Sunday Thoughts!

copied from "Brainy Quote"

Enjoy your day!

Weekend Meanderings

Happy New Year!

I'm not going to apologize this year for being late with my New Year wishes.   You should know by now this is just how I roll.  I do hope you are having a good January, reading some really good books,  and  looking forward to something fabulous in the coming months. 

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to and confident of good things happening this year.  I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions.  I feel like it is a set-up to fail.   Usually I just plow through the year taking it a moment at a time.  This year, I feel I need to place my focus somewhere.  With this in mind,  I decided to follow so many who select a "word" for the year.

Things happened in 2018.   
Some doors closed, and as of now, the windows remain shuttered. 
Though I have long known we do not live in a fair, kind or gentle world, this fact came to visit early in the year, and pretty much decided to hang around for awhile.  I use the word "visit", because a visit will at some point end.   No worries, all and everyone is well... life is just being life.  Sometimes you just have to stop, step back, breathe and adjust.   As a person of faith, I do believe things happen for a reason and God has a plan.

I've thought about my word selection a lot.  I want share, inspire and heal.

 The word I am going to hold in my heart for the world, for you and for me is


 hopeful




"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    Romans 15:13

Happy New Year my friends.  
I wish for you so many wonderful things this year.  

Hugs!

***just an after thought:  I'm still fighting with this "vintage" laptop, but we are most definitely going to get back to some book talk soon.  Please visit me on instagram @bee_tweenthelines. Hugs!

Where Are You Autumn?

Autumn...  
(sigh)

I begin anticipating autumn sometime around midsummer.   Here in Arkansas, summers can be brutal, with temps staying at or above 100 degrees for a couple of weeks or more.  This past summer was mild.... bearable... dare I say, pleasant.   Autumn arrived, and mother nature decided to play a trick, enveloping us with heat and humidity.    I am ready for sweaters and boots , but this southern girl is still occasionally wearing linen.  I know, a well-raised southerner never wears linen after Labor Day... friends, I had to let that one go and walk away.  The meteorologists keep saying one more week... I'm beginning to think they are just messing with my emotions.

I know you have all decorated for Autumn, haven't you?  Though I usually can't wait to pick out my pumpkins,  switch out petunias for pansies and mums, I just can't think about it with temperatures in the high 80s.   I looked at pumpkins this weekend... I couldn't get excited.   This is my one lone little pumpkin.  Sad, isn't it?  I'll keep you posted on my Fall decorations.  Perhaps something will happen next weekend.

Playing in the Kitchen

One of my favorite things about Autumn is pulling out favorite recipes, and playing in the kitchen.   I usually begin with my pumpkin bread.  This weekend R. was craving pie, and I know apple is his favorite.   I turned down the air conditioner, starting peeling granny smiths  and turned out an apple pie.   It was pretty yummy.  The aroma of apples baking mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through 

the rooms...   divine.

Do you have a favorite autumn recipe?

What I'm Reading

These may have jumped into my hands recently.

Just sayin'...  I'm finding little bits of everything I love about this beautiful season between these pages.

You know this is my favorite time of the year, for so many reasons.  

I love the colors, the aromas, the renewed energy, and not least of all, the food.

What is your favorite thing about Fall?

Happy Autumn friends!

In Memoriam

via Town & Country Magazine

Keeping My Brain Healthy

Neural Plasicity:  the brain's ability to change in response to normal developmental

processes, experience, and injury--

Friday, I had the opportunity to attend a lecture on Neural Plasticity.  Though the seminar was directed to healthcare professionals treating clients with traumatic brain injuries, this presentation included material helpful to anyone who hopes to keep their brain healthy and active.  There was also much information I will take back to the classroom.   There was one point though, the last point the speaker addressed that was priceless...

The best activity to keep the brain healthy and active....
this is too good to be true....
Do you know?
Have you guessed?

Forget the crossword puzzles (and I do love my morning crossword puzzle).
Forget the high priced programs and apps offering activities and games
to keep the aging brain active.
The best brain exercise is...

Reading, reading
lots of reading!!!

I no longer need to make excuses for afternoons spent with a book or
frequent stops at a neighborhood bookstore.

Now, excuse me please.
I have a book waiting to join me
in a little exercise session.

*****

I may be away for a couple of weeks.
It is time to begin preparing to return to the classroom;
and, I have the opportunity to spend a few weeks with my daughter and new grandson.

Enjoy the remaining weeks of summer dear friends.
I will be checking in on you.

Words of Meditation

 This morning a friend sent this prayer out to our Christ Care group.  It was written by 

Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain of the New York Fire Department who died in the towers with the men he loved and served.

"Lord, take me where you want me to go.

Let me meet who you want me to meet.

Tell me what you want me to say.

And keep me out of your way. "

In my friends words, a message for today and everyday.

Let it Shine

"Lighthouses don't go running all over an island looking

for boats to save; they just stand there shining."

                                                                       Anne Lamont

I hope you are have a lovely week.

