Laugh for the day

Years ago, my mom sent my dad to the little grocery store in our town to get lemon jello and lime jello and Dad came back with lemons and limes.  That's one of those things that I'll always remember when I think about men going to the grocery store.

so, sit back, relax, watch and giggle...



A little giggle is good for the soul, don't ya think?

Linda's random dozen

Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee is holding her weekly Random Dozen today.  Stop by (click on the button) and check out all of the participants replies.



 1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow?
I've only fired a gun twice.  At a picnic and a clay pigeon shoot was part of the entertainment.  Yup, that's what we do here in the midwest!  However, last summer I did get my FOID card and purchased a gun.  I haven't shot it yet but this spring those sparrows in the shed that crap on absolutely everything better look out!


2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are?
Most of them, yes.  Some live a few miles away with the furthest away living in Texas.


3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time?
Unfortunately, I'm usually late.  I really want to be on time, I really do but it seems I always try to get just one more thing done before I go out the door.


4. Are you more of a New York or California type?
Neither!


5. Do you have a special ring tone?
I have specific ring tones for a number of people on my phone but my general tone is a Revelation by Third Day.


6. What is your favorite type of chip?
I don't really eat a lot of chips anymore so can't say as I have a favorite.  Now, if we're talking deep fried, it would be onion rings, hands down!


7. Best comedy you've ever seen is ....
There are so many comedies I like.  I would rather watch a comedy over a dramatic movies/show anyday.  But if I had to pick a best comedy overall, it would be Seinfeld.  Lots of shows about nothing but so real.


8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, "How'd that work for ya?"
Not me, not near coordinated enough for that.  I've only trimmed a little wisp here of there that the hairdresser may have missed.    I do cut my husbands hair.  However, the only tool needed for that task is a "buzzer".


9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self?
I think myself.  I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin but there are a few problem areas that I would love to change, like my double chins and teeth stained from antibiotcs when I was young.


10. Are you allergic to anything?
Lots of antibiotics


11. Why is it so hard to change?
It's too much work.  It's easier to stay at the status quo.  "When the pain to remain the same is greater than the pain to change" is when change happens.


12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable." Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you'd like to about this topic.  
To really love someone, you put your heart and soul out on your sleeve for that person to see.  There is a lot of vulnerability in letting anyone see the true you.  Being vulnerable isn't a comfortable place to be.  Let's face it, there are some traits, habits, thoughts that we only share with those closest to us as to not be rejected by those who don't know us so well.  My husband knows me the best of anyone and graciously accepts me for who I am but there are still things about me he doesn't "get".

Monday's question of the day...

I love music!  Am I musically inclined?  not in the least but I love how music makes me feel and how it can stir up an emotion or spark a memory. 

When I hear a song, I can usually associate it to where I was or what I was doing when I heard it playing before.

For instance...
Pinball Wizard - Jr High
Roll over Beethoven - camping out in a friends backyard
Boston and Meatloaf or Gary Wright's Dreamweaver - High School dances
Air Supply - when DH and I were dating
Alabama - 1988 Wisconsin State Fair

You get the drift.

My tastes in music can be pretty eclectic.  My mood defines what I listen to.   For the most part I lean towards contemporary christian and praise music.  It settles me and keeps me focused but if I'm cleaning the house or driving there's nothing like a little AC/DC to get me going.  There's two extremes for you! 

I also like country, bluegrass, contemporary and oldies.  I tend to gravitate towards a little more upbeat music.  Nothing slow and melodramatic for me.  I find it depresses me.  The only music I almost never listen to is classical or rap.

A couple of my current favorites are Lady Antebellum's Run to You and Hillsong's You'll Come.   

What type of music do you listen to mostly?  Do you have a current favorite song?

Sleepover

What happens when DH is out of town, you get 9 adult, middle-aged mature women together for a Friday night sleepover and Saturday craft day?

A little bit of this

and a little bit of that

and a whole lotta fun, fellowship and food!

Wait until you see the finished projects! 

Rest

Do you ever find yourself running in circles?  trying to catch your tail?  being busy for the sake of being busy?

We’ve  just started a new study in our Ladies small group called “Resting in Him - I need to slow down but I can’t!”.  It’s part of the Women of Faith study series.  I am so ready for this topic.    It may not be the deepest study but it’s one of those things that I for one need to be reminded of constantly.

The title alone whacked me upside the noggin’…I need to slow down but can’t!  I find it hard to just relax and not be doing something or at the very least thinking of a gazillion things I should or could be doing. 

