I might need to get a second sock drawer … for the independents.4
Michigan Weather
Oh, what a day!
This morning it was snowing.
By mid-morning it was blowing.
Just before noon there was some slush.
When I went out for lunch, everything was covered in mush.
By afternoon break it was warm and cozy.
Such a lovely walk on near dry sidewalks made my cheeks glow rosy.
Leaving the office too late in the evening was a walk in the rain.
And now I sit here with thunder and lightning wishing for snow again.
Oh, what a day!
PS: We had fog a few days ago.
Today’s Hero: Chris
Every day has a hero or two in it. For me, today’s hero is my nephew Chris and all of his fellow plow folks.
Chris takes care of his family in many ways. He not only provided a beautiful home for his wife and children, supports them with his many talents, but makes sure to have time to relax and enjoy his family. He also takes care of his extended family, such as household repairs for his grandma, tractor and truck maintenance for his uncle, and volunteering to help others as needed.
In the winter is when I appreciate Chris the most, especially with all of this snow this particular winter. Each year, there might be lots of snow in the drive when I leave for work, but the end of our driveway has been kept so clean from the road plow icy mucky rocky buildup that I can always get out. But coming home from work after much snow, it is always fantastically plowed. It makes the joy of “Home Sweet Home” all the more endearing. It’s not only our driveway, but all of the drives used in the winter for the family farm. This includes the driveway to allow customers to stop at the apple storage so my brother can continue to sell his many apples in the ultra cold winter. (Hint, hint, Bourner’s Orchard still has apples for sale.)
This winter in particular, much plowing has been needed. This winter, the frequency is every few days instead of once-a-week or so.This winter, the snow is off the charts (much like 1978 when we had a drift reaching the roof of the garage). This winter, like many years of winters, Chris has come to our rescue. This winter, I couldn’t appreciate him more! Please take a moment and admire his magnificent work with me. It is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen since thick sliced rye bread at MacKenzie’s Bakery.
My Dad
Ten years ago, on the 19th of January, my dad moved on from this earth to become a treasure in Heaven. I tried to write that day, but it wasn’t in me. After he passed, I wasn’t sure how we’d go on, he was the life blood of this family.
Yet, here we are, ten years of life without him on earth. However, he does make appearances in my life. I dream as if he were still here with us. These dreams feel as if he is genuinely in our lives, eating breakfast at the kitchen table, taking a Sunday drive for lunch at Sam’s Joint, watching “Becker” with him laughing so hard he’d nearly fall off the couch, walking up from the dairy barn together finding constellations in the night sky after he’d milked cows, and watching him and my mom sit on the couch taking turns petting our cat Daisy purring loudly between them while they enjoyed the daily newspaper (back when they printed a paper daily).
The first few years he was gone, waking from these dreams was about as depressing as waking up on January 20, 2004 only to realize he was gone from our daily lives. It broke my heart every time. While sleeping, it was a sweet dream. After waking, it was a nightmare.
Fortunately, in these last few years, it has become a blessing. I can meet him there, and all is as it should be. Even better, my dad isn’t the first loved one I have experienced this with. In my dreams, I also meet others who have gone before me, such as my grandma and her sister, my aunt, my sister, my niece, and many others. Each time a loved one moves on from here, it’s a terrible reminder that I can no longer talk with them, break bread with them, or enjoy their company. Each time, it is now a blessing … but like many things in life, that blessing took time to come.
I pray you find comfort in some way for your loved ones who have left this world as we know it. For me, everyone goes to Heaven. It matters not if they were Christian, because I believe in an all powerful and all loving God who would not separate us from His children in the afterlife … animal and human alike. May you also find peace from loss with time.
PB & J
This week I made a peanut butter and jelly (PB & J) sandwich for lunch. After I’d evenly spread the peanut butter on one side and the plum jelly smoothly on the other, I realized I forgot to toast it. There’s just something delish to me about a slightly warm and mildly crispy PB & J.
