Quote of the Week

It's where we go, and what we do when we get there, 

that tells us who we are. - Joyce Carol Oates

This week we have another quote dealing with where we are. This time we focus on the journey and how it affects who we are when we get there. It is the in-between moments that fill our lives and ultimately defines us. Like the branches on this tree, our path can change course many times during our lives, and each branch represents another step in our journey toward becoming who we are.


No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Butterflies and Fleece

My wonderful friend, Ashley, made this really cute butterfly blanket for me for my birthday, and presented it to me when they were in town over Easter. 

As usual I am behind on crafty things and often jump on the bandwagon just as it pulls out of the station so I had not heard of the no-sew, tied fleece blankets. Apparently fleece is in now and to make it easier for the sewing challenged (yes, I am in that group) those with craftier minds than mine came up with this method.

The result is a beautiful blanket with a fringe and not a stitch of sewing. How cool is that?

She searched long and hard for colors and patterns that suited me. Cats and wine themes were not to be found, and anything pink was automatically rejected (I don't like pink...at all). Finally the butterfly pattern was selected, and a coordinating solid was chosen. 

To make the fringe, you lay the pieces together with the pretty sides facing out, making sure the edges are even. Then you make cuts into the fabric about 5 inches long at 1-inch intervals. When all the cuts are made, then you simply double knot the strips and you have a blanket. 

Being the curious sort, I wondered what else you could make using this technique and Google provided me with a plethora of styles, uses and methods. You can even fill them for a thicker blanket, make pillows, pet beds or ponchos. 


No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

"There" is no better than "here." When your "there" has become a "here," you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
  

Last week's quote brought to mind this one from the Chicken Soup for the Soul story, Rules for Being Human by Cherie Carter-Scott.

I read this to my husband and said I thought it was a lot like the grass always being greener on the other side of the fence. His take on this is that everything that makes us who we are goes with us so that when we are finally on the other side of the fence and look back, the side from where we came is the one that looks greener now. So the green-ness of anywhere is dependent more on us than the place itself. 

Just a little food for thought to twist your head around on a Monday morning. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

28 and Counting!

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband of 28 years! 

I have shared this quote from Robert Fulghum before, but I am putting it out there again because I think it really sums up our life together.

We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.



No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Lake Katherine at Reynolda Gardens

Constructed in the 1900s, and named for Katherine Smith Reynolds (Mrs. R.J. Reynolds), this 14-acre lake provided family and friends with fishing, boating and swimming. Silt from building and natural process began filling in the lake and by the 1990s, it was almost completely filled in. It is now a natural habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The dam upstream prevents this from returning to its natural state and it will continue as an artificial wetland.

On Easter Sunday afternoon, after strolling around Reynolda Gardens soaking up some natural Vitamin D, we paused to take in the beauty of this wetland. We sat on an old, weathered bench and watched birds flitting from branch to branch, sometimes clinging to the bark of a tree leaning toward the water. As we were walking away, we heard a splash and turned to see two ducks had just landed. 

While I have been to Reynolda Gardens and the surrounding village several times in recent years, I did not know there had been a lake there. There is always something to be discovered, sometimes practically in one's own back yard.

What discoveries have you made recently in your neck of the woods?



No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

And remember, no matter where you go, there you are.  - Confucius

I've heard this quote for years, and often pause to reflect on it's simple meaning. This means that there is your here and this could be be restated to say that "no matter where I go, here I am".

So are you there or here? That depends entirely on perspective. From your point of view, wherever you are is your here, but your neighbor sees you there. However, both of you are both here and there even if you are standing next to each other, since two people cannot occupy the same exact space at the same time. Your here is his there and vice versa.

Confused? Confucius says, wherever you go, there you are!


No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, for in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. -Khalil Gibran

 

Spring is a beautiful time of year made even more special by spending time with good friends. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend - I know I did. 





No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Easter Wishes

Image Source: quaddles.deviantart.com

What do the bunnies and eggs have to do with the Christian holiday of Easter?