To quote from the study book “as we maintain a busy lifestyle, either our nerves will get all wadded up into an explosive bundle or gradually legitimate emotions get shut down.”  I was at the latter not so long ago.   I wasn’t feeling what I should have been feeling about events, situations, etc.  I just didn’t have the energy to put into the emotions.

I was at a breaking point where I knew things had to change.  But what?  Most of what is in my life is enjoyable and good stuff so how does one determine what has to go to lighten the proverbial load; especially when all this good stuff involves people, activities and ministries which I enjoy? 

I’m still working on what is going to go but have definitely set more boundaries on what I’m letting into my life.  It’s definitely a work in progress.

I think back to a Leadership class I was recently at where the questions posed were…

• What fills you?
• What drains you?
• What’s life giving?
• What’s life sucking?
• What depletes the energy from me?
• Why am I doing what I am doing?

These questions have been my life filter lately.  If it doesn’t fill me or give life then why am I doing it?

Can you relate to any of these questions? 

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  Mark 6:31

 

Weekend projects, etc.

This past weekend I was able to get back in the sewing/craft room a little bit.  My, oh my, do I miss it when I can’t make something with my hands.  It’s a definite stress relief for me.

I saw this raw edge scarf tutorial over at Cluck Cluck Sew last fall and finally had time to do something with it.  I made two scarves.  I think next time I’ll make them a little longer but am loving them and they are oh, so very easy.  Unbelievable.

 

Another quick project I was able to get to was this blanket.  My cousin’s daughter is having a baby and is doing the nursery in a tan and cream safari theme.  How cute of an idea is that?  They chose not to find out the if it’s a boy or girl ahead of time so I wanted something that would work for either.  I think this print will fit in with a safari theme just fine.

Neither of these projects were a major undertaking but it sure is fun to do something again.

Sometimes this guy …

is full of surprises. (He’ll be so happy with me that I posted his picture. NOT! )

These were delivered to work today.   Flowers are a real treat as it’s not something he/we do very often.  I’m not a wife that expects them for Valentines Day, Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc so they are always a unexpected treat when I do receive them.  I really didn’t expect any this year as Friday we took my wedding set to the jewelers for an overhaul.

Aren’t they beautiful?  And fun spring colors?  Do you think he knows how sick of winter I am and that I needed something perky?   You can keep your red roses, give me bright and cheery any day.   He’s an alright kind of guy, I think I’ll keep him!

Monday question of the day...

For some of you, this week's question may be a way of life but for me it's not the norm.

Do you remember the song from years ago (I'm dating myself) "Alone Again, Naturally"?  I think it might have been by the Beatles (way too long ago for this brain!). I don't remember for sure but can hear it in my head right now. :)

(EDIT: Correction - thank you Osage Bluff Quilter for knowing it was Gilbert O'Sullivan and not the Beatles.)  
For me there is nothing natural about being alone. 

Some women can't wait to get the house to themselves. They rent movies, eat what they want when they want, go shopping, do whatever they feel like when they feel like it, etc. But I also know others who absolutely can't do it and go stay with someone if they will have to be alone.


I think I hit somewhere in the middle. I'm bombarded with people all day at work in person and by phone so I have to confess to enjoying "alone time" for a few hours on the occasional evening, but am a creature of habit and really don't like being alone for any length of time. Maybe it's just that extrovert part of my personality but there is comfort in having another human being in the house, even if it's only small children.

I've gotten much better at doing this as I've aged but still don't like it. It doesn't happen often but, once in a great while, DH is out of town for a few days. 
Years ago, I used to literally not sleep at all. In fact, there was one time that comes to mind in particular that I was stripping wallpaper off the walls at 2 am. Now that's some nervous energy! I've now learned to cope with it but still don't like it.

So here's your "Monday question of the day"...


Do you mind staying alone or do you relish the quiet time? 

If you look forward to the opportunity, do you have anything specific you like to do during your "alone time" to pass the time?

Dreamin’

Soon, very soon, right? 

  

I know I have no room to complain after seeing all the snow the poor east coast is getting but enough already!    I’ve got a major case of the winter blahs and need a Springtime fix in a big way.  Can I get a witness on this one???

Random Dozen

What are you doing right now?  Why don't you skip on over to a 2nd cup of coffee, participate in this week's random dozen and be entered in her fun apron giveaway?




1. Are you pleasant when you're ill, or are you a grumpy, fussy patient?
 I am definitely a "leave me alone in my misery type of patient"


2. When you find out that school is canceled (due to inclement weather) what is your gut reaction?
 Yippee!  Hooray!  What should I do first?  I usually end up baking the taditional "snow day" cinnamon rolls and then doing some odd projects I never seem to get to. 
Although my kids are grown and gone, I work at a school so snow days are stll blessings from above!

