I want to be Farming.

We tried to buy this farm in North Mountains.  But someone made an offer before we could.  The piece of property is over 8 acres and has an old farm on it.  It is the most beautiful land between the mountains on Shoal Creek.  The deal has not closed. I am hoping and praying there was a hang up and it did not go through. Our realtor is checking for us as to why it has not been closed yet. Maybe they wanted to subdivide and it was not allowed on this land. 

http://www.trulia.com/property/1082833847-605-Shoal-Creek-Rd-N-A-Murphy-NC-28906  

We had a nice Thanksgiving.  And I am doing the cooking for Christmas. I have never cooked for eight or more people so I am very nervous.  But I did not want my daughter in law to keep cooking the dinners as she works long hours.  Our weather was bitter cold for a week and a half.  Bird baths froze, my tropical gingers and orchid tree's froze.  I do not know if they will come back this time.  I want to live where it is constant cold in the winter.  I hate this constant weather extremes.  Very cold then almost hot.  Florida is crazy. I am ready to move.  I hope everyone has a nice Christmas.  I will be busy cooking and shopping and mailing.

My nephew Jonathan and his Mom Pamela

I forgot to add this picture and one of the deer in her back forty.  She has 15 acres behind her home.

Judy Garland said it Best. There's No Place Like Home Toto.

We got home from North Carolina/Tennessee a few days ago.  It is nice to be in my own bed. But I want a house up in the mountains.  Already I am hating this humidity.  I breathe so much better up on the mountains.  The air is much drier than Florida.  And now after seeing Mindy I want another dachshund for Tiny to play with.  We stayed over a week in Hendersonville.  Hendersonville N.C. is just too touristy for me.  Too much traffic.  Although I do love all the history there and that Carl Sandburg has a goat farm there.  I covet his goat farm.  LoL. How I want goats and chickens.  Karen our realtor was so nice. She has sent us more listings.  We will be going back and taking a car next time and staying longer.  I want that house in the mountains like an ache in my heart.

So, we visited my cousin and I got to see my nephew Jonathan whom I had not seen in years. He lives up in Greensboro N.C. where he graduated from college.  My cousin Pam flew down to Miami, Fl for a college reunion so Ralph and I took care of her dogs  and cats until he son got there.  It started snowing the day before we left which I loved. But Murphy or near there is where I want to find a place.  I loved Murphy.  A few pic's  I'll write more later.   Maybe a new poem.

Houses I like

Photographs from last week.

These were taken coming across highway 64 from Chattanooga Tenn to Ducktown, Tenn. I loved Ducktown Tenn.  We looked at this campground in Ducktown.  Leading down the road to the campground was this falling down mountain house, with this mountain man, with long shaggy beard, falling down suspenders, whittling a stick.  I am not kidding.  I wanted to be his neighbor immediately. Then we get to this tiny campground, and there are only about ten campsites.  No office to speak of where you would go pay, no one even in the campground.  It was along the creek, very pretty. But very deserted. I wanted to stay, soooo I could walk down the road and talk to the mountain man. But the boss said it looked creepy.  No adventure, just no adventure in his soul.  So, we ended up camping in a very sane, campground,  on the River in Murphy N.C. full of Hog motorcycle people from CANADA. And the first thing the Canadian motorcycle camper said to me was,  "Not another camper from Florida."  What are all you Florida people not happy in your state.  Ha Ha. I could say the same about her.  Now I could ride a three wheel bike but not two wheel. I just don't have the big money for a three wheeler.  This entire group of motorcycle people wheel out of here each morning on their bikes and go about 100 miles up into the mountains in any direction and then ride back.  They said they do this until they have seen the area and then they move on to another campground. Cool.  Ok, these photographs are on highway 64 going through Tenn by Ducktown.  (photographs in Cherokee National Forest along 64 and of the Ocoee River and TVA Tennessee Valley Authority.  This is Indian Country.

