Being as enamored as I am with the events that occurred when we fought for our independence from England, I have seen my fair share of paintings of George Washington, as well as mannequins (shudder – “Unhidden Figures”), busts and massive statues of him on his horse. There are multiple…
Piper can’t come to Sister Rain right now. He’s on the phone. #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piper #busybird
Have you ever gone on a tour to see where your favorite chocolate is made or the pretzels you have loved since you were a kid? My husband and I are huge Seattle Seahawks fans. We have been fortunate to attend several games in Seattle over the last 30 years….
A personal question, please. How do you manage your passwords? I know, I know. Touchy subject. Everyone seems to have their own process, either keeping them in their head, storing them in their phone, entering them in an app developed just for this purpose. And then there is the approach…
At Sea-Tac International Airport for my return flight home after a idyllic week in the Pacific Northwest, I was told to surrender my white mobility cane at the security checkpoint. I have it on good authority that I am permitted to keep it with me so I always push back,…
We are all familiar with the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and the Capital. There is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with its two black granite walls engraved with the names of those service members who died or remain missing as a result of their service in the…
It is NEVER a good idea to bring a feathered or furry friend into your family by way of an impulsive decision. There are many horror stories about the novelty of the new addition wearing off. One that comes to mind is bunnies purchased at Easter, only to be dumped…
You probably know that Starbucks originated in Seattle, but you may not be aware that that whole area is the land of coffee. They take their hot beverages made from beans from a tree very seriously, but are also playful with it. My kind of people. I previously wrote about…
“Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.” —- Sister Rain #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #portorchard #visibility
There is a great irony in the fact that I cannot see very well yet sometimes I see things that no one else does. The latest optic-neuropathy illusion occurred in my home as I came down the steps early one morning. We keep a night light on for Piper and…
At Crystal City Sports Pub in Arlington, Virginia, I listened to the Army – Navy game’s second half being shown on large televisions mounted on every possible wall space throughout. Being played 15 miles away, an equal amount of cheers and groans could be heard from other patrons. I always…
I am often asked what I get Piper for Christmas and the answer is nothing. Believe me when I say he has everything he needs and then some, all provided throughout the year. This does not mean, however, that Piper doesn’t get to participate in Christmas. He loves wrapping paper….
The massive ferries that I have encountered in my travels (“A Ferry Different Way Of Life”) remind me of cruise ships. Especially when all lit up at night, they bring to mind Puerto Vallarta (to a girl growing up in Pennsylvania “The Love Boat” and Mexico might as well have…
People don’t seem to be able to talk about New Year’s without bringing up resolutions, whether they believe in them or not. And although one thing most people agree on is that you should look ahead and not back, I offer a different approach to the next 12 months. I…
My husband does not hover since my vision loss, he knows that I will ask for help when I need it. That said, he is very considerate of my visual impairment, always thinking ahead to make travel and events as easy as possible for me. While in Washington state, we…
This tree at Arlington Nantional Cemetery has been witness to countless military burials, as our brave men and women in uniform’s caskets, draped in the American flag, are lowered into the earth in this extraordinary location. It has been privy to personal grief, public ceremony, scorching heat and snowfall powdering…
Have you ever seen a bird hold a shoelace in his beak, while balancing on a sneaker, and rubbing his own neck with his foot? #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piper #neverhaveiever #neverhaveieverpiperedition
If you think about it, your path crosses with so many people in the course of a lifetime, fleeting interactions that leave no trace of the individuals who held a door for you, waited on you at a restaurant, sat next to you on a plane. But sometimes what should…
A few weeks ago, my husband and I, along with our friend, Linda, made our annual pre-Christmas trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We have been doing this for several years, it has become a treasured tradition each December. Mister Rain and I go out there a few other times each year,…
I am not nor ever have been a girlie girl. But there was a time early in my career when I wore dresses, heels and pantyhose to work everyday. The thing I find most ironic is that in those days, in my 20s, I plastered my face with liquid foundation…
In going through some boxes of items that belonged to my mom after her death, I found many of the things inside were actually my nana’s, who had passed away in 1996. I wish my mom had shown them to me when she brought them home from my nana’s but…
*Zygodactyl is the definition of a bird’s feet having two toes pointing forward and two backward. When I cleaned out the basket I kept for when our nephew visited, long after he had outgrown its contents, I donated the bat and wiffle ball, the children’s books in good condition…
“If only, on the ground, just a thin curtain separated us from more leg room, larger seats and free drinks.” —- Sister Rain #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindtraveler #travel #sheerclass
Where is your happy place? The beach? The mountains? Somewhere in between? Maybe it’s your home or a particular football stadium in Seattle. Mine is a little location called The Container Store. My belief is that it is what heaven will be, that the smell of hard plastic bins will…
I have always enjoyed cooking and am grateful that it is something I am still able to do with my vision loss. There are more steps in the process, additional tricks and Tom foolery needed to compensate for, you know, not being able to see. One recipe that I make…
When Mister Rain was a boy, he had a GI Joe. Some forty plus years later, he still plays with dolls. And I have the pictures to prove it. My husband is the Chief Photographer here at Sister Rain LLC. In “From Hubby To Business”, I share the challenges he…
Piper fascinates me in many ways. It makes sense, after all, he is a parrot, I am not. Piper can sometimes be territorial over his favorite toys. For example, he may attack your hand if you are replacing the sticks he has pulled out of his hanging wood toy. At…
Do you recognize when you are content? Like me, I bet you are often too caught up in the logistics of a life, the balls in the air that must not fall, the speed of juggling always needing to increase. When do any of us have time to take a…
I took 5 years of Spanish in school but there is another language I spoke that no one talks about anymore. I doubt if my 19-year-old nephew has ever even heard of it. It is the language of lines and squiggles: SHORTHAND. My mom took it in the early 1950s,…
Although my tagline is “A Little Sight, A Lot of Heart,” it really could be “I Loves Me Some Technology.” I have written many a story about my iPad and its features, what I am able to do because of them. There are so many apps to assist the blind…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the twelfth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
It is no secret that Piper is a little angel. And he’s got the wings to prove it. #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piper #piperssecret
I once again have led my long-suffering husband to new treasures along the highways and byways of this great country. I never tell the poor man where we are going, I navigate us to the address, telling him to be on the lookout for anything “unusual.” Mister Rain is not…
I have never used a meat thermometer, although I do have one that was provided to me by Blind & Visual Services when they came to the house about a year after my vision loss to see what tools and gadgets they could offer me to assist with daily living….
