tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86035144583811102972024-03-14T10:17:15.103-07:00Life SavoringsSharing beautiful things from my corner of the universe.Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-58761359120296552632021-10-31T14:55:00.000-07:002021-10-31T14:55:23.838-07:00<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkoBxTRsMwVgdpYVEnlu9bvfn-91EgL31y0dsKQLcHRBjTwiJcRVZFc75f2kd-33EIoy9MGodSDgt9Q4PRqLC0ItI-0dHwhR74J_7uSB0XcH5yzXFi7zI4TGnsvXwo3Ahgtd-kHg6jZI/s900/2-ginkgo-leaves-in-autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="900" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWkoBxTRsMwVgdpYVEnlu9bvfn-91EgL31y0dsKQLcHRBjTwiJcRVZFc75f2kd-33EIoy9MGodSDgt9Q4PRqLC0ItI-0dHwhR74J_7uSB0XcH5yzXFi7zI4TGnsvXwo3Ahgtd-kHg6jZI/w377-h265/2-ginkgo-leaves-in-autumn.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: x-large;"><b>Fall 2021</b> </span> <p></p><p><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></p><p><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></p><p><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></p><p><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></p><p><i style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">I am a fan of those laser clear, bright sunny days of early October, when summer has wound down and the heat outside has become more reasonable in Tennessee. Walking the greenways during this time is simply glorious.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The photograph below appeared in the October 2021 issue of House and Garden, UK. It says everything else about fall that I don't know how to express. Savor this...</span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCrK5AcdQBvYNVUXiafe6Xbo9DcuieXnOlv88KAgKA8xYNr8mHhdMf0WjPHbuA5-2zoAYyovftXL9vvb95VwMAmIlJs9POPYnqGWLzt6_bLSalFKAzV2wmEMVnYXlNRTrnNiJFzN2Po8/s1440/lovely+lake+scene+in+fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1440" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCrK5AcdQBvYNVUXiafe6Xbo9DcuieXnOlv88KAgKA8xYNr8mHhdMf0WjPHbuA5-2zoAYyovftXL9vvb95VwMAmIlJs9POPYnqGWLzt6_bLSalFKAzV2wmEMVnYXlNRTrnNiJFzN2Po8/w528-h309/lovely+lake+scene+in+fall.jpg" width="528" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>After these beautiful days pass, the cold rain comes to take down the leaves and let us know the first frost is at hand. I take my cue and begin perching little signs of the approaching holidays around the house to help brighten the dark days of winter.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Stay safe, be well - Carol in Tennessee</i></span></p>Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-80457103764077596232021-04-16T12:56:00.016-07:002021-04-16T13:07:04.912-07:00<p><i><span style="color: #bf9000; font-size: large;">Life is What You Make It</span></i></p><header class="entry-header" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; color: #111111; font-family: "Playfair Display", Georgia, serif; line-height: 57.46px; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Invitation” </span></h1><div class="entry-meta" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; margin-top: 20px; padding-top: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;">Oh do you have time</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;">to linger</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;">for just a little while</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px;">out of your busy</span></div></header><div class="entry-content" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; margin: 50px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">and very important day<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />for the goldfinches<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />that have gathered<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />in a field of thistles</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">for a musical battle,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />to see who can sing<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />the highest note,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />or the lowest,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">or the most expressive of mirth,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />or the most tender?<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Their strong, blunt beaks<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />drink the air</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">as they strive<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />melodiously<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />not for your sake<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />and not for mine</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">and not for the sake of winning<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />but for sheer delight and gratitude –<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />believe us, they say,<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />it is a serious thing</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">just to be alive<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />on this fresh morning<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />in the broken world.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />I beg of you,</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">do not walk by<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />without pausing<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />to attend to this<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />rather ridiculous performance.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #111111;">It could mean something.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="color: #111111;">It could mean everything.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="color: #111111;">It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><i><span style="color: #bf9000;">You must change your life.</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"> ~ <span style="font-size: small;">Mary Oliver, “Invitation,” </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Mornings-Poems-Mary-Oliver/dp/0143124056" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ca2017; font-size: small; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">A Thousand Mornings</em></a><span style="font-size: small;"> (New York: Penguin Books, 2013).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At this stage of my life I'm well acquainted with how quickly life can turn on a dime and throw you a curveball. Every time this happens one begins to develop coping skills and learn how to think on your feet even as the rug is being pulled out from under you. Life changes are not guaranteed to be either good or bad, they are a mixture of both dependent on the eye of the beholder; and at some time or other, they happen to everyone.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the first year of Covid I retired and then sat in my house dodging exposure to it. I got thoroughly reacquainted with my housemates after 30+ years of dashing off to work at 6 a.m. and dragging myself back into the house at 6 or 7 p.m. depending on who had a Little League practice or Cub Scout meeting that night. I worked and slept and worked some more for soooo many years - the rat race is real.