Woman Rising!

Well, we pretty much know who will be the presidential candidates this fall. 

When I was a little girl no one could ever imagine that a woman could actually run for president, no less be the President of the United States! That could actually happen in our country now. It is a good time to be an American woman.To think that my great grand daughter could become the President is very exciting. We are a little slow at this happening, when you think that India's Indira Ghandi was Prime minister in 1984. Argentina, Iceland, Ireland, Mongolia, Germany and Bolivia are way ahead of us in having had women run their countries. Women are probably better at running a household than men, so why can't they be head of a country? I have heard some say, "They are too emotional." What is wrong with having emotions?

When I was a girl, I knew I would never go to college because we couldn't afford it and to be truthful I had no desire to go. All I really wanted to do was find someone to love and marry, have babies and be a housewife and mother. I think that was what ever girl I knew dreamed about. A few kind of wanted to be a teachers. There really wasn't a lot of things a girl graduating from high school had a choice to do. Before I met my husband, I kind of thought about going to beauty school because I loved to cut and style hair. (I started cutting my own hair when I was 14 and have done so ever since) When I was a freshman I considered joining the Waves, mainly because my uncle was in the Navy and I thought he was really cool. I sent off for information about joining even. But that was about it. And then I met the love of my life! So my dream came true.  I am very proud that the US now has a woman presidential candidate. Here is to woman power!

Honoring our Veterans

We have started hearing about Memorial Day sales in the papers, on the radio and television. Yesterday's paper was so heavy I could hardly lift it. Memorial Day sales seem to be the main reason for this holiday? I don't think so! 

This is a time when we honor our fallen hero's..the ones that died protecting our freedom. Not what pair of shoes you can get 15% off! Have you seen the cemetery's decorated with hundreds of United State flags on Memorial Day? What a beautiful site.

I have to admit that Memorial Day has been a time in my past that the real reason was the farthest thing from my mind. It was a 3 or 4 day week end dirt biking the Coal Piles in Cle Elum, WA. But the older I have gotten the more I appreciate and realize what could have been. 

My Father and Father-in-Law both served in the US Army during war time. My husband's Dad was in WW I and was wounded. My Dad served during WW II. He was lucky and didn't get called in until late in the war. He was a father of 2 at that time, had a small farm and worked at a shipyard. They needed him at the shipyard. Then when farmers couldn't buy tractors because they were not building tractors,  http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/machines_01.html,              he started building tractors on our little farm back in the woods. My Dad could build or fix anything! And did! So he didn't get called early on. But one day he got his card saying he had to go in for his physical on May 19th So on May 19th he went to Everett, WA to take his physical. When he didn't come home that day we really started to worry. (I don't remember how Mom found out what happened to him because I don't think we had a phone.) But Dad didn't come home. After he passed his physical they loaded him onto a bus and took him to Ft. Lewis and that was his  "enlistment" day. Mom had to have a neighbor take her to Everett to pick up the only vehicle we had! So Mom had to take care of everything at our little farm. My brother told me he still remembers seeing her laying across their bed crying. 

Now that I think of it I don't think we had a phone because we had no idea my Dad was coming home either! He actually got home the very day WW II ended, Sept. 2, 1945. Everyone was going out to celebrate so one of the neighbors asked Mom if she would watch their kids while they went out. Of course my Mom never told anyone no, so she took us and went over to babysit. Someone called Mom at the neighbors and told her they had seen a soldier walking down the road. Well, it was Daddy! 

So when you see all the stuff on sale for Memorial Day think about the men that were wounded and died so you could go out and buy some of that "stuff". But I think I will remember my Dad.

 Nature in Bright Colors

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/nature-in-bright-colors-donna/

 

Fibromyalgia Complaining!

Sunset in the Mountains

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sunset-in-the-mountains-donna/

We are having a chilly summer day. Yesterday was cold and yukky, too. Not my kind of weather. 

