Vintage Pyrex

I have developed a love for vintage Pyrex.  Looks like it is time to start combing thrift stores and the internet to begin my collection.  I don't have even one piece of the old stuff.  I need to fix this.  I particularly love these snowflake patterns. I may be buying one of these soon.

    Images from www.kaboodle.com.

Motivation, where are you hiding?

I have misplaced my motivation.  It was easy to find at the beginning of the summer.   I was going to water-aerobics each morning.  I felt great.  Then work interferred and I started having 7 am meetings.  My classes started at 7 am.  When the meetings started my motivation went into hiding.  I haven't been able to find it again.

My mom is losing weight.  My cousin has posted some great weight loss on Facebook.  My son is exercising every night.  The more people I see successfully doing something I am not should bring back my motivation.  Right?  Wrong.  My motivation has been even harder to find. 

I keep waiting for THE MOMENT or THE THING that will get me moving and feeling better.  It is elusive.  I know, I need to do it for myself.  But negativity is a terrible things and I think, "Will doing this really change my life, change me, make me a different person?" The answer comes back as "No!'.  Really?  That's not fair.  It should make me feel better and isn't that what I need?  I know it is.  I need to feel better.  I'm just not motivated.

I'll keep looking. Maybe I will find it.

Bears....Oh my!

Friday afternoon after unpacking all of our camping gear and setting up the tents, Mr. Forest Ranger stopped by.

FR: Did you get the phone call?
Me: What call?
FR: There was a bear spotted in the area last week and we have been calling to let people know. 
Me: Oh...
FR: It is your choice to stay here but we have to warn you.  I don't think he is still in the area.  But he was in the camp across the road last weekend.  Do you want to move?
Me: (Looking around.  Talking to dad.  Thinking about the odds that the bear is still around) We'll stay.
FR: Okay.  I really think it has left the area.  You should be fine.

Mom:  I am scared to death of bears.
Me: (Hands mom my pepper spray) Keep this with you if you want.
Mom: I don't think I would be able to use it.  I would be too scared.
Me:  Don't worry.  You have the pepper spray and Dad and I have our guns.  You'll be okay.
Mom: Whatever. 

There were no  bears....at least not last weekend...that we saw anyway.

The Benefits....

I have been renting apartments or houses for most of my adult life - minus the couple of years of home-ownership that did not work out as planned.  I tend to beat myself up over the fact that I rent rather than own.  I beat myself up over quite a few things so this obviously is not new.  Lately, instead of beating myself up, I have started to realize a benefit of renting that I hadn't thought of before. 

I get to experiment with different floor-plans, fixtures, flooring, appliances and so on without the commitment of a mortgage.  Over the years, I have figured out what I like and don't like, what I want in a home and what I would prefer to live without.  Here are a few things that I have figured out.

1- Hardwood floors  are not a good idea for people with feet problems.  Especially people who like to take their shoes off as soon as they walk in the door.  My entire main floor is hardwood. 

2- Black granite counter tops never seem to look clean - even after a good scrubbing.  Especially in the areas around the faucets.

3- Black appliances always look like they need to be cleaned - even after a good scrubbing.

4- I love having a double oven.

5 - I do not like smooth-top ranges.  Of course, it could be that mine is black.

6 - I do not like side-by-side refrigerators.  I feel like I don't have enough space.

7 - Not a fan of the open-plan concept. At least not the one I have.  Makes arranging furniture a little difficult.

8 - A window in my bathroom is a must.

9- Three bedrooms is must.  One for me, one for my son (or guest when the boy moves out), and one to use as an office.  My office is currently a corner of my living room.  I work at home so this is not ideal.

10 - A garage is not just for parking cars.  I need the space for my projects.  I miss having a garage.

I could go on but I will leave it there.  As you can see the benefit of renting is in finding out what I want when I buy a home.  And that is how I am going to look at until it is time to get my own place.

I did it!!!

I went to the hospital to visit JP.  I stopped at the florist looking for a "guy" type of thing and came out with an old-fashioned honey jar with a fake daisy type flower in it, but had the florist add a couple gerbera daisies in bright red and orange and some greenery.  It is so dang cut and not too girly.  I wish I had taken a picture.  He liked the flowers and the juice I brought him.  I had called before hand to see if he needed anything.  "Juice" was all he said, so I picked up a few different flavors for him.  But I think he like the company the most.  I didn't stay too long cause he needs to get some rest but will go back tomorrow.  I didn't need to overthink it at all, I just needed to DO.