Merry Hallowthanksmas!

Phew.... the election is over.

• I won't be accosted with political advertisements on all forms of media.
• My Facebook friends won't be going back and forth about the merits or shortcomings of one candidate over another.
• I won't be besieged with political telephone calls.
• My mailbox won't be filled with pleas for money from political factions.

For me, the problem is that the election process just goes on far too long. It is impossible to maintain a high level of excitement for anything over time. The singularity sinks to the ordinary. I feel besieged by announcements and petitions for attention. All of the sparring back and forth just wears on me and after a few weeks of it, my mind is numb and I just want it to stop. Cease and desist. I recall that I used to get excited by the election. But I am thinking that in days of yore, we didn't have the instantaneous access to 'news', and reporters reported, and what they reported were the most essential bits of information for the public to know. In my opinion, the constant barrage of information we are subjected to becomes an annoying background noise.

I think it is similar to our exposure to Christmas. It used to be that stores pulled out their decorations just after Thanksgiving. It was a magical transformation that heralded the beginning of the season. This year I have seen Christmas merchandise and decorations displayed in September. And, just like with the elections, by the time the event roles around my mind has tuned it all out: the decorations and Carols, the bells ringing and the hype are all reduced to an annoying drone. When the celebration finally arrives, I am more anxious to get it over with than to enjoy the time.

Imagine my surprise, and pleasure, in seeing the following poster on Facebook:

Hooray for Nordstrom's. How exciting that one store is bucking the trend, and harkening back to tradition. It will be wonderful if others follow suit. Imagine the joy to be experienced in savoring each holiday.  Maybe this is one way to make life a bit simpler and allow us to treasure the moments.

In some ways it is like a box of chocolates. If you gorge on the chocolates, eating them in a short period of time, you fail to enjoy the subtle differences between each candy. Your mouth becomes desensitized to the sweetness. You look at the empty box with regrets and have nothing left to look forward to. 

I want to work to savor my candies one at a time. I want to enjoy the events of our lives in the same manner. 

What about you?

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch: Simplify

The sun is shining, by midday it will be 70. It's a perfect day to sit on the porch. I'm going to visit Patrice and chat with her, and other blog friends, on her virtual porch. Care to join us? You can link your blog to Patrice's by following the link below, or you can respond to one or more of her questions as comments on my blog. It's always fun to share ideas!

Patrice asks:

1. Are you planning on doing most of your Christmas shopping in stores, or online?
2. Have you ever been to a bonfire?
3. What would "simplifying life" mean to you?
4. Tell me about one blog you really enjoy reading.
5. Have you ever had someone who isn't in your family, but felt just like family?

My Responses:

1.  I will do most of my shopping online. I don't particularly care for crowds, so I don't like shopping when the stores offer huge sales - like on Black Friday... shudder! I am thinking our shopping will be a bit easier this year as my side of the family has decided not to exchange gifts. I also plan to simplify shopping for Mr. Dreamy's family by purchasing fewer gifts, opting to buy quality vs quantity.

2. When my kids were teens we hosted a Halloween party for the Church Youth Group. We enjoyed a nice bonfire in our yard, burning all of those branches that had dropped from our pine trees throughout the year.

3. I'm with Patrice - simplifying is doing without all of the gadgets and clutter that seem to collect.  Mr. Dreamy and I have just discussed boxing up things we aren't using and enjoying and donating them to local thrift shops.

4. I follow a lot of blogs. I especially like reading the blogs where I have developed a relationship with the author that goes beyond the blog, where we know about each other's family and pets, where we trade comments or emails. However, there is one blog that I really like, where I don't even 'know' the author. She hasn't posted for a while, and I'm a little worried, since her last post was about depression. But, if you haven't stumbled across Hyperbole and a Half, take a visit and look through some of her posts.

5. Yes, isn't it a nice feeling? Mr. Dreamy's mother had a friend who was just like a surrogate Grandmother to all of us. My best friend, near Detroit, is even better than a sister to me. Our house sitter is also a great friend - and, could actually be our daughter, given our ages!

Lucky Day and A Mystery

Today must have been my lucky day. 

Well, make that a double, lucky day.

Do you see it?

While messing with a hose when trying to water a tree,

I found this horse shoe in the grass.

I figured the shoe must belong to Zoe.

She is one of the visiting horses.

Zoe checking out a piece of pumpkin

Zoe is the oddball - the only chestnut among the 

black beasties.

The herd gallops up the hill for breakfast.
Zoe is the 'monkey in the middle'

Zoe didn't have shoes when I first met her, 

but she was a bit 'owy' when moving on hard ground.

Maybe she was shod with pads

while I was away on my trip.

I made a mental note to check Zoe's feet.

But, before I had a chance to do so,

I ran across the matching shoe, 

leaning against the manure pile.

What are the odds of a horse throwing two shoes....

and someone finding them both?

What are the odds of those shoes being 

hundreds of feet away from each other?

One in the paddock, and the other in the yard?

What are the odds of finding both shoes in one day?

Strange. Very strange, indeed.

Stranger still, Zoe didn't have shoes.

There are no nail holes, and no torn out walls of her hooves.

None of the black beasties exhibit any evidence 

of having worn shoes.

My horses never wore shoes.

The last horses that were on the property,

were here at least 6 years ago. 

What are the chances of finding long lost

horse shoes, far apart from each other,

from one of those horses,

on the very same day?

Certainly this heralds good luck for the finder, 

don't you think?!

