is there enough time in a day?

Today's menu was 'keeping up' with clients and making everything work like clock work. It's true there isn't enough time in the day to fit everything in. I salute those individuals who make everything in their lives work and make their primary time to love and be with their family as well.

As soon as I came home, of course, who's very blue eyes looked at me lovingly was Miss Olivia. At six months she's a cute ball of fur. I like to talk to her as she looks up and listens to me. She purrs in gratitude of affection and attentiveness or just in presence of company. This picture is of Miss Olivia. I have a new camera... and am not quite happy yet with the shots. So I will read up on the preferences and set them for better results.

CR: For lunch went to Panera for their Asian Salad...mmmm delish! Light offerings after work for dinner due to just plain not hungry. Went for fruit... banana, grapes and strawberries maybe something latter if I really want something. BP this evening is 118/75 this reading is better than this morning even after a busy day.

grapevines

I was thinking how nice it was living in California with my wonderful garden there. I do miss the grapevines. Here is a picture of my home in California with the grapevine garden. My hopes is to have another nice garden in the new home. Settlement date is in a few weeks and there is some planning to do.

CR: In regards to plants... I also believe in a plant based diet. I still have a ways to go to be virtually following this diet. I recently watched a video regarding plant based diet, vegan. President Clinton and his interview regarding his vegan diet. I also believe a vegan diet is the perfect diet with healing qualities.

sipping for health

I am now sipping for health with coconut juice. I have found my blood pressure has lowered. I fell into the thought of coconut juice as a healthy alternative to soda and a refreshing taste other that plain water. At a price of $1 a can of 500 ml or 16.9 fluid oz I have stocked up on it. I am drinking young coconut juice with pulp. I am limiting myself to one can a day so not to increase my normal intake of sugars.

Here are encouraging articles written on website www.livestrong.com search for pros and cons of coconut juice. I drink simple young coconut juice with pulp.

Weather: Hurricane Irene passed thru last night Saturday. Only rain and gusts of wind were evident. The next morning Sunday we had no electricity for about 2 hours or so. Everything is fine now.

looking around!!

Early morning and I met at my inpending home for an inspection with the inspector and my realtor agent. Everything went well and I asked my agent in summary how he felt about it. He was pleased and the purchase of the home is a go ahead.

Now the day is done and I just want to rest here. I close my eyes and let the pillows conform to my head and Olivia (kitty) lays beside me watching me in her bonding way... good girl.

peaceful places

I am returning to my peaceful places and found wonderful open breath of fresh air has come back to me.

My good news! There are several to count my blessings.

Life has been kind and given me a chance to get acquainted with new twin kitty's named Olivia with her sister named Isabela in the house I am presently in. Yes, sisters but definitely not alike and now six months old. They are fun and rambunctious though curious and funny to watch. A nice distraction while other exciting events go on in my life.

Then I just received news 2 hours ago that the house I have been patiently waiting for is approved. My settlement date will be my choice next month. I will then have keys on hand and my excitement is just growing with anticipation on a home of my very own. A three bedroom (but one room will be the master with a sitting room) rancher style home with a driveway and front and backyard.

Currently, I have been working hard and have a great working team at work with bonding friendships. It will be almost one year since hired in, well exactly ten months so far. I am in the mitts of a double promotion to Assistant Branch Manager at the bank. OMGosh ... can life be any kinder!

Now after all this excitement... I choose to meditate and find my mind in peaceful places right now. I know I can go out and celebrate like crazy but I choose to sit here and close my eyes... breath and let my mind find peaceful places. I think my celebration will be inside my heart and I will find my mind in a kinder place, a very happy place. Oh and I will hug and kiss Olivia (kitty) ... she keeps bugging me right now *smile*

A mindful question to you: when you receive good news, how do you feel and how do you channel it in your life... what do you call or define a fortunate and happy event?

orchids and memories

I had recently dropped into my local Trader Joe's for groceries. I take my time and gaze around the store for new and interesting items to add to my cupboard. I was thrilled to find a fresh bunch of orchids calling to me. Of course I could not resist to bring them home and display them in my quiet room. My mother grew orchids and several varieties that I do not see common anywhere. It's almost mother's day and this brings back nice memories of my mother. Though she is not here I enjoy the orchids that called to me in memory of my mother. Happy Mother's Day mom, with deep devotion I love you.

