soggy monday walk...but we had fun anyway!!

 missing a few of the regulars, thankfully i found a few willing participants.  we had fun despite the mostly wet conditions.  it slowed to a sprinkle for a few minutes so i suggested we take a few photo's.  i'd given out little halloween gift bags with funky glasses and mustaches...!!

 when i woke up i was sure that i would be walking alone.  the weather looked pretty dismal out there.  the last part the rain came down pretty hard.  the forecast was rain, heavy at times...and it was right.

 rio didn't budge from her spot on the couch and blossom is pretty tuckered out i think.  she does tire a bit more after these walks...my poor girl.  i'm so not ready for her to age at all.  it's just so not fair.

 she's so cooperative....hehe!

 leo was less than happy with this eye wear idea, but i was able to get a quick shot off.

 the coffee house was packed but we found a space and everyone snacked on the tidbits...lots of food. i brought brownies, sandra made cookies out of pumpkin of all things and flo had leftovers from her party to share.

 more fun with eye wear at kaladi's.

 sandra joined us there.

 i couldn't leave rio out of the celebration despite her staying home on her beloved couch.

 spent the rest of the afternoon paying the bills and then i went shopping...what else to do on a rainy day.  though the rain subsided a bit, the wind came and eventually there were some blue skies even.

 my tv has been slowly dying for some time. they just don't last like they used to.  i'd researched to see what tv's people were happiest with and i went with a samsung that was on sale.  i upgraded to a smart tv and a slightly larger one.  was going to have them come set it up, but there was a fee for that and it was pretty ridiculous.  so a smart tv and a not so smart owner...seems wrong.  it's up and i was able to set it up...well at least the basics.  i can see tv again and not just hear it and i even hooked up my netflix and watched a movie.  i went with the lorax as i knew it wouldn't be too long.  still lots to learn, but it was really fun to just select a movie and watch it!!  hurray!!

 these are the little gift bags i got together.

 this is actually the sunset reflected on a big puddle...i was out shopping, had just bought my tv and was headed to a few more shops.

 it was a beautiful sunset as you can see. i  saw a rainbow on the way over and this while i was out and about. i hit pet co so i could go to their rawhide bar for the dogs.  of course, i made my selection and the bag broke and my little rawhide treats scattered all over...this is why i prefer petsmart over pet co...nobody came to assist me or even notice.  petsmart is just so much better with customers from what i've seen....they just lack the rawhide bar so occasionally i stop by pet co.  it's pretty rare though.

 the dogs will be happy though.  will just avoid anything edible that is made in china...electronics maybe, but don't want to kill my puppies off for a few poorly made treats.  cheap isn't better...

 got this idea from a search on the internet.  may have a halloween party to attend this weekend...though i'm not sure it's really a costume party...another party i heard about is. hmm.  anyway.  i figured i'd give this a shot.  so i went to the craft store and bought paper and paints and i'm creating my paper doll halloween costume.  i think it's rather cute.  i'll have to put the tabs on the dress and then put a few slits in to string a ribbon through to tie it on me...and cut them out of course.  they are in the garage drying for the night.

 the paint has sparkles in it.  washable kids paints.  i figured i was better off with kids paints as i'm not crafty and i tend to be messy.

hopefully i have a party to wear my gown to.  hehe..  just a quick note and i'm off to bed.

good week....

 in between shifts yesterday i went out to north bivouac and had fun at the little creek with the ice that was building up.  it's raining now and sounds like it may be for a few days, but this day was clear and cold out.  i loved the shot above...i'm always a fan of black and white and i think it captured the water action on this tiny creek..looks way bigger than it is.

 the water action causes all these cool icicles to form.  many end up being tossed, but it is always fun to try and get cool shots. it's so relaxing.

 blossom woke me up super early, i did get her to leave me be for a few more hours, but i ended up awake and walking...hate to waste a good day.  today is blossom's 8th birthday.  can't believe my puppy is 8!!  it was raining though so i'm sure not her perfect day.  thankfully, dogs really don't know to celebrate birthdays.  she's just happy to be and i'm her favorite person ( at least in my head i assume i am...haha)

 the rain did help me get some regular housework stuff accomplished.  Rio protested but i dragged her along on a loop of the bog here by my place.  i think i have been forgiven as she is sleeping near by and snoring happily.

 work the last two nights was steady/busy but nice.  great patient assignment really.  the family of the one was extremely grateful to me for all the care i gave her family member.  i get my best feedback and compliments from patients and family members...which has always been more meaningful than anything a manager could tell me...though let me tell you i have a great management team i work with and i really have rarely been able to say that in my nursing career.

