Country Soccer

Country soccer. 

Well we may have a future David Beckham on our hands. Our almost three year old grandson is now playing soccer, and taking the field by storm I'm told. 

Of course, it wasn't always that way. Early on in the process he didn't appear to be highly motivated. That all changed the night one of the soccer mom's brought a large bottle of Poweade for each player. Apparently this drink of choice has taken the place of the Capri Sun from my daughter's soccer days. 

Brittany said that a few sips of the sugary beverage completely changed my grandson's attitude. Suddenly he was stealing the ball, and scoring goals right and left. He'd return for another sip between goals, and dominated the field. 

Brittany also revealed that candy seemed to be the snack of choice, and was freely distributed among the pint-sized team. I couldn't help but laugh as I thought about all the city kids that were eating organic applesauce, and orange slices chased by bottled water at their games. 

You've gotta love it!

Ambivert

Ambivert.

I've been fascinated with personality tests since my late teens. I think perhaps I was drawn to them in an attempt to better understand myself. 

Except I'm not so sure they really helped because I constantly found myself changing my mind. I guess more than anything it showed a lack of self-awareness.

One of the test I've taken several times is the Myers-Briggs. One of the categories included in this test is extroverted or introverted. Now although my actions might not always show myself to be introverted in the most common understanding of the word, I have found that I draw my energy more from being alone rather than with groups of people. 

However, I also know that I do enjoy spending time with others, and my outgoing nature probably would not qualify me as an introvert. I've worked the Myers-Briggs both ways, and they both seem to fit to some degree. 

I think I've finally come to the conclusion that I fall more into another group known as ambivert. It is a balance between both. So although I feel comfortable in groups, and in speaking out, I also can find myself feeling overwhelmed and exhausted when I have too much time around others. 

As a result I find myself retreating to the solitude of my own home. Because I do seem to draw more energy from alone time, I think I fall more into the introverted category of the Myers-Briggs. 

Where do you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum?

"Nuffin"

"Nuffin."

To quote my grandson I've got "nuffin" this morning so I'll leave you with an adorable picture of him and one of the baby lambs that were born on their property yesterday. One thing that strikes me about him is the gentleness in which he holds the newborn, and the fact that he wants to kiss it goodbye each time he leaves. 

His Mom says she wishes he felt the same way about his baby brother! 

Twins

Twins. 

One of my favorite parts of the movie 101 Dalmatians is the parade of dogs who look just like their owners. Little did I realize that one day that would be my fate. Yes, it's true, Cooper and I are twins. 

It seems that my somewhat wavy hair has now become really curly. Most of the time I can blow dry it straight, but lately I seem to be fighting a losing battle. The other day after getting a haircut I let it dry on its own, and continued on my way.

The result was a whole lot of wave, and curl which looked awfully familiar to me. Later when I returned home, and bent down to pet Cooper I realized that his long, curly ears pretty much matched my new tresses. 

I'd always known that our hair color was a close match, but I couldn't help but laugh when I realized that I was that owner, who just like in the movie, resembled their dog! 

The Next Generation

The next generation. 

I'm at that age where my friends and I are becoming grandparents, and for some even great-grandparents. 

I had the pleasure of attending my best friend's grandson's first birthday party the other day. He was precious, and The Little Blue Truck party theme couldn't have been any cuter. 

It's hard to believe that so much time has passed by, and that they are old enough to have children of their own. It seems like just yesterday the girls were posing in front of the Christmas tree only a few years older than their children today. 

Ironically this newest generation is all boys so far. How lucky am I to be a part of their lives!

Yeti

Yeti.

One of my sweet sisters gave me a Yeti tumbler for my birthday last year. I was simply amazed at how cold it kept my drinks, but after moving to our house it found its home on a too tall shelf in my kitchen. 

It wasn't until a couple weeks ago that I retrieved it, and once again was completely amazed at its ability to keep a drink cold. I've been drinking less tea, and was drinking more water, but to be honest I can't say I was too thrilled about it. 

However, when I started drinking water with lemon in my Yeti suddenly it became my new favorite drink. The absolutely ice cold temperature was the game changer. That and the fact that my drink stays cold pretty much all day. I fix a glass at lunch, and sip on it all afternoon. A quick refill at dinner finds me drinking water into the night. 

Each time I take a sip I can't believe how much I like water with lemon. So thank you Carol for another wonderful gift. I'm so glad I drug out a chair to retrieve my Yeti from that high shelf. I'm not sure it's ever going to make it back on the shelf again!

