My Grama's Soul

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...

June is always the hottest month in  Arizona. That is why, if you are able, one must surround your home with as much  GREEN  as possible.  Here, in the desert, much of what we see during summer months is brown...brown....brown. So that is why Brad and I chose this little spot in order that we would feel as though we LIVED in a greenhouse. These photos are from both inside and outside our home.  Every room has something live growing.... When you walk into our home you are looking directly into our backyard via huge glass windows. I know....one might feel as though you were in a jungle...but it makes everything feel so very cool and refreshing. These plants are in my kitchen on an elevated bar area...I have a huge skylight...so they get that much needed light.  Moisture from the faucet does not hurt as well. By our front door....requires little light. Good old pothos in the b...

Well......we finally planted our little garden in our backyard.  It is fairly small but hopefully it will yield some beautiful results.  There will be a lot of photos today so I just am giving fair warning.  LOL LOL I put lots of things in pots as we have desert landscaping here and our soil is so very bad.  Everything is on a water emitter system so we can control the water output.   Our state, along with others is facing a water shortage crisis so if we garden....we try to do so responsibly. Various shots around the yard.  When we moved here last August the back yard was so spartan which inspired Brad and I to get busy. We have two huge shade trees..one lemon...and one orange.  They give a tremendous amount of shade so hopefully they will give our new plantings some protection from our hot, hot, hot summer sun.  We also use umbrellas strategically as needed. I have always been a gardner and am sure I wil...

The card is called "Day of Becoming" and inside is inscribed.... Above all, may you have patience with yourself. Oh....how true....how true. My wonderful longtime friend Cindy sent this lovely card to me.  It is so beautiful I wanted to share it with all of you. Love from here. Jo

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...