A BLOG BREAK AND LEAVING THIS AS MY LAST POST FOR A WHILE

"People who think life must get boring with age, clearly have not experienced the joy of watching the bird feeder while taking that first sip of coffee in the morning" 

My imaginary cats agree with me.  

I hope this gave you a smile too.  

I added the cats because I love cats, though I have not had one since childhood, and there are none in the house. Hubs is a dog person (I love them too) but at this stage of the game, that won't be happening either. He sees me hobbling around and says, "Nuh-uh" and words to that effect. He gets a scrunched-up nose and eyes rolled to the ceiling from me (hello Dad), but he's right and I content myself with doggy fixes when we are out and about.

In the picture I gave myself a pair of dangly earrings because I love earrings and dangly ones especially, since teen-hood. My father couldn't stand mine, he thought they weren't ladylike (this is going back 60 plus years). He was an old lovable post-era Victorian man, what can I say? But could that man laugh, he would laugh until he had us all laughing with one of his funny stories, and tears ran down our cheeks, salt of the earth. Mum didn't like dangly ones either, but I used to ogle the Indian shop window on my way home from school and look at all that exotic jewelry on display in the window. Absolutely loved what I saw but never could afford as the price was way above what I could save with my pocket money. Hints for Christmas were ignored, and I continued to get my Bunty and Judy annuals, and I think Rupert the Bear was in there somewhere, another book I favored. No, I'm not knocking books, as they were my all-time favorite Christmas gifts and reading them on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, after our festivities had ended, was a real treat and I always looked forward to them.

We were talking about earrings weren't we? The saga continues! At the age of 50 mum finally had her ears pierced, also my sister. They went to a jeweler to get them done, not at the same time. I think mother saw sister's newly pierced ears and followed soon after. My dad was not a happy man. I can still see him scrunching up his nose in disgust and rolling his eyes to the ceiling. No, I don't have pierced ears. Whether it was my dad's influence or not, the infections both my sister and mother had from theirs (sorry for that image) put me right off! They did all the right things, but they had a terrible time. I couldn't stand the thought of having holes in my ears after that. And as for dad I think there was a 'told you so' in there somewhere, and he and I nodded at each other sagely as we scrunched our noses and rolled our eyes up to the ceiling. He put up with my dangly earrings after that.

So, the birds and feeder are a given and when I saw the saying online, I thought it was perfect. I added the flower myself and I love hearts, so that had to go on the flowerpot.

 Coffee is my favorite drink first thing in the morning. I drink green tea in the afternoon, with a cup of chamomile infused with vanilla and honey in the evening (no caffeine that late in the day). I haven't had a proper cuppa in a while, it's overdue. Maybe tomorrow!

The birds are slowly coming back and so have the squirrels (and chipmunks). One of those naughty squirrels has been eating the leaves off my mums (flowers), but they are looking a bit past it now the colder weather is arriving at night. I have truly enjoyed them though.

Enough of the blathering, as I wanted to tell you I am taking a blog break. Nothing too exciting, just things I have to take care of. I am not sure how long for, a few days, a week or two, I'm not really sure. I know I am going to miss you all, but I need to make a clean break. I'll be catching up with you when I get back.

For those of you who are having life challenges, whether it's a loved one's health or your own, know that you are never very far from my thoughts and I am sending all the prayers I can muster. I love you all and am sending hugs.

Thanks for always being there for me,

and have a continued outstanding October.

(The graphic was a request from me done in BingAI, plus graphics from pixabay.com, a royalty free graphic program, which I put on the original request picture using Paint Shop Pro, a program I have had for many, many years. I found the phrase online. I believe it fits many of us).

FROM GRAY WOODS THEY COME…

“From gray woods they come, on silent feet into a cone of light. A lifting note, O fair! O fleet! There the night through we take out pleasure, dancing to such a measure as earth never knew.”

