A gift to myself ~

I had clothes and household items I no longer need or use.  Everything was boxed or bagged and waiting for a destination for delivery... but where to send these things? I did not want them to go to a place where they get resold. I wanted the items to be given away. Thus I began a search for a home.

In my town there's a place called "The Free Store." They had a drop off in front, under a weather protecting canopy. Wow! That would work. I loaded my van and set off. It was easy to find, and there were ready hands to help me unload.

The ready hands were thanking me, but I felt I should thank them instead. After all, weren't they doing me a favor by taking these things?

The ride home was interesting. In the beginning it was to clear out some clutter, and stop hanging onto things that had no value to me. The impact of what one person can do ~ had simply gone over my head. Suddenly I felt as if I had given myself a gift. I hope you understand this. I hope you'll consider doing this... it's a great feeling.

Remember the dishes!

Things to avoid for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving song

Thank you for bearing with my absence. I feel better but it's slow going still. I hope to return soon. Today I want to post a song for you. Here are the lyrics.

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.

Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.

Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone in the gift of loving-kindness.

Grateful for whats understood,
And all that is forgiven;
We try so hard to be good,
To lead a life worth living.

Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.

Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.

Tuesday's The Phil Review: a hare raising moment

Leaves a-blowing in the wind
I take my feet out for a spin.

Here I sit out in the grass
Fall is near and coming fast.

The sun is bright in a sky of blue
Perfect photo for Phil's review.

Keep these moments close to heart
As warming lights for Winter's dark.

Dear Readers ~ 

Some folks are affected by the changing of the seasons. Changes that might bring mental sadness, lack of motivation, or other paralyzing thoughts. If you're affected like this, try to store up some happy moments for those times. Maybe you have a suggestion that would help, please feel free to share (smile).


~ Phil

The Phil Review for Thursday, Oct. 15th

Welcome to Phil's Thursday review!!

The dcrelief song competition post can be found here >  Battle of the Bands.  If you are interested, or like music, she's got two Halloween songs. Listen to both and vote for the one you like.

Is your Halloween spooky or cutesy? Let's do pumpkins:

Let's do ghosts - spooky, cutesy, or maybe raunchy?

Do you have a favorite candy that only comes out at Halloween?

The Phil Review - Tuesday, Oct. 13th.

Hello! I am Phil -  not to be confused with the Pennsylvania 'groundhog,' named Phil. We're very different, though we're both related to the Queen of England :) Now days, who isn't somehow related, as a distance cousin, or possible enemy?

My favorite/favourite thing is the alarm clock on my cell phone. Naps are vital to an old hare like me, so a quick snooze is refreshing. I have a profound admiration for the snooze button... it can be reset up to seven times. 

Is this the month for big beginnings of, "who's running for President?" Now we'll go forward a whole year, yakking about one person after another.  There will be lots of dirt flying - get your safety glasses now! 

Here's a candidate with issues already:

This month is the season for 'all things spooky' or Halloween related. I feel the need to post my own warning photos:

Questions for you: Are you related to the Queen of England? Do you nap? Are you a snooze button user?  Do you own safety glasses? Do you like pumpkin flavor? Are turnips decorations spookier than pumpkins??

See you next time!

~Phil

New feature for Tues. and Thurs. : The Phil Review ~

Philanthropist Phil
is helping us chill
by writing a blog or two

On two days per week
Our dear, Phil, the geek
Will take on the job of glue

To hold the blog intact
and hopefully impact
The reader's point of view.

Teddy and I really need more down, and alone time. Let's see how it goes - every Tuesday & Thursday!

Be here or the Hare gets canned!

dcrelief & Teddy

Yikes! Hurricane Joaquin!

Thursday through Friday, hurricane Joaquin brought fierce rain and wind - lasting for hours. 

Periodically I'd check the outside for any possible brick wall damage. Any damage could cause a shift in how the rain water drains away from my house. Basically the walls also keeps the land from shifting. 

You've been with Teddy and I, all last spring and summer, as we struggled to re-do the retaining walls, and plant new flower beds. I am happy to say: OUR work was FRUITFUL! 

I'm writing this Saturday, lunch time, hoping the worst has passed. Hard to believe I'm about 250 miles from the East coast, and could still get this weather! Watching from our favorite window, Teddy and I are grateful. Parts of the city are reported as having flooded. News weather is projecting more of this through Monday. Teddy and I hope we're no longer on the receiving end (smile).

It's still a very overcast sky, but the trees are calm, if only for a few minutes. If the wind returns the limbs will begin their swaying, again. We're hanging on and hanging out! Keep us in your thoughts, please.

I know, I know!!!

