Today I'm canning. I'm making bread & butter pickles for our family & extras to share. I've just recently learned to can & it's a wonderful feeling, providing for your family. Due to chronic pain (RA & Fibromyalgia) there are many things I can no longer do. So I've chosen to focus on what I can accomplish. Baking bread in the machine, canning, making breakfast burritos to put in the freezer so that on days I'm not able to cook there are quick, easy homemade options readily available.
Some might ask "why not just buy these things at the store"
My answer? Because when I prepare the food myself, especially with our garden fresh produce, I know what's going into it.
And "putting up" food gives me a sense of accomplishment & assures me that if there is a job loss, illness or just a busy day my family will be well fed with good wholesome ingredients.
If you're nervous about canning or gardening feel free to ask questions. I love sharing the knowledge I have with others to hopefully help others simplify their lives as well.
And yes, I'm one of those kooks that wishes she could live on a "Little House on the Prairie" homestead. To me there is so much beauty in providing for yourself & your family.
Although I must admit, my simple homestead would need WiFi & AC!
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Living the simple life
Monday, July 21, 2014
Uncle Fred....
How many of us have heard those dreaded words...someone we love has been diagnosed with cancer...
I heard those words recently and I know people "say" that they heard or saw something that stole their breath. But I actually experienced it upon hearing the news. I felt like an anvil had been dropped onto my chest crushing the life right out of me. The sorrow is unbearable. The hope is infinite. The prayers never ending. But this isn't about me...it's about the greatest man I know, my Uncle Fred.
To most girls an uncle is a funny guy who cracks jokes that they see once in a while. That is not the case with my Uncle Fred. He is so much more than the word Uncle can describe. So, indulge me a bit while I tell you about this amazing man.
Uncle Fred has always been there. He was there for me since day one. As he so proudly describes to people as he's introducing me, I was the first baby he rocked to sleep. The first teddy bear he ever bought, you guessed it, mine. For as long as I can remember there's been this tall, blue-eyed teddy bear of a man in my life who is every little girls' dream daddy. And that's a position he's filled in my life, as my biological father gave up parental rights when I was an infant & my adoptive father....well, not going to bash, let's just say I was not high on his priority list. But Uncle Fred? With him, I was & am important. I call, he stops what he's doing to answer. I need to come by? He's sure to be there. Need a shoulder to cry on? His are strong enough to bear the burden. Are you getting the picture? He's been a knight in shining armor for me & so many others more times than can be counted.
So many in our small community refer to him as "Uncle Fred" but out of those only a small handful are actually related. This man with the bright blue eyes & comforting grin has been an amazing male role model for so many who didn't have a positive male influence in their lives. Going to games to cheer them on, teaching them to fish, work on cars, trucks, giving them summer jobs working his landscape business. Showing up to sporting events, graduations, births of children, etc. when otherwise there would have been just an empty seat. This man, he shows up, he encourages, he loves. This man has my heart. And I have his...one of our "things" is when he's saying goodbye on the phone he'll sometimes remind me that I still have that "special spot" in his heart that is no ones but mine. Cheesy? Maybe. But that lonely little girl without an involved Daddy down inside loves the cheesy stuff he does. He's filled a void in my life that no one else could.
And the possibility that this horrid disease might take him from me is horrific, unthinkable, monstrous...I just can not, will not accept that cancer will take him. I HAVE to have hope, I must believe, pray, hope, think positively. If not I will crumple into a puddle & just wilt away. I know. Because that's what I did for the first 3 days after hearing the news. I cried, I sobbed, I wallowed in the deep dark pits of despair, not letting hope it. Just mourning something that hadn't yet come to pass. But then I realized....I'm sitting here bawling my big brown eyes out over what? A diagnosis ...a word...a disease, a terrible disease yes BUT an often curable disease. We don't even have a "stage" yet. Have no idea what the prognosis is. SO, instead of wallowing in self pity & making this about me, I'm going to focus on what I can do. What I can do is make more memories, love him, pray for him, tell others about him. Maybe inspire other men to step up & be like him & take fatherless children under their wing, make them feel loved & cherished.
Now don't get me wrong, Uncle Fred isn't perfect...he can be bull-headed, lean a bit too far to the southern side of opinions (women cook, men work etc) BUT he doesn't force those things on us, just lives his life the way he sees fit. But don't we all have faults? His are miniscule in the grand scope of the good he's done, the hearts he's healed, the children he's reminded that yes, they do actually matter.
I don't know who if anyone will see or read this...but for those that do...I wish you an Uncle Fred, whether man or woman, no matter the name, I wish for you someone in your life who is your safe place to fall, you shoulder to cry on, your source of silly stories & unending laughter.
But don't try to take mine.....as I am quick to tell others around here, you may call him Uncle Fred, but I'll always be his favorite <3
Cancer sucks, but life doesn't have to. Whether a long time or a short time, when that diagnosis comes we can choose to make more memories with the person diagnosed. As for me, I'm choosing hope...and more memories. As a matter of fact in a couple of days I'm going to go sleep over with my Aunt & Uncle like the old days when I was a teen, I'm gonna eat homemade country food, pet the calves, chase the chickens, sit at the foot of Uncle Fred's chair & watch westerns while he plays with my hair, get him sweet tea before his glass is empty, bake something yummy for him, look through old pics & laugh & cry, walk down to the shop with him to talk about his old truck & sit in his "thinking spot" & sneak a beer or two....and I will love every minute of it & know that I'm making the best of our time together. No matter what happens, I've chosen to value those I love & not take them for granted. I could be gone tomorrow, any of us could. So, live life....live it with no regrets & do those silly things that mean so much to you & those you love!
So....don't just sit there, call someone you love, better yet go visit them! No gifts or fancy outing needed, just spend time!
I heard those words recently and I know people "say" that they heard or saw something that stole their breath. But I actually experienced it upon hearing the news. I felt like an anvil had been dropped onto my chest crushing the life right out of me. The sorrow is unbearable. The hope is infinite. The prayers never ending. But this isn't about me...it's about the greatest man I know, my Uncle Fred.
To most girls an uncle is a funny guy who cracks jokes that they see once in a while. That is not the case with my Uncle Fred. He is so much more than the word Uncle can describe. So, indulge me a bit while I tell you about this amazing man.
Uncle Fred has always been there. He was there for me since day one. As he so proudly describes to people as he's introducing me, I was the first baby he rocked to sleep. The first teddy bear he ever bought, you guessed it, mine. For as long as I can remember there's been this tall, blue-eyed teddy bear of a man in my life who is every little girls' dream daddy. And that's a position he's filled in my life, as my biological father gave up parental rights when I was an infant & my adoptive father....well, not going to bash, let's just say I was not high on his priority list. But Uncle Fred? With him, I was & am important. I call, he stops what he's doing to answer. I need to come by? He's sure to be there. Need a shoulder to cry on? His are strong enough to bear the burden. Are you getting the picture? He's been a knight in shining armor for me & so many others more times than can be counted.
So many in our small community refer to him as "Uncle Fred" but out of those only a small handful are actually related. This man with the bright blue eyes & comforting grin has been an amazing male role model for so many who didn't have a positive male influence in their lives. Going to games to cheer them on, teaching them to fish, work on cars, trucks, giving them summer jobs working his landscape business. Showing up to sporting events, graduations, births of children, etc. when otherwise there would have been just an empty seat. This man, he shows up, he encourages, he loves. This man has my heart. And I have his...one of our "things" is when he's saying goodbye on the phone he'll sometimes remind me that I still have that "special spot" in his heart that is no ones but mine. Cheesy? Maybe. But that lonely little girl without an involved Daddy down inside loves the cheesy stuff he does. He's filled a void in my life that no one else could.
And the possibility that this horrid disease might take him from me is horrific, unthinkable, monstrous...I just can not, will not accept that cancer will take him. I HAVE to have hope, I must believe, pray, hope, think positively. If not I will crumple into a puddle & just wilt away. I know. Because that's what I did for the first 3 days after hearing the news. I cried, I sobbed, I wallowed in the deep dark pits of despair, not letting hope it. Just mourning something that hadn't yet come to pass. But then I realized....I'm sitting here bawling my big brown eyes out over what? A diagnosis ...a word...a disease, a terrible disease yes BUT an often curable disease. We don't even have a "stage" yet. Have no idea what the prognosis is. SO, instead of wallowing in self pity & making this about me, I'm going to focus on what I can do. What I can do is make more memories, love him, pray for him, tell others about him. Maybe inspire other men to step up & be like him & take fatherless children under their wing, make them feel loved & cherished.
Now don't get me wrong, Uncle Fred isn't perfect...he can be bull-headed, lean a bit too far to the southern side of opinions (women cook, men work etc) BUT he doesn't force those things on us, just lives his life the way he sees fit. But don't we all have faults? His are miniscule in the grand scope of the good he's done, the hearts he's healed, the children he's reminded that yes, they do actually matter.
