I try to learn something new everyday! Sometimes it is a lesson. Sometimes it is something to make life easier or more productive. Sometimes it is just for me, or a thought or an idea either for me or someone else. Or how to do something new or a new recipe. But my thought is I hope I learn something new right up to and including the day I die. As my mom always said no one can take your education away from you!
Somedays you learn how to make life easier, my exciting lesson over the past couple of days was using Rain-X on my clean windows, the outside (yes my life is that dull that I get all giddy about cleaning windows...I love to do that so much-NOT!). They are, for now, crystal clear and they should now repel rain water and maybe stay cleaner, longer. We will see, but for right now they look really nice!!! I of course still have more windows to clean!
Some gadgets work, some do not. I recently bought garden gloves! I know, no big deal other than these are rubber coated PLUS four fingers on the right hand glove are like black claws! They would be great for halloween!! I do wonder why they don't make left handed claws for those people who are left handed! Yes that is discriminatory! But anyway, I bought these gloves and tried them out yesterday while working in the yard. They did pretty good. But I did switch to regular gloves in the afternoon and didn't miss the "claws"! In the right circumstances they did work pretty good! I still feel like I should chase small children scaring them with the right hand claws!! I wouldn't do that, but I'm just saying!!
Some random thoughts on a Monday....
Some people and their kindness never cease to amaze me! People who communicate or drop everything just to hang with you are priceless. Then there are those people who only do what they want and are only there when they want to be....like I said, everyday is a lesson. You learn who your friends are.
I love doing random acts of kindness....I took my sister a slice of rhubarb pie. It may not sound like a big deal but for her it was. It was something I've wanted to do for the past couple of years. You see my sister always asked for my mom to make her a homemade rhubarb pie for her birthday in April. My mom's pie was a custard-like, a two crust rhubarb pie and I will admit it was really, really good (especially after it had cooled just enough that it wasn't hot any more but was not cold from being in the fridge-there is a fine line here!). My sister was so please with that simple piece of pie! It brought her good memories of my mom and I think it made her both happy and sad. It's amazing how food can bring back memories.
And my final thought on this Monday....our spring has been wacky. It was warmer in February than it has been most of March and now April. (I keep telling Mother Nature to shape up but so far it has done no good). I use a weather app on my phone to daily check the weather. In fact it's the first thing I check on my phone before I get out of bed. (I think it's the farmer's daughter in me!). I plan what I wear accordingly. And last week my weather app (weather bug) was wrong not once BUT two times!!!! The two days I wore a dress I about froze and it was windy with a winter-like north wind. Not fun. So I'm taking the blame for the weather. We'll see today since the "bug" said it was supposed to be in the low 70's and at least the gale force winds are from the south, so I hope that means it warmer! If not, blame me!!
Have a good one and remember to learn at least one new thing today!!
Monday, April 24, 2017
Monday, April 17, 2017
Less is more!
Lent and Easter Sunday are over. I have no idea where those 40 days went, I just know they go a lot faster now than when I was a kid when that time seemed to last forever!
My goal this past lent was not to give up something but rather work on improving and doing better. I tried to do the 40 bags concept..this is a theory of getting rid of and cleaning out-40 bags in 40 days. I did not do a bag a day. And the concept does not just mean stuff. It did range from getting rid of stuff, but it also meant things like email files or files on your laptop or cell phone. I worked on this concept off and on over the course of the 40 days of lent. Somedays I got rid of nothing or very little. Other days is was a free for all. I burnt stuff, I bagged it for charity, I put stuff in the trash. I cleaned out drawers. I went through email files I went through pictures on my phone and laptop. I went through paperwork both at home and school. One day it was as simple as cleaning out the tooth brush drawer at home! One day last week my office floor at work was covered in piles and I pitched junk, big time. It was a good feeling on the days I accomplish my daily lenten goal. And on good Friday I took a load of "stuff" to a local charitable organization and dropped it all off. I left it and didn't look back. There is less stuff in my life. But I didn't stop after lent was over. I continued to clean and purge, even on Easter Sunday. I went through coats yesterday and I will hang on to that bag of coats until next fall when I can donate them to a coat drive so someone who can't afford a winter coat can home one of mine!
