half a teaspoon of honey,

but I actually preferred it without. I

miss it; like it when I fix it, but don't

indulge very often.

I actually started drinking coffee when

I began teaching a hundred years ago.

I kept a pot going in my classroom and

the teachers in my hall would often

come in and have a cuppa. 

I never worried about my consumption. 

Kept me awake all day and didn't bother

me at night. Then, I began counting the

cups; big mistake! Seems I always drank

in the teens. I finally gave it up when I

retired; cold turkey no less! So, I treat

myself to a cup once a month, just to

keep my hand in. And actually, those

one or two cups keep me awake all night.

Sooooo not kidding!

Love me some ice cold milk, no matter

the time of day. Don't really care for 

add ins like chocolate or vanilla. Just

love it plain and cold. No hot for me!

And, I do like lemonade, OJ, etc. But,

there is nothing in the world like an

ice cold Corona on a hot summer day!

coffee tea other

drinks ahoy bring em over

brewski for me please

06/04/2021

"Never forget that time passes so quickly

you don't even notice it until it begins to

show. So, use the good china, go on the

trip, eat the cake, watch the late movie,

read your favorite book and take a chance 

in life. Tomorrow is promised to no one."

~John M. Sweeney

Maybe it has something to do with being

71, but it seems to me I'm hearing this

message more and more. It's a good call

and I intend to answer it!

Thinking here, what's my happy list?

Sit under my fave tree with my guy!

Might even add in the iced margs!!!

Eat out once in a while at my fave

Mexican restaurant! Take a drive and

stop at that unexpected place calling

out my name! Write a special note

or letter, send a card . . .

Maybe I'll make up a new list, naught

too extravagant, you understand! Take

in a campground and stay over night.

Try out an unknown place for the first

time, albeit a walk, a picnic or a shop.

Visit rather than be visited!

Is this where I swear to LIVE rather

than EXIST?!

"Do whatever it takes to bring a smile to

your face each day. Eat the cake. Watch

the Christmas movie. Take a bubblebath

in the middle of the day. Cover your house

in lights to bring the joy we so desperately

need. You need laughter. You need light."

~Donna Ashworth

06/03/2021

Been thinking; always a risk with me!

So, who do I really want to be when I 

grow up?

Alas, there are some things I know I 

need to deal with. Eat a tad less; lose 

a bit of weight. Wouldn't be anything 

wrong with me not talking so much 

(as my dad used to point out!) 

Of course, I know I have the odd sins

here and there, but you'd have to pay 

big bucks to get those out of me! Ha!

I would have to admit that I find this

growing up business a hard one; make

no mistake! 

Perhaps most importantly, I'd like to 

refine my beliefs, really nail down in 

my mind the whats, whys, wherefores! 

I'd like to suss out what all my children 

are up to and about. There is nothing 

in the world like having serious, adult

conversation with those sweet little

kids, all grown up and ready to party!

I so enjoy my special women friends, 

their chats and sharings, those precious

aha moments, even the odd tears.

So, who am I going to be when I grow

up? Same ole? Same ole! Maybe that's

a lost cause and I simply need to enjoy

the here and now the universe has gifted.

Only God knows just how much time

I have left . . .

who will i become

wake up and smell the coffee

get on with living

06/02/2021

We only wanted to sit outside . . .

it is June after all!

It was chilly, I was in shorts; 

had to go in and change.

Brought out all the fixings . . .

a fresh pitcher of margaritas, 

ice, a bit of salt and a

couple of glasses.

Of course,  it starts to rain . . .

Went inside and made hot

chocolate.

Where the hell is June and

what have they done with it?!

~!@#$%^&*()_+

06/01/2021

I thought June would never come . . .

I can hardly believe it finally did!

There are good, wonderful things

about each month of the fiscal

year, but June marks the beginning

of actual warmth, the beginning of

summer.

I've often said, "If I were queen of

the universe, we'd skip winter

entirely and add a couple of weeks 

to each of the other three seasons!"

Bet the skiers would hate that!

June brings us that long awaited

for gift of heat, the first day of

summer, father's day and a plethora

of b-days brought about by those

cold, cuddling nights of winter . . .

and not to forget our June brides!

I find, with the dawning of actual

warmth, I make new plans, start

planting the whiskey barrels and 

cleaning up winter's devastation

to ready for summer parties.

There are nights when I think 

I'm going to die from the day's

exertion, but little by little winter's

neglected body is somewhat brought

back to life. Alas, at 71 somewhat

is no exaggeration!

Here's wishing you one hell of a

summer . . . Pray, sally forth and

plan, plant, and party!!!

so been missing you

welcome back father summer

let's throw a party

05/31/2021

What a strange day . . .

a rather kind of in between day,

if you will.

The other party goers left last

night. But, we had the joy of

having our family still here

until evening.

Alas, it rained so hard and the

mud was so deep, there was no

way to socialize. We waved 

good bye early eve, knowing 

we'd see them soon again.

We watched the storm; it was

beautiful in its own way. Back 

in our minds, we did wonder if

we'd be able to get out the next

day.

I found whilst sleeping . . .

Did I say sleeping? . . . that there

was a bit of fear. We were sooooo

alone, it was raining so hard and

the mud was so deep.

I found myself wondering if Mama

Earth was having a good time?! And,

scary or not, all of it was stunning!

One way r another, the morrow will

come with its own surprises and

we'll just have to see what she has

in mind for us.

these storms in my life

so real and or imagined

pray help me to cope.

05/30/2021

It was a storm to end all storms . . .

Slowly but surely, the air darkened

all around us until skyline met

horizon.

Eerie! And, then came the hail; 

hail such as I have never seen, ever!

Huge, pelting, sky marbles, hell bent

on winning the game.

This time, it wasn't quick and dirty.

It hailed as if it were a snow storm

and didn't quit until the ground was

covered. Rain, not to be outdone,

began to strut her stuff.

Blackened skies, fierce  dueling 'twixt

hail and rain, lasting nigh onto two

hours . . . completely unnerving, an

unbidden return to childhood fears.

Once the skies stopped their dueling,

we sat in utter silence, stunned by 

that which we had unwittingly

witnessed.

My inner child, still frightened, silently

pleaded . . . . Please, I just want to go

home!

storm to end all storms

father sky strutting his stuff

fine hes made his point

05/29/2021

Today marks that first day of our

long awaited vay-day; nothing

quite like it!

I find it interesting how one forgets

the feeling between any mini-vays!

You would thin you'd hold onto any 

of those faint memories, no matter

how awesome, no matter how small.

It's not that any of this is beyond the

pale; it's simply away, special, different.

I just love the feelings that go with the

preparation, the expectation, and the

realization of something so longed for.

And surprise, surprise . . . the longing

to go home again as departure entices.

Ever so late last night . . . set up and

prep time, a rather sleep in late time

this a.m. if you will! Today celebrated

family, friends, b-days and wide open

spaces.

I love that whole catching up thing, 

telling tales out of school, having the 

odd drink, the yearning for a fire even

though it would be dangerous in the

wind on the plains! Pray someone

fixes some real food soon; enough

with the snacks already!

For all this fun with word play,

there are truly no words to describe

this glorious celebration of life, 

dearests and bestests!!!

so love family

children of different moms

those friends of my heart