Skipping The News

What a peaceful day! I decided to skip the evening news broadcast on TV. I attempted to watch "Hardball" but decided to skip that also. I could feel my blood pressure rising and decided that a music station would be more to my liking tonight. I think that's it's important to know what's going on in the world, but sometimes, when it comes to the news, "ignorance is bliss". The power of one to change anything as we watch the news in our living rooms is limited. If you can't beat them, change the channel. I guarantee that you will have a pleasant evening if you do. Here's to happier times and more Good News!

The Search Begins

Today I found out that I will need to find a new doctor. My doctor is going to turn 70 and will retire. As I've gotten older, I've had to do this several times before. It's not an easy task nor an easy transition. Once you've established a report with someone it's almost like losing an old friend when they retire. I know that there are many good doctors out there and that I will find one I like. It's just hard to say "goodbye" to someone again.

Halloween Fun

Great Grandma and I went through a Halloween catalogue and found many surprises for our great grandchildren and great niece and nephews. We don't see them often because they live 7 hours away by car. Probably just as long by plane. The items were reminiscent of our own childhoods. We found red wax lips, wax lips with white fangs, eyeball gum balls that ooze red liquid, lizard lips, wax bottles with juice inside, toads that ooze green stuff when you bite into them and Halloween skull and cross bone pencils.( the teacher in me couldn't resist) The confections were sent in care of their grandfather, my brother. When some of the things were introduced to them, they were told that Great Grandma had sent them. The children exclaimed that Grandma Hannah is the best! She remains a child at heart. I wish we could be there to see their excitement when given these things, but their Grandma, my brother's wife, said that she'd take pictures. Since a picture speaks a thousand words, that's better than nothing. Happy Halloween!

Inspiration

Today was another beautiful Fall day. I went out for a little while. When I returned home I used the rest of the afternoon to catch up on my magazine reading. I got the December issue of a quilting magazine. There was beauty inside of the pages. Each quilt was more colorful and beautiful than the next. What inspiration inside those pages! I need more time in my day and more days in my week. So many quilts, so little time. I also looked through a fashion magazine. The inspiration which came from that magazine was to stay on my diet. I'm doing well, and would like to lose a few more pounds before the holidays begin. Clothes tend to look better when they hang on a thinner frame. We all need inspiration in our daily lives. Some things are harder to achieve or "get through" than others. When the road you're traveling seems all up hill, a gentle push now and then can help to propel you onward. That's how inspiration works for me.

What A Beautiful Fall Day

Today was perfect! The temperature is in the low 80's and there is no humidity. I have two doors opened. The air is so fresh and clean. It's been a quiet day outside and therefore has been a peaceful day. I'm listening to classical piano music and sipping a glass of white wine. Today was a day of rest. I didn't get lots of things done although I did straighten up and read the paper. I managed to send a few emails to friends and answered the telephone a few times. The light of day is beginning to dim. Before long I'll turn on the lamp next to my chair and resume my knitting. I love days like this. We need them once in awhile to give balance to a busy life style. This week will bring more good weather our way. I wish for many more days with such magnificent weather before all the leaves fall off of the trees and Jack Frost comes to nip our nose and pinch our toes with much colder weather.

Following A Knitting Pattern

I've started to knit an afghan. It's made up of 24 blocks. Each block is made up of a different pattern. My first block is a woven knit pattern. It requires attention to every stitch. I'm on row 20 at present. It was suggested to me that I write the pattern for the row down and cross out each stitch or group of stitches as I knit them. This does slow down the process but it helps to prevent mistakes and the necessity of "ripping out". I've chosen this project because of the variety of blocks which gives me the practice of following a pattern. There's no telling how long it will take to finish, but when this is done I'd like to learn how to follow a grid, to change the color of the yarn and knit a picture into a sweater. When I can accomplish that I'll feel that I can knit anything I'd like to knit.

By The Sea

It's beautiful by the sea. We visited the shore towns yesterday. The temperature was in the 80's and even though it was a late September day, many people were on the beach. We drove from Bradley Beach through Avon By The Sea, over the bridge into Belmar and on into Spring Lake. The ocean is so beautiful. I can sit and watch the waves breaking on the shore or on the rocks forever. It's so peaceful. It's also fun to ride down the side streets and look at the lovely homes which grace the streets. It must be very nice to be able to live in one of these towns. I have a couple of favorites among those I've mentioned. Until that day comes I'll enjoy riding through and stopping to take in the sights. Maybe there will be a shore house in my future. I'm still " waiting for my ship to come in".

