Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Ain't it the truth?

Today I am looking for the good.

Not the best or the worst.

Just the good.

Wednesday's wisdom....

Fog........

Heavy fog rolled into our area during the night.  I crept out early in my Mini to meet a friend for coffee.  The words of Yukon Cornelius, in Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, came to mind as I inched my way along the road.  He described the fog he encountered, "..... as thick as peanut butter."

Driving under those conditions gave me a few things to ponder later in the day.  The first, immense gratitude for all the driving tips my Dad passed on to me during the many miles we logged together.  Thankfully, I paid attention when he cautioned me about how to handle changing weather conditions, and to always be aware of the other cars around me and what they, via inattentive drivers, might potentially do.

Then I thought about how fog forces you to slow down, to only see what is directly in front of you, to draw more intently upon all your senses, to be vigilant.

Life can feel like I'm traveling through fog sometimes.  Those periods when I've been forced to slow down, to deal with only what is happening at that very moment and not look too far down the road for what may be coming.  Times when I have had to be very focused on what I'm doing, and to heed any signs or warnings from people around me.

And then, like this morning, to feel an immense sense of relief when I've safely navigated my way through it.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Before you undo something, take a picture.

My collection of Raggedy Ann dolls has been looking a little, shall we say sad, lately.  So I decided it was time for a wash up of their clothes and a quick tumble of their bodies in the dryer to shake off the dust.  As I started to remove their clothes, I realized there was a pretty good chance I would forget who wore what.  Solution? Take a photo of the dolls to refer back to.

Which, as it happens, was a very good idea indeed.  I managed to get them all correctly attired until I reached these two......

A quick look back at the photos set me straight and the job is now done.

A Monday memory....

Last week, my 89 year old mother shared with me a question my sister had put to her in teasing.  "How is it you can remember all the words to a song from seventy years ago, yet have trouble with remembering something I told you this morning?"  This query followed my mother's rendition of a song she had known as a young girl, which apparently she had just entertained my sister and her husband with.

Don't most of us find that to be true?  You can't remember where you put your keys, but just let someone mention the title of a song you listened to in high school and every word comes back to you.

While talking with some friends the other day, the conversation went from Les Misérable the movie to its theater production to Hugh Jackman to the play The Boy From Oz to Peter Allen, one of my absolute favorite performers ever.  Next thing I know, two of us are singing the lyrics to "I Go To Rio," hardly missing a beat.

Since the Englishman is currently in London, I decided to take advantage of his absence this morning and I turned on the record player in the living room. Elton John and Carole King began to fill the room with memories from as far back as 1970.  The lyrics, as well as the skipping, were as familiar as if I'd  heard them last week. 

Now if I could just remember my new zip code as easily as I remember those tunes.....

Oh, "skipping" on a record?  Part of the charm of vinyl. 

And the good old days.

Friday Fotos....

Difficult to see, but the flowers of the amaryllis are almost there......

The last few evenings, the Englishman has gone in search of Bentley after dinner. We've discovered that he's been doing "undercover work," probably due to the extreme cold, both in and out of our house.

And we look forward to the arrival of Barney tomorrow, who will be visiting for a few days while his "Mom" (daughter #1) is in London on business with the Englishman. 

Have I been feeling jealous about their trip?  Heck no - I've been spending my time compiling a shopping list for items from my favorite spots on Marleybone Street. 

I also tease the Englishman that I know the real reason he goes over to London periodically is to brush up on his accent.

Wishing everyone a lovely, snow free, warming up, safe travels weekend.  For you Downton fans out there - keep the kleenex close come Sunday....

Thursday's thought for the day....

"Women sigh so that we won't scream.  There are several occasions in the course of any woman's day when, without question, screaming is the appropriate response.  However, on this side of an electrified fence, screaming is not considered good form.

So we sigh."

Sarah Ban Breathnach - Simple Abundance

For many years now, I have had a habit which I know drives my daughters crazy.

I sigh.

And the reason, is exactly as Sarah describes it.

Her thoughts continue....

"First we breathe in, quickly and sharply, inhaling reality, acknowledging the present situation -- the current hassle or disappointment, confrontation or challenge, long wait or lack of cooperation.

We hold our breath for a heartbeat.

Then we breathe out, slowly and deeply, exhaling and letting go of our initial response -- our dismay, impatience, frustration, annoyance, disappointment, regret. Letting it out.  Letting it go."

That is why I do it, girls.

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Anyone else guilty of sighing?

It works, don't it?

(and yes, I highly recommend this book!)

Wednesday's wisdom...

Baby, it's cold outside.....

