I haven't posted since my Memorial Weekend find.  My girlfriend T came down from  the city.  We did a bit of antique shopping.  It was weird to be out and about after so long in self quarantine.  She likes to come down and visit the country, said the city had been really eery with the closed down everything and empty interstates.  I now especially worry for her and all my city family and friends with all the rioting.  What a strange time we are all living in.

Anyway, just keeping it light and happy - like I keep my social media...LOL.  I had found a really cool metal arbor on FB marketplace and was happy to drive 2 hours to get it.  I got the color I wanted and design was cool, very big and strong.  It is really nice.

I put it at the left side facing my house (north side).  It will provide entrance to my already existing
raised flowers planters and my new hosta garden (and hydrangea and ferns).  It is all on my north side and so they have some shade, but until few of my trees and bushes get bigger, will be pretty sunny.  I think some of the more hardy hostas will be ok.  They may not flourish as much as they could in more shade, but in time this will be a really pretty feature I hope.  I even ordered 6 sun tolerant ones to plant in the edge with the most sun.  Pictures later.

At the base of my arch I planted 2 small plugs of wisteria...one white and one purple.

Hope you are having some time to enjoy and not be too overwhelmed by the events in our country.  I too want to be informed and what not, but I just have to allow small pieces of news and just keep out much more than that for the safe of my well being.

Are We More Divided?

Wooooo weeeee, been busy at work! 

Was thinking about my last post...

Are we more divided than ever?  Is this a narrative that the media promotes so sell more ads?  I don't know.  When we look back in history, it sure seems that mankind has been divided since we got here.

I do know this, money and corruption are making it seem worse.  With all the info sources one is bombarded with on a daily basis, it is easier and harder to follow the money.  My take away is that motives need to be constantly weighed.  If I don't know for sure, I just try to pray and think positive.

Hope you all are having a positive day!  I found a couple cool podcasts,  new to me:  Southern Gothic and Maybe It's You.

I will do an entire post on podcasts soon.  I love many!

I Try Not to Watch the News

I am not in Chicago, but another similar Midwestern city.  And, like Chicago we have had a recent spate of shootings.  I absolutely WILL NOT talk politics on this blog or any of my social media.  In fact, i really don't like to discuss it at all - it seems like the current 2 party system we have in America is dividing us more than ever. 

Yesterday was voting day.  Yet, after work I walked 5 miles and then went home and fixed us smoothies, showered and fell asleep without watching the results.  It is a scary time in our nation and in the world.  When I watch or listen to too much news, I get really negative and consumed with worry.  Worry is something I have plenty of naturally.  So I instead focus on the positive (the helpers, as Mr. Rogers said) and I try to pay attention just enough to know the issues and be informed. 

I feel sadness for the old people, the people who fought for what freedoms we cherish and I feel bad for the young people and the disadvantaged.  The helpless animals.  And then I remind myself that God is in charge.

As with things that happen in one's individual life...I do believe the things that are happening all around us are happening for a reason.  So, I try to focus on the similarities.  I feel better when I smile at a stranger who seemed rude, maybe they are having a really challenging issue in their life.  The person who cut me off, maybe they are dealing with something bad.  The person who disappointed me - maybe it had nothing to do with me at all. 

I am not a big believer in astrology or stuff like that, but I did find this interesting.  Friday the 27th was a blood moon and supposedly the last week or so we were supposed to be able to see Mars clearly (we can't here in the city - the sky is too bright from lights).  DH is way more pragmatic than I in such matter (no way he would even give it a 2nd thought).  However, DH was a cop many years ago and he swore (as do first responders, ER doctors/nurses and teachers) that when there was a full moon - they know by peoples' collective behavior.  So, what does that mean?  I don't know.  The moon does control the tide, after all. 

Anyway, here is a little snippet I read about Mars retrograde:
..."Pisces and Pisces Ascendant: All Mars retrograde cycles affect you in the areas of personal finances, income, possessions, comfort, and values. These areas might be ambiguous now, or cause for concern and anxiety for the time being. Reassessing these matters becomes necessary. This is a good time for taking a hard look at your budget. It’s also a time for understanding how the management of your personal resources impacts your confidence in general."
  -credit to Astrology Café

This is funny to me because we are 1)  living in an extended stay hotel and 2)  we have 2 meetings with 2 different financial advisors.  Do I ascribe some power to this?  No, not actively.  Maybe passive interest.  Anyway, have a Wonderful Wednesday everyone!