Arcade games in church lobby, Walking and Dementia

 

I took this photo of the arcade games in our church lobby. The games were borrowed for six weeks and relate to the sermon series our minister gave titled Press Start. Kids and adults played the games before and after church and they were quite popular. One boy age 9 insisted his family arrive a half hour early for the six Sundays so he could play the games. I like the colors in my photo.

 

Above is Bounce, my exercise coach. Hey friends. I just read that walking 10,000 steps per day can help cut our risk of dementia in half. This was in an article by Sarah Cownley in the Epoch Times this month. When I finally got a smart phone four years ago I found a fun app that I got that counts my steps. I do not walk 10,000 steps but I do walk x thousand. I don't think we need to compete against other people, I like to compete against me! Set slightly higher goals when inspired.

Above are my kitty Fluffy and Bounce on a walk, Fluffy often chooses to walk with us. People in the neighborhood love to see this. My exercise and walking coach is my dear dog Bounce, and I tell him I am his exercise coach in return. Cownley reports that walking 3,800 steps per day reduces dementia risk by 25 percent. She has a diploma in nutritional therapy from Health Sciences Academy in London. I wonder if the benefit is enhanced by walking outdoors where we can see the beauty of the sky, breathe in fresh air, and be encouraged to think peaceful thoughts. Or is the benefit the same when walking indoors? Just pondering.

I got 3 of these jackets for Mr. B, this one says Security and another says FBI. I read that neighborhoods where lots of people walk their dogs have less crime which makes sense. Enjoy your walks and your day.

Spring Pretties In My Garden and Fluffy and Bounce and a Lady from Ukraine

 

I am showing a photo of Fluffy first, as she doesn't get as much mention on my blog and that is so unfair. I call this picture "Fluffy in a Box", as the box on the chair is very coveted by her and by Bounce. See photo below, titled "Bounce in a Box", of course.

 Some ranunculus and freesias I planted recently, these are photos from the packets. I planted the bulbs, or rhizomes or corms, I  can't recall which name is correct for which plant.

Above is Mr. Gnome, a Christmas gift. He is holding a solar light next to the yellow petunias I planted. Am I in a planting frenzy? Yes, a happy frenzy, and I am planting many seeds too, zinnias, knee high sunflowers, sweet peas, Swiss chard and Chinese edible pod peas.

One more photo and that's it, of cute pansies or violas I bought.

A Woman and Her Children from Ukraine Arrive Here

I am writing this post in advance, on Sunday March 27. I must tell you, at Bible Fellowship today a member told us that money we raised is helping a mom and her children from Ukraine arrive in our town tomorrow. We are looking forward to meeting her. She had to leave her husband in Ukraine because no men age 18 to 60 are allowed to leave. Her husband in Ukraine has 6 displaced people staying in their home with him and they are experiencing food shortages. When this was shared, people were quiet as it made all of us count our blessings. Update: The lady visited our small group (25 people) at church last Sunday, and I was not there. I am sorry to have missed meeting her. People found her a house to live in and all sounds as well as can be expected.

The ocean near my home, Bounce and Fluffy and dog bed

 I am posting this added info on November 8, as I have had no Internet/Wifi at my house since October 25. AT&T finally fixed it. I okayed 22 of your comments today, to show as posted, it took me this long since I had no Wifi. This post was scheduled to post on Nove. 1 and it automatically posted. I will start visiting blogs again, hurray. And watching TV and visiting rumble.com, etc. Thanks for taking the time to leave your kind comments, sweeties.

Bounce and I often walk from my house (our house) to the bay, to enjoy the fresh air and to experience all the pure beauty of the sea. 

The sparkle of the waves gave me joy and you can see some students on the rocks on some sort of science outing. When I see the waves and feel the majesty of the ocean I do not fail to thank God for His creations. "He hath made everything beautiful." Ecclesiastes 3:11

Above is Fluffy and Bounce taking a nap together. Of course I woke them when I took the photo. Sorry to disturb you guys.

Above is Bounce in his favorite bed, which is actually a pretty shade of blue. He feels very comfy in there and we call him little taco.

Above he was sleeping. It is hard to get a picture of him sleeping, he usually wakes up. 

Have a great day friends and enjoy the beauty around you.

Princess Fluffy and Wild Fires Near My House

 

My relaxed kitty, the first photo is after I took the second photo where she is closer to being asleep. In the first photo she is half awake and looking at me.

Wild Fires Near My House. Smoke and white ashes in the air. 

