Last Sunday in February

I affectionately refer to Bashey as the Growler now. Since we have been staying with Brent and Sharon, he growls at the other two dogs whenever they get near him. I think he will be happy to be alone again.

Pete is flying in to Tampa tomorrow morning. We are going to drive down to Naples to visit with my sister Gloria, Emory and Rosie pup. We will help Gloria celebrate her birthday and tour Naples. Back to Tampa to buy groceries and stock the MH.

I hope you have checked out Oprah.com and her book club selection, A New Earth by Tolle. It is a must read and then a must participate in the online video class being offered beginning Mar. 3rd with the author and Oprah. This is a planetary endeavor of the Highest Order. Understand this class is the first ever being taught worldwide online. At last count there are over two million people signed on. The reading, discussing and living the principles of this book will elevate the planetary consciousness known by physicists as the Collective Unconsciousness. It is comprised of energetic vibrations in the electro magnetic field surrounding Earth. Thoughts and words are energy and vibrate at a level that hold them in the magnetic field. When so many are thinking similar thoughts and speaking of a similar subject, the vibrational level is raised and we are truly lifted to another level of consciousness. Now I am speaking of Higher thoughts and information. But conversely, when many are speaking or thinking or watching violence, war and fear, the vibrations in the Collective Unconscious are lowered to a darker level. We can control the violence in our society against women and children. We can end the wars. We just have to control our thoughts, our words by raising our consciousness. There is no place for fear or anger in the Higher Consciousness.

There are many Laws of the Universe. One that is important to remember in this discussion is, "Like attracts like". This is known as the Law of Attraction. I think you can see how important it is to discuss something that brings so much Light, Love and Knowledge to the masses.

I love this quote from Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh,

"Be realistic: Plan for a miracle."

A couple of older pictures

I like these two pictures and decided to post them again.

If you haven't read Eckart Tolle's book, A New Earth, I urge you to do so and join in with the author and Oprah on Oprah.com to take the 10 week course. It is free and will change your life and the lives of many others.

A new phase

Yesterday, I placed a "For Sale" sign in the windshield of my coach. It was a sad day - I had cleaned the carpet, the tile floor and shampooed the sofa. I left feeling totally blah. I drove home in a fog. My intuition is telling me that selling my Bearfoot home is not necessary but the left brain looks at the budget and sees a shortfall each and every month. I live a frugal and careful life but just can't stretch my income any further. There doesn't appear to be anywhere to cut expenditures. Logic tells me the coach has to go. The house and resultant expenses are higher than I had thought they would be. Fuel and food price increases and the drop in the stock mkt hurts. My attempts to find work this winter have not played out. The first thing I will do upon returning home, is look for a job.

March 1st is the take off date. My friend Pete is coming down to help me drive back north. I need help this trip since my eyes have not really recovered from the Botoxin treatment side-effects. These symptoms have worsened in the last year or so. Another reason to sell the coach. I knew way back when I began this journey that there could come a time when I would no longer be able to drive any distance. I also promised myself and my family, I would know when the time came and not fool myself.

I wonder as do many others, what chapter am I beginning in the book of how many chapters? Would it help if we knew? What would I do differently? Probably nothing since I look at my life as an adventure. Full and rich with experiences and stories.

I have enrolled in Oprah's 10 week course based on Echardt Tolle's book, A New Earth. It begins March 3rd I believe. I recommend reading this book since it will change your life and help to change the planet. This will be an audi/video course with Oprah and the author. The book appears difficult to understand but if you are not used to reading esoteric books, you will need to take it slowly. Digest each page and go on the chat rooms on Oprah.com. It is based on A Course in Miracles but is easier to understand for most people.

Dogs and I are going over to Mango to the Doggie Park this morning. It is one of the best ways to exercise them all at one time. Bash looks beautiful in his new do. We left his coat longer since he is going into what I presume will be cold weather.

Thought for the day:
"Come to the edge, he said. They said: We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said.
They came.
He pushed them.......and they flew."

