Cuties

You have to admit that we all go 'ga-ga' over animals no matter what the species. I had several e-mails this week with delightful animal stories from tiny kittens in tea cups to puppies chasing their tails, giving me an excuse to laugh out loud. Then yesterday the e mails were of the animals shown in the photographs. Sheena is a Santaro leopard and lives at an animal shelter in Hertfordshire, England. A young student was assigned a photo project and as he was photographing the leopard a tiny mouse appeared, out of no where, after the keepers dropped lunch for the leopard. The leopard sniffed the mouse, even battered him a bit but the mouse ignored him completely and went on to enjoy his lunch. I would have thought the ending would be that the leopard devoured the mouse but he must have felt generous in sharing his food, or he knew the mouse couldn't possibly eat all of that meat. The article went on to say the student most likely got an "A".

Rupert is a brand new baby. Its mother was killed by a car and could not be saved, the good people of Buckinghamshire, England brought the injured pregnant deer to the animal shelter where the veterinarian performed a cesarean section and saved Rupert who weighed in at one pound and is six inches long. He is being treated like royalty and enjoying all of the attention. It is the hope of the folks at the animal shelter that he will make it. From the write up it sounds like it is difficult to keep such a tiny deer alive. I hope he makes it . . . what a cutie.

All of the stories have been about English animals and I am sure we have plenty to tell right here at home. Daughter Patricia is a dog lover and a friend , away on a visit, has come across a puppy he believes she cannot live without, so we are all anticipating a tiny new blond puppy who we hope will be as soft and as wonderful as Jasmine a dog she brought up as a tiny pup with huge paws and soft brown eyes that everyone in our family came to love . . . a golden retriever. So as 'grandma' I can enjoy the visits and let Pat do all that walking and taking care of retrieving the 'poop' from her yard.

I think we loved Buzz as much. Buzz was a small Jack Russell terrier and he fit his breed to a 't' when he put on his working jacket of bright orange and paraded around like he owned the world, he was as good as gold. He was trained to help the deaf and he did a great job. Of course being a terrier he was a 'terror' and spent a lot of his time trying very hard to get out of the yard. He knew just where the fence showed signs of weakness and he would stroll casually toward that area and dig. "Freedom!" I think the neighbors knew Buzz as well as we did and many a time he was brought back, dirt on his snout, looking sad to be caught, but happy to be back home. He never did get over his romance with wandering the neighborhood until it was his time and he left for bigger and better 'diggins'.

We miss the little chocolate lab that was in our midst for a very short time. I am not sure what was wrong with it, but it had a very strong will and needed a very strong hand to train her. She was a biter and ill tempered, not the usual puppy . . . something was not right so she was returned to the shelter along with her new bed and toys and hopefully someone has found a way to train her but I honestly doubt she will have along life, something is not right.

So I've had my day with animals to train and to love. I am happy to love Pat's dogs and I talk to a neighborhood cat or two. There is a white cat that thinks she owns my porch and loves my back yard. I consult with her on occasion but she goes her way and I go mine and we are happy with that. So my animal days for caring and walking are over and I can pet the neighborhood animals as they visit and wait for a greeting. Me, I'd rather curl up with a good book . . . I don't have to take it out and clean up after it.

So enjoy your pets and love them. I know how much joy they bring to our lives, and that is a two way street. Make today a good one, rain or shine. Count your blessings.

Images

A little sense of humor to brighten your day; and we didn't think pigeons had a purpose in life. A bit of anticipation goes a long way. I once painted a picture of a lovely wall covered with beautiful red flowers and in the center of the garden was a statue of St. Francis of Assisi with a pigeon on his head. I couldn't resist the picture in the magazine and had to paint it; a bit irreverent but then what would our world be like if we did not curry our sense of humor.

I went into Erin's archives to see what is new and different and found a new type of picture that can be put together, similar to an art picture reminding me of Andy Warhol and his famous art pictures of the 'stars'. I think my granddaughter looks every bit as good . . . there I go, using my bragging rights again. I am not sure about the umbrella picture as it is not clear enough for my eyesight. I think it is Erin counting rain drops as she certainly doesn't have the umbrella protecting her from the raindrops. Most likely she is looking for puddles to jump through.
I do love the picture of her hands holding the camera as I know she is having a great time doing something she loves.

