Heat Wave

We like most of the US are in a heat wave.  Mornings are the time to get things done outside, because this evening the heat index is 103.  Our heat and humidity hit early this year, I can only hope fall and winter do as well.  All I can do is sing every song about heat I know.  Heat Wave is number one right now.  :)

More storms are suppose to roll in tomorrow, it will be a good day to rest and get ready for our gig next weekend.

We have large green tomatoes, I cannot wait until they ripen.  We will get up early in the morning to pick blueberries, about one more pick and the blueberries will be history.

I hope your Saturday has given you what you needed.  Ours gave us an hour nap which was heavenly.  May our Sunday bring us peace.

Pool Party

My great nephew Anthony had his birthday party at the local country club this evening.  The club has a great pool and all the kids love going there.    It was hot so it was the perfect time for a pool party.
Rick, my brother Ricky and I went for a little while, but it was way too hot for us.  But the kids all had a great time and that was most important.

Today was our Costco run, so we spent the morning in Birmingham and I spent most of the afternoon restocking our freezer and pantry.  Tomorrow should be an easy day.

Enjoy your Saturday.  Anthony with a few of his friends and cousins blowing out the candles.

Stormy Day

Strong storms rolled through our area today.  Heavy rain and rough winds brought trees down everywhere and took power lines with them.  Still waiting to hear from one nephew, he couldn't get down the street to his neighborhood.  Hoping his home and dogs are ok.

Our power was out for a few hours, at work I took students from the top floor where my room is to the main floor.  Trees looked as if they were doing some weird dance with the wind and rain while lightening flashed.

All is quiet tonight and maybe this pattern of storms is done.  The heat is still oppressive.
Early morning tomorrow, the bed is calling.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Tigers

I  usually remember where all my flowers come from, who gave me the bulbs or plants and when.
These tiger lilies are different, I think I just bought the bulbs years ago at a the dollar store and hoped for the best.  I love them, because they are different, an odd sort of beauty.  I love the colors and markings, they look other worldly don't they?

This morning walking the dogs, the sunlight stroked their petals and they glowed.  I am so glad I had my phone with me. 

I did a  Reclast ( think that is the spelling) infusion on Monday because my bones are thinning. Yesterday and last night I thought the flu had found me.  Chills, fever, aches and yucky, turns out all side effects of the drug.   This evening it is all finally gone.  I have decided to up my game, adding jogging to my daily walks.  Hopefully that will add enough weight bearing exercise to strengthen my bones.

The week and the month are almost gone.  2018 is half gone.  The merry-go-round gets faster and faster doesn't it?  Make the most of tomorrow, it's a full moon.

Update/Change

My brother was back in the ER today, think they have finally figured out what is  causing the horrific pain in his leg and making his blood pressure fluctuate, bone on bone in the hip joint.  He sees his primary care doctor Thursday and we go from there.  Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers.

I used a quote on my board a few days ago that resonated with many of my students.  I am sharing it with you all tonight.  I wish I could find who said it, but all I could come up with was unknown.


"The only time it's too late to change yourself is when you're dead.
Until then you're simply making excuses or lying to yourself."

HOT

Heat index of 100 today, more heat to come, we are under a heat advisory.  I am truly not fond of hot weather, I can't believe there could possibly be 3 more months of this heat and humidity.  It is very difficult to breathe.

My brother is home, waiting for results from all the tests.  Thank you for all the love.

Taz is getting older.  When we first got her she could jump on our bed or sofa with no effort.  Now she struggles.  We bought her pet steps.  Now we have to teach her use them, she is unsure of carpet covered steps.  In her heart she still wants to jump, we have to be patient. 

I hope your week is off to a good start.  Spread some love, share some kindness.

Unpected

This was not the Sunday that I expected.  That will teach me.  I had called both my sisters to check on how they were doing this morning.  While I was talking to Nell, the oldest, my brother Ricky's number showed up on caller ID.  I saw it and kept talking to Nell, knowing I would call Ricky when I completed my conversation with her.

