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!

Why a household inventory is important to me

 

I haven't worked on my inventory in a while, and I need to catch up on that.  Oddly enough, it is something that I enjoy doing as I have stated before. And while it is good that I enjoy it, I also think it is a very important document to have.  Obviously, it is important to keep a current inventory of your household belongings for insurance purposes.  Heaven forbid that something happens to the house.  If it does, you need to have a list of what is in there in case of things needing to be replaced.  While one can always try and remember things that you own, it is easier in the long run if you have it all documented. 

Another reason I like to have an inventory is for shopping purposes.  You all know that I love to go to thrift shops and estate sales.  I also love to go to used book and record stores.  Those are just as dangerous to me and luckily the one I frequented several times a month has relocated to another town.  I feel a day trip coming up soon LOL  Anyway, having that inventory I can look to see if I already have something before I buy it again.  I probably have close to 1000 record albums, both Christmas and non, and as much as I try, it is impossible to remember all of the titles.  Having that inventory available to me through my phone (one time I feel internet on my phone is beneficial) comes in handy in cases like that.  Or when I'm perusing sites like eBay, I can check as well.  

My favorite reason for the inventory is the history.  I love knowing the history of the things that I own.  Where they came from, who owned them before me, who made it, the pattern name, etc.  For me, it makes using these things more special.  For those of you who have come to a meal at my house, I can guarantee you that you have been surrounded by my family during those meals.  I keep the inventory so that history does not stop with me.  One day, hopefully for my family, they will use these things and enjoy knowing the history behind it.  That may be a pipe dream but it keeps me motivated. 

If you don't have a household inventory, I highly suggest you start making one.  Even if it's only pictures, it may come in very handy one day. 

Recipe of the Week - Nantucket cranberry pie

 This is one of the new recipes that I tried on Sunday.  I have a lot of cranberries in my freezer, so I am trying to find some new recipes to try with them.  I needed a dessert for my Sunday lunch, so this was one of the recipes I had printed off earlier in the week and I decided to try it.  It's not really a pie but you can make it in a pie pan or a cake pan.  It's not a cake either.  It's just a baked dessert. I liked it.  It was pretty easy and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Nantucket Cranberry Pie

2 heaping cups of cranberries

3/4 cups chopped pecans

1 2/3 cups sugar, divided

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp pure almond extract

1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350.  Butter or spray your pan and add the cranberries to the pan.  Sprinkle with the chopped pecans then top with 2/3 cups of sugar. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, 1 cup sugar, melted butter, eggs, almond extract and salt.  Stir to combine.  Pour batter over cranberry mixture and spread evenly to cover the entire surface. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.  Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

Another estate sale and more recipes

 I went to another estate sale last weekend.  It is beginning to become an addiction with me.  And that's all I need, one more addiction LOL  But Alex invited me to meet him up there and so I thought I would.  You never know what you will find there and I did walk away with a few treasures. As you know, I love cookbooks and they had a bunch to choose from.  The ones I got were all church cookbooks so that always makes me happy.  I also bought a Tupperware deviled egg container.  Anytime I make deviled eggs, I always have to store them in a pan and that's never convenient because they tend to slide around.  So, when I saw this, I snatched it up.  Actually, I bought one just like it the week before at another estate sale but I accidentally left it on the holding table and didn't realize it until the next day.  Oh well.  I was glad to find another one so soon. Now, I feel obligated to make some deviled eggs LOL

I tried two new recipes for my Sunday lunch.  I was making a Chinese beef casserole, which I have made before, and wanted a good side to go with it.  After researching on the internet, I found a recipe for an Asian slaw with ginger peanut dressing.  It sounded good so I gave it a try.  I really liked it, the dressing especially.  Then I made a dessert called Nantucket Cranberry Pie.  When I was taking stuff out of my old freezer in anticipation of my new freezer, I realized that I had lots of cranberries in there.  Six bags of them. I think I got so many because you can only get them around here around Thanksgiving and Christmas.  So I have been finding cranberry recipes and came upon this one.  It's good but not what I was expecting.  I would not call it a pie as much as simply a baked dessert.  It's cranberries and pecans topped with basically an almond flavored cookie. It just looks like a pie LOL Still, if you like cranberries it's pretty good and I will probably make it again at a later date.

