Opening Day

It's a holiday in the north woods of Wisconsin, Opening Day of deer hunting.  Al is already out in his stand.  I have a coffee cake in the oven, sirloin tip roasts to go in crock pot for sandwiches, nuts, crackers, sausage, venison jerky....you know the regular staples during this time of year.  

I am headed out to go to "work" today.  This is the first time in years....I've "worked" on opening day.  Many moons ago, this was my busiest Saturday of the holiday season.   My friend, Lisa and I, would set up at a very popular craft show in our area.  Once my parents need in home care, I quit doing this show.  This year, we have set up our wares in a shop in Wausau called Theme: 
 https://www.facebook.com/THEMEWausau/?ref=settings

We even went back to some of our old "favorites" - which are new ideas for this younger group of ladies.  On Wednesday, we went on a "pick" and found a basket full of these old syrup pails (berry picking buckets) and we made some of these.  

We have more to make and other "oldies but goodies" to bring in, as this shop will be open for the next 3 consecutive Friday and Saturdays.  We also picked some nice little primitives to add for next week.   

Tis the Season....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Worker's Compensation

.....wait, I don't have that....I'm self-employed.  Anyway, I didn't mention this earlier in the year, but I fell pretty hard while removing this huge, heavy, milk paint, Norwegian immigrant made, homesteading farmer's wife's pantry.  

Yes, it was bad, but I couldn't let on like it was....you know..."oh, I'm o.k.....(sad face)...." the family was there.  After the fall, they helped!

Well, after 30 years of bending, twisting, lifting, falling, carrying, hauling everything including one time a freezer up winding metal staircases on our shoulders.....Al and I decided we no longer are going to risk doing these things.  It was fun, I loved it, we enjoyed it all and the memories.  However, if you would have seen me under that 7 ft piece of furniture....you'd see why Al said "No More!"  

So, now after a summer of estate sales and such and my progressively getting more and more hunched over....I decided to go in to the doctor.  He reminded me of something my mom had (probably because she did this same thing her whole life) that, in addition to what I do and the "injury" he felt xrays were in order.  My leg is also numb...so I'm gimpy too, it's been hard walking.  

I did get the results from the xrays, but haven't returned to the doctor yet.  I have some severe and chronic spondyloysis and anteolisthesis in my L5-S1.  The grades, according to Google is between physical therapy and surgery.  I will know more after my appointment.  

I forgot I took these pictures and sent to my friend to show her after I got home...the other bruising - lower, I didn't take pictures of.   The corner of that cupboard pinned my shoulder.  I didn't write this to get sympathy, so please don't leave those types of comments.  I know my friends and family wish me the best and are praying for me.  I guess I wrote this because, sometimes people say "you have the best job, can I join you....on a pick....set up estate sale....buy out..."  I don't think anyone knows how much work this is.  How taxing it is on your body.  

I take that back, Pat G., one of my dear friends I met at Weight Watchers told me..."Jacky, I hope you do well with these items, you work so hard for your money."  That was after we took several loads from her farm.  They moved to the Madison area and couldn't take it all.  So, I bought it - she gets it!  

So, I will be slowing it down a bit now that I know I "have to"....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

You're Never Too Old

I am working on our lady's Bible study.  I had an idea floating around in my head about age.  I recently read the biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Did you know she was 65 when she published her first book?  I didn't.  I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie, read the books and somehow I never knew she was "old" when she wrote them.  I suppose at 10 or 11, 65 is "old"...LOL.  Anyway, this little fact, is what has inspired my post and Bible study.  I have shared this little tid bit on her age several times recently to my friends.  "We are too old to do that now" (I won't say which friends...LOL), but I had to reiterate..."well, Laura Ingalls Wilder was 65 when she wrote her first book....we are NOT too old!"   That Laura, she sure had some amazing quotes:

I couldn't love these 3 more!

While searching for age quotes, I found another of my favorites and his....Oscar Wilde:

(its the doing it right I still am working on...LOL)

(Oh boy is this me!  I do suspect everything...I come from a long line of conspiracy believers, so I guess moving to the top of this list will be easy for me!  LOL)

(I can hear my dad saying that one...smile)

So much truth in those!