Beautiful & Bodacious

I'm a Comfort Inn kind of gal. I hate spending a lot of money on a hotel room. After all, I merely need a bed and a bathroom - something that is clean - what does it matter what it looks like?! Mr. Dreamy goes along with my miserly ways. At least he did, until our recent trip to San Francisco. As we planned our trip I started looking for economic hotels - Hah! Not really an option in San Francisco. Mr. Dreamy looked at convenience. Even though I cringed (and still cringe) at the price, I have to admit our stay at a B & B that was an easy half mile walk from our son's condo was more than nice. Mr. Dreamy better watch out... a gal could get used to this sort of life!!

We stayed in a Victorian mansion with 5 bedrooms for guests. The main floor of this beautiful home has a large parlor and library for guests, complete with a selection of after dinner drinks, some chocolates, books, magazines and brochures with information about the city and tours. The dining room was next to the parlor.

Each morning we arrived for breakfast to a beautiful table setting. This was only after we were rudely awakened by the wonderful odors wafting up from the kitchen as breakfast was prepared for the lazy guests snoozing on the 2nd and 3rd floors!  Dreaming is wondering why she doesn't experience this same phenomenon while at home! At home it is Gypsy's singing that rudely awakes her - not the smell of coffee, bacon or cinnamon! 

One morning it was quiche. Another morning it was French toast made from a nearby bakery's bread, and then rolled in panko bread crumbs before pan frying. We had ginger poached pears one morning, and balsamic strawberries another. The host made sure our coffee cups, and juice glasses (with tangerine juice) were always full. Yup, I could get used to living like this!

I didn't think about taking pictures - so all of these were found on the Internet. Our room is pictured below. It was on the third floor and had a beautiful bath with a marble tiled shower. Every room, and every nook and cranny, was graced with beautiful antiques.

On our last morning we sat in the beautiful parlor, reading the newspapers provided for guests, until it was time to depart for the airport. As the ancient clocks ticked and rang out the hour I could sense that my glass slipper would soon be turning back to my worn, Teva sandal. But, that's OK. Even though living like this was a dream, Dreaming is glad to be home with her fuzzy family. She is enjoying awaking in her own bed... even if she does have to make her own breakfast!

Saturday Centus: Calendar Challenged

I missed participating in Saturday Centus while we were traveling. I missed the challenge of seeing what I could put together, and the fun of reading other takes on the prompt. It is amazing to see how many different responses can be generated from the same prompt.

This week Jenny has asked us to include the words: "Thirty days hath September...April, June, and November" from that ditty that I bet many of us learned when we were young. This reminded me of calendar challenges I experienced when I was working. Although I never don't recall making the mistake described in my entry, below, on at least two occasions I advertised a scheduled workshop or meeting for a day of the week and a date that were not the same. I would get calls inquiring whether the workshop was on Wednesday, or was it on the 8th, a Thursday, since the current calendar had no Wednesday, Nov. 8!  I felt like such a fool!

Calendar Challenged

Crap, I did it again! I carefully planned the workshop for my colleagues. I created an outline of what was to be covered. I began to put together materials I’d need. I started the presentation. I arranged for a location. The caterers have my order. I designed an attractive, eye-catching flyer announcing the workshop, and sent it out to everyone. Then the first call came in. “There is no Saturday, November 31”, they said, with a sneer.  I feel like such a fool! I need to remember that silly saying: "Thirty days hath September...April, June, and November." Or maybe, just pay closer attention to the calendar!

Visit Jenny's site to see the responses from other bloggers.

Wedding Jitters

Chris and Zoe chose to forego a large wedding, and to get married at City Hall in San Francisco instead. We planned to visit them on our trip, and Zoe's mother could also come for a visit, so they decided to get married in October. I was delighted.
We met them at City Hall on Monday morning. They had a 10:30 appointment to get their marriage license and an 11:30 appointment for the ceremony with the Judge. Zoe and Chris ran into a snag when they met with the County Clerk to get their license. The documents they had on hand could not be used to authenticate Zoe's name, for various reasons too complicated to go into. The only document that was acceptable was Zoe's Social Security card, which they did not have with them. I snapped this picture as they left the office, obviously on a mission. I cracked up when I saw the expressions I had captured on their faces.... I couldn't resist adding some thoughts that may have been going through their minds:

What do you believe they were thinking?

The card was found quite promptly. The certificate was issued, and the wedding ceremony went on without a hitch.... almost on schedule! 

Dreaming Gets Her Girl

Twenty-seven years ago God brought me a little boy.

Despite the fact that everyone....

I mean everyone,

said he was going to be a she;

I was carrying the baby really high,

The heartbeat was really fast,

The wedding ring moved in circles.

One of the Doctors even bet me a 6-pack of beer

that it was a girl.

Hmmm... I never collected on that,

I wonder if it is too late?

Imagine my surprise when the Doctor delivered my baby

and said, "You have a perfect little...

boy!"

"A boy?" I said, in disbelief.

But, I loved my boy.

I loved my boy so much, I even had another!

God knew what he was doing when he gave me boys!

I don't do hair ribbons and nail polish and lace very well!

But, now I have my girl...

and I don't have to teach her the girly things!

She came, knowing all of that!

I'd like to introduce you to the bride and groom,

my daughter-in-law and my son,
at the beautiful San Francisco City Hall,

Zoe & Chris,
on the beach in San Francisco.

Wishing you both an 'always' kind of love!