It's always good to get out of the house and to try new things.  Here's hoping this week brings more of that!

Spring Bucket List

 I have been looking at my list of things to do for fun which started out as my 50 for 50 list.  Well, I did not get that list completed LOL  Oh well.  So, I have decided to break it up and see how much more manageable that is.  I know that there is a little less than one month left of spring, but I decided to do a spring bucket list.  Maybe the crunch time will motivate me to get things done more.  We shall see.  I am not putting pressure on myself to do it but simply using this as a guide.  A guide to get myself out of the house or out of my normal routine and enjoy things that are around me.  Let's hope I can check a few things off of this list!

1. Go to a museum

2. Attend a play

3. Host a meal for friends

4. Organize patio

5. Go to church

6. Go to a farmer's market

7. Visit a park

8. Get a new bird feeder

9. Get my library card

10. Take a day trip to some place I've never been

Since there are only a few weeks left of spring, I will get started this week, hopefully.  We shall see how things go.  I look forward to doing some fun things and some things that just need to be done.  Wish me luck!

One Drawer at a Time - finding something I hadn't used in a long time

 People see me post things online all the time about treasures I find in the garage.  I will say that I have been shopping out in my garage which is basically going through boxes to see what it out there that I had forgotten I had.  It's fun for me and I think people enjoy seeing it.  But sometimes it happens during my one drawer at a time process.  I know that I have something, but I've forgotten where it is.  Is it in the house?  Is it in the garage?  I cannot remember! And then I will stumble across things in the house and am pleasantly surprised to rediscover it.

There are two slender cabinets on either side of my stove.  My new stove!  And the other day I went through the one on the left.  Already did the right one several days ago.  The one on the left tends to be a catchall for things.  Lots of pot lids in there.  This time I came across two things that I had forgotten I had.  One is a keeper and one is not. As you know, my refrigerator was dying alongside my stove but long before that, the ice maker stopped working.  One day I went to get some ice from the container and nothing.  I tried everything to get that thing to start working again but had no luck.  Well, I decided that since it was just taking up space, I would take it out until we were able to get that fixed.  Guess where it went?  Yep, that left cabinet.  And now that I don't have the refrigerator anymore, there is no need to keep the ice container.  Thanks, recycling!

And then at the back of the cabinet, I found something I bought years ago and haven't used in a while.  Mainly because I could not remember where I'd put it and did not take the time to look for it LOL It's my bun warmer.  I love this thing.  We had one when I was growing up and Mom used it all the time whenever we had hotdogs or hamburgers.  I found one online years ago in eBay and snatched it up for myself.  I have enjoyed using it.  Gotta love a soft steamed bun for burgers!  I'm so glad that I have found this again and will hopefully remember where I am keeping this.  That has been my latest update for this process.  On to more drawers and cabinets!

My bun warmer before I put it in the back of the cabinet years ago LOL

The Prayer of St. Francis - arranged by Allen Pote

 A few weeks ago, I posted the prayer of St. Francis.  It's such a beautiful prayer.  This choral arrangement by Allen Pote is one that we sang when I was in youth choir at FBC. We sang this at the Baptist state youth choir convention.  I have that somewhere on cassette haha!  It's a glorious arrangement and brings back many good memories.  

Today's Moment of Mindfulness

 

You are an observer.  You have a body; you experience thoughts and emotions that come and go.  You alone remain; you are the witness to all these things. 

A childhood dream

 Yesterday, I read something online that really stuck with me.  It talked about how kids, well most kids, don't dream of growing up to be cashiers or waiters or janitors.  They had dreams and aspirations, but life took them in other directions for one reason or another.  The point of the post was that all jobs should be respected because we need those jobs in society and you don't know why someone does what they do for a living.  And that is so true.  There is no shame in any job, and no job is beneath us.

