This seems like a great thread to save and keep on hand.

Watching a Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart is one of our must-do holiday traditions. Scrooge’s words about “decreasing the surplus population” ring particularly true this year and seems to be a goal from those in power.

This is a fascinating read. Thanks for the research. My thought - EVERY policy coming from this wicked administration originates from hate, grievance, and revenge.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekXforXmas We try to do a Christmas jigsaw puzzle every year. This year it’s a welcome distraction from the news.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… View from our screened-in porch this morning.

Look at this extraordinary picture. If you haven’t seen the talents of @butterflyguy99.bsky.social yet, you’re in for a real treat.

The news is filled with evil deeds by evil people. When we get discouraged, we remember there are so many GOOD people working and volunteering to help others. We won’t let the evil people steal our JOY. We choose to mitigate their evil by helping. Kindness is free.

Sago cyad 🌱- spotted in Portugal #Travel - October 2025

Morning Bluesky. Didn’t see the Northern Lights last night, but we have a gorgeous sunrise today.

Grottos at Lagos, Portugal, October 2025. Now more than ever, #Travel IF, and while you can.

Yesterday was the FIRST day of political good news in a year. Excellent work, fellow Virginians! Wake up, Republicans. Your policies of hate and marginalization aren’t popular.

Timeline cleanse needed? Look for beauty in unlikely places. Lantana spotted at petrol station in Portugal - October 2025. #Travel 🌱

One data point for those keeping track - over 100 people served at food pantry ministry in 3 hours today. They can only use the pantry once a month. High number? Yes.

This is stunning. Looks like a jeweled headband.

The government has been shut down for almost a week. Where’s the House of Representatives? Out of session, because they’re too afraid Democrats will call up a vote to release the Epstein Files.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekOforOpulent #Travel - London, September 2023 Spotted at the Victoria and Albert Museum

Bright rays of sun cutting through the clouds above the tree line this morning.

View from a hike on Sharp Top Trail a few weeks ago. Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia. Needed a timeline cleanse from the relentless bad news. This seems to be a repeating theme in 2025.

Senator Warner, please start calling out the VA GOP reps lying about this by name. Put this on X, Truth Social. Get the word out to GOP voters. If possible, please give interviews on local Virginia TV stations, on AM radio, and have the Dems take out full page ads in VA newspapers. Thank you.

Thank you, Rick Steves, for sharing this important thread, and the work you do to try to help alleviate poverty (in addition to your great travel guides). Highly recommend for those who believe “loving our neighbors” is essential.

Current conundrum - leave the planter outside all winter so the squirrel can find its buried treasures later, or remove spent dill and move planter inside? Decision made - planter stays outside. Dill stays in planter, maybe to return next spring. 🌱

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekNforNight #Travel - Port of Algiers, Algeria - December 2024. Now, MORE THAN EVER, travel IF, and while you can.

Last defiant flowering of the zinnia - chewed down to twigs twice this year by the deer. 🌱

Look at this amazing photo. Thanks for sharing this beauty @butterflyguy99.bsky.social

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekMforMemories Adapted my late mother-in-law’s recipe for nut rolls and make them almost every year. She would make them every Easter and Christmas. Pic of slice.

Everybody ready for fall? This is a beauty!

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekLforLines #Travel - April 2023 Cathedral in Antwerp, Belgium.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekKforKaraoke “Somewhere Over the Rainbow…” Over the Mediterranean Sea - December 2024.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJetBlack #Travel Spotted in Emerald Isle, North Carolina - June 2025. Artist unknown.

Epstein survivors deserve justice. Release the files.

Timeline cleanse - immune system re-set. Orange tree in Tunisia, December 2024. #Travel - now more than ever. If, and while you can.

Evil through and through. Guess this was another “tough guy” demo. Didn’t work…

Last batch of pesto, prepped and ready to freeze. Bumper crop of basil this year. 🌱

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekJforJetBlack #Travel - Corsica, France - December 2024 Napoleon statue on display.

#SundayStunday Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia Sharp Top hike today.

Morning, Bluesky. With unseasonably (yet welcome) cooler weather this week, we get some incredible sunrises to banish the darkness.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekIforIconic #Travel - London, England, September 2023 Memorabilia hung near the re-created sitting room in Sherlock Holmes Pub, London.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekIforIconic #Travel - December 2024 Martyrs Memorial (Macham Echahid) in Algiers, Algeria. Built to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Algerian independence.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekHforHat Wooden dolls made in Poland found at a local craft show featuring international crafts over 30 years ago.

Once again, your periodic reminder there are good people in this world. World Central Kitchen is everywhere. Thank you, WCK.

Lovely pictures. Look at those clouds on the picture on the right. Thanks for sharing. Helsinki is on the list to visit someday…

Timeline cleanse. Tired of seeing bad news and SO tired of wicked people trying to destroy all that is good. May justice roll down on them… If you’re able, #Travel - now more than ever. Keukenhof Gardens, Netherlands - April 2023.

So what’s next? Contacting our MAGA rep does nothing. Protesting does nothing. Dems condemn this, but nothing changes. The Supreme Court is tainted beyond repair. We’re not buying/consuming anything but essentials. Would love to move out of the country, but grown kids can’t. Again, what’s next?

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekGforGlass #Travel Church in Amsterdam - April 2023

If this isn’t the most heart-warming post of the weekend (especially for those of us with grandkids), I don’t know what is. Thanks for sharing this joy.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekFforFire Partial assortment of hot sauces in our home. Some are much spicier than others and make your tongue feel like it’s on fire (ghost pepper - not for me…).

Hiking in Washington State - August 2022. Sorry to be morose, but this matches my current mood regarding the state of the country. Lots of things falling down, hazards to navigate ahead. Really hoping we can get to the blue sky poking through the trail.

More of these helpful suggestions from the scientific community needed, please. Thank you. It’s hard to know where to begin to fight back against the anti-science cretins, but this thread includes a link and helpful information.

@pestilence4all.bsky.social - FYI This article is Part One. In a couple years, the title of Part Two will be “Life Expectancy Numbers in the United States continue to Fall”. A couple years later, the title of Part Three will be “Deaths from Common Child Illnesses Continue to increase”.

#AlphabetChallenge #WeekEforEasy #Travel - Alaska - June 2025 So many enchanting, exquisite views in Alaska.