I don't know who if anyone will see or read this...but for those that do...I wish you an Uncle Fred, whether man or woman, no matter the name, I wish for you someone in your life who is your safe place to fall, you shoulder to cry on, your source of silly stories & unending laughter.
But don't try to take mine.....as I am quick to tell others around here, you may call him Uncle Fred, but I'll always be his favorite <3
Cancer sucks, but life doesn't have to. Whether a long time or a short time, when that diagnosis comes we can choose to make more memories with the person diagnosed. As for me, I'm choosing hope...and more memories. As a matter of fact in a couple of days I'm going to go sleep over with my Aunt & Uncle like the old days when I was a teen, I'm gonna eat homemade country food, pet the calves, chase the chickens, sit at the foot of Uncle Fred's chair & watch westerns while he plays with my hair, get him sweet tea before his glass is empty, bake something yummy for him, look through old pics & laugh & cry, walk down to the shop with him to talk about his old truck & sit in his "thinking spot" & sneak a beer or two....and I will love every minute of it & know that I'm making the best of our time together. No matter what happens, I've chosen to value those I love & not take them for granted. I could be gone tomorrow, any of us could. So, live life....live it with no regrets & do those silly things that mean so much to you & those you love!
So....don't just sit there, call someone you love, better yet go visit them! No gifts or fancy outing needed, just spend time!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
A to Z Challenge T Trier
Trier, Germany
This is one of the most fascinating & beautiful cities I've ever had the pleasure to visit.
I say visit, but it's more like haunt or stalk (can you stalk a city?) I lived near Trier for 4 years while my husband was in the USAF & after that first visit to Trier I made it nearly a weekly outing.
The first thing that you notice upon driving into Trier is the Mosel River in all it's glittering glory with the lovely "wine-vines" cascading over the rolling hills surrounding the city to the river below.
This is one of the most fascinating & beautiful cities I've ever had the pleasure to visit.
I say visit, but it's more like haunt or stalk (can you stalk a city?) I lived near Trier for 4 years while my husband was in the USAF & after that first visit to Trier I made it nearly a weekly outing.
The first thing that you notice upon driving into Trier is the Mosel River in all it's glittering glory with the lovely "wine-vines" cascading over the rolling hills surrounding the city to the river below.
The next thing I noticed was how clean & well kept everything is. Germans truly take pride in their home, whether it be the interior of their home or the street in front of their driveway. Everything is picked up, groomed, swept, tended to with the upmost of care & love. (on an unhappy note you can always tell where the Americans live, it's not as "well kept")
Upon walking under the Porta Nigra you're immediately transported back into Medieval times. The art & architecture of this city is awe inspiring. I'd never been one to appreciate art, architecture or anything cultural until moving to Germany. Then my heart & mind were opened to a whole new world.
After coming through the Porta Nigra you begin seeing little outdoor cafes, shops & the best part, the market place in the middle where they sell flowers of every type & color. Some of the colors I'd never seen before except in a crayon box or after an accidental spill of several paint shades mixing together. Even though the smells of the vibrant blooms hit me well before I reached them I had to run to the booths & touch them to prove they were real! I was certain nothing that lovely & vibrant could have grown naturally but there they were & I was hooked. Buying "at least" one beautiful bouquet of flowers each time I went to Trier would become something of a tradition on my little excursions to the city.
My husband got a hoot out of my excited "touristy" attitude but promised there were better things to come. After leading me down a cobble stone side street that was so reminiscent of a fairy tale that I hardly noticed the shops, he stopped in front of a little street food bar. The smells of richly seasoned meats, onion & garlic infused sausages & sweet & savory sauces swirled together to tempt me. I looked up when I noticed he'd stopped only to see him smirking at me like a 10 year old with a secret. Well, his secret was a pretty darn good one!
He proceeded to order us drinks, beer for him, wine for me & the most amazing, decadent, savory street food I'd ever put in my mouth! I was at a loss for words on the wine & looked at him like he was nuts, as I was not a wine drinker... but this wine? AH, this wine was the nectar of the Gods, sweet, smooth, fruity, like juice if juice was a liquid dessert that danced on your taste buds on the way down! That was my first of many glasses to come of Bacchus.
The food? My goodness, it was rich. We had a bowl of Goulashe, Beef Stew to my fellow Americans, but made in such a way that it's a downright sin to compare it to American Stew. Rich reddish brown, thick, warm broth filled with veggies & meat that just melted in your mouth. Then we finished up with something like French bread but thinner, covered in rich REAL butter, fresh ham, fresh cheese & loads of garlic, toasted to perfection. Dang, is anyone else drooling??
Ok, well as you can see I fell in foodie love with Trier, wino love, shoppers love was to come next...but that's another story.
Now that I've made myself drool I believe I'll go home & have a glass of that amazing German wine & dream about walking through the cobblestone streets of Trier, belly full of rich German goodies, hubby by my side, wine glass in my hand (plastic of course)
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
A to Z Challenge S Sipsey
Sipsey River
Being married to an Air Force Sgt. we've lived & travelled all over the world. Idaho, New Mexico, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Germany, Belgium, France, Luxemburg & my favorite place of all Alabama.
Although I do love my entire home state, mountains, beaches, swamp...all of it. There is one place that holds my heart like no other, The Sipsey River in The Bankhead National Forest.
The picture below is just a small glimpse of the beauty that Sipsey has to offer. It's a gorgeous place filled with wonder & steeped in history. Many places along the river have "swimming holes", large boulders to sun on or for the more adventurous, to dive off of.
I spent most of my teenage years in a constant state of crisis of some form or another. There was a lot of family drama, alcoholism etc. But this was my safe place, my getaway. Or as my chubby little friend Pooh would say, my thinking spot.
No drama, no yelling. Just the sights & sounds of nature & the infectious laughter of my friends.
Now it's my family's get away spot, every year as the temperature rises, the flowers begin to bloom & spring fever hits us all we head out to Sipsey for the first of many hikes for the year. Soon it will be warm enough to dive in & float the day away, the beautiful blue-green water taking our cares & stress with it as it goes down the mountain. If there is anything as calming as hearing the sounds of nature, smelling that sickly sweet smell of honeysuckle & mountain laurel & feeling isolated from the hustle & bustle of daily life I don't know what it is. This is my happy place.
Do you have a favorite spot that instantly calms you?
A to Z Challenge R Reading
Reading
I don't know about you, but I like to visit different countries, worlds & realities as often as possible. I love the idea of hiding away between the pages of a book, becoming someone else, if only for a while.
Reading is my escape, my therapy, my education. Without the books I've read I wouldn't be who I am. Through reading I've learned to stand my ground, when to give in & back down. I've realized that I don't know as much about the world or even about myself as I may have once thought.
Delving into books showed me that there is often no black & white but bright, brilliant shades of gray & sometimes dark, ominous shades too.
Hearing that wonderful creak when stretching a books binding for the first time will never fail (I hope) to give me a thrill. The smell of old worn leather covers that promises a new adventure each time & possibly a few life lessons along the way is irresistible.
For me reading seems as necessary as food or air.
Must say goodbye for now...there is a trilogy waiting to be read, my mind desperate to learn & my heart beating hard at the thought of falling in love, again....
I don't know about you, but I like to visit different countries, worlds & realities as often as possible. I love the idea of hiding away between the pages of a book, becoming someone else, if only for a while.
Reading is my escape, my therapy, my education. Without the books I've read I wouldn't be who I am. Through reading I've learned to stand my ground, when to give in & back down. I've realized that I don't know as much about the world or even about myself as I may have once thought.
Delving into books showed me that there is often no black & white but bright, brilliant shades of gray & sometimes dark, ominous shades too.
Hearing that wonderful creak when stretching a books binding for the first time will never fail (I hope) to give me a thrill. The smell of old worn leather covers that promises a new adventure each time & possibly a few life lessons along the way is irresistible.
For me reading seems as necessary as food or air.
Must say goodbye for now...there is a trilogy waiting to be read, my mind desperate to learn & my heart beating hard at the thought of falling in love, again....
A to Z Challenge Q Quiet
Quiet
My favorite time of day has slowly but surely become early morning. Especially in the spring.
As I sit on my patio this morning it's not silent but it is quiet.
From a distance I hear the bluejays & cardinals chirping & singing. They're making a lovely sound that is both calming & exciting. Reminding me that spring is here & the ground is ready to burst forth with blooms of all colors & scents at any moment.
I can smell the tangy, bitter but also sweet smell of the wild onions that grow here in North Alabama.
This is peaceful, it's relaxing & it feeds my soul. This kind of quiet reminds me to stop for a moment & be thankful. To appreciate living so close to nature & all of the beauty God has created for us.
Soon the sweet smell of honeysuckle & roses will be added to my mornings. Then the quiet, solitary chores of watering the garden while everyone else still sleeps. My days are filled with noise & laughter & busyness but these quiet mornings? They're just for me.
My favorite time of day has slowly but surely become early morning. Especially in the spring.
