On My Mind Today

It is time to bring America back to the strong, vibrant country it was in the past - what it should be now. Time for all of us to have pride in our country. I recently watched an episode of 60 Minutes, and they revisited Florida where they say 1/4 of all homeless Americans are living. The families they featured were proud and strong, and all they wanted was a job so they could support their families. They were not looking for handouts - just work. Mothers and fathers who tried not to let their children see them cry as they wondered how they were going to feed them. Hoping that where they were parked for the night was safe. One father sitting watch on a cooler outside the car all night. They live in these vehicles as shelters are filled to capacity. Their children were wise beyond their years, attending school even though they were living out of a vehicle. Striving to get the best grades they could so they would be able to attend college. One young girl ...

It is very easy to see nature's beauty on a bright, sunny day when you can see the sunshine sparkling on the water like thousands of diamonds. When you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and hear the birds singing as they fly overhead. You know the true beauty of nature when you can see it even on a rainy day. The sky may not be so clear and blue but there is much to appreciate if you can just sit quietly, look around you and be still long enough to focus on nature. There is a very light rain falling and as you look at the trees you can see the tiny rain drops hitting the leaves and gently rolling off to the ground. Water that will nourish the plant life and insects that are buried in the ground (or hiding under the leaf on your tomato plants). Gray clouds in the sky take on their own shape and it is amazing the things you can see in them if you take the time to stop and use your imagination. Maybe you will see a child, an animal, mountain...

Vacations are great, and we had a wonderful week off mid July. However, I think we need a vacation to recoup from our vacation. Sometimes you return and are exhausted from all the fun. Our week off we went from NH to Montreal, back to NH, to Martha's Vineyard, back to NH, to Derby Line, VT and finally back to NH. All of our travels were during one of the hottest weeks of the summer, and we did a lot of walking. The up side of this - great food and no weight gain. We started off in Montreal - a great city and our second trip there. We did a tour of the city (fortunately on an air conditioned bus), walked all around old Montreal and downtown and had some wonderful meals. One meal in particular was unique and served in a relaxing atmosphere. They started us off with a cold carrot-curry soup with fresh baked bread and butter, followed by a cheese board with 2 cheeses, thinly sliced apples, grapes, walnuts and thin crispy bread....

Over the years many friends come in and out of our lives. Some come, stay a while and then they are gone never to be seen again. They had a reason for being in your life - sometimes we know - sometimes we do not. At least not until later in life. Others come in and out and back in again, and there is always a reason that they do. There is an unshakable connection that brings you back together. I can count my good friends on less than two hands, but they are lifetime friends that I would always go to if they needed me. And I know that I can count on them. Even if we have not seen each other for many years we can come back together and it is like it was just yesterday that we spent time catching up on life. Unfortunately, sometimes in life we never have the opportunity to come back together. Last year I found out that a good friend from high school had passed away from pancreatic cancer. We had been out of touch for many years and I had no idea she had been diagnos...

I am sure many of you have seen the show where young twenty to thirty year old couples are out looking for their first home. I am always baffled when I hear them talk about the following: the house is old, needs too much work, kitchen doesn't have granite counter tops, no master suite with a separate bath & soaker tub...and on and on and on. It amazes me that at such a young age they think that they should have all the things their parents have. Do they not understand that their parents have worked their entire adult lives to get where they are and to have what they have?? The first home we purchased when we were going to start raising our family was over 100 years old. It had good "bones" and definitely needed updating. It had small rooms, an older kitchen and bath and the old plaster walls. We were every happy to have this home and never once thought it was not good enough for us so early in our lives. Our first child was to arrive a few months after we moved in...

