This morning I went visiting a friend’s place. When I got there, this sight greeted me at their doorstep.
Isn’t it absolutely beautiful? Looking so very brilliant and fresh.
I am told that they need special treatment just before Christmas to get the red effect. Primed to attract attention, priced according to size, many a home has hosted such a plant. Once bought, it’s up to the new owners to tend them, and try to make them last. This one has lasted well…. I must find their secret.
We live in a quiet neighbourhood despite it being very close to the city. We are blessed because when we get home, we can rest, unlike some of our friends who complain of the one of the stresses of modern living – the inability to sleep!
Of course there may be other factors which cause that problem. Often doctors would prescribe sleeping tablets. For me, if I had such a problem, apart from finding peace in God, I’d rather a non medication route. In their pursuit for sleep, one of our friends heard about a white noise maker as an alternative. This is new to me, but I’d certainly keep that in mind.
The young man likes to cook. He cooks well.
He is a bit of an entrepreneur too. So he invites us round for dinner and charges us to taste his food!
Not bad eh?
He enlists people to help. They have to pay for their food too.
How does he do that?!
Anyway, the evening is a resounding success and he has new clients now. They order food and go by to pick the dishes up. He still can’t drive.
Like I said, he is a young man!
Says my friend, “T is figuring her English out…. ala french.” T is just over 2 years old. Bright kiddo.
“Mommy” she says “Mr Behaving.”
Mom, partly humouring her and partly wondering what T meant, replies, “Who’s Mr Behaving??
There came a thoughtful look, followed by a sage-like reply “Hmmm…. mis-behaving”
T is the best!
It is good to let your hair down once in a while.
It is good to maintain a child-likeness at times.
And sometimes, it is just good to really go wild
And let it all out.
These guys? They are ganging up on Arrow #3. Good friends do that. Haha!
I have never been one for traveling much before though Hubby and I used to hop in the little car whenever we could and drive around Britain by the backroads. We traveled to England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales like that. Had fun and adventure! Most of the time, we went visiting friends. Great excuse to travel!
Lately, though, my travels have been different. I fly! And sometimes without Hubby. That, initially, is a strange thing. It is also for seeing people, but also for work at times.
This photo is taken from my recent trip.
Rugged, vast, forest. Beautiful. This land is where lovely, peaceable and gentle people live. I went without family because this was a place I have often wanted to visit, especially after meeting some of these lovely folk. The short interactions I had with them endeared them to me. It was such a privilege to have some of them stay with me.
When I visited, the welcome was warm and I had a wonderful time there. I left with my arms overloaded with gifts from a giving people, and my heart overflowing with love reciprocated. I learned phrases of a new language, and was adopted into this community, with a new name.
I look forward to visiting again. This time, with my family.
Funeral services are often dreary sad affairs. But not the one I just came from. It could be described as a thanksgiving celebration. No, not because they don’t miss the deceased. Rather, it was because there is much to celebrate on his behalf. His was a life well lived. As a friend once put it, often we are wanting to stay on earth but willing to go. But as Christians, we should be wanting to go, but willing to stay.
For Christians, changing addresses like this is not a sorrowful despairing time. Rather, it is sadness full of hope.
Which is why when flowers were delivered, rather than the usual white and not so bright colours, it was a joy that the place was full of reds, oranges and yellows too. Special deliveries were made from all over. I am amazed at the distances. I didn’t know about Las Vegas flower delivery services before this. I do now, and I shall most certainly use them in future. The fragrance the flowers brought merely added to the sweet and lovely atmosphere. There were well over 50 displays. So very glad!
As I was saying in my earlier post, it is sooooo difficult to buy gifts for men! After stewing over the grandparents’ gifts and feeling a measure of success, I suddenly realise I am far from done. There are so many males in my family!
Men don’t appreciate fluffy toys and pretty things. They like the “big boys toys” stuff. Those who are rich have already got what they want. If you get them anything they would probably already own something similar that is branded and cost a whole lot more than your gift! Such then is the dilemma for the giver is great to say the least. But then of course I am not talking about the men in my family Ahem! For a start, we are hardly in the “rich” category!
But it still doesn’t solve my problem!
Someone has suggested that Mens Gift Basket Ideas may be the place for unique gifts that might just be appreciated. Nothing to lose and a lot of happy males in the house to gain….!
Gasp! A friend went with her grandchild to a public swimming pool. There, whilst helping her grandchild change, she slipped. Of course, instead of dropping her precious bundle, she chose to cling tightly, which resulted in her having a nasty gash on her hand. Blood everywhere. It was a deep cut.
Initially the staff panicked. Then they pulled themselves together and got some basic first aid in, then took her to the hospital to get some stitches in. Of course, none of this would have happened if they had some molded floor mats in place, as well as made sure that there were no sharp edges, especially areas where children play. They need to be more careful….
No, my friend did not sue.
She came with her parents. Lovely, lively, chatty, exuberant and full of life.
There was a time when she was on the verge of death’s door. Double meningitis it was. What a time it was!
Now to see her all bubbly and interested in everything around her just warms the heart.
Spontaneously we played the game. I threw cushions on her as she lay on my settee. She lay still as I called out, “Where is Tina?” with every throw. Slowly but surely she got covered up. Then she began to giggle. And to fidget. And to toss about. Like a monster shaking of puny humans, a dinosaur shaking off tiny reptiles holding on to its back….
OK, OK, so my imagination worked overtime there.
But hey, we had a good time, playing this repeatedly.
Of course, the skill is to know when to stop playing it so that you leave them wanting for more.
Which is what I did. Haha!
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