Wednesday, November 12, 2008

By the Sweat of Their Brow You Shall Know Them!

Sexy Guys, that is!

Yesterday being Veterans' Day Jim was home from work. I had to work, using the term loosely, as I spent the day with one of my best friends and clients, selecting furnishings for her home and having lunch together. We also made a great trip to HomeGoods in Brentwood. We had a wonderful and productive day. The cherry on top was that when I got home Jim had fixed our fireplace/heater in the kitchen and also the leaky faucet. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be able to heat up the kitchen, especially while not having to listen to the drip, drip, drip of water all day long. Oh, and he had made dinner for the three of us! How lucky am I? Very!

Can you see the fire burning in our cozy corner of our kitchen?

My friend, Michelle, always has said that the most charming, sexy man is the one with sweat on his brow, and dirt on his hands from his labors for his family. Today I could not agree with her more!

Thanks Honey, I appreciate it soooo much! Life is getting better and better after being together as man and wife 40 years, 4 months and 4 weeks exactly~ after 4 years of dating to boot! You are a keeper! After that many years you don't even know where you end and your spouse begins. It is interesting!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Light My Fire

I have been having a real problem finding the motivation to get going on Christmas and I have been hard pressed to figure out why. I love Christmas and always have. But for some reason I am dragging my feet this year about just nearly everything. It has been perplexing me and for a moment yesterday I felt a little twinge of what it might be. I found the above picture* here, and it gave me an idea of what might be happening in my head.

This picture just evokes in me total peace and comfort. I love the colors, the coziness, the feeling that you can just sit down and enjoy it~all the work for the day is done. This photo is the epitome of what we, as home stagers strive to create. It isn't really real but, it is part of my made-up, fantasy world and I love it. Everything in this home is perfect, peachy and lovely and you just don't want it disturb it. This beautiful place has no leaking faucets, no need of paint, no curling, yellowed wallpaper that needs removal, no cat hair on the $100.00 throw. The landscaping is perfect, the family is perfect, and everyone is deliriously happy all the time. No one is sick or fat or annoying~Mr. & Mrs. Wonderful live here.

That is secretly what I want our house to be like, and I have never achieved it...oh yeah, maybe once in my mind I came close for about two hours. And that did not include the people, just the inanimate objects. This picture also helped me realize that I do not like my house in disarray. That always happens when decorating for Christmas, right? I furthermore do not have a great way of keeping track of the things I put away for the season and things invariably get misplaced, sometimes never being reclaimed! A lot of it has to do with a too small cottage with limited storage and a huge bunch of Christmas stuff. I need a group for people addicted to Christmas decorations.

So the inkling that I had was that there is a huge gap between my fantasy and what is real. And then the thought followed that in order to get anywhere near that fantasy that I love I have to do a major boatload of work~and that is the thought that is holding me back. It is just me~ being lazy!

I have come to realize that what I use to be able to get done in a few weeks now takes me a few months! Part it is getting older but the bigger part is too many choices about when I will do something. When the kids were little I did it when I could...want to or not. But now I have a whole day and I can do it when I want to. Hmmm, I know it sound like a dream to a lot of you but really it requires a lot of self-discipline! Like right now I am supposed to be cleaning out the bathroom closet according to my scheduled 'to do' list for the day. Clearly, that is not happening.

How do you do it? For me it is matter of making a plan and sticking to it. Instead of staring down the trunk of the elephant and finding it so overwhelming, I need to take it one bite at a time. I have got to stop procrastinating and just jump in. First, I am going to get the deep cleaning and organizing done. I have to move a bunch of things out of the guest room just so Jim can get into the crawl space to get the stuff. I printed out a calendar just for that. Then I want to organize the gifts and get that finished up. Then plan the family party, the Christmas letter, the fun activities, the trip to Utah, etc.

If you are a woman you know there is so much more. We all have a big Christmas elephant in the room right now. The trick is to enjoy it and pace yourself. OK, so I blew it on the bathroom closet today but I am going to get going on it first thing in the morning~no matter what! I am not going to let Mac draw me away from my list tomorrow~no not me!

