Have You Seen My Desk...?

Somewhere in this stack of clutter in front of me, I used to have a desk. On this desk I used to have a lot of useful items, like a pen, a memory stick for my PC, a small calculator and other various odds and ends. The cats have taken it on themselves to completely move and rearrange everything. Well, almost everything...I still can see my clipboard. Right now it has two Siamese cats laying in the middle of it, but that's OK cause I can't make any notes on it anyway without my pen.

I thought that with two cats right in the middle of the desk, some of the dust would be removed. I was wrong. How can something as big and furry as two cats roll all over the desk without removing any dust? Another mystery to be stored away and solved at a later time.

I have all but given up on trying to keep anything in a place where I can find it. Now if I am looking for something that's missing, including my glasses, I just start by looking on the floor. Now days it's important to look on the floor before taking any steps first thing in the morning. You just never know what is going to be there...

I guess that as long as they leave my coffee and my chocolate alone...I'll be fine. Lucky for me, they don't seem to like either. What they do have lately is a sudden interest in the screen of my PC. Walking on the keyboard is another activity that's starting to become popular.

However, I have a secret weapon of sorts. It comes in the form of a Water Bottle with a squirt top on it. The one thing that the cats don't like is to be shot with a short burst of water from the water bottle. I don't even have to squirt it anymore, but just to reach for it.

So now it's safe to go outside to the patio, armed with my squirt bottle and a fresh cup of coffee. I can sit out here until I figure out how to go about finding my desk again...want to join me? Oh, and bring your own Water Bottle...OK?

Remember Grandma's Apron...?

I don't think kids today know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears .

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples or pecans that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Back then... Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Today...her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

Today's generation would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron, but I never heard about anyone catching anything from an Apron.

Now how about we get some fresh coffee...straight from Grandma's stove?

The Art Of Financial Planning ...

Dan was a single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed a wife with which to share his fortune.

One evening at an investment meeting he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away.

'I may look like just an ordinary man,' he said to her,'but in just a few years, my father will die, and I'll inherit 20 million dollars.'

Impressed, the woman obtained his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.

Women are so much better at estate planning than men.

Remember, if you fail to plan then you plan to fail!

C'mon...let's get some coffee, my friend!

The Comfort Of A Hidey Hole...

Everybody needs the comfort of a hidey hole where they can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday madness. For the roomies, their newest place is on my desk, just behind the monitor. Normally this is a good place to stay safe and be protected...as long as you don't start pushing things off the desk. However, when you start rearranging things the way you like them instead of the way the Hermit likes them...then trouble is just around the corner!

Now normally the roomies and I manage to get along pretty well, but they are now getting into the Cat version of the teenage years...and are starting to push the edge of the envelope as far as the rules go. They are of the impression that the Hermit is a pushover for any violation of the house rules, as long as you give him a hug or two! Wrong!!

The Hermit is really tough (stop laughing...I really am!!) when it comes to the rules!! No amount of hugs and purring is going to make things better if you break the Hermit's rules. The wrath of the Hermit is a terrible thing, even for a cute little ball of fur! Slowly the roomies are starting to understand this...so now the Hermit is being subjected to the Cat version of a threatening stare!! Since Smokey is the biggest of the two, he was chosen to practise this scary stare down of the Hermit right after a recent rules violation in order to prevent punishment. I know that you don't know whether or not to believe me...so I am putting visual proof in today's blog so you can see for yourself! As you can see...a lesser roomie might be intimidated, but the Hermit is brave (don't laugh...I really am!!

Now I know this picture may be shocking to some...but I put it here so you can see just what terrors the Hermit is faced with each and every day!

Actually, the more I look at this picture, the more I realise that Smokey isn't being threatening at all, but has just awakened from a nap . He isn't trying to look at me in a mean fashion, but is instead thinking of whether or not my lap is a likely place to resume his nap!

So the stare down is over, the roomie is back to napping in another location again, and the Hermit is ready for a fresh cup of coffee. Want to join me...?

Chose The Healthiest Food Color For You...

We all have colors that we like and dislike. How we react to a particular color can give us an indication how that color can be used to help with our well-being. Most of us when we are shopping for food don’t notice how we are drawn to a product by the color of the packaging or by the color of the item itself. This can be an indication of the body trying to direct us to the foods we need to re-balance our health.

Foods have two different kinds of color energy...one is the color of the food and the other is the color of the energy it supplies. An example is chocolate (don’t we just love it?!)...it’s not red in color but because of the instant energy it gives us it is considered a red energy food.

Choosing food by color.

• Food colors that we are attracted to temporarily reflect the immediate nutritional needs of our body.

• Foods that display our favourite colors will always be needed because they give us the particular energy that supports our body’s function.

• Foods belonging to the least-favourite or even disliked colors will provide the nutrition and color energy we are lacking.

• If you have problems corresponding to certain colors, you may wish to introduce food of that color into your diet to help your body with its healing.

Red colored foods and red energy foods.

Red foods are generally rich in minerals and provide good sources of protein. They are good for increasing energy levels so are useful for people suffering from anaemia, light-headedness, lack of stamina and low energy levels.

Watercress and parsley are both green in appearance but because they are high in minerals they are red energy foods. Red wine...red in color and provides iron but because of its high alcohol content it is also contains violet energy as well as red energy.

Red foods include: strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, peppers, onions, beetroot, meat and fish.

Red minerals include: iron, magnesium, zinc.

Orange colored foods and orange energy foods.

