Playing House

 I went through a period of my life when I was ashamed of the child that I was.  I hate that.  I hate that I felt that way, but it is what it is. I have worked through that and now really happily remember that child.  If you did not know me back in those days, I was a big girl.  Plain and simple.  Now, having said that, I never wanted to be a woman and I do not want to be a woman.  I was simply a very effeminate child and was drawn to things that were stereotypically for girls.  That is all. 

The reason that I am bringing this up today is because there is a part of me that is revisiting some of those childhood things that I did.  It was a time when I was very free and I was completely authentic to myself.  I thank God every day that I grew up in a time before social media.  I really doubt I would be here today if it had existed back then.  But I digress. One of the things that I loved to do was to play house. This was something that I did by myself.  It was mostly pre-kindergarten days.  Mom stayed at home in those days and while we did things together, a lot of time was also spent by myself, and I would find fun ways to occupy my time. 

I would pretend that I had a big house and all of these rooms and all of these things.  I would take care of the house.  Sweep the floors, wash the dishes, vacuum the rugs, etc. And I loved it. Mom would eventually use that to her advantage to get me to help with things around the house.  To me, it was a game.  It was something fun.  And now, as an adult, I am learning to love playing house again.  If you follow me on Facebook, you will now that I love to cook and set my table.  People have asked me why I do that if it's only for myself.  And I tell them that this is what I enjoy.  This makes me happy.  As much as I love to use the heirlooms that have been passed down to me and connecting with that history, doing this also puts me in touch with my inner child.  That child that was, in his own way, very fearless.  That brings such a sense of peace and balance to my life.

Playing house as an adult makes me happy.  Even though I don't have a partner or children, I do have family and friends.  And getting in touch with my inner child through the things I do in my house is giving me the confidence to include my family and friends in my life more. That is all. 

One Moment in Time

 Last night while I was going down my YouTube music rabbit hole, this was one of the songs that played.  Whitney Houston put out so many great songs that I often forget about this one.  It's very inspirational and wanted to start my week out with it.  Enjoy!

My Christmas covered vegetable dish

 In my collecting journey, I find myself automatically drawn to certain kinds of pieces.  I love a nice cream and sugar set though no one uses them anymore really.  I also love that pieces that are on stands/pedestals like cake stands and compotes.  One of the other things that I am drawn to is covered dishes.  Like so many things I am passionate about collecting, this began with the house at Wingate.  My Great Grandmother Bivens had a covered dish that I fell in love with.  It went to my Aunt Billie and eventually was passed down to me, and I love to use it.  Anyway, I am always on the lookout for a new covered dish. 

In combination with the covered dish, I am always looking for vintage Christmas pieces for my table.  I lucked out on this one.  This one I found on eBay. I think that I just snuck under the radar with this one because no one else bid on it.  And going by all of the vintage Christmas groups that I belong to, I was totally surprised by that.  Still, luck was on my side, and I won the auction at a great price.

This is an English piece.  I forget the maker, but it is stamped on the bottom.  It's packed away right now in a box of Christmas dishes or otherwise I would find the name for you.  It's decorated with holly and dates from the turn of the 19th century.  I absolutely love it and use it every Christmas.  Like most of my items, I actually do use this on my Christmas table as a serving dish.  It still holds up well and I love how it looks.  

My collection is ever growing, and I probably have around 12 covered vegetable dishes so far. All different styles...Victorian, MCM, aluminum hammer ware, etc. and I am sure that this will keep growing as I can usually find very interesting pieces at cheap prices.  Still, this is my Christmas covered vegetable dish and I love it.  Looking forward to using it again in 9 months!

Quote of the Week

 As someone who loves being a doer and a caregiver, this speaks volumes to me

Things To Do for Fun 2026

 

Everyone has a different idea of what is fun.  That makes sense because what may be considered fun to one person may not necessarily be fun to another.  I have been making the effort this year to do more things that are fun to me.  It might be boring as hell to you, but it's fun to me.  Since I last updated you on this, I have been to the theatre, finished a book, eaten locally, tried a new recipe, visited my hometown and spent time with some wonderful people. 

Last month, Stephanie and I went to see UNCG's production of Frankenstein.  That was just a fun evening.  We started with dinner at Don Japanese on Tate Street with Steph's ex-husband, their son and several others.  If you live in Greensboro and haven't been to Don Japanese yet, I highly recommend it.  Stephanie and I had been there before when we went to see Side Show and it did not disappoint.  The company and conversation at dinner was delightful.  Then we met up with a few more people and almost filled up a row of seats at the show.  The show itself was interesting.  Jim Wren directed the show.  Jim was one of my acting teachers way back when and I was in his productions of The Coconuts and As You Like It. This show definitely had Jim's stamp on it.  It was edgy but in a very intellectual way and not just for the sake of being edgy.  However, the script was very imbalanced.  Obviously, the Creature was the main focus but almost every other character was left undeveloped, and I don't feel like some of the actors were up to that challenge. But it's educational theatre so that is to be expected.  The young man that played the Creature was phenomenal.  I have never in my life seen a performance like that. He was completely mesmerizing and will definitely make a name for himself one day. 

