As I took my walk this morning I heard the unmistakable sound of Canada Geese. I looked around in the sky and found them in a long 'V' flying over the river. As I watched, about 6-7 broke away and came in for a landing at a wide spot above the dam. The rest continued to circle around with a few breaking away with each turn . . . I love hearing the geese, but it does tell me that Fall is not far away no matter what the calendar says. It just seems so early this year.
I've also watched the deer, they seem to be eating everything in sight, not that they don't do that any way, but there seems to be an urgency to their munching. I'm hoping that the babies that visit will make it through the winter, they seem so fragile still.
The squirrels that do take a chance coming into our 'dog' yard are getting very fat and furry too. I'm thinking that we are going to have an early winter. I hope we get tons of snow instead of very low freezing temperatures. I'd rather shovel the roof than dig out every warm piece of clothing I own (I'll do that anyway!) and have to wear it all at once!
I love winter - there is just something really special about it. I love being outside (as long as I'm warm) and hearing the silence that abounds. There is a peace on the land when it's snowing, and nothing is moving - just the flakes gently falling. Now blizzard conditions has me hugging the wood stove, and having lots and lots of wood to feed the hungry beast! No, seriously - my stove will heat the house nicely, and this year we got a new blower fan to direct a bit of heat down the hallway to the bedrooms (and bathroom!) There are cold spots in the house, but you only need to hug the stove once in a while and things are fine.
I have some very nice clothes for going outside, and boots that are rated to -100 degrees. If my feet or hands are cold, I'm miserable, but these boots are a dream! Toasty toes, happy me!
It's going up to the mid 80's today, so I'm a bit premature in my 'winter wonderings', but cold weather will be here before you know it. Of course, winter means different things in different parts of the country, but it's still winter and probably cold for the folks who have 50's for winter . . .LOL.
We have one more camping trip of the season - deer camp. The first two weeks of October are designated for rifle hunting, and I will be out there in the woods somewhere. With lots of warm clothes, fixings for warm food, and possibly a warm fire. What more can you ask? Snow and not rain. Snow is easier to deal with than mud, and it does get muddy when you are on dirt roads!
Hmmm, back to reality - there are still some warm days between now and camp, so I better get to enjoying since they'll be gone before I know it.
I leave you with thoughts of sunny skies, prayers for upcoming storm victims, and happy thoughts for the weekend.
"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
week of remembering
This time of year makes me stop and remember lots from past years.
The Twin Towers come to mind first - I was moving to Oregon from Nebraska, had gone to pick up my moving van and watched the 2nd plane hit on the TV at the van place. I remember being speechless, stunned and utterly frozen in place watching this horrific event take place. It seemed like the whole world was moving in slow motion as I made my way home . . . to load my truck . . . and leave on the 12th.
It left me with the same feeling of disbelief as when I heard that President Kennedy had been shot. Lost and in shock. The world was never the same again then either . . .
The smaller remembered moments seem trivial compared to either of the above events, but are still a part of my progression in life. On 9-9-1999, I put a bid on the house I'm currently living in - BIG step in getting to where I wanted to be - OREGON!!! The following day we, my Mom, Donavan and I left on a whirlwind trip to Colorado to see D's family. My Mom was visiting from Denmark and was amazed at the speed in which we traveled the 600 miles in one day. We did the touristy thing, saw Garden of the Gods, took the tram up Pikes Peak, and went shopping. ALL in 3 days!
My drive across the country in 2001 was done in silence as I could not listen to the radio broadcasts telling the story over and over and over . . . and over some more. I knew that by my tuning it out it hadn't gone away, but I didn't need to hear it on my 3 day journey across the western part of the country. I was driving one of the largest rental trucks available, pulling a car dolly and had my house on my back like a snail. It was an un-eventful journey, but long and tiring. Not only did I have my house 'on my back' I had 3 cats with me. I'm not sure I could do the trip now, but I was determined to be in Oregon one way or the other.
Daily life since then has been pretty peaceful, with small ups and downs, but nothing major. I think that I was meant to be here. I'm home, and AT home. I'm following one blog, gipsy life, and can definitely relate to Kerstin and the need to be in a specific place.
As I reflect on the above, I'm grateful to be happy, healthy and at home in my skin.
Just so that this post doesn't leave everyone with a 'down' feeling, I'm leaving you with this:
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
The Twin Towers come to mind first - I was moving to Oregon from Nebraska, had gone to pick up my moving van and watched the 2nd plane hit on the TV at the van place. I remember being speechless, stunned and utterly frozen in place watching this horrific event take place. It seemed like the whole world was moving in slow motion as I made my way home . . . to load my truck . . . and leave on the 12th.
It left me with the same feeling of disbelief as when I heard that President Kennedy had been shot. Lost and in shock. The world was never the same again then either . . .
The smaller remembered moments seem trivial compared to either of the above events, but are still a part of my progression in life. On 9-9-1999, I put a bid on the house I'm currently living in - BIG step in getting to where I wanted to be - OREGON!!! The following day we, my Mom, Donavan and I left on a whirlwind trip to Colorado to see D's family. My Mom was visiting from Denmark and was amazed at the speed in which we traveled the 600 miles in one day. We did the touristy thing, saw Garden of the Gods, took the tram up Pikes Peak, and went shopping. ALL in 3 days!
My drive across the country in 2001 was done in silence as I could not listen to the radio broadcasts telling the story over and over and over . . . and over some more. I knew that by my tuning it out it hadn't gone away, but I didn't need to hear it on my 3 day journey across the western part of the country. I was driving one of the largest rental trucks available, pulling a car dolly and had my house on my back like a snail. It was an un-eventful journey, but long and tiring. Not only did I have my house 'on my back' I had 3 cats with me. I'm not sure I could do the trip now, but I was determined to be in Oregon one way or the other.