Many Christian traditions are rooted in pagan rituals. The egg, the pagan symbol of rebirth, was adopted by Christians as the symbol of Jesus' resurrection. Decorating Easter eggs dates back to the 1200s at that time when eggs were a forbidden food during Lent. People would paint and decorate eggs to mark the end of the Lenten season and eat them on Easter Sunday in celebration.

Some sources say that the word Easter is derived from Eostre, a goddess of Spring. Rabbits, known for their prolific procreation symbolize fertility and new life. 

The Easter Bunny arrived in the U.S. in the 1700's, courtesy of some German immigrants. This mythical, egg-laying rabbit was originally called Osterhause, Oster being the German word for Easter. 

Wishing you a joyous Easter!

Click here for an interesting article and video on Easter facts and traditions.



Also see:
Easter Delights
Hot Cross Buns - an Easter Tradition



No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

Yesterday's future is tomorrow's past. - unknown

Time is always marching forward. Today is both your past and your future. Use it to make a memorable past and a hopeful future.

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

Look not at the days gone by with a forlorn heart. They were simply the dots we can now connect with our present, to help us draw the outline of a beautiful tomorrow. - Dodinsky

It is now Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere, and with Spring comes renewal both in nature and humanity. With the onset of warmer weather, more daylight and the blossoming of the trees and flowers comes a sense of anticipation and rejuvenation. This is often accompanied by the occasional bout of Spring fever and/or allergies. 

Today's quote reminds to look back, not with sadness, but with the knowledge that the past led to the present and both help us prepare for the future. Unlike the game we played as children where all the dots were numbered and everyone got from the beginning to the end along the same path, there are many different ways to get from where we've been to where we are going.

Let's pause for a moment of reflection and make the connections that will lead to our beautiful tomorrow.



No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

8 Ways to Improve Your Memory

Do you keep misplacing your keys? Do you go upstairs to get or do something and can't remember what? Did you forget the name of the person you just met?  

Even if you think your memory is too bad or it's too late to change, know this, the brain has an enormous capacity to adapt and change - even into your senior years.  Your brain is part of your body so it stands to reason that what keeps your body happy and healthy would do the same for your brain.  Here are some tips to keep your faculties at their best.

Sleep. Get plenty of sleep.  Sleep deprivation compromises all mental function, including key memory enhancing activity.

Physical Exercise.  Exercise increases oxygen to the brain, reducing the risk of diseases that can lead to memory loss and enhancing the effect of helpful brain chemicals like serotonin, noradrenalin, and dopamine.  Each of these chemicals is vital to a physically, emotionally and mentally healthy body.

Focus.  Pay attention and be patient.  It takes about 8 seconds to process a piece of information into memory.  It helps to make a connection between new information and previously stored information. I think this one could make the most difference because in our fast-paced lives we are just moving from one thing to another so quickly we are not absorbing the information.

Mental exercise is also essential for a healthy brain.  Like our bodies, our brain becomes used to the same exercises, so keep your mental exercises new, challenging and fun. Try working the Sunday crossword puzzle or play memory games, such as Lumosity, on the computer.

Nutrition.  We all know that eating a healthy, balanced diet with less fat, carbs and fewer processed foods, is supposed to keep our bodies healthy. The same applies to our brain health as well.  Try adding more whole foods to your diet including fatty fish (omega 3), colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains and wine (in moderation, of course).

De-Stress.  Stress plays a large part in short-term memory loss. For improved mental function, try some form of meditation.  Meditation means awareness, so anything done with a single focus, blocking out all other distractions, is effective meditation. Notice that there is only a one-letter difference between meditation and medication.

Friend Therapy. Humans, being highly social animals, do not thrive in isolation. We need meaningful relationships for both emotional and mental health. Research has shown that the more active your social life, the slower your memory decline.  To stay socially active consider volunteering, join a club or church, get together with friends more often, and don't overlook the value of having a pet - animals are very therapeutic. 

Laughter. Laughter is the best medicine for brain and body alike.  It engages multiple areas across the whole brain. Focus on finding the funny in everyday life, hang out with fun, happy people, and surround yourself with things that evoke good memories and make you smile.

Keep in mind that there is a boatload of information and tips for healthy brain function and better memory. These are just few ideas to get you thinking, reading and becoming invested in yourself. 


