Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

[Stargazerlily]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning to all...

Heading home today. We have totally missed the hurricane weather, so it was sunny and warm. We sat outside, watched the baby grow. Today, back to reality.

Lav, Cyn and I am sure Pap, sorry about the soggy weather. This is pretty early for a hurricane. Dill, I like a cloudy warm day myself. Floating chairs later in the week for you maybe.

Have the best day you can.

[cyntree]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Morning!

Sunny, bright and cool here today, what a difference. Yesterday I thought we were about to float away. Miraculously, no trees have come down - yet - with the soggy soil, sometimes days after a deluge one will just topple over, so I'm crossing fingers.

Star - travel safely. I know that now you will hold the dream closely in your spirit as you move forward!

Dill, Lav, Pap - wishing you happy energy over the weekend, and time to breathe deeply.

[Lavande]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning friends

Sunny & bright today - yay!
The power did come back on in time to get some dinner & dessert prepped for dinner last evening.
My brother-in-law had another tree split in half with the fierce wind & rains but everything was left standing here. Had my daughter-in-law & grandsons over for some burgers last evening.

cyn, glad you got thru the storm in one piece

Star, so glad you got to spend the week with your new grandson - how special!
Keep those memories with you always!

Dill, I hope you can get some more relaxing boat time in this weekend. Sounds awesome.

Papmom, my nephew who lives near you posted pics of his family enjoying a slip-n-slide out in the rain yesterday. Yeah, they weren't about to let a little hurricane mess up their day :H
Hope everything is OK with you.

Not sure what I'm doing today - hopefully not too much :H
Have a great AF day everyone!

Lav

[dill]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Gorgeous day here!

Cyn, so sorry about the warbler nest. That may very well have been a predator situation. It seems like you would have seen the little fledges hang close to the nest for a day or two if they had left the nest of their own accord. But as you say, c'est la vie.

Star, I'm glad you had the week to bond with your grandson. Good luck with your job search. I hope something happens for you soon.

Papmom, Lav enjoy the nice weather!

[papmom3]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good evening all!

Hurricane Arthur has left the building!! Out here in Central MA it was a gentle warm rain for most of yesterday. Last nite brought the hard stuff but nothing compared to the coast. Haven't heard from my friend on the Cape-hope all is well!!

Star-what a wonderful week you had. If this job will allow you to spend much quality time with your daughter and grandson and if it will challenge you and rekindle your fire, then I pray they will make a grand offer.

Dill-so sorry about the calf. Sad but probably for the best. Still. Glad you got out on the boat despite the soggy weather. Sometimes that is the most fun!!

Cyn-sorry too about the warblers and family. I had when the predators do their thing but it is unavoidable. I saw a Sharp Shinned Hawk take 3 baby robins right out of the nest. It was awful but magnificent at the same time.
Glad Arthur didn't get you too bad.

Lav-thank god you have a generator!! I went into the basement Thursday nite with the boyz the storm was so bad and it wasn't even Arthur!! I beleive the slip and slide thing-there were actually fireworks last nite nearby!! Can't imagine they were at all visible!!

today dawned bright sunny and very windy. I spend most of the day continuing my purging and reorg of the office. Also did a bit of food shopping, locked my keys in the car, waited only 30 min for AAA (that's got to be a record!!) and was on my way in no time with no spoiled food.

Video of my new space to follow but first a pic to remind you how it used to look:












Technical Difficulties with the video-will post separately. Hate Photobucket lately!!

[papmom3]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Ok, let's try this!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQPi-wbg8Js

[Stargazerlily]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning...

My cats wouldn't let me sleep. They were so lonely after a week alone (someone came in to feed and clean their litter boxes) that they are meowing at night, so I am not rested. Darn. It was hard to come back to the reality of challenges in my life. I am making a list this morning of all the stuff I have to get done today. Then, I'll go out and accomplish all my tasks.

Pap, speaking of which, I watched your video and loved how you arranged your room with the new rolltop desk. I saw your doggies enjoying the newly fixed up room too and got a kick out of that! There is so much satisfaction in puttiing things in order, purging, and then taking time to look back. I have done that for the most part as putting this house on the market meant it has to look good. And it does. Just not the right family yet. This week, right?

Lav, Cyn, and Dill, enjoy your Sunday, relax and have a little fun. You too Pap. I am just readjusting to my real life. It was such a great week, I miss the little guy.

[Lavande]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning friends,

The bright sunlight woke up the dogs early who in turn woke me too early & there you have it :H

Glad you are home & settling back in Star. Please don't let the 'largeness' of all the changes overwhelm you. Everything is going to be OK, believe that & know we are here for support :l Keeping my thoughts positive has gotten me through everything!