We are in Peace Valley Campground in Murphy N.C. for a week

We are searching for a summer home up here in Tenn. or North Carolina.  I would prefer Tennessee but beggars can't be choosy.  The Fall colors are just now peaking up here.  It is quite cold at night.  We had frost for two mornings.  I love the frost but the boss does not.  Our little dog Tiny is getting socialized with the big dogs in this park. There is a beautiful trio from one family of two golden Labs and one little long haired golden dachshund called Mindy.  Tiny prefers Buddy and the other boy Lab.  He harrass's poor Mindy.  They have a little fenced in park at this campground. The bad news is all the car rentals are booked up.  And the real estate people are swamped. So we have been sitting here just vegetating until Monday when a realtor can take us looking.  From here we will go up to Hendersonville to visit my cousin Pam. And from there maybe to Charlotte N.C. to see old neighbors.  I hope Blogger will upload my photo today. 

We are in Murphy North Carolina tonight

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=65710696186&v=info Sorry I have been so absent.  But we have been traveling.  First we went to Pensacola for Felicity's second birthday.  Now we are up in Murphy North Carolina trying to find a new house.  Well, a summer place to come when Florida is too hot in July. We will be traveling around here talking to realtors for a week or two.  It is beautiful in this area of Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee.  I really like the little town of Ducktown in Tenn.  They have a Piggly Wiggly and a Hardee's.  What more could I ever need.
The tree's have not peaked their Fall colors yet.  They say on the twenty fifth of October it should peak.
Tiny made new friends in our Peace Campground in Murphy.  Two Labs and a little mini dachshund named Mindy.  And he went to the dog park in here and played with everyone. This is a first for Tiny because he was never socialized with other dogs before as his first owner, my husband's Aunt Lil never took him out or had visitors with dogs.  I hope I don't wait so long the next time. And Dee if you are reading this we have a new forum group on Facebook.  Everyone is there.  James (an Earthor) started the group.  We all wonder what happened to 4 corners and why can't we access it anymore,  Henwhen said.
Hellllooooo Dee.........  Sending out this wire to my friend Dee.......   Pictures of where I am right now.
Well, it seems rbloggers doesn't like any of my uploads or my url for photographs.  so, I guess I won't be coming to this blog anymore.

We are Back Home

We are back home from the beach.  And I am not sure I want to live at the beach full time.  I wondered this time would that noise and roar of the waves get to be annoying. I do like the quiet of the forest and forest bird song.  None of that at the ocean.  Just gulls, and seabirds.  Oh, and I fed a few grackles some stale bread.  Also the wind was really strong due to hurricane's out there.   When I got home my squirrels were so mad, they had attacked my new bird feeder.  I had to put some peanuts out right away.  Now we are home until the second week of October. We have to dog sit for the kids the first week of October while they go up to the Carolina mountains.  Then we are going up to the Carolina mountains. I would like to have a farm.  Not a huge farm but at least two acres.  My husband is not adjusting to retirement. He had a very 24/7 stressful job but I guess he needed that or got used to it.  So, once he started staying home he started taking over all the cleaning, dishes, laundry.  Now that's ok. But then he took over my Farmville on Facebook.  (a game that I was not very good at. )  He made my farm fabulous and every thought it was me.  Then he got mad and started his own farm. But now he sits a lot all day playing this game.  I have to find him a new hobby. This one is not healthy.  Too much sitting.  Fall has arrived.  When the nuts and leaves start falling from the tree's, I know Fall is here.  And also the love bugs have arrived.  You can feel the slight change in cooler temperatures in the morning.  It is about time. Because this has been the worst summer I can remember. Bad enough to make me want to move out of Florida.  I am itching to plant more flowers for spring next year.   Ok, enough of this.  I must go get on my treadmill.  Here have a butterfly. It was flying over the ocean.

Beach photographs

The Beach

We are at Ormond Beach Florida for a few days. I feel alive at the ocean.  I walked enough on the beach to substitute for my treadmill.  Pictures.

Hate to Admit

But I am only averaging 1/4 mile on treadmill the last few days.  And skipping the weights for a few
days.  Must get back to my schedule. For me, if I don't do it early in the day, it does not get done. Surely
I can fit in more than one lap on the treadmill.  It does not seem to be doing what I was afraid of, making me
lose weight. Instead my arms are looking more defined and less loose skin.  And that is true all over. So, I must keep trying. Did I say that I hate exercise. I don't know why because I breathe so much better after two miles of walking/jogging. Sitting is the worst thing in the world we can do as we age.  If nothing else, get up and move at least every hour.  Even if you just walk from room to room. The other day I went outside just to look at the
 birds and it felt so good. The heat is starting to let up in the morning and evening. I can't wait for Fall. 
Today is my brothers birthday.  He turns 63.  We are getting up there.  He is almost the only family I have left except for two cousins and an Aunt Anne in California.  Life is shrinking.  And I just lost my Godfather. He was ninety-one and said he was ready to go. 

