Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  

Leash

When I think of the word leash, I immediately get a picture of my dog, Kimmy in my head. I pick up the leash and she turns into a "puppy." She prances, she dances, she can't wait to get to the door! I'm not real good at walking her during the winter months but I try to when it's warm out. It doesn't take long for her to expect to go for a walk every night. Normally  she's a dog who comes in every night, demands her treat (a hot dog), takes it and goes right back outside. Not once she thinks there may be a walk coming. She comes in the garage door and heads straight for the kitchen door. I reach for the leash and she starts prancing.

I've seen people "leash" their kids and I'm just not sure how I feel about that. I understand the thought behind it but somehow it just seems wrong to me.

Sometimes I have to put a leash on my mouth or get a leash on my anger - but I don't think of the word that way very often. In fact, I had to consult wikipedia this morning to see some more meanings and here are some that I didn't know:

Among hunters, a collection of three hares ("a brace and a half" or tierce) or three creatures of any kind, especially greyhounds, foxes, and deer, is called "a leash".  

Key leashes and lanyards are used to keep the keys attached to handbags.

So there you have it - I learned something today!

Pondering

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  

Skirt

I absolutely LOVE skirts and wear them all the time. I especially enjoy pairing them with boots. Something like this. 

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Or this

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Then there's Christmas tree skirts - like this one that I just finished.

 

All pictures from Pinterest!

 

 

 

Then, there's "skirting the issue." I try not to do that. I'm more of a "tackle it head on" type of person.

Pondering - switches

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  

Switch

 My first thought is a "Hickory switch" - the kind my grandmother would make you go cut and bring back to her so she could switch you. And it had better be a good one too. The going and getting was actually worse than the switching!

There's a light switch. There's the automotive switches that used to be made in the company I used to work at. There's the switch of jobs that I just made. And the switch from daylight savings time and back. There's the countless switches in directions that my life has taken over the years. 

Last night I had to "switch" off my desire to drive to daughter's house and grab my new grandson out of her arms! He was crying the entire time I was on the phone with her and I could just hear the frustration in her voice. BUT, I asked three times if she needed any help and she said no. I swore I would not meddle and make her feel like she didn't know what she was doing - but it was really hard not to get in the car and go. I remember those times with crying babies and how hard it is. I also remember my mil making me feel "inadequate." Won't do that to my daughter. If she needs me she knows all she has to do is ask.

Sorry for the sideline - That's all the switches I can think of right now. I'm sure there's probably more.  

Pondering - Light

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  

Light or Lite 

 Light - what comes to mind?  First I think of sunlight and the warmth it brings - definitely different than daylight which doesn't necessarily bring any warmth with it.

Then, there's those lights you turn on with a switch to illuminate the darkness, a light bulb, a light fixture, a flashlight, a book light or headlights.

There's those lights on electronic devices, red power lights, flashing lights on our routers.....

Stop lights - I think the town I work in has maybe a dozen while the town I live in has none! But we do have those flashing railroad crossing lights!

Of course there's all those "lite" foods out there, you know - the ones that taste like cardboard or chalk.

My favorite light is the one that I've always called "my idiot light." You know how it is when you can't understand something you're trying to learn - some new concept from a textbook or some instruction manual? You just can't seem to grasp it and then all of a sudden that "light" goes on in you head and you're like, "Oh, I see, that's easy! Why didn't I see that before?" I did that just last week when I bought a new toothbrush and was trying to figure out how to change the attachments. I spent a good 5 minutes trying to push the attachment up, pressing in different places to find that release button.  Then my idiot light went off and I slid the catch DOWN and it came right off in my hand. Duh! Yes, I have an idiot light!

Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Sign

My first thought this morning with the word sign was a video I received from son and dil of my grandson doing "baby sign." Sorry, but I can't figure out how to move it from fb to here so I can't show you. But this baby sign thing seems to be the rage with young parents. I have a couple of co-workers with babies and they are also teaching it to them. I don't quite understand the reasoning behind it but there's a good article about it here.

My second thought was of the flowers out in front of the building I work it. A sure "sign" of spring!

Then there are those signs we see everywhere. I like this one.

 

 

 

 

 

from google

 Or it could mean writing one's name on something!

Pondering - Those pesky bills!

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Bill

The first thing that came to mind this morning when I saw the topic was a name. Maybe that's because the "b" was capitalized. I've known quite a few Bills in my life!

The second thing that comes to mind is another I am very familiar with - those pesky bills I have to pay every week.

Then there's the "bill" on a ball cap.

And a program bill - an advertisement.

And the Bill of Rights.

And a bill to propose new legislation.

And paper money - those are called bills.

And then there's those bills on the face of some birds - I picture the "Aflac duck" with his broken bill!

Les asked for a picture so I went looking on google! 

So there's lots of meanings of this week's word!    

Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.  

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Watch

The first thing I think of when I think of watch is a wristwatch and how they have become almost a thing of the past. How many people do you know that still wear a watch? In this electronic age, it seems that most rely on their gadgets to tell them the time. I used to love wearing a watch - I sort of miss it.

