The picture to the right of this posting is the 130-foot Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The figure of Jesus in this monument is 33 meters to symbolize his years on earth. The Brazilian statue, which has become an icon for Rio and Brazil, is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931, though it was first suggested in the mid-1850′s.
We all know of this statue. I have that little nudge in my stomach that tells me I want to see it in person. I want it on my "to see" list. Yep, I am writing it down. Things only ever happen if I write it down.
Last night was Date Night. I love Date Night. It takes something that is good and makes it even better, each and every single stinkin' time. Mr. Right is still overly tired from way too much overtime and time away and stress. By making the effort to plan a special night, by honestly and thoughtfully putting your thinking cap on snugly on your noggin...........Date Night always makes you feel really good about the choice you made so many moons ago.
He planned Date Night about 8 weeks ago. His plan was dinner out and then into the big city so we could enjoy a concert. Crosby and Nash to be exact. As one friend, gently pointed out, gee, you two aren't frequent concert goers? This is true. When we plan a date night we try and make it about us, not a venue where we can't talk to each other, say, like a movie or a concert.
Our dinner was Thai. Then a little shopping to fiddle away some time & generally goof off. Turns out, our little shopping detour became very fruitful for some little grand girlie. Her Easter basket just got a little more full. It will be overflowing with the most adorable, glitter covered, silk lined, pale, pale pink, polka dot ribbon, festooned tutu. With matching incredibly soft bunny. Back to my
story of the day.....
Crosby and Nash. Pretty much sums it up. When you are in the Rock and Roll hall of fame, people know who you are and what you do. What they might not know, is that their voices are just as pure if not stronger than many moons ago. It was a privilege to be completely enveloped in their music and spirit of Peace, Love and Joy for over THREE hours. I will also say, Mr. Crosby's son, James, is extremely talented and their voices harmonize with complete and utter perfection.
Right smack dab in the middle of the concert, there came a song. A song about Jesus and Rio and (Peace, Love and Joy) and Giving Grace. That's what I said, Giving Grace. The statue has wide open arms and is Giving away Grace. Mr. Graham Nash, reminded all of us, in this insane time of our world of war and leaking chemicals and ugliness...........there is Grace to be had.
I liked the fact, well, because it makes me feel comfortable, that the songs and comments and yes, grace seemed to randomly jump all around and back. In actuality, there was a set play list, a method to their madness. It just seemed random with thoughts and messages and ideas tossed musically with flourish. Sometimes, I wish music played what my brain was thinking and swirling and twirling all over the place.
My ears are still ringing. As if my magic, three hours of loud, heart thumping, drum pounding, melodious voices running the scales.....it fills up your empty pitcher, it restores your soul. In a very unique way, it is so loud and rhythmic and joyous and fun and all encompassing it sort of puts up a solid brick wall. All your worries and troubles and "problems" are on one side of the wall and there you are immersed in pure energy and you are caught up in the moment (or three hours). You feel better when it is over. You have to process it. You just feel so darn much better for setting aside "life" for a bit and relaxing and allowing yourself the pleasure of being in the moment.
Very predictable, yet so welcomed, the second curtain call, the audience "twisted" their arms and yes Virginia, they played "the" song. Today for me, the soundtrack in my head that will be on a loop and play over and over and over all day long with the lyrics of "Teach Your Children Well". Now that I mentioned it, maybe it will play in your head all day as well?
Somehow maybe music will help sooth the beast. The beast being our insane world right now.
Rock on. (Albeit Gracefully) Rock on.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
blue swirl shoes
Sheepishly, I may have to "take back" my holier than thou blog posting on gambling. Don't get me wrong, it is still our belief that gambling is not appropriate.
Apparently, while playing those "sinful" penny slots, Mr. Right was being watched by his children. Apparently, prior to beginning he said and I quote "come on, Momma needs a new pair of shoes". Then proceeded to win.
While driving home last night from picking Mr. Right up from the airport, he reached in his wallet and pulled out a lovely bill. He said, I have to go with the good karma thing here. This is for you to buy a new pair of shoes!
Insert the religious choir singing in my head at this point.
Hallelujah! New Shoes are pure and lovely and happy..........does that sort of negate the sinful action of gambling to get said shoes?
I am thinking blue swirls on shiny new shoes with a buckle.
A girl can dream, can't she?
In a weird way, gambling sort of brings out the old time religion in me!
Praise the Lord!
Apparently, while playing those "sinful" penny slots, Mr. Right was being watched by his children. Apparently, prior to beginning he said and I quote "come on, Momma needs a new pair of shoes". Then proceeded to win.
While driving home last night from picking Mr. Right up from the airport, he reached in his wallet and pulled out a lovely bill. He said, I have to go with the good karma thing here. This is for you to buy a new pair of shoes!
Insert the religious choir singing in my head at this point.
Hallelujah! New Shoes are pure and lovely and happy..........does that sort of negate the sinful action of gambling to get said shoes?
I am thinking blue swirls on shiny new shoes with a buckle.
A girl can dream, can't she?
In a weird way, gambling sort of brings out the old time religion in me!
Praise the Lord!
Monday, March 28, 2011
a sheltering tree
Right smack dab in the middle of a three or four very rough days, a couple of nice things happened.
From Friday on, the days just took on a life of their own. My health was horrid. period. I use my cane now all the time. Makes for some long days. I wasn't the best at managing money. Might have indulged a bit too much. The days were rough, and harsh and not so good. My mind was on some ugly stuff so of course again with pretending to be a butterfly. I flit here and there and move again and not really accomplish too much.
Sure I finished a great new fancy schmancy pair of pajamas. I started sewing some one's Spring dress. I made a sweet craft project, super easy and quick.
Oh sure, I tried my famous trick of doing for others....the daffodil cards to three widows...I am quite sure they will like receiving the cards. For some reason my spirit still wilted?
I thought I was totally happy and okay with the mini family reunion.....but then I got a little bit jealous, urgh. I haven't seen son #2 and his sweetheart since Thanksgiving of 2009. It makes me sad and grumpy.
Sometime ago, as a fluke I asked (& we planned) a friend to meet for dinner Saturday night. Our Mr. Rights both happen to be attending the same out of town conference.
Now you know I don't like to use names here in blogland. So let me think. I listen to a radio show once a day and on Tuesday's they feature a gal named "The Dirt Diva". She talks all about organic gardening and growing stuff and getting your hands dirty. That name just doesn't fit my friend................ maybe, well she
is anxiously awaiting grandson number two.............Grandma the Garden Goddess! Oh, I sort of like that. I will henceforth refer to her as the Garden Goddess. She loves to be in her greenhouse and get dirty and plot and plan and create. Actually she is a very slight lady, somewhat short and small with sassy blond hair that wisps around her ears. In her ears were dangling sweet and saucy earrings. She has the spirit of a garden fairy. I say she is plotting because as she wears little flats with flowers on the toes, she is planning ways to sell her plants to make and give money to her favorite charity. She is masterminding this entire fabulous creative mission to combine her favorite passion, yes passion and somehow make it work for others. Brilliant just so darn brilliant. Being around smart, sassy, brilliant girls makes my spirit soar.
We spent the most wonderful, relaxing time enjoying a three hour dinner. Yep, I said three hour dinner. Not a three hour tour...........oh no, now that song is in my head....oh bother. What normally would have taken 25 minutes to eat, we drug it out and swam in the comfort of each other. We lifted each other up and laughed and shared and the time just flew by. Really lovely and I got to be apart of that loveliness.
Come Sunday afternoon, I was not my upbeat self. Actually, not really charming to be around. Even the dog had retreated to her bed. dang. Then the phone rang. Now, usually while chatting on the phone, I do chores and fold laundry and make the bed and empty the dishwasher or wash windows etc. I find quiet chores to do. I just did not feel up to it. So I poured myself a fresh cup of coffee, yes with sugar and soy cream and sat down. Did you just read that I sat down and chatted with my friend. Okay, no names, let's see, I could call her the California Church Lady friend (she is an amazing giver to her church in time, deed, and offerings), or I could choose to focus on the fact that she is a Home Schooling Mom of six! Yes, you read that right six children. Maybe something with a Victorian twist, as she loves Victorian everything? Once many moons ago, when the magazine first came out we shared a subscription. She loves lace and tea and gloves and dresses and purses and girlie girl things and more tea. She is the one friend I can be honest with and say, URGH how can you drink that stuff? Yet, somehow I try and remember to send tea and tea coupons and loose tea and more tea as a reminder that I am thinking about her and her passion. My "Tea Lady" always has the best manners and never says an unladylike thing about me drinking my coffee.
The phone call was really nice and kind of her to think of me. Sure she has lots going on........oh for Pete sake....she has six children, one grandson and a husband to keep up with. The phone call made me really take a break for a while and relax and laugh and joke and not have to think about all the icky stuff for a bit. Really
lovely, and I got to be apart of that lovliness.
I hope I am wise enough and intune enough with my friends and have the Grace to offer up a little island of rest in time of need. We all have really rough times once in a while. We all need a life preserver thrown to us (not at us). Just a short rest and then we will pick up our sack of worries and troubles and move forward with our heads held a little higher.
Friendship is a sheltering Tree.
From Friday on, the days just took on a life of their own. My health was horrid. period. I use my cane now all the time. Makes for some long days. I wasn't the best at managing money. Might have indulged a bit too much. The days were rough, and harsh and not so good. My mind was on some ugly stuff so of course again with pretending to be a butterfly. I flit here and there and move again and not really accomplish too much.
Sure I finished a great new fancy schmancy pair of pajamas. I started sewing some one's Spring dress. I made a sweet craft project, super easy and quick.
Oh sure, I tried my famous trick of doing for others....the daffodil cards to three widows...I am quite sure they will like receiving the cards. For some reason my spirit still wilted?
I thought I was totally happy and okay with the mini family reunion.....but then I got a little bit jealous, urgh. I haven't seen son #2 and his sweetheart since Thanksgiving of 2009. It makes me sad and grumpy.
Sometime ago, as a fluke I asked (& we planned) a friend to meet for dinner Saturday night. Our Mr. Rights both happen to be attending the same out of town conference.
Now you know I don't like to use names here in blogland. So let me think. I listen to a radio show once a day and on Tuesday's they feature a gal named "The Dirt Diva". She talks all about organic gardening and growing stuff and getting your hands dirty. That name just doesn't fit my friend................ maybe, well she
is anxiously awaiting grandson number two.............Grandma the Garden Goddess! Oh, I sort of like that. I will henceforth refer to her as the Garden Goddess. She loves to be in her greenhouse and get dirty and plot and plan and create. Actually she is a very slight lady, somewhat short and small with sassy blond hair that wisps around her ears. In her ears were dangling sweet and saucy earrings. She has the spirit of a garden fairy. I say she is plotting because as she wears little flats with flowers on the toes, she is planning ways to sell her plants to make and give money to her favorite charity. She is masterminding this entire fabulous creative mission to combine her favorite passion, yes passion and somehow make it work for others. Brilliant just so darn brilliant. Being around smart, sassy, brilliant girls makes my spirit soar.
We spent the most wonderful, relaxing time enjoying a three hour dinner. Yep, I said three hour dinner. Not a three hour tour...........oh no, now that song is in my head....oh bother. What normally would have taken 25 minutes to eat, we drug it out and swam in the comfort of each other. We lifted each other up and laughed and shared and the time just flew by. Really lovely and I got to be apart of that loveliness.
Come Sunday afternoon, I was not my upbeat self. Actually, not really charming to be around. Even the dog had retreated to her bed. dang. Then the phone rang. Now, usually while chatting on the phone, I do chores and fold laundry and make the bed and empty the dishwasher or wash windows etc. I find quiet chores to do. I just did not feel up to it. So I poured myself a fresh cup of coffee, yes with sugar and soy cream and sat down. Did you just read that I sat down and chatted with my friend. Okay, no names, let's see, I could call her the California Church Lady friend (she is an amazing giver to her church in time, deed, and offerings), or I could choose to focus on the fact that she is a Home Schooling Mom of six! Yes, you read that right six children. Maybe something with a Victorian twist, as she loves Victorian everything? Once many moons ago, when the magazine first came out we shared a subscription. She loves lace and tea and gloves and dresses and purses and girlie girl things and more tea. She is the one friend I can be honest with and say, URGH how can you drink that stuff? Yet, somehow I try and remember to send tea and tea coupons and loose tea and more tea as a reminder that I am thinking about her and her passion. My "Tea Lady" always has the best manners and never says an unladylike thing about me drinking my coffee.
