Today I noticed...Good Things.

The amount of good things in your life 

depends on your ability to notice

them.

 

Notices and Decisions

I got a notice last week that I probably should have been expecting but really hadn't thought about it at all for over a year, at least - and probably for longer. It made me pause and think for a bit about what sort of action I should take. Do I need to click on the links provided and jump through the required hoops or just let it go and lie like an old dog on the porch?

The notice said:

Our records indicate that you have a Tennessee educator license expiring on August 31, 2026. To avoid licensure expiration you must complete a renewal or advancement application in TNCompass by August 31, 2026. To ensure that you submit an application for the appropriate transaction, please visit the Licensed Educators section of our website.

 

 Now, I know that I retired already. I have no plans to go back into a classroom. I have no plans to return as an instructional coach or reading specialist. I have no plans to serve as a substitute teacher. And, I probably won't be required to produce my educator license to provide our means of support. So, do I r-e-a-l-l-y need to renew it? No, not really. 

Yet, I worked hard to earn that certification. I worked hard all those years to maintain and uphold it. Plus, what if?

I talked it over with the Mister and he simply asked, "Why wouldn't you renew it?" So, I immediately began clicking links and reading to learn what I needed to do get my license renewed. Knowing that I had done absolutely no professional development during my last year of work, I figured I was going to have to take some courses or participate in some workshops or do something to update my antiquated self.

Despite the fact that on the State Department of Education's website there are several dead links that give the dreaded 404 error when clicked, I began gathering information. I finally began a Google search and dug in to find out what I could about PDPs (Professional Development Points), workshops, courses, and options. I went to several university's websites and read the information provided for graduate students there. After a while, I decided I was ready to go back to the link provided in my notice and begin a transaction.

As I worked through the steps as indicated in the notice, I found myself reading and reading. Then, I'd click the next button and read some more. Maybe I was skimming more than I realized. I thought I was really reading closely but I know that when there is a load of text, I'm like anybody else - I'm a skimmer. So, I'd click on the back button and look at the information again. Finally, I clicked on the button that said: Start a new transaction.

I began working through the different screens and steps and kept thinking, this seems so easy. I checked my earned PDPs and learned that I had accrued 230 and was only required to have 60. There was also a state requirement that I must have completed a course for the state's Literacy Success Act's requirement. I had done that for elementary as well as for the secondary level. So, those boxes were automatically checked. Then, when I got to the submit button, I had a warning that make a couple of confirmations and one of them - the experience box - was 'greyed out' and not available for me to confirm. So, I had to go back several screens to read and confirm that I did indeed have more than twenty years of experience logged. After confirming, I was able to submit.

Voila! My license was automatically renewed in the system and it is active and I am a certified, licensed educator for our state until 2036. 

God help the world if I am what it is depending upon as a teacher in 2036!

BTW: I did find four courses that I am interested in working through:

• Differentiated Instruction
• Secondary Reading Instruction (Part 1)
• Secondary Reading Instruction (Part 2)
• Universal Design for Learning: Designing Learning Experiences That Engage and Challenge All Students

I'm signed up for the first and have 90 days to complete it! I guess that yearn to learn is still in there.

Blessings - Beauty and Being Smart

I have come to believe that we are some of the most blessed people in this world. Oh, we are not all that wealthy. We will not be selected as winners of every contest. We don't have the fanciest cars, or houses, or clothes, or, really, anything. We do have loads of blessings, though. For example, we have four beautiful children and, of course, their spouses, and we have ten beautiful grandchildren. We often hear that we have a beautiful family and we do! 

I saw the statement below posted online somewhere recently and I realized just how profound it really is. 

I got pictures and a message from our daughter this week that her youngest was inducted into the BETA club this week. Boy, were we all proud of her! Luci has always been a smart little cookie. Of course, she has two older sisters who have always been there to teach her things - good and bad, I guess. But, she is one who seems to be a lucky girl and most things tend to come pretty easy for her and then, if she really is interested, she tries hard and becomes better.

Before writing this post, I looked up the eligibility requirements for becoming an BETA Club inductee. Their website states:

    The criterion for membership is decided by the individual club. Our national constitution states: The qualifications for membership on the part of the student shall be: (a) worthy, moral and ethical character; (b) exemplary achievement, and (c) commendable attitude. All students must be performing at or above grade level in order to be eligible for membership. Local clubs can require additional criteria.

BETA Club

When I got the message from Bridgette about Luci's accomplishment, I mentioned it to my son, Bryan, who I was visiting with at the time. We had a brief conversation about how he also felt blessed that academics and learning had always seemed to come pretty easy for his two children and that, so far, they tend to work hard to do better.

All three of the girls in Luci's family have been members of their school BETA Club and I know that their parents are proud. I know that it really means a great deal to their mother because she is Dyslexic and always struggled with academic achievement as a young girl. Maybe it was all that was so new to her that was coming at her or maybe it was just that she needed to learn how to learn in a different way but school was just hard for her at first. She made pretty good grades in school but, trust me, it was hard work and quite an accomplishment. So, she has said many times how blessed she feels that her girls do not have those same hurdles that she had as a young girl. 

