around #Yuma, #Colorado & the Nation

Yuma Family Dental

…for #sol18. Today (not over yet) has been a long one that included a trip to the dentist for the next stage following last year's multiple molar extractions: two fillings and a mold taken for an upper bridge. Next, good-bye top incisors, especially the big crooked, snaggled one, attached memories not withstanding. After that, hello bridge.

at home this evening, webcam selfie

By spring, I'll be willing to smile for a camera, participate visibly in a +Virtually Connecting Hangout, raise my hand to +Bryan Alexander for #FTTE Forum podium time.

Life at 🏠 in #YumaCO 🚜 & online 💻 #sol18 ☀️

…too cute but I'm going with it anyway. Changing the blog header image for something less green, I renamed the blog (reflections) as well and added a brief description, "…on life at home, in my head, and online."

View from my backdoor yesterday, January 22, 2017

Naming the blog "Vanessa Crary Vaile" seemed like a good idea at the time -- signaling personal identity and transparency --but grated on me over time. It did not display well on social media shares either and made me feel as though I were wearing an over sized name tag or even a placard hung around my neck. I still like the idea behind that naming -- even more when discreetly downsized to a note on the sidebar. 

This morning I'm reflecting on blog keeping (not the same as blogging), winter in at the Manor, being a guerrilla educationist, retirement, health, weather, snow, aging, life in senior public housing, rural development, and local community involvement. All fit somewhere in home, head or online. Depending on what emerges in ramblings (aka free writing as rough draft), I'll narrow it down for the final draft. I already started with home. Let's see where that takes me...Manor, weather, snow.

Needless to say not walking as much although at least taking short walks unless weather and other breathing considerations keep me in. This time of year I take more pictures closer to home.

This morning from my front porch,

---

Posts tagged #sol18 are part of the #sol blogging challenges hosted by Two Writing Teachers, which include this one, a weekly invitation to share a snapshot of life through writing. Read today's Tuesday blog posts here.

Winter in Yuma and a prodigal's return to blogging #sol18

It's been cold in Yuma, - 7° when I woke up this morning, up to 20° during the day and back down to 12° now. Excuse me if I seem obsessed with the temperature, wind too. I have breathing problems and winter walking can be a problem. I stay in, watch conditions for best time to walk. It's time to change the green, green blog banner photo for something more seasonally appropriate -- not picturesque snow because we haven't had more than a moderate dusting. Gray sky, yellow grass and bare branches are less aesthetic but more representative. This one should do nicely.



If not the best time of the year for old wheezer walkabouts, it is a good time to write, do online research and take courses. I registered for two Electronic Village Online TESOL workshops and if not behind yet, will soon be but enjoying the mental exercise and global conversation.

A #sol17 places along the way anniversary reflection

…Two years ago this week, I arrived here in Yuma CO from Mountainair NM. Time to reflect on the past two years, where I am now -- and what's next.

Happy 4th of July #sol7

Yuma fireworks were last night, city and a multitude of private, unofficial ones. This image is not one of them, but from Cheyenne WY. I was at a private one ~ my daughter's in-laws. We also watched the city from the front porch. No local photos are online yet. At least Wyoming is an adjacent state and Cheyenne closer than Denver.

Today I took the day off, staying in out of the heat.  I sent out digital holiday greetings, many with links, and changed my Facebook cover pages, my front porch tumbleweed gracing my Life at the Manor (and points west ~ which would include Cheyenne) page. Somehow that seemed a holiday thing to do, even if not the usual new leaf holiday.

#SoL17 at home, inside & out

~ coping with a cranky keyboard and erratic compose screen, I was off to an even later start blogging than usual due a longer than expected phone call.

I walked just once around the perimeter ~ a short one, minus iPhone in case of rain. So I used the time to think about today's blog post. What did I defer from last one? Guerrilla educationist and digital citizenship. Too bad the computer did not cooperate.

What pictures would fit? Above, my "home office" ~ laptop on a small tray table, small sofa next to a window (the chair is for Chaircat Mao), oil painting by Megan Lemcke. Below, the marble Manor marker + decorative foliage on the corner of Elm and 3rd Avenue.

On staying cool #sol17

…I missed blogging last week but commented on half a dozen posts. This morning, beginning at the end, I set up and revised my footer. Taking my morning walk late for a day turning hot, I walked close to a mile, caught a few pictures and made it back before overheating.

Cedar Ave, Yuma CO: backyard as folk art
installation complete w/pick-up tree house