Plastic or Paper?

This is moving crunch week! Ah, the humble, hard-working moving box. What does one do with them afterward? *Cricket sound* Yeah. Below are some pretty amazing ideas. Oh, by the way, we actually went with all new plastic color-coordinated bins because they're weather-proof, washable, reusable, non-mildew and stack-able inside each other without taking much storage room - important when you're downsizing. Ever make anything functional out of cardboard?

Fox Hunting? Really?

A friend's parents owned a fox hunt-fox run farm. My honey and I were invited to witness a fox run so we drove the 12 hours to experience something new. We weren't going to hunt, just observe.  It was not what I expected. No-sirree-bob. 
We arrived with our host to see 8 other "good ol' boys" sitting around a campfire in their camouflage; their dogs off somewhere barking. They had one of those portable deep fryers going.  I was politely offered a lawn chair and then a fare of bread, coffee, fried chicken, fried potatoes, boiled corn on the cob and fried squirrel...WHAT?  Yes, squirrel. "Wasn't this a FOX hunt?" Then I noticed the old pickup still *fresh* with the day's killing food on the tailgate. My stomach lurched, but not wanting to appear *snooty* I accepted the chicken knowing it had been fried with the filthy rodent squirrel....besides they had rifles nearby.  
It was great chicken and thank the Lord we didn't get sick later. Has anyone eaten squirrel or been on a REAL fox hunt?

I was expecting hunters on horses not hunters with horsepower. I was expected cozy as in the bed, not cozy "campin' far" (camping fire). I pictured a proper English meal, not meal on wheels! "What about the poor foxes?" you may ask.....oh, they were perfectly safe!

 

It's My Birthday!

Yes, over twenty, thirty, forty...a long time ago I was born on May 11 - which was a Sunday - Mother's Day.  Wasn't that sweet of me? At a dainty 9 pounds 2 ounces and not quite 19" long, I was a butterball (my poor mom)!  Anyway, join me in celebrating LIFE.  Put on a party hat; toss a balloon; kick your heels up and dance crazy; eat some of the fanciest cake Pink Cake Box makes.....then jump in the caddy convertible with me (NO, I'm not 59...yet) and let's act like party animals!  Anyone else born in May or better yet, on Mother's Day? Was anyone else a big baby? 

Sorry........

I haven't been visiting anyone's blogs or fast with replying because...last Saturday night my father was hospitalized with congestive heart failure due to pneumonia.  This is critical because he was diagnosed with advanced Pulmonary Fibrosis less than a year ago. With my mom dying just three years ago, I definitely took last week to visit him. He's doing better, but we found out yesterday a dear man we've known for 34 years died.  It was just *one of those weeks.*


As usual, I did my postings a week ahead,  but noticed I lost a couple of followers...sorry, duty called.  Anyway, just thought I'd catch everyone up at once. 

I'm hoping to be inspired after all this.  I'll post something tomorrow or the next day.

Love ya'll!  

Those Who Change Your Heart

They handed her to me wrapped in a light, soft blanket. She studied my face...and my heart flipped over! She was beautiful.

One day in August our hearts were changed forever by this baby girl, Kelleen.  She was as sweet as she was beautiful. She was creative from a very young age. 

I remember she went through a Snow White faze (photo 1). I cannot tell you the times we sang, "Someday My Prince Will Come!"  Kelleen would also make up sayings that became a part of our family language until today. We call them, Kelleenisms.

Then one day she wasn't in our lives every day. Circumstances were such that we moved to another state without her.  I'd better explain. I *watched* Kelleen from the time she was 8 weeks old.
We got to visit a couple of times when we returned to Missouri to see family. Then we lost touch for several years, but I still thought of her often...sometimes daily.

A few months ago, one blessed day we found each other! She had been looking for me while I was looking for her. God is good.