Oh wait, Jim is off tomorrow and I am working on my client's furniture purchase and design plan. OK, then Wednesday for sure!! And so you see how it goes around here....

flickr
Help!! I have got to get some visions of
sugar plums dancing in my head!



*no attribution listed

Sunday, November 9, 2008

These Are A Lot of My Favorite Things~Updated

Once again updating my favorites list...in green this time. This is such a fun list to make...I hope you have one for the days when you are feeling down, or sad, or bored with a ho-hum life, it is a great pick me up! There is so much to be thankful for and so much to enjoy in this life. You may even find things on here twice!


Thanksgiving *

I know we are all thinking about Thanksgiving and the things we should be grateful for each day. I also know that for many of us, every day is Thanksgiving Day as we bow our heads and thank the Lord for his abundant blessings in our lives. I originally posted the list below in July but wanted to do it again today. As I think of new things I'll add them in color. I think we should all have a list like this and add to it regularly.

I'd like to challenge you all to write one to share with us
on your blog sometime between now and Thanksgiving.
It may surprise you what the Lord has done for us all!

Finding Joy in the Big and Little Things of life

My Philanthropist Jim, being mom to three and then six, being the Gramma to 10 fabulous kids, Baby Hazel's much improved health, beautiful interiors, answers to prayers, nicknames, licorice, Will Smith, flower gardens, Netflix, memories of good days gone by, computers (iMac in particular), Lowell, the iMac guru, red, uplifting and fun movies, great books, San Francisco, days alone with Jim-Bob, rings, funny things the kids say, wonderful friends, Just A Little Lowder came on the scene, linen spray, Laura's big hair obsession, North & South the mini-series, temple times, my iPod and the sweet brother that gave it to me, Camillia Tea Room in Benicia, blogs and bloggers, scrapbooks of old, thinking about our kids and how much we love them and their families, green; the way God makes it, dimples, Europe, 7 cents a minute international calls, the families of our children's spouses, Diane Keaton, having fancy dinner parties, girl time, Hilary Swank, Miss Vanessa's Fab Blog, bracelets, quiet restaurants, thinking about retirement and the freedoms of it, Farmer's Market, Billy Joel, Blogging, ethnic foods, Tom & Jean, photography, a great sense of humor, fabulous books, education art, home accessories, movie tickets, fabulous jewelry, revisiting places with nostalgic past memories, WC III Ward, Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia), seeing friends from the past, Palm Springs in January, Scottish accents, Jeffery Holland, God's mercy, love & grace, Thrift Store finds, memories of Mississippi before Katrina, no more math classes, salt and vinegar chips, normal body temperatures~no fevers for Hazel in two months now, Washington D.C., eucalyptus trees, pansies, fish; alive and in the pan, digital photos, Curiel lotion, the guys in the white hats, creme soda, birds singing in the morning, frogs croaking at night, Facebook reunions, crickets chirping or whatever they do WHILE they are totally out of sight because they scare me, shade, phone calls just to say hi, passionate causes, voting, laughing 'til tears roll down your face, a good cry, a gift for no particular reason~just because, Richard Gere, smiling when its hard 'til your heart believes it, waxing lyrical (per Jen's request), hilarious comedians, Blogging Friends, Johnny Mathias, Uncle Buffalo, K.D. Lang, Nora Jones, Diana Krall, Thai Food.

Thinking about parents and grandparents, my great brothers and their families, plans to move nearer the kids, New Orleans (pre-Katrina) in the winter, new friends, deer in the yard if they are not eating our plants, electronic technology, the smell of steak on the barbie, Gordon B. Hinckley, tax deductions, summer evenings when it cools off, cyber friends, Blissfully Domestic, summer mornings, Queen Latifah, fire in the fireplace, Autumn, teaching, the holidays, oddly enough...flying, our DVD collection, Lee, Barb, my Monday morning group of inspiring friends..past and present, courteous and friendly strangers, pictures of Cohen Romney, Robert hugs, designer paint, white picket fences, beautiful kitchens and bathrooms, good health, magazines, family history, Google, shopping with my favorite females, snuggling with the babies, fabulous memories of all European travel, Val Wilcox, thinking about our mission for the church, Mother's Day, cherry pie, Tom Hanks, appreciation, Louis Armstrong, garlic; on everything that doesn't have sugar, memories of Chris & Laura in Pops Concerts, the Ensign, Old Glory, rainbows, houses, waterfalls, GPS, cracked crab, great singers, Kevin James in Hitch, porch swings, Norma Bowerbank's pizazz,