I think she did well once she reached college and most academic things seemed to come pretty easy by that point and she would work to do her best but I recall many a night when we were working on academic assignments till the late hours and there were loads of tears at times as well. She would be working and I would be supporting her with questions and suggestions to help her complete assignments. Yet, the social aspects of school came easy and she really turned out to be a leader and was even elected president of her senior class. So, obviously, like the BETA Club eligibility requirements, grades are not all that is important and all that should be taken into consideration when thinking about a person as smart. 

I recently had lunch with a beautiful friend and we were reminiscing about our school days. At one point in her life, she and some of her siblings even lived "at the home" in Nashville which started as a orphanage and later became a place where struggling families' children could live on a temporary basis until they could get back on their feet. She told me that she came up in a poor household and when her family was all together, they lived in a less affluent section of Nashville at one time and went to school with other children who were less affluent as well. Most of the time, she and her siblings walked to the local school. Then, equity in education came to the forefront and she remembers riding a bus across town to school and how her clothes were different from many of the other children and that some of the other children picked at her and made fun of her. Yet, she worked hard and did the best that she could. Then, after completing school, she went to work. When her children came along, she said she felt like she didn't know as much as she should and she was determined that her children were going to have "more education" than she did. So, she worked hard to be able to support them and they worked hard in school and earned scholarships and both earned secondary degrees.

Of course, as I sat across the table from this beautiful blue-eyed, strikingly attractive woman who had retired after owning and selling a very successful business, my thoughts during the conversation ran back to that first statement in this post - You know what lasts longer than beauty? Being smart. Here I was with a woman who is truly beautiful in numerous ways. She literally turns heads when she walks into a room. Yet, she also is someone who is considerate of others and has strong religious faith and contributes in a positive way to the community and dedicates herself to being kind to others all while sharing her bright and beautiful smile. She started her own business and managed employees and supported the community by giving back to different organizations and worthy causes. She sold that business when she reached retirement age and realized a profit and continued to support the community even after selling the business. She is always a bright and sunny personality whenever I see her and lights up the room with her happiness. Yet, she basically sat there and told me that she didn't consider herself as smart. 

We talked about how as kids when we struggled with something in school we would look at the other children and wonder how it was that their brain worked so differently from ours. She talked about determination and tenacity and gratefulness as she worked her way through adulthood. Yet, even sitting there at that moment, she had a hard time admitting that she really is smart. She did finally admit, however, that she thought she had finally found her calling when she opened her own business and acknowledged that she was quite successful as a business woman. 

I have little doubt that my friend, Frances, will be quite a beauty until the day she dies and will always be thought of by others as beautiful because she truly is - inside and out. I'd be willing to bet that almost anybody who has known her will also always think of her as smart. 

I know that I've rambled here a bit but in today's world, I often get frustrated with folks who talk about our failing educational system and focus on what is wrong and what somebody else needs to do to fix things. I think too many of these naysayers don't realize that every single person is blessed in some way and as a society, we just need to work together to figure out those blessings and help them recognize them and encourage them and support them till they "find their calling" and meet success and realize just how smart they are.

Just 3 Things | #19

I was busy with household stuff. Then, I was out of pocket at the end of last week when we went to watch some of our grands exhibit their livestock. Then, I went to watch our granddaughter who is self-described as, "basically a basketball player," while she was playing her sport. So, this week there was a catch up Just 3 Things and a regular end-of-the-week one as well. I'll try to get on track and do better with my consistent posting but I cannot make a hard and fast promise because...well I'm me and life happens!

- What I've Been Watching -

I started rewatching the first season of the series Cross on Prime Video. Mike and I watched it a while back and I was not paying close attention. Season 2 has just begun. So, I started back at the beginning to better appreciate the new season. I admit that I haven't read the Alex Cross material by Patterson but now I sort of want to. 

Cross Trailer

We've also been watching a lot of SEC basketball. We've been frustrated a lot by our chosen team. Mike has even threatened to begin following and supporting another team. Of course, that would probably mean a blood transfusion for him because his is pure orange.

- What I've Been Loving -

The last several folks who have come into our home for a visit have mentioned that it smells good.  Now, when some of the Mister's friends are the visitors, it is generally because he has just mixed a batch of sausage and performed a taste test before sacking it. So, they are sniffing that cooked sausage scent. Usually, the Mister also will light a candle so that that sausage scent doesn't linger and lodge into the upholstery and walls and such and eventually have an unpleasant odor, thank goodness. So, that also might be what his visitor friends might be smelling. So, I keep some sort of fragrant candle or cleaning spray or such within easy reach down there. 

One day, back before Christmas last year, when I was ordering groceries, I noticed a sale on candles. I generally give the daughters a candle or some sort of household smell-good item at Christmas. So, I browsed through the different scents and picked some out to be delivered with the groceries. I am fortunate that my Bonus Daughter-In-Law will frequently give me a good-smelling candle and we also inherited several from Mike's mother. I guess folks had gifted them to her or she had stocked up or something, but she had many. It was nice to have them downstairs because, at first, it smelled a bit musty down there. I guess there wasn't much coming and going and the air got a bit stale. At any rate, those candles provided a nice way to inject a bit of freshness and a nice scent. 