Crowded Out

Crowded out. 

I was recently reading the blog of a blogger friend of mine who had written about what is essential. She had included the following quote:

"In quiet moments when you think about it, you recognize what is critically important in life and what isn't. Be wise and don't let good things crowd out those that are essential."

Richard G. Scott

How relevant this seemed to be in today's world. It's so easy to get caught up in the "good life" always pursuing that next shiny object. Sometimes regardless of what we already have it just never seems to be enough. 

Maybe even more so are all the constraints on our time. FOMO or fear of missing out has become a real thing. We are so busy trying to fill our days that there is little time left for the really important things. 

Having raised my daughter, I know how quickly it all passes by. Now as a grandparent I try to make sure my life involves plenty of grandson time. I see how young parents today are rushing their children from one activity to the next, all with the best intentions. 

Maybe having more family time is really the more essential, and shouldn't be crowded out by all the other good things. Life is certainly a balancing act, but sometimes wisdom comes too late, when requesting a do-over is futile. 

Take a moment to consider what is really essential in your life, and make sure to place it in high regard. Letting go of a few good things helps to make room for what really satisfies our soul. 

Minimalist-Not

Minimalist-not.

Minimalism seems to be the battle cry of many millennials. I've certainly been intrigued, and have done my share of decluttering over the last two years. I've done my best to not bring too much more into my home. Infact, Chuck has stated if he can't eat, drink or wear it he doesn't want it. 

Although, minimalism might be fine for some, I don't think it's a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. When we lived in our two bedroom apartment, although it met our basic needs, I found that I really wanted more space. At our home now, although it is smaller than our last, I enjoy having room to spread out, and display some of the treasures I've collected along the way. 

I've downsized my library considerably, but that has not stopped me from purchasing new books. I just try to be a little more discriminating knowing I might have to part with something old to make room for the something new on my one bookshelf. 

I've come to the belief that objects aren't inherently bad, especially if they to quote Marie Kondo, "Spark joy." I have also realized that if you have too much of something you probably won't get around to using it all. I've collected James Avery jewelry for over thirty years, and really love it, however, I find myself returning time and time again to the same pieces each day. As much as I might want to add to my collection, I'm not sure I really should. 

I think where I am now in the minimalist world is basically different strokes for different folks. If you feel like you are drowning in clutter then certainly address that problem, and start making trips to your local charity, but if you love your stuff then make sure to really enjoy it. 

The Crowd

The crowd. 

Today there seems to be a lot of crowds. Political rallies, mega-churches, concerts, festivals, and sporting events are all places where people gather in large numbers with like-minded people. 

Although, sometimes crowds can be annoying due to their sheer size, there is something reassuring being around so many people who share your passion for the same thing. The old adage, "Birds of a feather flock together," really rings true. There is comfort in the known. 

Except, that when you find yourself as one of the crowd you risk the chance of mob mentality.  You begin to stop thinking on your own, and place your trust in what others are thinking. Surely if that many people think this way then it must be right. If you begin to doubt or question the message that everyone agrees upon then there must be something wrong with you. 

Mob mentality happens on both sides of the aisle so none are spared. The challenge is being aware of it, and questioning those beliefs. It's hard to stand out in a crowd. 

"It's easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone."

Mahatma Gandhi 

Family

Family.

I kind of hit the jackpot this month when it comes to family. 

The day after Labor Day Chuck and I were able to visit with his aunt and uncle (His father's sister.) down in the Austin area. We spent the afternoon, and much of the evening catching up, and getting to tour their beautiful new home and neighborhood. Before leaving Chuck's uncle prayed a blessing over us and our travels. 

This past week I met up with two of my sisters and their families to say goodbye to my nephew who is heading off to NYC to start a new job. He's very excited about his future, and even has cousins and friends that already live there. It looks like the Big Apple already feels like home to him. 

This weekend Brittany and the kids met Chuck and I at my niece's house to spend time with her, my sister, and our precious little great neice. It was so much fun watching that next generation interact. Because of time and location constraints we don't really get to see each other as much as I would like. Watching both my daughter and niece, now mothers themselves, did my heart good. 

After our visit we headed to the square in Grandbury to celebrate Chuck's aunt's birthday. Originally I thought only one of his cousins would be meeting us, but boy did I end up surprised. Not only was he there, but his wife who is like a sister-in-law to me, and two of their sons as well. Chuck's other cousin came later, and it made for a fun evening. 