3. What is one domestic skill you wish you could improve?
 I do okay with domestic skills but have never managed to fold t-shirts without getting a crease where I don't want it.

4. Do you decorate your home for Valentine's Day?
 Nope, not anymore.
5. What song is on your mind today?
 I woke up to Lady Atebellum's "Need you now" this morning and it's been stuck in my head all day.

6. Do you prefer contemporary movies or classic?
Contemporary

7. How well do you "compartmentalize" your feelings? For example, how well can you put aside a really trying moment to deal with the immediate situation which is not related to the trying moment, e.g., putting aside a tiff with your spouse in order to finish wallpapering a room.
 I'm a good "Stuffer".  Unfortunately sometimes too good and issues don't get dealt with.

8. What is the first thing that attracted you to your spouse?
 How fun of a guy he was.  We met at a party.
9. When was the last time your heart raced?
 After I took Advil Cold and Sinus today.  Darn pseudophedrine anyway!

10. What are your memories of Valentine's Day at school?
 When I think of Valentines Day, I always see in my memories walking home with my friends after school carrying that precious decorated shoebox of valentines.

11. If you were going to receive candy for Valentine's Day, which would you prefer?
 Lindt Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffles (see previous post)

12. Red or pink?
 Absolutely, positively RED!  not much of a pink girl...maybe came from raising three boys

Monday question of the day

What’s your vice?    Do you have one?

Here’s mine…

Lindt dark chocolate truffles and diet Dr. Pepper

There aren’t too many ills that these two items can’t cure.  I limit myself to one Dr. Pepper a day and only buy the chocolates once in a while.  After I buy a bag, I tell myself, I’m going to eat just one a day and make them last but before I know it, the bag is empty.  How does that happen anyway? 

Officially over

the Christmas season that is. 
I took the inside decorations down over a week ago but they were still piled upstairs in a corner.  They're now officially boxed up and the attic door is slammed shut, not to be opened again until mid-November.   The outside decorations came down on Friday before we get a another big snow and they’re froze in the ground again.
In the process, I rearranged a few things and made some other changes. 
Here’s one of my “before and afters.”
These two pictures hung in my bathroom.  The one on the right had a beautiful violet colored pressed flower in it which over the years has faded to brown – Yuk! 

I replaced both of these with pictures I took in New Orleans which I printed out in sepia tones.  I’m lovin’ the sepia! 

The above picture is taken of the entrance to Audubon Park. 
I’m still not sure on the frame though.  I’m thinking about washing or antiquing the frame somehow but can’t quite decide.  I guess mainly because I don’t know how to do it to get the look I'm seeing in my mind, so for now it hangs as it is. 

I just love the sprawling oak trees in the south.  There’s something that makes me want to curl up under it with a good book.

I won, I won!

A couple of months ago, I, (actually DH) guessed what Michelle’s (from Just Simple Joys) husband, Louie was fixing and we won a gift card to Applebee’s (sorry for the delayed thank you, Michelle – the meal was yummy!)

and just the other day…

the UPS truck pulled in our driveway and DH says to me “what did you order now?”.  Well, for once I could truthfully say that I didn’t order anything!  I met the driver at the door, saw who the package was from and remembered I had won something, a major award! 

Let me just say, I rarely, if at all, win anything so this truly is a thrill!

And no I didn’t win one of these – no “glow of electric sex” for me, no sirree!

or any of this although that would have been nice too!

but an adorable set of French (actually made in France and not in China like everything else these days) la Rouchere Historic Bee glassware from a drawing over on Chronicles of a Country Girl’s blog.  Did you know that this design, the French Bee, was originally chosen for Napoleon’s coronation and was displayed on his coat of arms?  and that la Rouchere is the oldest glass factory in Paris?  It dates back to 1475! 

It’s amazing what one can learn from glassware, isn’t it?

Aren’t these glasses fun?   Not that I have a propensity towards glassware and dishes or anything like that at all! 

Thank you Kathleen & Michelle!

 

Monday Question of the Day?

Have you ever thought it would be fun to meet up with other blog authors?

I have had the pleasure of meeting a few bloggers I regularly read, so it’s crossed my mind about how fun it could be to meet more. Blogs give a person such an incredible glimpse into a person’s soul and life. Don’t some feel like old friends even though you’ve never actually met?


So here’s the question…
If a blog reader emailed you and said “hey, I read your blog all the time and am going to be in your area. I would love to stop by or meet somewhere and talk to you in person.”

What would your response be? Would that weird you out and make you think the person asking is a “creeper” or would you embrace the thought of it and be ecstatic?