Okay...maybe a bit above freezing...but still pretty chilly with my Morning Cup!
And will someone please shut that warbling "Run, y'all...it's gonna rain again" robin up. Seriously. If the robins are singing their rainsong and your local forecaster says it is going to be warm and dry...and it is sunny and there isn't a cloud in the sky...do yourself a favor...go back inside and grab your umbrella. It's going to RAIN. Trust me on this one.
Sure. It was a wonderful excuse to thin slice the remains of the sirloin steak in a pot with peppers and onions...broth and fresh savory...cracked pepper and a few portabellas...to simmer into Pepper Steak Soup and top with a dollop of sour cream for brunch...but enough is enough. It's JUNE. My cold weather plants are loving it. The snowpeas waving their tiny tendrils "...bring it on..." and the rows of green onions standing crisply at attention. Everyone else...um...not so thrilled. Including Tucker who spent the entire morning curled in his wicker basket on a quilt. "Hell no..I won't go!!!" (outside)
And while we're at it...how the hell is it JUNE, already? Middle of the Year. The Amazing Moments Jar stuffed pretty full by now. The best moment of every day preserved on a post-it and folded into the jar. How ya doin' with those January Resolutions? Taking a look back at mine:
1. To de-clutter. House/Computer/Spirit/Mind and Body. Organize and Simplify.
Hmmm...house in good shape...still need to finish up the computer clutter...the spirit and mind are doing pretty well...and as always the body is a work in progress...lol!
2. To Continue Zen Living. Mindfulness. Watch every sunrise and sunset. Notice and appreciate the little things in life. Gratitude.
Doing fairly well with this...and actually have taken the time to watch the sunrise with coffee every morning and the sunsets...which recently have been red orange and outstanding. Grateful to have the peace and serenity (and time) to accomplish this.
3. To be financially pro-active. Have everything paid in advance. Enormous amount of stress relief in that. Save toward a Maine Holiday this year. Engage in a monthly random (financial) act of kindness...whether it is groceries/gasoline or a $50. bill for someone who really needs it.
Paying everything in advance these days. Can't tell you the degree of "breathing room" and serenity that creates. The Maine Holiday pre-empted by the Pennsylvania Gathering...and that is okay...can't believe how many of us that are going to be at this one. And trying to convince Carol to pick me up from Philadelphia in The Beast! :)
And the $50. a month project is incredible. Until you have done this you have no idea how much $50.00 can make a difference in someone else's life. And how little you miss it in your own. The first elderly woman I handed the $50. to the cashier to pay for her groceries at Aldi's (while she was literally counting change to pay for her order...BEEN THERE-DONE THAT...) and had the cashier hand her the change...she hugged me with tears in her eyes.
No matter how little we "think" we have....there is always some one who has so much less.
4. To Start a Moments Jar (inspired by a friend) an empty jar that you put in a slip of paper daily with one of the best moments of that day...to do over the entire year...then read them on NYE...
Not only is the Moments Jar a great way to be mindful of how wonderful life is...but during the low spots it is a great way to pick out a handful and read them...and smile all over again!
And a few examples pulled out randomly:
"Possible Turn-Over of Prop 8 and Doma"
"The Warm Sunshine While I Was Basking Today"
"A Tiny Baby's Laughter Filling the Library While I Read Periodicals"
"A Group of about 20 Chinese Students from Depauw riding the bus with me today and their voices excited...mingling...twittering in Chinese like a flock of colorful & noisy birds. I closed my eyes and suddenly it could have been Mass Transit in Hong Kong!"
Yeah. It is the little things that are remarkable in life. And most importantly most of them don't cost a cent. Well...except chocolate.
You couldn't BUY moments like these.
5. To be positive and happy and try to bring happiness to others. Gratitude for everything.
I am convinced every day more and more that THIS is the meaning of LIFE.
So far...so good!
Cut several of my red roses before the cold snap and brought them in to vase. Lennon's Mother's Day 2012 bush. Very happy with them this year. The severe prune back and selective de-budding left huge blooms. Quite pest resistant as well and extremely fragrant.
Also thinned the green onions...making sure to save and spread the "thinnings" to dry and bundle for next year's sets.
Slowly paring my possessions down even further. No. I'll never make Ghandi's 100 items...but so much closer...and happier. No clutter. Everything is either functional/beautiful or both. Have gotten rid of the "stuff" that I'll never use...want...and in some cases replaced it with items I have always wanted. Like the towel warmer. Don't Judge...lol...
And wanted to share a screen-shot of my Middle who is spending part of his college break to help deliver Meals on Wheels...after his manscape...love the Vandyke, son! Miss you and see you next April! As you can see...your rosebush from last year turned out beautiful. Looking forward to seeing what the Damask's do!
On the DS front...there has been a new flat-bastard sighting! This time at Sal's as he waits for the arrival of Diane...and all her "stuff" and shoes...and lawn ornaments...and the pink flamingoes I am boxing up and sending...lol. That's right...breathe in the brown paper bag Sal... ~laughing~ BTW...absolutely LOVE your (un)welcome mat!
LuAnn...I think it is time we formed a recon mission.
Taking a literary dive into Albert Camus...who I haven't read since college. The book is l'etranger (The Stranger) in the original French. Yeah...I know. Barely a day in and it is already giving me a brain-cramp. Feel like I am looking up as much as I am reading.
Still I love his quote:
"Au milieu de l'hiver, j'ai trouvé, au dedans de moi, il y avait un été
invincible..."