As I sit on my patio this morning it's not silent but it is quiet.
From a distance I hear the bluejays & cardinals chirping & singing. They're making a lovely sound that is both calming & exciting. Reminding me that spring is here & the ground is ready to burst forth with blooms of all colors & scents at any moment.
I can smell the tangy, bitter but also sweet smell of the wild onions that grow here in North Alabama.
This is peaceful, it's relaxing & it feeds my soul. This kind of quiet reminds me to stop for a moment & be thankful. To appreciate living so close to nature & all of the beauty God has created for us.
Soon the sweet smell of honeysuckle & roses will be added to my mornings. Then the quiet, solitary chores of watering the garden while everyone else still sleeps. My days are filled with noise & laughter & busyness but these quiet mornings? They're just for me.
Monday, April 21, 2014
A to Z Challenge P Prince
Prince
Hello, my name is Cassie & I'm an addict, a Prince addict.
His Purple Awesomeness blows my mind & I'm pretty sure that the first time I saw a Prince video my body spontaneously erupted into puberty.
That man can play any instrument, dance like a male stripper & oh my can he "sang"!!
Any other Prince lovers out there?
Sunday, April 20, 2014
A to Z Challenge O Optimism
Optimism
I don't know about you but I struggle with optimism. Being around optimistic people always does two things for me.
First, it tends to bring up my mood & remind me to be thankful & joyous.
Second, it reminds me what a cranky, Negative-Nancy I tend to be.
Having a sarcastic sense of humor means usually laughing at my own expense & sometimes others' as well.
So, for today I'm focusing on having an optimistic attitude, look at the bright side, count your blessings, silver lining & all that...I mean, how hard can it be to just look around & notice the abundant blessings in my life?
I don't know about you but I struggle with optimism. Being around optimistic people always does two things for me.
First, it tends to bring up my mood & remind me to be thankful & joyous.
Second, it reminds me what a cranky, Negative-Nancy I tend to be.
Having a sarcastic sense of humor means usually laughing at my own expense & sometimes others' as well.
So, for today I'm focusing on having an optimistic attitude, look at the bright side, count your blessings, silver lining & all that...I mean, how hard can it be to just look around & notice the abundant blessings in my life?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
A to Z Challenge N Natalie Grant
N
Natalie Grant.
I really, truly love everything this woman sings. She comes across to me as a very real, transparent Christian woman. She seems to me to use her music & her talents to relate to her fans & share her struggles.
I've read (& believe) that most of what she writes come from her own personal emotional & spiritual struggles & triumphs and I for one can feel that when listening to her songs.
Specifically "I Will Not Be Moved". That song in particular has gotten me through more than one time where it felt like life was beating me up pretty badly. It serves to remind me whose child I am, what promises God has laid out for me & that I can not & should not give in or give up. But instead stand my ground, stand on the firm foundation of faith & press on. If you haven't heard this song yet please click on the video below. You'll be glad you did. It's an inspiring "the world won't get me down" anthem!
Natalie Grant.
I really, truly love everything this woman sings. She comes across to me as a very real, transparent Christian woman. She seems to me to use her music & her talents to relate to her fans & share her struggles.
I've read (& believe) that most of what she writes come from her own personal emotional & spiritual struggles & triumphs and I for one can feel that when listening to her songs.
Specifically "I Will Not Be Moved". That song in particular has gotten me through more than one time where it felt like life was beating me up pretty badly. It serves to remind me whose child I am, what promises God has laid out for me & that I can not & should not give in or give up. But instead stand my ground, stand on the firm foundation of faith & press on. If you haven't heard this song yet please click on the video below. You'll be glad you did. It's an inspiring "the world won't get me down" anthem!
Admit it...you loved it & are now looking for other songs by her! Amazing, right?
& for those who are interested, here are the lyrics to the song::
"Will Not Be Moved"
I have been the wayward child
I have acted out
I have questioned sovereignty
and had my share of doubts
And though sometimes my prayers feel like they're bouncing off the sky
The hand I hold won't let me go
and is the reason why...
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved
Bitterness has plagued my heart many times before
My life has been like broken glass, and I have kept the score
of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed
that I was far too gone
My brokenness helped me to see it's grace I'm standing on
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
I will not be moved.
And the chaos in my life, has been a badge I've worn
And though I have been torn
I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
I will not be moved
I have acted out
I have questioned sovereignty
and had my share of doubts
And though sometimes my prayers feel like they're bouncing off the sky
The hand I hold won't let me go
and is the reason why...
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand
I will not be moved
Bitterness has plagued my heart many times before
My life has been like broken glass, and I have kept the score
of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed
that I was far too gone
My brokenness helped me to see it's grace I'm standing on
I will stumble, I will fall down
But I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache,
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
I will not be moved.
And the chaos in my life, has been a badge I've worn
And though I have been torn
I will not be moved
I will make mistakes, I will face heartache
But I will not be moved
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
I will not be moved
A to Z Challenge M A. A. Milne
A. A. Milne
To say that I love A. A. Milne & Winnie the Pooh is quite an understatement. Adore, admire, respect & of course, I look longingly at the picture above, wishing I were his child, sitting on his knee, being read these wonderful tales. (is that creepy? oh well, I really don't care) Besides he didn't really read these stories to Christopher, did he? That's another story that only true Milne fanatics are likely to know. Christopher Robin only heard most of the Pooh stories some 60 yrs after they were published. Odd, isn't it?
His Winnie the Pooh character & stories conjure up images of childhood that nothing else can compare to. Curled up on my Mom's lap, listening to her read to me, then, later, rocking my own children on the front porch, reading these same stories to them. Those sweet stories that no child seems to tire of hearing, that parents hardly get tired of repeating...& repeating. And I think knowing that he wrote the Pooh stories for his wife & child (Christopher Robin, of course) makes the stories all the sweeter. The family love behind it all makes it that much more sentimental for me. Did I mention I have a child named after a Milne character...no, I won't tell you her name, I'll just let you wonder. ;) Rotten, I know, but that's how I roll.
A. A. Milne's Hundred Acre Wood is full of images we all know & love & I for one could still spend hours there. One of the greatest joys I have as a Mawmaw is sharing these stories with my grandbabies. No character is as cute & cuddly as the tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff. He's precious, his friendships run deep & there are little lessons in the stories that will live on within all who hear or read them.
Do yourself a favor, take a few minutes & forget your age. Pick up a Milne book & let the stress of the world melt away for awhile. Be innocent again, then share that story with a little one & watch the amazement in their eyes, you'll be glad you did.
Now, I must prepare to go out & about on this oh so blustery day. But first I'll share my favorite "Pooh" quote, it's become a "thing" between my daughter & I:
To say that I love A. A. Milne & Winnie the Pooh is quite an understatement. Adore, admire, respect & of course, I look longingly at the picture above, wishing I were his child, sitting on his knee, being read these wonderful tales. (is that creepy? oh well, I really don't care) Besides he didn't really read these stories to Christopher, did he? That's another story that only true Milne fanatics are likely to know. Christopher Robin only heard most of the Pooh stories some 60 yrs after they were published. Odd, isn't it?
His Winnie the Pooh character & stories conjure up images of childhood that nothing else can compare to. Curled up on my Mom's lap, listening to her read to me, then, later, rocking my own children on the front porch, reading these same stories to them. Those sweet stories that no child seems to tire of hearing, that parents hardly get tired of repeating...& repeating. And I think knowing that he wrote the Pooh stories for his wife & child (Christopher Robin, of course) makes the stories all the sweeter. The family love behind it all makes it that much more sentimental for me. Did I mention I have a child named after a Milne character...no, I won't tell you her name, I'll just let you wonder. ;) Rotten, I know, but that's how I roll.
A. A. Milne's Hundred Acre Wood is full of images we all know & love & I for one could still spend hours there. One of the greatest joys I have as a Mawmaw is sharing these stories with my grandbabies. No character is as cute & cuddly as the tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff. He's precious, his friendships run deep & there are little lessons in the stories that will live on within all who hear or read them.
Do yourself a favor, take a few minutes & forget your age. Pick up a Milne book & let the stress of the world melt away for awhile. Be innocent again, then share that story with a little one & watch the amazement in their eyes, you'll be glad you did.
