Friday Fotos....

Snuggles with the wee ones - pure heaven!

Ollie, the very relaxed Basset Hound, stretched out on my lap.

The "Christmas Cactus" has bloomed yet again.  Third time in a year!

Loving the modern look of the master bedroom.  Headboard created by The Englishman.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Super Bowl weekend!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"Accepting and blessing our circumstances is a powerful tool for transformation.....What is acceptance? Acceptance is surrendering to what is: our circumstances, our feelings, our problems, our financial status, our work, our health, our relationships with other people, the delay of our dreams. Before we change anything in our life, we have to recognize that this is the way it's meant to be right now."

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach - Simple Abundance - January 23rd

Once I've done that - I might sigh - but then I can move forward. 

And as I said yesterday, nothing - either good or bad - lasts forever.

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Taking care of me.....

If you've ever left the bonds of gravity and flown the friendly skies, then you've heard the pre-flight instructions which urge parents to "put on your oxygen mask first before assisting those around you." The first time I heard it I thought they had it wrong.  One should assist their children first, right?  But in thinking it through I realized that of course, they were completely correct.

How could I assist my children or anyone else if I've passed out?

And as numerous women before me have pointed out in countless articles, the same practice applies to life in general.  If I don't take care of myself, how can I possibly think I can take care of anyone else? Sounds great - in theory.  But how do you put it into practice?

For me, I learned a few things early on in motherhood.  For one thing, I am someone who needs to be aware of four areas of danger, remembered simply as "H.A.L.T."   aka - hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.  Actually low blood sugar and lack of sleep are the biggest triggers to keep me from being my best. So I learned to set the clock and get up a half hour before my kids, get dressed for the day, and eat three meals a day, each of which should include protein.

There has been another important element for me, whether in the role of mother or caretaker 
for my own mother, and that is to make sure I give myself a little treat now and then. And just as importantly, to acknowledge to myself when I have done so.

Years ago, that "treat" might have taken the form of sitting for a half hour with a new magazine and a cup of tea, spending time perusing the aisles of Barnes and Noble, or watching a re-run of Gilmore Girls.  

During the years when my mother was very ill, I found time in my garden to be a wonderful way of recharging my battery so to speak.  

These days, re-reading a favorite novel or browsing my favorite shop gives me a sense of peace.

There were other points equally important for me to always
remember.  There are various "stages" to life and nothing lasts forever.  Though it certainly felt that way sometimes.  I can report from my own experience that you won't always be changing diapers, driving kids to ballet school, or picking up a bunch of kids from the high school dance. My mother's needs changed as the years went on, and I knew there would come the day when she would no longer be here.  Reminding myself, frequently, that "it" - whatever that it was - would change or end, helped me get through some of the more challenging stages.

I tried to be mindful that sometimes there just wasn't going to be an opportunity for me to do what I wanted, rather than what I needed to do.  And that was ok.  I had volunteered to be a full time mom and  later, to look after my mother.  I needed to accept all that came with those choices.

I also needed to remind myself that I was the one responsible for making sure I took care of myself. If I didn't, there was no one else to blame.  And when I did give myself a treat, to acknowledge that I had and not to moan to myself that "I never get a break."

And to have chocolate.

To be absolutely sure that there was an endless of supply of chocolate,

  hidden in the pantry, 

that was mine alone.

That has always been the most critical ingredient to a life well lived.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Stack 'em up!

Our oldest dog, Dudley, has been acting a bit odd, even for him, the last few weeks.  Last night, he flat out refused to climb the stairs at bedtime.  So the Englishman tucked him up on the couch with a blanket, and the rest of us headed for bed and what we hoped would be a good night's sleep.

It was not to be.

Dudley's bark alerted us that something was amiss.  A quick trip out the back door appeared to be the answer.  But soon after returning to our warm beds, he began to cry.  His distress tugged at our hearts and we took it in turn to sit with him all through the night.

And I don't have to tell most of you that it was extremely cold last night, for man as well as beast.

Thank goodness I keep a stack of blankets on a shelf in the living room.

Wrapping up first Dudley, then myself, our shivering was kept to a minimum.

