TheAwakenedSoul

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

I'm Back!

Last night I spent a very long time on the phone with technical support setting up my laptop. The procedure was very complicated, but the woman who guided me through the process was patient and understanding,

There are still a few things that I need to learn, but I am excited to be able to post on my blog again.

We had a beautiful dusting of snow yesterday. It was peaceful to watch the flakes lightly falling from the sky. The views from my windows are amazing.

I will catch up with all of your blogs today. It's so much easier to comment now that I have a full size keyboard.

Thank you for your comments. They add so much talent and energy to the blog. Please comment in English. I'm sorry, but comments with links will not be published. If you enjoy the posts here, please share them. Comments may take a few days to appear; they are moderated.

Sunday, January 10, 2021

I Love Kindle Unlimited

I recently signed up for a free trial of Kindle Unlimited, and am absolutely loving it! It's so convenient to check out the books that interest you from their library, and have them appear immediately on your Kindle! Details are at www.Amazon.com. I've just been devouring books lately. My mom and dad would be pleased. They were both avid readers. I am still using the Kindle that I inherited from my mom. My dad saved it for me. She read hers constantly. She was an invalid before she died, and she always had it in her hand.

Today I zipped through one about living off of dividend stocks. It was fascinating. The author told the story of a man who had worked his whole life as a gas station attendant and a janitor. He invested a portion of his income in dividend paying stocks, and reinvested the dividends. He built up a net worth of eight millions dollars, taking advantage of the power of compound interest. I was amazed! He picked quality stocks like: Johnson and Johnson, Coca Cola, Proctor and Gamble, Mc Donalds, etc...

I made a list of about fifteen of stocks that interest me. I plan to dollar cost average a certain amount per month, and invest in more of these companies. I am excited about it.

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Clark Howard: What I LOVE about the FIRE Movement | Afford Anything Podc...

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Snow Covered Cabins

The recent blanket of snow that we received made all of the local homes and cabins look so Christmasy and peaceful. We live among all kinds of wildlife: deer, mountain lions, big horned sheep, raccoons, bobcats, and woodpeckers. It's such a special setting. I love it.

Last night I received a phone call from one of my close dancer friends who I sent a check to...she was so enthusiastic and appreciative of the gift. It feels good to be sending donations to people that I know directly. (That way I am not concerned about how much of the balance is eaten up by fees.)

I picked lots of fruit yesterday. The Navel Orange tree had nearly forty oranges on it. They are so sweet and delicious. I stripped it entirely, and shared some of them with my neighbor. The Algerian Tangerine tree in the potager garden is also loaded. Citrus grow so well here.

I got my laundry done, it's drying in the sunshine, and I am busily cleaning the house. All of the Christmas decorations have been put away until next year. I made a batch of chicken enchiladas, and will toss a salad to enjoy with it. I found out that Vons opens at 6:00 a.m. I went there early this morning and got my grocery shopping done. What have you been up to lately?

Monday, January 4, 2021

Gorgeous Trees and Mountains in the Snow

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in so long. I have been up in the mountains, enjoying the beauty and splendor. This is my side yard at the cabin. I snapped this photo the morning after it snowed, while I was taking Lula out to go potty. The landscape is so enchanting!

It looks like I need to get a new computer in order to have a browser that works for me. I will look into it when prices drop in January.

Tomorrow I will catch up on your blogs and start leaving comments again. How is the weather where you live?

Monday, December 21, 2020

Hearing From Old Friends

This afternoon I received an email from my friend who recently had Covid. She said that she was ready to talk on the phone, even though she is still on oxygen, and asked me when I was available. I called her right away, and we chatted for quite a while. She filled me in on how her recovery is going. It's going to be a long, slow process of healing. She finds it scary with her oxygen levels, (which she measures at home,) and said that her blood pressure is high. There is so much that we don't know about this virus. It is deadly, mysterious and unpredictable. I was thrilled to hear her voice, though.

She told me that she had received my card and check, and she sounded so grateful. Like so many people, she lost her job recently, and it will help her. I feel for her. She said that I can share her hospital horror story with you, so when I am feeling more energetic after a cup of coffee tomorrow, I'll write it out here. Right now I'm just too wiped. It's very shocking to read what she went through; she describes it in detail.

Friday, December 18, 2020

Bison Order Arrived

This afternoon my package of Nebraska Bison steaks arrived in the mail. They were still frozen solid, and in perfect condition. They are now lined up in the freezer, with one defrosting on the counter for dinner tonight. I baked a couple of small russet potatoes in the toaster oven. I'll make a salad to have with them. Traditional meat and potatoes meals remind me of my childhood. My dad owned cattle, so we ate a lot of quality beef.

Have you ordered anything in bulk lately? We may be in for a stricter lockdown rules in January, here in California.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Making Donations

I just received an email today from my friend that was in the hospital with Covid. Her description of what it was like to have this virus in the hospital basement read like a horror movie. I was sickened by the details. It's really sad to hear how overworked the medical workers are now. It sounded so frightening and lonely. My heart goes out to her. I sent her a Christmas card and a check for groceries. Thankfully, she has neighbors and family that are helping to keep her stocked up with food. Simple things like vacuuming and dusting are very hard for patients like her who are now home on oxygen. She also worries about losing power. My prayers are with her.

