I just made curtains for the windows in the shed! It now houses all my scrap wood and empty plant pots and gives me counter space for working on projects. I appreciated it storing all the extra furniture and furnishings the last 20 years. I’m glad I emptied it out because I was no longer using that stuff. Now I value having the empty space so when I want to build something or work on something I can just carry it into the shed and start working on it instead of clearing a spot to work on and trying to do it in cramped quarters. One of the first things I’ll do is I have some translucent hurricane shutter material. I’m going to cut it to fit each of the shed windows so that in the summertime when the windows are closed it will seal the heat out and still let the light through. It used to have an air conditioning unit in it. If I find I need to, I can always stick a window unit in again.

I woke today from an odd and complex dream about walking through a large open building and opening doors and windows. It was deja vu when I stepped into the shed to work and the first thing I did was open the doors and windows. I’ve spent the past two months clearing the shed of 25 years worth of furniture and furnishings (and old Horizons magazines!) I was no longer using. It now houses all my scrap wood and empty plant pots and gives me counter space and floor space for working on projects. I value having empty space so when I want to build something or work on something I can just carry it into the shed and start working on it instead of having to clear a spot to work on and trying to do it in cramped quarters. We replaced some indoor lighting, updated the security lights and replaced the locks. One thing I’ll do is use some translucent hurricane shutter material cut to fit each of the shed windows so that in the summertime when the windows are closed it will seal the heat out and still let the light through. It’s well built so the moisture doesn’t settle in. The shed used to have an air conditioning unit in it. If I need to, I can always stick a window unit in again. Today I made curtains for the windows. The shed sits in a woodsy part of the property, so the curtains are a jungle scene with red and yellow parrots. The curtains make it kind of cozy in there.  I feel like a kid with a new playhouse.

Recognizing someone has a serious mental illness and is expressing in unhealthy and dangerous ways. It’s good to know that those with authority to do so are taking remedial steps. It’s easy to hate someone who acts in despicable ways but when you can recognize they have a mental illness and the emotional maturity of a child, it’s easier to feel compassion. Saying prayers that everyone in the situation gets the help they need. Let the healing begin. For all of us.

For the first time in  months I got to play in my yard today. I’ve been babying my left arm and not using it and it’s pretty much healed up completely. So today for the first time in months as I was walking around the yard I reached down and was picking up deadfall and pulling up wedelia as I walked around watering just before sunset. I swept the driveway and raked leaves in the east garden. I took it easy but it was good to do simple ordinary daily things like that again. I cut a few branches of my ginger plant because it was in the pathway between the front door and the shed, but it grows like a weed. I live in Paradise.

I love the Chuck Lorre Productions vanity cards after the end of each of their shows. Here’s #541 “Don’t be fooled. Big Daddy can’t save us. Our salvation lies within ourselves. Within our own ingenuity and determined effort. ‘Make America great again’ is a bumper sticker for victimhood. But we are not victims. We are the creators of opportunity. Sure the system’s rigged. It always has been. So what?! We are a nation of immigrants who have consistently ignored the rigging. You won’t let us join your club? %#&@ you, we’ll start our own club. You won’t let us go to your school? %#&@ you, we’ll start our own school. You won’t let us earn money your way? %#&@ you, we’ll earn it our way. You won’t give us a chance here? %#&@ you, we will go elsewhere. You want to know what makes America great? I got two words for you.” Chuck Lorre Productions

Some people are very afraid and beginning to panic. We can help by turning their thoughts to more pleasant things. We can ask them to talk about hopes they have for the future, once this situation has passed. We can ask them to recall the happy times in their lives, and get them vibrating in a better feeling place. We can help them be hopeful, because when we are hopeful, we attract a more satisfying experience to ourselves. That’s the most important thing we can do in a crisis.

RELATED: How to be good in a crisis

Some people are very afraid and beginning to panic. We can help by turning their thoughts to more pleasant things. We can ask them to talk about hopes they have for the future, once this situation has passed. We can ask them to recall the happy times in their lives, and get them vibrating in a better feeling place. We can help them be hopeful, because when we are hopeful, we attract a more satisfying experience to ourselves. That’s the most important thing we can do in a crisis. I wrote about it here –> http://horizonsmagazine.com/blog/how-to-be-good-in-a-crisis/

Going through old papers and letters and photos I come across my mom’s last braid before she cut her hair short! Sweet sacred moment!

I’m in the process of switching from Wells Fargo to the credit union and today I made my first deposit into the business account at the credit union. Instead of driving the deposit through, I parked my car and walked inside. There were a couple of people waiting and a couple of others came in after me so there were half a dozen of us standing in the small Lobby. It was easy to make conversation and get to know some new neighbors in the community. It was a good experience.