~ Happy Memorial Day! ~

I hope that each of you have a wonderful, relaxing and safe weekend!  Remember the reason we are free ~ because of the brave.

~ Purging ~

I haven't started packing boxes yet...I'm still in the midst of decluttering, tossing and donating along with organizing what I plan to keep.

It's evident that I am a hoarder of:

- Pens, Pencils and Sharpie markers of any color
- Office Supplies
- Ribbon & some wrapping paper
- Empty boxes to "maybe use to ship someday"
- A ton of craft supplies that I'm giving to a friend 
- Paint!

Don't ask me why ~ who knows?  Some days I've been exhausted with the process, other days I leave it alone. I do have to get it done though.  My daughter was on vacation last week and we ran around 3 or 4 days...shopping, looking, wishing, having lunch, you name it!  It was so much fun and a pleasant distraction.

I'm really dreading the storms forecast for our area this evening and tomorrow. They have been so violent all around us ~ scary stuff!  I was in a tornado when we lived in Amarillo and once is enough ~  My heart goes out to all that have been affected by them in the past week.

~ Kind Gestures ~

"I firmly believe in small gestures: pay for someone's coffee, hold the door for strangers, over tip, smile or try to be kind even when you don’t feel like it, pay compliments, try to be larger than you are— particularly when it’s difficult. People do notice, people do appreciate. Small gestures can be an effort, or actually go against our grain, but the irony is that almost every time you make even a small kind gesture, you feel better about yourself. For a moment life suddenly feels lighter, a bit more Gene Kelly dancing in the rain."

~ Jonathan Carroll

P.S.   Lest you think that I'm constantly  being kind to all...I just remembered something that happened the other day.  My allergy Dr's office is in the back of this Dr's building.  I was leaving and this guy was going out in front of me. BOTH doors were slammed in my face!  I yelled at him...."Thank you so much for your kindness!  I really appreciate the "gentleman" that you are."  He glared at me.  It's extremely rare that this happens in this area ~ even most young boys/men will hold the doors for women.  Guess I've become spoiled to the Southern gentlemen!   :)

~ I'd pick more daisies! ~

I'd Pick More Daisies
By  Nadine Stair, age 85

If I had my life to live over,
I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have on this trip.
I would be crazier. I would be less hygienic.
I would take more chances, I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers,
and watch more sunsets.
I would burn more gasoline. I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I am one of those people who lives
prophylactically and sensibly and sanely,
hour after hour, day after day.

Oh, I have had my moments...

And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them.

In fact, I'd try to have nothing else.

Just moments, one after another.

Instead of living so many years ahead each day.

I have been one of those people who never go anywhere

without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a gargle, a

raincoat, and a parachute.

If I had to do it over again, I would go places and do things.

I'd travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted

earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.

I would play hooky more. I wouldn't make such good grades

except by accident.

I would ride on merry-go-rounds.

I'd pick more daisies!

All photos from Pinterest

I hope you'll take the time to cherish the moments, laugh out loud, go to bed later, get up earlier and watch the sunrise, hug your loved ones, wear bright lipstick, skip instead of walk, play for awhile instead of work, have breakfast for dinner, call your best friend...no text or email!, let someone cut in line, take cookies to a shut-in, order a good friend a magazine but don't tell them it was you, visit someone in the hospital, buy sidewalk chalk and use it, choose a day to wake the kids up wearing your clothes inside out & backward,feed the birds, eat a banana split and please...pick more daisies!

~ A little of this and a little of that! ~ * Including GFC going away *

Some of you may not be familiar with the bluebonnets of Texas so I thought I'd share a photo. They are really a type of "weed" that blooms for a couple of weeks in the spring, usually around Easter. There are fields of them as well as areas along the highways where they grow profusely, especially if we've had a lot of rain or moisture over the winter.  Tons of people get out in the midst of them for photos, especially to have their little ones photographed.  They are not cut down while blooming ~ just allowed to be there for everyone's pleasure.  * Just a bit of Texas nostalgia for you! * 

