Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Marching On to April...

March is nearly over, and I don't know where the time went! Between the car accident, nasty colds, really crazy weather, ducks arriving to nest, etc., the days have flown! In my part of the county, we're getting some pretty nice spring weather now. Flowers are beginning to bloom, and I'm looking forward to warmer breezes and sunshine, barbecuing, ice cream cones, car shows for my husband and yard sales for me.

Every so often, I get a crazy urge to chop all my hair off. It starts feeling heavy, and I imagine how easy it would be to care for, if it were only about an inch long. So, I took the scissors and cut about 4 inches from the length and layered it a bit. It's a bit messy, but it feels so much better. By saving the money a professional haircut would have cost, I was able to buy a really pretty summer sweater. It's a lovely shade of purple. I love purple!

April is National Poetry Month. I hope to participate by sharing a few of my favorite poets and poems, and perhaps to write a couple new ones of my own. Here is a link to a list of ideas: 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month 




Friday, March 10, 2017

Grandpa's Shoes...

I have a very old pair of my grandpa's shoes. I never considered donating them as they are well-worn and out of style, but I keep them because they're beautiful to me.

When I was little, I was fascinated when grandpa would get out his shoe kit. The tins of polish, the brush, the rags. He would remove the shoe strings, clean the shoes, then begin the process of rubbing the polish in. This was always done in small circular motions, using care to cover every bit of the leather. When that was done, the buffing began. He would work over the shoe, with a soft cloth, until the shoe gleamed like new. I remember the smile of satisfaction when he finished. He would talk about the value of caring for your shoes and clothing. A good pair of shoes could last you for many years if they were properly cleaned, polished, and maintained.

In the disposable world we live in, those shoes are a gentle reminder to care for and cherish what we have.

© 10MAR2017 ajj

Saturday, March 4, 2017

A Good Day...

It was a productive Saturday for me. I decided to stay off the Internet and limit my phone time to just the one call I had promised to make. As a result, I got some cleaning and laundry done, cleared a mess on my back patio, filled the bird feeder, organized some of my recipes, did a little reading, watched a British mystery program, and even baked a cake.

While sorting through recipes, I had spotted one for my grandma's 7-Up Cake. I didn't have any 7-Up, but I did have Ginger Ale, so I tweaked the recipe using it instead. I added ginger, cinnamon, and a touch of cloves in place of the lemon flavoring, which I also did not have. The family reviews were all thumbs up, so this updated version will be a keeper!

Earlier in the week, my husband was broadsided and his car totaled. Other than a slight whiplash and muscle strain, he is ok. Since the other driver was at fault for running the stop sign, all costs are being covered. PJ stayed home a couple days to recover, but was back delivering mail today! I'm feeling very thankful!