Pinterest Fail

Pinterest fail. 

Since the creation of Pinterest we have all been given the opportunity to enter the world of Pinterest perfection or NOT. 

My own Pinterest fail this past holiday was a creamy cookie dip that sounded delicious. It was made with cream cheese and powdered sugar, and was decorated with red and green sprinkles. I had actually chosen it because I couldn't get too excited about baking cookies this year. 

Everything seemed to be working out as planned until I couldn't locate the red and green sprinkles. I searched two different grocery stores, but to no avail. Perhaps waiting until the last minute did not help. 

As I often do my most creative ideas come under pressure. I had made some nut and date balls earlier in the season, and they had been rolled in crushed peppermint. I got the "brilliant" idea that I could crush the remaining candy, and sprinkle it over the top. I'd end up with a festive touch, and none would be the wiser. 

My Pinterest creation looked perfect as I placed it in the refrigerator the day before Christmas Eve. It even still looked good when I arrived at the party. What I hadn't counted on, though, was what happens to crushed candy canes after they reach room temperature sitting in cream cheese. 

Before the end of the night I realized that they had begun to melt, and when red and white blend together you end up with pink. In my efforts to save the little Pinterest darling I stirred the cookie dip together, and ended up with a slightly pink gooey mess. NOT quite so appetizing. 

Now although the flavor would pass muster, the fact that we eat first with our eyes made the whole thing not very appetizing. I'd have to claim a Pinterest fail on this one!  Maybe next year I'll stick with cookie baking. 

Thirty-nine Years

Thirty-nine years. 

Thirty-nine years ago on December 27th my mother died. She had been diagnosed three months earlier with lung cancer, and although in 1978 lung cancer was technically a death sentence no one told her children she was going to die. 

Two days after a very sad Christmas she left this earth, and left behind a grieving husband, and six children ranging in age from eight to twenty-two. I being the oldest had known her the longest, and perhaps was the luckiest for having done so. 

As I look back on those thirty-nine years I have come to the conclusion that although, I was fortunate to have made it through my childhood years with a mother, I and my siblings really missed out on not having a mother during our adult years. 

Of course, the no mother at your wedding or at the birth of your children are obvious reasons.  However, it wasn't until my own daughter was an adult that I fully grasped the depth of my loss. 

I remember reading a book long ago by Hope Edelman entitled Motherless Daughters. Her book stressed the fact that no matter what age you lose your mother each age brings its own set of consequences. 

I had really only known my mother during my girlhood, and had entered my adult years on my own with no one to offer any advice or guidance. As my adult daughter turned to me with questions I realized for the first time that I had never experienced that. I pretty much had maneuvered my way through my adult life on my own. 

This year was a little sadder than most because it was the first year that both of my parents were gone. I found myself on the verge of tears several times as I reflected on that fateful day thirty-nine years ago. I can honestly say it was the single worst day of my life. 

A broken heart eventually mends, but it seems to want to protect itself from further harm. Thirty-nine years is a long time.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias.

Right before Christmas Chuck and I visited the grave sites of his mother, and my mother and father. Our journey took us to three different cemeteries. At each one we left a small, red poinsettia plant. 

The poinsettias were actually a raffle prize won at my retired teachers' Christmas luncheon early in December. I was lucky to be enjoying the company of three former co-workers who had all purchased raffle tickets. To be honest it had kind of slipped my mind, and I had not purchased any. 

As they started calling out numbers each one of my friends handed me a raffle ticket when they noticed I didn't have any. I kiddingly said that if I won I was going to give the prize to whoever owned the ticket first. As it turned out all three of my friends won prizes in the raffle. At that point they handed me all their extra tickets. Remarkably the next number called was mine. What were the chances that all four of us would win?

As I made my way up to the front the remaining prize was three small poinsettias. I actually was quite pleased because I was needing something festive for my back porch, and knew that at the end of the season I would not have to find a place to store them. 

