Tag: Inspiration

The VIP Room

    
    We are lucky to live right up the road from a very good restaurant.   Our town used to be labeled as “out in the sticks”, but that’s not really true anymore.  We still don’t have a grocery store or an official post office, but we are fairly close to those things in the next town over and we do have local restaurants, a Dunkin, A Subway, a good bakery, a big hardware store, a few gas stations and packages stores (of course!)  and a bunch of other small businesses, with the bustling CT shoreline and outlet centers just three miles down the road. 
   Last night we gathered at that very good restaurant to celebrate a family member’s birthday, and because Wednesdays are a slow night and the owner appreciates our friendship and occasional business, we were given the VIP room, normally reserved for Very Important People.
   

   
      Being hearing impaired,  I tend to observe people more than participate in conversations in a situation like this.  What I saw last night where cousins and brothers and sisters and moms and dads an restaurant workers, patrons  and business owners relaxed and happy, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.  It didn’t matter what was being said… the mood was evident, refreshing, downright inspiring.  Remember that coke commercial back in the day?   “I’d like to teach the world to sing.. in perfect harmony”….   that.  
   I’m still riding that wave we all caught last night, and I plan to encourage it wherever I can. 
    We celebrate several birthdays at this time of year and I have cake in my thoughts and prayers, lol.  This one… oooh dear.  I think I’m gonna try it, gluten free if that’s possible.  Click link for recipe. 





   I’m in love with that jadite cake stand.

   Current situation at This Old House…  the storm two days ago brought about 10 more inches of snow, and there’s talk of another on the horizon next week.   Uncle. 
   
Till soon, friends – 

Winterscape

  We woke up to about 4 inches of beautiful fluffy white snow and clear skies.  By Tuesday, the temps will hit 60 degrees.  T’is  true what they say about New England weather… don’t like it?  wait a few minutes…. it’ll change… 

     My little southern peach, Sally,
 with her little twisted legs absolutely loves the snow… 

I believe

       I’d like to thank each of you who drops by this little blog space, some of you have been visiting with me here for more than seven years!.. and we’ve become good friends.  While this blog’s traffic isn’t as big as it used to be, I still find the writing and sharing a rewarding experience.  I also love to read about your families and traditions, your pets, your recipes, your tips and tricks and your way of life in another part of the world we live in.  
     Who knows.. someday when I’m gone, my children and grandchildren and maybe even greats might  look over this blog to find some of my recipes or my thoughts on a subject or to reminisce about the homes we’ve lived in, the animals we’ve loved, stories of their own adventures too. 
       I love this time of year.  Even though the chores on a small farm are greater due to the weather issues, life does slow down a little in a good way, especially at night.  At This Old House we tend to hunker down in the man cave or the family room with  a seasoned wood fire crackling in the fireplace.   We settle in for meals together at the table and  are sometimes joined by the kids and their significant others.  There’s just more of that togetherness and less -out and about-.  
 
     Now that the kids have places of their own, more often than not it’s just the guy and I, and the dogs.  I miss the noise of a family all living under one roof, but the quiet has it’s blessings too, and so I focus on those and look forward to the ruckus when the kids do visit.  We are so very lucky that both of our children live near home. 
    Speaking of ruckus, our newest canine member of the family, Miss Sally – has been with us now for about six months.  We absolutely adore her and she absolutely adores her bones.  Sally is a crazy mix, a real Heinz 57.  The best guess is Corgi, Basset, Dachshund, Tennesee Treeing Hound.  All that rolled into one makes for a pretty odd looking dog –  notice the shape of her little front legs – very stocky legs, but also very deformed.  The vet assures us she’s not in pain and she gets around just fine – runs right along side the big dogs without a care in the world.   I hope that will always be true.  
      Our Family room – Christmas is coming, how I love this holiday – baking and cooking and wrapping and giving, some of my favorite things to do for others.  I love traditions that bring families together, things that remind us it’s not all about “those crazy men in Washington “-  Do you know that is an actual Santa line from the original Miracle on 34th Street movie?  Some things never change! 
     My wish for all – Whatever your struggles, I hope you find resolutions,  peace in your heart and mind. May we all experience better health and prosperity in all it’s forms,  may there be more good will and less anger among us all. 
    