We have been waiting patiently since spring for our garden to get to this point. From the planting, weeding and watering every day to stringing up the peas and guiding the beans to climb the poles up towards the sky. Nurturing each plant in hopes it will at some point in the summer produce those wonderful fresh vegetables for our table. Praying the bugs and animals will not eat before we do. This week we have had fresh peas, cucumbers, and also zucchini and green peppers sauteed with onions, fresh basil & oregano. I am not sure what is better - the smell of these wonderful things as they are cooked or the flavor as we savor each bite. We share the work of our garden - he does the planting, weeding & watering and I harvest and cook the wonderful bounty. Now I know it may seem I get the better end of this deal, but I tend to my flower garden so I guess it all evens out. However these tasks are divided we both have a great appreciation...

One year ago I left a position after 11 years as the stress was literally making me ill. I had decided to strike out on my own and never have to answer to anyone but myself again. I knew this would not be an easy undertaking, but also knew that I could be successful in time. I have had to dip into my reserve funds to survive which has made me very uneasy at times, but the change in my health (both physically and mentally) has been worth the cost. On my journey I have connected with networking groups and have met some of the most amazing people. They have been welcoming and encouraging - helping me to believe that I can make it on my own. Each one has their own story as to how they came to where they are in life, and I have enjoyed getting to know these people and know they have enriched my life. Because of this endeavor of mine it has allowed me the time to enjoy my grandchildren more, and help my family in ways I could not when I worked a 9-5. Spending time with my mother as I...

I'm sure that everyone knows by now that the U.S. Olympic Team uniforms were made in China. Really???  I wonder who dropped the ball on this one. Were the China Olympic Team uniforms made in America?  I would be surprised if they were. Now I know that not everything that we purchase will be made in the USA and there does need to be fair trade, however it seems to me that our Olympic Team uniforms should have been made here. We certainly have manufacturers that could have done this and I am sure the cost would not have been any more. At a time when our economy is struggling to get back on track I have tried to make a conscious effort to buy as much made in the USA as possible. Not always easy, but I have found that you can purchase most anything you are looking for from an American manufacturer. A great website is http://madeinusaforever.com/ .  You will find clothing, household items, toys, tools, organic/green products, lawn & garden, out...

If you take a look around it is apparent that people are stressed to the limit today. It is difficult to work all day, take care of your children, try to spend some quality time with them and also keep your home in order. Having said that you will also notice that everyone is so connected to their cell phones, computers & televisions that they are not communicating with each other at all. Even children have their eyes fixed on a television or computer screen, or texting on a phone if they have one.  I see parents talking or texting on their phones, not even looking at or talking to their children. Is it any wonder that so many children have lost the art of basic social skills and communication? Or that the only way they can get their parents attention is to cry or throw a temper tantrum? When my children were growing up they were not happy with me as I would not have any video games in the house and I limited the TV time and what they watched. At...

Over the past weekend one of my daughters was visiting with my 22 month old granddaughter. I will tell you what I always tell my daughters - grandchildren are even better than your own children. This is true for many reasons. One is the fact that you do not have the 24/7 worry of your grandchildren as you did when your children were growing up. Another is your age - when you go beyond the 50 year mark so many things become clear and you know how to relax and enjoy your grandchildren. The things that made you crazy in your 30's are no longer so important. The joy of watching my granddaughter with all her energy, and her independence and wanting to "do myself!" brings such a smile to my face and makes me want to forget everything else. To see her at the bow of our boat, facing the wind with her Mommy and Daddy holding the life vest, as she turns to Nanu and says "faster Nanu!" with no fear. It does not get better than this, and I get to do it all ag...

It is becoming increasingly painful to watch what is taking place in Washington, and abundantly clear that none of our politicians (including President Obama) has any idea what the average American is dealing with today financially. They tell us with the new health care bill that if you "choose" not to purchase health care coverage you will be taxed. Don't they realize that most people who do not have health care coverage did not choose to go without it, but cannot afford to purchase it. What makes them think they can afford a tax if they cannot afford the insurance premiums. Unfortunately they will not deal with the insurance companies and the premiums being charged, or with the fees charged for services by providers. As usual they are trying to pass the cost of this health care bill onto the backs of the average American instead of addressing the real issues.