gifts of kindness

Since losing my dad, we have been so very fortunate to have been blessed with an abundance of kindness from friends and family.

Today I gathered all of the cards and notes we have received. So many took the time to write a kind note, share a story, or a fond memory they had of my dad. I was touched by each and every one.

The most unique gift we received was from a dear friend down the street. She brought two bottles of wine with instructions...one bottle is for now, when we need to stop for a moment and regroup; the 2nd bottle is to be opened on my dad's birthday (December 30), to celebrate him.

One of my brothers spoke during the service. One line that my brother said has been replayed a hundred times in my head.

"Our dad was a gentleman but to our mother he was a gentle man."

That word...gentleman. It was the single most often used word to describe my dad by those that came to pay their respects. And I am oh, so proud of that.

no more putting it off

oh my. what a week.

first week back after being out of the office for 6 days meant my box was full, my email was over-flowing and i had a lengthy list of things to tend to. i'm caught up now but felt like i was running on overload for 5 days. by the end of friday, the tension in my shoulders was almost unbearable. couldn't wait for a weekend of nothing. but then i got a phone call on friday which didn't allow any time/room for relaxation.

mortgage company requested a value assessment update on our home. so that means a local rep will be stopping by this weekend to take photos and to obtain a list of updates we've done to our home since time of purchase (we requested pmi be removed from our mortgage...that's what started this). well you know what that means don't you? i mean anytime a complete stranger wants to come in and take photos means that i need to get busy with and take care of that ever present list of things to do. like the stack of items to be donated to salvation army that has been accumulating in the guest room? well, they must go NOW. the basement that i've been ignoring for months? well, it must be cleaned NOW. the kitchen counter that has accumulated many cards, tax docs, etc.; well it must be cleaned NOW too. the last 2 years of tax documents that are in boxes and need to be put in storage. well, NOW is a good a time as any. the christmas tree skirt that got washed after the holiday but has been waiting to into the storage box? so, can you guess what i did today? yes, today. in just a couple of hours. why is it that these things have been on my list foreveh but i didn't do them? oh, i know. no sense of urgency! well there was now. and they're done. whew! crossed several un-fun things off my list in a day.

so now that i feel a sense of accomplishment, i sat my self down and celebrated with a bit of quiet time on the computer.

wishing you all a very productive weekend. i'm feeling quite satisfied now.

making my own fix...again

Sunshine does a body good. Unfortunately we haven't had much sun here this week. The obvious conclusion would be that my body isn't doing good. Right? That's not entirely true but I might be lacking in vitamin D due to lack of sunshine.

Last time I needed a sun fix, I made my own.

This time my fix isn't the color of sunshine but it does remind me of spring. Unfortunately this particular food item traveled all the way from Peru. Yes, Peru. I realize that purchasing this wasn't the most "green" thing to do but it made me feel better. Is that bad? There are worse things, aren't there?




Don't those little green sprigs just make you think spring? They're so pretty. Green. Like grass. Oh, I can't wait to walk barefoot in the green grass.

And this little bowl of orange picked me up too. Roasted sweet potatoes. Mmm.

One of my absolute favorite foods - roasted, baked, candied - any way you fix 'em, I'll eat 'em.

At least I'm eating my colors.

No sunshine expected this weekend either. Just gray, rain and snow. Yuk, yuk and double-yuk. My state of mind is starting to look a little gray too. Yuk again.

I just read this post....sounds whiny....sorry.

what do you get?

What do you get when your 16 year old girl has a big dance/date night?

A messy bathroom. Very, very messy.

But as bad as the mess is, there are also some upsides....good conversations in the bathroom while she's primping, being asked to do her eye make-up because she can't which must mean that I can, getting to back-comb her hair and advising on accessories.

These days won't last long so I'm enjoying them. Even with the messes.

(Disclaimer: yes, the wallpaper is bad. very bad. it is so 80's. removing it is 2nd on the list of DIY projects.)

a new month / a new menu plan

January has been a doozie of a month. Between losing my dad and Lawman's episode, the last week has been most difficult.


Monday begins a new month. I hope it's uneventful. I could do with 28 days of nothing out-of-the-ordinary.


And with beginning a new month comes the need for me to organize myself in the kitchen. Namely, a menu plan.


Lawman and I did a grocery run a couple of days ago. We allotted ourselves the usual $225 for 2 weeks. We spent $123. Hmmm....I'm pretty sure that means I forgot several items.


The following are the dinner meals through February 7th. I don't usually plan side dishes but I always have salad fixings and veggies on hand. I just kind of fly by the seat of my pants other than the entree.


French Bread Pizza (I used to make french bread pizza regularly but haven't in ages. Read this post and it inspired me to make it again.)

Beef Stew w/potatoes, carrots

Chihauhau Chili

Crescent Chicken Ring

BBQ Chicken Meal (crockpot)

Pulled Pork Sandwiches (My boss, bless his heart, brought over 3# of shredded smoked pork.)

Chicken Noodle Soup (leftovers from Lawman's episode)

Fried Polenta, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon

What's on your menu? Share it in the comments or leave a link.

i panic, lawman takes a trip, and i play nurse

Oh peoples...what a week. And yesterday was enough to put me over the edge.

Lawman came home from work early yesterday with a stomach virus. It escalated. Panic ensued. 911 was called.

Lawman's little stomach virus was a doozie. I heard him in the bathroom, heard the toilet flush then a thud. He passed out. Hit his head on the counter and then on the toilet bowl rim. I got him to come to and then it happened again. It took everything I had to catch him. I couldn't get a response from him.

This is where I panicked and called 911. And of course, given his line of work, I knew the dispatcher on the other end. I also knew the police officers and EMT people that showed up. Yes, they sent the ambulance. 2 cop cars. You know the neighborhood was wondering just what in the world was going on. Lawman was alert again, of course, before the help arrived.

Lawman refused treatment. He was fine. Didn't need any help. I insisted that they check his vitals. They checked out ok. Lawman signed the paperwork and went back to bed.

Well, it happened again. An hour later. I called our dr. and he said to take him directly to the hospital. So the youngest blonde and I loaded him in the truck. I was prepared for a fight out of him. I didn't get it though which tells me he felt lousy and was finally willing to admit that there was something going on.

Upon arrival, they checked him in and started the IV, took blood and gave him meds to calm the stomach. Dr. came to see him after clinic hours. Lab worked turned out fine. Checked vision. He was seeing double when he looked to the right. Dr. said he wanted to keep him overnight. Fine by me. Also said the double vision could be caused by a small fracture under his eye due to the fall. Did x-rays this morning to check for that; still waiting on results.

We're home now. Lawman is under house arrest. His orders are to assume the position on the couch and stay there.

I'm playing nurse. And as all good nurses know, chicken soup is a cure-all. There's a big batch cooking in my crockpot.

in honor of my daddy

I am standing by the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength,
and I stand and watch
until at last she hangs like a peck of white cloud
just where the sun and sky come down to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says, 'There she goes!
Gone where? Gone from my sight - that is all.

She is just as large in mast and hull and spar
as she was when she left my side
and just as able to bear her load of living freight
to the places of destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.

And just at the moment when someone at my side says,
'There she goes! ' ,
there are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout :
'Here she comes!'

In memory of my dad, Edgar Griffin (12/31/1926 - 01/22/2010). Loved by all, missed by all.