Whether you've just now tuned in to my life, or have been keeping up with my inner thoughts for quite some time now,
I welcome you.
Though you may or may not be entertained by my thoughts, it is for MYSELF that I pen a blog.
As a writer, I enjoy expressing myself.
When I write long romance novels, I am inside my head so much, I forget to focus on reality.
By writing once and a while on my blog, when the mood hits me, I have the freedom to come and go.
To pull up a chair and order lemonade or an ice cream sundae.
To either gobble it down, or eat it ever so slowly...
...until it melts into a concoction that resembles mushy milk.
Pull up a chair! Have a read. I hope you enjoy it.
I do...and that's what really matters.
Sing, girls, sing the song she wrote while she strokes the guitar auntie and uncle gave her for her 7th birthday, because she begged, and because it obviously meant so much to her. And here she is, ready to play her first concert at Nottingham Day in front of 30 or so people.
After she sang the first line of her song, sung loud and clear to a surprised Mom and Auntie, her friend who was brought in to sing back-up, chickened out, so she did, too! Good first attempt though!
I have a great nephew who is nearing the birthing process. One of the presents I created for him is this photo of the new bedroom his Mommy and Daddy recently painted for him. As you can see, his name will be OWEN. What happy, cute, in-love, and soon to be sleep-deprived are his parents!
So, here I stand with three other mates from the Class of 1980. We advertised our get-together with a mailing and follow-up emails and this is all we netted.
Why don't more classmates who graduated years ago want to get together and visit?
Are they too busy? Are they lacking a life? Are they not confident? Are they over-confident? Are they too good? Are they too bad?
However you want to classify us four, we are at least friendly.
Did I tell ya how much fun I had at the Pittsfield Balloon Rally? Usually I run into a few people I know, that I haven't see in a while. This year was no different.
I saw two old classmates slash friends: Tammy M. and Tracy T. I also saw my Aunt's Barbara and Elsie, but I guess Aunt Barbara is going blind and didn't realize it was me...sad. I also saw someone I didn't want to see, so I snuck around behind him so he wouldn't see me. I can be sneaky like that when I'm forced to.
Anyway, I had a wicked great time! I drove my shiny blue car with my new veteran plates, and chauffeured my husband and my young niece. At one point, we stood directly under a balloon was it was being blown up. So cool!
As leaves turn fire red, burnt orange, and citrus yellow, I stop and pause—
Months of yesterdays are mere memories now, for summer’s passed away. Tiny changes shall creep upon us…like goblins, princesses, and super heroes, as children creep from house to house, asking for candy. Adults pretend to be frightened, though happily hand out ‘trick or treats.’ They smile…recalling when they were kids and dressed up like the trendsetters of the day, or in homemade costumes that were artfully arranged oversized clothes.
With fall, wind gusts become the whispering promise of chilly days and nights to come. Days of freezing rain, snow, and sun reflecting off the ice that shines so bright it blinds our winter eyes. Visions of clean, clear icicles hanging off roof edges and sparkling in the sun. How often a Norman Rockwell scene turns into downed wires.
Old man winter looms and the first frost on the pumpkin chills us to the bone…that frost could easily have been snow.
And so I say to you, “GO!”
Go to the cemetery. Go visit loves ones gone before us. Go, sit awhile over the grave of your beloved who left this world before you were ready to say goodbye. Tell a few jokes and end with solemn expressions of love. For it will be a long winter and slow spring thaw…GO, go before a foot or more of snow impedes your path. Go, before it is too late to say fall’s final farewell.
I stroll around the yard picking up summer things and then head to the barn to stow them away until the spring. I look to the trees surrounding my property. In the breeze they sway, in fall’s nature-dance. I am held in God’s sweet trance. Nature, like human life, has a spring, summer, fall…we do well with those months…it is winter some dread. The white hair, the shaky hands, and the shuffling, unsteady feet: humped-over profiles of the elderly have only a cane to lean on in dreary weather. I am young, yet, but other loved ones are not so young and healthy. I wonder if they will survive the winter. No wonder they are shaky. I have seen several loved ones whose winters were short-lived. They are the ones I will bid fall’s farewell to at my local cemetery.
In my childhood, I helped my brothers and sisters build numerous snowmen, perhaps 100 or more. In my forties I’ve built eight. One each year my sweet, young niece graced my presence on some chilly winter day.For six years, I’ve built one snowman per year with my niece. Last year I built two. This year I hope to build three. All of them built with glee. For what can make the heart melt more easily than an innocent child begging, “Build a snowman with me!”
