Saturday, November 30, 2019

Rain, Paint and Taz

Storms are rolling through and as I type this blog tonight, Taz is sitting in my lap.  It's not easy to type with a little fur ball shaking because of the thunder and lightening, but we are making it.

I started on my Christmas cards today.    I usually paint 2 or 3 designs and then decide which one I like most.  2 down, one more to go.

It has been so nice having a long weekend,  Monday will be here too soon.  I realized this afternoon that today is the last day of November.   December is upon us and soon 2020 will be here.

My cup of hot tea is ready and Taz is finally calming down.  May your Sunday bring peace and kindness.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Black Friday

A day of routine chores and even that took a great deal of effort, sometimes the energy level just drops and you have to deal with it.

The town where I grew up had their Christmas on Main Street tonight.  Jordan went with us, though he did lecture us on his beliefs that Thanksgiving is being ignored so that more money can be spent on Christmas.  I agree with him, but all in all we did have fun.  He saw many of his friends from school, ate cotton candy and then got a box full of chicken wings for the ride home. 

I heard someone say 25 days until Christmas today.  That means I best crawl out of bed tomorrow and start painting Christmas cards. 

If you shopped the Black Friday events near you, I hope you scored major deals.  If you are like me and avoided shopping today, I am sure there will still be plenty of goods left to purchase in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow we make turkey sandwiches made with waffles from left over stuffing, I can't wait.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thanksgiving Sunset

It's been a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Plenty of laughter and good food, those are how I measure a good holiday.  Kids of all ages crawling through the doggie door also helps to add to the fun.
Not many leftovers, that is a good sign as well, and me asking Rick at 5:00 pm if it's too early for bed.   And then there was the incredible sunset...it's been a good day.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Gratitude

"Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have more to express gratitude for. "  - Zig Ziglar

May we practice gratitude daily, not just at Thanksgiving.  Remember to be kind.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow and every day.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Busy Tuesday

I dry brined the turkey this morning.  Hurried through my usual morning chores, then we left for Jasper to film the video of our Christmas song and have lunch at the Daily Mt. Eagle which is one of the newspapers Rick writes for.   The video is for the paper's social media site so as soon as it is up and going we will share.

I taught my women's group at work today.  Several of the students left for home today.  I will go in tomorrow, but now sure how many will be there.  I am just happy so many of them get to go home for Thanksgiving.

Rain moved in earlier, more rain coming.  For those of you on the road the next couple of days, be safe.   Don't forget to breathe, be kind and laugh out loud.

Monday, November 25, 2019

November Sunset

November can certainly paint a sunset.  Clouds moving in, maybe some storms tomorrow night and again this week.  We are in our second tornado season and the rest of you get snow.  Did you hear me sigh?

We are taping our video tomorrow.  It's a Christmas song that we wrote and it for the social media section of one of the newspapers Rick writes for.  This is a first, it will be fun and interesting.

Be kind, laugh out loud and hug those you love.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Gasp Worthy

We've lost most of our fall color but there are still moments that take your breath.  As we walked this morning, the gold of the leaves against the blue sky made me gasp.

We had Thanksgiving lunch with my sister Pat and her family today.  Our first time to meet our great great niece Hailey and what a delight she was.
Born in August, she was so curious and wide eyed about the family gathering today.

A busy week ahead, but then this time of year seems to always be rather frenzied.
If you are traveling, wishing you safe travels.
Be grateful, be kind, spread joy.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Sky Beauty

Autumn and winter skies seem the most colorful at sunset.  Maybe it's the crisp coolness of the air, the lack of humidity and heat, I don't know but the sky seems its most beautiful to me this time of year.

A day of grocery shopping, a long nap and cleaning house and rehearsing a Christmas song we wrote a few years ago for a video.  ( more about that in the next couple of weeks.)
Have a peaceful Sunday.