Daily life since then has been pretty peaceful, with small ups and downs, but nothing major. I think that I was meant to be here. I'm home, and AT home. I'm following one blog, gipsy life, and can definitely relate to Kerstin and the need to be in a specific place.
As I reflect on the above, I'm grateful to be happy, healthy and at home in my skin.
Just so that this post doesn't leave everyone with a 'down' feeling, I'm leaving you with this:
Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me! I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.
Friday, September 5, 2008
. . . ok, alrighty . . .
Talk about going into a panic over worry of did I and where is the registration & tags for my truck . . . I've been worrying about this for a week and I haven't been able to find any paperwork for the truck. Hmmm, even if I did not put the tags on the truck plates, I would have thrown them in the truck . . . I do that with the insurance card, and it was there.
Called the OR DMV to double check that the registration was paid . . . the lady told me that I was paid up to November 30, 2008, and that the notice had not been sent yet. As soon as she said it I knew I was going NUTS. I kept thinking that it had been due last year, 2007! and that I had lost my registration & tags. I tore this house apart looking for the notice to PAY . . . looking for the tags, looking for anything that would keep me legal. I have been driving the rig around with my camper on it, but thankfully (even if I'm legal) off road most of the time! I have 3 different registrations to keep track of and they all come due at different times. As soon as I pay and receive the tags, I DO take them out and put them on the rig. Loosing it . . . BIG TIME!!
Phew, not a good day - it hasn't been a good week, or month for that matter. There is so much left to do on my website to start making some money, and there is so little money left in the bank account to keep going, that I'm really hitting panic mode. I know what I need to do, but I hit a brick wall when I start trying to do it. Not a good thing. I am getting traffic, and clicks, but it seems to fizzle from there. (I need my daughter to keep after me for a bit until I can get on a roll in fixing the whole thing.....) I need someone to be interested in what I'm doing (see my whiney post) to make it real. Right now it's still a strange world out there, but with no one that I know that is really familiar with making a living online, it will remain so.
OK, enough of that - - it is a really beautiful day here in Southern Oregon, low 70's, clear sky, no wind just a breeze, and the deer so at home that I literally have to squirt them with water to get them to leave the yard. There is a momma deer with 2 babies that likes to eat the clover patches in our yard, the only problem is that the patch is 12-15 feet from our front door and she is very protective of her babies - she will stomp her feet to warn us to keep away . . . "HEY - this is MY yard and you need to keep your distance!" is what I tell her every time she is there, but she stands her ground and stomps her feet. Water hose, here I come.
Three and a half weeks, starting October 1st, I will be gone for 12 days, at least, for deer hunting. The deer we hunt are not the mothers and babies, but the bucks. We did not get our usual tags this year for hunting close to home, but for ones that will take us 25 miles from the house, not that it's far, but we usually only have to go about 8-12 miles. Maybe this is a sign that we will do better ? ? ? I love venison steaks, venison anything! I guess I have a switch in my brain that works for seeing nice little "bambis" during the rest of the year, and FOOD during the first part of October. You have to have had venison to understand . . . yum, yum.
We have two direct neighbors that have dogs, and when we are outside in either the front or the back yards, all these dogs do is BARK. Now, I have a dog too, but she just doesn't bark at every move the neighbors make. These dogs seem starved for someone to play with them..... wish I could, but it really does get annoying. Am I just an old B*tch? Hmmm . . .
You know, I was just looking at the picture above - not bad at all. Too bad my camera (or me) doesn't take really good close ups of my crafts. I also have a dark house with mobile home panelling in it - nothing in here is light and airy. I think maybe I need to make a light box where I can put things that need to show sparkle and shine . . . would an old cardboard box work, or do I need to have something better? I'll have to look around. I will also need lights coming from at least 2 sides to be able to photograph without BIG shadows . . . something to get thinking about.
I have a 50th wedding anniversary party to go to tomorrow! WOW 50 years! I'm really, really impressed. Knowing the couple is a great priviledge, and if I was married, they would be an inspiration. Four children, 3 of whom I know, is a great task. Their faith, I'm sure, had a lot to do with them coping. One of the kids I know very well, one of my best friends, and he is NO ANGEL! I'm know he's was a trial growing up, and he does march to his own drummer even now, much to the chagrin of his family. But he is an honest man, says what he means and means what he says. He is of the old fashioned world - his handshake is good and the deal made is final - no problems, he does not forget and will not do you wrong. The two other kids that I know are good people, will honor their parents on this special day, and are folks that I'm glad to have in my life. The fourth child does not live close by so I have no real knowledge of him.
It's Friday, I'm going to enjoy the weekend and knucle and buckle down come Monday to solve my $$$ problem. May be a tough one, but it will be solved.
I leave you with a bit of wisdom that I need to take seriously myself . . .
"Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off our goals!"
Happy sunshine to you all.
Called the OR DMV to double check that the registration was paid . . . the lady told me that I was paid up to November 30, 2008, and that the notice had not been sent yet. As soon as she said it I knew I was going NUTS. I kept thinking that it had been due last year, 2007! and that I had lost my registration & tags. I tore this house apart looking for the notice to PAY . . . looking for the tags, looking for anything that would keep me legal. I have been driving the rig around with my camper on it, but thankfully (even if I'm legal) off road most of the time! I have 3 different registrations to keep track of and they all come due at different times. As soon as I pay and receive the tags, I DO take them out and put them on the rig. Loosing it . . . BIG TIME!!