Wish I Were There

The NY Philharmonic season started tonight. I'm enjoying the concert on the PBS network. We just heard Yo Yo Ma playing a Cello concerto by Dvorak. It was lovely. Yo Yo actually worked up a sweat while he played. Several years ago I was fortunate enough to have season tickets to the NY Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. Two friends and I traveled into the city after our day of teaching at Kennedy School. What an experience it turned out to be. Besides hearing beautiful music in person, we often saw famous people at Lincoln Center or at the restaurants and stores nearby. I wish I were there tonight. Classical music in person is strong, beautiful, exhilarating and satisfying. I would compare the greatness of hearing classical music in person to the greatness of seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. There is nothing like it and the joy it gives can not be adequately explained or described. You just have to experience it for yourself to understand.

The Mystery Gift

I've received a gift of a subscribtion to a news magazine. I have no idea who sent it to me. I'm not sure yet if the writers' bent leans left or right or a bit of both. I suppose that time will enlighten me. I've read this magazine before but since I receive a daily newspaper, I can't always keep up with a weekly subscription to a news magazine. I do find some of the news articles and feature articles interesting. There was an article on Luciano Pavarotti which I found to be interesting. I'd like to say "thank you" to whoever sent the magazine to me. I wonder why you sent it?

Hitting The Links, Miniature Style

Two friends and I went to Pitch and Putt this morning. I haven't hit a golf ball in at least 10 years. It wasn't quite the disaster I thought it would be. My putting needs work, but my swing is not too bad for being away from golf for so long. I'm encouraged. We've decided to play 9 holes on the local public course in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I'll make sure I visit the Driving Range and hit a few buckets of balls. We had fun today and it was my day's exercise. Fall is such a beautiful time of year to play golf. It's not too hot and humid. There actually was a very gentle breeze today. I hope we get the chance to play together a lot this fall. I could really get into this again.

My Scaredy Cat

The electrician came this morning and installed the ceiling fan/light fixture in the "library". It really looks great and now I don't have to worry about anyone hitting their head on the chandelier because the fan is much higher, nearer the ceiling.
To my surprise my cat, Sandy, is afraid of the fan even when it's stationary. I wish I knew what he thought it was. He slinks past it and can't leave the room fast enough. He's usually so bold. It's funny to see how frightened this makes him. Maybe he thinks that it's a big animal on the ceiling which will swoop down and carry him away. I'm curious how long it will take for him to realize it's nothing to be afraid of. What do you think? Will it take a day or two? What about when I turn the fan on. I probably won't see him for days since he'll probably hide under the bed.

Eight O'Clock Mass

I visited a neighborhood church this morning for the 8:00 mass. The morning was sunny and warm. The church was quiet while we waited for the service to begin. The feeling I got from mass at this church was a very spiritual one. I've been trying to analyze why the spiritual feeling was more intense then I had experience recently at this same church. Why was there a difference? What was different? In trying to answer those questions I've decided that the difference was with me. For the past couple of weeks I've been undergoing a "change" of some sort. I can't really identify it or explain it, but I realize it's been happening. I feel a 'peace' I haven't felt in awhile. "It's a good thing" that's occuring. I'm looking forward to "going" where it may take me.

The Paper Piecing Class

Paper piecing is definetly a challenge. After ripping out stitches twice, I caught on to the technique. I have half of a Mariner's Compass done. The class was full. Some of the ladies had experience with paper piecing before this class. There were a few who had not done paper piecing previously. I needed to take this weekend's class to prepare for next weekend's project. We will be making a paper pieced quilt which starts with the Mariner's Compass. The quilt builds on the compass and ends up being a queen sized quilt when completed. The class will meet once a month for four months so I'll have a lot of homework to do each week until the next class meeting. Anyway, I feel up to the challenge and will be happy to have another quilting technique under my belt.

