Check out this website.  I learned about the Fugees Family on the CBS Sunday Morning TV program.  Very inspirational!!

Think “Operation Christmas Child”!!

Back-to-school items are on sale at retail stores.  The crayons were only fifty cents per box (at Walmart).  The packaged child-size toothbrushes and toothpaste were only fifty-eight cents each (at Walmart).  I shop year-around for items that will be used for “fillers” for Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  I find Beanie Baby teddy bears for fifty cents (at Goodwill).  I’m always looking for small toys!!    The packages with balls will be opened and one ball per shoe box.  ~~  It’s hard to think “Christmas” when the nation is baking under extreme heat.  So much tragedy; so much suffering; so many ruined crops; so much property damage, ad infinitum.  But often our worse circumstance is minor compared to the situation experienced by many around the world.

See the recent July 5th blog (From clutter to clean!!) and note that **only** two days later I have ignored my statement to “…no longer use the living room for sorting….”    Truthfully, I haven’t any other space large enough to work in!!  I emptied two boxes (no picture) and, by this time tomorrow, I may empty, or consolidate, several more.  Perhaps Monday, four (or more) boxes will be en route to my son in New York. ~~ Ninety-seven degrees as I publish this at 5:30 PM. An inferno outside!! I’m not a fan of air-conditioning but recently I **love** my air-conditioner!!

Comment: It’s a BIG job; it has to be done!! I don’t want to leave “unfinished business” for someone else to clean up. I learned today of the sudden passing of a friend. He had been “in good health,” and active, but had a massive stroke and died yesterday.

 
Postscript, Sunday, July 8, 2012, 2:00 PM: Four more out the door!! (Almost.)  It is a humid, wicked, beastly-hot ninety-six degrees as I update this blog. I won’t put the boxes in the car because I suspect the packaging tape will peal off!! Seriously!! And not a creature in sight: No birds, no squirrels, no rabbits!!

Actually, Monday, July 9th, 2012, 2:45 PM (and ninety-six degrees) as I publish this message. Obviously, I wanted this to follow Inch by Inch, It’s a Cinch.  This delivery followed my routine visit to the chiropractor.  It was an unexpected opportunity to make a new friend.  ~~  The boxes are actually extremely  heavy so I’m impressed that I got out of the UPS Store for less than $100.  ~~  Kudos to Lorraine!!

Incredibly delicious!!

(Left click on your mouse, on each picture, to enlarge for better viewing.)

I spent time in my garden before the heat descends. It is eighty-five degrees as I publish this at 10:00.

I’m sad!!  Extreme heat killed some of my plants today!!  I was away from home from 8;30 AM until 3:00 PM.  First, my appointment with the chiropractor; second, some shopping which included the purchase of more squirrel feed, and Bluebird mealworms.  I looked at bird bathes at Wild Bird Center but would not / could not allow myself to spend $30. to $130.  I love my fine feathered and fine furry friends but there is a limit to how much I will spend!!  Unexpectedly (as I was driving past Michaels) I thought “Maybe they have something I can use.”  And I found a shallow enamel container “on sale” for one-fourth the original price.  (So inexpensive I’m embarrassed to document the price.)  At home, I got out an old-fashioned small lawn sprinkler to use as the “bubbler.”  ~~  With our extreme heat, I’m very sympathetic to the birds!!  A big black crow was the first to splash in the new bird bath.  ~~  As soon as I got home, I quickly started running water to my tomato plants and other plants.  But I’m afraid the zinnias and nasturtiums are beyond saving.  ~~  Ninety-seven degrees as I write this and (according to evening TV news) “one-hundred degrees  or higher heat index.”   One-hundred degrees predicted for tomorrow!!  But, praise the Lord, I have electricity for air-conditioning.  I sympathize with folks in areas without power–without power for one week!!  (There was recent storm damage in the Charlotte area but [to my knowledge] absolutely no problems here at JAARS.)

Postscript, 7/07/2012, 8:45 AM: This morning several pretty little Goldfinches were feeding on the seeds at the center of the severely dehydrated (dead?) Zinnias. Maybe zinnia seeds are similar to the Nyjer seeds usually offered to finches?!

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 4th of July. ~~ I had planned to walk in the Waxhaw parade beside the JAARS float. But it is just too hot (for this old lady). I laid out my patriotic wardrobe last night but changed my mind this morning.  It will get up to at least 96 degrees today and humidity is already high. ~~ It seems like the “sensible thing” (health-wise) to not walk on hot pavement in this heat. I’m staying home… and working on my “independence” as I continue to free myself from an excessive amount of personal possessions. (“Downsizing”!!)

Postscript, 3:30 PM: Ninety-four degrees!!

Postscript, 5:00 PM: “Heat index over 100 degrees!” per evening news weatherman.

Remember that old saying “How do you eat an elephant?”  The answer: “One bite at a time.”  That’s what I’m doing with “downsizing”: One box at a time!!  But occasionally I encounter something I don’t want to undertake.  I started a “new” location with “do it later” stuff.  ~~  While I did a Google search for elephant clip art, I found this cute poem.

You can eat an elephant.

Oh,yes you can it’s true.

They may be huge but not to worry,

they aren’t to big for you.

“Just how can I eat such a thing

that’s so immense in size?”

“Just look at it in pieces

and make them all bite size.”

You see to look from head to tail

can be a daunting task.

Many would just give up now

and let the elephant pass.

Look at it as if you can

eat it piece by piece,

It may take you a while,

but your goal you will reach.

So, next time you have a task

that is difficult to do,

Remember, you can eat an elephant

so take a piece and chew!

“Independence”!! ~~  If possible, I’ll no longer use the living room for sorting and storage.  It feels so good to have the living room and hall free of boxes and clutter!!

Keeping busy–despite the heat.  It is “only” 91 degrees as I write this at 6 o’clock.   Temperature dropped because a major thunderstorm–with hail–is moving toward us from Northwest North Carolina. ~~  I started a load of laundry at 7:30 AM and was finished by 9 o’clock (before the heat escalated).  Then, small projects in the apartment throughout the day.  I took kitchen things down from above the cabinets.  I have a potential buyer for the Cuisinart Food Processor and Pyrex food preparation bowls.  I used both for demonstrations when I was active as a Health Minister for Hallelujah Acres.  That seems to be a closed chapter of my life.  The nutritionist associated with my chiropractor’s office expressed interest… and I’ll take them to her tomorrow morning. The chiropractor will take the one-dozen-plus boxes of health and nutrition books. (Last picture: Cuisinart and Pyrex in new hands. What should I do with the earlier, rejected donation?)