Tag: peace

Posted in Random, Sunday Report

Ten years later…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Watching an interview with a 90-something-old Walmart greeter, I snorted when he said, “you should never retire, or you’ll rust”… I’ve read some AARP articles that imply the same sentiment: Don’t relax or you’ll lose your edge.. I completely disagree with these opinions, possibly because I’m not metal and I never had an edge.

What I did lose when I retired 10 years ago was a whole lotta stress and worry. Even nurses who love their jobs feel the strain of their responsibilities, and I did not love my job.

What I did gain when I retired 10 years ago, has been nearly 20 lbs., but more importantly, I have peace of mind (which has obviously made me hungry). As for the rusty part, we take our role as stewards of these acres pretty seriously, and that keeps us well-oiled.

Looking back at these first 10 years of retirement, I’m pleased with how well we adjusted to living together, just the two of us. We had four years of trailer-trippin’ with our dream RV, and another four of gallivanting in Goldie. We’re active in the lives of our grandchildren and present for our children. We’re Disney World Annual Passholders. There’s plenty for Casey to fix around this house. I’ve always been a housecat, and I curl up and read a couple of books a month. I play the piano nearly every day and learn new pieces often. I write a blog weekly. I cook supper dang near every evening. Naptime is 2pm. Maybe I’m being a little defensive?

I have to admit that there are days when I feel absolutely worthless, days when I consider getting a job, but I’ve heard they put you on their schedule and I’d prefer to put them on mine. Then there’s the inevitability that I will have to quit and that is a whole Bad Mood waiting to happen. No, thanks, I’ll keep my Peace of Mind…and my appetite…

Anyway, I’ve been writing a flurry of words this week, and I’m nearly done with a story about my Grandmother’s Family, spanning 1818-1918. Blogging has trained me to keep it short, so it has been a blast to just keep writing for 100 years. The “end” of the tale is too hurried, though, and I need to fill that in. It is a long read, (and getting longer) and I’m thinking I should break it up into chapters. Would you prefer a 20-minute read or four 5-minute reads? For reference, today’s report is a 3-minute read. Let me know what you think.

These are the rather dull lull weeks just before we find ourselves in the Holiday Frenzy. I am starting to plan our Christmas activities, and it seems Samantha’s up for The Nutcracker and Peppermint Pops this year. Anybody out there want to meet me at Handel’s Messiah (Trinity UMC)? We’ll be in NYC for Christmas Day and that’s always a treat.

But right now, the Autumn leaves continue to paint an awesome mosaic of yellow, gold, red, ever changing with the wind. I’m going to corral some up to cover my perennials. I hope this involves the sound of scrunching..

Peace

Posted in Breaking News

I’ve hit the Pause Button…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Thanks for checking in on me!

I’m working on some other projects right now and need to give this chronicle a rest. There’s not much happening anyway, so you’re not missing anything!

In the meantime, check out the monthly archives in the box to the right to read some past reports, or pick a category to peruse special topics.

Be back shortly!

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

No comment

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I don’t know what to say.

I’m working on writing some words about it over on my Rave on, MadWoman blog, but it’s turning into a therapy session. For now, I am hiding. Since 9:30pm Tuesday I’ve neither heard nor read any news, with the exception of a a tear-filled conversation with my daughter on Wednesday morning. I went through and cut off “friends” I had spent the last months “talking” with over on Threads and Youtube. I’m so mad at myself for getting so emotionally involved, for caring at all!, but all I can do is stop it. I still wake up every morning sick at my stomach, bewildered, grieving. I wish I had some sage advice or comfort, but you could try doing what I do in the face of fear: Hide. Yes, Avoidance R me…

Thanks to my mother’s extreme moods, and the constant loud fighting of both parents, I developed the skill of dissociation at an early age, retreating into my own mind and literally hiding from the Noise in my closet or even under my bed. I don’t have to physically hide anymore, but I “hide” from my thoughts — I have re-organized all of my kitchen drawers, as if it it matters. I’ve read two books and a couple of magazines, and that new Reba show, Happy’s Place, is pleasantly distracting. I’m learning Handel’s Water Music in its entirety. Did I tell you I pulled my old stereo down from the attic, dragged out my extensive CD collection, and started listening in alphabetical order? I’m to Queen now…

I wish there were something more I could do…

Samantha and I were out at the Mall on Friday evening and I discovered that Build-a-Bears can cost a lot less than some of the other crap she likes, and they’re more fun, too.

I was talking to Samantha about the days when our phone stayed home, and if someone called us while were out, we’d Never Know… She was appalled. I asked her if she’d ever heard of a busy signal. Noo… I explained that if someone called Me while my sister was on the phone, they would hear a busy signal and we had No Way of knowing that someone had even called!!! I took her through a timeline of voice mail machines and bulky car phones with giant magnetic antennas. That’s about as far as I got before we arrived at the Donut Bank, but it got me to thinking about how nice it was when you could walk away from your phone., when TV wasn’t 24/7, and there weren’t computers to overwhelm us with sketchy information. I want my Peace Back.

