Challenge: Days 25-29

Dang, sorry!  I know I haven't  posted since Monday, so here's the scoop.

Day 25:  I got my assistant a gift.  She likes to do cooking activities with our class and she was eying a cookbook at the Book Fair, so I got it for her.  She loved it.

Day 26:On Wednesday I had a good conversation with my new boss.  She is feeling a little "out of the loop" so I made sure to talk about some stuff that is coming up that she may not know about yet.  We tend to plan things, let everyone know, then not really send out reminders as things come up, so this is not really surprising, and nobody means to not let her know things, but she was not here for the start of the plans going on now, so she wasn't notified.  This is rectified now.  

Day 27:On Thursday, my new boss went to a meeting with our big boss, and I reassured her about the things she wanted to talk to him about.  This was her first meeting with him, and he's not always an open book.  

Day 28:On Friday, I gave a coworker a ride to work.  Her car is giving her a lot of problems lately, and I know how that feels!  Anyway, we had a lovely chat on the way to work.  I might try to institute an occasional ride together just for the chat.

Day 29: Today I made sure my daughter and I did something fun.  We've been financially strapped a lot lately, so we went to the bookstore and had a nice drink and looked at magazines and books.  I have really curtailed my book-buying over the last year.  Kaleigh went to the pet store and took pictures of adorable kittens and puppies.  Typical.

I also cleaned out my closet this morning.  I mean REALLY cleaned it out.  Ruthlessly.  I took everything out, and tried it on before deciding whether to keep, toss or donate.  If I haven't worn it in the last couple of months (except for cold-weather items), I donated it.  If it didn't look good or fit properly, I donated it.  As the donation pile got bigger, it got easier to do.  Anything that needed alterations went into another pile--ONLY if I was sure I would do the alteration.  Anything that was worn out went into the toss pile.  Very liberating.  If the item made the cut, I went back into the closet where it belonged.  I put my work clothes on the left (outfits together on the hanger), odd stuff in the middle with dresses, dress clothes on the right, and jackets, sweaters and winter coat on the far right.  I'm not kidding when I say I have about 1/3 of what I had hanging in there yesterday.  I immediately took the donate stuff to Goodwill, and threw out the garbage.  I even got rid (GASP!) of several pair of shoes.  While I'm not a proponent of that, I figure it makes room for new shoes.  Okay, not exactly ROOM, but you get my meaning.  

Tomorrow I'm going to tackle the sewing room.  I'm a very messy sewer (seamstress, not something to do with sewage), and I want to get the room ready for the things I want to work on for Christmas presents.  I have lots of quilt tops too, so I'd like to get some of those done.  

Tomorrow I'm also going to pull out my green bean plants, they are eaten up by something.  I have no idea what, but they look awful.  The squash never had ANY female flowers, only male flowers, so I didn't get ONE, SINGLE SQUASH!  Damn it!  Very disappointing.  Especially since I couldn't figure out why so I didn't learn anything to do differently next time.  My passion plant has caterpillars on it--this is absolutely the mark of success.  That means they will eat some leaves, but I will have more butterflies, which is a wonderful thing.   The world needs more miracles, and butterflies are miracles for sure.  

Challenge: Day 17

Well, today I babysat for my daughter-in-law because she needed a break--but that doesn't count as my good thing because I made the rule that it has to be something I wouldn't ordinarily do.  But it was fun--my granddaughters are pretty awesome.

What I did as my good thing was to accept someone with an open mind.  I usually don't have a problem doing this at all, but we have a new director at my school, and I'm (and others as well) a little nervous about what she's like and how things are going to change.  Right now, we all have a lot of autonomy within our classrooms and are free to try different things (this is very unusual) and this could change.  Anyway, I decided not to be reticent about her coming and see it as a gift--she's surely smart enough to see that what we are doing is working.  She's a very nice person from what I've seen so far, and we had a nice talk about the school.  I feel a huge connection to my school and it's a very personal place to me.  I knew the day I started working there that I probably wasn't ever going to leave there, and I told my boss that I hoped she liked me because I wasn't going anywhere.

