Thursday, December 27, 2018

Word for 2019

It's that time of year again when I think about what word I will focus on for the coming year.  In the past, I have used the words: Hope, Peace and Creativity.  It is not an easy thing to come up with a word to focus on.  I meditate and pray on it.  I have done some free think about it.  This is where I just list all the words that come to mind that speak to me.  Then I go thru each one and either eliminate the word and move it onto a new edited list.  By doing this, I have been able to narrow the list down to the word I will choose.  However, this year something different happened.  The word just came to me one morning while I was having my coffee and journaling at the start of my day.  No other word seem to come to me as clear and definitive as this one.  So, for the year 2019, I am choosing the word, "OPTIMISM".

Daily we are inundated with what is wrong in the world, our country, people, etc.  It has caused me to wonder if everything is (as in my mother's favorite phrase) "going to hell in a handbag".  So much hate, violence, and anger.  One can become overwhelmed with so much darkness.  For 2019, I want to focus on the good, the peaceful, the selflessness of life.  I want to find each day an example of what life should be even if the example is small.  I want to smile more at the ups instead of constantly frowning at the downs.

Abraham Lincoln said, "When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will."

I want to turn this around for 2019 and look for the good.

Monday, December 17, 2018

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Christmas is my holiday!

Everyone has their favorite holiday.  For example, my husband's favorite is Halloween.  But my favorite is Christmas.  I have loved Christmas all my life and not just because kids get presents from Santa.  I have loved Christmas because of my dad.  It was his favorite holiday.  Dad had so many Christmas traditions that made us look forward to the holiday season.  From decorating the outside of the house with multi-color lights (he was not a fan of houses lit with one color) to spending hours driving with all of us in the car from one tree lot to another to find the perfect tree. Dad was not a fan of artificial trees either..."Only real is Christmas" He would say.  The traditions that dad had with us have passed on to my family.  We always have a real tree for Christmas.  But unlike dad, we don't put tinsel on the tree (cats).  The first ornaments to go on the tree are the first ones we bought when the boys were born.  The tree topper is the same one mom and dad had on their tree for 40+ years.  My Christmas village grows every year as I acquire a new building for it and my mother's choir girls and boys candles always stand by the church.  A poinsettia plant sits on my diningroom table as a reminder of my mom's birthday on December 6 and next to it is the large ceramic Christmas tree that belonged to my mother-in-law.  My father-in-law's sleigh bells hang on the front door along with a 2-foot angel made by a parent of a first grade student when I was teaching.  Under the tree is a very large creche built by my father-in-law with figures given to me by a best friend.  On one of the beds, sits 44 stuffed animals.  My husband has been gifting me with one for every Christmas we have been married and he says it would not be Christmas without him finding me one I do not have.  Of course, baking all the family recipes is a definite tradition we all enjoy.  Although I am usually the primary baker and the men in my family are the tasters.  I think the funniest tradition we have is what we put out for Santa on Christmas Eve.  This tradition we stopped one year when we thought the boys were too old for it but they raised such a rucus about it, we started it again and do it even now.  The strange part is it is not your "normal" treat for Santa.  We put out a plate with a salami sandwich and a cup of coffee.  This came about when I was a little girl and we would put out cookies and hot chocolate for Santa.  One year, there was a note on the plate on Christmas morning, asking us to leave a salami sandwich and cup of coffee for Santa on the next Christmas.  It has been a tradition ever since.

I would like to think that after my husband and I are gone that these traditions will continue with our sons.  However, traditions it seems in this day and age are not as important as they once were.  So I will be realistic and hope that one or two will go on.  But until then, I shall keep the traditions of my holiday going and enjoying the memories that they bring to mind.

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Saturday Smiles

*I got the house decorated for Christmas and came to the realization that I have a lot of Christmas decorations.  There are not only decorations handed down from family but also, decorations from my married life as well as decorations received as gifts during my teaching years.  It was so much fun to reminisce about them all.

