Youth Handbells

 This past Sunday, the youth handbell choir rang during the service at church.  They did a wonderful job, and it made me think how much I miss having that in my life.  This church has several adult choirs, and I am hoping to join one of them in the fall.  Or at least be a substitute!  I will have to do some research into that. But watching the youth choir ring brought back a lot of good memories for me.

As you know, ringing handbells was a part of my life for almost all of my time at FBC Monroe.  For me, dealing with my own issues even at a young age, the choir represented several things for me.  I was good.  I was a very good ringer and that boosted my confidence. It also made me feel like I was giving back to my church in a way and that was important to me.  And of course, I loved it and it's important to do things that you love. 

Ringing in the youth choir gave me the chance to socialize with and get to know people I would not have otherwise.  There's a huge gap between middle school and high school as far as hanging out goes but the members of the handbell choir were very welcoming.  Elizabeth Evans, Suzanne and Brent Jewell, Kennon Blanton, Donna Pittman, Beverly Baker.  They were all in high school when I joined the choir as a 6th grader.  And they were great.  I feel like we got to know each other in a way that I would not have had I not been in the choir.  It was a wonderful sense of community.  The first year I rang in the youth choir, we were under the leadership of Jim Reich so not only were we friendly, but we were also very disciplined and rang up to Jim's standards, which were very high. 

I keep up with most of the people in the choir even today through social media and my letter writing. It was a good time in my life.  I know I cannot go back but I can look towards the future and the hopes of ringing in a choir once again. 

The yellow depression glass tray

 I am often quite guilty of impulse buying while I am out antiques shopping.  Big surprise, I know LOL But this tray is one of those purchases I made at Golden Antiques in Summerfield.  I bought this several months ago. It was my second trip to the store, and I always seem to leave with multiple items in hand.  That's not a bad thing necessarily.  Anyway, I was there to look for some Easter decor for the house.  I only had a few pieces and wanted some more so that's why I was there.  Anyway, I saw this tray and just fell in love with it.  It instantly went into my buggy.  I can't remember exactly what I paid for it but I know it was less than $20.

I have always loved depression glass.  I have several books on the subject.  We did not have much of this glass growing up, at least not when I came along. Aunt Mary Lee had a set of green depression glass that went to one of her nieces but that's about all I know. It was well before my time.  But in our many antiques excursions back in the day, depression glass was always in every shop it seems and I loved looking at it.  While green is my favorite color, and I do love green depression glass, yellow is the color I was drawn to.  Yellow is a color that just makes me happy but oddly enough I had no yellow depression glass.

So, when I saw this tray at a good price, I knew that I must have it.  I've only used it once but it's still early, folks!!  The pattern is called Landrum Topaz.  It was made by the Lancaster glass company.  I'm pretty sure this is the sandwich tray and not the cake plate, but I'll have to get out the measuring tape and figure that out definitely.  Either way, I love it.  This pattern seems to have been mostly serving pieces and not dinnerware.  So, I will be on the lookout for more of these pieces on future antiques shopping sprees.  And I look forward to using this more in the future!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

Are you sitting down?  Bring your awareness to your chair or the ground and become aware of pressures against your body and textures on your skin.  Shift your weight to give you greater comfort and notice any areas of tension such as shoulders, lower back or neck. 

If I don't wear it, let it go.

 

As I go through the process of one drawer at a time, I often watch videos or read articles about decluttering spaces.  That's actually where "one drawer at a time" got its name for my process.  Most of what I saw always said starting small as to not overwhelm myself.  That works better for me than trying to tackle an entire room at a time. I can't tell you how many times I stood in my garage for 20 or 30 minutes just staring at the space.  I would get frustrated and then leave for another time only to do the same thing the next go round.  So, doing this in small batches works best for me and I can see progress.

I was watching a video the other day on decluttering and the speaker talked about how holding onto things you don't and won't use and have no true sentimental value could be because you are holding on to a vision of the person you used to be.  That made a lot of sense to me and the timing was perfect for me.  I have been going through clothes over the last week, and I realized that I was holding on to things I no longer wear because of the person I used to be.  Yes, there are some good memories attached to some of these clothes, but they're CLOTHES!! I don't wear them because I can't wear them right now.  If you know me, I will use something until it is dead and completely worn out.  

