My Grama's Soul

Arizona has finally eased into Spring.  I know much of the county is still having inclement weather, but here, at last we have a touch of perfect weather.  It does not last long as summer comes so very quickly with temps that are scorchers.  But for now, we simply enjoy what is. Speaking of enjoying "what is"..... I know this last year has been so very difficult for most of us. However, the sun always rises and the seasons always change....nothing is permanent.  Things come....things go. The Buddha embraced impermanence....Our world is in constant change.  I truly believe that the secret to real contentment is accepting that we really have so little control over our life.  We can control our thoughts and that is really about all if you get to the bottom line.   Easier said than done, I realize...but if practiced on a daily basis....it does become a little easier. Once again, I am spouting off....please just bare with me.  Thanks. Jo

Just a thought today as it popped into my head. I, myself, have suffered from the above state at various times in my life. You know the feeling....if one more person asks you to do one more thing...you will fear you will explode from all the stress.

Gardners, by nature, are a hopeful lot.  We'll take a seed, a small cutting or a small starter plant and nurture it till it grows.  Part of this is the love of seeing the metamorphosis of the seedling to the full grown plant or bloom. We garden with the hope that our efforts will produce something useful and beautiful in the end.  Sometimes things die, but that does not prevent us from our continued gardening efforts......we don't GIVE UP.   I believe that the events in our world happening right now can correlate to a gardner's efforts in their own home. Our world is FULL OF plant loving people who garden for beauty, necessity, hobby or just for the love of getting their hands in dirt...and each one of us does this with hope in our heart's that our plant will survive and thrive. We know that we need to stick with what works and neglect the rest.  So right now stick with the positive people and people who believe we will not ...

O.K. people.....here's the thing....We are all in this together, so do something wonderful for yourself.  Please bring something beautiful into your home.  You deserve it, your emotions deserve it, your family deserves it, and your space deserves it. If you lucky enough to have a yard....go out and whack on some bushes and bring some greenery inside.  I've  done this here with  trees and bushes that are flowering at the moment.  I can't go the grocery store and buy fresh flowers because of our stay at home mindset right now..but I can raid my yard.  Things in pots count too....go cut off some stems of greens and put them in a little vase inside.  You would be amazed at what this little bit of effort does to your immediate space. One can only image how long this "sheltering in place" will be in effect but don't let this bump in our society let you lose your long term goal of living and having a ...

2020..can you believe it?  With each passing year I am more amazed that I am still here.   Both my parent's died very young and if genetics prove correct sometimes one can have the same fate.  Anyway....I digress. At the beginning of each new year I always find myself wondering what this particular year has in store.  With advanced age you can almost always depend on little surprises here and there.  Your life can be bumping along and then suddenly everything changes in the blink of an eye.  Your health changes, your finances change, family troubles, death of loved ones...the list goes on and on. Instead of making any resolutions for this upcoming year....I have promised myself that I will embrace any and all change with thoughtful consideration.  No panic attacks, no jumping into immediate action, no needless worrying about things I cannot control. I know that is a tall order because being human we...

I have posted before about the realities of living on a budget as one gets older.  When you leave the working force your income will invariably diminish somewhat.   You can do one of two things, you can complain about it or you can embrace the circumstances and get creative about how to deal with the circumstances.  For the most part, I have always been one who tries to make the best of my situation....this especially applies to my immediate surroundings. I have always been pretty good at making something out of nothing and I continue to do so today.  In fact this ability actually has nothing to do with getting older or being younger.  For some reason I am able to realize that IT IS WHAT IT IS and be somewhat content with that realization.  This probably comes from having a fairly complicated childhood and having very little in the way of expectations. Anyway.....enough of my rambling....the above pic is of my fireplace. ...

It seems as though there is nothing positive that is being shared in the news of the world as of late.  This can cause one to pause and reflect on our situation. Music lover that I am, I often seek solace in song.  Yesterday I came across one of my favorite CD's....THE PRAYER CYCLE.   It really does not matter who or what one prays to...I think it just matters that we PRAY.  When you pray...you believe there is hope....and all of us need hope. This particular piece is about GRACE...I want to share it with you. Father won't you carry me For the ocean is wide Father won't you carry me For my boat is so small Father on this moonless night Help me cross the stormy sea Out here in the darkness Help me find my way back home Father won't you carry me For the ocean is wide Father won't you carry me For my boat is so small When all appears lost   and hope is on the wain......just Pray.. Me thinking ou...

