ENJOYING OUR WINTER RETREAT

Enjoying Ourselves at Our Winter Retreat

We really enjoy it here in Tierra Del Sol RV Resort,our winter retreat.  Everyone is friendly and willing to help in any way they can when someone is working on a project.

My husband put down patio blocks to expand the size of the patio that was on the lot when we purchased it earlier this year.  I feel bad that I am unable to help but I just can’t do that kind of thing anymore.  He wants to enlarge it to make it easier for me to get on my bike and ride around the resort for exercise.  The rest of the lot is covered with pebbles so have to push the bike through them to get to the street.  One neighbor lent him a rubber mallet to tap them down.  Another neighbor lent him his flat shovel and knee pads (boy what a knee saver).  Another neighbor came by and brought a trowel to make it easier to level the ground so the patio tile will lay level.  We have been here for only about a week and a half and have experienced nothing but generosity and the friendliest people.  They know what it was like when they first moved here.  We don’t have a storage shed yet so we’re limited as to the amount of tools etc. that we could bring with us from home.  After all the block had been put down I swept sand into the spaces between them.  I had the easiest job of all.

There are so many activities that a person can be as busy as you want to be or just relax on your patio and do absolutely nothing.  We went to the weekly coffee social hour the first week we were here and everyone came over to introduce themselves.  Now to remember everyone's name.  They only have two names to remember and we have so many more to remember.  They said "don't worry about names give it time.  Everyone wears name badges at the clubhouse so that helps remember names.   The same thing at the pot luck that is held the first Sunday each month.

A neighbor has a really neat golf cart.  It is bright red and I mean a real true red.  It is really nice.  Janice, what do you think?  Can you see yourself driving around in one like this in your community?

The pool has been drained, cleaned and refilled.  Now if the weather would just warm up just a little so I could try out that pool.  There is a group that goes to the pool for exercise at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, but I just can't talk myself into that just yet since the a.m. temps have been in the 30s and lower 40s.  It may be heated but I am a fair weather fisherman, golfer and swimmer.  There is always better weather days ahead for outdoor activities such as these.

Enjoying ourselves immensely and having a good time this winter. The wind is getting stronger this evening and looks like a cool night.  Now we wait for the weather to improve.  At least the sun has shone just about every day so far this month.

As always comments are welcome and followers appreciated.

Until next time.......

It’s A Bluebird Day

I wrote the rough draft of this blog about a week before we left for AZ and got so busy that I didn’t get it finished and published.  I decided it was about time to put the finishing touches on it and post it in my blog.

The sun was shining brightly this morning.  I poured my first cup of coffee and walked over to the back door.  I raised the blind on the door.  The sun was beginning to melt the heavy frost on the deck beyond my door.  As I drank my coffee I looked out on the back deck and the yard and pasture beyond the deck, it was such a relaxing scene.  Then I had a wonderful surprise.  An Eastern bluebird landed on the deck railing.  He sat there as he let the sun warm his feathers.  Then a second bluebird landed to the left of him and was also enjoying the warmth of the sun.  A third bird was sitting in the leafless tree just beyond the deck.  These birds are so beautiful.  It is a shame that we can’t see them more often in other parts of the country.  Wished I had my camera with me to take a picture.  But no, I didn’t have the camera ready to take that picture and I knew if I moved to go get it the bird would panic and leave.  So I stayed put and enjoyed the view.

When we moved to TN in 2005 we didn’t see any Eastern bluebirds.  We started to provide several kinds of birdseed to try and attract birds.  It wasn’t long before we started to see several kinds of birds.  The most beautiful birds were the cardinals, goldfinches and hummingbirds.  Eastern bluebirds are supposed to be in this area of the country so were disappointed we did not see them in our backyard.  So my husband started to research the Eastern bluebird and his houses.  After gathering all the info, he put together a plan for an Eastern bluebird house.  Size and opening was exactly as needed.  Then he mounted them the correct height from the ground.  He made sure the two were not too close to each other.  When you have more than one house they have to be a certain distance apart from each other.

Then we waited, and waited, and waited.  Several months later we had a new resident of our bluebird houses.  We now have a pair of bluebirds in each of our birdhouses every year.  They can be seen sitting on the fence across the back yard that goes around the pasture behind our house.  The neighbor to the west has a wood fence that the bluebirds also like to sit on so they can guard their houses and the babies inside.