I decided to donate anything that I cannot wear anymore.  Honestly, that cleaned up about 1/3 of my clothing storage space.  That was pretty amazing.  I used to rationalize keeping things because I would tell myself that one day I will be able to fit into them again.  No, no longer doing that.  I can always buy new clothes down the line.  For me, in this moment, right now, I do not use it and it is taking up valuable space.  Into the donation pile it goes. I had a lot of t-shirts that had become belly shirts.  I can thank my love of cooking for that one LOL There's plenty of wear left in them just not for me.  I had a pair of cowboy boots that I never wore.  Someone will.  Pants I ordered online that ended up being too small in the waist (sigh) but I was too lazy to return them.  Bye bye!!

Saying the person I used to be often sounds so regretful but it's truly not.  I'm not the person I was 2, 5, or 10 years ago.  Hell, I'm not the person I was yesterday.  And getting rid of these items that I do not wear that someone else can is very liberating.  It is helping me to be more of the person I am right now in this moment and I like that.  

Quote of the Week

 

I promise that not all of the quotes I post will come from Sunday's sermon, but this one really struck me. The sermon was about true friends and what that means.  This quote was used to illustrate that, and I have been pondering it ever since.   I have thought a lot about it and the results are both good and bad but it's helping me to move forward. 

Mental Benefits of Boxing

 

I loved my time at the boxing gym years ago.  There was a definite camaraderie there and a sense of community that you don't find many places and I miss that.  But besides the physical benefits of the intense exercise, boxing has mental benefits as well.  Another reason I want to start training again.

It helps with stress and anger relief.  Boxing provides a healthy outlet for releasing tension, stress and frustration through physical exertion. It is a safe way to relieve the worries of the day and is very empowering when that happens.

It elevates moods.  Intense exercise such as boxing helps the body to release endorphins, the body's natural mood boosters.  That helps to reduce anxiety and depression.  I don't have those as much as I used to on a daily basis, but I can account for the fact that I always felt better after boxing training. 

It increases confidence and self-esteem.  Learning how to master new skills and techniques does wonder for the mental state.  And seeing the physical benefits of this intense exercise definitely boosts a person's confidence.  Another reason I want it more.

It enhances focus.  Boxing requires intense concentration to memorize combinations and movement patterns.  This improves mental clarity and discipline which can be transferred to other areas of life.

So, while the physical benefits are obvious, these mental benefits of not only boxing but of all exercise, are helping me to motivate myself and guide me on this journey to a better healthy lifestyle. 

New recipes, Bicentennial Gardens and CUMC

 It's been a good week overall.  Not a whole lot in the way of fun but I did get a little bit in there.  At least things that are fun for me!  As you know, I love cooking my Sunday meal.  I have started referring to it as a Sunday meal rather than lunch or dinner because it's my big meal for the day and has lately been sometime in the middle of the afternoon.  So, last Sunday I tried two new recipes and loved them both.  One was for hamburger gravy.  I saw something about this on YouTube.  I was watching a video about cheap meals from the 70s and this was one of them.  I thought it sounded good, so I looked up a recipe to try.  It was so simple but so filling.  I served it over cheesy mashed potatoes and will definitely make it again.  In fact, I plan on cooking it to take to Dad and June next week.

The other recipe I tried was okra and tomatoes.  This is Paula Deen's recipe. I saw it on an episode of her first cooking show and wrote down the recipe.  This was the one to beat.  I was not sure if I would like it or if it would be anything special but good grief was it good.  It was my favorite thing from last Sunday's meal.  I shared it with two other people and they both agreed that it was very good!  Another keeper I will have in my recipe collection.

I have been picking up my daily walking and have really enjoyed it.  Last Saturday, I decided to take my walk in one of Greensboro's many parks.  I opted for the Bicentennial Gardens.  It's located on Cornwallis and Holden.  I had been there before, but it had been many years.  It was just a lovely experience.  So many places to walk and things to see.  The gardens are simply beautiful.  And at 8 in the morning, it's not too crowded at all.  It felt so good to get out into a garden again.  Seeing the beauty of nature does a soul good.  While I may not get to a different part every Saturday, I would certainly love to try.

