Inspiration

It's the first day of September, and while summer weather is still here the calendar tricks us into thinking about fall. I woke this morning to a darker sky than usual, since we are moving back away from the sun and sunrise comes later each morning.The sliver of light that found it's way to the corner of my bed caught me by surprise. I looked out of the window to a sky that was brightened with a full moon!

I always take a minute to look at a full moon. It's almost magical in how it hangs there as an eye looking back down on Earth. In my life there have been a lot of full moons that I have missed seeing, and as I get older I appreciate them more. So a few minutes looking up into the sky, eye to eye with Luna, is a great way to start the day.

A full moon is always an inspiration for a new start. As the first day of September arrives I am hopeful for a new job from one of the many, many applications I have put out. I'm excited for my husband as he gets closer to his sales goals and a bonus. And as always, I'm directing my energy to my writing. The final months of 2015 are looking pretty good.

Yard Sale

On Saturday, I dragged out all the unwanted and unused stuff from our basement and shed to the driveway, and practically begged people to take it off my hands. Selling things that are still useable, not totally outdated, or at the very least worth $1.00, is not what it used to be. I wasn't out to make a lot of money - I wanted to GET RID OF STUFF.  I was hoping to sell my treasure to cover our family vacation expenses and allow for a little spending money. I ended up with just enough to buy lunch. To be fair, I gave Erica all the money from anything we sold that had once been hers; the play kitchen, clothes, and toys. She made about $80, which put me to shame. The last time I had a yard sale it didn't do well either, and I swore (swore!) I would never have another. But it can be easy money and people will literally take it off my property for very little effort on my part. Except the "very little effort" turns out to be 45 minutes of bringing box after box up the stairs from the basement, assembling the contents in my driveway, taking it all out of the shed (most all of it, a few things were "missed") and I didn't even have time to price anything before people were sniffing around. Maybe we put the signs out a bit too soon.....

People are funny about what they will pay at a yard sale. Some come with a certain item they are searching for, and others are just browsing to see what's there. Some people don't even get out of the car, just doing a slow drive by and looking to see it it's worth getting out of the car. I get that; it's easy to see most of what I had since it was in four long rows down my driveway, from the garage to the sidewalk.

I enjoy talking with people, convincing them they want various items from my sale. Sometimes it works. You also meet some interesting folks who share with you the excitement of a yard sale, and finding some treasure they never knew they needed! I let things go for dirt cheap, which is why I didn't make a lot of money. I was just glad someone else could use the stuff.

Erica had lemonade and iced tea for a donation to the Wildlife Sanctuary in Keensburg, CO. Of course the mess in the kitchen from the preparation of said lemonade and iced tea is still waiting clean up. Sigh.  But I am proud of her for doing nearly all of it on her own, from the signs to the selling. She has a generous heart of which I am very proud.

Friday was a rainy mess, so I missed the chance to have a sale two days instead of one. Fridays are good as you get women with kids and that's what I was hoping for to take away all the toys and clothes. But I did have Mark's help on Saturday so it worked out. Now today, it's a different story. I have to deal with all of it, hauling it to ARC or Savers before the rain ruins it. Plus, my house is a disaster. Can't anyone besides me see this mess!!??? I honestly think that is the real reason I don't want to do a yard sale - I get stuck with cleaning it all up. ALL of it.

If you ever hear me say I want to do this again, TALK ME OUT OF IT - please!! 

Zone 4b

Mother's Day is coming up, and for me, besides the obvious, it means here in Metro Denver we can finally plant our little seedlings outdoors.  The USDA revised the Zone Map, and now the Heat Zone Map shows Colorado is a 4,5 & 6 zone. Here in the city we are pretty much a 5.

