Sprained Ankle Update

It’s been a month since I sprained my ankle. It’s basically taken this long for me to be able to walk comfortably and normally on it. 

The hardest part has been at night when I’m awakened by the pain. I’ve tried elevating it, but I seem to flip and flop so much I’m sure the ankle tendons are being stretched. 

Last week my son-in-law Will gave me a support brace that has made all the difference in the world. Up to that point I was using a very cumbersome support brace or an ace bandage which did very little good at all. 

For the first time in twenty-four days it felt the best it had. I’m not quite out of the woods yet, but I am encouraged. I am going to slowly increase my walking to help strengthen it without over doing it. 

I’ve also started taking some turmeric capsules to help with the inflammation. At the beginning I was taking Advil for the pain, but I didn’t want to take any more than I really needed. 

It’s amazing how in one moment everything can change. Lucky for me this has really only been a month out of my life. I count my stars that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. 

Sadly I’ve given up my beloved Keens because they had become too stretched out, and provided me with no support when my foot stepped down on the ledge between the driveway and the garage. 

It’s time to invest in some new shoes. 

Easter Egg Hunt

The boys arrived home from preschool today holding two Easter eggs each. They had dyed them at school that morning, and the youngest insisted that he carry his into the house. 

It didn’t take long for him to start playing with his insisting that they would not break. He rolled them down his Paw Patrol race track, and placed them on top of his cars as he made his way along the carpet. 

Next he decided to hide them. He went back to his bedroom and playroom and then beckoned me to come find them. 

I walked into his bedroom and there laying quite conspicuously on top of the bedspread was a pink egg. The second egg was nestled quite conspicuously between two tractors. 

Im not sure he fully gets the concept of hiding eggs!

But he was quite pleased with himself and thrilled when I found them. 

I think what I got the biggest kick out of was how much fun he was having playing with two hard boiled eggs.

Update

By the end of the day both eggs had been cracked. After the second one cracked he proceeded to stomp on the egg and squish it to smithereens. Needless to say he wasn’t a happy camper at that point. 

Front Porch View

 One of the things I’m really looking forward to when we move to our new home is spending as much time as possible out on our front porch. 

Our front porch runs the entire length of the house and is ten feet wide and covered. It faces the most beautiful view of rolling hills in the distance. We purposefully built the house to take advantage of this view. 

The porch is long enough, and wide enough to accommodate a table and chairs for coffee drinking, dining, and writing. It also has room for a comfy seating area to spend time with friends enjoying the weather and the view. 

I’m also envisioning a stand alone hammock for a summertime snooze. Actually the possibilities are pretty limitless. 

I do envision three little boys playing with their tractors and cars on that porch as well. 

If the front porch won’t do there is also a large covered carport (big enough for square dancing) which provides a view of the pond. 

The back porch is covered as well and is around one hundred square feet. This will be the perfect place for outdoor grilling, and gives a great view of the backyard and the barn. 

On Saturday I sat on the front porch and snapped a picture of the view. It sure was peaceful out there. I’m also including a picture of our Redbud tree which was a total surprise to me, as we must have missed it last spring. 

Porch living is sure looking good! 

Shutters

We have shutters now! What a difference it makes in the look of the house. 

Once the door is painted black and the black light fixtures are added this house is going to pop!

Each week as we make progress this becomes more real. Along with the shutters the plumbing,  and the electrical is being done. 

Next week will be spray foam insulation, and the cabinets are being made as we speak. 

I know we are going to love this home!

As For Me and My House

Chuck and I spent some time last Saturday writing Bible verses on the framing inside our home. 

I had originally gotten the idea from a church we had attended that was in the process of building a new sanctuary. They had encouraged church members to come write their favorite verse before the building was sheet rocked. 

I loved the idea and knew I wanted to it with our new home. I had a few favorite verses that I knew I wanted to use, but after checking online I found a couple who had coordinated the verses to the different rooms in their house. 

We went from room to room writing verses that were appropriate for that area of the house. I plan on recording each verse so that we can remember what we wrote in each room. 

We feel very blessed to be able to live closer to Will, Brittany and the boys, and thank God for this blessing. 

“Write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 11:20

 

Group Think

In Rolf Dobelli’s book The Art of Thinking Clearly he discusses the concept of group think. He defines it as this:

“This is where a group of smart people make reckless decisions because everyone aligns their opinions and supposed consensus.”