For many years, I attended Philadelphia Flyers games at the Wells Fargo Center, although back then it had a different name. I shared season tickets with a friend and my mom and I would cheer on our hockey team there often. When I met my husband we would attend games…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the eleventh story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
Although the end result is worth it, air travel is never easy and always exhausting. Recently at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a flight home, the TSA PreCheck line was the longest we had ever seen it, causing my husband and I to wonder had everyone caught on to this time…
Sister Rain’s Note: Happy Thanksgiving, friends. Piper, Mister Rain and I are so grateful for your support of Sister Rain and offer you this old joke we heard many years ago. Given the times that we live in, I need to preface the below by saying that you should NEVER…
I have been thinking a lot about loss lately, we have attended several funerals this year, lost others whose loved ones chose not to hold any service. My world seems to be getting smaller and it is very upsetting. As we age, it is natural that we lose our parents…
I am unable to see myself very well in a mirror, not because I am a vampire but because of my visual impairment. From time to time, I take a selfie to check my hair and makeup, since I can enlarge it. Interesting fact: the magnification level I would need…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the tenth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
As I have previously shared (“Love Is Love“), Piper has a girlfriend who just happens to be a hand vacuum. Occasionally, he will climb atop his gal, just because. Piper is living his best life and nothing makes me happier. Even though I want to be his #1 girl, I…
During our recent trip to Washington state, we went on a whale watch out of Port Townsend with the company, Puget Sound Express. Although I hoped we would see some whales, I am always happy to be on the water. During the safety talk before we left the dock, the…
My husband is in charge of our polling location. It is something he has felt passionately about and committed to for 20 years. It is an incredible responsibility and I admire and respect him greatly. The Saturday before each election, the materials needed are delivered to our home, the Monday…
As I finished up at the Feinbloom Low Vision Center in Philadelphia, my husband and I both used the restrooms in the lobby before heading to the car for the drive home. As we were almost out the door, Kerry, the Director of the Low Vision Rehabilitation Program, called my…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the ninth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World”http://www.sisterrain.net/becoming-a-daughter-in-my-fifties/ “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
On occasion, we will let Piper play on the floor. We only do this when we are there to supervise but while watching him, he has the run of the living room. He likes to push his toys across the wood floor, or toss his ball to us and have…
During our first trip to Seattle in 1995, a friend and his wife met us at the airport to show us around. They were from California and very familiar with a coffee place that first started in this, the Emerald City. We went to the original, the first store of…
I never want to be someone who gushes about their spouse on social media, who complains about them all year until their birthday or anniversary rolls around. That represents everything I detest about the form. What I will offer, from time to time, are true stories of my life with…
As you would probably imagine, I have most of the visual accessibility features turned on on my iPhone and iPad, the most obvious the large font. I was on a plane recently and being in such close quarters made me think about how someone with full sight could easily read…
=Sister Rain’s Note: This is the eighth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
A little bird, a lot of energy. #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piper #alittlebirdalotofenergy #piperstagline
On our last night in Port Orchard, Washington, we ended our wonderful week-long stay by going to Carter And Company for ice cream. It was a lovely night, so we took our cones outside. Two young men approached, one carrying flowers and a sign. They discussed a plan of some…
Other than getting back to Piper, I am never ready for a trip to be over. That said, like everyone, once the time comes, if I gotta go, I just want to get there. And so I found myself on a Monday night at Philadelphia International Airport, sitting on one…
While waiting for my husband to go get the rental car upon our arrival at SeaTac International Airport, I sat on one of our suitcases. It was a beautiful October morning, I was so happy to be there. Funny how the second time you arrive at an airport in a…
ISister Rain’s Note: This is the seventh story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
Having a bird in the family before Piper, when he adopted us in 2012 we knew a hand vacuum was mandatory. After doing some research, we purchased a Dirt Devil. Every night before bed, Piper and his daddy would clean up around his mansion (we never call it a cage…
Although we are flawed as human beings, it occurred to me the other day that there are perfect moments. Your child snuggled up against you in bed as you read them a story. Locking eyes with your soon-to-be husband waiting for you at the altar. There are perfect places too….