Remember the old days, when during the frosty days of winter your parents would pile so many clothes on you they could hardly find your face?  Similar to the gear Miss M was sporting last year. 

Hats, mittens attached with little clips, scarves, snowsuits and boots.  When I was little, we wore rubber boots that went over our shoes.  Since the snow was often quite deep in our area, the boots were pretty useless.  Snow inevitably found its way inside, leaving me with wet and freezing feet.  My Dad's solution?  Electrical tape.  Seriously.  He would wind several layers around the top of the boot, securing it tightly to my leg.  It worked like a charm.  And I could have cared how it looked.  I was warm and dry.  

Fast forward to the teen years and suddenly how I looked became of grave importance.  Snowsuits?  Horrors!  I refused to wear either a hat or gloves, left my coat wide open and my uniform skirt hiked up.  Which led to frozen thighs, I can tell you.  Oh, but I looked good, right?

Except when there was shoveling involved and no risk of being seen by my peers.  Then it was back to "bundling", as demonstrated back in the blizzard of '78.

As happens to most of us, the circle has come around again.  I've long since reached the age where I would much rather be warm than stylish.  This morning I dressed in flannel lined jeans, three shirts, scarf, gloves, and the warmest winter coat I own.  And I just now noticed, the hat I pulled down tightly on my head is the same one I was wearing in the photo above.  

Some things never do go out of style.

Tip for a Tuesday....

There is nothing like a bitter cold winter's day to make you want to huddle under the covers with a good book and a cup of tea.  Here is a suggested list of authors, who I rely upon to capture my attention and hold it fast.

  1.  Miss Read (aka Dora Saint)
  2.  Elizabeth Berg
  3.  Maeve Binchy
  4.  Rosamunde Pilcher                                                         
  5.  Cathy Kelly
  6.  Jeffrey Archer
  7.  Vince Flynn
  8.  Debbie Macomber (Cedar Cove series)
  9.  Elizabeth Buchan
10.  Jan Karon

Last night I finished Cathy Kelly's Christmas Magic, a collection of short stories I found difficult to put down.  Many of her characters seemed so familiar to me. Must be the Irish genes passed down from my maternal grandmother's side.  

Oh, and if there is a little one about the house, I highly recommend The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit by Emma Thompson. (yes, the actress) I read it to Miss M while she was playing with the Lego's the other day.  Though she pretended not to be at all interested, she did shush Grandad when he attempted to speak to her, so as not to miss a word. This was soon followed by a straining of the neck with which to see the illustrations.  'Tis true, even when you think they aren't listening.....

Friday Fotos.....

 Sewing cards with M - lots of fun for only a dollar!

Thank you, Michaels.

(photo credit: The Englishman)

Little Miss C is just too cute for words!

Ta da!  Somebody climbed into the toy box and thought she was very funny.

Sporting the old "Cindy Lou Who" hairdo, 

as seen in Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

Adorable!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. 

Looking forward to celebrating the Englishman's birthday tomorrow!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Powerful.

A friend posted this on Facebook. What a wonderful message to pass along.

In just a few minutes....

Over the last several months I've been delighted to discover that it is true what they say about breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable ones.  Tackling a task for even a few minutes each day, instead of blocking out hours or days of time, can actually make a difference in completing all those "to do's" on my list. 

For example, if I think I must sort out the entire linen closet in one go, it feels like an overwhelming endeavor.  But if I tell myself I only have to work at it for say, fifteen minutes, and deal with just two or three shelves, I'm much more willing to take it on.

So far I've managed to tackle the bathroom cabinets, bookshelves, files, window sill displays, and more using that methodology, and slowly but surely, getting things done.  "Easy peasy" as they say across the pond.

Hmm, wonder if that approach would work with the treadmill upstairs, occasionally being used as a bit of a clothes rack.  Perhaps if I start off doing just ten minutes.......

On second thought, three minutes seems a much more attainable number. No point in pushing it.

Tip for a Tuesday....

I came across this page, tucked inside the cover of my copy of Simple Abundance this morning.  It had been sent home from my daughters' school with our weekly packet, many years ago now.  I thought the suggestions, listed as resolutions, were valuable.  I was unable to discover the true source of this page and therefore cannot assign proper credit.  It reads as follows:

Seven Resolutions for a Better Life

     With the arrival of a new year, resolutions seem to be the order of the month.  Listed below are 7 resolutions to help you experience success in your daily living.  These ideas are appropriate for the entire family.

Resolution 1
     I will begin and end the day with positive thoughts. In the morning I will be encouraged by the day ahead.  In the evening I will think about what went right during the day.

Resolution 2
     I will take frequent mental and physical breaks to keep from overloading my system.  Time out for myself is important.

