Dandelions -- Not Just a Weed

They are Wishing Flowers! 

I inserted pictures so you all can see what lovely flowers dandelions are. Who started the rumor that dandelions are weeds? I think it was a jealous Englishman. Couldn't stand such a pretty flower decking out our yards. If anyone else agrees then make a comment!

My random thoughts for today --- Aren't you lucky?

*got a lesson in bed bugs --- EEEWWW!! Gross! Disgusting! ETC!!!!

*totally overfilled my dishwasher -- will the dishes be clean enough to eat on?

*finished reading all the books I checked out from the library -- ordered more and am waiting impatiently!

*felt cooler air ...heat wave gone - YEA!!!

*talked to my sister yesterday - wish we lived closer...

*got a request from Paperback Swap

*get to go buy hair dye....

*think I have found the fabric piece for part of a special project -- finally!

*realized all my videos in the VHS format are old and will not play in my VCR anymore...the tape gets twisted. :(

*Christmas wish list: DVDs of all the old movies I had...well, a few of them at least.

*I can spend the day whatever I want.,,,,,,,, Dilemma: what do I want to do?

*want to learn how to make this blog more whimsical.

*that is all for now.

Late at Night

It is usually hard for me to go to bed because I don't sleep well. Not that matters to anyone who read this blog. But I find myself up late. I think it is because I do not have anything to do when I get up.

I am starting to sympathize with those who have retired. I try to make myself work on a project or maybe even clean something!!! But it is hard to plan out a day and keep myself occupied when there is not much to do. I am sure I will find a niche someday, doing something that means something and also occupies my time. If you have a suggestion, let me know. :)

Well, I am going to try to sleep.
Pleasant dreams, everyone.
Becky

Cooking and Baking or is it Creating and Experimenting?

Recipes are fascinating. How the developers list the ingredients, give directions, supply helpful hints and now most list the percentages of salt, sugar, calories, etc. It is fun to study what order they think the ingredients should be added. I quit sifting my flour with the other dry ingredients a LONG time ago. No need for those extra steps. But I still pick up hints for making the recipe fun.

I have decided I will include my old favorites and those new to me. I may even include those that I have embellished or created. My husband is my only taste tester. He is still alive. I guess that says enough.

Check on the side bar for "Pages". I have started a Recipe File. They have all been tasted and liked. The hints are all tried and true. SOOOOO ---
Bon Apetite! ( you have to read that with a French accent in your head)

(*j*)Becky

Friendships - making - losing - renewing

Friendship

I have thought a lot about that word the past few months. Not so much what it means but how I have tried to make a friend, then develop it or kept it going. I think it boils down to this: I see someone I would like to get to know. They have qualities I admire or character traits that I wish I had or seem to be pretty well put together, you know, they have a handle on life. People like them, they seem happy and confident. Then I try to talk to them. Be interested in their life. But I don't think I put that plan into action in high school.


My high school 40 year reunion is coming up in a week or so. I have received a few invites via Facebook and my high school alumni web page. But I am not going. I have never really kept in touch with anyone from school. The one good friend I had moved and never wrote to me. I had other friends but they were all in the church and lived in about a 20-30 mile radius of my home. A couple of those I kept in touch with for years. But no one in high school.

One of my very best friends is now in heaven. We grew up together and she joined the church, but she didn't go to my school. Even though we lived at opposite ends of the town and went to different schools, we went and did something every weekend. Especially when we started driving. So much fun. After we each got married, we kept in touch but lived farther away. I moved back to my hometown, she was still here and we had kids the same age who played together. She died at the age of 46. I miss her terribly.

I think I got off course there.... sorry .... anyway...

I have been reviewing How I Make Friends. My social base is my church. I only say hello to my neighbors when we are out gardening, walking past to get the mail and --- no, that is about it. I don't work at a "job". but I do sew for other people. I don't do anything in the community. No good excuses. I would like to but am a bit shy about it. All of us have a shy factor.

At church. I tend to become friends with those that I serve with in a calling, but those change, so, friends change. However, I do have a couple of friends in my church that I do things with. Lunch. Movies. Temple. Sewing dilemmas. Dipping chocolate. Preserving foods. And sometimes when my car is down, they  graciously take me places I need to go. Boy, do I have a lot of fun!!!

So, that got me to start thinking about how I make friends (See paragraph one) and why I don't have any from high school. If I want to make a friend, I have to work at it. I have to put myself out there and try to talk to them. Get to know them. What I have found is that as friendly as I am, there are still those who do not want to know me. Huh. And I thought everyone wanted to be my friend! Ah, well.


I have made some new friends this past year or so (AT CHURCH) and gotten closer to a few more. I know that I have friends from years ago that if I called them to talk, it would take off from when we were close. So, maybe I do have a lot of friends. Mostly from church. I wonder if it is too late . . . . Maybe I will revisit the alumni web page. And maybe their bodies have changed a lot too and I do not mean just the gray hair! LOL!!

My challenge: get out there and make or renew ONE friendship this week. I know, it is a short time. But you have a short attention span anyway. You probably didn't even read this whole thing. That's okay. Neither did I.


Happy Friendshipping!
(*j*) Becky

Funeral Programs

I know it sounds weird but I like to design funeral programs, you know, the ones they hand out for a remembrance?

It all started when my mom passed away and we had to put together her funeral in less than three days. We ended up with a program from the funeral home and besides costing too much, it wasn't what we wanted. The time constraint made it impossible for someone to do it.

The first time, I volunteered to do one for a woman in our church and the family thought I was kind to do it. It was probably more selfish than anything. I wanted to help and this was one way I could. Sometimes you have so many people helping that there isn't anything to do. So, this is my "cubby hole" of service. I try hard to make a nice program and hopefully the family will keep it for their family history, something that has the right dates, names and places on it. I have done some for the members of our church and some are not members. I have done some for those that were dear friends and some I have not known at all. But it is all the same -- I feel joy in helping them, giving them something nice for their families. A memento.

It is just one of those things that tickles my fancy.

(*l*) Becky