The Saturday Morning Post: Stop That

 I heard something recently that made me stop and think, 

    "It was raining when I woke up this morning, and I decided to just let it rain."

As simple as that.  We spend so much of our life trying to change things that we have no control over, or that already have happened, or never will happen. So much physical and emotional energy is expended on things we can't change.  We need to stop doing that. 

While I am at it, I am going to complain less.  Now there are times when a well thought out and politely done request, will get something corrected, but most of what I complain about already has happened, or never will happen, and I complain by shouting into the wind . . . complaining in ways and places that have no hope of making my life, or the world a better place. It is time to stop complaining, unless it is something that can truly and likely will be changed. 

The world is filled with advice on how to "improve" your life, by over complicating it, by over filling our days with activity, by an unhealthy obsession with stacking up riches, while ignoring the joys of living. I delete, turn off, toss in the trash anything or anyone who tries to tell me that the key to happiness or success in life is filling my minutes, hours and days with things that I must do to improve my life.  

Happiness in life is not keeping score to see has the most of anything at the end, it is in enjoying each day as it comes. The key to improving your life is often to just stop trying to improve and enjoying each moment for what it is. 

Often it is best to just let it rain, and get on with your day. 

Funky Friday: Random Photos from the past couple of month

No Flash, but please take photos.  

In the middle of King Street in old Town Alexandria, is this lot, there was a used car lot here when I moved out here. It is surrounded by expensive shops, restaurants and residences. I have to think the owner has been offered tons of money for this empty lot. 

I hope someone slipped a coat on her this morning. 

I love the artists in residence at the National Gallery. 

Remains on the windowsill. 

I am always fascinated by one lost shoe, like the one next to the step. Did someone arrive home wearing just one shoe, or barefoot? 

Local Crap is the freshest. 

Fly your freak flag proudly.

There is More Than One Way To Stop People From Sitting Here. 

 

Thursday Ramble: Laughing Horse Blogger of the Year 2023

Looking back there was just a short acknowledgment of being awarded the 2023 Laughing Horse Blogger of the year award by Neil over at Yorkshire Pudding, in a Wednesday Ws post.  I apologize, I should have said more.  

Though the tiara must still be in the mail, it was an honor to be recognized.  It places me in an honored list of dedicated bloggers, who have tried to make the blogosphere a better place by sharing their daily thoughts, wishes, art, and prayers with the world. 

I look forward to hearing who the awardee is for 2024, congratulations to the next winner.  The good news will be posted soon. 

I blog because I love doing it.  I have spent most of my adult life, trying to figure out how to live well, be comfortable in my own skin, how to be kind and encouraging to others. I try to create a little beauty and wonder in the world. Blogging gives me a place to share this. Writing for my blog every day, has improved my writing.  

I hope to continue blogging until I can't do it anymore. 

My World of Wonders aka The Wednesday Ws a Week Before the Fat Man Arrives

Where have I been this week? Close to home, the farmers market, the gym, the pool, the community center for an arts opening/memorial service, the grocery store and the library.

What was the weather like? Freezing at night, just above freezing and rain most days.  It is what it is, I need to embrace it.  

What have I finished this week? A couple of last minute Christmas gifts have been ordered and my wrapping has been completed. 

What am I reading? I finished "Pig Years" and I am reading a book on seaweed. There are a couple more on the stack, I will probably to return the library before Christmas. 

What is an arts opening/memorial service? The community arts group planned an exhibit by a resident photographer several months ago, and he died before it was scheduled to open. His family wanted to go ahead with the show, and hosted a memorial service celebration of his life for the opening night, with generous food and drink, and friends and family telling stories of a talented and funny man. One story made us all laugh. He was remodeling his bathroom, he called his daughter who is a lawyer saying,  "I am at Home Depot to buy a new toilet and they measured my ass and told me it was too big and they couldn't help me, they can't do that can they?" And she took the bait and conferenced in a colleague who practices discrimination law. 

What have I been up to in the kitchen this week? Meatballs, bean and bacon soup, nice steaks and baked potatoes. 

Who have I reached out to this week? Sunday I emailed three blogger friends. I hope I brightened their days.   

When is the next adventure?  The end of January to the Valley of the Sun. 

Who have I been talking with? My sweet bear of course, neighbors, and the lifeguards at the pool.  The guards are often bored, they are also terrific gossips. 