*There was a post on facebook from the school I retired from about a project that I had done at Christmas time with my students.  It made me smile to know that I was remembered for the project.

*I saw a red headed woodpecker at my bird feeder, a kind I have never seen before.  I was so happy it stayed there until I could take its picture.

*I was able to get all my online Christmas shopping done.  I love online shopping...no lines at the checkout, no going thru store after store to find something.  Easy Peasy shopping.

*My husband and I watched a favorite Christmas movie "The Bishop's Wife" last night on TCM .  We had hot chocolate w/marshmallows to go with it.


Wednesday, November 28, 2018

My Advent Preparations for Christmas 2018

The season of Advent begins this Sunday.  It is a time of preparing our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ. As I do each year at this time, I have been thinking and praying on what I shall do for this joyous season.  In the past, I have chosen to read and meditate on what the Bible says for each day of Advent.  This is something I will do again this year.  However, I found myself wanting to do something more hands on (for lack of a bettery way to put it).  On the website of a favorite Church, I found my answer...

                                                    "A Reverse Advent Calendar"

 Her's how it works.  For each day of Advent, you add an item to a food box.  Then on Christmas Eve, you donate the filled box to a local food bank.  I like this.  So many go without during this time of year and it is a small way for me to help.


Thursday, November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving 2018 !



The love and support of my God, no matter what kind of person I have been on any given day.  Knowing He still loves me eternally.

The beauty of the Earth in all its forms.  God was on top of His game when He created it.

The continued good health in body, mind and spirit of my family

Memories of a 60+ year life to remember and share.

Watching my children become the adults I knew they would be with good, kind, loving hearts and the courage to chase their dreams.

Parents who taught me about romantic love between soul mates, the strength of a united family who can get through any adversity and the belief that it is what is inside a person that is most important.

The appreciation of the small things in life-- hearing the coo of a morning dove, watching the mares graze in the field, the smell of freshly mowed grass, the taste of hot orange tea in my nanny's teacup on a rainy morning, the touch of my husband's hand when we go for a walk.

Food on the table, a roof over our heads, a comfortable secure retired life.

Time to pursue past times, travel with my husband and just enjoy day to day living.

Books that you hold in your hand, turn the pages and appreciate the beauty of how they look; music of all genres that lifts you up or calms you down and art in all mediums that makes you wish you had just a small percentage of the talent the artists have.

Being a cat mom and a dog grandma.

The ability to appreciate the positives in my life especially on days when there seems to be more negatives.

(This is reprinted from a post of mine in 2016)


Thursday, November 15, 2018

I Have Become My Mom.

Me

It has been said to me in the last few years that I am sounding and looking like my mom.  This comes as no surprise because I have noticed it as well.  What really surprised me was how many things I do and say are so like mom.  In fact, there have been many times when I swear I am channeling mom.  So here are some examples of how I have become my mom.

-I put sticky notes everywhere.  They can be found on appliances, mirrors, books, cupboard doors, etc.  Mom thought sticky notes were the best invention and so do I.
-My mom loved lists.  She would make a list for everything and would be devastated if she left the house without her to do list in her purse.  I have started to be a list person. I make a list for grocery shopping, for reminders on things I need to do in the house and when I leave the house, a list on what to pack for a trip.  I even make lists for the other members of my family.
-My mom thought it was a terrible habit to go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink, so no matter the time she always did the dishes before bed.  I now do the same.  Weird.
-I find myself using the same sayings as my mom, so much so that my family will roll their eyes and inform me I am channeling mom again.
-Mom was a sign reader.  She read the signs on the road when we were out in the car, she read them in stores.  She loved to read signs.  I find myself doing that too these days.
-Mom loved to watch people.  She would sit in the back of a movie theatre as well as in church in order to watch people.  She would sit in the middle of the mall and in restaurants facing the door so she could watch people.  Guess what....so do I.