The other thing that came to mind was  "people watching" - one of my favorite things to do. And when was the last time you watched the sun rise, or the sun set? I also love to watch the mist rise over the mountains down home in VA. Lately, I think I'd love to sit and watch anything - it's been rather hectic here.

Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Stretch

Sorry but have to go off topic this morning. Had a very long, stressful night last night that started with a phone call from daughter who said "I hope you're ready to meet your grandson" and then started bawling. They had to take the baby - right then. I didn't even make it to the hospital before they took her back. But all is well! He came out screaming - lungs are ok. So far everything is good. 4 pounds, 5 oz, 17 inches long. I'll give you the whole story later.

Stress!

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Words with double meanings -Stress

When I first read the prompt this morning, I thought maybe we weren't doing words with double meanings this week. When I think of the word stress I think of the daily life stresses that we just can't avoid:
Washing machine broke - crap now I have to go to the laundromat and then I have to come up with money for a new one;
car breaks down - stuck on the side of the road - how do I get home? How do I get to work tomorrow? How much money is this gonna cost?;
 test tomorrow and I haven't studied enough;
winter storm and roads are bad - did daughter make it home ok?; 
Daughter pregnant, hope everything goes smoothly for her;

Those normal things that cause us so much stress - that was the first thought that came to my mind.

 But when I think about it, there are other meanings of the word. It could mean the stress (or force) on the seams of my clothes caused by me gaining weight which is something that I'm stressed about - sorry, keeps going back to that meaning for me.

from google

Live and let live!

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Words with double meanings -Live

I'd like to think that I could just live for the moment but I've never been able to do that. I've had too many roadblocks throughout my life. I need a plan - how am I going to live if.....plan a, plan b....

I don't require much to live. I need a job, one that enables me to pay the bills and have a little left over. I need a place to live, nothing elaborate. I need my kids. I need them to need me. That just about sums it up.

As far as the other meaning of "live," I guess we are all participating in a live "rehersal" of how we want to live our lives.

Pondering With a Purpose

It's Thursday! One of my favorite days. Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Words with double meanings - Race

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of race is ethnicity and discrimination - which by the way - is so TOTALLY wrong. I have a hard time understanding why race is still an issue for some. Come on people, it's 2013. I would like to think that we could get past all that and just take people for what they are and what they believe in instead of how they look. We are a melting pot of people from everywhere. I myself have a heritage of Scot, Irish, and Cherokee and who knows what else. What race am I? I'm an American, that's what. Why does everything have to be about race? I hear that racism is more prominent in this country now than it has been in the recent past and I think - Is it racism or is it just politics? I do not like the current politics in this country but it has nothing to do with race. I don't care about your race. I do care about the country going down the tubes.

Sorry about the rant this morning - just had to.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Words with double meanings -Close

Running late this morning so I'm going to keep it short and sweet.

Close brings up ideas like closing the door to the past. Sometimes we tend to close ourselves off to avoid being hurt - I've done that a lot. But I prefer to think of the word close as in being close to my children and giving them a close-knit family, the kind I never had.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Balance

Do I have balance in my life? My best answer to this is "sometimes." Do I do anything besides work? Rarely. When is the last time I did something for me? I can't remember. Even my vacation last fall got turned into the vacation my daughter wanted - but I'm not complaining - I did enjoy it. But the choices were not mine - we did what she wanted to do and I was kind of just along for the ride.

I got my diploma in the mail last night and just looked at it for a while. There really wasn't any sense of accomplishment. I don't really believe that it's going to do anything for me. The job audit I was promised still has not happened and truthfully, I'm not real confident that it ever will.

But I'm not going to stop - can't. I may not have the perfect life but it's not that bad either. I had a conversation with a friend this morning that made me realize that. Things are not going so well for her right now. She's working two minimum wage jobs, husband hasn't worked for two years and refuses to look for work, she's close to divorcing, her son is "in trouble", and her house needs major repairs. Compared to that - my life is great.

There are some major differences between me and this friend. We both lost our jobs due to a company closing three years ago.

I went back to school and kept trying until I got on here. She refused to go to school (this was free due to the company closing).

She got married. Said she'd found a man that would take care of her (see how that worked out). I take care of myself.

She likes to complain about how hard things are. I listen.

I don't want to sound like I have no compassion because I do. I really wish there was some way I could help her. I tried to talk her into taking the school option three years ago and she wouldn't do it. This morning I told her to come and take the Civil Service tests to try to get a job. I don't think she will. I wish her life was more balanced.

Sorry about the rant but sometimes it frustrates me when people won't do anything to help themselves. Back to the question - No my life is not really balanced but it's what I have and I intend to keep on striving to make it better.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:  Love thyself  - Do you love yourself?

