A Great Tuesday

Lovely morning to sing.
What a fun day!  Started well with my morning walk, I've missed it the last few days.  Returned some books to the library, the morning air was crisp enough to require a heavy shirt - loved it!  After some laundry and stuff, I headed over to a friend's for our monthly lunch, that today was turned into brunch.  Yummy food out on her deck amongst the trees, chickadees and hummingbirds.  We fed the trout in their pond and talked so long it was nearly time for our mid-afternoon naps.  How lucky we are to have good friends, ones that last for decades and still seem accepting of our (and I'm actually talking about me here) foibles and faults.

Yummy tomato.
This morning's walk route took me past the high school.  I have no idea what all those people were doing in the stadium at 6:50 a.m.  I heard voices serenading someone with the "Happy Birthday" song, but that wasn't the only reason they were there.  It was kind of fun to see them.

Hard work there!
We forgot what kind of tomatoes we planted.  Brought in this one that was orange.  Thought at first it was some kind of mutation.  Nope, it's called Golden Boy and tastes mighty fine.

The guys are here working on the stucco repair.  We can afford some repair, not $22,500 for total replacement.  Part of the deal was to remove the steps out the back of our bedroom.  The bay needs some insulation underneath the bump out.  They worked all day long yesterday on this and made this much progress.  I think I might just sit and cry if I was facing this completely daunting task.  Today? They're working on the house's north wall.  I'm counting on them actually getting to the stairs at some point.  What a job!

And the very bestest part of the day?  When I was sitting for a moment with The Husband and he said, "I'm s-o-o glad you're home!"  I felt valued and cared for.

I'm so grateful today for air conditioning in my car.  For those who are willing to do the work on our house that is beyond our ability.  For chocolate chip cookies and watermelon.  For meals with friends - friends who are steadfast. And for love.

A New Week

And new opportunities to get it right.  Although I wonder if I'll ever get it right in this life.  And what is "it" I'm trying to get right?  Pretty much everything.  :^)

I miss the rose bush!
I honestly can't remember much about Thursday and Friday of last week.  I know I must have been doing something, I hope it was all good something.  Saturday we spent much of the day around here. The Husband finally had the time to take out a struggling rose bush.  It was a gift from our daughter. I've loved it.  But as with most all living things, its life was coming to an end.  There's an empty spot that was previously filled with lovely white flowers.  I think I"ll mourn it a bit before I figure out what to put there, if anything at all.

Saturday evening was the ward/neighborhood party.  The Husband was conscripted as co-chair (kinda-sorta-not-really).  It has been an interesting journey from idea to completion.  The turnout was good, the food was pretty decent, and overall it turned out better than I had expected.  I even had to admit my thinking was a bit flawed on the entertainment, it was all good.  Repentance and I continue to be constant companions.

It was a gloriously lovely morning.
We finished up our visiting teaching this morning.  This particular sister is always so welcoming and kind.  Today was the first time in our visits to her that I didn't feel quite so extraneous.  I'm having some work to do to find common ground with my partner.  I'm hoping to find - if not actual friendship - at least a bit of ease in our partnership.

I took this shot of the sunrise last week, managed to get a couple of geese smack in the middle. Doesn't really do anything for the picture, but it was fun to see them swoop in, meet up with their pack in the usual "V" and fly off over the valley.

Spent a fair amount of time yesterday researching the next Sunday School lesson:  Charity.  And wow - how am I ever going to do that subject justice in 40 minutes?  Then I have three glorious weeks sans lessons.  I am so ready for that little break from lesson-induced stress!  Anyway, I came across this quote yesterday morning and so loved it:  I think I'll read it often this next week and work on that so-desirable integrity.

The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know.  Jeffrey R. Holland.

I'm so grateful that the party Saturday night went as well as it did. I'm grateful for those who are kind even when the recipient might not deserve that kindness.  I'm grateful for something to look forward to this week - a play at Hale Theatre.  I'm grateful for cool nights that lend a bit of crispness to the morning air.  I'm grateful for sweet women who take some time to chat in the halls at church - those few minutes lent a lightness to my spirit that was as deeply felt as it was unexpected.  Just delightful.

Wednesday Already?

