HHT and LLT…

A leisurely drive along Rt. 41 provides opportunity to view picturesque ponds, creeks and low lying areas where water ebbs and flows. I’ve always been fascinated with the tide. The coming in and going out of the water is a marvelous mystery. Whether the water is moving slowly or fast paced, each ripple or wave is unique in movement.

To my surprise, I recently learned something new about tides. My new found knowledge came with laughter, of course.

Alan and I have a pocket sized booklet listing times of the changing tides. Morning, afternoon, evening and night time tides are all listed by day and time. Very good information, especially for someone new to the area.

Just when I thought there was no more to learn about tides, Alan decided to share something new.

Passing by one particular body of water that almost touched the pavement of the highway, I said, “Wow, look how high the tide is right now.”

Alan explained, “Oh, that means it’s High, High Tide. Later, there will be Low, Low Tide. You know. HHT and LLT.” He told me this without cracking a smile.

Yes, I believed him and quickly grabbed our little tide chart booklet to see how I could have missed this valuable information. I couldn’t wait to share with family that I had seen the HHT. My excitement over the HHT was uncontrollable. I was giggly and wiggly in my seat. Anxious to get home to contact family and friends to let them know the sight of the HHT is really something to behold.

Alas, my sweet hubby turned to me and said, “Dear, that’s not really a thing. I was kidding.”

Silly me. Yes, I fell for his little prank. I’m a trusting person. 🙂

Have you seen the HHT or the LLT lately? God is orchestrating the movements of the water and His work is magnificent. Pause and enjoy the tides.

Blessings,
Mimi

 

Dancing raindrops….

Windy and rainy day here with branches bending while birds try to snuggle down in their nests. Cars drive slowly through the downpours of rain. The neighborhood is quiet except for the sound of raindrops hitting the roof and the windows.

Gazing through my home office window, I notice the pond across the street. A most beautiful sight! Raindrops appear to be dancing back and forth on top of the water as if they are chasing each other. I imagine music playing to their “drop drop plop plop” in the pond.

Amazing to watch! Each raindrop falls from the sky while many other raindrops follow along. Looks like an orchestrated event.

Once again, God has given us beauty in His creations. Dancing raindrops….

Have a blessed week and watch for His blessings,
Mimi

 

“Honey, I found the missing sock…”

How in the world do I lose socks? There are only two of us in this house and the house is not large. Yet, every now and then, I lose a sock or two. Somehow, somewhere in the midst of sorting clothes and washing and drying them, a lone sock disappears.

One of Alan’s gray socks has been missing for 3 days. I have searched high and low, in the laundry basket, beside the washer, under the bed… anywhere the gray sock might be hiding.

This evening, as I sat in my desk chair upstairs while looking at emails, etc., Alan shouted from downstairs, “Honey, I found the missing sock!”.

“Really? Wonderful. Where was it? Where did you find that sock?”

He replied confidently with a voice sounding like he had found a missing treasure. “When I straightened the blanket on the bed, the sock fell on the floor.” He was so proud of himself for finding the missing item.

All was great until I realized the sock he found was the one that is not missing. The sock he found was the other one waiting for it’s mate. I had placed the sock on the bed in hopes of finding the missing one today.

Oh, well… the search continues for the missing gray sock. I guess we’ll find it one day. Probably when we least expect, the sock will fall out of a sweater sleeve or pants leg or who knows, might be found in a completely unique place.

Good thing Alan has other pairs of socks. 🙂

Have you ever lost a sock or two?
Have a blessed weekend and be sure to giggle,
Mimi

Tick Tock’s Bigger Brother…

Weather in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina has been gorgeous recently. Bright sunshine and warm temperatures cause our bodies to call out for sunscreen. Snapdragons are blooming, yellow and purple pansies adorn entrances to neighborhoods while red and pink flowers on bushes are bursting forth with color and fragrance. The sights are amazing along our walking route.

