I bought another book today. (Yes. Another. One.) It was an impulse buy and easy to make since I was at the local Dollar Tree and therefore, it was only one whole dollar.
It's by a lady named Pat Lorenz and is called Life's Too Short to Fold Your Underwear. The title amused me (no, I don't fold my underwear) so I got it.
In the chapter entitled 'Life's Too Short to Worry about Getting Old'. In this chapter she talks about how, after entering her 50's, she entered a whole new world and sums up her new basic philosophies concerning cooking and cleaning. The summary follows:
- Help keep the kitchen clean - eat out.
- My next house will have no kitchen, just vending machines.
- A messy house is a sign of a misspent life.
- A messy kitchen is a happy kitchen and this kitchen is delirious.
- Countless numbers of people have eaten in this kitchen and gone on to lead normal lives.
- Housework done properly can kill you.
- A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
As long as at least one of those cookies contains white chocolate chunks and macadamia nuts, I entirely agree with all of the above.
Now I've got the munchies. I think I'll go to my deliriously happy kitchen and see if I can find something fun to eat.
Papillon
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Endless Horizons
As I mentioned in yesterday's posting, I've been visiting my mom who lives in west Texas. There's no easy way to get from where I live to where my mom lives. It's not easy to fly there and it's equally not easy to drive there.
On the most recent visit I drove. This is not brain surgery. And there are parts of the drive that can be very interesting.
That said - there are parts of western Texas and eastern New Mexico that should bottle and sell a cure for insomniacs. Initially when you see the endless vistas, it can be very interesting especially if it's your first time in this part of the country. However, after several hours it can become, well, the equivalent of a giant geographical sleeping pill.
On the most recent visit I drove. This is not brain surgery. And there are parts of the drive that can be very interesting.
That said - there are parts of western Texas and eastern New Mexico that should bottle and sell a cure for insomniacs. Initially when you see the endless vistas, it can be very interesting especially if it's your first time in this part of the country. However, after several hours it can become, well, the equivalent of a giant geographical sleeping pill.
Granted, there are some very cool things to look at. Since there's so much available space, there are a number of wind farms in and around Big Spring and Sterling City. Up close they're rather hypnotic (in a good way). Rather stately.
Please don't get me wrong - I'm not dissing west Texas and east New Mexico. There's some gorgeous scenery and the people have always been uniformly pleasant. It's just -- there's a whole lot of flat going on in some places.
Papillon
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The End of an Era
As you may have noticed, it's been a week since my last blog posting.
Earlier this year, my mom had several episodes where she fell, one especially bad fall in early March. Since then my mom has gone into a nice assisted living place (researched by my older sister). Since then both of my sisters and I have been working on getting my mom's house cleaned out and put up for sale.
Over this past weekend we held an estate sale. A very lovely and talented woman (Kay) and her team of lovely and talented workers conducted the sale. (We are very grateful for their professionalism!) My sisters and my brother-in-law and I helped by being watchers and runners and generally doing what we could to make things run as smoothly as possible.
All in all it was an exhausting weekend and I just really didn't have the mental energy to blog.
The title of this posting mentions the end of an era. When my dad retired, he and my mom moved into the house that is currently my mom's home (my dad died in the early 1980's). So the house has been in my family for over 30 years. Needless to say, there are lots of memories connected to the house and its furnishings.
I find myself becoming sentimental over any number of things that could be considered small or silly. But they'll trigger a memory or two or three. As to be expected, some of the memories are happy, some sad.
Was it C.S. Lewis who said that memories are what give us roses in December?
Anyway, my mom seems to be doing well at the assisted living home. It was definitely the right move. She seems to be making new friends to go with all her former friends who've been very good about visiting her.
Prior to the estate sale, my sisters and I very amicably decided on what we wanted to keep. It was still tough seeing some things being sold. I kept having memories of 'remember when'. I just kept telling myself that the items being sold would now be giving good memories to their new owners.
Papillon
Earlier this year, my mom had several episodes where she fell, one especially bad fall in early March. Since then my mom has gone into a nice assisted living place (researched by my older sister). Since then both of my sisters and I have been working on getting my mom's house cleaned out and put up for sale.
Over this past weekend we held an estate sale. A very lovely and talented woman (Kay) and her team of lovely and talented workers conducted the sale. (We are very grateful for their professionalism!) My sisters and my brother-in-law and I helped by being watchers and runners and generally doing what we could to make things run as smoothly as possible.
All in all it was an exhausting weekend and I just really didn't have the mental energy to blog.
The title of this posting mentions the end of an era. When my dad retired, he and my mom moved into the house that is currently my mom's home (my dad died in the early 1980's). So the house has been in my family for over 30 years. Needless to say, there are lots of memories connected to the house and its furnishings.
I find myself becoming sentimental over any number of things that could be considered small or silly. But they'll trigger a memory or two or three. As to be expected, some of the memories are happy, some sad.
Was it C.S. Lewis who said that memories are what give us roses in December?