Day Three

Well, I only walked a mile yesterday but I did all my exercises.  I am adding a protein shake with lunch. I may have to talk to the nutritionist up at Moffits because no matter what I do, no weight seems to go to my face, chest, arms, etc.  I have talked to others who had gone through radiation and chemo and lost a lot of weight. They tend
to stay gaunt and thin looking also.  I may join the therapy gym here and see if a trainer can help me.  It's not so much vanity but I want more strength back and muscle tone.
So, it's a commmercial and I walk on all commercials.  It is going to be over 95 this weekend. Can I just say I dream of living up North.  In the mountains. This heat is becoming unbearable in Florida and lasting later and
later and starting earlier and earlier.  We are ready for a move. We plan to sell both homes next year and find
something in Tenn. or North Carolina. And all next year we will be trying different locations in our motorhome
to see where we feel the most relaxed.
I have to say retirement is kicking my you know what.  My husband who used to use Saturday for his "man" things. Like haircuts etc now expects us to both do our errands, chores, shopping together because we gave
up the second car and its more economical to make one trip.  I have to say,  Blah, Blah, Blah.  Retirement is kicking my you know what.  We are just not used to living out of each others back pocket. So, today, I just said, Go.  Because for a week he has been trying to catch his barber and each time his barber is not there. It seems his barbar is mostly retired and he makes his own hours and good luck figuring them out.  I will just take my trips to town on a different day.  Too much closeness can make Mom a bear to live with.
Later,  the treadmill calls.

Felicity finds ABC song on Ipad

Reading a story on the IPad when you are only two.  And Lola the bulldog.   Lola is her little sis.

Elmo is the Man!!!

If you are almost two years old.  Elmo is the man.

Youngest Ipad user Felicity works the Ipad.

Felicity is a pro at 22 months on the Ipad.  

My One Year Plan with Rosie Bloggers

My plan will be different from most.  I need to gain muscle not weight per se.   About two years ago I weighed 168.  I was about 30 pounds overweight at five feet six inches tall. Then I got cancer on a tonsil scar tissue.  After seven weeks of radiation I weighed 104 pounds. I dropped over 54 pounds in two months due to the fact I could barely eat broth.  Slowly with Carnation 560 and slowly more solid food I am now up to 120 pounds.  And that might be fine except for the fact that I am 64 years old, I now have lots of loose skin even though I was not classically obese.  And every pound I have tried to gain over 120 is going straight to belly fat and thighs.  I still look emaciated on my shoulders, chest and face.  I need to eat as healthy as possible and exercise to develop muscle tissue that has atrophied.  Eating healthy is harder and eating protein is very hard because meat is hard to swallow without broth, gravy or some sort of sauce. Up until now I just poured canned gravy on my meat.  I can eat vegetables cooked.  I can't eat salad without lots of dressing.  So, a healthy diet will have to incorporate soy and soy sauces.  I want to look healthy again.  Right now I do not.  So, my plan is to gain ten more pounds of mainly muscle.

Height  5 ' 6 "
Weight  120

Today I walked/ran 1 mile on my treadmill. I did plank lift to count of 50.  It is far better at tightening
the abdomen then sit ups.  You just go up on your toes and hands like a plank board, you tighten your stomach and abs and count to as long as you can hold it.  I could only do 20 counts at first. Now I am up to 50.  I also do not have a lot of strength back yet but I am working on it.

So, lets all help each other.  I may have the opposite problem but I know what it was like to be 30 pounds overweight and not be able to lose it.  I do not recommend the radiation diet.  Very painful.

Here are my photo's of where I was and where I am at now.  I am getting fatty flab on my middle again. The food wants to go right back to the fat cells again. And I'll be darned if I will let it.  So I will get off my ass, shut down the computer and exercise.  And stop eating all sweets. They don't taste good anymore anyway.

