PEACE

Today is 12-31-23?  Amazing little bit of trivia.

Yes, tonight at midnight we shut the door on 2023 and welcome in 2024.  Can't brag about anything this year, but sure can cry.  

Woke up to white patches here and there.  At least my wishes are being partially granted.  

Yesterday we puppy-sat for little Buffy Boo.  OMG.  She got a haircut and was over-the-moon cute.  Buffy is such a little thing and literally flies off the floor up onto our laps.  One second she's on the floor, next she's on top of one of us.  She's a snuggle bug and loves to retrieve toys when we throw them for her.  When her parents picked her up, they brought a bottle of wine for us girls and beers for the boys.  We toasted their recent wedding and the new year that's coming in.  Blessings abound.

Her ears are soooooo cute!

Well, this is the day we make our resolutions for the new year.  It's time to scale back on the guilt and the pressure and vow to live the moment only.  

At the end of October, I secretly decided to undertake a physical commitment.  Every morning and every night before bedtime, I sit on the edge of the bed and do 100 leg lifts with each leg.  That's 200 per day.  The idea was to test the turtle approach, rather than the rabbit approach to a commitment.  I'm happy to say, that it works.  Today both legs have done 12,000 lifts.  My chosen lifestyle is rather sedentary.  It's pretty difficult to crochet or paint or make jewelry while walking.  The leg lifts utilize the hamstrings, quads, glutes, hips and lower abdominal muscles.  It's a small effort that I'm able to maintain, and therein lies the best part of all.  

In addition to the leg lifts, each morning I print the alphabet with my feet in mid-air while sitting on the edge of the bed.  This can be done sitting on a chair, couch, or anywhere.  This is good for leg circulation and just plain feels good.

Now my next big discipline for the new year is controlling my eating.  This girl is an emotional eater.  Give me a heavy life trial, and my body expands accordingly.  I'm not sure what turtle approach I'll come up with today, but it's gotta be something doable and sustainable.  I'm pretty sure this is probably the 50th year now that I've made this kind of resolution.  Guess I should be thankful that I'm healthy and have an appetite quite akin to an elephant.

Update on pine cone seeds:  No sprouts.  Nothing.  

This last Thursday we spent the day with Sheila.  She fixed chili dogs in her air fryer. 

Best chili dog ever!

Sheila also fixed us french fries in her air fryer.  This was a good education for us, because we came home and ordered one online from WM.  We chose the basket type rather than the oven type.  I did some research, and one video highly recommended the 6 quart, 1700 watt.  The one we ordered is the Drew Barrymore Air Fryer that comes with flying recommendations, and I like it's simple appearance....

We had been thinking about getting an air fryer, but weren't quite sure how they worked.  The french fries were super crisp and absolutely delicious.  The price was very reasonable $69, postage free from WM.  Should be delivered to our door by January 5th.  

The last days I've spent watching oodles of holiday movies, videos about the nomads in Iran, working my three puzzles every day, and just enjoying the last days of the year.  With that said, I wish new year blessings for all of my faithful followers.  Let's all try to find the good parts in our days and try not to give room to the negatives.  Lord knows there are many in our world.  

~PEACE  -  Positive Energy And Caring for Everyone~

DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

Hope everyone had a happy Christmas.  The boyfriend and I spent our day together in total peace and quiet.  First, we toasted the holiday with tall-glass Bloody Marys, then snacks before a supper of tasty leftovers from Christmas Eve.  Raindrops fell the entire day, which made for cozy indoors.  Those of us who didn't have to go anywhere could enjoy the silent seclusion.

This afternoon at 2 we're invited to our beloved Cuddy's parents' house for sips and snacks.  There will be a little soul missing, of course, but it is what it is.  They are two of the sweetest people, and, through puppysitting Cuddy, we forged a special friendship.  This January they will be spending time in Hawaii.  Before Cuddy passed away, I planned on him staying with us.  But, like I always say, we must suck it up and play the cards we're dealt.

You'll notice that I changed my blog photo to include my darling fur-nieces, Millie and Maggie.  The picture was taken Saturday when we were with the G-clan.  I always tease how I'm gonna secretly steal them and take 'em home with me.  Aren't they little sweetie pies?

Today I'm really happy that we didn't put up a lot of decorations.  We drove by some homes where the yards were covered with miles of lights, blown-up Santas, reindeer, sparkly snowflakes, and lord knows what all.  Having to dismantle all that must be a real drag.  And, then there's the business of packing it away and storing it somewhere.  Sure can tell I've graduated from that school of effort.

On Christmas Day the first thing I noticed was a pine cone laying on the deck.  Common sense tells me it fell off of the evergreen wreath, but I like to imagine that it's a message most likely from an angel.  I look for the little things that just might have more to them than meets the eye.  Like the business of seeing the same numbers on a digital clock.....like 11:11 or 3:33, which happens every day for both of us.  Or, maybe one of Santa's reindeer dropped a 'gift' as they were flying overhead.  Whatever.....it's something for the mind to play with!

