I Keep Going and Going and Going, Just Not Driving

 Yesterday, my Sweetie drove me to the driver's license office to submit the properly completed form saying my optometrist examined me and found that my vision was 20/40, as required by law as to the minimum visual acuity to renew my license for another six months,  It would have been nice if she could have added that I was, "Of sound mind and body" but that would have been pushing it (a lot, according to Sweetie).

The good news is that I can see fairly well most days, but I never know when it will change, often abruptly, making me a danger on the highway.  So I don't drive, even if I think I could.  

Actually, I'm sort of getting used to it.  And except for the few times I would like to drive somewhere, I dare not risk it.  I certainly don't want to hurt anyone or damage someone's property.  Besides, it's more of a nuisance to my Sweetie than to me.

The reason I keep posting about my vision is to remind everyone to check their vision at least once each year, even more often if they are getting older.  Blindness is terrible, but so are the many levels of 'Vision Loss,' especially if it could have been prevented by regular check-ups.

Colder'n a Well-Digger's .....uh....Shovel

 Yes... Winter has reached South Louisiana again.  The 'Predictataters' toss out numbers like 14° 15° 16° as lows sometime during the next four or five days.  I don't do 14° very well.  In fact, I don't even have clothes that would allow me to go into that kind of weather.  And the old saying, "Dress in Layers" does not apply to someone who only has a closet full of T-shirts and shorts.  

The only alternative is 'Hibernation.'  I can do that.  

I've determined that our weather is on a 7-year cycle.  This is the same kind of weather we had seven years ago when we moved into our new house.  

Meanwhile, I'll see y'all when it warms back up to 70°.

We Had a Christmas Party

Once again Christmas was upon us and there were no parties planned for our community.  So we had one and invited the Driveway Group.  Yes, the same ones who occasionally gather at Happy Place to cook hamburgers.  

It's the Christmas season, so a few were going to be out of town.  Even so, we managed to gather sixteen who excitedly said, "YES!" to the invite.  Sixteen was about all we could handle so it didnt' get overly crowded.

I took the opportunity to welcome new neighbors to Terra Mariae with a Cathedral Birdhouse.

I didn't take a lot of photos but it appeared that everyone ate well and had a good time.

 

Our First 'Below Freezing' Morning of the Season

 It was 30° this morning, a definite confirmation that winter is just around the corner.  But it will climb to 67° making for a nice day. 

It will be short-lived, as tomorrow morning is predicted to be about 10° warmer, climbing into the mid 70°s.

At least we're not suffering from a blizzard that lasts until next Spring.

It's Starting to Feel Like Winter is Not Far Away

 The forecast is to expect a 33° morning this week.  33° is close enough to call it Winter.

Now, if we could get some rain, we would be pleased.

Clear Sky in the Early Morning

 When we lived in Houston, it was a rare night when the stars could be seen through the haze.  Even then, the few we did see were our own neighboring planets, mostly Venus, and even it was 'fuzzy' due to my poor vision.. 

Jump forward to our move from Houston to Covington, Louisiana.  We found ourselves living 'out in the country.'  The air smelled different - better and cleaner.

Our first night in our new home was glorious.  Everything was new and fresh, including the air and the sky.  The Sky!!!  Excitedly, I looked up.  I could see hundreds of stars.  I could make out a 'dipper.'  And that one may have been Mars.  I was so excited that the first thing I wanted to order was a telescope - a good one that I could dial in a planet or a galaxy far away.  I could attach my camera to take photos.  I was creating a totally new and exciting hobby.

The next evening I once again looked anxiously into the night sky and ... nothing.  I couldn't even see Venus.  Everything was marked by some kind of haze and it was bathed in the glowing light from downtown Covington, 4.2 miles away.   

I decided to wait to make sure I could see the sky before I wasted money on a telescope.

About that same time, my only good eye began to give me problems.

Over six years later I've not once seen the beautiful night sky I saw on our first night here.

Until 5:00 AM this morning.  As I looked up into the clearest sky in years, I could see hundreds, maybe thousands of stars.  Although I was alone I heard myself say, "Oh WOW!."  Then again, and again as I moved along the sidewalk.  It was beautiful.

I decided right then and there that I didn't need perfect vision or a telescope after all.  I saw what I really wanted to see - a magnificent night sky - a treasure for those who just take the time to look up into the night sky.

My Sweetie's Birthday

Every year about this time my Sweetie decides to have another birthday.  I've been around for fifty of them.  We're going to lunch with Joyce and Allen at an Italian restaurant, then back here for birthday cake.  Happy Birthday Sweetie.