I finished reading Tim Curry's autobiography, Vagabond.  If you are a fan of his work, then this is a great book to read.  It focuses mainly on his career, and he gives great insight into his process.  I have tried several new recipes this year and one that I particularly enjoyed was a tater tot casserole.  It's basically like your average hashbrown casserole only with tater tots.  Still, very filling.  Not the healthiest thing I've ever eaten but delicious none the less. 

On Valentine's Day, I took a day trip back home to Monroe.  It was the anniversary of Mom's passing, the 30th anniversary, and I just felt like visiting the cemetery.  I met up with Larry and Brenda Robinson for breakfast at a place called The Village Grille.  The food was absolutely wonderful and if you're in that area and are looking for a good breakfast, go there.  The staff was super nice and did not pressure us to leave even though they were super crowded.  We'd finished our breakfast but spent a long time visiting and catching up. It was great to see them and I hope to see them again soon.  When Mom died, we had visitation at our house.  Mom's philosophy was that she didn't live in the funeral home and she didn't want people to come see us there.  We listened to her wishes.  Anyway, Larry was one of the first people I remember seeing that day at the house and so it was very appropriate to spend quality time with he and Brenda while I was in town to see Mom.  It was a good day.

These are the kinds of things I do for fun and I am happy to be getting more of that in these days.  I'm not getting any younger so grab the brass ring while I can!

Thought of the day

 I have mentioned on here before about taking time away from social media from time to time. Every few days, I simply do not go there.  I avoid it on the computer at home, the computer at work and my phone.  I find it very refreshing to not get myself mired down in staring at the screen for hours on end.  And the older I get, which is happening every day, I am discovering that I do not need to explain my actions or defend them simply because I choose to do this.  It is my life and I can do what I want without question.  Part of this is because I am old fashioned and I am getting better at finding other ways to occupy my time. 

However, even though I do not feel the need to explain myself, it does get frustrating because many people just do not understand how I can or why I would want to walk away from that world from time to time.  The people that actually know me have a much better grasp on it but people who only know me through social media don't always understand. Taking a break every few days has also lessened my time on social media on days when I do get on those websites.  I spend my entire day at work sitting in front of a computer answering a phone.  The last thing I want to do when I get home is spend hours sitting in front of my computer and looking at my phone.  That is not to say I do not do that, but I definitely do it less than I used to.  I think I am finally waking up from the pandemic quarentine in that sense.

I rarely answer messages on Facebook.  People often get frustrated about that, but I do not apologize for that. I actually get frustrated with it because it shows me that whoever is continually messaging me and getting more passive/aggressive about my lack of response have clearly not even looked at my profile where it states my lack of desire to get right back to you.  Ah, well.  In the end I find it comical.  I also refuse to answer messages that ask questions that are clearly answered on my profile page.  When someone's first question is "Where do you live?" or "Are you single?", those questions go unanswered.  You're either a bot or lazy.  Or both. 

Even though I have done a little explaining here, it's a good feeling to not feel that need to do that anymore.  Take me or leave me, that's your choice.  But if you take me, just know what all comes with the package.  That is all. 

Cristofori's Dream - David Lanz

 Wanted to start out my morning with a beautiful piano piece by David Lanz.  This was always one of my favorite pieces to play.  Maybe one day I'll pick it back up!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Practice breath awareness whenever you do something like brush your teeth or put on your socks.  When we interrupt automatic behavior, we give ourselves the chance of being in the present moment and remembering that we have choices. 

One drawer at a time - pots and pans

 

Sometimes it can get overwhelming to go through each and every drawer and cabinet, but I am going to keep at it and go forward.  In the long run, I know it's good for me to have things better organized and to give a proper home to as much as I can without overcrowding my spaces.  And I do enjoy it, truly.  It's just that sometimes it can be hard to motivate myself into action LOL

I am about halfway through the kitchen.  My next cabinet will be where all of my pots and pans are.  Well, at least that is where more than half of them are haha!  There really is not a great way, at least in my experience, to organize pots when you have limited space.  A hanging pot rack is not an option based on how my kitchen is laid out and I'm ok with that.  I would probably just walk into the pots and hit my head anyway.  I do have one of those pot racks in a cabinet where I can hang them, but the cabinet is so narrow only two small pots and pans fit in there.  Ah, well.

