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Have you ever had walnuts and pecans, tossed in melted butter, then sprinkled with rosemary, salt and sugar, tossed together, then baked?? Mmmmmm, mmmm, good! I never measure the ingredients, you just kind of eyeball things til it all looks evenly coated and well distributed, then spread it in a single layer on a cookie sheet. I added roasted peanuts this time, too. Since I already had chicken baking in the oven at 375*, I put the tray in the oven for approximately 10 minutes, used a turner to move them all around, then put them in for a final 10 minutes. You just don’t want them to burn. Once cooled, you can store in an airtight container and snack on them when the mood strikes you. They’re a nice twist to an old standby snack, and perfect for bringing to a gathering or for giving as a holiday gift!

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Apparently, Clematis loves a majority of cool, rainy, sunless days! This year my vine has never looked healthier, or had as many flowers.

Besides what is pictured, there are yet more blooms scattered above and below this mass of them in the center. I absolutely love their color, and when the sun finally comes out, as it has this afternoon, their purple against the green of the leaves and nearby ferns looks beautiful!

One thing I did learn early on, despite the vines looking completely dead, you never prune them back. Quite surprisingly, out of terribly brown, dried up looking vines, new growth definitely pushes out of them come spring time!

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To the best of my knowledge, and after a brief search online, this appears to be Queen Anne’s Lace. When it flowers, a pleasant scent fills the air. I have it along the front and back of the house, as well as in a “flowerbed” at the foot of the Hemlock.

It’s a groundcover that definitely needs no tending to, as it can manage just fine on its own! That being said, it is very aggressive/invasive, and quite difficult to eradicate. 4 years ago my mother and I removed the plants in my front flowerbed, laid black matting down and put plenty of mulch over top of that. Then we started over with a few flowering perennials such as yarrow, salvia, Clematis and butterfly bush.

To date, the groundcover has come back with a vengeance, and over the last year or so, it has managed to slowly but surely choke out the salvia and yarrow. I am so disappointed about that. Only my butterfly bush and Clematis have managed to survive.

While I love that Queen Anne’s Lace is delicate, nicely scented, and extremely low maintenance, knowing what I do now, I would never deliberately plant it anywhere near a flowerbed or the likes. Nor will I dig up to move anything that was planted where the “lace” has taken over, because it pops up where ever you move the other plantings to!

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The other morning I got up out of bed early, tired of having tossed and turned most of the night. For once, the air was mild and almost summer-like, something we’re lacking a great deal of here in the northeast.

I got the coffee maker set for Dean to turn on when he got out of bed. I set to work on my tea and soon I had a steaming mug of tea ready to sip as I sat outdoors.

I was greeted with the most beautiful sunrise I’ve seen in quite some time. It was so stunning, I had to set my tea down and come in for my camera, yet a camera never quite does the actual stunning view justice. But this time, I feel it came close.

Despite my unsatisfactory night of rest, I felt that the morning more than made up for it. Perhaps, despite feeling I am constantly tired, I should sleep less, and rise early more. Somehow, having the opportunity to greet a gorgeous morning settles your mind and soothes your soul with peace.

I remember a saying I heard more frequently while growing up - “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, happy and wise.” Perhaps I should adopt this practice and enjoy it’s benefits more often!

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Last year our lilac bush was loaded with flowers! This year, it has hardly any. 😕 I remember the year before last, it’s flowers were sparse, also. Someone said that flowering bushes and fruit/nut bearing trees have cycles of abundance and lack. I can say that I think they may be right, because we’ve not only noticed it with our lilac bush, but also our apple, peach, pear and chestnut trees now that I think back over the last 5 years. Makes you wonder why that is?

At least I was able to cut a few clusters of lilacs to bring indoors and enjoy their beautiful fragrance. I’m focusing on little things that bring me pleasure.....

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It’s been a couple days since a nest of baby Carolina Wrens fledged. They were tucked up into an eave inside our screen room. I’ve read that wrens sometimes find the smallest of openings and will build their nest in some pretty unusual places, like even inside an old work boot!

Wrens typically don’t reuse the same nest for their second clutch of eggs, so I think it’s safe to say we have the use of our screen room again. Already I miss the little family, and sure do hope the young ones have survived their first few days outside the nest!

At least we’ve had some warmish, comfortable weather for them to acclimate to the big world around them. There’s been a whole lot of activity, singing and nesting going on in the bird community within our yard, and I really enjoy it. This is one of my favorite parts of Spring!

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Lately I’ve lost my “oomph”, and I apologize. Is anyone else in this same boat? I think it’s been too long of a cold, gray, snowy, rainy succession of seasons.

I am a person who thrives on sunshine, warmth, and the smell and sounds of nature around me. Since last October, we’ve had only a handful of days that could be considered real Spring like weather, and that’s about it.

Couple that with the fact of changes I’m encountering within myself more frequently of late, and a full time job handling the business, then household matters until basically bedtime, and you’ve got one pretty exhausted, unwell, possibly bordering on down and depressed human being right here!

No doubt you’ve heard that old phrase, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”? Well, I think that about sums up Dean and I at the moment. But we’re working on getting ourselves upbeat, energetic and back into the right frame of mind.

So I just want to say thank you. Thank you if you’ve still checked in, wondered where I went to and hoped you’d see me back here posting again. It’s coming.... slow, but sure. Though I have to admit I’ve thought about retreating into my own world and just eliminating exerting myself for anything save my own preservation.

But I don’t think that would be fair - to myself, or you. Part of moving through and getting beyond this “slump” is doing things, even when I don’t feel I have the energy or the heart to do them. Because staying connected, and keeping interests alive is, eventually, the saving grace that carries people through some of their more trying and difficult times. And I also know that this, too, shall pass...

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Scroll down to see a couple more pictures I took of the newest visitors to return to our yard this Spring. Here’s the male Rose Breasted Grosbeak.

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Female Rose Breasted Grosbeak. She looks nothing like her counterpart!

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Male Baltimore Oriole

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Still hoping to get out if this slump of gray, cold, rainy days with far too few sunny days to even speak of. It just doesn’t seem right to not have sunshine and warmth to boost our spirits now that we’ve officially crossed over into May.

Due to the weather, I was quite surprised to spot a lone, returning male Baltimore Oriole yesterday mid-morning in the front yard! I wasn’t expecting to see that they’d migrated back until maybe another week or so due to the cold weather. But I quickly gathered my new feeder, filled it with grape jam and ran it outside. It took about an hour, and he was back again, this time happy to discover his treat. He was back and forth all day, which was so nice to see.

Delightfully, this morning when I entered the kitchen and looked out the window, I spotted a male Rose Breasted Grosbeak who was apparently with a group of other returning Grosbeaks, because it wasn’t long before I saw another, and another, then a female! Wow, there was so much activity at the feeders today that made my heart so glad. There were many more Orioles, too. Now I’m ready and just waiting on the arrival of my beautiful Hummingbirds.

I’m really looking forward to getting some flowers planted in my pots and such, to really brighten up the yard. The grass, at least, is a gorgeous green from all the rain. Dean was able to mow it for the first time this year on the only warm day last week. It looked and smelled so wonderful.....

Come on Spring ~ hurry up and get here for good!

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Early last summer, we discovered, quite accidentally, that we had flying squirrels. Just after sunset, Dean had been looking out the window into the western sky. He caught the silhouette of a sudden scurrying movement up the trunk of our front tree, and immediately suspected a flying squirrel. He was right!

Unbeknownst to us, a small group of them had been gleaning leftovers of seed, peanuts and such from the bird feeders at the base of the tree. We were delighted at the discovery.

Thereafter, throughout the summer, at dusk, I would grab a bunch of peanuts, click my tongue and set the food out for them. Soon they would scurry down the tree, grab a nut, and scurry back up - squealing as they went.

Eventually, there would almost always be one waiting on the little food shelf for my arrival with peanuts, and my new addition, peanut butter. How thrilling that was! By summer’s end, we easily had a dozen flying squirrels either on the tree, or flying in from nearby trees to get their evening snack.

As winter approached, their numbers dwindled, and I lessened their treats gradually so they could hunker down, hibernate, or do whatever flying squirrels do over the winter. I did not want to interfere with nature, especially once the cold winter winds started howling. And that had been the end of my interaction with them.

But this week I unexpectedly “bumped” into a few of my little buddies again! I had gone out to the feeders, later than usual, to remove those that the deer could damage since they like to forage there overnight. Sometimes, they get rough with feeders within their reach as they try to acquire the food from within them.

As luck would have it, a flying squirrel had been down the tree and was in search of some leftovers. I caught it’s quick scurrying action as it raced up the tree upon hearing my arrival. Seeing the little guy or gal made me happy! I went inside to get some peanuts to set out for them and waited. The one came back down the tree, and another flew in from a nearby tree.

As of last night, there were 4 flying squirrels in the tree that I know of. More could very well have flown in after I left. I decided to see if I could get a picture to share. They usually are quite shy, but this one in the picture below - not so much. I guess we’ll be back to visiting one another most evenings at dusk! 😊

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Happy weekend!!

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I really wanted to make some banana bread, but knew the afternoon would get busy, so I hesitated. I decided to pull out my 1962 first edition Betty Crocker’s New Good and Easy Cook Book. Sometimes, in the older recipe books you can find some quick and easy things to make without a lot of fuss.

I looked in the index under banana, and found a handful of pages with recipe ideas. I decided to check out the one for Banana Yellow Cake. BINGO! There was just the type of quick recipe I was wanting to find, because you start with a box of yellow cake mix to save time. In place of the walnuts, I added miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips, but I’m sure the nuts would have been fine to keep in as well. Charlie just isn’t a fan of nuts in his desserts, though, so for his sake, I left them out.

I also poured the batter into aluminum muffin wrappers in a muffin tin, instead of making it into a cake. They turned out perfect! Tonight, I frosted the muffins up with Betty Crocker’s Rich and Creamy Dark Chocolate Frosting for our evening dessert..... Oh, my gosh, they were absolutely delicious.

So here’s the recipe in case you’d like to try this banana twist on a version of cupcakes, or cake, too. I’m definitely going to keep this in mind for a future dessert option again!

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Happy Easter, my friends!

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Dean and I celebrated our anniversary mid-week. It’s amazing how quickly time flies.....

Yet there are moments, and some were quite tough for us in the beginning, when you feel as though time cannot possibly move fast enough to get you through to the other side of something!

Thank God, He brought us through to happier days! Dean and I have such treasured memories, of love and beauty, and just plain downright fun times!

To find a companion, even once in this life, one with whom your soul connects.... Oh, how fortunate and blessed you are!

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I’ve finally sat down, done with my work for today, except for the folding of some laundry once the dryer has finished its cycle. After Dean left to tend to a few small tree jobs, I got right to work on dishes, cleaning and sweeping up.

I’ve recently realized, or rather have forgotten, just how efficient a simple broom and dustpan are. Sometimes, having to lug out the vacuum seems a bit much, and too loud.