I was blessed years ago with several blankets my Mom crocheted for my family.  I've always kept them close at hand, whether over the back of the sofa, on a quilt rack or on a shelf.

They have always been most welcome during the cold weather or when one of the kids was sick.

I highly recommend keeping some handy!

Fast forward - after an early morning trip to the vet, it appears Dudley has a problem with his back. While not the best news we've heard lately, it was a far better diagnosis than the ones the Englishman and I feared during the night.

I'm happy to report that this evening he is sleeping soundly. 

Let's hope he stays that way all through the night!

A Monday Memory....

Another item on my "To Do, Someday" list was ticked on Saturday morning:

37. Bake a cake from scratch.

I carefully followed a recipe called "Lady Jane Boles' Chocolate Sponge" from a book entitled, Time For Tea.  The results, I'm afraid, were a little disappointing.  Very chocolaty, but dry.  I won't let it put me off though.  I'll just seek out another recipe next time.

When I was growing up, my mother always used cake mixes and mixes for icing, such as Pillsbury or Duncan Hines, whenever she baked a cake.  I didn't know there was any other way to do it.  Until a friend of my parents came one day and ....

"Auntie Kay", as we called her, was a nurse who worked at my father's company (where my mother also worked for a time) for many years and they became good friends.  My parents invited Kay to come and celebrate my brother's Eighth Grade Graduation with our family.  Due to the large number of students attending the graduation, only our parents could attend the actual ceremony, which left Kay at home with my sister and I.  To pass the time, Kay decided it would be fun if the three of us made a cake.  Not finding any mixes in the closet, I thought we would have to abandon the idea.  Nonsense, announced Kay as she began to look for a recipe and the necessary ingredients.

Her enthusiasm was catching.  My sister and I were able to help her find all she needed and a short time later, there were two cake tins in the oven and a bowl of icing on the counter.  If I recall correctly, the cake was white and the icing had a hint of pink.  After all was assembled, Kay invited us to have a quick taste of the icing and a bit of the cake.

To put it mildly, it was awful!  

I held my breath, thinking Kay would be upset or at the least, very disappointed after all her work. But the most amazing thing happened.  Kay laughed!  A hearty, deep belly laugh.  

What to do?  Kay didn't hesitate.  She said we should just simply throw the cake away.  "Oh well" was her attitude about the whole endeavor.

I absolutely marveled at her ability to just shrug the whole thing off.  My poor mother used to get very upset in situations like that, so Kay's response was new to me.  Whether Kay observed it growing up or it was simply her nature I don't know.  But there was certainly something valuable to be learned from her attitude.

Come to think of it, maybe the cake above would be better placed in the bin (aka garbage can) too.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Originally posted by infinite-paradox

Such a wise woman.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Check it out....

Have you noticed a new blog link on this page?  It's called "Lindsay Griffiths Photography"

There is a link listed on the right hand side, under "My Blog List"  Click on it and it will take you to this fabulous new site.

You can also go from her site to the Facebook page she has and "like" it.  That way you won't miss any of the new photos posted.

I highly recommend it!

Here is the web address:

http://lindsaygriffithsphotography.wordpress.com/

For those of you in the path of the latest snowstorm - stay warm!

And if you are worried about pipes freezing - and based on a recent experience, we are -

take the following steps:

1. Run a slow drip of water from faucets on outside walls.

     2. Open cabinet doors to areas which house pipes on outside 

walls to allow the heat in the room to circulate there.

3. Maintain the same heat setting in your house during the 

night as the daytime. 

Good luck to all!  And may all our water continue to flow without disruption!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

~ Miguel Ángel Ruiz

A very wise woman shared a version of this advice with me recently.

It has been life changing. 

Truly.

"It says more about them than it does about you." ~ L.G.

Tip for a Tuesday....

Looking for a way to feel productive during the long winter months? 

Love to knit or crochet?

Then check out The Linus Project

Project Linus-About

http://www.projectlinus.org/

This worthwhile organization provides blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need of some physical comfort.

Daughter #1 and I sent a box of blankets to our local chapter last year.  We received one of the warmest thank you notes I've ever read from the woman who runs it.  Last week I received the group's newsletter.  It is heartwarming to know that our efforts may have brought a just a little bit of comfort to a child.

