Just for Fun

💭 TO BE HAPPY, ELIMINATE TWO THINGS…The fear of a bad future.And the habit of dwelling on a bad past.You can't change yesterday.And you can't control tomorrow.What you can control is what you do with today.Stop letting the past steal your peace.Stop letting the future steal your present.Learn from yesterday.Prepare for tomorrow.But LIVE TODAY. ❤️Your happiness doesn't require a perfect past or a guaranteed future.It starts with choosing peace in the present. 🙏#Mindset #PositiveMindset #Happiness #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth #Motivation #SuccessMindset #LiveInTheMoment #KeepMovingForward #JustCallWilliam 08/12/2026

💭 THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN LIFE GETS HARD…Some days are heavier than others. When life feels overwhelming, remember:🌤️ Bad days don't last forever. Better days are on the way.🫁 Take a deep breath and keep going. You don't have to solve everything today.👣 Small steps still move you forward. Progress is progress, no matter how slow.💭 It's okay to not have it all figured out. Nobody does.📈 Focus on progress, not perfection. Keep moving forward, even if it's one small step at a time.❤️ Be kind to yourself. You're doing the best you can with what you have.And remember…You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the next step.Keep going. Better days are coming. 🙏💪#Mindset #Motivation #PositiveMindset #KeepGoing #LifeLessons #PersonalGrowth #ProgressNotPerfection #StayStrong #BetterDay... 08/12/2026

🏡📉 MORTGAGE DEMAND WEAKENED IN Q2 — BUT THERE'S MORE TO THE STORYThe latest Federal Reserve Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey (SLOOS) shows residential mortgage demand weakened across all seven mortgage categories during the second quarter of 2026.Here's what stands out:📉 All 7 mortgage categories saw weaker demand📊 Average demand reading: -12.1🏦 Lending standards for most mortgage types were essentially unchanged💰 Some jumbo and non-QM categories actually saw easier lending conditions🔒 Subprime lending remained tighter, with a -9.1 readingAnd here's the bigger picture…🏗️ THE FED IS STILL HOLDING RATES HIGHThe Fed kept the federal funds target at 3.50%–3.75% for the fifth consecutive meeting.That matters because higher short-term rates directly affect the cost of financing for builders... 08/12/2026

Trivia question answers for Tuesday August 11, 20261. What does "per capital"literally mean? Per head2. In what country is it illegal to own just one guinea pig? Switzerland3. Who is the Roman god of fire? Vulcan4. What distance did the Romans once define aa a thousand steps? A mileTrivia questions for Wednesday August 12, 20261. Which typeof nut is used to make Nutella?2. What is the plural of vortex?3. According to legend, where did the Norse gods live?4. What is a smoke-dried jalapeno pepper called? Enjoy your day.  08/12/2026

Wordless Wednesday…As I Promised, Lots of Babies As promised last week in my post, here are lots of babies/hatchlings. In August 2011, Larry and I witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime (for us) event. For several weeks, we’d been observing the alligator nests at Green Cay Wetlands to see if the eggs had hatched. We got lucky. In an area known as the Gator Hole, the eggs had already begun to hatch.                                                    Make sure you watch til the end!Mama Gator was working hard to uncover them and help them down the mound that had been their nest to the water. One by one, she set them at the edge of the water.  Larry and the others counted about two dozen of the babies. You could see broken eggshells floating on top of the water. We stood on the walkway for at leas... 08/12/2026

I've said it many times in conversation and here in my blog posts, they are not often spot-on, they are guessers. I don't know of any other profession where you can be so inaccurate so often and keep your job (out side of politics that is).You would think that with over 100 years of records they could at least guess better. Despite the Global Warming alarmists I read recently that neither North Dakota and South Dakota have shown any warming over the past 100 years. Take a look at the forecast for the next 5 days... if anything we are cooling.If you are scared of global warming then I'd like to welcome you to the coolest State in the continental United States, North Dakota. 😊 08/12/2026

