Monthly Archives: June 2012

Girl Time ROCKS!

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Every woman needs “girl time”  just because. Girl time, for those who don’t know, is a set-aside time for ‘girls’ to reconnect and let down their hair, figuratively and literally. It is a time to have fun with girlfriends and not worry about responsibilities and obligations, at least for an evening or a day. Every woman I know has her ‘girlfriends,’ her go-to female confidantes for support and nurture. Well, for me it was time for “girl time” again! It’s been six months since we last got together. Wednesday night my girls and I gathered at my place and “schmoozed” and enjoyed each other’s company. We smile a lot when we are together. Talking, eating, and laughing as good friends do, makes life a little sweeter when we return to our everyday responsibilities. Much to our delight, birds, squirrels, rabbits and chipmunks entertained us out on the deck. But best of all three fawns made an appearance, too! (Yes, there were three, but only two in this photo. . . The photo with all three is quite blurred.) By the end of the day we were all tired, happily so, and bid each other farewell, until next time. Heather was with us for this evening only. But Lori and I had the next day to spend together.

Lori and I started the day sitting on the deck once again enjoying the critters, all of which joined us on the deck at some point while we sat and chatted for a while. Later we drove (in an extremely round-about way) to North Chagrin Reservation. Although is was a hot and humid day, our spirits remained high and we thoroughly enjoyed the richness of nature.

Canada Geese abound at the Reservation. Here, two are enjoying the coolness of the lily pond.

Lilies and lily pads grow in abundance and cover large sections of the pond.

We saw LOTS of frogs!

Yes, this frog had dinner! When the frog decided the time was right, it happened so fast I almost missed it. This was the only photo I got.

Dragonflies and bugs of all descriptions thrive in places like this.

A hawk flew overhead.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Purple Martin ??????

The Great Blue Heron!

A baby bat that was saved by one of the park employees.

A last look back at the lily pond before heading home.

We spent just a few hours here on a hot and humid day,

Lori is loving every minute!

yet were amazed even in that short time, at the abundant activity and life that goes on in one small pond. We are not big partiers or shopaholics, but we are rich and happy enjoying friendships and nature when possible. Not even the heat and humidity could dampen our spirits. I think that Heather and Lori would agree with me when I say that girl time this week ROCKED. I look forward to the next time, and the next . . . and the next . . .

Not-So-Healthy Headlines

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Reblogged from The Good Greatsby:

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This week the United States Supreme Court is expected to hand down its ruling on President Obama's healthcare act. If the bill is overturned, many Americans will joyfully cheer its defeat, despite it being the first serious effort to correct a system that allows Americans to rank #37 in healthcare and #38 in life expectancy, but #1 in per capita healthcare expenditure.

Read more… 278 more words

I happen to agree with the Good Greatsby.
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In Good Time . . .

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Yesterday we moved our remaining belongings from storage into our home. The place is a mess as I begin, once again, the arduous task of unpacking and deciding where to put “things.” But this is different. This time there will be no saving of boxes “for next time.” This time we are really settling in. In good time I will paint the walls colors of our choosing. In good time the carpeting will be ripped up and natural, beautiful hard wood floors will take its place. In good time a porch will be screened in so that we can enjoy sitting outside for three seasons of the year. In good time trees will be planted and gardens laid out . . . vegetables and flowers. In good time . . . the place will take the shape of what we want in our home. Our place is a small bungalow which suits us perfectly. Having lived in numerous places over the years, we have come to realize that “big” and “material” is not so important as “home” and “meaning” in life. We are already creating community as we get to know people in the nearby synagogue, and our neighbors are becoming our friends. In good time this will truly be our home.

Our world looked quite different five or six years ago. Then Richard was unemployed and I had a part-time teaching position in a sweet little parochial school. I have fond memories of that school, the students and fellow teachers, the community we lived in, but the pay was extremely low and simply did not cover the bills. Richard had recently completed another degree in hopes of pursuing a new career, but the doors weren’t opening. We relied on food stamps and a local food bank for our food. Toward the end of our stay there, a friend had to pay our rent because we had literally run out of money. Our entire savings was gone. Who can get up and rebuild lives from a place as low as the one we had reached? Maybe if we were young and had many years ahead of us, but we were grandparents with a few years yet till retirement age. We still had to survive and furthermore we were competing with people half our ages, people younger than our children with far less knowledge and experience than Richard and me, for jobs that were becoming more specialized and more scarce. The picture was bleak to say the least.

But Richard did get a job, a good paying job. We moved and started over. We began rebuilding. There have been a couple more moves since that time, and another job. Life did not suddenly become easy as we picked ourselves up. We continued to live frugal lives, cutting back and paring down where we could. We worked hard, and still do. Even at our ages, we have rebuilt. We are now living in the community we dreamed of living in. Richard did rebuild an adequate retirement so that he can now do contract work and not rely on the whims of others to make a living. I am studying to become a professional counselor, something I only dreamed of years ago. And most surprising of all, we were able to buy a little bungalow to make our home. Who would have thunk five years ago? Even the headaches of home ownership (which one discovers very soon after taking possession of a house!) are experiences for which I am thankful.

