Voted . . .

Started out this beautiful morning in New England, US of A at the polls in Moosup, Connecticut. We had some trouble finding a place to park! There was a line to check ID's and it continued as we received our ballots and had to wait for open carrels. This is spectacular, grand, super and every other good expletive you can fathom. Wow! We went to breakfast, bien sur, at The Roadside and it was very busy. After delicious poached eggs on cheese on toast we were treated to railroad men moving dunnage for the new rails they will be installing. I felt like we were back in the 1940's. Life is invigorating, at least for now. So I accept all that is good in this day without question and pray that tomorrow will see a change in the fortunes of our tattered republic.

Scrubbed this old house yesterday because it needed it. I've gotten lax in my dotage. I only clean when the cleaning spirit moves me and that is much less frequently as I grow up. I consider this progress. I'm still anal but I'd like to think that I'm a smidge more relaxed. We went out for supper with Oneco friends and it was very good. What a pleasure to be with longtime Onecoians; very comfortable.  Will try to go for a ride sometime today to find the eagles in Rhode Island. Not sure what we'll come up with but I'm looking forward to it. Still have some shopping to do at Big Y. Since they have enlarged and redone the store it takes me longer to find what I'm looking for and I meander through every aisle! Oh well, one day I'll get the hang of it and will know exactly where to go!

Quote:  I hate all bungling as I do sin, but particularly bungling in politics, which leads to the misery and ruin of many thousands and millions of people.  ___Goethe

Tumbling down the Bluebird trail . . .

Bluebird came visiting this morning.  It's a good thing Grampa sees things for me!

P&D's Pop invited me to walk the Bluebird Trail this afternoon. I've never been with him to check out the Bluebird boxes. It's a pretty impressive hike by my standards. I was surprised by how steep it is. Three of the eight boxes had mice in them so P&D's Pop cleaned them out. It's a good crisp day for a walk in the woods. We saw at least four of his Bluebirds in the trees as we passed. It's a good thing I didn't take my camera because I came slipping and sliding down a steep slope on the thick bed of fallen leaves. Scared myself but although I may have a black and blue right hip and a sore right shoulder tomorrow I seem to be in one piece. We'll just have to take a less steep walk home next time. I really do want to go back. It was good to be out in the woods and meadows.

Went to the children's Mass yesterday. I don't think you're supposed to laugh that hard in church. Oh my goodness. The children sing quite well but there is one songster that drowns out the rest along with the entire community and she sings off key. I had trouble keeping the laughter inside. It was awful. Not sure why you would let one child ruin  some of the songs. I really think she should be signaled to quiet down and let other voices be heard and perhaps it wouldn't be so gruesome.  After Mass I always drive by our old homestead on the chance that our great-nephew or niece might be outside and I'd stop to say hello. It has never happened yet but I still like the drive. Mr. Walker's house is for sale. I wonder if he has gone to live in an assisted living home? He must be in his late eighties.

Quote:  Kindness is the only charm permitted to the aged; it is the coquetry of white hair.   ___Feuillet  (Ha!)

Holy cow . . .

Rosie O'Grady

Just grabbed the iPad, walked by the kitchen windows and a monster slew of Common Grackles flew away. They had covered the feeders, the ground, the trees - yuck. They must recognize my movement in the house because they took off like bats out of hades. I usually chase them with a broom! They usually just go into the trees up on the hill and taunt me but I'm pretty tenacious too and run up and shoo them off so today they just moved out and kept flying. Finally some progress was made. 'would be nice if we could get rid of our greedy, nasty, grabby, noisome, pitiless, rotten, curmudgeonly politicians as easily. I fear there will be so many illegal votes cast Tuesday that the enemy will continue in office and our middle class selves will continue the slide into extinction. Not sure what the power brokers will do when we no longer exist to boost their egos and power. Scary thought!

Wow, hadn't planned on going into my disgust with the state of  Connecticut but there it is. Will be going to see younger sister Wednesday. I always look forward to our visits. We'll stop in at the Harvest in Simsbury and pick up our delectable large cupcake for dessert after we visit the cemetery in Newington to check up on her husband. We haven't been in quite some time. It is a beautiful resting place; well cared for.  Then we'll go to lunch at our favorite eatery near her home. It's always a pleasant visit and renews my faith. She reminds me that most people are kind, generous, sweet and undemanding.

Quote: What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose.   ___H.W. Beecher

Cajun CJ's Gumbo . .