Now, for many reasons, some people would find becoming their mom very disconcerting but for me, I think of it as a compliment.  My mom was an awesome person to me and if I become even half of the kind of woman she was, I will be quite happy.
Mom


Saturday, November 10, 2018

Saturday Smiles!

The smiles this past week were harder to find but, in my opinion, that made them more worthwhile.

*I was notified by 2 credit card companies that there were questionable charges on my cards.  After reviewing them, I agreed with the credit card companies and reported them as fraudulent.  I was not held responsible for the charges (thank goodness) and I was issued new cards from both companies. BIG smile at the end of this one!

*My doctor informed me that even though my health numbers are still not good, they haven't gotten any worse.  I can give that a smile.

*Made a new slo cooker recipe for chili and the guys in my family loved it!  I am not a big chili fan but it's great for a Sunday afternoon when the guys are hanging out to watch (or should I say yell at) football on tv.

*This morning woke up to a snow storm but was pleasantly surprised to see a deer eating apples off my tree. Surprise surprise...he had small antlers!  We never see males especially as we are getting close to hunting season here.  What a nice smile in the midst of an icky snowstorm.

Monday, November 5, 2018

Rethinking the direction of my blog...again!

It's that time of year again when I am rethinking where my blog should be and where is it going.  I have made some changes this year.  Some I like and some I don't like.  I am trying to find more of a personal focus for my blog but inspiration is slow at arriving.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Saturday Smiles!

Well, it's the last Saturday in October and I am just filled with smiles.  I spent this past week in Reno, Nevada visiting my son and daughter in law in their new house and it was a great time.

The five of us-me, my husband, 2 sons, and daughter-in-law-were all together which because of work hasn't happened in a number of years.  We sight-seed like tourists, shopped, went out to dinner, talked till all hours of the night, laughed at old memories and made great new memories.  It was a wonderful way to spend a week.

So instead of listing all the little things that made me smile this past week (which are too numerous to list anyway), let me just tell you it was ALL wonderful and I haven't stopped smiling yet!

Friday, October 12, 2018

Friday Funny

I saw this on facebook and it made me smile and laugh.  With the week going the way it has, we need funny.

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Saturday Smiles

Here we go for the week of October 1-6!

*Signed up for an online course thru National Geographic on Genealogy.  I have been working on my family history since I retired and I am looking forward to learning more about the process of investigating family clues.

*Fixed the refrigerator.  We started to hear a weird buzzing coming from our fairly new refrigerator and although my husband proclaims himself a handy fix-it man, he could not find the problem for the annoying noise.  I tried my hand at it and found that somehow "he" had turned on the ice-maker mechanism, which we do not use, and that was what the annoying sound was.  Yay for me!

*Found a beautiful site to include in my morning prayers.  The site was the Divine Mercy Chapel in Poland and it was recommended by a dear blogging friend.  As it is an active online transmission, I know it will be a heavenly addition to my morning prayers.

*Got the results of my mammogram and they were all good.  I am happy as that is one thing off my mind.  More doctor appts. coming up and I am trying to be positive and hopeful.

*I saw a beautiful woodpecker in the tree this morning.  It reminded me that although we woke up to snow earlier this week which I find yucky, there is still beauty to see at this time of year.

Friday, October 5, 2018

I am soooo not ready for this!

We woke up to this sight this morning.  SNOW!  It was only an inch but it was there.  I am so not ready for snow on October 5th.  To be honest, I am never ready for snow.  But this is wayyyyy too early.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Monday Meditation

Good Morning!!!
I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If the devil happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, DO NOT attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFJTD (something for Jesus to do) box. It will be addressed in MY time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, DO NOT hold on to it or attempt to remove it. Holding on or removal will delay the resolution of your problem. If it is a situation that you think you are capable of handling, please consult me in prayer to be sure that it is the proper resolution. Because I do not sleep nor do I slumber, there is no need for you to lose any sleep. Rest my child. If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Saturday Smiles

Another week of smiles that certainly outdid any negatives that were happening.