Papmom, nice job on the reorganizing! I saw your pic of award ribbons on FB too, very nice

Not sure what I am doing today, no big plans. The heat & humidity is due to return tomorrow making it the second 3 day heat wave of the summer - swell for those who like that sort of stuff but not me.

Cyn, sorry about the nest robbery. Nature can be brutal sometimes & fascinating as well. Have you ever watched a live owl webcam? Seeing the male go out hunting at night & return with a fresh mouse or baby bunny to feed the hatchlings is just incredible. Sometimes I just wish they would go out & pick up a pizza or something

Dill, back on the boat today?

Wishing everyone a wonderful AF Sunday!

Lav

[dill]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Greetings All,

Papmom, I love the rre-organization job! Well Done! I enjoyed the video. I found your voice to be quite soothing somehow and also enjoyed the hint of a north eastern US accent. Thanks for sharing.:h

Star, I bet you do already miss the little guy! Where is Mr. Star during all this? He has moved to the new location and has started his job, right? Did he get to come spend time with his new grandson? I started the book you mentioned, My Life With The Saints. I'm only on chapter 4 now but I really am enjoying it very much. I think I will learn a lot of history while reading this book, but at the same time it is written in a very folksy style that I can relate to. Thanks! How did you happen to come across this particular book?

Lav, no boat today, but smoked ribs on the bbq instead. My son and grand kids are coming over, along with a long time family friend. It should be an enjoyable afternoon, especially if the rain holds off! It's cloudy and quite temperate at the moment. I'm still amazed at how my son keeps getting better and better all the time. It's amazing how much can be lost when addiction gets a hold. I feel like he had been lost to us for so long, even tho physically he was right here. I don't have adequate words to express what I am experiencing. It's a miracle tho for which I am very grateful.

Hello dear Cyn and everyone else reading. Have a good AF Sunday afternoon.

[cyntree]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Evening all -

Thanks everyone for the 'nature' studies. Darn, I am unreasonably sad about these warblers. One came back and tries to either clean out the nest or re-nest, I'm not quite sure. And even though I did see the pair of them the day the nest was robbed, for the next few days there was only one, and this evening not even one. I grew to love their 'warbling' - melodic. Uuuugh, I should know better, even as a kid I couldn't watch any animal shows! I'm no tougher as an adult. Lav, curiously, I saw an owl very early this morning, sitting in a far tree looking for mice. That's a first. And did I tell you all that in the middle of the day last week I came downstairs from my office to go to the kitchen, and as I passed the (open) front door I saw a BEAR nosing around my across-the-street neighbor's garage? Jaw-dropping.

Pap - wonderful video of your space. Great job! Star - baby steps, they'll get you where you're going in no time; take care of yourself! Dill - what an exciting description of where your son is right now; just think where he might be if you hadn't stepped in to be a such a support. Congrats. Lav - more heat and humidity arriving? Say it isn't so! The last few days have been so delicious. The heat is hard here in this house - bedroom air conditioners only, so things get pretty darn sticky.

We took our canoe out on the lake for the first time in 11 years. All the time in the desert it was hanging up in the garage, and since we've been back east we just didn't have time, or couldn't figure out how to get it on the cars, etc. But we did it, and what a lovely sensation a slow paddle around a lake is. I'm hoping for another quick trip tomorrow early AM; we'll see.

Wishing all a good evening, and a great Monday -

[Stargazerlily]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning...

Slept pretty well, thank goodness! One cat woke us up one time, but she was able to calm down. She has been meowing for a few weeks now.

Dill, I love that book, it is one of my favorites, I try and read it every year. I love books about Catholics, and this book is about the best of being Catholic and the culture, that I grew up in. I found it at a Barnes and Nobles, just browsing, throught it looked interesting ad bam, it is just a great book. So glad you are enjoying it. Father Martin is such a good writer, and how he decided to become a priest is such a beautiful story. I think religious life would be very fulfilling, I love the scheduled prayer and readings, to expand knowledge and spiritual practices. Another book I think you would like, but hard to find. Grandmother and the priests, by Taylor Caldwell. One of my favorites. My husband was able to spend some time with the baby too due to the holiday. So we are just in love with him. Hard to leave.

Lav, I am really working on staying positive, meditating and focusing on a great future, new wonderful job, house sold, lots of family time. Yesterday afternoon I started to think negatively, then a walk outside helped me to switch the useless fearful thinking to useful courageous perceptions. It does take work and is alot like being AF. You have to focus, want it, and move forward. Not always easy.