I am very afraid of falling and hurting myself as a result of my limited vision. Every time I leave my house, it is a big concern for me. I have only fallen twice in the 12 years since waking up blind. Tempting fate much, Sister Rain? Last week I…
Unpacking from a trip, I placed a half used pack of bathroom wipes in the corner cabinet by the toilet, ready for action. A few days later, I finally needed to put makeup on, the first time since I had returned home. Emptying my travel makeup bag, I found a…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the sixth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty” “This…
They are prehistoric. Dinosaur -like. Reptilian, even. They are zygodactl: two toes in front and two in the back. They are amazing, my boy’s little feet. When Piper eats, he holds the food with one foot while balancing on the other like Simone Biles on the beam. He can climb…
What is it about preparing for a trip that causes us to go a little retail crazy? All of a sudden the socks and underwear – don’t even get me started on the bras – you have had for far longer than is civilized all need to be replaced. Not…
Since computers first became a normal staple on our desks, when experiencing a technical problem, that age-old question from the Help Desk, “Did you reboot?” has become a joke. I no longer use a computer (iPad User On Mother Board) nor do I I have an in-house IT Department. I,…
At my recent annual visit with my neuro-ophthalmologist at Wills Eye Hospital, even I could see the thickness of my file as it lay on the desk while a technician did my initial examination. It made me wonder: would you rather have a thin or thick folder? Immediately you would…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the fifth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“” “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty”…
There is no doubt that our pets rely on us for everything. Because of this, even when we don’t feel like stopping what we are doing to fill their water bowls or we are too comfortable on the couch to take them out, it is not an option to stay…
I once again have led my long-suffering husband to new treasures along the highways and byways of this great country. I never tell the poor man where we are going, I navigate us to the address, telling him to be on the lookout for anything “unusual.” Mister Rain is not…
“When light breaks through the darkness, there is nothing more beautiful.” — Sister Rain Sister Rain’s Note: This photo was taken by Mister Rain at 11:47 pm from our rental home’s bedroom in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He thinks it may be the best photo he has ever taken. I…
While watching the Paralympics, during a visually impaired race in the pool, the announcer told us that the swimmers are unable to see their competition in the other lanes, so they don’t know how they are performing comparatively. Once they complete the event, someone has to tell them where they…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the fourth story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World” “The Son-In-Law Of Liberty“ …
Piper can sit on my shoulder for a long time. Any weight I had felt there before he settled in, gone, exchanged for 100 grams of feathers and love. #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piper #shoulderdislocation
I have visited lighthouses before going to Maine, but in that state they are as common as CVS, there is one on every corner. I am exaggerating, of course, but their prevalence is not a tall tale. Although our rental house was in Boothbay Harbor, we traveled north one day,…
We have all heard of muscle memory, most of us have experienced it, most likely without even knowing it. One of my examples is writing, by which I mean holding a pen and putting it to actual paper. I cannot see what I am writing, I can only get a…
Sister Rain’s Note: I will preface this post by saying that I do not condone any deplorable behavior the actor who played the character I am about to reference may have conducted against women. I love Mr. Big from “Sex and the City.” I was upset when he died…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the third story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvania“ “The Search Heard Round The World“ Once my husband had…
Piper ain’t afraid of no ghosts; he loves bottles of all shapes and sizes. And his Mommy loves emptying them . . . #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piper #abootifulteam
You know how music can transport you back to a time and place? How we know where we were when a significant personal event occurred, or one that was as far reaching as it can get and still be on this planet, like September 11, 2001. I am NOT comparing…
My husband is known as “Mister Rain” on this website and he loves it. Whenever he tells someone new about Sister Rain, I am thankful that he is spreading the word, that he is proud of me. But then he immediately tells the person of his online moniker. My gratitude…
The day before the Purple Heart was supposed to pick up items I had for donation, I realized that I had not received a confirmation since scheduling the appointment. I began Googling “confirm Purple Heart pickup”. I glanced through the results then chose one to learn what it suggested. There…
Sister Rain’s Note: This is the second story in a series about my search for an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War. To read the previous posts, click on the following: “Historical Society Of Pennsylvia“ I have had a dream for many years to find…
When we brought Piper home from the rescue where he had been for two years, I still had my full sight. As we prepared to leave with him, we decided to place him on the passenger seat in his travel carrier while my husband drove, with me in the back…
My husband does not eat seafood of any kind. This can be a challenge when we travel to places like Maine, when I want as much of it as I can possibly get. We were relieved to find that Mister Rain would not have to live on chicken fingers off…
I love you, Weather App. But after “Tornado Watch”, is the “& 1 More” really necessary? #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #auntiem #wwdd #whatwoulddorothydo
When I was a corporate meeting manager, I oversaw a team of meeting coordinators and administrative staff, as well as outside vendors such as audio visual companies, translators, entertainment, production crews. I loved doing site visits at multiple hotels to pick the perfect venue for an event, then months later…
In the years that my husband has been researching our ancestors, we have become intimately acquainted with old cemeteries and genealogy organizations. We have made several trips to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in downtown Philadelphia, it being our first foray into a place like this. Part library, research, educational,…
Sister Rain’s Note: In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me”…
It is always nice to bring home a memento from a trip, it used to be t-shirts and newspapers (my husband loves out-of-town papers) but over time, we began to look for items we could display in our home. We have also begun to collect radio stations in our travels,…
Books and interviews by Anderson Cooper, as well as his podcast, “All There Is,” have taught me to ask someone who has told me a loved one has passed away what the deceased person’s name is. When I first heard this, I committed to the inquiry from that point forward….
