Somewhere Over the Rainbow

While we were visiting at my Mom's for her birthday, the weekend after the festivities were over, the three of us (Mom, Bruce and I) went out for a little drive around the bay and looked at all the expensive homes. It was a gorgeous day, it was mild, the sun was shining, and we enjoyed the drive. Afterwards we went out for supper to Applebees. While we were there it clouded over and we had a very sudden downpour! It rained so hard but it also turned sunny and the storm turned into a sun shower. This happened just as we were leaving the restaurant. But we got to see the most incredible rainbow!! And... I had my camera with me for once!!


This rainbow had to have been the largest, brightest, and longest lasting rainbow I have ever seen. I got several good shots of it.

The above photo was taken from the car while driving with the window down. It seemed to be at it's brightest and widest at that point in time.

It even turned into a double rainbow!!I also got a couple of shots of the sky from inside the car while we were driving. It was so interesting looking.



The happy camper............

The last two shots are of Bruce who found his own private pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!

I Wish You Enough

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?'.

'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone..' He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.................................




I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear




I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more




I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting




I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger




I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting



I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess




I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye................................

To my dear friends and family... I wish you enough!


LOVE FROM KAREN

Mom's 80th Was a Huge Success!!

We are back home after a very busy week spent at my Mom's, celebrating her 80th birthday. It was a whirlwind of celebrations and visiting with family. We drove down the day before the big event and it poured rain most of the trip. On top of that we chose a different route and it turned out to be a very long drive... longer than usual :-(

But... we finally arrived.

This is a photo of the birthday girl... an amazingly youthful and beautiful lady..................
The day of Mom's birthday we met up with other family members at Kelseys for a luncheon. There was supposed to be about eight of us in total but Mom had two surprise guests... Taylor and Gwen ( my Uncle Doug and Aunt Marg's daughter-in-law and grandson) which brought the total to ten! A very nice turnout. My aunt Verna who I mentioned in the previous post turned 90 the week before and who very recently had hip surgery felt well enough to come and her son Grant graciously elected to bring her so they were there with us! I was so thrilled to get to see my aunt there and looking so well and we had a nice visit. Here is the lovely lady also looking very youthful and healthy....

Grant and Allan..............

My Mom's brother and his wife, Doug and Marg made it too and it was wonderful to see them there.

My Mom's cousin Lynda and her husband Allan came and brought the cake with them... a huge slab cake with all our names on it who were celebrating milestone birthdays this year! Here is a photo of the cake...........
And here is Allan who was sitting next to me and that is why the close up of his head....

Lynda looking lovely as usual.....
The three siblings... Verna, Doug and Barbara...............
We spent about three hours at the restaurant until the visitors started departing for home. Mom and I and Lynda and Allan went back to Mom's where I finished preparing our supper for that evening. Just after eight o'clock my brother Mike and his wife Debbie arrived and the day was completed by their presence.

The next evening us kids took Mom out for supper as our birthday dinner to her. Here are photos taken at the house before we went out.

Mike and Debbie with Mom and our dog Jett...............

And Bruce and Jett...............
Our brother Dave unfortunately couldn't make it during the week as he had work commitments.
He had been there the weekend before to spend time with Mom and take her out for dinner and he brought her some flowers. But.... he surprised us the following weekend by showing up unexpectedly. Thanks Dave for coming... we enjoyed seeing you!!!

For the gift to commemorate the day we designed and produced a 104 page hard copy picture book honoring Mom's life from cradle to present day. There were photos of her as an infant right up to today as well as photos of all those who have figured prominently in her life. The actual book which was still away being printed did not arrive on the day but Mike prepared a digital copy for all of us to see and the book looks amazing. It will be a beautiful coffee table book for Mom to look at and enjoy.

We drove back home to Elliot Lake the following Monday and it was great weather starting out but as we got to Barrie it clouded over and rained again most of the rest of the way although not quite as hard or as steady as it had on the drive down.

Although we enjoyed our time with family you know what they say... there is no place like home!

Milestones

September is a big month for birthdays in my family; 2009 is a big year for milestone birthdays!
The first milestone was Bruce's 55th birthday in May.


Then my 50th birthday in June.


Yesterday (September 21st) would have been my Dad's 80th birthday!! Happy Birthday to You!! Missing you all the time xoxo

Today (September 22nd) is another milestone... my Aunt Verna turns 90. I am beginning to think she is actually aging backwards and getting younger with every passing year. She recently had hip surgery and sailed through that with flying colors and is currently on the mend. We are looking forward to having her here with us for many more birthdays in the years to come. Here are a few photos of Aunt Verna from childhood on..............

My Grandma with two oldest daughters Margaret and Verna; Verna being the younger of the two.
Great Grandma Friend with Margaret and Verna; Verna is the one with the darker hair.
Sisters-- Margaret, Verna and younger sister.... Rhoda

Verna and Rhoda, dressed up and out on the town together
Me with Aunt Verna and my Mom in Redcliff when they came out for a visit

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My Mom is turning 80 also this September 29th. Like the rest of her family she is young for her age. She hasn't slowed down a bit and continues to bowl in two or more leagues a week; enjoys playing bingo and works hard in the local Lion's Club. I have selected some photos of Mom through the years to chronicle her life..........

Obviously the four below are from birth to about four years of age... wasn't she a cutie??


Here is a selection of photos of my Mom when she was a young lady; wasn't she a stylish dresser?



She always looked so smart and well put together.This is back when they used to paint their black and white photos.

My Mom and Dad on their wedding day... April 19, 1951
My Mom holding me.............
Mom and Bruce dressed up and posing for the camera. Photo taken in Massey Ontario.
Mom at the kitchen table. She would say she doesn't take good pictures anymore but I like this one of her.

We will be going down to visit my Mom for her birthday this year. Mike and Debbie will be there and so will cousin Lynda and Allan and maybe other surprise visitors. I hope the memories of the day will remain with her and that she will look back fondly on them for the rest of her life!

Love you Mom!!!!! Happy 80th!!!!!!!!!

