Before winter comes and locks the land
Imprisons with ice tipped hand
I must gather, set aside and store
Supplies needed to take me through.
Boxes of clouds from a summer day,
Sunrise and sunset at the shore.
A shell to hold against my ear
To hear the sea, feel the sand warm
From day long shining sun.
Baskets of smells, earth fresh from
A warm spring shower.
Damask roses heady scent
To envelope me in winters dark.
Spring carnations, hyacinths,
New mown grass.
Bushels of sounds, a robin's song,
Beating of wings across the sky.
Buzz of bees hovering, sipping
Nectar from the lily's cup.
Trunks of things you do not see
When winter closes in.
A spiders web of lacy lightness,
Silvered sparkled in morning dew.
Fireflies sending messages after dark,
Moonflowers blooming on the vine.
All the smells and sounds and sights
Stored in my mind for cold winter nights.
Anna Alexander

Retirement

I worked forty-five years for someone else
So that I could retire.
I dreamed of sleeping late
And sitting by the fire.

I dreamed of long vacations,
Enjoying stage and song.
But, let me set you straight on that concept,
It is simply wrong.

I did junk my safety glasses
And the work boots that cramped my toes.
But, the rest of it had a mind of it's own
And this is how it goes.

My wife had been thinking of retirement
And had plans of her own.
She had spent much time with the kids
But, now they are grown and gone.

We sold our cattle and horses
So we wouldn't have that chore.
I poured concrete over my alarm clock
But, I still wake up at four.

I get my eyes checked on Monday.
She gets hers checked the next day.
I go for a colon check on Wednesday
And pass my wife going the other way.

I have a dental appointment on Thursday
She goes for a test on her heart.
Friday, we go get prescriptions filled
And browse a while at Wal-Mart.

Saturdays, we just stay home
And try to get the paper work right.
We can't take any overnight trips
'Cause we can't see to drive at night.

Restroom confusion keeps us out of church on Sunday
And we really do hate that.
There's nothing wrong with the restrooms,
We just can't remember where they're at.

We don't need to plan next week,
Just make sure we can drive.
And not forget where the hospitals and clinics are.
We'll need them to survive.

So, don't build your castles too high, my friend,
While strolling through the clover.
This is a typical week in retirement
And on Monday we start all over!

Great graphics, Bubble, such an imagination & artistic skill. I would love to see what you would have done with a paintbrush & canvas. The prose is "right on" with how it is. Good thoughts. Thank you for all that and the new place to visit.

Tom decided he wanted out at 2:00 am and I was hungry so now he is back inside and my tummy is full, both going back to bed. Callie & Tiger didn't even come beg for a bite to eat.

Temps are 35° with feels like of 23°, warmest it's been for a couple days. Today & tomorrow should melt off the snow, never had enough to slide down the hill on my Sno Nut.

Wishing all a wonderful week-end.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  Except for Shirley making a visit in the middle of the night, I seem to be first in today.  Right now it's 9º out there and I sure don't want to stay out very long!  Mickie and I are waiting for the boinger and then breakfast.

BUBBLE, thanks for the nice new place to be.  I love the pics and the poetry.  I can sure relate to the "retirement" one.  The only difference between working and retirement for me is that now when I make an appointment, I don't have to say "Could you make that on Tuesday or Thursday?"  I can go just anytime!

Today, I have to pick Frankie up after work and try to get her license app done.  Please say a pray that it all works out because I think both of us are getting ready to throw up our hands.

I hope you all have a lovely day!
Make it your own in every way!

And be sure to share it with all of us!

Good morning everyone..

Much warmer this morning -2 ° F nice and sunny too!!
Need to take garbage  to the dump and then home to cook the turkey up for the dogs.

The soak in the hot tub last night took away some of the aches from the waltz with the snow blower and an easy day today should do the rest.

Bubble ,great morning start! I can relate to the retirement poem and I am going to print that off. I traded my carpenters apron for a kitchen apron.

Jane ,hope all works out for you and Frankie today.

Shirley, I just went to feed the crow that was hollering........he hasn't done that since fall. I think they to go where it is warmer and now he is back. Should have picked up a bag of cracked corn for them. LOTS of snow here if you want to use your sno  nut or just make snow angles.