Growing up, our neighbor two houses down had an in-ground pool, I spent most weekdays each summer there. Once I was in junior high, I joined my friends at the community pool until I began working at age 16. The Junes, Julys and Augusts of my youth were spent in…
This is my dining room table, the papers scattered across it are proofreading notes and edits to be made on stories I am drafting. If I need to handwrite something, I use a sharpie, printing very large. I am slightly embarrassed to tell you that most of what you read…
Sister Rain’s Note: In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me”…
On the Upper East Side of Manhattan, my husband and I met a couple from the UK. Our tables at the diner were very close together, their distinctive accents left no doubt about where they were from. Over scrambled eggs and pancakes, we struck up a conversation. On a two-week…
I started seeing a therapist a few months into my vision loss, when no one knew if my full sight would be restored. I had made a visit to my primary care physician a few weeks after my sudden blindness, and she gently made the suggestion that I might want…
Although my husband and I have our annoyances with each other in the normal way that 30+ years betrothed do, we are good partners in the daily duties of life, as well as when the big things occur. We have very different personalities and dispositions, yet our interests and values…
As I have shared on this website, I have visited sites where significant events in US History took place. I also have had the privilege and honor to lay wreaths at Veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery on Wreaths Across America Day. I have seen the end. Recently I had…
Sister Rain’s Note: In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me”…
My husband and I recently cracked open our PF Chang’s cookies to find the above fortunes inside. If one had said, “You will choose to never leave your house again,” the other’s would have read: “You will get a divorce.” #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindtraveler #travel #pfchangs #fortunately
I am relatively fearless which has served me well. I am, however, scared of mannequins. Now I am not talking about the bald, faceless fiberglass and plastic models you would find in department stores (remember them?) wearing clothes and accessories perfectly. I am specifically referring to the life-sized figures found…
In the previously published story, “Hats Off To My Hats,” I mentioned that a baseball hat brim is a useful tool for the visually impaired, as sunglasses often add to the darkness we are already living with. A ball cap cuts down on any glare we may be experiencing. It’s…
On this day in Sister Rain history, I may lose some followers. I hope you won’t go, but if the boot were on the other foot, who is to say I would not also head for zee hills? In the previously published “I Spy Setauket, Long Island,” “Fraunces Tavern,” and…
In the previously published, “I Spy Setauket, Long Island,” I share the true story of General George Washington’s Spy Ring, comprised of a group of childhood friends who became a network of spies during the American Revolutionary War. Setauket, New York is where Abe, Anna, Ben and Caleb lived, it…
A few months ago, I published the story, “Such A Fine Sight To See,” about Roadside Attractions. On a recent trip to Maine, I was able to direct my long-suffering husband to new treasures along the highways and byways of this great country. I give you the latest fine sights:…
For over 30 years of my life, summer meant one thing: the beach. That all came to an end when my mom died in 2012 of stage 4 gall bladder cancer. F CANCER. Sure, I could have continued to go without her, but then I lost my sight five months…
On the one year anniversary of an incredibly large, random act of goodwill having been bestowed upon me by a complete stranger in Sedona, Arizona, (“An Iced Vanilla Latte With An Unexpected Shot Of Kindness“), on the other side of the country, kindness strikes twice. Returning to our car in…
Did you watch the Paris Parrotlympics? My husband and I did, we recorded them every night, viewing them from our DVR the following evening. We also sought out more thorough coverage on Peacock for those sports we are particularly fond of. We, of course, loved cheering our boy on as…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 10 / 10 “And all I got is tortured with this Nantucket light for the Christmas card.” — Piper #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #nantucket #nantucketmassachusetts #sisterrainnantucketweekx2 #nantucketislandchamberofcommerce #barnabystoyandart #momanddadwenttonantucket
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 9 / 10 Per the calendar it was time to leave Nantucket. My heart said something different. But we packed our bags, followed the instructions for closing up the rental house. We had time to kill until our 2:45 pm ferry so we drove around,…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 8 / 10 Even though it was October, we had to go to the beach before we left Nantucket. On our last full day, we walked down the path next to our house, allowing the pounding surf of the south shore to guide us. The…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 7 / 10 Today’s piece, as well as yesterday’s, will share with you all the things I did while on Nantucket. Twenty years of reading about thee places was the most extensive research I have ever done before a trip. Nantucket is Elin Hilderbrand and…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 6 / 10 Today’s piece, as well as tomorrow’s, will share with you all the things I did while on Nantucket. Twenty years of reading about these places was the most extensive research I have ever done before a trip. Nantucket is Elin Hilderbrand and…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 5 / 10 There are no chain eateries on Nantucket. Although my husband and I are not fancy people, especially when it comes to food, we were not looking for fast food anyway during our time there. Mister Rain is a meat and potatoes guy,…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 3 / 10 I had read about the Sconset Bluff Walk months prior to our trip, learning that it is on a public footpath along the east shore’s high bluffs behind private houses. The trail is very narrow at times and is not level. While…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 4 / 10 I may have previously shared with you that my husband loves to go to grocery stores when we travel. Upon arrival at our lodging, he unloads the car and as he says, “Gets out of her way,” so that her (me) can…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 2 / 10 I have spent the last 20 years reading books about Nantucket, written by Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer, both residents of the island located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. They write of fictional people in a non-fictional place, every…
SISTER RAIN NANTUCKET WEEK X2 1 / 10 “Nantucket is an island located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The only ways to get there are by plane or ferry. Or by reading Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer books.” — Sister Rain #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindtraveler…
I am not a birder. I live with a bird, I consider myself a Piper expert, but I know nothing about other of his kind. Two friends told me about the app, Merlin Bird ID By Cornell Lab. It will identify birds you see and hear; I have only used…
My husband and I travel well together, including navigation, which can be a challenge for some couples. It may surprise you to learn that I am the navigator. I am in charge of entering our destination into my iPhone, then aiding and abetting Siri to get us where we are…