It's been the strangest few days.  Sunday was a bit emotional.  A private little something I'd done for someone was "outed".  Now everyone in my Sunday School class knows.  I was embarrassed and touched, because the sister relating it was tearful, it apparently has been a valued little thing.  I felt privileged to do it, and would have been content had no one ever known.  Ah, well.  Later on that evening this couple stopped by to visit - what a delight it was.  The first real reaching out in friendship to us from anyone in that other part of the ward.  (This new ward was created from two wards.)

And just today, my visiting teaching partner said she doesn't like the new ward.  She misses being part of a ward that's in her neighborhood.  The people she's met in the new ward are fine, she just doesn't like the way it feels.  It left me a bit nonplussed, didn't have a clue how to respond.

I'm grateful for pretty flowers.
Yesterday I missed my morning walk so as to be ready for meeting our new doctor.  Since we had to change insurance plans this fiscal year (we are so grateful for employment that provides really good insurance) it meant finding a new doctor.  It was pretty much pick a plan, throw a dart at one of the doctors on the list and hope it all works out.  I'd love to have been able to stick with the doctor we had years ago that we so loved.  This new doctor is actually in the same office but our previous one has closed his practice.

The new doctor?  He'll be ok.  I'm confident enough in his ability to treat us.  His manner is typical of so many doctors these days - bordering on arrogant.  It's nice to know that we have someone to call and that we don't have to drive halfway to Connecticut.  Some kinds of change aren't my favorite.

This morning was meant to be visiting teaching.  One sister had to change her time, and it worked out ok.  But the other visit was hijacked into a bit of a service project.  I'm good with service - am generally happy to help and actually often volunteer to do so.  What didn't sit quite so well with me this time around:  I wasn't given a choice.  I just got a phone call that said we're taking the sister we visit teach and taking her with us to help another sister pack for her move.   It's uncomfortable for me when someone decides for me what I'm going to do, tells me what I'm going to do and then expects me to just turn cartwheels in my excitement to obey.  Snide?  Yes, I'm unabashedly snide at this point.  I fussed and fumed and stewed about it all evening.  Prayed constantly for help and guidance and charity.  Got the help and guidance and am still waiting for the advent of charity for this person. I'm probably going straight to hades for my attitude.  I'll be repenting. And doing my best to be better.

The guy came out for the bid for stucco repair.  Turns out to be 1/3 the amount of the first bid.  We signed on the spot.  Hopefully he'll start on Monday.   The outside water backflow inspection (required by law) will take place tomorrow.  And hopefully the concrete sealing will take place in the near (rather than distant) future. It feels so good to get things done (except when I have to spend actual money on it), but daunting at the same time.  No sooner do we knock something off the list than several things are added.

After having to think a few minutes I had no trouble coming up with some things to be grateful for.  I'm grateful for an unbelievably kind man who tolerates my rantings and still finds the wherewithal to hug me.  I'm grateful for kind sisters to visit teach who readily and happily agree to go do service.   I'm grateful for books to read that are delivered to my counter.  I'm grateful to be able to get back to my morning walk tomorrow. I'm grateful for emails from loved ones, for money to pay for house maintenance and people to do it for us.  And for something to look forward to:  the beach!  And also for repentance, prayer and forgiveness.

Shopping

Is there room in this world for people like me?  Spent some time at the mall this morning.  Actually only an hour.  But it felt longer.  I've never liked to spend money.  Never liked wandering around looking at stuff.  The older a person gets, the less "stuff" matters.  I've never been one to follow the trends - that trendy stuff often looks dumb to me.  It's too much cash to spend on something that'll be out of style and dated looking in a few weeks.

Yeah, I definitely think different.  But is there room in this world for someone like me, fairly conservative in approach to just about everything?  Not particularly attractive, so not part of the "beautiful people" crowd.  We don't have tons of money like most everyone around us seems to have. And now I'm old.  So the fashions aren't meant for me.  Where on earth do older women like me find stuff to wear that doesn't look like they're wearing their granddaughter's clothes?  (Not to mention that someone in their 60's doesn't have their granddaughter's kind of shapely body anymore.  There's wear on these old bones.) It's a puzzlement. And a discouraging line of thought.