Best get going here so I'm ready to head out the door shortly before 2.  Ta-ta till the morrow.

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

Here we are......Christmas Eve.  One thing about me that hasn't changed is my leaving things till the last minute at Christmastime.  I can remember sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace wrapping presents Christmas Eve afternoon.  It was a frantic affair, but we made it to both Christmases and survived the hurry-scurry.  As of right now, I've not sent any Christmas messages to friends or family.  It's like my heart is frozen, and that's a very difficult thing for me to share.  2024 has not been good to me, and I'm not complaining.  I'm just saying it as it is.  In total honesty, I think our world is sad.  Just think of all those families who lost loved ones through the mass shootings, the individual shootings, the insane violence that has appeared on the scene and intends to stay.  

To say "Merry Christmas" is a wonderful seasonal greeting.  Somehow I prefer to say "May you have a Blessed Christmas."  Oh, I don't mean the blessings of gifts and toys and fancy-wrapped presents that the recipient will exchange for something nicer.  I mean the blessings of peace of mind, contentment in the home and workplace, and most of all the sharing of genuine friendship and love of family.  

My boyfriend and I are blessed with the things most important to us.  We choose contentment over all else.  We are amazingly blessed with our home, situated for the inevitable.  I swear, this aging business is the toughest part of the walk of life.  We are also blessed with good health.  Yes, we must play the numbers game with regard to our well-being.  In this modern age, good health is monitored by numbers.  Some should be high, others low.  The ones that should be high are sometimes low.  The ones that should be low are sometimes high.  That's when we have to adjust our eating habits and whatever is required to lower or elevate the numbers.  We each have our little stash of medications, and we often remind the other to take their meds.  

We are blessed with modern medicine and a young doctor that wears invisible wings.  We are blessed to live within 70 miles of the greatest health care facility in the world, with helicopter transportation close by.  The two of us are blessed with common sense and common thoughts.  What one doesn't think of, the other does.  We are blessed with a family of new friends in our late-life home, and tonight we're having Venny friends over to share Christmas Eve supper......the treasured meal of the year.  We don't exchange presents anymore, simply because we've all had to downsize so much and there's nothing we need.  If we do exchange anything, it's maybe a hostess gift of food or a bottle of wine.  

I can remember sitting at the kitchen table back home writing out over 100 Christmas cards, addressing the envelopes and licking the stamps.  Then taking them to the post office.  We received a few beautiful cards this Christmas, but, sadly, I no longer send cards.  I'm a total techy, and choose the modern way of conveying my sentiments.....online.  Those who know me well, know I'm not one to visit on the telephone, nor do I write letters anymore.  No snail mail for me, but rather web mail.  The message is the same, only the method of conveyance is different.

Our G-clan Christmas was another blessing, especially for me.  My family doesn't celebrate holidays together anymore.  The G's take mighty fine care of me.

For me, Christmas is about the moment.  The now.  I don't mean to sound cheesy, but I am so incredibly thankful for every person who has graced my life with giggles and love, who have shared easy times and hard times by my side, and who have remained loyal to me all the years.  Life has been one ongoing lesson, one ongoing struggle for understanding, one non-stop adventure.  Each of us grows in our own direction, and at the stage where I'm at now.....my world holds only the best of the best.  My heart cherishes each of my faithful blog followers.  Yesterday I received a message from one friend who thanked me for another year of blogs.  To that friend, you are the best of the best, and thank you for those kind words.  Writing this blog is my joy, and when others also enjoy my words, well, that's as good as it gets.

I treasure every past get-together that brought us to giggles and silliness.  The times that were so truly special and spontaneous, that we will never ever forget them.  Christmas, for me, is when I can sit by myself......surrounded by a sea of those fun times that get sweeter as the years go by.  It's kinda like adding more sugar lumps to a cup of coffee.

My rambling must get boring......the purpose of today's post is to wish my followers a Blessed Christmas.  Let's all try to see the good that's in our world and hopefully our differences of opinion will stop dividing us.  

With love, ta-ta.......... 

Two days 'til Christmas.

It is very foggy this morning where we live.  Quite foreboding, considering we're to drive 60 miles north for a family get-together this noon.  The weather has been mild up until today, and then fog sets in.  With all the traveling, we can only hope the fog lifts soon.

Both of us went to the local grocery store yesterday afternoon.  Honestly, there's a cruel Christmas game being played by the retailers, and it's called Price Gouging.  

Our contributions to the holiday table are bacon-wrapped water chestnuts and poppy seed cake.  Each person is to bring something to be served with all the fixings for hoagie sandwiches.  The afternoon will conclude by making homemade ice cream the old-fashioned way.  

