A few weeks back I heard the sad news that John Prine, legendary singer/songwriter, passed away.
And old rivers grow wilder every day
Old people just grow lonesome
Waiting for someone to say, “Hello in there, hello”
A few weeks back I heard the sad news that John Prine, legendary singer/songwriter, passed away.
Here we are on the weekend of Columbus Day/Canadian Thanksgiving ~ we’re smack dab in the middle of my favorite season: FaLL, glorious Fall! Crisp apples, sunshiney days, something simmering in the oven. Cozy blankets, good sleeps, wonderful drives and cool breezes.
Here are 5 Randoms from my October world:
1 ) I don’t watch a lot of TV but I binge-watched this series and doing so took me right back to my parents kitchen, soup simmering, AM radio on, and a Hank Williams or Waylon Jennings song on the radio … so good!
Excellent!! For more visit https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/country-music/
2 ) Speaking of, I remember Willie & Waylon from their “Outlaw” Days, partying hard and having fun. But here’s a little some-something I discovered while watching that series … who knew, that before the greasy hair and cowboy hats, that Waylon Jennings was that good looking? Day-umn! **Might have rewound the show, not telling. 😉
3 ) A year ago I visited the Billy Graham library in Charlotte, N.C. What an amazing and humbling experience that was, especially when, at the end of the tour, a volunteer asked if she could pray for me. I accepted, and that experience, and her gentle words of faith, remains deeply touching to me. I’ve recently discovered Podcasts and enjoy listening to them while driving to and from my many meetings. This week, the Billy Graham Ministries Podcast appeared in my “suggested” queue ~ random? Not so much.
4 ) Cooking last night for a family baby shower this weekend, our kitchen windows steamed up from the heat ~ On the stove simmered Sloppy Joe’s, in the oven roasted Cheesy harvest potatoes and a from-scratch pizza for the hubbs. He may have visited the kitchen several hundred times … I heard the screech of his slipper brakes as the pizza came out of the oven, bubbling and wonderful. We sampled and enjoyed and felt the coziness that comes from a contented life together. And when we got up this morning our house still smelled of all I’d cooked the night before. Say what you will, there’s not a candle made that can match the smell of “home.”
5 ) Fall leads to Winter and you know what that means to me? Books, books and more books! I’ve assembled quite a stack over the summer, some new and some new-to-me … They’re waiting for me like good friends at the ready. Waiting for a perfectly cozy Fall day with sunshine streaming in, a cozy blanket and no particular place to be. Ahh.
So what’s new in your October world?
It’s Friday, and time for some randoms … ready? Let’s do this!
1 ) Elvis my Elvis – 42 years ago TODAY the world lost a legend with the passing of Elvis Presley. I was at horse camp when I heard the news and still remember the sorrow and disbelief felt. There’s never been a time when I wasn’t a fan but if you asked me to pick my favorites from his music, I’d pick this:
2 ) Seasons – School hasn’t started yet but Halloween displays are going up. Slow down already, wouldja?
3 ) Home shopping – I love a good deal — some “finds” have been duds, but others have been bang-on. This is one of my top finds, ever – a luggage set by Samantha Brown (of HGTV fame). Well made, well organized, well structured, well … everything. I’ve never been complimented on luggage before owning this ( bought in burgundy). Really really well done.
4 ) Fall – We’re starting to see signs of Fall here ~ after a wet spring, it’s been dry of late so certain trees are turning color already. Mornings are a smidge darker, nights a bit shorter. There’s been a nip in the air some mornings. I know we’re in for more heat waves but, in the meantime, I’m leaning in…. because I LOVE FALL!
5 ) Golf – Hubbs and I were talking golf strategy last night, with me asking questions about certain clubs ~ He assumed I “didn’t like” a certain club which I hardly use until I explained I hadn’t yet been taught how to use it – for me, golf lessons have been great but a bit like being parceled out individual chapters to a story you’ve not yet read. I want to jump ahead and know how the story ends! (Patience!) In the midst of our conversation I asked, “Did you ever think we’d spend an hour talking Golf?” and he laughingly responded “No, did you ever think you’d get me to talk this much?” HA!
We are enjoying this new adventure together! 😀
How about you? Are you an Elvis fan? Seeing signs of Fall? Take up any new past-times lately?
Happy Friday!
As of today, Sunday, I’m officially at the 5 & 11 mark:
Eleven. Gloriously wonderful Conference-call-free days off!
Yes I’ll monitor emails and yes I’ll likely need to chime in here and there but … my intention is to step away. I’ve set my intentions for that preciously guarded time off and they read something like this:
Come and get your love, Indeed. 💖
“Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others’ choices make us.”
