Happy Turkey Day!

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends, some old and some new, a very Happy Thanksgiving.

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N...

Here I am again, enjoying another 'stay-cation'! From last Thursday at 12:31pm until the day after Labor day, I am free to sleep late (which I won't), paint all day long, shop, finally finish the workroom re-do that I have been pecking at all summer, and watching a couple of movies that I have been looking forward to for ages. (I watched 'Freedom Writers' today, excellent story!)

When I left the office on Thursday, it was to come home, get my last load of 'stuff' packed up and delivered to my friend Wendy's for our garage sale that was to take place on Friday and Saturday. Lots of work, but worth it! First, I got rid of lots of stuff that was just taking up room in my house,. Secondly, I got to spend 2 entire days with my friend Wendy, which we almost never get to do these days. I really miss that!

The weather was going to be iffy for the weekend, so imagine our surprise when Friday turned out to be a beautiful day with no rain! To be honest, we hardly got to chat on Friday. It was steady all day and we sold a ton of stuff! It rained overnight and Saturday morning was foggy and a little bit chilly. After a while it kind of cleared up and the sun even peaked through the clouds in the afternoon!

A little after 3pm we heard that dreaded low grumbling. We looked at each other and said, 'thunder'? Needless to say, we hurried and got everything packed up (thankfully, there wasn't a whole lot) and sat down in the chairs just inside the shelter of the garage when the heavens let loose with a huge downpour! We sat there (Wendy brought us each out an adult refreshment) and chatted for almost another hour! I think it was about then that Wendy mentioned that she thought I would have been snapping a few pics throughout the sale for my blog. Hmmmm....I guess I forgot to do that...

All things considered, it was a successful sale and enjoyed each other's company while making a few extra dollars. Can't beat that with a stick, huh?

Serenity Sunday...week 15

Serenity Sunday...Week 12

the invisible red thread
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time,

place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break."

--An ancient Chinese belief

Serenity Sunday...Week 9

Reflecting upon Friendship...

"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow." - William Shakespeare

Sunday, family day

Sunday morning is a family time for us. For the past, I'd say about 15 years or so, we've all gathered at my parents house for family "catch up" time. By family, I mean not only our relative family, but also those who we've sort of adopted as honorary family members. Those honorary members are those friends that are so close and so well thought of, that we love them as family members.

My immediate family, my brother and his wife and 2 sons, my sister and her husband, son and daughter when they are in town, various Uncles and Aunts and my Grandmothers when they were alive, all show up anywhere between 9 and noon for coffee and various donuts, muffins and cookies. Our family friends join us as often as possible and my great friend Wendy is in attendance almost every Sunday as well. It's casual, lively and always fun!

The whole thing started when we were kids and my Uncles and Grandparents would come over after church for coffee and often stay for dinner. As we grew up and went our own ways, it became a way for us to keep in touch with each other as our busy lives took over and it became more and more difficult to talk on a daily basis. We celebrate birthdays and special occasions on Sundays so it was just easier to do it on Sunday mornings.

My Mom's friends have commented to her many times throughout the years how great it is that we all still show up and wonder how she does it. It's not that she asks us to come, we just do it, mainly for ourselves and the family connection that, I think, is lacking in so many families. Don't get me wrong, there are times that for some reason or another, some of us can't, but we make it almost every week. Even my Uncle comes every week and when he doesn't its usually because he's working or has something going on with his own family.

I can't tell you how nice it is to know my family and how unfortunate whose are who don't. I wonder how unusual it is, that after all these years, we still come together on a Sunday morning, sit around the dining room table and just talk? I am so thankful that we do...