Momma Lessons to Me and Now to You!

 Hello to everyone that has taken the time to check in this little place I call home.  I hope you are all well and safe. I want to take a moment and say how I appreciate people finding this a place that they can come and ask for prayer.  That just makes me happy.

It is a cooler morning at 65* and sunny.  It will get to the mid 80's today.  It is very dewy out there. The windows are open at this time, just enjoying the fresh breeze.

I told you Sunday, that we had sirens go off on Saturday evening with our storm.  I found out yesterday that there was a low-grade tornado just on the other side of the park - that is just a few blocks away!!!  YIKES - I had no idea.

Yep, that is me!  Mom's old kitchen - bright shiny yellow were the walls.  You can't see it, but to the right of me would have been the old Chambers stove.  Oh how I wish I had that today.  That thing was the best.

Mom taught me many lessons in that kitchen and the one that followed when they remodeled.  I learned to cook, and I learned to can, and I learned to "use it up".

Now I realize that a lot of things she did back then, people just would not do today.  Folks like convenience and want things now!  We didn't have fast food, so everything was made at home.  The grocery budget was very tiny, so it was for things that could not be grown or made from home.

So here we go - from Momma to you!

Always save your bacon grease.  That is gold - and it can be added to things and adds a tremendous amount of flavor. (I still save)

Butter was always kept on the counter - never the frig.

There was always coffee on the stove - ALWAYS in that kitchen.

Never put a tomato in the frig.  It changes the chemical compounds and boy; does it change the taste.

Always use up the bread in some way - never waste it.

Soup can be made from anything you have on hand - and cream of soup can be made from any veggie - great way to use leftovers.  Soup was served with crackers or bread - to help fill you up.  Plain old tomato soup often had macaroni or rice added to it to add extra bulk.

SOUPS - potato, broccoli, split pea, cauliflower, veggie, chicken noodle/rice, pozole (pork & hominy), tomato, goodness the list went on and on.

Those leftover veggies also made great fitters.

Chipped beef gravy was a biggy at our house.  Super easy and cheap.  We called it 'dried beef' gravy.  She would use a package of Buddig beef (I still do).  Any kind of gravy was made.  Often it was just white (country) gravy made with bacon grease as a starter.  It was also made with ground beef, sausage or whatever we had.  Served over biscuits (scones) or toasted bread.  Always filled us up and I still love it for comfort food.

Heck, we had baked bean sandwiches, tomato or cuke sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly.  Daddy loved hot peppers on buttered bread!  That was lunch. Mom could make a great meat spread with about any leftover meat we might have - it would sure stretch out a little meat into something to fill a belly.

The kitchen after they remodeled it.  It was this way until we sold it in 2002.  See that old Admiral frig?  That became mine when I got my first home in 1975, and mom upgraded.  I used that frig in my house until it sold many years later.

Oh if that kitchen could talk!!!  So many meals, thousands of dozens of cookies and just a bunch of yummy food and so much canning.  So many people passed through there.

Mom would add tuna to veggies or pasta to have a cheap meat in the dinner.  Maybe add some cheese on top and yum.  I make what I call skillet dinners - mom called them casseroles and they were made in a cast iron skillet in the oven.

Baked potatoes was a nice addition to a meal, as they were really filling.  Mom made potatoes in about every way you could think of - they were cheap.

Jello was a staple in the kitchen.  Mixed flavors or fruit added.  She would sometimes take peach halves, pineapple slices, apricot halves and even watermelon slices and heat on the griddle (we didn't have a grill) - they would char a bit and made for a special dessert! Oh, another was fried apples!

She made all sweets.  Cookies, cakes, pies, sweet breads, you name it.  There was always a sweet bread in the freezer that could be pulled out and sliced for a treat if company stopped by.  She fed everyone!

She made potato chips and French fries at home.  Our baked beans were always 'baked' beans (not from a can).  Macaroni and cheese was made in an oven (still my preferred) - not a pot on the stove.

Other than sweets she made, we had fruit in the summer from the trees and vines out back, and there was popcorn and my favorite treat was syrup and peanut butter mixed together and served with crackers or a slice of bread!

She canned or froze everything that daddy could grow - jams, jellies, veggies, fruit, kraut, even stuffed peppers.

We had simple breakfasts during the week and something hearty on the weekend.

Her words were NEVER waste a thing - it can be used in something else.  Grow and put away all you can and of course everything was made from scratch.