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #111111;">Guess what. Within a few weeks of my retirement my blood pressure returned to the normal range and I fell into the sleep pattern (up late/sleep late) that I last recall enjoying when I was a teenager. My efforts at keeping my blood sugar at optimal levels became successful in a stellar way because now I had 24 hours a day to monitor and adjust it rather than letting it slide because I had to be in a meeting or cater an event or create an expense report. </span><i><span style="color: #bf9000;"><b>I started to feel better about myself. </b></span></i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: large;">Now I'm upping my game again with better self care and exercise, step by step. Some days it is a real challenge, other days I can glide through it and be ready for more when it's time to stop. I am consciously rejecting the rocking chair and the walking cane in favor of keeping the moving parts moving and pushing onward a little more every day. My walking program has been teaching me about the difference between 'good' pain and 'bad' pain, and recognizing my limits; and I will carry on. My nutrition plan has developed into something I believe I have a right to enjoy rather than something my doctor advises me to do. I'm determined to give it my best shot and enjoy the fruit of better health because of it. I want my so called </span><i style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-size: large;">golden years</span> </i><span style="font-size: large;">to be full of learning and pleasure and joy in all of the little things that used to pass unnoticed in my former rat race days.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><i style="color: #bf9000; font-size: x-large;">I am changing my life for the better. </i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thanks for stopping by, take time to stop and notice the flowers!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> Carol in Tennessee </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKfRlB1LegltLQFFU7mv9HrkCKBalVjGMYYeb9ccTJPAC2WnjcpgpwE5K3A37BrhduUq2t0ABKjJlLDNKFf9HPNAwrRL0h6b9iiyXPnCd8IkFio-04Z7TwBHBI1ESovwli-VHssNNpq4/s558/multicolor+tulips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKfRlB1LegltLQFFU7mv9HrkCKBalVjGMYYeb9ccTJPAC2WnjcpgpwE5K3A37BrhduUq2t0ABKjJlLDNKFf9HPNAwrRL0h6b9iiyXPnCd8IkFio-04Z7TwBHBI1ESovwli-VHssNNpq4/s320/multicolor+tulips.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span><br /></span><p></p></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-28797609339959083662021-01-14T08:59:00.024-08:002021-01-14T09:23:58.060-08:00It's All in Your Point of View<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dSiOCEr-VnVQYyHFGtfoB3YZ5sGphZia8w9UOVll8S_IcmTI4c-ALNE081tdbtcZGJG_pYSBDMpTMHsG4bMO3E2UjXkQwE1-5cghhmlz4xOld048WFIg6pFWmA6ooddgBl4rZODLB-k/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img alt="" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="807" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dSiOCEr-VnVQYyHFGtfoB3YZ5sGphZia8w9UOVll8S_IcmTI4c-ALNE081tdbtcZGJG_pYSBDMpTMHsG4bMO3E2UjXkQwE1-5cghhmlz4xOld048WFIg6pFWmA6ooddgBl4rZODLB-k/w434-h164/image.png" width="434" /></a><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The word of the day is: CONFINEMENT.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">I was part of an interesting discussion about confinement yesterday in my virtual art class (our group meets once a week on ZOOM). Most of us are feeling the pinch of being old enough to need to avoid the Covid 19 virus because of our age / physical conditions, we do not venture out of the house unless we absolutely have to. Some days the isolation really bugs us and sometimes we fall into depression as a result. Other days we get on a roll with our artwork and don't notice the passage of time as we dip our paintbrushes or apply our pastels to paper, bringing beautiful pictures to life. Those days are the best.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGmEui0Jx9lEE-EC78gpKDibhyphenhyphenNpXxn0oenI7hfmAFl0pNIjQrV2IjZ0P4h3U9lcFjF0TInXjJZtOJLnMW25ePTewO7sk3keAWavcha0vO8KJ-JW0l7glHPnEYcRT6s3eoZ9GinLMHdE/s1280/anne+frank+book+case.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpGmEui0Jx9lEE-EC78gpKDibhyphenhyphenNpXxn0oenI7hfmAFl0pNIjQrV2IjZ0P4h3U9lcFjF0TInXjJZtOJLnMW25ePTewO7sk3keAWavcha0vO8KJ-JW0l7glHPnEYcRT6s3eoZ9GinLMHdE/w401-h225/anne+frank+book+case.jpg" width="401" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE BOOKCASE</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">We talked about the ways we deal with the loneliness, and the subject of Anne Frank came up. She and her family lived in fear of their lives from Nazi invaders for over 2 years, confined to a hidden space in a house that was accessed by stepping behind a hinged bookcase. It's a classic and inspiring true story, because in spite of it all, this young girl had a positive outlook and did not let the fear and isolation defeat her. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v6uSD5bjEnyom-HmqlVu2yOTN8LwjApvEzFOScwA40ycYhfbFHQudJbXxxmQx2uSYWA8GTgWwPE5A8k5f54Hi_21_08k6f7Zo3AuWtMv5HUSr_QnNLvn1EI73SeHyccRT0Fbo1w6k8A/s1536/annes+frank+bedroom.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1536" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v6uSD5bjEnyom-HmqlVu2yOTN8LwjApvEzFOScwA40ycYhfbFHQudJbXxxmQx2uSYWA8GTgWwPE5A8k5f54Hi_21_08k6f7Zo3AuWtMv5HUSr_QnNLvn1EI73SeHyccRT0Fbo1w6k8A/w320-h192/annes+frank+bedroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><div>In addition to confinement, they had to keep completely still and quiet during the daytime, and didn't dare go near the windows in the building for fear of being seen. One noise could betray them all to the Nazis, which meant certain death. </div> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"> ANNE'</span></span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">S BEDROOM</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Before I retired I would daydream about what it would be like to not have to go to work every day. Often my visions included warm summer days, cold fruity beverages, naps in a hammock, happiness, and not a care in the world. The combination of retirement and a Covid lockdown has certainly shattered those visions with the ice water of reality. My way of coping includes lots of reading, knitting, playing with our dogs, cooking, housekeeping, and finally succeeding in achieving the control of my blood sugar to consistently healthy levels. Most days my strategies work, some days get downright difficult - it is what it is. I try hard to keep a positive attitude and I meditate, reminding myself to stay in this moment - it helps.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">This week I'm going to check out 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and read it again. Brighter days are coming. I've spotted big flocks of robins in the area, spring isn't far behind. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Any comments are welcomed!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Thanks for stopping by, take care of you and yours. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYCqhLJATIj0XhInz6CrXHD7MGiOHCY6Rd_PkEfFY8T3Y3oCLx_0W_4rVtIDDcTNBK4zdgk90AG3TV-AyStev_TULOIEMGjjZXllHc2pmhGBjQ7ckFQyTbC7pi9LTQ3oIvYSHrVNSUYo/s243/Carol+High+2003.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="209" data-original-width="243" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYCqhLJATIj0XhInz6CrXHD7MGiOHCY6Rd_PkEfFY8T3Y3oCLx_0W_4rVtIDDcTNBK4zdgk90AG3TV-AyStev_TULOIEMGjjZXllHc2pmhGBjQ7ckFQyTbC7pi9LTQ3oIvYSHrVNSUYo/w133-h114/Carol+High+2003.jpg" width="133" /></a> Carol in Tennessee<span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-78985401248046941552021-01-01T06:19:00.000-08:002021-01-01T06:19:11.549-08:00A New Year's Eve Story<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUxGqHYSkLC8gzd-pdykcS_btKX2-IIeoht8iuK0SNpP9YFvluD3drw_YF1QLC6zGq88rnMNBCrZ14R71pfqp0xg6-g00WbwD_HV1t8C7F5_eM0HhLGS74-1ak5iUq3SoSjTDoN7Q2Sk/s2048/New+Year+2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1390" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUxGqHYSkLC8gzd-pdykcS_btKX2-IIeoht8iuK0SNpP9YFvluD3drw_YF1QLC6zGq88rnMNBCrZ14R71pfqp0xg6-g00WbwD_HV1t8C7F5_eM0HhLGS74-1ak5iUq3SoSjTDoN7Q2Sk/w289-h426/New+Year+2000.