Ending and Starting

Old "Creation"

Today, February 28, I washed 6 panes of one window! Yes I did! I was going to do one pane a day until all 72 were clean but things got out of hand. Of  course I picked the easiest because I didn't have to move much to get at them. Remember, I only have one arm that can reach and it isn't even my dominant hand. If my original plan was really put into action they would be cleaned by mid-May. Well...my intentions are at least good!! Oh, by the way I did clean the three large dresser mirrors and a wall mirror in the bathroom as well. Yay me!

My outlet is manipulating photos and designing creations from scratch on the computer. Yes, I know...I spend way too much time on this activity but it is relaxing for me. I can express energy and emotions. Here are two recent ones.

This is from an original picture of my orchid.

I call this one "Bubbling Over."

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People of the Time

 Dsiderata Poem - Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

The Bad & The Beautiful

THIS IS NOT A BLOG

IT IS TO BE THOUGHT

OF AS PROVOKING...

Turmoil

BAD!

BEAUTIFUL!

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Noontime Whiteout

As I was enjoying my Ramen lunch at 12:20 today the windows suddenly turned white! All of them! In a few minutes the blizzard blew through here! I went from one window to the next and only saw snow and blow. Even the men fishing on the lake were invisible. (They stayed out there because I saw them just after it all passed.) The event lasted just a few minutes and left a couple of inches on the ground.

Just showing you what I saw! I really don't like winter anymore but this old shelter protects. I didn't even lose power! 

I just read that there was a very bad accident on Rt 81N fairly close to here, involving many vehicles around 1:30pm. Scary! 

UPDATE: According to PennDOT, 40 to 50 vehicles were involved in the pileup during a snow squall. The northbound lane was still closed according to the 6pm TV news!

Grades Five through Nine

My entire group of classmates from the small elementary school went to the Junior High School, along with youngsters from several other areas. It was a real awakening for some of us. You see, many of the kids from my area were Irish and Italian. Some from other areas were of various ethnicities such as German, French, Polish and Jewish and there were also many colored kids. Yes, we called them colored in those days. What a blend of races and colors then came together and we very easily learned about each other. One thing I remember today is that there weren't any Hispanic, Chinese or Asian kids in the mix. The diversity also included kids of very low income to very wealthy families. I definitely remember that it didn't matter who you were, where you came from, what you had or didn't have, what mattered was the fun and learning experience. The learning was not just about school subjects either. It was acceptance of our differences and respect for each other. BUT! This school was different! WE had fun - all of us - together. The teachers were exceptionally tuned in to our age group and what we needed. As we progressed from 5th grade to 9th grade we were definitely prepared for the real high school wake up. There we each went in different directions but the mold was formed. We were well prepared. More ethnic groups and nationalities joined us in 10th, 11th, and 12 grades. Times were different then. It was a multi-ethnic and multi-racial high school in a good way.

In this Junior High School there were opportunities for wood shop, art, dance, orchestra, band, chorus, volleyball, track, debate, and so many clubs that were open to everyone as "electives." We had gymnastics. (Open showers too!) Home economics was a favorite for boys and girls. The school had several authentic working kitchens for that class so we could work in small groups. We actually learned how to prepare meals and then set tables properly and eat what we made! The first thing we all did in sewing was to create our aprons - on the many treadle machines. That taught us to measure, cut, and sew. The health classes were divided - girls learned about puberty and our bodies with posters being flipped by the gym teacher (instructor) but we only learned about the female things. The boys had similar classes that pertained only to the male. Compared to today it really is laughable now, remembering those flip charts!

Well, I'll let you go with the above thought. I sure could write a book of experiences in that school!  It was SPECIAL and really formed me.

Lifelong Friends Joan & Gere - 1952

Older Times...

I went to a school from kindergarten through fourth grade which left me with memories of good things. Well, mostly good things. I remember my very first day as my mother walked with me because I didn't want to go at all, but she promised me pea soup for lunch after my first half day. It worked. I had a purpose. From then on I walked with other neighborhood kids. We cut through a dirt path beside the firehouse and then over tree roots and weeds just to get to the road that we had to cross to enter the school. Rain, snow, heat - it didn't matter - we walked close to a mile two and from school for all five years. 

There were a couple of incidents where I was obstinate in kindergarten when the teacher asked me to pick up a piece of chalk she had dropped and I refused, telling her that she should pick it up - she dropped it! That was my reasoning.

I did enjoy knitting blocks in first grade, as we all did, so an adult could sew them all together and send the blankets to the soldiers during the war. I didn't like sitting on the cold basement floor with head down and arms wrapped around myself during fire drills though.

One time I caused a classmate to pass out during recess. Somehow I had learned to press the point just behind his ears when we were wrestling in the dirt to make this happen and it worked! I was a real terror tomboy during 2nd grade. I loved to wrestle and show off my strength. 

Bringing a dime to go into a savings book once a week was done by all who could get a dime. Some couldn't. The teacher then collected the books and I think she filled in the slots for the ones who didn't have dimes to save.

A scoundrel boy once kicked the third grade teacher in the leg, tearing her stocking and we all were very shocked. He was sent to the principal's office and his mother was brought in to help decide his punishment. We never understood why he kicked her.

