Always in Memory

Hello my Friends,

Today is a difficult day for those affected by the 9/11/01 trajedy including me. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one. The shock, horror and pain remains as fresh as ever and is difficult to overcome. It makes one wonder if it will ever ease in time.

I did see the plans for the Commemorative site that is in the development phase and it will be beautiful. I think the site will be a beautiful memorial to never forget those lost in the WTC towers, Pentagon and PA flight.

I am grateful to NYC, the USA and all the people that's involved in this project. Most of all, grateful to our military for stepping into a job that risks their own lives, to keep you, me and our families safe at home.

I cannot ease your pain or grief but can take your hand and stand by while we let our tears fall. We can stand together and send our prayers then lay our flowers. We may be of different nations yet we are able to live as neighbors and understand that we share the same world.

The need and options available, to give support whether for material items or friendship, to our military personnel does exist and there are many sites available for the public. A couple favorite sites of mine are - OQC and Any Soldier. Visit these sites today and discover how easily you can help.

I will close with the following quotes that mark this solemn day aka Patriot Day ;

The most difficult thing of all—yet the most essential—is to love life, even when you suffer, because life is all. -Leo Tolstoy

To find a safe journey through grief to growth does not mean one should forget the past. It means that on the journey we will need safe pathways so that Remembrance, which may be painful, is possible. -Donna O'Toole

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love. -Leo Buscaglia

"The flame that burns the shiniest is the light of the eternal human spirit; a beacon of love, justice and peace that will never be extinguished. It will triumph over the forces of darkness and illuminate for the whole world. The true path to freedom, through goodness, faith, hope and Love." -Author Unknown

there's hope that the sadness of yesterday will bring understanding for tomorrow.

I light a candle and let it burn throughout the day. A flame burns like the love we are capable to give onto others and is forever etched in our hearts. To our military around the world, please take care and stay safe. God Bless to all.

xoxox

Sun and Berries

Hello my Friends,

I hope you have been keeping safe and well. Home is doing it's usual and for me, well, home is beautiful. Hummingbirds visit the feeder, bees buzz around the wild flowers, squirrels and birds squeak, cheep and chirp. For my neck of the woods in the Borealis forest we have had the usual patterns of weather, rain and sunshine, hot and cool days. Tis berry picking season so seeing a lot of cars here and there on sides of the highways with people wearing all sorts of hats and baskets or buckets. It's a nice sight.

Once again we are alert for 'Bear' sightings in the community. I hope the younger parents are encouraging their children to stay in numbers and not out n about alone. Bears just sort of pop out of nowhere around here. I think they are as surprised to be where they are as whoever happens to be around.

I wouldn't mind going out berry picking but get a lot of strange expressions at the idea. What is wrong with going into the woods to pick berries? These younger women around here have no idea of the pleasure. Am I the only one who can appreciate such a idea? they would prefer to go to town and buy it off the shelf rather than pick their own for free, enjoy the scenery, company of friends, a beautiful day. Strange huh? or is it just me? :)

Alright, I know you cannot stay as duty calls so will close with my latest findings and hope you enjoy them.

~ Pick Up Lines ~

Crap. Something is wrong with my cell phone. {Oh Really. What is that?} Its just that...your numbers not in it.

You may fall from the sky, you may fall from a tree, but the best way to fall... is in love with me.

A boy gives a girl 12 roses. 11 fake, 1 real and he says to her " I will stop loving you when all the roses die"

If I followed you home, would you keep me?

~ Silly Jokes ~

Light travels faster than sound.
This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Why couldn't Dracula's wife get to sleep?
Because of his coffin

What was the witches' favorite subject in school?
Spelling

Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?
He didn't have the guts.

Please take great care and stay safe, k.

Hugs!

Summer

Hello my Friends,

Well, I am long overdue for a post. I hope you can forgive my absence as life tosses us lemons and we must make lemonade. I did not forget you.

Summer has been pretty good around here in the Borealis forest or at least in my little section. There was a forest fire west of me that made the days a little hazy and occasionally got a whiff of smoke. We had one scary night when tornadoes were south of us and really strong winds were blowing around here too. Another weekend we had a thunder storm and lightening hit a tree across the street and the top third of this one tree got knocked off. It looks rather scraggly now but least the deadwood can contribute to a cozy fire in the fireplace for the upcoming winter.

