Fathers and daughters

This just says it all!


Article published Nov 14, 2007
Fathers mold their daughter's values
SHERRY SPROUSE
Commentary
"Nothing is dearer to a father than a daughter," the ancient Greek playwright Euripides once wrote. "Sons have spirits of higher pitch, but they are not given to fondness."

About 20 centuries after this observation, fathers and daughters continue to experience a special relationship. It is not necessarily more important than that of father and son. But it is certainly one that requires sensitivity.

Without a doubt, a father's influence on his daughter's life is powerful. He is the man who will mold her personal values and set the standard of expectations for the other men who will cross her path: the boyfriends, professionals, co-workers, friends and husband. And he is the man to whom she can go to for comfort, advice and love.

In an analysis of nearly 100 studies on parent-child relationships, father's love was as important as mother's love in predicting the social, emotional and cognitive development and functioning of children and young adults: Consider these facts from the organization Dads & Daughters:


Withdrawal of love by either the father or the mother was equally influential in predicting a child's emotional instability, lack of self-esteem, depression, social withdrawal and level of aggression;

In some studies, father's love was actually a better predictor than mother's love for certain outcomes including delinquency and conduct problems, substance abuse and overall mental health and well-being;

A recent study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse shows 42 percent of teens who don't use marijuana credit that decision to their parents' influence;

Girls without fathers are almost 40 percent more likely to abuse drugs;

Even when fathers do not live at home, children whose fathers are actively involved in their lives tend to have fewer behavioral problems.
A daughter must be given the tools and skills necessary for her survival in the world of tomorrow. Some of these skills a mother will provide, but most are provided by her father. These tools and skills are so important to a daughter's self-image, safety and self-sufficiency in the world she must grow up in.

It is important to understand that the bond doesn't dissipate at a preappointed age or because of some specific reason. It is a relationship that lasts a lifetime. Regardless of the age, the father is always the father, and the daughter is always the daughter. The bond and the love that exists between them is no less when the daughter is 50 than when she is 5.

Fathers can and do make a difference when it comes to parenting their daughters. A daughter will always look to her father as the one man in her life who will always be there when she needs him.

If a father wants his daughter to be capable, talented, competent and to feel beautiful and to believe in herself, he must value her talents and trust her insights. And his behavior, not just his words, will be her guide. A father will give her the edge she needs in order to feel self-love and the confidence necessary to meet the rigors of personal and professional achievement head-on.

Ten tips for even better dad and daughter relationships:

1. Listen to her. Focus on what she thinks, believes, feels, dreams and does, not on how she looks.

2. Tell her-often-that you love her.

3. Encourage her strengths and help her develop them to achieve her goals, help other people and help herself.

4. Respect her uniqueness. Urge her to love her body and who she is and not what advertisers and the media say is the "right look"

5. Encourage her to play sports and be physically active. Start young to play catch, tag, jump rope or just take walks. Physically active girls are less likely to get pregnant, drop out of school or put up with abuse. The most physically active girls have fathers who were active with them.

6. Get involved in her school. Volunteer, chaperone, read to her class.

7. Get involved in her activities. Drive, coach, play.

8. Take her to work with you. Show her what you do. She cares more than you think.

9. Support positive alternative media for girls. Watch programs as a family that portrays smart, responsible girls.

10. Learn from other fathers. Together fathers have reams of experience, expertise and encouragement.

Few of life's relationships compare to that of a father and daughter. From the first time she grasps his finger to the day he lets go, their bond deepens. The above statistics prove that their relationship not only affects their family but also society.

Sherry Sprouse is director of Heartbeat of Sandusky County.

http://www.thenews-messenger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/OPINION0...