Now, I must prepare to go out & about on this oh so blustery day. But first I'll share my favorite "Pooh" quote, it's become a "thing" between my daughter & I:
Sunday, April 13, 2014
A to Z Challenge L Love
LOVE:
*love is the sweet baby smell while cuddling a newborn, sleeping on your chest
*love is knowing that no matter what happens, good or bad, God has a plan for your life
*love is being able to be your true self with your friends, knowing that there will be no judgment
*love is God the Father sacrificing His only begotten Son
*love is gratitude as an attitude
*love is being married 23 yrs and still getting butterflies when you see your husband driving down the opposite side of the road
*love is going out of your way, stepping out of your comfort zone to give another person a few moments of joy
*love is the smile, the joy, the anticipation of the next visit with your Mom
*love is a new friendship that encourages you to become a better person
*love is the comfort that comes from a few quiet moments alone with the Lord in prayer
*love is Grandbaby hugs
*love is forgiving even without the apology that you "know" you deserve
*love is choosing being kind over being right, no matter the situation
*love is listening to another's problems, even though you have other things you'd rather be doing
*love is taking that extra few minutes to speak to the little old lady at the store, because you can tell she just needs to be heard
*love is cuddling in front of the fireplace, reading the same book to the same child the 3rd, 4th, 5th time, even though you're too tired
*love is surprising someone who is ill with a pot of homemade chicken soup
*love is lifting up instead of tearing down
*love is the most important gift we can offer, it's free, & it's the only gift that also gives to the giver....
What can you do to share the love today?
*love is the sweet baby smell while cuddling a newborn, sleeping on your chest
*love is knowing that no matter what happens, good or bad, God has a plan for your life
*love is being able to be your true self with your friends, knowing that there will be no judgment
*love is God the Father sacrificing His only begotten Son
*love is gratitude as an attitude
*love is being married 23 yrs and still getting butterflies when you see your husband driving down the opposite side of the road
*love is going out of your way, stepping out of your comfort zone to give another person a few moments of joy
*love is the smile, the joy, the anticipation of the next visit with your Mom
*love is a new friendship that encourages you to become a better person
*love is the comfort that comes from a few quiet moments alone with the Lord in prayer
*love is Grandbaby hugs
*love is forgiving even without the apology that you "know" you deserve
*love is choosing being kind over being right, no matter the situation
*love is listening to another's problems, even though you have other things you'd rather be doing
*love is taking that extra few minutes to speak to the little old lady at the store, because you can tell she just needs to be heard
*love is cuddling in front of the fireplace, reading the same book to the same child the 3rd, 4th, 5th time, even though you're too tired
*love is surprising someone who is ill with a pot of homemade chicken soup
*love is lifting up instead of tearing down
*love is the most important gift we can offer, it's free, & it's the only gift that also gives to the giver....
What can you do to share the love today?
Friday, April 11, 2014
A to Z Challenge K Kindness
Kindness.
This one is not easy for me to write. Please bear with me as I bleed & leave a bit of my soul on the keyboard.
I am generally considered to be a kind person by most who know me. BUT I have my moments, like we all do. And there are many who knew me when kind is the last word that would have been used to describe me. More appropriate words would have been: controlling, angry, possessive, strict.
Unfortunately one of my "moments" lasted for several years. I was a very young stepmom to 3 incredible children & loved & do love them with all of my heart.
BUT I didn't show it in the early years nearly as much as I should have or atleast in the right ways. I was so convinced that to be a good parent I had to be strict, to always be in control. My thought process on parenting was a gigantic chaotic mess and so then was my parenting itself.
Kindness was not my number one goal, hell, it wasn't even in my top 5. When I say I thought being strict was important I mean I lived it every second. So, too, did those children.
Their every move was dictated by my demands. I was a horrible drill sergeant with little kindness to spare. I did take them to do fun things, I hugged them, I tucked them in & read to them, told them I loved them but when kindness is not balanced with discipline but overtaken by it, it fades into the background. All of this was done with so many rules & restrictions that I'm surprised they have any love left for me at all.
Always, keep your feet off the furniture, stop smacking your food, brush your hair, don't talk back...that's not to mention the punishments.
Don't get me wrong, a well run home with rules is great but that's not what this was. This was a very scared young mom overcompensating with discipline out of fear of failing them when in the end that's exactly what I did.
If you have a child that is struggling in any capacity please do the opposite of what I did, please use kindness & love FIRST in all situations. Let the children know that first & foremost they are precious, cared for, cherished, loved, needed no matter their faults.
I did not do this with my oldest kids (my stepchildren) & I will regret it til the day I die.
I did eventually learn the lesson. In years past I've become kinder, more gentle. Learning to love first, discipline later & that discipline is not always even needed. Sometimes just being there to love & guide is enough. As a matter of fact, most of the time it's enough.
I'm begging anyone reading this, whoever this is reaching...share this. Someone, if not you, may need to know this. So many children are not appreciated for who & what they are but being forced into a strict mold they do not fit into instead. Which stifles creativity, the ability to love oneself & others fully. It is damaging. If you are making the mistakes I did, STOP. Apologize & SHOW THEM you're changing. Don't just say it.
Like I said, I've changed my parenting style, my younger children have benefitted from those changes, thank God. But the older ones will always have the emotional scars of me not giving love first but instead trying to control. 2 of the children have forgiven me & we are working on our relationships & it's growing, it's wonderful. One has not & may not ever forgive me & has become & angry person. I have to take a portion of the blame for that in how I raised them. This child is now an adult & has to also take partial blame for her attitude, as I am not there influencing her, she is choosing to remain angry. My prayer is that she'll forgive before she passes on the anger to her child.
I know this is probably an overshare but it haunts me, it will always haunt me that there were 3 children who needed nothing but love & I threw criticism, rules & punishments their way before love. My sole purpose for sharing this is in the hopes that someone out there will read it who can make these changes before it's too late.
Don't let your fear, insecurities, inexperience etc keep you from parenting with love first & foremost.
I am proud of myself for finally getting a clue, no I'm still not a perfect parent, who among us is? But I try, hard, to always choose love first. And I will always try to be a better Mom. As I know better I do better.
Kindness first. Kindness always.
No matter the situation, choose kindness & pray for me that I can continue to do that with my kids & grandkids & pass on a legacy of kindness not control.
BEING KIND IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING RIGHT....especially when you're wrong!
This one is not easy for me to write. Please bear with me as I bleed & leave a bit of my soul on the keyboard.
I am generally considered to be a kind person by most who know me. BUT I have my moments, like we all do. And there are many who knew me when kind is the last word that would have been used to describe me. More appropriate words would have been: controlling, angry, possessive, strict.
Unfortunately one of my "moments" lasted for several years. I was a very young stepmom to 3 incredible children & loved & do love them with all of my heart.
BUT I didn't show it in the early years nearly as much as I should have or atleast in the right ways. I was so convinced that to be a good parent I had to be strict, to always be in control. My thought process on parenting was a gigantic chaotic mess and so then was my parenting itself.
Kindness was not my number one goal, hell, it wasn't even in my top 5. When I say I thought being strict was important I mean I lived it every second. So, too, did those children.
Their every move was dictated by my demands. I was a horrible drill sergeant with little kindness to spare. I did take them to do fun things, I hugged them, I tucked them in & read to them, told them I loved them but when kindness is not balanced with discipline but overtaken by it, it fades into the background. All of this was done with so many rules & restrictions that I'm surprised they have any love left for me at all.
Always, keep your feet off the furniture, stop smacking your food, brush your hair, don't talk back...that's not to mention the punishments.
Don't get me wrong, a well run home with rules is great but that's not what this was. This was a very scared young mom overcompensating with discipline out of fear of failing them when in the end that's exactly what I did.
If you have a child that is struggling in any capacity please do the opposite of what I did, please use kindness & love FIRST in all situations. Let the children know that first & foremost they are precious, cared for, cherished, loved, needed no matter their faults.
I did not do this with my oldest kids (my stepchildren) & I will regret it til the day I die.
I did eventually learn the lesson. In years past I've become kinder, more gentle. Learning to love first, discipline later & that discipline is not always even needed. Sometimes just being there to love & guide is enough. As a matter of fact, most of the time it's enough.
I'm begging anyone reading this, whoever this is reaching...share this. Someone, if not you, may need to know this. So many children are not appreciated for who & what they are but being forced into a strict mold they do not fit into instead. Which stifles creativity, the ability to love oneself & others fully. It is damaging. If you are making the mistakes I did, STOP. Apologize & SHOW THEM you're changing. Don't just say it.
Like I said, I've changed my parenting style, my younger children have benefitted from those changes, thank God. But the older ones will always have the emotional scars of me not giving love first but instead trying to control. 2 of the children have forgiven me & we are working on our relationships & it's growing, it's wonderful. One has not & may not ever forgive me & has become & angry person. I have to take a portion of the blame for that in how I raised them. This child is now an adult & has to also take partial blame for her attitude, as I am not there influencing her, she is choosing to remain angry. My prayer is that she'll forgive before she passes on the anger to her child.
I know this is probably an overshare but it haunts me, it will always haunt me that there were 3 children who needed nothing but love & I threw criticism, rules & punishments their way before love. My sole purpose for sharing this is in the hopes that someone out there will read it who can make these changes before it's too late.
Don't let your fear, insecurities, inexperience etc keep you from parenting with love first & foremost.
I am proud of myself for finally getting a clue, no I'm still not a perfect parent, who among us is? But I try, hard, to always choose love first. And I will always try to be a better Mom. As I know better I do better.
Kindness first. Kindness always.
