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Jun. 7th, 2011 @ 02:53 pm Five years by Corbett Barr

Five Years by Corbett Barr

 

There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?

(Author: Corbett Barr)

 Five years ago was June 2006. My youngest child was graduating from high school and I had three semesters of college left before I would graduate with my BA in Liberal Arts.  I wish I could tell myself to keep my Earth Science textbook. I did not want to take that class but it fulfilled a requirement and I really didn't want to take the other offerings.  I don't remember now what options were available.  I didn't want to take the class and sold the book back at the earliest opportunity but now I see a rock, or a geological formation and wish I could remember what I used to know.

Five years ago I had no idea we would be moving to another state and that I would have the opportunity to reinvent my life--again.  I would tell my other self to keep on and stay curious.

I do not pretend to know where I will be in five more years but I can take my own advice. I will push my boundries and try new things. I will try to overcome fear and experience more, make new friends and connections.  I will enjoy the journey.


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Jun. 3rd, 2011 @ 10:28 am Prompt #4 Post-it Challenge

That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Identify one of your biggest challenges at the moment (ie I don’t feel passionate about my work) and turn it into a question (ie How can I do work I’m passionate about?) Write it on a post-it and put it up on your bathroom mirror or the back of your front door. After 48-hours, journal what answers came up for you and be sure to evaluate them.

Bonus: tweet or blog a photo of your post-it.

(Author: Jenny Blake)

One of my challenges is to identify my passion.  I am a wife, mom, grandmother and I love being those things. I read Poke the Box and wonder if there is something I can do that will positively affect those outside my immediate family. I am currently rekindling my interest in sewing and using fiber to inspire my creative side. My post-it will read: Let loose your creativity!

Lynne


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Jun. 2nd, 2011 @ 02:03 pm Self Reliance 30 day writing challenge

I'm not sure why I wanted to do this but I'm joining in on day 3 of this 30 day writing challenge. Today's prompt:

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?

(Author: Buster Benson)


I am a follower of Jesus Christ, who walked on this earth as a human a died for the sins of the world and that includes me.  There are many things that I do not understand in the world, like why God allows natural disasters like tornados, earthquakes to inflict pain and suffering on His people.  I do know that I am a better person with my faith in God than without my faith.  I believe God hears and answers our  prayers. I actively try to live in a way that is conformed to what I read in the Bible and I feel my life is better for my faith. 
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Dec. 31st, 2009 @ 04:02 pm Coming to the end of the Path
I'm thinking about shutting down the blog.  Facebook is an easy way to keep my family up on all my actitvities and thoughts-meager though they may be.  So giving notice, thinking about moving on.

That is all for now.
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Sep. 25th, 2009 @ 01:52 pm Baking

In honor of the arrival of Fall and Jon having some dental work done, I decided tonight would be a good time for homemade Chicken Noodle soup and Cheese Zombies.  I haven't used the Kitchen Aid mixer yet and it is appropriate that Zombie dough is the first recipe to try:



So here I am in my new kitchen with my new mixer and my new apron--ready to make a mess.
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Sep. 21st, 2009 @ 05:13 pm Knitting, surprise!

Now that we are pretty much moved in and have no travel plans for awhile, I can think about other things--like knitting.

I finished a scarf that is a christmas present for someone:





And now I'm working on a pair of socks:



The yarn is Socks that Rock, 100% superwash merino, colorway:  Hobgoblin.  It is very soft and easy to work with.

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Sep. 8th, 2009 @ 08:57 am September 8 Happenings
It's been a busy morning here on Naples Way.  Jon is still on call and has many patients to see before clinic so he set his alarm for 5:40 am.  Alex is driving back to Louisville today so he set his alarm for 6 am.  I am the designated "help these non-morning people get up and going" person, so I got up at 6 am.  I made lunches for Jon and Alex and helped Alex load the car.  By 7:15 both men had taken off and I decided this was a good day to start back on my walking program.  Ten minutes later I was dressed and had ipod ready to go.

The main street by our subdivision, Massard, has a sidewalk that runs all the way to the Janet Huckaby Nature Center.  I'm not sure how far that is, but I decided to listen to a podcast of "Praire Home Companion"  while I walked and turn around and head back after the podcast finished--about 13 minutes.  I had finished that podcast and then switched to "Stuff You Missed in History Class" and headed back down the big hill.  There are woods on both sides of Massard and I was enjoying the cool morning when I was startled by a deer leaping out of the woods about 50 yards ahead of me and then charging across the street.  Such a pleasant surprise, especially since there were no cars coming at that moment.