The next thing I knew, Rick was at the sofa telling me to get off the phone he had to talk with me.
Seems my brother was on his way to the ER and had called to tell me.  The ER checked his heart out first, and everything was good, they ran several tests, but found nothing.  He will check in with his primary care doc tomorrow.  We all have had tick bites this week, but he has had 3.  I am concerned that muscle weakness in the legs and a tingling sensation might be a signal that he is coming down with Lyme disease.  Please send him good thoughts.

It has been a wacky few days here in many ways.  Hoping things will settle down soon.
This is the last week of June, I hope it is an uneventful week for everyone.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Rain Dance

For most of the day, we have had monsoonal rains with vivid lightening and loud thunder.  The dogs have not taken it well.  The sun actually came out around 3:00 and it was beautiful, but the storms are back.

I looked out the backdoor today and in the midst of a shower I saw that the dahlia my sister Nell had given me for my birthday was blooming.  She was dancing in the rain.  She is a dainty little gem, not those big plate size dahlias that my grandmother Mamie grew.  She seemed very brave in all the rain and wind.

I hope your Saturday has been a good.  I wish you a peaceful Sunday and that a stranger surprises you with kindness.
Goodnight Sweet dreams

Happy

 We walked the dogs after the rain this morning.  As we were walking down the barn road we saw Jordan and his Nana walking toward us.  Great minds think alike.  There was a cool breeze and the sun was shinning, more like April or May than summer.

We invited them to have breakfast with us.  While Jordan and Rick picked blueberries I cooked eggs and bacon.  After breakfast Jordan looked at all those blueberries and asked what we were going to do with them.  I laughed and told him he could take some home and I would make blueberry banana bread with some and then the rest would go in the freezer.  Our day got off to a great start.

More rain rolled in this evening.  More rain tomorrow, but then sunshine for a few days.  The fruits and veggies should be happy.

Tomorrow between the rain showers we are going to try and redo the chicken pen.  It has been makeshift since storms rolled through a while back.  Time to get it done.  The chickens will be happy.
Looks as though this will be the weekend  when everything will be happy.

Goodnight Sweet dreams

Rain

RAIN!  We woke up to rain this morning, it was wonderful.  I know our garden and fruit trees danced.

For some reason, I am very tired tonight.  So glad that this is Thursday and no work tomorrow.
My tea and bed await me.

Sweet dreams.

Kids Laughing

Our great niece Breeze and great nephew Jordan spent most of the day with us.  They arrived in time for breakfast ( blueberry waffles by request) and left after lunch (spaghetti, once again by request).
In between there were dog walks, wild dancing, games, popsicles and laughter.  Kids laughing is the best sound in the world.

We loved having them here.  Jordan lives next door so we see him more often than we do Breeze and her siblings.  I can't wait for them to come back.   Having them here just makes you feel good.

Classes at work today dealt with boundaries and the understanding of giving and taking. Not easy lessons, and there were some tears but valuable thoughts for the women who were in the class.
We started and ended the class with the concept of living like water.  Water can be beautiful and fragile like raindrops on a rose or it can be strong and destructive like a raging river.  What water cannot go through, it finds a way to go around.  Learning to go with the flow can be difficult.

The weather guys swear rain is on its way.  Fingers are crossed, the earth here is getting hot and dry.
Enjoy your Thursday, spread joy, share kindness.

Good Morning

Once again a surprise while walking the dogs.  I thought that all of my day lilies had bloomed, but one surprised me this morning and she was like a dose of sunshine.  After I saw her, the song Good Morning from Singing in the Rain played in my head all day.  Not a bad thing I suppose.

Some days work is chaotic.  It was today.  Drama filled every corner.  I could not wait to get home and breathe and spend a few moments in solitude.  Of all things I was flipping channels on the tv and Singing in the Rain was on TCM.  I got to hear Good Morning.  I love the jokes that the universe plays when we least expect them.

I share my "Good Morning" Lily with you tonight.  Doesn't she make you hear that song?

