Today, May 30, 2011, is Memorial Day. Many people will take the opportunity of the long holiday weekend to spend time with family, to cook out, to picnic, to go on vacation, to shop the many sales that are offered, to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful weather.
I won't begrudge anyone for doing any of those things today.
But there are some people who won't be doing those things ever again. Those are the men and women who laid down their lives so that you and I would have the freedom to spend time with family, cook out, go on picnics, travel where we wish, shop at any store we want to, enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
These men and women have died defending our freedoms and our way of life, with honor and integrity and courage. They fought the brave fight, and because they did, they secured our rights. They were mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. They served in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines. They died at Bunker Hill, Gettysburg, and Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. When the call went out for brave men and women to defend liberty and freedom and justice, they answered the call with courage. They came home in a box with a flag, and their families are left with a hole in their lives that can never be filled. But their families can know that their son or daughter, brother or sister, father or mother, laid down their life for an idea more grand, more universal, more important than any other in the history of the world - the idea of individual freedom. And their families can know that the memory of their soldier or sailor or airman or marine is preserved in the memory of a grateful nation.
So today, as you go about your activities, take a moment to reflect that your freedom was bought in blood. Take a moment to remember the sacrifice of a young soldier that made your freedom possible. Perhaps take a little time from your day to visit a cemetary and kneel at a military grave and say "thank you." Say a prayer for those families who have lost a hero. And thank God that there remain men and women of courage and valor, integrity and nobility, who fight for freedom every day, for us.
“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Garlic Chicken
So I needed something to do with chicken thighs for dinner tonight. I cook them fairly often, but I wasn't feeling inspired. Off to Google chicken recipes. I found this recipe, with lots of great reviews:
Easy Garlic Broiled Chicken
I'm one of those cooks who just can't leave a recipe alone. I rarely go exactly by a recipe, unless it's for sweets or something really off the wall that I've never made before.
So I tweaked it. The nice thing about this recipe is that is a very good basic recipe that lends itself well to tweaking. I took some of the suggestions of the reviewers, and used what I had on hand in the kitchen.
Here's how I made it:
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3 tbsp minced garlic (from a jar)
1 tsp liquid smoke
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch of salt (optional)
1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
1. Turn oven on to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the sauce ingredients and microwave until the butter melts, stir and spoon over the top of the thighs (You could put the thighs in a baggie with the sauce and marinate for 30 minutes to increase the flavor). Reserve some of the sauce for basting.
3. I topped with sliced mushrooms and set to bake for 20 minutes.
4. Turn the chicken over, make sure the mushrooms were down in the sauce, added a little more sauce. Bake for another 20 minutes.
5. Turn the oven to broil, baste again, broil for 4-5 minutes. Turn over, baste, broil another 4-5 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, and let rest for a few minutes.
To serve, plate the chicken with some mushrooms and spoon a little of the pan drippings over the top. The rest of the pan drippings would be lovely mixed with rice or pasta, or used for dipping bread. I served the chicken with mixed vegetables and cheesy rice.
This was a very easy dish to make, and the flavors were yummy. The mushrooms really absorbed the flavor well and added a nice touch.
As I said, this is a good recipe for tweaking. Next time I make it, I may add rosemary, or a splash of lime juice or orange juice for a bit of a citrus-y twang, wrap the chicken in bacon, or add some red pepper for a little heat. I also think the marinated chicken thighs would be awesome cooked on the grill. This chicken would be great diced up for a salad or mixed with pasta, or for chicken fajitas. The recipe is also very economical, so it is perfect for large families.
Enjoy! If you make this recipe, let me know how it turned out for you!
Easy Garlic Broiled Chicken
I'm one of those cooks who just can't leave a recipe alone. I rarely go exactly by a recipe, unless it's for sweets or something really off the wall that I've never made before.
So I tweaked it. The nice thing about this recipe is that is a very good basic recipe that lends itself well to tweaking. I took some of the suggestions of the reviewers, and used what I had on hand in the kitchen.
