Went to the Raymond Pharmacy the other day, and found the hours on the door of the store. I guess if you're the only pharmacist in the town, you can set your hours any which way you choose.

Each time I go to Pearl, I pass this business and it makes me laugh. It was a challenge to finally be able to take a photo since the highway is very busy and I never seem to be able to stop at the light for very long.

Visit to the Coast

Bill and I drove down to the coast to visit some friends this past week-end. They have a lovely home. Here are some of the highlights of the visit:

                       Their drive-way was lined with Live Oaks, and it reminded me of California.

Among the many display cases, I found this alligator skull which was really cool.

                                                         This was my favorite artwork.

                                    While there, we met this great, old, Martin Banjo from 1923.

This was their pump house. Complete with tin roof, it looks like many other old buildings in Mississippi.

But best of all, were their pet catfish. We went to the edge of the pond, threw in some fish food, and suddenly all these fish appeared out of nowhere. They were very tame, and delightful as much as a catfish can be.

Right before we left for home, I took a walk around their property. Unaware, I picked up a number of Red Bugs (chiggers) and still have the bites. It feels so good when you scratch them, though. If you've ever had them, you'd probably agree. 

It’s tomato time in Mississippi and boy, are they plentiful. Nothing beats cooking with fresh tomatoes. Here’s a recipe that’s a big hit at our house.

Tomatoes and Feta Cheese with Rice

Cook Basmati rice according to directions and set aside. In a separate pan, saute onions and garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Then add the diced tomatoes, but only cook them until they are soft, but still holding their form. Mix the rice and tomato mixture together, adding a small amount of Italian dressing just to give it a slight zing. Then mix in Feta cheese right before serving.

As an alternative, add chicken and fresh parsley to the mixture for a single dish meal. 

Age 65

It’s official with this birthday. I am now an OP. I never imagined that I’d be this old. Back when I was a meer ute, I envisioned myself being 40 years old with a few wrinkles. That was my idea of being old.

Although my body reminds me each day that it is deteriorating, I have to say that I’m a lot happier now than I was when I was young. There were always too many dramas back in the earlier days. I was always striving to get to the top of the pile, thinking I’d be happy then, once I got there. Now that age has embraced me, I find that I appreciate the simpler things in life. Having that warm cup of aromatic tea each morning. Going for my daily walk through the town. Enjoying an evening meal with my husband. Creating my artwork, now that no one expects anything from me. I am now free to take the chances that I once feared. Delighted with what turns out to be great, and not beating myself up when something I created, misses its mark. I just put it aside and go on. There are other things to explore.

So when it comes your time to be 65, I hope you too can be comfortable in your old skin, and be happy. That’s what it’s all about. 

Dog Necklace

Since I’ve spent a lot of time at the dentist office lately, I’ve tried to make it a more positive experience by bringing along small art pieces to show each time I go. My dentist and I have become friends because I have given him so much money that he feels obligated to like me. I seldom go to the doctor, but my teeth are a different story. The rest of my immediate family have happy, normal teeth. Mine fall out at an alarming rate. If it weren’t for crowns and veneers, I’d be like an old Eskimo woman whose teeth have worn out and the family eventually leaves her out in the snow.

Anyway, after looking at my artwork, my dentist commissioned me to do a design with teeth. Try as I might, I still don’t have enough human teeth to make a piece (at some point, I will). So I turned my attention to the dog teeth I collected a couple of years ago. A Golden Retriever died some blocks away, and after the vultures did their job, there were only teeth and bones left. The sun bleached and cleaned both, and I was able to easily pick them up in spite of my walking partner who said she couldn’t believe I would do such a thing! I then went on the Internet to see what other people had done with teeth. Not much. At least, not in the way I have used them. It’s an open opportunity for me to explore further. Hope my dentist likes the design.

The above piece is "outside the box", and sits on top of the glass.  

                                       Summer Solstice

Don't forget to look at the full moon this week-end. This is a time when the moon is closest to the earth, and it will shine more brightly. It's a good time to make a wish.