Friday, March 29, 2013

Friday Fotos....

So, a certain basset hound was hoping no one noticed he had pushed the boundaries and that his backside was now resting on the chair he is not to be on.....


How cool is this little munchkin, courtesy of her Aunt L's St. Patrick's Day presents? 







        And here again, rockin it with her Grandmom....
You can barely make him out, but there is a small robin, near the top left hand side of this photo.  I took his arrival as a sure sign Spring is finally on her way!

Wishing everyone a beautiful, peaceful weekend!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....

Always start earlier than you think you need to.
For appointments.
For holidays.
For birthdays.
For dinner.
For plane trips.
For births.
For moving.
For everything.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tuesday Tip for the Day....

Rockin the tunes.....

Due to impending changes, the atmosphere feels a bit stressful at the moment around here.
Thankfully, I remembered yesterday an old standby I turn to when things get crazy.
I break out the old songs - whether on the radio (CBS FM 101.1), the '60's music station on Direct TV or iTunes on my computer.
Next thing you know, I'm singing along, my feet start moving and I am dancing.

As the sign on my kitchen windowsill says:
It's all good. 


Monday, March 25, 2013

A Monday memory....



Time to make the coffee.....

I suddenly had a flashback this morning as I was counting out the scoops to fill our coffee maker. I first learned to make coffee while in the fifth grade at school.  Yes, at school.  My teacher was in charge of the coffee makers, similar to the one above, that each resided in both the "Lay Teachers" lunchroom and the "Nuns" lunchroom."  (I attended Catholic school.)  I was one of several students who was assigned to make sure there was fresh coffee at lunchtime for the staff.  Once trained, my daily task was to watch the clock and quietly slip out of the classroom and into the Teachers Room. There, I would fill the basket from the gigantic can of coffee sitting on the shelf, add the correct amount of water, and turn the machine on.  

I can't begin to tell you what that job did for me.  I felt pride for being chosen to handle such a responsibility and a real sense of accomplishment each day I followed through.  Now, I'm sure there would be many people who would shake their heads and say that my "job" took time away from my school work.  But I would argue that the valuable lessons I learned from the experience could not be found in any book.

The Englishman is probably grateful for my training too, as he arrives in the kitchen quite early each morning to find that the coffee is made and ready to be poured.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday Fotos....


Spending time cuddling with granddaughter C is always a treat.  The other day, as I sat with my arm wrapped around her, I looked down and noticed her hands were folded.  How precious is that!  This is one of many photos I took.







A short while later C noticed I had my phone out and was pointing it at her.  She immediately stopped what she was doing and shouted "Cheese!"  Girl knows what's goin on!









It was quite chilly at our retirement house last week.  The new heating system needs a few tweaks before the upstairs and downstairs reach a similar temperature.  In the meantime, the Englishman kept us snuggly warm by building a cozy fire.

I always take it as a good sign anytime Mr and Mrs Cardinal visit our feeder.  I love the brilliant red they sport and the way they always seem to travel together.
The way most couples do. 

Wishing everyone a lovely, warming weekend!


Thursday, March 21, 2013

Thursday's Thought for the Day....


Well, sure, if I knew then what I know now...... I would have done it differently.
But I didn't.  
I did the best I could with what I knew at that time.

Just need to remember that.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom.....

"Let the sun shine.  Let the sun shine in........"

The last several days have not been easy ones for me. Various reasons.
But this morning, I started to feel just a tad bit better.  
Why the change, I thought, as I was washing up the breakfast dishes.

Answer: The sunshine!

After several gloomy days the sun made a strong appearance first thing this morning.  
It filled my kitchen through the large corner windows by the sink and the bay window next to our table and chairs.

It struck me, once again (because I have the memory of a goldfish at the moment) that I need light.
Sunlight.   Bright white bulb light.   Firelight.
I need to have light around me during the day.
It lifts my spirit and makes me feel hopeful.

During the so-called "energy crisis" of the '70's, we were admonished to turn off all but essential lighting in our homes.  The campaign obviously worked on me for I still have trouble putting more than one light on in a room.  But today I decided that I do my bit in numerous other ways to "save the planet" so I am going to turn several lights on during the dark and dreary days which seem to hover over the East Coast lately.

In the meantime, fingers crossed that talk of yet another storm next week turns out to be incorrect.
Come on Spring!


Tuesday, March 19, 2013

A Tip for a Tuesday....

Moisturize!