Currently there are heat waves going on south of here. It's been cool in my area and Fall is definitely starting to make a appearance. Some plants and tree leaves are changing colors. I love the colors of fall and how everything seems to look so fiery. Makes me think of some peoples personalities.

I am saddened with the effects on wildlife from that oil spill in the Gulf. I have great admiration for the people that gathered to save as many as they could. It seemed as if the company behind the well wasn't moving quick enough to cap off the leak but hopefully it will hold. Now they are moving out of the area because of Hurricane Bonnie. I still worry about the long term effects of the oil though and should be interesting to track.

I know that I cannot keep you so will close. I found some funny quotes and puns and hopefully will leave you with a smile even if for the moment.

- Girls are like phones. We love to be held, talked to but if you pressthe wrong button you'll be disconnected.

- Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery.

- If Barbie is so popular, why do we have to buy her friends?

- Gene police! you! out of the pool!

- When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.

- A nice thing about Egotists is that they don't talk about other people.-Lucille S. Harper

- What do you call a baby monkey? A chimp off the old block.

- What is the difference between a miser and a canary? One's a little cheap and the other is a little cheeper.

Please take great care and stay safe.

xoxoxox

Spring Equinox

Hello my dearest Friends,

I hope you are well and safe. It is the official first day of Spring today, Happy First day of Spring! least for us. I imagine birds are building nests and lots of courting going on? I think it's very cool that some male birds entice female birds with their built nests or the preening and displaying of their maleness? I think the nest building is far more practical than saying, look how pretty I am!

I heard there were tornadoes in Arkansas. I think a lot of those places found in Tornado alley should automatically qualify for a Safe room. I am shocked to have heard of the one that touched down in Northern Ontario here. I seen it on YouTube and was amazed that such a event can happen around here. Now I must wonder if it's safe in my little forest any more and where on earth would I go. Yikes!

Discussions in chat have been about storms, snow and spring. I am not looking forward to the storms that cause power outages. It is annoying. Poor weather makes for poor signals for my satellite dish too and can't watch television. Well, at least we can watch DVD movies on our little player as long as we remembered to charge it up. Candlelight, MP3 players or movies are good for temporary measures.

I know you must run as duty calls. I hope you find the following jokes, riddles and tongue twisters amusing. Least have a smile. :)

My wife's a water sign. I'm an earth sign.
Together we make mud. - Rodney Dangerfield


Why do cowboys always die with their boots on?
So they won't stub their toes when they kick the bucket.

(i) Mountains will crumble and temples will fall, and no man can survive its endless call. What is it?


(ii) How can you clasp someone's hands together in such a manner that they cannot leave the room without unclasping them?

(iii) Two convicts are locked in a cell. There is an unbarred window high up in the cell. No matter if they stand on the bed or one on top of the other they can't reach the window to escape. They then decide to tunnel out. However, they give up with the tunneling because it will take too long. Finally one of the convicts figures out how to escape from the cell. What is his plan?

A big bug bit a bold bald bear and the bold bald bear bled blood badly.

Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager managing an imaginary menagerie.

The answers are at the end as usual. Have a great day and evening. Please take care and stay safe, I'd like to see you get home.

xoxoxoxo

A: (i) Time
A: (ii) Put their hands around a stationary object in the room, which will keep them from leaving the room unless they open their hands.
A: (iii) His plan is to dig the tunnel and pile up the dirt to climb up to the window to escape.

Spring is Nearby

Hello my Dearest Ones,

I hope you are enjoying warmer weather over yonder. It has been warming up around here too. The roads are mucky here and dry there. Going to town with big clunky boots looks hilarious so will have to dig in my shoe box for my walking shoes. Proper footwear is important these days since I broke my toes (a while ago) and they haven't been the same since.

I can't decide if I should pack my longjohns and sweaters yet since the temperature hasn't been steady. Last week we had a cold snap and now it is warm. It's probably best if I just wait till the snow all melts? we still have about a foot of snow in the deeper forest.

One thing I do want to do before the snow melts is take photographs of various paw prints from the wildlife that wanders nearby. I refuse to venture far from the community since there have been wolves around - also, I think the bears be awakening from hibernation soon?!