I am a Lead Hospitality Services Representative where I work.  Basically, I am a secretary.  My job is not looked at as being "just a secretary" by the company and my fellow associates.  And honestly, it took me several years to come to terms with that even though I very much enjoy what I do.  I am important at work just as our executive director is, just as our care coordinators are, just as our housekeeping staff is.  We are all parts of a machine that work together to do what we do.  It's a blessing. 

Anyway, when I read that post online, it got me to thinking about my own childhood dreams of what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I didn't want fame and fortune.  I didn't want to be a doctor or a lawyer.  I wanted to be a teacher.  Specifically, I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. So many hours of my childhood were spent playing school with kids in the neighborhood.  Looking back on it, it's kind of funny that we spent a third of our day in school only to come home and play school.  But when you make that transition from student in life to teacher in play it gives you a different perspective on education. And we played school pretty much until we got into middle school.  I have a lot of good memories of that.  And it's what I wanted to do.  For years.

I had many great teachers in my formative years.  Wanting to be an elementary school teacher, though, was inspired by two specific teachers in my life.  Sue Richmond was my first-grade teacher.  She's the one who taught me to love music boxes.  I absolutely adored her and loved being in her class. She taught me how to read. She made our class feel special and treated every child with love and respect.  I remember that first day of class when we went to school and had to find which class we were in.  Outside of her door was a big apple tree on the wall and our names were written on the apples.  We got to take the apple off the tree and wear it on our shirt that day.  That has always stuck with me.

Walter Bickett Elementary began life as the high school.  Mom attended for several years until the new high school was built around 1961.  Then it became the elementary school.

Sandra Whitley was my third-grade teacher.  I knew Mrs. Whitley from church and had always loved her. When I got in her class, I was so excited.  And she did not disappoint.  Third grade was when we learned how to right in cursive.  If you have seen my handwriting, you might think that I had not paid attention, but I did.  I remember having those large sheets of paper with the huge lines in it that we that we used to practice our cursive on.  Do they even teach that anymore?  Mrs. Whitley was just fun and creative in the things she taught, and I wanted to have a classroom like that one day. 

Our third-grade class picture

I remember all of my elementary school teachers.  Mrs. Shell, Mrs. McClarty, Mrs. Thaxton, Mrs. Carson.  They were all such great teachers.  And never once did I feel like I was being taught how to take an end of year test.  Yes, we prepped for the CAT tests and there was pressure to do well on them.  However, quality of the learning is what made it so special.  And that was because of the teachers.  And that was my dream for so many years.  It is what I wanted to do with my life.  My parents both began their careers as teachers.  Grandmother and all of her siblings were teachers.  It was in my blood.  But it was not to be. Why I did not become a teacher is a story for another day.  In the meantime, I am going to enjoy those memories and say thank you for the inspiration.

Gold trimmed set of china

 If you've been paying attention, you know that I love sets of china.  As of today, I have 5 sets of china and I am working on #6 LOL  I cannot help myself.  I have always loved nice dishes.  I think that this is one of the reasons that the dining room is my favorite room in any house.  I love to see a table set whether it's formal or casual.  In the end, the dishes are only there to accent the people around the table.  That's what it's truly about.  But I digress.  I love china.  Period. 

This particular set is a set of gold trimmed china by a Polish company, Wawel.  The pattern is called WAV19.  Not a very spectacular name for a beautiful set of dishes but oh well.  I inherited this set from Grandmother.  Of course, it was supposed to go to Mom but since she had passed by that time, it came to me and I couldn't have been more delighted despite the circumstances.  

Grandmother inherited this set from a cousin on the Laney side, Isabel Wolfe.  Isabel was a very interesting person who, unfortunately, got taken in by several people who took advantage of her late in life. That's a story for another time, but I will say that karma's a bitch.  Anyway, she told Grandmother once that she was going to leave her a set of china.  She had several but didn't tell her which one. It ended up being this set.  It's a service for 12 and she had most of the pieces.  Dinner plates, salad plates, bread plates, fruit bowls, cereal bowls, cups & saucers, teapot, coffee pot, etc.  A lot of pieces. Grandmother used it on special occasions and holidays.

