Blessings seen and unseen

I love it when folks send me photos of them with the bird babies they bought from me.
Here is John and Pixie after a shower. Who would have thought birds were so snugglie?

Right now I am grateful that the replacement hose for my vacuum cleaner will come to me free of charge. Today I discovered a large hole in the vac hose....obviously not an ideal situation...I thought it may cost a bit to replace.
To my delight, my vac is still on warranty (5 years!) and there is no hassle in the replacement part arriving to me in 7-10 days. Whew! I really am glad.

My Amazon Parrots made me smile today while I was giving them a shower. They really love their showers. Afterward they like to preen their feathers and look just a bit more proud.

Zoey bird was misbehaving earlier today. She has still not given in to the fact that I am the household authority. She (Caique parrot) still thinks she is queen of the world. At the moment she is resting on a perch and looking angelic.

My day is really just beginning now (4:18 pm by my computer clock) but I feel confident that I will have a productive evening.

I am grateful for today.
I am grateful for blessing seen and yet to be seen.

GratefulJoy

Mainly beads today

I remember the day I took this photo of Shasta and Franchesco. It was the same day that I had purchased a fancy set of marking pens in rainbow colors....a fine tip on one end and a fat tip on the other. An artist's candy!
I made the mistake of leaving the unopened set of new markers on a desk in my bird room while Shasta and Franchesco were on top of their cage playing.
When I went back into the room I found that these two birds had opened the box of markers, taken the lids off both sides of them (all twenty pens)and bitten the tips off. I suppose it's pay-back for playing in my mother's lipstick when I was in preschool.

Today was a low-key day. I pretty much just sat around and experimented with beads for a project I have going.

I am grateful for the TV remote control.
I am grateful for things to keep my hair up when I want.
I am grateful for stainless steel pots.

GratefulJoy

Clean Amazon Parrots

This is the first photo I ever took of Shasta (Lilac Crowned Amazon) when she came to live with me 7 or so years ago. Actually I have lost track of how long I've had her. Anyway, She and her sweetie Franchesco had a shower today (in my bathroom on a bird shower perch) and they are nice and clean.

I am grateful the weather was cool and breezie today.
Makes my life ever so much more pleasant.

I am grateful for my good vacuum cleaner. I used it today to capture some seed moths that threaten to take over my home.

I am grateful for my medical insurance.

I am grateful for the fact that hair grows, skin heals, and our bodies are primarily a miraculous thing.

GratefulJoy

Many good things including Lucy and Max

I took this picture this past December in Central Park. On this day I got to play in snow with my niece Lucy, my nephew Max, and their cutie-pie dog Lu Lu. Notice the way Max and Lucy are sitting...not exactly on their knees, but more with their toes pointing outward. When I was their age I always sat exactly that way. It must be genetic.

That trip to New York was special because I got to spend a little bit of precious time with Lucy and Max. I've only seen them a couple of times their whole lives. If I had my wish I would see them every day. However, I live on the west coast, they live on the east coast....

The thing I am most grateful for right now is the birthday card I received this week from Max and Lucy. They made it. I love it. Due to some bizarre circumstances I thought I would never be able to have contact with these two kids again...now I feel overwhelming gratitude for their thoughtful card.
I am also glad that I feel free now to send the beaded gift I made for Lucy's 13th birthday to her. Hope she likes it.

I am thankful also that some friends will be picking me up tomorrow to take me to my medical appointment. I was praying for a ride since I am frequently stranded by my illness. Now I am certain not to miss this appointment.

I am thankful for the blessing a friend is getting by way of a conference in Illinois in July. Her blessings are my blessings.

I am grateful for the phone conversation today with my Joyful friend. She really is very special.

I am grateful for my Lilac Crowned Amazons even though they were very naughty today and decided they do not need to obey me anymore.

GratefulJoy

Needing a Chauffeur

In this photo Daffy meets a friend, sort of.

Today is a brainless day so far. I'm a Zombie. My feet walk but the rest of me is in a fog. Not sure how I will do the laundry, bathe, get trash out, or other things that are seemingly simple.

I need a chauffeur to my doctor appointment on Tuesday this week. All of my friends are either working or have other things preventing the help. Yes, I can drive. The problem is that I cannot always drive when I want or need to be able to drive.

Therefore I am praying that God will provide for Tuesday's appointment. I've missed my last two doctor appointments because by the time I was ready to leave my home I had pooped out. If I attempt to drive during severe fatigue it is like driving drunk. All prayers for my transportation need are welcome.