As for the pictures we have been seeing on our television screens since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I wanted to get away from the sights and sounds of the horrific aftermath. I do not watch horror movies so it is much like putting on the television and finding yourself glued to the scenes before you and hating every minute of it. Your heart hurts, your head hurts, and you cannot stop watching the horror because you are looking for a happy ending and there is none. My heart goes out to the people of Haiti who are suffering at this moment and all I can really do is pray. I am uplifted by the men and women who are rushing to the rescue and hope they make it in time to save many. Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives and a country is completely devastated with no one powerful enough to stand up and take over and lead the way until help gets to them. Our countrymen are there and will find a way and soon we will see the order and the help needed. The world at large is slowly and surely coming to help and soon we will be listening to stories of heroic proportions and we will see some light at the end of this very dark tunnel.

So today offer up a prayer or two for all of these souls that are living through an immeasurable tragedy that one cannot even imagine unless they are a part of it. Most of us have had a small taste of a hurricane or a rumble of an earthquake but have no real knowledge of feeling our entire world disintegrate before us. Allow your compassion and love to flow today . . . go light a candle . . . listen for what you can do and do it. Make your day worthwhile.

How come?

Poor old Harry Reid of Nevada, a man I used to admire and liked, but have changed my mind since he became the Senate spokesman and seems to have lost his touch as he and his fellow compatriots follow the leader without much thought to what is best for his constituents . . . ah, power and its destructive best, a common theme when we talk about politicians. At one time he was a man of integrity and spoke his mind and his love for Nevada showed. Now he is apologizing for saying words that are true . . . our President is light skinned, our President does use a dialect when speaking to the Negro population, which by the way is a name that was once said in pride . . . Negro. . . now it is said that this is old fashioned, gone by the wayside and we need to go with African American. We are a nation of blended colors, a mixture of genes that come from so many different sources, there is no 'pure' blooded races in our world. History tells us that when we read about the conquests of war wherever there has been one. . .and there has been one everywhere you can mention. I get tired of all the rhetoric about 'names'; we are who we are and I don't think we were given choices. So Harry Reid, I am not upset about your choice of words, but I am upset about your choice of personal change . . . where is the strong and wonderful man who gave so much to his State and to the people living in it, no matter what they called themselves? You do not read my blog, but I am sure your staff reads my letters. My chore for today, a letter to Harry Reid for old times sake.

So today, if you have a mind to write to someone, think about that representative that may be changing his colors or his name or putting blame on everyone but him or herself. Maybe they need a small reminder that your admiration and vote is in jeopardy and they need to 'get over themselves' and get back to work for America and all of the Americans no matter how they spell their name or the color of their skin . . . black is beautiful; milky white is Divine; yellow spells sunshine; green is our grass; brown is our earth; red is the blood we have spilled along the way to allow us to be American. . . so find your pen and write, you remember how, O O O O and / / / / . . . now that should bring back some old memories.

Wondering

Grab your coffee and sit awhile. I'm on my second cup and it is not bad at all. Some mornings it is like dish water and some mornings it is like thick black oil that would melt a spoon. Not sure why I am not consistent as I have been making pots of coffee for a lot of years. When I was very little, Pa used to have a big mug of coffee waiting for me when I got to the kitchen with one eye open and no desire to be up and about. He would have it fixed with milk and sugar and piping hot and one sip and the world became a better place. Over the years we have heard it is bad for us, or on the other hand good for us, guess it depends on the coffee growers and those in charge of making money. I never hear the tea growers claiming anything about their tea leaves, well, maybe if the tea leaves do not leave a good message. We used to turn our cups upside down and turn them around three times then try to read our fortune. A drop of tea in the cup meant a trip over water . . . that makes sense; a bunch huddled in a pile meant that we were going to have visitors and that didn't always set well as we would have to get off our duffs and make a pot of tea and something to go with it. I personally liked the little figures that meant love and marriage and a happy ever after future until I discovered that I didn't really know how to read tea leaves, nor did anyone else I knew. I think I have a little booklet in my bookcase that tells me about tea leaves, I'll have to scan it and see what it has to say.

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, now that was a twosome that brought tears of laughter into our lives. I enjoyed seeing the cartoons which brought back a lot of memories. So I'll offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the two of them . . . "Thanks for the Memories" . . . can't you hear the signature song of Bob Hope? Hum the words and the tune will come. . . 'how lovely it was.'

