These are the Good Old Days

Let the cat in!

2010-02-19T04:10:00.003-08:00

Flying February

2010-02-19T04:08:00.000-08:00

This month seems to be moving along so quickly. Part of that for me is because I had a self-imposed deadline to get the shop repainted and rearranged before anything else. I painted one side of the shop "Lemon Grass", which is a fresh, bright green, just right for spring and summer. I think it will still look great in the holiday season with reds and silvers as well. Painting in the shop is one thing, because I have to move in sections, taking everything out of an area to paint, move it all back. But besides painting, I also flipped the fixtures from one side to the other, so I really had (and still have) a big mess. But now the new product I ordered at market will begin to arrive and I can start unpacking. Once I open the first box, I am inpspired to set up and create the new displays. It is always a lot of fun to see what I envisioned coming to life and reality in the store.

Another thing that's quickly changing is my baby girl. From one day to the next, it is so amazing how many new words she picks up and copies. It is pretty cute and I really enjoy watching her learn so much!

Earthquake in Haiti

2010-01-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

"Can I see another's woe, and not be in sorrow too? Can I see another's grief, and not seek for kind relief? "
- William Blake

Reaching for butterflies

2010-01-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

I took a picture of Rio trying to catch a butterfly at the Milwaukee Public Museum and my friend edited out the background and used an art filter to make her look like a painting!

Be Careful What You Wish For!

2010-01-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and now that the shop is closed for the winter, I have a little more time to relax. No projects to whip out in a timely manner, or jumping and running to help a customer who pulls in the driveway, or multi-tasking three things at a time. Besides slowing down physically, there were also so many holiday treats in the house that we coudn't let go to waste. As a result, I seem to be feeling a little more "fluffy" than usual.

The other day when I was getting dressed, trying to find which jeans I felt like wearing, I remembered a comedian's joke about wanting to lose a few pounds. She said, "Nothing a three day flu can't handle." I thought it was funny at the time as it seemed to be true. Well, yesterday after school my 9 year-old son didn't even make it in the door before losing his lunch in the snowbank. He spent the night on the couch sick and the rest of us trying to avoid him. Of course I hope the rest of us don't get sick, but after all these years I know that once that germ is in the house it's only a matter time till it gets to the next victim. I won't be laughing at the comedian's joke when it's my turn, but maybe my favorite jeans will better again!

Restart

2010-01-12T15:20:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been working diligently on your computer when all of a sudden it seems to bog down or freeze up or just not be working right? No matter what screens you clear or other methods of repair, nothing seems to help so in an effort to clear the system, you finally resort to clicking the good old restart tab. When the computer comes back on, whatever was bogging it down before seems to be cleared up and you can move along on your merry way.

Perhaps humans are more like computers than we realize...for just the other day I needed a restart and didn't even know it. It was Sunday afternoon and we were on our way home from church. A comment a gentleman had made just before leaving was bothering me. It was one of those comments that you have to assume was made without thought or intent to hurt, and so you must carry on with a smile. But in the car ride home the comment still bothered me and I even expressed it to my husband. As usual, Mr. Pragmatic and Unemotional, he brushed my concerns aside with "What are you going to do about it?" I knew that there was nothing I could do about the comment, but it didn't stop me from stewing over it.

Back at home the rest of the family scattered to their usual after-church routines and I moped around the kitchen wondering what quick response to that guy would have made him realize what he'd said was hurtful. But knowing I couldn't have responded in any way without looking like I was lashing out, I was left to try to shake the bad feelings the comment had caused. But try as I might, I just couldn't snap out of it. I finally wound up on the couch near our woodstove, wanting to be alone and trying not to cry. Sitting there in the warmth of the fire I felt drowsy and stretched out on the couch instead. Somehow I fell asleep and an hour later I woke up to the sounds of the kids playing and felt much better! Well, that nap was the little restart button I didn't know I needed, because whatever was bogging me down emotionally before was completely gone from my mind. I was able to continue on my merry way, clear headed and fully functioning the rest of the day. Thank goodness!

Contrast

2009-10-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

Heavy blanket sky today

Just another shade of gray

But golden leaves are falling down

Dripping sunshine on the ground

A Different Answer

2009-10-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

The other day I was telling Mason about that quick personality test - is the glass full or half empty? Well, he gave an entirely unexpected, totally logical, 12-year-old boy answer. "Well, that depends. If it is being filled, it is half full. If it is being used, it's half empty."

How true! Never thought of it that way!