Today's faery quiz

http://www.quizilla.com/users/Suran36/quizzes/Ultimite%20Faery%20Test/

Apron Strings

We had a discussion at work about kids leaving home and the ties the bind. Georgia calls it my elastic apron strings. I like that.
Have you ever thought about how those strings are tied? The elastic gets tighter and tigher asit streches as you tie, but let go of the bow and they are tied so tightly you can breathe! The strings are so constricted you can't even think! What good does that do you or anyone esle? Loosen up those apron strings so you can breath!
Have you tied your strings too loose? Loose strings are no good either. Your apron flops around you bulging every time you move. It scrunches all to one side then flipflops just as quickly to the other. You don't feel comfortable and neither does any else.
But tie your apron on properly --with the right amount of strenth and tension -- all is well. The elastic doesn't bind you so tightly you can't breathe or think nor is it so loose it does not do the proper job.
The same principle applies to us with our kids. We can love then too tightly and stifle all of their (and our) breath. We can love them too loosely and not be there when we truly should stand firm. Or we can tie our elastic apron strings just right using the perfect amount of love and strenth and toughness, and warmth, and caring, and saying no and letting ourselves and our children grow.
A mother is a mom all of her life but she does not need to smother all of her life. Tie those apron strings just right!

Other thoughs on apron strings....

Everything But The Girl Song Lyrics Apron Strings

Apron strings

hanging empty

crazy things

my body tells me

i want someone to tie to my lonely

apron strings

apron strings

waiting for you

pretty things

that i could call you

i want someone to tie to my lonely

apron strings

he'd look just like me when I was young

and I wonder as the days unwind

will he have your eyes or mine

then i wake up to my

apron strings

cold and lonely

for time brings

thoughts that only

will be quiet when someone clings to my

apron strings

and i'll be perfect in my own way

when you cry i'll be there

i'll sing to you and comb your hair

all your troubles i will share

for apron strings

can be used for other things

than what they're meant for

and you'd be happy

wrapped in my apron strings

everything but the girl, "Apron Strings

http://www.thesonglyrics.com/songlyrics/everythingbutthegirl/everythingbutthegirlsonglyrics3.html

"at what point do we stop providing for those we love and allow them to learn how to nurture themselves?"

http://fempower.typepad.com/powerplay/
http://www.goodtimes2.com/apronstrings.htm

Faries

http://www.quizilla.com/users/Suran36/quizzes/Ultimite+Faery+Test

What is your inner cat?

http://www.quizilla.com/users/Suran36/quizzes/What%20Is%20your%20Inner%20cat%20?/

What Is your Inner cat ?

You're the Purple Cat.

You see the world in different colors, always like to chase your tail.

You probably have alot of friends, and they all probably think your the weirdest thing since food stamps.

Gratitude

The sloppy kisses of Buster.
The quiet purring of Pumkin when he lets me stroke his silky fur.
My job.
Ken's hugs.
Katrina's laughter.
Jo's smiles.
Brannon's quiet ways.
My grandkids that make me laugh and keep me young!
Rain not snow.
Vacations!
The solitude of our hosue.
The view from our front porch.
My car is running well and is paid off.
Friends!
Mrs. Robin who sings every morning from the top of our maple tree - at the top of her lungs.

STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backwards

When you are trying to get so many things done, the big question is this:

Whose expectations are you trying to meet?

http://workingwithpower.com/ezine/getmoredone.html

Ok, I'm just feeling a bit stressed right now. Work. Getting ready to test for a new job at work. Worry about kids. Worring about the upcoming plane trip - and since when did I stop enjoying flying? Worrying about the animals while we are gone.
So.........
all this worry is just counterproductive. I am going to try some of these tips from the webpage and relax.

This is the start of the bedroom remodeling. The purge if you will of the last kid leaving home. Brannon's room now is morphing (with a lot of elbow grease) into the spare bedroom. The wall paint color is Billow blue with Clear Blu Sky tinted glaze sponged over the Billow blue. I didn't know that Lowe's could color a glaze in any tint. I'll have more pics up soon. For now I"m nursing my sore muscles and going to bed.

National Wildlife Association

http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/index.cfm?issueID=113
I enjoy looking at all the great pics of wildlife and the wilderness.

