Late Start

Been quite some time since I blogged. I missed it so here I am with good intentions.
What a year 2017 was and I am not even talking about politics. Jim was going to retire in the fall and then he didn't. I started creating a retirement nest for us in Arizona. At the beginning of the summer, Memorial Weekend in fact, Jim has a heart attack. He is doing very well these days but we kind of started adjusting timelines.

I am back nesting and he is still working. We started the year by going on a cruise. We were on the Holland America Line Oosterdam on a trip to Mexico. We had a lovely time and were welcomed back to San Diego by a couple of stunning sights. The first was the USS Midway all lit up before the sun rose and the second was a ship heading out of the harbor in the fog.

It was good to go and good to get home. I don't know when I will be here on the blog again. The plan for blogging would include the word soon. Until then take care.

National Park Song

Just had to put this here to keep it handy.

Go find your park!

🌲🌳🐿🍃🐰☀️❤️ 💛 💚 National Parks 💚💛❤️☀️🐰🍃🐿🌳🌲 @NatlParkService pic.twitter.com/l79CvN7BI3

— Joseph Gordon-Levitt (@hitRECordJoe) January 30, 2017

Updates From Last Week

What's on my mind?

I started my new medicine today. It is one of those once a week bone health pills. After taking it with plenty of water you are supposed to stay upright and don't eat or drink anything else for at least 30 minutes.
I did just as I was supposed to. During the time I listened to Rachel Maddow's podcast of the previous evening's show and paced to get the day started with steps. I love the way she presents the news with the right amount of humor, snark and compassion when called for.

Photo of the Day

Just for you all since my post next week will be after Christmas. BTW I painted the ornament many years ago during my tole painting phase. I do miss painting at times. The sad thing is this girl has only so many hours in a day and a head full of too many ideas that will never get done.

Cozy.Etsy.com News

According to the post office the hat I sold arrived safely at its intended destination. I wish more Etsy shoppers would leave reviews. If they did I would know for sure something arrived and not be tempted to commit spam to find out.

Getting Older, POTD, Shop News

What's on my mind?

I had a lovely time getting to know a new doctor this week. The doctor I have seen since I moved to Jackson has left town to start a practice in Bend Oregon. If you live there I can highly recommend Dr. Ellen Meyers MD.

Anyway the new doctor.....
She asked if I wanted a flu shot and I said yes. That pleased her and me. I missed a year once and caught the flu. I never want to be that sick again if it can be avoided. I know the shot doesn't provide perfect protection but so far the years that I got a flu shot I have not gotten the flu.That's good enough for me.

Now about that getting older part of today's title.....
It seems that my bones are thinning. I learned that is it the curse of post menopausal white women and that is exactly what I am. So I will be starting a once a week dose of medicine to improve my bone health. I guess that is better than breaking a hip. I will let you know at my next bone scan, in a year, how this works out over time.

Photo of the Day

Today I am sharing with you one of the beautiful sunsets from our recent Caribbean cruise. This one was just off the coast of Grand Cayman. The sky really was just like this. I have not edited or enhanced this picture in any way. Stunning, isn't it?

News from Cozy.Etsy.com

Great excitement and some worry in the shop this week. I sold a hat to someone on the other side of the country and that is the great excitement part.  Things I mail from here typically go from here to a bit sorting center in Salt Lake City which the package did. Now the worry inducing part. The package left Salt Lake the next day and has been in transit ever since. It should have been delivered on Monday and it is now Wednesday. I know this is a busy time of year for shippers but I am worried.
Let you know more about this next week.

Pearl Harbor, Cozy on Etsy and Photo of the Day

What's on my mind?

A couple years ago we got to spend a few days on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. One of our last days on the island was spent at Pearl Harbor. It seems fitting to remember that visit today.

The wall with all the names on it was very moving. As I stood there among the selfie stick using, grinning tourists I found myself tearing up. In my mind we were visiting a graveyard, a solemn place deserving of quiet and respect.

Maybe for me it is personal. I stood beside a sailor that always came home from the sea during a 20 year career. I am selfishly glad that for us it happened that way.

I learned of a tradition that day. It seems that in Hawaii if you are given a lei it is in poor taste to just throw it away. It is best to pass on the gift. Some put their leis on statues of Hawaiian Kings. Other people bring their leis to Pearl Harbor and put them in the water there. This is the water that to this day still has the shimmer of leaking oil from the ships below and marks the tombs of many that were killed that day. Skip the Shop News if you wish to see a couple more images from that moving visit.

Shop news from Cozy.Etsy.com

Not much new in the shop these days. I get views and favorites most days. I would love to ship something out. It is a thrill each time I get to do that.

The way I see it someone needs a gold scarf to glam up their holiday wardrobe. Don't you think so too?

If you love silver rather than gold I have a solution for that too. All my holiday scarves for winter, gifts, or for yourself are on display in my shop, Cozy.Etsy.com.

Photo of the Day

We ended our visit to Pearl Harbor that day on the decks of the USS Missouri where the treaty was signed that ended the war. The "Mighty Mo" has a place in the harbor that overlooks the Arizona Memorial.

Half Moon Cay by Holland America

What's on my mind?

Keeping today's post simple after being away for the last three Wednesdays. We got to go on a cruise during the time I was away. I will fill out the details of the last three weeks a bit more in coming posts.

One of the stops on our cruise after leaving Ft. Lauderdale on the Nieuw Amsterdam was Half Moon Cay. This is a private island owned by Holland America Cruise Line.

Tenders bring you from your ship to the beach and what a beach it is! Nothing in this world is much prettier that a soft, very soft sand beach and the turquoise Caribbean Sea. The day on the beach includes a barbecue that was fed to all those taking advantage of the beach day.

The picture below is of a cabana on the beach. These are available, for a price of course, with food, snacks, drinks and a butler to take care of you. It was more than we wanted to pay for just two of us but it would be a luxurious way to spend the day. All of them were painted in these bright, tropical colors so I just had to take a picture.

What's new at Cozy.Etsy.com?

The shop is reopened. Remember all my items are ready to ship. No waiting for made to order items from my shop. I would also like to remind you of my selection of dishcloths, perfect to clean your home every day as well as being great hostess gifts during the holiday season.

Photo of the Day

Another cruise photo for you. This is sunset off the coast of Florida on our first night out to sea. It was a lovely way to start the cruise after leaving port in the late afternoon.

Amazon Handmade, Cozy on Etsy, Photo of the Day

What's on my mind?

I have been an Amazon Associate for a long time. For that long time I never really did much about that association. Since Amazon has started their Handmade on Amazon department it seemed like a good time to see if I can start collecting a few commissions for showing off handmade things that I love.

There really are some beautiful things. I did a search for fall decor and found perfect decorations and other items for this time of year. A few examples and then you can go find your own!

Pictures are clickable.Feel free to shop as desired : )

Cozy on Etsy Shop News

Not a lot of shop excitement this week. My coupon has ended. I really hoped that someone, anyone, everyone would take advantage of 20% off.

I did add a new scarf, the one you see here on the right, to the shop. It is a lovely deep purple and the yarn is very light although it has the chunky look that seems to be so trendy these days. I love this scarf and if someone else doesn't take it soon I may pull it and keep it for myself. Don't snooze and loose if you like it.

Photo of the Day

This one is from my first November in Jackson. My granddaughter trying to fit in the Wyoming motto of "Forever West" came to visit in boots and a hat from Salt Lake. She took them off when playing in the grass and leaves. It was a lovely day and a lovely time and this image captures that for me.

I put this image in a pinned tweet for this month. If you are interested you can follow me on Twitter @CozyAtoZ.