Having all these pets and dealing with their fur can constantly keep your house looking as though it’s never been cleaned! Especially when you look on top of and along the baseboards and under the kitchen cabinet toekicks.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see that the broom can tackle cleaning all of these areas with ease, and even sweeping off several of the area rugs that seem to acquire the most debris. However, there certainly is a time and place for the use of the vacuum, but just not every day.

This past week, Charlie took on a new job, which has been in the works for about a month or so now. Over the last year of his 2 1/2 years at his former place of work, it has become apparent that the management and many coworkers are in need of serious improvement. It had gotten to the point where Charlie was having to pick up the slack for so many, and it was continually very stressful for him to try to handle and manage it all.

He has not changed occupations, he’s just switched from an assisted living facility to a nursing/rehabilitation home. This facility has an extremely high reputation in our community, and has been owned and operated by the same family for several generations. It is obvious to see the amount of time, attention and care they put into running their facility for the complete well-being of their residents.

The entire work atmosphere is amazingly different. Now Charlie, who is an extremely conscientious and attentive person, can focus on the job he is hired to do, and only that. His new coworkers have said how wonderfully he has adapted, and how quickly he’s caught on to doing what is expected of him.

I’m so happy that we initiated and strongly encouraged this change. Now, I firmly believe that Charlie will be much happier and healthier, as the elimination of stress and its effects will no longer spill over into other areas of his life. I can absolutely see that there will be an opportunity for him to remain at this facility for years to come, and even have the opportunity to advance.

Sometimes it’s hard stepping out of our comfort zone. But when we do, oh, the doors that will open!

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We recently cleared out the very packed, messy screen room to prepare it for use. While I still have one back wall to organize and sort through, it doesn’t interfere too much with the front section where we set up our furniture.

It felt incredibly good to see things take shape. I’m always happiest once we round the bend from persistently cold weather to increasingly warmer weather.

It was nice when, the very next day after we worked in the screen room, the morning dawned mild and springlike, right down to the gentle pitter patter of a brief morning rainshower. As you can tell from the video, not only was I outdoors enjoying it, but the birds were loving it, too! Turn up your sound to hear the beauty of it all.

Is there anything more peaceful than the comforting sound of gentle rainfall and birdsong early in Spring?

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I’ve always felt that being out in nature, (whether admiring it, tending to it or planting in it) is therapy for our mind, body and soul.

So much comfort, peace and healing to be found there....

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Today is my son’s birthday. When I went into labor for Charlie on that day, 20 years ago and very early in the morning, it was Easter Sunday. I remember thinking of the irony of that. While all my immediate family gathered for our annual dinner, I had been in labor - anxious for his arrival but filled with slight trepidation, knowing yet what still lay ahead of me. All I could think about in the early stages was that delicious strawberry pie my mother had made, and I hoped someone would save a piece for me. Ha!

For my first pregnancy, we wanted to be surprised at the blessing we were gifted. When the second time came around, I really wanted to know this little blessing so I could be prepared. If it was another daughter, I had clothes, toys, blankets, and accessories galore. But if it was a son, I really needed things that were much more boyish.

When all was said and done, I labored just over 24 hours for him, unlike the seemingly 9 short hours that I labored for Becca. I was totally unprepared for such a drastic difference between the two experiences. You would think if the first was only 9 hours, the second would have to be about the same, or, as I had really been hoping, less.

But I guess Charlie was born to fulfill that quote, “good things come to those who wait”. He was such a good baby - mostly quiet, content, ate well and loved to sleep. Becca, oh my Lord, she was the complete opposite. I truly thought I would lose my ever loving mind with her!

Charlie has never been a child who liked to be in the spotlight. He was happiest on his own. Give him a box of sand and some toy cars, and he’d talk to himself and play for hours. As he grew, he did not like to be away from me. He always needed me in his site. He walked late, potty trained late, and was not in hurry to learn is A,B,C’s and 1,2,3’s. He had unusual worries that lasted for sometimes 2 to 3 months at a time. He needed and craved repetition and harmony, order and routine.

Looking back now, I can see it all so clearly. But then, the doctor just urged us to love and support him, and help him work through his little idiosyncrasies. Today, Charlie would be considered a child who is “on the spectrum”. While he still struggles with worries, certain aversions and sometimes anxiety, he is far from incapable! He is trustworthy, sensitive, and pays attention to details. He is dedicated, conscientious and dependable, and we love that beautiful nature of his!

He’s a son who is strong in ways others don’t see. A person who gets up everyday, walking through the ordered and predictable world of his making, yet is confronted by change and unknowns in the other world around him, forcing him to battle worries while putting on a brave front.

I love this child who has taught me some beautiful things about the simplicity of life, and how, really, we all just want to belong, to feel understood, and to live a life of peace and joy. ❤️

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It’s been around for a few years now. Hygge is what I’m referring to. Have you heard of it? Turns out, I’ve been practicing hygge in some ways without even realizing it.

For example, my small, cozy sitting room, complete with soft lighting, a welcoming beach scene displayed on the curtains and a small, crackling, electric fireplace for those chilly winter nights.

You, no doubt, have practiced it, too, when you’ve snuggled up in a soft, warm blanket, with a cup of tea or cocoa and a good book.

Hygge is essentially a way of life, for those people who practice it. It’s togetherness, living in the moment, indulging in what awakens your senses, relaxation, and all things comfort. It’s basically like a hug, just without the physical touch.

While winter is an obvious time for all things hygge, you can practice this concept year round. Some ideas for summertime hygge are picnics in the park, backyard dinner parties, bonfires on the beach, and outdoor movie nights. What it really comes down to is making the most of little, daily pleasures, whether it’s a balmy, sunshine filled summer day, or a dark, frigid winter one.

Gratitude is another key factor. Actually, hygge and gratitude go hand in hand. The philosophy entails feeling thankful for the little things, like a bike ride on a beautiful day, or a cup of hot chocolate, or watching your favorite movie. Research shows that people who feel grateful are not only happier but also more helpful and forgiving and less worried about “having it all”. Instead, it’s all about savoring simple pleasures.

Hygge is also expressed through a home’s interior design. It’s candles, lamps, and fireplaces, a cozy reading nook with a plush chair and warm light or neutrals and whites for your wall colors throughout the house that create a sense of space and calm. Blankets and pillows provide comfort. Small accent pieces of furniture made of wood not only warm your home with their tone, but they also help bring you closer to nature.

Now that you know a little about Hygge, you can put these ideas into motion. With just a minimal amount of changes, you can likely be on your way to having the most cozy and inviting and happy home you’ve ever dreamed of. And what’s not to love about that?

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Hope you’re enjoying today!

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This past weekend, Becca and Justin’s townhouse was open for its first tour after being put on the market. As I strongly suspected, it had many buyers who were very interested, because the real estate market continues to lean hard in the favor of sellers.

The evening after their open house, their realtor had specified a time at which they would begin accepting offers. Within half an hour, 5 offers came in! After discussing each, and weighing various pro’s and con’s, I’m happy to say they accepted an offer for $4,000 OVER their asking price! Even better is that the buyer is quite financially squared away so that instead of a closing that could take 2-3 months, this closing will be finalized by the middle of April.

We really could not have asked for a better ending! It’s a great relief to Becca knowing all the hard work and preparation finally paid off. They’re settled in now at Justin’s parents, the grandpups have adjusted well, and life is finally chugging along in a much more normal fashion.

A couple of days ago Romeo had his groom. He comes back looking like a handsome lamb. Today, it was Joanna’s turn to have her undercoat brushed out, her nails trimmed and a sweet smelling bath. She looks so pretty with fur that’s been combed until it gleams, and loves all the attention from her pampering.

Charlie stayed home from work today. It seems he has a touch of the flu, which has been running rampant through these parts of late. When it comes to sickness, I must admit, I get uptight. I know how quickly germs can spread, so keeping things sanitized, and making sure whoever is sick takes extra care in keeping their germs to themself is a top priority of mine. Its bad enough even one of us has to be sick, let alone all of us! I’m hopeful after lots of rest, nourishing food and fresh air, Charlie will be up and about as usual.

It’s been absolutely wonderful to crack the windows open on these milder days. To hear the birds, and catch a scent of the outdoors has been so uplifting! The older I get, the longer Winter seems to last. But then again, I’ve never really been a Winter person. I could exist with every season but!

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We have sunshine, blue sky and lots of bird activity. It’s such a pleasure to wake to days like today. You feel upbeat, you have some energy, and together these make you want to tackle a project, a chore or something in between.

I put Italian sausage in the crockpot for dinner. To it I’ll add a side of rice and steamed broccoli. I like when meal time is a simple fare. The house smells delicious. I half contemplated putting out the other small crockpot and making a dessert in it. Chocolate fudge cake immediately came to mind, but we need that about as much as we need a hole in the head, so I resisted the urge.

About 5:30 a.m. I got a text from Becca. Apparently she’d come down with the stomach bug about 3 a.m. and couldn’t stop vomiting. Due to some health issues, she has to be very careful not to get dehydrated, so they decided it was best she go to ER.

After some time waiting, she was hooked up to an IV to receive fluids, and anti nausea medicine. Once a few bags of fluids were administered, which takes at least a few hours, she was released. She has plans to do nothing but sleep and try to recuperate. She was given a script for more anti nausea medicine, but we really hope she won’t need it.

Here’s hoping you’re enjoying a lovely Saturday!

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Yesterday was a mild and sunny first day of Spring here in the Northeast. If you were up before the sunrise, you may have seen that spectacular, large, orange moon as it sank into the western  horizon.

I took the opportunity to do a small bit of cleanup in the yard. While I really would have liked to do much more, I’m extremely conscious of just how touchy my muscles and joints are nowadays. Nothing is worth setting myself back health wise, so I just do what I feel comfortable doing.

We’ve noticed the arrival of Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds and Cowbirds so far. I love stepping out into the early morning, or near dusk, and hearing the song of a Robin in a nearby tree top. There have also been several flocks of Geese passing through overhead, and that’s always a sure sign of Spring.

Sparrows have been housecleaning in one of last year’s birdhouses that I left outdoors. When I purchase a birdhouse, I like to make sure it has an access door for cleaning out the old nest at the end of the season, but this house was a gift, and did not have one. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw mama Sparrow exiting the house frequently with a beakful of old nesting material.

Since mate seeking and nestbuilding is underway, I got out the more delicate birdhouses that I’d tucked away and hung them where I know the birds will be looking to find them. Besides the anticipation of warmth and beautiful flowers, watching various breeds of birds take up residence in each of my birdhouses is the next best thing!

Dean’s shoulder has settled into what we think will be the norm for him. After the intense pain of the cortisone shot wore off, he definitely felt a relief from the all day, every day throbbing and discomfort. But there are certain limitations with the arm. He’s just learning to adopt different methods of getting certain things done, so he doesn’t use his arm any more than he has to, and for now, he’s okay with that.

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Have you ever caught someone red-handed? We did.

You’d like to think that everyone is like you. Conscientious. Respectful. Hard working. Considerate. Willing to go the extra mile..... And when you find out they’re not, it just stings. It’s so disappointing!

Dean and I had been in conversation after he’d come home from work yesterday, and had plans to step out momentarily to run some errands. We happened to be in the vicinity of a window, and saw the mail truck pull up to our box. It wasn’t our usual guy. But that’s been happening a lot more lately.

