New Day

A brand new day and right this minute the sun is coming up in the eastern sky and the clouds have disappeared, at least for the moment. Yesterday I watched cloud formations, the like I have never seen before. Talk about awesome beauty. They were thick and gray and filled the sky but with them were puffs of wispy white fluffy balls which reminded me of the fish in the sea. Many times I equate clouds with the ocean waves or a high mountain chain when nature reflects the surrounding scenes of earth in the huge sky. A silent artist painting pictures for us to enjoy. I particularly love the change of colors in our skies from a sun rise to a sun set and when the dark clouds pass us by and leave the shades that create the rainbows.

"Shades and Shadows . . . colors bright, Aah, Good Lord, thank you for such light;
Be it shades of red in morn or night, warning sailors of their plight;
Or shades of yellows, bronze and greens along with purple and magenta scenes.
Rolling shades of gray and black, streaks and flashes of jagged light;
pouring, teeming, dancing rain set prisms in a rainbow sky
a bountiful gift of God's eye.


So today you have a brand new day to contend with....what are you going to do with it? Something special, I hope. Don't forget to light a candle for all 'needs' not 'wants', remember our military in your prayers, along with the desperate trying to survive. Rise above the mundane and reach for being 'almost' perfect . . . like me (smile!) . . . I wish to be good, even better, but it is a long hard road to follow. So . . . do your best and enjoy today. Hugs to all.

Transportation

This is a picture of China's Shinkansen, wonder what that word means? Most likely what it is, a high speed train. China has invested over two hundred and ninety three billion dollars in their mode of transportation and they do not want to slow down. According to the article they have a system of connector cabins with which they have on the back and front on the roof of the trains. The passengers enter into the connector boxes and the train slows to allow the passengers to be lifted down and they disembark and go their merry way. It works on both ends of the train but for the life of me I cannot figure out why they would not want to stop and smell the roses. Life goes by quickly enough without coming up with a system that never slows down. I wonder what they do with the engineers.This would be more my speed and most likely I'd be late, not that I wouldn't want to be saved from the deluge, but I don't think I'd be happy with all those smelly animals. Let's face it I am not the world's greatest animal lover. Oh I wouldn't hurt them and I'd most likely pet one or two but I'd be very cautious in case one decided to move in with me.

So today whatever your mode of transportation, train, plane or automobile . . . and even 'shanks mare' enjoy the trip. Be sure to take your time and enjoy the scenery along the way. Stop, look and listen, it's the only way to go. Make today a 'date' day, call a friend or two, enjoy the company and the hugs. Hugs to you.

Pups and Politics

Emma the bird dog, or as daughter Patricia said in the caption "some bird dog!". Look at that expression, bet if she were let loose she would show them she had a hunter's instinct and that big bundle of feathers would be floating up and above as she would wrestle with it and shake it to pieces. Emma loves to shake, rattle and roll and is reaching pre-teen years in which she refuses to pay attention . . . that is until YOU get her attention. She's a beauty and given a bit more puppy time she will grow into a wonderful companion, although Pat wonders just how long that is going to take as she came in out of the rain yesterday and made a bee-line for the new couch, shook her wet fur and let mud fly creating a big mess to be cleaned up. Puppies are a lot of fun if you can only be patient until they finally grow up. Um . . . seems we say that about children!!



Nope, I do not like what is going on in our political world either. The news often surprises us with the words written about 'change'. Well this President did promise change. He never said we would like the 'change', nor does he seem to care. I am reminded of a mother who stands over her child waiting for the last pea to go down, when she turns around the pea disappears and the child goes out to play while the dog burps from being overfed. Life is strange and we usually find what goes around comes around, so our future can be full of changes if we get out and vote in the next election.

So today, as you ponder the latest news and scratch your head in amazement and roll your eyes at the latest news, take time to pray for all kinds of changes . . . a change in the weather to start with; a change to healthier eating; and most of all a change in our attitudes . . . what is that saying about how many muscles it takes to make a frown or a smile? . . . the smile wins out every time. Look "Ma" no wrinkles!! Make your day a good one . . . work at it and see how easy it really is. Hugs to all.

