I am sad. Sad, sad, sad, for the tragedy today and for each and every person who is in pain because of it.
“There's no way for them to take away my sadness, but they can make sure I am not empty of all the other feelings.” ― David Levithan, Love Is the Higher Law
I found this quote and believe it is so appropriate for today. We can all make a difference to the survivors by offering our love, prayers, and support. So, for everyone connected with Sandy Hook... love.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Unplanned Downtime
Something happened at my office, that makes it impossible for us to work there this week. Unexpected. Shocking. Time off.
So... Can't work, what to do... what to do? Well, first on the list is cookies. It's Christmas time and my husband requested cookies this year. We've skipped the last couple of years for various reasons (last year=broken arm). I went to the store yesterday and purchased a truck load of flour, sugar, chips, vanilla, molasses, well you get the idea. I have eggs and butter on the counter to make dough, that I'll freeze for a week or two.
Next, finish and deliver some bowling ball gifts. Finished gluing yesterday. Will deliver after lunch! Totally excited to be finished with this task!
Next, design a Christmas Card for this year. We began making cards years ago when my sons were young. It was a family project, putting them together. Now I just can't seem to buy them. A few years ago, I bough some Christmas 'letterhead' on clearance, which I remembered yesterday. I just dug it out. It's pretty fantastic. At the top is an embossed snowy landscape, with some silvery snowflakes. I'm going to print something on this, cut off the bottom, mount it on paper... Well I'll post it when I get it finished. But, it's off to a good start.
Wow. It's been a while since I was a stay at home Mom and I've forgotten just how much you can get done in a day. Well, there are some other items on my list, but that's enough of a to do list for anyone out there reading this.
I'm going to close with the quote for this year's card.
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
― Bob Hope
So... Can't work, what to do... what to do? Well, first on the list is cookies. It's Christmas time and my husband requested cookies this year. We've skipped the last couple of years for various reasons (last year=broken arm). I went to the store yesterday and purchased a truck load of flour, sugar, chips, vanilla, molasses, well you get the idea. I have eggs and butter on the counter to make dough, that I'll freeze for a week or two.
Next, finish and deliver some bowling ball gifts. Finished gluing yesterday. Will deliver after lunch! Totally excited to be finished with this task!
Next, design a Christmas Card for this year. We began making cards years ago when my sons were young. It was a family project, putting them together. Now I just can't seem to buy them. A few years ago, I bough some Christmas 'letterhead' on clearance, which I remembered yesterday. I just dug it out. It's pretty fantastic. At the top is an embossed snowy landscape, with some silvery snowflakes. I'm going to print something on this, cut off the bottom, mount it on paper... Well I'll post it when I get it finished. But, it's off to a good start.
Wow. It's been a while since I was a stay at home Mom and I've forgotten just how much you can get done in a day. Well, there are some other items on my list, but that's enough of a to do list for anyone out there reading this.
I'm going to close with the quote for this year's card.
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
― Bob Hope
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving
I am blessed. More importantly, I feel blessed. The older I am the more earnestly I know that what your life is depends almost entirely upon your decision to feel good about it or to feel bad about it.
It really is all about perspective.
I watched a man being interviewed after the devastation in Haiti. He'd lost his very young son. A loss he felt very deeply. However, he chose to feel blessed to have known his son. To have loved and been loved by him. He chose to celebrate is son every single day. It was powerful, humbling, and emotional.
His perspective allowed him to be thankful, grateful and loving right in the midst of the worst loss he'd experienced.
Thanksgiving is approaching and I am truly thankful for all that has been my experience. I am especially thankful for the man I love and who loves me right back.
Happy Turkey Day one and all!
It really is all about perspective.
I watched a man being interviewed after the devastation in Haiti. He'd lost his very young son. A loss he felt very deeply. However, he chose to feel blessed to have known his son. To have loved and been loved by him. He chose to celebrate is son every single day. It was powerful, humbling, and emotional.
His perspective allowed him to be thankful, grateful and loving right in the midst of the worst loss he'd experienced.
Thanksgiving is approaching and I am truly thankful for all that has been my experience. I am especially thankful for the man I love and who loves me right back.
