Trekking with Me

Right this moment my arms feel like rags, my kitchen looks like a well used workshop with old paint scrapping covering the ugly linoleum, exposed shelves as at least half the cabinet doors are propped up along the walls and bottom cabinet area.   It's a mess. I am worn out.  I am pushing harder to finish this project before I start up with my school year responsibilities in a week!  (A Week!!) I would like to have my kitchen reassembled, maybe even with a new coat of stain on them by next weekend??? My best helper is showing up Monday, hopefully: Dad, my hero. I have had some unusual circumstances this week... On Monday, just as I was unscrewing cabinet hardware and prepping to brush on the paint remover,  I heard a nice friendly knock is at my front door.  A comfortably dressed young man in a bright orange shirt was standing on my porch.  I greeted him, he politely introduced himself.  He had a few clipboard size items in his hands and sinc...

I have made a new discovery. I like raisins. Raisins and I have not always had an amiable relationship.  I enjoyed them in breads, homemade GORP, or in cookies, but standing alone, we tended to keep our distance.  Though, I would try to befriend them, as they are full of iron and said to be good choice snack, yet we never really hit it off.  I thought I stumbled on one kind that I did enjoy, golden raisins, but not enough to remember them at random. Anyhow, a several weeks ago I was shopping at Earth Fare; now you must know, a trip to Earth Fare is not just any grocery shopping experience.  I enjoy it with every sense of my being, it is medicine and joy to my soul to just think about going to Earth Fare.  Indeed, I love it!  But, the fare's at Earth Fare, make these trips infrequent and sporadic.  Still, it makes my heart smile simply to walk through the wonderful place. So, my last visit to Earth Fare, I happened upon some raisins at a good pr...

Wednesday I woke up very cranky: well that's probably an understatement to be honest.  I was not happy. I had to rise early, be on someone else's schedule, to do what I normally do just fine on my own.  I fought my attitude as I took a shower, praying against the foulness swelling up in me over what should be a pleasant, delightful experience. After opening my Bible to get my "normal" quiet time reading in, I read about David dancing before the LORD, and his wife, Micah, despising him in her heart.  Not thinking much of it, I dressed and shoved my belongings into my backpack. Still unable to push the complaints from fogging up my mind, I headed for the assigned area where we were to meet at 7:00AM.   I was a few minutes late.  I felt like Yo-Sammity-Sam grumbling and cursing as I walked to the meeting area where we were to have "Time with Abba" together.  I felt like I was in kindergarten or something.  I did not need to be taught how to ...

Growing up I always wanted to live on a farm with lots of animals to tend and love.  Now, I have a more realistic understanding of how demanding a farm can be so I have settled, contently satisfied with my sweet little furkids: Baby Kitty, Sasha, and my foster cat, Pepper. Some mornings when I meander down the hall, barely awake, I am passed up by a romping furry critter or two,  whom then begs me to feed them before any such bathroom stop or coffee is put on, or when they wake me up in the wee hours of the morning, demanding that their food dish be filled to the brim, or when my foster kitty thinks she has full rights to my bed or I wake and hear the soothing snoring of Pepper who is nestled right between my legs, I wonder, do I live on an animal farm?  Even so, I love the sweet tangible love an animal can give, the companionship, the need to be needed;  they make me smile and sometimes laugh at how much they seem to "run" my moments.  They can't be ignored. ...

Happy Fourth of July!  I believe this day is one of my favorites; over the past few years, it has distinguished itself in my memories.  Sailing is one part of the weekend, as well as watermelon, blueberries, some group activities like Contra dancing or hometown festival... and this year it is no different - more or less. :-) This year, this weekend has included a bit of sailing, a bit of hanging with friends, but mostly I have enjoyed a quieter holiday setting my house in order, keeping Sasha company and calm during the exploding flares and bottle rockets in my neighborhood.  I do plan on joining my community group tonight for a firework show and traditional fourth food! Kitty is all about the celebrating too... "I think we should shoot some off in the house tonight.  Sasha would totally love it.....you know, like good therapy, make her face her fears.  I am just thinking of what would be good for her..." "Mom, I am not going to smile, I don't care ...

Several of you have inquired, "what is contra dancing?" I can refer to you the wikipedia explanation of  Contra Dancing .   It is a whole lot of fun - last night I felt excited as a little girl as the caller started organizing us and the band started tuning up their strings. It was a full night as the band (i found out later) was quite a popular one.  I would say there was a crowd numbering around 300??   It was packed...  it made the do-si-do's and the "swing your partner" a little more bumpy and touchy than normal. One of the first things to acquaint yourself with upon arriving at a contra dance is the calls.  There are a few words that may be new to your vocabulary, like: "allemande" and "hey for four" (still not quite sure what that one means) and "gypsy"... the beginner's practice is very beneficial to attend!  You get to see you are not the only one who may not know your left from your right. :-)  Here are a list of ste...