One of the most amazing sights came last week when we were unexpectedly close to a large creature… yes, an alligator.

Our family vacationed on Isle of Palms for a few years. Signs are placed in several areas warning people not to feed the alligators. The first year we stayed at IOP, our family discovered an alligator in a small body of water near the hotel. Curiosity got to us every time we were outside.
“Let’s look for the alligator” was often exclaimed by one or more person in our family. Our nieces, Peyton and Paige, gave him a name. “Tick Tock”. They were glad to tell their younger brother, Ryder, all about the alligator.

Ever since that first sighting, we always say, “Let’s look for Tick Tock, the alligator.” He’s almost always found in the water or sunning himself on the land by the creek. We follow the rules and leave “Tick Tock” alone and he seems fine being a celebrity. He doesn’t want to be bothered and we respect his wish.

Our own neighborhood is known to have alligators in the ponds, too. Last week, while taking our evening walk, Alan and I noticed a few people standing behind a gate to the neighborhood pool, taking photos of “something”. Ahh….. a rather large alligator. Lots of folks, including us, stopped to wonder at this large gator.

After gasping and saying, “Oh, my. He’s big!” and sharing conversation with other folks amazed by the gator, and taking photos, we continued with our walk. After completing the route to our destination, we turned to head back home.

Walking on the designated paved path while glancing at the area where we had seen the gator, I commented, “Where’s the gator? I guess he went in the water. I don’t see him anywhere.”

Alan responded calmly, “Dear, you don’t see him over on the other side of the pond because he is right here on this side now.”

YIKES!!! The huge gator was on our side of the pond and way closer to us than I wanted. Immediately, I suggested firmly that we keep walking. Of course, Alan wanted to take a few photos. Yes, I walked away at a brisk pace and Alan stopped and snapped photos of the alligator.

This alligator is bigger than “Tick Tock” so we have decided to name him “Tick Tock’s Bigger Brother”.  Fine with me if I don’t see him again. I just hope he stays on the other side of the pond. 🙂

As I have mentioned before, God gives us amazing experiences to enjoy each day. Take a walk and let us know what you find in your neighborhood.

Blessings,
Mimi

 

 

Messages…just when you need them…

February arrives with special memories for our family.  February 12th was Mama’s birthday and February 15th, 2005 was my breast cancer diagnosis. There are birthdays, holidays and other opportunities to celebrate and remember during this month.

Someone shared with me how cardinals in your yard signify loved ones who have passed on are thinking of you. Do I believe that thought? I know I love to see the beautiful cardinals. I know this year on February 12th, Mama’s birthday, our yard was filled with the most beautiful male and female cardinals. Mama loved to watch birds. The colors and songs always amazed her. Mama went to Heaven on February 5, 2013.

Then, on February 15th this year (my 13 years breast cancer survivor anniversary), while sitting at my writing desk, something majestic caused me to look out the front window toward the pond across the street. Perched in a tall pine tree sat a beautiful bald eagle. As crows squawked and tried to get the bald eagle to leave their area, this magnificent bird stayed still on a limb and was not bothered by the other birds at all.

Daddy loved bald eagles. Their shape, color, size and boldness brings thoughts of bravery  and devotion. Daddy went to Heaven on Easter Sunday, 1998. Do I believe the thought of a bald eagle showing up in our neighborhood to be a message?

I do believe God sends us messages just when we need them. God can send a group of cardinals or a majestic bald eagle to remind us of the love of family and most important, the love He has for us.

Truly, I am thankful to be still and prepare for His blessings.

I pray you find messages today, messages from God. I pray you are reminded you are loved and cherished.

Thank You, God, for messages…. just when we need them.

Have a blessed weekend,
Mimi

 

Power of the squirting hand sanitizer….

Last week was filled with doctor appointments for me and my hurting back and neck. This is an ongoing, years long adventure with chronic pain. I’ve endured pain medications, injections of various kinds, physical therapy and so much more. Every now and then, the intensity of pain flares and I need to see the pain doctor.

