Common sense 

It is becoming an endangered species.  

If it's snowing...

Dress for it, don't assume you will be warm and comfy in your car

Drive with caution and think about others

Help your neighbors

Shovel, check on them, do they need anything?

Quit watching TV, TikTok, Reels, YouTube - they don't teach you to be human, they teach you to want, want, want and not think about anyone but yourself. 

If something isn't working right, let the person know who is in charge, or if it's you see if you can figure it out. And call for help. You will learn something. 

I have more - but today has been a rough day and not for me. 

I heard something this morning, I thought it was an animal, it was very loud and I have a huge imagination so thought that it was just me making up a story. It was 5:40 AM, I had heard some loud animal noises on my road in the last few weeks, so kind of brushed it off. I was nervous, called out "hello" but no response. I kept looking behind me. 

I wish I had walked up the driveway

I wish I had been braver

I wish I had not been afraid of a police officer telling me to stop calling about stupid noises. It has never happened, but I have a very active imagination. 

A neighbor died. Locked out of the house, in the snow, called out but I didn't do anything. 

Common sense - look into things, you may save a life. 

Happy...

We are the fur Bradys, RB brought the girls, Gracie and Bob, and the boys came with me, Henry and Einstein. Gracie is the dog, the others are cats. And we are all getting along and enjoying our lives.

Our yard is wonderful...sometimes I lay in the grass - Henry lays down near my head, Gracie on me or next to me...it's such a wonderful thing. The woods are so full of life. The rabbits are the most noticeable, but we've caught turkeys, raccoons, porcupines, skunks, deer, fox and coyotes on our game camera. So very cool, well except for the skunk, because Henry hasn't learned anything and has managed to get the house skunked and himself 3 times this summer.

RB built a bird feeder that is a very busy place. The birds seem to love it. Blue birds, cat birds, robins, Blue Jays, chickadees, and so many more come to visit. The squirrels are only in the woods so far - and I think that the cats are a good deterrent. Henry has been a killing machine, we shouldn't have a mouse or vole problem this year.

I've become very good friends with my neighbor across the street. She's an 82 year old fireball! Mrs. M - and I really enjoy her company and the stories she tells. This winter we'll be playing scrabble. She likes Gracie and has allowed her in the house.

Henry likes to join Grace and I on our walks, usually at night and sometimes rides on my shoulder as I'm walking - it's rather comical. And when Einstein joins us - I begin to feel like I'm the pied piper of animals.

I'm really happy....the move from living alone to being part of a family has been joyful. "we" is a beautiful word....

Morning walks

I think these are my favorite.
The world is slowly waking up - well, except for the birds...
The birds are flying all over and chirping, cheeping, tweeting, singing, whistling
One bird did a whistle that was so similar to RB's whistle I whipped my head around thinking it was him.

The deer were down the road - slowly walking across ahead of us.
Our neighbor hadn't come out yet to get his paper - so they were still close.
The rabbits saw us coming and booked into the bushes.
Gracie saw them and stopped to watch them and sniff the air
Her nose hit the ground and I could hear her snuffling...as we walked along

Glad to be able to see the sun rise through the woods and fields....

God is good.

Walking

Gracie and I have been walking.
First we started out 1000 steps, or so, each time
Three times a day

Smelling new smells
Hearing new sounds
Seeing new things

Bluebirds, Robins, Blue Jays, noisy chickadees, sparrows....and so many more
Smelling fireplace wood smoke, cow manure, snow, freshly mowed grass, freshly cut wood
A marten was our first wild animal we saw up close

Deer, Raccoons, Foxes, Loud male Turkeys, very cool to catch on the camp camera
Hearing the Pileated Woodpecker beating on old trees
Hearing the male Turkey calling all ladies, hearing their much lighter response
Hearing the cows, from down the road, mooing in the morning and evening
Hearing the bees, buzzing in the apple trees
Hearing the wind blow through the firs and trees - very different sounds

Watching the clouds scurry across the sky
Watching the Robins hunt for their worms
Watching other birds flitting from limb to limb, tree to tree
Watching the limbs and now leaves dance in the wind
Watching the landscape come to life as spring breathes new life into the land

Grace and I now walk 1-2 miles per walk...
loving everything we see and experience
The new people and dogs we meet
loving our new home...

