"Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. "
~John Lennon


Sunday, December 30, 2012

2013

Changing the date to 2013 doesn't seem as strange as it did when I had to start typing or writing 2012.

This is going to be a very good year. That is not a prediction; it is a determination.  As in a firm resolve to make this coming year a year committed to personal success and growth. As I persevere in this quest,  I will use the wisdom in the words of the Serenity Prayer. I am wholeheartedly dedicated to being a better person. If this is a New Year's Resolution, so be it.

Best wishes to my blogging friends for a year of awakening for us all, being aware of people around us, accepting their decisions that seem to be mistakes, allowing them to work through their own lives and learn from their mistakes just as we want them to do to us.  I give you, dear readers, my unreserved love and encouragement and hope you pass it along throughout the year.

Hugs to you all.


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

What A Mess

Christmas day. 
Trash can full.
Removed the plastic bag.
Tied it shut at the top.
Carried it to the door. 
The bottom broke apart.
Trash flew everywhere.
Like an explosion.
Coffee grounds. 
Orange peels.
Empty cans.
Etc etc.
I stood looking.
What a mess.
I thought,
how can I clean this.
This was a first.
Never had this happen.
Felt like I was in a cartoon.
I trudged through the mess.
Got to the kitchen closet.
Reached for the dust pan.
Began scooping trash
into three new trash bags.
That was when my friend arrived.
She found me on the floor 
tying the three bags.
She helped me carry the bags
out to the trash can.
We sat at the kitchen table 
laughing and merry
Perfect Christmas visit.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas

Photo found at New York Daily Photo

















Many of us celebrate Christmas, each in our own way, for our own reasons. For me, presents are not the priority at Christmas. Not the kind of presents wrapped in fancy paper and tied with a bow.  Your heart can discern and your spirit can move you to love truly, unconditionally.

Enjoy your Christmas, however you celebrate. I hope your blessed day carries over to tomorrow and to tomorrow and lasts all year.

Friday, December 21, 2012

New Eyes

Whew. Both eye surgeries went well and the implants are like having new eyes. The right eye lens is for distance and the left lens is for close. That is the correction my eyes adjusted to many years ago, so even without contacts my eyes would do the blended vision.  The left lens has been in place since December 5th and it feels normal. The right lens was put in place Dec 19th just in time to see all the lovely snow.  White is SO BRIGHT now.

Six months ago I changed the light bulbs in the bathroom to 100 watt bulbs and still had some difficulty seeing well in there. Now I need to remove the 100 watt bulbs and replace with 75 or even less.  It is way too bright in there.

My friend Vicki drove me to both eye surgeries, waited for me and brought me home, and to the post op check ups at the doctor's office.  She volunteered to do that.  I have been around her a lot this past year and after the second eye surgery I looked at her and said "Wow, did someone paint your eyes?"  Her eyes are so blue but I did not know that.  It makes me wonder how long I have been seeing things in grey.

The swelling is down and the healing is amazingly fast. Never once did it hurt. Never did I feel uncomfortable.  The jigsaw puzzles are lined up and my crocheting has begun again.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Share The Joy Of The Season

People who still have jobs probably have a more difficult time than those of us who have retired. I remember having to work around some people who were disagreeable to the max.  Their unwelcome comments seemed to drag down the vibes in the work place.  Some of us would attempt to get the message across through humor by saying that we all needed an attitude adjustment.  When a group of us would unite in our fun project of an attitude adjustment,  we were a strong enough force to change the atmosphere to a more uplifting environment.

Now that I am older, hopefully wiser, and not working, when I come in contact with a person who likes being in the unpleasant state of negativity, I know I have a choice. There are no mandatory meetings or overtime, there is also no paycheck I am depending upon.  I am finding that since I stopped working I am truly the captain of my ship, steering aware from danger and denial by maintaining an optimistic attitude.  At the very least I am able to decrease or reverse negativity and in many cases I am able to produce calm and affirmation in my life.

It isn't necessary to go head to head with a person who wallows in negativity. They must be getting something out of it to continue on their un-merry way.  Their choice.  For me, I make more progress on a project when I am relaxed and positive.  Right now, my main project is living each day at a time.  During the holidays we all have the opportunity to show what we are really made of and share some joy with others. You never know what an act of kindness will do to soften a heart and cause that person to pass along the joy to another person.  It is possible to stop negativity and promote hope and joy.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Copy Cat

Heh Heh

I Am....