Now I know many don't do these things today - but if we just follow some of her lessons, we can save a lot of money.  It uses what you have and feeds your family.

Buy and grow what you eat and eat what you buy or grow.

I am so glad I had parents that were inventive and hard workers - I learned so much.  We didn't have a lot of money at all - but we never went hungry - mom could make anything a feast!  

Lessons I still use today!

Maybe you will see something that you can use in your kitchen, and just maybe it will help you stretch that food budget a little and fill the bellies of the family!!!!

Have a beautiful day!

Weekly Wrap Up 8/2

 Hello to all and welcome here and to August!  I hope you are all doing well.

We had some really nice weather last week, and then things turned around yesterday.  Rain and more rain.  I wish I could have sent it to some of you that are so dry and having fires.  

We woke with pouring rain, then on and off all day light rain, then another downpour late afternoon/early evening.  It just poured.  I still have water out back as of this morning.  I went out AGAIN, and cleaned the storm drain - it was clogged with debris that flowed from down the street.  Seems no one else can figured out why the street floods!!!!!  Geesh.  It looked like a river flowing into the drain after I got the debris out.

We even had tornado sirens around 5PM.    The weather says we had about 2" yesterday, but I know we had more here - the rain gage shows it.

We are supposed to have sporadic showers today.  It is cloudy, cooler but still humid.

My frugal week:

• Found some wings while digging in freezer - thawed to use
• Porch sitting and walking a lot and talking with several neighbors
• Put together new bottles of dish soap and shampoo
• HARVESTING garden - toms, cuke, peppers, cherry toms, zuke (enough to keep me in fresh)
• Stripped the bedding top to bottom and washed all and throw rugs as well
• Had tons of limbs and sticks down from storm #1 early in the week - got them all picked up
• Made hummingbird feed
• Neighbor brought me homemade zucchini bread
• Went out to renew my library card (every 3 years) and get a couple books
• Stopped and got gas fill-up for the month, paid 2.67/gal. after discounts (our state gas tax has been suspended for a while - it comes back 8/6)  
• Refilled all the feed bins with things I had on hand and scrubbed all the water holes
• Mowed and trimmed the front only - edged all the front walks
• FULL rain barrels
• Paid everything I had on hand 
• The rain 'washed' my car!  It looks so much better!!  It gets a lot of dust around here
• Made a big bowl of veg/pasta/faux crab salad
• Got to have windows open a lot this week and AC off
• Just doing all the normal stuff and cooking at home

Meals this past week:

Boneless chicken wings, rice/broc/cheese, cukes

Fried zucchini, corn on cob, l/o rice

Flat bread pizza (in air fryer)

Stuffed peppers and sliced cukes/toms

Cheesy/bacon fries and salad

Tenderloin, corn on cob, salad

Pasta salad and fried ham slices

There you have it.  Just a bit of this and that.  

I did hear from Cookie and she is OK.  She said she had sent me a couple earlier e-mails which I didn't receive.  So glad to know she is OK - just trying to get through the trials of a different life now.

What have you all been up to this week?  Any deals or harvests to brag about?

I hope you all have a very lovely week ahead and that you and yours are all safe and doing well.

Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with tumult.

Psalms 46:1-3

Dear Lord, we say thanks for all the many wonders in our life - from small things to big.  Help us each to know that You are with us every day and no matter what goes on, on earth or in our lives, You will remain with us.  You will comfort us and send us blessings in many forms.  May we always turn our faith and trust to You.  Things happen beyond our control each day, and we know that it is all part of Your plan.  Thank You for loving us.  AMEN

Don't Let Things Pass You by

 Good morning all.  Hope you are all well.

It is another lovely morning here.  Cool, light breeze and the sun is up.  Yesterday was a glorious day.  I just love these days where the weather cooperates.

I have seen others mention a problem on Blogger, and I see it as well.  It is not updating posts as it should.  It is seriously affecting readers and views.  I have to actually go to the blogs I read each day to see if something new is posted (click on blog name), as my Blogger list does not update for a couple of days.

Just a reminder I always post on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.  So if your list doesn't show anything - just come and look.  There will be a new post.

So, that said, Blogger get it together!  It is aggravating.

I want to post a poem, that I think we will all appreciate and it is also a great reminder of what we might just let pass us by each day.

