A Rainy Saturday

A week of February gone, hard to believe that it is time to put out the garbage again, never ending, and a pesky job that has to be done. As you can see Emma has found her favorite napping spot but only after an hour of chewing everything in sight. She still has a fetish for toes and fingers and my stuffed seagull is the perfect foil for her tiny teeth. We have a tug or war with it and she tires herself out then opts for the couch and a nap. Daughter Pat brings her lap top and scans the e-mail, Facebook and plays a game or two if she can keep Emma busy, if not, you see Emma is a captive audience to the computer science. She may be a computer dog yet. After we had our early morning session with our computers and found out all was right in our world . . . son John got to Anchorage, Alaska after a lot of layovers in airports . . . and Erin was excited about an upcoming dance she will be in with her group this coming March. The others must be busy and 'no news is good news'. Having finished that 'God-Awful' puzzle I opted for a camera session at Sporthaven beach. There was a slight break in the weather and the ocean waves were riding high and thunderous. The street leading to the water is full of pot holes and needs attention badly, but the city 'fathers' have other 'fish to fry'

Behave Emma . . . I have work to do!

We stopped the car to take a picture of two beautiful Canadian Geese but as I opened the door hundreds of gulls came flocking around us hoping for tidbits to eat. I wish people would stop feeding them 'junk' and allow them the privilege of eating the fish in the sea.

My latest puzzle and a very hard one to do. When it was finally completed five pieces were missing and that is a shame as it would have been a good one to frame. All of New York with the twin towers standing. 911, a date we will always remember, as the towers crumbled and life changed for all of us.

So, today whether you are shoveling snow, sloshing in the rain, or walking in the sunshine, look around you and plot and plan a day to satisfy your most inner cravings . . . lunch out . . . take your camera for a walk . . . visit a friend . . . shop until you drop, but live as if there is no tomorrow . . . tomorrow is today when it gets here so hug a friend who is up or down and chase the blues away. Just remember it takes a lot fewer muscles to laugh than to cry. I'm humming . . . "have I told you lately that I love you; well darlin, I'm telling you now.

Musing to Muse about weather.

I watched a movie last night called "Twister" and it was one to keep you on the edge of your seat as you followed along with the tornado watchers and had a chance to imagine what it would be like to be caught in the center of the storm with no where to go. The the damage and destruction caused by a torndo is unbelievable as anything and everything is picked up and twirled in the huge cone of the storm. Animals, cars, houses and barns are reduced to rubble. The movie folks made it seem so real. All I can tell you is I wouldn't want to be caught outside as one descended from the skies. The closest I ever got to seeing one was riding along the highway to Las Vegas on my way to a convention and a thin spiral started to spin out of a storm cloud. I never heard whether it hit land or not, it was so small and thin it probably dissipated before it touched down.

This has been an extremely hard winter for a lot of folks all over the country. The East Coast was hit with a huge storm yesterday with more due in today. I had an e-mail letter this morning describing the lull between the storms. My friend is snowed in and will have to shovel her way out the front door then continue to shovel all around the house to get to the back door so she can open it. She and her pet cat are hibernating for the weekend and being a teacher she is going to put her hours to good use correcting all the papers and catching up. As she said, "the storm brings about time . . . time to do the things you need to do but never have 'time' for." I hope she stocked up and has plenty of candles in case she loses the lights and wood for the fire place if that is what it takes. She just moved into her new house, which is a very old house, and has yet to discover all the nooks and crannies. I'd like to hop a plane and join her for the weekend, sounds like fun. Here in Brookings the rain continues although we have an occasional half hour break when we see a streak of sunlight for about a half hour. Everyone goes outside just to feel the sun as we hope for a little vitamin D to keep us going. We head for the beach to see the waves whipped up by the winds that are so strong. The surf takes on colors of dark shades as the sand is whipped up in all the frenzy. You can feel the power of the water as the waves roll in, crest then break into a foamy froth that is really beautiful.