Sisters

My friend Helen and her two sisters just spend a week in Reno having a reunion and it sounds like they were kicking up their heels and having the time of their lives. Helen called yesterday to say they had a week of laughter reliving some of the antics they went through as young children. Only one was a winner but shared, so they had lots of play time and some very good eating. Our friend Tani joined them for lunch and I wished I could have been along with them. There were seven of us that found time to share over the years, always a different grouping, but always filled with love and laughter.


As we get older and life changes come about we cannot meet and greet each other as we once did. Several of our group have gone on to what we hope is a better life and endless, as promised. All we can do right now, no matter what age, is to take each day as it comes and make it the best we can. I'm musing about wishing for a repeat of some of the old times, but then, I do have to remember that I enjoyed those times and they are long gone and now it is up to me to make the best of today and each day as it comes. There are places to go, things to do and people to meet along the way.

So today, when you open the door and go outside into your world, look around for someone to greet, some one to hug, someone to share a meal with and if that is not possible, then enjoy your own company and be glad of it and make today the best ever.

I'm off to 'clean' up the mess we made getting ready for the yard sale. Now comes the part where you pick and choose and make up boxes either for the mission, the dog place, or storing for another sale in the future. Maybe there is a piece or two that needs showing off at home and it can be exchanged for one that has become an 'eye-sore' . . . for shame ! Nothing is really an eye sore, we just think we need change . . . and sometimes that gets us into trouble. Need or want . . . that is the question! Hugs to all.

AAh The Moon and Musing

Wandering around last night, in the wee hours of the morning, I saw light coming in the sky light and lo and behold we had a bright moon which I haven't seen for awhile.

This is one of Erin's photographs and I love the mask that makes me think the moon is looking back at us . . . wonder what it is seeing?

I didn't stay up long but cuddled back into my bed and let my mind wander a bit. I had a Sunday call from son Michael and that is always a heart lifter. He is getting ready for a vacation trip to the Dakotas and I hope it is the start of a great road trip. Mike is recuperating from the injury to his arm, slow and painful process, and the change will do him a world of good. His friend, Scoot sent along his latest music and I must say the band has progressed to new heights. I like the beat of song number two and have fifteen more to listen to. Scoot writes to tell me he just had a capo-tunnel operation that was not successful and will have to go back for further work on his arm. I hope it is successful as he would be lost without playing his guitar. Meanwhile son John is back from the top of the world and promises to catch up. I am looking forward to a description of the upper arctic and wonder what wild life he had an opportunity to see. I gather the new fast communication methods have not reached up there, and the little that does is slower than the turtle catching the hare. It will be much brighter when he has time to play catch up. The rest of the family must be keeping busy as silence prevails. I send a "silence is not golden" message but it hasn't done much to awaken any new thoughts coming my way. Communication is the bread line of life, everyone knows that!

Daughter Pat and I are regrouping from our weekend yard sale and now have to find time to box up the left overs and make room for her car again. I'm not sure if the set up is the most work or the take down, but it is work especially in trying to figure out what to toss and what to keep for the next sale, if we have another one, the jury is out on that.

My neighbor Jim is in the hospital because of a heart attack. At eighty-nine he has been doing well and loves riding in his scooter and taking the dogs for a run. There is a big plan afoot for a birthday party to celebrate his 90th year and all of his children are planning to be here. Say a prayer that all goes well and he makes it. With all those thoughts swirling around my head, sleep was illusive for a time, but I'm not sure what triggers the sleep pattern to return, but it did, and next I knew it was six a.m. . . . wow . . . for me that is mid day. I'm off to put on my coffee pot and fix myself some breakfast. Wish you were here to share some with me.

So today, the beginning of a new week, lets hope you are up and moving and doing. The other eye will open as soon as you have your morning breakfast and that second cuppa . . . latte? coffee? tea? make it hot and tasty and enjoy today, make it a good one . . . Hugs to all.

Interesting

Today I received an attachment about a family who are making a 7,000 mile "Journey of Discovery" on that special bike. I haven't taken the time to read all about their journey this morning. I only have one eye open and no coffee yet. It is saved for later today when I have time to read from the beginning to the end. Their name is Pedouin, a father, mother, and three daughters. I can hardly wait to read more. If you are interested and want to follow the family, go to: http://www.pedouins.org.