I've often heard about the marginalization of older people.  I'm beginning to really get it, now.  And feel somewhat defensive about it. I won't be one of those women who go to great lengths to look younger, I have neither the money, the time nor the desire to pretend that I haven't earned all this gray hair, wrinkly eyes and age spots on my hands.  Still, though, I'd like to feel like I have at least some reason for the years I have still to live on this earth.  I'll be trying to figure out what that is.

After I window shopped at the mall (I spent absolutely nothing there but time) I picked up a (rare for me) Jamba Juice.  The 11 year old (at least that's how old she looked) at the cash register had such a time.  Old people need all that patience they've developed so they can help the youngsters listen carefully and with their arithmetic.

And the last shopping I did?  At the grocery.  Hadn't been inside the store 5 minutes and the fire alarm went off.  I was so impressed to see people picking up their belongings and heading toward the exits. In an orderly fashion.  No screaming or running or panic like you see on the tv.  Just people doing what they need to stay safe.  The disappointing thing?  I didn't get to see all the excitement.

Our grocery often does some grilling just outside the entrance under an overhang.  Today they were smoking / grilling meat and chile peppers.  It's roasted chile pepper fest at the grocery. (And funny thing - it was a Block Party at the Credit Union when I was there earlier.  Ten a.m. was a bit too early for me for Cafe Rio samples.  I passed on all that "fun".)

I only got to see the aftermath:  the firemen wandering around keeping people safe, the big firetruck in front of the store and all the water on the pavement.  I wish the store management had made some informational announcement instead of leaving us all befuddled.

Had a lovely walk this morning - I woke up earlier than usual so hit the trail before the hordes descended and it was so pleasant.  I watched this little Momma duck and her duck-lets wander under the picnic tables in the park looking for leftover crumbs.  I stood like a statue to let them cross the path in front of me so as to not scare them.  They're cuties.

I'm grateful today that my shopping for a few days is done.  That the grocery store is safe from flames. That I wasn't even slightly tempted to spend money for something I didn't need (and would look ridiculous in).  I'm grateful for airplanes that are bringing The Husband home to me even at this very minute.  And yes, I'm grateful that I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father thinks there's room for me in this world, even though I so often feel out-of-step-unwanted-invisible.  I like to think I'm not invisible to Him.

Almost Tomorrow!

And tomorrow + maybe a couple hours, The Husband will be home and my world will right itself again.

Loved the look of these grapes.
I could hardly take my eyes off the moon this morning when I left.  I took multiple pictures - but of course, nothing compares with seeing the real thing.  I also loved these little dark grapes along the trail.  I didn't spot any deer this morning, but I did chat with a friend I met along the way.  She was having a bit of a rough morning - the kind of stuff that gets us all down at sometime or another.  I'm glad I ran into her, she was actually smiling as we parted.

Ran off to the library to return a book and tell them that I didn't commit book-water-damage. It was an odd experience.  But since I wasn't ultimately charged for the book (that I did not damage) it was worth a bit of oddity.  I also stopped at the 7-11 to plunk down my dollar for a newspaper, hoping for the Mormon Times section only to get home and find it not there.  Won't be wasting $1 for a newsstand paper again.  I'll have to just be brave and face the world sans newspaper of any kind.

In the last few years, I've walked nearly 6,000 miles.  At least when I've been accompanied by my FitBit step tracker.  That's quite a distance.  I know I've walked further, there've been some times I haven't worn my FitBit, or it's been broken / lost awaiting replacement.  That makes me wonder how many miles I've walked in my entire life?  Much less than those souls who lived before cars.

Walked a long way.
And I've been working on my Sunday School lesson. This coming Sunday the topic is Service.  And wow, is there a lot out there about service. I especially loved this little quote from Eric Shumway (BYU-I president when he gave this devotional speech back in 2003).  "...home teaching and visiting teaching in the true sense of being caretakers of souls." Awesome. It's nice to know someone is taking a bit of care with my soul, assigned or not.  We do learn to love those we serve.

I'm grateful today for cars to take me places so I don't wear out my feet.  And for cream to help keep those precious feet from cracking.  I'm grateful for kind neighbors who share their first canteloupe of the season- it was the best I've had all year.  I'm grateful for beautiful moon-sets. And especially this week, I"m grateful for Friday.

Another Mid-Week with Mid-Week Thinking

YUM!
And middle of the week thoughts are that I'm so grateful that it isn't still Monday, and that Friday (and the return of The Husband) is sooner rather than farther away.

