Out and about -- further North

Living in the isolated town of Brookings, Oregon, one has to travel two and a half hours to get to a sizeable city. We can ride south to Eureka through the Redwood Forests and ride along the coast in and out of fog and sunshine, or we can ride north to Coos Bay where the Mills Casino entices us with cheap rooms and a city filled with antique shops and a few thrift stores to go 'junking'. Of course we could, if we chose, go inland to Grants Pass then on to Medford, but this time I took advantage of a free ride up to Port Orchard, Washington where my daughter Christine lives.

Riding along two lane roads, without heavy traffic, views of rolling hills and open fields lead to a feeling of peace and serenity. Old barns standing proud as they continue to house the animals and the hay, but there are some leaning with the wind, decrepit as a stack of old boards thrown into a pile of rubble. Still they have a beauty all their own and an artist would love to set up an easel and create a masterpiece .

The rain bounced off the pavement and I felt sorry for the cows in the fields . My son laughed and reminded me they have leather coats. I never thought of that and would have been more content if their owner had called them home to their barn. There are small towns all the way up the coast, about thirty miles apart, each with a sign beckoning a traveler to stop and visit. We stopped in Florence and found it to be a delightful small town with shops of all kinds. I found my way to a kitchen shop as I wanted to purchase some kitchen towels for the new kitchen my daughter is having done. The shop had so many new and different items that I, of course, found fault with, as I have never outgrown my love of the small paring knife that does every kind of job imaginable. I just do not feel the need for all the fancy small knick nacks that take up so much space and are used occassionaly. There are more shops to visit but we are on a long trek north so I will keep Florence in mind to visit at some future date. The names of the smaller towns greeted us and we would smile as we saw a gas station, a few stores and a few homes and that was it.

The stop overnight at Lincoln City where I visited the outlet stores which I found cater to those with a large bank account and petite of size. Four shoe stores and not one size eleven! So I have 'Longfellows" as the teasing goes, but they get me where I need to go. The thrift store has not improved with age as those who run it have decided that the free booty they get in must go out at an absorbitant rate. The big casino hotel rooms proved to be special as we had one with a kitchen with glass doors and windows right on the beach. Even through the teeming rain we could enjoy the ocean pounding into shore. The machines are set very low so it is not worthwhile trying 'your luck' and the new machines we wanted to play were not set up yet. We opted for dinner in town where we had salad served in a soup bowl and fish and chips that were very delicious.

Early the next morning, we rode on to Tulamook and visited the Cheese Factory and checked out the cafeteria there. We decided to stay for breakfast and the oatmeal was course grained and very delicious. Son John had an omelet that satisfied his hunger. We went into the show rooms where the sample cheese was and tasted several varieties which gave us a heads up on which one to choose to share with Christine. A sharp cheddar, a hot pepper and a creamy white which later turned out to be a very good choice. It was here my son decided to go away from the two lane highway onto the major highway leading further north. The storm moved in, the highway was filled with trucks and semis and, I think, every car in America, all spewing a spray from the road which swallowed the road and going seventy miles an hour was not my idea of a peaceful ride. A white knuckle ride would be more like it and it was endless. We eventually got to a turn off for Port Orchard. We pulled off at Gig Harbor nine miles from our destination and found a Costco store so stopped to check it out and exercise our legs for awhile.

The key was hidden where my daughter told me she would hide it and we entered her home to find a large plastic sheet between what was her kitchen and her living room. She had three small leaks to take are of and it escalated into a full blown replacement of her kitchen. It will take months as it is completely gutted at the moment. Not a good idea this time of year as the wind blows through and the plastic sways with the breeze and takes the heat with it. It is cold, even snow fell the next morning. We settled in and waited for her to come home from work. Her days are long as she travels to the ferry boat to go from Port Orchard to Seattle. If she misses the five o'clock ferry then it takes her another hour and a half until the next ferry so her day can be a twelve hour day. She doesn't seem to mind.

