Thursday Odds and Ends

This is one of my paintings.  I never really did get the knack of it, but I didn't give it much time either.  When you live in a 3 room apartment everything must be put away after use and then brought out again.  The only place I had to paint was the dining room table.  It got to be too much of a bother so I gave up.  Maybe when we move I'll have some room.

 More of my crystals.

 Family and friends in Wahlburger's at Coney Island.

The park in spring last year.  I totally forgot what was going on, but it wasn't anything for me.  Guess that's why I forgot.

A few of my friends at work.  I gave one to each of my co-workers when I retired.  When I last visited two years ago, they still had them.

Hubby came home with a calendar with great pictures.  These two I just could not part with so I framed them.  That was 27 years ago.  Still have them.

My daughter and oldest son, Tom.  Tom and I have been estranged for many years.  I do hope we find closure.  I am not getting any younger.

One of my school pictures.  I think this was first grade.

A family picture, me on the left with the big dark hair, mom, my daughter on her lap, my dad, and my granddad.  This was after my beloved grandmother had passed.

Tuesday Ramble

Good Tuesday morning.  Another nice day here in Brooklyn.  Nothing on my agenda though.  Have to do some rice and beans for hubby and maybe work on some jewelry.  I've lots of gifts to make.  

Had a great time yesterday at the center.  Wellness class had nothing to do with wellness, but it was fun.  Lunch was fantastic.  BBQ chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and an apple.  (dread seeing the scale this week, but I did have salad for dinner).  In Food for Life we made little pizzas.  Oh my, so yummy.

Remember when they tore the houses down next door to me?  Well, this is what it has looked like ever since.  From what I hear, they have problems getting the permits and have been going back and forth to court.  Meanwhile, this is an eyesore.  My apartment is the first floor windows on the while building next door.  Hoping that this gets cleaned up, but hoping that they never get their permit as it will block all the light and air from my apartment.

Meanwhile, this is the beauty in the front my building.  What a difference!

Don't you just hate company that invites themselves and then don't leave?  Now don't get me wrong.  I love company.  I love shopping for, cooking, and feeding people.  I love the fun of planning.  I don't like it when I'm not given a choice. 

I'd had been looking forward to a quiet evening when hubby's sister, her daughter, and he daughter's 4 kids showed up.  Well, to be honest, I DID know that they were coming.  Hubby just bought a new car and they were getting his old one for a 'steal'.  They were just supposed to come and get the car.  Well, they did more than that.

They came at 5 and ended up leaving at 10:30.  We'd not expected them so already I felt bad that I had nothing besides water and some WW cookies and chips to offer them.  Had I known I would have been more prepared.  Well, about 8 they asked hubby where a good Spanish restaurant was in the area.  Inside I breathed a side of relief which  turned toward an inner groan when they decided they would order in.  Well, I don't keep paper plates on hand, and since they didn't ask the restaurant to send them, I had to dig out all my dishes from my China closet.  

Suffice it to say, it was an evening I thought would never end.  Hubby and I had already eaten so we sat and watched them eat.  (They did offer us).  And since we have a small apartment, seating is at a premium.  Hubby ended up sitting on our step stool and I was in an uncomfortable seat.  I wanted my rocker and heating pad, but when one kid got up, another grabbed it.  I know, I should have made them get up, but, it's a long story of why I didn't so I'll leave that for another day.

Monday This and That

Good morning.  What a whirlwind weekend I had.  On Friday  I went to the center.  Went early for the Pet Bereavement group which will end next week.  Lunch was fantastic.  First time I ever had pulled pork.  My peers were saying it wasn't 'real' pulled pork, just pork with gravy, but it was delicious anyway. Had that with egg noodles and spinach. 

Finished this one on Friday.  Not the true color.  Wish my camera would pick up colors better.  This is actually a beautiful gold--golden glass beads, gold colored pearls, and darker amber spacer beads.

Put this one together, but had no time to finish it so I took a picture for the next time I work on it.  I just ordered one of these boards from Amazon.  It makes it so easy to design.  I had tried a plate, but the beads roll all over the place.

Saturday was especially busy.  Heard there was going to be heavy rain on Sunday so I was up with the birds and out the door by 8:45, determined to get everything done in one day. Took care of my banking, shopped at Walgreens, picked up meats at C Town, dropped them off at the house, headed for Super Fresh for my big shopping of the month, then put everything away when it was delivered.  I did all this in a matter of 2 1/2 hours.  That 6 buses, banking, and 3 stores.  Record time.  Of course, it helped that I was lucky with the buses.  Sometimes I have to wait 20 minutes or more.  On Saturday there was no wait. 