They decorated my patio for three weeks during the day, and I would lovingly bring them in at night so they wouldn't freeze. Right before Christmas, which was the tenth anniversary of my mother-in-law's death, we made plans to visit her grave. I suggested bringing one of the poinsettias. 

Since the National Cementary was just down the road from Chuck's mother's grave we decided we would check out the Wreaths Around America that had been laid at Dad's grave. Chuck said why not bring another poinsettia for Dad? 

At this point it only made sense to drive a few more miles down the road to my mother's gravesite to drop off the third poinsettia. I couldn't help but smile at the journey of these three little plants. They began as table decorations on our table, became mine only through the generosity of my friends, added a festive touch throughout the month of December, and found their home at the grave sites of our parents. 

It was a beautiful day, and the perfect opportunity to rehome our festive little plants one final time. 

Light

Light. 

Light has a way of spilling into the darkness. Each of us has the capacity to make a difference in someone else's life. Christmas is that time of year that reminds us that giving really is better than receiving. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas. 

"It is a greater thing to give light than to simply have light, to pass on to others what you have contemplated than just to contemplate."

Thomas Aquinas

The Elf Not on the Shelf

The elf not on the shelf. 

My daughter's generation just missed the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon, maybe I should say that the parents of my daughter's generation just dodged a bullet. From what I've read and heard this whole Elf on the Shelf thing has gotten way out of control. 

I suppose as with many things these days we have to blame it on Pinterest, and the competitive nature of parenting. I'm sure when the little Elf was first introduced the creators envisioned simply moving it to a new location each night providing a little hide and seek for their children in the morning. 

Except, with the Pinterest generation this would never be good enough. Parents would now be required to spend hours on end coming up with one unbelievably amazing adventure after another for this sprite little guy. Now I must admit, I have enjoyed some of the pictures I've seen, and am always amazed at the creativity of others, but I'm sooo glad the pressure of perfection was not so prominent when raising kids in the 90's. 

More so, I can't help but be amused as I remember my own elf experience as a child. Once when I was around four years old my father was doing the dishes after dinner one night, and he turned to me to let me know he had just seen an elf peeking in our kitchen window. Now I always took the words of Santa Claus is Coming to Town quite literally. I knew that Santa had a list that he carefully checked twice, that he knew if I was sleeping, and whether I was naughty or nice. 

Perhaps this is where my rule following nature began, but I remember being quite pleased that the Elf had checked in on me, and was on his way back to the North Pole to give Santa a good report. More than anything I can't help but think about the simplicity of the 1960's Elf Not on the Shelf!

Stone Soup

Stone soup. 

I've been contemplating lately whether or not to buy an Instant Pot. I've heard many good things about them including their ease of use. 

To be honest though, the two main reasons I haven't gotten one is lack of space, and wondering if I'd really use it or not? When you have a small kitchen, space is a priority, and you find yourself only hanging on to the things you really use. Although, the Instant Pot allows for quick cooking,  now that I'm retired I have nothing but time. The need for quick cooking really isn't that critical for me.  

I have found that my crockpot seems to work pretty well,
and I do already have a place to store it. The other day I found an Instant Pot recipe for 15 Bean Soup that could easily be made the slow cooker way. When I saw the package of 15 beans at the grocery store I was immediately intrigued. Besides looking like a kindergarten art project dream, it fit perfectly with my plant-based eating plan. 

I thought I could easily throw the beans in the crockpot, and be along my merry way in no time. The beans could cook all day, and when I returned later that day dinner would be ready.  

Now apparently when they say slow cooker they really mean it. Along with the amount of time needed to cook the beans, the recipe required quite a bit of prep time. As I found myself chopping, onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers and jalapeños I couldn't help, but be reminded of one of my favorite stories that I used to read to the kids when I taught kindergarten.