We are settling in nicely. We've been here for 6 months, still trying to find stuff that we packed and put 'away', realizing that we have way too much, but trying to figure out what to do with all of it. We are moving stuff out of RB's house still but again, we'll get there.

The animals are getting along pretty well. Henry likes to walk with Gracie and I, early in the morning. Bob, the girl cat, joins us in the living room every day. And Einstein is the cool cat...loving his new home. We are the fur "Brady's", RB brought the girls and I brought the boys.

We have apple trees, red maples, asparagus, two very cool little 'houses' out back, a pear tree and so many things we have yet to discover. We aren't planting anything this year until we figure out what we have. There is some work to be done on the front and back decks but again - we will get to it.

All in all, we are very happy here and thankful for this space - it's beautiful and peaceful.

Our neighborhood bluebird...his lady showed up too.

Einstein, soaking up the sun.

Gracie on the hunt for anything that smells good...

Just one of the flowers that the lady who used to live here planted. It's an adventure to see what will come up next.

Henry, learning that it's hard to be a city cat in the country. But I think he's getting the hang of it finally.

The woodpecker tree out back...they must be practicing on it - or it's a lovely bug smorgasbord for them.

My absolutely favorite sunset picture so far. I zoomed in and the color was incredible.

Heaven

We are in our new home, with Gracie, Einstein, Henry and Bob (Roberta) - that's one dog and three cats. egads....the house is small, a little bigger than my old house, but with all these animals and cold weather - well let's just say it's interesting.

the trees were a little cold this morning...it was -3 at this time. 

Everything looked cold - this is the new backyard...I love it. 

beautiful trees out front - they were cold too.

Close up of the icy branches...

Blue skies coming out  - still -2 degrees. 

 The property is wonderful, Gracie and I love walking all over it. We've done lots of work in the house and more to come.

Changes...

RB and I have a new home, it's not completely ready yet, but we should be in right before Christmas. :) I'm so very happy - we're going to be our own version of the Brady's - he's bringing Gracie and I'm bringing Einstein and Henry. We've been working our tails off. Pulled down the walls in the living, dining and master bedroom, put up sheetrock and everything is painted. RB put down a new floor in the living room and in the master tomorrow.

The house is a little smaller than RB's and a little larger than mine - but it has a Garage that is HUGE! I think that was the selling point for RB - he's in heaven out there. We won't be living in Utica, but very close.

My new job is going well. That's a good thing and it's so nice to work close to old and new home.

I'm so very Thankful for everything. God is good and I tell him thank you every day.

Pictures will follow...

Merry Christmas!

Fall is here!

I'm really not sure where the summer went. Lots of adventures and fun times. Kayaking, camping at Stillwater twice (once cold and wet, the second time hot and dry), Forestport, walking with Gracie and the big one - changing jobs.

I was incredibly blessed to be able to find a new job to further my career here in Utica. I don't have the drive to Oneida every day now and can get to work in about 5 minutes if all the lights are red. At my old position it was stagnate - there was no where for me to go, but now in my new position there is room to grow and learn and I'm treated with respect. God is so very good.

Went on a day trip to NYC yesterday with KS. Bus trip through her work. She suggested that I do the online lottery before we got on the bus to see if I could get tickets to Something Rotten on Broadway. She also filled out the lottery too. Well, I figured I'd get tickets, not understanding how it all works. And I did - at 10:48am I received a text that I had won two free tickets and to respond Yes to save them. I responded YES! and since we were only a few blocks away we walked over and got in line to pick up our tickets. There was a couple ahead of us that didn't know what they wanted to do yet, so they let us ahead of them (very sweet) and I gave the gentleman my ID and told him how excited we were. KS talked up the show big time (she's seen it 2 times prior to yesterday) to the couple and pretty much talked them into it. I watched the mans face at the ticket booth and he was smiling and kept clicking - then he says to me - we've got two tickets in the first row, you'll have to look up, is that ok? I just laughed and said absolutely! For $35.00 each, we got fantastic seats and honestly I felt like I was making contact with the actors on stage throughout the entire show! It never has a lull - it's funny, so very funny and just a joyful thing to watch. KS and I also had pizza at John's Pizza next door to the St. James theater, it used to be an old baptist church and it's beautiful inside. The pizza is really good - thin and crunchy! After the show we went to Chevy's Mexican and had chips and salsa as well as Margaritas! YUM!