I have a date tomorrow, which is a very pleasant thing to look forward to.  I usually find dating awkward at best and sometimes downright unpleasant, so this is a nice change.  

Tomorrow is my last professional development workshop--then things can settle down at work a little.  I feel like I'm hardly in my classroom these days.  When I am there, I'm trying to prepare for something coming up--and I'm really looking forward to my class' pumpkin project.  We have a lot of fun with it and document all our work into a portfolio for them to take home at the end.  They love it and their parents love it.  Sometimes I am struck with a genius idea....not often, but when it happens, it's a beautiful thing.  

Challenge: Day 16 (and Simple Sunday)

Yesterday's post was super-long--sorry about that.  Not sure anybody wants to sit and read the ramblings of my sometimes-difficult-to-follow mind.  If you stuck it out and read the whole thing...yea for you!

The pickled green beans I made yesterday are pretty awesome.  I will use that recipe again for sure.  I'm heading out into the garden in a few minutes to see if any more green beans are ripe.  They have a way of sneaking up on me.  Pick them all one day, and you swear there isn't another one to be found, and there are hundreds ready the next day.  It's crazy.

It's also time for me to plant some lettuce--I have lots of room in my beds and just need to make time to get out there and do it.  Fresh salad would be lovely--I plant leaf lettuce and cut it when it's still small and it doesn't get a chance to bolt in the heat.  I plant on a weekly schedule--two square feet this week, two more next week, two more the next week, and when the first row is ready, I cut them and they regrow.  

This morning I think I'm going to the farmer's market with my daughter-in-law.  My granddaughter has allergies and needs to be taking local honey every day.  (Yes, this is actually a "thing"--not just a hippie remedy!)  I'm looking forward to it--I LOVE THE FARMER'S MARKET.  I hope the singing veteran is there--the baby girls love to dance!   Even Kaleigh likes to go to the farmer's market.

I've also planted the hardened-off segments of Christmas Cactus into their new little pots.  I hope they take.  They will make nice little Christmas presents next year.  

My plan for something nice to do today is to hang out with my daughter in law.  She's having a hard time right now, realizing that my son (who is in the navy) will really be gone for two years and she'll be doing this basically alone.  She has us, but we aren't the same, I guess.  Plus, Bridgette is still really little and a lot of daily work--I forget how much WORK tiny kids are.  

Yesterday I did some organizing of the shelves next to my computer desk.  They tend to be a catch-all for whatever I have on the desk, which gets messy.  I need to do better about putting things where they go when I'm done with them.  Story of my life, I guess.

Just A Regular Day at the Homestead....(and Challenge: Day 15)

I just realized how short and unsatisfying my last few posts have been.  But they kind of reflect how I've been feeling, so I guess I'll live with them.  But this one will be different, I promise.

I got a good night's sleep last night, my presentation went well yesterday, all the kids and grandkids are snug and safe, and I have no huge responsibilities for this weekend, so there is no reason not to be happy.  I got up early, I'm enjoying a cup of coffee (not a great cup of coffee, I've mentioned my struggles with coffee-making, but it'll do), I've been checking some stuff out on Pinterest, and doing laundry.  I'll putter around this morning, read a little, knit a little, maybe sew a little, then take a nap.  Saturday is the only day I allow myself a nap because if I nap on Sunday, I can't fall asleep at night, then I'm tired on Monday.  No bueno.  

I think I'll make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight.  That sounds good.  

I have to do my lesson plan for this week.  It's actually pretty much done, I just have to organize my thoughts onto the actual plan.  My class is doing something really cool to reinforce colors, while I am at the same time assessing who needs more support in this area.  We are making a color portfolio, with different art each day.  For example, on Monday (red day), we mixed red paint with black and white and painted with it.  On Tuesday (blue day), we sponge painted with blue paint.  On Wednesday (yellow day), we made yellow collages with all yellow materials.  Etc.  I think you get the picture.  Different color and medium each day.  Will post pics when they are finished.  The children are really enjoying it too, as the art is finished we are putting it into their own personal portfolios.  On the last day, we will use the Salad Spinner (best $1.99 I ever spent at Goodwill!) and  use all the colors to make a rainbow painting for the cover. 