Hello Again... It's Me

I know, I know.... it has been quite a while since I last posted. It has been a very busy summer and it went by oh so quickly and I don't have anything much to bring to show and tell. How sad.
We finally have had some really lovely summer weather the past couple weeks. It has been a long time getting here and I have made sure to take more time to get out and enjoy it. A lot of walking especially and Bruce and I and Jett even went on an adventure on labor day Monday which I will tell you about in a moment.
We had a couple of visits this summer from friends and family. And of course I have been working on fine tuning my health with interesting results. Since my diagnosis back in March I have worked on my diet and exercise plans and have really seen a drop in my blood glucose numbers, in the last couple of weeks especially. I have even been able to dramatically decrease one of my medications as I have been experiencing quite a few lows of late. This was one of my goals and I am happy to say I have reached it and would like to go off of the medication completely one day. Wishful thinking? I hope not.

Now... on to the adventure. There is a lake behind our subdivision called Nordic Lake. There are several ways to get to different areas of the lake by going on paths through the forest. One is across the street from our house but this path would not end up where Bruce wanted to get to so one evening a couple of weeks back he went exploring and found the path which would take him to a spot he wanted to go fishing at. He suggested we pack up a picnic lunch on labor day and the three of us would make a trek through the bush to the spot. We were quite a sight to see.
I think we must have looked a little bit like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer!! Jett, our dog, is a chihuahua, hardly the adventure seeking, rough and tumble dog breed but he is spunky and weathered the adventure very well I must say!
Here is Jett doing what he likes best... resting!

We had on our hiking boots and gear and our Tilleys to protect our heads from the sun. I planned the menu and packed wieners and all the hot dog paraphernalia to bring along with us and Bruce who picked up a huge backpack earlier this summer packed it with our small Coleman barbecue and his fishing gear and even a chair for me to sit on, most of which he had strapped to his back. I have to say we must have looked comical. Bruce was fully loaded and I had my diabetic kit around my neck and Jett on his leash... Bruce insisted on carrying the cooler and his fishing rods. He can be such a he-manderthal sometimes. We had to walk a ways on the main road past residential houses before we got to the path in the woods. Then it was about a twenty minute walk through very dense brush. It was extremely rocky terrain, some of the paths were quite narrow and somewhat overgrown with trees and brush but they were well marked fortunately. Somebody had previously taken the time to mark the trail so there was no danger of getting lost out there. I found it difficult travelling with the dog in tow. He managed alright but I treaded gingerly over some areas and he was tugging and pulling me along. I was quite nervous about losing my balance and I wised up on the way back and let him off leash to follow along after Bruce. He kept very close by so no need to worry about him taking off and it was much easier for me to make my own way. My biggest concern was coming face to face with a bear but we lucked out and never saw any. After we arrived at our spot guess what I discovered I forgot to bring.... yeah... my camera. What else is new? Really too bad as it would have been nice to get photos of us fully loaded and walking through the thick brush to our final destination. And the spot where we landed was breathtaking. We were perched atop a high rock. This is where Bruce set up my chair for me and we tied little Jett up to a nearby tree and he stayed up top with me while Bruce scrambled down the rock face to the water below to try his hand at fishing. When Bruce's brother Burton was here visiting this is the place they went one of the days to fish.
After a couple of hours we set up the barbecue and Bruce cooked the hotdogs and I did my best to set up the condiments and the other food but there was no where really to do that so we just did the best we could. I thought that perhaps sandwiches would have been easier and would have made our load that much lighter. Hindsight is 20/20. After lunch we cleaned up and Bruce went back down to try his luck at fishing once again. He never did catch anything although he had a couple of nibbles. We saw and heard a beautiful loon who occasionally swam by and then would disappear under the water to try to catch a fish for his lunch and a few minutes later he would turn up again quite a distance away at another part of the lake.
--Photo of Loon on Lake--

This time of year is truly optimal for outdoor activities... it is generally not too hot and there is normally a lovely little breeze. Virtually no bugs to speak of and very little humidity. That day was one of the nicest of the whole summer.
Around mid afternoon we decided to pack up and make our way back home. As we passed by one of the houses along the way a gentleman sitting on his porch inquired as to whether or not Bruce had caught anything since he was carrying his fishing rod! I decided it really wasn't about the fish but more about the time communing with nature and each other. I hope we can do it again before it gets too cold.
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Bruce the Warrior Berry Picker

Bruce has spent a good deal of this summer picking berries for me to put in the freezer so that we have enough for the winter months and we have also eaten fresh berries almost daily. We have many varieties of berries growing wild all over town as well as outside of town, all free for the picking. There are raspberries and black berries growing on one of the paths we walk along daily. We always stop to pick handfuls and enjoy a nice little snack during our walk.
Back to my story... Bruce has several spots here and there to go to pick blackberries. He likes to get there before somebody else gets to them and picks the bushes clean. If he doesn't find any he moves on to one of his other favorite areas. One of the places he likes to go is over to our local ski hill. There are several spots there where the black berries grow. He went the other evening and tried spot number one and found it picked clean so he moved on to another area and found someone there already, picking away.... a huge black bear!! Now I would have obliged the bear and found another spot to pick... far far away from there but Bruce doesn't like to share his bushes with anyone, least of all a bear. So he began waving his arms and yelling at the bear to get out of there. The bear stood his ground and refused to go. Bruce and the bear stood staring at each other for about five minutes... this was Bruce's account so it likely was a much shorter time than that. Eventually the bear stood up on his hind feet to make himself look bigger I would imagine and try to scare Bruce away from his bounty. But Bruce remained undaunted and tried to make himself look larger and continued yelling at and waving his jackknife at the bear. I guess it must have worked because the bear turned and sauntered away and left Bruce to his berry picking. Despite winning the battle Bruce was a bit leery and kept looking over his shoulder just in case the bear decided to come back to teach him a lesson!



Now that summer is pretty much over hopefully life will settle down and I can get back to blogging more regularly. See you next time!!