Resolution 3
     I will eat right and not skip meals.  My body needs good nutrition to fight off illness and stress.

Resolution 4
     I will try to take a walk outside at least once a day.  I will engage in some type of physical activity as often as possible.

Resolution 5
     I will choose to associate with supportive friends and will in turn be a supportive friend to others.

Resolution 6
     I will try to spend more time reading and helping others and less time watching t.v.

Resolution 7
     I will try to become a more positive person.  I will work on the rough edges and polish the whole person.

Simple. Direct. Doable.

A Monday memory....

A bit of British drama....

Shortly after the Englishman and I became engaged, he rented and moved into a condo in my town, so as to eliminate the extra hour spent commuting to and from his previous residence.  The poor man was getting little sleep as it was, between long hours at work and trying to spend all his "free" time with me, so every minute less spent traveling was of enormous help.

This now meant that some of our time together could be spent curled up on his couch, watching television.  The Englishman was delighted to discover that the local PBS station entertained viewers with British programming.  The shows they provided were not always ones currently running in England, but were a few years old.  In this instance, age didn't matter; it was just nice for him to see something of home.

The first series we got hooked on was called, When The Boat Comes In.  The story took place in the North East of England in the 1920's.  There were two main characters, Jack, a veteran of World War I  and Jessie, a school teacher.  

The "will they make it, won't they make it" together as a couple scenario left one wishing the week would fly by in order to discover how things were progressing.  So I was delighted when the Englishman's parents came over for a visit and I discovered my future mother-in-law was as big a fan as I was of the series.

Since the show had been airing for several years already in England, she was well aware of the various twists and turns to the upcoming storyline.  Mum was very patient with me and all the questions I put to her, trying to detect what might be next.  Sometimes I would probe concerning a character I was worried about and she would smile, saying, "Oh don't worry, luv, it'll be alright in the end for him."

Mum knew I didn't really want to know the details from her. It was far more exciting to watch and discover them for myself.  Which brings me to my silence about Downton Abbey.

Because I know....

I've seen every episode of Season Three.  And the Christmas Special.

Which is all I will say on the subject.

I don't want to spoil a minute of it for anyone.

You'll simply have to watch and find out for yourself.

Friday Fotos....

This was a very pretty candle holder.  Unfortunately, I cracked a tiny portion at the top last year, and despite my best efforts, a piece came out as I was putting away my Christmas treasures.  Because I liked the paintings on it so much, I hated to part with it.  Practicality won out though, so I took multiple photos of it which I can always refer back to.

I happened to be down at the "retirement" house for a few minutes earlier in the week and took several photos of the remaining damage from the storm known as "Sandy".  There is a great deal to be done, but having photos to stare at gives me time to take notes and plan just how we can work with the new space the storm opened up to us.  

I must say I find it extremely handy having a camera in my phone.....

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"FRIENDSHIP IS BORN AT THAT MOMENT

WHEN ONE PERSON SAYS TO ANOTHER,

'WHAT! YOU TOO? 

I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE."

C.S. Lewis

What an amazing sense of relief one feels, 

when another opens up

and we find that we are not in fact, alone.

Wednesday's wisdom....

There is nothing more soothing to the soul than a hug.....

This photo of M and I was taken several Christmases ago. 

This morning, I spent some time with her sister, C, in the same position - her head lying on my shoulder, arms around neck, her tiny body totally relaxed. We swayed back and forth, just holding each other.

Heaven.

Then I was further blessed to scoop up M after she returned from school, hold her on my lap, wrap my arms around her and rock side to side.  It seemed to be a particularly tough day to be four. 

Hugs make it easier.

Several years after my Dad passed away, my Mother confessed that it was his big, strong hugs that she missed so dearly.  Knowing this, the men in her widow's group made a point of hugging all the ladies, hoping it would help, if only for a few moments.

I'm working on lingering with my hugs these days - absorbing them and soaking up their almost therapeutic value.  Hugs are free, know no age limits, and leave you feeling so much better than you did before it.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Stock Up!

Seems like everyone I know is sick these days with any one of a number of illnesses - flu, sinus infection, ear infection, lingering cold....

Just in case the sick bug decides to take up residence in our house, I made a list of items I felt would be necessary to help us cope, checked my supplies, and then purchased what was missing.

What's on hand?  Things like multiple boxes of tissues, hand wipes, Lysol wipes, paper cups and fever reducing tablets.

In addition, I tried to think about items we use daily and made sure there was an adequate supply in the cupboard, so if I find myself confined to the house, I know I won't have to send anyone to the store for me. Things like: deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, cotton balls, body lotion, lip balm, toilet paper, etc.