I've been thinking about what to make for gifts for Christmas this year.  I've already started knitting some market bags.  They take a little time, but they are really pretty and stretch like crazy--they are perfect for the farmer's market.  The key is getting the cotton yarn at half price, or they aren't really cost effective.  I like a lot of bang for my buck.  (Or, in other words, I'm pretty frugal--or cheap.)

My daughter admired a headband made with buttons sewn to wide elastic, so I'm making one of those for her--it's looking really pretty.  I'm infusing it with positive thoughts and love for her.  The Hawaiians have some superstitions about quilting for others--one of them is that as you work on a quilt for someone else, you stitch all of your feelings into the quilt and they go to the person you give the finished quilt to.  Love this idea!  However, you have to be sure you only work on the quilt when you feel happy and loving or you send bad feelings to the person.  I like to think that this is true of all gifts that you make.

For my good thing today, I'm going to work on Christmas presents for the people I love. 

Have  a wonderful day yourself.   

Later that same day....

I just spent a lovely couple of hours, working out in the garden--I picked a bowlfull of  green beans, watered everything, admired my cucumber plants in the pot (they look really good), picked a meyer lemon from my tree, and filled some small pots with potting mix.  I'm propagating Christmas cactus to give as gifts--probably next year-- and I cut the segments from the parent plant.  They need to harden off for 24  hours, so they are resting comfortably on top of my microwave.  I will plant them tomorrow--11 new little baby plants.  For practically free.  

Once I came in, I decided to make some pickled vegetables.  I prepared my green beans, got the jars ready (clean and hot), and made the brine.  This is what I did.  These go in the refrigerator so they aren't water processed, and they last 3 weeks in the fridge.  What I really love about this recipe is that it's good for any kind of vegetables--I did green beans, and a cucumber I had in the fridge, but you could add carrots, green tomatoes, really anything.  I hate wasting food, so this is a good way to use up a couple of carrots or a half a cucumber you have left over that's not enough for something else.  You can also make a jar or two at a time while things are getting ripe.

1 Tbsp. pickling salt, sea salt, or kosher salt--NO IODIZED TABLE SALT.
1 C. Vinegar
1 C. Water
1 head dill or a small bunch of leaves (I used 1 tsp. dried dill weed per jar)
1 clove garlic per jar, smashed and peeled
3 peppercorns per jar
(I also added 2 Tbsp. sugar to the vinegar mixture--sometimes I don't do this)

Put salt, vinegar, and water into a small pan and heat until salt and sugar (if used) are dissolved.  While vinegar mixture heats, place a smashed garlic clove, dill, and peppercorns into each jar.  Cut up vegetables (I like long narrow pickle shapes) and place into jars.  Pour hot vinegar mixture over vegetables.  Screw on lids tightly and shake to mix up flavors.  Allow to cool, then put into refrigerator.  

I have pictures, but I seem to be having a computer glitch so I can't upload--will solve that problem today with my IT Department.... Kaleigh.

If you have any interest at all in canning, I would recommend that you try it.  I enjoy it a lot, although I suspect that would be because I'm not a farmer and don't have to spend days and days at it.  I do it at my leisure a little at a time.  

Challenge: Day 9 (A Great Day)

So... today I will project positivity for the entire day.  Everywhere I go, I plan to spread the love.  Say nice things to everyone I come across, laugh a lot, share information with those who need it, and just generally be the change I want to see in the world.  

This challenge is doing what I suspected it would...making me happy.  I can only hope it's making others happy too, but I can't really know that.  

Doing a little laundry this morning, worked in the garden a little, and I'm going over to see my mom later.  She was in the hospital for a long time, and she's home now--I'm glad she's doing better.  I'm also having lunch with a hysterical friend today, and I'm really looking forward to that.  It's shaping up to be a great day.

Challenge: Day 8

My good deed for today was to help my neighbor carry some stuff from her car to her house.  I was mowing my grass and saw her struggling with some heavy bags, so I went over and helped.  She doesn't speak English and my Spanish is pretty much limited to "Where is the library?" even after three years of Spanish classes, so conversation was limited, but we both smiled a lot.  The universal language.

