A Weekly Offering of This n That

Rainy Day is my alter ego. She is the little angel that sits on one shoulder and whispers in my ear to forgo that 6" piece of triple chocolate fudge with the four scoops of ice cream on it; she is also the little devil who sits on my other shoulder and convinces me that I can eat just one bite of each and be satisfied, and then laughs with such great abandon when in fact, I eat the whole thing, she falls off my shoulder. Mostly, Rainy Day helps me see the humor in living and, mostly, she encourages me down the right path. Not necessarily the straight and narrow one (how fun is that?) but the path that offers the most adventure and fun.


Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Baby, It's Cold Outside!


Rainy Day is not normally a fan of cold weather; however, as long as she has heat, and shelter, and doesn't have to venture forth it's all right. Snow is an added bonus – if one is going to be stuck inside, one should have beauty upon which to gaze. Rainy Day gets up in the morning, and usually greets the daylight with a cup of coffee, and her note pad, while rocking in her Grandmother's chair in the Frog Room. Yes, she writes poetry, mostly short poems, of a haiku style.

Locust Tree with Seed Pods
Seed pods
 in locust tree
wear white bridal veils













  
House Sparrow Nesting Box


Snow falls
wind blows
 more snow falls













Ice Covered Drain Chain



Icicles melt
one drop
at a time










Snow wraps
my world in
a muffler of silence.

Through the Window Screen






Inside, looking out













Snow covers my slanty windows.
I am warm and happy
inside watching out.




And, in the interest of honesty, it is now 45 degrees out her house, but when these pictures were taken, these poems written, it was much closer to 24 degrees out there!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Rainy Day and Finding Joy






Update, 25 January 2012!


Rainy Day contacted the contact person where Mr. Lee's Daughter is buried (Or at least a person with her name and birth date is buried) - no response. She did find out the name of the strip is Sherman on the Mount, and that is Brother Sherman facing the sunset. (Or perhaps, sun rise). She did contact the LA Times, who published the strip for Permission to post, and was informed she needed to contact the LA Times Syndicate, which she has done, and received a very nice auto response. So, soon, she hopes to either receive permission to keep it or be told to delete it.


Many years ago, Rainy Day worked for a large Aerospace Company. She had the wonderful opportunity to work in a group of writers that primarily worked proposals. Now, if you've never worked a proposal, you're probably thinking 'yeah? so?' but if you have had that same marvelous experience, Rainy Day is sure she has both your understanding – and heartfelt sympathy! Does Rainy Day presume too much?

Rainy Day remembers one week when she put 90 hours on her time card. 90 hours. In one week. And, she lived to tell about it! It was during that week as she ran (literally!) between her desk and the typing pool and the engineers, that she saw a cartoon on a bulletin board. She stopped, read it, took the few seconds to make her own copy, replace the original, and continue her run.

That cartoon, by Walt Lee, has hung over Rainy Day's desk ever since. It doesn't matter where she has worked, where she has lived, that cartoon is never packed longer than overnight! And is always in her sight when she sits at her desk. Always.

 
So, Rainy Day thought she would Google Walt Lee (why does it always sound slightly suggestive to 'Google' someone? Rainy Day wants to know? Really.), and if she could find a way to write him, to tell him how much his cartoon has meant in her life, she would do so.

Alas, to her dismay, she discovered he died in 1980. She has no idea the name of the cartoon (scanned and printed here without permission) or how to notify his family of the great joy that cartoon has brought her through the years, and seek that permission.

Rainy Day does not like to post things that are not hers without permission of the owner/artist or their estate so if any of you, Dearest and Gentlest of Readers, know the person she can contact for that permission, please tell her. In the meantime, she hopes this simple cartoon (colored by Rainy Day oh so many years ago) brings you the same wonderful and simple philosophy of life it has brought her. And the same happiness.

And, Mr. Lee, Thank You, for many moments of sanity in a very insane world! May Rainy Day be forgiven for sharing it on the world wide web. And may you find your joy, wherever you are, bright and early and first thing in the morning!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Rainy Day and the Frog Room


Looking North. Can you see the Frog Prince on the quilt?
Rainy Day has always loved sun rooms, or as the Germans call them, 'winter garden rooms.' Rainy Day loves to sit in relative comfort and watch the dawn tip-toe quietly over the horizon. Rainy Day loves to sit in a rocking chair and write poems by moonlight or fog-glow. Rainy Day loves to read surrounded as closely by nature as possible, especially if she is warm and dry!

Looking East. All the little things on the window ledges are frogs.
So, Rainy Day spent the last of the inheritance from her uncle, and built a Sun Room, filled it with her frog collection, and calls it, what else? her Frog Room. As you can, see from the photos, it is a bright and cheery room, even when gray and gloomy outside.

Looking South. Door goes to covered patio, window to kitchen. 
She has yet to fill it with plants, but hopes to add plants this spring – perhaps a Myer Lemon tree or a Key Lime tree in a pot in the NE corner where the huge Japanese glass float is, hanging pots of Hoya and jasmine, and who knows what else under the slanty windows? And, for sure a Christmas Cactus or two for the white plastic drawer things she currently has in front of the windows.

In the meantime, Rainy Day waits patiently for the promised rain, or snow, or sun, so she can watch more than the dawn tippy toe into her mornings.  She wants to hear the rain on the windows or watch the snow fall. And, of course, she loves napping on the futon so she can watch the birds and squirrels outside as they watch her.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Rainy Day and the Daily Survival Kit for 2012


Rainy Day isn't much for making New Year's Resolutions – she figures if she doesn't make them, she won't break them! However, she received the following in an email on New Year's Day, and thought she would share with you, her most favored and Gentle Readers. Neither Rainy Day, nor the person who sent it to her, knows who the author is. Should you know, would you please let Rainy Day know, so she can give proper attribution – and seek a belated permission for using hisser work.

Today, I am giving you a
DAILY SURVIVAL KIT

to help you each day............

Toothpick ... to remind you to pick the good qualities in everyone, including yourself.

Rubber band ... to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it can be worked out.

Band-Aid ... to remind you to heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.

Eraser .... to remind you everyone makes mistakes. That's okay, we learn by our errors.
  
Candy Kiss ... to remind you everyone needs a hug or a compliment everyday.

Mint ... to remind you that you are worth a mint to your family & Me.
  
Bubble Gum ... to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything.

Pencil ... to remind you to list your blessings every day.
  
Tea Bag ... to remind you to take time to relax daily and go over that list of blessings.

This is what makes life worth living every minute, every day

Wishing you love, gratitude, friends to cherish, caring, sharing, laughter, music, and warm feelings in your heart in the
2012 year.