Best News of the Day

Hey, folks.

Sister #1 has decided to take Sister #2 up on the offer of renting mom's house!!!!

My heart was so overjoyed @ this news.

This means we don't have to rush to get the remaining weird crap outta the house (we still will - there's just no deadline rush).

This means we don't have to put mom's fancy clothes, hats, etc., in storage until it is decided what it to be done with them.

This means the house with the great patio/backyard will stay in the family and we will continue to celebrate there.

This means the Yellow Maple planted in the backyard honoring my brother's memory will continue to have our eyes adore it.

This means Sister #1 will be a HOMEOWNER (as opposed to a townhouse renter).

This means we will still have a reason to go to that side of town (the North East).

This means Sister #1 will take a lovely home and put her lovely touches to it.

This means.....God is always right on time.

All the time.

Peace.

Speak It

This became a reality for me over the last couple of weeks. I'll try to keep it brief.

• Went into a downtown coffee shop, saw this drawing and fell deeply in love upon sight

• I shot a pic & mentioned on FaceBook that I wished someone could draw it for me.
• I get a response from a FB friend that I've never met personally (but have been FB friends for a few years) that he could do for me - no problem
• I'm OVERWHELMED with gratitude. I mean just out of nowhere someone says, 'yeah... I can do that....'
• We haggle over price; well, I haggled - he told me he would do it, send it & let me decide what to pay him
• Now... clearly he doesn't know that I am clueless with that much power. Hell, I don't even know how to charge my OWN photography, let alone put a price on someone else's
• He keeps me posted on his progress, saying he wanted to find or build a frame
• I'm FREAKING over this much generosity. I mean... DYING
• Today...... this arrived

Original by S. Blakely

SERIOUSLY?????? All it took was the 'speaking' of it? Or that he thinks I'm pretty cool & enjoys my photography? What? Who? How? Why?

I cannot even put into words how grateful I am. When I keep thanking him profusely, he just says, 'thanks - glad you like it.'

What price do I put on this? The time he took to sketch this out on canvas, the shipping...

Oy vey.

I am abundantly blessed.

Namaste

Me and Keith Urban

Earlier this week, I bought a guitar from a co-worker. 🎸

It wasn't an impulse buy. It's been on the bucket list forever and the chance fell into my lap.

I've always wanted to learn to play. I figure 40+ years was long enough of a wait.

It's an expensive guitar, but she sold it to me for a song. No pun intended. 😀

It's a "Keith Urban" and came with a set of teaching CD's, case and a buncha cool stuff.

Last nite I practiced for an hour. It's hard work getting your fingers just right on the frets. MAJOR finger practicing is in order.

After an hour, I was frustrated but I know it'll take time.

It's not like I'm going on tour next week.

It felt so liberating to buy it on the spot. One of the perks of employment.

The Sig.Other wasn't impressed at all. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't mention it to him first or what, but whatever ails him is not my problem.

In the meanwhile, I'm working on becoming the next Nancy to Ann Wilson's "Heart" and banging out "Crazy For You."

A 'girl' guitar player.

Hellz yeah. 😎😎😎

Plant Sanity

Hey folks,

If you know me at all, you know I have a heavy flower love.

I often wish I lived in a warmer client so my flower season would last year round (I see  you, Cali)

But I adore the season change of the Midwest.

By: Me 📷

In the meanwhile, these "Zone 5" babies have been giving me life. 

The 1st 3 were grown from seed packs, The others, saved from the dead clearance rack. Much needed water and a new pot and they came alive. So many are wasted! Boooooo......😠

Dapper & Happy

Hey folks,

"Today was a good day!" ~ Ice Cube

Nothing big happened.

I just chose to find the happy in every single possible moment.

Even when I went down to social services to ask why they threatened to cut my Medicare.
It turned out to be in error so... that was a happy thing. 👏👏

Then I went to my job to get my schedule.
I love my job, so.... that was a happy thing. 👍

I sat in meditation.  I sat in God's silent presence and read his Words & felt gratitude & love.
So.... that is ALWAYS a happy thing.💗

Then, a good, sweet friend treated me to lunch. She's a former boss; we love each other like sisters.  New resty; lots of laughs & good food.
So... that's always a good, happy thing.🍲

Then I stopped @ the art supply store & picked up more canvas boards; pack of 5 for $3.00
So... that was a REALLY happy thing! 😉

Then between a few friends, I received a lot of bountiful harvest. And A LOT of Morton's Sea Salt Rubs.
So.... that made me VERY thankful, grateful and loved.

Then I came home and re-potted my gorgeous Gerbera Daisy and my Flowering Kale plants.
Plants ARE my happy, so...... you know 🌺🌻🌼

Then I cut all of my grass. I say ALL because I not only have my yard/garden, I also acquired an empty lot from the City. I like the feeling of having everything look so nice and being outside in the fresh air, sweating like a slave and being productive.
So.... that made me feel happy and accomplished. 😁

And FINALLY, a saw a gentlemen today, dressed very 'dapper', i.e., suit, hat, cane. And I told him I thought he looked so.
He replied: "AND YOU LOOK HAPPY!!! IT'S THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT WHEN I LOOKED AT YOU." 👸👸

So ................... this was the theme song of my day.

It was a good day.

Find your happy in every little thing. It's truly there if you have eyes that see & ears that hear.

August Break 9/28/14 ~ Something New

I am a "new to me" junkie.

When I found this treasure, my face lit up.

Can the price be beat?

It's calling for a bunch of fresh cuts.

August Break 2104 word prompt: "something new"

Summer Update, Part VI

Beautiful childhood friend, Lori!!!