―
A while back, a blogging friend Dor, awarded me the “Sunshine Blogger Award” – this award is as special as sunshine on my shoulders, sunshine on my toes… Or saying my future’s so bright I just gotta wear shades!
Thank you Dor for your kindness & for including me. The rules are to do the following –
Here are the questions Dor posed for me:
And here are your questions, friends:
It’s a random August Friday – humid but with a cooler Fall breeze wafting in. Summer lingers but Autumn is coming, we can feel it.
Here are 5 randoms from my crazy world ~
1 ) Recently hit a milestone – I celebrated 2 years Rat-Free. 2 years! In that time I’ve had 4 different bosses to report to — but, thankfully, none have been rats. Some have been more challenging than others but none have belittled me, stolen my work/ideas or endeavored to make me feel less than. To the contrary. It’s lovely living in a rat-free lane. And once you’ve lived/worked/endured rat behavior – 2 years can pass and your tail still twitches at the thought of the experience.
2 ) Back to school for the littlest ones soon – I am so happy to be past the helping-with-homework stage! Essays, speeches, science, geography and social studies – sure, no problem. Math- ugh, no and where’s Dad??
3) Vacation a few weeks ago was just wonderful. I had the first 3 days largely to myself ~ yes I had big plans to head to the big lake then I remembered a certain festival going on so I skipped the crowd. Instead I went to the backyard ’70s style — a big sheet spread out with my beach chair centered on it, a jug of Iced tea, books, snacks and sunshine. I read and read and relaxed and read some more. Hours in the sunshine, taking breaks to refill my water/tea and then later, after a shower, back out to the patio to read some more. 3 books, 22 magazines, and peace to my soul. When friends ask my take on a given movie, in my head this is what I see:
4 ) Sometimes it seems we’re surrounded by anger and division, chaos and hate. I find myself, more and more, turning off the news and flipping back to simpler times:
5 ) And on a totally random note – this made me laugh out loud! TGIF, peeps!
Care to share your randoms with me?
Happy Friday! I’ve been swamped at work, traveling, and double-booked socially. No time to write, and barely time to think. Here are 5 random thoughts on a mild winter’s day:
1) “Don’t look up, we’re trying to contain the bat.” Welcoming words as I entered a rural City office. Arriving at a meeting I was met by two gals with brooms and determined looks as they shooed a bat down from the room’s cavernous ceilings. Ahh – life in a small town! They looked at me with trepidation and when I assured them I’m a farm girl and that Mr. Bat was simply looking for a warm winter home, they laughed and camaraderie soon followed.
2) Sissy and I talked last night and during our conversation it dawned on me that Christmas is 3 weeks from today. Other than presents purchased, I have nothing ready for Christmas. No decorating. No wrapping. No cards. No baking. Nothing. The countdown is on, even if I don’t yet feel it.
3) On Sunday, I’m taking an auntie to see the “Trans Siberian Orchestra.” She’s so excited she can hardly stand it. I know I will be once I get there. My inner lizard is harping that I really should be wrapping, baking and decorating but I remember when we paid for the tickets a few months ago, I thought “you’ll need this by then.” I’m betting I was right.
4) Living in a Nursing Home, Mom doesn’t have room or desire for many “things” so I put together a packet of small treats – snacks, candies, nuts, hand lotion, wet wipes, Chap-stick, Word search books, Sudoku, a pen, and some spending money, etc. When I told her last night that a parcel was on its way, she giggled like a school girl.
5) We don’t have any snow – the weather has been unbelievably mild here in West MI and golf courses are opening again today. The roads are great for travel and people are moving about with ease. I think it’s the lack of the white stuff that’s contributed to my denial of the holiday’s proximity. Because when I was a kid, snow only meant one thing:
How about you? Encounter any odd scenes lately? Are you feeling the Christmas spirit yet? Any snow in your neck of the woods? Do you have an inner lizard snarping at you, too?
It’s Friday! It’s Labor Day weekend! Time for 5 randoms from my week ~ here we go…
1) Summer should be issued a speeding ticket. I don’t know about you but our summer took it’s sweet time getting here but seems to be in a hurry to depart. We’ve had a few weeks of “nice,” a few weeks of cool, and this has been the hottest one yet. But … with the end of summer comes the arrival of my favorite season: Fall! Here’s to bright sunny skies, humidity under 400%, leaves turning color, all things pumpkin and the sights and smells only Autumn can bring – yeah!
2) Heard this song recently and I smiled and sang along, especially the part about “Summertime in Northern Michigan” – sing it, Kid.
3) Hubbs commented recently, “Do you realize you hardly ever talk about work any more?” My response, “No need. I’m rat-free!” Whee – and – bonus: my shoulders no longer touch my ears!