What am I working on? Drafting and editing a book chapter I promised to write. I need to learn to say no. 

Travel Tuesday: From the mists of time

A couple of weeks ago, it was a glorious foggy morning, the kind of fog that stops air traffic, and makes driving hazardous. The weather was cool, but not cold, I waited until about 9 AM and then headed out to Mt Vernon for a walk. 

George Washington had a conservatory, this is based on a later conservatory. 

What wonderful colors. 

When I was in high school a teacher was showing a photo with water droplets hanging from branches, 

I commented that it takes patience to find the right moment for those shots, and she said, "just take a hose and wet things down." I didn't manipulate the scene, this is what I saw. Somehow I lost respect for that teacher. 

Planting spring bulbs in the upper garden. 

The Camel's name is Aladdin.  His keeper replaced the doors in my condo shortly after I moved in. Aladdin does special appearances. 

These will lamb early in the spring. 

The Lower Garden (Kitchen garden.) 

A very well mannered school group. 

An Apple tree in the upper garden. 

 

 

Monday Moods: A Year Well Lived

Little Bob, so called because he is about half the size of Bob, really enjoyed his time in France last spring.  He is a long time Francophile.  

I so agree with him. Scrolling back through the photos from this past year, it was a great year filled with grand adventures and quiet moments to remember and savor.  

I travel with a tiny penguin in my pocket or bag (Travel Penguin is less than 2 inches tall.) When we go to France Little Bob always goes along. Silly for two grown men, but we can be a silly if we want to.  We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.  

Having fun along the way, is living well.  

I have had a wonderful year of painting bad pictures.  Taking thousands of photos - with digital the marginal cost is next to nothing - we take many-many more photos in digital than we ever did with film.  

I have had fun in the kitchen.  I love to cook (and it shows!) With more control over my time, I have had more time to play in the kitchen.  A little more time for prep, a longer slower cook, working with ingredients that take a little more time.  I am so glad we had the kitchen updated before I retired, it is so much more fun to play in. 

I have had a few articles published this year, things that I wanted to write about. I have had a couple of book reviews published, one of the books was really excellent. I have read a record number for me of books this year.  My local library tells me borrowing books, rather than buying them, has saved me almost $1,500 this year alone. Property taxes are high here, but the services are excellent. 

This is the time of the year when I look back over what I have done. Looking back, I have enjoyed a year well lived.  I look forward to the next year.  

The Sunday Five: Christmas Wishes 2024

1: Is your Christmas shopping finished? 

2: Are you planning anything special for Christmas Dinner? 

3: Thinking back to childhood, what gifts stand out in your memory? 

4: Will you be traveling over the holidays? 

5: What would you like santa to bring you for Christmas? 

My answers: 

1: Is your Christmas shopping finished?  Yes, I start early and finish early. 

2: Are you planning anything special for Christmas Dinner?  Roast beef, yorkshire puddings, a green veggie, and fruitcake. 

3: Thinking back to childhood, what gifts stand out in your memory? An electric remote control truck - that my oldest brother broke,  a Whitman Coin album for pennies, and a hard cover edition of Huckleberry Finn. A grew up in a house with few books, the book stands out as a fond memory. 

4: Will you be traveling over the holidays? No, it is nice to stay home. 

5: What would you like santa to bring you for Christmas? Continued good health for a few more years would be nice, or an extra million. 

Please share your answers in the comments. 

 

The Saturday Morning Post: A Saturday Wander

A couple of Saturdays ago, we took the subway into the city for a nice walk and wander in the National Portrait Gallery, and lunch at a fun restaurant. It was a great day out. We all need days like that.  If you can't remember the last time you had one, declare today a day to go do whatever you want to do, and get out of the house. Many years ago I read a book on stimulating creativity.  The book urged the reader to shake up the routine. Take a different route to and from your daily routine, stop for a few minutes to explore a store you have never been in, or spend a few minutes in a gallery or museum.  Do this often, a couple of times a week. It can be simple, take the long way around on your daily commute or when running errands.  You can discover the unknown or unseen, just a block or two off of the beaten path.   

Featuring about 100 CRT televisions, the question has been raised what to do when the electronics fail, and no one in the world makes the components any longer. 

I knew the artist, before looking at the tag. Georgia O'Keeffe