A letter from Jordyn

Dear Grandma,

I love to be there but I can't because I have to do some work at school. It's very, very, very, very hard. I don't know how to do this work but my teacher explains it to us and we know how to do it. So, anyways, I love to be there at Thanksgiving. love jordyn seay.

(she typed that by the way, the love jordyn seay part :)
12/08/2006

Lazy Day

Today was a lazy day. I watched the end of South Pacific, then Singin' In the Rain, then Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. All great movies. All made before I was born.

You'd never believe the female star in Singin' in the Rain was Debbie Reynolds! A very young Debbie Reynolds! I had to look at the info because I couldn't figure out who was the female lead.

To see short clips go to
South Pacific
http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=61298&titleId=90961
Singin in the Rain clip
http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=61298&titleId=90961
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=61298&titleId=90961

February 13, 2007

“Snow. Snow. We like snow. Do you like it? Yes or no?”

I remember this from one of the early learning to read books that I bought the kids. This was Katrina and Brannon’s favorite book. It got loved (and read) to death. I have no clue who the author is but it was written in a Dr. Seuss kind of way. Anyway, here is a pic from a week or so ago that shows the blowing snow. It’s so bad tonight we can’t even see across the road in front of the house. I can't even see the pole barn tonight. I heard the snowplow but never did see it. The wind was whipping the snow into a frenzy!

Just look at that cuuuute face!

This is Rebecca and Judy's new puppy, Poncho.

Judy and the puppy

Rebecca and Ken Christmas '06

We had a grand time at Rebecca and Judy's at Christmas. We enjoyed a quiet evening with supper and opening gifts. Rebecca and Judy's new puppy a tiny little Chihuahua was adorable!

Granpa's young lady- Trina

The picture says it all. Trina was in Little Women, in Pmeberville, 2007.

Grandpa's not so little girl - Alyssa

The picture says it all!

Grandpa's little girl - Kaylee

The picture says it all!

Daddy's little girl! - Joleen

The picture says it all!

If old houses...

What if old houses could talk? What tales they could tell!

The house gazes upon the clandestine primordial lovers seek their embrace under the spreading willow tree, the draping leaves shielding their illicit love. The child that grew within, now playing under its ancient bough brings laughter and joy. What sorrows lie ahead only time will tell but for now.

Life so precious and pure, what wrenching sorrow drives one to the brink of the lake? He stares into eternity the rippling waves tiding over the rocks. What measure of desolation dwells within? The void within. The rage. Sorrow to fill the depths of madness. One moment of clarity then…
gone.

The stately dress, the crisp blue uniform long gone, coursing slowly across the burnished floor. Walls no impediment to the gently swaying pair, circle the room once, twice, thrice. The strains of a departed ensemble echo across the ages. They gaze longingly and then smile then are gone, lost to the past.

The blank stare of the empty windows, the creaky staircase spiraling to rooms previously occupied with laughter, love and tears. The kitchen no longer smells of roasted meats, crisp apple pies and warm cocoa. The tattered gingham curtains blow restlessly fueled by rain-driven wind through the shattered window. Night stalking creatures now occupy the cellar once stocked with coal to ward off the cold, crisp wintry nights. The foyer invites no more, the hat rack now empty. The spacious library devoid of books, of robust banter, of a languid life, is now a tomb.

The blank ghosts of lives past live on in the shell of the house. Oh, the tales it could tell if only it could tell.

Journey

Journey is one of my favorite bands. Even though they have changed with various singers and beand members over the years my favorite singer is Steve Perry. I can get lost in the music for a long time.

2. STONE IN LOVE(Perry/Schon/Cain)

Those crazy nights,

I do remember in my youth

I do recall, those were the best times, most of all

In the heat with a blue jean girl

Burnin' love comes once in a lifetime

She found me singing by the rail road track

Took me home, we danced by moonlight

CHORUS:

Those summer nights are callin',stone in love

Can't help myself I'm fallin'stone in love

Old dusty roads, led to the river

Runnin' slowShe pulled me down, and in clover

We'd go 'roundIn the heat with a blue jean girl

Burnin' love comes once in a lifetime

Oo the memories never fade away

Golden girl, I'll keep you forever.

