Meet Me on Monday

1. Tomorrow I am _ going to try and finish my sewing project--dresses for the grands, and t-shirts for little boy grand.

2. When is your birthday?  March 25

3. What are you currently excited about?  Going to Prescott this coming weekend.

4. Do you have any secrets?  Of course, who doesn't.  But they are good ones.

5. What do you normally eat for lunch?  Salad, today I am having ceviche--shrimp, crab, cucumbers, Roma tomatoes, onions, cilantro, salsa and lime juice (veggies are finely chopped).  It is so refreshing on a hot day.

1. Finish this sentence - The last movie I saw in the theater was...

Back in February I went with my daughter to see One for the Money.

2. Do you have any idiosyncrasies?

Being on time--I hate being late, so if I'm not early, I feel I am late.

3. What is your favorite clothing store to shop at?

Goodwill, and other thrift stores.  All kinds of great finds at little cost.

4. What fun things do you have planned for the week ahead?

This weekend I am going to Prescott to visit my daughter and all her kids (3 steps, and 3 nieces and nephews that live with her)

5.  And now one for you--What is your favorite music genre?

Mine is western--especially the oldies.

Sunday's Meditation--footsteps

Sometimes fear freezes us and makes us unable to move. Sometimes it is the fear of the unknown, or fear that we may fail. Fear is a perceived threat.  Here the key word is perceived.

Joyce Meyer has said, "Every time you feel fear in your life, it's a manifestation of the kingdom of darkness. It's the spirit Satan uses to try to rule God's people and keep them from coming under the leadership of the true Master, Jesus Christ."The devil brings fear, but you can choose not to bow your knee to it. David said, "What time I am afraid, I will…trust…in You" (Psalm 56:3). I believe we can say that when God leads you to step out in an area to do something new, or leads you to make a bigger commitment, you may (or probably will) feel fear. However, if you're sure God told you to do it, put your trust in Him and go forward.Isaiah 41:10 says, Fear not, for I am with you. I believe God works gently with us to bring us out of bondage and into liberty. If you've been afraid of something and desire to be free, the time will eventually come when you'll have to face your fear and not run away from it. Just take Jesus' hand, acknowledge that He is with you, and do it. If you're afraid of people with authority, the time will come when you'll have to confront an authority figure and not cower in fear. God will have arranged the time. He'll be there, but you'll have to choose whether to go through or run away." 

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.
Psalm 94: 18-19 “When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

I'm Bored

Seems like my little 5 year old granddaughters favorite phrase is "I'm bored".  What she is actually saying is that she wants me to play with her.  But I understand boring.


Sometimes it's hard to have a good attitude when a job is less than perfect, too boring, too repetitious, or just plain dull.  How do I get through these tasks?  Once I get the job going, I look for the rhythms and the patterns.  When I was working, I had to do a lot of data transfer from our current system to the new one--I was the little migration bird.  It could be so boring, but if I concentrated on the patterns, developed a rhythm soon I was feeling less stressed and the actual transfer of information was in the background, and time went by so much faster, and the work actually got done quicker.

Years ago I worked for BF Goodrich making refrigerator seals.  My job was to cut two pieces of seal at 90 degree angles, bond them together with heat and send them on down the line.  I had to do this for eight hours. After I learned to operate at two levels simultaneously, my shift was over before I knew it.  The subconscious mind had a built-in alarm that would sound when the pattern was not right. My production level was high, and quality control passed my work. 


Our mind is a wonderful thing, helping us work through difficult situations and deal with boredom.  We are truly wonderfully made!

Friday Favorite Things-Follow Friday

These are a few of my favorite things this week

I love the lavender blossoms of the Jacaranda tree against the blue sky

I love the peaceful sound of the water of my backyard fountain

Wednesday, I had such a fun day.  Lunch at El Encanto in Cave Creek

With a sister blogger, Jo--what a great gal. We talked, had a great lunch, and talked some more.  

We ate on the patio by the water

Then took a trip to a unique store in Cave Creek

They have junk sculpture, things from Mexico, things from the farm

You never know what you will find

My finds--a horseshoe coat hanger ($4) and an old rusted lantern, complete ($5)

Each week, Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, she will add you as co-host to the hop! 

Pondering with a Purpose

This Week's prompt:  Blogging Rut?

I have observed that many people loose interest in something often because it has become a chore, or mundane.  It could be cleaning closets, weeding the garden or blogging.
I have found a few things that keep me on track blogging.  First of all take it easy.  There isn't a law that says you have to post every day.  Take a week sabbatical.
As you read posts, look for a way to help someone.  It may be looking up a recipe for them, offering encouragement, or sending them a warm greeting.
If you feel compelled to post, keep it simple--maybe just a quote or a joke.  Add variety.  You can break a pattern.  If you always post your thoughts on say, Tuesday, mix it up, post a picture instead.
Don't forget to surround yourself with people.  Our online friends are important, but so are touchable one.  
So I guess that I could sum up how I keep from getting in a rut, by saying Make things fun, project yourself, and strive for variety.
Today's post is late because blogger was down.  But I was able to get some extra chores done instead of posting.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. William Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated on April 23rd...when did you last read Shakespeare? What's your favorite Shakespeare play?