The phone call was really nice and kind of her to think of me. Sure she has lots going on........oh for Pete sake....she has six children, one grandson and a husband to keep up with. The phone call made me really take a break for a while and relax and laugh and joke and not have to think about all the icky stuff for a bit. Really
lovely, and I got to be apart of that lovliness.
I hope I am wise enough and intune enough with my friends and have the Grace to offer up a little island of rest in time of need. We all have really rough times once in a while. We all need a life preserver thrown to us (not at us). Just a short rest and then we will pick up our sack of worries and troubles and move forward with our heads held a little higher.
Friendship is a sheltering Tree.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
gambling?
A little bird told me that my very conservative, non-gambling good and boring Methodist husband was spotted playing the penny slots in Las Vegas late, last night. Who was he with you ask? OUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay so they are 25, 26 and 29 but for heaven sakes they are still impressionable children. No, I don't care that you all won money! I am just praying they did all this before midnight and they weren't gambling on the Lord's day!!!!!
I hear they have lots of little chapels in Las Vegas. Maybe the four of them will repent and this morning after they attend church, donate all those pennies to a Christian fund for the poor and down and out?
Okay, so secretly, please don't mention this to my woman's church group.....I was sort of happy. They were all talking and laughing and having a good time. (as any parent will tell you that is not always the case with grown up kids.)
The weekends are tough for me when Mr. Right is away on business. The days just don't run smoothly or seem to be full of goodness. I feel out of sorts and not comfortable.
So here I go, I decided since "some" of the people in my family don't seem to be practicing their religion this weekend.........I am headed to the store to find some great cards with Daffodils on them. I am going to buy three. I am sending them out as Happy Spring cards to three widows that I know. I think they could use a little pick me up this time of year.
The Good Book says we are to take care of orphans and widows....
So, I guess it is up to me to bring a little dignity and respect back to this heathen behavin' family. :) I am buying really nice cards. I might even spend a little more than I usually do on store bought cards.....apparently we have extra pennies to spend! :)
I hear they have lots of little chapels in Las Vegas. Maybe the four of them will repent and this morning after they attend church, donate all those pennies to a Christian fund for the poor and down and out?
Okay, so secretly, please don't mention this to my woman's church group.....I was sort of happy. They were all talking and laughing and having a good time. (as any parent will tell you that is not always the case with grown up kids.)
The weekends are tough for me when Mr. Right is away on business. The days just don't run smoothly or seem to be full of goodness. I feel out of sorts and not comfortable.
So here I go, I decided since "some" of the people in my family don't seem to be practicing their religion this weekend.........I am headed to the store to find some great cards with Daffodils on them. I am going to buy three. I am sending them out as Happy Spring cards to three widows that I know. I think they could use a little pick me up this time of year.
The Good Book says we are to take care of orphans and widows....
So, I guess it is up to me to bring a little dignity and respect back to this heathen behavin' family. :) I am buying really nice cards. I might even spend a little more than I usually do on store bought cards.....apparently we have extra pennies to spend! :)
Saturday, March 26, 2011
family reunion minus me
In a weird, delightful, strange and happy twist of fate, there is going to be a mini family reunion today. In a very grown up sort of way, I feel super happy for them. I am sort of a little giddy for them.
As you know Mr. Right is in Las Vegas for a business symposium. Son number one is in the air as I type, headed that way. He will be speaking at said symposium. Next on the list we have son number two. He happens to live about 4 1/2 hours away in California. He and his sweetheart (one of the nicest, smartest, funniest, girlfriends in the world) drove to Las Vegas last night to surprise Mr. Right.
Okay, so daughter in law and sweet grand girlie and me are not there. However, right in the middle of business madness.............something great is going to happen today.
At least until tomorrow morning....the four of them will see each other and hug each other and smile and be happy and eat together. Warms my soul.
It is such a good feeling that it makes staying behind almost okay, really okay.
This folks is the payoff. For all the years and years of parenting, correcting, worrying, correcting, teaching, correcting.............. you get this really happy warm feeling deep down in your soul....when your kids want/choose to hang out with you.
While the boys were growing up, no matter where we lived I had a little counted cross stitch design that hung over the washing machine, as I was sure to see it there every single day......
"The best thing to spend on children is time."
Mr. Right and I are lucky to have four adult children that grace our lives daily.
As you know Mr. Right is in Las Vegas for a business symposium. Son number one is in the air as I type, headed that way. He will be speaking at said symposium. Next on the list we have son number two. He happens to live about 4 1/2 hours away in California. He and his sweetheart (one of the nicest, smartest, funniest, girlfriends in the world) drove to Las Vegas last night to surprise Mr. Right.
Okay, so daughter in law and sweet grand girlie and me are not there. However, right in the middle of business madness.............something great is going to happen today.
At least until tomorrow morning....the four of them will see each other and hug each other and smile and be happy and eat together. Warms my soul.
It is such a good feeling that it makes staying behind almost okay, really okay.
This folks is the payoff. For all the years and years of parenting, correcting, worrying, correcting, teaching, correcting.............. you get this really happy warm feeling deep down in your soul....when your kids want/choose to hang out with you.
While the boys were growing up, no matter where we lived I had a little counted cross stitch design that hung over the washing machine, as I was sure to see it there every single day......
"The best thing to spend on children is time."
Mr. Right and I are lucky to have four adult children that grace our lives daily.
Friday, March 25, 2011
a refresher lesson for me
Years ago, when moving back to America from a tour in Europe I had to wait 5 or 6 weeks to get my washer and dryer delivered. It had been in storage in Lawton, Oklahoma. Two teenagers and a husband who either ran 10 miles daily or biked 24, I was in need of a washer & dryer.
So, I piled all the clothes into the van and drove to the local laundromat. It was a little uncomfortable for me. Not the cleanest of places and I felt totally out of my comfort zone. I really, really wanted to tell every person in that place, that I really did have a washer and dryer. It was being delivered. After that day, I started driving on to post. It was a 25 minute drive. However, as any Army wife will tell you, everyone from the Generals' wife down to the lowest privates' wife, has been in between moves, waiting for something to be delivered and has a story. Boy, do they have stories and by golly they will share their stories while waiting at the laundromat.
Every once in a while, I grab my purse and hop in the car and dash over to the grocery store to pick up that all important lemon or red onion. As I am half way there, I realize that I have forgotten to put on my wedding rings. I get all fussy and while shopping I want to tell everyone that YES, I am married, I am in a hurry and I forgot to put my pretty rings on.
So this morning between 3-6:30 am as I lay awake with my blood pressure rising and my frustration reaching an all time high, I thought to myself.......this is the first time in my married life that I am not proud of some of the people my husband works with. I do not respect people that bully others or even people that stand and watch as other people crumble and loose their balance. Co-workers that don't have each other's backs. It is wrong. It hurts my feelings to watch this all unfold.
After sitting in the sun for 45 minutes and regrouping..I am starting to feel like I came up with an answer. I don't want to be the kind of person that puts on "airs". I am not better than someone who doesn't have a washing machine. I am not a better person because I have pretty sparkling rings. I don't want people to judge how I run my business, so I am thinking that by me judging others business ways is not overly polite. Even if I am doing it in my own head.
"Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect."
It became crystal clear that I don't like people being rude to my husband. I don't like the bullying tactics. I don't like the way some people choose to be so unkind and so thoughtless. I have little if no respect for people that stomp on others.
There is a lot to say about consideration.
For me, I will review my behavior and regroup and continue to treat my husband with respect and kindness. He is a man of character. I am lucky to have him in my life. My life is better because he somehow makes me be a better person.
From today on, I will try not to give too much time or energy or thoughts to other folks bad behavior. It is a real waste of my time.
Surround yourself with mankind at it's best.
So, I piled all the clothes into the van and drove to the local laundromat. It was a little uncomfortable for me. Not the cleanest of places and I felt totally out of my comfort zone. I really, really wanted to tell every person in that place, that I really did have a washer and dryer. It was being delivered. After that day, I started driving on to post. It was a 25 minute drive. However, as any Army wife will tell you, everyone from the Generals' wife down to the lowest privates' wife, has been in between moves, waiting for something to be delivered and has a story. Boy, do they have stories and by golly they will share their stories while waiting at the laundromat.
Every once in a while, I grab my purse and hop in the car and dash over to the grocery store to pick up that all important lemon or red onion. As I am half way there, I realize that I have forgotten to put on my wedding rings. I get all fussy and while shopping I want to tell everyone that YES, I am married, I am in a hurry and I forgot to put my pretty rings on.
So this morning between 3-6:30 am as I lay awake with my blood pressure rising and my frustration reaching an all time high, I thought to myself.......this is the first time in my married life that I am not proud of some of the people my husband works with. I do not respect people that bully others or even people that stand and watch as other people crumble and loose their balance. Co-workers that don't have each other's backs. It is wrong. It hurts my feelings to watch this all unfold.
After sitting in the sun for 45 minutes and regrouping..I am starting to feel like I came up with an answer. I don't want to be the kind of person that puts on "airs". I am not better than someone who doesn't have a washing machine. I am not a better person because I have pretty sparkling rings. I don't want people to judge how I run my business, so I am thinking that by me judging others business ways is not overly polite. Even if I am doing it in my own head.
"Life is under no obligation to give us what we expect."
It became crystal clear that I don't like people being rude to my husband. I don't like the bullying tactics. I don't like the way some people choose to be so unkind and so thoughtless. I have little if no respect for people that stomp on others.
There is a lot to say about consideration.
For me, I will review my behavior and regroup and continue to treat my husband with respect and kindness. He is a man of character. I am lucky to have him in my life. My life is better because he somehow makes me be a better person.
From today on, I will try not to give too much time or energy or thoughts to other folks bad behavior. It is a real waste of my time.
Surround yourself with mankind at it's best.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Here we go again
Mr. Right left this morning for a dumb old business meeting. Why do they have to be so long and always out of town? urgh.
So to cheer myself up......
I put the other half of my Coconut Lime Mini Sugar Cookies into a clear bag and made a wonderful & happy lime green with swirls tag. I added some very sweet flower power stickers.....then.....
Instead of my usual surprise attack on Diane (the best mail carrier in the land), putting them in the mailbox with the red flag up.......I drove to the post office and asked for the boss. I asked him nicely if he would please deliver this fancy bag of cookies to the best darn mail lady ever known to mankind! He said, golly I sure hope she is willing to share.
My thinking here was instead of my quietly and secretly gracing Diane with treats and goodies all through the year now and then.... I thought, why not give them to her boss to deliver. I think it will have a teeny bit more impact. So all of a sudden a happy bag of goodness is given to Diane to thank her for her great customer service and her boss gets to see first hand how much we all appreciate her.
Even though Mr. Right is still out of town and that makes me super grumpy, giving a little surprise perked me right up!
I wonder what I will come up with for a bit of happiness tomorrow?
So to cheer myself up......
I put the other half of my Coconut Lime Mini Sugar Cookies into a clear bag and made a wonderful & happy lime green with swirls tag. I added some very sweet flower power stickers.....then.....
Instead of my usual surprise attack on Diane (the best mail carrier in the land), putting them in the mailbox with the red flag up.......I drove to the post office and asked for the boss. I asked him nicely if he would please deliver this fancy bag of cookies to the best darn mail lady ever known to mankind! He said, golly I sure hope she is willing to share.
My thinking here was instead of my quietly and secretly gracing Diane with treats and goodies all through the year now and then.... I thought, why not give them to her boss to deliver. I think it will have a teeny bit more impact. So all of a sudden a happy bag of goodness is given to Diane to thank her for her great customer service and her boss gets to see first hand how much we all appreciate her.
Even though Mr. Right is still out of town and that makes me super grumpy, giving a little surprise perked me right up!
I wonder what I will come up with for a bit of happiness tomorrow?
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I will miss you cookies.
I filled a container with mini homemade
Chewy Lime and coconut sugar cookies for Mr. Right.
I made a lime green tag that says a bunch of mushy
stuff. Tonight, while
he is packing, I will tuck them into his suitcase.
The cookies turned out super duper GREAT. Thought I would
share. You can substitute the natural sugar and butter etc
how you would like.
2 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of one large lime
3 Tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup sugar for rolling
Preheat oven to 350*. Line cookie sheets with silpat. In a small bowl sift or whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Using a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and very fluffy. This will take a couple of minutes. Beat in the egg, vanilla, lime juice and lime zest. Mix until well combined. Gradually add in the dry ingredients and toasted coconut. Mix just until combined. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of cookie dough into balls. Put sugar in a small bowl and roll cookie dough balls in sugar. Place on lined sheets.