New to knitting or crocheting?  

There are numerous ways to learn - from YouTube videos to books to groups of ladies who often meet at your local library.

So if you are looking for something to do while watching the latest episode of Downton Abbey or the NFL playoffs, or maybe you would like to create a much needed "hug" in the form of a blanket, then consider picking up a crochet hook or knitting needles. 

I can tell you from my own experience, it is well worth your time and efforts!

A Monday memory....

Popovers!

Six weeks after co-signing a lease on a basement apartment just outside Boston following my college graduation, and being unsuccessful in securing a teaching position, I was getting pretty desperate for some income.  That's when I answered an ad for a new restaurant opening in the historic Quincy Marketplace.

The restaurant was called The Proud Popover and it served - you guessed it - popovers.

Never heard of popovers?  Well, neither had I, but I had heard of being a "hostess" and a paycheck, so I quickly said yes when offered the job.

One of the perks of my employment was the ability to sample some of the food.

Starting with the popovers.

They were to be served piping hot, in a basket, for an appetizer.  Honey was to accompany this offering.  The newly hired waiters and waitresses, as well as hostesses, were instructed in how to demonstrate to customers the correct way to add this delightful fluid using a honey "drizzle" stick.

The combination was heavenly!

I stayed with that job for three months, then moved on to try my hand in the business world.

But the memory of those hot popovers, dripping with honey, stayed with me.

Fast forward several years......

After marrying an Englishman, I was to discover the delicious tradition of "The Sunday roast."

Roast beef, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, gravy and Yorkshire Pudding.

Wait, what?  Pudding for dinner?

No, not the pudding Americans refer to.  This pudding was made in the roasting pan and tasted like.....to my utter joy.... popovers!!!

A popover pan was purchased and for years thereafter the Englishman satisfied my need for popovers with his Yorkshire Pudding.

Except for the honey part.

I finally decided to do something about that this year.  (Better late than never, right?)

While in a kitchen store in London last May, I purchased the honey pot and drizzle stick pictured above.

And last week I baked my very own popovers.

Ta da!

Here they are, broken open and ready for a drizzle of honey. 

(Top photo are the pre-opening version)

The Englishman was quite impressed with the results and enjoyed a couple of popovers with me. 

I have to note he did not add honey to his.

The taste was everything I had remembered and been dreaming of.

Hmm, what's next on my list of "Haven't done that yet"?

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"A kind and steady heart can make a gray sky blueAnd a task that seems impossible is quite possible for youA kind and steady heart is sure to see you throughIt may not seem like very much right now but it'll do, it'll do
When you find yourself in the middle of a stormAnd you're tired and cold and wetAnd you're looking for a place that's cozy and warmYou'll make it if you never forget
A kind and steady heart can conquer doubt and fearA little courage goes a long long wayGets you little bit further down the road each dayAnd before you know it you'll here someone sayThat'll do, babe, that'll do
A kind and steady heart is sure to see you throughA little courage goes a long, long wayGets you little bit further down the road each dayAnd before you know it you'll hear someone sayThat'll do, babe, that'll doThat'll do, babe, that'll do"

This song was written by Randy Newman for the movie "Babe: Pig in the City", a sequel to the movie "Babe".
I've listened to this song countless times, on a Kenny Loggins album entitled: "More Songs from Pooh Corner".  I highly recommend it for wee ones, and for the sometimes frazzled adults who may be listening with them.  It is one of the most soothing soundtracks I've ever heard.

Wednesday's wisdom....

Don't panic!

We woke up this morning to the realization that the pipes in our house had frozen overnight. 

Not exactly the best news I've heard in a while, I must admit.

The Englishman had already developed a plan to solve the situation by the time I got dressed.

"What can I do?" I asked.

He said there really wasn't much I could do.  He needed to use a hair dryer and access as many sections of pipe as possible. Long story short, he had the hot water back on first, then was able to finally get the cold taps running again.

Hurray!!  My hero!!

As we sat down to have our breakfast following our little blip to the morning routine, the Englishman thanked me for not getting upset during it.