Dogs Days Continue

Today if this trend continues my part of Florida (Gainsville area) will break a record of continuous days of
over 90 degree F.  Today being day 44 of over 90.  Can I say.  I feel like I fell into hell on earth.  We have
decided we are moving out of this state. Not just being snow birds. We are moving lock stock and barrel.
I feel this is part of global warming and the trend will continue.  It is no longer worth the nice winters to stay.
And we are not in a position in which we have to stay here.  I want to move to Glacier Park area in Montana.
My husband would rather somewhere more temperate like North Carolina mountains.  Oh, the joy's of retirement.  Actually I want to live on the ocean but I know that is not going to happen.  So, I am going to settle for the mountains and a chicken coop.  Yes, I want a chicken coop.  I am already looking at how to build a chicken coop.  But I also want my chickens to have free range at times.  I want a huge chicken coop with like boxes for nesting.  I want the Taj Mahal of chicken coops. 

We are leaving on Monday to babysit for Felicity who is now almost two years old. And as my son Robert
said.  "You might want to put her in daycare a few hours a day because she never stops.  She never stops.
Meaning she is on the go 24/7.  She does not sit down and play with toys, ever.  She loves her mother's
IPad.  It has now become her own.  She not even two.  What child needs an IPad of her own.  A 400 dollar item.  I think it will be a rough week.  I plan to let her have whatever she wants unless it is harmful.  It is not
my job to change things.  Just be there and keep her safe for a week. 

My baby brother chooses to continue to live in Colorado.  It makes me so sad because he is the only family I have left besides my Aunt Anne in California.  There is no reason why he could not move back to Florida. He is retired.  He just needs to sell his house.  All his other family live over here on the East coast.  His cousins both live in Miami and Hendersonville N.C.  So, why continue to live so far from family.  Maybe I just answered my own question.  Later Gator.  Going AWOL for a week.  Me and brother Ben this past May. In his back yard in Colorado Springs. 

Dog Days of Summer

I believe we are in the middle of them.  I don't want to do anything. I water the flowers and feed the birds at 8am. And after that, I hide in the house in air conditioning.  I am looking forward to Fall. I don't even have any great new photographs to post.  Because we have not been going anywhere so it would just be another butterfly photo or hummingbird. Oh yes, about the hummingbirds. We started out with the Mom and Dad and now we have four. I had to put up a second feeder across the yard under the crepe myrtle tree so they would stop attacking each other.  They are soooo territorial. Not nice birds at all. I love to hold up the feeder from my hand and make them come right up to my face.  I always wear glasses because they have strifed me like a jet.  Trying to scare me, I guess.  It has been so hot, I have to change the sugar water every third day.  Even by then it starts to ferment like wine. 

We have had wild thunderstorms and torrential rains. Then it will dry out.  And get hot again.  Had to take the dog to the Vets. He came home from his trip out West and went into shock from the flea's and heat and humidity.  His skin and fur were perfect out in Montana. Its cool and dry there.  I really would like to move
out there.  But I don't have the say in that matter.  Now the dog is on new flea medicine, a people allergy med called atarax.  I want a puppy.  I think Tiny would be so much happier if we had another dog. He has lost all his friends.  We lost our cat Inky a few weeks ago.  Old age.  Now it's just Tiny and he is lonely 

I made friends with a man in Tombstone Arizona.   He built his own observatory on his land.  I wanted to go and see him when we went through Arizona.  He found out he has terminal cancer. He gave his observatory to a university and established a scholarship in his name.  He expected he would be gone by now as the doctors gave him six months.  But he is still here. He said he is stopping the transfusions so he will go faster.

I wish he could have a miracle.  Doctors don't know everything.  They should not give out those six month things.  Ok, this is all I've got.  I need another road trip.  I want to go up to Maine.  Far far away from this heat and humidity.  I want to walk on a Maine beach and eat lobster and corn on the cob.  Later.

I don't want to be the last to go.

Those were words my mother always said as she got older. Especially from age 80 onward. And so she left before her cousin Irene who was 85. Irene would have probably gone on to make 100 as her own mother did but she had no patience. And she would never wear her hearing aid. So, she did not hear that car coming up as she crossed who did not heed the stop sign.