We are fortunate to have found a trustworthy and knowledgeable pain doctor here in SC.  Alan always accompanies me for the doctor visit as we have learned having two people listening to instructions and diagnosis is better than one. Not to say that I don’t always listen to the doctor. Just sometimes I need reassurance. 🙂

This week, as we waited for the door to open to our waiting area and the doctor to enter, Alan and I chatted about the weather, the nice people at the office and how many people in the area have the flu. Normal conversation while waiting.

Suddenly, Alan remembered he needed to apply hand sanitizer because he had opened doors at the office and touched the elevator buttons, etc. Never can be too careful with all the sickness around us.

A huge long tube hanging on the wall next to the door was marked “Hand Sanitizer” in big bold letters. Perfect. Just what we needed to feel refreshed.

Jumping up to get a small squirt of the sanitizer to clean his hands, Alan pushed down on the appropriate lever and instead of a small amount being released into his hands, a HUGE squirt of the foam shot out across the whole room. The floor was covered in white foamy hand sanitizer.

“Oops!! Quick, clean it up.” I suggested.

Instead of grabbing a paper towel and wiping the floor, my dear husband smeared it in with his shoes. Yes, the stuff evaporated quickly, thank goodness.

After finding a way to have a small amount of hand cleaner, he sat down and let out a deep breath. How embarrassing that would have been if the doctor or nurse had entered the room at that moment and saw!

So, to the person having an appointment after us, the carpet was cleaner and the room had a scent of cleanliness. You are welcome. 🙂

In the midst of pain and worry, once again, God gave us something to laugh about.

Thank You, God.

Enjoy the day and remember to wash your hands.

Blessings,
Mimi

 

Sights and sounds of the morning…

Listening to surrounding sounds has always been a fascination for me. This morning, the house is mostly quiet and still as hubby has gone to exercise class and I am working on daily activities. Writing, dusting, laundry, etc.

Sitting at the desk, my eyes keep veering over to the window and the sights outside. Temperatures in the 30’s with wind chills in the teens. Tall palm tree branches are jumping in the freezing cold wind while making a flapping sound. Water rippling across the pond from the steady breeze causes me to wonder if the alligators have returned. Not yet, too cold for them, too.

Even on this frigid day, I am blessed with the sights and sounds God has provided. This morning, I laughed while listening to a little dog bark so loudly that surely he thought he was a BIG dog. Children on the way to the bus stop chatted amongst their friends, with laughter flowing and an occasional shout hello to another friend.

And then, the birds… oh, how I love the sounds of the birds singing. Cardinals, bluebirds, sparrows, chickadees and more. Their chirping shows how even through the cold, they are joyous and lively. Or could it be the cold making them so talkative? 🙂

Cars pass by the house, a helicopter flies over and the day has started. Neighbors are busy with their daily routines. Life is good here in South Carolina.

Pause and listen to God’s message. He speaks to us through many ways… including the sights and sounds of the morning. Enjoy!

Have a blessed day,
Mimi

 

Golf carts and sleds…..

Imagine our surprise when heavy snowflakes began falling yesterday in coastal South Carolina. We know all about snow from living in Virginia. Mountain snow, city snow…but….coastal snow? What????

Luckily, Alan and I kept some of our winter clothing when we moved from VA to SC in September 2017. You know…just in case. There would never be 5 inches of snow in Mount Pleasant SC! Or would there? We were proven wrong yesterday.

Just like in VA, grocery stores were packed the day before the storm. Schools announced closings, road closures and emergency details kept us alert and up to date on the situation of this record breaking storm.

Staying inside and reading good books was a great way for us to relax and be safe during the storm. A few folks were outside enjoying a walk during the storm. That was last night.

Today, the snow sits and waits to melt. Freezing cold temperatures remain and the heater runs non-stop. People wearing heavy coats and snowsuits are outside walking their sweater covered dogs. Kids are trying to find a hill somewhere to use their sleds. (They must be from out of town if they have sleds here.)