I spent time yesterday taking down some of the decorations and belongings in one of my extra bedrooms. It is, correction, was my son's room. He hasn't been home to live full time in almost 5-1/2 years, he's now an adult, married, a college grad and working a full time job-he won't be back to live in that room any more. I struggled a little with taking down all the things that remind me of him and made that room his room. I'm not gonna lie it made me very sad. But then in my nostalgic sadness I remembered a mom in my community who lost two of her three sons four months ago in an auto accident. She also has empty bedrooms but for a much sadder and heartbreaking reason. It made me a lot less sad but instead grateful for what and who I do have in my life. Suck it up buttercup I told myself. So my lenten cleaning continued. Today is was files on an electronic device and I will continue!
So as I head into post-lent season I hope I remember to continue to keep the "less is more" mentality and continue to clean, get rid of and pass along the "stuff" that fills my life.
Less really is more...and we can't take any of it with us.
My goal this past lent was not to give up something but rather work on improving and doing better. I tried to do the 40 bags concept..this is a theory of getting rid of and cleaning out-40 bags in 40 days. I did not do a bag a day. And the concept does not just mean stuff. It did range from getting rid of stuff, but it also meant things like email files or files on your laptop or cell phone. I worked on this concept off and on over the course of the 40 days of lent. Somedays I got rid of nothing or very little. Other days is was a free for all. I burnt stuff, I bagged it for charity, I put stuff in the trash. I cleaned out drawers. I went through email files I went through pictures on my phone and laptop. I went through paperwork both at home and school. One day it was as simple as cleaning out the tooth brush drawer at home! One day last week my office floor at work was covered in piles and I pitched junk, big time. It was a good feeling on the days I accomplish my daily lenten goal. And on good Friday I took a load of "stuff" to a local charitable organization and dropped it all off. I left it and didn't look back. There is less stuff in my life. But I didn't stop after lent was over. I continued to clean and purge, even on Easter Sunday. I went through coats yesterday and I will hang on to that bag of coats until next fall when I can donate them to a coat drive so someone who can't afford a winter coat can home one of mine!
I spent time yesterday taking down some of the decorations and belongings in one of my extra bedrooms. It is, correction, was my son's room. He hasn't been home to live full time in almost 5-1/2 years, he's now an adult, married, a college grad and working a full time job-he won't be back to live in that room any more. I struggled a little with taking down all the things that remind me of him and made that room his room. I'm not gonna lie it made me very sad. But then in my nostalgic sadness I remembered a mom in my community who lost two of her three sons four months ago in an auto accident. She also has empty bedrooms but for a much sadder and heartbreaking reason. It made me a lot less sad but instead grateful for what and who I do have in my life. Suck it up buttercup I told myself. So my lenten cleaning continued. Today is was files on an electronic device and I will continue!
So as I head into post-lent season I hope I remember to continue to keep the "less is more" mentality and continue to clean, get rid of and pass along the "stuff" that fills my life.
Less really is more...and we can't take any of it with us.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Make your own sunshine
We had beautiful weather back in February here in the midwest. It was in the 60s and 70s for a while. We got spoiled and March was a rude awaking and reminder that it was still winter with much colder temps and a mix of rain or snow.
It is now April and we are into a very gloomy, wet, cold pattern here. We've seen very little sun over the past week or more. Clouds and rain or drizzle have been the norm and people are getting tired of it. I imagine the farmers are getting antsy to get things dried out and get into the fields.
Yesterday was the first sunny day we've had a week. It wasn't fully sunny but we had more sun than clouds. The attitudes were much better and happier. It was nice to see the sun and smiles and see better attitudes.
And then there is today, cloudy with a north wind. It's dreary to say the least. Everyone seems to be in a funk. I'm not sure how people is Seattle, with the rain they get, handle this but here in the midwest we are tired of this. It's April and spring time. Things should be blooming and growing and turning green. Instead we kind of sit idle, wet and muddy. The grass is turning green as are some of the farm fields, otherwise its brown. The trees are trying to bud, but they need sunshine. We need sunshine.
So when I saw it was another cloudy, dreary day and I checked the weather app on my phone I decided to make my own sunshine and not let it get me down. I'm wearing yellow jeans/pants...a brave move for me. Black usually is my go to color, but in an effort to think spring I'm dressed like it is sunny outside. At least I'm trying. A coworker is wearing a dress with sandals....she mentioned trying to find spring as well!
But spring also has to come with a spring-like attitude. It's easy to get sucked into the drama and negative attitude that is going around. It's darn right depressing around here some days.
So in addition to wearing sunshine-yellow jeans I'm going to do something that makes me happy or brings sunshine-like affects for me. I'm thinking walking, even if it's on the treadmill (I'd rather be outside) but the sweating is therapeutic as much physically as mentally. And I may do something for myself like read for a while or something that brings a sunshine feeling to my world.