Sources:
How to Improve Your Memory
Brain Chemical Messengers
Memory Loss

Disclaimer:  For information purposes only and not to be taken as medical advice.




No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
- Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Any celebrations planned for tomorrow?

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Golden Fungi

Not being a connoisseur of mushrooms and rarely cooking with anything more elaborate than the grocery store white buttons, I had no idea what had sprouted in my yard. I was taking the garbage to the street when they caught my eye, almost golden in the late afternoon sun. I grabbed my camera to photograph yet another fungal find. To identify them, I searched on gold mushrooms on logs. As best as I could determine from the pictures and descriptions, my golden fungi were oyster mushrooms.

Most mushrooms seem to have a short life and are withered and gone within a few days or a week.

January 20, 2015

These, although past their prime, are still hanging on nearly a month later.

February 17, 2015

Having survived through a vicious winter cold spell with snow, ice and single-digit temperatures, this is what is left nearly two months after I first spotted them.

March 11, 2015

These mushrooms, being edible goodies, bring people out in the Fall to forage for them. While they can be found at any time, they are most prevalent in the Fall, growing on dead hardwood trees or logs in temperate areas all around the world, with the exception of the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. 

The Oyster Mushroom is often used in Asian cooking, and sometimes made into a sauce similar to oyster sauce. They have a soft, chewy texture with somewhat of a seafood taste, making them perfect for seafood dishes and stock. They are best harvested when young because as they age they become tough and unpleasant tasting.  

Oyster mushroom trivia:

• Now cultivated around the world, they were first cultivated in Germany during WWI as subsistence food.
• They are one of the few carnivorous mushrooms; they actually devour the nematodes residing on the host log. They hit them with a toxin then suck out their juices.  
• Oyster refers to the shape of the cap which is similar to that of an oyster shell.

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. - Abraham Lincoln

While there are many people and events that influence you, no one is going to be more instrumental to your success than you.  It is up to you to be your biggest champion, to come to terms with and resolve any issues that stand in the way of your goals.





No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails. - William Arthur Ward

This is a variation on whether the glass is half full or half empty with one difference.  In addition to the half-empty pessimist and the half-full optimist, we have the realist. The realist is the one who views all the angles and adapts to the current situation.

This lake is particularly fickle, and the wind can be blowing one minute and dead the next. The boat next to you may catch the wind and leave you sitting still. The realist looks at the surrounding conditions and makes the appropriate adjustments.



No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax. - Abraham Lincoln.

Okay, who thinks this has anything to do with chopping down a tree? Maybe it's about always keeping your axes sharp?

I think it is about being prepared for the task ahead. If you have a project to complete or problem to solve and are running on a deadline, it pays to take some time to prepare so you are not working out the solution on the fly.

Bottom line... being prepared will help you accomplish your tasks more easily.



No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Not Just Another Day!

February 18th is:

National Drink Wine Day

Cheers!

National Crab-stuffed Flounder Day

National Battery Day

Ash Wednesday

But most importantly

It is Hubby's birthday!

A great big Happy Birthday to my hubby!

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

Quote of the Week

Abraham Lincoln

George Washington

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. ― George Washington


Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. ― Abraham Lincoln



What do both these quotes have in common? Character. Lincoln said, "Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."

What is Presidents Day?  A day off work, sales and special events? Before we rush out for 10% off this or 30% off that, let's take a look at what Presidents Day really is.  It all started with the death of George Washington, the first president of the United States, in 1799.  The following year began the celebrations of his birthday on February 22. It was signed into law as a holiday in 1879 and was the first to honor an individual American's life.

Abraham Lincoln's birthday, February 12, is celebrated in some states as a state holiday, but the rest combine the celebration of both Washington and Lincoln on Presidents Day.  

Today it is commonly accepted as a celebration of all U.S. presidents, although some lawmakers object to this. They feel that grouping Washington and Lincoln with less successful presidents minimizes their legacies. 

