Friday Fotos....

Trick or Treat ....  smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

A Friday "flashback" for the wee ones to enjoy.  Grandmom, waaay back in the '70's - dressed first as Raggedy Andy, then Raggedy Ann. (Oh yes, that is the bulk of my Proud Popover restaurant uniform, in photo 2, from my first post-college job.)

And my lovely daughters, several years ago.

Happy Halloween!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday - stay warm!!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

courtesy of: Positive Outlooks on Facebook

Wednesday's Wisdom....

Make It Right

Despite having lived many decades on this earth, I am still surprised at the way people behave. Case in point:

Back in June, I received a text photo from my sister of my parents' cemetery headstone, which was now "completed."  Upon looking closely at the photo, it was immediately apparent that the new information added, my mother's, was not spaced properly and was crooked.  I asked my sister if it could be fixed, but she said she didn't know.

I gathered the information about the work - name of the monument company, order information, etc.  I then sent the photo of the stone to the owner and followed up with a phone call.  He agreed, based on the photo, it didn't look quite right.  He said he would speak with the man who did the work and call me back.

During our next conversation, he admitted (much to my surprise) that the man who did the work told him, "When he discovered that he didn't have the right font tool to do the work, he couldn't be bothered to go all the way back to the shop to get the correct one.  So he just did it free-hand."

COULDN'T BE BOTHERED?

The conversation continued.  He admitted it looked awful and promised they would "fix it." He assured me that the worker in question was "the best in the business" - to which I replied, "If that were true, we wouldn't be having this conversation!"

There were several attempts on my part over the next few days of confirming our discussions by email, but over the phone the owner kept claiming he wasn't receiving my emails.  And I was not getting any from him.

At the suggestion of the Englishman, I then wrote him a letter, outlining what I believed to be the gist of our phone conversations and what the owner claimed he would do to rectify the situation.  There was no anger in the letter, no threats.  I just stated the facts as I saw them. Thankfully, the Englishman further suggested I send it certified, return receipt. 

That got his attention.

I immediately received both an email and phone call from him.  He said that based on further discussion with the man who had done the shoddy work, they probably couldn't fix the stone and would instead replace it with a new one.

Four months later.......after numerous phone calls, emails, approval of a new template and a trip to view the new stone before inscription, it is done and installed.

Besides the Englishman, I did have another gentleman in my corner.  Again, at the Englishman's suggestion, I stopped in the office of the cemetery when I went in person to see the ruined stone.  The man in charge, Mr. R, could not have been nicer!  He agreed with my assessment of the awful work, sympathized with my situation and gave me information about alternative companies should I need to go down that route.  He and I have kept in touch by email, which enabled me to have reliable information about what was actually happening at the cemetery. I am very grateful to him for all his efforts on my behalf. Mr. R gave me a "faith in humanity restored" moment, as my daughters would say.

Sadly, I have learned that many people have had similar difficulties with monument companies. However, like me, they have found that all their hard work to "make it right" is well worth it. Ensuring that my parents had a fitting monument felt like the last loving act I could do for both of them.

A Monday Memory.....on Tuesday

So, I meant to get this particular story written and posted yesterday, but the day got away from me and it didn't happen.  It has been spinning inside my head since then, so I think it best to write it down in order to find some quiet inside there.  Settle in, this will be a bit longer than usual.  Apologies.

Did anyone see the CBS News Sunday Morning program, 10/26, which had a piece about the new film coming out, The Imitation Game ?

The film portrays the British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, a key figure in cracking Nazi Germany's Enigma code in a secret location at Bletchley Park, located north of London.  It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, who from the short clip I saw should most certainly win an Oscar for his portrayal.  I am a huge fan of his, though not to the degree as to which I could be classified as one of the  "Cumberpeople" - a lose description Benedict mentioned on the Graham Norton Show when asked about one of the many monikers of his fan base. But I digress.

Now, what does this film have to do with a memory of mine, you may ask.  All will be revealed....

