Post-Weekend, Sneezing

Saturday was a pretty nice day:  started off with the baptism of our sweet 8-year-old friend from next door.  How lovely to be invited.  Ended up with the General Relief Society meeting which is one of my very favorite meetings of the year.  This one was only 1 hour 20 minutes long.  Still, though, I found some messages to lift my heart.  (If only the threesome sitting next to us on the bench had gone with the intent to be lifted. Between the cell-phones constantly being used and passed around, the chatting, the constant rummaging in purses and the rustling of food wrappers from behind us, it was a challenge to remain focused. I shall try to forget the distraction and remember the meeting's goodness.)

Causes sneezing fits!

I've been interested in the shifting of my seasonal allergies from the springtime to the fall.  The cause of most of my sneezing distress is the blooming sage.  A nastier smell is hard to imagine. It tickles the inside of my nose with great vigor - causing so many sneezes that I begin to wonder if I'm not getting a cold.  I don't leave the house without an ample supply of tissues.  This plant is indigenous so it is everywhere!! Hopefully we'll have a hard freeze soon and the blooming (and sneezing) will cease.

This guy thought I had breakfast.  Sorry, bud.

Finally managed to acquire some Nashi pears.  With a price increase of 50% it is mentally difficult to share them as generously as we have in the past.  (The free ones were so wormy we had to dispose of them.  I still shudder when I remember that long wiggling worm falling out onto my kitchen counter.  Eliminated my appetite for the proceeds of that particular benefactor's orchard instantly!!)

Today's gratitude:  for the sunrise.
 I so love waking up before the sun and watching it bring light to the world around me.  I realize that (natural) morning people (like me) are in the minority, but that doesn't lessen my enjoyment of the dawning of each new day that I witness.

It's Friday!

Good things about today:

Snow!

• The Husband is home!

• Woke up, decided I wasn't in the mood to walk, so I cuddled up next to The Husband and dozed for a while longer.

• Went to lunch with a couple friends in honor of a birthday.  What fun to see them.

• Cool enough for soup.

• There's enough stuff in the fridge that I don't have to make a grocery run for a day or two.

• Socks.

• Almost time for those oh-so-wonderfully-disguising winter clothes.

• I like Fridays.  It means that the next two days generally have a different sort of structure to them.  I like to have it mixed up just a bit.  I'm on the lookout for some fun.

Enjoyments

Enjoyed our attempt at visiting teaching this morning.  She forgot we were coming (and wasn't there) but I got to visit for a few minutes with my sweet visiting teaching partner - a true gem of a lady.

Enjoyed lunch out with a friend.  I'm old enough to be her mother.  She is actually my visiting teacher. Yet, I love our association and she doesn't seem embarrassed by my old lady absurdities.

Fudge brownies to delight my tongue.

Enjoyed having a certificate for a free sweet from Corner Bakery. I opted for the fudge brownie. Hmmm...better try another one to ascertain I like them as well as I think I do.

So enjoyed the weather today.  Started off in the upper 60's. By 4 p.m. it was down to 47 degrees. Cool enough for me to change into a sweater.  Add in the drizzle of rain and it feels like fall. Love it.

Enjoyed sitting on the porch for a brief chat.

Enjoy knowing that I went to lunch with a friend today, will go to lunch tomorrow, and have lunch planned for Friday as well.  What a huge luxury that is.

Enjoy getting texts (even though the first one of the day was from T-Mobile reminding me of my payment due in a few days.  How kind of them.  I might have forgotten!  Not.) - especially ones from people I care about.  However did we manage without texting?

Enjoy having a book to read by a favorite author that is so involving I hate to put it down.

Today's gratitude:  for the Heavenly plan that means I'm part of family unit that will stretch through the eternities.  Come home safe, My Love.

Tuesday's Beginning

The Husband is out of town again.  Thus, I didn't sleep well last night - finally drifted off about 5 for an hour or so.  This meant I was later than usual heading out for my walk.  Told The Husband it was a weird walk.