Should there be an unexpected snowfall, we've also stocked up on such necessities as jugs of water, dog food and treats, baking supplies, frozen chicken, and a few mandatory bars of chocolate.

Here's hoping that the better prepared I am, the less likely it is that either sickness or snow will arrive at my door.

A Monday memory....

Happy Birthday to you....

Happy Birthday to my daughter, whose first gift to me was her greatest - that of making me a mother. 

Love this photo ~ first daughter, first granddaughter.....

The big sister to M's mom.

and the one who often puts aside her own fear of heights in order to help me deal with mine, whether on a rooftop overlooking the Vatican or in a gondola rising up a mountain in the Rhine Valley of Germany.

May you always know how very much you are loved.....

Friday Fotos

 Captured this ivy several weeks ago while out walking the boys one chilly morning. The early frost casts a velvet quality upon the leaves.

                 



Christmas cactus - my pride and joy - wins the prize for "longest living houseplant" while under my care.

                                                     

And are these not the toes of a future ballerina?  I've been told I too curled mine and walked on them as a toddler.  Which prompted my parents to enroll me in ballet school, where I danced for the next ten years.  It would be lovely if C were to follow in her Grandmom's "footsteps"....

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude"

Scott Hamilton

Oh, how true!  Having a good or positive attitude can truly make all the difference for me.

A dear friend gave me an amaryllis bulb as a gift this Christmas.  My first thought was, "I wish she hadn't wasted her money. It'll never grow". Then I paused and decided, why not? Let's try going for a positive approach, instead of my usual negative one. 

I'm both surprised and delighted to report that the bulb is actually growing!
Photo to follow in a few more weeks....

Wednesday's wisdom....

Have you ever seen the film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?

My first viewing was as a very young woman.  It made such an impression on me - the incredibly deep passion that someone could feel for their country, and more importantly, the courage to stand up and do the right thing.

The past year has often found me in my kitchen, ranting at the news on TV and saying, "They should run that Mr. Smith movie again, you know, with Jimmy Stewart.  People need to remember how it should be."

 The Englishman and I sat and watched it again yesterday.

I really do think it should be on network television. Tonight.  Required viewing for every citizen who votes.

I also think that the President and every single member of Congress should have to sit and watch it. Twice.

And no, I don't think they need snacks brought into the chambers.

Seems to me, when I was growing up, if something needed to be done, people got together and did it. No committees.  No drafting of intricate documents, with attachments that had nothing to do with the primary need. People would volunteer or see that their local government was helping to care for their fellow citizens. It was just the right thing to do.

When my children were small, word was sent home from the school one day that there was a family who had escaped from Bosnia, forced to leave everything behind, and were staying temporarily with relatives in the town. The next morning there were piles of clothing, furniture, kitchen supplies and more brought to the school.  The items were loaded into several cars and delivered that afternoon. 

 People saw there was a need and they did something about it.

Now there's a real and urgent need for the people who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy.  It's time for the politicians from both parties to do what's right and pass a simple, clean bill to give all those affected the aid they desperately need.  No padding the bill with extra spending for things that have absolutely nothing to do with Sandy relief.

And maybe.....the media need to report the full story when they feed us information about what actually goes on in Washington. (Again, something addressed in the film.)

The film was made in 1939.  Sadly, the Englishman was right when he pointed out that nothing seems to have changed from how things worked in Washington then. 

Perhaps it's time for all our elected leaders to have the courage to do the right thing.    

To stop spending all their time thinking about the next election and paying back favors.

I've recently written to my members of Congress. I will write again.

And I'm going to suggest they watch Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

(rant over....)

Tip for a Tuesday....

A Gratitude Journal.....

For several years now I've been keeping a gratitude journal of sorts.  I begin the New Year with a clean calendar book or blank journal book, and write in it every evening after dinner.  I write 5 things I'm glad have happened that day - things like: I'm glad the Englishman was able to put the spare tire on the truck, I'm so glad M is feeling better, it was nice to see the birds at the feeder again this morning, what a treat it was to watch the fireworks festivities over the Thames in London last night on tv.  You get the idea.

Committing myself to writing only five sentences makes it an easier task to fulfill.  Were I to try and write a short synopsis of the day, I would probably put it off.  Another bonus? My accumulated journals have given me wonderful reference in which to look back on a particular year or period of time.  

What I've also found is that the practice often helps to really put my life in perspective. I sometimes catch myself looking for things during the day, smiling and saying, "That's another one for the list tonight."  If it's been a difficult day, taking the time to sit and write down about only the good often turns my mood around and helps me to realize that the scales are always tipped in favor of the positives.  There in front of me, I can see that I truly have much to be grateful for.