Quote of the Week

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.

- Eleanor Roosevelt 

Wise words from a wise woman.  Embrace each day and revel in that which makes it new for that is what keeps us from growing stale.

Memorial Day Tribute

Image source: Rusty Russ

Memorial Day weekend has become the kick-off for summer activities, parties and vacations.  But more importantly, it is when we honor all those who have served our country and kept us safe at the risk of their own lives - many of which ended far to soon.  Let the flag wave and the bells ring, for Freedom is anything but Free.

Two of my uncles served in World War II, and I have many pictures taken during that time.  It is not something they liked to talk about.  My Uncle Charlie was awarded a medal, and although I've searched high and low, I can't find the paper with the information so I don't know what it was called, but he got it for bravery, leadership and refusing to leave his men under fire even though he had been injured. 

He was one of the special men in my life.  He was a carpenter by trade, and like my father, he was never afraid of anything. 

Here he is with the WWII flag.  Notice that this is not like our flag today.  This flag has only 48 stars.

Uncle Charlie

So when you plan your celebration, light up the barbecue, or pop the top on that first beer, remember those whose sacrifice made it possible.

And now I would like to leave you with this thought - something Uncle Charlie would say now and then.  

If a man's sick he's not well and everything he eats goes to his stomach.  

Nursery Rhyme Redo: Little Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner - All Grown Up

Image Source: Vistavision

Little Jack Horner alone in the corner
Regretting his recent lie
He tippled his rum - said what have I done
I'll be in this mess til I die

Not Winning!

Background:  As I've mentioned before, I still own the house where I grew up, and it is less than 2 miles from where we live now. I went there to wash the car because there are paved driveways.  Below is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent to my hubby detailing my attempt to vacuum and wash the car. He laughed and suggested I share it with you.

The back driveway

"Went over to blow out the driveway, vacuum out the car and wash it.  Frustrating!  I only had one cord, so too short.  Went to get the black cord on the box.  Attached to the battery charger, so I drug out the heavy orange one and figured out how to set it up.  Blew the driveway.  Unplugged the blower, hauled out the blue vac, and cleaned the car.  OK on to the real frustration.  I hunted for the car wash brush.  Found it, managed to get to it.  Good.  Had soap, brush and bucket.  Go out to get the hose.  Pull it out and no nozzle.  Back to the basement.  Found a nozzle I thought would work.  Needed a washer.  Put one in.  Back to the front, put the nozzle on.  Good.  Turn on the water.  Hose not connected.  OK, connect the hose to the weird dual thingie on the spigot.  Leaks.  Flip both switches.  Leaks.  Take the hose loose, take off dual thingie, put hose back on.  Leaks.  Phooey!  Check back driveway - no shade.  Put everything away and came home."

I guess you could say I was "not winning" that day.  Got any frustrations you'd like to share?

Quote of the Week

Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak.  Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world.  Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up.

- Allen Klein

We are the artists of our lives, and they are only as bright as we paint them.

Where Did All The Words Go?

Image source:  Chris Halderman

No words anywhere, nothing, zip, nada.  Where did they all go?  Was it something I said?  Have I taken them for granted?  Maybe they're all in hiding, deep in the night in the furthest crevasses where light never reaches. Maybe they're being held prisoner and being forced to make sentences.

Please help find the words.

Posted for Friday Flash 55.

Got Mulch?

Need something to do on a Saturday morning?  Go get the free mulch from the city.  We did!  The city offers free leaf mulch twice a year, in the spring and fall.  You take your truck and/or trailer and they load it for you.

6-foot truck bed

 This mulch looks more like topsoil, but it's good stuff.

A new natural area

 Makes mowing easier!

A new look!

Part of Kevin's handiwork before he left - we just added more mulch.

I wish I had a picture of the trailer we used for the rest of the mulch.  It holds a full scoop.  For perspective, the truck has 1/2 scoop.  The next weekend we got another trailer load for a total of 2 1/2 scoops.  

Whew!

Quote of the Week

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

- Dr. Seuss

Imagine your favorite vacation, a special meal, or perhaps your childhood. Now imagine not having that experience, not feeling how it made you feel. Knowing what you know, you can smile because it happened rather than mourn its passing.

The Stately Rhododendron

After most of the azaleas have gone by, the rhododendrons take the stage.  While both are classified under the name rhododendron, the azaleas have smaller leaves and the blooms are individual instead of forming a blossom cluster.  The leaves of the rhododendron are larger and more leathery.

Rhododendrons are found in many countries throughout the world, and used extensively in landscaping.  There are many species of rhododendron in varying sizes and colors.  

This is one that we've had for many years, and actually it is two plants. They are hardy plants that will provide years of beautiful blossoms.

Ups and Downs

This end up

Fragile easily broken

Handle with care

Insurance

There is none

Upside down

Inside out

Outside in

Shattered

Tattered

Ripped and torn

Hangs in shreds

In the wind

Bruised and shaken

And then

It stirs

Revived still alive

Rises again

The skies clear

The sun shines

Luck smiles

Once again

Life is good

Posted for One Shot Wednesday

Quote of the Week

The dead should not rule the living - Thomas Jefferson 

Photo credit: Cliff1066

There is a difference between following time-honored family traditions, and continuing to do a task the same way "my father and grandfather did", when changing with the times can make the task easier, more efficient or more cost effective. 

This quote is open to other interpretations.  Please feel free to share yours in the comment section.

It's Pool Time

She lies in the summer sun along side the pool, a romantic novel shading her face.  The cool water sparkles like a thousand diamonds.  Her radio is playing fun summer tunes.  Every 15 minutes comes the public service announcement, "Time to turn so you don't burn".  At this she rises and slowly descends into the water.

This was posted for Friday Flash 55.

All's Well That Ends Well"

Ever had a day like this?

It was a typical Tuesday morning at the Y.  After class, I walked out with my friend, Allie, and when we get to my car (actually hubby's car - yes I'm still driving it), she points at the car.  "There's something on your car."  I look, not expecting anything out of the ordinary, and see the front bumper with some vertical black streaks - it still didn't register.  I say "probably just dirt and some bird poop."  

"Hey, there's a note under your wiper" (which is usually an advertisement or someone looking to convert sinners).  It read "Someone hit your car...I didn't get the plate #."  

When I looked at the car again, this is what I saw.

Sad face!  Hey, I was just punched in the nose.

Although I didn't know it at the time, the lady who had the misfortune of backing into the car, was inside at the front desk trying to figure out how to find me.  By the time she came back out to get the license number, I'd already left.

Sometimes you get lucky though, and things aren't as bad as they seem at first.  Here is the after picture.

I'm so happy I can smile again!

Since we were all relieved that the injuries sustained were so easily mended, the fellow most responsible for the repairs (hubby's buddy, Ronnie) wrote this little ditty, obviously influenced by Little Miss Muffet.

Little Miss Linda

Had a little Bender

She hated the new curves and sway

When along came a mender

Who straightened her fender

Now she’s smiling away!

As a result of the little "bender", I met a nice young woman who treated me to lunch as an apology for hitting the car.  Accidents do happen, and all's well that ends well.

Quote of the Week

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see.  
- John Burroughs

Too often the busyness of our lives overwhelms our senses, and we become bogged down in the daily grind. We need to adorn our lives with a little more of that which is precious to us, whether it is enjoying a good book, taking a long walk though the woods, or simply letting the sun shine upon our faces.