The products of our lives.....

Accept no substitutes. Do you have certain products that you feel that way about? Certain items that you would not even consider trying another brand? I do. Most of these are brands I grew up with and cannot shake the feeling that they are a  "must have" when I buy that item.

When I was growing up, we always had Quaker Oats. It came with little cups and saucers in it as a freebie.

Then there was the time when you could get a free wash cloth, face towel or bath towel in your detergent. Sometimes it was Oxydol, sometimes it was Fab. Breeze offered a free dish towel.

I also remember that we always had to use Scott Tissue for the toilet paper because it was the only brand that did not clog septic tanks.

It was always Zest soap because we had well water and it was hard. Zest was the only thing that would lather in hard water.

Our shampoo was all Prell concentrate in the squeezable tube.

And Daddy was an Aqua Velvet man. I still love that smell.

I find myself defining the products of our lives. There are certain items that hubby and I live by the "Accept no substitutes" rule. Here are some of the things I just HAVE to have by brand.

Miracle Whip is the only salad dressing I use.

Choosy mother's still choose Jif

My catsup (or country folks ketchup) is always Hunts

Zesta saltines, all others pale in comparison

I'll use assorted lotions, but I ALWAYS have a tube of Jergen's lotion somewhere in the house. I love the cherry almond fragrance.

Hershey's cocoa.

Parkay Margarine.

These are all my products of choice that I can't live without "that brand". I would love to hear from my readers. What products or brands are you "married to". What do you find you won't even consider giving up or trying another brand? Inquiring minds want to know.

Coasters

There are so many craft mediums out there that utilize yarn. Crochet, knitting, macrame. But I have found I do not have the patience to stick with any of those. I love to knit, but get bored after 15 minutes or so. I tried my hand at crochet but never could figure out how to turn around and go to the next row. Macrame just never appealed to me.

But I have an addition to yarn. I could stand for hours in a yarn store. So many brands, types, styles and colors to choose from. About 10 years ago, a friend of mine turned me on to Plastic Canvas. I fell in love. Tissue boxes, baskets, boxes with lids, etc. Many, many things to make ... and they can all be made with yarn. So I became addicted from that point forward. Finally, here was something I could do that was easy, speedy and most of all gave me an outlet for all the yarn I kept purchasing in the hopes I would use it some day.

One thing I love to make is coasters. They take about an hour each and can be used everywhere. I decided to do a few yesterday and thought I would post some of the results.

First, I gathered up my materials. These are just a few of the yarns I used and one that I'm using on the current project that is not completed yet.

I have a lot of coaster patterns, but this is my favorite one because of the pattern and the ability to use multiple colors in it:

This is the same pattern, just different colors used.

I love multi-colored yarns and have one with purples and greens that I just love and could not find anything to make in it. So I tried the same pattern using the multi-colored yarn. I think this is my favorite one so far:

I decided to try a different pattern and use some of my yarn I bought at the beach. Here's the result:

I like this pattern really well. I'm not that fond of it in the varigated yarn, but it will work

I think this one is now my favorite, along with the purple one.

That's it so far. Here are some boxes I've made over the years that I really liked.

An Aunt's Heart...One size fits all

There is an old Spanish proverb that says: “Only an Aunt can give hugs like a mother, can keep secrets like a sister, and share love like a friend.”


This is so true. An aunt is the one person you can turn to when Mom is not available. An aunt will not judge you. She won't lecture or reprimand. An aunt has but one job and that is to love you, unconditionally.

I was blessed with two wonderful aunts on my mom's side - Aunt Dee Dee and Aunt Frances. I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood thanks to these two special women. They are a part of so many of my wonderful memories growing up. We were always visiting at one or the other's homes. I can remember many cook-outs and holiday gatherings with them in the kitchen helping Mom and Mamaw as a fabulous feast was prepared. I remember summer days of fried chicken and mashed potatoes with fresh sliced cucumber and always a pitcher of ice tea as we all gathered at our house. We didn't need an "occasion" to get together. We just did it because we loved being together.

I was a Mommy & Daddy's girl and didn't like to spend the night away from home. But every time The Aunt's would visit, I would get the urge to go home with one of them to stay all night. They never said no and I would pack my little bag of p.j's and spare clothes and off we'd go. But most of the time, around bedtime, homesickness would hit and I'd cry for Daddy. They would have to call him to come and get me and take me back home.

Even though my "overnight" visits just lasted to bedtime, I still have great memories. It is funny  the things that stick with us. For me, the things that bring back fond memories are usually a particular fragrance.

When I would stay with Aunt Dee Dee, I remember that I loved bath time. She always had the best smelling soap. It's was a soft floral scent that just made you feel all warm inside. It was Cashmere Bouquet. I remember watching her wash her face at night and I loved lingering in the bathroom because the smell was so good. It's funny, and I never really thought of it before, but my favorite fragrances over the years have been anything floral. I wonder if it is because it reminds me of that soap. I can close my eyes and still smell it. I know soap may be a funny thing to remember, but those were special times and that smell was very special to me.

