Weekly Photo Challenge: Connected

And disconnected.

People are supposed to be connected to their parents.  My father disconnected his family when I was a teenager and I never saw him again.

These are pictures I found of me and my dad in happier times.  Connected times.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Happy Place

OctHiddenLakeGardensFall 117Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton Michigan is the happiest place I know of, no matter what the season.  I have loved nature since I was a small child.  Plants, animals, smells, the feeling I get just walking with the breeze on my face, everything about outdoors!

Fall is an especially beautiful time to me and I wanted to share some of this with you.  Take care and God bless!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.



OctHiddenLakeGardensFall 098

There are so many creatures you will find if you keep your eyes open and your camera ready.

Click on the thumbnail below for additional information on Hidden Lake Gardens.
OctHiddenLakeGardensFall 104

Weekly Photo Challenge: Po’ Girl Wanders, Change

Finally in my apartment.

When I was growing up, I never heard of apartment living and we were quite poor.   Sorry, po’!  My parents seldom held jobs and we lived with or with the help from the few relatives we had at the time.  Most are no longer living and since both my parents are considered only children, I have no Aunts and Uncles to speak of.  This makes me a lonely soul even to this day, especially after losing my po’ sister or sweat sister, as she called herself.

So I have just moved into a subsidized apartment in a small town out in the country and it’s OK.  I’m counting my blessings.  After the last number of years I’ve had, I am blessed not to be homeless.  There have already been a number of things that don’t thrill me but I can imagine many places much worse than this.  I have already seen some deer and turkey buzzards flying when I look out my window which faces a woods.  Not thrilled when I see them all lined up in the trees out there casing my place.  I thought of this view as a blessing until I really looked around and see that my view is also the employee parking lot and the pick up, drop off for residents.  So evenings or weekends are less congested but there are still people going past my window smoking, which is bad when my window happens to be opened, as well a car drives past with exhaust just a few feet away.  It is still way less traveled than the road that I was living on in the big city which was used as a shortcut by many from one major road to another.  Didn’t know this until I moved in.  These are the secrets they keep from you when you are house shopping.

Always do your homework when you are about the make this kind of investment.  I no longer consider buying a home any kind of investment, but instead a gross risk to your very future.  They don’t advertise that you are gambling every time you purchase a home because for the last 50 years or so, this was not the case.  Unfortunately our government has allowed all kinds of corrupt and risky behavior from our major banks and corporations that always make money for a few at the expense of the rest of us.  This is our own fault.  All politicians need money to be re-elected each year and hence owe certain people favors once they are elected.  It’s disgusting and shameful, but they also own all the major media corporations in America and can put any kind of spin they wish to their corrupt practices.  They pay people to think up excuses for their unfair trade agreements and other unfair manipulation of our society that puts so many American citizens out of work and some out on the street, especially our put upon veterans.

Much like when I lived in my condo for many years, I have the woods as my view, not other houses.  I pray that I will be happy here and still plan on moving on when the time is right.  I plan on looking at property in the upper peninsula next year if there are any potential fixer uppers unless I really love it here and don’t think the gamble and all the hard work would be worth more freedom.  You are not free to decorate or do much of anything creative living as a tenant.  The trade-off for being helped when you need it, hopefully.  Sometimes they do not come when you need them and in my own home I was free to make sure any problem was taken care immediately.  I knew how to fix most things and could hire someone who would show up right away.  Landlords aren’t always so accommodating.  Again, still counting my blessings, especially since I am so tired after a lifetime of hard work and much stress doing everything myself, even when I was married.

This is the view that greets me most mornings.


This was my previous view:


I am finally just letting myself relax from the life of stress I once knew. I’m not saying it has not been hectic having to let my home go to foreclosure and some of my belongings that are just too old to care about even though they are still in working order. Some stuff I left behind such as two 32″ tube TVs that no one wanted and I can’t blame them. I have donated most of what I couldn’t sell in my last yard sale. I did leave all my working appliances and let the bank know this when I mailed them my keys because they told me that they won’t meet me at the home so I can give them to someone.