Unaware, We Pass "Him" By

On life's busy thoroughfares

We meet with angels unawares --

But we are too busy to listen or hear,

Too busy to sense that God is near,

Too busy to stop and recognize

The grief that lies in another's eyes.

Too busy to offer to help or share,

Too busy to sympathize or care,

Too busy to do the good things we should,

Telling ourselves we would if we could,

But life is too swift and the pace is too great

And we dare not pause for we might be late

For our next appointment which means so much,

We are willing to brush off the Savior's touch,

And we will tell ourselves there will come a day

We will have more time to pause on our way.

But before we know it "life's sun has set"

And we've passed the Saviour but never met,

For hurrying along life's thoroughfare

We passed Him by and remained unaware

That within the very sight of our eye,

Unnoticed, the Son of God passed by.

Helen Steiner Rice

Seriously, probably my favorite poet. I think this just says everything and we ALL do it.  We always think tomorrow - well, today is what matters.

I often think that God has told us that we will turn Him away, unaware.  That crying child, a homeless person, a friend that just needs an ear, an elderly person who needs a hand ..........  I know we can't and don't always stop or do something.  Life and experiences have turned us, and we are much too skeptical today.  But maybe, just maybe we need to pay a little more attention and do a little more.  We truly are entertaining God, as we are from Him.

***********

I also want to share these words - as I know they will help many of you.  They are the words on I card I received from my friend Laurie - and it is probably the best card I have ever received - as it says it all so truly.

During this time....

There will be hugs

There will be tears

There will be people who don't know what to say

And some who can still make you laugh.

There will be pictures and keepsakes,

Memories and stories ---

Some you have never heard and some you will never hear enough.

There will be sorrow.

There will be celebration.

But, most of all, there will be love, the kind that never ends.

Isn't that perfect?  Truer words were never spoken.  We each receive and perceive all kinds of things when dealing with a loss.  Some good and some bad.  We just need to know that we are still loved - not just by God, but by others (some we don't even know).

Has anyone heard from Cookie recently?  I checked on her a couple weeks or so ago, and she was trying to adjust to this new stage in life - but I just recently sent a couple e-mails and have heard nothing.  If you have seen her post or have talked to her, please let me know.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and stay safe.

Make sure you check on our normal days to see new posts.

Be blessed and be AWARE!

Expensive Groceries? Meals & Treats for Cheap

 Good day to all. Hoping this finds you well.

It is a very refreshing morning here.  Looks to be pretty nice out today.  AC off again, and the windows open this morning.  My 'surprise' lilies have popped up, waiting for them to open.  I always think of mom and dad when I see them.  They had hundreds of them at the old home sight, and this is some I brought home over 20 years ago.  Still going strong.

I know many places are paying a lot more for groceries.  Yes, I have seen increased prices, but I generally don't buy full price items.  I deal with clearance and manager's mark downs.  Saying that, I know not all have that option, as they have smaller stores and live more rural where there aren't a lot of options.

We can adjust our eating by WHAT we make.  Meat doesn't have to be a daily option (I know!!)

It is also very hot many places, and people just don't like the idea of heating up the kitchen making food.

I suggest using toaster ovens, air fryers or crocks or fast cooking pots along with the stove top.

SNACKS - popcorn is very inexpensive and easy to make.  It makes for a great and filling snack.  Fresh fruit or veggies are also good for snacks.  Veggies and some dip.  PBJ, a small salad, maybe make some no bake goodies.  Pudding, Jello, no bake cookies, Krispie bars, etc.  You can make a simple crisp and not use the oven, but one of the other options of baking.

Maybe a tomato sandwich or a cucumber sandwich.

When it comes to bread - use what you have.  A hamburger or hotdog don't have to have buns - use bread (that is all we had growing up).  You can sub a bun in almost all sandwiches if that is all you have - maybe toast them to be different.  Turn a bun into a sub sandwich, or use for tuna /egg salad, even a bologna sandwich!  They are interchangeable.

I know many of you like cottage cheese and I thought this chart was interesting.  You can add anything to it and jazz it up.  Or it can be as simple as a tomato or peach added.  It is good for you (not me!) and you can really add any type of items.

Fresh produce cut up and added to pasta and dressing for a quick and simple pasta salad.

Have some older fruit that needs used?  Peel and cut up and make a little fruit salad.

Drink water or homemade iced tea.