This is the last day of February, 2009, my time has a way of fleeing. Tonight is the annual dinner affair in which twenty ladies decorate twenty tables for the Soroptimist fund raiser. They are a great organizaton and do so many good things for the community. The theme this year was Soroptomist Secret, and my daughter chose am International Theme and we used some of the items we had collected over the years. One of our tables turned out whimsical with a globe of children from around the world circled around; the primroses were colorful and the little straw circlets added to the whimsey. The second table had Cleopatra on her barge and a huge black elephant with a large potted palm plant where a Spanish doll and a Bohemian lady stood. The little black trunks with their travel labels added a lot and were filled with delicious cookies. All in all it was a successful affair with raffles and an auction that made over thirty-five thousand dollars for the work they will continue to do in the community.

I had a whole day with my daughter and we had lunch at the Tea Room, one of my favorite places to go. They serve a special every day which is a cup of soup, a half sandwich and a piece of pie. Of course apple custard pie cannot be left behind, believe me, not a crumb. It is too long between visits and I found I treasured every moment we shared. Christine is a busy lady, both at work and at home, and although I think I am not a nagging mother, I do manage to drop a hint or two about 'taking care of yourself'. Dark circles under the eyes have a way of getting my attention.

We walked through the new big store housing the small booths and saw many beautiful items from another era. It is such fun to go into antique stores and enjoy so many memories from days of yore. I always see items I either had owned or had given away and instantly recall where I lived and what was going on when I owned that particular piece.

We didn't stay long because my daughter had to work and the fact that she really didn't need company or family at this particuar time when her home was really upset. We went out to breakfast and then headed south to the major highway until we got to a cut off to take us back to the two lane country roads and the familiar scenery. The rain played soft or teeming, bouncing or sprinkling depending on its mood. We stopped to walk a beach and look for agates and found the wind blustery, pushing us along as if we were weightless. If there were agates we didn't find them but we did find a couple of fossils. We drove on to Lincoln City where we spent the night and visited the Casino and enjoyed the buffet dinner. We found they had hooked up the new machines and "The Wizard of Oz" proved to be fun to play. I got my money back that I played out on the visit up there. I think that's only fair, don't you? I'm smiling as we left the next morning and went on to Coos Bay where we stopped at their Casino and had lunch sitting by the window overlooking the big lake. We missed seeing one of the larger boats out in the lake turning around. They too had the same machines so we tried them but no luck. They are fun though and I would play them again.

Home . . . such a good feeling to drive in the driveway and open the door to peace and the familiar. Shoes off, daughter Pat has bought some necessary food items for us to enjoy so we didn't have to take time to go to the store to shop. How wonderful and thoughtful she is and how thankful we are. We both headed for our computers to check our e mail and here I am telling you all about our travels.

Now life becomes normal again until there is an offer for another ride somewhere. I have many places I wish I could travel to but it takes time and money together and the energy to put it all together. I'm working on it.

I hope you are planning your travels and when you are ready to leave, call me, I'll be happy to carry the bags. Enjoy your day, make it a good one.

The Visit

Holiday time, winter weather conditions and a myriad of reasons not to travel exists, but, my son John is going to visit a job site he has an interest in, which is in Eastern Washington. Port Orchard, where daughter Christine lives, is not out of the way so I hitched a ride and it didn't take me long to pack and off we went on a very rainy morning, a harbinger of what was to come.

Riding along the Oregon coast is famliar now, but never dull, never without beauty all its own. We stopped off at Bandon for breakfast where my favorie "granny breakfast" is . . . biscuits and gravy with one scrambled egg and a link. We rode on until we got to Lincoln City where I had a chance to visit the outlet stores only to find they cater to the big spender and the petite folks. We stayed at the Casino Hotel where the room was posh. It is laid out with a short wall with an etched glass of sea gulls and sea lions dividing the room. The back half had a small kitchen and glass doors and windows bringing in an ocean view to calm a weary traveler. John had some computer work to do so I decided to walk over to the Casino and try my luck. When I reached the outside, the winds and rain pushed me along and by the time I got to the Casino door I was sopping wet. Oh, the Dauntless One, nothing stops me as I found a machine to play . . . and also found that it didn't pay enough to play. John joined me and we took off for uptown and found a wonderful restaurant where we had fish and chips then went back to the hotel to watch NCIS and catch those illusive 'z's'.