This substitute was a middle aged (or so) fella. We saw he had gathered our mail, but was looking down and seemed to be taking a bit, before finally putting it in our box and continuing on. Not but a moment later, Dean decided to grab it before we headed out.

He came inside with a kind of look of disbelief and handed me a notice. It’s heading read, “Sorry we missed you while you were out.” Then the mail carrier had filled out information regarding our delivery that was supposed to have been signed for, and the notice listed 3 options for how we could now go about retrieving this delivery. Missed us while we were out?! He hadn’t even come to the door to see if we were home!

Well, I was instantly steaming mad. I looked up the number for our post office, and finally got through on the second try. I explained to the woman who answered what had just transpired. While I was on the phone, she told me to hang on while she contacted him. (Apparently, the carriers can be contacted immediately on cellphones in their vehicles.)

When she got back on the line, she informed me that she told him I had called and that he needed to bring our delivery back. I knew he wasn’t far down the road, so at least that was good. She apologized and I thanked her.

Do you think the carrier, feeling sheepish, or full of remorse, turned right around to rectify the matter? Absolutely not! I was so furious. We waited, and waited, and waited. We could not now go run our errands, because the delivery needed to be signed for! I gave him until an hour later, then I rang and rang the post office to no avail. It was half hour before closing  and they were not about to answer that phone. Ugh!

FINALLY, a full hour and 15 minutes later, when he was done with his route, he decided to come back. He did not even pull in the drive. Dean told me he would go out, “just in case”..... The mail carrier actually had the audacity to look put out. He said absolutely nothing to Dean. No apology. Not even an attempt at a lame excuse!! And Dean said nothing to him, which I strongly feel he should have. He said it wouldn’t make a difference. I still would have told that guy a thing or two. He should be ashamed of himself. You would expect actions like that from someone who was younger and life hadn’t taught him any lessons in karma yet.

Well, Mr. Mailman - what goes around, comes around.

And it’s a sad day when you realize that people, and places, and society just isn’t how it used to be.......

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Yesterday, Dean had an appointment at the orthopedic office for his shoulder. Over time, it has become increasingly bothersome due to the throbbing pain it radiates, especially at night. Being in such a physically demanding occupation for all these years, it’s only natural to begin feeling the wear and tear on his body after nearly 40 years of constant action.

First, we needed to find out just what was going on. Our worst fear was a rotator cuff tear. X-rays were taken to rule out any obvious bone or joint issues. There were none, except some slight arthritis. After performing various arm movements and strength assessments, it was determined that we were dealing with bursitis and impingement.

Before going to the appointment, Dean and I had done some research on cortisone shots. Additionally, we’ve heard personal accounts from more than a handful of people. Half had positive results, the other half had negative or no results. Based on our compilation of information, we agreed to start with prescription strength anti-inflammatory medicine.

While the doctor encouraged a cortisone shot, he would do whatever we felt comfortable with. He mentioned the medicines aren’t as effective due to obvious reasons of needing to be absorbed into the body, then distributed through the bloodstream. With the shot, it was a direct delivery, and also had a numbing medicine to help ease the pain at the injection site. Upon hearing the latter, Dean opted to get a dose of cortisone.

It was his first, and last shot. He felt nothing numbing to speak of, and, as is common, there is a period of pain from 24-48 hours after the shot, that is worse before it gets better. Some people experience a flushing of the face, and elevated blood pressure, and as luck would have it, Dean experienced both. At its worst point last night, Dean felt his shoulder had received a massive punch, and the fist was still embedded into his shoulder. Not even a pain pill touched the pain. He could barely lift his arm even a couple of inches. His night was one of the most painful nights he can remember in a very long time. He got almost no sleep.

At the time of this post, there have been incremental improvements as the day has progressed. His shoulder is feeling even slightly better than it did, pre-cortisone. We both were extremely worried, fearing the worst - that maybe the shot had created a worse problem and irrevocable damage.

Thank the Lord, we’re over the worst of this! Over time, we’ll look forward to continued improvement, less pain and a more normal range of motion in the shoulder that allows Dean to use his arm to its fullest potential. Though, some people tell us, the benefits only last a few to several weeks. We truly hope that’s not the case here. Have any of you had, or know of someone who had, a cortisone shot, and what was your/their experience and outcome like?

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Sometimes nature surprises us quite unexpectedly, as it did me this afternoon. I was out in the yard with Joanna, and noticed a Walnut shell that somehow found its way into the grass from the hedgerow where the old tree stands.

Not wanting her, or Romeo, to decide it was something worth playing with, or worse yet, eating, I gave it a good kick with the toe of my boot to get it back into the hedgerow. It lunged forward, missing the mark, and came to a dead stop, falling open as it did so.

I looked, and then had to do a double take as it fully registered what I was seeing. The nut had split into two completely perfect, beautifully shaped hearts! I would have never expected that in a million years, and oh, how that happening delighted me. I quickly scooped them up and brought them indoors to show Dean, and my son, Charlie. Even they were amazed to see these hearts inside the shell.

It’s brief, but impressive, moments such as these that whisper gently of Someone greater in this big, beautiful world who truly loves us enough to show us in even the littlest of ways.....

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Friday, grandpup Colby had his checkup. His incisions have healed up nicely, and he now is able to resume his normal activities. He’s a happy boy now that he gets to romp and play and explore once more!

Yesterday, Dean and I dealt with an ice damn in the front gutter downspouts. As things were thawing in the somewhat mild temperatures, water was unable to pass through properly, forcing it to push out wherever it had access. This caused water to pool on the northfacing  section of the driveway that butts up against the house. It got down through the block and was spilling out onto the basement floor. After pouring several pots of boiling water down through the gutter, this melted and freed things up so the water can now exit the downspouts properly.

Then, overnight, the winds and rain came. This forced the rain through the screen into the track of our bedroom window faster than the weepholes could allow the water to exit. So, at 3:00 in the morning, Dean awoke to the sound of drip, drip, drip of water dripping off our inside window ledge down onto the hardwood floor. By the time the rain stopped, and after several times getting up and down, the water had completely soaked 3 large shower towels, 1 medium and a smaller hand towel! Needless to say, in addition to losing an hour of sleep, we slept horribly!! When the inside window ledge dries out sufficiently, Dean will have to caulk where there are compromises in the block wall that meets the window ledge.

We finally dragged ourselves out of bed much later than we would have wanted. Shortly after, Becca called to ask if we would be able to help at the townhouse again as they continue to try to wrap things up in preparation for its listing. I’m happy to say it’s well on its way to nearly being completely ready.

Whether moving in or moving out, moving is just a lot of work! I’m definitely not looking forward to the packing up and moving of ourselves, but I sure am anxiously looking forward to getting into our own home, so I will deal with what we have to to get there!

Well, I’m beyond ready to get a good night of sleep, so I shall say goodnight for now. And here’s to hoping we get a much needed, solid night of rest!!

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The last few days, our temperatures have been 10-20 degrees below average. Even today, despite the sunshine, when Dean and I were out, the 13* temperature felt more like 0, because of the wind.

I got another of my seed catalogues in the mail. Gosh, is that a sight for sore eyes. Just leafing through the pages is like opening a gift at Christmastime!  I especially enjoy the pages of flower seeds, as I take in all those beautiful flowers and their colors. It won’t be long now until flowers such as those add pops of color in my flowerbeds and planter pots.

On a less exciting note, we were reviewing in depth the cable/internet bill that just came. For what is considered a pretty mediocre package, we’re now paying basically $165.00 a month! A cable box that was once temporarily free, is now just over $8 a month. So, it looks like we’re going to disconnect that box, return it, and take the plunge. We’re downgrading to basic cable. We just can’t justify the high cost of this stuff anymore.

Growing up, I think we had maybe half a dozen tv stations to choose from. And when nothing was on, guess what? We got off our posteriors and found something worthwhile to do. Nowadays, we have become zombies, surfing through the channels over and over, often disgusted that nothing good is on, yet there we sit!

We also had no computer. Oh, and no cellphones. Gasp! Whatever did we do? Well, we actually had more quality time together as a family. Often we would play a game, or my mother and older sister loved to put together puzzles. My father had set up a volleyball net in the summer, and bought us all cross country skis for the winter. We also had a couple of ATV’s, toboggans, and fishing poles. We went ice fishing in the winter, and did regular fishing in the summer.

My sisters and I became quite crafty. We learned how to sew, and my mother taught us to crochet. We often made outfits for ourselves, or crocheted baby items for our hope chests. I remember making several quilts out of scrap material that we sat and cut into perfect squares.

On cold winter evenings such as this, there was never anything such as being bored. We always had an idea for something to do, because we weren’t dependent on “some thing” to help us stay occupied. And if you ask me, those days were some of the best days of our lives. Life back then was simple. But it was wholesome. It was healthy, and it was happy.

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I thought this use of an old door and table end was so clever! If it were painted to withstand the elements outdoors, it would last for quite some time as a functional piece of yard decor. I hope to be able to use this cute idea at our new home!

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Over the weekend, Dean and I went to Becca and Justin’s to help them as they continue to prepare the townhome to be put on the market. While Becca and I tended to cleaning and wiping things down, the guys tended to painting touch ups, and installing trim where needed to finish up a couple of the projects Justin had started.

Interestingly, nowadays staging a home is quite popular, so their realtor sent over a “stager”. She had advised them to swap out various pictures elsewhere in the home, remove all pet beds, crates, toys, etc., which pieces of furniture to leave where, and which furniture to remove.

Becca said that often the stager wants to bring various items into the home to complete the look that they have in mind for the place. This is based on statistics and such of what features and or appearances current homebuyers express that they like. Doing this obviously comes at a cost, though, apparently their stager felt the furniture and other decor they had would work fine. I honestly feel that she knows they’re a young couple who aren’t really working with a whole heck of a lot of money, so she just advised and made do according to what they already have.

Over the years, homebuying has really changed. I think shows like House Hunters, Love it or List it, etc. have had a part in this. They’ve given so much more exposure to the real estate market, giving both buyers and sellers a front seat view to everything that’s hot and trendy, and everything that’s not.

However, with the current status of today’s market - houses barely being listed a week, then gone - I truly don’t foresee any issues with the kids being able to sell their townhome. They are very popular with the younger crowd, who, more than ever, are choosing home ownership over renting. Used to be, the first few years many couples rented their first place, using that time to get settled and established in life and the working world. Apparently not any more. I recently read that last year alone, young people, called millennials, made up 44% of home buyers!

What our main concern with the sale of the townhouse is, is that they get a full price or above offer. This is typically how all home sales have been going, and in Becca and Justin’s case, they really need the best offer possible to just break even. As far as I’ve been told, the listing will go up in about a week and half or so. Stay tuned for updates after that as to how things unfold!

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While I enjoy all my feathered friends, I’m beginning to look forward to the arrival of those who will soon migrate back to our parts - Grey Catbird, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Red-Winged Blackbird, Hummingbird, and the Baltimore Oriole. They add even more variety of color and beauty to my daily photographs, a few of which I’ve shared below!

