"Try it. You'll like it!"

 Many of us get stuck in doing everyday tasks, "I've always done it that way.". But, oh what improvements we can make when we try some different approaches!!!!

For example. I like my coffee with a bit of creamer. Forever, I have poured a cup of coffee, taken a spoon out of  the silverware drawer, stirred my creamer into the coffee, placed the spoon into the sink and then take a sip of my coffee. I mean, I have had this routine for 60 plus years. 

Now, thanks to a wise suggestion from #2 son, I now put the creamer in the cup first. Adding the coffee automatically stirs the coffee. Amazing. I have simplified my life. I save time and I have one less spoon, to wash, per day.

I have, just recently, tried a few new ways to fold things and I am really liking the change that it has made.  I roll my t-shirts. It's neater and I can see them all lined up, individually, in the drawer. Selection is so much easier than the way I used to fold them. 

My sock drawer was once just a pile of sock balls. You know one rolled into another, to match a pair. I tried another kind of fold and now my socks are in neat little squares and standing up in my drawer. I can easily see colors and patterns, so easily. It takes a bit more time to fold them that way, but saves time when trying to locate a specific pair. 

And, I have done a similar "fold redo" to the kitchen-towel drawer. Saves so much time when looking for a particular kind of towel.

Now, before you start thinking of me as Madame Efficiency, please note that I am as messy as the average old lady. I'm just really ready and willing to find ways to improve my life. Change is growth.

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                                                    Good Lord. We are thankful.

 

 

"What would you do if I sang out of tune?"

 I woke up this morning with a distinct and clear goal in mind. Today was the day to straighten up and  clean out a severely disorganized and messy kitchen pantry and spice cabinet. You know what I mean. Check the dates on the doubled up jars of spice and pitch out the expired ones. Consolidate packages of pasta and wipe up crumbs, etc. General clean-up duty. The job has been hanging over my head, as a must- get-it-done project for weeks. So, after perusing my email, Facebook and collecting my thoughts, I tackled the job.

But, first I asked Alexa to play me some 60s Rock. After all, who doesn't work best when listening to some Beatles' oldies or "Baby Love" by Dianna Ross???? Listening was good, but listening, singing and dancing is even better. When Aretha Franklin's "Respect" came on, I was singing right along with her and doing some great moves, as I danced from one countertop over to the other.  I finished the job singing along with the Beach Boys to "Surfin' U.S.A." (a Classic) and doing that overhand swimming move we all did, way back when. 

Job finished with a smile on my face. What a great feeling of accomplishment. 

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Dear God. I am happy. I am blessed. With Your help and a "little help from my friends", I will keep movin' and groovin".

"Caring, sharing.Every little thing that we are wearing."

Today, according to my trusty on-line calendar is "National Sibling Day". Hallmark strikes again! Like I need a specific date to celebrate my one-and-only, much-older sister! I think about her every day.

There are many reasons to celebrate siblings. If you are the eldest child in a family circle, you might reasonably think that your parents were so pleased with you and your personality, that they decided to have more children, just like you. And, if you are the second, third or another number in your family group of siblings, likewise you might think that your parents were so disappointed in your older sibling that they had to attempt to get a better, more perfect child! 

Whatever your believe, siblings are pretty special. You and your sibling(s) have a shared history. Most siblings share remembrances of parents, grandparents, houses, pets and schools. My sister and I, although, several years apart (did I mention that she is the older one?) remember joint walks to the public library, long summer car trips to visit our Illinois relatives, 4th of July Picnics at Schlanger Park, Picco and other activities. When we are together, we often reminisce about such events. 

But, mostly we just enjoy being with one another. I wish we lived closer together. Half a continent away, makes for infrequent in-person meetings. But, phone calls and emails keep us pretty close.

Treasure your siblings. They are not exactly you, but chances are they understand who you are and where you are coming from. Hold them close to your heart.

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Lord, again we are thankful. Siblings are a gift, with which to share your life. We are blessed.

Genetically Modified........

And Proud of It. 

How many times have you quoted the lines, "Old Age isn't for sissies."? This particular quote is usually attributed to the movie actress, Bette Davis. You remember her. She's the one with the "Bette Davis Eyes".

