Best Holiday Week--Now I'm Going Fishing December 29, 2012

Best Holiday Week

Now I'm Going Fishing

 

December 29, 2012

 

     It's been such a lovely week, and only week one of my Christmas holidays vacation.  There are still eight more days of vacation before work calls again.  I do hope everyone had a happy Christmas or Hanukkah.

 

     With all the little pleasures of meals and casual evenings with friends and family, I have thoroughly enjoyed this week.  For the past two days I have just enjoyed feeding the birds and squirrels, watching nature from my picture window, and relaxing.

 

      One of my little pleasures was making winter bird feeders to hang in the branches of shrubs near my bird feeder.  Here are the directions, so don't laugh:

 

      Take a toilet tissue roll, coat with creamy peanut butter, roll in birdseed, thread a string or ribbon through the roll, tie a knot, and hang outside for the birds.  You can also just put it through a bare branch like the photo above. Squirrels and birds love these and I am going to continue to make these all winter. 

 

Click here to see how to make the bird feeder. Cute website.

 

     My relaxing involved watching hours and hours of the original version of "Upstairs, Downstairs" on my computer.  Click here to watch one of the episodes.   

 



 

     While I really only listened to the episodes, I spent hours on pinterest.com, read news stories, and played lots of computer card games.  This must be what retirement will be like.  Nice.

 

     Now it's time to go fishing in the park at the riverbank I wrote about weeks ago.  Today, although it is lightly raining, I shall put my fishing tackle in some kind of container, complete with that knife for protection from alligators. 

 

     But first I have to attach a hook and weight to the brand new fishing rod I bought.  I've got to find a way to attach that rubber lure to the hook, because I'm really a salt-water fishing person.

 

     I'm borrowing my neighbor's canvas camping chair, complete with drink holder.  I'm packing a light lunch and a few bottles of water, probably 4 bottles, in case the fish don't bite and I have nothing to do.

 

     Since I want to absorb all the nature in the park, I'll be bringing my camera this time out, and will keep binoculars close at hand. 

 

      But wait, there's more:

 

     Yesterday, while driving through my neighborhood, I saw a turkey vulture (with the red face) feasting on a rather gruesome meal in someone's driveway.  It appeared to be a squirrel, but I'm afraid it was a cat.  Yum-yum.  

 

     Here is a turkey vulture.  Click here to learn more about turkey vultures. Ewwww.

 





 

     So, off I go to commune with nature and torture the fish.  Happy New Year  2013 to everyone.

 

Click here to view my pinterest interests.

 

     

Practicing Retirement Activities November 10, 2012

Practicing Retirement Activities         November 10, 2012

     Using this writing to reflect on and to plan for upcoming retirement has somehow restarted my social life.  Friday after work, a group of my friends gathered at a restaurant to nibble, and snack, and use up over two hours of the evening.  I don't recall the details of our conversations, but it was such a pleasant way to end the work week.  It made me think that this would be on my list of future activities.

      In the same way, I had breakfast with my son at the crack of dawn.  When I returned home I planned a grocery shopping trip with my neighbor.  By the time that was accomplished, I headed to my former school to their fall carnival, where I saw former teacher friends, students, and parents.

     Now, my weekends are never that busy with fun.  So it makes me think that searching for activities to occupy my time has put me in a frame of mind to be doing activities that occupy my time.  Very ironic.

     Tomorrow morning, Sunday, I'm having an early breakfast at IHOP with a friend, just to finish up this lovely weekend.  My mind was not occupied with all the "what ifs" of my future; it was occupied with enjoying the company of others right now.  This blog caused that. 

      You don't have to send me checks; I don't have to get a part-time job at Home Depot, and I don't have to call a plumber because I fixed my plumbing myself today also.  Writing certainly brings out the best in me.

     For now, I'm going to watch a few episodes of my favorite British show from the 1970s, "Upstairs, Downstairs," then go to bed.  Have a wonderful Sunday everyone. 

     Don't forget to drop in and enjoy my pinterest creations.

 

www.pinterest.com/mimihylton