Whatever your plans, please be safe and enjoy the company of one another.  I so wished for a white Christmas, but will settle for what it is.     

This morning I'm sending a virtual basket of lavender flowers to my friend and faithful follower, Robin, in loving memory of her mother.  Love you, Robin......

One of my readers out in New York has asked me to share how my family spent Christmas Day when I was around 8-10 years old.  

It was when I was 8, that our Christmases changed.  Up until then, my family of four (mom, daddy, brother) lived in an old 3-story stone house on the farm.  The only Christmas memory in that house is when I must've been around 8 that Santa brought me a yellow and black bicycle.  That bike is a story for another day.

When I was 8, my parents built a new ranch-style house with 3 bedrooms, a bath, living room, kitchen and full basement.  We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve, starting with oyster stew for supper.  That was the only time we had those little round crackers that floated on top of the milk.  To me, that was pretty cool.  

Every Christmas in the new house I remember Mom making chocolate fudge, white divinity and she'd fill dates with marshmallow cream topped with a half of a pecan.  I remember, too, the little white mice.  

After supper, we'd go to the living room.  Mom was our Santa, so she was in charge of the gifts, putting up the tree, the decorating, and all that was required to have fun on Christmas.  Before exchanging presents, I would sit down to our upright piano and play Christmas carols and our family sang Silent Night, The First Noel, The Little Town of Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, and would finish with Jingle Bells.

In our family every Christmas each person would open their presents, one at a time.  This way everyone would get to see what the others got.  This made each of us feel special, and that's how our Christmases for all the years were.  Never did we all just pile into the presents.  

Back in the 1950s, our presents weren't like they are today.  Actually, the bicycle was the biggest present I ever got.  Mom knew what gifts we'd enjoy, so that's what she got us.  But, they weren't large expensive presents.  Daddy's present was always the very last.  During Christmas week, he'd go uptown to the bank and get new crispy dollar bills, and there was an envelope for each of us.  He'd paste a Christmas sticker on the front of the envelope and in his slanted lefty penmanship he'd write To Leanne from "Dad."  In the early years we'd each get $2, but as we grew into adults we'd each get $5.  And, this is where I must say that I still have the last $5 that Daddy gave me when I was 34 years old, the year he died and left me with a shattered heart.

I really don't remember what we did on Christmas Day itself.  It was all about Christmas Eve.  I still have four of our original ornaments, one of which is a fish, my all-time favorite.  It's packed away in a box that's marked "do not throw away."

Here I am today, the only one of the four of us that's left.  I've officially been adopted by the G-clan, and that's where I now spend Christmas.  But, those memories from when I was 8-10 years old, well, those are kept in my head and heart.  I treat them like they're made of glass.  

Thank you, Tall Cottage, for asking me to share these memories.  

Checked the weather app, and it appears we're in for temperatures in the 40s this coming week.  Last evening our guests drove through what we call pea soup fog.  This morning we woke up to another gloomy day, wholly unlike what we remember for the week before Christmas.  

For a lot of people, the holidays are simply an exercise in going through the motions.  I can sit up here and watch cars drive in and park, trunks open and gifts retrieved and carried inside.  My imagination allows me to picture in my head what their gift exchange will be like, what food they'll be sharing, and the whole tradition of a family Christmas.  Sadly my family no longer celebrates Christmas together, and that's fine.  One does achieve a state of acceptance for what is.  

At this stage of life, the greatest gift is good health.  When we're young, we don't even think about health.  There are a zillion other things that capture and keep our attention and energy.  When I remember back to all we used to do, it wears me out just thinking about it.  Energy and motivation leave us quietly and without notice.  Then one day we're terribly aware that we're wanting that energy and motivation.  The two are naturally replaced with peace and contentment.  And, that's not a bad exchange, from my perspective.

Today we're going to enjoy the quiet.  Most likely a sports event will keep the boyfriend busy, and a movie marathon will keep my mind in alluring venues and situations.  Guess I'm a sucker for romance, comedy, courtroom drama, and virtual travel.  Just might head Down Under and watch another series of Bachelor Australia  episodes.  I am fascinated by those Aussie accents.  

Stay warm.  

Little Buffy Boo just left our house.  She spent her first overnighter with us, and she slept the night through.....beside me in the recliner.  When she's at her home, her bed is in a cozy carrier.  At my house, she will sleep by me.  Honestly, that's me being selfish.  

Buffy's parents were married yesterday, and Buffy was a bridesmaid for the picture-taking session.  She wore a pink dress with little white flowers.  Adorable isn't quite enough to describe her cuteness.  When her uncle delivered her to our house, she was wearing her bridesmaid dress.  Well, you can imagine what that did to my tear ducts!

