Who needs sleep?

I should have known that I was tempting fate when I set my alarm for 8 A.M. today.

Sure enough Riley was up at 5, “requesting” my attention.

I had to get up…

I carefully made my way down the stairs and opened the door to the back garden.

A few minutes later she was back in the house.

I foolishly thought we would go back to sleep.  

To her credit, she did lie down but just could not settle into sleep.

A few puppy kisses later, I was up for the day at 5:30.

She went outside again and I made coffee.

Now she is asleep by the fire.

Thanksgiving Morning 2021
Riley snoozing by the fire.

I am wide awake sipping coffee earlier than I had planned.  

I heard a train’s whistle blow as it passed.

At least someone else is awake!

How it is

I learned years ago with my children that I had to adjust my life to meet their needs.

Some were easy adjustments, others more demanding.  

Such is the price of loving and caring for others.  

Have a wonderful day!

~Lori

A small victory

Another foggy cold morning.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee enticed me from my warm bed.

It felt wonderful to enjoy a cup of hot coffee while sitting in front of the fire in my living room.   It was still dark outside and so quiet. 

A long leisurely morning was not in the cards as I had to leave early for the gym.

Driving there I noticed that my tire pressure readings were 32 per tire.  

I know very little about tire pressure but I was nervous because 35 is the recommended tire pressure.  I could just see me with a blow-out waiting for AAA on a really cold morning.  

Also, I had planned a quick jaunt down the freeway later in the morning so this had to be resolved before I left home again.  

Photo by u0412u043bu0430u0434u0438u043cu0438u0440 u0413u043bu0430u0434u043au043eu0432 on Pexels.com

At the gym my trainer worked me very hard as she was leaving for Japan for a couple of weeks.  This took my mind off the problem.

Back in the car, one tire pressure had risen to 33…some improvement.  Still, this was not enough to risk driving on the freeway. 

So, driving home from the gym, I stopped by the local Shell station.  As the attendant filled my tank, I asked her if she could help me put pressure in my tires.  A skill not in my repertoire!

Long story short, she was so gracious and helped me fill all of the tires.  I learned how to use the machine…easy peasy!   I was so grateful to her!  I felt so empowered!

This was a little victory that had a big impact on my day.  It was a joy to drive knowing that my tires were fully inflated!

~Photo from Pexels.com~ This is not me. I dressed in warm layers and sensible shoes on this cold day.

Boo boo butt

Buying books for children leads to wonderful discoveries such as The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak.

Read this delightful book to a child, or better yet, a passel of children.

~Photo Lori Greer in Portland~

I laughed out load reading this book.  

Check out the YouTube video of the author B.J. Novak reading from his book  to a group of kids. 

You really should read this! The child in you will love it.

Don’t be a boo boo butt!!

Note: You may recall B.J. Novak as one of the writers of the American version of the hit tv show The Office.

Store bought, oh my!

Yesterday, I “prepared” my Thanksgiving Dinner.

It’s a far cry from when my sons were little and their Dad was alive.

Then, we all pitched in to prepare a festive meal.

I cooked the turkey, dressing, gravy and vegetables.

My sons and their Dad baked pies. This practice started when they were elementary school age.

Dad also took care of other side dishes.

Zoe, our beautiful standard poodle, took care of anything that hit the floor.

Now I have a precooked turkey dinner and a few sides on order from New Seasons grocery store.

A friend will bring fruit salad, a green salad and wine.

Add an almond cake from Zupan’s and a chocolate ganache cake from La Provence and it’s done!

~Photo Lori Greer in Portland~

It’s not a Norman Rockwell painting by any means.

I am forcing myself not to dwell on what is missing but on what will I will have.

A good friend, a warm house, cheerful fire, lovely music and Riley, my mini Aussiedoodle.

No self-pity.

No sadness.

I choose happy.

I am at peace.

Good morning!

I was startled and then amused to have this little face staring at me this morning.

Eighteen pounds of Riley, my sweet mini AussieDoodle.

Time to get up!

Sometimes I am really tired and want to sleep a bit more.  Rubbing her tummy or stroking her back will usually send her back to sleep for a bit.  

Not today.  

Years ago my Husband brought me a cup of hot tea every morning as my wake-up.  

How do I train Riley to do that?

Friendship in a rose

To see a World in a grain of Sand,

and heaven in a wild Flower,

To hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And eternity in an hour 

~William Blake

  • ~Photo Lori Greer in Portland~

A friend welcomed me home after my long trip with this lovely rose.

Not a wild flower, but I can still see a glimpse of heaven in her lovely gesture.

My schlumie!

You are witnessing something very special!

A plant that has managed to survive my brown thumb!

This lovely cactus was a birthday gift last year from a dear friend.

I have mostly ignored it which I understand cacti prefer.

I was thrilled to see small blossoms appearing in the last few days.

Am I joining the ranks of those chosen few whose flowers and plants actually live more than one season??

My sweet little Schlumbergera….my schlumie!

Be still my beating heart!

Mateus anyone?

In my not so crazy but wanting to be sophisticated youth, my friends and I drank Mateus for special occasions,

Now we go to wine tastings and have refined palettes.

Or, so we like to think!

Rilke on autumn

“At no other time does the earth let itself be inhaled in one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more honeysweet where you feel it touching the first sounds.

“Containing depth within itself, darkness, something of the grave almost.”

“For me, it is a foretaste of all of my life of faith. Each year repeats itself, proclaiming more loudly than before,

“It is not over, it is just beginning. Wait ‘til next year and see how much more glorious it will be.”

~Rainer Maria Rilke

As you can see from my previous post “Herbsttag” I am still reading Rilke when I find time.   Longing for the wonderful days of my youth when I could  read at leisure!  

Herbsttag

Walking and walking so much in the last few weeks brought to mind Rilke’s poem “Autumn Day”.

I feel almost lightheaded as I read his words, especially the last verse.

It describes my life during the long days and nights of winter.

This is when I miss my Husband.  He would understand my feelings.

Fluent in German he could help me with the translation.

 

Autumn Day*

Lord: it is time. The summer was great.
Lay your shadows onto the sundials
and let loose the winds upon the fields.

Command the last fruits to be full,
give them yet two more southern days,
urge them to perfection, and chase
the last sweetness into the heavy wine.

Who now has no house, builds no more.
Who is now alone, will long remain so,
will stay awake, read, write long letters
and will wander restlessly here and there
in the avenues, when the leaves drift.

* There are many translations but I like this one by J Mullen.