K9'S FOR WARRIORS : VETERANS WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS TEAMED WITH LOVING SERVICE DOGS!

K9S FOR WARRIORS   What a wonderful effort!

Excerpt:

Roughly 20 Veterans die by suicide every day, and over 1,000 dogs are euthanized. K9s For Warriors exists because of a fierce dedication to saving the lives of both Veterans and rescue dogs. This program is backed by scientific research and empowers Veterans who fought for our freedom to live a life of independence. Graduates of the program are able to live a life of renewed purpose and independence, that they previously did not think was possible. Many have reunited with their families, gone back to school, restored their relationships with family, and significantly reduced their medications.

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

THE DAY

 

CAROL OF THE BELLS : LINDSEY STIRLING

GATHERING

 

GREAT SEEING YOU

 

A MERRY OLDE ENGLAND CHRISTMAS

It happens.... 

Hello My Dear Readers...

In the Mediterranean climate of Southern California this season, palm trees swaying in the breeze and beach days still possible, I imagine instead the snowy Continental Climate of Europe or the Temperate Maritime Climate of the British Isles. I listen to classical music and I make pots of tea and bake some scones - or at least purchase some from Trader Joes market. Though I no longer put up a Christmas tree, I do like to have a few branches of fresh pine in the house to scent the air. I arrange ornaments in bowls as centerpieces for the table. I pull out old photographs and a few toys that were mine as a child and leave them out to look at. Sometimes I just want to be alone with a good book. Sometimes I indulge myself socially. I don't have a fireplace but if you're from the snow belt, well, you might be amazed at how many people here do. There's a smell of wood fire in the air on the colder nights. (Few of us actually run our heaters unless we have a cold streak. Instead we actually get under quilts.) If ever there's a time to wear flannel here, this is the time.  

In order to celebrate Merry Olde England, I've mined past posts to bring you a variety of Great British mistresses. You can use the side bar where past posts are archived to bring up the entire year and month and read through... Some interesting reading awaits you as you nosh on crackers and cheese and a glass of wine.

So cozy up and enjoy the season with me!

Missy

PS:  I do have the names of some British Isle's Mistresses I haven't covered yet. If you have suggestions please leave me a comment. If you want your comment to remain unpublished, just start out your message with the words Do Not Publish!

WISHING PEACE - AN END TO ALL DESTRUCTION !

It will soon be a year since Russia began destroying Ukraine.  There seems no end in sight.  The United States has provided millions in aid.  As we tuck into our warm beds this evening, let us not forget those who are cold and hungry.  Let us not forget the innocents who have been killed, maimed, raped, and had their lives as they know it destroyed. Peace comes through action, though communication, through creativity.  Let us all use these attributes to make this world a better place, starting now.

Missy

MAJESTIC

 

WHAT'S INSIDE?

 

STILL STANDING

 

DEAR SANTA I CAN EXPLAIN : PUPPINI SISTERS

PUPPINI SISTERS

READY

 

JOXEUX

 

A HOLIDAY EDITION WITH A LITTLE FOCUS ON FASHION

Hello Sweeties!  Happy Holidays! 

I just looked into my closet and well...    

Are you one of those people who finds fashion challenging?  Do you perhaps buy only one good dress or suit for the winter season, knowing that you need to splash out a bit during the holidays?  Or are you a fashionista with a great sense of style and an impressive budget to spend on clothes, perhaps with a special closet just for your shoes and purses?  Or maybe you're into sewing your own clothes.  Or you are one of those who are concerned about our ecology and don't like fast fashion?

How aware are you of the fashion world?

I love watching the fashion shows, especially those in Paris, in which top models parade the latest fashions designed the most interesting and esteemed designers, each a personality. Like many of you, I have to watch these on film. These creatives and their crews influence all that there is to wear every season, planning well in advance, so the truly fashionable can anticipate and adjust their wardrobes seasonally. However, much of what I see on the runway would not work for my lifestyle and seems extremely unpractical to me.

Over the last several years there has been a trend to sustainable fashion and against what is called "fast fashion." This is an eco-fashion trend which emphasize buying quality items that last and usually that means that the colors and designs are not influenced by the runway displays or the inexpensive throw-aways that are derivative of them, but clothing that will last, can be worn for years, is well made and comfortable, and will not take a couple hundred years to decompose in our landfills.

There is a store near me that has clothes of this type that I love, though all casual wear, and the salesclerks there have told me that stretchy fabrics are the worst, taking near forever to decompose in land fills. There goes tights and skinny jeans! 

This month I hope you'll be inspired to a bit of an upgrade of your appearance so that when the new year begins there will be, maybe not a whole new you, but a change that readies you for it.

An eco kind of thing you can do is throw a clothing trade party. Each of your friends go through their closet and pull the things that they have not been wearing, clothing that is still in good condition, and bring them over to your place. You serve drinks and some appetizers, and each of you takes a turn and selects one item from the pile until everything brought has a new owner.  After that, the item might need a revision, by its new owner or a seamstress or tailor. Perhaps you have talent that I do not, and everyone can also have fun refiguring the clothes. Sewing machines, needles and thread, patches, whatnot, available, it brings a whole new dimension to the term "Ladies Sewing Circle." (You can turn pants into shorts, dresses into blouses, and sew (!) on.)

Now, be it that you are a socialite who will be out at parties through the holidays or a stay-at-home person who just wants to be alone to read a good book, I have some book recommendations for you that will help you to think fashion!

Missy

SNOW WOMAN

 HAPPILY IT'S THE HOLIDAYS

ANYTHNG CAN HAPPEN

I'M LIKE YOU!

Readers!

The other day I was thinking that I'M LIKE YOU. I really wondered how I would make it through the year because of the dramatic effect Covid-19 has had on our economy, our culture, our relationships.  What or who as NOT been effected?  

Are you one of the people whose relationship got stressed or ended because of too much time spent together or, just the opposite, too much time apart? How has the pandemic effected the way you see life?

Here we are at the end of the year, with the holidays upon us. Traditionally a more busy time, with family, friends, and celebrations. Though we can theoretically do it any time - a new month, a new moon, a solstice, a celebration - it seems to me that there is a psychological effect to a New Year, a turn of the page on the calendar.

Congratulate yourself for doing as well as you have.  Lend a hand to those who need some help. Express gratitude where it is deserved. Give yourself a hug.

Missy

Big Band Sound - Claude Thornhill and His Orchestra

This is the kind of music I like to listen to in the kitchen as I try a new recipe.

SNOWY GLOBE

 

VOLUNTEERING FOR THE HOLIDAYS - CHRISTMAS EVE and NEW YEARS EVE ARE ON FRIDAYS...

Friends of this blog know that I recommend some Secret Santa giving or playing it forward through volunteering as a soul affirming remedy for that seasonal depression that can happen to the even nicest, sweetest people on this planet, even those who we all depend on to be of good cheer.

Such work also can become a way of realizing how blessed we are - even if we are not rich - to have the ability to get there, to do the work. I will be volunteering on both these days and you can too, usually without a lot of fuss, if you do food distribution for a food bank or serve meals, for instance. 

And don't you want to meet your kind of people - the loving and giving kind?

LET IT RAIN : ERIC CLAPTON

Let It Rain - Let It Rain - Let It Rain Down on YOU!