We left for parts West (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado) about three weeks ago. It was a month long trip. We debated about our cat Inky. She had to be at least 14 (hard to know when they arrive as a stray) and a bit depressed as she had lost her pals Bo and Snowball the year before (two boy cats from the same litter) We had never taken Inky along on trips before. But then, she had always had the company of the other cats. So, a week before our motor home month long trip we took Inky to St. Augustine beach as a test. At first we kept her in the carrier on the way. But on the way home (just an hour drive) we let her loose to wander the motor home. She did very well once camped, seemed a bit anxious on the road but soon found her spot. So we decided to take her on the road. She did fantastic on the entire journey. I think maybe both she and our dachshund Tiny had a bit of trouble in the Montana and Oregon mountains and had to learn to alleviate the pressure in their ears. Tiny yawned finally, not sure how Inky handled it. And on this trip Tiny and Inky bonded. By that I mean, Tiny came into the house late in the game so he was always a bit jealous of Inky. And Tiny wanted a playmate and they were the same size but Inky was not the least bit interested. But on this trip they got closer and closer. Even sharing beds and robes. Maybe they were both scared and thought they would never find their way home. But they bonded. When we came home Inky seemed very happy. But she started refusing food soon after and next refused water. The Vet was unsure of what was going on. I think her kidney's may have been challenged on the long trip. But she was well the entire trip and enjoyed it immensely. Even riding on the front dash on the highway. The other day she passed away quietly in her sleep. No more cats. We had always been a multi cat home. Inky came to us with a mother cat and four kittens. We think Inky was from the previous litter. We found homes for all the kittens. But Mama Kitty and Inky became ours. We already had two brother cats, Bo and Snowball. So that's it. The end of the cats. My husband said he is tired of burying pets. So Tiny. You are the last of the last as my mother would say. May you live long and prosper..

English Country Dancing.

My high school girlfriend asked me to meet her in the next town over, Gainesville, Fl. to try English country dance. I will say the music is beautiful. They have flutist,
and guitar, drums. It is sort of like a waltz with a zippy two step. I took the beginner's lesson before the dance. I made it through the first two hours and then the steps and dances got more intricate and I was wayyyy out of my element/comfort zone. I knew it was time to sit, when a partner said, quit looking at your feet and watch me.
Helen said, Think Jane Austen. These people even have Balls where they dress up in period clothes. I can't imagine my husband every joining me in this. But it was interesting. I might try it again as a group closer to me in Deland, Florida is starting their own group dances. It is also making me want to learn the violin or banjo. It is too hot for June. If this is June, what in the world will August feel like? This must be part of global warming. And I don't like how warm our winter was. I enjoy a bit of chill in December. We are going to take another trip up to Tellico Plains Tennessee to look for a house. We also want to see if it is any cooler up there in July than it is here. Here are a few photographs from the dance. I will try and update more often.

Home Sweet Home

We got back home from our travels on Monday. Boy, I hate unpacking a 31 foot motorhome. I thought my hummingbirds had left me but I saw one this morning. It took me a few days to feed all my flowers and tomatoes and green beans. I had the water timer on them but still they have not grown much but at least they are not dead. I believe Idaho surprised me the most. We only touched the tip tip of Idaho crossing over to Glacier Park from Washington and I never expected to notice the state. The most beautiful mountains and huge rock cliffs. I would like to go back to Idaho and fish or just hang out. Lots of mining towns and poor people. Reminded me of Kentucky. I also read some of the local newspapers and read about what the mines have done to generations of families health.

It will take us the rest of the summer to pay off these gas bills. You almost have to fill the monster every day or two and its over a 100 bucks a wack. Heck I could have gone to England. I loved the wild mustangs at auction in Rawlins Wyoming. And i would love to go back out and buy a foal Maybe one day. Nice to be home. This morning I just sat in my oak woods and appreciated what I have right here in my own backyard. My red birds are starting to come back to the feeders. I really hate to leave home but sometimes you just have to. Later.

Almost Home

We are in Colorado Springs Colorado tonight visiting my baby brother for a few days. We have been to Oregon, Washington,
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming. We missed the Dakota's, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Maybe the next time. The weather turned to snow in Yellowstone. It was raining in Glacier International Peace Park. But it was still beautiful. I will try over time to post
many photographs from my laptop. But we have terrible wi fi connection in most parks. Slow uploads. Here is Glacier Park and some of Yellowstone.

Golden Gate Bridge and on into Oregon

I believe Oregon coast line is now my favorite. It has the craggiest cliffs, and best tide pools. But requires lots of climbing down and climbing back up. And my knees are not what they used to be. Tonight we are in Gold Beach Oregon. Very pretty. Yesterday we were close to the Oregon state line. We did not drive through the Redwoods national park. Just road alone highway 101 and saw the Redwoods along the highway. We might have to skip some of Washington state coast line and head for Montana so we will have time for Glacier state park. Later. Time to eat my t.v. dinner.

