Who is taking care of YOU?

I found a great article in my 'in-box' today from 'Oprah' The title was 'Who is taking care of YOU? It caught my attention because I have been feeling a little 'Martyr-ish' lately. Oprah's article lists 4 key points: 1. The importance of Vit. D (the sun) Just 10 min a day in the sun will completely change your attitude. That is so true for me. A gloomy day drags me down, I feel tired with little energy. When the sun comes out,everything 'lightens up', not just the sky, but ME! 2.Talking to and petting a dog or cat will remove stress. True, everyone knows that. My little 'Sammie' has saved the day for me many times. When someone loves you like that, how can you Not feel good? 3. Massage: It is proven to reduce stress and maintain health. A one hr massage is a little bit of heaven to be sure, but it does cost money. As a substitute, a hot relaxing bath works miracles too. 4. Exercise: Stretching and deep breathing. The trick? Making time for it. The villain? Me. When I have a free moment I fill it with 'must-do' things.. Shame on me. 5. This one wasn't on Oprah's list but it is on mine. Quiet time, 15 min or more in the morning. This step is something everyone can do, it just means getting up early enough to do it. Preferably while the rest of the house is asleep.I confess, I don't do this everyday. In the past I was faithful to this practice, but now mornings come early in this house. I still do find the time at least 3 mornings a week, and believe me, it makes such a difference in my day. My 'Quiet time place' is a chair by the glass door looking out at the back yard. I read, pray, write in my journal and I meditate for a while. My friend Glen who has doctorates in psychology and wellness arts has a great video on YouTube that helps guide you into meditation. So in answer the question,'Who is taking care of you?' Guess who: YOU

Change can be a good thing.

Change can be fearful,sad,exciting or any number of things, but for me, change has always been for the best and it has always been fearful and usually sad. Sound like an oxymoron? Let me try to explain. (it would be helpful to read my previous post) I loved the place I called home for 15 yrs. but I had recently retired from teaching and suddenly had nothing to hold me down. My Son and wife live in NYC and were expecting their 2nd baby, they needed help. What an opportunity! So yes,that 'change' was both sad (leaving my home) and good (Being close to my Son's family and experiencing life in New York) Now I am embarking on another chapter in this journey of life. I had planned to stay in New York for one year to help care for my two little Grandchildren, but that year turned into three. As the 1st year was drawing to an end I realized that was definitely not enough time. My montra became: "I will leave when I am ready." The primary reason I am 'ready' is that right now the children's energy levels are really high and mine is getting really low. Two things are working together to let me know this decision is right: My body and my desire to 'create' art full time. Will it be sad? It will break my heart! I love my New York family and I adore my little grandchildren, and life in New York is exciting! But I will also love living in beautiful Mpls. completely retired and ready to focus on myself and my three families there.(of course there will be many flights to NY and lots of Skyping.) Change can be a good thing. Every time I made a major decision to change something, it opened an entire new world to me: places,friends,and experiences. These changes never replaced my past, it is a part of my journey. My life is a book and there are many chapters in it. Each chapter has tears and joy. Don't be afraid to start a new Chapter if you are feeling a need to change something in your life.

Are you afraid of change

I want my posts to be about something I have some knowledge of, something credible to share and hopefully, can help someone along the way. Believe me when I say I really know something about 'Change'. This subject is high on my mind these days because I am about to make another big change in my life. Here is a 'quick list' of major changes in my life. NO CHANGE (nice and comfortable) 31 yrs of marriage,4 kids, owned a business, same town, same friends. 1. Ended marriage (talk about Change! Scary and sad) 2. Started college(at 48 yrs of age!Talk about scary) 3. Sold house (sad, but necessary) 4. Sold business (relief) 5. Graduated from college.( WOW!) 6. Moved to new unfamiliar city to start a new career: teaching.(scary) 7. 15 yrs later: Moved to NYC(Exciting) This is the important part, the part I want to share with you, the part that can help you if you are afraid of change. Decide on the 1st step! It would be overwhelming, if not impossible, to plan all of the steps at the beginning. (personal note:I wanted a happier life, I knew I needed to take the first step toward that goal) The first step is ALWAYS the scariest, and the hardest. KNOW that the other steps toward your goal will happen in due time. TRUST yourself and LIVE your life. (personal note: I couldn't have done it without Prayer and Faith) My next post is going to be about this next big change in my life. P.S. If you want to talk about this and prefer not to comment, feel free to email me (details in my profile)

Just like Mom

Having talked to my sisters and friends about this, I know I am not the only one that discovers myself doing, saying and acting just like my Mother. Why this is not a good thing is the fact that this 'thing' we are doing is the same 'thing' that irritated the hell out of us when our mothers did it.