For the third time in almost 3 months, the electricity went out.  Luckily, it doesn't go out for long periods of time (so far).  Many buildings around me went dark, as did the Festival a block away!   BUT, this time my Internet would not work in the morning.   Calling a Portuguese company has Portuguese messages, which I still don't understand.   16 calls to MEO, most of which said, " Your call cannot be answered right now, please call again."   Some of the time it asked if you wanted English.Once I finally got in, they told me it would be days before I got Internet again, and to go to the local store and pick up a mobile router she had ordered.  So, off I went.ONLY to find that my NordVPN was messing with my Internet connection this morning.  The mobile router didn't want to connect to... 08/12/2026

Trivia question answers for Monday August 10, 20261. What was the name of the Lone Ranger's horse? Silver 2. Where is the world's highest inhabited city? Peru3. Who organized the Boston Tea Party? Samuel Adams4. What is the largest three digit prime number? 997Trivia questions for Tuesday August 11, 20261. What does "per capital"literally mean?2. In what country is it illegal to own just one guinea pig?3. Who is the Roman god of fire?4. What distance did the Romans once define aa a thousand steps?Enjoy your day.  08/11/2026

💎🐾 Saying Goodbye to Diamond — A Love That Leaves Paw Prints on Our Hearts 🐾💎Today, our home is a little quieter.Our hearts are a little heavier.And there is an empty place where four little paws used to be.Today, Ron and I had to say goodbye to our sweet Diamond. 💎🐾Diamond is now in Doggie Heaven. She is no longer in pain, and I choose to picture her running free again — reunited with her Shih Tzu brother, DustyBuster, and her Beagle sister, KonaBella. I can almost imagine the three of them together again, running, playing and waiting for the day when we will see them once more. ❤️🐾It happened so quickly...Just a few days ago, we were trying to figure out what was wrong with our sweet girl.On August 5th, we took Diamond to the veterinarian. We were concerned that she might have Lyme di... 08/10/2026

As I write this, I keep humming the Elton John song in my head. AI tells me that an Island Girl is:  An "island girl" literally means a female who lives on, was born on, or has a deep cultural connection to an island. It often evokes a relaxed lifestyle tied to the ocean, beaches, and tropical cultures, but the phrase also refers to a famous pop song. I've always been drawn to the water, especially coastal water. The beach has been calling me for years. My husband and noticed that most of our vacations are all centered around beaches. So, when we had the opportunity to move to the beach, we made the decision to just do it.Many of you here in the Rain knew of the impending move, yet I had not shared the news officially. So, here it is! I am an Island Girl! And this also meant a big move ... 08/10/2026

Creative Ways to Display Your Special Treasures In the past, I’ve written about rotating your collections so they don’t overwhelm your home. Here are some creative ways to showcase them.  A friend’s husband grew up in Texas and spent much of his childhood at their family ranch. He’s saved his childhood chaps…dirt and some blood still on them. Instead of letting them sit covered in a box, she had them framed!  Everyone who visited loved seeing them on the wall. Our good friend in FL was nicknamed Curly. One day, he presented Larry with a T-shirt with Larry (of the 3 Stooges) on it. He’d purchased a Curly T-shirt for himself. Larry loved the T-shirt and wore it all the time. It was almost on its last legs, so I had it framed.  Another friend’s son was ecstatic when he was given the game-w... 08/11/2026

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.  George PattonHappiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled.  Benjamin SpockReplace the word "PROBLEM" with the word word "OPPORTUNITY" in all your thoughts.  Matthew Keith GrovesYou have ro dream before your dreams can come true.  Abdul KalamA goal without a plan is a wish- Activerain member Brenda MayetteAre you ready for some Denver Broncos football, this Friday night in Denver-Will Hamm  08/10/2026

This week will be my final immigration appointment (at least until I need to renew in two years), so I was thinking it was time to find some friends.When I first got here, Julia was at the Pastelaria in my parking lot, and we hit it off.  BUT, it was bad timing.  I had just moved in and had so many things to take care of.  She texted every day for a couple of weeks and wanted to do something.First, even when I have friends, we don't do stuff every day.  That is too much, or at least in my world, even being retired.SO, I went back onto the Expats for Quarteira and asked the community if there were gatherings for expats somewhere in Quarteira that I could attend.Sounds like there are book clubs, walking football clubs, coffee clubs, and wine clubs.   Waiting for some responses, but next w... 08/11/2026