Well the cartoonist are at it already. How they got to Lays potato chips already is beyond me. Tiger deserves to be ridiculed for being stupid. I think of his father who held such pride in this young man, and held him in such a lofty position, might wish to retract some of his self pride and take time out to teach his son a few of the basic facts of life. There is so much more to life than becoming a golf pro, or a football hero, or a baseball czar, or a politician in high office, absorbed in a life style that brings about a myriad of temptations as power and money light the way. Tiger is paying a terrible price for becoming so self absorbed that he forgot the true principals of life. The mighty have fallen and it is very, very, sad as it has an effect on all of us.

So, today check the newspapers and magazines for some cartoons and have a good laugh , or a good cry, as comedy has two faces as we do, one we show to the world and one we show only to the mirror on the wall. I hope your inside you is as happy as your outside you, if not, then today is a good day to start changing 'for the better' . . . call a friend, give out a hug or two, light up the world and smile with your heart in your eyes. I'm humming . . . "Have I told you lately that I love you . . . well 'darlin' I'm telling you now.

Say Cheese!

"It's three o' clock in the morning, let's dance the whole night through ". . . la, la, la . . . I'm awake . . . . why? Good question, I have no idea. Wide awake and wondering what I should blog about. My cartoon friend, Maxine, should be telling tales about us. Maybe I'll cuddle up in my wing back chair, turn the television on and see if there is a movie playing . . . that usually puts me to sleep. But before I go, I thought you might enjoy the picture of the penguins with the caption of having a group picture taken when a sea lion hogs the lime light by sidling in and clowns for the camera. You have to admit it has quite a smile and it certainly gets attention. I bet I have a dozen or more pictures in my picture box with group pictures and there is always one with some one making a face or clowning around. This reminds me of the day I dressed my three children up in their best finery and took them down town for a photo shoot. I wanted to have a picture of the three to send to family members and of course a big one for my wall. All went well until we got to the studio and then my daughter Eileen, who was probably all of three at the time, decided she didn't want her picture taken. She had a stubborn streak a mile wide and she put both feet down and a very sulky pout which she never changed. The photographer all but stood on his head to make her smile, but she just frowned more so he snapped the picture. I kept them, in a drawer. It took a lot of years before I captured all five of my children in a group picture, in a studio, that shows them all looking at the camera, but not all smiling,but a glimpse of one on its way. So why crossed eyes, waving hands behind peoples heads and all the foolishness that goes on when a camera is at the ready always puzzles me. Like saying 'cheese' and moving just as the photographer snaps the picture. I guess we think we are not photogenic and hide our own natural beauty under the guise of tom-foolery. Everyone I know shies away from a camera . . . 'don't take my picture' . . . and I look at them and know just how they feel, I don't like my picture either. Excuses, excuses, bad hair day, too fat, too thin, not dressed pretty enough which boils down to 'false pride'. Get over it! I have a new camera and I love taking pictures so when you see me coming . . . smile.

Each of us has a beauty all our own, it came with us when we arrived. Take out your albums and take a peek, enjoy the pictures of YOU when you developed into that wonderful special person you are. Make today special . . . just like YOU.

musing about cold and snow

These pictures came in an e-mail from a friend who lives in high desert country where they had some snow this year but nothing like this little storm that hit Quebec City, Canada. I am sure if we could cull a few pictures from the newspapers across county we would find similar pictures as the entire country has been in a deep freeze and ice and snow had been falling by the ton. I came from Massachusetts where the winter storms came in with the master stroke of a genius and changed the landscape from leave less trees and rocky terrain into a wonderland of icicles and mountains of cold stark whiteness that permeated the air with silence. I saw it through a child's eye and no one could convince me that I was not looking at a snow mountain. It certainly seemed that way and it was fun as the shovels came out to clear the walkways, the plows moved slowly along the streets, and all we could do was find the Boston flyer and head for the hill at the top of the street and steer down past the big toboggan with the big kids screaming loudly as we tried not to steer into a huge snow bank. I can tell you I have never opened a door to find that much snow piled up. Hopefully the housekeeper knew a storm was coming and had plenty of supplies until they could be dug out. I have seen lots of pictures of the Lake Tahoe area where houses have been inundated with snow and the upstairs windows are barely seen. What a feeling of isolation that must be and how the imagination takes over with a story in the making. Seeing I am confined in with my 'ague' maybe I'll start a new tale.I could start by telling of a drive down the mountains, over the Donner Summit where the walls of snow hovered over the car wide one way path to more open roads where the scenery was breathtaking beyond the words to describe it.

