Thursday, May 30, 2013

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"If you throw a stone into a pool, the ripples go on 
spreading outwards.  A big stone can cause waves, but even
 the smallest pebble changes the whole pattern of the water.
Our daily actions are like those ripples; each one 
makes a difference.

It does matter, therefore, what each individual does
each day.  Kindness, sympathy, resolution and courteous
behaviour are infectious.  Acts of courage and self-sacrifice,
like those of the people who refuse to be terrorized by
kidnappers or hijackers, or who diffuse bombs,
are an inspiration to others.

And the combined effect can be enormous.  If enough
grains of sand are dropped into one side of a pair of scales
they will, in the end, tip it against a lump of lead.  We may
feel powerless alone but the joint efforts of individuals
can defeat the evils of our time."

~Queen Elizabeth II
(taken from the Queen's Christmas message, 1975)

This seems as applicable today as it was the year the Queen delivered her message.
I agree whole heartily that our individual efforts do count and do make a difference.
I have made a concerted effort the past to year to look people in the eye, smile and say "hello" - at the supermarket, post office, or out walking the dogs.
And 99% of the time, they reply in kind.
My own tiny ripple....

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....

There's a lot to be said for nap time....

When my mother was raising her three children, there were a few things she insisted upon. One of the most important was nap time.

She often said that she didn't mind, as each of us grew older, whether we actually slept or not during those two hours, but she firmly believed in the value of rest for her growing little ones, as well as for herself.

I thought her views in that area made perfect sense, but unfortunately each of my three little ones decided to give up sleeping in the afternoon around the age of two.  And I foolishly let them.

Daughter #2 is far wiser than I.  Though her four year old, unlike her two year old sister, does not start to doze off in the car on the return trip from pre-school, she still follows a nap schedule for both girls. Only she refers to it as "rest time."

This past week while looking after her little ones I could certainly appreciate the value of such a routine. As the clock struck one, I found that I too was in need of a little rest time. While C slept peacefully in her crib for two hours, M entertained herself in her bedroom with some toys and books. I made myself a restorative cup of tea, stretched out on a bed upstairs and read my book. It was precisely the boost I needed to get through what are often the most difficult hours of the day for parents ( and grandparents) between three o'clock and bedtime.

There were a couple of afternoons where I admit I did let M come and lie down on the bed with me for the last half hour or so.  Technically, we were still resting. We had lots of cuddles and her chatter,  and questions - such as, "Grandmom, when I'm twenty five, will you teach me to drive your Mini?" -  are memories I will treasure always.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Tip for a Tuesday....

Three items you should always keep handy:  oven mitts, a screwdriver and a cell phone.
I'll explain.....

In what most certainly should be listed under the heading "You can't make this up" there transpired this morning a scene unlike any I have experienced until today.
I am currently looking after the wee ones while daughter #2 and her husband are in California attending the wedding of one of my nephews. For the most part, it has been a real joy to spend several days with the girls and experience their routines and personalities.  This morning's challenge was not presented by them however, but rather by the four legged creature who resides upstairs.

Their dog has a routine and personality of her own, which necessitated my having to coax her to come downstairs and go out into the backyard. Since the previous evenings coaxing went less than smoothly, shall we say, the dog didn't feel like cooperating with me this morning.

Hence, the oven mitts.

I'm happy to report that they worked like a charm and I was able to quickly scoop said pooch and carry her downstairs without incident.
Till we reached the back door.
And the deadbolt would not unlock.

Now picture this: grown woman, (mind you, a grandmother!) clutching a dog which resembles a fox, in her arms, while sporting large tan oven mitts.  She rushes towards the door to the backyard and....to her horror....THE DEADBOLT ON THE DOOR WON'T OPEN. She then starts to scream frantically at the door, "Are you kidding me?"  Then immediately switches to pleading with said door to open, but to no avail.

That's when I put the dog down and reached for the screwdriver.

I did manage to get one of the deadbolt screws out.  However, my efforts merely resulted in the deadbolt cover spinning freely but not unlocking the door. Again, "Are you kidding me?"

Then I grabbed the cell phone.

While still shouting my disbelief that I can't unlock the only door which safely opens to the rear yard so as to let the dog out to go to the bathroom, while at the same time hearing the two year old happily and repeatedly jumping up and down in her crib, I texted the Englishman.  Like a knight in shining armor, he quickly drove down in his big red truck to come to my rescue.

Within minutes, he had the deadbolt removed and had let the dog out.  My hero!!

And there you have my rather lengthy explanation as to why I suggest that, should you ever find yourself in similar circumstances, you check your supplies and make doubly sure that oven mitts, a screwdriver and charged cell phone are all within your grasp.

Seriously.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

A Monday memory....

