Lucky the Dog...

I just wept through a story of a woman and her dog, Lucky.  It was posted by Diane of Vintage Tickled Pink.  I think it will touch you even if you are not a "dog person"...  To read it, go here:

Vintage Tickled Pink

I have a busy afternoon, so I will leave you with this quote:  

There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, 'Yes, I've got dreams, of course I've got dreams.' Then they put the box away and bring it out once in awhile to look in it, and yep, they're still there. These are great dreams, but they never even get out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, 'How good or how bad am I?' That's where courage comes in...     
~ Erma Louise Bombeck

Off to a Great Start...

My week has been so busy, I just noticed how long it's been since I posted.  My "new year" is off to a great start!  Lucky 13 has been doing very well with the online school.  His health has improved some since my last update!  I'm feeling better today than I have in quite a while.  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

I've tackled a small portion of my reorganizing job, but I found that I am out of filing space.  Now I need to purge a lot of old files, before I will be able to file anything current.  I don't want to purchase a new file cabinet... that would just add to my huge inventory of paperwork, receipts, and ephemera. 

The main goal is still to simplify.  I know my creativity is hampered by too much stuff!  I've been visiting a few blogs and checking out photos of their work spaces.  Many of you have shared such great organizing ideas.  I just need to put time and thought into what will work best for me.

THOUGHTS ON...

TIME:

"Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life."    ~ Michael Leboeuf

CREATIVITY:

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."    ~ Thomas Edision

"Ideas can be life-changing.  Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea."    ~ Jim Rohn

TAKING A CHANCE:

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."    ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Quick Hello... and Quotes...

I'm a bit under the weather. So today, I'm just leaving you with a couple of favorite quotes...

"Friendship is unnecessary,

like philosophy, like art...

It has no survival value;

rather it is one of those things

that give value to survival."

~ C. S. Lewis

~~~

"Memory is a way of holding onto

the things you love, the things you are,

the things you never want to lose."

~ Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold in "The Wonder Years"

Everything Old is New Again...

"When I was younger,
I could remember anything,
whether it had happened or not."
~ Mark Twain ~

I have been enjoying things lately, like reruns of old TV shows, old comic strips, old movies. The thing about getting older, and more forgetful, is that many things seem new again. I've forgotten the "punch lines" to many things. I laugh like it was all brand new, which of course, it seems to be. Having memory problems isn't funny, but it does have the silver lining of enjoying things... the old things.

When a friend tells that same old anecdote, I may laugh like it's the first time I ever heard it because, according to my brain, it may be the first time. I can see all sorts of fun possibilities in this. There is an upside to forgetfulness.

May my friends be kind to me because, if they have a younger brain, they may tire of me telling my "new" stories to them... over and over, and over again...

Booo!

"There are three things I have learned
never to discuss with people:
religion, politics, and
the Great Pumpkin."

~ Linus VanPelt in
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"

Updates on My Life...

Medical update: No Cancer! (I know I didn't say much, but was very worried.) All tests were great except the bone density. I'm now 5' 7" (formerly 5' 8-1/2") and officially have Osteoporosis. Yes, I'm taking calcium, vit. D, etc. Can't tolerate the hormone replacement, but increasing soy.

Life update: Nothing much going on. The weather is cooling again for the next 2 or 3 days. Love it! PJ is on a hiking trip this weekend with two friends. Lucky 13's been spending all of his time completing his three online courses. MJ keeping busy at work, and he's been attending lots of concerts and activities.

Creativity update: Well... I've begun several art/craft projects. Completed none. I have a major writing block. I feel like watching old movies or laying in the grass watching the clouds go by.
I did give up Diet Coke about a month ago... Time to pour myself a tall glass of iced tea, with the caffeine.

Quote for today:

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none."

~ William Shakespeare

Improving My World

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

~ Anne Frank

I saw this quote while visiting Joni's blog, Morning Coffee today. By the way, Joni has such a heart for people. Take a moment to visit her blog, I know you will be inspired by her.

Before I forget, I added a couple pictures to Nitajos Photos so just click on the name to take a look.

I've had a little project in mind, and this week my husband helped me get it done. I had purchased some flowers for my garden, but was not up to doing the planting. PJ got out the garden tools and said, "Just show me where you want them"... so sweet! My favorite part was having red geraniums planted in one of my little red wagons.

I love the way it turned out. The only thing I'd still like to do is add several more plants. Even without them, it's still a small improvement in my world. Every time I look at them I smile.

Just a Thought...

This was my Real Simple (magazine) Daily Thought for today...

"It's not the tragedies that kill us, it's the messes."

~ Dorothy Parker

Oh my! How that applied to me today! So many little jobs to do and not enough time in my day. We could all do without the messes, in whatever form they may take. Some days just seem to whirl out of control, then the dust settles and peace returns.

Wishing you peace...

Thought For The Day

We can either watch life from the sidelines,

or actively participate...

Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy

prevent us from realizing our potential,

or embrace the fact

that when we turn our attention

away from ourselves,

our potential is limitless.

—Christopher Reeve

Short Post for Today...

After spending hours trying to fix my computer, I'm too weary for a real post tonight. It keeps blocking me from web sites. I get it working, it lets me go to one or two blogs, and then it quits again. There's probably a simple fix that I'm just not seeing. Until then, my posts may be few and far between.

So... for today, I'll share a couple of quotes I love...

The only thing wrong with doing nothing

is you never know when you’re finished.

~ Anonymous

~~~

True friends are those who,

when you make a fool of yourself,

don't believe that this condition is permanent.

~ Erwin T. Randall

~~~

And finally...

Ouside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.

Inside of a dog it's too dark to read

~ Groucho Marx

Thoughts on Giving

Good Morning! I only have a moment today, so I wanted to share some favorite quotes:

On Giving...

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
- Winston Churchill

If you have much, give of your wealth. If you have little, give of your heart.
- Arab proverb

On Happiness...

Whoever is happy will make others happy, too.
- Anne Frank

On Something That Makes Me Happy...

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.
- Jane Austen


During this busy season, it is good to remind myself of these things:

• Give within your means.
• Put your heart into your gifts.
• Find what gives you joy and share that with others.

The things that bring me joy are faith, family, home, and giving. If these are in place in my life, I am content. My wish for you today is that you find the things that bring you joy and contentment.

Todays Quote

None who have always been free

can understand the terrible

fascinating power of the hope of

freedom to those who are not free.

- Pearl S. Buck

May freedom ring today for all who desire it!

Favorite Quote

I have a collection of favorite quotes. Here's my favorite for today:

"May those who love us, love us; and those who don't love us,

May God turn their hearts; and if He doesn't turn their hearts,

May He turn their ankles, so we'll know them by their limping."

- Author Unknown

Not very Godly, but it gives me a chuckle...

Hmmm... Wonder why I've been limping?!?