Getting old is not for wimps!!!.............................

And so another birthday is upon me...my 71st...and I am happy....
some lovely relatives I wish were here aren't...left me much to soon...
I'm lonesome for my sister Elizabeth...my mother as well....
Most of you out there know the pain and the heartache of losing
a loved one....It is so hard...my sister Liz has been gone almost
14 years now....seems that long ....she was older than me by only
1 year...so we were very close....best friends really....It's hard
very hard to be without her in my life...she was only 58 when
she passed and I 57.....So love...love...love your family members
and cherish every moment that you are together...I imagine you
all do that already....
In my old age...oh let me use a phrase that I adore...I stole it
from the  actor Peter O'toole...he said while giving a speech for
an award that was given to him....He said as I "Totter Into Antiquity"....
Love that ....I'm okay with Tottering Into Antiquity...I will Totter as
long as the good Lord gives me tottering privileges .....to do so...
And so on July 24th, 1942 at Saint Vincents Hospital in New York City....
I came into this world....That's my story and I'm sticking to it.....
See you folks in the funny papers.... Louisa............P.S. here I am about
five years old....Yep...Easter picture.....what a cutie.....

Ho-Hum............

Well haven't been on lately...why....no reason other than time has
come and gone and I have not been blogger mindful....Right now
concentrating on how to unload... better word sell my 20 or so
paintings....my last attempt at an art fare...produced 3 sales...
one small bird house for $5.00 and 2 canvases....for $20 each...
these last two bought by a young man recently transferred to
Calif. from Boston....why he was interested in my paintings
I will never know...he just didn't look the type...what type
would be interested in my paintings...shoot I don't know....
I will put some pictures of my paintings on here...anyone
interested....hollar.....my dear daughter is going to help me
put them on Itsy....all I know is I need to get them sold come
heck or high water....it's like unfinished business...and I like
putting the dough (meager tho it is) in a grandchild's education
fund.....Here goes...Okay kids.....going to close for tonight...See 
you all in the funny papers............Louisa

Are you crafty?........................

Are you crafty....I am...which I have already
documented before here on my lovely blog....
So today I am just going to share a few craft
ideas that I saw on Pinterest...I know I'm going to pilfer some of their ideas to share here with you all....They won't mind...
First of all...If you crochet...oh my oh my...there are about a trillion things you can make if ya should be up on that skill....
If not...maybe you would like to...Glue new pencils all around a tall jar...and you have a novel vase....you know electrical outlets...paint a little cute mustache under plug part...so cute...Glue pennies on the kitchen floor...beautiful...but this project would require many massages for a sore back.....Have to have many helpers..
Pour food colors in Elmer's glue...then brush on any glass object you have or you buy...so pretty the end results...I love this one...take your old ugly card table that is still serviceable..unscrew the top...cover with your favorite plastic table cloth..forgot how they secured it underneath...then screw it back on the base and walla...a good looking card table...you now have. You know those racks you get for the garage to hang your brooms and mops on...well hang it in kitchen or inside pantry door and your bottles of herbs...perfectly squeeze into the slots... .Icicle type Christmas lights...spray with glitter...then fasten around a hula hoop...hang from inside patio cover... this is some spectacular lighting fixture.....and last but not least...for a photograph... for new parents...fathers open hand...mothers open hand in front of his...then baby's open hand in front of mommas..I'd not ever seen this before and it is a beautiful visual...I suppose if there are older children ....there hands could be there also...but I saw it with the 3 hands...
Darlings I will leave you for now...good night and see you in the funny papers..........Louisa

See the Children......................

Today while driving home from errands...
I see at the local park...that the water play area...
is pouring in the air ...like Old Faithful...and the 
children are frolicking in this water play land....
Jumping and squealing like it is the best fun ever.
So good to know that the city provides this water
play area for the summer... next best thing for them
to being in a pool full of cool water....I'm happy
for this....knowing the children are happy....
Yup....not asking for much....
See you folks in the funny papers.........
Louisa

Butterflies...Oh boy....blows your mind.......................

This blue...brighter though...I saw a butterfly this color...
What I did was google ...butterflies...and oh my...what I
say truly blew my mind...The only butterfly I'm familiar
with is the Monarch...this butterfly is beautiful...but you
know what... there are more beautiful ones...when they come
out of their cocoon..(this in in self is miraculous ) and start to
unfurl their wings...you see an insect that is painted by the 
hand of God Himself....circles with in circles...dots...dashes of
color..outlined in black...every thing symmetrical...colors that
are impossible to imagine....all this in an insect...
Love is like a butterfly....It goes where it
pleases....and it pleases wherever it goes...
Author unknown.............. 
I invite you to take a look at the remarkable butterfly....An insect
feast for your eyes.....You heard it here....................
Good Night................Louisa 

Nostalgia= going down memory lane.............................

