Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Recuperation journey: Sunday musings

Putting pen to paper
Writing is a beneficial exercise for many folks, including yours truly.

Ever since I was quite young I've had a need to put pen to paper to record any number of things about what was going on around me. 
I suppose regularly jotting things down made them seem more real.
Of course my world was much smaller then and I had no major responsibilities other than my schoolwork.
No dog, no cat, no rabbit, no guinea pig, no hamster. I did have a few green turtles for pets and later tropical fish to feed but that was about it.

Back then I had the time and inclination to write a diary, send written notes to my grandparents and friends, keep track of movies I'd seen, and rate novels I'd read.
I wrote the titles and authors on 3x5 cards and keep them in a recipe box. I may have given them stars or numbers for ratings, can't quite recall. 

I know writing can be therapeutic, and the process of writing therapy is a real thing, and that's what I've been trying to relate here. 

It's about putting one's feelings into words, and being able to look at them in black and white and hopefully better understand them, and oneself. When husband Ralph and I joined the "blogosphere" a decade ago it was a therapeutic writing activity for both of us, and still is.

Life tends to get complicated, and writing about what occurs can help one to deal with the inevitable stress. 

Thanks for getting this far and reading this entire post! I hope you were able to relate to what I was trying to impart.  
Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Recuperation journey: It's that cat again


Just noticed three hours after I published a blog post this morning there were typos that magically got into the text. 
I realized since they were created with the letters 'a' and 'q' located on the left-hand side of the keyboard that Linus had been sitting right there before I saved the post.  

He ruins everything! Well not everything, but he does get into mischief around here from time to time. 

Monday, April 30, 2018

Recuperation journey: Shower time offers a chance to 'think'

Truth be told I often write a lot of my blog posts during my morning shower, without ever planning to do so. 

Warm water is relaxing, and for me it blocks out any distractions and allows my brain to "think."

I've heard others say they get their best ideas when they're in the shower. 
Can you relate?


Sunday, April 29, 2018

Recuperation journey: Stepping away for a day

After I finish typing this I'm stepping away for a day. 

I love what I do here, but need a break from sitting in front of this monitor.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Hope you have a great Sunday! 

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Recuperation journey: Morning visitor

Lucky capture through the window this morning. Is he looking for egg shells?
I'll have to cook an egg for breakfast so I can oblige him.

Have a great Wednesday!

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Recuperation journey: Crock pot fun

When we have a snowy day like today it puts me in the mood for using the crock pot. 
Anyone else feel that way? 


The aroma of something delicious cooking gives the house a warm and cozy feeling.
I'm about to do my best to put together ingredients for beef stew. The photo shows most of them. 

True story: I just realized I wrote a similar post Jan. 4! 
The more things change the more they stay the same.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Valley mystery photo


I posted this photo four years ago this week on my previous blog - Late Bloomer Boomer - that I started in January 2007. 

This interesting sculpture caught my eye. 
Do you know where in the Valley I took this photo? 
If you do, please leave your response in the comments. Thanks.

Monday, January 1, 2018

Recuperation journey: Turning the page on a new year

Ah, 2017. It was a remarkable year for me. In May I received a healthy kidney from an altruistic donor who turned out to be Robin Gilmartin of West Hartford. 
I couldn't be more grateful to Robin for her selfless act. 

I'm also grateful for all of my readers here on this rather disjointed blog. It's therapeutic for me to write about myself, my family, and life in general. My hope is to bring awareness to the importance of organ donation, among other health-related topics.

I enjoy sharing photos of sunsets and sunrises and the wildlife outside my door.

I also enjoy sharing the good news of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, of which there is plenty. There are always positive events happening that highlight the community's heart. 

Thanks for reading, and I hope you continue to do so in 2018. 


Wishing all a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Friday, December 29, 2017

Recuperation journey: These are a few of my favorite posts

... from 2017

Since today's my birthday I thought I'd give myself a present and take a walk down memory lane. 

I chose five of my favorite blog posts from the last 12 months. Here they are:

#5 - Cousins share special link



#4 - Best photo

#3 - Gnomes


#2 - A bear - I was home but wasn't looking out the window so I missed the bear lumbering through our yard. It would have been a great photo.


and my favorite:


#1 - Met my kidney donor - It doesn't get any better than that!       


Those are the top 5, unless something unforeseen needs to be added over the holiday weekend. Not that I have any major partying planned, but one never knows what life will bring!