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After the sale of their townhome, Becca and Justin plan to move in with his parents on a temporary basis. But those temporary terms look to be about a year, so far as what they’ve indicated.

During this time, they plan on being able to save money to go towards the downpayment of their future home. They also plan on seeking to make job changes if the opportunity arises, being that they now will be located in a different, but neighboring, county.

Their new “pad” will be the finished off, third level of Justin’s parent’s home. It will afford them space and privacy, but the kitchen, full bath and laundry areas will need to be shared by all of them. (There is an additional powder room, thankfully.)

While they all get along very well, the fact remains that each of them as a couple have established their own habits and routines. Sometimes trying to maintain them while living in with others can be a challenge. I’m not sure, but maybe we might be seeing a bit more of Becca and Justin after a while into their new living arrangements. Or maybe not! Time will tell.

Our desire is that they are able to commit to all that they are seeking these changes to bring. I personally hope that when the time comes for them to begin their house hunt, the real estate market has leveled off to a more normal progression of buying and selling. As I’ve made mention in another previous post or two, houses have currently been flying off the market, and buyers often find themselves in a bidding war just to try a secure a home for themselves.

Additionally, I certainly hope that by the time Becca and Justin are ready to start their new journey, Dean and I will be happily settled in our own new home, so that we may be ready to give them any help and support that they may want or need!

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I promised to update you on the matter of Becca and Justin’s announcement to put their townhome up for sale.

It was 2 years ago this month that they moved in. At the time they were looking to buy a home, they had hardly been 20 for very long. Combine that with the fact of only just starting to establish any type of job security, and not being as well off as they would have liked financially, the pickings were slim on what they could afford. Despite this, and failing to heed much advice, they pushed onward in their house hunt until they landed the very affordable townhome where they now live.

Unfortunately, very affordable also means not always the best quality. Their first winter was one of the eye awakening realities of home ownership. REPAIRS. Snow had melted causing ice damming problems. When the ice melted on sunny days, it created water problems, trickling down through the walls that affected both the front and back of the townhome, and all three levels of it, as well.

They were extremely fortunate in that the insurance company paid for nearly all of the repairs, but they were put out of their home for 5 long weeks, commuting back and forth to work from a hotel room. Imagine trying to do normal, everyday life matters from a hotel room. Laundry, meals, keeping track of the mail and bill payments and running back and forth to keep an eye on the the work being done, etc. Their new way of life got old, quick.

Shortly after, they adopted Maya. They now realized a narrow, uphill yard was not really the best, let alone when you have a dog. They also realized that you get a lot of water pooling at the bottom of your yard, which creates mud. Eh. Not fun, especially when you have a dog running in and out of the house for playtime and potty. Fast forward to this past summer. In order to have a playmate for Maya, and to make their family feel complete, they adopted a second dog, Colby. The backyard problems became x’s 2.

This winter, while we haven’t had the same amount of buildup of snow and ice, Becca discovered a few small watermarks on the back bedroom wall. An area where the roof above it had supposedly been fixed by the roofer. Justin went up into the attic and determined they should put more insulation in to prevent the heat loss which was causing the ice to form, then melt, which was most likely the cause of the newly noticed water mark.

Then, one evening about a month ago, they discovered a wetness on the dining room ceiling, where above their full bathroom is located. Assuming the worst, Justin tore down the ceiling drywall expecting to find that a water or waste line had sprung a leak. It was neither. Turns out that water was escaping from the edge of the shower curtain, dripping down the tub apron and soaking through the hairline crack of the grout where the tub met the tile floor. An easy fix, but now a mess on their hands downstairs since the ceiling drywall had now been torn down. Justin has since put up a new ceiling.

These things, not to mention an additional $400 usage charge above and beyond their utility budget plan total, and possible better job opportunities, have played a role in bringing them to the decision to sell their townhome. Two years of home ownership have educated this young couple on issues they truly were ignorant of, and nothing short of their own experiencing it would teach them any differently.

Often, a sad but true reality in life is that we as individuals want the right to make our own decisions in life. But sometimes, those decisions come at a cost when we fail to heed helpful information others offer us that they already know. I think that’s where the saying “live and learn” comes in. Do I wish they would have did things differently? Yes. However, now I’m glad that they know better. They’ve gained wisdom and learned lessons that they hadn’t known before. So something positive has come out of it all, and that’s a very good thing!

Next time, I’ll fill you in on their plans for the future.....

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We were fortunate that the predicted widespread power outages and downed trees did not occur in our town on Sunday. While we had significant gusts and prolonged wind, the trees all around us held firm and stood tall. What a relief to be past it all. We had wind, thunder, lightening, rain, springlike warmth, then the temperature plummeted nearly 30 degrees - all within a span of several hours!

For at least a few days before hand we were warned and told to prepare for the possibility of a couple of days without electricity. It got to the point where we started to feel “spent” from the uncertainty and anxiousness of waiting for the predictions to happen, looking out the window, listening for a loud crash, etc. because the wind went on for hours and hours! It finally ended today, sometime in the late afternoon.

Dean was called out on a few hour job to do today. A tree had fallen, so the limbs needed to be chipped, and the wood cut into manageable sized pieces. The homeowner wanted the wood left. It was difficult in the wind, but he got it done.

Tomorrow the temperatures are going to be very cold, so he does not have plans to work. We discovered that somehow water from the buckets of rain that fell yesterday backed up into the house, soaking the laundry room/office floor. So we’ll need to tend to that situation tomorrow. It’s just as well he didn’t have any work planned.

I have a beautiful area rug, that at least half of it is considerably wet. I’ll need to get that out so I can have a fan put on it to help it dry properly. It’s partly tucked under 4 separate metal file cabinets, which is quite unfortunate. They no doubt will start to rust if left to sit on the wet carpet for very long, though they are coated with a nice looking finish on them. Perhaps that will be a deterrent for any rust.

We hope to tackle that issue first thing so we can get on with the rest of our day. This is one of a few house matters we deal with from time to time that we’re certainly looking forward to no longer dealing with once we move.....

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An uneasiness is in the air, waiting out this damaging wind that is soon to bear down on us, and remain over us this afternoon, through the night and into tomorrow morning. I will update more on that later.

For now, there is good news. Little Colby finally came home today. It all started Wednesday, and, thankfully, Becca was off work for the week. She could see he was showing signs of not feeling well, so she had set an appointment with the vet for the only remaining time available that day, which was still a few hours away. Suddenly, Colby burst out vomit, and she hoped that had maybe resolved whatever issue was troubling him. But he continued to whine, then vomited again. At that point she decided to bring him into the emergency clinic a.s.a.p.

They suspected an intestinal blockage because his vomit had apparently the tell tale sign of such by how utterly rancid it smelled. X-rays were done, and sure enough, they showed a blockage just beyond the stomach at its connection to the small intestine. By this time Justin had joined her, and they could not think WHAT he would have gotten into! But the X-rays had indicated something fabric like.

He was immediately admitted, and surgery would have to be performed to extricate whatever it was that was causing the blockage. If it had still been in his stomach, as had happened once before, they could have induced vomiting and the item would have been expelled. No such luck this time, despite Becca and Justin’s more careful attentiveness to not leaving loose items around the house.

Surgery revealed that Colby had ingested a medium sized, craft pom pom, which Becca has no clue where that might have come from, unless the cat had dug it out from somewhere. He also had quite a bit of yarnlike string, which they surmise had come from a dog toy Colby was gifted at Christmas, but they’d since thrown out because they saw it had become unsafe. And lastly, he had eaten the entire top cuff off one of Justin’s socks, which had initially been set up on top of a ledge, out of Colby’s reach, but somehow he’d managed to get a hold of one. Becca had seen him with it, and immediately threw it out, but failed to inspect the sock to see how much, if any, of it Colby had eaten.

Wow! This certainly was an eye-opener for us all that you just can never be too careful when it comes to young, mischievous fur babies! Their ability to get into things in an instant is uncanny, and the consequences are astonishingly sobering.

In the days following Wednesday’s surgery, Colby continued to have trouble keeping anything down. With careful monitoring, assessing and medication, he has slowly improved to the point of holding down 2 meals today, so it was determined that he could return home.

He is still far from being out of the woods. He must continue on pain, sedation and GI motility medications for a few more days. Thereafter, he must remain largely immobile, and certainly no stretching, using stairs or jumping. With another dog in the house, who is also his best pal, keeping him quiet and restful will be no small task. Yet he must remain calm or the risk of tearing his sutures, especially internally, could have fatal consequences.

Finally being able to come home today was such a happy moment not only for Colby, but Daddy, Mommy and sister, Maya, as well! Dean and I are also very relieved and so grateful that Colby is on the mend, safe and sound back home where he belongs.

This was an expensive lesson for his parents, unfortunately, as they are now on a payment plan to slowly dwindle down just over $5,000 in medical costs that were incurred as a result of the surgery and all the care and attention that was given to help get Colby well again. I’m sure there will not be the slightest chance that he will ever be able to get anything remaining loosely laid about the house again!

It will be at least a few weeks before we all will rest easy and feel confident that everything concerning Colby is back to normal again. But life will be far from “normal” for Becca and Justin for at least the next month, due to the fact that they have decided to sell their townhome, as I previously mentioned, and that is due to go on the market in just a couple of weeks. But more on that in my next post. Stay tuned!

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An unexpected surgery for grandpup Colby, Becca and Justin’s announcement to sell their townhome and preparing for damaging winds arriving tomorrow in Western NY have been the highlight of the last few days. Stay tuned for an update tomorrow as soon as I get the chance to sit down and post the details....

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Our goal is set for Autumn.... And so begins the dream of buying our own home. 😊

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Joanna absolutely loves being out in the snow. As soon as she goes outdoors, she flops down and wiggles around as if trying to make a snow angel. Then she takes her face, pushes it down into the snow and plows forward as though she’s making a tunnel. If she could talk, I wonder what she’d tell me?

Here she is, looking at me as if she’s asking, “What? I still have snow on my face....?” 😁

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I enjoyed our sunshine today and am encouraged by the date I see on the calendar! Just think, we’re a few weeks away from Spring. I’m glad that it seems the winter doldrums aren’t just a condition that I have, but many others have been expressing my same sentiments regarding winter of late. Sometimes just the fact of knowing you’re not alone helps, as odd as that sounds.

I had a chance to touch base with our realtor yesterday to begin the process of learning where the real estate market is at this point in time, from a professional point of view, since Dean and I would like to downsize and buy a home come Autumn. (Currently, we rent our home and the beautiful 2 acres of property it sits on.) As I suspected, it’s still competitive for the buyers and very much a seller’s market.

There are considerably more buyers looking, than there are houses available. When a buyer and their agent want to see a home, they can expect at least a small crowd of other buyers and their agents who’ve tagged along to see the home as well. We’ve heard horror stories of months of searching, and bidding wars.

Sellers can expect to receive multiple offers, often over and above their asking price, and they’re listing their homes for top buck, too! Once listed, the seller can expect their home to sell within a week or less, in most cases. The only houses that remain on the market, are those that are too small, too outdated, or have some funky quirks. I guess maybe that’s where we need to start.... Ha!