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/#

Reflections

Do we ever really see ourselves as we truly are? It's hard to admit we are not perfect, or even near that, and that we don't have it all together even 50% of the time. If we were to watch a video of ourselves and our actions during the course of one day, what would we see? Bad driving, rude behavior in the check out line, harsh words to our kids, cold shoulder to our spouse? Do we eyeball others, our judgement of them clearly on our faces? Are we shaking our heads incredulously while we watch others? Do we even look up from our phones to see and hear those around us?

If your actions today were to be recorded on video but you were not aware of it, and then had to watch it tomorrow, how would you look? Would your mom be proud? Are you the person you want to be, the role model for our kids? Are we the best spouse, friend, or self we can be? After that 24 hours, and you look at yourself, would you see the image you want to be, the one you would want to be remembered as?

Questions For My Mother

In the ten years since my mom passed away I have had so many questions come up that only she could answer. How long were you in labor when I was born? Was I a good baby? When did I walk? What funny things did I do as a toddler?

Then I got to thinking about all the questions I have about her. I was in my thirties when she died, and not yet at the point where I could relate to her as a woman, more than just my mom. As a typical child, I thought of myself and my life and never took the time to think that she had already walked the path I was on; marriage, children, family life. Too late I realized that the nuggets of truth, motherly advice, and details of the past died with her. I would never know the woman that she was.

If I had the chance I would ask so many questions of the young woman she once was - long before she was married and had a family.

What were you like as a kid? What is the best memory you remember from your childhood? The worst? Do you remember your father? Did you have a favorite toy, a best friend, a treasured book?

What was your best subject in school? Did you have a dream for your future? What did you want to be?

How did you and Dad meet? Did you love anyone before you met him? What was the one thing you loved most about him?

How did you get such beautiful handwriting? Were you always so good at playing (winning) games?

What did you really feel when you found out you were pregnant with your first child? Were you scared?

Do you have any regrets?

Odds Are....

I get lucky once in awhile, with a coupon or a great deal on a big purchase. But typically, odd are against me. Maybe you have also experienced a few of these:

• When you need something, like a tool, or kitchen utensil, it turns out you gave it away, donated it, or (gasp!) threw it out just a week ago!That meat grinder - yep, it sure would be handy today!

• When you have to buy a major appliance, and the coupon you have either just expired, doesn't apply to the one you want or can afford (sorry, discounts only on items over $1000) or the rebate program on that $500 hot water heater unfortunately doesn't include your model (but did just a week ago!)

• The day you can finally afford to eat out, and the entire family decides on one restaurant, the BOGO or 50% off coupon is at home, in the junk drawer. 

• When you finally have worn out the last pair of your favorite undies (did they only last three years?) the company has stopped making that style/fabric/cut/color. Same goes for the bra you love, and the jeans that actually compliment your body. 

• When your kid needs new shoes, the ones they want, and can't possibly live without, and are in style, are NOT in their size. Anywhere. In the tri-state area. Or the U.S. 

Odds are that you also won't win the Lotto, be struck by lightning, or actually make those recipes you pinned last weekend. I'm hoping that the odd are that you will comment on this post!

I'm not that mommy anymore

Once upon a time I was the mommy who looked for the best baby food, took my little one to Story Time at the library, compared diaper brands and shopped the kids consignment store. I'm not that mommy anymore.

Some days I miss being there - when I read the blog posts about childbirth experiences and red-shirting for Kindergarten. I miss it when I hear about the first grade performance and the playground they are building at the park down the street. I feel a twinge when I see the photos of baby clothes and read about the best way to potty train your two year old.I feel it when I look at the back seat and there is no longer a car seat or booster, in fact the back seat is cleaner than the front now that my daughter rides shotgun with me.

I feel a bit of sadness as that part of motherhood, of that mommy in me, is going away. I canceled my subscription to Parents magazine and search for blogs about tweens. 

There is a sense of freedom, now that my girl can stay home alone for an hour here and there, and that she does so many things on her own, without my supervision. I look back at the days when I thought I couldn't take another minute of toddler t.v. or play any more with Little People. I always knew these days would get here, and I'm glad they have.