Phew, not a good day - it hasn't been a good week, or month for that matter. There is so much left to do on my website to start making some money, and there is so little money left in the bank account to keep going, that I'm really hitting panic mode. I know what I need to do, but I hit a brick wall when I start trying to do it. Not a good thing. I am getting traffic, and clicks, but it seems to fizzle from there. (I need my daughter to keep after me for a bit until I can get on a roll in fixing the whole thing.....) I need someone to be interested in what I'm doing (see my whiney post) to make it real. Right now it's still a strange world out there, but with no one that I know that is really familiar with making a living online, it will remain so.
OK, enough of that - - it is a really beautiful day here in Southern Oregon, low 70's, clear sky, no wind just a breeze, and the deer so at home that I literally have to squirt them with water to get them to leave the yard. There is a momma deer with 2 babies that likes to eat the clover patches in our yard, the only problem is that the patch is 12-15 feet from our front door and she is very protective of her babies - she will stomp her feet to warn us to keep away . . . "HEY - this is MY yard and you need to keep your distance!" is what I tell her every time she is there, but she stands her ground and stomps her feet. Water hose, here I come.Three and a half weeks, starting October 1st, I will be gone for 12 days, at least, for deer hunting. The deer we hunt are not the mothers and babies, but the bucks. We did not get our usual tags this year for hunting close to home, but for ones that will take us 25 miles from the house, not that it's far, but we usually only have to go about 8-12 miles. Maybe this is a sign that we will do better ? ? ? I love venison steaks, venison anything! I guess I have a switch in my brain that works for seeing nice little "bambis" during the rest of the year, and FOOD during the first part of October. You have to have had venison to understand . . . yum, yum.
We have two direct neighbors that have dogs, and when we are outside in either the front or the back yards, all these dogs do is BARK. Now, I have a dog too, but she just doesn't bark at every move the neighbors make. These dogs seem starved for someone to play with them..... wish I could, but it really does get annoying. Am I just an old B*tch? Hmmm . . .
You know, I was just looking at the picture above - not bad at all. Too bad my camera (or me) doesn't take really good close ups of my crafts. I also have a dark house with mobile home panelling in it - nothing in here is light and airy. I think maybe I need to make a light box where I can put things that need to show sparkle and shine . . . would an old cardboard box work, or do I need to have something better? I'll have to look around. I will also need lights coming from at least 2 sides to be able to photograph without BIG shadows . . . something to get thinking about.
I have a 50th wedding anniversary party to go to tomorrow! WOW 50 years! I'm really, really impressed. Knowing the couple is a great priviledge, and if I was married, they would be an inspiration. Four children, 3 of whom I know, is a great task. Their faith, I'm sure, had a lot to do with them coping. One of the kids I know very well, one of my best friends, and he is NO ANGEL! I'm know he's was a trial growing up, and he does march to his own drummer even now, much to the chagrin of his family. But he is an honest man, says what he means and means what he says. He is of the old fashioned world - his handshake is good and the deal made is final - no problems, he does not forget and will not do you wrong. The two other kids that I know are good people, will honor their parents on this special day, and are folks that I'm glad to have in my life. The fourth child does not live close by so I have no real knowledge of him.
It's Friday, I'm going to enjoy the weekend and knucle and buckle down come Monday to solve my $$$ problem. May be a tough one, but it will be solved.
I leave you with a bit of wisdom that I need to take seriously myself . . .
"Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off our goals!"
Happy sunshine to you all.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Fall is in the air
It's hard to believe that it's September 1st already. We have had several frost warnings but they are now changing to freeze warnings. I'm just not ready - and the temps are due to go up again.
Last night I forgot to cover my zucchini plant and some of the leaves were frost bitten this morning. I cut off the one zucchini that had been allowed to grow to eatable size, about 8-9 inches, and am saving it for fried zucchini with onions and mushrooms - yum, yum. The rest that started growing either withered and died, or were eaten by rodents.... not sure what, but there were little teeth marks on one that was about 3 inches long. I think I've gotten what I'm going to get from the plant. This year was just an experiment - next year I'd like to get a raised bed put together and have some tomatoes & pepper too. I also have some cantaloupe seeds saved and would like to try them too.
I got out my knitting needles and some light blue heather yarn to knit some fingerless gloves. I usually do dishes to warm up my hands & fingers, but there are times that they stay sooo cold that I run out of dishes. I have neighbors and friends telling me that they will be happy to let me do their dishes, but I'm not quite that desperate. I finished one last night and am working on the other one (after I get off the computer!) - I should finish it tonight before bed. I hate having cold hands and I'm hoping that gloves will help. I can already see where I'll knit more; these just cover a bit of the wrist, which is nice, but I'd like them a little longer up the arm - I'll wait until I finish some Christmas presents since these will work.
I told you about the package to my Mom for her birthday - she loved everything she got! She told me that until she asks for more stuff - DON'T send anymore! She says she has plenty for now. I had sent her 3 pairs of decorative edging scissors and a small heart shaped punch - she was sooo funny when she realized that she could decorate lots of her card stuff with those..... just amazed at the possibilities. It is fun sharing crafting ideas with my Mom; she's 81, but very young in some things. It is wonderful.
This weekend just past, we put in enough wood to last through the winter with what was leftover from last year. That's a great feeling - now I'll be warm twice from the wood...... I didn't split or stack, but I will be bringing it in daily to the wood box and those trips warm me up, then again when it burns. My room mate can run me out of the house sometimes with all the wood he puts into the stove - I've looked at the inside thermometer and he has it up to 90 degrees! WOW - time to open some windows so I can breathe! I left both Southern California and Nebraska because of the hot, hot, hot summers - I surely don't need HOT winters here.