We thought Buffy would be here today and into tonight.  Our supper guests tonight are puppy lovers, and we thought for sure Buffy would be here.  But, her parents and their house guests wanted her back home.  So, we relinquished our visitation rights until the next time.  

Here's a picture taken of Buffy in her bridesmaid dress.....

The weather here today is rainy and gloomy.  No wonder my joints have been putting up fits the last couple of days.  Think I'm gonna have to give a baptismal name to my inherited arthritis, other than Arthur.  Instead I shall call IT Arnold after Benedict Arnold the betrayer.  

Betrayal is an awful thing to experience in life, and most of us know someone who has betrayed us in one way or another.  Betrayal destroys trust.  

Only nine days till Christmas.  Tonight we're celebrating with dear friends....a simple and sweet sip and sup get-together.  It's time to get myself in the kitchen, set the table, and do the things we do before company comes.

Yesterday I got tangled up in the 13 episodes of Bachelor Australia on You Tube.  The handsome bachelor started out with 25 amazing women.  Each episode at least one of the girls was eliminated until he got down to one.  About the fifth episode I picked the girl he'd choose.  I was right.  Made for a fun day of another movie marathon.  

Till the morrow....ta-ta. 

Today I'm tickled pink to share an adorable holiday photo of my precious little fur-nieces, Millie and Maggie.  Truth be told, I adore the two little fuzz balls.  I must pull the reigns back on myself before my readers think I'm totally nuts!

Whenever we arrive at their house, I call out to them.  They come running to me and jump up on my lap, and smother me with puppy kisses.  Honestly, there's nothing in this world that makes me happier.  I love them with all my heart.  

This morning we're soon off to go to the grocery store.  Yesterday's outing was curtailed by the pain in my neck and back.  The good news is that my massager was delivered to my door in the afternoon.  Talk about a wonderful device.  It has heat as well as a deep muscle massager.  The bad news is that I over-used it for the first time.  Today the back of my neck and shoulders are red, sore and actually look bruised.  The jury is still out trying to decide just how dumb I am!

So, this morning we must trolley back downtown for our groceries.  Then about 2 this afternoon little Buffy Boo will be brought to us.  She's staying at her house for pictures before coming to stay with us.  The wedding is at 3.  Buffy is going to wear a little bridesmaid dress for the photo shoot.  Yes, a 4-pound Yorkie wearing a dress. 

Oh, almost forgot to share my experience at a local Chinese Restaurant.  I was in the buffet line going to reach for the serving spoon in one of the beef stir fry entrees.  That's when a tall, handsome young man to my left totally ignored me, reached in front of me for the serving spoon and took his time to put beef and vegetables on his plate....all the while totally ignoring me, not saying excuse me, absolutely total disregard for an older lady--me.  It was so rude that I couldn't believe just how offensive some young guys can be.  So, I'm here to say that chivalry is dead as a door nail.  

Yes, it's my turn to feel the pain experienced by the elderly.  I don't think of myself as elderly, but the calendar argues.  The outside of me no longer matches the inside of me.  With our world screaming of discrimination, there's only one that is ignored.  And, it's those of us who have lived the longest.  The only saving grace is knowing that what goes around comes around.  Their day will come just as ours has.  Time stands still for no one.  The pretty face disappears, the handsomeness does, too.  The reason I prefer puppies to people is because they never see us as young or old.  I know that if I'm feeling sad, Millie and Maggie will be there for me with sincere kisses.  

One of the hardest parts of aging is no longer being needed.  Where I once was included, I'm now excluded.  I watched my mother endure this, and now it's my turn.  My heart has always cared for older people.  In them, I found wisdom and kindness.  There's so much less kindness in today's world, and that's so sad.  We here at Venny share our feelings about those that stay away from over-55 communities because they don't want to be with older people.  Yet, we are the ones with the most life experience and most life achievements.  Like all things, one has to be there to understand what it's like.  Growing old requires a mind set, and I'm definitely forming my own.  We have to in order to survive what is a cruel separation from society.  And, there's nothing more brutal than exclusion.  

A week from tomorrow we're invited to share the G-clan Christmas, and I'll be with Millie and Maggie then.  Wish there was some way they could know just how much they mean to me.  Who knows, maybe they do.  I think pets appreciate our warmth and love just as much as we do.  Love is love.  What many don't understand is that domesticated animals are just as capable of loving as we are.  In my humble opinion, I think maybe even more so.

Gotta get going here.  Ta-ta.  

Busy Thursday it will be.  We're sipping our second cuppas and will then shower and head out the door to run errands.  Want to stop at the Dollar Tree, then both grocery stores, and grab a sandwich, probably at Mickey D's.  This late afternoon at 4:30 there's a pizza party downstairs, along with a presentation about the new rest home that will be built across the road from us.  We're signed up for that, as Dale's on the council and needs to be up on what's going on with the Venny campus.  