Here and There

      Just so ya know – I typed a whole lot of hateful spew here and then deleted it all.  Who needs confirmation of his royal HighnASS’s offenses dujour?  It’s getting so I’m afraid to turn on the TV or click on the CNN icon or open my FB page or read my E-MAIL for crying out loud – every single morning I wake up and wonder – what will the offense be today?   I’m trying like hell to just ignore it, and yet that feels irresponsible too.  
      What do you do to divert your attention from things-that-are-driving-you-batshit? Me? I’m taking care of me just a little bit better than I did all winter. (10 extra pounds to prove it… which means I have that damned 20 to lose that I was trying to lose last year.  Yeah. That.)   Spring has arrived according to the calendar, and in the last few days the temps have begun to rise… as have the crocus!
 The dogs and I have been out walking the fields again… 
The skies have been so blue…. 
 The  horses aren’t quite used to the Spring schedule yet.. This is Max’s  – hey, aren’t you supposed to be giving us grain right about now? – look…   As the days grow longer, they stay out in pasture longer and aren’t given grain till bedtime, meaning when darkness falls and they’re closed in for the night. 
  This morning I took a load of bedding and curtains down to the cottage and oh, if I could send you  the joy of salty sea air as warm sunshine hits your face as I experienced it today.. I would, my friends, I would. 
 While soaking it all in, I spied with my little eye…. 
Can you see it?….. 
… a piece of cobalt blue sea glass – a rare treasure around theses parts.   Now, if it weren’t such a hard-to-find color, I’d toss it back into the sea for a little more seasoning – but it’s edges are soft and it does have enough scruff to make it a keeper because what are the odds I’d find it again?  
    When I saw that flicker of blue… that little glass treasure, I felt the Universe was sending me a message ….   And that reminded me of something else… 
    Why I let this get away from me still surprises me.  There was a moment  years ago now.. when I was sitting outside a hospital on a retaining wall, taking a break from my vigil at my daughters bedside.  I was looking up at a window on the 4th floor where all I could see were balloons…. the ones suspended above my daughters bed.  I was saying to myself….. How are we here, how did this happen.. look at all these people around me, just going about their day… buying food , God, I can’t even eat…. and they’re LAUGHING… laughing…. while my daughter lies up there with her life hanging in the balance.  How do I ever live my life…..    And just as important…. IF I ever do get to life my life again, and my daughter is a part of it… please don’t let me forget how precious life is, how grateful I need to be, each and every day, for even the little things. 
    A funny thing happened on our way to “recovery”.  My daughter, through her own trials, found comfort and wisdom in inspirational quotes.  Still does. ..and it’s these inspirational quotes that I turn to when I need a reminder.  I’ll share them here with you – 
     

  
 Till soon, friends – 


       

Reaching out, taking in…

    So.. last weekend we had another adoption event –  64 dogs out of 69 found homes.  That’s no easy feat, considering each adopter is screened thoroughly before they can take their dog home – by their vet references, and personal references, and approval from Landlord if there is one.  Connecticut has some very generous folks, I’m proud to say. You know the reputation New Englanders have –  cold, snobby, aloof?  I don’t see it, I see generous people.  


   My favorite dog at last weekends adoption event was Ollie, an American bull dog mix. He would have come home with me if not for my 180 lb. horse, Ben. He has hit the jackpot with a wonderful home and sibling. It’s a beautiful thing. One of my favorite fb sightings are the after pics of shelter dogs in their new homes, finally the life they deserve. I’m so grateful to know the people who are cogs in the wheel that together make these things happen . Life lessons- think beyond just your own needs- Surround yourself with positive people, reach out to help whatever cause that holds meaning for you, it doesn’t have to be monetary, it can be actions, deeds- and your life becomes that much more rewarding.




      This morning was another stunner… the mist coming in off Long Island Sound traveled a few miles upland and landed in our fields… the scent of sea air was intoxicating…  another life lesson – (can you stand me this morning?..lol… )

    Enjoy the little things.. notice them, take them in, don’t let them pass by you unappreciated.   I had a conversation recently with a photographer friend. We were talking about picture quality and how so many people don’t really see the beauty that is all around them, and you can tell by the way they take a picture.  It’s not even about the subject.. because there can be beauty in a simple, simple shot.. like this one below.. it’s just a hay field and misty blue sky, nothing dramatic, no clear subject.  Look closely at all the nuances, there are many layers if you truly –see-.

  Have a good day, All –  and as always, thanks for stopping by.

Words of Wisdom for 2016

  A friend sent this to their Christmas Card recipients  –  I’m sharing with you because I think most of what I read is  pretty accurate.   These are some of the  words left by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, a  well known motivational speaker who passed on this year.

1. Cooperation is healthier than competition.  If you’re always in a hurry, always trying to get ahead of the other guy, or someone else’s performance is what motivates you, then that person is in control of you.

2.  If you love people you don’t try to change them.  Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.

3. Ignorance is not bliss.  The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.

4. You are not a victim of the world.  How people treat you is their karma: how you react is yours.

5. You find yourself in solitude. You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.

6. Rejection makes you stronger.  Be grateful to all those people who told you no. It’s because of them that you managed to do it all yourself.

