Positively Three Little Words

 by Mauverneen

Ahh - those three little words. The words that make me feel tingly all over - three little words that set my heart a-flutter. Three little words that spark my dreams. It's been way too long since I have been able to utter those words, but today, I can say it! 

"Out of Town"

 As in - I'm going OUT OF TOWN. As in V.A.C.A.T.I.O.N.

I am planning on  going OUT OF TOWN! I have a week planned in Utah, with my oldest daughter. We are planning on seeing Zion, Arches, Canyonlands and whatever else we can squeeze into our week. I've never been to that area, but she has, so I'm letting her do all the planning. I'm sure I'm in for a few  surprises.

I'll let you know when I go - and share some experiences with you when I get back. Who knows, I may even take a photo or two. (Of course we all laugh hysterically now, because as everyone knows, if I take one I'll take a few hundred.)

But wait - first the stress...there's the plane tickets, figuring out how to get to the airport, what clothes to take! How do I do this? It's been so long. Oh lordy, I always overpack. And I usually have more of what I don't need and not enough of what I should have brought. Oh well. As long as I have my camera. 

What a treat - Out of town. Be still my heart. 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

It's POSITIVELY RAINING

by Mauverneen

The best thing one can do when it is raining is to let it rain." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I was all set to write about April Showers- but wait! It's May. And it's still raining. On the flowers.

There is a small 'river' running between my and my neighbor's yard. I don't recall it being like that in years past. Is it possible some fence posts have caused that much change to the earth? That's all that's changed.

I'm not going to get too upset, after all, we DO need rain. Sometimes not so much, and sometimes, some people, in some places, don't get any. I'll count my blessings.

I should use these rainy days as a sign I need to stay in and finish reorganizing my office. A project that began in the living room is spreading uncontrollably from one room to the next. It needs to be done but my dog and I are both ready to get outside and enjoy some sunshine. And a nice long walk without boots. On me, not the dog. Actually I did get him boots and tried making him wear them once or twice. Needless to say he did not like them. To watch him walk with them on was pretty funny. His front feet were okay, but those hind legs tried to kick off those boots with every step he took. He looked like he was trying out for a chorus line - backwards.

At least I don't have to go out today. I went for groceries yesterday. It wasn't raining. So I can just make more coffee and hunker down. 

On second thought, those raindrops on the flowers... I might just pull on those 'wellies' and go for a little stroll. Warm coffee will taste good when I get back.

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

  

National Positively Tuesday

 by Mauverneen

Today is National Pretzel Day, National Audobon Day, National Dissertation Day, Get Organized Day, Help A Horse Day, and Richter Scale Day. Wow. Seems like every day is now a National Something-or-Other Day in a National Something-or-Other week of a National Something-or-Other month. Among the different designations for this week is Sky Awareness Week. Among things suggested to do this week are practice nephelococcygia – the art of finding shapes in the clouds. Just so they're not funnel shaped.

While I'm not working on a dissertation, it just so happens that I am working on doing some organizing. A long overdue organization of my 'office'. At this point it looks worse than it did before I started. Trying to find a 'place for everything' and putting 'everything in its place' can be frustrating. Not to mention exhausting.

My poor dog is getting stressed, as I re-organized my living room just last week. I think I'm taking 'spring cleaning' to the extreme this year. 

While I take a break from getting my office organized, I think I'll go snack on some pretzels while I watch the birds, and the sky. Maybe take the horse next door a carrot. I just hope nobody has to use that Richter scale today. 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Positively Easter

 by Mauverneen

Happy Easter! 

Actually, we're in between Easters. One, we just celebrated, the other, Orthodox Easter, is coming.  Religious and Political disagreements way back in 1054 caused a split among Christians. Among other differences, they follow different calendars - hence the two different dates for Easter and Christmas. That's the short version. The very short version.

Easter, like Christmas, has lost religious priority along the way, being overtaken by elves and presents, and rabbits and baby chicks. I'm not sure what any of those things have to do with the original reason for those celebrations, but there you have it. 

Whether you 'believe' or not, Easter, like Christmas, is still a family holiday. And what could be wrong with that? A time to gather, a time to be kind, and be generous. A time to be tolerant. A time to reflect. A time to have a little fun - a time to enjoy. A time to share - our food, our company, our quirks and our joys; our common bonds and our differences. Isn't that what memories are made of?  

 

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

Positively Pushy

 by Mauverneen

I took my car in for an oil change and almost brought home a new car. Almost.

There's nothing to do but wait while the oil gets changed, so I wandered around the showroom. Not really looking at anything, just passing time. When the salesman first approached me and asked what I was looking for, I told him. Nothing. I'm just waiting for an oil change. Well, persistence was his middle name. He wanted me to sit at his desk - I stood. 

He moved from one topic to another and eventually, he went out to check the miles on my car as I really had no idea, except it was low. Don't forget - for about two years I hardly pulled it out of the garage except to go for groceries. Covid - remember? He ended up running the numbers for me and I could see it was a good deal. I even haggled. Except I don't really want a new car. Or do I? 

My car even wore a mask!

He was honest with me about one thing - the dealers are having a hard time getting new cars. The lot was practically empty. A good used car will sell quickly. But I still didn't sit down. In the end I took the quote home with me and promised to think about it. I'm still thinking. 

I'm happy with my car. It's five years old, and has low miles. Sure, a new car is tempting, but five more years of payments? I have about five months left on this one. New is nice, but there are still pros and cons. I'm sure that salesman makes lots of sales with his persistence. But I wonder if his customers are happy or do a lot of them have buyers remorse? 

After I left the dealership I stopped at a furniture store. I'm looking around for a chair to watch tv in. I'm trying to replace one I absolutely despise and is waaaay older than my car. The saleswoman was waiting at the door. She followed me around like she expected me to slip a recliner into my purse. 

I went home with nothing new except the oil in my car. I really don't like pushy.

My dog likes the chair - it is comfy, but there's not room for both of us!

As always, words and photos are my own, and require permission to reprint.

However, feel free to share the blog in it's entirety. In fact, I encourage it!

Interested in photo prints? Contact me! maureenblevins@yahoo.com

See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html