I am thanking God in advance for the way He will meet this need.

On another note, it is a perfect weather day here in Southern California; cool and breezy. Even when trapped in my apartment I relish such days since my flat gets about 15 degrees hotter during warm weather. One small bedroom A.C. that sometimes works....
Besides, I don't actually want to COOK my birds.

Now I will attempt a shower. Next I will lay on my bed with a towel wrapped around my wet hair. Then I will dress. After that I will attempt my stairs to take out the trash and get my mail from the past few days. Perhaps then I will be up for a trip to the laundry for a load or two of wash? All is speculative at this point, though those are my immediate goals.

I am thankful for Zoey's charming sounds that make me smile.
I am thankful that Daffy is popular with all people and birds.
I am thankful for Peanut Butter.
I am thankful my old car is still fairly reliable.

GratefulJoy

Another good hour and renting my flat

Here is Marty bird in another photo. Are you sick of seeing him yet?
Apparently he listened to my advice about saving his pennies.

I had another good hour today. The down side is that the "good" time also includes all of my meals, bathing, dressing, housework, errands, and all other daily needs. That hour wasn't extra.

The good side of the "good hour" is that I am just a smidgen closer to a clean bird room floor. The pad under my old carpet was rotten and I am scraping the pad up with a putty knife. I live in an old basic apartment. There are no extras and only one old washer and one dryer for 16 apartment units full of families. That one set of washer/dryer closes at 9 pm. I've given up on trying to use it at all.
Off track....anyway, I need to fix my own flooring for many reasons. If I lived in a luxury apartment this may not be necessary. Contrary to what some believe, if you rent you may have all of the hassle and expense of ownership too.

I am still grateful to have my apartment. I am grateful I am allowed to keep my birds here. I am grateful for many windows.

I am also grateful for nice lamps.

I am grateful for frozen corn.

GratefulJoy

One Good Hour

Yesterday I shared a photo of baby bird Marty when we visited my Joyful friend two years ago. Today I want to share this photo of Marty having "guy time" with my friend's husband when he came home later that day. By the look of this photo, they seem to understand one another.

Today I had one productive hour.
That hour was, however, so productive that it gave me hope that the many projects past due here are doable (is that a word?).

I am grateful I can go to bed now (2:22 by my computer clock) with a real feeling of hope for the 'morrow. I've said it before: A little dose of hope carries me a long way.

I am also grateful for my gleaned knowledge of flooring...thanks to Mom and Dad's carpet store. Us kids were literally raised in the carpet store. We lived in the same building and the store was also our family Rec Room. One Thanksgiving we ate our dinner on the ping-pong table in the carpet store. The ping-pong table was full to capacity (big family). And, I have watched my dad do countless floor installations, which taught me at least a little bit about how to cover a floor.

I am grateful for my Swiffer Sweeper thing.

I am grateful for dish soap.

GratefulJoy

Unexpected free tow

This picture shows baby bird Marty sharing a laugh with my Joyful friend at her home. Taking the baby birds places with me helps keep them social and makes them happier pets...and easier pets for the new owners. I am glad my friend was not put-out by me showing up at her door with a wild beast.

On Saturday evening my tire went flat just as I pulled into my parking spot at home....
a nail or screw from the street I'd assumed. This left me stranded since it was after closing time at Discount Tires here in Lemon Grove. And, the tire store is also closed on Sundays. Fortunate for me I have a friend who went considerably out of her way to chauffeur me to the bird club meeting Sunday night. Very good since I needed to be at the meeting to get parakeet Lucky adopted out there.

On Monday I realized that my AAA auto club membership had expired in April. Hmmmm, how was I going to get my car to Discount Tires? My spare (little donut) also flat. A pickle here. God was smiling on me today for sure, AAA renewed my membership by phone, Okayed towing without coverage gap, and had my car to the tire store just in time to get it repaired before they closed at 6 pm. Whew!

Not only am I grateful for the tow and easy AAA renewal, I am also grateful that the tire was fixable. It is a 6 year old tire that already has a plug or two from previous nails and screws (hardware seems to fall from the trees here) and the first thing the tire fellow said after noticing it had been six years since I bought the tires: "We can get a new one on there in a jiffy."

"A new one?" I repeated

"Your tire is very oxidized and has heavy Ozone damage," he said.