Challenge: Day 7

Today I spent some time talking to a friend who really needed me.  Not me particularly, I think, but a friend, so we talked.  I've been feeling overwhelmed by my "situations" and I guess I forget that other people are going through stuff too.  Anyway, I think that qualifies as my good thing for today.  There was a hug at the end of the conversation.

I also burned up the email lines (and how does email get from one place to another anyway?) with my friend Mary Beth.  We have been sending each other funny stuff (questionable as to how funny it is to anyone else) and hysterically laughing.  And developing our positively diabolical plan to play a prank on her husband.  One he will never appreciate.  Or understand.  I totally think more planning is required--we don't want the whole thing to go horribly awry.  It has to be something that we can also play on other people, so we can get more mileage out of it.  I'm thinking my sister and my son....

Looking forward to this weekend.  I'm going to babysit my gorgeous granddaughters tonight for a while, then tomorrow I'm going to work in the garden, and mow the grass.  And nap.  Definitely nap.  On Sunday I'm meeting Mary Beth for lunch at my favorite place.  We need to firm up the "plans".   Will fill you in as things progress.

A former family from my classroom (my first class) visited today--my little friend is so grown up!  Her mom is from Belarus and she just raved over how wonderful our class was and how much she loved her daughter being in our class.  It was wonderful--sometimes we get bogged down in our daily work and forget how much of a difference we can make.  And I can use all the positive energy I can get right now.  

Have a lovely evening!

Challenge: Day 6

I've been doing some anonymous nice things around my work today.  I may never know if anyone happened upon them or not, since nobody knows it was me that did them, and at the risk of "outing myself", I guess I will report them here. 

I left a gift for someone at work who I know is having a hard time personally.  I added a little note saying that I just wanted to do something to brighten her day (it was a small gift really, some soap, body spray, and lotion) and that I am going through a difficult time as well and I'm thinking of her.  I don't think she'll suspect me.

The other thing I did was leave a couple of drinks in the refrigerator at work with a note that says, "If you are thirsty, drink me." 

I have also been especially funny today, thanks to something nice somebody did for me.  (Thanks, Mary Beth!)  She sent me a link to a funny blog, and I've been laughing all day.  Not like appropriate snickering.... I'm talking about hysterically laughing so much that I'm pretty sure that my coworkers think I'm insane at this point.  But I haven't felt this happy in awhile, so what's a little suspected insanity?   This just reaffirms my belief that you get what you put out there.  Karma, baby. 

The challenge is going well so far, although each day I'm starting to have a little trouble thinking up something nice to do.  Originally, that upset me a little--is it so hard for me to be nice?  But that's not it, really.  I think that I normally do nice things, and my rule was I have to do something I wouldn't normally do, so it's not so easy to come up with those ideas.  Maybe I need to make a list or something.  I'm pretty convinced that the answer to all the world's problems is a well thought-out list. 

Challenge: Day 5...

Today I paid for the coffee of the person behind me at Dunkin' Donuts.  I wonder what they thought when the pulled up to the window.  And I've been smiling all day. 

This is a passionflower--gorgeous, isn't it?  This is a picture I took on our playground this morning. 

It's a lovely day, isn't it?

It's going to storm soon, which I love.  I love a good Orlando thunderstorm, and I love not having to pay for the water for my garden.  I just curl up in bed and read.  Right now I'm between books, so I need to make a decision about what to read next.  I have a completely absorbing early childhood journal to read tonight (no, that wasn't sarcasm).  

Maybe now would be a good time to read the entire Sookie Stackhouse series in order, one after the other.  That is one of my 50 Before 50 promises to myself.  (In case you are new here, I have a list of 50 things I want to do before I turn ... that age.)  I have almost two years to do these things, and  I've already crossed some things off.  I haven't posted the list, mostly because I don't have 50 things on it yet, maybe I will on a day when I can't think of anything interesting to write about.  For now, you can just wonder what I'm up to.  

Challenge: Day 4!!!