I loved fourth grade. The pull-down US map and the pull-down world maps were my favorite parts of both history and geography lessons.

Also, in fourth grade everyone was treated equal. When it was Valentine's Day, a red, pink and white paper-covered box was placed in the room a week before and much time was spent creating cards while in school and also at home.

EVERYONE was expected to make a card for EVERYONE ELSE and put it in the box. WE DID THAT! NO one was left out. I do admit that my 'prettiest' cards were addressed to my best friends and a 'special' card was addressed to a boy I liked but no one knew I liked him - not even him! HA!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if school was really appreciated by both the students and teachers today as it was then? We did learn. Oh yes. We learned about respect, caring for each other, sharing and appreciating what we had. Learning was more than books and tests and scores and homework.

All graphics from internet

Valentine

In 2008 I made a Valentine card using a swan image that I took in SC.(I cannot find the original image.)

TODAY I made another using a different swan image that I took in SC in 2009.

This is the original image below. It was taken on a lake in SC where there were several pairs of swans and in the spring there were many opportunities to get the loving shots.

This is the original heart creation I just made for the background.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

Helpers

Stepping down from my little soapbox and back to my life's challenges. I do know how fortunate I am to have helpers at this time of my life. The thing that is hard for me is to ask for help. I have always been able to stand on my own two feet with the help that was always here. Times are different. People have asked me if I'm lonely. No, I'm not lonely, I'm just a bit frustrated.  It is the small stuff that gets to me like changing a light bulb or reaching for something and forgetting that I cannot reach now - at least not with my right arm. 

Another issue came last Thursday and it is really a rough one. I have a young woman new neighbor (around mid 40's) who picks up my laundry every two weeks and is thorough and dependable. She brings it back the next day and goes home. She works from home. Due to Covid issues, we have yet to sit down and have a real conversation. Coincidentally her parents are the folks who bought my car. They have an Alpaca Farm fairly nearby but I never met them. All I know is that their daughter and her husband are really pleasant neighbors and help me with my laundry. This week she called and told me her father just died and she wouldn't be able to pick up this week, but could maybe do it on Sunday. My immediate reaction was sad shock, with no hugs, no shared tears to give her some comfort. I told her I would get someone to fill in. 

The first person I called was my friend who does my grocery shopping and takes me with her when the weather is good. Well... both she and her husband have colds so that option was out. Then I remembered that the fellow who does my yard, summer and winter, has a wife who has often commented that I should call her if I need something. Now get this! This couple are both local school teachers and have a blended family of five teenagers! I did call. He picked it up today. Their daughter is having friends over (I think he said 16 of them!) to celebrate her 16th birthday tonight. It's an overnighter! YET...his wife is going to do my laundry!!!

My daughter is another of my helpers and takes me to appointments and brings me home-cooked dishes. She has her family and physical disabilities too. I try to not ask her for much. 

I feel soooooooo guilty. Soooooooo selfish. I have no problem sharing and giving but sure do have a big-time complication when it comes to receiving. Yes, I'm thankful but it is very hard to accept such kindness. It bothers me and makes me feel like a beggar. 

I know, I know...with all that is going on in the world today this is not important, but to me it is. It has created stress and anxiety. I have to get over it and just be very thankful for my helpers. Everyone needs helpers. 

Good Ole' Days! Laundromat washed, I dried!

Follow?

Think about how often you blindly follow the crowd, whether that means observing religious customs, conforming to social norms, or succumbing to peer pressure. It’s almost as though we can’t help ourselves. We are like thoughtless lemmings heading for the ocean, exposing ourselves to physical or spiritual danger, and all because everyone else is going in that direction. Think on it!

After the 'Storm'

Feelin' the love  because Spring is just around the corner! This is not yet complete but it's a start!

James is not happy! I wasn't able to put his hat on this winter and his nose keeps running!

The Norway Spruce tree wasn't happy either.

Now.....  THIS is FUN! There are NO crooked or wavy lines in this image! REALLY!

Bubbles

 Created on ArtRage Lite — FUN!

Happy Bubbles

Groovy Bubbles

Cookies & Milk

That is a silly title isn't it? Well what I'm saying is that I baked three dozen sugar cookies this morning. 

Then when it came time for my lunch treat there was an argument in here! You see I usually drink a glass of milk with cookies. Well... Yosemite Sam who has been around here since 1976 (marked) thought I should use one of my other glasses for milk as he prefers water. The four Tom & Jerry sports set of 1991 (marked) don't want to be used at all! They play tennis, baseball, soccer and football and don't want milk! They only want sports drinks...

The battle of glasses went on when I suggested orange juice, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, and fruit punch flavored water. That didn't go over well so Sam lost and had to be filled with milk!

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Lesson learned — sometimes age looses. How these glasses have survived without breaking is a wonderful thing! 

February 2

Today is my daughter and son-in-law's 37th anniversary. I do remember it was snowing at the church on that day! She was a beautiful bride and is even more beautiful inside than anyone I know.

Today they are parents and grandparents. Their daughter is the mother of twin boys. Their son is a very hard worker and grows giant pumpkins. So much of life has been experienced by this couple through the past 37 years and we all wish them a Very Happy Anniversary!

By the way, today is Groundhog day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow so we will have six more weeks of Winter!