New Clothes

It is a very good thing that Rick and I never had kids, especially daughters.  When we first married I bought as much as I could for my nieces and nephews, but we were just getting started in our careers, going to school, saving to build a house...not much extra cash to go around.

As some of the younger ones came along, money was a little more plentiful so we were able to do more with them.  Now we have great and great-great nieces and nephews and our cash flow is not a river, but I do like to splurge for them on birthdays and Christmas.

Our great niece Joy celebrated her 5th birthday last week.  We didn't make it to her party, we did drop by her dad's office today to leave her gift.  Turns out Joy and her mom and siblings were there.
I had bought her this really cute little top and leggings and when she took them out of the package, she ran into the other room and immediately changed clothes.  I wished we had taken her picture, her little face was precious as she paraded around her dad's office in her new clothes.

Her sister Daisy  made the remark at her birthday this summer that she knew Aunt Jilda would always get her really nice clothes for birthdays and Christmas.  I got very few new clothes when I was young and by the time I was in high school, most of my clothes were home made.  But, my mom and dad always got me a new dress for Christmas and usually Easter.  I still have my Christmas dress from my senior year in high school.  I just can't let it go.

The power of possibilities comes with new clothes when you are a kid, or at least it did for me and it does for most of my nieces and nephews.  I was not a very pretty child, but a new dress made me feel pretty.  I try to share my hand me downs with Samantha or other nieces who wear my size.  And it's fun to see her get excited about "new things to wear".  Heck, one of my great nieces sent me a pair of cowboy boots that she didn't like and I was on cloud nine.

I know that inner beauty gives us a glow of joy, but clothes often give us a boost in our self-confidence.  My mom loved pretty clothes and I think she passed that gene on to me and by some strange osmosis I have given it to my nieces.

Brown and Dried

Crazy strange weather.  We are in a drought, with forest fires all around us, and those east of us will be hammered by wind and rain for the next few days.  One of my friends at work looked at me today and said he wished it would rain for five days here and I agreed.  Everything is so sad and wilted.  There is so little color, just brown and dried.

I have smelled so much smoke the past couple of days that my head is throbbing.  Maybe in a few weeks the rains will come here.

On a happy note, we are playing at a drum circle this weekend for charity.  I know it will be so much fun.  We are really looking forward to it.

If you are in the storm's path, prayers of safety for you and yours.  And for all of you tonight, blessings of peace and joy.

A Very Long Day

According to my FitBit I earned my urban boot badge today, 15,000 steps.  It has been a long day.
Cleaning closets, laundry, ironing, cooking, and teaching.  A grueling day as well, we are in a drought, under a burn ban and someone set the forest on fire behind out property.  Nothing quite as scary as an out of control forest fire burning through dry brush.  Thank goodness for the local fire departments and our forestry service, it is under control tonight.  The smell of smoke hangs heavy in the warm night air.

To our friends in Florida and up the East Coast, stay safe and dry.  Don't forget we have a guest room.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Be Here

A friend died this weekend.  Her husband found her dead, the result of a massive heart attack.  I knew she had some health issues, like most of us in our sixties, but her death has been a shock.
The last time I saw her was at a mutual friend's wedding.  It was a happy fun occasion and we talked about getting together, we just never did.

Life is so short.  Even if we live to be 100 ( which one of our high school teachers did this weekend)
life is short.  There are no promises of tomorrow.  I teach every day to be here, now.  Do what you love, let the people you love know that you love them and live today.

May we all be blessed with good health and love, may we all know joy and peace.  Be here, now.

Apple Heaven

The season started with a bumper crop.  It started in the spring, the old tree looked like a pink cloud down in the field.  Soon it was covered in hundreds of little green apples.  Then the storms hit, limbs broke, and then the summer drought caused apples to drop.  What started as a season of plentiful has ended up maybe a bushel or so.  But oh what apples!  They are sweet and crisp, the perfect blend of sugar and tart.  I would have loved more but am grateful for what we have.  I bet these are the apples that Eve ate.

Frog Festival

A busy weekend.  We spent most of yesterday at The Frog Festival in Sumiton, Al.  Rick does their website so he takes hundreds of photos at the Festival each year.    I take  a few myself.
Everywhere you look there are frogs  This little group in the wagon caught my eye.
Get some rest and a good night's sleep, in case you don't remember, tomorrow is Monday.

October 1

October 1...My mom and dad's anniversary today, they would have been married 73 years.

October 1...Blues skies, cool nights

October 1....My dad's and Rick's dad's birthdays this month

October...Halloween, don't you just love it

October 1....candy corn and roasted salted peanuts mixed together, my favorite treat

October 1....my twin brothers' birthday this month

October 1...we play at our first drumming circle on October 8

October 1...first pot of 15 bean soup simmering on the stove

October 1... I need/want new boots

October 1...I need/want new sweaters, if it ever gets cold

October 1...I love fall decorations

October 1....I love fall colors

October 1....bonfires and s'mores

October 1....the smell of leaves burning

October 1....fall, my favorite season