We are on a warming trend for a few days. It has been cold and rainy and the mud is horrible. I am looking forward to spring. I am looking forward to getting some work done on the place....grading and improving a couple of pastures, and when that is done, I plan to get another........yes, another.....rescue horse. Maybe a couple of foals.

Marilyn, just for you.........

Right now I just take one day at a time and for today a simple pleasure was going out with daughter Cheryl and we each bought ourselves a new coloring book using a 40% off coupon! She also bought me a package of markers!

Sue

I had a great day yesterday (I haven't really started today so nothing to comment on). It was sunny and warm and I could breathe. The handyman just so happens to have run an antiques warehouse in his youth and learned from the craftsmen there, so he knew how to fix the drawer rail on my old cabinet (it's an antique, but not the kind that you have to keep original). Then he fixed the part that wasn't even broken (made the drawer run better). I had leftover chicken and dumplings for breakfast, which was awesome, and had an outing where Santa Claus finally chose his birthday present (from me). He even stopped for a couple of my quick errands without complaint. :) And last thing, I got through a level in a puzzle game that had me so stymied I'd pretty well given up trying! A really nice day all around.

As I live alone and suffer from poor health these days, it's hard to find something to smile about. Yet, I always have the KT and can also visit with friends on fb. In doing so I find I am grateful for having a sense of humor, because there are times I really need to laugh at what people post rather than get angry at their mean or rude posts!

When my sons call.

Took the dog on his first hike yesterday. He did ok but was tired. We have rattlers, so I had to keep him on the trail. We did about 1.5 miles, not too much.

Blooming Christmas cactus. It's lasting so long!

Christmas decos are down; everything looks so nice after the clutter.

I have millions more, but those came to mind.

Having to look around Tony the Tiger as he sits between me and the screen! Cheap thrills.

We signed the papers to purchase our new home in Florida and signed papers with our attorney to be our POA on the sale of this home in a month (or so). Phew!

Keep it simple now-a-days.

Retirement party for a librarian who has been here for 33 years ... and loves to play golf, but often can't with friends, due to odd hours at the library.

We were talking, and they remembered my daughter flying me to AZ for my eightieth.

She's retiring on Friday, her birthday .. and I have only a couple of days left to enjoy being my present age ...

... and the other senior librarian here ... has a birthday on Sunday!

So - we're all Aquarians.

Also ... found that an old gentleman whom I've seen here a number of times ... worked for my mother's brother, many years ago ... the one that looked after my infant brother when Mom got rather long-term sick when he was about 6 mos. old, he lived with them for about 4 years, and has always considered those two cousins, more or less my age, almost like brother and sister. The old gentleman's wife was the retiring lady's supervisor, years ago.

Found at church last Sunday that one of the women is sister to my cousin's wife, who live about 3 miles from me.

ole joyfuelled

Here's another one from me.....a new lady joined our yoga class. We had been speaking only a few minutes when I realized I knew her! I told her that, but it wasn't until the next class that we finally made the connection. We had worked together at a pharmaceutical company 44 years ago!! Yet I recognized her almost immediately. (Isn't the brain amazing?) It has been much fun talking about those good old days.

Today doing some relaxing coloring and holding my little dog in my lap while she takes a nap. Very nice chill day here.

Lovely coloring Raven.

I got out and met friends for lunch. First outing since last Thursday because of the snow here. Sure felt good. Went to Cracker Barrel for lunch and even though it isn't my favorite place to eat I spent some time looking through their store and enjoyed seeing some items for spring.

My daughter's dog had 12 puppies last night and I hope I get to see them soon before they get past that wonderful baby stage. Mom and pups are all fine. Loved seeing a video of them climbing over each other to get to Mom to be fed.

We finally had a mostly sunny day today and some snow melted. Here are the dregs of our sunshine and snow, taken about 15 minutes ago.

I was out to an "Epicure" showing on Sunday,and managed to see some ppl that I haven't seen for over 10 years.Then today,a visit with my primary care doctor whom I've been with for over 40 years.....a medical visit alright enough,but with he & I, its' just a good "visit"...and today was so sunny & bright! A beauty of a day.

Washed the curtains for two bathrooms last week, and one set disintegrated in the machine. So I ironed the other set and hung them and ordered replacements. They came today, and I have pressed them and hung them. My upstairs bathrooms look so nice with fresh, crisp curtains at the windows.

We have had a lot of rainy days lately which I am thankful for, but it was nice to have a sunny day and sit out on the deck and drink my tea this afternoon.

37º in north central MN, in January!! That is a true January thaw! No sunshine, but take what we can get.

DH and I went to a play this afternoon - the musical version of Billy Elliot. It was wonderful, a large cast that was very talented, wonderful sets, great music, amazing choreography. I'm very grateful for my Fitbit because it's given me the motivation to walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking has been the "magic trick" to losing some weight that I've been struggling with for a while. I love to walk; it's always convenient, can be done at any time of day and is free. I'm very grateful too for the free audiobooks and movies I can download from the public library. I listen to audiobooks on my walks and watch movies when I'm on the treadmill.

I went on a bicycle ride, and am blissfully tired now.

Had to go into our insurance office to get things finished up with some damage we had in our new barn a couple days before Christmas. We lost two huge barn doors. Next off to the church to work on projects. Home for awhile, fixed supper for hubby and then off to a Lion's Club board meeting.. Nice, but busy day..

I have been rereading Anne of Green Gables on my kindle. I read it last when I was probably around 8 or 9. Loved the book then. Different reading it as an adult from an adult perspective. Very enjoyable.

Several things have made this a difficult week, but I'll make lunch for my daughter-in-law tomorrow, which is always a pleasure, and I'm also looking forward to doing improv in the evening.

