2013.09.27 Five random facts about me

Linking up with A Rural Journal for Random Five Friday (five facts about me) ...

this week with a few pictures! ...

1.  I went to the zoo this week with my daughter-in-law, Theresa, and

my grandkids and friends.  I hadn't been there in many years and I had a wonderful time.

This is one of my favorite animals ... the polar bear ...

not my grandkids and friend ...

although at times, the kids do resemble monkeys.

2.  Indiana is still having moderately warm days and sunshine,

but the signs of fall are everywhere.

3.  I'm consciously spending less time on the computer, more time in reality.

And feeling better because of it.

4.  I bought the book Yoga for Life yesterday at Half-Price Books (only $2 ... yay!)

and you all can hold me accountable :)

I need to s-t-r-e-t-c-h myself out

of my folded-in-upon-itself body left from cancer treatment.

5.  I am still working on my Moleskin art journal for this year.

I promise to blog some more photos of the pages and my *super easy* way of doing it,

no photos required.

A couple of pages ...

2013.09.13 Five random facts about me

Linking up with A Rural Journal for Random Five Friday (five facts about me) ...

this week with pictures! ...

1.  I've started volunteering again.

From the parking lot of the Boys & Girls Club ...

2.  Our made-by-Vince camper.  It has electric hook-up, beds, storage.

I took this photo while I was sitting at a picnic table prepping for a snack.

Thought it was funny that Vince's legs are showing under the open back door.

Like a Fred-Flintstone-assisted camper ...

3.  Granddaughter ... that says it all ...

4.  All the Saturdays between now and November are committed.

I may be, too, after this ...

5.  I've returned to kindergarten this year by documenting my year

with an art journal in my Moleskin planner.

More photos and info later ...

2013.08.30 Five random facts about me

Linking up with A Rural Journal for Random Five Friday (five facts about me) ...

1.
I LOVE coffee.

2.
I love having polished nails.

3.
I should NEVER attempt to polish my nails in the morning after two mugs of coffee.

4.
My husband, Vince, and I went camping last weekend for the first time this year.

Seems like something always came up to keep us home.

Glad it finally happened; we had a great time.

We especially loved our best-ever iced cappuccinos (made with coffee ice cubes, too). 

Link here:  The Smelly Gourmet in Metamora, Indiana.

5.
While on our camping trip, Vince found a great used bookstore in Rising Sun, Indiana.

You can check it out on FaceBook by searching for "Paradox City Books and Games"

(use the full name when searching).

There is a photo of Vince and me on their FB page with the books

we bought last Friday (August 23).

2013.08.16 Five random facts about me

Linking up with A Rural Journal for Random Five Friday (five facts about me) ...

1.  I love Converse All-Star shoes.

My first pair were lime green, then red, then back to lime green.

This year I bought a black pair (with rainbow edging).

2.  I have to limit my time playing computer Solitaire and Free Cell.

3.  I’ve been in a book group since July 1996.

4.  Living on water whether a pond, lake, river, or ocean

is a dream I have not yet realized.

5.  I like taking photos, but I love processing them in PhotoShop Elements more.

2013.08.09 Five random facts about me

Linking up with A Rural Journal for Random Five Friday (five facts about me) . . .

1. I had a PET/CT scan today so I’m radioactive

and have to stay 6 feet away from people

(just for 6 hours).

2. The folder where I initially download all my camera photos is e.m.p.t.y.

This rarely happens.

3. Most of my clothes come from Goodwill and other secondhand stores.

4. I became addicted to “Andy Griffith” on NetFlix

while vegging for three months during cancer treatments.

I still watch an episode every morning during breakfast.

5. My grown daughter is living and working 1300 miles from me.

I am very proud of her.  I also miss her terribly.

p.s.  coming up with 5 random facts about me is harder to do than it would seem.

[ photo:  chalk handprints by my two grandkids and their friend on the garage door.

processed with Perfect Effects 4 OrtonHearsAWho 50 and  Earth 50 ]

2012.08.03 What we see is what we are

And what I am is unsettled.

I love my "take it with me everywhere" Canon point-and-shoot.

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your

photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”

~ Ernst Haas

A dilemma . . .

I love taking photos and processing them.

I love blogging what I've created.