Letting Go of Fear

Classes today were all about letting go of fear and remembering we are stronger than we think.
Fear is debilitating, it robs us of happiness and joy, of peace, of health, of love.  Fear robs us of relationships, of making our dreams come true.  Fear takes away our confidence and our trust.
We are always stronger than what we think.

Fear that stops us from living our lives is worse than a prison because it is inflicted.  If fear is taking away your quality of life, be brave enough to seek professional help.  Don't cheat yourself out of living the life you were meant to live.

Our blueberries are getting bigger and more juicy every day.  Today's bounty was incredible.
I wish you could smell them and taste them.

A beautiful new moon tonight.  I love new moons.  I like to think they bring new beginnings and possibilities.

Enjoy your Tuesday.  If your fears are small, take a breath and a giant step and do it.  Face your fear.  Take that class, apply for that job, learn something new, visit someplace new, eat something different, smile and be kind.

Father's Day

Hope everyone had a good Father's Day.  We had our friend Fred over along with Sam and Jordan and her mom for supper.  Once again it has been a really nice day.  I have thought about my dad a great deal today.  I miss him.  The photo is the last time we went to the beach together.  He loved the ocean.  That picture was made less than a year before he died.  I had no clue. 

Get ready for Monday.  Be kind.  Practice the Golden Rule, that's what my dad taught me.

No Agenda

I can't remember the last time when we had no agenda, there is always something on my day planner.  But today, today was awesome, no agenda, nothing on the planner.  Well there were things on the planner, but we ignored them. Will play catch up tomorrow.

One of the things aging has taught me, chronic illness has taught me...it's ok to do nothing.  We ate leftovers for lunch and cooked a steak tonight.  We didn't even pick blueberries today.  The most strenuous thing I did, bathed Taz.  Trust me, that is no work, she loves her bath.  Though what she loves even more, after the bath, go outside and roll in the grass.

I hear thunder in the distance. We are hoping for rain.  The heat has been so bad, everything is drying out fast.  Will water plants tomorrow if we don't get rain.

May your Sunday bring you peace and may those around you feel joy.  Be Kind.

Hot Friday Night

A hot Friday night in Jasper, Al tonight.  Out door concerts are always warm this time of year in Alabama.  Thankfully, the clouds covered the setting sun, the temps dropped and life was good.

We are hot, tired and I am so ready for bed.  It was so much fun tonight, our friends Joe and Dave are incredible singer/songwriters and musicians and sharing the stage with them was awesome.

Two more shows at Lavish Coffee for the summer and then football season starts and that is pretty much  the end of local music shows until winter.  So it goes.

Hope your Friday night was fun.  Be kind to all you meet tomorrow.

Butterfly Bait

Hot, humid and the beginnings of a migraine.  About to ice my head down and hope for the best, we have a gig tomorrow night, on with the show.

My butterfly bushes are in their prime.  Every day they are bigger and have more blooms.  I love them.  But then of course, I love all my plants.

Thinking Bench

Spending the day with Rick and Jordan is like spending the day with the Marx brothers.  The only time Jordan is ever in a bad mood is if he is sick.  Now Rick is educating him on the merits of the "thinking bench".    The day goes by in a flash with the two of them.  What a fun day we have had.

Lady

When Samantha (Jordan's mom) was a small child, maybe 4 or 5 she watched Clifford the Big Red Dog on PBS every time she stayed with me.  She would look at me and tell me how much she wanted a dog just like Clifford.

A few years ago, she and Jordan were driving home and saw 3 tiny pups on the side of the road.  Some thoughtless person had thrown them out like garbage.  They brought all three pups home with them.  Samantha's brother Haven took 2 of them and she and Jordan kept one.  They called her Lady.

Now this was a tiny pup but her paws were huge.  Sam's parents looked at the dog and said oh keep her, she won't be very big.  Boy were they wrong.  Lady now weighs about 100 pounds, but she is still that sweet little puppy inside.  She is an Airedale mix, with red wiry hair.  She has the grace of a bull in a china shop and a bark/howl that is ear piercing.  Sam finally got her Clifford.