We should plan on having at least 20% down; this is for a house in the range of $130,000 - $150,000. Considering our age, and wanting less responsibility both financially and physically, we have to think modestly, and realize that, in the end, less is more. We don’t need the added headaches and stress of trying to keep up with the Jones’s. I don’t care who they are!

Additionally, today’s market offers very little to no seller concessions for the buyer. So we must plan on having an additional $6,000 - $8,000 set aside for closing costs. As our realtor put it, a buyer has to practically be “gold plated” when it comes time to begin the house hunt. He used descriptions of preparedness that seem more fitting for the battlefield, and to be honest, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to feeling somewhat set back and intimidated by the whole thing.

Since I’m a praying person, you can bet I’m seeking out the Lord’s guidance and hand of favor in all of this. Sometimes, the reality that we face tries to defeat us before we even get started, and I will say that this is something I struggle with more than I care to admit.

But I also know that having faith, even as tiny as a grain of mustard seed, it can do mighty things..... and there, my friends, is where I intend to keep my focus!

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It was a quiet day, except for a surprise visit from Becca and Justin. They dropped off the table saw Justin borrowed from Dean to put in some new wood flooring at their townhouse. They stayed and chatted with us for a while over lunch, which was some left over roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy. It was an enjoyable time together!

Romeo went for a groom this morning, and came back looking all handsome and feeling as soft as a teddy bear. His groomer, Jodi, says he is such a good boy while being groomed. I'm so glad he's not troublesome for her! Because he loves her for all the extra special care she gives him, Romeo gave Jodi a heart of thanks with three chocolate Valentine candies, and her tip, of course! She was so pleased. Dean and I believe that people should be told when they're doing a good job, because everyone likes to feel loved and appreciated. And we certainly love and appreciate Jodi!!

Poor Charlie caught the cold that Dean and I had, but thankfully his is a milder case like mine was. He had work today from 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. so when he got home, he was pretty exhausted. He ate and went directly to bed. These potent, winter, sick germs sure can be a nuisance! I'm so glad that Spring is on the horizon...... Well, at least in another few weeks or so, anyways!

We've had a nice variety of birds lately. When the weather turns warmer, I have to clean up around my bird feeder area. I've left some bales of hay there from this past Autumn's decorations for some protection for the critters and a nice background when I take pictures, but now they're starting to look dilapidated and decayed, so it's time to tidy things up a bit!

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No matter our circumstance in life, whether we are a pair or single, there are people in our lives, whether they be friends or family, whom we love. The way I see it, love is not just a one day celebration, it’s an every day occasion. 💖

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Simple beef stew over rice for dinner tonight. It just sounds warm and delicious, and filling on this gray, wintry day. I guess I don’t feel like making a big meal that requires too much clean up!

Been tossing around the idea of baking some homemade, soft dough pretzels for a snack later on. When it comes to being stuck indoors a lot of the winter months, I’m a sucker for cooking and baking comfort foods. It just seems to help the dull, dreary days go by faster.

But I have to be mindful, as we really do need to watch what we eat, and once you start to get hooked into those unhealthy, carb filled foods, it’s tough to have to back off them again. So, I’m not sure yet if I will, or if I won’t.

I’ve been browsing Pinterest a bit lately. I love getting excited over new ideas for bird feeders, flower gardens and such. I also enjoy looking at ways old furniture can be repurposed. We have lots of that around here! Some of my favorites are a dresser, turned into an island, or a small night stand turned into a feeding station or a place for a pet to take a cozy nap.

Pinterest is also great for finding tons of recipes on anything your heart desires! I’ve been gathering lots of ideas for low carb meals, breads, and especially desserts. Life can be pretty dull if you don’t have a sweet treat every now and then to look forward to!

So, while the dishes have all been cleaned up and the kitchen is in order, it’s time for dinner for all the fur babies. It’s like they can tell time, because every day, at every mealtime, they look and wait expectantly until I finally give in, stop what I am doing, and feed them!

Then, I’ll look forward to sitting a spell in front of the cozy fire and do a little something that I’ll enjoy this evening.

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We were speaking to a friend today about Dean’s recent reporting for jury duty. I have many thoughts on this, and wish to elaborate on some of them here.

One of my main thoughts regarding jury duty is that I feel it should be voluntary, but we are told repeatedly that it’s “our civic duty” (i.e. obligation, responsibility). We are reminded that, next to serving in the military, it is one of the greatest honors of an American citizen. Yet, when we hear the stories of those who have gone through the experience, not many were enthused with the process.

As a matter of fact, when Dean attended, the large group was asked to indicate by show of hands who was willing to volunteer at the onset to be a juror. Only 2 people raised their hands. It leaves you to wonder why so many people are not moved to participate more eagerly since it is, after all, considered such an honorable thing to do.

Also, there are no excuses, barring a medical reason that is explained by a doctor, that one can be excluded. I know people who have been caring for an elderly parent, caring for the children of a family member who is battling cancer, who are just plain elderly, anxiety ridden, or sick and not up to the task. All have been required to attend. Even, as in Dean’s case, those who are self-employed, who stand to lose wages with no reimbursement whatsoever, are obligated to attend and serve if chosen.

It seems to me that if I were looking for potential jurors, from the start I would want those who are unencumbered in any of the critical areas necessary to being a clear headed, unemotional juror. Why bother even making those who express that they are dealing with concerning matters to attend?

If you should say that then there would be people making excuses frequently, then why not make it more appealing to be a juror so people would not seek to come up with excuses? For example, how about compensating prospective jurors more than a mere $40 a day? Additionally, how about screening interested prospective jurors only, so at least, at the onset, you have people who are mentally and emotionally prepared to serve if chosen? I’m sure that addressing these matters would, over time, change how people view the current jury selection process.

Due to a conflict of interest, Dean did not end up being selected as a juror, though he was one of the last five people still remaining to be picked from. The case he would have deliberated on involved a man who was pulled over at 2:30 a.m. for driving a vehicle that had no license. It also was not registered and the man was drunk.

The judge reminded the jury pool that in this great country we are fortunate of being innocent until proven guilty. Many of the people there, including our friend, and even myself, cannot understand how this was even a case that should have gone to trial. The man was ticketed for driving while intoxicated, driving an unlicensed vehicle, and driving an unregistered vehicle. How is there any question that this man, the only man in the vehicle, was not guilty?

Why was this man not ordered to simply appear before a judge who would sentence him based on the tickets he received for clear and deliberate violations of the law?

Many of the people felt that this was a gross waste of their time and our county’s money to handle this matter as a case that should go to trial. If this is any indication of how things are generally run at the Hall of Justice, it’s no wonder people are unenthused, disinterested and unwilling to participate in the jury selection process.

This turned into a much longer post than I intended. I guess I’ll get off my soapbox now.

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On this gloomy, gray, cold winter day, I took some time this afternoon to download pictures from my camera to the computer. Since I had time to spare, I added a post to my blog. You can pop in over at Simply Me ~ Kimberly Marie to catch up on the latest.....

https://simplymekimberlymarie.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, here’s a picture of Miss Ziva. She’s our crazy cat who’s addicted to coffee (Don’t ask. Lol. But if we don’t give her a smidgeon of grounds, she mews and cries and stretches up on her tippy toes to tap you with her paw til you give her some!!), Lysol, bleach, perfume and cologne!! 😆 Since Dean finished up a container of coffee this morning, I put it down on the floor to see how long it would take her to discover the delicious aroma of the last little dustings of coffee left behind.

It didn’t take long for her to wake from her nap, saunter into the kitchen and get busy licking up every last little crumb! (Don’t worry, there was hardly much but the aroma left in there. 🙂)

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Are you a sauerkraut lover? I don’t believe I’ve ever had sauerkraut in my entire life. That is, until about 6 months ago. I had been reading a magazine article that highlighted various foods that were very good for one’s immune system. In fact, the article indicated that just 2T of unpasteurized, naturally fermented sauerkraut was as good as taking nearly 10 probiotic capsules. When I read that, I was hooked. Additional reading mentioned several other really great health benefits, so that was even better.

I wasn’t sure where to start looking for it, but actually stumbled upon it sitting on a shelf above the pork loin roasts at our local grocery store. I bought a small package and when I got home, poured it into a mason jar to keep it as fresh as possible. And since then, I’ve never been without a mason jar full of sauerkraut in my fridge! I top soups and salads with it, or often scoop some out into a custard dish, add a bit of course ground pepper, and enjoy it as a side to the meal, or a mid day snack.

Here’s a link that shares the many benefits of sauerkraut, in case you don’t already eat it, but would like to give it a try.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-sauerkraut

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Last year when my daughter was sick with a pretty bad, lengthy cold it was recommended to her by the doctor to purchase a Neti Pot. Have you heard of them? For lack of a better term, they’re basically a means of giving yourself a nasal cavity cleanse using salt water. I remember her telling me after the first couple of uses how beneficial it was, but I haven’t thought much about it since.

The other day she reminded me of it again, suggesting it would help with Dean’s cold, and also in preventing the one I’m worried about coming down with  because, unfortunately, my throat has been scratchy. She swears that the minute she feels sickness coming on, she does a nasal cleanse in the morning, then again at night, and has yet to come down with a cold. So, I figured it was worth giving it a try myself.

I went online and read a few articles about it, then looked at some videos on YouTube about how to use it. Apparently it’s been used for thousands of years in India, but has only recently gained popularity here in the U.S. After feeling confident I would know what I was doing, I proceeded to do a nasal cleanse. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, but I must warn you, it takes some getting used to doing.

Until you get the head tilting figured out so the solution drains from one nostril out through the other, you can either feel like you just got water up your nose, or some will go down the back of your throat. Which, if it does, no need to worry. It’s harmless. I really didn’t do too bad. And, amazingly, I don’t think I’ve ever felt such clean, open airways through my nose!

Eventually, Dean decided to do a couple of rounds himself, and he agreed it did clear out some of the mucous he’s been dealing with. As for myself, I’ve done it a couple more times, and my nose continues to feel amazingly clean and clear. I haven’t had any progression of a cold, but I’m still dealing with this bothersome, scratchy throat.

There’s definitely some important steps to follow, such as which is the safest water to use when you mix up the solution. So you’d want to familiarize yourself with the entire process. But I’m here to tell you that when it comes to colds, sinus infections and such, the Neti Pot could really be of great benefit to you, as my daughter, and now Dean and I, have discovered.

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Today’s warm weather afforded me the opportunity to open the windows and air out the house. Dean’s cold has certainly been a nasty one, and thankfully, it seems to be lessening it’s hold on him now. But that congestion might take some time to clear up. Charlie and I have been meticulously keeping ourselves and our belongings protected from the germs! Let’s hope our hard work pays off.

I just got done seasoning up some hamburger, and rolled it into meatballs, then popped them into the oven to bake. Its been a while since I’ve made them, and they sounded good today. And now, the house smells good, too. Earlier I made homemade macaroni and cheese for Charlie. It’s one of his favorites, and I thought after a hard day of work, he’d enjoy coming home to a steamy, cheesy pot of that. When he got here, he was pleasantly surprised and proceeded to eat almost the entire amount!

