Category: Gratitude



Okay (shoot I need a new word to start a blog, don’t I?), I started this two minutes until midnight so I think it still counts. After all, I haven’t gone to bed yet for the night so it is still today.

I had a wonderful day. Today was the meeting of the Hugger Hats group I make most of my things for. It is such a committed group of people and it wasn’t just women. Whatever method of making comfort items for the less fortunate is all it takes. But I found out that we as a group have given away 1400 hats and things.

The group has phoners who work with social workers, and ombudsmen, and people who take donations and find appropriate receivers. Others in the group do the driving the hats to the right places. We all make our items from donated yarn and then bring them to the library here and the librarian makes sure all finished projects get to the central house and all crafters get their yarn. It has grown to quite the organization for such a small town. Most of the items end up in nearby towns and cities. It makes me feel good that I am part of a group of people who care so much of others.

AND we get out and visit and enjoy the sunshine (yeah, we had that today!).

 

Best of all, I came home and Kali and Hubby had done okay without me! Hooray for a good day!

Thursday’s Toss-in


I feel so proud that I have written in this blog every day since the New Year. So I had to make sure I tossed on in here. Okay, so technically it is no longer Thursday, but since this is the end of a very busy day, 12:15 still counts as my Thursday.

This was a unique day in that it was just me and the three furries. Hubby and brother off doing their things. So I caught up on laundry and cleaning this and that. Started some slippers. Then popped myself in the studio and got reacquainted with Moonlight Sonata. Though I could see the spiderwebs of lack of playing the muscular memory held it’s own and it sounded like Music was nearby. As warm is beginning to happen, I expect to be in there more and clear out the webs in my brain and enjoy the process.

I had hoped by now to be outside taking walks with Kali but the wind is still too fierce for me to try. What is that about March’s lions and lambs?

So, that’s all there is and Kali says it’s time to close the computer. She’s pretending to be asleep but her little eye keeps opening.

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3/3


And that’s just about all I have to say right now. I can’t believe I have actually written here every day since New Year’s Day! <<Patting my own back>>

Another thing, I was thinking today about how grateful I am for all my family and friends. How they all play a part in my life. And though we may not agree on everything, we do all know the love is there, always.

And how I love talking to friends on Google Hangout. It brightens my week and gives me perspective on life. I am such a bad “phone person”. Really. Thinking about talking on the phone can turn me into a puddle of sweat and a pile of shakiness. Even if I am thinking of calling people I love. I don’t get so bad when they call me. I like to think I drop everything and give the conversation my all. I don’t know what that is all about. It just is.

And I had hoped to finish the book I’m reading. It is so good! But I’m only at 97% so maybe tomorrow I can tell you more about it and the thoughts that bubbled up while reading it.

I guess that is all for now. So as my bloggy friend mentioned: March Fo(u)rth and conquer!


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Ever ran out of gas in your vehicle?

Not that I can remember. But I have been in cars when that happened. It is such a weird feeling to be going along toward a destination and suddenly the car stops. So inconvenient! I think that is how I learned never to let that happen. But I did stretch my luck quite often. Usually waiting to get to the station with the better priced gas.

Which are better: black or green olives?

Black olives are so yummy! Oh, but those stuffed green ones, with garlic or cheese or…okay I just love olives. This question sent me to the fridge thinking I had some. But it was a jar of mushrooms and they weren’t nearly as tasty! Boo!

If you were a great explorer, what would you explore?

Space. The final frontier. Or the ocean. Or caves. Heck, just my backyard, sometimes!

Quotes List: At least three of your favorite quotes?

“But how will I know what I want til I get what I want and I see if I like it?” Cinderella, Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim.

“Books may well be the only true magic.” Alice Hoffman

“I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place.” Anne Tyler

“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” Jane Goodall

There are so many more on my GoodReads pages. 18 pages so far…

 

Optional Bonus question:  What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up? 

Well, look, we are all still alive and well. Thursday my hubby sees the shoulder specialist and we’ll see what his next step is. He is still hurting pretty bad so I hope there is something they can do about it all.

Share Your World is brought to us by Cee’s Photography. Come join the fun!


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I made this using this YouTube from LoomAHat The only difference was that I had already rib stitched K2P2 rather than the K1P1 that she (Denise M Canela) recommends. Other that that I think this ear warmer scarf turned out great! I started another in green almost immediately.

Another difference is that I had Kali on my lap nearly all the time I was looming. Just like she is right now as I type this. From left to right: pillow, Kali, my leg (pink sweatpants) and laptop.

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Stuck like glue! I feel loved!

Groundhog’s Day


Day 1 without prompt. Thank goodness this one comes built-in. Get ready for a meandering.

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I love GHD. I love the movie, too. But it is similar to Christmas and Easter and St. Patrick’s day. It is for the fun. The facts are that little rodent can’t tell us if Spring will come early or not. Not by looking at a shadow. The only way it can see it’s shadow if the sun is shining. So how would a sunny day predict more winter?

Here we had snow, again. That seems more of a predictor. But back to the groundhog. A way it could be right is how thick the fur is. If it were shedding we might know that milder weather was coming.