As I look out of the window behind my desk the sun has melted the heavy frost and continues to dry the grass.  The sky is such a pretty blue with a slight breeze that helps that drying process.  It is such a peaceful Sunday morning.  There are still some pretty leaves around the area.  Some burgundy and golden brown oak leaves.  The ornamental pear trees are starting to get past their prime golden colored fall leaves.  Fall is such a pretty time of year in this area.  It is something that I will miss when I am not here. 

In closing I would like to share with you the sign in front of a church in our area.  I go past this church every time I go into the city.  I always enjoy reading that sign and always wonder who writes those quotes.  Someday I would like to meet him or her.

"God has given you a Church.  Some assembly is required."

I have a picture of a bluebird on the desktop of my laptop computer.  That way “It’s a Bluebird Day” at the beginning of each day.

I hope you enjoyed my blog posting today.

As always, comments are welcome and followers appreciated.

Until next  time...........

"Sometimes we are directionally challenged"

“Sometimes we are directionally challenged”

The reading of my daily devotion booklet for Saturday inspired this posting.

 Even though I know where I want to end up, I sometimes can’t figure out the best way to get there.  When that happens I need to stop and get my bearings.

I am sure we all have those days.  If we don’t stop and think things through, we are likely to end up in unintended places, situations, or relationships.  Our first thoughts on what we want are not always the best thing for us in the total concept of everything.  There are times when you have wanted something for so long that it is hard to be objective.  Is it really something you want or “need”.  Will having it make your life better or happier?  And that brings up a whole new perspective on the situation,-“need”.  When I was growing up we were taught you only spend money or time on things that are “necessary”.  If you can live without it you probably don’t need it.

A person can’t expect to have everything right away.  Over the years a person needs to pay his or her dues.  Then you have the dilemma.  When have you paid your “dues”?  When can you start collecting what you are due?  A person can spend their whole life putting off things they have dreamed about doing or having because they may have felt they haven’t paid their dues.  I wonder if others go out in the world expecting to start out near the top instead of at the beginning (OK, bottom if you will) and work their way through.  I do believe that some things in today’s world are a lot tougher to come by than in the world of yesterday.  Other things are definitely considered easier.

 That brings me to my next thought.  Some days it seems that we are continually paying our dues.  There always seems to be things we want to do in life but don’t have the time or ability to collect.  I don’t think a person can realistically ever stop paying his or her dues and only collect what is due them.  A person needs to find a happy medium.  There are always things you can do to help others that are in need-your family, friends, and neighbors or put more into your job or business.  I think if we continue to pay our dues we are sure to collect what we are due.

  Some days will be better than others.  It can be hard to be patient and let life come your way.  Wouldn’t it be easy if we had an internal GPS so we could set a starting point and follow life’s path with clear instructions to our final destination.  Every time there is a fork in the road you would know which direction to turn.  It is not always an easy path to the things that are worth having in our lives.  Here’s hoping God will guide you on an easier path.

A final thought.  Do you have someone in your life that is special to you that you haven’t heard from in a long time?  Give them a call.  Better yet call and then send them a note so they can read and reread your letter many times.  If they are having a bad day, they can reread your letter and maybe you can make their day just a little better on more than one occasion.

 

 

Love these colors, don't you.

Thanks for taking time to read my blog.  Please don't forget that your comments are always welcome. 

Until next time, have a great day and an even better weekend.

Some Rambling Thoughts

I normally do not get into politics in my blog, facebook or twitter for that matter but I just could not pass this one up.  Has anyone seen the commercial for chia Obama and chia Romney?  My first thought was “You got to be kidding, right?”  Some people are losing it.  I will be glad when this election is over.  Register to vote if you are not registered and then get out and vote.

 I would like to share some signs, sayings and rambling thoughts.

1.  The biggest lie ever:

"I have read and agree to the terms." 

2.  You are only as old as you remember you are. 

3.  Happiness is not perfected until it is shared.

 

4.  When people walk away from you, Let them go.
Your destiny is never tied to anyone that leaves you,
And it doesn’t mean they are bad people.
It just means that their part in your life's story is over.

 

5.  Where the hell is easy street?

 

6.  Every day go out and do the best you can. 

And.......

7.  Just when you thought you knew all the answers, they changed the questions. 

Fall is here so enjoy the outdoors while you can.  Take in a fall festival.  Love the fresh air and all the goodies everyone offers.  Have a great weekend.  Don't forget to keep smiling.  It's contagious.

