tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73103170818875538602024-03-19T03:34:21.253-04:00A Breath of Fresh AirMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.comBlogger2748125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-21120497214925380282024-03-02T12:39:00.002-05:002024-03-02T12:49:11.104-05:00Family and the Secretary ~<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">A Saturday morning memoir ~</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Those days are gone. My life is different now. I miss much and managed to do much more in times gone by. I'm not a fan of aging. I wish I had more energy, that my legs and arms were stronger, my feet more sure and comfy where planted. My memory though still good doesn't always give me a word immediately. Names are sometimes forgotten. I look things up but I don't ask Siri. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I sleep upstairs in my 'room with a view' and let my better half enjoy the master bedroom downstairs. I have to have the light on and read for a while in bed or I can't fall asleep. He falls asleep when his head hits the pillow, snores and changes position a lot. I never seem to move once I'm sleeping soundly. I wake up with hair flattened on the same side every morning. I like my bed and always say "goodnight" to my long gone, much missed Mum. I recall in her later years, long after my Dad died, when she told me snuggling into her bed was the best part of her day. She lived to be 91. She looks down on me from the photos on the wall, a child with her siblings in one, age 21 in another, and as a bridesmaid - and the dressmaker of all four gowns - at a sister's wedding in another. Sepia photos of children in lace up boots. Girls with hair bows, a boy in short trousers, grandmother holding her second set of twins. Five children in four years! The historic part of my maternal English family. I remember them all and feel their absence every day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3GnukkDO2QVqBAKLj2NZ3yAytSsAFwkZMhLjNavO-MbXBCoRUbcxjcG7oW9KIyLYfpbugWObMVtcjbjPMiEkEHbFN-eCRuldKIiQim9nOQ38xQ8vP7YRM4mnlYAZci-04Tb8tO7OKlaQgd-jgQ4xU4oS4pXHfgOVImAAjZI0JiaA_xUbC5NmFE_GL=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="860" height="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3GnukkDO2QVqBAKLj2NZ3yAytSsAFwkZMhLjNavO-MbXBCoRUbcxjcG7oW9KIyLYfpbugWObMVtcjbjPMiEkEHbFN-eCRuldKIiQim9nOQ38xQ8vP7YRM4mnlYAZci-04Tb8tO7OKlaQgd-jgQ4xU4oS4pXHfgOVImAAjZI0JiaA_xUbC5NmFE_GL=w704-h840" width="704" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The antique secretary once belonged to a North Carolina country doctor. The piece is sturdy, weighs a ton, probably mahogany, the paint was done prior to my purchase from SuzAnna's Antiques. I love it and will never part with it. It's the first thing I see when I wake each morning. It holds my collection of favorite books and a mishmash of items. I change or move around things on the shelves and padded bulletin boards I made. I store paper goods, pieces of my life. . . .and secrets inside.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">In earlier days, which really weren't that long ago, I so enjoyed what friends and I called 'treasure hunting' - mostly shopping and collecting vintage and some true antiques. Come Spring I was anxious to get going with gathering new pieces for my booth at SuzAnna's Antiques. I shared a fun space with my dear friend Vanessa. We loved those special days, buying, displaying and selling, and the camaraderie of the other dealers. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3xN1y3hQRiw00bE0Fbg9tG1efVer21HPoJSllaD8XavCV_yV2Lg6kG7q0PZGx13ebIGjtMdXn-3OIQJ53g9_kyQuyEXZlQMtscmCDW8yf8ShClJxUDPu-OVtJmQUQhHodvrtuqjMFRl6WFLB8bJBZZ95M-cqFEYdBcwhUcxklgidFLVWStbACWYX7B4/s809/SuzAnna's%20-%20My%20Booth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="800" height="707" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW3xN1y3hQRiw00bE0Fbg9tG1efVer21HPoJSllaD8XavCV_yV2Lg6kG7q0PZGx13ebIGjtMdXn-3OIQJ53g9_kyQuyEXZlQMtscmCDW8yf8ShClJxUDPu-OVtJmQUQhHodvrtuqjMFRl6WFLB8bJBZZ95M-cqFEYdBcwhUcxklgidFLVWStbACWYX7B4/w698-h707/SuzAnna's%20-%20My%20Booth.jpg" width="698" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">~ SuzAnna's Booth 2011 ~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I still have several items shown here in my home </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">Today I came across an old blog post about those days. It included this list I made in March 2011 -</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><i style="background-color: white; font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">SuzAnna's Antiques is really warming up now that Spring is here................soon I'll share more pics of the treasures available........meanwhile I'm off to a huge neighborhood yard sale this morning. </span></i></div><div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>My <strike>shopping</strike> hunting list for my booth includes ~</i></span></div><ul style="background-color: white;"><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Chandeliers for glitter and glamour - French would be best</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Small furniture items in need of love and new homes</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Ironstone Platters, must be crazed, cracks add character</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Antique silver flatware/trays - unpolished of course</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Old beautiful linens for tables and beds </i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Shells, coral, barnacles - for seaside decor</i></span></li><li><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>Old bound books - fun to read and play with</i></span></li></ul><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i>..............and whatever else catches my eye. </i></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8VNhdqR9boV8V8ly9ldlsep0mSU1cbCJgRqQJLpia6iALF142zumC-vAmAV6cR4GYVl13L0zCwYN7pHnEpTYWWrPJ76NRRzNjtdTwQ7bbJcBz4UbDILrhVWHvWsqfV6_hVK8iYq40x3eMAT3LvBg2f5_BGhCZrj7es5xl4HiVCbql2rdIg3lIKTPd=s1061" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="835" height="902" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj8VNhdqR9boV8V8ly9ldlsep0mSU1cbCJgRqQJLpia6iALF142zumC-vAmAV6cR4GYVl13L0zCwYN7pHnEpTYWWrPJ76NRRzNjtdTwQ7bbJcBz4UbDILrhVWHvWsqfV6_hVK8iYq40x3eMAT3LvBg2f5_BGhCZrj7es5xl4HiVCbql2rdIg3lIKTPd=w711-h902" width="711" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This Saturday morning is dull. It rained in the night and there's no sun yet to dry things up. But no snow as in the northeast. That said, the sun has just popped out which always helps when life seems somewhat downhearted. Bob's eye surgery Tuesday went well however he does not have restored clear vision yet! We are hoping this will improve with time. . . . . . .we are great believers in healing takes time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSMB0tzeGZ6ctqk-z8QqB60qmLGpmNJH1Tn1comf9_FoSIYZIToWg4ukUowJhUCGBdtzohTVudrcZ4esFcAoMSdIKBxZCsnzLLf6hPj3hT-mC5-EDHvzwj8ys8lVbDTypf_gX0gPap7v0tfth-bcc97aL19Hk_MktG8igWc88BORGmuvjn-zvoF2o8BE/s924/Living%20Room%20Armoire%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="924" height="639" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgSMB0tzeGZ6ctqk-z8QqB60qmLGpmNJH1Tn1comf9_FoSIYZIToWg4ukUowJhUCGBdtzohTVudrcZ4esFcAoMSdIKBxZCsnzLLf6hPj3hT-mC5-EDHvzwj8ys8lVbDTypf_gX0gPap7v0tfth-bcc97aL19Hk_MktG8igWc88BORGmuvjn-zvoF2o8BE/w698-h639/Living%20Room%20Armoire%20.jpg" width="698" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><i>~ Pieces of the past ~</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAehAXVdlR6oRmF4L3-NylNoXFBQM1djdsqbbrvT75293N29HyVQCNBTg3QU19BgCHkbUep4GZHAfacSdgDYslv5m2zoJCr5rWcv6ozNj82-aMUcsfwGUKuN4p3vBvhp3CfI__LQKY_-YFKwKkMT19qRzVICA1a_MR6hihY87olq2JLj6CEjUIsy_TMUY/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAehAXVdlR6oRmF4L3-NylNoXFBQM1djdsqbbrvT75293N29HyVQCNBTg3QU19BgCHkbUep4GZHAfacSdgDYslv5m2zoJCr5rWcv6ozNj82-aMUcsfwGUKuN4p3vBvhp3CfI__LQKY_-YFKwKkMT19qRzVICA1a_MR6hihY87olq2JLj6CEjUIsy_TMUY/w200-h135/Signature%20Brown.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-59557627642868159502024-02-24T11:04:00.001-05:002024-02-24T11:04:28.109-05:00Seventeen Years of Blogging. . . . . . almost!<p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcmeysbs92Iy7EHZrs1oJSqZlGjOCJCfHqEbwruhrgCCjamoG7_0FWC3gEL1Whju0zGn0nZEEBbQXmcz351nMZeCT-pS5W0-93htZnwvF-emptJroqkmrNwZR8_F6cExEoP7k0qz8xF1aXegHZOo4sET_Vhz9q8Vd79wgqbUuPy-rf81LVf_YhTZ7_MQ/s200/A.jpg" style="color: #666666; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcmeysbs92Iy7EHZrs1oJSqZlGjOCJCfHqEbwruhrgCCjamoG7_0FWC3gEL1Whju0zGn0nZEEBbQXmcz351nMZeCT-pS5W0-93htZnwvF-emptJroqkmrNwZR8_F6cExEoP7k0qz8xF1aXegHZOo4sET_Vhz9q8Vd79wgqbUuPy-rf81LVf_YhTZ7_MQ/w153-h153/A.jpg" width="153" /></a><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><b><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">SPECIAL DAY<span style="font-family: helvetica;"> arriving soon!</span></span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">On Tuesday, February 27th - 17 years ago (2007) - I wrote</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"> my first ever blog post. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibr-st5blMXiWS_Ppka2JOZ4G02l7qjUrj0szEjAx_bkpssaOD_G4qHtiQlIWEc4Ibi7VnnDnotVM5Hzb66sEQGwIIccZrF688Q2agKeP3-g8QwSzb1lmAXi71Rilz5eNREHN-Z2xxOYMqLUGCxwROSP6P4zLTwOavjh04HhRHlKPjBaD1bPmM9BOHaHw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3783" data-original-width="2927" height="597" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibr-st5blMXiWS_Ppka2JOZ4G02l7qjUrj0szEjAx_bkpssaOD_G4qHtiQlIWEc4Ibi7VnnDnotVM5Hzb66sEQGwIIccZrF688Q2agKeP3-g8QwSzb1lmAXi71Rilz5eNREHN-Z2xxOYMqLUGCxwROSP6P4zLTwOavjh04HhRHlKPjBaD1bPmM9BOHaHw=w462-h597" width="462" /></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Licorice; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">~ Saturday - early morning sun and shadow ~</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">Blogging changed my life! It made me see more clearly the corners and colors of the world close-up, </span><span style="text-align: left;">often through a lens, and it gave me the wonderful chance to write down my thoughts . . . . . . . . and to become acquainted with </span><i style="text-align: left;">you</i><span style="text-align: left;">. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Thank you for the many times you have stopped by to encourage me to keep writing and taking photos. I love to read your generous comments and, when possible, have truly enjoyed meeting several of you in the real world. Knowing each one of you, and being gifted with your friendship, whether in person or online, has been a part of my life which I will always treasure. This year I may not be traveling as much or to such exotic places. Our home needs a lot of TLC as, like us, it's aging and has issues, and we need to address them. I still hope to bring you stories and images, some perhaps from special places, others leaning more toward memories from everyday life over the years. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: left;">I just want to thank every one of you, my friends who are my 'blog family', who visit here from around the world, share your lives, ideas and tips, support me when I'm feeling up, down, mediocre, or indifferent, and have stuck with me for so long. </span><span style="text-align: left;">All I can say is thank you so much, I hope I can continue to take photos, post them, and add words and stories you will enjoy.</span></span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2CwK61IeNf7Uy5z7pEEmRYlwitvYcdznblgMQktW3OVjMYi6G0e7gTdpwFToT1ZRee8EwFDr5lnofmZ8o0I-iit0LFD_cnfPAB__-fcmyce03PndBNfrdln_z5NVHrmBupHGeegLv16lV7t1Z7cevnt8HqIrDJui_7gvP2ROslLsFJeIQGl4OCmkIc4/s800/Scribble%20Picnic%20-%20Classic%20Collage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2CwK61IeNf7Uy5z7pEEmRYlwitvYcdznblgMQktW3OVjMYi6G0e7gTdpwFToT1ZRee8EwFDr5lnofmZ8o0I-iit0LFD_cnfPAB__-fcmyce03PndBNfrdln_z5NVHrmBupHGeegLv16lV7t1Z7cevnt8HqIrDJui_7gvP2ROslLsFJeIQGl4OCmkIc4/w451-h451/Scribble%20Picnic%20-%20Classic%20Collage.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span>Postscript: </span><span>My reason for posting this a few days early is due to Bob</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b><span> having eye </span>surgery on Tuesday ~ our day will be very busy!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Licorice;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: Licorice;">~ With love and thanks ~</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1erhKbahRflawIrLe1FtXSeKx6zr0vCR-Fxhr-yoyNDdAuxvu_b7UkQUDVzq6S6mQUZko6InC6AhfsxWT97UfXjyzlIadIpdCSz6bai-Dkvm5ScX1KZocUKvOBZU17ZBMT7Zfgiu_pcxl6HsFggjUhMphIGtVwO_99ZktecIQHDctADPcpdxi3Lx-mU/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1erhKbahRflawIrLe1FtXSeKx6zr0vCR-Fxhr-yoyNDdAuxvu_b7UkQUDVzq6S6mQUZko6InC6AhfsxWT97UfXjyzlIadIpdCSz6bai-Dkvm5ScX1KZocUKvOBZU17ZBMT7Zfgiu_pcxl6HsFggjUhMphIGtVwO_99ZktecIQHDctADPcpdxi3Lx-mU/w184-h125/Signature%20Brown.png" width="184" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-62271612930087144772024-02-11T11:29:00.000-05:002024-02-11T11:29:50.477-05:00When snow falls ~~~~~<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In winter I like to sleep a little later but a couple of weeks back I actually set my alarm for 5:30am. Other than doing that to catch an early morning flight, it's </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">probably something I've not done since getting up for the day's first game drive in Africa, or an </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">early morning docking of the ship in some country in the world, the latter two happenings one doesn't want to miss.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">How I miss those exciting days.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Knowing that the snow, if it had come that particular day, would be here around sunrise, then within </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">an hour or so would turn </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">into freezing rain and sleet for the remainder </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">of the day, I wanted to be ready </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">to get a few photos. I </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">stepped out to get the newspaper, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">crunching through frosty grass. . . . . it was bitterly cold. The birds, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">mostly wrens, sparrows, cardinals and finches, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">were already </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">hunting for breakfast.</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> I </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">spread extra seeds and nuts along the porch rail. Over the years, many of my special bird photos have been shot from the window, the porch being a favorite place for visiting garden birds. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The weather forecast was wrong. Not a snowflake arrived that morning........or any other time this winter so far. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMWXV7U_BjhlSpM7J_RtoFXDKBDpYEjEj6p5ZqgiZHysPavMFg52-BYaLNFQesyWEfGazcU0tLjIkpr_uHSqX3BR4H15oOwPubo14k6Dx-rD70Z3teD1RrEyJNa1eD7TI70QFjktJNJzz-kLdVMSYPspSK3J64IpJm76cq3UbkWQ8ltEFwn9fWCaiSn4/s800/Birds%20%232%20-%20Pine%20Siskin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="800" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMWXV7U_BjhlSpM7J_RtoFXDKBDpYEjEj6p5ZqgiZHysPavMFg52-BYaLNFQesyWEfGazcU0tLjIkpr_uHSqX3BR4H15oOwPubo14k6Dx-rD70Z3teD1RrEyJNa1eD7TI70QFjktJNJzz-kLdVMSYPspSK3J64IpJm76cq3UbkWQ8ltEFwn9fWCaiSn4/w640-h498/Birds%20%232%20-%20Pine%20Siskin.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCMWyYcGNI2x2by0dbS_VdfroA3jhfD_rfMTKUfRV0yDLjmruLzBWepTL0eCVYfWLENSil5sY0JUloWxVu0KpMgrfzpwPuElBk7AKigbP7tb8Qo7mktUyEfHXQz27J833-e0vPir75OQKJSHovs0yvZPp53rHfTW9obs7b2npcJUPhfC-V8uDATJa5X4/s800/Birds%20-%20Wren%20Porch%20Jan.%2022,%202018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="800" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCMWyYcGNI2x2by0dbS_VdfroA3jhfD_rfMTKUfRV0yDLjmruLzBWepTL0eCVYfWLENSil5sY0JUloWxVu0KpMgrfzpwPuElBk7AKigbP7tb8Qo7mktUyEfHXQz27J833-e0vPir75OQKJSHovs0yvZPp53rHfTW9obs7b2npcJUPhfC-V8uDATJa5X4/w640-h542/Birds%20-%20Wren%20Porch%20Jan.%2022,%202018.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMduIJ1D8sb6ZWblhKED11_-UbrilmlXo2v5YmcMa05CixvORFjcKZCkVK5RD02RzYR61lyz3oU_OZToGNOkihpJDbxI0NlHFzjx5Dj5wNwe6BsVzSbJR0tdDojytReKc6mj0sxA7HcsfRHaIoKn63BkwgUb-rysIPnPeKN5H7kft_xhvUtFmAbh8Y2c/s800/Birds%20-%20Bluebird%20male%20on%20rail%20Jan.%2030,%202021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMduIJ1D8sb6ZWblhKED11_-UbrilmlXo2v5YmcMa05CixvORFjcKZCkVK5RD02RzYR61lyz3oU_OZToGNOkihpJDbxI0NlHFzjx5Dj5wNwe6BsVzSbJR0tdDojytReKc6mj0sxA7HcsfRHaIoKn63BkwgUb-rysIPnPeKN5H7kft_xhvUtFmAbh8Y2c/w640-h480/Birds%20-%20Bluebird%20male%20on%20rail%20Jan.%2030,%202021.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Last night, while trying to fall asleep, I found myself counting the places where I've lived in my now rather long life. Not so many compared to other ex-pats I talk with. While growing up in England I lived at three addresses in the same town from birth until moving to the USA just prior to my nineteenth birthday. That move was to be for just one year - a working visit with no plans to actually emigrate. That's what happens when a special someone comes into your life and changes your plans, your outlook, your entire future. No regrets though. In sixty one years here I've only lived in four places. Washington D.C., New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. This last address has been my home for over forty seven years. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My first American winter in Washington was a very cold one, especially when temperatures plummeted around Christmas. Not only did I see snow, I learned to ice skate - well stand up and take a few gliding steps - on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Frozen solid and not exactly smooth ice for a beginner, I fell down a lot! </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On moving to the New England states, winter was all about snowfalls. Mostly deep and never-ending for several months. Nor'easter storms often caused crippling blizzards. Plowed snow piled up in dirty grey heaps until the next fall made it look lovely again. I skated a little on outdoor ponds and a couple of indoor rinks, never becoming proficient, but loved to go to holiday ice shows, such as the Ice Capades in Boston. I also viewed a couple of Bruins ice hockey games, shivering and miserable in the cold of the now demolished Boston Garden, and anxious for all to be over. </span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Raleigh is in the southeast and has a great climate...........most of the time! Rather too hot, and definitely far too humid for this Brit in the height of summertime. Spring is beautiful, Autumn even better. Winter can be fickle. Yesterday when writing this, the afternoon was almost hot at 72F and the sun brilliant. Dog walkers passed wearing shorts, Bob was sunburned a little on his head after spending time in the garden without a hat! I changed from a cozy sweater into a thin one while making vegetable soup over the hot stove! </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This morning it's cool again. R</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">ain is pouring down This current season brought sufficient rain in January but apparently we'll get plenty more over the next few days.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We still haven't seen a single snowflake! I doubt we will.