If you are familiar with my friend Leslie's blog, Gwen Moss, then by all means please stop by and visit her...you're really missing out.  She has a beautiful post from Sunday that I feel is vital to all of us.  It's about comparison ~ comparing ourselves to another, our blogs, our homes, you name it!  I've gotten caught up in that "comparison" thing a time or three since I've been blogging and it's NOT a good thing either!  I'll bet you have at some point...and no, you don't have to admit it. :)   Could have been a day that you were tired, worried, PMS'ing, didn't sleep, not enough coffee, you know the drill!  A little tiny thought could creep in while you're reading blogs and thinking, "Her house is gorgeous, she always looks dynamite, she & her husband never argue, there's never a shortage of money, etc."  We really should never do this to ourselves.  Please stop by and check out Leslie's post...she is an incredible writer and overall, wonderful person!  She says it much better than I could.  Oh, and yes, her name is "Leslie" and she explains the Gwen Moss connection. ;-)

I feel so FREE this evening!  I stopped by the apt office and signed the "Intent to Move" form this afternoon.  Yay me!!!!   I cannot wait to get out of here...

Oh yes, I understand that GFC and Google Reader goes away effective July 1st!  I treasure each person that has chosen to follow me and appreciate so much anyone taking the time to stop and visit and leave a comment.  You know, I think when we first begin blogging, seeing the "number of Followers" is so huge!  I don't guess we will be able to see that with the change but I want you to know how very much each of you mean to me ~ very serious about that.
UPDATE: I would like to share Amy's post about Bloglovin' ~
The Blissful Bee blog


Have a wonderful rest of the week!

~ A glimpse of the new Casa ~

I've decided where I will move to the end of June.  Thank God and all of you for helping me!  This is a new complex, still under construction but extremely beautiful. The day I finalized it was rainy and very cloudy so I just took a few pics and they are not the best ~ be forewarned. :)

This is the kitchen ~ which I LOVE!  Pantry is on the left. Not sure if you can see but the cabinets on the far right have glass fronts. Neat, huh?  Stainless steel appliances. The cook top is glass, side by side refrigerator and the sink here and in the bathroom are drop in.  The faucet is the shower type...move it around for cleaning, etc.  Counter tops are granite, beautiful back splash and under counter lighting.

A little different view...the bar on the other side of the sink is awesome!

This is the living room.  Looks smaller with this view and the paint does not show up well. The entire space is a greyish tone, not the taupe reflected.  The doors open onto a balcony.

This is the closet off the bedroom. The cabinet on the bottom is a "laundry chute".  The other side opens into the laundry room. :)

I know I took a photo of the bathroom but cannot find it.  Missed out on the bedroom, laundry area, etc.  My mind was racing and like I said, it was a rainy, cloudy day.  Can't wait to show you more!  You won't believe the pool, lap pool, cabana areas, the workout room, etc.  Yes, it's smaller than where I am now but that's ok.  I'm paying for extra space now that I honestly don't use or need. I know many of you have spacious homes, however, as a retiree I don't "need" that nor do I want to care for it.  I want life to be calmer and peaceful...certainly away from the noise here, the leaks and all the other problems I've encountered.

I am continuing to declutter, toss and donate.  Really is a wonderful, lighter feeling!  I'm imagining the decor for the new space. I want an accent wall in the bedroom painted navy ~ I have a deep teal now.  I'm collecting gold framed mirrors for that wall and I want bright and happy in the bathroom! 

My headboard is white tufted velvet and the bedding is yet to be determined.  

Thanks again for all your good thoughts, prayers and kind words!  Will keep you posted as I go and I will take more photos when I can.

~ Do just one thing! ~

We've all witnessed and/or been a part of a horrific time in our country this past week. Let's do this next one...and every future one...differently.  Plan to do just "one thing" each day for someone else. Of course, you can do a jillion things too!  :)   Mother Teresa said something like..."we cannot all do great things but we can do small things with great love".  Call someone and check on them or just remind them they are loved, buy someone's coffee, bake something and take to a friend or neighbor, smile at a stranger, compliment a stranger, leave flowers anonymously at someone's door, leave a note on a stranger's windshield, help a new mom or someone that has had surgery, take a meal to a family in need ~ hey, you know the drill!

I really feel that positives and LOVE can make a huge difference in our lives, in the lives of others, in our neighborhoods and in our nation. We need more kindness and love ~ NOT the ugly stuff.  See what you can do, ok?  Acts of kindness are my "go juice" ~ I especially love to do the anonymous ones!

Come back and share if you'd like ~ just do it!  ;-)