Independence Day

Bright Fireworks in the Sky

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bright-fireworks-in-the-sky/

 

Today is the last day of June and it is hard to believe. 2016 is half over. We have had some really hard things we have had to digest this year and I am wondering how the last half will be. I just wish people could get along and not try to push their beliefs onto others. I was listening to a talk show this morning and they were talking about the Boston Tea Party and it made me proud to be an American. We do stand up for our rights, no matter how hard people try to change those rights and take them away from us. We have a right to vote, to be in charge of our bodies, our properties and our lives. 

We are going to be inundated for the next 4 months with radio,TV, and internet garbage from all sides. I can only hope people will actually take a look at what people say they will do and what they can do. Our Independence depends on this. 

We haven't made any plans for the 4th of July itself because the weather is "iffy"! I don't want to plan on a picnic type day if it is going to be cold and rainy. They have a hard time of forecasting our weather up here in the northwest corner of the US. This week was supposed to be nice and warm. It has been sunny but not warm. Our oldest son and his wife are camped at a beach resort and we are going up there on Saturday so I am hoping it will be warm and not a cold breeze off the bay. Our daughter is coming on the 4th so I guess I shouldn't say we don't have any plans, should I? It won't be the 4th of July if we can't roast hot dogs, though.

 

SUNRISE

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

Patriotic USA

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/patriotic-usa/ 

I am going to sign off for today. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and if you are an American, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

 

♥~Fathers Day~♥

Seashore
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/seashore-by-madonna/

Yes, that is my Dad in the top of my blog this month. He was pretty darn good looking, wasn't he? Last month I wrote a little about him. He has been gone for 17 years but it doesn't seem that long ago, really. He didn't enjoy the latter part of his life at all. He couldn't do anything he really wanted to because of health issues. He started smoking when he was like 15 or so. He did quit in the latter part of his life but I know he was sneaking a few cigars at the end. And I don't blame him for that. Live a little and enjoy. He had bacon and eggs for breakfast every morning for his breakfast, too. So he had heart problems that led to his not being able to walk very much, etc. Then he had lung cancer from all that smoking. He ended his life on his own, in his own way. And I have never blamed him for that. I would have done the same thing. If you can't enjoy life, why take up space? 

My Dad was stubborn & hard headed. I take after my Dad which I wish I didn't in this case. My dear husband is always telling me, "You're just like your Dad."

My Dad didn't like a lot of social life and I take after him in that way, too. Mom loved being around a lot of people and was very social. I wish I were. And that makes it hard for me at times. I am not good at going up to a stranger and starting a conversation. I just can't do it.

Dad taught me to stick up for myself. He always said "If you don't stick up for yourself, no one else will." And how true that is.

I was a tomboy. I hayed with my Dad because I was a strong farm girl. I remember him bragging about how good I did on the hay wagon piling the hay bales. After I got married I went deer hunting several times with my husband and Dad. I thought that was pretty cool. I rode dirt bikes with my Dad and family. I rode street bikes with my Dad. I know how hard it was for him when he had to quit riding. Boy, do I know! It was so hard for me to hang up my helmet. I rode the through the summer I was 71 and it took me 3 years before I could sell my bike!

I hope that you can be with your Father this next Sunday, but if you can't, call him or write to him, let him know you love him. If your Father is gone, like mine is...think about him. Life is so short and goes by so quickly.

 

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!