A WARM AND GRATEFUL HEART FOR WARM HEART WEDNESDAY #11

It's time again for Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."  This is where we share with you whatever it is that warms our hearts.

As I type this post it is actually Thursday, January 28, 2016.  Forty years ago today my youngest son was born.  Happy Birthday Reid!

He's been to hell and back to reach the big 40.  He's been through countless rounds of chemo and two stem cell transplants.  Through it all he's never forgotten how to smile.  I've never once heard him ask, "Why me?"  Today he is cancer free although he does have side effects from the chronic graft vs host disease.  He no longer has the energy he once had and he sometimes has shortness of breath due to the cancer originally pressing on a nerve to his lung.  There's no going back to the life he had BC (before cancer).  Again, he never complains.  This is the new normal for him and he accepts it.  I am very proud of him.

We no longer take birthdays for granted in this house and it warms my heart to see him celebrating the BIG 40!  He spent some time with friends today.  Last weekend Keith came from Austin to help us celebrate and tomorrow we're going out to dinner with Troy and his family.  It's kind of a week long celebration.

I tried to get a picture of him without the light reflecting off his glasses.  It didn't work.  Here he is standing in front of the Christmas tree (yes, it's still up!) this morning.  Doesn't he look healthy?

Yes, my heart is definitely warm and grateful today...and every day!

Now please head over to Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.  Thank you for visiting (and allowing this mom a chance to celebrate and brag).

Satisfying My Curiosity...

I was taking a few minutes to read some blog posts today and JP at A Quiet Corner published some photos of snowstorm Jonas.  It got me to thinking about named storms.  For as long as I can remember they have named Tropical Storms and Hurricanes, but when did they start naming other storms?

I did a little online research and discovered that snowstorms have been named since 2012 by The Weather Channel.  They've had help coming up with the names by a high school Latin class in Montana since 2013.  I have no idea why this school was chosen, but they came up with the alphabetical list of names used by The Weather Channel.   However, prior to this Connecticut station WFSB had been naming storms on their own.  You can read more here.

Then I wondered about the name Super Storm Sandy.  It turns out that Super Storm Sandy started out as Hurricane Sandy, but lost hurricane status right before it hit the east coast and did so much damage and destruction.  It was a huge storm and many feel it should still have been called a hurricane  because more people might have paid attention and been prepared.  You can read more about it here.

Some of the same people that were hit by Super Storm Sandy are now dealing with Snowstorm Jonas.  It will be interesting to see what the insurance companies do now. Will they pull out and refuse to insure people there anymore?  Raise the rates ridiculously high with huge deductibles if there are any storm claims in the future?  Don't get me going on insurance companies.  Along the Gulf Coast we've been dealing with them for years. I think insurance has become a racket.

 My thoughts and prayers are with the people suffering from the affects of this storm.

What's The Rush For Warm Heart Wednesday #10

Welcome to Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."  This is where we share each week something special that warms our hearts.

I don't like to put up anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving.  Every year I attempt to get the Christmas tree and decorations up as soon as possible after Thanksgiving so I have time to enjoy them.  Every year it takes me until the second week of December to get it all up.  It's rush, rush, rush to get it up and then it's rush, rush, rush to get it down.  In our family it's always been a tradition to leave it up until after New Year's Day.  When I first moved to the south I noticed some people putting their live trees out at the curb the day after Christmas!  I was kind of surprised, but decided that tradition probably began before the days of A/C and artificial trees when the live trees quickly dried out and became a fire hazard.  I guess it's become a tradition for some families to still get it all down right away.

I have found that in this climate things stored in the garage or attic don't always hold up well in the heat and humidity.  So, I rent a storage place for the Christmas decorations.  That means numerous trips to the storage place to bring back the plastic containers with the Christmas things and then lugging the empty containers back to the storage place until it's time to take everything down.