Weather report was right.  Heavy rain Sunday morning...and it was still raining when I went to bed.   Stayed in and cooked up a bunch of meats for hubby.  Me, I'm on a salad week.  Bought everything I need to put together some delicious, healthy salads.  Took a long nap in the afternoon, but it was still not enough.  I am so tired lately.  I think it's all the gray skies we have been having.

The ringing in my ears is still there so I guess an ear cleaning didn't do the trick.  In fact, it seems a bit louder now.  Hubby said maybe the ear wax was keeping the noise down.  Who knows?

Today I'm off to classes.  Wellness and Food for Life.  Missed both of them last week with my upset tummy.  

Sunday Selections

Received my April subscription box from Inked Goddess.  This month's box was totally appropriate for the month--Storm Witch.  

I knew as soon as I opened it, it was going to be an awesome box.

 All the contents of the box.

Fulgurite.  When lightning strikes the earth, the intense heat bonds together sand or rock, creating a fused quartz. Many fulgurites form in tubes, indicating exactly where the lightning bolt was centered.  

As usual, an awesome altar card.  This is one of my favorites.  On the back are instructions of how to connect to a storm.  As a storm lover, I am really into this.  It also gives the properties of storm water and rain water.  For example,  a calm  storm brings peace, calms a situation and protects.  The mist of rain water is calming and motivating.

Storm Witch Votive.  A blend of water, basil, and patchouli to help build energy but stay grounded and protected during weather rituals.

Storm Glass with base.  Starting in the mid 1700's, these were used to predict upcoming weather a few days in advance. The liquid inside will form crystals as the temperature changing, letting you know that a storm is coming.

Wooden base for Storm Glass

Lightning Protection Bag.  A blend of herbs, rock salt, an acorn to to create your own lightning protection bag for your home or sacred space.

Storm Brew Herbal Tea Blend.  Made of cloud mist green tea, chamomile, peppermint, and elderberries to help you process the energy obtained during a storm.

Storm Witch Water Collection Labels to be used to label the water you collect.

Next month should also be fun.  Animal Magic.

Saturday Quote

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. 

Henri Nouwen

Friday Roundup

It's Friday again.  Another week done.  Started out poorly-tummy issues-and ended with a bang. 

On Tuesday I went to a senior resource fair.  Lots of good information to be had. It was a long, but interesting day.  I especially like the presentation made by the police department.    

Spring has finally sprung here in Brooklyn.

Took this picture of my building while waiting for the bus.  I understand why they do it, but I hate the fact that they have to trim these trees so.  I imagine if left alone they would be tall and majestic.

This gorgeous tree stands in the churchyard of the center where I go. 

Wanted to share something that I learned in one of the lectures I sat in on at the senior resource fair the other day. It was one given by the police department on scammers. I knew about the IRS and the family member in jail one, but I never knew how 'fishing' worked. I did know that they used something sticky to 'fish' in the mailbox for letters hoping to find a check or cash, but I could never understand what good someone's check to Con Edison would be useful to them. Now I know. It seems they have some type of acid that they dip the check in. This leaves the check totally in tact, but erases the ink so what they now have is a BLANK CHECK which they usually write out to cash in whatever amount they want. We all received a special pen the police devised that the ink will not evaporate.  

Had my appointment with ENT on Wednesday. I really like my doctor. He is very thorough. Left ear had packed in wax that he 'vacuumed' out. Still hear the ringing but he said to give the brain a couple of days to recognize it. Eardrums are both fine. Right ear was wax free, but hearing test showed I had some loss of hearing in that ear. Certain sounds. He checked my jaw alignment. Seems okay. Put a camera down my nose and it was discovered that I have a deviated septum. This is what is causing the occasional pain and congestion on my left side. I go back in 3 months for follow up.

Stayed in yesterday.  Not for fear of the scale, but just because I'd had two really long days, and I needed the rest.  Took a long nap in the afternoon.

Today I'm heading to the center. Jewelry making this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day.

Thursday Odds and Ends

This was my old house in Berkshire Valley, New Jersey.  My mom and dad owned the house, and I rented the upstairs apartment.  We moved there when I was 18.  I left and moved to Greenwich Village at 26.

 I always loved this picture.  The full moon over the church on Christmas Eve.  My son and I were across the street waiting for the bus when I snapped this one.

It was early spring at Coney Island.  This man had a long stick and was walking around the beach looking for trinkets.  The tool would let him know when metal was found.  I forget what you call it.

Another view of Coney Island in the spring.  So quiet.

 The famous Wonder Wheel of Coney Island.

This is my crystal pendulum.

First time back visiting my home.  It has since been sold. 

Brooklyn College in the spring.

A gift from my daughter.

Me with my grandmother and grandfather.  I was about 4 I guess.

A later picture with my grandparents.

This was me with really dark hair.

My mom.  How much we look alike.