"Frick 'n Frack", together again :-) (Excuse my look - it was the wine. Lol)

A childhood friend that I reconnected with on Facebook a few years ago showed up at my door. We literally had not seen each other since we were maybe 12/13. After talking on F.Book about what types of wine we like, she showed up about 2 days later, with no notice, with that exact bottle of wine! And what makes this visit so much more special, is that Lori is a breast cancer survivor!!! I followed her journey all the way to her wellness - she is now cancer free!!! So needless to say her journey from Florida to Ohio was all the more special. We are so blessed!!

"Life Is..."

Life is a song - sing it.

Life is a game - play it.

Life is a challenge - meet it.

Life is a dream - realize it.

Life is a sacrifice - offer it.

Life is love - enjoy it.

Here's to 4-1/2 days of vacation :-)

Carry On Tuesday prompt: "Love Is..."
Pictures: me

Happy Friday, all!! Today, I give you a peek of our Ms. Tuesday Boo-Girl Angel watching her favorite show, "The Back Yardigins." Her intense focus steals my heart. But when she does a little jig & smiles when the music moves her. I pass out from love. Honestly. :-) Take a second to watch & give you day a little happiness, courtesy of Tuesday!

Video: Tuesday's parents

It just occurred to me that another year anniversary of Kickin' has come and gone... I think. I can't remember when I started, but I know it was around now. Three years ago? It will always amaze me that folks actually read this stuff, but I think it's more my pictures, which I love the most. I'm just a simple girl w/simple thoughts. So I give myself this stellar award for the effort of posting when I remember & have a thought, and to show my appreciation for anyone who stops by. Thanks, folks.

The self-appointed blog award. Isn't it nice?

Yummy, yummy Tuesday-girl :-)

And for this happy celebration, I give you Miss Tuesday @ 5 mos. loving home made baby food - this being spinach. Sweet potatoes are also all that. Isn't she growing by leaps & bounds? She's sitting @ the table in her new big girl chair. There is video of her eating in action; it's so sweet to watch her eat like a trucker. Lol. Major swoon-age. Such a hunk of chunky love.

Pictures: internet & personal

My joy

Tall, handsome & beautifully autistic

This is my son, James. He is my joy because:

• he sees the goodness in everything
• he sees the bright side of everything
• he is honest (painfully - LOL)
• he only wants to please
• he only wants to be part of the team
• he brings happiness to whoever is around him
• he has a child-like vision of the world
• Matthew 18:3: And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
• he is so going to heaven
• he is most polite
• he is most kind
• he is most gentle
• he is always forgiving
• he is always willing to help
• he is always most happy, and when he's not, you have to really dig to find out why
• he made me really grow up immediately at the age of 24 when he was born
• he changed my world view
• he changed my behavior
• he made me let go of any poor thoughts I had of his father, my ex-husband, even though he has no memory of who his father is
• he keeps me even keeled
• he's accepting, even though he may be dissappointed
• he encourages me to buy him things, only because he never asks for anything. But Skittles
•  he thinks every day is a beautiful day & says so every morning
• when I slip a curse word or 2 (or 12), he tells me "it's inappropriate"
• don't let this serious face fool you - he has a smile as big as the sun
• he is unconditional love

Thanks, God. :-)

Picture by: me

Nature Sings

 How about these guys, huh? This was @ the Children's Garden at the park near my house. I love that section of the park; it makes me wish I had a little one so I could see it through their eyes.

But instead I saw it through my own eyes. Kinda like a child's. :-)

 Pictures by: me :-)

Little blessings

I'm gonna be a Grandma!!!! LOL

Okay... I have four ferns hanging on my porch; I noticed a little finch was pretty attached to one in particular. Even when we would sit on the porch, it would fly & hang in mid-air, not afraid of us at all. The other night got windy, so I took the plants down; the little thing flew around like madness looking for the fern. I'm wondering what the????

Then I found out - next morning when I went to re-hang the pots, this is what I found!!! How perfect is it? I immediately ran & got the cammy (... as you can see... DUH!)

I'm thrilled & now extra protective of the fern. I wonder, though; I had been watering & fertilizing heavily with MiracleGro - will the birds come out the size of eagles? LOL!

I'll keep ya posted on the progress of the arrival of my "Grandbirds." :-)

See ya next time!

49 Bye-Byes

While you guys weren't looking, I turned 49 last Saturday! Yay! - thankful & blessed for yet another year.

 I got the title of this post from a great song by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on the "Four Way Street - Live" album. The words don't apply to me as it's a guy singing about letting his girl walk away with another man, but the title popped in my head & I thought 'why not?'

The birthday was the usual - very low key by my own choice I suppose. The routine going out to eat didn't excite me, nor did... well, anything. There was a jazz/blues fest downtown, but I wasn't familiar with the artists, plus it was so hot.

So, I chose to spend it my way. In the quiet & basically alone, which was just fine with me.

So in this new year of wisdom, I choose a few goals from my 2012 Life Handbook:

1.  Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while I walk, smile.
2.  Read more books than I did in 2011
3.  Sleep (nightly) for 7 hours
4.  Make peace w/my past so it doesn't spoil my present
5. Call and/or see family more often
6.  Forgive everyone for everything
7.  Create & keep in touch with friends
8.  Believe the best is yet to come
9.  When I awake alive each morning, thank God for it; and
10. My inner most is always happy. So... be happy!!!

Giving thanks

 Happy Easter, all! I happened upon an Easter Egg Hunt during my walk yesterday. Lucky, lucky me!

 Complete with "Mr. Bunny."

 This one is my favorite. Painted plastic egg.

However, I bow my head & clasp my hands in prayer of thanks to our Savior for dying & rising on this day for us. He lives eternally, especially in my heart. Happy Easter to you and your families. Enjoy the day! :-)