Despite loving to visit many different places, I have doubted that I could move from the area that I have called home my entire life. Others do it and I admire them for it. While on a whale watch in Maine, as we passed one of many islands, the narrator…
Sister Rain is hitting the slopes! No, she’s not. Never has, never will. Sister Rain is sporting the latest sunglass trend, recently debuted at Paris Fashion Week! No, she’s not. Never has, never will. Then what the heck are these goggles all about? Prior to testing at the Hospital of…
“Every morning I am reminded of how grateful I am that George & Co. won.” — Sister Rain #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #ushistory #theonlyteaformeistheoneinliberty
May we all be as curious about the world around us as Piper is, even about the simplest things. And may we not let the trepidation of something new, something big and scary, prevent us from exploring it further. Lea Black Beauty products are my skincare of choice, but to…
While on one of our many cemetery trips for history’s sake, my husband and I found ourselves walking around the beautiful East Cemetery in Litchfield, Connecticut. Mister Rain immediately noticed that many gravestones had plants surrounding them, something we had never seen before. Speaking to a man visiting his wife,…
A few years ago, my husband purchased a new suit in preparation for the upcoming wedding of a dear friend’s daughter. He is not a man who has had to wear a suit often, these days, who is? He has only ever had one at a time. Last week as…
As I settled into a chair in the foyer of my hair salon, my stylist greeted me from the desk in the main room. She immediately asked me if that was my baseball hat hanging on the peg rack across from me. I said, no, that it wasn’t and she…
In an empty field in Tappan, New York, they have begun a touching tradition of honoring their own. Each flag represents individuals currently serving in our active-duty military, fallen servicemen and women, first responders, veterans, hometown heroes, frontline workers, 9/11 victims and COVID-19 victims. There were 16 rows of 16…
Sam The Eagle #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #muppets #samtheeagle #pipertheconureassamtheeagle
I hate to pack. HATE it. Always have, even when travel was as routine to me as driving a half hour to my office every day. I used to have Excel spreadsheets for packing, both personal and business. Now I have the list on my Apple devices. You would think…
“Cloudy or sunny, it’s a day.” —- Sister Rain #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #aday
It is not easy to always be a passenger, even when running local errands with my husband or going to lunch with a friend. I LOVED to drive before my vision loss so there’s that, plus the fact that a huge portion of independence comes from being able to operate…
At The Ice Cream Shoppe in Highland Falls, New York, 1.2 miles from the United States Military Academy West Point, we waited for our turn to place our order. My husband called me over to some shelving near the window, then read me the sign that you see at the…
Sometimes when I am cleaning the grate that goes in the bottom of Piper’s mansion, he likes to “help”, climbing up its rows to hang out for a bit. It slows me down but how can I feel that way with this cuteness? There are many times when Piper just…
At 7:12 am on the first morning of vacation, my husband and I heard the loud sound of machinery being operated close by. He investigated, reporting that there were landscapers mowing and weed wacking the yard of our rental home. I was enjoying my coffee and a mimosa on the…
I am a woman of a certain age so sleep is no longer my friend. Correction, I love sleep, always have, but it is now unrequited. I often wake up at 4 or 5 am, after an hour fully alert, I fall back only to end up dreaming some craziness…
In the never-ending irony that is my life, and possibly yours, since losing my sight even the most routine functions require me to jump through hoops. Hoops that I cannot see. #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter #blindnessisaspectrum #opticneuropathy #visuallyimpaired #blind #hoopswhereitis
Whenever I take handwritten notes, instead of using my phone or iPad, I use a Sharpie, writing very large so that I can see it later. I always end up with black Sharpie ink all over my hands. I joke that I feel like a child with finger paint under my…
Sister Rain’s Note: In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me”…
As we crossed the bridge into Cape Elizabeth, Maine, I was transported back to an early morning last December. My husband and I were at Arlington National Cemetery, waiting for the gates to be opened for the start of Wreaths Across America Day. We had only been home from Washington…
When we are very young, we cling to our parents. Once we have entered double digits, it does not take long before the battle for independence begins. By our teenage years, this fight makes the Revolutinary War seem like a discussion with your spouse about what to binge next (although…
How is it, do you suppose, that blue became the poster child for sadness? It doesn’t seem fair that this one color bears the burden of unhappiness. “Blue Christmas” is the anthem for the melancholy during their least wonderful time of the year. If I had been given the choice…
When you live with a disability, you spend your days adapting to a world created and operating for anatomically correct people. Sorry, Ken. I have never liked the word “accept” but “adapt” is something I can get behind as it is necessary to survive when something goes wrong with your…
During the first weeks after a vacation, I am always thinking about what I was doing at that same day of the week and time while I was away. Friday, 2 pm: Whale Watch, Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Sunday, 4 pm: Seahawks game, Lunen Field, Seattle, Washington. Wednesday, 7 am: Pink…
Piper waits his turn with our other founding feathers to sign the Declaration of Independence. #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #fourthofjuly #foundingfeathers #piperhanco
Most of what I write about here has already occurred, a trip or an experience I have had, and, therefore, photographs have been taken organically. When an image is needed, I will figure out what that is, often asking my husband for assistance as documented in the story, “From Hubby…
In December while traveling to the Washington, DC area, my husband and I went across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (not to be confused with the tunnel). I thought about the places Mister Rain and I have been in the last few years. The water beneath us, I realized, is the…
As I passed by the Christmas decorations inside our home, noticing the wreath on the front door needed new batteries, I thought about the second Wreaths Across America Day my husband and I had just volunteered at a few weeks prior. I wondered how I might make some type of…
Sister Rain’s Note: In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me”…
I could never be a server at a restaurant. I don’t have the temperament for it, what I do have is tremendous respect for those who can do the job. Demanding customers, workload, hot kitchens, mercurial chefs, there is an endless list of challenges to be endured while I enjoy…
There is a small photo in our home office of my husband and me taken a few months after we started dating. While we were both in that room recently, I picked up the framed image, showing it to Mister Rain. “Who are these two kids?,” I asked. He laughed….
As I licked the last envelope for a mailing to promote Sister Rain, I picked up the pile of 50, pushing together both sides and the top with my hands, the bottom cradled securely by the desk. Something in the back of the stack brushed my thumb so I investigated….