The Tragedy of Macbeth  is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about a man who commits regicide so as to become king and then commits further murders to maintain his power. The play clearly demonstrates the corrupting effect of ambition, but also deals with the relationship between cruelty and masculinity, tyranny and kingship, treachery, violence, guilt, prophecy, and disruption of the natural order.

2. What food(s) would you recommend a foreign visitor try when they visit your home country?

What's more American than Mac and Cheese?

3. What's a lie you often tell yourself?

I'm too old to do that.

4. What's something you're good at that might surprise us? Remember this is a family friendly blog!

Carpentry.  I learned at my Daddy knee.  I can build and repair small type stuff, and I have power tools.

5. Who is your favorite animal character from a book?

The Velveteen Rabbit.  A little boy loves his bunny and takes him everywhere. The other toys in the nursery tell the velveteen rabbit that if you are loved enough you can become real. The little boy gets scarlet fever and has to have all his toys burned. Before he can be burned the velveteen rabbit becomes real and scampers away.  A favorite quote--“Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. Sometimes it hurts, but when you are Real you don't mind being hurt. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. Once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand. Once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.” 

― Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real

6. April showers bring May flowers...do you have a green thumb?

I do, but right now I am having an awful time trying to keep the new puppies out of my flower beds.  They just ate a hibiscus that I had planted.

7. Speaking of rainy days...which one of the following activities would you most want to spend time doing on a rainy day-

sort photos and create albums

bake cookies

read a good book

hold an all-day movie marathon

organize closets, cupboards, or bookshelves

try a new recipe

fix something that needs fixing

First choice read a good book, then bake cookies, or maybe bake cookies first so I'd have a treat while reading my book.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I was really happy yesterday.  I signed the final papers on the refinance of my home.  I have a good interest rate, and will be able to save about $100. a month.

Track meet

1940-1950's--The beginning of spring, just as the snow was beginning to melt, meant that it was time to start practicing for the yearly country school district track meet. Every day we would run from the school grounds to Wapiti General Store, (among the grove of trees) and back, about a quarter of a mile to get in shape for the foot races.  We would practice passing a stick so we could compete in the relay races, and throwing a nice round boulder to become proficient at the shot put.  

The Saturday of the meet, we would drive to town and mingle with all the other country school kids, each group being cheered on by teachers and parents. After all the events, we would have a picnic lunch, and then the District School Superintendent would pass out ribbons.

This was the only intra-school activity that we had.  It was a chance to meet other rural children, and to become acquainted with the outside world.  This was not only an athletic event but a social one as well. When we entered high school it was reassuring if we were able to see a familiar face. 

Meet Me on Monday

1. I keep putting off _cleaning my closet.  I need to have a step stool to get to the boxes on the top shelf, and my kids borrowed mine.

2. What is your current weather?

It currently--at 7:46 p.m. is 92 degrees, after a high of 105.  Kind of early for summer, I think.

3. What is the nicest room in your house?

My living room.  It is large and opens onto the sun porch--The perfect place for entertaining. 

4. What jewelry do you never take off?

A diamond ring that I designed with all the diamonds from my wedding rings. It has scrolls with diamonds set at the ends of each scroll.

5. Do you eat a snack before bed? 

No.  My last meal is around 5, but I do have plenty of tea, and water during the evening.

1. Finish this sentence - I am glad it's Monday because...Hobby Lobby is open and I can get some needed art supplies--with a gift certificate I got for my birthday and a 40% off coupon.  Hobby Lobby is one of the few stores that closes on Sunday so that their employees can go to church or have family time.

2. Where did you spend your last vacation?  Hawaii for 3 weeks.  My daughter was married on Kauai, we spent 2 weeks there, and then a week on the big island.  I will never forget the beauty!

3. Who is your favorite author?  That depends--mystery J A Jance, inspirational--Beth Moore, devotional--Kay Arthur, American historian--Mark Twain.

4. What other Memes do you participate in during the week? Monday--Meet me on Monday, Wednesday--Wednesday Hodgepodge, Thursday--Pondering with a Purpose, Friday--Favorite Things and Follow Friday.

5.  Now a question for you--What is your favorite color?  Mine is apricot.

Sunday's Meditation--good old days

People are always talking about the good old days.  I say, what about the good now days? 

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (KJV)

Easter Coat

In order to go to high school before I was old enough to drive, I had to live in town and work as a nanny.  For the first half of my sophomore year I took care of one boy.  I lived in the finished basement, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t have to share a bed.  I even had my own bathroom.   I cleaned their house and prepared supper.  Then for the rest of the  year I lived with another family on the west side of town right across from the cemetery, and was back to sharing a bed with their daughter.  I took care of the two children, prepared all the meals, cleaned house, did laundry, and ironed baskets of white shirts for their grown son who worked at the bank.  But this was a great job, I was paid TWO dollars a week, the first time I had ever earned money in my life.  And I had a goal. 

