When is "enough" truly "ENOUGH"? - the Habit of MORE........

     I don't think I'm the only one who notices, but during this time of year EVERYTHING seems to be OVER THE TOP....Decorations, Spending, Wish Lists, Sales, Sales and even BETTER Sales....Rushing around, Just one more thing....
                                                  ...... it's everywhere....and it's LOUD. 
     I don't mean the Noise, necessarily, but LOUD. CHAOS... like, it hurts my head loud.   Hustle and Bustle is an understatement.  Many seem to be so focused on finding that "perfect gift", buying way too many items or searching for the Perfect Outfit for the Party...that they forget to stop and take a look around.

     What is everyone REALLY searching for, anyway?  I know it can't be the sweater that won't fit this time next year, or the new video game which will need replacing in a few months because a newer, better version will be out.  Is it the purse or jeans or perfume you just simply must have?  No.
I don't think it is.

     What I THINK everyone is searching for is that sense of contentment. The sense of belonging. Of feeling needed or wanted.  We are creatures of habit.  We all have Traditions, many even were born out of favorite memories from our childhood.

     Have you ever TRULY stopped in the middle of a crowded store, or mall this time of year and just watched?  WATCHED? Observed.  Read the faces of the other shoppers.  I bet you'll find many of  what I did recently:

1.     The shopper with their arms so full it's clear they had amazing luck finding the perfect gift....or did they?
2.     The shopper with one very small jewelry bag, and a smile in hopes the treasures they are about to share make someone a bit more "blingy"
3.     The kids dragging along behind the grownup still in search of that perfect gift, and the visit with Santa behind them all.


This time of year EVERYONE struggles with SOMETHING.  Be certain to have more patience, more smiles, more generosity, more understanding.

These little things are much bigger than any present you can wrap.

Old Tool Sheds - New Perspectives

My oh my, I just realized it has been since September when I last posted....on the site, anyway...In my MIND, I've posted quite a few times.... Wish I could get wireless syncing between the brain and the computer...wouldn't THAT be something.!

So much has happened since my last post.  Much of it, quite stressful, heartbreaking and challenging.. However, those who know me well enough, also will quickly realize, that while I've been in the trenches, It's there that I find the most strength to fight back and return with a vengeance. Perhaps not the trait I'll put on my next resume, but a trait which I was taught growing up and has served me well, especially in light of recent events. It's the traits I learned as a child, which carry me through my days.

Growing up, I was the youngest of 6 kids, raised by Grandparents from the time I was 5. While sad in ways of not knowing my Mom (she was killed in an auto accident); I think I also got the best of both worlds.  My Grandparents, 50 and 63 years my elder, were raised during the depression...when the word "recycled" wasn't a cool eco-status word, but a necessity of life. I spent my life wearing "re-made" hand me down clothing.  Can't remember ever shopping for new clothing.  My Gram usually just refashioned my sisters clothing, or fabric, whatever she had on hand, into a new item for me.  

She cooked that way, too.   It was from her that I learned to look in a pantry, see what was available, and somehow, creatively, make something not only edible, but of substance and would feed many.
Odd combinations. Sometimes pretty nasty.  But, food. And to date, I can still do the same...although I do strive to make it edible...and yes, there are still things I cannot even begin to stomach...ie. Hamburger Helper...with tunafish....hot......aarrrgghhhhh.....

My Pop, was the ULTIMATE  "recycler".  He would put many of todays recycling -gurus to shame. Not only did he not know HOW to waste anything, he knew how to MAKE just about anything from the stuff he had in his work shed.

Ahh. The work shed.  This is the place I refer to as the Holy Grail of the backyard.
It was just a tin metal storage shed.
Nothing fancy. 
But, a wonderland of metal, scraps, tools, trinkets, screws, nails, saws, sawdust....
The smell of old oils, lubricants, dirt...
The smell of creativity just lingering....waiting to be had.

It's here that my Pop engaged my love for power tools, crafting, wood and metal.  It was HERE that my Pop would disappear for hours on end..to his peaceful spot.  A cup of coffee, an open tool shed and Pop sitting under the Grapefruit tree, enjoying the peace.

I was privileged to share a lot of his precious peace with him under that tree and in that tool shed.

Between the two of them, I was well educated in the finer arts of making something from nothing.

A trait which has served me well throughout life. 

Tough growing up that way? Yes. Not exactly the "dream".. Would I trade it? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Growing up where and how I did provided me strength as an adult I would otherwise not have. Strength which has brought me through so much as an adult, especially over the most recent 5 years most especially the past 7 months of the year.

Does anyone wish for hard times. Heavens NO..  Do I cherish the lessons it taught me.
ABSOLUTELY.

So, for now.  During these hard times, I reflect on Pop. I take comfort in smelling old tools...hardware stores... gathering strength from lessons learned.

I know Pop would be proud.
And TODAY, that's enough to keep me going.