Added note on Sept. 4. As of September 4, there are 925 homes destroyed in the county I live in, most of them were country homes nestled in lovely spots among trees. 

I posted the two photos of Fluffy automatically yesterday, that post was set ahead of time. I did not get Internet restored to my house until late yesterday. 120 people already read this post before I was able to add this note about the wild fires. In my area of California almost 400 homes are destroyed, and several of my best friends are evacuated from their homes, and I am safe at home and not evacuated. My sons are in their homes too. The air quality sometimes is rated as hazardous so I stay inside with windows closed. Lots of white ash from the fires has fallen all over outside. I have two apps on my cell phone AirNow and AirVisual which tell the air quality for where I live. No walks these past few days for me and Bounce. 

When I drove my car I had to wash off all the ash first so I could see through the windshield. From zero percent containment of the fires they are now 29 percent contained (50 percent contained as of Sept. 4), a great direction to be going in. The fires were caused by lightning strikes all over California, in a storm with no rain, just lightning and dry tinder. It is very nerve wracking to be stuck at home, and on alert for potential evacuation. I have a suitcase packed with essentials. I am optimistic that the fires are being contained and am praying for rain, for our city to stay safe and for my friends' homes to be safe so they can return to them. Anyway, just wanted to say hi to you all, friends both near and far, and let you know what is going on here.

Bounce, Fluffy, movie Edie, Melaleuca tree

Fluffy Kitty and Mr. Bounce taking a nap together on Bounce's favorite sofa spot.

Above is before I woke them and called to them so they would look at me. What is going on around your house in these days of Covid-19? Yesterday my book club met on Zoom, eleven of us, and we each reviewed one book, so I got some reading ideas. I shared The Warden by Anthony Trollope, I do love that book! I enjoyed all 27 of Trollope's novels that I have read thus far, out of the 47 he wrote, bless his heart. He wrote in the 1850s through the 1880s.

Above are my son Lane and Bounce enjoying the shade under the canvas awning Lane bought and put up for me.

I am standing in the kitchen when I took this photo of our new canvas awning on our back patio.

This is me under the awning, I am rather dark in the shade.

Melaleuca quinquenervia tree in my neighborhood, AKA broad-leaved paperbark. I learned that it is an invasive problem tree in the Florida Everglades and an important tree for wildlife in its native Australia. It is pretty with its soft white cloud like flowers.

Above is a close up of the Melaleuca flowers, a bit blurry, but you can see the flowers are attractive.

I watched a good movie today titled Edie. The main characters are Edie, a spry 84 year old widow, a young man she meets named Jonny, and the wild hills of Scotland.  Edie is played by Sheila Hancock and Jonny is played by the handsome Kevin Guthrie. Guthrie is in the new TV series, An English Game,  which I aim to watch. After short opening filming in London, where her daughter has Edie set to enter assisted living, all the filming is done in Lochinver, Scotland. Edie attempts to fulfill her long ago dream of hiking up Mt. Suilven. I recommend this movie. What beautiful scenery in the hills of Scotland and a story that is meaningful to me, about aging, looking back on life, and going ahead to try an adventure.

Catnip High and Fluffy

See the little bits of green catnip? My sister grows the catnip and so it is fresh and organic. Fluffy looks a bit insane in the top photo.

Fluffy is sure enjoying herself. Some cats don't care for it, and my dog sure doesn't.
Have a great day friends.

Cat, dog, yellow roses and more

Here are some recent photos I took of things I like.

Fluffy resting in sun near patio doors. She shows up nicely on her red blanket.

Bounce in living room on sofa with pillow that says "The day that God created Chihuahuas He sat down and smiled." We think Bounce is half Chihuahua, and part Rat Terrier and part Corgi.

I always admire this lichen on a rock in a neighbor's front yard.

I didn't go any closer because I didn't want to step on their property.

This bouquet is fabulous and my younger son gave it to me for Mothers' Day.

I picked these roses from my yellow rose bush, so pretty.

Often for joy I find it is good to look at smaller things and nearby things since the big picture and the world situation can be so daunting.

Our patio, yard and quote

Here are some photos taken this month, which show the view from my kitchen through our patio doors. When I stand at the kitchen sink and look left this is what I see on our patio.

The plant on the left on the table is a pot of pink roses and on the right is a planter of purple petunias, rose cosmos, white bacopas and dusty miller, both of these are gifts from my sons for Mother's Day. Note grey kitty Fluffy on table.

Here is Fluffy on patio, near some potting soil. She chose us by showing up in our fenced back yard about five years ago.
My friend has this quote as her email signature line:
"Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have." by John Piper