So, with all of this in my head, I happen to look at my reading  list on blogger and checked out one of my favorite's posts:  http://theblessedhearth.blogspot.com/2018/11/saturday-night-ramble-and-roll.html and it was on the same "lines" as my thinking and working on for the Bible study.

"Time has flown fast, while I was busy doing something else"

Love that!  I often hear people say, "you're so busy" - hey, we ALL are busy.  We ALL have the same 24 hours to work or waste.  It's up to you!  I can't help it, it's how it is!  

Anyway, thinking on this also brings up one of my life mantras which comes from an old neighbor friend of my mom's, Esther (read about her here:  
https://dickybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2014/04/motivation-monday-keep-busy-but-dont.html)  

"Keep busy, but don't work too hard"  I am working on tshirts with that quote on them...when I do it, I will post so you can buy...LOL.

So, I wanted to share all of this ground work with you on the blog today, but if you want to hear how I turn it all into a Bible study, come tomorrow to Emma Kait's in Birnamwood, WI at 10 am.  Lord willing and with His direction I can do it.  

Please think on these quotes and remember, we are never too old.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Teaching at UWSP - Needle Felting

My good friend, Janette, works in administration at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point at Marathon County.  She referred me to the director of continuing education, who asked me to teach a needle felting class.  "Sure, I can do that..." 

Yes, sometimes I have family and friends who say..."why do you do these things....make yourself do stuff like this?"  Well, it's good to challenge ourselves, try new things and grow from the experience.  I've taught felting to plenty of kids in 4H, just not in the university format.  So, I was a bit nervous.

I prepared a curriculum .... tee hee.... with terms and information from sheep/field to wool/roving/felting.  We talked about cultures that used felting, different types of felting and what one would do with wool.   

I had 11 students signed up.  One of them, also follows my face book pages and has been a customer of mine for years.  She said "you should have posted this on your Town Hall Trinkets page, you would have had more students."  You know it all goes back to my philosophy on there is a fine line between "braggin' and sayin'" and that is the truth!  So, I often hesitate to say all I'm doing or even plan to do.  I do get tired of the "I, I, I....that is required to promote one's self!"  So, I tend to try not to do it.  However, she thinks I should! 

At the start I had a lady say something like "we will see if I can do this."  I assured her everyone can do this!  She took to it like a duck to water - she was finished first, had original ideas and seemed interested in future classes.  Oh, I forgot to say, we made folk art snowmen/women.  Each was so different and adorable.  

I can NOT express how I felt driving home.  My girls each asked "how did the class go?"  They encouraged me during the day and prayed for me.  I could only respond by saying..."it was challenging, rewarding, fulfilling and I feel overwhelming accomplishment and joy.  Before the class, I met a client whom I've been selling stuff for.  She knows Julie the director and where my classroom was, so she helped me carry my stuff in.  Anyway, Julie met us at the door and this client, I am embarrassed to say...spent 10 minutes bragging me up to her....it was uncomfortable to hear such nice things - but, it was the boost I needed to help my nerves to start the class!  She was giving Julie all kinds of ideas for classes I should "teach."  Thanks Barb, you have no idea how nice that was! 

Here are the pictures of the completed snowmen/women from my students.

Thank you UWSP Marathon County for the opportunity to share my folk art interests with this group of ladies.  I had fun!

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - Just Breathe

We've all heard that before..."just breathe, take a deep breath"...kinda thing.  Well, my nephew, Josh, was our guest speaker in Sunday School yesterday.  He talked about this and it was a very good lesson that inspired this Motivational Monday Post.

"The breathe of life, breathe into me, breathe in breathe out, hard to breathe, take my breath away"...ok, I'm sure you can think of other quotes.  All of which have a general theme - breath is life.  Josh based his study on this.  That God breathed life into us; He can also regenerate life.  The lesson was good.  

