Intentional Living

The more I live in an information saturated world, the more I long for the simpler, quieter days of yesteryear.  Yes, information is empowering, and the importance to know the truth is life-saving, but it can be quite overwhelming.  The world seems to be spinning faster, and all forms of media and social media seem to be telling me what I should be doing.

I feel as though the world around me is scrambling.  Scrambling, like a mischief of mice, for this, that, and everything else.  What ever happened to just living in the moment?  Living for today?  I'm not talking about being ignorant in the ways of financial savings, or being devoid of work or personal goals. 

Does anyone ever have a casual conversation?  One that is non-political or judgmental of any....thing, person, political group, religion, or lifestyle? 

Is anyone doing anything that 'everyone' else is not doing?  I find myself attracted to the mundane - diy (do-it-yourself) projects, cooking recipes, my new interests in homemaking skills such as sewing and knitting.  I want the days of old where the most shocking revelation of my day is that the price of bread has gone up (again).  I want to drink tea out of my vintage teacup and listen to the excited chatter of the birds outside.

I want the satisfying feeling of knowing that we have all that we need and enjoy the humble lifestyle we have been blessed with without society trying to convince me that my car isn't fancy enough, my complexion isn't youthful enough, my house isn't big enough, and we need to spend our hard earned money on a vacation that "everyone" else is taking.

I want to remember what it's like to not be able to watch television after midnight.  To have to go to the store or run errands without anyone being able to call me on my cell phone.  To have to use a paper map to find an unfamiliar location.  To feel accomplished and grateful for my clean clothes that are dried by the warm sun and a gentle breeze.  To be thankful for a well-stocked pantry that gives me a good meal, even though it may not rival one from Olive Garden or a fancy restaurant.

I want things to go a bit slower.  I want everyone to take a deep breath.  I want everyone to be kind - not because it's trendy or because a quote from Pinterest tells us to.  I want manners to come back into fashion.  I want parents to not only teach manners to their children, but to model it for them, as well.

Thankfulness, gratefulness, and kindness.  All can be possessed, but unless exercised, all can be lost.  They may not be trendy, fashionable, or popular, but all are a necessity, no matter how fast-paced our lives are.  I want to, no I need to, slow my steps, breathe, and mindfully make these things a priority in my life.  Again.

Turn Back the Clock on Holiday Decorating

Over the years, I have done many different kinds of simple and frugal holiday decorations.  Of course, the 12' tall perfectly decorated, themed, ribboned, sparkled trees are gorgeous, but they're not my style.  I don't do themes.  I just want to be surrounded by things that I like and that I can afford.  I don't do after-holiday decoration shopping.  A lot of homemade or handmade decorations are special because they can be done in shared time with friends and family, or be made with items that are sentimental.

Just a few examples:

This is a fabric and button star ornament made by my sister-in-law, Brenda.  Every year, Brenda makes the most wonderful handmade ornaments as gifts.  This particular star was made with holiday fabric and a small piece of fabric from my late father's-in-law shirt.  It pretty, sentimental, and easy to make.

This >>>> is a wooden ornament, purchased at a craft store, and painted by my two-year old grandson.  He's at the age where he is learning his colors and using his fine motor skills.  He chose the colors and used a foam 'dot' brush to paint his ornament.  I'm sure it will be treasured by his mama and dada forever!

This is another ornament made by Brenda.  It's a large, wooden craft stick painted white and decorated with marker to be a snowman.  She added a black felt hat and red ribbon as the scarf.  My son has had this for many, many years.

To the right are these wonderfully scented pomanders that I made today with oranges and whole cloves.  That's it.  I just stuck whole cloves in any pattern that fancied me and now my house is filled with this lovely scent!  Whole cloves can be found in the spice aisle of the grocery store.

And don't forget the old stand-bys of holiday decorating: the paper chains, stringing of popcorn and cranberries into garland for the tree or to hang throughout the house, making garland from dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks, using small pine boughs and ribbon to make swags for doors....so many possibilities! 

What's wonderful about handmade decorations are the memories that are made during the creation process, the receiving as a gift, and the possible traditions that are formed from these handmade items.  Handmade items seem to have a way of bonding people together, even when there's a physical separation.  Generally, simple, handmade items cost significantly less than the pricey department store items (which also don't give you the warm and fuzzies).

Keep things simple.  Involve your significant other, your kids, and your friends and have some fun making some new memories on the frugal.

Do We Even Know What Thankfulness Means?

Today is Thanksgiving, and I'm sure that by this time of the day turkey has been carefully roasted, potatoes have been boiled and mashed, green beans have been transformed into a 'casserole', and pies aplenty have been baked to perfection and all consumed.

But, are we really thankful?  Are we thankful everyday, like we say we are, or do we just store it up for today - for a day off (for most), for a time of travel, for paltry pleasantries, for forced 'traditions', and family reunions?

