MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Monday Meanderings ... 

Well I thought today was the First Day of Fall ... 

NOT

Tomorrow is officially the first day of fall for 2026.

According to my tree in the side yard we are celebrating it a day early.

I just love the reds and all of the variations on the same tree.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.  Ours was spent deep in the throws of our guest room closet.  

Why is it that what one is looking for is always at the bottom and way in the furtherest corner?

Didn't find exactly what we were looking for but we did find some good sale-able items for eBay in the future.  eBay has changed its format and I can't post things like I want to... Its always something for me to whine about.

Hopefully I can conquer the problems and we can sell ... sell ... sell !!!

The neighbors down the street have some sunflowers busting their blossoms right now.

I will have to go by them and snap a few photos.

For now I will have to be satisfied with my basket of fall flowers on our tea cart.

That's about it for today my friends...

Until next time

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THURSDAY THANKFULNESS

 Thankful Thursday

I truly am thankful for each and every one of you.

You make my Day !!!

Several of you knew what my  Wordless Wednesday photo was all about.

Kudos to you !

Yes I do believe it is a Fiddlehead fern just becoming "Of Age".

I took this photo some years ago at The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.  The building that holds the flowers was built in 1879.

It is the most amazing Victorian-era glass greenhouse and hold so many exotic plants from around the world.

I like it particularly because one can get up close and take as many photos as they want.

The delicate detail of this fern is a masterpiece from our Creator.

I am Thankful for all of the beauty that surrounds us daily.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Here it is again ... 

Monday and I am again meandering ...

It's hard to believe that 6 years ago this past weekend was our Granddaughter's 6th wedding anniversary.  Things really begin to make me feel older and older.

And

It was my honor to be Lauren's Flower Girl ... 

Such precious memories ...

Then my thoughts meandered to this quote ...

 

Yah, that's me today !!

BUT

We gotta do what we gotta do today ... 

Before I close I have to say that despite my moans and groans

I am thankful ... 

Thankful for another sale on Marketplace.  Cash in hand and more things out of the house !!

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

 WE WILL NEVER FORGET !

My Tribute on this 25th anniversary of 9-11 ....

No Words ... 

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

IT'S BEEN ONE WHOLE YEAR !

 I'm going to bypass Wordless Wednesday this time.

It's hard to believe that my long time ( 60+) years friend has been with the Lord for an entire year.

She passed Sept.9, 2025, just a few weeks short of her 85 birthday.

We had been through college, marriage, kids, church and everything in  between together.

Lynne and I had been next door neighbors for 41 years before moving to the Sacramento area.  

I was also One of her caregivers through the last 7-8 years of her life.  That Alzheimers disease is so devastating ... 

I am thankful to have known her and had the joy of walking through life together.

Still missed ...

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

What's Going On Around Here

 Yay, it looks like whatever was going on with Blogger has been fixed.

It was so frustrating not being able to comment on anyone's blog.

So

I have a bit of story about the "house guest" in our backyard.

Two days ago I looked out our patio sliding door and thought, oh my goodness, the foxes are at it again.

I had previously picked up the traveling yellow rag and glove and returned them to the table on our patio.

There they were again down on the ground!

Rag on the ground and the glove under the chair...

I thought I had better go out and take a picture for a future blog post.

I opened the door and a fox jumped and ran around the corner ... I jumped too.  I don't know who jumped higher.

Took the picture and went back inside.

I looked out again and this is what I saw through the window.

Such a tiny little Kit, looking rather scared and unsure of his self.

I continued to watch him as he climbed up onto the wicker chair and peaked around the cushion at me.

Notice his left eye ... I think he is blind in that eye ... 

Here's a rather fuzzy photo of that eye.

He continued to bed down and remained there on the cushion until who knows when.  He was still there when we went to bed.  Dave and I really thought that he had issues and were going to call animal control in the morning.

That sweet little guy was gone in the morning.  We didn't see him at all yesterday and he wasn't there this morning.

I don't know if he has "family" or has been the runt and kicked out of protective family... Maybe we will never know ...

We haven't seen anything disturbed but are keeping our eyes out for the foxes.

To Be Continued ... 

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY and THE REST OF THE STORY

 Thankful Thursday and the Rest of the Story ... 

I'm very thankful that Fall is finally here !

We are downright chilly this morning.  Chilly after so many days of the high 90's.

Now don't laugh but 64F. feels cold to me and we put a blanket on the bed last night.😮

I am looking forward to this scene in about another month !

And now to the Rest of the Story

Wordless Wednesday

First of all I have to say how delightful and very funny were some of the comments on the post.

ANN ... You made me laugh right out loud!!

These are native petroglyphs in the Calico Basin west of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dave and I took a hike out to them several years ago.

The petroglyphs are believed to be several thousand years old and were made by at least 6 different Indigenous cultures.  Mainly they were made by the Southern Paiute tribe.  Perhaps some were created by the Pueblo peoples formerly referred to as the Anasazi.  The "glyphs" in my photo were probably made within the last 500 to 1,000 years by the Southern Paiute.