Enjoy your day everyone..

Shirley I used to be good with the paintbrush, but not anymore It is years I haven't done a canvas. Of late, just painted some pebbles, nothing to brag about!

Good Morning everyone. well I slept through a couple of good movies yesterday went to bed very late about midnight, slept according to my breathing machine's measure 7.5 hours pretty accurate,just up at nine thirty.going to go take my blood sugar test and fiend something to eat.and start the day. the weather guesser says sunny and 35º. but it is overcast now I haven't gone to look at the thermometer yet. Have a good day everyone, see you all later.

Lloyd

well this computer is pulling tricks this morning Like someone talked about a day or two ago. I wrote a post about a sparrow chasing a chicken hawk off its place on a limb and dive bombing it as they flew. and hit post and out it went poof away. oh well, that is nerve for sure.

Lloyd

We had out trip to the dump......and it was amazing!! We watched a bald eagle take flight then settle back down on a branch . I keep saying I am going to take my camera and I keep forgetting    Beautiful bird I could watch him all day!

Lloyd, that sparrow wasn't afraid of that hawk!!  I like watching crows dive bomb ravens here.ravens don't get too flustered about it.  Getting 7.5 hours sleep was good..now you are all set for the day.

Bubble, one of the most fun things I did with paintbrush & oil was to get the outside curved slabs of trees that were thrown out at the mill, sold or given for firewood. I would dig a hole through the bark & paint a raccoon peeking out of the hole. I put a sawtooth hanger on the back & would sell as many as I brought to the art shows. One of the artists asked me if I didn't feel like I was "prostituting my talent" and I just grinned & told her "they paid for all my art supplies, including cameras, and since I know the difference between FINE art and commercial, I was at least painting and not selling paint in a store to earn the money". She was jealous because people would gather around my stall & by the 2 day end, my work was all sold & hers went begging, and I had fun. I've seen painted rocks & think they are darling, but I don't have the wild imagination to do them! I never saved one of the raccoons for myself & didn't even take a photo of them, or I'd show you. Love to see a photo of your rocks, if you have one. Since this will probably be my last trip to Colorado I will look for the smooth rocks found in the mountain streams & see if I can create one for a souvenir. Thanks for the idea!

Amy, we used to have a whole crowd of crows that would hang around the Canada geese when they came for corn, but have not had geese or crows winter here for quite a few years. We have some geese that stay here all year that will still come to eat along the bank, I see them at the lakes near new developments, homeowners hate the mess they make. The crows actually are smart and have a sense of humor, one kept us laughing one day as it would hop on a goose until the goose would fly off, then it would work on another, just irritate them until they got out of it's way & then it would search the ground for the corn my husband took out for the young geese. We put twine across the back of our lot & the geese would just lay down by the twine & wait for him to come out with corn. I also would get a rack of day old bread from the store (enough to fill the big van for $7) that I fed them every day. The parents would bring the babies across the river when I went down the hill giving a whistle. Got photos of Mom & Dad herding the whole flock of babies in the swift water. When they got feathers to fly the parents would take them off so I really didn't get a chance to pet/play with them long. But they remembered from year to year. I quit feeding them when the cats showed up & caught the babies, at one time quite a few feral cats. We had 4 cats fixed & let Animal Control trap some to exterminate, guess most of the original ferals are dead now. As far as I know feral cats don't have any natural enemies except starvation and I hate having them catch the baby ducks & geese and birds.

I am thinking over the pet food Amy & Jane cook for the pups, my sister did that for their dog & the one our sister-in-law had. I know she cooked chicken & rice, but do you girls put in veggies as well? When we had a German Shepherd I fed her veggies & foods like the kids ate, she also go big bones from the butcher. They don't offer bones anymore, can't even buy them to make soup. I bought a package of ground turkey & after tasting it decided to freeze for the cats. Only problem is these cats are so spoiled they wouldn't eat like raw hamburger so took it down to the river for whatever eats down there. Figure it saves life of a bird when that critter has a full tummy without hunting. But I am curious what all you put in your dog food. I am so surprised how pleased these cats are with the tuna in oil instead of water. I guess they do require oil since they are not scratching as much as before. Not fleas so think dry skin.