No matter the situation, choose kindness & pray for me that I can continue to do that with my kids & grandkids & pass on a legacy of kindness not control.
BEING KIND IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING RIGHT....especially when you're wrong!
A to Z challenge J Jesus
Jesus...
this one may be a shock to some of you based on my sarcasm & sense of humor. Yes, I love me some Jesus. I am not a perfect Christian woman, I'm a work in progress & I love Jesus for His sacrifice for me.
There are so many things I can say but I think I'll keep it simple by saying He loves me, faults & all. He loves you faults & all, maybe we should all try to do the same. In my world He's a savior of love, not hate. So if ya wanna preach hate...move on please, you're opinion is not needed here.
The following, by Ms. Maya Angelou, very accurately describes my relationship with Jesus & His Father, my Father.
I'M A CHRISTIAN By Maya Angelou
this one may be a shock to some of you based on my sarcasm & sense of humor. Yes, I love me some Jesus. I am not a perfect Christian woman, I'm a work in progress & I love Jesus for His sacrifice for me.
There are so many things I can say but I think I'll keep it simple by saying He loves me, faults & all. He loves you faults & all, maybe we should all try to do the same. In my world He's a savior of love, not hate. So if ya wanna preach hate...move on please, you're opinion is not needed here.
The following, by Ms. Maya Angelou, very accurately describes my relationship with Jesus & His Father, my Father.
I'M A CHRISTIAN By Maya Angelou
I'M A CHRISTIAN By Maya Angelou
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin."
I'm whispering "I was lost,"
Now I'm found and forgiven.
When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace, somehow.
Author ~Maya Angelou~
A to Z Challenge I Imports
Imports:
this is just a list of my favorite things from other countries, random yes, but things I truly love:
Belgian Chocolate, if you've never had REAL Belgian Chocolate, you have not lived...it's the bomb diggity, seriously, go buy some NOW!
Elton John, thank you England for Elton John & his lyrics that make no sense & all the sense in the world at the same time. He can make us laugh, cry, dance, love & reminisce...
Bacchus, from Germany. Bacchus is my favorite wine. It is Very hard to find in the US but when you do find it...oh my, the sweet, nectar of the Gods will flow down your throat & make ya happy happy happy. GOOD stuff, a must try for my fellow Winos!
Doner Kebab. This is a Turkish food, I've never been to Turkey but this is a very common street food in Germany, where I lived for 4 yrs. It's a Naan bread, filled with shaved, grilled lamb, lettuce, tomoato, cucumber & Tzatziki sauce (which is yogurt, dill, cucumber & garlic)
It's basically a Gyro but made a bit differently & OH MY GOODNESS Yummy!!
So...those are a few of my favorite "imports" to the U.S....what are some of yours?
Please share!
this is just a list of my favorite things from other countries, random yes, but things I truly love:
Belgian Chocolate, if you've never had REAL Belgian Chocolate, you have not lived...it's the bomb diggity, seriously, go buy some NOW!
Elton John, thank you England for Elton John & his lyrics that make no sense & all the sense in the world at the same time. He can make us laugh, cry, dance, love & reminisce...
Bacchus, from Germany. Bacchus is my favorite wine. It is Very hard to find in the US but when you do find it...oh my, the sweet, nectar of the Gods will flow down your throat & make ya happy happy happy. GOOD stuff, a must try for my fellow Winos!
Doner Kebab. This is a Turkish food, I've never been to Turkey but this is a very common street food in Germany, where I lived for 4 yrs. It's a Naan bread, filled with shaved, grilled lamb, lettuce, tomoato, cucumber & Tzatziki sauce (which is yogurt, dill, cucumber & garlic)
It's basically a Gyro but made a bit differently & OH MY GOODNESS Yummy!!
So...those are a few of my favorite "imports" to the U.S....what are some of yours?
Please share!
A to Z Challenge H HOME
HOME........
This post is about what HOME is to me:
This picture was taken at one of my favorite hiking spots....not too far from my house.
I am so blessed to live in a place as beautiful as North Alabama. The people, the land, the scenery, the honeysuckle in the spring, the swimming in the summer, the leaves in the fall ....all are home to me.
Many of my family are here, most of my friends are here...this is where I've always considered home, although I've lived many other places. No other state can compete with the beauty here.
Home is where I'm accepted for who I am, encouraged to be more than I already am but never judged for not quite getting there yet.
Home is where my favorite Uncle always has time for me, like no dad or stepdad ever did...where my husband & kids are always there to listen, hug, love & forgive when I screw up.
It's where my best friend has always lived, always loved me & will always be my best friend no matter what.
Alabama is more than just a state, it's a state of mind...& I'm so blessed to call this place mine :D
Here are just a few pics to show you why Alabama is where I lay my head:
ROLL TIDE ROLL.....
This post is about what HOME is to me:
I am so blessed to live in a place as beautiful as North Alabama. The people, the land, the scenery, the honeysuckle in the spring, the swimming in the summer, the leaves in the fall ....all are home to me.
Many of my family are here, most of my friends are here...this is where I've always considered home, although I've lived many other places. No other state can compete with the beauty here.
Home is where I'm accepted for who I am, encouraged to be more than I already am but never judged for not quite getting there yet.
Home is where my favorite Uncle always has time for me, like no dad or stepdad ever did...where my husband & kids are always there to listen, hug, love & forgive when I screw up.
It's where my best friend has always lived, always loved me & will always be my best friend no matter what.
Alabama is more than just a state, it's a state of mind...& I'm so blessed to call this place mine :D
Here are just a few pics to show you why Alabama is where I lay my head:
ROLL TIDE ROLL.....
And here is an article that accurately describes the people of Lawrence County....yes, we have a few bad apples but for the most part, people are as described in this article by Mrs. Loretta Gillespie, if you enjoyed the article please let her know. She's a talented writer in our area & all credit for the article goes to her. Please click the link below for the full article:
A to Z Challenge G Good Books
G...Good Books aka Books that have touched me or won't leave me
I guess the first of these would have to be
*The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Characters from this book are still with me, I still wish & hope for a 2nd book, I know a lot of people thinks she just writes fluff but this book, it's story line & her characters still reside in my soul & always will.
*The Velvet Room by Zilpha Snyder was the first book I can remember reading that hit me hard & made me want to live at the library devouring every book in sight. I've probably read this book 10 times over the course of my life & will likely read it 10 more before it's all said & done. I just loved the imagery in this book & related to the main character as any angst ridden preteen or teenage girl would. For library lovers, there is a special treat in this book....check it out, literally! GO CHECK IT OUT!
*I know this one will be an eye-roller for some of you, but I ADORE The Harry Potter Series.
I was a late bloomer on this one, only read them a few months ago but became completely engrossed in the characters lives, traits & story lines. I fell in love with them. I thought I loved the movies but that was NOTHING compared to the connection I felt to the characters while reading the books.
I read them at the urging of my youngest daughter. She is a die-hard Potter-Head...she loves ALL THINGS Potter & thinks that those who don't appreciate Potter should not be allowed to breathe on this planet. I am no where near that intense about it BUT I do love to read what she does so that we can discuss the books.
If you have never read these books, whatever the reason, give them a chance. Take some time off from real life & lose yourself in a little magic & love & join Dumbledore's Army, if only for a while.
ALWAYS
*This was my first "grownup book" even though I was far from being grown.
Stephen King's The Stand
It scared me, it thrilled me, it kept me from sleeping & made me an obsessive (just one more chapter) reader. I still love this book & because of it am a HUGE fan of Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, it remains my favorite genre (closely followed by Dystopian Fiction)
I am thinking of getting this for my 14 yr old daughter, that's how old I was when I read it & she's far more intelligent & well read than I was at that age....I think it's time she met Mr. King.....after all, Mommy's bedroom is just across the hall if it gets to be too much bwaa haa haa
*As I'm sure you've picked up on...I, an old lady, do love YA fiction.....sue me, shoot me...I don't care, I love it.
So, here's one more for that genre....
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
This man is a genius & his quotes make my heart swell <3
I first read this series when I was about 10....in our sunroom in our house in Florida we had an antique wardrobe that used to belong to my Great Granny. My Mom would let me borrow Dad's flashlight & sit in the wardrobe reading my Narnia books & I would drift away to fantasy land. If there is any better place to visit Narnia than from your Granny's wardrobe I sure can't think of it. C.S. Lewis in my opinion is so gifted a writer that to even try to describe him or his style is to fail before beginning. I just adore him, his works, his love of God, his love of people & children but most of all his Chronicles of Narnia where one can get lost in good vs evil, right vs wrong, love, battles, fantastical creatures & never ending imagination......this one, ladies & gentlemen is the one to share with those young readers within whose hearts & minds you want to cultivate a love of reading.
Take my advice, I'm right!
When is the last time you gave someone a book? Too long?
Go......do it now, bless someone with a trip away from reality between the pages of a book....you'll be glad you did.
