Simple Woman's Daybook Entry

Today

Looking out my window

It is sunny , cold and windy today.

I am thinking 

That I got up too early because of leg cramps.

Need to go back to bed a bit.

One of my favorite things:

watching Hercule Poirot

I am creating

I am painting more headers for the blog.

I am wearing

Have not gotten dressed yet 

because I am achy today.

I can't stand too many clothes at night 

and absolutely hate flannel pajamas,or nightgowns.

 I wear little shorts and a tee or tank top all year round.

I am reading / watching

YouTube documentaries on various subjects
Here is a recipe I was watching:

I am learning

That Feng Shui really works.

In my kitchen

Made waffles this morning.  

Hamburger salad for dinner tonight

In the school room

The Famous Anonymous Kid (18 now)

has  been accepted  at Rutgers, Columbia and a few others.

I went to Rutgers and Ohio U, so I am biased in preference.  😏

In my garden

4 large pine trees are falling down

and need serious attention.

Pond needs a new pump.

Shared Quote

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Painted Newsboys

I am joining in Friday Foto Friends.
I have just 2 photo this week plus a post with some art I have been working on .

Night at the cove. Click to see full size

Salt marsh in winter

 Newsboys were an interesting part of American history.

They stood on street corners in almost every city in America hawking newspapers with their loud "Extra, extra. Read all about it."

Feb 3, 1908

They worked in all weather, all seasons and earned little money but did it to help out their families. Most kids gave their pay to their mother.


I drew some cartoon pictures of newsboys a while back and yesterday I spent the day drawing a news girl to join their little group too. I started in the morning, stopped to welcome the Little home from school and the next thing I knew it was dark outside.
I thought you might like to meet the trio.

Perhaps in my little fantasy world, they work for the fictious Bayside Evening Express (which never has fake news and is always just 2 Cents a copy).   It's nice to have a story to go along with paintings.
The three kids are children of immigrants who came to America in the late 1880's.
Shiobhan (sh-vawn, which means God is gracious and is an Irish name) is the new kid on the block.
The youngest child of the Keenan family who came to America from County Cork, Ireland, Shiobhan joins my other two newsboys, Daniele D'Allesio, whose parents  came from Tuscany,Italy and young Mike Bradshaw,whose parents came over from Birmingham, England.
I re-painted the boys which were originally posted on my other blog and Here as well.

Introducing Shiobhan Mary Keenan

Daniele Andrea D'Alessio

Michael Martin Bradshaw

The three kids have basically the same face shape but that is because they are caricatures.
There are small differences in coloring etc. but, I wanted to make them very alike to stress that we are family after all is said and done.

Don't forget to look at the post below this one. I ranted and raved and would hate to think it was for no purpose. So take a look at my ravings, okay? I promise I really am not mean.

December 26th

Eloise.. 

 I would live at the Plaza if I could.

I am no stranger to roughing it.  I've camped and slept on the ground in the New Jersey
forests and in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah in places accessible only by hiking or horseback.

I can rough it with the best of them. 

 However, I'd prefer a suite at the Plaza Hotel.

Women, Know Your Limits!

Harry Enfield made the most entertaining comedic films and BBC Worldwide has uploaded some of them on YouTube.   I would love to share them with  you.
These funny films make powerful statements about how some men view women and mocks that point of view quite well!

The first one is entitled "Women, Know Your Limits" and is a wonderful send up about educated women.


The second title is "Women, For Pity Sake, Don't Drive" a spoof on women drivers from the male perspective.




It's a cold day here and was 32F this morning when I saw the Little off to her bus.
She was bundled up warmly after a breakfast of a thin bagel toasted in the pan and filled with fried egg and cheddar cheese. 
Autumn is in full swing and I hope it doesn't warm up again. I don't like the back and forth warm/cold weather we sometimes have. I think it's unhealthy, don't you?

We will be 7 ot 8 for Thanksgiving Day...not sure yet but the menu is set.  We start out with Butternut Squash soup and canapes.
 Then comes Turkey, candied yams, mashed potatoes, corn pudding, cranberry sauce, green beans  and my  sausage stuffing.
 For dessert I will make pumpkin pie, sour cream apple pie, and chocolate mousse pie. Unsure if I will also make a pecan pie  or a Shoo Fly Pie as well. I don't know what my stamina will be and my oven is broken. I will be using my convection oven for cooking and let someone else roast the turkey.
Tomorrow I will post the recipes for Sour Cream Apple Pie and My Sausage stuffing.

