The View from Here

Let the holidays begin...

 

Yes, folks, it is the official start of the holiday season. Labor Day means you can start doing your valentine shopping so get to those sales and get ahead!

I honestly feel like we are almost at that point in our society. I know some of you already have Christmas presents tucked away and I will be making some purchases soon. I understand that sort of preparation and planning. But the idea that some stores will soon be filled with the decorating items for the next three holidays is a bit disconcerting for me. I miss the old days when each holiday seemed special and we had to wait until after Thanksgiving to see Christmas trees, when valentines weren’t even thought about until after the New Year’s confetti was cleaned off the streets. All of the pre-planning and pre-purchasing makes me feel guilty for not being more prepared!

Speaking of prepared, I DO need to start preparing NOW for the winter phenomenon known as “eating like a bear preparing for hibernation”. LOL The cold weather, holidays, and usual stresses combine with our primitive instincts to encourage us to eat more starches, fats, and sweets. My winter weakness is bread. But yesterday I got a good reminder from an interview with Dr. Oz: “Prevention is making it easy to do the right thing. Fighting the kids over the Popsicle once it’s in your refrigerator- that is not prevention. That’s conflict management. Prevention means making sure the Popsicle never gets in the house in the first place.”  So my plan for this winter is to win the diet battle at the grocery store!! I can’t eat it if I don’t bring it home.

Go shop!

Rain

 

Yes, I used my wipers on the way to work yesterday!! Of course the scattered showers missed our house, but I am still thankful for any water our county received. It’s all good, and a great reminder that “this too shall pass”.

I am nearly finished with the book about Titanic and I have to say that if the theory presented about the actual cause of the sinking is true it is far more tragic than the ending portrayed by the movie.  Not something to dwell on for very long.

Yesterday I read bits and pieces of reports about a trend in homeschooling called “unschooling”. I prefer to call it “let’s just let our children do what they want when they want to and see how they turn out”. (After all, they have so much experience in long-term planning and problem solving.) Didn’t we once have a term for that? I think it was feral. Do people actually listen to what comes out of their mouths?

And I am shocked and saddened by the comments from people who say the precautions taken for the hurricane were not warranted or were “extreme”. As my grandmother would say, “they’d be talking out of the other side of their mouth if tragedy had struck their house!” The relatively low death toll and the lack of devastation in SOME areas should not distract us from the fact that lives and towns have been changed forever and the warnings saved many, many people from death. And I do NOT think the reporters should have given even five seconds of fame to the idiots who were out wandering the beach looking at the storm for entertainment. That just encourages people to ignore warnings next time.

A guy from XYZ Survey called me last night to get my “opinion on recent events”. I politely said, “No thanks” and hung up. I’m not gullible enough to talk to some stranger on the phone about ANYTHING, but I felt like saying, “Hey, if you want to know what I think, read my blog!” LOL

Have a great day!

 

Thanks, I needed that...

 

 

I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately. The weather and my new schedule have conspired to take away one of my most pleasurable activities- looking at the world through the lens of a camera. As I’ve mentioned several times, the blossoms are dried, the animals are hiding, and even the dragonflies are not cooperating. I still haven’t seen a butterfly! I’m sick of brown grass and dead leaves.

 

 

But early yesterday morning something wonderful happened. I was watering on the east side of the house when I noticed that the obedient plants are beginning to blossom. Then I looked closely and saw a few fresh blooms on the althea. I went inside and got the camera. I was further rewarded with morning glory blooms on the garden fence and a visit from the squirrel! Then I began to study the way the water glistened on everything.

 

 

I ended the morning thanking God for giving me back my perspective. The heat and drought are affecting people around me in much more important and dramatic ways. They are worried about cattle and crops and finances, not just pretty pictures. And the rain on the East Coast is changing lives forever.

 

I can take my own advice and not let our lack of rain take away my appreciation for the blessings I have.

 

 

Nothing to do, and all day to do it...

 

My grandfather was fond of saying that. Yesterday I had one of those lazy days.

As women we never have a day free of work. But days do come along that are not planned, scheduled, and dictated by the needs of someone else. So yesterday, although I did the usual grocery shopping, errands, laundry, and cleaning…well some of the cleaning…I didn’t have anything else to occupy my day. So I took the opportunity to go to the library and get a couple of novels and a book detailing new discoveries about the Titanic. I’ll let you know if that one is worth reading. I’m not an official Titaniac, but I do find it fascinating to read about shipwrecks and what can be discovered from the debris and artifacts.

 

Reading sometimes feels like a guilty pleasure. I often got into trouble with my dad when I was a child because I was either reading when I should have been doing chores, or I was reading with the flashlight when I should have been sleeping. I don’t think my father ever understood what it was like to be mid- chapter and hear, “time for bed”. Agony! I had to find out what happened. My dad’s favorite book was the encyclopedia…seriously…so he could stop reading at any old place on the page!