Here's how I made it:
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3 tbsp minced garlic (from a jar)
1 tsp liquid smoke
1/4 tsp black pepper
pinch of salt (optional)
1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms
1. Turn oven on to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the sauce ingredients and microwave until the butter melts, stir and spoon over the top of the thighs (You could put the thighs in a baggie with the sauce and marinate for 30 minutes to increase the flavor). Reserve some of the sauce for basting.
3. I topped with sliced mushrooms and set to bake for 20 minutes.
4. Turn the chicken over, make sure the mushrooms were down in the sauce, added a little more sauce. Bake for another 20 minutes.
5. Turn the oven to broil, baste again, broil for 4-5 minutes. Turn over, baste, broil another 4-5 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, and let rest for a few minutes.
To serve, plate the chicken with some mushrooms and spoon a little of the pan drippings over the top. The rest of the pan drippings would be lovely mixed with rice or pasta, or used for dipping bread. I served the chicken with mixed vegetables and cheesy rice.
This was a very easy dish to make, and the flavors were yummy. The mushrooms really absorbed the flavor well and added a nice touch.
As I said, this is a good recipe for tweaking. Next time I make it, I may add rosemary, or a splash of lime juice or orange juice for a bit of a citrus-y twang, wrap the chicken in bacon, or add some red pepper for a little heat. I also think the marinated chicken thighs would be awesome cooked on the grill. This chicken would be great diced up for a salad or mixed with pasta, or for chicken fajitas. The recipe is also very economical, so it is perfect for large families.
Enjoy! If you make this recipe, let me know how it turned out for you!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
What Is the Voice in Your Head Telling You?
Off and on, I struggle with depression. Probably not the type that is severe enough to require therapists and drugs to get through, but enough to impact my life in a negative way.
When I feel depressed, there is a little voice in my head with a running commentary that goes something like this:
"You're worthless. You're a loser. You're fat and ugly. You do nothing but make mistakes. Everything you do is an epic fail. Why should anyone love you? You're not worthy. You're a waste of oxygen."
Sad to say, sometimes I listen to this little voice. Sometimes, I even believe the things it says. And on those days, my ability to cope with life and all the little problems and aggravations that come with it is severely impacted. I find myself feeling tired, run down, sad, tearful, a real self-pity-party. And I really hate that. Because you know what? I'm not a failure, I'm not a mistake, I'm not worthless, I'm not unloveable, I'm not fat and ugly (ok, maybe a little fluffy :)
And deep down inside, I know these things. But that little voice wants me to believe a lie.
Where does that little voice come from? Guilt over mistakes made in the past, feelings of inadequacy, fear of the future...I don't know. What I do know, is that I can tell that little voice to go take a hike.
How? Well, I can tell you the things that I do that work for me, at least most of the time:
1. Take a walk, enjoy nature, get away from the house and the computer and the problems that are bugging me.
2. Do something - anything! - that will make me feel that I've accomplished something, no matter how small.
3. Look in the mirror and say to myself, "You are a good person, and you are worthy of being loved. You are fine, just the way you are." Replace the negative voice with positive thoughts.
4. Focus on the good things I've done, rather than the mistakes. Make a list if I have to.
5. Talk to my husband, who is my biggest supporter and fan.
Now, I know that I am not the only one who hears this little voice. So say something nice about and to yourself today. And share what you do to banish the negativity.
Whether you are Christian or not, I hope you enjoy this song because you truly are Beautiful!
When I feel depressed, there is a little voice in my head with a running commentary that goes something like this:
"You're worthless. You're a loser. You're fat and ugly. You do nothing but make mistakes. Everything you do is an epic fail. Why should anyone love you? You're not worthy. You're a waste of oxygen."
Sad to say, sometimes I listen to this little voice. Sometimes, I even believe the things it says. And on those days, my ability to cope with life and all the little problems and aggravations that come with it is severely impacted. I find myself feeling tired, run down, sad, tearful, a real self-pity-party. And I really hate that. Because you know what? I'm not a failure, I'm not a mistake, I'm not worthless, I'm not unloveable, I'm not fat and ugly (ok, maybe a little fluffy :)
And deep down inside, I know these things. But that little voice wants me to believe a lie.
