Tag Archives: Life

Five Minute Friday: Still

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It’s Friday again!!  Linking up with Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday.  If you would like to join in or learn more about it, click on the icon to the left.  Write for 5 minutes, here we go.

TODAY’S PROMPT: STILL

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I have always been fascinated by abandoned buildings.  That’s why I love coming across these photographers now on the Internet, that capture the mystery of these forgotten dwellings.  My favorite photographer is Andre Govia.  I like to look at these photos and see the different objects that still remain; especially pianos.  My first thought is, who leaves a piano behind?  I know they aren’t easy to move, but still…it’s a piano!!  There are so many more questions that go through my head as I study the details of these photos and admire the beautiful architecture.  I look past the sadness of what now is, and try to find the beauty in what once was.

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I wonder what types of events took place in this room, how many different people actually passed through this room over the years?  Was it used for parties and family gatherings, or was it only occupied by one person as they honed their skills?

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How many times was this piano forced to play “Copacabana”, “Fur Elise” or simply “Happy Birthday?”  Was it always alone or did it get the chance to enjoy the company of other instruments?  Were there only classically trained musicians who sat down at the keys, or did small sticky fingers bang enthusiastically on them out of curiosity?  Or, was there someone that found solace alone in this room as they poured their heart out through their fingers dancing across the ivory?  Why is it still here?

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Most people probably look at these photos and only see the deterioration of a forgotten place and the destruction of neglect.  But those of us who can look past all that, will see the beauty of all the possible memories that are preserved within those four walls and still remain.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Five Minute Friday: Care

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It’s Friday again!!  Linking up with Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday.  If you would like to join in or learn more about it, click on the icon to the left.  Write for 5 minutes, here we go.

    TODAY’S PROMPT: CARE

 

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The other day, my daughter and I went to the store so she could buy her friend a birthday gift.  But the first thing she had to show me were these super soft comfy blankets.   She’s like, “Mom!! feel how soft these are…I have to get one!!”  I had to admit, these are the softest blankets I have ever felt.  She goes on to say, “Now that it’s getting colder, just think about wrapping up in one of these…as you sit in your chair…drinking coffee and reading a book, it would be so warm and comfy.”  Yep, she got me.  It was then that she declared, “we’re both getting one…pick which one you want.” At that point, I started frantically searching for the care instruction label.  As she is getting lost in the silky softness trying to decide if one pattern is softer than another, my mind is filled with images of disappointment in my daughter’s eyes, as this once soft blanket returns from its first trip from the laundry as a melted, matted mess.

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I always look for the care instruction labels on anything that I buy, because I have learned to try to stay away from certain fabrics like wool, or polyester.  No such luck here…100% polyester…ugh, of course it is!!  But the care instructions say to wash in cold, and tumble dry low, easy enough.  As my daughter continues to caress her new blanket like a beloved pet, and helps me pick out mine, I clutch mine to my chest and silently vow to take extra special care of these blankets and will not allow them anywhere near the dryer!!

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Five Minute Friday: Ready

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It’s Friday again!!  Linking up with Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday.  If you would like to join in or learn more about it, click on the icon to the left.  Write for 5 minutes, here we go.

TODAY’S PROMPT: READY

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“Is everyone ready?  It’s time to go.”  This is a very optimistic inquiry for a family of six.  Yet that is what I remember my dad saying so often when we were getting ready to go anywhere.  He was always the first one ready, waiting for everyone to pile in the car.  Yes…I did say car, and being the youngest, I always ended up squished in, in the most uncomfortable spot.  As it usually went,  it was the four of us kids and my dad waiting for my mom to get in the car.  The standing joke was that she was cleaning the house, so in case it got broken into, the thief wouldn’t be distracted by clutter.