I walked out and checked the front gardens to find that the weeds are blooming and there is no way I can just pull them out this year, they are everywhere. The deer are coming in every night when all is quiet and chomping my little tiny pine tree. They gave the rhodys a rest so they are budding but I doubt that they will allow them to grow much. Why can't they eat weeds? They look appetizing. I know you can make dandelion wine, probably can cook them as a green vegetable too although I haven't tried that yet. A bit scary when I don't know a good weed from a bad one. Rhubarb is delicious but the leaves are poison. We have wild onions growing all over and have no idea how they got in my front yard. Why the wild life doesn't cooperate and eat all the weeds is beyond me, looks like a feast to me. Like life in general we have to take the good with the bad. I just wish I knew what is so good about having weeds. There are so many they must have a purpose . . . is it to feed the wild animals? Well, I wish someone could get that through to the wild deer that come by every night and nibble at all the beautiful plants.

So, today no matter what the weather is in your 'neck of the woods' enjoy it because you can. A walk in the rain always feels so good and even a walk in the snow is invigorating. Of course, if you hear a storm is heading your way make sure you are prepared with all of your favorite things to eat and drink and enjoy a bit of down time. This is the weekend to hibernate as it is the 'Big Game' . . . Football . . . wonder about those ads. . . guess we'll have to peek in if the power stays on and see what is up. Wish you were here so you could help me find a few of the puzzle pieces. I could use a little help. Make today a good one. Hugs to all.

I just read the most wonderful e-mail about life as it used to be back in 1950 and it was a trip down memory lane as I was a stay at home mom with my new baby daughter. I didn't doze in my chair in those days as I was much too busy and full of vim and vigor. The outdoor movie picture made me laugh as I remember my niece came to stay a week with us and we took her to an outdoor movie as a treat. She had been working in the yard and watering the flower beds and when I called her to join us at the car she shut the hose off by the nozzle and off we went. When we came home the hose had split right by the open window and the pressure spewed a stream of water into the living room where the rug soaked up every ounce of it. We had to pull up the rug and take it outside to dry and the wall paper came off readily. No real harm done, just a lot of extra work and I don't even remember the name of the movie. When those outdoor movies came about, probably in the forties, we used to hike over to the marsh land where it was located and climbed the fence to sit and watch and listen to the movies. We could see and hear the movies without any problem and it was one of our favorite past times. I wonder if there are any of these outdoor movie places around now, probably not high tech enough. Our world has changed a lot over the last fifty years. Makes me wonder what the next fifty will bring. I hope wondrous things for all.

The picture of Noah, a one legged homing pigeon rock dove has been around before and the folks at the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch updated the pictures so we could see how the bunnies survived. Noah took the bunnies under his wing when they were six days old when three out of five survived a dog attack. Noah would sit by the cage where the tiny bunnies were settled in and the folks were striving to keep them alive. He nestled one of the tiny bunnies when it crawled out of the cage kept it under his wing. Soon all three were comfortable and happy snuggled and content even if he gave them a slight peck if they needed to mind. The Wild Rose people are very happy to listen to his 'coo' as he sings them to sleep, and they say he has helped with other tiny orphans. They liken him to a psalm . . . "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wing you will find refuge." The Good Lord has strange and mysterious ways of helping us all, man, woman, child, animal or feathered friend.

As for the telephone . . . I have one just like it and it works very well. So, today take your phone out of your pocket and call a friend and send a verbal hug. One never knows the path they are on and your call could be just the 'voice' they need to hear . . . add me to your list, your dulcet tones are always welcomed. I just love hugs, verbal or otherwise. Make today special, just like you.

