gift for my friend

i finally finished the mosaic piece for my friend Jared. I worked with him for about a year and became good buddies. He's a TA now at university in Madison, Wis. SO, hopefully he'll be able to pick it up over thanksgiving. I'll be driving home this year to see mom. We don't have a traditional thanksgiving feast. Mom stopped that when all the kids moved out. She hates to cook. Can't blame her. I hate it too. We'll probably have pizza. That's fine with me. I sure hate the drive. 4 hours of crazy drivers on the interstate.Hopefully my sister Susie will be there on Saturday.It's always great to see her. Susie is a great sister. We didn't always get along as kids. But, i think she's pretty fabulous. She only gets more beautiful with age.

Tiger Haven

Tiger Haven
i just spent 50.00 on a dress> If i had to do it again i think i'm going to send 50.00 bucks to tiger haven,they have there hands full. It would'nt be needed if people were'nt so greedy and think they need an exotic animal for show!!!It breaks my heart. But, at least some other people are there to pick up the discards.

"Senior citizen" I think "NOT"

I hate the word "Senior citizen". I think we should think up a new word. I'm not there yet, So, I'm changing it before i get there. I got my AARP card and threw it away. I opened up the envelope and said "What the hell is this"!!!! I must take after my mom. When she turned 80, we took her out to eat. The woman at the entrance said 2 adult and 1 senior citizen? My mom reels around and said "I'm no senior citizen! Oh, she was insulted. "Okay the lady said. "That will be 3 adults". "Senior citizen" brings visions of wheel-chair bound, nursing home confined and drooling. I'd even prefer "older person". Any thoughts or suggestions for a new word?

congratulations dog walker

I want to congratulate my blog friend of dogwalkmusings for getting Henry Alford's 10 favorite blogs written by seniors or are about seniors. Please check it out. I personally don't consider her a senior citizen. But, i like to check her blog regularly to get the scoop and her opinion on all the latest happenings in this crazy world. Some people just are'nt interested in that kind of thing. But, i am.
Also check out Henry Alford's blog of the other 10 blogs. He's a sometimes writer for vanity fair and the new york times.
there is one website called I HATE YOUNG PEOPLE. I laughed so hard tears started coming down my cheeks. I added it to my favorite blog list.

Adding a new favorite movie

Actually I've seen this movie 3 or 4 times. That for me is the criteria for a favorite movie. It's called "the world's fastest Indian". It's about a guy from new Zealand, 80 years old . He takes his Indian motorcycle to the salt flats in Utah. Then the tale of how he gets there and breaks the land speed record. It's got Anthony Hopkins" and is quoted saying it was one of his personal favorites. It's also a true story.It's a great study of human nature and a great story to boot. Go rent it !!!

collage/painting

I tried to paint some flowers last night and failed miserably. I won't give up but, it's going to take some doing. So i finished another painting/ collage of my usual subject matter. MY Kids. This is a portrait painting of "The beautiful Miss "E".SO beautiful and regal. HA!

bird in a basket!

While i'm at the computer, greta is in her basket. She looks so cute, her butt in the air. I buy her baskets to chew up. A new one every week. If there's no basket to destroy she starts eyeballing the woodwork.

funky dolls

I had today off, so i went and did alittle antiquing. I found a few things. I went to Kalona. At the old church, i found a new monkey doll. I've been picking up old or unusual dolls. I have to buy small things anymore. furniture just has NO PLACE here. I was reading my friend Sharon's blog. She was saying she doesn't have trouble finding stuff to haul home. I have trouble. Not to many things grab on to me. Most things are more than i want to spend. But, if i can't live without it. money means nothing. The more unusual the better. I love Gothic rose antiques, everything crystal has is COOL. But, California prices and Iowa prices are a bit different. She has a wonderful velvet drape (from a fortune teller or something)I'd really love to have it.

fall clean-up

All this gorgeous weather is getting me out and working in the yard. Digging elephant ears and cannas, dahlias. I have never had cannas. I learned they are very prolific. i started out with about 6 and ended up with about 50 or 60. I can understand why i always see a big box of them outside the post office. Every spring, with a sign that reads FREE. The humming birds love them.

let's fiesta

In all the years I've been on this planet, i have never seen this much excitement. I can feel the energy everywhere. I was at work last night and everyone was singing and dancing, high fiving.Some people were saying , I'm so glad it's over, so tired of the ads and the calls. Well, the way i feel about that is. I can't imagine keeping my sanity for this long, campaigning day after day.All the traveling and talking talking. To people that said they didn't vote, shame on you. With ALL this effort, It's every one's responsibility to get off the couch and vote.

Thru it all, Obama was flawless. Eloquent is a word that comes to mind. Someone who won't be an embarrassment.

Hail to the chief

ivan where are you?

We didn't see are or hear anything the first year. I was looking believe me. I had learned that the fellow that lived in our house before us had killed himself. Bill knew who he was . His parents had built the house and There were 2 kids, Ivan and leota.We bought the place from leota.
Very late one night I was tossing and turning in bed. Bill fast asleep.
I suddenly see the entire room filled with small balls of light. They were swirling in a circle, above us.I wake bill up and we both sit up and watch the swirling mystery lights. There were no drugs or booze involved in this siting. Then all of a sudden They all converge to the center of the room and disappear.
After that spectacle, Everyday we would see a single large ball of light flying about the house. Also see a dark figure walking back and forth in the room off the living room. A closet door would open and slam shut.
The dogs were also seeing the flying balls of light. You could see there heads following the direction it was going.Going up the stairs and it would fly right past.Every day and all the time.
A friend told us about a spiritualist convention in Clinton Iowa. She really recommend we go. It a convention for spiritualist from all over the country. They give readings and other interesting things.
We went.
I sat down in front of a older woman at a table. She was fussing with the edge of the table cloth, rolling and unrolling. She just asked my name. Cathie i said. She proceeded to tell me about a man that was standing behind me. "He's not a relative but, a Friend". He telling me he left something for you at your home. He left you a bible. He's saying "If you ever need help to pick up the bible and he'll help me.He had no one to leave it to. But, he's leaving it to you.
I left the room and told bill what she said. "Oh my god Cathie, In the shed i found a hat and a pair of boots and a well worn bible."
From then on we called our ghost Ivan.
I found myself talking to him all the time.
He was a definite presence in the house, but, not a frightening one.
He lived with us about 4 years
Then one day i said to bill, "I don;t think Ivan is here any more"
He said he didn't think so either.
Bill's mom worked at the local funeral parlor. She called to tell us that leota had died afew weeks earlier.Leota was Ivan's sister.
Ivans leaving coincided with his sisters death.
We miss him.