One thing that is nice is that I don't have more lids than pots.  Every lid has a base to it.  Whew! But there are a few pots that I need to find a new home for.  One is an old stock pot.  This was Mom's.  It's just old and worn and I have since gotten new pots that suit my needs better.  I will probably put this out in the garage and hopefully find a fun use for later.  I want to repurpose it for something.  I'll have to do research on that!  The other pot is a cast iron Dutch oven. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this piece, I simply do not use it.  It's heavy and bulky and just takes up space.  Luckily, this was a Christmas present to Michael and me from his brother. So, this will get boxed up and put into the Michael space of the garage. Now, I just need to get off my butt and do it!

The process works for me and it does make an improvement in things.  That makes me feel better.  It's the little things, people!

Recipe of the Week - Garlic Shrimp

 

Shrimp is one of the staples of my cooking canon.  I absolutely love it and am always on the lookout for new shrimp recipes.  This one did not disappoint.  I hope you enjoy it as well!

Garlic Shrimp

2 lbs jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

1 1/2 tsp creole seasoning

1 tsp paprika

1/4 cup unsalted butter, divided

5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

1 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

1/2 cup white wine

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley

kosher salt

3 Tbsp lemon juice

Toss shrimp with 1 Tbsp olive oil, creole seasoning and paprika.  Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a pan and cook shrimp until pink and curled.  Remove from pan and wipe the pan clean.  Add 2 Tbsp butter to the pan and melt over medium heat.  Stir in garlic, lemon zest and pepper, cooking til fragrant.  Pour in the wine and let simmer 2 minutes.  Stir in lemon juice, shrimp and remaining butter.  Cook until butter is melted and shrimp heated through.  Salt to taste and top with fresh parsley.

I served this over vegetable rice and it was delicious!

Christmas music

 

When I was growing up, Christmas music was never played in our house until after Thanksgiving.  Of course, that was back in the day when stores waited until the Christmas season to begin blaring the music everywhere.  It's just how things were back in the day. In my personal life as an adult, I do not follow that philosophy LOL  I listen to Christmas music all the time. It makes me happy and it relaxes me.  I have a huge collection of Christmas vinyl that I have amassed over the years and I'm always looking to add to it. They have become a part of my listening canon, and I enjoy them all through the year.  Now, I only do that in private because I would not want to subject anyone else to Christmas music outside of the season.  That is unless they were a Christmas music junkie like me.

 I also enjoy Christmas podcasts all year round as well. I have probably 15 different ones that I listen to.  Some are focused on music, others on Christmas literature.  Some are about holiday foods.  Some are just overall Christmas joy.  I love each one of them.  Christmas is such a special time of year that I want to carry a part of that feeling with me all year long. It's not for everybody but it works for me. And that is what counts.  So, if you want to hear some Christmas tunes or listen to a fun holiday podcast, come on over!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

If you struggle to get to sleep at night, give yourself some time to unravel your stresses beforehand.  Keep your laptop out of the bedroom and create surroundings that are a haven of tranquility.  Limit the stimulation of television and turn towards self-nurturing with warm drinks, relaxing baths and slow, calming music. 

Daily Challenge for March

 

Now that we're halfway through March, I have finally chosen my daily challenge LOL The challenge for March will be letter writing.  Like I posted the other day, I feel much more connected to other people when I write a letter as opposed to an email or a text.  I'm old fashioned (no kidding) and letter writing is a part of that for me.  I have been writing letters for most of my life. And people remember that. They don't usually remember emails or texts, but they will remember getting a letter. And I am including into this birthday cards, thank you notes and condolences.  It's my way of reaching out to people who are not in my immediate vicinity.  Even then, someone close by might receive a letter LOL  It brings me joy so it is something I would love to incorporate into my everyday life.

Recipe of the Week - Oriental Slaw

 I found this recipe on YouTube several months ago and tucked it away for later usage.  Several weeks ago, I decided to try it.  I'm so glad that I did because I absolutely love this recipe.  It's a great salad.  It's tastes fresh and crisp.  And it lasts for a good bit in the fridge. I ate on it for a week and at the end of the week, it was still delicious.  It can be a great side dish for you, or you can use it as an entree salad.  I had it both ways.  I have since learned that there are many different versions of this salad, but this particular one is going to be the keeper for me!  Enjoy!

Oriental Slaw

1 bunch green onions

2 bags of broccoli slaw mix

2 packages of Beef ramen noodles, crushed

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 cup sunflower seeds

Dressing

2 ramen flavor packs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup white vinegar

Combine slaw ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Whisk together dressing ingredients until sugar is dissolved. Pour over slaw and serve.  I chilled my slaw mix for a few hours before adding the dressing right before serving but go ahead and add it sooner if you wish.

I had the slaw topped with soy garlic shrimp as an entree salad.  Yum!