Bake 8 minutes. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes then move to cooling rack.
Oh yum.
Chewy Lime and coconut sugar cookies for Mr. Right.
I made a lime green tag that says a bunch of mushy
stuff. Tonight, while
he is packing, I will tuck them into his suitcase.
The cookies turned out super duper GREAT. Thought I would
share. You can substitute the natural sugar and butter etc
how you would like.
2 3/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of one large lime
3 Tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup toasted coconut
1/2 cup sugar for rolling
Preheat oven to 350*. Line cookie sheets with silpat. In a small bowl sift or whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Using a mixer, beat together the butter and sugar until smooth and very fluffy. This will take a couple of minutes. Beat in the egg, vanilla, lime juice and lime zest. Mix until well combined. Gradually add in the dry ingredients and toasted coconut. Mix just until combined. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of cookie dough into balls. Put sugar in a small bowl and roll cookie dough balls in sugar. Place on lined sheets.
Bake 8 minutes. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes then move to cooling rack.
Oh yum.
remembering our toasters of years past
As I type this morning, I am enjoying a piece of toast. Dave's Killer Bread makes really good nutty, seedy, wholesome toast. My piece is slathered in freshly ground Almond Butter. There are little seeds of goodness that fell off my toast and landed on my breakfast plate. A cheerful yellow and blue bread plate sitting atop a gorgeous yellow and blue floral place mat.
All seems good and happy sprinkled with Spring time happiness, until you learn the story behind said piece of toast.
Buckle up, here we go...................
The toaster broke this morning. Yep, the thingie that makes the handle stay in the down position gave up the ghost. I was determined to eat toast, now it was a quest. I got out the cookie sheet and covered her with parchment paper and buttered my toast (made an extra piece for the dog). Popped it into the oven and yippee, magically I got toast. I love the smell of nutty goodness.
Problem solved and we move on. Not quite so fast sister! I want to vent. I want to know why my grandparents toaster that is well over 60 years old is still working at my mother's home? It still has the same huge black, ugly "fabric" cord and plug in. You still need to use, with all your might, two hands to unplug the darn thing.
Years ago, when we visited my Aunt Bernice on her Apple Orchard in Eastern Washington, she made toast every morning. You put the bread slice in this wire square cage thingie. It had a long handle and she put in the wood burning stove and magically it came out looking, tasting and smelling like toast. Yeah! (by the way, she was the same Great Aunt that popped pop corn with no lid and we laughed and laughed and laughed). My mother was not pleased as it was very unladylike behavior. Secretly, made it all the more delightful.
We have been buying toasters all our married life. Hey, come to think of it, we never received a toaster as a wedding present. So for 29 years we have bought, broken, researched, paid, paid, paid for many a toasters. We have had four slicers, large opening toasters, save energy toasters, very expensive toasters and extremely cheap toasters. We have had red, white and even a black toaster and of course shiny chrome looking toasters. One time, we had a brand spanking new toaster and (I won't name names) someone (who happened to be around the age of 7 at the time) placed a plastic bread sack over the toaster and it melted beautifully over the brand new appliance. For the life of the toaster, I was never able to remove said "art" project. While living in Europe, our electricity was not quite 110. So after a couple of months, poof, another funeral for yet another toaster. For a couple of years there, while scrapbooking/ card making, someone, well me, might have used the toaster to heat up glitter to emboss a card or two. Our toaster had silver and gold glitter all over the top. It was another work of "art". Once while helping a friend at her yard sale, son #2, put bread in a toaster and made toast, then brought it out to sell in the yard sale. Everyone thought he was super smart and a great salesman. Funny yes, sell the toaster for $5.00, no.
Today's showcased toaster was purchased for $14.00. We just got plum tired of paying lots of money for yet another "funny" story.
Sweet Liberty enjoyed her toast today, as well as I did.
Tomorrow after I drop off Mr. Right at the airport, first on my "to do" list will be purchase a new toaster. I want to buy a happy yellow toaster with polka dots. Don't worry, I won't tire of my choice. It will be gone before you know it.
All seems good and happy sprinkled with Spring time happiness, until you learn the story behind said piece of toast.
Buckle up, here we go...................
The toaster broke this morning. Yep, the thingie that makes the handle stay in the down position gave up the ghost. I was determined to eat toast, now it was a quest. I got out the cookie sheet and covered her with parchment paper and buttered my toast (made an extra piece for the dog). Popped it into the oven and yippee, magically I got toast. I love the smell of nutty goodness.
Problem solved and we move on. Not quite so fast sister! I want to vent. I want to know why my grandparents toaster that is well over 60 years old is still working at my mother's home? It still has the same huge black, ugly "fabric" cord and plug in. You still need to use, with all your might, two hands to unplug the darn thing.
Years ago, when we visited my Aunt Bernice on her Apple Orchard in Eastern Washington, she made toast every morning. You put the bread slice in this wire square cage thingie. It had a long handle and she put in the wood burning stove and magically it came out looking, tasting and smelling like toast. Yeah! (by the way, she was the same Great Aunt that popped pop corn with no lid and we laughed and laughed and laughed). My mother was not pleased as it was very unladylike behavior. Secretly, made it all the more delightful.
We have been buying toasters all our married life. Hey, come to think of it, we never received a toaster as a wedding present. So for 29 years we have bought, broken, researched, paid, paid, paid for many a toasters. We have had four slicers, large opening toasters, save energy toasters, very expensive toasters and extremely cheap toasters. We have had red, white and even a black toaster and of course shiny chrome looking toasters. One time, we had a brand spanking new toaster and (I won't name names) someone (who happened to be around the age of 7 at the time) placed a plastic bread sack over the toaster and it melted beautifully over the brand new appliance. For the life of the toaster, I was never able to remove said "art" project. While living in Europe, our electricity was not quite 110. So after a couple of months, poof, another funeral for yet another toaster. For a couple of years there, while scrapbooking/ card making, someone, well me, might have used the toaster to heat up glitter to emboss a card or two. Our toaster had silver and gold glitter all over the top. It was another work of "art". Once while helping a friend at her yard sale, son #2, put bread in a toaster and made toast, then brought it out to sell in the yard sale. Everyone thought he was super smart and a great salesman. Funny yes, sell the toaster for $5.00, no.
Today's showcased toaster was purchased for $14.00. We just got plum tired of paying lots of money for yet another "funny" story.
Sweet Liberty enjoyed her toast today, as well as I did.
Tomorrow after I drop off Mr. Right at the airport, first on my "to do" list will be purchase a new toaster. I want to buy a happy yellow toaster with polka dots. Don't worry, I won't tire of my choice. It will be gone before you know it.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
do, ray, me, fa, so, la...
I love to practice the piano. For some reason practicing scales actually relaxes me. Oh sure, I have great posture while sitting at the piano bench. I just feel relaxed and calm. Yes, my hands are washed prior to sitting down. Yes, I let my fingers soak in warm water for a couple of minutes before settling in.
If the phone rings, it just keeps on ringing.
I sort of day dream while I am practicing and playing the piano. Sometimes, I dream about the beautiful dresses that I would wear to preform. I love to daydream about just sitting down to a gorgeous piano in a sumptuous hotel lobby and just playing for a couple of minutes.
Piano music sooths my soul. Listening to others play makes me really happy.
One of those moments in the day that you carve out all to yourself and just be. No worries, no bills, no troubles, just bare feet and some sheet music.
Oh that reminds me, I adore and fell in love with the book Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by Kevin Leman. It was a book well worth your time to spend reading and learning.
Lovely piano music is what Grace must sound like.
If the phone rings, it just keeps on ringing.
I sort of day dream while I am practicing and playing the piano. Sometimes, I dream about the beautiful dresses that I would wear to preform. I love to daydream about just sitting down to a gorgeous piano in a sumptuous hotel lobby and just playing for a couple of minutes.
Piano music sooths my soul. Listening to others play makes me really happy.
One of those moments in the day that you carve out all to yourself and just be. No worries, no bills, no troubles, just bare feet and some sheet music.
Oh that reminds me, I adore and fell in love with the book Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage by Kevin Leman. It was a book well worth your time to spend reading and learning.
Lovely piano music is what Grace must sound like.
Monday, March 21, 2011
guide us with your Grace
How weird is it that there is sugar or even worse Aspartame in most toothpastes? On Saturday, I was milling about with Mr. Right while he was at work, well working. There were seven people standing there and I asked that question.
No one said a word. Is the question too hard to wrap your brain around? Or do you just want to go on not making any changes thinking what you put into your mouth is FDA approved and just fine and dandy? urgh
Is it weird that just 20 minutes in the sun equals as much Vitamin D (natural vitamin D) than chemically manufactured vitamin D in 100 glasses of milk? urgh
Speaking of cows... A selectively bred cow produces up to 100 gallons of milk per day. A strickly grass-fed cow produces up to a gallon and a half of milk per day.
Chemicals are not making our lives better.
MSG and Aspartame affect your brain. Excess glutamate and aspartame in your brain will facilitate a cascade of chemical reactions resulting in the rapid and uncontrollable firing of synapes- culminating in brain cell death.
I didn't really know where I was going with this topic. I am beyond frustrated. Yes, I feel it is my responsibility and duty to offer up book titles and authors to our kiddos. It is a tricky thing to gently with kindness and concern share information with our four grown children and subsiquently grandchildren. I cannot force information down their throats.
Mr. Right, well a different kind of story. It is my job (which I take very seriously and I am darn good at) to prepare and offer really great REAL (not factory produced) food (minus chemicals) and fresh juice every single day. It is my job to make sure he and I dine on exceptional food, juice, soups daily and even an occasional high quality dessert now and then. It is my responsibility to make sure that I have taken the time to educate myself and offer, to the best to my knowledge, meals that will feed our heart and soul as well as heal what might be impaired.
When Mr. Right is overwhelmed with working 25-30 extra hours, plus the regular 40 hours a week, I make sure he has a wide variety of extremely healthy and nutrious REAL foods to choose from in his lunch box. No, sadly, his lunch box is just plain black. No cool pictures, or sports teams or famous musical groups. Just plain black. Sure I throw in a comic strip joke once in a while, or a cool kid toy, or a cool sticker or card or a sweet note. I try and make the effort to fill that lunch box with things that will lift his spirit and his health to a higher level.
Now, I just have to figure out how to be kind and loving when it comes to talking with other folks about my concerns. Sometimes, I may go overboard (just a teeny bit) and think everyone should care about what they feed themselves and their families. I can be a bit over the top, crazy about it. I want to learn to be gentle and kind and share what I have learned and be willing with an open mind to learn from others. I don't want to become judgemental or nasty towards others who have chosen not to care so much about food choices.
Yes, I replaced our toothpaste. No, no one ever did answer me on that day in the office. No one wanted to jump into a conversation.
Yes, I am concerned with spending three or four days in the hospital and not having anything to eat. Yes, I will plan ahead. Yes, I will make an effort not to judge others and just focus on what I need to eat during that time.
Today, speaking about healthy food choices and being encouraged by others, well, I am plum out of ideas.
I will take today and focus on my little corner of the world and pray for wisdom and as always ask for Grace.
No one said a word. Is the question too hard to wrap your brain around? Or do you just want to go on not making any changes thinking what you put into your mouth is FDA approved and just fine and dandy? urgh
Is it weird that just 20 minutes in the sun equals as much Vitamin D (natural vitamin D) than chemically manufactured vitamin D in 100 glasses of milk? urgh
Speaking of cows... A selectively bred cow produces up to 100 gallons of milk per day. A strickly grass-fed cow produces up to a gallon and a half of milk per day.
Chemicals are not making our lives better.
MSG and Aspartame affect your brain. Excess glutamate and aspartame in your brain will facilitate a cascade of chemical reactions resulting in the rapid and uncontrollable firing of synapes- culminating in brain cell death.
I didn't really know where I was going with this topic. I am beyond frustrated. Yes, I feel it is my responsibility and duty to offer up book titles and authors to our kiddos. It is a tricky thing to gently with kindness and concern share information with our four grown children and subsiquently grandchildren. I cannot force information down their throats.
Mr. Right, well a different kind of story. It is my job (which I take very seriously and I am darn good at) to prepare and offer really great REAL (not factory produced) food (minus chemicals) and fresh juice every single day. It is my job to make sure he and I dine on exceptional food, juice, soups daily and even an occasional high quality dessert now and then. It is my responsibility to make sure that I have taken the time to educate myself and offer, to the best to my knowledge, meals that will feed our heart and soul as well as heal what might be impaired.
