Thur: Thank Therapy

I'm thirsting for some 'Thank Therapy', particularly in the meal prep field. A minimum of ten meals a week are cranked out by this Mom/wife 'chef' with not a word of thanks amongst the lot of them. They can't all be that bad tasting. Maybe I'm a little optimistic, being a bit biased about my own meals.

I have to admit, some of the left overs I squirrel away for myself because they are 'sooo good' and others I dump (not very often).

When I pointed this out to hubby he said, "They're all good. I told you that six months ago on January 17th. Don't you remember?"

Apparently, all I get is 'one thanks' every so often. My son-in-law, Dave, thanks me for every meal he eats and I really appreciate his thoughtfulness. Take note, everyone. I notice!

I seldom thank Allan for going to work everyday, but do lavish it on when he: mows the lawn, fixes a meal or does something extra. Does meal preparation fall into the 'don't have to thank' category? What do you think?

'Thanks' or 'no need to thank' I need your feed back, NOW!!

THANKS

Tues: Tour de Enhance

My friend, Lynette & hubby are at the Tour de France this week. Yeah, I'm jealous but someday I'll go. In honor of the event here's how we can use it to our advantage.

It's super hard to look our best 24/7, impossible really. Some women wear their makeup to bed & get up b4 their hubbies to put it on, thus never seen without it. Like I care what 'he' thinks. There's no excuse for not 'enhancing' each day, though. Until recently I 'fixed up' every morning & didn't do it again until the next day. Sure, I noticed my lips were washed out, face looked plain & 'where were my eyes' before the day's end, but once daily was all she got.

Shirlene, a classic beauty of a friend, always freshens whenever she goes out. I noticed how nice she always looked, whenever we'd go visiting or if I just stopped by unannounced. She'd say, "I have to put some lipstick on." I'd wait patiently thinking, 'go as you are, you look great.' She wanted to look super, however, & she did! I felt like the beast with this beauty.

I began to pack lipstick with me & started putting it on during the day. I'd check the mirror more often & tried to 'enhance'. Thus began my own 'tour de enhance'. I got contacs, did my hair more often, painted my toe nails, freshened before going out in the evening etc. I can even put on lipstick now without a mirror.

I'll never win any beauty or bike contests, but lipstick will be close by when we meet.

Sat-Saints, Sacrifice & Celebrations

This week let's remember those determined saints that settled the West. They left their homes of Europe & Eastern USA to cross the plains and find a new life in the Mountain West. Religious freedom was the reason. They sacrificed their all, their lives, loved ones, comforts of home and more.

They were promised the area would 'blossom as a rose' if they settled here, and it did. No one wanted to live in this arid desert land, but protection and freedom from discrimination was the driving force. Parades, parties, plays and pop will be participated in & partaken of while we honor our posterity. We love and thank you for enduring to the bitter & blessed end.

This Too Shall Include Yogurt

Are you lacking in calcium? Try using yogurt. One cup supplies 30% of your daily needs. I put it in everything, such as pasta salads, mashed potatoes, smoothies, dressings, whipping topping, ice cream & so on. When making the sauce for mixing into your potato, pasta, tossed, fruit or coleslaw salads, don't use mayonnaise(60% fat) or whipped topping (empty calories)as the base, use yogurt.

Here are two delicious basic recipes to bind these salads together reducing fat & adding nutrition. I’m not cheap, just eliminating calories. Plus yogurt is on sale often & healthy for you. I like the 32 ounce containers of vanilla or plain (if you want to cut sugar).

Pasta Yogurt Dressing

1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup mayo or salad dressing
1/4 sour cream
2 T sugar & 2 T milk
2 T vinegar (red wine,plain or apple cider)
1 t salt & pepper to taste
Optional seasonings: onion, garlic, etc
Blend with wire whisk & fold into any pasta.

Potato Salad Yogurt Dressing

Same as above replace vinegar w/pickle juice
Add 2 T each mustard & relish
Delete sugar.

<Fruit Salad Yogurt Dressing
1/2 Cup Yogurt vanilla, strawbry or lemon
1/3 Cup whipped topping
2 T Sour cream
2 T Milk or fruit juice
Opt. 1/2 Cottage cheese
Whip with a wire whisk & fold into fruit.

Or just eat it straight. You don't like it. Neither did I, if you freeze the individual servings, the brain is tricked into thinking it's ice cream. You'll save money not buying the sugary treat & eat better. Boost your calcium & feed your bones by having eight ounces daily. 1/2 cup yogurt, fresh fruit & 3/4 granola makes a delicious breakfast treat.

Tues:Tackle This Taj Mahal

Some people are outrageously creative. Who would think to make a whole attraction from oranges? This is located in the Netherlands. I’ve seen ice, sand, metal, butter, bread, flower, seeds, light & bush sculptures. There’s many more unimaginable items made, that people flock to see or spend money to own.