Have been enduring an ache in my neck and upper shoulders, so yesterday I ordered a heated neck massage thingy that hopefully will relax the tight muscles.  Guess one might say it's yet another assistive device to help my poor deteriorating body.  My neck actually crunches, that's how arthritis works.  

No more complaining.  It's just amazing that I ordered the massage thingy yesterday online and it will be delivered to my door today already.  Free shipping.  Pretty amazing, I'd say.  We're so lucky to live in a time where we don't have to drive sixty or seventy miles to do our shopping.  All one has to do is press a few buttons, and that's all there is to it.  It's a dread for me to go shopping anymore, although I do get a kick out of the Dollar Tree.  Maybe because it reminds me of the Woolworth's Dime Store when we were little kids.  That's where Mom would buy me painted turtles.  Woolworth's was like Macey's to me.

Another no-snow day, temps to get up to 50 °.  Something's out of whack is all I can say.  

Tomorrow we're having little Buffy Boo over in the afternoon and evening.  We'll get more details tomorrow.  Am going to smother the little sweetheart with smooches and hugs and all the mushy stuff I can muster up.  I've not forgotten about my beloved Cuddy, but there's no choice for me but to channel that love over to Buffy now.  How blessed we are.

Best get crackin' here.  Lots to get done.  Ta-ta till the morrow.

OMG......last night I watched a movie that once again sent me in the throes of love.  The movie is free on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ-EuIC3eGQ.  It's title is My Secret Billionaire.  If you have an hour and a half of alone time, I highly recommend watching.  Consider it my gift to you.  

The sun is shining, shadows on the floor and furniture.  Can't have shadows without the sun.  Still no snow.  Maybe it's time to think about moving to the North Pole.  

Still no sprouts from my evergreen seeds.  Funny how one can nurture a seed, and it refuses to grow.  Let the wind carry a seed, it lands on the ground, and there it will flourish.  It's that business of something out there beyond our understanding.  Actually, the older I get, the more I don't understand.  So many things just don't make sense, yet it's the way it is.  The world is nearly unrecognizable from how it was when we were kids.  

My Prayer for Understanding

Great Spirit, please grant me clarity of thought and bestow upon me the understanding needed to separate the grains of truth from the chaff of falsehood.   May Your Divine Light illuminate the path to enlightenment, and may I walk it with unwavering trust and understanding.  With profound gratitude for your guidance, I humbly pray.  Amen.

Tis another post written later in the day.  Darkness has exchanged places with daylight, and our red and white Christmas lights add a festive flair to our deck railing.  

Have to confess to indulging in a Christmas movie marathon last night that lasted until 3:30 this morning.  I covered with a cuddly throw and slept the remainder of the night in the recliner.  That's what I call living the good life!

It's toddy time now.  The boyfriend mixed for me a vodka tonic with lemon, just as I like it.  He's busy in the kitchen fixing classic potato pancakes.  We rarely have them, but the aroma has managed to add two pounds onto me.  

Had some things to accomplish today, but procrastination won me over.  Like they say, don't do today what you can do the day after tomorrow!  

 

Just finished a comfort cross for a gal who lives next to me here at Venny.  She had seen one that I made and asked the boyfriend if I'd make one for her.  Naturally, I said yes, because the crosses are kinda like my signature.  Just gave another bunch to the rest home.  

Dusk is setting in.  The battery candle on the coffee table just came on.  Love those things, they look so real as the flame flickers.  Don't know where the day has gone.  

Still no snow.  Actually, the sky right at this moment is pink and blue, even though it's getting dark out.  

I see on my weather app that there's no precipitation in sight for our area the next ten days.  Bummer.

Andrew and Nikki

Am on a Christmas movie marathon, liking those starring the Canadian actor, Andrew Walker.  Sometimes the character he plays is a jokester.  Other times serious.  I just like watching him.  My favorite Hallmark actress is Nikki DeLoach.  If you put the two of them together, it's a great movie, like A Dream of Christmas in 2016.

The only movie genre that interests me is rom-com.  If there's romance, along with comedy, then that's what I'll watch.  Especially during the holidays.  Hallmark movies are fun to watch because of the decorations.  Usually small towns are lit up with a large town tree, street lights, and the insides of homes are colorful and sparkly.  This time of year can be emotionally difficult for people, and these movies are a wonderful way to transport one's mind to such places.  Even if it is for only a couple of hours.

Part of our deck is lightly covered with snow.  That's not going to count toward my wish for a few feet of flakes.  A massive storm system is predicted to affect 180 million people living on the east coast.

Nothing newsworthy on my end of the stick.  A fine day to cozy and cuddle in like a bear in hibernation.  

