Boating, way back in the day
We chose to learn the waters from “the ground up,” you could say, or the sand up, perhaps. And yes, I crammed as much stuff as I could into our canoe, much to Dave’s dismay, but then he’d say, “It’s alright, I got you, and if that means your stuff, too, I’ll take it.” Smart…
My Mom, Designer & Seamstress
Featuring clothes that my mom, Carolyn Arnold, won awards for designing and making in the 1970’s in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and the respective newspaper articles.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom
My mom and her birthday cakes, so far. (The sorting of photos is far from complete.)
We Make Plans and God Ponders
Quite a bit, lately, I have been hearing, “We make plans and God laughs,” and although I like it okay as a saying, I do not truly believe that. More so, I believe that, “We make plans and God Ponders.” Then He laughs. I believe that God laughs in either one of two ways –…
11.17.19 later
As it turned out, my assistance today was not needed, And some old advice I had heard, I heeded – “Too many cooks in the kitchen,” or something like that, So I asked my brother to take me back, I have a lot to do before I pack, Oh wait – pack? That I don’t…
11.17.19
This morning it was crystal clear, I could respond in love or react in fear. I awoke with an attitude, That unfortunately, was very rude, I thought, “I don’t have time to help decorate, Because once again, I am running late. Behind schedule, I am, on all I wanted done Before heading to Florida and…
11.16.19
To the football game, I was not going to go, And then I realized, it could be the last one with my bro. A play-off game, it was last night, And the Waurika Eagles were out of sight! I am very glad went, even though it also meant I did not get to my poem,…
11.15.19
I wrote and recorded my poem yesterday, But before I sent it on its way, I decided there were things I should not say And so I shut down my computer and went to bed. I started writing about staying in the “now,” But majorly got off-track and I do not know how I did…
11.13.19
I found myself feeling a little worried today And then a voice said inside my head HEY! Have you forgotten how you felt just the other day, You had a calm sense of peace and knew everything would be okay. Give no attention to the negative in your head, Turn that talk around, generate positive,…
11.12.19
Today we mostly chilled, quite literally. We dreaded the drive to Duncan in the 27 degree weather Then we realized that the car was the warmest spot altogether. Cleaned out the car from our 9 day trip, we did that too, And now the house looks like a zoo. The cats don’t want us to…
11.11.19
We made it back to Hastings fine Although I thought it would be about 7 And it was more like 9 (eastern time). It was raining in Dallas And the wind was fierce And my nerves, Google did pierce. My maps app kept rerouting us, With no ability to discuss. “Accidents,” the voice would say,…
Me and My Bro, Road Trippin, Yoe!
My brother and I went on a road trip to go our nephew’s wedding (our other brother’s son). We went from Oklahoma to North Carolina and back. I put videos on YouTube along the way for our friends and family to follow. Here they are. The audio could be better, among other things, I’m definitely…
11.10.19
A year ago today we had A memorial service for our dad It is strange how quickly things can change (or not) Depending on how our thoughts, we arrange.
Annual Asparagus Festival
Every year for many years, we could count on my parents to stock our pantry with cases of home-grown pickled asparagus due to their abundant asparagus field and their talents in the kitchen. Even if we told them we still had plenty, my dad would say something like, “It will keep for years, and you…
A Wonderful Week for Selfies with Waterfalls
Brevard, North Carolina Transylvania County October 2018
Trippin in Transylvania
Trippin in Transylvania Transylvania County in Brevard, North Carolina, is where Dave and I went to celebrate our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary in October of 2018. Our anniversary is actually in September; we took the trip in October because I wanted to see the leaves change. Plus, Dave was busy with work until then. It has…
The Rock Star Tour of 2018
I was somewhat shocked to see the figure, after counting the states that Dave and I have driven through in the last nine months – nineteen. Nineteen states in nine months we have seen. “Pretty impressive,” I’d say. “Like a rock star!” Eleven states had us overnight and seven of the eleven for more than…
The Hastings Senior Citizens Center
There was quite a spread served-up today at the weekly Wednesday lunch (as usual) and thankfully a handful of people walked in right at noon, helping to keep the Hastings Senior Citizen’s Center open. Six bucks is all it costs to have a home-cooked meal, including dessert and an ice tea or ice water. The…
Awesome sunset at the end of the street
Tonight I was standing in front of my parent’s house in Hastings watching the sun set at the end of their street, which I thought was pretty neat!
