Random Monday Thoughts

Is it just me or are decisions hard to make? I want to change jobs and profession. I am and always will be a technology geek, but I think I want to use my degree. I know I'm not too old ... am I? But, making this decision in this station in life is difficult. What if I get a new position and then hate it? What if they don't like me and let me go? What if I never get an interview? (What if George Clooney asked me to be his valentine? ummm - sorry) So I am praying and searching and we will see.

On a lighter note:

I got this catalog in the mail . . . that would be the old fashion postal mail. (Did I tell you that Angel Mom was a postmaster for 30 years? But then I digress -again.) It's a very pretty catalog with all kinds of tempting merchandise to purchase AND AND I am Pre-Approved. I love approval and then to be Pre-approved. Does that mean I am gaining popularity? Wow.

But,

it may be my last catalog,

even though I don't remember seeing it for the first time. They even sound as if they are a bit miffed at me. Maybe I hurt their feelings somehow, someway . . . I didn't mean to. I'm just saying. . . .

Talk to you soon.

Caution: Approval may lead to finality.

Evidence Of Morning Play

Eyes are closed in slumber,
Struggling to open wide,
Songs break through the silence,
From birds where they abide.

Sleeping blades of sparkling dew,
Sighs the grass as if the prey,
Crimson red glows from the East,
Evidence of morning play.

Hello, Monday, can be friends?

TJ

Prayer

Then Hannah prayed and said:

my heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.

"There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

"Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.

The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry hunger no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.

The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.

The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
"For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's;
upon them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;

Those who oppose the Lord will be shattered.
He will thunder against them from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
"He will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed." 1 Samuel 2: 1-10

Amen

Meet The Pigs

Let me introduce to you -The Pigs and share with you another of my treasures, my pig collection. In the past, I collected glass pigs. I have since closed the door on new additions, but have kept many of them. These are those that I have sitting atop my old pie safe.

Aren't they a lovely bunch?

So let's look at them up close and personal.

This is the king -the ruler and probably my favorite. (shh don't tell) He is a cookie jar. I bought him at a yard sale out in the country around 25 years ago. I gave $3.50 for him. There was another jar and I kick myself everyday for not buying the additional jar (and for other things). But I thought the one I bought was something I didn't need and I certainly didn't need two of them. I am not sure if this is a Shawnee jar. It has USA stamped on the bottom. He looks like those I have found in my research and they were Shawnee cookie jars.

Here are the couples and they have attitudes. They are a prideful bunch often flaunting their coupling. (They are also salt and pepper shakers.)

This is another couple, a creamer and sugar set. The sugar bowl on the right may have had a lid at one time.




These are my some of my singles. An odd group wouldn't you say. But I love their glassy personalities.

Then there is Blue Boy who will not keep his finger out of his mouth no matter what I say. He may be my second favorite (again shhh).

Sorry this is blurry, but every photo and retake I took of this group came out blurry, so I gave up. Hmm. These farm piggies came from a certain Shepherdess.

This little piggy went to the market. Just kidding. She is a bank.

You can see the slot on her head. Ouch!

Then there has to be a joker in every group. And here she is.

May I introduce to you, Miss Piggy.
(compliments of Angel Mom and Artsy Dad)

Many of my pigs were given to me by my folks and other family members. My parents found many of them while shopping for the flea market they use to own. Of course I don't know you, but YOU would have liked their flea market.

Oink!

My Favorite Child

Admit it you thought it would be a person, but NO, Friday is my favorite child. Although every day is a wonderful day, if you try, Friday is my favorite. Friday may not be actually Friday for others, because their Friday may be a Wednesday or a Sunday, but it is the thought that counts.

Today looks much like this

But I feel more like-

I am standing in a field of wonderful blooms. Do you see me?

Or near enough to count the petals.

It is Friday, rain or not, I feel sunshiny.

God is Good and Friday is my favorite child.