Where does that little voice come from? Guilt over mistakes made in the past, feelings of inadequacy, fear of the future...I don't know. What I do know, is that I can tell that little voice to go take a hike.
How? Well, I can tell you the things that I do that work for me, at least most of the time:
1. Take a walk, enjoy nature, get away from the house and the computer and the problems that are bugging me.
2. Do something - anything! - that will make me feel that I've accomplished something, no matter how small.
3. Look in the mirror and say to myself, "You are a good person, and you are worthy of being loved. You are fine, just the way you are." Replace the negative voice with positive thoughts.
4. Focus on the good things I've done, rather than the mistakes. Make a list if I have to.
5. Talk to my husband, who is my biggest supporter and fan.
Now, I know that I am not the only one who hears this little voice. So say something nice about and to yourself today. And share what you do to banish the negativity.
Whether you are Christian or not, I hope you enjoy this song because you truly are Beautiful!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Music for the Soul
My husband is a guitarist. I mean, he can really play the guitar. That man can pick up a guitar and just start creating music without even thinking about it. The most beautiful music just flows from the strings like a river of notes that all make sense.
I play the piano, but nowhere near like my husband plays the guitar. I can play something if I have the music in front of me, and can even play it well, if I practice long enough.
My husband taught himself to play by ear. He never learned to read music. He can listen to any song and soon pick up the chords. But his true gift is his own compositions. He doesn't write them down. He told me once that each piece he plays is unique - it will only ever be played that way one time and depends on how he is feeling when he plays it. The next time, it will be different. And it will mean something else. I tell him it seems as if every piece he plays is telling a story without words. He says that music is a musing of the soul.
I've been begging him to make a CD for me of his instrumental pieces because I find them so beautiful and relaxing. When he does, I'll post my favorites here!
Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. ~Charlie Parker
________________________________________________________
Rhythm Sections Four Pack Coaster Set
I play the piano, but nowhere near like my husband plays the guitar. I can play something if I have the music in front of me, and can even play it well, if I practice long enough.
My husband taught himself to play by ear. He never learned to read music. He can listen to any song and soon pick up the chords. But his true gift is his own compositions. He doesn't write them down. He told me once that each piece he plays is unique - it will only ever be played that way one time and depends on how he is feeling when he plays it. The next time, it will be different. And it will mean something else. I tell him it seems as if every piece he plays is telling a story without words. He says that music is a musing of the soul.
I've been begging him to make a CD for me of his instrumental pieces because I find them so beautiful and relaxing. When he does, I'll post my favorites here!
Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. ~Charlie Parker
________________________________________________________
Rhythm Sections Four Pack Coaster Set
Bring Me Sunshine
The sun is FINALLY shining again today after days and days of rain, so I have a fun song for you:
This is a song called "Bring Me Sunshine" by the Jive Aces - guaranteed to get you hopping and bring a smile to your face!
It's easy when the days feel dark and dreary (literally or figuratively) to let our world be colored in shades of gray, feeling slow, down, depressed, blah.
Not that music can solve all problems, but sometimes when you are feeling low, choosing to listen to uplifting, motivating, sunny music can lift your spirits, make you feel happier, and give you a new perspective.
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. ~Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name
Do you have a favorite song that lifts your spirits? Post it below in the comments.
Enjoy the day!
This is a song called "Bring Me Sunshine" by the Jive Aces - guaranteed to get you hopping and bring a smile to your face!
It's easy when the days feel dark and dreary (literally or figuratively) to let our world be colored in shades of gray, feeling slow, down, depressed, blah.
Not that music can solve all problems, but sometimes when you are feeling low, choosing to listen to uplifting, motivating, sunny music can lift your spirits, make you feel happier, and give you a new perspective.
Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. ~Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name
Do you have a favorite song that lifts your spirits? Post it below in the comments.
Enjoy the day!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Mistakes Are Okay
Last spring I planted strawberry plants in a bed I made especially for them. They were little, tiny bare root things when I planted. Last year, they were well-behaved little plants, even producing a few little strawberries.
