Category: Other Posts

Gardening

I Did It!

deborahanndykeman

Well, after only about 12 hours, I finally have an updated site! Am I any wiser about menus and widgets, plug-ins and gr-avatars? I don’t think so. I read so much ‘stuff’ that my brain is at capacity. No wonder web-designers get so much money for what they do! But, I am pleased with the result from my end of things, and you will have to let me know what you think.

Why all the roses? I love roses! I love flowers in general and would like a bouquet in each room of my house, fresh, every week. But…that would be more money than a web-designer. I love the delicate fragrance of roses, and I have some sweet-smelling ones on my trellis, planted near my kitchen door. I adore English gardens, with climbing roses tumbling over white fences. But Kansas is pretty far removed from that…so I’ve tried to create my own English garden.

And for some reason, people have always told me they think of flowers when they see me. I have always taken that as a great compliment. So, maybe a little branding going on here.

At any rate. I hope you enjoy the new site. I’m feeling comfy already. Now it’s time for a nap!

A Quick Thought

GRRR!!!

deborahanndykeman

Okay, it is late, and I am about to chew nails. See this picture below?

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This is me, trying to figure out how to update this blog. I would rather be out there, in a machine, moving gears in the setting sun, as I try to set this, little boxy thing, on a little ‘X’ marked on the spot it is suppose to go.

So, no, I’m not important and giving you a heads-up that my site is under construction and big things are happening. Then, when I’m finished, you’re going to be ‘wowed’ by all the improvements.

No, I’m just stopping for the night, so my eyes will stop bouncing in my head and then I will try again tomorrow to ‘upgrade’ this blog. Using this WordPress just boggles my mind! I should word that differently. I am able to use it pretty well now. But if I go to make any changes…forget it! So, just click anything you want to read, it’s there in triplicate…I think. If you want to purchase a book, go to Amazon or Barnes and Noble and type in my name or title of the book, because the links aren’t working on here. Sigh!

And yes, I know you are to keep your site easy to navigate, clutter free and visually appealing. But right now, I’m just happy I haven’t lost it all yet. (I’m speaking of my blog, not my mind.) So, please don’t leave me, and I promise to return with hopefully…something! Good night!

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A Quick Thought

Peace of Life

deborahanndykeman

Hello…is anybody out there? Some days, you just feel…alone. It seems as though no matter what you say, it’s taken wrong. That you only have friends and family if you agree and support them. If the tables were turned…you’d be flopping on a beach, struggling for air.

Some days…we have those kind of days. Sometimes I wonder, if I just said what I wanted to, like others do to me, would I still have a friend or family member? If I expressed myself, did what I wanted, when I wanted…would people still speak to me…as I’m expected to when dealing with them?

There are days when I want to go far, far away, and forget all the troubles. I don’t want to worry about money, if the house is clean, the yard is mowed, the weeds are pulled. I don’t want to navigate the finances for a new furnace and overhaul on the house. I would like to only take care of my job at work, and have people help me as I always try to do. I don’t want to answer the phone for one more telemarketer or political call. Are the dishes done, the laundry clean, the oil changed in the car? Is the cat in or out…and is she up-to-date on her rabies shot if she’s out. Will the dog be sad and lonely if left too long? After all, he needs to be happy too.

Philippians 4:6 (NASB)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

At times, this verse is hard to grasp. It floats beyond my reach, my thoughts of all the above crowding and littering my mind…until all I see is the miserable, selfish part of my life.

Be anxious for nothing. Instead of wanting to escape to a beach in Maine, far north where it’s too cold for others…I need to stop the quicksand of life in this world today. I need to stop and pray, thank God for everything that He has allowed in my life…good and bad. For He has allowed it for a purpose. Then I need to ask Him to help me with my day, my thoughts…and give me peace.

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In my mind, I can be on that beach. Listening to the waves roll in, the salty wind upon my face. I can watch the sunset and know there will be another day…and it may go better than the one I’m dealing with right now. And it may not, but I can have peace and contentment.

There are not too many of us that can change what is going on in our world today. We can’t put better, different people in office, we can’t make our neighbor live how we want them to. Unless you’re the boss, your co-workers don’t answer to you. We can’t use our rights to trample over everyone else’s. And no, we can’t even really control our own little world of family and friends. But we can choose to be at peace and live with contentment. Make a decision today to change your little world…and the rest of the world might not be so difficult to deal with. Have a great Monday!

A Quick Thought

Social Media…Be Happy!

deborahanndykeman

I’ve posted on here a couple of times about Facebook and social media. They are not friends of mine. The upside is the ability to connect with people you haven’t seen or heard from in ages. The downside is the ability to connect with people you haven’t seen or heard from in ages. Do you really want  to hear from that girlfriend or boyfriend you broke up with 20, 30 or even 40 years ago? Are the pictures you have of family and friends from the 1970’s really that great? If you look worse than you did in high school, maybe you want to stay in hiding. But… if you look fantastic, you may want to advertise it everywhere!

I really struggle with all the political stuff. Yes, we all understand that it is an election year here in America. But do we have to sling trash, insults and just keep the pot stirred? What does that say to the rest of the world we live in? Nothing good, I’m thinking! We are supposed to be the UNITED States of America. Not the ‘I’m going to do my thing and you can do yours, and if I don’t agree I’m going to treat you like yesterdays garbage’ States of America.