In light of yesterday's post concerning my skin problems, I thought I would share the names of some of the products that I have found to be beneficial.

I am not a spokesperson for any of these companies.  I simply want to pass on what has worked for me, in hopes it might help someone else.

Top of my list at the moment?  Dermalogica.

I was first introduced to these products a year ago while receiving a facial at a local spa, courtesy of a gift card from the Englishman.  The woman there suggested I use Dermalogica's calming cleanser and medium weight moisturizer.  Both worked very well for me.  But my recent problems clearly indicated I needed something more.  So I purchased the "ultra calming kit" pictured above left.  It contains a cleanser, mist, masque (still in the box), calming serum and barrier repair.  I've been using the products for nearly a week now and it has worked wonders!  There is still some dryness and pulling, but the redness has dissipated and I no longer resemble a prize fighter.

There are several things I like about this product line:
Their products do not contain lanolin, SD alcohol, mineral oil, artificial colors and fragrances.
They offer travel sizes of most products.
There are "kits" available, so you can try small sizes before making a full commitment.

Other product lines I have used in the past include: Lancôme, Olay (Regenerist), Clinique and Estée Lauder.  Severely dry skin? I also had great success for a time with acid mantle cream and Shikai Borage Dry Skin Therapy, both found in drugstores.  On a tight budget?  St.Ives Timeless Skin, recommended by Dr. Oz, is the product I currently slather on my neck, which is not as sensitive as my face.

As I described yesterday, I have a unique situation with the skin on my face due to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns I sustained as a teen.  Unfortunately, my skin seems to build up a tolerance for some of the products I use, so I then need to go in search of something new.

For me, it is very important to do my research and carefully read the label of ingredients for the products I use. Moisturizing twice a day, without fail, is imperative.

Monday, March 18, 2013

A Monday memory....

For the past week or so my face has, at times, looked like someone successfully landed a right hook punch to my eye. Or it appears as though a two year old has applied red cream blush to my entire cheek and eye area.  These various looks are due to....well it's a bit of a long story.  Might want to put the kettle on and settle down with a cup of tea. I suspect this will be a longer than usual post.

It all began way back when, November of my Junior year in high school.  I was babysitting for a family just one house up from my home on a Sunday afternoon, while the parents of the four kids in my charge were at a Jets football game.  Anticipating dinner preparations, I scrounged around in the their refrigerator for something simple to fix the kids. Realizing that brie and wine were not going to fit the bill, I was pleased to find some left over pizza.  I turned their gas oven on and waited for it to heat up.  By that time, the two older boys were playing in the woods behind the house, their younger sister was at a friend's and the toddler was being carried to and fro on my hip. Twenty minutes later, the oven was still cold so I called my sister, who was also a frequent sitter at this particular house.  When I questioned her as to how to work the oven, she replied that unlike the automatic oven my parents had, it was necessary to light the neighbor's one with a match.  I put the toddler down in the corner across the room of the kitchen, opened the oven door, saw the "light here" directive written in red and struck a match.

You've probably guessed what happened next.

The force of the, I suppose you could call it "explosion", knocked me to the floor.  Fortunately, I was still on the phone with my sister.  I told her to get my father to come over right away because I thought I had broken the oven. It may have taken as long as thirty seconds before the pain started and I realized I  had in fact burned myself.  Thankfully, when my sister told my parents what had happened, they knew immediately how serious the situation was.  They arrived within minutes it seemed and pulled me towards the kitchen sink.  They started splashing cold water all over my face and hands, then my mother began searching the freezer for ice.  They laid me on the couch, despite my protests that I didn't want to dirty it, found a bed sheet, filled it with what little ice they found in the freezer, and placed it on my face.  My sister was sent off to fetch a neighbor to come stay with the children, then my parents packed me off into the car and drove me to the emergency room.

I often find it interesting when you look back on certain experiences in your life, which parts tend to make the biggest impression on you.  That particular day, it was what transpired in the ER that I seemed to internalize the most.  There was a young male intern on staff when I was brought in and placed on a stretcher in a small room.  I can remember the details of the experience vividly, lying there while he looked me over.  I answered whatever questions he had, but otherwise remained quite silent.  I do recall vigorously rubbing my feet together, as this seemed to help me deal with the pain.  And by this time, there was in fact a lot of pain.

The comment he made, which struck me, and truth be told hurt me, was that he said I needed to stop making such a big deal out of it!  He went on to say that he had seen people far worse off than I was.