Through the trials we have become stronger. Richard’s and my relationship has strengthened with each crisis we faced. We have discovered what is of value, and what is not, as we have walked this path together. At the center of who we are is a strong religious belief in a good and benevolent (mostly) Creator, and a commitment to a rigorous, practical spiritual practice every day, from the time we arise in the morning till the time we recline at night. Many is the night I wet my pillow with my tears. Doubts and fears have been my companions from time to time, but so has belief and trust. I am old enough, and experienced enough, to know that more trials await. The advantage of age is that we discover that life keeps moving forward, changes continue to mold us, and trials give way to victories, sadness to joy. In good time . . .

So, this morning as I sit amid the boxes and clutter of finally unpacking the remainder of our belongings and creating the nest we call our home, I am profoundly thankful for this good time, for the good man whom I married, and for the life we have lived that has brought us to this time and place.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Close

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This morning it rained after a long draught. Of course, the rain ended too soon but the skies are still overcast so maybe more is on the way. During a lull I stepped outside to get a few photos, “close-ups” of fading blossoms adorned with their watery diamonds, a souvenir from the heavens.

Early this week I played “hookie” and Richard and I drove out to a nature preserve. It was a wonderful break from studies and I was able to shoot some nature close-ups of wildlife I had never been able to shoot before (not the sharpest photos, but fun nonetheless).

Not spooked by me at all! I could reach out and touch this beauty. I shot quite a few frames before it flew away.

Now that school is on break, I hope to take more days away to enjoy the natural world. Thanks for stopping by. :-)

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A New Day!

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Birds are chirping outside my window and the sun rays brighten the landscape of our back yard. Bees buzz around the rose-bush, and the tiger lilies that grow along the side of the garage are in full bloom. A breeze ruffles the leaves of the Oak tree that grows along the back or our property. A mother rabbit, followed by her bunny, hop across the yard quickly going from the pile of brush behind the garage to the shelter under our deck. Squirrels have already made their morning run to the bird feeder, and now many species of birds are joyfully enjoying the feast and playing in the makeshift birdbaths. A chipmunk scurries across the deck and I feel lighthearted as I quietly observe the morning activities in our back yard. Finally I have completed ten grueling weeks of study and am free to enjoy this new day unencumbered. What joy. I have missed blogging, really blogging. I have missed visiting your blogs. Thank you to those of you who continued to pop in now and then to see how I was doing. For those who haven’t stopped by, I am anxious to renew old acquaintances. Hopefully future quarters will not take as severe a toll on my husband and me as this one has. But I don’t need to worry about that now because for three weeks I am free. :-)

After a little R & R, I have so much to share with you. And I look forward to getting caught up with y’all and what you have done and are blogging about, too. Have a great day and I will be seeing you around. ;-)

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Sunday Post: Sunrise

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Today

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This week’s challenge is to post a photo that we shoot today. No going back in the archives to retrieve a ‘great’ shot, rather grab the camera, go out and take photos now! On some days this is quite a challenge. One wants to show off his or her best work, and some days just don’t cut it! Today however, even though it is overcast and rainy, I hit paydirt! There is a LOT of activity going on outside my dining room door on the deck where I keep a homemade bird feeder and birdbaths. These birds get quite aggressive when it comes to their food and their baths! Enjoy!

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New Home, New Friends!

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It’s late at night and my brain is fried! The studies are intense as I head into the final two weeks of the quarter. I “should” be working on a paper but I had to stop and share an experience from this morning! Recently I discovered a stack of pie tins, all sizes and shapes, that had been left here by the previous owner. We can’t use them but I hate to throw them away, so I made a bird feeder (the squirrels enjoy it, too) and bird baths out on our deck. Nothing fancy, but they will do for now. I have enjoyed looking out our windows at all the activity. We’ve had Robins, Purple Finches,  Crows, Tree Sparrows, Blue Jays, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Cardinals, a Common Grackle, House Sparrow, Mourning Doves, Song Sparrows, and more (that I can’t name!)  I have taken great delight in watching them and then identifying them via an app on my iPod (Chirp! U.S.A.)

Additionally, we have watched chipmunks, rabbits and deer in our yard (yes, deer) and of course, squirrels! Well, this morning I got “up close and personal” with a new squirrel friend! He was on the deck when I went out to fill the feeder and baths. At first we just stared at each other, his body tense, ready for flight. I spoke softly and inched my way closer and closer; several times he turned to run, but then he turned back and edged closer to me. We carried on like this for a few minutes until we were within reach of each other. That was as close as I wanted to get this time. I had my camera in hand so I shot photos as I talked to him. After a while I could see that he was more relaxed and was enjoying the “bird” food. I expect he’ll come around again tomorrow. Hopefully at some point in the future he will eat from my hand. (Maybe the birds will, too, eventually.)

So, enjoy some photos from this morning’s serendipitous encounter, along with other photos of the wildlife in our yard!

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