60 degree morning

Have a wonderful weekend.

So nice to have doors open

and hot tea on the screen porch.

New tea warmer, only use a tea lite candle
love it.

Keeps your tea or coffee hot.

Dawn

Peaceful view at dawn

Beautiful day
and now some
Butternut squash soup
and toasted - my pimento cheese sandwich.

LIFE

Cooler weather has definitely arrived and I love it.   Can finally sit on the screen porch and eat lunch
and enjoy a book.

Started reading again and such pleasure, sometimes looking at the dates of years gone by and the
special words I have underlined.    Will share some in the future.

It has been another difficult past week,  Tests at the hospital, transportation inconvenience for some
as I have to travel to the local big city hospital, the one my nurse daughter recommends. Also, this is near my two daughters.

A lot is different but will not begin my day sharing, will another time with thoughts who in the
the world wants to read all of this unless they are at an advanced age and may learn something.

I do know that this independent, always doing and creating, needing no help is now different, life changed
little by little and maybe I did not notice but I know it now.

Life after 80 began to change drastically, I fought it with meditation, prayer, natural healing
and kept pushing but now continual thankfulness for their words "you are fine, rest more, keep moving"

So a slower pace is trying to take place, not good at it and will be honest but onward I go.

A lot of rain, leaves are falling and everything growing is lush and green.
An early Fall is what my heart tells me.

A GIFT FROM ONE OF MY ORCHIDS

A wonderfully cool 6:00 morning.

Busy medical week.

Will share some soon.

Thanks to all of you
for being who you are.

Have a wonderful day

Seems like an almost Fall morning...

I smile as I look at my Orchids and see one with 9 buds, a gift to this one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER

LOVE, MAMA

THEN AND NOW

MY ALMOST NIGHT TIME VISITORS

5 FEMALES
AND 2 BABIES

A LUCKY SHOT
THEY USUALLY SCATTER
WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR
TO TAKE A PICTURE

Morning Fog

Fog finally lifting
love this little red wagon
when I struck out alone with my 4-year-old
I hauled wood inside the big farmhouse for my daily fire
those were the days.

Left the big city corporate world
remodeling an old farmhouse, baby calves I fed with a bottle, gardened loved this gravel road out in the middle of nowhere.

Not that way now
grown children in other states and countries
big city, all with wonderful careers.

Now cannot imagine
one of the youngest grandchildren checking out colleges for next year
and this is really something
youngest granddaughter
now in a Magnet school and when I inquired what language you are taking
she replied "Chinese"

Oldest granddaughter expecting my second Great in November
another
a chef in Nantucket
and another cannot even begin his accomplishments

So better begin my day
fog lifted
school bus on the road

and this one
so many blessings

hope I did not forget anyone
if I did
forgive me
it is early
and need to begin my day

Something New

Returning home yesterday from the big city
we headed for my smaller local town
which is certainly growing.

Instruction to one driving
go to the new coffee shop on our local Historical Square
read on Instagram their specialty this week.

Oh my
been a long time
a Rueben

This one on Sour Dough bread


Do generously
Corn Beef layered with Swiss Cheese
or Guyre Cheese, Sour Krout (drain, squeeze dry)
and Thousand Island dressing

Toasted to perfection in my grandmothers iron skillet
so good and may reproduce here in the cottage kitchen;

Thoughts of ordering a small Panini Press, but enough small appliances I do not use already in this kitchen.   So small iron skillet serves the purpose.

Opened the doors this morning
and a storm with high winds must have passed through.

In the yard, rocking chair, small table, rug, and flower pot
had blown off.

When someone arrives will have them replaced
that is off of my to-do list at this time.

Beautiful 68-degree morning.

Tuesday

A  day of errands

still results of  DNA test not in.

A stop in my favorite Thrift Store
and spotted this flower pot. 
Unbelievable. buy

So heavy, helper had to carry and put in the car for me.

will come in handy
when plants are brought inside
before Winter arrives

They love an upstairs room
heat rises and when watered
they really grow

Shool has started
oh my seems Summer went by so quickly.

Monday Continuing

Breakfast

Protein cereal with almonds, raisins, and banana
liquid yogurt and the creamy kind
green tea, apple juice (son says no - it has sugar]

I do this once a week, cook oates a morning and  scrambled egg with a slice of bacon and toast
one morning, usually rotate.

The nurse called and coming later in the day.
I read, do research and now antibiotics are not working for me
medication given to me makes me sick for a while.  Still sick and going to stop taking it.

I get up early, always have, up and rining and then 3 hours later - crash.

So I am truly an imposter if someone reads my rambling early.

Truth at the moment
I am crying
not accepting aging as early I think of what I  cant do, will do and cannot do it as I grab my cane and
sometimes the walker.

Arthritis I do not like you could use a more explicit word but will not\
Also do not like people who lie,   Recently one who I did much for her, older than this one promised
something and did not follow through.

Arthritis attacked those before me
ane one shares "not me"
I think how I thought the same thing with all of my good habits
So I think "good luck."

