Farewell, Joanne

In August, blogging buddy Joanne Noragon of Cup on the Bus passed away after a long life "defined by curiosity, conviction, creativity, and a willingness to speak up when she believed something was wrong," as her obituary stated so succinctly. Her engaging blog, which I read for many years, made clear Joanne's love for family, social justice, the environment, cats, and her great passion, weaving.

Although plagued in her final years by fractures and broken bones due to osteoporosis, Joanne continued to weave and sell her beautiful towels of many colours and superb craftsmanship. Here's some photos from Joanne's blog of her loom and the towels being woven on it --

For me, Joanne was a real inspiration and role model about how to live vibrantly into our senior years. She did not give in nor give up, no matter the challenges and difficulties she faced. She was independent, self-sufficient, and fully present in her creativity and positive, informed approach to life.

I will miss Joanne and her blog. But I will remember her every time I use one of her towels, of which I have a few pairs. Here's one of her towels now, doing yeoman service as always, catching drips from my coffeemaker and fending off a Viking gnome invasion in my kitchen --

Farewell, Cal

Late last month, blogging buddy Cal Heighton of Red Deer, Alberta passed away after battling cancer. He was the prolific, quirky blogger behind Cal's Canadian Cave of Cool. After finding his blog in 2010, I became a daily reader and commenter there for 15 years.

I enjoyed Cal's sense of humour, his fascination with comics and superheroes, his aesthetic appreciation of art and design, and his political astuteness about Canada, the USA, and the world. He also loved cats and his Ukrainian heritage (except beets). I learned a lot from Cal over the years and yes, he is why I'm now hooked on Marvel movies and fandoms. A lasting legacy or continuing curse, depending on your viewpoint, hahahaha.

As do we all, Cal had his issues and shortcomings which negatively affected his life. But his blog gave many people a welcome respite and break from the cares of the world, and I know he will be greatly missed in the blogosphere.

I like to think that Cal is now free to roam the universe as he always dreamed of doing, exploring and experiencing his True Life, going boldly where no one has gone before.

To Infinity and Beyond, Cal!

Giraffes and Retirement Are BOTH Awesome!

This post is dedicated to blogging buddy

Sassybear (Sean) of Idle Eyes and a Dormy,

who loves giraffes (among many other things)

and has (drumroll please)

JUST RETIRED!

Congrats, and enjoy retirement!

Now it's the weekend all the time!

Signal Boost!

Blogging buddy Mary Kirkland of Dark Thoughts is asking people to help signal boost her daughter Lizzie's GoFundMe link on our social media sites. Lizzie is a young single mom in Las Vegas, Nevada, with lupus and other health issues who is currently in hospital with double pneumonia, sepsis, and 40% congestive heart failure. She will not be able to work for the foreseeable future and could really use some help with medical expenses.

Her longtime friend Savanna DuBose has organized a GoFundMe for Lizzie HERE.

Best wishes to Lizzie and her family as she recovers from this terrible health situation.

Guess What Today Is!

I've made some wonderful internet friends

over the years through blogging!

I bet you have too!

People who share similar interests,

life experiences, outlooks, or opinions.

That's the basis for friendship in any world,

real or virtual, whether or not you

ever actually meet in person.

It's probably just as well that we don't

all live in the same city.

That would be too much awesomeness

for any one place to handle!

Yes, I Am Indeed A . . .

. . . and I love every minute of my retired life! This fabulous graphic was made by blogging buddy Lissa of Postcards from the Bookstore and I won it in her recent 4th Blogoversary giveaway! Thanks, Lissa!

Lissa writes witty and thoughtful posts about blogging, books, reading, and writing. She accompanies them with beautiful custom graphics and images which she also creates. Here's a few examples of her fab work --

Lissa always finds a great topic for the April A-Z Challenge every year too. Plus she occasionally posts her short fiction for us to enjoy as well!

Be sure to heck out her blog here!

Be Afraid, Florida Panthers. BE VERY AFRAID.

I received an unexpected package

in the mail yesterday.

I laughed so hard when I opened it!

SO FREAKIN' HARD!

"Specially Handmade by Shirley"

the attached label says.

Yes, that's right -- a gift from the

Queen of Voodoo Dolls herself,

blogging buddy Shirley

of BootsandBraids!

Thank you, Shirley, for ensuring that next year,

the Edmonton Oilers will be victorious

in their pursuit of the Stanley Cup due to our

SPECIAL SECRET WEAPON!

And now it has pride of place

right here on my computer hutch . . . 

yes, where ALL the magic happens!

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025]

This Post Is For Mike

Every Thursday, blogging buddy Mike of

Billions of Versions of Normal (found here)

does a post called "Thursday Trees."