Why would smart people do this? Apparently when we are part of a group we want to be liked and accepted so we are more apt to just go along to get along. 

Including a devil’s advocate in a group can aid in better decision making.

Don’t succumb to group think because in the long run it might not be in your best interest. 

Gifts

I have a very insightful friend who understands how our education system can lose sight of what is really most important. She knows that we all learn differently, and are gifted in unique ways. 

Unfortunately for those square peg kids who don’t quite fit in that round hole world, school can be a daily struggle. I tried my best as a teacher to accommodate individual differences as much as possible. 

I’ve found it interesting, though, that we don’t expect all kids to be gifted artists, musicians or athletes. However, when it comes to academics we expect all kids to excel in these areas.

Interestingly when your gift happens to be academics often times you don’t value it because “everyone” is supposed to be able to do it.

I always enjoyed writing, but never really considered it a talent or gift. Over the years as I was required to teach “writing” to younger and younger children it saddened me that some children disliked it so. 

Although, I was not ever an athlete, or a gifted artist or a natural songbird,I was a good student. I actually enjoyed studying for tests, and most of the time didn’t mind doing homework. 

In fact when I was in third grade one of my favorite things to do was write extra credit reports straight out of my Britannica Jr.  Little did I know that plagiarism was a real thing. What I did know was learning about exotic things like kelp and sweet potatoes was fun. 

I always felt sad that I did not have an actual talent- you know the kind you did for a Miss America pageant. I knew that pageants would never be in my future without some amazing talent act. 

As I continued through school I never really considered my intellect to be a real talent. Everyone was expected to read, write, and to do arithmetic. It mustn’t have been anything too special if everyone was required to do so. 

Meanwhile, I sat back envious of my friends who sang like a songbird or drew like Leonardo. Even my drill team friends who choreographed dances were all pretty amazing to me. 

I remember when the school I taught at started hosting College Week. Although, in principle it probably sounds good to encourage children to go to college. However, is encouraging ALL children to attend really such a good idea?

I know of students who incurred high college debt, but never actually received the degree. I’m hoping that schools today encourage students to follow paths that better suit their own gifts. 

My nephew recently shared a Career and Technology Center that his engineering firm had just completed. My sister had worked at one of these fine facilities in her community. To me this is the direction of the future. 

College really isn’t for everyone and that is okay. 

Out of the Mouths of Babes

This weekend Chuck and I traveled to Comanche to celebrate Brittany’s birthday. We knew we wanted to take her and her family out to dinner. 

While getting ready that morning I chose a little nicer shirt than I normally would. We arrived around ten, and met everyone up at our property. 

We spent the entire day together, and then made our way to Stephenville for dinner. If you’ve never eaten there I highly recommend Greers which is located on the square. Delicious food, and great prices for the amount of food you get. 

We had finished up dinner and were sitting at the table when my youngest grandson blurted out, “Mimi why are you wearing your pajamas?” We as well as the server got a good laugh out of his impromptu remark. 

I assured him that it was my shirt, and not my pajamas. However, I knew exactly why he had asked the question. Both my shirt and the pajamas he sees me in each week are the same shade of blue with a similar print. 

What made me laugh more was that it had taken him all day to notice!

Photographer

A photographer is a “person who takes photographs either as a profession or a hobby. 

I’m claiming to be a photographer as a hobby.

I’m sharing a few of my favorite photos. 

Full Circle

I was lucky to spend the morning of my daughter’s birthday with her. As I watched her two sons proudly hand her their homemade cards, and enjoyed a breakfast of bacon and biscuits 

made by my son-in-law, Will, I counted my blessings. 

Brittany is now the same age as I was when I gave birth to her. Coincidentally she is pregnant at this age as well. Of course, this is her third, but still it was a full circle moment for me. 

What I realize now was that day she came into the world I had no idea how sweet my life would be. Being her mother brought me so much joy, and now getting to be a part of her family’s life is the icing on the cake. 

I always felt she was born under a lucky star with her St. Patrick’s Day birthday, but now I’m realizing that it was me who had the luck of the Irish all along. 

Foraging

As you know to forage means to “wander or go in search of provisions.”

Wray Herbert in his book On Second Thought writes that humans have a basic desire to focus in on something and make it their own. He calls this the Foraging Heuristic. 

Herbert states,

“The Foraging Heuristic is what makes us explore, peek around the corner, and learn new things.”