I am much the same way.  This set always comes out at Christmas.  But I do enjoy it throughout the year. I have even taken it to work to use for special occasions there.  That's where these pictures came from.  And, after doing research, I know that there are other pieces out there that I do not have yet.  Hmmmmm.  Something for me to hunt down!  The beauty of having these dishes is that they not only bring back wonderful memories from years ago but they have also helped me to create beautiful memories as an adult.  I hope one day to pass them on to someone who will love them as much as I do.  And someone who will use them!!

Better portion control

 

One of the things that I am working on with healthier eating habits is portion control.  That has always been a huge thing for me.  Going back for seconds and sometimes thirds has been a part of my eating routine my entire life.  I am going to blame the church covered dishes for that one!  I mean, how can you not go back for more?  And I will rationalize multiple trips to a buffet by telling myself that I am paying for this so I might as well get my money's worth out of it. Even when I cook at home, I would normally have two plates of whatever it is that I cooked.  I need to make sure that it gets eaten in a timely manner so that it does not go bad and I am not wasting food.  These are all relatively true excuses, but they are just that.  Excuses. 

There are two ways that I am working on conquering this overeating in my daily life.  The first one is healthy snacking.  I have discovered that if I spread some snacks out throughout my day then when I go to have lunch or dinner, I am more likely just to have one serving per meal.  I have been going through what I have in my pantry and my fridge (my new fridge YAY!!!) and finding things that not only can I snack on but that are pretty good for me.  Lots of fruits and raw veggies and nuts.  And just small portions throughout the day end up doing a good job at keeping me full during the day.

The other thing that I am working on with this is, once again, listening to my body.  When I go to eat dinner and I am actually paying attention to what I am doing, I will stop after I finish a plate of food and ask myself if I am full.  Do I really need, not want, another plate.  9 times out of 10, my body tells me that I am full and that I do not need more food.  I still have plenty stored in my body that I need to burn off anyway.  Also, I need to wait to eat dinner, especially, when I feel hungry.  If I feel hungry and then eat, I won't eat as much.  Many times, if I just eat for the sake of eating, I will eat more.  It's hard to explain but believe me, that's what happens. 

When I make my dinner, I make the conscious effort to not fill my plate to the brim with food. I put decent sized portions on there, not oversized ones which I can easily do.  And I listen to my body while I am eating.  I take my time and actually chew my food and not swallow it whole LOL It's making a difference in how I eat.  And not only that, it is cutting down on my food costs because dishes that I make last longer.  I am still able to eat the entire dish in a timely manner so that I do not have to throw it out without overeating.  That's a good feeling. 

One Drawer at a Time - I haven't had to throw much out this week

 

Oddly enough, I have not had to get rid of much with the last few kitchen cabinets that I have gone through.  They are a little better organized now, but overall, they were in decent shape. What I am really starting to see with this process is that it is working for me.  Not having to discard unused things much because I am keeping up with what is in there.  That is a good feeling.

I have found very little duplicates over the past week.  One cabinet has all of my oils and vinegars in it. The opened ones, at least.  And they were all different. I used to be really bad about opening up several different bottles of the same thing because I was not checking first.  Now, I make a concerted effort to look before I leap.  Granted, sometimes things do slip through the cracks but oh well.  I can live with that.  I did make the discovery that I have a multitude of sandwich bags, both ones that seal and ones that don't.  I'm not sure why I do and they've probably been up there for years.  I do not feel like I can part with them just yet though because they my come in handy with some kind of repurposing.  We shall see.

The food cabinets are up next and I am not particularly looking forward to that.  I hope I can get it organized better than its current state. I am pretty sure there are outdated things that need to be tossed. I cleaned out my pantry this weekend and that was just sad how much I'd let go past the expiration date.  Oops LOL  Anyway, I will update you on that fun later on!