Back in the day when kindergarten was really fun, and we were allowed to cook and serve food without a health permit we used to make Stone Soup. Each child would bring an ingredient from home, and I would provide a stone. As you may remember the main character of the story was hungry and no one would feed him. He cleverly convinced the villagers to help him prepare soup made from a stone. Of course they are all tricked into adding vegetables and even a bit of beef to the pot.  Who would have thought you could make soup from a stone?

Now although my soup is missing a stone, I'm pretty sure it's going to be good. As far as the Instant Pot goes, I think I'll continue using what I already have, and not add another appliance (cough, cough breadmaker) to my already somewhat limited storage space. 

Act, Not React

Act, not react. 

I had a situation happen to me recently that I did not handle well. In fact, my initial reaction only added to it accelerating way beyond it ever should. 

One thing that I know about myself is that I am quick to react. My thoughts race in my head, and before I have a chance to say don't you do it, I've already blurted something out that may or may not be appropriate. 

I seem to have an opinion about everything, and am not shy about sharing it whether you care to hear it or not. My altercation the other day was actually with a complete stranger, and now that I've had time to reassess the situation I wish I had reacted differently. 

Perhaps, the fact that I reacted is probably the real issue here. As I often do when faced with a problem, I turn to the wisdom of others for guidance. One thing I came across was the idea of action vs reaction. In thinking about it I realized that sometimes the best action of all is choosing not to react. 

In retrospect I wish I had done the latter. My level of embarrassment and blood pressure would definitely have thanked me. Another nugget of advice was to, "attack the problem and not the person." I realized that in attacking the person, I had done nothing to alleviate the problem. 

As much as I like to think I've got everything under control, I'm humbly reminded time and time again of my shortcomings. However, now that it has been painfully brought to my attention, and I have two good strategies to help me, I pray that I'll handle the next unpleasant situation in a more productive and appropriate manner. 

"Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it."
Charles R. Swindoll

Freezer Meals

Freezer meals. 

This past Saturday my daughter and I spent the day making around twenty freezer meals. She is expecting our second grandchild in January, and we realized that we were running out of available weekends if we were going to do so. 

This is the second time that we have done this, and we found it much easier this time. I did some of the prep work ahead of time by chopping up the onions, celery, bell peppers, and carrots. We also took advantage of grocery store pick-up this time, and Chuck and I headed down with the groceries in tow. 

We decided that Chuck would be on grandson duty while Brittany and I were busy cooking, so we wouldn't have too many interruptions. We actually had two cook areas as she used the stovetop, and I used the electric skillet. It didn't take long for us to knock out spaghetti casserole, chili, marinara sauce, sausage and rice casserole, taco meat and enchiladas. 

I had picked up round aluminum pans for each meal before we left, and they stacked nicely in the freezer. Brittany headed up to the local grocery store for some rotisserie chickens, and we finished off with a chicken spaghetti and chicken and dumplings. All in all we were only in the kitchen for a few hours, but ended up with several weeks of meals. 

As we anticipate the birth of our new grandson or granddaughter, since our daughter and son-in-law chose not to find out the gender this time, it was a good feeling knowing they will be well fed. 

Doppelgänger

Doppelgänger.

They say we all have a twin somewhere in the world. 

I think I might have met my youngest sister's the other night. Chuck and I were trying out a new restaurant just around the corner from our apartment. He pointed out a woman who he said looked remarkably like my sister. I turned to check her out, and was taken aback at how much she resembled her. 

In fact, pretty much everything about her was a carbon copy, even down to her long curly locks. I kiddingly sent my sister a text questioning whether she was secretly back in Texas? I explained to her that her twin was sitting just a few tables over, and included the ever popular tears streaming down laughing emoji. 

It was then that Chuck and I got the idea that we should see if we could get a picture of the woman to send to my sister. Telling someone was one thing, but showing this remarkable phenomenon was even better. 

Now the wonderful thing about being in the sixth decade of your life is that things you would have never consider doing before come quite easily now.  I scrolled through my pictures, and found a fairly recent photo that pointed out the similarities between the two. As bold as brass I went up to the table where she was sitting with a large group of friends, and apologized for interrupting. I then shared with her, and her friends the picture of my sister.