Cyn, whew, window air conditioners? It has been a muggy summer, lots of rain here. I dreamed of mosquitoes swarming around me, and I have a feeling it is going to get really buggy here soon. Sorry about the birds nest, nature is so brutal. The canoeing sounds fun, really peaceful.

Back to work today, up early and getting ready. Most Mondays have been rainy so it makes it easier. Have a good day all. Greetings Pap.

[Lavande]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning friends!

The hot, humid, buggy weather returns today after a pleasant weekend.
Grateful every single day & night for the AC. I would be a hopeless mess without it, believe me

Dill, miracles really do happen & I am so happy for your son, kids & for you as well!
All we have to do is really want something bad enough & be willing to put in the work, huh?
I am interested in the correlation between depression & addiction. The feelings of hopelessness often propel us to self-medicate with unhealthy substances. I know I was reluctant to seek professional help because I just couldn't own up to my problems. So grateful all of that is behind us now
Hope you enjoyed your BBQ ribs!

Cyn, the scariest thing I've seen roaming around here is a 5 ft black snake, followed closely by a neighbor's goat :H
We have no bears around these parts - thank the universe!!!
My dogs go nuts chasing deer, I can't imagine what they would do with a bear. Be safe!!!!! We used to go canoeing back before kids. it was a lot of fun. YB bought another canoe a few years ago but he used it to go 'hiding'.

Star, I found that getting myself into the 'habit' of positive thinking took a LOT of work. But once you form the new habit (usually takes about a month) then it just becomes natural. It can be done & I am living proof Think about all of the future fun with your newest family member

Papmom, get ready for the heat & humidity. I will send it to you as soon as it gets here!!!!

Have a great AF Day everyone!

Lav

[dill]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Looks like I'll be on Gmother duty for the rest of the day and overnight. It's nice to be able to give my son a little breather.

Cyn, canoeing sounds like fun! Paddling around on the water can be so meditative. However, the last time we went canoeing, it was in a swamp in Louisiana! LOL! Not a moment to meditate! Sitting that low in the water while the guide tossed marshmallows out to feed the 'gators was not at all relaxing! :H Kind of like seeing a bear in the neighborhood while your front door is standing open! It was a memorable swamp tour though.

Star, thanks again for the book mention. I feel the same way about the book as you do. I'll look for the other book you mentioned when I finish this one.

Lav and Pap and all readers, AF greetings to you. I am in a bit of a hurry just now getting ready for dear granddaughter.

[Stargazerlily]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning...

Can't tell you how much it means to wake up and read your posts. I am on my own again and right now that is OK.

Dill, enjoy time with grandkids, wonderful your son is continuing his recovery journey. That book is the best. I felt spiritually refreshed after reading it.

Lav, I am working on being positive. Sometimes those negative thoughts are persistent and it takes determination and work to get them to leave and the good thoughts to take over. How did you do it? Did you have a list of things to affirm or did you wing it?

Cyn and Pap, hello, hopey your weeks are going well.

Have a terrific Tuesday.

[Lavande]

Come Fly in July! ~ on AF wings

Good morning friends

Day #2 of extreme heat & humidity here - not my favorite weather.
Basically it means I do a lot of hiding in the AC & run outside with ice & frozen veggies every few hours for my chickens - poor things.

Dill, nice that you have the kids for a few days!
I'm sure your son appreciates the break & the kids love the visit with you - enjoy

Star, being on your own from time to time helps strengthen us I think & that's not a bad thing.
I found out that I was a whole lot stronger than I ever imagined.
About 6 years ago I went on a mission to find a source of self-help to break the negative thinking pattern that had taken over my life. Google searches led me to a program called 'Habit Busting' by Lee Milteer. I spent the money & bought the online program & it worked for me!!!
Since then quite a few free online websites have popped up with similar information. Take a look at:
http://mrsmindfulness.com/the-four-k...nkingfor-good/
Basically, it takes a month to break an old habit & replace it with a new, healthier habit. the process works provided you are willing to do the work.

I have also done a lot of reading & reinforcing - I consider myself a work in progress :H
I still love http://www.todoinstitute.com/ & listening to podcasts & http://www.ted.com/talks/browse & of course meditations. There is a lot we can do to help ourselves along

papmom, were you in that nasty weather I saw on the news yesterday? Geez, this summer heat & humidity can spark up all kinds of nasty stuff.

Cyn, anymore bear sightings? Hope not!!

OK, time to get moving. Wishing everyone a great AF Tuesday!!!

Lav