Rainy Tuesday Evening

 
Voting day here in New Jersey with two choices:  very bad & extremely bad.
Americans have ceased to make informed decisions and vote their hearts and emotions which are bad decision makers frankly.
It is a rainy, floody, very chilly day here on the Jersey shore.
I have a Yankee Candle in the scent "Blue Jeans"  burning and filling the house with a pleasant scent.
I have  a hot cup of Dunkin Donuts decaf in my mug and a tuna salad to eat for my supper.

 There photos were taken in late afternoon and yes I got a bit wet but, it's worth it!

Rain on the big pond,.      See the fish?

Looking down the porch steps... wet leaves

Don't forget to see my previous Daybook post and visit again soon!

Thankful November....

Welcome new month of Great Thanksgiving.


October did not stay long this year it seemed. For me, it was because of preparation for surgery and all the things that are done before: blood tests, xrays, cat scan maps of the heart. This took up time and made it seem to fly.
I slept through most of Oct 30 and woke up to pain and morphine. That night and the next morning saw more chest pain, far more than I expected and an overwhelming weak sleepiness. It hurt to take a breath and I felt miserable. All I wanted was sleep. I spent most of the afternoon and evening in recovery until late Monday night . They let my daughter in for 5 minutes only since no one is allowed in recovery but it would be hours before I was going to go to a room.
 It was a painful night but I was kept on pain drugs to help and they did help a lot.
On Tuesday I was allowed to go home though I didn't want to. I felt too bad. I slept up until the moment I was to leave.

one wing of this huge place

I went home and to bed. The Famous Anonymous handed out candy to the little ghosts and goblins that came all through the evening.
Today I am still sleepy, still weak but in much less pain. I am badly bruised up  I am swollen on arms and hands from IV's and catheters. My throat is sore from intubation. My groin is bruised on both sides where they went into veins and up to my heart.from the lines that went up to my heart through the veins. They burned the area around the section of my heart that caused it to beat rapidly. Scar tissue will not allow electrical impulses to pass through and so they hope this will end the A-fib.
The two surgeons who worked on me told my daughter it went very well.  Some people need this done as many as 3 times.
Oh, please, no. It was not a nice experience and I hate surgery. Let this do it!


Now we await Thanksgiving Day and in my family a round of birthdays that go from November to Jan.
Today is All Saints Day.

 Christian celebration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven (the "Church triumphant"), and the living (the "Church militant"). In Catholic theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It is a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries. In Methodist theology, All Saints Day revolves around "giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints", including those who are "famous or obscure".  As such, individuals throughout the Church Universal are honoured, such as Paul the Apostle, Augustine of Hippo and John Wesley, in addition to individuals who have personally led one to faith in Jesus, such as one's grandmother or friend.  (wikipedia)

And this weeks Torah reading is Vayeira..The story of Abraham coming before God to argue for Sdom.  (Yes it is Sdom not Sodom.)
I thank everyone who prayed for me  and want you to know how grateful I am for your blessed prayers.
Torah portion is Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 and Haftorah is  II Kings 4:1 - 4:37.
Sarah will have a child, Avraham will ask for Sdom's life and Elisha will ask  God to bring the widows child back to life.

A Monday Afternoon

Just a photo of the ocean.

Photo:Beach near me.

I had a CTA scan of my heart today at Jersey Shore University Medical Center so the

CTA scan of heart

surgeons can see where to repair when I have the procedure done on the 30th.
It is NJ's premier trauma hospital and it's very large. I had quite a hike to get to my destination.
Its so large they have carts to drive you from wing to wing.
The heart surgeon 's office messed up my appointment and didn't send my blood work to radiology so  there was a problem but it was finally straightened out and I was in and out in under an hour.
I was happy I was able to have it done without changing out of my clothing. I hate that.
I was happier still when we stopped for a take out coffee and roll. I had to fast for the test.

They injected a contrast dye through a catheter in my arm and I feel  kind of yukky now. You aren't supposed to feel bad but,  since it is a foreign substances inside your veins you do feel something. Some people feel things more acutely I think as well. I seem to be one of them.
I've had it injected before for contrast in MRI's. You can taste it, feel the heat from it and it makes you think you have to 'go' but you don't.  After you have it you must drink tons of water to flush it from you.
Results go to the doctor on Wednesday. He will use it as a road map for the procedure.
Sonogram a few weeks ago showed my arteries are clear which is very good 💗

 The drive home was lovely as all the trees are turning red and gold now.

A Sunday in October....

An Adventurous Sunday

Sunday brings us closer to hurricane Jose and I can feel it in my lower back and legs already. It's awfully painful today. 
It looks like more adventure is due as I just got a tropical storm watch on my phone telling me there is elevated chances of flooding and high winds tonight. "Elevated threat to life and property" ,


 I am joining with Toni for her Creative Adventures.

