This pile of stuff . . .
adorned our living room for the past month. It contained all the mysterious tools and gadgets Steve used to replace the six pillars on our front porch.
I think Tinker and Belle were more bothered by it than I was because it made their path to the front door into a maze. They eventually started walking over to the side door to ask to go outside instead, a clear message to Steve to get that mess cleaned up!
I can’t begin to fathom how he knows what to do with all that stuff, but I sure am thankful he does. He saved us several thousand dollars on this job alone.
Last Thursday and Friday, Noah came over to help finish the job. And by help, I mean he really helps; he’s not just hanging around. He and Steve have a great time together; Noah loves learning about tools and how everything works.
And best of all, Noah helped Steve carry all that stuff down to the basement. Oh, happy day!
The three of us ate dinner together on Thursday night, and then a little later, Steve and Noah decided to watch a movie. I was in bed with the door cracked open when Noah knocked, came in, and said, “Hi, Grandma. I was just wondering if the TV was too loud for you. I don’t want it to keep you awake.” He looked so dear and so concerned.
I thanked him for checking, squeezed his hand, and said goodnight, all the while feeling extra thankful for the gift of grands.
Although I don’t buy them often, I love English muffins. However, I always seem to have a hard time opening them correctly. I have tried using my fingers and a fork with moderate success, but often they get torn, or one side is way thicker than the other. What do you use? Fork? Fingers? Knife?
Usually, we don’t do a lot for Valentine’s Day, but this year, as a lovely change of pace, Steve arranged an outing to Riverdance30. I had no idea what to expect beyond the few snippets I’d seen on television over the years.
It was absolutely transfixing. The dancing and athleticism were, of course, amazing, and there was also a live band, which we loved. A large part of my enjoyment came from the videos and backdrops on the large screen behind the dancers. As a creative person who enjoys visual arts, I was mesmerized by how much they added to the overall production.
Picture from The Sleepless Critic
Although it’s nice to do things together on special days, the best way to show love is all through the year. When I come home from work, Steve often has my little sliders waiting for me and, if it’s cold, my fuzzy socks. He’ll take my work shoes off and put my comfy shoes on, and that’s how I know I’m really home. (Well, that and the dogs leaping joyously six feet into the air.)
Saturday morning, we went to see Andrew and Grayson burn up the basketball court. It is so fun (and funny) to watch young children play basketball. They are much more entertaining than most of the pro teams I’ve seen on TV. (Fun fact: Years ago, Steve and I got to see Michael Jordan play in Orlando. My first–and probably last–professional sports game.)
Happily, both boys got a basket, so it was fun to get to cheer for them when that happened.
The games are short, a score is not kept, and the rules are not stringently adhered to. The main thing is that they start to learn the basics and learn to love the game.
Madison was there to cheer on her brothers with her usual exuberant personality.
During halftime, Nathan spent some time working with Grayson; he always focuses on being present with each of his kids. So proud of him and Meagan for the great job they are doing raising their kids.
I was really impressed when we walked into Andrew’s game and I saw that three of the coaches were women; one was in her 60’s and another was about seven months pregnant. Kudos to them!
Before we left Grayson’s game to travel over to Andrew’s game, Steve hung around for a second until the coach had talked to his team and they had done their official high five.
Steve thanked the coach for taking the time to invest in those young boys’ lives and told him what a difference he was making for them, both now and down the road. The coach said no one had ever taken the time to say those things before, and he really seemed touched by it.
A reminder to all of us: it only takes a moment to speak a few words and make a huge difference.
I saw this online and chortled over it for quite a while. I immediately shared it with Sarah since she is one of the people in my life who truly appreciates a sentiment like that.
Recently, in a couple of different places, I’ve noticed people talking and writing about castor oil and all of its benefits for the body. If you are of a certain age, you probably had your mom or grandma give a teaspoon of it when you weren’t feeling well.
I’m just wondering if any of you currently use it.
This is a collection of the things I keep in my wallet. They don’t take up much space, but they often come in handy. (Not pictured is a bobby pin.)
So there you have it; the Things of February. I’m so glad we are already halfway through the month, which means the Things of Spring will be appearing soon. Can’t wait!
What about you?
Did you ever receive a random compliment through the years that you still remember?
What do you use to open an English muffin. Fork? Fingers? Knife? And why?
Do you love attending sporting events?
Have you ever volunteered to coach a sport’s team, a debate team, etc? What was (is) your experience like?
Do you use castor oil? If so, in what ways?
What is the first sign of spring you see where you live?
