Category Archives: success

Cheap, Practical — and Sort of Odd — Gift Giving

Last Christmas, because everybody was in financially challenging situations, we agreed to  go cheap on gifts — for everyone, that is, but the Toddler, who simultaneously performs the function of daughter/granddaughter/niece, depending upon who is talking about her. As grandparents, … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, children, Christmas, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Economy, Encouragement, Family, frugal living, gardening, Green, Growth, home, homeschooling, Humor, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Relationships, shopping, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Economics of Being Cool — and Frugal

Being frugal is chic these days. It’s exhilarating to go to bed knowing that you’re weird and out of step, and then burst into the kitchen the next morning as a dynamic, exciting, creative, green living, Chic woman of power and wisdom! … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Economy, Encouragement, Family, Green, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Random, shopping, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Laugh at Life’s Challenges

Cancer, unemployment, chronic pain, financial straits, the general insecurity of our nation’s future — there are a lot of challenges in life, and some of them are around for the long term. Other challenges, seemingly minor, still impact our daily … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Economy, Encouragement, Family, grandparenting, Growth, health, home, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Personal, Random, Relationships, religion, success, Work | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Is It Realistic, Following Our Dreams?

This week’s article comes with a visual — the Bold Innocence art print by Steve Henderson that encourages us to Dream Big! “Yeah, well I tried to follow my dreams but I got a big fat nowhere,” somebody told me … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, Growth, home, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

“Performance Art” in Real Life

The idols are falling left and right. So one day I read that Lance Armstrong, the celebrated tour de France bicyclist, admitted to Oprah  that he had been using banned, performance enhancing drugs. Then the next day, there’s more performance … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, celebrities, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, grandparenting, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, Motherhood, News, Parenting, Personal, Random, Relationships, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Honesty — It’s Still a Lonely Word

I just finished reading one of those inspirational stories that is supposed to energize me but actually makes me want to rest my head on my paper-cluttered desk and weep. Let me summarize: Famous Person agrees to meet fans for … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, Business, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, Growth, home, inspirational, Job, Life, Lifestyle, media, News, Personal, Random, Relationships, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

If Pumpkins Were Money, I’d Be Rich

I just love getting stuff for free. Mind you, I’m not talking about taking advantage of people, finding any way I can to avoid paying someone a fair price for something they have made or done. No, I’m talking pumpkin … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, Food, gardening, Growth, home, Humor, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, Relationships, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Married — 30 Years — with Children

We started out young and dumb, and next week will find us middle aged and wiser. Tuesday the Norwegian Artist and I celebrate 30 years of marriage. One man, one woman, who decided to throw our lots in together and … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, Business, children, Christian, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, grandparenting, Growth, home, homeschooling, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, marriage, News, Parenting, Personal, Relationships, success, Uncategorized, walking | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

The Socks from Hell

I have conquered the Socks from Hell. It is not so much that I have subjugated these hand-knitted demons to their knees so much that I have brought them to my feet. Snugly, quietly, they embrace my very soles, and … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Beauty, blogging, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Encouragement, Family, home, Humor, knitting, Life, Lifestyle, News, Personal, Random, Style, success, Uncategorized, yarn | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Mr. Smith Stays out of Washington

Tired-of-Being-Youngest is attending culinary school, which I assure you is just as delicious as it sounds. I can’t wait until spring quarter, when she studies Baking and Pastries, and am sure that I will work off all of her homework … Continue reading

Posted in Art, blogging, Culture, Current Events, Daily Life, Education, Encouragement, Family, Growth, home, homeschooling, Humor, inspirational, Life, Lifestyle, News, Parenting, Personal, Politics, Random, success, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments