Pondering the Positive

If you have known me or been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I struggle with depression. Through the years I have learned and forgotten and learned and forgotten quite a bit of helpful information. Of course, I'm no doctor, I have had no "formal" training of any kind, but I have lived through situations and counseling .... and come through the other side OK.



Out of focus?

I would like to start  writing a little series,  on some of the things that have helped me. Going back through journals I have found some things I don't want to forget again. My prayer is that,  if by reminding myself of these truths through this writing and pondering that you will be blessed as well. 

"clear as a bell"

 My depression rolls in and sits like a fog. Things become a bit distorted. I just don't or can't see things as clearly as I know they really are. Being aware of this has had the biggest effect on how I am able to deal with it each time. Sort of like the two pictures above.... Just to give you a visual. I always know in the back of my mind that it will "lift". It just takes time.

Lovely Lavender

 So here we go with the first thought.

Busy little Bee, look closely....

 # 1.  Spend time with the "right" people.

Wild mustard, one of my favorites

People who love you, appreciate you and encourage you.

If you have faith like a grain of mustard, Matthew 17:20

 People who embrace who you are.....

California Poppies

 and who you want to be.

Allison's eye..  My favorite colors. SO BEAUTIFUL

 Sometimes these "people" may be your pets.

shadows of green

And sometimes you may just want to be alone. This is OK.

 But the people you surround yourself with is important. Find some with the same interests. Find some with different interests and learn something new. But make sure you are comfortable being yourself with them.

I would love to hear your thoughts. If you have time to leave a comment that would be great. If not, that's OK as well.
Be blessed, Sue

Again its perspective

My name is Sue.... And I am a piddler.

Peach Blossoms

 Piddle: verb, To dawdle
Piddling: adjective,  Amounting to very little, trifling
Urban Dictionary definition: To waste time, procrastinate, to fool around nonsensically in order to waste time.

more peach blossoms

 And I am perfectly ok with it!!! It comes naturally to me. It must be in my genes. I get it honestly, my mom was a piddler. My grandpa was one as well. I'm sure it goes way back.

Potato vines that have expired

 The truth is that I get alot more done during my piddling time then when I make a list and try to adhere to it. Weird huh? Any way today was a piddle day and look at what I got done before noon. And I got some stitching done and read my devotions and everything.. WOW.
These are my potato's. Remember back when I told you about popping those seed potato's into the pots and seeing what would happen. Well Seth went out yesterday and found these beautiful little babies. Some of the vines are still alive and I know you're not supposed to pull them up until they die back. I will mash these up with some butter, salt and pepper and let you know how they taste. I'm looking forward to more.

 The biggest ones are about the size of one of my huge chicken eggs. Cute.... yes????

 While out in the yard messing around...I mean piddling around I decided it was high time to get the starters, started of my geraniums I want to take with me to Georgia.

 My hill has been covered with this geranium plant since we moved in here. They just keep growing and growing. We never water them. Seth has even cut them way back a few times and they are always so beautiful. I look forward every year to the pink blooms.

 Sarah loves to look around under them. There are lots of tasty treats among the leaves.

 Brought them in and put them into water.

 I also started rooting some of my jade plants to take with me as well. Getting ready, slowly but surely.....

 Popped a couple of loafs of bread into the oven as well. Boy does it smell good in here.

 And I even found this little treasure in the grass....I mean dirt..... I mean yard...... hahahaha

So you tell me. Do good things come to people who manage they're time wisely, making a list? Or To those who fly by the seat of their pants, playing it by ear so to speak?
Me thinks it comes to those who get off their butts and stop over thinking every little thing to death.... hahahahah
Blessings, Sue

Happy Birthday

We celebrated Allison's birthday on the 17th. She wanted a cake with fresh strawberries. This is what I came up with. I baked the cake from scratch and made the filling by cooking some of the berries with sugar and cornstarch, making a kind of pie filling. I put strawberry extract in the frosting. It turned out to be a really yummy treat!!!!.

 Happy Birthday Allison. You will Always be my baby girl no matter what age you are!!!

 A sneaky little leprechaun must have gotten past me cause when the rolls came out of the oven..........

Oh Dear!!!! We enjoyed Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and squash.

I couldn't bring myself to indulge in the green milk.... hahahahah It was a lovely day.
I hope you had a great St. Patricks Day.... Did you know that there are no snakes in Ireland?? Not because of St Patrick but because they never could migrate there because of the cold water!!!! Interesting.....
Blessings, Sue

Cat Drama and Writers Block

It is a long story... I'll condense.  This is Thomas. Sir Thomas, actually. He is the first full blooded Siamese I have ever had. I love him... He was my love. You know how "they" say that you don't pick a cat but that your cat picks you. Well he picked me. We were buddies.