Bubblegum and Tar

There was not a nicer man than Ernie B., the storekeeper. Growing up (country), his store was located across a highway from my childhood home and just sang with activity.


EM, my brother, and I would sit on the slope of our yard and watch the comin's and goin's of the mercantile. More days than not, our friend Ernie would toss Bazooka™ bubblegum across the highway and into our yard telling us to catch it.

Electronics Man (a.k.a my brother)

I don't remember ever catching the prize in the air. EM may have, I don’t know. (JW still can't catch anything thrown at her -couldn’t catch a cold thrown straight at her face. Well, maybe she could catch a cold.) Back to my story. Ernie could have walked the bubblegum over, but it was more exciting to see him toss it over the very serious highway and for us to try to catch it. He knew that and played the game. Ernie was a very good man.

I loved visiting the country store. I’ve always been a people watcher and I loved spying on the purchases and consumptions of others. Not only could you find people from the community getting their postal mail and visiting on the porch and in the store, but you could gaze upon the goodies and dream. When we could afford it our folks would buy us a pop (as we called it) and I always chose RC Cola™. What a treat. One of the best parts of that country store was that everybody knew your name (like a good bar, I guess?), family of origin and probably the day you were born. A tight community filled with love, care and a little bit of nosiness.

As I got a little older, I was thrilled and honored to be chosen to cross and get our mail. But, I was told by Angel Mom to hold the mail tightly and never ever drop any of it. Guess what? Yep, I did it. I dropped it. But, without those experiences how can we really learn?

Every summer I went barefoot- all the time, anytime, whatever time - around my country habitat. (JW’s feet still cry, when winter arrives, and she has to stuff them in closed shoes.) The highway next to our house was dangerous for small girls because of the traffic, but it was also painful on bare feet. You have to know me to know -who I am and how I operate. If it is there, then I want to conquer. And the challenge was to run across the hot and sticky bubbly tar surfaced road with my bare feet. By the time I crossed, my feet tingled from the hot sappy substance stuck to the bottom. (Angel Mom probably never knew I did this.) So I would sit on the well worn bench outside the store, (God bless this child) and pick the sticky tar from my feet, which by the way grew tough from summer wear. I didn't dwell on the pain, but it did burn. I would then get the mail and anything else Angel Mom needed from the store and race back across the tarry service, but only after looking to my right and left and then listening for any traffic that might be popping up over the hill. Oh and I hung on to the mail like my life depended on it.


So this is Ernie's store now -leaning -decaying -covered in vegetation. Ernie is long gone but not forgotten by me as I tell a snippet of his life story and how he impacted my life. Ernie was good man.

The way the old store looks makes me wonder did I just dream that life as a little girl living across from it. The wind blows and life changes -it seems.

Where are you old life, childhood of past. Take care, because your continuation doesn't last. Time goes by but memories linger until disease takes them or death takes them and other people forget. Tell the story. Journal it.

Amen

Ha Haaaaa

Ha Ha Tonka State Park -This is a beautiful place to visit in Missouri, USA. A most peaceful place even when it has many visitors. Along with the great scenery, there are great hiking trails.

The park intermingles with the Lake of the Ozarks.

This looks like a trail, but is not. It actually runs down over an Ozark cliff. Probably NOT a trail a person would take. Beauty in its glory.

This is the remains of the mansion. So very huge and you wonder how in the early 1900's people moved that much stone.

This is the leftover carriage house (I think). It all burned in the big fire.

My favorite photo - looking up! Always look up. You find the best stuff there.

Look up!

She Named Him Bunny

Growing up country for a child in the 1960's meant using our imagination - a lot. TV wasn't a big part of our lives, so we made friends with our siblings, cousins, neighbor children, and with the animals of our world. Cows, horses, dogs, cats, you name it, a kid growing up country had more than one furry or feathered friend.