Wondering

If we were out walking down this pathway we might see a butterfly or a bird or two, but nothing like the exotic animals in today's pictures. There was fifteen 'strange' animals to see in an e-mail sent to me and they were all so ugly they were beautiful. I wanted to know what a two toed sloth looked like and was surprised to see it. I had no idea that every time I filled in a cross word puzzle asking for a sloth that this is what it looked like. In my imagination it was a tiny creature similar to a moth . . . boy, was I wrong. Maybe part of the monkey family? Strange creature, certainly not beautiful but a bit on the scary side. If I had to meet one of the strange creatures I think the tapir has more going for it with it's snout like that of an elephant that was cut short, or the fur reminiscent of a zebra's strip. It does look a little forlorn, not a smirk to its name. If I stretch my imagination I might come up with a likeness between people in our lives. Some with a smirk and a desire to pounce to get ahead and climb the ladder before you can get on the first rung, or the shy ones that need a push to start up the ladder. I'm probably thinking of work years which I am thankful are behind me now that the new electronic age as arrived in full bloom.

I am amazed at the changes in people as they accept the newness of the electronic gadgets and cannot go anywhere they are not glued to one. Names I've never heard of, I-Pods; cell phones; play stations; lap tops and a myriad of new gadgets coming out on a daily basis. I watch two of my children sitting in the same room glued to laptops, carrying on conversations or playing games fully engrossed with the company on the screen. You can have movies, music or play a dozen games that keeps your eyes glued to a screen and your mind moving in ten directions. Eight hundred 'friends' . . . who needs eight hundred friends? I'm lucky I have one. I dabble a tiny bit in this wondrous world of electronics and haven't moved out of the beginning stage. I signed up on 'Facebook' so I could find out what family members were up to, but I am lost when I try to participate. I find it too fast, too intrusive and not 'my cup of tea' . . . I like to blog. I like to send e-mails and funny cards, but I am slowing down while the electronic pace is moving faster than my mind can accept. Now I know why the older members in my generation were always worried about the future generation and the problems they were going to face. It goes with age as I wonder what is going to happen to the future generation. Like us, they are preparing for 'their time' and will survive just as we did. They are preparing for their future and what it contains while we look back and think about what changes we survived, and there were so many.

So, today be a survivor. Pay attention to all of the new electronic devices and learn what it is they have to offer, just be sure you do not them master your life because it is very short and as one person wrote ' life is not a rehearsal' so put your electronic gadget down and lose yourself in silence and wonder and look about you, then interact with your fellow man and for heaven's sake put the gadget away and hug someone while you carry on a conversation eyeball to eyeball with them. It really is okay to enjoy a meal, or drive your car with the intrusion of a gadget. Everyone does not have to know where you are every waking moment. Be master of your own fate starting today.

Hugs

Everybody needs a hug and there are so many different kinds of hugs . . . you know the kind you step into and know that you are going to feel so good because that one hugger is not afraid to hug. There is the shy hugger who wants a hug but is afraid to touch because he or she is afraid it will be misconstrued and might have to follow through with a kiss. Oh my, wouldn't you like to give them a stepped in hug and scare the daylights out of them? The stiff hugger always amuses me because it isn't a hug at all, just a touching of the hand by the shoulder and a feeling that all is not right in their world. Yep! Hugs tell a lot.

The little blow fish could use a hug. The picture reminded me of a beloved uncle who lost his hair and his teeth but never his sense of a hug. He just knew when you needed on and to this day he is the handsomest of men, a true hugger who has gone on to his reward but still missed. The hugs linger on with just a thought so I am thinking hugs never die once you know the message they send.

I like to think a handshake is a form of a hug and it tells a lot about a person. Like hugs they are different kinds from weak to strong and facial expressions tell all as you reach out and shake hands. Sometimes a handshake leads to a hug and that makes it twice as nice.

So, today go out and find some folks to hug. There are some who really need one, some who can't get enough of them, and some to shy to ask for one . . . but, you can tell just by the way they say hello, so step into a hug and enjoy making your day the best yet and some one very happy. Consider yourself hugged.