That was last year.
This year, they turned into monsters, trying to take over everything in their path. They escaped their well-ordered bed into the garlic and broccoli beds. Now, they are big, huge plants covered in blooms.
That was last year.
This year, they turned into monsters, trying to take over everything in their path. They escaped their well-ordered bed into the garlic and broccoli beds. Now, they are big, huge plants covered in blooms.
I also planted two blueberry bushes in the center of the strawberry bed. I thought the blueberry bushes would grow fast enough that they would be taller than the strawberries. Mistake. Instead, the strawberries have overwhelmed the blueberry bushes.
Not to worry though. This week, I'm going to dig out the blueberry bushes and give them their own space so they can become a hedge around the goldfish pond. Sometimes, different things just need their own space.
We all make mistakes, whether it's gardening, or something much more serious. Some mistakes can be fixed (like my blueberry bushes), some can't. Some mistakes hurt.
But to overcome our mistakes, we have to try to forgive ourselves, recognize that we are human and mistakes will happen, and try to learn from them and not repeat them.
Forgive yourself for your mistakes and forgive others theirs.
If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down but the staying down.
-- Mary Pickford
-- Mary Pickford
Have a happy day!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens
I must be on a Julie Andrews kick lately, because I keep hearing songs from her movies going through my head. Here's another one of my favorites:
Let's face it - we all have those days - the ones where we don't feel so great, or we feel scared or sad or lonely or our get up and go has got up and went. And when we have those days, it's a great time to remember and do our favorite things.
For some people it's cooking or quilting or reading. For me, it's gardening. Sometimes, just getting outside and digging my fingers into the dirt, planting seeds, helping new things grow - helps me to relax and gives me a new perspective. Gardening frees my mind and helps me to think. I think this song teaches a great lesson - WE choose what we will focus on. If we choose to focus on those things that make us happy, we will feel happier.
What are your favorite things that pick you up when you are feeling down?
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Don't Feed the Dust Bunnies
Last night, I told my dear husband that the refrigerator/freezer was leaking a little bit. I told him around 10 p.m. at night.
So, after a hard day's work, he pulled everything out from under the refrigerator, cleaned out and vacuumed all the coils, pulled out the refrigerator from the wall, and cleaned the floor underneath it. Boy, was it dirty down there!
He didn't have to do all that right then. It could have waited until the morning when he was rested. But he took care of the problem right then and there. Why? Because he loves me, and he wanted to do something nice for me that would make my life easier.
Yesterday morning, he also slipped into the kitchen when I wasn't looking and did the dishes for me.
That's true love - doing something kind for someone else, even when it's not necessarily convenient or easy or the timing isn't that great, not because you have to, but just because you want to help them out.
It's all too easy to take such acts of kindness for granted, to say, "He's just doing what he ought to". Well, I don't see it that way. Anytime my husband, or my kids, or a friend does something for me, without any expectation of a return, they are giving of themselves, from the heart. It doesn't matter if it's something I would see as small - doing the dishes, or bringing me a glass or soda, or taking me for a drive by the lake so I can get out of the house and away from the computer for a little while - or something big, like cleaning out under the fridge. It's all special.
I sooooo love and appreciate my husband - he's absolutely the best! And I appreciate him for everything he does.
So, two things to learn:
1. Clean the dust bunnies from underneath your fridge :)
2. Someone has done something nice for you recently - let them know how much you appreciate them!
So, after a hard day's work, he pulled everything out from under the refrigerator, cleaned out and vacuumed all the coils, pulled out the refrigerator from the wall, and cleaned the floor underneath it. Boy, was it dirty down there!
He didn't have to do all that right then. It could have waited until the morning when he was rested. But he took care of the problem right then and there. Why? Because he loves me, and he wanted to do something nice for me that would make my life easier.
Yesterday morning, he also slipped into the kitchen when I wasn't looking and did the dishes for me.
That's true love - doing something kind for someone else, even when it's not necessarily convenient or easy or the timing isn't that great, not because you have to, but just because you want to help them out.
