GIT Monday

Today is what I call a Get It Together Monday.  For the past few days, I've been what we used to call rippin' and runnin' : a two day getaway with beloved spouse, tax session with  my accountant, preparation and distribution of party invites for a precious parent,  the preteen girls' Sunday School class, worship, valuable time with family, and so on, and so on...
So, on this Get It Together Monday, I gave thanks, unpacked my travel suitcase, cleared the clutter off the chair in my workroom, cleared 100 emails and my closet floor.  I even found a pair of cool sandals I'd forgotten about!  Then, I sat still for still for a while and breathed before I started my outside-the-house tasks.
Is this your GIT Monday also?
Smiles,
Sylvia

Company

I sometimes like to have company over at the house for a meal or a meeting.  The only thing is, I feel the need to prepare for company.  I was raised that certain things have to be tidied up before one invites guests to the home.  For example, items should be cleaned and dusted.  I have no problem with the clean part.  However, one might find some dust somewhere in my house, so they should not come over with the intent to do a white glove test. There are two tasks I perform if I know company's coming:  I check the powder room to make sure it's presentable.  I remove the family-comfy throws from the two chairs in the sun room.  These print throws are fine for protecting the pastel chairs from our family's spills, but when company arrives, they get folded and put away.
What is one task you always complete before your company arrives?
Smiles,
Sylvia

Texting & Talking

Have you had a good old-fashioned conversation with someone today?  You know, the kind where you look at another human and the two of you take turns speaking and listening to one another.  A recent news story predicts that we are losing the art of verbal communication because we text  and email each other more than we speak with each other.  Verbal conversation provides cues that text does not. Even when we speak over the phone, the message is more clear than in tech print. I was kind of late to the texting party, but I do use it, especially when I send info to one of my wonderful sister friends.  If I'm in a hurry, I text instead of call her because she never wants to get off the phone.  
Smiles,
Sylvia

Mom's Cakes

My mother is a great cook.  She also makes delicious, down-home cakes and pies from scratch.  Her popular cakes are German Chocolate Cake, Coconut Cake-with or without pineapple filling between the layers, and Chocolate Cake.  She also makes a mean Banana Pudding and Sweet Potato Pie. Over the years, she has scaled down her dessert repertoire, because we no longer eat as many sweets.  However, when there's a special family event, Mom whips up one or two of our favorites.  Most family members will have a slice/serving, and we get any leftover dessert out of the house so we won't be tempted.  Well, I let her Coconut/Pineapple Cake get me in trouble this week because I took some long ago promised cake to a fellow church member.  The problem: some people in the church lobby heard me tell the church member that I had the cake in my car.  Several other people lobbied me for cake slices, and there were some looks of disappointment when I couldn't satisfy their requests. Maybe next time.
My Mom's cakes rule!
Smiles,
Sylvia

Good Job

I'm often impressed with the creativity and endurance of  some mothers.  I saw one at Aldi's the other day.  This woman held an adorable, chunky, and sleeping toddler with her left arm.  His round head rested on her left shoulder. She held her child all the while she picked her groceries off the shelves and placed them into her shopping cart. When it was time to put the groceries on the conveyor belt, she did so without putting the child down.  When it came time to pay, she got the money out of her purse and still held onto the sleeping child.  She wheeled the groceries to the area where customers bag their purchased food items and began the bagging process.  She did all this with one arm.  Before I left the store, she shifted the toddler to her right arm and he stirred a little.  She spoke softly to him in Spanish, and he went back to slumber land.  She didn't appear stressed at all.  It seemed she knew she had a task to complete and wanted him to get his nap in while she did so.  She did a good job.
Take care,
Sylvia

Play Date

I returned this morning from a one day/overnight getaway.  I'm so glad I broke my routine.  My husband and I went to a different city, saw different sights, ate dinner at a restaurant, and took a long energetic walk near the ocean.  Now, I'm refreshed and ready to tackle my tasks for the next few days. 
Sometimes, it's good for grownups to have a play date.
Smiles,
Sylvia

Popping Gum

Every now and then I see something  that reminds me of  stuff that was important to me long ago.  Today, it was Gum Popping.  I was in a store today when I heard the sharp, fast, and rhythmic sound of someone popping their chewing gum.  It took me back to my preteen and early teen years, when it was cool to be able to make your chewing gum pop. The louder and faster the pops were, the better.  Back then, girls were the ones who did most of the gum popping.  As I grew older and got more fillings in my molar teeth, I lost the ability to pop gum without first blowing a small bubble. The thrill was mostly gone then, and  I was also told by someone that popping gum was not considered polite or sophisticated.  However, every now and then, when I'm alone, I still make small gum bubbles and pop them.
Smiles,
Sylvia