I attended my first service at Christ United Methodist Church last Sunday.  I have been meaning to go for a long time and thought I may as well go ahead and try it out.  What a wonderful experience it was.  Everyone was friendly and welcoming.  The sermon was about David & Goliath and there were many good points made.  I took notes haha!  There was a beautiful soloist in the anthem and the service wrapped up with communion.  I had to hurry out after because the service ran longer than I anticipated.  I did not know that they would do communion which adds time.  I actually had something in the oven that I did not want to burn LOL  But on my way out I saw one of my residents from work who is a member of the church and I had no idea.  I'll be going back today.

Hopefully I will get more fun things in this week.  I know I will go and see Dad and June this Saturday but I look forward to discovering what else is in store for me.

Early mornings

 I really like being a morning person.  That is something that I never thought I would say but it's true. 

The older I get the more I enjoy getting up with the sun or even before the sun depending on the time of year.  Growing up, like most kids, I was definitely not a morning person.  I think that many parents struggle with how to get their children up and going before school.  And I was not a breakfast eater when I was a kid so there was no such thing as food motivation back in those days. Somehow, I made it through those years of getting up and 7 and leaving the house around 7:30 for school.  I don't know how I did it but there you go.

And like others that I know, not all, I went through that phase as a relatively young adult when staying up late going out and having a good time were my priorities.  In some ways I wish I could have that time back, but I did create some great memories in those days.  But that was another time when getting up early was definitely not important to me.  I would get up at 8:30 in order to be in to work by 9 or I would actually sleep the mornings away on days I was not working.  I'm not especially proud of that period but it is what it is.

Now, and for the last 10 years or so, I relish getting up with the dawn.  It is my time for me and me alone.  When I was in a relationship, that was the only time I had that I could truly devote to myself.  Once Michael would wake up, my morning would become about getting him ready for work and making sure he had everything he needed.  And there's nothing wrong with that but in retrospect it was unhealthy for me.  But that is when I started loving the mornings.  And I still do now that I'm single.  No matter what is in store for my day, these first few hours are just about me.  Whether or not I am doing something productive or just sitting with my coffee at the computer.  It's my time to do with as I wish.  And that is a precious commodity these days I feel.

Getting up early also allows me to get things done that might otherwise get pushed aside.  I love that sense of accomplishment to the beginning of my day.  It sets the tone for my entire day. The past few weeks I have been getting in a morning walk which has been fantastic.  I am enjoying being outside and working towards my health.  Making that part of my early morning has changed my daily outlook in a good way.  Early mornings are not for everyone.  I often have friends tell me they look at time stamps on my posts and just cannot imagine being up that early.  You have to do what works for you.  And now that I am in my 50s, this works for me.  Early mornings are my favorite time of life right now. 

Donating items I am ready to let go of

 One of the nice things about cleaning out drawers and cabinets and closets and such is finding things to donate.  While I enjoy going thrifting and finding good deals on used items and clothes that still have plenty of life left in them, I also enjoy donating gently used items that I no longer use but someone may find useful.  Doing this one drawer at a time really does help with that.  And I try to donate to charities and shops that do good for the community.

Today I took two boxfuls of items to work to donate to the yard sale we are having next week.  All of the proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association, which is a cause that I feel is very important.  We have these sales several times each year and I always try to find some good things to give away.  I have also found some good deals at these sales too so it's a win/win for me!  And with this sale, anything that does not get sold is donated to Freedom House, a recovery center for mothers where they can get the help they need.  Another cause I think is important. 

I love it when this process benefits not only myself but others.  We're all in need in one way or another and helping each other with those needs just feels good.  That is all. 

Quote of the Week

 

This is a quote that was used in this past Sunday's sermon which was about David & Goliath.  It hit me like a thunderbolt and brought a new perspective to my week!

Rose Medallion

 

Rose Medallion is a pattern that was created in China in the early 19th century.  It was mainly for export to America and European countries.  The pattern was continuously produced or recreated up through the late 20th century.  I have always enjoyed this pattern.  We did not have much in our households, but it is a pattern that Grandmother would always point out whenever we were antiques shopping.  Mom did have a small bowl that sat on our living room coffee table for a while that we bought at an auction. 

Until this past year, I did not own any Rose Medallion.  I went to an estate sale, surprise surprise, and found this collection.  It was more than I wanted to pay for it, but since it was the last day of the sale, I decided to make an offer.  I did and it was accepted.  I do love the pieces, especially the cups and the chocolate set.  I need to find good places to display them.  I don't really have a place to put them all in one spot so I will pepper them throughout the house!

I don't know how long I will hold onto them but am happy to have them at the moment.  I enjoy them and that is what is important!