 *Detroit Lions beat the New England Patriots in Sunday Night Football when no one including me and my son thought the Lions would even score.  Best thing was I got to watch the game with my son and we enjoyed the win together.

*Got the garage ready for the guys on Monday.  Every year we have a couple guys come and take the garbage we have in our garage out.  This is the large stuff like old furniture, wood, cardboard, etc. that we can't take to recycling or the landfill in our small car.  It helps us get the garage ready for winter when we need to store all the summer furniture, lawn mowers, gardening equip. and move the snowblower, shovels up near the garage door for easier access.  It also helps with space to park the car during the winter. 

*Made a new recipe for chicken wings in the slo cooker and everybody liked them.  I love my slo cooker and am always looking for new recipes to use in it. Maybe I should start posting some slo cooker recipes on my blog.

*With all the drama happening on the news shows, I was happy to find 2 new comedy shows that I liked on tv.  "Last Man Standing" and "The Cool Kids" gave my husband and I a good deal of giggles.  It is nice to be able to laugh at something on tv besides the politicians.

*Received 3 new books that I ordered.  I am excited to cozy up with my coffee, afghan and a good book to read.  The titles are: "Year of Yes" by Shonda Rimes, "The Mystery of Three Quarters" a Hercule Poirot Mystery by Sophie Hannah and "Christmas Cake Murder" by Joanne Fluke (this is part of the Hannah Swenson Mystery series).


Saturday, September 22, 2018

Saturday Smiles!

With all the negativity in the world today, I've decided to post on Saturdays what gave me smiles during the week.  I, for one, have found myself too many times focused on all the sad and bad instead of concentrating on the glad and good.  There are enough news programs and people paying attention to what's negative in the world.  I think it's time to pay attention to what's good (at least in my world).

*We bought our tickets to Reno, Nevada to visit my son and daughter in law.  We are so excited to go.  They have a new house we have only seen in photos and it's been way too long since we visited in person.

*Another good thing about the trip to Reno is that our youngest son has been able to get the time off work and go with us.  Our whole family will be together which hasn't happened in a very long time.   To preserve, my son is arranging a photographer to take a family picture.  Who can be sure when we will all be in the same place at the same time again.

*The washer finally gave up the ghost and died.  Now this would not seem like a smile to anyone but it is for us as we have enough money to go out and get a new one.  No laundromats while we save up for a new washing machine.  Big smiles on this.

Not too bad for the first Saturday Smiles of my blog.  I like it!

Friday, September 14, 2018

Goodbye Bev!

This week, a friend and colleague passed from this earthly world.  I am saddened because she was one of the most loving, kind people I have ever met.  She was a physical education teacher for many years that I worked with when I was teaching.  She had an infectious enthusiasm for life and she shared that with students and teachers.  She made every student feel special and that they could accomplish anything they set their mind to.  She even got teachers to get into physical exercise (not an easy feat after teaching a full day).  Her faith, her family and her life were all about giving back and helping others.  But with all the sadness that comes with her passing, I find that in a way I am happy for her.  For the last 10 years, Bev has had alzheimers and it was hard to see someone so into life reduced to being taken care of by others and not recognizing those whose lives she touched with her loving and giving heart.  I take comfort in knowing that she is at peace now in heaven with a memory that remembers all she helped and loved and shared her life with.  I am comforted to know that Bev is home and she is happy.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

"Goodbye and Hello!"

Adios August - Saying goodbye to August, I look back on it like watching the snippets of a film on my life.  After 4 years of remodeling piece by piece, I finally have my kitchen as well as my house done, received health news that was much better than I thought it would be.  Although it is still not the news I would have preferred getting.  My oldest son, Eric went to Spain via Denmark to play in a concert at the composer's request and my youngest, AJ got a promotion that puts him on the track to his chosen profession.  The world lost 2 super people, in my opinion, this month: John McCain, a senator with honor, class and character that many in government do not have anymore and the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.  Being a born Detroiter, I feel I have lost a member of the family.  I refuse to comment on any negative things that happened this past month.  There are far too many and it will only upset the positive vibe I have going right now.

