Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Wishcasting Wednesday
Today's prompt is "What do you wish to give?" I wish to give OKness. By this I mean the belief, deep in myself and yourself, that we are OK just as we are. That none of us are perfect nor do we need to be. We are enough as we are.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Found my quote
"The older you get, the more you realize that kindness is synonymous with happiness." Lionel Barrymore
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A beautiful day
I. and I spent a beautiful afternoon out in Petersham at the North Common Meadow Trustees of Reservations' land. Perfect weather, so nice in fact that I took a little nap lying in the grass next to I.
Mr. Jack has recovered from surgery. It's a long story but we first thought it was another disk issue, this time in his neck. However, thanks to our vet, who I haven't been thrilled with in the recent past, we discovered that it was an abscess in a salivary gland. The vet removed it and now, about 2 1/2 weeks post surgery, Jack is his perky self. How blessed we are that it wasn't a disk and that the lump wasn't cancerous. Very blessed.
Mr. Jack has recovered from surgery. It's a long story but we first thought it was another disk issue, this time in his neck. However, thanks to our vet, who I haven't been thrilled with in the recent past, we discovered that it was an abscess in a salivary gland. The vet removed it and now, about 2 1/2 weeks post surgery, Jack is his perky self. How blessed we are that it wasn't a disk and that the lump wasn't cancerous. Very blessed.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
My new favorite poem
Write it on your heart...
Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day,
and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt, crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a
new day;
begin it well and serenely,
with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays...
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Blessings
I. and I had a wonderful dinner at Gibbett Hill tonight. It was a beautiful summer's evening, warm, a little humid and a bit of a breeze. I had the free range chicken and I., the prime rib. Both very good. Didn't do much else today besides nap and get my hair cut and colored.
I am blessed to have come across some wonderfully written blogs that give my soul a bit of peace. Love the quotes I find on them, too.
From here: "In the tempestuous ocean of time and toil, there are islands of stillness where we may enter a harbor and reclaim our dignity." ~ Abraham Joseph Heschel
and
I am blessed to have come across some wonderfully written blogs that give my soul a bit of peace. Love the quotes I find on them, too.
From here: "In the tempestuous ocean of time and toil, there are islands of stillness where we may enter a harbor and reclaim our dignity." ~ Abraham Joseph Heschel
and
Prayer of Metropolitan Philaret
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Stupid Facebook
Facebook is giving me fits. In hopes of preventing my last name from being found out, I deactivated my old profile and created a new one. Still the old URL shows up in Google searches. It's such a user-unfriendly program. I'm beginning to HATE it.
It's a good week though with lots of "me" time culminating in my going to the Chanel counter on Wednesday night to check out their new colors! I love make-up. Loved it for a long time but have recently rediscovered the love and excitement it gives me.
We took Poochie and Bear to the ophthalmologist on Saturday and it looks like the little red bump Poochie has on his left lower eyelid is a tumor. Dr. Willis said that 95% of these tumors are benign which is excellent news. I worry about the anesthesia and that he has to wear an Elizabethan collar for the two-week recovery period. That will not a happy Poochie make!
This morning it was Pogo's turn to go to Tufts. He has had bloody stool for the last couple of days and then this morning he had a bit of blood coming from his rectum. His blood work was all normal and the test that they did at Tufts was negative so the vet is thinking it's probably colitis. We have to take another stool sample to our regular vet to check for worms, etc. because we didn't have a large enough sample this morning. I'm thinking it's just the colitis though.
Sun finally came out this afternoon and it turned into a beautiful day. Hoping for more tomorrow - noticed a huge difference in my energy level!
It's a good week though with lots of "me" time culminating in my going to the Chanel counter on Wednesday night to check out their new colors! I love make-up. Loved it for a long time but have recently rediscovered the love and excitement it gives me.
We took Poochie and Bear to the ophthalmologist on Saturday and it looks like the little red bump Poochie has on his left lower eyelid is a tumor. Dr. Willis said that 95% of these tumors are benign which is excellent news. I worry about the anesthesia and that he has to wear an Elizabethan collar for the two-week recovery period. That will not a happy Poochie make!
This morning it was Pogo's turn to go to Tufts. He has had bloody stool for the last couple of days and then this morning he had a bit of blood coming from his rectum. His blood work was all normal and the test that they did at Tufts was negative so the vet is thinking it's probably colitis. We have to take another stool sample to our regular vet to check for worms, etc. because we didn't have a large enough sample this morning. I'm thinking it's just the colitis though.