~Seamas O’Sullivan~

Seumas or Seamus O’Sullivan (born James Sullivan Starkey, July 17th, 1879 - March 24th, 1958), was an Irish poet and editor of The Dublin Magazine. His father, William Starkey (1836 - 1918), a physician, was also a poet and a friend of George Sigerson. He was born in Dublin and spent his entire adult life in the suburb of Rathgar. In 1926 he married the artist Estella Solomons, sister of Bethel Solomons. You can read more at this link.

My photo was given an artistic effect but as it was done several years ago, I have long forgotten which one I used. The fairy was part of the Fairy Garden at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, Virginia  

WHEN YOU ARE SAD MY LITTLE STAR

An old photo of mine and a favorite I have shared before.

"When you're sad my Little Star, go out of doors.  It's always better underneath the open sky."

~Eva Ibbotson~

A Countess Below Stairs. 

If you click on the author's name under the quote, you will see where I got the following information from. There is a lot more to read.

"Eva Maria Charlotte Michelle Ibbotson (née Wiesner; 21 January 1925 – 20 October 2010), was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her children's literature. Some of her novels for adults have been reissued for the young adult market. The historical novel Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001) won her the Smarties Prize in category 9–11 years, garnered an unusual commendation as runner-up for the Guardian Prize, and made the Carnegie, Whitbread, and Blue Peter shortlists. She was a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Prize at the time of her death. Her last book, The Abominables, was among four finalists for the same award in 2012.”

DRIVING HOME THE OTHER DAY...

these are trees that I pass all the time. I have watched a few turn color and these were particularly beautiful. I missed the most glorious part with the sun shining directly on them.  But I am happy that I got these photos before they lost all their leaves.

"Love the trees until their leaves fall off, then encourage them to try again next year."

~Chad Sugg~

"Two sounds of autumn are unmistakable...the hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street...by a gusty wind, and the gabble of a flock of migrating geese."

~Hal Borland~

"There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of autumn leaves."

~Joe L. Wheeler~

I made the above into a painting on my ArtCard App.  I haven't done one in a while.

Next are scenes from Halloween.  Some families are starting to put up a few decorations.  These very tall scary looking figures have started appearing this year.  I have seen them in other areas.

Another painting on ArtCard...

and in monochrome.

There was this one also.  I am hoping to drive around to take photos at night before the spooky season is over.  Decorations look even more effective when lit up in the dark.

I found the cartoon and decided to end my post with it, not exactly anything to do with Halloween.  I winced for the poor dog and smiled at the same time, followed by an "awwww".  I haven't seen any porcupines around here, so the dogs appear to be safe from them at least.  I wonder if the cartoonist is taking something out of his own dog's life experience?  A little humor but with a point, no pun intended.

That's all for today.  

I always appreciate your visit.  

Thanks you and whatever your plans are, I hope you enjoy them.

A LITTLE HUMOR

A cartoon to tickle the funny bone.  

I have seen versions of the three wise monkeys for years but never really thought how they originated.  Apparently, they date back to 17th Century Japanese carvings.  The three are Mizaru (see no evil) covering his eyes, Kikazaru (hear no evil) covering his ears, and Iwazaru (speak no evil) covering his mouth.  Sometimes there is a fourth monkey, Shizaru (do no evil) crossing his arms, but as in the cartoon above, he seems to have taken up blogging!

I received additional information later.  Someone who saw my original blog post (this is from my old blog) commented, "Zaru is actually the Japanese word for monkey (though the proper noun is Saru), and their names are literally seemonkey, hearmonkey and saymonkey."  

Here is a poem I found online.

Three small monkeys on my table

Each as good as he is able,

Not to see or hear or say

Things unpleasant through the day.

One with hands across his eyes,

Careful that he never spies,

Does not see the faults of others,

Neither playmates nor his brother.

One with fingers in his ears

That he's sure he never lies,

Now the third with fingertips

Gently placed upon the lips,

That he may not speak unkind

Thoughts that enter his mind,

Now without the fingertips

Pressing closely on the lips,

He should guard the tongue as well,

And be cautious what we tell.

May the conscience be our guide

Telling what to see or hide;

Let us learn without delay

What to see or hear or say.

The Three wise Monkeys

~Author Unknown~