Casey will turn 70 on November 30 and we’ve planned to celebrate in Gatlinburg, TN. We’ve been there for several holidays, but it’s been awhile, so we are very excited to see an attraction that is new to us: Anakeesta, a theme park at the top of a mountain, with zip-lines, mountain coasters, treetop walks, and lots of bars, restaurants, and shopping.

We planned to be there on his birthday-day, but since that would really make for a hectic thanksgiving holiday, we’re grabbing some clear weather and driving tomorrow. It’s about an 8-hour drive, and the weather forecast is sunny, highs in the 60s. Casey is as bummed as I am, so we’re pumped for a road trip.

Stay strong.

Peace

Posted in New Year Day Special Edition

Happy New Year

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

2023 gave us such a rough ending, so we are grateful to turn the page and move on. The Jubilee year wasn’t much of a Jubilee, actually. Seems like everybody jumped on the bandwagon and turned 70 in uniquely fun ways, both intimidating and inspiring. I learned so many lessons last year, a surprise since I thought I’d just about figured it all out, but from my current perspective, there’s still so much more. So, Welcome 2024, a fresh slate, a blank page, full of possibilities…

I hope to blog more on this blog in 2024. I have been keeping busy editing and researching my family tree over at All My Ancestors, neglecting this little community. I truly appreciate those of you who read my words and continue to follow me, though the posts are sporadic. . Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. 

My “motto” for 2024 comes from Rabbi A.J. Heschel: 

Just To Be is a blessing.

Just to Live is holy.

This Moment is the marvel.

May we All Live this Marvelous Moment in Peace.

Posted in Jubilee, Sunday Report

Storms and Sunshine

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

We seem to be alternating between fierce winds and drenching rains to breezes and sunshine as we transition to Spring — nothing new in this neighborhood. Lots of trees are down and small limbs and branches are littering the grounds, so the weather has let up to allow us to clean up before the next wave arrives.

I have to fight the urge to go out and start planting, or at least start seeds inside, but we could easily have freeze and snow until middle of May… To bide my time, I’m cleaning up the back porch and garden shed, always a treat and much preferable to cleaning the house.

I’m planning a trip over to Southern Illinois tomorrow, predicted to be a beautiful day. My Carmi friends have a new garden plot and I’m excited to see it and dream up a design. I’m sure I’ll be inspired and come home with ideas for my own scheme.

The Orchid Show is still going on over at the Zoo and that’s on my agenda, as well. Have you visited it yet?– it would be a great retreat on a rainy day.

In the meantime, the mundane tasks of reading, writing, and making music are keeping me company, but I’d love to meet up for lunch. Anyone?

Pulling on my boots and headed outside! Hope the sun is shining where you are!

Peace

Posted in The Gardens of Sonnystone...

Retreat

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It’s Day 3 of my News Block. I feel exactly like I did on election day 2016 — sick to my stomach and afraid. I cannot allow myself to be emotionally manipulated by media, both social and otherwise. I have put up the Forcefields to block the anger from entering into my Peace. I am struggling to Be Here Now, in The Present with The Presence.

I’m so glad I have my gardens and my grove where I can throw myself into the trimming, the harvesting, or the contemplation of birdsongs or the purpose of creepy-crawlies. There have been a lot of bees around, a good reason to rejoice, and I’m feasting on homegrown tomatoes and peppers. Gratitude abounds here in the Present Moment…

Edible Garden

Coneflowers in the Peace/Bird Garden

I’m calling this Shady Grove now; an excellent spot for Contemplation.

Casey’s been staying busy remodeling Goldie’s interior, my design, of course, and she’s beckoning us to take a trip off-grid…

I hope that you will take the time to clear your mind of the “slime from your video” (Frank Zappa) and your timeline. Come back to the Present and receive the power you need to go forward in Love and

Peace

Posted in Christmas 2021, Christmas at Sonnystone 2017

Boxing Day

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

It’s the Second Day of Christmas and I’m expecting the delivery of my turtledoves anytime now. Boxing Day in the UK was originally about opening the alms boxes to give to the poor, but has devolved into a shopping day. It’s also St. Stephen’s Day in the Catholic church, the day that Good King Wenceslas looked out where the snow lay round about…

Last Monday was the anniversary of my daughter’s birth and we were in NYC to celebrate. After luncheon at The Community, we proceeded to the movie theatre to see “West Side Story”. (We Loved it, we cried, we marveled…you really should see it.) Then we trooped back to the apartment to sing and blow out candles; I’m Sure her wishes can come true.