I’m fond of mystery and medical novels. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s the puzzle solver gene. About ten minutes into most television crime shows I can tell you who killed the victim. Maybe not why, but who. Human natures, and television plots, are both pretty predictable.

 

I also ventured out to the neighborhood and took a few photos. The animals are still in hunger mode and run to the fence to see if I’ve brought extra feed, so I just got a few quick shots. This drought has changed everything!

 

I watched a couple of horse races on television yesterday. I’m not sure why. I don’t gamble and I don’t know a thing about the horses that are current winners.  I’ve always liked horses, but they give me hives. I’ve never owned a horse. I did a little riding in my youth, but was never good at it. I’ve only seen a handful of live races in CA. I guess horses are just beautiful and appealing, no matter what your experience or background or knowledge of them. Of course the races are so short that the television coverage has to include lots and lots of background on each horse, owner, jockey, etc.  so they can fill a full time slot!

 

I also took a nap. I’ve come to the conclusion that naps are a great tool for getting things done. Thirty minutes refreshes me and recharges my batteries! Now if I could just figure out how to take a workday nap! LOL

I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to turning a calendar page as much as I look forward to this next one. I have to believe that the heat and drought will end with September. There has to be some change and relief ahead for us.

Today should be a day of extra prayers. An end to the drought. Safety for those in the path of the hurricane. Health for friends and family. Peace for those in conflict. "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16).

Pigskin Previews

 

Mrs. Maurer is on her soapbox this morning and is going to talk about football, so all you coaches just have an extra cup of coffee and don’t start throwing things...yet. My brothers played football, my son played football, and my grandson plays football. I’ve been to my share of games and “cheered the home team”. I like college football. However, I think professional football players are for the most part over-paid prima donnas and I wish they were better role models for young athletes.  With that as my basic background and experience I’m going to voice my annual gripe about the local news coverage of football.

Each year we are treated to sneak previews of what the local teams are doing to prepare for the new football season. This begins in early August and is in full swing by the time the players are actually back in school. Then we get highlights of the training programs and any new strategies. Next are interviews with ALL of the area coaches. We might even get two or three interviews with promising NEW coaches. And there are always new coaches because so many move on after a losing season. Then there are comments by players, reviews of the records of returning players, and perhaps even a statement or two about any promising newcomer. This is capped off by each coach’s positive affirmation that they have the capability to beat their rival opponents and win the district championship! Amen! Yeah team!

Where is the comparable coverage of academics or the arts? Where are the interviews with the new science teacher or band director? Where is the “You go for it!” for the new English teacher and her plans for teaching literature in a way that excites and engages students? How many principals get air time to explain how well their school did in the state tests last year and how much improvement they expect this year? How many people know anything about the preparation, practice, team effort, and hard work it takes to graduate from high school these days? Where is the coverage of how many football players are passing their tests and getting a good education to prepare them for the possibility that they will NOT go on to be a highly-paid professional football prima donna? What attention is given to schools that do not even have a football team?

 

Sure, there are little bits and pieces of reporting that keep us apprised of education, especially if there is an argument at a board meeting, or one of our local schools gets a warning about poor performance, or there is a budget cut, or a bus problem. There is even coverage later in the year of the well-rounded athletes who are doing great things in the classroom. There are interviews with the “stars” and the winners and the best of the best in some academic contests and arts events. But for the most part the media spotlight is always on sports and on football in particular. Education gets the leftovers. And I think that says a lot about our society and our priorities.

 (P.S. The photos are a calf born yesterday.)

Things I love...

My husband

My family

My job

Smiles

Children’s laughter

Order and routine

A walk…almost anywhere

Animals, especially elephants

White foods (unfortunately)

A good book

The Good Book

Friends

Looking through a lens

Talking

Writing

 

Almost anything that grows, especially if it blooms!

Comfort

Soothing music

Coffee

Sharing with YOU!

Have a wonderful day!

 

 

I could be a cow...

 

No, I’m not talking about my size, although if you make comparisons I promise I won’t hold it against you. No, I’m talking about routines and habits. If you observe animals for very long you see patterns in their behavior, and I could get along quite well in a herd of cows. First of all they mosey. Horses often run and frolic for no apparent reason. You don’t see cows running and getting excited without good cause- “stranger alert”, new feed, predators. And when they do find a reason to run, they stick together. I’m not usually a mindless follower, but I do admire their unity. Second reason to like cows- they make friends, support each other, and share childcare. One day a cow will have all the babies with her, and the next day they are being supervised by another one. Third- cows are punctual-I could set my watch by when the they arrive on the east side of the house each evening! They seem to follow the same general grazing pattern each day and one of them signals when it is time to get out of the pond and wander up to the house. The bull even stopped in front of the kitchen window and bellowed last night! Lol For several days now I have been pulling up weeds and dead plants and throwing them over the fence and did not do so last night. I guess he was telling me he was disappointed. And last, but not least, cows know when and how to rest. They settle down when they are hot and tired and don’t get up until they are good and ready! Unless you bring them some new feed….