I told him that I've learned over the years that it doesn't help anyone or anything if I start to panic. My poor mother suffered from what she called "chronic anxiety" most of her life and often her first response to situations would be one of panic.  Growing up I saw first hand that that type of response didn't help either her, anyone around her, or the situation.  So I learned early on to try to balance that by staying calm, if possible.  I'm grateful that she taught me what not to do through her struggles.

Life is a series of lessons, isn't it?

I admitted to the Englishman that my staying calm doesn't always mean I'm not still having several conversations running through my mind - I just choose to keep them there and not voice them aloud.

I also keep a constant stream of Hail Mary's flowing - which I find helps me focus and stay calm.

I'm so grateful the Englishman was able to rectify the situation himself, without the added cost of having to call in a plumber, and that the pipes didn't burst or cause major damage.   And if my being calm was a help to him, then I'm grateful for that too.

Tip for a Tuesday....

"Do you know...?"  

       (as my oldest granddaughter frequently inquires)                 

about Radio.com ?

 

This site gives you the ability to stream your favorite radio station - anytime, anywhere - you are.

I'm a huge WCBS FM 101.1 fan.  Have been for most of my life.  Hearing the familiar DJ's, traffic and weather reports, as well as those golden oldies, when I slip into my mini cooper has been something I've missed since moving.  So I was intrigued when during my last run up north, as I drove close enough to NYC to get the station on my radio, they mentioned there was a way for me to tune in even when I'm out of range.

And yesterday was the first time I actually remembered to try it. 

I googled WCBS FM and came upon the site that way.  You can also go to radio.com and find countless stations, from across the country, ready to access.

So I'm back with Dan Taylor, Mr G and Joe Nolan every morning now.

And I couldn't be happier about it.

A Monday memory....

Happy Birthday to you.....

Daughter #1 is celebrating a birthday tomorrow.  The Englishman came across these two photos while going through a box the other day.  They were taken during our daughter's first year of life.

She was blessed to arrive in this world with all four of her grandparents living.

And they simply adored her - as did we!

Cuddles with Nanny, during her visit from England.

First Christmas, with Grandma.

The years flew by and then there were sisters to celebrate with.

And now basset boys, to love and care for.

Happy Birthday!

Wishing you dreams coming true this year!!

.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"I can't speak for all others about how to live a long and fruitful life.  Genetics is crucial, of course - my father lived until he was 90, and that was in the 1940's.  I do not damage my body with alcohol, nicotine or drugs.... I give thanks to God every morning for waking me up in my right mind, and for the new day.

I try to live by simple truths.  Listen carefully to others because listening is a kind of solace.  Take pleasure in little things - I don't gamble, oh, no, but I do love to play whist.  Keep busy - though when you have five children, you have not choice!  Honesty really is the best policy.  Do  your best.  When you have a problem, don't ignore it.  Quietly decide to solve it.  And most of all, set high standards for yourself, and always strive to live up to them.  Your children, your family, your community - they will notice."

Marguerite LaMarque, 91

Framingham, Massachusetts

Words to Live By - "Give thanks to God every day."

Lifeline - "My faith."

AARP - The Magazine December 2013/ January 2014 - People's Choice Winner

I read about this wonderful, strong woman in the most recent issue of AARP magazine.

(Why yes, despite appearances, I do qualify for a subscription to that particular magazine.) 

I thought Marguerite had some wisdom worth passing on to those of you far too young to be receiving the AARP publication.

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Welcome 2014!

I am very glad to welcome a brand new year today.  

January the first always feels like a fresh start - a chance to try and do things just a little bit differently.

New calendars, new daily gratitude journal, new ideas.

It's also a day to remember that I can start "new" things at any time, really.  

I don't have to wait for the New Year or a new month or a Monday.  

I can make changes or start over at any time.

If things aren't going as I hoped or planned, I can always begin again.

Even at four o'clock in the afternoon - I can declare that it is a new day.

What a huge relief that is!

And in line with following my own advice, 

I'm taking my tip not to "should" on myself just because it's New Year's Day.

You know, the idea that I should be making resolutions or 

writing down specific goals, for the entire year.

Not doing it.

And it feels great.

So Happy New Year's Day - today.

Isn't it wonderful that tomorrow will also be brand new day?