"Perhaps it can still be repaired," I suggested while trying to hide my panic.

"We'll try," was his reply.

Overwhelming gratitude flooded my heart when (about an hour later) a guy handed me my car keys and said: "All done."
Old tire fixed, newly balanced, no cost to me.

I am also grateful that I was then able to drive to the Bingo Hall where I accidentally left a small vacuum cleaner yesterday. No, I hadn't been playing Bingo. We hold our bird club at the Bingo hall once a month.
Had my tire still been flat this would not have happened. I was also grateful that someone turned the little vac in to the lost and found for Monday Bingo...rather than taking it home with them. It's the club's vac, not mine.

I am grateful that a wonderful and bird-savvy woman adopted Lucky bird at my bird meeting. He will have a privileged life. I will now have one less bird to feed and clean up after.

A pretty good day, I say.
Did I accomplish World Peace? No....but, I am grateful for every blessing no matter how trivial it may seem to others. They are big enough to me.

I thank God for another day.
I thank God in advance for tomorrow and the hope of finally getting some overdue paper work accomplished. Perhaps even getting some dirty dishes washed.

GratefulJoy

New nest boxes and praying for wisdom

Last year this time I was doing my Alaska cruise with a friend. Here is a picture of me lounging on the deck of our ship. If willing to take a room without a window, cruise trips are surprisingly affordable! I hope one of these years to do it again.

Today I found the type of wooden nest boxes (at a local bird store) that I need for some of my bird pairs. Maybe if I give them the perfect nest box they will be more inclined to think of it a a honeymoon suite? I hope so.

Sunday I will see a friend I have not seen in 3 years. So grateful for this.
And, I have my bird club meeting in the evening. I will finally be able to take little (parakeet) named Lucky and find someone who can love him for the rest of his little life.

My need to simplify my life was evident today. I pray for wisdom from Heaven...since I see potential in every paper scrap and old shirt. The pitfalls of being an artist. My old motto of "Less is best" needs to kick in again. The past few years have been sort of "more is more" and complicated daily life.

I am grateful that God assures us that if we pray for wisdom that He will surely give it.

I am grateful for my toaster oven.

I am grateful for good scissors.

GratefulJoy

Lots of pretty gifts in a big box

Remember me saying that I love to watch folks meet their new baby birds from me for the first time? Here is a photo of my friend Eve and her hubby meeting their baby painted conure (which they named "Mira", short for "Miracle") in 2005.
Mira wasn't shy at all about giving them kisses straight away.

Today I am grateful that I got my digital camera when I did several years ago. It's just an amateur snap shot sort of camera, but if I didn't have it, then this blog would be very dull without the pictures I've taken the past few years.

This afternoon I received a surprise package in the mail...
it was full of beautifully wrapped little presents to me. It was so much fun to look at all those pretty gifts and then tear into the paper and see the surprise inside. It was full of colorful socks, yummy foods, and things that just made my heart warm. I thank Nettie for surprising me with this fun blessing today. I could feel the love come out of each gift as I unwrapped it.

There are many unfinished projects and needs and deadlines looming over me these days and I am behind on pretty much everything in my life. It is good for me to remember the good things of the day, else I fall into a pit of despair. Gratitude to God for all things is like a life-buoy when I feel I am sinking.

Thank you God for the nice gifts from my sister.
Thank you for all the good things of today.

GratefulJoy

Look harder...there are plenty of good things here

Here is my Meyers parrot, Scooby Dooby. I like his eyelashes. He is 14 years old now and is a blessing in my life...even though he has never forgiven me for getting all these other birds after him.

Today wasn't a great day since I didn't get anything on my "to do" list accomplished. There are so many unfinished projects and deadlines and things looming over me. It's much harder to find gratitude on such a day.

However, I am still grateful that I have a comfortable apartment (not luxury by any stretch)even if the neighborhood is a bit seedy (I wonder where that "seedy" expression came from?).

I am grateful I have fresh fruit in the house. Fresh fruit is one of the best things on earth. Isn't God smart?! The fresh blueberries are particularly nice.

I am grateful for big baggy comfortable pajama pants.

I am grateful for cold water with ice.

I am grateful for ponytail holders for my hair.

I am grateful for the friend who called today after not being in touch for a long while.

I am grateful for dental floss after I eat popcorn.

I am grateful for my eye sight.

I am grateful for the ability to pay my rent on time every month....that seems stupid, however, I am always shocked when I get word that a neighbor has not paid their rent. I would rather starve to death than not pay my bills.