Yellow leaves turning brown.

Don't understand why the woman jogger thought it was permissible for her to engage me in conversation, lay her arm across my back and stick her face six inches from mine while passing me on the trail. A total stranger!  Ewww!  Unpleasant and bothersome at best.  Hope to never see her again.  (But I'm prepared if I do.)

Noticed again:  the colors on the trees are changing.  There is orange on the mountainsides.  The contrast between the changing leaves and the ones that are still green is lovely to behold.  Unfortunately the morning light wasn't quite bright enough yet to fully capture the beauty.

Starlings greeting the day.

Eavesdropped on the starlings all lined up on the wires.  Quite the confabulation.  I was a non-contributor.

Perhaps a weed but I so love its happy face.

So love the flowers that are still blooming.

Returned one book to the library only to pick up another two that are both new releases and will be needing reading sooner than later.  What a fun luxury.

Treated myself to lunner at Cafe Rio.  More fun with a friend. Opted for a kouign amann meant for supper.  I was too late, they were all sold.  Settled instead on a chocolate croissant that ended up being lunner dessert instead of supper.  No matter when it was consumed - mighty tasty.  Made my tastebuds happy.

Today was just an ordinary day of ordinariness.  And it was just fine.

Blessing The Lives Of Others

I've been hearing this phrase often of late.  That we are to "bless the lives of others."  It was even mentioned again yesterday in Sunday School by our former-Bishop/teacher.  I always squirm a bit when I hear this phrase.  It is often used in conjunction with thoughts about service.  There is a fine distinction between giving service and blessing the lives of others.

Serving others is a fundamental part of living our religion.  (One I fully endorse and endeavor to incorporate into my life.)  Even the word "serve" implies humility.  The act of serving another brings to mind fulfilling another's need without regard to status or ego.  Something willingly given - often from the heart.  Service is frequently given anonymously - thus the glory (or thanks) goes to God.  As it should.

For The Beauty Of The Earth.

Blessing others infers elevation above another.  Bestowing something on another through our beneficence (or superior position). This attitude smacks of grabbing all the glory for what we have done, even though nothing we do is of any value without acknowledging Heavenly Father's hand in all things.

All that we are/have/do is from our Heavenly Father.  He is the one who blesses.  Professing (or desiring) to bless another is akin to putting ourselves on par with Him. Something none of us should ever do.  A subtle but important difference exists between "service" and "blessing others".  I hope to always be aware of this.  And just maybe - at some future time - I will stand in defense of the appropriate attitude and do so in a way that will cause someone to adjust their own mental position accordingly.  We are all equal in the sight of God.

I continue to love the words to the hymns that we sing each Sunday in church.  Yesterday's included these - words I consider a heartfelt plea:

"Purify our hearts, our Savior; Let us go not far astray,
That we may be counted worthy of thy Spirit day by day.
When temptations are before us, give us strength to overcome.
Always guard us in our wand'rings till we leave our earthly home."

Today's gratitude:  for an awareness of the beauty of this earthly home.

Mind The Gap

This British phrase has been more prevalent the last few years.  I see it around quite a bit.  And I do mind the gap.  But not around the Tube (subway).

The gap that has my attention is the thigh gap.  I find it decidedly unfair that some women have a lovely thigh gap.  You know, that gap between thighs so wide you can see through to the other side of the woman?  It mean their thighs are slender, not thunder.

The two things I always notice about people are the length of their pants (too short/long or just right) and the size of their thigh gap, if they have one.  I don't. Have a thigh gap that is.  I bemoan that fact often.

Just the other day I read something along these lines that struck a chord in me:  My thighs are friends, they like to be close to each other.  And I'm thinking my thighs are really good friends.  Thigh gap is never going to be in my future.

Sigh....

Setting moon, frost on the roof, perfect for my walk.