REPEAT CHORUS

10. DAYDREAM

(Perry/Rolie/Schon/Valory)

Shining in the silver moon,

Crystal ships are sailing to the sea.

Dreams the joys of pearls and gold,

And our angel's wings in flight unfold.

(CHORUS)

Fly, fly by my window,

Flyin' so free, yeah.

Yes, they fly, fly by my window.

Yes, those bright diamonds a-once were stone,rollin' down a silver stream.

Yes, those bright diamonds a-once were stone.

Sail on a silver wings of fire,sailing dreams beyond the silver moon.

In silver clouds that fly so high,live the dreams you search,but can't find.

(REPEAT CHORUS)

LOREENA MCKENNITT

Loreenna McKennitt is another of my favorite musicians. her music is a blend of Celtic/Highland/Folk with Morrocan influences on some of the songs. Marco Polo , an instrumental peice really shows this Morrocan influence.

She has her own record label called Quilan Road. You can here her music at http://www.quinlanroad.com/explorethemusic/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loreena_McKennitt

Note:The lyrics of the song are an abridged version of a poem by Alfred Noyes: Loreena left out three verses. These verses are given here in italics; see below the lyrics for some remarks about this.
Loreena McKennitt - The Highwayman
Part I
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,

And the highwayman came riding,Riding, riding,

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,

A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin.

They fitted with never a wrinkle. His boots were up to the thigh!

And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,

His pistol butts a-twinkle,

His rapier hilts a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

And over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard.

And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred.

He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there

But the landlord's black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord's daughter,

Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked

Where Tim the ostler listened.

His face was white and peaked.

His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,

But he loved the landlord's daughter,

The landlord's red-lipped daughter.

Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say:

"One kiss my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,

But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;

If they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,

Then look for me by the moonlight,

Watch for me be the moonlight,

I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

He rose upright in the stirrups.

He scarce could reach her hand,

But she loosened her hair i' the casement.

His face burnt like a brand

As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;

And he kissed its waves in the moonlight, (Oh, sweet waves in the moonlight!)

He tugged at his reins in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.

Part II
He did not come at the dawning.

He did not come at noon;

And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,

When the road was a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,

A red-coat troop came marching,Marching, marching,King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.
They said no word to the landlord.

They drank his ale instead.

But they gagged his daughter, and bound her, to the foot of her narrow bed.

Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!

There was death at every window;

Hell at one dark window;

For Bess could see, through the casement, the road that he would ride.

They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest.

They had bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!

"Now, keep good watch!" and they kissed her.

She heard the dead man say-'Look for me by the moonlight;

Watch for me by the moonlight;

I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way!'

She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!

She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!

They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,

Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,

Cold on the stroke of midnight,

The tip of one finger touched it!

The trigger at least was hers!

The tip of one finger touched it. She strove no more for the rest.

Up, she stood up to attention, with the muzzle beneath her breast.S

he would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;

For the road lay bare in the moonlight;

Blank and bare in the moonlight;

And the blood of her veins, in the moonlight, throbbed to her love's refrain.

'Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot!' Had they heard it?

The horse-hoofs ringing clear;'Tlot-tlot, tlot-tlot,' in the distance!

Were they deaf that they did not hear?

Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,

The highwayman came riding,

Riding, riding!

The red-coats looked to their priming!

She stood up, straight and still.

'Tlot-tlot,' in the frosty silence!

'Tlot-tlot,' in the echoing night!

Nearer he came and nearer.

Her face was like a light.

Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,

Then her finger moved in the moonlight,Her musket shattered the moonlight,Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him with her death.

He turned; He spurred to the west; he did not know she stood

Bowed, with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!

Not till the dawn he heard it, his face grew grey to hear

How Bess, the landlord's daughter,

The landlord's black-eyed daughter,

Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

And back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,

With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high.

Blood-red were his spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat;

When they shot him down on the highway,

Down like a dog on the highway,

And he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.