In doing so we generally come across something that catches our interest, and results in us focusing more on that particular thing. This is how we oftentimes choose our hobbies and careers.

What I found interesting about this was the degree to which people forage. Some are searching for variety and novelty, while others are quite content with certainty and predictability. 

I found myself to fall more in the first category. Over time I become restless for that next new thing. It’s for this reason that I don’t think I could have ever honed myself to the level of expert in one area. I would have become bored too easily. 

Herbert proposes that by sticking with the known we might have the luxury of not actually having to make a decision. Decisions can be risky if we make the wrong one. Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. 

I’m not really overly risk adverse as long as I’m making decisions in my comfort zone. When given the choice between returning to a favorite vacation spot or visiting someplace completely new I’m generally on board for the place I’ve never been. 

Of course, knowing I’ll be traveling with Chuck is my comfort zone. We have travelled so many times together over the years that we know each other’s rhythms, likes and dislikes. 

However I know many people who have a favorite vacation spot that they return to year after year. Just the anticipation of returning brings them joy throughout the year. 

So it appears that we all forage to some degree.

Thorns or Wildflowers?

“Some people could be given an entire field of roses and only see the thorns in it. Others could be given a single weed and only see the wildflower in it.”

Amy Weatherly

Something to think about. 

Property Update

We’ve got an air conditioner now.

We’ve also got a water line from the street to the top of the hill. 

And finally the shutters arrived!

The Mimicry Heuristic

Heuristic- Mimicry Heuristic

Definition- the tendency to unknowingly copy those around us.

Example- Perhaps the best example of this is my oldest grandson who emulates his dad in dress, manners and even the accent he uses. He is very aware as he watches my son-in-law and his friends, and does his best to fit right in. 

How This Can Work Against Us- For me my Jr. High and High School years were perfect examples of this need to fit in which played havoc with me. Prior to adolescence I was quite content to basically be me. The comparison game was few and far between at that time. That all changed around the age of thirteen as I began to mimic those more popular, and in my mind more beautiful young girls, I saw each day at school. 

How To Be More Aware Next Time- I wish I could honestly say that today I never fall prey to this heuristic. Unfortunately it does ugly head does creep in from time to time. Luckily, my basic survival does not depend on being one of the “in crowd” any more. Just like all heuristics, just being more aware of a situation can help walk you off the ledge of reverting back to your teenage years. 

Recount a Time You Used This Heuristic- I remember when I was in Jr. High one of the popular girls decided a certain type of plastic hair barrettes was the thing to wear. It wasn’t but a matter of weeks that everyone else had jumped on board. Anytime she or one of her friends got a new pair of shoes there was a mad rush to Baker’s Shoes. Sadly I remember being a poorly put together replica of my “idols.”

Plan For What to Do Next Time- Remember the words of Teddy Roosevelt, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

The Scarcity Heuristic

Heuristic- Scarcity Heuristic

Definition- When something is scarce we tend to think of it as more valuable.

Example- Perhaps nothing explains this better than the Beanie Baby craze of the 90’s. Let’s just say I have several tubs of these “valuable” commodities up in my attic. I remember my daughter daily calling the local gift shop in town checking to see if they had received any more inventory. I also remember spending quite a bit of money on the rare Princess Diana Bear. 

How Can This Work Against Us- I remember in my mid-twenties just about the time Princess Diana was marrying her Prince Charming, that I found myself interested in a guy who normally would not have been my type. As I think back on it now, the pickings were slim in my suburban community for singles, and his value definitely increased due to him being male, single, and pushing thirty. (Marrying age you know) Luckily, he didn’t turn out to be my Prince Charming.

How To Be More Aware Next Time- Just like Beanie Babies and boyfriends, it doesn’t hurt to step back for a moment, and evaluate the situation. Just because something is rare at the moment doesn’t mean it’s best in the long run. Don’t allow the scarcity of something to foolishly up the ante.

Recount a Time You Used This Heuristic- Several years ago one of my favorite things to do was to look for “treasures” at garage sales and thrift stores. Since these items were generally one of a kind, and not easily found their value increased exponentially in my eyes. Add in a rock bottom price, and you had me sold. What did T. Barnum Bailey say? “A sucker is born every moment.” What I ended up with was a houseful of Knick-knacks that eventually found their way back to Goodwill. 

Plan For What To Do Next Time- instead of rushing in as “fools” seem to do, again take a minute to consider if that rare, valuable item is really something you really want? By the way if anyone collects Fenton Glass I’ve got a blue vase looking for a new home. I just couldn’t resist. 

The Fluency Heuristic

Heuristic- Fluency Heuristic

Definition- The easier an idea the more it is to be accepted, even if it is wrong. 

Example- During the pandemic it has been easier to understand sound bites of information, rather than to investigate further.

How Can This Work Against Us- We can be quick to base decisions on information that might not be fully sound. It has been challenging to know exactly who to believe or trust as we have navigated something none of us had ever experienced before. We may not be making the decisions that are best for our health based on the information we have been given. 

How To Be More Aware Next Time- Hopefully in regards to what we have experienced this last year we never have to repeat it. However, one thing this pandemic has taught me is to keep digging and questioning. It used to be common place in medicine to get  a second opinion. Today with so much being censored it has been difficult to find dissenting views. Just because something is hard to understand doesn’t mean it doesn’t have credibility. Challenging ourselves to think critically just might benefit us in the long run. 

Recount a Time You Used This Heuristic- I would say more times than not when I scratch my head trying to make sense of things like the stock market, politics, the economy and anything else I deem “over my head.”  I’m not a patient person by nature, and if something doesn’t come quickly or easily to me I’m quick to move on to the next thing. Relying on the simpler idea might just be a lazier way of thinking for me. 

Plan For What To Do Next Time- Sometimes when I don’t fully understand something it’s just a matter of locating someone who can explain it better. Or even better if you know someone personally that can explain it to you, reach out to them for an explanation. It doesn’t always work, but at least you’ve taken the time to try to learn more about the subject before making a decision. 

The Familiarity Heuristic

Heuristic- Familiarity Heuristic

Definition- Our natural inclination to favor the familiar over the unknown. 

Example- Because we tend to think that anything familiar will be more reliable or safe, we often choose the same products that our parents chose. 

How This Can Work Against Us- Wray Herbert, author of On Second Thought, reminds us that, “The known is not necessarily better than the unknown.” We very well may be missing out on something much better by being hesitant to try something new. 

How To Be More Aware Next Time- When automatically choosing a familiar product consider trying something new for change. I always buy Bounty paper towels because I find them to work the best. However, recently I came across someone espousing Viva paper towels. I’ve decided to give them a try next time just to see the difference. 

Recount a Time You Used This Heuristic- I use this one all the time. For years I always used Dobie Pads to scrub my dishes because my mom always used Dobie. Once when they were not available I purchased another brand, and have found them to be better because they have two scrubbing surfaces. So today I use Scotch-Brite.

Plan For What To Do Next Time- I’m going to challenge myself to try something new the next time I’m at the grocery store. 

Heuristics

I’m excited to do a little series this week on something called heuristics. The word may be unfamiliar to you, but you will immediately recognize it in your own life.

 

Heuristics according to Wray Herbert, author of On Second Thought, are “cognitive rules of thumb, hard-wired as shortcuts that everyone uses every day in routine decision making and judgement.”

They are a way of helping us not to overthink the myriad of decisions that we make in a day. Unfortunately though, they are not perfect, and sometimes are irrational. 

I’ll be covering four of these heuristics this week, and would love to get your input on how they may play a part in your life. 

I’m totally fascinated by what people, including myself, think and do. Not to get me off the hook for bad behavior, but learning a little more about heuristics has helped me to better understand some of the decisions I’ve made in my life. 

If you are interested in learning more about this, as I’ve only scratched the surface you can find more information online. 

Framing

Brittany, Will and the boys stopped by to check on the house for us last Sunday. 

The framers have begun inside, and for the first time we were able to get a real sense of the room placement. 

It was very exciting to see it all coming into place. I was particularly pleased with the size of the pantry and closets. Apparently for me I’m all about adequate storage. LOL!

Although, I love my present home I was very spoiled by the storage of my last home. I’ve been able to adequately store everything here, but nothing is easy to get to. 

I’ll share with you one of my favorite rooms closer to the completion of the house. It’s a dream come true for me for sure. 

Along with the framing the tubs were also dropped off at the house. The large garden tub in the master bedroom was kid approved by the boys. 

They let their parents know there was plenty of room for the soon to be three boys. I must say my heart melted at that remark. 

Barn

Oh my! We have a really nice barn on our property.

I’m so happy that we went with the traditional red with white accents style barn. 

It looks great sitting back behind our farmhouse. 

This is really getting real!