In the morning we rode along the old two lane highway with very little traffic. The scenery is rural, fields, lakes, ponds, horses, cows, goats and signs for elk which we never did see. The old barns waiting to be painted, by an artist, as they would never stand up under a coat of new paint. The trees budding, some far ahead of others telling of the coming of Spring. We rode in and out of rainy blustery spells but nothing lasted very long. We stopped at Tulamook for breakfast and looked around the shops, tasted the samples of cheese and chose a variety pack to share with Christine.

Then my son headed for the major highway, no more biways as it is the slowest way to go, and into a huge storm. We drove in really heavy traffic with the cars and trucks spewing clouds of steam from the road so you could hardly see in front of you and this is going seventy miles an hour. Talk about your white knuckles. Not my favorite way to travel. The ride seemed endless and finally we got to Gig Harbor which is about ten miles from our destinaton. We found a Costco store and went in to check it out. It was marvelous to grab hold of a basket and walk around the store to stretch the leg muscles. and added a few more tasty treats.

We arrived at Christine's house to find the key in her porch planter box, just where she said she would put it. When we opened the door we faced a huge plastic hanging between her kitchen and living room and found the kitchen completely gutted. She had three small leaks she needed to fix and one thing led to another and now she is living with, and waiting for, a brand new kitchen. Her young worker, Bill, is doing a great job. He is a quality worker and takes time to make sure every beam is in the right place. So we are 'camping in'. The California shushi, cheeses and salad came in handy. The red wine hit the spot.

Next morning Christine had to go to work so set the coffee pot for me. She was in a hurry and left the old filter with coffee in the base so when she put the new filter in the coffee did not brew properly. I had my first cup of coffee at five o'clock when Bill helped me to get the pot cleaned out and we brewed our first pot for the day. Picture me without my crank oil all day, but I have a strong desire to head for the nearest restaurant. I want a hot meal . . . I'm so deprived. That is not what Christine's scales say and they change by five pounds every day so I am thinking they don't know what they are saying and I don't have to know the true figures. It snowed last night and there are two very big hills to walk down to town, so that is not an option.

John e-mailed that he made it to the job site and the roads were clear and the sun was beaming all the way. He is hoping to help the client to get 'on line'.

Christine is working from home this moring and soon we will be off to find a restaurant, a thrift store to browse in, then back to my book....book, Christine has a family room loaded with bookcases filled with books, boxes with books, books on the tables, books on the chairs so if you are looking for a special title, check with Christine, I'm sure it is here somewhere. It is wonderful to share hugs and time with my daughter . She looks good but tired. Her work days are long yet she seems content.

Make your day a good one. Do some one thing for YOU. Know I am thinking of you with love and hugs.

Pitter, Patter, Puddles and Raindrops

It's a quiet day, time to meditate, time to catch up with that odd job list you have put aside for a rainy day, ---- but ! ---- now that it is teeming rain, and there is time, the heart and soul cry out for reflection. I've taken time to read blogs written by others and find them fascinating. I've gone for a ride, in the rain, to the pharmacy and replaced the vitamins I ran out of this morning. We even took time out to have a lunch of soup and salad which was delicious . . . but! ----, my daughter tells me I am one to find fault with everything, and she is right, I do, I taste, I try, I comment and it is usually something like, "that was really very good ---- but! ---- The but! is because the soup had much too much salt in it; the salad was delicious ---- but! ---- the plate was so small everything had to be built up to a togetherness that made it not very palatable. I really do not mean to sound negative, it is just that I think it is the duty of everyone to put forth their best and not 'make-do'. If they are using left overs, heaven forbid the dregs of yesterdays menu, to make the soup then they ought to cut out the fat from the meat and not kill the taste buds with an over abundance of salt. Of course this is my opinion and I'm stuck with it, so I will go back to my reading of blogs by some folks who would be fun to know.

Make your rainy day a good one, maybe off to a quiet spot to read that page turner you cannot stop reading; maybe to write an e-mail to one of your shutin friends, or pop corn and choose an old rainy day movie, now that appeals to me. Whatever you choose to do on this quiet rainy day, enjoy it, I am. Love and Hugs to each of you.