I was stunned. It was if he had slapped me. The fact was, I was working as hard as I possibly could not to show any emotion at that point.  I felt completely stupid for what I had done and was very sorry for all the upset I was causing so many people at that point.  I didn't doubt there were people who had suffered far worse burns than I had. Forgive me, I thought. This is my first time.  And I really am trying to be quiet about it.

The intern applied what looked like toothpaste to the entire area of my face and neck, then wrapped two fingers on my right hand in gauze, smiling that he had made me a "peace sign."  He inquired if I had a boyfriend.  When I responded in the affirmative, he asked for the young man's name and then drew his initial on my forehead.  Bear in mind, I was sixteen, not five years old that day.   I was then told to go home and take a couple of aspirin if I felt any pain.

I can see that this tale is going on far too long, so I will try to sum up quickly.

A few hours later, after literally walking the neighborhood with my sister because the heating inside our house made my face too painful, my parents made a phone call, then returned me to the hospital where our family doctor determined I was in fact in shock and was admitted.

(Why, yes, I am happy to report that my doctor had a long conversation with said intern.  Rumor had it his voice was raised quite loudly at the time, so there would be no mistaking his meaning.)

When I went to sleep that night, my face, hands and arms were still bright red.  The next morning, despite efforts by the nursing staff to hide all mirrors from me, I discovered that the affected skin now resembled that of a burnt chicken.  I kid you not.

I stayed in the hospital for one week and did not return to school for four weeks.  God bless my mother. The 3x daily process of dealing with the burns fell to her.   It was unpleasant, to say the least, but she never once complained or turned away.  One of the greatest gifts she gave me during that whole ordeal came several weeks into it.  I often had difficulty sleeping and late one night my mother found me sitting at the kitchen table.  She began to gently prod me to talk about what had happened, knowing my propensity for holding things in.  It took time, and a bit of shouting if I recall, before she finally got me to admit that I had in fact been terrified that day. I also confessed that it was very painful physically.

I am truly blessed.  Thanks to the swift action of my sister, parents and family doctor, I was spared from having dramatically noticeable scars as a result of that awful day.  Time, and the daily use of some very expensive moisturizers over the years, have kept my burns pretty much a secret. Well, except for what  occurs in late winter and started this whole posting in the first place.  Every year, generally around this time, the skin on my face starts to rebel against the indoor heating system and lack of moisture in the air.  And it turns red, flaky, itchy, etc.  I am forever grateful that is the most I have to deal with, but it can be frustrating at times.
 
And though I have frequently been tempted to hang a sign around my neck which reads:
          1. Yes.  I know my face is red.
          2. No. My husband does not abuse me.
          3. Why yes, it does in fact hurt.
I have so far resisted the urge and simply put up with the stares and sometimes rude remarks.

So if you happen to see me in the near future and I look as though Rudolph has left his shiny nose on either side of mine, you'll know why.

Whew! I promise to keep my future posts shorter this week.....

Friday, March 15, 2013

Friday Fotos....

It's been a busy few days, working to get house #2 back up and running.  Hurricane Sandy, and the loss of our heating/ac system, forced us to stay away from the house for months.  Now that a new system has been installed, we are in the process of putting the house to rights, as they say.


 Photo taking has been put far down the list.  But here are a couple of shots of the grands, engaging in activities they love.....






Eating dessert and......












                                                              crafting with Grandmom.


  Have a lovely weekend!
And whether you or yours come from the Emerald Isle, or simply wish that you did:




Thursday, March 14, 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....

"The word 'no' is a complete sentence."

No.
Not, "No, I really can't do it because I have to ..........."
Just "No."

The Englishman and I were catching up on some television shows we had recorded and were watching   The Good Wife.  During this particular episode, a prosecutor asked the opposing defense attorney if she would like to have dinner.  She paused, thought for a moment and said simply, "No."
He then pressed her and inquired, "May I ask why?"
She smiled sweetly and again said, "No."
I thought her response was wonderful!

I used to think it was sort of rude not to give explanations when having to refuse to do something or go somewhere.  Yet when I think about it, anytime I say "yes", I don't then go on to explain why or whatever.  So perhaps there are occasions when a no is enough.

While talking with a family member last week about a situation, I suggested they pass on those words of advice that have been of help to me lately.  That simply saying "No" is in fact a complete sentence.  That we have a right to take a moment, think over a request and then decide how we wish to answer.  And that we also have a right to just answer and not explain.