They all were quite shocked at the resemblance. I asked if she minded letting me take a picture of her to send to my sister. She good naturedly agreed, and a few minutes later I was sending her photo to my other siblings playfully texting that I had seen our New England transplant sister at a local establishment. 

The other really interesting thing about the whole experience was not only how much she looked like my sister, but how even her mannerisms were the same. Each time I caught a glance of her I couldn't help but smile thinking I was hanging out with my baby sis. 

I must say that the whole experience was one of those delightful little kismet moments that sure makes life fun. That, the good company of my husband, and some tasty food made for a really good night. 

Reframing

Reframing.

I was reading something the other day about the benefit of reframing, and realized that this was a habit of mine. 

My husband commented on this recently when I automatically pointed out the good in a bad situation. This ability to look for silver linings really can help contribute to a happier life. 

I never kid myself that we can't be faced with inconveniences, unfortunate situations or even tragedies, but I have found that even in the worst of circumstances you can find the good if you look for it. 

This was clearly revealed to me over the last few years as I journeyed through my father's dementia. As heartbreaking as it was to see a once brilliant, independent man struggle to complete a sentence, the people I met along the way helped make an unbearable circumstance into a bearable one. 

In fact, not only bearable, but pleasant. Now I'm not saying every second was pure joy, but there was joy, and I learned to look for it in the most unsuspecting places. So many of the people who touched our family during that time were the silver linings that saw us through a difficult time. 

I think maybe my Dad himself was a silver lining as well. The day we took him to sell his car, knowing full well that he would never drive again, and was returning to his new home in assisted living, he pointed out how beautiful the clouds were as we stopped at a red light. 

A few months later as he sat in the dentist's chair to have a cap repaired, his face bruised and scraped from a recent fall, he stared out through the large picture window at the clouds. Once again he remarked on the beauty of what I was beginning to learn must have been a favorite of his. It seemed remarkable to me that Dad was still taking pleasure in the simple things, although his circumstances really gave him no reason to. 

Whenever, you asked Dad how he was he always replied with a resounding, "Fine." He could be heard whistling as he went through his daily chores as my stepmother's caretaker. He cared for her for thirteen years after her untimely stroke, and never once did I hear him complain. He seemed to meet each day with a smile, and did what needed to be done whether he wanted to or not. He also confided in me that he said his rosary daily as he ran his errands in town. My father's faith was strong and true. 

We can learn a lot from our parent's example, even into our adulthood. My natural ability to reframe things, might not be so natural after all. Maybe my knack of looking for silver linings was learned through following his example. Either way I sure feel blessed to be able to do so. 

Not Relying On What You Already Know

Not relying on what you already know. 

When I made the decision this summer to change my eating habits to primarily plant-based foods I began a new culinary journey. 

You see up until this time I had a repertoire of meals that I basically rotated through each month. Occasionally I would try something new, and it may or may not have made the cut into the rotation. 

However, when I completely changed my way of eating all those old recipes no longer were applicable. I began a search on Pinterest, and liked several new sites on Facebook in an attempt to find new meal choices. 

What I found, was not only  a variety of new meals, but some of the tastiest meals I had ever eaten. I don't know if it was just that my palette was awakening to something new, or perhaps what I had suspected before that the vegetable when properly prepared really stole the show. 

Each week as I sit down to plan my meals I really am enjoying looking for new and different recipes to try. As I grocery shop I'm finding that what fills my cart today is so much different than even just a year ago. My new food groups now include beans and legumes, grains, fruits and vegetables. 

They say variety is the spice of life, and I'm finding this culinary food journey to be just that. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of plant-based eating you might want to check out Forks Over Knives on Facebook. It's a great starting place even if you are only interested in adding Meatless Monday to your food rotation. 

Sometimes being forced out of your comfort zone really does open new doors. 

