The Crow

I like watching crows.  I like watching them walk around.  They always walk around like they know what they’re doing and where they are going.  They are the bird to watch.

This evening we were eating dinner outside and a crow landed not far from where we were.  He was picking at some sunflower seeds.  They were such little seeds, but he was able to get them open for the treat inside.  We watched him for a bit and then we had the idea to throw him one of our peanut butter-filled pretzels to see what he would do.

Ken threw it toward him; he strutted out and pecked at it once.  He then looked around like, “Where did that come from?”  He was probably thinking that it was raining peanut butter pretzels and he was in the right place at the right time!  We thought that was pretty funny.  Then he picked up that pretzel and took it over into some bark-covered area and buried it.  It took him a minute or two to completely cover it with bark.

Ken tossed another one and he picked it up and flew away.  One for now – one for later.  Crows are pretty smart birds.

J

A Hero

“A hero is one who knows how to hang on one minute longer.”

~Novalis

J

Recipe Cards

As you may already know, I like recipes.  I like recipes online, in magazines, newspapers, shared among friends and on television.  I have so many recipes it’s really pretty ridiculous.  I will never make all the foods I have recipes for, but I still collect them.

One of my favorite things is recipe cards.  I was looking through my recipe box this morning, looking for a cake recipe to make for strawberry short cake.  As I was filing through, I came upon a recipe written in my mother’s hand, one in my niece’s hand, one in my hand from a very long time ago.  I found one in each of my sisters’ hands and several in my daughter’s hand – it was pretty amazing.  I never really looked at that box as a treasure trove of handwriting styles before, but today I realized that when I make those recipes, I think about the person who wrote it out.

Handwriting styles are unique.  Some have similar characteristics and some are very different.  I realized this morning how precious it is to have some of my family’s handwriting preserved for me in a way that means so much…recipes.

J

Birds on a Cage

Today I smiled because of two little yellow finches who were happily sitting on one of my tomato cages.  Seemed pretty sweet – two birds on a cage instead of in a cage.

They were holding on tight because the wind was really blowing and they had endured quite a downpour just a few hours before.  They were checking out the tomato plant, but thankfully, they really weren’t interested.

They are wild birds, but they are getting used to us puttering around the back yard or sitting on the deck.  I really don’t think they want us to interfere with their feeding, so they swoop in to get to the thistle sock – whether we are present or not.

They are lovely little birds and I love watching them!

J

New Job

First, I want to apologize for using way too many quotes to fill my smile blog.  Just so you know, the quotes made me smile, but they aren’t what I intended for the blog on a consistent basis. 

I wanted to write, and write every day.  What better way to write than to find things that made me smile and write about them? 

Well, I have another reason to smile, I have a new job.  I have taken a part-time job at Orchard Supply Hardware near our home.  I am in the nursery department – not working with children or babies this time – but with plants and flowers and all sorts of vegetables.  I’m not sure what to say, other than I am getting paid to: 1) work out and 2) putter around in the garden.  I’ve never been one to putter in the garden.  I like to work to get things looking nice and pull weeds, etc.  But now I’m getting paid to do it, so it’s fantastic!

This new job has been really fun and I am learning something new every day, however, my time has been limited for writing and I’m finding that the body I had when working in a nursery when I was a teenager has, well, aged.  I know I’ll get used to the physical nature of the job, but it will take some time.

So, thanks for continuing this journey with me, thank you for putting up with the quotes I post.  Maybe now when you see a quote, you will smile knowing that I’m working or recovering from working!  Ha Ha

J

Television

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." 
       -- Groucho Marx

J

A Smile

"A smile of encouragement at the right moment may act like sunlight on a closed-up flower; it may be the turning point for a struggling life."

J

Strawberries and Tomatoes Forever

This afternoon we planted strawberries and tomatoes.  They look so wonderful on the deck in the full sun!

We are hoping to have some ripe before December.  It seems like things always ripen when we are on our fall vacation – I grow fruits and vegetables for my neighbors!

We have already eaten five artichokes off of our “Little Shop of Horrors” artichoke plant.  We keep cutting it off every fall and it comes back with so much energy in the spring – we can barely keep up with the produce!  They are delicious, though!

So I’m smiling today because the sun is shining, the breeze is lovely and the strawberries and tomatoes are in their pots and ready to go. 






I will keep you posted on the progress.

J

Laughter

"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." 
       -- Mark Twain

Being Disorderly

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.