I've learned, for me, that if I do decide to say "yes" I need to remember that it was in fact a choice I made and that I can not blame anyone else for that or go forth with some sort of resentment.

First, I must listen.....then pause and think.....then respond.
Yes or no.
The choice is always mine.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Tip for a Tuesday....

Coupons

Some of you young, tech savvy people may already know this, but it was a new revelation to me.  I have one of those CVS cards on my key chain - you know, the one they scan every time you shop. What I didn't realize until recently was that I can automatically upload coupons to it.

Here's how it works:  I signed up to receive emails from CVS.  These newsletters give me information as to what is on sale, suggestions for products and coupons.  The best part is that I can make a few "clicks" and have the coupon loaded directly onto my "extra care card."

Then when I check-out at the store, they simply ask me if I want to activate my coupon and voilà!  Automatic 20% off, without having to print, clip or carry paper coupons.

If you don't already subscribe to CVS, you can sign up at cvs.com    Easy peasy.

This afternoon I'm going to start researching to find out what other stores offer similar uploads to their cards.  I love technology.

A Monday memory....

(*Apologies for this post being a day late - was busy with the Englishman's return yesterday!)


The St. Patrick's Day Parade

My earliest recollections of St. Patrick's Day were of a dinner consisting of corned beef, cabbage, and mashed potatoes, wearing green ribbons in my hair and watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade on channel 11, WPIX.  The parade was hosted, it seemed like forever, by Jack McCarthy, who I knew from watching the children's television program, "Cap'n Jack and Popeye." With a bit of a brogue in his voice that day, he would educate loyal viewers with vast amounts of information about the Irish.  

My mother would often gather us in the kitchen to watch.  As each County flag would arrive, such as the one pictured above, she would announce things like,  "Ah, that's where Uncle Hughie was from." or "County Louth, that was where my mother and her family came from."  Then the pipe bands would play and my mother's feet would start a tapping. 

As I've mentioned in a previous March 17th post, my mother took my three daughters for Irish step dancing lessons when they were young.  The girls quite enjoyed these outings.  I joined them a couple of times to attend an Irish céilí dance, which is similar to square dancing in this country.  We had a wonderful time, once we got the hang of it.  

Recently, much of the cast of Downton Abbey could be seen twirling round and round dancing the Scottish Highland on the season finale.  That got me to thinking about the fact that nearly every culture has some form of communal dance.  I sincerely hope that these dances are being passed down to the next generations.  How sad it would be for them to be lost and forgotten.  

Having said that, I just now realize that in a sense the torch has been passed and it will be my responsibility to in turn take my little granddaughters for Irish step dancing lessons.  Both girls have already shown a great love of twirling and moving to music. At the rate they are growing, perhaps I should start searching for a teacher now.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday Fotos....

Was very surprised to wake up to this at six a.m.



And not at all pleased.

Did a quick shoveling before heading down to my daughter's to watch the little ones.  Thank goodness for "Big Red," the Englishman's truck.  I needed to transport the munchkins back to my house at lunchtime so as to let out the three basset boys.  Much easier to load children in and out of a truck instead of my mini cooper!


It's been rather a long week, so when I arrived home, I did what any woman married to an Englishman would do of an afternoon - I settled down with a cup of tea, some homemade biscuits, and watched a rerun of Downton Abbey.  Though I feel a tiny bit refreshed, I have decided to spend as much of the day tomorrow resting.  Who knows what next week may have in store!


Wishing you all a relaxing, snow-free weekend!

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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Thursday's Thought for the Day....



“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” 


Son-in-Law #1 was with his mother when she passed away last Saturday afternoon from cancer.  Having survived two previous major health challenges in her life, she faced her latest diagnosis as one more fight to take on and win.  She fought this latest battle with the most incredible strength, endurance and courage.
Traits she has passed down to her wonderful son.

Some of us know from experience that the loss of one who is so loved changes you forever.  You think you won't get through it.  But you do.
Comfort eventually comes in recalling the happier memories and the legacy of love they leave behind with us.  

I am reminded of the experience a woman shared with me following the death of my father.  She said about her own father, "Not a day goes by that I don't think of him.  And it has been many, many years now."  I so needed to hear that, to know that I too would think of him every day.

In my heart I just know that will be my son-in-law's experience too.
And his wife's, my daughter.
And his sister's and his father's.
Not a day will go by when they won't still think of Kathy, her courage and strength, and all the love she gave to her family.








