I'd always thought I'd never been much of a collector of anything but the existence of too many bins of fabric in my sewing room tells another story. I've always loved shopping for fabric and it was the most fun I had when planning a sewing project. Once bought, the actual work had to be done and that wasn't always fun.
When I became interested in quilting, my choices for fabric became much more colorful and, therefor, much more fun to shop for. In the beginning I'd only buy what I needed for the quilt I was planning but then I got into buying ahead of time for future quilts. I have a very nice sewing room in the basement with a nice large closet and in that closet are about 7 bins of fabric. I have no idea about colors or patterns because I haven't looked in there in years. So sad.
When I started cleaning out the sewing room last week, I expected to be able to go through all the bins of fabric but only managed to measure and mark the 2 bins full that weren't in the closet. Now most people might think I have a daunting task ahead of me but I look at it this way. At some point in my life I chose some beautiful fabrics to buy so when I open those bins it will be like Xmas morning. I'll be able to ooh and ahh all over again at their beauty. And, sad as it will be, I'll know that people just like me will be only too happy to buy them cheaply at the yard sale I plan to have. They can store them in bins in their sewing room closets.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Goodbye Vida
Our family had a memorial service for Aunt Vida today. She had passed away away last January at an advanced age so her passing wasn't really unexpected.
Leigh held the service at his new house so it was nice to have our get-together there, tour the house and meet up with relatives, some of whom I hadn't seen in many years. Some I didn't recognize because I hadn't seen them in 20 years or more. I'm sure they thought I'd become an old hag in those 20 years, too, but I try not to dwell on that thought. Most of us like to think we don't change all that much from when we were young but, believe me, most of us change drastically.
A group of us toured the house when we first arrived and it is really gorgeous. It sits on a large piece of land and the lake is right at the end of the back yard. Cousin David said that the setting was like having a family reunion in a nice park. The inside of the house is huge...4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It's pretty big for 2 people to live in but it's what they want and that's all that matters. I just hope Enid decides to take it a bit easier by hiring some help with the housework.
There were hugs and hello's all over the place, happiness at seeing family I seldom see and happiness at seeing family I'm lucky enough to see more often. This family I married into is a special one and I've always been thankful I'm part of it. Cindy brought her new boyfriend, Don, and he got a good idea of how close our family is. It was the first time we'd met and I liked him immediately. He was friendly and seemed at ease with meeting so many of Cindy's relatives at the same time.
Wayne finally corralled everyone out to the end of the yard where Vida's urn was placed and he spoke a bit about how much she'd been a big part of our lives, mostly in earlier years. He encouraged people to speak about some of their experiences with her and what she'd meant to them. Of course, there were a few tears but mainly it was made known what a kind and accepting woman she had been. Many of us older ones had lived in Vida's house back in the 1950's, welcomed as renters or visitors, staying for months or years before moving to homes of our own. Some of the older blood relatives told funny stories from their childhood in which Vida played a big part.
Vida's 3 sons and daughter were there (Wendell passed away a few years ago) and I hope they took comfort in hearing how much their mother was loved by the rest of us. No-one made mention of what a quiet and unassuming lady she'd been but that was my strongest memory of her. I'd seen in her a very complicated and deep person who was capable of handling whatever life threw her way. When I'd lived in her house, there were many hours we'd had the chance to sit in her kitchen and talk. I was very young (17) and not wise enough then to help her with any of her personal problems but I'll always remember her attitude. She'd do what it took to get by. And it's that strength I'll always associate with Vida.
Soon it was time for the family to say our goodbyes and go our separate ways. Those of us who knew Vida will never forget her and I hope that somehow, somewhere, she smiled down on us today and knew that she'd left behind a lot of people who loved and appreciated her.
Leigh held the service at his new house so it was nice to have our get-together there, tour the house and meet up with relatives, some of whom I hadn't seen in many years. Some I didn't recognize because I hadn't seen them in 20 years or more. I'm sure they thought I'd become an old hag in those 20 years, too, but I try not to dwell on that thought. Most of us like to think we don't change all that much from when we were young but, believe me, most of us change drastically.
A group of us toured the house when we first arrived and it is really gorgeous. It sits on a large piece of land and the lake is right at the end of the back yard. Cousin David said that the setting was like having a family reunion in a nice park. The inside of the house is huge...4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It's pretty big for 2 people to live in but it's what they want and that's all that matters. I just hope Enid decides to take it a bit easier by hiring some help with the housework.