It's all too easy to take such acts of kindness for granted, to say, "He's just doing what he ought to". Well, I don't see it that way. Anytime my husband, or my kids, or a friend does something for me, without any expectation of a return, they are giving of themselves, from the heart. It doesn't matter if it's something I would see as small - doing the dishes, or bringing me a glass or soda, or taking me for a drive by the lake so I can get out of the house and away from the computer for a little while - or something big, like cleaning out under the fridge. It's all special.
I sooooo love and appreciate my husband - he's absolutely the best! And I appreciate him for everything he does.
So, two things to learn:
1. Clean the dust bunnies from underneath your fridge :)
2. Someone has done something nice for you recently - let them know how much you appreciate them!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Flowers, Flowers, Flowers
The quote that I have at the top of my shopping site reads:
"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."
Hans Christian Andersen
Now, I really put that quote in because I love spring, and I LOVE flowers!! There is just something about flowers that makes me feel happy.
I've been noticing all the flowering trees around town. Right now, the fruit trees are all in bloom, the redbuds have burst forth with reddish-purple flowers, the big white shrubs in the back are covered in big snowball flowers and .... it's just the beginning! Not only are the trees in bloom, but the flowers and bulbs have also been showing their spring colors - tulips and daffodils, some sort of little white flower in the back of my yard, and even the shasta daisies have buds forming. All these lovely flowers are waiting on the fashion runway of nature's garden to strut their stuff and show off their beauty. Soon, all my flower beds will be a riot of color with zinnias, marigolds, nasturtiums, dianthus, forget-me-nots, sweet alyssum, roses, and anything else I can find to plant in them. I don't think I've ever met a flower that I didn't love.
I'm a Texas girl, transplanted to Ohio, and while I love the beautiful spring daffodils and tulips that seem to grow with such ease here, my first and true flower love will always be the Texas Bluebonnet. I can remember the first time I drove through the Hill Country as a young girl, and it seemed as if the whole land was blanketed with these gorgeous, spiky blue and white flowers. There is nothing that says spring to me more than a field of bluebonnets. There is a huge album of bluebonnet photos here that takes me back to those warm, lovely Texas spring days.
So, I'm telling you all this because we just got in a new cutting board that I just love because it has...you guessed it...Texas Bluebonnets! So even though I live far away from Texas now, I can look at bluebonnets all year long. And that makes my heart happy!
"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."
Hans Christian Andersen
Now, I really put that quote in because I love spring, and I LOVE flowers!! There is just something about flowers that makes me feel happy.
I've been noticing all the flowering trees around town. Right now, the fruit trees are all in bloom, the redbuds have burst forth with reddish-purple flowers, the big white shrubs in the back are covered in big snowball flowers and .... it's just the beginning! Not only are the trees in bloom, but the flowers and bulbs have also been showing their spring colors - tulips and daffodils, some sort of little white flower in the back of my yard, and even the shasta daisies have buds forming. All these lovely flowers are waiting on the fashion runway of nature's garden to strut their stuff and show off their beauty. Soon, all my flower beds will be a riot of color with zinnias, marigolds, nasturtiums, dianthus, forget-me-nots, sweet alyssum, roses, and anything else I can find to plant in them. I don't think I've ever met a flower that I didn't love.
I'm a Texas girl, transplanted to Ohio, and while I love the beautiful spring daffodils and tulips that seem to grow with such ease here, my first and true flower love will always be the Texas Bluebonnet. I can remember the first time I drove through the Hill Country as a young girl, and it seemed as if the whole land was blanketed with these gorgeous, spiky blue and white flowers. There is nothing that says spring to me more than a field of bluebonnets. There is a huge album of bluebonnet photos here that takes me back to those warm, lovely Texas spring days.
So, I'm telling you all this because we just got in a new cutting board that I just love because it has...you guessed it...Texas Bluebonnets! So even though I live far away from Texas now, I can look at bluebonnets all year long. And that makes my heart happy!
What's your favorite flower?
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
Today is the day we celebrate mothers and motherhood, and you know what? Moms deserve it!
