Thankful Thursdays

 Thursday.
It's one of those weekdays that doesn't get much attention.
We hate Mondays, settle into the week on Tuesday, announce Hump Day, and Thank God it's Friday. But, poor ol' Thursday is hidden in the quintuplet of days and it's virtually starving for nourishment and attention.
So, I suggest that we embrace this neglected day.
I hereby announce the beginning of Thankful Thursday.

Each Thursday I'm going to list at least five things that have happened in the past week that I'm thankful for. I may have to dig to get my five, but sometimes blessings are hidden right under our noses and we just take them for granted....

1. My Bed
I just put clean flannel sheets on my bed. They are soft, warm, and smell like lilac fabric softener. Even though my husband and dog are cover hogs, I appreciate the fact that I'm not camping out under a bridge or spending cold nights in a cardboard box. I can't wait to curl up tonight under the blankets, watch an old movie, and snuggle.

2. American Idol
If it wasn't for this show, I'd be eating bon-bons and reading three-year-old magazines to keep from going bonkers. The evening hours between 5 and 9 are the worst for me. I snack out of boredom and can't handle CNN or war movies. Through American Idol, I'm enjoying good music, future stars, and a bit of excitement.

3. Tax Return
Even though I haven't gotten my return yet, it's all been mailed off and will arrive shortly. There's nothing that says happy like a bank account with money it it.

4. Sisters
I've talked to all my sisters this week and we've got some plans brewing for a get together. We all need something to look forward to when the weather gets dreary- and spending time with my sisters always brightens my day. Flea markets, yard sales, and lunch are on the menu for later this month.

5. Naps
Even though there were things that needed to be done yesterday, none were so important that I had to meet a deadline. I curled up on the couch with a pillow, a blanket, and HDTV -and took a nap for an hour and a half. I felt refreshed and relaxed afterward and I didn't fall asleep later watching Gunsmoke.


Best of all, this week I've notice that the grass is getting green. My tulips and daffodils are pushing through the earth, and the air smells like new days. My husband said he heard the frogs chirping in the creek yesterday and the pond is once again bright with a blue-sky reflection.
We all have so much to be thankful for...

And now we can add Thursdays to that list!

Goodwill Wednesday: Just stuff

It's Goodwill Wednesday again, and I'm sorry to say that my internet isn't cooperating today. As I write this, my photos are refusing to upload, so I guess you will all have to do what I do every time I enter the local Goodwill- Use your imagination!

I've not been a very good little house keeper this week. I know my closets are overflowing with clothes and bins of unknown content, but I've just not been able to get motivated. I blame it on the cold weather, but I really think it's the fact that I know I'll just end up rearranging my junk- and not ridding myself of what needs to go right out the door and never seen again!
My biggest organizing problem is clothing and paper. How long do I really need to save an electric bill? Or a Christmas card? Or the expensive pair of jeans I wore twenty pounds ago?
I know I'm going to have to engage some tough love here. Soon.

So- I decided that I would play around with my art stuff yesterday. I got some while canvas for Christmas that was just burning a hole in my pocket (so to speak). And I tried to tell myself that experimentation was the funnest part of the artistic process. Plus, I could always paint the canvas white again if I didn't like the outcome.

A Goodwill find was actually involved. A paperback book of women's love poetry. A 50 cent purchase to tuck away in my purse while waiting for my oil change or the doctor to arrive. But, sorry to say- it was absolutely horrible. Don't be a hater- but I tore it up for my project. Which doesn't amount to a hill of beans if you can't see a picture of what I did with it. (I hate you internet!!) I'll have to show you some other time, and even though I'm not crazy about how the project turned out, I had fun experimenting.

 Oh- great!
A picture finally decides to load, but it's not one I needed to show you. It is, however, a photo of a little goodie my daughter gave me out of her auction box stash. I love it. The colors are so pretty...

Speaking of found treasures, I stumbled upon a website that I absolutely LOVE!
http://www.bennettrobotworks.com/

I think my next project will be making robots!!! Sculptures, really- that's all they are. But they're so cute! And I'll be able to recycle all the junky stuff that my husband has in the barn! It's a win/win situation!

(Funny that my internet will copy a URL address photo, but not one from my own personal file! arghhh!!!)

Now I've got something else to look for at Goodwill! Can't wait!

Isn't life fun?

Pictures!!!! (Click to Enlarge)

I can't believe I could actually post pictures today!!!! This is a montage of the last time we visited the cabin. I miss it already!

Interview With The Tooth Fairy

It's National Tooth Fairy Day, and as a tribute, I recently interviewed the Tooth Fairy.

I was lucky enough to catch him/her before sunrise just as the Cuspid Cafe was opening its doors. Frequented by late night fairies who flutter in for a quick bite, the tiny pixies were consuming large amounts of fresh milk and magic-dusted danish before clocking out for the day.

I respectfully held the interview within the outdoor garden area, as several local fairies agreed to answer questions concerning their line of work. I towered over them, but yet they seemed as ease as they reclined upon dandelion leaves and rose petals.

Note: Contrary to popular belief, there is not just one Tooth Fairy. Because there are many tooth fairies in order to service the vast area of the Earth, I simply let them speak as a whole.

*******

Q: I was very surprised when I first saw your attire. I was under the impression that you all wore little pink tutu's and carried star-topped wands.