In honor of Memorial Day I would like to share the following quotes. I believe it is important to remember the true meaning of this day.  
As has been said, "All gave some, and some gave all" in defending our freedoms and serving our country. We owe them, and their families, a tremendous debt of gratitude.

"Through their deeds, the dead of battle have spoken more eloquently for themselves than any of the living ever could. But we can only honor them by redirecting ourselves to the cause for which they gave a last full measure of devotion."
                                                                        ~ Abraham Lincoln

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.
                                                                        ~ Arthur Ashe


Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday Fotos....

Corinthia Hotel (former Department of Defense Building)
An incredibly sweet sculpture in someone's front garden
Scenes from London....
The New Globe Theater




Member of the Queen's Household Cavalry
Notting Hill Gate Tube Station
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend, despite our somewhat bizarre weather of late.


Thursday, May 23, 2013

Thursday's Thought for the Day....


Daughter #1 and I toured the Churchill War Rooms of the Imperial War Museum last week.
It was quite a moving experience.  I greatly admire the courage and endurance the British people demonstrated during the long years of World War II.
(And I loved the chintz print on the chair in the tiny room set aside for Mrs. Churchill.)


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....

Universal themes....

I had the great privilege to spend time last week in the company of a group of people who come from, literally, around the world.  And I came away from the experience with the awareness that regardless of which part of the planet they inhabit, we all share many of the same hopes and desires in life.

Following introductions, people would often inquire if you had children.  Immediately their body language would change, as it did for the woman from Abu Dhabi who, when asked, broke into an enormous grin and said, "Oh yes, I have three."  Parents from Sweden, Germany, Australia and the States would share about impending graduations and milestones reached, or exasperation and worry about what their teenagers might be up to, given that their parents were currently out of the country.  

A young father from Italy said he couldn't go home unless he had purchased a few items for his two children.  His four year old had given strict instructions it had to be a car, despite already having dozens.  I shared that likewise, my oldest granddaughter would be looking for yet another horse. 
Thankfully, I found one that walks and neighs at Hamleys toy store on Regent Street.

Those of us who are grandparents couldn't resist taking out our phones and sharing pictures.   A lovely woman from Lichtenstein and I shared a conversation in which we found we  had each felt an almost spiritual experience when our first grandchildren were born, and were delighted to find that each successive grandchild's birth was just as wonderful.

A couple from Canada proudly showed us pictures of their new puppy.  A vibrant woman from Mexico City entertained us with her tales about her "boy" who turned out to be a pug, and how her two daughters, and husband, complain that she loves the dog more than them! We saw his photo too, and I confess to showing off my boys.

There was an Englishman (not mine) who was anxious that all would go well for the luncheon he was hosting in his flat, from the arrangement of the food to the temperature in the room - something I'm sure we can all relate to when having company over.

The excursion to Notting Hill and Portobello Road with a group of about forty women was great fun.  Many bargains were found perusing the stalls and shops in that area.  When we all gathered for lunch in the First Restaurant, at the end of the market stalls,  purchases were held up with pride and we oohed and ahead over each one, congratulating those who got a real bargain. 
When heading back to the tube station, one of the tour guides escorting us announced that we could either take a short cut or we could go past the blue....
Immediately we all shouted out "Blue door, blue door!" like school girls out on a field trip. 
This blue door - the one made famous in the movie Notting Hill.


(it's the one in the center.  If you haven't seen the film, I urge you to run, not walk, to the nearest means of rental or download and watch it.  It's one of my absolute favorite movies!)

Love of family was the universal theme I heard.  

Perhaps, if they brought together all the various leaders of the countries around the world with their loved ones on a four day conference, they too could see that we do in fact have more in common than not.



Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Tip for a Tuesday....


Jacquie Lawson E cards

A couple of years ago a friend sent me an "Advent Calendar" from a website called Jacquie Lawson.  It was adorable!  Filled with animation and songs, I looked forward each day to opening a new section to discover yet another little treat.  
In researching the site, I found I could purchase a yearly membership.  In addition to the Advent Calendar there are well over two hundred animated cards to send, from birthdays to anniversaries, and all special occasions such as holidays and Mother's Day.

I have derived much pleasure from sending the various cards to family and friends.  Sending "thinking of you" E cards in which there are horses is particularly fun for our oldest granddaughter.

This is purely a suggestion, and I will not in any way be compensated should you purchase a membership.  Just wanted to pass along the information in the hopes you will enjoy this site too!