Guillaume Apollinaire

Presidents Day

The dogs and I are on our own for a few days. Yesterday I spent much of the afternoon and early evening watching the Daytona 500. It was not an exciting race until the last 50 laps sort of like some Super Bowls. The amazing Dodges came through as a team.

The weather here is lovely spring conditions. Sunny and warm with brief showers once in awhile. We are going over to Doggie Park in Mango this morning before it gets too busy. Then I really don't know what the day will bring. Maybe a bike ride if it doesn't rain.

I rode 12 miles a couple of days ago. It was a nice ride but I find I don't pace myself as fast as I do when I ride with someone. I need to pick up the pace in order to stay in condition. My average speed is about 11 mph.

I did go up to the coach a couple of days ago to wash and wax it. I took the wheel covers off and the sun protectors in order to move it down to the wash area. Bash was excited because he thought we were leaving on a road trip. Soon dear Bash, soon.
Luckily, the wash area is beneath a very large oak tree so it was shaded. My plans to take it easy and do just half of it changed since the conditions were ideal to do the whole thing. I even washed the awning. By the time I picked up my tools and put the hose back, I was like a zombie. Put the coach back and left the lot only to realize it was 5 p.m. on a Friday night - rush traffic. It took us an hour and a half to get home 15 miles. I didn't even try I 75 since it was a parking lot due to a couple of accidents. Pulled over and found a route to get me to 301 but then near the State Fair at that hour, it was very slow going.

Speaking of the fair, I don't think I wrote about going to the fair. It was loads of fun and great eating. Quite different than our State fairs up north. Sharon brought Chance so he could stay in touch with his Service Dog training. He was fine and brought lots of smiles from kids and adults alike.

Enjoy this monday holiday gift. I will post some pictures later. Having trouble with this old timer computer.

A Monday at the Beach

Sharon, Brent, me and our respective dog family took a day at Fort DeSoto Beach yesterday. We all packed (an understatement) into their car and motored an hour to the dog park and adjoining dog beach. It was a splendid day here in Florida. I wanted to show you some photos. The apres beach shots are hilarious. Beaching it sure does take the tucker out of you.

Naples visit

We drove back from Naples on Sunday, having extended our stay for a couple of days. It felt good, warm and welcoming to come back into that community of friends and family. What struck me immediately was how busy the lifestyle is. I have been leading a very quiet life since returning to Florida last fall. The best share of my day is spent with the dogs. I had carried my bike with the hope of riding with the group. I did that on Thursday. The wind was strong from the south which is often the case. I rode with the first group which travels a bit faster than the other groups. That was one mistake. The first mistake I made was eating a large breakfast cooked by Emory and gulped down 10 mins. before the ride. The second mistake was thinking I could keep up with the fast group. A few miles out, I was unable to breathe and felt sick. One of the guys, Gary, stuck with me as we took a short cut to the coffee house where we would meet the others. After having a smoothie and a banana, I felt better but still rode back with the "halfast" group which was much more my speed. After a brief rest, I went back out for a delightful beach ride with a friend. Here in Riverview, the beach is at least a half hour drive or more away. How wonderful it is to be an easy 3 mile bike ride away. Of course, the other beaches in that area are also easily accessible by bike as well just a longer ride.

I joined Gloria in the warm pool for the water airobics class which is well attended and vigorous. We enjoyed some of Gloria and Emory's good cookin' and a game night. I played a game called Golf and wouldn't you know, a beginner's luck win. A night of pizza out, a grand jazz concert in the park in Naples complete with a picnic supper, a celebration on 3rd Street, the requisite ice cream cone and tours of friends new motor homes filled out the days we were there. I enjoyed 6 Grapes and good chocolate with Gary and Marion in their new coach and a gourmet lunch with Maureen in their neighboring new coach. And get this, followed by a huge serving of Strawberry Shortcake at the community center. Yum! Strawberries are definitely in season here now. Pictures are posted here of some of the fun in Naples.