These things relax me, I lose my sense of time while creating.

But, when there are many other things to be done,

whether work, church, volunteer, family, or fun

or all these seemingly at once . . .

what used to relax me

becomes a chore.

And I feel I'm letting myself down.

Luckily, I'm old enough to know that this dilemma will soon pass :)

And, so I wait . . . and work and volunteer and help others first.

Because, after all, that is the point . . .

to put others' needs before mine.

And to do it cheerfully.

[ smile ]

2012.05.17 Missing you . . .

Remember lunches like this?

It would be errand day, just you and me,

and we'd treat ourselves (me?) to pizza

and reading and note-taking and doodling.

Miss you.

Even though you haven't lived at home for a while,

college was only 45 minutes away,

so we could have some face time every couple of weeks.

Miss you.

We would wander the streets and visit your favorite vintage stores.

(Now, my favorites, too.)

Stop for coffee at an outdoor cafe, people-watch for a while.

You introduced me to the fair trade store (earrings!).

I could take photos and you never minded the waiting,

but encouraged me and pointed things out that I would be interested in . . .

Miss you.

Easy conversations about what was going on in our daily lives.

Today, I'm doing laundry, bookkeeping, working at the mission this evening.

I'm wearing a pair of jeans you helped me pick out at Goodwill.

Also the fish earrings you bought for me.

You are somewhere in Utah, heading for your job in Oregon.

Miss you.

2012.04.17 . . . 3 reasons you should simplify your daily life

Simplifying your daily life . . . the why . . .

1.  to have more free time

to spend on people, places, or things you are passionate about

2.  to have more money to share and to save and to spend

on what is vital and crucial to your life

3.  to live your one life doing is what is meaningful and significant to you

-----------------------------------------------

" . . . do it all for the glory of God."  1 Corinthians 10:31b

2011.08.24 Most of my day has been spent . . .

. . . printing photos for my Vacation / Mission Trip 2011 album.

The book I'm planning to use is too small for full-size prints.

So, 125 photos printed 2- or 3-to-a-page on 4"x6" paper . . .

One blank album, bunches of trip memorabilia,

photographs, some scrapbook supplies and tools,

and a few hours of time

equals

a memory book

to be savored during my lifetime

and possibly,

the lifetimes of my children and their children.

Time well-spent.

2011.08.11 Crow Mission Trip - a reminder

An orange brought home from Montana.

Instead of a snack food for the flight home,

it has become food for thought.

A flood of memories:

22 people working and living together for a common purpose,

relationship building,

smiles and teasing and card tricks (by Josh),

sharing and learning and serving,

encouragement.

Forever memories.

2011.08.06 Mission Trip to the Crow Indian Reservation - part 1

Who and what:

Anne and I went on a mission trip to

the Crow Indian Reservation

through World Servants

from Sunday, July 31 through Saturday, August 6.

How:

In May, Anne and I talked about our mutual interest in going on a mission trip.

We didn't have anything specific in mind.

Just something we would pray about.

The first week of June, I attended the annual Home Educators' convention.

Immediately outside the entrance to the Vendors' Hall

was a booth for World Servants.

The banner:  "Serving changes everything.  Lead the way."

Lead the way . . . well, okay then.

I've read quite a bit lately about getting outside your (personal) comfort zone.

This was definitely outside my comfort zone.

Committing to a week of

living with strangers,

unfamiliar living accommodations,

no computers,

very limited cell phone use,

and

relating to a people with a very different cultural background.

And me, an introvert.  Hmmmm . . .

What we (the World Servant team) worked on during the week:

Kids' Club (like vacation Bible school) each morning in the park,

a nursing home visit,

community Ice Cream Social one evening,

community Carnival one evening,

construction projects.

The construction projects (with one exception) focused on

the permanent mission campground.

The previous campground had become much too small,

so a new campground was underway for this and future

World Servant teams as well as other mission teams.

All mission work is supervised by Four Square Church in Crow Agency, Montana.

Kids' Club . . .

Nursing home afternoon . . .

Serving ice cream at the Social . . .

2011.08.06 Mission Trip to the Crow Indian Reservation - part 4 and final

What a "typical" day was like . . .

The 22 of us were on 4 teams.
The teams rotated fixing breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The breakfast team served breakfast at 8 a.m. (or thereabouts).