During one of those times, my childhood best friend found a baby rabbit and took it in and bottle fed it until it could eat on its own. She loved that baby rabbit so much. She named him Bunny. Sorry did you think it was going to be something else? She petted him, talked to him, cared for him and loved him dearly. She wrapped him in a blanket. Then Bunny became tame. He learned to come to her when she called, and ate food from her hand. He lived in a box in her family's kitchen. I even petted him. Clearly, Bunny was a spoiled wabbit. One day when he was two or three months old, she accidentally left the kitchen door open as she went outside. Bunny jumped out of his box and out of the door. Lickedy split. I think that's wabbit talk. Then, he paused briefly on the porch looking around. My friend cried out to him, I mean cried (I may be making that up, see Liar, Liar for reference.) He took one last look at her and hopped away as fast as his wabbit (sorry- last time) feet could take him into the woods, beyond the house. She called for him. She cried after him. She searched. But, she never saw him again. Now, wipe those eyes. This is really a happy ending because Bunny was where he belonged, back in the woods.

I loved our farm animals. I never did harm to any pet of mine – well except for the tadpoles I might have put in a coffee can thinking they would turn into frogs the next day. NOBODY TOLD ME to put water in with them.

This is a chicken that my Grandma Maternal tied up for me at her house, so that I could have a chicken pet. Now don't go calling the ASPCA or PETA. I didn't hurt the hen. In fact I loved her, I hope you can see that on her face, how loved she felt - well until - I won't finish the sentence.

Growing Up Country.

Monday's Child is Fair of Face

Good Morning!

I wish I were a Monday child, however I am fair of face- does that count? I wish Monday and I had a better relationship. Because of Monday, my relationship with Sunday suffers. I am trying to make it better; it’s an ongoing struggle with my frame of mind. Just to clear the air, yes I am very grateful for my job and I like my job very much.

Trying to make Mondays better, Journaling Woman likes to:

1. Sunday night, gather things by the door to take to work. This helps to downsize the crazies you feel as you are running out the door.

Also, plan what you will wear. Decide (and this means you Journaling Woman) what you are going to wear the night before so that your bedroom doesn’t look like your closet exploded, when you come home from work on Monday.



THEN

2. Go to bed before midnight and STOP working on that blog. (Yes, most days I make my bed -don’t judge me. It just makes me feel better.) Our body needs adequate sleep.

PS I wish you could see the painting above my bed in the picture. It is the painting in Journaling Woman's blog header. Here is a better picture.

Lovely huh?

3. After waking up and with squinted eyes, I head for the Java. This is just me, my routine. You don’t have to drink coffee (Dr. Lovely Daughter). Don’t forget to eat breakfast, either at home or at work. Since, I am a grazer I take Cheerios to snack on at work, so that I won’t eat unhealthy things, when I get the munchies.

THEN
4. To meet Monday and everyday, JW tries to stay close to her source of faith and strength. She reads her Bible and prays. This is the only way my soul stays peaceful, this also gives me purpose in our world. And I just keep reminding myself that I am not here to add to the world’s chaos, which helps my Monday morning blues. Now, If you are saying to the computer for JW to get off the soapbox, I say, you need to consider that you are a spiritual being. You are heart, soul, body and mind. All parts of you needs tending, to be healthy.

5. As I am heading out the door, I almost always repeat a verse that I learned years ago from -said Bible “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps. 118:24 Being joyful on Mondays is a test of my willpower, but I give it a good try.

6. Allow plenty of time to get to your job. YOU already know how traffic can be. Road Rage should not be your car companion, nor should texting while driving - I will add.

7. Once I am at work, (I really am a very nice person, ask almost anyone) I say as cheerfully as my sleepy voice and muddled mind can muster “Hello, how are you?” to the first person I see. Usually, these people seem glad to be acknowledged and even though their response is kind of like Charlie Brown’s parents voices in my mind, it helps me to be civil from the beginning. My attitude seems to be my governor as I begin my day. Happy or grumpy is really my choice. (But, in my defense I am not a morning person.)