Now, I'm not one of these folks who believes in having those expensive candles for when guests come and am, frankly. just too much of a cheapskate to spend more than $20 on a candle. Yet, I don't want our home to smell stale and stuffy, nor do I want it to smell like somebody just finished frying sausage or some other pig part that might be a bit strong. (Yes, I'm looking at your chitterlings or souse or cracklin's Mister!) So, these grocery store candles have really fit my style. My taste sort of runs to having a citrusy sort of smell during warm weather and a cinnamon-based scent for winter. I also want something to be subtle and not overpowering. Just a wee bit of freshness or scent that is hardly noticed. One of the scents I sampled this winter was a Tuscany Candle in the cinnamon scent and another was Fall Festival. I found that I love having that subtle hint of a scent - especially after cooking something smelly like sausage or seafood.

Another scent source that I've used is Buff City. I was introduced to this company several years back via a gift from my son and daughter-in-law. There are makeries scattered around; so, there might be one close to you where folks can have a bath bomb creating party and shop in the store. My experience has strictly been with online shopping, though. They have a variety of products such as bar soap, foaming hand soap, candles, laundry soap, etc. We love their bar bath soaps that include shea butter and slip it into a soap sleeve for extra sudsiness. Then, just hang the bar in the shower and it dries without wasting and being slimy for the next use. Various members of our family have favorite scents and products. They recently added candles to their line and we've tried a couple that have a nice fragrance and last a long while. A while back I tried the Sunshine scent in our guest bath and it was nice. My favorite is Good Morning Sunshine but that might be because it was the first scent I tried. I've also used their wool dryer balls and like them, too. There is just a bit of fragrance but it is not overpowering like some dryer softeners can be. I see where they have added a multi-surface cleaner. So, I might have to give that a whirl at some point. Buff City puts together a really nice gift package. I have sent that to some of my friends who I thought might need a pick-me-up from time to time and it was well received and nicely packaged they reported.

The primary scent in our house - other than whatever blows in when we trek in from different areas of the farm seems to be created by my cleaning supplies. Many years ago I read a post by Marian Parsons of Miss Mustard Seed fame where she shared her tips for a nice smelling house and a follow up post where she shared specific products. What she had to say struck a chord with me, admitting that she wasn't "intentionally doing anything." She mentioned that staying on top of things and using a consistent scent also makes a difference. I can certainly vouch for that philosophy making a huge difference. This place could get stinky pretty quickly if I let laundry lie around or dishes pile up or the trackings that fall off dirty boots coming in from the barn set around for long. I also took what Parsons said and began to apply it. I gave one of the products she mentioned, Mrs. Meyers cleaners a try. There happened to be a special at our local Ace Hardware on the Honeysuckle scent and I dove in and bought liquid laundry detergent, hand soap, dish soap, and multi-surface cleaner. I was hooked. Those products are sort of the backbone of my cleaning regime. I will admit that I mix the dish soap with the famous blue de-greaser dish soap because I like that product and it looks pretty on the counter in a glass bottle. The multi-surface cleaner and laundry detergent stay in their original packaging and are just tucked out of sight. I have given a couple of other fragrances a whirl during different seasons but I just really like sticking to one scent and using it throughout the house; so, honeysuckle is my go-to. My source for these products is sometimes the local Ace Hardware store and sometimes it is via Amazon. 

Now, lest you think the place smells like a brothel or a funeral home truck full of flowers, let me assure you that it does not. Just like any good cleaner, mostly what is left behind is just a good fresh smell of cleanliness. And the candles that we often burn, the fragrance is just a gentle hint in the background that is noticed right when a person enters if the candle is lit. With the open spaces of a home, rarely is such a scent strong and overpowering. Plus, remember that we are in and out on a steady basis of several times per day because we live on a farm and are outdoorsy folks. Therefore, fresh air wafts in regularly. Yet, I have been loving the opportunity to try out some different fragrances and scents since I've retired and am home almost every day. It sort of adds to the atmosphere of having a home as a haven.

- What I've Been Working On -

I've been sorting receipts and entering data into spreadsheets. So, I have little stacks of paper here, there, and everywhere downstairs. It is my least favorite chore of all those that I ever have to do and that is work on getting the tax return ready to file. 

Please don't think I am ungrateful that we are so blessed to have income and a home and a farm and all the trappings that go along with filing a tax return as a small business operator that the Mister truly does. Because I truly am grateful and appreciative and feel blessed. I just have never really been a numbers person and getting everything on a line and in a column and sorted accurately is not my forte. 

I'm also grateful to my Daddy for helping me out a couple of years when I first starting filing my own and now filing the Mister and my tax returns. He and Mama had waded through the process as a farmer and small business owner for years and gave me good instruction. 

I like to have spreadsheets and lists and to be able to sort and search those sheets. I just don't like all of the thinking it requires and decision-making involved. Does this go in that category or another one that comes later? Should I have put this with office expenses or is it truly a supply expense? Those kinds of decisions are the ones I don't like. One would think that after several years I would have this mastered but I still don't and it is a headache for me every single time. So, if you encounter me and I'm grumpy, now you know why!