When he leaves for work in CA I find myself "pity eating" my way through the days.  Yesterday's destination was The Habit.  I don't know why / what it is, but their shakes are my very very favorite. I try to not indulge in them very often, that every expanding waistline, you know. But yesterday I just had to have a shake.  And when I got there (dinnertime) decided to add in a salad.  For balance.  And yes, it was scrumptious!

Hit the trail this morning and marveled the whole way through at the beautiful sky.  I took picture after picture.  And was trundling along, heard a noise off in the brush, walked a few more steps and decided to check out what made the noise.  And was shocked that I'd walked within 10 feet of a couple deer and didn't see them in the weeds.  Apparently I surprised them as well - they went boing-ing off to the gate through the yard.  What fun to see them.

I've been missing the newspaper.  Something fierce.  The iPad / computer / tv just doesn't quite fill the information void.  But...the TV Weekly that I so rely on actually came in the mail today.  I'm all prepared for next week.  Between our new TIVO  (that enables us to access all the cable channels we were already paying for) and the listings I'm once again finding reasons to enjoy tv - even though it's dead-center August and there's little on worth watching.

The grandson showed me this on the back of the Oreo package.  A sentiment I totally agree with. (And no, didn't buy the Oreos.  If only they'd sell them without the filling, I might be tempted.)

Today I'm grateful for Wednesdays.  For the ability to use resources to find approved material for my lessons each Sunday.  For computer printers.  For helpers when I shop.  For my cellphone for keeping in touch with those I care about.  For the hugs that I'm expecting on Friday.  For a comfy couch to sleep on in the middle of the night when the bed is too big. And for the hope-filled sunrise.

Choices

Saturday was a "poor choice" day for me.  I chose the movie:  Florence Foster Jenkins.  The review made it sound so good, and I had enjoyed the previews.  Sadly, it was just that...a sad movie.  But the wise choice was Cubby's for food after.  Almost, but kinda-not-really made up for the sadness of the movie - though the fact that it wasn't science fiction for a change should have been a good thing.

Our daughter played a flute solo in Sacrament meeting on Sunday.  Tremors from nerves didn't overwhelm her desire to play well, which she did, it was so lovely.  A wise choice on her part.

Yup, I'm almost that old. 
Yesterday's poor choice was to try to find some birthday gifts at TaiPan Trading.  I rarely go there, and couldn't believe how sparse it felt.  And how much of their stock just feels like junk to me. Ended up at a different store where I hope I've made some wise choices for my friends for their birthdays. The three of us are trying to de-junk to some degree.  So more stuff isn't really the optimal solution.  And I've been creativity-challenged my whole life.  Sigh.

I'm still thinking about a friend of ours at church.  We've only known that family since the creation of our new ward.  But every time he sees me, he greets me with, "Hi Cutie!".  I kinda like it.  I don't think I've been cute since I was three, but he makes me feel valued.

At Target last night I ran into a couple 13 year olds from church.  Was so surprised at their reaction. The one got a big smile on her face and greeted me with a big hi. (I expected them to not want to acknowledge me - we're not close, just acquaintances from church.) So I stopped to chat.  Asked them if they are getting ready for school.  Based on the reaction of the younger of the two I wondered aloud how she feels about school.  She hates "the learning, the homework, the getting up early.  But I like the friends and lunch." Still makes me chuckle.  She basically can't stand school. Decided that stopping to talk was a good choice.

And I'm official - finally received my Medicare Card.  I hope to not have to use it. Ever.

I'm grateful to have stuff that keeps me involved until the return of The Husband.  (It probably goes without saying that I miss him.)  I'm grateful for his constant and diligent work for the good of our family.
I'm grateful for kind people who offer the use of their belongings. For fresh tomatoes from the garden.  Though the harvest is smaller than expected (we're having to re-learn how to garden) we are currently getting just enough to eat every day and there is no tomato in the store that even remotely compares to fresh picked flavor. I'm grateful to have choices of where to eat each day.  Yesterday's Classic Italian sandwich at Corner Bakery was scrumptious (in spite of it being on a baguette - I'm not fond of white bread).  I'm wondering where I'll choose for tonight?  I'm grateful for those who agree to teach the Sunday School class while we're at the beach.  I'm grateful for something to look forward to.

