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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Magic Sunglasses
As summer has waned and eased into autumn, the deciduous trees have turned to that “it’s-all-over-for-this-year” dull green, with small bursts and streaks of color here and there, as highlights on fading tresses. While driving, I could not but help … Continue reading
Posted in Autumn, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged if only, illusions, magic glasses, reality, truth, what is real
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Raised Them Right
Daughter #2 called me a few weeks ago. “So Mom, I have a story for you!” I love a story. She went on to tell me that a man walked into the building where she works carrying a guitar and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Gibson ES-339, honesty, karma, returning a stolen guitar, reward, rewarding honesty, stolen Gibson, stolen guitar, ungrateful dolt
5 Comments
Space Invader
Every six to eight months I pay a visit to the hair salon. Because this does not happen very often, I continue to patronize the same person I have been seeing for decades, even though I have moved a number … Continue reading
Posted in Humor, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged at the hairdresser, invading personal space, personal space, rude people, sit on your own side
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Blessings Amid the Depression
Breakfast this morning consisted of a handful of foraged chanterelle mushrooms sautéed in butter and garlic, then scrambled into two fresh eggs from a neighbor’s chickens and sprinkled with ground Himalayan pink salt and fresh peppercorn. The mushroom eggs were … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, grief, Hearing Impaired, Perspective, Rant, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged appreciation, blessings, depressed, depression, dysthymia, feeling blue, gratefulness, loss, moods, people judging depression
4 Comments
Of Summer
Standing outside watering a thirsty garden watching prisms arc through the spray under a late afternoon sun I am reduced to a child reliving the joy of running under the rainbow in the sprinkler on a hot summer day Sweet … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, summer, Uncategorized
Tagged Childhood, growing old, looking back, magic, Memories, nature, Summer, summer time
4 Comments
Waste Not
After having a conversation with an old friend about the healthful benefits of juicing, my guilt about my packed-away juicer was tweaked just enough that I hauled it back out…..what good is it if you are not using it? In … Continue reading
Posted in baking, Cooking, Diet, Food, Uncategorized
Tagged carrot juice, Health, juicer, juicing, no waste
3 Comments
Men Give Me Knives
While rummaging through some drawers and stored boxes, I came across a number of different knives, mostly pocket-type and folding knives, which have been given to me by various men over the years. It is not the first time I … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged a woman receiving a knife, giving a knife, knives as gifts, men and women, pocket knife
3 Comments
Miracles and Magic In Your Hands
Have you stopped to notice all the little miracles that pass through our hands daily? While skimming through a number of recent and stored photographs, I could not help but realize how many beautiful things these worn out old hands … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged beautiful earth, beautiful nature, gifts of spring, miracles, nature, small wonders, these old hands, wonder, wonderous things
1 Comment
Fauxtmeal
My very pregnant daughter was standing at her kitchen counter one morning eating some mushy stuff out of a bowl that looked like oatmeal but wasn’t. When I asked, she told me it was “Fauxtmeal”. Just coming into the last … Continue reading
Posted in Cooking, Diet, Food, Uncategorized, Weight
Tagged breakfast, fake oatmeal, Whole 30
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Adventures in Sourdough
“Why are we paying the price of whole wheat and artisan breads when we could be making it ourselves?” Almost to the day that the Significant Other made this economy-driven announcement, an old bread machine was synchronistically gifted my way. … Continue reading
Posted in baking, Cooking, Diet, Food, Uncategorized
Tagged bread machine, bread making, fermentation, sourdough bread, sourdough starter, the smell of kimchi
5 Comments
Tale of the Traveling Chairs
The Great Divorce in our family took place in California back in the 1970’s. Along with moving herself and children to the bottom half of a stucco two-family house with a Spanish tile roof, my mother launched into her new … Continue reading
Posted in Divorce, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged bentwood chairs, cane chairs, clearing out, divorce, family history, Memories, old furniture, possessions, purging, relocation
4 Comments
Buzzed
Our local nursery was having their annual Spring flower display, an early teaser, and it was raining, so I stopped there to get high. On flowers. I get pretty buzzed on flowers – it’s true. Obviously I am not the … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening, Photography, Spring, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged Color, garden center, high on flowers, spring flowers, spring preview, things to come
5 Comments
What It Boils Down To
It’s that time of year in these colder regions where the maple sap is running. This past weekend a number of local people have been busy boiling down their sap. On a Saturday complimented by a stellar-blue jay sky, friends … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged February, maple sugaring, maple syrup, Memories, sap boiling, simple pleasures
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My Little Black Book is Blue
Not that long ago it seems, before cell phone contact lists and computer address databases, there was The Address Book. Even though that information is stored on both my phone and in a computer file, stashed in a top drawer … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Friends, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged address book, Change, impermanence, Memories, time
4 Comments
Priorities
The Significant Other is self-employed in the construction trade and is kind of a “Mr. Fixit.” Following a recent accident which required some surgery, the involuntary down-time has kept him home for much of the week. He is pretty good … Continue reading
Don’t Steal This Book
My books are like old friends. When it comes time to purge items from the home, the most difficult items to reduce seem to be the books. Even when I know I am not going to be reading a particular … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Birds, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Tagged library book, old Audubon guide, used books
4 Comments
Machine Age
You would think I had grown up in the days of my grandmother or possibly my great-grandmother if you saw the kind of appliances I had in my house, right up into the 1990’s. As a twenty-something and even a … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Cooking, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged antiques, clutter, gadgets, hippie, kitchen tools, machines, old appliances, too much stuff
4 Comments
Looking Up
I just happened to have another one of those oddly moving parking lot experiences. It is a hot, bright August day with a slight tinge of humidity in the air. Despite the delicious temptation of slabbing out in front of … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Photography, summer, Uncategorized, Weather, Wow!