Screensaver: Orchid flowering - you may use as a screensaver with my permission, please do not sell and give credit if used kindly.

american gold finch

A great beauty and cool demeanor is my description of this american gold finch. He sat regally on top of the metal bird post. He scanned his surroundings with cool eyes. He was satisfied and plumb after his afternoon feedings. My offerings of thistle was to his delight. This beautiful male also has a song. Tsee-tsi-tsi-tsit is a common call to keep in contact with each other. These songbirds like open woodlands, weedy fields and shrubs, and also gardens. Song wording from Bird Songs 250 North American Birds in Song book.

CR: The last week had some challenges i.e. the whooper; but not to be too hard on myself but I did loose this week about half a pound. I have monitored my activities with the Bodymedia arm band. I have succeeded to be more active 4 out of 7 days in the last week. This is due to jogging. I do enjoy my jogs through the park and neighborhood as the cats smile back at me on their window sills. I did wonder why a particular home's kitty was not at the window. To my surprise there is another new comer instead to add to my counts as I gaze around on my trips.

Home front: I took a relaxing drive up north 28 miles to view my in pending home. I am anxiously happy to be in the mitts of buying this home. I hope all goes well in the process. In the backyard in a particular area there are strawberries growing and a few other items such as mint and parsley, etc. in planter bowls. mmmm it sounds like I will have fruit and gourmet bunch of herbs at hand.

did you hug someone today?

I hugged my coworker girlfriend as we laughed about something funny and wonderful she said. I was happy for her.

botanical gardens

We took a great drive 8 miles from home to the Brookside botanical gardens. Such a beautiful day when we went a couple of weeks ago. Stunning walk ways and everyone was out since it was a warm 83 º.



Rows and beds of beautiful tulips in stunning bright red-orange. A feast of beauty.



The lake in the mitts of everything was a reflective sight. Blue skies reflected off the calm waters.

CR: I am eating well with the right portions and not knit picking the percentages to death but the totals are around 1200 give or take 100 kal. I have lost the jiggle and am working on walking a bit more when the weather permits. Along with CR I incorporate some exercise. This weekend is suppose to be wonderful. I plan a 7 to 10 mile hike Saturday or Sunday morning around Lake Frank. Getting my stretch in prior to hiking. I will enjoy listening to the birds in the serene forest as I hike through the leaves and rocks and hills. I am hoping to see deer and offspring grazing. I will also hope to be always fascinated with whatever birds and small animals happily foraging throughout the serene cool forest.

Home front: I have purchased a home on my own. Location 28 miles due north of my present stay. A quaint small home which was originally a 3 bedroom home but the master now has a sitting room. So a quaint home with a big master bedroom, another bedroom and bath with a wonderful front and backyard. I am patiently waiting. My offer was Monday the seller accepted Tuesday and I am giddy Wednesday and Thursday and yet perhaps tomorrow too. I plan a friendly bird paradise and with flowers and greenery abundance. I hope all goes well with the inspection and paperwork and bank and then I shall receive the keys at the end.

NOTE: You may use my pictures in this botanical garden article as screen savers with my permission. Please do not sell these photos and please give credit if used kindly.

zoomin' around the lake 1966 porche 911

Now that Spring has arrived the tuning up for a drive is coming sooner after the rainy weather stops coming through the area. Though the daffodils and the tulips have not yet bloomed fully, I am looking forward to a spin on a favorite car we have. This car is a 911 model 1966 year porche, it is a shifting... and your head thrown back, zooming fun ride around the lake. It was recovered from a garage with 25 years of rest and not driven at all. We have enjoyed fixing it the last 3 years. Now spiffied up and shined... we regard it a beauty and some say rare at this condition.

