Sunday, November 8, 2009

catchup session - MOSAIC MONDAY

MOSAIC MONDAY:

“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.”

―Dave Meurer


wedding collage

I am excited to say that Saturday I did my FIRST wedding! Okay, haha, just kidding, I followed Cortney around and shot photos while he was working the wedding - and here they are in a mosiac! I had a lot of fun because I knew most everyone there. Cortney let me tag along and get some experience and I have to say that it's a lot harder than it looks! Go here for a collage of some of my pictures!

This is my entry to Mosaic Monday - head on over to Mary's place and see this week's entry. Oh, and while you're at it, bring some homemade chicken soup - she's been sick!

wedding mosiac

Friday, November 6, 2009

29 gifts

It was still dark when the radio-alarm went off and I was half in this world and half in the other! I could hear a girl being interviewed on a talk show and all I could remember from the interview were the words, "29 gifts"! Isn't that funny how your brain works when you're half asleep? When I awoke the words "29 gifts" was fading fast so, I made a b-line to the computer and googled it. As I read, her remarkable story started to come back to me as my brain did remember the words of the interview. I was impressed by her ideas and thoughts and decided I would like to participate in this world-wide movement. I thought it would be helpful to my soul as we soon will be participating in Thanksgiving.

I remember Cami saying that 'your gifts' did not have to be big - something simple, something small - just give:

My gift:
I was in WalMart the other day - one of my first outings after coming down with H1N1. I didn't feel that great - it was just good to be out among people again. I was walking down an isle and heard a 'beeping' sound nearby. I looked around and saw an older woman trying to maneuver her riding cart close to a box of cereal she wanted. Over and over she tried, without success, to reach the box she wanted. I watched as person after person walked right past her - no one offering to help her! I was stunned - so I simply went over and said, "Here, let me get that for you!" I loved the smile on her face as I placed the box in her cart!

My gift:
I was at the checkout stand when I heard a voice behind me say, "Gloria, do you have an extra penny in your till?" She quickly replied "No!" There was a cute older lady standing at the checkout stand and she was SHORT {1} penny for her purchase! No one in her line responded and no one in my line responded either! Again, I was a little shocked at the unconscious state everyone was in! I pulled out my change purse and said, "Here, I have one!" The woman's face lit up as I handed her {1} penny. I didn't think much of it, after all I had 100 more in my purse! I turned around and started to hand the checkout lady money for my purchase and the look on her face surprised me - you'd of thought Brad Pitt just walked by! "That was very nice of you!" she said. I was taken back - I mean, it was only a penny! But, in a split-second of time someone needed something and I had what she needed.

The gifts I gave only cost me 'a penny' - and some don't have to cost anything - just your time. How fun is that.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

it's been forever . . .

Winter is coming on strong - devoid of color. I now look to the sky for the blue it has to offer until the pretty pinks, purples, green and yellows reappear in the spring.

devoid of color

. . . since I sat and just wrote! I've missed a lot of journaling so I'm going to try harder to stick with it. Zero desire has been factoring into my decision to just sit and look at the computer rather than keep updating daily 'haps'! I think that's fairly normal after being sick for a prolonged period of time - like, what's the point - all I've seen for the past week is the living room and bathroom - what's so fascinating about that?!

I got to see the 'outside' world today and Gma and I actually got some Christmas shopping done for the grandkids! When you're shopping for 13 of them, it can be a real trick to find just the right thing! Well, we found it today and they're going to love em' . . . anyway, I would! So, now I can officially say, "Let the Christmas shopping begin!" Ugh! I have approximately zero ideas lined up - so I thought I would let the Spirit of Christmas guide me through the season in hopes I will be inspired as I go along! However, if ANY of you out in blog-land would like to post a comment and leave a few suggestions/ideas - I'd be happy to compensate you for your trouble!

Whitney and Schuyler are separated! Yes, that's right - you heard it first here. It's sad, I know - what else can you do when you need work and there's no work in the valley? Separate! Schuy went to Utah to do construction and Whitney is working in both Victor and Jackson at salons! Morgan is babysitting for Whit while she goes to work all day tomorrow. You've never seen a girl so excited to be getting out of school to babysit! Opps, shhhhhh, mum is the word!