The Soldier Tin Music Box

 One of the things that I collected from childhood through my teenage years were music boxes.  My love for them began in Mrs. Richmond's first grade class.  She would bring in music boxes from her collection to share with us about once a month.  I was absolutely fascinated with them.  I have loved them ever since.  Oddly enough, this is one collection that I have not added to in decades but if I ever see one that strikes my fancy, I will make the addition gladly. 

Several Christmases I received a music box from my Uncle Bill and Aunt Jan.  Aunt Jan also collected music boxes, and I learned that when she would buy one for herself, she often picked up one for me to save until Christmas.  This music box is one of those.  It is a tin for candy and decorated with soldiers and crayons.  It plays "March of the Wooden Soldiers".  I remember it was filled with the sweetest jellybeans I think I'd ever had.  This is technically not a Christmas music box, but I do like to have it out over the holidays.  

Most of my music boxes don't play like they used to. I need to find someone who repairs such things, but I would not even begin to know where to look.  Ah, well.  I will figure that out.  Until then, I will enjoy this fun piece.  

Quote of the Week

 

This one just speaks to me this week.  Not to be a downer, but I have spent most of my life believing I was not worth the effort....my own or other people's.  That all stops now.  First with myself, then hopefully others will follow.  That is all. 

Things I would like to incorporate into my daily routine

 In alignment with my daily challenge entries, I am really looking to incorporate some things that are good for me into my daily routine.  Beit physical or mental, anything I can do to better myself and take good care of myself will be of value.  Here are a few things I am thinking of.

1. Letter writing

I would love to write a letter/note/birthday card every day.  I am definitely old fashioned that way and love to get mail that isn't junk or bills.  I know most people appreciate it.  It's much more personal for me and makes me feel a lot more connected with someone than sending an email or a text or a dm.  But that's just me!

2. Exercise

Here's that broken record.  I really need to incorporate some kind of exercise every day.  It will definitely help with my physical goals but it will make me feel better mentally.  I always feel better inside after I've exercised.  It clears my mind and helps me focus.  So, there's that.

3. Get outside

Whether it be exercise or sitting out on the porch or doing yardwork, I need to get outside more.  In my gerontology studies, I have learned the importance of green spaces and being in nature is to the aging process.  That will help me to age gracefully!

4. Go to bed with a clean kitchen

I don't mean mop my kitchen floor every night or anything that intense but I absolutely hate to get up in the morning and seeing my kitchen in disarray.  Making sure the dishes are put away, making the counters are wiped down, etc.  Just making sure that the kitchen is in order before turning out the lights. 

5. Devotion and meditation

While these are technically two separate things, I would like to combine them into something I do every day.  For me, a devotion is something that I read that is inspirational and makes me think in a positive way.  Meditation is something that comes from within me and can be sitting in silence, just being still, etc.  I think they go hand in hand so I want more of that.  It calms me and helps me to focus.

What are some things you have recently incorporated into your daily life?  I'm always open to suggestions!

Sacrifice - Sinead O'Connor

 I was listening to an album of Sinead O'Connor's the other day and was reminded how beautiful her voice is. I have several of her albums that I enjoy.  This particular track is from a tribute album called "Two Rooms".  It's the music of Elton John and Bernie Taupin.  The entire album is fantastic, but this is my favorite track.  It's probably my favorite cover version of any song.  I hope you enjoy!

I want to start playing the piano again

 I heard something yesterday that inspired me.  I honestly cannot remember where I heard it but it was while I was at work so there's no telling.  Anyway, the person speaking was talking about passions and said the make sure that you make time for your passions.  I thought that was a great thing and something that I need to incorporate into my life.  I found a similar quote about that and posted it on FB this morning as my morning greeting.  I have not made time in my life for some of my passions, and it is time for me to start doing so. 

Having said that, I want to start playing the piano again.  I don't have a piano anymore and don't really have room for one right now.  And that sucks because there are so many good pianos being offered for free.  I'd only have to pay moving costs.  Still, no room currently for a big piece like that.  So, I need to find a piano to start practicing on.  I'm thinking that I may go to work really early some mornings and play the piano in our life enrichment room.  There are no apartments that butt up against is, so I wouldn't be making noise people could really hear unless they were walking down the halls at that time of morning.  By early morning, I mean like 6 a.m. LOL

I am wondering, though, if it will be like riding a bike.  Will it just come back to me naturally?  Of course, I will be rusty and definitely need practice, but will it be as easy and relaxing as it once was. One of the many ways that I am like Mom is through piano playing.  Whenever Mom was upset or stressed or just needed to think things through by herself, she would sit down at the piano and play.  When I had a piano, that's what I used to do.  It was almost an immediate physical sensation for me. I would just relax as my fingers melted into whatever melody I was playing.  It was good for my soul.  

I don't feel as if my soul is in danger right now, but playing the piano again certainly couldn't hurt!