There is always the good side about the beauty and the fun of a huge snow fall that lasts for days and days, then the other side of the coin shows the bad side when ice and slush create driving conditions that multiply into costly accidents. A myriad of problems comes about but the dauntless people in our world become heroes as they help one another through the worst and best of winter. We are good people, most of the time, too bad it takes Mother Nature's bountiful gifts to appreciate each other . . . a snow storm . . . a hurricane. . . a tornado. I wrote this poem a few years ago called "I Often Wonder"

The elements show themselves/in so many varied forms/I often wonder is this God's way/ to keep us well informed.

The oceans circle round the globe/the mountains reaching high/moisture forms and soon a storm fills the sky.

The thunder roars/lightening soars/sending rain/upon the earth/the soil becomes a muddy pond/the trees bend/from the wind/I often wonder Is this God's way to show He sees/ the foolishness below/how come the summer storms/are soft/the world a soft glow/are we doing something to please His very soul?

This earth can tremble/crusts do move/the earth can split apart/I often wonder / Is this God's way to show the mean at heart?/ When winds collide/and form a cone/cyclonic forms arrive/ to take whatever is in its path/I often wonder/ Is this God's way to show the greedy they should share today?

The ocean can be smooth as silk/shimmering in the sun/then turn to fury/as the waves/pound heavily on shore/flooding areas/and homes are no more/ I often wonder/ Is this God's way to say we are selfish and hoard/and hoard and hoard.

Volcanoes erupt up into the sky/spuming heavy clouds/of ash and smoke/making lava rivers/to destroy anything in its path. I often wonder/ Is this God's way of telling us/nothing is forever/so wake up/pay attention/help to change our ways/ so God will make the elements behave.

With all of that I didn't mention snow . . . seems that God sends us tons of snow to calm us down, makes us realize that there is more to life than hustle and bustle . . . a time to take our measure and decided what is really important in our lives. . . so today, the start of a new day, snow or not, take a "time out" and become introspective and bring out the best in you. Hugs to you.

Tremors

I was sitting in my wing back chair enjoying a program called 'Bones' when I felt the jarring pull of an earthquake. I asked son John if he felt the earthquake and he said no, but daughter Pat came bursting in the door telling us we should be on our way up the hill because we just had a 6.5 earthquake out at sea, actually south of us near a town called Ferndale, and a tsunami wave might be a possibility. We talked her out of going up hill and figured the alarms would go off telling us we had ten minutes to get up hill. As it was, the newspapers had alerts on the computers immediately telling us no tsunami was expected. How they can tell is beyond me especially when the quake is happening right in the ocean waters. I am a firm believer that you cannot out run nature, or any disaster that is pending, think of those long lines of cars bumper to bumper with no where to go when you could be sitting in 'your' chair with a hot cup of tea and a crumpet or two waiting for whatever is in store for you. The young ones can run, I just don't have that kind of energy and the legs just would not go into a running mode. I am lucky they are still in a walking mode and believe me it is a very slow pace. All in all it turned out to be a 'corker' and luckily there were very few injuries. From the write up on the web, the mall in Eureka had a lot of glass breakage and one antique store lost a lot of plates and lamps. They are having a sale today on broken glass for people who do mosaics. Always a way to make a buck!

I'm glad to hear that it was a earthquake that I felt. I often do in that chair so it was not a new feeling, but a familiar one. We have them quite frequently but not of that size. Having lived in Nevada where we experienced many an earthquake, mostly small in size, introduced me to the feeling of the tremor. I've never been in a big one, nor do I have a desire to be in one, but living on the West coast where earthquakes predominate you know enough to follow the rules and hope for the best. Like all of natures tantrums we learn to live with them and we have learned how to take care of ourselves . . . I think we are to have a three day supply of water and food in our survival kits, although I got very tired of finding the survival kit worn out before its time.

Enjoy TODAY, one never knows what is in store for us. Mother Nature is full of surprises. Dot your 'i' and cross you 't' and don't forget say the words , 'I love you', it could cause a little thump and bump in your heart.