The Road Less Traveled

I've been keeping busy with work lately as they've scheduled me for more hours than usual. I'm not complaining, though, as that little "extra" income always comes in handy! Keeping busy, though, means I haven't had a chance to blog for a wee bit!

Last Friday, I attended a Relay for Life fundraiser put on by good friends, The Donahue clan, aka "Poppy's Angels". I've know the family for hmmmm....a long time.....since *I* was a teenager! LONG time ago! LOL! Anyways, one of the daughters, Colleen, has cut my hair in the past (OK, way in the past, but I'm not going back that far!) and had offered to cut my hair since my "regular" person, Christy, retired the beginning of July. I said yes, of course, as finding someone to cut your hair that you trust is not always an easy thing to do! We women can be picky about our hair, ya know! And who cuts it and how!

Here's the before picture:

And now, the after:

It's shorter, cooler, and easier to style! LOL...Colleen had it all styled up great for me and I went home and went to sleep before work. Needless to say, it did NOT look like this when I woke up! I'm still working on making it look like she did, but am happy with the results, even if I don't make it all stylish! Thank you, Colleen! Great job and a very worthy cause to benefit the American Cancer Society and in memory of your poppy,  Mr. Dave!

Sunday, on my way home from work, I thought of a few lines from an old poem by Robert Frost:

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

It was the last few lines that I actually was thinking about as I went on a round about way on my drive home.Rather than take my usual route home, I went, instead, for a drive along some back roads. Something different to do and something for a change of pace! Changing things up sometimes can be a good thing and rewarding! To me, it was like going on a mini-vacation or a mini-road trip! FUN!!!

 I was in search of....OK, I admit it....flowers! Black-eyed Susans, to be exact! AND I found them and some others, so indulge me as I share with you my latest finds! (OK, I love taking pictures!)

Even the trees and underbrush are beautiful....at least in the eyes of this beholder!

The picture taking didn't stop when I pulled into the driveway. I thought of how my porch sometimes is like a little retreat area for me on those cooler mornings. A great place to sit and read and think while the birds are still singing their morning songs and the dew is still on the grass and life hasn't quite started to make it's noises that distract from the peace and quiet. So the next pictures are from my front porch!

A quiet place to sit a spell

Some of the things I'm reading and my journal

Another view of my Adirondak rocker (a birthday gift to myself about 3 years ago....My friend Marcia and I spent a wonderful day together when I lived in GA searching for an Adirondak chair for my home - we found this one at a Cracker Barrel restaurant!)

I don't have a green thumb, but have managed to keep these two flowering plants alive so far this summer!

See? Still green! Not dead yet!!!!

Ah, my mowing shoes.....they've seen alot of grass and mud....but are still able to do the job! And live outside the front door, where all good mowing shoes should stay!

And last, but not least, my companion on the porch, who always wants to "go out"! Whether it's to go "potty", for a walk, or just to lay out on the porch...she's always ready to "go!"

Cady has that grin already, knowing that just behind that door are new smells to sniff and places to explore that, oddly, she explored the last time she went out! But, hey, she's happy, not to mention great company on a cool morning on the front porch!

Well, that's it for today! Just sharing some of my pics and what I've been up to! The weather is to get very warm the later part of this week, although, to be honest, it's already been too hot for me! But God is still watching over me, caring for me, and I thank Him for the blessings He gives!

Well, I've rambled on enough for one day and will take my leave. The coolness of that front porch is calling me to come out and visit before the heat of the day warms things up. And I know a certain canine companion who would love to joing me! May you have a day that blesses you beyond measure!

Sue