We were so excited to see the many petroglyphs along the trail.  It was like walking into ancient history.

Thanks for commenting.  I always enjoy it.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Monday Meanderings

The case of the Traveling Yellow Rag ...

Several weeks ago I noticed some strange things on the ground at our patio pavers.

Its hard to see but on the bottom of the photo are some goggles which I wear when I weed whack ... and up at the top of the photo is a orange and white garden glove.

These items have been on a little table on the patio.   NO wind !  How did they get out there??

Then I looked further and there Meandering out on the grass was a yellow rag we use for wiping tools.

As I said, no wind at all ...

We haven't seen the foxes since my last blog about them.  I think we have curious Kits that like to play with things just like dogs do.

Every few days I began to see the Traveling Rag in a slightly different spot.

Still no wind to blow the rag around the yard.

It seems to have found its way over to our shed.

I think this is the Final Resting Place for said soggy rag.

Still haven't seen any foxes but I guess they are playing in the wee hours of the morning.

We also haven't seen any more squirrels and only 2 or 3 lizards scooting around our yard.  Maybe all the goodies are gone so the Kits are on to someone else's yard.

I have to say we are missing them and their Meandering about the backyard.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

ANOTHER MAGNIFICENT SUNSET LAST NIGHT

 Wow, the sunset last night really outdid itself.

These photos are straight out of my phone.

Its hard to believe the vivid color that was displayed across the sky.

Too overcast later in the evening to see the moon eclipse but I think these sunset photos are wonderful anyway.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday and the Rest of the Story ... 

I am so very thankful for my family and friends.

This last week I had two wonderful phone conversations with friends that I haven't seen or talked to in a very long time.

Conversations like those fill up the tiny empty spots in my life.  This is not meant to be a downer or Poor Me.  We all have spots in our lives that aren't quite full because we miss those friends.  I also had some great text "talks" with family.  I love when we can still keep in touch when their lives are really busy.

I am also thankful that Dave and I had enough energy to be out in the backyard and get some of our bushes trimmed.  Took us a few hours because of the "Time Outs" but it did get done, with no ill effects.

Akk ... for some reason I can't download my photo of the bushes now.  If it comes up later I will try to insert it.

Yay, finally did it.  Those bushes don't look like any big deal, but they were completely overgrown and blocking the walkway on both sides.  The 2 bushes in front of the windows were literally trying to send and invade their vines into the windows.  Seems like there is always something to take control of around here !

Now on to "The Rest of the Story"  WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

The picture of the Footsie Wootsies was taken at the California State Fair a few years ago.  Those things were all the rage then.  After walking around for hours in 100+F. temperatures the vibrators always had a steady line.

Did we ever use them?  Nope, but whenever we are tired we always talk about wishing we had a Footsie Wootsie at our house ... 😃😁!!!

I'm always glad when I peak your interest with my Wordless Wednesday posts.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Good Morning  ... It's still officially morning here ... for some of you it's probably your lunch time ... 

I guess that you can see I'm already doing some meandering ... 

I haven't finished my first cup of coffee yet.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.💖😄

I really like that quote.  Keep Moving ... 

Keep Moving Forward ... 

We had a wonderful lunch yesterday.  Son Steve, Sigrid and granddaughter Amanda came over after church.

Its always great to be able to catch up on the happenings of the past weeks.

I love when we can have deep, uninterrupted conversations around the table.

Does a Body Good !

I'm going to attempt to trim some bushes today before it gets too hot.  They are trying to take over MY space !

We'll see how it goes.  Maybe it will be Fodder for another blog post.

I guess that's enough meandering for today.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for the amazing sunset we had the other evening.

It was like the entire sky was on fire.  I'm so glad I got out of my easy chair and went outside to see it.

I am also so very thankful for the safety features that finally were put in our home.

You all figured out my Wordless Wednesday.

This is "my" "guest" bathroom with new grab bars in the step into short tub.

I only use the shower though.  I could never sit down in that tub and get up again!

This is our master bath which Dave has claimed.

It is a double shower stall.

Guest bathroom grab bars.

The two gentlemen that came to install the equipment were just wonderful.  They were from  The Placer County Independent Resource Services.  These pieces and the work done was all free of charge to us as seniors through a grant.

They worked hard and cleaned up so nicely too.  The guy that did my bathroom asked if I had some cleaner that he could use.  He said he had been walking around in the tub area and wanted to clean it for me.  Talk about a win/win.  I didn't have to get on my knees and scrub that thing!  I could have kissed him for doing that job for me.

We are so thankful for the security and safety the bars provide and for there being no cost to us.

An interesting sidelight was finding out that they both attend the church we used to go to.  Blessings all around.  They are volunteers and don't get paid for their time and effort.  Such servants hearts ... 