There were hugs and hello's all over the place, happiness at seeing family I seldom see and happiness at seeing family I'm lucky enough to see more often. This family I married into is a special one and I've always been thankful I'm part of it. Cindy brought her new boyfriend, Don, and he got a good idea of how close our family is. It was the first time we'd met and I liked him immediately. He was friendly and seemed at ease with meeting so many of Cindy's relatives at the same time.
Wayne finally corralled everyone out to the end of the yard where Vida's urn was placed and he spoke a bit about how much she'd been a big part of our lives, mostly in earlier years. He encouraged people to speak about some of their experiences with her and what she'd meant to them. Of course, there were a few tears but mainly it was made known what a kind and accepting woman she had been. Many of us older ones had lived in Vida's house back in the 1950's, welcomed as renters or visitors, staying for months or years before moving to homes of our own. Some of the older blood relatives told funny stories from their childhood in which Vida played a big part.
Vida's 3 sons and daughter were there (Wendell passed away a few years ago) and I hope they took comfort in hearing how much their mother was loved by the rest of us. No-one made mention of what a quiet and unassuming lady she'd been but that was my strongest memory of her. I'd seen in her a very complicated and deep person who was capable of handling whatever life threw her way. When I'd lived in her house, there were many hours we'd had the chance to sit in her kitchen and talk. I was very young (17) and not wise enough then to help her with any of her personal problems but I'll always remember her attitude. She'd do what it took to get by. And it's that strength I'll always associate with Vida.
Soon it was time for the family to say our goodbyes and go our separate ways. Those of us who knew Vida will never forget her and I hope that somehow, somewhere, she smiled down on us today and knew that she'd left behind a lot of people who loved and appreciated her.
Clean Spice Cupboard
If you're anything like me, you can go for years and not notice a glaring mistake in your house. One of mine was my spice cupboard. I rarely cook and haven't done so for at least 7 or 8 years so I have no idea why the cupboard was so darned full of spices which I didn't even know how to use.
Once in a while I'd get ambitious and make a big pot of soup or maybe go all out and make a slow cooker meal. At those times, I'd probably go into the spice cupboard and choose a few things that might work in the preparation of the meal. I'm not a good cook so my choices were usually just guesses as to what spices to use. I'd mentally make note of the cluttered shelf and sort of wonder exactly what I had in there but figured I'd look after it some time in the future. The future arrived this morning.
I'd made devilled eggs for a memorial service I'm going to this afternoon for Aunt Vida and went into the cupboard to look for paprika to sprinkle on the top of the eggs. Devilled eggs are my mainstay when taking food to a function because they're easy to make and I can't possible mess them up. I always had paprika before but there was none today. Scrounging through the spices, I came face to face with the fact that most of these spices were hard as rock or of questionable age. Time to clean them out!!
I pulled them all out and sorted them into some I could keep and almost all I could discard. The size of the "discard" pile was sort of embarrassing but I get pretty ruthless when I'm on a cleaning mission so they did, indeed, end up in the garbage.
Now the spice cupboard is kind of bare but neat. There's probably more in there than I need but I think it was a job well done.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Is This Really Normal?
I know my granddaughter is going to be fuming if she reads this blog but here it is anyway.
A friend of my daughter was at the Atlanta airport and this is what she saw...a 65 year old balding man dressed in a flowered shirt, denim mini skirt, lace anklets with men's shoes, and wearing a rhinestone barrette in what was left of his hair.
I know it's politically incorrect to find fault with this man but how can any one of us say this is normal? No matter how much we want to fool ourselves, this is aberrant behaviour and we shouldn't have to appease anyone by calling it anything other than that. The man deserves our pity and, yes, our acceptance of his choice of dress but don't let anyone try to tell me that he's got all his faculties.
Now, if a 65 year old lady had been seen in that outfit, she would have drawn just as much attention. Some things are just not normal no matter how much we might want to pretend they are.
A friend of my daughter was at the Atlanta airport and this is what she saw...a 65 year old balding man dressed in a flowered shirt, denim mini skirt, lace anklets with men's shoes, and wearing a rhinestone barrette in what was left of his hair.