I hope you find your sunshine regardless of what it is like outside today.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
The world keeps spinning
Despite what happens in your life the world keeps spinning, the sun comes up and life goes on. But I am not talking about the world spinning in that sense today. I'm talking about how I'm feeling, once again!
Vertigo-I know this is a movie title but I'm talking a medical condition here. I watched my mom deal with vertigo for years. And to be honest I think it affected her a lot, and became a way of life for her-sadly. She always struggled with balance, which I had also dealt with until things got really bad about three years ago. It was so bad that I could not get out of bed or move without vomiting. And my mom always said it made her feel like she'd been drinking. That is the best way to describe it.
So guess what I woke up with this morning?! My world was and is spinning-literally. I made the discovery a couple of years ago that a visit to my chiropractor and the vertigo would improve or go away completely after an adjustment or two or three. Alleluia!!
This little medical calamity is not fun. Walking much less walking straight is a challenge. Getting up regardless if it is from a sitting position or laying down is a challenge, if not sometimes impossible. The bed may spin or levitate-yes that probably sounds like a horror movie, but that is how it feels. Using the wall to walk is normal and how I remember my mom walking, with her finger tips lightly touching the wall to keep herself walking straight and a method I use. See, I learned from the best. You also use a focal point keeping your eyes down to learn how to move and walk in order to keep going without weaving all over the place. Thank goodness for flooring with lines-it helps you walk straight.
Today's attack got progressively worse as my morning went. I could not walk straight and keeping my breakfast down was getting to be a challenge. A midmorning visit to my chiropractor required some popping and adjusting, massaging my sinus's to get them to drain and I'm back at work. And a conversation by my doctor pointing out the fact that for the third year in a row I've been in his office with this vertigo issue at this same time of year is hinting that this could be related or triggered by allergies? Perhaps we are thinking, that is the culprit! I do feel a bit better, the stomach has settled down and I'm not doing much walking or moving around purely for the fact that I'm not too good on my feet and I don't want to look like I've had a liquid lunch!
So while the world keeps spinning my world does too, but in a different way and for a different reason but, and this is big news, we finally have sunshine, and this is a good thing because we've seen little, if any sun in the past week or more! May your world keep spinning and for all the right reasons!
Vertigo-I know this is a movie title but I'm talking a medical condition here. I watched my mom deal with vertigo for years. And to be honest I think it affected her a lot, and became a way of life for her-sadly. She always struggled with balance, which I had also dealt with until things got really bad about three years ago. It was so bad that I could not get out of bed or move without vomiting. And my mom always said it made her feel like she'd been drinking. That is the best way to describe it.
So guess what I woke up with this morning?! My world was and is spinning-literally. I made the discovery a couple of years ago that a visit to my chiropractor and the vertigo would improve or go away completely after an adjustment or two or three. Alleluia!!
This little medical calamity is not fun. Walking much less walking straight is a challenge. Getting up regardless if it is from a sitting position or laying down is a challenge, if not sometimes impossible. The bed may spin or levitate-yes that probably sounds like a horror movie, but that is how it feels. Using the wall to walk is normal and how I remember my mom walking, with her finger tips lightly touching the wall to keep herself walking straight and a method I use. See, I learned from the best. You also use a focal point keeping your eyes down to learn how to move and walk in order to keep going without weaving all over the place. Thank goodness for flooring with lines-it helps you walk straight.
Today's attack got progressively worse as my morning went. I could not walk straight and keeping my breakfast down was getting to be a challenge. A midmorning visit to my chiropractor required some popping and adjusting, massaging my sinus's to get them to drain and I'm back at work. And a conversation by my doctor pointing out the fact that for the third year in a row I've been in his office with this vertigo issue at this same time of year is hinting that this could be related or triggered by allergies? Perhaps we are thinking, that is the culprit! I do feel a bit better, the stomach has settled down and I'm not doing much walking or moving around purely for the fact that I'm not too good on my feet and I don't want to look like I've had a liquid lunch!
So while the world keeps spinning my world does too, but in a different way and for a different reason but, and this is big news, we finally have sunshine, and this is a good thing because we've seen little, if any sun in the past week or more! May your world keep spinning and for all the right reasons!
Sunday, April 2, 2017
My mom's birthday
Today would have been my mom's 92nd birthday. I celebrated her last birthday here on earth with her 5 years ago. And to say I miss her is an understatement. My mom and I didn't always see eye to eye. I was a daddy's girl. It's not that I didn't get along with my mom growing up, but I'm a lot like my dad. So I didn't always understand or appreciate my mom's take on things until I was an adult and more so now that she is gone.