When Mr. Right is overwhelmed with working 25-30 extra hours, plus the regular 40 hours a week, I make sure he has a wide variety of extremely healthy and nutrious REAL foods to choose from in his lunch box. No, sadly, his lunch box is just plain black. No cool pictures, or sports teams or famous musical groups. Just plain black. Sure I throw in a comic strip joke once in a while, or a cool kid toy, or a cool sticker or card or a sweet note. I try and make the effort to fill that lunch box with things that will lift his spirit and his health to a higher level.
Now, I just have to figure out how to be kind and loving when it comes to talking with other folks about my concerns. Sometimes, I may go overboard (just a teeny bit) and think everyone should care about what they feed themselves and their families. I can be a bit over the top, crazy about it. I want to learn to be gentle and kind and share what I have learned and be willing with an open mind to learn from others. I don't want to become judgemental or nasty towards others who have chosen not to care so much about food choices.
Yes, I replaced our toothpaste. No, no one ever did answer me on that day in the office. No one wanted to jump into a conversation.
Yes, I am concerned with spending three or four days in the hospital and not having anything to eat. Yes, I will plan ahead. Yes, I will make an effort not to judge others and just focus on what I need to eat during that time.
Today, speaking about healthy food choices and being encouraged by others, well, I am plum out of ideas.
I will take today and focus on my little corner of the world and pray for wisdom and as always ask for Grace.
Friday, March 18, 2011
It's my turn, finally.
Just imagine, you wake up on your birthday or graduation day and you stumble with wild hair going every which way with wrinkles all over your pajamas,
out to the dining room for some breakfast. At your place setting, your eyes are drawn to it, there it is in all it's glory....drum roll please.....the Special Day Plate! You smile, you then realize you are exempt from doing dishes for the day. You are doing the happy dance. Something special is about to happen. Either you retired from the Army after 22 years, or you got the lead in a school play, or you got your college acceptance letter or it's your birthday or Father's day or you finally mastered that elusive skate board trick.
When the boys were growing up and something remarkable or special happened or there
was some reason to celebrate, they would come home and tell us and then ask
if they could have the special day plate. Sure, sounds like a great idea.
Always, you get it on your birthday. period. You get a raise, sure, Special Day plate. You get a strike while bowling, yes siree Bob, you get to use the Special Day plate. Sometimes, being surprised with it popping up at a restaurant or someone else's home, or on a picnic, but by golly you always got it.
Don't fret now, our family has two. Always, just in case two people needed to
celebrate on the same day!
A couple years ago, when son number 2 landed the "dream job". I made one
using a paper plate and copied the design with crayons and colored pencils and
sent it in a padded envelope through the mail to him in another state. When we later visited his home, I saw it leaned up against the kitchen back splash, made me smile.
Last Christmas we purchased two new plates. Now D & G and G & M get to use their own Special Day Plates. I hope they have many, many reasons to celebrate. I hope they learned the lesson that by using it, somehow it makes the big celebrations brighter and gives the little reasons to celebrate so much more sparkle.
For some stupid reason, since Mom's are usually the one's to remember to
get it out of the cupboard and use it and Mom's don't retire and Mom's don't get raises and this Mom did not perfect a skate board trick or try out for a play.........sadly they are usually the one's that don't get to use it too much.
My time has come. Today IS the day. Today, I celebrate. Today, I don't have
to do the dinner dishes. Today, I put the final stitch in the label of my quilt. Yes, that quilt. The one that took 18 years, 375 plus hours of hand qulting, many spools of thread, too many to count bent needles and yards of binding. It is done. It is complete. It is my turn.
Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, you find the perfect thing
to celebrate. .... and oh does it feel good. I will be lifting my crystal goblet
filled with Sparkling Cider during dinner tonight.
Cheers!
out to the dining room for some breakfast. At your place setting, your eyes are drawn to it, there it is in all it's glory....drum roll please.....the Special Day Plate! You smile, you then realize you are exempt from doing dishes for the day. You are doing the happy dance. Something special is about to happen. Either you retired from the Army after 22 years, or you got the lead in a school play, or you got your college acceptance letter or it's your birthday or Father's day or you finally mastered that elusive skate board trick.
When the boys were growing up and something remarkable or special happened or there
was some reason to celebrate, they would come home and tell us and then ask
if they could have the special day plate. Sure, sounds like a great idea.
Always, you get it on your birthday. period. You get a raise, sure, Special Day plate. You get a strike while bowling, yes siree Bob, you get to use the Special Day plate. Sometimes, being surprised with it popping up at a restaurant or someone else's home, or on a picnic, but by golly you always got it.
Don't fret now, our family has two. Always, just in case two people needed to
celebrate on the same day!
A couple years ago, when son number 2 landed the "dream job". I made one
using a paper plate and copied the design with crayons and colored pencils and
sent it in a padded envelope through the mail to him in another state. When we later visited his home, I saw it leaned up against the kitchen back splash, made me smile.
Last Christmas we purchased two new plates. Now D & G and G & M get to use their own Special Day Plates. I hope they have many, many reasons to celebrate. I hope they learned the lesson that by using it, somehow it makes the big celebrations brighter and gives the little reasons to celebrate so much more sparkle.
For some stupid reason, since Mom's are usually the one's to remember to
get it out of the cupboard and use it and Mom's don't retire and Mom's don't get raises and this Mom did not perfect a skate board trick or try out for a play.........sadly they are usually the one's that don't get to use it too much.
My time has come. Today IS the day. Today, I celebrate. Today, I don't have
to do the dinner dishes. Today, I put the final stitch in the label of my quilt. Yes, that quilt. The one that took 18 years, 375 plus hours of hand qulting, many spools of thread, too many to count bent needles and yards of binding. It is done. It is complete. It is my turn.
Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, you find the perfect thing
to celebrate. .... and oh does it feel good. I will be lifting my crystal goblet
filled with Sparkling Cider during dinner tonight.
Cheers!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Ding Dong
Look to the right of this blog. This is the t-shirt I am wearing today, makes me laugh. I love everything about it.
Oh sure I have on pearl earrings and a lovely pearl bracelet and a sweet cardigan sweater with a little gold sparkle embellishment. Adding the right amount of green and humor makes me laugh.
I am thinking I will have the Wizard of Oz songs swimming happily in my head all day long.
Frank R. Spinning elementary school was a wonderful grammar school. I have lots of great memories. Remembering sneaking and wearing shorts under my skirts or dresses so I could play on the monkey bars at lunch, makes me smile and smirk all at the same time. Yes, I am sure my mother knew I was doing that. She never said anything. I think it was a battle she was not willing to fight. However, I am guessing she would not approve of my behavior. Teather ball, don't get me started. Okay, my youngest sister and I have the same birthday month. We pooled our whining and requests for one birthday gift (yes, we got our usual amount) however, get this, my dad dug a hole in our backyard and poured in concrete and YES, we got our very own teather ball pole and chain and ball for us to play all the time!
I didn't really care for "in class" school lunch time. Sure I loved my lunch boxes. A different one each year. I loved my Partridge Family lunch box. I adored my black patent leather (not boring metal, new fangled plastic was for me) Barbie lunch box. I didn't like the smell of tuna fish sandwiches. I didn't like walking half way down the hallway to trade my sandwich with my sister. One of us got the "wrong" sandwich. My mother did not like to prepare food. I am guessing that trying to prepare food in the morning with three little girls was not a creative and happy experience. Her main goal was to use as much Dippity Doo as possible to tame three little girls wild, crazy, naturally curly and tangled mess of curls into proper order. Lunch was the last thing she wanted to do.
So even though she did not approve of "ladies" eating sugar or food that came in packages, or eating with your hands, every once in a while, when you opened your lunch box, that distinctive silver foil puck shaped object would be nestled in between your wax paper wrapped sandwich and thermos with room temperature milk (ugh). Hallelujah! Behold: the Ding Dong! I would s-l-o-w-l-y peel the foil back and flatten it smooth on my desk. I would pick off the chocolate coating and dig out the creme filling first and lick it off my fingers..........oh those were the days, my friend. I didn't want to put my napkin in my lap. I didn't want to be different. I just wanted to be like the other kids. I wanted to eat store bought goodies with my fingers and lick my fingers clean. It felt wrong but I loved it every single time I would do it.
Years later, golly I had my own money. I bought a box of Ding Dongs. DO NOT DO IT. They are not quite as good as the memory. The memory is way, way better.
So for today, I will relish (green relish of course) the sweet childhood memory of the Ding Dong. I will wear my shirt with pride and happiness!
The kids at the end of our block have a teather ball in their yard. Maybe just maybe I will buy a box of Ding Dongs, take them over after school today and offer them to the kids. Just hoping that they will invite me to play a game or two of teather ball. I might even be more direct and ask if I can play. I am wearing boyfriend jeans rolled at the cuff. Nope, don't have to wear shorts under my dress and no I will not be wearing Saddle Shoes. I will be wearing cute green and blue plaid Ked sneakers.
Oh sure I have on pearl earrings and a lovely pearl bracelet and a sweet cardigan sweater with a little gold sparkle embellishment. Adding the right amount of green and humor makes me laugh.
I am thinking I will have the Wizard of Oz songs swimming happily in my head all day long.
Frank R. Spinning elementary school was a wonderful grammar school. I have lots of great memories. Remembering sneaking and wearing shorts under my skirts or dresses so I could play on the monkey bars at lunch, makes me smile and smirk all at the same time. Yes, I am sure my mother knew I was doing that. She never said anything. I think it was a battle she was not willing to fight. However, I am guessing she would not approve of my behavior. Teather ball, don't get me started. Okay, my youngest sister and I have the same birthday month. We pooled our whining and requests for one birthday gift (yes, we got our usual amount) however, get this, my dad dug a hole in our backyard and poured in concrete and YES, we got our very own teather ball pole and chain and ball for us to play all the time!
I didn't really care for "in class" school lunch time. Sure I loved my lunch boxes. A different one each year. I loved my Partridge Family lunch box. I adored my black patent leather (not boring metal, new fangled plastic was for me) Barbie lunch box. I didn't like the smell of tuna fish sandwiches. I didn't like walking half way down the hallway to trade my sandwich with my sister. One of us got the "wrong" sandwich. My mother did not like to prepare food. I am guessing that trying to prepare food in the morning with three little girls was not a creative and happy experience. Her main goal was to use as much Dippity Doo as possible to tame three little girls wild, crazy, naturally curly and tangled mess of curls into proper order. Lunch was the last thing she wanted to do.
So even though she did not approve of "ladies" eating sugar or food that came in packages, or eating with your hands, every once in a while, when you opened your lunch box, that distinctive silver foil puck shaped object would be nestled in between your wax paper wrapped sandwich and thermos with room temperature milk (ugh). Hallelujah! Behold: the Ding Dong! I would s-l-o-w-l-y peel the foil back and flatten it smooth on my desk. I would pick off the chocolate coating and dig out the creme filling first and lick it off my fingers..........oh those were the days, my friend. I didn't want to put my napkin in my lap. I didn't want to be different. I just wanted to be like the other kids. I wanted to eat store bought goodies with my fingers and lick my fingers clean. It felt wrong but I loved it every single time I would do it.
Years later, golly I had my own money. I bought a box of Ding Dongs. DO NOT DO IT. They are not quite as good as the memory. The memory is way, way better.
So for today, I will relish (green relish of course) the sweet childhood memory of the Ding Dong. I will wear my shirt with pride and happiness!
The kids at the end of our block have a teather ball in their yard. Maybe just maybe I will buy a box of Ding Dongs, take them over after school today and offer them to the kids. Just hoping that they will invite me to play a game or two of teather ball. I might even be more direct and ask if I can play. I am wearing boyfriend jeans rolled at the cuff. Nope, don't have to wear shorts under my dress and no I will not be wearing Saddle Shoes. I will be wearing cute green and blue plaid Ked sneakers.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Mitzvahs, cupcakes and toes that wiggle
Three little words...no, not "I love you", no, not "You Lost Weight".........Salted Caramel Cupcakes.
I will say, quite possibly the best I have ever baked. sigh. I know, I know, that sounded so "nose up
in the air" ish. Here is the thing, I wanted one cupcake. After my library trip yesterday, I thought, *idea* I will
stop at that new cupcake place and buy just two. A special treat for tonight. darn it, another
business bites the dust. They were closed up. Not a cupcake to be seen, not a smudge of
icing on the door handle. Not even a spatula to lick clean, nothing.