I need to get my 'stuff' together and start all my Christmas gifts. I really need to figure out what I'm giving to who. There are 3 lady friends who always get beaded Christmas balls, so that's a given, but there are more folks than those three. I guess a list with names and gifts listed by year so I don't duplicate.
I need to go get into my warm fuzzies, curl up on the couch and finish my other glove so I can wear them in the morning when it will be sooo cold.
Wishing you warm (not hot) sunshine days.
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance."
Last night I forgot to cover my zucchini plant and some of the leaves were frost bitten this morning. I cut off the one zucchini that had been allowed to grow to eatable size, about 8-9 inches, and am saving it for fried zucchini with onions and mushrooms - yum, yum. The rest that started growing either withered and died, or were eaten by rodents.... not sure what, but there were little teeth marks on one that was about 3 inches long. I think I've gotten what I'm going to get from the plant. This year was just an experiment - next year I'd like to get a raised bed put together and have some tomatoes & pepper too. I also have some cantaloupe seeds saved and would like to try them too.
I got out my knitting needles and some light blue heather yarn to knit some fingerless gloves. I usually do dishes to warm up my hands & fingers, but there are times that they stay sooo cold that I run out of dishes. I have neighbors and friends telling me that they will be happy to let me do their dishes, but I'm not quite that desperate. I finished one last night and am working on the other one (after I get off the computer!) - I should finish it tonight before bed. I hate having cold hands and I'm hoping that gloves will help. I can already see where I'll knit more; these just cover a bit of the wrist, which is nice, but I'd like them a little longer up the arm - I'll wait until I finish some Christmas presents since these will work.
I told you about the package to my Mom for her birthday - she loved everything she got! She told me that until she asks for more stuff - DON'T send anymore! She says she has plenty for now. I had sent her 3 pairs of decorative edging scissors and a small heart shaped punch - she was sooo funny when she realized that she could decorate lots of her card stuff with those..... just amazed at the possibilities. It is fun sharing crafting ideas with my Mom; she's 81, but very young in some things. It is wonderful.
This weekend just past, we put in enough wood to last through the winter with what was leftover from last year. That's a great feeling - now I'll be warm twice from the wood...... I didn't split or stack, but I will be bringing it in daily to the wood box and those trips warm me up, then again when it burns. My room mate can run me out of the house sometimes with all the wood he puts into the stove - I've looked at the inside thermometer and he has it up to 90 degrees! WOW - time to open some windows so I can breathe! I left both Southern California and Nebraska because of the hot, hot, hot summers - I surely don't need HOT winters here.
I need to get my 'stuff' together and start all my Christmas gifts. I really need to figure out what I'm giving to who. There are 3 lady friends who always get beaded Christmas balls, so that's a given, but there are more folks than those three. I guess a list with names and gifts listed by year so I don't duplicate.
I need to go get into my warm fuzzies, curl up on the couch and finish my other glove so I can wear them in the morning when it will be sooo cold.
Wishing you warm (not hot) sunshine days.
"Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance."
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
One step at a time
It was a busy last week, as I said, I talked to my daughter; aired some feelings (I have more to go) and took some time to myself.
My daughter has been looking, really "looking" at my website and has come up with some suggestions for me. I am a novice, she is a part-time student of web site design to quote her, and she will try to help keep me on track. She and her husband have their own computer business, so I know she wouldn't make a mess out of my site, and if I don't like something she suggests, I can try it, frown and revert to the old stuff - the final choice is after all mine. But she is a good daughter, LOL.
I read some more of More to Me, a blog of a wonderful woman named Megg coming to terms with her feelings about lots of things we all face at one time or another. This site makes you realize that you can want things for yourself, you can do it, and one step at a time, you will get it if you believe in yourself. Check her out.
I took 3 days to myself and went camping. Well, it started out that a group of us were going, but they fell by the way side one by one. I had all my ducks in a row, fully loaded and I headed out by myself with my dog. We had some wonderful walks along the trails that surround the lake and the campground. We did a couple of power walks to make sure my dog still knows that I'm Alpha female, and lots of stop and sniff walks. The power walks have a pretty tight reign on the leash and the dog walks close to you without pulling every which way. The stop and sniff walks are just that - and we stopped, and we stopped, and we stopped - only the dog sniffed though. About half way through most of our walks, the dog came over and just walked next to me - I think she went into "sniffer overload". We then just found a rock or log to sit on for a while, or went back to camp to relax. I finished a book (could have been better), I worked on my Knobby Knitter, you know those spool things with the nails that make the long knitted strings..... if I had a better camera, I would post a picture...
I'm not sure what I'm going to make with this long knitted string, but by the time I run out of yarn, I may come up with something even if it's only a hot pad - not my colors, but it would work, LOL.
It was my Mom's birthday, 81, this past Saturday and I didn't get to call her until yesterday, but she 'figured' I was camping since I didn't call her. She always sounds so surprised and happy when I call that she makes me feel like a cherished daughter. It is some good feeling. We talked about the package that I sent, and she hasn't gotten yet, with all the card making goodies in it. I sent card stock, 3 pairs of fancy edge scissors, and blank cards with envelopes, stickers, and a few other things. She is really looking forward to going through the box!
I got an email from my daughter yesterday morning and she had sent a bouquet of flowers to her Grandma, along with card making supplies: pre-made cards & envelopes, plain paper, & lots of stickers . . . now I tell you, do great minds think alike?
My daughter also left me with a little thought, and I will share it with you:
"And take down one giant at a time."
Wishing you sunshine...
