Adventures

Apparently I forgot that I promised to do a better job of updating this blog.  Apparently I forgot I had a blog.  I know that I have done fun things, made new friends and even learned a few things so I have no real excuse.

I am beginning an adventure (I think) for the first time in my life so this blog will be the story of that adventure.  Just the thought that I might be able to do this has taken up all my time, thought, and anxiety for the last week or more.  But when all is said and done the excitement outweighs the anxiety so I believe that my daughter and I will begin this adventure together.

There will be lots of hurdles to accomplish this journey and some of those I will discuss here and hope it may be an example to others to pursue a dream at any age.  But in the meantime I will also concentrate on enjoying the little things that come about every day.

I will share the everyday things until "THE ADVENTURE "is closer to reality.  Hope you enjoy the journey with me. Until then I am sharing a look at my tiny new gardenia bush.  I have three of them and they smell like heaven.

A New Day

I tell myself that today is a new day.  I always say this, but today I mean it literally.  Today I hope that I will not see a single campaign ad.  I have never enjoyed them and it seems as if we have been bombarded for 3 years.  More dismaying is the fact that every where you go, or look, or read there is so much anger, hate, blaming others.  Even this morning on Facebook I have read angry comments under every post.

I am not as knowledgeable as I should be about the Bible and God's teachings but I do know that spewing hate and negative thoughts against our fellow men, women and children is not pleasing to Him.  I have read comments filled with hate towards Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and others. Adults saying "she/he has no talent", I hate her/him, etc.  How can any reasonable adult hate a child they have never met and know nothing about except that they are succeeding at following their dreams.

Likewise, how can a person hope to see their President "fail".  Do you really want your country to fail?  If it does, you won't be immune!  It WILL touch you, your family, and your loved ones.  Have we become a country that can't stand to see anyone do well unless it is us?  Who can't stand to see anyone succeed unless it is us.

Have we fallen so far from our Bill of Rights, our parent's teaching, the things we learned in Sunday School?  Where did tolerance go? Where is our love for our fellow man, our community, our country?  And we wonder why our lives are not the idyllic paradise we thought they would be.  We live what we create.  I could cry when I think of the children in America who have to grow up in a home where parents talk like they do on social media.  I know that they don't confine their negativity to just social media but speak that way in front of their children, speaking of hate, blame and intolerance and belittling of others.  Teaching their children by word and deed that it is OK to condemn others because you don't agree with them.

We will all have to live with those who were raised without "character", "tolerance", and "concern for others".  What a sad world that would be.

Thank God for parents who are examples of all that is good, and right, and loving.  We all need to remember  that our country, our leaders, our spiritual leaders, out teachers, our families, our friends, our children and all mankind, yes even perfect strangers, need our prayers.

Don't forget that you can stand up for what you believe without ever mentioning anyone or anything else in a negative way.  It is called being positive!  That would truly be a new day!

IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME!

How could I have just forgotten to update my blog?  Did I not have any inspiration?  Or nothing fun happened to write about?  I have not idea so I guess it will remain a mystery.

Why did I suddenly remember my blog?  Do I have something interesting to share with the world?  I have no idea so that too shall remain a mystery.

It may be that today is finally cool and it seems summer may depart after all.  That always cheers me up.  I have spent this summer making trips to the farmer's market and little bursts of sewing.  The sewing has made me realize that I have a serious flaw.  I am a perfectionist about the things that I do but I never want to do things that are hard.  I look at patterns or things on pinterest and they just look TOO HARD.  I want simple, quick, spend a few hours and have something AWESOME to show for it.  Where did this come from?  Have I always been lazy?  Is this a character flaw that I have had all my life?  How do you get to my advanced age and still not know yourself?

Oh, back to the farmers market.  I have a little cooked corn in the freezer, just ready to be warmed to eat summer corn.  A little squash already cooked, just ready to be warmed.  I have a little fresh tomato sauce fully cooked, just ready to have beef, chicken or mushrooms added for a great sauce. I have never done this before so where did this inspiration come from?

And last but not least I have eaten a fresh farm grown seedless watermelon every 5-7 days all summer.  Now I have to learn to get by without them until next year.  How will I ever survive without those sweet juicy watermelons?

Do you see the pattern here?  I have indulged myself with farmer's market food, bIts of sewing, and who knows how many books I have read.  So is it still a mystery where my summer went?  Or is the answer that I stayed inside in the cool and did NOTHING all summer long?

IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME!

THE BEST EVER!

Don't we all say "that was the best cake" or "steak" or whatever and it is just a figure of speech?  Well I have actually made the Best Ever Blueberry Muffins.  I've tried making Blueberry Muffins several times with fresh blueberries, but I was always disappointed.  This time I have done it.  They are light, not too sweet, and lots of fresh sweet blueberries in every bite.  I can't decide whether to hoard the recipe or SELL it.  Unfortunately I could only sell it if I gave away samples and I don't know about giving away even bites of these muffins.  If I ever make them for you, you can feel truly loved.

It also feels good to have accomplished something when it is too hot to even fix a cold drink!!

Heat, Heat, Whine, Whine

I really dislike whiners but the heat this summer is turning me into one.  It seems to be the ruling force in my life these days.  Can I get by without running that errand, going to the grocery store?  Can I put off the haircut a few more days?  Will it EVER rain?  If it does I may dance in the rain!

I did have a moment of almost giggling this morning.  I had a message from a dear friend who said his life was amazing this year.  What a delightful thing to hear.  I think this calls for a visit to hear all the details.  How long has it been since you heard someone say "My life is awesome"?  Don't you wish we would all say that more often.  I think I may try it even if it only regards today and I have to stretch a little bit.  It would be worth it if it made someone else smile and consider the possibilities for their own life.  Let's all try it once and see how it makes you feel.  Maybe it will become a habit and spread smiles everywhere.  Just imagine!

What in the World?

I know that summer in the South  makes us believe in Hell.  If it is hotter than this, I really do not want to go there!  In May we had death and destruction from tornadoes and  floods.  Now in the first week of June the temperature is near 100 and the heat index is even hotter.  Orange ozone warnings are out in cities!  It does not bode well for the rest of summer.  I remember the year our neighborhood pool had to put ice blocks in the water to cool it off so that kids could swim.  We may be headed for another one like that.  Personally I need to stay indoors until October and thank God daily for air conditioning.

Watermelon save us.  One of the few blessings of summer.  I am ready for the first one of the year.  Eating is an indoor sport for me.  No picnics.

Oh, don't forget the incessant sound of trillions of cicadas.  Summer in the south.  I am waiting for winter.

A Fun Day

I have said for years that I would never move another child into a dorm.  It is always hot, too much work, and exhaustion at the end of the day.  Never mind my aching back.  Well I had to eat those words this week when I helped moved my youngest grandson out of his dorm at Ole Miss.  It was Not too hot, Not too many trips, (thanks to his room mate), and Not too exhausting.  To give him credit, he was ALL packed when we got there.  Not nearly as much STUFF as girls always have and it was actually a fun day.

Once again I get to brag.  He finished his freshman year with good grades, good friends, and he got involved in lots of activities.  What more can you ask for from a freshman college student.

Congratulations to Sarah as well for graduating with honors from Mississippi State and her acceptance to grad school at Georgia Tech.  And to Bradley for a Masters in Engineering from Mississippi State and his acceptance to Georgia Tech.

Can you tell that this is a day when I am counting my blessings!