If I Had My Life to Live Over--Part 2


Well, I've really had to think about this. For the most part, I'm fairly satisfied with my life. I think. Here's a few things I might have done differently:

• Picked up my novel writing a little earlier and quicker--been more serious about it.
• Thumbed my nose at all those trying to tell me how to raise my boys (& I mean this in a good way. Such as: they're too ornery. They should do this. They should do that. Baloney! They were boys after all.)
• Sold everything and gone to live deep in a forest somewhere.
• Lost weight after son #2's birth, and kept it off.
• I wouldn't have asked some people to be in my wedding that I did ask just because I didn't want to offend someone.
• Kept my 69, souped-up mustang, regardless of its flaws!

I think it's a serious thing to look back and wish you'd done things differently. Or that your life had taken a different turn. You only have one shot at this business of living. Youngin's, you'd better make the best of it the first time around. Oldsters, if you're in that wishing class, just be glad you realize it now, and work to make the rest of your life the best that you can.

Not, materially (although that could be included), but spiritually, mentally, and physically.

I want to run my own personal race with MY goals before me. Hopefully, I can attain them.




Here are a few tips that'll keep your cooking light (low fat), but moist:

• Substitute 1/3 of your butter or oil with applesauce. (Or use same amount of prunes for chocolate desserts) (or pureed pumpkin in muffins and cakes)
  
• Sprinkle chocolate chips or nuts on top of baked goods to get the taste in every bite, but you can ultimately use less!
• Use cooking spray & non-stick pans instead of shortening or butter to grease pans.
• Use: 1% instead of whole milk; egg whites for whole eggs; light cream cheese for regular.
• Make your favorite treats in smaller portions (e.g. mini muffin tins instead of the regular size.
  

Quote:
Spirit is the journey, body is the bus, I am the driver from dusk to dusk. Spirit is the story, body is the book, I am the writer, together we go. --Johnny Clegg


Blessings

Complexity versus Simplicity

Complexity: an assemblage of units; an integration of impluses, ideas and emotions that strongly influence an individual's attitudes and behavior. Difficult to analyze, solve or understand.

Simplicity: Freedom from subtlety and embellishment.

Sun and moon
Darkness and lightness

That's hubby and me. As much as I'd like to claim it, I am not complex. (At least not in the normal sense. Smile) It bores me to tears to figure things out. My method of learning is by showing (or doing) and not telling. The instruction booklet is there in that box as extra padding. If I can't plug in the product and use it, then I call for help.

I suppose that's why I turned up my nose at the thought of more schooling in computer technology science when asked to consider it. Who, me? Thanks, but no thanks! I don't want to die an early death in total boredom!

Hubby: he needs to remember something. Excuse me, he wants to remember something. The second time he says to me, "You remember . . . (trying to refresh my memory)," I'm ready to scream. I can not remember what happened six months ago when talking to some vague person that I don't even remember their name, alone the conversation.

Not so, Mr. X-Ray Mind. He will not quit until he remembers (and in detail!) what he wanted to remember. Many times, I'm drifting off to sleep and he'll murmur (not sweet nothings. Frown!) "It was such and such." or "It was so and so."

He remembered.

We listen to book tapes when traveling many times. While it is running, he gives me a detailed commentary on why or who is the culprit. And more times than not, he turns out to be correct.

Now, me. Give me my computer, books, some quiet, and a thought, and I'm happy. Un-complex, un-complicated. Simple and quiet.

Sigh.



Wanna make your home homier?

• Make your entrance sharper, more attractive. New door hardward (or at least clean & polish existing), new paint on door, new welcome mat, plants, plants, plants!

• Get rid of clutter. Clear it out, clean up, and get rid of. One room at a time. Easiest way to say it!

• Less is more. Don't have wall to wall furniture. a few attractive, interesting pieces is best!

• Float your furniture. Get it away from the walls. Your room will seem bigger when you reposition those two chairs and a stand into a cozy, conversational group.

• I can hear the men groaning on this one, but mix up your furniture. Change positions. Wonderful way to lift the spirits.

• Have a room filled with junk? Get rid of it and use it for a spare bedroom or a cozy reading area. Add a few gym pieces and you've got your new exercise room.

• Shudder: get rid of those heavy drapes. Let the light in with airy curtains or none!

More tomorrow. Maybe.




Quote:
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. --Jim Horning


Blessings

Snowflake Difference

They say that there's not one snowflake alike. Everyone of them is patterned differently. I've never used a high-powered microscope to examine them, but I've heard people do. Remember making those lace doily ones in school? Or using plain paper and cutting out the designs for homemade snowflakes? How many were you able to make or think of?

Why do I like writing, my one brother likes woodworking stuff, the other likes four-wheeling and flea marketing?

Why do I like gardening and my fish pond and my fireplace, others like their farm and horses, while others love the city lights? What makes us different from one another?

Did God have a sense of humor in planning humans that way? Does He laugh when we disagree, in His superior wisdom knowing that getting along would be so much easier if we'd let go of what we think things should be like?

Did God throw a cog in our wheels by creating identical twins just to make us sit up and take notice? Hey, here's a couple people that look alike. How much are they alike in their wants, and actions, and speech?

How boring do you think it would be if we were all carbons of each other. Would we have even cared? Or would we be complaining? "Do you have to do that the same way I did?" "Do you have to choose a fish sandwich because I did?" How quickly would we get tired of all that boring sameness?

What if all the animals were the same? Say, God just made ONE type of animal. Those who right now hate cats would be out of luck, wouldn't they? That old saying, "Love me, love my cat" would really be a statement then! And there sure wouldn't be any use of being afraid of horses or cows, if that's all there was. Wonder what it'd be like having a pet cow in the house? That would probably take some doing to housebreak it, wouldn't you think?

So maybe differences aren't so bad. Maybe learning a little more tolerance for how someone else feels would be a good lesson. I don't have to agree with what you think. I just have to learn that its not my perogative to change your thinking, if you don't want it changed. Your differences from mine is what makes you you.



NOTE: Tomorrow's blog will feature Charlie Seymour talking about writing and his new book: "The Spirit of the West". Make sure you stop by and read what he has to say!



February! Time to think up some hints for that sweetheart of yours, or even a friend, favorite relative, kid, or (big smile) yourself! So let's try this:

Here's another of those Gifts in a Jar idea's. This is for a Butterscotch Brownie Mix (you could probably subsititute other flavors life peanut butter, or whatever. Enjoy!

Layer these ingredients in the jar of your choice:

1/2 cup flaked coconut
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups flour
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 teasp. salt

Layer in the order given into a wide mouth quart-sized jar. Pack each layer in place before adding the next ingredient. Attach a gift tag, ribbon, or bow. Here's the recipe:

1 qt. jar Butterscotch Brownie Mix
3/4 cup butter or margarine (softened)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, cream the butter, eggs and vanilla.
Add the Butterscotch Brownie Mix and stir till mixture is well blended. Spread batter into a lightly greased 9 x 12 pan.

Bake 25 minutes. Cool in pan. Cut in squares.


Quote:
Like branches on a tree we grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one. Each of our lives will always be a special part of the other.


Blessings.