Went for a walk this morning.  Was so entranced, again, by the moon.  The reason I took this picture though, was the frost on the roof of the casita around the corner.  First time this season for frost - which I noticed on several roofs and lawns.  I so love the trend toward cooler weather.  We even added another blanket on the bed last night.  YAY!  The heat of the summer is history for this year.

Tonight we're heading off to The Roof - a restaurant/upscale buffet that overlooks Temple Square. With a couple friends who also have a September anniversary, who have never been to the Roof but want to go.  It should be a delightful evening. I'm reserving my wheelchair now.

43 Years

Original ring on old hands.

And Counting!  How vividly I recall that ceremony those years ago that linked the two of us together. The Husband has and always will be my treasure beyond measure.  What a journey it has been.  What fun we have left to experience.

Thanks, My Love, for finding me....please don't ever leave without me.

Happy Anniversary.

Wednesday Mental Meanderings

Started a new book last night - an author I've read a lot since discovering her roughly 10 years ago.  I've liked some of her books better than others.  This time around I've found her writing to be almost lyrical and am enjoying it.

This little passage was particularly lovely, I thought:  " How odd, isn't it, that in the end, life comes to surviving more than living.  But these things I do, this melody of an ordinary day, keep the hours in order.  I have lived my way into this music, note by note, and now I know no other."

I've felt a little of that lately, like I'm mostly just singing an ordinary song each day, keeping the hours in order.  I often say I'd like a little boring when what I really mean is I'd like an absence of crisis/calamity/commotion.  We've had a bit of that lately with the only commotion caused by the usual accumulation of annoyances that crop up in daily life.  Sort of the dissonance in a lovely melody.

The beauty of a new day.

I must learn to enjoy this brief hiatus - as life generally goes, it won't last long and we'll be in the thick of it again.  It will all come out right in the end.  Because (as he said in the movie) if it isn't all right, it isn't the end.

Today's gratitude:  for a sweet soul who answered the call of kindness and brought us some fresh-baked yummy cookies....and a smile.

And since I find it hard to look at this blog without a picture, I'll include one of the sunrise yesterday morning.  Sunrises never fail to lighten my heart.

Totally Tuesday

Fresh, juicy peaches to tempt my tastebuds!

Totally loved my morning walk - 70 degrees, breezy, not many people on the trail....

Totally felt strange heading into the grocery - which I did on the way home from trail excursion:  not showered, hair blown and not yet shampooed, in my exercise togs.  Totally out of my comfort zone.

Totally loved finishing a book I've been working on for a couple days.  Just in time to loan The Husband before it's due.  Just in time to get to the three other new releases in my stack.  What a luxury to have some fun stuff to read whenever I want.

Totally loved my morning fruit portion:  fresh peaches from a neighbor's backyard peach tree.  She's supplied us enough for smoothies and to fill our bellies with all the fresh peaches we can tolerate. Scrumptious!

Totally felt lacking in the Gramma/Grampa department:  our grandson's birthday was Saturday and we still haven't called him.  (We were, however, on time with the gift. Yay for me!)

Totally loved it when it got dark and it was jammie time.

Today's gratitude:  for people around that remind me to not stress over....(whatever it is I'm stressing over).  It really isn't worth it.

Post-Weekend

This rainbow preceded the rain that pelted me!

I managed to get up and out on the trail this morning for a walk. Even though it was still dark when I left, fairly soon I could see the stunning vistas in the sky.  I tried to beat the rain home (wasn't predicted to rain so I left the slicker in the closet) and nearly managed it.  My Hero in his white Charger came to rescue me even though I was less than a block from home.  Interesting way to start my Monday.

Whilst traversing the trail was intrigued by a most unusual sound:  a couple people riding horses - in the dark.  I think that would be a bit scary.  And in all my decades of walking the trail, never have I seen that particular sight so early in the a.m.