Sun finally came out this afternoon and it turned into a beautiful day. Hoping for more tomorrow - noticed a huge difference in my energy level!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Little Poochie
I haven't posted many pictures of Poochie. Interestingly, when I was taking these photos he started growling at me. I don't know if he didn't like me getting that close (although I wasn't that close really) or what. I was crouched down a little bit which I know he doesn't like. Who knows. He and Bear go to the ophthalmologist next Saturday for their regular check-up.
Had lunch with my sister and I. today at Nancy Chang's in Worcester. It's about the best Chinese food around. My sis flew in from CA overnight but was amazingly awake and we had a lot of fun. She always brings cool gifts. This time it was lychee tea from Seattle and a soy candle from New Orleans. Plus pineapple bones for the pups.
Our Global VP of HR comes tomorrow to visit the plant I work at. I'm a little nervous about it. Not about meeting him but about keeping him engaged all day. Wish me luck.
Had lunch with my sister and I. today at Nancy Chang's in Worcester. It's about the best Chinese food around. My sis flew in from CA overnight but was amazingly awake and we had a lot of fun. She always brings cool gifts. This time it was lychee tea from Seattle and a soy candle from New Orleans. Plus pineapple bones for the pups.
Our Global VP of HR comes tomorrow to visit the plant I work at. I'm a little nervous about it. Not about meeting him but about keeping him engaged all day. Wish me luck.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Portland for PRNE
On May 2nd, I. and I took Pogo up to Planet Dog in Portland for an information session for PRNE. We had a lot of fun although it was a pretty quiet day at the store. Pogo was much braver than when we took him on vacation to Ohio. Had a delicious dinner at 555. I can't rave enough about that restaurant. We had a quick lunch at the cafe at Whole Foods right next to Planet Dog. Another great place to eat with delicious burgers and strawberry shakes. I saved Pogo a bit of my burger and when we went back out to the car, I. tried to give it to him. Well, he had been placed in the back seat while we were in Whole Foods and refused to eat until he was in the front seat. What a personality he has.
If you'd like to look at the pictures of our trip, you can see them here:
If you'd like to look at the pictures of our trip, you can see them here:
 |
| PRNE Portland visit |
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mr. Jack and his good friend Sammy
They love to chase after each other. Sammy is a little slower than Jack but they have a great time anyway. Please excuse the poor camera work, it was hard to hold my mobile phone steady while being pulled by a 23 pound Jack!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Kitty watching
So I'm sitting at my desk, typing this, watching a cat seek shelter from the rain under the tarp a neighbor has over his woodpile. I think it might be the same cat that I watched walk through the snow. Anyway, as he walked from the shelter of the neighbor's car to the tarp I saw that he was limping badly. It looks like he has something wrong with one of his front feet. I get so angry at people who let their animals roam loose. I don't know if this is a feral cat or if he's just out for the day. It's maddening. Would anyone let their two year old child roam the streets all day? If they did, what would people say? What would people do?
He's resting now. I hate being stuck like this. If I try to go out to him he might very well run away. If I leave him there I don't know what will happen to him. Grrr.
I. groomed Miss Minnie last weekend and did a fabulous job. She is such a beautiful girl. Just beautiful. This is the pile of fur that was left.
Almost enough to make another Minnie. And here she is, her beautiful self.
He's resting now. I hate being stuck like this. If I try to go out to him he might very well run away. If I leave him there I don't know what will happen to him. Grrr.
I. groomed Miss Minnie last weekend and did a fabulous job. She is such a beautiful girl. Just beautiful. This is the pile of fur that was left.
Almost enough to make another Minnie. And here she is, her beautiful self.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The eyes have it
We took Poochie and Bear to the ophthalmologist today. Both look good although Buddy, a.k.a Bear, has two sores on the corner of each eye. I feel a little guilty about that since I HATE it when he has eye goo around his eyes and probably can be overly aggressive about picking it off. I ordered eye cleansing solution to help get rid of the goo and we have medication from the vet for the sores.
Still waiting to get the rest of the results of Maddie's tests. Her cardiac ultrasound came back showing just a little thickening of one of one of her valves but no compensatory changes were seen. That's good news and means that she doesn't need medication yet. We're just waiting on the x-ray and abdominal ultrasound results.
A beautiful day today with sun for most of it. Snow is on the way though - just horrible. I am OK with Winter but this back and forth is just the pits.