I guess the first of these would have to be
*The Host by Stephenie Meyer
The Characters from this book are still with me, I still wish & hope for a 2nd book, I know a lot of people thinks she just writes fluff but this book, it's story line & her characters still reside in my soul & always will.
*The Velvet Room by Zilpha Snyder was the first book I can remember reading that hit me hard & made me want to live at the library devouring every book in sight. I've probably read this book 10 times over the course of my life & will likely read it 10 more before it's all said & done. I just loved the imagery in this book & related to the main character as any angst ridden preteen or teenage girl would. For library lovers, there is a special treat in this book....check it out, literally! GO CHECK IT OUT!
*I know this one will be an eye-roller for some of you, but I ADORE The Harry Potter Series.
I was a late bloomer on this one, only read them a few months ago but became completely engrossed in the characters lives, traits & story lines. I fell in love with them. I thought I loved the movies but that was NOTHING compared to the connection I felt to the characters while reading the books.
I read them at the urging of my youngest daughter. She is a die-hard Potter-Head...she loves ALL THINGS Potter & thinks that those who don't appreciate Potter should not be allowed to breathe on this planet. I am no where near that intense about it BUT I do love to read what she does so that we can discuss the books.
If you have never read these books, whatever the reason, give them a chance. Take some time off from real life & lose yourself in a little magic & love & join Dumbledore's Army, if only for a while.
ALWAYS
*This was my first "grownup book" even though I was far from being grown.
Stephen King's The Stand
It scared me, it thrilled me, it kept me from sleeping & made me an obsessive (just one more chapter) reader. I still love this book & because of it am a HUGE fan of Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, it remains my favorite genre (closely followed by Dystopian Fiction)
I am thinking of getting this for my 14 yr old daughter, that's how old I was when I read it & she's far more intelligent & well read than I was at that age....I think it's time she met Mr. King.....after all, Mommy's bedroom is just across the hall if it gets to be too much bwaa haa haa
*As I'm sure you've picked up on...I, an old lady, do love YA fiction.....sue me, shoot me...I don't care, I love it.
So, here's one more for that genre....
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
This man is a genius & his quotes make my heart swell <3
I first read this series when I was about 10....in our sunroom in our house in Florida we had an antique wardrobe that used to belong to my Great Granny. My Mom would let me borrow Dad's flashlight & sit in the wardrobe reading my Narnia books & I would drift away to fantasy land. If there is any better place to visit Narnia than from your Granny's wardrobe I sure can't think of it. C.S. Lewis in my opinion is so gifted a writer that to even try to describe him or his style is to fail before beginning. I just adore him, his works, his love of God, his love of people & children but most of all his Chronicles of Narnia where one can get lost in good vs evil, right vs wrong, love, battles, fantastical creatures & never ending imagination......this one, ladies & gentlemen is the one to share with those young readers within whose hearts & minds you want to cultivate a love of reading.
Take my advice, I'm right!
When is the last time you gave someone a book? Too long?
Go......do it now, bless someone with a trip away from reality between the pages of a book....you'll be glad you did.
A to Z Challenge (catching up) F Fibromyalgia
So, ok, I already touched on this a bit with day "C", Chronic Pain.
BUT it's been a hell of a week & Fibromyalgia is on my damn nerves. It literally dictates most aspects of my life.
*Can I go for a walk today? I don't know let me see if Fibro is gonna kick my ass & make me hurt.
*I need to go buy groceries today...oops, can't happen, today Fibro has robbed me of the ability to lift my arms above my head, which means no shower or changing clothes.
*Ok, let's go for something easier. Let's try to make a PB&J...uh oh, Fibro has decided to not allow me to stand for more than 5 seconds at a time without my legs going out from under me! Whoops, no eating unless someone wants to make it for me I guess.
*Now for some non-physical symptoms: let's throw in some guilt & anger & self pity. Because who in their right mind (wait, did I just insinuate that I'm in my right mind? HA) wants to have to ask others to prepare their food, drinks, help them dress, etc. Well, NOT ME. So, this leaves us with a pissed off Mama because I hurt, I am too proud to ask for much help & dang it, I WANT A SHOWER!
So...Fibromyalgia sucks huge donkey balls.....
THE END
PS
no, not every day sucks but this has been a particularly trying week & seeing as I'm making an honest attempt at being transparent & real on this blog (besides my REAL name, of course) I thought venting the "current" truth wouldn't hurt. But, yes, I do have good days too.
Fibro Pain
BUT it's been a hell of a week & Fibromyalgia is on my damn nerves. It literally dictates most aspects of my life.
*Can I go for a walk today? I don't know let me see if Fibro is gonna kick my ass & make me hurt.
*I need to go buy groceries today...oops, can't happen, today Fibro has robbed me of the ability to lift my arms above my head, which means no shower or changing clothes.
*Ok, let's go for something easier. Let's try to make a PB&J...uh oh, Fibro has decided to not allow me to stand for more than 5 seconds at a time without my legs going out from under me! Whoops, no eating unless someone wants to make it for me I guess.
*Now for some non-physical symptoms: let's throw in some guilt & anger & self pity. Because who in their right mind (wait, did I just insinuate that I'm in my right mind? HA) wants to have to ask others to prepare their food, drinks, help them dress, etc. Well, NOT ME. So, this leaves us with a pissed off Mama because I hurt, I am too proud to ask for much help & dang it, I WANT A SHOWER!
So...Fibromyalgia sucks huge donkey balls.....
THE END
PS
no, not every day sucks but this has been a particularly trying week & seeing as I'm making an honest attempt at being transparent & real on this blog (besides my REAL name, of course) I thought venting the "current" truth wouldn't hurt. But, yes, I do have good days too.
Fibro Pain
Saturday, April 5, 2014
A to Z Challenge ~E~ Ereader
~E~
Ereader
I'm a book nerd, a book addict...I LOVE books. To some that means that you can only "love" a real book, binding, pages etc. BUT I have to say I LOVE my Kindle ereader too. It is portable & useful. On my kindle I can carry an entire library full of books, fun apps, games & with wifi connection a mini computer.
I understand some people detest the ereaders. And that's ok. But don't fault those of us who use them. They are a very useful tool & I have my sweet son to thank for mine. He won some money at a casino & gave me the money to go get myself a Kindle Fire. Mama was very happy ;)
So, although I still adore the smell of an old book with a soft worn leather cover & I'll never tire of browsing libraries or book stores for hours (no, really, HOURS, ask my kids) I have come to appreciate the value of a Kindle & say "open your mind" if you're an ereader hater. They have their place.
Not to mention I'm an uber-cheapstake & LOVE all the free books you can get online on the Kindle! I have approx. 1,600 books on my Kindle & have only paid for about 5 of them.
Not a bad deal, right?
Ereader
I'm a book nerd, a book addict...I LOVE books. To some that means that you can only "love" a real book, binding, pages etc. BUT I have to say I LOVE my Kindle ereader too. It is portable & useful. On my kindle I can carry an entire library full of books, fun apps, games & with wifi connection a mini computer.
I understand some people detest the ereaders. And that's ok. But don't fault those of us who use them. They are a very useful tool & I have my sweet son to thank for mine. He won some money at a casino & gave me the money to go get myself a Kindle Fire. Mama was very happy ;)
So, although I still adore the smell of an old book with a soft worn leather cover & I'll never tire of browsing libraries or book stores for hours (no, really, HOURS, ask my kids) I have come to appreciate the value of a Kindle & say "open your mind" if you're an ereader hater. They have their place.
Not to mention I'm an uber-cheapstake & LOVE all the free books you can get online on the Kindle! I have approx. 1,600 books on my Kindle & have only paid for about 5 of them.
Not a bad deal, right?
A to Z Challenge- D - a few faves starting with D
D
here are just a few of my favorite things that start with ~D~
Dew...yah, I know, it's Mtn. Dew, but "the Dew" is my favorite vice & I don't see myself giving it up, so save the lecture & pass my crack in a bottle please!
Dogs, seriously, what would this world be like without them?
Soft nuzzles, cuddles when ya don't feel good, loyal to a fault...I don't know about you but I'm a dog person, by fuzzy babies are family to me & I love 'em to pieces.
Dill Pickle Chips. They are the bomb diggity but not just any Dill Pickle Chips, they have to be the Bama ones...Golden Flake brand. If you like sour foods they will change your life, go buy a bag NOW!
Dove Chocolate...if I have to explain this one then you don't have a vagina (of course, you could be male but if you like vagina, you'd do well to learn that the opposite sex loves chocolate, keep some on hand)
the D....yah, you know what I mean....I have man brain & I LIKE when my hubby does his husbandly "duty"....the D is a big deal for me & without it I'm a cranky bitch, thankfully my hubby serves it up right & so will continue to live here.
here are just a few of my favorite things that start with ~D~
Dew...yah, I know, it's Mtn. Dew, but "the Dew" is my favorite vice & I don't see myself giving it up, so save the lecture & pass my crack in a bottle please!