My daughter has been looking, really "looking" at my website and has come up with some suggestions for me. I am a novice, she is a part-time student of web site design to quote her, and she will try to help keep me on track. She and her husband have their own computer business, so I know she wouldn't make a mess out of my site, and if I don't like something she suggests, I can try it, frown and revert to the old stuff - the final choice is after all mine. But she is a good daughter, LOL.
I read some more of More to Me, a blog of a wonderful woman named Megg coming to terms with her feelings about lots of things we all face at one time or another. This site makes you realize that you can want things for yourself, you can do it, and one step at a time, you will get it if you believe in yourself. Check her out.
I took 3 days to myself and went camping. Well, it started out that a group of us were going, but they fell by the way side one by one. I had all my ducks in a row, fully loaded and I headed out by myself with my dog. We had some wonderful walks along the trails that surround the lake and the campground. We did a couple of power walks to make sure my dog still knows that I'm Alpha female, and lots of stop and sniff walks. The power walks have a pretty tight reign on the leash and the dog walks close to you without pulling every which way. The stop and sniff walks are just that - and we stopped, and we stopped, and we stopped - only the dog sniffed though. About half way through most of our walks, the dog came over and just walked next to me - I think she went into "sniffer overload". We then just found a rock or log to sit on for a while, or went back to camp to relax. I finished a book (could have been better), I worked on my Knobby Knitter, you know those spool things with the nails that make the long knitted strings..... if I had a better camera, I would post a picture...
I'm not sure what I'm going to make with this long knitted string, but by the time I run out of yarn, I may come up with something even if it's only a hot pad - not my colors, but it would work, LOL.
It was my Mom's birthday, 81, this past Saturday and I didn't get to call her until yesterday, but she 'figured' I was camping since I didn't call her. She always sounds so surprised and happy when I call that she makes me feel like a cherished daughter. It is some good feeling. We talked about the package that I sent, and she hasn't gotten yet, with all the card making goodies in it. I sent card stock, 3 pairs of fancy edge scissors, and blank cards with envelopes, stickers, and a few other things. She is really looking forward to going through the box!
I got an email from my daughter yesterday morning and she had sent a bouquet of flowers to her Grandma, along with card making supplies: pre-made cards & envelopes, plain paper, & lots of stickers . . . now I tell you, do great minds think alike?
My daughter also left me with a little thought, and I will share it with you:
"And take down one giant at a time."
Wishing you sunshine...
Sunday, August 17, 2008
. . . aftermath
After my post of yesterday, my daughter called to make sure that I was OK. I enjoyed our talk very much, and just went a bit further telling her my feelings, and that it wouldn't take long for me to get back to normal (hmmm, scary thought!)
I feel very much better for having written what I did, and that I can now go forward and take care of some things in my life. I am working hard on facing my demons - procrastination, fear of success and getting over my need of approval from others. I must say that my changing outlook on things are due to a blog I ran across very late last night - it's called More to Me. I started reading and could not believe that there is another out there that have the same feelings and fears as I do. I just knew that I had to read the whole blog from beginning to end. I'm still way back in the archives, but will read some of Megg's blog every day until done.
I feel inspired by Megg and am in awe of her ability to verbalize exactly how I feel.
I want to leave you with another inspirational quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -- Dr. Seuss
I feel very much better for having written what I did, and that I can now go forward and take care of some things in my life. I am working hard on facing my demons - procrastination, fear of success and getting over my need of approval from others. I must say that my changing outlook on things are due to a blog I ran across very late last night - it's called More to Me. I started reading and could not believe that there is another out there that have the same feelings and fears as I do. I just knew that I had to read the whole blog from beginning to end. I'm still way back in the archives, but will read some of Megg's blog every day until done.
I feel inspired by Megg and am in awe of her ability to verbalize exactly how I feel.
I want to leave you with another inspirational quote:
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -- Dr. Seuss
Saturday, August 16, 2008
. . . and maybe just some whining ?
I'm stuck inside due to the heat, it's too hot to breathe out there! In our neck of the woods, 96 deg. is just too hot! even with a slight breeze. Thank goodness that the heat wave is going to break on Monday. On Monday the temp. will drop about 10 degrees, and by Wednesday the Weather Channel says it will be 63 with a chance of rain! WOW, that's quite a difference, but welcomed all the same.
I've been reading a lot of blogs lately, some are interesting, some are very crafty, but all are intriguing. Most of the blogs all seem to have begun somewhere in early 2006. There are a few that go way back before that, and some that like mine - are just starting out. I like to go back in time with the bloggers to see what prompted them to start and to follow the happenings of their lives to the present. Some are accounts of crafting projects and the progress and development of their crafts. Others have given accounts of their lives, good, funny, sad, frustrating and enlightening - and I've enjoyed them all.
I started my blog with the hope that it could help me learn, expand my horizons and get my 'sh*t' together and set up a routine schedule for getting my life and website, Beading for Beginners, heading in the right direction. I guess I'm a slow learner - my life seems to just move forward one day at a time, not changing much, and my website, which I had, and still have, great plans for seems to sit and stagnate. I get the feeling sometimes that I'm afraid of succeeding in my quest, sounds silly I know, but what else would be holding me back? I've looked at the overwhelming task I've set for myself, and just flinch. I know I need to stop looking at the WHOLE big picture, and just take little baby steps, looking at each segment of the website, and working on it. If I do that every day or week, it will be what I want it to be before I know it . . . I just need a swift kick, a huge RUDE awakening, and maybe someone to tell me that I'm doing good.
Feeling sorry for myself? ? ? maybe - I'm not sure where I'm going with this post, but I need to get it out in the open, and where is it more open than on a blog?!?!?!
