Nature makes them so perfect ...

... yet challenges them with such a difficult life.

God watch over all the innocent creatures. AMEN

But I Am Just .....

Last week, I got a telephone call from someone. Throughout the conversation, he said "I am just a janitor..." over and over. After we hung up, I got a notecard and sent him a friendly, casual handwritten note. I did it so he would hopefully sense I did not perceive him as "JUST" anyone.

I am very sensitive about such situations. My father (deceased) was a brilliant man ~ a creative genius in the eyes of most folks. Dad had "JUST" an eighth grade education. Very few people knew this about Dad .. but he did. It was "JUST" part of the wonderful man he was.

Today - the night cleaning lady, Linda, at my office said she had a couple of bags for me in her car. She said "I am just the cleaning lady and I just want someone to like me." I was taken aback and said "Linda - you know I adore you !" She said "Yeah - I know." (not very convincing) I talk to her almost every night for about a half hour. She asked me to sew something for her for Christmas .. and I did .. and I was glad she asked. Yet she still thinks of herself as "just" the cleaning lady.

I went to Linda's car and got the bags she mentioned to me ... two big plastic bags. I put them in my trunk and glanced in one bag ... clothes.

When I got home - I tossed the bags on my bed and pulled out the clothing - one piece at a time. I was overwhelmed....speechless. The clothes were all my size .. Ralph Lauren, Talbots, Tommy Hilfiger, INC, Bloomingdales, Michael Kors, Jones of NY and brands I never heard of. Silks and linen and gorgeous cottons. THOUSANDS of dollars of clothes. Each piece had either a new dry cleaning tag or the original store tags.

All this clothing - Linda got from a Dr's wife for whom she cleans house. And she thought of me ... knowing I could never ever afford such luxuries.

I can never repay her for this kindness... and regardless what I do for her, I sense Linda will always see herself as "just the cleaning lady" .... but in my heart, as she has always been, Linda is so much more. She is a friend.

Thank you Linda .... you are truly a special soul. Thank you friend.

My "Sponge Bob" .....

These pics show the results of my sponge roller try-out. Not too shabby. Guess my multi-color sponge rollers are keepers !!

Oh No... It Cain't Be !!

Anyone over the age of 50 .. female or male .. knows what these are ...

SPONGE ROLLERS ! ! !



Actually - they used to be called "pink sponge rollers" until someone came up with the novel idea of making them in 'assorted colors.' Oh My ... I am digressing !

Last week - my set of 24 electric rollers "died." Stopped working. No notice. Just one day - would not heat up. In disbelief, I tried plugging them in for 3 days in a row. No heat. GONE. I guess that is understandable being they were over 20 years old. R.I.P. ~~~~~~ I threw them into the trash can on Tuesday.

I pulled out my 'back-up' travel set. Eight (8) "quick heating rollers in a handy travel case." They did the trick and made my hair wavy. Good, but not as good as my deluxe 24 roller set.

Two days later - the travel set died. What the Heck ??? {And for the skeptics out there ... I tried different outlets in different rooms of my house) Again I plugged them in for three days in a row. No heat. This set was ONLY 15 years old, but the traveling they endured must have done them in early.

Now what ?? Being a short week at work due to Memorial Day, I decided not to fret and wore my hair pulled back and secured by a giant claw clip. Not the most fashionable statement .. but it worked.

After much thought .. (and very limited funds) ... I decided to save $$$ and save electricity ... then opted to buy "sponge rollers." They were about $20 cheaper than electric rollers ... AND .. they do not use electricity. Hence - once paid for .. THEY ARE PAID FOR.

I just washed my hair .. and before going to bed .. I will roll my hair in the sponge rollers.

Updates and results to be posted tomorrow ...

Ummmm ..... Did he have to say that ?

Yesterday, while on my way out to the car to take Spike for a walk, I saw movement in the street. There ... in the middle of the road ... were a couple of tiny birds, less than two inches in size, slowly hobbling across the street. I approached - they got startled - and it immediately became apparent they were too young to fly. With a car heading in our direction - I shooed them across to safety. Once in the grass and in the shade - their tiny bodies breathed a sigh of relief - glad to be off the hot blacktop. My dear sweet kind neighbor looked at me curiously, so I told him about the tiny birds I had just rescued from the road. In his soft gentle drawl he said "Oh really - Tom's cat will probably be having them for lunch."

UGH !! Mother Nature presents lots of challenges to wildlife babies ... Good Luck little guys !!