Still waiting to get the rest of the results of Maddie's tests. Her cardiac ultrasound came back showing just a little thickening of one of one of her valves but no compensatory changes were seen. That's good news and means that she doesn't need medication yet. We're just waiting on the x-ray and abdominal ultrasound results.
A beautiful day today with sun for most of it. Snow is on the way though - just horrible. I am OK with Winter but this back and forth is just the pits.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Maddie
Yesterday Mom and I took Maddie to the vet for her annual check up. I. had took her in January for a routine thing and at that time the vet said that he heard a heart murmur. I trust this vet but also feel like he might over-diagnose at times. I thought I had scheduled yesterday's appointment with the other vet but for some reason that wasn't how it turned out. Anyway, he heard the murmur again and also detected an enlarged spleen or liver. So she will be having an echo cardiogram and an x-ray. She's not showing any signs of disease which is very good. She'll be 12 in June. Can't believe that.
I bought the pups a new toy at the vet yesterday. Pogo fell in love with it. Here he is with it. He worked on it most of yesterday afternoon which is unusual for him. Isn't he cute?
I bought the pups a new toy at the vet yesterday. Pogo fell in love with it. Here he is with it. He worked on it most of yesterday afternoon which is unusual for him. Isn't he cute?
Monday, February 16, 2009
Why isn't her birthday on our calendars?
“Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” - Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony's birthday was yesterday, February 15th. This year is the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birthday and there is much (deserved) fanfare about that event. Has anyone heard anything about her birthday though? Granted, she was born in 1820 so we are a few years short of her bicentennial. But still, would we be where we are today without her and her fellow Suffragettes? That's definitely worth remembering. Thank you and happy birthday, Ms. Anthony.
Susan B. Anthony's birthday was yesterday, February 15th. This year is the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birthday and there is much (deserved) fanfare about that event. Has anyone heard anything about her birthday though? Granted, she was born in 1820 so we are a few years short of her bicentennial. But still, would we be where we are today without her and her fellow Suffragettes? That's definitely worth remembering. Thank you and happy birthday, Ms. Anthony.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
As the light grows
Remember that fear often looks like a shadow until light is shown on it. Then you can see what a gift it truly is. Thank you to LunarMusings for the video and inspiration.
Friday, January 30, 2009
A little hubris, and then vindication
So I live in Massachusetts but work just about fifteen minutes over the border in New Hampshire. New Hampshire has a very different culture than Massachusetts, especially in the part of NH where I work. Sometimes if I'm being really cruel I'll joke that it's like a Third World Country. One thing in particular drives me crazy and that is, the poor plowing that happens in NH during the winter. Once you are 50 yards or so over the border into NH the road will go from bare to snow covered. This 50 yard mark is the exact location of the turn around for the plows. Every storm is the same.
On Wednesday of this week we had a snow and ice storm. Not too bad but still very messy to drive in. On my commute into work I finally had a chance to grab my camera to document the cause of my frustration. This is a picture of the plow that I followed from Massachusetts into New Hampshire.
Note the condition of the road in MA. Just wet pavement.
And then, just past the magic turn-around, snow covered!!!
I was incensed for the hundredth time.
On my way home, though, I felt the fall after the pride. The roads in NH were still snow covered but were drivable. However, once I crossed over into MA the traction was much worse and I slipped several times. I was feeling quite sheepish. Not to worry, though, because vindication would soon be mine. The next commute, the road in MA were down to bare pavement and the NH roads are still covered with ice ruts.
If anyone within my earshot complains of paying income tax in MA I will quickly direct them to my blog where the evidence of the difference this income makes is clearly on display!
On Wednesday of this week we had a snow and ice storm. Not too bad but still very messy to drive in. On my commute into work I finally had a chance to grab my camera to document the cause of my frustration. This is a picture of the plow that I followed from Massachusetts into New Hampshire.
Note the condition of the road in MA. Just wet pavement.And then, just past the magic turn-around, snow covered!!!
I was incensed for the hundredth time.
On my way home, though, I felt the fall after the pride. The roads in NH were still snow covered but were drivable. However, once I crossed over into MA the traction was much worse and I slipped several times. I was feeling quite sheepish. Not to worry, though, because vindication would soon be mine. The next commute, the road in MA were down to bare pavement and the NH roads are still covered with ice ruts.