Recuperation journey: Remembering fun with blogosphere friends


Back in a simpler time and place before Facebook took off and became a thing, Ralph and I met a lot of wonderful folks in the blogosphere.

We used to participate in Looking at the Sky on Friday, a meme that had us looking up a lot!
It was fun to see photos of the sky shared from all over the globe.

Feeling end-of-the-year nostalgic I briefly stepped out the door to look at the sky and take this photo. 
It was about 7 degrees at the time. Brrr...

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Recuperation journey: Happy Leftover Stuffing for Breakfast Day

🦃 ðŸ¦ƒ ðŸ¦ƒ It's a beautiful Saturday morning and yours truly was wondering what to write about when I decided to have some leftover stuffing for breakfast. 
Voila! Instant blog post subject matter. 
Write about what you know, they say.
So I did just that, once again. 

Happy weekend! Don't stress yourself out in the stores. The merchandise will be there next week. 

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Remember that mystery photo? Location revealed

I posted a mystery photo Nov. 10 and I know from my stats that quite a few readers saw it. 
But I only received one response from a reader who wrote on Google Plus, not in the comments, and I thank him. I always appreciate the feedback!



He was certain I snapped this photo in Shelton but wasn't sure where.

This interesting sculpture sits at the entrance to an office building at 1000 Bridgeport Ave. I noticed it when I was at Dr. Bruce Sofferman's 31st annual Thanksgiving food drive to support Spooner House.

I'll try again to get responses as soon as I find another mystery photo!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Recuperation journey: B&W fun continues


The current Facebook challenge to post one black and white photo a day for seven days  without people or explanation has inspired me to share a few more here. Just for fun.






So ... who is up for a sepia challenge? It could be interesting.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Mangling a classic song and amusing myself

In the first week post-transplant my doctors gave to me: five Prograf, four CellCept, two Prednisone, and an Acyclovir three times a day.

I'm taking several more meds, but that would ruin the "Twelve Days of Christmas" melody I attempted to replicate.

The meds are for anti-rejection and anti-infection. I'm getting the hang of when to take what and how many.

And how, you might ask, have they affected moi? 

Two words: weird dreams. The kind of weirdness you're too embarrassed to share with your closest family and friends. 
I hope they will taper off eventually. Fingers crossed!

Besides popping pills, my daily schedule includes checking my blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and weight for any major changes.

A visiting nurse came to see me yesterday; I think she is only going to visit once more. We agreed it doesn't seem necessary.

This continues to be a non-stop adventure, but it gives me something to blog about when I'm home by myself during the day. 

I certainly don't want to get squirrelly.






Sunday, March 5, 2017

Saying thanks to readers


I didn't post anything new today to see if anyone would stop by my blog.

And more than 400 of you did.

I just want to say thank you for visiting! I appreciate it. 


Saturday, April 16, 2016

Sharing 'shadowy' post on a Saturday

Once upon a time I belonged to the blogosphere for fun. 
My husband and I started blogging in 2007, and in no time we made friends from all over the U.S., and the world.  
We keep up with many of them now on Facebook.

I just re-read my initial post and I'm linking it here:
http://patti-latebloomerboomer.blogspot.com/2007/01/boomer-in-bloom.html


These days it's still fun to be a part of the blogosphere, but I also maintain this blog to offer information to, and communicate with, fellow Valley residents. 

Ralph (a.k.a. Airhead-55) and I participated in several memes, from Ruby Tuesday and Looking at the Sky on Friday to Shadow Shot Sunday. 
He still takes part in memes, including Wordless Wednesday and Friday Hunt.

A friend from Shadow Shot Sunday told Ralph she missed me, so I took a shadow photo of a dinner that a friend treated me to the other day.

I realize it's Saturday, but most Shadow Shot participants post a day early.


It was quite delicious, and it's always nice not to have to prepare a meal and clean up afterward.







Tuesday, September 29, 2015

On learning curves, news, and views in the Valley

Wires, and cables, and chargers, oh my!


Dear readers,

We at The Valley Voice (i.e. my husband Ralph and I!) yesterday launched a website with the same name.

It is a project that has had its share of delays because of what I can best describe as "technical issues."


But we are getting there. 


We also launched a Facebook page yesterday to promote the site and so far have more than 60 likes.


Here is the link to that page, in case you'd like to give it a look-see.

Please continue to stop by to learn the good news of this one-of-a-kind community of ours here in the Lower Naugatuck Valley. 

We're ready to share!