Today I did something nice for who I assume is a homeless person (although maybe I shouldn't assume that).  I stopped at Wawa for coffee this morning--Pumpkin Spice is awesome!--and I saw a woman sitting outside, I've seen her around the area before.  At the risk of sounding biased, she looked homeless.  Or at least hungry.  So I bought a sandwich, fruit, some chips and juice, and handed her the bag as I went out to get in my car.  She looked confused but took the bag.  She didn't even look inside it--I wonder what she thought it was.  Anyway, I just kept walking because I didn't want her to be embarrassed or think that I was expecting any thanks or anything like that.  I got in my car and went to work.  It felt good.  

I've been thinking that there may come a time that I have to clarify what's okay and what's not for my challenge--I will do that on a case-by-case basis.  For now, I'm liking the way it's going.  

And I'd like to thank Sandy Weber Allen--she posted on Facebook something nice she did for a homeless person and it inspired me.  Not sure if it was unrelated or not, since I have NO IDEA who reads my blog.  All I know is that about 100 people per week do, as to who they are--I can't call it.  I wish I did know....hint-hint.  

I saw two huge, fat, green caterpillars on my green bean plants this morning, and the leaves have been looking kind of chewed up, so tonight I'm going out and pick those bitches off.  Where there's two, I'm sure there's more.  How dare they eat my green bean leaves!  I'm totally offended.  

In other news, I'm feeling very lonely tonight.  I really need to learn not to dwell on things I can't do anything about.  This is hard for me, because so many people THINK THEY ARE RIGHT at the expense of everyone else.   I am seriously sending my heart out to everyone I love tonight.  And to those of you WHO THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, I'm sending love to you too.  You need it.  It seems like you don't love yourselves very much right now.  

Challenge: Day 3

Today I had to come home from work with an eye infection--so my chances to do something nice are limited.  I did some internet surfing, and I found a lovely blog to read... it's called Backyard Bliss--  www.backyardbliss.blogspot.com  .  It's about gardening and the kind of things I'm loving right now.  Canning, managing life, what's being harvested, etc.  So for my nice thing, I left several comments telling the author how much I enjoyed reading her blog.  It will have to do.   I know I'd enjoy reading comments on my blog...(hint-hint).

I don't have much else to report.  Things appear to be settling down around me, which is nice.  

My little lime tree sprouts are making me happy.  They are VERY slow growing.  It took two weeks for them to even break through the ground.  They are still very tiny--so far five out of ten have sprouted.  

I think I'll go read for awhile.  Nothing much else to do.

Challenge: Day 2

Nothing much to do in the garden this morning.  I watered everything really well.  I remember reading somewhere that there is a crucial time in green beans lives (when they are blooming and about to set fruit) that they need to have enough water or they don't set fruit properly.  

 I think I'll visit Lowe's this morning and see what's going on in the garden center.  I wish I lived closer to a real nursery--but Lowe's works for me.  

Another reason I need to get out, and something I hadn't thought about with my challenge, is that I am really a homebody, and I have to expose myself to people in order to send the love out into the universe.  I can't put good things out there if I'm not around anybody else.  I have to think about my opportunities.

I took my dog for a walk today and made sure to say hello and smile to every person I saw.  I have some kind of an eye infection, so I couldn't go out today anywhere--I had to do what I could to still be nice to others, but stay close to home.   I also encouraged my daughter who wasn't feeling well today.  We watched a movie together (her choice).  

Challenge: Day 1

***My Good Thing For Today--I was on Facebook this morning for my daily check-in, and an old friend messaged me--his name is John and I've known him since I was 12.  He's in the navy and is now stationed in Afghanistan.  I had no idea.  So I got his address and I will make a point to write to him and send him little care packages.  He is a great friend--I consider him one of my closest friends and I know how much mail means when you are deployed.  I will also be thinking happy thoughts about him each day.  

Lesson planning, gardening, laundry, mopping the kitchen floor, and puttering around the house are on my agenda today.  I find doing all of those things very satisfying so I don't mind any of them (even mopping the floor!).  I'd like to organize my closet too, but we'll see about that.  I definitely want to get out this morning into the garden.  I'm on green bean watch.  So many flowers, I should have a ton of green beans soon.  I'm going to pickle some and freeze some.  And EAT some straight out of the garden.  I need to soak up some vitamin D and get my hands in some dirt.  

