Early Morning Potty Breaks

With the new addition to our family my schedule has been a bit challenged this last week. Don’t get me wrong I have loved his presence and think that it is exactly what Vincent and I needed. Winston has been a wonderful addition to our little home despite the 3 am potty breaks he seems to enjoy. He seems to be acclimating well to his new surroundings and is even slowly making friends with Sunny and Sweetie. Sweetie and he seem to well on their way to a good friendship, which seems a bit odd as Sweetie usually acts like she is too good to be friends with anyone…

This morning he assisted me in rising a bit earlier than I normally do. The weather has been so warm these past few days that it was nice to be outdoors and enjoy it a bit. I brewed the coffee and tidied up the kitchen, enjoyed my first cup on the back porch in the cool weather, then decided to come in and write. It has been quite enjoyable. Winston on the other hand has already kicked back and went back to sleep on the floor next to me. Ah, the life of a puppy.

We decided to train him to a crate as Vincent is as crazy about him as me and really wants to occasionally take him to work with him. It is working out quite well. Because we knew that he would grow in size and we did not want to purchase a multitude of crates, we choose a large one from the beginning. Winston has already learned that the crate is his place and occasionally during the day will crawl inside to take a short nap. Yet when evening comes it is slid into our bedroom and placed next to my side of the bed (isn’t it always the momma who has to tend the baby…).

Spoiled? Yes he is. But then we always knew that we would spoil our children… Goodness I swore that I would not ever be that way with an animal… It is a good thing that eventually he will grow into a large dog. He will not have to worry about any of those silly outfits that the little dogs are seen wearing. At least let’s hope he won’t. Be forewarned that there will be plenty of pictures of our little guy… that is if he stands still long enough.

Other than Winston, this last week has been filled with yard work. Although the Oklahoma winds have been at their best (30-40 mph) we have still been out all week cleaning. Vincent has mainly been working around the pond and trimming the willows that were damaged from the earlier ice storm and I have been clearing my area for the fairy garden I am working on. Both are looking wonderful. I really should have taken some before and after photos. I was not aware of how different it is going to look when it is all finished. Many of my flowers that I planted from seed last summer are starting to come up. I am so excited about this. I scattered them all around the pond and on the perimeter of the property. Color sprinkled throughout the yard can do wonders for the view.

Soon I will start on the additions to my fairy garden. Flowers, a bench, chimes, feeders, stones and more are all planned. Don’t worry when it is complete I will be sure and post a picture. Because it will be shaded mostly I am going to have to think in regards to the flowers that I choose to grow. It does get some sun yet I would say for the most part it is partly shade to shade.

This weekend brings the holiday of Easter. I am still trying to think of a way I can justify coloring eggs, seeing that my grandkids are over 700 miles away. I did purchase the eggs, just in case I get a wild hair and just do it… A visit to the mothers this weekend is also on the schedule. I will spend Saturday working on the food that we are going to be taking up with us. I found some wonderful strawberries. I figured strawberry shortcake with homemade whip cream sounded yummy. Tomorrow my eldest son and his family are coming over for dinner. It is always nice to see them. A relaxing afternoon visiting with some food off the grill sounds nice. It has been a good week thus far.

Hope that likewise it has been an enjoyable one for all of you. Here is hoping that the weekend finds you in good spirits and lots of blessings. I know that some of you have seen some heavy rains. Hopefully the weekend will bring drier conditions and a visit from Mr. Sun. Wishing you a wonderful holiday and many blessings to you and yours.

Monday Mumblings - Warmer Weather, Babies, and Politics

Another Monday is upon us… another week to start. With being gone last week it seems that I have plenty to keep me busy this week. The wonderful warmer weather also is calling me to come outside and play. I have full intentions of taking advantage of this as much as I possibly can. I have flower beds that need to be tended. They need to be cleaned out of the left over debris from winter as well as new flowers planted. I am hoping that if I do plant that Mother Nature will be kind and not let the cold to come back and bite any delicates I may put out.

Also over the weekend Vincent and I got a new addition to our family. It is funny how the absence of the grandchildren has made us desire something to keep us company. I think he has been as lonely as me at times. We talk seriously about considering adoption. Yesterday we finally took the plunge and brought our little bundle home. His name is Winston…a seven and a half week old white lab. He is a lover to say the least and his first night home was a treat to say the least. I have raised labs in the past and think they are one of the smartest animals there are. Of course our new little addition is no exception. He slept through the night in a large crate next to our bed. And thus far has made no messes in the house. It is good to have something around to cuddle and take care of.

While I was away, I was far too busy playing with grandkids to really pay too much attention to the news or what was happening. It is a bit of a treat at times to do this. Not to worry about all the things that may be mucking up the nightly news. There seems to have been plenty while I was away. I see that Obama’s health care passed. And of course there was many who did not agree with it. I was amazed to see such childish actions from people based on the fact that they did not get their way. I thought that congress worked for the people and not themselves. Yet politics is something I have tried to stay away from here on my blog. Believe me I have an extremely strong opinion on many of the things that occur in our country. I have just not been sure if this is the right venue to voice them at or not. Also living in the area that I do, sometimes my views are not the most popular. With that being said I will go no further. Maybe in a future post, if I am feeling a bit daring I will venture into this area of my life.