That aside. I love the movie and the possibilities it presents. What if we had a day that repeated? Maybe most of us wouldn’t have so far to go from our current selves to a more refined and loving person. Still, I do think we might go through that suicidal stage. When Phil starts out he’s an egotistical mess. But for most of us the boredom of doing the same things over and over. Oh, wait! Isn’t that how it is for most of us in the work-a-day world when we are not in love with our jobs?

What I find even more exciting, though, is when Phil discovers that with all this time he could use what he learns to enhance his life and soon enhance the lives of others. Now I realize that we don’t have the opportunity to find the money to take daily piano lessons or French lessons, we can use our time to learn what we can when we can. It is more difficult when we are working and so tired at the end of the day. But if we try we can find a moment here or there to do those things we have curiosity or passion for.

Oh, and the chances Phil had to forgive others and earn forgiveness for himself is so touching. Seeking to find ways to save lives and others’ feelings. It was finally something he could get to seeing the same things every day. But I believe those moments are there for us.

I am lucky to finally be at the point in my life where there is time to think and do things I wished I could have had when I had more energy and less pain. Having the chance to take German and Spanish (Duolingo) on a daily basis, a chance to give back to society by making hats and other things, are some of the Phil things I can do now. When warmer weather gets here walking or playing the piano (that room is TOO cold right now) will be added to my regiment. Wouldn’t it be cool to die knowing I did the best with my brain and body? What if my last words were in Spanish or German? True others around me might not know what I am saying, but I would know I made my brain last until the last moment. There was a woman in the home my dad was in that was a concert pianist. No. I will never be at that level. But wouldn’t it be cool to be the old lady that can play for others? Wouldn’t it be great to end our day with love that we gave away to others everyday knowing our lives counted for something?

Happy Groundhog’s Day–even tomorrow!


 

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Complaint

When your day starts looking at this sweetie at the end of your bed, you know you have NO complaint!

Then I finished another Messy Bun/Ponytail hat:

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Then I got to spend three hours on Google Chat with my besties M and Y. Lots of laughing! Love them so much!

I even had the chance to write a review about a book that brought back tons of memories: Betsy-Tacy Treasury

I guess you need to find the Complaint Department for some of that. I’m just feeling happy, accomplished, and loved!

And since I took two pictures of Kali, see if this doesn’t just make you want to squeeeeee!

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Look at that ear! She knows I’m taking her picture but she tries to maintain the pose! Soft, lovable, sleeping sweetie!

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The Just Jot It January 17th prompt, brought to you by  Willow, blogging at Willowdot21 is: “Complaint.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to Willow as well! Here’s her blog:

https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/

And thank you Linda G Hill for inspiring me to get back to blogging again!


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The Just Jot It January 15th prompt brought to you by BarbCT of Gallimaufry,  is “Mercy.”  Use it any way you’re inspired to. And make sure you stop by and say hi to BarbCT as well! Here’s her blog: https://barbct.wordpress.com/.

And thank you to Linda G Hill for hosting this fun project and Shan for helping out.

Mercy

Since I just finished my review for Say Goodbye for Now, I am reminded that the author, Catherine Ryan Hyde who also wrote:pay-it-forward

and set up a foundation with those philosophies to pay our mercies forward. I so love that idea.

Christmas and birthdays bring up times that put us on the balancing act. So often we try to pay gift for gift translated to price for price. If we are the ones on the lower end, our present isn’t nearly as pricey or good as what was gifted to us we can feel horrible. When you have lived your life financially insecure most of those gift-giving opportunities leave you feeling sad.

This year I felt a lot better about my position. With donated yarn, I have been busy since last spring making hats and comfort items for the homeless or hospital patients. Every moment I can I am knitting or crocheting. Most of the time it is for the charity but every now and then I get to make something for my family, friends or even myself. I no longer feel guilty if the gifts for loved ones don’t get to them on or near the holiday. They all know what I am doing and feel, in some tiny way they are a part of the gift that goes elsewhere.

There are other niceties that happen to a person where a person just feels grateful but at a loss as to what to do in return. For example, the kind person that lets your car into the lane rather than make it impossible to proceed. Of course, you can’t return that favor to that person, except for maybe just a wave of thanks. But you can watch for opportunities to lets others go before you, open the door for someone.

Living a life of kindness, showing mercy when you can, has rewards of feeling good about yourself and the planet. When you are treated with goodness be thankful. And let it become a part of your being. It is playing the karma game for good.


Spontaneous HappinessSpontaneous Happiness by Andrew Weil

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As someone on disability for depression and now fibromyalgia for over a decade, I felt I needed some new answers. I have always admired Dr. Andrew Weil so when my friend told me she liked it, I thought I ought to give it a try.

Kindle and their whispersynched Audible co-play helped me get through the techno-speak. Kindle’s ability to fast forward Dr. Weil’s slower speaking speed, helped this to be a fast and educational read. By the way, that was a hint my husband pointed out to me. That on smart phones, tablets and Fires one can speed up the narrator’s voice and not lose quality. It’s like the person is speaking faster, not higher like a chipmunk.

I can see that the paperback or hardback book would have its points as one could highlight or check back on references later, still, I like this version for the first run-through. That way I got the gist of what it was all about in a quick over-read. I will go back and take notes and try to follow many of the suggestions presented in this book. Meanwhile, I will try a couple ideas that stayed with me and see how they help with the mental and physical pain.

This book is well worth the read, and further study.

View all my reviews


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