I think everyone and everything was so happy to be out from under the horrible cold of our recent Polar Vortex. None of the animals moved far from the wood stove, and even I had to resort to turning on an electric heater in the bedroom when getting dressed in the mornings. It was just way too chilly for my liking. It is nicer to sleep in a cool room, though, and especially so lately for Dean with his stuffiness.

A fair amount of birds were at the feeders as soon as the temperature started climbing into the 30’s, and by today we were at a whopping 53*! In light of what we’ve just experienced, today felt summerlike.... Ha! We had Finches, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Jays, Doves, Bluebirds, Sparrows, Chickadees, Titmice and Nuthatches. Oh, and those dreaded Grackles. They swoop in and nearly clean out all the feeders, and leave their big droppings everywhere! Thankfully, they were off being distracted a bit more by other things that must have been available in this warm up we had today.

Well, the timer just went off for my meatballs, so I’m going to scoot for now! Enjoy a lovely Sunday evening everyone. 🙂

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You know there's a light that glows by the front door
Don't forget the key’s under the mat
Childhood stars shine, always stay humble and kind

Go to church 'cause your momma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
It won't be a waste of time
Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say please, say thank you
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got moutains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind

Don't expect a free ride from no one
Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why
Bitterness keeps you from flying
Always stay humble and kind

Know the difference between sleeping with someone
And sleeping with someone you love
I love you ain't no pick up line so
Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door say please say thank you
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got moutains to climb but
Always stay humble and kind

When those dreams you're dreamin' come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride but
Always stay humble and kind

When it's hot, eat a root beer, a popsicle
Shut off the AC and roll the windows down
Let that summer sun shine
Always stay humble and kind

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you're goin'
Don't forget turn back around
Help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind

Songwriters: Lori Mckenna

Humble And Kind lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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So for dinner tonight I decided to do pancakes with mini chocolate chips in them because Dean is sick and probably would like something nice and delicious  and comforting....

I brought him his plate and he looked stunned at seeing the pancakes. I told him they weren’t just regular pancakes, they had mini chocolate chips in them.

His 👀 got as big as saucers and he blurted out, “I must be delirious!!!”

I told him don’t get porky or he won’t get them for another 3 years because that’s about as long as it’s been since we’ve at least had regular pancakes... (since we’re making the choice to eat so much healthier these days!)

He asked who the heck was I kidding, we haven’t had pancakes like that in all the years we’ve been married!!! 🤣😆😂

You know what they say.....

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Romeo insists on sleeping on the warm flagstone in front of the wood stove, in spite of the fact that his bed is practically right on top of the thing!

The “outfit” he’s wearing is a soft, cozy faux lamb’s wool jacket. The size small was too small, large was too big, so the medium, while the hood part doesn’t fit perfectly, is the best fit for him. Ha!

Seems this winter he’s been more affected by the cold than in the past. He really loves wearing his new jacket!

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Not too much is going on in the way of activities. We had a surprise visit yesterday afternoon, so entertained company, enjoyed dinner together and gathered around the warm fire.

Out of nowhere, a few days ago, the craving for rich, fudgy brownies hit me. And it stayed with me every day. We don’t have many sweets in the house, because my philosophy is, if they’re not here, we won’t eat them. (When you’re working on maintaining good health, this one thing is really important!) So, when a craving comes, if I really want it, I have to make it. Often times, this fact alone is enough of a deterrent to keep me from baking something we really don’t need anyways, despite the craving.

However, those brownies kept calling my name..... repeatedly. So, I finally decided we deserved something sweet and delicious for all these cold, sunless days we’ve been enduring. Ha!

I wondered if there was such a thing as a brownie cookie, because at least with cookies, you can manage some kind of portion control. After a very brief search online, I found a fabulous sounding recipe. Truth be told, they had me at the mention of “one bowl”!

The batch is super easy to whip up, and it’s by far THE BEST chocolate cookie recipe I’ve ever baked. Probably because it’s the perfect pairing of brownie and cookie all in one. So rich, so seriously chocolately, but not overly sweet at all. Now, what’s not to love about that?

If you’d like to give the recipe a try for yourself, here it is. I hope if you make it you’ll let me know how you liked it! ~ Recipe credit goes to cafedelites.com

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We have sunshine today. It makes my heart glad despite the 20* outdoors. Yesterday, I did some housecleaning. Dean and I did a bit of grocery shopping. I came home and put things away, then we hunkered down for the rest of the evening. I made a light dinner, which we enjoyed.

Neither of us slept well. We seem to be wakeful due to aches and pains, but manage the best we can. When morning comes and our eyes open, we get up or else the lingering in bed perpetuates the discomfort.

Whichever of us rises first gets Dean’s coffee perkolating and my tea water boiling. This morning we took ourselves and our hot mugs to the cozy sitting room, turned on the electric fireplace heater and listened to some Charlie Rich. Then we shared some of our thoughts with one another.

We focus on the positive, we get started on our day and begin our routines that keep us moving in the right direction. Good thoughts = good vibes = good day. There’s no reason to do it any other way! Enjoy your Saturday, my friends. 🙂

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For all intents and purposes, January is pretty much over. I say that because yesterday, we got our utility bill. And our actual charges are already $155 more than our budgets billed.

Long ago, I decided to do the budget billing so there were no unexpected surprises each month when the bill came. It would be a set amount, and I could gauge our usage / over usage accordingly, and address it as necessary when we would get the additional funds to do so.

While this may not make sense for many people, it works for Dean and I because, as I've mentioned before, his income can be very sparse in the winter time. When he is able to get in a few decent jobs, we can take the additional money necessary and put it toward the budget balance to knock that back down.

But this latest bill has me discouraged. A fair guess would be that, at the rate we're going this frigid winter, we can estimate to be about $80 - $100 over our budget each month on the utilities until we hit about April. And that's WITH the additional heat source of our wood stove!

With the continual lack of sunshine to help warm the house, excessive wind and extremely cold temperatures, the main house heat has had to kick on much more than necessary. And much of this is due to the cinder block construction of our home, as these walls radiate such a significant amount of cold air off of them. For this reason, Dean and I would never again live in a block home, despite the fact that it's a "solid, sturdy" home.

We're really looking forward to making the transition of being in a smaller, cozier home by this time next year. But this hopping real estate market has complicated matters, unfortunately. The cost of housing is still at an all time high, and the competition is stiff. But, Lord willing, the right house will come available, we can secure a deal, and finally put our house hunting to rest. We're both quite excited about accomplishing this goal!

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I often keep my camera on the high-speed burst setting. This is when you can take pictures in a fast succession. It comes in handy, especially when taking pictures of birds since they always seem to be moving about.

I’ve been surprised on a few occasions by the pictures I’ve been able to capture almost quite by accident, because you just never can tell what the bird’s next move may be!

Such is the explanation for this picture of an Eastern Bluebird I snapped the other day. It had just been sitting on that tiny limb jutting out from the tree. Next thing I knew, it hopped off and took flight, and my handy high-speed burst setting captured it all!

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We’ve had quite our share of snow here, and in many areas round about us. We woke to an additional 5” or so, and it continued to snow lightly all day with lake effect. All told, we got about a foot and a half of snow. But the winds blew it around so that it settled differently from one spot to the next.

Dean spent a good couple of hours clearing off the driveway, shoveling a potty spot out back for poor Romeo (he’s pretty small, but Joanna is not), brushing off the cars and bringing in the firewood. He started clearing the driveway with our snowblower, then used the tractor to backblade our turn around area as he has to be able to get the work trucks in and out of the yard.

No telling how soon he’ll be able to get back out on a job with all of this snow we just got. Winter is really a tough time when your livelihood depends on outdoor work. You really have to think ahead and, instead of saving for a rainy day, you need to save up for a snowy day, or week, or worse yet, sometimes a month when you’re forced to sit idle!

Here’s a picture of the snow that was packed against our overhead garage door this morning. All my birdfeeders were really covered over with snow, the suet was frozen, as was the peanut butter in my suet log. It took a bit of time to get things in order outdoors, but the rest of the day we’ve spent indoors, resting and relaxing. I sure hope we don’t get any more snow for a while!

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Just discovered that Andes creme de menthe baking chips are a great addition to a deliciously hot, creamy mug of cocoa. If you’re a mint person, you really have to give this a try! What a wonderful treat on this blustery, snowy evening.

Here in Western NY, we’ve had snow all day, but thank goodness it’s not yet a foot or more. Dean says we’ve got a solid 7” right now. If it continues to snow steady overnight, we’ll obviously have over a foot, but I’m really hoping it’s not going to total the possible 2’ they were predicting!!

The birds were super busy at our feeders early on in the day. We had Cardinals in abundance, male and female alike. Bluebird pairs, as well. Sparrows, Finches and the rest our feathered friends gang were here trying to stay nourished on this extremely wintry day.

I pulled out my camera and enjoyed the opportunity to get numerous photos of them, which always makes me smile. I really should focus someday on getting my favorites printed and put into collections in an album. If I had to pick a hobby, I think photography, (except for my bird watching, of course!) would be my favorite!

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They grow up so fast. Daughter, Becca and son, Charlie. 3 1/2 years apart, but you’d never know it now!

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The last hurrah for the Christmas lights.....

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Is it just me, or have you noticed when buying bananas that they’re greener than they’ve ever been? I don’t get what’s changed.

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Good evening all! Please forgive my lack of postings. I’ve really needed some time to focus on a few important matters until I felt they were moving in a positive direction. I’m happy to say, they are starting to do so.

This evening things are quiet, but this morning we had a busy start. It was Romeo’s grooming day again. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that every 5 weeks, it’s just best that he gets bathed, brushed, his fur trimmed and nails clipped. It keeps him looking (and smelling) his best, and keeps me happy knowing that he’s being tended to according to what’s best for him and his little quirks.

Becca celebrated a birthday today. We were happy to spend some time with her, Justin and the grandpups, despite this frigid cold day! I picked up a beautiful bouquet of one dozen yellow roses to bring for her. They were as bright and cheery as the sunshine which we’ve so been lacking for weeks! The smell of the Hyacinths, which were forced to bloom, was heavenly there in the floral department. I could have stood there for much longer if time were not of the essence.

Dean has mentioned a few times now of waking at the same time on various nights these past couple of weeks, 3:33 a.m. to be exact. While I cannot attest to this same thing happening to me, I can say that both my daughter, when she still lived home, and I would often wake between 2:00 - 2:30 a.m. Now, I try not to get into too much investigation of this,  because I’d rather not know of “things that go bump in the night”! But at the time, I did Google a brief inquiry and I read that often the spirit realm is active at this time of night. And THAT is where my research ended - Lol!

As for Dean’s matter of waking, I did Google that and found it’s nothing to be alarmed about. In fact, triple 3’s, besides being most notably represented as the Trinity, also represents protection, guidance and encouragement to pursue positive opportunities. I conveyed this information to Dean, which, thankfully, his mind was put at ease with and now he has yet to wake at 3:33 a.m. since. And again, I will leave my research at that..... It does make me wonder how often this might occur with others. Perhaps it’s a more normal “phenomenon” than we realize, and that is all it is!