When it was your turn to serve, you also cleaned up.

You went to your morning assignment

which could be Kids' Club in the park in the town of Crow Agency

or a construction assignment.

There were also other camp projects which kept the camp running smoothly.

The lunch team served about noon.

Then, off to afternoon assignments.

Dinner was at 6 p.m.

Evenings could be group activities at the camp,

the community Ice Cream Social,

the community Carnival,

or an evening church service.

The last evening activity was always a short praise service

and a debriefing.

The debriefing was fun and included lots of laughter.

Questions would be asked by our World Servants coordinator, Steve Suhi,

such as

"Who learned something new today?  What was it?"

or

"Who interacted with someone from the community?  How did it go?"

It was lively and definitely contributed to building our own group community.

There were amazing people on this trip.

There probably are on every mission trip.

We ended with a distribution of Barnabus notes.

Barnabus was Paul's encourager in the Bible.

Throughout the day and evening,

members of our team would write notes to other team members.

Slips of paper with starting phrases such as

"You were an encouragement to me when you ..."

"Today you made me smile when you ..."

and

"Today I saw you working hard for Jesus when you ..."

The notes were folded and your name was on the outside.

I always read mine in bed just before sleep.

Sweet.

So . . .

would I go on another mission trip?

Absolutely.

Would Anne?

Absolutely.

What would I tell you if you were thinking about going on any mission trip?

The same thing my sister, jan, told me before Anne and I signed up.

JUST GO.

2011.07.23 My camera(s) quest . . .

. . . is over.

"Know thyself" ~ ascribed to Socrates

A week ago, I purchased a Nikon D5100.

This is a small step up from Nikon's most basic DSLR.

I also bought a Canon PowerShot A2200,

a low-end point-and-shoot to keep in my purse.

I tested both.

The Nikon took fine photos and I have the potential to print at large sizes . . .

However, here is a similar photo from the Canon . . .

That camera dilemma I've been contemplating off and on for months . . .

do the advantages of a DSLR

outweigh

the advantages of a point-and-shoot?

My final answer?

For me . . . no.

On Thursday, I returned the DSLR.

Kept the small Canon (it is truly pocket-size; smaller than a smart phone).

And, I bought the display model of a Canon point-and-shoot

which is the one I had selected to replace my previous (dying) Canon
but couldn't find in stock (4 stores).

It's a PowerShot SX130 IS.

$200 well, well spent.

I'm happy.

And, the dilemma is settled.

2011.07.16 One new beginning . . .

Today, I'm shopping for a DSLR.

My previous SLR was a Nikon F2 (film).

See my post of 04.21.2011 - Last night I dreamed . . .

Wish me luck, willpower, confidence.

I may need it.

2011.06.04 Synergy

synergy:   the working together of two things (...) to produce an effect greater than
the sum of their individual effects
from definr, incredibly fast dictionary

To devote time and energy to the things which excite you,
you may need to remove yourself from things you are currently doing ---
however, don't drop activities/people from which you derive inspiration or ideas
or those things which are energy-inducing.

We all have activities/people that, when we leave, we feel energized,
ready to dive back into our own projects, renewed.
People with passionate ideas fuel a synergistic energy with our own passionate activities.

Have you ever left a gathering or a workplace and felt drained?
When sleep was the only thing you felt capable of doing?

Have you done the opposite?
Left and can't wait to get to your own projects, art, blog, writing?

I've done both.
And now I consciously test my feelings.
Am I energized, excited?
Or dragging?

How should I be spending my time?

How should you be spending yours?

2011.05.17 BIG change in 2 weeks

Today, I gave my two-weeks notice on a job

I've had for more than 10 years.

Change.

What's coming?

I don't actually know yet.

A quote I read last Sunday . . .

When you come to the edge of all the light you know,

and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown,

faith is knowing one of two things will happen:

there will be something solid to stand on,

or you will be taught how to fly.

Barbara Winter, writer

2011.05.15 Perform Service

Last fall, Vince changed the oil and filter in my car.  He also checked the other fluid levels.

A week or so later, the upper console (where I can see the temperature, MPG, and other options) started displaying “PERFORM SERVICE” and beeping for a bit.  Then the display would return to normal.