Happy Turkey Day one and all!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Bowling Ball Art...
I love stuff in the garden. Probably have mentioned that before. Here is the most recent bowling ball creation! Gift for a good friend. Love it!
Sunday, October 28, 2012
More than... Less than...
I was cruising the web yesterday and came across a post that was basically a rant about a famous blogger. I say rant because the post was filled with bitterness and accusations about how the famous blogger can't possibly be doing...
What this particular post said or who it was written about really isn't important. What struck me about this piece is this:
Why on earth does someone else have to be less than what they are for you to be enough? Why on earth are you comparing yourself to anyone else and deciding that you are a failure? People! Seriously!
Let's start at the beginning, you were born - therefore you are worthy of your time here on earth. You don't have to earn worthiness. You were born. You are enough. You are the only you there is. It's not your job to be anyone else, in fact you can't be anyone else. You can only ever be you. In trying to be someone else, you are still you - just you trying to be someone you aren't.
What is point being ticked someone is doing something you are not? Either you want to do it too, so get out there and do it, or you don't. In which case, why would you be ticked about people doing something you don't want to do? Seriously!
You can only ever be you AND Only you can be you. Which can either be amazing or a bitter, ranting, pity fest. You decide.
No one else has to be less than what they are for you to be worthy. Why? Because you are enough.
You are enough. Period.
This photo was taken by my amazingly talented son.
What this particular post said or who it was written about really isn't important. What struck me about this piece is this:
Why on earth does someone else have to be less than what they are for you to be enough? Why on earth are you comparing yourself to anyone else and deciding that you are a failure? People! Seriously!
Let's start at the beginning, you were born - therefore you are worthy of your time here on earth. You don't have to earn worthiness. You were born. You are enough. You are the only you there is. It's not your job to be anyone else, in fact you can't be anyone else. You can only ever be you. In trying to be someone else, you are still you - just you trying to be someone you aren't.
What is point being ticked someone is doing something you are not? Either you want to do it too, so get out there and do it, or you don't. In which case, why would you be ticked about people doing something you don't want to do? Seriously!
You can only ever be you AND Only you can be you. Which can either be amazing or a bitter, ranting, pity fest. You decide.
No one else has to be less than what they are for you to be worthy. Why? Because you are enough.
You are enough. Period.
This photo was taken by my amazingly talented son.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Harvest Soup
Inspired by a family member, I decided to try putting a days harvest into a pot and turning it into soup. Lots of tomatoes this year, so I filled the pot with them - skins, cores, seeds and all. I added peppers (including one very hot one), garlic and sage all from the garden. From the pantry I added two carrots, two stalks of celery, onion, peppercorns. I let it simmer for a couple of hours, removed the tomato skins and sage twig then blended it right in the pot with the stick blender.
I've never had a stick blender before and I am blown away. Easy and Amazing results! It blended all this wonderful whole foods into the tastiest tomato base. The first time I made it, I turned it into Spicy Tomato Soup, which I served with grilled cheese for a trip down memory lane. I simply added milk to the base after I let it reduce after blending. I like to call it Spicy Tomato Bisque because it sounds fancy, but it doesn't involve seafood, so therefore not truly a bisque.
I've made it a second time, this time I did not remove the tomato skins, and it blended just as well. I also cleared out the veggie drawer, adding mushrooms, zucchini and a small handful of spinach. It blended beautifully, tasted even better than the first and became Chicken Taco Soup.
We have another batch of tomatoes ready for picking and it's destined to become a concentrated base that I'm going to freeze in small zipper freezer bags. By allowing the blended soup to simmer and reduce, I'll end up with soup starter in a bag.
It's so easy, healthy and delicious! I just had to share. I hope it inspires you the way I was inspired!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Electricity
Like a million other people, we were affected by the storms and lost power for days. Thanks to my forward thinking, handy husband we have a generator and were able to power the fridge, freezer, one light, the water pump, a couple of fans, and the LED tv. We are blessed. We lost some limbs, but no damage to the house or cars. We are blessed.
There are still people without power and it's supposed to over 100 today and tomorrow. So for just a minute I'm going to focus all my positive energy in a single direction and pray that everyone is able to thrive during this time.