I know it's politically incorrect to find fault with this man but how can any one of us say this is normal? No matter how much we want to fool ourselves, this is aberrant behaviour and we shouldn't have to appease anyone by calling it anything other than that. The man deserves our pity and, yes, our acceptance of his choice of dress but don't let anyone try to tell me that he's got all his faculties.
Now, if a 65 year old lady had been seen in that outfit, she would have drawn just as much attention. Some things are just not normal no matter how much we might want to pretend they are.
It Didn't Need Fixing
There is a side to my grandson, Matt, that I've discovered is very much like his Grampa. I learned a long time ago that, no matter how savvy Matt is with the computer, I shouldn't let him touch it. Yesterday my precious boy came up for a visit and somehow remembered me saying that my remote wouldn't turn the T.V. on or off but it worked fine in every other way.
As he fiddled with the remote and T.V., he kept saying, "trust me, Gramma!". I should have known better given all the lifetime experiences I'd had with him. When he was done fiddling, the volume control didn't work and he was having trouble getting a channel.
If he'd been younger, I would have been screaming at him for screwing up my T.V. but he's a man now so I just threatened his life if he didn't fix it. He phoned Shaw Cable and, horrors, used my computer to ask them a question on their codes. Shortly, he was able to return my T.V. to it's previous condition but now the volume display is in a different spot.
I am so thankful that all I have to do is turn the T.V. on and off manually.
As he fiddled with the remote and T.V., he kept saying, "trust me, Gramma!". I should have known better given all the lifetime experiences I'd had with him. When he was done fiddling, the volume control didn't work and he was having trouble getting a channel.
If he'd been younger, I would have been screaming at him for screwing up my T.V. but he's a man now so I just threatened his life if he didn't fix it. He phoned Shaw Cable and, horrors, used my computer to ask them a question on their codes. Shortly, he was able to return my T.V. to it's previous condition but now the volume display is in a different spot.
I am so thankful that all I have to do is turn the T.V. on and off manually.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Short Shorts
Short shorts on young, slim girls look too revealing (in my humble opinion) but short shorts on females of any age who happen to be grossly overweight look hideous. I saw a sweet looking teenage girl today who had to be close to the 300 lb. mark and she was wearing pale pink plaid short shorts. What was she thinking?
It's tough being overweight and trying to find clothes that don't make you look worse than you feel but some things you just know are not for you. I never had to worry about my weight until I got into my late 20's and that's when it started piling on. I remember wearing a few things I hoped I could get away with but I knew in my heart I was making a mistake. We do know deep inside when we're doing anything wrong and, if we're smart, we'll pay attention to that little voice.
The young girl I saw today obviously didn't listen to her little voice.
It's tough being overweight and trying to find clothes that don't make you look worse than you feel but some things you just know are not for you. I never had to worry about my weight until I got into my late 20's and that's when it started piling on. I remember wearing a few things I hoped I could get away with but I knew in my heart I was making a mistake. We do know deep inside when we're doing anything wrong and, if we're smart, we'll pay attention to that little voice.
The young girl I saw today obviously didn't listen to her little voice.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Toy Collection
I've got quite a load of toys at my house for Nolan and, when he's a bit older, Nash. I think I might have spent a grand total of $20 for the whole lot and that includes 3 ride on vehicles. Yard saleing is the answer.
I may have overdone it on the amount of inside toys so I'm going to look them over and decide what can go out in the driveway. Nolan loves his "Bob the Builder" stuff so they might be better left inside so the little people don't get lost. I found a few of them at yard sales today but they're hard to come by.
Right now, there are 3 toy vehicles for Nolan to ride on in my driveway. I only have one myself so he's definitely spoiled. And that's okay!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Father's Day
Early humans knew that the way to choose a mate was to choose one that would be the best person to rear children with. That was an inborn drive necessary to protect and propogate the species. Women today still carry that drive but it's gotten a bit skewed. Maybe we've chosen financial ability or sexual attraction instead of father material.
Women now seem to want a man who will make them happy, with all other considerations secondary. I don't really see anything wrong with this but sometimes a man who makes us happy can be a lousy father. In fact, he might not be mature enough to even want to be a father, hence the number of men who run for the hills when a baby or two arrive.
