My Patio Oasis

I am disappointed in not taking a summer vacation this year. Though all things considered, I am grateful for good health and outdoor space in my patio where I can read and relax with a cold drink. After all, vacation is a state of mind. My patio is little slice of heaven at home.

Life Lessons, Learned In My Life

1. Ice cream fixes just about everything.

2. You are responsible for your own life and your health.

3. Candles go a long way in making your house/apartment feel like a home.

4. You'll learn to be grateful for your faith.

5. There's a lot of things that happen in life you don't have control over, but you can control your attitude. If you need to vent, go ahead, and get it out of your system.

6. Your coworkers becomes family.

7. People you love will move away, but being reunited brings a new kind of joy.

8. Sunday brunch will become your favorite meal.

9. It's better to be disappointed in a romantic interest than being disappointed in yourself.

10. The best feeling in the world is the summer breeze on your skin.

11. The best thing money can buy is experiences. Go travel and see the places you dream about.

12. Don't let anybody stop you from pursuing your career goals.

13. Drop the comparison game and learn to be OK with where you are in your own life.

14. Weekends are for recharging and relaxation, but don't miss out on fun activities.

15. Grieving and healing is a process. No one can tell you what that looks like for you.

16. Creative activities boosts your well being. Write, dance, sing, color, paint, take pictures, knit... don't stop creating.

17. The choices you make in life determines your destiny as well as your destiny is also written out for you.

18. Reading is as important as living. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

19. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. You will learn a lot about human resiliency.

20. Surround yourself with people that make you feel big.

21. You are never too old to learn something new.

22. Do things you want to experience, but choose wisely.

23. Nobody is proficient doing something for the first time, you have keep practicing to get better. Be patient when learning something new.

24. When looking back, you'll remember kindness from strangers.

25. Forget about seeking revenge on people who have wronged you. It's better to forget about these people and move on with your life.

26. The world is a hard place, so treat yourself with kindness. Treat yourself to spa treatments, buy yourself flowers, get your hair done. Practice relaxation techniques, deep breathing, meditation, exercise and yoga. These activities can boost energy and reduce stress.

27. Wear what makes you feel confident.

28. Practice mindfulness. Focusing on the present moment without becoming overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around you. 

29. Clean out closets and clutter. Give away things you don't use anymore. Donate to charity or give away for free.

30. Life has many chapters and there is so much left to learn. Enjoy the journey.

My Favorite Things

In no particular order:

Autumn
Coffee
Books
Bargains
Candy Crush
Cute Clothes
Shabby Chic/Vintage
Lavender
Festivals
Reality TV
Museums
Zumba
Dogs
Good Movies
Chocolate
Health & Wellness
Candles
Pizza
Selling
Back & Scalp Massage
Meaningful Conversation
Walks & Hiking
Travel & Vacations
Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Peas
Counted Cross Stitch
Beaches
Daisies
Netflix & Hulu
White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream
Sleep Stories
Libraries
Shopping
Manicures & Pedicures
Fuzzy Cozy Sweaters
Cooking & Baking
Nostalgia 
Alternative/Jazz/Oldies/Coffee House Music
Spa Vacations
Concerts
Historical Books/TV
Naps
Adult Coloring Books
Cupcakes
Poetry
Family Get-Togethers
Parks
When Calls The Heart (Hallmark TV show)
Lasagna
My Online Business
Adventure
Peace

The winter I hibernated

Reflecting on my unfortunate accident, which occurred almost a year ago, when I slipped and fell on ice, and fractured a bone in my right arm. At the time when this happened, I thought that this is the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Not being able to drive, I was a shut-in from January to July. Other than doctor's appointments, physical therapy, and the occasional outing to get my hair done or to just get out of the house, I was at home the entire time. My family members couldn't always take me to appointments, so thank God for Uber. The worst part was sleeping sitting up because lying down was too painful. Having to lose the use of my right arm, you truly do not know how much you use both arms until you can't. Simple things became a major deal. I'm happy to say my arm has completely healed, however, I'm still having problems with my right hand and cannot bend my fingers to make a fist. My orthopedic doctor says that the stiffness in my hand may go away in time (or it may not).

I guess the important thing to remember is that I survived and that this was a period of self care. I had no choice but to listen to my body's demands to rest to restore healing.

Yes, I truly did hibernate last winter.

“You are being tested. And you know what they say my darling, being tested only makes you stronger.” –Downton Abbey

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” –Bob Marley

The winter of MY discontent

The winter of 2018. The winter of our my discontent.

My Poetry

A Perfect Summer Day

City street stillness in the 1960’s
Two hippies pushing a baby carriage down the street
A castle building in my vision
Playground sandbox and swings
Sun shining through the leaves
A soft summer breeze
Reliving a childhood memory
Ingrained in my brain
Attacking all my senses  
When time stood still
On that perfect summer day 

– A poem by me

The Library

Ever since I was a child, I have loved going to the library. The library was a place to go in times of unemployment. Or it was a refuge from a noisy world. Or it was a place to study in peace and quiet. Of course, the best reason is you can borrow books, DVDs, and audio books for free and all you need is a library card. Many libraries are now offering free classes, such as cooking, technology, and crafting. My local library offers free wifi and computer access.

I personally go to the library to get away from it all. I get a coffee and find a cozy chair and read whatever current book I'm reading. Sometimes I bring my adult coloring book and color away while I'm listening to music on my earphones.

I have fond memories of my first library as a child. It was called the Edgerton Library, and it was located inside a wing of a very old building. The library was small and quaint. The building which housed the library was, at one time, a girl's dormitory for juvenile delinquents. The library was in walking distance from my school, so my classmates and I would walk to the library after school.

I recently found some old photos of the Edgerton Library and I thought they were really cool. Unfortunately, the building which housed the library was knocked down, probably sometime in the 1980's. Enjoy the photos.

The library is located up those stairs. The stone pillar is still there. This space where the building was is now a children's park.

Librarians in 1968.

I remember the pillars, the front desk and the wooden bench to the right.

The room with the fireplace is the children's section.

The library file cabinet (Dewey decimal system card holder).

This is back of the library looking out toward the front.

I remember the library had a lot of windows.

I remember sitting at that corner table.

The main desk area and checkout area.

The room with the desk is the children's section.

The entrance into the library.

Children's section.

Main desk area. The door way in the back is the room where they held children's story time.

This is the back of the library. Front desk is up ahead.