4) A rainy day off and the house to myself — ooh, ahh. What started as a “100% chance of reading” kind of day quickly morphed into a “100% chance of working” day instead. A number of high priority requests came directly to me and responses are needed long before my Tuesday return. No worries, I cancelled my vacation time, brewed some more coffee, and carried on. I’ll wrap up soon and then the weekend can begin – whoop!
5) We had friends over last night to watch College Football and one dear lady brought her world-famous homemade veggie pizza – some of that was my breakfast today. Non traditional, yes, delicious, absolutely!
“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” – Allen Saunders
** What song makes you think of summer? Ever had a day off hi-jacked? How did you handle it? How’s your Labor Day forecast looking? **
I missed Random 5 Friday so instead am doing Random 5 for the 4th – here we go!
1. Today is Saturday, July 4th, our nation’s “birthday.” The birds are singing, the weather is hot and hazy, and we are celebrating our nation’s independence by independently deciding to lay low, hang out pool-side, and chill. Ahh.
2. One month ago I was in our nation’s Capitol on business. Being a new citizen and representing my company in the highest offices of the land thrills me beyond description. Walk 34 miles in heels in 90F heat? No problem. Endure multiple security checkpoints? Sure. Witness a vote from the Senate gallery? Mind-blowingly cool. Sit down with members of the United States Congress over and over again? A-m-a-z-i-n-g.
On this day in 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved and adopted the Declaration of Independence. Happy Independence Day! https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
3. Listening to the radio last night something we heard brought us right back to our teens: the hits-from-coast-to-coast! Remember how every summer holiday weekend brought the top 40 countdown? Did you ever sit next to the radio and record the songs played? I remember my cousin and I shushing our brothers because a favorite song was coming up soon and we were determined to “catch it.” I couldn’t tell you what happened to those tapes but I know there were a lot of them!
4. Speaking of music, we also reminisced about our experiences with the “Columbia Music House” collection and what a deal we thought it was — 11 choices for a $1.00 plus the added requirement to purchase more at ridiculously inflated prices. We were kids, we didn’t know any better. His choices included Ted Nugent, Supertramp and Chicago. Mine included Elvis (duh!), the Oak Ridge Boys and Boston. Funny.
This was me at 15 and I think the worried look can be attributed to an overdue shipment from Columbia records! An Emjayandthem (C) photo
5. Stopped at the Farmer’s Market Thursday and picked up the biggest, tastiest tomato ever. I did that so I could enjoy this for my lunch today:
I hope that wherever my words find you, whether you’re American or not, you join us in celebrating her birthday today. I hope you take a moment to step outside and look up at the sky – our brilliant shared sky – and I hope that, just like me, you can do so without fear.
What are your plans for the Holiday today? Did you ever tape the top 40 hits off the radio? Had a toasted ‘mater sandwich lately?
It’s Friday and time for 5 random happenings and observations from my world.
1. My Lilacs have come and gone but look who is making their grand debut?
Frankie loved the peonies and his ashes are scattered here. Seeing them bloom makes me smile and long for my silly old dog.
2. Last night we ran the dishwasher, a routine task done a few times a week. It’s normally filled with plates, silverware and coffee cups. Youngest boy put a large sauce pot in the lower tray upside down. Reading quietly in the next room I heard a sound I couldn’t quite identify and then it hit me: the spray of water hitting the bottom of that pot reminded me of milking cows as a little girl. With 5 kids we always kept one or two milk cows and Dad would let us “help.” More often than not we tilted Bossie’s *ahem* appendages in such a way that the barn cats got both a milk shower and a good drink and we probably spilled more than we didn’t. Dad let us learn anyways. Memories come to us in the most random of ways don’t they?
3. I recently bought a “Fitbit” – a nifty little bracelet that works as a pedometer and tracks your sleep. (You can track other things, too, but those are the ones I was interested in.) The first day I wore it was a Saturday and, between laundry, groceries, and yard work, I clocked 6 miles. I slept well that night – 7 hours with 8 minutes of restlessness. I really wanted it for my D.C. trip next week because we walk so much, up and down stairs in the Capitol office buildings. Did you know that tunnels connect these buildings? They’re clean and well-lit, but old as time. I always feel a bit like Desmond in “L.O.S.T” in there … freaky. Oh and elevators are reserved for Members when Congress is in session. That means I’ll be hoofing it to everything — in heels. And yes, I think I’ll sleep well every night :).
4. This week my job took me to the Michigan State Capitol – the day we were there happened to be “Older Michiganians Day” which meant we had a steady stream of older folks touring the building and sometimes stopping to ask us questions. Everything was fine until two ladies came through and brazenly swiped several handfuls of cookies. Right in front of us. With a look in their eyes that said, “whaddyagonnadoboutit?” We looked at each other incredulously and shook our heads. People are fascinating! And that day I clocked 7.8 miles – in heels!
