A Painting

"A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world." 
       -- Edmond de Goncourt

J

Worked Today!

I worked today at OSH - it was a beautiful morning there - lots of sunshine and blue skies.  I watered everything in the nursery today.  I love watering - it's soothing, relaxing, cooling and the best part is that you get to see every single, solitary plant in the nursery, learn a little bit about it and then want it in your backyard.


When I finished working, I changed my shirt, so I wouldn't get grabbed by customers needing help and I became a customer.  I went through the nursery and bought a bunch of plants and pots.  We are the proud owners of an avocado tree, a lemon tree, some pretty great flowers and some ground cover - and a new patio set for the deck!  Wow!  


I obviously have a "return my paycheck to my employer" policy.

J

Life is like a Blanket

Life is like a blanket too short.  You pull it up and your toes rebel, you yank it down and shivers meander about your shoulder; but cheerful folks manage to draw their knees up and pass a very comfortable night. 


 ~Marion Howard

J

Maple Oat Scones

Today I tried a new recipe - I found it at the following link.  


The scones turned out great - I followed the recipe completely, except for the fact that I didn't have any maple flavoring, so I used a bit of vanilla.


They taste great and took me back to the days when my daughter worked at Starbucks and brought some home to share.


Enjoy!


http://www.eatingoutloud.com/2010/12/starbucks-maple-oat-scone-recipe.html

J

A Little Something Extra

Have you ever noticed how good you feel when someone does a little something extra?  I have to admit that sometimes it surprises me.  We live in a world where everyone tries to do just the bare minimum, just what will pass, or only what is asked of them.

I think we can become so used to the bare minimum that it surprises us when someone goes out of their way to hold a door or pick up some trash or prepare something with thought, concern and giving to others in mind.

All of the demonstrations we’ve had at quilting class have been really great.  One of the ladies prepared a demonstration tonight that gave us all a little something extra.  She handed out sample size pieces of the apron she was demonstrating so that each lady could make one little sample apron to take with them.  Mine looks great on a bottle of wine. J


Last week, one of my quilting ladies brought me a vase with some flowers from her garden.  The bouquet included sweet peas, roses, hydrangea…that was so sweet.  This evening, one lady handed me a little bag with a bunch of snowman beads enclosed.  She knows how much I love snowmen.  That made me smile.  Another creative lady gave me a little pair of pink booties she made for me to send to my new great niece.  It’s very true that little things mean a lot.

It doesn’t take that much to give a little something extra.  It will put a smile on the faces of those you serve in one way or another and it will make you smile too. 

J

Sunset

It’s been pretty hot here for a few days.  One of the nicest places to go when it’s hot is out on our deck.

 I especially like being out on the deck when the sun is setting.  It’s still a little light outside, and the silhouettes of the trees are spectacular.  I sometimes think I could sit out on the deck and watch the sky and those trees forever.  Eventually, though, it does get dark and then the city lights become visible.

The skyline of San Francisco is well-known.  

I never realized how much I would enjoy seeing that skyline – especially from my deck!

J

Have Press, Will Cook

We have a new tortilla press at our house.  We’ve needed one for quite some time.  We finally brought one home for a father’s day gift for Ken, since he’s the one who’s needed it.  We also added the special flour you need to make your own corn tortillas.

Well, we gave it a whirl tonight – since every Monday at my house is taco night.  Ken made up the dough and rolled it into little balls and then used the new press.  Then he cooked them in the cast iron skillet until they were golden brown.

We had all sorts of fillings – and the tortillas were a hit.  They tasted so good and held together so well!  I wonder if he realizes that he will now be cooking homemade tortillas every Monday night??  Ha Ha!

J

Another Good Reason to Smile

"Children learn to smile from their parents" 
Shinichi Suzuki

Thanks Dad, for the easy smile and generous heart you have always had!

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Frederick Keonig

J

Flowers & Herbs

Today was a good day.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the breeze was cool and refreshing.

It was a fun day to work outside.  I have never been a “great” gardener.  I have grown vegetables, flowers and plants, but I have always thought of myself as a kind of “blind-luck” gardener.  As it turns out, gardening isn't about luck at all. 

When it comes to plants and flowers, the main thing is location, location, location.  Sunny or shady – it makes a big difference.  They also need good soil.  Some like acidic soil some do not.  They need attention, water, sun, food, shelter – a lot like people.

I have been putting a lot more effort into giving my plants the location, soil and attention they need and they are returning all that love with green leaves, pretty blossoms and vibrancy!

Giving attention and seeing it returned with such beauty makes me smile!

J

Chocolate Milk Adventures

It’s officially summer here.  The kids are out of school and there’s fun to be had.  I was thinking about what my summers were like when I was a kid and I remembered some of the adventures I had with my younger brother.

We lived in a mobile home park when we were young.  It was supposed to be a family park, but the adults wouldn’t move in knowing that there were going to be kids running around everywhere, so after we moved in and got settled, they changed it to an adults-only park.  It’s funny how even the term, “adults only” has different connotations than it did back then. 

Anyway, there were lots of open spaces where the homes hadn’t been brought in yet.  The carports were up with their little sheds and doors, but no locks.  We thought those were great little places to hide out and have our adventures.

We packed well for those days, blankets, books, cards, peanut butter sandwiches, etc.  The most important thing we included in our provisions was our chocolate milk.  We had two sisters who sold Tupperware.  Mom had every possible piece of Tupperware you could have.  We particularly liked the “syrup keeper.”  It had a little pour spout and a lid that sealed well.  We would make up our Nestle Quik in those syrup keepers and head out for the day.

We took our bikes, rode to a secluded carport in the back of the park and played cards, read books and talked about life and the fun of summer vacation.  We would eat our sandwiches and drink our chocolate milk.  We had so much fun!

We would ride around to other carports, visit some of the nice people who lived in the park and when we heard Mom whistle, we headed in for dinner.  Those were some pretty great times.  They still make me smile.

J

A Vet In Scotland

I had the pleasure to meet a man who is training to be a veterinarian in Scotland.  I’m not sure how that little piece of information came out, apart from us hunting down a dog house for his dog, but when he told me, I asked him if he’d read the book, “All Creatures Great and Small.”  He said he had read the book and to top it all off, he was doing his studies at Glasgow Veterinary College – the college where James Alfred Wight (his pen name was James Herriott) studied.

You can meet some pretty extraordinary people in an ordinary day – lesson for the day: listen, ask questions – smile.

J

Greatest Use of Life

"The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it." 
       -- William James

J

An Optimist

For myself I am an optimist
it does not seem to be much use being anything else.

-Winston Churchill

J