Bluebird - an unexpected treat!

Photos courtesy J. Costello
Click pictures to enlarge

My friend Jim sent these pictures of a bluebird this morning. He was surprised to see the bluebird because it had been so cold. I thought this little bluebird was so cute that I wanted to share it.

The mythology of the bluebird goes back thousands of years and is associated with all sorts of good things such as cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, etc. So I take this little bird as a sign of good things - whatever they may be to you!

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A soggy hillside in Sonoma

A soggy hillside, Sonoma, CA

It's been said that in California we don't have seasons. That simply is not true. It is also said that we do have seasons - fire, drought, mudslides and earthquakes. For the past three years it has been drought season. Last summer driving through the countryside, one could see trees gasping for water - many big trees with many leaves withered up and fallen off in mid summer. There were huge fires everywhere. We rationed water and watched as yard plants withered. Each year we hoped for rain, but little came.

It seems that the storm door opened a week or two ago and we've had several huge storms. Normally I really hate the rainy, cloudy, cold winter in Northern California. Not so now. So, yesterday during a short break in the rain we went out to check things out. Didn't see much, as it's still winter and pretty cold, damp and miserable. But we did spy this soggy hillside. The grass is growing tall and thick. It will get up to three or four feet high. A very welcome sight indeed. Even our dog, Goopi, was excited and wanted to charge off into the grass.

Now that things have gone from dry to wet there is the danger of flooding and mudslides and the possibility we'll wind up in mudslide/flood season. Hopefully there will be a break in the rain, and the ground, which was parched for so long and has soaked up all the rain we've had so far, will accept a little more and things will go well.

Soggy is good.

Valentine musings

In this life we love and are loved by many people. When we are young we are with our parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and other extended family members. As we go through life we make a lot of friends along the way. Some forever, some just for a while. We have boyfriends, girlfriends and spouses, ex spouses. Then we have children, grandchildren and more extended family.

We love all of these people, each in a unique way. Some people are good for us, some not. We also make mistakes. We learn as much from our unsuccessful relationships as we do from the precious ones.

Each of these people leave their mark on our heart. They help make us who we are. Whether they are still around us or not, or gone from this world - they are still with us.

And let's not forget the family dog and cat and bunny - they are often wiser than most people - and have more integrity than a lot of folks.

All the hearts around us. It's impossible to forget them. As they pass through our minds and hearts, as they often do, may we remember the nobility in each one. There is nothing more pure in this world than the human heart.

for Vicki

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When you buy an item from our clearance page, 100 percent of the profits are donated to the National Council on Aging in your honor.

There are a few reasons we chose the National Council on Aging. One is that if we are lucky, we all will be old some day, and we may need a helping hand. The National Council on Aging helps many senior citizens who need it. Another is that according to the Charity Navigator, the National Council on Aging very efficiently uses the funds they receive. There are many wonderful charitable organizations that are doing great things, but in many instances as little as only 22 percent of the funds received are actually spent on programs. We all work hard for our money, and when we donate it we want it to count.

I, for one, feel very fortunate these days. We're not rich, and we try to make our wants few. We also want to help anyone in any way we can. So that makes me feel very blessed.

May we all be blessed.

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When I was a freshman in college I had a psychology instructor who was very knowledgeable and personable. The most outstanding characteristic I appreciated about her at the time was that she had an endless supply of very interesting earrings. I would sit there fascinated as her earrings would dance with her every move. In particular I remember dancing carved wooden Buddha earrings. Those Buddhas would dance and dance and dance.

At that time I used to spend a lot of time at the museum with my boyfriend, since it was a free, warm place to hang out in the winter. I used to love the Egyptian exhibit because they had a lot of ancient Egyptian jewelry - beautiful turquoise set in gold and all sorts of other beautiful things to stir my fascination with all things jewelry.

I've always thought of earrings as fun, and have always had a pretty good collection. They are much more affordable than bracelets and necklaces. Big, dramatic dangly earrings can certainly create a look, as can small demure earrings. I like big earrings with short hair, or long hair pulled back. They can really define a look and set a mood. Small earrings are great for work and casual occasions. The great thing about being a woman is we can celebrate it by dressing and wearing our hair and accessories however we want - among endless other things, of course. We aren't limited to making a choice between the wing tips or the loafers.

So let those Buddhas dance! I think the Buddha would approve!