Better get a move on. Jane, my daughter retired a year ago & not only has her health improved dramatically, but she keeps so busy she doesn't know how she found time to work.

   Back atcha, Callie! Had sun a little while ago, cats went out & sun went behind clouds so all 3 back inside. I fell off the wagon & made a fresh pot of coffee this morning, had a mug & half and really want one more cup. With my extra sleep this morning I still didn't get 6 hours in so have jobs to do before another nap. Plan is to sneak down to the store to see if they half price the Russell Stover pecan delights/turtles like they did after Christmas. I am on my last box & do love them. One a day doesn't hurt, right?

I'm sure someone will have popped in while I've been thinking & typing, hate to see how long this has become. I can only view about an inch screen of text on this laptop, when typing in this little post box. I've talked enough for a week so will shut up & see who/whom? got in before me.

Good morning, Lloyd! Interesting to watch the birds try to protect their nests or territory, isn't it? Looks like you are getting good sleep. Any night I get 6 hours I feel lucky, I've gotten into a bad habit of getting up any time I wake up & heading to the kitchen to eat, then a nap during the day to make up to 6 hours, all my body needs to keep running.

Amy, put your camera in you pocket & egg in your boot (don't mix up), beat it back to the dump & show us that eagle!  I've only seen one high in the sky overhead this winter, and never quick enough with the camera.

Someone was asking about a salmon recipe from Larry Hanna's index and the links were not working.
Thanks to Michael, all has been righted and is available.  Thank you Michael!

Good morning everyone. All bright sunny one and a whole 15.

JANE  I beat you yesterday because I was up at 3:am. Made up for it this morning and got up at 10.

AMY  think I will have to send your cute graphic to my daughter today. Might cheer her up a bit. This was the coest night we had this winter but when I see what it is up there in the NORTH I will not complain, just stay inside.

My oldest son and DIL are leaving for Florida  today and on to a cruise, My second son called  and is on his way here. He is here now. I am really slow typing these days.

I'm back. I think my son misses me and that is whey he comes every Saturday. When I lived in the apartment in his house he came upstairs every day when he got home from work.

LLOYD  what were you doing when you fell? Something you should not have been doing? Glad you lost weight, keep that up and even your diabetes should get better.

SHIRLEY  I agree with you, this is really the first time that the cold has bothered me and makes me feel I am really old now. So far at least I have not fallen but had some close calls.

PHYLLIS  we have sunshine today and yesterday was sunny all day but the  temperature keept falling all day. This has really been a weird winter so far. January broke records for being warmer. Had a lot of rain ahd these bones of mine are rebelling with the dampness.

SHIRLEY  if you get  that salmon recipe I would appreciate you sharing it with me. Sounds OK with differnt spices you used. I know I should eat more fish but  don' t really know how  to cook it e‪xcept fried. Wish my son and DIL had cancelled their  trip by plane and ship this year.

MARY ANN  nice seeing you here today.

BUBBLE  thanks for the link, will check it out.

CALLIE  that show you saw sounds different.

BUBBLE great graphics, love the painting of the rainbow. Retirement is too true for some of us. I cannot go far and only if someone takes me. Then mostly to doctor or dentist.

SHIRLEY  stay off  that Sno Nut unless someone is there with you. Don't want you to have an accident going down that hill and no one knows where you are.

LLOYD  I have read before of a sparrow chasing a hawk, brave little birds.

I started this about 10:30 this morning, interruptions and more coffee and my son's visit, finaly my breakfast. Time to get  a move on.

Have a good day.

Shirley, one needs to go early before a lot of vehicles get there to take good photos but I will do it next time. Will try not to mix up camera and egg:) These dogs have different tastes at times. Jesse will eat raw or cooked carrot but Babe wants hers cooked. Both eat brussel sprouts ,broccoli,cauliflower and beans raw or cooked. I also give them cooked rice in their food . How I come to find out dogs eat beans was when I found Sassy on her belly in the bean patch!! I couldn't figure out why so little beans until then. Now I plant about 4 packages so the dogs will get a feed. PS we now have a fence around the garden and I do the picking. I did have a horse that loved the wild raspberries, she could clean the bushes off quicker than I could.

