My Grama's Soul

O.K......shuffle on over here on your pretty little feet and hear about my most recent blogging dilemma.  I have only the most rudimentary technological knowledge.  I often refer to myself as a Ticonderoga #2 in a word perfect world.  For those of you who are too young to know what a Ticonderoga #2 is.....it is a simple pencil. Anyway, the other day I attempted to log into my blog and alas, I could not get into it in my usual manner.  Brad, my husband, was out golfing so I could not ask the computer wiz for help.  Anyway, after feeling totally helpless....I started clicking on things and somehow ended up at Google having to sign in with a password.  Of course, couldn't remember my password so I entered a very old one from years ago.  Alas....that event made even more of a mess of things.  I created a whole new blog....WHICH OF CORSE I DID NOT WANT.. Frustration set in as I had to leave for an appointment an...

Hi dear friends.  This is a photo of me on my 70th birthday.  It was taken at a dinner in celebration of same.  I'll soon be 71 and of course should have spoken out about this little issue earlier.   Why is it that in today's society that once you are past 60 or 65 you suddenly become invisible.  Your opinion seem to no longer matter, your visibility all but goes into a closet and any  thing of new  interest always seems to be about the young.  I know.....we have had our "time in the sun" so to speak...but we still have ideas and comments to contribute to the world. I follow a number of different media sources and rarely are the older folks even mentioned.  We are still here and we still are interested in design, beauty, art, culture, reading, making a living, cooking, people, travel.....just to name a few things...and the list could go on and on.  Oh.....didn't even MENTION politics!!! Often times...even...

SHOW UP PAY ATTENTION TELL THE TRUTH DON'T GET TOO ATTACHED TO THE OUTCOME There it is in all its simplicity. So easy yet so very hard at times. xo Jo

Simplicity at its best. XO JO

What if someone told you this would be your last day on earth.....you have exactly as the sign above indicates. How would you handle yours? be blessed, Jo

"I wanted a perfect ending.  Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme and some stories don't have a clear  beginning, middle and end.  Life is about not knowing, having to change.  Taking the moment and making the best of it..without knowing what is going to happen next." "Delicious Ambiguity" Gilda Radner I don't know about you....but as I have advanced in age, I am certainly more introspective than when I was younger. Not so much looking at regrets but looking at all the miraculous things that have happened during this time I have been here.   I have almost always thought that "CONTROL IS AN ILLUSION"....in fact....I firmly believe that the only one you can control is YOURSELF and your actions.  Oh I believe in planning for an outcome...but one must always be ready for an alternative ending....just in case. Now, mind you, that doesn't always mean I don't fume and fret over someone or something...b...

Big changes are coming in our life this next year.......things are far from firmed up.....but I will keep anyone who is interested informed. Blog changes are going to happen also. Have a wonderful day, Jo

Have you ever considered the fact whether you were an extrovert or introvert?  I have....and I am so pleased that some kind soul finally wrote a book comparing the two styles. I have always considered myself....shy.....or in other words an introvert.  Oh....don't get me wrong....I can carry on lengthy conversations if required....but I much prefer listening to talking.  By doing so, I can interject comments occasionally if appropriate...or keep quite if I so desire. Often, if we are attending a social gathering I will size up our companions and decide which one, I believe, will carry the evening so to speak.  Or, I will ask my wonderful soul mate if he is in a "chatty" mood....his comment usually is we are going to see "so and so" so he doesn't need to be.  LOL LOL I always believed there was something wrong with me because I was not more of a "chatty Kathy"....but now....I realize there probably are a lot more folks out there...

A lot of us have inspiration boards....those things we want to acquire or achieve....or we use them for motivation in various projects. The above board has a lovely house in France....a beautiful woman...a ticket to the theatre...you get the picture. Thus the reason for this post.  I believe many of us, myself included, confuse wants with needs.   I would LOVE to have a house in France....but do I NEED one...I think not.   I would LOVE to be BEAUTIFUL all the time....but is it really necessary.....no. Theatre tickets....I love the theatre...but do I have to attend EVERY show that comes to town....NOT. So this year as my resolution.....I am resolved to purchased ONLY THINGS I NEED.  Items necessary for my survival...physically, spiritually and emotionally....That means an end to impulse spending and really thinking about what I am purchasing. This is my New Year's Resolution..... I'll let you know how I do. hugs from me to you, Jo