We had a rainy, drizzly, grey day yesterday and even though the temperature was above the previous day's, it was still a miserable old cold grey, wet day. Warmer temperatures are here at least on a fluctuating and temporary basis and I'm all for that. I hope things are warming up and spring is on the horizon for you where you are as well. Have a nice weekend!

Today I noticed...Sometimes the goal just needs to be experience.

I recently heard somebody say, "Everything is a win when the goal is experience." My chemistry and philosophy is forever changed.

The Oxford dictionary tells us that experience is practical contact with and observation of facts or events.

I like how the word practical is used in that definition. Not all contact or observation is practical or natural. Sometimes it is contrived. 

According to Webster, experience is the knowledge, skills, and understanding gained through directly observing, encountering, or undergoing events over time. It involves active participation or perception of the world, shaping a person's character and wisdom. It represents both the process of learning and the accumulation of life's moments.

I like how Webster's definition includes the word directly, letting us know that our own experience is what counts - not that of others. Plus, it goes further to to clarify that it must be active participation or perception; so, nothing second hand really counts as personal experience and doesn't directly shape our character or wisdom. Then, it further clarifies by adding that it is the process and the accumulation. The process is just as important as the end point.

My Daddy used to tell me that education and experience is something that will always belong to you and nobody can take it away. You will always have it and carry it around with you wherever you go.

So, it is great to have lofty goals but sometimes just experiencing life's moments is really as important as achieving a lofty goal.

Just 3 Things | #18

We had a nice few days of sunny and warmer weather and then winter blew back into our lives with gusto. I'm a few days late on this installment of Just 3 Things because - well - life. 

- What I've Been Reading -

I finished up my reading of Jimmy Buffett: A Pirate Looks at Fifty. Let me say, first, that I am no Parrothead. However, I think I knew lots of folks who might have been during my younger days. I've always had the impression that Buffett was a free spirit, a sort of ne'er-do-well, a guy who just floats through life with no responsibility and who is just looking for a good time. Yet, this text sort of blew that concept out of the water for me.

It does seem that Buffett was sort of a free spirit and went down the road of Bad Boy for a while. I sort of got the impression that his wife, Jane, must have pushed him toward the more responsible life or, maybe it was them having children that nudged him in that direction. At any rate, this story of looking back at a month vacation to celebrate his fiftieth birthday made me see that at that stage of his life - and probably beforehand as well - convinced me that he was not just the free spirit floating along that he wanted everybody to believe he was.

It was sort of like listening to an old friend about his life and hearing about how different people and experiences influenced him and how he changed over the course of his life. Buffett is a great storyteller. His music fans could probably have all told me that as his stories all seem to tell a story. The book is sort a mish-mash of travelogue, reminiscences, and history. Many of the chapters started with a few lines from one of his songs. So, I would click over and listen to the song before reading the chapter. That convinced me that Buffett was more philosophical as well as a meticulous planner who coordinated planes and hotels and all sorts of things to make the vacation work out.

I think that what sticks with me most is that Buffett really probably could have been an English professor. It was really an oversight on our part not to recognize his intelligence and love of books and unique philosophical writing. Maybe I will read something else about this fellow to learn more and appreciate more about him!

I started a couple of other books this week. A light read, Snowed In by Catherine Walsh. It is an age old story with a bit of a twist. A couple who grew up together bump into one another and agree to go home to family Christmas celebrations and fake being one another's date. It is entertaining and easy to read. I also read a short story by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Leave it Up to Love. It was an Amazon Prime freebie this month. I like those freebie choices as a way to try out an author or read a book that one might not want to buy. I also started The Pursued by Corey Mead. It is a true story about a stalker in the heartland of Kansas. I must be honest, knowing it is a true story is not really a plus for me. Maybe it is that we have watched too much suspense on the television lately, but I have a hard time reading this one right before bed and then falling right off to sleep!

I do love reading using my Kindle or Libby app. However, every now and again I wish I had the physical book to loan out to somebody else.

- What I've Been Loving -

I visited with my son and his family this week. I always love spending time with the grandchildren and letting them teach me about the world and them allowing me to show them a little piece of it as well. When I arrived for my visit, I went straight to the gym where the granddaughter, Linley, was playing basketball. This is something she really enjoys with her little competitive spirit. Of course, it certainly fit right into my competitive edge as well. 

Her group was separated into three teams and two teams would play one another for a few minutes while the other team watched. Then, one of the teams would rotate off the floor to rest and get water while the other two teams played one another and so on. As soon as it was her team's turn to catch their breath, she came over and gave me a hug and showed me the strawberry on her knee that she had just earned while diving for the ball. Then, it was back to the team and prepping for the next rotation. She stole the ball a few times and dribbled it down the court to her team's goal, she scored a couple of baskets, and she did some boxing out - a skill she and her dad had worked on the week before. After a while, the coach/teacher worked with them on skills like stealing the ball and a much harder concept of learning to pivot on one foot. 

When we got to their house, we trekked down to the barn to feed their lambs and I learned all about their personalities and eating habits. I also got to observe both Linley and her brother, Harris, driving the go-cart. Look out Mario Andretti! 