I certainly lucked out with my husband even though the furthest thing from my mind when I met him was his fathering abilities. But he took to fatherhood like a duck to water, nurturing and teaching his offspring until his final days. Dennis didn't change diapers or bathe babies because that wasn't expected back in the day but he loved to play with his children, often using the play time as a chance to teach them in the process.
This Father's Day my daughters will remember their father as one of the best and they'll always be grateful that he'd been their Dad. Lucky girls!
Women now seem to want a man who will make them happy, with all other considerations secondary. I don't really see anything wrong with this but sometimes a man who makes us happy can be a lousy father. In fact, he might not be mature enough to even want to be a father, hence the number of men who run for the hills when a baby or two arrive.
I certainly lucked out with my husband even though the furthest thing from my mind when I met him was his fathering abilities. But he took to fatherhood like a duck to water, nurturing and teaching his offspring until his final days. Dennis didn't change diapers or bathe babies because that wasn't expected back in the day but he loved to play with his children, often using the play time as a chance to teach them in the process.
This Father's Day my daughters will remember their father as one of the best and they'll always be grateful that he'd been their Dad. Lucky girls!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Excess Garbage
I'm only allowed to put out one bag of garbage a week and I don't know how families can do this. I rarely cook, rarely buy anything, and still manage to fill my allotted bag every single Wednesday. Then I have one in the laundryroom and one in the yard that sits there until it's full. Since I can't put an extra bag out on garbage day, my good neighbor carts it away for me but what about people who don't have such a neighbor?
When this one bag per household rule came along, I assumed that we'd see garbage bags littering the countryside but I don't think that happened. There's a possibility that some people dispose of their excess garbage in dumpsters rented by various businesses, otherwise I don't know where the heck it goes.
Recycling has been a good idea and it's practiced by most of us so that helps cut down on the amount of garbage bags needed. But what happens when you have company and one bag is not enough? I wonder if we can take it to the dump ourselves and pay a fee? I've taken loads of wood and paint cans to the dump but there was no fee for that, just separate areas where you could drop it.
It surprises me that when I'm in Florida we get daily garbage pickup and there is very little recycling except for pop and beer cans which are sold to a recycling plant.
My plan for a more efficiently run city would be mail delivery and garbage pickup twice a week. Wouldn't that make sense? It won't happen, although I think we might have fewer mail delivery days in the future. The only thing I received in the mail in the past week are sales flyers and I think we could easily do without those every day.
When this one bag per household rule came along, I assumed that we'd see garbage bags littering the countryside but I don't think that happened. There's a possibility that some people dispose of their excess garbage in dumpsters rented by various businesses, otherwise I don't know where the heck it goes.
Recycling has been a good idea and it's practiced by most of us so that helps cut down on the amount of garbage bags needed. But what happens when you have company and one bag is not enough? I wonder if we can take it to the dump ourselves and pay a fee? I've taken loads of wood and paint cans to the dump but there was no fee for that, just separate areas where you could drop it.
It surprises me that when I'm in Florida we get daily garbage pickup and there is very little recycling except for pop and beer cans which are sold to a recycling plant.
My plan for a more efficiently run city would be mail delivery and garbage pickup twice a week. Wouldn't that make sense? It won't happen, although I think we might have fewer mail delivery days in the future. The only thing I received in the mail in the past week are sales flyers and I think we could easily do without those every day.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Is It A Him Or A Her?
If a person was born male but now dresses female, has taken a female name, still looks like a male, how do you refer to him...as him or her? I sort of equate this with someone who believes they're Napoleon and wants everyone else to believe it also. Do you join into their fantasy or do you try to dissuade them?
I guess being a transsexual or transvestite has become one of those things that we are now told to accept as normal but, darn it, it just isn't. I really wonder if we do more psychological harm to them by accepting their bizarre behaviour. I can't believe they are anything but mentally ill even though I know that many would not agree with me. I'm pretty open minded (I think) but there's something seriously wrong with a person who wants to portray themselves as one of the opposite sex.
Just as we should never cause harm in any way to a person who believes they are Napoleon, we shouldn't publicly humiliate someone who cross dresses. Most of them have to know just by looking in a mirror that they won't pass inspection so they deserve our compassion if nothing else. I've never heard of a transsexual/transvestite being a threat to anyone so they aren't to be feared.