So, I headed home and baked some cupcakes. I convinced myself that it was cheaper than buying two.
It would be better for us to eat home made. Oh, I came up with all sorts of great reasons to bake them.
The idea of a Salted Caramel Cupcake has been planted in my brain from some recipe
site that I visited. This was going to be the day. I even chose hot magenta cupcake papers
with polka dots............oh, I love those happy dots. OOOO, la, la...so good, so over the
top good, they made me wiggle my toes. yum.
I love to package up cupcakes using a plastic drink cup and lid. Put the lid on the counter,
put the cupcake on that, then put the clear plastic drink cup up side down over that. You end up
with a clear dome, if you will, to showcase your little creation of sugar. The cupcakes
don't get smushed or smashed or flip over while in transport.
I decided to take a couple with me when I picked up Mr. Right from car pool last night.
Just a little treat for the gal who drove yesterday. Here in the Pacific Northwest it
was pouring down rain all day and night.
The driving was probably not the easiest on her eyes and nerves. Cupcakes to the rescue.
I learned a new word a few years back. It is Mitzvah. It is a Jewish term. As you know, I am not Jewish.
I am a very conservative, traditional, some might say predictable, even (ouch) boring Methodist girl. For some reason,
I stumbled upon the most wonderful blog, written by a Mom & wife and I keep going back. Almost daily, I pour myself
a cup of coffee and go through my morning e-mails and a few blogs I love to follow. http://1000mitzvahs.org/
is one of my all time favorites. Just reading the site makes me do better, be better. Somehow, she has a way
of making my brain work and look for opportunities to help people and reasons to do a little good.
She is the reason I thought, hey, I should package up a couple of cupcakes and take them to the
car pool pick up! She is the reason, that when I saw two young boys sprawled in the grocery
store isle counting change to see if they had enough for two candy bars, I quietly put
two one dollar bills down near them and walked off. She is the reason, when I saw a little girl riding in a shopping cart
reading a "Fancy Nancy" paperback book, I gave her a five dollar bill to go buy another book when
she was done with that one. When leaving a restaurant recently, she might just be the reason, that I
leaned over and quietly told the parents of two young children how well behaved they were. It really
made our meal a lovely experience. They were such a sweet young family, encouraging them just
felt right.
Okay, so maybe Linda who writes http://1000mitzvahs.org/ is not the entire reason that I choose to
do a couple of nice things here and there. Let's be honest, it makes my life so much richer and happier.
I think I like using the word Mitzvah. I tell my grown kids about her. I tell my girlfriends about her.
Heck, after having supper in our favorite vegetarian restaurant in Seattle the other night, we drove right
by the Maxwell hotel that she and her family visited. I went into the whole story she shared on her blog.
You all know that I choose not to use names when I write. I just want to share. I don't want to
put my family and friends in a story incase they don't want to open up that can of worms.
In this case, I asked her permission to use this story on my blog.
Her name is Linda. Nope, I have never met her.
She has a book coming out in the fall. You can
bet I will be one of her first customers. Just like in "Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory" she is one good egg. You just know it in your heart and soul.
Simply, she inspires me to be conscious of doing better.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become
more, you are a leader." ~john adams
Each time that I read one of her new postings, I am delighted to see how she
has touched someone or group in the most gracious way. She always makes
my brain swirl and twirl with possibilities.
I will say, quite possibly the best I have ever baked. sigh. I know, I know, that sounded so "nose up
in the air" ish. Here is the thing, I wanted one cupcake. After my library trip yesterday, I thought, *idea* I will
stop at that new cupcake place and buy just two. A special treat for tonight. darn it, another
business bites the dust. They were closed up. Not a cupcake to be seen, not a smudge of
icing on the door handle. Not even a spatula to lick clean, nothing.
So, I headed home and baked some cupcakes. I convinced myself that it was cheaper than buying two.
It would be better for us to eat home made. Oh, I came up with all sorts of great reasons to bake them.
The idea of a Salted Caramel Cupcake has been planted in my brain from some recipe
site that I visited. This was going to be the day. I even chose hot magenta cupcake papers
with polka dots............oh, I love those happy dots. OOOO, la, la...so good, so over the
top good, they made me wiggle my toes. yum.
I love to package up cupcakes using a plastic drink cup and lid. Put the lid on the counter,
put the cupcake on that, then put the clear plastic drink cup up side down over that. You end up
with a clear dome, if you will, to showcase your little creation of sugar. The cupcakes
don't get smushed or smashed or flip over while in transport.
I decided to take a couple with me when I picked up Mr. Right from car pool last night.
Just a little treat for the gal who drove yesterday. Here in the Pacific Northwest it
was pouring down rain all day and night.
The driving was probably not the easiest on her eyes and nerves. Cupcakes to the rescue.
I learned a new word a few years back. It is Mitzvah. It is a Jewish term. As you know, I am not Jewish.
I am a very conservative, traditional, some might say predictable, even (ouch) boring Methodist girl. For some reason,
I stumbled upon the most wonderful blog, written by a Mom & wife and I keep going back. Almost daily, I pour myself
a cup of coffee and go through my morning e-mails and a few blogs I love to follow. http://1000mitzvahs.org/
is one of my all time favorites. Just reading the site makes me do better, be better. Somehow, she has a way
of making my brain work and look for opportunities to help people and reasons to do a little good.
She is the reason I thought, hey, I should package up a couple of cupcakes and take them to the
car pool pick up! She is the reason, that when I saw two young boys sprawled in the grocery
store isle counting change to see if they had enough for two candy bars, I quietly put
two one dollar bills down near them and walked off. She is the reason, when I saw a little girl riding in a shopping cart
reading a "Fancy Nancy" paperback book, I gave her a five dollar bill to go buy another book when
she was done with that one. When leaving a restaurant recently, she might just be the reason, that I
leaned over and quietly told the parents of two young children how well behaved they were. It really
made our meal a lovely experience. They were such a sweet young family, encouraging them just
felt right.
Okay, so maybe Linda who writes http://1000mitzvahs.org/ is not the entire reason that I choose to
do a couple of nice things here and there. Let's be honest, it makes my life so much richer and happier.
I think I like using the word Mitzvah. I tell my grown kids about her. I tell my girlfriends about her.
Heck, after having supper in our favorite vegetarian restaurant in Seattle the other night, we drove right
by the Maxwell hotel that she and her family visited. I went into the whole story she shared on her blog.
You all know that I choose not to use names when I write. I just want to share. I don't want to
put my family and friends in a story incase they don't want to open up that can of worms.
In this case, I asked her permission to use this story on my blog.
Her name is Linda. Nope, I have never met her.
She has a book coming out in the fall. You can
bet I will be one of her first customers. Just like in "Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory" she is one good egg. You just know it in your heart and soul.
Simply, she inspires me to be conscious of doing better.
"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become
more, you are a leader." ~john adams
Each time that I read one of her new postings, I am delighted to see how she
has touched someone or group in the most gracious way. She always makes
my brain swirl and twirl with possibilities.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
grace be to you
This is to the woman in the grocery store I saw this morning at 9:00 am. You were yelling all mean faced and seemed exasperated with your two little boys. It broke my heart. You looked overwhelmed. You were mad and frustrated and upset to put it mildly. The boys seemed frustrated as well.
I know two boys under five can be a handful. I know maybe having your husband away serving in the Army is hard, really hard. I know that feeling of living in a different state where you have no support.
I prayed for you today. I prayed for your boys. I prayed that you would find a tiny bit of happiness today. Maybe a rest from the ugly and unhappy spirit. I am sincerely sorry that you are struggling.
May you have the Grace to ask for a tiny bit of help so that you may find some peace and happiness. That way your spirit may soar and your little boys will feel safe just seeing how happy you can be.
I know two boys under five can be a handful. I know maybe having your husband away serving in the Army is hard, really hard. I know that feeling of living in a different state where you have no support.
I prayed for you today. I prayed for your boys. I prayed that you would find a tiny bit of happiness today. Maybe a rest from the ugly and unhappy spirit. I am sincerely sorry that you are struggling.
May you have the Grace to ask for a tiny bit of help so that you may find some peace and happiness. That way your spirit may soar and your little boys will feel safe just seeing how happy you can be.
happy shoes
Last night at 11:00 pm, I put the final stitch in the binding of my cream on cream quilt. That's right, done. Cream fabric and cream thread is getting a little, well vanilla. Yup, boring, there I said it and I fully admit, I am a teeny bit tired of the non color.
Craving color, that's what I am!
I bought a vibrant verdant green Shamrock plant. Oh the little tiny white flowers just pop against the rich green.
I have a huge bouquet of jump up and kiss me yellow daffodils in a rich Polish pottery crock. The juxtaposition of the rich azure blue against the yellow takes your breath away.
Mr. Right gave me a luscious bouquet of magenta pink spray roses over the weekend. The bow tied around the vase is a jaunty pink and green plaid.
While inside the fabric store today, the sales lady said, "OH, I love your shoes. They are just so darn happy." (I know because they make me happy to wear them. They are yellow and green and salmon and peach and pink and pale blue with flowers and
bits of plaid thrown in. They are super, duper cute and they make me smile.)
I was wearing my new "drizzle" coat today. It was pouring down rain, not really drizzling, anyhoot, I think the designer calls the color Tanzanite. The lining is swirls of toile. White with lavender and edged with gold.
The cupcake papers I used today were hot pink with white polka dots. You know how I feel about polka dots. Love em, they are just so darn sweet.
"Life is a great big canvas. Throw all the paint you can on it!"
Driving home after a day in the big city, we saw a double rainbow. Two complete bows were glowing in a dark sky. Certainly got us talking about how lucky we were to see them, what our favorite colors were now a days and on and on.
The washer was pre-washing and then I ironed all the fabric for a certain some one's Easter Spring dress. The colors are hot pink and purple and teal and happy all rolled into one.
Chicken broth that was freshly made today and cooling for the dog in our life is a deep, rich, yellow gold with bits of orange carrot swirled in. Speaking of our sweet dog. She is the most lovely shade of dark golden red and blond and deep amber all mixed up and put together perfectly. I would love to take her to a hair dresser and say please match my hair color to that. Well then we both would have the same hair color....might not be such a good idea. I think one red headed girl in the house is enough.
My sewing table is piled with greens and browns and pinks and splotches of orange. The bulletin board above my sewing machine is a riot of pinks and pastels and lively reds and purples. It is crowded with colors and shapes and stripes and swirls and dog gone it, it all makes me happy.
"He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Prov. 15:15
Today, I am saturated in a colorful, happy grace.
Craving color, that's what I am!
I bought a vibrant verdant green Shamrock plant. Oh the little tiny white flowers just pop against the rich green.
I have a huge bouquet of jump up and kiss me yellow daffodils in a rich Polish pottery crock. The juxtaposition of the rich azure blue against the yellow takes your breath away.
Mr. Right gave me a luscious bouquet of magenta pink spray roses over the weekend. The bow tied around the vase is a jaunty pink and green plaid.
While inside the fabric store today, the sales lady said, "OH, I love your shoes. They are just so darn happy." (I know because they make me happy to wear them. They are yellow and green and salmon and peach and pink and pale blue with flowers and
bits of plaid thrown in. They are super, duper cute and they make me smile.)
I was wearing my new "drizzle" coat today. It was pouring down rain, not really drizzling, anyhoot, I think the designer calls the color Tanzanite. The lining is swirls of toile. White with lavender and edged with gold.
The cupcake papers I used today were hot pink with white polka dots. You know how I feel about polka dots. Love em, they are just so darn sweet.
"Life is a great big canvas. Throw all the paint you can on it!"
Driving home after a day in the big city, we saw a double rainbow. Two complete bows were glowing in a dark sky. Certainly got us talking about how lucky we were to see them, what our favorite colors were now a days and on and on.
The washer was pre-washing and then I ironed all the fabric for a certain some one's Easter Spring dress. The colors are hot pink and purple and teal and happy all rolled into one.
Chicken broth that was freshly made today and cooling for the dog in our life is a deep, rich, yellow gold with bits of orange carrot swirled in. Speaking of our sweet dog. She is the most lovely shade of dark golden red and blond and deep amber all mixed up and put together perfectly. I would love to take her to a hair dresser and say please match my hair color to that. Well then we both would have the same hair color....might not be such a good idea. I think one red headed girl in the house is enough.
