Feed the Birds.....NOW

Feed the birds....a tuppence a bag....tuppence.  Every morning I have that song in my heart as I go out to feed my birds. They are waiting...sometimes impatiently.  FEED ME, Seymour, they seem to telepathically yell at me.  Okay, Audrey 2's....I'm coming!

 

 

 

Kitzilla says "Yes, please, fatten up!"

 

 Today on FB I posted this little thought after watching my birdies:

Yesterday Hubby preached on God's definition of "fairness" and "justice" and how God's justice is just not well....fair (apologies, to Rev Hubby, for the simplistic paraphrase!). This morning I was watching the sparrows in our backyard and they get it!!!! I have 6 feeders and about a zillion (okay, maybe minus one or two!) sparrows and white wings (yes all you hunters may thank me for fattening up those birds!). The sparrows hop on a feeder and immediately begin tossing seeds off the feeder and onto the ground for all their friends and family. Sure they fight amongst themselves on the feeder every once in a while but for the most part, they are sharing their good fortune with the rest. How much richer we would be if we practiced the same justice with our neighbors and community!

Peppermint Saturday

I received a whine....I mean wish from Pansy.  She called to say she wished her favorite flavor of coffee was still offered in the "make at home" variety.  Being the ever helpful Strawberry that I am and in true Barney Stinson (How I Met Your Mother for those of you who don't watch it....Mom!) fashion "Challenge Accepted!"

Since the Longhorns weren't playing, I decided to play in the kitchen today.  But first, I set out locating all things needed for Chocolate Peppermint.  Now doesn't that sound scrumptious?  I think I would whine....I mean wish...for my favorite coffee taste too if I couldn't find it.

I already had the sugar-free chocolate flavoring syrup (I love HEB!!!), but I had to go a-search' for the peppermint extract.  While shopping at Hobby Lobby today (that's what I get for waiting to read my Sunday school lesson on a Saturday!) and I found peppermint oil in the cake/ baking section.  Score!

Back to the kitchen.  Coffee- brewed!  Truvia- added!  Sugar-free chocolate flavoring- check!  Oh heck, go ahead and add a little more; it's sugar-free!!!  Now for the peppermint oil.  Oh my gosh!
This stuff is strong. I opened the bottle and the hairs in my nose immediately burned right on out.  My eyes watered.  When I say it's strong; IT IS STRONG!!!  What is $3.49 divided by a jazillion! This stuff should last for a looooooong time.  My whole house even smells of peppermint.  Of course that could be the last few hairs in my nose retaining the peppermint oil.  Warning: do not sniff this stuff...just saying.

chocolate flavoring, peppermint oil, and coffee- a winning combination

drizzle some of that sugar-free chocolate flavoring on top.

I'm not sure what Pansy is looking for, but I can tell you....I'm off to make my second cup.  Cuppa Cuppa Chocolate Peppermint- my new fav!

Coffee Friday

Coffee Friday!

Last Friday I took a trip to my favorite shopping experience: Target!  I love Target.  The aisles are larger than other stores; the smell is fresh- no dirty diaper smell or rotting fruits or veggies.  And it always looks clean and shiny.  I just love Target (and no, I do not receive any compensation from them; and no, I don't want to hear any politics about it or your bad experience!  LOL....I need my Target!!).

So I went to Target and stopped by and bought the Starbuck season's Pumpkin Latte!  $4.93 and a week later, I'm enjoying a Strawberry Patch season Pumpkin Latte for a mere 61 cents.  Target sells their own pumpkin coffee.  I had my own whipped topping and nutmeg so you could probably add a few more pennies to the cost.  Now doesn't that look scrumptious???

Time for one more cup and then off to work.  I'm rearranging and cleaning and on a roll. 