That all had my thinking about this quote..."don't waste your breath."  You know, trying to convince someone to believe something and it isn't worth the effort.  I'm so happy Jesus doesn't feel this way.  

My post today would be to motivate us to think on this:

a.  Just breathe - stop for a minute, be mindful 
b.  Breathe in/out - whatever it is....this too shall pass
c.  Take my breathe away - find those moments
d.  Don't waste your breath - be respectful, don't gossip
e.  Jesus gives new life - work on your spiritual journey

I hope the next time you take a deep breath - do it now - way down into your lungs - down deep in your belly - now slowly exhale....one more time....It's Monday with a whole new week of opportunity, blessings, trials and fails.  Be thankful you are breathing and for the lessons each teach you.  Have a good week!

I recently returned from a trip with Anna to Washington - Mt. Rainier - breath taking....

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

  

Farcical - The World is a Stage

I heard this word used recently; farcical - from the word farce:  a comedic tactic to exaggerate deliberate absurdity or nonsense; resembling an absurd or ridiculous aspect.  

Hmmm....do you know where I'm going with this?   

I actually hate politics.  I grew up in a family of preachers and 1 politician....same game....different name.  Think about it....

Our world has gone farcical....I can't take it....these past several years have been too much!  I can't even listen, watch, talk, hear any more about anyone, thing, scandal, facts....fake news....whatever, it's all farcical to me!  ALL of it!

If the world is truly a "stage" then farcical is at play.  Only this isn't a comedy, it's our future.  No matter if you live on a remote island in the Pacific, a penthouse in New York City or a ranch in Idaho....we are the audience to it all.  

Protect yourself from the constant hate and barrage from all parties.  Americans are NOT the great evil....America might be....but, that is another story for another post.  

Fellow citizens, if we are to bring back or "make America great again" WE need to do it.  Not the screaming, extreme crazies on the far side of each!   Not the puppets we have to vote for!  Not your teacher, professor, counselor or preacher!  We can have different views and still respect each other - that is what makes us unique as citizens.  It seems we've forgotten that.  

I have many memories of my uncle and grandpa fighting over democrat -vs- republican then they would jump in and argue oneness -vs- trinity of the Godhead.  The 2 things you're never suppose to talk about - religion and politics.  These men were of Scotch/Irish decent with a bit of Hillbilly mixed in....they spit, yelled and flung arms around.  At the end of the visit, they still flung their arms around each other and hugged.  They loved each other enough to listen to each other.  That right there....is how we "make American great again."  

November is rolling around - elections and holiday time.  Don't let this crazy farcical world keep you from loving your family that has different views than you!   O.k. this is my one and only political style post for the year.  I'm done now.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Motivational Monday - The Floss

My husband and I were at a concert this past week.  The bands were metal bands.  We saw this group of 3 girls flippin', floppin' and flailing around - we thought they were in some kind of a drug induced seizure or episode.  It was like a bad train wreck...one of the bouncer types came and told them to "knock it off!"  We were ready for one to jump or fall on us...for real.  

I told my daughter about it....she said "Mom!!! that's The Floss....a dance!"  She showed me on YouTube, I almost peed my pants....no!  it's a thing!?!   Oh we just laughed and laughed.  I'm officially OLD!

She works with kids, so she knew this.  Apparently it's become really popular...I have no idea why!  Anyway, I didn't know about it.....hey, I've been busy....come to think about it...flippin', floppin' and flailing junk all summer!  

We, Al and I, did help a gentlemen Saturday late afternoon do a private invite only sale.  While helping take stuff out to the trailer, I dropped something on my foot.  Ya....I'm flailing junk...  Anyway, after I got home, took my shoe off - to be honest, when I put my pajamas on...I looked at myself...I'm one bruise on top of the other...more flailing around...and it shows.  I wanted to post that song..."I fought the law and the law won" - with a picture of my foot and legs...."I fought the junk and the junk won!"  

So, for this Motivational Monday....don't do The Floss...as a dance or moving pieces of furniture.  Do floss your teeth!   I hope this little post makes you laugh today.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.