Hola September - I greet September with a mixture of regret and anticipation.  Regret in that the summer, my favorite season, is coming to an end.  Soon warm, sunny days, blooming flowers, afternoons at the beach, and lazy days rocking on the front porch will be replaced by cold, frosty mornings, wool sweaters, the storing away of summer furniture and preparing the yards for the coming months.  I will miss being able to have all the windows wide open and feel the summer breeze as it fills my house with the sweet smells of freshly mown grass and lilacs.  My morning routine will no longer be sitting on the deck with my coffee watching the birds, chipmunks and squirrels scamper across my property having their breakfast and enjoying the morning warmth as much as I did.  And yet there is an excited anticipation of September.  The colors of Autumn-red, orange, gold, green-will cover the trees and yards showcasing a beauty that only God and Mother Nature can create.  The taste of hot chocolate with marshmallows in large china mugs and freshly baked brownies as an afternoon treat.  Watching children jump into piles of leaves as they enjoy the simplicity of play.  The sound of the schoolbus rumbling down my road at 6am and knowing that since I am retired, I can just turn over in my bed and go back to sleep.  The beginning of football season and the anticipation of my son and I yelling with frustration at the team even though they are on the tv and cannot hear us.

So with anticipation and regret, I bid farewell to August and greet with a welcoming smile the month of September and remember what is written about life's seasons.

"To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace. "  ( Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Happy!

 After weeks of worrying and praying about the worst-case scenerio, I was given news that I would call uplifting.  It wasn't the perfect heaven on earth news but it was better than what I thought it would be.  So today I have decided to put aside all the worry, fear, anger and sadness and choose to be happy. 

So to everyone out there....."Happy Thursday!!"

Thursday, August 9, 2018

His Voice

Last night, I went for a walk and had a long conversation with God.  I poured out my fears and thoughts and asked Him to help me know that He was with me on this journey I have found so difficult to travel.  When I returned home from my walk, I felt the need to go to my Bible.  I opened it to Isaiah 30:21 and read these words, "And your ears shall hear a word behind you: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or the left."  As I read those words, I knew He was answering my prayers.  He was letting me know He was with me.

Today I began my usual morning routine of flipping my day-by-day calendar to August 9th.  I read the daily thought as I always do.  It said, "In times of uncertainty, you can be certain of God's presence."  I smiled and raised my eyes to heaven and whispered a soft thank you.  Later in the day, I received an email message from a dear friend who let me know her thoughts and prayers were with me.

I have heard God's voice and I know I am stronger because of it.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

His Strength

I believe that something is coming and that God believes I need great strength to bear it.  I believe that He is putting people and things in place to help me.  Eric finding the time to come home for 5 days, the post from my favorite blog pal, the reference to novenas which my mom always had great faith in. I believe that God is trying to help me be strong.

                  "Do not be afraid or dismayed be strong and courageous."  (Joshua 10:25)

Tuesday, July 24, 2018

His Hand

Did you ever wake up one morning and just know that the day would bring something for which you would need great strength?

Last Wednesday was that moment for me.  I awoke that morning just knowing that I would need all the strength I had to get thru the day.  But I also knew that I would probably need more.  I remember the first thought I had was, "please, Lord, I am not strong enough for this.  Please help me."  As hard as I could to have faith that He would answer my plea, I was not sure.  Did He believe that I was much stronger than I thought I was and did not need His help?  I did not believe that.  So I continued to call upon Him with the same urgent request.  Later in the day, the news was given to me that I didn't want to hear but I knew in my heart that it was so.  I listened to the words trying to take it all in and yet, I still sent out my urgent plea thru my heart.  Afterwards it was a matter of how to tell others the news.  I sat in the car next to the one I had walked thru 45 years of life with and tried to explain.  My voice cracked, my eyes watered up and my words faltered but in that moment I felt a hand on my shoulder and a gentle voice saying, "you can do this...I am here."

"Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all.  Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me." (Psalm 139:4-5)

Thursday, July 12, 2018

There's still hope...

The news, whether it is tv, radio or print, is filled with so much that brings anxiety, depression and anger that I found myself focusing on the event in Thailand.  Here was a situation that could have ended so badly.  We got a miracle instead.  But we also got a glimmer of what is good and kind and positive about our world and that, to me, was the icing on this miraculous cake.

(This drawing was in the July 11th edition of USA Today)

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Happy 4th of July 2018!!

On this 4th of July 2018, I have become increasingly aware that our country is going thru a major shift in unity, loyalty and pride toward the foundations that made our country the democracy it is.  The reasons for this shift I will not go into here as they are my personal opinions and I choose not to debate them in this blog.  So I will instead attach this prayer and hope that all of us who call ourselves Americans look within to see if we are the problem or the solution.

Dear Lord,
So many today misunderstand freedom believing that
it is the ability to do whatever we want.
Help us always to remember
that freedom, true freedom, is being able to do
what we ought to do.
That freedom, true freedom, is not indulging
our every want and whim, but instead is the ability
to rise above any desires that are wrong, disordered,
dangerous or excessive.
Give us the grace always to remember that
true freedom makes us the people you wish us to be,
that true freedom brings us closer to you, and reshapes
our world in the likeness of your kingdom.

Amen.

(printed on facebook by St. Christopher Catholic Church)

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Blog Thought!

I have realized recently, especially in looking at other blogs, that I for the most part write for myself.  I have tried to figure out how to get more readers but it seems what I have to say is of no importance to anyone but me.  I share my posts each time I write a new one.  I comment often on other blogs and post my blog address for them to visit in return.  I don't understand it.  Does it stress me out or make me angry?  No.  I am okay with writing for myself.  It helps me see things better when I read my thoughts out loud.  However, when I have gotten comments in the past, it has helped me to see things from another point of view.

Well, that is my rant for now.  I will continue to post to my blog even though I may be the only one reading it.

Friday, June 22, 2018

We Made It To Anniversary 45!!

Butch and I have been married for 45 years today.  Wow!  That is so hard to believe because it only seems like yesterday we were this young couple starting out on a new adventure called marriage.  We began our life together in an upstairs flat of about 432 square feet (the apx size of today's tiny homes). How we managed that is amazing to me.  I suppose that is the reason we know we could not function in a tiny home today.

No one prepares you for married life.  Most young couples believe it will be sunshine and daisies all the time.  But eventually the honeymoon ends and married life really begins.  In my opinion, marriage is a journey of hills and valleys.  It is a journey that begins with 2 people learning to live with each other with all their similarities and differences, it's knowing you won't always agree on everything and sometimes compromise is necessary, it's finding a way to talk to each other about what really matters, and it's knowing someone has your back no matter what.  There will be bad times but giving up is not an option.  You need to keep moving because eventually you will get thru it together.  Another important thing that should be part of a marriage is a sense of humor.  Sometimes with everything going on in your life, the best thing to do is laugh.

Of course, the most important part of any marriage is Love.  Not the kind of love that burns in a moment of passion but the kind of love that continues thru the day to day routine of life: burnt dinners, dirty diapers, unemployment, bills, arguments, teenagers, those annoying little habits we all have, etc.  That is the love that is the strongest and will continue; as it has and will continue for Butch and I for 45 years and beyond.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Happy Father's Day!!

Eric and Butch


Butch and AJ
Butch, on this Father's Day, you can be proud of the father you are. You have raised two wonderful sons.  Under your guidance, they have grown to be men with good and kind hearts, loving souls, good senses of humor, smart, strong and brave. You have taught them a sense of responsibility as well as respect for themselves and others.  You have instilled in them loyalty and pride in this country and in the life they are blessed to have.  You have given them your love and support along with the knowledge that they would always have that no matter what. 