When I could eat English muffins, I used to use a knife to open them. Nothing else seemed to get the job done quite right. I DO miss them!
No castor oil for me! The thought of it gags me. I have a friend who takes a tablespoon of it every day though. She swears by it. Good for her. LOL
I was my daughter’s girl scout troop leader for several years back in the day. It was a lot of fun and very rewarding to be able to lend some guidance to the girls. They were a great group!
I DO love to attend sporting events! Professional, college, grandkids’, you name it! In fact, we are going to a college basketball game this week on Wednesday and I can’t wait!
We have been seeing so many Robins around here lately! A couple of weeks ago, I would say there were at least a hundred of them in and around our little tree in our front yard!! It was really something to see!! They must have been migrating because we never see that many. They are still here now, but in much smaller numbers.
LeeAnne,
Ick. I could not bear to take plain castor oil.
How fun to get to be a leader for your daughter’s troup! The impact you had on their lives will remain for a long time.
A hundred robins? I’ve never seen more than 5 or 6 at time! Your tree must have a robin-magnet in it. So glad spring is on its way!
Enjoy your game on Wednesday.
I love that Steve is so intentional with how he shows his love and appreciation to you as well as to others. What a great guy! 👏🏻
Seeing Noah in those pictures with the tools reminded me of my son with his very blonde hair. And always wanting to know how everything works! And also always being so helpful! 🩵
Watching littles play any sport is so much fun! They get so excited about everything and they try so hard! I love it! 🏀
I did try castor oil on my skin because Chalene Johnson (and pretty much everyone else in the world it seems) always raves about it! However, I’m allergic to it I guess because it did the exact opposite of what it’s supposed to do. Instead of making my skin soft, silky, hydrated and younger looking, it gave me literal scales on my hands and arms. And it made my face soooooo red and basically chapped. It was horrible for me! 😢
Here in Texas we have Spring multiple times a year. We had flowers blooming and new plants growing in December. Then it froze for a few days and those died off. But now we’ve got everything starting to bloom and grow again. I did learn something new in December though…that’s the peak season for ORANGES! It had just frozen for a few days and then we drove by a house with a tree covered in oranges! I had no idea they were good in the cold. I always just thought they grew in the summer and heat since FL is known for oranges. Did you know that??🍊🤯
Lizz,
How odd to have castor oil cause an allergic reaction! You never know how you will respond to something until you try it.
I wasn’t even aware that oranges grew in TX and, like you, I didn’t know they could grow in the cold. always good to learn something new!
I hope you enjoy whatever spring (or winter) you’re in the middle of right now. 🙂 Can’t wait for real spring!
A couple of weeks ago I was having an exasperating day and a lady I work emailed her thanks although what I do for her is part of my job. Her timing was perfect and I made sure she knew it mattered that she acknowledged what I do.
I don’t do English muffins, so I’m absolutely no help with that. However, I LOVE attending sporting events, especially college events. I work our high school volleyball and basketball games (tickets, score book, and/or clock) so I’m a most home games. I’ve attended one pro basketball game and it was fun; and a few pro hockey games. Hockey is REALLY fun to watch in person. And so is NASCAR (And being in the Charlotte area you’re pretty much in the home base)
My coaching days are in the past. When my 39-year-old played t-ball and machine pitch my husband coached so I was always at the ballpark with him. I coached Upward cheer through our church about 15-20 years ago when it started up for a season, but my husband was driving a truck and not always home on Saturdays and my youngest wanted to play basketball instead of cheer so the logistics of being two places at once got a little complicated.
NO to castor oil. But I once had to take liquid iron (SSS Tonic). I was taking Geritol for low iron as a tween/early teenager and those pills were fine. But someone game my stepmom a bottle of the liquid and she made me take that and it was AWFUL (a little of it may or may not have gotten spilled down the kitchen sink).
Tulips, daffodils and green buds on the trees will be popping out soon here in DFW…always so pretty.
How wonderful that Andrew likes to spend time learning from and helping Steve. Have wonderful week!
SueEllen,
Tulips, daffodils, and green buds on trees. You’re speaking my language. I can’t wait!
I think if I had been in your shoes, a lot of that liquid would have gotten spilled down the kitchen sink. Completely by accident, of course!
Compliments are wonderful enough, but when they come at a particularly perfect moment, they are all the better. Loved your story!
If you do all those tasks for both volleyball AND basketball,you must be a very busy lady during sports season. It must be fun to be a part of that conmmunity and get to know all the people volunteering with you.