If you really want to know… I’m a Cathodist
Best I can figure, I am a Cathodist Misallievangelical with close ties to the Baptist’s. However, I am mostly Catholic, then Methodist. The other two churches I elected to become a member of, I did so during my seeking years. I spent a few looking for a place where I would feel that I “fit…
The Revival in Waurika
The Revival in Waurika As I am not a huge fan of organized religion, my immediate reaction this morning upon hearing of the “Bible Quest Worship & Drama” schedule for the week at my parent’s church was, I hope my parents won’t want to come to this every night. Church every night, oh, that just seemed like a…
Hola from Oklahoma!
Hola from Oklahoma! Hola, Hello, Hi, from Oklahoma where the air is dry, and sixty-five degrees and sunny seems like the perfect day. That’s how it was the day after I arrived. On Wednesday, however, when I flew in, it was in the 30’s, and I sure was thankful that I opted on bringing along…
The Garden Gym
My dad and I shared some laughs today when I started to ask what a hoe looked like. “Here it is,” I hollered upon seeing it, just as the image of what I was looking for came to me. I hurried over to the garden where he was waiting to show me where to plant…
Miss Kitty needs a long branch
It takes a long branch for Miss Kitty when it comes to helping another, which I believe is mostly due to fear. She can appear to be mean, with her, I’ll get you before you get me, attitude, although I know she is not really mean. She is just scared. Miss Kitty is different and…
Meet Miss Kitty
Miss Kitty is absolutely adorable, until she’s not, which is actually much of the time. But even then, she’s still pretty darn cute. Miss Kitty prefers to be her cutest in private. Sometimes I am able to spy on her moments of solitude, but most of the time I get busted watching her and she…
Let No One be Left Behind
Having passed people-pleasing on the rung below me, the rung on the ladder of life, I am now on a new rung. A new rung does present new challenges, however, I feel ready for this rung. For I saw this quality in myself some time ago and shared these thoughts with friends. I shared with them how,…
The Q-tip Quip
For years, when I would complain of not feeling well, Dave would listen to me the first or second time and then suggest I not focus so much on the ailment. Although he meant well, this usually did not go over well with me. Whether it was my inflamed sinuses or a migraine headache, a…
It’s a bunny, it’s a monkey, it’s Susie!
People may have thought (and with good reason) that I was likely the latest resident of Royal Palm Beach to loose their driver’s license (or their home 😉 ), but thank God that was not the cause of my peddling more than nine miles around the town yesterday. “No, I am not a homeless person loitering in…
Cake of Cheese
Dave is good. He called on his way home and after we hung up, I thought, “Poor guy, he’s probably wondering, does, ‘I don’t want cake’ really mean I shouldn’t get cake, or is this one of those times when I should know better?” Then I prayed for help accepting whatever he would decide to do.…
It was a good day to have a good day!
I almost started to wallow and wonder why I had forgotten to change my appointment for my semi-annual teeth cleaning, for who wants to go to the dentist on their birthday? I decided instead to be grateful that I can. I decided instead to call it a ‘celebrate me’ day. And after getting my teeth…
Reel Big Fish at the Fair
I think it is funny, how I had never heard of Reel Big Fish before exactly one month ago. On that day, December 26, 2016, we – me, Amanda and David – were driving the three hours from Ft. Myers to West Palm when David asked if we wanted to listen to a CD he had. We…
Amanda’s Visit at Christmas – Part 2
In Part 1 of Amanda’s Visit at Christmas 2016, I left-off on Christmas day in Ft. Myers, and in case you missed it, this has become my favorite part of Christmas – when we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus at Dave’s cousin’s house. She goes all-out, with a birthday cake and candles. I love it, even…
Amanda’s Visit at Christmas 2016
Three hours north and then a half hour west in the middle of nowhere, was about all I knew of the road trip I was taking to go get Amanda from the Sanford Airport. Although not in the middle of nowhere, much of the two-lane road ran right through the St. John’s River. And right…
Big Block Party of Birds
I took this video on Christmas day in Ft. Myers. Not a rare sight for those whose yard we were in; however, I was amazed. It was really something to be standing in the middle of! And I couldn’t help but think of my grandmother. I never will forget the time she started reciting a…
The Six-Dollar Sunset
Heading west, Dave made an impromptu move, and changing lanes said, “Let’s go over to Sanibel and watch the sunset.” “I don’t care,” I said, with no enthusiasm. “Okay good,” he responded, as if I had said, “Yeah, wonderful idea!” I sat there amused at first, that he chose to take my “I don’t care”…
Disney Virgin
What a delight it was, to see Amanda and Tony for the second time in six months! And to have Jonathon join us! Dave and I don’t know which was more exciting – doing Disney again with the kids or seeing Tony experience it for the very first time. It can be overwhelming and even…
Susie’s Second Subaru
I was going to title this, “Susie’s getting sick of surprises with Subaru’s,” and as I was typing it, I realized this was not a true statement. “Go ahead, surprise me again honey, I’m ready! I can take it! I think.” So, after 11 months of faithful service, my Subaru said no more. A week…
Spiritual Gifts Surprise
I recently came across a most interesting document, dated over six years ago from when I was active in a local church. At the end of what could be called “a weekend retreat” (the simplest way I know to describe it), I was presented with a seven-page printout outlining my Spiritual Gifts, what each one…
Happy Birthday Dad!