21st century Strawberry

Well it happened.  The Hubbster decided it was time to get with the 21st century.  He changed our data plan and is now the proud owner of his very own "smartphone."  What do I have?  I still have my dumb phone because when my phone died in Rural USA several months ago and he wasn't ready to switch data plans at the time (of course!).  And yes, his phone has been on the fritz for months driving him crazy with text messages he can't retrieve and dropped phone calls.  That's not a good thing for a pastor.  "Yes, I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Pee"....buzzzzzzzz. The "ter" in Peter was never heard and we never heard from that family again!  No, he definitely needed a new phone but why couldn't he decide back in April when my phone went kapootie??  I have to wait 6 whole months (whine, whine, whine says Moana)!!!!!

The good news is Hubby bought one type of phone, College Boy bought another, College Girl now Graduate Girl bought another type, and Career Girl has a whole different one.  Boy is looking into a different one.  By April I'll know exactly which kind of phone I want.  sniff sniff....I still want one now!

Switch "data plan" for "diet plan" and I still feel the same way:  I want it now!  Come off damn weight; I can't wait!!!  I guess I'll be playing the weighting game AND the waiting game.  Oh shut-up, Moana!!!  It's good to practice patience.  It is helping me to go against my grain.

hibernation

I've been a hibernating strawberry gopher this past week.  You could find me burrowed under sawdust and glass and noise.  Two Saturdays ago our church women hosted a cluster event and I was pretty much in charge of the event.  Thankfully everyone (sans about 3 people from my own church!) had a great time and LOVED it!!  Of course I focused on the 3 negative nellies versus the 65 others that had a marvelous time and are still talking about the event.  LOL  Like Reba says "letitgo."  I decided after the event I would take the whole week off.  The church building committee had other plans.  New windows were installed at the manse (aka the strawberry patch) and all week 2 to 3 men entered the house and broke out windows, hammered, sawed, and basically made a mess with sawdust ALL OVER THE HOUSE!  I didn't clean but I didn't rest either.  My goal was to laze around the house in my pjs, drinking coffee and watching TV and eating bon bons or reading or sleeping or any other myriad lazy thing I could conjure up.

SOOOOOO------ today is my lazy, stay in my pjs day.  Well, Boy might expect me to get dressed when I take him to college....but other than that, I'm drawing the curtains and holing up in my hidey hole.  Don't come knocking....nobody's home!

Happy Monday, Grainiacs. May you enjoy a hidey hole too

I've Got the Power!

I did it....so why do I feel so guilty?  Let me back up a minute.

As you all know, I am an over-committing Strawberry.  I have a savior complex and think I have to help fix EVERYTHING!!!  I'm wondering if that might be a symptom of low self-esteem.  When I feel bad or down on myself I tend to want to be needed and thus over-commit myself.  It takes time (sometimes years!) to get out of those low-tide commitments.

Recently I have over-committed again.  I don't think I was feeling bad about myself when I committed, but rather saw a need and ran with it.  Then I saw another need and ran with it.  And another....and y'all know how much I hate running!! I recently saw a picture of a t-shirt.  The saying on the shirt makes me chuckle:  

Bwahahahahaha.....I love it, but as one friend commented "Oh! I WANT one! (With sleeves of course to hide my non-runner arms!)"

So back to my story- I have told anyone that will listen, I AM ABSOLUTELY NOT COMMITTING TO ANOTHER THING!!! I am taking some time off.  I still need to un-pack boxes in the garage, for Pete's sake!!!  BTW, Who is Pete?  Eeeek, okay, BACK to the story!!

So yesterday, the President of an organization called and asked if I would take over the unexpired term of the corresponding secretary.  This is an organization I want to help in the distant future but not now.  I was flattered but I knew I had to say No at this time. But you have to know that my Strawberry "I need to help them" attitude was kicking in.  I apologized and gave my excuses and assured her I knew everyone else was giving excuses and I was so sorry to do it, etc etc.  In the end, I held my ground and said "not at this time."  I did it.  I feel horrible.  I feel so guilty about it, but I think healthy people know their limitations and are able to (guilt-free) say "not at this time."  I'm working on it. Now if I could work on "not feeling so guilty about needing to take care of myself."