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Today was blustery and cold. I heated up some homemade chicken and wild rice soup for lunch that I made yesterday. Most things always taste even better on the second day, as did my soup.

I’ve been laying low due to significant discomfort after an adjustment Saturday morning at the chiropractor on a problem that still continued with my left hip and tail bone. It has been hard to sit or stand for long periods of time, so I’ve had to sit and stand alternately, only having sweet, blessed relief once bedtime comes.

Ibuprofen helps some, but only time is what really settles things and finally brings relief I seek. I’ve said to Dean, I truly, from the depths of my soul, do not want to have to have further adjustments any time soon. If you’ve ever visited a chiropractor, you may know just what I mean.

I’m currently preparing to make a light and simple dinner, then looking forward to resting and relaxing for the rest of the evening. Too much of any one thing right now is.... well... too much! Every night that I settle into bed, I fall asleep with the promise of feeling just a little bit better come morning. Sleep is such a wonderful thing for our bodies!

When I awake, I take the day slow and steady, I move carefully, and am thoughtful about what I do so as to not set myself back in the process of healing. I keep my thoughts focused on the coming of Spring, sunnier days and happier times when I look forward to feeling uplifted and being in a much healthier state!

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Going back through some of my pictures of late last Spring/early Summer. Found this one of the Eastern Bluebirds building their nest in one of my bird houses. It’s pictures like these that just make my heart smile.....

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In a bit, I’ll go to the kitchen and bake up some “pigs in a blanket” to bring to a get together this evening for a few of us neighbors.

The couple who hosts it has lived on this road since 1965, when they were young newlyweds who had just had their first of four children. I’ve never lived anywhere for more than 10 years, so I try to imagine what that must be like; living in the same house for over 50 years. Now their grown children bring their children to their childhood home. That notion intrigues me....

Our neighbors moved in when the land around their house had mostly been farmed as potato fields. Our house had been built in the late 40’s by one in the farmer’s family. It’s as solid as they come, built entirely out of cinder block, except, of course, for the roof. The house next door was built in the mid 50’s. It was a Sears and Roebuck kit house. The history of our road, and the early homes that were built on it, is interesting.

Today, on any given day, there are joggers, bicyclists, hikers and other travelers who journey down this road in search of trails to explore, camping at the town park around the corner, or for views of Lake Ontario from the pier, which is only but a half mile away from our house. But way back when, our other neighbor tells us that a lot of travelers on this road was a rarity. If you heard a car coming, it was because someone was expecting company.

It often amazes me how quickly time passes, and how, with that passing of time, life changes and history unfolds. We have been so fortunate to be welcomed into the fold by those who have played an integral role in the growth and development this beautiful neighborhood that surrounds us. Little did we know at the time we moved in 5 years ago, how important and meaningful the friendships would be with those to whom we’ve grown close to.

It will make it hard when the time comes for Dean and I to move on, in hopes of finding a smaller, more manageable, cozy home that we can live out the rest of our days in. But for now, we look forward to the good food, companionship and the laughter we’re sure to enjoy tonight with those we’re so blessed to call our friends!

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They just love each other to pieces...... 💕

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It’s Friday. 🙂  The morning horizon was beautifully blue, and a golden, glowing ball was just starting to peek through the trees. Wow, what a difference the promise of a day with sunshine makes!! Hope you have a lovely day ahead, as well!

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Today I decided I would shop for various household needs, cat food and the dogs’ food. Each dog has their own “formula” because Romeo cannot have wheat, soy, corn, dyes, fillers or by-products in his food. Since he has such a propensity toward licking his paws, pads and hocks (the “elbow” joint on his back legs), we keep him on a rice, chicken and pea diet in an effort to curb any allergy type reactions to certain known foods that tend to cause the desire to lick. Eliminating those ingredients mentioned above has cut down his licking considerably. However, we still deal with it to some extent.

I had honestly thought that today there would not be a lot shoppers at one o’clock in the afternoon. Boy, was I wrong! I guess many people are still on some sort of time off for the remainder of New Year’s week. Maneuvering through the aisles was quite challenging, to say the least, and with an unusually heavy cart, I felt like my lower back and hips were really getting a work out.

Since this past year has had me focusing so much more on the, should I say, side effects, from changes that are occurring with my body as I age, it gets somewhat nerve racking for me to feel as though something is amiss. Most generally it often means yet another trip to the chiropractor, and that is definitely getting discouraging for me. It seems as though you fix one problem, but another occurs from the shift in the bones that was meant to fix the initial concern.

Anyways, by the time I got up to the register, I determined that I would ask if someone would help me get my cart to the car once my groceries  were bagged and paid for. The cashier was so kind and helpful, and immediately reassured me that a young man would be able to help when we were done with the transaction. She told me he would even put the groceries in the car for me, and that he would most likely talk my ear off the whole time, *smile, then *wink.

True to her word, the young man was very helpful, and a chatty Charlie. While I know the cashier was giving me a friendly “warning” about the young man’s apparent trait for rambling on and on, I actually found it to be a very pleasant encounter. When many workers today are sullen and uncommunicative, it was refreshing to meet someone who was engaged and genuinely interested in helping others! The world needs more people like him.

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If you have a smaller dog, you may be aware of the fact that, often, they have difficulty with their anal glands expressing properly. Unfortunately, this is the case with Romeo. We had absolutely no clue it could even be an issue until one day, an absessed gland of his burst. It was an awful experience for him and us. Generally, dogs with this problem tend to give a visible sign that something is up by “scooting” their bottoms across the floor. If Romeo did do this, it was few and far between, because I never once saw this continual behavior from him.

Since then, we make bi-monthly trips to the veterinarian so they can properly, and thoroughly, empty them. Of course, Romeo’s are also more difficult to do.... Sigh.... Isn’t it odd how things come in two’s and three’s like that?

In any event, I say all that to say that we’ll be heading out soon for his appointment regarding his glands. I’ll rest easier knowing things have been tended to, and nothing unfortunate is looming on the horizon. Occasionally, I push the limits when life gets super busy, as it has been due to the holidays and all. Then I get nervous and chastise myself for not having scheduled him sooner. But gosh, he sure is one of those fur babies that needs lots of tending to between his glands, ear infections, frequent grooms due to his cottony, easily matted fur, and constant licking issues.

Regardless, he’s our baby boy, and we love him as our own child, so we’ll always do whatever it takes to keep him healthy, happy and well cared for!

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This recipe is one a plumber shared with his customer. He suggested also adding a few drops of Dawn dishsoap  to the hot water along with the lemon juice.

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Thinking of each of you with fondness as we all step into the hope and promise of this New Year that lies before us! It is as they say, a blank slate, an unwritten story, ready and waiting for each of us to write in our own way and with our own words.

This year, I would like to focus on something that has lately been impressing on my heart. That is to set aside time to spend with those around us who are aging. Among our friends, we have a group of people who are in their mid to late 70's. They are a wellspring of enjoyment, a wealth of knowledge, and, quite simply, no truer friends than these can be found.

When you think of any of the positive attributes a person may possess such as commitment, dependability, integrity and sound judgement, our dear friends have all of these and so many more. They are a constant source of inspiration by their determined actions to move forward in a positive manner, all the while being tremendously thankful for each and every day that they are given. Their continual living out life with purpose and meaning teaches those of us who are around them, without their ever directly purposing to do so.

When I think of how special and unique each of our friends are, I am reminded that none of us are invincible, and some day will come our day to leave this earth and those we love. What better time to take hold of the beauty of friendship and the blessing of togetherness than now, when we can gratefully and joyfully share in moments that become precious memories for a lifetime?

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Wishing you all the best in this bright, beautiful New Year!

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We had a nice  visit with Becca and Justin last night. The ceiling repair has been started, and it will be a process to get it to where he wants it to be. I guess they’d like to have a shiplap ceiling now, so he needs to get the boards for that, and figure out measurements, etc. Things look easy, but as we age, we understand that experience teaches us sometimes things are easier said than done. Dean suggested some pointers, and offered some tools to get him started in the right direction. I’m sure they’ll both be happy when the work has finally been completed.

Maya and Colby were so excited to have our company. At first they were like a bundle of energy that had been let loose, so you have to be careful they don’t knock you off your feet in all the excitement! In short order they settled down and wanted petting and love. Colby laid alongside Grandpa for quite some time, loving the cuddle time, and eventually drifted off to sleep. Maya often came to my side for hugs and love, then settled down on the cozy ottoman for a nap of her own.

I was awakened in the early morning hours by the sound of the plow truck rumbling down our road. When we finally got out of bed and looked outside, we discovered about an inch or so of snow had fallen while we slept. The lack of any real breeze has allowed the snow to lay prettily on the limbs of trees and branches of bushes. It looks like a winter wonderland out there. Regardless of the snow and cold, there are still bicyclists and joggers out for their daily exercise. For some reason, our road is a popular one for this sort of activity, and it’s nice to see people out and about.

As for me, I plan on staying indoors, folding and putting away laundry, and have yet to clean up the kitchen from our brunch. It was a simple yet tasty fare of ham, eggs over easy and toast. I’ve been enjoying watching the birds and critters outdoors, and I think that I’ll just take the day slow and steady, and enjoy it however it unfolds. Sometimes it’s nice to not have any plans.

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This has been a day of tending to various chores around the house. Laundry, dishes, tidying up and that sort of thing. It’s been casual and enjoyable, and I like those kind of days.

Yesterday we experienced a Spring-like warmth. Today it's barely 30 degrees and we’ve had some morning snow. The feeders were busy with Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Chickadees and Sparrows. A few Squirrels were scrounging for bits and pieces of seeds and corn that dropped from the feeders above.

We saw an interesting sight - a Squirrel that seems to be the offspring of one red and one gray. It’s not that common, despite the fact that there are numerous amounts of each that we’ve seen scampering through our yard.

In general, Red Squirrels, though smaller, are much more dominant (and noisy), and even run off the Gray Squirrels whenever they’re in close proximity to one another. Reds can be quite aggressive and hurtful to the grays if they get into physical confrontations. But apart from each other, they both have interesting characteristics.

The grays are curious acrobats, determined and quite intelligent in figuring out how to get at a food source. The reds are speedy and scurry from point A to point B, they’re hyper and chatter what sounds like warning signals quite a bit. The combination of these traits could be seen easily in our new visitor today. There were no other reds, and it got along with the few grays perfectly fine. I’ll have to keep an eye out now to see how often it will frequent the feeder area this winter.

In a little while, Dean and I plan on heading out to visit our daughter, Becca, son in law, Justin, and the grand pups. I’m sure the pups will be rambunctious and each will vie for our individual attention. They’re jealous that way, which is so like children!

Apparently, Justin had to tear down the dining room ceiling in an effort to track down a water leak from the bathroom above. Turns out, it wasn’t a leak from the supply or waste lines, but from water getting splashed outside the edge of the shower curtain, pooling along the outside tub edge and then somehow absorbing through the grout and down onto the drywall of the ceiling below. The kids are learning quickly just how much responsibility it is to be a homeowner!