Dogs, seriously, what would this world be like without them?
Soft nuzzles, cuddles when ya don't feel good, loyal to a fault...I don't know about you but I'm a dog person, by fuzzy babies are family to me & I love 'em to pieces.
Dill Pickle Chips. They are the bomb diggity but not just any Dill Pickle Chips, they have to be the Bama ones...Golden Flake brand. If you like sour foods they will change your life, go buy a bag NOW!
Dove Chocolate...if I have to explain this one then you don't have a vagina (of course, you could be male but if you like vagina, you'd do well to learn that the opposite sex loves chocolate, keep some on hand)
the D....yah, you know what I mean....I have man brain & I LIKE when my hubby does his husbandly "duty"....the D is a big deal for me & without it I'm a cranky bitch, thankfully my hubby serves it up right & so will continue to live here.
A to Z Challenge .... C - Chronic Pain (Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis)
~C~
Chronic Pain:
For years now I've dealt with Chronic Pain, I have Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I can't count the number of times people have misunderstood my health issues & made judgments based on their misinformation. So, here are some random facts about living with and/or loving someone with Chronic Pain.
1)Pain sucks & it isn't alone, it hangs out with fatigue & exhaustion, so when we say we're tired we're not being lazy, we're listening to our bodies & giving it the rest it requires.
2)Telling us "you need to get more sleep" is NOT helpful. We try to sleep, honestly. But the pain disrupts the sleep, which makes us sleep deprived, which makes the pain worse, which prevents us from sleeping...seeing a pattern yet?
3)I don't want or need your pity. But I'll take your friendship, occasional calls, texts, FB messages to check on me as a sign of you caring :D
4) There is really nothing you can do to help BUT like in #3 above, just checking on us is a huge blessing, it lets us know we're being thought of.
5) Maybe ignore #4 & bring me chocolate, ALWAYS bring me chocolate, then I'll love you...yah, yah, that works!
6) Please don't claim to know a cure for my condition, it's annoying. I've had it forever, if there were a cure I'm sure Dr. Oz would have talked about it on his show & your friend who sells "whatever" new Mass Market crap is NOT going to cure me by making me drink her new potion.
7) I sometimes have to cancel plans, I sometimes can't put my pants on without help, I sometimes want to hide in my room until I feel human again, it's ok, I'll get over it, just don't be angry with me for things I can't control.
8) Maybe today I can sweep, do dishes & hike a bit, tomorrow maybe I can't get out of bed. Having different abilities & different difficulties day by day or even hour by hour is not me faking. It is the nature of this crazy condition. Please don't judge my abilities or lack of them.
So, here are a couple of links for you. IF you have a chronic pain condition, they may help you feel less alone or you can share them with those who love you to help them understand.
IF you love someone with a chronic pain condition, please take 5 minutes & click on these links. Sharing these with my husband literally saved my marriage because his eyes were opened to what I really deal with daily & how he can & can't help.
I'd like to acknowledge Christine Miserandino, who wrote The Spoon Theory & thank her for her insight. And also, Claudia Marek, who wrote The Letter to the Normals. Both wonderfully insightful pieces.
The Spoon Theory
The Letter to the Normals
Chronic Pain:
For years now I've dealt with Chronic Pain, I have Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
I can't count the number of times people have misunderstood my health issues & made judgments based on their misinformation. So, here are some random facts about living with and/or loving someone with Chronic Pain.
1)Pain sucks & it isn't alone, it hangs out with fatigue & exhaustion, so when we say we're tired we're not being lazy, we're listening to our bodies & giving it the rest it requires.
2)Telling us "you need to get more sleep" is NOT helpful. We try to sleep, honestly. But the pain disrupts the sleep, which makes us sleep deprived, which makes the pain worse, which prevents us from sleeping...seeing a pattern yet?
3)I don't want or need your pity. But I'll take your friendship, occasional calls, texts, FB messages to check on me as a sign of you caring :D
4) There is really nothing you can do to help BUT like in #3 above, just checking on us is a huge blessing, it lets us know we're being thought of.
5) Maybe ignore #4 & bring me chocolate, ALWAYS bring me chocolate, then I'll love you...yah, yah, that works!
6) Please don't claim to know a cure for my condition, it's annoying. I've had it forever, if there were a cure I'm sure Dr. Oz would have talked about it on his show & your friend who sells "whatever" new Mass Market crap is NOT going to cure me by making me drink her new potion.
7) I sometimes have to cancel plans, I sometimes can't put my pants on without help, I sometimes want to hide in my room until I feel human again, it's ok, I'll get over it, just don't be angry with me for things I can't control.
8) Maybe today I can sweep, do dishes & hike a bit, tomorrow maybe I can't get out of bed. Having different abilities & different difficulties day by day or even hour by hour is not me faking. It is the nature of this crazy condition. Please don't judge my abilities or lack of them.
So, here are a couple of links for you. IF you have a chronic pain condition, they may help you feel less alone or you can share them with those who love you to help them understand.
IF you love someone with a chronic pain condition, please take 5 minutes & click on these links. Sharing these with my husband literally saved my marriage because his eyes were opened to what I really deal with daily & how he can & can't help.
I'd like to acknowledge Christine Miserandino, who wrote The Spoon Theory & thank her for her insight. And also, Claudia Marek, who wrote The Letter to the Normals. Both wonderfully insightful pieces.
The Spoon Theory
The Letter to the Normals
Friday, April 4, 2014
A to Z Challenge catch up: B-Believe (a soapbox rant)
Soap Box time for my A to Z Challenge. B: Believe.
Well, I believe someone has lost her ever-lovin' mind! I woke up really wanting grapes this morning so I left early enough to stop by Wal-Mart on my way to work. I believe that was a mistake! After searching the entire produce section a couple of times for a sign indicating that they sold organic and/or non-gmo fruits & veggies I decided I'd ask for help.
I "believed" that this would be a simple, yes or no conversation. Oh how wrong I was.
The look I was given by this woman after asking about organic or non-gmo produce was priceless. You'd have thought I'd asked her if I could boil her first born in acid in preparation for a late night snack. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no granola lovin', tree huggin', skinny mini perfect Mom who is scared to shampoo her hair. However, I do want to be healthier & due to some medical issues I prefer to "try" to stay away from chemical junk when I can, firmly believing that gmo's have a huge negative impact on our health. That does not mean that I never eat processed or non-organic foods, I just do the best I can when I can.
Back to my little conversation in Wal-Mart. After receiving the horrid look she says "honey, if dey was grown in da ground, dey is organic". To which I replied "no, I'm talking about foods that are grown with no chemicals, poisons etc being put on them" Hillbilly Bess, as I've chosen to name her, proceeds to tell me that "you cain't grow foods without dem chemicals". This is when I patiently & kindly explain to her that yes, you can grow food without chemicals & poisons & that I garden & don't ever use any of that stuff in my garden.
I informed her that horse (or cow or chicken) poo can be used for compost & that there are other ways to keep bugs & pests from the garden. She proceeds to tell me that "People from Alabama don't care about organic 'cause it's all organic if it's grown in da ground"
Anyhoo, you get the gist, she was ignorant & I wanted to educate her with a golf shoe to the face. Of course, I didn't, I was polite & just moved on but here is my issue:
WHY do people "believe" what they hear & see on commercials, food boxes, articles etc without questioning it? Do you believe it when certain companies tell you that their food is "natural"? Do you even care? I guess a lot of people don't care & that's ok, that's on them, not me. But what gets me is the misinformation. Somewhere along the line someone told little Hillbilly Bess that everything that grows is organic & most likely insinuated that chemicals are a necessary evil in gardening. The ignorance makes me want to scream. Who in this day & age would go along & just believe everything they're told without trying to get a clue.
I'm a true blue American woman, I love my country but I know this country has allowed chemical crap to take over our food supply & it pisses me off to no end! But what pisses me off even more is that there are so many people who just blindly believe the bs they're being told about our food supply. Believe? Believe who? The companies who count on you purchasing their foods, do you think maybe they're going to tell us what we want to hear in order to get that almighty dollar? Or is their possibly a chance that they are upstanding, honest & genuinely care about our health, the health of our children, our children's children?
Sorry, maybe I'm jaded but I just don't BELIEVE that they care. I truly BELIEVE that the powers that be are out to save a buck, make a buck & damn the losses that occur in the mean time. Who cares that auto-immune diseases have grown exponentially since processed foods came on the market, not to mention the rise in cancers & a myriad of other medical issues?......ok, I'm a bit off topic now. Back to Hillbilly Bess. She to me is a shining (ok, maybe not shining, maybe dull & dirty) example of ignorance in America as to what is going on in our own lives because she chooses to BELIEVE whatever crap is fed to her, literally and figuratively.