Anyway, my mom seems to be doing well at the assisted living home. It was definitely the right move. She seems to be making new friends to go with all her former friends who've been very good about visiting her.
Prior to the estate sale, my sisters and I very amicably decided on what we wanted to keep. It was still tough seeing some things being sold. I kept having memories of 'remember when'. I just kept telling myself that the items being sold would now be giving good memories to their new owners.
Papillon
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Drip Drip Drop
It is no use to grumble and complain; It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice; When God sorts out the weather and sends rain - Why, rain's my choice. - James Whitcomb Riley
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
-Langston Hughes
Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you. - Langston Hughes
Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger. - Saint Basil
-----------------------------------------
We got a very lovely rain storm a short while ago. Such a pleasantly blowing diversion.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love the weather here in New Mexico. I could never, ever live someplace like Seattle. All that rain would have me putting my head in a gas stove.
I do love sunshine.
That said, it has been a very dry rainy season so far.
People who don't live in New Mexico tend to laugh when we say that we have a rainy season. After all, this is a high desert. But we do have two months (July and August) where we are supposed to get a large portion of our annual moisture.
We tend to worry when the moisure heads north or stays to the east. This has been the case so far thanks to a high pressure system in the northeast corner of the state. That has moved off to the east, allowing more moisture to head in. Which lead to this evening's storm. Lots of wind and a significant amount of rain.
My car now looks cleaner. Up until now, all we'd had were a couple of quick bursts of moisture followed by blowing dust. Which made my car look grubby. The dirt is now mostly gone. Hooray!
All in all, a very good result was had.
Papillon
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
-Langston Hughes
Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you. - Langston Hughes
Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger. - Saint Basil
-----------------------------------------
We got a very lovely rain storm a short while ago. Such a pleasantly blowing diversion.
Now, don't get me wrong. I love the weather here in New Mexico. I could never, ever live someplace like Seattle. All that rain would have me putting my head in a gas stove.
I do love sunshine.
That said, it has been a very dry rainy season so far.
People who don't live in New Mexico tend to laugh when we say that we have a rainy season. After all, this is a high desert. But we do have two months (July and August) where we are supposed to get a large portion of our annual moisture.
We tend to worry when the moisure heads north or stays to the east. This has been the case so far thanks to a high pressure system in the northeast corner of the state. That has moved off to the east, allowing more moisture to head in. Which lead to this evening's storm. Lots of wind and a significant amount of rain.
My car now looks cleaner. Up until now, all we'd had were a couple of quick bursts of moisture followed by blowing dust. Which made my car look grubby. The dirt is now mostly gone. Hooray!
All in all, a very good result was had.
Papillon
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friends and Fun
Several friends and I got together yesterday for a quick field trip to a quilt shop on the (far) east side of town. OK, to be truthful, it's just a weensy bit out of town. But that was all OK, too, because it was a lovely day, if a tiny bit hot. But that's to be expected in mid-July. And, it IS a 'dry' heat after all!
We got to the quilt store, found out they were having their 2nd anniversary sale and promptly ran amok. The store owners and staff were a tough bunch, entirely capable of dealing with quilters and their amok-ness. They were rewarded for their efforts and we walked away with more projects for the future.
I say 'more projects' because most/all quilters have way more projects in mind than they will ever have time to do. That is because all creative types live in fear that they will wake up some morning and find themselves with nothing to work on/look forward to.
I feel this way, not only with my craft projects, but also with books. Which is why my house is generally decorated with books, books and even more books. Not to mention needlepoint and quilts. I obviously wear my creative endeavors on my sleeve (and on the wall plus various bookcases).
-------------------------------------
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen
Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books - even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome. ~William Ewart Gladstone
-------------------------------------
Afterwards we all went to lunch (being famished after all that running amok). Fortunately there was a pleasant little restaurant right across the parking lot. We got our aerobic exercise in the walk there. While perusing the menu, I noticed they had a burger that was stuffed with chiles and cheese and then deep fried. We were tempted to order but figured that our stomachs and arteries would kill us. Literally.
Later we got together at our host's house (thanks!) and admired the views and each other's purchases and the key lime pie we had for dessert (yum!).
All in all, a fun day was had. Good friends, a quilt store having a sale, good food, lovely views and key lime pie. Can a day get any better?
Papillon
We got to the quilt store, found out they were having their 2nd anniversary sale and promptly ran amok. The store owners and staff were a tough bunch, entirely capable of dealing with quilters and their amok-ness. They were rewarded for their efforts and we walked away with more projects for the future.
I say 'more projects' because most/all quilters have way more projects in mind than they will ever have time to do. That is because all creative types live in fear that they will wake up some morning and find themselves with nothing to work on/look forward to.
I feel this way, not only with my craft projects, but also with books. Which is why my house is generally decorated with books, books and even more books. Not to mention needlepoint and quilts. I obviously wear my creative endeavors on my sleeve (and on the wall plus various bookcases).