We had a super time on Christmas Eve with the Jrs. After a good meal replete with mashed potatoes and gravy, we opened presents. Then it was off to the movie theatre to see “Encanto” which was encanting…(insert punny emoji)

We called the grandies on Christmas morning; beyond that it was just us, two old kids, exchanging presents, drifting through the day, content with grazing the leftovers, amicably sharing. The Day was balmy, so we walked through the woods, planning a pruning spree next month; walked around the gardens discussing plans for the 2022 upgrades; walked down to the campfire circle and envisioned a wall of forsythia between us and the neighbors’ pond… I hope your Christmas was just as heartwarming as ours…

We may or may not have visitors from Manhattan this week, depending on Covid testing. I think Emma may have gotten caught in the blizzard out there…

Peace

Posted in Sunday Report

The Final Sunday Report

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

Last week I spent some time staring at the campfire and contemplating. Something inside me kept saying “I’m done” in a loop. I’d been feeling my age lately and this year’s Camp Sonnystone really brought it home as I cope with my grandies growing up in what seems the blink of an eye. But there’s no reason to think that I’m done, not at all; with so many good times to look forward to and our health still strong, I couldn’t justify that sort of morbid thinking. So I examined it more closely, listened more intently.

This blog means so much to me; it is the Chronicle of my Life. Including the defunct blog, for the last 16 years it has witnessed the birth of all my grandchildren and my evolution as a JoJo. Through two organist jobs, two nursing jobs, Christmases, Birthdays, Camps, and plenty of Disney Trips we’ve watched the grandies grow. But there were also lots of topics; I did interviews, reviewed every “Best Motion Picture” Oscar winner, went through my CD collection with comments, occasionally talked politics, often talked about Peace. There were some deaths, as well: Aunts Thelma, Almeda, and Shirley; Uncle Jr; my friends, NuNu, Lois, Chuck, and Beaver. I’ve taken you on lots of trips with us, kept you apprised of what’s growing in the garden, what birds are at the feeder, and sometimes just blathered.

Even though I upgraded my WP account, I have now very nearly filled up all the allotted media space for Sonnystone and for the garden blog, Growing Every Season, which I started around the same time. At first I thought I would do a whole lot of work to download and delete old posts, but I kept putting it off. The next upgrade costs quite a bit more money and is more for a monetized blog. I believe the voice that was saying “I’m done” meant that I’m done with this particular blog and the obligation that I feel to keep it going.

To give The News a proper send-off, I compiled a video of photos. In order to not make it an hour long, I concentrated on just the people, then had to pare it down more to mostly grandies growing up. The music that I chose is poignant; Over the Rainbow and Wonderful World by Iz, the wonderful Hawaiian artist. He speaks in one part, almost unintelligible, but he’s using two Hawaiian words: “kuleana” has multiple meanings, including “land divisions”, but represents your space or spirit; “pono” which means “to make correct” or “to make good”. So what he means is that kuleana pono is an “automatic plan”, that if you make your space, your spirit good, “stuff” is just waiting to come to you, waiting until you are ready.

It makes me kind of anxious to think of not blogging every week, so I remind myself that I’ll still be keeping up the ancestry blog, and our trips will still be recorded over at the travel blog. The fact is I need to let go and open my mind up to new things, especially regarding my writing. By letting go, I will open up my spirit for some of that “stuff” that has just been waiting until I’m ready.

Thank-you for following along with me. I have truly enjoyed your company. Now I’m taking one long look back, then turning out the light, closing the door behind me.

Peace

Posted in Camp Sonnystone 2021

Sunday Report 8-8-2021

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

There is nowhere else I’d rather be than with my grandkids, so the last two weeks have been heaven. As usual, Camp Sonnystone 2021 was a rousing success. Our Word was Believe, and our Theme was Rainbows. We ate well, swam a lot, painted, made suncatchers, sang, danced, laughed and had a few tears just to keep it real. My daughter has been making regular posts to FB, but for my WP followers, here’s a few pictures.

I’m just beginning to work on a video and hope to share that with you next week.

Peace

Posted in 2020, Spring at Sonnystone, Weekly Wrap-Up

Another week? Seems longer…

Posted on by Jo Mayne Casey

I’m such a loner.  The “isolation” of this virus hasn’t bothered me a bit.  We Garden at this time of year, starting seeds and breaking up new ground for planting, and that’s just what I’ve been doing.  Other than wearing mask and gloves when I grocery shop at 7am, not much has changed around here.  I sort-of started Spring Cleaning, kind of, which is totally normal for me.  What has bothered me is how Time is Warped right now… Every week seems like a year and the days lumber along slowly — what day is it, again?

I know that many of you are concerned about my daughter.  She and her family are doing well, thank-you.  If you are friends with her on facebook you can see for yourself.  We stay in touch and there’s not much else that can be done right now.  In order to keep a handle on my anxiety, I stop and Practice the Presence more often and that’s a Good Thing.

We had some storms fly through last night and tornadoes touched down about 10 miles from here, both sides of the river, just adding to the Stress on our First Responders.  With All my Heart and Soul, I am sending Love and Strength their way.  The clean-up efforts will only compound the hazard of spreading the virus.  Please stay safe if you are inclined to help, and Bless you for it.

This week I’m starting a series of posts about the “genealogy” of our house and grounds, aka Sonnystone Acres.  We continue to garden and I post at Growing Every Season on Thursdays.  I’ll try to be friendlier over at the facebook, but you can always call or text or email, as well.

Peace