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF6O-zveizkLF1XFsiA5rHw82ciEcjn8ktViknDwvo-Ppl3TwgmHfwoESRyMdIYuq8IwWEJLfYB7zu2kYmBZdUFza_eSV5BBLjgUSqIAJ2NYLvP0rG_rx4ZF2aL46TJ1r3d2jMNIZKSOvujD8QZNypq0AdtAJfzro21mijnvuT-9-9nJfmARsSQ0VWY0/s317/Signature%20for%20Xmas%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="317" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF6O-zveizkLF1XFsiA5rHw82ciEcjn8ktViknDwvo-Ppl3TwgmHfwoESRyMdIYuq8IwWEJLfYB7zu2kYmBZdUFza_eSV5BBLjgUSqIAJ2NYLvP0rG_rx4ZF2aL46TJ1r3d2jMNIZKSOvujD8QZNypq0AdtAJfzro21mijnvuT-9-9nJfmARsSQ0VWY0/w200-h136/Signature%20for%20Xmas%20.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /></span></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-88127298168705024472024-02-03T09:43:00.002-05:002024-02-03T09:45:02.460-05:00Who doesn't love a collection - <p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBEl1Uyxm0mxGC_nt8F6q5ramRYom9fXOA3uSLD2ksn28OkKNgK8dMBtejYTWO7JoZpWZ0imvYKUGTtd697V-iMZ71UO1KyCjBW2HaTvdjqVljri5rV6LGz6yV5TdM136WjJrOl4PHINH7KXaX9nAQNqhuhUroCXh3S77vAW_jhmhPv45474kD6n3k5E/s969/Tureens%20-%20Collection.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="818" height="703" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBEl1Uyxm0mxGC_nt8F6q5ramRYom9fXOA3uSLD2ksn28OkKNgK8dMBtejYTWO7JoZpWZ0imvYKUGTtd697V-iMZ71UO1KyCjBW2HaTvdjqVljri5rV6LGz6yV5TdM136WjJrOl4PHINH7KXaX9nAQNqhuhUroCXh3S77vAW_jhmhPv45474kD6n3k5E/w593-h703/Tureens%20-%20Collection.png" width="593" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Borne ceremoniously to the table, the soup tureen has always been a symbol of family warmth, and often a showpiece as well. </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To make a dramatic and grand impression, there was no other more suitable vessel than the soup tureen. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I have to agree that a bowl of hearty homemade soup, or its thicker version more like a stew, is at the top of winter's list of soul-satisfying meals. Following a slow, aromatic cooking on the stove, it's always fun to consider your collection of serving pieces for a hot liquid offering. Tureens with lids are perfect and probably the way soups were kept hot when being brought from long-ago downstairs kitchens ~ such as the one we all loved in 'Downton Abbey' ~ to the gorgeous dining room above stairs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Symbol of love and communion, soups have often celebrated the gathering of families, friends and kindred souls. Prior to the Renaissance (14th to the 17th centuries), people did not travel far from home and everything at the table was shared. Not only soup and bread, but bowl and spoon. When travel began, new and exotic foods were discovered, and by the 18th century choreographed dining feasts with a huge choice of dishes were served to impress guests. Often two or more tureens would be brought to the table allowing diners to choose a favorite to have ladled into their soup bowl.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">Though the word "tureen" is probably derived from "terre", <i>Old French</i> for clay, some early examples were crafted from precious metals, even humble pewter. In</span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;"> the golden age of porcelain (from the mid-1700's to the late 1800's), when botany became a universal passion, florals, fruits, even vegetables were hand-painted on white, oyster and cream oval and round tureens. </span></span><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkfro2dkvzLkgkjGFXyorp5GLfKpTJRM0Y21Ig9uZ73EfiIBO3tBQSAFtT4TgTs9dhyuI46BZDPc_6KMi6KtoF0bhbHMasqPG6LtYCU6ZGapy_EHTF0ppLAgbq2W359rMDC3lPnXgHWrPWgfKE6I0JjpNMkU03S1P9S9lCqwHr9JMtuxbu9-sgjwfIPM/s987/Tureens%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="987" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkfro2dkvzLkgkjGFXyorp5GLfKpTJRM0Y21Ig9uZ73EfiIBO3tBQSAFtT4TgTs9dhyuI46BZDPc_6KMi6KtoF0bhbHMasqPG6LtYCU6ZGapy_EHTF0ppLAgbq2W359rMDC3lPnXgHWrPWgfKE6I0JjpNMkU03S1P9S9lCqwHr9JMtuxbu9-sgjwfIPM/w640-h516/Tureens%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8jXQawtF9RbZVXLh-vIMHI1Cjxd_1xyeGM2TQOW1WL7dJzrEYkT3bxBa9qqJkWejAcKe-6shQWS3m4fMc0o8aKfWkQ8brn0gYlfbS1TfKK2vCjdVdDI2Rzny8KNHmdDCoMx7dFK6tvOb2LLMPCLPFBFcLUfDp-LFRIpuNOHfWA7y1aoThFaENtBibuM/s932/Tureens%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="932" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8jXQawtF9RbZVXLh-vIMHI1Cjxd_1xyeGM2TQOW1WL7dJzrEYkT3bxBa9qqJkWejAcKe-6shQWS3m4fMc0o8aKfWkQ8brn0gYlfbS1TfKK2vCjdVdDI2Rzny8KNHmdDCoMx7dFK6tvOb2LLMPCLPFBFcLUfDp-LFRIpuNOHfWA7y1aoThFaENtBibuM/w640-h578/Tureens%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My personal collection of tureens take up most of the shelving on each side of the fireplace. I enjoy them displayed there with a few other items mixed in. Over the years I've added shapes and sizes, some antique, others vintage and a few even new. I'm still tempted when I spy others for sale, however realize I have nowhere to put them so leave them for other collectors who do.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Do you have a collection of special, much-loved items? Are you still adding to it?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential; font-size: x-large;">Winter Warmers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential; font-size: large;">"Of soup and love, the first is best" : </span><span style="font-family: Quintessential;">Anonymous</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Quintessential; font-size: large;">Really!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXXg4hvHEyzH0fjWgBW2EG3QTfQ0O-CoGcL_1-qEX_xfpvwf5LmaP7GmVl2LLXVs_MM_3OW9d1sSuJTApRQdn8ndN0ptyWAW133DIiMMOohtqU22u1y3W0KhjYgtnRJ_DzbM9w25_tU3KENlcqZH9JP5lfM-ml0Gc9adfnam8ogqBlGvIwQH7KvvXTwU/s400/Signature%20-%20Red%20Heart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="400" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglXXg4hvHEyzH0fjWgBW2EG3QTfQ0O-CoGcL_1-qEX_xfpvwf5LmaP7GmVl2LLXVs_MM_3OW9d1sSuJTApRQdn8ndN0ptyWAW133DIiMMOohtqU22u1y3W0KhjYgtnRJ_DzbM9w25_tU3KENlcqZH9JP5lfM-ml0Gc9adfnam8ogqBlGvIwQH7KvvXTwU/w359-h210/Signature%20-%20Red%20Heart.png" width="359" /></a></div><br /></div></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-34962538647857801302024-01-28T12:44:00.003-05:002024-01-28T12:46:00.205-05:00Hot Pots ............Cool Smoothies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Let's just touch briefly on eating today. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These short, dark days of winter, especially in January and February, I find myself craving wholesome food. Comfort food has been required on some chilly days recently, however the past several days have been unbelievably warm here, reaching mid-seventies - I even popped the A/C on for a short time on Friday evening as the house was hot upstairs! However m</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">y kitchen has been busy - well </span><i style="font-family: helvetica;">I've</i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> been busy as I do not have a sous chef, just a dishwasher guy who resembles Bob! He's a great help.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsj0KCBygwiapsJDiZTrCEKh9A50KZ5h7_EZlJkPAeSmqZZG6I6XhMJ3YAcGYzHsyGvQ2lbLrcXDsuZToIw-LTRGVm5v1FthZM3BApe5jWH4T-usDSXo9zA8U1TM2W4bPMxPH3dLlEl2bNS04uq9DE-eVcNuGoxlbHvio1cvKArfmpkhBPCn8OY0j8P7I" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="840" height="651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjsj0KCBygwiapsJDiZTrCEKh9A50KZ5h7_EZlJkPAeSmqZZG6I6XhMJ3YAcGYzHsyGvQ2lbLrcXDsuZToIw-LTRGVm5v1FthZM3BApe5jWH4T-usDSXo9zA8U1TM2W4bPMxPH3dLlEl2bNS04uq9DE-eVcNuGoxlbHvio1cvKArfmpkhBPCn8OY0j8P7I=w585-h651" width="585" /></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsn5YXizYVwY1AssiURvciqM9EuXQx_e9N8rhzJ_p4hatO39tvYJFfLb6PpQMDoAiXtEnCeESQZ_Y92HmtIx6EGVgtq6XaQaZ1e09wA3uwh-Ork2du9xZNIHq3xVX_YRqI41tu-V-yuUP8DQMZkE6Q_vVH6HzPXHQTYdNjXKpawFeLujBBOO2SRS4aIdQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="925" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsn5YXizYVwY1AssiURvciqM9EuXQx_e9N8rhzJ_p4hatO39tvYJFfLb6PpQMDoAiXtEnCeESQZ_Y92HmtIx6EGVgtq6XaQaZ1e09wA3uwh-Ork2du9xZNIHq3xVX_YRqI41tu-V-yuUP8DQMZkE6Q_vVH6HzPXHQTYdNjXKpawFeLujBBOO2SRS4aIdQ=w583-h537" width="583" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIBAR0sYYXzIQoVeI3q57hDdG65ggCAl_LI5ZPMSWcYo-Kmx7F_2r9mlHU2W9jd4_Z9FXC236EmJW3Adb0KlOYXL8vzoKxEWsRp4CSGeRqQJeV_bztVHS-uQyjUmYwCCH8lf2fn_Vs5dQnF7lPdqKvXeCclvdWYSdPVhp6T-YqlgWXPMCAt85mKHZR8-M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1000" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIBAR0sYYXzIQoVeI3q57hDdG65ggCAl_LI5ZPMSWcYo-Kmx7F_2r9mlHU2W9jd4_Z9FXC236EmJW3Adb0KlOYXL8vzoKxEWsRp4CSGeRqQJeV_bztVHS-uQyjUmYwCCH8lf2fn_Vs5dQnF7lPdqKvXeCclvdWYSdPVhp6T-YqlgWXPMCAt85mKHZR8-M=w584-h458" width="584" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bean and Winter Squash with Chili, Mint and Cream.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Last week I made my favorite winter 'hot pot', a term used more in the UK than here. Somewhere between a soup and a stew, these wholesome one-pot dishes of winter vegetables are meals in themselves. You can add meat - we are non-meat eaters - as the French often do in their 'potages', or stay strictly vegetarian. One pot actually cuts down on calls to that dishwasher guy as the sink doesn't fill with too many items during the prep..........and other than a couple of deep bowls and soup spoons there's not much cleanup after this comforting meal.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">During the cooking period the ingredients simmer away in the pot, flavors enhanced as they bubble gently. You can taste test and add more seasoning if needed, and these sturdy recipes can even gain flavor when left to stand a while, and then enjoy a gentle reheat when mealtime arrives. Here, I must say, the leftovers are always extra delicious so make enough for another meal in a day or so! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Hot pots are fun to make, nutritious and easy. Make them a complete meal when serving with a good crusty bread, a roll, warm naan, or topped with homemade crunchy croutons (I always use up leftover breads to make mine), a side salad, cheese and fresh fruit . . . . . . or skip the bread and use it later in a dessert!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZurfRX62brrF3fzAuRbiNIcAm74TIj496y-uvkfkXWejI5C0TxblFE-61v7e2YXghigLr63PCEGTuZnT_Sn7YXQ7hGDhBzurQDQvhQlCQVy7A2A94blFyoL7DRnyTvwpMe-WbOfh3PpYwPMGIPWQBoKEFrpEJRPmunLrEfvAD3dquLZfGgDvlG1295w/s952/Food%20-%20Bread%20Pudding%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="715" height="764" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZurfRX62brrF3fzAuRbiNIcAm74TIj496y-uvkfkXWejI5C0TxblFE-61v7e2YXghigLr63PCEGTuZnT_Sn7YXQ7hGDhBzurQDQvhQlCQVy7A2A94blFyoL7DRnyTvwpMe-WbOfh3PpYwPMGIPWQBoKEFrpEJRPmunLrEfvAD3dquLZfGgDvlG1295w/w573-h764/Food%20-%20Bread%20Pudding%20.jpg" width="573" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Rummaging through a box of old recipes saved over the years - prior to shelves of fancy cookbooks and online versions - I discovered my mother's lovely handwritten recipe for "Bread & Butter Pudding". </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An often served dessert when I was growing up, left over buttered bread served with a meal was never thrown away. Times were tough and food was still rationed for several years after WWII was over. Desserts were sometimes made from first course savories such as Yorkshire Pudding (Popovers here in the States), always baked in a separate dish alongside a Sunday roast beef. Remaining portions were given a spoonful of golden syrup (Tate & Lyle of course) and we children gobbled it up! Needless to say we didn't count calories or watch our diets back in the 1950's, and we ate everything that was put in front of us. We did go out to play and walked everywhere which I'm sure helped.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Bread Pudding as it's called in the USA, seems especially popular here in southern restaurants, and there are plenty of recipes floating about online, however this time I decided to use a leftover from the holidays, an Italian Panettone bread. Glad I did when despite it still being within "Best By" date, it was definitely rather stale. Being bathed in a nice eggy vanilla custard and baked slowly to a crisp top was all it required. Try it if you have one hanging around, you'll be surprised. I served mine warm with a dash of heavy cream plus a splash of Chambord liqueur, delicious!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNlclj9rc5u14bsJWN1j9PrTD7zMXFA_Hdjzvn6jO1IOVGhCMzvEWELE88lO71Fu4cfsb0uCssDAt5Eirn0AxjSBmZWiroTJXVhu9SsPJIhXYsNrCyEZfQywQoZZD8iVTzj4aKm1F48p3i1vneh1YdAR3OW7QsG58NRmZm0TNssJ5OCRQQjZj1Dmc8wA/s3828/Food%20-%20Panettone%20Bread%20Pudding.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3828" data-original-width="2664" height="829" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNlclj9rc5u14bsJWN1j9PrTD7zMXFA_Hdjzvn6jO1IOVGhCMzvEWELE88lO71Fu4cfsb0uCssDAt5Eirn0AxjSBmZWiroTJXVhu9SsPJIhXYsNrCyEZfQywQoZZD8iVTzj4aKm1F48p3i1vneh1YdAR3OW7QsG58NRmZm0TNssJ5OCRQQjZj1Dmc8wA/w577-h829/Food%20-%20Panettone%20Bread%20Pudding.png" width="577" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Panettone Bread Pudding</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_57vu57kUzcc-FRJWmvuJayksOan3G-R6UAEzAahxMAqgBlSWmsRAGo_d9-2DfQ5RNsZRZNM5tooG2sGkiXQX3_j0wWeWdUTi_WVXocMpF0qQCqMzVBg6X4JREs8aBVD4KH7-oxRhaljL2z1_vjRbuJiQRGX-0U__PSUM5OJJhJXW_wwYN80X_8zbVw/s1024/Food%20-%20Smoothie%20with%20Hyacinths.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="767" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_57vu57kUzcc-FRJWmvuJayksOan3G-R6UAEzAahxMAqgBlSWmsRAGo_d9-2DfQ5RNsZRZNM5tooG2sGkiXQX3_j0wWeWdUTi_WVXocMpF0qQCqMzVBg6X4JREs8aBVD4KH7-oxRhaljL2z1_vjRbuJiQRGX-0U__PSUM5OJJhJXW_wwYN80X_8zbVw/w575-h767/Food%20-%20Smoothie%20with%20Hyacinths.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Full of Fruits Breakfast Smoothie </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lastly, I'm back on a smoothie kick. This is the best way for me to eat fresh fruit. This particular one contained a small banana, blueberries I had frozen, fresh raspberries and strawberries, grated coconut, unsweetened almond milk. I usually eat/drink this meal mid-morning as I rarely eat lunch. Two meals a day are ample and since shedding over 25 pounds <i>slowly </i>during the past two years (no strict weight-loss diet, just smaller portions of healthy foods), I find I just can't eat anywhere near as much now. Perhaps the older one gets the less food you require. It's more important that you eat healthy foods in smaller amounts. Just had annual lab work done, everything looks fine so far. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So have just returned to my plan from the pre-holiday weeks during which I slipped a bit when it came to snacking on the wrong/delicious Christmas goodies. A fruit laden smoothie yesterday, oatmeal today, and perhaps a hard boiled egg with a slice of avocado toast tomorrow. Any ideas for easy breakfast/brunch goodies are welcomed as we all go forward into February. Thanks for checking in here. Stay well, eat healthy.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_zWOtUAJfpXTVa8Y7aBJRJ2n4Unw8RxBB0JyY6DZvK5ILXGYmgg5rUvN5vTrdK8aEnaDJ3TYhsHARkFP2wtv5ENrChWqy7B9F9HvjzjusKp7S-HnVQFh8VgRsH0ipLCff97oDLS3WW8ya-JZ75Fk_vvn9GZ2PEZlYGooD_Ax-j3AldW3NWUw2Y2SDWg/s211/Signature%20-%20Blue.png" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="211" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_zWOtUAJfpXTVa8Y7aBJRJ2n4Unw8RxBB0JyY6DZvK5ILXGYmgg5rUvN5vTrdK8aEnaDJ3TYhsHARkFP2wtv5ENrChWqy7B9F9HvjzjusKp7S-HnVQFh8VgRsH0ipLCff97oDLS3WW8ya-JZ75Fk_vvn9GZ2PEZlYGooD_Ax-j3AldW3NWUw2Y2SDWg/s1600/Signature%20-%20Blue.png" width="211" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-37469486148499425842024-01-18T14:00:00.001-05:002024-01-18T14:00:38.192-05:00We women and the future -<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This morning I was up early despite the bitter cold. I had an appointment for lab work at the new medical practice we have signed up with. Our primary physician surprised us by retiring early at the end of 2023 so we had to search for someone new who was willing to take on older patients. Shortly after 9:30 AM I was on my way home again, craving coffee mostly as I had fasted for 12 hours for the blood draw. I considered a coffee shop, a quick breakfast place, or perhaps a grocery store stop for a few items for the veggie stew I'll be making today. I even considered a stop at T.J. Maxx as I passed by and recalled how I used to enjoy shopping, or rummaging through, in my younger days! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">But I didn't stop anywhere because I longed to just be home. I took the more scenic drive through quieter streets and it reminded me of what driving used to be like just about everywhere. Now the main thoroughfares are horrific and I no longer feel safe on them. The houses are changing, small ones being replaced by new builds far too big for the average homeowner or family. Not much garden surrounds them for children and dogs to play in, it's all about the house. The gardens have very little color right now but they are still lovely in their winter neutrals, especially in the sunshine. The bird baths, frozen and sparkling, still entice the birds, and I splash mine with warm water on these cold mornings as the sparrows, finches and others sit quietly in the fig tree waiting to drink.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Yes, I did say my younger days because quite honestly I'm feeling different lately and I believe it's due to aging. I used to do so much more with my time. I have now slowed down somewhat. <span style="background-color: white;">You may recall that I've loved taking candid photos of women when traveling. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I feel strongly about women and their place in this world of ours, a world getting harder </span><span style="background-color: white;">for </span><span style="background-color: white;">so many, when it should be better, easier, safer. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Over the years I've taken many photos of women whose lives are much different than my own and I often go back into my photo archive, or revisit blog posts where they were featured, looking at these photos wondering if things have changed for them. Most seemed happy as they went about their daily lives..........but of course they, like me, are much older now.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kerala, India</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jJTbcP7ejs/XhjHuYhWFiI/AAAAAAABIII/PxEIw4_gD_02jMyLR7tWFKEO7P_zWu39QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BChiang%2BMai%2B1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jJTbcP7ejs/XhjHuYhWFiI/AAAAAAABIII/PxEIw4_gD_02jMyLR7tWFKEO7P_zWu39QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BChiang%2BMai%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cochin, India</span></div><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzgZHfkpKg8/XhjHyR4w-mI/AAAAAAABIIY/qpLsKxAsld407nnag4smbls9pl-imMOqwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BCochin%2BBaskets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dzgZHfkpKg8/XhjHyR4w-mI/AAAAAAABIIY/qpLsKxAsld407nnag4smbls9pl-imMOqwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BCochin%2BBaskets.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Kerala, India</span></div><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">London, England</span></div><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzGSxEJEc14/XhjHyrDhGwI/AAAAAAABIIc/lkFUqAW3aooHD1IR1Ftz2h4sMv4yGiqtgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BMoscow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="659" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzGSxEJEc14/XhjHyrDhGwI/AAAAAAABIIc/lkFUqAW3aooHD1IR1Ftz2h4sMv4yGiqtgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BMoscow.