Housing

I couldn't find a picture of Ground Hog to wish you a Happy Ground Hog's Day so I added this very hairy rabbit instead with a wish that winter will soon be behind us. It has been a long hard time span for many people across the country as one storm followed another. It is time for a change. That word brings us to our current President who is giving the cartoonists a run for their money. This one shows some of our representatives jumping ship . . . there will be a lot more of that as we hear about the 'one hundred million dollar bonus' . . . now, that is ludicrous, no one could possibly spend that much money in one life time. They can't take it with them and they can't leave it behind without creating civil disabilities in their own families. The realm of unpopularity is about to hit the fan. Okay, a change in my subject matter this morning before you shut down your computer and refuse to be bitten by a political satire on subjects you are already aware of. How about Iran and the mountains where, as the caption on the pictures asked "and you wonder why we cannot find Ben Laden". This is a village in Iran that is over seven hundred years old. It is difficult to believe that such a place exists. Wouldn't it be interesting to hear and read the history of this village? My friend who sent this e-mail is a world traveler and she added a few words about a place she visited called 'Eze" which is outside of Nice, France, up on a hillside and had shapes like these in open spaces. She wrote, "They had a tourist boutique selling things of quality, in eccentric surroundings. The stairs were of stone and we climbed high to see all of the spaces. It was an amazing sight and an experience not to be forgotten as Monte Carlo and Monaco is not far away." I think my favorite of the pictures is the lady climbing the stairs. A good thing I don't live there as I'd never make it past the first ten steps. Then again, maybe if I had lived there all my life my leg muscles would be so strong from climbing the stairs every day I'd be able to get to the top. It's okay, I can make the four stairs I have and that gets me in and out of the house.

So, today is a good day because you are going to make it a good day and climb stairs if you can. Keep those muscles working and if you cannot find stairs to climb, put on your walking boots and get going. There are places to go and things to do today while you wait for the news about the ground-hog and its prediction about the coming of spring. Let's have a little wishful thinking and 'think spring'.

If we were in Africa visiting on Safari we would find similarities in the Game Reserve much like visiting our own National Parks. Driving three abreast seems a bit much to me. Usually the roads are narrow and one car at a time is permissible. When son John and I were leaving Yellowstone National Park, some years back, we followed six huge buffalo who were in no hurry to clear the road so we could leave the park. I thought they were beautiful animals, as they gazed over their backsides and looked as if they owned the road. I can only imagine what these African animals are like. I know I wouldn't want to meet up with any one of them . . . look at the size of the hippo, and the elephants, either could topple your car if they got upset. I am not sure if that is a dingo dog or not, but I didn't find them very good to look at, rather wild I'd say. About the only time I've seen a lion or a tiger has been in a circus behind iron bars and that was fine with me. I think all wild things should be left in their natural habitat, free to live out their lives. Guess my curiosity and fear run in opposite directions.

The cartoon is a classic. It probably over states forgetfulness but it isn't far from the truth. All of us have experienced a likely story somewhere down the line. My husband never left me at the store and forgot me, although I am sure there were times he thought about it, but he drove me to the store then paced outside as he had a cigarette and waited 'patiently' for my return. To this day, I can't stand having anyone just 'wait' for me. The pressure to hurry up spoils the shopping spree. Why can't men browse? . . . it is a pleasant task. Why can't they take time to look things over instead of picking up the first item and running with it ? . . . there is no law that says shopping is strictly for women. Somewhere, someone must have laid down ground rules that shopping is for sissies. I'm no sissy, but I am a shopper . . . or browser if you like. and have spent some of my best hours in a store browsing for clothing, food or something special for a family member or a friend. When I go over to Fred Meyers huge store here in Brookings, I see a lot of men shopping . . . I wonder if they finally discovered you have to shop if you want to buy all of the things you think you want . . . how come they don't follow the list? They don't have to bring home all of those goodies . . . well, don't complain as they are out there fighting the masses and I think,in spite of themselves, enjoying it.

So, today is a good day to shop. Maybe you need new shoes, or maybe you want to buy a special treat for dinner tonight. Either way, the store is not far away and they welcome you as the little sticker prices change by the minute. Just browse, it pays off in the end. Make this February First a banner shopping day, it doesn't have to be just for holidays . . . Valentine's Day is coming in less than two weeks, so don't forget to browse and find some sweets for your sweethearts,especially those four legged animals that love you so unconditionally. Make today unforgettable, just like you.