Do they deserve our pity or our full acceptance? I just don't know.
I guess being a transsexual or transvestite has become one of those things that we are now told to accept as normal but, darn it, it just isn't. I really wonder if we do more psychological harm to them by accepting their bizarre behaviour. I can't believe they are anything but mentally ill even though I know that many would not agree with me. I'm pretty open minded (I think) but there's something seriously wrong with a person who wants to portray themselves as one of the opposite sex.
Just as we should never cause harm in any way to a person who believes they are Napoleon, we shouldn't publicly humiliate someone who cross dresses. Most of them have to know just by looking in a mirror that they won't pass inspection so they deserve our compassion if nothing else. I've never heard of a transsexual/transvestite being a threat to anyone so they aren't to be feared.
Do they deserve our pity or our full acceptance? I just don't know.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Swedish Weaving Bee
Faye and Donna came over today for our Swedish weaving and we just worked away without needing help from each other. I think we must be at the top of our game! It's so nice to have this time together with 2 people I've known so long and whose company I enjoy. We talk about family, friends, old times, and new business. We laugh at ourselves and sometimes, I hate to admit it, others.
Cindy stopped by on her way home from work and we all went out on the patio to drink our red berry tea. A nice day!
Nick is coming shortly to cut the back lawn...he ran out of time the other day when he cut the front lawn. He's bringing Nash to keep me company and Nolan is going with his mother to have a haircut. I hope he doesn't lose all his beautiful curls!
I'm lucky to have seen so many relatives today. One of the most important aims in life is to keep close ties with your family because, when all is said and done, family and friends who are as close as family is what matters most.
Cindy stopped by on her way home from work and we all went out on the patio to drink our red berry tea. A nice day!
Nick is coming shortly to cut the back lawn...he ran out of time the other day when he cut the front lawn. He's bringing Nash to keep me company and Nolan is going with his mother to have a haircut. I hope he doesn't lose all his beautiful curls!
I'm lucky to have seen so many relatives today. One of the most important aims in life is to keep close ties with your family because, when all is said and done, family and friends who are as close as family is what matters most.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Nolan's Race Car
Isn't this the cutest thing? I got it for Nolan and Nash at a yard sale on Saturday...$10 and in great condition. Wouldn't Dennis have loved it??
Feeling Old
It makes sense that you feel much older if you're in pain...and you look it, too. My knees have been giving me trouble for a few years now and I just hate how feeble I feel when I can't walk without pain. The left knee was hurting pretty badly, enough to send me to an orthopedic surgeon last year but he said it wasn't bad enough to require surgery. That made me feel like a whimp but that's okay. I is what I is!
All winter the left knee pain would come and go, mostly just twinges now and then but the right knee let me know it was there once in a while, too. A few weeks ago I did some yard work and it wasn't until I came inside that my right knee started screaming. And it screamed every day since then. Yesterday I took one anti-inflamatory pill and my right knee shut up.
I haven't been sleeping well for the past week and I know it was the knee pain that kept waking me up. Last night I took a Tylenol PM, slept for 9 straight hours and woke up feeling 10 years younger. My knee isn't hurting and I've had a good night's sleep.
I do consider myself lucky that my body has held out as well as it has since I never took care of it. If I had it to do over again, I would have realized that my body is what will carry me around all my life and I would have taken damn good care of it. The little I can do now won't erase the hardships I've put it through but it might carry me for a few more years yet. I really do love this time of my life and I just want to exist pain free as much as possible. My mind is at peace and my knees are behaving themselves so life is good!
All winter the left knee pain would come and go, mostly just twinges now and then but the right knee let me know it was there once in a while, too. A few weeks ago I did some yard work and it wasn't until I came inside that my right knee started screaming. And it screamed every day since then. Yesterday I took one anti-inflamatory pill and my right knee shut up.
I haven't been sleeping well for the past week and I know it was the knee pain that kept waking me up. Last night I took a Tylenol PM, slept for 9 straight hours and woke up feeling 10 years younger. My knee isn't hurting and I've had a good night's sleep.