This is the week before Easter. I am debating whether or not to dye some eggs of my own. It has always been a favorite thing for me yet with the grandkids gone, it seems a bit silly. Although I will more than likely at least dye a dozen just for the fun of it. I love to look out my kitchen window and see the brightly colored eggs dotting my yard. The neighbor dogs make quick work of them as well as the other creatures that frequent our place, so it is not as if they will be in the yard for long periods of time only to be overturned and mulched by the lawnmower later in the season. This always seems to leave a lovely aroma in the air.

While I was away, the book I am too review (Spiritual Partnership by Gary Zukav) arrived in the mail. I am eager to start reading it. I have to say that it has me quite excited. It looks to be quite interesting and something that I will enjoy. So as this week starts off, it looks as if I have plenty to keep my busy in the days to come. I apologize for not being more active in the reading and commenting while I was away. I did read many posts yet when I attempted to comment it would pull up several duplicates. It was taking me forever to comment on just one post. So I just didn’t do it. I have tried to catch up since I have arrived home yet there are still several that I have not gotten too. Life always seems to go on despite the absence of us doesn’t it? I guess we are all replaceable. Can’t help but smile when I say that… I guess that is a good thing. Enjoy your Monday. I hope the coming week brings many adventures your way and that you are able to enjoy them all. Blessings.

The Need of Self Denial

I have always been somewhat curious about the observance of Lent .  A time in the Catholic Church that runs from Ash Wednesday thru Easter.  The traditional purpose of  Lent is the preperation of the believer - through prayer, penitence, giving, and sacrifice or self denial. 

It is the area of sacrifice / self denial that I find so fascinating.  I have several friends and family who practice the Catholic religion, in fact Vincent is Catholic and each year as Lent comes around I hear the list of things that they decide to ban from their lives for the next aproximately 40 days.  Usually the list consists of soft drinks, certain rich and/or fatty foods,  and so on.  I worked with a woman once who each year made it a point to announce to everyone the approachement of Lent as well as the list of items she would be denying herself that year.  For forty days we would endure her daily lamenting of her trials and how hard they were yet how uplifting they were.  I will admit that in many cases I do not mind such things too much especially when it truly is a difficult walk. Although I would respect them more if they took their journey of walking on broken glass  in silence.  It is a bit more difficult to respect them let alone listen to them if their sacrifice is due to the fact that they have not had a Dr. Pepper in over a week. 

I do understand that not all people who practice this observance do so in the manner that I have described above.  I do know that there are many who truly honor its meaning and what it means to them.  Let me say also that it is not fair for me to also judge the items that one may choose to keep from themselves for this time.  I learned this lesson well last year.  My daughter, a new Catholic herself - who accepted this faith when she got married - celebrated her first Lent season last year.  One of the things she gave up was peanut butter.  Now when I first heard this I had to chuckle a bit as I thought it a bit silly until I talked with her just prior to Easter.  It truly was a sacrifice for her to keep this from herself as she is a peanut butter freak.  Although I think there are better areas that one can self deny themselves, for her this seemed to work its purpose.

I myself have always been one that if I choose to observe Lent, I would be hard on myself.  I feel that self denial and sacrifice have a wonderful way of making you look at the real picture by getting the clutter out of the way.  In older times fasting and abstinence were common items that were practiced at Lent.  I know many who still practice fasting today at this time, yet far from the extreme of earlier times. Fasting has always interested me and when I have observed it, I have found it to be an extremely cleansing time and also one of enlightenment.  As for abstinence, I am not sure  how widely this is practiced.  Yet I can see the benefit of its exclusion from ones life for a period of time as well.   

It is the absence of any of these things that gives one more time to reflect and think on themselves and also to question the importance they may be giving to such areas of their lives.  It clears things from our current lifestyle and daily routine.  I will admit I am not genius when it comes to the theology of the Catholic religion and thus this is based all on my opinions and also my readings, as well as observance of the many Catholics I know.  Yet I think it is much like anyone who wishes to seek out answers to questions they may have.  It is a means to seek enlightenment for the path we choose to take. 

Vincent is once again observing Lent this season.  I find it helpful and supportive to participate in it also, yet I refuse to call it Lent.  I feel that if I have items or areas in my life that need such drastic work that I need to deny them from myself that I need to  honestly ask myself if they need to be removed all together... And thus this is what I intend to do... I liken it much to awaiting the arrival of Spring, which is a time of new beginnings and new growth.  (much what Easter also represents)  Once again, we see the practices of old times (Imbolc, Beltane and so on) being manifested into a holiday  or practice that man can control in some sense.  Yet that is a soap box all of its own. 

In closing I think that we could all learn from this practice.  As isn't it what we do ourselves each year as the wheel turns and we recognize the changing of the seasons and the coming of spring.  Looking for the warmth to return to the earth and the new sprouts to shoot out of the fertile soil.  Shouldn't we likewise look at ourselves and ask if there are any areas that we should deny or attune ourselves to in order to prepare for this time.  Whatever you choose... blessings to you and may you find the answers you seek.