The bed is such a convenient place to “pile” things!! Sorting items with an eye to donations, I was forced to clear the bed. 😉 I have so-o little closet space, 😦 I was inspired to install the extra clothes pole over the side of the bed. 🙂
While putting away clean clothes, I pulled garments I’ll probably never wear (or never wear again). Our square dance club had to close due to poor attendance (and the “caller” is expensive). I folded several Western shirts into a large bag with decorator pillows, linens, etc. No Red Hat Society in the area (accepting new members) so the purple dress is en route to Thrift ‘n Gift. (I’ve toyed with the idea of  starting a Red Hat Society chapter but haven’t garnered much interest from ladies I know. I started one in Lancaster, California, that was a huge success.) I’m not RVing so this is the second Escapees-logo item to leave my closet.
This morning I learned a dear lady acquaintance (in the Escapees RV Park) passed away overnight from a heart attack. It is so selfish of me to have unused items in my closet. Tomorrow, I might have a heart attack?! Better to “downsize” so less for someone to handle?! Better to donate and raise a few dollars for continuing support of CARE?!
The pictures of donated clothing is reminiscent of all my pictures of square dance, and cruise wardrobe.In fact, some of those earlier purchases are among the give-aways.
A Christmas party took me away (for a while) from “downsizing.” Two dear, thoughtful, “caring” ladies prepared and distributed gifts to all the CARE residents.
The Thrift ‘n Gift Shop is now open. We had the ribbon cutting on Thursday, December 17th. Â Sales have been good!! The manager is already begging for more donations. So this morning I pulled things out of cupboards (things I thought I’d use for gifts). ~~ Furthermore, I packaged the recent purchase gift exchange items for our forthcoming CARE Christmas party. (The bottle of wine was purchased for another resident’s gift [wine per his request].)
An afternoon spent in the laundry room in the adjacent Rainbow’s End RV Park. Four loads ($8.75): Either I’m very dirty or very clean?! ~~ I picked up several magazines left by campers. O
ne interesting piece of reading material: Hammacher Schlemmer catalog. Interesting prices, too!! The Tabletop Fireplace is only one of many “can do without“ items (IMHO).
I’ll stick with the brand-new Slanket I bought at our October CARE Garage Sale–for one dollar–versus the Faux Fur Throw for $80.00. Mine has “luxurious softness” too.
My friend, David Wolfe, used ingenuity to build a ramp for an RVer. It folds… and can be moved inside the Class C motorhome.Click each picture to enlarge for a better view of the construction.
We’re so blessed to have this considerate man working on projects at CARE and Escapees Rainbow’s End RV Park.
See the postscript to earlier blog message about Kalanchoe.
See my blog message at another location, another topic.
I’ve mentioned it previously: This is the toughest time of the year for me. I hate the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years!! This year I have the added challenge of supporting a friend in an even darker place. I’ve mentioned Richard in earlier blog messages (example: David Wolfe built steps…). 
On Sunday afternoon, December 6th, Richard was in an auto accident that totaled his vehicle. He wouldn’t allow paramedics to take him to the emergency room because he was so concerned for his little dog, Rosie. I’ll spare you all the details (frankly, I don’t have all the details). I took them to the veterinary hospital. The Vet gave Rosie a shot to ease her pain and said he’d take x-rays the next morning.
Long, long story short: Rosie was euthanized…. They had been together for fifteen years. Richard is suffering heartache and pain. I insisted he seek medical attention at our on-site Clinic. No injuries–but depressed. (He’s depressed; I’m depressed!!)
Richard’s motorhome is less than two blocks from the Clinic but he can’t walk that far; I drive him. IÂ walk meals to him (from the CARE dining room).
Why did I write this blog?? I don’t know. I’m so grateful for my garden!! It’s a lovely place to sit, pray, meditate. I have a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi. Remember the words attributed to him?
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.”
(Many other English versions exist.)
Although not a plant in my garden, I’m thankful for another “saint”: Saint John’s Wort. I’m faithfully taking capsules to control my depression. 
(I’ll be fine on January 2nd!!)
sunshine!! Boring blog message??Chilly…but sharp picturesque images against green or blue background. When it warms up a little, I’ll be dumping wet bird seed and filling feeders.
Considering the number of plants I have, the temperature is very important to me!!
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Please note that it was twenty-five degrees warmer forty-eight hours earlier.
Very recently, I planted a number of Kalanchoe plants. After reading several web sites, I understand they can’t tolerate cold temperatures. Although my tarp shelter may save most plants from freezing, it isn’t warm enough for Kalanchoe. So I’m hoping  “the basement” of my trailer home will be satisfactory. The “start” in the red pot is indoors but not enough space to bring all seven planters indoors.
Postscript, Tuesday, December 15, 2015, 12:30 PM: Maybe “the basement” wasn’t such a good idea? Look: Colder than outdoors or tarp shelter. At the suggestion of a dear friend, I’ll add a light bulb for warmth. (That bulb too small?)
Postscript, Wednesday, December 16, 2015, 4:30 PM: I brought the “grow” light bulbs, and “brood lamp” fixture from my storage unit (down the highway). Perhaps a bit more heat from a safer fixture??
^ ^Postscript, Thursday, December 17, 2015, 8:00 AM: The light bulb seems to make a seven or eight degree improvement in the temperature of the basement.
Three Quarters & Counting 