Fun Friday

Once in a while a day comes along that just makes you smile.  Today has been one of those days.

On our way home from our first-thing-this-morning haircuts we stopped at the grocery for a muffin / doughnut / treat.  We'd been watching a few of these hot air balloons along the way.  Parked the car and watched this one land in the store parking lot.  It brought back quite fond memories of our ride in one a few years ago.  Yep, smiling.

Received word a niece of mine (and her husband) is in town, can we get together?  Absolutely!! They came for a visit and it was such a delightful time.  They both give great hugs and the conversation never lagged.  I will be expressing gratitude in my prayers tonight for their visit.  It was a boost I didn't know I needed, but surely welcomed. Again, smiling.

Read a book the other day - took about 20 minutes or so:  "Maybe Today" by David Butler and Emily Freeman.  I loved it.  It's probably against all sorts of rules, but I took a couple pictures to remind me of the things that touched my heart.

And was quoted this (and loved it):

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”― Albert Einstein

Today I'm so grateful.  For relatives who might live far away but who reach out with warmth and make you feel like you are cared for.  For beauties around us - the ones of nature and the ones man has created.  Our very souls respond to all those beauties. I'm grateful for the ability to walk into a grocery and buy food and flowers with funds someone has worked hard to provide for us.  I'm grateful for faith and spiritual sustenance.  For a cluttered desk. Yes, and for smiles.

Bandages

So, the last few years we've been on the hunt for some decent bandaids.  The main brands we've liked in the past have been mucking about with a good thing and making changes that aren't always good. They've changed the actual material, sometimes good, sometimes awful.  The adhesive either doesn't stick or it won't un-stick leaving you with a sticky goo all over your finger (or whatever you've covered with a bandaid).  And I'm using bandaid because that's pretty much what we call all of those bandages (a more cumbersome word) no matter the brand.

Finally, a good one!
Had occasion to need a bandaid yesterday.  Opened the box I picked up on a whim at Target - for the simple reason that it was a brand I hadn't seen before and thought perhaps it might be an improvement over the other "improved" bandaids of recent years.  And whoa!  It's a great bandaid.  It sticks, it's comfortable, it doesn't fray all around the edges until the day is nearly done, the adhesive lets go of your finger (or whatever) when it's supposed to.  Yay!  I'll be buying more of these when I get to Target again.

Use with caution!
And the reason I needed a bandaid?  This handy kitchen tool that's meant to peel veggies ended up peeling the tip off my finger.  It's small, though it feels like a ginormous wound.  I've had this peeler for quite some months - those buggers are sharp!

Then this morning on my walk, there was something caught in the bottom of my shoe.  Balancing precariously on one foot while inspecting the bottom of the shoe and trying to stay upright I spied one of those nasty sticker-burrs (made me glad I wasn't riding my bike, I'd have had a flat tire).  Tried to flick it off my shoe and instead impaled my finger on it.  So I have matching wounds on the index fingers of both my right and left hands.  Sigh...grace was never my strong suit!

I'm grateful for kind souls who walk out to give me hugs on the trail.  For fresh tomatoes from our garden that taste absolutely scrumptious and make me vow to never again buy tomatoes in winter again.  I'm grateful for plenty to read.  And for prayer.  

A Fresh Start...

To a new week.  Sunday was calmer than Sundays have been in a while.  I like that.  I actually had time to finish a book, do some research for next Sunday's lesson and relax a bit with The Husband.

Pretty good sized hail.
Saturday was wild and crazy!  We had one of those jaw-dropping Utah storms come through. Dropped a fair amount of hail and lots of rain in a short period of time.  20 minutes later the only evidence of the storm was all the debris littering surfaces everywhere.  The Husband even used the snow shovel to move the piles of snow away from the garage door so we didn't have water inside. We were lucky.  There were a couple people in our neighborhood who had flooding in their basements. We were keeping a close eye on the amphitheater (our affectionate label for our stairwell), the water was deepening.  But all was well here.  There was so much hail, so fast, and it was so cold, that when we left for church the following morning (15 hours later), there were still piles of white hail down in the stairwell.
Melting quick.

Fortunately we'd already brought in the ripe tomatoes for the day, and harvested all of the carrots. The pepper plants given the grandson by our neighbor took quite a beating.  We'll see if our veggies recover any time soon.