Rescuing 'Hairy'

Let me tell you first, that Hairy is a Hairy Jumping Spider. My first encounter with this guy was today, when I headed out my front door to put some mail in the mailbox for the postman. I saw a black 'blob' in one of my solar lights.
It was Hairy. The solar light was in the sun ~ so the inside of that fixture had to be pretty warm. I decided to assess the situation, carefully picking up the light, finding no opening big enough for this creature to get in or out through. And then I got a closer look at HIM. I do not 'hate' spiders, but they are also not high on my "isn't that cute" list either. I could not let him stay in there. Look at the pathetic eyes !! (only later, when looking his species up online did I find out he has a row of FOUR eyes, the a row with two smaller eyes below the four AND then another row of two small eyes below that. Three rows .. eight eyes. UGH)

The movement of the solar light in my hand must have been a bit too much for the spider .. and he stared at me.
THEN .. apparently tired of the movement and a camera lense aimed at him ... Hairy turned his back on me ...
SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE ~~ I bravely grasped the copper top of the solar light, and s-l-o-w-l-y unscrewed it from the fixture to free the spider. As I lifted the top, anticipating a black scurry ... I saw that the fixture was SEALED. Uh Oh.... So I went in the house and got a screwdriver and a ball ping hammer. If the first did not work .. I would resort to the second.

I gently pried one quarter of the top off. Startled, Hairy ran to the other side. Being quite analytical, I went to the side he was on and pried off another quarter of the panel, assuming the creature would scamper to the first side and run off. No. He ran to the bottom of the fixture.

My hope was to salvage the solar light despite the necessary modifications being made to it. So I turned it upside down and SHOOK. It took a bit, but Hairy made his way to the opening and made a grand exit onto the porch ... THEN HE JUMPED.
What Had I Done To HIM ?? He jumped again and again until he reached the base of my flowerpot. He stopped, and paused, then started to climb up the side.
As I watched, Hairy suddenly turned toward me and let me see the gratitude in his eyes. I packed up my tools, reassembled the solar light, placed it back in its spot, and went in the house, content I had done my good deed for the day. He may be an insignificant creature, but no way could I have left him trapped to die. Bye Hairy .. you have just been immortalized forever on my blog....

Outdoors Again ....

The warm weather is again upon us and the critters and I are spending more time outside. We are a solitary trio ... but in solitude, the eyes and ears capture more of what nature has to offer. And it offers a feast of treasures ....

Duri lurking around as I tend my flowers ....

Some beautiful gold bugs ... caught in the act of making MORE beautiful gold bugs : )

A family of woodchucks .... at least a half dozen of them, who hid if Spike and I got too close.

A brazen little bird who hopped along near Spike and me during our walk ...


There are many more photos on my camera of the wonder's of nature ... but the complexities of technology make it too tedious a task to upload & share at this time.

The Little Details 'They' Forget To Tell Ya .....

Those who know me, know my never ending quest to "GoGreen" and remove all chemicals from my bathing, beauty and cleaning routines at home. Potent chemicals have given way to non-toxic (mostly organic) natural alternatives.

Cleaning and laundry supplies now include Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds, vinegar, essential oils, baking soda, borax, and beeswax.

Health and beauty/bathing includes organic homemade soaps for bathing/shampooing, peroxide for mouthwash; flouride free toothpaste; natural oils for moisturizing vs. commercial lotions; cornstarch instead of talc ... well, you get the idea.

Since I don't use conditioners in my hair - I needed something to make it shiny and healthy ... so I checked out the internet for ideas. It was then, an old solution came back to me from decades ago - a suggestion from my Aunt Bea, a hairdresser. BEER !!

I remember using beer to rinse hair and it also made a good styling medium. Off I went to Fresh Market to buy a bottle or two of beer ... ORGANIC, of course.

The next time I washed my hair = I used the beer rinse. As promised, the beer smell disappears when the hair dries. YUP ~ fresh as a daisy... shiny gorgeous hair with volume. Perfect. BUT, and there is usually a BUT ...

The other day I went out in the rain to walk Spike ... and obviously ... the rain wet my hair ... and once wet again ... IT SMELLED LIKE BEER !! So now I have two choices ... never get caught in the rain ... or find a new "green" hair conditioning tonic.

Any ideas ??

Maupin and Mouse and Melancholy

A delightful day today... sewing ... and revisiting an 'old friend.' I have been listening to an audiobook, read by the author, Armistead Maupin. Such talent.

The 'old friend' I am revisiting is one of the author's memorable characters, Michael Tolliver ~ affectionately called "Mouse" in the earlier Tales of the City books.

Armistead Maupin's voice reminds me of Roger .. the dear friend who introduced me to this fascinating series with colorful characters. But Michael is older now, as is Anna Madrigal, and Mona has died. I had loved the youthful and full of life characters in the previous books...through them reliving the carefree 60's and 70's.