Being more present

 I often find myself having a love/hate relationship with Facebook.  This is not a new thing to hear, as you know, because I have talked about working hard to keep my personal page very positive and a place where my friends can go and not worry about all of the ills of the world. And I have made considerable effort in what I look at on Facebook so that my algorithm is full of things that are fun and happy.  But the biggest thing that I both appreciate and despise is finding out from a post that someone I know and care about has died.  Whether or not I have seen a person in a long time, it is still very jolting when that news randomly pops up on my feed.

Having gotten that out of the way, I learned earlier this week that my friend Frankie passed away the week before.  I was stunned when I saw that on Facebook.  I literally gasped.  I had a physical and emotional response to that post and had to do some digging around to make sure that it was true.  I met Frankie some 25 years ago.  He became one of my bar buddies.  A group of us would meet up whenever we went out, especially to The Palms.  We would occupy one corner of the bar for the entire evening and drink and laugh.  He had the best laugh.

News like this comes with the inevitable wave of emotions and self-reflection.  Asking myself why I don't do better at keeping up with people.  Why I let opportunities pass me by.  All of these questions come at me at once and it can be overwhelming. This is another reason why I am working on living in the moment and being more present when it comes to life.  While I realize that I cannot keep up with everything and everybody and I cannot do it all, I can definitely do better at being a real presence in people's lives.  I will miss Frankie and am sad that I won't see him again on Earth, but I am using this episode of life to inspire myself to do better.

That is all. 

Grandmother Bivens' Tea Set

 

You will find that many of the things that I have and that I cherish are broken or cracked in some way, but I still love them.  I love the history of them as you well know.  This tea set is no exception.  It belonged to my Great Grandmother Bivens. Both the cream and sugar, which are really big when compared to the size of the teapot, have broken handles but I don't care.  I love the design and shape of the pieces.  I think they are beautiful.

We got this set, like so many other things, when the family home was being dismantled among the family.  I actually chose this, I remember.  Mom was one of the heirs to the family pieces and when they were taking turns dividing up the dishes, she let me choose several times.  This set was not on the dining room table like most of the pieces were but was displayed on the dining room mantle. When it was my turn, I just turned around and took it off the mantle and put it in my box.  I don't think anyone else had really paid attention to the set because of it not being on the table.  

Then it sat in our living room for years until it has come to me.  I display it in my dining room now. My house is wrapped in family history, and this set adds to that feeling.  It gives me comfort and I am very appreciative of that. 

Recipe of the Week - Irish Potato Casserole

 This is a wonderful way to serve mashed potatoes. I made this late last year for one of my Sunday lunches and absolutely loved it.  I have no idea what makes it Irish, but that's the name the recipe came with.  I plan on making this again for Easter this year.  It is one of the best potato dishes I have made in awhile and I look forward to having it again.  I hope you enjoy!

Irish Potato Casserole

10 Med. potatoes, peeled

1 8oz cream cheese, softened

1 8oz sour cream

1/2 c margarine, melted

1/4 cup chopped chives

1 clove garlic, minced

2 tsp. salt

Paprika

Cook potatoes until tender.  Drain and mash.  Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Add other ingredients except paprika. Beat until combined.  Spoon into lightly buttered casserole dish.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  (Not always necessary). remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before baking.  Uncover and bake at 350 degrees of r330 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Serves 10. 

Buying gifts ahead of time

 

Here we are at the beginning of March, and I am already looking ahead at my gift giving for this year. I do this because it works better for my budget than having to buy many things at one time.  And not just for Christmas.  I keep a list for gift giving.  Things like birthdays and other holidays when giving a gift may be appropriate (Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.). And, of course, I am always looking out for fun things for Christmas for my friends and family.

This works for me because I do my best to think outside the box when giving gifts.  Because of this, I can buy something months out and it will still work.  And I enjoy the thrill of the hunt when it comes to buying gifts.  Knowing what friends like and finding that unique treasure is very satisfying. In April and May, I have about 5 people I want to get birthday gifts for, so it is really time for me to get going on that. I have already been formulating ideas in my head for a few of my friends.

And, of course, if I don't find anything, then a gift card will do. I don't mind giving gift cards.  I used to absolutely hate it because I felt like I put no effort into it.  But since I have put gift cards on the back burner as a standby, it is much more palatable for me to use that as a gift resource.  And there are times when someone needs a gift card more than a Knick knack or a book.  I remind myself that the gift is about the receiver and not me, so I do not let my gift giving excitement get in the way of that. 

Another reason this works for me is that I can peruse online sales way ahead of gift giving time.  When I am shopping online, I do my best to buy from independent sellers on Etsy and Teepublic, etc.  I will use big box stores online if I really need to, but I do try to buy from independent sellers.  And I keep in mind that some independent sellers use online retailers like Amazon, so I try to buy from them when visiting that site.