This is a tough question. I tend to be my own worst critic.I'm not much of an "outgoing" person - definitely not an "extrovert" but not completely "introverted" either, although I used to be. To clarify - I used to sit quietly, never saying a word, stayed to myself and let people use me and then run over me once they were finished. I'm proud to say I no longer do that. I've grown a lot but it's still an inner battle to stand up for myself. I think it goes back to my childhood. Let's just say that I had no feelings of self-worth back then. I was ridiculed and preached at and NEVER achieved as much as I should have according to my mother. How can a child do better than straight A's on a report card? Never could figure that one out.

But I've come a long way. I don't listen to it anymore. I listen to those who realize what I HAVE accomplished and those who believe in what I can still accomplish. 

But do I love myself? I try. I like myself but it's a struggle, a battle I'm still fighting.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt: Involvement

Brenda has heard the following quote:   "Your children are off on their own with their own lives now, you need to be less involved with them every day." Her question this week is whether or not we agree with that statement.

I wholeheartedly disagree. I will never be "less involved" with my children. They are my main achievement in life - what I have given to make this world a better place. Now, I don't poke my nose in their business every day and I don't try to run their lives. I don't even talk to them every day. But that does not mean that I am not involved. I will always be involved. They know they can call me at any time for advice and I can call them when I just need to hear their voices.

On the other hand, I never had that kind of relationship with my own mother. I do speak to her, usually she calls about once a week. But I don't tell her anything. It is always a very generic conversation - to her disdain. But I know that whatever I were to tell her, she would have to say that I was doing something wrong - no matter what the subject was.  I think that's why my relationship with my children has always been so important to me and why I have strived to make that relationship a good one.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:               time
Oh, if I could only slow time down! I've written about it before - the fact that time has just crept up on me. How did I get to be this old? How can my daughter be 29? Doesn't seem possible - didn't I just have her yesterday? That sweet little bundle in my arms....and now she's expecting. Where did it go, this TIME? And why don't I feel OLD? Why don't I act like my grandmother? Do I act like my grandmother? It feels like I should be 20 or so.

My grandson is 10 months old -  how is that possible? I don't know. It sure feels like it's flying by.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:               Resolutions

I don't make resolutions. Why set myself up for failure? There's lots of things I could resolve to do but I've learned that it works much better for me to just plan a way to do something instead of resolving to do it. Plans can change, therefore if something happens to change my plans - I'll just come up with a new plan and not have to count myself a failure! What are some of the things I plan to do in the new year? Lets see.......

I definitely NEED to lose some weight.
I need to get to England and this is second only because the "plan" may put this in January of 2014.
I need to get my kitchen finished.
I want to get my teeth professionally whitened - too many years of being addicted to coffee I think.
I want to get my floors refinished.
I want to get the front porch redone.

I'm sure there are lots more but that's all I can think of right now. 
   

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:                Overcoming Loss
 Loss of Innocence-Loss of Dignity- Loss of Privacy-Loss of a loved one-Loss of purpose
I, like Brenda, have to admit that I have lost all of those things at one point or another. I could even add a few to the list - the one that comes to mind would be loss of self. Loss is never an easy thing to deal with but when you lose yourself - what do you do?

 You all know that I call this blog "Empty nest in IL" and if you have read much you know that my world has revolved around my kids for a long time. It was always me and them - together. When my son joined the Air Force I was devastated - but I had to let him go. Daughter stayed with me till she was 24. I always told her that she could never leave me but of course SIL came along and off she went. So there I was. ALONE. 

I did not deal with it very well. The house was too quiet, too clean, there's really no point in cooking for one, laundry was always done, no dishes.......So what was I supposed to do? I wallowed for a while and became somewhat of a "hermit." I really hate to admit it but I even spent many nights with a bottle of wine. Until I took the trash out one day and realized how many bottles were there. I couldn't let myself go down that road so I had to do something.  

I started crocheting a lot. I  and even did some craft fairs. I joined the VFW. I joined Blue Star Mothers of America. I started this blog. I put one foot in front of the other and kept going. That's all you can do. Nothing stays the same but wallowing doesn't help anything. 

Now, I do still enjoy an occasional glass of wine and my kids are still the most important thing in my life. And I've learned that even though they're gone - they still need me. I have a life of my own now. Me - myself - my life - and things are better.  I've grown a lot and this blog has been a big part of that growth. I thank you all for that.

Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt:                Memories

I think that I am lucky to have actually lived the old way. I remember the coal stove in my granny's living room. I remember the outhouse. I remember making apple butter in a huge kettle outside over a fire. I remember the old wringer washing mashing. I remember the crank telephone that hung on granny's wall. I remember our first black and white TV. I remember two local channels. I remember cars with crank up windows and sitting in front of a fan, trying to cool off.Then there are the newer things - landlines, record players, the first Nintendo - better yet the Atari! Cable TV, air conditioning.........the list goes on.
I remember getting my first computer and then getting the internet at home. Thought we hit the big time then didn't we? Our cars now have built in navigation and heated seats. 
Wow, the things that I have seen in my lifetime!

But are there personal memories? Of course there are although I'm not sure they would make for very exciting reading material.