Took a chance and ran up to the grocery for some milk in my rain-drenched clothes/hair.  Wondered who I would see.  Fortunately no one I know. But...watched two cars drive up on the parking lot. Doors were flung open, a guy and a gal ran toward each other, embraced with a fierceness that was touching to see, kissed, returned to their cars (one of which had an out of state plate) and drove off in different directions.  I don't think they even spoke. Hmmm, wish I knew the back-story on that little vignette.

Still thinking about the meeting Saturday night at church.  Parts of it were so very touching and inspiring.  Others, maybe not quite so much.  Remember the Stake President mentioning that his two counselors are "true believers" of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Loved that description and all it implies. Something to aspire to.

Still working on eliminating unnecessary guilt from my life.  Had to turn someone down yesterday who asked for my help.  I had a prior commitment.  Still felt guilty even though she was asking for assistance out of a pickle she herself had created - while giving me only 30 minutes notice.  I try to never say no when someone asks.  Still trying to kick the guilt over this rejection to the curb.

Today's gratitude:  That The Husband takes a second or two every once in a while during his day to come give me a hug.  How lucky we are that he can work at home, my bestest-ever-best friend.

Daily Delights

My days are so full of delights.  Things like:

• Plucking a watch from my drawer only to find the battery empty.  Just like the 76 (a slight exaggeration) other watches in the drawer equally empty.

• Non-delivered newspapers.

• Oil changes (on both cars) that take two hours instead of the promised 30 minutes.  Appointment notwithstanding.

• Step counters that don't work.  And when they do work, the computer interface wherein I get credit for all my hard work/steps is temperamental and it doesn't work.

• Drivers who blow through stop-signs/red lights as though they weren't there.

• Flat tires on bikes.

• Bad hair days.  Every day.  24/7.

Sure enough, these delights pale in comparison to the real delights that await on a fairly regular basis:

• Being cuddled when I'm cold in bed.

• Hugs from the grandchilluns - also the chilluns.

• The sun coming out after the rain.

• The rain.

• Having a lovely bike to ride.

• People who remember my birthday, even send cards.

• Air conditioning in the summer, heat in the winter.

• The Husband.

Read this the other day and liked it.  Reminds me to quit trying to figure out other people.  I'm never going to be successful at it.  Just let it go.  Consider improving myself and only myself.  And most of all, find gratitude in every day.  There is much to be grateful for.  Just let those frustrations go, they matter not a whit.

Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9.

- Unknown

Smell the color nine?

But nine's not a color

And even if it were you can't smell a color

That's my point exactly.

 - Chris Rice

Middle Of The Week Day

Happy Hawthorne

Just a few thoughts rattling around in my brain:

What a luxury it is to have a tv, dvd player, treadmill and elliptical all together in the same room for beginning my day when the weather prohibits morning exercise.

I've been watching our little Hawthorne tree.  I didn't remember these fun red berries being so prolific before.  Must be a happy tree.

So love having good books to read.  Also some good books waiting in the basket and others coming in at the library.  Seems like I haven't been reading as fast as I used to, but it still is one of my top favorite hobbies.

I've enjoyed having the Grandson come home from school and check in for a few minutes before he heads off.  I like how he always has a hug for me and something interesting to say.

Was treated to a little bit of a post-birthday celebration.  The Husband always manages to toss in a surprise or two.  Tonight's surprise was this cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.  Haven't ever had a cake from there before - I would never spend that kind of cash on a cake. But...he is ever thoughtful and kind and I felt special.

Chocolate chocolate chip = YUM!

So loved all the hugs from some of the grandchilluns.  The youngest - amongst all the talk and movement - walked over to me, touched me on the arm and said, "Happy Birthday, Nana."  Totally unprompted or solicited.

Have been reminded lately how frustrated I've been over the last few years by purses with two handles. Simply not comfortable for me.  How I've enjoyed my new purse with the single strap that fits nicely on my shoulder; just that little teensy change results in increased calmness / decreased annoyance. Yay!

Tonight's gratitude:  for critters (ants, mice, snakes, etc.) that stay in their proper arena:  outside!

