The Power of Introverts...Finally, Someone Who Understands...

When I was five, Mother used a broom to 'sweep' me out from under the bed where I was hiding because I didn't want to play with 'Johnny so-and-so' whom I never met and did not wish to meet.
He was loud and boisterous and I just wanted to play quietly.

"You're So Shy!" she said with such exasperation in her voice that I knew, even at 5.. I knew that 'shy' was a bad, bad thing. A curse. Like having an ugly scar on your face that would never come off. I tried and tried to cover that 'scar', to mask my feelings of discomfort around loud, gregarious, even obnoxious people. Why was I so sensitive? I think I must have been in my forties before I learned that my 'scar' is a beautiful, exquisite gift.

 I love the line in this clip that says the people who talk the most don't always have the best ideas. But then, if you are an introvert...you were actually listening to those big talkers...and you figured that out all on your own.

This is my gift to you, my fellow introverts...
 

Silver Threads Among the Gold

I woke up this morning with a song running through my mind. Mom and Dad used to sing it to one another. I don't think I've heard it, for well, since dad passed away when I was a teenager, it must be close to 50 years. I guess it came to me because of all of this talk about going gray. Mom, did you hum this song to me as I slept? However it came, I'm glad it did. Keep some tissues nearby as you listen.

Berry Nice...Sugar Free Jam

If you're anything like me, you love to make jam; but when it comes time to dump a bucket-load of sugar all over your beautiful, already sweet berries, you feel guilty. Like you just drew a mustache on the Mona Lisa. It's just wrong. So this year I searched around and found, what I think is the perfect answer to the problem. Pomona Pectin. Now, I'll admit, I haven't actually tried the stuff yet; but I rushed out and bought the last remaining box at our local health food co-op. I've checked their site and their reviews out pretty carefully. This stuff looks like the real deal! Not like that 'reduced' sugar pectin where you only have to dump half a bucket into the pot. And oh my goodness, their site has the tastiest recipes for jams. I will definitely be making Blueberry-Lavender jam this year! Here's the link; http://www.pomonapectin.com/. And here's the link to the aforementioned jam recipe http://www.pomonapectin.com/recipes/blueberry-lavender-jam/

Speaking of berries...last Saturday my friend Demetree and I headed out to Deborah Lubbe's organic farm to pick some strawberries. Her berries are the sweetest thing this side of heaven.

I learned something about strawberries from Deborah. She has 3 varieties of berries on her property. The orangey-red variety was by far the sweetest. The red-red ones were tangier. And the deep ruby-red ones were juiciest, but less sweet. So you can't judge your berries by color. Deborah's Nooksack Valley farm is nestled in the foothills. It's a down-home, earthy place with roosters wandering about, a Shetland pony pastured nearby, and field-flowers growing amid the grasses. A place to breathe.

Demetree

You're never too young to go berry pickin!

Taste testers

Talkin' organic, berries, and farmin'

Deborah Lubbe is as organic as her berries

 

 

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Guess what!!! Becky Povich, a great blogger friend invited me to do a guest post on her blog! I'm so honored. Becky is a fabulous writer with many published works to her credit. And she's very funny. So if you have a sec...mosey on over to her site and check it out...

http://beckypovich.blogspot.com/2013/03/fourth-vgb-from-debora-rorvig.html

Thanks so much for the opportunity, Becky! I'd love you to guest post for me anytime!

The sun is out...time to go fly kites in the March wind.

 

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Seven Secrets about Me...and Seven Blogs I Love

Linda O'Connell,  over at Write from the Heart has graciously included me in her awards for Versatile Blogger. I think she's being very kind. Nonetheless, I have gratefully accepted her award which means it is my task to link back to her, pass the award to seven blogs that I enjoy reading; and then reveal 7 secrets about moi! (Please Note: If I nominated you, and you accept the award, you'll need to do the same; which would mean 1. link back to me  2. reveal 7 secrets about yourself, and 3. name seven other recipients and notify them)

Seven Secrets about Me

1.   I got married when I was 17 years old. Had to go back and get my GED and many years later got to go to college. Kinda did things in reverse which is a little like driving with your eyes on the rear view mirror! My first marriage ended after 15 years, but I remarried; and am on my way to happily ever after with hubby Kelly; after 23 years.

2.   I was the International Sales Manager for a company with a distribution network into more than 30 nations.  Also did Materials Management and sold insurance. I gave up the corporate gig to pursue my passion; teaching children.

3.   I play the fiddle-but not as well as I'd like. I need to practice more, but this blogging thing kinda gets in the way. When I do play, Celtic, Bluegrass, and Country are my favorites.

4.   I became a Christian when I was 18 years old. It changed the entire course of my life (maybe saved my life), and the lives of my children.

5.  I need to be near the ocean. Really. The idea of being land-locked makes me feel very uncomfortable-sort of claustrophobic. Somehow when I'm by the water, I feel that I have a means of escape. I can't really say what I'm escaping-all I can say is that when I am on the beach...I feel free.

6.  When I was a child, our TV was often broken, and there were no kids my age nearby to play with. So I started doing crossword puzzles. Someone bought me a dictionary to help me with the puzzles. Then I just began reading the dictionary. Thus began my love affair with words.  I still love words.