Supporting local theatre

 I want to have more theatre in my life.  I have discussed this before, I know, but it still rings true.  In this day and age, with everything going on in the world, I am truly seeing the importance of the arts, and I know that they need to be supported as much as possible because they are a vital part of our existence.  Theatre can be a transformative experience both for those onstage and for those in the audience.  The reason I am thinking about this today is because the arts in Greensboro need to be supported more in order for them to thrive.  

The first ten years or so that I lived here, I feel like the arts scene was growing at a rapid pace.  There always seemed to be something to go see.  As a theatre lover, that was awesome.  You could find plays at all of the local colleges and universities.  We had CTG, Livestock Players, The Barn Dinner Theatre, and Triad Stage. Livestock and Triad Stage are no longer here.  CTG is still around but on a smaller scale than it used to be.  The Barn Dinner Theatre is still active, but I don't know how many shows they do a year.  And, of course, the schools are still putting on programs.

I think my problem is finding when these things are happening.  Back in the day before social media, there were few outlets for places to advertise their shows, so it was a lot easier to find out when shows were.  Nowadays, I feel like I really need to track down what's going on and it makes it harder to find out when shows are being performed.  Now, I am not including Tanger Center in this.  They do an awesome job at advertising their shows.  They're just too expensive to go to on a regular basis for me.  But I am very pleased that they are being supported for the most part.  One tour did cancel because of lack of ticket sales, but I think there were many reasons for that one.  Still, it's becoming a great place to see shows when you can. 

So, I am going to start compiling a list of shows in the area.  You know how much I love lists LOL But this will be more of a calendar I think. I want to get out and see shows more and support local artists.  If I don't know when they are, I won't know when to go.  Winston has a thriving arts community and there are always shows going on.  We can do that here in Greensboro, I believe.  It just needs more recognition.  Not that my making calendar will bring people in droves to the shows, but at least it will help to get me there!  It's a start!

Dad's surgery, dinner out and an estate sale

 Despite having a crazy work schedule over the past week and a half, I have managed to do some fun things for myself.  I was off this past Monday because I worked 2nd shift over the weekend.  That worked out perfectly because Dad had his 2nd cataract surgery scheduled for that day and wanted me to take him.  It was quite a long day because I got up early and was on the road to Angier by 7.  Then Dad and I drove to Rex Hospital in Raleigh for his procedure.  This time, thankfully, the drive was not nearly as crazy.  Driving in Raleigh is definitely not my idea of fun but it was completely manageable this time.  His surgery went well and I ended up spending the night because we were all exhausted.  Even under the circumstances, it was a nice visit.  June and I started watching the American Idol finale. I don't follow it but June loves the show.  Neither of us made it to the end LOL But we had a good time.

Yesterday, after getting some things done around the house, I went to an estate sale.  It was put on by Happy Camper Estate Sales which is one of my favorite estate sale companies. I shouldn't go because I don't need more stuff but it's quite addictive LOL  It was a house in my neighborhood so that was very convenient.  I ended up not getting anything.  On the estate sale website, I had seen a stereopticon that interested me but it was gone by the time I got there. Actually, it may not have been gone but there was so much stuff and lots of people it was overwhelming.  I may go back over this afternoon to look around since it's half priced day.  We shall see.  Later on, I met up with Alex and Lenny for dinner at Elizabeth's Pizza.  It's always good to get out of the house and I had not been to this particular Elizabeth's before on Bridford Parkway.  There are several of them all throughout Greensboro and the Triad, but this was my first time at this one.  I had smoked chicken ravioli, and it was delicious!  I will definitely be going back there.  