Deletions and Roses

“Music expresses that which cannot be said 
and on which it is impossible to be silent.” 
                                                                         Victor Hugo

This morning while checking my email on my iPad I found three comments to my latest post.  I read each one and with my new handy dandy pink stylist I hit publish.  Well...at least on two I actually hit publish.   On the third, I must have joggled when I should have jiggled, because the next thing appearing was the notice I had refused the comment.

The comment I deleted was from Arleen whom I follow regularly and have enjoyed getting to know through this thing we call blogging.  Arleen's blog, Starting Over, Accepting Changes...Maybe is about life and the accompanying changes and adjustments.  She almost always finishes the first sentence of each post with "and I am doing okay".   Arleen's comments are always thoughtful and well-thoughtout.   I look forward to hearing her perspective and would never intentionally delete
something she wrote.

I am sharing her comment with you, because, as always, her words added to the post.   It also brought up memories and started my brain jumping up and down.  And, when my brain starts spinning, (sorry) I find the need to share.

"When you get a good day, breathe it all in. It has been a long winter and it does not seem to want to go away. As the white flakes come down, I think of the lyrics to the song, The Rose. 'Just remember in the winter, for beneath the bitter snow, lies the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring, becomes the rose.' " 

With the mention of the Bette Midler song, "The Rose" I immediately thought about how many times I sang this song as a lullaby to my daughter.   While some may say, "really?  a lullaby?"...   I was never one to sing the usual little sing-song lullabies.  Just as  I feel many of the books published for children should be read by adults, I feel many songs peddled for adult listening make beautiful lessons for children.  Sometimes you change a word here and there, sometimes...not.

   I hear the song "The Rose" and I hear a promise.  A promise that is sown from courage and patience.  Courage to risk failure.  Patience to wait for the sunshine.   I often find myself on the short side of both of these characteristics; it doesn't stop my believing and desiring the beauty of the promise.

So, to you who find yourself overcome by currant life events and changes, feelings of being over-whelmed and abandoned or have spent one day too many indoors awaiting Spring.  I share with you the promise of the

"The Rose"

Some say love (life), it is a river
That drowns the tender reed.

Some say love (life), it is a razor

That leaves your soul to bleed.

Some say love (life), it is a hunger,

An endless aching need.

I say love (life), it is a flower,

And you its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance.

It's the dream afraid of waking

That never takes the chance.

It's the one who won't be taken,

Who cannot seem to give,

And the soul afraid of dyin'

That never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely

And the road has been too long,

And you think that love (life) is only

For the lucky and the strong,

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snows

Lies the seed that with the sun's love

In the spring becomes the rose.

Thank you Arleen for always adding to the conversation and for your inspiration.
 May each of you wake up soon to find roses blooming all around you.

*******

I do read and enjoy each and every comment.  It is through the comment that we continue the conversation.  Thank you for talking back to me. 

A Little Bit of Tongue in Cheek

Do you search blogs and pinterest for DIY ideas or instructions?  I'll read it if it pops up.   If it sounds useful I will repin; I might even try it.  

Several weeks ago I saw instructions for an easy clean solution for the glass on the oven door.   I have a wonderful self-cleaning oven.  All I need to do is push a button, the door locks and the cleaning begins.  When the timer dings I merely open the door and occasionally wipe up a bit of dust.  HOWEVER, the glass in the door is never clean.  In fact since the oven cleans at such a high temperature the grease, and/or whatever it is, seems to be baked on as surely as if it was fired in a kiln. 

I have tried everything; nothing has worked to my liking.
 With a day out of school, I thought I might should take on some of the less savory tasks.  Those things that really bother me, but I never have time to tackle.

Seriously?  I would rather be reading.

The instructions I found used baking soda and water.  It showed the nasty before and the after sparkling clean glass.  I made my solution and spread it over the glass.   Set the timer for 30 minutes...okay I set it for 60 minutes.   After the holidays, it was in need of a really good cleaning.

If you are at the point wondering what the quotations have to do with my chosen task of the day... I will tell you...absolutely nothing.   I  found these on pinterest while waiting for the baking soda and water to preform it's magic.  I thought it would be nicer to share some inspiration rather than a picture of my oven door.  I've never been one to expose all my dirty little secrets.

Did it work?  Well...  

The door is much cleaner.

Did it work in a snap?
No!

Like most things in life it took time and elbow grease.
I'm okay with that.

The other recipe I found included white vinegar.  Like Mother Hubbard my cupboard was bare...well of white vinegar.

Roger is bringing a bottle home this afternoon, and more baking soda
Yes,  I'm afraid my OCD is showing a bit.

I've earned some reading time.

Enjoy your afternoon!

Wow!

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour.

(Words from the first stanza of William Blake's poem "Auguries of Innocence".)


I wish I knew what William Blake was trying to say.  I've read the poem in completion; it seems to be a struggle between good and evil.  I do think the first stanza could stand alone.   Maybe it means we only need to break the bindings of time and space to find all that is beautiful.  Impossible?

I am a believer of all things good and impossible.
All I need do is look into the eyes of a loved one
or hold the hand of a child.