Shopping Extravaganza

Shopping Extravaganza.

About a week ago someone made mention to me that we only had three weeks until Christmas. Panic immediately set in as I had not done any Christmas shopping yet. 

You see, for years Black Friday was my go-to shopping day. I actually found the early morning adventure quite enjoyable, especially when my daughter was able to join me. You see if you could get out there early enough, and plan your route ahead of time then it was possible to get most of your shopping done within a few hours time. 

Unfortunately, I didn't make it to Black Friday this year so I was starting from ground zero. I went ahead, and actually wrote down a shopping date on my calendar, and when the day arrived I set out to my old familiar stomping grounds. It just made sense to return to Frisco where I knew the lay of the land. 

I began my shopping spree at my old reliable Walmart, where I knew the sheer volume of merchandise would help mark several items off my list. I was actually quite proud of myself as I piled my goods high and deep on the conveyer belt. Check, check, check, Santa duty almost complete. 

My next stop was the mall where I noticed the number of shoppers had increased exponentially as by this time it was afternoon. However, I was still able to make my purchases pretty quickly, and headed home before rush hour. After surveying my haul I felt really good about all that I had accomplished that day. 

 I finished up with a little online shopping the next day, which although expedient was not as much fun to me as the real deal. But, either way, between the two I was able to get about 98% of my shopping done in a short period of time. Now all that's left is the wrapping, and because I bought gift bags this year that ought to be pretty easy. 

Now that the shopping is done I better set my sights on the Christmas cards. You know what they say, "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" And I'd have to agree.

'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season.

I couldn't help, but give some consideration to consumerism during this time of year. In fact, I found myself reflecting on the idea that our economy really is based on consumerism, and apparently my Christmas shopping does have an impact. 

However, I couldn't help, but also reflect on the fleetingness of consumerism. It sometimes seems that no matter how much you have, there is always something more to want. Advertising does a good job of pointing this out, especially during the holidays. 

I was thinking, though, about how important Christmas presents were to me as a child, and how Christmas Eve was the longest night of the year. My parents had a strict rule that we were not allowed to wake them up before six a.m. to open gifts. I remember how my brother and sisters, and I would sit on the stairs watching the clock slowly tick by. 

In fact, one Christmas Eve my sister and I got up well past midnight, and cleaned our room in an attempt to pass the hours. Of course, back then Christmas and birthdays were usually the only time you received gifts, and the anticipation was half the fun. 

I've reached that point in life now where my wants are few, and coming up with a Christmas list isn't as easy as it used to be.  Last year Chuck and I decided to forgo Christmas gifts as we had spent hours decluttering the house just a month before, and it seemed kind of silly to bring more stuff into the house. However, this year we are celebrating a more traditional Christmas, and look forward to opening gifts on Christmas morning. 

"Possession of a few goods is important for a well-ordered life."

St. Thomas Aquinas

Before I Knew You

Before I knew you. 

I was looking at a picture of my grandson that popped up from a year ago on Facebook. I remember it was one of my favorites as it really captured his newborn adorableness. 

Except, I realized that I really didn't know him then. He was about a week old, and I knew I was crazy about him simply because he was my grandson. Now that I've got to know him better over these last two years my love for him is over the moon. 

As I watch his little personality shine through I find myself, not only laughing more, but pondering in my heart what he will be like as he grows older. He already has his own ideas about what he likes, what he doesn't, and how you should go about getting things done. 

What I have noticed about him is that even at two years old I would not use the word random to describe him. He is very focused and deliberate about what he chooses to do. His favorite thing are trucks, and tractors, and he seems to be able to entertain himself quite longer than I would have expected someone his age to do so. 

Although, his screen time is very limited his favorite show is Mighty Machines, which I like to refer to as the documentary of children's programming. He is quite fascinated by the live action footage of all kinds of vehicles; the bigger, the better. 