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

as you walk from one place to another, become aware of your posture.  Notice if you are rushing ahead with your shoulders hunched and carrying tension like a heavy sack.  Pull your upper body back and straighten your spine.  Be aware of your connection to the ground as each foot is placed one in front of the other.  Enjoy being alert and mindful while you walk.  

The Music Cabinet

 

I love this music cabinet.  This is a Bivens family piece that was purchased towards the beginning of the 20th century.  You can see that part of the shipping tag is still on the back of the cabinet.  It has a glass knob on the cabinet door and a beveled mirror on top.  This piece was in our home for as long as I can remember.  Aunt Sara gave it to Mom either in the late 70s or early 80s.  The piece actually belonged to Aunt Billie, but Sara gave it away anyway LOL  It always sat in our living room and was overflowing with sheet music.  

I received this piece when Bill and I divided up our parents' things after Dad married June. And I have loved having it in my home.  Right now, I use it to store table linens.  For several years, this piece was out in the garage.  Last year, I decided to bring it back into the house.  I cleaned it up well and put it back in the living room where it has been ever since.  And now that I no longer have a fish tank in the living room, I have moved it to where the tank used to be. Somewhere I have a photo from the 1920s of Aunt Billie sitting in front of the cabinet. I need to find that picture and frame it for display on the cabinet.  It's a lovely piece and I am blessed to have it. 

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

There is meaning in all things.  But are you paying attention?

Two new recipes and a trip to an antiques shop

 I have not done a whole lot of things over the past week or so for fun.  That is not to say that I have been in a bad place, I just have been getting things done around the house and simply trying to keep up with my daily existence.  But there does seem to be a pattern of things I gravitate to first when it comes to doing something for myself that I find enjoyable.  While I hope to expand on those things and do more and different things, at least I do have a few go-tos in my life. 

I tried a few new recipes over the past few weeks.  I made a Thai shrimp pasta dish with a pineapple cucumber salad on the side.  I really enjoyed the pasta dish.  I had never cooked with coconut milk before nor had I used rice noodles.  I was happy with how it turned out and will make it again.  The pineapple cucumber salad ended up being a big surprise.  I wanted a salad to go with the pasta but something different and came upon this recipe. It was really easy and tasted so good.  It's very fresh tasting, even though I did use canned pineapple.  A good summer recipe.

Thai shrimp pasta with pineapple cucumber salad and naan.  Yum!

I went to Golden Antiques on Saturday before last.  It's always dangerous for me because I never leave empty handed.  And that was true this trip as well. I bought a beautiful set of six glasses and a covered vegetable dish.  What can I say?  I'm addicted to pretty things.  There are worse things in life I suppose.  But I will upload pics of them soon.  It was a nice trip, and I always like to support local businesses. 

Not mine but I bought a set of six just like this

 

I have also enjoyed my morning walks this week.  I never really thought about exercise as being a fun thing to do but I am slowly gravitating towards that.  How I feel after I'm done is pretty exciting to me so I am hoping to keep that up.  Well, that is it for me in the excitement department.  I will find bliss in domestic chores this weekend I have no doubt.  Mainly because I have nothing else to do LOL  And no money to do it with.  All in all, I am happy.  Even a little fun is better than none!

Quote of the Week

 

Getting out each morning this week has made such a difference in my life.  I definitely plan on continuing each day as I can!

Getting more exercise into my daily routine

 I did not realize how much I missed exercise until this week.  For the past year, I have mainly been sitting around like a slug as far as physical exercise goes.  I have been totally unmotivated to do anything.  And it shows.  Over the past year I have gained a good amount of weight.  That's not good for my heart, BP, cholesterol, etc. And my lower back started to hurt because of all the excess weight it's having to carry.  So, I have recently started making some good changes with my diet and with how I go about life. This week I started back with some daily exercise. I can already tell a difference.

I am just starting off small. I am walking every day.  While it is good exercise, it is also good just to get out of the house and into the outdoors.  I desperately need to work on my cardio, and I have to start somewhere so why not now.  Better late than never!  While I have lost a lot of weight this week, it's only been three days after all, I can definitely tell a difference in how my day goes. I have been walking in the mornings before work.  My workday goes by quicker now.  I am more productive at work, and my mood is definitely elevated.  I am really liking how that feels.  