Some presidential trivia:

• Washington's picture first appeared on the one dollar bill in 1869.
• Lincoln's picture was chosen for the five dollar bill in 1914.
• Washington was opposed to political parties, Lincoln was republican.
• Washington was inaugurated in two cities, New York and Philadelphia.
• Lincoln was Presbyterian, Washington was Episcopalian.
• Lincoln's picture is on both the penny and the five dollar bill.

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

14 Budget-Friendly Valentine's Ideas

Rooted in days of St. Valentine, the practice of writing romantic notes on Valentine's day began in the 1700s, and by the mid 1800s, real Valentine's cards were being manufactured in the U.S. By 1856, Valentine cards had become a topic of controversy. An editorial in the New York Times stated that many were cheap and indecent and only pleased the silly.  Some relegate Valentine's to a holiday created by Hallmark, which wasn't even founded until 1910.

History or Hallmark, it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to tell that special person just how happy you are to have them in your life.  Here are a few tips for a great Valentine's Day that won't break the bank.

1. Free Time.  In our hectic lives we never have enough time for ourselves.  Give your special Valentine, a free day to pamper themselves.
   
   
2. Make it Personal. Tap into your creativity with colored card stock, scissors, glue, glitter and some colored markers to create a personalized Valentine card.
   
   
3. Dine Out.  Save a few dining dollars by eating in and then going out for drinks or dessert, or choose several items from the appetizer menu and share.
   
   
4. Movie Night.  Instead of dropping big bucks for a movie and the popcorn, candy and sodas which will likely run you more than the tickets, stay in and treat yourselves to delivery and rent a favorite movie.
   
   
5. Flowers.  Nix the expensive roses in favor of a beautiful mixed bouquet from the farmers market, or visit the grocery store's floral department.
   
   
6. Goody Baskets. Pick up an inexpensive basket and fill it with such things as her favorite candy, lip balm, hand lotion, or scented candles. For him, a bottle of his favorite beer (not Bud), a decorative bottle opener, a pocket flash light, key chain, and yes, lip balm.  This is Valentine's, you know.
   
   
7. Cook.  Even if you're not great in the kitchen, you can still serve a romantic meal. Get some Artisan bread, good olive oil, a nice cheese, olives and/or deli meat such as salami or prosciutto.
   
   
8. Quality time.  Spend time together strolling through a museum, take in an art show or a local concert. Check your newspaper for a listing of free events in your area.
   
   
9. IOU.  Present him or her with an IOU for two hours of your time and undivided attention.
   
   
10. Do Chores.  Wash and vacuum her car, do the vacuuming, take and pick up the dry cleaning, do the grocery shopping or the laundry.
    
    
11. Togetherness.  Take a walk or go for a drive and stop for ice cream or coffee/hot chocolate.
    
    
12. Raise a Glass. Not all sparkling wines are expensive. Try a Spanish Cava or a Prosecco from Italy.  There are ones are available for $10-15. Goes well with #7.
    
    
13. Sweets. Yes, you can give candy. Pick up his favorite dark chocolate bar or choose some hand-selected truffles from a boutique or wine shop for her.
    
    
14. Those three little words. I Love You! That is something that can't be said too often and is always appreciated no matter what day it is.

However you celebrate, remember it's all about the person, not the gifts, dinner, candy, etc.

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.

That's Our Girl

Is she looking for a little quiet time, or is she saying "Aha, the closet door is open...finally".  I wish I had a video of her approach.  You see even though the door was open there were a few obstacles in her way. 

This is just the spot for me!

While she was trying to figure out how to reach the shelf, she looked like a cat on a Pogo stick, bouncing up and down on her back feet as if trying to calculate the distance and thrust required to elevate her 12-pound self to her goal.  After a half dozen or so bounces she paused and tried to get in past the hamper. Nope, can't squeeze through the gap...more bounces. We were cracking up, trying to stifle our laughter so as not to scare her out of her mission.

She finally rethought her strategy and took the more circuitous route via a stool and a suitcase, then balancing on the hamper, stepped coolly onto the shelf.

"Well," I said "she's smarter than we thought."  Sometimes she gives the impression of being somewhat of a ditz.

No time to comment? Please click the visitors box below to let me know you stopped by.