I have always been a walker. Now that I have a high energy dog there is no excuse for not getting out there. And the weather is not an interfering factor here. Early morning and early evening are our preferred times so even when it gets hot we should be okay.We can get quite a long walk going around the neighborhood, greeting neighbors out working in their yards or walking their own dogs ..read more

 We went shopping for a new couch. I liked this one, the first store we went to. Of course it would be an impulse to buy the first one so we trekked around to other stores -- something we liked more, a better deal?No surprise that we ended up going back to that first store the next day and purchasing that couch for our living room.Also a matching love seat for the den where we watch TV ..read more

 I went for a walk on Sunday afternoon and noticed there was a pile of white paper bags in the driveway at the end of our street. I mentioned to Don that our neighbors were going to line their drive with luminaria. He'd never seen that done before -- thought it was something made up for the movies!It turns out, at dusk, the couple lined the whole street with the bags and put tealights in ..read more

 No matter where your name falls on the list. Happy Christmas ..read more

 The UU church I attend in Florida had a cookie decorating/carol singing gathering this past weekend.I made some sugar cookies on Saturday morning. I don't remember if I blogged about making cookies last Christmas. Don had asked me to make some Christmas cookies so I made the cookies I associate with the season -- rugelach and Scottish shortbread. Don was startled since he meant sugar ..read more

 I found Christmas decorations. I have downsized each year for a few years now. I have some candles in the windows and a few other touches around the house.I do have some Santas, but angels are a theme as well.A gift from my niece.A gift from my friend, Donna.I made paper cut trees a few years ago.I found this fungus on a forest walk and turned it into an angel.I bought this in a craft shop ..read more

 Our puppy turned one in October. He is such a sweet boy -- playful, super friendly, affectionate. My friends and family were all flabbergasted that I got a dog. It was Don's idea and he thought Absolutely Not would make a fine name but he named him Levi after his paternal grandfather.I've lived with dogs before, but they were never "my" dog. Levi is definitely my dog.People constantly stop ..read more

 Thanksgiving here in my house was very quiet. It was a beautiful day and Levi and I had a great long walk. I made myself a bowl of popcorn and watched an old movie -- Death of a Salesman with Dustin Hoffman and a young looking John Malkovich.I had made the traditional dinner ten days before because it's one of Don's favorites. He has been having a great deal of pain and had an infected tooth ..read more

  “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”                                                                                -Thornton Wilder (1897-1975)May your hearts be filled with gratitude.May thankfulness shine a light on your ta ..read more

 Slowly, slowly, we are getting settled in our new home in Florida. We are getting rid of some of the old furniture that I had down here and replacing with new. Don is still trying to find homes for all his stuff -- tools and collectibles and books galore so the boxes are not disappearing as quickly as I would like, but progress is being made.There is yard work to do and a few fix-ups to take ..read more