09/14/2022

It bears repeating . . .

anticipation, fulfillment, 

remembrance . . . which of

these is the greatest?!

I've talked about this before;

still, I've been reminded of the

quandary of late. And yes, I do

recognize all three have their

place in the chain of events!

I'm a planner. I get an idea and

I play with it until it's blossomed

into a fine plan. The anticipation

of it all just stirs my soul. Kind

of gets the old juices going and

at my age, that's rather important.

I always enjoy actual happenings.

Unfortunately, my mind harks

back as well as forward and I

have to remind myself to live in

the moment. Methinks, 'twas moi

the Zen masters were talking

about when writing about being

in the now!

Nothing quite like the whole

coming home thing, unpacking,

showering, falling into bed and

recalling every single detail of

whatever we just enjoyed. There

are times when I do so over and

over again.

So, it comes to me that all three

stages are of vast importance. All

three are necessary. The only thing

I might change would be for me

to learn that ever so important

lesson of living in the now and

enjoying every single moment.

I've always said, "I'm the most

unbalanced Libra I've ever known"

so most likely I'll be juggling all

three to the delight of my non-

existant? existent? audience.

*existAnt existed in the past and

continues to exist.

*existEnt exists, but its existence

do not necessarily continue from

the past

09/13/2022

Methinks I've finally discovered

the secret . . . the secret of why

I'm a tad heavy and my counter

part is not . . .

If he has a beer, he leaves about

an inch in the bottom. This is the

way it's done in polite society

in Mexico. Sometimes, I think

he's more Mexican than German!

We open a bottle of wine, we

drink half and he's inclined to

leave it for another day. My way

is to finish the bottle just in case

it might sour, you know!

He always leaves a tad of food on

his plate, also a Mexican custom.

He'll say no to seconds and I'll

say yes to thirds, if I really like

the dish.

On the other hand, when we go to

the grocery store, he buys double

and I buy single. Let me just say,

he eats well all month and I do

some pretty bizarre put-togethers!

I like to top off the gas in the pick

up and he prefers to wait until it's

running on red . . . Still, opposites

attract and it just might be why

we get along so well! Who knows?!

opposites attract

different makes for spicy

love me the odd ones

09/12/2022

Now that I'm about 172 years

old, I marvel at the changes I

have witnessed in my own life

span.

We got our first phone when I

was 10; a three-way party line.

Now, our cell phones fit in the

palms of our hands!

At about the same time, our 

town had one black and white

television station. Today, there

are hundreds and hundreds.

Mostly, dads worked and moms

stayed at home, rarely seen today.

She cooked proper sit down meals,

both breakfast and supper. Fast

food and take out reign today.

Our parents didn't even have to

give permission for our small pox

vaccines; we got them at school.

I can't even imagine the law suits

this would bring about today.

Special services in education were

just beginning and today there are

so many categories it boggles the

mind. For these, I am most thankful.

School lunches were homemade and

absolutely delicious. Methinks today's

smack of pre-packaging.

And no computers, just ribboned

typewriters. Long distance phone 

calls were prohibitive and telegrams 

quite fun.

Sooooo not saying the good old days

were better, just find the changes 

quite interesting.

days of yesteryear

nostalgia reigns eternal

good better or best

09/11/2022

"When life gets dark,

that's when stars

appear among us.

Shine bright, 

beautiful ones

Throw light from 

your burning hearts."

~John Mark Green

Today, we can't help but

remember the events of

21 years ago. I imagine

we are all casting our 

minds back, recalling 

where we were when the

news broke out of what we

refer to today as 9/11.

Teaching in my classroom

full of kids, suddenly the

television came on. The

principal informed us over

the network that we were

to keep our TVs on and 

that we would have the

students in our rooms for

the day. Furthermore, bath

room breaks were to be

accompanied by an adult.

I remember the shocked

silence in the room as the

broadcast continued. It

takes a lot to shut up teens

and this was more than a

lot! The silence 'mongst

the students was almost

deafening.

There were silent tears,

open mouths, arms up,

shaking heads, all in 

disbelief of what was 

happening. Some of my

young Christian students 

quietly rose, went to the 

back of the classroom 

and began praying. The

rest of us . . . crossing

ourselves over and over.

In 40 years of teaching,

I have never witnessed

any comparable event.

Heart wrenching beyond

belief . . .  never to be

forgotten.

