I'm Still Alive and Kicking...

I'm sorry to have worried a couple of friends by my extended absense. Life got complicated and busy. I'm again dealing with health issues related to my heart/arteries, Multiple Sclerosis, and now am at high risk for a left hip and leg fracture from osteoporosis. Yikes! Getting old is hard, but it's still awesome to be alive!

I continue to participate in the Grow Me a Story online classes, doing a bit of writing (not consistantly, but hey, still trying), playing with some creative art projects, and working to get my home back in order. Three years since my bypass surgery, during Covid, meant many things in my home got neglected, and I wasn't the best housekeeper before all that! Haha!

My intention is to try to write a new post at least once a week. I'm adding that to my long list of goals for the coming year. One thing I got done was my Vision Board for 2023.

On my Vision Board you can see my hopes, dreams, and goals for the coming year. You can also see images that bring me joy. 

I've been posting images to my Instagram account. Mine is private, but if you are a friend and you are on Instagram, you can send me a follow request if you're interested. It's fairly new to me, but I do try to post at least once a week there. This is the link:  https://www.instagram.com/anitajo75/

Here's to a year filled with many new and exciting things! Looking for the good! 

Rain and Other Stuff...

Photo by Kerstin Riemer 
From Pixabay, Free Use Images

I'm sitting here listening to the rain coming down, and feeling peaceful. I love the sound of rain hitting the roof!

It's been a crazy couple of days at my home, mostly seen through the hazy eyes my muscle relaxants give me. I'll be glad to be done with those, hopefully very soon! Even so, I still got a little cleaning done, called a couple loved ones, did some reading from a print book, finished a recorded book, watched a little baseball and some more old Survivor episodes, and listened to the news... nuff said about that...

We got our sprinklers blown out earlier today and ready for the coming cold weather, so that's one more item off the checklist! I had also ordered a new vacuum cleaner, which arrived this evening! Paul put it together and took it for a test drive down our dusty hallway. I'm so happy to have a functioning vacuum again! Yay!

Oh, and I'm officially on Social Security. That's so weird because in my head I'm way too young for that, even though my husband retired earlier this year. Funny how that works. That's a quick update on my life. I hope you are all healthy and happy! Now, back to that book I go!

My Crazy Life...

This has been a long, crazy week. We rescued a runaway bunny, which was being attacked in our back yard by three mallards. Houdini is now safely back with his owner, a sweet little girl from the neighborhood. Apparently, he lives up to his name on a regular basis. He'll now be living in a rabbit hutch rather than roaming his back yard.

I had a quick trip to the emergency room, even got to take my first ambulance ride. It was not a heart attack, though it certainly felt bad enough to be one. Just another MS episode most likely. They took me off one med and put me on a different one. Just another minor bump in the road of my life.

On a completely random train of thought, it occurred to me I watch TV programs for more than one reason. I love dramas. While watching an episode of Rizzoli and Isles, I realized I wasn't just enjoying the story line, I was enjoying what the characters were wearing, how their apartments were furnished, and the look of certain city locations. In a really well done program, the personality of a character is further established by what they wear, what environment they live in and how their home is decorated. If I played a TV character, I'd be the eccentric, wild-haired hoarder dressed in t-shirts and blue jeans, with a wide variety of art and furniture styles. My show would be a family drama, where people make mistakes, but in the end they always love and support one another. It's a pretty good show! Don't forget to tune in again for another episode of my crazy life! :)

Seeing The Good In Things...

My son sent me a photo from his cell phone this afternoon.  It was the double-wide trailer that my mom lived in for a time.  Memories washed over me as I looked at the photo.  It was a pretty decent place when she moved in, but by the time she sold it what a different home it was. 

Mom had a way with making something out of nothing.  She painted inside and out, changed out the curtains, wallpapered, had a skylight put in, and more.  She loved Victorian, vintage 40's & 50's, and county style, and she had a unique blend of all the things she loved.  Mom reused and re-purposed before it was fashionable.  It was her way of life.  I can't count the times she pulled the car over for a yard sale, a "good" chair someone had put out with the trash, or one of the many secondhand stores in the area.  She could see potential in things. 