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Moscow, Russia</span></div><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hue, Vietnam</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71AsQhHDO3M/XhjHzXEx3HI/AAAAAAABIIg/4qP6eN0apiUnWqaU1ZZBCp0TtO4VTedHwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BTokyo%2B6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71AsQhHDO3M/XhjHzXEx3HI/AAAAAAABIIg/4qP6eN0apiUnWqaU1ZZBCp0TtO4VTedHwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BTokyo%2B6.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Niigata, Japan</span></div><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wTmzSA0eCog/XhjH4nQEyyI/AAAAAAABIIs/uFm6wqfK9ioBV2r2fQ6JlkPqIKbk6x1CACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BVietnam%2B7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wTmzSA0eCog/XhjH4nQEyyI/AAAAAAABIIs/uFm6wqfK9ioBV2r2fQ6JlkPqIKbk6x1CACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BVietnam%2B7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Xkfnvn95wU/XhjH4rUwpwI/AAAAAAABIIw/K7zOd0Qf3TwShhGPg-6lhfxvpXpcIIQwgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BVietnam%2BMarket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Xkfnvn95wU/XhjH4rUwpwI/AAAAAAABIIw/K7zOd0Qf3TwShhGPg-6lhfxvpXpcIIQwgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BVietnam%2BMarket.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjjITo9ozaE/XhjH4o55wCI/AAAAAAABIIo/TAYx1J9yjCo2IpieGPThdrb7REtsrH75QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BZambia%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vjjITo9ozaE/XhjH4o55wCI/AAAAAAABIIo/TAYx1J9yjCo2IpieGPThdrb7REtsrH75QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Women%2B-%2BZambia%2B2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Zambia, Africa</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Laayoune, Western Sahara, Africa</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUBGG275gw4/XabHHYFxS7I/AAAAAAABHWY/gF63US7oiUoKYN5UC_tSb85L9Cl49XvQACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sahara%2B-%2BWomen%2B4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUBGG275gw4/XabHHYFxS7I/AAAAAAABHWY/gF63US7oiUoKYN5UC_tSb85L9Cl49XvQACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sahara%2B-%2BWomen%2B4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica;">Western Sahara, Africa</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPn2rksQqCQ/XdYI44sxA0I/AAAAAAABHo0/IIu_2aLhroIhLCP_-4npHTyKJ63PnJioACEwYBhgL/s1600/Cape%2BVerde%2BDancers%2B3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPn2rksQqCQ/XdYI44sxA0I/AAAAAAABHo0/IIu_2aLhroIhLCP_-4npHTyKJ63PnJioACEwYBhgL/s1600/Cape%2BVerde%2BDancers%2B3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sao Nicolau, Cape Verde Islands, West Africa</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">. . . . . .and here we are, in the second half of January already. Our plans for this year are not quite etched in stone however we do have a list. The house needs some TLC including a replacement roof and we're busy getting estimates. As always, it's like comparing apples to oranges when you place said estimates next to each other. Daring young men clamber across the shingles, balance on the ridge vent, mark patches with chalk, and one flew a drone over the house last week. It hit a tree and fell on the front steps. He requested 'super glue' but that didn't work. He returned yesterday with a new drone which did a good job. Maybe we'll get that roof when the weather warms up.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NhkWZ4gjrdGBT2Sm1_57ql_IDUaBCb3b28e5tcJI_IGSB4-Bt8YcDKsxpIEApnWn8_-gpjrKjpvoljwEp2qkgiuHgB7z7LaUn1YiiSapOPbjeD5tP2eUPqyfiNfb2HZqtJY40CtqPMkXL4RnvyvCEn138ZSxN0rXsI6GO4VCRiX0Is2XzTDlZX61XZM/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NhkWZ4gjrdGBT2Sm1_57ql_IDUaBCb3b28e5tcJI_IGSB4-Bt8YcDKsxpIEApnWn8_-gpjrKjpvoljwEp2qkgiuHgB7z7LaUn1YiiSapOPbjeD5tP2eUPqyfiNfb2HZqtJY40CtqPMkXL4RnvyvCEn138ZSxN0rXsI6GO4VCRiX0Is2XzTDlZX61XZM/w177-h119/Signature%20Brown.png" width="177" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-61701228795435368452024-01-04T10:59:00.001-05:002024-01-04T11:00:07.784-05:00Paintbrushes and Words -<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #999999; font-family: georgia;">For the past few years I've become addicted to the work of British </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: georgia;">artist-poet Gary Bunt.</span></b></span></div>
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It's hard to describe his huge body of work, however I do know that his paintings bring my homeland to me in ways that take my breath away, often bring tears to my eyes, but more often giggles, or an all out guffaw because of his sense of humor! For an artist to do all this with strokes of a brush, and to do it so often, is just wonderful.</span></div>
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His paintings, simple and true as they may be, cover not only land and seascapes around the United Kingdom, but everyday happenings both inside a typical British house, outside in the ubiquitous vegetable garden, sauntering across the beautiful countryside through the changing seasons, on road trips, picnics, boat rides, even just walking to the village shops.</span></div>
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He adds titles and brief poems which, even if you are not very familiar with British lifestyles, family traditions, country/town life etc., may still hit the nail on the head and immediately you can feel, as well as see, just what Gary was thinking at that moment and depicted with his brush strokes. His people are fantastic, shaped and posed so perfectly in action for each situation in the painting, that they need very little detail to tell the entire story. You fall in love with them as they look over their garden wall or sit out in the middle of a patchwork field.</span></div>
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According to Gary, the 'old man', who has made many appearances on his canvases, is himself. There are many animals in his paintings, especially dogs which, as you may know, are often just as important as people living in those little houses, walking through the rain-splashed lanes, over the hills and dales, and along often desolate beaches on a blustery winter day. Solid mutts, well-behaved as British dogs always seem to be </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Gary's art makes me happy. Makes me smile. Brings back so much of my country/seaside childhood in England. Thank you Gary.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Here are links: the YouTube documentary is awesome - I watch it often as it showcases not only the story of Gary's life, it brings calming thoughts and beautiful art to mine.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">YouTube - <i>Gary Bunt Painter and Poet</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Instagram: <i>gary.bunt</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">www.garybuntart.com</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHJWB0bpyPE/Wsrpv5xhwzI/AAAAAAABAao/f4xLnvFGyAEpXJzPKlywh6eHqQlYnVvcgCLcBGAs/s1600/itemsfs_31923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="800" height="513" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHJWB0bpyPE/Wsrpv5xhwzI/AAAAAAABAao/f4xLnvFGyAEpXJzPKlywh6eHqQlYnVvcgCLcBGAs/w650-h513/itemsfs_31923.jpg" width="650" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_9PQTvw_3w/WoJt8edwVfI/AAAAAAAA_eg/RSBi8s4-TzgPezSZ0GLn-JfulTe4Rgo8wCLcBGAs/s1600/b40935a1795d1bbd4814874c65570f7e--arte-country-naive-art.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="736" height="517" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_9PQTvw_3w/WoJt8edwVfI/AAAAAAAA_eg/RSBi8s4-TzgPezSZ0GLn-JfulTe4Rgo8wCLcBGAs/w637-h517/b40935a1795d1bbd4814874c65570f7e--arte-country-naive-art.jpg" width="637" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Just a small sample of the amazing stories told in Gary Bunt's paintings.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Znd65LvmbTC9rMbBVGm4IsHNL8gEkJb8GNWtxNTsyLQBkeEbIb5H6tlCGYa_iLrphjYJ0F1WtIdnQmggfzwH-XB8xZCfGzDoZhbH-WgWmUYh-BH07jpslQ5s-R544wy8ZyNMHB9JmZXcaoWPkekSg_U-sSrHPq5d3B-J1_oAtYtjM_-nKsk63ejkv-s/s400/Signature%20-%20Spring%20Green%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="400" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Znd65LvmbTC9rMbBVGm4IsHNL8gEkJb8GNWtxNTsyLQBkeEbIb5H6tlCGYa_iLrphjYJ0F1WtIdnQmggfzwH-XB8xZCfGzDoZhbH-WgWmUYh-BH07jpslQ5s-R544wy8ZyNMHB9JmZXcaoWPkekSg_U-sSrHPq5d3B-J1_oAtYtjM_-nKsk63ejkv-s/w298-h153/Signature%20-%20Spring%20Green%202.png" width="298" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>
Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-39361783661811448562023-12-27T12:50:00.002-05:002023-12-27T18:51:39.138-05:00End of the year that was..............<div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-eB3ld3oml6PoKkenfSrdckC_jD_F0j20H2iR8W1yHJbJ-5UNEpcVfWKjDYrAeNGuHhB2-HzZEhF0E07PdUqBz4zFd0i9zdLhPn58F1RVI_Q2hPumcFgLqReO9yzvhwvjtE6vyWW37NUDVOqX5SqRGu7uStTcpOcnzCmPXc4TK9rnRvU44OwpawHNwk/s973/Christmas%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-eB3ld3oml6PoKkenfSrdckC_jD_F0j20H2iR8W1yHJbJ-5UNEpcVfWKjDYrAeNGuHhB2-HzZEhF0E07PdUqBz4zFd0i9zdLhPn58F1RVI_Q2hPumcFgLqReO9yzvhwvjtE6vyWW37NUDVOqX5SqRGu7uStTcpOcnzCmPXc4TK9rnRvU44OwpawHNwk/w512-h640/Christmas%202023.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Why are there unwrapped packages and still to be pulled Christmas crackers lurking on December 27th? People are fighting health issues big time this year. Sometimes big holidays just don't work out as planned. This time of year the northern hemisphere is rife with respiratory illnesses. Old style colds, beginning of the influenza season, more variants of COVID, and this year, a myriad of nameless upper respiratory viruses knocking us over and flattening us like rows of falling domino tiles! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Personally I have coughed my way through the past four weeks. Still am. Have run a low grade fever - something I don't recall since childhood - had no appetite, and have lost weight. Getting ready for the holidays was not fun as I was exhausted every waking hour despite sleeping quite well at night.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Next week we have our initial visits with a new to us medical practice. Our Primary Care Physician shocked us in November with news she had decided to retire early. She has cared for us for almost 25 years and closes her practice this week. It's not easy to find a physician who welcomes geriatric patients. At this new practice will will be seen by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner as the actual practice MD is not taking new patients. We'll give it a try in hopes we'll be welcomed and treated kindly. We're both trying to remain positive about the whole experience. Fortunately the location is a new medical building just a few minutes drive from home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_I8cemVFW2sh2izgLYD7h3bYdvWXah9VPwDB6EAHeg0HMGx48wLjsoNgT45MfMFi159omDG10ikIej0wRotkr8zf8Ut03twjWga3s_K6qhgRrqXKN2LA2u1lXSpy7COSzPpAqMNPNBnzNYZHqmMOTiFDtZcLNL6rJhek5RQnSWc7ESdG_ont0q-JGu4/s3851/Christmas%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3851" data-original-width="2888" height="668" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_I8cemVFW2sh2izgLYD7h3bYdvWXah9VPwDB6EAHeg0HMGx48wLjsoNgT45MfMFi159omDG10ikIej0wRotkr8zf8Ut03twjWga3s_K6qhgRrqXKN2LA2u1lXSpy7COSzPpAqMNPNBnzNYZHqmMOTiFDtZcLNL6rJhek5RQnSWc7ESdG_ont0q-JGu4/w501-h668/Christmas%202023.png" width="501" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The weather is dreary today. Thick fog envelopes the now mostly brown and beige garden. The feeders are empty again so birds are few. Squirrels are active and a few days back there was a young deer in the garden. We have some errands to run later and will buy birdseed and a few more odd and ends.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I'll then be packing away Christmas decor later in the week and readying for a quiet, stay-at-home New Year's Eve, popping the bubbly cork and nibbling on the Christmas leftovers! Life goes on - may your days be happy and healthy and the coming year be a good one.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaUGUPk9-WZtFMFsaL0JivYD2Cm4bh6b2w_tM_XCGY6mhejoilvd1y73jZNsy4UlvT1Lv6M24uPcKbowle7LjO25LlGRZOEJZRmW5oplKgsvMgPbCtmTpYNRntKpcybR07kjTt0gcaaOkdG0lVIzbDsInKGWThIbj1vBfi2Gjccpf9i2QbfOHbrYwMJo/s543/New%20Year%20Quote%202019.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="543" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaUGUPk9-WZtFMFsaL0JivYD2Cm4bh6b2w_tM_XCGY6mhejoilvd1y73jZNsy4UlvT1Lv6M24uPcKbowle7LjO25LlGRZOEJZRmW5oplKgsvMgPbCtmTpYNRntKpcybR07kjTt0gcaaOkdG0lVIzbDsInKGWThIbj1vBfi2Gjccpf9i2QbfOHbrYwMJo/w383-h128/New%20Year%20Quote%202019.png" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U8zTaNYb1Q3s1besLPgH9FNxs4d8DUUzlQ3bizR7l0OX5I1skRC_HNBxkraWoNZi6H2vQq_N3vJR0lHlfTb02pSlRSCcvvefX89EITjP7jo-uavHMuIsKOiekUH36lgFHN7RVESSUq_pQfVenh_PnmK0Yzy0VWWmcsLoO9DG9Gabs6SPuFOSLqqqO7U/s211/Signature%20-%20Blue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="211" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U8zTaNYb1Q3s1besLPgH9FNxs4d8DUUzlQ3bizR7l0OX5I1skRC_HNBxkraWoNZi6H2vQq_N3vJR0lHlfTb02pSlRSCcvvefX89EITjP7jo-uavHMuIsKOiekUH36lgFHN7RVESSUq_pQfVenh_PnmK0Yzy0VWWmcsLoO9DG9Gabs6SPuFOSLqqqO7U/w168-h89/Signature%20-%20Blue.png" width="168" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-47354272326606822332023-12-18T16:17:00.003-05:002023-12-18T16:18:35.496-05:00It's small things that matter -<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gU2V1xpli4O3D7xJ3fQC7nX7JGRjGr9Vc27wyHEa4oKQ2K-t4q_p-qK85SCdGKKLq-y92pVb8g_Qs1E_Tovw3GFecOrnQeAGTsUKUQ4BRvYW69V86esUnGTO-d4KvBzUwkv15ZCgZHOo8tb1kZogMRgvufV4anJOQYpDM8KlyzYYfqYzVRlXcvQhAJY/s500/Quotes%20-%20%232%20Happy%20Christmas.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #990000;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="500" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gU2V1xpli4O3D7xJ3fQC7nX7JGRjGr9Vc27wyHEa4oKQ2K-t4q_p-qK85SCdGKKLq-y92pVb8g_Qs1E_Tovw3GFecOrnQeAGTsUKUQ4BRvYW69V86esUnGTO-d4KvBzUwkv15ZCgZHOo8tb1kZogMRgvufV4anJOQYpDM8KlyzYYfqYzVRlXcvQhAJY/s320/Quotes%20-%20%232%20Happy%20Christmas.png" width="320" /></span></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdItOp6nFp5XH40iEpWCFOGxrgYdhMawG43dYqvTFVLfRXo8490OSYb6zIrChig8IGhK11tzlZER8eFIP00PrGSbl4D1-xoPxb536LUp-KlmWHB2qx1_qWpXlI4-XSctewTMoWfHVEKPaUp3j7MODQLREXFoZYUYdJzNTAGAIsqvDb2MkI8MAD4LfmotA/s759/Christmas%20Cards%202020-%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="750" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdItOp6nFp5XH40iEpWCFOGxrgYdhMawG43dYqvTFVLfRXo8490OSYb6zIrChig8IGhK11tzlZER8eFIP00PrGSbl4D1-xoPxb536LUp-KlmWHB2qx1_qWpXlI4-XSctewTMoWfHVEKPaUp3j7MODQLREXFoZYUYdJzNTAGAIsqvDb2MkI8MAD4LfmotA/w549-h556/Christmas%20Cards%202020-%203.jpg" width="549" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I hear the mail carrier laughing at the box at the end of our driveway as she hands Bob the mail. Her name is Vanessa and she is awesome, the best mail carrier we've ever had. She brought me a balloon on my 80th in October, and handed me a beautiful birthday card. Her family came from Trinidad and she grew up in New York City. Not only is she thoughtful in regard to delivering our mail, she is fun to chat with, always has a smile and giggles a lot.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Christmas is about so many things. We try to keep them light and bright. We might be feeling low but we do our best to be the life of the party. Sometimes this is hard. I feel I've lost my way in regard to my blog. You may have noticed how long it's taken me to get back here since my previous post. So much longer than it's ever been in almost 17 years. I haven't shared my Christmas decorations although I did decorate, or told you of the holiday concert which took me back to when my granddaughter sang in that choir. Hearing young voices in a church setting was beautiful and lifted my spirits for a couple of hours. This week I will be in the kitchen baking and making a few of the important holiday snacks and sweets for a small Christmas Eve get together. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I'm still fighting whatever this latest 'long life' respiratory infection is. All I know is that it's thrown us for a loop since we came home from Arizona at Thanksgiving. . . . . . and Christmas preparations have truly been an effort, especially last week. Bob is doing better whereas I'm still feverish and just keep coughing.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">No more for now. Will I be back here in the New Year? I'm planning on it. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Happy Christmas to each of you, your families and loved ones, and may the coming year be a good one for everyone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D2976HDLF4uupqoh35P1vPZ7jLk9IoKIwk7i_x9GKscORH7e8V0aIqcUWLgU2ogvUWl9CBcFrYQogiYkOA0-kohkQh4LLwEMSpiGyHSRhyphenhyphentxFG1_1Kr4ZgDdlMG0UDSBTrHpeUWhYAR5tCmqPi1GZ-y4YWXOOsitXSlX5PfzYCbkT5DO73qbtkkPhcM/s940/Christmas%20-%20True%20Meaning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="940" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D2976HDLF4uupqoh35P1vPZ7jLk9IoKIwk7i_x9GKscORH7e8V0aIqcUWLgU2ogvUWl9CBcFrYQogiYkOA0-kohkQh4LLwEMSpiGyHSRhyphenhyphentxFG1_1Kr4ZgDdlMG0UDSBTrHpeUWhYAR5tCmqPi1GZ-y4YWXOOsitXSlX5PfzYCbkT5DO73qbtkkPhcM/w544-h640/Christmas%20-%20True%20Meaning.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78A73T3IIPqdKt46hQ3FRl_vM47yOEeED10FBoXXk07x574ZYduq9CEJoXKYaadsRXSzObXqDzShbCuToJ_A3ALIpE4z9n4l9IRMtTN9U2uijABqgkFcS_YE0MYexqLKMZZTrPgYmlRAEsXC9zEI1q-eQMhdjlD799_rnq7_OSu3j-fyYAEO9U0sg-yM/s600/Quotes%20-%20comfort%20and%20joy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="600" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78A73T3IIPqdKt46hQ3FRl_vM47yOEeED10FBoXXk07x574ZYduq9CEJoXKYaadsRXSzObXqDzShbCuToJ_A3ALIpE4z9n4l9IRMtTN9U2uijABqgkFcS_YE0MYexqLKMZZTrPgYmlRAEsXC9zEI1q-eQMhdjlD799_rnq7_OSu3j-fyYAEO9U0sg-yM/s320/Quotes%20-%20comfort%20and%20joy.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbvuMK2EqdjxjII08KrJoRqdW92M_Wgx3JFMFqyg4clV26Xh4HHfqNL4RGs3unjzHO3_5ME8h3VIgMGbvTd9GBEGYlrfYqZJiMYn_IulzZa1KSb-m9gv1wcyLTG9F8ia6ZmW-KR4CAfa_itL1tiGCyHM3ayFEYJfP9GImtEWdLqMSvNcK5Y6jPHEi5DE/s400/Signature%20-%20Red%20Heart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="400" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbvuMK2EqdjxjII08KrJoRqdW92M_Wgx3JFMFqyg4clV26Xh4HHfqNL4RGs3unjzHO3_5ME8h3VIgMGbvTd9GBEGYlrfYqZJiMYn_IulzZa1KSb-m9gv1wcyLTG9F8ia6ZmW-KR4CAfa_itL1tiGCyHM3ayFEYJfP9GImtEWdLqMSvNcK5Y6jPHEi5DE/w270-h158/Signature%20-%20Red%20Heart.png" width="270" /></a></div></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-43719340635631030642023-11-18T19:18:00.008-05:002023-11-18T19:20:52.457-05:00Traveling to the American Southwest - Thanksgiving 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkoJPwCR8JHIkHLthrkhSXqPKYuunWnCRbYvGn3no1-z2P31E2MVtknSBU20xvORLkwTDeUd9H8RX9LCQmScF_7KRHXlQFXnWD7wI0kf1FHsgOIVFXrURhhmEeKYHr4dyAOUGkN2EcXo-M6J0Ut6mYeouRldjN3ovUozL3CsGUZqb5ZVqc2ZrSuLWG6M/s980/Huachuca%20Mts.%20AZ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="801" height="733" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkoJPwCR8JHIkHLthrkhSXqPKYuunWnCRbYvGn3no1-z2P31E2MVtknSBU20xvORLkwTDeUd9H8RX9LCQmScF_7KRHXlQFXnWD7wI0kf1FHsgOIVFXrURhhmEeKYHr4dyAOUGkN2EcXo-M6J0Ut6mYeouRldjN3ovUozL3CsGUZqb5ZVqc2ZrSuLWG6M/w598-h733/Huachuca%20Mts.%20AZ.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>November 2021 Visit</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I'm a little early with my greeting for the big holiday next Thursday.