sunrise, sunset the events and the movies, Michael Ball, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rankin, Kenny Rogers, Kenny G, Michael Buble, Big Band music and other oldies from my parents' era, our cousins, Bob & Beth, Scott's Restaurant fried calamari, Christmas in Italy,memories of our good friends gone before us, Chinese Food, Rossie's billion kisses, our cottage, clean sheets, Golden Girls Christmas Luncheon, disappearing into the matinée alone and not telling anyone where I am for a couple of hours, bleu cheese, car trips with Jim, babies' toes, online shopping, driving right past the place I use to work, The Gilmore Girls, enjoying the wonders of nature and the beautiful world we live in, shopping in Italy, a full moon in October, hot chocolate on a winter's morn, Jeff Adams' knowledge of the Gospel, iPhone, ice, Steve Martin, photo editing, air conditioning, the excitement of falling in love and staying in love, reliable cars, mad money, cell phones, e-mail, abc.go.com,the heartfelt "I love yous" from the little ones, pancakes at Cracker Barrel, Olympics, Denzel Washington, the crow of a rooster in the early morning, Sausalito, gift cards to the movies, Itty Bitty Soap Company, the smell of pine trees and baking bread and the sea, Good Ole Days, Billy Crystal, baby's skin, popcorn popping in the pan and on the apricot trees, no shower curtain or door, being alone, being together,

turkey baking, a clean house, Matt Damon, the forest, our newly remodeled and spruced up house, driving through canopied streets, patio umbrellas, homemade ice cream, Patrick Swayze, good haircuts, manicure and pedicures and a great massage, family photos, giving gifts and service to my favorite people, Judi Dench, our never failing Kim, mom's potato salad, apple pie, and her nut bread, Missy's great cooking, Moonlight & Roses, my Dad's garden and his ability to win every game he ever played, Oprah, Paris, memories of my brother, Brighton, Steve, when Alesha & Raul got married and of Sebastian watching them dance and knowing he belonged to them, War and Remembrance the mini-series, sleeping with our grand daughter Julia Mae, concert memories, Muir Woods, black current and licorice sweet treats from Scotland, Room With A Past, Concord II Ward, James Taylor, Jen's cupcake obsession, drive-in movies, one on one with our kids, Paul Laird, Lowell's Lost and his Mr. Bass Man, the way Tony Damiano teaches Sunday School, the sound of a push mower, the smell of freshly cut grass, faux grass, Restoration Hardware, The Nut Cracker Ballet in SF, my Mom's unconditional love for me, days with nothing pressing to do, Marie and her Kitchen, chocolate, Silpada, Brenden Frazier, a good storm, bedazzlement, fun collections, theater, concerts, musicals, Christmas tree lights, Piper; our Scottish princess, Christmas in Scotland,