Wine Tasting October 2009

2009-10-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

Riversong Studio held its second wine tasting on Saturday, October 10th. Of course the weather was a major concern with temperatures below freezing during the night and highs only in the 50s during the day. That problem was solved by holding both the seminar and the tasting in the greenhouse, which had been heated all morning. We were nice and cozy in there! John Rathert of General Beverage (Oshkosh) shared some great wine tips and information. John's laid-back cheerful presentation style set the tone for a relaxed atmosphere. Good friends and customers, new and old, enjoyed the afternoon trying out several Wisconsin wines along with tasty snacks. Thanks to all who helped make the event a success!

Today's Going to be A Great Day!

2009-08-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law brought over one of her self-help DVDs. It is a program based on the philosophy that positive thinking and a positive approach to life brings positive results. While we were watching it, apparently my middle son was also absorbing the information. Ever since watching that piece, when he's faced with a day he's not really looking forward to, he says "Today's going to be a great day!" So today, after yesterday's odd-ball day, I am going to use his approach. It at least has to be better than yesterday!

Yesterday started off normal enough, saying good-bye to my husband in the wee morning hours, and so glad that I don't have to be at the office as early as he does! Then I thankfully crawled back into bed for a few more minutes of rest before getting up to go on my daily walk with my friend. I didn't fall back asleep really, but while waiting for the alarm to ring, laid there dozily thinking of all the things I need to do and want to do before the end of summer. I finally strained my neck to turn and see I had already turned off the alarm clock when I got up the first time, and was now late for meeting my friend! To make things worse, the baby started to wake up. I knew if she did there was no way I was leaving the house, so I quickly grabbed my walking clothes and scooted down the stairs.

Downstairs I realized I forgot socks, but there was no way I was going back up to get them and risk her seeing me leaving. So sockless it was! I scurried out the door without even my daily dose of tea, and was just a little late meeting my friend. Thankfully she was forgiving, as she was feeling slow too that morning.

The rest of the day was off kilter somehow...besides feeling drag-butt tired with the first day agonies of the "girl problem", I had messed up the shop the night before, rearranging my displays for fall. Unfortunately I had lost all energy to get it back together quickly. So wouldn't you know that would be the day carloads of happy shoppers arrive?! Thankfully they didn't think it was as bad as I did and were more than happy to explore for treasures in the piles and pathways.

All day long I never did get time to put on make-up and my freshly washed hair kept falling into my eyes, so I felt "unkempt" but there were bigger problems! While I was watering all the plants, I got get stung by a bee stuck inside my shoe. I accidentally ate a piece of moldy garlic bread for my rushed lunch (I thought that green stuff was Italian seasoning on that bakery loaf). Then later I was rushing to get ready for an evening meeting, and after brushing my teeth realized I had accidentally used my nephew's toothbrush!

While I realize all my little problems yesterday were really nothing in the big scheme of life, I still can't help but want things to go a little smoother today. So I am starting off by saying, "Today's going to be a GREAT DAY!"

Time Flies

2009-06-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

Well, obviously I have not been keeping up with my goal of posting regularly. However, I have been living my words...enjoying where I am at, doing what I am doing. Since I last posted I have kept busy with family life, the shop, and being enchanted by my baby girl, Rio Santana, who is now 16 months old. What a charmer she is! She has a smile that makes her eyes sparkle and her whole face light up. And if anyone ever calls her my little shadow, I tell them that she is really like Velcro. She is stuck to my side most days and never lets me out of her sight. She loves to come out to the greenhouse with me, sifting pea gravel in her tiny hands, smelling petunias, and picking off the good flowers when she sees me dead-heading! When I am busy planting a pot, I love to watch her shove both hands into the soil, fully experiencing the warm, soft texture. She also thinks it's funny when I turn around to discover a plant I just put in has been pulled back out again and put in a different spot! Just think of all the learning going on in that young mind!

I will try to do a better job of posting from now on. But if not, I guess it is more important to do a better job of living, right?

Leave me to my memories......

2008-10-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

The other night I turned on the radio after supper so the kids and I could have some good tunes to move and inspire us get the kitchen cleaned up quickly. An old disco song came on and I remembered the days when I was little and my dad would dance around in the kitchen with us. When I say dance, you might have a vision of him politely parading around the floor with his kids taking turns. But oh no! That was not the case - funky music really moves my dad, and he would pull out all the stops for a foot-stomping, knee-slapping, hand-clapping, rear-shaking, embarassingly goofy, knee-waving-in-the-air affair. We had so much fun when my Dad would dance with us, jumping and swirling and laughing around the kitchen, that I'm sure it took twice as long to get the dishes done, but we didn't care!

