Author: Maggie

I retired to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains six years ago. Life was going great - even blossoming in retirement - until a little thing called Covid decided to rattle the world. In the two years since the pandemic began, I have grown to appreciate the blogging community so much. It has been a welcome retreat from the woes of social media during this unprecedented time. I write about a lot of different things. My active blog - From Cave Walls - is the only place I really post now. There you will find a lot of stories about growing up in rural America and my recollections of a much simpler time. I write a little fiction, I post about art, and I post a lot about this place I now call home. You will see a lot of photos of what I lovingly call 'my mountains'.
Blog

A Very Windy Sunday

Maggie
Flowers
Outside My Back Door

The weather predictions were for a bit of rain, but sadly that has not come to fruition. Instead we have very strong winds which are unfortunate given our drought conditions. We have statewide burn bans so hopefully people will honor the restrictions.

My procedure went well. They were very speedy this time taking only about 40 minutes as opposed to the normal 2 hour process. I was glad to get back home and settled into the recliner where I napped off and on throughout the day. The largest concern for this treatment is the 24 hours following the procedure – nothing can touch or even come near the eye due to the opportunity for infection which can be catastrophic. Just like a child, as soon as you tell me not to touch something it begins to itch. It is always a relief to be beyond the initial 24 hours.

Last week I started the arduous process of looking for a new car. My Volvo has about 230,000 miles on it and the Check Engine light stays on which no one seems to know how to resolve. Prices are ridiculous for something new and the research necessary wears me out! So far I am not impressed with the new body and interior styles. Given the current situation in the world, I am considering a Hybrid for the first time. A low profile vehicle is not an option given my height and my knee replacement. Wish me luck – and any advice is welcome!

Today I will pack. I have everything ready to fold and put into my suitcases. I made a list to remind me of all I need to pack for a 2 week trip. Fortunately I will be with family so I can do laundry if needed which helps reduce the volume of the clothes I need to bring. (How mundane is this paragraph!)

I send you wishes for a lovely Sunday. Over the next two weeks I will be here intermittently while my daughters work and my grandchildren attend school.

Until then.

Blog

Dread Vs Anticipation – Tranquil Thursday #21

Maggie

A black and white photo of a solitary boat on a lake

You can leave your comments below or write a post of your own and link back here. Pingbacks should be working, or you can drop your link in the comments if you prefer.

“Anticipation and dread aren’t opposites, just different versions of the same game. Both involve knowing that something is going to happen, but not knowing when. And whether you end up winning or losing, you at least get to reach a conclusion. There’s always some comfort in that.”
— Brian K. Vaughn

Do we look forward to something pleasant with anticipation? If so, then does that mean we look toward something unpleasant or unknown with dread? I found the above quote interesting even though I am not sure I am in 100% agreement.

Tomorrow I have another eye injection. I know all the steps involved and it is uncomfortable but not painful. So why do I dread it? I think because of the tedious nature of it all. An hour to the appointment, 2 hours at the doctor’s office then an hour drive back home. After that it is the worry of protecting my eye from any possible infection. Then of course the whole underlying possibility of what this condition can mean to my vision is always in the back of my mind.

On the other hand, Monday I fly to Florida to see my family and my grandchildren. I anticipate the trip with great joy. I know that no matter what transpires, I will enjoy my visit. The outcome is worth all the preparation, the chaos at the airport and the flight.

So it is not the unknown Vs the known, because we can dread things we know well. I wondered if it was some fight or flight response, but it is more the way the brain processes emotions. I had a short discussion with ChatGPT about this and together we constructed this helpful chart in case you are like me and nerd out on such things. This was my first introduction to the habenula.

No questions today. Thoughts about things you look forward to Vs. things you dread are welcome if you care to share them.

 

Blog

What’s Cooking – One Liner Wednesday

Maggie

Image by Deniece Platt from Pixabay

I imagine myself to be an accomplished cook. The truth is I cook very simply. Sal my meals derived from my southern upbringing. Sadly the southern cooking I love so much is not the healthiest, especially in a household where fat and sodium are to be drastically controlled. I scan the internet looking for n ew ways to plan meals that are healthy and also fairly straightforward to cook.

I saw this quote (I could find no attribution) and laughed because it sounds just like me!

”I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and I think,

Well, that’s not going to happen.”

Want to read more one liners? Pop over to Linda Hill’s place and while you’re there, why not join in?

Blog

What We Choose to Remember

Maggie

Image of a child facing a candle, her hands folded as if she is praying.That headline may be a misnomer. I do not know if we choose what we remember or if there is something of intrinsic value to the brain which causes the memory to be retained. Regardless, I know I have forgotten much more than I remember!

My parents were fairly active. My mom was a voracious reader so finding her sitting with a book was not unusual. My dad, however, was never one to sit for long, especially when he was younger. Later, when football and baseball were more available on television, that would change.

For a time we lived with my grandparents in the Valley. There was a very large bedroom upstairs. It had three beds and was still spacious enough to have a chair and a small table by the window. A pole lamp with three lights stood beside the table which provided ample light for reading, writing, or in this case, doing a jigsaw puzzle.

I do not recall my parents ever doing another jigsaw puzzle, but this image of a young girl, hands folded, eyes closed as if praying, is a vivid memory. I went to AI to try and recreate it, but could never match what my mind recalls.

The puzzle was small, I would guess 500 pieces perhaps. I remember watching it progress and then one day it was finished. The image portrayed on the box cover had come to life on that dark wooden table. The finished puzzle stayed on the table for a week or so, then one day it was disassembled and put back in the box. I never saw it again, but I have never forgotten it.

I remember a few things that hung on the wall at both my grandparents’ homes, but not much in our own home. Maybe it is a fondness for the place or the times we spent there that allows us to hold such picture perfect memories.

Do you have an image in your mind from another place and time that stays with you even though you cannot quite remember why? If so, I would love it if you would share your memory with me.

Blog

Monday Missive

Maggie

Banner headline that says “Monday Missive”
Good Monday morning. I am a little late in posting but better late than never.

  1. I am feeling a little under the weather. I started feeling a little low energy yesterday. I was sneezing and coughing a lot. That could be from the pollen and our lack of rain. A nice rain shower will calm the pollen down, but we have no rain in sight.
  2. We are in drought conditions which is always worrisome when you live in a house surrounded by trees. The trees keep it so much cooler, but they need rain. Last year we had a wildfire rather close. It was close enough that we packed the car and were ready to evacuate if necessary. Thankfully, they managed to get the fire under control.
  3. A week from today I will fly to Florida for some much needed time with my family. Hubby will join us for 5 days, then he will head back home.
  4. This Friday I have another eye injection. It is not something I look forward to, but I am so thankful the treatment is available and is working. It takes 24 – 48 hours before I can see well again, so I will be absent here much of the coming weekend.

That’s it for now. Time to make some breakfast and hopefully feel a little better as the day progresses. Have a great week everyone!