Falling Leaves and Signs of Spring?

No, this is not Autumn, it's early Spring in South Texas.  The live oak

trees begin shedding their leaves, quickly to be replaced by new ones.  In

the meantime, it's raining leaves.  Y'all know what I will be doing for the

next week or so.

Last Fall I cut back my potted Hibiscus.  A couple of weeks ago I noticed

tiny buds of green showing.  Those buds are quickly becoming large leaves.

Spring is on it's way!

Thank you for all of your kind moments about Bentley's senior moments.

He is back to his usual self, following me around, cuddling whenever he

can get me to sit still for a minute, and enjoying life.  When Bentley is

happy, his mama is happy too.

Sparkle and Shine and Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Bentley and His Senior Moments

First of all, I want to wish y'all a belated Happy Valentine's Day.  I have

come to know and love each of you who visit me, and I want you to

know how very dear your friendship has become.

I had planned a Valentine's Day post for yesterday, but didn't have the

time to post because I was busy with Bentley.  He is just about a couple

of months beyond age 13 now, and his age is beginning to show.  Most of

the time he is fine and manages with his blindness.  He eats well, and

loves his walks.  He doesn't seem to have any arthritic issues and is

generally quite healthy.  That being said, he has his occasional days

where he seems a bit confused and hyperactive.  He gets restless and

can't seems to sit still.  Yesterday was one of those days.  We spent

quite a bit of time outside in the yard because the weather was so

mild.  That seems to help him work off some excess energy.  He

spent time exploring and barking when he could hear the squirrels

running up and down the trees.  

I try to spend as much time with him as I can on these days.

I reassure him that I am close and he is safe and fine.  This does

seem to help.  He settled down in the late afternoon and took

a nap.  He seemed more like himself when his Daddy came home,

and they had their usual long greeting session together.

Today he seems fine.  In the past, the days when he is restless

are followed by many normal days.  Y'all know how very much 

I love this little peanut, and that he always comes first.   

I hope each of you had a special day with the ones you love.

I did with mine.

Sparkle and Shine and Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Protecting My Heart Against Disease

This Valentine's Day week, I am reminded to take care of

my heart.  Some families suffer from cancer, mine suffers

from heart disease from both sides.  My maternal grandmother

died in her 60's from a heart attack.  My paternal grandfather

suffered from congestive heart failure for years until he

died from a heart attack at age 75.  My own Daddy had a

massive heart attack at age 51.  My Aunt had faulty heart

valves which required open heart surgery in her 80's.

My Mom suffered from congestive heart failure in her later

years.  

None of these family members looked or acted like heart

attack candidates.  All were thin, and all were quite 

physically active.  No couch potatoes here.  None of them

were heavy drinkers.  Both my Mom and my Aunt were

mindful of what they ate.  My paternal grandfather and my

Daddy ate way too many sweets.  Neither had high blood

sugar, but I don't think that anyone realized how dangerous

sugar really is, even if it does not show up as diabetes in

blood testing.  

I have reached a stage in my life where I need to be

careful and not eat anything I want, not because of 

vanity, but for underlying reasons.  I'm very tiny.  I

weigh 95 pounds and eat pretty much what I want on

a daily basis.  That's both a blessing and a curse.  

So, to keep my heart beating away for years to come,

I am treating it with love.  More fish and less beef.  My

dear hubby will either have to learn to like fish or, eat

something else on the nights I eat it.  I am cutting way

back on coffee.  I typically drink two big mugs per day

with lots of cream.  I won't go quite cold turkey, but

will ease back to one mug and no cream.  Essentially

I will be eating my oatmeal, berries, fish and veggies.

Cheese burgers will be a once every so often treat.

I am good about working out, but I tend to run on 

nervous energy and need to slow way down.  Therefore,

I will be adding a few minutes of yoga per day.

There are lots of things I want to do, and the last thing

I want is to have my life cut short.  Let's all remember to

take good care of the heart that beats daily for each of us.

Sparkle and Shine and Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Happy Chinese New Year!

Actually, it was yesterday, but we did celebrate at home.  This is the 

year of the Pig.

We celebrated with Thai food for dinner.   What can I say, this is a small

town ;-)

Sparkle and Shine and Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Wow ~ What a Mess!

I thought I needed more aluminum foil until I went to clean out the deep

drawer in the kitchen where all the baggies, foil and parchment paper live.

I was inspired to do this by fellow Instagrammer, Tikka.  She straightened

her's out last night and reminded me to go do mine too.

Not only do I not need aluminum foil, but I don't need parchment paper

or baggies either.  When I pulled everything out of that messy drawer,

I completely amazed myself.

This is a really big storage bag.  I have a roll of them from my sister-in-law

who has a friend who gives them out every year.  Great message!

I have to get back to work now.  See y'all soon!

Sparkle and Shine and Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley