Glimpses of Life – Page 81

Sunrise Sunset

Time flies. As a little girl I used to want to be “older” so that I could be “free.” Looking back, I was more free as a child — no bills, no housing concerns, no worries about what I said or didn’t say. Being middle aged is not so bad though. It brings maturity (hopefully), added “age wisdom”, marriage, children, grandchildren and friends like no other.

While unpacking from our move to Minnesota, I found an old notebook. In it, I had a list of everyone I knew who had passed away in the last 30 years. Morbid? No, not really. I have kept it so that I would not forget the people who had an impact in my life. Someone suggested I use people’s birthdays instead but I like the “memoriam effect.”

As we get older, we start to wonder what our existence is all about. One day here — one day gone. Will anyone care? Sure, there are the known and unknown influences we’ve had on people. But — after awhile, when the people who know you have passed on — nothing.

Eeeekkkk!

Fortunately for me I believe in an afterlife — a resurrection of the dead and a heaven and Father to go to. Without that — nothing.

One of my favorite songs is from the movie Fiddler On The Roof. It’s called Sunrise Sunset. Take a listen by clicking on the link below. It has always reminded me of getting older.

Any special “getting older” songs you have?

Happy Birthday to me and thank you all for being a part of my life!

[amazon_link id=”0792838955″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Fiddler on the Roof [/amazon_link]

Only Just One of Me

It’s summer — and yet, I’m sitting here thinking about snowflakes during my birthday week. I enjoy snow — each crystal coming down from heaven appears to be so different — just like me.

I am unique. We’re all unique.

Hmmm … getting older makes you think about death. Not all the time. But I start to wonder if I will suffer when I die or if I will go quick. Will I be hit by a car or die of cancer? It seems a little odd to think about it but all of the older people I know have these thoughts. It’s part of the aging process.

My body has slowed some. Going up and down ladders to paint make my muscles sore and I feel like a little old lady hobbling around until the muscles get back to normal.

Ahhh — middle-age. I still feel 18ish and 30 something — at least in my head.

There is only just one of me. Thank God for that.

Scarlet Ribbons

Birthdays — I tend to reminisce more than usual during times when I am reminded that I am older. I don’t feel like I’m older but I know I am. The calendar, gray hair and the wisdom. Hahahaha

So …

The Camp Fire Girls always had a nice camp that I went to in Westfield, Wisconsin. It was called Camp Tiyalaka. I learned many songs there that I had never heard before. One of these songs is called Scarlet Ribbons. I had always thought it was a camp song but when I googled it, it was actually a popular hit song for Harry Belafonte in the 1950’s.

There is a Wikipedia article on the history of this song.

Click on the youtube link below to hear the song.

I’m not sure why the song keeps popping up in my head. It always takes me back to when I was at Camp Tiyalaka. I don’t have too many memories of being there. Most memories are of the songs I learned.

Music has a big impact on my life as I’m sure it does on other people. It can make me sad, happy, angry — it takes my brain back to memories that I may or may not want to remember.

Scarlett Ribbons — I don’t think I’ll ever forget that song.

[amazon_link id=”B001384JGE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Scarlet Ribbons (For Her Hair) (Remastered) [/amazon_link]

Spider Commercial

AT&T has a great commercial that exemplifies how I feel about all creeping things. (Click below to view it on Youtube.)

Minnesota may one day cure me of the “creeping things” paranoia. Last evening, before going to bed, we turned on the light to the outside deck. On the outside of the screen were many different types of insects looking at me — none of which I had ever seen before.

I wonder if there is “creeping things” insurance — in case I should die of a heart attack before the cure.

Carving Love Into A Tree

I’ve always wanted to think back and remember having a boyfriend who carved our initials into a tree.

The thought is nice but it’s not reality. I did have a boyfriend who had our initials carved into a locket. I still have the locket. I’m not sure why I’ve kept it all these years as there are many sad memories that go with it. At the time, they didn’t seem sad. One’s perspective as a young person is quite different than as an adult.

A song by Chris Rice called My Tree compares a lover who carves his love’s initials into a tree with the carving that Christ did on His tree – the tree at Calvary. There is no better love than Christ. He doesn’t have an ounce of selfishness in His heart and only wants what’s best for us.

Why is that so hard for us to grasp?

Lyrics to the song My Tree

On a hill far away stands a tall mighty tree
Where a boy and girl used to takeÂ turns pushing the tire swing
I remember the pocketknife in handÂ and her name in my heart
Thinkin’ there ain’t no way for a boy to contain
the love that he feels inside

So I carved her name into my tree
Then I carved a heart around her name
Then I carved an arrow through the heart just to say “I love you”
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
the emblem of suffering and shame
I remember the nails through my handsÂ and your name in my heart
How in their wordless way the nails explain
the love that I feel inside
As they carved your name into my tree
Where I wrapped my heart around your name
Then I took your arrow through my heart
Just to say, “I love you”
Just to say, “I love you”

Now I can never forget how much you mean to me
‘Cause I will always remember whenever I see
Where I carved your name into my tree
Where I wrapped my heart around your name
Then I took your arrow through my heart
Just to say, “I love you”
Just to say, “I love you”
I really love you.