Your comments are always welcome.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

I was sitting at my computer the other day and trying to think of something I might want to write.  Now I thought about a few ideas and kept eliminating them as boooooring.  Sometimes it helps me to make a list when I want to start a project.  This is how this particular blog started to take shape.  Now they are not in any particular order.  I typed as they came into my head over a period of several days.

I love, love, love:

My husband and family

My friends

The memories of my childhood

Pansies and Wild Roses

Old farm buildings

A sunny blue sky

A walk in the woods

The sound of a bubbling brook

A beautiful sunset

The quiet sound of nature

Birds singing

Watching hummingbirds drinking nectar from flowers

That my husband can fix just about anything.

                If it can’t be fixed it goes to the “Junkyard Mafia” to recycle the material.

Sitting around a campfire

Watching kids play when they don’t think anyone is watching

Bald eagles soaring in the sky

Floating in the backwaters of the Mississippi River

The smell of a freshly mowed field of hay

Listening to the rustle of a field of corn in the summer

Listening to the rain

A good book to read

Sharing with others the books I am finished reading

Watching the whitewater rafters floating down the Ocoee River in TN

Spell check on my computer

Remember when you were in school and you didn’t know how to spell a word?  Your teacher would say “Look it up in the dictionary”.  I remember it sometimes was a frustrating process.

The robins gathering together on the lawn in the  spring

Farmer’s Markets

To shop at small businesses

Browse through second hand shops

Warm homemade cookies fresh out of the oven

Warm cornbread with butter and syrup

Homemade soups

Sitting on my front porch with a cup of coffee watching everyone else going to work

Handmade items

The drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway

American History- especially National Parks

Tulips in the spring to brighten up a cool day

No stick cook wear

A slow cooker/Crockpot

The Colors Lavender and  Purple

All things natural

To “upcycle” slightly used items

Now put that dictionary down, you won’t find this in your dictionary.  It is the practice of taking newly found second hand items and making them over into something different - so you end up with an item that is “new to you”.

This pair of my handmade earrings on my website linrae.etsy.com

As you go through your day today, take time to think of the things that you love.  Then smile.  Everyone around you will wonder what you are up to and maybe just then they will smile also.  A smile is contagious.

Of course all comments are welcome so please take time to leave me yours.  I would love, love, love you to follow my blog.

Have a great day.

Have you ever had that happen to you?

It sure seems like Saturday today.  I don’t know why but if I didn’t have my laptop to tell me the day and date I’d swear I would be one day off.  Have to keep telling myself it is Friday.  Have you ever had that happen to you? 

I had a weird dream last night.  I dreamt that we were at a car dealership looking at used cars to buy.  My husband was determined to get this Mustang convertible.  He has always liked Mustangs.  Actually had one years ago.   I kept saying, “It isn’t practical.”  “How often will we actually drive around with the top down?”  “It isn’t safe if we would have an accident.”  I guess the accident part comes from an accident that we heard about here in Chattanooga last summer.  Four people (one of which was a miner, the only one wearing a seatbelt) were riding in a convertible and rolled the vehicle.  Everyone was killed.  It was such a sad story that I guess it stayed with me.  Have you had a weird dream?  Something really off-the-wall as some people would say.  Have you ever had that happened to you? 

This one has happened to me more times than I would like to admit.  You get home from grocery shopping and are unpacking the groceries.  You notice that you picked up a few things that were not on your list.  Then you notice that you forgot the one item you really needed.  The worst part is that item was on your list.  Have you ever had that happened to you?

You are sitting in your house having a relaxing cup of coffee and you notice that the house is pretty messy.  You know you should get busy but you just can’t seem to get started.  Then you hear a knock on the door.  Someone decided to stop by and visit.  You think, “Sure, the house looked nice all week and no one stops by until this morning.”  Today the house is a mess and sure enough a visitor.  Then you hope it is a friend because a friend stops by to see you not your house.  Have you ever had that happen to you?

You go to another room to get something only to discover after you get there that you forgot what you were suppose to get.  Has that ever happened to you?

You get in your car to go somewhere only to find out after a few miles down the road that you forgot your cell phone.  Panic sets in.  “Oh my goodness!  I don’t have my cell phone.”  You think you should go back and get that cell phone.  Then you remember that not too long ago you went everywhere without a phone because you only had a landline at the house.  Has that ever happened to you?   Now I only have a cell phone and do not have a landline.  How times have changed.