It was a great day and the people that we met everywhere were fantastic! Friendly, helpful and beautiful. It was cool and misty rain was falling, but it didn't dampen the day at all.

I hope you all have wonderful days and God blesses you fully!

Catching up on a few items

The Tour de Cure was today, it was a fantastic day for a ride! I was actually a little chilly for the first few miles, but between the constant peddling and sun - that changed really quick.

The other riders in the 40 mile group were awesome. There was a group of about twenty that kept telling me to stick with them, but I just couldn't do the 16-18 mph that consistently. But I did have a better time than I think I ever have and feel pretty good other than a sore bum.

I used sunscreen - the spray kind. Where it did make it onto my skin it did great, but boy did I miss a few spots. I have stripes and spots.

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The Utica Comets lost their bid to become the Calder Cup Champions, but Utica is so proud of them. Can't wait for next season to start, and it's not that far away!

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I haven't done much more in my back yard. The plan is to take some pallets that I have and paint them white, use them as a decorative fence and hang fun things from them - or just put fun decorations on them. We'll see how this summer pans out. I've been really busy with a lot of different things - so it's been a little crazy.

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That's if for now. I need to crash, so tired that I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open. :)

U-TI-CA

Utica is rallying around the Comets! It's the Vancouver Canucks AHL team that came to Utica a few years ago.  This is an awesome article about the Comets written by Derek Jory who is a writer for the Canucks . It's pretty damned cool...

The Comet's Facebook page is awesome and I'll link it here too.

We need a miracle now - we're down 3 to 1 but with the heart that this community has and the strength and will of our team...I think we're going to do it.

U-TI-CA!

Tour de Cure 2015

I'm riding 40 miles on Sunday - really looking forward to it. I've been working on getting in shape and I think I'm doing pretty well with it.

The Tour de Cure is a ride to raise money for Diabetes. My Aunt Becky and my Grandma Gates both died from complications due to Diabetes. My Aunt Becky had type 1 and was diagnosed quite early and had a lot of issues with it over the years. She had a lot of problems and didn't really take care of herself, not realizing the ramifications of that. She died about 25 years ago and she was only 40. So very sad.

My Grandma was older and was my 'fairy godmother', it was wonderful when she came to visit. She would always make her jello with carrots and celery. LOL can't eat jello or necco wafers without thinking about here. Or the smell of the old time dry cleaners and the fluids they used to use (she worked in a laundromat that had drycleaning machines). The smell of wintergreen lifesavers.  I don't know exactly what happened but she was found a couple of days later, still alive but very weak. She died on June 8, 1981.

So....if you can donate - I would really appreciate it.

Tour de Cure 2015

My Yard...part I

Christy and Terry came over yesterday to help me get my yard in shape. I've been feeling under the weather, and while I have managed to get a lot of raking done, there was a lot of other stuff that I haven't done and honestly I wouldn't have done, because I didn't know how. They came over with all their tools, beer and tequila. They know how to make gardening fun! The Wegelia in the front always needs pruning, but I've never done it like they did and frankly it's gorgeous and I had six bags of black mulch to really put a spin on it. They also clipped off a lot of the dead stuff and low hanging and oddly placed branches of the Purple Smoke Tree. I did work, I promise! I raked and carried mulch bags and filled up the bins of all the brush and stuff. We did work in the back as well, removing lots of old trees, bushes, weeds, moving the furniture out so it can be used and just plain enjoying ourselves.

The Wegelia after the pruning and mulching. The duck and umbrella were too cute not to put out there.

From the other side. Still have privacy while on the porch, but Wegelia will be so much happier and healthier.

These spinners are going crazy here. Christy took some of my purple irises. They needed to be thinned out!

The duck is too cute!

The purple smoke that has come out of nowhere. I think my mom had something to do with it.

This is the very happy Purple Smoke Tree after it's cleanup!

The purple smoke before we got it cleaned up.