My imagination soars as I think of the several trips across country with my children, so I can well imagine some of the experiences these folks entertained. We went from Rhode Island to Spokane, Washington in a 1956 Buick, dragging a home made trailer behind, until we got to the Rockies and then left it behind as it had no brakes. We met some wonderful people along the way and some that were not so nice. We had good days and bad and I wrote up most of the story when I did a special family history for my children. You can understand why this story has a lot of appeal for me. Having a dream and fulfilling it, takes courage and stamina, along with a lot of fun and frustration. Oh to have the where-with-all to be able to do it all over again.

So today, after reading about adventures, open your door and go outside and find out what is out there for you today. Who knows, it could be something worthwhile and you may make a new friend . . . go for it, and enjoy today and new and beautiful day. Hugs to All !!

Tired, Tired, Tired

In what daughter Patricia spouted this week, "this is my final fourteen year annual I'll never do this again sale" and it was two full days of a garage sale and we were only one of the ninety five here in Brookings. Patricia came over to pick me up and stopped along the way to put up signs for the upcoming weekend. It was Friday morning and the moon had not left the sky, clouds scudded by trying to decide whether or not to stay or go as we were followed home by folks in a truck. We told them we were not ready yet, give us ten minutes but they couldn't wait ten minutes, as soon as the garage door was up they were looking around hoping to find a treasure. Well we had treasures, lots of them, beautiful glass pieces, pictures, pitchers, pottery, fishing poles, hundreds of books, and we had worked very hard to make our garage sale look like a antique shop complete with a jewelry case and glass enclosed 'do-hickeys' that housed the real treasures. Well, as long as we were open we might just as well stay open and the traffic was heavy for the entire day. We were going to treat ourselves to dinner out but believe it or not neither of us could move our bodies for want of a hot shower and a comfortable seat in our own chair. We didn't move for the rest of the night.

At six a.m. Patricia was over with the newspaper and chauffeur me to her garage where the remainder of the treasures were waiting to be rearranged. The clouds looked ominous and there was a bit of mist in the air and our spirits went down a peg or two wondering if we were going to have a rainy day. Luck held, the clouds disappeared and the sun came out along with a bit of wind. We opened the garage doors and our annual ladies came to fill up their bags and boxes with special items they will resell in their stores. They told us last year they didn't get to our sale until the end of day and wished they had known about us as 'we were the best in town' . . . well, how's that for developing a reputation? Pretty good eh? They stocked up and said they would come again but will we do this again? Not sure right now as we found a few things we didn't like. Someone helped themselves to one of the nursery rhyme collectibles, another stole a pocket knife. Mid day the 'different folks' come out, those with a complete difference in style and manners. It is down right scary when the moms come with five children all under four and want to push the strollers through the narrow aisles with all that glass. One brought her dog, as Andy Rooney would say, " I love dogs, but they do not have to go everywhere we go." and he is right, I, for one, agree with him. Small dogs and small children do not belong at garage sales filled with breakables.

I am pleased to report that the books sold very well. We must have had fifteen boxes of books, mostly hard-backs and all in good condition. It was nice to have some conversations with the buyers and find out who their favorite author is and what kind of books they liked to read. One young lady about ten picked up a book on birds, it was part of a series, so I gave her an offer she couldn't refuse, the entire set for the price of one. She was tickled, so was her mom, but this young lady is using her brain and it was good to see.

Today, our second day, was just as busy and just as heart warming as the majority of the people who came to see us were truly wonderful. There is always one or two spoil sports who want something for nothing but it didn't spoil our fun. We held fast and let them stew and sold the item they wanted to someone with a smile. We are just good people persons.....and how they respond to a smile. Tired? Exhausted would be a good choice of words. Would we consider doing it one more time? I'm not sure either of us will have the kind of energy needed, but I'm willing to take bets we have it in our minds for ONE more time. I think the next city wide one is in September.

So save your pennies and maybe you can plot and plan a trip this way and you can be a buyer in the cleanest, neatest, best stocked garage sale in the town of Brookings. Think about it and know we would love to sell you a special treasure just because you are you. Have a great day, maybe there is a yard sale in your town. I hope so. Hugs!