My sewing table is piled with greens and browns and pinks and splotches of orange. The bulletin board above my sewing machine is a riot of pinks and pastels and lively reds and purples. It is crowded with colors and shapes and stripes and swirls and dog gone it, it all makes me happy.
"He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Prov. 15:15
Today, I am saturated in a colorful, happy grace.
Monday, March 14, 2011
teenage boys loving church service
A smidgen of background will help make this tale a bit more
side splitting funny.
Once upon a time, Mr. Rights's sisters married with church
weddings and receptions two weeks apart. No, I am not going into the
details...(one really had a velvet wedding dress, even had to stop the
wedding procession for a dog sled race.) The entire family was LATE
to both weddings!
Mr. Right does not like, enjoy or embrace being late. He is a great
ex-military man. Yes, we are the family that change the batteries in the smoke
detectors on
the "change the clock" days. Yes, we are the family that changes their
water filter on the correct day, not a day late. The oil in our car
is changed at almost precisely every 5,000 miles. Yes, he keeps charts
and logs. We clean out the refrigerator every Thursday, every Thursday! (the garbage man comes on Friday, silly).
In his words, if we are 10 minutes early to an appointment then sadly we are five minutes late.
A few years back, son 1 & 2 were in high school. We were in the height of "busy". The calendar was written on (a different color for each person) almost daily. We made sporting events, school events, church events, life, work, volunteering, you name it we were involved and did not miss a beat. Everyone was picked up and delivered and we all showed up on time for each other's events. We lived (well and still do) by the calendar and the clock and watches. Every single clock, watch and even the car clock were/are synchronized.
Picture this, Sunday morning......we actually gave up eating before church, just was not going to happen. Getting two over 6 foot teenagers out of bed, encouraging them to get washed, puffed, polished and ready with and choosing to be in a happy, uplifting and positive spirit was really tough. Oh yes, Mr. Right was scrubbed and combed and dressed in pressed clothing with tie already on drinking his coffee, waiting (yet with one eye always, always on the clock)..my putting on panty hose (?), make up , hair, matching shoes, tucking a recipe into my purse that I promised someone, can goods or some other thing to donate I imagine...........trying not to get upset, trying not to yell and scream or swear just to make it to church on time............."hey, can I wear jeans to church, just for today?" Well, for the 17th year in a row, um, well, NO.
I know you want to hear that we sang uplifting Christian songs on the drive to church. I know you want to hear that both boys size 12 or 14 shoes were polished to a high shine. (I will let you guess if Mr. Right's shoes were polished or not.) You want to hear that we chatted back and forth about the Sunday School lesson for the day. POP, that was the bubble bursting. Sorry folks, our van was silent. Everyone in a "mood" of their own. The young gentlemen in the back were in a "mood". Mr. Right was quietly going over his Sunday School lesson. I was thinking something along the lines of does this dress look good on me, dang, I should have added a scarf or different earrings.......
Okay, we drive into the parking lot. We all tumble out and gently but firmly encourage a "quick step", look alive boys, stand up straight, be friendly and please remember this or that..... We go in. Oh my, church has started? This is weird. We are never late? What? Odd. Feels weird. No we do not go to our "normal" pew to sit. We try to be quiet and creep into the back row. We all settle down. We get situated. We try and tell where we are in the program. What? That sounds like the benediction? The last blessing. The final song. What is happening? Mr. Right and I are a bit confused. The boys are happier than I have seen them in a long, long time! They are sitting straighter. They are poking each other. They are laughing with their eyes. They are singing, loud and clear the last song. Did you hear that? They are singing loud and clear and with SPIRIT. The song ends...... the minister raises his arms and says, GO IN PEACE. Our boys jump up and are clamoring to go through the line to shake hands and offer up a blessing. I am sure I heard one saying loudly, Praise the Lord! It all came crystal clear..........We the family of promptness and order FORGOT to set our clocks forward for Day Light Saving Time! Oh the horror we felt. The elation the boys felt.
As we all got into the van, holding our breath as to what Mr. Right would say.......
Guess we have extra time to go out to breakfast today! Then we all broke up laughing and laughing and more laughing. Every single one of us laughed really belly laughed. The boys were singing the last song and bouncing along as we headed into a local restaurant for a Sunday brunch. Those appetites were better & stronger than usual.
It was so nice to take young men to church and see how the spirit moved them!
It was even better to laugh as a family and enjoy a Sunday Brunch with four happy people.
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.
side splitting funny.
Once upon a time, Mr. Rights's sisters married with church
weddings and receptions two weeks apart. No, I am not going into the
details...(one really had a velvet wedding dress, even had to stop the
wedding procession for a dog sled race.) The entire family was LATE
to both weddings!
Mr. Right does not like, enjoy or embrace being late. He is a great
ex-military man. Yes, we are the family that change the batteries in the smoke
detectors on
the "change the clock" days. Yes, we are the family that changes their
water filter on the correct day, not a day late. The oil in our car
is changed at almost precisely every 5,000 miles. Yes, he keeps charts
and logs. We clean out the refrigerator every Thursday, every Thursday! (the garbage man comes on Friday, silly).
In his words, if we are 10 minutes early to an appointment then sadly we are five minutes late.
A few years back, son 1 & 2 were in high school. We were in the height of "busy". The calendar was written on (a different color for each person) almost daily. We made sporting events, school events, church events, life, work, volunteering, you name it we were involved and did not miss a beat. Everyone was picked up and delivered and we all showed up on time for each other's events. We lived (well and still do) by the calendar and the clock and watches. Every single clock, watch and even the car clock were/are synchronized.
Picture this, Sunday morning......we actually gave up eating before church, just was not going to happen. Getting two over 6 foot teenagers out of bed, encouraging them to get washed, puffed, polished and ready with and choosing to be in a happy, uplifting and positive spirit was really tough. Oh yes, Mr. Right was scrubbed and combed and dressed in pressed clothing with tie already on drinking his coffee, waiting (yet with one eye always, always on the clock)..my putting on panty hose (?), make up , hair, matching shoes, tucking a recipe into my purse that I promised someone, can goods or some other thing to donate I imagine...........trying not to get upset, trying not to yell and scream or swear just to make it to church on time............."hey, can I wear jeans to church, just for today?" Well, for the 17th year in a row, um, well, NO.
I know you want to hear that we sang uplifting Christian songs on the drive to church. I know you want to hear that both boys size 12 or 14 shoes were polished to a high shine. (I will let you guess if Mr. Right's shoes were polished or not.) You want to hear that we chatted back and forth about the Sunday School lesson for the day. POP, that was the bubble bursting. Sorry folks, our van was silent. Everyone in a "mood" of their own. The young gentlemen in the back were in a "mood". Mr. Right was quietly going over his Sunday School lesson. I was thinking something along the lines of does this dress look good on me, dang, I should have added a scarf or different earrings.......
Okay, we drive into the parking lot. We all tumble out and gently but firmly encourage a "quick step", look alive boys, stand up straight, be friendly and please remember this or that..... We go in. Oh my, church has started? This is weird. We are never late? What? Odd. Feels weird. No we do not go to our "normal" pew to sit. We try to be quiet and creep into the back row. We all settle down. We get situated. We try and tell where we are in the program. What? That sounds like the benediction? The last blessing. The final song. What is happening? Mr. Right and I are a bit confused. The boys are happier than I have seen them in a long, long time! They are sitting straighter. They are poking each other. They are laughing with their eyes. They are singing, loud and clear the last song. Did you hear that? They are singing loud and clear and with SPIRIT. The song ends...... the minister raises his arms and says, GO IN PEACE. Our boys jump up and are clamoring to go through the line to shake hands and offer up a blessing. I am sure I heard one saying loudly, Praise the Lord! It all came crystal clear..........We the family of promptness and order FORGOT to set our clocks forward for Day Light Saving Time! Oh the horror we felt. The elation the boys felt.
As we all got into the van, holding our breath as to what Mr. Right would say.......
Guess we have extra time to go out to breakfast today! Then we all broke up laughing and laughing and more laughing. Every single one of us laughed really belly laughed. The boys were singing the last song and bouncing along as we headed into a local restaurant for a Sunday brunch. Those appetites were better & stronger than usual.
It was so nice to take young men to church and see how the spirit moved them!
It was even better to laugh as a family and enjoy a Sunday Brunch with four happy people.
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.
Friday, March 11, 2011
daffodils
Instead of giving in to the grumpy, down in the dumps feelings this week, I
decided to make my own happiness. Mr. Right is gone on business and it makes me
feel out of sorts.
So I came up with a plan. I would make cute tags and choose different ribbons to go with big, luscious bouquets of happy daffodils for people in my life that not necessarily would expect me to. Let me describe a couple...
My gorgeous, sassy, sweet, riot of red curls, favorite librarian was easy peasy to give a fat bouquet of daffodils to. Made me happy. Made her happy. See, easy peasy and as a bonus I got to take a trip to the library. I used a blow your skirt up yellow and green plaid wide ribbon. It felt loud and jaunty, smart and sassy, that piece of ribbon reminded me of her spirit.
Today is the kind lady who does my dog's pedicure, read that as she clips Sweet Liberty's nails. She doesn't make Libby get up on the table. She just comes down to her level, whispers sweet nothings into her ears and tells her she is so beautiful. (yes, I have purchased clippers, yes, I have tried the dremel, yes, I have cried and drew blood and cried and twisted and Libby has cried......so, to support the local economy, make me happy, make Libby happy and make our favorite dog groomer in all the land happy....) I took a big bouquet of sunshine tied with a sassy yellow ribbon covered with white polka dots. Polka dots are just another word for happiness! She just loved them. Actually, she thanked Liberty and she hugged Liberty. Well now, that is why we go to her. She loves dogs.
Okay, onto bouquet number three. I bet you think I will weave another sappy, honey dripping sweet story to make you feel good. It did not really go that way. I decided that another person on my list would be a lady in our neighborhood. She is a widow. She is quiet. She is either shy or grumpy all the time. She is neat and tidy and is a no frills gal. English is her second language. Yes, we shovel her walk in the snow. Yes, we upright her garbage cans when they blow down, heck Mr. Right and son number one pushed her and her car out of being stuck in the snow. Oh sure we wave and say hello. No response. Maybe she is just one of those people who value their privacy. She just doesn't give you a warm fuzzy feeling. So I bundled up three bunches of yellow happiness. I chose a solid conservative, smart green ribbon. Not too long, no frills, attached a plain and simple yellow tag. Happy Spring! I walked over, actually I sort of had a lump in my throat. Sort of like when you were little and other kids would say "don't go to her house for Halloween, she is spooky". I rang the door bell. She promptly came to the door. I smiled and talked too fast and explained way too much. I offered her the bouquet. She did not smile. She did not thank me. She just nodded. I felt nervous and waved and said goodbye. Not really the response I was looking or hoping for. I thought I was going to say it was lovely and the bouquet broke the ice after 11 years of living in the neighborhood. Nope. As I walked towards our home, the lump in my throat went away. I felt good. Really good. She is one tough nut. I just know it was the right thing to do. Having good manners, a kind and gracious spirit really lift you up and help you do things that make you feel slightly uncomfortable.
It is super, duper easy to give flowers and ribbons and tags full of kind words to kind, sweet and warm people. It is a tough trick to offer up a simple act of kindness to some who have built a wall of safety around them.
Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common ones, and make them great.
decided to make my own happiness. Mr. Right is gone on business and it makes me
feel out of sorts.
So I came up with a plan. I would make cute tags and choose different ribbons to go with big, luscious bouquets of happy daffodils for people in my life that not necessarily would expect me to. Let me describe a couple...
My gorgeous, sassy, sweet, riot of red curls, favorite librarian was easy peasy to give a fat bouquet of daffodils to. Made me happy. Made her happy. See, easy peasy and as a bonus I got to take a trip to the library. I used a blow your skirt up yellow and green plaid wide ribbon. It felt loud and jaunty, smart and sassy, that piece of ribbon reminded me of her spirit.
Today is the kind lady who does my dog's pedicure, read that as she clips Sweet Liberty's nails. She doesn't make Libby get up on the table. She just comes down to her level, whispers sweet nothings into her ears and tells her she is so beautiful. (yes, I have purchased clippers, yes, I have tried the dremel, yes, I have cried and drew blood and cried and twisted and Libby has cried......so, to support the local economy, make me happy, make Libby happy and make our favorite dog groomer in all the land happy....) I took a big bouquet of sunshine tied with a sassy yellow ribbon covered with white polka dots. Polka dots are just another word for happiness! She just loved them. Actually, she thanked Liberty and she hugged Liberty. Well now, that is why we go to her. She loves dogs.
