Life's Simple Pleasures

I love being busy during the day. Working, planning, scheduling, things to do, places to go, people to see. But the evenings are mine. I like to end my day by 5:30. I like to take a nice long bubble bath while Allen starts on supper. He has spoiled me so much over the years. I love that man of mine. As I soak, I read whatever novel is holding my interest at the moment. It is a wonderful way to wash away the stress of the day. With such a busy life, I need those moments to relax and unwind. I was thinking this morning of the simple little things that can take us out of our routine and give us that extra lift we need. For each woman, the simple things that she loves are different than everybody else. So I thought I would make a list of my simple pleasures that make me smile and bring me joy. You should make your own. We know that God and church play a major role in our happiness. We all know our families, children and grandchildren bring us joy. But I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about the things you do that excite you for that brief moment in time, allowing you to drift away from the cares of the world. Here is my list:

1. Sitting on the patio in the swing with Allen in the evenings
2. Polishing my toes and fingernails to match
3. Shopping for yarn.
4. My daily bubble bath
5. A new hair style
6. Coloring my hair
7. Rubbing a new lotion on my arms and legs
8. Smelling jasmine and honeysuckle
9. Walking down to the river
10. Sitting under the weeping willow tree
11. Watching Country Music videos
12. Buying silk panties (too much info?)
13. Putting on warm fuzzy socks on cold winter evenings
14. Sitting in the sun with my eyes closed
15. Sitting at the edge of the ocean with the waves licking at my feet
16. Driving through Cades Cove
17. Planting flowers and smelling their sweet fragrance
18. Going for a Sunday drive
19. Eating fried chicken, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, and corn on the cob
20. Drinking an ice cold Pepsi on a hot summer day

Those are my top 20 things that make me smile. What are yours? I'd love to know what makes you relaxed and happy. Send me your list to brendakeefer@comcast.net and I'll post a list of the ones we all have in common.

Things to do......

As you all know, I am a list fanatic. I was working on my To Do List this morning and something occurred to me. I started wondering what would happen if I did not keep a list of things to do. The thought of it is mind boggling. I did not realize how busy my life can get at times. I currently have several lists going for work and for my personal life. My work list has a to do section, a return calls section, a contact for payment section and a promote services section. My home list is not much better. I have a list for my Pampered Chef party. It is broken down into three categories. One was the invitation list, one was the food/party supplies list to pick up at the store, and one is my wish list for what I hope to earn for having the party. Then I have a list I'm helping Diana with for Caleb's birthday party. This one consists of food and supplies and ideas for his gift from Mamaw & Papaw. Of course, Caleb has been a great help with that list since he has me take pictures with my cell phone when he sees something he likes (which is just about everything he sees). Then there is my vacation list. That is the one where I have my notes for all the places I want to visit and places I want to eat when me and Sherrie go to WV to bring my mom and sister down to my house for a week. Which of course generated the itinerary list for things me and mom and Rachel want to do while they are here. Which of course meant I had to do a shopping list for things I'm looking for while we shop that week. And all of these lists are just for things for the next 30 days. Where would I be without my lists? I think if I didn't keep my lists, I might actually have time to DO what is on my lists. But the older I get, the harder it is to remember things so I guess I'd better keep on with the lists. Well, I'd better mark "Write daily blog" off my list for today and get started on another list.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

I am very blessed to have the mother I had. When I think of my mom, I think of love, kindness, patience, understanding, warmth, homemade cookies, fried chicken and meatloaf, laundry on the line, walks to the library, endless games of Scrabble, Yahtzee and Rook, friendship, and the list could go on. A product of the 50's, I was blessed with parents who were the example of what love should be. I have nothing but wonderful memories of a closeness and bond that held us all together. There is nothing like a mother's love. My mom will 80 on June 10th and is still in very good health. She goes where she wants; when she wants. I thank God every day for giving me such a wonderful mother who set the bar for the rest of the family. When I was little, I would watch Mom clean, cook, play, and love us. I would think "Can I be you when I grow up?" What better tribute can we give our mother's than to strive to follow in their footsteps and be an example for our children.

I love you, Mommy.

My mother, Helen Louise Garretson

My sister Rachel, Mom, and me.

Rachel, Mom and me at the Chimneys last year.

Another special Mother in my life, was my mother-in-law. She has been gone almost 20 years and we miss her dearly. She had heart problems, but had been through successful surgery and lived a normal life for many years after the surgery. My father-in-law came home from work one day and she was on the couch with the phone receiver laying beside her. She had passed away and her death came as a great shock to us all. We wanted her with us for many more years to come.

She was the best mother-in-law a wife could have. She was always there for us. She loved me and I loved her. She was so easy to talk to. She had a warm smile, a gentle laugh and a nice tight hug to show you what you meant to her. She never interfered in our lives, but she was there if we needed her. Allen worked 4 ten hour days and was off every Friday. All the years that he worked that schedule, when Friday rolled around, he would head to his Mom's on Friday morning for a cup of coffee and a visit with just the two of them. She was a special lady and her passing left a void in our lives that nothing will ever fill.

