I've gotten to the point in my life where I am ready to come home after my vacation. A.k.a. OLD.
Except for this time. I could have fallen asleep to the sounds of Lake Superior's waves caressing the beach for many more nights. And waking up to that same sound? BLISS. For the first time in 8 years, we made it to St. John's services. (Our church services in the upper peninsula of Michigan. It's a pretty central location for most of our congregations spread around the midwest, so it is generally huge turnout.) And the only thing more beautiful than the waves on the beach is going to church with all of those people. When it's been that long, you tend to not remember a lot of the people. Not forget them, per se. Just not think about them for a long time. I'm just so blessed to have this church and these connections in my life. No words suffice. So I won't even try. Never again will I let 8 years pass before I go again, as long as I can help it.
Since my vacay is over, I'm getting on with my life slowly. Trying to color my world wonderful. Deciding what color will best fit my new semi-temporary curtains. We'll see how long they last before they fade away. I fashioned them, so that's the only explanation needed. I couldn't decide between green walls, yellow with white stripes or navy blue. And nobody would boss me around on the subject, so we took a family vote. And it was unanimous- navy blue won. YAY! I've always wanted a navy blue kitchen. I will proceed with caution on this, not going to paint the entire kitchen blue. And I've also decided since I do not love my kitchen table- which I actually got for free- I am going to paint that, too. So it'll be green or yeller. Not sure which. Family vote again, I think.
Sam I am, green eggs and ham. I was able to use spinach in my eggs this morning, straight from my garden. Hallelujah, I say. BTW: I told a lie in one of my previous posts. That was not parsnips, they were turnips. Like you care. Your head just hit the keyboard, didn't it? I'll try not to bore you any more. And, no, I am not trying to grow spoons. They were supposed to be markers for the different plants. But the permanent marker wore off. Irritation.
If it takes me a while to blog, it's because I'm busy with my lazy summer days. Busy sleeping in until 9 or 10. Busy reading. Busy starting fires for my kids- they think I'm super cool now. Because I can light a fire. And they can roast marshies and make s'mores. Busy checking my garden. Busy being lazy.
This is the life.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Proof of where I have been.
Proof. Not all of my Nissu turns out hard like hockey pucks.
This shall be our breakfast that we eat upon the shores of Lake Superior. Love.
Correction. This Nissu no longer exists. But something very similar will fill our bellies.
And hopefully not rest upon my hips.
More proof. I can at least grow some stuff. Including weeds.
(Parsnips on the left. Onions on the right. Strawberries in the background.)
Oh, and Diesel further back.
Peppers and Tomatoes. Love.
Si, I did put up the fence. Not Z. And I'm quite proud of it.
The rabbits were beginning to think this was their salad bar.
Not so.
The superveggie: Kale. Love.
Busted! Red-handed!
Take notice of "Bob" in the background. Z's (other) trophy. Me being his first. Of course.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Mind over matter
It's amazing how a simple choice can affect your life.
When I was younger, I was actually so painfully shy that my mom held me back from Kindergarten. Growing up, I was always envious of the people who could chatter away to anyone and everyone. I wasn't just envious, I was in awe of them. They were the epitome of cool. I made a choice. I was not going to spend my life so hindered by my shyness. Slowly but surely, I came out of my shell. In high school, I was still intimated by the sheer number of people. At that point, I wasn't as shy as I once was, but shy enough. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to everybody and anybody, it was that I was afraid of not being accepted. So I stuck with the people who already knew me. I just didn't have it in me to start up conversations with people I didn't already know. Unless, of course, I had someone standing right by me to contribute to the conversation. It took me a long time to meet new people, obviously.
Fast forward a few years. (I'm married at this point.) I'm at evening church and they are serving coffee lunch. It was a pivotal moment in my life. Without the safety net of one of my closest friends, I walked over to a table and sat down by Margaret P and Debbie L. And it went okay. And that's when I realized- that's what people do. They just sit down and visit with whoever happens to be there. You can do that. You don't have to have your best friend by your side at all times. It's so obvious, but I really didn't understand it before then. I'd always ensured that I'd have someone there for me up until that point. 99 percent of the time, you'll be okay if you just put yourself out there.
Our move to New Mexico was like giving speed to that epiphany. And here I am in Michigan. Completely prepared to meet people. And that I did. And I'm so thankful that I have made myself become who I have become. Because if I hadn't, this would have been a really lonely experience. And I would have possibly missed out on a lot of amazing people. I have heard that because of the sheer number of people here, it is hard to meet people. I disagree. Then again, I had the benefit of blogging and running into longtime friends to make the transition easier. And I'm not the type that needs one close friend, but instead I just like to know a lot of people.