So, it really is time to get my gift buying underway.  First, I need to update my list and see who all is on it.  Are you?  We shall see!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

The great benefit of practicing mindfulness...is presence of mind within a storm of emotions.

Phillip Moffitt

A day of rest

Growing up, Sundays really were considered a day of rest in our house.  While our Sundays revolved around church activities, the rest of the day was pretty much devoted to nothing incredibly important.  That is not to say we never did anything.  Sometimes Sundays meant a matinee at the theatre.  Or a trip to an antiques shop.  Or just reading or napping or watching the game on television.  Nothing labor intensive.  All housework was done on Saturdays or during the week.  Sunday was set aside to just exist in whatever form we chose.

I have started to incorporate that mindset into my life again.  I work full time Monday through Friday, so the weekend is my only opportunity to get things done for the most part.  I do try to do things during the week after work, but that is still limited, time wise. Saturday and Sunday are it for me to get things done.  The past few Sundays, I have chosen to relax instead of being productive.  In some ways, though, that is productive because it is self-care. I decided that taking a day to just be and not worry about having to do laundry or dust or organize the closet was more important to me than a day of productivity.  It does both my mind and body good.  

This past Sunday, the most intensive thing I did was cook. That is not a chore to me as most of you well know. I do enjoy my Sunday lunches, so that is something I do for fun for myself. I finished the book I was reading and started a new one.  I watched "For What It's Worth", a fun antiques game show from the UK.  I took a nap.  I spent time with Lois next door. It was a glorious day.  No worrying about anything.  Just taking time for myself.  And because of that, my Monday was fantastic!  Work went very well and I was energetic, for me anyways, and I had a great Monday.  Taking that full day for me has proven to be a good thing and something that I will continue in the future.  That is all. 

A Trip to the Library - Sally Mayes

 A Trip to the Library is from the 1963 musical She Loves Me by Bock and Harnick.  It is an absolutely charming jewel box of a musical and it's initial run did not last long up against likes of Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly!  I was listening to a podcast this morning and they played the original version sung by Barbara Baxley.  I will admit that I did not care for her version.  I just don't believe she had the vocal chops for the song.  She may have been a wonderful comedian and could make it work for her on stage but that does not come across that recording.  Anyway, it's been stuck in my head all day and this is my favorite version from the 1993 revival sung by Sally Mayes.  Enjoy!

Quote of the Week

 I wanted to start off March with something to inspire me.  Found it!

Bringing people together around the table

 The other day on Facebook, I made a post asking if people would accept an invitation to a meal at my house.  The response was pretty overwhelming and very positive.  That made me feel good.  I really do want to begin sharing meals with friends. I spend a good deal of my spare time by myself.  That is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just how my life is right now.  And I realized that food is one way to bring people together.  I love to cook and entertain, so why not use food as my incentive to be social?  It sounds like a good plan to me.

Thinking back on my life, so many of my favorite memories center around food.  And it is not always about the actual food on the table but more about the people sitting around the table. Holidays are a great example of that.  On occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas, I look back and remember the experience.  I remember the family and friends gathered together around the food.  I do remember some foods like Grandmother's dressing that we only had at Thanksgiving along with her, forgive me, dry turkey and a honey baked ham. But more importantly her house was filled with love because of the people there. 

Birthdays were another food centered occasion.  We almost never went out for someone's birthday but had a gathering at the house to celebrate.  Whoever's birthday it was would usually pick what we ate.  I always had hamburgers.  Bill usually chose lasagna.  And I remember the food because of the circumstances.  Mom and Grandmother's birthdays were in the summer so a cookout with friends and family was almost always on tap. Those were good times.  And being a church going family, Sunday lunch was huge in our household.  It was normally just immediate family but every now and then others would join us.  It is those times around the table that mean the most.  The food just comes in second in my memory.

Plain and simple, food brings people together.  I want more of that in my life.  That is all. Care to join me for lunch?

Go Back Home - Audra McDonald

 This song is from the musical The Scottsboro Boys by Kander and Ebb.  I did not know this song at all until I hear it as the title track from one of Audra's albums. It is haunting and beautiful.  I need to seek out the score and listen to the whole thing.  I hope you enjoy.

Matthew 6:34

 I came across this verse in a daily devotional, and it really stuck with me.  Not that I think we should not worry about the future, but this is a reminder to me to live in the present.  That is all. 

10 great performances that failed to receive an Oscar nomination

 I don't keep up with current movies like I used to, but I still enjoy them.  Here's another list in honor of the upcoming Academy Awards.  Here are 10 performances that did not get nominated that I believe should have.  Most of these are from comedies because the academy does not often nominate comedic performances.  It does occasionally, but not very much and I wish that would change.  Comedy is harder than drama in many ways, especially with film because you don't have that energy you get from performing before a live audience and yet you still have to be funny.  Not all of these are from comedies, but most are.  What are some of your favorite performances or films for that matter that did not get recognized by the academy?  Let me know!