Then while we were in church on Sunday, there were another couple storm-rounds - it was pretty noisy on the church roof.  Things are never ever dull.

Took every petal off the geraniums
Saturday night I embarrassed myself.  Serious embarrassment.  Our favorite local frozen custard business has opened a new location - much closer to us.  (I saw it in my travels the other day looking for the Social Security office.)  After dinner out with some friends we were looking for some dessert.  I had us driving up and down the street - certain it was just "right there!" only to discover after what seemed like hours on the road that I had us on the wrong road!  Once I figured that out we were there lickety-split, enjoying our frozen custard.  Hopefully our friends won't hold it against me too much (although I suspect at least one of them is going to go for a lot of teasing-mileage out of it).

Yummy carrots straight from the garden.
This morning found me up at the DMV getting the license renewed after last week's emission inspection.  Took a book, prepared to wait. It is, after all, Monday.  Sat down, read 1/2 a page and my number was called!  I love when things take so much less time than expected.

And the blood pressure machine at the grocery has been fixed.  Today's results:  117/76.  Made me smile.

So...another week.  With 6 more chances to start fresh each day to be kind, to do my best, to be tolerant of others, to dispense / receive hugs and to find at least a teensy bit of joy.

I'm so grateful for the chances that are mine, that Heavenly Father is so generous with me as I struggle to become the best me I can be.  I'm grateful that August won't last forever and the heat will soon diminish.  I'm grateful for a morning walk (though the days are shorter, it's much darker in the morning when I leave) that lets me breathe deeply, think deeply, and savor deeply the day's budding beauty.

Are All Days Going To Feel Strange From Now On?

It's been another day of oddness.  Since they're coming that way so fast and furious I've begun to wonder if that's the way they're all going to be.  And because of all the oddness, I'm feeling a bit pressured - I'm so behind!

But it was a lovely day in a lot of ways. Early morning bike ride in much cooler temps was a great way to begin.  Brought in a few tomatoes and carrots - I think tomorrow will be the big carrot harvest.  We are still learning / re-learning how to veggie garden, I didn't thin the carrots enough so they're not quite as big as they should be.  Next year we'll try again.

Took the Prius in for its emissions inspections and 60 month service.  Can hardly believe I've had it for 6 years this month.  And I'm almost embarrassed to admit it only has a bit over 15K miles on it. Maybe it's time to pare down to one car between the two of us?

BMW i3
And speaking of cars, I've always loved them.  That's the unfeminine side of me.  I love to see the new models and innovations.  Love the fun and fancy ones, the sports ones and the muscle cars.  I've been quite taken with the BMW i3 - the all electric car.  Since we were down near the BMW dealership today, The Husband convinced me (he actually just drove there and pulled :) me inside) to see one. And I even took it for a little spin around a large block or two.  And I'm still quite taken with it. Very little not to like there.  Except that I so very much dislike spending money.  And with only 15,000 miles on my own car, it's really practically new.  No reason to get another car - and it wouldn't be a BMW - too expensive to insure.  But really, it was super fun to drive!  Even the salesguy was cute - and kind, no pressure, didn't even take our names or anything, just handed us his card.  All in all a pretty great mini-adventure.

The guy at the Toyota place says I need a couple new tires. Said I was down to 3/32 on the two that are now on the back and wanted to put them on the car right then and there.  Telling him I needed time to think, I came home and looked at the paperwork.  And it says 5/32 right there in black and white.  Was I being lied to? I'd like to know if they were being disingenuous or if I look that gullible/dumb because I'm an old lady. But probably better that I not know.  I'll stop at the tire place up the hill and have them look at the tires and tell me what they think.  A second opinion is often a good thing.

Then we stopped at Joann's to get a (somewhat valuable) serigraph of The Husband's framed.  It was a gift from Apple Computer back in 1982, so he's had it long enough that we should have had it framed a long time ago.   It isn't very often that we're in a place of business and the power goes out. And most stores only have windows in the front.  Of course, we were in the very back of the building so it was pretty dark.  Thank heavens it didn't last long.  And in a couple weeks, The Husband will be finding space on some wall for something fun to look at.