I learned about school, their friends, and how a couple of girls followed Harris and his buddy around Urban Air when they were at a birthday party. He and his buddy were "Hot Guy 1 and Hot Guy 2." When we asked which was who, of course, we learned that Harris was #1 but he did admit that if his buddy told the story, he probably claimed that title and pushed the other off on Harris.

While Harris showered, Linley and I worked on her homework. She read me a story and we discussed it and she answered questions using complete sentences. She was amazed that the questions I asked at paragraph breaks were also the questions that she had to answer with complete sentences. She told me that I, "may as well be a teacher."

Then, we played a Guess In 10 game. Linley asked if I wanted to play the animal version or the space version. Knowing that she has been focused on learning about the planets lately, I chose the animal version in hopes of having a fighting chance at winning a time or two. She informed me as we were getting started that she is also an "Animal Expert," so, I knew then that I probably would not fare well. It was great fun to hear the questions she asked and to get the clues she would give me. In the end, though, she truly was the animal expert, of course.

I also sneaked  snapshot of a sign that Linley had posted on her bedroom door. It just screamed little sister. I don't know where the handout came from but her personalization of it was priceless. No Boys! Yet, at school recess, she generally is running and ripping and playing football with the boys. I guess that rule just applies at home with the boy there. Notice that there is a bold underline informing the masses at their house No busting in Brother.

Peace is silence. I also like how she extended the h in shh...and the o in Go! As a second grader, she already understands that adding exclamation points emphasizes a point, to!!!

- What I've Been Working On -

I'm gearing up for a few sewing projects. I'm going to recover an ottoman that is in my bedroom. The upholstery guy is working to recover the chair that I inherited from my Granny. So, I'm going to make the ottoman match the new upholstery. I had to order extra fabric because the guy ran out before getting the seat cushion covered. So, I had to do some online searching to find matching fabric. Fingers crossed that what I found is a match. 

I absolutely love the paisley fabric that will cover the chair. It is a few yards that I picked up years ago at a store called Sirs that burned almost a decade ago. It was a place that we all loved to visit and was a wonderful resource for folks who stitched or who were decorating or redecorating. I still miss it terribly. Yet, I still have a few flat folds and remnants that I purchased there and they are great for projects. When I bought the nice linen fabric, I had planned to make some drapes. I changed my mind and used a different bundle that also came from there. I guess you could say that if you only buy something that you really love, it will always work in your home. I think this is going to be a fabulous accent chair and with the colors in the fabric - blues and tans - I could use it in any room in my house. I will share a reveal when I get it back here. I hope Granny would approve.

My son also has a chair that needs a repair. It will be a simple project, I think. It will just be a simple director's chair type back. I ordered heavy duty needles, though, to stitch that up. I have a couple of other sewing projects waiting in the wings. So, I hope these two go smoothly.

I've started the transition from winter and Valentines to spring accents. The wind is still blustery and makes the temperature feel like something cooler but I know that it won't be long till all the days are warm and getting warmer. I hope the breezes blow in something nice for you!

Today I noticed...A big bag of some snacks is hard to find.

The Mister likes crunchy, crispy snack foods. He could sit and eat an entire family size bag of chips at one sitting if he doesn't watch it. When I get those little lunch box sized bags of chips, he will eat at least a couple for a snack or with his sandwich. 

Generally, I try to buy those family sized bags in our grocery order and sometimes I even get the party size. Those bags will generally last at least a couple of days around our house - unless the Mister is in a really snacky mood.

One type of chips is really hard to find in the large bag at our local grocery store, though. It is those Onion Flavored Rings. I have only found them available in the family size a couple of times. I have only found them in the party size once. 

What's up with that? Why are they so hard to find? Are they that popular and the store runs out quickly?

Today I noticed...I really appreciate a good inspirational post.

I often pause to read inspirational quotes. Sometimes I will pass those along to folks who I think would appreciate it or to folks who I think might need a little inspiration or a little pick-me-up. My granddaughters are really good at reading and responding to them or to sending me something silly and inspirational that they have stumbled upon, too.

Sometimes a little pick-me-up is the highlight of the day or the warm fuzzy to end the day.

Then, there is something that is a good chuckle.

I really appreciate those, too!

President's Day 2026

Eisenhower was President of The United States when I was born. So, posting a quote from him is a good place to start:

    "The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity." 

The first president I remember knowing anything about was Kennedy. I could share multiple impactful quotes from him. One that stands out is certainly:

    "Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."

In my first opportunity to vote, Carter was elected. So, an impactful quote from him is:

    "In our democracy, the only title higher and more powerful than that of president is the title of citizen. It is every citizen’s right and duty to help shape the future legacy of our nation."

On this President's Day, I think we all should look at the leaders who have made a positive impact on this country and on our world. So, I will close by sharing a couple of quotes from Eisenhower again:

    "History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid."

    "The future of this Republic is in the hands of the American voter."

I have come to feel that my opportunity as a citizen to vote is being threatened. So, I certainly have been reaching out to my legislators regarding the newest legislation proposed for voters. I hope you have as well. Your voice counts. Your vote counts.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I saw this posted on Instagram a few years ago. 