I pray the 3,000 lives

lost that day may rest

in peace.

09/10/2022

The gift of a day . . .

We all get bogged down

a bit in life no matter our 

ages, our situations, our 

commitments. 

So what's to be done? For

us, it's all about taking a 

day. We stay abed, eat fun

foods, watch fun movies.

Methinks 'tis called vegging

out. Glorious!

I sooooo love the whole

being naughty business.

But what worries me, the

ensuing guilt. I can just

hear my mom asking me,

"What is this all about?

Get up, take a shower, get

dressed!"

I think I want to get to the

point where I can glory in

a lazy day, but guilt free.

Actually, I'm thinking I

don't have nearly the guilt

I did the last time we did

this. Maybe what I need

would be to make naughty

more often!

I can hear that invitation

just waiting to seduce me.

Go figure!

heard it said before

what a difference a day makes

lets plan a naughty

09/09/2022

I am blown away by all

the animals that visit us

at the cabin . . . 

Yesterday, perfect example!

Early a.m, up the rock walk

way come both a doe and

her buck. Beautiful, graceful

animals. The buck had a

humungous rack. Sooooo 

moving to see the grace with

which this pair moved. Wow!

We regularly watch this sweet

little doe who has an enormous

growth on her side. Rather

breaks your heart. She came in

twice. The second time, she

parked herself in the pergola

and had a long lie down. Didn't

even get up when I went to

check the mail!

About the same time, we saw

a mom with her two fawns in

the back yard. Cute beyond

description!!! Here we are

watching the front yard from

the porch and running inside

to check the back yard every

few. What a gift we were 

given.

Once they all left, we decided

to call it a day, but just as we

were headed in, two more doe

came into the yard. I find my-

self wanting to sing praises to

the Universe, make no mistake.

God, I sooooo love living in 

the cabin enjoying Mother

Nature every single day!

09/08/2022

Beginning to wonder about 

me . . . Actually, wondered 

about me my entire life, but 

that is as it is!

Confession time; I like, love,

enjoy murder mysteries. I like 

to read them, I like to watch

them. Can't think why, other

than I like the puzzles they

present.

Can't go too far into the harsh.

Sign me up for Bones, Monk,

Columbo, and my all time fave, 

Wolfe. 

I quite enjoy foreign flicks as 

well, Rosemary & Thyme and

Death in Paradise being 

absolute delights. 

I sometimes worry the angst

and agony of the murder

mysteries will creep into my

dreams. Might just be why

I like my guy right next to 

me and holding my hand 

whilst we watch 'em!

I also quite enjoy mysteries 

that have naught to do with 

murder! The Finder, White 

Collar, perfect examples. All 

the fun without so much of 

the angst!

Sooooo, going to have a read

just now . . . well knowing I

might just have to watch a

mystery this very eve . . .

Sherlock, here I come!

09/07/2022

What is it about a book?

I love the heft of a good book.

I like the scent, the intrigue 

of the title, the recognition 

of the author's name. And, 

not to forget the anticipation

accompanying that whole

waiting game!

Perhaps learning to read is

the greatest gift ever given.

Gateway into unknown worlds,

it's the awakening of the mind,

body and soul to possibilities

hitherto unknown.

I am ever grateful for those

talking books sent to us weekly

so my blind brother could read.

I am thankful to my parents for

reading aloud to us each evening. 

And, they modeled the joy that

accompanies silent reading. 

I am well pleased at the efforts

made to get me books from the

library each week. I owe a debt 

of gratitude to Virginia Lemons

for driving us to the library on a

regular basis. She gifted us with

possibilities unattainable in any

other way.

Pure magic to be able to listen

to a book whilst traveling, make

no mistake. Modern techniques

have made so many reading 

scenarios possible. Still, give 

me my own glorious library

any day of the week!

ive said it before

libraries taste of heaven

will say it again

09/06/2022 - Mole lovers ahoy . . .

So love me some summer

mole . . .

I look forward to that time

just before summer's end

and autumn's beginning . . .

There is a plethora of chiles 

of all different types from

all different countries that

come to fruition.

Methinks 'tis mole calling

my name! I get out my past

recipes. Get into my six wall

spice cabinets. Pick, choose;

the mouth watering begins.

The first of three days is spent

stemming, seeding and shaking

the dried chiles. After hours of

burning hands and teary eyes,

the chiles go in water to spend

the night.