So that night doing the dishes with my own kids I suddenly remembered a favorite old tune we use to dance to called "Born to be Alive” by Patrick Hernandez. I ran to the office to see if I could find it on YouTube. Well, I found it alright, but what a disappointment! Compared to the rip-roaring good time we had back then, the video is a bore! Mr. Hernandez just basically sits through the whole song ocassionally moving his dance cane and walking around a stool lip-synching his words. I was so disgusted, I turned off the screen so we could all enjoy the funky tunes and get back to work.

Some things will never live up to your own imagination, and some YouTube postings of old videos are on that list! It's obviously better in some cases to love the song for what it is, and ignore someone else's interpretation of it visually.

But I don't really care about old videos anyway. But I do care about making memories with my own kids of us all dancing in the kitchen! Some day I hope they can look back and laugh at the fun times we had!

Like a Picture

2008-10-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

A while back I set the screen saver on my computer to slide show the digital pictures I've taken and downloaded. Like a digital frame, it is a great way to glimpse into our family life without picking up a photo album or pawing through piles of photos in a box. Our family enjoys seeing what pops up from time to time. When we are in the office talking, one of us might exclaim "look!" before the precious picture fades away into the next one. Those images moving past remind me of life moments, a beautiful image or family time captured, but then slipping quickly away. It is truly "watching your life pass before your eyes"! It is yet another reminder to enjoy life's precious moments while I can.

Boys in the Bathroom

2008-06-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

Oh don't worry! I am sure the title of this posting is setting off alarm bells in your mind regarding the obvious things I might discuss regarding sharing a bathroom with 4 males. But what I have to talk about has absolutely nothing to do with the toilet. Instead, I'll just point out a few good lessons I've learned being, so far, the only female in the house.

#1 - Use pump soaps! Shortly after marriage and moving into our home together, one night my husband was taking a shower. I could smell the unmistakable smell of my Neutrogena gold bar face soap. I peaked into the shower to see Kevin lathering up as if it was an all-over body bar! "Uh, honey. That's my face soap!" He apologized, but shortly after I switched to the pump version of my favorite soap.

#2 - Don't use the hand towel. You never know where it's been! One night after reminding one son to feed the dog, I happened to stick around long enough to witness his procedure. Instead of just replacing the food and water in each dish with a fresh supply, he took each dish, wiped it out with the hand towel before adding fresh food and water. Then he hung the towel back on the bar and left the room! Trust me - I will never use the bathroom hand towel again. I always get out a clean one, regardless of adding to the laundry pile!

#3 - Bleach your scrubby. One night our youngest boy seemed to be taking an extra long time in the bathtub. So I went in and opened the shower curtain to find him happily scrubbing the shower and tub as far he could reach. The entire thing was scrubbed and bubbly, and he was so proud! "I washed the whole tub, Mom!" he claimed with glee. The only problem was he was scrubbing it with my shower sponge! Yuk! Another thing to wash or replace!

#4 - Your special products are not that special. Just because you are the only female, don't think you have dibs on all the good "products". Having long hair with many moods, I have several different types/brands of shampoos and conditioners in the shower at one time, much to my husband's dismay. With a crew-cut hairdo, doesn't know what it means to have to tame down frizz in the midst of summer, or reduce build-up, or condition or shine. And then there are the facial washes and creams. I used to feel guilty about buying those things just for me, but then my eldest became a teenager. At one point he was using as much mousse, gel, face wash and lotion as his mom. There have been times that I want to gasp as I see him freely spraying the salon product into his hair, but then remind myself to share!

So those are just a couple lessons I've learned along the way living with a house full of males. Well, just wait! The little girl will probably be putting me in another frame of mind when it's her turn!

Eating My Words

2008-04-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ever since they came out in stores, I have always mocked the tiny elastic head decorations ("brain squeezers" I call them) that people put on their baby girls' heads. I thought it looked especially funny since infants don't have much hair to hold in place anyway. I thought that the unnecessary decoration looked foolish on a perfectly beautiful baby. I have three boys and so all these years have never had to give hair accessories a single thought.

But now I have a baby girl, and for Easter my mother-in-law gave little Rio a cute dress and along with it...a matching brain squeezer! As I opened the gift and realized what it was, I had to laugh thinking to myself, "She is NOT wearing this thing." But as soon as I put it on her head to show my mother-in-law, I was shocked! The baby I already think is cute, was somehow extra adorable with that tiny band on her bald little head! I laughed and picked her up, kissing her little head and face! Makes me realize again how we all can have our opinions, but they surely aren't the same as when we are living the experience. So please pass the salt...I am eating my words! Gee whiz! I wonder what else I am going to change my mind about now that I have a girl!?

Sprouting...

