Tax Time! There I was computing my taxes this year and found that I owed... $3407. (Not really but just for an example) I packaged up my payment and included this letter: Dear IRS: Enclosed is my current Tax Return & payment. Please take note of the attached article from the USA Today newspaper. In the article, you will see that the Pentagon is paying $171.50 for hammers and NASA has paid $600.00 for a toilet seat. Please find enclosed four toilet seats (value $2400) and si

In honor of "Mom" Deviled eggs have always been a favorite with my family. Mom made the best simple "Deviled Eggs!" Here's how she taught me... Start with 12 eggs, boiled and peeled 4 tablespoons mayonnaise 4 tablespoons yellow mustard 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon sugar Paprika (To sprinkle on top) Like Mom and contrary to what many people say, I think adding the eggs to boiling, salted water, makes them easier to peel. Always have eggs at room temperat

Today is a special post... My dear daughter... 43 years have passed from the day I first held you in my arms. It’s been an exhilarating journey being your mom. Today, You are everything that I had wished I could be while I was raising you. Everything I was striving to be. And now, I get to watch you as a wonderful wife & mother and person I hoped you would become. I am so proud to be your Mother and I am sure your Father is looking down upon you with a smile on his face too.

We had Good Friday & then Easter. "Good Friday has been, for centuries now, the heart of the Christian message because it is through the death of Jesus Christ that we Christians believe that we have been forgiven of our sins," Here's a more detailed look at what happened on Good Friday: The Crucifixion: Jesus, after being arrested and condemned by Jewish religious leaders, was sentenced to crucifixion by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.  Public Humiliation and Suffering: J

When I was a little girl, I was a swimming fool. The city pool was a block from our house. First of all, I think they had to drain it every week and refill it with water they piped in from the South Pole. You’d think with so many that were sharing this cold crammed packed water we would have all gotten a horrible disease like typhoid fever, leprosy or at the very least, Polio, but the water was either too cold to sustain microbial life or nobody could ever stay in long enough

I think about my adventures a few years ago. I took a walk through a cemetery with my family.  I noticed there were headstones dating back to the early 20th century, and I read many of the inscriptions.  As I did so, it occurred to me that most of the gravestones said little, other than the length of his or her life, about the person buried there. I wish my gravestone could be different.  The mark I leave on this world may be smaller than a gnat, but I want anyone reading my

What does a car have four of but a motorcycle only two? Sure, tires! However, the similarities end pretty much there. If one of your automobile tires goes flat, you can ease over to the road's shoulder and replace it with your spare. The motorcyclist has no such luxury. In fact in "my case" it is much of a you're stuck until someone comes to get the bike. So this is why I've gone to carting a jack and portable air compressor with me. If the rear tires on your car wore out two

An interesting tidbit for today... Records show that in 1626 Thomas Johnson established an apothecary business in central London and it was here, on April 10, 1633, that he put on sale a strange, new exotic fruit that came to be known as a banana. To scientists, Thomas Johnson is known as “the father of British field botany”. Johnson could not have imagined it, but to the delight of millions of children & adults the day would eventually come when this fruit would be cut lengt

The weather cooled down so I wish I could enjoyed just sitting by the fireplace but going upstairs had gotten more difficult. I am determined to do a DIY stair climbing chair. I am missing my recliner couch and big TV, better kitchen & bath. Just watching the flames flicker can be so relaxing: I guess staring at flickering light awakens the inner caveman/woman - and it has been said that it causes a person's blood pressure to drop. In fact research from anthropologist from t

Stuck in rush-hour traffic, I couldn’t help but stare when a biker wearing sun glasses pulled up next to me on a shocking pink Harley Davidson. My first thoughts were, “Is that really a pink Harley? I wonder if he’s…” Just then the traffic cleared and he pulled in front of me. On the back of his helmet were stenciled the words “Yes it is. No I’m not.” 😅 Which windshield wiper blade always quits first? That’s right—the driver’s side. This once happened to me one day while dri

After time on the road, I finally made it back home in March from my Snowbird Winter Vacation . I have not gotten to see my daughter, SIL and grandson on the way through Springfield, Missouri. I must have heard the expression “There is no place like home” a thousand times and to be honest there is a lot of truth behind this sentence. When I travel I want to travel forever. But every adventure ends at some point. And therefore I often look forward to coming home again. Over

I rode into town a few years ago to eat breakfast. As I got off my motorcycle a woman walk out of the restaurant and started asking questions about the motorcycle. She like many felt confused as to why anyone chose a motorcycle instead of the comforts of a automobile. What she did not know or understand is that motorcycle riding is beneficial for physical as well as mental and emotional health. Riding is a great way to enjoy physical exercise like lifting your leg just to get

This week I read where six people within a six week period "took their own life." I understand some may have been fighting depression for years. I can say there were times in my life I had felt helpless to problems that was happening to me. I finally decided that I would not let those problems or anyone control my life. I was in the driver's seat of my own happiness. I succeeded and found these little inspirations for discovering all the magnificently beautiful little things.

This last few months we've lost several members of our family. The weather is getting nicer and we will be out in larger numbers. Those that do not ride... Know this! I ride a MOTORCYCLE, please be considerate!! The 3 car lengths I leave between the car in front of me isn't for you to cut me off! Contrary to popular belief, I can't stop my bike on a dime! If you see me coming down the road while you're waiting to pull out from your driveway or an intersecting road, I'm going

The weather cooled down so I enjoyed just sitting by the fire this last week. Residing in the South for the last several months had rewarded me with a bit warmer temperatures here. Just watching the flames flicker has been so relaxing: I guess staring at flickering light awakens the inner caveman/woman - and it has been said that it causes a person's blood pressure to drop. In fact research from anthropologist from the University of Alabama believes that modern day humans’ r

April 1 is named April Fools' Day after Adam April. He was born on the 1st of April back in 1579. He ran many businesses and was actually quite prosperous in his ventures, but late in his life, he lost all of his father's assets. After this, everyone started calling him the father of fools. At one point, he even married a woman who divorced Adam because he was so foolish. He used to read and believe all kinds of fake stories, just like you are now... Today Is April Fool's Day

As I think about my sweet baby girl, grandson and son in-law at a hard time in their life with the illness of my Son in-law's father & death this quote ran through my mind like a mack truck. “Life is but a brief moment. The years go by quickly and old age arrives suddenly before we have an inkling. People desire so many things and waste their days in vain. Some yearn for gold, others for power, yet others for glory and a higher station. But when death’s moment nears and they

As I think about my sweet baby girl, grandson and son in-law at a hard time in their life with illness of my Son in-law's father & death this quote ran through my mind like a mack truck. “Life is but a brief moment. The years go by quickly and old age arrives suddenly before we have an inkling. People desire so many things and waste their days in vain. Some yearn for gold, others for power, yet others for glory and a higher station. But when death’s moment nears and they look

Cabin fever had taken hold. I had spend most days locked inside the house and I confess that I have cooked more meals lately than in the last 12 months. My overall food bill actually should go down with all the home vittles. I certainly don't hear anyone complaining about meals. I have eaten very well indeed. I found myself anxious to feel the sun on my face, child-like I bounded out of the house. I drove around Pomme De Terre Lake enjoying the Beautiful day a few days ago wi

I guess they call them colloquialisms. I don’t, because that word just doesn’t roll off the tongue. I call them sayings because that’s a lot easier to say. Anyway, they are phrases used by the local folk of a particular region to express a thought or opinion. There are some sayings and words that, I’m told by folks who have moved to Missouri from away, are unique to this area. For instance, I guess other parts of the country have no zink (the kitchen sink which at one time wa