I do consider myself lucky that my body has held out as well as it has since I never took care of it. If I had it to do over again, I would have realized that my body is what will carry me around all my life and I would have taken damn good care of it. The little I can do now won't erase the hardships I've put it through but it might carry me for a few more years yet. I really do love this time of my life and I just want to exist pain free as much as possible. My mind is at peace and my knees are behaving themselves so life is good!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Bridesmaids
Kim and I went to see "The Bridesmaids" last night and I thought it was hilarious. Of course, there were lots of sex scenes which, although sometimes vulgar, just added to the hilarity of the film. It had me laughing enough that I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
I don't go to many movies anymore because it's hard for me to sit through anything boring or vicious. I used to love scary movies but they're so filled with blood and gore anymore and not really frightening at all, just stomach turning. So I by far prefer a movie that will make me laugh.
When I was a young girl, my friends and I would actually choose a Saturday movie where we knew there would be boys in the audience. We'd pay our 15-25 cents and enter what really was an architecturally beautiful theatre (the old ones were a work of art) and sit through the movie twice if we felt like it. The bonus was meeting up with some interesting boys while we were there.
I loved the old musicals and mysteries but my favorites were always the scariest ones. They were filled with anti-climaxes that had nothing to do with sex, just good acting and directing. The last movie that gave me that sort of thrill was "Jaws" but I've walked out on a few that resorted to using savagery and bloodshed to scare the audience.
Nowadays, I won't waste my time on a movie unless I'm assured that it will make me laugh. I like to leave the theatre with a smile on my face and a good feeling in my soul.
I don't go to many movies anymore because it's hard for me to sit through anything boring or vicious. I used to love scary movies but they're so filled with blood and gore anymore and not really frightening at all, just stomach turning. So I by far prefer a movie that will make me laugh.
When I was a young girl, my friends and I would actually choose a Saturday movie where we knew there would be boys in the audience. We'd pay our 15-25 cents and enter what really was an architecturally beautiful theatre (the old ones were a work of art) and sit through the movie twice if we felt like it. The bonus was meeting up with some interesting boys while we were there.
I loved the old musicals and mysteries but my favorites were always the scariest ones. They were filled with anti-climaxes that had nothing to do with sex, just good acting and directing. The last movie that gave me that sort of thrill was "Jaws" but I've walked out on a few that resorted to using savagery and bloodshed to scare the audience.
Nowadays, I won't waste my time on a movie unless I'm assured that it will make me laugh. I like to leave the theatre with a smile on my face and a good feeling in my soul.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Re-organizing Nolan's Play Area
My driveway once ran all the way to the back wall of the house but quite a few years ago I got the idea to run a fence across the driveway from the front wall of the house. This gave me a nice area of the yard that was asphalted.
When my grandchildren were little I often put their pool there in the summer but that proved to be a little too hot for their bare feet when the sun shone on it. Then it became my potting area until the old patio table I used there was so rotten I had to dispose of it. It still held it's usefulness because at least my garbage cans couldn't be seen from the street. I also piled some cement blocks along one side in case I ever had a use for them. For the life of me, I can't remember where the heck I got all those cement blocks or what possible use I thought they might be but they're there and they're staying.
Nolan's play toys have been taking up space on the back patio against the deck but that meant there was no good place for me to store the not-in-use patio chairs. Not having a garage means a lot of stuff just gets left out in the elements.
So this morning I went out into that little fenced asphalt area and considered moving the cement blocks up against one end...until I saw all the wood bugs run out from between the cracks. I wasn't about to touch the darned things then. So I stood back and reconsidered my options.
First I pulled the garbage can and the garbage green cart away from the front of the area and dragged the table (a huge folding one that mysteriously appeared in my yard over the winter and I have no idea where it came from) and set it crossways in the driveway against the little fence. That left room in the corner for the broom and dustpan. I put all the possibly usable old flower pots under the table and the garbage can and green cart went against the far corner of the table.
I dragged flower pots from an inconvenient spot to settle nicely in front of a healthy Rose of Sharon that grows against the side fence. Then I repositioned the dock box inbetween the flowers and the cement blocks and put Nolan's toys inside. More potted plants had to be repositioned to allow Nolan's workbench to nestle safely under the lilac bush which I'd trimmed back at the bottom. It ended up looking pretty good and left lots of room for Nolan to ride his bike around on the asphalt which is safely protected by the fence I had long ago foreseen as a darned good idea.
I love it when I get to change things around and it turns out well.