Sandwiches - can be hot or cold.  Hot ham or beef or pork with leftovers would be great.  Make cold meat spreads or egg salad.  PBJ or pimento cheese sandwiches are great.  Fried egg sandwiches are always a quick and healthy go to.  The use of bread with sandwiches also helps fill one up.  Throw in some veggies or fruit and you have a nice little meal for easy.

Even add a bowl of soup if desired.  A can of soup can be all jazzed up by adding some rice, pasta, leftover veggies or meat.

Make a quick and easy cabbage/sausage and potato skillet. Can be done in one pan and the flavors all work together.  Taco skillet - use either rice or pasta/taco meat - maybe some corn or beans.  I am a huge fan of skillet meals.  I do a couple with zucchini, bell peppers, cabbage, pasta.................

Individual pizzas are cheap and easy - you can use tortillas, bread, Ital. bread, Naan, whatever you have as a crust.  Top with bits and pieces just hanging out in the frig or crisper. Add some cheese - don't need an oven.

Roll-ups or wraps - super easy.  Can be hot or cold.  Breakfast/lunch/dinner.  Also easy is quesadillas, taco or burritos (burritos can be turned into enchiladas).

Some items are just super filling.  Great to add to meals, when trying to keep costs down.  Potatoes are such a versatile veggie and can be fixed a hundred ways!!!!!

Add those bits leftover or hanging out in the crisper together to make a stir fry and serve over rice.

Fried rice - doesn't get much cheaper or easy than this.  Rice - whatever odds and ends you have - throw in an egg and some seasoning and BOOM you have dinner.

Good food, inexpensive cooking, fast cooking, little effort and FILL the BELLIES!!!!!!

It can be done.  You have to be willing to use everything ALL up and maybe in a new way, look for all the bargains you can find, maybe throw in some home-grown goodies and get CREATIVE!

Also if it is just you - you can do whatever your little heart desires!!!!  Eat a meal, snack on items, whatever floats your boat.  I have times I just have meat/cheese and crackers and maybe a salad or piece of fruit.  There really are NO rules.

Do you have a special easy, yummy and affordable dish you make?  Share your ideas!

Have a beautiful day!
  

It is the Little Stuff - Smiles!

 Howdy all.  Hope you are all safe and healthy and doing well.  Hope some of the storms yesterday missed you and did no damage.

We had a heck of a storm come through around 6:30PM.  It came out of the north which was kind of unusual.  It came hard; fast and boy did it rain.  It got kind of crazy for a bit.

I had more limbs and sticks down than I have had in ages.  We got about 1 1/2" rain in an hour.  The temps dropped 21 degrees in an hour, and it felt awesome out after the rain.

This morning is back to humid, but that is supposed to be leaving this afternoon.  It is a gloomy and cloudy morning.  This too shall pass.

Tomorrow many children go back to school around here.  The rest start next week.  Crazy stuff.  I loved having the entire summer off when I was young - didn't go back until after Labor Day.

Have you noticed the daylight hours are getting shorter?  It gets light later and dark a little earlier.  I notice it most in the mornings!

Today, just a few pics of things that make me smile, and that I just find a wonder.  It is little things, that can surely make a day special.  A smile, a hug, a word, a sight...... just the little things - they can be huge.

A side view of my little garden.  I have black garden fabric under the plants and then just dirt between rows.  There is a soaker hose if needed.  Here are my 8 tomato plants and behind them is peppers.  I had zucchini behind them (far right), but the ones in the garden didn't do good at all.  The ones in the big washtub are doing great. (Cherry tomatoes are in pots as well).

At the right of pic - see that tall green plant?  That is where my banana peppers are and they just keep producing and are loaded.  That tall one came in same cell pack - but it doesn't appear to be the same.  The plant is 2X as tall as others and the peppers are different.  I do believe it will be a jalapeno!!  Surprise!  It has tons of tiny peppers on it.

Tomatoes are hanging out there in clusters!  There are many and just so neat to see such clusters of potential yumminess.

This makes me sooooo happy.  It has been years since I have had cucumbers be successful.  I am growing very old seeds (planted very late) in a big pot.  They are doing good and taste so good.

KITTENS (and leaves).  Front to back - Patches, Boots, Dusty and mommy Pip.  They are 9 weeks old and just a hoot.  Playing and exploring everything.  They eat and drink, but they are still nursing as well.  They are so little.

