Succulents

Growing up in South Texas in ranching country,

I avoided cactus as much as possible.


Today, in my world of gardening that gives me such

back breaking,

frustrating

PLEASURE,

I have fallen in love with succulents.

I enjoyed succulents last spring,

planting them in

antique Mexican pottery.

I won’t be planting anything in this piece, however.

I love it too much to hide it.

Find an interesting container and head to Wal Mart or Home Depot.

The investment is small-

$2.50-$4.00.

It can all be assembled in minutes,

(using cactus/palm potting soil)

and the beauty of succulents is

they don’t mind being

ignored.

It’s fun.

***

 

Linking to

Cowgirl Up at Cedar Hill Ranch

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Daybook March 11, 2012

Outside My Window…

I can see my new hot pink and lime green coleus.


On a quick trip to Montgomery this past week to deliver birthday

gifts to our grandsons,

I spotted these at the Willis Kroger.


I almost swooned.
(Dramatic I know. )

I know hot pink and lime green may not have been on

God’s original

botanical color wheel,

but I am so glad

these colors now are.

I should have bought them ALL.

Menu

Sunday lunch after church:  Pollo Palenque

grilled chicken

steamed broccoli, zucchini, and carrots

and avocado salsa

 

For Sunday Supper?

My husband’s roast

with squash, potatoes, carrots, and onions.

 

(hot pink geraniums)

 

I Am Thinking…

I need to re-read Hunger Games.

The movie premieres March 23rd.

I read the trilogy over a year ago.


A year ago to me,

at this point in life,

should be measured in dog years.


That was a long time ago,

that feels like yesterday.

Go figure.

I  Am Thankful For…  the independence that my three daughters possess.

Oh, I hover.

I offer; I  even suggest.

I am practicing my new response.


”You’re so smart. You’ll figure it out.”


I hope I get a chance to use that! 

 

I am creating….   


my spring wardrobe by shopping in my own closet

and adding some new white linen pieces.

I am reading….

my new Traditional Home magazine.

Yes, I admit it.

I love traditional design with a kick. 


Second true confession:

although I have painted things white for a gazillion years, I also love color.

I am going… to go outside now and do some fertilizing.

I am wearing… yard clothes… .

Write Back

(originally published in February 2009)

***

"Write back."

Remember those words- written at the ends of notes shared at school?

When notes weren't being passed, they were being folded into a fortune telling form of origami that could predict who you were going to marry.

Amazing.

Baby boomers created the precursor to Match.com.


At the very least, these folded notes shared the truth about who you really liked and above all who liked you.

The good news is that the note decreed it- you didn't have to.


As a private person, this kind of note folding truth telling game was right up my alley, anonymity included-no strings attached.


Truth be told, it may not have all been about privacy.

Somehow I thought if you said something out loud , it would never happen.

Did anyone else have these powers of suggestion?

Why this memory? Why now?

It is the writing. It opens up a floodgate.


If you are worried about your memory, I highly recommend it.

Anais Nin said, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection."

I love that.


I would much rather be involved in retrospection, as in a retrospective of your greatest hits (best all-time Greatest Hits Album: The Four Tops), rather than introspection.

Retrospection implies success; introspection simply sounds depressing.

Write Back.

Dear Daughters: Cleaning House

 

Dear Daughters,


Mercy.

I wish I had better news.


This cleaning house business can feel like a thankless task
that never ends.


Truth #1: It doesn’t.


If you work ‘outside the home’, as I did, and

as you do, it really feels like it never ends.


So for whatever it is worth,

here are some additional truths to consider.

Truth #2: Create your own set of standards.

Not mine. Not Martha’s.

Yours.

I spent time worrying about things I could not do perfectly,

and the only thing I accomplished was

learning how to worry perfectly.

                                Truth #3: Use the witching hour (that first hour when you get home from work)

to your advantage and then stop. 


One hour- or less if possible.


When I used that hour when I first got home to start supper, throw a load of clothes in the washer,

and wipe whatever was in my path

and then stop,

I felt like I was in the game


Truth #4: Cleaning house is not a moral issue.

It is simply a series of repetitive tasks.

Maybe an hour after work to deal with some of these repetitive tasks

feels like too much-

as standards’ chairman you decide.

Truth #5:  Again.

I wish I had better news.

At least once a week, we need to take our homes

back to the starting gate.

As in all in, all clean, all done.


We can do this.

As Papa says- ‘no step for a stepper’.

Love, Mom

My Blog’s Lessons to Me

(Thank you to the wonderful bloggers who created this event.

Go HERE to see other posts and to join in!)

***

 

As undecided as I may get over a paint color,

or what hair cut looks best on me,

I have never swayed from

one clear truth regarding my blogging.


For me it has always been about the writing.


And it is at that very same point things get a little messy.


Here is what I mean.
***

Audience

Writers need readers, and I have been

blessed to have more than I ever imagined would read and comment on my posts

(many anonymously).

In the interest of full disclosure, I have at times fallen prey to

the need to have MORE.


(OK. So I am there now.)

I don’t do well when whatever it is that is driving me

wants MORE.

And so I try the blogging tricks of the trade that work so well for others,

and guess what?


They rarely work as well for me.
The need to live comfortably with humility is one of my ongoing life lessons.


Lesson #1 for Laura:  Dance with the one that brought you and do what you know to do.


Which brings me to the next item:


Voice

When I am only focused on gaining MORE readers,

MORE followers, MORE comments,

and that doesn’t play out according to my crafty planning,

then the voice of my writing loses its

Real Message,

which is where all of the good stuff lives.


(My favorite post.)

Through my humor and my willingness to share

crazy things like an anti-paint tutorial

or faux twitter posts 

the real message from me to you

is that the delight we all find in simple things is where

real JOY is.

Lesson #2 for Laura:  Continue to find delight in simple things, write posts about such joys,

and let the follower chips fall where they may.

And so dear blogging friends new and old,

may I recommend one key thought?


Hold this all loosely.

***

And guess what.

I wrote about this best HERE.

I already wrote this post and didn’t realize it.