12/09/2022

"The only real mistake is the one

from which we learn nothing."

~Henry Ford

Saw this phenomenal quote on

our infamous FB this morning.

Methinks, I need this tattooed 

on my very soul!

It's that side of horrific how we

berate ourselves over and over

for the mistakes we've made. 

In some cases, years!

Why is it that we can't accept

our mistakes, learn from them

and move on? We play the

scenarios over and over in our

minds. As the producers of our

own mental movies, we edit,

look at alternative endings, and

waste our time wishing things

had been different.

As I'm about a hundred years 

old, I have no idea how much 

time I have left on earth. I'd

like to think I could learn this

lesson whilst I still have time.

Bottom line, so need to lose the 

guilt over my mistakes already.

Learn and grow?!

12/08/2022

Methinks I've been having

prophetic dreams again.

Pray, allow me to share.

It all began yesterday . . .

We ran to Safeway so I

could buy some crossword

puzzles. Getting home, my

guy put on an old murder

mystery called, Diagnosis

Murder starring Dick Van

Dyke. A tad later, I read

a few chapters of a Harry

Potter book I've been

re-reading.

Beginning to get drowsy,

I fell asleep, along with my

book landing on the floor.

The hours in slumber ever

seem to pass quickly. Upon

awaking, I pondered my

vast prophetic dream.

I was at Hogwarts, Harry

Potter's school, sitting in a

comfy chair in the lounge

by the fire. There I was

working on a crossword

puzzle, when Dick Van D

came in and interrupted

me.

So much for my dreams 

going prophetic, right?!

Sorry I can't write any

more, my own hysterics

are about to throw me to

the wolves . . . 

Oh my God, I must be 

back at Hogwarts . . .

Leave me be Dick, I'm

trying to read here!!!

12/07/2022

"Selling all my physical books

today before I make a big move

and switching to a Kindle."

~Bittersweet

I saw this on FB yesterday . . .

Obviously, it gave me pause.

I'm currently reading an 870

page book and its heft has

made me think it would be

easier to read it on my Nook.

Alas, I haven't fired up my

Nook in a dozen years . . .

not even sure if it works 

anymore. 

Still, there is something

rather phenomenal in a

proper book. Pure magic!

Aside from the afore

mentioned heft, there is

the actual beauty of the

book itself. I like the feel

of the pages and enjoy

turning them as I read.

I do like the practicality

of the electronic book.

Methinks my guy would

appreciate NOT having

the light on while he's

trying to sleep. Maybe 

I should give my Nook

a whirl, or maybe I

should just buy one of

those small lights that

fit on your head?

Wonder where they're

sold, if at all?!

12/06/2022

"I am pieces of all the places

I have been, and the people I

have loved. I've been stitched

together by song lyrics, book

quotes, adventure, late night

conversations, moonlight, 

and the smell of coffee."

~Brooke Hampton

So appreciate this quote . . . 

rather makes one think of a 

life well lived in different 

terms. Too often we judge

success by money made, trips

taken, tasks accomplished.

Taking a page out of the above

quote makes me want to take

a peek at my own values . . .

That which I ever and always

love first and foremost would

be my children. Funnily enough,

I've always wanted them to

experience life through their

own family and friends. Add in

the joy that travel and adventure

bring and bounty awaits!

For me, that salt and pepper 

of a good life, or should I say, 

some serious chili seasoning . . . 

looks like a sweet fire, excellent 

background music, a good book 

and a cuppa anything delish on 

the side table.

Another side of me, not to forget

that I'm a Libra, loves moonlight

conversations with my sisters, 

drum circles and meditations. 

Hey, where's that red? I need a 

little top me up . . .

12/05/2022

Of course you all know my

aversion to winter and snow

as I've bitched about it enough.

Methinks the answer lies in 

the old adage, "Eat, drink and 

be merry . . . " and no, I'm not

adding the last part!!!

Yesterday was one of those . . .

A small group of us made Yule

logs. We all brought small logs

we'd collected. My guy did the

trimming and drilling and we

were on . . .

The table was filled with all

kinds of candles, ribbons,

greenery . . . add in the glue

guns, scissors, snips. And not

to forget the absolute glee!!!

Obviously, we each had our

own plans in mind, but midst

the fun and laughter, sharing 

our bounty, our ideas simply

exploded into pure beauty!

Once we were in final stages,

bottles were opened, snacks

seemed to magically appear.

And a few sips later, we were

off (NOT on) . . .

Taking pics, sharing jest, the

guys must have gotten quite

a kick out of us. Not long

before they joined in, bringing

their noxious ways with them.

