New Furniture

Today is a new one beginning a week of absolutely beautiful fall weather.  I'm inspired to write about where we are today.  Both Frank and I are experiencing new aches and pains that mystify us.  But, at the same time, we are so grateful for all the good things we enjoy - particularly living where we live  enjoying the peace and quiet of The Pond.  This little friend visits us occasionally just outside our porch window.
I have been experiencing much knee pain for several months now and am resigned to the fact that I must pay attention to it whether or not I like it.  Tomorrow I'll begin work at Wellness Works with a trainer who hopefully can steer me onto a path of leg strength improvement.   It's funny but I keep thinking things will clear up on their own, but finally will get some more help.  I'm guessing it's arthritis, but then we all expect that at this age -  hard to believe I'll be 85 in April.  I can only be grateful that I am in such good health overall.  Still, it's not fun to have what I call unreliable knees.
On the wonderful side, We had a new "extra firm" mattress and springs delivered yesterday, but the most exciting event is they also delivered a new chest-of-drawers and mirror to my bedroom.  Believe it or not, I have been using a small one that was originally my boys' furniture - and they are now in their early 50s! I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to acquire one, but NOW I have it!  Finally I can avoid storing clothes under the beds!   Of course, the old one is still here - but removed to the utility room.
Enough for today - time to put clothes into my new furniture!

May Yoga Retreat in Provence - 2016

It is important to blog a bit about the May Yoga Retreat, Om Provence, in France with Kate and Con. So here are a few photos to start.

Kate and Me at JFK Ready to Take OFF

Our Cottage in Provence

There is much more to write about the fantastic trip with my dear niece and the other powerful women who were there with us.  There will be more to come.
(Never got this published before - from May of 2016 - and the more that was to come, never came.  Still I love the photos and wanted to share.)

Desk Clean-up Day

Today is clean-up desk day.  And, as you may know, this day is disconcerting to say the least.  I have now completed 6 "chores" that have been hanging over my head for several weeks. What a way to start a beautiful October day.  One event is a truly funny one: I stuck the new decal on the license plate and placed my new car registration in the car and removed the last one - which was not even mine!  All I can guess is that when I had a slight bumper bump in a parking lot some months ago and the policeman returned our registration cards, he switched mine with the other woman's!  In our defense, it was poring rain that day.  Hers has not yet expired, so I promptly stuck it in the mail - fortunately her address is on the registration card.  When she receives hers in the mail from me, I'll bet she is surprised as I was.  At least I hope she hasn't had some need for it before now.
Otherwise, it has been uneventful so far.  But, now I have the rest of the day to feel good about getting paperwork cleared up - well, mostly anyway.  What's left can wait until next Monday.  I hope.

Return to Posting September 30, 2017

"Mackerel Clouds"

In the past month two of my friends, Diana and Ileana, have asked me to write postings for my blog again.  For several months the thought has been in the back of my mind but today the true inspiration hit me with a hard knock - write about this!  Mackerel clouds.  I Googled it and found it is a common name of cirrocumulus or altocumulus clouds arranged in this fashion.   Thanks to my man, Frank, who interrupted my reading to show me this phenomenon of which  pilots are well aware, but not me.   Thanks to the Universe for providing us with such beauty and pleasure!  The wonderful thing is - hardly a day goes by here at The Pond without something catching our eyes and causing us to wonder and be grateful for the serenity and beauty of our home.

Weather is right for Just Being.July of 2016

Today, for some reason, time is sort of standing still.  There is nothing on my agenda to be done.  It seems all has already been done.  Those things that are left to be done are outside chores and in 90 degree weather, it's not possible.  I have been getting up at 7:00 am each morning and doing yard chores for a couple hours.  Then, it's get inside to AC!  The temperatures have been in the 90s for many days now.  I guess the global warming believers group is growing by leaps and bounds this summer since it appears to be hotter everywhere!  I suppose in part my discomfort is due to my elder years.  But whatever it is, I'm tired of the heat.
Fortunately, Frank and I are going to Vermont soon - August 5 we leave for a two-week trip.  Surely it will be cooler there?  At least by ten degrees.  In the meantime, I'll stick with doing a lot of nothing important and just be.

Return to Blogging - Tomatoes

It's been a while,  but blogging isn't something to do under pressure or necessarily regularly.  So, just this afternoon I am once again moved to write, after months of doing other things that seemed more relevant. Tomatoes are on my mind.  We have 5 tomato plants that are producing a true challenge  in an attempt to not waste a single one.  Tonight, it's scalloped tomatoes (from my 50-year-old BH&G cookbook).  Last night it was tomato salsa (recipe from the Internet) and both are real winners.  We are eating the salsa on our lunchtime ham and cheese sandwiches.  Tomorrow, I'm shooting for gazpacho.  Found MANY recipes on line once I remembered its name.  Had to start with "cold tomato soup."  It is true, there is something uplifting to be felt in growing, preparing, and eating veggies from one's own garden.  It is true, I do not like to cook.  But I am certainly enjoying this experimenting.  It is also true that I am not an experienced gardener.  May never again grow a tomato, but this time it is fun - regardless of the knowledge that each tomato has cost much more money, time, effort, thought, and all that kind of thing than those I buy at Food Lion.  But who cares about money?  Only those who don't have enough.  And I certainly have enough.  I guess the real question is "What is enough money?"

Family Reunion June 18, 2016

I just realized I said I would post here

The Yogatorium

information about the family reunion coming up June 18.  And, I haven't written a post since mid March!   I am still alive and well but managing to find more urgent things to do than writing posts.  For example, I am studying French and it is taking up all of my fun time - well, not all, but a lot.   My niece, Kate, is accompanying me to Provence for a two-week yoga trip!  We leave May 14 and return the 30th.  Fortunately, my partner, Frank, spent some time in Europe and is very helpful in my pronunciation difficulties.  Not that I'm any good at it, but at least he helps by conversing with me.  Of course, Google Translate is a key tool.  What a joy to be able to simply type in a word and get the French to look at and HEAR both on my MacPro and on my smart phone.

This note is really a plea to all the family who might see it - please send me names and email addresses of ALL your family members.  At the moment, I have most of my own family in a group email mailing, but only one or two from other families.  As you know, there are seven:  Annie Laurie, Harold, Helen, Lois, Louise, Margaret, and Voight.  I discovered a listing I did 14 years ago for the last reunion and realized there are many names of children and grandchildren which I could not possibly have come up with.  I'll be happy to make up a list for everyone but I'd like it to be as complete as possible.  Be sure to include those who have passed on and, dates, if possible.

And, of course, let me know whether or not you will be attending our celebration June 18.