I've come to realize, that most of my close friends are not really interested in what I'm trying to do. Period. I've said it. They don't care much! I do have a 'soul' friend in Nebraska, and she cares very much - that I know. She has a life and can't babysit me and MY project - she gives input when she can, and the input is honest, but I don't expect her to hold my hand and do it with/for me....... maybe it's that the people I count on, my friends here, are letting me down in some way? maybe I expect too much from them..... maybe I'm letting their lack of interest get me down.....
I get so angry at times that I end up stomping around the house, not knowing what to do with myself, crying, sniveling and just getting a general worthless feeling about myself. The more I cry and snivel the angrier I get and then the "I'll show them!!!" kicks in for a while. Key words here: "FOR A WHILE" . . . and then it's back to the same old thing . . .
I know I'm probably not making a lot of sense right now, but as I'm writing I'm seeing the pathetic side of myself. I know I can't be the only one in the world that has feelings like this, but at 61 years old, wouldn't you think I'd be over this kind of thing and just do what I need to do? I don't need their approval for anything I do, but I really would like a tiny bit of interest once in a while.
Maybe, I'm also a bit afraid of what the rest of the world will think of my site . . . and for some reason I do care, I care a lot.
I think that maybe I feel a bit like the statue in the following quote:
"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue" (Author unknown)
I've been reading a lot of blogs lately, some are interesting, some are very crafty, but all are intriguing. Most of the blogs all seem to have begun somewhere in early 2006. There are a few that go way back before that, and some that like mine - are just starting out. I like to go back in time with the bloggers to see what prompted them to start and to follow the happenings of their lives to the present. Some are accounts of crafting projects and the progress and development of their crafts. Others have given accounts of their lives, good, funny, sad, frustrating and enlightening - and I've enjoyed them all.
I started my blog with the hope that it could help me learn, expand my horizons and get my 'sh*t' together and set up a routine schedule for getting my life and website, Beading for Beginners, heading in the right direction. I guess I'm a slow learner - my life seems to just move forward one day at a time, not changing much, and my website, which I had, and still have, great plans for seems to sit and stagnate. I get the feeling sometimes that I'm afraid of succeeding in my quest, sounds silly I know, but what else would be holding me back? I've looked at the overwhelming task I've set for myself, and just flinch. I know I need to stop looking at the WHOLE big picture, and just take little baby steps, looking at each segment of the website, and working on it. If I do that every day or week, it will be what I want it to be before I know it . . . I just need a swift kick, a huge RUDE awakening, and maybe someone to tell me that I'm doing good.
Feeling sorry for myself? ? ? maybe - I'm not sure where I'm going with this post, but I need to get it out in the open, and where is it more open than on a blog?!?!?!
I've come to realize, that most of my close friends are not really interested in what I'm trying to do. Period. I've said it. They don't care much! I do have a 'soul' friend in Nebraska, and she cares very much - that I know. She has a life and can't babysit me and MY project - she gives input when she can, and the input is honest, but I don't expect her to hold my hand and do it with/for me....... maybe it's that the people I count on, my friends here, are letting me down in some way? maybe I expect too much from them..... maybe I'm letting their lack of interest get me down.....
I get so angry at times that I end up stomping around the house, not knowing what to do with myself, crying, sniveling and just getting a general worthless feeling about myself. The more I cry and snivel the angrier I get and then the "I'll show them!!!" kicks in for a while. Key words here: "FOR A WHILE" . . . and then it's back to the same old thing . . .
I know I'm probably not making a lot of sense right now, but as I'm writing I'm seeing the pathetic side of myself. I know I can't be the only one in the world that has feelings like this, but at 61 years old, wouldn't you think I'd be over this kind of thing and just do what I need to do? I don't need their approval for anything I do, but I really would like a tiny bit of interest once in a while.
Maybe, I'm also a bit afraid of what the rest of the world will think of my site . . . and for some reason I do care, I care a lot.
I think that maybe I feel a bit like the statue in the following quote:
"Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue" (Author unknown)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Animals, animals every where ! !
I've been feeding Dale & Candy's animals since Tuesday night. They are a fair with their daughter's 4-H project - - 2 goats! But they left behind 2 other goats, 9 rabbits, and 24 birds - a mixture of turkeys, ducks and chickens. They are not hard to take care of, but I have to drive a mile to get there (and then home) 3 times a day.
Around 9 a.m. I go up and let the birds out - they are already squawking at me to "Open that door!!!" They rush out like water after a broken damn! The first place they head is over under the regular bird feeders. Then they kind of wander around finding their spot for the day, or at least for the time being. Depending on the condition of the wading pool, I refill with 'new' water, or just top it off.
The rabbits take a bit more time and care. During this heat that we've had here in Southern Oregon, the rabbits need a fresh bottle of frozen water. They lay next to them when they get hot. Rabbits overheat very fast. We then need to check grain and give them a handful of alfalfa. Then they're happy!
The two remaining goats are easy - just check to see if they have alfalfa, and give them some grain.
Most of the time it only takes me 30-40 minutes depending on my speed, but then again, I don't have to clean the bottom of the ark! That will be Kerri's job when fair is over......
I go back up late afternoon (5-5:30) to check them all out for the night - the last trip will be around 8:30 to close the gate on the birds. They gather at dusk so they are easier to herd into the pen. Picturing myself running around trying to gather up birds is just too laughable to even consider. I prefer to wait. There is one perk that I thoroughly enjoy - I get to keep eggs........ nothing like fresh right out of the bird!!