Holy cow, a great big crow just flew past the window.  It looked the size of a Canadian Goose.  Sometimes I think crows are bigger than they used to be.

The boyfriend is still snoozing, but he asked that I get him up by 9.  This chick went to bed at 10 last night, which is pretty much unheard of.  After watching three Hallmark Christmas movies, guess I was just done with the day.  The one I particularly enjoyed was Two Turtle Doves.  

Honestly I don't remember the last time we were at a movie theater.  For one thing, the boyfriend doesn't care for movies, and it's no fun sitting there watching the person sitting next to you looking at his wrist watch every ten minutes.  For the other person, it's persecution.  For the one who enjoys the movie, it's a guilt trip for making the other one endure the persecution.  I just rather stay home with my laptop and watch free movies with ads and all the popcorn I can eat.

Still no activity in the pine seed terrarium.  Think I read where it might take a whole month before a sprout might be visible.  Have a couple of weeks to go.  

Yesterday the boyfriend ground up pork butt that was on sale.  We like ground pork as well as ground beef.  When the pork is on sale, we go cherry picking (buying items on sale).  The boyfriend having been a retail meat manager is a real perk at our house.  With meat as expensive as it is, we can still eat well at reasonable prices.  

Looks to be another overcast day.  Once again it's Saturday.  Yowza, but the weeks go by fast.  Today I'm going to finish up a few things here and sort through the stack of envelopes that pile up on the counter.  It's kinda like I'm still at the office....can't tolerate stacks of paperwork on a desk.  It always screamed "work undone."  Some co-workers saw it from a different viewpoint.  They thought stacks of paper reflected just how busy they were.  It's that business of perspective.

Also think I will change the pictures on our walls in the living room area.  After a while everything gets tiresome, and I have to change things around.  One might say that our home is like a revolving art gallery.  

Temperature outside is 35°.  No snow in the forecast.  Maybe if I quit wishing for snow, it'll snow.  Maybe if we plan a trolley, it'll snow.  I hear people say this weather "shortens the winter."  I wish for a long winter.  Guess I'm a person who loves cozy cuddle-in days, with a book or a hook in my hands, and I'm in paradise.  And, I consider snowflakes as kisses from Heaven.  There are aspects of late life that, for me, are the sweet frosting on my cake.  There were years I dreamed of not having to set an alarm clock, taking time to read a book, to go in the kitchen and try a new recipe, or take an afternoon nap and not have to feel guilty.  It's now time to cash in one's chips and make very selfish use of the hours that come to us wrapped in peace and quiet.  

Probably the best part of this stage in life is not giving a hoot what others think or say.  Honestly, peer pressure, for me, is dead and buried.  We go through our lifetimes fretting about what others think of what we do, what we wear, where we go, and how we act.  In reality, nobody gives a flick about us.  When we are wrongly judged by others, it's only because they themselves are choking with their own problems.  The only way to deflect from themselves is to focus on others.  All that silliness is in my rear view mirror now.  I think there used to be an advertisement that said.....oh, what a relief it is......might've been Alka Seltzer.  Yup, that's what it was.  Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh, what a relief it is!!!!!

Ta-ta. 

Yesterday as I was cruising around the world wide web hunting for something to soothe my soul, these two paragraphs found me........... 

Our feelings come from our thoughts, and our behaviors are acting on those feelings. It is the thinking and inner dialogue that causes our feelings, and our feelings dictate our behaviors. Thoughts come and thoughts go, just like clouds in the sky.  If we neither attach or hold onto them, our behavior is innately one of peace.

We cannot control our thoughts.  As humans, we are like little thought factories producing one thought after another. It is always our attachment to these thoughts that make us suffer. Just allow the thought to pass, like the clouds in the sky, neither wanting to control or attach to them.

My mini Christmas decorations are in place.  Like mentioned earlier, I ordered four large pine cones from Georgia.  They were for sale on Etsy.  Got out my beads and made four strands of beads to decorate the cones like trees.  Because of my wish for lots of snow, I created a vignette of Poly-fil imitation snow, got out the vintage ceramic tree and that's about it.  It's for sure different, not something that's gonna wow anyone.  It's just how it's going to represent my Christmas this year.  It's a whole lot prettier when it's dark, and we're still going to get some of those teeny-weeny lights to add more sparkle.

On the left is a brown bear and on the right an Eskimo doll.  Both were gifts from a trip to Alaska last year.  Of all the holiday decorations in storage, this is all that's out for display this year.  Like I said, sweetly simple, meaningful to us.

Want to share another picture I took yesterday morning when the sun was shining on my sun-catchers.  Our walls were dancing with rainbows.

We visited yesterday about maybe taking today for a trolley.  Now that we're in yesterday's tomorrow, neither of us feel like going anywhere.  One of the gals out here asked if I'd make her a comfort cross, so I may do that this afternoon.  