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A New Year's Eve Story</span><p></p><div class="kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Who has a story from New Year's Eve to share? Here's mine...</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">New Year's Eve 1999 - Our boys were out with their friends doing what boys do, so Tom and I stayed in for a quiet evening at home. We had a couple of bottles of champagne in the fridge and I'd picked up these 'collectible' party items for all of us, as the turning of a century seemed like a big deal. </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And it was a huge deal! Prince had released that famous song about partying like it was the end of the world. People everywhere thought all of the world's computers would shut down when the date rolled over from 1999 to 2000, do you remember all that hysteria? We expected to lose our electricity when the power grids shut down! There were doomsday people taking shelter underground and corporations with contingency plans and lord knows what else. Nobody really could say exactly what would happen......</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ever the optimists, we were in the living room listening to Jimmy Buffett's live New Year's Eve performance over the web, drinking our champagne, had the flashilights ready just in case - and had a box of roman candles to shoot off in the street at midnight. We were ready.</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">When midnight arrived and Jimmy shouted 'Happy New Year' we went out into the street with an empty bucket and our roman candles feeling really good now that 2 bottles of champagne had been consumed. Tom put the first candle into the bucket, lit it, and off it zoomed into the night sky of a brand new year! He reloaded, and I was commenting 'you know, we need to be careful not to shoot this into the woods, they are so dry this year' when the bucket fell over and the colorful fireballs headed straight for the edge of the very dry woods that surround our house. What!!! </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Of course all the leaves and pine straw caught the flame in a flash and our laughter died in our throats. Yikes! we tried to stomp it out but it was spreading too fast. He ran for a rake and I ran for the garden hose that was all the way behind the house. Suddenly we were not laughing any more, afraid of burning down the neighborhood! Sobriety was apon us!</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">We got the fire put out, thankfully. And stood there in the dark looking at each other like 'what did we just do!?!' That was our welcome to the new century.......thank you, Jimmy Buffett! <span class="pq6dq46d tbxw36s4 knj5qynh kvgmc6g5 ditlmg2l oygrvhab nvdbi5me sf5mxxl7 gl3lb2sf hhz5lgdu" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="❤" height="16" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t6c/1/16/2764.png" style="border: 0px;" width="16" /></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;">What's your story about that night?</div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Dancing Script; font-size: medium;"><b> - Be Safe, Take Care of Each Other</b></span></div></div>Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-64442396955432788082020-10-25T12:44:00.001-07:002020-10-25T12:44:55.366-07:00My Covid World 2020<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU11hpWVQqI6aSi26eZwtRJvreQdZH-cYuWS4vO4sAIn2-ZeC_yrcc-QxDnaySHNAG8fETlMjL8OGtZEvTbFtOmcDoksk9y11CMs2dr_1-RzRGFy5ZZ6u8P1vcb4bDKQByft88Lgn7WEw/s275/1960+VW+Beetle+soft+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU11hpWVQqI6aSi26eZwtRJvreQdZH-cYuWS4vO4sAIn2-ZeC_yrcc-QxDnaySHNAG8fETlMjL8OGtZEvTbFtOmcDoksk9y11CMs2dr_1-RzRGFy5ZZ6u8P1vcb4bDKQByft88Lgn7WEw/s0/1960+VW+Beetle+soft+roof.jpg" /></a></div>My first car was a 1960 VW Beetle with a soft sunroof like this one. My car was three shades of red thanks to various bumps and scrapes it had before it got to me in 1972. It became my ride on my 16th birthday, so the car and I were close to being the same age. It didn't have air conditioning but I didn't care, I loved it. My boyfriend of that time installed an 8 track tape player in it for me and I had a plastic cup holder so life was good. It used $5 of gas a week and had no gas gauge - if it started coasting I just pulled off the road and moved a switch on the floorboard with my foot to open the one gallon reserve gas tank so I could go find a gas station. Life was easy in 1972.<p></p><p>I'd say that easy life ended for me on March 1, 2020. Bye bye, normality - hello Covid. I had flown to Altona, Illinois and back that weekend to pick up a cocker spaniel puppy that was intended to be my companion in my retirement years. That trip included 4 airplanes and two chaotic passeges through Chicago O'Hare airport ; thankfully I had reserved assistance to get to my gates or I never would have made it. I noticed several people walking around with masks on their faces but didn't think about it at all. I played with the dog and brought her home! We named her Tootsie. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa-ZG5tLdOxPyqs4H73E3by3W4n9Ge1eT7WGuYhtc40CJ9SMxVnIdZsIFZMmqI-9nL_F0aTXNqphkdkGv105NKQsH6dSa95BSswKz-cSbNjn-zMV0VHwja2cUKe86siX-mpRxPaNHRAI/s577/getting+Tootsie+at+the+airport+022820.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="493" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMa-ZG5tLdOxPyqs4H73E3by3W4n9Ge1eT7WGuYhtc40CJ9SMxVnIdZsIFZMmqI-9nL_F0aTXNqphkdkGv105NKQsH6dSa95BSswKz-cSbNjn-zMV0VHwja2cUKe86siX-mpRxPaNHRAI/w273-h319/getting+Tootsie+at+the+airport+022820.png" width="273" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In the March 1st newscasts we got the first clues that Covid had arrived in Tennessee. Of course in hindsight we realize it had probably been here for months, but that was part of the initial mystery. It looked like any town that had an airport also had Covid, and it was spreading fast. By March 6th I was working from home and spraying my mail with Lysol before I touched it. It was perfect for someone who needed to be at home house training a dog. And I could stay in my pajamas all day!</p><p>Thousands of people died. We got to see closeups of the mobile morgues parked outside of the hospitals in New York City. Business travel screeched to a halt all over the nation. My job specialized in travel arrangements, event logistics and filing expense reports. By June my job was gone and I was unemployed - poof!</p><p>October rolled around. This was to have been my auspicious 65th birthday complete with a week at the beach drinking champagne, getting Medicare insurance, and getting my first tattoo. Another 'poof' - Covid continues to kill and terrorize the elderly. I did get the Medicare but the rest floated away as if in a dream. Bye Bye.....</p><p>So I'm home every day with the dogs, filing for unemployment and taking art classes online thanks to the ZOOM app - I'm getting to play with paint and drawing pretty pictures. It is a surreal life that I never would have dreamed of. I go out of the house maybe once a week but you can bet it's a quick trip, I don't linger anywhere. When I get cabin fever I load up the dogs and we all go for a ride around the countryside, windows cracked so they can smell all of the interesting things out there. Otherwise, we are at home listening to audio books from the library or playing with the art stuff. Life is simple and I hope we all survive! Ya'll stay safe - </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-30633848541291498562018-04-05T14:21:00.001-07:002018-04-05T14:21:05.410-07:00Breathe in, Breathe Out, Move On<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnk8LiRBw2cCYEPB7-1fFGXlcMvbsqZIw9fFEPUnuohfF4yh-OaNl0rZVffOA_NCn0j1Tgzy5ydIy4dn6uXWVfrrM2GMJm8nFKGH9cwW0KKo1VxkvO07WHqHtaVpULDm12ZJEuGaZSf8/s1600/stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="1140" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnk8LiRBw2cCYEPB7-1fFGXlcMvbsqZIw9fFEPUnuohfF4yh-OaNl0rZVffOA_NCn0j1Tgzy5ydIy4dn6uXWVfrrM2GMJm8nFKGH9cwW0KKo1VxkvO07WHqHtaVpULDm12ZJEuGaZSf8/s200/stress.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