1. Richard Gere - Chicago

2. Sandra Bullock - Miss Congeniality

3. Helena Bonham Carter - Howard's End

4. Nathan Lane - The Birdcage

5. Taraji P. Henson - Hidden Figures

6. Ryan Gosling - Lars and the Real Girl

7. Janelle Monae - The Glass Onion

8. Madeline Kahn - Clue

9. Toni Collette - Muriel's Wedding

10. Catherine O'Hara - Home Alone

Sunset Park

 Going back to my hometown a few weeks ago obviously brought back a lot of memories for me.  And they were good memories.  After spending some time at the cemetery, I drove around the town looking at places of my past.  One of those places was Sunset Park.  I spent many times there as a child.  Sometimes the neighborhood kids would go there but mostly I went when I was in elementary school. Sunset Park sits adjacent to Walter Bickett Elementary where I attended K-5th grade. It also sits near the Monroe City Cemetery also known as Suncrest Cemetery.  I was driving in that area to go to that cemetery as well because that is where my grandparents are buried. 

It was always a treat, though, when we got to take a long recess and walk over to the park and play.  We would have to walk in a line there and back. Most, if not all, of the old playground equipment has been replaced.  I remember that metal slide that you would burn your behind on when the sun was out.  Multiple swing sets.  Seesaws, which were also metal and could get quite hot.  There were basketball courts and two baseball fields.  Sometimes we would play a game of kickball on the baseball field.  I never played baseball there, but Bill did.  Many afternoons were spent watching little league games.  Several seasons, Mom worked at the concession stand.  Those were good times.  

It was a good trip down memory lane driving by the park.  I hope to do it again soon. 

Quote of the Week

 

The food cabinets

 

I tackled the food cabinets in my kitchen this week. During this process with the food cabinets, I discovered three things.  One is that I have way too much candy.  Two is that I will cram whatever wherever just to fit it in there.  Three is I am not letting food go to waste like I used to.

Why do I have so much candy?  I blame the holidays LOL Not only do I receive a lot of candy as gifts, for which I am truly grateful to be thought of during the holidays, I also buy a lot of candy during that time.  This will come as no shock to anyone who's been in my house or really knows me at all, but I love to have candy dishes filled and in each room.  It can be quite decorative, and most guests always want a little something sweet.  And there are candies that you cannot get other times of the year, so I tend to stock up. The ironic thing about it, other than I really only have guests during the holidays (need to change that) is that I don't eat much candy anymore.  The older I get; my tastes go more towards the savory than the sweet. Still, that does not stop me from buying it and keeping a cabinet full.  Oh well.  

The food cabinets were also incredibly disorganized.  And this is something that I have to work on.  I pulled everything out and got it all organized back in the cabinet.  I did my best to keep like products together.  I am sure I can do more in that department, but for right now it will work.  The most important thing now is that I can see pretty much everything in there so that will make it a lot easier when I am looking for something.  I have the tendency, as do most of us, I'm sure, to just shove something in the cabinet wherever I can find a space.  On one hand, I am not letting any ounce of space go to waste.  On the other hand, I don't know what I've got and will often buy something I already have because I could not see it in the cabinet.

Amazingly, I only had to toss out one thing that was out of date.  Now, I will keep things a little bit over the expiration date (not too much, though). But if something is well over a year out of date, into the trash it goes.  This year it was a box of Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies.  Alas, they are my favorite, but I didn't want to risk it because of their age.  In hindsight, they were probably ok, but I feel better for having let them go. And because I don't eat sweets like I used to, it would take me a long time to go through that box.  So, I am happy that I am at least using what is in there before it goes bad.  That is a plus and my wallet is very appreciative for that!

Finishing up these cabinets means that I am about one quarter of the way through the kitchen.  That is not too shabby.  This works for me and thank you for your indulgence in my writing about it.  

Abide with Me

 This hymn I remember singing many times growing up at FBC in Monroe. We were a very traditional type of church and so was the music we sang during service.  This is one of those hymns that easily gets stuck in my head. I will find myself singing it for no reason at all.  The hymn was written in 1847 by Henry Francis Lyte as he was dying from tuberculosis.  I did not know that fact until just now when I looked it up and that puts a very different slant on it for me.  Gives it a more powerful impact, I believe.  Here it is beautifully arranged and sung by the BYU Men's Chorus. 

I took Facebook off of my phone

 

Several weeks ago, I took Facebook off of my phone.  I did that mainly for my mental health. Overall, I really enjoy my time on Facebook and I have worked very hard to have my personal Facebook page a place where people can go and not worry about all of the evils in the world and all of the bad things going on.  I have also worked hard to get my Facebook algorithm to do the same thing. But I came to the realization that I do not want access to that all day long.  I don't need to be constantly looking at my phone when I am notified of a message or of a comment. That kind of behavior is taking me out of the moment I am living at that time and it is no longer worth worrying about.  I can definitely tell a difference in my level of peace since I have let go of that.  It's a good feeling.