The Dead End Street
1.   While walking in my neighborhood I notice a dead end street that I haven't seen before. My curiosity getting the best of me I decide to walk down to the end. While almost at the end I notice that the street is longer than I thought. As I approach the end it turns slightly and opens out again into a cul de sac.  In front of me is an imposing Victorian house complete with witches hat.
It appears that no one has been there for a long time.
It takes a lot of work to push through the overgrowth. Weeds switch at my legs as I pass by. I am sure they are covered with welts when I finally get through.
Being too curious can be painful at times.
The house looks far too delapidated to even attempt to explore. The porch roof is collapsing! But I am ever so eager to see what the inside of that front turret looks like. Could I see the inside of the 'witch's hat' from inside the second floor of the turret? Well, too dangerous and I will let it alone for today.
I wonder what the backyard looks like so I continue around the house following a red brick path. There was a path like this around my childhood home. I love them and am always attracted to them.
To my amazement, the back is well kept with a manicured lawn and paths lined with trees and bushes that, in summer, would be beautiful. But it is the end of October and the branches stretch out over the paths leaving shadows on the walk that look like bony fingers pointing me forward.  'You have to wonder who takes care of this garden. It would require a lot of work. And why do they tend it when the house is in such a bad state? Who are they and where are they?  Is someone here?  It feels spooky and a shiver goes down my spine.

2.   In the garden there is a maze. Thinking it would be fun I decide to walk a ways into it and see what might be inside." I needn't go far" I think to myself. "But I would hate to miss the opportunity to see a real maze!"I reason.
It seems easy enough and I am sure I can find my way back. After all, there is an imposing weeping willow at the entrance. It is huge, very tall and though now barren of leaves, its myriad branches reach to the ground and even trail a bit. It is distinctive. I will know it again when I see it.
It occurs to me that I have been walking for a while now. I keep thinking I will find something. I don't know what I think I might find, but ..something. Wishful thinking?
The bushes that line the maze are English boxwood, evergreen. Here and there I see old nests of spring visitors deep inside the hedging. Occasionally there are old metal signs with lovely quotes about nature and gardens on them. 
A rabbit runs quickly across my path and I nearly let out a scream. It was so sudden! I saw it out of the corner of my eye. It was a rabbit, wasn't it?  I am not sure. The light is dim now. Branches cast ominous shadows around me and nothing looks distinct anymore.
In one twisting path there is a water nymph resting on the edge of a concrete pond. Rain water fills it partially and autumn leaves are strewn around in pretty confusion.
I would love to see it's graceful fountain sparkling in the sun one day.
As I pass it by I hear splashing in the pond but when I turn there is nothing. 
My mind is working overtime now. I guess....
The hedges make me think of the old hedgerow schools where the Irish would hide to teach children when the English forbid them to get an education!  They sat down hidden in the hedgerows at great peril of life and limb just to learn to read and write! 
My imagination goes into overdrive and I hear whispering voices behind the hedges.
My breath is coming quickly now and I feel uneasy to say the least.
It is growing dark and quickly now. That happens at the end of October when days are very short.  The sunlight is thinner now and the air is cooling rapidly.
I shiver but I don't turn around. I can't tell you why either.It's almost as though I don't want to see what is behind me.
Where is that willow? It was tall enough that I was sure I'd see it even deep in the maze, but I see nothing but the maze ahead. More and more hedge.


3. Now a little worried that I might be lost in the maze I turn the next row and see a gazebo on a tower.  I can get my bearings from there. It is certainly high enough. From the gazebo top, I can see other bridges in the maze that will afford a good view. But, though I can see the entrance from this vantage point, it will take some luck to get there. It makes sense to follow along to all the bridges in order to have a constant view of where I am going and that is what I will do.
But darkness is closing in. I do not want to spend the night in that gazebo. I rummage through my backpack to find my tiny flash light. I don't want to use the light on my Android phone and lose power.
The tiny torch is powerful and blazes through the night so that I can go from bridge to bridge without too much trouble.
There! The house is just ahead!   It's good to see the house again but, there is someone moving upstairs past a window in the "witches hat " turret. They are carrying a lantern and the light goes from window to window as they move along.
I pause for a second to catch my breath and I see a face in the window looking down straining to see if anyone is there. They are holding the lantern in front of them so it obscures their features a lot.
I try to make myself as small as possible."Oh, please don't let me be seen," I whisper to myself.
 What is that in the window?  I am not sure I want to know. 
I am so very tired from walking around that maze. My legs have had it.
But seeing that lantern begin to move downward toward the front door on it's journey revives my energy. I begin to jog to the front. I want to beat whatever it is. 
 Even the constant switching of my legs by the tangled branches can't deter me. It is as though an unseen hand is driving me to greater speed each time a branch strikes my legs.  "Hurry up ,hurry up," is all I can think.
I want out of there, and I want out now!
My legs are stinging from those briars and tangled branches but I am on the street and heading away from that adventure.
I can't seem to walk fast enough.