'Still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,

When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,

When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,A highwayman comes riding,

Riding,

Riding,

A highwayman comes riding, up to the old in-door.

Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard.

And he taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred.

He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there

But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,

Bess, the landlord's daughter,Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.'

The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes

The Highwayman is a poem by Alfred Noyes published in 1906. It tells a tale of a nameless highwayman who is in love with a landlord's daughter, named Bess. Tim, the jealous and possibly insane ostler (stableman), resents the highwayman and contacts the authorities, which paves the way for the death of the lovers. It can be downloaded at http://www.loudlit.org/works/highwayman.htm

Christmas musings

Faunce family photo at Grandma and Grandpa Faunces' home.
12/25/06
Brannon moved his bedroom today. The room sure looks empty. He’s the last one at home. Where did all the time go?
First there was Joleen, so loving and full of energy. She would run one spot to look at the flower and then dart off again when a butterfly caught her eye. When we lost her I knew she would come back into our lives to bless us again. The years were long but she’s grown into such a beautiful, intelligent, loving, strong, capable person.
Then there was Katrina. She was the blessing we waited on for so long. She taught me so much about how to be a good mom. She is so loving, always giving a hug and her beautiful smile to everyone. Her strength of will, her courage, and her beauty inside and out have made her an intelligent, accomplished person.
Brannon was next. He was always so curious. Nothing was safe from being taken apart to see how it ran. Usually I couldn’t put it back together but that was ok. Brannon tries to be the tough guy but he has such a loving heart that the tough guy doesn’t always win out. That is a good thing. It makes him tough but vulnerable. He’ll always be my baby, time can’t change that, but he’s grown into an intelligent, handsome, capable, loving, strong person.
Ken moved into our lives and our hearts. He had so much love to give and no one to give it to. We changed all that for him. He changes all that for us. He gave us love, stability, discipline, memories; he put the joy back into our lives.
Along with Ken came his children. Not all of their lives turned out like his parent’s wish for them. There will always be an empty place in our hearts for Kenny and Kimberly who went astray.

Ange;a broke away from her roots long enough to go find herself and then return with a husband, back to her roots. Angela is so smart and beautifuk! And she's found a comprable husband who is just as smart and handsome. I'm glad she's finally happy!
Naomi has such a big heart. She taught us all to be more tolerant, to speak clearly from the heart so we could be understood, to work through life’s difficult times to see the beauty on the other side. Naomi works so hard to please everyone. She takes such joy in life. Her beauty shines in her eyes and on her radiant face when she smiles. She has grown leaps and bounds beyond our expectations.
Megan came into our lives so full of hatred for the world. She hurt so badly inside. When she chose to let her light shine she was witty, charming and talented, - although some of those skills were better off left alone. Megan could only shake her ghosts for a little while and went to live briefly with her grandma in Washington. But while she was with us there was never a dull day!
As the times have changed, children grown, they now have families of their own. We are blessed with new young adults now – Juan, Chip, and Samantha. I can’t wait to get to know them all better! I know they will enrich our lives since our children chose them to love, cherish, honor, and last a lifetime with.
So many things have changed in our lives. It’s been 33 years for Ken and 27 years for me that children have been the main focus of our lives. It is going to take a little time to figure out what needs to go in to fill that void. Christmas’s aren’t going to be the same but I know Ken and I will find some other way to fill the void of grown children.
We are looking forward to this next phase with hope for the future and love in our hearts – and a few elastic apron strings. The memories are there and I’m looking forward to making many, many more.
I love you all!
Mom

Still Daddy's little girl

The picture says it all!

Brannon and Samantha's wedding.

Brannon and me

Is this the little girl I carried,

Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older, when did they?

When did she get to be a beauty,

When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday when they, were, small?

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset,

Swiftly flow the days.

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,

Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset,

Swiftly, fly the years,

One season following another,

Laden with happiness and tears.

Now is this little boy a bridegroom,

Now is the little girl a bride?

Under the canopy I see them, side by side

Place the gold ring around her finger,

Share the sweet wine and break the glass,

Soon the full circle will have come, to, pass.