Yesterday after changing out everything on the bed, I put this quilt on.  A good friend gave me this about 10 years ago - said it reminded her of me.  She is now gone, and whenever I put it on the bed, I think of her.  It is so pretty and cheerful (not made by her), but it just makes me smile.  She was a flower buddy and my hummingbird buddy.  She would call me every day (at least once) to give me a hummingbird report!!!  LOL

Isn't mature something?  Phlox - tons of little, teeny tiny flowers all together to make one beautiful flower head.  The bees love these flowers.

                                                                         Perfection!

God makes nothing that isn't perfect in His eyes.  That is something we need to remember.  We often see flaws and criticize things - but God made it and He makes no mistakes.

From quilts, to kitties, to growing things, just a few of the items that are little but make me smile.

Folks, life is good - appreciate all that you see and can do.

Looking forward to the humidity breaking today and feeling a bit cooler out.  That is a beautiful feeling, not just for me but all of nature as well.

What little things make you smile?  

Have a fantastic day and take time to appreciate!

Weekly Wrap Up 7/26

 Hello to all.  Hope you are well and safe on this last Sunday of the month.  Hard to believe we have basically gone through another month in the blink of an eye.  Less than 5 months is Christmas!  Oh my!!!

This morning it is about 70*F and foggy.  We have had mist as well.  While I was out wondering and feeding first this, I felt water hitting my skin - then noticed the pavement seemed damp too.  Looks to be cloudy most of the day.

We had some fantastic weather this week - just perfect days.  No humidity was the key.  That shall end they say, and starting today humidity rises and heat return (although not as bad as before).

I came across a fix for my tiredness this week, all by accident.  Well, I say accident for me, but I think it was a God nudge.  Early in the week, my day got all changed up as far as my routine goes.  I then noticed I felt better.  I wasn't tired or sleepy, didn't have a headache, and had a lot more energy.  WHAT was it you say?  Well, my morning drink didn't happen first thing - I waited until I was up for an hour, hour and half.  Lupper (lunch/supper) got pushed back the same amount of time maybe longer.  That is it and what a difference I have felt all week.  I might guess it was a blood sugar thing!  I feel like a different person.

My frugal week:

• Made the dressing/dip with leftover broccoli (posted earlier in week)
• Laundry using dehumidifier water - hanging to dry
• Trimmed the back bushes
• Mowed & trimmed whole yard, cleaned the fence rows about 90% (what I could from this side)
• Worked on the front flower bed more and then on the back one some
• Using a lot of rain barrel water
• Garden - picking cherry toms, lots of peppers, cukes, zucchini and my FIRST tomato!
• Had AC off a good 3 or 4 days - windows open
• Picked a bouquet of flowers to brighten my day

The phlox, mallow, and rose from the yard - the little yellow flowers from the wild growth down the alley - it is still pretty and just cheery!

• Noticed the drainpipe from AC was leaking - so took it apart and it was clogged.  Who knew?  The water had built a major build up over years - so it is clean and flowing properly now
• Did more staking of tomatoes, tied them up and weeded the garden
• Washed the windows on the security doors
• Ran to Kroger to get more wet cat food - suddenly I am going through a lot!!!  Go figure.  While there - I walked around and they had tons of markdowns (early morning).  Sorry I didn't take pics.  I got 3 HUGE yellow peppers (1.50), 6 nice apricots (1.50), ground Angus (lean) 3.49 lb. (2), jumbo stuffed olives (2.35 jar - 2), corn on the cob .39 ear, jar of sliced jalapenos (1.25), 2 1/2 lb. bag of frozen chicken strips (4.05)
• Stopped at auto store and got the back wiper blade replaced on Blazer (should have done that when I did the front)
• Stopped at the thrift store and got FREE whole wheat pack of hamburger buns, and Friskies cat treats 2 bags for $1 (4)

Meals this past week:

Beans and rice

Beans/rice/cheese & dressing, salad

Green beans/potatoes/ham

Tostadas (bean/rice/cheese/salsa)

l/o beans/potatoes/ham, corn on the cob

Sauteed zucchini/peppers, chicken fingers, cuke/tom salad

Loaded cheeseburger, corn on cob, cuke/tom salad

It has been a good week.  The weather was wonderful for being July, probably a couple of the best days weatherwise in a couple months.  I got lots done - do to changing my schedule up.  Felt renewed with energy this week.