He loves to go to work with his Daddy, and help out on the ranch. He takes his chores quite seriously, and has been known to haul a mini-sized bale of hay over to feed the animals. We have a video of him doing just so, and as he walks away he wipes the dust off his hands as he returns for more hay. 

His talking is starting to take off, and he even can call me by name. I live for FaceTime, and his smile just lights up my day. He loves to laugh, play, hug, and even help his Mom whip up a batch of cookies. My blessings abound with this one, and cherish each time I get to spend with him. 

I just thought I loved him the day he was born, but little did I know how much that love would multiply over two short years. 

The Big Guy

The Big Guy. 

We got some sad news in our community this past week. Our beloved Santa Claus, known affectionately as "The Big Guy" passed away. 

Many of my friends with teenaged children have been visiting this Santa since their children were born. My own little grandson had had his picture taken with him twice already, and was scheduled later in the month for another. 

Perhaps for me my greatest memory of him was when my sweet daughter had her picture made with him when she was fifteen. You see it became apparent early on that Brittany was not comfortable with Santa. She even told me once when she was quite young that her reluctance was that she did not like his big beard. 

As a result we never once graced a Breakfast with Santa, and I never had a yearly photo of her with Santa. To be honest, I was disappointed because I had a certain romantic notion about childhood, and had envisioned it including Santa.

Fast forward about ten years. As is her practice, Brittany gives very thoughtful gifts, and her picture with Santa was one of my most treasured gifts from her. She did confide that she still felt the same way about him even years later, but she wanted to do something special for me. 

Although, I never knew the Big Guy personally, in fact I never even knew his name, he played an important role in the life of our community. This week many of my friends have posted their cherished pictures of this man who brought so much joy to many. 

Rest In Peace, Big Guy knowing that you made a difference in the world, and helped to spread Christmas cheer. 

Blogger Friends

Blogger friends. 

I really love to blog, and it has become a labor of love, and something I look forward to each day. That being said, it doesn't mean that there aren't times when trying to come up with an idea for a blog post isn't a challenge.  

Most of the time I try to be aware of what is happening around me, and to be open to inspiration. However, sometimes when I get too busy, or don't have enough time for reflection I find myself wondering if I should continue?

That's where a couple of my friends who blog really play an important part in my continuing to write. Their support and encouragement really help me get through any dry spells I might be experiencing. 

If I have technical difficulties or questions I can turn to them for answers.   In fact, one of my blogging friends, a friend from junior high, reached out to me the other day to offer some advice about a glitch that was preventing my photos from loading to Facebook. 

I appreciated her input, and it meant the world to me that she offered her help, as she too had experienced the same thing. Her advice helped to fix the problem, and my frustration over what was happening. 

My other friend, who I met through the thirty-one day writing challenge a couple of years ago, helped me create the "button" needed in order to participate this year. I feel quite certain that without her assistance I probably would have not followed through with the writing challenge. 

Having this small community of other writers is just another reason why I enjoy blogging so much. Knowing that you are not completely on your own in an endeavor can certainly make all the difference in your continued success. I feel quite blessed to have these two individuals in my life. 

Decisions

Decisions.

I was thinking the other day about how I deal with decision making, especially something of importance. What I discovered was that for me often times the best thing to do is to get the decision out of my head. 

In other words, if I write down the pros and cons of the decision, I seem to do a better job of deciding, and of feeling more at peace. I think sometimes I give myself too many options, and allowing them to juggle around in my brain just results with being overwhelmed. 

I've also learned that sometimes just sleeping on a decision can make a big difference the next morning. So learning not to to act or should I say react too quickly is really the better way to go. I remember one time making a decision based out of anger, and retiring that night determined to do one thing, but the next morning I awoke to realize the error of my ways. I was so glad that I had not acted upon my first impulse. 

Of course, I also seek council through prayer that I am headed in the right direction. As much as I think I'm capable of handling all situations, I know ultimately who is in control of my life. 