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

Wordless Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Monday Meanderings

I guess I have been feeling a bit down in the dumps lately.

This isn't meant to be a Pity Party.  I just have to write this all out to get my brain back in gear ... 

A week ago, at our granddaughter's baby shower, I was chatting with our niece and going on about really missing all the serving we used to do at church and all the people that have passed away or moved away.  She said that it sounded like I had Lost My Community.  That resounded with me and I have been chewing on it since then.  It has been a different kind of lonely but instead of doing something about it, I began to isolate myself.

Fast forward to Thursday when we had our impromtu small group bible study group come to our home.  This was after 3 months of not seeing each other, due to health and being unavailable issues.  Thank goodness for texts.

This was like family and we really caught up on life.  This group has been meeting for about 14 years at our house.  Its the safest place to share anything...

By the end of the time 2 different ladies suggested having a Girls Day Out.

Those days are in the works now ... that really fed my soul.  God sure knows what we need.

So I have picked up my big girl panties and am Running the Race again.  Not knowing what I can still do or what the next adventure will be ... God wants us to Finish the Race, not because we are the strongest, fastest or the most gifted,

But because God will give me ... us ... the strength to keep going.

He is not standing at the finish line waiting for me ... He's running with me.

This is not the end of my story , Brighter day are ahead

Keep Running

Don't Isolate  Reach Out ...

Let people "Love You"

One Step at a Time

One Day at a Time

So

Happy Monday 

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

THANKFUL THURSDAY and THE REST OF THE STORY

 Wow the weeks fly by and I am thankful that it is Thursday again.

Now on to the Rest of the Story from my Wordless Wednesday.

I had shared a few weeks ago about the 3 foxes we saw in our backyard.

Well, day before yesterday we had a visitor again.

I was standing at our kitchen sink just staring out our window.  A bit of movement caught my eye.  I thought it was our usual squirrel that uses the top of the fence as his personal Freeway to get from one yard to another.  I looked up and there looking at me was a young gray fox daintily walking on the top of the fence.  I really couldn't believe my eyes.  He wanted to escape out to the front yard but our neighbor was chatting with someone and he was blocking the route.

The poor fox jumped onto the neighbor's shed to get a better view.  Then he turned and scurried off around the corner and on to the other neighbor's fence and away he went.

I grabbed a few shots with my cell phone.  I was totally humiliated when I looked at them and saw how messy and water spattered my windows are !!  The morning sun definitely put a spotlight on the mess.  I guess its time for me to climb back into the sink  and clean away.

So all that to say, I am thankful I can still climb into the sink and do some cleaning !!

I am also thankful for these critters that find our yard so desirable.  We have never seen them so up close and personal.  I'm thankful for the scavenger service they perform too.  The mice and snakes are favorites of theirs.  They are opportunists and will snack on lizards and squirrels and even baby birds.  Not too happy about that but it is The Circle of Life.

We are looking forward to the next encounter ... Its fun to live in suburbia and the Wild Kingdom.

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 Wordless  Wednesday

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind

MONDAY MEANDERINGS

 Monday Meanderings ... 

Hi and I hope everyone had a good weekend.  I know I did !

Saturday was our Granddaughter's Baby Shower.  

We all had such a delightful time together.  Believe it or not there were about 50 ladies in our son and daughter in laws home.  The setting was simple and casual but all the little points of interest made it just perfect.

I took very few photos since I was having such a good time just visiting with some that I haven't seen for a very long time.  I also met a few gals that I didn't know before.  

One special person I introduced myself to was Billy's Grandma.  She speaks a little English but mostly Spanish.  I said my name was Suzan and I was Amanda's Abuela ... Her face lit up and she said with a huge smile on her face ... "I'm Billy's Abuela !!"

We hugged and tried to chat a bit.  It was such a precious connection.

Amanda and her Sweet Baby Bump ...

I can't wait to hold that Bundle of Joy.

Lots of finger food was available throughout the entire time.

That table was never empty.

Sweet cookies with saying on them .  We could help ourselves to them too.

Amanda and Billy don't want to know what the gender will be so there were little sayings on the cookies about wondering who it will be.

Lovely gifts for that precious Gift from God.

A clever dessert item was a baby rattle that had a mini donut on one end and a donut hole on the other.  They all looked so cute.

One special decoration at one of the tables was this mini crib.

This is a miniature crib.  

Billy and his Dad are master craftsmen and are building this exact crib for the baby.

I can't wait to see it in real life.

That will be one lucky Baby !

Now we have to wait some 80+ days for the Big Reveal !!!!

Changing the subject completely ... 

This is a message for Debby of My Shasta Home.

All of a sudden I can't comment on your blog.  I have read the last 4 posts and tried to comment but the message says your Facebook time has expired.  So I went to your email and it says its invalid so I'm at a loss to comment.

Its such a pain !!!

Take care everybody,

Always be Grateful

Always be Kind