Although some people appear to have tremendous ability to design, invent & make things, we all are blessed with unique skills. My mother can strike up a conversation with strangers on the street, but can’t make crafty items. A sister’s thousand piece hand made quilts are amazing, but she’s uncomfortable confronting problems. I can write and perform readings with ease but am terrible with organization.


Instead of comparing ourselves with others perfected talents, find what is your ‘Taj Mahal’ and go for it.

Sunday: Sweet Sounds of Summer

I attended the Tabernacle Choir broadcast today, enjoying every minute of their melodious songs. A favorite,"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" took me back to my youth, playing in the corn fields, a child's dreams of Oz & rainbows.

Trickling sounds from a neighbor's yard pond or our fountain help bring peace.
In the afternoon a short summer storm passed by leaving everything fresh & briefly cool. Listening to the raindrops on pavement & wind rushing through the trees brought anticipation.

Last week I was awakened early one quiet morning through an open window as I heard a bird sing, 'high,low' 'high,low'. I used this same whistle years ago, attempting to locate my children when we were shopping. Instead of hollering for them, I made the sing song bird call trying to get their attention. I'm sure they still remember it.

Other telltale summer sounds I've heard this week are: happy children's voices on my neighbor's trampoline, a motorcycle as a driver cruises by, swimming pool splashes in a contest to see whose is the biggest, the 'hey batter, batter' at my grand daughter's ball game and the thump thump of a jogger passing me on a morning walk.

I almost complained as the temperature crested 100', but how could I contemplating the beloved sounds only heard these sweet summer days. SAVOR them, because they won't last long.

Friday: From the Bottom UP

My 4x4x4 leafy green raspberry bush looks barren until you lay on your back looking up and see the ruby red fruit ready to drop into your mouth. The earwigs hang out ready to munch away hoping us humans are too busy to take notice. Fortunately, bending down to pick up a branch, I realized this spending a few minutes popping the delicious morsels in my mouth.

Life is that way, too. Looking at people, life seems great or awful with their attitude of it. If they have big houses, new cars, fancy clothes & such life has to be great. Not so. It's never enough. Are you smiling, frowning or fretting?

Down on the ground level it's easier to see real life full of challenges or blessings with our ability to handle each trial. Choosing to have a different perspective helps you appreciate life.

'Woe is me' or 'I want more' won't make you happy. Try, 'Wow, I did it' or 'It doesn't get better than this'. You can only go up from there. Find your own happiness by being content or do something about your feelings.

James Bradley's book, "Flag of Our Fathers" was rejected 27 times before 'Yes'.

Don't give up, look for a better tomorrow, under the bushes, a different perspective and you will find it!!


Don't let the world pass you by without taking notice of all the opportunities right below your nose. Stop, look, take a minute to see what might be. Have you been on the rock bottom? You have no where to go, but up. Open you mind, heart and eyes to a new view of life.

What have you got to lose but a whole crop of raspberries or something more important, LIFE!!!

Monday-Mad About the Messes

Messes times three hit last week which is enough to make you mad, but we survived.
Mess #1: Water leak in the sprinkler system. Telltale signs: a lake in your front yard. Result: Dig down to China & find the problem leaving a mountain of mud on your porch. Solution: Try several connections until it stops leaking.

Mess #2: Three bounced checks. I haven't had a NSF check for ten years & I get three in one month. Signs: When the deposit you make is half as much after the bank adds it to your existing balance. Result: $75 down the drain. Solution: Don't buy anything at all or remember to write down that extra $90 you spent that caused all the trouble.

Mess #3: Daughter in hospital for surgery. Signs: Very sick & wants to get better. Result: Visiting for 4-5 hours daily hoping she'll recover. Solution:
Seeing her released, improving & no more steriods. Yeah!! Double Yeah!!

So I have nothing to be mad about. Problems solved, for now.

Sat-Snips of This & Some of That

With garden flowers in full bloom, it's a joy to bring some of the outside in. Snip a little of this, some of that and trimmings from a shaggy bush will make great filler. People think you need training & talent, but a vase, water & snippers will do the job.

First I gather an armload or a few flowers & greenery. Pick ones that look crisp & new. Weeds, pods & tiny tree branches also work. Choose pieces with strong & long stems. Cut as long as possible & trim up later. Strip the bottom third leaves off of each stem and toss. This keeps your water from smelling. If flowers grow along the length of the stem, cut it into two pieces just above the lower flowering group, leaving both stems at least 4 inches long.

Fill your vase half full of water adding some floral extender you've saved from store bouquets. A vase with a 2" throat is easiest to fill. Buy them at the thrift store for $.50-$1 & keep on hand until needed. Wash them out with dish soap if they look a little dusty & rinse.