Those of you who are new to this blog, please check out my other two. You can find them by scrolling down on the side bar to where it says, "More About Me", click there and you will find the titles to two more blogs. One is a sampling of some of my art work; the other is a description and presentation of my Distance Healing Work. Comments are always welcome.

Some of you have also asked me for photos of my cottage in New York State. I want to correct myself since I told you to go to the archives of this blog to find a picture of it. I just checked and it is not there. I had to change blog addresses back in August and it was on the old one but is not on this one. I will look it up on my flash drive and post it in a future post.

Weather.com tells me it is -9 degrees this morn in Hartford/Fort Ann, New York. Brrrr! I sure hope it warms up some in the next 4 weeks.

Monday Night

Bash and I are driving to Naples tomorrow to spend a few days of R&R with my sister and husband as well as Rosie pup. We haven't seen them since Christmas. We are looking forward to seeing our Lake San Marino friends as well. How I miss those impromtu parties in the late afternoon, the bike rides with the club, the dancing, the friendly faces and of course, the beaches.

The weather is warm here now. More to my liking anyway.

Finished the deck on my kayak Namaskar today. I put all the fittings back on sealing each one with some waterproof caulking. It looks pretty good but not like it did when it was new. The salesman at West Marine talked me into a satin finish rather than the high gloss. Now I wish I had gone with the high gloss. I want to put more coats on it after I get it home and need to check into putting the glossier finish on over top of the satin. It feels good to start to pack my things up and organize everything for the trip northward. Next week, I will wash and wax the coach.

I was turning into Target yesterday when what should walk in front of my car but a huge Sand Hill Crane. I was stunned and speechless. Only in Florida. What a thrill and me without a camera. Of course, there was a line of traffic behind me.

More later.....

Monday Night

Funny, not so funny, funny story

A couple of days ago, I took "three in hand", that is 3 dogs in my hands to the park nearby the house here in Riverview. It is about a quarter of a mile walk to the park. Once there, I let them run free. What a time they had racing, digging and exploring the underbrush. It has not rained here in awhile so I was surprised when my feet sunk in the wet grass. Cold water ran into my crocs. I sloshed around, caught the dogs and proceeded back to the house. My left eye is still very droopy so my vision is a bit out of balance unless I tape the eye open. We were going along quite well until they all spied a squirrel. I didn't see it coming as they gathered all their strength and weight in order to leap about 20' after the squirrel. I have a video recording in my brain where I can reverse it and replay the action. I saw myself sliding, airborne and then trying to dig in my heels which were filled with slimy muddy water. I always resort to calling in my angels who I am most thankful for. We were careening towards a large tree. I knew if I fell, my head would crash into the tree -no helmet either. I saw myself crashing face first into the tree - all those awful skiing accidents I have heard of where people have crashed into trees on the slopes fast forwarded through my brain. There wasn't time to do much and I did hit the tree just as the dogs went one on one side and two on the other. Luckily, I have been blessed with a rather large cushion on my chest. The dogs stopped and I stopped chest firmly against the tree. I was very angry with the dogs at that point and very grateful to my angels for giving me a hand. This is not the end of the story however. We went on home where I put the dogs in the backyard to dry off. I then went into the mud room to remove my sloshy shoes. As I pulled my foot out of one of the shoes, a gecko jumped out and fled across the room. Can you believe that the little lizzard rode with me all the way from the park enduring the wild ride to the tree? I noted the lizzard energy since that is the third one in a couple of weeks that has been with me. One in my car and one on my windshield riding down the highway. I drove very slowly until I was able to remove him safely.

I encourage you to sign up on the Oprah.com website to read along and discuss Eckhart Tolle's book, A New Earth - Awakening to your life's purpose. It is a 10 week course and we will be reading it together and discussing it in live feed. I read this book last year and was delighted to find that someone like Tolle had taken much of the teachings in The Course In Miracles and explained them clearly in easy to understand text. Please do this for yourself, your family and your planet. This will be indeed life-changeing.

I am off for a mammogram now. More later -

Have a Blessed day of peace and love,
Donna