I made donations to a couple of charities, and wrote out checks to dancers that I thought probably could really use money to buy food. I hope it helps. Just making a delicious dinner can really lift your spirits.

Yesterday I put together a homemade pizza; it was delicious! I made the sauce the day before, so that all of the flavors and seasonings could blend together and mature. It was therapeutic to make the dough. There is something about kneading flour, oil, yeast, and water that is very grounding. I have enough dough, sauce, and cheese in the fridge to make three more pizzas. Yum!

After reading about my friend's harrowing experience, I am going to wear two masks, and have decided not converse with people who don't wear one, even outside. I just don't want to take the risk. Do you know anyone who has had Covid?

Sunday, December 13, 2020

In the Mood to Mop the Floors

This afternoon I felt the urge to clean, so I followed that energy. I vacuumed the carpets, and mopped the floors. I used hot water with my homemade liquid soap for the first coat, then followed it with hot water mixed with white vinegar for the rinse. The house feels clean. The air feels different; it reminds me of my mom's house. She was an exceptional housekeeper. I am no where near at her level, but she cleaned for hours every day. She would approve. She loved this place. She found her big house a burden as she got older.

I dusted the furniture, as well. The past couple of days I've been catching up on the laundry, and will deep clean the bathroom and kitchen tomorrow. It is much easier to take care of a small home as you age. I'm so glad that I opted for older furniture and appliances. They are extremely well made. The newer stuff falls apart so quickly. I love what I have; it's sturdy and trustworthy. My Kenmore washer and dryer are fifty years old, and they are still going strong. My stove/oven is seventy years old, and it works perfectly. It's a relief not to need to have repairmen in the house right now. I don't want to take the risk, with Covid.

I'm going to do some yoga before bed. It helps to have healthy routines during these times. Our habits create our future. I am so thankful that I stayed on a disciplined budget for all of these years. It has made the pandemic much easier for me than it would have been when I was younger. How are you faring?

The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Do Not Need

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Enjoying the Sunshine

Today the sun is out, and I took Lula for a walk through our gorgeous neighborhood. I returned a couple of DVD's to the library, (which we are so lucky is still open,) and checked out three more to watch at home. I have been thoroughly enjoying getting lost in movies and Youtube videos again. It's so relaxing to sit by the fire with sweet Lula at my feet.

I found out that my friend was released from the hospital. What a relief! I've been watching tapes of people who have long term effects from Covid, and it is very educational. The doctors say that when they perform autopsies, they are finding that the virus is very much like cancer. It is fascinating. I have always been interested in biology, dissection, and the body.

Are you still able to get outside where you are? I hope that you have friends and family that you can communicate with, and that you don't feel isolated. I am so thankful for my close friends and co-workers. I also greatly appreciate you, my blogging buddies and readers. My phone calls my friends and neighbors are really comforting. Do you have support?

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Grave News

I just found out today that a close friend of mine and her husband are in the hospital with Covid-19. She is too weak to talk. I got tears in my eyes as I was reading the email about it. She is young...in her fifties. She was always healthy, strong, fit and beautiful.

I spoke with her on the phone for a long time about a month ago. She told me sadly that she had lost several friends and family members to this virus. At the time she hadn't contacted it. Her show business pals and I are praying for her. It's scary how hard and fast Covid hits people. It reminds me of the 80's, when we lost so many close tribe members who were dancers to AIDS. They were the last people you ever thought would get ill. They died so young. There was so much that we didn't understand about its transmission at the time. People would get horribly thin, and then they'd be gone.

I hope you are all safe and well. Suze Orman had an excellent podcast on her website today. It was very eye opening. You can listen to it at https:suzeorman.com. Just look for the most recent podcast with today's date. She talks about all of the fast food that she ate, and how she wishes that she had made healthier dietary choices and had done yoga. Those habits really do make a difference, and the effect is cumulative, like saving money. I hope you are all in good heath and high spirits.

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Antique Lamps

Today I fell in love with a stunning 1920's lamp at our local vintage shop here in Wrightwood. I am going home to get some blankets to wrap it in, and will pick it up this afternoon. I don't have space right now on my mini ipad to take a photo. Once I delete some of the current ones, I will take a picture and post it here.

Antique lamps add so much art and beauty to a home. This one is hand painted with feminine pink flowers. It's large, and looks brand new. My mom used to have some gorgeous lamps like these in our home on Edinburgh Street. I felt like she was whispering in my ear to go stop inside the shop and see them. They are rare and spectacular!

I also bought an antique manual coffee grinder in case we lose power again, and replaced the smoke detector/carbon monoxide alarms. It's important to keep all of those things up to date. My old ones were chirping, and the batteries in storage didn't work when I replaced them. These will last for ten years. Fire safety is so critical.