Funny how that all ties together for me today. My day began with trip to a doctors' clinic, for the first of two routine cataract surgeries. Cataracts in aging eyes are a common problem for old people. Folks who make it to their 70's and 80's have this kind of surgery, all of the time. Bette Davis, for all I know, had cataract surgery in her golden years.

Thank God, Henry Ford perfected the Assembly Line, because my experience this morning was right out of a "Age of the Automobile Handbook". Sit down, sign a dozen forms, write a check (this kind of surgery is labeled "cosmetic", as if it's electable, that you need to see?????), lay down on one of a line of gurneys, listen to the instructions, swallow some anesthetic, listen to the same instructions repeated to the other folks on the other gurneys and then wait you turn for the 10 minute procedure. Assembly line medicine, at it's best!

My surgery went well. I was on the way home 10:30. Thanks to my excellent chauffeur, I arrived back at the house by noon. My excursion was immediately followed by a long nap. And, now I am feeling fit as a fiddle, except my new outlook is all blurry and my vision is a fuzzy mess. I know that this too shall pass, and soon my improved distance vision will be that of a 20 year old! 

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All Powerful Lord. Thank You for Your many blessings. Science and technology, like all of our gifts, have been given to us to be used wisely. We bless Your Holy Name.

"Friends. Romans, countrymen lend me your ears."

 How are your memorization skills? Lots of folks, as they age, say that they can't or maybe won't memorize anything anymore. But, as my reader, you have no doubt suspected or perhaps decided that I am rather quirky. I love to memorize certain things....not passwords or important stuff, just crazy poetry and nonsense.

For instance, I recite memorized poetry to relax and put myself to sleep, most nights. I also recite memorized verses when I am on hold, waiting, or when I am nervous or frightened. It works for me 90% of the time.

Unfortunately, on occasions, this bizarre hobby backfires. The other night, while trying to go to sleep, I got stuck in the middle of The Gettysburg Address. Right after "above our poor power to add or detract.", I forgot the next line. Well, I couldn't go to sleep, so I started on another favorite, "Whenever I walk in a London Street..." and I went to sleep, probably about half way through.

The next morning, I couldn't get to the computer screen fast enough. I had to get the full Gettysburg Address, back in my memory and get on with my life. The heck with showering, getting dressed and breakfast. I knew what my priorities should be. So, I quickly found the very short, just over 3 minute speech, and gave it a few quick recitations and I was back in business. My mind was quieted and calmed. 

Just remember folks, those strange people that you see talking to themselves, might just be reciting poetry. It works for me, and maybe more people than I think. Tonight, I might do my favorite RLS poem, "The Swing". "How I do like to go up in a swing. Up in the air so blue......."

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 Lord: Help us to remember You Grace and Power are forever. They are constant.

Home on the Range

 My new abode has given me a totally different outlook on the changing of the seasons. I now live on a hillside overlooking what we call the pond. Actually it's a small lake, fed by a creek that meanders down the hillside, to the West. The creek then empties into the Blue River. 

So, what was a cold mass of water surrounded by bare trees, a month ago, is now a completely different place. The native Red Bud Trees are blooming. The Bradford Pear Trees, purposely planted ones and the bad, bad rogue ones, have been stunning. Next will come the dogwoods.

Daffodils or Jonquils, whatever you call them, are blooming everywhere. Some of them are recent plantings and others remain from what was a homestead, on the edge of the Kansas prairie, settled decades ago. Those brilliant yellow blossoms are incredibly hearty.

The grass around the pond is all bright green. Wild turkeys are strutting their stuff, along the banks, and some of our days have actually been warm enough for us to wander around without a sweatshirt or jacket. The landscape seems to change daily.

While walking though the woods surrounding the pond, I've spotted numerous tiny flowers breaking though the carpet of dried winter leafs.  There are white, blue, yellow and pink blooms. A deer carcass has been lying on the North side of the pond for several weeks now, food for turkey vultures and other scavengers.

Autumn used to be my most favorite season, but right now it's coming in a distant second, to Spring.