The bank rep suggested that I leave the keys under a mat or somewhere outside the home and I told him I could not do this because there are many people in my area that would see me do this and they could access the property instead.  Still cannot figure out why they would ask me to do this instead of meeting with one of them at the home.  There is a lot to remember of what to disconnect or shut off and what to turn for my new home.  I also had to get cable for the first time in 15 years, even though I did not really want it so I went with basic cable for the internet service.  There are absolutely NO local connections that can be found when you do the “air” search for antenna.  This is what happens when you move to the boonies.  At least I didn’t have to get a giant dish as some of my friends did that live way out in the country by themselves.

So when I got a little closer to the deer I sawOctMiscHiddenLakeGarden 017
I this is what I found! OctMiscHiddenLakeGarden 202

Weekly Photo Challenge: Creepy

Creepiness is in the eye of the beholder.  Some are creeped out by fingernails on a blackboard, but hard to show for a photo challenge.  Most are creeped out by insects like spiders, cemeteries, storms, full moons and foggy nights.  I am creeped out by all evil.  From the inconsiderate litterers to terrorists.  They show the world what they think of themselves.  When you poop on the world and others, you are really pooping on yourself.

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Today Was a Good Day, Savor Your Summer

It was a short spring but a beautiful summer.
Unless a true miracle occurs, this is the last summer I will be spending in my house after 10 years.
I decided to give one of my neighbors some of my decorative stones today and was repaid by a lovely lunch at a new restaurant nearby.

ClockRocks 003


Still packing and one apartment called to say they had a one bedroom available. Problem is when I went to the building to drop off additional paperwork, I could really smell smoke into the halls from all the other tenants smoking away. I asked if I would be able to smell this in my apartment and unfortunately was told this may be the case. I didn’t say anything at the time, but I am very allergic to cigarette smoke and get asthma and bronchitis from second-hand smoke. I was raised with a bunch of smokers so I used to smoke myself when I was a teen. I quit at 21 when I found out I was pregnant. I used to get sick all the time until I started staying away from this bad air. There are actually people who don’t believe that others can be adversely effected from second-hand smoke, but I know different. They may find out the hard way one day themselves.

I went home very upset but then my higher brain kicked in and I made some calls to some other apartments I found in the area that were smoke free. Everyone was out for the day but I plan on calling back on Monday to see what they may have available. A couple are only small studio apartments, but I will see what I can work out. I know I have air cleaners and can crack a window, but if you’ve ever had bad air quality, you know that doesn’t always take care of it. The apartment is decent and looks out onto the woods where deer feed so I hate to pass that up. I was also thinking that I would like to be in an apartment with more things going on and more people in it. The sure thing only has a few units and will probably be very lonely. I’ll post an update on this dilemma.


I decided to try and actually finish some of my projects before I leave my home for good. One thing I did was use one of my mother’s old Vogue photo record album of one of my favorite songs to make a clock. Very easy.  The next one I make I will do a Instructables.com tutorial with it.

ClockRocks 004

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Inspiration of Christ

I would venture to say that the majority of people live for themselves and live for the day now.  I can’t blame them.  I have never seen much sense in life or existence as purely haphazard or lived for self.  As much as I like things “my way” I know it’s not realistic and it’s actually downright selfish.  I know Oprah has been spouting “Living Your Dreams” for many years now, but before Oprah, was someone called Jesus.

Jesus spoke of living abundantly because of Him.  In the context he spoke of this, John 10:10, he pointed out how those that came before Him were thieves and robbers.   He was not that way, he spoke of the way to live abundantly in the truth and love here and eternally.  Most others, even your “Oprahs” or motivational speakers, want something.  They want money from us, from anyone and everyone.  They want to live in mansions and have the world at their command, not God’s command.  Jesus never wanted anything from anyone on this physical plane.  He said if you loved Him, to keep His commandments of loving God and loving one another.

Jesus is my inspiration to treat others as I wish to be treated.  To not expect any treasures while I am on this earth, but to live according to God’s will and look forward to heaven.  I pray everyday to do God’s will and not my own and be lead in the spirit to be able to further God’s kingdom while I am on this earth.  Jesus was willing to die to save our souls.  God gave His only Son for Us.  It is the least I can do.

John1415

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Symbol

Butterflies are symbols of change.  I have been seeing many butterflies the last few days before my foreclosure sale that is about to take place.  After that, my life will really change.  I lose my home and have to start all over again.

I still don’t know where I’m going but have an idea.  I’ve resolved myself to a small apartment for now so I can just relax for a while.  If I like it, I’ll stay, if I want to move on, I will do so.  Butterflies can do this.