I was in a discussion about the Seal pup hunt. That is one industry that I am not fond of at all that I wish would end. I find it a heartbreaking practice amongst a few other thoughts that I won't say. There are other ways to make money and killing such a beautiful and helpless lifeform as a Seal pup is not one nor should be allowed, least in my opinion. I won't say anymore about that now, might get in trouble.

Anyways, I know you can't stay too long, so will leave a few chuckles, hope you enjoy them, --> Jokes, Brain Work and Tongue Twister

Q:What did one eye say to the other eye?
A:Between you and me something smells.

Q:Why did the boy throw the butter out the window?
A:To see a butterfly.

Q:How can you get four suits for a dollar?
A:Buy a deck of cards.

i) A barrel of water weighs 50 pounds. What must you add to it to make it weigh 35 pounds? (Answer at end)

ii) A clerk in the butcher shop is 6'' tall.
Can you guess what he weighs? (Answer at end)

The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.

A tutor who tooted the flute Tried to tutor two tooters to toot Said the two to the tutor "Is it tougher to toot Or to tutor two tooters to toot?"

I send my prayers that you take care and stay safe.

xoxoxoxo

i) A hole
ii) He weighs meat

Home Musings

Hello my Sweet Darlings,

I hope you have been well and spring is on it's way there for you too. Do we see the same moon? I have a 1/4 moon here and the nightscapes look so beautiful with the snow and silver light. Too bad my digital camera can't take photo's at night. Well, maybe I will get one of those soon.

A few signs and newspaper articles have been posted around our district, Ice fishing Derbies. I love Walleye but don't think I'd make a great fishing partner since I would babble on and on about this, that and what not, totally distracted. Oh yes, and no idea how a ice auger works and slow to pull a rod out of the water. Some strange worries of falling in. You don't want to know how many people complained about me losing fish and teased about starving to death if fishing was the only food available.

A large gathering of wild birds can be found at my house these days. Wow! I'm quite pleased since I get to hear them in the mornings. My sons get annoyed with the noisy Blue Jays though when they're trying to watch T.V. They even ask if they can practice their shooting skills on the birds! all in fun but the thought, hmm.

A few wolves have been seen in our little community too. Somebody lost their dog when a pack went after the wolf pack. I just hope that children didn't see any evidence of the violence. I know, it's part of the animal world but that is one mess I wouldn't want any child to see.

Alright, I know you must run as duty calls. I will leave these for you and hope we part with you chuckling, for now, ---> Some Funnies

The Washington Post's Style Invitational asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.

Here are this year's winners:

1. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding a stupid person that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.

3. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.

4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.

7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.

8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)

9. Karmageddon (n): its like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

10 Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.

11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.

12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.

13. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

14. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

16. Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an a--hole.

Why Men Have Better Friends

Women's Friends:

A woman didn't come home one night. The next day she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The husband called his wife's ten best friends. None of them had seen her or knew what he was talking about.

Men's Friends:

A man didn't come home one night. The next day he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The wife called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight of them confirmed that he had slept over, and two claimed that he was still there.

Sarcastic Dares

-- Call a political candidate's campaign office and ask them for a donation to your non-candidacAy.

-- Find someone who is big into worrying about the threat of global warming, remind them of their own carbon dioxide and body heat contribution to the planet, and ask them to stop it.

-- Send a bill to every TV station, radio station, cell phone company, and satellite company, charging them an "access fee" for the waves they broadcast through your property. If they refuse payment, charge them with trespassing.

I hope you have a good week. Please take care and stay safe.

xoxoxoxo

Valentine's Day

Hello Sweet Friends,

I received your email and absolutely love the virtual roses. Valentine's Day is coming upon us quick and not sure what I will get. I would love to try and plant some sort of rose garden but hear it requires specific soil and care, etc. I am not sure they would survive in my area. If I had my own way, I would have a yard full of the wild roses. They smell so absolutely heavenly and beautiful to gaze upon but not sure if I can transplant or grow any from seed. A project to add to my *To Do* list which is getting pretty long now.