Bubble and Michael, thank you for fixing the problem with the recipes.

Gloria,Bubble put the graphics on today and yes they are cute. The day is turning out not too bad here..for a while the wind was whipping around the snow but not so much now.

Im interested in the salmon recipe...where is it? Thx

CC, I don't know which recipe Shirley was after but here are some that Larry posted for us. Hope this helps you and maybe when Shirley comes in she will direct you to it.

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=593.0

I'm still searching for the salmon recipe I used (and added the herbs to)... but have not found so far & been reading everything I can get my eyes on. Thanks for the links to Larry's recipe folder, I went through everything. All I remember for sure was that I washed the whole salmon off (I paid a little extra for skinless/boneless & had NO waste at all). Then I rubbed extra virgin olive oil all over it (good massage), salt & pepper & went through my rack of mixed spices & sprinkled on everything that mentioned good for fish. It was SO good... baked in the oven a short time but not sure the temp, I tested to be sure flaky & the thicker part I made sure was frozen & not too done because I had decided to reheat I would put a pat of butter in a little egg skillet with lid & heat, toast, whatever term... & it was really good, did not taste like leftover. One package I didn't thaw first so put in the microwave for maybe 30 seconds... then the butter toast... but it tasted kind of fishy. The whole salmon cost $20 at Sam's Club (skinless/boneless), I ate a lot that first meal & made up 5 packages of a full meal size each to freeze. When I had other foods with it I only ate about half of the package, so when you compare what we (I) spend on fast food meal, this salmon is a bargain. I'm just not positive of oven temp & since I didn't have any lemon, did have a citrus grill (Tone's), Rosemary garlic (Tone's) and Webber roasted garlic & herbs. I got the bottles out & have at least 8 or 10 other types, I'm a sucker for the demonstrators in Sam's Club! We use a lot of these spices when cooking out/camping. My favorite is Chicago Steak for any beef (Webber). I'm guessing I must have seen the recipe when I had a subscription to some cooking magazine & it also included online to my e=mail. I gave all the magazines away & finally put the online recipes into SPAM, so can't look it up that way. I will give it a try since I already bought the salmon, want to serve it when my youngest son comes by on Wednesday. It had a "use by" date so will fix it fresh then. I'll try to remember to take a photo when it is still in the pan next week! Thanks for all the help, everyone!

Amy, do you put the cooked veggies in with the rice & meat? I suppose it will take the cats a while to get used to eating veggies. I used to bring grass in for old LaurenKat when we didn't let her out, but they can find grass (except winter) since these go out. I'm sure the rice, turkey & veggies would be better for them now that they are so old. The babies are 11 & no clue how old their mother is, except we were told by the neighbor that fed her she had been around their house for 2 years before she gave us the babies.

Time to hit the hay, looks like there will be a dance come morning. Hope it stops snowing!!

Shirley, yes I add it all in  forgot about the sweet potato they like that also.....not spoiled dogs just well loved.

Have a good night everyone..

SHIRLEY, that's pretty much what my dogs all ate except that I cheated.  I buy a premix from Chewy call Dr. Harvey's Premix.  It's dry and you reconstituted it with boiling water, wait 8 minutes and add your own choice of meat and a little natural oil.  I also add a flea and tick powder that I get from a place called Earth Animal.com.  I've been using that for my last three dogs and the only tick I've ever found on and of them was 2 dead ones on two different dogs.  And there have been NO FLEAS!  I highly recommend it!

Frankie didn't get her license stuff done because she needs to go to both AAA and the DNV.  The DMV is only open on Friday and Saturday and AAA is closed on Saturday.  We can't seem to win this one.  We're aiming for next Friday.  She's planning to come spend Thursday night here so we can get an early start because she has to work at 1 p.m.