And so I did…and I suggest you do, too. For soon that innocent child grows up, way too fast, and that bundle of joy will no longer beg you to build a snowman…they will beg for car keys…so they can flee from YOU!
As leaves turn fire red, burnt orange, and citrus yellow, I stop and pause—
Months of yesterdays are mere memories now, for summer’s passed away. Tiny changes shall creep upon us…like goblins, princesses, and super heroes, as children creep from house to house, asking for candy. Be like my Uncle John. Don’t just give them one piece of candy…give them the whole bag!
The sun is shining on this new day...the first day of fall.
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Last night I concluded my first bible study on the Book of Esther.
As the title stated..."It's Tough Being a Woman."
During my nine weeks of study I made several new women friends and glad to have met them.
***
Fear not! With God at your side,
he promises and delivers to you strength, hope, love, comfort, cheerfulness, compassion, praise, and the promise of fulfilling your destiny...if you believe and challenge yourself to recognize your purpose in this life, placed here in this world at 'such a time as this'; you may then fully enjoy your God-given life and make the most of it. If you can be of service and help others along the way, more is the glory to God.
***
I am still working on figuring out my personal destiny, but ultimately, loving and trusting God and believing in Jesus' sacrifice is the first destiny I've fulfilled. We must accept and believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Live it, breathe it, and spread the word. I'd sure like to see you along side me one day in heaven!
***
With that said, I now pray that God blesses you and keeps you safe!
Nottingham Day is sneaking up on us...those of us on the committee met one last time tonight. We went through the meeting in less than an hour. Goes to prove everything is (hopefully) all under control. Let us only pray for sunny weather on Saturday (or Sunday).
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My cupcake contest is the highlight of MY day there. This year I'm helping my young niece Bri put her entry together..."Pet Parade in Heaven" is her creation...with cotton candy for clouds and a few surprises for the judges.
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That is all I can say, as my sister Cheryl is also entering...and mother and daughter are keeping secrets about their respective entries. This year I am not a judge, so I will have more control over the comings and goings and taking pictures...and the new People's Choice Awards! Come vote for your favorites! They'll win a trophy!
***
Prizes I put together are various cupcake silicone bake ware...butterflies, hearts, and ice cream cone molds. Grand prize winner gets a $25 gift certificate to a bakery in Dover. All the kiddies receive a prize, regardless.
***
After the cupcake contest is over, as I did last year, I load up the donated cupcakes into a large container and walk up and down and through the hordes of people shouting,
"Cupcakes for sale - $1.00! Cupcakes for sale! Cupcakes!" I walk around repeating this until they are all sold...or eaten, anyway.
***
If you are nearby, I hope will drop in and visit! If not, I guess you kinda get the picture.
***PS...This may be my last year of volunteerism on this successful project...other duties are begging to be done and my attention is being draw to them. Got to be fair and spread my wealth of volunteerism around. Next, I hope to help the down-trodden.***
When I was a kid I liked to bake. It was one of my few domestic enjoyments. *** Usually, I baked on Saturday nights while I listened to Lawrence Welk's champagne music as it floated in from our 70's living room. Mostly I baked cookies: chocolate chip and peanut butter. My family looooves peanut butter! *** I come from a houseful of bakers. My mother is a baker (and a cook at a nursing home, though she is about to retire after 30 years of service). *** All my sisters bake...very well. I'm often treated to their confectionery sweets...I drool over them seconds before popping their desserts into my salivating mouth. YUM! *** Because I used to like to bake and haven't done so for a long time, I'm going to begin again. Not only do I plan to make chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, I have purchased a Wilton cake decorating book, plus frosting bag and attachments. I also bought some specially shaped pans.I will create cakes, brownies, and cookies...and chocolates! *** Soon I will begin making mini tea cakes and mini bundt cakes and then full-fledged, awe-inspiring triple layer cakes with perfectionist roses, stars, leaves, and the full gambit of frosting decor delight. *** My chocolates will melt in your mouth...and guys will ask me to make chocolates for them to give their sweethearts on Valentine's Day.Gals will ask me to make chocolates for their honey-bunnies in distinct shapes. Kids will want Easter eggs and holiday shapes of delight. *** Someday, I will make bridal and baby shower cakes and the ultimate wedding cake. *** But for now I will just practice...and eat the mistakes!