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> I'll be gone for a while as we travel to Arizona for Thanksgiving and an extended, always fun, visit with family. </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: justify;">My brother-in-law and his family moved to Sierra Vista many, many years ago</span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> when his government career took him to Fort Huachuca. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">We have visited often over the years and always manage to find something new to enjoy. A few days in Tucson is also on our schedule.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1b1b1b; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The Huachuca Mountains are the third highest of the Sky Island mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and they rise almost 4,500 feet above the desert floor. The mountain range is oriented in a northwestern direction giving it more north-facing slopes and perhaps a somewhat cooler climate than some of the other Sky Island mountain ranges with similar elevation. The highest elevations support mixed conifer forests on north-facing slopes and pine forests on south-facing slopes. Lower elevations have extensive oak and oak-pine woodlands. Management of this mountain range is divided mostly between the U.S Forest Service and Department of Defense (Fort Huachuca). Fort Huachuca occupies roughly the northeastern quarter of the range; the Forest Service manages the northwestern quarter and southern half. A small part of the southern end of the range is managed by the National Park Service as Coronado National Memorial. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">via USDA Forest Service</span></i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Wishing you all here in the USA - and Americans living overseas - a very happy Thanksgiving holiday. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We all have so much to be thankful for.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzUr-h3K1M1n7T4GGljqxy_dlw-7UsqsyrSeQpHNTqmlGZFjE1rJTwsIDxzlH7JUh4SBIJLkGh-Rra03SPlXL3q3GSNQe6pXipsGsZYJKZWnD7g7Ivz5BYYPlXsxd9vcOdYmGDagRrVxq6IarUoEx2TCNIfnzcEzlqrggnC_l7ZOoCZsYDB0KcHZ9fkc/s600/Thanksgiving%20Greeting.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="600" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzUr-h3K1M1n7T4GGljqxy_dlw-7UsqsyrSeQpHNTqmlGZFjE1rJTwsIDxzlH7JUh4SBIJLkGh-Rra03SPlXL3q3GSNQe6pXipsGsZYJKZWnD7g7Ivz5BYYPlXsxd9vcOdYmGDagRrVxq6IarUoEx2TCNIfnzcEzlqrggnC_l7ZOoCZsYDB0KcHZ9fkc/w400-h146/Thanksgiving%20Greeting.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGDxgOQ-2mehCcUReUSX8E1MCgTKZ9fNUuU-2uH3N-v-l-PkQCqphOVvhotitaVSTSzn4aElDbzf3p32IZgKhQ6JlfOC9fcPZT6vm-MaUyDggBg0RbAmQXVjcZLk5W01OVeyAuiHmpB90kYLSjjzLKZvcQpljD7fc4TCe9pHrmp8J_HTIXoLkHp29bGNE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="780" height="573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGDxgOQ-2mehCcUReUSX8E1MCgTKZ9fNUuU-2uH3N-v-l-PkQCqphOVvhotitaVSTSzn4aElDbzf3p32IZgKhQ6JlfOC9fcPZT6vm-MaUyDggBg0RbAmQXVjcZLk5W01OVeyAuiHmpB90kYLSjjzLKZvcQpljD7fc4TCe9pHrmp8J_HTIXoLkHp29bGNE=w530-h573" width="530" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_9QX4qLpoMmeoos1hUINjoaFfRpyhP0TJrGTplkhQ8hhkQKyUH3Z3UFdBQ-SjAYBwEnPdPsdmCBMhoZkPJCAYHcuGTyiyeRfZg8cS679bv-CkMiE-SWRGF8oLCmnuka1D0GfOv2c_6P9LKv2X3G6NO2c9BwbS82dmXPGqJiMtjuAPkOpFSvfg6bvanY/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_9QX4qLpoMmeoos1hUINjoaFfRpyhP0TJrGTplkhQ8hhkQKyUH3Z3UFdBQ-SjAYBwEnPdPsdmCBMhoZkPJCAYHcuGTyiyeRfZg8cS679bv-CkMiE-SWRGF8oLCmnuka1D0GfOv2c_6P9LKv2X3G6NO2c9BwbS82dmXPGqJiMtjuAPkOpFSvfg6bvanY/w182-h123/Signature%20Brown.png" width="182" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-57984331286650075142023-11-16T12:02:00.000-05:002023-11-16T12:02:00.146-05:00'House Proud' -<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfPhQnS1sc9WqzukrdEHMC1jsBL_c_3aIhHyve_8r4yjeW30R4ZXcblrC_A8PG_bsHPGlqr66WZle013_x88l49ghJ_rnCX0MtCCfItkauHWM49tCT7ifi5K_Zr7cQKBNAI66P8_SU8w_G0oAT5N42X4Z1Hc2ma0T_DgwoC3tCj4sBzHG_n5PiRTqR-w/s1054/Kitchen%20-%20Cleaning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="710" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfPhQnS1sc9WqzukrdEHMC1jsBL_c_3aIhHyve_8r4yjeW30R4ZXcblrC_A8PG_bsHPGlqr66WZle013_x88l49ghJ_rnCX0MtCCfItkauHWM49tCT7ifi5K_Zr7cQKBNAI66P8_SU8w_G0oAT5N42X4Z1Hc2ma0T_DgwoC3tCj4sBzHG_n5PiRTqR-w/s16000/Kitchen%20-%20Cleaning.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My Mother trained me young...........to keep a clean, organized and picked up house. She always worked outside the home but you could, as the old saying goes, "eat off her floors." She was a perfectionist. A hard worker, competent in everything she put her hand to. Sunday was our cleaning day. It was often the only day off from her job. She didn't rest, relax or crawl under the covers recovering from an exhausting week. She was up with the sun, the larks, or whatever birds were singing in the garden at that time of year, in her cleaning clothes, sometimes her hair tied in a scarf, the usual headgear in the 1950's prior to rollers, hooded hairdryers, blow dryers and curling irons. Back then facilities in the middle class English home was usually one bathroom with a bathtub, no shower for a quick wash, shampoo and rinse. I recall washing my hair under the taps in the kitchen sink, not easy or comfortable. Many years ago on my first visit to Florence, Italy, we stayed in a hotel that was at one time a palace. We had a suite which had only a deep tub. I recalled my childhood whilst kneeling on the hard, cold marble floor with my head under a conglomerate of gold-plated faucets while Bob assisted in rinsing off shampoo and conditioner. I complained, he laughed. Somehow I lived through it wondering why a Medici Palace in a piazza, steps away from the River Arno, couldn't be modernized. A building, historic, patinated, antiqued and gorgeous, and me, spoiled by all the mod cons of America. I soon learned of Italian history and beauty, and made a vow to return as an Italian in a future life!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">My childhood Sunday mornings also became a cleaning day. . . . . .until my brother came along when I was eight. Once he was a toddler my mother decided Sunday morning cleaning was easier for her if I took him to the park for a few hours. I don't recall complaining. Pushing swings and roundabouts was more fun than vacuuming and polishing furniture. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span>With the winter months approaching 'housework' becomes annoying. Burning wood on the hearth is wonderful and warming, keeping up with the dust it makes is a chore. Gardening is comfortable at last, cooler days and no mosquitoes, but we have no m</span>ud room in this small house so garden debris stuck to footwear results in gritty floors requiring extra cleaning. As Christmas approaches an assortment of live greenery, berries and such make their way to the mantel, tops of armoires, stairwell etc. Things are dropped, roll under furniture, disintegrate as the weeks pass by.........and all cause more dust. Reminders of those childhood days of vacuuming, dusting and polishing come to mind, sadly the bending and kneeling required to do a bang up job is not so easy now. So, we do what we can, promising to declutter, downsize, perhaps hire a cleaner, anything to 'make life easier' and take away some of the stress of keeping house more perfect. Fewer years on our calendar mean we need time to do exciting things while we can. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">By the way, did you know dust is invisible to most grown men . . . . . . . .and small birds, such as my wren, are extremely 'house proud', just as my dear mother was.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8Xu0Di6LYaKhC6JVQKafV3gYfSPz54KWVebcRF7tcngpuPfGVS5xdZgZT7CdI12nkmkyHbn0JbEtRtMYm1Q12puOLT97dYf8MnnGKk376oSnU3RYyJBQtOnhIqm-cKpebaNww3jDJZ8FZA3sbT4CZwOAmI1xXacLyshSnhS6fUBML0OH8mcXFkr8Hac/s700/Birds%20-%20House%20Wren%203%20-%20May%202019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="700" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8Xu0Di6LYaKhC6JVQKafV3gYfSPz54KWVebcRF7tcngpuPfGVS5xdZgZT7CdI12nkmkyHbn0JbEtRtMYm1Q12puOLT97dYf8MnnGKk376oSnU3RYyJBQtOnhIqm-cKpebaNww3jDJZ8FZA3sbT4CZwOAmI1xXacLyshSnhS6fUBML0OH8mcXFkr8Hac/w640-h582/Birds%20-%20House%20Wren%203%20-%20May%202019.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EYSqDVtRI_j4kSbUyaW5vfL9FQkOtMm-r3QNjlY0yVBJgapH_VnraiiY2_RAgWKa_hbuClJr_fdj9b29zKotbtyNhvjmi7ovUHf8P1TO8IE747PKZoRwgXepJh_Y7PTSofGZb6kl806r2McOQ2FNgP58iZZmMl_qCaAjhBsbUNQdsu_cSD1tr0EzcWE/s317/Signature%20with%20Bird.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="317" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EYSqDVtRI_j4kSbUyaW5vfL9FQkOtMm-r3QNjlY0yVBJgapH_VnraiiY2_RAgWKa_hbuClJr_fdj9b29zKotbtyNhvjmi7ovUHf8P1TO8IE747PKZoRwgXepJh_Y7PTSofGZb6kl806r2McOQ2FNgP58iZZmMl_qCaAjhBsbUNQdsu_cSD1tr0EzcWE/w200-h136/Signature%20with%20Bird.png" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-71304537606007879242023-11-07T11:27:00.003-05:002023-11-07T11:31:31.368-05:00Aging, snail mail, and keeping the homes fires burning.........<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">As they say,<i> 'age is just a number.'</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Just in case you missed the news, here's proof that I really did turn 80 in October. I received many much-appreciated cards, most arriving just before, a few a day or so late, even some <i>on the actual day</i>. No matter how one tries for the latter option, the postal service here, and now obviously across the pond, is totally unreliable. One should mail a card perhaps a month in advance of a special occasion and write a little note on the back of the envelope, such as "To be opened on......<i>and the date</i>." We won't even go into the postage charges these days - let's just say they are exorbitant, and the more they increase, which now is frequently, the service decreases and a lot of mail sometimes never even shows up. Sending mail with monetary enclosures has become a no-no as many are stolen. I had this happen when mailing a paper money Christmas gift to a young family member in England last year. Today, in a local newspaper story, a man was arrested, and is now imprisoned, after 500 pieces of mail containing over $30,000 in checks, gift cards, money orders etc. all stolen from North Carolina residents' mailboxes and Post Office mail boxes, were found in his home!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">This unusual card arrived over a week after my birthday. It came from my family in France and although <b>all</b> international mail now goes by air rather than ship, it took 17 days to cross the pond by plane. Of course any fool knows that transatlantic flight takes less than 9 hours from most European airports. Wherever the card went before and after the flight took up the remainder of the time! I love this card and the fact that <i>80 is 13</i> in Scrabble tiles. . . . . . I'm a teenager again! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQRQ3an2DK9MXkCej5AKUt5KtH2fzy9V6tnk_2gRyjrcJDK_T3l2khG9Zc4P6zSSZymNgwnpMpvO_XPq9R2_4F6SNgzp3Zn3Jh5eOmQNSyW8cWho8Jmt-RZcYoll_X2OFjqF8sOCu0oBl0kFZ5-okgKYgEtIV5WBIhlSQ5HR4sWiu45bAtI7ZQkvMt7Ug" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3237" data-original-width="2806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQRQ3an2DK9MXkCej5AKUt5KtH2fzy9V6tnk_2gRyjrcJDK_T3l2khG9Zc4P6zSSZymNgwnpMpvO_XPq9R2_4F6SNgzp3Zn3Jh5eOmQNSyW8cWho8Jmt-RZcYoll_X2OFjqF8sOCu0oBl0kFZ5-okgKYgEtIV5WBIhlSQ5HR4sWiu45bAtI7ZQkvMt7Ug=w555-h640" width="555" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMYwg3o8LFjoNFJTZFFtLexjjOkp7XMicioofaUEfceSuuHylpPpiTtoLg_ZtgwlnZlnfz1wqfLR2Gy9aa1DZ8-tfGX8tjPTCBWXN7NIUY6Wb-9wymOMIEdFRhr2hkNknldT3R1jHDqhLaHxD_DxsyKw9-ktsi0MvllF8M-O-vzSPqqCHrsGNt45BavtM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3608" data-original-width="2706" height="738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMYwg3o8LFjoNFJTZFFtLexjjOkp7XMicioofaUEfceSuuHylpPpiTtoLg_ZtgwlnZlnfz1wqfLR2Gy9aa1DZ8-tfGX8tjPTCBWXN7NIUY6Wb-9wymOMIEdFRhr2hkNknldT3R1jHDqhLaHxD_DxsyKw9-ktsi0MvllF8M-O-vzSPqqCHrsGNt45BavtM=w554-h738" width="554" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkjYcLL9WynuEsMs6X9lJ1YU5rInQhv4TtiWQlKYHqGN_idouzyfJFupMQZXX8X1NOzfnHbYJWnUgW9NhYSbJAfl7o-3vOb23TnKjodc-E8aizuiuwmylON2usjTp25O2kkjB2LDar44QeE6iKw8XVzXIM9w4v-BpxOwZX5ZVPrCne_sAb9wPUkJrm8RQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3901" data-original-width="2925" height="735" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkjYcLL9WynuEsMs6X9lJ1YU5rInQhv4TtiWQlKYHqGN_idouzyfJFupMQZXX8X1NOzfnHbYJWnUgW9NhYSbJAfl7o-3vOb23TnKjodc-E8aizuiuwmylON2usjTp25O2kkjB2LDar44QeE6iKw8XVzXIM9w4v-BpxOwZX5ZVPrCne_sAb9wPUkJrm8RQ=w552-h735" width="552" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">If you burn wood in a stove, or on the hearth as we do, you are probably out searching for firewood during these beautiful early November days. We received our annual delivery, a cord of neatly chopped and split oak and hickory wood, last evening, and this morning Bob headed into the back garden to stack the woodpile for the coming winter. Fortunately we had a little wood remaining from last year and last Saturday evening, being a cool one, we had our first fire of the season. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Changing over to using the fireplace that sat dormant since springtime when the chimney sweep came, is a bit of a palaver. Bob heads into the attic and brings out the fire screen, heavy metal tools, fire resistant hearth mat. Saved newspapers and fire starters fill the old olive basket </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on the hearth. Chilled rosé wine of summer is now a memory and a glowing bottle of Malbec is opened, poured and swirled. We clink glasses with a toast to the winter evenings ahead. I think this small annual happening can be classed as a memoir for us. It's part of the coming season where warmth and light in the home is important. It brings thoughts of holidays ahead with family and friends. Sometimes we sit by the fire enjoying the patterns in the flames, with a mug of chocolate, perhaps a bowl of homemade soup. . . . . or another glass of warming wine. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Still in the throes of autumn here in the southeast, the days are warm and long hours of sunshine strong and extremely bright. Now the earlier sunset of daylight savings time changes the garden colors quickly. The leaves are falling and the canopy of trees is taking on a lighter look. The moon is visible in the early morning sky. Birds are returning to the feeders and bird baths, and squirrels look chubby and healthy in their winter fur coats. Winter months can be bleak. Many loathe the cold days and even colder nights. A blazing, crackling wood fire on the hearth is a way to make those times delightful . . . . . . . along with a hot water bottle perhaps.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But that's another story . . . . . . .another memoir!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVHvaMYgFaIO6a1U_597-dBRvueFvGAtwTfNZCiey4ecxHs16ONzprbAlloP9LrEu7rm7LEfu3qmIT9-IyqhOnE9CCTv6tcG0U4MzDNpMKbTjLMQH-5J-pR_b63h1i_RlooIxPD0mF8xofJbpewnBa17sF2F5GrAudGc1aKjtKGIuZqUFsLYvgmUA8awA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="973" data-original-width="808" height="669" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVHvaMYgFaIO6a1U_597-dBRvueFvGAtwTfNZCiey4ecxHs16ONzprbAlloP9LrEu7rm7LEfu3qmIT9-IyqhOnE9CCTv6tcG0U4MzDNpMKbTjLMQH-5J-pR_b63h1i_RlooIxPD0mF8xofJbpewnBa17sF2F5GrAudGc1aKjtKGIuZqUFsLYvgmUA8awA=w554-h669" width="554" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje3eBeKwKq28tXj6BK5YbLpzVEQ6XEywVoqzaFM3zCTqnod-eeMNS0cWbMfwJmPpH1H-NWsFObXwW00eDZ_f42tOaSdI_JJrywFsYKTBb5RStGE9QhpXzunRc_cIyJ3lVWb7iQLbyMbd-2k9WOiKRnkr6eUF4UltmOEdQkxZjEAHtCc1iC_riKfg-zDX0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEje3eBeKwKq28tXj6BK5YbLpzVEQ6XEywVoqzaFM3zCTqnod-eeMNS0cWbMfwJmPpH1H-NWsFObXwW00eDZ_f42tOaSdI_JJrywFsYKTBb5RStGE9QhpXzunRc_cIyJ3lVWb7iQLbyMbd-2k9WOiKRnkr6eUF4UltmOEdQkxZjEAHtCc1iC_riKfg-zDX0=w554-h739" width="554" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">. . . . . . . . and here it is, Bob's woodpile completed. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Looking forward to </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">many warm hearthside nights ahead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-omauf34ZfVkrzSGirhnGI3FzU9Q475pExxIxHK4tAi8tjYZHMzOahjIEkJvNfFNrG-UDFEu3x8SqaGqSGn0Jtf2lz8QZKTGLFkBAsgWHfQ_tI_Mc0zKiwzO854VXMIqDCbvmcKl2eQNYYJvckDXzycQ5SdrxMIVClThxAyAdAjvT50rhF-l__m3J1bY/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-omauf34ZfVkrzSGirhnGI3FzU9Q475pExxIxHK4tAi8tjYZHMzOahjIEkJvNfFNrG-UDFEu3x8SqaGqSGn0Jtf2lz8QZKTGLFkBAsgWHfQ_tI_Mc0zKiwzO854VXMIqDCbvmcKl2eQNYYJvckDXzycQ5SdrxMIVClThxAyAdAjvT50rhF-l__m3J1bY/w191-h129/Signature%20Brown.png" width="191" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-53097018664003290312023-10-30T09:24:00.000-04:002023-10-30T09:24:05.669-04:00Neighborhood watering hole -<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgyYmXSf4Yrhzs1MD6me_35158MxkYCmIyyfUmz6MgO5HKRqhthCCFK3Cih5nM2P5tyOGXgWLkHxlzLA-82rKqBN5hfeAjKGWHvs15rjZdYMC-h8h-zAKB38wX8bINroY9Ms7MYu6X1C5MgfjOukpa_pZM9x8zRXRokka3Vp3PJ4HHXL0a_REVc1gY-o/s800/Autumn%20-%20Nov.%2022%20Eastgate.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgyYmXSf4Yrhzs1MD6me_35158MxkYCmIyyfUmz6MgO5HKRqhthCCFK3Cih5nM2P5tyOGXgWLkHxlzLA-82rKqBN5hfeAjKGWHvs15rjZdYMC-h8h-zAKB38wX8bINroY9Ms7MYu6X1C5MgfjOukpa_pZM9x8zRXRokka3Vp3PJ4HHXL0a_REVc1gY-o/s16000/Autumn%20-%20Nov.%2022%20Eastgate.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Up early. Still jet-lagged. The surprise of seeing the sun washing the sky with brilliant colors in the east, and the brightest full moon still hanging in the western sky beyond the back garden oaks, was beautiful. Our aging small house is down in a bit of a dip, tucked into land once a farm, the remaining trees are massive. There are no distant views, no hold your breath scenery, just ancient trees . . . . . and more houses dating back to the years when large houses were few and far between. Beyond them, winding streets and cul-de-sacs lead to Midtown, Raleigh's expansion of city living with almost skyscraper high office and apartment buildings, upmarket shops and restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and a few small green areas tucked in here and there thankfully. A manmade lake is in the future plan. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, we have our old neighborhood watering hole, Eastgate Park. Tennis courts, playground, community building, walking trail, a few picnic tables, a large open field for games, and the best feature, Cooper's Pond. A<span style="background-color: white;"> memorial plaque tells a bit about the pond. established in 1915 by J. Cooper Young, who lived there until 1966. The city of Raleigh purchased it in 1972 to turn into the park so that the <i>"simple beauty of the park land and water would remain for the pleasure of all of its citizens." </i> Home to Canada geese, mallard ducks, and some very old, large turtles, the pond remains peaceful and is now very colorful dressed in Autumn foliage (above). Nature is busy with paints and brushes and the coming cooler weather here will soon bring down the leaves.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Yesterday, walking around the neighborhood on a beautiful Autumn day around noon, I was grateful that some things don't change. In this rush forward to take down the old and change the landscape with little consideration for what has stood for years, it's still our much loved neighborhood. It needs to remain part of history and continue to bring small moments that lift the soul and bring joy to this sometimes difficult life. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEihTKkrCANeFtEnULrJgeT6HqEv9hyphenhyphend2iDaZt0YnVjKd8jhrzJsiAYFI6RFA_wdpWO120UjPyjBUg0XjBEC9en2LrHD49u0svRZg0bCTiS7OlEP-kKpp0jRn20jLLH03e9B6D4eDIrBGwWCDYoJR497mjRgWXO-D45SufRjRDZITUY2HBkEdXE96z4P8/s400/Signature%20-%20Olive%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="400" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEihTKkrCANeFtEnULrJgeT6HqEv9hyphenhyphend2iDaZt0YnVjKd8jhrzJsiAYFI6RFA_wdpWO120UjPyjBUg0XjBEC9en2LrHD49u0svRZg0bCTiS7OlEP-kKpp0jRn20jLLH03e9B6D4eDIrBGwWCDYoJR497mjRgWXO-D45SufRjRDZITUY2HBkEdXE96z4P8/w200-h118/Signature%20-%20Olive%20.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-57173457881699854002023-10-26T16:56:00.006-04:002023-10-30T09:27:03.917-04:00Lifestyle Changes - <p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Fm4ehRZm0UXsabn6bKNbyzFSHe456OhvJhIpTJYck2Zj1ezZUjV4f7fxW3QJdLnYedv-Fawc19DsG-i6ubRAr2S-1ty5EMMn3hxz57l4y7hBr-yAnsp8ImVgTEtsO8JX4fnV8yeOq-Nxr8_cY9L_39mJzjMg2Oo-0LLY2BlZbAYYR6blAK-5s8s_-XI/s640/Torquay%20tea%20cup%202021.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Fm4ehRZm0UXsabn6bKNbyzFSHe456OhvJhIpTJYck2Zj1ezZUjV4f7fxW3QJdLnYedv-Fawc19DsG-i6ubRAr2S-1ty5EMMn3hxz57l4y7hBr-yAnsp8ImVgTEtsO8JX4fnV8yeOq-Nxr8_cY9L_39mJzjMg2Oo-0LLY2BlZbAYYR6blAK-5s8s_-XI/w640-h480/Torquay%20tea%20cup%202021.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I'm back from the trip home to England. During two and a half weeks of mixed weather I wandered around wondering why I ever left. I thought about all the visits I had made in the 61 years since I emigrated. Each was different because of the people who were waiting. The beauty of a place stays with one forever. When that beauty fades a bit feelings become mixed and muddled. One wants to hide under the covers and have a few tears. If only the parents were there still. Mum waiting at the window as the taxi pulled up and deposited me with luggage. . . . . . and an American accent getting stronger each time. Dad in his usual Harris Tweed jacket staring at my false eyelashes in the late 1960's and wondering "why". Brother growing taller and smarter, with hair longer than mine after heading to university. The house looked the same, even the shrubs in the garden hadn't changed other than get taller. The washing was still pegged out on the line despite Mum buying a little electric dryer "for rainy days" of which there are many! We rode the red double decker buses for years. We walked to the village pub up and down a couple of hills - good for shapely legs we were told. Bob apparently liked mine. We sat by the open fire on cold winter visits and took dips in the mild waters of Tor Bay in the summer. Traipsed though gorgeous National Trust gardens on open days, ending with Devonshire cream afternoon teas and cups of Earl Grey, sometimes in a country home, other times in an apple orchard.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Those were the days. These are the new days. I feel this last visit has given me a new perspective on my former life. Growing up in another country, one such as beautiful England, perhaps made me a different person when I came to live here. I did eventually learn to fit in. I have had a wonderful life with a great husband and family, however a huge part of my heart always remained behind and now and then I have felt perhaps I made the wrong decision all those years ago.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Today is my 80th birthday! This is really a very hard day for me because I don't feel anywhere near this age. Where have all the years gone? Am I living on borrowed time? What should I do with the years to come? Life is filled with quite important questions now and I don't have the answers. Sometimes I feel I'm drowning in 'what ifs' and what will I do. I want to learn to live in the moment. Much relies on health and movement and so far I'm doing well in those categories. However, a lot is about using my days and time to do what I want to do while I can. I'm learning to say "no" and I don't want to be the organizer any longer. I need time for myself to wander, look more closely at nature, read more, photograph more and most of all write more. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Thank you all who have followed this blog for so many years. I don't have plans to close it any time soon. I do feel I haven't got enough time to post as often as I used to. Perhaps I'm just slower. I hope to write more about the past rather than the present, if that makes sense. I do have stories to share of travels and life both here and back in those days growing up across the pond. For now I'll say goodbye...........after all it's my big birthday and I haven't organized anything spectacular, other than trotting off to a favorite wine bar with a few people who might enjoy popping a cork and toasting those coming days with a chilled glass of champagne. Wish you were here to join me!!!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7TJHfKFCllj4s0Sx535XGKJ3anxXgo10ryC1bo5mC5xxCwiSJaTd6-3yl3Sj_jU8_0pMBlzfVs8u-SOCp3z9TstWL1GibxB8x9gdVaZWMY_GIl72jgW5s81cL7TrRo2rBqWbCQeFlav9_OtCEl5aWtnnlaOsr0RClZsB4SE-dsyTBr0148rhyphenhyphenfu0vKU/s400/Signature%20-%20Red%20Heart.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="400" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG7TJHfKFCllj4s0Sx535XGKJ3anxXgo10ryC1bo5mC5xxCwiSJaTd6-3yl3Sj_jU8_0pMBlzfVs8u-SOCp3z9TstWL1GibxB8x9gdVaZWMY_GIl72jgW5s81cL7TrRo2rBqWbCQeFlav9_OtCEl5aWtnnlaOsr0RClZsB4SE-dsyTBr0148rhyphenhyphenfu0vKU/s320/Signature%20-%20Red%20Heart.png" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: right;"></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-16668777061768918252023-10-13T10:39:00.000-04:002023-10-13T10:39:14.816-04:00Visiting home again -<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pOJ7JrPRCx1Nq8QGGAPnvIdU7r3xI_KteJkKD-9VhW_89h7Z6QhfyCEYEzf-FWOGXSC-2TeABFCuxtdG4qQDoDnn3PINVAM2MQI0SbBYKo59NXUzg8xIwU67Ji-8AlmQ6ydo9__qvArDE-dixnNKRBjQKxMvB4WrtuIL8uWM9FSSIdRc38HUxvfarQs/s2048/Torquay%20-%20Thatcher%20rock%20-%20Oct.%20'23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pOJ7JrPRCx1Nq8QGGAPnvIdU7r3xI_KteJkKD-9VhW_89h7Z6QhfyCEYEzf-FWOGXSC-2TeABFCuxtdG4qQDoDnn3PINVAM2MQI0SbBYKo59NXUzg8xIwU67Ji-8AlmQ6ydo9__qvArDE-dixnNKRBjQKxMvB4WrtuIL8uWM9FSSIdRc38HUxvfarQs/w547-h730/Torquay%20-%20Thatcher%20rock%20-%20Oct.%20'23.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Time is flying fast and we've already been here in my home town for a week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Needless to say it has been really busy and will remain this way for the entire</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">stay. Many family members and friends to visit, places to see, shopping</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> being done for things English I still find hard to live without, and restful times</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> to just sit and enjoy the scenery with a coffee mug, cup of tea, or a glass of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> wine, depending </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">on the time of day.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Weather has been quite good, warm and sunny at first, now cooler and</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">a little damp with light showers and bracing breezes from the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">English Channel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Some photos to show you where my "home, sweet home" is - all of these</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"> were taken in Torquay, Devon.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I'll try to get back here during the visit - if you don't see me here, just</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">know it's because I'm having too much fun!<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6ZBflQMezWDvHoF0EYR5skxpEZBWmXXzfLFEGgl4-GkVuRDF9ofIRNuiQn4qyspwbe8tilXRiHRhwEBwCr3MSRxYsScz4wYPr68q1JJ42Lt03TWTqzGyPYFTS409LkO82M5BUS8KGlzriRmOr8zvgW0rUOijJNhvbHpnr-cbB3pAsq_iGMEZBjrAXdY/s2048/Torquay%20-%20Harbor%20Oct..'23%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" height="729" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG6ZBflQMezWDvHoF0EYR5skxpEZBWmXXzfLFEGgl4-GkVuRDF9ofIRNuiQn4qyspwbe8tilXRiHRhwEBwCr3MSRxYsScz4wYPr68q1JJ42Lt03TWTqzGyPYFTS409LkO82M5BUS8KGlzriRmOr8zvgW0rUOijJNhvbHpnr-cbB3pAsq_iGMEZBjrAXdY/w546-h729/Torquay%20-%20Harbor%20Oct..'23%20.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="264" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygFgWWZG1oek7VXFvlKfHbzENCqB4s10tVbeqBD4gOxxMrvD63vi8J__7CD573i0wsvNnYFb7uzhjQojbavj8-qxOtoKoDQCo7S2YK_0HvPFFxGqkQgOyF526etaPjc1zWbj4X3ZKMnAGpac5vE5Ln1Y7I2LPRYp4uwZtwHKwmenJ3ATGhDAuMhwV2rQ/w205-h154/Signature%20-%20Smoke%20Blue.png" width="205" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-28337466490071922872023-10-05T17:06:00.001-04:002023-10-05T17:06:41.003-04:00Good things come to those who wait!<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBie0yZlOTPkiAfNLoMMOxdCiMAuk916tnzBlWQO_TjJw9nRdd4P98FSsB7OjgFXpifpkYo2sIkOK9NHXYp_i8RXnv7vGgcQCJn-DbPT2LE_NHvZdnlVETza4l9gGsYS6zg1RKObev_LX06O269dy5_vVMH45zTE7Hl0EumS5OYR5iAac6oOruu02h/s1026/Food%20-%20Galettes%20and%20Tea%20Yes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="806" height="695" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBie0yZlOTPkiAfNLoMMOxdCiMAuk916tnzBlWQO_TjJw9nRdd4P98FSsB7OjgFXpifpkYo2sIkOK9NHXYp_i8RXnv7vGgcQCJn-DbPT2LE_NHvZdnlVETza4l9gGsYS6zg1RKObev_LX06O269dy5_vVMH45zTE7Hl0EumS5OYR5iAac6oOruu02h/w545-h695/Food%20-%20Galettes%20and%20Tea%20Yes.png" width="545" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Thoughts on traveling require a nice cup of tea and something sweet. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I've been awaiting another trip home. We were there last year in the lovely month of June, this year we're crossing the pond in October. It's different packing for a cool weather trip when bulky, sometimes heavy, items of clothing are required. . . . . .and we all know how boots and shoes weigh so much more than sandals! These last few weeks I've chosen my clothes and footwear, then had to rethink the whole situation as to what to wear if cold, if wet, even unusually warm, as the climate seems to make odd, expected, changes this year. I'm embarrassed to tell you how many times things have been returned to closets and drawers!!! Today I think I have it done and I feel happy with what I will be packing tomorrow. I will be ready for whatever the weather throws at us, and whatever social situation pops up, from walking the beach to dining out in a posh restaurant. Yes, tomorrow is <b><i>t</i></b><i><b>hat</b></i> day! Getting all the stuff into the suitcase might be a challenge but hopefully it will all work out. Also, my hair is cut, Bob and I had pedicures yesterday, I had my nails done today. We are ready to fly, literally!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I will be be seeing family and long time friends. My brother and family will fly over from France and spend a few days with us. I will also be meeting up for a cuppa with a fun blog friend of several years, and her husband, for the first time. . . . .that's always exciting. Recently, we met a charming English couple visiting Raleigh and now are back home in the UK. As they will be in my hometown for a short break during our stay, we are getting together again for dinner at their lovely hotel which is also a favorite of ours, and where, long ago, we had my late mother's wake as it was her favorite place to eat and sit out on the patio viewing the beautiful seascape.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I've had no time to blog lately and I apologize for not commenting on your recent blogs. I do read them and promise to get back with you when I return from England. I admit that I now find preparing for overseas travel a little more difficult. . . . .I know I've slowed down a bit and not always able to keep up with you 'youngsters' out there. I turn 80 later this month! Where the heck have all those years gone? I will continue to do what I can do even if takes longer. You may see me here whilst in England - if not, you know I'm having too good a time with my loved ones, haha!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvz9AEQMtO26gxH1pUAmd1S9NGOOJf_xanj-kX1bfbbXsCCVHTGTyEZrRcegPehuc4_l50euMuovm2-DSts9mvE2oO35WOXm6aWfxaxxr3xGwqsxoI1U2_V86EQihZ_gLWIC_BtKUqBFHVH9BvKBlSKQlVIrQ-Y35xCGX_CRbTqPPX9_UVGEYaAeKqCU/s2000/Clothes%20for%20UK%20-%20Collage.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyvz9AEQMtO26gxH1pUAmd1S9NGOOJf_xanj-kX1bfbbXsCCVHTGTyEZrRcegPehuc4_l50euMuovm2-DSts9mvE2oO35WOXm6aWfxaxxr3xGwqsxoI1U2_V86EQihZ_gLWIC_BtKUqBFHVH9BvKBlSKQlVIrQ-Y35xCGX_CRbTqPPX9_UVGEYaAeKqCU/w576-h576/Clothes%20for%20UK%20-%20Collage.png" width="576" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Cheerio for now!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbWSgZQuBFbmVMmRWk-f5kAmObRfJCD4gEm0ny07mLZwuHsZJR8JX1qAejT85jDiU-_NVwcSZkhEuMKsO4hu8axe2GfyvW7uc4qXkw-qE6IOxiU5sKZKxbxMoQI_pVD_y58PR60cmymn-7QfCnsKoOTnAkO4QRQ3waldwOdiXmpBy3XD5-eGyrd0gypc/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbWSgZQuBFbmVMmRWk-f5kAmObRfJCD4gEm0ny07mLZwuHsZJR8JX1qAejT85jDiU-_NVwcSZkhEuMKsO4hu8axe2GfyvW7uc4qXkw-qE6IOxiU5sKZKxbxMoQI_pVD_y58PR60cmymn-7QfCnsKoOTnAkO4QRQ3waldwOdiXmpBy3XD5-eGyrd0gypc/w181-h122/Signature%20Brown.png" width="181" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-12151005760479667712023-09-23T17:14:00.003-04:002023-09-24T10:24:12.891-04:00Sunflowers, seeds and squirrels at Summer's end -<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEUbAvAQDGiBqhmrqGlXLNddj35c-zWS_Be7W5Erj3QnTUi-PH-B5KyJGistTZfUBN4m-7NkIUiYF9QGPDtAKRFWeMbVEJ8O-KYLWp6pEEgbxmZd1sfCZqIRN9lXHQCjLdZNDjsesUdqo8EYVEz9D43hrX1B6TtQXJiXzrY6I_WW2KxLqzCQgj4bOl90/s3577/Bob%20-%20Taking%20down%20tallest%20sunflower%20Sept.%2018,'23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3577" data-original-width="2867" height="723" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEUbAvAQDGiBqhmrqGlXLNddj35c-zWS_Be7W5Erj3QnTUi-PH-B5KyJGistTZfUBN4m-7NkIUiYF9QGPDtAKRFWeMbVEJ8O-KYLWp6pEEgbxmZd1sfCZqIRN9lXHQCjLdZNDjsesUdqo8EYVEz9D43hrX1B6TtQXJiXzrY6I_WW2KxLqzCQgj4bOl90/w580-h723/Bob%20-%20Taking%20down%20tallest%20sunflower%20Sept.%2018,'23.png" width="580" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">Some days back, in heat, but not too hot, in sunshine shaded by clouds in the Carolina Blue sky, we gathered our garden tools, put on gloves and hats, and went on a mission in the garden. Taking down the last sunflower was quite a job. Even with the last couple of feet bent and bowing to the earth, this fading beauty was still quite a monster, the huge head of seeds very heavy. The stem required the big loppers, </span><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">no basic pruners could make a gash in it let alone cut through it. Bob is almost 6 feet so I'm guessing the sunflower was around ten feet. Why I never thought to stretch it out on the ground to measure it before cutting it up I don't know. Blame it on two older gardeners' just wanting to get the job done and the mess cleaned up! After all, there were other things waiting, the fried hydrangeas to clip, potted plants to toss, bird baths to clean and replenish, feeders to fill, and watering to do.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIFa7i8o7ksiXRJYgb7g63fZUpeFT7tmbruFv8MwkfA8zvEj0jS_sq_AjLPX_1VobDkFbmLSriImRmoL4kZj7pvKFSShyEYhRw2O0JwHX-jj-PtTNYO3Y74ut_eeNBrZZrmiJ8FwhjiBgaTNGw_nyNZRBQWn-QTEdcqF0GcB71_Q_ezuzZQ4yUEDRlY8/s926/Sunflower%20-%20%20Head%20Aug.22,%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="755" height="682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIFa7i8o7ksiXRJYgb7g63fZUpeFT7tmbruFv8MwkfA8zvEj0jS_sq_AjLPX_1VobDkFbmLSriImRmoL4kZj7pvKFSShyEYhRw2O0JwHX-jj-PtTNYO3Y74ut_eeNBrZZrmiJ8FwhjiBgaTNGw_nyNZRBQWn-QTEdcqF0GcB71_Q_ezuzZQ4yUEDRlY8/w556-h682/Sunflower%20-%20%20Head%20Aug.22,%20'23.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; text-align: left;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHZocjtkwejgIZyAJ4f3J5PE5HSc8U8y0_nWtOBDURYHKkqoMye6whE6_XQgZukfcpI66mrR3RSwPwo0CP8ZoRQLb4Bufh7ERXqtRWadA-3bw48R_WbwFpwSljePAM45bQcoUC8k0BzHY4o-KDnKicv7WFH6465nycib7IRvD6V_kagVdM3qykaOkucYg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3682" data-original-width="3024" height="679" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHZocjtkwejgIZyAJ4f3J5PE5HSc8U8y0_nWtOBDURYHKkqoMye6whE6_XQgZukfcpI66mrR3RSwPwo0CP8ZoRQLb4Bufh7ERXqtRWadA-3bw48R_WbwFpwSljePAM45bQcoUC8k0BzHY4o-KDnKicv7WFH6465nycib7IRvD6V_kagVdM3qykaOkucYg=w557-h679" width="557" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1K2BQ_jtyLGg0HnuZPprcf6ttRvAA8koHpjA9lG5CXNlrc8ZEN11qB7wj9UqzetFliYzMJF558I5tVzyLoVUWl0osKpmte70IAmBB-3Cj3gJbbt7kSnDMlGQEgkcv1yXMwPkE_joE2lMiuM2GHbYhoiDTpE9AU2I7MY5L24aXZev1RrF15F0b_tzbf_E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3597" data-original-width="3024" height="658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1K2BQ_jtyLGg0HnuZPprcf6ttRvAA8koHpjA9lG5CXNlrc8ZEN11qB7wj9UqzetFliYzMJF558I5tVzyLoVUWl0osKpmte70IAmBB-3Cj3gJbbt7kSnDMlGQEgkcv1yXMwPkE_joE2lMiuM2GHbYhoiDTpE9AU2I7MY5L24aXZev1RrF15F0b_tzbf_E=w554-h658" width="554" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju7O78XWRNKy81BmkKX2xjKQZhI0tYr0mwBBZrRkrhloprac3Sp0OcKkVt0fHrq35qpAZdq9NlRmx_HwqtlXa-2hucGjbMhwmf8TQaXa4QFlpyyX7-sx6Qii040XoZFqeHY-FMeos7_3i3fYtBCCMdrX2VBewdRsqnfetzkZ3QcEGZ5BiXiRpVdOxcuTg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEju7O78XWRNKy81BmkKX2xjKQZhI0tYr0mwBBZrRkrhloprac3Sp0OcKkVt0fHrq35qpAZdq9NlRmx_HwqtlXa-2hucGjbMhwmf8TQaXa4QFlpyyX7-sx6Qii040XoZFqeHY-FMeos7_3i3fYtBCCMdrX2VBewdRsqnfetzkZ3QcEGZ5BiXiRpVdOxcuTg=w547-h640" width="547" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggsOAgO2l6iThDTZ38NfBFNn9GtH4wHo9fmJVbMTwzDsI3ADOxb8ktVhpL9SPbiC0iFjzIMJZNBPUboU2KaU4g_h54GaQDFPKh3Tzctw7zPNzM470o1VyrEJCm5dS4pKi2LyIdC-RVTikcujG_QqGK0lsWkdtSS0amoz157G2Sj7CfTK_53bPKtBfmoPo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3686" data-original-width="3024" height="674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggsOAgO2l6iThDTZ38NfBFNn9GtH4wHo9fmJVbMTwzDsI3ADOxb8ktVhpL9SPbiC0iFjzIMJZNBPUboU2KaU4g_h54GaQDFPKh3Tzctw7zPNzM470o1VyrEJCm5dS4pKi2LyIdC-RVTikcujG_QqGK0lsWkdtSS0amoz157G2Sj7CfTK_53bPKtBfmoPo=w553-h674" width="553" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidugUxtLkicP6N19B3zSnM7HhDSXnPIJrfV_gEfj85jPSHYMi7NYah5C529tSvxqBKOwnxIS8HkW7R3wVsVLlOcx2PuyCtrADtSJrTXgNFYOVlyXZAyRwaTGUcyGhNAIj-lQVyZik2BwH24mX0xdxYcSn1RdMb1E9xj2eA4m-qDbDhpOrdSppK_IWnjq0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidugUxtLkicP6N19B3zSnM7HhDSXnPIJrfV_gEfj85jPSHYMi7NYah5C529tSvxqBKOwnxIS8HkW7R3wVsVLlOcx2PuyCtrADtSJrTXgNFYOVlyXZAyRwaTGUcyGhNAIj-lQVyZik2BwH24mX0xdxYcSn1RdMb1E9xj2eA4m-qDbDhpOrdSppK_IWnjq0=w551-h688" width="551" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I've saved some of the seeds from this huge sunflower. I made sure the seeds were clean and dry and have stored them in a glass jar. There's no way I desire to plant an entire field of sunflowers next Spring. . . . . . . so I will be sharing these seeds with neighbors and friends who might enjoy them.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3t8UrSpXjUgrmxwVJIEZcCtEfv5nkhR8XDf8vLYbT6h-wvXCbpbs19WI9OuavaaPaa0khbefvHMmYtCCsfyhMEAKjq9K982UkPmqWwmVoKGxxBBYIhx1Y6clV-S2u5EyNYnJbOb_tjGm1oYnPFktqiukkYh0o6Gw6lKx5HYhCx3S4cPze7yPm5ei18U/s874/Squirrel%20on%20Sunflower%20head%20%201-%209_23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="874" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN3t8UrSpXjUgrmxwVJIEZcCtEfv5nkhR8XDf8vLYbT6h-wvXCbpbs19WI9OuavaaPaa0khbefvHMmYtCCsfyhMEAKjq9K982UkPmqWwmVoKGxxBBYIhx1Y6clV-S2u5EyNYnJbOb_tjGm1oYnPFktqiukkYh0o6Gw6lKx5HYhCx3S4cPze7yPm5ei18U/w552-h486/Squirrel%20on%20Sunflower%20head%20%201-%209_23.