Had an eye exam lately? No? Well, you should!
I recently had one and was asked if I wanted to pay extra for a digital test to get a better picture of the retina. The machine is called "Octomap". You know I said "yes"! (You look into the machine and have to push a button when you see the green light. I think I am remembering this correctly!)
The company that makes the machine is "OPTOS". It was invented by a man from Scotland named Douglas Anderson after his son lost all vision in his left eye in 1990. Interesting to me, Douglas Anderson had nothing to do with the medical field. (His background was in industrial engineering design.) He had been told by his son's doctors that with the available tests that they were able to get "only a glimpse" of his son's eye. Mr. Anderson is in the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame. You can read more about him here. I also have a video for you!
I love finding out about people who have brought good things into the world. I find it interesting that the company founded by Robert Anderson is based in Dunfermline, Scotland. When I read that it rang a bell for me...isn't there someone else associated with that town? I looked it up, Dunfermline also is the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie! (I hope you know who he is, I have written about him before!)
Along with the theme of good things in the world, I'm sure you all must have heard that Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. What good work this former President of the United States has done! Perhaps all that he has done is not that well known in other countries, but it should be now that he has passed away. (Why do we never highlight a great person's life until they have left us?) I am very proud to say that he is a fellow Georgian, just like me. I thought he and his wife were just wonderful people. Wish we had more like them.
We are almost into the new year now. I am wishing all of you good things. I just read the last post I did last year, and I will echo that and say, "Here's to 2025 and all who sail in her!"
A few photos for you that Richard took at Christmas....
Good things? Custard creams really are!
My favorite ornaments: Joseph's Coat of Many Colors and Jacob's ladder that Christopher made at Sunday school when he was only 5. The little red bear came with a potholder but it didn't have a face. I sewed one for him! And I crocheted quite a few snowflakes too! (The black tea ornament is brand new this year from a dear friend.)
Note: I have a plaid blanket as a tree skirt and at the top of my tree is a "glitter" ink pen! They have very expensive "bits" that you can buy to go around the base of the Christmas tree, called "collars". I used bright red foil paper that stands up very nicely! Anybody wants to know how to save money, just ask me! HA!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Like Mr. Peanut says, "Let's SHELL-ebrate" and have "a nut to celebrate"!
OH! Before I forget, the Wallace and Gromit film will be on Netflix on this Friday, January 3rd! PLEASE, don't miss it! I think I have read that it has gotten a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That is an amazingly rare thing! (Those of you in the UK have already gotten to see this, you lucky people!)
If I can't bring good things into the world, it is my job to point them out!
Your tree is beautiful. I don't think Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter's good works went unnoticed during their lives. They were much loved and appreciated. He was the only president to come from Georgia.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thanks, Janie! They were much loved and appreciated in Georgia, I can say that for sure! (I had to fix a few errors in my post, so I amended my post also to say that their good works might not be as well known in other countries.) Happy New Year!
DeleteI remember Pres. Carter campaigning and looking like a regular guy, not a slick politician and that won my heart. I think of him and Rosalyn every time I see a Habitat for Humanity building or article. I hope this year is great for you with lots of adventures and mostly lots of good health! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHe promised that he would never lie to us. I can only sigh at that memory when we had a politician who could say that with a sincere manner. Jimmy and Rosalynn were both such great people! Wishing you a happy 2025, dear Yaya! x
DeleteHappy New Year, Kay! Your tree is just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you too! Ha, that tree is not that big but like Charlie Brown's tree, it just needed a little love.
DeleteHappy New Year to you, Richard and all your loved ones!
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas tree looks very festive and cheerful, just what Christmas should feel like.
Some people are well known for their good work even while they are alive, but it is true that folks are often more honoured and recognised posthumously than during their lifetime. Maybe that's especially so with artists, but also some of the good things politicians have done often comes to be fully understood in hindsight.
As you know, it is non-fiction books that I like to read and I really, really like stories of inspiring people! Wouldn't it be great to read a book about Jimmy and Rosalynn and all the wonderful work they did in their lives, and have it turned into a film? After all, for most people these days, if they don't see it on TV or at the theatre, they can't really comprehend it! You know, even as a child I liked reading obituaries in the newspaper. My relatives teased me, but I said, I am not reading about deaths but about people's LIVES! Now, it is well into 2025, so I am wishing you all the best this year! x
DeleteHappy 2025 to you and your family, Kay! Hope it's a good one for you guys and all of us. Jimmy Carter - I agree that he and Rosalynn did so many good things for this world and tried to share their faith and help so many. He live a good long life and so did she. Take care and big hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteHey Kay!! Happy 2025 to you also! Thanks very much for leaving a comment here, you are such a sweet doll. Am I remembering that you have a sister named Rhonda? You will have to tell me if I am right. I can't remember passwords to save my life but certain things are lodged in my brain for always! Just as my fondness for Kay in Texas! xx (Oh, I hope I got Texas right too!!) LOL!!
DeleteThat's a lovely tree. Happy New Year and best wishes for 2025. The W and G film is worth seeing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bob! Happy New Year to you too! YES!! I was so happy to see that I can watch Wallace and Gromit today! I KNOW you have seen it, you lucky DOG!! LOL!!
DeleteTá súil agam nach rithfidh ach an t-ádh leat i mbliana! I wish you good luck in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteOh, I am wishing you good luck in this year also!! That appears to be Gaelic, you must tell me if that is right! x
DeleteHow wonderful to still have an ornament made by your child and your tree looks fantastic. Alas, my kids ornaments have disintegrated over the years, but I still put the framed picture of the three of them visiting Santa at a department on the Christmas tree. There own kids think its hilarious! Jimmy Carter was a wonderful human being, and it is great he lived to 100. Although not always in our news in Australia, I have followed him over the years, and admired his works: Habitat for Humanity, Nobel Peace Prize etc. Happy New Year to you both.
ReplyDeleteI only had the one child so I kept a LOT of my son's things! (I have tried to tell myself that I don't have to keep EVERYTHING! LOL!) Jimmy Carter did a lot for the environment that I think is not publicized as much. In fact, I have written of Panola Mountain on this blog. It was under his watch that it became a National Natural Landmark! And look up Jimmy Carter and Alaska! And solar energy! And Guinea worm eradication! I could go on (and people say I do) but you get the idea! Happy new year to you and your husband in lovely Australia! x
DeleteI was also sad to hear about President Carter's passing.
ReplyDeleteI pray you and yours have a blessed and beautiful 2025!
Oh Mimi, I thought of you in Louisiana after that horrific truck attack in New Orleans. I knew the victims would have had to be young since it was the early hours of New Year's Day. Bless you in 2025. Take care.
DeleteI think that President Carter was one of the most appreciated presidents by many people. He had an unfortunate time during his presidency but the real thing for me was that, unlike many power grabbers, he was a Good Person.
ReplyDeleteYou know I am in total agreement. See the comment that I made to my friend Patricia in Australia above. The wilderness that he saved in Alaska was threatened to have a road put through it. He lobbied and worked to NOT have this done and this was accomplished when he was 98 years old! Isn't that amazing? A very good person, indeed!
DeleteHappy New Year, Kay! Here's wishing you much happiness and health in 2025.
ReplyDeleteHey Ed! Happy new year to you too! Hope all is well with you in the great state of North Carolina!
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