    

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....

"Have a little faith...."

I was reminded of my father's words this morning.  Whenever he would find me anxious or afraid about a situation, he would put his arm around me, smile and tell me to "have a little faith."

Faith in what?

Faith in the belief that all would be well.  That I would get through it, whatever it was.

Then he would remind me to look back and review similar situations or challenges I had been through and survived.  "See," he would say, "that all fell into place and worked out fine."  He was right.  Even if things didn't turn out the way I planned or hoped, I was still OK.

Looking back I could see things like: I eventually did get a job.  Natural childbirth did not last for days, (it just felt that way.)  Fevers did go down, we did find a house to rent, and snowstorms do not last forever. Repeating that last one to myself over and over today....

Things have been a bit hectic around here the past few weeks.  Today I'm finding comfort in remembering my Dad's wisdom.  Today I have faith that all will be well and I will get through it just fine.

Today.  Check in with me tomorrow - after the storm.  Might feel differently.  In that case, I'll simply re-read this post.


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tip for a Tuesday....

Turn the music on....     

This afternoon found me in the kitchen cooking and baking up a storm.  Whenever the Englishman is traveling my usual habit is to put the television on while I'm in there, tuned into the news channel.  In case there is, you know, a bombing, tsunami, flight delays, etc.  Seriously. But today I decided to take a break from worry and instead decided to listen to some tunes.

We subscribe to Direct TV and they have a long list of music channels from which to choose.  Except for holiday time, I always go to the '60's channel.  The Beatles, Herman's Hermits, The Hollies and Beach Boys can transport me back to the carefree Summer days of my youth.

My daughters and former students will tell you I have been known to break out and dance without warning.  I confess, I found myself rockin and rollin around the room this afternoon.  Thankfully the three basset hounds currently in my care were not alarmed, taking my performance in their stride.

I've also discovered there is a channel on Direct TV called "The Playground" which plays current children's music as well as some classics.  The Englishman and I put it on for M a few weeks ago to enjoy while eating her lunch.  Her face lit up when she heard some familiar songs, calling out, "Grandmom, it's the Movers song!"  I think it's so important to expose kids to music early and play as much variety as possible.

So my tip?  Turn on the old songs and move around the floor.  Not only is it a wonderful mood booster, it's also a great way to burn off a few calories!

Monday, March 4, 2013

A Monday memory....



During our many years of marriage the Englishman has spent a fair amount of time traveling "across the pond"and literally, around the world on business.  (Perhaps that's one of the reasons why we've been married many years.) I've learned to take advantage of these separations to do extensive projects, slack off a bit on the everyday housework, and stay up just a wee bit later watching shows like Gilmore Girls which I know the Englishman has zero interest in.

Daughter #1 was just a toddler when the Englishman finally got his Green Card and was able to exit and reenter the US freely.  It was around this same time that I started a tradition of sorts, which carried on for years actually.  Soon after the Englishman's departure, I would pack up my little one, hop in the car and off we'd go to the bakery.  
Yes, first stop, the local bakery, where I would purchase a chocolate cake.  
An entire chocolate cake.  
And nearly all of it was just for me.

Now in those early years, the combination of youth and chasing after kids kept me from packing on the pounds while indulging in my love of all things chocolate.  Unfortunately, those days are far behind me.  So I've had to give up the excursions to the bakery.

The Englishman and daughter #1 are currently on an eleven day business trip.  The temptation is strong to run off to the shops and stock up, especially since I heard earlier there may be yet another storm headed our way mid-week.  But so far, I've resisted.

M and I made brownies yesterday during her weekly visit to Grandmom's house.  I must say, I was very good, didn't sample any of the delicious squares and sent the entire batch home with her.  

Not gonna lie.  I was regretting that decision about seven o'clock last night.

Thank goodness I had my stash of Cadbury's dark chocolate in the kitchen drawer.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday Fotos....

This week....
there were LOTS of snuggles with C...










the sun rose outside my bathroom window in the most glorious colors....




the birds were delighted to discover that large clumps of black berries had appeared on the ivy which covers our shed....
(difficult to see, I know - I'm not the best photographer and I used my phone.)



and two of my daughters, without any consultation with each other, presented me with fabulous birthday gifts with the same theme.  The Englishman will be thrilled!

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend.
And if you have a moment, please say an extra prayer or two.  People very dear to me are dealing with difficult family situations.  I'm a firm believer that one can never have enough prayers!
Thank you!