I am totally immersed in "Michael Tolliver Lives" ~~ but for some reason, more so than with other books or series of books I've enjoyed, it is a reminder that we are all getting older, my friends, my family, and me. Maybe because this sequel takes place when Michael is 55 years old .. my exact age. For whatever inexplicable reason .. Mr. Maupin has caused me to be very cognisant of the physical and emotional changes of aging.

Here's a toast to Mr. Maupin who had stirred within me the wonderous joy of my youth .. and now has aroused within me the realities of aging. A melancholy day ...

What Ever Happened to Matchbook Dating ...?

Tonight, I should be writing about Swampcat.. or Chloe .. but I am not ready for that yet. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight it will be light-hearted, about a time before Swampcat ...

Are you old enough to remember the days when bars and restaurants all had MATCHBOOKS ? The days before smoking was a criminal offense ?

A dear friend, an art collector, told me about an artist, Todd White. I looked at his pieces online. NICE. But one in particular caught my eye and brought me back to the 1970's .. to Sneaky Pete's; Mickey's Mousetrap; Muddy's Hole; Friar Tuck's Pub; The Purple Pub, The Shaker Inn .... and all the hangouts whose names now escape me.

The days when bars and restaurants had matchbooks ~ the cover being an ad for the establishment. The inside of the cover blank. The perfect place to write down a name and phone number.

That folks .. is matchbook dating. An era gone by. A great era when people connected with people ... not via text ... but via pen to paper. Via matchbooks.

I recently went to my favorite restaurant in Virginia Beach, The Raven. Maybe it is my favorite because they still have a bar ... that allows smoking ... and they have matchbooks. If lucky, one may leave with a matchbook... inscribed with a name and telephone number. The way it was done before 'technology.' The way I remember. The way it should be done.

Matchbook Dating .. try it sometime. Yeah ...Try it.

Here's one way to pay a fine ....

When there is a bogus fine to pay .... you gotta be creative. And I think I was !
Te he he he he, Roger.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT !

Today I heard what sounded like an animal crying behind my house. I saw nothing. Then I let Spike and Duri outside to pee and explore. They found a baby squirrel, but quickly lost interest. I didn't .... I put my hand down near it and it quickly climbed up my arm and snuggled in the crook of my elbow.

My dear dear friend Alice went to PetSmart to buy a tiny bottle and "safe milk".. but the little squirrel preferred drinking the milk out of Alice's hand and off the table.

After sleeping in the pocket most of the day ... she is now in the caring hands of Wildlife Rescue people.

Be well my little one .... you captured my heart. <3<3<3<3

He Got Me !! And it was so worth the laugh ...

Today dear Roger confessed that the "red light camera ticket" was all a ruse.

Good one Roger ... I cannot remember laughing so hard in a long time.

Laughter IS the best medicine ...

I was gonna, but I can't, so instead I will ...

I had started a post earlier today that I was going to "polish & post" this evening. Well that ain't gonna happen because for some reason the draft copy won't "open" ...

TaDa !! Here is plan B:

On Facebook today .. a couple of pieces of music were shared and I gotta say they really 'hit a chord' with me.

Roger .. we're revealing our age with our appreciation of Doo Wop, but it was great. Thanks PBS (and Roger) for showcasing Kenny Vance !



And the next lady needs no introduction ... how did I not hear this song before ??
Cher: Haven't Seen The Last Of Me From the movie: Burlesque

I am a diehard Cher fan ... and this song shows she is still on top ~ even at 64 years old.




This is Casey Kasem signing off for another week. Remember "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars."

1 - 2 - 3 RED LIGHT !!

Remember the game: 1-2-3 RED LIGHT ? A row of children advancing while given the green light, then being abruptly halted when someone yells, "Red light!" If anyone fails to stop, they are out or must return to the starting line

Several visits to Virginia Beach in recent months has brought back many memories ... one being that I felt like I was once again in a "Big Brother" state. Always being watched, always being monitored.

This was especially true about the "red light runner" cameras. When a motorist runs a red light .. the camera snaps a photo of the license plate .. and a traffic ticket is mailed to the owner of the vehicle.

OK OK .. I have been known to push the envelope and save my brakes by failing to slow down for a stale green light... as it turns yellow ... and race thru the light hoping to "cross the finish line" befores it turns red. Whoo ... yep ... that was a confession !!

While in VA .. my dear beloved friend, Roger, let me borrow his truck to save me the expense of paying for a rental car. THANKS ROGER ... but... after returning to NY, I started having nightmares of Roger - walking to the mailbox - and finding a bill; a fine; a ticket .. for his truck running a red light.

I recently called Roger and casually asked him if he had received any correspondence from the Virginia Beach police asking for money. He said "Nope" .. not yet.

YES YES YES YES YES ... damn I'm good ! I thought sure I had been nailed at the intersection of Independence where Haygood turns into Wishart.