The Englishman and I had a wonderful time together during our wedding reception, many years ago now.  Family and friends, some from as far away as England and Germany, joined in celebrating with us.  While standing with my groom during a lull in our dancing, I noticed my new father-in-law hastening towards us, the color quickly draining from his face.  He fervently inquired, "Do you know who that man is over there," pointing across the room, "and how he would know what my job is?" Seeing he was in distress, I put aside the directive given to my siblings and I growing up about the need for secrecy and announced, "Oh, that's my uncle.  He works for the FBI."  Relief flooded my father-in-law's face at the news.

You see, at that time, my father-in-law was working for the British Government in the afore mentioned, Bletchley Park.  His service at that location commenced after World War II, so he was not there during Alan Turing's tenure.  But since his work and the location of it was supposed to be a secret, I can well understand why he became so upset at my uncle's knowledge of his occupation.

For his part, I suppose my uncle simply wanted to be sure that his niece was making the right decision in her choice of husband, especially since I'd only known my new spouse a few months. Upon discovering he had done a "background check" on the Englishman, I will admit I breathed an added sigh of relief. For I must have chosen well, since my uncle made no attempt to put a stop to our nuptials ahead of time.

It probably would have been more helpful though, if he had mentioned his endeavours on my behalf before the big day, so as to spare my father-in-law a most dramatic testing of his heart!

Tip for a Tuesday....

It's here!

For those of you who, like me, have been devoted fans of all of the writings of Irish author Maeve Binchy, her latest book has just been released today.

For those of you who are not familiar with her works, I highly recommend you quickly become acquainted!!

Barnes and Noble website writes:

"Overview

Five decades of selected writings from the Irish Times by the beloved and best-selling author, filled with her hallmark humor, candor, and wisdom-a timeless gift to her legion of fans.

Maeve Binchy once confessed: "As someone who fell off a chair not long ago trying to hear what they were saying at the next table in a restaurant, I suppose I am obsessively interested in what some might consider the trivia of other people's lives." She was an accidental journalist, yet from the beginning, her writings reflected the warmth, wit, and keen human interest that readers would come to love in her fiction. From the royal wedding to boring airplane companions, Samuel Beckett to Margaret Thatcher, "senior moments" to life as a waitress, Maeve's Times gives us wonderful insight into a changing Ireland as it celebrates the work of one of our best-loved writers in all its diversity-revealing her characteristic directness, laugh-out-loud humor, and unswerving gaze into the true heart of a matter."

Can't wait to sit down with my NOOK and a cup of tea this afternoon and soak up every word!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

"Happiness is found in the golden middle 

of two extremes."

~ Aristotle

Tip for a Tuesday....

"Post It"

Use post it note tabs to mark passages while you read.  

Beginning back in my high school days, I was instructed to "highlight" passages in textbooks that were worth noting, using a special yellow highlighter.  I continued the practice in college, then carried it over to books I read post-schooling.  Which is fine, except......

it left my books looking abused - as you can see in the photo.

My father, who truly valued all books, would shudder to see what crimes I've committed on these precious tomes - calling it sacrilige!

These days, I've switched over to tiny post it note tabs.

My assortment includes "monthly" ones from Susan Branch.

I keep some on my desk and on my nightstand.  Handy for marking a passage or quote.

Easy Peasy.

I suspect my father would be both relieved and pleased with my new practice.

"The world in which you live is not primarily determined by outward conditions and circumstances, 

but by the thoughts that habitually occupy your mind."

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Tip for a Tuesday....

Instant Curtains!

Take one beautiful tea towel, one curtain rod, drapery rings with clips, and....voila!

A change of scene in the kitchen.

Then there's the master bathroom window.

Having inherited my mother's "practical gene," I was hesitant to purchase a new set of sheets, being at a loss as to what I would do with the two king size pillowcases which came with the bundle, since the Englishman and I use standard sized pillows.  Remembering that I have also been in search of something to block out the incessant spotlight from a close neighbor's house,  I realized I could solve both problems quite easily.

