Author Archives: Humor Happens
Clarity
This is the image of a bunny in our backyard. He wasn’t close to the house, and I took it through the window screen. It’s not very clear, but I can tell from personal history, education, and images that this is a bunny.
Sometimes life isn’t very clear. There are so many things that can change the clarity of any given situation. So far as I can tell, not much in this world is black or white. Most things are shades of the rainbow with all sorts of shadows and highlights thrown in.
Clarity is a precious commodity, but there are things I do know:
- There is good in the world.
- Many straight hair girls want curly locks (me), and many curly hair girls want it straight.
- There is hope for tomorrow.
- When I need new pants to shrink in, they shrink up.
- Rainbows bring on smiles.
- When I need new pants to shrink up, they shrink in.
- God is good.
- Some folks are ticklish.
- A cat in the center of the living room floor with company all around will lick his or herself in an inappropriate place.
- Clothes fresh out of the dryer on a cold winter’s night are much appreciated.
What do you see clearly?
No More!
Have you ever told someone, “No!” and they just didn’t listen?
You know, like when I’m taking your photo and you wish I’d go away and leave you alone?
Well, guess what this guy is saying?
Or is it the grass he just pulled from the ground by the root?
Moral of the Story: We don’t always know the truth behind the image. And it doesn’t always matter.
After a Long Day
This photo was taken at the end of a long but satisfying day. In my travels for work, I took three classes, each a week-long, with colleagues from around the state within one year. In June of 2010, one of those classes was only a half hour from a most delightful town: Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Each night, my colleagues and I would study over dinner, but on this night, we drove the half hour to Frankenmuth first. I don’t recall if we had dinner in Zehnders or Bavarian Inn, but I know I had the delicious chicken. I know we discussed the class for that day. There is nothing like taking a pass or fail class with colleagues who have good study skills.
After a sumptuous dinner and feeling better about what we learned that day for the coming test, we walked around the town for a while. Heading to the parking lot, we saw this site. It just relaxed me. What a beautiful night!
Moral of the Story: There are things in this world that are difficult, but there are other things that make the difficult less so.
Take a Sniff!
No matter what your day involves, find a scent you love and take it in.
Fresh mowed lawn, pumpkin pie, new bailed hay, just dug carrots, and new rain are a few I enjoy. What are yours?
Moral of the Story: Inhale! Take a sniff of the world. It makes some things feel right no matter if things are right or not.
(NOTE: I mean of the air around you. NOT of drugs and junk.)
I’m So Excited!
It’s almost here! The trees are starting to turn and the weather was kind today. Autumn is on it’s way!
Temperatures that I enjoy, smells that bring me alive, visions of beauty all around, and tastes that I could dine on every day.
Some say they don’t like the autumn because they know what’s coming after. I disagree. Why torture yourself about the difficult thing to come when there is a great thing right here at your finger tips? Be in the moment, and enjoy this most amazing gift. So many in this world have not ever seen the gorgeous autumn that we get in Michigan.
Happy Autumn!
Perspective
Today all my mind is able to concentrate on is that my sweet little girl lost a canine tooth. She’s 15, so it’s not exactly a surprise … although her sister has eaten more human food, so I always thought her teeth would go first. This is a sign of aging I’m having a hard time living with.
The gray section of my bangs? It actually looks like I’ve had it colored, and people compliment me on it. I let them know it’s all God’s doing.
The wrinkles by my eyes and on my forehead? No big deal, it’s just skin.
Pretty sure menopause is coming? Thank goodness, let’s get it over with and be on the other side!
But my cats’ tooth? Oy! This is my little honey bunny who plays with her toys. My sweetheart who still runs through the house like a cheetah each night at 10 p.m. My monkey bunkey who touches my face to wake me when I over-sleep. To see my friends, family, and cats age … it’s not easy.
Moral of the Story: Love hurts. And yet life is beautiful if you do it. This thing that hurts = Do It!
Jam at E&S Sales in Shipshewanna
WARNING: Using Jelly and Jam interchangeably. Please forgive me.
Have you ever been to Shipshewana, Indiana? For me, it’s a fun town where I can spend the day, but be home in time to be a vegetable in front of the tele at night.
There are many things I adore about this town. It has lovely small farms (mostly Amish), you’ll see horse & buggies all year round as you drive (drive slow and give the horses room), great restaurants with delightful chicken and pie (raspberry cream), many independent stores, a fun scrapbooking AND candy store in one, and plenty of yarn, bead, and craft stores to keep my friends and I out of trouble for hours (or is that getting into trouble?).
A store I hadn’t been to in any previous trip was E&S Sales. It is a bulk, cash-only grocery store. My friend warned me about it, and I can honestly say I’ve now been there THREE times this summer. Yep, that’s a lot for me considering the distance. Each time was a great ball of fun to see the town, once including a musical, always a dinner out, and then shopping at E&S Sales to take new treasures home to taste.
Here are some options just from the jelly isle. We’ll start with the usual suspects…
Then we move on to some I am not familiar with. Mint I’ve seen at holidays, but both plum and quince are new to me.
On this trip I picked up a plum to try. But since I have to finish each jar of jelly in the fridge before opening a new one, I have to finish the guava from World Market first. So, no, I don’t know how it tastes yet. But I like the guava – it’s mild.
On my second trip I selected dandelion. I’m going to try that before plum. After I finish the guava.
Kiwi sounds interesting, but I’m quite certain elderberry will be great.
I know red raspberry is good, but I’m not interested in trying the one with jalapeno added to it. It’s just not my thing. Is it your thing? Sasafras might be next on my shopping list.
I did not buy a third jar of jelly on my third trip this summer. I started the summer with guava, and I’m going out with guava. They should make these smaller so I can get through them faster!
I’m thinking I’ll skip sweet pepper since I don’t generally care for them. Tomato I like in juice and on my pasta (sometimes), but I don’t need to test this one either. Perhaps the watermelon is an option.
Now we’re getting back to safe ground, with the exception of orange marmalade. It’s just not for me, but my mom likes it, so I still might see it in the fridge. I tried passion fruit in the spring (after a triple berry from Meijer and before the guava from World Market) because I read about it in a book. It’s pretty good. Mild, but pleasant.
Yeah, fruit cocktail can stay right there. Apparently the one I need to get my hands on is gooseberry! Not one jar left. Hmmm… must be good stuff.
What jelly or jam would you try? What have you had? What’s your favorite? Also, what do you eat it on?
Humor Happens 