Consciousness

Isn't the title a mind grabber ? We already know the word means the essence, or totality of attitudes, opinions, and sensitivities held or thought to be held by an individual. A critical awareness of one's own identity and situation, ---- or so the dictionary says . The word came to mind this morning as I rode to town with my daughter, Pat, and heard all about her recent trip to visit her daughter who now lives in a big city, and her concerns for her. I cannot assure her that her thoughts and worries are far fetched as I have traveled that road for many years.

I wish I understood the differences and the reasons some mothers can be more objective about the lives of their children. What makes them so sure that there are is no boogie man under the bed, or a vampire hovering to devour her precious child? What makes them so confident that they cease to think of the events and happenings in their children's lives which does not seem to be on their list of worries? I wish I knew why some are so concerned and worried about their offspring who have been cared and loved, the same as the others, yet have doubts that life is going to treat their child with fairness and kindness.

I think the answers lie in one's upbringing. If you had a loving home with a father and mother who balanced each other and had confidence and led the way without fear, their children came up with the inbred knowledge that made them self contained. Those parents can and do release their children and get on with their own lives. Isn't that the way it should be?

Those who came up without this balance do not have the sense of self and it creates floundering in life. The balance is missing because the example, the knowledge and truth are not there. They search for a good life without the tools they need thus creating many unsafe areas in their lives. Without common sense and balance they struggle to survive and fail by making wrong decisions, no self control, and develop addictive personalities.

Someone bright and knowledgeable once said that 'we seek our own level'. I'm not sure just what they meant by that - - - as I spent my time thinking that everyone had a spark of goodness in them so we shouldn't judge that one is better than another. So we have a difference in thought. It makes me wonder about life being 'fair', you know that word that means being objective and dispassionate. So I have gone in a circle with my thoughts.

Once you do have a child or several children, you worry. It goes with the territory and it really doesn't matter whether they are balanced or not; I dont' think may of us are to begin with. So I will commiserate with my daughter and tell her not to worry that she did a good job raising her daughter, then I will go and look in a mirror and have that talk to myself about fruitless worries and continue down the road worrying about which of my children is having difficulties today and what can I do about it??? Nothing. It is their own road to travel and worry doesn't help a bit, but that does not stop me from worrying, fretting, musing, wondering and wishing I was a wise magician.

Expectations

The word 'expectation' according to the American Heritage Dictionary reads: n. a. The act or state of expecting. b. eager anticipation: eyes shining with expectation. 2. The state of being expected. 3. (a) Expectations. Prospects. Esp. of inheritance. (b) something expected. 4. The expected value of a random variable, esp. the mean. 5. Expectancy (sense, 3b.).

To me, the word 'expectation' is the harbinger of woe. A suspensful animation of things or events as we think they should be, and when they do not come up to our 'expectations' we tend to feel used, abused, sad, lonely, miserable and depressed.

In order to survive our world, we must see the reality as life is, and not as we wish it to be, or even expect it to be. It is what it is, and we can only live it as we arise in the morning with the eastern sun and go to bed with the western wane as darkness approaches and we go off to sleep to rejuvenate our bodies and our souls.

What I think I want may not be what I need. Until we differentiate between the two, we live in a world of expectation and the circle goes around and around.

No two persons see the same object in the same light. Each one sees but with a mind set that makes what they see different as they gaze at the texture, color and substance of the piece they are looking at.

The same with taste, each one has taste buds that differ and what is delicious to one maybe absolutely tasteless to another.

Our hearing follows the same pattern and one may listen, but each of us hears the words with a different connotation and thus tall tales are born.

We feel, some with hands that know the softness and handle delicately, while others are rough and feel hardness.

Dealing with each other could be very simple if we had no expectations, but looked for the inner beauty that shines in everyone and find the core of the person, and do away with envy, greed, avarice, jealousy and hatred.