Tagged city view, clouds, looking up, sky, unexpected beauty, urban nature
4 Comments
West Wind
Last night the west wind blew down all the cherry blossoms from the tree across the street. They landed on our side of the road, gathering in a lovely line of candy-pink bubblegum bliss along the curb. I was filled … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Spring, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged beauty, cherry blossoms, early morning, Spring, wonderous things
4 Comments
Cheese Puff Bliss
You never know when and where you might discover a moment of contentment. It feels like a gift when those times happen unbidden and unexpectedly. Having just finished shopping and while loading my groceries into the trunk of the car, … Continue reading
A Trail of Panties
While packing for a trip to Holland years ago, my friend suggested we should bring all of our old underwear that was on its very last legs and discard them along the way, leaving more room in the suitcase to … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged fresh start, old underwear, road trip, room in the suitcase, travel
4 Comments
A Mermaid Farewell, or The Last (Hip) Hurrah
While deleting over a hundred spam hits, it really drove home how lax I have been about posting anything. Distraction has been the issue. A lot of new things have popped up in my life that have grabbed my focus … Continue reading
The Hamantaschen Fail
Hamentaschen (or Hamentashen, or Hamantashen), the tri-cornered cookies filled with poppy seeds, fruit jelly, nut mixtures, etc. were not part of my childhood holiday experience. Torrone nougat candy, bow-ties covered in powdered sugar, Italian bakery cookies, sesame and pistachio halvah……these … Continue reading
Posted in Cooking, Food, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged cookies, Hamantashen, Hamentaschen, Hamentashen, holiday cookies, I can't bake, Purim cookies
6 Comments
Pink Snow
The inside of this small oval basket of woven rush is filled with very old potpourri, atop which rests a small bottle of peach-scented oil. The basket, which once belonged to my mother, is stashed behind some framed photographs on … Continue reading
Posted in Regrets, Uncategorized
Tagged holding on to memories, Memories, mom, peach scent, potpourri
3 Comments
I’m Not That Old
Today was the first time I have been in a movie theater to see a feature film in longer than I can remember. With the exception of attending foreign films with subtitles, I have pretty much given up on going … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged captioning glasses, hard of hearing, I'm not old, mid-life, movie captioning, Regal Cinemas, theater captioning
6 Comments
All Manner of Comfortable Things
“I’m built for comfort, I ain’t built for speed”. This line from a song keeps going through my head. I think it was Howlin’ Wolf . Didn’t Canned Heat do a version of it also? (I can’t find it if … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Holidays, Humor, Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged Chillow, comfort, comfortable gifts, holiday gifts, hot flashes, midlife, over 50, over fifty, privilege
2 Comments
E
My right ear rings all the time. One day, about twenty years ago, it just started buzzing and it has never shut off since. As the hearing loss has progressed in that ear, the noise has seemed to get louder … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Coping, Deafness, Hearing Impaired, Uncategorized
Tagged hearing loss, ringing in ears, tinnitus
5 Comments
The Sore Throat Remedy in Our House
It’s that good ol’, bad ol’ winter cold time again. There are a few theories as to why this works (and it does). I envision the bacteria in your throat, your lungs, your sinuses, being killed off naturally – just … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Winter
Tagged Colds, Health, home remedy for colds, sore throat recipe, sore throat remedy, winter cold
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Double Zipper – New Year
A few brief years ago, I finally reached what I consider a small plateau of maturity – determined not to freeze through yet another Very Cold Winter, I purchased an insulated down-like coat that was long enough to cover my … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Uncategorized
Tagged approach to New Year, frustration, winter coats, zippers
4 Comments
Rejoice the Winter Solstice
Rejoice! The Winter Solstice. The day began with a cup of chai. Then lunch at a little French bistro with family I haven’t seen in months. Warm holiday feelings. Chocolate. Baking. My Mother’s Boots. There are some fruit flies pinging … Continue reading
What Do You Do All Day?
