Simplicity

 

The older I get the less I care about stuff. I still like to see pretties but I do not feel the pull to take home another arrangement or seasonal decoration. I want to use what I have and enjoy the things I've collected over time. I think Tammy at Peanut on the Table is rubbing off on me.

― Francine Jay, Miss Minimalist: Inspiration to Downsize, Declutter, and Simplify

 

 

Do you think the wren ever dreams of a better house?"

― Mary Oliver, Blue Pastures

"Own less stuff. Enjoy more freedom. It really is that simple."

― Joshua Becker

"Owning less is better than organizing more."

― Joshua Becker, Clutterfree with Kids

 

 

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Lace part two

It's dark this morning. We had a rainstorm last night with plenty of thunder and lightening. It was good for the flowers and yards since we've had a dry spell for a while. I love laying in bed and seeing the flashes of lightening and hearing the thunder roll.

It was a quiet day yesterday. I finished To Kill A Mockingbird. It is such a picture of rural south. Since my mother was from Georgia and we visited for two weeks every year I had a little experience there. As I was reading certain memories surfaced that I had completely forgotten about. There are things that you did as a child that get engrained inside of you. Just little things...like bread with butter and sugar on it or a song..Sweetly Sings the Donkey. Or the red dirt. I really loved this book and the picture that it paints of times like my childhood. Today I will begin To Set a watchman.

I found this article about Harper Lee to be interesting

Lee, today, finds herself in a place she traditionally has not enjoyed occupying: the news. That's because of the surprise announcement that To Kill a Mockingbird will have its long-awaited sequel: Go Set a Watchman, about the adventures of a grown-up Scout as she returns to Maycomb, Alabama, to visit Atticus. That a novel more than 60 years in the making would finally be published was the result, Lee said in a statement delivered through her publisher, HarperCollins, of some crazy serendipity: The book’s long-lost manuscript was discovered by her lawyer, the statement says, "in a secure location where it had been affixed to an original typescript of To Kill a Mockingbird."*

Which is all, almost needless to say, a very big deal. (When the new novel was announced earlier today, apparently, "a series of screams" could be heard in the offices of Penguin Random House, Lee's U.K. publisher.) To Kill a Mockingbird is beloved in ways few of its fellow curricular staples are. More than half a century after its original publication, it continues to sell more than a million copies a year; it's been translated into more than 40 languages. Not only has it proven itself, repeatedly, to be on the right side of history; it also captures, in a way few books are able to, that particular feeling, smallness straining against bigness, that comes with being a kid. For many American children—myself, and possibly you, very much included—Mockingbird offered an early, easy exposure to justice and the lack of it. It eased us, through the charming person of Scout, into a truth we were alternately warned about and protected from: that life can be, without at all meaning to be, cruelly unfair.

 

 

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Queen Anne’s Lace

It's five o'clock somewhere

Here it is five o'clock on Sunday and I'm just getting around to posting. I feel no pressure these days to get a post out early. I've noticed some bloggers are even taking a break during these great summer days. Life is for living. And if you can share it on a blog so much the better. But sometimes my days are just not that exciting. I've been relaxing all day. And reading. I picked up Harper Lee's new book but before I read that I am reading To Kill a Mockingbird again first. These days are absolutely perfect. Just warm enough. I took .sadie for a short walk and she loved it. She has been begging me for days. How does she do that you may ask. She stands in front of me when I'm reading my book and mutters growls and barks while backing toward the door. She is relentless. She is very strong willed and gets bored so easily. The vet said only moderate exercise. Sadie is so much better now. I hope that you enjoyed your weekend too.

 

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My August Garden

My flowers are beginning to perk up thanks to a dose of Osmacote. It's nice to see various flowers bloom as the season progresses. Showing up now are phlox, black eyed Susan's, and straw flowers.

 

 

 

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Around the lake

How could you not feel good when you are close to water. I don’t know what it is about it but whether it is a lake, the ocean or just a stream water has the power to take away all your troubles and put you in a peaceful mood. Yesterday at Chautauqua Lake I ate my lunch sitting on this wall by the water.
I was admiring the view with the docks and boats.
Occasionally taking a few pictures with my camera.
When who came swimming by but Mrs. Duck and all her ducklings. What a great photo op.
After they left another duck must have seen a mark because she hung around getting nibbles of my crackers for quite a while.
She preened herself while I finished my lunch.