Envy

Isn't envy one of the deadly sins? I think so. I pride myself in the fact that I have never been jealous or envious of others no matter how much they have, or the style in which they live, but today I am wearing a lovely green sweatshirt, part of my 'daily uniform', and I think the color reflects the feelings I had when I read my daughter Pat's blog this morning. She is in Oakland, California visiting my granddaughter, Erin. They are 'out and about' and thereby hangs my tale of envy. I want to be 'out and about' enjoying all of the excitement of city living. They are going to a marvelous museum; stopping off at huge department stores filled with things they cannot afford as the haute couture is served on a silver platter. They are seeing people of different cultures, different walks of life and hearing the city noises which have been lost to these ears for a very long time. Yes, I am feeling a bit of envy, but not enough to keep it, as I plan my own day in the quiet surroundings of this little town with its huge ocean to visit. I like hearing about the big cities but I've reached the age where peace and harmony go hand in hand and I count my blessings. City living is for the young and it is exciting, wonderful and frustrating, and a very good place to go for a very short visit. I have a feeling my daughter is going to sigh in relief as she drives into her driveway and is home. Home, you know, the place where your heart is. I hope today you are 'home' doing all the things you love to do. Make your day special, just like you.

Do Trip

Do trip . . . It is good for you honest, not a trip as a fall, but a trip as a mini vacation be it for an hour, a day or if you are lucky a week or two. Yesterday, son John suggested a trip to Eureka where the Costco store is located. It is a two and a half hour trip down Highway 101 south through the magnificent tall redwoods, then on to open highways along the edge of the sea. The views are magnificent, each one a calendar picture.

The weather was beautiful although the signs told of winter weather, snow and icy roads, but not where we were going. The signs were for those heading into the routes leading inland where they have been having a lot of winter weather. On the coast it is different as we found a bit of fog, a little sprinkle of rain drops and then sunshine.

As we drove into the small town of Orick there were signs warning of the Roosevelt Elks who have found a haven there. There they were , in all their glory, great looking beasts hunkered down and chomping away on the grasses. In this same field there is a small one room school house painted bright red, a tribute to another era. The town itself is very small but has hundreds of acres of flat open land leading to the mountains. There are many shops selling huge carved redwood figures and animals. A six foot bear that would look good in my front yard, but I couldn't think of a way to bring it home with me.

A few miles up the highway there is a lagoon, tremendous in size, unbelievable to see, only one small strip of sand keeps it from reaching the ocean. As we continued on, and rounded the many curves of the road, the ocean beaches and coves were a study in contrasts as one area would be smooth as glass, the color of winter, then the next curve would have a pounding surf, high waves smashing over large rocks which are very prevelent on the Oregon and Northern California beaches. There are areas flat and wind swept with nothing for miles, then a higher climb and the views are through the trees and the ocean is barely seen . . . then, a cove where a bridge curves over the land and the seagulls flock to it making me wonder why.

Finally we reached Eureka and did our shopping, then took time out for lunch at a restaurant called "Hurricane Katie's" and I was treated to French pressed coffee which I had never seen or heard of before. I was given a small glass container with a press and given instructions on how to use it. It was really very good. The menu was filled with sandwich names I have never heard of, with ingredients I have yet to taste, but I stayed with my Caesar salad with chicken and John had a sandwich that looked very interesting. I think it was a calzone with all kinds of good things within and a special cup of sauce to dip each bite in. It was time to start for home.

The return trip is just as pleasant and the views have a slightly different perspective as you round a curve; the same ocean, the same redwood trees, the same delapidated barn hanging as if by a thread, yet it far from boring. A hawk comes into view, or a tiny animal scurries by. We made a stop at "Trees of Mystery" where the huge Paul Bunyon stands, with his ox, Babe, close by, welcoming every visitor. There is a wonderful museum there with Indian artifacts that bring a lot of history to mind. The baskets, the carvings and the jewelry and dresses are in unbelievable condtion and a joy to see. For some reason the trip back home seemed so much shorter. We arrived home and unpacked all our purchases and enjoyed one of the tenderloin steaks. I almost forgot to tell you I heard John's new tape with the 'diva's' . If you can picture Tina Turner, Cher, Elton John, several other singers and a band that plays 'hot' and 'heavy' . . . and I must say . . . LOUD, the car shakes, the ears ring and a drummer that makes your feet bounce, then you know I was treated to music , a far cry from my Big Band style. Tony Bennett where are you?