2008-04-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

No matter what happens now as far as weather is concerned, spring is here! It can snow and blow all it wants, but I don't care because I know it can't last! So I am busy playing with tiny seeds and sprouts, looking forward to the beauty their full grown blooms will bring this summer... There is surely something about the smell of potting soil that helps clear the winter blues away!

All the Signs

2008-03-29T16:33:00.000-07:00

My favorite first indicator of spring in Fremont is the return of sandhill cranes, or the "Fremont Freeloaders" as my neighbor likes to call them. As soon as I hear their squawking voices high in the sky, I know if it's nice enough for them to be returning, it's time for me to think spring. Even if there is still snow on the ground when they get back, I figure they must know something I don't.

I can also tell it's spring in Fremont just by the traffic traveling in front of our house. Suddenly boats that have been in storage all winter are dusted off, drug out, and go zooming past on the way to the nearest launch. Every truck pulling a boat behind seems to be in a big hurry. Whether the fish are biting yet or not, people who love to fish are anxious to get the boat back in the water as soon as possible. Getting that boat in the water is the most important thing, no matter the weather, even if it's just symbolically marking the beginning of a new season.

And around here, fisherman or not, everyone's happy when the river clears. The open river means life is coming back to this small town. In winter some days it seems the sidewalks are rolled up, the streets are quiet, some businesses are closed or operating at reduced hours, and everyone is hibernating. But as our river returns, so does our life.

Each day this week the sun has been trying a little harder, the sump pump in the basement has been kicking in, and the snow piles are quietly receding into the shadows. Just today I was surprised to notice the daffodil sprouts are poking up around my garden pond. So those are all the signs I need to declare it's spring again! Now I'm just waiting for the frog songs!

How's It Feel?

2008-03-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Since Thursday was my big 4-0, I've already heard the question "How's it feel?" several times. How's it feel to be forty years old? Of course physically I don't feel any different than any other day. However emotionally I feel a new twinge of excitement for the future. I've just decided to renew my effort toward accomplishing one of my life goals - getting the children's story I wrote a few years ago published. That task is not an effort for the faint of heart. Even one rejection letter is disappointing, though definitely to be expected. But with all the books out there, I see that it can be done, so I will not give up.

My birthday consisted of a quiet evening at home. Even though it was a "big" birthday (you know - one with a zero in it is supposed to be more traumatic), I enjoyed the evening with my family. My husband (nineteen months my senior) thought he was pretty funny when he brought home a store-bought cake and patiently poked 40 little birthday candles into the frosting. He commented while he was doing it that 40 candles were a lot of candles. "Not as many as 41," I retorted. The real fun started when it was time to light them. Each son wanted to help so they took their turns trying with matches, but then Mr. Funny got out the torch. Yes, the torch that we start our woodfire with all winter. Oh it worked all right! They all were quickly lit and were already melting into the cake before the family was finished singing the birthday song. I blew the little flaming stubs out as quickly as I could. With two still burning, I took a quick gasp of air to finish them off but wound up sucking a huge puff of smoke into my lungs. I had to run out the door coughing! Yuk! Who would think that blowing out your own birthday candles could be hazardous to your health! Then the smoke cleared and we each enjoyed a piece of cake which was good, except for the top layer that had to be scraped off due to the waxy flavor.

And so I am off on the next leg of life. How do I feel? Forty is fine!

Start Starting

2008-03-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

One day in the middle of this snowy February in Wisconsin, I emailed one of my sisters that I was going to start my New Year on that day. It was later than the rest of the world starting on January 1st, but I didn't care. It was on that day that I reminded myself that I don't need to follow a specific date on the calendar to start something new...any day I choose can be the day to make a change in my life.

So back on that day I decided I would try, from then on, to have a better attitude towards the people that matter most to me. When I think about how fast time really does fly, I think about how memories are being made in my family, and with my friends, right now. What memories will my children have of me as their mother? What will they remember fondly of their childhood when they are grown? What special moments am I creating with my husband and children now, while I have the chance? And am I the kind of friend I'd want to have? So, with those thoughts in mind, I decided I want to have a more positive approach in my relationships while I still have the chance!

Today is my 40th birthday, and today is the day I have chosen to finally start a blog that I've wanted to for a long time. I am a woman, wife, mother of four children, eldest of eight siblings, daughter, friend, gardener, small business owner, etc. in the small town of Fremont, Wisconsin. With this blog I would like to communicate my thoughts and ponderings on precious life, my learning experiences, what's going on with the shop, garden, kids, etc. Life on a daily basis is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always an experience! Most importantly, this blog will reflect my philosophy that "These are the good old days." The life you are in right now can be the best if you choose to appreciate what you have today.