I must admit, I have done this same exact thing. This is year seven for me with the same card. Every year, he puts the card and envelope in his sock drawer. The next year, I just look in there, read it to be sure. Put it on the kitchen table in front of his chair. This year I set it atop a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter hearts. He opens and reads it and comes and gives me a hug and kiss. Then, he said, "I didn't get you a card, but I love you, Valentine. I'm going to get you some breakfast. What do you want from Hardees?" He had a big grin on his face just like a little kid.

Hope you have a happy Valentine's Day!

Just 3 Things | #17

Happy Friday 13th! I love a good Friday 13th. After all, I was born on one. 

As one season melts into the next, we are assured that the world truly comes full circle. There are certain things one can count on to come round every so often just as scheduled. This week the warmer temperatures have returned, the Olympics are in full thrall, and I was reminded of my younger days as well. Sometimes that full circle is a good thing and sometimes not as welcomed. However, we should always hold out hope because what goes around will come around and we should just be ready and welcome it - come what may. 

- What I've Been Loving -

The warmer weather has brought out lots of smiles for us. Mike spent most of the day outside a couple of days this week. When he came inside, he was in a much better frame of mind than in days past as well. I got out and strolled in the sunshine a bit and it brought smiles to my face as well.  

I've never been a big lover of hot weather but as I've aged, I learn that I like warm weather a lot more. The cold just seems to get into my bones and I don't enjoy it as much as I once did. When we had snow and ice on the ground, I learned that our eldest grandson could spend most of the day out in it. He would take his BB gun and go out and just wander round and look for targets and investigate. I remember being a kid like that. We lived on a farm and I would just get out and go walking across the field and through the woods poking at rocks and vines and hanging limbs was sort of like a type of therapy for me. 

When I was outside yesterday, I noticed this little fellow. I'm sure there is an old wives tale about the coloring of this caterpillar. Also, I wonder, what is he doing scooting around in February?

One day this week I took my computer outside and did a little organizing and sorting of expenditures and income information as I prepped for tax filing. It made the task seem not quite so bad to me. So, I can say that I've been loving these warmer sunny days.

- What I've Been Watching -

I've watched a bit of the Winter Olympics. I'm not as big a fan of the Olympics these days as I was in the past. I really liked it most when the athletes were true amateurs. These folks are really professionals these days. They treat the sport like a job and practice it for hours every single day. They have company sponsors for which they advertise. I seem to recall the days when these were young people who spent their time before or after school working to improve their skills. I understand that the way all sports have evolved is more toward professional dedication and that is alright. I just enjoyed it a bit more when there was a fresh-faced innocence and the participants were not nearly so polished and professional.  

Many of the athletes are participating for their third or even more Olympic experience. So, that means they have been working at this sport or event for at least fifteen years. I heard one of the commentators mention something along the line that a participant was still in his teens so he had many years left and would look much different in his next Olympics. I've known folks who have had three different jobs during that timeframe. So, their dedication is admirable. Plus, how can one not be in awe of a person who straps on a pair of skis and a tight-fitting suit and slides down a mountain at more than sixty miles per hour?

via

I must say that it is enjoyable to see and hear from former Olympians who are now commentators sharing these athletes' stories and pointing out their skills and finesse. It sort of feels like these folks are old friends who have come back to visit and keep us informed about different sports that we might not be so familiar with. Scott Hamilton, who lives not far from us, is especially wonderful to hear from because he just tells these folks' stories with such humor and candor. He was talking about the world's most admired figure skater right now and chuckling about the young man's irreverent attitude and willingness to take risks and do things that are different. It is exactly the kind of thing folks like me enjoy hearing and learning about. 

via The Guardian

Plus, Snoop Dogg is there and is slipping and sliding and sharing his perspective. I loved that they showed him attempting curling and sliding down a hill on his fanny. His reactions have been about like mine would be only he is a lot more athletic than I am by far!

- What I've Been Working On -

When my son, Bryan, was a little fellow - barely starting school, we went for a parent night that must have been around Mother's Day because each child had drawn a picture of his mother and answered some questions about her. One of the questions was something along the lines of: "When does your mother get angry?" My precious child answered, "When she spills melted butter." You see, earlier in the week I had melted a stick of butter in the microwave which was at upper cabinet height and bobbled and spilled the melted butter all over myself and counter and cabinets and floor and whatever else was nearby. Of course, it was hot and burning me and I was shouting some quite colorful expletives. So, my precious child recalled that and shared it with his kindergarten or first grade teacher. 

Well, this week has been sort of a repeat of that experience - minus the precious child witness. On Tuesday evening, I was cleaning up after dinner - Taco Tuesday. From the island, I picked up an almost-full, large tub of sour cream and turned around to put it on the top shelf of the fridge. Just before I got to the shelf, my grip on the tub gave up or I bumped into something or for some reason unknown, I let go of the tub. Then, started flailing round to try to catch it, which only served to make it bounce off a lower shelf, hit the interior side of the fridge, then, hit the door and continue on to hit the top of the freezer drawer, then, the freezer handle and on down to the floor where it hit hard. The top had come off at the first bump and sour cream had plopped out in heaps all over the fridge, the island, and the floor. I can assure you that my dismay was expressed colorfully and it is really a good thing there was no precious child witness.