Do trip. It's good for the soul. I have so many memories of small trips with daughter Patricia, up and down the coast to the north of us, to Bandon, Coos Bay, Florence, Newport, and on up north across the Columbia River bridge into Washington and on up to Port Orchard. Son John has invited me to Rapid City, South Dakota where I got to visit Mount Rushmore and see the unfinished work of Crazy Horse in a park all its own. Yellowstone Park which is one of my favorite places to visit. Our trips up the mountain highway to Lake Tahoe and other places that are stored in my memory banks ready to review when the trip bug bites. Michael and I rode in from Carson City to Brookings and I have a habit of reading signs as we go along. As we entered the highway where the speed limit had been 65, and rode up into the Smith River area, we were pulled over by a highway patrol officer and Mike was given a ticket for being in a 55 mile zone and going 65; I wanted to tell the officer that there was no sign posted changing the mileage but my son said "Don't say a word." Not fair, I wanted to spout.

I'm off to get dressed. I may be invited out the door. I 'do trip' and love it.

Presidents Day

Prepare for a gripe this morning as I wonder why there had to be a change honoring our past presidents and grouping them into one holiday. Oh, I know the majority of folks like having an extra day off on the weekend and extend on to a Friday or a Monday, but what is wrong with a day off mid week. I would think a break would be beneficial and enjoyed. It seems like we are selling ourselves short as we move the calendar dates around take away the honor bestowed on our former leaders who grew old and feeble carrying the weight of the nation on their shoulders. They deserve their special day. I know, that is only my opinion, but I wanted to express it, and I have, so I'll go light a candle in honor of those who were so valient and say a prayer for all those Presidents that have not been named or honored.

I would have published a picture of Mount Rushmore but I do not have one in 'my pictures', but this mountain view taken in Carson City reminds me of faces and if you look very closely you can see a handsome one.

So, having said my say, I will go back to my unfinished household chores. I hear the bell from the dryer saying it is time to fold some clothes. I'm waiting for that magic machine that washes, dries, irons and fold the clothes, and while we are at it, why not a way to put them away...nothing lazy about me.

Make your day a good one and enjoy the brightness of our sky for however long it lasts. A tune comes to my mind . . . "Rain, when you going to rain again rain . . . " soon....I bet.

A Break in the Storm . . .

Looking out my kitchen window, after teeming rain all day, I noticed a break in the clouds, not a very big one, but it is beautiful. The sun attempts to shine through the clouds and brighten the entire area around it, showing blue sky and a tinge of gray at the edges of the white clouds. I stood there, transfixed and thought about writing a poem, but my thoughts strayed as the wind whipped through the trees and the clouds moved in and the sun was lost to my sight.

My eyes wandered to the side gardens where the once beautiful orange and yellow nasturtiums grow and wonder if that sodden mess will ever perk up and grow again. My heart is set on having them climb the fence between me and my neighbor in hopes that they can share the beauty and color of these lovely flowers.

Next are two rose bushes I know will never amount to much as the five resident deer chomp on them regularly, and they are happy. I think I see mildew, or crusty elements, growing on the stalks and wonder if that means they are lost.

The weeds are thriving and I have some of the fanciest weeds in town. I am not sure what names they are called by, but, I do know they are very prolific and will not shrivel if a little rain falls on them. It doesn't seem to stop their growth, in fact, I'm sure the rain is helping them to multiply. I know for sure I will not bend and stoop to pull them out this year, but I will buy a whole gallon of spray that will knock them for a loop and smile while I do it.

I liken my stop at the window to life and all that happens to us as we live and thrive each day. It takes rain to slow us down and gives us a chance to meditate and to look for answers to some of the delemma in our lives. It takes sunshine to make us feel fulfilled and happy about the good things in our lives giving us energy and a feeling of pride in our accomplishments both big and small.

A little rain doesn't do much for us, but a lot of rain, now that is a storm of a different kind and we have to love it.

Enjoy the rain, enjoy the sunshine, enjoy today . . . make it a good one.