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">The sunflower head I left tucked into the garden bench - as I did with the former ones we cut down - and of course it didn't take long for the squirrels and birds to discover a feast!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0mafogPvqbBty39xcr3MJozaNQ1-wM4K4muKosiJBdvYsEFoXxiKbOTCrFjH3AXBxxXNY3l1BkUNvu2Ywva4t-mDESBJJkHb7TCZkJR4A6kEl_bRhYXUMXmaU0-zuiYcM7bO58_PERQ9wgSkN99UGuJMbZQpBJlYUjhViItfEcbXOJ9q7FUJETRCH-U/s650/Autumn%20Wreath%20-%20no%20background.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="650" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0mafogPvqbBty39xcr3MJozaNQ1-wM4K4muKosiJBdvYsEFoXxiKbOTCrFjH3AXBxxXNY3l1BkUNvu2Ywva4t-mDESBJJkHb7TCZkJR4A6kEl_bRhYXUMXmaU0-zuiYcM7bO58_PERQ9wgSkN99UGuJMbZQpBJlYUjhViItfEcbXOJ9q7FUJETRCH-U/s320/Autumn%20Wreath%20-%20no%20background.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">We are currently under a severe flood watch here in central North Carolina. Early this morning <b><i>Hurricane Ophelia</i></b> </span></span><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">made landfall at the coast. Winds have been gusty bringing power outages and fallen trees - fortunately neither here at our home - but fingers are still crossed! However, the rain has been torrential and will continue another 2-3 hours. Yesterday Bob mowed the brown dried out grass, and blew the newly fallen leaves and acorns. Today brilliant green grass has returned and he'll be out there again tomorrow with the leaf blower once things have dried out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Autumn has arrived - I'm happy - but hurricane activity is always worrisome.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Stay safe if you are being impacted by bad weather.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxQWuma8x4r0VSLGHrgwK6xCWSHNHD7Vm0AkXfCpJXLJN_5oGgsRq4mxx-j8MznM5lCU9clELuexzWeXo2sfeH-pxapjpkjSpdjh2iodauJGT5sxHZBjrwD7yxu9WtvoUqWVWPg0Y1NfqEDyh81S7OHeou2A8CWnbKmm4HpvukI7aQPZxl8mwzTUUXgI/s244/Signature%20Brown.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="244" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxxQWuma8x4r0VSLGHrgwK6xCWSHNHD7Vm0AkXfCpJXLJN_5oGgsRq4mxx-j8MznM5lCU9clELuexzWeXo2sfeH-pxapjpkjSpdjh2iodauJGT5sxHZBjrwD7yxu9WtvoUqWVWPg0Y1NfqEDyh81S7OHeou2A8CWnbKmm4HpvukI7aQPZxl8mwzTUUXgI/w179-h121/Signature%20Brown.png" width="179" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-675490331809158802023-09-18T09:33:00.000-04:002023-09-18T09:33:03.216-04:00New Bern in rain and shine -<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1UJnJeL7Jopgy_GPofOWtkYFY739G_j7OjtNd7MTLhzfDPoBIit4EL7Rt02fr0ooDcpkFmNjX-xsXrlgGZTo49JupVOzTV38kcGZRXa30HxAVsjLbWuBRfhy3FhPsWoSG1D8FAsHqJGmbcjoMfMgww7MaV4BfM7Sua-UxrOOnlwlkOcK9-x6AR3ANeVU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1UJnJeL7Jopgy_GPofOWtkYFY739G_j7OjtNd7MTLhzfDPoBIit4EL7Rt02fr0ooDcpkFmNjX-xsXrlgGZTo49JupVOzTV38kcGZRXa30HxAVsjLbWuBRfhy3FhPsWoSG1D8FAsHqJGmbcjoMfMgww7MaV4BfM7Sua-UxrOOnlwlkOcK9-x6AR3ANeVU=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We were at the North Carolina coast for a couple of days.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The sea air, mixed with some very heavy rain the first day,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">cleared the cobwebs and brought some time to relax, meet</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> up </span><span style="font-family: arial;">with </span><span style="font-family: arial;">old friends. . . . . .and make a few new ones. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZRMuwljA95ce7GuIK2HUFxvsIAXQEAWAJ1qIgGF1zSncmz-2QR_IAA_YxTvHQMcmQUtY0ZgKJcjpZ93kjhstlcRvmf-t3rlqSIUTOKUyEY2iOT8tkL4s_kcAIXtJiNcpXu3y7t8hZLaLOPf7LrT1kOzl3hjOrjFZrRq1LJuxdqWmZDIzKi3YRxprB0Kw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="603" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZRMuwljA95ce7GuIK2HUFxvsIAXQEAWAJ1qIgGF1zSncmz-2QR_IAA_YxTvHQMcmQUtY0ZgKJcjpZ93kjhstlcRvmf-t3rlqSIUTOKUyEY2iOT8tkL4s_kcAIXtJiNcpXu3y7t8hZLaLOPf7LrT1kOzl3hjOrjFZrRq1LJuxdqWmZDIzKi3YRxprB0Kw=w482-h603" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">New Bern, North Carolina’s second oldest town, was founded in</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> 1710 by Swiss nobleman, Christoph von Graffenried, and named</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> after his native city of Berne, Switzerland. Bern means “bear” and the</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> “Bern Bear” symbol is seen on its flag. Throughout the city you will</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> see many creative Bear Town Bears.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC7hI1KA9w1gk1jk9Trfvj0VbyA-l5q8DzDoBfUBza7wBPi8rpOYq905oBkk6F-YMZm0Q_hOcKk7h2S-FVNi01n8iM8QqPBwoP3F9zrIEaymMpGannr2rFfobyTd_T9WZ3TSNgtMo870Iqorx_n9l_2GKdofpfATJwcrwJmkjBgTYfWL5hQjiqYhseeQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgC7hI1KA9w1gk1jk9Trfvj0VbyA-l5q8DzDoBfUBza7wBPi8rpOYq905oBkk6F-YMZm0Q_hOcKk7h2S-FVNi01n8iM8QqPBwoP3F9zrIEaymMpGannr2rFfobyTd_T9WZ3TSNgtMo870Iqorx_n9l_2GKdofpfATJwcrwJmkjBgTYfWL5hQjiqYhseeQA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1TT134yh-v7NX1DsZ3fH-cGeIFZRzH-CK9rCI2L_hd02j8eTDI1JJ6jpDFHXTEaaQw9fvlXvV7XiRKHDZhoqJp4xilMciI4KMNSHEc8L7d1VqhL5l-XXKQMbE2l3yR1awGWlpJp-aSIzbb9bG7r2fbo7MkaPSwoITxREKFL_54yvROrUCL-I3qSnJsgE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1TT134yh-v7NX1DsZ3fH-cGeIFZRzH-CK9rCI2L_hd02j8eTDI1JJ6jpDFHXTEaaQw9fvlXvV7XiRKHDZhoqJp4xilMciI4KMNSHEc8L7d1VqhL5l-XXKQMbE2l3yR1awGWlpJp-aSIzbb9bG7r2fbo7MkaPSwoITxREKFL_54yvROrUCL-I3qSnJsgE=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">New Bern is a riverfront city near the North Carolina coast. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Tryon Palace complex includes a replica of the state's</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> 1st capitol, </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">historic homes, </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">gardens and the North Carolina</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> History </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Center. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola is the drugstore </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">where the</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> drink was</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> invented </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">in the 1890s. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil8uqN3lV2Q9cWAdzPyc_Bxti_UbY4HGr4YbeVq1WTVyOxtelLZc0ldJTsVoVBLsUbA_Hgvm5_1M9jTtlydn9OranFqIndSQVOwgPnkDlEjTw6HLno2Zmbi0UAoFq02myNOC0z_6TBb12q1UrXOYsSnCLHJhCFoLz3nG2NjdUh-mwvnal77iF6nbdYH3w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="605" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEil8uqN3lV2Q9cWAdzPyc_Bxti_UbY4HGr4YbeVq1WTVyOxtelLZc0ldJTsVoVBLsUbA_Hgvm5_1M9jTtlydn9OranFqIndSQVOwgPnkDlEjTw6HLno2Zmbi0UAoFq02myNOC0z_6TBb12q1UrXOYsSnCLHJhCFoLz3nG2NjdUh-mwvnal77iF6nbdYH3w=w484-h605" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioUOHFF2YR4mJjQQcPtpLnac4bYW8D0VgHl2aniDQVCu5ONb__5LA6Um9Zb5ZseQO5O0b9ONeThg4wmzckPp-zhBn7b-qLrLcYuGmUnTW7t-FWUSFzbcZbGFvLR1gibDTPNYsXoVOsbfBmSmaEk90MmvwAY00QJhSOczbrurT2Ma_Bt8PXquJmwdGh_BA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioUOHFF2YR4mJjQQcPtpLnac4bYW8D0VgHl2aniDQVCu5ONb__5LA6Um9Zb5ZseQO5O0b9ONeThg4wmzckPp-zhBn7b-qLrLcYuGmUnTW7t-FWUSFzbcZbGFvLR1gibDTPNYsXoVOsbfBmSmaEk90MmvwAY00QJhSOczbrurT2Ma_Bt8PXquJmwdGh_BA=w485-h606" width="485" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Love the town of New Bern, NC</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This historic home is on the market but requires so much work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Hopefully someone with deep pockets will adopt her, restore her, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">and bring back her beauty of long ago.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPz2zZuwm83OBs3KDvNLbNW9Dnu0b8NknPts-peSpuCFPWLEF5Rz0dSjBA5pyj-gVqvU-AWFS8FxdX0-zuySEH--dlCsF5keDrk45rzDtF6uI84iWuS3pGPC8e1-_cgqcxhaN482pA2yCHgzbV-q33pScPkLVwyQyeTl6K56_l-Z6DSHsNllIQwHWMiuY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPz2zZuwm83OBs3KDvNLbNW9Dnu0b8NknPts-peSpuCFPWLEF5Rz0dSjBA5pyj-gVqvU-AWFS8FxdX0-zuySEH--dlCsF5keDrk45rzDtF6uI84iWuS3pGPC8e1-_cgqcxhaN482pA2yCHgzbV-q33pScPkLVwyQyeTl6K56_l-Z6DSHsNllIQwHWMiuY=w481-h602" width="481" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIoFJD3S8Dv0Yse6TtpRChpe748w026bRNWEjAjz9oBb7z-Z85GQ9LPyiKZWd4MTMU1k29L1wSKDVN_c_UmFtfqzSNgRiPaMZgl_tu-yXeX8Ws9raP3_8ZpykJNJu2F0byJIL2gSFcm64Yfmy8Znw8PkjQ45o1MAUffgXreMYZU5Go53ZtTTWRy4cM9FA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhIoFJD3S8Dv0Yse6TtpRChpe748w026bRNWEjAjz9oBb7z-Z85GQ9LPyiKZWd4MTMU1k29L1wSKDVN_c_UmFtfqzSNgRiPaMZgl_tu-yXeX8Ws9raP3_8ZpykJNJu2F0byJIL2gSFcm64Yfmy8Znw8PkjQ45o1MAUffgXreMYZU5Go53ZtTTWRy4cM9FA=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghNafAnKKQIwzTXfHU8Tu-46KAvw8u6QaU6neGOJ1jMPzKXXf_adYswNpgeTDRbNC9nvb__woPstFCucNkKhENa5xwMiNVUtDOA6XbevYG_WcrJWEWqVhKAazn9e-L1FUuXv5H_AnHqmNgVY4M98j_awEbi-iAoBZ88uElaM-48DlXnt-BlIJo4BrHyOU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3803" data-original-width="2677" height="684" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghNafAnKKQIwzTXfHU8Tu-46KAvw8u6QaU6neGOJ1jMPzKXXf_adYswNpgeTDRbNC9nvb__woPstFCucNkKhENa5xwMiNVUtDOA6XbevYG_WcrJWEWqVhKAazn9e-L1FUuXv5H_AnHqmNgVY4M98j_awEbi-iAoBZ88uElaM-48DlXnt-BlIJo4BrHyOU=w482-h684" width="482" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS7vLwvy208i8Cxq_C4oJv0kVtTnuLnoIlOKZ3ll2V86BHdG4APPzQJ1RZH1Fjo-bGy_WFSdtSAe_k-V5VXLQxZ5QtxWgT_kE_w-c0UD8L1sr9dupfmUWjb7FljLE6qttzMog6FYfeYplAuEU4agGwY2r84sYDZZLn764bKcCKcU7bKxPqvRPNZa0ogU4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS7vLwvy208i8Cxq_C4oJv0kVtTnuLnoIlOKZ3ll2V86BHdG4APPzQJ1RZH1Fjo-bGy_WFSdtSAe_k-V5VXLQxZ5QtxWgT_kE_w-c0UD8L1sr9dupfmUWjb7FljLE6qttzMog6FYfeYplAuEU4agGwY2r84sYDZZLn764bKcCKcU7bKxPqvRPNZa0ogU4=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Waiting for the storm to pass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFiBi6LCAR-7GfjFEQBDhsiygZh5KbMYmP1WN6N5ZrRrLyBu4bHfaiPIHJA6uwHtnWEIUCZ9ASG83itOSDv6v2W_j9N6NZ8s8EEgGKiVZ18rwJyWCXDmL3NcnF-lQc1AIuyV5FmbWfhYkiDEv_9qZosXE8ZxtCJoi88gALjnWvx2KjWZM69C6ywHG8cP8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFiBi6LCAR-7GfjFEQBDhsiygZh5KbMYmP1WN6N5ZrRrLyBu4bHfaiPIHJA6uwHtnWEIUCZ9ASG83itOSDv6v2W_j9N6NZ8s8EEgGKiVZ18rwJyWCXDmL3NcnF-lQc1AIuyV5FmbWfhYkiDEv_9qZosXE8ZxtCJoi88gALjnWvx2KjWZM69C6ywHG8cP8=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Morning brought sunshine. . . . . but the boats stayed put. Don't you</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">wonder why so many people buy boats but never seem to use them?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVJZoaHJvQKXOnb-1rrYMVLAMcC08Dd1tdNO9ZVylzR-gIbEETJvjVuqG4ujyNauLo1lQGbTG7g_iO6vYhAQ8wILhpkN5um6lysaScSPrshpeUh_PpKZAlxOeK3UTnjZ2C0sK-QH0Bp0lpiM8I1NehM6y-A88ltQWqM9BtU3MxFxvNDsw6Sp-PeSl8OKU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhVJZoaHJvQKXOnb-1rrYMVLAMcC08Dd1tdNO9ZVylzR-gIbEETJvjVuqG4ujyNauLo1lQGbTG7g_iO6vYhAQ8wILhpkN5um6lysaScSPrshpeUh_PpKZAlxOeK3UTnjZ2C0sK-QH0Bp0lpiM8I1NehM6y-A88ltQWqM9BtU3MxFxvNDsw6Sp-PeSl8OKU=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">More on this lovely bookshop, and the owner, coming soon!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqDV3kZDhtV2GUvxiTS_3lzG5Qj60PwB4uEs8g-tLjNJ25yPh86Nth6YtO2alG_a-kcHb3P1yhsADLNYcpglzfCbFkbvxn1EZNQteL2HJ5bgOXEXaQRxoDLuYmms8SYnt-EkXN0BFFlsc83gCz_3audbKJFHfUv6aGE6fAhHpiyYoPEVB6CuOGa0zKCA/s220/Signature%20-%20Aqua%20Blue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="139" data-original-width="220" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqDV3kZDhtV2GUvxiTS_3lzG5Qj60PwB4uEs8g-tLjNJ25yPh86Nth6YtO2alG_a-kcHb3P1yhsADLNYcpglzfCbFkbvxn1EZNQteL2HJ5bgOXEXaQRxoDLuYmms8SYnt-EkXN0BFFlsc83gCz_3audbKJFHfUv6aGE6fAhHpiyYoPEVB6CuOGa0zKCA/w205-h130/Signature%20-%20Aqua%20Blue.png" width="205" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-49311411528019167862023-09-08T11:41:00.006-04:002023-09-08T11:43:20.628-04:00This week - hot and hotter!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge8otk8vFIuMfnqGQJ507tJaVq1Z4cU3BvzNG77Y8IZlYpyf4RC-RKfPe05JW0viuYUzZTf3ORze8iFzGrPVjU1QNAq0X_Rb0MRWLXqsQMIvz7zNnKFbNd6mryBGUfh2GpyQT8BtzNQxaHopDW9oTkZY2ghp3eXDR5byqUjsNm0v_cOsnMB-B9ZhmAn1Q" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="779" height="654" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEge8otk8vFIuMfnqGQJ507tJaVq1Z4cU3BvzNG77Y8IZlYpyf4RC-RKfPe05JW0viuYUzZTf3ORze8iFzGrPVjU1QNAq0X_Rb0MRWLXqsQMIvz7zNnKFbNd6mryBGUfh2GpyQT8BtzNQxaHopDW9oTkZY2ghp3eXDR5byqUjsNm0v_cOsnMB-B9ZhmAn1Q=w504-h654" width="504" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I long for the ending of this year's Summer season. It has been nothing but endless days of breathtaking dry heat. Carrying a water bottle is sensible. I usually forget mine, so end up with throat issues as I become dehydrated after just a short time outdoors. Yesterday we ran some errands in 102F, not smart. The heat shimmered across the concrete parking lots, getting back into the car was like plunging into a furnace. I was thankful for my air conditioned leather seats. We ended the afternoon in a favorite wine bar before heading to the house for supper. I ordered a crystal clear glass of icy cold rosé and requested a glass of water - he brought me a large chilled bottle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOl1hOnmsYyOI66OHHlli3YKOv_bkpDjpNXH-aAsdqaSg6M3F7ykFKgp1XbziMkZW2ig19GVQekPZHJMA93lc_SgRdm7yhc7XsE-fRJApr51D15n-qaquZ-Qc-pigYTPIxut7ud93_f6iC6TA2moUsIjZJ3Yvd66E2hH0uzN3L97tqkz0JD17KIIAMFNU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="991" data-original-width="793" height="635" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOl1hOnmsYyOI66OHHlli3YKOv_bkpDjpNXH-aAsdqaSg6M3F7ykFKgp1XbziMkZW2ig19GVQekPZHJMA93lc_SgRdm7yhc7XsE-fRJApr51D15n-qaquZ-Qc-pigYTPIxut7ud93_f6iC6TA2moUsIjZJ3Yvd66E2hH0uzN3L97tqkz0JD17KIIAMFNU=w508-h635" width="508" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The house is cool and walking in refreshing. Meals are quick with no long prep. Roasting, boiling, frying, not in the cards lately. Even a tomato sandwich with a slice of fresh mozzarella and a bright green salad is satisfying on a hot night.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPHOczXYFEJgAwjrRP3FBDKC-qVdP_g6Sk3yKBEEidR56Psm3N7dOPfLMpQ3j_gOXaBDOX4ci4vLNo0mVFUWMgVOQI36cznHJfiuXLXKFHknJHt0e4c1HthzcfG33R_VsTkRklaH4aKhsTisMVoqWMU9RbJmD_IYuEL16Fn-b0SjJtd84ZFBUm9ouatAc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="677" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPHOczXYFEJgAwjrRP3FBDKC-qVdP_g6Sk3yKBEEidR56Psm3N7dOPfLMpQ3j_gOXaBDOX4ci4vLNo0mVFUWMgVOQI36cznHJfiuXLXKFHknJHt0e4c1HthzcfG33R_VsTkRklaH4aKhsTisMVoqWMU9RbJmD_IYuEL16Fn-b0SjJtd84ZFBUm9ouatAc=w508-h677" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo7rEFQXp1aAzE8sgtvTnxiEAXTGkcoqex761m30mQZhhaxPc_PP_6bz8aqAP_HQHyJatEwgsLgARv3KYctfqha-PH3y5ymbfSRV2J0Y6Qk9TaRzfjsqb6BkXn8zUZPQuEl0PYTbKA42zs-u9WH7RyJHcafDbeuC0HOYejW9IRag4SgE0StxM7yOkP9Ms" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="788" height="644" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo7rEFQXp1aAzE8sgtvTnxiEAXTGkcoqex761m30mQZhhaxPc_PP_6bz8aqAP_HQHyJatEwgsLgARv3KYctfqha-PH3y5ymbfSRV2J0Y6Qk9TaRzfjsqb6BkXn8zUZPQuEl0PYTbKA42zs-u9WH7RyJHcafDbeuC0HOYejW9IRag4SgE0StxM7yOkP9Ms=w507-h644" width="507" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I've done little around the house this summer. Need to downsize stuff. Editing knick knacks will be a winter project, again! That said I have a few new to me items on the walls! My wonderful neighbor has moved. He and his kitty Ms. Nala, whom you may recall I often cared for when he traveled, have a new home. We will miss him being next door, but he'll be around a lot as he's keeping the house and renting it to a family member. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He gifted me with this beautiful antique mirror and two winter landscape paintings. He knew </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I always loved these when they hung in his house. He's kind and thoughtful and has always been there for us in the last ten years.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_pgj2SCdz_Pxjk8rEeyxHXEG8AEe-FxCusCHy3QxKkIbDwFVVRiaQof5GWSUBdrSCLEiXZVc8wTtWn5JPg5vHW8HiwDn9J05B7fV04H1GwRNYSAzcNJAUseFubJ5XXP-sssAnoKpBCUjygrgY0DOClrt3FuM7KGqnmuKaZQ_HX2XJTQ5IPjd-wTxW3ao" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2026" data-original-width="1551" height="653" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_pgj2SCdz_Pxjk8rEeyxHXEG8AEe-FxCusCHy3QxKkIbDwFVVRiaQof5GWSUBdrSCLEiXZVc8wTtWn5JPg5vHW8HiwDn9J05B7fV04H1GwRNYSAzcNJAUseFubJ5XXP-sssAnoKpBCUjygrgY0DOClrt3FuM7KGqnmuKaZQ_HX2XJTQ5IPjd-wTxW3ao=w501-h653" width="501" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFiF7dC_juyavyqVoPgY7FO4m5E-gZ5rjeNrNROzO2wBMve9QgtViVNs_4HGLevYO-Lpxo77pWCs99eFoZaEL6gPnFLMkBJP2NuAk9UCXB5LZ0JOmogV_lNYqPPgZJbcTmddytMSxInYoIPhHSwEsJu_E4I7ESlNkse9i7vn-wfcgCqO8rtXjjgMERrGM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="713" height="779" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFiF7dC_juyavyqVoPgY7FO4m5E-gZ5rjeNrNROzO2wBMve9QgtViVNs_4HGLevYO-Lpxo77pWCs99eFoZaEL6gPnFLMkBJP2NuAk9UCXB5LZ0JOmogV_lNYqPPgZJbcTmddytMSxInYoIPhHSwEsJu_E4I7ESlNkse9i7vn-wfcgCqO8rtXjjgMERrGM=w504-h779" width="504" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, I'm pulling out autumn/winter weight clothes for the upcoming trip across the pond. It will be cooler there for certain. I will love that. The collapsible rack is at the ready. I hang things there daily while deciding what I will pack later. Each day different items appear as others disappear back into drawers and closets. Decisions as to what to take - and fit into one suitcase - is the hardest part of a journey for me, and it never gets any easier! Going home soon.</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="single-quote" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 33px; margin: 20px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Waiting for the Sunrise;">When I dig back through memory cells, </span><span style="font-family: "Waiting for the Sunrise";">I get one particularly distinctive feeling - and that's one of warmth, comfort and well-being. For whatever else I may have had, or lost, or will find - I've still got a hometown. This, nobody's gonna take away from me. </span></span></p><p class="single-quote" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 33px; margin: 20px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Alex Brush; font-size: large;">Rod Serling</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8xYuT4YUVxEuRz_jN08VU9ZWmSdys74ICoBrwmVjFMCVjdEPSqpet9XfVlJy7YHkv0ntZJMVE-lGHQs9kdaXrFUXQrt6B3Ago3X6o3AnRUv0lbMTq3OBieLvAsJ1WGOLjlWv2xEfycIUcbLrCFe8TGxxbQL26S0qUeNpCkvX1lSy8UNkxqGV5fTJkUs/s272/Signature%20with%20Flourish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="272" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8xYuT4YUVxEuRz_jN08VU9ZWmSdys74ICoBrwmVjFMCVjdEPSqpet9XfVlJy7YHkv0ntZJMVE-lGHQs9kdaXrFUXQrt6B3Ago3X6o3AnRUv0lbMTq3OBieLvAsJ1WGOLjlWv2xEfycIUcbLrCFe8TGxxbQL26S0qUeNpCkvX1lSy8UNkxqGV5fTJkUs/w221-h171/Signature%20with%20Flourish.png" width="221" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-87703493350325282022023-08-29T18:06:00.000-04:002023-08-29T18:06:54.602-04:00Golden days in paradise -<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCW3-z6m55XQb-KP7gvCO0Y_ifk1exAWAgk7DQ4Judn0H9FRnu8CHsdEKinhrhDL_vtOOB38SKLipBA_ibFXINHJ32qvasWIYk0DhQX4xLzcyUR6xqVDhVDB_YA88Rclyucg97Xn24YwHGpX9WuhWE7U0jn8jUdX-pRLF5ZCTHOTXk-2BlEtvhJyz32U/s980/Tahilla%20landscape%20-%20Aug.