My mom was a kind, gentle soul. Forever young at heart, up to the very end. I truly believe she never wanted to die. She was fiercely proud of her kids. She hated to see us go as we grew up and left home and when we'd come to visit and left to go back to our own homes and lives. She loved and spoiled her grandchildren like a pro! She was a wonderful grandparent.
My parents had a 50/50 marriage. They argued and had their share of tough times. But they respected each other, treated each other how they wanted to be treated. They still had the newness that often gets lost and forgotten even after 50 years of marriage. They had fun together. And my dad always told my mom that he never knew happiness until he met and married her. He would bring her chocolate and flowers for no reason, a lot. She would make his favorite meals, shine his shoes and make sure the car was sparkling clean-all things my dad loved. Dad would build things for mom, including a house! They farmed together, making a living off of the land and raised livestock. And they raised five kids together! My parents would always make every birthday and anniversary a special day from start to finish for each other. It was always fun to watch and hear about.
So after my dad died I felt a responsibility to be there for mom on her birthday if I could. To help her through the tough days and the important days. This included me often taking a day off of work, driving four hours, spending as much time as I could with mom (usually ham and pineapple pizza or Chinese buffet and of course strawberries!) and then I would drive four hours back to my home and family. I would do it all over again, in a heartbeat. Great memories.
My mom was a kind and soft-hearted soul. I only saw her angry a handful of times. She would discipline us kids but we always knew she loved us fiercely and wanted nothing but the best. We were all raised the same but all turned out differently. It's amazing how that works out.
My heart is always a little sad and heavy when this date rolls around every year. I miss my mom, mainly to talk with, I can still hear her voice. The older I got the more I valued her wisdom, knowledge and insight. And the one thing I keep trying to strive for as I continue my journey is the phrase I heard dozens of times at my mom's visitation and funeral....grace. She was a woman of grace, without a double.
So today I'll find something to do in my mom's memory, even if it's just writing this blog, although strawberries sound good. My mom was one of my biggest fans when it came to my writing-I think it made her proud! So here's to grace, she set the bar high and I'm not sure if I can ever achieve her level but I'm so blessed that God chose to make her my mom.
My mom was a kind, gentle soul. Forever young at heart, up to the very end. I truly believe she never wanted to die. She was fiercely proud of her kids. She hated to see us go as we grew up and left home and when we'd come to visit and left to go back to our own homes and lives. She loved and spoiled her grandchildren like a pro! She was a wonderful grandparent.
My parents had a 50/50 marriage. They argued and had their share of tough times. But they respected each other, treated each other how they wanted to be treated. They still had the newness that often gets lost and forgotten even after 50 years of marriage. They had fun together. And my dad always told my mom that he never knew happiness until he met and married her. He would bring her chocolate and flowers for no reason, a lot. She would make his favorite meals, shine his shoes and make sure the car was sparkling clean-all things my dad loved. Dad would build things for mom, including a house! They farmed together, making a living off of the land and raised livestock. And they raised five kids together! My parents would always make every birthday and anniversary a special day from start to finish for each other. It was always fun to watch and hear about.
So after my dad died I felt a responsibility to be there for mom on her birthday if I could. To help her through the tough days and the important days. This included me often taking a day off of work, driving four hours, spending as much time as I could with mom (usually ham and pineapple pizza or Chinese buffet and of course strawberries!) and then I would drive four hours back to my home and family. I would do it all over again, in a heartbeat. Great memories.
My mom was a kind and soft-hearted soul. I only saw her angry a handful of times. She would discipline us kids but we always knew she loved us fiercely and wanted nothing but the best. We were all raised the same but all turned out differently. It's amazing how that works out.
My heart is always a little sad and heavy when this date rolls around every year. I miss my mom, mainly to talk with, I can still hear her voice. The older I got the more I valued her wisdom, knowledge and insight. And the one thing I keep trying to strive for as I continue my journey is the phrase I heard dozens of times at my mom's visitation and funeral....grace. She was a woman of grace, without a double.
So today I'll find something to do in my mom's memory, even if it's just writing this blog, although strawberries sound good. My mom was one of my biggest fans when it came to my writing-I think it made her proud! So here's to grace, she set the bar high and I'm not sure if I can ever achieve her level but I'm so blessed that God chose to make her my mom.
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