On the morning of Wreaths Across America Day, as soon as the alarm went off in my hotel room, I was reflective about the Veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Not just the idea of them, but as real people. Going through the steps to get ready for the day,…
Sister Rain’s Note: In 2015, I published 9.5 parts of “Piper & Me: A Love Story.” Beginning in March 2024 I reposted them weekly. I have since written new chapters and will continue to do so. If you would like to read any of the parts, type “Piper & Me”…
“For the past thirty years, I have returned to the same home after every trip. But I have never come back the same person I was when I left.” — Sister Rain #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindtraveler #travel #amigoingtoneedanewpassport
Hindsight is 20/20 but what about looking ahead? When talking about the future, the acuity is as black as my vision was those first few weeks after waking up blind. We can plan, we can use our past experiences to anticipate specific outcomes, creating the optical illusion that we can…
Walking around a store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, sitting on a couch in a beautiful vignette of outdoor furniture, was a large wooden Tic Tac Toe board. It stopped me short, taking my breath away a bit. Most games are no longer possible for me, or if they are, they are…
My husband and I took photos of every Veteran’s stone whom we placed wreaths for on Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery. When we returned home, Mister Rain began researching each serviceperson using GOG (good ole Google), Ancestry.com as well as newspapers.com. He was able to find obituaries,…
For years I was asked if we were having children. Boy, or girl, I do not miss that question! I always replied that it was not our plan, that my husband and I wanted to travel as much as possible. I always ended by saying that if it happened, we…
Every time I retire a pair of sneakers, I like to think about all the places they have been during their tenure with me. Especially now, when I wear my Brooks or New Balance 95% of my waking hours. If you think about it, our shoes are what make contact…
How many times have you wondered, “Whatever happened to so-and-so?” Maybe it’s an old classmate or neighbor, a former love or colleague. It’s relatively easy to track someone down these days, many people do. While riding my spin bike the other day, “Midnight Blue” by Lou Gramm came into my…
The empty photo at the top of this post is not a mistake, it is full of emojis. However,I cannot see emojis. Certainly not the end of the world in the grand scheme of life in vision loss, but it is worth mentioning because of that fact. It is something…
My husband and I had been in Washington, DC in November of 2021. We always visit Arlington National Cemetery when in the area. We don’t have anyone in our families buried there, but we both have relatives who have served. It was during this visit that we saw some information…
SISTER RAIN SEDONA WEEK 5/5 “And all I got is this fake photo of me there!” — Piper #sisterrain #alittlesightalotofheart #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #sedonaarizona #sedonaweekatsisterrain #momanddadwenttosedona
SISTER RAIN SEDONA WEEK 4/5 The last time I was in Sedona was a month before going blind in late 2012. Returning last May was a milestone for me which I documented in the post, “Red Rock, Paper, Scissors, Past, Future.” Here, however, I want to share with you my…
SISTER RAIN SEDONA WEEK 3/5 Sedonuts in Sedona, Arizona! I mean, COME ON!!! In all my travels I have not found any other company moniker that comes close. If I had a gold statue to present to them, I would deliver it personally, not because I would find donuts and…
SISTER RAIN SEDONA WEEK 2/5 On our last full day in Arizona before flying home, we spent a leisurely morning on the deck of our rental house, enjoying our coffee and the magnificent view. I also had my traditional vacation morning mimosa. We finally headed out a few hours…
SISTER RAIN SEDONA WEEK 1/5 A little more than a month before I woke up blind, my husband and I returned to Sedona, Arizona for a week. I have been fortunate to have traveled often, and I would say Sedona is at the top of my list. Ever since my…
As we get older, we tend to want to relax, reap the rewards from a life spent raising children and contributing to society through our careers. It’s only natural to be ready to exhale, perhaps our first since adulthood became our own, no longer belonging just to our parents. There…
I have never understood how it is that a plane can fly. At the height of my air travel for work, when I flew several times a month, I read books about it. I felt that if I was spending so much time at 40,000 feet I should educate myself…
So much of life is temporary, yet for the most part, we live as though everything is permanent. Jobs, relationships, homes and driver’s licences may not be forever, however, we think, we expect, that they are. Life itself is a temporary condition. We all know the truth of the matter,…
Low vision means having impaired vision that cannot be corrected by glasses, surgery or medication. I don’t use the term often, I usually say that I am visually impaired or legally blind. A low vision center provides advice, techniques and devices to make the most of your remaining vision. If…
Going to a concert at a venue close to home in 2008, the opening act was a local singer-songwriter, Dan May. I was so moved by his music that I went home that evening after the show and purchased four of his songs on iTunes. I looked him up as…
People ask us all the time if Piper talks. Honestly, it drives me crazy. Of all the parts that make up Piper, it is the very last characteristic I would think of. I want to ask the person posing the question if their dog or cat converses? But I don’t,…
Born and raised outside of Philadelphia, my husband became a Seattle Seahawks fan when they joined the NFL in 1976. At the time, their quarterback was left-handed Jim Zorn. Southpaw Mister Rain, age 9, had his team. His fate was sealed; fourteen years later when we met, so was mine….
I first met Rick at the New Jersey shore point my mom and I frequented, not long after I obtained my driver’s license. Every summer until her death in 2012, we would go stay at the beach for five days at a time, three times each summer, as well as…
Remember that picture (above) where you might see a young woman but someone else will look at the same drawing and spot an older woman instead? Being visually impaired can be like that every day. I shopped for this lamp online, shown at the top of this post. I purchased…
I am terrible with measurements. For example, I was recently looking for a new birdbath (for the outside birds, not Piper) as our old one broke last fall. The online listing would say 22”, prompting me to get a tape measure to see what that looked like. Of course I…
Most parrots have an oil gland that drains into the base of their tail, however, this organ is absent in Amazon parrots, which includes Piper. Technically he was hatched in Florida, but his species hails from the forests of South America. The gland performs many functions, including waterproofing and keeping…
I have had the great fortune to have visited some beautiful places the last few years, lodging in rental homes with spectacular views. As I sit on the couch looking out the floor to ceiling wall of windows of the current temporary property, the waters of Rich Pass in Port…