I am grateful for the use of my fingers and limbs.

I am grateful for front-loading washing machines at the laundry mat.

I am grateful for the hope of tomorrow and a fresh start each day.

GratefulJoy

Soup with Cindy and other good things

In this photo we see my neighbor Nick and his 6 year old daughter with my Pacific Parrotlet named Gloria. Gloria is a ham, as you can see.

I had the nicest time with my friend Cindy on my birthday (yesterday, technically) as we visited and dined at my favorite Thai food restaurant. We ate that awesome Tom Ka soup that makes your tummy sing and the world seem fine. Then we had Cold Stone Creamery ice cream. I am well fed.

I had ever so many emails and phone calls for my birthday. That was very nice. Particularly getting a call from my oldest brother Al. Al and I barely know each other because of the age difference...the phone call was a nice surpise and I am one conversation closer to knowing something about him. I do hope we connect again and it is real and genuine as I felt today's conversation was such.

Right now I am grateful for the terrific evening with my friend. Grateful too for getting to the election polls on time. Grateful for a day that was full of happiness and joy. My cup runneth over!

GratefulJoy

47 is good

Even I was cute at one time....this is a photo of me when I was maybe 3 or 4 years old. Wouldn't it be great if everyone could stay as cute as they were when they were little?

Today is my 47th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!
I don't know why I feel so happy about my birthday this year. Perhaps it's because last year on my birthday I was on a cruise ship in Alaska and it was so much fun. Thus giving me the expectation that all birthdays will be wonderful and glamorous from here on. Though I don't have any big party or anything planned I feel a joy in my soul and gratitude to God for giving me life.

So much of my life is blessed. Can I say that? Isn't ALL of my life blessed?
Let me rephrase: My life is blessed.

Here are some of my current blessings: I live in San Diego. The weather here is really fantastic compared to St. Louis where I was raised.
I am near the ocean and I do love the ocean.

God is my best friend. Talk about having connections.....

I've had way more than my fair share of adventure around the world in previous years.

I have a bunch of parrots that God gave to me as a gift. They fill my need for color and also animals in my daily life.

I have a gift for making very little go a long way. That, or God is multiplying my stuff and I am simply not noticing.

Contrary to my youth, I really love my own character. God made me unique and I would rather be me than anyone else. Took me a lot of years to decide that I am wonderfully made and not a big mistake.

I still love adventure. Anything new, anything I have not done before, I'll try any food, I am fearless in many ways.

I anticipate good things to come to me from God. Hope is the word. A little dose of hope carries me a vast distance and refreshes my soul.

I am grateful for today.
Thank you God for giving my life to me and YOUR LIFE to me.
Being 47 is good.

GratefulJoy

Memories that don't sting anymore

This pictures shows baby bird Marty at 4 weeks old. He is obviously outgrowing his favorite bowl to sit inside (July 15, 2008).

I love the company of friends new and old. Therefore, I loved my evening. My friend came by on a whim and brought us Japanese food for dinner. We had a nice low key time sitting in my exceedingly messy living room together. Of course, as soon as she called to say she was coming over I rushed to clean my bathroom. I have a thing about the toilet being clean for guests.
Even though my friend didn't use the bathroom tonight....I am glad I cleaned it.

During our dinner the subject of my parents came up in conversation. Both passed away in the mid '90s. My mom died on June 7th. It was a terrible loss. An unexpected and untimely death of an otherwise healthy and vibrant woman.

Since my birthday is on June 8, I have had a heavy heart nearly every year on my birthday since 1994 when Mom died. In fact, it took a full decade for me to mention my mom or dad without blubbering.
I will miss them both until the day we meet again in heaven, but I am glad that I am at a place where I can think of them and not sob for an hour.

It's a weird thing to be my age...shall I say it?... 47 years old!....
and have no parents, no in-laws, no children or husband. It's sort of like limbo.
I ask God why I am solo in life. He has not given me a direct reason. Is there a direct reason?

I always tell my friends that I would rather be single wishing I were married...
than married wishing I were single. That right guy may come along still. I'm not all that shriveled up yet, stranger things have happened.

I am grateful for my parents and their special talents and gifts. I am grateful for my friends who seem to love me whether or not I am a productive citizen. I am grateful I am well preserved for an old lady. I am grateful that God has a plan for my life even when He doesn't give me all of the details in advance.

