It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

”Paroline,” the other English major who keeps the world spinning, sent this gem. Perfect for the beginning of our year, and in her profound words I quote, “Adios old nonsense!”

Amen to that!

Purchased Purse’s Proper Pose. Yes. The answer is, yes, you should have a proper pose for a newly purchased purse. However, do not let that challenge keep you from the purchase! Many have acquired a new satchel and neglected finding a way to showcase its beauty. Some have even switched the contents of their old tote into the new one upon arriving at their vehicle post-shopping experience, eve while the receipt is still hot off the register! No preening or parading of the purchase was ever done. It can happen.

However, in the event you are looking for a new pocketbook and find one, you are welcome to borrow this time-trusted stance offered by my model friend, “Pristina.” It is sure to bring attention to your purse, not your midriff.

Carry on.

Writing down these thoughts would probably help? Oh how quickly those new year’s resolutions and helpful habits slide back into the past year! Today I am searching for some time to put the pen to paper again.

It’s a good day for quiet thinking. Thank you Mr. Shelley. “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Well, the best part of creating a space for a two-year old who really doesn’t care about fabric is that I had the chance to use what I already owned. It brings me great pleasure to do a craft with current supplies.

My little card table tent is comprised of an old yellow tablecloth, upholstery fabric from past dining room chairs, blanket binding from an old sewing project, and graduation “ropes” from one of the distinguished family members. I plan on attaching a few more flowers with the glue gun today, but for now, I can call this whimsy complete.

Hopefully it will provide at least ten minutes of continuous play today!

Look what I am going to do with my fabric scraps! It’s not like a sheet wouldn’t do the trick, but these are so cute and easy to sew. I’m going to channel my inner creativity and work on this project, thus avoiding taking down Christmas lights and cleaning.

I think it feeds into the “magical” theme this year. Happy Tuesday!

There were three musical groups in which I performed during high school: the school chorus, the “swing” group or whatever we were called, performing such hits as, “Feeling Groovy,” and of course, the Triple Trio.

I awoke singing “Feeling Groovy” this morning at 4:26. Though I was definitely not feeling it, I couldn’t stop thinking about the group of nine teen girls who sang and won first place ribbons at the district music contests. I don’t recall those songs at all, but we had fun, the three sopranos, mezzos and altos. Standing spindly-legged and swaying to our tunes, we apparently had lovely voices. Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to review those moments on film or phone? How geeky and gawky we were, thinking we were destined for greatness.

Now that I have a bit of caffeine under my belt I shall endeavor to feel a bit more groovy today. If I only had my favorite pair of bell-bottomed, red polka-dotted pants! I’d probably trip walking in them. They are best left in memory, too.

Look at this photo taken inside my bathroom today. It is rather magical, I’d say, and it may lead to me purloining my husband’s intention for the year.

The little fish are from my grandmother’s bathroom and remind me of childhood and the time I climbed through a window to rescue a little cousin locked in that bathroom. The rainbows are from the crystal drawer pulls I procured from the sale bin at a store, determined to convince my husband we needed them in our decor.

Every day I can see the turning of the world through the rainbow movement. Magical moments in a rather utilitarian space. I’ll look for more in 2024. (An accidental rhyme. Magical!)

Yes, I resemble this remark, dear daughter. And what fun it is!

Happy first Friday of the year. Let’s make it a good one.

The weekly Wednesday watch of our two-year old granddaughter occurred with her bringing her twin sisters.

So, we are still trying to figure out where everyone naps – and we are NOT changing where the eldest rests. (And I don’t mean me.) As the oldest of four, I respect the big sister’s right to have her space and not have to share – just yet. There will be plenty of time for that – pretty much the rest of her life.

Therefore, since we only have one upscale pack-n-play where you don’t have to bend to the ground and wrench your back, we instituted the time-recognized tradition of outfitting a drawer on the dining room table for a little one. (No wrenching of the back.) My daughter slept in a drawer when we traveled. My son slept in the bathtub of an RV when we camped. The common denominator – getting a baby to sleep!

It all changes soon enough and our drawer will return to its home. Our dining room table will be used again for dining. My husband’s office will one day be free of the changing table. And…I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s good to use everything in the house to serve us, as it should.

Next up? Bathing in the sink! Another time-honored tradition.

Writing goals and making a daily list increases the likelihood of accomplishing said goals by 42%.

I’m listening to a podcast on routines and their value, particularly the way the saints used routines. So far, there is nothing earth shattering happening because somehow we all know this stuff. It’s just doing it with intentionality. “Parsha” was encouraging my husband and I to find a word of intentionality to guide us this year. My husband chose “magical.” That should be fun! I don’t have an intentional word or idea, other than checking out my purse collection. However, we have a couple of encouraging words gleaned from St. Theresa of Avila and her routines.

Each day write down one to three “must dos” for the day – not just a little list of what you hope to accomplish but what you must do. The other big one is to cultivate deep friendships. You have to have someone in your corner and be in someone else’s corner, also.

Okay – those are my two gems for the second day of the new year. Now off I go to intentionally do something!