I got a gift yesterday that couldn’t have come at a better time.  My son Wayne sent me a beautiful blue leather journal. It’s just perfect for me.  I love the color, the dragonfly on the front and the smell.  There’s nothing quite like the smell of good leather.  The timing is great because in two weeks I am co-hosting a spiritual reflection day on the lake.  I need a new journal for this.

It’s not that I don’t have other journals; I have tons.  It’s not that they are all filled up; they aren’t.  There is just something about having a whole book of fresh paper for a new day of reflection.  There’s no old baggage on the page to ponder and I’m entirely free to think about my life in new ways.  Here’s the book.  Thanks Wayne.

While I was trying my best to do absolutely nothing yesterday, my husband could not resist.  Our camper, which we use as a fourth bedroom for company, blocks our view of the back yard and our bird feeders.  After a couple of coffees on the patio and some critical looks at our outdoor space, we came up with a new plan.  Marvin executed it while I looked on with encouragement.  Here is the result.

Let the camping begin!

Here are Wayne and Stef, my two great children whom I love very much!  (I stole this picture from Stef.)

They both (in different ways) are so much like me that sometimes I am very happy for them and others times I am sorry for what I have genetically inflicted on them.  I am a happy mother this Sunday knowing that these two have grown up to be the fine cut ups they are today.  Love you both a bunch,  Mom

Here’s a meme I stole from Poppy.

Kissed any one of your Facebook friends? — no
Been arrested? — no
Kissed someone you didn’t like? — no
Slept in until 5 PM? — no
Fallen asleep at work/school? — no
Held a snake? — yes
Ran a red light? — yes
Been suspended from school? — no
Experienced love at first sight? — yes
Totaled your car in an accident? — yes
Been fired from a job? — no
Fired somebody? — no
Sang karaoke? — yes
Pointed a gun at someone? — no
Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t? — yes
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? — yes
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? — yes
Kissed in the rain? — yes
Had a close brush with death (your own)? — no
Seen someone die? — no
Played spin-the-bottle? — no
Sang in the shower? — yes
Smoked a cigar? — yes
Sat on a rooftop? — yes
Taken pictures of yourself nekkid? — yes
Smuggled something into another country? — no
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? — no
Broken a bone? — yes
Skipped school? — yes
Eaten a bug? — yes
Sleepwalked? — no
Walked a moonlit beach? — yes
Rode a motorcycle? — yes
Dumped someone? — yes
Forgotten your anniversary? — no
Lied to avoid a ticket? — no
Ridden on a helicopter? — no
Shaved your head? — no
Blacked out from drinking? — no
Played a prank on someone? — yes
Hit a home run? — no
Felt like killing someone? — yes
Cross-dressed? — no
Been falling-down drunk? — yes
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? — yes
Eaten snake? — no
Marched/Protested? — yes
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? — no
Puked on amusement ride? — no
Seriously & intentionally boycotted something? — yes
Been in a band? — yes
Knitted? — yes
Been on TV? — yes
Shot a gun? — no
Skinny-dipped? — no
Gave someone stitches? — no
Eaten a whole habanero pepper? — no
Ridden a surfboard? — no
Drank straight from a liquor bottle? — yes
Had surgery? — yes
Streaked? — no
Taken by ambulance to hospital? — no
Tripped on mushrooms? — no
Passed out when not drinking? — no
Peed on a bush? — no
Donated Blood? — yes
Grabbed electric fence? — no
Eaten alligator meat? — yes
Eaten cheesecake? — yes
Eaten your kids’ Halloween candy? — yes
Killed an animal when not hunting? — yes
Peed your pants in public? — no
Snuck into a movie without paying? — no
Written graffiti? — no
Still love someone you shouldn’t? — no
Think about the future? — yes
Been in handcuffs? — no
Believe in love? — yes