Take a minute...

 THIS IS RIGHT ON THE NOSE. .......READ IT SLOWLY... I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE IT, BUT I AM GUESSING IT WAS A SENIOR!!!

AND THEN IT IS WINTER You know. . . time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's NOT over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

REMEMBER:....

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

"LIVE HAPPY IN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR!

LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE SO - ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

~Your kids are becoming you.......

~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!

~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch..

~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?"..."when?"... "what?" . ???

~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.

~But Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!

It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.

Playing Pool! and other stuff

 Butch and I play pool every day, which usually takes about an hour. Yesterday a few of our Deja Vu friends joined us! It was a spontaneous, impromptu event. Those are the very best kind!

A few years ago our old garage flooded due to an inconsiderate neighbor who was aiming his sump pump water in our direction. This happened while we were in Texas of course. So we decided to fill some sandbags and place them around the garage door to see if it would help in case they did it again. It hasn't happened again but we found there were additional benefits such as the snow did not build up in that area, mice found it harder to enter, etc. So we decided to use the same method for the new pool hall. The problem is what do we do with them off-season? Still haven't solved that one. I told Butch I was going to decorate them as little snowmen and I may go with that but I am open to suggestions. 

My niece Karla and her son Devon recently vacationed in Omaha and had fun at the zoo. Here they are, having fun!

Cheep Bird Pics

 

And a baby Bunny!

Happy Birthday, Rich!

 Today is our oldest son's birthday. I texted him to see if he wanted to play golf with Butch. He said he would love to but had to work today. We had our kids young and on more than one occasion we have voiced that we could hardly wait till they retire so they could play with us. That should happen fairly soon in the scheme of things. Oh, Happy Day!

Curious?

 I came across this article explaining the why and how of Guest and Incognito functions. It is a well-written explanation.

Enjoy if you are of a mind to.

https://www.thundercloud.net/infoave/new/why-and-how-to-use-guest-mode-and-incognito-mode-in-google-chrome/

Updates...

 The Saturday garage sale went well. I had too much stuff leftover but will make a decision soon to give it to charity or try again. In the meantime, it is covered with a green sheet so I don't have to look at it.

My friend Colleen is visiting for the next two weeks. We took our first walk this morning just like old times. It was a beautiful cool morning. We used to walk the trail in about 40-45 minutes. Today it took over an hour. We have slowed down as time marches on!

Butch is gearing up for a golf tournament with the guys on the 21st. Rich cannot make it this year and Sherri is taking his place so it will be 3 guys and a gal. Sherri is a good golfer and can hold her own. If I had replaced Rich it would not have been a good thing but this arrangement should be workable. Sherri has been the women's course champion on at least one occasion.

Anyone have a Ford Taurus?

 Buying the cheaper cuts of beef is the only way to go these days so I found this RV newsletter thought-provoking and entertaining. Personally, we eat a lot of Pork! We had a most delicious Iowa Chop a couple of days ago.

https://www.rvtravel.com/surprising-ways-tenderize-steaks-1654/

It is too darn hot!

 I try to keep water in the satellite dish. Especially when it is as hot as it is. Supposed to reach 100 today. The squirrel is taking a break, loving the water even if it is warm water.

Link didn't work (jigzone)

 My experiment didn't work for posting the puzzle on my blog. So just go to www.jigzone.com and click on puzzle of the day. You can change the cut if you so desire. 

Hmmm...

 

Half Black Squirrel

 The underside of this squirrel is black. This was noticed and photographed the same day as the bald-headed cardinal. Some days are like that!

Bald Headed Cardinal?

 This bird pic was taken by me as it perched on our feeder. Research on the subject says it is not unusual.

Garage Sale next Saturday

 We are having a garage sale next Saturday the 31st of July. I have had things tucked away in nooks and crannies ever since we left Magnolia Park for just such a sale. The magnolia garage sales were so simple! It has been a mixed blessing getting ready for this sale. It has been quite nostalgic at times. It has also kept me awake for a few restless hours here and there.

This sale will be held with 4 participators and that alone should make it a good one. So stop on by if you are in the neighborhood next Saturday. All-day or until we are sufficiently sold out.

Blogging!