%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="768" height="708" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCW3-z6m55XQb-KP7gvCO0Y_ifk1exAWAgk7DQ4Judn0H9FRnu8CHsdEKinhrhDL_vtOOB38SKLipBA_ibFXINHJ32qvasWIYk0DhQX4xLzcyUR6xqVDhVDB_YA88Rclyucg97Xn24YwHGpX9WuhWE7U0jn8jUdX-pRLF5ZCTHOTXk-2BlEtvhJyz32U/w555-h708/Tahilla%20landscape%20-%20Aug.%202023.jpg" width="555" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WOZ-Fg6KBNLOD674tHiBj3YNrBfajvPulPb-ozKieIgfniX3lTPexb3TeS0jPnFrizW_gL96ysvBobLM9ztUjENLoXZiSNwESQgMZTFzLVkkuJsGT4X2eAnr9N68r3FS842G0vtmHUAZp3eTG-HWznaa8bW38trIQmFnY7IXjcJP2Y4BXzOBhCCjVHY/s980/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-Aug.%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="768" height="712" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WOZ-Fg6KBNLOD674tHiBj3YNrBfajvPulPb-ozKieIgfniX3lTPexb3TeS0jPnFrizW_gL96ysvBobLM9ztUjENLoXZiSNwESQgMZTFzLVkkuJsGT4X2eAnr9N68r3FS842G0vtmHUAZp3eTG-HWznaa8bW38trIQmFnY7IXjcJP2Y4BXzOBhCCjVHY/w558-h712/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-Aug.%20'23.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: start;">Some people confuse Ragweed and Goldenrod and blame both for their</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; text-align: start;"> allergic reactions. Ragweed is the culprit not goldenrod. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">T</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #040c28; text-align: start;">hey are</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #040c28; text-align: start;"> completely different plants and look </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #040c28; text-align: start;">quite different</span><span style="color: #4d5156; text-align: start;">.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;"> Goldenrod is a</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;"> perennial and ragweed is an annual.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">Goldenrod does not cause seasonal allergies. The most likely cause of </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">your sneezing and runny nose is </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">ragweed</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #040c28; font-family: arial; text-align: start;"> pollen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">. Ragweed is a rather</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;"> insignificant-looking </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">weed that blooms at the same time as goldenrod. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">It is wind pollinated and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: arial; text-align: start;">disperses large amounts of pollen into the air.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fhGfxseaWu0IOgQm1bosfPprvgrQegKm3X03AkgcQj-1Mj0RatcvEyKCLb3fHwDdDnDOG5hpO6MJNSx_jRn8R_qsbPpH2FksAQaX-rxTc8RvAQzRRhARKf9oS5JP91cZu6Ye6xD8gNNA6vs2dlxWYzf09FgIFOhk58nR56hRIC7hd_cMIduU-tZfC6U/s980/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-%20Aug.%202023%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="768" height="706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fhGfxseaWu0IOgQm1bosfPprvgrQegKm3X03AkgcQj-1Mj0RatcvEyKCLb3fHwDdDnDOG5hpO6MJNSx_jRn8R_qsbPpH2FksAQaX-rxTc8RvAQzRRhARKf9oS5JP91cZu6Ye6xD8gNNA6vs2dlxWYzf09FgIFOhk58nR56hRIC7hd_cMIduU-tZfC6U/w553-h706/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-%20Aug.%202023%20(1).jpg" width="553" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"><b>Solidago</b></i><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">, commonly called </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">goldenrod</b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">, is a genus of several</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> species of</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Flowering plant"><span style="color: black;">flowering plants</span></a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> in the family</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"> Asteraceae.</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> Most are herbaceous </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Perennial"><span style="color: black;">perennial</span></a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">species found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and savannas. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">They are mostly native to </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="North America"><span style="color: black;">North America</span></a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;">, including Mexico; a few species</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> are</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> native to South America and Eurasia.</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start; text-wrap: nowrap;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> Some American species have</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> also been introduced into </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Europe"><span style="color: black;">Europe</span></a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; text-align: start;"> and other parts of the world.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: start;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">An important source of nectar for so many pollinators</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: start;">—such as butterflies</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"> and native bees—goldenrod is especially crucial to the winter survival of</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"> many honeybees. Its pollen adds considerable amounts of protein, fats,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: start;"> and minerals to the late-season diet of the bees.</span></div><div><span face=""Google Sans", Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LsKFKFDXe6YDyOOSyTupgCntbiLPYJh43CVjk3Hp4lXJrKMZofERBk18gQBman7o6-JZ9wAsQXCVuLNqiiMTAE5LlbTUucfB3rv3gU15A6gEsepiKjhQ7GBHnHo1KHBSmGdwaFLWeaXpyLtyJnGnP7fLBd-JZ2zvOVgcefPb8dyaUH2ObyKEhDNovUA/s980/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-%20Aug.%20'23%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="768" height="695" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LsKFKFDXe6YDyOOSyTupgCntbiLPYJh43CVjk3Hp4lXJrKMZofERBk18gQBman7o6-JZ9wAsQXCVuLNqiiMTAE5LlbTUucfB3rv3gU15A6gEsepiKjhQ7GBHnHo1KHBSmGdwaFLWeaXpyLtyJnGnP7fLBd-JZ2zvOVgcefPb8dyaUH2ObyKEhDNovUA/w545-h695/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-%20Aug.%20'23%20(1).jpg" width="545" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I know you're wondering where I took these photos of a meadow full of goldenrod.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Some of you already know Jeanne of Tahilla Farm in New Hampshire. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many years ago when we were all young, fresh, new bloggers, we followed </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jeanne on her first blog Collage of Life. Her life as an ex-pat took her and her</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> family to live in amazing places - Australia, New Zealand, England, Vietnam</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">China . . . . . and we bloggers loved following along. Personally, I have to</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> admit</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> to </span><span style="font-family: arial;">feeling envious that she was this amazing person who could pack up</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> her life, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">her four children, dog, sun hats, books, and furniture and move</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> seemingly </span><span style="font-family: arial;">overnight to another country </span><span style="font-family: arial;">in the footsteps of her husband. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course now knowing Jeanne better, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and having spent </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the most</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> enjoyable</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">times together </span><span style="font-family: arial;">since she settled back</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> in the US, I understand </span><span style="font-family: arial;">that it really </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">was a lot of hard work.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Now retired, Jeanne and her very special Mr. H, have made their home back in</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">New England where they started out, and this is their beautiful farm property.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I feel so fortunate that I have been a guest here in all seasons except winter.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Seeing Tahilla's landscape change colors under the shadow of the distant </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">mountain range, in rain and sunshine, has been a true blessing. I just wish I </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">lived closer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">You can follow Jeanne and enjoy her wonderful writing and photographs</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> on her website ~ tahillafarm.com/tahilla-farm-story</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0ApUaUjZN7jP_2qv04EnJCgL9YpaeGv2ubRG4U-mwcDAogYWSceVcMsDSAaHMwl5LcjCVRYbY1CKOKzbBnwmIMSDNzQVwS-nLu8hbIffcqux7o9t0b5v_qzn6uHLFXbtjFW7x1v3DoIa0EyuJKs_KypMjJT4cXm3DtUChxW8lgggun3MK63cFOV4YlM/s979/Tahilla%20Farm%20-%20Aug.%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="789" height="672" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0ApUaUjZN7jP_2qv04EnJCgL9YpaeGv2ubRG4U-mwcDAogYWSceVcMsDSAaHMwl5LcjCVRYbY1CKOKzbBnwmIMSDNzQVwS-nLu8hbIffcqux7o9t0b5v_qzn6uHLFXbtjFW7x1v3DoIa0EyuJKs_KypMjJT4cXm3DtUChxW8lgggun3MK63cFOV4YlM/w542-h672/Tahilla%20Farm%20-%20Aug.%20'23.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tahilla Farm, New Hampshire</span></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW-2vjZIG8fKX1IQWCqO_uxLuCezNPlRye6q7_bYmRoJPiqleI7U8QMxWbEtrZU7t-9OQ2bv6lsWqbYYtkQMas3EZzl2HgJ_sUjtsAtXJfUpAXk_y7MiSt9Ht0QCAUaMybjkNr2nc71Hhx2gSjg0BpX2fMYO9QSrciNwxAPSWnL6wvIH6KWKA41A0lDQ/s980/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-%20Aug.%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="768" height="692" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCW-2vjZIG8fKX1IQWCqO_uxLuCezNPlRye6q7_bYmRoJPiqleI7U8QMxWbEtrZU7t-9OQ2bv6lsWqbYYtkQMas3EZzl2HgJ_sUjtsAtXJfUpAXk_y7MiSt9Ht0QCAUaMybjkNr2nc71Hhx2gSjg0BpX2fMYO9QSrciNwxAPSWnL6wvIH6KWKA41A0lDQ/w543-h692/Tahilla%20Landscape%20-%20Aug.%20'23.jpg" width="543" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I was here just over a week ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Jeanne very kindly gave me permission to share my photos of the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> farm with you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thank you Jeanne - see you next time!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRwRnG9s5XL2j95i2ijZVORzMY80WfLaPbSFZwuuhoTBNjT8dCg657L1c9V8451KXzWoyphURU15fYfUBqtUiz0YrfCY-pojsQqoBmUeS_iAG26QOXiofsFEIKIbQ9NhpY0PZCC8neuTDc2tbjLR3YCOwYI_HZlezdgiZUGcfpaezIPbVIzwAaNKCAcY/s250/Signature%20-%20Golden%20Yellow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="250" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRwRnG9s5XL2j95i2ijZVORzMY80WfLaPbSFZwuuhoTBNjT8dCg657L1c9V8451KXzWoyphURU15fYfUBqtUiz0YrfCY-pojsQqoBmUeS_iAG26QOXiofsFEIKIbQ9NhpY0PZCC8neuTDc2tbjLR3YCOwYI_HZlezdgiZUGcfpaezIPbVIzwAaNKCAcY/w224-h134/Signature%20-%20Golden%20Yellow.png" width="224" /></a></div><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-21411758519810921962023-08-26T10:13:00.002-04:002023-08-26T10:14:14.888-04:00Checkmate!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfgBLpO1stuQcbyLDe1mDafZnDFZMtfJzvdwuXZ-qDATgn3kebuI_j4vcb7sosqnHdNE57rH5OKOvOkvnUAZF_mZ-kkm3lYadrabHVbIoPvXy0s5Sd_tdYAs5k9Gt_myyhi_6NA4FXBhPlPm9HLNpQBcAZV0KXZS25Lyg_G7v8_zx36LwIl1xQDD2gZCI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="780" height="794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfgBLpO1stuQcbyLDe1mDafZnDFZMtfJzvdwuXZ-qDATgn3kebuI_j4vcb7sosqnHdNE57rH5OKOvOkvnUAZF_mZ-kkm3lYadrabHVbIoPvXy0s5Sd_tdYAs5k9Gt_myyhi_6NA4FXBhPlPm9HLNpQBcAZV0KXZS25Lyg_G7v8_zx36LwIl1xQDD2gZCI=w631-h794" width="631" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Do you iron shirts? After unpacking from the New England trip I had the usual pile of laundry to deal with including Bob's shirts. He always says "don't bother to iron all those" and I always reply "I'm not allowing you to go out in wrinkled shirts." </span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I quite enjoy ironing, it gives me time to think about other things. I park the ironing board - a sturdy metal one I've probably used for at least 40 years - in the kitchen facing toward the large window looking out into the back garden. Currently it's not</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> a pretty sight after one of the hottest summers ever here. The grass is brown, the trees are already dropping yellowed leaves, the bird feeders are empty and the birdbaths dry to keep away the mosquitoes. There has been very little rain and swarms of </span><span style="font-family: arial;">ants are massing everywhere searching for moisture. We need a break from high temperatures, we need a good heavy rain to wash everything down and to refresh the shrubs. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I also notice we need to attend to a lot of work out there in the coming year or so, it's never ending and hard keeping up.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgikmFd9LHPMDAgnqq-2CcPd6XN41BWlcG7ZgxbptcNgafCm7TnVA6cjGYJ0dsSTqd4CnBMkhM16rdu_fDoYXDFuHC-JTxNgUyvVE53rHRLDgSwovK02T9jt9xxlskbqVKeKsCBknvRctnnCinU4tH-1P8laKInIA6cNEQoYY7pspP4MdRrrahaHL9E404" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2983" height="849" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgikmFd9LHPMDAgnqq-2CcPd6XN41BWlcG7ZgxbptcNgafCm7TnVA6cjGYJ0dsSTqd4CnBMkhM16rdu_fDoYXDFuHC-JTxNgUyvVE53rHRLDgSwovK02T9jt9xxlskbqVKeKsCBknvRctnnCinU4tH-1P8laKInIA6cNEQoYY7pspP4MdRrrahaHL9E404=w630-h849" width="630" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Early morning at Midtown</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Thursday was a busy day. I had an early morning appointment to renew my driver license and some shopping to do. We also had to use a complimentary hotel night this week. It would have expired on Friday so we took off on a 'staycation' late Thursday afternoon. Despite just returning from the ten day trip, we packed a small bag and hustled over to the now huge 'Midtown Raleigh' area just minutes from the house and checked in to a hotel there. Sounds somewhat stupid but we had no need to go far. We settled in, watched young people hanging out at the pool below our windows, then decided to go to our favorite Thai restaurant for supper. A lengthy walk followed around the development which continues to grow with massive hi-rise buildings, including the tall 36 floor apartment building in above photo, shops, restaurants, open park/music venue etc. When we moved here in 1977 this area was still partially undeveloped farmland..........how time has changed the landscape.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYkFZb-eTaiVWQAOzBM93PghVpZEAk1YEvzq5NQb4VRYOncDoAjume4ozfwKOi5YQY2mpkJRuujJ-RwhmO97p6y2xIiT9pVu1inlbDJGC5-jrIV9f1Bfc-J6DCt3KTRTBiOcugIE1nB_qHlugFEN0i-7yzC1pDwbH6RZTbw34RPnD7koEZTn4XRBytHXg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3843" data-original-width="3024" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYkFZb-eTaiVWQAOzBM93PghVpZEAk1YEvzq5NQb4VRYOncDoAjume4ozfwKOi5YQY2mpkJRuujJ-RwhmO97p6y2xIiT9pVu1inlbDJGC5-jrIV9f1Bfc-J6DCt3KTRTBiOcugIE1nB_qHlugFEN0i-7yzC1pDwbH6RZTbw34RPnD7koEZTn4XRBytHXg=w630-h800" width="630" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I noticed that Bob's checked summer shirts mimic the skyscrapers</div><div style="text-align: center;"> appearing all across downtown Raleigh, and now here in our quiet, </div><div style="text-align: center;">once low profile neighborhood, renamed Midtown Raleigh.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's called progress. Bob's all for it, I'm upset by it. </div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Theatre date tonight. A lively sounding production titled 'CURTAINS' - advertised</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i> as "a witty, hilarious, musical whodunit". I'm ready for a laugh and looking</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i> forward to it.</i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtI6jjZ8EGzSdS8OqLlT72UdiFnadiXLt8_VsFTTvSsqDddg2C4431B94KYDJ7aHXpMLl3KPXtGLkqGrU4LR-q2rvgRHNZZ2pkVpMCZKQEreT052OIYgeElZOPz72Cdbm2P59eV6etU8JMcBUdXPI-V2vk4LSCZ2J4EfPsthq3UNvx9sL0GKsffv0GZc/s264/Signature%20-%20Smoke%20Blue.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="264" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBtI6jjZ8EGzSdS8OqLlT72UdiFnadiXLt8_VsFTTvSsqDddg2C4431B94KYDJ7aHXpMLl3KPXtGLkqGrU4LR-q2rvgRHNZZ2pkVpMCZKQEreT052OIYgeElZOPz72Cdbm2P59eV6etU8JMcBUdXPI-V2vk4LSCZ2J4EfPsthq3UNvx9sL0GKsffv0GZc/w178-h134/Signature%20-%20Smoke%20Blue.png" width="178" /></a></div></div><p></p></div></div></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-40242247992377443252023-08-25T11:01:00.001-04:002023-08-25T11:01:37.311-04:00Loss.............<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjgXeTIvLWP26npwGdJVJP_ZAWaFlQSZzc92ZxvaMz33vnm6KGkzwOHY-TLdugT5O1Zx6K_a_44wdcyoG70kNX65RJMcibXcJZJ9bvwaotSqm8jrlIxeIPP033Auxgz6zBS7oudQgLt684Qoly6YQhkvOdISghya_8n8ngaXTn6bykQrdWu_QTb_oFNw/s1945/Denise%20-%20Death%208-24-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="1536" height="835" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjgXeTIvLWP26npwGdJVJP_ZAWaFlQSZzc92ZxvaMz33vnm6KGkzwOHY-TLdugT5O1Zx6K_a_44wdcyoG70kNX65RJMcibXcJZJ9bvwaotSqm8jrlIxeIPP033Auxgz6zBS7oudQgLt684Qoly6YQhkvOdISghya_8n8ngaXTn6bykQrdWu_QTb_oFNw/w660-h835/Denise%20-%20Death%208-24-2023.jpg" width="660" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: WindSong;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Over the Rainbow;">"One day we will remember how lucky we were to have known her love</span><span style="font-family: "Over the Rainbow";"> with wonder, not grief."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Many a chair stands empty in homes where a loved one was taken far too early.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I go home to England in October to see my family and friends, </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">one dear person will be missing, the lovely daughter of my dear cousin.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">Denise passed this week after such a long battle with health issues - MS for </div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">many, many years, breast cancer a couple of years ago, then a severe stroke</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> a few </span><span style="font-family: arial;">weeks ago. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">She was a fighter. She was stoic. She remained positive in her outlook.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She kept a sense of humor. She was loved by all, especially her husband, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">parents </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and brother. . . . . . and we three second cousins and our families.