Love, Laughter, and Life

Adventures With a Book Lover

Category Archives: Life & Faith


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Never Use Scissors as a Tool

Mabel, expressing her disappointment. “I can’t believe you did that, mom.”

I’m embarassed to admit that I misused the scissors this morning.

The cat food container was stuck closed. It was very tightly sealed.

The food dishes were empty.

The (in their minds) gaunt kitties were starving.

The husband was already gone, so help was not available except for the above mentioned wasting-away gray girls.

What to do? What to do?

The not-intelligent thinker in my head suggested that I use scissors to pry up the lid.

Not the round-tipped kid scissors. No. Let’s try the pointy-tipped very sharp scissors. Yes. Those will help tremendously.

I didn’t need to be told twice, but grabbed the pointy-tipped scissors and began trying to pry up an edge on the food container.

Just as I was thinking This is not a good idea. These scissors could slip off of the metal and poke me. the unthinkable (apparently not unthinkable, as I had just thought it) happened. The scissors skidded off of the metal tin and slid right into my face!

Yes. Berating myself, I immediately felt blood running down my cheek.

Yes. I stabbed myself on the face.

As Hermoine Granger said in one of the Harry Potter movies, “What. An. Idiot.”

I am forever grateful that God saved me from my poor choice and protected my eyes, nose, and lips. He did not save me from crumbled pride. How humiliating to admit the error of my ways.

I am grateful that the small puncture and slice wound is tiny and the rest of me works quite well.

Warning from one who used scissors improperly: DO NOT use scissors as a tool. They are for cutting. Not prying, digging, scooping, or any other chore. Cutting. Period.

When was my last tetanus shot?


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Mr. Rogers Lives Here

Yes. It’s true. We are a family of Mr. Rogers’ mini-me’s.

I just caught myself making the correlation between one of his daily rituals and a habit of ours.

As soon as we enter our home (sooner for my husband), we remove our outside shoes and don slippers. Coats come off and I add a sweater to keep me cozy, as our indoor temperatures never get above 66 in the winter.

This process is reversed as we prepare to leave. Away go the slippers and on go the outside shoes. My sweater is tucked away and a jacket or coat is worn to protect me from the elements.

Do you remember what Mr. Rogers did each time he came inside at the beginning of his show and and reversed at the end of the show?

Mr. Rogers removed his outside shoes and replaced them with indoor shoes. He also took off his outdoor jacket and put on an indoor cardigan, all the while singing about the beauty of the day in the neighborhood. Yes. That song.

Mr. Rogers was so organized. He didn’t just toss those shoes and jacket on a couch or floor. He tucked away the shoes and carefully placed the jacket on a sweater in the closet. I may occasionally toss my sweater on the washer, but I also have a designated cupboard right by the door for jackets, and shoe racks for both of us.

You have no idea how many times I compare myself to Mr. Rogers when I change gear as I am going out or coming back inside the house. I think his habits were ingrained in my subconcious as I watched his television show. Maybe that was one of his purposes, to model tidiness, organization, and care for our belongings.

And this is a good thing. We are a shoes-off household. Not only does this habit keep icky germs and gunk on shoe bottoms out of the house, it also provides a cleaner environment for my babies to crawl around on and plenty of (mostly) dirt-free floor space for playtime. Mr. Rogers’ transfer of clothes and shoes fits perfectly with our efforts to keep as much of the outdoors, well, outdoors.

That Mr. Rogers was ahead of his time, yet many considered him a fuddy-duddy. I disagree. He was a great role model.

Sitting here in my cardigan sweater and indoor slippers, just humming a certain melody.

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, isn’t it?


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Memory Box

Source: Memory Box

I love memory boxes!


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How to Beat the January Blues

Source: How to Beat the January Blues

Some good tips for turning those blue skies to beautiful skies! Thanks, Susie.


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Yep

Reblogged on WordPress.com

Source: Yep


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I Support Trees, But I Can’t Plant them in December

I adore trees. I love trees. I want to have my own personal Hundred Acre Wood.

Our first summer in our new home, we planted 6 new trees. We’ve since added 2 more very large trees.

Our tree selection and planting usually occurs in early spring or late fall.

It has NEVER taken place in December. When there is several feet of snow on the ground. And said ground is frozen. Shoveled drifts stand all along the perimeter of our yard.

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There. Is. No. Access. To. Dirt.

So tell me Tree Experts, aka Arbor Day Foundation, why would you ship my new baby trees to me (in Washington state, in winter, in December, in a very snowy year) right now?

Sure, I would love to plant them. I would have fun heeling them in to grow for a few years before transplanting them to their new location in the yard.

But that is not going to happen right now. In fact, it won’t happen for several months. I’m pretty sure the snow will not melt within the 2-3 days of approved wait time to plant. I’m actually confident that even if the snow melts in January, the ground will still stay cold enough to be undiggable. That is also true about February as well.

So here we go. What to do with my lovely little sad baby trees. And such nice varieties, too.

I am fortunate that I never got around to putting away a large clay pot. Dirt is a different matter. Come on honey, bring me those dead poinsettias so I can steal the dirt.

We are all going to be cozy baby trees and snuggle up in the same pot until the ground is actually ready for planting. What, maybe 3-4-5 months?

I hope they like each other.


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Wrapped in Love Success

Wrapped in Love was a cozy success.

Project stats:

~ 9 adults (including 1 teen) traveled to Landmark Care Facility

~ over 150 items were made or purchased and given to Wrapped in Love

~ 2 utility carts + 1 red wagon hauled goodies up and down the hallways, in and out of rooms

~ between 80-85 residents accepted a warm cozy item; a few were convinced to take matching items, ornaments, or bookmarks

~ 1.5 hours spent visiting residents and distributing gifts

~ at least 1 case of joyful tears from a resident who had no one to visit her, accompanied by the tears of volunteers

~ one 67th anniversary celebrated with family members of a husband and wife sharing a room

~ too-many-to-count hugs and Christmas greetings

~ 3 = number of volunteers who missed the photo op

~ buckets of smiles

~ 1 grouchy guy who didn’t want more stuff (at least he was honest)

~ several residents who already had gifts and visits from family urged us to give the goods to others who had nothing

~ 30 minutes to set-up conference table with donations before loading carts

~ 3 = # of times teen willingly gave up own hat (and replacement) to residents

~ many treat sacks and bags of carmel corn were given to staff members

~ remaining gifts were left for staff members to choose from and to be put in a storage closet for new residents who arrive with nothing

~ numerous volunteers donating supplies and completed projects

~ hours, days, and weeks spent knitting, crocheting, and creating items

~ joy > hours sacrificed on Christmas Day

 Thank you, volunteers! All of you who helped in any way were a part of our Christmas Day visit to senior residents at Landmark.

Thank you!


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Meowy Christmas!

DSC_0842

Meowy Christmas!

May your fur be thick enough, the fire warm enough, and the food dish always filled! 

Purrs, snuggles, and furballs!


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Let the Traditions Begin

Source: Let the Traditions Begin

Great ideas for Christmas traditions!


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Round the bend

Source: Round the bend

You just need to hang in there and keep trying. Great story, Sue. Thanks for sharing with us!