A: (Laughter) " Well, you did happen to catch us on casual Friday! But, yeah- it's a tradition that we've tried to carry on. However, the male species have gradually turned to tights and boxers to avoid any unnecessary stereotyping. You know how cruel some humans can be. We've gotten a bad rap for years."

Q: How did this whole tooth fairy idea originate?


A: " History isn't exact, but our ancestors claim to have started this business in ancient times. Children who lost their teeth placed them under the pillow to keep witches from acquiring them. Because you know- back then- any body parts such as teeth, fingernails and hair could be used to conjure up curses against you.


Q: About how many teeth do you collect in a good night's work?


A: "If we're lucky, we'll get twenty- maybe thirty. You have to realize there is a lot of down time involved. We have to wait till the child is actually asleep before we can start riffling around under their pillows. Sometimes it will be after midnight before we can enter the room."


Q: What's the going rate nowadays for a good baby tooth?


A: "We are all seasoned fairies here, and we can remember when a dime or a quarter would satisfy a toothless child. But, with inflation and the selfish greed of some youngsters, the average price paid for a single tooth is almost three dollars today.
In fact, some of the new fairies are leaving Visa cards."


Q: I've always wondered what you do with the teeth that you collect. Is there really any value to those molars and incisors?


A: "You may not realize it, but this entire Tooth Fairy Village is composed of teeth. We've perfected a type of glazing- similar to adobe- that covers and protects the teeth from the elements. But yet it makes for a strong base for our homes and factories. Even the streets are paved with millions of little teeth."

Q: Has there ever been a client that you refuse to visit?

A: (Nervous laughter.) "Of course! Vampires are the very worst! They never sleep! And dragging those giant baby fangs off in our little felt pouches is a pain in the *** ! Plus, those vampire parents expect us to leave ten or twenty dollars per tooth just because they're larger. We earn our keep, for sure. You take your life in your own hands when doing business with those blood suckers."

Q: What is the worst situation you've encountered while collecting teeth?

A discussion ensues. ("Herb- you could probably answer that one.")

A: "Even though we are working with baby teeth here, there is still the occasional tooth that has gone bad. Those renegade teeth lay there under the pillow with machine guns, ready to ambush us. We simply hate collecting bad teeth. In fact, I refuse to do it anymore. See this scar?"

Q: What seems to be the future of Tooth Fairies? Do you have any type of job security?

A: "Every single day fifty-five tooth fairies are forced into retirement, sixteen die from job related injuries, twelve go off to be garden gnomes, and two join the Fairy Godmothers Union. We are gradually becoming an endangered species. Kids just don't care anymore. They just don't believe in us."

Q: It's been a pleasure speaking with you today. In closing- what is the best advice you can give children concerning their teeth?

A: "Our national motto is: Be true to your teeth or they'll be false to you. That pretty much says it all."

As a gesture of kindness, a few of the tooth fairies dusted my brow with magic dust and presented me with a vampire fang on a golden chain. The Tooth Fairies were one of the most interesting legends I have ever had the privilege to interview.

Honestly-this is the tooth, the whole tooth,and nothing but the tooth.

Keep flossing! And have a great Tooth Fairy Day!

Blog Block: We All Get It. Today is My Day.

Tomorrow is National Fairy Tale Day, so I've decided to tell you a fairy tale in celebration of this holiday. Years ago, one of my childrens favorite books was Grimm's Fairy Tales. I used to read them a story from it almost every night. The book gradually became torn and floppy and worn out with love,- but they still remember the tales of kings and queens and a world of fantasy.
***********
Once upon a time a time there was a beautiful young lady whose hair was the color of lemons. So yellow was it, that the dark haired women of her village were jealous and vindictive toward her and wished upon her a thousand evil curses.
However, men loved her bright hair and how it shone in the sunlight- not to mention her sweet red lips and the hourglass figure that she unsuccessfully hid beneath her plain sackcloth dress.

This yellow haired angel was named Honey and she made a meager living as a cook at the castle of King Vinegar. He was a handsome man, but prone to fits of bitterness and he had gone many years without filling the throne of his Queen. Alas, he had many lovers, but it had not pleased him to take any as his wife.
Miss Honey had prepared her best cobbler one summer day and was left to serve it in the King's dining room. The head servant had been injured in a hunt for quail and there was no one else available to wait upon the King.
Honey wore her best apron and her hair tied into a modest bonnet as she entered the dining hall. The pie smelled delicious- and the aroma wafted throughout the entire castle like a sweet incense.

Honey bowed and lowered her head as she placed the pie upon the King's china plate, barely whispering, "For you, My Lord".
King Vinegar closed his eyes and inhaled the cobbler, his mouth watering at the sight of the thick berries and flaky crust that lay before him. He ate with a passion and then looked up at Honey.
About that time, a golden curl fell from beneath her bonnet, exposing her breathtaking yellow hair.
"Oh, what loveliness has visited me on this finest of days", the King said, "Not only has your cooking satiated my hunger, but your beauty has quenched my bitter soul. I must have you as my wife... My Queen."

So that's how Honey and Vinegar came to be in this faraway land. Queen Honey's dresses became silk and brocade and she was adorned with rubies and emeralds and gems from a distant shore. The moody King became happy and content and it was reflected in his treatment of the village.
It just goes to show that a beautiful woman who can cook - can change the future of an entire town- and the sour disposition of a hardhearted man.
And that opposites do attract- even in fairy tales.

*******
I left out the parts about the evil witch, the poison toads, the ugly troll and the disappearing staircase, but I'll save that for another time.

Sleep tight...