Friday, November 22, 2019

TGIF

Rain and fog shrouded the narrow country roads on my way home tonight.   It was both beautiful and a little scary.  As the rain came down, autumn leaves swirled through the drops.  The drive was sorta like moving through a beautiful painting.

A long day with my classes, everyone is sneezing and coughing.  It seems this is that time of year when flu and colds are rampant.  I washed my hands countless times today. 

I know it's the weekend, but right now I can't think of anything more than a cup of hot tea and bed.
I am sure for so many this weekend before Thanksgiving will be a busy one.  Don't forget to be kind.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Patrons of the Arts

We played one of our favorite gigs tonight.   We have been playing this gig for about 5 years and we love the venue and the people.  It is a fundraiser for a museum a couple of hours from where we live.
Tonight they had a silent auction, a book signing and an artist fair with wine and cheese.  And we played.  They treat us like rock stars, but this community and group of people who love and cherish the arts are the true stars.  I have never seen so much talent in one community.  Not only visual arts but they also have one of the most active singer/songwriter organizations around as well.

Even though tomorrow is Friday, it will be my Thursday since I took off today to play this gig.
I am tired but content.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Trees/Hope

 This is part of the base of the water oak that sits at the end of our driveway.  My dad planted it as a sapling over four decades ago.
Today it is a beautiful giant tree, full of tiny acorns that rattle on our tin roof every fall.

Each time I get out of my car I look at this tree and feel the connection to my dad.  It is true that those who plant trees have hope for the future, a belief that someone else will enjoy their beauty.  My dad knew he would never live to see this tree reaching up to the sky but he had hopes that some of us would.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Ancestor Support

Sharing one of my most favorite quotes with you tonight.



"The warrior in your heart says stand your ground.  Feel the survival of a thousand years of ancestors in your muscles and blood.  You have all the support you need in your bones."
-jack kornfield

Monday, November 18, 2019

Taz/Shoes

Taz has a thing about shoes.  She loves leather, doesn't chew on it just sleeps with her head snuggled up against the shoe.   The other weird thing, she hides my shoes I wear to work.  Some times she takes them outside through the doggie door.  She has hid them behind sofa pillows, under the sofa, in the laundry room.  Today I could not find them any where.  I got in tonight and started to fluff the down comforter on the couch, yep there were my shoes.  She cracks me up. She is so small, and to jump on the sofa with a shoe in her mouth takes incredible effort.

As Mondays go, this has been a good one.  I hope yours was good  as well.
Keep spreading the joy and kindness, it's important.  Enjoy your Tuesday.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

November Flag

The pumpkin flag goes up about mid-September, the cornucopia hangs on November 1 to December 1.   I call it the flag of gratitude.  It's been an interesting weekend.  Some are like that.

I hope your Monday brings joy, that you experience kindness and love, but most importantly, you show someone kindness and love.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Weekend

Rick had Bee School today, so I did the chores around the house and this afternoon we did errands.
Tomorrow Jordan has a swim meet ( he had one today as well) and we will watch him swim.
We will also rehearse tomorrow afternoon.  We have a show at one of our favorite venues this Thursday night and we are so excited!

It has been a beautiful fall day.  I am so grateful for our wonderful weather.  ( though many are complaining about the cold)  Enjoy your Sunday.  Be kind, spread joy and don't forget to laugh out loud.


Friday, November 15, 2019

Dog Walk

Somedays the dogs hang with Rick and then there are those days when they hang with me.  It doesn't matter, they are so much fun to walk with and to see the world through their eyes is a unique experience.

I love our dogs.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Endurance

Thursdays are my endurance days.  By the time I make it home on Thursday evening, my body and my spirit are spent.  I have learned to make Fridays, "me" days.

Cold and rainy today, but the air seems so clean and fresh, I find it invigorating.