Knowing yourself, and what works best for you really is quite freeing. Although, to be honest I still have to remind myself of this, and not allow an important decision to get the best of me. 

It Takes a Village

It takes a village. 

I was reminded this weekend that many hands make light work. My grandson turned two this last week and my daughter planned a birthday party for the weekend. 

Mind you, she had just returned from visiting her in-laws over Thanksgiving in another state, is eight months pregnant, and lives in a small town where her favorite go-to store is an hour and a half away. 

However, her Amazon Prime membership and its two day shipping saved the day. She had gathered several ideas on Pinterest for a train-themed party, and set to work ordering the needed supplies. 

I came up a day early mainly to watch the little guy so she could grocery shop, and set up for the party. Chuck arrived that evening after working late, and the next morning he and my son-in-law took on the task of transforming the backyard. 

We were fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day in the high seventies, a rarity even in our neck of the woods, so having the party outside provided plenty of room for everyone.

Chuck had made the railroad signs for the party, and set out to affix them to the house as well as lay a set of tracks with duck tape welcoming everyone to their home. 

Brittany made cupcakes, and decorated them into a number two shaped train track complete with little train cars on top. Will, my son-in-law worked his magic on some pork roasts providing pulled pork and coleslaw for their guests. 

Brittany decorated the table to Pinterest perfection, and I ran to pick up the balloons and ice, and pitched in to help with the preparty cleaning, as well as my favorite job of all, Mimi duty. 

What began as questionable at 9:00 in the morning pulled together beautifully by 2:00. 

The turn out was great with friends and family enjoying the beautiful day together. Our little two year old was showered with an abundance of tractors and trucks, and spent most of the time digging in the dirt testing them all out. He did devour two cupcakes, as chocolate seems to be his new obsession, along with anything with wheels. 

The party turned out beautifully, and although my sweet daughter was tired at the end of the day her vision, and mad party planning skills did this Mama proud. Happy Birthday little guy!

Maintenance

Maintenance. 

In Weight Watchers after you have arrived at your goal weight you go onto what is called maintenance. Basically, you are given a few more points each day as you are no longer trying to lose weight. 

I'm in maintenance right now, and I'm beginning to get nervous. You see when it comes to losing weight I'm a champion, albeit a slow weight lose champion, but successful none the less. I can honestly say that I can stay on the program for months and months, and never waver. However when it comes to moderation that is where I struggle. 

It may sound strange, but Gretchen Rubin describes it as either being an abstainer or a moderator. I definitely fall in the abstainer category as it is sooo much easier for me to just say no, and do without, than to open the floodgates of moderation. 

I handle the routine and stricter guidelines of dieting so much better than I do the freedoms of moderation. Except, I know I don't want to regain my weight so I'm looking for answers as how to do better on maintenance.

With the holidays approaching I don't want to miss out on the special treats of the season, but I also don't want to gain back the pounds I have worked so hard to lose. I think I need to recommit to following the guidelines of the program. Making sure I continue to track, and not

miss any meetings should be able to help keep me on the road to success. 

"Consistency creates success."

Amy Johnson-Mrs. Plant

The Pencil Tree

The pencil tree. 

This year's Christmas tree is just perfect for our apartment. It's slim size still allows for me to open and close our patio door while it fits snugly in the corner.  At first I considered using a small table top tree that we had at the farm, but I knew I would be limited in the number of ornaments I could hang.  

Last year in our attempts to downsize we cut down our own tree, and decorated it with homemade ornaments. Although, that fit well into where we were at this time last year, I knew this year I wanted to be able to decorate in a more traditional manner. 

Needless to say, I was happy to be reunited with all my favorite ornaments that I have collected over the years.  I personally prefer an artificial tree, especially a pre-lit one over a real tree. I know that many people love the smell of pine, but unfortunately my sense of smell is not the best, and a real tree means daily watering, and vacuuming up pine needles. 