Now this is just for fun. If you work with people on Mondays, you may at the end of the day be thinking:

“Some people are like Slinkies - not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.” Author Unknown (to me)

OR:

"Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film." Author unknown (to me)

ONE MORE for the technology field people out there:

"I just found out that the brain is like a computer. If that's true, then there really aren't any stupid people. Just people running DOS." Author unknown ( to me)

After Monday is over, I will be fine! Really! I am a nice person. Really!

ONWARD

A PRAYER

For this reason
I kneel before the Father,
from whom
his whole family in heaven
and on earth derives its name.

I pray that
out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you
with power through his Spirit
in your inner being,

so that Christ may dwell in
your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you,
being rooted
and established in love,

may have power,
together with all the saints,
to grasp how wide and long
and high and deep
is the love of Christ,

and to know this love
that surpasses knowledge—
that you may be filled
to the measure of
all the fullness of God.

Now to him
who is able to do
immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power
that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations,
forever and ever!

Amen.

(Ephesians 3: 14-21, Bible NIV))

SHARING TREASURE

Before cell phones, television, fast cars, fake boobs, computers, even before shopping malls, most people made their furniture, their clothing and of course their food from scratch. It had to be a hard life, but it was the way of life in earlier times. If people wanted bread they made a loaf. If they wanted a table to share that bread on, they made it. Now, I don’t in my wildest dreams ever compare anything I do with my power tools, electric sewing machines, or my new range to be as wonderful or even as well done as my ancestors did. But, there is something about that feeling of making something with your own two hands that when you step back and look, you feel pride and let out a big sigh of accomplishment. That's why I still make things.

One of my favorite treasures was given to me by Artsy Dad. It sits in my bedroom. If only “it” could talk. If only “it” would gossip, then I might hear the conversations of my wonderful ancestors.

My 1800's Primitive blanket chest. So wonderful and simplistic.

I am not sure what wood it is made from, but it is very sturdy. It measures 30½ x 20x 13½ inches. It was most likely made in the late 1800’s by my great grandfather. It was given to Paternal Grandmother by her mother, and then passed to Artsy Dad then to Journaling Woman.

End view.

I keep (shhh) gifts in it. It is a wonderful and charming piece of furniture in my bedroom. And it’s really nice, if you think about it, to use a piece of furniture that your family before you made and used.

Treasuring it!

Side Tripping

Took a little side trip - home today - down winding roads to a place where things are not the same, but are familiar.

So I watched the road and I watched the clouds. I tried to be careful.

Lately, I have been noticing clouds, not sure why. Recently there have been ominous clouds bringing terrible storms. But mostly, the clouds have just been interesting and beautiful. Their very presence means something -there is a reason -and not to be taken for granted. I felt like today I was following the clouds.

I followed the road. And the road changed, but the clouds didn't. They stayed familiar until I reach the home of my youth.

I had been wondering what this wonderful weed like flower along the roadsides was. So, I asked Angel Mom, "What is that flower?" She said, "Goldenrod." Then I took a picture, so I would have it forever.

Then Angel Mom, Shepherdess Woman, Dr. Lovely daughter and I walked and talked under a Catalpa tree in SW's yard. This very tree I tried to climb when I was little, long before it became her tree, if you can own a tree. Electronics Man and I use to play swords with the seed pods. So long ago.

Side tripping ended with slobbers on my forehead from SW's Mastiff. I think it was a kiss. Hard to tell from his expression. SW may have laughed at me. And SW made me hold little yellow boy, a new kitty. She knows I love each and every yellow kitty in the world. Yes every one. She is cruel to poor Journaling Woman to tempt her with such preciousness.

Good Night.

How Do I Love Thee. . . .

Once upon a time there were two couples both of solid pioneer stock. Both sets were survivors and ready to make their mark on the world.

Grandparents Maternal/Grandparents Paternal

They had children

(collectively -many children)

But, Journaling Woman, Electronics Man and Shepherdess Woman are only concerned with two of those children.

They met each other.