I wanted to get out'
big deal
go to market
just to get out, hold onto the cart
and always see someone I know.
Buy very little and they put in the car
driving fine but tricky getting out
seems the Universe is looking out for me with blessings
as always someone passing on and hands me a cart
and then I can fly.

So, one woman
what did you think
that aging would be easy?

It is not
and all will face it, but our personalities all different as others just sit, nap and I complain.
Seems strange that my helpful son can give me answers and I smile and say you are right on target.

Mama we are not meant to  last forever and when I am at my worst and say
"maybe I am dying"
he simply replies
"Mama, we are all dying"

Now you tell me
why do I smile when he gives me these answers.

I say "bless him"

Almost lunch, no appetite and think I will make a batch of  Pimento Cheese.
Easy, I have some good Cheddar, Pimento, hot sauce and the good Mayo.
It is easy with my small processor.
A nice big tomato on hand and will toast my sandwich.

Later will finish my spaghetti
so  am all set

Thanks for listening.

Morning

A quick note on this wonderfully cool foggy morning, it is 67, strong wind and some needed rain
at dusk, some plants were blown over and cushions in the yard and helper will have to tend to that
this evening on arrival.

Up at 5:00, a long prayer time
excited for my youngest granddaughter
her first day at Magnet school, it is in downtown Nashville
mom has a distance to drive.

Back to my morning
after much going through my mind and some meditation
I begin my usual 15-minute bed Yoga
stretches and use the smallest weights
not like years ago when I walked a few miles with 5 lb weights in my hands.

Practice what I have tried to change to no avail
I turn on the computer
a lot of information is forwarded to me from my Jamie on the magnet school my youngest is on the way to this early morning, some emails, turn that machine off and the day begins.

It is foggy, deer in the front Soybean field, strange they look towards my cottage as I begin to
raise all the blinds.

So as the day begins, always bed made the first thing.   I have always told my children they can tell when
I am very sick as the bed will not be made.

Thankful new H/A man came and put up ceiling fan on screen porch
have missed it.   This cottage built almost 12 years ago and it seems some now needs replacing.
It is evident nothing lasts like it did in many homes I have lived in through the years.

The nurse arrives this morning, checks b/p and hoping DNA test is back, do not like this UTI, so pleased that my insurance
ok's this weekly visit.   Like Jana so much and a plus she is a neighbor.

So pleased that my daughter in Tampa called yesterday, granddaughter and that first great-grandson
visiting.  Missed not talking to my Jessica, she is expecting in November.  My family growing.

Busy family.

Enough shared...............

Hummers and Spaghetti

They are everywhere
and yesterday saw a baby, so tiny

All of a sudden
a craving for Spaghetti

addition of my Basil and Oregano and this one loves Garlic.
Might add that I am beginning to cook more, just simple recipes but so good

Where do memories come from?  I began to think of Anna, loved her.  She was an Italian war bride.
I have her recipe, similar to what I prepared but she had meatballs.
Her husband a master of creations, so talented helped me with several homes, a charmer, everyone liked him but  a ladies man,  a scoundrel.
My time with them over 50 years ago and memories of he broke her heart.

I often wonder if that is the way it was in another era or maybe still is.

My best friend after high school was Ginnie, I tried for years to locate her to no avail.   Worked with
her at the corporate office at Ford Motor Company in Michigan after I graduated from High School. Loved visiting her and the hugs her mama would greet with.
Her Italian food was supreme.  So different from my background of Southern cooking.
Have always been drawn to Italian people, a dream was to visit Italy and have a number of books
I have read based in that country.   May reread them as they always give me a warm feeling.

Notice lately so many  past memories arise in my mind, some wonderful and warm my heart
and others remember they broke my heart and I quickly try to erase them.

Home

Up and see my Jamie's email
they are home from a week trip in Florida, her girls each took a friend.

What a surprise, I prayed continual for a safe trip home for them during the night, kept thinking they would be in
tonight. 

Her busyness begins from this much-needed trip, orientation for one going to a new school is today and the other one continued education search will be going on.  Plus she is a writer who works from
home and know her desk is piled with paperwork and many emails that will need attention.

Thankful for her email.

Will welcome her visit next week
it is her Birthday.  My youngest, born 3 weeks early and so tiny.
Such a blessing she is to her independent mama who now seems to need some help in areas.

Thankful that my helper arrives early this morning and I want to begin planning another small
a place for flowers lost so many over the last 2 years.

This one still problems with ongoing UTI, will not share much
but seems most antibiotics not working and a DNA test was taken to see what can help.
Makes me feel really rough but just keep moving.

So just continuing on and almost have lost faith in the medical profession and will not expand on
that.

Did not share when she was on this needed trip and daughter who lives in Florida has had
her daughter and that precious great-grandson visiting and another one due in November.
Family is growing.

I miss everyone, but it is what it is - for lack of better words.

Hot weather is here and wonder if any rain in August.

So wherever you are enjoying your August maybe it is better in your location.

Magic Lilly Ttime

One minute they are not there
then you look
and they have arrived

This vine invasive
but I like you
Cyprus vine
with your tiny red blooms
as a lot have finished their season of blooming
you add some color