I came across this saying this morning and thought there was some merit to it.  Though if I was putting something like this out there, I'd try to find a different way to say the same things - they're worthwhile.  Maybe something like Guarantees To Help You Succeed At Everything In Life:  Find the blessing in everything. Take responsibility for your own actions (and especially when they're something unselfish and kind). And always, always be grateful.  Somehow I like it better when it's positive, there's already so much negativity and hard stuff in this life.

I'm grateful for it being almost Sunday and I can quit stressing for a couple hours over the Sunday School lesson.  I'm grateful for dinner out with a couple friends tomorrow - something to look forward to.  I'm grateful that Joann's is next door to Corner Bakery that sells yummy cinnamon rolls that are just right for splitting between two people. I'm grateful for solar panels that enable us to run our air conditioner in this awful heat and stay comfortable.  For people to mow our lawn.  And for thank you notes that come in the mail.

End Of An Era And A Bit Of A Discovery

Probably the last article on the fridge.  Sigh.
For as long as I can remember we've subscribed to the newspaper.  Everywhere we've lived.  I loved it when the newspaper came in the afternoon, I had something to read while preparing dinner.  Then it changed to morning delivery and I loved having the newspaper to read while I had breakfast.

And now it's almost over.  Tomorrow (or the next day) will be our last newspaper.  Maybe forever. We could no longer justify the expense for the diminishing content.  And I'm a teensy sad about it.

Consequently, I've been casting about for ways to assimilate the news.  It's important to keep up.  So, I've been trying to catch the news on tv whenever I can. And I've discovered something important about myself. I don't like broadcast news.  I've found that after about 5 minutes the constant yammer-yammer of the talking heads puts me on edge. It's not only just annoying to me, it's upsetting.

The thing about the newspaper (besides the quiet) is that I can just putter along with my reading and choose to ignore an article, maybe read a portion and then go on, or thoroughly dive in and devour every word.  With the broadcast news you have to pretty much listen to what they decide you need to hear.  And it's not really possible to pick and choose with any degree of satisfaction what to hear. (Must be that thing about control again - I like to choose / control for myself not be acted upon.)

I not fond of reading on my iPad.  But I might find myself doing just that during breakfast in the future. I'll miss the articles that constantly adorn the front of the refrigerator - the things I want to share, the ones I found thought-provoking or valuable.

The Husband is fond of repeating, "Change is certain, progress is not."  Only the future will reveal whether this change is progress.  Right now it just feels like a challenge.  I like the known / comfortable.  I wonder how long it'll take to feel that way again about my morning routine?

Fire

2 a.m fire through our window.
Yesterday morning's paper had an article about a wild fire burning at the Hanford Nuclear Facility in Washington. My old home.  If my Dad was still alive, he'd be out there fighting it. Yeah, that reminded me of Dad.  You never get over missing your parents when they've passed on.

Sunrise reveals the charred hillside / from our back porch.
Then, about 1:50 this morning, I was tired of being hot, tossing and turning, so I got up to adjust the air conditioning. Noticed the fire on the hillside through our bedroom window.  Woke The Husband and we spent the next hour out on the trail behind our house watching the fire race down the hillside toward the houses just east of us.  This morning brought the news that about 50 acres were burned. No houses were lost though 39 of them were evacuated.  It's been a few years since that hillside last burned, it's covered with cheat grass and scrub oak. How grateful I am that it appears no one was injured or lost their home.  Cause has yet to be determined.

And yesterday's trip to the grocery yielded a couple of noticeable things.  The first was the mailbox. Not your usual mailbox attached to a post of some kind, regulation height and distance from street. This one was out by the curb on a patio table.  Just sitting on the table.  I've been wondering at the reliability of their mail delivery. (And I was driving, wasn't able to stop for a picture.)

Yummy tomatoe-lets
And really, I'm not fond of parents who call their kids names - especially in public.  The roughly 9 year old had a mishap with the cart he was pushing.  And frankly, mishap is probably an overstatement, it was honestly nothing.  Had the Dad been watching instead of walking along lost in his head, he'd have averted it with just a reaching out of his hand.  Next thing I hear is the poor little guy being called a dumb jackass.  It leaves me speechless.
Cute water.

The tomatoes are beginning to be edible!  I brought in these few teensy ones - they are a taste explosion in my mouth!

And the water?  I haven't seen that particular display of water at the grocery before and it somehow just struck my fancy.  I like simple.  Especially when it's cute.