I am popping in today to briefly comment on some of the wonderful things going on in my life. <br />
<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIsi5yyQhz3BvYmJ4x4m5sqLyE6oS8HLb2TsRLbT2duJhbrrXZIQEkMDy6EabwcMceJOKe8zO9dvnZw00zhRoMQJ4uw7zLfiMEN-ISk8Dbxm7S7g-Ev-igX1wTfLsZ47XZZl_bjrrGYE/s1600/being+calm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIsi5yyQhz3BvYmJ4x4m5sqLyE6oS8HLb2TsRLbT2duJhbrrXZIQEkMDy6EabwcMceJOKe8zO9dvnZw00zhRoMQJ4uw7zLfiMEN-ISk8Dbxm7S7g-Ev-igX1wTfLsZ47XZZl_bjrrGYE/s640/being+calm.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
I'm successfully using Mindful Meditation to help control my response to stress. I first learned the technique in a Stress Relief class at Vanderbilt University about 8 years ago. Basically what I can tell you is that IT WORKS. Sweet relief is at hand. The more you practice this type of meditation, the more effective it becomes. These days I am also using the award winning iPhone app called Calm while I am working. It's the same principles that were taught in my class. If you are bothered by stress, I encourage you to give it a try. <br />
<br /><br />
<a href="https://blog.calm.com/relax/calm-mindfulness-journal">https://blog.calm.com/relax/calm-mindfulness-journal</a> Journaling is another technique that I use often. I have two journals actually: one I use to unload thoughts that try to keep me awake at night, which eventually get thrown away; and the other is My Journal of Good and Terrific Things. The second is a journal / scrapbook of all the good things that happen to me. I keep this and often reread it, especially after a tough day at work. I add things like ticket stubs, photos, pressed flowers, you name it. <br />
<br /><br />
Don't let stress rob your life of the peace you deserve. Savoring the good side of life is a pleasure!<br />
<br /><br />
Stay safe and be gentle with yourself ~ <br />
<br /><br />
<br /></div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-9692173539291004252016-07-21T07:02:00.003-07:002016-07-21T07:02:33.440-07:00Sweet Anticipation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt9-o1Y80xRCYbgsJggPQv9NPStCfWz9vEA15PIXzSiNyczLYtFTvMav2r5u5OP-PFvhqTRS4SnBQ4i96Pef0OJ51tezt7ypVHnfeLPtAX0h3jzgKDrFF2bAtm_Hpf3sopTrLoiuSwbc/s1600/best-newborn-photographers-mn%2528pp_w900_h600%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAt9-o1Y80xRCYbgsJggPQv9NPStCfWz9vEA15PIXzSiNyczLYtFTvMav2r5u5OP-PFvhqTRS4SnBQ4i96Pef0OJ51tezt7ypVHnfeLPtAX0h3jzgKDrFF2bAtm_Hpf3sopTrLoiuSwbc/s320/best-newborn-photographers-mn%2528pp_w900_h600%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hey ya'll -<br />
<br />
This morning I am taking a bit of time to savor some of the sweetest anticipation a grandparent can know: the impending arrival of a new grand baby. This child will be our 4th, we have waited the better part of 7 years for he / she to arrive. Yes, the parents wanted a bit of their own sweet anticipation so they chose not to learn the gender of this little one. In another few days we will finally get the big reveal and life as we know it will change once again!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_SZqUEwqz6STXgTHpbyuE3NqpGZjUcqwv6eOp1Qyoer-_5rlkI1a4lCglc5bmP3kNwt5ulw8yfF5_ySnCMB1VMYpiu6Zl6ZYUFZLRzcD-xwP_CtX49ZkQcmGNG5LMZ6ZsBM6oHTQUu8/s1600/10398705_1202127206525_1360098_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_SZqUEwqz6STXgTHpbyuE3NqpGZjUcqwv6eOp1Qyoer-_5rlkI1a4lCglc5bmP3kNwt5ulw8yfF5_ySnCMB1VMYpiu6Zl6ZYUFZLRzcD-xwP_CtX49ZkQcmGNG5LMZ6ZsBM6oHTQUu8/s320/10398705_1202127206525_1360098_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The more birthdays I have, the more I think deep and long about the futures of these little people, and the long lines of generations that have contributed to their genes. Will this child have his mother's eyes, his dad's smile, his grandmother's curiosity about nature? All things to be discovered in their own good time. I can look at other children in my family and see the ancestor's contributions in them, it is fascinating to me. Better than Christmas! And I want so badly to help teach this little one about who they are and who his / her family are.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DS53eZ6pXXU6fEapcG4l1DqPkwV26V4sykB5zIOnlsStPdNV02Rwi05L7AJlgY08fa0e_J4lkIaeIo1UOyJQWa274EdA-1aWMC7IQtf8wZ2RYNGYUsRLgTAVeVWHYYY-r3eKWtBUPxY/s1600/10398705_1202662219900_4622979_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DS53eZ6pXXU6fEapcG4l1DqPkwV26V4sykB5zIOnlsStPdNV02Rwi05L7AJlgY08fa0e_J4lkIaeIo1UOyJQWa274EdA-1aWMC7IQtf8wZ2RYNGYUsRLgTAVeVWHYYY-r3eKWtBUPxY/s320/10398705_1202662219900_4622979_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Ever since we learned of the impending arrival, I have been knitting up a play blanket, which is almost finished. This weekend I will be up in the attic to pull down the bouncy seat, porta crib and box of infant sheets and things, to get them washed and ready. I have special toys & activities prepared for baby's Big Brother, whose world is about to turn upside down in a major way. I have casseroles in the freezer ready to take for mom & dad's first days at home to ease their load. It's such a sweet, joyful time of life. I am grateful!<br />
<br />
My best to you and yours - Carol in Tennessee</div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-1549862979508634292016-05-07T00:13:00.009-07:002021-01-01T06:08:50.269-08:00An Unsung Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjwA8kjLCX-_lUPnOL8zVGf6znouZJIuHa9c_UsJCRDwpvA-U1K_4PYKv2DF5vZke5IdhNGZrya6ZvfFFaqqZsn5F2of_31elu7oweJ1tR1czxtdM1WqyAXT1Gr4kwG8h8_pOadn3GYY/s239/Nurses+Rock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="138" data-original-width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjwA8kjLCX-_lUPnOL8zVGf6znouZJIuHa9c_UsJCRDwpvA-U1K_4PYKv2DF5vZke5IdhNGZrya6ZvfFFaqqZsn5F2of_31elu7oweJ1tR1czxtdM1WqyAXT1Gr4kwG8h8_pOadn3GYY/s0/Nurses+Rock.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
An Unsung Hero</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Hi.</div>
I'm baaaaaaaaack. It's time for my annual blog post. As always, the speed of life these days resembles that of a Japanese bullet train. And it seems like the older I get, the faster it flies by!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is something about springtime that always causes me to step off the train and look around for a while, though. This year, and this week, I have been thinking about one of my heroes. I want to share her with you.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3e/ef/45/3eef452d6ad673799dfd5643f001b6b4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3e/ef/45/3eef452d6ad673799dfd5643f001b6b4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She's a nurse. She has worked the night shift all of her career, and 99% of her years have been spent in the NICU of one hospital, where she has become a fixture. Over the years she has observed the ebb and flow of life through her unique point of view, providing love, comfort, encouragement, care and hope, to the tiniest of the tiny premature babies in her unit, and their families. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Over the years of our friendship she has shared joyful triumphs and unimaginable tragedies from her day-to-day work. What a tremendous heart this woman has! When she has a little patient who is struggling and beginning to fail, she becomes a ferocious defender and steps in with her weapons of stimulants, CPR and heaven knows what else, to, as she likes to say it, 'snatch them back from the jaws of death!'. Just like that, it's an everyday thing in her life, saving these little lives. It blows my mind to wonder how many children survived because of the strength and training and loving care this woman gives. She couldn't be more humble, it's all part of a days' work to her. I try to see myself coming home from work one day and telling my husband 'oh, I saved a life today, just snatched it right out of the jaws!' Really, can you imagine?! She is like Wonder Woman to me, truly a super hero for those in her care!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://nicusurvivalkits.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/img_4887.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://nicusurvivalkits.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/img_4887.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