This past weekend a friend of mine made a casual comment about me being vocal about moving. And I realized that I have. And maybe it's unfair. Unfair because I'm coming off of a trip to MN, a family wedding at that. Of course I'm going to miss my family. Of course. Here I sit almost a month later and I've realized something. I've talked this over with my sisters, my mom, my friends, myself, my husband, the walls, anything that will listen. Because that's how I roll. And while I talk it out and time passes, the feelings subside a bit. And I'm left with annoyance. At myself. I, mean, seriously. Why beat a dead horse? People know. I do want to live closer to my family, sure. But it's pretty incredible that we were plopped down right here. And I should enjoy it for what it is. I need to enjoy this time with the renewed friendships and the newly found friends instead of tainting it with the fact that we might move. Which I think I did in New Mexico, too. Sometimes being outgoing is a curse, too. Not just the "epitome of cool" as I once thought.
That, my new and old friends, is what I'm going to do. Along with splashing my house with personality, I'm going to enjoy my time here. Whether it is 20 minutes or 20 years. Because that's how I'm going to roll.
*There is an untrue rumor going around that we are moving. It's a weird mixture of funny and pathetic. I guess it just goes to show how quickly something gets twisted. Just to clarify: untrue.
When I was younger, I was actually so painfully shy that my mom held me back from Kindergarten. Growing up, I was always envious of the people who could chatter away to anyone and everyone. I wasn't just envious, I was in awe of them. They were the epitome of cool. I made a choice. I was not going to spend my life so hindered by my shyness. Slowly but surely, I came out of my shell. In high school, I was still intimated by the sheer number of people. At that point, I wasn't as shy as I once was, but shy enough. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to everybody and anybody, it was that I was afraid of not being accepted. So I stuck with the people who already knew me. I just didn't have it in me to start up conversations with people I didn't already know. Unless, of course, I had someone standing right by me to contribute to the conversation. It took me a long time to meet new people, obviously.
Fast forward a few years. (I'm married at this point.) I'm at evening church and they are serving coffee lunch. It was a pivotal moment in my life. Without the safety net of one of my closest friends, I walked over to a table and sat down by Margaret P and Debbie L. And it went okay. And that's when I realized- that's what people do. They just sit down and visit with whoever happens to be there. You can do that. You don't have to have your best friend by your side at all times. It's so obvious, but I really didn't understand it before then. I'd always ensured that I'd have someone there for me up until that point. 99 percent of the time, you'll be okay if you just put yourself out there.
Our move to New Mexico was like giving speed to that epiphany. And here I am in Michigan. Completely prepared to meet people. And that I did. And I'm so thankful that I have made myself become who I have become. Because if I hadn't, this would have been a really lonely experience. And I would have possibly missed out on a lot of amazing people. I have heard that because of the sheer number of people here, it is hard to meet people. I disagree. Then again, I had the benefit of blogging and running into longtime friends to make the transition easier. And I'm not the type that needs one close friend, but instead I just like to know a lot of people.
This past weekend a friend of mine made a casual comment about me being vocal about moving. And I realized that I have. And maybe it's unfair. Unfair because I'm coming off of a trip to MN, a family wedding at that. Of course I'm going to miss my family. Of course. Here I sit almost a month later and I've realized something. I've talked this over with my sisters, my mom, my friends, myself, my husband, the walls, anything that will listen. Because that's how I roll. And while I talk it out and time passes, the feelings subside a bit. And I'm left with annoyance. At myself. I, mean, seriously. Why beat a dead horse? People know. I do want to live closer to my family, sure. But it's pretty incredible that we were plopped down right here. And I should enjoy it for what it is. I need to enjoy this time with the renewed friendships and the newly found friends instead of tainting it with the fact that we might move. Which I think I did in New Mexico, too. Sometimes being outgoing is a curse, too. Not just the "epitome of cool" as I once thought.
That, my new and old friends, is what I'm going to do. Along with splashing my house with personality, I'm going to enjoy my time here. Whether it is 20 minutes or 20 years. Because that's how I'm going to roll.
*There is an untrue rumor going around that we are moving. It's a weird mixture of funny and pathetic. I guess it just goes to show how quickly something gets twisted. Just to clarify: untrue.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Monotone
Lackadaizzickle. Or so they saysizzickle.
My house. It has no personality.