Since I have been officially out of the workforce, people who are working full-time or who I have not seen in a while will inevitably turn to me and say “So…….now that you are not working, what do you do … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Are you kidding me?, Bucket List, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged not working, out of the work force, retirement
4 Comments
Writhing With Guilt
Today I realize my shoe-a-holism has gotten a bit out of control. I sit here and writhe with guilt. As posted previously in this blog, I have a lot of shoes. Shoes of many colors. Not “designer” shoes, just comfortable, … Continue reading
Posted in Fashion, Perspective, Regrets, Shoes, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged excess consumerism, excess shoes, guilt, red boots, red cowboy boots, red cowgirl boots, red shoes, Shoe-a-holics, Too Many Shoes
6 Comments
Disposable World
There’s really no reason to get rid of my Sears Kenmore CounterCraft Food Processor if it’s still working, right? All it needs is a replacement part. It gets taken out of its box a few times a year for some … Continue reading
Posted in Are you kidding me?, Humor, Rant, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged counter appliances, customer service, food processors, Lexan, replacement parts
12 Comments
Hiding Behind a Tree
As if my heart could not get any fuller, my first-born grandchild started his very first day of pre-school this morning. Wasn’t it but yesterday when I had to leave my first child in daycare? There was no choice…I had … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, kids, Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged children, first day of pre-school, grand parenting
1 Comment
A Two Boy Wedding
It is a few days past the wedding, and I am still awash in an almost dream-state; every once in a while welling up with emotion which brings me onto the edge of tears. It is an honor to be … Continue reading
Posted in Friends, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged gay wedding, magical rainbows, marriage, rainbow wedding, two boys wedding, Wedding
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Spidey
We have had ants this summer, the large black variety. Not too many, but occasionally one will be spotted making its was across the kitchen floor or even the counter. There have been so few compared to other years, that … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized, Wildlife
Tagged insects in the house, spiders in the bathroom, The Daily Spider, tiny spiders, webs
5 Comments
Left Out
There are always challenges in the reshuffling of families, friendships and loyalties when it comes to a divorce. Over the many years since mine occurred, there have been waves of problems laced with intense hostility interspersed with moments of peacefulness … Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Divorce, Friends, Perspective, Regrets, Uncategorized, Vent
Tagged being excluded, divorce, divorcee, ex-husband, ex-inlaws, former family, former inlaws, hostile divorce, rules of divorce
4 Comments
Elusive, Delicate Rainbows
A small thing for the Bucket List, but one never-the-less. I have always wanted to visit a butterfly sanctuary, and it finally happened. Walking into that sheltered world of warm breezes, tropical flowers and rainbow-hued butterflies elicited pure joy. They … Continue reading
Posted in Bucket List, Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wow!
Tagged butterflies, butterfly sanctuary, lightness and being
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Our Lady of the Perpetual Kitchen
My grandmother was Catholic, my mother was raised Catholic, and so she tried to raise us as Catholics too. I consider myself a “Collapsed Catholic” and will usually check “none” on any form asking my religion. I never was able … Continue reading
Posted in Perspective, Uncategorized
Tagged Catholic, Immaculate Heart, mom, religion, religious relics, Virgin Mary Statue
4 Comments
Salmiak is Salmiak
Licorice is one of those things that people usually like a lot or totally abhor. You are pretty much into it or you’re not, there is not much waffling on the fence concerning licorice. I am in the licorice camp. … Continue reading
Posted in Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged cravings, drop candy, Dutch candy, salmiak, salt licorice
5 Comments
Slowly I Turned……
“Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch….” I realize I am dating myself here, because about half the people I have said this to know what I am talking about and the other half don’t. The line is … Continue reading
Posted in Bucket List, Friends, Hearing Impaired, Humor, Travel, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged Bucket List, Canadian Border, chick travel, Niagra Falls, road trip, vacation, women friends
4 Comments
Octopie
I just could not resist the creativity of it. OK, I know I have been running on about berries the last few posts. This is the very last thing I am going to post about pies, or blueberries, or probably … Continue reading
Posted in kids, Uncategorized, Wow!
Tagged baking, berries, grandchildren, Kracken, octopus, pie
2 Comments
Tradition
The tradition continued into the next generation when I took my three-year-old grandson blueberry picking for the first time. With his little pail and my big one, we ventured off into the field and down the row of bushes together. … Continue reading
Posted in kids, Photography, Uncategorized
Tagged berry picking, blueberries, generations, grandchildren, grandparenting, Summer, Traditions
5 Comments
Pie
I made a blueberry pie from all those blueberries I picked. Then I ate it for breakfast two days in a row. Just because.
Crossing a Line
No stranger to comfortable shoes, one peek in my closet will reveal a significant selection of Birkenstocks, Danskos, Naots, Merrills and Clarks. I have spent good money on good shoes because I can’t stand it if my feet hurt. I … Continue reading
Posted in Aging, Perspective, Shopping, Uncategorized
Tagged boomers, comfortable shoes, growing older, over fifty, Shoe-a-holics, Shoes, shopping with elderly
8 Comments
daeja's view 