They hugged each other (obviously).

They fell in love. JW would call them lovebirds, but can't entertain that idea.

Angel Mom, a dark exotic beauty, and Artsy Dad, right up there with James Dean, decide to marry. Whew -JW, EM and SW are glad.

The 1950's

They marry.

They begat their first child.

(Don't worry Electronics Man and Shepherdess Woman you all come later, just enjoy that first child, will you?)

Look at those folks, they are so gorgeous that they should have been in pictures.

Then there were three.

Here they are- the next begats -beautiful brilliant children (JW has to keep the peace). Baby girl trying to stand and little boy proud of his squash.

The 1960's

The 1970's

The 1980's

Grandparent time!

Can it be that they are getting even better looking?

The 1990's

What lovely people they are, Artsy Dad and Angel Mom.

Trust me! What do you have to lose?

The 2000's

Not the whole century, just one day.

Here we are -the group! The family. The lovebirds, still as beautiful as ever. Thanks folks for being incredible, loving and supportive parents. You are both wonderful people. Your three begets count their blessings for having parents as special as you. We all love you very much, especially Journaling Woman. Ok we ALL love you equally. YOU ARE THE BEST!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Pillow Talk

From time to time Journaling Woman prides herself on being handy. Here is this Wednesday's acts of handiness.

One of the easiest things to sew is a pillow. I love pillows. I like to buy pillows, but I mostly make them. I started sewing when I was 13 years old by machine. But, I was younger when I sewed by hand, my Barbie clothes. From a very young age I learned to appreciate fabric and the texture and beauty of color and print. Now as I grow older, I find myself drawn to old prints and old fabrics that I (or my family for me) often purchase at flea markets. Here are some favorite old fabrics that I have collected and a few pillows in Journaling Woman’s life.

Here are few fabrics in my stash, yet to become one of my creations.

This is a tablecloth, I will guess from the 1970's.

Another tablecloth which I believe may be from the 1950's. The texture really reminds me of some of the flour sacks I have seen and touched, from that time period.

This was a tablecloth from which I have made a pillow. As you can see there are stains that I had to cut around. I will use the flowers in the stained areas as applique for other pillow projects. The edge of the tablecloth had a crocheted edge which I used on a pillow coming up.

This is JW's favorite. I wish you could see it in person. The print is so beautiful in blues, reds and white. This was a shirtwaist dress that I found at a thrift store. I will guess also from the 1950's. Because I love this print so much, I haven't made anything from it, as yet.

PILLOWS

In this photo, I have made two pillows. The bluebird I drew on white cotton and painted it with acrylic paint. Then I edge it in green and white flower print. The large pillow behind it was two napkins that I found on clearance at a department store. These pillows are in my bedroom. Isn't fabric just beautiful?



These pillows were purchase at a thrift store (sponsored by an animal shelter-one of my favorites). One is neckroll and the other is homemade pillow of heavy navy fabric. I have a pattern to make a neckroll and plan to do it soon. This is one of my spare bedrooms.

This pillow is from the tablecloth I mentioned earlier. I used a plate for a pattern. I also saved the gold edging around the tablecloth and used it to edge the pillow. Behind the round pillow is one of two red pillows that I found at a thrift store. They were very clean and barely used (very important to Journaling Woman).

I want to mention the chair, in the photo, that I found at a flea market. I plan on making a slipcover for it. Stay tuned.

This is the other red pillow. I gave 50 cents each for them.

This pillow just represents a pillowcase, another alternative to reusing pillows that you have but want to make match your decor. This spare bedroom has a nautical theme (sort of), so I chose this fabric print. I love all things associated with nautical, don't know why unless it's that JW is a Pisces.

And that's it for now. One last note about making pillows. Your pillow will look much better if you make a pillow insert first out of muslin stuffing it with the fiber instead of just stuffing the decorative fabric. Your pillow will be smoother.

There you have it, pillow talk from Journaling Woman. Now don't you feel like making a pillow?