Monterey California

We are on a huge trip which we have looked forward to for twenty years. A trip all across the west to Califronia coast, Oregon, Montana. We left West Texas San Antonio a week ago. Started in Florida. Tonight we stopped on Monterey Ca. after driving the coastal highway 1 from San Luis Obixpo to Monterey. Very scary drive along high cliffs over the ocean in our thirty foot motorhome. We are stressed to the max. But what beautiful scenery. I hope I can have time to post some along the way. Tomorrow we will cross the Golden Gate bridge in San Fran. Then on to Oregon.

Pensacola

In Pensacola tonight. Saw the grandbaby. She is sick, running a fever. Sunday we head for California and the west coast.
Dread seeing what New Orleans coastal area looks like. Family here is sick over the oil spill and what it will do to the economy
here which depends on the beaches.
Saw son's home in downtown Pensacola. It is a lovely 100 year old house. He and his wife graduate from college on Saturday.
We might be babysitting granddaughter Felicity on Saturday if she is well.
We haven't really planned out what we want to see on this trip other than the states we want to get to. So far the cat is doing
fine traveling. Better than the dog who has been doing it now for two years. Nice campground here tonight in Pensacola.
Here is a photograph of our camping in St. Augustine last weekend. Hope to keep a journal of our trip on the blogs.

Leaving for L.A. Oregon Washington Montana

And parts unknown. Will probably not be able to update a lot from my laptop unless our campground has wi fi. We are taking this huge trip to see the rest of America that we have missed. Mostly out West. Be back sometime in June. Took a test trip this past weekend to St. Augustine Beach to make sure the motorhome is good. A guy at camping world told us we needed new tires. The RV is only two years old. He said they were dry rotting on the sides already. That could be as since my cancer diagnosis we have not had it out of the carport in months and months, a year maybe. Sitting is not good for tires. I tried to tell my husband that. But I guess we are going to just take the chance and hope the guy was just trying to sell tires. Also our propane alarm went off after we got propane. It does it every time. We had someone with a test go around a look for leaks. We have none. so the alarm is defective. will have to get that replaced. Later. See you in two months.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sparroweye/4572514342/

Hummingbird Fever

This occurs when the male hummingbird arrives in March or April and I follow him around trying to get that perfect
photograph. It usually never happens. That could be because I have never read the handbook with my new camera.
When the female arrives and then the young juvenile babies they are much less camera shy and I can take multiple photo's
of them. Today I got a photo of him on the coral honey suckle. I had the ISO at 400. I have no idea what that means. My son
set it there for me. He is the one who bought me the fancy camera. I wish he had also stayed around to give me a few
lessons.
Today I was skyping with a friend in Holland. There is something magical about sitting in your sunroom on a video cam and
talking live to a friend in Holland. It just seems magical. One New Years Eve he even stuck his laptop out the window in freezing
temperature I might add and gave me a view of their new years fireworks display in Shiedam Rotterdam. It was beautiful.
The internet technology has changed the face of the world. I can talk to my granddaughter on here live. Learn to play the
drums. Whatever did we do before this electronic age. I'll tell you. We went outside more, we had more picnic's, we played real cards at a card table. We saw the blue sky more, the bird song more. We felt the sun on our face more. I think progress is
grossly over-rated.
Today is sunny, cool and windy. And magically while checking the mail at my daughters house behind me I heard the screech
owls. They have not showed up to nest this year. But at least I know they are still in the neighborhood even if they are not using
my bird house.
We are still searching for a farm in Tennessee. This place is getting way over developed for us. It gets harder and harder to stay in the wild. Because civilization always finds you. Til tomorrow. My three four fans.

Hands

This hand belongs to the one I love. He was sleeping. I have always loved hands. I love very old hands gnarled with age. I love newborn babies hands. I love how newborns find their hands and hold one hand while gazing into the other hand as if it's a crystal ball. I love watching elderly couples still holding hands. It's a lost art holding hands. Hugging is still in vogue. But holding hands seems to have disappeared. I wonder why.
I believe the laying on of hands can heal. Not meaning in a religious way. I just think hands can impart energy and love and healing. A great man knew this. I love seeing people who work with their hands. Bakers kneading bread. Artists slapping paint on canvas. Mothers patting babies on the back. We don't touch enough anymore. We keep our distance. Unless of course you are Italian. We talk with our hands. We grieve with our hands. We make love with our hands. Today was a good day. The sun came out but it rained a bit. Something for everyone. Ever notice how the birds sing when it is just a shower. Bird's know.