[amazon_link id=”B001PMK14M” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Deep Enough to Dream [/amazon_link]

Minnesota Dew Point

Okay — so now the weather is getting ridiculous. With highs in the 90’s, we have broken the previous dew point record from the 1940’s. It’s a sauna out there. We are hotter than Florida according to my sister who lives there. She’s invited us over to “cool off.” (For a quick definition of the dew point, click here.)

Since we’ve moved to Minnesota, we have had the 5th worst winter and now we’re breaking summer records. I won’t judge Minnesota on one summer — I’ll give it three years. Then — well, if the summers are this bad I may have to go back to Seattle. The winters I don’t mind — even if we do get below zero.

We have had so much rain that my potted outdoor plants have drowned.

Minnesota — shape up or I ship out!

Huntington Rebel Gas Grill

We are officially Minnesotans. Our new, and first ever, Huntington Rebel gas grill has been assembled and is ready for use.

In the grocery line, we saw a man with lots of hamburger buns, chips, etc. Looks like he was ready to grill.

All we need is a more comfortable weather. Although — I think people in Minnesota don’t care what the heat is outdoors — they just like to grill.

[amazon_link id=”B00365FI7G” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Char Broil T480 4-Burner 48,000 BTU Gas Grill, with Sideburner [/amazon_link]

Heat Wave in Minnesota

The weatherman last evening made an interesting statement: “The dew point is 2 degrees more than in the Amazon jungle.” In other words — it’s more humid here than it is in the jungle right now.

Who needs moisturizer? Walk outside and your body absorbs the humidity in the air. When we woke up this morning, our windows were all “weepy.”

I’m missing Seattle weather right now.

Lake Elmo had 6 inches of rain Friday night. There was quite a commotion outside with thunder that shook the house and rain that pummeled it.

Interestingly, on the way back from the store this afternoon, people were speed walking and riding their bicycles. I guess they didn’t see the warning at weather.com that said “Dangerous heat index. Outdoor exposure should be limited.” And they are expecting this to continue for the next 4-5 days.

My outdoor plants have received so much rain that they are just about dead now. If the rain doesn’t kill them, the heat will. And nary a bee has graced our yard to pollinate the tomato plant. Sigh …

Yesterday there were quite a few cars driving around our neighborhood and we walked outside to find out what all the commotion was about. A garden tour was in progress and one of our neighbors was part of the tour. She has a very nice landscaped garden — similar to the one I’d like to have on our one acre.

But — that will have to wait for next year. Heat indexes will keep me inside for a few days taking my focus from the outside back to the inside.

Minnesota Zoo Commercial

This is a weird commercial. I don’t understand why they have to have a commercial for the Minnesota Zoo where people are waddling — yes, I know it relates to the penguins. Â But still … it’s just weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwRhqfRdWBY

Painting High Ceilings

I decided to fill the picture holes in the walls with the paint that the previous owner of the house left behind. The paint container for the kitchen walls looked very old and rusty all around the lid. I expected the paint not to be useful but when I stirred it up, the paint came back to life. The touch-ups came out really well.

Next — the olive color in the living and dining rooms. This paint can also looked old and the label showed it was from 2004. Still — the touch-ups came out great.

The last touch-up was in the family room. The paint can looked fine although when I mixed the paint it didn’t “feel” right. I had expected the result to be the same as the previous two cans of paint. I was wrong.

I touched-up the walls but it was blotchy and showed an entirely different tint of color. My only option was to paint the whole wall. Normally that’s not a problem but the family room has 2 walls and a hallway that’s also painted with the same color.

The ceiling in the family room must be about 12 feet high so the long ladder had to be used. I enjoy painting but the height of the ceiling seemed daunting. I have visual and balance problems. In spite of that, I decided to challenge myself.

Everything was going well until the 2nd day. I made it almost all the way up the ladder – one step left — and then I froze. I couldn’t go up and I couldn’t go down. I must’ve stood there for about 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do. Eventually, I went up, continued my ceiling “edging” and went back down.

I’m using a Benjamin Moore paint — pricey but it rolls on nice and smooth.

The ceiling wasn’t as hard as I expected. I didn’t tape the ceiling but rather used a small brush and painted downwards with the tip of the paint brush. Then I painted side to side with the edge of the same brush. This requires more time but the effect is usually better. Patience is key.

My hardest challenge was taping the corner as I couldn’t lean the tall ladder on the “orange” wall since the window was in the way. So, I had to tape while I was standing sideways on the ladder.

I’m almost all finished with this one wall except for the two cubby holes. Since the new paint is much lighter than the one on the wall, I had to use 2 coats of paint.

Next — the hallway that also has the same blotchy touch-up this wall had.

[amazon_link id=”B003PCKJZ6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ] Benjamin Moore & Co W6271X-001 PREMIUM INTERIOR WATERBORNE LATEX PAINT [/amazon_link]