I  have never lived alone....although I have a few lady friends that do.   This morning my wonderful soul mate had an early meeting.  That meant I was here alone with my pups for a good part of the early morning. I tried to imagine my life without Brad....it was unsettling to say the least.   As we grow older together it is inevitable that one of us will end up being alone.  I'm not trying to be morbid here but just addressing reality. You build a life with someone and suddenly you are the one who remains. I don't really know what a person can do to prepare for this.....but it will happen in each of our lives if we have a partner.  How do you adapt to doing everything ALONE that you once did with someone else.  It really is almost overwhelming to think about it. So.....for the time being....I just treasure each day that I have with my partner and I know he does the same with me. You know.....when you are y...

Years ago, while visiting my beautiful aunt Ruth...we were talking about my blog.  She asked me why I began blogging and I replied something to the effect that I really didn't know.  She piped in with this reply..."I know why....you need to let the world know YOU WERE HERE".   After thinking about this a while....I believe that is the correct assumption. Perhaps....that is the only thing a blog is..an invitation for others to see that you existed and really lived. If one does not have an extended family..... who is there to tell your story?  With that in mind I have decided to create a collage of my life.   Pictures and cards of where I have lived and where I have traveled. Sweet cards from friends who really mattered....and beautiful cards I have picked up along the way. Oh...I know....when I die this will probably end up on the junk pile or in some second hand shop somewhere...but for now I will work on this little...

Last night I watched the movie GRAVITY on Net flicks.  I did not see it last year when it came out and I can see why it won as many awards as it did. It was truly a visual wonder filled with suspense the entire time.  In fact.....I had a hard time sleeping after watching  it.   I know this post is entirely out of sync with this joyous Holiday Season...but perhaps if we delve a little deeper it is not.  For me, the end of another year ALWAYS brings a time of introspection. In fact, I believe this movie has an important message during this time of gift giving and shopping....baking and partying.  Whether you believe in God or your own version of the Creator.... our Universe is beyond imagining.  We each believe we are so very important with our small every day problems and tasks...but the reality is we are such a minute part of this incredible whole...and so very often we don't keep this in the forefront of our thoughts.  We are...

Have not been here for quite sometime.  We have so much going on that blogging seems to have fallen to the bottom of the pile.  Just a quick update: We have sold our current home. We have purchased another home that is considerably smaller. Currently we are going through things and selling or giving away what we know will not be necessary in our new wonderful little spot. Although Brad and I are certainly not what I consider "old" I really wanted to do this while we were both still healthy and able to manage this huge task. Which brings me to the purpose of this post.......   As I spend my days packing and sorting  I am able to reflect on many things in life....and one of them is the concept of "hard work".   I have always believed that ALL WORK is dignified...whether one is the Janitor or the boss...each has its place and is necessary in order for the Universe to stay as it should be.  I will admit that "physical" lab...

Hugs from me to you.. Jo

Do you know anyone who is absolutely UNABLE TO LIVE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE?  Unfortunately, I do. It is one of the saddest things I have ever seen.  I have often wondered why some people are able to see beauty everywhere and make something out of nothing and others can't see past the end of their nose.  This certainly is not a criticism it is just an observation. I don't think it is matter of your childhood environment or a case of having money or not.  I know plenty of people who had less than stellar childhoods and  who barely have two pennies to rub together and they still THRIVE on beauty.   I know I had a extremely difficult childhood and I was never TAUGHT to make MY LIFE BEAUTIFUL.  Somehow along the way I picked it up...and I have lived in some pretty dismal places during my lifetime.  Yet...I have always made them beautiful in their own way with whatever I had on hand. Using something in a new way to sp...

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions~~ but in having few wants." Epictetus Right now as I'm going through our home and purging things ...... it has occurred to me that we spend most of our younger years acquiring things and a good part of our older years trying to rid ourselves of all the "stuff" we have managed to accumulate. I don't know if it is keeping up appearances or just the human desire to have "more".  I had a very dear friend once say to me that "it is good for the soul NOT TO GET EVERYTHING one wants".  At this stage I would more than agree with her...because as you collect and collect...there will come a day when you will have to give away and give away. In fact, when you really think about it..  "LIFE" IS A LOT LIKE THIS.  In your younger years you are vibrant and healthy and as you get older...more and more of your body betrays you....you cannot hold onto your looks ...