If anyone within my earshot complains of paying income tax in MA I will quickly direct them to my blog where the evidence of the difference this income makes is clearly on display!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sacred Life Sunday
I owe you two Sacred Life Sunday posts. I know it's not "owe" but more would like to share two posts with you. Last Sunday was another snowy day. Between what fell during the day and that night we had roughly 8 or 9 inches of snow. I was sitting at my desk on my laptop when I saw a neighborhood cat working its way through the snow. By the time I got my camera it had reached the cover of our neighbor's sun porch. I snapped a couple shots of it there before it started out into the weather again. The snow was right up to the bottom of its belly.
. 
I also was able to take a faint picture of the cat trail left in the snow.
I'm not sure what it was about the cat that connected me to Spirit that day but it did. Maybe it was wondering about what the cat was thinking sitting under the porch. I am a sound believer that animals have thoughts and dreams. I've caught Pogo, one of our dogs, sitting in the the sun in our backyard on a beautiful early fall day. No reason for him to be there, other than to be enjoying the warm and the light. There is Spirit, running through all of us, whether we have fur or skin.
Today is clear but cold. A beautiful blue sky overhead. I have been thinking for several days now of taking a picture of the baseboard heating elements in the house because I think they are so cool. They are cast iron, like most of the metal things in my house, like the tub and the sinks. I had never seen anything like them before I bought my house. Today the sun allowed me to take a couple of pictures of them. The wordage on them says "Base Ray." I'm assuming that they were put in when the house was built in 1953. Base Ray just sounds like a 1950s term. Science-fiction-ish and modern. This is a section of the element in the dining area. They're either painted white or this brown color. We repainted one of them in the room where my computer is but I wouldn't do it again. I'll just leave them as is in the rest of the house. Just love them.
These are some other random pictures I've taken recently. Last Sunday I made the puffiest German pancake ever. It rose so high it touched the oven rack above it. It was a little tough, I think I stirred it too long, but was just beautiful.
I. bought me a beautiful Pelikan Piccadilly Circus fountain pen as a do-over birthday gift. I had been using his (he has the Place de la Concorde model) and had fallen in love with the way it writes. I love pens, ink, paper, and all related accouterments. I've used my pen several times now and can't wait to write something with it. I had been a slacker pen pal to those I had met through Letter Writer's Alliance but the pen has breathed new life into my pen pal habits!
Lastly, I purchased this sheet of vintage stamps from eBay. I love it. They are $.08 stamps (not sure how I'm going to use them because I don't have other postage that adds up to $.42) of Postal People. I had forgotten about the adhesive on the back of stamps before the self-stick version came out. Love the colors, the retro look to the clothing, the car, etc. I wonder how many of the jobs portrayed in the stamps still exists in the Postal Service today with all the automation. Now I have to find other stamps to buy to bring me up to $.42! Poor me. ;)
Really lastly, I. and I went to a PRNE meeting yesterday and have agreed to write a blog for PRNE and to create a Facebook page for the group. I put both together last night. Please check out the blog http://poodlerescuene.wordpress.com/ and add Poodle Rescue of New England as a friend on Facebook!
Bright blessings,
. 
I also was able to take a faint picture of the cat trail left in the snow.
I'm not sure what it was about the cat that connected me to Spirit that day but it did. Maybe it was wondering about what the cat was thinking sitting under the porch. I am a sound believer that animals have thoughts and dreams. I've caught Pogo, one of our dogs, sitting in the the sun in our backyard on a beautiful early fall day. No reason for him to be there, other than to be enjoying the warm and the light. There is Spirit, running through all of us, whether we have fur or skin.
Today is clear but cold. A beautiful blue sky overhead. I have been thinking for several days now of taking a picture of the baseboard heating elements in the house because I think they are so cool. They are cast iron, like most of the metal things in my house, like the tub and the sinks. I had never seen anything like them before I bought my house. Today the sun allowed me to take a couple of pictures of them. The wordage on them says "Base Ray." I'm assuming that they were put in when the house was built in 1953. Base Ray just sounds like a 1950s term. Science-fiction-ish and modern. This is a section of the element in the dining area. They're either painted white or this brown color. We repainted one of them in the room where my computer is but I wouldn't do it again. I'll just leave them as is in the rest of the house. Just love them.
These are some other random pictures I've taken recently. Last Sunday I made the puffiest German pancake ever. It rose so high it touched the oven rack above it. It was a little tough, I think I stirred it too long, but was just beautiful.
I. bought me a beautiful Pelikan Piccadilly Circus fountain pen as a do-over birthday gift. I had been using his (he has the Place de la Concorde model) and had fallen in love with the way it writes. I love pens, ink, paper, and all related accouterments. I've used my pen several times now and can't wait to write something with it. I had been a slacker pen pal to those I had met through Letter Writer's Alliance but the pen has breathed new life into my pen pal habits!