Then, late last night, after the Mister had gone to bed, I stirred myself up a cup of hot chocolate, placed it in the microwave to heat, and opened the door to get my cup of goodness. I picked it up and got the cup about half out of the microwave and lost my grip on the handle. Hot chocolate sloshed all over the microwave, on the cabinetry between the microwave and the oven, down the drawer below the oven, and splashed all over the floor. There was even a drip or two between the glass pieces of the oven door that will require that the door be taken apart in order to get it cleaned away. I had come full circle. Again, my frustration was expressed colorfully, if rather quietly so as not to disturb the sleeping hubby. Again, it is a really good thing there was no precious child witness.

So, this week, I feel like I have been working on cleaning up messes of my own making!

I hope you have had a good week and have made fewer messes than this old gal. Have a good weekend!

Flowering Cactus

A couple of years ago my bonus daughter-in-law, Bonnie, gave me a plant and said it is a Christmas cactus. She and I had admired the one my mother-in-law had that was rather large and bloomed annually to put on quite a show. 

The one I have bloomed back in October with several beautiful large blooms. I thought it was a bit confused and I did a quick online search to learn that there is a Thanksgiving Cactus and a Christmas Cactus. So, I decided I must have a Thanksgiving Cactus. Here is how it looked on October 19, 2025.

It had bloomed in November of the previous year. Here is how it looked on November 27, 2024.

When I was searching through photos, I also found where it had bloomed on February 18, 2024.

The whole reason I began looking through old photos is because the thing is blooming once again! That means it has bloomed twice within the past five months. I decided that it is time to do some more research. I discovered that there are three different types of holiday cactus - Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.

via Briggs Garden

According to the source above, there is a difference in leaf or stem shape as well as the shape of the flowers produced. To look at the stem shape and the flower shape, I would think I have a Thanksgiving cactus. So, why is it blooming in February?

I checked several online sources trying to find the answer. Several sources mentioned that folks had moved their plant to a place where they could enjoy the blooms more. However, I have not moved mine. It sits in the same old spot all the time. So, I knew that was not the case.

Several sources mentioned that it is a short-day plant and that if plants are exposed to cooler night temperatures of 55° F, they will bloom. So, I'm guessing that we had cooler days and longer nights back in October and that caused the natural progression of blooming. Then, we just had a couple of weeks of really cold weather. The plant sets right beside the bay window. When the temperature outside is really cold, I've noticed that the floor is cooler there at the bay window. So, it probably is not insulated as well as the rest of the house. The cooler temperature there at floor level is probably triggering the plant to bloom again as well. At least that is all I can figure. Here is how it looks today.

February 10, 2026

It has one large, flamboyant bloom. If one looks closely at the ends of several other stems, little pink buds can be seen. So, I'm thinking those might bloom out as well.

At any rate, it was a pleasant surprise to see the bloom pop out. If more blooms appear, I will enjoy them as well. I've always treated this as a low maintenance plant by watering it once per week and leaving it alone. So, just having it live and grace me with blooms from time to time is a big treat!

Today I noticed...Sunshine and warmer temperatures

Sunshine and warmer temperatures seem to make everything better after the cold, bitter, sloppy, freezing days we had last month!

The hubs had a smile on his face every time I talked to him today, too. So, the temperature is not all that warmed up. Somebody's happy meter seemed to warm up as well. 

Just 3 Things | #16

Maybe we are stepping into a bit of normalcy here at last. The beginning of 2026 has really been one that is different from years' past. I'm not complaining - just observing. This week's three things are about food, storytelling, and organizing.

- What I've Been Loving -

While we were sick, we took advantage of convenience and did lots of food delivery for our meals. I was ever grateful to have something tasty and hot and the fact that cleanup was just basically sacking up the containers we had jut emptied and tossing into the trash can. When we honed in on the weather predictions as we began to feel better, we knew that food delivery would probably not be a good idea. So, our grocery order included more ingredients to prepare or cook from scratch and some fast heat and eat options. We both have been loving the home-cooked and almost-home-cooked meals for the past couple of weeks. 

Even though we stuck to Taco Tuesday both weeks during the frozen event, we also tried out some other options as well. We tried some frozen beef and bean burritos and some queso dip. That meant we had some left-over taco meat. The first week I just froze it because I knew that we had a fridge full of options and probably wouldn't eat leftovers. I browsed the interweb for different ideas and ways to incorporate taco-flavored ground beef into casseroles and soups. We tried one of the casseroles this week and I really liked it. Basically, it is just an addition of elbow macaroni and cream cheese to traditional taco ingredients. It was pretty tasty, though! Since the temperatures are supposed to drop this weekend, I might thaw the other leftover meat and try out a soup recipe I found. Stay tuned.