I have planted some Giant sunflowers seeds and seeing the beginnings of growth. I love watching how the birds flock around for the seeds in fall. They also grow so tall and the flowers are the size of dinner plates. They are beautiful and maybe one day you will get to see them in person. Now that would be nice.

I have hung a peanut butter-birdseed ball outside in a onion bag. The chickadee's absolutely love them and got to laugh when I saw a Blue Jay come along scattering the smaller birds. We still have snow and chilly temperatures around here but the days are slowly getting warmer. I love the beginnings of Spring and promise of something new. What are your thoughts?

The time to unpack, review and clean my spring and summer clothes and pack up my winter clothes will arrive soon. Trying to decide which clothes to toss, donate and replace can be tough, did you realize? probably more difficult for a woman since we always or near that, buy clothes that look good on us and are pretty. Separation anxiety may set upon a few of us on that idea.

Alright, I know that I can not keep bubbling on and on till next year, yet, but will leave these chuckles for you, hope you find them worthy of a chuckle or two. :)

Jokes ,etc.

-- Two bodies have I, though both joined in one; the longer I stand the quicker I run. What am I? (answer @ bottom of page)

-- Things people actually said in court

Q: What is your date of birth?
A: July 15th
Q: What year?
A: Every year.

Q: And where was the location of the accident?
A: Approximatly milepost 499.
Q: And where is milepost 499?
A: Probably between milepost 498 and 500

Q: Did you blow your horn or anything?
A: After the accident?
Q: Before the accident.
A: Sure, I played for ten years. I even went to school for it.

-- Dumb Questions


If you can't drink and drive, why do bars have parking lots?

If you saw a heat wave, would you wave back?

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

What do you call a male ladybug?

What happens to an 18 hour bra after 18 hours?

What if you're in hell, and you're mad at someone, where do you tell them to go?

I hope you take great care and please stay safe, k.

xoxoxo

(A: a Hourglass)

Outdoors Calling

Hello my Dear Friends,

I hope you are well and in good spirits. I cannot believe how the weather turned around! it has snowed and iced over and snowing yet again. Mind you, I love the snow, strange as that sounds. I will be heading out soon to take photographs. Some landscape scenes are just too beautiful not to capture immediately. I will put on my MP3 player and walk around taking photo's of the snow laden trees. I'll also have to seriously bundle up since it's windy and quite chilly.

As mentioned before, I have birds now. I have chickadee's, Blue Jay's and Whiskey Jack birds fighting for ownership of the bird feeders. The milk jug feeder doesn't fit the larger Whiskey Jack birds though and is a rather funny sight seeing them 'moon' the world as they stick their heads inside to eat the seeds. I would have to sit outside for some time to try and capture that sort of picture.

I am proud of our respective nations and people gathering to provide aid to the Haitian people. Natural or unnatural disasters can be quite terrifying for anybody but to see the cry for help being answered, makes me proud to be part of the human race. Endurance of the human spirit to rise up and meet the occasion to do right for others, never ceases to amaze me. I have heard about Aid scams though looking to defraud people out of these aid monies. I hope they are caught and jailed, no free card for them.

I know you must hurry off as duty calls and I cannot keep you distracted. I will leave my usual findings and hopefully we part with you chuckling --> Jokes and Humor

- Six slippery snails, slid slowly seaward.
- I'm not a pheasant plucker,
I'm a pheasant plucker's son,
and I'm gonna keep on plucking,
till the pheasant plucking's done
- If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?
- What are the three words guaranteed to humiliate men everywhere? 'Hold my purse.'

I send my prayers out for you. Please take care and stay safe.

xoxoxoxo

Winter Passing

Hello dear friends,

I hope you are well and the weather is nice there too. It has been warming up around here and silly as it sounds, I hope the snow doesn't melt anytime soon. A early snow melt can lead to pro-longed forest fire season. The soil will dry up too quickly which is not a favorite scene. Mind you, neither is wet grounds for breeding mosquitoes. Can we ever win that battle?

I called home to wish my brother a Happy Birthday and my mom's is coming up soon too. We got around to talking about the fashion channel. My mother thinks there were some seriously strange enough fashions for Lady GaGa that she may enjoy. I am not sure and never really paid attention except to some of her music. I will have to check out this strange fashion sense my mother talks about.