Hearts To You

Not only did I get a lovely valentine this morning but a plate full of homemade scones, my favorite, warm from the oven, filled with a cherry jelly reminicent of the good old jelly donuts of years back. To heck with my diet, warm scones and hot coffee produce a warm glow from the inside out. How lucky I am to have such a beautiful caring daughter who, by the way, is one of the most efficient papergirls in this town. Our newspaper comes out twice a week and keeps us apprised of the events and the news of what is happening in our small town. There are pictures of our coast line and a page showing the fisherman's catch which can be a thirty or forty pound ling cod or a beautiful salmon. I never thought of a fish being beautiful, but I am slowly being converted. The picture of the thirty foot waves smashing into the beach caught my attention. Yesterday I had a ride to Sporthaven beach and got a look at them first hand. The sea is so powerful and the winds create a sea spray on top of the waves that is magical. Someone was throwing tidbits to the seagulls who were hovering around the car almost engulfing it with their presence. Pat had her camera ready and tried to get a picture through the window of the car, but it came out fuzzy. She did get some great pictures though and one was a crusty old bird who was waiting patiently for us to throw out some food and protected her area by snapping and chasing other gulls away. A mean old gal, with a fiesty temper, who looked like she was ready to take us on if we didn't feed her. We didn't, so she turned her back and waddled away.

I smiled when I found my daughter's valentine in the newspaper this morning from her friend. How wonderful to know that this day has not changed, and hopefully never will, as we remember our family, our friends, and even an enemy or two with love in our hearts. Make your day a good one and celebrate love in all its many facets.

Nothing

There was a program on television about poets and their poetry, mentioning they all wrote about 'nothing'. This led me to think about that. What is 'nothing'? I have no idea, but, let me see what I can do with that thought.

A wife might ask her husband "What is wrong with you?" and his response, "Nothing." A child might be asked, "What are you doing?"' and the response, which all of us have heard more than once , . . . 'nothing'. There are probably dozens of other questions which enlist the same response, but it would not be true reasons, as 'nothing is in reality 'something'.

The child may have been thinking about what he wished he could do, or was laying on the floor looking at the ceiling wondering what the designs were. The husband could have been sulking over a statement made by someone, other than his wife, or was frustrated and angry about something that was not being addressed by his wife, or someone he knew.

I think silence is 'nothing', but in reality it is the absence of sound which we cannot hear at the moment, but, all the while leaves are stirring in the trees, rustling. The wind is moaning as it wafts through the space between buildings, wires hum on the television and the computer . . . yet, if someone asked what you were hearing, you would most likely respond with 'nothing'.

One of the funniest things, I think, is when a mother asks her child "What do you have in your mouth?", and the child responds with 'nothing' as his cheeks puff out and the cookie crumbs spill from his mouth. Is 'nothing' an easy word? YES, extremely easy and it covers a lot of territory.

Acknowledging the artist:

If you asked my granddaughter if she enjoyed painting this picture, she would probably tell you it was fun, but by eating the focal point in her 'still life', she had to be satisfied with her first effort . . . I am. Just a proud gram, what can I say ......Nothing.....no way!

Do You Dance?

When I was young, a very long time ago, I had a friend who pulled out the extra leaf of a dining room table and placed it on the floor so we could tap dance. He showed me how to shuffle, shuffle, tap, tap, and I thought I knew how to tap dance. Then I saw Bo Jangles dance with Shirley Temple in a movie and knew I had two left feet.

In high school, every October, there was a special festival and each class was assigned a new song and dance theme. Our class did "Alice Blue Gown", and we wore long blue dresses and carried round hat boxes which we put down beside us so we could dance around them. We thought we were fabulous until we went to the movies and saw "The Ziegfield Follies."

As a young teenager, when the jitterbug was in, we girls taught the boys all the steps and had a lot of fun. We listened to the Big Bands on the radio. We used to sing cowboy songs but when the boogie-woogie came to town our taste in music took on the beat, we bought the records ,which had the words written on the jackets, and learned them all by heart. Strange not one of us had a voice, but it didn't bother us a bit.

As a young married lady, my husband and I attended a dinner dance or two and enjoyed a dance called "The Paul Jones". The men formed a circle around the ladies and the band started to play, then stopped . . . to find ourselves with a different dance partner. It was always such fun as we circled around the room when the music started up again.