I made 'the cut' this time ... but I still felt very violated that 'big brother' was watching me ... waiting for me to screw up ... waiting to nail me. My life in quiet upstate NY has been devoid of such personal violations ..

Thanks NY

Sunday - April 3rd Note: -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> -> ->
Keep reading ... below the photo ...




UPDATE: DAMN DAMN DAMN !! About an hour after I posted this entry ... my dear friend Roger posted on FaceBook that he had received a $75 citation from the Va Beach Police for a January violation at the intersection of Independence Blvd. KARMA bit me in the a$$ ~~

There Shoulda Been A Champagne Toast ...

This evening at the office ... after hours ... a co-worker stopped me to talk. She said "Today was my last radiation treatment .. and chemo is over."

She has never made her illness known, nor has she missed any work despite pain and feeling ill. The only clue is the pretty wig that she wears.

What do I say ?? "So happy for you ..."
What do I feel ? "Oh God why do you leave me now without words ..."

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Best to you Sue ... Have I ever told you how much I care for you and admire you ?? "No" Hope I find the words to do so.

Inspiration .. inspiration

I'm Having Company !!

My son Nick just called and asked if I could dog-sit for him next week ... Saturday thru Friday. I think I am going to be very very tired .... but my houseguest is a beauty !

Looking forward to seein' you Bailey ... but most of all .. seein' you Nick.

My 55th Birthday .... and posting 1 day late

Ain't nothin' more to say ... speaks for itself.

St. Patrick's Day ... and posting 2 days late

Well folks ... I am getting a bit behind in my blogging. Guess good intentions don't get the job done !

I spent an hour in the fabric store the evening before St. Patrick's Day ... trying to figure out what "green" fabric to buy for a scarf or other accessory. I left with nothing. Then - on the morning of March 17th ... as I walked into my sewing room ... I spotted some pieces of Christmas fabric and had an "ah-ha" moment.

I got out my scissors & glue gun & button jar .... and by the time I left for work .. I was stylin' ....

Christmas in March ~~

What we can learn from animals ...

This YouTube says it all ....

May humans learn from nature's creatures ....

AMEN

Attempt to Organize .... Step 1

I can frequently be seen with my arm in my purse .. all the way up to my elbow ... searching for something. Pocketbooks just don't come with enough compartments ... and when I make purses myself ... well ... I'm too impatient to add a few pockets inside.

Today while in my sewing room, I noticed some leather and snakeskin fabrics that sort of coordinated, and decided to make an effort to organize my large pocketbook. No time like the present.

The organizer came out quite nice and went together quickly ... so I made one in Spring colors too. (Sew a large rectangle out of one or two fabrics and fold up the bottom & make pockets...DONE)

Whether or not my bag will stay organized is yet to be seen ... but Step 1 is behind me ...

A Night of "Time Travel" ...

Tonight we turn the clocks ahead one hour .. which means we will have more light at the end of our days ... but for the next few days our bodies will be totally confused.

Most commonly known as "Fall back ~ Spring forward" ... a friend of mine aptly named the time change as "Time Travel" ...

I like the 'new name' as it will hopefully fool my mind into less awareness of the loss (or gain) of an hour.

Repurposing .... Lesson Two

First: This post should have gone online last night after I finished this project ... but a good book and a glass of wine beckoned me from posting.

Second: You can tell we are in the last throes of winter and boredom is setting in, so as a result ... I will be boring my friends with my short series of "repurposing projects" until some more exciting news comes along.

It all started:
Last Christmas, at the request of a friend, I made many many many microwave corn bags (aka heating pads). The corn comes in 50 pound bags .. which means the bags need to be pretty sturdy.

LIGHT BULB IN BRAIN ... use the bags as 'fabric' to make items that need to be sturdy. Get the picture ???






That's a wrap !

Repurposing .... Lesson One

A few weeks ago, a friend and I went visiting antique shops with her husband. I wanted and needed nothing .... but when I saw the vintage jewelry ... at prices less than $5 for a ziploc bag of treasures ... HOW COULD I RESIST ??

I found a gorgeous brooch and one matching earring. The other earring was lost ... hence the $5 bargain.

Not to be dissuaded by this bit of a twist .... I did the next best thing ... REPURPOSE the remaining earring. TaDa !!

Please excuse the off color photos ... the piece is really quite gorgeous.






Close-up of the finished project ...

GEEZ ... it has been less than 24 hours !!

Arrived in NY last night after a balmy week in VA. NY was quite welcoming with the warmer temps and half the snow accumulation for this winter melted.

Then a few hours ago ... "IT" started ... icy rain, sleet and COLD.

Virginia is looking good again ... really good !!