Trim the bottom of each piece to the length you desire beginning with your show pieces (1-3 is all you need) placing them in the center of the vase. Put secondary & smaller flowers in next. Add greenery and last of all baby's breath or any tiny lacy floral. Move them around until the arrangement looks balanced if all sides are seen or for a front only view.

With just a few flowers & greenery, it's possible to make several arrangements & share with friends, neighbors, co-workers or someone down on their luck. They'll love you for it.

Thur-35 Years: That's a Long Time

That's how long I've been a mother, 35 years. I remember the event vividly, July 9, 1974, as if it happened last week. Attending the birthing classes, swollen feet, unbearably hot summer days in a recliner waiting for what seemed like an eternity are still fresh. Wondering what it would be like to be a mother and the son we'd have, as we followed in the footsteps of my husbands older brothers. I waddled like a duck, bought second hand baby furniture and sewed many cute knit rompers.

A younger cousin was expecting also. We teased who would have the first great grandson. She beat by twelve hours with a boy & I had a girl. We discovered a high school chum was at the hospital with her first child, just down the hall from us. Our husbands kept us aprised of each others progress. She labored much longer.

Jennifer Delight, named for a great grandmother, was born at 11:15 am, weighing 7lbs 15 oz. She surprised the entire family. Four of Allan's siblings had started with a son first. Eight boys & two girls was the tally, but who was counting? I was overjoyed to have a beautiful girl complete with a generous sprinkling of brown hair and chubby cheeks.

She still has the brown hair & chubby cheeks along with three boys of her own & is now expecting a girl herself. These are my feelings through the years:
1. There's extreme joy at being a mother, but terrific challenges as well.
2. Her ravenous appetite & ideas wore me out then & still does today.
3. Fast friends at first are fast friends forever, even with blips in the middle.
4. It definitely changes your life forever, but worth every challenging minute.

Sometimes I had my doubts. Thanks Jenn for letting me learn to be a mom first, with you.

Monday-Mud & Many Memories of it

What kid doesn't love playing with mud and the mess it makes? On a not so hot summer day after sprinkler running, jumping & sliding got boring, my grandsons turned to mud pie making, throwing & slathering it all over their bodies.

After all was over, we filled a bucket with suds & dipped them in, to keep the mess outside. What fun they had & few minutes of joy we had letting them.

This exact effect happens yearly to some lucky child, just as it did to me long ago. Occassionally when the consistency was perfect, we made spoons, bowls, vases & more just like the Mayans. We didn't stop there but even painted our creations. Would we be famous if someone discovered these ancient dishes today? No, but the memory will never die of those carefree days of summer.

Mud, a child's opportunity to be at one with water, soil & nature. It's the best!

Friday-Fly the Flag for 4th of July on the 3rd

I love to see the flag and remember what each stripe and star stand for. Colonies, states, sacrifices made for freedom become real on holidays. Stores that fly the flag have become legion and are appreciated for their efforts. Scout troops place free standing flags like soldiers on duty in many a neighborhood reminding us how blessed we are.

Standing, saluting and honoring the flag is something to be proud of during parades, sports events & such. I’m reading Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley and reliving, appreciating & loving every minute.

My dad’s a vet having served in the U.S Navy and in the American Legion as a civilian honoring other vets. All four boys in his family served in World War II making his parents proud. He was an 18 year old drop out when joining up, but learned much from the rigors of his military experience. As a teen I barely fit into his fatigues, trying to visualize training and fighting on a ship in the Pacific.

I nearly cried as the Statue of Liberty came into view for the first time a few years ago ferrying across the bay. I plan to visit this monument to freedom soon. But for today, I’ll get my flag out, slip into its hook and fly it proudly because, “I’m proud to be an American.”

Wed.-Watch Your (Thermostat) Butt

Central air was recently installed, but you better believe I monitor the temperature closely, since I pay the electric bill. Al on the other hand turns it down to 70’. Yeah, in his dreams, I think, pressing the control up to 75’. At night I turn it off & open key windows for a (free) gentle breeze to waft through.

Watering the yard is no different. I’m grateful for rain so I can turn off the timers for a few days, holding the usage at bay. I cringe, seeing sprinklers on during a good storm or open my bill to triple digit fees. I came home on a hot summer day a few years ago to find the hose was left on full throttle for ten plus hours after a nephew needed a drink of water. Burning mad can’t describe my feelings then.

I thanked the phone company for calling me after our cell number heist raised a red flag to them, asking if we knew our bill was $2000+ with calls to California. Offering to remove the charges, I blessed the copper line they spoke on.

Vigilante meets run away utility bill use. That would be me.