Friday, January 04, 2013

Start where you are...


(Source) 
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." ~ Arthur Ashe
 (Don't you love this quote?  I'm writing it down.)

It's the fourth day of the new year.  I know this because I've got the calendar from the butcher shop covering up my beautiful 2012 Marjolein Bastin calendar.  The new calendar I ordered from Amazon is not here yet, so I'm improvising.  For now, the pages are blank minus a couple grandma days.  I rather like the feeling of blank space.  It's freeing, refreshing, and full of possibilities.

I'm not a resolution person.  I'm not a theme person or one who chooses a word for the year.  I wish I was, but that's just not me, really.  I do have some thoughts about what I'd like to do in the year to come.  I read the Susan Branch post, The Care and Feeding of Dreams, and I realize that I like her approach to living life fully whether that means treating yourself to the occasional bubble bath & book, breakfast in bed, daily walks, or by setting Big Dream Goals like writing a book, one little page at a time.   As a fifty year-old lady with grown children and four grandchildren, it has become easy to leave dreams behind and focus mainly on "the here and now."  For me, the here and now is very important, but having a few dreams to feed keeps the soul awake and energized and gives me something creative to look forward to.

I haven't officially written down any of my projects or any of my dreams either, but I'm thinking about lots of things.  Since October, Hubby and I have been eating better and we've both dropped quite a bit of weight.  We feel good and more ambitious and fit, even though we both have 50 year- old ranch-worn bodies that will never look like they once did at 30 years old.  Still, we are planning to press on with a lifestyle of healthy eating.  I've been researching Clean Eating which includes, in a nutshell, eating a variety of whole foods and eliminating most processed foods.  This is mainly what we've evolved into.  If you are what you eat, then we've gone from Mr. Pop & Candy and Mrs. Chip & Dip and transformed into Mr. Steak & Salad and Mrs.Veggie Omlet.  Food tastes better to us now, and our tastes in food have changed dramatically.  I'm looking at sourdough recipes and experimenting with those.  The summer garden will be fun as always.  I'm anticipating new ways to feed the dream of healthy bodies with new whole food recipes this year.  Check out these "clean" Budget Recipes.

Our newest grandbaby, Ruth., is such a good one!  She's nursing and pooping and sleeping just like newborns are supposed to do, and she's such a pretty lil thing.  I was at her house yesterday, and I got to talk to her and tell her how wonderful she is.  She was wide-eyed and alert as she tried to focus on her granny's voice and face.  Her big sister and I had lots of fun looking at the new Eye Spy book and singing songs before nap time.  The neighbor grandgirls spent the night with us a couple days ago and even though they were just recovering from a nasty cold/flu bug, we had a good time dancing to Elizabeth Mitchell songs and  singing Car Car, You are My Sunshine, and Little Sack of Sugar.  What I love about having my grandchildren nearby is that one of my biggest dreams of being a Grandma has come true, and the best part is that we are so close.  I feed the Grandma Dream often and much.


I want to make a baby quilt for Ruth, and so I'm looking around for just the right quilt pattern with lots of color and interest for her.  Miss Bee had her baby quilt out when I was there and we had such fun pointing out all the butterflies, bees, circles and flowers that make up her own bright blankie.  I saw the niftiest idea for an Eye Spy Quilt where you fussy-cut some of the blocks or pieces to include images like dogs, bunnies, flowers and such things that would catch the eye.  I like that.

Because I really love to embroider, I'm planning to always have a project going, even if it is just tea towels.  This Christmas it was nice to have a stash of handmade tea towels at-the-ready to give as gifts, and I want to continue keeping a stash for gift-giving anytime.  I always feel like I give a little piece of myself when I give a handmade embroidery.  The time and joy I put into it is part of the gift.  Oh, that reminds me of the funniest little sew-on labels that I thought would be fun to sew on handmade gifts.  The one I especially like says:  THIS TOOK FOREVER.  How's that for funny and true?

Blogging will stay on my list of things I want to do.  I enjoy having a journal of my days, and I like having a place to share ideas and things that I like to do....like ranching.  We will be moving into Lambing Season very soon.  February 10th or so will be the starting date for new lambs to arrive, but before that we will get the sheep sheared and the shed set up for the big event.  It is the Kick-Off Event for the year because right after that, there are heifers to calve and then the cows, and the year is on a big roll because there's no stopping the rest of the events that follow.  That's the thing I love about ranching -- there's always something new coming up.  It's mostly the same stuff, but it's never dull.  There is a steady rhythm to it and yet there is anticipation and excitement.

I think I need to find a pretty notebook so that I can start writing down a few thoughts and ideas, some dreams and projects, and maybe add some encouraging words and pictures.  It's good place for me to start -- having a spot to at least write things down and begin.  I hope your year is beginning well, young as it is.