Okay, onto bouquet number three. I bet you think I will weave another sappy, honey dripping sweet story to make you feel good. It did not really go that way. I decided that another person on my list would be a lady in our neighborhood. She is a widow. She is quiet. She is either shy or grumpy all the time. She is neat and tidy and is a no frills gal. English is her second language. Yes, we shovel her walk in the snow. Yes, we upright her garbage cans when they blow down, heck Mr. Right and son number one pushed her and her car out of being stuck in the snow. Oh sure we wave and say hello. No response. Maybe she is just one of those people who value their privacy. She just doesn't give you a warm fuzzy feeling. So I bundled up three bunches of yellow happiness. I chose a solid conservative, smart green ribbon. Not too long, no frills, attached a plain and simple yellow tag. Happy Spring! I walked over, actually I sort of had a lump in my throat. Sort of like when you were little and other kids would say "don't go to her house for Halloween, she is spooky". I rang the door bell. She promptly came to the door. I smiled and talked too fast and explained way too much. I offered her the bouquet. She did not smile. She did not thank me. She just nodded. I felt nervous and waved and said goodbye. Not really the response I was looking or hoping for. I thought I was going to say it was lovely and the bouquet broke the ice after 11 years of living in the neighborhood. Nope. As I walked towards our home, the lump in my throat went away. I felt good. Really good. She is one tough nut. I just know it was the right thing to do. Having good manners, a kind and gracious spirit really lift you up and help you do things that make you feel slightly uncomfortable.
It is super, duper easy to give flowers and ribbons and tags full of kind words to kind, sweet and warm people. It is a tough trick to offer up a simple act of kindness to some who have built a wall of safety around them.
Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common ones, and make them great.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
treasure hunting
A few years back, while lifting the chair and sofa cushions to vacuum I would find "treasures": Hot Wheels, Lego pieces, Lego men, socks (never a pair), food crumbs etc....
Today, while lifting the cushions to vacuum, I found a little toy lady bug. Some little sweet girl must have left it here last time!
I am smiling as I type!
Heck, before you know it, I will find Cheerios under the cushions (albeit they will be an organic version of said cereal) and it will make me smile.
Gosh, cleaning up after grandchildren has a totally different feel to it than
cleaning up after your own kids. This time around is way more happy go lucky!
That's me, lucky!
Today, while lifting the cushions to vacuum, I found a little toy lady bug. Some little sweet girl must have left it here last time!
I am smiling as I type!
Heck, before you know it, I will find Cheerios under the cushions (albeit they will be an organic version of said cereal) and it will make me smile.
Gosh, cleaning up after grandchildren has a totally different feel to it than
cleaning up after your own kids. This time around is way more happy go lucky!
That's me, lucky!
before and after
My favorite blogs, articles in magazines, pictures, all have the same thing in common. I am over the moon in love with "before and after" pictures. I just dog gone love em. I love to see the dull, sad, poor posture, no lipstick wearing women in the "before" magically transform into bright eyed, happy, stand up straight, fierce lipstick wearing glowing woman in the "after".
For the life of me, I keep forgetting to take the "before" pics. dang it. My mind swirls when I look at an out of date object, then I come up with a Davine redo. In the excitement I somehow forget to take a picture of the dull, lifeless object before.
Which brings me to the refrigerator. Earlier today, I removed everything and I do mean yippee Skippy every single thing off the refrigerator. This included, a huge urn with flowers and a metal box and a white porcelain chicken and a white bowl, and magnets and more magnets, and pictures and quotes and ticket stubs and a feather and more pictures and a plastic frame with a snapshot. I cleaned and scrubbed and scrubbed some more. I picked off scotch tape & ticky tack goo. I wiped away finger prints and somehow a splash of coffee.
There she stands, shockingly white and sparkling clean and really a blank canvas for me to create and come up with something spectacular. Oh, you can bet I have tried many options.........then it hit. Plug in that glue gun, sister............I am on a mission. Mix all together, hot glue, huge magnets, to die for metal tray........magic happens right before my eyes. Color and function and creative spirit just pops out at you. You know instantly when you step back and take a look. If you saw this in someone else's kitchen you would gasp and point and say, my oh my, where did you get that?
When sadness gets a hold of me, I just love climbing out of the bucket by creating something charming and lovely. Sort of makes me giddy.
Once in a while you have to take a day or two for yourself and jump in with both feet and bathe yourself in grace. You have to stop buying a gift for this person or try not to send a card to that person. You have to completely and selfishly, take care of yourself. So in between the manicures and pedicures and the latest issue of my favorite Quilt magazine, I find that I am the happiest when I create some teeny bit of beauty and charm in my little corner of the world.
yes, yes, I will take an after picture.
For the life of me, I keep forgetting to take the "before" pics. dang it. My mind swirls when I look at an out of date object, then I come up with a Davine redo. In the excitement I somehow forget to take a picture of the dull, lifeless object before.
Which brings me to the refrigerator. Earlier today, I removed everything and I do mean yippee Skippy every single thing off the refrigerator. This included, a huge urn with flowers and a metal box and a white porcelain chicken and a white bowl, and magnets and more magnets, and pictures and quotes and ticket stubs and a feather and more pictures and a plastic frame with a snapshot. I cleaned and scrubbed and scrubbed some more. I picked off scotch tape & ticky tack goo. I wiped away finger prints and somehow a splash of coffee.
There she stands, shockingly white and sparkling clean and really a blank canvas for me to create and come up with something spectacular. Oh, you can bet I have tried many options.........then it hit. Plug in that glue gun, sister............I am on a mission. Mix all together, hot glue, huge magnets, to die for metal tray........magic happens right before my eyes. Color and function and creative spirit just pops out at you. You know instantly when you step back and take a look. If you saw this in someone else's kitchen you would gasp and point and say, my oh my, where did you get that?
When sadness gets a hold of me, I just love climbing out of the bucket by creating something charming and lovely. Sort of makes me giddy.
Once in a while you have to take a day or two for yourself and jump in with both feet and bathe yourself in grace. You have to stop buying a gift for this person or try not to send a card to that person. You have to completely and selfishly, take care of yourself. So in between the manicures and pedicures and the latest issue of my favorite Quilt magazine, I find that I am the happiest when I create some teeny bit of beauty and charm in my little corner of the world.
yes, yes, I will take an after picture.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
business travel
Is it just me, or are most civilian business trips held in warm and lovely locations?
While in the military, Mr. Right travelled and travelled and then some. Here are a couple....Fort Wainwright, Alaska (you had to tie yourself to a rope between buildings as the white out conditions were so bad). How about, half way between Lawton, Oklahoma and OKC? There is nothing out there. How about Fort Sam Houston, over and over and over.....
Fast forward to civilian life. Mr. Right is leaving tomorrow for San Diego, California. He has been to conferences in Florida and Vegas and up state New York and Dallas and LA........ all pretty darn nice.
The hotel rooms are on a little different scale than the "military hotels for
traveling soldiers".
Yipes, I guess he has certainly put his time into the goofy, little, cold, out of the way places.
Here's to good golfing weather in San Diego. He will be a much happier man when he returns.
Happy Mr. Right equals happy me!
While in the military, Mr. Right travelled and travelled and then some. Here are a couple....Fort Wainwright, Alaska (you had to tie yourself to a rope between buildings as the white out conditions were so bad). How about, half way between Lawton, Oklahoma and OKC? There is nothing out there. How about Fort Sam Houston, over and over and over.....
Fast forward to civilian life. Mr. Right is leaving tomorrow for San Diego, California. He has been to conferences in Florida and Vegas and up state New York and Dallas and LA........ all pretty darn nice.
The hotel rooms are on a little different scale than the "military hotels for
traveling soldiers".
Yipes, I guess he has certainly put his time into the goofy, little, cold, out of the way places.
Here's to good golfing weather in San Diego. He will be a much happier man when he returns.
Happy Mr. Right equals happy me!
Rob and Laura
For some reason I was thinking of Rob and Laura Petrie last night. Yes, that couple from the 60's. Didn't they sleep in separate beds? She always wore a matching nightgown and bathrobe. Always had lovely slippers on. Rob wore pajamas with matching top and bottoms. When they turned out the light, a soft blue glow washed over them, music played and they faded to commercial. Very peaceful, restful and full of harmony.
So last night at 11:37 pm, Mr. Right and I were in bed. He in his blue plaid pajama bottoms and Jeopardy t-shirt. (Might I add he was munching on homemade peanut butter on toast.) Me in one size too big pale green yoga pants and a faded yellow Johnson & Wales "MOM" t-shirt. He was answering and sending e-mails...he was working. I had just finished a (bad) library book and was working on a puzzle book. The dog was still on the foot of our bed.
No soft music was playing, nothing matched........I'll even be honest enough to say
I hate the color of the bedroom walls and it does not match the bed linens.
There might just be something to the wearing of matching bed clothes and
soft music playing to commercial and light fading?
This time of year (symposium planning time) is a tough trick. We seem to be
grumpy and tired....yet the day goes on and on.
Tonight he packs for a business trip to San Diego. I am guessing that
it will not be an early night. I am also pretty sure that neither of us will
be wearing matching clothes of any kind.
and so it goes....
So last night at 11:37 pm, Mr. Right and I were in bed. He in his blue plaid pajama bottoms and Jeopardy t-shirt. (Might I add he was munching on homemade peanut butter on toast.) Me in one size too big pale green yoga pants and a faded yellow Johnson & Wales "MOM" t-shirt. He was answering and sending e-mails...he was working. I had just finished a (bad) library book and was working on a puzzle book. The dog was still on the foot of our bed.
No soft music was playing, nothing matched........I'll even be honest enough to say
I hate the color of the bedroom walls and it does not match the bed linens.
There might just be something to the wearing of matching bed clothes and
soft music playing to commercial and light fading?
This time of year (symposium planning time) is a tough trick. We seem to be
grumpy and tired....yet the day goes on and on.
Tonight he packs for a business trip to San Diego. I am guessing that
it will not be an early night. I am also pretty sure that neither of us will
be wearing matching clothes of any kind.
and so it goes....
Friday, March 4, 2011
Ta Da
Along the way, I somehow forgot what it feels like to
accomplish something huge and then tell people about it.
You get to enjoy the warmth that washes over you
as others impart words of grace as they lift you up.
I put the last stitch into my 90" X 108" queen size
whole cloth quilt last night at 5:22 pm, March 3, 2011.
Completely hand quilted, cream on cream, stitch by 375 plus
hours of stitching.
This particular piece of art ( I was told to stop calling it a craft
and to use the actual word art) began in February 1993,
Kaiserslautern, German. I purchased the fabric and batting in
Lawton, Oklahoma the year before. I was stock piling supplies
to use while we were living in Europe.
When I took needle and thread to that piece of cotton we were
about to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. In eight days we will
celebrate again, this time our 29th year.
I received the most lovely messages. I was gently reminded
as a runner talks of her first marathon or a rock climber
shares the details of that very first mountain accent, or a
golfer gets a license plate to announce to all, that
the elusive hole in one has been captured......
as a quilter, I will forever more be able to tell of my
accomplishment.
I told my very skilled quilter friend who lives in Alaska. She was there when I
started the monster quilt in Germany. I needed to share
that moment with her. It was the right thing to do.
I told my husband. I told my kids. Son number one,
in his humorous way of handling incredible life's moments,
said , sounds like a nice one. When you pass away, we won't
sell that one in the yard sale, we will use it as a special
dog blanket! urgh. As he was leaving our home last night,
we said our goodbyes, had kissed the grandgirlie numerous times,
he turned back and said, congratulations, good job on the quilt.
Somehow I had forgotten what it felt like to receive a
"congratulations, quite an accomplishment" from a couple of
peers. Your stomach takes a jump, and you get a lump in your
throat, you somehow feel a bit shy. Words of kindness and
grace came from fellow quilters that I value and appreciate their
skill. Sort of like that "Pretty Woman" movie moment, when the
older gentleman tells Richard Gere, "I'm proud of you".
"We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully
engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we've established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and
comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else
in life so wonderful, so worthwhile."
When I came into the kitchen this morning, Mr. Right had left
a St. Patty's day surprise of socks and green M & M's. As of late,
he has been buried up to his neck at work. It was delightful, simply
sweet to stumble upon my own little celebration party!
You square your shoulders. You stand up straighter. You set a goal.