Are any of us really acknowledging the help the Native Americans offered to the Pilgrims, without which the outcome of this country right now may be very different?  Do we recognize that, right now, Native Americans are doing what most of claim WE WOULD DO, which is exercise our rights as American citizens?  Be brave enough to protest peacefully?  To stand up to Goliath, so to speak?  Did you get hosed by freezing water today?  Did you have clean water to bathe in today, to drink with your massive meal?

We all love the heartwarming story of the woman who accidentally invited a total stranger to dinner, thinking she had texted her grandson.  How many of you would invite a total stranger, no matter their color, sexual orientation, political beliefs, physical appearance, health, income status or religious beliefs (or lack thereof)?

Do you put your money where your mouth is?  Do know what organizations you support and why?  Are you willing to help, really help, those less fortunate than you or do you just view people who are having hardships as scum and freeloaders?  Really - what does your heart say?  Do you walk the walk or just talk the talk.  Are you all talk and no action?  Do you post Facebook statuses claiming to "Always choose to be kind" but know that you don't?  Are you rude to others in public because you're an entitled customer and 'are always right'?

Christ - the head of this house - The unseen host at every meal, The silent listener at every conversation.

I feel that thankfulness is to be acknowledged 12 months, 365 days, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day  in ACTION.  When you realize that you really have nothing to complain about, when ALL of your needs are met, when you have a roof over your head, food to eat every day, are in good health, are warm when it's cold and dry when it's wet - it's time to look outside of yourself and around to the needs of others.

Help someone.  Use your manners.  Feed someone.  Make a donation of money and/or time to a worthy organization.  Be patient with others.  Smile at someone, dammit!  Try having perspective - attempt to understand the struggles of others.  Be empathetic.  DO SOMETHING.

 Make being thankful a verb.  And do it.

Glorious Autumn And Its Inspiration

Autumn is my number two favorite season.  Number one is Winter, but we'll talk about that another time.  Autumn is THE season of change.  Almost everything around us changes (well, depending upon where you live).  I'm a New Englander, so here, the climate changes.  We go from humid, balmy, hot temperatures to cool, chilly, clear temperatures, where everyday becomes a good hair day.  The sky seems to be a brighter, deeper blue.  The breezes kick up to help all of those beautifully changing leaves detach from the fingers of the tree branches.

And the leaves.  Green to red to orange to yellow to brown and never all at once!  Drifting and swirling down from the heights of the tree tops, making you feel as though you are in a confetti storm.  Leaves.  Crunching, skittering, dancing across the pavements and being caught in mini-wind tunnels.  The smell of the leaves.  You find yourself walking to the outside and just breathing deep.  Ahhh!  These leaves, dropping and dancing downward draw us out of our dwellings with rakes in hand to play.  Raking mounds and mounds of leaves to be danced upon and dived into (watch out for twigs, though!).  But, please, no leaf blowers!!  And then we notice them.  We find little crimson ones.  Long yellow and orange ones.  And massive brown ones of oak and maple.

The air.  The air smells sweeter.  It's clearer because the humidity has left us (especially if you live near the ocean).  It's cooler.  At night, you gradually add a blanket as the temps begin to drop.  You sleep better.  I know I love waking up to a cold room, where your shoulders are cold but the rest of you is warm and cozy under a much loved quilt or comforter.  You can smell the smoke from wood burning stoves and fireplaces.  There's a little bit of frost on the tips of the blades of grass in the mornings, or on your car's windshield.  You find yourself stuffing your gloves in your jacket pockets and checking on your stock of knit hats.

The wildlife.  I love seeing huge flocks of black birds, grackle, cowbirds, and starlings descend upon the dogwood trees, burning bushes, and bittersweet vines to gobble up all of the bright berries they can find.  I can hear the rustling near small leaf piles where birds are scratching with their feet, getting at the grubs, slugs, and worms that are nestling under them.  Goldfinches always come to my perennial garden to feast upon the purple cone flower seeds that I've left for them.  Squirrels and chipmunks are extremely focused and determined to collect as many nuts, seeds, and berries that they can find to store up for winter.  We hear the honking of the geese as they, in perfect formation, begin their journey south.

Us.  Our clothing (again, depending upon where you live) changes.  We are wearing longer pants and long sleeved shirts.  Sweat shirts.  Pajamas.  Flannel!  Socks find their way back onto our feet, as do regular shoes.  Most people (excepting my daughter-in-law) pack away the flip flops.  We say so long to the summer salads.  We begin to crave the mac 'n cheese, roast beef dinners, chilis, roasted turkeys, and ham dinners.  We haul out the crock pots and begin baking the pies and cobblers.  We swap the cold cereal for flavored oatmeal and french toast.  Maple syrup on everything? Yes, please! And the pumpkin everything - you know who you are.