Well, I guess if it is funny to have fond memories of soap, it will be even sillier that I have fond memories of Noxzemal. (What is it with me and smells?) I can't open a jar of Noxzema today without thinking of my Aunt Frances. I remember it like it was yesterday. Frances and my cousins had been visiting that day and I wanted to go home with her so bad. With 7 kids, her house was always full of fun and laughter. But this particular day, we had played outside in the yard all day long. I begged and begged and promised I wouldn't get homesick and that I would stay through the night. So Mommy gave in and let me go. After our baths, I was hurting from the sunburn I had gotten that day. I can close my eyes and see it as plain as day. I'm setting on the bed and Frances is rubbing Noxzema on my sunburn telling me it will stop the pain. My cousin Ruthie was just a little thing and sitting beside me watching. The Noxzema was making it feel a little better, but it still hurt. All of a sudden, I got homesick and before bedtime even got here, I was wanting my Daddy. So the call was made and he came to get me.

I've often wondered why Dee Dee and Frances let me go home with them so often, even though they knew I wouldn't stay. But once I became an aunt and felt that special bond with my nieces and nephews, I can understand why. It's very simple. They love me.

I'm blessed to still have both of them with me. I try to see them any time I go home to visit. Whenever I smell floral soap or see a jar of Noxzema, I will always smile and I will always remember.

Up a Country Road

I think back on all the wonderful times I had living up that old country road when I was a girl. With all the snow we are having, I recall life in the winter up that old road.

I remember many times walking to the grocery store. We didn't own a car because neither of our parents drove. It was about a mile walk to the store. We would wrap up in layers of clothing for the hike in the winter to get milk and bread. I remember many a time wearing my jammies underneath my clothes for extra warmth. I remember wrapping my scarf up around my face and pulling my toboggan down to my eyes. We would wear two pairs of socks with our boots and wear two sets of gloves.

It never occurred to me to say I didn't want to go to the store. That was just the way it was. Mom or Dad one would go and one or two of us kids always tagged along. I remember always praying that there wouldn't be a train on the tracks. We had to cross a set of tracks on the way to the store. The trains went right through the rail yard that was in the middle of town. Sometimes they would stop as they went across the scales so we would be stranded just standing there waiting for the train to start back up. They were long coal trains so you could easily be stuck their for 30 minutes.

It was tiring; it was cold. The wind would freeze you and it was hard to walk with all those layers of clothes. But do you know what is strange? I don't remember ever complaining. I don't remember ever fussing or whining about it. It was life. It was what we did.

Now I think about how I get upset because I can't park close too the door when I go to the store. I hate when I have to walk to the back of a store when I run in to get one item. We have let society push us into rush mode and make us think we have to go, go, go. We need to take a moment to breathe. We need to go back in our minds to a simpler place and a simpler time and just slow down and enjoy the small things in life.

Today I'm loving....

Purples & Pinks

Are we there yet?

What do those words conjure up in your mind? A car full of kids poking and prodding each other with the proverbial complaining thrown in? A whiny voice from the back seat asking the age old question, even though you have only been on the road 10 minutes into a 9 hour drive?

I recall those times fondly, but as I grow older, the words take on a new meaning. I've always lived under the misconception that the more birthdays you have, the older you get until eventually, you're old.

Well, I'm 54 and I'm still on a wonderful roller coaster ride of life. When my husband mentions getting old, I always smile sweetly at him and say, "Oh, are we there yet?"

Well, here are some signs to let you know that you may be getting OLDER, but you are NOT there yet.

• You still "giggle" when something tickles your fancy
• Your grandkids have to drag YOU out of the toy aisle
• You want chocolate ice cream for breakfast
• You still love Kool-Aid and cookies
• You look forward to Vacation Bible School
• You've been described as "bubbly"
• You see how fast you can push the buggy in Walmart when nobody is looking
• You still fly kites when you go to the beach
• You can't wait to see the new Yogi Bear movie
• You still call your sleepwear your "jammies"
• Peanut Butter and Jelly is still the best food there is
• Chocolate milk is your drink of choice

And last but not least, you aren't there yet as long as you can get down in the floor to play .... and get back up on your own.

I don't know about you, but praise God, I'm not there yet and I'm in no hurry to get there.
                     

Fill the Gap

In Sunday morning's sermon at the church I was attending, the preacher was talking about "filling the gap". He was explaining how we all have gifts to bring, whether it be something large or small. You could be the person that organizes an entire event, does the invitations, nails down the details, etc. or you could be the person that brings a cake. Whatever you do, there is a need you are filling.

Don't be someone who sits back and thinks they don't have anything or enough to offer. The smallest servant can help reap the biggest rewards. John 6:9 says "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?"

Little did they know when they asked that question, just how many Jesus could feed with such a meager amount. I'm sure the little boy didn't even think twice. He had enough faith to understand that he COULD do something. He could give what he had and then trust Jesus to do the rest.

We all need to be like this little lad. Not everyone is a great leader. Not everyone can sing in a choir, teach a class, preach a sermon, visit with the sick, witness to the multitudes. We each have our own gift to bring. Your gift may be a kind word when someone is hurting. Maybe your gift is to lend an ear when someone needs to vent. Perhaps your greatest gift is a smile for those you greet.


Whatever you feel led to do is your gift. Use it. You never know what gap you may be filling.