My dad, mom, and I enjoyed Tuna, Noodle, & Pea casserole. However, when we ate it, it was more of a one-dish wonder, since we didn’t put it into a casserole dish and bake it with chips or crackers on top. Now and then, I would hear my dad ask my mom to make it the way his mom made it (baked), but by then my brother and I preferred it unbaked. Now and again, she’d bake it just for dad.
What are your preferences?
Frozen Fruit
I was sick recently. When it’s a head cold, I like frozen fruit. This was not a head cold, but even if it were, I would not have eaten these frozen apples.
The Storm of the Century
There is a storm coming to town. Below zero temperatures and between 4 and 12 inches of snow are predicted.
Here is a sample from yesterday:
This is Michigan. This is one hour from the lakeshore. This is not new.
The lines and parking at Meijer today? New! I’ve never seen them so very long.
The parking lot was full. Every spot in the central rows were taken from handicap to farthest back possible. We were informed to take a cart now, as none were available in the store.
The store was full too. Especially checkout. The isle with the checkout at the front of the store has the full clothing and jewelry behind it. The lines went INTO the clothing!
Every light in the house was on, except #6, but even that one was in use!
Now, I wonder if we’ll get the weather predicted. Most of the times we don’t.
This shopping experience was new, and it would have been painful if the folks in line with me weren’t also shocked and sharing stories of other storms to come. It worked out well because everyone stayed calm, carried on, and laughed at the moment.
Moral of the Story: Have some back up at home, but if not, enjoy the ride. And it is appreciated if you warn the folks on the way in that they need a cart from the parking lot.
Welcome 2014
Thus far 2014 has been good to me. Hoping it continues to go well.
Moral of the Story: Life is one day at a time. Enjoy your day!
Farewell 2013, Greetings 2014
One year is coming to a close and another is opening up. I look forward to new opportunities for all good things to come.
In 2013, I made a few resolutions, some of which I succeeded in keeping:
- Go to the gym once-a-week when I’m not volunteering: Maintained for 6 months.
- Write in a journal daily: Maintained (or went back to complete) for 9 months … until I lost it. (This is 6 months longer than all past attempts.)
- Found the journal in month 11 behind some overgrown dust bunnies … and still haven’t gotten back in the swing of it.
- Eat more fruits and veggies: Which I do better when they are in season with an abundant garden out back.
- Read 95 books in 2013: Read 100. (I’m hoping that 5% helps to bolster some that weren’t so good.)
- Finish: scrapbooking through 2010: Done!
- One blog for each day of 2013. Done!
In 2014, my resolutions are about the same. There are a few additions:
- Find joy in everyday … even if it’s a cat antic or eating a fresh raspberry.
- Get a 2014 journal and don’t lose it … while actually writing in it daily (or near so) for one year.
- Start and finish scrapbooking 2011, and perhaps some of 2012.
- Drink more tea and less soda pop.
- Blog at least weekly. (Daily was too stressful, hence bullet #1 for 2014.)
What are your plans for 2014? What were your successes for 2013?
Praying you have a good year, and that health and happiness are in you every step of the way.
Recipe: Not So Much
I very much enjoy Joanne Fluke’s books. This is one with her and two other authors I appreciate, Laura Levine and Leslie Meier. It’s been a while since I read it, but I think it was Joanne’s story that included a recipe with the two ingredients you see below: beets and pineapple.
Any recipe with both of those items in one end product is not for me. It just doesn’t work with the following food combination issues:
- Fruit and veggies don’t mix in the same dish (see example below)
- All meats are to be thoroughly cooked (this includes fish)
- Sugar and meat don’t mix (no honey smoked ham or maple flavored bacon on my plate, but I can transfer it to yours)
- Fruit and meat don’t mix (pineapple and ham pizza – there’s more for you to enjoy)
I am sure I have more oddities, i.e. preferences. What are some of yours?
Humor Happens 