I'm going to try to get to bed a bit early tonight so I will wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

Shirley,  I have a package of salmon steaks (filets) in my freezer.  Package says to thaw them for 21 hours in the fridge or under running water for about 3 minutes.  Heat oven to 450 degrees and bake 6 to 8 minutes, turning over once.  Doesn't say anything about seasoning but I  sprinkled with a little salt and lemon pepper.  Don't know why you couldn't season yours with the mixture you used.

Nothing of interest going on around here.

Sleep well, Everyfriend and have pleasant dreams.

Good morning everyone. Already had 1 mug of coffee. Had to fill my weekly pill container, forgot to do it yesterday.

AMY  THE LAST DOG MY OLDEST SON HAD WOULD RO INTO THE ORCHARD AND PICK THE CRAB APPLES AND EAT them. Sorry for the caps. If she saw anyone eating an apple she would sit there watching them waiting for some of it. That was the Australian shepherd and the one I called my dog. I called her my shadow becase when I was there she followed me wherever I went. Hope you don't get much new snow.

JANE  when living in San Diego my daughter tried every thing for fleas for he dogs and nothing seemed to work for long. Since living in Arizona she has never seen a flea or tick on her dog. Maybe because it is so dry.

CALLIE  don't know if I have good dreams or nightmares because I have never remembered any. When I get to sleep I can sleep through a thunderstorm and even the phone ringing.

Yesterday with the sun shing brigh it ner got above the mid 20's and now it is 24. Maybe warmer today with sun and I can go out for fresh air?

Have a good day.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  We're up early because today is church at 8 a.m.  I'm just reporting in because I still have to get a shower and get dressed for church. 

I wish you all a lovely, healthy day!
Make it your own in every way!

And be sure to come by and share it with all of us!

It's interesting, Gloria, that you sleep so well.  I hope to go home Thursday and sleep  in my own bed.  While here, I don't know whether I sleep or not.  I don't have the feeling of waking up. 

I haven't looked to see what the temperature is but I can feel a chill in my room.  I'm not dressed yet but I do have on a sweater and I have a blanket over my upper legs.  If the sun shines, I won't mind.

Mary Ann

Good morning everyone..

More snow last night ,so the waltz is on. A day of rest here.after the snow blowing. Need to pick apart the turkey too..

Mary Ann, home will feel so nice....hope Tom is feeling much better also.

Gloria, animals are funny. My friend came up to pick the gooseberries and said that Buttercup (cow) ran across the field to her and stuck her nose in the basket. She left as soon as she found out no grain ,just berries!

Jane, enjoy your day

Phyliss and Joy hope you both have a good day.

Lloyd, did you get a good nights sleep?

Callie and Shirley, you both have made mehungry for salmon. I used to do salmon fillets with a bit of mayo and then dill on that...bake like Callie's and it was good.

Better get my dancing clothes on boot too.

Enjoy your day everyone..

Good Sunday Morning Everyone !
It is cold and cloudy here
this AM but the temperatures,
they are arising ..  *Hooray*

I am up early this morning,
made my bed, washed left over
dishes and begun doing some
hand laundry.   

All because of "city sounds"
earlier this AM.  I usually
sleep through most, but
decided to get up and get some
things done early this AM. 

Always a good start to my
day. 

Hoping everyone has a good
Sunday as a beginning to a
new week!

Sandy

good Morning everyone. 25º and mostly clear this AM calling for high of 48º today.and bright sun later today. this afternoon we are going th oldest daughters. Nancy baked a angle food cake and put a glaze icing on it. may not be good for my diabetes but sure dose taste good,she makes them often. have a great day as Jane say's all your own.

Lloyd

I am longing for some warmer weather even though I know that when summer arrives I'll be crabbing about the heat.  Sometimes I am all too human. 

All is well here for the non.  In regards to the salmon....I am not a fish eater (my body doesn't tolerate it very well) but will eat it occasionally because it is supposedly good for us.  Like Callie, I use Lemon Pepper and that seems to be enough for us.  Lately I have been buying "Ancient Grain Encrusted Alaskan Cod" from Schwan's and David likes that very much.  Also, easy on the cook.

Lloyd, that Angel Food cake sounds so good.  I haven't had one for ages.

I hope Joy is doing well and that Mary Ann can come home this week.

Take care, All.