We sat out on the patio at Ketzler's Schnitzel Haus enjoying great food, great company, and great music. Our oldest grandson was surprised to learn that gold coins filled with chocolate fell out of both ears, and announced to his father the next morning Papa's magical ways. The littlest guy showed off his incredible strength as we all took turns wrestling the alligator. 

Brittany and our almost three year old grandson had prepared a cake for Chuck's aunt, and it was the perfect way to end the evening. To be honest, I had not enjoyed myself that much in a long time, and felt extremely blessed to have the love of family.

"Family is not an important thing. It's everything."

Michael J. Fox

Digital Dilemma

Digital dilemma.

I have very few photos from my childhood, and although I used to think that was a bad thing, today I'm not so sure. When you only have a few of something you seem to treasure them more, as opposed to having an unlimited supply of something. 

When I was in my mid-twenties I invested my tax refund into a really nice SLR Canon camera. My budget was limited so just like the stick shift Honda Accord I once owned, my camera was completely manual, and required a knowledge of F-stops and shutter speed. 

Now this was long before digital cameras, and actual film and developing were required. On my school teacher budget I allowed myself only one 24 count roll of film per month. As a result my actual number of prints was somewhat limited. Couple that with some photos that just weren't worth keeping, and I easily ended up with a manageable amount of photos. 

After my daughter was born, I switched over to a point and click camera because little ones don't sit long enough for manual settings. Again, I limited myself to a reasonable amount of film, except that when you capture about fifteen years of memories it actually becomes quite a lot just by default. 

When Brittany turned sixteen the world of digital and memory cards must have become common place. I know this because my seven year retirement scrapbook project ends in the year 2005. From then on it's really anyone's guess where the rest of my photos are as they somehow have been lost in a digital black hole. Maybe the correct terminology would be the cloud, but I'm not even sure they are there. 

I have downloaded some to CD's, others on flash drives, many to my laptop, but I think most are sitting on my i pad taking up valuable storage space as I am constantly reminded of by an insistently annoying pop up. 

Recently, I've seen a device specifically targeted to download photos off of your phone or tablet. I think this might be an expedient way for me to clear up more storage for my i pad. However, the even more looming issue is what the heck to do with them when I'm through? The task of organizing them into albums is daunting and not one I'm looking forward to.  

I love the convenience of digital, and the high quality of the camera on my i phone, but just like a lot of other things I own it's really difficult to let go of any of my photos. I'm not sure why I think I need ten shots of the same flower, but just having to make the decision as to which is the keeper makes my head swim. 

The funny thing is that my daughter has hundreds of photos of her childhood, but the sheer weight of them keeps them sitting here taking up my closet space rather than hers. I'm beginning to think my parents had it right, although I don't think they consciously were aware of it. Maybe a few well loved photos are the way to go. 

Pantry Heaven

Pantry heaven. 

They say it's the little things in life that bring you happiness. Well I have to admit for me it actually is a larger pantry that makes me smile. 

Over my adult lifetime I have had two styles of pantries. Either an apartment style cabinet pantry or a small closet style. Regardless, both types have always been too small. 

At our last house Chuck attached some wire shelving to the door to add more space, and I used the large upstairs linen closet for the overflow. If you remember I wrote about the apartment cabinet pantry before that I lovingly referred to as the black hole. 

One of the things I like the most about our new house is that for the first time I actually have a walk-in pantry, and I LOVE it! Not only does it store plenty of food with easy access, it also has room for a plethora of kitchen appliances, as well as my cookbook collection. 

Checking the pantry before grocery shopping is as easy as stepping in and stepping out as I take a quick inventory of the shelves. No longer do I end up with multiples simply because I couldn't see what I already had. 

Because there is room on the shelf for appliances they no longer have to take up valuable counter space. Retrieving them is an easy process as well, and when I'm through with them they find their way back to their pantry home with very little effort on my part. 

Actually being able to quickly retrieve a cookbook without completely removing others from their former under the counter home has eliminated the headache of looking up an old recipe. However, to be completely honest I rely quite heavily on Pinterest these days for the meals I prepare. I do, though, get a kick out of seeing my cookbook library there on the shelves. 

There are many things that I love about my new home, but this pantry ranks high at the top. 

"The most simple things can bring the most happiness."

Izabella Scorupco

Dont Take It Personally

Don't take it personally.