Her eye for "good" wasn't limited to things.  She saw potential in people.  If you had a dream, she was your biggest cheerleader.  Over the years, I watched as she supported people, encouraging them to push for what they wanted.  Mom believed that dreams could, and would come true.  I try to always remember that, and to do the same.  See the good in people, and believe in dreams!

Summer fun...

Just stopping in for a quick note.  Summertime gets so busy, so my blogging often gets put aside.  I mentioned before, that we canceled our anniversary trip because of having to buy a new AC unit.  Since then, we also had to replace our 16 year old dishwasher and replace our front windshield! Lol! We were definitely not meant to take that trip!

I'm buying my sweetheart an engine for his 52 Chevy.  It's "near new" and will be available to put in his car in September!  A friend decided his new engine wasn't racy enough and is putting an even more powerful one in.  He's selling his to us!  I also got a huge discount on a helicopter lesson for Paul.  He has always wanted to fly in one, so next week he gets a 30 minute lesson, then a 30 minute flight where he will be allowed to take the controls for a bit.  He is so excited!

We have been having fun doing some long neglected home repairs, watching episodes of some of our favorite TV shows (love that streaming video), etc.  Paul barbequed some beautiful T-Bone steaks for our anniversary dinner.  Delicious! 

Earlier this year, I purchased a wooden Chinese Checkers Board, painted and distressed. It hangs above my fireplace in an arrangement.  I suddenly remembered my wooden Aggravation Board from my childhood.  I got it out, and Paul painted it a flat black.  It looks so nice.  I plan to add some color to it later on and attach a hanger to it.  I'll post a photo when it's done.

Well, gotta get back to all those home improvement projects!  Have a wonderful July afternoon!

Change of Plans

Well, plans fell through for me. I was supposed to be up at our Church Camp with PJ and Lucky13, but there were other plans for me. I had not been feeling the greatest. Monday came and I still felt under the weather, so I made a decision to stay home. I have felt a real peace about my decision, and I'm not totally on my own... older son is still here when he's not at work or out with friends that is.

Two years ago we had to miss the camp. I was very sad the entire week. I was not well enough to go, but I missed it so much. Church Camp has been a part of my life since I was 7 years old. At least that's the first year I remember going. It's always a fun week full of spiritual activies, recreational activities, and just time to get acquainted with new friends or spend time with old ones.

So far, reports are that husband and son are having a great time! They went fully armed with mosquito repellant, but I forgot to send the sunscreen... it's always something. It's like when you forget to serve the jello salad or the sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving until everyone is too full to care.

My husband got West Nile Virus a couple of years ago, so we are extremely careful about the mosquito repellant. He recovered, but it was a slow process. He still doesn't have the energy he had before. We are so fortunate though. Lives have been lost and some have difficult long term disabilities. A childhood schoolmate is making a slow recovery from paralysis resulting from West Nile. He was infected the same summer as my husband. He's thankful for the progress he makes each day.

I've heard these things referred to as "speed bumps"... they make you slow down and take another look at your life and where it's going. I think sometimes they could more aptly be described as gigantic sink holes or craters. Faith, and a sense of humor, are sometimes all that gets us through them. It sometimes helps to look back on your happy times and laugh again.

Here are a few pictures from past camps that make me smile:

PJ & I three years ago

Water Curling... Points earned by how far your teammate slides.

Two of my Very Favorite Cousins, Kevin and Laurie

From "several" years ago Kathryn & Joe, Grandma Martha & Grandpa Evert, Robin & Kent (another cousin... Oh my, I'd forgotten bout that beard!)

I love this old photo. I have hundreds more, but no time or room to post them. I'll save some for another day.

Random Note: On the Free Images I posted, I noticed that when you click on the image, they are not enlarging as some of my photos do. I'm not sure why, but it may affect the size of the image you are able to save. I have checked out the "Help" section to no avail. If anyone out there in blogland knows the answer, please post it in my comments section. I would appreciate it so much. I have a few more royalty free images that I'd love to share sometime.


Anyway... When I'm not resting and trying to get back to normal (whatever that is), I'm still here at my computer.

May your day be blessed with sunshine and smiles.