It's true. I've been told from people that they expect my decorating to have more personality. In nicer words than that. But. I get it and am unoffended by it, because it's true. I thought the truth was supposed to hurt? Then again, I'm hard to offend. I have some reasons for this lack of life in my decor. Let me explain, my dears.
1.) I was on a brown kick for a while. Oooh. And I so love color- what was I thinking? Anyone want to trade couches?
2.) I invest my money in things that I plan to keep for a while. It's why I haven't yet purchased the zebra print chair I have been eyeing up for some time. I might tire of it. Oooh. Why must I think practically?
3.) I am always living temporarily. Always ready to move. I can't paint my walls magenta because it's not good for resale. Oooh. Why must this always get in my way?
4.) I always, irritatingly enough, sort of worry that people would find my taste a bit wacky. Wait, why wouldn't that be a compliment to me? It sounds like one when I say it out loud.
Seriously, coming from the gal who struggles to find a neutral colored shirt in her closet, it's all a little boring. That does it, I'm splashing my house with color, prints and patterns. Hopefully wildly unexpected choices. To h-e-dubs with all my reasons. And this matchy-matchy furniture is making me ill. Never I again will I buy matching end tables or couches. Bleh. I need eclectic decor in my life. And it all starts when this rain stops and I can coat my end tables with personality. Standby. I may need your opinion. Gracias.
My house. It has no personality.
It's true. I've been told from people that they expect my decorating to have more personality. In nicer words than that. But. I get it and am unoffended by it, because it's true. I thought the truth was supposed to hurt? Then again, I'm hard to offend. I have some reasons for this lack of life in my decor. Let me explain, my dears.
1.) I was on a brown kick for a while. Oooh. And I so love color- what was I thinking? Anyone want to trade couches?
2.) I invest my money in things that I plan to keep for a while. It's why I haven't yet purchased the zebra print chair I have been eyeing up for some time. I might tire of it. Oooh. Why must I think practically?
3.) I am always living temporarily. Always ready to move. I can't paint my walls magenta because it's not good for resale. Oooh. Why must this always get in my way?
4.) I always, irritatingly enough, sort of worry that people would find my taste a bit wacky. Wait, why wouldn't that be a compliment to me? It sounds like one when I say it out loud.
Seriously, coming from the gal who struggles to find a neutral colored shirt in her closet, it's all a little boring. That does it, I'm splashing my house with color, prints and patterns. Hopefully wildly unexpected choices. To h-e-dubs with all my reasons. And this matchy-matchy furniture is making me ill. Never I again will I buy matching end tables or couches. Bleh. I need eclectic decor in my life. And it all starts when this rain stops and I can coat my end tables with personality. Standby. I may need your opinion. Gracias.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Welcome to Geekville, population:1.
I'm so geeked out right now that I can hardly stand it. I went to my local Walgreens and between coupons, register rewards and a mail in rebate, I walked out with a bagful of stuff. Oh, and they paid me $2 to take it. Ha! I can't remember exactly what all I got because I sent the receipt off with the rebate. But it did include: toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, shavers, and Sobe Lifewater. It was a goal of mine.
I'm a geek. What can I say?
I'm a geek. What can I say?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
That boy on the right is crutchless. Yee-haw! We are still fighting the limp. A couple more months is the therapists prediction...
That girl on the left, however, had a clumsy week. She tells me she was standing to close to a cat, that her brother was blowing up with dynamite because it bit humans, and as a result, she broke both of her legs. It's amazing what they can do with casts these days. Hers both resembled wool socks. Some people have all the luck- apparently she heals within hours. Before you know it, she was out her casts. Unfortunately, that didn't last long. That same day, her dad was lighting a fire and she tripped over the fire and broke her leg. I guess. She feels lucky, though. Her brother broke his neck. According to her, he can still walk. Thank heavens.
My garden is? was? is sorta? growing still. The girl sitting on that guy's lap did some "weeding" for me. Those dumb weeds just produce veggies, anyway. Who needs them?
In other news, I realize that I should have gone with the prairie dress. It would have been the perfect match for my Naturalizers. Live and learn.
And. To whom it may concern: I haven't gotten my two lollipops in the mail. Have you tracked the package?
Beeeeepin' alarm clock.
Oh! This is sheer torture, these last few weeks of school. While I admittedly am enjoying the last few days of peace and quiet, I have a really hard time dragging myself out of bed when the alarm obnoxiously beeps every morning. Ugh. So annoying. And this picture doesn't help- it screams "SUMMER!" (She is eating a strawberry out of my garden. Love.)
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