I had supper with 3 gfs on Monday that I have not seen for months. We went ahead and scheduled our next meal for next month. The weather here has been very nice the last few days and is suppose to continue through next Monday in the 50s and 60s.

I spent yesterday with my niece and my new great-niece. And today I walked the dog of another niece (they're sisters). I am so lucky that I live within 15 minutes of them and every time I spend time with them it brings me pleasure. They are my brothers daughters and he raised two very fine women.

My driveway has finally melted. We didn't have a lot of snow.....maybe 6" but it snowed, then rained, then snowed again. Underneath the snow it was icy. For the first time in 19 years, we didn't do anything with the driveway. Just let nature take it's course. I haven't been out for a week. Today is movie day with my movie group. Movie starts at 4:00 so we're going for dinner after. There's 9 of us going so there should be some lively conversation. Also happy we didn't get the snow Northern VA and North of that got.

I'm such a dope! I just watched the below video taken from a drone of MY hometown. I cried and cried with sheer joy and even shouted hurray! when they showed my workplace. Such pride is silly! But it made me feel good! I hesitate to show you, because even more people will want to move here. I love my home. Such beauty.

Nashville via drone

Amazing aunt Audrey: Love the name and want you to feel better about your days. It is surely tough living alone, but I am thankful for every day I awaken and am still here. Yesterday was able to get through the snow and reach the library for a feast of books. Do you read? Good books can take you into another world of pleasure and some are experiences that remain with warmth like a hug. Do you have hobbies that keep you enthralled? I'm trying to learn where and how to knit hats for preemies and children with cancer. Do you check out the Antiques forum? Read the one on stains in quilts because it digresses in a lovely way, and may cheer you. Thinking of you.

I just love all of your pictures!

Today I am so happy because it's a bright and sunny morning and the birds are singing.

Have a great day everyone!

Today, along with a lovely sunny winter day I am enjoying one of my 'smallest' pleasures. I always share my morning banana with her.

is that a ladybug?

It is a ladybug! We take good care of her...dh even made a special stop at the grocery store to get her some bananas. That seems to be a favorite, but recently (we were out of bananas) she was ok with apple butter, green pepper, and grapes.

Huh. I thought lady bugs were carnivores? Don't they eat aphids? Cool to know they'll eat bananas, etc.

They do eat aphids, but we were fresh out of aphids one winter day when an LB appeared. Gave water first then tried other things. One time when I was cutting up smoked sausage, I slipped her a piece and she welcomed that too. I haven't tried raw meat, just doesn't seem right.

They'll eat many bugs, not just aphids. I had to go look it up. But it's getting by on bananas, peppers, and sausage? Doing just fine then! :)

FlamingO - that quilt is gorgeous. Looks like its been claimed by a very cute kitty - she's a doll!

This morning at the ROMEOs coffee hour, someone brought a cartoon, titled "Man-o-gram" ... of a man standing naked but for a singlet before a tall machine, with a couple of large plates held one over the other horizontally out front, and the female operator instructed the man, who was looking a bit nonplussed, to "Just put it in there".

I was careful to collect it and plan to take it to share with the youngish female operators of the radiation machine this afternoon.

Today is number 17, next thing to half way through. Doc suggested imodium on Tuesday, I got it and took some yesterday.

ole joyful

Asian beetles and lady bugs are not the same thing. I live in the country. I have farm fields on 3 sides of me. The Asian beetles are a pest! They are dirty and they stink. They are NOT lady bugs! Asian beetles were intentionally brought in to control the aphids on soybean plants. And then the trouble started. Don't mess with mother nature! You'll have to read most of this article to get the picture.

http://www.getridofthings.com/pests/beetles/get-rid-of-asian-lady-beetles/

The gals at the radiation place loved the "Man -o-gram" cartoon - asked to have it or copy.

Some others around there did, as well.

Several smiles - not going amiss in the cancer centre waiting room.

Number 17 today - edging up to half way ... tomorrow it'll be on the downhill slope.

A guy from church was there in the waiting room - a volunteer driver.

ole joyful

It's gorgeous outside. Will try to walk later. Saw some trees with white blooms the other day. Spring is coming. Not that I've actually seen that much of winter. This is Houston. Bought some blueberries today and they were naturally sweet.

Some of the irises are blooming already! I always smile when I see them, 'cause I know those blooms mean I've made it through another winter.

& the gas company had to replace some valves, so they dug a 4' trench almost the entire width of the parkway/hell strip (the strip of land between the sidewalk & the street, so-called because it's the ugliest place with the worst growing conditions), totally annihilating the Bermuda grass I've been battling for years!

I ran out to my bank today to transfer some money to my daughter's account. She will have a large income tax return, but that is a couple of weeks away. She lives 800 miles away and is snow bound in Maryland. Their schools have been closed all week and she has not been able to go to her job. That affects her paycheck. I'm happy that I could loan her grocery, gasoline and rent money. The money arrived in her bank account about 15 minutes after I made the transfer, and she did not have to take her car out of its parking space. If she had moved it, her space would have been taken in a flash and she would have had no place to park when she returned home. Folks, it s big mess in Maryland. Snow plows have nowhere to push the snow, so they move it from pile to pile. Some side streets were blocked over night by snow piles left by the plow. (Hagerstown, MD)

Jemdandy, I am only about 40minutes away from your daughter and you are right--we got hit really hard. Im in Frederick but occasionally go to Hagerstown for some retail therapy. Glad your daughter is doing ok. Our schools are closed here until Monday. Satine

satine:

My daughter works in Frederick for a company that makes high reliability circuit boards for satellites, etc.