On the second of three days, 

the chiles are slow boiled for

several hours and allowed to

cool.

Finally the third, bundle after

bundle of softened chiles are

blended in some of the water

they were boiled in. Put through

a strainer, remains are blended

yet another two times.

At the end of the day, a couple

of gallons of pure chile sauce

are put to boil. Now comes the

fun part . . . adding in anywhere

from 40 to 90 different herbs

and spices. Bits and pieces into

the pot, a stir and a taste.

At last, there's a moment, that

final moment when perfection

is reached. And thus begins the

prepping of glorious foods that

love mole, sharing with friends,

even freezing some for future

meals.

Did I say even say just how 

much I love mole?

09/05/2022

Daddy, ever . . .

"Gentle on my Mind"

~John Hartford

Never been exactly sure

why I am often overcome

with missing him, but 'tis

ever and always.

One of my first real memories

of him is his climb up Mount

Garfield with me in his back

pack. I had just turned three.

What a way to celebrate!

I remember one Friday night,

dad was stopped at a red light

when an old family friend

pulled up by us. Paul Griffin,

long time buddy of dad's, 

dared a drag race. Funny thing

is, Paul won and daddy got the

ticket! Mother was not pleased.

One time I was lucky enough

to be invited along on one of

his drives. I was probably 10

or so. I look over and his eye

was firmly shut. I shook him

and shouted, 'wake up' . . . he

burst out laughing. Turns out

he only had his right eye shut.

I can't eat pancakes even now

without thinking of him. They

were his speciality and I've

never been able to match them.

I so wanted to learn to play

the piano, but of course there

was no funds for such. Then,

he got a job building two fire

places for the owner of The

Far East restaurant. Daddy

exchanged the two fire places

for a piano. Such love I have

never known elsewhere . . .

Oh God, I miss him so much!

09/04/2022

Such exciting times . . .

Last night I received the news;

I am to be a great grandmother!

The elation made me feel rather

over the moon, giddy as a kid at

x-mas.

I'm laying in bed simply smiling

to myself; couldn't stop for love

nor money, as the saying goes.

And, I was reminded . . .

I cast my mind back to the day I

told my parents we were expecting

their first grandchild. We lived in

a land far, far away and alas, had 

no telephone. 

I remember asking a neighbor

if I could borrow their phone in

the evening; cheaper back then.

I baked a pan of fresh muffins to 

thank them and went on over to 

make the call.

The fun part was they overheard

me and of course were ever so

happy for us. The downside might

have been that the entire college

then knew before breakfast. Good

news travels just as fast as bad!

Can't help but think about that

magic moment when my own

daughter told me I was soon to 

be a grandmother. The myriad 

of emotions I felt was like bask-

ing in the beauty of a double 

rainbow.

And now I find I am to be given

the gift of being a great grand!

Feeling ever so blest . . . 

09/03/2022

How many things can you fit

in a day? Frankly, sometimes 

it boggles the mind . . .

Awoke in anticipation, broke

the fast in sharing and chat.

Already looking forward to

the next time . . .

Traveled on and indulged in

x-mas prep. We are in Dec

after all, right?! Errands to

run and people to please . . .

An unexpected luncheon,

quick and dirty sharing, as 

it were. Can hardly wait for

afters . . .

A working p.m. What is it

said about good intentions?

Eating yet again, but at least

avoiding imbibing  Just call

me Saint Whatever . . .

Rest at last, but may it not be

eternal! Waking up is the best

of sleep, after all! Can't help

but wonder what the morrow

has on the docket . . .

     just get on with it

     the difference of a day 

     hopes and dreams await

An afterthought . . .

a day ending in great news 

is a day like no other!!!

09/02/2022

6:30 a.m. this morn brought 

us our fave young bear, one 

we are particularly fond of.

No mom with him, so have

to wonder if he is weaned 

or just out on a walk away 

from home.

He happily walked to and

fro on our rock sidewalk,

obviously having a look- 

see. He must have been a

tad disappointed not to 

encounter breakfast.

Still, as we were off not

long after, rather glad to

see him depart.

Just to think, all of our

summer bears will be off

to hibernate end of Oct.

or early November. 

The part of me that's tired

of picking up knocked over

trash cans and scared when

they come too close to me,

will be just fine with their

long winter's nap.

goldilocks and moi

enjoying our bears just now

still time for their naps