We danced the polka, the waltz; the fox trot; jitterbug; boogie woogie; then a huge change came about as The Beach Boys, Elvis and many others introduced us to "the swim"; "the twist" and the beat to "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog". The dancers didn't dance together anymore, but separately, standing before each other doing their own steps.

I'm not sure what is the dance of today. On television they have dancers doing the tango and other dances, reminding me of acrobatics. Some are beautiful to watch and some are ridiculous.

I always thought ballet was boring until I actually went to a theater and sat through a performance and it changed my mind and my heart for a world that is different and quiet, and beautiful. "The Nutcracker" has been playing for many years and signals Christmas is near. The story and the dancers are special.

I have seen folks do the Irish Jig; the Jewish Hora; the Greek Handkerchief dance; and I'm sure that every country has a dance which I have not been introduced to, but would love to watch them all, maybe even join in. The Russian kick dance is a familiar one. I wish I could think of more dances to add to my musing . . ."Do You dance?" I hope so.

The picture shows that the apple does not fall far from the tree as you see my granddaughter, Erin and her partner posed to start a Salsa dance.

Stormy Weather

Good morning. Waking up at 4:44 a.m. is not unusual for me, and this morning I am listening to the rain beat down on the little drain pipe making a bell like tone as the rain does it's dance and the wind blows. My son and I were invited to my daughter's home for, not the hot apple turnovers I talked about yesterday, but for a delicious tomalie pie with hot cornbread. That should make your taste buds sit up and take notice. We did have our Merlot and even a few chips and salsa, and the movies, "Contract Murder" and "Eagle Eye" kept our mind off of the storm that came in with thunder and heavy winds. We didn't take time to go see the waves which were to be thirty feet high. The ocean shows us how powerful it is, and it is a sight to see. There was a short break in the storm when the sun came out for just minutes and the dark thread like clouds seem to touch the trees making me think of hope. The storm came in and it is still on going, but the sound of rain, which I cannot describe, leaves a feeling of continuity. No matter how blustery it gets, it does stop and the sun comes out and all is right in our world. So, keep positive thoughts in the turmoil surrounding us, and keep your faith.

My granddaughter Erin is a wonderful photographer and this picture is one of my favorites. Thanks Erin for keeping me in prize pictures. Je vous aime.

A Storm is Coming

Good morning. The weatherman tells us that there is a storm coming in with winds up to fifty miles per hour. A good day to hunker down and visit daughter Patricia who has a fire place and a better TV than I have. Of course, I'll hint for an invitation, as one does not just go and invite themselves to a warm fire and a movie, but knowing my daughter, the invitation will come and, we will have a wonderful afternoon. A stop at the store to pick up some treats is in order, so I will have to go and look and see what I can find. A bit of fancy cheese and crackers with a little Merlot wouldn't be bad; or a big mug of hot coffee and a hot apple turnover out of the oven would be pretty tasty . . . yes, turning on the oven on a cold windy day warms the house and the hot turnover does wonders for the sagging spirit. I wish you could join us as a few friendly faces bring love and laughter to the mix, can't think of a better way to spend a stormy afternoon.

Agate Hunting

My first blog. I am excited. My son, pictured here, invited me out for a ride to enjoy our beautiful summer like weather. He suggested a ride to Gold Beach for lunch and a walk on the beach. According to the little tide book there was going to be a minus tide and there is a special pathway for me to access the beach. It was about one o'clock p.m., and the actual minus tide would not take place until four p.m., but it was going out slowly. I found a nice walking stick and ambled on along the beach hunting for agates. There were so many sugar agates, but not what I was searching for. I was told to walk with the sun at my back and look at the beach rocks to see the sun shine on them and let me know where they were hiding. There it was, one beautiful sizable agate, almost copper tone, and it is mine for the taking. I danced around in pure glee. I ....me....I found an agate. I don't often find one, thus my excitement for actually finding one big enough to brag about. Of course, in my excitement, I did what I was told we should 'never to do'. and that is turn your back on the ocean. Within seconds I was standing in sea water up to my ankles, trying to run from a wave that caught me by surprise. I was actually trying to out run it but it was much too late for that. All I can tell you is that I was laughing out loud and didn't mind having my fish and chips in my wet shoes and socks. My son didn't laugh at me, but I'm sure he was snickering.