I know many of you are going through some very hard things in life, and I just wish you all the best.  God places things in our lives, that we often don't expect, but it truly can make us stronger.  I hope you all know you have a safe place here.

Wishing you all a lovely week ahead, with health, safety and joy.  

Blessings to you and yours from me at my humble little home.

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This seems appropriate this morning:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Dear Lord, we come forth again this week with all our thanks for the many blessings we received this week.  Please comfort those who are hurting, heal those who are ill, and open eyes to all the blessings that we do have.  May we all give love and comfort to others and may we all stay good stewards of all our gifts and possessions.  Help each one who is reading this to have a beautiful week full of goodness.  AMEN

Busy Hands, Thankful Heart

 Hello to all.  Hoping this finds you well.  A glorious morning it is here.  Wishing you a good one as well.

It was 57* this morning when I got up!  What a difference a couple days makes.  It is just beautiful out.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the kitties fed and playing.  Windows are open - actually I never had the AC on at all yesterday!  Hope today is the same.  The heat is coming back in a couple days (just not as bad), so I will enjoy and appreciate these fine cooler days all I can.

I actually saw the groundhog for the first time in a week or so - it must like cooler weather too.  I saw a bunny across the street.  Such sweet sights of nature first thing.

I was amazed how much dew there was this morning.  I figured as cool as it was, and the humidity levels way down that wouldn't be the case.  Oh well, gives me a chance to do some other things until it dries, as I want it dry to mow.

This says it all to me.  The picture even reminded me a little of daddy.  He always had his bibbers on and loved the porch swing.  He would sit out there when not working and play his harmonica.  I used to love to sit and listen to that.

I feel so blessed to have these lovely days to get out and catch up.  It sure needs 'catching up'.  I see a mess - others don't.  Yesterday I was out back working and trying to make things 'pretty' again in my eyes, and I met the folks that are caretakers of an elderly neighbor behind me.  We talked about him and she told me what a lovely yard I had.  I said it is such a mess right now, from all the heat and stuff.  Her words were "from my view it is beautiful".  There you go - everyone has a different view on things and sees things differently - I think that is pretty neat.  I was so appreciative of her words, it makes the work seem more doable.  Something so simple as her words, made me smile and lifted my day.

I am so blessed to have a full refrigerator and a full pantry and can make about anything I can think of to fill my belly.  I use up leftovers in new ways and get a little creative and never get bored with meals.

A group I am involved with from school, had been planning a major event, that seemed way out of hand.  We were all kind of pressured into being involved, which just really stressed me out (others as well).  Well, I finally said I was done and wouldn't be involved.  What a relief I felt - sometimes NO is the best answer us.  One by one others backed out as well - and I really prayed that those that started this thing would see it wasn't feasible.  That happened yesterday.  Such a relief to many.  

Sometimes we tend to complicate life, when we don't need to.  Memories of days past are good enough - we don't need to try and relive them.  

Go forward and make new memories.

Opening the windows for fresh air, hanging laundry to dry, picking veggies from the garden, the kitties getting excited to see me, watching them play, cuddles with Bitsy, eating something fresh for a snack, a cold drink of milk, watching the butterflies and birds at the flowers........I could go on and on.

Simple little things that just make a day and make me smile.

I love being in my little home - as simple as it is.  It gives me a hug every time I come home from someplace.

I am so thankful that I can still get out and do all the things I love, just maybe a little slower.  I see many people my age, that have actually stopped and have no will or health to do things.

We go through things in life that make us sad and make us depressed - we all do.  Bad things DO happen.  But you know what?  There is still so much out there that is good!  Sometimes we just need to open our eyes and pay attention.  Maybe just being in the moment and not running away from things or not running towards something else is the answer.   It seems some people are always running.

BE IN THE MOMENT!  APPRECIATE what you have.

Keep your hands and your body busy with what you have and what you love.  If that is gardening, yardwork, knitting, piece work, reading, walking and visiting, cooking, just do it.  

Make each day the best day.  

I know I have been a bit nostalgic lately - but I needed that to get up and move again in my normal fashion.  I have needed some reminders that life is indeed GREAT no matter what happens.  

I think there are others here that need to be reminded of that as well.  You will get through things, and you WILL go on.  It takes time and work - but you got this.  God loves you; I love you all, and you all have others in your life that love you - so just keep plugging away and take baby steps to getting back into life.  Small steps still make a journey happen.

Have a blessed day and weekend.

SMILE and look up and appreciate.