When my grandchildren were little I often put their pool there in the summer but that proved to be a little too hot for their bare feet when the sun shone on it. Then it became my potting area until the old patio table I used there was so rotten I had to dispose of it. It still held it's usefulness because at least my garbage cans couldn't be seen from the street. I also piled some cement blocks along one side in case I ever had a use for them. For the life of me, I can't remember where the heck I got all those cement blocks or what possible use I thought they might be but they're there and they're staying.
Nolan's play toys have been taking up space on the back patio against the deck but that meant there was no good place for me to store the not-in-use patio chairs. Not having a garage means a lot of stuff just gets left out in the elements.
So this morning I went out into that little fenced asphalt area and considered moving the cement blocks up against one end...until I saw all the wood bugs run out from between the cracks. I wasn't about to touch the darned things then. So I stood back and reconsidered my options.
First I pulled the garbage can and the garbage green cart away from the front of the area and dragged the table (a huge folding one that mysteriously appeared in my yard over the winter and I have no idea where it came from) and set it crossways in the driveway against the little fence. That left room in the corner for the broom and dustpan. I put all the possibly usable old flower pots under the table and the garbage can and green cart went against the far corner of the table.
I dragged flower pots from an inconvenient spot to settle nicely in front of a healthy Rose of Sharon that grows against the side fence. Then I repositioned the dock box inbetween the flowers and the cement blocks and put Nolan's toys inside. More potted plants had to be repositioned to allow Nolan's workbench to nestle safely under the lilac bush which I'd trimmed back at the bottom. It ended up looking pretty good and left lots of room for Nolan to ride his bike around on the asphalt which is safely protected by the fence I had long ago foreseen as a darned good idea.
I love it when I get to change things around and it turns out well.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Nolan Tired
The only time Nolan slows down and sits still long enough for me to get a good picture is when he's tired. Daddy Nick came to pick him up and I was able to get some great pictures of a sleepy Nolan with his Daddy.
When I was younger I don't think I ever thought beyond being a Grandmother and having Nolan has been like finding a second prize in the Cracker Jack box. He and his baby brother, Nash, are special gifts that I never even considered might come my way but I'm happy as pig in poo that they did.
I don't have the energy I did when his father was his age but I can still shower him with love and that's what is important.
Evening With Nolan
These are the best pictures I could get of Nolan while he was at play. The rest were either blurs or photos of him looking down and examining whatever he was playing with. Every time he'd look right at me with his beautiful little face I'd grab the camera but, by the time I was ready, he'd be gone.
The flowers are there just because they're pretty!
Fight or Flight
I have a strong fight or flight response to unpleasantness. It's about 95% flight with a weak 5% fight. I steer very clear of anything that might be unpleasant and live my life in a safe little bubble as much as I possibly can.
I hear stories of families with active and everlasting disagreements and I wonder how they can stand to be around each other. Apparently some people thrive on the excitement of conflict but I'm not one of them.
I find my excitement in situations where everyone is harmonious and having a good time, not bickering. If you'd known me years ago you wouldn't believe that because I bickered with my husband all of the time...he tended to ignore me but that was a huge part of the problem. I felt the only way to get his attention was to be confrontational. Stupid, right?
These days I have no-one I care to argue with and that's a great relief. Being in a state of anger and disharmony is a terrible drain on your strength and leaves very little room for true happiness. I'm not saying that my way of walking away from problem people is the right way but it is my way and has worked quite well for me for a long time.
My husband passed away almost 6 years ago and the last time he said something that would have had me fiercely retaliating was just before he passed away. My newly formed instinct was to retreat and gather my thoughts and that's what I did. It was the right thing to do. I'll probably never forget his words but I'll always be glad that I kept my mouth shut at that time.
I have so much in my life now that is positive and easy to live with so it's easy for me to run away when faced with unpleasantness. I just refuse to deal with it anymore. My daughter, Kim's, philosophy on life is to LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH and I agree completely. There's no place or time for unhappiness if we can avoid it at all.
I hear stories of families with active and everlasting disagreements and I wonder how they can stand to be around each other. Apparently some people thrive on the excitement of conflict but I'm not one of them.
I find my excitement in situations where everyone is harmonious and having a good time, not bickering. If you'd known me years ago you wouldn't believe that because I bickered with my husband all of the time...he tended to ignore me but that was a huge part of the problem. I felt the only way to get his attention was to be confrontational. Stupid, right?
