December 31st

As I think of another year almost gone,

I hope for all good things in the next.

I'm grateful that I remain healthy and  

friends and family 

keep doing well and good.

As I've said in past years,

I don't do resolutions because

I'll never remember to keep them.

Instead, I'd like to do 

"Common Courtesies",

like...

Return the shopping cart,

Say please and thank you,

Allow a car to merge,

Push in a chair when you get up,

Open a door for someone,

Don't interrupt when someone is speaking,

If something is on the floor, pick it up,

Apologize when you are wrong,

Use your inside voice,

Have patience,

and,

most of all,

smile!

Yes, I still have to work

on a couple of these.

Christmas was a quiet day.

The grandkids were out of town

and we spent the day watching a

few old Christmas movies

I've always loved this simple

picture with the greatest

7 word message.

Our Christmas tree.

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The CEO thought he was buying

2 blueberry bushes to replace

ones we lost during the snowstorm.

They turned out to be 

Camelias.

😃

Oh, well, at least they are pretty.

Italian Oregano

Thai Basil

Sweet Bell Peppers

Broccoli

Late bloomer Tomatoes

The orchids are still in bloom.

Dendrobium

That's a Greek word meaning "tree grower".

It is in an east facing window, so I guess

it likes that spot.

Phalaenopsis

aka Moth Orchid,

I guess because it looks like a moth.

Both of these were rescues from

a garbage can, by the CEO.

Every few weeks or so,

I immerse them in water for about

30 minutes or so,

then drain them.

They both live on the sill

of my east facing window.

Oh, and I talk to them sometimes!

************************

An amazing picture from

my son's recent Southwest trip!

Visited the WWII Museum 

with my other son.

So moving!

He found my Dad's memorial brick.

*****************

Some pictures to make you smile...

and lastly..

💗💙💚

***************

Thanks for making this year memorable.

😘

 

November 30th

 

This Thanksgiving, I hope all of my

family and friends have a

wonderful day.

I thank God that we are all

well and can share this day

to give thanks for the 

good things in life.

I love words!

This one personifies Thanksgiving,

don't ya think?

This month saw the end of an icon.

The penny.

After 232 years of production,

on November 12th,

the last was struck at the 

Philadelphia Mint.

The lowly penny, it's in so many phrases, 

like...

A penny saved is a penny earned.

A penny for your thoughts?

In for a penny, in for a pound.

Put in your 2 cents.

See a penny, pick it up and

all that day you'll have good luck.

We have quite a bit of pennies saved.

There never was a specific reason,

it just was a thing for us to put

our pocket change in a jar.

Now it's a rather large jar.

I guess in some distant time

those lowly pennies will

gain the respect they deserve

when collectors pay

big bucks for them.

😄

Also, today is the last day of 

hurricane season.

Thankfully we were spared again this year.

Milestones on this day in history:

1) The preliminary peace treaty between the U.S. 

and Great Britian was signed, which effectively 

ended the Revolutionary War.

2) Galileo Galilei began telescopic

observations of the Moon.

3) Michael Jackson released "Thriller",

which became the best selling

album of all time.

4) My Mom and Dad were married on 11/30/38.

***************************

The peppers are still producing.

These will be dehydrated.

The rest of the veggies are being

cut back for the season.

The CEO is tilling the beds to plant

potatoes and some other root veggies.

The orchids are blooming and 

the succulents are growing

well in the bay window.

All is well and good in our 

little backyard farm.

********************

I found some other words that describe me so well...

😁

********************************

Well, 

since this is almost the end of 2025

and, this is the oldest I've been,

I don't have an idea of

what to expect.

I hope that the remaining years

are healthy and productive.

As Shakespeare said,

"It's not in the stars to hold

our destiny but in ourselves".

💗💚💙

October 31st

Happy Halloween

I love fall.

The weather has been 

absolutely beautiful this past week.

No, there's no typical change in

the leaf colors, but the crispness

in the morning air was 

greatly appreciated.

It makes me want to make 

some nice thick soup

or a gumbo to warm up with.

The grandkids are all too old for

trick or treating anymore,

so we hope for a few

kiddies at our door each year,

but even those are getting

to be less and less.

😞

****************

The backyard crops are still

producing peppers and some herbs.

English Thyme

Rosemary

Greek Oregano

Thai Basil

Sweet Banana Pepper

Harvests from a couple of weeks.

These are all sweet pepper varieties.

I dehydrate the peppers and make 

a homemade paprika.

Very tasty!

There's no more Chicken girls,

but this was too cute not to include.

Milkweed.

There's been quite a bit of Monarch

butterflies around lately.

Mary's Garden

Fall decorated front door

The Chrysanthemums are so beautiful!

A dear friend gave me 

this monstera.

It's appropriate for 

Halloween when you 

mispronounce it as,

Monster!

Ha!

More orchid blooms.

The Paperwhite Lilies are sprouting.

They didn't do well last year.

Here's hoping they do better.

**************

My sister sent this quote to me...

"I am the daughter of a woman who,

even when broken,

kept walking.

And every time I doubt my strength,

I remember I come from her.

That's where my resilience,

my courage, and my magic

were born."

💖

*******************

This is a sad attempt

at a pumpkin face on my

homemade apple pie.

😄😕

***************

We have our family's graves

all set up for All Saints Day

*******************

************************

Remember,

life is like a camera.

Focus on what's important.

Capture the good times

and

if things don't come out so well,

just take another shot.

Thanks to all who take the time

to check out my blog,

Love y'all!

💙💚💗