As the people in our lives pass away or we part ways, portions of our past go with them. Everyone in my family is gone, I am not in contact with anyone from my childhood. The person in my current life whom I have known the longest is my hair…
My friend has a senior cat named Ruffy with extreme vertigo. I knew he had the condition, but the first time I saw him I was upset. I have a real soft spot for any feathered or furry soul, it was sad to see him having to walk with his…
From 2010 – 2019 this website was a pastime for me. I took it seriously, the perfectionist in me allowing nothing less, but it was easy, it was fun. When I made the decision last summer to start creating new content after four years away, it stopped being a hobby…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old orange-fronted conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper…
Mount Rainier You are 14,411 feet in elevation. You are the highest mountain in Washington. You are elusive, visible only 60% of the time. You show yourself best in summer. In the 30 total days we’ve spent in the Seattle area, all during football season, you have revealed yourself 10…
I have slept in the same bed for 36 years. I purchased it with a dresser, bureau, living room set and dining room table with 4 chairs in 1988 when I moved out of my parents’ home and into my first apartment. A few years later, I would meet my…
As I sit looking out the familiar oblong airplane window, I am able to make out the sky, its clouds and Iowa below. I have sat in this same scenario over a hundred times, enjoying this view. It is a duplicate of previous sightings, however, I am not a match…
I have been to the Pentagon and Flight 93 Memorials and they are absolute perfection. I wrote about them in “Flight 93 National Memorial” and “National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.” We had visited Ground Zero in New York City in March of 2002, six months after that day, viewing the incomprehensible…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old orange-fronted conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper…
Do you remember Fotomat, the drive-thru photo development kiosks in the early 80’s? The shopping center near my home where one once stood is still in operation, although the stores have changed 20 times since then. There is no trace of the little building, no chalk-drawing outline of a company…
We have all heard that when someone’s time on this earth is in peril, their life can flash before their eyes. I’m guessing that when the term “life” is used, it encompasses the good, the bad and the in-between. There is a fun way to see just the good in…
Dear Friends, I have a favor to ask, please, no Go Fund Me account involved. I want your eyes. Be My Eyes is a free app that can be used with iPhones and Androids. Here’s how it works. You become a sighted volunteer by downloading the free app from the…
My mom’s dad, Pop-Pop to me, was born in 1898. He died when I was 7 so I don’t remember him very well, although I was extremely close to my nana until her own death, 25 years after her husband’s passing. When she died, her memorabilia, including photos, was handed down…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old orange-fronted conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper…
I love to fly. It never ceases to amaze me that you can traverse the country in five or six hours. I always find myself thinking about the wooden puzzle I had as a kid, where all the pieces had a little nubbin handle that you used to place the…
Our home was built in 1906. We have lived here 31 years, recently completing a multi-year renovation, as I wrote about in “Restored.” As we brought our ole girl back to life, we couldn’t help but wonder about her inhabitants throughout the years. In the 86 years prior to us…
As you may get tired of reading, I miss driving terribly. Aside from the independence it affords, I LOVED getting behind the wheel, radio on; driving could be considered a favorite hobby of mine. I had a heavy foot, I liked to go fast. For me, no highway was too…
On Thursday, December 4, 1783, General George Washington received the officers of the victorious Continental Army to say farewell in the Long Room of Fraunces Tavern in New York City. Major Benjamin Tallmadge recounts that day in his memoir, as well as General Washington’s words. “With a heart full of…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old orange-fronted conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper…
I used to travel quite frequently to the west coast for work. My colleagues there always teased me about my reaction to their snow capped mountains. They called me a cheap date but what I was is a Pennsylvania girl not used to their unfamiliar landscapes. Where I come from…
I recently reached a milestone that I share with you not to toot my own horn but to encourage you to get involved in the causes that resonate with you. The first company I worked for after I graduated held an American Red Cross blood drive at our office location….
It is human nature to want what we can’t have, at least right now, but I think this concept often relates to a bigger house, fancier car, more money in general. What I have realized recently is that this applies to the little things in life as well. During the…
I first learned of the Culper Spy Ring via the AMC TV series, “TURN: Washington’s Spies.” Based on the book, “Washington’s Spies“, by Alexander Rose, it tells the true story of a group of Long Island childhood friends who became a network of spies during the American Revolutionary War. The…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old orange-fronted conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper…
Have you heard of rail biking*? It’s a specially-designed bike that you pedal along abandoned railroad tracks. I first saw it on Instagram, then a local morning show. I was intrigued, taking to Google, no wheels required, searching for scenic opportunities near home to give it a try. I discovered…
Among my grandmother’s costume jewelry of pearls, pins and clip-on earrings (she was mortified when I got my ears pierced in junior high), I found a bank envelope folded over, rubber banded, with “Cameo” written on it in her cursive writing. It is a different motif than we are accustomed…
I sort of did not understand To me ’twas no big deal The way that people carried on It seemed almost unreal. Yes, day, it turned into the night It happened after noon Is that the sun or could it be Instead that it’s the moon? I realize that for…
The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is a memorial to the 184 victims who died in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 on 9/11. It is made up of 184 illuminated benches, arranged according to the victims’ ages, starting with a 3-year-old and ending with a 71-year-old. Also, a…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old orange-fronted conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper…
You are pronounced suh-waa-row. You are astounding. You are not to be believed. You are majestic. You are vast. You are magnificent. You are visible as far as the eye can see. You are unique. You are odd. Your arms wave. Your arms raise in triumph….