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset,

Swiftly flow the days,

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers,

Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset,

Swiftly, fly the years,

One season following another,

Laden with happiness and tears.

Sunrise, Sunset
From the Broadway musical and soundtrack for the hit movie Fiddler on the Roof.

Written in 1964 by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock

Brannon's wedding day

Well today is Brannon and Samantha's wedding day. It has come so quickly. He is the last child in the house. It will seem empty again. I will miss him but I am glad he's growing up. I am happy to see how much in love they are. It makes me happy to know that all my children have found the love of their lives. Marraige takes patience, love, compromise, faith in each other, faith in a higher power, discipline, saying I'm sorry, going with the same-old-same-old repetition without going crzay all the time, it takes biting your toungue when you know you are right, it hones the art of negotiation. It's waking up beside your special someone day after day and knowing you want to be just there...right then in that moment. It's yelling at each other and then appologizing after each cools down. It's sneeking time for yourselves--just the two of you together--when the kids, your jobs, and life in general is trying to pull you other directions. It's not being jealous of the other. It's the hug you are given even when you didn't say you needed one but the other person knew it anyway and you got the hug you needed. It's just love. I love you all! Mom

Brannon's wedding day

Well today is Brannon and Samantha's wedding day. It has come so quickly. He is the last child in the house. It will seem empty again. I will miss him but I am glad he's growing up. I am happy to see how much in love they are. It makes me happy to know that all my children have found the love of their lives. Marraige takes patience, love, compromise, faith in each other, faith in a higher power, discipline, saying I'm sorry, going with the same-old-same-old repetition without going crzay all the time, it takes biting your toungue when you know you are right, it hones the art of negotiation. It's waking up beside your special someone day after day and knowing you want to be just there...right then in that moment. It's yelling at each other and then appologizing after each cools down. It's sneeking time for yourselves--just the two of you together--when the kids, your jobs, and life in general is trying to pull you other directions. It's not being jealous of the other. It's the hug you are given even when you didn't say you needed one but the other person knew it anyway and you got the hug you needed. It's just love. I love you all! Mom

Bob Seger

http://www.bobseger.com/news.aspx

One of my old favorite rock and rollers is Bob Seger. His was the first concert I ever went to. I was 16. Of course I did it without Mom's permission and got grounded for six whole months! It was worth every bit of grounding!
Favorite songs/albums
Sunspot Baby
Come to Poppa
Mainstreet - of course
Nightmoves
Wreck this heart
The Night Moves album - that waas the concert album
The Beautiful Loser album
The Live Bullet album

Comfort foods of childhood

Picture: Todd and Brannon one July 4th camp out
Homeade ice cream
Crackers and milk - the crackers must be only butter crackers
Tapioca pudding
Rice pudding
Cinnamon toast
Butter toast and Vernors when we were sick
Homemade syrup from koolaid
Home canned tomato soup this is still the best over any canned soup
Homemade beef and noodles
Home canned stewed tomatoes
Homemade pizza this is the best by far over bought ones
PB & homemade wild strawberry jelly
PB, lettuce, and mayo - the lettuce has to be home grown not the store bought type
PB & tomatoes fresh from the garden
Sausage and pancakes piled high with straight from the garden strawberries.
Rhubarb and the sugar dish in the garden
Ripe tomatoes warm from the summer sun - the ones where the juice just runs down your chin, then your belly and drips onto the ground
Peaches off the tree
Fresh baked bread with butter (not margarine) and apple butter
Renee's potato salad
Fresh peas from the garden -no cooking these peas at fisrst-shelling peas with Mom or Grandma under the maple tree shade in the late summer morning
Bread and butter pickles
Grandma Heilman's christmas pickles - oh so sticky sweet you could only eat one or two
Mint apple jelly
Grandma Faunce's oyster stew at Christmas time
Jelly parfait
Special birthday dinners
Gingerbread cake with vanilla sauce
Swedish tea ring at Christmas time - a sweetbread with cinnamon, raisins and walnuts with confectioner's sugar icing on top...yummy!
Homemade pumpkin pie that takes 3 days to make
Grandma Heilman's mincemeat pie
And later years...
Jean's sausage gravy and biscuits - and I still can't make mine taste the same. I know it's the love she put into it!