I always seem to be late getting in on the excitement of Halloween. Yes, I know, I'm really early. If I don't do something now the days will fly by, and all the spooky photos, poems, and experiences will have been used up. Here we go ~ my (early) Halloween thoughts...

First - the photo poem:

Cat on a cloud
Looking very proud
Staring at the fish
Who has one simple wish ~ to swim faster.

My candy poem:

M&M's are waiting at the store
Must buy three bags ~ hmm, maybe more
Candy corn is always great
Use a bunch to decorate a cake.

My costume poem:

Try to guess who I am ~
Living in a magical land
Tiny wings and pointed ears ~
One that children never fear.

Happy Pre-Halloween! I'm done (smile).

Has spam changed your life?

Some people generally define spam as any unsolicited email.  I admit I've called it by worse names... (probably shouldn't share them here.) 

Some look so tempting...I've thought to have a peek, but no! Still I'm very curious and have a question for you. Don't be shy  ~

Have you ever opened a spam mail and actually benefited from it? 

You know you want to tell me, don't you?! (smile).

Sunday and another umbrella - again!

Rain is forecast for another six days. Under the overcast sky, it comes and goes.

Meanwhile I trek to the store, taking an umbrella, which I then leave in the van!

So far the van has three umbrellas - two more are in the house.

It's possible I have one stashed back, that I received for Christmas - umm - last year

(I hope.)

I need a way, to remind myself ,to return the umbrellas to the house after my treks.

Help!

Passing on some free advice ~

Oops, again ~

The tough part about Internet communications is the lack of insight that a face to face meeting offers. Okay, fast forward, I really misjudged a situation. By the time I figured out who, what, where, when, and why - the party bus had pulled away from the curb. As much as I was determined not to make a mistake.

Past experiences dominated my thinking. And in those good old days, I ran away!  I don't know of any way to go back.  It becomes one of those situations where you let the lesson speak.

This probably doesn't even make sense.

Have you ever convinced yourself (for example, give yourself about 10 reasons) 'why' you should avoid something or someone? Later on you might wonder, 'what' was the big deal? I'm guessing the big deal was my fear, but fear of what?

Oh well...

Bed of Dreams ~

This year's leaves will fill the back flower bed.
It runs one third the length of my mini-forest. 
The bed is 2 feet wide and thirty feet long. 
Compost and fertilizer will top it out.
Just before spring I'll till the soil, mixing everything well.
Finally... sow all the flower seeds, collected from other beds.
I hope it will be amazing!

Now that's a "Bed off Dreams"!

Do you make Autumn plans for Spring planting?

Weeds or wishes?

There are many people who dislike the lowly Dandelion. Children love them, but many adults hastily mow them down. Why is that? I don't have an answer.

I see them and think, "Oh look, the childrens' flower has arrived." 

There's one left and I know Fall is approaching. My little childrens' flower will soon hibernate. I have one last wish I can make. 

Do you see these as weeds or wishes?

If you answer, 'a wish,' then what would you wish for on the last flower?

Window seat theater

The yard is slowly awakening - the sun launches from the East.
The seventh hour shows some blue sky - white puffy clouds will arrive soon.
Trees are tall, with golden rays intertwined - dew glistens on the rose.

It is the breakfast hour for birds and other creatures - they are moving.
A studio window is my front row seat at the theater - I request a peaceful day.
Time to extinguish my candle - head my way - being mindful of others.

In my mind I hear, Yanni Hrisomallis  ~

Little Busy Feet

The little feet had a busy week. I kept telling them: "little feet - don't fail me now."

Just survived a week of running around. I kept thinking, if I sit down it's all over; I'll never get up! Might as well move while I got energy and determination. Truth be told, a time management plan would work wonders for my life. Yep, I'm busy at being busy. But this coming week, I promise, (I mean it), I'm slowing it down.

Do you get busy at being busy? How many busy weeks, in a row, can you go?

Favorite time of year ~

The air is slowly changing
There's a sweater on the chair ~
Long walks are very pleasing
As I breathe the morning air ~

The squirrels will soon be gathered
In nests, high in the trees ~
On the ground, eventually slathered
Will be autumn's colored leaves ~

What is your favorite time of year?

Sometimes

Recently this happened with me. In less than twenty-four hours, I answered, 'no.' I could have said yes, but there's that thing about "being true to one's self." I have boundaries that I do not cross - maybe it makes life a bit limiting, but it's an honest assessment too. In short, if I deceive myself, I might also be deceiving another. Isn't that cruel, and undeserved by the receiving person? You know it, and so do I.

I think the poem called, 'The Serenity Prayer' will always be helpful.

God ~ grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

       ~ courage to change the things I can.

And ~ wisdom to know the difference.

Have a great evening, (smile).