                         "A father is neither an anchor to hold us back,
                           nor a sail to take us there,
                           but a guiding light whose love shows us the way."

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

My Lumberjacks

I live in the woods so in order to have tv, we have a satellite dish.  It is great!  We can watch local tv, networks and a number of channels we pay extra for.  However, there is a downside.  Because we live in the woods, trees grow...as they should.  But in this case, it is not a good thing.  Eventually, the trees grow so high that they interfere with the "line of sight" for the satellite dish.  What can we do?  We must take down the trees that are in the way.  As my husband and I are older people, we called upon our younger son to come out to the house with the chainsaw to do the deed.  As you can see from the pics, things did not go as planned.  The chainsaw, which according to my son worked at his house just before coming to ours, decided not to work.  So, plan B was to chop the trees down by hand.  Not good as our son is a bit out of shape for the task.  So when exhaustion overtook him, the senior citizen in our house took over.  It took quite a bit longer than we anticipated to take down the two trees but it got done.  The 2 lumberjacks...well, they were very sore the next day.

What was I doing while all this was going on?  I was taking pictures and holding the cell phone in case 911 needed to be called.


Sunday, June 3, 2018

Recycling for a good cause



I am an obsessive follower of the 3R's - recycle, reuse and  reduce.  I try to follow it daily in my life.  This past Saturday, I was able to do a large recycling project and contribute to a good cause at the same time.  Our city partnered up with Goodwill Industries to hold a number of electronic recycling events in our town.  This past Saturday was the first of these events.  A list was posted on what items they were accepting.  Everything from computer components and accessories to small office and household electronics.  My husband and I did some cleaning out of our garage and basement following the list.  Then it was just a matter of loading all into the car and head for the drop off point.  To our surprise, there was a line of cars from the moment the gates opened but everything moved fairly quickly as we only had to wait 10 minutes and then many volunteers unloaded the car for us.

We both remarked how this was such a great way to get all this stuff out of our house, not put it in a landfill and support a good cause like Goodwill Industries.  In fact, we were so happy about it, we convinced our son to do the same with his electronics.  We are going to keep looking around the house for more so we are ready for the next recycling date.
2 TVs, 2 vacuum cleaners & misc. computer components

Sunday, May 27, 2018

Happy Memorial Day!!

               
                                                                   "Lest We Forget"


                                          
                                             William Edward Donahue - Veteran of World War I

                                                  
                                                   Joaquin Gomez - Veteran of World War II


                                           Basil G. Fassbender - Veteran of the Vietnam War

Friday, May 25, 2018

Happy Birthday, Eric!!

Happy birthday to my first-born son!  Eric is my oldest child and the difference between him and his younger brother are obvious to all who know them.  Eric is my musician and adventurer.  He started playing the clarinet in middle school and then decided to learn the bassoon in high school.  When asked why he chose the bassoon (or bazooka, as his lil brother used to call it), he replied, "because no one else in school plays it."  He also taught himself to play the accordion and joined a polka band all the while playing the bassoon (and recently, the oboe) in various orchestras.  He went on to get bachelor's and master's degrees as well as a phd in music. He decided in high school to be an exchange student and went to Brasil for a year upon graduation.  This was his first big adventure away from home alone on top of the fact that he could not speak Portugese.  He started in Tiger Cubs at the age of 7 and then informed us that he would be an Eagle Scout someday.  A goal he did achieve just as he said he would. He got married to a wonderful girl and then moved them both across the country to Nevada where neither of them had ever been.

My husband and I have been so lucky.  Both of our sons have grown into fearless, adventurous, smart, kind and loving men.  We are so proud of both of them.