I Knew it!!!

I just knew it!  I AM allergic to exercising.  Last night Boy and I went to the gym and worked out.  I came home and sneezed.  And then sneezed again.  Okay I have a friend who always sneezes three times in a row.  After 37 years of friendship I have learned to wait till that 3rd sneeze blasts out before I say "Bless you."  So when I sneezed for the third time I smiled thinking about her.  But then the fourth sneeze had me searching for the Airborne because a fourth and fifth sneeze says "somethin's up yur snout, Strawberry."  I finally stopped counting and headed for the stronger stash in the medicine cabinet and the Kleenex.  Ding Dong, I'm too busy to get sick.  Isn't that the usual?  No time to get sick.  Actually the body knows best but we are too "busy" read stubborn; important) to take it easy and mend and heal.  This week I have a crazy-busy schedule ending with a women's event on Saturday and yes, I am in charge AND giving a workshop so yeah, I DO NOT have time to get sick.  (sneeze)


Let me tell you what I was up to this past weekend.  Our church hosted a Kid's Event including a bouncy thing.  I was a little worried with the clouds hanging over looking all ominous and everything and yes I started praying like crazy when I saw a lightening bolt off in the distance.  We had already rented the bouncy thing and I did not know their "rain" policy but I'm pretty sure they don't care!

ominous clouds

couldn't catch the lightening

bouncy thing before kids

Don't get me wrong; we were in desperate need of rain and I'll be the first to play in the rain, but the lightening???  And this bouncy toy???  Nope; those two things didn't go together.  The event was from 6 - 8 p.m.  The rain stayed away.  At 8:00 p.m. (no joke) it started drizzling.  God said "Time to go home, My Peeps!"  I wish I could share a pic of Strawberry going down the slide, but I will tell you I did get soaked (in my Mexican dress) by a youth-sized slider.  There is something about me and Mexican dresses and water.  We were at a children's pool party long years ago and I noticed a little 2 year old College Boy very calmly staring at me from under the water.  He had fallen off the step and couldn't swim and most likely couldn't breathe!  Thankfully he didn't panic and suck in water.  I, however, panicked and tried to fish him out of the water.  I was pregnant with Boy, though, and my equilibrium wasn't  "equi" or "librium" or whatever so FLOP- into the water I fell-- sideways-- and don't ask me how this happened but I couldn't catch my footing- I'm blaming it on Boy!  All I see is red all around me.  Nope, not blood.  Nope, not rage.  My red Mexican dress has bubbled up all around my neck and face.  Meanwhile my friend calmly (there's that word again) lays down by the side of the pool and reaches for Baby College Boy as I'm handing him up in the general direction of her voice (I still have my dress up around my face!).  You'd think I'd learn not to wear my Mexican dress around water.

Instrumental, anyone?

I love the piano.  I love playing the piano but I don't love practicing-- I think it goes along with my stubborn nature and my "the strawberry just wants to have fun" mentality.  Truth be told I know y'all worry about my work ethic!!!

While coming home from my dentist appointment (that is a whole different story!) I was listening to the Broadway channel and heard an interview and fell in love with this person.  Her name is Robin Spielberg (maybe a distant relative to Steven-- as her grandmother said "Don't hang out with those Spielbergs"-- meaning Steven's side of the family.  Hahahaha) and she is an actress, pianist, writer, entrepreneur (this woman has a strong work ethic!). You can hear a few of her songs at this site.  http://www.robinspielberg.com/.  I'm listening to Killing Me Softly on spotify.  She can really make those keys sing.

Speaking of the piano, Boy started his piano lessons yesterday.  We shall have music filling the house...along with my spotify music and Robin.  Oh yeah, life is good.

Bingo!!