Years ago, I used to train at a gym here in town.  I loved it and hated that I had to give it up for financial reasons.  But beginning in earnest to exercise again has reminded me how much I actually enjoyed it.  There was a rush of energy after my workouts, and I always felt better about things.  And I was in much better shape then than I am now. That is what I want to rediscover. That great feeling of accomplishment that comes with working out.  I am going to begin adding new workout routines to my daily regime on top of the walking every day.  I am quite looking forward to it.  The 15-year-old me would never imagine me being someone who enjoyed exercising but here we are!

Recipe of the Week - Butterscotch Blondies

 When I am grocery shopping, I will often stock up on things that are ridiculously on sale or on close out.  One day I came across a close out on butterscotch pudding.  Naturally, I got multiples of it.  I love the flavor of butterscotch, but I had not done much cooking with it.  I went on an online deep dive to find recipes that used butterscotch pudding.  I found this one and it is awesome.  I have only made it once, but I shared it with multiple people, and they all agreed it was good.  Try it and see what you think!

Butterscotch Blondies

3 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

2 sticks of butter, softened at room temperature

2.5 cups dark brown sugar

1 box instant butterscotch pudding

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray 9x13 baking dish well with cooking spray.  Whisk together flour, baking powder and cinnamon.  Use a stand mixer and combine butter, sugar and pudding mix.  Beat until fluffy then add eggs one at a time.  Slowly add dry ingredients until you have a soft sticky batter.  Use a spatula to fold in butterscotch chips.  Transfer to baking dish and smooth out evenly.  Bake 45-50 minutes.  Let cool for at least one hour and then cut.

Enjoy!

One Drawer at a Time Update

 

As much as I am enjoying this process, I am starting to feel like I need to bump it up some to get more done.  While technically it's one drawer at a time, maybe I need to do several areas each time I tackle this assignment.  Admittedly I do not get to this every day.  I wish I had the time to do that but there are other things that must be done.  And now that June is here, I am realizing that I am still working in the kitchen which is where I started in January.  That's really a snail's pace when I look at it in the grand scheme of things LOL  Still, it is better than nothing.

The kitchen is one of those rooms that keeps refilling and I could probably do this process only in the kitchen for the rest of the year and never be finished.  When I was getting a jar of sauce out of the cabinet the other day, I saw how full and disorganized the food cabinets are.  That's where I started the year out and it looked great then.  But things get shoved into the cabinet when I buy them at the grocery store and I do not put any thought into where it's going.  I just find a void and fill it. I have also been moving things around in the kitchen which has resulted in taking things off of the counter and finding new homes for them.  Hence, the utensil drawers are crazy full right now and will need another going through at some point.  

I still am happy with doing this process and, believe it or not, I have let go of quite a few items.  And I understand that this is an ongoing, never-ending process.  This is just where I am in the process and I am really ok with that. It's working whether or not it shows.  And I am happy with that.  Today I will try to tackle more than one drawer when I get around to doing this and I will see how that goes.  

"The Garage" on Facebook

 I am going through my garage one box at a time.  There are so many fun things in these boxes that I am rediscovering, and I am really enjoying it. I often post pictures on Facebook of the treasures that I have "found" out in the garage.  What I have decided to do with these things is really look and see if I can find a home inside my house for whatever it is.  If I don't have a space for it, then it is time to let it go.  Now there are certain things that will not find a permanent home inside just for space issues.  My holiday decorations will stay packed away in totes in the garage.  My punch bowl set will stay out there as well.  But a lot of the excess will be fine for me to let go of.  Never thought you'd hear me say that did you!  ha-ha!  I am also applying this to treasures I found outside of the garage at antiques shops and estate sales.  When something comes in, something needs to go out.  It will help me to keep things balanced.

Anyway, I have started a photo album on Facebook called "The Garage".  I am posting pictures of things I am wanting to get rid of.  It does not mean that I do not love these pieces.  I simply do not have enough space for it, that is all.  I am offering things up to friends and family first through this album.  After items sit there for a while, I will put them on Marketplace or eBay. I have only posted a few items on there so far but I am hoping to post more tonight. I would love for people I know to find some treasures that they will use in their home.  That would make me so happy.  And as I say there, everything is negotiable as far as prices go.  I'm very flexible because this first venture is not about making money.  It is about rehoming wonderful things.  So, if you see something on there that interests you by all means, let me know!