Rain, rain go away. Come again some other day.

Ever hear that ditty when you were a child? It began raining last night, and I was kind of looking forward to it. I don't know why. But some times I miss the rain. I think . . .

It makes me feel secure. Sort of. In a way. Like, closed in, but not in a smothery way. Like being wrapped in loving arms. Closed in where nothing can hurt me for a moment. Does that make sense?

It makes me feel content. Yeah, like being shut in with my fireplace, a good book, my dog, Taffy and cat Tipper. I can write, work, snooze, laugh with hubby or fuss a little. But I'm home content in a dry home, with the wet rain on the outside. Nice.

It makes me feel happy. Another day we've been blessed with moisture that our earth needs. Our spring won't run dry yet. Thirsty plants and animals can drink. I can walk (or not) in the rain, if I want. I can watch the rivelets cascading down a window pane. I can watch the lightning (or not) in the midnight sky. I can lie in bed and listen to the peck, peck, peck of the drops on my tin roof.

Nice. Happy rainy day -- if you're fortunate enough to be getting some. Smile.



Want to do something extra without having to spend a lot of money? Try one of these suggestions:
1) Yield to other drivers, even the pushy ones. (Oh so hard when you're in a hurry).

2) Hold doors open for other people. (Duh. Who doesn't do this?)

3) Let someone go in front of you in line. (Well, I do that!)

4) Give more than you keep. (Uh oh.)

5) Be quick to listen and slow to speak. (Uh oh, again.)

6) Respond kindly to someone who's rude. (Ouch)

7) Look for little ways to respond to the needs of others. (Why do we always think we have to do something big, something outlandish, something noticeable?)



Rainy day quote:
Friends . . . they cherish each other's hopes. They are kind to each other's dreams.
--Henry David Thoreau

Blessings.

The Aftermath.

That word usually denotes something unpleasant. (But I like it, decided I'd use it anyway!) What was the aftermath of my Thanksgiving weekend?

First, too much turkey left over. Mom, two sons, girlfriend, friend, hubby and myself were there. Hubby and I are at the age (ooops, I meant to say, life!) where we don't eat a lot of leftovers. Not to say we absolutely don't like them, we just don't fix enough to warrant a lot of leftovers. Family meals, I send leftovers home with whoever. Leaves more openness for us to eat less.

Second. Ah, too much time at home to enjoy. Meaning: makes it harder to get back into the grind of things. Errands to run, with the time to do them. Some decorating done because I wasn't too tired to do it.

Third. Little writing done. I was busy. That's my only excuse. We left early Saturday for PA, returned home in the afternoon, but too tired to do anything but rest. Of course, I did work on it some Thursday evening and Monday evening, but what's a few thousand words?

Fourth. Depression. Yeah, right. I-think-I heard-it-right-statistic: turkey meat has enzymes in it that causes mild depression. Anyone else ever hear that? I had heard it before somewhere, but forgot about that tidbit of information. But I suffered mild depression after everyone left Thursday and again on Friday after eating (gobbling) some leftover turkey. So using me for an example: that statistic could be right.

But then again, you might not wish to use me, I suffer from mild depression quite often. So my reactions to life in general on those few days of a year may not give you an unbiased opinion of the turkey-meat-statistics.


All in all, it was a fantastic weekend. Enjoyed my family time together. Enjoyed the short trip out of state with hubby. Ate at a nice restaurant, spent some quiet time in the evening together & a good time listening to a tape coming home. We were able to speak to several people about our home-based business--always a plus!

Enough rambling from me . . .

Did any of you see Stevan Manley's recent paper with the cartoon of a turkey holding a sign up to passers-by? The sign said, "Fast for Thanksgiving." Cute!


I thought these were some tips for the holidays. I know many of us have an abundance of food available. Parties, get-togethers, dinners, etc. etc. So . . . we're bound to put on a few pounds--maybe.

Try these at home:
* Keep it the same. don't put too many varieties of the same kind of food (five different kinds of cheeses or three different breads). You'll be tempted to eat more than if you faced fewer choices.