Do not stand at my grave and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on the ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift, uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die. 

-Mary Frye


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

What Is Left Behind

During the early summer the young (very young) mother would sit under the single tree in the front yard, hoping for some shade as she rocked her new baby. The lawn was uneven, so the rickety chair did not move in a smooth arc, more like sitting in a chair that had hiccups.

The baby's father would park his motorcycle on the lawn near the front door. Maybe to keep an eye on his prized possession when he was inside the small house, or maybe to have the motorcycle ready for a quick getaway.

The motorcycle would be gone all day sometimes. Then the dad would bring his friends home for an evening, followed by several days of absence.

The young mother continued to sit outside each afternoon, comforting her baby through her own tears.

The motorcycle did not return.

One day the meager possessions were packed into a friend's small truck.

The little house is empty now. The only evidence of the short time tenants is a large green trash can overflowing and boxes and trash scattered at the road.

Hopefully the baby was not named after his father.



Note: This is fiction, I watched a girl with her baby and wrote this story.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

I Admire Talent



Let me introduce you to Rowan. She is the niece of my dear friend, who has been a best friend for over twenty years.

Rowan lives in Seattle.

"Hi Cici, thanks so much for your message. I sell my work primarily at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA. I have a number of cashmere armwarmers and lambswool hats that are ready for sale right now.  I can take some photos on Sunday morning and send them to you. If you like something you see, please let me know right away. Everything I make is usually one of a kind, so I can have them pulled from the table so we can make sure to get them to you.
Yes, this is definitely my busy season! I'm usually selling my goods within days (sometimes hours) of making them.
My cashmere armwarmers sell for $33 and up. Lambswool hats are $55 and up. All of my materials are recycled luxury fibers. They are felted to give added durability and warmth. The hats are also breathable and naturally water resistant, great for wearing in all kinds of weather. Each hat has a little pocket on the side. I like to write a positive affirmation and put it in my pocket for the day. The one-of-a-kind hats are also embellished with found vintage items and neat vintage buttons."
Rowan designs and makes unique wearable art and accessories, made from recycled cashmere, lambs wool, and merino wool. She even has amazing pieces for the hair, barrettes that are one of a kind. 
You can see some photos of Rowan and her customers wearing her distinctive and remarkable products on her facebook page


The hat I purchased is a light olive green pixie cap in soft lambswool. This is a small/medium cap style hat that looks fantastic on short-haired or straight-haired women. The bill is finished with repurposed green lace, and the roses are hand-stitched green velvet. The leaves are hand-embroidered lambswool. Vintage plastic buttons adorn the sides. 




The second is a patterned lambswool lotus hat. This is a style of hat that goes over and around the head, slouches toward the back, and usually covers the ears. This lambswool features a beautiful and unique tapestry-style design in earthy colors - reddish brown and gold, with a blue center. The roses are handstitched lambswool, as are the teal leaves. Vintage mother of pearl buttons. It is a medium to large hat. This style looks great on larger heads and is on the thicker side so it would be great for winter.




"I can also make a custom hat for you. I can make a hat in this style for you, without extras like mother of pearl buttons and lace. You'll still get the lovely roses design and vintage buttons."

Visit Rowanica Designs on faceboook.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Joanna Has Great Giveaways

Joanna has started a tradition this time of year. She is having a giveaway.  Go to The Fifty Factor and get in on the chance to win.

This is the one time each year I can say to Joanna, "You've got balls!"


Monday, December 3, 2012

Trouble Seeing

Vision with cataracts

Vision after cataract surgery
The time is near for my cataract surgeries. Dec 5 is the left eye; Dec 19 the right eye. It is difficult to see  well. I have stopped doing the jigsaw puzzles for now. Stopped writing posts or reading blogs. I have trouble reading labels when I buy food. I haven't started writing out Christmas cards yet.  It has come down to the need to just take it easy for now, not reading books or magazines, just listening to music or watching documentaries on Netflix. Monday morning (today)  I go to the eye doctor office for final measurements of the lenses that will be in my eyes after the surgery. Since I have had mono vision most of my life, the left lens will be for up close and the right for distance. My dear friends are having fun fighting over who "gets" to drive me to the surgery center and then the next day to the doctor office. I am so ready to have these surgeries and to see again.  Thank goodness the numbers on the bingo sheets are large size!