Every day when Sam, Deb and Rick go to work and Jordan goes to school, Lady comes to stay with us.  She and Calliou and Hook and Taz are great friends.  They are always having some sort of adventure, just like Clifford and his friends.  Rick and I love her almost as much as Sam and Jordan.
Here's a photo of her on Hook's bed, they share.  Her favorite spot, the sofa.  Isn't that a sweet face?

 

Royal Purple

A good day.  Nice normal things, temps a little cooler, slower pace, just what I needed.  And another surprise as I walked the dogs, another rose of sharon showed her beautiful face.  I love the deep purple.  The pink ones and white ones have not appeared yet, don't worry I will share.

Be kind tomorrow, we all need it.

Sunday Surprise

Each day when we walk the dogs we are surprised.  Sometimes the surprise is the beauty of the day, or how funny the dogs are or what they scare up.  In the spring and summer the surprises are endless and usually deal with nature. 

This morning this rose of sharon was my surprise.  The sun was shinning its rays through the trees and there she was.  A little shy, but what a beauty.

I hope your Sunday has given you peace and joy.  Get some rest, get ready for the week ahead.
Don't forget to be kind.

Saturday Vibes

It has been a much better day than yesterday.  We did flowers for Rick's family's graves at their cemetery decoration.  We bought our great niece Daisy a birthday gift and shopped at Aldi.  We walked the dogs, spent some time outside.  I have also washed all the yoga mats from work and now are washing yoga blankets.  Busy day.

We are about to have Saturday night tacos and watch a movie.  Tomorrow is Rick's family reunion, another busy day.  It is also time to pick blueberries again.  They just keep getting bigger and more juicy.  We have a gig next weekend so we are also rehearsing this weekend as well.

A good portion of my family is at the beach this weekend.  Reports they keep sending include, nice sea breeze, calm water and great food.  That's ok.  When we take our vacay, I will send them updates. 

I hope your Saturday has been fun.  That's important you know, to have fun.  Wishing you peace tomorrow, and laugh out loud.  Laughter makes you feel better all over.
Now for tacos and a movie. 

PT

PT almost triggered an episode today.  As soon as I finished I took my meds otherwise, the trip home would have been awful.  I spent my off day afternoon on the sofa.  Ugh.  I understand the reasoning and method for the PT but doing something that triggers an episode seems counterintuitive.  I left there today in a Rainman sort of mood, PT sucks.  Sorry, attitude check is required, I know.

Air quality is worsening but the good news rain is moving in tomorrow evening and Sunday and hopefully will move the bad stuff out.

The blueberries are just getting sweeter and juicier everyday.  Soon the blackberries will be the same way.  I am eating myself silly with berries.  These last few days of hot sun have made the tomatoes grow big and fast.  The peppers are right behind them.

Thank goodness no schedule for tomorrow.  There are things to be done, but no appointments.
I am so glad.

Enjoy your Saturday, spread a little love and kindness.

Pinky

Normally I don't wish the week away, but I am so glad tomorrow is Friday.  Our air quality has been in the unhealthy category for those sensitive to ozone issues all week, and being one who truly has lung issues I am feeling the bad air.  Breathing just takes much more energy right now and I am fatigued. Cough, cough.

But, on that note about breathing, I did have great classes today.  Several new students came in and I said goodbye to a couple.  Three of my new students today had never experienced yoga or meditation.  I love when that happens.  It is such an honor to be someone's first teacher and to share meditation with those who  have addiction issues is wonderful.

I have PT tomorrow and then Rick's family have a big reunion this weekend.  I am in dire need of a vacation.  Maybe later in the summer.

Wishing you all a Friday that leads to an awesome weekend.  Have some fun, laugh out loud and always be kind.  More flowers blooming, I love their color.