A. A. Milne

J

An “A” in French

Last week I received a text message from my daughter, letting me know that she was on the way to her French final.  “If you don’t pass, you fail the class…” L

I told her we’d be thinking of her and we just knew she would do fine, but there is always that sinking feeling when you have to take a test.  Especially a final after you’ve worked so hard all term. 

Then, about 12 hours later, I received a text message, “Got an “A” in French!!!”

Well, I found myself smiling all evening after that text.  I was walking around, working and found I had a huge smile on my face!

It’s so nice when all your hard work pays off – it makes you and those who love you smile!

J

The Old Shows

Some of my favorite shows on television are the old ones.  I just love the old “Andy Griffith Show, ““The Dick Van Dyke Show, “and shows like that. 

There are some pretty amazing old-fashioned values in these shows.  Things like honesty, integrity, humility, forgiveness, and common sense are highlighted. 

These shows were filmed in the early 60’s – just as all those good values were being cast away for more “enlightened” thinking.  I think it’s time to bring back the real entertainers, and the laughs that were clean and truly funny.

If you need to smile – look up these shows – they are now available on the “Watch Instantly” format on Netflix.

J

Mosaic Turtle

I just wanted you all to see the mosaic turtle that is adorning my coffee table at the moment.  It was a Mother's Day gift and every time I walk through the living room, it is making me smile!

J

Some of My Favorite Things

Yesterday, Mother’s Day, was a very busy day….and I missed my blog post, so here it is.

Some of my favorite things from Friday evening to Monday morning (I like to stretch my Mother's Day Holiday into a long-weekend kinda thing):

Dinner in the crock-pot, Jonah’s homemade cookies, mosaic turtles and colorful hanging candles filled with chocolate-covered cherries, Jonah’s homemade muffins with coffee, surprises for friends, Abbie’s chocolate-eating antics, listening to Karen laughing so hard over a story about Max licking a door knob after getting some catnip, turkey wraps for dinner, toasted coconut cupcakes, gift cards, flowers, pizza, movies, cast iron griddle, Peet's coffee, poems, and Amazon.com, Tim, Karen, Brian, Scott, Joshy, Jim, Chris, Mason, Josh, Jen, Jeremy, Jonah and Ken.  J Thank you!

I hope you all had a great weekend – mine gave me many things to smile about!

J

I Love a House That's Lived In

By ~ Gladys Wilson

I love a house that's "lived in"
with clutter here and there
a magazine left open
a jacket on a chair
a smell of something cooking
a special recipe?
an over eager offer
of hospitality
i love a house that's "lived in"
it seems to stand apart
for in it is a woman
who has a loving heart  


(Thanks for the awesome memories, Mom!)

J

My Hummingbird

Yesterday, I was looking out my bedroom window and watching a hummingbird go to the suet feeder and then to the red flowers and then to the fig tree and then to the pine tree.

I was enjoying watching him so much! I was commenting to Ken how beautiful he was and how curious – going to every living thing in the backyard to look for energy – when he came right up to the window, hovered right in front of my face and said good morning!

I said good morning to him too and we went happily into our day!

J

British Muffin

They have something pretty great at my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's; they are called “British Style Wholegrain English Muffins.”

These babies are grand in the morning, spread with almond butter and jam….of course, also purchased at Trader Joes.  This delightful little “snacker” goes perfectly with a cup of coffee in the morning or hot chocolate in the evening.

I like to bake, so we often have muffins or banana bread or other quick breads, but having our royal “snackers” as a fall-back makes me smile!

J

Quote by George Washington

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
-- George Washington (1732-1799)


~Me too, George!

J

The Mother's Heart

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom."
-- Henry Ward Beecher

J

First Artichoke

Today we ate the first artichoke of the season.  We have a huge artichoke plant that survives without any outside help.  We hardly, if ever, water it.  It gets plenty of sun and probably quite a bit of wind too.

Last year we ate, with help from our neighbors, over forty artichokes off of that plant!  They are delicious, too, by the way – big, meaty and delicious!

There are quite a few on today, but only one was big enough to pick and eat – so we shared it – it was really good!

J

Decorah Eagle Cam

My smile today is the Decorah eagle cam – placed in a tree in Decorah, Iowa.  This has become an internet hit – with thousands watching at any given time.

It’s a pretty spectacular view of an eagle nest with three babies and a parent.  Watching them is so interesting.  One thing that caught my attention is that the parent is constantly cleaning and rearranging the nest – with the babies in it.  It reminded me of a quote by Phyllis Diller, “Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”

Here's the link:  http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

I hope you enjoy watching them as much I have!

J

A Happy Heart

A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one's strength.


Prov. 17:22

J