We love you and miss you!

My husband Allen and his mom, Norma Louise Keefer (known to all as "Pete")

Allen and Pete on her last trip to Tennessee before her unexpected death. I dedicate this post today to not only my mother and Allen's mother, but I dedicate it in loving memory of our grandmother's who have all passed on to be with the Lord. Mary Elizabeth Garretson Rachel Irene Eden Pansy Keefer Helen Gray

Being southern....

You know you are a southerner if.......

You consider buttered toast, sliced tomato and a glass of sweet tea as breakfast.

You think wearing shoes outside in the yard in summer is barbaric.

You wear a hat your mother made from cut up Clorox bottles and crochet yarn.

You like to entertain, but your party must always have a theme.

Every time you hear news about someone, good or bad, you respond with "Well, bless her (or his) heart.

Your 21 month old granddaughter thinks it okay to drop her drawers and tinkle in the yard. (You're pretty sure she has seen her bubby do that a time or two)

You are Mamaw to people who are not your flesh and blood. And not just kids call you Mamaw, but everybody you know.

Your heart is a made of gold and is shared with everybody you come in contact with.

You get up before the rooster crows even if you don't have to.

No matter how old you get, your father will always be Daddy.

You were taught good manners....and you USE them.

You know the summer weather in advance...HUMIDITY.

Your babies know that "give Mamaw some sugar" doesn't mean to go get the sugar bowl.

Your favorite movies are Gone With The Wind and Steel Magnolias.

And last but not least, you know that if it wasn't for the grace of God, you could have been a Northerner.

Yard sale bargains

Assorted skeins of yarn $1.00 each

Baby clothes .50 each

Odd and end material pieces .25 each

Toddler taking a bath in a storage container at yard sale - PRICELESS

What was I thinking?

It's that time of year again when you partner with friends and family and gather all the items you don't use any more for your annual yard sale. As I go through my closets, dressers, cabinets and containers, I find things that I have accumulated that make me ask myself "What was I thinking?" I have found things I bought that I couldn't live without, only to realize I don't remember the last time I used them. Take the Swiffer vacuum. Guaranteed to pick up the dust and dirt from your hardwood and linoleum floors. It has a nice little dust cloth that fits the bottom to trap the dust particles. In theory, it was a great idea. But what they don't tell you is you charge it for 24 hours and then it only runs about 10 - 15 minutes before needing charged again. And you can't run it with the little cord in it because it doesn't reach much farther than 2 feet. My broom and dust pan are way more flexible. So the little Swiffer vac must go. And what was I thinking the day I bought that wonderful set of electric rollers. I have natural curly hair. Why in the world did I think I needed electric curlers. I told myself it would help for those little "slept on" areas that flattened or frizzed during the night. But with my curls, a spritz of water and a tussle with my fingers and the curls are back. The one time I used the rollers I left them in for 30 seconds and the curls froze in that shape. It was so curly I had to wash it twice to relax it back to normal curls. Bye bye electric curlers. And how many knick-knacks and whatnot's have I bought at other's yard sales only to put them in mine because I can't figure out why I bought them in the first place. It is a family joke because I put so many of my purse (yes, I'm an addict) in my yard sale. Then I take the money I make and go buy a couple new purses. Go figure. But year after year, I continue to participate in our family yard sale. Digging and dragging out to find those items that must go. Only to get to our sale and buy more stuff that I can't live without? So why do I do it? Is it the money? No. Is it the chance to get rid of unused stuff? No. It is simply that I enjoy doing it.

One solitary rose....

I am not an avid gardener, but I do enjoy a few flower pots on the patio with an assortment of color. Last summer, I planted a pink tea rose in a flower pot. It has been through snow, frost, wind and storms these past 6 months. But I have a rose. One single, solitary rose. Even after all the frost and cold. This got me to thinking about optimistic versus pessimistic. Some people would look at the spotted leaves and worry about the bug or mites that are eating the plant. They would wonder why one single rose bloomed and there aren't even buds on any of the other branches. An optimistic person would look at that single solitary rose and think of what a blessing it is that the bush has survived the winter. Too me, that rose represents many things. To me, roses remind me of Mother's Day. A Southern tradition is to wear a red rose to signify a living mother, and a white rose to honor a mother who is no longer living. So my sweet single pink rose is the combination of the two. The red gene represents my wonderful mother whom I adore. She will be 80 this year and acts like she is about 60. The white gene represents my two most precious grandmothers who have both passed away and who made such an impact on my life. The white also represents my wonderful Mother-in-law who has been gone almost 20 years. She was the perfect Mother-in-law and I still miss her dearly. The rose has always been a symbol of greatest love. Given by your significant other, it represents the love and bond that you share. Picked by small little fingers of your child or grandchild represents a love that now words can explain. The look on that precious face as it plucks a flower and gently lifts it to your face and says "I picked this for you." How do you view the roses in your life? Are you optimistic and see the "roses" that God has bestowed on you? Or are an eternal pessimist who is always looking for the thorns?