A few birds finally discovered my bird feeders. I love hearing the sounds of birds in the early hours of the morning. Usually in early spring we can hear and see Woodpeckers around or nearby and squirrels or chipmunks running around in pairs. It's a beautiful sight and sounds to observe and hear while sipping some espresso coffee. Now, if only the nosey neighbors would stop staring.

I know you must run as duty calls. I will leave my usual latest finds and hopefully leave you a few chuckles --> Jokes and a Riddle

- What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work? A stick.
- Where do you get virgin wool from? Ugly sheep.
- Anybody hear about the thieves who stole a calendar? They both got six months each.
- Why is a hospital gown similar to health insurance? Because you’re never as covered as you think you are.
- What goes up and down the stairs without moving?
I hope you have a wonderful day, evening, night. Please take great care and stay safe. :)

xoxoxoxo

(A) A rug.

A New Year

Hello my Darlings,

I hope the new year will start well. I am getting over a cold and it is annoying having to deal with fatigue. Can you believe being tired makes me cranky? I have not been a joy to be around lately even on the telephone. Yes, my bad. I hope you don't tell anybody of my dark side.

The weather has been warm these last few days and we just finished a cold snap. One night hit a -39 wind chill, brrr! I thought the walls were going to crack open with all the noises from the walls. Wow! My son woke me up one night to ask what was going on with all the noise. I had to explain about effects of heat and cold, expansion and constriction with wood. Science lesson at 4am.

I did two DIY bird houses with a two litre pop bottle and a milk jug. They look mighty lovely too, if you won't mind me saying so. The only problem is, I have no idea where the birds are. I heard some one morning and that was it. I'm not sure if the dog is scaring them off or not.

I must also report that during that cold snap, both front and back doors froze all around the edges. We literally had to chip ice, use a hair dryer and screw driver to open the door! I don't know about the contractors who put this house together but I'd like to chew their heads off for such a shabby job. We are not impressed.

Alright, I know you must run and I can't enthrall you with more tales of life at my igloo. I will leave you these ---> Logic Riddle

Two planes take off at the same exact moment. They are flying across the Atlantic. One leaves New York and is flying to Paris at 500 miles per hour. The other leaves Paris and is flying to New York at only 450 miles per hour ( because of a strong head wind ). Which one will be closer to Paris when they meet?

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Did you know that dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?

The shinbone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.

I send my prayers out. Please take care and stay safe. Have a wonderful day, night, sweet dreams or wet nightmares.

xoxoxoxo

Answer, Riddle-> They will both be the same distance from Paris when they meet!!

Fresh New Year

Hello my Friends,

I hope the holidays have been good to you. I did tell Santa that you guys have been awesome. I believe mine went well with the gifts I managed to gather since August. I must say though the weather has dropped to some downright chilly cold snaps. Our power even went out! imagine that. Not a good thing when heat is all electrical. I think it's because some trees may be overloaded with snow and leaning on the lines.

I been having trouble with the doors. They keep freezing shut! I couldn't get out the front door so had to go out the back door and stumble through three feet of snow! I had to charge the door which of course flies open along with me flying through the door and thumped on the floor. I spent the day falling into gales of laughter when recalling that experience. Also had to replace the doorknob before my floor dive, brrr!

A house down the road has a wind turbine and it looks so cute. I think it's just the distance from the road while driving by that makes it look so miniature. I am so tempted to go to the owners house and ask a million and one questions. I wouldn't mind getting one but would like to know first hand the experience considering our location and unpredictable weather patterns. It should prove to be a interesting story after winter, don't you think?

One of my sons asked me to help him get some short stories published. This should prove to be another interesting experience for both him and I. Wow, never imagined trying my hand at submitting short fiction. I guess my new year is off to quite a start for new and fresh.

Anyways, I know you must run as duty calls. I found a few items that will hopefully make you chuckle --> Jokes and a Tongue Twister

-The quack quit asking quick questions.

-Girls are like phones. We love to be held, talked too but if you press the wrong button you'll be disconnected!

-A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

-Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks

-Borrow money from a pessimist, they don't expect it back.

-Energizer Bunny arrested and charged with battery.

I hope you take care, have a great week and stay safe.

xoxoxox