* Downsize. Store food in small serving-sized containers, since they provide convenient stopping points. Never eat directly out of a large package (chips, etc.)

* Play hard to get. Put the most tempting food high up in the cupboard, at the back of the fridge, or in another inconvenient spot.

* Move on. When you eat out, go elsewhere for after-dinner coffee so you're less tempted to order dessert.

* Be a copycat. Look around. Who's eating the least? Who has the healthiest food on her plate? Model your eating habits on hers.



Quote:
Time is a very precious gift of God; so precious that it's only given to us moment by moment. --Amelia Barr

Blessings.

I Forgot My Rememberer . . .

Forgot to mention a few things coming up.

1) Interview with one of my critique partners in December. Get a glimpse of the life of a writer (from Nevada) who's recently been asked to submit a full manuscript. Exciting!

2) Ready for that contest I promised you? Next week I'll be announcing it. Like chocolates? Then gear yourself up to win.

3) Won't be blogging till next week, but want all of you to know I appreciate you. Thank you for reading my blogs, for being there with your comments, even when I don't get them published.

4) Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

Quote:
To invite people into our homes is to respond with gratitude to the God who made a home for us.


Blessings.

That's Gratitude!

It's Thanksgiving, so I'm gonna be good! Extra nice.

I see that person with on item in her cart at the checkout counter, and I've got fifteen items--I'm going to let her go before me. She must be in a hurry, the way she's shifting from foot to foot.

But then she doesn't thank me, not even a smile.

Someone in a classy car is tailgating me. Okay, I'll pull over, or at least slow down so he can pass. What do I get? Rude gestures and mouth communications telling me what he thinks of my driving.

Am I that bad? Speed limit isn't cool anymore? Can't smile--he'll think I'm taunting him. Just slow down more, and let him go his way. I'm helping him, and he doesn't know it.

I wait patiently in line at the service desk of a popular department store (even though there's twenty people in the line and only one person working). When I finally am waited on, the clerk makes my day by asking, "What do you want?"

"Well, duh. What do you think? Help." That's what does through my mind. Instead, when I leave, I give her a big smile.

I've got dinner to prepare and it seems like a dozen pre-Thanksgiving telemarketers call. Should I lay the phone on the shelf and let them talk to empty air? Nah. I can hear that desperate, tired air coming through. It won't hurt to prop the phone on my shoulder for a minute or two before I have to tell him no.

But then . . .

I get a thank you card in the mail for something I've done.
Someone smiles when I open the door for them.
A greeter at a store calls out, "Have a great day."
My husband calls to invite me out for supper that evening.
A friend calls to tell me they're thinking and praying for me.
I get a good critique back from a person who saw my efforts.

Sigh. Gratitude. You gotta love it.



Oh-so-good "Gift-giving savvy" hints:

* Photos of friends or family make great presents. Take pictures now, get them reprinted or enlarged, and start looking for frames. (I love pictures: this would be a fav of mine.)

* Don't forget about food gifts. Experiment early, so if a recipe flops, you'll have time for Plan B.

* Some of the most memorable gifts are homemade. (We covered this one awhile back, but it's worth repeating.) Start now if there are hats to crochet, candles to mold, or Christmas pillowcases to stitch.

* Buy a few generic gifts to have on hand. (a coffee mug, scented candle, box of chocolates). Later, when you realize you've overlooked someone, you'll be ready.

* Get a head start. Buy two gifts when you shop for birthdays during the year. Save one for Christmas.

* Don't forget to buy books: doesn't everyone love them? Dad likes war stories. Mom likes poetry ones. Dad likes hunting or financial books. Kids love the adventure ones. Stock up!



Quote:
There is always time for gratitude and new beginnings. -- J. Robert Moskin

Blessings!

Ten Things I Love About Thanksgiving:

Here we go:
1) Good and plenty of food (see below -- big grin)

2) Pretty decorations

3) Pumpkin pie

4) Stuffing

5) Family around me

6) Friends around me

7) Time off from work (although I really enjoy my work, it still gives me extra time to get some things done at home)

8) Time to relax

9) A time to appreciate my blessings

10) Time to work on my mss.