And was asked the other day - what are the perks of being 65.  I'm not sure there really are any true perks.  I mostly am feeling more aware of how short life can be, especially when you're not done having fun yet.

I'm grateful for those who work hard to save the homes of citizens.  I'm grateful for kind visiting teachers who are out of town but hear about the fire and call to make sure we're ok here. (She had been misinformed about evacuations on our street.  I imagine that until everyone got up and saw the morning news that most of the people around us slept through the whole drama.) I'm grateful for thoughtfulness.  For laughter.  For the advent of e-readers and plenty of books to fill them. And I'm grateful for brownies.

Monday And What Happened To The Weekend?

It surely flew by faster than I expected.  We did some work, and had a teensy bit of fun.  Worked some more and looked for more fun.

Had dinner yesterday with our son and his family in Provo.  Food was yummy and it was such good for our souls to spend some time with them.  The grandson is especially delightful.  He's more on the quiet side than any of our kids were and it's great to get him to laugh. Didn't know that our son was so fond of watermelon, and were so glad we took one down with us.

We saw a movie (finally, a decent movie that didn't have zombies or weird creatures - only corrupt humans), had a great meal at Wild Zucchini (a favorite of mine, The Husband's - not so much so we don't go there very often).  The tomatoes are coming along and we did some research to learn more about the corn in our garden.  This year's garden feels like we're starting from scratch, there's so much we either forgot or never learned.  The grass has a fungus in it - it definitely came from the mowing service.  Here I was trying to free The Husband up from another pressure in his life and it backfired.  Once a fungus in the lawn, it's pretty much here to stay.  Though we'll try a remedy when the heat diminishes.

Our ward has instigated a new thing:  neighborhood walk-a-bouts. In an effort to promote some unity and friendship amongst the members and nonmembers alike.  The ward is divided into 3 geographic areas.  (I think they should mix it up, sorta feel like it still creates a bit of division by having us in 3 separate areas, but that's just me.) Last night was the first one for this new-ish ward.  We walked over. And were the only ones there for quite some time.  Then our host got on his phone and started texting people to come.  Still, not quite the turnout I think they hoped for.  Maybe it was better in the other two areas. At least we had yummy popsicles.

And I spent the morning in the state of frustration!  Being obedient to the law requiring registering for Medicare around your 65th birthday, I did it last week.  Promptly received a letter from the Social Security Administration telling me I had to bring in my birth certificate and ID.  Some kind of issue. Sat and waited my turn for nearly an hour (after having taken 3 times longer than it should have to actually find the office.  Apparently I can't read street names very well.).  The lady asked me my reason for being there, took the papers, turned to her computer and with nary a word or smile (I've decided (tongue in cheek here) that all government hires are required to be completely free of a sense of humor) sat and typed on her keyboard.  Occasionally picking up my birth certificate and scrutinizing it, but going back to her quick peck,peck,peck.  Since I was a'feared to break her concentration, I said nothing.  After a couple years she finally handed me back my ID, went off to copy my birth certificate and gave me the run down.  Some kind of changeover of record keeping. Some competent soul assisting with the changeover left off my place of birth.  I had to prove I was born and where.  The remedy was for this lady to begin fresh and re-enter all my pertinent information from the very beginning.  So now they have proof not only of my existence, but where that existence originated.

Figured since I was waiting and waiting today I'd head up to the DMV to renew the plates on my car. Apparently I don't read postcards so well, either.  Have to have the emission inspection done this year.  Soonest appointment?  Friday.  It'll take a couple hours minimum he says.  Maybe The Husband will come along and we'll have lunch while we wait. Sounds like a great plan.

Came across this sign the other day.  Had to take a picture.  Yes.  I worry.  Try as I might to eliminate that trait from my persona, it just ain't happening. I try to look at this often and maybe it'll help calm my fears.

And today?  I'm grateful that it appears to only have taken a morning to resolve the issue with the Social Security (let's hope it's really resolved). Am grateful Saturday's wedding reception was inside with air conditioning.  (She's a sweetheart and I'm so pleased for her!)  I'm grateful that we have the TIVO and can record / access our cable channels again.  I'm grateful for a freezer that contains not only good food to eat but also a couple frozen yogurt bars.  And I'm grateful for hope.