The following information is from their website:

 jacquielawson.com



"Back in the year 2000, Jacquie Lawson, an English artist living in the picturesque village of Lurgashall in Southern England, created an animated Christmas card featuring her dog and cats, and her 15th-century cottage, and sent it to a few friends for their amusement. Those friends sent the e-card to others, and within weeks Jacquie was inundated with requests from all over the world to design more e-cards. In February 2002 she teamed up with a few friends and family members to create jacquielawson.com.
Over the years the collection has grown to a current total of 248 e-cards, each one showing a degree of artistry and attention to detail rarely seen in the medium of e-cards. Even the music is composed and arranged specially for each card! We now have a range of birthday e-cardsChristmas e-cardsthank you e-cards, and so on, featuring dogscatsteddy bears,flowers, and many other subjects.
A modest yearly membership fee gives you access to the entire range of e-cards and allows you to send as many greetings as you like. You can even get a further discount by joining for two years!
We hope you enjoy browsing our e-cards, and if you're not already a member, we hope you will consider joining us and sharing Jacquie's delightful animations with your friends and family."

Monday, May 20, 2013

A Monday memory....

Kensington Palace

The Englishman, daughter #1 and I had the distinct honor and privilege of attending a Black Tie Gala dinner in Kensington Palace last Saturday evening.  
Upon arrival, I joined a small group who were given a private tour of the room in which Queen Victoria was born, rooms in which she lived, and of numerous personal items of hers.  Among those were her wedding dress, family photographs, personal piano and the tiny portrait of her husband, Prince Albert, which she kept on her desk.
Following the tour, I rejoined the Englishman and daughter #1 in the King's Gallery just in time for them to greet and speak with our distinguished speaker for the evening, 
Lord Spencer.
Charles Spencer, brother of Princess Diana.

Lord Spencer spoke to the assembled guests briefly, and from the heart, about his sister. It was truly a memorable experience.


There was a professional photographer hired to take photographs, so I only snapped a few pictures with my iPhone.  
The paper cutouts caught my eye in the first room we entered on the tour.  I thought they were so whimsical and that the wee ones would enjoy seeing them. 


The sign reads:
"Presence Chamber
Lowly petitioners to the King make their case
here in front of the throne.
Those who wanted actual influence however,
had to travel further within."

I was also quite taken with the look of this clock, with the shapes of Great Britain, Ireland and France covering its face.

And yes, there was a red glow about the room.

We had a wonderful time during the week we were in London.  I will treasure always the memories of all that we experienced and the people we spent time with.

However, it truly is good to be home. 
As we approached the passport control section of Newark Airport, we were directed to walk down to the far end.  As I came closer, a very tall man who worked in that section called out with great feeling:
"Welcome home, folks!
As you can see, we left the light on for you!"

God bless that man!  What a sweet and wonderful way to be welcomed back to my country!


Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday Fotos....




A few more shots of our garden.  Wishing us all a lovely, sunny filled weekend!



Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today would have been my Dad's 100th birthday!

He passed away in December of 1982, several months shy of his 70th birthday - a milestone he wanted so very much to reach.  Sadly, it was not to be.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of him and wish he were still here.

Love you, Poppo!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Tip for a Tuesday....

White Lilac

Did yesterday's post stir a memory of your own concerning lilacs?  If you are bereft of a flowering lilac bush but long to fill your home with it's scent, then I suggest you visit this site:

SWEET GRASS FARM
http://www.sweetgrassonline.com


  I especially recommend their All Purpose Surface Cleaner and Laundry Soap Concentrate.

Monday memory....

Lilacs.....

You know how they say that a scent can transport you back to the very first time you encountered it? That is often my experience with so many things, particularly the sweet smell of lilacs.  

My parents planted a lilac bush just outside my bedroom window when they first moved into our house, well over fifty years ago.  In comparison to other flowering bushes which surrounded the foundation, the lilac blooms seemed enormous and had the most powerful, lasting scent.  My mother used to arrange the branches she cut in a tall, jet black vase.  The deep dark purple blossoms falling against the black was striking.

The Catholic grammar school I attended was named after the Blessed Mother.  The month of May, dedicated to her,  began with setting up a special table in her honor, draping it in blue cloth, and keeping it filled with fresh flowers through out the month.  

All manner of flowers and plants were brought to school each morning by fellow students, but the sight of lilacs were most welcome.  Their sweet perfume would fill the classroom and lighten our spirits.  I was so proud to be able to arrive at school with an armload of lilacs, their stems first wrapped in wet paper towels, then sealed up with tin foil in order to preserve their freshness.


Standing by my current lilac bush, I close my eyes, inhale deeply and find that school girl once again.



Friday, May 10, 2013

Friday Fotos....

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary.  How does your garden grow?"











Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

May this be a weekend of love and remembrance for us all.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Thursday's Thought for the Day....



This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week.  I hold an abundance of gratitude in my heart for the women who taught me far more than just the curriculum while I was in their care. And for the women I worked with in several schools, who generously shared their wisdom, experience, bulletin board materials and shoulders to cry on when tough moments came.  It was a privilege to be part of such an outstanding profession for over a decade.



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....



With an eye towards Mother's Day on Sunday, I wanted to share a beautiful post which I saw on Pinterest.  It was originally posted on a site on Facebook, noted below.