Cortney came up tonight, without the family, just to be safe since I've been so contagious the past week! I would have been so cool to have Ash and the boys come a stay for a few days but, quite frankly, it's not worth chancing it - Cort is even sleeping over at Tyler and Nicole's . . . just in case! He asked me if I would go with him and help him shoot the wedding Saturday night! Sweet ha! So, I'm going to give it a try and see what happens - what have I got to loose - fire me?! Haha.

About a month ago, Bob was called into the superintendent's office and told one of the principal's in the district had a heart attack and asked if Bob would fill in until he came back! Being the 'every-so-obedient' guy that he is, he accepted and is actually acting as the "traveling" principal at two local elementary schools. Another principal had back surgery and isn't doing well and won't be back for some time. So, he jumps from job to job in his quest to make things run smoothly - his 30+ years working as principal at the high school served him well! He said, it's so funny when he calls kids into the office to discipline them, all he has to do is look at them and they start crying - so different from the high school where many will 'F' you off or give you the finger! How funny is that!

Tyler, Nicole and Dottie will be leaving us very, very soon. They are making a bold move to Reno. Both Ty and Nic are saying their goodbyes to family, business associates, friends and neighbors as they ready themselves for their move to Reno. They are going this weekend to find a place to live and scope out their new city/state. They will be moving in two weeks. I am basically 'heart-sick' as I'm really going to miss them. They drop in often, eat Sunday dinners together (and many others), play tennis and basically have fun. Nicole and I share a lot of 'common-things' (inside joke) - I think we're going to be on the phone a lot together calming each other down (ha, Cole!).

Gma is back to 100% - least-wise she informed me yesterday as we traveled to Idaho Falls together! She was very sick and I thought we could loose her - it wasn't looking good. She's back to her normal sassy-self and no more doctor appointments. We really do have fun getting ready for the holidays - even though I seldom like to admit it!

Went and saw the Michael Jackson movie - loved it! I realized, perhaps for the first time, just how many of his songs I 'adore' - I mean really love! The movie captured a side of Michael that was endearing, human, kind and humble! I would have loved to have seen that concert, live - it was an amazing feat they were attempting to put together - astronomical would be a good word! I was truly sad that we lost him when I left the theater - a true craftsman and talent.

The weather is changing and getting colder - but actually, our highs are in the 50's - not bad for November! Leaves are about gone off the trees and neighbors are pounding 'snow stakes' by the sides of the road so the snow plow doesn't destroy their lawn during winter months. The snow can get pretty deep in these parts!

One last interesting statistic! Usually, Thanksgiving around here we feed anywhere from 10 to 25 people around our table! This year it's going to be 5 - maybe 3 ! ! ! This is the year everyone is G.O.N.E. and it's going to feel pretty-dang W.E.I.R.D. I'm thinking "take-out"!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

take this info and run with it

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS, DRM, DNB (Internist and Thryoid Specialist) who shares the following insights as to how to prevent or mitigate H1N1 and other flus.

He states:

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu).

1. Frequent hand washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of the face (other than eating, bathing)
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (Listerine is fine if you don’t like salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate (grow) and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. Gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of this method.
4. Clean your nostrils at least once every day using Q-tips dipped in warm salt water. You can also use a Netti Pot.
5. Boost natural immunity with foods loaded with vitamin C.
6. Drink many warm liquids like herbal tea, coffee and hot water with lemon. Doing so helps clear viral populations by sweeping them down into the stomach where they are not able to survive.

"I'm going right now to gargle and swob ! ! ! !"



Monday, November 2, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

it's over, gone, done

Fall, that is - last of the color has now dropped to the forest floor - until our next glorious splash of color arrives.

it's over, gone, done

These lovely colors were home-grown here in Idaho along the Snake River and in the amazing Swan Valley. These photos were edited very little - the colors were so intense there was no need for saturation (believe it or not)!

This is my contribution for "mosiac monday" at Mary Carroll's place. Drop by her little corner of the world, you'll LOVE what you see!

happy birthday, kandee-lou-lou


Happy Day, missy Kandee-Lou-Lou!