All of these pretty drastic changes.  And we accept them.  We have to.  No choice.  No alternative (except to move).  I find it refreshing.  As a matter of fact, I find it inspirational.  If all of practically everything around me can change.....why can't I?  Why can't I try something new?  Why can't I speak up when I've been silent for, um, always?  Why can't I be the person on the outside that I've known all along is living on the inside?
Why should I apologize for being myself?  Why can't I say 'No'?  I've outgrown the mold that others have encased me in.  It's broken.  I'm not broken.  The perception of me is broken.  Because it's changing.  All of me.  Those of you who know me, calm down, I'm not 'coming out' to anything (because I know that's what this kind of sounds like, but, no).  I think I've just finally hit my stride.

I'm me.  I love me.  My husband loves me.  My kids love me.  My grandson adores me.  I have finally accepted the confirmation of who I am in this world.  Just as nature around me sheds and shakes and swirls and inspires, that's what I will embrace, also.  I want to shed, shake, swirl, and inspire.  I want to leave pretty patterns in the frost.  I want my imprint to be colorful, cozy, and comforting.  I want those who love me and care about me to look and me and smile, the way I smile at the birds, leaves, squirrels, and casserole dish full of mac 'n cheese.

And I hope that others will appreciate and be inspired, somehow, by
the glory of changes in themselves, if not clearly visible in the glorious nature around them.

Slowness of a Sunday

I was talking with someone the other day about how Sundays used to be.  There was a time, really not very long ago, where it was unusual for retail stores, liquor stores, or sporting activities were in operation on Sundays.  Time on Sundays was reserved for church and/or family.  It was a day to chill.  Relax. Catch up.  Visit.  Reflect.  Plan.  Rest.  Read.  Commune with others.

We live in an age now where everyone needs a leg up over someone else.  Whether it be in making money, over-scheduling our children's activities, or running around gathering items to make ourselves feel better and keep up with our neighbors and colleagues.  Even in how we spend our time - "What are you doing this weekend?"  Uh, oh - it's going to sound lame when I say, "Nothing"!  We have social media that makes our lives look more exciting and interesting than they really are (except my social media - check it out).  We complain that we need one more day in our week.  No we don't.  We need to take our Sundays back.

Yesterday was a gloomy, rainy Sunday.  I had plenty of chores that needed to be accomplished.  There was housework to do, photographs of stock for the store needed to be taken, end of summer yard work still needs to be done......yet, I chose to do nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  And I loved it.  My husband, who is constantly busy working on something, whether it's actually work or household related, took part of the day to join me in doing nothing.  We just watched TV and talked.  We enjoyed each others company.  It was wonderful.

We need Sundays to stay connected with our families.  We need Sundays to rest from all of the hard work we put into the other six days.  We need Sundays to feed our spirits with prayer, meditation, and activities that bring us joy.  We need Sundays to do what we want, instead of what other people think we should be doing.  We are not in a race.  We don't have competitors.  But, if we don't return to enjoying the slowness of Sundays, we may all end up to be losers.

Catching Up

Oh, how life has changed in just a couple of years.  Yes, I've been absent from my blog for quite some time.  So much has happened in that time.

My son, my oldest child, got married in June of 2013.  He married a wonderful woman who fits right into our family.  That was an adjustment for mom, here.  My baby got married.  As happy as I was for them, I spent the day after the wedding crying over photo albums of my baby boy.  Not a baby anymore - a man. A husband.  Okay.  Dried my tears and was three months into adjusting to my new normal of having a married son and......"we're expecting".  Yup, just about three weeks before their first wedding anniversary, my grandson was born.  And I melted.  

It is so true that you love your grandchild differently than your own child.  I think it's because the love feels deeper because we aren't so entrenched in the day to day worry of the care of the child.  And it is complete deja vu for me because my grandson looks *just like* my son.  In some ways I feel like I have my baby boy back.

Fast forward a year later.  I'd been working at a healthcare facility for a couple of years and had received two promotions.  I was working as a medical biller when, one Wednesday night, more changes were to come.  My grandson's day care provider made the decision to move away.  Like soon.  My son and his wife had just bought a house a few months before, and they both worked full-time.  What would they do?  Would I take care of the baby?  Could I take care of him? Please?! Of course! Yes! A thousand times, YES!

So......I quit my job.  Just like that.  I quit.  For the past 13 months I have been my grandson's day care provider Monday - Friday.  AND I LOVE IT!  It was an adjustment as far as mental stimulation.  Instead of having my mind busy with medical insurance billing and all of the duties I had as a full-time employee, I was spending my days on the floor reading books, playing with trains, and doing wooden puzzles with a toddler.

It was a big change.  A scary change (we are a one income family now).  I'm 23 years older than I was the last time I took care of a toddler.  I don't spring up from a sitting position like I used to.  I have to remember to bring my reading glasses for reading time.  And I think I take as many potty breaks as he does.

So that's what I'm doing now.  Playing.  Every day.  It's like recess for five hours a day.  

But that's not all.  I also started an online vintage shop.  If you click on the 'star' image that is titled EmmasHeritage, it will take you there.  I hope you like it.  

And I hope you like my new blog.  Thanks for catching up with me.