Grab a kleenex....you're gonna need it.  

This is a repost from Spring in the Air
Letter from a Mother to a Daughter:
“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”…
Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day…
The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you… my darling daughter.”
For those of us whose mothers, like mine, have been blessed with living long into the "golden years" this will be especially poignant.  There have been days when it has been both a privilege and a heart break to "mother" my own mother. Yet it is the least I can do for all that she has done for me.  And I know it breaks her heart to have to surrender to the reversal of roles with her children.
For my girls - keep a copy of this.  If I've inherited your grandmother's genes, you're probably gonna need it!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Tip for a Tuesday....

 Seeking a brief respite from the ups and downs of everyday life?  Look no further than Green Gables.

Whether through the novels, television series or soundtrack - find your way to Prince Edward Island courtesy of author Lucy Maud Montgomery.  You will find yourself swept along as Anne Shirley, the story's main character, shares both her infectious optimism as well as vivid imagination.





 I myself sought out a refuge this morning from the swirling tensions of life and found it in the form of music.

Just now,  after finding my courage and playing around with various bits of information, I think I may have successfully uploaded a video from YouTube!!!!  

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!
(Fingers crossed it works!)


Friday, May 3, 2013

Friday Fotos....


Look at that sweet face?  You can see why I allow him up on the couch. 





And this is Bentley's favorite position - horizontal.















Though not a very good photographer, I wanted to try and capture, to remember, the way the sunlight sneaks thru the back garden when it firsts comes into the yard each morning....



And then there's this...... our little munchkin with her usual "oh nooooo!"


Happy Friday!
Wishing everyone a sun-filled, peaceful weekend!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Thursday's Thought for the Day....


Normally, I only post one quote on a Thursday.  However, this morning, after double checking the information on the open-minded quote I came across in my notebook, I discovered a few more quotes by the same author that seemed to strike a chord with me.  I felt compelled to share them also.  In looking further, I discovered some interesting details about the author, a small portion of which is listed below.


“Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out.” 
― G.K. Chesterton

“Men do not differ much about what things they will call evils; they differ enormously about what evils they will call excusable.” 

― G.K. Chesterton

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” 
― G.K. Chesterton

**Source: Good Reads     www.goodreads.com


"G.K. Chesterton

Author profile


born
in Kensington, London, The United Kingdom 
May 29, 1874

died
June 14, 1936

gender
male


Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) cannot be summed up in one sentence. Nor in one paragraph. In fact, in spite of the fine biographies that have been written of him (and his Autobiography), he has never been captured between the covers of one book. But rather than waiting to separate the goats from the sheep, let’s just come right out and say it: G.K. Chesterton was the best writer of the twentieth century. He said something about everything and he said it better than anybody else. But he was no mere wordsmith. He was very good at expressing himself, but more importantly, he had something very good to express. The reason he was the greatest writer of the twentieth century was because he was also the greatest thinker of the twentieth century. 

Born in London, Chesterton was educated at St. Paul’s, but never went to college. He went to art school. In 1900, he was asked to contribute a few magazine articles on art criticism, and went on to become one of the most prolific writers of all time. He wrote a hundred books, contributions to 200 more, hundreds of poems, including the epic Ballad of the White Horse, five plays, five novels, and some two hundred short stories, including a popular series featuring the priest-detective, Father Brown. In spite of his literary accomplishments, he considered himself primarily a journalist. He wrote over 4000 newspaper essays, including 30 years worth of weekly columns for the Illustrated London News, and 13 years of weekly columns for the Daily News. He also edited his own newspaper, G.K.’s Weekly. (To put it into perspective, four thousand essays is the equivalent of writing an essay a day, every day, for 11 years. If you’re not impressed, try it some time. But they have to be good essays, all of them, as funny as they are serious, and as readable and rewarding a century after you've written them.).... "

There is more text about this author to be found on the above mentioned website.  Worth a look, I think.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wednesday's wisdom....

To say that things have been a wee bit stressful around here lately would most certainly be an understatement.  The reasons?  Varied and numerous.  

Having said that, the thought occurred to me as the Englishman and I were trying to solve the daily puzzle of what to have for dinner that what we needed was "comfort food."  And around here, that often comes in the form of Thai Chicken Curry.



The recipe is an old one, from a woman who brought the dish to a pot luck supper dozens of years ago and was kind enough to share.  I've adapted it a bit to suit my family.  Which means I have to leave "the green bits" out for a couple of the more picky eaters.

Tonight's version was delicious, if I do say so myself.  And even better?  
There are leftovers!

I've learned than when life is swirling around me there are a few things simple things I can do that help:

Keep it simple.
Pray.
Hug those I love.
Keep my surroundings tidy.
Count my blessings.
Make some comfort food.
Oh, and have a piece of chocolate!