After I got home fro

m dinner and chilled out for a while, I began to rearrange my kitchen.  Why not since I have some new appliances.  I'm not near finished but I am really liking how things are shaping up.  I have more counter space now that I am moving things around the clearing things away. Today, I have prepped a new casserole for lunch.  I follow Meme's Recipes on YouTube and I just love her.  She does my kind of cooking.  She has at least two cookbooks out which I hope to get one day.  Hint, hint at those buying me a Christmas present LOL Today's recipe is Meme's Mazetti which is her take on the classic Johnny Marzetti Casserole.  It looked divine so I am excited to see how it turns out. 

So that has been my week along with my work.  It's been a good week and I am looking forward to doing more things next week.  Cheers!

Things I want in my dream home

 

I posted recently about different pieces of vintage furniture that I would love to own one day.  Today, I'm going to talk a little about things I would love to have in my house.  After all, if I acquire these items, I will need a place to put them.  I think a lot about the houses I frequented growing up and the houses that I have lived in for this list.  I have taken most things from these houses and made a dream house list. Maybe if I win the lottery, I will find a home that has all of these. Or at least I could have one built, possibly. Either way, it's always fun to dream!

1. Front hall

I love a house that has a front hall/foyer.  I think that it sets the tone of the house, and it is important as it will be the first things guests see in your house.  

2. Butler's pantry

Now, this is not something that any of the houses I have experienced had but nevertheless I would love to have one.  It would be so convenient for the many dishes that I have LOL

3. Screened in porch

The house on Sherwood Street that I lived in years ago had a screened porch in the front and I absolutely loved it.  Grandmother's house had a screened porch on the side which was also very nice.  It was not used much as I remember but I did enjoy going out there on warm days to read and do homework.  I have no preference where the porch would be located as long as it fit in with the style of the house.

4. Colored walls

I love color in a home.  Beit paint or wallpaper.  Not that there is anything wrong with white walls.  My current house is all white walls and that is fine.  But I would love some color.  We had the 70s wallpaper in our hall at home:  avocado green, orange and yellow.  It was very 70s but I loved it.  It got painted over white later on and I missed seeing it.  But, the choice was not mine to be made LOL The house on Sherwood Street had a different color in every room and I thought it was beautiful!  

5. Built in shelves

I have never lived in a house with built in shelves.  Both Grandmother's and Aunt Billie's house had built in shelves in their dens.  They were great for books, obviously, but also for displaying collectibles.  You know I do not lack in those!  I would love to have a den with built ins or maybe even a library with built ins all the way around the room. 

6. Dining Room

This one is non-negotiable.  That is, of course, unless someone gifted me a house and it didn't have a dining room.  Then I would make do LOL  But I want a separate space for dining, not just a dining area.  It does not have to be completely closed off, necessarily, but I want it to be its own space. Dining rooms have always been my favorite room in a home and I must have one.

7. French doors

I love the look of French doors.  I like the idea of being able to close off a room and yet still see inside of it.  Again, this is not something that I have had in a house before.  The house in Wingate and Grandmother's house had French doors at some point.  Grandmother's had two sets:  going into the dining room and going into the den.  She said she always regretted having them taken out and I don't blame her.  They're fantastic. 

8. Knotty Pine

I'm one of the few people I know that likes knotty pine paneling.  To me, there is something very cozy about it.  And very retro. To me, it adds a certain warmth to a room.  When Aunt Billie added a den to her house in the late 50's it was all knotty pine.  It also had a huge picture window in it.  I loved sitting in that room and spent many house in there.

9. Glass cabinets

I love being able to easily find things in glass cabinets and they are aesthetically pleasing.  The house on Sherwood Street had them in the kitchen and Grandmother's breakfast room had them.  It's also a great way to organize and display my wares. 

10. Walk in attic

Attic space is so important for storage. And, as I am getting older, having a walk-in attic will be important. Now I don't want an attic with a pull-down ladder but one with actual stairs to it.  That, or simply a door to go through.  I have been in attics with the pull-down ladder and it's fine if you're not carrying anything in or out.  If that's the case, it never feels secure so something walk-in would be ideal.

So, those are some of the things I would love to have in a house someday.  For those of you who fantasize about your dream home, what kinds of things are you looking for?  I'd love to know!