-------------------------------------
I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. ~Anna Quindlen
Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. ~Henry Ward Beecher
Books are delightful society. If you go into a room and find it full of books - even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome. ~William Ewart Gladstone
-------------------------------------
Afterwards we all went to lunch (being famished after all that running amok). Fortunately there was a pleasant little restaurant right across the parking lot. We got our aerobic exercise in the walk there. While perusing the menu, I noticed they had a burger that was stuffed with chiles and cheese and then deep fried. We were tempted to order but figured that our stomachs and arteries would kill us. Literally.
Later we got together at our host's house (thanks!) and admired the views and each other's purchases and the key lime pie we had for dessert (yum!).
All in all, a fun day was had. Good friends, a quilt store having a sale, good food, lovely views and key lime pie. Can a day get any better?
Papillon
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Minor Annoyances
Because I live just outside of Albuquerque, I have access to both my town's library and the libraries in Albuquerque. This is fun because it significantly widens the pool of book possibilities.
The closest Albuquerque branch library is in the Taylor Ranch neighborhood. Sometimes I think the library staff is psychic in a slightly annoying sort of way.
This is because I had requested several books. They left me a voice mail message the other day saying I had a book ready to be picked up. I got busy and waited a couple of days before picking it up today. After I got home, I found another message - another book is ready to be picked up. Grrr! The second book was NOT on the hold shelf when I picked up the first book.
Oh, well. In the grand scheme of things, this is a petty annoyance indeed. It could be worse. And if this is the worst thing that happens to me this year, it'll be a pretty good year.
Another annoyance? The weather. Mother Nature is being a great big tease. For most of the afternoon, there've have been lovely dark clouds all around my house. Have I seen a drop of rain? Why no. To rub salt in the wound, the local news showed that the east side of town had gotten a very lovely shower.
Ah, well.
Keeping my
The closest Albuquerque branch library is in the Taylor Ranch neighborhood. Sometimes I think the library staff is psychic in a slightly annoying sort of way.
This is because I had requested several books. They left me a voice mail message the other day saying I had a book ready to be picked up. I got busy and waited a couple of days before picking it up today. After I got home, I found another message - another book is ready to be picked up. Grrr! The second book was NOT on the hold shelf when I picked up the first book.
Oh, well. In the grand scheme of things, this is a petty annoyance indeed. It could be worse. And if this is the worst thing that happens to me this year, it'll be a pretty good year.
Another annoyance? The weather. Mother Nature is being a great big tease. For most of the afternoon, there've have been lovely dark clouds all around my house. Have I seen a drop of rain? Why no. To rub salt in the wound, the local news showed that the east side of town had gotten a very lovely shower.
Ah, well.
Keeping my
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Driving Around
I was driving around today and for a while was behind a car that had a sign on its back windown that said "Singing Lessons - All Age." Let's put aside the nitpicking about whether it should have read "All Ages" - perhaps the 'S' had come loose and the lack was not noticed by the vehicle's owner.
I bring this up because it got me thinking about the audition process for the show 'American Idol' and specifically for the 2010 season. I don't watch the bulk of the show, but I do like to watch the auditions. I do this with the same morbid fascination that I usually reserve for train wrecks. There are just so many people who are so very eager to display their complete and utter lack of talent on national TV. They quite often do so with the complete and utter ignorance of what very little talent they have.
In the auditions for the 2010 season, one young woman was turned down by the panel. She did have a modicum of singing ability. She wasn't as horribly bad as William Hung. But she definitely did not have anywhere near enough talent to be considered as a viable contestant.
She took umbrage at the panel's opinions and very irately told them that she DID have talent and that she's got the singing teachers to prove it. Yes, teachers, plural. You could see it on everyone's face - perhaps she needed to go back to her teachers and ask for a partial refund of fees paid. Because if she's had YEARS of lessons from multiple teachers, then she either should have a better singing voice or her teachers should have been more straightforward with her concerning her potential as a singer. I would guess the teachers were more interested in receiving the fees than in telling the young woman the truth.
Oh, the places my thoughts go when I'm behind a car at a stoplight.
Papillon
I bring this up because it got me thinking about the audition process for the show 'American Idol' and specifically for the 2010 season. I don't watch the bulk of the show, but I do like to watch the auditions. I do this with the same morbid fascination that I usually reserve for train wrecks. There are just so many people who are so very eager to display their complete and utter lack of talent on national TV. They quite often do so with the complete and utter ignorance of what very little talent they have.
In the auditions for the 2010 season, one young woman was turned down by the panel. She did have a modicum of singing ability. She wasn't as horribly bad as William Hung. But she definitely did not have anywhere near enough talent to be considered as a viable contestant.
She took umbrage at the panel's opinions and very irately told them that she DID have talent and that she's got the singing teachers to prove it. Yes, teachers, plural. You could see it on everyone's face - perhaps she needed to go back to her teachers and ask for a partial refund of fees paid. Because if she's had YEARS of lessons from multiple teachers, then she either should have a better singing voice or her teachers should have been more straightforward with her concerning her potential as a singer. I would guess the teachers were more interested in receiving the fees than in telling the young woman the truth.
Oh, the places my thoughts go when I'm behind a car at a stoplight.
Papillon
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