She always has her little favorite patients and stories to tell, and we pray for them together. I remember one little tiny boy that she was smitten with, he had been born at 26 weeks and was a real fighter. She took me in to visit one night while he was there, and I was completely awed. There in the clear plastic box, under the warming light, was this tiny little human wearing a 'diaper' that was actually a 2x2 gauze pad. His little body was the size and shape of a squirrel's, you could have held him in one hand easily with room left over. He had tiny little tubes and monitors and a tiny little white hat to keep his little head warm. His bed was wrapped in clear plastic wrap to hold warmth around him, He was absolutely precious. I kept track of him through her for several weeks as he had some ups and downs, and ultimately was able to go home in the loving arms of his mother. Another success for my friend, the hero!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.preemieworld.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Dominick-n-Derrick.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://www.preemieworld.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Dominick-n-Derrick.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
Most recently she has the task of helping to turn an awful tragedy around. A woman delivered her first children, a set of preemie twins, boy and girl. And then this healthy young mom developed a complication that took her life two days later; just like that. It is just so devastating to think about. Nobody thinks of that when they are dreaming about having a little sweet Gerber baby of their very own. But here is my friend with the huge heart, giving those little ones and their dad extra love and extra care, while the young dad and the family are in shock, dealing with a funeral, wondering why it had to happen. I have heard about how well the babies are doing, getting good baths and lots of lotion and loving care from all of the staff whose hearts are aching for this whole family. My friend says as the days go by, the family is rallying around the dad and the babies, and the babies are responding. These little sweethearts are pulling the whole family together, and they are going to grow strong and be well, and fine. Little doses of love and care, delivered regularly day after day by my friend the hero and others like her, are working a true life miracle. It's amazing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can be a hero too, you know. If you have a minute, it would be great if you could say a little prayer or think good thoughts, and send healing energy to this little family, and the hero nurses who are so dedicated to them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We can all be heroes for a time, if we step off that bullet train and pay attention to what is really important in life. I like that idea! Thanks for checking in - take care of you and yours.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
~ Carol in Tennessee</div>
</div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-57546758003898004312015-05-10T15:16:00.000-07:002015-05-10T15:16:08.513-07:00a drop in the bucket<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<img class="image-stretch-horizontal frontImage ieTransition ieBookShadow frontUnrotated" id="imgBlkFront" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="left: 0px; max-height: 321px; max-width: 260px; position: absolute; top: 0px; transform-origin: 50% 50% -20px;" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I almost didn't write this, it has been a year since I was here last. The year flew by!<br />
<br />
I only have x amount of time to do any writing and the last year has been focused on illustrated letters to loved ones and working my way through daily morning pages in the system designed by Julia Cameron, called<em> The Artist's Way <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464">http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464</a></em> <br />
<br />
My mornings are generally rushed so it's not a pleasant flow with the morning pages. The point is to empty your head of all the extraneous mish mash thoughts first thing in the morning so your creativity can take a deep clear breath and start fanning the flames of inspiration to your now cleared, receptive mind. That's the theory.<br />
<br />
I have journalled in the evening for years, but that's all thoughts about what happened after the fact. The morning pages, on the other hand, aim to help you start your day with a fairly clean slate so you can make your best of it. I feel that it's worth pursuing, so I'm still trying.<br />
<br />
<img alt="Image result for Mother's' day" class="rg_i" data-sz="f" jsaction="load:str.tbn" name="fgtydWUEi2_jFM:" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" style="height: 173px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 292px;" /><br />
<br />
Today our family celebrated Mother's Day by meeting for a brunch at a favorite local restaurant. The kids were scrubbed and on their best behavior, and we had lively discussion about the performance of everyone's baseball teams, fishing from the bank versus fishing from a boat, lawnmowers, bacon, and lots of other details of life. I loved every minute of it. My boys are SO busy with their kids, it makes our time sitting down to share a meal that much more precious to me. My own mother is long gone, except in my heart. I planted some of her favorite flowers in my garden to honor her. She is sorely missed and lovingly remembered every single day. So yes, my Mother's Day has been a happy one. <br />
<br />
Made a recent change in employment when I decided I had fought the monster one hour commute long enough. It has been so good for me to switch gears, meet new people and start learning new things. Like Jimmy Buffett, I see my professional life as a kind of Swiss Army knife, with all sorts of different blades / skills rolled into one. I can wrap meat, prepare and display produce, collect tolls at the toll booth, run a photo shoot for a catalog, print and mail 15,000 newsletters, press check spec sheets at 3 a.m., tell a parent that their child has been suspended from college and offer them comfort, or teach someone how to use that new software that is the whizbang newest thing to come along. You want an oil painting to donate to your favorite cause for a silent auction? No problem, I can whip it up for you. And if you need a morale booster, I will set up an event with entertainment and the tastiest catering you can imagine!<br />
<br />
Mostly though, I just want to be out in the world, making a positive difference, one day at a time.<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by. Tell me what you've been up to!</div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-19768889192686579352014-06-06T13:56:00.000-07:002014-06-06T13:56:32.570-07:00A Turn of the Wheel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNuD7qi_6AYUlbHqTwfkN3MCZepUi-kBzoK-Uk1Je23JZarrhc670uNXdvn1uku9C7WwroF9p7oYEZLlnm-_PaE4sSyeQu-69TK3NCImIcU6B3cUG87z3dcYbBpAZmxcqXHkglyXmIwQ/s1600/daffodill+dew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNuD7qi_6AYUlbHqTwfkN3MCZepUi-kBzoK-Uk1Je23JZarrhc670uNXdvn1uku9C7WwroF9p7oYEZLlnm-_PaE4sSyeQu-69TK3NCImIcU6B3cUG87z3dcYbBpAZmxcqXHkglyXmIwQ/s1600/daffodill+dew.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What a whirlwind the spring semester was around here. We set a new record for numbers of cases heard in response to various wrongdoings on campus. I hope that isn't indicative of a social change, some of this mischief is seriously concerning. Clearly our freshmen of 2013 were not prepared for what awaited them in the final exams, and our athletes have a lot to learn about living peacefully in polite society. <br />
