Connecting

I'm trying to learn to laugh at myself more and stop taking life so seriously (doomsday music inserted here).

I'm a bit like television's favorite detective, Monk, who must straighten a crooked picture or pull a piece of lint off a stranger's coat sleeve.

I really need to lighten up.

Yesterday morning, a Saturday mind you when I'm sometimes still in my robe past 10, I had to be fully clothed & presentable by 8:00 because a Direct TV dude was showing up on a service call.

Greeting the technician wearing my robe was not even a possibility. I've had my robe for 4+ years. Its ribs of pink chenille lay crushed and stained in spots. It's uglier than sin and has enough girth that it could be used as a main sail on a boat. When wearing my robe, I resemble a large, fluffy serving of wilted cotton candy.

But my robe is not the point of this post....

As I prepared myself to greet the technician, I found myself stopping here & there to tidy up the house. Hanging up a coat. Putting shoes away in their designated spots. Lighting a candle to dispel the aroma of a recently opened can of chicken liver cat food.

How ridiculous! Am I so insecure that the opinion of a random technician matters who I'll likely never meet again and who, more than likely, would not even notice a coat hanging on a chair or a newspaper tossed on the floor?!

So, difficult as it was, and, recognizing that I need to exercise my 'imperfection' muscle, I retraced my steps and put the newspaper back on the floor, put the dirty dishes back onto the counter top (I thought they'd be less obvious if they were placed in the sink) and hung the coat back over the chair.

While the technician worked we had a friendly chat with light laughter thrown in.

I'm relatively positive he didn't notice that my house needs a good vacuuming.
Besides, it's kindness and laughter and connecting that really matter.

Doodling 101

Who knew that doodling is an art form? And that one could pay to learn how to doodle?!

I frustrate myself when I work on my art projects because I'm too much of a perfectionist. I love the messy, bumpy, scuffed look yet I don't know how to do it.

So, I'm a quest to get down and dirty (and messy).

Somehow, learning to doodle creatively is part of the solution for me.

I signed up for a short e-course on doodling. (www.homegrownhospitality.typepad.com) Here are my first attempts at instructed doodling.

My doodles aren't perfect but that's the point.....

A play day

Sandwiched between errands, today I met friend Judy for lunch at Anthony's Hearthfire Grill. We both ordered their delicious halibut sandwich with sweet potato fries. While seated next to the HUGE windows overlooking Budd Inlet we were amazed to see a full rainbow spanning both sides of the inlet. How cool is that?

I'm still quivering with excitement having finally stopped in at a store in town called 'Fun Junk'. Friend Judy stopped in last week and blogged about her ephemera finds. Mention the word 'ephemera' and I'm all ears!

Fun junk is very unique. Yes, the contents may be considered junk but it's collectible junk and mounds of it. Instead of having one or two vintage toasters, the owner displays a dozen. Cookbooks, record albums, lace, jewelry, clothing, the list goes on... And the ephemera! Boxes of old photos, postcards, school flash cards, pages of drawings torn from old books... a virtual treasure trove! Let the following photos set your hearts a'thumping!

These are the treasures I bought (this time around). The large card with the word 'sew' is an over sized flashcard that will look fun on the wall in the sewing area I'm creating. I also paid $2 for the little red vintage tray with the bluebirds pictured above.



Today's tiny shopping spree merely whetted my appetite for more. One can never have too much ephemera!

Fun Junk
'Piles of old stuff'
3644 Mud Bay Rd
Olympia, WA 98502
Open Fri & Sat 10-6

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my childrens lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake rests
in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world,
and am free.

-Wendall Berry

Serendipity

True story:

Mel, 70 years old and living the 'good life' in Florida found $146 dollars laying on the sidewalk in front of a lady's boutique last December. Figuring someone lost their Christmas spending money he went into the store and told the clerk he had found a non-disclosed amount of money. He left his phone number should someone stop by the store hoping to reclaim their misplaced money.

Two weeks went by and no phone call. He donated the money his favorite local charity which was hosting an upcoming holiday raffle. He was given 5 raffle tickets in exchange for his generosity.

Imagine his surprise when one of the raffle tickets netted him a $5,000 golf cart!

Not needing a golf cart, he arranged to receive the cash instead which he promptly donated right back to the charity.

Don't you just love serendipity?

Move over, Josh!

Most of my close acquaintances know that I'm a passionate Grobanite. In fact both my daughter and I plotted ways in which she would meet Josh, he fall passionately in love with her (and vice versa) and they would marry.

I'm happy to report that Stephanie is happily married to Matt who can not only croon very nicely but play the guitar as well.

But back to the reason for this post: Mark Vincent, a 15 year old from Australia, winner of 'Australia's Got Talent'. How can a voice that touches my soul come from the vocal cords of a mere teenager?!



While Josh continues to be safely perched on his lofty throne in my fantasies, Mark gets an enthusiastic 'encore' from me.

Week 4: gratitude

How can one not be grateful for coconut milk?!

While slowly awakening this morning my mind began toying with 'what shall I cook for dinner tonight?' I have some leftover rotisserie chicken and plenty of vegetables on hand so I shall make a curry chicken stir fry using coconut milk.

