Monday Musings

What a wonderful string of Indian Summer days we have had here in Upstate NY. The weather has been glorious and I have enjoyed every minute of every beautiful day.

I had intended to write an essay about Cousins, which I fully intend to do sometime soon. However, the day has gotten away from me. While cleaning my desk drawer this afternoon, I ran across this little gem and thought you, my bloggy friends, might enjoy it.

Inspirational Thoughts

• Try everything once.
• Invent a holiday.
• Learn three jokes that get laughs every time.
• Be a mentor.
• Wear only comfortable shoes.
• Write a sonnet.
• Start a reading group. (Or join one)
• Store snowballs in the freezer and pull them out for a summer party.
• Enjoy fresh tomatoes in December.
• Do nothing all day and feel no guilt.
• Wake up.
• Dance all night.
• Take the road less traveled.

Beauty seen is never lost.

God's colors are all fast.

~John Greenleaf Whittier~

~Hippo Hugs~

Where Have I Been?

Just recently, while on a "girlfriend" trip to Las Vegas, one of my travelling companions and my daughter commented that they really missed my blog posts. Now, neither of those ladies leave comments, and I was surprised that they were faithfully reading my blog.

Where have I been? The answer to that is simple and complicated all at once. In September, we took our dream trip around the Pacific Northwest. I posted a little, and promised more but when I got home I just, I don't know, lost interest I guess. Anyway, each Monday I am determined to begin again, but somehow before I know it, it's Friday and I've not posted.

This Sunday afternoon, having just arrived home after a quick weekend jaunt to Hershey, PA to watch my niece run in the State cross country finals, I have decided to begin anew. Not only have I not been posting, I have not been keeping up with all my wonderful blogging friends. For that, I sincerely apologize, and admit that I have sorely missed all of you.

So, by means of catching up....This is where I have been.

Washington, Oregon and California

I took tons of pictures, but will spare my blogging friends. Jim and I have decided to collaborate on a scrapbook of our trip. I may post just a few pages here.

Attending one of the most beautiful weddings ever.

Enjoying the beauty of the wild flowers which were so beautiful this year.

Camping with my sister-in-law at one of my favorite spots on earth.

Enjoying beautiful fall days with my husband.

Hiking with Nicole.

Taking a Vegas jaunt with some girlfriends.

And so, you see, I haven't just been watching TV and eating bon-bons. In between all this travelling, I have managed to accomplish cleaning up my garden for winter, making applesauce and spaghetti sauce for my freezer, and a few other things.

What I have neglected is my writing and communicating with you, my dear friends in Blogland. I plan to be better. My daughter, and some of you, are participating in the exercise to write a novel in a month. Me, I'm just going to try to write on my blog more than once a week this month.

~May you have warm words on a cold evening,

A full moon on a dark night,

And the road downhill all the way to your door.

~Hippo Hugs~