CR: Have stuck to my quotidian diet with success and hope to loose the jiggle while jogging around the park. I have succeeded in loosing a few pounds of the jiggle and smiling my way to a fun summer jogging. Yes, there were times I fell off the wagon but you have to get back on sometime, hopefully soon after. I am happily getting back on track.

the polite cardinal

The cardinals were feeding quickly to avoid sharing the bird feeder with the red wing black birds. I side with the cardinals due to the black birds flap overly excited when they feed. If you can imagine politeness among creatures. The cardinals fly in pick out their seeds and fly off to the side to the lilac bush and finish eating. While taking polite turns with the other birds they share the tray with.




My flowery plantings of snapdragons along with the daffodils are gaining height. It may snow in the next two days on Sunday. Hopefully, the daffodils will not stunt growth due to the snap of cold weather.

CR: Have been watching my bp and hb per minute. Lately, hb or heartbeat is a little too fast. I need to cut back on potassium and foods that start fast heart rate. Discussed this with the Dr at last visit. Dr ran a specific test on potassium and vitamins on my request. Next visit tentative in 2 weeks.

sunflower memories

Sometime ago, I was on a tour of 10 countries within a time of 3 months. I can say I enjoyed it immensely even on the days I was so... so... tired. I had met so many interesting people. Some professors in philosophy and some in culture, emerging artists, knowledgeable tour guides, a aerospace engineer, and the people who were on my tour were fascinating. I have vivid picturesque colors of south of France and sunflowers in Tuscany's low hills to emerald green blue waters around Greece and the island of Corfu. It's a once in a life time trip I took and gladly paid for... to me the memories and mostly the people that intrigued me along the way. Some day I will go again, I hope.

CR: After getting approval yesterday from my doctor. I am cutting my calories down to 1200. My exercise routine doc says I need to ramp up more slowly and not run every day but walk a few miles instead. Then replace the balance from walking then to running more often. Okay, we'll do so. Couldn't run today nor walk due to wet pavement and the weather not so great. I don't like to breath in deeply cold air into my lungs, so I'll wait till the weather gets warmer again. Hate to be sick when the weather does turn warm again.

Moss growing and meandering through the landscape at the look out point at Lake Needwood.



During my walk we ran into a relaxing bear at the park at Lake Needwood, Maryland. Almost poetic considering the weather is now warmer.

CR: Continuing to jog on days off and now adding walks in the late afternoon. Took baseline blood work today. I will get results in the next few days. I wanted to see where my numbers lead me in areas such as vitamins and other categories. Next month I will also have my annual physical.

quiet view of lake needwood

Calm waters and vista views of Lake Needwood, Maryland. A nice pause in today's schedule.






Our drive today took us to the south side of the lake. A solitary wood boat meandering in the waters as they enjoy a serene afternoon.

pansies a colorful choice

We will plant pansies today since it will be 72º. A border of pansies will make a colorful choice near the tulips.




This morning there was a spring bunny grazing on the lawn umder the hemlock trees.

The robins are out and the birds are singing. They know that it will be a bright and warm day.

Exercise: Yesterday evening I started jogging. This morning I took my familiar route and counted the houses then went through the park. On my route a window sill kitty greeted me with surprised eyes. Yes, I am back traveling through and getting my pace back.

daffodills springing

The daffodills are much taller and with the warm weather of 72º they should try to bud soon.

artful entrance

Queen's Ink has artful designs filling their displays and your eyes. A lot of inspiration everywhere you look.

art class at queens ink

Queen's Ink is my go to place to learn techniques and art supplies. I just finished a class in altered books instructed by mixed media artist Carol Owen. Carol Owen mixed media artist.

savage mill

Took a weekend art class at savage mill complex. Here is a historic old millinery mill converted to a art, food and community retail center.