Orange foods help with the release of toxins from the body, they help to support the reproductive system and encourage creativity. They help with the release of toxins from the body by encouraging the system to become more efficient in the removal of waste. If you are not getting enough orange or orange energy foods you may suffer from constipation, stiffness in your muscles or joints, stagnation on an emotional level like writers' block. Introducing orange or orange energy foods into a tired or toxic body is easier for the body to handle than the strong, direct energy of red foods.

Orange fruits include: oranges, peaches, apricots.

Orange vegetables include: carrots, peppers, pumpkins.

Other orange foods include: brown rice, sesame seeds, oats (all provide roughage), shellfish.

Orange minerals include: calcium (for healthy bones/muscle relaxation), copper (helps absorption of iron, improves flexibility or arteries)

Yellow colored foods and yellow energy foods.

During our daylight hours, the sun gives us our main source of yellow. However, as modern life uses up a lot our yellow energy due to pollution, chemicals, indoor living, and high stress levels, most of us need to eat yellow foods.

Lack of yellow can lead to irritability, tension, poor memory, digestive problems, a tendency towards hot flushes, depression and an inability to make decisions.

Yellow foods include: lemons, bananas, grapefruits.

Yellow vegetables include: peppers, pumpkins, grains such as rice, corn.

Other yellow foods include: eggs, fish, oils, fatty acids food.

Yellow minerals include: sodium and potassium (for healthy blood pressure, function of the cells and the muscles), phosphorus (for healthy bones, teeth, kidneys, nerves and energy levels), iodine (for healthy arteries, balanced thyroid).

Green colored foods and green energy foods.

Food that is green or works in a green way tends to be rich in vitamins and minerals. If you are not getting enough green energy this can make you feel depressed or trapped and give you low self esteem or breathing difficulties. A quick, easy way to bring green energy into your life is to go out in the open air and be around natural surroundings (ok, I know this can be difficult for some of us living in certain areas, but you will have to go out looking!)

All minerals act in a green way as do herbs. Eating foods in their natural season or locally grown foods allows our bodies to settle into the patterns/rhythms of our immediate surroundings.

Green fruits include: apples, pears, avocados, green grapes, limes, kiwi fruits.

Green vegetables include: cabbage, broccoli, sprouts, green beans, leeks, spinach, peas.

Other green foods include: herbs such as marjoram, basil, oregano.

Blue/Violet colored foods and blue/violet energy foods.

There are not many foods that are blue or violet in color but there are foods that contain blue or violet energy. Blue foods are useful when you have problems with your voice, glands of the neck or need help communicating.

Violet energy foods have a powerful effect on the workings of the mind. Food additives or colorings create illusion (a violet function) and some additives also have an addictive quality (another violet trait) . Both alcohol and sugar belong in this category when they are used to excess to escape the real world, such as in comfort eating or drinking to blot out feelings.

Top Tip from Reiki Healing Spain. Blue/violet fruits include: plums, blueberries, black grapes.
Blue/violet vegetables include: all seaweed products, asparagus, aubergines. Blue/violet minerals include: iodine (enhances the function of the thyroid gland), potassium (keeps oxygen supplied to the brain).

Now if I have properly bored you with all this wonderful knowledge...may I suggest some nice, fresh coffee? How about a Peanut Butter cookie on the side...!

Going To Be A Slow Day...

I am taking this morning off to keep track of the rain and to do some maintenance work on my computer. Sorry, but it has to be done from time to time. Some of the programs I need to run won't allow me to do any work and have the software run at the same time.

So...I'll try and get back but in case I don't, here is some music to entertain you a bit. Take care and have a good day, OK?

Good News And Bad News...

Well, as the hurricane starts to come ashore in Louisiana I'm struck by the fact that Texas has once again dodged the bullet as far as major hit or damage from a hurricane for a long time. This is for the most part good news. Very little loss of life in the States, light damage to property, not much in the way of flooding (at least not so far).

The winds have dropped off to a mere 110 miles per hour, the storm probably is a category 2, down from a category 3. There are plenty of warnings of tornado's and power outages, but as far as hurricanes go...Louisiana is faring pretty well. So is Texas...and there in lies the problem.

Several major storms have started in this direction over the last couple of years, and so far the Texas coast has missed out on the brunt of the storm. Every time a storm changes direction and Texas misses out on the major trauma of a big storm, the people have a tendency to get passive and less concerned with the danger the next time a major storm is announced. Fewer and fewer people take action and prepare less and less. While this is really good news as far as no direct hits, with everyone getting more and more passive as far as preparation the chance of extreme damage to life and limb when we get the inevitable hit.

Whether it's in life or a hurricane, or a thunderstorm, or even a heavy rain we cannot allow ourselves to be lulled into believing that nothing bad is going to happen. The old saying around the Texas coast is to "prepare for the worst and hope for the best!" Just because nothing happened this time doesn't mean that it won't happen the next. I'm not trying to be negative here, but merely point out the danger in letting down your guard in any potentially dangerous situation.

Let's remember to keep good thoughts in our hearts and mind for all the less fortunate folks caught in the fury of the storm as it comes ashore. Watch a little of the damage being done as it's shown on the weather channel and you will see just how fortune has smiled again on those of us who have missed the major part of these storms at this time.

I'll take the heat, mosquitoes, thunderstorms and the like over a hurricane any time. Thanks go out to all who offered the good wishes and showed concern about our safety. It is all appreciated, it truly is.

Now let's go outside and have some fresh coffee at the patio table...and be thankful that the patio furniture is still there.