I remember one school year struggling to please a certain parent. Her child was extremely challenging, and she did not agree with how I was disciplining him. I worried incessantly about her, and it made for a pretty stressful year. 

I also remember reading The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz that year as well. Now to be honest, I really don't remember all four agreements, but the one that seemed to speak to me was, "Don't Take Anything Personally."

I kept trying to remind myself of this so as not to be so affected by her negative impression of me. However, if you are to follow this agreement to its natural conclusion this does not only have to do with negative opinions, but positive ones as well. 

You see as long as I was getting positive acclamations I felt validated in what I was doing. I walked on eggshells hoping never to disrupt the apple cart of admiration. I must admit after I retired I was able to let out a huge sigh of relief that I no longer had to carry the stress of being approved of by my student's parents. 

Fast forward almost ten years to the present where I share my thoughts and observations on my blog. Although, I have no idea who actually reads my blog unless a comment is made, I do have access to the actual number of people who check in each day. 

As I look at the numbers I find myself once again looking for validation of my posts depending on how many people actually read them. Some of my most favorites along the way have not necessarily been the most popular in readership. I always find myself a little disappointed when this occurs. When my number are high, which sometimes they are, I feel more confident about what I am doing. 

As I think back about the idea of not taking things personally I wish I was better at this. Not taking things personally can be harder than you think. 

Question Everything

Question everything. 

One of the best years of my teaching career was the year my teaching partner and I began questioning why we did the things we did. We had taught many years together, and to the outside world probably looked like we had teaching kindergarten down pat. 

That year we challenged ourselves to question why we did what we did, and to change our teaching techniques where necessary to improve our classroom. It was such an awesome, exciting year as we began to do things differently. 

Recently I was watching a You Tube video of a young woman recommending exactly the same thing. Now of course don't take the "everything" part too literally, but still embrace the idea of questioning what you believe and why?

Another idea that falls in line with this is something employed by Toyota called The Five Whys.  This entails asking the question, "Why not?" and following it through with four more whys in response to each answer. 

Author Tanner Christensen of The Creativity Challenge states, "By taking this approach...you can implore your imagination to explore possibilities you may not have imagined before."

Sometimes it's just easier to do things the way you always have whether they are the best way or not. Sometimes we do things because that's all we know, and we've never taken the time to look for alternatives. 

I find life to be more interesting when you begin to question why, and continue to search for new and different ways to do things. 

Chickpeas and Avocado

Chickpeas and avocado. 

I don't usually include recipes on my blog, but recently I came across a very unusual sandwich choice that turned out to be delicious. I thought I would share it with you today. 

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas

1 large avocado

Red onion

Lemon

Salt & Pepper

Seasoning blend

Rinse and drain your chickpeas. Then roll them between two paper towels to remove their skins. This can be a little painstaking, but is worth the effort. 

Then using a hand potato masher mash up the chickpeas, but be sure to leave a few whole beans. 

Dice up an avocado, and mash it with the chickpeas. 

Dice up about an eighth of a cup of red onion, and add to the mixture. 

Squeeze the juice of half a lemon onto the mixture. 

Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

Add a seasoning blend of your choice.

Mix all ingredients together. 

Toast two pieces of bread. (I highly recommend this step.)

Serve with lettuce and tomato. 

I've served this twice so far, and it has it has become a new favorite. I never would have thought that this combination would have been so yummy, but it really is. 

You Know You Are On Vacation When...

You know you are on vacation when...

The dead give away is when you find yourself eating a Texas shaped waffle for breakfast at La Quinta. 

Chuck and I decided to get away for a few days since he's been so busy at work. We had been wanting to visit his aunt and uncle who live just outside of Austin, and decided this would be the perfect opportunity to do so. 

We had a wonderful visit which lasted into the night, and then drove south to our hotel room. The next morning we were up early, and headed to Wimberly. We spent the morning checking out the shops, and ate lunch at The Leaning Pear which is a favorite of mine. 

We left after lunch because we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time to make it to Shiner for the brewery tour. I've decided that factory tours are one of my favorite tourist attractions, and unlike the Bureau of Engraving and Printing tour this one actually gives out free samples. As we watched hundreds of bottles of beer make there way down the assembly line I couldn't help but remember a favorite childhood counting song.

Our next stop was The Salt Lick BBQ which is a place I've been wanting to visit. Luckily we didn't have to wait at all, and enjoyed our meal. On the way out we saw a hummingbird moth for the first time. Chuck could have sworn it was a hummingbird until we took a closer look at the little imposter. 