When I met my husband

I had really given up on falling in love. I had even given up on finding anyone I was attracted to. And then he showed up. I didn't like him. Really. He wasn't packaged cool. He wasn't given to keeping up with the current style of dressing. He wore when he was on leave from the Air Force ( garage pants from his part-time job) But, I worked with his mother at the time. And she and I were friends. So, I went out with him one more time. That was the time he kissed me. I remember thinking, I never want this kiss to end. And then I remembered being horrified and thinking (not him) And good thing he doesn't read my blog.

It's just that I was young and wanted what all young girls want. The gorgeous guy, great dresser, loves dancing. Well, he was not any of those things. But he could ring my bell over and over again. Up until this date, I was thinking maybe I should try girls. Even though I had never had any crushes or thought about girls in a sexual way. I was shy of 20 years old. And then he came along. I really tried to get rid of him. But he stuck like glue. About this time i had decided I was just not dating enough guys. So I was dating every guy that asked. I was going out with three guys at one time. One was an artist hippie type, one was my steady date and 9 years older than I was. ( but more like my brother than a boyfriend) Well, Ralph got rid of all of them. One by one they
disappeared. The hippie guy was at my work place one time when Ralph came in and I had to go to the back of the office and when I came out, he had disappeared. I never saw him again. Then, every time I was at a college party with the steady date, Ralph would jealousy drive all around the university of Miami trying to figure out where I was.

Over time, I completely forgot how I thought of Ralph when we first met. It's as if I was looking through the eyes of love. By this time I hated to even be apart from him. But our relationship continued and lasted through living one year in France, one year as an airline stewardess. And finally after three years of seeing each other we got married. I know now what is meant by, "Love is
blind". Because love is the great common denominator. When you fall in love, you look at the other person through different eyes. it's a strange feeling. And if you're lucky and you work at keeping that glow alive it lasts forever. I can remember just the touch of his hand was all it took. I feel lucky. That we met. We lived in different parts of the city. Never would have normally crossed paths. But I worked with his Mom. One thing I will say about men. if he treats his Mom well. Grab him.
Here have some goldfinches.

Got through another cancer check-up

I won't go into detail because I am a total hyperchondriac. I am the last person who should have gone through cancer. But everything is still A-ok.

I love spring. I think I may change this to my favorite season. It used to be Fall. But really Spring with all the blackberry blossoms, birds building nests, bee's humming. It's just the best. Cool nights, warm days. Still no air conditioning on.
I wish it would last forever.

Well, with that checkup. We are now free to travel. Not another checkup until the radiologist the end of June. So, we are planning our Great Big Road Trip the end of April. We will head out West. Go up the West coast, cut over to Montana, Wyoming,
maybe visit Wisconsin, Utah. All the states we have missed.

We have a new bird feeder. It is huge. And so far the squirrels have not been able to
access it. We made our old mailbox into a squirrel feeder. They are a bit leery to go inside of it. Not much new. Wanted to go see Alice in Wonderland but guess I will wait for the DVD to come out.

Magic

There are some things that never fail to bring the magic. A shooting star spotted accidently. The first hummingbird. A butterfly suddenly landing on you. No matter how many times I have seen a hummingbird. The first sighting brings me to my knee's. Always. It is the same reverence I hold for newborn puppies and babies. The newness, the awe factor just never never goes away. And I feel the same way about the ocean. These are the things that give me hope, over and over again. These are the things I would share with an alien to my planet. Oh, and of course blueberry cobbler. Today I am nostalgic because I succeeded in pissing off a hummingbird and getting a decent photograph of him. It would have been better with less bright sunlight. But still, it was pretty good. No matter how many summers I have been photographing hummingbirds, I never get tired of it. In fact I would say all of nature brings me joy. New wildflowers. If you really want to enjoy the small things in life that we constantly pass by. Just take a long walk in the wild with a two year old. They will show you the way. Peace out people.