- What I've Been Reading -

I read three Mary Kay Andrews books in a row during the snow event we just melted out from under. Savannah Blues introduced me to a couple of southern gals and their acquaintances. My cousin, Faye, and I were both reading it at the same time and chuckling at how we could envision certain scenes described by the author. I downloaded Savannah Breeze immediately upon finishing it and found the second book to be really just a continuation of Weezie's and Bebe's story. One book's primary focus is on one of the characters and the other focuses on her friend's experiences. They are intertwined and it makes one wish for a close female friend with such loyalty and understanding. I hesitated on the next one because it was marketed as a Christmas tale but it wasn't so season focused that it wasn't a good read. Reading Blue Christmas did make me pause and think about our own family gatherings and how they probably seem to outsiders or how they might be viewed differently through the different eyes of each family member. I will probably go back and read Christmas Bliss but I just couldn't read two Christmas titles in a row right now.

I decided to take a break from fiction and picked up a friend's recommendation for reading a Jimmy Buffet Memoir, A Pirate Looks at Fifty. One of the most important things this book is doing as I'm reading it is that it is making me wish that I had written a brief memoir at the end of each decade of my adulthood. I'd love to have captured my thoughts through the years like that and look back to see the ideas and actions that brought me to the place I am today. 

I also learned that in addition to his music, I appreciate him for his dedication to reading and literature. Many chapters open with song lyrics shared as poetry. I found myself searching for the song and listening to it almost every time. We don't always think of songs as poetry or as telling stories, but that truly does encapsulate what Buffet did with his music - he is an interesting and inspiring storyteller and I will probably read some of his other work. Who knew I would become a Parrot Head?

- What We've Been Working On -

We spent a little time in the downstairs kitchen this week. The Mister uses that space a lot more than I do. So, I spent a little time watching him as he was puttering round and it helped me to see how he uses his equipment and the space so I can better organize it. He mentioned that he needed somewhere to store his meat slicer and wanted to better organize the tubs he uses for storing sausage batches while he is seasoning and sacking it. Then, he took a little break to go putter outside and I got busy.

I dragged a 2' x4' bookcase out of the storage room and scrubbed it down. The bookcase had one shelf attached with screws and had a couple of loose shelves setting on the bottom. After giving it a good clean, I put the bookcase on the east wall near a cupboard where the Mister's meat packaging materials are stored. There was just enough space between it and the cupboard to provide access to a plug. So, I slid a cute little crock in the space and it looked like I'd planned it that way. I slid the slicer onto the shelf that was attached in the bookcase. It was a perfect fit - like the bookcase was tailor-made for that purpose!

There were clips affixed below that shelf. So, I slid one of the loose shelves onto the clips and began  looking round for items that might fit the space. There were some shallow plastic tubs with lids that fit perfectly there with a little space beside them for something small like the plastic gloves worn while handling the meat. The Mister had two clear tubs holding parts and utensils used with his sausage sacker stored within them. I eyeballed them and crossed my fingers. They slid into the space side-by-side and fit like a glove! I could not have been more tickled.

I moved the dresser back over to the east wall of the kitchen below where all the old-time family photos hang. All the drawers in that dresser are useful for stashing things out of sight that don't need to be handy or used quickly. This is where silverware lives and a few sundries like that. (It still has some empty space but I'm not telling anybody.) I'd like to just leave the top empty to be used for counter space or maybe add a basket or two for catching odd things but I don't want it to become a cluttered surface. That 'counter' space is too handy and I don't want it to get cluttered and junky looking since it is the first thing encountered upon entering the kitchen.

The thrift store console table slid across the room to the space vacated by the dresser. It is a good height for storing some of the Mister's equipment that is a bit on the heavy side but not used daily and stuff that is somewhat awkward in size. So, the tall sausage stacker found it's place there. There is a shelf below that is a perfect spot for a big clear tub that holds smaller equipment, pieces, and part sand works well for the sausage grinder. Plus, there is room to stack some tubs that are used for storing sausage batches. 

While I was finishing shuffling and organizing, the Mister weighed and packaged up some bacon. He had something slow-cooking on the stove. I slipped down the hallway to do some bookkeeping. About an hour later, I heard him wrapping up his work. So, when I reached a stopping place for the day, I cruised through 'his' kitchen to see if I noticed any changes or adjustments he made. He had washed up everything he had been using and left some things drying in the sink and added a couple of tubs to the storage space.

On the other side of the room, he had cleared off the table and tidied up that space as well. The scale was set back atop the bookcase and he even mentioned that he liked having a 'home' for it when it wasn't in use. Of course, he also left a subtle hint that he obviously needs a coat rack somewhere down there!

I know this space is a work-in-progress but just the short time spent there in one day really made a difference in how it looks and how it seems to function. It is not designed and organized like I truly would like for it to be but since I'm not the primary user, there are other needs taken into consideration. I know that we both will get busy and things will not stay tidy and as organized as they were when we walked away after that work session but I have a better feeling about how it is growing more functional and serving the needs of us.

Things on the to-do list for this space:

• hang a knife magnet
• clean and organize the cabinets
• find new homes for various glassware
• find new homes for books that are just outside the camera's lens
• hang a bit of artwork to camouflage the thermostats
• add a coat rack

Some of these little projects like the organizing and re-vamping the kitchen space is starting to inspire me or just kindle the desire, at least, to tackle some more of my To-Do List projects and cleanouts. First, though, I've got to dig into filing our taxes. Fun times up in here next week! Happy weekend.

Happy Birthday, Easton!

 

Hope you have a great year!