good responsible people, Traci Hartman and her photography, a walk in Golden Gate Park, thinking about the blessing of having a husband that can do anything, answered prayers, old things, new things, glitter, Connor's vocabulary, memories of travel to Italy, working with Laura on houses, also Jim, Maureen and Emily, Scotland, my brother Steve's Airport Taxi Service, candle light, Orchard Nursery, Agent Baigent, Zach's charging hugs when we visit, good jazz, the gift of Chloe Jane and her spiciness, Golden Gate Park, birthdays, the delete button, my new Rebecca Stewart,buying new clothes, Disneyland, getting paid for what I love, Robert Mitchum, salads, the way Spencer could tell you all about the water systems of a city at 2 years old, salsa, all things feminine, possibilities, getting a real bargain, Google Reader, Max Raabe, Aynlsee's beautiful stripped golden and apricot hair and sweet smile, Nellie, Maggie Smith, grandkids loving their cousins, vests, Wrinkle Releaser for fabrics, Shaun, Root Beer Floats, Julia Roberts, going on Brokers' Tour to see houses others have staged, punctuality, writing, Manhatten, watermelon, the way Jen helped Laura after Katrina, Laura and Brandon's Life, the way Laura re-decorated the faculty lounge at Spencer's elementary school over a three day weekend to surprise the teachers, Verona, artichokes, Owen's sweetness, maple trees, garden tomato sandwiches, clean cars, Chris' career accomplishments, hearing Laura and Ross speak Italian, adding to this list as things pop into my head, Jeffery Dean Morgan, HomeGoods, box seats at an opera you have studied and understand before you go, Deanna's Christmas Blog and Old Radio Shows, reflexology, Christmas stockings, garage sales, the love and lessons of Hazel, the Rockies, knowing when enough is enough...well, almost knowing it anyway....! Ah, on second thought, maybe not!

Way more than anyone really wanted to know but great notes for my obit!


*As seen in Country Living
and theinspiredroom.net
(2 more of my favorite things)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Fruit Cake and the Common Cold

Fruit Cake and The Common Cold

I ask you how on earth can there be 13, 351 photos of fruit cake on flickr?

You all know the legend of the one disgusting fruit cake with the rubbery chunks that has been being passed around the earth for centuries because everyone hates it and so re-gifts it to someone else, right?

Well I see a correlation between that cake and the common cold I am afflicted with right now. I have a pet peeve that will probably offend everyone, myself included, as I know I am guilty too.


Why is it then when we are sick we cannot just stay home for a day or two and not re-gift our illness to others? This especially bugs me in the work place. When I worked in the doctors' office people would come to work with their fevers, flu, and always with colds. Hello. Do not do me any favors and answer my phone while you are hacking and coughing just to help me out, OK? I use to want to say, "People, the patients coming in here are having elective surgery. They do not need your virus as they are trying to recover!" But I didn't, I just remained silent and graciously caught their cold. As I get older I am not as nice as I use to be...sorry about that.

If we are sick why is it so hard to just chill out and enjoy the gift someone else has passed on to us to the fullest. I know in most cases the world is not going to stop rotating if we do. I know in rare cases it may be so, but for the most part life will go on just fine without you or me for awhile. It is great to have a good, healthy self-concept but, this may seep over into the pride of our own importance sphere, just a little. My other theory is that colds last longer than they need to because people won't stop and take good care of the problem. Your immune system is usually down when you need a rest.


Since people just can't seem to stop re-gifting it, I really like that some of the grocery stores are now supplying the hand wipes for the carts. Talk about a hot bed of infection ~it is the grocery cart. And I like hand sanitizer even if it ages you, minute by minute, with all that alcohol. (When is someone going to come up with a hand lift cosmetic surgery, anyway?)

Well, I am going to practice what I preach. Every change we would like to see in life has to start with us. I am not going anywhere today, I am not even tempted. And at least I don't have to wipe down everything at home as Jim is just getting over the gift someone gave him last week. The generosity is amazing. And, no he did not stay home~what can I say?? So today it's just me, my computer and my chicken soup~enjoying the gift! I'm leading by example. If the "fruitcake" comes you way you won't have me to thank for it!


flickr photos everywhere you look

Fruit Cake and The Common Cold

I ask you how on earth can there be 13, 351 photos of fruit cake on flickr?

You all know the legend of the one disgusting fruit cake with the rubbery chunks that has been being passed around the earth for centuries because everyone hates it and so re-gifts it to someone else, right?

Well I see a correlation between that cake and the common cold I am afflicted with right now. I have a pet peeve that will probably offend everyone, myself included, as I know I am guilty too.


Why is it then when we are sick we cannot just stay home for a day or two and not re-gift our illness to others? This especially bugs me in the work place. When I worked in the doctors' office people would come to work with their fevers, flu, and always with colds. Hello. Do not do me any favors and answer my phone while you are hacking and coughing just to help me out, OK? I use to want to say, "People, the patients coming in here are having elective surgery. They do not need your virus as they are trying to recover!" But I didn't, I just remained silent and graciously caught their cold. As I get older I am not as nice as I use to be...sorry about that.