Lastly, I purchased this sheet of vintage stamps from eBay. I love it. They are $.08 stamps (not sure how I'm going to use them because I don't have other postage that adds up to $.42) of Postal People. I had forgotten about the adhesive on the back of stamps before the self-stick version came out. Love the colors, the retro look to the clothing, the car, etc. I wonder how many of the jobs portrayed in the stamps still exists in the Postal Service today with all the automation. Now I have to find other stamps to buy to bring me up to $.42! Poor me. ;)
Really lastly, I. and I went to a PRNE meeting yesterday and have agreed to write a blog for PRNE and to create a Facebook page for the group. I put both together last night. Please check out the blog http://poodlerescuene.wordpress.com/ and add Poodle Rescue of New England as a friend on Facebook!
Bright blessings,
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Blessings
My dear friend S. called me yesterday to tell me that her daughter. who had cancer last year, had just gotten the good news that she was cancer free. This is her second check-up since she ended treatment. What wonderful news!
A friend and co-worker received a well deserved promotion so I made this card for her. It's a variation on one that I made for my mom, which is a variation of one I saw on the Papertrey Ink gallery. What is different in this card are the butterfly punches. I was very happy with how it turned out. I. thought it is the best card I've ever made and I agree! The recipient emailed me today to tell me she had received it and how much she liked it. What could be better than that?
Warm blessings,
A friend and co-worker received a well deserved promotion so I made this card for her. It's a variation on one that I made for my mom, which is a variation of one I saw on the Papertrey Ink gallery. What is different in this card are the butterfly punches. I was very happy with how it turned out. I. thought it is the best card I've ever made and I agree! The recipient emailed me today to tell me she had received it and how much she liked it. What could be better than that?
Warm blessings,
Monday, January 12, 2009
Gan Mao Ling
I feel it coming on again. At the beginning of November I let myself get overtired, staying up to watch the election and such, and came down with a nasty cough. I let it go for a couple of weeks before I finally admitted that it wasn't caused by my allergies. I saw the NP at my doctor's office and she prescribed an antibiotic and prescription-strength cough medicine. After a full week I finally felt better and the cough was gone. It's now back.
Again, last week I got overtired going back to work after being on vacation for two weeks and the cough started up again. I had a lymph draining massage on Friday night which made me feel some better. On Saturday, I spoke to my acupuncturist who gave me Gan Mao Ling to take. It's an herbal supplement that is supposed to help prevent you from getting sick. I took it on Saturday and yesterday and then again this morning and was feeling much better. But I slacked off today and didn't take it for the rest of the day. Now I feel crummy again. Fortunately I have an appointment with the NP for Friday morning. Moral of the story, do not let myself get overtired. Please send me healing energy this week while I try to fight this pathogen off. I would greatly appreciate it.
And I just realized I totally spaced out on Sacred Life Sunday yesterday. I'll set up a reminder for myself now so I don't forget next week's. Maybe I'll sneak in a late edition of it for this week.
Blessings and light,
Again, last week I got overtired going back to work after being on vacation for two weeks and the cough started up again. I had a lymph draining massage on Friday night which made me feel some better. On Saturday, I spoke to my acupuncturist who gave me Gan Mao Ling to take. It's an herbal supplement that is supposed to help prevent you from getting sick. I took it on Saturday and yesterday and then again this morning and was feeling much better. But I slacked off today and didn't take it for the rest of the day. Now I feel crummy again. Fortunately I have an appointment with the NP for Friday morning. Moral of the story, do not let myself get overtired. Please send me healing energy this week while I try to fight this pathogen off. I would greatly appreciate it.
And I just realized I totally spaced out on Sacred Life Sunday yesterday. I'll set up a reminder for myself now so I don't forget next week's. Maybe I'll sneak in a late edition of it for this week.
Blessings and light,
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sacred Life Sunday
Last year I started taking a picture of something that reminded me of the Sacred, every day. It didn't last long but I really love the idea of it. So I'm going to try it again this year, except I'll make it more manageable and do it just on Sundays. I promise to try to find the Sacred in things besides my dogs but for my first Sacred Life Sunday, here is my picture. Jack was napping on the couch earlier today and was in between naps when I took this. It is my belief that there is a soul in everything and when I look into the eyes of any of my dogs, or any animal for that matter, its presence is so clear to me. See if you don't agree...
Bright blessings,
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