Dedicated

Women's class today and it was awesome.  These women got up and went to a 6:00am meeting so they could come to yoga this afternoon.  That made my day.  When I see students in the program that committed it does my heart good and makes me want to be an incredible teacher for them.  I told the group how much I appreciated their efforts.  It has been a while since I have had a group this dedicated.

Another beautiful sunny day.  Our air quality is not great and my lungs feel it, but temps in the mid-eighties and low humidity have been wonderful.  Rain moving in this weekend.  More blueberries to pick tomorrow and a new recipe using blueberries this weekend.  More to come.

My hot tea awaits and I am more than ready for it tonight.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams 

Coke

Sunday I received a private message on FB that made me cry.  A good friend and fellow songwriter had died.  A rare disorder/virus had taken his life.  In her message, his wife spoke of his love for Rick and me.  All I could think of as I read her note, was how much we loved him.

He was funny and kind, he spoke his truth and wrote songs from the heart and he had served his country with pride.  Each time we played in Birmingham he and his wife would do their best to come hear us and we had the honor of sharing a stage with him through the years.

He grew up not far from us, a tiny community much like Empire, but as folks around here like to say, he done good.  He adored his wife and all I can think of is how much she will miss him.  But, as she reminded us today, he is no longer suffering and she has wonderful memories.

We met his younger brother today and two nephews who share his name.
  I told those young men who carry his name, they have a lot to live up to, big shoes to fill.  We met more of his friends and a woman who graduated from high school with him in 1957.  It was easy to see he had left his mark on many lives.  He was unique.

So tonight, I hope he is somewhere writing songs, telling stories and sharing his love.  He will be missed.
RIP in Coke.

Lilies

It has been such a great spring for flowers.  My day lilies had not bloomed much last year, but they have outdone themselves this year.
These were from my mom's gardens, aren't they beautiful?

Spread some love and kindness tomorrow.

A Great Sunday

Our friend Joe came over and surprise! we wrote a new song.  Writing with Joe Greg is so easy and fun.  Even when we write serious stuff, we laugh.  Today we laughed all the way through the song.
Can't wait to rehearse and play it.

Jordan started swim camp today.  Samantha took vacation this week so she could take him and hang out at the college where the camp is taking place.  It's at Birmingham Southern, which is where Rick got his master's.  It is a beautiful campus and a great school.  Jordan said the pool water was way too cold.  I told him he just has to swim faster to get out of it.  He did not appreciate my humor.

Weekends go by way too fast.  I think they should be longer than the work week, don't you?

About to get out my day planner and start blocking in my week.  Hoping that we all have a week of kindness and joy.  Hoping that we all laugh out loud every day.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Hot Saturday

Rick and I looked at each other at 9:00 am this morning and could not believe all that we had done.
We had gotten up early ( on a Saturday morning) because of things that we needed to do before the heat and humidity engulfed the day.  We have both learned the hard way, our aging bodies no longer handle Alabama summers the way they once did.  Tomorrow will truly be our day of rest.

The weather guys say cooler drier temps coming our way by Monday.  Fingers are crossed.  The high today was 92, the heat index was over 100.  Summer is not even here!

Our friend and songwriting buddy, Joe Greg is coming over tomorrow.  We are doing a show together soon.  I would say there might be some rehearsing, maybe writing  and lord knows there will be some fun and laughter  going on.  We can't wait.

Wishing you all a Sunday filled with peace, kindness and joy.

June 1

June 1....hot, wet muggy first day of June

June 1....summer is already here, no reason to wait for the official date

June 1....Father's Day, I miss my dad.  Would love to buy him a Father's Day gift once again

June 1...weddings, June brides, flowers o'plenty

June 1...fresh veggies and fruits

June 1...nothing like a long flowing dress with sandals

June 1...white jeans and bare feet

June 1....beach time

June 1...2018 is half over

June 1...flowers are blooming like crazy

June 1...vacation

June 1...school is out

June 1...cold watermelon, lemonade, iced tea

June 1...porch time

June 1...best time to grill