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Whenever Facebook comes into a conversation, it seems that for every positive “feature”, there are twice as many that are negative. Often people are accused of living a double life. The one they post about, and the one that’s real. People argue over being excluded from posts, while other times, third parties somehow find out about posts that only certain people were supposed to be privy to. Then there are the “post happy” people. They post continuously throughout the day, sharing every little tidbit and detail of their life. TMI. Facebook has really caused us to look at life from a whole different angle these days, and often causes problems where before there were none!

I was recently mediating a heated conversation between two people who saw the posting of family pictures on Facebook from very different perspectives. One felt that they had a right to privacy when it came to pictures of themselves, their significant other and their children that were taken by the other. The other felt that their pictures were their own to use and display as their take on the family event, and made reference to the phrase, “To each his own”.

It’s a fine line. And I can certainly see it from both sides, though, ultimately, I believe each person has the right to say how, when and where photographs of themselves and their loved ones are used.

I also find it unsettling that these types of dilemma’s are now something many of us face on a daily basis because of the significant use of various forms of social media these days. Not only does one find it hard to monitor and maintain their own privacy, and that of their family, but with new concerns rising for matters such as facial recognition and more, social media has taken things to a whole new level that could easily spiral out of control.

I have always tried to be discreet, and manage my privacy settings on Facebook very carefully. I’m not one to “friend” people who are vague or distant acquaintances in my life, so you won’t find 200+ friends on my friend list. In fact, the handful of friends that I do have, you won’t see them, because I even go so far as to leave that option hidden.

There are so many things to consider when you use social media. I find that I have a love/hate relationship with it. I would much rather go back to pen and paper letters when keeping in touch, and taking pictures with a camera, then printing them off to keep and share with those who are important in your life!

How about you? What’s your take on using, and being a part of this social media rage that has taken over the world for more than a decade?

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Good Morning!! Happy Thursday. The days all seem to be blending into one another. I guess that’s what happens when a holiday is on a weekday!

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Merry Christmas! Have a beautiful day.....

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Rest, relax and enjoy however you choose to spend this blessed time of year, my friends! I’m so thankful you stop in at Between Friends. 😊 Your visits are special  to me!

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Ziva was quite the sassy, curious cat while overseeing my gift preparations today... Notice her tongue sticking out in that last picture! 😄

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We all know how hard it is to truly relax and celebrate the holidays, especially when we may want to accomplish so much and there seems to be so little time, or when we wish things were different than how our circumstance presently is. Here are some ways that can help us enjoy this holiday season to the fullest.....

Keep it Simple - Going all out with any one thing might seem like a good idea, but really, you shouldn’t. Find a middle ground that helps you actually enjoy the holidays and have less unpleasant moments and/or memories.

Keep Visits Short - A huge cause of holiday stress can be being around people. Whether you have a hard time with certain family members, extended family or certain acquaintances, if there are visits planned, a simple tip is to keep the visits short.

Eat Well - Christmas season almost always means lots of sugar! Limit the sweets. Feed your body good, nourishing foods when you are home and make the best choices you can when you’re out.

Exercise - Don’t neglect physical activity when things get busy and the weather is cold. This helps your body not only physically, but mentally!

Play Music - Play music you love to lift your mood and take your mind off of any stressors. Sometimes a little distraction like this can help immensely.

Diffuse Oils - This uses another one of your senses. Seasonal and stress relieving aromas can change the atmosphere in your home and mind as well.

And lastly......

Remember the Reason for the Season - Through all the craziness of the holidays, take time to remember the reason for the season and to look beyond yourself. Find somewhere to volunteer, include attending church in your plans, or even just take a few minutes to visit a neighbor and share some baked goods with them.

Let this be the year that you learn to make intentional choices for yourself so you can have memories you want to remember!

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It’s still mild like Spring. Feels so heavenly after some of our very cold days. I am straightening up and airing out the house. This afternoon we are expecting company. Dean and I ran to our local wholesale store and bought a boneless picnic ham for dinner. We’ve really been enjoying that cut of ham lately. I’ll add small potatoes and some crisp corn to make it a meal. Dean thought the pumpkin roll with buttercream filling looked good, so we bought that, too.
Tomorrow I plan to start preparing gifts for our family get together on Monday. I’ve given up on the tedious paper wrapping of gifts, and use pretty Christmas bags with matching tissue paper. I buy a new package of gift tags every year and I’m good to go! Simple, simple. And if you know anything about me, you know that’s just the way I like it!

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Mmmmmm! Hot, bubbly, cheesy, goodness for dinner tonight. Chicken casserole! Sometimes it’s just good to sit down at the table and spoon up a dish of comfort food....

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When I went downstairs to tend to the laundry, I had to chuckle when I saw Ziva in one of our old, but well favored, cat teepees. I guess you could say she likes to live on the edge! 😆

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It seems odd to hear Christmas songs playing when there’s sunshine and spring weather outdoors. But I love it just the same. I’d much prefer to live in a milder climate, but all of my immediate family is here. None of us are more than 45 minutes away from each other, and the majority of us live only 15 minutes apart.
I wake to a new list of things to accomplish each day. But today, I did find time to sit outdoors for a short while in the sunshine. Stopping to take a breather in the middle of the day is a time of quiet refreshment for both the body and the mind. Sometimes we just need to “be”. Especially at this time of year, when the holiday season stretches so long from Thanksgiving, through Christmas and on to the New Year’s celebration.
It’s a wonderful time, but when it comes to an end, I think many of us are happy to pick up where we left off on our much more normal routine.

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Today was quite a cold day. We were at a mere 25 degrees for the most part, and this afternoon had a break in the clouds for a few hours. Just seeing the blue sky and sunshine felt so wonderful. On days like today, we always have many birds that frequent the feeders. I was happy to see the return of some of our Bluebirds as they nibbled on my crunchy peanut butter in the suet log. Then we had our regulars - the Blue Jays, Nuthatches, Titmice, Chickadees, Goldfinches, House Finches, Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and Mourning Doves. Oh, and the occasional Cardinal. They don’t really seem to come out in flocks until a bit further into winter. Watching all the birds is as good to me as watching a favorite TV show. There’s plenty of entertainment, and almost always a guest appearance or two!
Grocery shopping was on my list of things to do today. I always try to stick with shopping around the perimeter of store, since that’s where the most important staple items such as produce, meat, breads and dairy, can generally be found. I did dive into the center on this trip for few things in the breakfast and cleaning aisles. Thankfully, the store wasn’t overly crowded. Dean and I just aren’t big on crowds.
I also made a short trip to Kohl’s for a few, final Christmas gifts. Last year Dean got me the handiest little kitchen gadget. A knife sharpener that sits on the counter and is basically like a handle grip. You hold the grip with one hand, and run the knife through the sharpening groove that is on the end of the grip. This year, I had just the person in mind who would really like, and benefit from, a sharpener of their own. Kohl’s version is different than mine, and actually its design is better suited for my recipient anyways!
I did get something for myself, which is really my Christmas present from Dean. It’s nothing fancy, but useful, and practical, and exactly what I need..... A pillow! But I’m not talking about just any old pillow. This one is a special pillow, the kind us middle aged people need when we’re looking to support our head, neck and shoulder(s) properly for a good night of rest. (And less frequent trips to the chiropractor, as is the case for me!) It’s a Serta brand, down illusion, down alternative pillow. Hypoallergenic and machine washable. After going back and forth between medium and firm, I settled on the firm, which honestly isn’t as firm as you’d think! I would never guess I’d ever consider buying a $40 pillow, but the good news is, it was 50% off. I’m really looking forward to seeing how it will feel, and if I can settle nicely into it, which is something I absolutely have to be able to do in order to fall asleep. If it’s as good as I hope, I would definitely buy another, even if it meant having to pay full price.
I have to chuckle when I think about all the things that are so much more important to Dean and I now, then when we were younger and nothing seemed to bother us! Isn’t that the way things usually tend to go?

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I am happy to report that everything turned out just fine on my second visit to the chiropractor, as mentioned in my post below. He was very understanding, I did not get charged, and the problem on the left side of my upper back has been resolved. Phew! I’m looking forward to waking up to a fresh, new start tomorrow, and getting back on track with all that I have planned to do!

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I had hoped to post sooner today, but I had to make a call to my chiropractor first thing for an issue that came about with my upper back on Saturday. (And yes, I was recently just there!) The secretary told me the dr had an opening at 9:30, so I took it.
With chiropractor appointments, I often feel like they’re a catch 22. But lately, having to go for adjustments seems to be my lot in life, so I go. In the beginning, I’d wait to see if the problem would go away, but that just never really happens. Waiting almost always causes the matter to intensify to the point of significant discomfort which causes an interruption in your ability to carry on with your day as usual.
So, you have a pain, an ache, a “catch”, or some such thing, and that’s what needs first, a relaxing and warming treatment, and then, adjusting. While experiencing the first part of treatment, you start to recognize a feeling of relief, and begin to realize just how much discomfort you were dealing with. It’s one of those things that’s kind of like the frog having been boiled in the water....
Then comes the adjustment part. And here’s where the catch 22 comes in. You know the adjustment is a necessary evil. Finally, what is out of place, will be put back in place, but not without firm coercing. There’s slight discomfort, but immediate relief is almost always achieved.
Though, what sometimes happens afterwards, is that you’ve now upset the apple cart. It can be that an area you had not a lick of trouble with, suddenly starts to feel “different”. It’s the most frustrating part of this whole process. You go in to correct one problem, and end up with another.
And that’s exactly what happened today. I went in for an adjustment on the upper right part of my back, only to come home and continue to feel a catch now on the left side! I’m guessing a nerve is pinched because my whole arm is lightly tingling.
At first I thought I’d wait it out just to be sure because hey, let’s face it, it feels awkward to have to call back and say that something still isn’t right. I always hate to “be a bother” to people. Plus, there’s the inconvenience of another trip back to the chiropractor, and I sure hope I don’t get charged for another office visit because this really isn’t through any fault of my own.
Then I got over myself, the awkwardness and inconvenience, and made the call. I politely explained the situation, and it was suggested that if nothing improves by 3:30 this afternoon, that I should come back in. So, since my arm continues to tingle, you can expect that I’ll be heading back to the chiropractor for the second time today.
The older I’ve gotten the more I realize that I don’t want to be a martyr, to suck it up, wait it out, or any other thing. I want to address an issue, get it resolved and move on. If I can’t, I will politely, but firmly, insist on a resolution until it’s the answer I came for. Otherwise, the only person who loses out and suffers is me.

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The other day I went to Goodwill in hopes of finding some old pictures with barn scenes, and the scene with that famous old, red pickup truck carrying a Christmas tree. Both would make great gifts for 2 people who I know would just love them. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find either.

I decided to browse the store and look for some long sleeved shirts for myself. They seemed to have a good selection, and it wasn’t long before I came upon some incredible bargains. Namely, these beautiful button downs by Chaps, some with the store tags still on them.
They were $60 shirts, which I got for the nifty price of just $5 each! I couldn’t believe it. They fit perfectly, and the couple without the original store tags couldn’t have been worn more than once or twice. I was so happy to know that, while I didn’t find what I’d gone in to look for, at least I hit the jackpot in the shirt department!