These days I have no-one I care to argue with and that's a great relief. Being in a state of anger and disharmony is a terrible drain on your strength and leaves very little room for true happiness. I'm not saying that my way of walking away from problem people is the right way but it is my way and has worked quite well for me for a long time.
My husband passed away almost 6 years ago and the last time he said something that would have had me fiercely retaliating was just before he passed away. My newly formed instinct was to retreat and gather my thoughts and that's what I did. It was the right thing to do. I'll probably never forget his words but I'll always be glad that I kept my mouth shut at that time.
I have so much in my life now that is positive and easy to live with so it's easy for me to run away when faced with unpleasantness. I just refuse to deal with it anymore. My daughter, Kim's, philosophy on life is to LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH and I agree completely. There's no place or time for unhappiness if we can avoid it at all.
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Ontario Website for Registered Sex Offenders
I read in the newspaper this morning that Ontario is considering creating a website listing the names and addresses of registered sex offenders. At present, Alberta is the only province in Canada that has a website listing names and photos of registered sex offenders but it doesn't list their addresses.
Of course, there are naysayers who think this is a terrible invasion of the sex offenders privacy but who the hell cares? If you know that a sex offender lives nearby you will take more precautions. We all like to bury our heads in the sand and think that none of our neighbors could be convicted criminals but that's very unwise.
A case in point...my daughter lives in Florida where they do have a registered sex offender website and it does give the city or town where the offender lives. My daughter happened to check the site out one day and discovered that one of the men listed was the father of a friend of her young daughter. Suppose the little girl invited my granddaughter to a sleepover at her house and my daughter innocently let her go? This is the main reason why we need a website with information on sex offenders living in our area.
Sex offenders do have some rights but they shouldn't supercede the rights of the innocent. Citizens have a right to know who is unsafe to be around. Our children have a divine right to be protected at all costs. If a website upsets a registered sex offender then they should have exerted some self control and not offended in the first place.
I hope Ontario gains this website and I'll bet quite a few people will be surprised at who will be featured on it.
Of course, there are naysayers who think this is a terrible invasion of the sex offenders privacy but who the hell cares? If you know that a sex offender lives nearby you will take more precautions. We all like to bury our heads in the sand and think that none of our neighbors could be convicted criminals but that's very unwise.
A case in point...my daughter lives in Florida where they do have a registered sex offender website and it does give the city or town where the offender lives. My daughter happened to check the site out one day and discovered that one of the men listed was the father of a friend of her young daughter. Suppose the little girl invited my granddaughter to a sleepover at her house and my daughter innocently let her go? This is the main reason why we need a website with information on sex offenders living in our area.
Sex offenders do have some rights but they shouldn't supercede the rights of the innocent. Citizens have a right to know who is unsafe to be around. Our children have a divine right to be protected at all costs. If a website upsets a registered sex offender then they should have exerted some self control and not offended in the first place.
I hope Ontario gains this website and I'll bet quite a few people will be surprised at who will be featured on it.
Weiner or Wiener
Does it really matter? New York state representative Wiener or Weiner (both spellings show up on internet searches) has disgraced himself and his party by sending sexually explicit photos of his private parts to young women acquaintances. I just don't understand how a man of his position could take the chance of public humiliation by doing such an utterly stupid thing. His career has just gone down the tubes because this very ugly man thought some women half his age would be thrilled to see pictures of his yoohoo.
Wiener (the name is so hilariously appropriate) joins the group of men known as flashers. These are men who are so proud of their yoohoo that they like to display it in public. I've always wondered what their motive is for doing this. Is it really misplaced pride in a private appendage or do they just get a big kick out of doing something socially unacceptable?
In any case, Wiener is now considered a ridiculous character who can never be taken seriously again. Not too promising for anyone but sure death for a politician.
Wiener (the name is so hilariously appropriate) joins the group of men known as flashers. These are men who are so proud of their yoohoo that they like to display it in public. I've always wondered what their motive is for doing this. Is it really misplaced pride in a private appendage or do they just get a big kick out of doing something socially unacceptable?
In any case, Wiener is now considered a ridiculous character who can never be taken seriously again. Not too promising for anyone but sure death for a politician.
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