The influence of a mother on her children cannot be measured. We care for them and provide for all their needs when they are little, we shepherd them through the difficult teenage years, we becomes a friend when they reach adulthood. We pass down the lessons we learned from our own mothers. We impart our values and life philosophy to them, and whether they accept or reject our teachings, our influence will always be felt in their lives.
I recently shipped a personalized Lord's Prayer blanket for a customer. She had requested that the embroidery read, "This is the first prayer you taught me. It sustains me every day of my life." Wow! What a statement! That simple prayer that her mother taught her as a little child had become a guiding light and comfort for the rest of her life.
So many times, it's not the big things we do for our children, but the little things that they remember and take with them in the years ahead - baking cookies with them, saying prayers with them at night, helping them with a big homework project, listening to them read a book, encouraging them when they are feeling down, singing a special little song for them.
Let's face it - being a mother is hard. It's hard work, and sometimes it's painful. When our children hurt, we hurt. We watch over them, pray for them, love them. It's joy, too, when they take their first step, say their first word, when they beam with pride at winning their first soccer game, playing their first song on the piano, or bringing home that all-A report card.
There are mothers who have lost their children, and children who have lost their mothers (I am one - my mother passed away 25 years ago, but she is ever-present in my thoughts and memories). I grieve for and with them. Today is hard for them.
My husband recently wrote, "What gives a parent peace and joy? It is to see their children doing well, and finding their place in the world, they are the hope of the future and they will take into the future a part of you with them as they go." I think this is the perfect statement of what we as parents hope for our children.
Bless all the mothers today who do so much. Happy Mother's Day!
The influence of a mother on her children cannot be measured. We care for them and provide for all their needs when they are little, we shepherd them through the difficult teenage years, we becomes a friend when they reach adulthood. We pass down the lessons we learned from our own mothers. We impart our values and life philosophy to them, and whether they accept or reject our teachings, our influence will always be felt in their lives.
I recently shipped a personalized Lord's Prayer blanket for a customer. She had requested that the embroidery read, "This is the first prayer you taught me. It sustains me every day of my life." Wow! What a statement! That simple prayer that her mother taught her as a little child had become a guiding light and comfort for the rest of her life.
So many times, it's not the big things we do for our children, but the little things that they remember and take with them in the years ahead - baking cookies with them, saying prayers with them at night, helping them with a big homework project, listening to them read a book, encouraging them when they are feeling down, singing a special little song for them.
Let's face it - being a mother is hard. It's hard work, and sometimes it's painful. When our children hurt, we hurt. We watch over them, pray for them, love them. It's joy, too, when they take their first step, say their first word, when they beam with pride at winning their first soccer game, playing their first song on the piano, or bringing home that all-A report card.
There are mothers who have lost their children, and children who have lost their mothers (I am one - my mother passed away 25 years ago, but she is ever-present in my thoughts and memories). I grieve for and with them. Today is hard for them.
My husband recently wrote, "What gives a parent peace and joy? It is to see their children doing well, and finding their place in the world, they are the hope of the future and they will take into the future a part of you with them as they go." I think this is the perfect statement of what we as parents hope for our children.
Bless all the mothers today who do so much. Happy Mother's Day!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Feed the Birds
One of my favorite songs is "Feed the Birds" from the movie Mary Poppins. This simple, lovely song with its eloquent lesson always brings tears to my eyes.
I think of this song often when I watch the critters at my backyard feeder. It seems that all the neighborhood birds and squirrels have discovered it, and it is a regular stop in their daily routine. Here is a picture of the newest visitors, a pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks:
I love the fact that all these little animals have found a source of food at my feeder, as I watch their antics with delight. They're much more entertaining that television! I give them food, and they give me joy.
No matter how little or how much we have, there is always something we can do to make the world a better place. In the movie Mary Poppins, the little old bird woman, who is obviously just barely surviving herself on the pittance she makes, urges the passersby to buy her little bags of bird feed for "tuppence a bag." In the lyrics, she says,
"Come feed the little birds, show them you care,
And you'll be glad if you do --
Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."
