*Terra Garden*

I am 80 now and was very adventurous in my younger years. I did some things that were dangerous, traveling in the Israel and Jordan desert, not on a tour. My friend from college Carol and I traveled on a shoestring budget and had many adventures including spending the night in a desert police fort near Petra. The police were Bedouin and invited us to stay the night in a guard tower, they were great gentlemen. We visited the U.S. consulate and they said it was dangerous for two young girls age 20 to roam the desert not in a tour. More in another post. 

Yes, I fell in love with the Louvre and the beauties and history it contains. Before my senior year in college I spent two months in the summer in Paris on my own, on a strict budget, mainly soaking up the art and architecture of the city. Later my husband and I spent four months there, two in spring and two in December and January. I saw an excellent documentary on the Louvre today and counted up my visits. Thirty in all. Netsukes captivated me, tiny sculptures the size to hold in the palm of your hand. Many sadly were made of ivory.

My most visited areas were the classic Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace, the paintings, the Egyptian treasures and I had a special fondness for the Netsukes, the tiny sculptures you can hold in your hand. After the summer in Paris I completed my major in Art History. 

Below is a beautiful Egyptian art work. I am not sure if it is in the Louvre but they have an extensive Egyptian collection.

 My frequent often daily visits were noted by an older guard who stood near exhibits and he started saying Bonjour to me. That was quite a friendly treat. 

In addition to the Louvre a favorite visit was to the old house that had been the studio of Rodin. His sculptures were everywhere, in the studio and out. Another museum I visited several times held the Monet pond and water lily paintings. They were displayed in an oval room in the Jeu de Paumes and went all around the room so it felt like you were surrounded by beauty on all sides, all around. 

What are your favorite museums? 

 Have you missed me friends? I had a nasty fall in front of my house on the sidewalk. I hit my forehead and broke a bone in my hand. My face was all bruised and is looking better today. So I will keep this post short.

My hand and the splint.

Here is a reminder to put out a shallow dish of water in hot weather for the little critters who are thirsty and can't reach the bird bath. Stay cool.

 Happy Birthday to America. May God continue to bless and guide us.

The photos above and below are of my neighbor's large flag on a pole. The cross is on my living room wall, made by veterans in the USA.

 I hope all my friends around the world in many lands are having a wonderful July 4 too. I appreciate knowing all of you blog friends. 

 Short post.

 Sleep like a baby? Cats have it figured out.

I enjoy seeking out memoirs and journals written by people about my age. Or older! I found this captivating book, "At 82: A Journal" by May Sarton. Wow. I could not stop reading it and only reluctantly put it down to do other things. 

 I learned about how she is aging, which is helpful for me to know. My slowing down is not just me! She celebrates the little things like her adored cat Pierrot, flowers in bloom, her old house in Maine which she has rented for many years, visits from friends and publications of her books. Actually these are Big things.

She is 82 and recovered from a big stroke she had 12 years earlier at age 70. The year before she began this journal she had two small strokes and a TIA when in London. It is desperately hard for her to go ahead with her writing but she does. 

I have not read her poetry, but this journal is perfection. I sort of fell in love with her. She is often depressed because her poetry, while beloved by readers, does not get the awards she feels she deserves. Like me she needs quiet time alone, naps and cheerful visits with friends. 

She mentions her writing colleague and friend, Doris Grumbach, who lives near her in Maine. Sarton praises Grumbach so I bought and am reading now "Coming Into the End Zone" by Doris, written when she was 70. 

 Hi Friends, 

Here are some fun things I found online to share. Have you tried this new diet?

My birthday was a few days ago and here are birthday flowers from my sons in photo below. The white lilies are sensational and have a subtle scent.

 My adult sons sometimes surprise me with bouquets, "just because". One from each son.

Cute cat with a full belly sand sculpture.

Psalm 119:34 "Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end." Psalm 119:33 KJV Today at the group of Christian friends I organize once a month, this is the Psalm I read, We meet at a coffee shop and each picks a Scripture to share. I like the idea of "teach me", when I read the Bible I am open to learn.

Here is a photo of a Bedouin I took at a camel race in the desert near Jericho 60 years ago. I did not realize how foolish it was to travel with my friend Carol, in the desert to wild places on our own. The American Embassy discouraged us, but did not forbid us. It was exciting and great fun at the time. War broke out a few months later. 

This week plumbers came on Monday to give me a bid to replace my 12 year old water heater, and they will come back on Tuesday to do the work. They will also check and clean the garden sump pump which is about  5 years old. My garden has a sump pump and French drains which work great to push rain water to the street gutter. They gave me a $200 senior discount so the sump pump servicing is sort of free. Next project is to replace one of my gas wall heaters which is 40 years old. For home repairs and improvements I usually get 3 bids. So far I got two, one is $1,000 more than the other. We will see what bid 3 will be.  

 

Many countries are pushing against free speech for their citizens. Indeed some EU governments are pushing against free speech by citizens in OTHER countries. They are aiming to stop Americans from freedom of speech, even though it is legal and protected in America. The UK has arrested far more of its citizens for speech than Russia in the past 12 months. As famous minds have said, no one who wants to censor freedom of thought and speech has ever been on the right side of history.

And here is a funny about President Abraham Lincoln and his iPhone and photoshopped.