Weird Wacky Weather

Sigh! I really don't understand what is happening with our weather this summer or should I say fall. Ever since last winter we have had the most unusual weather. It was a very long and enduring winter to say the least. A very late and cool spring and now a very cool and wet summer. I am totally amazed it is nearing the end of July already. When we lived in Fort McMurray and since we have lived here in Elliot Lake I have viewed the month of August as a signal that summer is nearing it's end. The mornings are cooler, especially towards the end of August, and the leaves have the beginnings of that familiar yellowish tinge to them. Most days this summer have reminded me more of a nice autumn day. The air seems to have a smell and feel about it... pleasantly warm but not hot and sultry like summer days should be. I have missed enjoying the hot summer I am used to and hope our fall is long and mild. I am not sure if I could take another never ending snowy winter again so soon.

I have borrowed the photo above from the Elliot Lake online site (link: http://www.elliotlake.com/spotlite/2009/072609.htm) where contributors display their photos weekly of areas around town and outside of town of nature in it's splendor. This is a male hummingbird... an amazing photo. I love hummingbirds and have noticed many around our yard... they look like large bees flying here and there around the honeysuckle and clematis bushes.

Latest Test Results and Our Newest Baby

I recently had a three month random blood glucose test done at the lab which my diabetic nurse/educator had ordered for me and which I will have done every three to four months for the rest of my life. To better explain what this test is I have provided an explanation below....

The HbA1c

Haemoglobin, in your blood, joins up with glucose to form the chemical called HbA1c.
In the blood stream are the red blood cells, which are made of a molecule, haemoglobin. Glucose sticks to the haemoglobin to make a 'glycosylated haemoglobin' molecule, called haemoglobin A1C or HbA1C. The more glucose in the blood, the more haemoglobin A1C or HbA1C will be present in the blood.

Red cells live for 8 -12 weeks before they are replaced. By measuring the HbA1C it can tell you how high your blood glucose has been on average over the last 8-12 weeks. A normal non-diabetic HbA1C is 3.5-5.5%. In diabetes about 6.5% or lower is good.

The HbA1C test is currently one of the best ways to check diabetes is under control; it is the blood test that gets sent to the laboratory, and it is done on the spot in some hospital clinics.

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Shortly after I was first diagnosed I had this test performed and my results came back at 10.2 millimoles per liter: mmol/L which is the canadian measurement for blood glucose. This number is considered to be too high for a diabetic and my doctor prescribed more medications in an effort to help bring my levels down to a more acceptable level.

After my latest test (beginning of July) which was done three months after my last test, my result was 6.4!!!! This is an excellent improvement and I was very pleased and obviously my hard work has paid off. I have done much research and tried many different things all in an effort to make a difference and it has worked. But there is still room for improvement and I am still working towards even better numbers next time around.

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We have recently made a change in our family. We decided to trade our Honda Fit in on another car and chose another Honda Fit. This one is the 2009 Sport model. A bright fire engine red color which I chose. It is a really fun little car to drive and very attractive I think. Bruce loves it so much and says it is by far his favorite car of all the cars he has owned over the years. We chose now to do this since the price of cars is so reasonable. This year's model has had a few upgrades in the features which was another compelling reason to go ahead with it. We got a fully loaded model this time and I think we plan on keeping this one around for a few years.

So what do you think????? Here's a photo of Bruce in the driver's seat...........

Video Chatting

For as long as I have owned my IMac computer I have had the capability of being able to video chat with my friends and family. But up until Saturday have never chosen to use this application. Why?
For a couple of reasons perhaps. One being I could never find any of my friends who felt comfortable to chat with me this way and secondly I think it is a little too George Jetson for an old fashioned gal like myself. Yeah right! LOL

My brother Mike and my sister-in-law Debbie were visiting with my Mom on the weekend and they set up her computer enabling this feature and then contacted me to practice chatting and also just to have a visit.
I had no advance warning of this and my hair was an absolute mess so I had to do a quick cover up and decided on such short notice a hat was in order. Of course the first thing they asked me was why I was wearing a hat in the house. I could have lied and told them the sun was coming in the skylight and I needed to practice safe sun but since they know I have no skylights I thought it best to tell them the truth. I did eventually very quickly remove my hat to demonstrate why I was wearing it and my brother in true Mike fashion made a sarcastic remark on the state of my hair.

I think that is the third reason I have never used video chat... I usually look a mess while in the comfort of my own home and hate to be caught with my pants down so to speak.

You would have to know my family to understand the chaos that ensues when we get together and this chat was no exception. Case in point... after Mike got the chat going he had my Mom sit down at the computer and he and Debbie stood behind her in the background pretending to kiss and carry on. Mom of course had no idea what was going on at first but when she finally noticed she turned around and remarked that they should get a room. This is the typical antics of my brother Mike.
It was a crazy hour full of everybody talking at once, taking turns getting in front of the webcam, making faces at each other and trying to get caught up with everybody and what they have been doing. My sister in law, Debbie is retiring this year from teaching after thirty some odd years and she has had a very whirlwind month of June full of parties and special gifts and excitement as well as some distressing hectic moments as well.

Congratulations Debbie on your retirement! Now you will have plenty of time to visit my blog.

Mike designed a beautiful hard cover book using his Mac to gather the photos and prepare the layout and then sent it away for printing, chronicling Debbie's years of teaching from graduation to present day. This is putting it mildly but Debbie loved it and this is classic Mike to do something so special and loving for her.

The chat was almost as wonderful as being there in the same room with them and having a face to face visit.

I wish I had taken advantage of this technological wonder much sooner! Now if I could only talk some of my friends into it, it would be the next best thing to being there.

For Dog Lovers--Something to Brighten Your Day

PICTURES ARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

Update

Just wanted to give a small update on the 24 hour blood pressure monitor. I surprised myself and got used to having it on very quickly and was quite relaxed most of the day. I really surprised myself when I managed to sleep through most of the night readings. I woke up just before 3 am and realized I had slept through the previous three readings. I slept fitfully from that point on but the machine didn't bother me much. I also got used to the squeezing feeling on my arm and didn't mind it as much as the day wore on.