I have key lime tree sprouts!  That is very exciting!  Three sprouts so far, they are very tiny, so I think more will come.  They apparently grow pretty slowly--it took them two weeks to germinate.  I woke up last night to a lot of rain, so I think I will wait and fertilize the garden tomorrow, I don't think I even need to water it today.

Heading out... maybe I'll post more later.  

Garden looks pretty good...everything is growing nicely.  I'll be happy when I can see some actual green beans.  

Sending Love Out Into the Universe (I know I'm a hippie)...

Okay, I have made a decision.  For the next month, I am going to send love out into the universe.  Every. Single. Day.  

I challenge myself to do something every day (CONSCIOUSLY!) to make someone else feel good.  Things that I already do for people don't count.  I have to actually think about it and do something nice for someone.  And they have to know that someone made an effort.  They don't necessarily have to know who.

The reason I came to this idea is that as I've mentioned before, recently I've been going through a very stressful time in my life.  And I don't see much of an end in sight.  So I have to do something that really makes me feel good instead of always just trying to get through the day.  (I do not in any way mean to imply that I don't have some really wonderful things in my life, or that I'm not happy or anything like that, it's just a few things that are ongoing suck up all my attention.)  I've been thinking for awhile about how good I feel when I do something nice for the person behind me in line.  Sometimes I pay the toll on the highway for the person behind me or I pay for the order of the person behind me when I'm getting coffee at Dunkin' Donuts.  These are tiny things as far as money goes--at most a couple of dollars--but I giggle all day after I've done it.  

The cashier usually smiles and makes a nice comment, and I imagine she thinks about it and does something nice too.  Then those two people who have had something nice done for them do something nice for two other people.  Kind of like that old shampoo (was it Breck?) commercial.

One time my daughter asked me if anyone had ever done that for me, and I thought about it and no one ever has.  But I don't care.  That would be nice, but I probably wouldn't giggle about it all day.  

So I am going to see if doing nice things for others really does make me happier than having other people do nice things for me.  Will definitely post  each day what happens.

I start tomorrow...

I'm Dreaming of Key Limes....etc.

One key lime seed sprouted today--isn't that exciting?   Maybe someday I can pick my own 23 key limes from this little tiny tree.  

GOODNESS, it's hotter than hot in Orlando today.  I left work early today for an appointment, and I cannot believe how hot it is outside!

My great friend Chicken Noodle came to visit me at work today, and many of my coworkers told me that it made them laugh to hear us laughing...  she absolutely is my partner in crime.  Next time I see her, I will get a picture of us together, and post it.  She's a pretty good sport.  

Kaleigh is sitting in the living room, making bracelets out of beads.  She is also singing to herself, which is so cute I can hardly stand it.  If only she understood how adorable I think she is....

I think I'll do a little reading this afternoon with my extra time off.  Then I plan to work in the garden when it cools off a little bit.  It needs to be watered.  And I need to look closely for weeds, it amazes me that I don't see any for a long time, then all of a sudden they are everywhere.  Maybe I need to mulch better.  I'll think about that.

I wish I had made some decisions about the chicken quilt yesterday so I could work on it today. But I need to let things stew in my mind a little bit before deciding, and I don't like to rush things or I might not like the outcome.  This is true for a lot of things.  

No pictures today--do you want to see pictures?  Nobody is leaving comments, in spite of the many visits to this blog each day, so I can't tell what people want to see.  If you let me know, I promise to deliver it...(within reason, of course).

I've been thinking about making a challenge for myself--any ideas out there about what it should be?  So far, I've come up with the following possibilities, and of course, I would blog about it daily.  

1. Blogging every day for a month (I can start small, add later if I want to).
2. Money-saving--keep a running total of how much money I can save in a month.
3. Do-One-Thing----I can do one thing to simplify my life each day, and post about it and decide if it's worth continuing.  

Any votes?  Or other ideas?  If nobody comments, I guess I'll consult Chicken Noodle and ask her what she thinks, but I already KNOW which one she'll choose....