My furkids amuse me.  Whoever thinks animals don't have a personality, come over to my house for a day or so and I can prove you wrong.  Or rather, my Baby Kitty will prove you wrong. Sasha could too, though I am still learning her personality.  She is a dog,  a bit less complex than Baby-Kitty but still something I am discovering.  She is happy about everything, except maybe taking a bath under the hose or  ...being alone, but who likes that all the time? Take for instance... the rare occasion I allow her to sleep inside, in my room, on the floor.  Not sure why, but i guess i start feeling a little sympathetic as we may have not gone on any walks or tossed any balls in a few days.  I start feeling I am neglecting my poor child. So,  I let her in.  She thinks she's died and gone to heaven. She cracked me up this week as she received the high honor one night.  I spread a towel on the floor as I don't necessarily enjoy having ...

I have been having some odd notions lately... odd desires to try something new (like trying a new sport/exercise), cook something different... odd dreams have been happening too. This idea hit me Sunday when I was trying to listen to the sermon.  It may have been the hunger building in my tummy as I had a hasty Sunday morning only downing a cup of coffee before I dashed out the door.  Or it may have been on account of watching too many $40-a-Day with Rachael Ray recently... bad show for me to watch as it only gets my travel itch irritated. Anyhow... though I have never made them, my brain started churning up images of crepes.  Go figure? Rachael Ray said they were simple and easy... hmmmm; my imagination had my pan heated in my mind before the benediction was said: amen.  Let's Get Home and Get some cookin' on! RR was right, they are simple and easy - AND unlike my report with pancakes they turned out beautiful the first try, and the second, and third...!! He...

( FYI: "Life of Riley" is a saying that means  An easy and pleasant life! - in this case, extremely exaggerated! ) We've been together nearly 10 years.   Mom, we need to talk. Yeah? Mom, I need a name, like a serious name. What's wrong with Baby Kitty... or "Pud" or "Goose Brain"? Mom... Mom... Really? Now that is a good spot... right there. Mom, you are distracting me. A real name would be good for my self identity, Mom. Oh... yeah, that's the spot...oh please don't stop... Yes, yes... under the chin... oh yes... Mom... I... think... "Riley" would fit me real nice... yes.....

Some bitter coldness is rolling our way outside and I am feeling like a true Florida gal... while NYC is powdering up with the white stuff, and somewhere out in no-man's-land it is well below freezing... I sit here in SC watching the thermometer still teetering on 50 degrees, shivering and in gridlock under my blankie. It being Friday, I figure it was a good time to share some confessions of the soul - I hear it is good for you. 1.  I don't make my bed everyday. 2.  I talk to myself and often say things in a third person comedian type of way and laugh out loud at my own diatribe... 3.  I am a self-diagnosed A.D.D or A.D.H.D. - I get distracted easily.... what was I doing? 4.  I have not been a total "no sugar" gal since New years day...though the scale scared me half to death a few nights ago and I have done MUCH better since!! 5.  I like my outfits to match somehow... like everything ... I may be the only one who knows that fact in my day, and ...

Friday Morning Sky from my back fence; it was one of the most incredible sunrise skies I have ever seen! I like pancakes, but i have always had a battle with making them ...  these were a little on the thick side... i hate it when it is still uncooked in the middle... the pan was too hot... so... Sasha was happy to take care of some of them. Jimbo helped me out and the last half of the batch actually turned out decent.  Ask Kayden... she even shared them with George. :-) Now THIS is the face of a satisfied customer! This one... it's up for debate. ;-)

"can't catch me." I am a little tired today.  It can all be blamed on this varmint. "it's my favorite to get my picture taken!" Last night my folks came to town bringing sweet Sasha home!  She seemed happy to be home and we all loved on her a lot - she really liked that! I came home from school to find a wonderful dinner of grilled hamburger and mac'n cheese!  Toys were typically haphazardly ornamenting the living room floor - evidence of my brother and nieces being present for a mini-family reunion.  It is nice to come home to a full house - yet my house screams "little house" when they all descend. Bed time rolled around - none too soon - I had a long day and I had started early.  My folks stayed with me and since i have a queen size bed, my mom slept with me.  I have flannel sheets on my bed for the winter months - which i love, love, love - yet i discovered something last night.  It gets REALLY hot when there are two bodies in t...

An improved version of the previous post of this video... Enjoy!

Saturday's are great!! I had a project on my list and here it is: my utility room.  It was getting mighty messy and making it NOT a great utility area.  So.... I went to work this morning. Before After :-) I have a great space here and it feels great to actually be able to use it!! It is incredibly HOT today... so I am now cooling off... I hope to post a video later.   Stay Tuned.