In a fairly empty bin in the attic, amidst yearbooks and old job mementos, is my Girl Scout sash, adorned with pins and badges I earned over 40 years ago. I don’t use Braille but the round discs with a sewn graphic allowed me to trace the raised icons to…
For those of you new to this site, let me review this blind girl’s archenemies to date. Bread / Twisty Ties Electrical Outlets Bobby Pins If you want to read about the above nemeses, click on their names above, you’ll be taken to their posts. Before you go, allow me…
On September 11, 2001, four commercial airliners were hijacked in a planned attack against the United States. Two airliners were flown into the World Trade Center Twin Towers and a third aircraft into the Pentagon. A fourth aircraft, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into an open field near the small…
Sister Rain’s Note: In July 2015 I began a series of posts about Piper, my now 17-year-old conure (a type of parrot) who adopted Mister Rain and me when he was 6. I don’t intend to republish previous content on this site but I think the story of Piper and…
We met in Port Orchard, Washington. I don’t know how long you hung from a branch or how recently you fell to the ground. I do know that you did it gracefully; look at you – how could anything else be possible? I understand the edicts about nature, “leave no…
My mom died five months before my vision loss. She always wanted her ashes to go to her beloved New Jersey beach. She and I were the best of friends, traveling to this coastal town many times together for over 30 years. She died at home. I leave there that…
In layperson’s terms, something attacked my optic nerves. They are a group of nerve fibers that transfer visual information from the eye to the brain. Mine swelled, when the inflammation went down, the nerves were damaged beyond repair. The result is optic neuropathy. My eyes, ironically, are perfectly healthy except…
I have been to Gettysburg National Military Park several times, it’s less than three hours from my home. In recent years it has become personal. My great-great-grandfather was a Union soldier as was his brother. My great-great-grandfather was not at Gettysburg, his brother was. On a previous trip we located his…
Piper had his annual checkup with his veterinarian last week. He got an A+ and although his mom and dad didn’t have any concerns, the news of his excellent health was a relief. You may wonder what a yearly examination of a bird involves. First, while Piper is still in…
This site will never be political and although you may associate the subject of this post as a politician, I assure you it is about a man. My husband and I have tremendous respect for John McCain. We went to see him at a rally near our home when he…
I am not a child. I do not have a child. I do not have a grandchild. And yet I recently visited the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, a collection of interactive exhibits encouraging, no, demanding, that children explore and learn. The reason for my visit was to view artifacts…
Since my vision loss I have loved the idea of an arrow as a symbol of going forward. Several years ago I put a wooden arrow over my bedroom door so that every time I exit I am reminded to keep moving ahead. Recently I heard the arrow being described…
I love to visit where history has occurred, to be in the room where it happened. But what if you were able to actually bear witness to the moments that birthed this nation, to be present when the United States received a proverbial smack on its bottom and let out…
Piper loves jars and bottles, with far greater interest in the outside than what’s inside. That makes him the perfect spokesparrot for skincare, an industry all about exteriors. #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #agedefyingpiper #nobodylikeswrinklyfeathers
I had never flown Alaska Airlines until a few years ago. Our 14-year-old nephew was with us on a flight to Seattle and he realized his wallet was missing when we arrived at our hotel. He was convinced it was stolen in the men’s room at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. My…
They say that a house is made a home by the people who dwell in it; I believe this is true. I also have come to learn that making a house a home requires tender loving care. My husband and I weren’t always the best at that. Blame it on…
In the past 11 years, I have not been able to see my own face in detail nor anyone else’s features. It’s a very peculiar way to go about life, for the obvious reasons and some not so apparent. A stranger smiles or nods at you in a store or…
While we waited for our ferry to Nantucket, we drove around Hyannis Port, parking our car when we could go no further then walking down to the Kennedy compound. No one was around, the driveways were all uninhabited by cars. “The Big House” looked the same as when seen on…
While mom battled the enemy on the bed, pairing clean socks, executing search and rescue missions for AWOL deserters, Piper Doodle Dandy bravely kept watch . . . until he fell asleep. Being a patriot is exhausting! #sisterrain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram #conure #ahelpingwingparrotrescue #piperdoodledandy
We have been to Washington, DC many times and were heading there again for Mister Rain’s beloved Seahawks coming east to take on the Commanders. What could we do while there that wasn’t PAR for the COURSE? A golf cart tour! There are several companies offering similar excursions…
It would be remiss of me not to address the pandemic in the room in one of my first posts back. It was an unexpected, everything comes to a full stop, oh my god people are DYING, there’s a monster outside the house horror we’d only seen in the movies….
I haven’t operated a desktop or laptop computer since I lost my sight, something I used to be rather adept at. Now I do everything on my iPhone and iPad, both of which I have the larger sized models. Vision accessibility features are turned on, set to both bold and…
When I stopped writing four years ago, “cancel” was something done to appointments, TV shows and memberships, not people. As I return to publishing my experiences, being careful as to not be cancelled is a concern. I find myself wondering about the decade of archived posts. If someone were to…
Before adopting my husband and me, Piper spent two years at a wonderful rescue, A Helping Wing Parrot Rescue. They took excellent care of our little guy until we asked him to be our forever family. He’s only got two feet but he can have and chew as many shoes…
I live in a town of 5,000 residents, surrounded by other comparably sized boroughs. We have a grocery store and a McDonald’s four minutes from our house. Our favorite pizza place is 10 minutes away as is a Wawa, Home Depot, CVS – always a CVS – Staples, several dollar…
Like any self-respecting Type A personality, each day I make a To Do List for the next day. My first stop is always my calendar, then I fill in other projects and tasks that require my attention tomorrow. I had gotten a haircut the week before and somehow both my…
When I was growing up outside of Philadelphia, the Spectrum was an indoor arena where the Sixers and Flyers played. When I was very young it meant Ice Capades and Ringling Brothers Circus. As I got older, it was the venue for many of my first concerts. Quite a…
Working with a web designer on renovating Sister Rain, we talked about my brand and identity. I am a wife, a bird mom and a friend. But when asked about my intention for Sister Rain, I answered off the cuff. It sounded good to my own ears and the designer…
It was all zygodactyls* on deck to prepare for Sister Rain’s first week back. Piper, Chewing Executive Officer, put in some long hours with the marketing team, aka mom. It takes a flock! *a bird’s feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward) #SisterRain #birdmom #adoptdontshop #parrotsofinstagram
In the last couple of years, my husband and I have returned to exploring the country after a decade of sticking close to home. Travel for both business and pleasure was such an enormous part of my life before my sight went on a permanent vacation of its own. One…
On a frigid January night, my husband and I walked to our car after visiting a friend. I looked up at the 5:30 p.m. east coast sky and inquired if the dot I thought I saw was the moon. Mister Rain said that it was, followed by a request for…
I am often asked what can I see? In this post, I will do my best to describe it to you. The first thing I will say is that prior to my vision loss, from the age of 14, I wore glasses for mild nearsightedness, then eventually contact lenses. To…
I have a saying amongst my friends, that sometimes you live a lifetime in one day. It’s usually not some big event but rather the minutiae of a 24-hour cycle that starts out as kindling and is a full-blown pep rally bonfire, minus the marching band, by the time your…
After four years away, six months of brand discussions,web design and development, Sister Rain is back! New logo. New look. New content. Monday we begin again! #SisterRain #alittlesightalotofheart #legallyblindwriter
