Sunset

 

My Daughter and DIL share this from their last camping trip before the summer sets in. I wish I could blow this picture up to one of those wall-sized posters! Wouldn't that be great to relax to?

Sweepstakes Wins over the Years

 

I was organizing my photos recently and came across some pictures of my Sweepstakes wins.

This is a ring I won from a jewelry maker. 

I absolutely love this necklace, which I won from a lady in Spain on Instagram. 

I didn't find a picture of all the items I got in this win from Maker's Mark. It included one of those projectors and a movie screen. My son claimed this win and uses it for outside movies. You know me - anything for the Grand Girls. 

This was a medium-sized dog cape that came from AutoTrader. It was too big for Buddy, so I gave it to a friend with a larger dog. 

This is a speciality Shampoo with Vitamin C12. I don't remember any great change after using it, but then I didn't have any scalp problems. 

Now this was a biggie. A $500 gift card from my bank, Regions Bank. The sponsoring area bank was not the location I was banking at at the time, but it just so happens that it is the bank near my house that I bank at now. 

  

This Retro Collection sweep was sponsored by Planters Peanuts. 

This was a really nice win from Rakuten. The tea and tea kettle went to my daughter, the weighted blanket went to a teenage friend, the candles went fast, and the Uggs were definitely saved for me. 

A couple of wins I didn't have pictures of were the Curved Monitor, which my daughter uses in her work-from-home office, and, of course, the all-expense-paid trip for my Son and DIL to see Post Malone New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. 

So you see, that's why I enter sweepstakes. And, no I've been lazy and haven't been entering many lately until Better Homes & Gardens reminded me that a new house contest just started. And yes, I will win that new house or new car. I'm sure of it. 

More later ... 

A New Dog Stroller

 

My little rescue Bonnie Rae came home with me skinny, frightened, and unsure of the world. I think she was raised in a cage because she has never liked to walk on grass or concrete. 

If I am going to walk, I need a companion, so I bought this dog stroller that satisfies both of our needs.  

Now we can enjoy fresh air and new sights. You know the neighbors I pass are laughing at me, but who cares. 

More later ...  

Changing and Rebranding Blogs

For a long time, I shared pieces of my life in two places — Welcome to Simple and 101 Captured Moments. One focused on the joy of simple living, and the other celebrated everyday beauty through photography. Over time, I realized both blogs were telling the same story: finding peace, gratitude, and happiness in ordinary moments.

That is why I’ve brought them together under one new home: Peaceful Retirement Living at 101capturedmoments.com.

This new space combines the heart of both blogs — simple pleasures, cozy living, retirement joys, photography, gardening, Bonnie Rae, family reflections, hobbies, and the little discoveries that make life meaningful.

By combining these blogs, everything I love now lives in one welcoming place.

Click this link to save Peaceful Retirement Living.

Asian Lily

My friend Margaret says it looks like a face. Looks like a chipmunk to me. 

This is Stage 2 of my Asian Lily with a big bud. Any day now ... 

 

Tropical Milkweed and the Monarch Butterfly

What I’m showing here is a little bit of garden magic and what was left after a whole lot of hungry visitors came by.

My Tropical Milkweed leaf isn’t “damaged." It has been expertly eaten.

When I planted milkweed, I knew I had invited one of nature’s most famous guests: the Monarch butterfly. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed because it’s the only plant their caterpillars can eat.

Once those tiny caterpillars hatch, they get right to work. They don’t nibble around the edges. Instead, they chew straight through the softer parts of the leaf. What starts as tiny pinholes quickly turns into larger openings as they grow and their appetite increases.

It may look a little rough on my plant, but Milkweed is resilient. The best part is that somewhere nearby, if they made it, one of those tiny leaf-munchers may be quietly hanging in a chrysalis, getting ready to return to my garden with wings.

Ivy in Aquarium

 

I threw a piece of ivy into my aquarium and now look at it—stretching, reaching, growing right along with the rhythm of the water. The tiny bubbles from the air stone don’t just keep the tank healthy—they create this soft, almost magical curtain that makes everything feel alive.

Plants like ivy can actually thrive in water, pulling nutrients from their surroundings and adding a fresh, natural balance to the tank. And those bubbles? They’re oxygenating the water for fish—but for me, they’re pure therapy.

Sometimes the simplest things—just a clipping and a little air—turn into the most peaceful moments.

Meme of the Day

 

What Happened to My Nails

This is an older photo of my nails — long, strong, and naturally smooth. I never had to think about them. They just… behaved. No peeling, no cracking, no ridges. Just easy.

Fast forward to now, and it’s a completely different story. My nails are thinner, splitting, and full of ridges. What changed?

Aging plays a big role. As we get older, nails grow more slowly and lose moisture, making them brittle and more prone to peeling. Years of handwashing, gardening, and everyday wear also weaken the layers of the nail. Those vertical ridges? They’re actually very common and usually just part of the aging process.

The good news is they’re not beyond help. Moisturizing, cuticle oil, gentle filing, and wearing gloves for chores can make a big difference.

Still… I do miss the days when my nails just showed up and did their job without all the extra drama.

A New Home for Bonnie Rae (#TBT)

When Bonnie Rae first came home from the rescue, she was so tiny… all bones, a little rash, and eyes full of uncertainty. Every sound startled her, every movement made her pause. You could feel how hard the world had been on her.

Fast forward to today—she’s filled out into a “big, healthy girl” but that timid heart still lingers. Most people only see her quiet, cautious side.

But there’s this whole other Bonnie Rae… the one that only comes out when it’s just the two of us. That playful, silly, full-of-life spirit that makes me laugh every single day. I wish I could bottle that version of her and share it with the world.

Maybe one day. 💛

Asian Lily

 I’m pretty sure the squirrels have been doing a little gardening of their own. The Asian Lily I purchased died but has come back up in a new location. One of the Squirrels must have buried a bulb because I didn't. Now, up pops a brand new Asian Lily right in the middle of my garden!