So today is gonna be a hurting day! I have mentioned before that I have Fibromyalgia. I have had it for 35 years so it is like a friend that keeps hanging around and you don't really like. I had never heard of it nor had anyone that I knew, even most Doctors. The family Dr. we were going to sent me to rheumatologists and neurologists and no one knew what was wrong. I got cortisone shots in my elbows and knees and they helped for awhile, but I still had aches all over. Finally after 14 years we had to change our Doctor because we changed insurance. At first we were really upset but in the end it was a good thing. We started going to the Dr. that had delivered our son's twins and we loved him. He was probably one of the best Doctor's we have been to. I was in there for complaints about my neck because it was bothering me again. He said, "Wait just a minute and I will be right back." When he came back in, he handed me a pamphlet about Fibromyalgia. I read it and told him that I could have written it! I had been through it all. So there was finally a name to what I had. And it wasn't all in my head like I was afraid some people thought. The cold weather seems to make my body hurt more than usual. That is why I love summer weather...real summer weather, not what we are going to have all this week. I heard something over the week end about a test showing that Resvaritol helped Fibromyalgia as much as some of the prescriptions. So I got on Amazon and ordered a bottle. I will keep my fingers crossed but I have tried just about everything and really haven't found anything that actually helps. Exercise is one of the best things if you have Fibromyalgia. I am lucky that I have always exercised. You would think that if something hurt you shouldn't use it, but that is just wrong for me. I have had 2 knee surgeries from motocross accidents so my knees bother me a lot but riding the bicycle actually makes them feel better. Some days the last thing I want to do is climb on that bike but I know I feel better if I do, so I do!

I haven't been doing as many themes because I have so many made already but I have these ideas and want to use them so still do a few. I am trying to get more submitted. Another theme maker, RLC has complained that too many of my themes are featured and apparently he thinks I have something to do with that. I don't. I have no idea who all picks the featured and how they do it. 

We went and got a load of firewood Saturday. So we are preparing for next winter! My husband is splitting it today so it will dry and can be put in the wood shed. 

Gonna sign off for today. I hope you all have a good week. 

 Light on Orange Poppies

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/light-on-orange-poppies-donna/

Mothers ♥

I always start missing my Mom more at this time of year. I had our family's Mother's Day dinner at our home for years and years. Probably over 45 years! 

My Mom was a very special person. She had the heart of gold and was more compassionate than I am. She was a very hard worker all her life. And she deserved a few years when she didn't have to work, but she didn't get that. Then again, I doubt if she would have ever stopped working. She loved doing craft things and made crafts and sewed all year so she could sell the items at bazaars from November through Christmas. She mowed her own lawn, and it was a large lawn till just before she passed away at 86! My Dad had bad legs because of a heart condition caused by years of smoking, so Mom would use the push mower when he was alive and he used the big John Deere riding mower. After he died Mom did both!

If you have any family questions you want answers to, don't wait until it is too late. Ask your Mom about her life. She will be so pleased that you are interested. And don't forget to call or visit her. She needs to know you love her and proud she is your Mom. 

Enough of nostalgia! 

Brand Thunder has an AddOn for Mozilla Firefox now. It is called Personas Interactive. You can find the AddOn at: http://brandthunder.com/personas/ You will be able to install some of the New Tab themes and control your Personas. I mentioned in my last blog that I wondered if Firefox was going to continue with the Persona themes and I have good news on that front. Yes, they are. I guess the problem is with Personas Plus as it hasn't been updated for awhile. So maybe Personas Interactive will be the way we control our themes. I really don't know for sure but am just kind of guessing.

Fresh as a Daisy

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/fresh-as-a-daisy-by-madonna/

The above design is the one I am using right now. It is really soft and pretty.

I had my eyes examined a couple weeks ago so went to Costco this morning to order my glasses. I hate having to pick out new frames! Two years ago when I got my last pair, I picked out frames and when I went to the counter to order them, they were the exact same frames I had. But I liked them so I got them again! You always need an extra pair in case you break them, so I always keep my old pair handy. I have to wear glasses to see!

I have noticed that some of the themes I made several years ago have become popular all of a sudden. 

Spring Serenity

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/spring-serenity/

 

I made this one last year and liked it so I am pleased it is getting some use.

 

Well, I am going to sign off now. You all have a great Mother's Day and call home!

 

 

Summer Minions

Summer Minions New Tab Theme

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/summer-minions-tribute-ne/dihfchfnphjenjdjjlacfbjcchbpjbml?hl=en-US

The Summer Minions themes I made for Brand Thunder for Chrome is live now so you can check out the different designs. They are a lot of work but so much fun.

