Those were the days....

A cell phone conversation I had with Glynn this morning:

Glynn: 'Are you going to the store?'
Me: 'Yes.'
Glynn: 'Could you buy me something? It's called Appian Way Pizza mix. Apparently there's a can of sauce in the box and all you do is add water to the mix for the dough. Nolan swears by it. He says it's the ONLY way to make pizza.'
Me: 'You've got to be kidding me! I grew up on that stuff! I didn't know they still make it.'

Unless you were a member of the Jensen household in the late 60's and 70's, this post will leave you scratching your head & muttering, 'huh?"

Every weekend (on whatever evening The Lawrence Welk Show and The Wonderful World of Disney was shown on TV) my dad would cook an Appian Way pizza. He had a way of using the ball of his hand to inch the dough to the edge of the pizza pan without tearing a hole in it. His pepperoni slice placement was as near to perfect as could be done without using a ruler. Unfortunately, mozzarella cheese was either too gourmet or too expensive because our pizza was topped with a bland cheese. Occasionally, a can of mushrooms would be added for variety.

A huge treat with our weekly pizza was a bottle of Coke, only one apiece! We'd kneel around the coffee table in the living room where our one TV was housed. Home popped popcorn finished off the meal. (Wow! Much has changed in the decades since my childhood as not only do many kids drink more than one soda on a daily basis but they have a their own TV in their room, too.)

This tradition was nothing fancy but it evokes many good memories.

Christmas is coming!

As I consume the last remnant of Thanksgiving day (pumpkin pie), my fingers begin itching to deck my halls with Christmas spirit!

Scrooge may grumble, 'It's too soon'.

I heartily disagree. The happiness of the season; the bright colors, the twinkle lights & universal love enfold me in a blanket of perpetual happiness.

Wouldn't it be fine if there were a way to bottle the spirit of the holidays? That way, during one of those gray, soggy days in January when we're sloughing through the blahs, we could uncork the bottle, take a long snort of holiday cheer & drift away on a seasonal high!


Thank goodness for a storage unit that houses my Christmas paraphernalia during the year!
It seems to multiply each year....

A little seasonal vignette...


Some favorite baubles on the tree and this Santa figurine from my childhood. He must be at least 45 years old.

Last, two lonely present under the tree... time to get busy!

Stephanie and Matt will celebrate Christmas Eve with us this year as well as Nick, Courtney and Cooper.

Children + Christmas = happy combination.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving ranks number one in my list of favorite holidays. It's a mellow, relaxing day for my family, one we all enjoy.
This year the turkey was exceptionally tasty and moist. Perhaps it's because I basted it every hour with a melted mixture of butter, olive oil, thyme & rosemary? Nephew Finn peered through the oven door window and asked, ''Auntie Sue, why is there grass on the turkey?"

Cooper's first Thanksgiving included being pulled in a little, red sled Grandpa bought specifically for him. How convenient that we still had snow on the ground!

Another first for Cooper was meeting his cousins, Finn and Willa. He had many admirers that day.

I spent the day after Thanksgiving at home. No early morning, black Friday sales for me! I put my house back together and took a loooong nap by the fire. Bliss.....

Arctic blast

The west side of Washington state remains in the icy clutches of an early winter storm. Folks in the metro Seattle area were stranded for hours and had to abandon their cars on the freeway when the roads became impossible to navigate due to the snow and ice. Due to the infrequency of such storms, we simply lack the resources to cope with severe snow and ice.

We fared well, though! No power outage, no trees down, nor did the gate mechanism at the facility freeze!

This morning, I dressed warmly and ventured out into the winter wonderland. No sooner had I filled my bird feeders than the birds appeared, making happy noises. (Either that or they are scolding me because the feeders were empty in the first place.) The sun is out and the snow is glistening!



I spent last weekend 'fussing'. Glynn and I host Thanksgiving dinner and I do my best to get organized ahead of time so I can enjoy the day, too. Part of the preparation involves decorating the house. If it wasn't for Thanksgiving dinner at my house, I would be one of those people who take down Halloween decorations and begin decking the house with Christmas spirit. Alas, I must keep Christmas toned down so the 'harvest arrangements' stand out!

I went ahead and set up our Christmas village so my nieces and nephew can fuss with it.


I hope Santa remembers where he took off his boots last year....

I've finished a little project I call my gratitude journal. Recently, I listened to Dr. Amen who wrote, 'Change your Brain, Change your life'. Amongst much good information about how to improve our health, he tells of how simply being grateful can change one's outlook on life. Even while enduring hard times, there is always something to be grateful for, he says. Dr. Amen challenges us to daily jot down five things to be grateful for. By day 20, we should feel a positive change in our mental health.

Here is my gratitude journal with an entry from this morning wherein I expressed my gratitude for the beautiful snow!


I won't blog again until after Thanksgiving.... I wish you all a warm, happy and tasty holiday spent with friends and family.

I wish every young adult, whether male or female could comprehend the following conversation found in the movie, Nights in Rodanthe.

"I love Jack because he's your father", says mom to her daughter. (Mom and Jack are separated.)