I hope your Friday brings you a few hugs, a bit of joy, and always kindness.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Hump Day

Chair yoga classes today for the guys.  They were pretty doubtful about the chairs, I could see that look in their eyes like, yeah, chair yoga.  Can I tell you they were surprised by how slow, gentle yoga in chairs can stretch and relax you.  They enjoyed the class.

We humans are so interesting, we think we have to push ourselves to the point of exhaustion to accomplish anything good for our bodies.  We are so wrong.  Daily walks for cardio, light weights for strength, and yoga for balance, flexibility, breath and relaxation.  No pushing or forcing.
Life is stressful enough, getting healthy should be something we enjoy not dread.

The clouds rolled in so we lost the moon tonight, but what a beauty it was last night.
I hope your Thursday brings kindness and joy and don't forget to laugh out loud.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Blueberry Red

Rick had to fetch me at work yesterday evening, vertigo and nausea hit.  It was a rough night, but better today.

Even though we have record breaking cold, we have an  incredibly beautiful full moon tonight.
The stars and that moon have bathed everything in a silver glow.

If you don't eat blueberries but you love beautiful plants you should plant some bushes.
Their fall color is spectacular.  We get more golds and browns and not so much red, so the blueberry reds are nice.

I am about to cook dinner, not much food has been in my system today so I am hungry.
Stay warm.  Be kind.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Fall Beauty

As we walked the dogs this morning, we realized that we are almost peak fall color.  By next weekend it will be fall in all its glory.  This morning with azure skies, chilly temps and colors starting to deepen we both were so thankful for the beauty that surrounds us.

Today was a day to do some farm things, feed the bees, water all the indoor plants, plant blueberry bushes, a dwarf maple was transplanted and a couple of crepe myrtles and a gardenia bush were planted.  We are both a bit stiff and sore tonight.

Dinner was black bean/ham soup and Rick's glorious cornbread.  A great way to end a good day.

I go back to work tomorrow after being off a week.  I am feeling much better and hope this crude has decided to leave my body.  Be kind, spread joy, laugh out loud...enjoy the beauty where ever you find it.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Old Friends, New Friends

My friend from grammar school texted me yesterday and said she and a couple of her friends would be out in the country today and would love to drop by for a visit.  I was thrilled.  Karen and I had been close friends when we were kids, but she had moved and we lost touch.

A few years ago her husband was killed in a plane crash and as tragedy sometimes does, it awakened a desire in her to reconnect with her past.  We met for lunch one day and discovered our friendship was still there. 

Today, Karen, her friends Kathy and Dianne visited and it was delightful. Kathy brought homemade bread, we shared honey and fig preserves and mugs of hot tea and laughter filled the house.  Rick and I took them through a section of our walking path on this beautiful fall day and we all agreed, "life is good."  Karen and I are in the center, Kathy and Dianne bookend us.  What a wonderful day.
 

Good Times

A fun gig tonight, good crowd but I am so ready for bed.   Good night, Sweet dreams.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Fall Color

We have a gig tomorrow night, our first in a few months.  I am excited, we have practiced and we are ready.  The downside, I have had a respiratory infection with low grade fever for several days.  I started strong antibiotics today and tonight the fever has subsided.  Fingers crossed I am over the hump.

Rain moved into today, and cooler temps are on the way.  I saw the S word mentioned in a forecast for Tuesday.  We shall see.

I truly had not planned on taking this week off, but today I realized how much my body and spirit needed it.   Taz and I have taken nice long walks and naps. 

This morning when we walked, fall color had deepened.  I love the change of the seasons.

Enjoy your Friday, stay warm, be kind and laugh out loud.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Off

I decided to take the week off.  There were several reasons, one including the respiratory stuff that has cropped up.  I think I needed a break.  This is the first time in the 15 years working at the facility that I have taken off and not been sick, on vacation or for a death.  To be honest there have been years that I have not taken a vacation.  It has been incredible being home this week.  We worked on our music for three hours today. 