Take two king size pillow cases, a new curtain rod, drapery rings with clips, and.......

No sewing.  No problem.

Easy Peasy.

Friday Fotos....

During a quick visit last week with the "grands," daughter #2 and her husband took us all to visit Abma's Farm.  The girls were thrilled to see and feed some of the animals there.

Little Miss "No Fear" didn't hesitate for a second while feeding the cows and goats.

Such pretty girls!   I also love the expressions on the faces of the cows!

Hello..............

And then there's this.  
"Girl Power" in her Power Ranger outfit.  Lucky Grandmom was treated to a preview of her Halloween costume.

Wishing everyone a lovely Autumnal weekend!

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

Picking up Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach this morning, after not reading it since last May, I turned to one of my absolute favorite passages, dated October 9th.  I share it with the suspicion that we could all use a reminder of these useful "tools."

"Coping With Stress"

"Cultivate gratitude.

Carve out an hour a day for solitude.

Begin and end the day with prayer, meditation, reflection.

Keep it simple.

Keep your house picked up.

Don't overschedule.

Strive for realistic deadlines.

Never make a promise you can't keep.

Allow an extra half hour for everything you do.

Create quiet surroundings at home and at work.

Go to bed at nine o'clock twice a week.

Always carry something interesting to read.

Breathe--deeply and often.

Move--walk, dance, run, find a sport you enjoy.

Drink pure spring water. Lots of it.

Eat only when hungry.

If it's not delicious, don't eat it.

Be instead of do.

Set aside one day a week for rest and renewal.

Laugh more often.

Luxuriate in your senses.

Always opt for comfort.

If you don't love it, live without it.

Let Mother Nature nurture.

Don't answer the telephone during dinner.

Stop trying to please everyone.

Start pleasing yourself.

Stay away from negative people.

Don't squander precious resources: time, creative energy, emotion.

Nurture friendships.

Don't be afraid of your passion.

Approach problems as challenges.

Honor your aspirations.

Set achievable goals.

Surrender expectations.

Savor beauty.

Create boundaries.

For every "yes," let there be a "no."

Don't worry; be happy.

Remember, happiness is a living emotion.

Exchange security for serenity.

Care for your soul.

Cherish your dreams.

Express love every day.

Search for your authentic self until you find her."

Tip for a Tuesday....

Is nail polish remover a versatile product?

In the unlikely, or in my unfortunate case likely, event that a small glass container of vibrant red nail polish should descend at a rapid pace and land upon your bathroom floor, shattering and spreading its content, take comfort in knowing that there are several steps you can take to rectify the situation.

After the initial shout of "oh no," quickly followed by continuous sighing, you can grab the paper towels you had the foresight to place under the bathroom sink.   They will, however, only aid in getting up the top layer of red polish and shards of glass.  

Next thought? Well, since nail polish remover can easily remove an unwanted coat from one's nails, could it be it will also work on other surfaces?  Why yes, thank God. Yes it does.

Apply copious amounts of polish remover to the afore mentioned paper towels did succeed in removing a large bulk of the polish from the bathroom tiles.  But I'll be honest.  Seeing as it was now well past 9 p.m. and I was dog tired, I left the detailed removal of the unwanted red stains from the grout lines for the morning.

It took quite a bit of rubbing and the purchase of another bottle of polish remover, but I was able to remove all the bright red stain from the tile and grout.  And most of the polish from the, oh yes, newly purchased sterling gray bathmat which had absorbed the polish on one corner.

My tip? Several, actually.

Always keep a full roll of paper towels in your bathroom.

Always keep a full bottle of nail polish remover in your lower bathroom cabinet.

And never, ever, store nail polish in a wall cabinet.

Thursday's Thought for the Day....

I discovered this writing while in high school.

It's wisdom has stayed with me ever since.