She's all grown up; in Hollywood; an actress! Still beautiful, talented, creative and "my little girl" in my heart. Oh, and guess what? Her prince came. She's also engaged! I love you more than you know, Kelleen! (And your family too.)
Is there one person who changed your heart forever?  I'm on the road, so publishing comments will be slow in coming :)

 

 

Appreciation

An 87 year old man said to a group, but no one in particular, "There are a thousand people who would give anything to sit where you're sitting and do what you do."
My natural smarty-pants side wanted to whisper, "Name me ONE." But before I could take my next breath, I realize he was right.
Why? Because before I was here, I had wanted to be where I was sitting and do what I am doing.
He's right and in my limited thinking, he stated a profound thought.
It's easy to become bored, tired, feel unappreciated, see greener grass, feel you're capable of so much more, get antsy...you get my drift.
Today I am taking inventory and deciding to be truly appreciative of where I am and what I'm doing.

Grandparent's Cottage

My mom's parents never had much in way of money and possessions. They were truly rich in love, laughter and appreciating simple things.
My grandpa cobbled onto this tiny cottage. It was heated with a wood stove.
Grandma cooked on a large wood cook stove until the last few years. The pies that came from that oven.....wow.
The little enclosed porch on the front held a bed topped with hand-made quilts. It had a tin roof so you could hear the rain. The old wooden screen doors slapped when closed. It was a place where any of their nine children, along with oodles of grands and great-grands could gather for good food and fun.
Maybe this little cottage is why I'm so enchanted with the idea of living in one - going back to simpler times?

Aprons Again

My grandmothers wore aprons every single day of their lives like the one pictured here from Angry Chicken's "Tie One On."
Each morning they would put on a clean dress and a "fresh" apron.
The aprons were always pressed, starched and coordinated with their dress.
I never saw a stained apron, nor one that was tattered. When they got to that pitiful state, they became household rags...or maybe pieces for a quilt.
Every single time I put an apron on, I smile and think of my grandmothers.
It's comforting.
What will my granddaughter put on that will forever remind her of me, I wonder? I'm off to think about that for a while....

Satin Sheets

While I was blogging about a snuggly bedroom with 800 count sheets, I remembered one time when we visited my parents for a week.

My mom proudly announced, "I bought red SATIN sheets for you to sleep on!"

That night I slid into bed. Literally.

In fact, I slid, slopped, scooted and sloshed around in that bed all night. It was like trying to sleep in a bed of jello on a cold day.

The next morning it was "thanks, but no thanks" on the satin. Could we just have her old cotton sheets back? I noticed she appeared pleased. hummmm.

A day later she chirped, "I washed and then put those satin sheets on my bed and LOVED them!"

That's when I noticed something. Most of her clothes & furnishings were satin-shiny-slick. *light bulb moment*

Give me cotton, flannel, wool or silk, but not satin sheets to lie on. Sounds like a country song, huh?

Rules

Have you ever been in on a highway where three or four lanes are reduced to one, due to road construction or an accident?
As soon as you see the "left lane ends" sign or flag man, you pull into the right line and wait. And wait. And wait. And wait.
While everyone is crawling along at a snail's pace, there's always those people who fly past, bypassing you and the ridiculously long backed-up line of vehicles.
They squeeze into the right lane at the last minute and then go merrily on their way.
In the meantime, you're still waiting and fuming because they added to your waiting time.
Because I'm a "play by the rules" sorta gal, it always got on my last good nerve when someone did this. Then one day one of the brightest, sweetest, most talented, kindest young men I've ever known admitted he did this all of the time.
Shocked, I said, "Stephen, I cannot BELIEVE you'd do that. Why?"
He shrugged and smiled in his boyish way and answered, "I don't know. But you can do the same thing if you want to."
Just like that.
He probably doesn't remember this conversation from several years past, but it has helped me countless times.

Now when I'm waiting and some car or truck flies past and squeezes in, I think of Stephen and muse, "I could do the same thing if I want to."

Maybe next time.

Books, especially hard back

Books.

I didn't learn to enjoy reading until I was 21 years old! That's when my mom introduced me to a paperback book entitled, 'The Scent of Lilacs.' It was a mystery of sorts and from that day forward, I had at least one book going at all times.

Genres. I started with mysteries and still enjoy them the most. I actually read a few "Romance novels," though they were not the mushy-kissy-face kind. Yuk. I have bookcases full of books on knitting, sewing, gardening, self improvement, devotionals, novels, biographies, autobiographies, fiction, non-fiction and decorating.

The quote that describes my relationship with books is this: "Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." ~Charles W. Eliot

Oh yes, I wished I could find that first inspirational book from my past.