And then…a funny sight!! A family rides by the front of our home, in their golf cart. Four people bundled up and laughing. Behind them is a rope and another jolly person on a sled. We live on a short street, one way in and one way out. This family has found a new use for their golf cart. Sledding!!!! More golf carts and families ride by later in the afternoon. Looks like everyone is enjoying the snow.

This is a rare sight!! Golf carts and sleds!! We love to hear the laughter of the families and we know they are making special memories together. Everyone appears to be having an exciting time!(while staying safe, of course)

Was your area visited by this crazy storm? Stay warm and enjoy some hot chocolate.

Remember, God loves you.

Blessings and giggles,
Mimi

 

Christmas lights and pajamas….

Alan and I started a new tradition a few years ago. This all began during a time when I was recovering from another sinus infection. We continue to enjoy this tradition every year in sickness and in health.

After spending too much time being inside, I was becoming a bit grouchy.  The outside was beckoning to me…”Come out and play. You will have fun. Look at the Christmas lights.” Yes, the outdoors was calling me.

Alan decided in order for me to feel totally better, I needed some cheer. “Get your coat, honey. We are going to look for Christmas lights and decorations.”

My reply was, “Dear, I am already dressed for sleep. I am wearing my pajamas.”

My sweet husband persisted. “Yes, put your coat on over your pajamas. We are going to find the lights.”

Bundled up with thick fleece pajamas (which may or may not have penguins on them), we ventured into neighborhood after neighborhood. The car heater gave us warmth and Christmas music filled our ears with joy.

“Oh, look! Oh, ah!!! How pretty!! Look at that one. Look at those lights.” We continued on our trip enjoying every moment of  magical colors and decorations. While gazing at those bright lights, we notice each star and remember the birthday we are celebrating. The birth of Jesus.

Ever since that first time Alan decided to cheer me up with a trip to see the lights, we have made this a special tradition. Yes, my pajamas are on and I am ready to go.

Christmas music playing on the car radio, laughter and love all around…..

Yes, my husband is a sweetie!! 🙂

Have you seen Christmas lights this year? Amazing how seeing the bright colors will make you happy and remind you of the true reason for the season, the birth of Jesus.

Merry Christmas,
Blessings,
Mimi

 

Reading glasses here, there and everywhere…

Changes happen in the body as we mature. Yes, let’s say “mature” instead of “grow older”.  Our eyesight changes and perhaps we need reading glasses. Yes, that is me. I have worn reading glasses for years. I have even shared my need for glasses in a previous post.

When I was a young woman in my 30’s, I had a friend who always wore her reading glasses hanging around her neck with the cutest ribbon, string or something special to hold the glasses until she needed them.

I vowed never to be that lady. I would never wear glasses hanging from my neck, causing me to look “older”.

Well… amazing how time changes and the need to read overrides the need for looking cute. Around age 55, I purchased two of those colorful strings and attached them to my reading glasses. I am a happy lady because now I don’t have to constantly say, “Where are my glasses?” Wearing them to the grocery store is fine with me. If they help me read the labels on the grocery items, then the fashion statement doesn’t matter.

Of course, at home I keep a pair of glasses upstairs and a pair downstairs. My only problem now is there are times when I forget I am wearing the glasses and walk downstairs or upstairs saying, “Where are my glasses?”, only to find I have two pairs of reading glasses hanging from my neck. 🙂 Yes, laugh out loud because this is me.

If you see me and two pairs of glasses are hanging from my neck, don’t worry. I truly meant to do that. NOT! 🙂 Please advise me of my mistake so I won’t feel silly. Honesty is appreciated.

Life continues to be busy here in South Carolina. Good thing I have reading glasses so I can keep up on current events. 🙂

I often say God gives us lots of things to laugh about and this Thanksgiving, I am thanking Him once again for laughter. What about you? What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Reading,
Mimi