I had it removed around 9:30 this morning and it turned out very well. I passed with flying colors. My blood pressure is well within normal ranges especially for a diabetic so I am quite pleased about that! One less river to cross.

Have a great day everyone and remember to take some time to smell the roses.

Challenge For Today

Today I am sporting a lovely 24 hour blood pressure machine. My doctor was concerned about my blood pressure reading the last time I saw him which is always high by the way because I have white coat syndrome... translated as irrational psychotic fear of anything medical. He therefore decided I should have a 24 hour blood pressure test done to determine if there is a real need for concern.
I am glad he is so thorough but so far this test is no fun. I had it installed at 9:30 this morning and will be done with it tomorrow at 9:00 am. It takes a reading every 20 minutes until 11:00 this evening and then only once every hour until morning. Bonus.... now I can only hope to get a bit of sleep. I can't imagine sleeping through a test. The cuff when it tightens feels like it is going to burst my arm open at the seams. I don't like the feeling, I never have and it contributes to my fears I think.
Diabetics have to be concerned about high blood pressure and here is why...........

High blood pressure is twice as likely to strike a person with diabetes than a person without diabetes. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to increased risk for heart disease and stroke. In fact, a person with diabetes and high blood pressure is four times as likely to develop heart disease than someone who does not have either of the conditions.

Another reason to watch your health throughout your lifetime because nobody wants to have all these health concerns.

I will be so happy tomorrow morning when this test is over.

My Tentative Return to Blogland

I am back... I think.
I needed to take a good long break since my diagnosis in early March of type 2 diabetes. I was totally blown away by the diagnosis having gone into emergency with a suspected bladder infection. I did have the infection but found out at the same time I am a diabetic. I was very dehydrated and ended up spending that day and overnight in the hospital. I was sent home the next day with my tools in hand... blood glucose monitor, test strips, a couple of prescriptions, and many questions and fears. It is really difficult to describe the feelings one has after getting a surprise diagnosis like this. In retrospect I guess I had been exhibiting the signs and symptoms of diabetes for some time but like a typical ostrich I had my head buried in the sand. I felt extremely overwhelmed and frightened and really had no idea where to begin to look after myself properly. Suddenly preparing a meal became a monumental task for me which I struggled with for a long time until I could calm down enough to realize it wasn't the ordeal I perceived it to be. I wasn't long at home when I became quite sick again and ended up back at emergency and back in the hospital, this time for three days. It turned out the infection was taking it's toll on me and the medication I had been prescribed for it wasn't working. This in turn was keeping my blood glucose levels way too high. No wonder I felt like crap! They finally got me going on a better antibiotic and changed my diabetes medications and sent me home again. This time I saw marked improvements day by day. Once the infection was gone I was able to concentrate on bringing my blood glucose levels down and keeping them down which is really an ongoing thing and will be for the rest of my life. In getting stronger it has enabled me to make some important lifestyle changes and begin researching on the internet and learning as much as I can. I am also experimenting quite a bit with exercise and diet modifications with the goal in mind to have to take as little medication as possible. I attend diabetic classes at the hospital, I have individual appointments with the hospital's diabetic nurse and the dietician and I will be seeing my doctor at least every three to four months. I will have to have blood work and urinalysis done that often for the rest of my life.
I have always been aware of diabetes... a good friend of mine when I was a teen was a type 1 diabetic and my Father was diagnosed a type 2 diabetic in his 70s. But it is different when it is you. I was not totally aware of the implications and health concerns that can go along with being a diabetic. There are worries of possible vision loss, amputations, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke among many other problems. Tight blood glucose control is key and to do this a very strict diet and exercise regime is necessary. Having likely been a diabetic for quite a while before my diagnosis could be a problem if any resulting damage has been done to any of my organs. So far no damage has been discovered which is good news.

Although being a diabetic has taken over my life completely I am finally able to resume the things I was enjoying before diagnosis. I hope to be able to educate a bit about diabetes using my blog without becoming too preachy. It is important to recognize the signs of diabetes and get tested.
Symptoms include

• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger
• Fatigue
• Increased urination, especially at night
• Weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Sores that do not heal

I had several of these symptoms which I attributed to other causes and just did not realize I should take them seriously. I hate to say it but I am thankful for that bladder infection because it likely saved my life.

I will be back soon to update on other happenings in my life! Until then.... be vigilant about your health... you only get one life to live... make the most of it.

Taking a Break

Just wanted to say I need to take some time out to deal with some medical issues that have come about recently. I am unable to focus on my blogging right now and find it necessary to concentrate on getting back to a good state of health. But I will be back as soon as I am feeling better.

Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen and the alphabet... I am doing the letter "F" today. I am doing two lists... one of "F" things and "F" songs on my Ipod. As you may have noticed I love my Ipod. It is part of my life just about every single day. I am proud to share with you my songs. But first my other list of "F" things
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1. Flowers.... I love flowers... their smell, their beauty. My favorite flowers are lilacs and tiger lilies.

2. Fragrances... I have many favorite scents and fragrances. To name a few, lilacs, fresh mowed grass, cedar trees, coffee shops, bread baking.

3. Foxes... We live in a northern community and there is tons of wildlife around. We see foxes on a regular basis. They really are a beautiful animal.
4. Family... I love my family!
5. Friends.... Love all my friends!

6. Forrest Gump... The movie. Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get.

7. Fruit... I love fruit... my favorites are oranges, red grapes and peaches... I prefer canned peaches to fresh though and I love fruit pie.

8. Firepits and fireplaces... I enjoy a fire. I love an outdoor firepit with friends around sharing time together and watching the fire. Roasting wienies and marshmallows.

9. Friday... I love Fridays.... I always have. When I was in school I looked forward to Fridays... school was done for the week and I had two days off to do as I wished. Friday nights always seemed special.

10. Fantasy.. I love the land of make believe and fantasy and fairy tales.

11. French Fries... or Freedom Fries whichever term you like.

12. Fountains... I love water fountains, especially large ones you can throw your pennies into and make a wish. I enjoy seeing fountains in gardens.