 this family member wanted to know if i'd be back for another night and i explained that i was in the float pool and the hospital basically puts me where they need me.  later she asked if there was some way she could request me, later who would she ask, later, how did she get in touch with this person....i'm a bit daft i guess...apparently, she really wanted to make sure she took the steps required to do what she could to get me back.

 i was back a second night.  this very nice family member was in tears on several occasions thanking me for taking care of her family member.  it is great to hear such positive feedback.

 it's fortunate to work in a career where you can make such a huge impact each and every minute of your shift.  far better than some cubicle job.  i remember saying to her my parents instilled a very good work ethic in me...she replied that my care went far beyond a good work ethic, that she could tell i really cared.  she said she rested as she saw that i came in and checked on things so often, she knew she could rest.  she felt safe knowing her family member would be cared for.

 not sure i started out with the level of compassion that i have grown to feel for my patients and their families, perhaps that comes with age and an appreciation for the life i have and all the blessings and kindnesses that have been given to me. each day is a gift, each walk a blessing and time spent just sitting by a creek with a camera in hand are as they say priceless. there are so many other people out there who don't have all the opportunities I've had.

 not sure if I've found a purpose or if I've had much impact beyond my little realm of life, but i'm not sure we are all required to save the world....i do think we are all expected to be kind to all we come in contact with, to appreciate all the beauty that we see, to seek it out and to share joy.  compassion and kindness can be a grand enough gesture.

 Halloween is this week.  i'll be working so i'll make due with the pumpkin massacre party and tomorrows Monday walk...I've made little goodie bags for those who show up...well, hopefully I've made enough. i'll also take some fun hats for us to goof around with...so hopefully i'll have a few fun photo's.  hope it's not raining to hard.

 it sure seems to be coming down out there right now.

 love how individual blades of grass get coated in ice.

 this one is a bit phallic i must say..

 and i think my brother was right in saying this one looks like a great white shark on attack.

 keep meaning to get to the walking store and get dansko's and new hiking boots.  it occurred to me that i could order the dansko's on amazon.  the boots i'd rather actually try on.  i ended up ordering 2 pairs of dansko's i've heard it's best if you alternate the shoes and not wear the same ones over and over....that probably does refer to hiking shoes as well.  may buy a different sort of hiking boot in the spring and then i'd have another option.  in the meantime i really should clean out the old shoe box and make a donation.

 was tempted to run out to store and make some Halloween themed cupcakes for tomorrow.  it's getting pretty late though....i do need milk too. hmm...

 need to get my Christmas list together so i can get my relatives gifts together before i go to Texas.  kinda nice having a thanksgiving trip planned as it tends to help me get crap done early.  then i can just enjoy the Christmas season and not be stressing.

 will probably wait to do my Christmas cards for when i get back and the local stuff.

 a few shots of the bog the other day.  everything is starting to freeze.  this will mean i'll start avoiding any large bodies of water for a time as blossom is not very careful and i fear she will go through.

 the bog there had frozen snow pellets on top of the freezing water.  amazing how many ways a water molecule can present itself.

 the light was so great that day.  i keep meaning to head out there after i get off work.  perhaps after the time change.

 i realize this isn't a beautiful picture but i always think it's cool how the rocks sink in on the trail as the ground freezes leaving them framed like this.

 it's just so different to me how the ground freezes.  strange.  today, as it had warmed a bit, the ground would sometimes give way as you stepped down.

 blossom slammed through the thin layer of ice so she could lay down in the water...so blossom

 several shots loaded sideways, oh well. blogger has never found a way to allow you to turn pictures...seems pretty idiotic to me.

 so just a few less ice and rock photos...doubt i'll hear anyone complain.

 love the rush of the water and then the silence of the icicles.

 i am noticing a splinter in my hand that probably was acquired on my little jaunt up the brush to see what other ice lay up the creek a bit further.  so fun.

 ordered out tonight, delivery.  guy said it was slow tonight for deliveries as there are probably lots of Halloween parties out there.  i do have to come up with a costume for one party that is after Halloween.  i'm not very good at costume planning.  better get something before they are all sold  or packed away for the season.

 this is the tiny creek i was taking all these icicle shots at.

 these two are back in the bog today...in the rain.  not many pictures taken due to the fairly steady rain...happy we got out though...walking is always good for the soul and the body

 there was this one strange patch of brightly coloured grass in an otherwise brown field.

 lastly...my friend Sandra, posted this picture of me from a party at her house several years ago. the party had a theme..."dead Hollywood".  she may have even come up with the costume idea, can't recall.  it was easy enough to pull together though.  i went as Sharon Tate.  for the younger set, she was killed by Charles Manson's cult members. it's a pretty sick costume and rude as it was such a tragedy.  she was pregnant at the time and so her unborn child was also murdered.  still, turned out to be a effective costume for the theme of the party.

so thanks Sandra, for sharing this Halloween memory!!