Annie and I were having a conversation about seasons this morning and then I read Dorie Dillard Austin TX post talking about the seasons of life and it nudged me to share what we were talking about.I read many years ago, and I am sorry I do not remember who wrote it or said it but people come into your life sometimes for a season, sometimes for longer and sometimes for a day.Even relationships have seasons. In the Spring they can be energizing, bringing new life and excitement, in the Summer there is the enjoyment of the colors of life, in the Fall things are waning, colors are duller, there is less excitement, and when you hit Winter it may be time to let go as things become dormant or consider how to re-energize the relationship for another Spring.I had been upset over something that ... 08/10/2026

Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of intelligent effort. -John Ruskin Chinese Proverb- Best time to plant tree is 20 years ago. Second best time is today. Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it. -Bill Cosby Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. -Peter Drucker Success is to find satisfaction in giving a little more than you take. -Christopher Reeve The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. -Walter Bagehot Be like a squirrel, hide some money away for the winter months. -Will Hamm   08/10/2026

In general I believe lawn mowers have gotten quitter over the years. The advent of electric lawn mowers have definitely made an impact on neighborhood serenity.I have been a fan of electric lawn mowers for decades. I have owned a "corded" electric for several decades and still have one like the one below.Today I also have a Yard Works 40 Volt mower...... and I still have a gas powered mower.All three have their benefits. The corded mower is the quietest and needs the least maintenance. The battery powered mower is super light weight, fairly quite, low maintenance, but I need two sets of batteries just to mow 1/2 of the lawn. The only benefit (in my opinion) of the gas powered mower is that it pretty much mows anything in it's path (including children's and pet's toys).Note to the new ho... 08/10/2026

Trivia question answers for Sunday August 9, 20261. The ruby anniversary celebrates how many years of marriage? 402. Which best describes an idea that's "all sizzle and no steak"? not living up to     expectations3. What planet was named after the goddess of beauty? Venus4. What song was used as the thee for The Three Stooges?  Three Blind MiceTrivia questions for Monday August 10, 20261. What ws the name of the Lone Ranger's horse?2. Where is the world's highest inhabited city?3. Who organized the Boston Tea Party?4. What is the largest three digit prime number?Enjoy your day.  08/10/2026

Michelle has been sharing her wellness journey with me for a while now, and Tuesday she talks about some of the changes she has noticed along the way. This isn't about telling anyone else what they should do. It's simply Michelle sharing what she has been doing and what she has experienced.One thing I like about these conversations is that we don't always agree, and I usually have questions. I think a lot of people our age are the same way. We hear about something new and wonder if it really works, if it's right for us, or if it's just the latest fad.Michelle has been willing to try some different things and pay attention to how she feels and the changes she sees. Here's her experience, in her own words.You can text or call Michelle at 352-598-1439Dick Betts, REALTOR®The Betts TeamLPT R... 08/11/2026

Come on, it may be Monday, but you could use an extra smile today, right? Of course you can - we all can! So, how about a brief look at some of the funniest and clean humor around?  Sit back, make it look like you are working hard on some research, and enjoy! And now this is the latest installment of Mayhem Merriment Monday. 08/10/2026

 Motivational Monday…Add This To Your Daily To-Do ListEvery so often, the universe showers us with acts of kindness…those we see, those given to us, and those we give to others.  For example, one of the morning walkers at Kickerillo is an older gentleman, JB.  He walks slowly and often takes a break on one of the trail’s benches.  Various walkers stop to check on him or walk with him.  If he misses a day, someone texts him just to check in.   The best portion of a good man's life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.William WordsworthA Welcomed Assist showed up, just when we needed it. Larry insists on doing our trimming and mowing. He actually enjoys it. Though his neurosurgeon said NO LADDERS, he had not given them up. He was trimming his favorite nemesis…th... 08/10/2026