Author: Rene

Early morning hair appointments are the best, as no one can delay your timing other than yourself.

I have followed my stylist from her beginning days at Great Clips some twenty years ago. For a few years I lost her and took on the cut and color myself, employing the skills I learned in college when ”Pindy” had me cutting and layering her locks! As you may recall, I have been cutting hair ever since.

So today, once again, I found it amusing that my stylist asked, ”Now which way do you part your hair?” For over twenty years, I have answered, ”The same way you do.”

Instead of being frustrated I am happy to oblige with that answer every seven weeks. She is younger than I and she can’t remember twenty years of the same response. It’s a little reassuring.

It is the dregs, the last of the wine, soda crackers, pickles, whatever is left. ”Bottom of the barrel” is not the barrel of a gun. I suppose that popped into my head recalling the two times I’ve had a gun pointed at me. But that’s another story.

The list grows shorter and I know you have been thoroughly invested in my efforts and idioms. Happily, I shall now allow my appliances to do some work – baking bread and washing clothes. They need a little boost in morale.

Years ago I recall taking a tour in an historic village, the name of which, of course, I cannot recall. The actors were dressed in early American garb, working with rustic tools, and explaining life of yore. What I vividly remember is the explanation of the phrase, ”from top to bottom.”

Dirt settled through the floor slats of a two-story building, so women would clean the upstairs to allow for the dust to settle downstairs. You always cleaned, ”from top to bottom.”

Thus, I employ that principle. Good news! I’ve made it to the bottom. Perhaps we shall explore, ”bottom of the barrel,” next? I think that refers to the barrel of a gun? Time for another historic tour!

What is the single most important product to acquire when setting out on a deep cleaning mission? Vinegar? Windex? Ajax? No. A stronger eyeglass prescription.

I upped my reading scrip the other day and strapped the classy readers on. Clearly, (ahem) I am finding more smudges than were previously detectable by my Dollar Tree specs, 1.75. While still sporting DT rims, I am taking cupboards and blinds to task.

It’s a sparkly day!

The list grows shorter.

It was only a 750-mile excursion to return the pie plate, but it is no longer ”seeing the world” in my transport. Along the way the little-plate-that-could saw a mountain lion cross the highway, a disabled RV stopping traffic for miles, and also witnessed the purchase of a new shiny pair of Croc shoes for gardening purposes.

I’m going to miss that little companion dish of the road, though I still have the spoon. Good thing they didn’t run away together!

For the past month or more, a beautiful silver chip-n-dip serving dish has been traveling with me in my little Escape. I fully intended to return it to the APB owner sooner than yesterday, but our paths did not intersect in the past 30+ days. To add to the mix, I have also been toting a load for Goodwill which has seen just as many miles.

It would be good to say I’ve returned everything needing return to the rightful owners. However, I still have a serving spoon, pie plate and Tupperware container residing with me.

At this point I’m not sure which would be more efficient – keeping them in the car to return when I see the owners or mailing them? We know which would be faster!

The earrings of choice today are from Australia and a stop along the Great Ocean Road. (Even in a tourist information hut I can spot beauty for sale.) Thus, I thought about my trips to Australia this morning and had a further reminder when a friend sent this little gem:

When my sister and I traveled The Gold Coast in Aussieland, we saw the cutest ”little library” in one of the towns. We were determined to each build one when we returned home, googling and searching Pinterest for the ways and means.

Thankfully, I came to realize that no one walks by my house because we are sidewalk-less. And if someone does saunter this way via the road, the person usually has a canine companion and wouldn’t want to juggle a book with the poop bag.

Whew! One craft averted. I guess I could leave a pile of sticks though?

Entomology was never a draw for me. I have vivid memories of my grandmother squishing a monstrous-size June bug in her hands when I squealed looking at it. (We were in the basement and I was a pipsqueak.)

Last night, however, I truly appreciated crickets. It was still, cool enough to enjoy the sunset, with crickets serenading me for a few precious moments of the evening. No traffic. No barking dogs. Just myself and the chorus.

I still can’t stand to squish a bug, but for the sake of my children and grandchild, I would do just what my grandmother did, should their lives be imperiled by a bug.

Too much truth in this sentiment! I always appreciate a good chuckle for the day.

Yesterday I had the privilege of accompanying for the last Mass of the weekend, which is usually filled with late arrivals, parents and kids coming from a sporting event, and the rest of us. The psalmist was a good friend, suffering from bronchitis crud and hoping to make it through his singing duties.

As he finished croaking out psalm 69, ”Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live,” some little pup in the back of church yells, ”Yay!” and claps.

We all laughed. It was perfect. Just what the great doctor Himself ordered!