That hour made me realize that I need to see water more often. It’s therapeutic.

Little noshes

 

Yesterday when I went to Bemus Point for my art lesson I took along a little picnic lunch and ate down by the water. Sometimes you just don't want to eat restaurant food...especially if you are dieting. I found these little picnic meals in Target. They are small bites and low in calories. There is enough variety that you feel you have eaten more. Very tasty.

 

The town itself is lovely...right on the lake with small shops. I looked a lot but didn't buy anything.

I found this sign for my sisters. I thought they would get a kick out of it.

I

 

 

 

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PuT A LITTLE MONET IN YOUR LIFE

 

I had the most wonderful day. I had signed up for a painting class to be held at Bemus Point, NY which is right along the Chautauqua Lake shores. It is about an hour from my house. Don's parent had a cottage on this lake and we spent a lot of time boating, swimming and skiing there when we were younger.

This is the first in a series of four classes. Today we painted Monet's water lillies. The class was four hours and we did it right on the deck of the Italian Fisherman restaurant overlooking the lake. WE were right out in public and people enjoying lunch could also see us in full view.

There was only one other woman taking the class so I got a ot of attention. It was really fun to learn different techniques and I'm proud of the finished project. It was ecnouraging to have a paint brush in my hand again

 

 

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The West Wing

 

who remembers the popular show The West Wing which was on broadcast on tv from 1999 to 2006 . It was a political show set in the White House. it was some of the best writing I have ever watched on television. I couldn't wait each week for a new episode.

Now with Netflix I can watch it all over again...and watch I do. I've been serial watching the episodes one after another in all my free time. I still enjoy it as much as I did then and still think that if it would be on today it would be a hit. I love character development on a series and this is full of interesting stories. It has been the perfect way to while away these summer hours.

Do you have a very favorite show that you would like to see again?

 

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Photography

Photography has become so much easier now that digital cameras have arrived. Remember when you took the picture, hand delivered it to somewhere to process it, they sent it away, and maybe in a week you had it back. Then you could see the pictures…some good, some underexposed, some bad, some great. Now it is instant. And even a bad photo can be fixed by altering it in some way. 
   I am still striving to be a better photographer. Scott and Dan both had the opportunity to take a photography class in high school. They both got DSLR cameras early on and were able to improve their photography. I got mine later and my learning curve is a lot steeper. I still haven’t mastered the aperture and shutter speed buttons. But I love to take my camera out and get shots.
     But when I’m at an event or a family get together I am having so much fun that taking a photo is the last thing I am concentrating on. I sometimes forget about it altogether.
   Over the weekend we all took cameras out to the field to watch Chris fly. I loved these pictures I got of Scott.

A Day out with the boys

Chris flew his glider.

Scott, Dan and I took our cameras.



The sky was full of birds.

Home again

Thank you to Kim Nicholas for the great picture of our city hall which I enhanced like a painting and added our town motto.

We are back home again after visiting my son Chris in southern Pennsylvania. Both his sons were there for the weekend and it was just the boys and me. Friday night after Chris grilled hamburgers for us we took his glider to the park. He stretches it on a long rubber band and lets it fly. He controls it with remote steering. After many flights the boys played catch with frisbees and footballs. Saturday Chris and Dan did yard work and then we went to the movies to see the new Mission Impossible. Afterwards we ate .chinese takeout and played cards. It was so much fun being with the guys.

 

 

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Sadie update

 

What a delight it is to have Sadie almost back to her old self. The steroids have performed a miracle. The swollen knobs on her joints are now down to normal size. And she appears not to be in pain anymore. This rare form of poly arthritis hasn't been seen in the animal hospital for eight years. I'm so glad she got the right diagnosis and medicine and is now feeling so much better. Last week she couldn't even pick up her head and now she is walking normally. She still can only have moderate exercise. She will go back in three weeks to have another ultrasound. There was a small spot on her spleen probably nothing but they want to take another look. The other dog in the picture is Selma, my grandson Dan's dog.

 

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Just thought this was funny

 

 

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High corn

 

The corn is as high as an elephant's eye....

I had my camera out for a little ride and took some pictures but this one was from my iPad and using apps.

 

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