The next morning we visited the LBJ Presidential Library. We actually visited it once before when Brittany was three months old, but the library underwent a renovation in 2012 so there was more to see this time. The library did not disappoint, and I highly recommend visiting it if you haven't already. So much history happened during the five years of LBJ's presidency, and we spent several hours there reliving the era of our childhood. 

After stopping for lunch we headed home to pick up Cooper, and were happy to be sleeping in our own bed again. Sometimes just a few days away from home is the perfect length for a vacation. 

Your Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone. 

"No matter how boring or painful your comfort zone is, if nothing tempts you out, you'll stay where you are."

A Book That Takes Its Time

Irene Smit & Astrid van der Hulst

What is tempting you out of your comfort zone?

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Sometimes if you are not careful you find yourself in a lather, rinse, repeat kind of life. Each day seems to fade right into the next. Before you know it you are in a rut.

If you have the tendency toward routine, like me, you begin to gravitate toward the lather, rinse, repeat life. However, consciously shaking yourself out of too much predictability is probably not a bad idea. 

I'm glad that the hottest part of summer is now behind us. September, according to author Gretchen Rubin, is the second new year because school begins. 

Organizations that take a break for summer start up again, produce in the grocery store begins to change, and the new season of television viewing begins. Some even take the unofficial start of fall to redecorate their homes in all things pumpkin. 

September ends up being natures way of disrupting the rut that may have been summer. I'm looking forward to getting outside more now that the weather may not be a little more forgiving. Already I'm finding myself more motivated, and look forward to all that fall brings. 

Cultivating Creativity

Cultivating creativity. 

The word cultivate originally referred to agriculture. A farmer would prepare his soil before planting. However, it actually can apply to anything that requires "nurturing to help it grow." 

Creativity is such a thing. Left alone it might wither and die, but through nurturing it can flourish. Carrie Bloomston, author of The Little Spark, believes that, "Creativity isn't something you do; it is who you are." Her book offers plenty of inspiration to be that creative person. 

Making room for creativity in your life, allowing for inspiration, and just noticing the world around you helps to cultivate that creative person within. One fun idea she writes about is keeping a jar of markers handy just in case inspiration strikes. 

"Creativity can strike at any moment and you want to be ready for it when it does."

I find it's easy to get caught up in my daily routine, moving on quickly to the next thing I lose sight of what really is important. In order for me to grow I must cultivate creativity at each turn. Listening to music, trying new cuisine, exploring the shelves in a book store, noticing the design patterns in a piece of fabric are all ways to make me more aware of my surroundings. 

Instead of worrying about what I can do to be creative I'd rather focus my energies on absorbing the creativity right before my very eyes, and being "...open to possibility, opportunity, and the moment."

"Not all who wander are lost."

J.R.R. Tolkien

And Beyond...

And beyond...

Chuck and I had an interesting culinary experience this weekend. We had a gift card to T.G.I. Friday's that we were needing to use, and as it happened we were going to be in the area where one was located, so we decided to stop by. 

As I glanced over the menu I noticed they were serving The Beyond Burger. I was intrigued because I knew that it was a plant-based alternative to regular burgers, and I had seen the patties at the store before. 

Chuck and I decided to order one after we checked online to read a little more about them. They claimed to taste like meat, and we were curious to try them out. They seemed to be getting rave reviews. 

When they arrived, at first glance, they did appear to be somewhat burger-like, except the patty was just a little too perfect. When I cut the burger in two that's when my doubts began. It actually was somewhat pink (beet juice), but I don't actually ever eat my hamburgers that rare. Also, at closer inspection you could tell that whatever it was (primarily made of peas) really did not resemble meat at all. 

When I took my first bite I was quite surprised at how much it tasted like meat. I took a few more thinking that this burger was pretty darn close to any meat burger I'd ever eaten. Except, that each time I looked at the pink, weirdly textured middle I began to like my burger less and less. I ate half, but really couldn't finish the rest. 

As I tried to explain my reluctance to finish the imposter, Chuck thought I was a little weird, until he began to notice an aftertaste each time he took a bite. What had started out for me being more of a visual thing, ended up a taste thing as well. It seemed that the taste of the burger was stuck to the roof of my mouth. 

Luckily, we were able to mask that taste with a brownie sundae so it wasn't a lost cause, but next time I'm wanting a non-meat burger I'll stick with a spicy black bean one instead.