Positively Bailey

by Mauverneen

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich."
- Louis Sabin

      There are cat people and there are dog people. I am dog people.
     When I was married, with kids, we had dogs. The kids, as adults, all have dogs. After a divorce and several moves, I had no dog. But I found myself wishing more and more that I had one. Presently I live in a small space, and knew my ideal dog could not be too big - it would have to be smallish, but not too small.
      My youngest daughter kept emailing me pictures of shelter dogs. One day I had nothing else to do so I went and took a look at the latest one. He was a cutie for sure. They put us in a room for a little 'meet 'n greet' where he enjoyed chasing a tennis ball. I went out to the desk to ask a couple of questions about him and when I came back, he was just sitting there, staring at the door, waiting for me to come back. That was it. I was done. Home we went.

Going to a new home

     He has been my buddy, my confidante, and my salvation. I sometimes call him my angel. I truly believe he saved my sanity. I have had Bailey for three years now - or he has had me - and his birthday is also this month. He is turning four. We have trained each other, and he gets most of the bed, as most dogs do, regardless of size.

Sometimes he likes to stay in bed

He likes to sit and watch for deer with me. We both hope one day a fawn will come over and play.

Too cold! Let me back in

Look like my birthday, but he doesn't mind sharing

Here are a few random dog quotes that I like.

"The more people I meet the more I like my dog."  - Unknown

"When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you've growled all day long." - Unknown

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."  - Gilda Radner

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!

check it out   MauveOnTheMove.  My travel blog!
 See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

                      and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

Positively ECLIPSED

by Mauverneen

     Next week, Monday, August 21, 2017, is the big eclipse. I have my glasses.

      I tried them out just this morning and everything was black - save for that little shining circle in the sky.
      I'm kind of excited. I remember the solar eclipse of 1963 when I viewed the eclipse with my head in a box. Really. Those of you who remember that eclipse probably did the same. I hear everyone is selling out of the glasses. You might want to get yourself a big box.

      You put a pinhole in one end of the box, off center so your head isn't in front of the hole. You can use a nail. On the opposite side of the box, line the inside with white paper or posterboard. Voila! Test it out, making sure you see a circle of light on the inside of the box in front of you.
I also found this video from NASA on how to make a viewer out of a cereal box. Same principle.
      https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/video/nasa-video-explains-how-to-make-a-diy-solar-eclipse-viewer/vp-AApSRR4
      In either case what you are viewing is a reflection of the eclipse. Very safe. Do NOT stare at the sun! You really can go blind.
      In case you are interested in some eclipse trivia did you know in 1935 there were FIVE eclipses? A partial solar eclipse occurred on February 3 and covered much of North America.  The other, partial eclipses, occurred on January 5th, June 30th, July 30th, and an annular eclipse occurred on December 25, 1935.
      And just for fun, here is a presidential couple viewing an eclipse. Calvin Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States, serving from 1923 to 1929

Enjoy the eclipse, and remember to do so safely!

 visit  MauveOnTheMove.  My travel blog!

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

                      and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

Positively Be

by Mauverneen

“Consider the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matt. 6:28-30)

In other words “Don’t worry. Be happy.” (Bobby McFerrin)
      Sometimes happiness eludes us. Sometimes we forget to be positive. Sometimes we forget we are in charge of our own life. Sometimes - life is just plain hard!
      It's then, when life seems unfair, that we need to stop and take a deep breath and remember it wasn't always like this and it won't always be like this. In other words "This too shall pass" - ancient proverb.
      So, that's the best time to linger over that cup of coffee, that glass of wine, that decadent dessert you just treated yourself to. Linger and enjoy. Something.

      I guess today's pep talk is mainly for myself. But I have plans, I have things to look forward to. I can't forget that. So I take a deep breath, pour a second cup of coffee and dream for a few minutes. And besides, it is Positively Tuesday! No complaining today, no whining - woe is NOT me today!

      I will muddle through today, or this week, or this year, and keep my mind on the future, on my goals, on the prize. On the good things. And I will take some time to appreciate that this world can be a wonderful place. Have a Positively Glorious Day!

 

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!

  MauveOnTheMove.  My travel blog!

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

                      and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com

Positively Gardening

by Mauverneen

"Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are"  ~ Alfred Austin 

     Perhaps Mr. Austin was talking about flowers, but right now, I have a vegetable garden to show him. After reading this quote I wandered outside and assessed my garden. Hmmm. 

Messy yet organized in its own way.  (It may look in disarray but I can tell you where everything is.)

Ambitious.  (I do tend to take on more than I really should.)

Hopeful.  ( I always expect a bumper crop. Sometimes I am rewarded. Sometimes....eh)

Needs some tending.  (TLC is never wasted here. AND, it cleans up nicely.) 

.

Prospering. (Everybody loves the tomatoes and green beans, but not so much the zucchini.) 

Nurturing. (My garden feeds me and nurtures my soul. It also nurtures bees, birds, and on occasion                       some of those pests I try to keep out.

 Ahem.  Perhaps Alfred wasn't too far off the mark.

*note:  Alfred Austin was an English poet who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1896, following the death of Tennyson.

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!

Visit  MauveOnTheMove.  My travel blog!
 See more photos at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-mauverneen-blevins.html

                      and visit my website: http://mauverneen.com