4.   Relieved and walking back home I think to myself  the maze is a group effort and not a great idea when you are alone.  I wonder how or what was in that window.Someone was there. Someone not afraid of the damaged condition of the house. 
No one in their right mind would not think twice about entering that house in its terrible condition!
No one in their right mind. The phrase haunts me now.
I take my phone out of the backpack to check the time.
Midnight!  I can't believe I was wandering around the maze looking for a way out for so very long. It took me hours! No wonder I am tired.
I was so stupid to enter it just as the sun was going down! Ridiculous decision. More ridiculous when I consider that the comparison of the house's condition with the meticulous maze should have been a warning to me that someone might be around.
The light from the phone illuminates my face as I look again at the time.
And it is then that I notice the date. I increase my speed to a dead run home...
It is October 31st, Halloween.

Father's Day: Love in a Candy Box

Never found my Prince...   never even got a glimpse of him.
None of the men I met, dated or married were princes in any sense of the word, sadly.
But my father was a king.
Below I am posting a piece I wrote about my father many years ago but, it still is relevant.






My father was a romantic.
He loved my mother dearly and he loved her mother, who lived with us most of my life, very much also. He showed such a great deal of respect for her and for his own parents and as my maternal Grandmother said.."He is better to me than 20 sons".

My father was head chemist and vice president of a chemical company who for many reasons later opened a soda fountain/ice cream shop that eventually became a small stationary store in a tiny town, selling stationary to big business  and cards and school supplies from the main store.
He took a beating money wise later on from malls and the big stationary chain stores.
But he was honest to a fault and ever the romantic who learned constantly.  You never saw him without a scholarly work in his hands.

 He would bring home boxes of candy to my mother and grandmother sometimes after work as a treat, one I would share in.

Once, I remember him walking home without his brand new coat because he had given it to the town homeless guy.
"Its only a block walk. It's not that cold out"
He wore his old one from then on. It was just as good he said.  A candy box was  tucked under his arm for Mother.  He sat down to dinner as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

In my grandmothers bedroom , inside the closet on a shelf , were old candy boxes filled with her crochet work (she made fillet crochet that was amazing), news clippings of her friends deaths, births of grandchildren, marriages, etc., cards from holidays, mementos and tiny souvenirs of times past. One was used to house her "good gloves" and "my good scraves".

I once asked her why she saved all those boxes.
"Oh, " she said, "its a shame to waste things".
"Yes", I said, "but you could fit this all in one or two hat boxes".
She looked at me with those deep gray eyes , now half blind and said , "But there is so much love in these boxes".

Daybook.. a journal of life by the sea

Simple Woman's Daybook

Looking out of my window:

Rugosa or beach rose is still partially in bloom. A few days ago it was covered with blossoms.

Rugosa with wisteria tendril photo bombing...

I am thinking:

About friends and family

One of my favorite things:

feet in sand and salt water, gulls talking overhead

I am wearing 

A T shirt that says "Run Like It's Midnight"
from the Little's Elementary school production of Cinderella.

I am creating

A clean organized laundry room.
Shelves need painting.
I need to organize the shelves better but since I can't lift anything I will need to corral a volunteer! ;)
The walls need to be painted as well.
I think the basket should be white.

a tiny back room in need of paint , new flooring and neater shelves.One wall lacks sheet rock!

I am watching

Saw PLL with girls last night.
The series if almost over and we still have no idea who AD is!!!

I am reading:

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand.
Takes place on Tuckernuck Island off Massachusetts and is about a family that comes together with happy endings!
It is my third time reading it.
I really need to get to Barnes and Noble and buy books!

on the night stand

I am listening

To birds and children playing. Boats on the bay.

In the garden:

Wisteria has overgrown the big pond. The waterfall is choked by Peppermint and the Scotch Broom needs serious pruning.
The fish have unpotted a reed that can be seen floating around in the photo.

I am learning

About some authors and their writing.

In the kitchen:

Made homemade taco seasoning for last night's dinner.
Shared a recipe for Strawberry Champagne Cake on Rock & Roll Cafe.. my other blog.

Shared quote

A moment from my day

about to sit down and play for a while

Post Script:

Stop listening to yourself.
Stop and hear God for a change.
His words are in his book.
Read it.. believe it.. do it.