No wonder the holidays can be stressful.  This year it suddenly occurred to me that here is no steadfast rule saying when decorations must come down (or go up).   I enjoy the decorations and all the memories that go along with them.  It's AFTER the Christmas rush that I finally have time to truly enjoy them.  I decided that from now on I wouldn't take down the decorations until the end of January.  I would take time to truly enjoy them.

Like this wreath that I bought at a craft show in the early 1980's.

The Christmas stockings that my sister knit when each of the kids were born.

The ceramic Santa that I made in the 1970's during my ceramic hobby phase.

The macrame Christmas tree that I made in the 1970's during my macrame hobby phase.  (I kept busy in the 1970's!)

My Mom's punch bowl filled with some of her vintage ornaments.

The ceramic stocking that my Mom always hung on the stair railing.

The vintage aluminum Christmas tree that I bought some years back on eBay.  I just had to have one!

Yup, it's all still up!  This and everything else including the big decorated tree in the dining room.  I still plug in the tree and mantle lights most nights.  Yes, it still all warms my heart.

I took down the outdoor decorations, but inside it's still Christmas and I'm in no hurry for it to end.

Now head over to Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.  Thanks for visiting...

The Plant Lives On For Warm Heart Wednesday #9

Welcome to Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."  This is where we share what has warmed our hearts.  For a list of this week's participants head over to Jenny's blog.

I know this looks like an ordinary plant, but there's a story behind it.

Years ago, while living in Virginia Beach, Virginia I bought a Schefflera plant.  It was sometime in the mid 1970's.  In 1981 my husband accepted a job in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  Before we moved my parents drove down to Virginia Beach from New Jersey to see us before we left.  Our furniture was going to be put into storage for a while and we really didn't have room in the car to transport any large plants.  So, I offered my Schefflera plant to my mother and my parents drove it back to New Jersey where it continued to live for many years.

In 2001 my Mom died and Dad assured me that he would continue to water the plants.  He did continue to water them, but after a while they weren't looking too well.  He was probably over watering a bit.  Around 2004 I realized that the Schefflera plant might not make it.  On a trip to New Jersey I decided to cut off a few leaves and bring them home with me to root.  I didn't know if that was even possible, but I thought I'd give it a try.  I put the leaves in a Zip Lock bag with a little water and flew home to Texas.

When I got home I dipped the stems in rooting hormone and planted them in a pot.  All except one died.  The one that lived never looked too healthy and never got taller or grew any more leaves.  A year later I decided it might be root bound and I should probably repot it.  When I went to repot it I discovered that it had never grown any roots.  The stem had just been sitting in the damp potting soil all that time.  It never grew, but it never died either.  I decided to give it another shot and dipped the stem in the rooting hormone again and replanted it.  This time it worked!  The plant started to grow.

You guessed it.  That's the plant today.  It's been repotted many times.  When it gets too tall I clip it back.  Most of the year it lives in the backyard because we have a pretty mild climate here and plants love the humidity.  If they predict a frost I drag it into the garage.  I won't let it die.  This plant has a bit of a family history that warms my heart every time I see it.

When my Dad moved to Texas in 2006 one of his neighbors took the original plant.  I have no idea if that one is alive today, but I know a piece of it is still alive in Texas.

Now head over to Jenny's blog for a list of Warm Heart Wednesday participants.  Thanks for visiting...

Just Playing...

I decided to take a little time to play with my dolls today.  I had been neglecting them lately, but recently my son helped me work on my "outdoor" shelf by putting up new sky wallpaper. 