Vince checked the oil and other fluids again.  All was okay.

So, a couple of times a week, I get beeped at and see “PERFORM SERVICE”.

Annoying, but it’s short-lived.

Then, a couple of months ago, I was sitting in the parking lot of the local high school.

I had just finished a couple of hours volunteering for our local food pantry
by picking up donated canned and boxed food items.
I had just started up the car and . . .
“PERFORM SERVICE” shows up.

Then, I started laughing because I finally got it.

A prompt?  a requirement?  a command?
Perform service:  Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
    faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

I hope the “PERFORM SERVICE” stays; it’s a great reminder to get my focus on others.

I like it.

2011.05.07 Being positive, staying positive

For most of this year, I've woken up in a good mood.
Happy.  Excited to start my day.
I don't think I'm usually a "down" kind of person;
but, this is so much better than just waking up in neutral.

"What's changed?", you ask.

Several things.  Physical, spiritual, and mental things.

1.  Physical - living in the Midwest in winter = gray days, roads with snow/ice, coldness.  I SO don't like winter.  I yearn for warm climates and sunshine.  Mostly sunshine.  Which led me to a conclusion - maybe I'm lacking in Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin.  Until a few years ago, I drank milk.  Now, it's rare.
So, I started taking a multi-vitamin for older women.

2.  Spiritual - I can't listen to loud (how I like it) music when I work at home or at work.  Even when I'm alone, it's too distracting for me mentally.  I've started listening to praise music: in the car, at home, at both work sites.  I just let it play quietly in the background.
This is keeping my focus where it should be:  on others and God, not on me.

3.  Mental - I decided to be in a good mood.  Literally decided.  Maybe this decision happened because of the positive effects of the vitamins and praise music.  Maybe not.
I read.  A lot.
And, some other people think also you can just make being in a good mood a choice you make.
Every day.  So I have.

4.  Physical - sometimes, smiling inside and out is the result of something you do  :)
So, today, I cut my hair ~ this is usual, although sometimes others help or do this for me.
     (see this blog post ~ Anne cuts my hair).
I had started to look like I could fly because of the wings on the sides of my head.
Why do I always wait until I'm desperate?
No idea, but I pulled out the hair clippers and scissors this morning.
I thought I would post a photo.  Ha!  Below are the results of my attempts at self-portraiture.
There isn't any cropping on the left and right photos.
Not good.  Except for a laugh.  Which is also a great way to lift your mood :)

2011.04.23 Changes . . .

. . . are coming to this blog.
In the next few weeks, I'll be adding . . .
     full-resolution give-aways of my Blessings cards ~ see some here: Picasa - Blessings Cards 1-25
          (there are 75 total in three separate Picasa albums)
     simple bookkeeping help for small businesses and individuals
     simple ideas from my life to de-clutter, organize, and simplify
     organizing and simplifying ideas from other blogs
I considered having three separate blogs:  personal, simplifying/organizing, and bookkeeping
and then I realized the complicated task of managing and posting to three separate blogs.
Complicated, not simple.
So, I'll be using labels to distinguish between the posts.
My mission statement will now apply to my web-life, too:
     "Bless and simplify the daily lives of others."
I hope you enjoy, use, and are blessed by the changes.

2011.04.21 Last night, I dreamed . . .

Thirty years ago, I was an avid amateur photographer.
Before the digital photography era, I used a Nikon F2 and had a darkroom.
For 10 years, it was my passion.  Then, the passion faded.  It happens.

In the summer of 2006,
I was given Anne's point-and-shoot digital camera when she upgraded to a DSLR.

To encourage myself to learn this new technology, I started a Project365 in 2007 ~
     daily photographs which needed to be printed, displayed, or blogged.  My choice.
(see the tab at the top of this blog "Previous Project365s/Project52s)

The photography passion came back.
In the last few weeks, I've been mildly toying with the idea of buying a DSLR.
My current point-and-shoot is almost 3 years old.  My phone is just a phone.
There are pros and cons to buying and owning a DSLR.

Last night, I dreamed I owned a DSLR, was using it, and loved it.  Loved it.
This is significant because I am a very sound sleeper
     and will only remember a dream once or twice a year.
So . . . last night, I dreamed . . .