ODDS AND BODS FROM 9-16-25

 Hello friends and…

(Good Morning)

I hope you started the day off with a nice breakfast. This little guy wants to know...

(What are you doing today?)

Right now, we don't have any plans, so we are going to have a quiet one, maybe start off with a little exercise...or singing.

(Start the day with a song in your heart and a giggle in your wiggle.)

Don't forget that giggle and wiggle. Those are very important steps to start the day. Go on, look in the mirror and go do it. You'll be giggling all the way through your first cup of tea, or coffee. Most importantly we are...

even though we have had quite a rainy day today (9-16-25).

We needed a little extra liquid sunshine.

 Yesterday we went to the garden center and bought mums for the pots on the back deck. It's very nice to see a little color out there. I wanted to buy them early as last year it was too late in the season, and we didn't have them for very long. 

The neighborhood was getting brown grass on all the front lawns. This is just what was needed. My toxic thumb killed off my other plants. Maybe they were annuals. Yes, let's just say they were annuals.

Are you a dog lover?

(Dog lovers are called Cynophiles)

or dogophiles!

I found this interesting but check with your vet first. Click on to enlarge if you have trouble reading.

Top part is “yes”, next is “with moderation”, next “not recommended” and lastly “no!” Pictures are self-explanatory.

Of course, you could be an "ailurophile?"

(Ailurophile (n.) - a cat lover)

He's a smart one, he doesn't know what the word is but he's looking it up and he is checking these lists.

Again, check with your vet first.

Do you like cats and dogs? We had both when I was young.

A word for someone who loves all animals is a zoophilist or philozoist. I'll just go with 'animal lover', it has the same meaning and people don't look at you like you've gone a bit doolally when you say, say "I'm a zoophilist!" or a philozoist.

Here are a couple of more words: "Biophile", a person who loves nature and living organisms in general. Or "Naturalist", a person who studies and loves the natural world.

Anyhow, here's to all the zoophilists or philozoists in the world, and to everyone else who keeps their humanity.

I lift my glass to each one of you.

And while we're at it, let’s teach our children or grandchildren to enjoy nature, to love, keep and protect the natural world around them, and respect all the people who respect them. One thing leads to another and...

you've got kind, thoughtful kids out there. A few with slightly slipped halos is okay too, and as long as they don't get too carried away. I've met a few scallywags in my time who have turned into decent and good human beings, and I love them dearly.

(My lovely wildflower.)

We also need to let them know the older gang love nature and can still dance in the rain…

(Enjoy the little things.)

for…

(When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world - John Muir.)

But...what's most important is to remember...

(Kindness can change the world, and so can your voice for that matter.)

(Scatter kindness.)

And remember...people can be kind and fun too.

(I like people who are kind but carry a bit of sass in their back pocket.)

Time for my dream cottage. What I like about it is that it's small, with tiny windows and a thatched roof. It has roses and other plants growing around it, not necessarily highly manicured and that's okay. The wildflowers take care of themselves and need not worry about the toxic thumb. It also comes with my own pet sheep, who will keep the grass nice and short. I wonder if there are chickens out back? (It would be nice to have a never-ending supply of poached or soft-boiled eggs.) And look where we are, we can go through the gate, down the path to the ocean and walk along the beach. 

It has a nice, cozy dining room.

A lovely corner to catch up on mail, if you like stepping back in time. I love those old typewriters.

The bedroom with my own dried herbs hanging from the light fixture, giving off a lovely scent.

Then I would come down and drink my first cup of tea, or coffee, on the porch out back and watch the sun rise.

In my little dream of a garden, I would walk through this gate. I love those old rusty hinges along with the pretty flowers and birds, don't you?

Time for the food. How about a loaf of quick bread?

And this for dessert. This is going to be a high carb day, but remember, this is only in my dreams. All bets are off when it's a special treat day.

I make a pie crust on the rare occasion - it’s been a long time - I am curious about adding the cornstarch. Has anyone ever done this?  

And oh, this sounds so good. 

Or this

These when you might have a tickle in your throat. I haven’t tried any of the following, but the first one sounds very soothing and healthy even without a cold and I will make the others sometime. And don’t forget to check with your doctor first.  

If I don’t write everything out for translation and our international friends are curious, let me know and I will write them out in full in your comment. You can check back the next day.

Here's a good place to start winding this down.

(You don’t have to be positive all the time. 

It’s totally fine to feel sad, frustrated, scared and even fearful. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. It makes you human.)

(“What’s your best discovery?” asked the mole. 

“That I am enough as I am.” said the boy.)

Thanks for visiting!

and remember…

What do you have to remember?

See you tomorrow!

(Thank you Pinterest for today’s inspiration.)