Completing the Library

Today I moved the final bookcase into the "library" from the craft room. Doing so freed up a wall for shelving to be put in. I'm on the road to getting organized. The library looks inviting. I also put a game table in the middle of the room. Scrabble anyone? Backgammon? Can't wait until the craft room looks just as inviting as the library. Then there will be a place for everything, and everything in it's place.

New TV Season

The new Fall TV season can't start soon enough to suit me. TV has gotten very boring. I'm tired of reruns and reality shows. Hopefully the new season will bring several new shows which may be worth watching. I know that some daytime shows start a new season next week but I think we have to wait longer for the new evening shows. Instead of dramas and comedies, I wish there would be variety or musical type shows just so our choices would be broader. If nothing changes or improves on the tube I can always play music and read or do my crafts. Also, there's always the "talking heads".

Getting Organized

My craft room is going to get an overhaul shortly. I plan to have shelves put up on a long wall where I now have photos. This will enable me to get some things off the floor and on to shelves. The room will have an entirely different look and feel. I'm not sure when the shelves will arrive since they're backordered, but in the meantime I can find someone to hang them for me. When the room is done, I'll be able to do my crafts without moving "stuff". I can lock the cat out so he won't play with beads, or lie on fabric I'm trying to cut or sew, or put his paws in paint I'm using. The creative possibilities will be endless. I can't wait to see the "new" room.

During the 90,000 Mile Checkup

My car was given the 90,000 mile check up today at the place where I bought the car. While I waited for my vehicle I walked around the showroom to look at the new cars. Saw one I liked but I'm not ready to purchase another car so soon. I like to get at least 8 years of use from a car I've purchased. That way I feel that I've gotten my money's worth out of it. My mother had her last car for 12 years. That is my goal this time, to reach 12 years with mine. That means that I'll have the car for 5 more years. I'll give the car away at that point because I won't get much for a trade. Besides having a car that works superbly, I like a car that has style. The one I saw today comes in an ice blue which I thought was very attractive. I've never had a pastel colored car. I may go for that the next time. In any case, when I'm ready to buy a new car, I hope that my budget cooperates so that the payments will be a piece of cake.

The Best Exercise

The best exercise for me is water aerobics. The pool was closed for two weeks for repairs so we weren't able to have water aerobics. I went this evening for the first time. It was great fun, and great exercise. Actually, the lifeguard got in the pool and did the class with us. He had as much fun as we did. I look forward to getting back into the routine of going daily for water aerobics. It will help me lose the weight I'd like to lose and also give me much fun and needed exercise.

A Reason To Celebrate

On September 16th I will be cancer free for five years. My Oncologist told me that people who have reached the five year mark are less likely to have the cancer return. I hope and pray that that will be the case for me as well as others who have had that terrible disease. We are buying a bottle of Champagne to offer a toast to the future and to remaining cancer free. Please, please, please someone find a cure for that disease. It's affected too many people I know and love. Life is short as it is, lets not have anyone else's life shortened before "old age" by such a horrible illness. Please dear God give us a cure for cancer.

A New Ceiling Fan and Light

In honor of a milestone I've reached, I've decided to buy a new ceiling fan and light for my "library". Formally, that room was a dining room. There is a chandelier hanging in the middle of the room and two of my guests have hit their heads on it when getting up from an easy chair. The new light/fan will be much higher. Hopefully, that will solve the "hitting the head" problem for visitors. I will place a game table under the new light temporarily until my family gets use to the idea that something else is hanging there. That will let any 6' + people know that they will need to be careful and "watch their head" if the table is not there. Come to think of it, it may be better if the game table becomes a permanent fixture under the new light/fan. I don't know any women who are 6'+, but some of the men in my life are that tall. Heads up, gentlemen!

Wear White After Labor Day?

I was in the company of two girl friends the other day. They both were wearing white slacks. They made the comment that they thought they'd get another day's wear from the white slacks because they couldn't wear white after Labor Day. I had no idea that women still followed that old rule. White is white, there is a "winter white". Is that less white than "summer white"? The difference is in the fabric not the color. What my friends should have said is "I can't wear white cotton after Labor Day". Actually, summer isn't officially over until Fall begins. So, I'd say wear your white and your cotton until the temperature drops. That may not happen for several weeks if we're lucky.