Several days ago one of my children ask me how much I loved her.
I replied, "I love you to the moon and back".
Remembering my daughter and I playing this game every night
when she was little, I stopped and said, "That's not true.
I love you to infinity and back and back again".
She looked up at me, paused and in a quiet voice said, "Wow!"

It is here where I find my grain of sand, my wildflower.  I hold this moment in the palm of my hand
and in it is my hour that is an eternity....

And with a happy heart and a smile,  I say
 "Wow!"

A Little Blown Away

"You might be poor, your shoes might be broken, but your mind is a palace."

Frank McCourt

I read Angelia's Ashes many years ago and loved it.   I remember waking early just to spend a hour or so reading and weeping before anyone else began to stir.  My family benefited greatly by my reading this book.  I was so distraught over the poverty and hunger McCourt  described throughout his story I would fix enormous breakfasts (cooking through tears) just because I could.  It was one of those books that when you close the cover you find you have been changed.   I try very hard to not take anything for granted and to be thankful for all with which I have been blessed.

With all that said  I'm having to work a bit at finding the silver lining right now, but I know there is one.  Friday I finally hit the breaking point and needed to have my moment.  I knew I no longer had control of my surroundings and didn't (couldn't) talk to anyone.  I was either going to snap or start sobbing.  The best thing for me was going to be to just keep my mouth shut.  

I work with two wonderful women (I actually work with thirteen wonderful women) who can read "my deer in the headlight" expressions.   When I walked into school Friday one looked at me and ask how things were and said, "You are going to cry aren't you?"  She allowed me to walk by and I could feel her protection the rest of the morning.  

The second dear friend stood with me and listened while I explained how out of control I was feeling, tears pooling under my eyes.  This in itself helped me regain my composure and a sense of control.

We have been both literally and figuratively blown away here at Living Life.  After having two plumbers and my contractor in to tell me what I should do about the water seeping up through the floors, the insurance company finally took charge.  They sent a "clean up" crew in Thursday evening and within fifteen minutes had found the leak.  The leak was not in the shower in the master or the tub in the hall bathroom.  It was in the wall behind a sink in the upstairs bathroom.  

By 8:00 p.m. they had ripped off baseboards and wood flooring.  They brought in industrial fans and dehumidifiers.

By 9:00 p.m.  they realized there was too much water for the dehumidifiers, left and returned with equipment to pump the water out of the house.

   

A third plumber came in Friday morning, and after making five holes in the kitchen ceiling, one in the family room, one in my studio wall and one under the sink finally found a way to stop the leak.  

Tomorrow the plumber will return and reseal the marble shower and recaulk all the bathtubs.  The appraiser with be in to assess the damage.   The fans and dehumidifiers will remain for another week.  The clean up guys come in everyday to take moisture readings.   Once all is dry the reconstruction will begin.  

As I read the above quotation I remembered the time reading Angelia's Ashes and the impact it had.  I had my moment and I am back.  I still have little if any control over what is going on inside my home.     I do, however, have control over my mind and how I choose to handle the situation.  This I know all will be put back to normal in a month or so.

Oh, and you have to find the humor in every situation.  Friday morning I walked through the family room with a plate of toast looking for a quiet place for a bite of breakfast.   As, I passed through the collection fans my bread was blown off the plate and sent sailing through the air.   I constantly have that  much sought after windblown look.  Today.....I choose to laugh.

What can I say....it is what it is!

Fortunately it is only my house (how blessed I am to have a house), brick and mortar, needing to be fixed, and it can and will be.  I'm over it.  Nothing more needs to be said.

I may be in and out for a couple of weeks.  I will keep up with you though.  

I hope you can find a little humor in what ever bridge you find yourself crossing today. 

Playing Around....Again

It has been said I cannot leave well enough alone.

I have always been the one to move into a new office or classroom, start throwing out and moving things around.  There is very little that is sacred when I am on a rampage.  Yes, I am the guilty one who threw away all the faded scrapes of construction paper and  random Weekly Readers from 1987.

Last night my photograph bank became my latest victim.  I tried to be careful.  I flipped between the "albums" and earlier posts several times making sure I didn't delete photos I had used.  When I first began writing Living Life, I didn't realize I had limited space for photographs and was not very careful in uploading my pictures.  

Well in my moment of deleting I noticed I had four copies of 

.

   

I checked, double checked and tripled checked to make sure I left the correct one and proceeded to delete the extras.  Everything seemed to be okay.  Well I was wrong, as I so often find.  This morning when I posted a comment, a black box with a hyphen (minus sign, dash) appeared. 

Bottom line.... for now (I'll find something I like better) when you see

you will know it is only I.

In checking I find I now have four copies of this photo.  Who knew?

********

Here is a little something that floated out of an old journal this morning. 

If A Dog Was Your Teacher,

you would learn stuff like.....

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.  Allow the experience of fresh air and  the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
• When it's in your best interest --practice obedience.
• Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
• Take naps and stretch before rising
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout...run right back and make friends.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.  Stop when you have had enough.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

-unknown

Have a wonderful Monday!