Another thing that is keeping my mental health in a good place is getting outside more.  Going on these daily walks really is refreshing and rejuvenating.  Again, this is an experience where I leave my phone at home.  I know will laugh at people (on the inside) when I see them walking and staring down at their phones.  They are missing so much.  On today's walk, many people spoke to me when I walked by.  That was so nice and reminder of what a great neighborhood I live in. I am finding it so beneficial to take these little steps to enhance my mental health.  Everything goes back to some sort of self-care with me.  I want to be good to others, but I must be good to myself first.  I am definitely going in the right direction. 

Nella Fantasia - Amici Forever

 Nella Fantasia was written for the 1986 film The Mission starring Robert DeNiro.  I was first introduced to the song about 20 years ago from a friend and this was the version he shared with me.  I think it's a beautiful song and beautifully performed by Amici Forever, an "opera pop" group.  I have several of their albums and always enjoy them.  Hope you do too!

Quote of the Week

 

It has honestly taken me a long time to learn this lesson, but it is well worth it!

Going antiquing

 

This past weekend, I took a day trip to my hometown of Monroe, NC.  It brought back a lot of good memories, and I had a wonderful day.  Of course, I thought a lot about Grandmother and all of the good times we had together.  If I had been in town for more than just the day, I believe that I would have traveled town to Waxhaw to see if any of the antiques shops were still there.  Back in the day, the 80s and 90s that is, Waxhaw was a major hub for antiques shoppers.  There were so many great stores and I spent many weekends there, especially with Grandmother.

That got me to thinking about other trips we took where antiques were involved.  Mostly day trips but sometimes not.  I remember one trip we took to an antiques mall in Locust with Mom and Alice Williams. I remember that because I bought a milk glass plate with cats on it and a beautiful green glass bowl.  I still have both.  Then there was the time on the way home from Raleigh that we stopped off in a little town whose name escapes me right now, but it was filled with antiques stores, and we stopped there several times.  That one is going to drive me nuts until I remember the name.  It's funny because an antiques dealer from Monroe, Robert Deese, had a shop there.  Oh well.  It will come to me!  Cameron!  It was Cameron, NC.  I wonder if there are still shops there.  I'll have to check it out soon. 

Anyway, what made those trips so much fun was not just the antiques but having people with me.  Spending time together doing something we all enjoyed. Stopping somewhere for lunch and doing a day's worth of antiquing. That was quality time in my world.  And I want that again.  I want to find some other antiques lovers to peruse the shops with.  Maybe take some day trips to shops in other cities and towns.  I think that would be fun.  As much fun as I have when I go antiques shopping by myself, I have much more fun with other antiques lovers.  I do have some friends that we try to get together and hit up some estate sales and shops, but we haven't been able to in a while. We need to change that!

If you're interested, just let me know!  It is not only about finding that special treasure or that incredibly good deal.  It is also about quality time with people I care about.  I want that.  

Peter Pan records

 As you know, I love records.  I have a pretty extensive collection of vintage vinyl that I have amassed over the last 15 years.  I think that I have somewhere between 500 and 600 records. It could be more, but I have not updated my inventory in a while.  That is including my collection of Christmas records, which is almost half of my overall collection.  There is just something about listening to vinyl that is like nothing else.  You hear all of the scratches and background noise.  Some of the records are still in mono which is kind of fun.  It may not be as clear as what you hear when you listen to a cd or hear something streaming, but I find it magical. It is another way I get in touch with my old soul, so to speak.  

Many years ago, at Christmas, Pam and Stephen, my in-laws at the time, gave me a stack of children's records as a gift.  They knew that I would love it and I absolutely did. They were the old Peter Pan records.  They are 45s. Each one came with a book that you would follow along with as the record read you the story.  And a bell would ring when it was time to turn the page.  

This week, I finally got those records off of the shelf and started listening to them.  It was just fun.  And it took me back decades to my childhood. Sitting in our den in my pre-kindergarten days, sitting in front of our record player listening to a wonderful story.  And it was such a wonderful gift to receive from someone or from Santa.  It made me feel so grown up.  How ironic that, as a grown up, I am listening to these records to remember my childhood and feel those feelings again.  And yes, I have been sitting and listening and following along with the books while the record plays. A fun pastime for a 51-year-old man LOL

I had a few of these records myself.  Some of mine were the regular size as well with large picture books.  I still have some of them. I have really enjoyed listening to these and I know I will revisit them later on.  Who knows, I may just start looking for more of these to add to my collection!