Peaceful backyards

My friends, Christy and Terry, have a wonderful backyard with a pond with lots of Koi, lots of birds, trees, bees, butterflies. It's peaceful and the company is wonderful too!

The plants are in to help clean up the pond water.

The sun peeking through the trees - it was so warm and joyful.

Koi are very happy - they'll be even happier when the water clears - which will be shortly.

Beautiful flowers, just starting to bloom.

Tinkling windchimes and new plant growth - with a little peek of Budha in the upper right corner.

It felt good to sit and laugh and talk. Listening to the bees, the water, the birds. Nothing like it in the world. (well except maybe the ocean waves at dusk with the breeze).

A New Canal Adventure...

I brought Gracie to the Canal in Marcy this afternoon for a nice long walk. We met Ann and Bill, a very nice couple from Seattle. They are riding the Canal trail from Buffalo to Albany. They set up camp in Marcy and after my walk with Gracie we went to visit and talk about their experience so far and I told them about the trail coming up. They were fantastic people. They have my phone number, so if they need anything I'll be able to help them out.

It was beautiful - not hot, not cold, it was JUST right!

Gracie got a bath when we got home because the ticks were horrid.  But it's still worth the walk!

Gracie - loving the whole trail!

Looking East towards Marcy.

Looking West on the trail - towards Oriskany.

Temperature swings....

Last week and this past weekend were hot (80's and 90's) and dry until Saturday and Sunday - which was then hot and humid with some rain. Then....the temp started to drop. And I do mean drop. I don't think it got warmer than 55 yesterday with the morning low of 39 and today, well today we have a frost and freeze warning! But it will warm up to close to 70 tonight but tomorrow morning is another frosty morning.

So, which one do I prefer? the cool weather. Hands down. So does Gracie! We went for two walks last night and she is so much more comfortable. When it was super hot she would just pant like crazy. I bring water for her, but it's not enough.

This coming week has highs and lows too. I know this post is about weather, but it's important to understand that upstate NY has amazing weather swings and sometimes they are just hours apart.

Have a wonderful day!

Monday

Everything is blooming like crazy - such a nice thing to see. I guess April Showers do truly bring May Flowers.

Mother's Day is coming up. I miss my mom fiercely but I am going to celebrate mom's day with RB and his mom. It will be a wonderful thing.

I love my new Charge Fitbit. So far it's working like a charm! Good to know that the One was great and the Charge is too.

I'm all over the place today, thinking about camping plans coming up in June. Travel to Sacramento coming soon and hopefully a trip to RB's camp soon - where we can relax and kayak and swim (if it's not freezing cold), bike, hike, sit by the fire and drink beer and wine. :)

It's been pointed out to me that I don't know how to chill out. LOL - I read the paragraph above and have to laugh because relax and the whole list of physical things don't necessarily mean the same thing. Very funny.

Ah well. Happy Monday - it wasn't a horrid Monday - I got some things done, found some issues, but all in all we'll make it through. That's the best you can do is to keep on moving.

Enjoy the beautiful, warm spring weather.

Memories...

Oaks Creek

My plan for today was to go to Hartwick Seminary and plant pansies at my grandfathers grave, where I also have put ashes of my mom and my aunt. Usually I go the fast way these days - down Rt 5S to Mohawk and up Vickerman Hill and through Fly Creek to Cooperstown. I found myself going the way that Mom and I used to go, down route 8 to Stone Road, just outside of Clayville. And then back roads till I get to Rt 20 and head east towards Richfield Springs. We always went that way, but I found that I couldn't remember conversations or get into memories - I just saw the differences in properties, houses, new businesses. Memories stay still, life does not.
So I decided to make a left turn down a road that I'm unsure of the name but it's just past where route 80 hits route 28 before Fly Creek. My great uncle 'Tadpole' used to live down this road. And much to my surprise there is now a conservation area with hiking just as you make the 90 degree right turn through a property that was dissected by this road. There were also some very new, very large houses on this road. I then made it to the barn that my mom's family lived by. I used to think that my Great grandfather built it but I don't believe that is the case, nevertheless I always take some pictures of it.

The barn, I have so many pictures of it, in all seasons, conditions...

