Monday Morning Catch-Up

No, I am not back in Colorado. The week I returned from the mountains, we did get early snow (which didn’t stick), but my brother wasn’t quite as lucky. While our weather improved, his deteriorated for a bit. Thankfully, we are both back to nicer weather, although the photo above would make a nice Christmas postcard. The last two weeks have flown by with a mountain of busy-ness. Personal/doctor appointments, cat sitting for a friend, churchy stuff, getting together withRead more

What Day is it?

Today is Labor Day in the United States, so I’ll start off by saying “thank you” to those who are enjoying a day off from their jobs. As of September 1st, I haven’t had to acknowledge this holiday for two years, unless an invitation to a picnic is involved. It’s just another day off to anyone who is retired. Every so often, I wake up in a need-for-caffeine fog and wonder, “What day is it?” Because one can lose senseRead more

SoCS: All Over the Place

Ubiquitous: Everywhere. In mind and body, this summer has been packed with places to go and things to do. I feel as if I’ve been all over the place the past eight or nine weeks. In other words…everywhere. Vacation, meet-ups with friends, appointments, keeping a kitten occupied, a music festival, watering flowers, walking at night with the neighbors, and volunteering for a week-long arts camp for kids through the church I attend. In between laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.Read more

SoCS: Bagging the Last Two Weeks

Gibbs bagged himself a spot on the couch arm recently, and hung out. He was happy his human was home from vacation, but nevertheless gave that “poor, poor me” vibe. Things would turn worse, unfortunately, when the poor soul went to the vet for dental and had two incisors pulled. They are smaller teeth between the canines on the upper and lower jaw. I had a cat once that had all of his lower incisors pulled and afterward, he hadRead more

#SoCS: Trails are the Easy Part

For this week’s Stream of Consciousness, Linda G. Hill has made it easy for me to post: “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “trail/trial.” Use one, use both, use them any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use both. Have fun!” First and foremost, I will not be responding to trial. There’s a celebrity trial going on right now (haven’t watched a second of it) that is much in the media and seemingly never-ending. I think thisRead more

Checking in with Priorities

“Instead of saying ‘I don’t have time,’ try saying ‘it’s not a priority,’ and see how that feels. Often, that’s a perfectly adequate explanation. I have time to iron my sheets, I just don’t want to. Changing our language reminds us that time is a choice. If we don’t like how we’re spending an hour, we can choose differently.”― Wall Street Journal Let me be honest. Blogging hasn’t been a priority of late. I could say that I don’t have timeRead more

#WATWB: Fox Cities Trail System

For this month’s We Are the World Blogfest, I’m going to share the Fox Cities trail system in the Appleton, Wisconsin area. These are some of the biking/walking trails that I utilize throughout the year, but most often in spring, summer and autumn. I may have gushed about our trails before, but the community that also includes Neenah, Menasha, Fox Crossing, Kimberly, Kaukauna, Combined Locks and other surrounding townships, provide many miles of natural landscape, rivers, lakes and farmland. FromRead more

#SoCS: He’s Still Hungry

“Whatever…” “Gibbs. I told you when you are fed. I cannot feed you any time you desire.” “Whatever…” “Seriously, dude?” “Aren’t you my servant and don’t you obey me at all times?” “That’s funny. Actually, it’s a joke that humans tell themselves. It’s only true in that we serve you meals, give you pets and skritches, and make sure you are healthy and loved. It’s not obeying, it’s taking care of a furry little being that doesn’t have opposable thumbsRead more

My Brother Tried to End Me, Part 2

Raspberry Mountain. The glorious, the not so glorious, and the ugly. One week after the adventures on Pancake Rocks Trail, my brother tried to end me. Again. Not intentionally, of course, but what started out as a beautiful day with a beautiful view almost ended in disaster. “Come with me,” he said. “You can hike this,” he said. “Great views at the top,” he said. Brother was correct that I could hike up Raspberry Mountain and the 360 views wereRead more

#SoCS: Traveling With Camera

“The best traveler is one without a camera.” ― Kamand Kojouri Yes and no. No, in that I would not have brought home vacation photos like the one above and the over 300 captures now residing on my laptop. These are memories from a trip in which I saw amazing sights, spent time with family, and taste tested a few beers. Yes, in that many times it’s difficult to capture the awe I felt while visiting Colorado. Many of the mountainRead more

Monday Mash-Up

Today is a bit of this and that Photo images of where it’s at Trails, flowers and an unashamed cat A mash-up entry of the last few weeks Nothing outrageously new or unique Images of the days that gratefully speak Down a hill, up a hill, pedaling away Going as far as I say it’s okay Enjoying a sun or cloud-infused day Sitting on a patio, taking in the sight Flowers in purple, funky orange and white This is theRead more

Courtesy in Three Words

“On your left!” This is a common courtesy shout-out that bicyclists are supposed to give others on the trail system rather than silently passing and scaring the crap out of the person or persons walking or biking on the right. I’ve already noticed that this courtesy has been in short supply as the weather has turned warmer. I’m not sure if bikers are embarrassed to say those three words, if they don’t know they are supposed to say those threeRead more