13. Falls... water falls... Niagara Falls. They are spectacular to look at and really refreshing in the heat of the summer. They are peaceful and soothing.

My "F" Ipod List
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1. Fernando by Abba

2. Fly Little White Dove Fly by The Bells

3. From a Distance by Bette Midler

4. Father Figure by George Michael

5. Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra

6. Fooled Around and Fell in Love by Elvin Bishop/Rod Stewart

7. Fields of Gold by Sting

8. Funeral for a Friend by Elton John

9. Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk

10. For All We Know by The Carpenters

11. Free Falling by Tom Petty

12. Father and Son by Cat Stevens

13. Fanny Be Tender (With My Love) by the Bee Gees

Thanks for stopping by!

Pancakes Anyone?

Today is Shrove Tuesday or better known to some people... Pancake Tuesday. I remember as a child my Mother celebrating Shrove Tuesday by making pancakes for supper... something I remember as being decadent and exciting... the idea of having breakfast for supper. I had no idea why we were having pancakes.
The past week or so I have been reminded of the upcoming Pancake Tuesday by the media and have had it in the back of my mind to prepare pancakes for supper tonight. As soon as I am done here I am going on the hunt for a good home made pancake recipe to prepare.
I got wondering what exactly Shrove Tuesday means and what the significance of it is. I knew it had religious meaning and was tied into the crucifixion and ressurection of Jesus but I was pretty sure it wasn't because Jesus enjoyed pancakes. Here is what I found out.

Shrove Tuesday 2009 (Pancake Day)

In the UK, Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Day (or Pancake Tuesday to some people) because it is the one day of the year when almost everyone eats a pancake.
Pancake Day ( also known as Shrove Tuesday) is the last day before the period which Christians call Lent. It is traditional on this day to eat pancakes.
Lent is a time of abstinence, of giving things up. So Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent.
Shrove Tuesday is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday and is therefore the final day before the commencement of Lent, a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday (Easter Day).
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year and falls between 3 February and 9 March.
The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

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Now that I know why I am eating pancakes tonight I am off to find a great recipe!

Happy Pancake Day!!!!

Fun Monday # 46... My 1st Fun Monday

This is my first Fun Monday challenge... I wanted to start participating in a photo meme and use my camera a little more so I thought this would be a good challenge to start off with.
Our hostess this week is http://www.beyondmyslab.blogspot.com/. Sorry... I am not computer savvy enough to know how to post a link using her name.
Anyway... the challenge this week is a show and tell and we are to show what our kitchen counter looks like without being fussy and tidying it up. So here is mine, folks! Enjoy.


I have to admit I am pretty anal so that is why my counters look pretty neat. They look like this most of the time, unless I am in the middle of creating a feast. I have a very small kitchen and only have two small counters. I like "stuff" as you can see.

Spam... And Not the Email Kind

For those of you who are unaware of the fact, Bruce is and has always been Spam's biggest fan, this blog is about his life long obsession with this mystery meat in a can.
Bruce has for as long as I have known him waxed poetic on the virtues of what I had always considered dog food in a can for humans.
My Father bought Spam and Klik and other similar knockoffs when my brothers and I were young and I believe he was the only one of us to actually eat it. I wonder why?
Our good friend Mike D always found it amusing that Bruce enjoyed and talked about Spam so much and so for a few Christmases he would wrap up a couple of cans for Bruce as a gag gift but little did he know that Bruce treasured those cans of Spam more than any other gift he received.

Last evening in honor of Bruce I decided to make him a Spam dinner and went in search of Spam recipes on the internet. I was amazed at how many sites there are and how many different recipes I found. I decided on a Spam stir fry which was actually easy and quick to prepare and had such a nice tang it mercifully covered up the taste of the Spam. And I found I didn't mind it at all. Shhhh... don't tell Bruce!

In these tough economic times one must do what they can to cook with a financial conscience. I expect that we will be able to avoid the food bank for many years to come as long as we continue to cook with these incredibly versatile and inexpensive staples such as Spam.

I forgot to take a picture of the meal in the pan before I served it up and instead took the photo after supper when there wasn't much left. It looked much prettier full in the pan. Here is the recipe I used........................

Cantonese Sweet and Sour Spam Recipe

2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 large carrot, sliced diagonally
6 green onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small cucumber, cut in chunks
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons catsup
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 (12 ounce) can Spam, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 (8 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained
In wok or large skillet, cook oil over medium heat. Add carrot, green onion, garlic and cucumber. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisply tender (4 to 5 minutes).
Add remaining ingredients except SPAM and bamboo shoots. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened (5 to 6 minutes).
Add SPAM and bamboo shoots. Cook over medium heat until heated through (4 to 5 minutes).
Serve over rice.

I made a few changes to the recipe. I had no green onions so I used a whole onion chopped. I had no can of bamboo shoots. I added in some yellow peppers and some red cabbage. I also omitted the cucumber.

Next Spam meal I will be preparing is ..... Spambalaya!!!! Don't everybody knock down the door that night cause we ain't sharing.

Butternut Squash Soup

Bruce and I have a new favorite soup these days. We started buying President's Choice Autumn Squash soups in those small boxes at the grocery store a couple of months ago. The boxes only hold about one large or two small servings....why can't they make them bigger? But we have been enjoying them anyway. The squash soup is our favorite however we have tried the other kinds and they are pretty good also. Now to the point of this. I decided I could make my own squash soup from scratch pretty easily since I often make home made soups anyway.
I bought a large butternut squash. This is what took the most time in the preparations... peeling and dicing the squash. But other than that it is fairly easy to prepare. And it is a most delicious soup.
Here is the recipe I used...............