And now if you want to use the new tab page designs on Firefox, Brand Thunder is making that available, too. 

Summer Minions New Tab for Firefox

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/summer-minions-tribute-new-tab/

I am really pleased that BT is making them for Firefox because they are kind of fun. When you open a new tab you will get a different scene. 

If you are an Assassins Creed fan, they have my Assassins Creed Unity theme available for Firefox also. 

Assassin's Creed Unity Tribute New Tab theme for Firefox

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/assassin-creed-unity-new-tab/?src=dp-dl-othersby

I think they will be adding more of my New Tab designs for Firefox on the Mozilla  Add-On site. I will  try to let you know when they are available.

I am beginning to wonder if perhaps Mozilla is going to do away with the Persona themes or not. Brand Thunder has a new add on called PersonasInteractive that lets you control your Persona themes. You can find their Add On at: http://brandthunder.com/personas/

Magical Summer Night

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/magical-summer-night-madonna/

 

I will sign off for today. Getting tired since we went and cut a load of wood this morning. Still don't have as much energy since we had that horrible flu bug.

 

More later!
 

Hurray! I think we will live!

Blossoms of Spring

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/blossoms-of-spring-by-madonna/

We are finally feeling better! This was a 2 week virus or something. I don't think it was the flu. I don't know if it is because we are "old" but this was one of the worse bugs we have had. We had it at the same time so not much got done. Neither one of us wanted to eat so there wasn't any cooking. And what we did eat, didn't have any taste. The worse part for me was trying to stay warm. I was freezing all the time. We thought we were well enough to go grocery shopping Saturday because we hadn't been anywhere for 2 weeks. But as soon as we got in the store, my husband was pushing the cart and I had a hold of it and I think the only reason we stayed upright was because the cart was holding us up. I was honestly afraid either one of us would just collapse. And then we both got up Sunday feeling worse so we shouldn't have gone in. But Monday we started to feel better and we notice each day is better.

The lilacs are all bloomed out and prettier than they have ever been, I think. The bushes are 50 years old and probably need to be pruned but they outdid themselves this year. I just wish they would last longer when you cut them to have in your house. But they smell so good.

Our oldest grandson called me the other night and asked if I would answer a bunch of questions for his school project. So I worked on that all day yesterday and had such a good time bringing back a lot of memories of my youth. One of the questions was what were my favorite TV programs when I was his age. Well, we didn't have TV and didn't even have electricity or running water when I was 11. I was very honored that he asked me to do this.

Mystery of Stonehenge

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/mystery-of-stonehenge/

The Stonehenge theme I made several years ago and all of a sudden it got popular. There are over 15,000 users right now. Stonehenge and it's mystery always fascinated me. 

Blue Butterfly in Grass

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/blue-butterfly-in-grass-donna/

I am going to get back to work. I wonder if you noticed the new interface on the Mozilla site. I can't decide if I like it yet or not!

Have a great week

Bad week!

Lazy Sunday Morning

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/lazy-sunday-morning-by-madonna/

We aren't getting over the bad flu bug we got. Still coughing badly, no appetite, no energy for either one of us. Yesterday afternoon I took a nap in my chair and woke up cold. So I went to get up to turn the stove up and lost my balance. I twisted my ankle so hard it popped and hit the stone wall with my arm and it took all the skin off the underside of my forearm. I honestly thought I might have broken my ankle because it hurt so bad, but it is hardly bothering me today and I can walk fine. My old bones must be better than I thought, so I feel very fortunate for that. But it is going to be a long time before my arm looks all right and will definitely leave a scar. What a way to celebrate your 59th wedding anniversary!

So I am not getting much work done but I guess sleep heals so I should be healing up! Our oldest great grandson is up for spring break but we aren't going to be able to see him because I wouldn't want him to take this bug home with him.

The weather is supposed to really warm up and be 80 tomorrow. That is hard to believe but sure sounds good. We have been so cold with this flu. Just seems like we can't get warm and then, if you do, you have a bad coughing spell!

Well, I am running out of energy so gonna take a little nap.

Dawn at the Lake House
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/dawn-at-the-lake-house-madonna/