We are Invaluable

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value yourself

“I have always said that if you undervalue what you do,                                       the world undervalues who you are.             
And when you undervalue who you are,                                                            the world undervalues what you do.
My experience is that women are, unfortunately, masters at both.”
― Suze Orman

 

“Strong people have a strong sense of self-worth and self-awareness; they don’t need the approval of others.”
― Roy T. Bennett

 

“I will not be “famous,” “great.” I will go on adventuring, changing, opening my mind and my eyes, refusing to be stamped and stereotyped. The thing is to free one’s self: to let it find its dimensions, not be impeded.” – Virginia Wolf

Lunch on St. Johns River

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Barbara Lee, day trip, double rainbow, river cruises, Sanford Florida, St. Johns River, steamboats and sternwheels

“May what I do flow from me like a river, no forcing and no holding back, the way it is with children.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

Inspired by the visit to DeBary Hall, and learning about his steamboat trips along St. Johns River, Michael and I decided to take a river cruise.

St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida and it is the only one, of very few in the world, that flows south to north.

We chose a 3-hour lunch cruise on the Barbara Lee. The Barbara Lee was built in 1986 and refurbished in 2012. 

We boarded at 11am.  We were seated by the window on the first level. We were served pecan buns as soon as we sat down.  They were delicious. 

After giving our waitress our lunch orders we went outside to take in the views.  It was a gorgeous day. We sat outside for awhile I enjoyed a mimosa.

We returned inside around 12:30pm for lunch. Michael, and it seemed like everyone else, ordered the salmon.  I was between the chicken parmigiana and the prime rib.  In the end I, regretfully, ordered the prime rib.

The meat looked awful. I took a tiny bite and even though it was not so bad,  I couldn’t get past the look of it.  I ate the mashed potatoes, green beans and the bread rolls with butter. For dessert there was red velvet cake. We enjoyed that very much.

There was also an entertainer singing some oldies, but goodies, such as Frank Sinatra’s songs. I really enjoyed that.

I highly recommend this boat trip for a fun day.  Just don’t order the meat.  They also have dinner cruises and other theme nights.  

Afterwards we walked around downtown Sanford, which is a great little town.

 

“Have you also learned that secret from the river; that there is no such thing as time?” That the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past nor the shadow of the future.” ― Hermann Hesse

Gullible much?

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a duck on a lake, beautiful nature, being gullible and naïve, ponds and lakes, too trusting

“Fame is proof that people are gullible.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I first starting going on my bike rides in the morning and my walks in the evening, I kept noticing this beautiful duck in this little pond.

I noticed that he was always in the same spot and always alone.  I felt sorry for him, as he seemed lonely.  

Then, a few days into my walks, Michael decided to walk with me.  I pointed out the duck to him. 

He said: “It is fake”.

All of a sudden it made complete sense.  I felt so dumb.  Why didn’t I realize that before?  It never moved. It looked so perfect.

Oh well! Now the question is: Why is there a fake duck in the pond?

“I am extremely gullible when I lie to myself.” ― Michael Ian Black, You’re Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death, and Other Humiliations

 

Love is togetherness, but is also independence.

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independence, Khalil Gibran, love, The Prophet, togetherness, writings

This is one of my favorite excerpts from The Prophet:

“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.”

― Khalil Gibran

A visit to DeBary Hall in DeBary, Florida

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Debary Florida, DeBary Hall Historic State, history, hunting lodge, steamboats St. Johns River, vintage

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.”
― Winston S. Churchill

On Sunday we visited the DeBary Hall in DeBary, Florida. It was a guided tour, so we learned a lot about this beautiful house and its owner.  It was so interesting!

Frederick DeBary was originally from Germany and came to NY to represent Mumms champagne.  He became very successful and made a fortune.  On a trip to Florida, via steamboat on the St. John’s River, he fell in love with the area and decided to buy land and build a hunting lodge.  

DeBary Hall was built in 1871.  It was a hunting lodge to host his family and friends from NY, in the summer.  He entertained some of the wealthiest and most prominent people of the time, including presidents.

It had all the newest and best amenities at the time.  He spared no expenses to provide his family and guests with the best of everything.  He even imported the birds to be hunted.  They ate all that was hunted.

There is a lot more interesting information about the house, property and its owner, but I am keeping with my resolve of posting more, so I am stopping here. 

As usual I didn’t take many pictures. I was enamored with this gorgeous house and didn’t want to miss any of the guide’s explanations.

As a lover of bread I had to take a picture of the toaster. I also took a picture of his grandson’s letter to his son Adolphe.

A Spiritual Sunday in April

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Alan Kardec, Cassadaga Spiritual Center, Colby Temple, Lake Helen Florida, mediums and healers, positive energy, psychics, Spiritism

“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.” ― Albert Einstein

Last Sunday we went to church services at the Colby Temple at the Cassadaga Spiritual Community in Lake Helen, Florida.  The service was about one and a half hours, and it went by very fast. 

There was a sermon by Rev. Dr. Louis Gates, the singing of hymns, a healing prayer – there were healers available in the back of the church, so people could sit with them and get a dedicated healer’s energy. 

There was also a guest speaker: Jeremy McDonald.  His talk was also short, but interesting and inspirational, about energy and transformation. 