Butternut Squash Soup
Serves 4

2 1/2 C Butternut Squash*
4 Cups of Chicken or Vegetable Broth
1 Medium Onion, diced
1/2 tsp Sage or 1 Tbsp of Fresh Sage
1 tsp Thyme leaves (dried)
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1 Tbsp Butter

In a medium saucepan saute the onion over medium heat until translucent in a little butter (about 1 Tbsp). Add the Butternut Squash and cook 10-20 minutes until tender. If it starts to look like the onions are burning add 2-3 Tbsp of broth. Add sage, thyme & nutmeg and saute for 1 minute. Add remaining broth & simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool and puree in a food processor or blender (allow to cool first). Return to stove and re-heat. You can add a little cream or milk if you like.

* There are a couple of options regarding Butternut Squash. You can buy a whole squash (1 med. squash equals about 2 1/2 cups), peel it, and cube it OR you can also buy a bag of already peeled & cubed butternut squash. Another option if you can't get your little hands on a fresh squash is to buy a bag of frozen cubed squash. If you go the frozen route, just thaw it and put it into the onion mixture.

Bon Appetit!

Thursday Thirteen

It's Thursday again.... Man, do the weeks ever fly by. This week I am doing "E". Not an easy letter by any stretch of the imagination but I did manage to find 13 "E" things.

1. Earrings.... I like earrings. I don't wear earrings all the time anymore but I do when I want to feel dressed up. My favorite kind are small dangling crystal earrings. I like small gold hoops too.

2. Eucalyptus... I now love the smell of eucalyptus. Especially in candles. It has a slight medicinal smell and I never used to like it but otherwise it smells interesting and it has grown on me.

3. Eggs... I am an egg person. I love eggs for breakfast. Especially scrambled with a bit of cheddar cheese in them for flavor. Deviled eggs rock too.

4. England.... This is a place I would love to visit. Most of the ancestors on my Mother's side came over to Canada from England. There is so much history for me over there; I would love to go one day and explore all the villages and towns where they lived, the streets they walked on, and the graveyards where they are buried.

5. Easter.... I love Easter. I revere the religious aspect of Easter but I also love it because it symbolizes spring for me.

6. Evergreen Trees... I love evergreens. It is nice to see some green among all the bare deciduous trees in the winter. I love how evergreens peek out after a heavy snowfall.

7. E.T..... The movie. This was a great movie about E.T. the adorable alien and the kids who tried to hide him out in their bedroom. Drew Barrymore was so cute in this movie. It was such a feel good movie.

8. Elizabeth: The Golden Age... Another good movie which I saw over Christmas for the first time. I really enjoyed it and Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth was great as was Clive Owen who portrayed Sir Walter Raleigh. It was based on events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.

9. Early Morning Rain... song by Gordon Lightfoot... love it.

10. Elves... They are a creature of Germanic mythology according to Wikipedia. They have been portrayed to be long-lived or immortal and as beings of magical powers. They were featured in many of my most loved stories and fairy tales as a child.

11. E-Mail... My link to the world. Without it I would be lost.

12. Eagles... The bird and the band. Eagles are such a majestic bird. They are a fascinating, larger than life bird. I also love the musical Eagles. I have been a fan of theirs for most of my life.

13. Economy.... Not really a fan right now since we are in such a global economic slump and when times are good the economy is something we mostly take for granted. I look forward to when times improve and we can resume living our lives without fear for our future.
...........................................................................................................................................................

I am going to list again the last 13 songs I listened to on my Ipod because I find it fun to do.

1. A Lot of Love by Nicolette Larsen

2. I Need a Hero by Bonnie Tyler

3. Sacrifice by Sinead O'Connor... love this version

4. First of May by the Bee Gees

5. Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg

6. Sweet City Woman by the Stampeders

7. Always Something There to Remind Me by Naked Eyes

8. The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens

9. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses by U2

10. Avenue A by Tom Cochrane and Red Rider

11. Hooked on a Feeling by B J Thomas

12. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me by Elton John

13. Sing by Theo Tams (2008 Canadian Idol)

It's That Time Again...Thursday Thirteen

Here we are back to Thursday again... wow, did the week ever go by fast. Just to refresh your memory, I am doing the alphabet and am at "D" this week. Here are some of my favorite "D" things..................................................


Decorating.... I love to decorate my home. I am always visiting decorating sites and other blogs where decorating is featured, decorating shows etc... I am always trying new ideas in my home and it really gives me pleasure.
Ducks... I love ducks swimming on the water. Mallards are a particularly pretty breed. I love wildlife photos and especially duck photos, framed and hanging on a wall.
The Dragonfly... one of my favorite restaurants in this area. Really interesting decor and a great menu... we have always enjoyed our visits there. We are going there for Valentines Day.
Dillweed... the spice. Love the smell and the taste. Where we used to live in Alberta we were driving somewhere and this overwhelming smell of dill enveloped us. We came upon a huge
field full of dill. The smell was intoxicating.
Diamonds... a girl's best friend!
Desserts.... what a great way to end a meal.
Danielle Steel... one of my favorite authors. I love to lose myself in one of her romances whenever I need an escape.
Dances With Wolves... I love this movie. I love Kevin Costner in it... what a hottie!
Daisies.... Aren't they a beautiful and friendly flower? I just love a field full of daisies and other wildflowers.
Dollar Store... I love to shop at the dollar store. You can always find lots of things you need for around the house and I love paying so much less than anywhere else.
Desperate Housewives.... One of my favorite shows. Those ladies on Wisteria Lane are a hoot.
December.... I love this month and how it is filled with everything Christmas.
Lastly but definitely not least... Dogs.... I love dogs. I have had some really great dogs in my life. I currently do not have a dog but I am sure I will not be able to live without one for too much longer.

I had so many other D things that I love it was difficult to choose only thirteen. See ya next week and thanks for visiting!