GratefulJoy

Not too bad despite the late start

This picture shows Daffy and Zoey in the shower today. Daffy is doing the "don't touch me" lean.

Today had a difficult start...at 6 pm....but turned into not a bad evening. I washed some of my dirty dishes, went to Walmart, and spoke with my brother Ted on the telephone.

My computer mouse battery died and I was out of AA batteries; thus the absence of blogs the past few days. The main goal at Walmart was batteries, though I managed to buy a good many other things as well.

I am grateful for those things I was able to do after the late start. I am also grateful for the laughs I had on the phone with Ted. I am grateful for the fresh fruit on my Cheerios for dinner. I am grateful I have had this apartment since 1994.

GratefulJoy

Was I grateful?

I've posted several photos of the Lilac Crown baby named Marty....
This is a picture of him hatching in my hand during a routine egg inspection in my bathroom. It was magical. So little. He doubled in size and weight every day for the first two weeks.

Well today was frustrating in that I didn't fully wake up until after 7 pm. First thing I said to myself in the kitchen was, "Well there's another wasted day."

The evening was low-key. I mostly watched TV while I did some organization of my bead collection. My birds were my company.

Was it a good day? Was I grateful?
I need to think on it a bit...then I will find somthing really good.

This is good: The birdie bread I made last night turned out well and the birds enjoyed it all day. It is good for them and they think it's a treat.

I am grateful for my TV. I am grateful for my sofa. I am grateful that I had food to eat and water to drink. I am grateful my computer is working. And, I am grateful that God is watching my back even when I am unaware of that fact.

GratefulJoy

Responsible for my own attitudes

This picture is of Marty, Lilac Crown Amazon baby born here in 2008. This is when he was about 10 weeks old and just discovering the wonder of toys.

Anyway, today was another indoors day. The weather was beautiful outside but I didn't go out. Instead I had a nice phone conversation with a friend who went hiking all weekend on Catalina Island here in Southern California. At least I can live vicariously through her. I am grateful she had a great time....because then I can share her joy.

Seriously, when my loved ones have a victory or blessing then it is a blessing to me. That is how community works. Sharing the good and the bad. Being happy for someone else's blessings even if I don't see those same blessings in my life. If I do not decide in advance that I will rejoice rather than envy the good things I see in someone else's book of blessings...I have the potential to become bitter, resentful, sarcastic, and a boat-load of other ugly things.

It's a choice...it's the "walk"...it's the attitude that makes community work in such a way that we can love each other even when things are not "fair" and even or ideal for everyone. The one thing my parents forgot to teach their brood of children is to rejoice with one an other's successes. How that teaching could have missed us is a puzzle. Mom and Dad were lovely people, honest and hard working. Though in my middle age I am still teaching myself the art of contentment and that "rejoice in someone else's blessing" thing.

There is an empty space that cries for family. However, the idea of family is much nicer than being thrown into the real thing sometimes. One of the gospels...I'd have to look up where...says: "Be at peace with all men, so long as it depends upon you."
I can only do what depends upon me. I am not responsible for the choices or attitudes of others.

Sound like a cop out? Hardly! I also take to heart the time that Jesus was teaching some very difficult things to a crowd around him...and most of them didn't want to hear it and walked away. Jesus turned to Peter and asked "Are you also going to leave me Peter?"
Peter's reply was: "Where else can I go, Lord? You hold the words to eternal life."
Peter was with Jesus for the whole ride.

The other scripture that helps guide me is the one where Jesus tells Peter that he is going to die a martyr's death. Peter then pointed to a couple of the other disciples and said: "What about them? What's going to happen to them?"

Jesus replied: "Even if they live until I come again...what's that to you? YOU, follow me."

Those are hard words. I walk my walk even when someone else seems to get a bigger piece of pie. I am responsible for me and answer to God for me alone. If someone else gets an easier ride...that's between them and God.

I suppose this is long and tedious if you are a reader of mine. Sorry. The point of this whole blog thing for me is to stay my course. It's to be joyful through gratitude. That can only come when I choose a frame of mind that will lead me to what is good. I'm not trying to preach to anyone but myself.

(By the way, I also apologize for typos and grammer errors. I am particularly poor with proper use of the English language.)

That said, I am grateful that I am responsible for my own walk. I am grateful for a little community of friends with whom I can rejoice, or cry, or laugh, or anything else real and honest. I am grateful for the good and the difficult.

GratefulJoy