Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Monday, November 11, 2013

Adopting a senior

The first thing I noticed when I stepped out the door this morning was the smell of wood smoke coming from peoples fireplaces. 

It was a chilly 25 degrees and the wind had finally died down to where it was very still, not even a breeze.
I walked the town route and by the time I had walked up all three hills behind my house and down again I was quite warm!!  Then it was on to the two cemeteries, around the loop behind the ball park, up and down the main street in town and home again.
Walking down the hill behind my house from the park I passed a house just as they let there little dog out of the house.  It was yippy little thing and ran right across the road to me and starting snapping at my heels.  The people from the house never said a thing and I just kept walking and the dog followed me all the way to the library barking the whole time.  Then it just turned around and went back home. 

One of my horse friends over by the Drane house came trotting over to me when I went by the fence.  I think he looks forward to my petting him now, or more likely he's hoping I have something for him to eat. : )  He was very curious about my camera and when I took a picture of him. 

Yesterday I found a penny when walking which was a nice surprise because I hardly ever find coins here.  Then this morning I walked up this dead end road in town and there on the ground were three quarters and three dimes all in a row.  My first thought was that Ken put them there for me to find, but it was too far away from the house and the coins all looked like they had been there a while.
I walked 6 miles - 11,670 steps.
Sunrise: 6:57
Sunset: 5:05
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HAPPY VETERANS DAY 
and A big THANK YOU to all who have served.
Ken was in the Navy for 20 years and when he retired this shadow box was presented to him.  He has added the pictures on the left.
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Ken went up to Happy Trails again today and I left in the opposite direction and went to a nursing home 18 miles down the road.  
There was an article in the local paper asking if anyone would like to adopt a resident for Christmas and buy gifts for them. Sounded like something I would enjoy doing so I went to find out about it. Instead of calling I decided to go in person.  
I talked to the lady who was organizing it and she told me how it worked.  They don't give out names but I would get a number with a list of things that the person would like.  Buy the gifts and return them to her in a gift bag and she would put the persons name on the gifts.  I was disappointed because I wanted to meet my adopted person.  I didn't want to just buy some gifts for a number.  
I asked if I could meet my person.  She answered that no one ever asked to meet them before but she would ask the residents and see if someone would like to meet me.  So I left my name and number and she said she would let me know.  The lady was very nice and thought someone would be interested. : )  
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I spent some time this afternoon trying to finish my book for the book club Wednesday evening.  It put me to sleep a few times!!!   I've read this much of it now that I just want to have it finished but I won't do it again.  If I don't like a book, I'm just not going to read it.  I've liked the other books that we've read.  I'm wondering what the others think of it.

Not sure what I'll be doing next but that's my day so far.
A happy Monday to you.
happyone : )
Gratitude can transform common days
into thanksgiving,
turn routine jobs into joy,
and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
~William Arthur Ward

9 comments:

Deb J. in Utah said...

I'm with you about not reading books I don't like. Sometimes I will, but sometimes, I just put them aside. How nice that you are adopting a senior citizen for the holidays! I love this idea and am going to see if any place around here does it. Thanks for the great idea. We always like to do some family service at Christmas, because Christmas is all about showing the love that Christ showed to us!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

LOVE the smell of wood burning through a chimney in the winter. There's something so secure and "home" about that scent isn't there?

Kerri Farley said...

LOVE that quote!!
And I hope you get to meet your senior!!

Beth said...

I have a 14 page rule when reading a book. If I am not captivated by the book after reading 14 pages I stop reading and go on to another book.

God Bless you for wanting to meet someone at the nursing home!!You are a lovely person Karen and i would love to meet you someday!

Vee said...

I think that someone will want to meet you, too! What if everyone does? = D

Hope that you'll be honest about the book with your reading group. That makes for interesting conversation. I know, I'm a trouble-maker.

Nellie said...

Wow! You hit the jackpot with finding coins today, didn't you?

I have a difficult time finishing a book if it is one I don't like. If I like it, I have a difficult time putting it down.:-)

We expect colder weather tomorrow, though today's high was 65 degrees!

o2bhiking said...

That is a very nice thing to do a and I hope that you meet him or her. Thank you to Ken for his naval service.

Anonymous said...

Inquiring minds want to know about the pics...lol
Ruth from Missouri. Love reading your blog.

Retired Knitter said...

I have an 80 page rule about books. If I don't care about the characters or the story I quit. Too many good books out there to waste time with one that you don't care for.

As you know I spend a lot of time in a senior living center with my mom. I am sure the reason they assign a number is because people are more interested in buying something rather than giving of their time. I assure you that EVERY single senior would prefer the gift of someone's time over a wrapped gift from a stranger. The word "adopt" implies a relationship. I am glad you pushed for a meeting.

And with your love of books I bet there is someone there with poor eye sight who might enjoy time spent with you ... You as a reader and the discussion between you.