It hit me this morning.  I am a collector.  I'm not so much a doer as a collector!  Do you have any collections?  Do you remember your first collection?  I had several collections as a kid.  I'm trying to think what was the first.  I recall miniature figurines-- specifically frogs.  They just hop into my heart so cute and green!  My grandmother tried to start me on a stamp collection but it didn't stick.  I had a huge Barbie collection complete with a Barbie RV.  They all rolled right off the moving van and into some other's possession.  As an adult I have loads of collections:  crosses, shoes, dust bunnies, and most recently card making supplies. And that's when it hit me.  I got into card making and find myself buying all sorts of card making paraphernalia.  How many cards have I made?  About 4- total!

I do the same thing with new diets.  I buy everything hook, line, and sinker.  Cookbook?  I've got it.  Fancy gizmo that will help me track food or exercise?  Yep; I've got it or I want it!!!

When I started sewing my apron, I started looking up bobbin boxes and thread carriers on Amazon!  It's a sickness.  

So my resolve is to stop it!  Right now.  I will not buy anything else to collect.  I will use what I have and use it all up.  My clutter is cluttering my life and my mind.

On a happier note:  My apron is complete!  Whoo hoo.  Happy 2nd anniversary to me.  It is done....it is complete.  Years (and years and years) ago I belonged to Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS).  Included in that get together time was a craft that could be completed.  Completion is important to females who stay at home (or at least I believe it is).  More and more we are left with that unsatisfied feeling of "I'm not getting anything completed!"  We might complete a project at work but then there's another one.  We load the dishwasher and get it going and then a child brings a whole week's worth of glasses that have been stored in his room out to the kitchen.  Same with laundry.  Same with toilet bowls- don't get me on a roll!!

So finishing my apron was a huge success for me.  You could not imagine how many unfinished (un-started!) projects I have given away with each move.  I have good intentions and then that goes away and I'm stuck with fabric or modge podge or whatever!  LOL  

Remember my coloring every night?  I bought several coloring books and loads of coloring supplies.  They are still packed somewhere!  I will NOT buy any more coloring utensils or books.  I will find what I already own and get busy coloring again.  Oh I stepped on Kaaa this morning and I'm down 4 pounds!

I can't help it, I'm so proud of this!!!!

Ain't it colorful???

My work station: the dining room table and my big gulp!

My proof I did this!

This is just playing with buttons on picture viewer thingy:

Just call me Strawberry Hazel!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

Thursday I made a chicken salad with a few modifications (I usually do this as I don't always have the ingredients and I'm too lazy to go to the store!).  The recipe called for 8 oz of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of mayo.  I decided to add a little sour cream to give it a kick.

Smooth and creamy! Yum.

My coconuts are a little low, wouldn't ya say? Hey! I'm talking about my apron here!!!

Happy Strawberry feeling in control again!

cutting some chicken for the salad and saving some for Tortilla Soup!

my modifications added frozen peas and shredded carrots. You've gotta get those veggies in any way you can!

I didn't have poppy seeds (which the recipe calls for) so I added rosemary and chopped pecans!

I believe you can do the same thing with healthy eating (aka diets-sssssss). Did I just hear Kaaaa?  What works for you?  Is it cutting out carbs and sugar?  Does that thought send chills down your ssss-spine?  Now I know I'm hearing Kaaaaa, that slithering sssss-scale.  The scale tells me "Get off of me, I can't breathe!" But the reality is, it is just a number.  Yes, the Dr. would like that number a lot lower than what it is, but it's happening.  Slowly, but it's happening.  That is what will work for me.  Learning to lose and keeping that weight off.  It won't be any good if I lose 15 pounds only to put it back on in 6 months and some!  Right now I am learning to lose and keep it off for good.  I'd say losing 13-15 pounds (it depends on Kaaa on the day I step on the scale, you know?) and keeping it off for 2 years is a win.  It's all in perspective- a little bit of thinking positive about my weight and my journey and a whole lot of persistence.