"But there's another kind of love. One that gives you the courage to be better than you are, not less than you are.

One that makes you feel that anything is possible.

You can have that. Hold out for it. You deserve it."

I am called....

Today, I passed a box of Kleenex across the counter to a man who had crocodile tears coursing down his cheeks. His mother, whom he had been caring for these past years, has died.

I own and manage a mini storage facility. It's not a glamorous job. It's certainly not high-profile. I have plenty of down time and days when boredom seeks to overtake me.

I daydream about working a job that involves heart-to-heart interaction. Perhaps working for a charitable organization such as 'Doctors without Borders' or CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Perhaps I'm 'in the trenches' volunteering at an orphanage or working with a social services department.

Then, I have days like today when a tenant removes his mask, bares his heart, and shares life from his gut. I can listen, without judgment or agenda, and show understanding and compassion.

I'm reminded all over again that I am called no matter what I do.

And for today... it's enough.

This and that

Last weekend we celebrated another birthday at Kim's house. Mom turned 41, again! These are a couple of pages of a little 'Happy Birthday' book I made for her.


Here is mom holding her great-grandson, Cooper.

Here is a head shot of Cooper! (I'd show more but then it would ruin the surprise as it is part of a Christmas present...)

The iron, mini-storage fence is quite ornate in the early fall as spiders spin their webs which glisten with early morning dew.

Yes, we sustained minor damage from Monday night's terrific windstorm. The windows you see mark our bedroom. Notice the huge fir trees standing close by? I couldn't sleep that night while listening to the wind howl through these trees. I was certain one would blow over in the storm, crashing onto the roof directly above MY side of the bed, turning me into a pancake.


I am determined to learn some new techniques to use in my paper art. Here I used gesso to mute colors, ink to distress edges and yellow polka dots made with bubble wrap.

Lastly, my completed yo-yo pillow. I began this project in 2007. I do not know why it took me 4 years to complete!

love in a cup

Just as I prefer a milkshake made by hand from a genuine milkshake maker (complete with actual scoops of ice cream), I prefer my lattes made by a barista who uses her knowledge and skill rather than pushing a button on an automated espresso machine found in many coffee shops.

I have a favorite coffee shop in Olympia located across the street from the Farmer's Market. It's called 'Dancing Goats Espresso' where one is served lattes with heart.

Literally.

sore throat

Yes.... this would be me, fighting a cold all week.....

In a perfect world....

Some people want ocean front property, a windfall lottery prize or skinny thighs.

I want an organized craft room.

When I enter my space to do some crafting, I feel as though I do more search and rescue than actual creating.

I salivated when I found this photo of one woman's craft room. (www.kevinandamanda.com) Organized perfection resides inside each drawer, too. Special storage containers for ribbon, letters, embellishments, etc.

This is pure organized crafter's paradise!

Sigh......

Goal for today

"To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; To return home at eventide with gratitude; And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips."

-----Kahlil Gibran

In a different life....

While driving to the bank this morning, I found myself behind this cute, little Nissan Cube. The back view of this wee car reminds me of a single-shouldered gown or a teeny bopper with a side ponytail!

Do you ever wonder what type of car you would drive if the exterior crust of your life looked different? Perhaps if I were single, had no need for extensive cargo space, had no dog to haul around, had no kids and their dependents to consider, I'd purchase a 'cute' vehicle.

I'm also liking Nissan's Juke. How cute is this?

For now, I'm driving a sensible and serviceable Subaru Forrester.

Glynn calls it my 'commie' car because apparently it is the vehicle of choice for tree huggers (environmentalists).

Guess I blow that theory...

Calm after the storm

Until I awoke and started my day this morning, I was not aware how agitated my psyche has been these past weeks as I, along with millions of other Americans, endured the name calling, rock hurling, pokes and taunts between grown-up politicians.

Our nation is stuck in the doldrums. Joblessness, homelessness, down spiraling revenues, home foreclosures, anxiety, fear, and overall dissatisfaction have created a political climate of angst and distrust.

Being as politics and economics do not interest me, I am willing to allow other competent men and women to make decisions on my behalf which will strengthen and grow our nation.

So, remember, newly elected Mr. or Mrs. Politician, that you were elected to serve my interests, rather than furthering your own political agenda or padding the coffers of 'big business' (or your own wallet), or spending your time and making decisions while focusing on a future re-election bid. Remember that you are a servant whose over-riding passion needs to be a love for your country, not allegiance to your political party.

Please, I beg you, set aside your bipartisan bickering and concentrate on the challenges facing our great country.

death by chicken (bone)

Today, I found out the circumstances surrounding my friend, Faye's, death. She didn't overdose on her psychiatric meds nor did she slit her wrists. She was drinking (alcohol) while eating and choked on a chicken bone.

Also, the two fellow transients hanging out with her are not deceased. Although drinking themselves, they did call 911 when it became apparent Faye was in trouble. But by the time the aid car arrived, Faye was gone.

I'm relieved that she didn't commit suicide. But really, a chicken bone?