21 comments:

  1. I don't think I've transitioned into New Year mode yet. I'm not making resolutions or choosing a word this year. But I am resolving to start each day with a song and still be singing when the day is done. I love that line in "Bless the Lord" . It is so sweet that you have grands so close by. I've got to get back on the better eating and having restraint wagon, soon. That's great that you and hubby are feeling good and getting lean!!

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    1. A song on the lips! Now that would be something I'd like to do every single day. A song, a hum, or a whistle shows a contented heart in my book.

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  2. I have started a dream journal and projects too. There are so many ideas in my brain that I have t write it down and stop carrying it with me all the time. I am not sure when or where things will happen but I want to be ready.
    Eating healthy is on my mind and I believe God is giving me some quiet time to work on me....Blessings on your year. Dianntha

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    1. May your dream journal bring much inspiration and hope. I love my quiet time too. Right now I'm reading Isaiah.

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  3. I love this time of year for the energy it gives me as I imagine what might happen next. First on my list is working on the Great Purge of 2013, but I also have plans for quilts and socks and other fine things I want to make. I also want to do some oral history projects with friends and family. I'm looking forward to following your progress over the year, to hearing about your grandbabies and the lambs and your adventures in clean eating. As always, you're an inspiration!

    xofrances

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    1. Lefty,
      Your attic, my crawl space. I wonder if I'll get to my space this year? It would be a great accomplishment, but so far, it hasn't made my list. I'm looking forward to your new posts this year too, Frances, and the quilts and the socks.

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  4. I had this great idea that I told the family. Let's make a list of bad resolutions for the new year. Things like: gain 10 pounds, leave the dog outside a little longer than he would like, eat 3 candy bars in one day, leave the dishes in the sink over night...things like that. And then if we don't do those things, boy will we feel good about ourselves. And then if we do manage to do those things....we still feel good about ourselves because they were on our list. No one is really going for it, but it was fun to talk about.

    I love that your grands are so close and that your dream has come true in that regard. God gives such good gifts.

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    1. WW, you are such a gas! You need to submit the "Bad Resolutions" to a magazine. I think it's magazines that started all this resolution stuff anyway.

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  5. I love this post, Jody! The whole thing. I love the Arthur Ashe quote, and I'm writing it down, too. And I like everything you said about Susan Branch's post and your own thoughts about dreams and goals. Thanks for the inspiration! :-)

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    1. Susan, you always, always inspire me. I'm happy to give you a little inspire too. Love that AA quote more every time I think about it.

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  6. "... even if it is just tea towels." JUST tea towels?? Oh, Jody, your tea towels are pure delight. They may look simple and quick to you, but to me they are so very beautiful. I love the label you mentioned. I should have put that one on the two shawls I just finished :) So glad you're blogging. Your posts are always a pleasure to read!

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    1. Well.....Some tea towels are quick, some are more detailed. I love the towels my daughter stitches for me, and I like thinking about her whenever I'm using them. That's the good thing about a dish towel -- it's used. I've enjoyed your blog and your words so much this year, MK.

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  7. Hi Jody!
    I read "contentment" all over this post. That's so good. You are good.

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    1. Content....yes! You, dear Pom Pom, always exude good things and bring light to life.

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  8. A wonderful post! We have so much in common, we too are 50's, lost a lot of weight this year, and have those delicious grandbabies we can't get enough of! Now, you know we run more along the lines of a small farm than a ranch, but otherwise, I think we should get together for tea, we'd have lots to talk about!

    Have a wonderful year,
    Niki

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    1. We do have a lot in common. You have the tea, I'll have coffee. Congrats on getting healthy!

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  9. What a nice post. Yep at this age I find it is a little more work to dream but not impossible. I do love your idea of your quilt. I still haven't made my newest grandson a quilt yet, so I need too before his first birthday.
    I think you are on to something this year.

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  10. What a great feel-good post, I feel better for having read it, thanks Jody, and I hope 2013 holds lots of wonderful things for you. xx

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  11. A very lovely inspiring post Jody - thank you so much. I love the "This Took Forever" label for hand-made gifts. If I ever finish one (haha), I'll be sure to use it!!

    Yes grandmothering is just about the best thing ever! A dream come true for me too!

    Happy New Year!

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  12. The 9-Patch is a pretty baby blanket...bright, cheerful. I'm not sure what resolutions are, I should do a search and find out what that word means...yeah, I should... Susan Branch is a lovely blogger, am excited about the book she's working on now...twill be lovely to read how she and Joe met, their trip to England, etc.
    Those sew on labels are FUNNY! I should write that on my projects, perhaps then folks would appreciate them.

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  13. *Sigh!* It's so good to be reading your blog again. I like your thoughts/plans for the year. I pinned the quilt idea. I have been thinking of making one like that for a long time. Perhaps I should add it to my dream list :o).

    Blessings!
    Deborah

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