Hi folks.......
Have you ever taken out one of the family albums...
or just picked one up for any reason and opened it...
and then your a gonner for the next few hours....my
children's pictures  especially bring me hours of memorable
page turning...What I did when my first child was born...our
albums were full of her entirely ...four years later the second child's
baby picture's went into her own album's...and the third child the 
same...an album just for that child...because of this I have better than 10 album's for each child....so A.G.J....that is album gazing joy.......is dangerous in less I have an afternoon with out much in it that is necessary to do...and as I totter into antiquity...(Thanks Peter O'Toole...if you have been reading my blog you will know why that reference!) anyhoo...I often have such an afternoon now and again....Many of you will know that joy that I am talking about...it is infectious ( infecting myself ...that is) it's one of a kind and the best way to spend what ever time one wants to devote to it....My parents were prolific picture takers...I am the last of 7 children...so unfortunately pictures of little ol me are in short supply...I'm not complaining...I'm happy for what there is... so that my children can see what mom looked like in her youth...etc... to this day I am happy that my sense of order and for my sanity as well... that I put all these pictures (also another half doz. albums...that I title family....) in their respective albums all along the way....no photos in box's for me...not my style for picture viewing....I do not intend to be critical of those that have there pictures in box's...because we all operate on our own comfortable process level....My only concern is that the young people of these days....do not necessarily go in for all these printed out pictures...instead have all there treasured pics in an electronic form...Really nice idea...to late for me...but it makes sense...to cut down on exactly what I will be leaving my children when my number is up....a boat load of albums...I have jokingly told them if they are not interested in them...that they go into the casket with me...Just kidding of course...( especially since these days I'm leaning toward cremation...well that for another day) so instead I have purchased a nice looking container...rattan and such...one for each of the children albums...and they can cart those away to put in a corner of their home... one day...Because we all know when their children are grown...they will LOVE this boat load of album's....Amen.....
See you my dears....( are you out there somewhere?) in the funny papers.......and keep taking those pictures..............Louisa
 

Laughing.........Whats that!!

I was thinking of the last time I laughed...a big fat
hardy down to your toes type laugh...I can't remember
what made me laugh like that ( dang I wish I could remember)
what I do remember is how I felt....sort of self-conscious...I know what an odd thing to feel....I also felt bizarre...and strange..! I know...I know...why would I have all those unusual feelings just because I had the biggest laugh of a few years...Well I do know this....I rarely laugh...real big type laugh...hardly ever....why is that....It takes something spectacularly funny to produce a big knee slapping laugh...I do laugh now and then but they are more like giggles and are very brief and do not bring on the odd reactions of above....
Definitions of the word laugh... from the dictionary....to make the sounds and facial movements that express mirth....to be amused by.....The trouble is there are more studies now than ever before...that say that laughing is therapeutic.....that it promotes good health....So it behooves us all to go out of our way to watch something funny....hear something funny....Really think about it....when was the last time you laughed real hard out loud...by yourself or with others..Get going....work on it.
Did you hear about the skeleton...who went into the bar and ordered a beer and a mop....I know...that was capital D. Dud.....
Laugh and the world laughs with you...with me...with us......
Let me know about a big laugh you had...I want to know....
 See you in the funny papers....dear folks.....Louisa

Somethings on my mind....this Saturday...........

How things change...for instance 4th of July....
was when the kids were little...or when the
grandchildren were near....was lots of fun....now
as I Totter into Antiquity...( this line stolen from Peter
O'Toole...the actor...for those of you in my vast audience
who may not know him....) as I totter into antiquity...I don't seem to be interested much in the lovelyness of sparkling magic in the sky....It's okay...I've had my day there....
Other thing I was thinking about recently...I don't fancy myself very skilled at anything much...I'm truly modest and enjoy some self-critical time now and then...more now than then....anyway one thing I take great pride in...or just pride in...is my driving...though I have had several minor accidents in my 50 years of driving...I've been thinking lately how skilled I feel behind the wheel...when I back out and have to turn the wheel to exit a spot...I marvel that I did not skim the back finder of the car next to me...or when I pull into a parking spot...it is tight but I'm not afraid...I pull in seemingly on top of the car next to me...yet I turn the wheel in such a way that I glide into the spot and for the thousand time I have done so...On the freeway I move into this lane or that with care and with out a feeling of anxiety...rarely do I have anxiety on the freeway...I zoom down my lane ( with a happy refrain!!) and I know that I like to go fastish....but when the thingy hits 80 I do panic a bit and ease off the gas pedal...saying whoa....who are you a race driver or something...Much of my praying takes place when I have a bit of a drive here or there...my daily prayer that I have been praying at least 20 faithful years...by myself in the car with no distractions and no one talking to me etc....my daily ritual of thanksgiving prayer takes place and when that is finished I might put on the radio or listen to my I-pod ( if on a long distance drive) so driving is very special to me...I do not take it for granted and I am blessed to have this means of independence at my disposal. One thing I am not skilled at ...at all...is direction...I can get turned around and confused with little provocation...
It is a maddening trait that I lack the ability to figure out north south...east or west with ease or with confidence. At any rate long may I be able to drive with safe and satisfying results...
Well there it is.....my entry for today....hope it is not to boring ...to mundane...but that is who I am....I'm not unhappy with my entry...cuz I have to go with what is on my mind...what the brain cells dictate and such...( I love the word such)...sometimes it is just this....
Maybe I'll find a picture to add....Let's see what I can find...It is this one of a street sign called Louise...close to Louisa...what ever..............See you all in the funny papers......Louisa

 

Movie Stars.............