I think of this song often when I watch the critters at my backyard feeder. It seems that all the neighborhood birds and squirrels have discovered it, and it is a regular stop in their daily routine. Here is a picture of the newest visitors, a pair of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks:
And here's a picture of the comical squirrels, the little moochers :)
No matter how little or how much we have, there is always something we can do to make the world a better place. In the movie Mary Poppins, the little old bird woman, who is obviously just barely surviving herself on the pittance she makes, urges the passersby to buy her little bags of bird feed for "tuppence a bag." In the lyrics, she says,
"Come feed the little birds, show them you care,
And you'll be glad if you do --
Their young ones are hungry, their nests are so bare;
All it takes is tuppence from you."
The lesson I take from this, is that it doesn't take a lot of money, time, or effort to make a difference. Sometimes all it takes is "tuppence." And "you'll be glad if you do."
How do you "feed the birds?" Tell us your story below!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Honor a Teacher Giveaway
This month at Inspire-Gifts.com, we are honoring teachers and we are having a giveaway to go along with it because we love to give stuff away!
So here's how you enter:
1. Tell us about your favorite teacher either here on the blog or on our Facebook page. You can post on either page or both.
2. We will choose one comment from our blog and one comment from our Facebook page at random to win a quilted book cover from Victorian Heart (your choice).
3. You can also nominate a teacher to receive one of our teacher gift mugs (our choice). We will also choose one teacher nominee from our blog and one from our Facebook page.
4. You have until Thursday, May 12, at midnight PST to post your comments. We will choose the winners on Friday, May 13th.
Don't forget to spread the word and tell your friends! Now let's hear about those teachers who inspired, encouraged, and motivated you! Good luck!!!
So here's how you enter:
1. Tell us about your favorite teacher either here on the blog or on our Facebook page. You can post on either page or both.
2. We will choose one comment from our blog and one comment from our Facebook page at random to win a quilted book cover from Victorian Heart (your choice).
3. You can also nominate a teacher to receive one of our teacher gift mugs (our choice). We will also choose one teacher nominee from our blog and one from our Facebook page.
4. You have until Thursday, May 12, at midnight PST to post your comments. We will choose the winners on Friday, May 13th.
Don't forget to spread the word and tell your friends! Now let's hear about those teachers who inspired, encouraged, and motivated you! Good luck!!!
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Finally, the sun is out after weeks and weeks of rain and cool, cloudy days. Although the tulips and daffodils and trees began blooming several weeks ago, the gray, dreary days made it seem as though winter was hanging on way past its time. But today finally feels as though spring has arrived.
The birds and squirrels are happily visiting our bird feeder and they seem to enjoy the cheerful warmth of the sun today, too. Two little chickadees are building a nest in the bird house. The flower seeds I planted back in March are sprouting. With the clouds gone, and the sun shining brightly, the world seems to be bursting with new optimism, new growth, and new life.
The beauty of the world today reminds me that even though clouds may darken one's life for a time, eventually the clouds will pass away, the sun will burst forth, and a new day will begin. "This is the day the Lord has made...let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
The birds and squirrels are happily visiting our bird feeder and they seem to enjoy the cheerful warmth of the sun today, too. Two little chickadees are building a nest in the bird house. The flower seeds I planted back in March are sprouting. With the clouds gone, and the sun shining brightly, the world seems to be bursting with new optimism, new growth, and new life.
The beauty of the world today reminds me that even though clouds may darken one's life for a time, eventually the clouds will pass away, the sun will burst forth, and a new day will begin. "This is the day the Lord has made...let us rejoice and be glad in it!"
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Thank a Teacher
As the end of the school year approaches, I have been thinking about the teachers I had who really inspired me, who really made a difference in my life by making me interested not just in the subject matter they had to teach, but also in being a better person.
Now, like most of you, I had my share of good and bad teachers. I had a few teachers who didn't really seem at home in the classroom, or who gave the impression they would rather be anywhere else than standing at a chalkboard trying to force math facts into the heads of mush-brained teenagers. Luckily, those teachers were few and far between. Most of my teachers were competent and did a good job imparting their knowledge and getting their students through to the next grade level.