So, Eric, you were the first born who was the recipient of our trying (maybe) too hard to get it right and the mistakes first time parents do.  Yet, when we look at you now, we see the boy who grew up to be the man we hoped you would become.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Thursday hint from God





I have been having a very "down" week.  It seems that all the negatives have been coming to the surface and invading my thoughts.  Try as I might, I haven't been able to put them away and see the positives in life.  So this morning when I saw this on facebook, I realized that God was trying to send me a little hint to hang in there.  He's working on it for me.

Update:  Just a few hours after I posted this, my neighbor came over and brought me a small bouquet of daffodils that had sprung up in her yard.  She thought they would brighten my day.  It just made me believe even more strongly that God is working on things for me.
God's hint thru my neighbor's gift

Saturday, May 12, 2018

Mother's Day 2018

Mom and me

I love lists!  This is something my mom taught me.  She loved lists too!  I grew up finding lists everywhere...on tables, hanging on the refrigerator, sticky note on the bathroom mirror as well as in my purse, on my bedroom mirror and in the pocket of my coat.  So whenever I can make a list, I do. It organizes my thoughts, keeps me on task and gives me a good feeling when I read it.

So in honor of Mother's Day, here is my list of what I learned from my mom about motherhood.

1.   Say "I love you" everyday.
2.   "let it go, let it go" (a mother's mantra)
3.   Let them know that you are there for them no matter what.
4.   Being disappointed in them is a better punishment than a spanking
5.   Let them know they can tell you anything, good or bad or weird or graphic
6.   Motherhood is a lifelong & beyond commitment.
7.   Make home a place they will always want to come back to.
8.   Motherhood is the toughest job and worth every moment.
9.   No matter how old your children are, they are still your babies.
10. Our greatest accomplishments are our children.

 “The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.”-Saint Therese of Lisieux.

Me and Eric

Me and AJ

Monday, May 7, 2018

What a way to start the week!

What ever happened to customer service?

It's amazing to me how many people who work in the services business (be it retail, restaurants, repairs, etc.) find it difficult to be pleasant and courteous to a customer.  It also doesn't seem to matter whether it is in person or on the phone.  How many times have you been in a store and tried to find someone to wait on you only to be told, "that is not my department" or "I will find someone to help you" and then you never see them again?  Have you been ignored because they assume you are just looking and don't intend to buy or that you do not look like you can afford to buy what they are selling?  Then there are those who take your order in a restaurant and once you have your food, they are nowhere to be found.  Trying to get your check sometimes takes longer than getting the food.  On the phone, You need to play push button tag to get where you want to be and even then no one can answer your question or you get an answering machine, leave a message and no one bothers to call you back.  Then there is that wonderful tone in their voice when they do speak to you that gives you the impression that you are bothering them. 

I am a customer!  I want to give you money!  That alone should make these people treat you courteously but it does not.  They obviously have so much business that they do not need ours. 

Let me remind those people that the best advertising for a business is "word-of-mouth".  Remember that bad reviews can be just as important to a business as good reviews.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Happy May Day 2018

The snow is melting away!  The temperatures have been in the 60s and 70s!  The birds, squirrels and chipmunks are running around!  Spring has officially come to the Upper Peninsula!  And to make it even more official...I put away my snow boots yesterday!  Ta Dah!!

Monday, April 30, 2018

After 4 years in Retirement, What I Have Learned.

I have been retired from teaching for 4 years now and in that time, I have learned some interesting things.

1.  It is not necessary to be busy every day.  It is okay to have a "do nothing" day.

2.  Mornings are much better when you do not have to rush.

3.  It is not necessary to be rich to retire, being comfortable is good.

4.  Friends from work come and go but true ones are still there after you retire.

5.  Marriage can survive retirement when you learn to let the petty things go.

6.  I have not caught a cold once since retiring from teaching (go figure).

7.  When both spouses are retired, life is easier when you have shared activities as well as separate ones.

8.  I still get asked, "So how do you like being retired?" and "It must be nice to have nothing to do every day."

9.  After retiring from teaching, there are many things I do not miss.  What I do miss the most are the students and their families.

10.  I have earned each & every day of my retirement after working for more than 45 years.