It wasn’t until I was a mom of 4 kids myself that I understood that last minute clean up ritual; who wants to come home to a messy house? Yes, my mom was ready to go, but she was also getting ready for when we returned home.  Just like her I find myself picking up things, taking something out of the freezer to cook when we return, or turning lights on if we are going to be away well into the evening.  I guess I sometimes miss the whole “living in the moment” thing, but I found as a mom…we always have to be ready.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

Five Minute Friday: Reach

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Five Minute Friday has moved to http://katemotaung.com. I haven’t joined in for quite awhile. I have been checking the prompts, but just couldn’t get any ideas or words together to form a coherent thought. I know…Five Minute Friday’s are really not about being all proper and eloquent, we are to just supposed to write for five minutes on the prompt provided…still can be intimidating, yet always rewarding.  If you would like to learn more about it, click on the icon to the left. So here goes, I’ve shook my head, cleared out the cobwebs and this is what I came up with:

TODAY’S PROMPT: REACH

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The other day, I had an appointment. My name was called and I followed a woman back to her office, so she could get all my information. She did not say hello, she did not smile, she was doing her job. As she was doing her job gathering my information, I noticed that I was giving her short answers myself. But soon after, I realized I didn’t need to act the same way. I continued giving her my information trying to be more pleasant. She was an attractive lady, maybe around my age or younger, dressed nicely. She had on a blue blouse with white pants and white sandals. Her hair was nicely done as well (something I always notice since I was once a hairstylist). When we were done, she walked me up to the second floor to the office I needed to be in. As we walked up the stairs, I just said to her, “you know I really like your outfit, I’ve always liked the blue and white combination.” She thanked me and then proceeded to tell me that someone told her she wouldn’t be able to where the white shoes after Labor Day. I had to laugh, I didn’t think anyone followed that rule anymore, and that is what I told her. I sat down in the waiting room and she took my information to the person who needed it. As she walked past me to go back to her office, she said “(the person’s name) will be with you shortly, Carrie.” This time she was actually smiling a little.

Sometimes we just need to reach out to people, even if it is just a hello with a smile, or a compliment. Everyone is dealing with something, and we tend to just focus on ourselves.  I could have walked in silence with this stranger, lost in my own thoughts, but instead for that brief moment we shared a smile and a laugh, and I know myself I felt better, hopefully she did too.

STOP…PENCILS DOWN

I’m Back

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This weekend was my “Me Time Extravaganza.”  Well…it wasn’t that grand, but I had a whole weekend to myself.  I was house-sitting and did absolutely nothing and it was wonderful!!  I didn’t have to cook, clean, answer any questions, or talk to anybody, I didn’t even talk to myself!!  I went to my favorite hot dog joint for dinner one night, went to my favorite bakery and bought sprinkle cookies, which I didn’t have to share, and a chocolate chip coffee cake that was delicious, which I ended up sharing, because I forgot to bring it home with me.  I know my house-sitting hosts are enjoying it.  I watched TV, mostly home design shows, I love Flip This House.  I watched one of my favorite movies, Head Over Heals with Freddie Prince, Jr., it’s one of those movies that it’s just silly and far fetched but funny.  I also actually worked on a cross-stitch project that I started over three years ago.  I love to cross-stitch, it’s very relaxing to me.  The reason I know I started it over three years ago, is because it’s a baby blanket for my baby who just turned 3!!  I did this for all my kids.  When I found out I was pregnant with each of them, I started a blanket.  Believe it or not, I actually finished the twins’ blanket before they were born.  But I did have help on the second one, which was a joint effort with my mom and niece.  I did finish one all by myself.  For Elijah’s, my middle guy, that one was done shortly after he was born.  So the big joke is that Benji will have his done in time for his Kindergarten graduation.  I hope not.  My daughter showed it to him one day, and he just hugged it and didn’t want to put it away.  So then he began to pressure me to get it done.  Anniehow… I did get some work done on it.  It was so nice not to have to do anything, and I didn’t worry or feel guilty that I wasn’t doing anything.  I realized I need to do this more often.  When I came home, the house was clean, and everyone was exited to have me back.  My husband looked even more attractive to me, I did miss them all.

Now I’m trying to get back to life.  We have a couple of weeks left before we start school, and we are trying to have as much fun as we can.  My sister-in-law and her husband were in town from California, so we visited with them.  Today, the twins have their friends over, so that makes a total of 7 kids.  You think it would be chaos around here, but it’s not, the girls are in their room and the boys are in the boys’ room.  These friends are their “homeschool friends” since they are homeschooled too.  We try to get together as much as we can with them, last year we did a couple of field trips.  When we all get together there is a total of 9 kids, so it’s like a little class.

It’s nice to have a couple more days left to plan some fun.  My husband and I would like to take the kids miniature golfing and also take a trip downtown to see the fountain.  Something to look forward to before we have to hit the books again.