<br />
I have spent the majority of the last year knitting - not much time for anything else but work and sleep. Even as the months passed and little league baseball season started up, I was hauling the knitting out at the ball field and sweating with its fuzziness in my lap during the playoffs in May. <br />
<br />
FINALLY my watercolor muse has resurfaced, after lo these many months, and I am going to spend some time with a watercolor journal / sketchpad type of plein air kit while we are out camping this summer, to see what we shall see. It will be a nice change of focus. I have been gathering up my supplies to make a couple of travel kits, one to take on the camper and one to take to work - during the summer there is plenty of time to sketch on campus.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FpTvV_aiV1mNRQPyhTkGRUWrTq6ZKlNKMn7b6wMsov_UBatpETverMZ5mCNf8ZYlvQoXdjOJpeDUcVpqG9OWfuSSDwyIvBI8ayAGMsVcmX2hzmYLTev6-IFAV2jz8ugRx3Pd46Hcwxw/s1600/Bryant+coat+of+arms+Irish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FpTvV_aiV1mNRQPyhTkGRUWrTq6ZKlNKMn7b6wMsov_UBatpETverMZ5mCNf8ZYlvQoXdjOJpeDUcVpqG9OWfuSSDwyIvBI8ayAGMsVcmX2hzmYLTev6-IFAV2jz8ugRx3Pd46Hcwxw/s1600/Bryant+coat+of+arms+Irish.jpg" /></a>In a completely unrelated topic, I was thrilled today to run across an Irish coat of arms for my (Irish) <br />
family name at this website -> http://houseofbrianboru.blogspot.com/p/obrien-clan-heraldry.html . It fascinates me, and of course I have done many years of ancestral research along and along. I hope to contact the gentleman who is in charge of this website and see what more I can discover about our Irish connections to King Brian Boru and the O'Brians. I love Ireland, and the Irish people.<br />
<br />
With watercolor brush in hand until next time - take care of you and yours! </div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-76527795352801724552014-01-14T09:00:00.000-08:002014-01-14T09:00:48.027-08:00Challenged<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img class="irc_mut" height="290" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTL7NOc4oNwYr6g0YY137nZv7NFkm-i8qMqgh_IJdQQ29O3AAMJww" style="margin-top: 122px;" width="400" /> </div>
<br />
Hello again, and thanks for checking in.<br />
<br />
I am occupied these days by tremendous changes in my health and lifestyle. We all take our health for granted until something goes south, don't we. I have a long way to go but have excellent help and I am working my way back a step at a time.<br />
<br />
We are neck deep in winter here in Tennessee, and I am counting the days until the annual Lawn and Garden fair at the state fairgrounds. By the first of March we have seen our first daffodils and long for more; this show delivers it. There will be 3 - 4 big exhibition buildings jam packed with full sized, fully landscaped gardens. Many will have water features, some are whimsical, some are really, really over the top. I recall one that had a waterfall that cascaded from the ceiling of the building, it was spectacular. Last year I was impressed with a Japanese meditation garden that had a little bamboo water feature, it was so calming.<br />
Wanted to carry that one home with me! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="irc_mut" height="300" id="irc_mi" src="http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/160/0/d/japanese_bamboo_water_pipe_by_msanimesakura-d52tifh.jpg" style="margin-top: 35px;" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Another favorite feature of this show are the vendors, everything from herbalists to antique dealers and all plant related things in between. I usually carry home a sackful of seedling herbs and a seedling tree or two to add to the forest around our house. What a happy tradition!<br />
<br />
Hope you are enjoying the moment and looking forward to spring as well. </div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-25725093948161150052013-10-15T11:24:00.000-07:002013-10-15T11:34:04.514-07:00Success comes with Hard Work!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
About 6 years ago I was visiting friends in Lexington, KY and met a dynamic young lady who worked at the University of Kentucky campus bookstore. She was dating the son of my friend and was a bubbly, lively person to be around, I liked her right from the start. She was writing short stories in her spare time and submitting them to magazines, but hoped to become a full time writer some day.<br />
<br />
This past week I found one of her novels in my local public library and squealed out loud, I am SO proud of her. She has done it!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxque6-6vB7wcx29sBkoO3dHyNVyHcPwOYylbBlW3tX3JqHQ5kxEa572FY8DUmaX1OL7N-uRAgeudzopDNSeWX6HonQhQyuUhngY9iBm4DQ8f7-5WKFjPDQDxe-_pqzksmaSBe3VDook/s1600/TiffanyReisz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxque6-6vB7wcx29sBkoO3dHyNVyHcPwOYylbBlW3tX3JqHQ5kxEa572FY8DUmaX1OL7N-uRAgeudzopDNSeWX6HonQhQyuUhngY9iBm4DQ8f7-5WKFjPDQDxe-_pqzksmaSBe3VDook/s320/TiffanyReisz.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
Meet Tiffany Reisz. She specifically writes adult-only erotica, and was writing it well BEFORE the Fifty Shades novels appeared. She is quite successful in her genre and is now in a relationship with a fellow writer, so they are able to travel together a good bit. She has bid the retail job market adios and is her own boss with her own booming business.<br />
<br />
So if you are awake in the middle of the night and need something to read, you might try downloading one of her short stories - or not - it would probably keep you awake... ;)<br />
<br />
I love, love, love to see people succeed by the hard work of their own hands. Way to go, Tiffany!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
http://www.tiffanyreisz.com/about/ </div>
<br /></div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-34668233855455947722013-09-12T18:50:00.003-07:002013-09-12T18:54:50.252-07:00Showtime!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's time for the class reunion art show, it's in the old home town! I am excited, not for myself but for the fellow artists that will also be there. I have known them all since childhood and it's really keen that we'll be in the gallery together.<br />
<br />
I wanted to post a little bit in case anyone wants to know more about what I've done with painting.<br />
<br />
My best, and last, watercolor, <em>The Good Life</em>, from 1999:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVvtFTwU8AiDFrvnzuM-bPeiz33XnuR1SQWmbiQoLE-cgZU9NvoLpI0_PfxwCAlXWqJCzEj6Akk-0lbPaqDxrOcoDx-fDgOUB1Z3DL_al07ZseUeHrEjU2_vTTNcAtJtdaTRtw2I_dxk/s1600/the+good+life++++++watercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVvtFTwU8AiDFrvnzuM-bPeiz33XnuR1SQWmbiQoLE-cgZU9NvoLpI0_PfxwCAlXWqJCzEj6Akk-0lbPaqDxrOcoDx-fDgOUB1Z3DL_al07ZseUeHrEjU2_vTTNcAtJtdaTRtw2I_dxk/s320/the+good+life++++++watercolor.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I found my true niche painting with oil after having dabbled in watercolor with great frustration. (My sister, on the other hand, loves working with watercolor and has made beautiful pictures.) At the time I began I was working full time and taking care of my father, who was in the final years of his life. I needed an outlet that would remove me completely from all the stress, and learning to paint did the trick. I lived for those classes with my wonderful teachers. And mostly I gave my work away to whoever asked - my best friend, my husband, my grandson.....my most favorite one, <em>Tulip II</em>, was donated to a silent auction for a charity fundraiser. I hope it is hanging in a really beautiful home somewhere. That's <em>Tulip II</em> posted on the banner of my blog.<br />