I wanted a new spring coat so I saved my money and for Easter that year, I bought a blue fuzzy jacket from the Monkey Wards catalog, paying for it with my own money.  I remember the excitement when my package arrived at the local order outlet and I picked it up.  I thought that coat was the most beautiful coat in the world.  My mom also was flabbergasted when she saw me wearing it at church that Easter morning, although I’m not sure if it was because of the the beauty of the coat, or the extravagance of the purchase.





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Friday Favorite Things-Follow Friday

These are a few of my favorite things this week

My Oregon Great grandkids came for a visit

They don't know what to think of my grandson who lives with me

Posing with their Auntie--my Prescott daughter

Each week, Hilary at Feeling Beachie lists four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. If you want to join the fun and come up with four fill in’s of your own, please email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, she will add you as co-host to the hop! 

This week’s statements:

 1.       I always forget_to eat my meals on time.  I get so involved with projects or chores, before I know it, it is bedtime.__

2.       I never _start my car_without_first fastening my seat belt.__

3.      Recently I started to _write down everything I eat_, and it has helped tremendously! I find it easier to avoid the little extras that you don't even think about.

4.      If I had to find a date, the last place I would look for one is _in a bar_.  I ain't easy and I ain't cheap.

Pondering with a Purpose

This Week's prompt:  The blogging world

Blogger friends vs 'real' friends

I guess that you have to define what a friend is before you can compare these two types of friends.  According to Webster, a friend is

1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.

2.a person who gives assistance or supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.

3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile.

As I see it, both blogger friends and in person friends can fulfill these criteria.  I have many blogger friends that, although I have never personally met them, I feel connected to them.  I have followed them through their trials and triumphs, some I correspond not only on their blog but through e-mail. 

At times I have been able to assist these on line friends with some need of theirs, and feel that I am on good terms with them.

In person friends have the advantage of being able to see you, and sometimes read your feelings by your expressions, and the nuances of your body language.

Both types of friends are important to me and have enriched my life.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Spring is in the air (at least in my neck of the woods) and the birds are singing...what's your favorite bird?

I would have to say humming birds.

2. Speaking of birds...do you tweet? If you do share your screen name and we'll come flocking to your twitter site. Even if you don't let's all pretend here that we do-in 140 characters or less, sum up your week so far.

I don't tweet.  My week--What a hectic rewarding week full of transition, treasures, and trauma.

3. It's been reported recently that employers are not only viewing the facebook pages of potential hires but they're also requesting your facebook password to have a look at what you've kept from public view. What say you?

I think that that that is invading our privacy.  I don't have anything worth looking at, but it's just the principle of the thing.

4. It's April and you know what that means-Major League Baseball is back in action. What's your favorite baseball themed movie? If that's too hard what's your favorite sports themed movie?

I'm not much into sports.   But I did enjoy "Angels in the Outfield.

5. Something else this season brings-asparagus. Yes please or no thanks? If it's yes please what's your favorite way to have it prepared?

I LOVE asparagus!  Favorite way--grilled with a spritz of olive oil, and a dusting of sea salt.

6. What drives you? (Don't you love how I sandwiched that one in between asparagus and jugglers?)

I am driven by my passion to help people.  I feel that it is my mission in life to share in some degree what I have been so richly blessed with.  Now, I'm not rich, but I can share my home, my wisdom, my faith.

7. April 18th is International Jugglers Day...can you juggle?

Of course, I juggle keeping up my house, raising my grandson, my church activities, my blogging, and my art.  If you meant throwing things and catching them--not a chance.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This week I am busy preparing for Bible Study at my house.  We are going to eat out on my new sun porch.

Washing Clothes

As was tradition, Monday was wash day.  First, mom would heat water to almost boiling on the wood stove to fill the washer. One tub was filled with warm water, the second with cold. Sheets and whites were washed first in our electric washing machine, then using an old broom stick they were lifted from the scalding water and fed through the wringers, being careful to keep fingers out of the way.  After a good stir in the first tub, they were wringered into the second tub, then hung out to dry in the warm Wyoming sunshine. Light colored, then dark colored clothes were washed followed lastly by the jeans.  It was a good half days work getting the laundry done. 

One of my favorite jobs was to hang out the clothes, I would make a game of it, hanging small to large items, or hanging out things by color so that if you squinted your eyes and looked at it just right it looked like a rainbow.

MMOM and MQAM

1.  Right now I could really eat _________?A shrimp salad2.  Full length pants or capri's?Full length, my legs aren't that hot
3.  The best smelling men's cologne (women's perfume for the guys playing) is ________? Paul Sebastian
4.  What is your favorite kind of Cheesecake?Chocolate
5.  What TV Show do you currently never miss? Bones and Castle

1. Finish this sentence - I dream of....a stress free life

2. If you could choose your last meal, what would it be? Big Bay Scallops

3. What was your favorite toy as a child?  Doll with a cellulose head

4. What color looks best on you? Turquoise

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

5.  What is you favorite participation activity?