But there were a few teachers who really stood out for excellence, and I want to tell you about them because they never failed to go above and beyond the classroom.
My 11th grade honors English teacher, Mrs. Kingston, was one tough cookie! She was not one to put up with laziness and if a student wasn't there to learn, he or she might as well just pack up and leave. Mrs. Kingston could bring a book to life. She instilled a lifelong love for Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury and a good dose of work ethic on the side. She taught me to speak clearly and concisely in oral reports (she wouldn't put up with the ubiquitous "you know" in speech), and she was always there to help her students out. Out of all the teachers I have had, Mrs. Kingston was my favorite.
My 12th grade Humanities teacher, Mrs. Ginn, taught us about the world through slide shows and movies. In her class we traveled to Greece and Rome and Medieval and Renaissance Europe from our plain metal and wood desks and viewed with awe the achievements of the great cultures of the world and the artists who epitomized them. From Mrs. Ginn, I gained a love of world history, philosophy, art and culture, an appreciation of man's (and woman's) quest to build great monuments that will last long after they and their civilization are gone.
My high school Science teacher, Mr. Jarman, was a spry little man with a love for his subject matter. He would get so excited about what he was teaching that he would bounce back and forth across the front of the science lab, arms swinging wildly, and talking so fast that while I couldn't always understand what he was saying, I could tell he loved what he was talking about. He worked with the math and science clubs and put in many after school hours working with his students. He was never sick, always enthusiastic, and he loved his students. Sadly, Mr. Jarman is gone now, but he lives on in the hearts of the many, many people who passed through his classroom through the years.
Great teachers make a difference in the world, because they make a difference for their students. I honor my great teachers, and thank them for all they did for me and for others. Without their influence, my life would be much less rich than it is.
Who were your great teachers? I'd love to learn more about them. Tell your story in the comments section below!
Now, like most of you, I had my share of good and bad teachers. I had a few teachers who didn't really seem at home in the classroom, or who gave the impression they would rather be anywhere else than standing at a chalkboard trying to force math facts into the heads of mush-brained teenagers. Luckily, those teachers were few and far between. Most of my teachers were competent and did a good job imparting their knowledge and getting their students through to the next grade level.
But there were a few teachers who really stood out for excellence, and I want to tell you about them because they never failed to go above and beyond the classroom.
My 11th grade honors English teacher, Mrs. Kingston, was one tough cookie! She was not one to put up with laziness and if a student wasn't there to learn, he or she might as well just pack up and leave. Mrs. Kingston could bring a book to life. She instilled a lifelong love for Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury and a good dose of work ethic on the side. She taught me to speak clearly and concisely in oral reports (she wouldn't put up with the ubiquitous "you know" in speech), and she was always there to help her students out. Out of all the teachers I have had, Mrs. Kingston was my favorite.
My 12th grade Humanities teacher, Mrs. Ginn, taught us about the world through slide shows and movies. In her class we traveled to Greece and Rome and Medieval and Renaissance Europe from our plain metal and wood desks and viewed with awe the achievements of the great cultures of the world and the artists who epitomized them. From Mrs. Ginn, I gained a love of world history, philosophy, art and culture, an appreciation of man's (and woman's) quest to build great monuments that will last long after they and their civilization are gone.
My high school Science teacher, Mr. Jarman, was a spry little man with a love for his subject matter. He would get so excited about what he was teaching that he would bounce back and forth across the front of the science lab, arms swinging wildly, and talking so fast that while I couldn't always understand what he was saying, I could tell he loved what he was talking about. He worked with the math and science clubs and put in many after school hours working with his students. He was never sick, always enthusiastic, and he loved his students. Sadly, Mr. Jarman is gone now, but he lives on in the hearts of the many, many people who passed through his classroom through the years.
Great teachers make a difference in the world, because they make a difference for their students. I honor my great teachers, and thank them for all they did for me and for others. Without their influence, my life would be much less rich than it is.
Who were your great teachers? I'd love to learn more about them. Tell your story in the comments section below!
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