<br />
Here's my first oil, <em>Flippers</em>, from 2006. If you know me, you will recognize the subject, they are my favorite shoes:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqdyS8aF-HOLxQ-Pbduo_4nnnNOZZ33wtbyhXggW9yT-zs4mV8Xfrv6-JWK6ttw4HJtysIjdr__kvb3ZIIO-IekhGgUz4EYtQhoLReet5iwhkrqIKzi0hMy2zZ1j9gCywYq1c7eMTKDw/s1600/Flippers+oil++2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqdyS8aF-HOLxQ-Pbduo_4nnnNOZZ33wtbyhXggW9yT-zs4mV8Xfrv6-JWK6ttw4HJtysIjdr__kvb3ZIIO-IekhGgUz4EYtQhoLReet5iwhkrqIKzi0hMy2zZ1j9gCywYq1c7eMTKDw/s320/Flippers+oil++2006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
and lastly, here is a peek at a current oil in progress called <em>Dad's Roses,</em> this is one I will keep!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<em></em> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MpdznTUjVOzza3nCrcEW834bx6YySCQslOfUMNviuVKgJ_bSi5wBshKvV5hdi1G2iZqBbDuMfyZowHLzt0IdQfVA3kNh45e8tNQAQZTJ2_1G73q4FcPL8rr4SN3DDhj8D9dENSqxGd4/s1600/Dads+Roses++++oil+in+progress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MpdznTUjVOzza3nCrcEW834bx6YySCQslOfUMNviuVKgJ_bSi5wBshKvV5hdi1G2iZqBbDuMfyZowHLzt0IdQfVA3kNh45e8tNQAQZTJ2_1G73q4FcPL8rr4SN3DDhj8D9dENSqxGd4/s320/Dads+Roses++++oil+in+progress.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
That's my painting progress in a nutshell. Thanks for looking!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Til next time- ch</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-37102436497126205402013-08-11T14:51:00.003-07:002013-08-11T14:51:56.075-07:00A Summer of Milestones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well now, this has been a summer of milestones. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxjehapar3Ff1fABbBV6_0EKAjMCVzLt-r6l_hxelhRDPsJHbsvI_8jkstDm35Wb8Eskj1_VancsqP5EGRosB2o0XTSdQtSPXy0th2m8CxD6AXK2fdAfL9A_T6C3_XPv1pB8hlqFK1rc/s1600/The+Wild+Blue+Yonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxjehapar3Ff1fABbBV6_0EKAjMCVzLt-r6l_hxelhRDPsJHbsvI_8jkstDm35Wb8Eskj1_VancsqP5EGRosB2o0XTSdQtSPXy0th2m8CxD6AXK2fdAfL9A_T6C3_XPv1pB8hlqFK1rc/s1600/The+Wild+Blue+Yonder.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
After many years of working in harness, we took the step to join those who enjoy camping in travel trailers. We did it mostly to have it to share with our kids and the grands; but also to help us re-learn to turn off our work ethic sometimes and get some badly needed rest. Stress is a terrible thing to give your life to! In our new owner reverie we proudly stuck a University of Kentucky sticker on the window and named her the 'Wild Blue Yonder' but with a few miles under our belts now a better description might be 'The Money Pit'. That's how hobbies go.<br />
<br />
We've taken her out 4 times now, and the kids have had her out twice. It has taken us this long to get the hang of all the prep and setup that is involved before you can finally sit down, put your feet up, and exhale deeply. Our last site was a beautiful lakefront spot where the kids could fish and the rest of us kicked back to watch the sun go down and stars come out while we talked of all manner of things. It is such a good time to spend with family, nobody is rushing about or fooling with their cell phone (except Amanda!). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDiMYV1gcWSNKJlO13dxPh8BOi7eJtNEb5Xg5337q0olNWW3zc1E7SkxFUxOiM4SxyHUd8H45De89esvIsOt-k9wVugEi5tq-FGPyy47-IgPlNTGIwAoLhVRqsWfjX7bdvkKXRBMAZ_w/s1600/Jeff+and+the+boys+fishing+at+the+campground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDiMYV1gcWSNKJlO13dxPh8BOi7eJtNEb5Xg5337q0olNWW3zc1E7SkxFUxOiM4SxyHUd8H45De89esvIsOt-k9wVugEi5tq-FGPyy47-IgPlNTGIwAoLhVRqsWfjX7bdvkKXRBMAZ_w/s1600/Jeff+and+the+boys+fishing+at+the+campground.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It is also time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of my high school class reunion. How quickly the time has passed! I am one of those people who moved away from the old home town and look forward to seeing those people who were my friends for so many growing up years. An interesting feature of this celebration is going to be a show at a local art gallery, spotlighting the creations of our classmates. We have some accomplished painters in the crowd, as well as potters and fiber artists. I am showing two of my early paintings (the others since have been sold, alas) and some of my current fiber work, along with my big spinning wheel. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jV3gfZZLz01hzKnJsA-vKvZim3_lo9VNMhAkZUgTIp8oeEZim_1Lc1uGHTcSCPao5oIbqXaHQ9t9zxxUrnnwZOxayFJd3Y7xZFvkQ0ZFaIbaI5lUME_O4fzJTM5m9o3QjRX8WQ55ZCo/s1600/wheel+and+art+yarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jV3gfZZLz01hzKnJsA-vKvZim3_lo9VNMhAkZUgTIp8oeEZim_1Lc1uGHTcSCPao5oIbqXaHQ9t9zxxUrnnwZOxayFJd3Y7xZFvkQ0ZFaIbaI5lUME_O4fzJTM5m9o3QjRX8WQ55ZCo/s1600/wheel+and+art+yarn.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Spinning, along with dyeing and carding the fiber, have been my biggest interest for the last couple of years. I have travelled a lot to learn different techniques and meet some of the most interesting people, it has been wonderful!<br />
<br />
My drive to keep learning and doing new things is so strong. I am converting a bedroom into a studio and have found that it's already to small to hold the necessities of knitting, crochet, oil painting, beading and jewelry making, fiber collecting, carding, spinning, collecting fabric, sewing, quilting, and working embroidery. So many ideas, so little time. :D<br />
<br />
And so, we will go to the 40th class reunion to remind us that friends are very precious, and remember the best of the good old times. <br />
<br />
Be safe and thankful!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMpNCtKTGOZFdEKKgZ4wKmRUqJ1VkFNypvb279QpDFslkJy_wRFKKDYVn7OUXdzDQVqeB1QeOMcP7Gyvftbw-Qet_xIRKXFAz-a6N30cgnMvHJv9WslzbabqUrPAQow1EAhLOp4nYauw/s1600/Tiptoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMpNCtKTGOZFdEKKgZ4wKmRUqJ1VkFNypvb279QpDFslkJy_wRFKKDYVn7OUXdzDQVqeB1QeOMcP7Gyvftbw-Qet_xIRKXFAz-a6N30cgnMvHJv9WslzbabqUrPAQow1EAhLOp4nYauw/s1600/Tiptoe.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-58177321624345772662012-12-17T09:02:00.000-08:002012-12-17T09:02:05.119-08:00Cooking with the Grands at Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoTxZc8WNBasN4fUgmF5Xn4tvfbVp8qGFxjRcECGP_ACEUz8JWzcQmtIQnHMJDD4tP15ooMV6iTQv2Ran9fngYv-DUe4TOIHlTcV-1te_LYvFN0puJnsDjn5PiVj5_3YCfjeGym7Y2oU/s1600/ready+to+make+puppy+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoTxZc8WNBasN4fUgmF5Xn4tvfbVp8qGFxjRcECGP_ACEUz8JWzcQmtIQnHMJDD4tP15ooMV6iTQv2Ran9fngYv-DUe4TOIHlTcV-1te_LYvFN0puJnsDjn5PiVj5_3YCfjeGym7Y2oU/s1600/ready+to+make+puppy+cookies.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Every year at Christmas time I am careful to reserve time to do some crafting with my grandkids. Sometimes we make pictures, sometimes we make ornaments for the trees, sometimes we make little gifts for various parents. This year we decided to do something for the 6 dogs in the family. By checking on Pinterest I was able to find a simple pet healthy recipe, so I assembled our materials and yesterday we baked Puppy Cookies for them all. Here is the recipe we used : <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2007/11/03/gone-to-the-dogs/">http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2007/11/03/gone-to-the-dogs/</a> ,<br />
<br />