There's a little dog that lives out here at Vennie, her name is Olive.  She's out across the road now sniffing and doing her business.  Part of next weekend we'll be taking care of Buffy again while her momma and daddy get married.  He proposed to her in Ireland a few months ago.  

The sky is pretty pastel blue, graced with white clouds that look a lot like the Poly-fil I used to make the snow vignette.  It's 47° out now.  Unreal for mid-December.  All I want for Christmas is snow, snow, snow.....the real stuff.....not the kind that comes in a plastic bag! 

Little Buffy Boo arrived at 8:30 a.m. and stayed until 3:30 in the afternoon.  She was first snuggled by her Uncle Dale and fell into a snooze.  I think we may have been blessed with an occasional angel in Yorkie form.

The boyfriend put up the red and white balcony lights and hung the beautiful wreath that Judy gifted us.  Simple and festive.  It was I who suggested the red and white lights this year.  It was Dale who said they're perfect because we can leave them up for Valentine's Day!  

What's so cool about this picture is the reflection of Dale on the left side.  You can see him and his laptop.  

This shows the wreath in the daytime.  Judy makes these wreaths, and every year she delivers one to us.  We put it up facing our unit so we could enjoy it ourselves.  

Yesterday I put 7 quarts of butternut squash in the freezer.   As kids, I don't ever remember eating squash, but later on was introduced to acorn squash.  And, I loved it.  If I had to choose between butternut and acorn, my choice would be butternut.  Not to say that acorn isn't right up there.

The sun is shining, making rainbows on the walls.  Our beaded sun catchers are sparkling.  It's amazing what the sunshine can do, even to inanimate objects.  

Am the first one up this morning.  Was exhausted last evening and retired at 10:30, which is unheard of.  Must've quickly fallen asleep but remember saying my night prayers.

This afternoon the boyfriend has a Venny council meeting, and while he's gone to that I'll do a little Christmas decorating.  Could've done it yesterday, but I put everything aside so I could give full attention to Buffy Boo.  She's so little, she'd fit easily in a purse.  If she was mine, I'd have one of those little carriers where she'd lay against my heart like a necklace.  

Think temperatures are supposed to warm up to the 50s today.  My secret wish for a bonanza snowfall is still floating out in the universe somewhere.  Guess I'll just put an animated snowfall on my screensaver and be satisfied.  

Started watching the courtroom videos about the Pike County massacre where eight family members were executed by another family.  The murders were explicitly planned so they wouldn't get caught.  This is gonna be interesting.  

The boyfriend just got up, so I'll close today.  May the spirit of the season bless us all.  Ta-ta till the morrow.    

Bless me Father, for I have sinned...........

That's how we Fish Eaters started out our confessions.  Without going into that, the reason I say those words relates to yesterday's blog.

If any of my followers happened to log into Prisms and Polka Dots yesterday and read my words, well, you know the reason for today's opening statement.  Within a half hour of publishing the blog online, I went back in and erased it.  Why?  Because I may have exposed feelings that are better left deep within my heart and soul.  

My readers know that I am very open about my life.  Writing a personal experience blog requires that.  If one writes like I have, for over 15 years now, honesty is first and foremost.  It's easy for me to open my heart and let others in.  You see, my heart has an opening where it was broken.  The sad part is that it keeps on breaking.  

What on earth am I referring to?  Well, let's just say that disappointment ranks high in my life.  All the memes that fly over the wires claim that disappointment is a self-inflicted emotion.  Disappointment is our own fault, because we place too high expectations on others.  We expect them to deal honestly and openly with us, and when they don't, well, something very precious and fragile is destroyed.  That's where I'll end my emotional situation.  I'm very disappointed right now, and it's me who is to blame.  

We're up early this morning, cuz little 4-pound Buffy Boo is coming to stay with us for a few hours.  The text came last evening.  Once again, I told the boyfriend how surreal is it that just when I needed Divine Intervention, the text arrived asking if we would be free to watch her today.  

The sunrise is pretty pink.  The sun has been elusive the last few days, so this new day lifts spirits like a big curly ribbon on a present.  I've always been amazed with gifts that are beautifully wrapped.  It takes special effort to dolly up the package.  Gift-wrapping is another part of our past that is disappearing.  Gift bags are so much easier and take less of our time.  

How about sending Christmas cards?  I stopped doing that.  My messages are sent electronically, which is another change from how it used to be.  But, with postage prices as high as they are, I rather channel that money into something that won't end up in a garbage can.  And, then there are the Christmas letters.  Yes, I used to write one once in a while, but stopped that, too.  Christmas letters are sometimes grandiose letters of braggadocio.  

This is a nostalgic time of year.  There's a lot of thinking back to our Christmases as kids.  We have to be careful that we don't edit them according to our inner wishes.  I wish I had a brain with an on-and-off switch.  