OMG!!! I got to thinking the other day that it is only 8 week 'til opening day of deer season. Holy Cow! It shouldn't be that close! 3 months away would be more like it, but nooo, I just checked the calendar again, and yup! 8 weeks, that's it.
Wishing you sunny side up eggs!!!
Around 9 a.m. I go up and let the birds out - they are already squawking at me to "Open that door!!!" They rush out like water after a broken damn! The first place they head is over under the regular bird feeders. Then they kind of wander around finding their spot for the day, or at least for the time being. Depending on the condition of the wading pool, I refill with 'new' water, or just top it off.
The rabbits take a bit more time and care. During this heat that we've had here in Southern Oregon, the rabbits need a fresh bottle of frozen water. They lay next to them when they get hot. Rabbits overheat very fast. We then need to check grain and give them a handful of alfalfa. Then they're happy!
The two remaining goats are easy - just check to see if they have alfalfa, and give them some grain.
Most of the time it only takes me 30-40 minutes depending on my speed, but then again, I don't have to clean the bottom of the ark! That will be Kerri's job when fair is over......
I go back up late afternoon (5-5:30) to check them all out for the night - the last trip will be around 8:30 to close the gate on the birds. They gather at dusk so they are easier to herd into the pen. Picturing myself running around trying to gather up birds is just too laughable to even consider. I prefer to wait. There is one perk that I thoroughly enjoy - I get to keep eggs........ nothing like fresh right out of the bird!!
OMG!!! I got to thinking the other day that it is only 8 week 'til opening day of deer season. Holy Cow! It shouldn't be that close! 3 months away would be more like it, but nooo, I just checked the calendar again, and yup! 8 weeks, that's it.
Wishing you sunny side up eggs!!!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
How to mangle a Mango . . .
. . . in one easy step . . . Now that should have been a video!
Our last camping trip out, Linda was kind enough to invite the "Monday remainder" of the whole camping group over for brunch. Just lovely - eggs, sausage, both regular and Italian, hash browns and Mango. She had sliced the mango up so nice - I gathered that there were several by the amount of slices. I had never had mango before, but I tried and I loved!!!
OK, now it's several weeks later, and I've bought a couple of mangoes. Seem like a good snack right about now . . . I cut into it like I would an avocado, try to twist the two halves apart, nothing doin . . . I then try to cut again and twist, nope, just more mango juice on the counter . . . Hmmm ? ? ? what the .... ? ? ? Now I know that the skin is pretty thick, so I try to peel it. What a mess! I have mango juice and bits and pieces of peel all over the kitchen and my hands... (I looked for the hidden camera) I figure that I have made such a mess of this poor mango that I just need to dig in with the teeth . . . tasted real good, but I think I'll ask Linda how to properly slice a mango! I really don't want to go through that again, and can you just see it . . . showing off my mangled mango skills in front of other people? Horrors . . . !
Well, my dog (me too!!) is finally getting a bit of relief from her terror of thunderstorms. I have her on medication, talked to an animal behaviorist and started the training exercises to prove myself the alpha female. SueAnn, my dog, is starting to look to me for guidance. We have power walks to do, but not right now as there are thunderstorm clouds overhead, but maybe later when the day cools down . . . now that's not quite what I mean - it's only 72 at the moment - but the humidity is very high! . . . and it's hilly where we walk.
I had an eye appointment yesterday, it had only been 3 years since I've been . . . and not too surprising, I need a new prescription. Not sure what the insurance will pay for the exam, but nothing on the new lenses, nada, zip, zilch. Cost me $127. It would have been $102. more for the transition lenses, so I decided to wait. I'm also not sure if they can do the transition stuff since my glasses are tinted slightly pink..... hmmm, will have to remember to ask next time.
I've lived here in my house for almost 7 years, but the transfer station (trash) is now giving us fits and starts about bringing burn barrels to dump. I guess they have had a few fires due to hot embers left in the barrel...... so we decided to forgo the mess of taking the ashes out of the burn barrels and putting them into black plastic - could you see me after doing that on a breezy day - uh huh, go ahead and laugh!!!! The sight would be hysterical!
I called the trash company, and asked about price, size of barrels, etc. I can have pick-up for $14.88 per month if I supply my own barrels - 3-32 gal barrels with weekly pick up. Not bad, but I'll tell you, those 32 gal barrels look sooo small after dealing with the 55 gal burn barrels! I also made sure the little cans have wheels . . . I have a gravel driveway so we'll see how well those itty, bitty, tiny wheels do. AND how well will they behave on the snow and ice we get? Hmmm, I guess I'll find out as soon as we get some snow.
I do a lot of different crafts and have been very impressed with all the crafty folks I've run across here in the blogosphere! I've ordered some really nice books based on recommendations read here, and I've even ordered some books about needle felting. Just what I need, a new craft! NOT!!!!!! but I'm going to do it anyway! One book I got is Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Fuzzy Felted Friends by Saori Yamazaki and the other is little felted animals by Marie-Noelle Horvath .
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Our last camping trip out, Linda was kind enough to invite the "Monday remainder" of the whole camping group over for brunch. Just lovely - eggs, sausage, both regular and Italian, hash browns and Mango. She had sliced the mango up so nice - I gathered that there were several by the amount of slices. I had never had mango before, but I tried and I loved!!!
OK, now it's several weeks later, and I've bought a couple of mangoes. Seem like a good snack right about now . . . I cut into it like I would an avocado, try to twist the two halves apart, nothing doin . . . I then try to cut again and twist, nope, just more mango juice on the counter . . . Hmmm ? ? ? what the .... ? ? ? Now I know that the skin is pretty thick, so I try to peel it. What a mess! I have mango juice and bits and pieces of peel all over the kitchen and my hands... (I looked for the hidden camera) I figure that I have made such a mess of this poor mango that I just need to dig in with the teeth . . . tasted real good, but I think I'll ask Linda how to properly slice a mango! I really don't want to go through that again, and can you just see it . . . showing off my mangled mango skills in front of other people? Horrors . . . !