Seniors 60+ Apply Here

Still find it hard to believe this applies to me!

Colored Pencils

Well used pencils

The Out-of-State-Daughter has been a teensy frustrated over the non-arrival of the birthday gifts she sent.

It has reminded me of the year of the colored pencils.  In my growing up years, school always started the day after Labor Day, which meant my birthday was somewhere in that all-exciting first week of school.  I am the third of 7 children.  Lots of siblings going back to school, as cheaply as my parents could manage.  Poor often seemed a step above our means.

When I was maybe 6 or 7 my birthday consisted of a box of (unwrapped) colored pencils.  All my parents could afford - at least that's what I always assumed. (Wrapping paper was a luxury that never appeared in our household.) Of all the things I might have chosen in that particular price range, colored pencils wouldn't even have appeared on the list.

It took me probably 25 years  - maybe even more - to let go of those pencils - literally as well as emotionally.  They somehow embodied a lack of love on the part of my parents. They loomed large as an example of how little I meant.  And I could hardly bear to use them.  I'm not sure they ever even needed sharpening.

The ensuing years have been filled with more gifts and care lavished on me than I could ever deserve.  I will never know - or likely understand - what prompted the gift of the colored pencils.  I finally (and w-a-y too late) concluded that it never mattered.

The actual gift isn't important.  What matters is that someone likes/loves/cares enough to spend some time thinking about you.  About what might please you. And to let you know you're valuable - just because of who you are. I have felt that many times since that long ago birthday.

So, Daughter (and any other of my children who fuss over gifts for me), don't fret at all.  Just save a hug for the next time we see you.  Keep in touch. Let love flow freely between us.  And that will be just fine.

Post Birthday Reflections

I enjoyed the laid back pace of the day.

I enjoyed hearing from all four of my children and even some of my grandchilluns.  Texted greetings = fun!

This purse is w-a-y out of my league.

I received several gift cards to Corner Bakery - a true favorite of mine.  Won't have to worry about going hungry for a while.

While I don't consider myself an attention hog, sometimes it feels good for people to remember you and focus a couple minutes of their attention on you.

Received, serendipitously, tickets to the concert of the MoTab and James Taylor.  What a fabulous evening.  I so loved it all - great seats, great music and super-great companion.

I've fattened up with superb brownies, bread pudding (not usually a fan, but loved this stuff) baclava, cookies, cookie bites (from Sweet Tooth Fairy), ice cream, fresh peaches...my tastebuds are jumping up and down crying "yippee! yippee! yippee!!"

And while I'm not usually a big fan of name brands, I'm so loving this new bag of mine.  I'd been looking for a new purse, (and for only a teensy bit more money) was gifted this one of outstanding quality.  My first (and most likely my last) Dooney & Bourke bag.  (A friend told me she thinks every woman should have at least one Dooney in their life.  I like it.) I'm outclassed by my purse!

A Mid - Week Monologue

$20.25!  YAY!

I managed to take a shortened version of my walk this morning and still make it to the appliance repair shop by 8:30 this morning (did shower / did not have time to do my hair.  Why couldn't I have had a good hair life?) to pick up the part for the washing machine.  Now the part is here and he can fix it whenever he has a minute.

Run - don't walk - for a taste of heaven!

I had visions of it costing us hundreds of dollars to repair the washer.  And it well might have.  Luckily I married just the most handy guy.  Together we looked at it last night, found the problem, and with the help of Google (our "interweb" friend) discovered the name of the part we needed.  Bottom line cost:  $20.25.  (Plus another $5.95 for the Kouign Amann as a sort of reward/thank you for his hard work; a"must have" treat for everyone at least once in this life!)

Lunched with a couple dear friends who insisted on celebrating my birthday.  I'm so very uncomfortable being the center of attention this way.  But they are always so kind and thoughtful.  I received some lovely gifts from them.  The best one is their continued friendship - long may it last.

Love the purple asters.