Years ago I came across the above term in a book entitled THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.....perhaps many of you have read it. It was a completely new term to me as I had never ever considered much of anything besides just getting through my day.  Days spent mostly caring for family members with one issue or another....rarely focusing on what I WANTED out of life. As I am now a woman of advanced years.... I realize how very important the thought of  beginning with the end in mind is.  In fact if there was one thing I would share with any of you younger bloggers out there it would be this term. So often, as women, we focus on every one else....totally forgetting ourself in the process...trying to fix or help this one or that one..and never really focusing on the most important one....OURSELVES.  Not nurturing our creativity or taking care of ourselves emotionally, spiritually or physically...and then we wake up one day and think.....WHER...

Artist:  Sharon Lynn Williams No......not that kind of hangin' out......LOL We are really not doing much of anything right now....packing up is finished, have visited with friends and most of them have headed for their respective homes for the winter.  Skyler is now in his third lesson in class. This was the sign Miss Ellie has waiting for us the first day.... We are making some progress....but he is FAR from being the teacher's pet...I might add. (O:  He does keep us busy...but..... I'm actually not very good at just hanging out....you would think by now, at my age, that I would be more comfortable with that concept.  I'm the kind of lady who always has a project, or has to be doing "something".....to waste time is very uncomfortable for me.  Guess that is a lesson I'm going to have to learn.  As I get older, I'm quite sure I'll be doing more Hangin' Out...so I best learn how, huh??  LOL Wanted to cl...

"Patience is waiting. Not Passively waiting~~that is laziness.  But to keep going when the going is hard and slow~~that is patience." I have not always been the most patient of souls.  In fact, when I was younger I'll admit I had very little patience....and that has come back to haunt me in more ways than one. But.......as life has a way of slowing even the most impatient of us down.....I find lately that I have acquired more patience than I ever dreamed possible. Anything worth having....is worth waiting for is an old saying I have heard and repeated often. I believe that in the U.S......the "land of immediate gratification" patience is often placed on the back burner because of having to "keep up with the Jones's and the ease of charging everything" thereby never having to wait for anything. I'm not sure this has served us well....I certainly believe that I have benefited greatly by being able to wait until the time is ...

"It's All About Me" Here is a photo of a recent painting I purchased from a wonderful artist.  Of course I loved the composition and am over the moon thrilled with the colors. Anyway.....thought this was an appropriate photo to share with this post. Here goes....... I believe a lot of women are raised to put their needs last.  I know I was. I have spent a good portion of my life ignoring my needs while putting everyone else's ahead of mine. With age....comes wisdom....if one is lucky. You learn to listen to your body and pay attention to your needs.   Putting yourself first does not mean you are selfish...but always taking care of yourself last could mean you are selfless. I'm constantly trying to strike a balance  between caring for myself and caring for others.  Often....this is not an easy task....but one I know I must master if I am to live my own AUTHENTIC LIFE. I don't want to end my life knowing I have hitched my w...

It is often said......life is a "classroom"...."when the student is ready...the teacher appears"..I certainly agree with these two concepts.  However, I sometimes wonder exactly what lesson I am here to learn.   I think I know what the lesson is.....I think I have learned it.....then......only to have it reappear again in some other form. I am going to be away from my blog for a while ......... attempting to sort out just WHAT MY LESSON IS. Don't know how long that will be...but I need the time to focus.... Thank you to all of you who have been kind enough to follow me on this journey.  It is time for me to take a LITTLE DETOUR. Jo

I used to be......but as I have gotten older and life has dealt me a few blows......I don't fret over things nearly as much. There was a time in my life when I was constantly worrying about this or that.....what will be the outcome of this certain thing....how can I fix this problem......will he/she be o.k......you get the picture.  I was such a worrier, in fact, that a very dear friend of mine gave me the above gift.  WORRY BEADS......VERY  BIG WORRY BEADS!   I was on a trip traveling through Greece with her and some other friends.  If you have ever seen photos of Greece or the people of  Greece, they are often seen fingering these beads through their fingers...pretty much all the time.  So....this friend, who knew of my propensity for worry, decided to buy me the biggest set of WORRY BEADS she could find.   These beads are around an inch or so long and made out of some kind of recycled glass....they are actually quite heavy. She found t...