Here is an example: While in a restaurant Mom could never open a packet of anything, be it sugar, salt ,whatever. After a few seconds of her doing everything except tearing into it with her teeth , she would hand it to me and say, "I can't open this." Guess who is having the same problem some 30 yrs later? Yours truly. Why can't I open anything, especially the packages that shredded and sliced cheese comes in? Yes I do cut it with a scissor first and then try to pull it apart. Nope, doesn't work. Now after one or two failed tries I just cut the entire top off.


Another example: On Sundays after church Mom and I would sometimes go out for Breakfast. The majority of time she would say, "I am going to have pancakes. That is something I don't really fix at home.” I never vocalized my thoughts (Thank you God for that) but I would think that it was a shame she didn't try other things on the menu. Just last week, TRUE story, my son asked me if I wanted to walk down to the diner for brunch. Guess what I said: "I am going to order pancakes because I love them and don't make them at home that often."

“I am sorry Mom. I just didn’t understand!”

There are so many more examples, but I am hoping someone is reading this that has a similar story to share.


Labels: acting like mother, eating out, i am sorry, Mothers, pancakes

STOP acting like you are old!

This is the first in my series of posts on aging. This isn't just about 'old' people because all of us start aging the minute we are born. I think most of us agree that we never feel as old as we are, I remember my Mother saying, "I don't feel any different or older than I ever did." I completely agree with her. Excluding people with health issues, it is my opinion that we have control on how we age. We hear it all the time; Eat healthy , exercise, everything in moderation. Of course I am not denying that, but what I think should be on the top of the list is Attitude. Have you decided to stay interested in others lives? Have you decided to keep on learning? Have you decided to remain physically active? Have you decided to continue looking good? (hair makeup, clothing, weight) Have you decided to have a sense of humor? Have you decided to find joy in life? Have you decided to keep things simple? Have you decided to remove stress in your life? Have you decided to see the good, not the bad in people? Have you decided to keep children in your life? I am sure there are many more, but you get the idea, if you don't want to feel old, then stop acting like you are. For me, one way to stay young is to allow change in your life,either natural or self induced. I will write more on that later, but for this post to be helpful and fun, I need comments and sharing. So please tell me what you think and what else I should put on that list.

7 good reasons to Blog

Writing these posts is a lot of fun, but I have discovered it is more than that. Last week as I was writing "A gardeners farewell" I found myself feeling a little 'unsettled'. Writing it reminded me that I had moved away from a really great place, a good life and friends. In another 6 months I will be leaving another great place (NY and my family here) Writing about this was therapeutic. From an old post in 2010, Billy Mac said this:"Blogs are meant for expression,its a piece of one's own self, and often times a window to one's soul. Its a journal, its a story. Its a way to show off your stuff." (Sorry Billy, I couldn't find a current link) I can add to that. Reading articles to share with others keeps me updated and informed. Joining in a conversation on someones blog gives me a chance to connect with others in a way I wouldn't do otherwise. In the 'real' world conversations with family and friends rarely involves in-depth discussions. Here are the 7 reasons I blog: 1.Fun 2.Therapeutic 3.Outlet to express myself 4.A journal 5.Show off my 'stuff' 5.Keeps me informed. 6.Make friends

A gardeners farewell

In the first post about my garden I said,"A place to gather with family and friends to share happy times and build memories." I lived in that charming little house in Clear Lake, Iowa for 11 yrs and the money I put into that outdoor room was the best money I ever spent. I cherish all of the moments: My Grandchildren's visits, All of the many 'Girls retreats' in Clear Lake, My close friends relaxing and sharing a glass of wine, The teachers 'get-togethers' and my Minneapolis kids coming down with their family's. All great memories in a beautiful place. My daughter once gave me a garden plaque which read: "Gardeners live in the most beautiful places, because they make them that way." Change happens, I have lived in Brooklyn for 2 1/2 years now making new memories with my family here. Soon I will be moving to Mpls to retire and concentrate on making Art. I probably won't be able to have a garden and that is a sad thing. Working in a garden is the best therapy in the world. Nature,flowers,weeds,birds,butterflies,squirrels,dirt,the job at hand,leaves no time for negative thoughts. Alone with God and nature, what more could you want? But there will be flowers where ever I live and lakes and trails and birds and music and it will be good. I will be talking a lot about 'Change' in my upcoming posts. I certainly can speak from experience on that topic. I am hoping some of my readers will join in the conversation with comments. I am ending my Garden series with some photo's from those 'good times' in my outdoor room.