Cajun CJ's Gumbo that's what's for supper tonight. Not sure what's gotten to me but I felt like baking too and made some Cape Cod Oatmeal Cookies. Smells good in this old kitchen. Maybe I feel like getting back to this journal because I'm coming to grips with the topsy turvy in my life. Wanting to move south but staying north was a concern for my feeble wits but it's beginning to feel a bit okay. We can play this game day by day and just let our lives unroll as perhaps they were meant to unfold. Have to try to push back the anxiety and know that no matter where we are we'll be okay. It seems pretty straight forward and simple but it's not easy on this ditsy mind of mine. I keep trying to plan things out and I can't. I must remember the year I was so messed up; and then Pa, Matante and Ma died and my kid brother accidentally rapelled off of a cliff, fell, survived and middle child gashed her leg badly in a long jump pit that hadn't been checked for rocks,  I finally gave up trying to figure things out and decided to roll with the punches that seemed to be never ending and here I am today twenty-six years later, feeling healthy if not wise even though I complain about aches and pains and I've got to learn the lesson all over again:  nothing stays the same; changes are inevitable; live each day ; enjoy  today; appreciate all the goodness in my life; know that I've fulfilled my dreams and whatever comes next is a bonus. I always wanted to marry, have children, a home and a good job. Yep. It's that simple and I've been fortunate to have  had it all. So it's time to "Laissez les bons temps rouler" whether it be north or south. I love my husband, my children, my home, my work. What more should I want?  Nothing.

Quote:  The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves.   ___Victor Hugo

Thoughts . . .

From the glider

Went to the flying field this morning to walk around as P&D's Pop was flying and ended up musing about how beautiful the detritus of life can be when put in a proper prospective. There I was walking on a dump, pejorative term for sure or the more politically correct landfill and it was beautiful. The trees are in autumnal mode, the birds are hunting for food, the animals are gathering their stores for Winter and I'm just a spec on this planet and less than a speck in this magnificent universe. I feel the same way when I walk in the cemetery; again walking among the human remains and feeling a kindred spirit with all who have walked this way before. Life is a conundrum of sorts: peace and war; love and hate; good and evil; sweet and bitter; calm and turmoil. It is ours and we must make the most of our time here so our lives will encourage and hearten all we meet and leave our mark on their souls.

Quote:  In all the affairs of life let it be your great care, not to hurt your mind, or offend your judgment. __And this rule, if observed carefully in all your deportment, will be a mighty security to you in your undertakings.    ___Epictetus

Gotta spew . . .

Last Hummingbird of 2014

Was up before six this morning so got ready fast and talked P&D's Pop into breakfast before he headed to the high school. When we returned he checked the email and said our realtor wrote we had a showing tomorrow at 9:45 am and he couldn't make it (again) so would it be okay anyway, our call. So we answered fine and P&D's Pop left for school. For some reason I decided to check the realtor's email again and I realized that 9:45 tomorrow was today! Yes, today. He sent the email at 10:50 last night! I almost panicked because we had two roofers coming today also to give estimates and that only gave me two hours to get ready! I called the school and P&D's Pop came home to help get the house, garage, basement, upstairs picked up. It's not that the house isn't presentable but to make it more so we always put a lot of stuff away, scrub the bathroom and kitchen etc. At 9:55 a car with two men in it pulled into the driveway: not a realtor and client, though, the men for the roof.  We got a good estimate and will have the new roof put on at the end of October but . . . you guessed it . . . no realtor with a client. I was super ticked but left for my cribbage games and poor Puppies and Dante's Pop took care of our ding-a-ling realtor by actually going to his office. Something happened . . . a heart attack or some such emergency and the people couldn't come so he'll set it up for another time! He never called us. We had to go to him. I really want to slap him silly. What an idiot we chose. If there is a next realtor I want someone I don't know from an agency that actually knows what the heck they're doing. I am pissed.

Okay. All done.

Quote:  Rare almost as great poets, rarer perhaps than veritable saints and martyrs are consummate men of business. _____Helps

Pretty sad state . . .

Hope the frost holds off.  These berries are so good.

Pretty sad state of affairs when I have to stop on my walk back from the end of the road to talk to a very long tailed chipmunk so he will cross in front of me without worrying about what I will do! He was carrying an unshelled nut that was as big as his head and holding on for all he was worth. He finally managed to get it across the road without being hit. Oh how nice it is to see natural life unfolding before your eyes. There were two Goldfinches watching our discussion and when they were satisfied that I meant no harm they flew back to eating the seeds from the weeds along the roadside.

Waiting for P&D's Pop to get back from mowing the flying field. Then we'll be off to Oakland Beach, RI for lunch. Debating whether to bring the Panasonic for a possible photo shoot or just take the time to watch the waves rolling in and out. Big decisions. Kiddo will be home with his parents tonight and I'll go there Monday evening for a while. Thinking of getting him a second stage helicopter because he handles his first one so well. We'll see.

Saw younger sister this week and she's looking great. I brought her friend to visit also. We had a good time. Also stopped to see younger brother and his wifey. Nice to see them and their beautiful home and gardens. Seems like I hadn't stopped in for a while. They had a super good trip to Alaska and Seattle. It's always good to see the calming effect a trip away from the usual can provide. Looking forward to our stay in Louisiana.

Quote:  Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.     ___Swift