Category Archives: Circle of Life

Snowbound

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Around here, it’s been a while since we had a weekday snowstorm large enough that even Sir Beads had a “snow day” from work!

It’s a winter wonderland out there. 🙂

View From My Kitchen Window

What a gift it is to have a day with no formal schedule besides jumping up every so often to peek out the window and watch Mother Nature frost the trees with fluffy icing.

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During the afternoon, there was time for a little crafting along with the snow shoveling. Suddenly, I had the idea to look for “old” snow photos and I found a couple to show you…

Here I am with my oldest daughter in 1978. At that very moment, I was 9 months pregnant with her younger sister!


And here in the mid-1980’s is that aforementioned younger sister, whose motto has always been: If life gives you snow – make a snowman! (In this case, a “snow dino”!) 😉


It’s going to be Laziti here for supper, tonight.

Nothing like the warmth of pasta on a snowy evening!

Snuggle up!

Hugs,

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On the Road Again

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I’ve been thinking of specific things I’d like to accomplish in 2011. They’re not exactly full-blown resolutions. They’re more in the vein of readjusting my focus. As I mentioned the other day – I want to “mapquest” a new and improved life’s itinerary! 😉


So, here they are in this installment of Lucky Seven:

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7 Things Crystal Wants To Do in the New Year


1. Read More!
Reading is the first thing that suffers when I’m short on time. But, I love to read. When the Kindle first came out, Sir Beads surprised me with one for my birthday. I need to get back to using it more.

2. Eat Breakfast On Weekdays!
Ever since I was a kid, I have been unenthusiastic about breakfast – except on the weekends. I’m just not hungry when I jump out of bed. If I have a busy day planned – the last thing I want to do is sit down and have a meal. I like to grab a cup of tea and start working. I know this isn’t good for me. They say that you need “fuel” to start a fire of energy to get your body cranking on all cylinders. They also say that people who eat breakfast are thinner. Hmmm, now that got my attention! 😉

3. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!
Lately, my lists have lists. I have to develop some real shortcuts to accomplish the things I need to do . . . or maybe I should decide if anything I’m doing can be eliminated entirely.

4. Cook Something New!
We all have our favorite meals and our stash of “go-to” recipes but it’s easy to get into a rut. I want to test new dinner ideas in 2011 to add a little more variety to suppertime!

5. Pare Down the Clothes Closet!
Boy, am I ever the poster girl for the old saying: We wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time! This is the year to face the fact that some of what I’ve been saving would get much more use if it were donated.

6. Cull Out the Collections!
I love pretty things (Who doesn’t?), but I’ve come to the conclusion that too much energy is expended on dusting, cleaning, and caring for them. I’m going to keep my absolute favorites and the rest will have to go.

7. Create A Studio – Finally!
This is the big one! I haven’t ever had a large space dedicated to my creative endeavors. Oh, I had a little craft area in our basement when my kids were growing up. It was clean and bright with pegboard and shelves installed by Sir Beads for my supplies, and a pretty rug to make it cozy. The problem? There was no heat, which was ok in the summer but in winter I felt like Bob Cratchit working by the heat of a candle (not exactly, but you get the idea!). Eventually, I decided that working in the living quarters was more comfortable, even if I did have to continually take all the supplies out and then put them all away again – daily! Talk about time-consuming.

My kids are in their own homes now and there’s no reason why we can’t turn one of the bedrooms into a wonderful workspace. (Film at 11:00, well, sometime before 2012!) 😀

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How about you?

What would you like to do in 2011?

Hugs,

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We Need A Little Christmas

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Right This Very Minute . . .

I‘ve noticed that most years I can easily catch the Christmas “excitement”, but there are some years when I seem to have a much tougher time getting into the holiday spirit. This has been one of those tougher years.

I’m not really talking about shopping, wrapping, decorating, or writing cards. I’ve already done a little of all those things in the last few weeks. I’m referring to that light-hearted, joyous, feeling we’ve all experienced during holidays past – the feeling that it’s fun and not just a mad dash to finish everything in time.

The point is, I like love that feeling. I’ve been waiting for it to grab me ever since Thanksgiving, so I was especially happy that it arrived over the weekend. The impetus? Hubby’s company’s annual Christmas party.

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Held on a Saturday evening, the party is always a lovely event. There’s a wonderful dinner, dancing, party favors, and most important of all – the time spent with good friends. Sir Beads has been with the company for 28 years; so many of his co-workers are practically family now. I must admit, I didn’t think I was in the mood to get all dressed up and go this year. It had been a really busy week, and the thought of just relaxing on Saturday night was quite tempting. But we’ve never missed the party, and I figured I’d be glad I went – so we did.

The room literally sparkled with elegant Christmas decorations. There was soft lighting, which made for a very warm, almost dream-like, atmosphere. During small pauses in the chatter at our table, my thoughts wandered to happy Christmases of the past – not only from my own childhood, but also throughout my marriage, and especially from the years when my daughters were small. I felt a spark of excitement, and then that feeling began to grow. By the time the evening ended, I was breathing a sigh of relief. My usual enthusiasm for the holidays was back!

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There are only a couple of weeks until Christmas, but now I’m ready to finish the preparations. It won’t be just a blur of chores and lists to complete. Heck, I may even drop a few of those “to-dos” from my usual list.

It took a while to get it this time, but now that the Christmas spirit has finally arrived, I’m going to focus on enjoying every second.

Hugs,

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A Christmas Tale

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Each year, as I am about to write my Christmas cards, I’m reminded of a December day long ago . . .

At that time, Crystal was a young lady, about 19 years of age. She had just accepted a new job in the office of a manufacturing company. She hadn’t been there too long before she met Sir Beads. Although she already had a boyfriend, she found him very charming and enjoyed talking with him. She learned he was new to the area and lived alone in a small apartment.

Crystal thought that must be rather lonely. She wondered if he ate properly or if he could even cook! Crystal was the oldest of six kids and her mother always prepared more than enough food, so Crystal began to bring Sir Beads home after work to assure he got a decent meal – sometimes!

Her family liked Sir Beads immediately. Her Mom would often scold her, though, for leaving the table to take phone calls from her boyfriend, while Sir Beads waited patiently, chatting with her brothers and sisters. Crystal didn’t see it as a problem. After all, when she met Sir Beads, she already had a boyfriend; surely Sir Beads wasn’t expecting her to be his date.

One day, as Crystal’s mother was writing Christmas cards, she asked for Sir Beads’ address. Crystal began to rattle off the street and number – but suddenly her mother interrupted:

“Wait! I want to get my address book and write it in there, too!”

Crystal laughed and said;

“Oh, Mum, don’t bother! I won’t even know him next Christmas.”

By the time the next Christmas rolled around . . .

Crystal and Sir Beads were married. Not only did Crystal still “know” Sir Beads, but she was signing his name along with her own on “their” Christmas cards.

She didn’t realize when she first met him that he was “the one”.

He, however, has said he knew from the start.

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