Author Archives: Tricraftual
Fireflies in the Yard
I have always been afraid of bugs. As a kid I hated picnics and other outdoor activities because of it. There was one exception and that was lightning bugs or fireflies as some call them. I guess because everyone wanted to catch them in a jar, I controlled my fears to join in the fun. I still try to avoid flying creepies but I am always happy to see the fireflies. They signify summer and remind me of a time when the most I had to do was catch them and let them go. I remember years when I didn’t see them but right now my yard is full! When I went to water the veggie garden tonight I couldn’t believe how many were flying around. Happy summer!
Should We Boomers Be Letting Go?
Sue Simmons, NBC ikon is finished. I haven’t followed closely but apparently the station didn’t renew her contract. The speculation is that they didn’t want a woman who is nearly 70 anchoring the news. Not sure what Sue is saying. Anyway as a “baby boomer” who will be sixty-one in the fall if I’m blessed to live, I don’t think my productive years are passed. I certainly don’t want to be moved out just because of age (don’t we have laws about that?)
I do however see the virtue of moving out of one job and allowing someone younger to take the space. I know that it is a controversial statement but I believe it. I spent many years doing what I was trained to do. Really I hated the last fifteen years of my career but I was afraid to leave it. I stayed too long. I firmly believe that it was time for a new, fresh and yes perhaps younger perspective. That doesn’t mean that I’m done. I am on career number two and I hope I know when to give this one up too. There is still so much I want to do that doesn’t involve “working” that I think I can be happy letting someone else do the work. Lol!
Reunion Weekend
I attended my college reunion this weekend. It wasn’t a major one for me it was my 39th but some of my friends were celebrating their 40th. It was great fun. In a time where there are so many negative things happening it’s nice to have a good positive weekend of just fun stuff.
Not bad for a group of baby boomers! Older girls rock! I’m the one in the middle. 60 and proud!
Can You Clean Fish?
One of our friends went fishing this past weekend and offered us some fresh fish. I intended to scale and clean the fish this afternoon between church services but when I got home the fish were cleaned and ready to cook. I asked my 96-year-old Mom who cleaned the fish and she said proudly I did. It was the first time she had attempted this. My Dad who died 35 years ago was a fisherman and he had always done it. Anyway she said it was harder than she thought and the scales went everywhere. I said Mom you did scale the fish under water didn’t you? She said no I didn’t know I should. There are fish scales EVERYWHERE!!! Moms gotta love um!
Is It Too Late To Try Something New?
This morning on one of the AM shows there was a story about a gentleman who retired at 61 from a variety of jobs including selling real estate. When he had been retired a short time he decided to try his hand as a comedian. Today at 67 he has a flourishing though not terribly lucrative career. He and his wife will not get rich off of this new career but it pays a few bills and has great perks. He now teaches classes on public speaking and comedy on cruise ships and though they don’t pay him, he and the wife cruise for free! Last year they spent 100 days at sea free of charge. He is getting to be well known in Florida and is generally enjoying himself. So who says it’s too late for a change?
Laboring in the Vineyard
I should have started this a few weeks back but didn’t have the time so this weekend DH and I spent hours in the yard. Our farm plot (actually three raised beds and a few pots) is looking good. We began planting seeds and small plants and I intend to add a few more. Now however I am fearful of our growing critter family. Did I mention a small bunny that is not fearful of people ( you can walk right up to him) and that Roscoe our groundhog is really Roskette because she has four babies trailing behind her. So I may have to revamp my previous posture of live and let live and find a way to have the kids relocated. Stay tuned for further episodes.
Garden Plot 1
Garden Pots and Plots
Bed 3
Baby Collard Greens
Sweet Magnolia Blossoms from the tree in my yard. Could anything smell sweeter?
Have a good evening.
Put Down That Rock
Last Sunday my friend Michelle who is also my pastor’s wife spoke along with her husband at a Women’s/Men’s Day program at the church they grew up in. My husband and I attended the service and I could have sworn that she wrote her words just for me.
She told the story of God asking a woman to take three rocks to the top of a hill. Of course she agreed and went on her way. Along the way she meets a friend and tells them where she is going. The friend asks her to take a big stone up the hill for her. To make a long story short by the time she gets three-quarters of the way up the hill she has filled her cart with everybody’s rocks and can’t go any further. She begins to cry and God comes to see what is wrong. He asks her what is in the cart and she explains what happened. He goes over to the cart and dumps it out leaving the three rocks he gave her to begin with. She is relieved and goes on up the hill with her rocks. Michelle closed by saying ladies stop picking up everybody’s stuff, just worry about your own.
So this week I’ve said to myself are those my rocks or do they belong to somebody else? Concentrate on your own stuff it’s enough!
Watch Out For The Slippery Slope
Sometimes you have climbed the sliding board and are on your way down before you realize it. Today I started out in a good mood and with a series of events including the news that my car needs about $1,200.00 of work and before you knew it I was sliding down to funk land. So okay some days are better than others but getting into a funk rarely helps. It’s a holiday weekend. No work until Tuesday, food in the fridge, gas in the tank and relative good health for us all. I’m gonna shake it off and find the thankful spirit that I know I have. Anybody care to join me?
Happy Holiday!
Mother’s Day Hype
My Mom who is 96 say that all the commercialization in regards to days like Mother’s Day is a real joke. She also says that you should treat your mother nicely everyday. Two good points I think. We didn’t do anything special today. My husband and I went to church and gave my Mom a card. I got a call from my Son and Daughter-In-Law and my niece as well as messages from many friends. That’s the important thing. Not the candy or flowers or fancy dinner. Don’t feel that you didn’t do enough if you couldn’t get all the stuff. Thanks Mom or I love you Mom is worth a lot more.
Happy Mother’s Day or as I call it Sunday!
If You Want Something Done, Do It Yourself
Well it took me a lifetime to figure that out. My Mom lives her life thinking that people are obligated to do what she wants. I have lived mine hoping that people will do what I want. We both get the same results because people are going to do what they want generally and not what someone else wants. So finally I get it. If I need something done, I need to figure out a way to do it. If I can’t do it, I need to pay to get it done or barter the service. If along the way someone volunteers to do it, I’m ahead. This is not lowering my expectations of others, rather I see it as raising the bar for me. It will make me work out solutions rather than hope that someone will do it for me. You’d be surprised what you can accomplish if you put a heavy dose of brain cells to it!
First Steps the Hardest 