Some might think this a subject that is
devoid of important content....not so for 
me....all my life starting at 12 when I saw
the movie "River Of No Return" with Marilyn Monroe"...I who was the all time geek and 
self-conscious child with many things about my self that I was unhappy about...Seeing this movie at this sensitive age...was a trip to a beauteous place for me...I thought that Marilyn Monroe was the most beautiful human being I had ever seen....And that is where my love affair with the movies...( mind you the movie of the 30's...40's...50's and beyond that it is hit and miss) started....Let me if I may...list a few of the actors that I hold in high favor for some scene or other that I believe they excelled in and beyond excelled...
Helen Hunt....Somethings Got to Give...a scene where she is crying is done with superb realism...and I marvel at how she did it every time I have seen it.... A short dialog done by Rene Zellwegger in "Cold Mountain"...very short and oh so full of anguish and pain......marvelous Rene.....Marilyn in a scene with the actor Don Murray...from "Bus Stop"...some saliva trails out of her mouth while she is speaking a very poignant speech...never have seen that before...such realism and very effective a piece of acting it was....Dang there are at least two more ...but they have left my fragile memory bank...Bank closed...Certainly Meryl Streep has done accents like no other actress has done...after seeing Meryl in so many parts...I like to recognize the little bits of " Schtick" she does...running her hand over her face...scratching her head...things like that...Marlon Brando was famous for that...there wanting to be very natural...very human like, etc....but when an actor has a role that calls for crying...there is not better evidence of an actors ability than one who can cry and cry to make your heart break...I saw the wonderful actor Cary Grant cry in one of his movies of the 30"s...he is trying to adopt a child and they want to take it back...to see Cary cry and very effectively was a plus in my movie viewing memory...he only did it once...
Anyway my point is that the movies ...for me the movies of old are a wonderful way for me  to be entertained....I enjoy a "good movie"...again some current...but especially those of the past...
It is a treat and a good escape for one or two hours.....That's what I feel and I'm sticking to it....
Love from a movie fan....see you buds in the funny papers..............Louisa

People..............................

Watching people...(when I can) is what I like to do....
I like to wonder about people...wonder where they are
going...what they are doing...etc....I like the old couple
that are holding hands...how many times have I gone up
to them and said how sweet to see a senior couple holding
hands...they are at first a bit taken back...but always smile
and say thank you...as I walk away...I know they are pleased
to have their hand holding admired by another person...of course
the babies and children are the best to observe...to look at with pure
joy and amusement and a feeling of satisfaction to have my senses
rewarded by them....of course a few words about how darling ....how cute and adorable they are.....always brings  smiles and thanks from the parents or sometimes if just one parent is with them....the smiles I can always count on...even from a stranger...
people like to hear how darling is their little one...Why do I compliment perfect strangers...well I don't know...it just happens and I seem to enjoy it very much...and I'm very sincere in doing it....I truly get a kick out of it...It happened to me once that I can remember...well a few times I suppose...an acquaintance told me my eyes were pretty....so many years ago...but I remember....and another really good friend of mine....I said to her I'm to sensitive...and she said sensitive is good compared to how insensitive most people are....It was nice to hear...and I have kept it in my memory bank...because it is pleasing and important to hear good things about ourselves...I saw somewhere this..." Never let a day go by without giving at least 3 people a compliment.....Not always easy to remember...when I do it...it seems to be very spontaneous and not preplanned so to speak...Anyway it is a good thing...it seems to me and an important thing.....Yes people are interesting and they are special...each and every one....Sometimes I think about how infinitesimal I am....I think about my little corner of the world and I think about all the millions of people out there ...living their lives and enduring their particular pain and having their particular joy and happiness...people I will never know ...never see....people of all kinds...from so many nations...big and small....It is a small world in many ways...because of technology...and yet it is gargantuan for the most part....big and mysterious and amazing...our planet earth....Gods children...one and all are living in it.....and those that are hungry is the pity!!!
Those that live under an evil and self serving government...is the pity...Those that are sick in body or mind...and not being helped is the pity....So much good and so much bad out there in this world...
Well that is it for me today...my little brain cells have put together the above message from me.. and I am satisfied for their intent is what was on my mind....this day....and if any one reads it and comes away feeling well anything at all for themselves...I' m content with that....
Best wishes to all the world that is so precious and so awesome and so beautiful and also brings immeasurable pain........Louisa

Great Loss...................................

Hard to imagine that a firefighter could perish
in the line of duty...hard to imagine in the numbers
that just occurred in Arizona....hard to accept and
hard to want to accept....My prayers are with those
precious and dedicated men and their grieving families...
If anyone is reading this....may your week go as you plan...
and be filled with good and special moments ............
Until next time.........Louisa