7. Self worth cannot be verified by others. You are worthy because you say it is so. If you depend on others for your value it is other-worth.

8. You don’t attract what you want in your life, you attract what you are.  If you’re obsessed with defeating the other guy and winning at all costs, then you’re guaranteed to attract the vibrational equivalent of this thinking into your life – even if you do yoga and stand on your head chanting mantras every day.

9. There are no limits to what you can achieve – you are a no-limit person.  when you argue for your limitations, all you get are your limitations.

10. Heaven on Earth is a choice you must make, not a place you must find.  Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world.  Same world.

11. All that you need is already within you.  You have everything you need for complete peace and total happiness right now.

12. There is no end to personal growth.  Individuals who use self labels are stating “I’m a finished product in this area and a I’ll never be any different.  If you’re a finished product all tied up and put away, you’ve stopped growing.

13. Follow your heart and you will be successful.  Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.

A whole lot of random, but useful just the same

   I took the tree down yesterday.  It was indeed a pretty tree… My mother thinks that’s a travesty but ’round here – when it’s over, it’s over.  My neighbor across the road just put hers up on Christmas Eve. I know that’s a tradition going way back, but it seems a month behind to me.   That wasn’t useful, was it. 🙂 
                                                                     *****
   A great article in the Huffington Post  HERE   on the 7 habits of chronically unhappy people… I think everyone should read it and evaluate and perhaps… adjust accordingly.  I wouldn’t say I’m an unhappy person but I am indeed a worrier.  Worriers should read this article too.  Really – click on the link, it’s worth the effort. 
                                                                     *****
   A fantastic recipe I made last night, shared by a good friend.  I used Almond flour instead of regular flour and let me tell you, folks.. it was delicious. Devoured in an hour.   I recommend it highly, with the glaze.  Of course, once I devoured 1/4 of the loaf  before bedtime, I was up all night due to the sugar content, I’m pretty sure.  I’ve read articles that claim sugar really doesn’t make people/kids hyper, but I think that’s just crap.  It gives me palpitations and a racing heart if I eat too much of it… every time.   So you’d think I’d stay completely away, right?   *sigh   right. 

                                                                          ******
           Another plane absolutely completely and totally…missing…..
 this is getting really… really.. strange.
Anyone got any theories?  I’m not going to post mine.

UPDATE:  Debris found….  

*****  
“There’s this youth culture that is really, really powerful and really, really strong, but what it does is it really discards people once they reach a certain age. I actually think that people are so powerful and interesting – women, especially – when they reach my age. We’ve got so much to say, but popular culture is so reductive that we just talk about whether we’ve got wrinkles, or whether we’ve put on weight or lost weight, or whether we’ve changed our hair style. 
I just find that so shallow”.
–Annie Lennox, who just turned 60.



Related in a different way – a very attractive, very fit friend of mine in her mid forties is
so very critical of herself – her appearance and the beginning signs of aging
 – and it’s an awful thing to witness.
… we need to stop the self torture, really.
It’s a privilege to age and it’s societies unfair standards that have brought
us to this. Lets stop the nonsense. Every morning when you look
in the mirror, truly see the beauty that is before you.
Do you have crows feet?  You must have lived some happy times, because
you’ve been smiling.  What a gift.
Do you have laugh lines?  Ditto.
Stretch marks from child rearing?
What an accomplishment… a miracle!
Kind eyes?  a generous mouth?
 Allow yourself to recognize your own beauty.   Just that.

*****

We have a new year upon us… 
Resolutions…what say you? 
 I plan to be kinder to my aging self…
to embrace each day, even the trying ones.. because indeed every minute is a gift. 
to try my best to be a positive force on this earth
and not  a user, or a taker, as my deceased father in law would say.
A Happy, Healthy, Peaceful 2015 to all!



  
   

A Place Called Hope

 Yesterday we visitied a bird sanctuary – A Place Called Hope.   – A Place Called Hope is a Rehabilitation and Education Center for Birds of Prey. Our goal is to heal injured, orphaned, or ill birds and return them to the wild where they belong. Federal permits allow us to house and work with the birds that can not be returned to their natural world provided we share them through educational presentations. These particular birds have become ambassadors and have helped us to educate the public. They also teach all of us how to co-exist more peacefully with the wildlife in our very own backyards.

I was so impressed by the enclosures these birds are kept in, the knowledge and great care these folks provide, and always.. the inspiration, hope and good will people like this give our planet in their generous gift of caring and doing.

 

 

I do love owls… this little guy below could fit in the palm of your hand.