For your birthday dad, you get to drive two and a half hours to come get us from the airport! (Thank you, by the way!) Happy Birthday!!! The only reason Dave and I did not miss our flight that morning is because we were the only ones on it. We got lost trying to find…
My Cart Creation – a mobile desk
I have more ideas for blogs than you can possibly imagine. Okay, I exaggerate, but my ideas are many. And can I tell you how I have planned? Countless hours spent planning, figuring, and planning some more, have left me with fifteen different sites to manage (no exaggeration) and a confused manager of it all.…
Saying Good-bye to my Babies
The mojo around the Raffey Compound has definitely changed ever since the loss of our two dirty white boys. The male felines that snuggled their way into our hearts will laze around our bed no more. Yes, I am sad to report that Big-Foot and Indee have both said good-bye to this world. It was on…
Susie’s Subaru
Dave will say he was tired of hearing me complain; I know that my increasing comfort of never leaving home had him concerned. And so knowing how much I love surprises, he came home in the middle of the day to get me and go look for a car. Within 2 hours, we were sitting at…
Just a chicken, yet a cool pet
Some may say it’s strange to have such feelings for a chicken and that’s okay, I am going to tell you about it anyway. Squockers wasn’t just a chicken, she was our pet. She had personality and made us laugh. Making the discovery that I did this morning, was upsetting. I am sad to say that…
Who would have thunk!
About six weeks ago, my son urged me with excitement to come outside and see his new pet that he had found. “Where did you find it?” I asked. “Out front,” was his reply. “Out front where?” “Just out front, come on!” So I followed him, having no idea what to expect and half-way wondering…
Everything but the Kitchen Sink
It’s funny how my husband comments every single time on how much stuff I bring with me on the boat. “Oh my gosh honey,” he exclaimed this morning, “we’re only going for a half a day!” From my standpoint, the length of the boat ride or amount of time we will be gone doesn’t have…
CHOO-CHOO!
What is it about trains that fascinate children so? My nephew, Christopher, loved trains more than anyone I’ve ever known. Anytime he heard a train, whether on television, the radio or real life, his face brightened as he bellowed out, “CHOO-CHOO!” And if he saw one in person? Oh forget it – the excitement this…
Animation Domination Anyone?
Have you ever wondered why the conception of adult cartoons for television didn’t happen until “Generation X” came on the scene? I have, so I googled it. It turns out that the proper name is adult animation, I’m guessing because cartoons are for kids. I also discovered that while this generation was the first to bring adult animation…
Which Way’s the Wind Blowin?
I think it’s interesting how the weather at my house has changed since the power plant went in, and I’m amazed at how many people have no idea there’s a power plant in Loxahatchee. A few years ago, I noticed that a good number of storms rolling through the area would go around our house,…
Mother Nature Knocks
Mother Nature Knocks outside of our office
Indee
Here’s Indee, my lover-boy, who boldly makes a statement occasionally when he gets jealous of our big baby boy, a pitbull. He steals his bed.
Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of running away?
The newest addition, Miss Kitty, adopted us last November. She looks adorable, doesn’t she? Well when she’s sleeping, she is. Then she wakes up and becomes Miss Bully. I’m sure she had a home prior to us, as I took her to get “fixed,” thinking she was a baby, and was informed that she was…
Old Man Big Foot
Although lately I’ve been calling him, “Old Man Big Foot,” he will always be my “Baby Boy Blue Eyed Big Foot.” He is now 15 years old. I interrupted him kneading his claws on daddy’s chest…
Solar Systems, Galaxies & Universes
Our solar system includes the Sun, eight planets, their moons, and all other celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. There are 146 known moons in orbit around the planets and another 26 awaiting final approval before being added to the list (according to NASA’s website in July 2013). And that’s only within our small solar system. The…
Our First
After twenty years of marriage, my husband and I finally did it – we took our first vacation – just the two of us, without any other agenda, event to attend or person in tow. We choose to go somewhere we have never been and have wanted to check out – the Florida Keys. Marathon,…
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