Albeit, 18 years ago, you kept at it, you never quit. Today, you get
to dip your toes in the pool of accomplishment.
"Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself."
At least for a day or two, I feel this incredible need to relish this moment.
I need to let the kind words of family, friends and peers wash over me
and smooth out some rough edges of my heart and soul.
"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live."
I am living today bathed in grace.
accomplish something huge and then tell people about it.
You get to enjoy the warmth that washes over you
as others impart words of grace as they lift you up.
I put the last stitch into my 90" X 108" queen size
whole cloth quilt last night at 5:22 pm, March 3, 2011.
Completely hand quilted, cream on cream, stitch by 375 plus
hours of stitching.
This particular piece of art ( I was told to stop calling it a craft
and to use the actual word art) began in February 1993,
Kaiserslautern, German. I purchased the fabric and batting in
Lawton, Oklahoma the year before. I was stock piling supplies
to use while we were living in Europe.
When I took needle and thread to that piece of cotton we were
about to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. In eight days we will
celebrate again, this time our 29th year.
I received the most lovely messages. I was gently reminded
as a runner talks of her first marathon or a rock climber
shares the details of that very first mountain accent, or a
golfer gets a license plate to announce to all, that
the elusive hole in one has been captured......
as a quilter, I will forever more be able to tell of my
accomplishment.
I told my very skilled quilter friend who lives in Alaska. She was there when I
started the monster quilt in Germany. I needed to share
that moment with her. It was the right thing to do.
I told my husband. I told my kids. Son number one,
in his humorous way of handling incredible life's moments,
said , sounds like a nice one. When you pass away, we won't
sell that one in the yard sale, we will use it as a special
dog blanket! urgh. As he was leaving our home last night,
we said our goodbyes, had kissed the grandgirlie numerous times,
he turned back and said, congratulations, good job on the quilt.
Somehow I had forgotten what it felt like to receive a
"congratulations, quite an accomplishment" from a couple of
peers. Your stomach takes a jump, and you get a lump in your
throat, you somehow feel a bit shy. Words of kindness and
grace came from fellow quilters that I value and appreciate their
skill. Sort of like that "Pretty Woman" movie moment, when the
older gentleman tells Richard Gere, "I'm proud of you".
"We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully
engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we've established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and
comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else
in life so wonderful, so worthwhile."
When I came into the kitchen this morning, Mr. Right had left
a St. Patty's day surprise of socks and green M & M's. As of late,
he has been buried up to his neck at work. It was delightful, simply
sweet to stumble upon my own little celebration party!
You square your shoulders. You stand up straighter. You set a goal.
Albeit, 18 years ago, you kept at it, you never quit. Today, you get
to dip your toes in the pool of accomplishment.
"Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself."
At least for a day or two, I feel this incredible need to relish this moment.
I need to let the kind words of family, friends and peers wash over me
and smooth out some rough edges of my heart and soul.
"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live."
I am living today bathed in grace.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
power outage
No power for 2 hours, this morning. I actually wrote a story on legal yellow paper.
I will type it here later.
I quilted and quilted and quilted and listened to the radio.
I painted my toenails a lovely shade of pink. It just happens to match my new
pink bracelet and pink t-shirt. The sliver of pink t-shirt under the cute gray sweater. Feels very lady like.
I will type it here later.
I quilted and quilted and quilted and listened to the radio.
I painted my toenails a lovely shade of pink. It just happens to match my new
pink bracelet and pink t-shirt. The sliver of pink t-shirt under the cute gray sweater. Feels very lady like.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
out of town
How come on any normal work weekday, I am fine.
Mr. Right is out of town today for work. He is back in
Las Vegas. I just don't feel settled.
I sort of feel like what a butterfly looks like.
I flit and land and jump and dart and move and
rest quickly and then start the process over again.
Looks like it is going to be a long day.
Mr. Right is out of town today for work. He is back in
Las Vegas. I just don't feel settled.
I sort of feel like what a butterfly looks like.
I flit and land and jump and dart and move and
rest quickly and then start the process over again.
Looks like it is going to be a long day.
Cash, cash and more cash
I don't really care for cashiers that roll their eyes at me.
It ticks me off or to put it nicely it hurts my feelings.
Usually as in the case over the weekend the person is
under 30 years old.
I don't care for the rolling of the eyes, extra breath
pushed out and roll of the neck combined with the slump of
the shoulders.
I had the audacity to pay cash. At a local fabric store my bill was
$26.00 plus some change. I gave the girl a $50.00 bill.
Every cashier now has to hold it up to the light, same with a $100.00 bill
and announce to the remaining people in line...oh bother, I have to do
this because "this old fashioned person is paying cash". Then because
said cashier does not have sufficient mathematical skills has to look at the
till read out to see how much change I will be needing. Good news,
even if the electricity goes out, I know how much change I am entitled to.
Mr. Right was telling me the story of how he was paid when he first was
in the US Army. It was a day to dress in his class A uniform. It was an
all day procedure, once a month. (I won't spoil the story for you if you want to ask
him for all the details, however I will highlight a few.) He would be
marched over and then reported in alphabetically of course to the
pay officer. He (yes, he) would count out your pay twice. Mr. Right would
then count it back and then you would sign for it. He would then
be marched to the line to buy savings bonds and travelers checks.
Then he would be marched to the bank.....later that night...lots of
soldiers would be completely broke after playing cards. Some, I will
let you guess who, would be calculating and saving and plotting
and would be good to go for the rest of the month after being paid
less than $300.00 per month.
Being paid for a job well done was of importance. It was made
to take up an entire day. It was the employer "thanking" them
in the way of a stack of cash. You were to say thank you to the
pay officer. You were proud of the money you made.
Fast forward thirty some years.....while waiting in line at a
drive through coffee stand the person in front of us used a debit
card to pay for a $3.00 drink. That got us to talking and thinking
and thinking some more.
Some/most folks today don't even touch a paycheck. It goes from some
magical computer to be directly deposited in your bank. Some/most
folks pay all their bills on line or with a debit card in person. People
pay for groceries or a coffee or a donut or a hotel or a meal with a
debit card. NEVER touching or placing a value on GOOD OLD CASH.
So you just might end up paying with a debit card at say a fast food establishment
for your $6.00 lunch as well as you pay for your $100.00 meal at a
lovely restaurant with a debit card. Your end experience will have the exact same feeling. Heck you can even put a tip on
your debit card for a restaurant or a coffee stand. There really is
no feeling of difference. No value or thought has been put into the
transaction. Those "oh my gosh" moments of gratitude for a
wonderful meal out and counting out and paying cash as a
"thank you" just are not happening.
Same can be said for the horrid attitudes of many, many workers and
employers today. The overwhelming attitudes of not feeling appreciated. After much thought,
I am guessing if the owners/managers of businesses had to go to the
bank, get a suitcase full of money, count it and then sit behind a card
table as each employee came up in turn, it would be a different feeling in
every office. The employer would have to look up the person, count out the
money then offer the money over and say thank you for a job well done.
The employee would instantly have a sense of GRATITUDE and say thank you
back. Then they would count the money back. Mind you this also gives the
employer a moment to reflect on said employee and wonder have they
really earned their money?
Yes, you are safe to assume that Mr. Right and I pay cash for about 90% of
every transaction we make. Yes, we are the only people who pay cash
at the dentist. Yes, we are the only people that pay cash at the grocery store
(yes, even the $300.00+ totals). At the beginning of the month, we go to
the bank, yep even walk inside. We take out cash.
We go home and fill our envelopes for what we have budgeted.
We place importance on our money. We value it and have respect for
the hours it took to earn it. In today's society, it is unusual for most to
plan ahead and use cash.
Apparently, cashiers are going to continue to be bothered by my
chosen method of paying. I am guessing that I will continue to
get the rolling of the eyes and the leaking out of air in exasperation
the very next time I hand over cash instead of a quick tap of a
debit card.
So the next time you happen to be in line behind me and you see
the cashier hold up my money and peer up into the light, please know
I have made a sincere choice to spend that money. I know where it
came from, how long I had to work at earning it, I know exactly which
envelope the change will go into and yes, I am fully aware of the
attitude I will most likely receive.
I will continue on my way. I will continue to appreciate and value
using cash. I will continue to be graceful even when others are
frustrated with me. Being good stewards of our money makes
us feel right with the world.
It ticks me off or to put it nicely it hurts my feelings.
Usually as in the case over the weekend the person is
under 30 years old.
I don't care for the rolling of the eyes, extra breath
pushed out and roll of the neck combined with the slump of
the shoulders.
I had the audacity to pay cash. At a local fabric store my bill was
$26.00 plus some change. I gave the girl a $50.00 bill.
Every cashier now has to hold it up to the light, same with a $100.00 bill
and announce to the remaining people in line...oh bother, I have to do
this because "this old fashioned person is paying cash". Then because
said cashier does not have sufficient mathematical skills has to look at the
till read out to see how much change I will be needing. Good news,
even if the electricity goes out, I know how much change I am entitled to.
Mr. Right was telling me the story of how he was paid when he first was
in the US Army. It was a day to dress in his class A uniform. It was an
all day procedure, once a month. (I won't spoil the story for you if you want to ask
him for all the details, however I will highlight a few.) He would be
marched over and then reported in alphabetically of course to the
pay officer. He (yes, he) would count out your pay twice. Mr. Right would
then count it back and then you would sign for it. He would then
be marched to the line to buy savings bonds and travelers checks.
Then he would be marched to the bank.....later that night...lots of
soldiers would be completely broke after playing cards. Some, I will
let you guess who, would be calculating and saving and plotting
and would be good to go for the rest of the month after being paid
less than $300.00 per month.
Being paid for a job well done was of importance. It was made
to take up an entire day. It was the employer "thanking" them
in the way of a stack of cash. You were to say thank you to the
pay officer. You were proud of the money you made.
Fast forward thirty some years.....while waiting in line at a
drive through coffee stand the person in front of us used a debit
card to pay for a $3.00 drink. That got us to talking and thinking
and thinking some more.
Some/most folks today don't even touch a paycheck. It goes from some
magical computer to be directly deposited in your bank. Some/most
folks pay all their bills on line or with a debit card in person. People
pay for groceries or a coffee or a donut or a hotel or a meal with a
debit card. NEVER touching or placing a value on GOOD OLD CASH.
So you just might end up paying with a debit card at say a fast food establishment
for your $6.00 lunch as well as you pay for your $100.00 meal at a
lovely restaurant with a debit card. Your end experience will have the exact same feeling. Heck you can even put a tip on
your debit card for a restaurant or a coffee stand. There really is
no feeling of difference. No value or thought has been put into the
transaction. Those "oh my gosh" moments of gratitude for a
wonderful meal out and counting out and paying cash as a
"thank you" just are not happening.
Same can be said for the horrid attitudes of many, many workers and
employers today. The overwhelming attitudes of not feeling appreciated. After much thought,
I am guessing if the owners/managers of businesses had to go to the
bank, get a suitcase full of money, count it and then sit behind a card
table as each employee came up in turn, it would be a different feeling in
every office. The employer would have to look up the person, count out the
money then offer the money over and say thank you for a job well done.
The employee would instantly have a sense of GRATITUDE and say thank you
back. Then they would count the money back. Mind you this also gives the
employer a moment to reflect on said employee and wonder have they
really earned their money?
Yes, you are safe to assume that Mr. Right and I pay cash for about 90% of
every transaction we make. Yes, we are the only people who pay cash
at the dentist. Yes, we are the only people that pay cash at the grocery store
(yes, even the $300.00+ totals). At the beginning of the month, we go to
the bank, yep even walk inside. We take out cash.
We go home and fill our envelopes for what we have budgeted.
We place importance on our money. We value it and have respect for
the hours it took to earn it. In today's society, it is unusual for most to
plan ahead and use cash.
Apparently, cashiers are going to continue to be bothered by my
chosen method of paying. I am guessing that I will continue to
get the rolling of the eyes and the leaking out of air in exasperation
the very next time I hand over cash instead of a quick tap of a
debit card.
So the next time you happen to be in line behind me and you see
the cashier hold up my money and peer up into the light, please know
I have made a sincere choice to spend that money. I know where it
came from, how long I had to work at earning it, I know exactly which
envelope the change will go into and yes, I am fully aware of the
attitude I will most likely receive.
I will continue on my way. I will continue to appreciate and value
using cash. I will continue to be graceful even when others are
frustrated with me. Being good stewards of our money makes
us feel right with the world.
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