Last year we chose not to use the air conditioner. Primarily because it was quite old and needed frequent repairs, second because I prefer actual air, not conditioned air, third because we create a better world when we more thoughtfully use our resources. This year, we decided to replace our old unit.
Actually, we've been purposefully replacing all our old appliances and electronics to improve our houses overall energy usage. It started with the television last year, which we replaced a plasma with an LED TV. The picture quality is fantastic. The screen size is exactly the same, but the housing and weight of the TV is greatly reduced. The best part is the energy usage is less than half for the LED.
That started me thinking about what else in our house was ancient. Replacing the fridge reduced our monthly electric bill by $20 - no joke. The old fridge was more than 10 years old and was a very basic model. The new fridge, with all the modern technology, is rated at $51 dollars a year (actual usage may vary ;). $5 a month!
We've replaced light bulbs (LED's are quite expensive, but I've begun switching to them as the cost to run is so minimal); the dishwasher, and the washing machine. All of which have contributed to an overall smaller electric bill which means less energy usage.
So, we started looking at air conditioners. Last year it was pretty uncomfortable in August and this year we'd already experienced several 90 degree days. Plus, the old unit was 15 years old and we just couldn't see putting more money into it. In addition, the furnace was also 15 years old and not very efficient either. Turns out we would benefit from a whole new heating/cooling system.
After several quotes and much consideration we jumped in with both feet. There are a lot of choices and you just have to go with your instincts. My best advice: educate yourself, get more than one quote, stick to your budget, keep an open mind, trust your instincts. (Actually that advice is good for everything, isn't it?)
They came, spent two days, left us with more than we expected, wouldn't leave until we were happy - and we are. One full month into it, we are happy! It has been quite a month of high temps, storms and power outages, but every single time it kicks on, or we come into the house, we are happy. It's quiet, cool and best of all efficient. Our old unit cost us at least $100 every month we used it. This unit was just $45 for this first month. Chances are it will be higher as the summer progresses.
There are still people without power and it's supposed to over 100 today and tomorrow. So for just a minute I'm going to focus all my positive energy in a single direction and pray that everyone is able to thrive during this time.
Last year we chose not to use the air conditioner. Primarily because it was quite old and needed frequent repairs, second because I prefer actual air, not conditioned air, third because we create a better world when we more thoughtfully use our resources. This year, we decided to replace our old unit.
Actually, we've been purposefully replacing all our old appliances and electronics to improve our houses overall energy usage. It started with the television last year, which we replaced a plasma with an LED TV. The picture quality is fantastic. The screen size is exactly the same, but the housing and weight of the TV is greatly reduced. The best part is the energy usage is less than half for the LED.
That started me thinking about what else in our house was ancient. Replacing the fridge reduced our monthly electric bill by $20 - no joke. The old fridge was more than 10 years old and was a very basic model. The new fridge, with all the modern technology, is rated at $51 dollars a year (actual usage may vary ;). $5 a month!
We've replaced light bulbs (LED's are quite expensive, but I've begun switching to them as the cost to run is so minimal); the dishwasher, and the washing machine. All of which have contributed to an overall smaller electric bill which means less energy usage.
So, we started looking at air conditioners. Last year it was pretty uncomfortable in August and this year we'd already experienced several 90 degree days. Plus, the old unit was 15 years old and we just couldn't see putting more money into it. In addition, the furnace was also 15 years old and not very efficient either. Turns out we would benefit from a whole new heating/cooling system.
After several quotes and much consideration we jumped in with both feet. There are a lot of choices and you just have to go with your instincts. My best advice: educate yourself, get more than one quote, stick to your budget, keep an open mind, trust your instincts. (Actually that advice is good for everything, isn't it?)
They came, spent two days, left us with more than we expected, wouldn't leave until we were happy - and we are. One full month into it, we are happy! It has been quite a month of high temps, storms and power outages, but every single time it kicks on, or we come into the house, we are happy. It's quiet, cool and best of all efficient. Our old unit cost us at least $100 every month we used it. This unit was just $45 for this first month. Chances are it will be higher as the summer progresses.
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