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My family is not large compared to some but we are close and get together</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">as much as possible. For me it's harder being so far away, however I do try to</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> get </span><span style="font-family: arial;">home to the UK annually to see my loved ones.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Denise was so special and much loved. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May she now rest peacefully in a good place.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARIzSG17tbA1c4K_hGCQofDf4730P7b4OfNTT-xwVswm3E8nlWS1w3U6Mj6H3FaSKcEb1sBUyA6mfv6zUfBLJRm4_Y5CEAhXcEiVxG6tyPG8vXJL4azgXaAV5idyf87SEaQ9OjYdu14oPsUYbt1NNpY4rSuB52wsfOhF09LNomvEP_HKYW2TcvLflnSU/s230/Signature%20-%20Green.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="230" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARIzSG17tbA1c4K_hGCQofDf4730P7b4OfNTT-xwVswm3E8nlWS1w3U6Mj6H3FaSKcEb1sBUyA6mfv6zUfBLJRm4_Y5CEAhXcEiVxG6tyPG8vXJL4azgXaAV5idyf87SEaQ9OjYdu14oPsUYbt1NNpY4rSuB52wsfOhF09LNomvEP_HKYW2TcvLflnSU/w267-h116/Signature%20-%20Green.png" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-12236500147966310902023-08-22T10:26:00.003-04:002023-08-22T10:26:38.705-04:00Home again -<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4SLxyobglbx5u-viT7KP7V7oo6PFXbVt2mrfNAAi1cNC4tryYUET3RUjW9gG8Y-CAOZzP_qwlzoAwwfcd45gYGS5L4mulA3pCcMf74fZ9WmxPf6rCqdM286Mtr2PEsqsb1HDJlUUPc3QqZhQ6fJaagaL23SLiipjgyL0L5pYFmqI1Ku9CsvGtWckwA8/s650/Quotation%20-%20August%20Garden%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="650" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4SLxyobglbx5u-viT7KP7V7oo6PFXbVt2mrfNAAi1cNC4tryYUET3RUjW9gG8Y-CAOZzP_qwlzoAwwfcd45gYGS5L4mulA3pCcMf74fZ9WmxPf6rCqdM286Mtr2PEsqsb1HDJlUUPc3QqZhQ6fJaagaL23SLiipjgyL0L5pYFmqI1Ku9CsvGtWckwA8/w473-h131/Quotation%20-%20August%20Garden%202.png" width="473" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6_WQzUQc2cgfXgA8gaTPSjD0Whqn1vQutqkKKixXXArgiLU0cYxx2oAyrqqB6evyvaSVenPr-45Xx0NFc6rINfh-ExQ7EsRC-1REkRfkUWAN9HScjm6PLdM8102F5nVOF45YDCKo6AuUB7tFhidpHoJclS_tMAEBVuvyWZYAESgzDJXUa5WBwmdZ_4I/s862/Sunflower%20-%20Head%20Aug.22%20'23%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="719" height="673" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6_WQzUQc2cgfXgA8gaTPSjD0Whqn1vQutqkKKixXXArgiLU0cYxx2oAyrqqB6evyvaSVenPr-45Xx0NFc6rINfh-ExQ7EsRC-1REkRfkUWAN9HScjm6PLdM8102F5nVOF45YDCKo6AuUB7tFhidpHoJclS_tMAEBVuvyWZYAESgzDJXUa5WBwmdZ_4I/w562-h673/Sunflower%20-%20Head%20Aug.22%20'23%20(1).jpg" width="562" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRQ1cov8gZTAgQix2pqX2g_Yz0CDoh6eDLqbSlG1BEyJ0vhNAyZPcz_DgyLxJBV1DEv9FJdn43f6Vj7sJa5sPAVtEfzgsW-cAGGAZ6t8XLPQRqKhRRSft61khR7EbYyEZg7w3-sxsLiNG0EsH2_YcMlTpFgP6RLKjvRN21nFaSO6Gsuk5QYl0PBii6Qo/s926/Sunflower%20-%20%20Head%20Aug.22,%20'23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="755" height="691" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRQ1cov8gZTAgQix2pqX2g_Yz0CDoh6eDLqbSlG1BEyJ0vhNAyZPcz_DgyLxJBV1DEv9FJdn43f6Vj7sJa5sPAVtEfzgsW-cAGGAZ6t8XLPQRqKhRRSft61khR7EbYyEZg7w3-sxsLiNG0EsH2_YcMlTpFgP6RLKjvRN21nFaSO6Gsuk5QYl0PBii6Qo/w564-h691/Sunflower%20-%20%20Head%20Aug.22,%20'23.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKpa5LnuMk3Qasr0WoYNwqYgNRElIYgDnLz_n4LBUp_emFHbRwAXEV4q2amuV25cE3K8Est5Byor71-8OBan8lx6WV8OL-gBJc1-iAh136eEeDzoOalhiY-79jZ98zszbvxAU9ywjMXBXKdkFzHHpz__8-SieuY3hMh5QptkEeeJoAG7rS7GYFSoMI54/s1010/Sunflower%20-%20Head%20Aug.22%20'23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="758" height="748" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKpa5LnuMk3Qasr0WoYNwqYgNRElIYgDnLz_n4LBUp_emFHbRwAXEV4q2amuV25cE3K8Est5Byor71-8OBan8lx6WV8OL-gBJc1-iAh136eEeDzoOalhiY-79jZ98zszbvxAU9ywjMXBXKdkFzHHpz__8-SieuY3hMh5QptkEeeJoAG7rS7GYFSoMI54/w563-h748/Sunflower%20-%20Head%20Aug.22%20'23.jpg" width="563" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Have to say going away in summertime is not the best idea when it</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> comes to maintaining a garden. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Granddaughter did what she could with some visits to check the house</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> and drag the hose around in close to 100F. Not easy when we have</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> such a vast amount of shrubbery and plants all calling out for a</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> much-needed drink as the sun beats down day after day from that</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> 'Carolina Blue' sky. . . . . . . .and hardly a raindrop fell in the ten</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">days we were gone.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8RhnQkz0kF_mVBodeBhGrDkUCsMW3kkPMc8OCLdqHfwQWtzwjRBnhR0C7KP9KJGn0cE54Z2X2kHL7bSvnmu2YiTUtn5KDY8HIOieJms-r-rqZKNJ--xpGOSNy1wFHUxF5KRkTNO7Z4FY4gq6tVDsxwzWdl_-KrU4h2c_f8FHxkwzruEceI7V6nBKfWg/s800/Sunflowers%20-%20Last%20Days%20Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv8RhnQkz0kF_mVBodeBhGrDkUCsMW3kkPMc8OCLdqHfwQWtzwjRBnhR0C7KP9KJGn0cE54Z2X2kHL7bSvnmu2YiTUtn5KDY8HIOieJms-r-rqZKNJ--xpGOSNy1wFHUxF5KRkTNO7Z4FY4gq6tVDsxwzWdl_-KrU4h2c_f8FHxkwzruEceI7V6nBKfWg/w578-h578/Sunflowers%20-%20Last%20Days%20Collage.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;">More stories from New England visit to come, meanwhile I'm off to turn on</div><div style="text-align: center;"> those hoses and do some serious watering this morning before it gets too</div><div style="text-align: center;"> hot. As you can see, the jolly golden sunflowers have passed their prime,</div><div style="text-align: center;">now look baked and dry. One can say that there's still a kind of beauty </div><div style="text-align: center;">in the shriveled petals and leaves, aging brings patina and wrinkles to</div><div style="text-align: center;"> everything. . . . . . one has to accept this and know there's always</div><div style="text-align: center;"> next spring and early summer when at least the garden</div><div style="text-align: center;">will be renewed!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's good to be home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61OH-n6UYj_aweSf69PYg-tt0S1HzIl7EySuA1ohy4O-pN8UjsmHLGJhrf-ccNZq2QXJ36t4FnifBYTotirofFWaCPjbTpBEwqBPyE18h6csRKl6oLfQbqptoXW4XGF3stQWzhgabQ8xOxiAYxaTA0k9TJcCSqZ7xUjkPjiCHl25a7YMucp3d9lxU5wo/s250/Signature%20-%20Golden%20Yellow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="250" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg61OH-n6UYj_aweSf69PYg-tt0S1HzIl7EySuA1ohy4O-pN8UjsmHLGJhrf-ccNZq2QXJ36t4FnifBYTotirofFWaCPjbTpBEwqBPyE18h6csRKl6oLfQbqptoXW4XGF3stQWzhgabQ8xOxiAYxaTA0k9TJcCSqZ7xUjkPjiCHl25a7YMucp3d9lxU5wo/w320-h191/Signature%20-%20Golden%20Yellow.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-39947394829692279262023-08-15T15:13:00.000-04:002023-08-15T15:13:31.465-04:00Hello from New England -<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQRmpO3K0TEOdJB5wfnI02WnqgkrBRqsabLty8jC81xaoC3lLoURpQVmBjOQjxP6-lBubwIwfVbWarnEQAbYQku8YoEw9r7f5uR9Fgc2F5OU-jYr1WL6H_6c7KvvLhDlVOEE__vTyKxBtRQpM0gx2f1QVfII63eG0LYhID7SGNV67AekOYOXDhIf2tDI/s2000/New%20Hampshire_Maine%20Seacoast%20'23%20Collage.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQRmpO3K0TEOdJB5wfnI02WnqgkrBRqsabLty8jC81xaoC3lLoURpQVmBjOQjxP6-lBubwIwfVbWarnEQAbYQku8YoEw9r7f5uR9Fgc2F5OU-jYr1WL6H_6c7KvvLhDlVOEE__vTyKxBtRQpM0gx2f1QVfII63eG0LYhID7SGNV67AekOYOXDhIf2tDI/w640-h640/New%20Hampshire_Maine%20Seacoast%20'23%20Collage.png" width="640" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Just a quick post!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As most of you know, the New England states are not strangers to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I lived in New Hampshire and Massachusetts for 12 years when first</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> married. Bob took me to live in his hometown, Manchester, NH. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I spent </span><span style="font-family: arial;">summers on the beautiful beaches of Maine, time in Vermont </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">enjoying </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the countryside and mountains. Boston was the place when</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> city life </span><span style="font-family: arial;">was required for a change of pace.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Almost every year since moving south to North Carolina, 46 years ago,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">we've returned here to visit family, friends. . . . . . and favorite places that </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">remain in our memories. There's nothing like 'the old days' and, although</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">the city is not the same, we still enjoy rambling around!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv7TVLNOfHFPJFPmGUhCtsFb6_r9Isj_rgzpmAZGdoS8UCblNeSx-wfDJL2zi37xggwKYGtwTgWzErVG8xCTE4k21PwERx7i4XbJq-meWPczJrEmng2Xnn1OjHP5YUINjJXMFq5LZZTIQLmgS9Lw58YRaXCJYX3TgbzNThNLFXkb1DfoFT16ZWX5uYuw/s934/New%20Hampshire_Maine%20Seacoast%20'23%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="842" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCv7TVLNOfHFPJFPmGUhCtsFb6_r9Isj_rgzpmAZGdoS8UCblNeSx-wfDJL2zi37xggwKYGtwTgWzErVG8xCTE4k21PwERx7i4XbJq-meWPczJrEmng2Xnn1OjHP5YUINjJXMFq5LZZTIQLmgS9Lw58YRaXCJYX3TgbzNThNLFXkb1DfoFT16ZWX5uYuw/w576-h640/New%20Hampshire_Maine%20Seacoast%20'23%20.jpg" width="576" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our trip to the coast of New Hampshire and Maine is always the best. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We had a wonderful time in perfect weather, around 80F and no </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">humidity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Look across the beach and you can see Cape Neddick with the lighthouse.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HOpAQZNFE3b0ipmc9lVIhxaED-jNFjYnnksDeQFw1n0G5YxCVlj71TKplNEkIHvwtc_TKdhEUykquT2u9ktk_H4rYBvOb6a5_0x5i40hfwdIPMF5XI7vjM4RJ8PXr3iesbNMd74cSeroJZom73w2Ak4rVN6MnAleaizbmD3ASM2EraJeZ4Wm7sighBQ/s1024/New%20Hampshire_Maine%20Seacoast%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="765" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HOpAQZNFE3b0ipmc9lVIhxaED-jNFjYnnksDeQFw1n0G5YxCVlj71TKplNEkIHvwtc_TKdhEUykquT2u9ktk_H4rYBvOb6a5_0x5i40hfwdIPMF5XI7vjM4RJ8PXr3iesbNMd74cSeroJZom73w2Ak4rVN6MnAleaizbmD3ASM2EraJeZ4Wm7sighBQ/w574-h765/New%20Hampshire_Maine%20Seacoast%20'23.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Nubble Lighthouse, Cape Neddick, York, Maine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A really beautiful spot to sit, relax, and just look out across the water,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">grateful for so much in life.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwfbf-GQdOt13LlKRWYFBPgEPVL54eN-iNYhKgY6wvx1Q6A3a2EITwlb1igqNbK8cXARt0jWS2BqpdMxtjUDCTjCIvRRz1rdddiHgogxDkWD7wkMLU4SW6QkN8yn8y4ulCmiXMcq5sjjUhYmPl5BlNtf4u2V3Zylw5E6mt0mJNouJiRkFGoST2qT2AzA/s984/New%20Hampshire%20Seacoast%20'23%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="789" height="717" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwfbf-GQdOt13LlKRWYFBPgEPVL54eN-iNYhKgY6wvx1Q6A3a2EITwlb1igqNbK8cXARt0jWS2BqpdMxtjUDCTjCIvRRz1rdddiHgogxDkWD7wkMLU4SW6QkN8yn8y4ulCmiXMcq5sjjUhYmPl5BlNtf4u2V3Zylw5E6mt0mJNouJiRkFGoST2qT2AzA/w576-h717/New%20Hampshire%20Seacoast%20'23%20(1).jpg" width="576" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkmYK6pifnw0PzNeW7FErax7zjW-ZatqoezyS4Gkth4RbseODPtfp-pFdIV8f7pI_MbYcfuRVdgEl0jg_px_-YUja7svtl7-tuZIQCq_e-4tAG52FTXdJc939W19FOETIm9KrK4YgHFrRtaoIFM3oJo3X721RjQ3HRxKmXNqz5ZcJXDb6ZfMlOCkKsjY/s2032/New%20Hampshire%20Coast%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="1523" height="763" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkmYK6pifnw0PzNeW7FErax7zjW-ZatqoezyS4Gkth4RbseODPtfp-pFdIV8f7pI_MbYcfuRVdgEl0jg_px_-YUja7svtl7-tuZIQCq_e-4tAG52FTXdJc939W19FOETIm9KrK4YgHFrRtaoIFM3oJo3X721RjQ3HRxKmXNqz5ZcJXDb6ZfMlOCkKsjY/w573-h763/New%20Hampshire%20Coast%20'23.jpg" width="573" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Enjoying this trip, as always.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Eating good seafood. . . . . . . in fact just leaving the hotel now for</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">another favorite restaurant in town. I can already taste a fresh broiled </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> haddock </span><span style="font-family: arial;">dish which I'll enjoy as I haven't eaten since breakfast!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More another day.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7b93XvF4kVCoIZHwMhD9OzzwvlUHz4UHUk1F5o8fqdwt5qSqcbCSfwcQEJcltia32xFtHiZ0gQaDko9W3ptD_lLDPRbUb-SczjjLHTxK33cRkQXrtc9ULvGZCZyRmueta02xADv41ARIO2jL6nI2vPbFsgAqV1yDo0aLCI4_5gwDbmBhgq4NrnSRywI/s464/Signatures%20-%202021.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="464" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7b93XvF4kVCoIZHwMhD9OzzwvlUHz4UHUk1F5o8fqdwt5qSqcbCSfwcQEJcltia32xFtHiZ0gQaDko9W3ptD_lLDPRbUb-SczjjLHTxK33cRkQXrtc9ULvGZCZyRmueta02xADv41ARIO2jL6nI2vPbFsgAqV1yDo0aLCI4_5gwDbmBhgq4NrnSRywI/s320/Signatures%20-%202021.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310317081887553860.post-19452171654695204682023-08-09T09:06:00.000-04:002023-08-09T09:06:22.913-04:00Time away -<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnh8TgsiNxZuaPZcy7ubuvTbyAfAVN1TnT57xYQE8UR-l0A1pjc42jjUCxh25eLQBoziJJc84fyqkaL_W-f1c9uLHFNks7PHzeFFhpFhqqHxhAgVM9clGqdOl-tk5oM8DKry51KLn47p1HtMHYe1nxERF34w1V7WPf1AkvAeXzUKpljIQssFzmF4R_DU/s1010/Porch%20at%20night%207_23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="777" height="703" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnh8TgsiNxZuaPZcy7ubuvTbyAfAVN1TnT57xYQE8UR-l0A1pjc42jjUCxh25eLQBoziJJc84fyqkaL_W-f1c9uLHFNks7PHzeFFhpFhqqHxhAgVM9clGqdOl-tk5oM8DKry51KLn47p1HtMHYe1nxERF34w1V7WPf1AkvAeXzUKpljIQssFzmF4R_DU/w542-h703/Porch%20at%20night%207_23.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The storm of Monday evening arrived so suddenly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It was a scary hour of terrific winds driving heavy rain, west to east.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thunder so loud and close made the house shudder, art, foxed mirrors,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> sconces on the walls chattered and slid sideways.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The lightning was blue and made the night sky almost as bright as day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The power popped on and off briefly but then stayed on in our area.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I ran out to move the cushions and decorative items on the porch</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> but realized it was too late and not safe outside in such elements.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Thankfully they were still there, though tossed about, in the morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">No trees down but Bob spent time picking up small branches, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">twigs and leaves scattered around the garden.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The storms of summer can be brutal just like the storms of life.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaL4QNY1Mnc2qNKfxpaWmZ_PxlPup5tLYT35hKQV5ymIOveLIhMwDroPjAegYCAG-3uS64yXOuOaRxGk3u9qEvmJ5n0JeC-Uv_OZG22c9afAvvnViSU-BVuwid3N_qB2TiUGlERzfxcqwnEFUq_OtZ82jCmpD5pYISvJ9tIgStZZFLetzxtvzW-ff/s1000/Decor%20-%20Dining%20room%20'23%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="769" height="707" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaL4QNY1Mnc2qNKfxpaWmZ_PxlPup5tLYT35hKQV5ymIOveLIhMwDroPjAegYCAG-3uS64yXOuOaRxGk3u9qEvmJ5n0JeC-Uv_OZG22c9afAvvnViSU-BVuwid3N_qB2TiUGlERzfxcqwnEFUq_OtZ82jCmpD5pYISvJ9tIgStZZFLetzxtvzW-ff/w544-h707/Decor%20-%20Dining%20room%20'23%20(1).jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HDSNcwK2pjmXm8wFdFlwWPjyrvEPf0mYdm2I_wsXJUuvutSPwJSgHmhY7TQaa6gK3WrwVZHS29fzpPp6yCtKs2WXbJ_6QEc43gNq3jPvXi87MvU5wx2YrnntmjSxlJAec9f6P07rPNublccS0y0AGuc7rnoQGv6tlQrHjJZk7DbFN0GI3JtyesKV/s1860/Decor%20-%20Living%20Room%20'23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1860" data-original-width="1562" height="648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HDSNcwK2pjmXm8wFdFlwWPjyrvEPf0mYdm2I_wsXJUuvutSPwJSgHmhY7TQaa6gK3WrwVZHS29fzpPp6yCtKs2WXbJ_6QEc43gNq3jPvXi87MvU5wx2YrnntmjSxlJAec9f6P07rPNublccS0y0AGuc7rnoQGv6tlQrHjJZk7DbFN0GI3JtyesKV/w544-h648/Decor%20-%20Living%20Room%20'23.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G7d60Stv_Qh5KC3kw34L8lS-8XQRvM43QDc7y9KkOs4YvXN3RJ-7DA4jCuMcFCnmVyXjibYg_Vq0FIl6qM1aZc7eHwNJUPHBVzHYbUG7MwjLDiOrA2rdPFC6tNPc1uy3sJw3W7seJqPer59ONAJlabOP7YzMOHUhSpRB8f2QxASKYbWtKOo8JHEh0Io/s1024/Books%20-%20Upstairs%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="729" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G7d60Stv_Qh5KC3kw34L8lS-8XQRvM43QDc7y9KkOs4YvXN3RJ-7DA4jCuMcFCnmVyXjibYg_Vq0FIl6qM1aZc7eHwNJUPHBVzHYbUG7MwjLDiOrA2rdPFC6tNPc1uy3sJw3W7seJqPer59ONAJlabOP7YzMOHUhSpRB8f2QxASKYbWtKOo8JHEh0Io/w547-h729/Books%20-%20Upstairs%20.jpg" width="547" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It's a bright morning.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We're packing again today and will be gone for a while.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Heading north is always a good feeling, especially in</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> summer where we hope to enjoy some cooler weather, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">fewer late day storms, seeing old friends, the vast ocean,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">the green mountains, the places where we lived so long ago.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rPDHoQtVo94Y-gF7UmlyNWAnnlktSlBucQpeZEFrnG4XDESWn48c4QDGpP8JzWlg3hEFvbjlnceVcu1oo_jCp87-h5CVdaK6a1RK_uWMO3QaCu6OkXIeVN_H-NaTgzsEHtCzYH9ig9Qk9_k3VK6Fv95VhX5Tna9tBsoLS8jb-npOFb4N2lkMoCYH6I8/s800/Timer%20&%20Drying.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="800" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7rPDHoQtVo94Y-gF7UmlyNWAnnlktSlBucQpeZEFrnG4XDESWn48c4QDGpP8JzWlg3hEFvbjlnceVcu1oo_jCp87-h5CVdaK6a1RK_uWMO3QaCu6OkXIeVN_H-NaTgzsEHtCzYH9ig9Qk9_k3VK6Fv95VhX5Tna9tBsoLS8jb-npOFb4N2lkMoCYH6I8/w561-h488/Timer%20&%20Drying.png" width="561" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Time goes by, often too fast, and we try to keep up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This world spins. Life brings joy and sadness and this week</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I'm experiencing both.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">More stories another time. I sit here listening to gentle music</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> for the ear, for the soul, but I must away. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Early to bed tonight, up very early tomorrow for the airport!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-9Haq7o_gcyOV018pCbgVkZwNNhdWgBsvE-EGqK9S6P87bqTa0zBbvTFXrFXwlwIU5g8lXOtfpul9XA2JAJPORN-8siAU69wBHs6yr_bruEj6gZDHGOKRpZUWuUSblGoJJH8DAOJYKFAXVt1aqMgqqjYn5DONs4r5i8yZg05i0T9KkZ8g51hXCy4FQM/s230/Signature%20-%20Green%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="230" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-9Haq7o_gcyOV018pCbgVkZwNNhdWgBsvE-EGqK9S6P87bqTa0zBbvTFXrFXwlwIU5g8lXOtfpul9XA2JAJPORN-8siAU69wBHs6yr_bruEj6gZDHGOKRpZUWuUSblGoJJH8DAOJYKFAXVt1aqMgqqjYn5DONs4r5i8yZg05i0T9KkZ8g51hXCy4FQM/w320-h139/Signature%20-%20Green%202.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div></div><p></p>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11915239653283205065noreply@blogger.com7