So, ladies & gentlemen, can we please just agree to educate ourselves on things that matter? Let's not believe everything you hear on FOX, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC etc, research, figure it out! (Um, there is one exception, bash me if you want, but I do believe what Dr. Oz says, he's pretty freakin' awesome in my humble opinion)
So...BELIEVE this, or don't:
*GMO's Suck
*eating foods with GMO's can & will harm you eventually
*People like Hillbilly Bess give people like me, from Alabama, a bad name.
*I believe Hillbilly Bess is the reason why people from surrounding counties make fun of people from Lawrence County, it's all her fault & I want her tarred & feathered sooner rather than later
*I'm done ranting & stepping off my soapbox, if you made it this far God Bless you ;)
oh P.S. I DID buy some grapes, they were probably loaded with stuff I don't want to know about. BUT I made a choice. I knew they were not GMO-free or organic & it was my option to buy them anyway because I really wanted grapes. They tasted great, I do have some guilt over it but in this world with this economy eating even 50% organic and/or GMO-free is just not realistic for me. So, I do what I can when I can.
Click HERE for Straight up GMO Info
Well, I believe someone has lost her ever-lovin' mind! I woke up really wanting grapes this morning so I left early enough to stop by Wal-Mart on my way to work. I believe that was a mistake! After searching the entire produce section a couple of times for a sign indicating that they sold organic and/or non-gmo fruits & veggies I decided I'd ask for help.
I "believed" that this would be a simple, yes or no conversation. Oh how wrong I was.
The look I was given by this woman after asking about organic or non-gmo produce was priceless. You'd have thought I'd asked her if I could boil her first born in acid in preparation for a late night snack. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no granola lovin', tree huggin', skinny mini perfect Mom who is scared to shampoo her hair. However, I do want to be healthier & due to some medical issues I prefer to "try" to stay away from chemical junk when I can, firmly believing that gmo's have a huge negative impact on our health. That does not mean that I never eat processed or non-organic foods, I just do the best I can when I can.
Back to my little conversation in Wal-Mart. After receiving the horrid look she says "honey, if dey was grown in da ground, dey is organic". To which I replied "no, I'm talking about foods that are grown with no chemicals, poisons etc being put on them" Hillbilly Bess, as I've chosen to name her, proceeds to tell me that "you cain't grow foods without dem chemicals". This is when I patiently & kindly explain to her that yes, you can grow food without chemicals & poisons & that I garden & don't ever use any of that stuff in my garden.
I informed her that horse (or cow or chicken) poo can be used for compost & that there are other ways to keep bugs & pests from the garden. She proceeds to tell me that "People from Alabama don't care about organic 'cause it's all organic if it's grown in da ground"
Anyhoo, you get the gist, she was ignorant & I wanted to educate her with a golf shoe to the face. Of course, I didn't, I was polite & just moved on but here is my issue:
WHY do people "believe" what they hear & see on commercials, food boxes, articles etc without questioning it? Do you believe it when certain companies tell you that their food is "natural"? Do you even care? I guess a lot of people don't care & that's ok, that's on them, not me. But what gets me is the misinformation. Somewhere along the line someone told little Hillbilly Bess that everything that grows is organic & most likely insinuated that chemicals are a necessary evil in gardening. The ignorance makes me want to scream. Who in this day & age would go along & just believe everything they're told without trying to get a clue.
I'm a true blue American woman, I love my country but I know this country has allowed chemical crap to take over our food supply & it pisses me off to no end! But what pisses me off even more is that there are so many people who just blindly believe the bs they're being told about our food supply. Believe? Believe who? The companies who count on you purchasing their foods, do you think maybe they're going to tell us what we want to hear in order to get that almighty dollar? Or is their possibly a chance that they are upstanding, honest & genuinely care about our health, the health of our children, our children's children?
Sorry, maybe I'm jaded but I just don't BELIEVE that they care. I truly BELIEVE that the powers that be are out to save a buck, make a buck & damn the losses that occur in the mean time. Who cares that auto-immune diseases have grown exponentially since processed foods came on the market, not to mention the rise in cancers & a myriad of other medical issues?......ok, I'm a bit off topic now. Back to Hillbilly Bess. She to me is a shining (ok, maybe not shining, maybe dull & dirty) example of ignorance in America as to what is going on in our own lives because she chooses to BELIEVE whatever crap is fed to her, literally and figuratively.
So, ladies & gentlemen, can we please just agree to educate ourselves on things that matter? Let's not believe everything you hear on FOX, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC etc, research, figure it out! (Um, there is one exception, bash me if you want, but I do believe what Dr. Oz says, he's pretty freakin' awesome in my humble opinion)
So...BELIEVE this, or don't:
*GMO's Suck
*eating foods with GMO's can & will harm you eventually
*People like Hillbilly Bess give people like me, from Alabama, a bad name.
*I believe Hillbilly Bess is the reason why people from surrounding counties make fun of people from Lawrence County, it's all her fault & I want her tarred & feathered sooner rather than later
*I'm done ranting & stepping off my soapbox, if you made it this far God Bless you ;)
oh P.S. I DID buy some grapes, they were probably loaded with stuff I don't want to know about. BUT I made a choice. I knew they were not GMO-free or organic & it was my option to buy them anyway because I really wanted grapes. They tasted great, I do have some guilt over it but in this world with this economy eating even 50% organic and/or GMO-free is just not realistic for me. So, I do what I can when I can.
Click HERE for Straight up GMO Info
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Cassie's ~A~Z Challenge....A...Bands That Rock!
OK...so, I'm going to start out this lovely little blog experiment by doing an A-Z challenge. I'm new to blogging, new to letting others read the disturbing chaos that goes on my silly little head as well, so be patient with me.
I'll have to play catch up since I didn't begin on April 1st but here is my random ~A~ post:
~Aerosmith~ and ~AC/DC~:
To some people these may just be some old rock bands with a few songs they liked back in the day. But when I hear certain tunes by Aerosmith or AC/DC I can literally smell the orange blossoms blooming in the groves in Plant City, Florida. I feel the cool wet black soil beneath my bare feet as I walked through those groves with my beat up old boom box propped on my shoulder. Ya know, all the cool kids had a boom box back in '82!
Jammin' to "Dream On", "Sweet Emotion", "Back in Black" & of course "Shook Me All Night Long". Lordy, if only I really knew the meaning behind that one! These songs take me back to climbing trees with my friends, roller skating to the park, with the sole purpose of getting there while it was still light enough to be seen "skate-dancing" by the cool older guys with cars. Cause, honey, you KNOW we had it going on. (ok, not really, we were still wearing bell-bottoms, a few yrs after they were over, we were flat chested & wouldn't have known what to do if they did look our way. Had Mr. Chevelle or Mr. Camaro ever approached us we'd have peed all the way down into our Rainbow Bright toe socks!)
BUT, besides just reminding me of those hot older guys with cars, this music touches my soul. It takes me back to a time when everything was new. Every single thing we did, said, felt, touched, tasted was new & fresh & would never happen again. You just can't compete with that stuff. To this day, when I hear "Back in Black" on the radio (or my shower playlist) I can't help thinking I'm way cooler than I really am, imagining someone is watching me shake my groove thing & liking it! I'm back in Plant City, strolling through the orange grove, rockin' out & pretending my friends & I are just THE COOLEST things on the planet. It's a great feeling, it usually only lasts 3-5 minutes. But for those 3-5 minutes I rule the world baby.
I'll have to play catch up since I didn't begin on April 1st but here is my random ~A~ post:
~Aerosmith~ and ~AC/DC~:
To some people these may just be some old rock bands with a few songs they liked back in the day. But when I hear certain tunes by Aerosmith or AC/DC I can literally smell the orange blossoms blooming in the groves in Plant City, Florida. I feel the cool wet black soil beneath my bare feet as I walked through those groves with my beat up old boom box propped on my shoulder. Ya know, all the cool kids had a boom box back in '82!
Jammin' to "Dream On", "Sweet Emotion", "Back in Black" & of course "Shook Me All Night Long". Lordy, if only I really knew the meaning behind that one! These songs take me back to climbing trees with my friends, roller skating to the park, with the sole purpose of getting there while it was still light enough to be seen "skate-dancing" by the cool older guys with cars. Cause, honey, you KNOW we had it going on. (ok, not really, we were still wearing bell-bottoms, a few yrs after they were over, we were flat chested & wouldn't have known what to do if they did look our way. Had Mr. Chevelle or Mr. Camaro ever approached us we'd have peed all the way down into our Rainbow Bright toe socks!)
BUT, besides just reminding me of those hot older guys with cars, this music touches my soul. It takes me back to a time when everything was new. Every single thing we did, said, felt, touched, tasted was new & fresh & would never happen again. You just can't compete with that stuff. To this day, when I hear "Back in Black" on the radio (or my shower playlist) I can't help thinking I'm way cooler than I really am, imagining someone is watching me shake my groove thing & liking it! I'm back in Plant City, strolling through the orange grove, rockin' out & pretending my friends & I are just THE COOLEST things on the planet. It's a great feeling, it usually only lasts 3-5 minutes. But for those 3-5 minutes I rule the world baby.
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