Sunday, August 26, 2012

Life Lessons We Should Learn

We all need to read this - at least once a week.  Please make sure you read to the end,

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good..
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15.. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words : 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does..
33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."


My contribution...
If you always worry about what others think,
 you end up believing their opinion is more important than your own.

I had several "light-bulb moments", did you?
Friends are the family that we choose and I wanted to share this with you.

Happiness on your journey - it is yours to make.

copied from "Shade tree Quilting"

Thursday, August 16, 2012

canning...


what do you do with 20 pounds of onions?


I diced up 8 pounds 
added some red peppers
vinegar
sugar
Boil down...
BWB for 15 minutes

sweet onion/pepper relish






we picked a 5 gallon bucket of jalapenos,
aren't they pretty...
again..
dice, (I did clean these, even though some seeds did get in)
 add vinegar and sugar.
boil down...
BWB for 10 minutes


sweet/hot jalapeno relish

Note: the second batch we added some onions too.
because did I mention we had 20 pounds!

Sunday, August 5, 2012

We've been busy...


Baby sitting... Lillie is our baby...


 Leah

Megan



cutting bushes on the south fence row.
Some had died from last years drought
and they were really overgrown with thorny vines.



Canning...peach butter on Pioneer Woman's Cornmeal Pancakes.
Only I added 2 tablespoons lemon juice to 
the milk to make Cornmeal Buttermilk pancakes.
Kenneth said they were the best pancakes I've ever made,
after 36 years, they were awesome.



also canned fresh tomato sauce and roasted tomato, onion, garlic sauce.
We also made 15 quarts baked beans.

Friday, June 29, 2012

chocolate sauce...

2 lbs. chocolate, chopped up, could use chips.
1 1/2 c butter

melt together over low heat.

add: 1 1/2 c powdered sugar

stir till incorporated

add: 1 c evaporated milk while stirring briskly.

remove from heat add, 1 t vanilla, and 1 t salt

pour into jars.

I got 2 quart jars.



when we poured it on the ice cream it hardened...  awesome.


Thursday, June 28, 2012

19 things to say to children...

1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you. Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.

2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!

3. It’s all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad, or worried; when they are angry, afraid, or lonely. Big people cry too. I do.

4. You’ve made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It’s all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.

5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn’t easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be too.

6. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.

7. You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.

8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!

9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!

10. I have a surprise for you. It’s not your birthday. It’s for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.

11. I can wait. We have time. You don’t have to hurry this time.

12. What would you like to do? It’s your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It’s important to follow your special interests.

13. Tell me about it. I’d like to hear more. And then what happened? I’ll listen.

14. I’m right here. I won’t leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.

15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?

16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!

17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let’s see. I’ll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.

18. I’ll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I’m glad to help since you asked.

19. What do you wish for? Even if it’s not yet time for birthday candles and we don’t have a wishbone, it’s still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for, and dream about.




Friday, June 8, 2012

cont. ....



I know we have slowwed down a little on the remodel...
but  I have had some back problems and been going to a chiropracor
twice a week and am just now able to stand for any length of time.

So today I finished the tile around the plugs.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Not 1, not 2...

but 12... count them.  I ran over 12 nails yesterday.


so Kenneth took it off and we took it to Sam's Club, 
and of course they will have to order one (5-7 days)... So,
 

I LOVE the spare...


I think I need 3 more.  Do they look like 20's to you?
I'm gonna be so cool!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

celestial highlight...

is the transit of Venus across the Sun’s face on the 5th. This rare event, visible in the afternoon in the United States and Canada, will not recur until 2117. Observing this transit requires eye protection but no other special equipment.

 from The Farmers Almanac.

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Update...


We had a day off together Monday... so
 we got the frig moved to the other side of the wall and put up one of the new lights, from IKEA...
its a track light you can direct the lights to 5 different locations.
Its awesome!
We have another new light to go in the dining room, but we'll have to wait until we have a day off together again.


 for now until I get the next set of cabinets painted, we moved the microwave here.


 We got the tiles cut to go around the plug ins, I'm still working on them...

we moved the stove in and got it hooked up last Wednesday.
LOVE IT!!!
I am having to relearn how to cook with gas.

RETIREMENT UPDATE: Kenneth has turned in his paperwork, and the date is set.