Late afternoon frequent visitors !!

Smile when you read this one ?!

I'm amused because "an old crow" was a recent visitor. One old crow visiting another old crow?? Yes, the big black bird was feasting on seeds on the ground near the feeders. The menagerie is growing: Five squirrels, five raccoons, one crow--and a long list of small birds.

5.9 earthquake rocks Virginia, East Coast

Did you feel it?? I did!! I was sitting at my computer and had the thought "That feels like an earthquake." Most of my life, I lived in Southern California. I'm very familiar with the "feel" of an earthquake!! It was confirmed as I drove to the market and heard about the quake on the radio.

"Historic event" according to the evening news. Furthermore, according to the news media, it has been 110 years since the last earthquake on the East Coast. That's not accurate because I experienced an earthquake last year while visiting Vermont.

I've never experienced a hurricane but that may change in a few days. Hurricane Irene is blowing toward the Carolina's.

One angry K-Mart customer !!

It was entirely out of character (for me) when I stormed out of K-Mart empty-handed. I arrived at the check-out with six small sale items. They were boldly marked with red discount-price stickers but the clerk scanned them and charged me full price. "I beg your pardon!! $3.50 times 2 equals $7.00; $4.00 times 2 equals $8.00; $2.50 times 2 equals $5.00 for a total of $20.00. How dare you tell me that I owe you $32.00!!" ~~ Ever wonder how often we are overcharged?

Christmas Shoe Boxes for Samaritan's Purse

It's that time of year: Time to start preparing shoe boxes for Samaritan's Purse. I was shopping--at K-Mart--for small items. Prior to that, I was shopping in a Christian Thrift Shop for suitable things.

No, I wasn't buying for myself!! In fact, I'm making progress "downsizing." I delivered five boxes of much miscellaneous to the Christian Thrift Shop.

This past weekend I sent several boxes of audio tapes, and VHS tapes, to new locations. It had been suggested that the local prison could use the audio tapes of great sermons, and Bible studies. ~~ A mother--with seven children--was delighted with a Banker's Box full of "G" movies (Little House on the Prairie, Christy, Long Long Journey, etc.). ~~ A chrome, 3-shelf, stand may resolve a widow's storage problem?! ~~ Other advertised things were never claimed. Maybe next week??

Back to the topic of Shoe Boxes: While "downsizing," I put jewelry aside for "girl" boxes. I have lots of costume jewelry I'll never wear. I have ribbons of various colors. Perhaps a little girl--in a foreign land--will be happy with her Christmas box.

I have a large box, and large tote bag, destined for the local crisis pregnancy center. I'm told the Center likes to pamper the girls with gifts. I'm sending cute stuffed animals, scarves, purses, "chunky" jewelry, toiletries, small CD player, etc.

Living "full time" in my tiny T@B travel trailer educated me in the art of survival with a minimum of "stuff." As time goes by, I plan to distribute most of the things previously stored (for sixteen months) in the PODS container. Confession: I have an affection for the things accumulated, spanning decades!! It "feels good" to donate audio tapes (of Lloyd Ogilvie sermons) to the prison. It "feels good" to share VHS tapes (some still in their original wrap) with someones grandchildren. (My grandchildren never came to visit.) It "feels good" to give stuffed animals that caught my attention in years past. It is easier to donate when I have a mental image of the destination. I'm not prepared (psychologically) to have a Goodwill, or Salvation Army, truck back up to the apartment and haul things away. That day may eventually arrive but not in August (or September) 2011. It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway), there are many things that I hoped to give my children and grandchildren. I have **LOTS** of memorabilia: Personal items that were cherished by my parents and grandparents. (My children and grandchildren ignore my frequent attempts at reconciliation.) ~~ At this date, an unresolved question: What will I do with all the boxes of family history?? What will I do with the thousands of pictures? ~~ (Oops!! I got off-topic; the latter has nothing to do with Shoe Boxes for Operation Christmas Child.)

Consolation comes in small packages !!

During times of depression, I've often said "I'm hanging on by my fingernails." To my amusement, my squirrel-friend got into the bird feeder and he was "hanging on by his toenails." ~~ My holistic health remedy (small package) is helping but I'm still mildly depressed.

Two Sundays ago (August 7th) was advertised as International Forgiveness Day. I sent lovely "Forgiveness" e-cards to my sons with a heartfelt plea for forgiveness and reconciliation. I haven't heard from them. Ergo, my depression. ~~ I find some comfort in the words of Mother Teresa. (And I love watching the birds and the squirrels!!)

Mother Teresa’s Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

From my leisure chair....

Squirrel-friend wasn't content with the food in his specific feeder. He had to go for the sunflower seeds in the bird feeder. The birds weren't happy; they flew around chirping at the squirrel!! After I took several pictures (long distance), I told the squirrel to "go." He departed briefly but returned and you can see him climbing the slender wrought iron pole. He was not intimidated by me as I approached him and the last few pictures are without telephoto. I could have reached out and touched him!! I nudged him with my camera and quietly told him "This feeder is for the birds; go back to your feeder." I hung the white plastic chain thinking it might discourage him from climbing the wrought iron pole. That didn't work and he came back for more sunflower seeds. Isn't he cute?? ~~ Recently, I had four raccoons feeding on watermelon rind and old bread--on my patio. (The picture is "grainy" because taken through the screen door and later cropped.) ~~ Click each picture to enlarge it for better details.