Decorating the apartment took very little time, and I was happy to display my Willow Tree navity scene sans a few farm animals on the decorative ledge in my dining room. Unfortunately there is no fireplace to hang the stocking from, but that won't keep them from being filled and delivered on Christmas Day. 

We also purchased a wreath for the door, and a little countdown to Christmas snowman with exchangeable numbers. On the patio railing we affixed three Christmas bells for a festive touch, and they look really nice. 

Even if you live in a smaller space, you can still pull out some of your favorites, and enjoy that holiday feel without too much effort. I'm enjoying viewing my little pencil tree each night while sipping on a cup of tea, and am looking forward to Christmas this year. 

Ornament Abduction

Ornament abduction. 

One of the things I've really enjoyed about technology is the ability to actually see my grandson in real time. Watching him play with his toys is one of my favorite things, and yesterday did not disappoint. 

Apparently, ornament abduction is a real thing, as his family's Christmas tree looked a little sparse near the bottom. As it turned out the culprit was my adorable grandson. Of course, who could blame the little guy for wanting to play with the Santa on a tractor ornament? And who would deny him a tiny Christmas apron ornament to hook on to that said tractor?

Snatching the Fisher-Price barn ornament, was quite understandable when you noticed the horse tucked inside. Who knew ornaments could be so much fun? Between the tree in the living room and the smaller version in his bedroom he's really enjoying the Christmas season this year. 

As much as a picture perfect tree might be desired, I'm glad my daughter lets him rearrange all her handiwork, and I'm glad technology shortens the distance between us. 

Dreams

Dreams.

I think we all have some type of dreams for the future. While some have very specific ideas, others may be more vague, but not any less important. 

When we are young we have health and time on our side. We generally have the health to make many if these dreams come true. However, as you age the reality that you are not as young as you once were becomes clearer each decade.

Perhaps for me this began around the age of forty when I realized I couldn't sit on the floor "criss cross applesauce" with my kindergarteners anymore without resulting in aching hips. I guess it was around that time that my move to second grade made more sense. Sitting in a chair to teach became my new norm. 

As I reached my fifties I realized that standing on one foot became more challenging. My balance just wasn't what it used to be. Packing up my house and moving during my sixties was much more exhausting than I had remembered it almost twenty years before. 

Now my reason for pointing this out is that  although our dreams may still be the same in our heart and head, our physical self might not want to cooperate anymore. I have a dear friend who is finding this to be the case in her circumstances. Even the difference of three years can be felt as she and her husband work hard to accomplish their dream. 

In speaking with her the other day I mentioned the fact that, your health really is your number one priority to living your dreams. As I wrote about the other day, unfortunately we don't always have full control over this factor. My friend had experienced this many months ago when she suffered an unexpected injury, that out their plans on hold. 

I am convinced, though, that despite this fact we can have control over what we choose to eat, and the level of activity we include in our life. Just beginning with small changes might help to get the ball rolling in living a healthier lifestyle. At my age I also ascribe to not choosing any extreme forms of exercise in hopes of returning to that first century body we may have once sported.  

If our physical body is not in good health then it doesn't matter what our dreams may be, if we are physically incapable of achieving them. That is why taking our health seriously before it is too late is so important. 

The good news is that there are so many resources readily available today. I suggest beginning with discovering how you meet expectations, both inner and outer. Taking Gretchen Rubin's Four Tendency quiz online is a great way to start. It will enable you to understand yourself better, and what strategies will work for you. As an upholder I'm completely clueless as to what will work for a rebel. However, Rubin's research can guide you in the right direction. 

As you begin to research what eating styles will work for you don't just jump on a bandwagon. Some "fad" diets have been shown to be unhealthy in the long run. Although, weight loss is generally a good thing make sure you are doing it correctly. Look for credible resources as you do your research. 

Although, no relation, Langston Hughes pens it quite eloquently when he writes, "Hold fast to dreams, For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird, That cannot fly." Don't allow your dreams to be grounded by not taking good care of yourself.