How clueless are we?

I am obviously very clueless or too busy to see and enjoy the beauty of life. I just reviewed a slideshow of Vermont Nature photos and wondered to myself why I do not see those same things. These pictures came from a Senior in highschool. What a gift she has. I think it is time to put my red boots on and look for the beauty. It is there if we want to see it. We do not have to be so busy that we do not see the beauty of life right in front of us. Have a beautiful day.

One day I want to be..........

Have you ever wondered what you wanted to be when you grow up?. I always did and a couple of the things I really wanted to be was a Wife and Mom. The other things that were of interest to me I always put on the back burner and when the chance came other things were more of interest or importance. These things have changed over the years but I still have new interests so I may not ever get to do those things but if you never let those desires go, you still have things to look forward to. One of the things of concern to me now is when my kings move on to their life. OMG. I am already in therapy over it. (just kidding) I think it is important to have a plan. My life has been so busy and involved with the kids and school and all their activities and so on. What would I do without them? Because I have thought about it and dread it so much, I have been creating a plan for when that day comes to help my adjustment. However, I am starting to reach out and create a bit of "my life" again. My son's have blossomed this year and daily I see the man coming. I am very proud of both but the pealing away is awful. It is totally a bitter sweet. So my questions, my fears and my dreams are all surfacing. It poses a very good question. A question I have not thought about in years. What do I want to be when I grow up?. Right now I am in the process of becoming a chicken owner of 17 girls. I never would have imagined me owning chickens. I am now looking for red boots. My point. Put your red boots on and do what you want to do rather than dwell on what you never got to do for whatever reason. Let it go and get some chickens. Happy Spring

Vermont Queen aka "Dutchess of the Daily Grind": Acts of Kindness

Vermont Queen aka "Dutchess of the Daily Grind": Acts of Kindness: "I get great pleasure doing things for others and a couple of years ago I started something that also brings me great pleasure. I bought a co..."

Acts of Kindness

I get great pleasure doing things for others and a couple of years ago I started something that also brings me great pleasure. I bought a couple of little hearts made of silver at a local Art Gallery and at different times I placed them on my husbands key board. This went on for awhile and I would find little things here and there. It had been awhile since I hade done that and I again bought some different shapes of hearts. Rather than using a bag, I just dropped them in my coin purse. Before I got a chance to do it I was paying for something somewhere and the cashier was having a horrible day. The customers were agitated bacause the line was so long and even though she called for help, no one came. So when it came my turn I was more than compashionate than usual and when I went to give her change I noticed the hearts I had bought for my husband. I counted out the change and included a heart with it. The look on her face was pricesless. My heart grew that day knowing that even the simplest things can make a difference. I suggest you put your red shoes on and make a difference. It is a wonderful feeling and very unique. Have a beautiful day.

To be Right or to be Happy.

Are you the type to be right or to be happy?. I say this from my most infuriating experience of being right and I will explain a good example. I go to Costco at least once a week. Almost every single time, I am in a rage before I even get out of the truck. First off you have to find a spot that does not already have a cart obtaining the space, (that is what starts my blood boiling). So, ya get out of the truck and move the cart so you can get in and that is my cart for the day. No drama. Then you walk closer to the doors and see some _______ putting their cart into the handicap spot. OMG. This would send me over the edge. I would kindly say to the person "you really are not going to leave that there are you"? and the exchange of words would begin. This has been a part of my Costco experience ever since I have been going to Costco. So, you all might be thinking what a bitch I am or that it is not any of my business anyway. Well, you all might be right but my point is this.I will never have control over what others do that I do not like so it is up to me to change my glasses and see the situation differently or my experience at Costco will always be the same. Don't think this is an easy task for me or that every muscle in my body isn't tight or that I do it every time But, I am trying my best to put my red shoes on every time I go there and just accept it. I get out of my truck, move the cart, park the truck and start putting a smile on my face before I see anyone else. Then I proceed to the doors and when I see someone doing this, I simply say, would you like for me to put that away for you?. Some day I would like to think I could say that and mean it but I am totally not there yet. Do we want to be right or do we want to be Happy. I choose to put my red shoes on and be happy. I can not be concerned with what others are thinking or doing. Have a beautiful day at Cotco.

Family Heirlooms

Just what is a family heirloom?. In my opinion, it is something our parents had while growing up that we LOVE and WANT to have in our homes that bring us happiness or fond memories. I ask this question because of many reasons but recently I was at a party and this topic came up about a friends mother-in-law that was trying to divide her belongings between the kids. This situation faces all of us at one time or another. My mother-in-law has asked me similar questions just recently. I also have had boxes and boxes of my grandmothers and great grandmothers stuff that followed me all the way to Germany and back. Some of this STUFF made it all the way to Vermont. This is the reality of it all girls. Why is it a tradition to carry other peoples shit around when we don't even like it, use it or remember it? I now only have what I love in my house. I know this may have hurt my mother and mother-in-law's feelings but what am I supposed to do. Carry it around until they die and get rid of it. No, be honest and let them give it to someone else that may enjoy it. We have the right to collect our stuff too. Just don't try to give it to your kids when they don't want it. A lot of guilt comes with those boxes of stuff if you let it. I say, put your red shoes on and go shopping and collect your own shit that you LOVE. Have a beautiful day.

You could always say this "No thank you, I am having a lot of fun collecting my own stuff but thanks for thinking of me" that was very kind.

Valentine's Day

So, were we good to ourselves yesterday or did we expect someone else to treat us special?. I used to do that every year and every year I was crushed. It didn't matter that my husband was good to me every day of the year but boy was he in trouble if he didn't remember Valentines Day. That means he was in trouble at least once a year. He is not a hallmark type of guy and never will be. I have learned not to set the expectations and I am not crushed anymore. It is more important to treat ourselves like a queen all year long than to expect it once a year by someone else. Even when they do do something, it is usually not enough. Right. The wrong color of flowers, a restaurant we don't care for etc. Think about it. We can set ourselved up for disappointment when we set expectations. They didn't put enough effort into it. They must not care. Now that we know this we can let go of the expectations and plan our celebrations accordingly and have a great time. Expectations are a terrible thing and we should not do it. If we want them to do something for us we need to write it down word for word so they get it and they don't get it wrong. If we do this, we can celebrate Valentines Day. If not, good luck, I hope you have a beautiful day. Happy V-Day