  He slept on my bed, and sat on my lap while I read, stitched, computered... You get the idea. He can no longer procreate which is a pre -requisite to live in my house as a kitty. He is okay with that.

 We got him while we still had Sassy, our matriarch kitty. She was the queen mother. The ruler of the mansion and had complete command of the bay window. She has passed now and is in heaven in the biggest bay window ever!!!

 This is Mooky. Mooky is one of Sassy's babies, (refer back to pre requisite....this is why..haha)  Mooky always stayed outside, even though all our cats can come and go as they please. She preferred to stay in the driveway and only came in at night. That is until Sassy passed... Then Mooky took over the bay window..

 About the same time as, in fact just a week after Sassy left us, Allison rescued Charlie. Isn't she adorable.

 Allison and I took turns feeding her around the clock. She had the night shift, I the day shift while she was in school. She was Allison's cat.

 This is more what she looks like now. Remember how I said cats pick you not the other way around... Well Charlie picked me.. Ok that's cool. Not a BIG DEAL right. Except that during this time I left and stayed in Georgia for a month while my wonderful grand daughter was born. THOMAS HATES ME NOW!!!!!!!
Seriously... When I got back he wouldn't even look at me. He started hanging out at the neighbors house and stopped meeting me at my car when I came home. He belatedly would meow from across the street and then give me death stares as he waltzed his kitty self to they're front door... He sprayed on the wall by my side of the bed.......... ughghghghghghg
Fast forward to about 5 weeks ago.... Thomas is starting to hang out at home again. Mooky is now the queen of the bay window and Charlie sleeps on my bed most of the day and night. Thomas hates Mooky. Mooky hates Thomas.... Charlie tolerates Thomas and hates Mooky. Mooky is old. She just wants to hang in the window and be left alone. She deserves this. She is a sweety pie. I squirt Thomas and Charlie if they bother her. They all get loves and treats and are basically spoiled rotten. Still, Thomas hates me. I went to Georgia again for about 2 weeks this time. He sprays on EVERYTHING OF MINE HE CAN.

He peed in my mint.... and on my sewing machine. I still love him.. MY MINT AND MY SEWING MACHINE!!!!!! What the heck.... THOMAS......  I still love you..... 

I cleaned my machine and I'm going to have to buy more mint. Even though it's "coming" back since I flushed the heck out of it with water,  I just don't think I can ever put it in my tea  or food again... Cat pee tea???? Not for me...... I will always love Thomas. I will love him back to not peeing on my things. This is just a bit of the "cat drama" going on right now.
Thought I'd share. Thanks for listening. I think I'm over my writers block now.....
Blessings, Sue

Yikes!!! I've been bitten

I don't know about you...

But I've been bitten, and my symptoms are Spring Fever!!!!!
Blessings, Sue

No clever title comes to mind.....

 We had the most beautiful spring like weekend. The temperatures reached up into the low 80's one day. We had BBQ burgers and enjoyed the outdoors. On Sunday.... I didn't so ANYTHING...really. I did my devotions, took a shower, took a nap and it was amazing.

 We had a surprise; form our beloved little hen, Ophelia.  Yayyyyy. See the little brown one, second from left. Isn't it cute!!! The white is from one of the Silver Whinedotts.. The greenish blue from one of the  Americana's, and the brown ones are from the Buff Orpingtons.

 This is my first bantam egg.

 I used it to coat the chicken breasts I baked last night. Thank you Ophelia and friend.

 I have been working on my embroidery project. I am really enjoying it. The colors are so bright and cheery.

 And now... the weather is back to some sort of wintry...ish....ness. Carlye gave me this recipe for Chicken Potpie Soup. It is sooooooo good and sooooooooo easy. I goes in the crock pot and is served over biscuits. I LOVE IT. Great for a cold ish day and great comfort food.

 Sky High Biscuits. Our favorite.

 I don't know if you are blessed to have a Hobby Lobby near where you live. I'm not.... sniff sniff..... But Carlye is and I have decided it is my new favorite craft store of all time. We went several times while I was back there and I could have gone several more times. hahahahah. I found my green and white polka dot mug there. I was so excited. AND it was on clearance. I love, love, love it.

I took it with me into my craft room this afternoon and we started a small project to get my sewing juices flowing again. Can't show you yet cause it's a surprise for someone who reads my blog. I'll show you later as it is turning out adorable.
I don't think the sun is going to break through this afternoon and so I may just start a log in the fireplace. It's rather gloomy and that always brightens it up in here. Maybe I'll bake some cupcakes or something sweet and yummy for desert tonight. hmmmm yep that sounds good.
Thanks for coming by. Many Blessings to you, Sue