This is the view I tend to take of it most often,

I then left from Cat Town Road and made my way to Bed Bug Hill Road - the changes along that small stretch are huge. A large farm has moved in and they have beef cattle, sheep and who knows what else. It's good to see the land being used and taken care of but jarring all the same. I made my left on Bed Bug Hill road and drove slow and steady - it's a gravel and dirt road and even though they take good care of it, it's been very dry so I was causing a lot of dust. There is land for sale along there - I've never seen that before. And the B&B Ranch seems to be doing pretty well - it's at the end of the Bed Bug Hill that is taken care of even in the winter and the beginning of the seasonal road. The seasonal road wasn't in the best of shape, but considering our winter it was pretty darned good. Lots of new fencing and animals. No new buildings, but the land is being used.
I made it to the end of the road and hung a right and went to Fly Creek Cider Mill - that's never a bad thing. You can have a meal just by tasting all the samples. :)
Finally I realized that I had been stalling a little and I got back in my car and headed to the cemetery. I got there, pulled my gardening stuff, the pansies, the extra dirt and water from the back of my car and proceeded to clear the dead plants from last year, the leaves and get the ground ready for the new flowers. I also brought with me a microfiber cloth that allowed me to clean the headstone. It looks better than it did...

He and I share our birthday - he died before I was born. His nickname was Boone.

We usually stopped at Council Rock too. I used the panoramic function of my camera to get this picture.

It was a good day. My memories were hard to find but it's because of all the newness that seemed to be crowding them out. But I know my mom is always in my heart and I can find my memories when I least expect them.

Perfect Day

It's been an absolutely beautiful, perfect, wonderful day. RB let me sleep in late (8:30!!!). Gracie was waiting so very patiently for me to take her for a walk, she was so excited when I finally got downstairs that it just made me crack up. A dog is the best thing in the world for your heart and soul. She loves RB and I so much and she is such a good dog. So - she and I went for a very nice walk this morning. When we got back to RB's house we jumped in my car and headed to my house. I had some raking I wanted to do (my back yard was neglected last fall) and I did some extra cleaning up. I talked to my neighbor Toni and had a running conversation with Gracie. LOL - the things that dog could tell...

About 12:30 we hopped back in the car and drove back to RB's and I went for a BIKE RIDE!!!

I had planned to take a 2 mile ride,  just to get my butt in shape. It was so gorgeous outside that I ended up going 13.2 miles! My working out at Planet Fitness is really helping - I'm in the best shape I've been in for a long time!

Canal Trail between Whitesboro and Utica. Everything is just starting to bloom.

The famous Utica sign, it lights up at night and it's quite the beacon.

Stunning blue skies and gorgeous.

I was a tad white in this picture, but I do have some color after this ride.

The sweet ride from RB for my birthday last year. What an awesome bike!

Thank you RB

I've had my Fitbit ONE for 2 years. RB saw the Flex last week and liked that it was a wrist Fitbit and not worn on a bra (that's my favorite place to wear mine). So he bought the Fitbit Charge for me (it's also worn on the wrist like a watch) it's very cool and I'm charging it up right now. Going to take a quick walk around the block to see how it does for me and RB get's my ONE. Now he can see how many steps he's taking every day.

I've been working out at Planet Fitness, trying to get in shape for the Tour de Cure that I'm going to ride in again. I'm signed up for the 40 miles again and I'm hoping to do better than ever. The Cybex Arc Trainer is my favorite cardio machine and it's really working on my thighs - almost feels like I'm biking, but I'm standing not sitting. I'm thinking if I keep doing the hilly versions on it and adding to my time, I'll get my legs in the best shape they've been in a long time. Plus I'm doing the weights which is making me feel like a million dollars.

So...off on a walk I go, the birds are so vocal this time of year. The trees are budding and flowers are popping up, even though it's been pretty cool. God is good!

Warmer?

Hopefully it does get warmer towards the weekend. I have plans! Well plans that are contingent on the weather. I'm hoping to go to Cooperstown and clean up my Grandfather and Great Uncles grave stones and plant pansies. I'd also like to get on my bike and not freeze. Yesterday started out nice with beautiful blue skies, but clouds soon blotted the sun out and it was chilly.

Not much to say today. It's Monday - I have to go to work and praying that it's a productive peaceful day.

Have a good one!