Just a variety of “odd” jobs. Rain last night so, early morning, I was unable to attack projects in the “yarden.” I boiled eggs for my salads; I reconciled my check book register with the bank statement; I watched Dr. Oz TV program (about Alzheimer’s, etc., but not yet available on the Internet). When the sun came out (briefly), I started trimming some of the plants that appear to be going dormant for the Fall/Winter season. I picked up wind-blown fallen branches. Just “odd” stuff!! Several boxes (with and without items) were taken to our CARE Thrift ‘n Gift shop. Oh yes, using Goo Gone, I removed labels from several bottles and added the bottles to a Bottle Tree. ~~ I’m eager to start construction on the Christmas Bottle Tree but deliberately waiting until December. I can’t “construct” it on my patio because it would be impossible for me to move the big bulky “tree” from my yard to the neighbor’s yard. ~~ An “odd” project waiting for me: Mix cement and prepare a strong, solid base for two Bottle Bushes. (One  bottle bush for another neighbor who wants a unique yard but does not have the physical ability to prepare.) 

It bears repeating: I’m having so-o-o-o much fun preparing Bottle Trees and Bottle Bushes!! I’m hoping this project will carry me enthusiastically through the holiday so I don’t succumb to depression (as is my nature this time of year).

Postscript: Unplanned, I draped Christmas lights on the plant stand on my patio. I was organizing things for the Christmas Bottle Tree and do not want to mix miniature lights with strings with larger bulbs. The Smiley Faces were a gift, and date back to 2010 and were on display in my T@B teardrop trailer. I was volunteering at Wycliffe Associates (Wycliffe Bible Translators) in Orlando, Florida. ~~ Click on this link to read blog messages for this time frame in 2010.

Click the link for the lyrics to Where’s the line to see Jesus?.

Click this link to listen to the music.

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My morning did not go as planned. I showered, dressed appropriately, and drove into Livingston to a “high-end” restaurant. I’d been told they serve an awesome Sunday brunch. Everything was dark inside, doors locked, and no sign indicating their hours. This fancy restaurant also has a “bar” and I intended to ask if they would save their pretty empty beer and liquor bottles for me.  Instead, I went to McDonald’s!!  I’ve lived here for thirty-eight months and never been in our one-and-only McDonald’s. (I hate fast food.) Next stop: Dollar Tree for more of the single-serving Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, and red vases. (Red vases for the Christmas Bottle Tree.) Finally: Walmart (and I hate Walmart). We don’t have many choices in our tiny town!! I browsed most aisles, and lingered in the beer and wine corridor looking for pretty bottles. It’s difficult to find “groceries” in glass!! Olive oil, and vinegar in plastic (yuck)!! I’ll put “good stuff” glass olive oil, and glass vinegar, on our table in the CARE dining room. One of the residents loves to put hot sauce on his food so I bought Louisiana Cravin’ Cajun’ hot sauce for him. (I’ll label the bottles so I eventually get them back.) ~~ At Dollar Tree, I found a pretty “topper” for the Christmas Bottle Tree–and stocking stuffer items for the resident’s stockings. Likewise, at Walmart, stocking stuffer items. I may have completed my Christmas shopping in this one trip?!

En route home, I stopped at the mini-storage to pay the fee for next month–and load as much as possible into the KIA. I plan to empty the unit within the next month; I hope the weather (and my energy) cooperates. Things don’t always go as I have planned!!

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The CARE Thrift ‘n Gift shop had an item I could not resist. Even for a “thrift shop” the price was high but “I could not resist.”

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Below: Last Saturday, from the SPCA Thrift Shop, four (4) wall decorations that I linked together to form a “vine.”

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Far below: Sharing my “bottle chandelier” with my neighbor.

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Postscript, same day, 2:00 PM: An exciting thing just happened to me!! A lady I had never met (although she is a long-time Escapees Rainbow’s End resident) brought me ten beautiful bottles!! Recently, I advertised on our Park email my desire for pretty bottles.

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Postscript, same day, 3:30 PM: These are “too pretty” to turn upside down on a spike (imho). They have a beautiful picture inside the bottle!! From my vast supply of “I might need it someday,” I found corks for the bottles.

(Click to enlarge each picture for better detail.)

The day after Thanksgiving, the weather is beautiful, and the garden beckons. However, I’m seated in front of the computer watching (and listening) to The Truth About Cancer Symposium (live at 9:00 AM and beyond).

I’ve been an enthusiastic follower of The Truth About Cancer. The first speaker this morning: Natural News‘ Mike Adams, AKA “Health Ranger.” His presentation was unique and inspirational.

This material is extremely “personal” to me today. Less than twenty-four hours ago, a CARE resident (a “brother”) died. John has been battling cancer for two-and-one-half years. All these months, he was on chemotherapy. We watched him suffer (and suffer, and suffer); we watched him change from active to shuffling (feet) shell of a man.

Three members of the CARE family have transferred to local nursing homes (and are failing). Three of our residents are in facilities for “rehabilitation” but I question whether they will return to CARE. I’ve lost count of the number of CARE “family” members I’ve lost in the three years I’ve lived here.

Even before I turned on the TV morning news, before I drank my first cup of Dandelion tea, I was thanking God for my health!! I thank God–but I also give credit to the years I’ve practiced holistic health. The books I’ve read, the seminars I’ve attended, the filtered water I drink, the desire to consume nutritious food. Neighbors all around me are sick (and dying); I’m the “odd ball” in the CARE family. (It’s difficult being “square” in a round world.)

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I have always heard if the Scripture mentions something once then we better pay attention, but if it mentions it twice then we better take heed. Scripture for your family to refer to during this Thanksgiving holiday:

Wednesday – “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 5:20 KJV.

Thursday – “O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever,” 1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV.

Friday – “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV.

Saturday – “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth forever,” Psalm 106:1 KJV.

Sunday – “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations,” Psalm 100:4-5 KJV.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

So well stated, I copied from an email message from Monica Cole of One Million Moms.

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More than one-half inch of rain during the night but weather quickly warmed up. “Procrastinate no more” was the message uppermost in my thinking. I can’t use “too hot” or “too cold” as an excuse for not tackling the things stored in a mini-storage (down the highway). I failed to take a picture of the load in the back of the KIA. “Tis the season” so I focused on boxes containing Christmas items.

I shed a few tears as I unpacked… because so many memories!! And isn’t it curious that I’ve hauled those music tapes around for decades?? Those two small boxes too sentimental to deal with right now.

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Next trip: I’ll take a step-ladder so I can reach the top boxes. If that is too difficult, I’ll need to hire Roger to help me.

Oops!! The day of the week is wrong on second temperature picture. Why is that happening?? Time for Lorraine to reprogram!!

This morning (versus yesterday morning), I awakened to outdoors fifty-seven degrees. The TV is working admirably and I’m watching the news. I’m so happy!!

THANKS to friend, Deb, for this poster!!

Question: What is that flower??

NBC Today Show weatherman, Al Roker, announced (at 7:17) that Lorraine, New York, has thirty-seven inches of snow!!