 My friend Deon and I have been in the blogging business for a while now. When we were in Magnolia it would sometimes be overwhelming trying to keep up with my personal blog-www.brooker3.blogspot.com and the www.Magnolianews.blogspot.com. So I asked for volunteers to help me with it and Deon stepped up and has been helping me out ever since. She recently added some info to the Magnolia blog that could be very helpful to many of us. You can read her entry here: https://magnolianews.blogspot.com/2021/07/barbs-blog.html

She has some very useful advice in there. Thanks, Deon!

To continue: I have let the Magnolia Blog slip away from me. I still, at times, have diificulty keeping up with my own. I started off doing the blog in 2002. At that time getting photos on it was not an option. I remember how excited I was when I could finally post pictures! For one thing I could explain things better and if I was dried up so to speak I could add pics and get by. I now have the ability to add to the park we are in now too. https://trophygardens.blogspot.com/ Sadly, I still have trouble keeping up with my main one so the trophy one also gets ignored unless we are in the park and even then it does not get the devotion and enthusiasm I had for them in their beginnings. I still have a warm spot for my first one and it has been researched on more than one occasion when we could not remember things- When did I buy that computer? -or my camera? 2017. What year did we go to Old Guerrero in Mexico etc, a quick look didn't bring that one up.😕 So anyhow,I can spend hours looking at posts from the past. Fun, but doesn't get the dishes done!

62nd Anniversary today. Leo and Keri will be coming by later! It seems we can talk for hours and never get done! Another Happy Anniversary!

Poof!

 The days seem to go 'POOF' and they are over. Butch is mowing...he loves to mow. I am gearing up to get ready for the garage sale...recognize the procrastination in that sentence. That is what is wrong with the whole process. There is way too much thinking! Okay, enough already, gotta get started.

Feedburner? (%@^&)

 I have been notified that Feedburner is being done away with. It is not something I had been thinking about. As near as I can figure it means that those of you who read the blog and get notified of new entries in your email will no longer get notified. BUMMER. I relied on that as I know many of you have as well. They say I can get a 'new one'! I know little to nothing about this-what one is best-how to enact it-etc. So another learning curve!! And in the meantime, you will have to go directly to the website to read the new entries...as I understand it. Also, I assume you will have to go through the process of signing up again. Nuther Bummer! Stay tuned if indeed you can. www.brooker3.blogspot.com is and will be still available. The only thing affected is the manner in which that happens.

If you want to know what I am dealing with you can read here:

https://support.google.com/feedburner/answer/78982?hl=en

One of those days!

 First off I learned that Donna Gabbert, visiting her sister, Mickey, fell at the car wash and broke her arm! She said the floor was slick as snot! Many of you know Donna because she lives in Rio Valley Estates in Weslaco, Texas, and keeps a blog going year-round and I know there are some of you that keep track because she writes about things happening in the valley while we are all up here. She will be staying in Iowa for at least a little while until she can safely drive home with her arm in a cast.

The next thing was hearing from my sister. Let's just say it didn't go well. Then I found out from my other sister, the pool table sister, that her sister and brother from her father's first wife, their mother, was near death and they were seeing to that. Don't ask! It's complicated but makes perfect sense to me. Then I heard from a niece about more family info. Some days are just like that! This whole paragraph is going to create more questions than answers...and more phone calls! It seems these kinds of days come up all in one short period of time. One thing about it I am about talked out so should sleep well tonight...I hope. 

Meanwhile...Butch and I are getting odds and ends done around here. I am gathering stuff for the garage sale. It is always a relief to have garage sales in your past instead of the future. It will soon be over!

Funny?

I get comics every day in my email. I thought it was strange that this one showed up after the blog entry yesterday. This particular one came from a site called "That is Priceless". It is old-time paintings with new captions underneath. Warning! Sometimes they are racy. 

https://www.gocomics.com/that-is-priceless

 

Gary and Leo

 

Reminder

 This morning I had a text message that said "They" had tried to deposit my stimulus check 5 times but had not been successful and to please contact them right away or lose it. I know that I will never be contacted by either the IRS or any other government entity by text message, phone, or email so I quickly dispensed it to blocked numbers/spam. But my heart sank at the number of people who might unwittingly fall into their trap.

Please stay alert to these tactics!!!!