 

No, I’m not crazy. Have a good day!   

Painting clouds...

 

 

I have been restless lately because I have had so few opportunities to look through the lens of our camera. Oh, I’ve taken some class photos. I’ve taken one or two bird shots. I took a photo of our baby crape myrtle. (Remember the ones that Gary saved from the clearance aisle? They are still alive and two are trying to bloom.) But the days of wandering around the yard taking a dozen pictures of this and a dozen of that are behind me (and I pray also ahead of me). Right NOW we are in the boring “continued drought, very few critters, HOT end of summer” phase and I am only home in the afternoons when everything is hiding out from the heat. The weekend doesn’t count because I was too sick to care. There aren’t any butterflies or even many dragonflies out and about lately. So last night when I ventured out to feed the raccoons I took the camera with me only because it’s my routine to do so.

 

I looked longingly at the clouds all around because the weather report showed rain, but it was obvious we weren’t going to get any of it. However, the clouds were interesting so I snapped a few photos. Later, when I loaded them onto the computer I decided to play with the images a bit. So this rambling whine is an explanation of why I am showing you some very strange cloud photos. I was bored, so like any kid, I started playing around!

 

 

Have a great day!

Healthy Me

I always think that starting back to school will be just a matter of going to work each day instead of staying home. After all, I’m busy all summer and working on various things that engage my mind and body. I drive somewhere at least a couple of times a week so I’m out and about in the weather. I have bills to pay and problems to solve and the usual amount of stress. So it’s not like I’m stepping out of some serene spa setting and going back to the real world.

But my body is telling me a different story. The first thing that happened when I started working on my room in August is that my nails began to break. I had pretty fingernails this summer, despite a little pre-drought gardening, and even got a few compliments when I polished them. As soon as I went back to school they were history! Lol This morning I took a good look at my hands- nails so short you would think that I chewed them off!

My feet and legs are still telling me that they do NOT like the concrete floors at school. And they do not like to be in shoes all day.   

I have not been sick all summer. I ended the first week of school with a cold/sinus infection “something” that gave me sniffles, a sore throat, and a headache on Saturday. I dragged around all day, doing only the basics, and took a one-hour nap.

So this week I’m taking extra special care of Mrs. Maurer. Super healthy food, vitamin B complex, and extra sleep.  At least that’s my plan.

I should probably also avoid the evening news! I have come to the conclusion that the evening news is a direct contributor to the increase of dementia in our country! Every report seems to be followed by a contradictory one. Listen to what the government has decided on Monday and chances are it has changed by Friday. Political promises change with the wind. Celebrities change partners once a month. Things that were illegal yesterday are now legal…but only in some states. Even our local weather forecast can change by the hour. So then we are left to the conclusion that our memory is failing us! I sit in front of my television thinking, “but didn’t they say yesterday that he wasn’t going to do that?”

Little notes for those of you who care: still using non-fat dry milk, tried and like Quinoa, love Greek yogurt, Kraft non-fat cheese is better than Borden’s,  Fiber One 80-calorie cereal is not so good. Little changes in the diet. A little more progress…

Have a healthy day!

I don't care!

I am confessing this morning. I am a busy woman with too many things to do and far too many things to think about. I don’t have time for a lot of the things that other people seem to be concerned about. Please don’t hold these against me. (Most are from today’s MSN homepage.)

I don’t care what the celebrities are wearing to the beach…or to dinner, or to an awards program, or anywhere else. I don’t have their figures, budgets, or lifestyle (thank goodness!).

I don’t care how many men HB has been involved with and no, I don’t want to read the list. Most celebrities are terrible role models for our young people and we give them far too much money and attention for simply doing their jobs.  

I don’t care who wins the Super Bowl. Again, far too much money and attention.

I don’t care what the politicians are saying about 2012. It will all change by next month anyway.  

I don’t care what boot, shoe, color, blouse, skirt, or other item of clothing is “IT” for the fall, winter, spring, or next summer. I’ll wear whatever is suitable and comfortable for me and I don’t care who else likes it.

I don’t care about today’s fad diet. Been there, seen those for forty years. Most don’t work and many are dangerous.

I don’t care which “reality” star is getting married, having an affair, or pregnant.

Don’t care about the latest ______, well you can fill in the blank. Trends and fashions and celebrity sensations come and go with the seasons. The foundations of life- home, family, friends, faith- are with us forever. Those are what I care about.