It took me back to the days when my boys were preschoolers - I was a stay at home mom and I made them biscuits from scratch so often for breakfast that I began using a variety of shapes of cutters to make the meal more fun for them. The dog bone cutter was a big favorite then, and yesterday it came in handy once again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWfxkPzFpCaFQEgmlaLk6KoU6_Swg3GgooR8Gt0g3z3eTpm9cdAcKapzFDBUd4d0-8VawAfXsgL9c68URE4YHmSkhBy-CyCe9CVkmmGf7NNlwMzCRIdL3U2V4LhpjTAOilJaqgNLghbs/s1600/Mix+the+wet+stuff+together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWfxkPzFpCaFQEgmlaLk6KoU6_Swg3GgooR8Gt0g3z3eTpm9cdAcKapzFDBUd4d0-8VawAfXsgL9c68URE4YHmSkhBy-CyCe9CVkmmGf7NNlwMzCRIdL3U2V4LhpjTAOilJaqgNLghbs/s1600/Mix+the+wet+stuff+together.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Mixing up mushie stuff is always thrilling for little people. The messier it looks, the more they like it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNj0114C-G__NuH1J3SpJv7hPIHiHvM2xR73GTOjqZGrg6HOA_KOyLpfcoNUm5cHEEtDtb8x74wvKDzKioYh7bFFDTMhNQOkANPtBwyuTFkxfcRMbxBRVZgL6RwvHmOsalfjg0pwN43mg/s1600/them+mix+it+with+the+dry+stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNj0114C-G__NuH1J3SpJv7hPIHiHvM2xR73GTOjqZGrg6HOA_KOyLpfcoNUm5cHEEtDtb8x74wvKDzKioYh7bFFDTMhNQOkANPtBwyuTFkxfcRMbxBRVZgL6RwvHmOsalfjg0pwN43mg/s1600/them+mix+it+with+the+dry+stuff.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
When you start adding the dry ingredients the dough becomes very stiff, so big brother had to tackle stirring the mass into a big gob of dough. Look how intense he is on his mission! <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We also gave him the duty of rolling the dough out flat so baby sister could cut out the shapes with the cookie cutter and put them onto the cookie sheet for baking. She was so very careful!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzz0VID1HRlLUUdIsbJhA2qger0z1r-8OoWATuSMROvgAdOaLfmpEeTnB36ffVOWeUy1T7bg9y4vt2goUsLYJKySQTBPaRp2Vt5GN9R22_7YKlCZ4BVAUTB51h4BopjZQtebeXjy8YpE/s1600/cut+out+the+cookies+and+bake+them.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJzz0VID1HRlLUUdIsbJhA2qger0z1r-8OoWATuSMROvgAdOaLfmpEeTnB36ffVOWeUy1T7bg9y4vt2goUsLYJKySQTBPaRp2Vt5GN9R22_7YKlCZ4BVAUTB51h4BopjZQtebeXjy8YpE/s1600/cut+out+the+cookies+and+bake+them.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We filled up two big cookie sheets with dog bone shapes and carefully baked them. After they cooled we counted them out and divided them equally between our four households where our 6 furry friends work so hard to take care of us. We held one out to try out on Pupman, who was anxiously waiting to get his treat when he heard the magic words: PUPPY COOKIE!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrHX-9gFsLR7BDhDE1cHO1GKL7WLzT18ChKAo5BqawhQZlid3z1LBLEgVtp-Ii1VF4TJTviRrsak4dJffKAzphB61YIrJZCzOdSsnfC1DoW2GC48WrgULbRWQ-5Mqf-cH1q5AnV1l6KQ/s1600/Happy+Pupman+with+his+cookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrHX-9gFsLR7BDhDE1cHO1GKL7WLzT18ChKAo5BqawhQZlid3z1LBLEgVtp-Ii1VF4TJTviRrsak4dJffKAzphB61YIrJZCzOdSsnfC1DoW2GC48WrgULbRWQ-5Mqf-cH1q5AnV1l6KQ/s1600/Happy+Pupman+with+his+cookie.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The recipe doesn't mention it but I think it's a good idea to store these in an airtight container in the fridge. When I got home to my two four footed babies I gave them each a cookie and they seemed very happy to have the treat.<br />
<br />
Nine more days until Christmas......Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-63396122859532909062012-12-14T06:25:00.001-08:002012-12-14T06:25:02.253-08:00knit, Swirl, SNUGGLE!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<br />
These are some of the new designs from a book (available on Amazon.com) called<br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 1200px;"><tbody>
<tr><td>
<a href="http://www.knitswirl.com/default.aspx"><img align="left" alt="knit, swirl by sandra mciver" height="125" src="http://www.knitswirl.com/images/KS_Logo2-color-subtitle.gif" style="display: block;" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The book is a little pricey at $34.95 and the designs are very similar, with subtle differences in shaping and length to fit various bodies and still look nice. I was captivated by the elegance of the black one shown below and another that is so large you can pull the top of it over your head like a hood, who would not want to snuggle in that! We give this one a big thumbs up and hope some used copies will float to the top soon. You can see more at <a href="http://www.knitswirl.com/">http://www.knitswirl.com</a> . Happy swirling!<br />
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 1200px;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8lNMnSeo41AGWWnK1ASYyzXO9CqfCfMS6zuCthmJeeFyfmlbAp-GqiL3gjx5BQSmZSe5xL6rt0WrRCg15WUTNgG3rvalMq4SDofMIowkNIIRXDm-JcMSdK_MQH97T_cfRMyY1deevEc/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8lNMnSeo41AGWWnK1ASYyzXO9CqfCfMS6zuCthmJeeFyfmlbAp-GqiL3gjx5BQSmZSe5xL6rt0WrRCg15WUTNgG3rvalMq4SDofMIowkNIIRXDm-JcMSdK_MQH97T_cfRMyY1deevEc/s1600/4.jpg" height="320" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE41T3VDgRfhPu0XvueZx8XnKbtgL793AqRSnfZTTchyphenhyphenAs3Joux5E5HP6FsJHhoAusUuRzAUqIOZpc1pHwPTL-hRWIT94eE04BfukUD77rI0tgo-HddEIgwZs89XP0HsMGGWZpgSqSG8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE41T3VDgRfhPu0XvueZx8XnKbtgL793AqRSnfZTTchyphenhyphenAs3Joux5E5HP6FsJHhoAusUuRzAUqIOZpc1pHwPTL-hRWIT94eE04BfukUD77rI0tgo-HddEIgwZs89XP0HsMGGWZpgSqSG8/s1600/1.jpg" height="320" width="277" /></a></div>
</div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8603514458381110297.post-14201086098868102752012-12-12T07:27:00.002-08:002012-12-13T18:15:44.502-08:00Tis the Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QNtRB_GJs6lC1BeXU2_h0aauv-vY6V8xz-uLvLDbcLc1UsEYMt26yCZgnkfiewcCt6h4vA85kyUl4FfVrKr64MgI3kMfBLyCLlazMRUx9ts6HCfjU72y-3TF2lI3fGoEkXI7DqR1qWg/s1600/Elisabeth+Nyman+Brownie+meets+the+childre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QNtRB_GJs6lC1BeXU2_h0aauv-vY6V8xz-uLvLDbcLc1UsEYMt26yCZgnkfiewcCt6h4vA85kyUl4FfVrKr64MgI3kMfBLyCLlazMRUx9ts6HCfjU72y-3TF2lI3fGoEkXI7DqR1qWg/s1600/Elisabeth+Nyman+Brownie+meets+the+childre.jpg" width="448" /></a></div>
<br />
Tis the season for cold weather, outdoor decorations, snow, and shopping for special little gifts for special little people in the family. The illustration above is a perfect example of how I viewed the world, and the holidays, for many years as I was growing up. It gave me an appreciation for whimsy that has managed to remain thru all this time. It is a gentler, kinder way of looking out at the world, a point of view that I choose gladly. That's where I am today.<br />
<br />
I'm not doing much painting these days, it seems the Fiber Arts have taken over my life. Though I have my oils and canvases carefully stowed away at the moment, I am ready to pack up my watercolor gear and donate it to the art center, perhaps it can help some other aspiring artist to find their way.<br />
<br />
My art cabinet at home is now stuffed with a sizeable collection of yarn, fur and fiber. I am about to begin learning to create fiber blends via my new Strauch 'Finest' drum carder, an adventure I've been anticipating for a long time. And oh, the projects that I have in mind for the special yarns that I will spin!<br />
<br />
Til next time...... <br />
<img alt="" class="rg_hi uh_hi" data-height="172" data-width="240" height="458" id="rg_hi" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQI5F4NDWeO6GcCcQ8LpCwX2A3A6U8rr64dh38LNhk7N60-alM8" style="height: 172px; width: 240px;" width="640" /> <img height="240" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAX0_BntYFj2VkjJX-77N1p8I_P-3jPAs-K9nlHWMrOz_Jyy9SibZ3eZWyh-OYCdM0QQitWwUhw4EPTjcouEj-_ybuF1ooRb18lQG4k_lhombR29uzETumuzQCm4NpMZteWwvt5HusnHW/s320/locks+to+bobbin.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Carol in Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12934467632735636776noreply@blogger.com2