I know it's winter, but I set up a a summer scene because last summer my friend Sherelyn surprised me with the ice cream bike and my "outdoor" shelf wasn't ready to be photographed.  I had been watching this bike at Walmart and Target for months waiting for it to be reduced.  Well, somehow I missed it and one day they were gone from the shelves.  I was so disappointed.  Then one day Sherelyn showed up with the bike!  I was going through a very stressful time and she knew it and decided to cheer me up.  It worked!  Thanks Sherelyn!  Here's Little JJ (my interpretation of Texan player JJ Watt as a child) buying ice cream at the park.   (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

A lot of the kids turned out for a day at the park.  This little Madame Alexander doll was a gift from Carolyn this past Christmas.  I dressed her in a vintage Ginny Doll dress that matched her hair bows.  Thanks Carolyn!  Carolyn has a website with lots and lots of her Vogue Ginny Dolls and their friends called Carolyn's Rock and Roll Ginny Dolls.  Be sure to visit.

As you can see, it was a busy day at the park.  This is a combination of vintage Vogue Ginny Dolls, vintage reproduction Vogue Ginny Dolls, Madame Alexander Dolls, vintage Nancy Ann Muffy doll, and a vintage Uneeda Bob doll.

Little JJ has been looking forward to Saturday's play off game.  I hope he won't be disappointed.

Little JJ just sits on a shelf right now, but I'm planning to give him his own room soon.  When my sister moved this past summer she uncovered the Ginny Doll bed we had as kids.  Her girls had played with it too, but they colored it with crayons, so I decided that I'd paint it in the Houston Texans colors for Little JJ.  Setting up his room is on my "to do list" for 2016.

GO TEXANS!

A Trip To The Zoo For Warm Heart Wednesday #8

It's time again for Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."   One of these days I'll actually get my post up on Wednesday!  For some reason it's usually not until late Thursday when I finally start writing.

My son and I had been talking about going to the Houston Zoo for months.  In fact, last Spring we drove down on a weekday and the place was mobbed.  There were school buses and cars parked all over the place.  We drove around for a while and couldn't find a place to park and left.  Then Summer came along with the hot humid weather and we promised ourselves we'd go when the weather cooled off.

This week the kids were back in school, the weather had cooled off, and we decided to go.  It was probably in the low 50's the day we went.  It was just perfect weather for the zoo.

I've lived in Houston area for most of the last 30+ years and the Houston Zoo has improved greatly over that time.  It is really a very nice zoo with lots of large natural habitats for the animals.  I was telling my son how when I was a kid the poor animals were kept in small cages where they paced back and forth all day.  I think that was at the Bronx Zoo, but it could have been any zoo during that time period.  It warms my heart to see the animals treated much better today.

This past year they opened a new gorilla habitat and that was what we wanted to see.   In years past they had one gorilla living in a small indoor exhibit.  I believe after he died they started working on the big exhibit and all the gorillas living there now were acquired from other zoos in 2015.

Sometimes the animals do something that really warms my heart.  Take a look at this little guy.

A lot of the zoo residents were out enjoying the warm sun.  This duck found a nice spot.  I guess they're all good friends.

And these little guys were so cute.  I wish I could remember what they're called.  They were running around and having a great time.

The zoo is located right next to the Houston Medical Center and every so often a helicopter would fly over.  We had to laugh when they all looked up when they heard one.

There are lots of exhibits and this is a small sample.  Just a few pictures of the ones that especially warmed my heart.

Now head over to Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.  Thanks for visiting...

Lending A Helping Hand for Warm Heart Wednesday #7

Welcome once again to Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."

We were living in Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1979.  I had gone to Sears with my three year old son to pick up a catalog order.   The order was for a lamp that came in a large box.  It wasn't heavy...just bulky.

(Can you believe I found an old picture online of the Sears store at Pembroke Mall?  This is exactly how I remember it.)

As we walked across the parking lot I told my son to hold onto the leg of my jeans and walk with me while I used two hands to hold the box.  His eyes lit up.  He had discovered a new game.  He would let go of the leg of my jeans, laugh, and run away.  I would have to put down the box, run after him, bring him back to where I'd left the box, and tell him once again to hold on.  We'd walk another five feet and the game would start all over again.  He'd run and then laugh.  I'd put down the box and run after him.  I was getting a little frustrated and still had a ways to go before reaching the car.  Suddenly an angel in disguise appeared on the scene.  She said, "Let me hold your son's hand and I'll help you to your car."