I always enjoy his collections of tree photos,

so here's my contribution!

From the "Drawing Australia" course

I took recently, this is an Australian gum tree

being encircled by a strangler fig.

Let's pretend it's just a warm hug, okay?

I'm sure the gum tree will be fine! 

As usual, I did this freehand using

HB, 2B, 4B and 6B pencils.

[Art & photo of art © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025]

A Delightfully Sweet Gift!

I received a wonderful gift by mail this week from blogging buddy Baili of Baili and I... blog -- a box of fresh, delicious dates! Dates have been one of my favourite flavours in baked goods ever since I was a little girl -- my Mom's sandwich cookies with date filling, oatmeal date squares (which prairie oldsters call "matrimonial cake" because that's what wedding cakes were typically made of during the Great Depression), yummy bearclaw cookies, and Christmas treats like dark fruitcake and steamed Christmas pudding! As an adult, I also learned of English sticky toffee pudding, another amazing dessert.

Baili's son in London handled the shipping of the dates, and he included a very unique card with them --

I just love the cute custom-made illustration on the card! There is Baili and I, sitting outside together surrounded by nature, enjoying each other's company, with Baili drinking her beloved cup of tea and me wearing my purple fingerless gloves, just like in my longtime blog icon photo! I really appreciate the thoughtful care and attention to detail that went into this special card magic!

Thank you, Baili! I look forward to baking with these delicious dates, my friend!

Charming Artistry, Plus Tarot

Want to read a blog that infuses the ordinary and the everyday with a tangible sense of magic and spirit? Then check out Laura and her favorite things . . .! Laura can always be counted on for her beautiful and intriguing photography . . . 

. . . and for her creative and imaginative artworks . . . 

. . . along with her musings and observations about baking, gardening, crafting and daily magical life!

And speaking of magical life, Laura also recently started a wordpress blog called Messages From The Ancestors which features a daily tarot card selection along with a few words of wisdom about it.

Laura very generously offers -- at no cost -- tarot readings and other spiritual services to those seeking such guidance. As she writes:

Please understand that ALL of my offerings are at no cost. I feel that I was brought into this lifetime to help the dead and the living communicate when needed and to assist the living with my gifts as best I can. This is not a job, a side hustle or a hobby. This is my calling, and it is my pleasure to provide support and guidance when I can, to whomever I can.

Laura is a woman after my own heart in this regard. She shares her spiritual gifts freely to benefit those who may be helped by them.

You can check out her Offerings page here.

Farewell, Jackiesue

Very sad news in the blogosphere today -- long-time blogger Jackiesue Denney of YellowDog Granny has passed away at the age of 81. I was privileged to call her my friend and I will miss her tremendously.

On her blog, Jackiesue described herself as a "liberal pagan living in West, Texas. Yes. That West, Texas." She was a fearless hell-raiser and always spoke her mind, no matter the pushback or opposition. Her blog had the very best and very latest political memes skewering right-wing intolerance, discrimination, hate, politics and wrongdoings. She was a fierce and uncompromising supporter of all minorities, including the Black, Latino, Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities. Yet Jackiesue also had a fantastic sense of humour which was displayed regularly on her blog and in person.

Jackiesue was a tremendous volunteer in her community, driving for Meals on Wheels, organizing holiday parties and cooking special meals at the seniors' home, always ready to lend a helping hand. Jackiesue adored her family and doted on her great-grandchildren in particular, attending all their sporting events and being so proud of all their achievements.

Passionate about feminism, paganism and the Goddess, Jackiesue's favourite deity was the Norse Goddess Freya. I have no doubt that she is now sitting at Freya's right hand, feasting and carousing with the Valkyries and other warrior women in Freya's Hall.

No tribute to Jackiesue would be complete without noting her favourite word, used lavishly and in all possible situations --

I feel that the following meme, taken from her YellowDog Granny blog, serves as a fitting farewell on her behalf to all of the enemies, trolls, demons, haters and fascists she spent so much of her time fighting . . . 

. . . just as I'm sure this other meme from her blog represents Jackiesue's parting invitation to us all to carry on her fire, spirit and audacity --

As Found in Only the BEST Homes

Nothing says "welcome" like a little barbed wire!

Please, have a seat in

my dying living room!

But no feet on the coffee table please!

Unless they're dismembered.

Too dim in here?

Feel free to turn on a lamp!

 

Here is the cat tree . . . 

but where is the cat?

Oh, here's my sweet little Murder Cat!

Many thanks to blogging buddy Shirley of BootsandBraids

for this thoughtful and generous surprise Halloween gift!

Murder Cat is now a permanent resident in

my library/office/computer room, where I can keep

a careful and wary eye on him while blogging.

No creeping up on me undetected!