'Twas hard to bring festivities

to a close, but dark, home and

dinners ever await. For me, the

end of this perfect day meant

I had to decorate my table and

crown it with my Yule log.

Such momentous memories, 

an ongoing kaleidoscope in

my mind . . . bless ye merry

gentlewomen . . .

12/04/2022

"I'm sassy and passionate.

Chaotic. Sarcastic. Occasionally

offensive, a bit awkward, and

never easy to control. I spent

most of my life thinking those

were bad things only to wake

up one day and realize they

were my best qualities."

~Brooke Hampton

I have a somewhat love/hate

relationship with this author;

mostly love with a little hate

thrown in. I was reading her

self-descript yesterday and

thought to myself, "Self, we

would all do well to follow

her example."

Might be the self-acceptance

that comes with aging. We 

do tend to lose quite a bit 

of nonsense along the way as 

we blow out those additional

b-day candles. 

My first cousin wrote me

yesterday, talking about self-

acceptance. He seemed to

think I had accomplished it,

but I imagine it's rather an

on-going process.

It occurs to me that we'd all

do well to make an intro type

statement about ourselves.

Thinking here . . . seems to 

me, maybe we forget that

essence of being whilst just

trying to get through life the

best we can.

What say you we do this . . . 

a thought or two dedicated to 

our own personal growth. 'Tis

a thought . . .

Were I just meeting myself for

the first time, I would indeed

note the eccentricity. That, I

celebrate. I love well; I friend

well. I celebrate my path and

intentionally walk it every day

of my life.

If I could only . . . awwwww,

maybe I shouldn't even go there!

Tell me, who are you? How are

you becoming?

12/03/2022

Can't help but wonder if 

anyone gets the same kick

out of what I tend to think

of as alternative shopping.

One of my greatest loves

would be proper antique

stores. Alas, pocketbook

doesn't seem to extend to

that kind of shopping . . .

but, I still enjoy the 

occasional look-see.

I do get quite a kick out of

Goodwill stores. Most of

them are organized, clean

and above all, interesting.

I tend to only look at the

pretties, as my mother 

used to call them. I make

an effort to only pick up

older items that would fit

in a 135 year old cabin.

Once in a while, I find a

specialty shop, fund-raiser

type, that I just fall for . . .

and fall for is exactly the

right term; make no mistake.

We slipped away this morn

and visited a couple of places.

I found a few of such fun

things. Thank God I only go

once every month or two.

Otherwise I would be broke.

Love me a good garage sale.

I have a sister who truly rises

to the occasion. She gets up

early at the weekend, makes

a list from the adverts and off

she goes. She has some finds

that must wow the gods! I'm

tempted to theft every time I

visit her. Good thing she has

a great sense of humor.

Sooooo love me some x-mas 

alternative shopping!!!

12/02/2022

I feel like such a shit!

My dearest and bestest just

gave me a very special coffee

warmer for x-mas. Alas, the

mug that comes with has to

be used for it to work.

My problem is that I have an

ongoing love affair with my

absolute favest coffee mugs.

I tried to hide disappointment, 

but she knows me way too 

well. She offered to exchange

it for the more simple plug-in

one I've been intending to get

for myself.

Can't help but wonder though,

Is one born a total shit or does

it come with age?! I'm quite

upset with myself . . . damn!

I'll probably just chastise my-

self, beat myself up, for a few

days and then go on to being

naughty once again.

On a brighter note . . . she did

say she was happy to exchange

it. You know, a friend like this

gal is beyond priceless!!!

Just love her muchly . . .

12/01/2022

Sooooo . . . today marks the

beginning of the end for 2022!

December is such a fun month!

All those different end of year

celebrations for each and every

creed, birthdays and all coming

to an end on New Year's Eve. 

Wow!

My fave part of this month is

rounding up all the presents I've

been buying throughout the year.

I have some pretty odd ways of

wrapping and I get a kick out of

that too. The hard part is getting

them to the post office. I have to

chuckle . . . nowadays, posting 

is more expensive than the gifts. 

Go figure!

I like to begin decorating on the

first every year. Takes me several

days to get it all up . . .  and then

again to take it all down. I usually

find the odd piece that I've over-

looked around Valentine's Day.

This would be my day to remind

myself not to let December turn

me into a proper drinker. Good 

to be both sane and careful though 

my guy has already brought home 

the eggnog and rum.

Then there's that whole thinking

which New Year's Resolutions 

to adopt. You know, the ones we

follow for about three days and

then forget all about them?!

I pray you all have the most

glorious of Decembers . . . the

planning, gifs, celebrations and

family time . . . Just do it all!

love me end of year

celebrations all day long

serve me up some cheer

11/30/2022

"Aging doesn't bother me . . .