7.  I believe that words are a powerful force for good or for evil--and that we must be responsible for what comes out of our mouth because we're bound to reap a harvest of what we've said. So I get very perturbed with folks who speak negatively, even in jest. Don't tell me that bad things come in threes, or that it's 'Murphy's law', or that you are dumb--or I just might reply that good things come in dozens-- that the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it--and that you are as brilliant as those flowers growing in your garden...and far more precious!

And now, without further ado, here are my Awards for The Versatile Blogger...


Chickory  is keeping it real and folksy down on the edge of the Cohutta and Big Frog- I just can't wait to see what she's gonna do next. Especially love those birds and chickens she paints!

Anneliese  from the Mennonite Girls can Cook blog, who cooks up comfort food for the soul and for the body.

teresa  of  Meadowbrook farm- born with a green thumb on one hand and a camera in the other. Her photography is breath-taking.

Jo-jo of My Random Insanities- don't let her fool you; she's saner than most- and she is an artist who paints with words.

Chris is just down the road a piece; at Redgate Farm. Shes a fellow Pacific Northwesterner with an eye for all things vintage.

Alicia  of Posie Gets Cozy  is my crafting hero. Truly. I'm in awe of how she combines colors in her knitting/crocheting/embroidery. Amazing

Leo  of Zen Habits keeps me smilin', breathin', and goin' slowly.

Ellen the Happy Wonderer whose travel photos make it like I am there; and she tells the best stories!

I know if you're the accounting type, you've noticed that I posted 8. Oh well,  you'll have to live with imperfection if you hang around here very long!

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A Few of My Favorite Things

Etsy has so many great artisans-I could spend all day there! From time to time; I like to share some of my favorite things; as they truly are 'whatsover things lovely'!



Strawberry Fields Hat Crochet PATTERN in PDF format From BellaMcBride

This scrumptious hat pattern is by one of my favorite crochet designers, Bella McBride. Her designs are nostalgic; romantic, and always elegant. Wouldn't this hat be just perfect with a ruffled pink silk blouse and a crinkly floral skirt?  Or maybe with some faded jeans and an aqua t-shirt...To view more of her lovely work go to   http://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaMcBride?ref=seller_info.

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Mason Jar Luminaries by Treasure Again

These beauiful luminaries have it all. They are pretty, practical, vintage, upcycled, and just plain magical. I plan to buy some of these for my garden this summer. I can just picture them on a warm summer evening, hanging beneath my fir tree grove in the backyard; with the candlelight casting eerie shadows all along the garden path. Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/treasureagain?ref=top_trail

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A View of the Pacific from an Original Watercolor Painting by Joyce Hicks

Village Charm in Westport from an Original Watercolor Painting by Joyce Hicks

 You all know from reading my life list that I long for a little cottage by the ocean. Joyce Hicks paints what my heart dreams. I can so see myself riding along the roads in these paintings on my cruising bike with the basket full of daisies or wild blackberries. There's a brisk, but warm wind coming off the ocean bringing with it the scent of the sea. My grandchildren are just beyond the picket fence; gathering pails and shovels for a day of building sandcastles and frolicking with the waves.  Can you hear them laughing...I can. Sigh! It will happen one day; I know it. Until then I will feed my dreams with beautiful images as these. You can see more of her work at http://www.etsy.com/shop/JHicksFineArt?ref=top_trail.



These are just a few of my favorite things...and my favorite artists from Etsy!



What's Your Idea of Fun?

A couple of years ago my daughter, 3 of her 4 children and I spent a few days at the beach. We roasted wieners and made smores as the sun was setting. For me, this was as fun as it gets!

I've been reading a blog called the Happiness Project. (You can find the link in my 'Creative Friends blogroll.) Gretchen Rubin, the author, suggests that we must learn to have fun again. And to do this, you need to define what is fun to you. Not what is fun to your spouse-or sounds fun but you're not really sure-or what you think would be fun for the kids and family...what is fun to you? I suspect that we mothers often forget what is fun because we spend so much time sacrificing for our families. So can you answer these 2 simple questions? Please send me your comments; I'd love to hear what you think is fun.

1.   What is fun for you?

2.  When was the last time you really had fun?

With these questions answered; there's just one thing left to do; go out and have fun!

P.S
Here's my answer:
1. Reading, Travelling and exploring new places,  Campfires with friends and family, Going to concerts, Blogging,  Taking 'artsy' classes, Any and every beach related activity or inactivity!
2. I read daily. Haven't travelled in a while. It's been a couple of years since I roasted marshmallows with my grandkids. I bet it's been 5 or more years since I attended a concert. Blog all the time. Haven't taken a fun artsy class for about 8 years. I was last at the beach in September, I think.

What's the Bravest Thing You Ever Did?

So what's the bravest thing you've ever done? This question was posed by one of my favorite bloggers, Chris Guillebeau on his 'The Art of Non-Conformity' blog this past week. The responses were nothing less than awe-inspiring. You can check it out at http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/the-bravest-thing/. There sure are a lot of brave people out there!