Yum!

I'm hibernating

This is the conversation that has been playing in my head most the day:

Voice 1: "Find something constructive to do'.
Voice 2: "I'm napping."
Voice 1: "At least fold that laundry basket full of towels."
Voice 2: "Nah - I'm reading. "
Voice 1: "It's just drizzle. Go outside and work in the yard."
Voice 2: "Nah - I'm reading."
Voice 1: "Work on your Soul Restoration projects."
Voice 2: "Nah - I'm reading."

It's 5:00 pm. The laundry remains unfolded. Weeds continue their assault in my flower beds. My artwork remains untouched. My book lays open to page 135.

I admit to times that I'm actually grateful for gray, chilly, drizzly, winter days that force a good kind of restful hibernation.

More Soul Restoration

A couple of you, my dear friends, are curious about the online course I'm taking called Soul Restoration, so I will continue to post pictures of various projects I'm involved in.

We are to continually make 'truth' cards from scores of 'truths' I've downloaded. Some speak to my heart. Others don't. The above image is one of my truth cards.

This week we are to create a timeline of our life. Images are provided if we want to use them as well as prompts & truths. I find it interesting that periods of my life which seemed especially dark and difficult & never ending actually have a beginning and an end! This project has stirred many memories and I feel an tremendous gratefulness for my precious life!

I now have a designated craft area in a room behind my office. Since January is a slow month for business, I've had lots of time to create! I made these hearts for my customers. I placed them in a bowl on the front counter with a sign that says, 'take one'. I was curious if there would be any takers and was surprised when the first heart to go was taken by male tenant in his late 20's!

It's a breezy, rainy day in the Pacific northwest. A good day to stay indoors and hibernate.

Week 3 gratitude

I am incredibly grateful that a creativity gene is present in my gene pool! Thanks dad & mom for being creators and continuing to encourage all manner of creativity.

(The above is NOT my creation. I want to give credit to the creator but saved the image to my computer w/o doing so. Sorry, talented one. You rock!)

Color, please

All my eyes see is GRAY this time of year.

So, when I stumbled across the above picture, and my eyes feasted upon the color, I realized that I don't have a chocolate craving, I have a color craving!

Here are more images to satisfy that craving:




(I wonder if Otis would mind being dyed for my color 'fix'?)

Soul Restoration

Some of you may know about my excitement at beginning an online e-course called Soul Restoration. http://bravegirlsclub.com/onlineclasses.html

The gals at SR call it 'soul crafting' and the projects we do 'help women get unstuck, back on track and restored to their best self'.

What excites me about Soul Restoration is being guided through the process of expressing my heart in an artistic way. Each week we begin a new project complete with instruction videos, beautiful downloads and plenty of encouragement.

The above picture is the title page of my project book. Here are a couple of pages in the book.

The class lasts 6 weeks with each lesson being online for 2 weeks so one can learn at one's own pace.

I'm jazzed, dear friends!

The next Soul Restoration will be available in April. I'd highly recommend it!

Let's open our eyes

As a child, the only form of violence I remember worrying about was Myra Berry, the bully during recess.

Seriously.

Other than fretting a bit about 'stranger danger', I have no recollection about concerns regarding violence in my sheltered world.

Today, however, our children and grandchildren are facing many different forms of terrorism and I fear for their fear.

But my fear is also a generational thing. I'm sure my parents and grandparents felt fearful for their offspring who had to survive in a world whose course was set on disaster.

My generation certainly learned to cope with challenges that my parent's generation did not experience.

I'm encouraged by the words of a little 10 year old boy, spoken this week in the aftermath of the Tucson shootings. He said, "Gabby opened her eyes. Now we need to open ours."

The next generation will get it figured out. As will the next.

And so it goes.

Just dreamin'

I can dream, can't I?

Creative itch

Some recent projects:




I'm hoping my sister doesn't mind if I show off the result of scratching her creative itch:

Week 2 gratitude

After a restful, slow weekend I am grateful for a quiet life. I am restored and at peace.

You are beautiful, my friend

This time of year the focus is on self flagellation as we bemoan the shape of our bodies.

Disgusted with ourselves, we confess to too many bouts of gluttony during the holidays, the result of which is evident when we cannot zip ourselves into our favorite pair of jeans.

We begin our annual habits of deprivation and intense, uncomfortable activity all the while hating ourselves for our lack of control.

One round of negativity after another.

My question is this: When you weigh 20 lbs less, are you really going to love yourself any more than you do today?

More than likely, when you look at yourself in the mirror, 20 lbs lighter, you will still find shortcomings.

'Once I lose another 10 lbs, I'll be happy.'
'My boobs sag. I'd look great if I could get a boob lift'.
'No matter how many pounds I look, my butt is still big. I hate my body!'

And on it goes.

I am convinced that respect and loving self care are born once we learn to accept and love ourselves, today, just as we are. For when we truly love ourselves, we will no longer abuse our bodies.

So, rather than resolve to lose weight this year, I choose to wage war against the negative self talk about my own body that plays over and over again in my brain like a stuck record. I will remind myself of the magnificence of my body and its intricate workings. I will give my body the honor and respect it deserves while it houses the essence of who I am.