Wandered outside and discovered that the asters are blooming.  I so love these little purple flowers. (Purple is quickly becoming one of my favorite colors!)

The Husband and I have remarked several times how much we missed attending church on Sunday.  It has kind of thrown us off our stride a bit.  I am grateful for the re-realization how much attending Sacrament meeting and renewing my covenants impacts my week - keeps me grounded.  I need that.

Tonight's gratitude:  for the abundance of clothing we have that we can go for quite a while without absolutely needing my washing machine.  For a husband who can easily fix stuff like this.  For enough - of so much.  I am grateful.

Holding My Breath

Man the Lifeboats!!! Leaks abound.

Whilst transferring clothes from the washing machine to the drying machine, began to wonder why my feet were wet.

Yup:  a leak.  Not the drain hose.  Not the supply hoses.  A leak.  From the bottom.  (I just see dollars floating away into the netherworld never to return....)  And no, don't plan to replace the washer - only repair.  I'm not spending money on a new machine.

Off to a better home.

I'm holding my breath because I don't want this to be just the first of the proverbial "things that go wrong happen in threes".  I'd really love it if this was just some strange happenstance all on its own. Pretty please?

Completed one of my week's goals:  to clean out my shoes.  This large shoe-filled bag is on its way to D. I.  There's quite a bit of wear left in most of these shoes.  I hope there's some sweet soul out there who can put them to good use.  Good-bye my shoes, parting is such sweet sorrow....

Thoroughly enjoyed my sunrise 14.6 mile bike ride.  The trail was sparsely travelled and I was barked at by not a single dog.  And I only saw one dog off its leash.  Some sort of red letter day.

Received our power bill for August.  $105.  That was the only good bit of news today, but it was enough to send us off to Astroburger for a celebratory lunch.  We need all the good news we can get.

Today's gratitude:  For enough good news to keep our spirits from the doldrums.  (The dark cloud of the shooting death of the son of neighbors continues to hover over the area.)

I place no hope in my strength, nor in my works: but all my confidence is in God my protector, who never abandons those who have put all their hope and thought in him.
Francois Rabelais 

Thinking Again

Believe it or not:  a rainbow!

Was reminded the other day of some instruction I received when I was about 17 years old:  "Be pleasant in all you do." Along the way I seem to have forgotten that admonition.

I am annoyed by those who are inconsiderate.  Annoyed and irritated by those who are selfish.  And just plain cranky with people who are scofflaws.  With those unkind feelings in my heart it then becomes difficult to be pleasant in all I do.  Particularly when I catalog my own imperfections.

Pleasant.  Be pleasant.  That will most likely be my new mantra for a while.

A Sad Sunday

I was all excited to get up this morning and begin my favorite month.  I even was happy with the new calendar picture.  So love the sentiment - that of helping/serving without any implied controlling of others.

Headed off to church prepared to play the piano in primary for both hours. We arrive at church early - our ward is so darn huge we like to be able to sit in the chapel on the cushioned benches.  We hadn't been there but a few minutes when we were all sent home.  Church was canceled.  That is virtually unheard of.

As the hours have passed we've begun to learn more.  There was an early morning shooting of a Draper police officer.  Sadly, he was killed. They are giving out very little information.

But...we did learn the police officer was the son in a ward family.  Someone we know.

We're still hearing the helicopter.  Everyone has been warned to stay inside.  It's actually kind of creepy.

Driving (the block) to church we noticed something alongside the road.  Happens to be a cement gnome.  Someone chucked it at the neighbors mailbox about midnight.  About the same time we heard a ruckus out behind our fence.  Within the last week there have been several mailboxes damaged, houses egged and just general irritating vandalism.   Anything to do with the newly open Trax line?

So, we try to maintain the Sabbath.  The day started out on a hopeful note.  Now, halfway through the gray cloudiness of the day our hearts are so sad.  Life changes in an instant. Hard things happen.

Our determination will continue to be to do our best.  To help where we can.  To contribute to the good - to overcome evil. To reach out in love.