A great story about a Monarch Butterfly

All of this garden talk reminded me of my Monarch butterfly story. A few summers ago I unknowingly planted a milkweed plant. One Aug afternoon I discovered a large yellow and black stripped caterpillar on one of its leaves. I cut off a section of leaves and branches (with him on it) and placed it in a glass jar. I was hoping to have it turn into a chrysalis but never dreamed it would really happen, but it DID! Not just for THAT caterpillar but for the 2 dz that came after that. Adult caterpillars kept showing up everyday. My garage and patio had glass jars with caterpillars hanging upside down in them everywhere you looked. My camera was sitting by the door for a month and I was 'on watch' constantly. Throughout the month I captured every phase of the Monarch from a tiny little black speck to a beautiful butterfly. During the month I shared the chrysalis's with my friends children and my grandchildren so they could watch the butterfly emerge in front of their eyes. It is an amazing thing to see. To have the new form dry out and open its wings to sit on my finger for 15 minutes before it takes its first flight was awesome. I took the last one to school in Sept and invited the staff and students to come into the art room to enjoy. This is a painting from a photo I took of this ones first flight from my hand to this flower that was about 2 feet away.He stayed on that flower for about 1/2 hr before he flew away.

Adding a personal touch to your garden

One of the really nice things about a garden of your own is that you can add a personal touch using decorating items. Gardening shops have so much to choose from and everything is so beautiful. Personally, I go crazy in those places. The figurines and pots and bird baths and wind chimes,oh! if only I had more room. A word of advise here: do not overdo. It is a temptation, I know, but a way to get around that is 'grouping'(strategic placement throughout the entire garden) I also display a few plants in pots to add height and interest where needed. I bought a 3 tier fountain that filled in a dead space. The moving water attracts the birds and soothes the soul.Every garden needs the sound of moving water. You may enjoy seeing some of my original art on display in the following photos. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

MY LIST OF EASY PERENNIAL PLANTS and TIPS

By trial and error,during the 11yr love affair with my garden, I found several perennials to be tried and true (I am talking Midwest) The Cone flower has to be at the top of my list. It breaks through the soil in early Spring,a little bigger each year, and blooms July through Aug.and its beautiful blooms attracts butterflys.

I have also had great success with BeeBalm It does attract bees but don't worry, they are so busy on the plant that they will not bother you. You never have to fear that this plant will not come back each Spring; it will, and it is always bigger, so when you plant it, leave enough room for it to spread. In addition to the beauty of the flower itself, it smells wonderful. If you 'google images' you will see the many varieties bee balm comes in. Hydrangeas are the most beautiful of flowers.

It is IMPORTANT to know that Hydrangea's need water! If your plant starts to droop, WATER it! It is amazing to watch the poor flower come back to life after seeing it completely collapsed. Not that that is a good thing, just amazing to see it's will to survive. It also needs to be guarded from the sun, so if it isn't in shade and the sun it hot on it, guard it with an umbrella for those few hours. This flower becomes a nice full bush year after year and it is one flower that drys naturally on the vine in the fall and can be cut and used in the home all winter (simply laying on a shelf, or used in a wreath or standing in a vase.) I am going to talk about drying flowers in another post. Black eyed Susans. Not much to say other than they come up each spring, adds great color to the garden and doesn't need much attention other than deadheading.

There are so many more, but I will let you have the fun of the search and the trial and error process. I DO want to talk a little about placement. 1.My first priority is where to plant the larger perennials. I evenly space them along the back row of the flower bed about 4ft apart. (Sometimes a symmetrical decision should be made,an example:I had steps coming out of my back door so I put a Hydrangea on each side.) 2.In between those spaces and slightly in front of the back row would be a mixture of either shorter perennials or annuals. Notice in the photo below the pink flower next to the purple petunias. It is my favorite, the generic name is Butterfly plant. 3.In the front row the choice is endless, just be sure these plants are the shortest ones in the bed. I hope you enjoy these photo's. Tomorrow I am going to talk about Art in your garden.