Rain is moving in tonight and there are rumors of an Arctic  Express coming through next week.
Maybe my wishes for snow will come true this winter.

Enjoy your Thursday, spread joy, be kind. 

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Fall Flowers

I think these are a sort of wild aster.  It is so strange to see them bloom even after we have had a couple of freezes.   There are small patches of them scattered across the farm.

A warm front moving up from the Gulf today and tomorrow, rain all day Thursday and then fall returns.
70 degrees today made the bees go into a feeding frenzy.  It is interesting to see how active warm sun  makes them and how lethargic they become when it's cold.

I have missed a couple of days work, seems the kids might have shared a little respiratory bug with me on Sunday.  Hopefully by Thursday I will be back teaching.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Gnome House

When Samantha ( Jordan's mom) was a little girl we watched the cartoon show, David the Gnome.  She loved it and we were constantly on the lookout for those places we thought Gnomes might live.

This hole at the roots of this tree down by the barn was a place we just knew was a Gnome house.
The tree is a giant now, but the hole still exists and today when I walked by and saw the white fungus growing I laughed and thought, oh the Gnomes are decorating.

I had picked up the tiny branch full of acorn caps as we walked and thought wow, this will be beautiful here.  I hope the Gnomes appreciated its uniqueness.
Can't you just imagine a family of Gnomes living in this beautiful little spot?

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Making Memories

We had my brother's family and my sister and her daughter, grand daughter and great grand son over for chili and hot dogs and smore's and hot cider today.  The kids had a great time, the adults had fun and I thought so much about my parents.  Yesterday was 15 years ago my mom died, my dad who passed away in 1991 would have celebrated his 101 birthday on the 26 of October, they both would have loved today.  I like to think that this is how we honor our ancestors, this coming together to share food and fellowship.  A fire burning in the fire-pit, kids laughing and running through the yard, simple food, these are the memories we seal in our DNA in hopes that generations decades from now, will enjoy moments like these.  I hope these kids remember us with love and remember the good times at Uncle Rick and Aunt Jilda's house.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Slavic Food Festival

A little village about 20 miles from us has an amazing history.  It is Brookside, Al and it is home to the only Russian Orthodox Church south of the Mason Dixon Line.  For the past 27 years or so they have had a Slavic Food Festival.  Rick and I visited one of the very first they celebrated.  We met out friends Danny and Jo Francis this morning and headed to Brookside.

It was a perfect fall day with clear blue skies and chilly temps.  When we got there, there were a few people stirring around and we visited the church first and listened to the Father tell its history.
Then we decided to go next door to get in line for food.  The dinning hall was packed, but the atmosphere was festive and in about 30 minutes we had our food and oh what food it was.

We dined on Kolbasa and Kraut, Holupkic (stuffed cabbage), Halushki (potato dumplings) Piroshki ( meat pies), Pigachi ( potato cheese bread)....there was so much more I can't name it all.  There was Russian tea,  and baked goods and a beautiful quaint gift shop with handcrafted items.  I brought home a small St. Nicholas to hang on our Christmas tree.

The church and the village have an interesting history, if you get a chance be sure to Google Brookside, Al.  St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church.  I think you will find the history memorable. So here we are, me, Jo, Danny and Rick...look at that sky.

Friday, November 1, 2019

November 1

November 1...a change in the weather, boots and sweaters finally

November 1...I love fall

November 1...Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday

November 1... nothing as spectacular as the color of fall, even in the south

November 1...October 1 it was 100 degrees, October 31 it was 31

November 1...this month is bittersweet, with all it's beauty and bounty, it is the month my mom died

November 1...today is All Saint's Day, the love, the courage, of all that have come before us, lives in our DNA...honor them tonight

November 1...two months left in 2019

November 1...bird feeding frenzy begins as their source of food dwindles

November 1...nothing like a cold night sky

November 1...is it too early to hope for snow?

November 1...fireplace, dogs snoring and music...all good things