After the service we sat outside by the lake while waiting for the Afternoon Message service.  During this service the mediums, healers and students go around the room and give messages to people in the audience. 

Michael received a message from a medium. I thought it was on point.  I got a message from one of the students. She got everything wrong.  I am still a believer.  I know that not everyone that proclaims to be a medium is one.  Also, she was a student, so perhaps she needs to refine her gift. 

At the end of the day we enjoyed our time there.  We went home with a positive energy.

“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It’s just that the translations have gone wrong.” ― John Lennon

“The material world is simply an expression of the mind; that’s what so many fail to see. We’re so dependent on what is before us that we discount our intuition. Yet if one dismisses instinct, how can one understand or believe in a world that exists beyond one’s sight?” ― Megan Chance, The Spiritualist

Out and about

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cava wine, churrasco, De La Vega Restaurant, Deland Florida, frames and vases, Goodwill stores

“Women usually love what they buy, yet hate two-thirds of what is in their closets.” ― Mignon McLaughlin

Last Saturday – April 6, 2024

We went to a Goodwill store.  I wanted to get some old frames for me to use for my mosaics.  I hadn’t been to a Goodwill store in ages.

I was pleasantly surprised.  This store was so big and there was so many items.  And so many people too!

I saw some brand new shoes, and some beautiful clothing that looked to be in great shape. I am sure if someone takes the time to go around the store, there are a lot treasures to be found.

I reminded myself that I don’t need or want any additional clothing and shoes, even if it is a bargain.  I don’t like shopping anyway, so I normally just want to run out after grabbing what I went it for. I left with 6 frames and 1 vase for $33. 

The only problem I have with such stores is the smell. The moment I walked in, the smell of old hit me.  After a few minutes I got used to it.

After that, we went to Deland, Florida.  After walking around downtown, we decided to stop for a late lunch at De La Vega Restaurant.

I love tapas, so that was an easy choice for me. But in the end, I didn’t choose tapas (small plates).  I chose to order the Churrasco.   

It was a plate with sirloin steak with chimichurri sauce, with sausage with cheese yucca fries and pico de gallo.  It was delicious!! To drink I had cava.  Michael had vegetarian enchiladas and also thought it was delicious.  Michael drank water.

Churrasco

Afterwards we stopped by Deland Fish House Restaurant to get coconut cake for dessert.  We were going to eat there originally, so I had looked at the menu and spotted the coconut cake on the menu.  Remember, I love coconut and I love cake, so that is a winning combination!

The cake was good, but not something I would go out of my way to get it.  Well, I wouldn’t say no if you offered me some right now 🙂

“One can hardly do anything productive when one knows there is cake in the fridge.” ― Joyce Rachelle

Stop Worrying

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be happy, don't worry, let go and let God, no stress, Stop worrying, yesterday is gone

“Worry pretends to be necessary, but serves no useful purpose.” ― Eckhart Tolle

Stop worrying and struggling.  Do the best you can with the tools you have.

Worrying about things that you have no control of,  just makes you anxious and depressed.

Worrying robs you of the joy of the present moment. 

At times I have spent too much time worrying, only for the problem to resolve itself later, without my interference.

Do the best you can and what you can, and then let God/Superior Power/Universe/Nature (whatever you believe in) take care of the rest.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” – Mother Theresa

 

Fully Absorb Life

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change and transform, lessons and experiences, live fully, read and absorb, Roy T. Bennett

“Don’t Just

Don’t just learn, experience.
Don’t just read, absorb.
Don’t just change, transform.
Don’t just relate, advocate.
Don’t just promise, prove.
Don’t just criticize, encourage.
Don’t just think, ponder.
Don’t just take, give.
Don’t just see, feel.
Don’t just dream, do.
Don’t just hear, listen.
Don’t just talk, act.
Don’t just tell, show.
Don’t just exist, live.”

― Roy T. Bennett

Birthdays… who needs them?

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birthday dinner, doing nothing, future trips, having fun, it's my birthday

“There is still no cure for the common birthday.”
― John Glenn

Last month, in the midst of finishing an audit, tax returns and other work deadlines, I turned 58 years old.

58 is just such a foreign number to me.  I don’t feel it at all.  Perhaps it is denial.  

My twin sister and I celebrated by going to dinner at Sergio’s, our favorite Italian restaurant. We went with Michael and our cousin.  It was fun, we had delicious food and talked about a trip that we plan to take together in the summer.

Birthdays have a special way of reminding us that this one life is finite.  Our days here are numbered and we owe it to ourselves to make the most of all our days.  That is my plan.

I don’t always succeed.  Some days feel wasted.  I am one of those people that want to see results, that feels that I need to be always productive.  But life is not about results, it is about “ing”, the doing, the living, the trying. And that could be just ‘nothing”.

On those days that feel wasted, I look back, and I see the details.  I look at the nothingness of the day and I see the immensity of it. And I am grateful.

Life is in those little details. Life is the experiences, but also the down time. Yes, it is just as it sounds:  I am justifying and giving permission for me to do nothing 🙂

“I have a peculiar capacity for doing nothing and yet enjoying myself.”
― Elizabeth von Arnim, The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rügen