Well, my dog (me too!!) is finally getting a bit of relief from her terror of thunderstorms. I have her on medication, talked to an animal behaviorist and started the training exercises to prove myself the alpha female. SueAnn, my dog, is starting to look to me for guidance. We have power walks to do, but not right now as there are thunderstorm clouds overhead, but maybe later when the day cools down . . . now that's not quite what I mean - it's only 72 at the moment - but the humidity is very high! . . . and it's hilly where we walk.
I had an eye appointment yesterday, it had only been 3 years since I've been . . . and not too surprising, I need a new prescription. Not sure what the insurance will pay for the exam, but nothing on the new lenses, nada, zip, zilch. Cost me $127. It would have been $102. more for the transition lenses, so I decided to wait. I'm also not sure if they can do the transition stuff since my glasses are tinted slightly pink..... hmmm, will have to remember to ask next time.
I've lived here in my house for almost 7 years, but the transfer station (trash) is now giving us fits and starts about bringing burn barrels to dump. I guess they have had a few fires due to hot embers left in the barrel...... so we decided to forgo the mess of taking the ashes out of the burn barrels and putting them into black plastic - could you see me after doing that on a breezy day - uh huh, go ahead and laugh!!!! The sight would be hysterical!
I called the trash company, and asked about price, size of barrels, etc. I can have pick-up for $14.88 per month if I supply my own barrels - 3-32 gal barrels with weekly pick up. Not bad, but I'll tell you, those 32 gal barrels look sooo small after dealing with the 55 gal burn barrels! I also made sure the little cans have wheels . . . I have a gravel driveway so we'll see how well those itty, bitty, tiny wheels do. AND how well will they behave on the snow and ice we get? Hmmm, I guess I'll find out as soon as we get some snow.
I do a lot of different crafts and have been very impressed with all the crafty folks I've run across here in the blogosphere! I've ordered some really nice books based on recommendations read here, and I've even ordered some books about needle felting. Just what I need, a new craft! NOT!!!!!! but I'm going to do it anyway! One book I got is Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Fuzzy Felted Friends by Saori Yamazaki and the other is little felted animals by Marie-Noelle Horvath .
Now I'm looking for a starter felting kit. I saw one the other day, now let's see if I can remember where!
Wishing you a wonderful day!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Ready for a road trip . . .
I've been in kind of a funk lately . . . nothing is any fun, nobody is any fun, nobody cares if I have any fun . . . that kind of thing. Usually means I'm ready for a road trip. Short is fine, whole day trip is better. Multi-day trips to the coast are the best! Well, right now even a short get out of the house type trip would help. But where to? Don't know . . . with gas so expensive it's really hard to enjoy oneself anywhere you go.
I could do a trip around the world on Google Earth with all the wonderful pictures, but it still doesn't get me out of the house, which is the idea for a road trip!
I'm stuck in this funk . . . and I don't know how or what to do to get out of it. Well, something will happen soon . . . someone will come by . . . someone will call . . .
I miss my girlfriend in Nebraska a whole bunch and I left there almost 7 years ago..... she and her husband came out to see me 6 years ago while they were on a West Coast vacation. We met in Las Vegas in 2003 I think it was, for a Decorative Painters convention. Boy did we have fun! My girlfriend and I spent money, her husband gambled and WON!!!
What I miss most is the every day stuff. Working together, going out to lunch or dinner, and thrifting! We would find the most fabulous stuff, laugh, and put most of it back on the shelf or hanger! Then there was the one Saturday a month where many of us would get together at her house for a craft day. You brought something to finish, something to start or anything you needed help with, and every one pitched in with at least ideas and laughter on how to fix or finish the project.
I have friends who craft, but getting together is very hard - there is so much going on in all our lives. Back when (in Nebraska) there were a bunch of us, so if someone couldn't make it that month, it was OK as there were others that could, and we had a wonderful day just doing "stuff"! I miss that a whole lot. And my interests are not others interests and vice versa...... so I miss my crafting group.......
OK, enough of this . . .
wishing you all sunny days
I could do a trip around the world on Google Earth with all the wonderful pictures, but it still doesn't get me out of the house, which is the idea for a road trip!
I'm stuck in this funk . . . and I don't know how or what to do to get out of it. Well, something will happen soon . . . someone will come by . . . someone will call . . .
I miss my girlfriend in Nebraska a whole bunch and I left there almost 7 years ago..... she and her husband came out to see me 6 years ago while they were on a West Coast vacation. We met in Las Vegas in 2003 I think it was, for a Decorative Painters convention. Boy did we have fun! My girlfriend and I spent money, her husband gambled and WON!!!
What I miss most is the every day stuff. Working together, going out to lunch or dinner, and thrifting! We would find the most fabulous stuff, laugh, and put most of it back on the shelf or hanger! Then there was the one Saturday a month where many of us would get together at her house for a craft day. You brought something to finish, something to start or anything you needed help with, and every one pitched in with at least ideas and laughter on how to fix or finish the project.
I have friends who craft, but getting together is very hard - there is so much going on in all our lives. Back when (in Nebraska) there were a bunch of us, so if someone couldn't make it that month, it was OK as there were others that could, and we had a wonderful day just doing "stuff"! I miss that a whole lot. And my interests are not others interests and vice versa...... so I miss my crafting group.......
OK, enough of this . . .
wishing you all sunny days
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