A gift for the dogs....and an update

Yes folks, their very own fire hydrant, in the back yard. My DH was on a site where they were hauling away a few old ones that were torn up to build an upscale mall, and brought one home.

They love it!

I'm feeling much better, BTW. A few days of nothing but relaxing, with a little baking and wrapping thrown in have been wonderful. Honey and I have been cooking up a storm. I can honestly say that I missed cooking big dinners while working nights.

Today I think I'll throw in a few board games and a trip out for a giant mixing bowl. Must make more cookies!

Snuggled in , with canine bedwarmers

I'm enjoying some much needed down time in bed, although it comes after medical necessity.
Not wanting to make a big deal of things, I didn't mention it here. It was outpatient surgery, to gain info. I was hoping for the quickie snip and go, but further exploration proved that isn't going to work out. Looks like I will be needing a larger procedure later, but I will be postponing until spring if possible.

For now, I am snuggled down with my dogs, my laptop, and some good books. Now, I am off to nap again.

The Countdown to Slowness...

I slept in this morning, and it was GLORIOUS. I won't even bemuse the fact that the dog woke me up a few times during the night to go out ; I think I am just enamoured with the idea of sleeping in. And today was the first of TWO whole weeks of doing so!



I have also begun the countdown for my evening job...working only tonight and tomorrow before having a week off from that as well. I will work for two weeks after the holidays, if the choose to need me after I give my notice to quit.



That's right folks...I am quitting the second part time job. I have taken my money /value lesson to heart. The money I earn does not nearly equal in value the worth of the time it takes away from me, from my family, from my ability to pursue things that bring me joy.

Most of all, I don't want to miss out on Honey's high school years. Fifteen is an awfully tough time for a young lady, and she is seeking my guidance. I don't want to be rushing through her education just to get it done, when she is wanting to slow down and explore concepts. I want she and her friends to be able to go to that late night movie or dance, and not worry about which junior driver will be trying to manage the slick roads.

Yep, all I want for Christmas is the joy of a slower pace in life. Hopefully Santa remembers that I have been a very good girl!

Lesson of the week: Money, Worth, and Value

We live in a materialistic society, where until recently, most folks readily whipped out the plastic to purchase on any little whim. It seems that buyers are rethinking that habit, and are becoming a bit more thoughtful. Still, the holiday season is upon us, and urge to spend is at its' most frenetic. Everywhere we turn are sale flyers and advertisements, warning to "Buy Now!" or miss out.

Extremists cry for bans on gift giving this holiday, calling for closed purses and, in my view, grim spirits. I don't think a feast or famine approach to anything is wise. I love shopping for and/or making special gifts for friends and family. I find JOY in that, and there are wonderful lessons for our children to see experience the good in the giving (instead of just receiving.)

As such, we've been making the focus of Honey's sociology/life lessons this month the concepts of money, worth, and value. It's been interesting to study the economic definitions of each. We did a simple internet search, and ended up using a basic About site, and some others. This gave us a great starting point for our discussions.

I wanted her to understand the while $5 might be equal in monetary terms, it's VALUE changed dramatically through variables like earning potential, economic status, and exchange. An adult who has a six-figure salary will not place the same VALUE on a $5 bill as a ten-year old who pooper-scooped the entire yard to earn it. One would flippantly spend it on a venti latte, while the other would hoard it as if it were gold.

Similarly, that same $5 has a different VALUE to someone who is unemployed or of the working poor than someone with wealth. For one, it could be the difference of a weeks worth of PB & J lunches. For the other, it might be an inconsiqunetial tip for the valet.

Exchange is the last concept I want her to understand. If that $5 is being used for medicine for a sick child, it's VALUE takes on a greater importance than if it is exchanged for entrance into a movie (even if that movie is in the Twilight series!).

We are going to be applying these value concepts this weekend as we finish our holiday shopping. There is also a concept of VALUE that can be applied here as well. The perfect gift for someone doesn't always have to be costly.

It's easy to get caught up in buying. I've watched parents spend $100 on stocking stuffers at the toy store, then return it all to buy that great telescope they thought was too expensive in the first place, and pledge to fill the stocking with homemade coupons.

I'll let you all know how we make out....

Always Amazing Anne (spelled with an "E")

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite children's classics, and is Honey's favorite as well. So when we learned DeSales University with a fabulous theatre department was putting on a holiday production, we eagerly bought our tickets.

What a delightful morning! The set design was honestly breathtaking in it's accuracy and practicality. The actors gave a perfect portrayal , true to the books core. It appealed to the deeper message of the transformative power of love.

It also gave a perfect platform to discuss how often people take for granted a loving family, the leisure to be educated, and most of all, a place to call home. Both Honey and I have been carrying around a bit of a glow all day.

I think Anne epitomizes the sort of love we all need to remember this season!

Glorious snow...

How full of the creative genius is the air in which these are generated! I should hardly admire more if real stars fell and lodged on my coat.
~Henry David Thoreau, 1856

We had our first snow of the year yesterday. I was working at the toy store when the first flakes began to fall. I barely made it an hour before I was out front, spinning in it like a child. Snow is a great panacea for my soul.

For now, I am off to enjoy it with a walk, as it is much better when one is OUT in it!

A Most Magical Season...

This has always been a magical season for us to celebrate. I'm a generous sort, and I love this season where I can focus on those around me and gift away. You see, it's only materialistic if it is obligatory! When you truly love the person you are gifting, the joy comes at the first ponderings of the "perfect gift." The gifts are not always monetary either, but can often be something homemade, or even the gift of time. (like when we gave a gift of pressure washing a house to a neighbor who wanted it done but couldn't afford it!)

Gifting is only part of my joy. I cannot wait to bedeckle my house. We managed only the lights so far, and funerals and out of town work will postpone our tree-trimming party until Dec. 12th. Still, I can hardly wait to have the living room aglow with lights, shimmering off ornaments of crystal and glass. I've already dug out the the stack of holiday music cds, to play in the background all day long.

I have the days right before Christmas off from retail this year as I undergo a procedure on the 18th. Knowing that I have this time at home, yet unsure of how I will be feeling physically afterward, I am planning some low key actitivies. The holiday cards will obviously wait until then (and my blogger friends, especially those who have moved, EMAIL me with your addys!) I have a few quick gifts to crochet, which will be the perfect project while watching stacks of DVDs together.

I am looking for some new holiday baking recipes (Honey is dying to try to make red velvet cupcakes ---any one have a tried recipe to share?) I have an early gift for her of cake decorating supplies and fondant, and I anticipate some afternoons playing with all of it. I'm excited to host Christmas Day brunch again, and would be interested in a few new recipes to try for that as well.

I am so brimming with holiday spirit that not even the grumpy mean shoppers at the toy store are going to get me down this weekend. I shall don my reindeer antlers and if necessary, beat the holiday spirit into them with candy canes! Joyful! Joyful! :)