On this note, allow me to share this video clip:



I have a post-it pad and pen in my purse, ready to use.

Advanced Style: Ilona Royce Smithkin

I absolutely, positively LOVE this woman and want to be just like her when I grow up!

Just for today....

Just for today...
Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Keep a promise. Find the time. Fore go a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh.

(author unknown)

Yikes!

One glorious summer evening in 2009, I was preparing dinner when the phone rang. The caller identified himself as a representative from United Collection Bureau and could he please speak to Susan Howard.

"Speaking".

"Ma'am. I am calling in regards to a balance due from a magazine subscription you ordered in 2006. Payments were made for only 3 months. The publisher turned your account over to us for collection."

"What?" I sputtered. "I have no idea what you are talking about!"

The conversation continued with the rep refusing to give me any detailed information until I provided him with a credit card so he could collect the balance of $800+ which represented the balance of the unpaid bill plus interest and collection fees. Once I paid, I would be given account information regarding the alleged purchase so I could then contact the publisher and sort out any inaccuracies. Should I not pay the balance, the credit bureau would be notified of my delinquency and it would adversely effect my credit score. Yada Yada....

I refused to pay the balance and, while he continued to threaten me with dire consequences, I hung up the phone.

I was enraged! These dirtbags prey on innocent people including elderly folks who, confused & afraid, might quickly pay the fictitious bill.

The representative refused my request to speak to his supervisor. Nor would he provide me with a phone number of his company so I could speak to someone in authority the following day.

I decided to become an internet sleuth and found that UCB is located in the state of Ohio. I then filed a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

At a later date, I received a form to sign from the AGO to include myself in a class action lawsuit against UCB.

Look what came in the mail today!


The moral of this story is DON'T LET THESE SCUMBAGS GET AWAY WITH THEIR DIRTY WORK! Do your due diligence and you might be rewarded monetarily!

52 weeks of gratitude

grat·i·tude [grat-i-tood, -tyood]-noun a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.

How easy it is to focus on that which is lacking in one's life. Before too long, the negative obscures the positive and one's mental state soon becomes mired in despondency. 'Poor me. I guess I'll just go eat some worms.....'

Last week, I told someone my life 'sucked'. First of all, I hate that word and am embarrassed that I used it. But more than that, I'm mortified that I actually described my blessed, privileged experience on this planet earth as being 'less than' ideal.

So, in keeping with tradition at this time of year, I resolve to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for the abundance of positive blessings I experience in my life.

When that pathetic, whiny, egocentric voice in my head emits a pitiful complaint about a supposed superficial lack in my life, I plan to immediately counter its power by thinking of and verbalizing at least three things to be grateful for.

To start my new practice, I am grateful for LOVE. I am swimming in love every minute of every day. I am bombarded by love from every angle. I am satiated by love.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity .... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."- Melodie Beattie, author

(Be prepared, dear reader. I need to exercise my gratitude muscle so will post a declaration of gratitude each week with an accompanying picture.)

New Years Day

New Years eve afternoon found Glynn and I at the movies. This is actually an epic event because Glynn isn't a movie kind of guy. In almost 30 years of marriage, we've been to 5 movies together. We counted.

Knowing he likes 'root-em, 'toot-em, 'shoot-em up westerns, I suggested we see True Grit. It was an enjoyable flick with Jeff Bridges at his best and newcomer, Hailey Steinfield, a captivating, young actress.

Afterward, we ate at the new Lemon Grass restaurant in Tumwater. It's our new favorite spot to eat.

Because we are getting old and value our sleep time, we did not stay up to welcome in the new year. Wanting to include us in their fun, various neighbors thoughtfully set off firecrackers at midnight so we could at least acknowledge the advent of a new year. Bah humbug.

Our activities were nothing compared to the wild new years eve party thrown by my sister, Kim! Alas, I wish we lived closer so we could enjoy the festivities! Each year Kim and the girls craft party hats for the party goers who include my mom and dad. Here they are with their party faces on! (Cat, Tucker, appears to be exceptionally excited...)

Today, I took down the Christmas tree and packed away the holiday frou frou placed in and around the house. Usually, a tinge of sadness envelopes me as I carefully tuck the ornaments away for another year. I didn't experience that this year, thankfully. And I know it's because the Christmas holiday was packed to the brim with satisfaction - much like the littlest of the 3 bears when he said, 'it was just right' after eating Goldilocks's porridge!

(Glynn did make popovers for breakfast which helped alleviate the pain of stripping the house of Christmas.)


Our days have been very cold: 11 F in the mornings. The plus side is glorious sunshine with nary a cloud in the sky! Otis and I bundled up and walked around Capital Lake this afternoon. I cannot remember a time when I have seen so many others walking along the lake as well. Smiles were abundant and the high energy felt wonderful.


Last, a picture of brownies baked in slotted brownie pan we see advertised on TV, a Christmas gift from my great husband. What a concept! They turned out wonderful - no hard edges nor sunken middle.

(We are going back on our healthy eating regime on Monday, in case you were wondering...)