You know, that lady made my day.  That simple act of kindness meant so much to me at that time.  I vowed that I would never forget and if I ever had a chance to help a struggling mother I would.  For years I would stop and open the door for mothers trying to get strollers into the mall.  You older mothers will remember trying to hold the door open while you struggled to get the stroller through.  (I believe the automatic doors came into being with the Americans With Disabilities Act in the early 90's.)

I don't have the opportunity to help struggling mothers as much anymore.  I'll pick up a dropped pacifier on occasion, but the opportunities aren't there as much as they were before automatic doors.  And sometimes I just have to be careful because I can instinctively tell when a frustrated mother just wants to be left alone.

However, I'll always remember how that kind stranger at Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach, VA came along at just the right time and how her simple act of kindness warmed my heart.  I firmly believe that sometimes another mother just needs a little pat on the back to make her day.

Now head over to Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.  Thank you for visiting.

Peace On Earth for Warm Heart Wednesday #6

Welcome to Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."

This time of year there is one song that always warms my heart.

"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me..."

I enjoy hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this particular song although there are many other versions on You Tube

If you'd like to sing along there's even one with the lyrics.

I hope everyone has a warm hearted and peaceful holiday season.

Be sure to visit Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.

The Kindness of Children for Warm Heart Wednesday #5

It's time again for Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."

When I watch the local and national news it seems as if bad things are always happening or being said.  It's like the world is full of only bad people and yet I know that isn't true.  I believe the bad are only a small part of the overall population.  Most people are good at heart!

I have this fantasy where there's a daily half hour newscast of only good news.

I've noticed that at the local and national level they seem to try and end their newscasts with an uplifting story.  That's always nice, but 20 or 30 seconds is just a small fraction of the time allowed for the bad news.

I know I'm dreaming and my idea will never take hold, so I look on the Internet for uplifting warm hearted stories.

I'm a big football fan and this one caught my eye.  It's a couple of years old but the kindness shown by these kids is timeless.   I hope it warms your heart too.  It's just 30+ seconds long.

I loved the acting shown by the defense.  A pat on the back to the coaches and officials too.

Now head over to Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.  Thanks for visiting...

Warm Memories for Warm Heart Wednesday

Welcome once again to Warm Heart Wednesday sponsored by Ms. Jenny at Jenny Matlock..."off on my tangent."

This is such a busy time of the year and I'm late getting this up.  I've been busy doing the holiday shopping, decorating, etc.  I know I posted these pictures of my Christmas tree last year, but it looks the same every year and every year it warms my heart.  It's a beautiful tree if you're into old "Christmas with Santa" photos and faded construction paper ornaments.

See the reindeer?  The antlers are Reid's hands.  He'll be 40 in January, so that reindeer is pretty old...and faded.

I saved every Christmas decoration my three kids ever made.  My mother saved the ones I made.  See the colored Santa?  That's one I made way back when.  The aluminum snow flake was also made by me.  It was cut from a chicken pot pie aluminum pan.  They don't even put chicken pot pies in aluminum pans anymore.

I better post some pictures with decorations Keith and Troy made so they won't feel slighted.

Keith made the red stocking in the above photo.  He's 46, so that stocking is pretty old.

I can't remember if Troy or Reid made the painted tree.  My apologies to Troy if this wasn't his work of art.  However, you can see Troy with Reid in the Santa picture.  That was the year Keith decided he was too old to sit on Santa's lap.  Troy is now 45 so the pictures is pretty old.

It's just a tree of memories and I love decorating it each year.  I'll say to myself..."I remember this decoration.  We were living in Oklahoma when Keith made it."  "I remember this photo...we were at the mall in Virginia when it was taken."  So many warm memories to warm my heart.

Now head over to Ms. Jenny's blog for a list of this week's participants.  Thanks for visiting.