Did I mention I was a Don Johnson fan?

It's hard to define why I've always liked Don Johnson. I'll try. And no laughing kids! You all have your own version of a heartthrob!

boyish charm (even as he gets old)
"a dangerous dude" who is safe
those penetrating eyes- sexy and tough!
what a hunk!
that little quirk of a smile that just melts me
good actor
not a bad singer (hey there are much,much worse singers)

http://djfansite.2ya.com/

The Bridge

According to the postcard, this bridge is named the Arthur J. Ravenel, Jr, Bridge. It opened in 2005, one year ahead of schedule (boy those bridge builders need to be working on the new bridge in Toledo). It reaches 1546 feet over the Cooper River. This bridge is North America's longest cable stay span. It replaced the John P. Grace Bridge (1929) and the Silas N. Pearman Bridge (1966). The new bridge has 8 lanes of traffic and a 12 foot shared pedestrian and bicycle lane which overlooks Charleston Harbor. Now why anyone would want to run or bike up this steep bridge is beyond me but we say many people doing just that! And yes they were IN SHAPE!

Brannon and Samantha

This is our soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Samantha.

They make a stunning couple. She is wearing heels that day just so you know. Sam will have to stand on steps to look Brannon in the eye when she's mad! I've had to do that since the kids got taller than me. I'm glad to have another daughter in the family! Brannon was being onery as usual!

Sleepy Baby

Picture is of Carmen and Aunt Jo.


I wrote this lullaby a long time ago when my babies were small. I've sang it ever since to all the babies changing words and gender as I go. The love is always there.


Sleepy baby, sleepy pie,
Sleepy little one,
Your my pumkie, punkie-pie,
Your my little one.
Daddy loves you. Mommy too.
Your our precisous girl.
Close your sleepy little eyes and go to sleep.

Halloween '06

Trick-or-Treat!

Can we get more!

Thank you!

Boo!

Scary Vampire -oooooooooooohhhhh

Pretty princessess in a red dress - awwwwww

G'ma always taking pictures!

No more G'ma!

Dad carrying tired little ones.

Mom watching everything from the sidewalk.

Grudges

Grudges

Unmoveable.

Limiting

Unwilling to give

Unwilling to give. How limiting to be unwilling to give. Giving of ourselves is what frees us to do better. That is how we grow.

How long to hold on to a grudge? Is the offending person or action worth making it into a grudge? Is holding on to this grudge going to make my life better? Then why do I feel so miserable?

Is that person truly at fault or is there something within myself I haven't forgivien myself for? Why do I begrudge myself the healing power of forgivness? Why do I choose to see the other person as one worthy of a grudge? Why do I see the so blindly?

The good, bad, and the ugly...

How do we grow and learn to dump the garbage if we don't first learn how to recognize the bad/sad/ugly/hurting parts of ourselves? And after recognizing all parts of ourselves ACCEPT those parts of ourselves. We have to accept, embrase, and rejoyce in the good as well as the bad and ugly parts. We can heal and grow until we do. The past is past, the future is tomorrow, live in the now - the rest will take care or itself.

http://jenniferlouden.typepad.com/loudenmouth/2006/10/toe_in_neg_cree.html

WHAT DEPLETES YOUR SOUL?

This came from the Women at Heart website http://www.women-at-heart.com/. I really like what it says.

“Certain activities, attitudes, foods, and persons support the cultivation of an unconscious life. They draw us away from our center. They throw us off-balance. They deplete the soul.” -- Patricia Lynn Reilly

It seems we contine to meet those people in our lives who do throw us off balance...that is until we learn how to deal with them in a positive way. Once they become a positive influence they stop delpleting our lives and begin enriching our lives. The key is to find the positive and that is not easy.