It is fun – and fortunately basketball season doesn’t start until after volleyball season. Volleyball is pretty easy, no more than one home game a week and sometimes none. Basketball is busier because we have boys and girls so usually one is home on Tuesday nights and the other on Fridays. And they sometimes “throw in” a tournament or some middle school games, so I’m definately tired by the end of the season.
SueEllen,
Wow. That’s a lot of coordination for your family for practices, travel, and games, but so nice it’s something you can do together. Great memories are being made
I do remember a couple of random compliments! I try to give them, like Steve did. Words of affirmation are so important.
Our youngest was a star basketball player — he started on varsity all four years of high school. He decided he didn’t want to play in college. It took me a couple years to get over not being able to watch him play any longer (I am sure it didn’t help that he was the youngest child so ended that whole season of life — which we all loved. Watching him play was truly a family activity — I think that is partly what made the end of it so hard for me). In a few years we will hopefully be watching our grands play some sports (or do other activities).
I have some castor oil in the cupboard — haven’t opened it yet. I have a couple friends who have found it incredibly helpful (topically). I need to open it and give it a go.
I love the life hack! I am in complete agreement! 🙂
DeLynn,
How fun to get to see your son play (and succeed at) basketball all through high school. When it becomes a family activity, that makes it all the more special. I can certainly understand the sadness of having that season pass when it was part of the fiber of your family. Nice you can look forward to starting all over again with grands in a few years.
Thanks for being a compliment-giver! If everyone on earth gave one compliment a day, it would create a 8.3 billion smiles and warmed hearts. Such a simple thing to do with such huge effect. Blessings!
I cannot believe it is already the middle of February. Time flies, especially as we get older.
You should try Bays English Muffins. They are in the refridg. section where the canned biscuits are in Walmart. Only 140 Calories each and so good with Cinnamon Sugar butter on them after toasting. They are already split so you just pull them apart.
Ugh!!! Castor Oil. My daddy thought is was the greatest thing for whatever ails you. He would put it in orange juice so we could drink it. To this day, I cannot drink OJ at all. Gag. The worst thing was that for a few years we didn’t have an inside bathroom! Long way to the outside “john” after taking that nasty stuff. Ahhh… bad memories. 😀
I have a lot of different things in my purse too. Never know when we will need something.
I am not a fan of sports except for watching golf. We used to play until my hubby got his brain disease. I miss playing but I won’t go since he can’t.
I have been letting my hair grow out over the past year. I usually wear it very short but every time I went to get it cut they would cut it so short I couldn’t hardly get ahold on it. I always showed them pictures of what I wanted and they still cut it too short. I have not been to a beauty shop in over a year now and my hair is down past my shoulders. I can keep it pulled up in the summer so it is still cool. I have had a lot of people at church tell me they love my hair and that makes me feel better about letting it grow out. My mama used to tell me I was too old to wear my hair long… I am 70. I didn’t realize there is an age limit on hair length… lol.
Have a blessed week and enjoy the warm weather. Some people around me here in Mt. Airy have posted pictures of their Easter flowers coming up already. I love winter the best but love when the world starts unraveling its glorious beautiful colors created my our Creator. We are blessed.
So are you in Mount Airy too? I have lived in Mount Airy all my life! And yes, I have seen some yellow little lilies poking out a little bit in the melting snow.
Yes, I was born and raised in Mt. Airy. I live close to Meadowview School. Married my high school sweetie and we have lived here on McKInney Rd. 47 years. His old home place is right beside of us. I graduated from North Surry in 1973. I feel old….lol.. but God has blessed me so much.
Kaye,
I’ve never heard of Bays English Muffins; thanks for the heads up!
Ick. I think I’d rather have the castor oil plain rather than put it in orange juice. That way you get it over with quickly! And outhouses? Not fun. Our family had one for a short time. Makes me extremely thankful for infdoor plumbing.
I love that you’re wearing your hair long and not worry about age-related “rules.” If you like it, wear it. And it’s fun to get compliments, too!
I’m glad you wear your hair long if that’s what you like! I have never liked anyone saying you’re too old for this or that. And if anyone ever told my mother-in-love (66 yrs old) that she was too old to have long hair, Imd love to see her reaction! She would let them know how she felt about that! Ever since she had cancer 23 years ago, she has had her hair long and blonde (she’s naturally a brunette). Just about 2 years ago she decided that gray was easier so she stripped the blonde and just let her hair do what it wanted but it’s still long. The longer the better in her eyes!! 💜