If you get the opportunity I would encourage you to take the time to read one of my favorite authors, John Steinbeck... Especially his last book, "Travels with Charley: In Search of America" He authored other great novels like Grapes Of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, The Pearl, The Red Pony, Cannery Row and 25 other books over his life time plus numerous short stories and screenplays. In September of 1960 John Steinbeck, an already a successful author, set out to rediscover an Ameri

The sun is rising, peeking above the landscape. The day is dawning as I sit here on the patio. Morning's breaking; I hear the feather friends calling. Nature’s glory is too beautiful to ignore. A cool breeze is coming over the hill. I love the feeling of the sun on my skin. It’s so great to be back at Paradise Cove. Finally home, Maybe I shall never roam again. The soil, the sweat, the plan make up just who I am. Finally home, I’ve been gone too long it seems. Chairs, desk

Seems like every small town in America had at least one. It used to be a meeting place, a social center, a place where each day the problems of the town, the state, the country, and the world are solved—the local diner. In some towns, it’s a silver-sided, classic metal vintage building of the now long gone era of long rows of multi colored vinyl covered stools lined up at the Formica countertop, or maybe a few booths, all with matching vinyl upholstery, across the room. At ea

"Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day." -Alice Morse Earle. Dead Batteries, Road Gremlins, Wind, Cold Temperatures, Rain/Water, Lightning, Storms, Floods & Mud have threw their spells this year but I'm still rollin. Good News is that I still had a wonderful time in Florida. I inched my way back to home a few weeks ago... All Is Good! Nana

I've learned from my graduate's psychology classes that when we aren't feeling motivated, we often aren't accomplishing our goals. Motivation is crucial to getting things done. When we complete individual tasks, our brains release dopamine which causes positive feelings such as happiness, pleasure, and motivation . When we are positively motivated to do something, we not only take pleasure in completing the task at hand, we also attribute positive feelings towards repeating t

We have all heard the old saying about feeling the weather in one's bones, but is it true? You bet it is true and I am living proof. The medical professionals agree that changes in barometric pressure and temperature can dramatically affect our bodies, especially if we have arthritis. This week's weather was especially predictable. Rain & cold for several days... The knee says "Sun 🌄 should be on the way soon!" You're Welcome!😀 Nana

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time, a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. I am hoping to Celebrate my Irish Heritage if I actually have any... If not I will pretend... It's ok I pretend I'm good on Christmas! Anyway, it is Doctor's orders for me. He insisted this year I have something more substantially closer to a vegetable than green beer. So I will start with a cold one, green or otherwise, then some corn beef & cabbage, and maybe even littl

Everything You Do is Right Day is March 16th. From what I understand it is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to believe that no matter what happened before today, everything they do on this day will turn out great. Well heck, that is what I try to do everyday! This How to Celebrate The Day... Remember, everything you do today is the right thing to do. The bottom line is, do whatever you feel that makes you happy. My advice would be start the day off with a health

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of my brother. My heart be with his widow today because I know all too well the emotions on these days. We never get over our losses but rather learn to endure. Most days are bearable but then other times out of the blue a memory will sting like a shot in the heart. I will try go about this day doing my normal routine... Trying to mask my broken heart of losses. I'll try to remember the great gifts in my life and trudge onward b

Getting old is not for the faint of heart," often attributed to Mae West. It means that aging requires immense resilience to handle physical, mental, and social changes . It implies that while youth fades, it is replaced by wisdom, confidence, and the ability to live unapologetically. It is a process of letting go and accepting life's changes with dignity. I have learned a lesson that ya better enjoy your days that are good because worst days are in everyone's future. I thoug

(My dad as a child) Growing up our home was filled with Music. My father had a natural born talent of playing any music instrument by ear. Who knew that my family was blessed with such benefits of as a musical home. Science research has shown that musical training can change brain structure and function for the better. It can also improve long-term memory and lead to better brain development for those who start at a young age. (Dad & I at one of his music jams) Furthermore,

Our yearly nightmare... Daylight Saving Time is to begin on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. So on Saturday evening for most of us, our clocks should have been set before bed “sprung forward” one hour. Who started this crazy thing? The first true proponent of Daylight Saving Time was an Englishman named William Willet. A London builder, he conceived the idea while riding his horse early one morning in 1907. He noticed that the shutters of houses were tightly closed even th

I wish there was a photograph that showed me here with you now And I could kiss the photograph and make my wish come true I wish I could hear a song so sweet I wish that I could steal the moon and give it to you I wish I could bring back those days just once Watching the rain fall down Watching the rain These memories brought back once again... A time so dear to me! 1. This has to be an iconic picture of America... Wal-Mart, Ford Pickup, Uncle Sam's Barbecue and CocaCola! Hue

Traveling is my passion. I have found that travel gives me the courage to try new things. When I am home in a routine, I become comfortable. But when I travel, I am inspired by others and inspired by the destination. When traveling, things are often out of my control and I have found that it is better to relax and let go. That is when the real adventures has happened in my travels. I have been asked where are you going now. I am living my dream where some days there really

Nothing much to relay today unless you consider... *There is vastly more nothing than something. Roughly 74% of the universe is “nothing,” or what physicists call dark energy; 22% is dark matter, particles we cannot see. Only 4% is baryonic matter, the stuff we call something. *And even something is mostly nothing. Atoms overwhelmingly consist of empty space. Matter’s solidity is an illusion caused by the electric fields created by subatomic particles. *There is more and m

Come and listen to my story about a woman named Di A poor widow, barely kept her sanity, And then one day was lookin at some magazines , And up through the dreams come a bubblin idea. Move back to the lake , sell your extra bode, throw out the tea. Well the first thing you know ol Di's a mininaire, The kinfolk said "D move away from there" Said "Florida is the place you ought to be" So she loaded up the truck and moved along the road to Marianna & other locals... Merry times

Our yearly nightmare... Daylight Saving Time is to begin on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. So on Saturday evening, our clocks should have “sprung forward” one hour. Who started this crazy thing? The first true proponent of Daylight Saving Time was an Englishman named William Willet. A London builder, he conceived the idea while riding his horse early one morning in 1907. He noticed that the shutters of houses were tightly closed even though the Sun had risen. In “The Was

I had hoped for slow relaxing return to Missouri. However, first order of business was to get a new tire for the Ford Fiesta. You would think 23k miles on tires would not have any problems but with the car sitting for two months I found my road hazard insurance paid off. The culprit was at somewhere I had picked up a piece of metal in the tread. However, finding a Walmart to service it was very dismal. I had to take it to Springfield, MO to find a store that would find time f

I knew being a grandmother would be great, but once they were born, nothing prepared me for the absolute love and joy my heart was filled with! They are the child of my child and their life has always been a joy to me, I found that each day their laughter was like music to my ears. Spending simple moments with them become priceless memories. I will never look back and say I spent too much time with my grandkids. On the days I need a miracle I look into my kids & grandkids eye

If you're anything like me, then you are completely over waking up to freezing temperatures every morning, having to put on multiple layers of clothes and feeling slower during the winter months. I would much rather be laying on a beach and soaking up the sun or riding my motorcycle than treading through the ice and snow in below-freezing temperatures. There are so many reasons that I'm always counting down until spring weather. I believe there are several universal reason,