I kinda have to laugh to myself when I think back to the wearing of Covid masks.  such a big arena of contention.  In reality, with Facebook and all the other sources of social media, I'd dare to think that there are more emotional masks worn every day than not.  It's so easy for us to present ourselves to the world through photos and words.  Facebook is the perfect canvas for portraying ourselves one way, when we can be totally opposite.  Humans are cunning, and I'm finding they are also very deceiving by what they say to us and what they don't say to us.  

 

Five flocks of geese flew by heading south yesterday.  Funny thing is, I waved up at them and they all waved their wings back at me.  That was the pinnacle of yesterday!

Today once again is overcast.  All is calm and quiet where we are.  It's a perfect afternoon for a long winter's nap.  Yesterday I pulled the shades in the bedroom and snuggled myself under a blanket.  Before I knew it, dusk was setting in.  Felt renewed and ready for an evening in the recliner with my Chromebook.  Life couldn't be better!

We were going to meet another couple for lunch tomorrow, but plans were canceled due to sickness.  Covid and other flu and cold symptoms are settling in.  It's good that people call to cancel, rather than put others at risk.  The pandemic changed me in a way I'd never have imagined.  I'm definitely more willing to stay in our little nest and let the world carry on without me.  Too much violence, too much drama, too much division and too many illness-causing germs.  When I envision peace on earth, our home comes first to mind.  

Am looking for recipes to make for the holidays.  It's fun to find new foods to serve for guests.  So many things that were part of life when we were younger are now becoming obsolete.  One is the recipe book.  One or two generations ago, the recipe book was a cook's most prized possession.  Many tried and true recipes were written down for safekeeping, kinda like the combination to a safe.  

The latest court trial I'm watching on YT is the Ezra McCandless murder trial a year ago in Wisconsin.  A person can learn so much from expert witness testimony.  A registered nurse testified about the SANE Kit used in a forensic medical rape examination.  SANE stands for Sexual-Assault Nurse Examination.  

Temperature outside is 39°.  21 days till Christmas.  28 days and we'll need to start writing 2024.  The wings of time are also waving to us. 

Let me see, I think it was about 2 a.m. when I jumped off the deck head first.  Wouldn't you know it.....I survived!

Everything I wrote about yesterday did not and probably will not come to fruition.  First, let me say that the puppy-painting project is once again soaking in water to remove yet another coat of paint.  Not good.

Secondly, my big idea of putting up the village has fizzled.  What changed my plan was the arrival of four beautiful pine cones that I ordered through Etsy.  The idea is now to make a pine cone forest.  If it ends up as I hope, there will be photos here and maybe on Fox News.

The boyfriend tells me he's going to Hy-Vee, where there's a helpful smile in every aisle.....although I've never actually seen one.  Once again, this chick is staying home.  

Yesterday I put together my December newsletter article.  Four ideas were begging for first place, and then out of the blue came another.  Didn't take long for the write-up to come together.  I'll be forwarding it on to the editor in a day or so.  It's wise to wait in case edits become obvious.  

I see there's a tsunami warning issued after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Philippines.  The Philippines is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, with regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.  This is because it's on the Pacific "Ring of Fire."   There's always some part of the world that is suffering from natural disasters.  

Once again it's Saturday.  There's nothing phantasmagorical happening at our house, just a nice quiet span of hours to enjoy as we please.

Ta-ta till the morrow.  

Cloudy, overcast day.  I see snow on the edge of the parking lot and on rooftops in the distance.  Wish the sky would open up and drop about a foot of the fluffy stuff.  Being it's the 1st of December, it's okay to wish for snow.  It's easy for me to do that, now that I don't have to be on the roads commuting back and forth to work.  I guess we each wish for what we ourselves want.

Last evening we started planning out our Christmas invitations.  Actually, I'm working hard to get seasonally inspired.  To the point that I'm toying with the idea of putting up my hand-painted Christmas village.  Putting it up is a task, yet the village represents a monumental time in my life.  By not putting it up for display and enjoyment, perhaps it does the village an injustice and disregard.  That would be wrong.  I mentioned this to my boyfriend, and he was quick to offer his assistance should I decide to do this.

To be honest, this is how I work with my brain to make my way around the boulder in my path right now.  Yesterday's blog mentions this.  A creative spirit lives within me, and it is that which helps push me to make things.  Those things then represent to me my efforts to be okay.  Another thought popped into my head.  I should crochet a Santa hat for Odin, our home gnome.  One day I almost bought one for him in a thrift store, but then didn't.  How much better for me to make him one.  I have red and white yarn here ready to do just that.  

Still have not finished painting the puppy.  Today is the day.  If I don't have it finished by this evening, I'm jumping off the deck head first.