Please click on comments below and post some things that have happened to you.

Have a great day, LinRae

In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb

Good Morning,

Well, it isn't morning anymore here in TN  (12:07 p.m.)  but I guess it is morning somewhere.

We spent 6 weeks in a warmer climate last winter.  Spent the time traveling around the Mesa, Apache Junction, and Phoenix, Arizona area.  Just loved the desert.  It was dry and sunny most of the time.  No heavy dew every morning.  We plan to go back to AZ again next winter.  I will post some pictures about our winter experience at a later date

Did you notice I said last winter?  I will not allow cold weather anywhere near me.  Spring has officially arrived at my home.  The robins as well as other birds have been busy gathering material to build their nests.  Spring bulbs have bloomed in the front of the house.  I need to start a list of new plantings for my rock garden by the front porch. Some of the plants had been there for a long time and weren’t very nice anymore.  They are now gone thanks to my husband who did all the hard work digging and removing the dead foliage.  I have been thinking about using some small bushes with the bird feeder and clematis as the focal point.  I was hoping to get into the city and take a look at what Lowe’s, Home Depot and Ace Hardware have for sale.  Weather man is talking about some heavy rain and thunderstorms later this afternoon.  I will put that on my list of things to do tomorrow.  We have a new deck in the back of our house right off our kitchen-can’t wait to sit out there with a good book and a cold drink.  The old saying for March “In like a lion, out like a lamb”.  Mother Nature got the lion part right, let’s hope she gets the lamb part right. 

We went to the Court House Annex a couple of weeks ago and did the early voting thing.  Glad that TN has early voting-we take advantage of it every time.  No waiting in line to vote.  I hope everyone gets out and votes in all the primaries and general elections.  It is important and your vote does count.  Sure getting tired of the political ads but I guess that is part of the process.

Last week I finally said to myself.  “Self, you need a haircut-a short haircut.”  O M G!  I told the hairdresser I wanted it short and she really took me seriously.  I packed away the hats I wore during my chemotherapy treatments in the summer of 2009 but I think I will dig them out again.  I keep thinking it will grow, it will grow.  (deep breath)  Let’s see-hair is suppose to grow approximately ½ inch a month.  Looks like it will be a very long month.  All it needs is one month and then it will be OK.  It has been a week now since I had it cut and it is really beginning to grow on me. Ugh, I didn't really say that did I?  Seriously, I do like it now that I have had time to get used to this length.

I am busy working on our income taxes and really want to get them finished by next Wednesday.  We file electronically so if you file by Wednesday (your return has to process through two Thursdays) usually can expect your refund deposited into your account on the Friday after the second Thursday after you file.  Of course that is, if the government hasn’t gotten overwhelmed with the volume of returns filed that week, changed things or decided to take a closer look at your return.  Bite your tongue.

I have been working on getting my work room a little more organized so I can find things easier.  We were in Habitat for Humanity this week and I found some clear plastic containers that will work great for my finished inventory for my websites and eBay.They are about the size of a shoebox and have a lid that snaps on to keep things from falling out.  At 50 cents apiece just couldn’t pass them up.  They look like new.  Glad I haven’t taken time to buy new ones.  I always seem to find something I can’t live without when I go into that place.   No more scrambling to find that item that just sold.    Daryl just rolls his eyes and says "Can I help you find something?" or "Did you lose something?"   All I can say is, "I know it is in here I just seen it last week".  All I can say is sometimes it makes life real interesting.  Why would I want to be all organized?  That would make life boring.  It is my afternoon project.  I probably won't get it completely finished today but it will be nice to get a good chunk of it done today.  Will be listing some items on eBay this weekend and will make it much easier and faster.

Has anyone started going through your closet to see what your clothes inventory looks like?  I did and decided to donate some things to Goodwill.  I no longer wear a large percentage of the pieces so thought someone else could use them.  With all the destroyed homes in our county last week l am sure they will go to some needy people.

Thanks for visiting my blog, sincerely hope you enjoyed it and will stop back again.  All comments and criticisms are welcome.   Well, hopefully light on the criticisms and heavy on the comments. 

Have a great day, LinRae

www.linrae.etsy.com

www.linraevintage.com 

www.ebay.com/claire402