If we are sick why is it so hard to just chill out and enjoy the gift someone else has passed on to us to the fullest. I know in most cases the world is not going to stop rotating if we do. I know in rare cases it may be so, but for the most part life will go on just fine without you or me for awhile. It is great to have a good, healthy self-concept but, this may seep over into the pride of our own importance sphere, just a little. My other theory is that colds last longer than they need to because people won't stop and take good care of the problem. Your immune system is usually down when you need a rest.


Since people just can't seem to stop re-gifting it, I really like that some of the grocery stores are now supplying the hand wipes for the carts. Talk about a hot bed of infection ~it is the grocery cart. And I like hand sanitizer even if it ages you, minute by minute, with all that alcohol. (When is someone going to come up with a hand lift cosmetic surgery, anyway?)

Well, I am going to practice what I preach. Every change we would like to see in life has to start with us. I am not going anywhere today, I am not even tempted. And at least I don't have to wipe down everything at home as Jim is just getting over the gift someone gave him last week. The generosity is amazing. And, no he did not stay home~what can I say?? So today it's just me, my computer and my chicken soup~enjoying the gift! I'm leading by example. If the "fruitcake" comes you way you won't have me to thank for it!


flickr photos everywhere you look

I Married a Phil~antropist

~Capturing a Rare Moment~
Jim Sitting Down!

"Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, services, time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause, with a defined objective and with no financial or material reward to the donor. In a more general sense, philanthropy may encompass any altruistic activity intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. One who practices philanthropy may be called a philanthropist. Although such individuals are often rich, people may perform philanthropic acts without possessing great wealth." (No big bucks here. Darn it!) Wikipedia.

Grampa & Zach Working Together!

James Philip was named appropriately, Phillip being short for Philanthropist. Those of you who know him ~ know this to be true. I don't know anyone who contributes more to others than he does. I love and appreciate that about him but, and there is always a but..our kitchen sink is leaking, two of our three heaters need attention, our irrigation system is down, one of our vans needs a starter and a long over due smog check, etc. You know the old saying about the plumber and his wife, right?

Helping Our Son, Christopher

The thing for me is I don't like to ask him or nag him about these things. I need them done but it doesn't have to be today. In the mean time he truly is engaged in very good activities that benefit many more than just me. Today he is off on a hike and I am really glad about that as that is something he really and truly enjoys, and I know the young people who are going with him will love it too. He needs that recreation and I worry that for the most part, he rarely gets it. Now that the grueling election is over he is on to Scouting for Food, day and night, until next Saturday when that will take place. After that ...who knows...I cannot keep up.

Hiking is his joy~along with Piper and Julia!

Mike just sent this photo over of their
beach hike today at Pt Reyes.

Typical Church activity~almost as many leaders
as Young Adults! They had a great time.

We are going away for a few days for his birthday celebration, after Thanksgiving. That I am looking forward to with great anticipation. Just be forewarned, I plan to lose his cell phone during that time and just have some quality one on one. I want it to be restful for him but he is already planning the agenda......surprise, surprise!

What's a woman to do? He does make my life pretty easy and he is good to me. I have a lot of time to do my own thing and I truly enjoy that. With the option to retire in 6 months it should be interesting to see how he uses his time after that? Actually, I don't think there will be too many surprises.....from where I stand, anyway.

He Loves His Work

First of all, I think the date will come and go and he'll still be working. And a Phil by any other name is still a Phil. So take a number, folks...he'll be ready to serve you all then as he is now. The challenge of living with Phil, aside from a lot of solitude, is that no matter what I do for others I feel lazy by comparison. It make me tired just thinking about it. You will all have to just be content to view me as the yin to his yang or whatever. Someone has to stay home and mind the house. Pickin' up the slack here.... Bon

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~A Glimpse of James Phil~antropist



Originally posted in February of this year.