Happy Thanksgiving!



A beautiful and simple Thanksgiving centerpiece to make:
Collect:
3" to 4" mini pumpkins in the colors of your choice
Candle tapers about 10" in fall colors
A sharp knife
Ribbon, raffia, or floral picks

Make:
Cover work table or counter with plastice or old sheet
Cut out the stem from the top of the mini-pumpkins, a hole about the size of your candles
Pull out the stem and discard
Insert a candle taper into the hole

Decorate:
Cut a length of several pieces of raffia about 12" long and tie around the base of the candle
Tie a colorful ribbon around the base of the candle
Insert small stems of seasonal flowers or leaves around the base of the candle
Tuck short picks of fruit or berries around the base of the candle.

Remember:
Always keep the mini-pumpkin candleholder on a small plate or piece of plastic on the table so it does not leave a ring on the wood.
You'll need a very sharp knife with a point to cut into the top of the pumpkins. They can be very hard. Be careful and always cut away from your body.
If you cannot cut into the mini-pumpkin, let it sit out a couple of days. They tend to soften a bit.
You can easily insert place cards by cutting a straight slit across the top of the pumpkin.

Enjoy the compliments!



Quote:
If we learn how to give of ourselves, to forgive others, and to live with thanksgiving, we need not seek happiness. It will seek us.

Thanksgiving blessings.

Ten things I hate . . .

1) Boring people. Definition: people who run on and on about what they like to do, what their interests are with no thought that everyone, including me, is tired of hearing about it.
(Wait a minute . . . no one's tired of hearing about my writing, are they? I mean, what else is there to talk about?)

2) Picking green beans from a garden. Mom made me do that when a kid, and I despite the task to this day. Moral of the story: don't make your kids do what they don't like to do. They'll hate it to the day they die. (Somehow that moral sounds a little off. Maybe I'd better change it. Hmmm.)

3) Wet clothes. Oooooo, I hate that clammy feeling!

4) Ill mannered people. Anytime, but especially drivers. Irritating and frustrating. I'd like to take them aside and teach them a thing or two. But who am I?

5) People who don't try to use their potential. What a waste! Life is too short. But then when did I finally learn that? Didn't I think I'd live forever at twenty?

6) Complainers. Let's not even go there.

7) Show don't tell people. Guilty as charged. I hate it that it's easier, and much simpler to show me than to tell me something. I guess that makes me pretty thick headed, huh?

8) Leaves in my garden pond. I positively, eternally, and passionately hate those beautiful fall leaves falling into my beautiful pond. If I'd only get on the ball and buy that net I keep thinking I'm going to get. Hubby did have a pretty good substitute idea. Maybe I'll use it--next year.

9) Pickled pig's feet, hominy, hair in my food (ask me about a certain fast food chain!), fat on meat, skin on meat, fries that are not fresh (I can't help it if they hate to see me coming, can I?), flies in my food (ask me about another food chain!), mud (most of the time), dirty cars (ouch!), being poor (anything under a million is poor, right?), being unpublished (like the little engine that thought he could, I say over and over: I think I can, I think I can. Someday. Soon?), worry, unfinished tasks, being late, a bad story, biased media coverage, illness, and problems.

10) Death. Thank God we've got a spiritual insurance coverage for this! But it's our enemy, and I still hate it. Methinks God made a great promise when He said no more death in heaven.

There you have it. My first No. Ten list. More some other time.

A couple of things. After Thanksgiving, I'm thinking about running a contest. Wanna win some chocolate? Details soon.

Secondly, next week being Thanksgiving, I'm not sure how much I can post. Probably at least Tuesday and Wednesday. Maybe another day. So . . . I'll talk to you whenever! Grin.

Have a fabulous holiday!

A quote to make you think:
Most of us would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. --Norman Vincent Peale

Who, me?

Blessings for a wonderful pre-Thanksgiving weekend!