I am just grateful I am here

to experience it . . . " z2z

This darn word, aging, creeps

into my vocabulary more often

than I would like! It appears 'tis

something I think about rather

regularly . . . or should I say,

rather too often?!

Bottom line, I'm damn happy

to age . . . especially since the

alternative isn't very attractive!

I also like the freedom that

comes with it. I can do things,

get away with things, that I

never could have in days of

yesteryear.

So, what would it be that I'd

like to get away with! Alas,

dressing down, rather than

dressing up, is a positive!

Living on those well-earned

fringes at about half the price,

if not particularly fun, it is

absolutely interesting!

At this point I'm in swearing

mode ... sooooo NOT going to

give up my upstairs bedroom.

Nor am I adopting a cane any

time soon . . . although I have

three Pagan staves . . . do those

count?

This whole aging thing is fun;

no, I misspeak . . . can be fun!

I prefer it that way . . . will keep

you informed; feel free to join

me anytime . . . sooooo NOT

kidding!

lets have a birthday

aging is better than death

sooooo lookin' forward

11/29/2022

"This busy, materialistic

nonsense is not for me. I

belong in a witchy cottage

in the forest somewhere 

with my books, wild berries

and a pet fox." ~B. Hampton

This would be moi, although

you'd have to add in witch's

brew, otherwise known as

a good dry red! I'm ever so

lucky. I've owned it for just

over a decade.

My tiny, tiny cabin backs

into a several hundred acre

forest. Alas, I no longer hike

up there. The black smith who 

built it in 1887, finally opened

up the attic in 1930 and put in 

two tiny, tiny bedrooms. Finally,

in 1950, a tiny, tiny bathroom.

And just so you know . . .

tiny, tiny translates into really, 

really tiny!

There has constantly been so

much work to do.  A 136 year

old cabin requires an incredible

amount. Still, somewhere 'twixt

this and that red I was talking

about, it truly helps stave off my

depression. Not to worry . . . I

only allow myself some of that

red twice a week . . . even mark

it on the calendar so as not to

overdo.

As as to pets, these are a regular

occurrence around here. Feel 

free to be envious . . .

-bears      -bees, wasps,                  yellow jackets      -birds: bluejay,        chickadee, crane,              finch, junco, hawk,         magpie, morning        dove, nut hatch,          pigeon, robin,                        wood pecker,      -cats, tame       -cats, wild: bobcats,         mountain lion       -chipmunks

-deer: mule,          whitetail     -dogs, domestic      -elk      -foxes, red      -moles,       -rabbits      -raccoons      -snakes, garter      -spiders     -squirrels: fox tail,                 grey       -turkeys, wild      -voles

11/28/2022

Methinks 'tis confession 

time again . . .

Not quite sure what's gotten

into me, but I've a hankering

for Harry Potter. I read the

books, lo these many years

ago. Of course, I saw the

movies . . . but I needed a

re-run, as it were.

I'm on book three, even as

we speak. A bit awkward 

as I've always been known

as something of an erudite.

Although, I suppose that just

might be wishful thinking!

Then I remembered, OUCH,

we oldsters tend to regress

and embarrass our families 

and friends.

One of the things I like about

being a hundred plus years old 

is this fabled regression can be

quite fun . . . and, I'm having 

a ball!

Once I've finished with this

whole HP endeavor, I'm going

to have a look-see into what

other nonsense I can get myself 

into!

Feel free to recommend other

ideas . . . or you might just be

brave and join me!!!

Say, maybe we need a little kid

b-day party to make all this snow

more palatable!!!

11/27/2022

Warning: memory assault . . .

As a kid growing up in the

50's, my family had sit down

meals for breakfast and dinner.

And, you didn't leave the table

until you had finished your

plate!

Must have rubbed off as I

followed in the same vein of

things. And, oh the stories my

kids could tell . . . and do, alas!

Life, jobs, the teenage years . . .

all have to do with things

changing, rules relaxing and

doing things differently. Now,

sit down meals are reserved for

holidays, family get togethers,

special occasions.

Still, methinks I may be getting

a tad out of hand. Yesterday, I

had ice cream for breakfast at

o' dark thirty. It's 4:00 a.m. right

now and I'm having eggnog. And,

don't think for a minute that I'm

going to confess to any more

than that!

I assuage my conscience with

inner rhetoric such as, "I so

deserve this. I'm a hundred years

old, may as well enjoy the time

I have left. Time to think outside

the box." and other such nonsense.

Boy oh boy, if only my kids could

see me now! But at least I eat with

my mouth closed and I say please

and thank you . . . That should

count for something, right?!