5. Jumping back to the Fitbit I also got it because, when I’m in the office, I’m aware I don’t move much. It was shocking to me that, by noon yesterday, after a morning of conference calls, I hadn’t yet hit 2,000 steps. That served as a powerful motivator to get in a workout! On the treadmill last night, thinking about all I have to do before I fly out Sunday, this song came on and I knew it had to be shared:
Whatever it is you may be going through
I know He’s not gonna let it get the best of youYou’re an overcomer
Stay in the fight ‘til the final round
You’re not going under
‘Cause God is holding you right now
You might be down for a moment
Feeling like it’s hopeless
That’s when He reminds You
That you’re an overcomer… You’re an overcomer!
Happy Friday, folks! What sound take you back to your childhood? Tried any neat gadgets lately? Ever witnessed Senior crime? What are you working hard at overcoming?
It’s Friday! It’s time for 5 random thoughts from my ever-swirling mind.
1. I love the smell of Noxzema. Growing up, that’s what we girls used to wash our faces at night – and that menthol clean smell still means clean to me. I’ve bought the expensive tubes and creams and gels and every last bit of it sits – and rots – on my shelf.
2. This week I initiated FB friend requests to a few long-time blogging pals. You know who you are. Please know this. My ❤ swelled when you said “yes.” There’s a lot of things I blog about that I don’t post on FB, so for me to take a risk and invite you in, means I trust you. My little writing hobby that started 4 years ago blossomed into friendships with some amazing people whose input I truly value. People I hope to meet one day. My heart grins just thinking about it!
3. Yesterday morning, around 4:30 a.m., a thunderstorm rolled through. I did a tuck and roll and all was right with my world. Am I the only one who finds a T-storm an invitation to dive deep into slumber-land?
4. Hubbs and I celebrated our wedding anniversary this week: 23 years. Crazy. Recently, I’d made a favorite meal of his and, although he doesn’t usually do so, he announced he was going to indulge in another favorite: bread and butter on the side. I’d already eaten and the kitchen was cleaned up and things put away. Quietly I took the (supposedly spreadable) butter out and set it on the counter. Because who wants hard chunks of buttery goodness on a roll? No one. A while later, he came upstairs to fix his plate, saw the butter and laughed out loud. And from the kitchen I heard this, “Thanks for the butter take-out! There’s 23 years of loving right there!” It was a good reminder that cards and flowers are great but often all we really need is to know that we matter to someone else.
5. And with that ~ I’m off. Off to a new city to meet new people and do my job. Coffee’s poured, tunes are ready, and I am rousing up some old classics like this one: Ray Price crooning “Night Life” with Willie Nelson accompanying him. Ray’s voice is as rich as his Polyester Fortrel suit and I love it!
What fragrances take you back to your childhood? Made any new friends lately? Are you scared of T-storms or do they make you want to get cozy, too? What simple ways allow you to express your love for someone? What type of music is your favorite to drive to?
Have a great day, peeps!
Learning from yesterday, living for today
Food, Art, Books, Birds and whatever...
Planting roots on our little wild farm.
Connecting with People in My Path
A Typical Blog. A Typical Woman. A Typical Take On Life. With An Atypical Twist!
“I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”
Arise, shine; For your light has come!
Country Living for Beginners
Kate's views on life edited by four opinionated cats
Novelist, Traveler, and More
My Journey From Merchant Mariner to Mother, And Spiritual Being.
Nancy Roman
just another plaid-wearin' java-sippin' girl
Just another WordPress.com weblog
some thoughts along the way
music, poetry, musings, photography and philosophy from a woman who found her way back home and wants you to come over for a hike and a cocktail.
Stop in and see what's happening during these days of mine
How life coaches me as I ride...
EMPLOYEES MUST WASH HANDS...
Learning from yesterday, living for today
Food, Art, Books, Birds and whatever...
Planting roots on our little wild farm.
Connecting with People in My Path
A Typical Blog. A Typical Woman. A Typical Take On Life. With An Atypical Twist!
“I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say.”
Arise, shine; For your light has come!
Country Living for Beginners
Kate's views on life edited by four opinionated cats
Novelist, Traveler, and More
My Journey From Merchant Mariner to Mother, And Spiritual Being.
Nancy Roman
just another plaid-wearin' java-sippin' girl
Just another WordPress.com weblog
some thoughts along the way
music, poetry, musings, photography and philosophy from a woman who found her way back home and wants you to come over for a hike and a cocktail.
Stop in and see what's happening during these days of mine
How life coaches me as I ride...
EMPLOYEES MUST WASH HANDS...