The rest of the day is for laundry, cleaning and this afternoon I'm helping Carl out by chauffering Kaylee to the vet for a nail trim and to have her anal glands expressed.  I know, kinda gross, but anal infections are worse and expensive.
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Aug. 18th, 2009 @ 08:11 am A new adventure

Finally something worth blogging about!  Last night Jon and I auditioned for the Fort Smith Chorale.  One of Jon's doctor buds has been encouraging him to audition.  For Jon it was no big deal but I haven't auditioned for anything since state honor choir in high school.   I've managed to slip in through the back door for all the productions we've been in since.  I am a good choir singer but not a soloist.  Ordinarily I would tell Jon to go ahead and I would enjoy the concerts from the audience but there are two factors that made me go ahead and try:  the chorale is singing Messiah with the Fort Smith Symphony at Christmas AND they are going to New York in the spring to sing at Carnegie Hall.  Two opportunities we both would like to experience.  I had to shove my nerves in the closet and go ahead and try, even if it meant rejection.

The audition required a prepared song, sight reading and tonal memory.  I went through the hymnal and decided on Fairest Lord Jesus because it was in a good key for me and didn't go to high for an alto bordering on tenor.  Our house has nice acoustics and I tried my best to remember to get used to singing out all by myself.  Sight reading and tonal memory? I didn't do anything because you either read or you don't and remember or you don't.

The audition was a drop in event from 7 to 9 pm.  When we arrived, six or seven people, much younger people, were already waiting their turn.  They were friendly and excited to talk about the choir.  The audition took place in the Northside HS choir room and we waited in the next room.  It was possible to hear a little  and they each sang beautifully.  I was glad when they auditioned and left and Jon and I were the last two.  Jon went first and I stood closer to the door so I could hear what went on, especially the tonal memory.  That part wasn't too bad--not nearly as hard as the muscial dictation in Aural Skills.  Jon sang great, no problem and I went last.

I took a breath, plastered a smile on my face and pretended to be confident as I entered the room.  I introduced myself and met the director, Bill, and his wife,Sue, at the piano.  As I handed my hymnal to Sue, I apologized for the writing on that page "left over from piano lessons" I said and she laughed.  I sang and I didn't throw up, so that was good.  Sight reading went ok.  The tonal memory test consisted of seven notes that Sue played and then gave me the starting pitch.  She played the notes and I sang la la back as well as I could and Bill said, "ok, good."  Then there was one more group of seven that were a ?" asked Bill.  "Well, I really don't expect to be invited, so no" I replied with a laugh.  But then I asked about rehearsals and thanked them and made my about face and tried not to run out of the room.  Jon and I went home and I was glad I at least tried.  If I didn't make the choir, I won't melt into a puddle.  I'm ok. 

We celebrated our evening's diversion with ice cream; I had Braum's Brownie Sundae with Hershey's syrup on top.  Jon went off to work on organizing his office and I watched Leverage from last Wednesday night.  Around 9:30 the phone started ringing and we had to run around to actually find the phone.  Jon found it first and answered.  He had a brief conversation and then hung up and came out to the living room.  "That was Bill" Jon said, "we've both been invited to join the Fort Smith Chorale!"  "Yay for us!" I said and then we both went back to what we were doing.

Now we have to buy Jon a tuxedo.
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May. 9th, 2009 @ 10:00 am New flatware

I've been thinking about buying new flatware for some time now but haven't actually bought because I wasn't sure what I wanted, didn't want to spend alot of money, blah, blah, blah.  Basically just keeping my eyes open for something I like.  Well, in the Sunday circulars I noticed a set at Penney's that I liked and it was on sale.  The big plus is that it came with steak knives.  I've never had a set of steak knives.  My standard method for shopping is to wait.  If I see something I like, I usually think about it for awhile and if I still want it a few days later, then I go buy the item.  When the kids were little we would write the toy, or whatever the item, on a piece of paper with the date on it and if they still wanted it a week later then we would go to the store.  Many times the item was crossed off after a few days and something else posted.

Yesterday morning's paper had Penney's weekly "super sale of the century" ad sheet and it had coupons for $15 off and $10 off items purchased.  I decided it was time to buy new flatware.  I dug out the sale sheet to refresh my memory of the product, clipped the coupon and headed out to power shop.  Success and Alex is here for a few weeks and he has requested the old flatware for his apartment.  A win win situation if I ever saw one.  Here is what I got, service for 12 by Pfaltzgraff:





In homage to our Swedish friend Benita, here is a picture of how I organized my silverware drawer:


If it doesn't storm today, I am going to get some steaks to grill and try out the new steak knives.
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May. 5th, 2009 @ 07:47 am Happy Birthday Julie

Today is Cinco De Mayo and time for celebrating with tacos and $1 margaritas at Joe's Grill but it is better than that, it is also Julie's birthday.  Let's all give her a cheer as she strolls into the land of the 30s.  Yay Julie!

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