Unbridled Beauty

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

By Request

One of my new blogger friends, Barb, requested that I post my photos of a mosaic table top I crafted a few years ago. I decided to add in photos of a few of my other projects. I have not done any crafts since we moved to Elliot Lake but I would like to get back into it again. So here they are Barb... I hope you enjoy them and thank you for your interest!
The above is an angel I made at a ladies group in Redcliff, Alberta one Christmastime.
The next two projects were plain wooden trays I bought at Michaels Craft Store in Medicine Hat. The top one I spray painted black and the bottom one I stained. Then I glued broken floor tiles which I had first smashed with a hammer and pieced together into the tray in a random pattern. After the pieces had sufficiently dried I grouted over top which is simply applying grout compound and using a trowel smoothing the grout until it had evenly covered in between the tiles. After that dried, using a wet cloth, I polished the tiles, removing the excess grout. Lastly a few coatings of a form of shellac is applied to harden the grout and to give a bit of a shiny appearance to the tiles.
I made several trays as Christmas presents in 2005. Money was a bit tight that year and I needed a project to do to keep my mind occupied. It was a perfect diversion at that time. The stained tray I kept for myself.
The above is my mosaic table top... I used one of those wooden plant stands and in this case the table top screwed off which was perfect for me to be able to work with it. Using the same technique as the trays, this is how it turned out. It now sits in my living room.

The above is my dragonfly stepping stone. This was a fun project. First you mix the cement for the stone and place the mixture into a form which was supplied in the kit. Once you have the mixture placed and smoothed out satisfactorily you start placing the polished stones into whatever pattern you desire with the center being the dragonfly. After finishing placing the stones I cleaned them off with a wet cloth and then allowed the project to dry and harden for a few days. Once hardened you remove from the mold and voila... you have a perfect stepping stone.

The picture above was and is my best work and Bruce's favorite. I started with a wood square piece which is divided into nine squares. I spray painted the wood blue. Once dried I used a page from an old Thomas Kinkaid calendar. I decoupaged the page onto the wood piece and made sure it was nice and smooth with no bubbles.
Once placed and smoothed to my satisfaction I used an exacto knife to trim around each square so that the photo was now divided into nine separate pieces. And to finish a very hard shellac was prepared and poured onto the picture and sat in place until hardened. It has an almost plastic surface to it. And it sits in a brass photo stand on my dining room buffet.



I must make mention of the fact that most of these crafts were done with my very dear friend Connie. Not having ever really done any crafts I was so happy to have her around to guide me and we had so much fun shopping for, planning and making these crafts together. Had she not moved away to the Calgary area we would have likely made many more crafts together. I miss Connie and our times shared being creative.

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Things I Love Beginning With The Letter "C"

Hi All.....
Today I have decided to do two lists. I am continuing on with my alphabet theme but am also going to do another theme.... the last 13 songs I listened to on my IPod. But first my "C" list.....

1. Corn on the Cob---- so yummy dripping with butter
2. Cloud Formations----I love to see different cloud formations in the sky. Great for photographing
3. Coffee----the best cup is the first one of the day which I wish was never ending
4. Carrot Cake----So decadent--- I make a pretty good home made version my Hubby loves
5. Chocolate---- What woman doesn't love chocolate
6. Christmas---- I love the idea of an old fashioned Christmas and the decorations and the food and getting together with family and friends
7. Clocks--- I love clocks, the way they add to different types of decor, I love the gentle tick tock which I find very relaxing when there is no other sound in the room. I have a gorgeous mantle clock that I just love which was a birthday gift from hubby one year
8. Computer---- I love my computer because it keeps me in touch with the rest of the world; I would be lost without it
9. Candles--- Oh my, I have a real love for candles and have so many I could open my own candle shop. Don't you just love the soft glow of candles?
10. Crab Cakes
11. Cereals--Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Cream of Wheat and so on.....
12. Cooking--- I love to cook when I have lots of time and can be creative, I love trying out new
recipes and love cooking for my family and friends.
13. Crafts---- I never used to be a crafty person but became interested in crafts just a few years ago. I have made a few things... I made a lovely picture which sits on my buffet, I made a mosaic table which is sitting proudly in my living room. I have surprised myself with what I can do.

The general theme of the "C" blog would be "Creativity".

Now... on to my list of the last 13 songs I listened to on my IPod.......
1. Might As Well Be On Mars...The Pukka Orchestra... from the 80s.
2. One---U2... the live version which is great
3. Have I told You Lately... Rod Stewart
4. Love is Coming... A Foot in Cold Water... Canadian band from the 70s
5. Strange Animal... Gowan... another Canadian band from the 80s
6. Cruel to Be Kind... Nick Lowe... 80s song
7. Beautiful Goodbye... Amanda Marshall... Canadian artist
8. Rain, the Park & Other Things...the Cowsills
9. Last Night I Didn't Get to Sleep at All... the 5th Dimension
10. With You I'm Born Again... Billy Preston & Syreeta
11. Still You Turn Me On... Emerson, Lake and Palmer
12. Little Sparrow... Dolly Parton
13. Mary Did You Know... Kalan Porter version... Canadian Idol a few years ago

And that does it for another week. Hope you find my lists interesting.
Happy 13!

Longing for Spring

I have been feeling so blah lately... no ambition... short on ideas for my blogging. I am hoping it is just a momentary creative slump brought on by this very long winter. As you know yesterday was groundhog day and the two groundhogs that have been predicting spring for as long as I can remember... Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie, both saw their shadows and therefore that means we have six more weeks of winter left to enjoy. Except in our case up here in the frozen north, where we have eight to twelve more weeks of winter since that is pretty much the norm for here.
Nah... I am not bitter. Just bitterly cold!
Seriously, I am feeling quite cooped up and very tired and listless these days. We have been fortunate though to not have had any more major snowfall, since we were heavily hit in December with 59 inches of the white stuff and I don't mean cotton balls. Although we have remained snowless, we have been experiencing quite a few cold days but with that comes the sunshine and that definitely helps my mood. But still I am anxious for spring to arrive. To see the snow melt away and the grass begin to green up, the leaves on the trees begin to sprout, and all the lovely spring flowers poke their graceful heads out from beneath the cold and damp ground.... what a delicious dream.
I have already noticed the days getting longer. It is still fairly light at 5:00 now and even a little lighter at 6:00 than it was a month ago. That in itself gives me hope, although it makes me even more impatient for spring to arrive.
I have not been doing much this winter. As I mentioned I am feeling at loose ends. I should be doing something productive instead of hibernating but I can't seem to bring myself to do much of anything. I did get the house cleaned up and organized after Christmas and I am presently scanning some of my Mom's old photos from three of her photo albums which I "borrowed" to bring home and work on. I am saving the photos on my computer and will be organizing them soon and then hope to make back up CDs to store the photos. If anyone in the family is interested in copies I can email them.
Oh and I almost forgot....... the 1911 british census came online a few weeks ago and so I had fun perusing that which I intend on getting back to one day and see if I can come up with any more ancestors who were alive at that time.

Well.. that is my update for now. I hope to begin to feel more like blogging very soon and can come up with some interesting posts. I am also hoping to get more creative and start photographing more instead of looking for internet photos. By the way, these photos were all taken by local photographers here in Elliot Lake and they are posted on our local website... Elliot Lake Online. Once spring finally arrives I will be getting outdoors with my camera and try to capture springtime in all it's wonderful glory!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you will return on Thursday for another edition of "Thursday Thirteen". I will be doing a list of my favorite "C" things.

Ta Ta for now!

Thursday-- Thirteen "The Letter B"

Okay... so here is my 'B' list of things I love.

1. Banana Bread
2. Blue Jays... the Bird
3. Blogging
4. Bruce... my significant other
5. the "Bob" Hairstyle
6. Bagels
7. Berenstain Teddy Bears
8. Books
9. Blue... the color... royal being my favorite shade of blue
10. Brothers... I have two and they are the best
11. Beauty which is in the eye of the beholder
12. Boughs of Holly
13. Bailey... my beloved yorkie who passed away last June

This was easier to do this week. I could have gone on and on! BOOYAH!

We Are Off

Tomorrow we are off to the big city... Sudbury (tee hee) for a medical appointment. BUT... it is a chance to get away for the day and see something different. One tends to get so bushed in the winter time. We will most likely, time permitting, do a bit of shopping and also have a bite to eat at either a restaurant in Sudbury or along the way. We haven't decided yet which one. Perhaps my favorite... The Dragonfly... in Massey!
I like the drive to Sudbury, even in the winter. We pass through several small towns along the way and get to see what they are up to.
Sudbury itself is pretty nice, we are even getting to know our way around. We will stop at Espanola for gas... it is always about 10 cents cheaper than here in town. We will be leaving very early in the morning and returning early in the evening. A long day but I am looking forward to it.

The photo above is of the Big Nickel at Dynamic Earth in Sudbury.

THURSDAY THIRTEEN--Thirteen Things I Love Starting with "A"

Hi and Welcome to Thursday-13.com!

What’s the Thursday 13?
The Thursday 13 is a weekly meme. Every Thursday you blog a list of 13 things. What kind of things? Any kind! Just come up with a list theme and run with it. One week you may list “13 things on my mind” and maybe the next week you’d list “my top 13 favorite movies”. Back in early 2007, Janet came up with the idea of going through the alphabet; “13 Things I Love that begin with the letter A”, etc. That gives you 26 weeks of ideas!

As a blogger sometimes ideas and inspiration wane, therefore in my travels I have come across this idea for Thursday postings........................

Thirteen Things I Love Starting With "A"

1. Abba
2. Apple Pudding
3. Aromatherapy
4. Angels
5. Appetizers
6. Apple Computers
7. Antiques
8. Autumn
9. Angela's Ashes (the movie/book)
10. Animals
11. Algonquin Park
12. Act II Popcorn
13. Art

Whew... that was harder than I thought!

http://thursday-13.com/

SPIRIT FILLED SUNDAY

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (NIV)

A GREAT FIND!

Finally I remembered to get outside and snap some photos of the snowbanks on our street. They are pretty impressive, aren't they? The first photo is one our neighbors and friends, Debi & John took of two squirrels having a meet and greet :-)

The weather so far this January has cooperated and although is quite cold right now has been sunny and there has been very little additional snow. Let's hope it keeps up.

Today Bruce and I went to one of our local second hand stores. Bruce was looking for something he wanted and I went along for the ride. In looking around I came across what I considered to be a phenomenal find. It was a children's book called "365 Bedtime Stories" by Nan Gilbert.
I had this book as a child but like all my books from my youth it was given away at some point.
As an adult I have been collecting books from my childhood memories... that book being one of them. I did find a few copies on ebay but they were always quite expensive and therefore I would pass them by. But this book has simmered on the back burner of my mind. Well... today I found it at the second hand store. I couldn't believe my good fortune! And to add the icing to the cake, they were having a bag sale on books... $2 a bag. I discovered a couple more old books from the early 1900s which I added to my bag and came home to see what I could find out about them... hoping they would turn out to be antique and valuable. Still researching them. My "365 Bedtime Stories" book although worth around $60 according to ebay, will not be sold. It is a wonderful memory from childhood which I am going to happily add to my collection.

SLOW DANCE

Slow Dance
-Author Unknown

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Do you run through each day on the fly
When you ask "How are you?" do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die
'Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"?

You'd better slow down
Don't dance so fast
Time is short
The music won't last

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift....
Thrown away...

Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
----------------------------------------
I have been really struggling the past decade or so with how fast time is marching on. I find the above poem very inspirational because it illustrates for me just how fast time is passing and how many special moments I am missing out on because I am in such a hurry to keep up with passing time. It helps to be retired because there is more time to spend on the details than before.

Some ask me why I am not bored at home. How can I possibly feel fulfilled. I remarked to Bruce just the other day I do not know how anyone can be bored, even if they are not in the workforce. There are so many things I enjoy doing I still do not have enough hours in the day to do them all. Thank goodness I do not work anymore....how on earth would I get everything done?

Life can be as busy as we make it... or as slack...... depends how much we choose to do, or not do.
I am happiest when I don't feel overwhelmed and stressed out, wondering if I am going to make that deadline. Inevitably I would have to prioritize and not do some of the items on my mile long to do list. Then I felt I was cheating someone or usually myself because I could not be superwoman.

I am much more relaxed and happy and fulfilled because I can now pay attention to the details
and take more time to participate in the slow dance.