The abused animals and children information is something else I have a hard time dealing with. Yes, these are both horrendous problems in our world today. I would like to be able to stop it, have animals and people treated with respect. But I have a hard time getting my own family to listen to me…the rest of the world? Forget it!

I think the biggest problem, and this doesn’t just occur with social media, is about one’s rights. When your rights trample all over mine…you have exceeded your bounds. And this is rampant today.

Social media isn’t all bad…and I hope I’m not sounding as though it is. I love the really cute, funny items that are shared. The music videos are nice, and I love the beautiful pictures. And yes, I do adore looking at your photos…even if I don’t know you! (I think that is for another post, though!) So go ahead and Tweet, Twitter, Post to your heart’s content.

And if you have the time…watch this video. Just a little break in your day, and some good words to put to use in your life.

 

A Quick Thought

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

deborahanndykeman

I always told our children that they didn’t have to agree with me, but they needed to respect their parents. That you don’t have to agree with other people or even really like them, but you needed to show respect.

This is very lacking in our society today. I just saw it in action again yesterday. It used to be that even if you weren’t a Christian, you respected a pastor. Even if you disagreed with the President of the United States of America, you respected his position. If you disliked a teacher in school, you still respected them. Of course, there were and always will be exceptions, but generally this held true.

Other examples of respect: men taking off their hats in a public building or house, saluting the American flag, opening a door for someone, quiet when someone was talking, quiet in a movie theater, and proper attire for certain occasions. Examples of these would be funerals, weddings, church and your place of work or school.

Now it’s ‘anything goes’ attitude. I think that’s terrible. I also believe it has caused a lot of problems in our world today. It also shows a lack of knowledge, and usually an abundance of arrogance.

Come on, show a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and sing the song if it helps you remember. I’m sure Aretha Franklin would appreciate it! Have a great Monday!

park-972173__180What not to do!

A Day to Remember

Nostalgia…the word for today

deborahanndykeman
I always wondered how you could have nostalgia for something you never experienced. Here is the definition:
nos·tal·gia
näˈstaljə,nəˈstaljə/
noun
 1. a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations
The time periods and places I have a sentimental longing  or a wistful affection for in the past, are things that I have never experienced and I really don’t have a happy personal association with. And as I have posted before…I’m in the wrong time period…in my opinion!
I’ve always loved the Civil War decade in history. The plantations were beautiful and the clothing was extravagant and lovely. But that’s not how I would have been living. My ancestors were generally pretty poor and farmers on my father’s side of the family. Hardworking, yes, but not sitting on the veranda sipping a mint julep. They were sitting on the porch smoking a corn-cob pipe wearing hob-nail boots…and those were the females! No, I never experienced that, but I have nostalgia for that period in history.
The next decade or so was just after the second World War. My Rubyville series is living those years for parts of two books. The research for that has been exciting and I’ve learned so much! I think that after that war, America was filled with hope and a sense of accomplishment. Fathers went to work and mothers stayed home, raising the children, generally. Life was more simple and I think people were more content with their lot. And they enjoyed their little world.
No, I was not alive during these years following that war, but I had grandparents that were and I’ve spent a lot of time in assisted livings and nursing homes. I’ve loved hearing the stories. Life was not all a bed of roses, but I think there was a peace and contentment then that is lacking today.
When I was a teenager, I loved the fifties. I wore circle skirts and saddle shoes to school…a lot, and I listened to the music of that time period. I had nostalgia for the fifties, and I still do. I have SiriusXM in my car so I can listen to ’50’s on 5.
vintage-1950s-887272__180 Love this picture!
When I was a teenager, I wanted to have a red, 1957 Chevy Bel Air someday. A Ford Thunderbird that same year would have been fine as well. I would still love to dress that way…if it didn’t look so strange. Again, there was a sense of family and femininity that seems lacking today.
Maybe that’s why I enjoy writing so much. I can re-create these worlds that I missed out on. My characters can waltz in a ballgown, full skirts over hoops with tiny slippers upon their feet. They can dance the Lindy Hop to the Big Band music of so many great artists, their saddle shoes keeping time. My characters can ride around in great old cars…and for them, it’s today.

The 1960’s swept in, the decade I was born in. I didn’t care much for the styles during that decade and they seemed to just go down from there. Pretty much the same for the music. The cars lasted until the early 1970’s and then the last of the muscle cars were gone.

I’ve lived since 1964. I can appreciate some clothing, music and cars over my years here on this earth. But I have nostalgia for all those decades before.

Just For Fun!

Laugh

deborahanndykeman

Some days you just need to have a good laugh. Our second oldest shared these ‘kid snippets’ with us a few years ago, and I enjoy them. For the reason I’m watching them today, you can read my post on procrastination! 😉

These little videos are acted out by adults, but the original conversation is between children. I think it’s funny to view what children think of us and adult situations. Sometimes their take is probably as ridiculous as we sound. I’m going to share this one about Trick-or-Treating, but there are many to watch. It helped me brighten my day for a few minutes before I get down to work. Enjoy!

A Day to Remember

We Went Out With a Bang

deborahanndykeman

It’s all over, and the clean-up begins. As you know, here in the United States of America, we celebrated our Independence Day yesterday. The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. I included this meme on Face Book yesterday to remember that day, because that is why we celebrate.

Independence Day

Now the actual way we all celebrate is a bit different. I don’t know when the traditions began, but they have been there at least since the 1960’s when I was a child. I would assume that there were parades, but I personally haven’t seen as many for the 4th of July as I used to. Very sad in my opinion.

So, the typical way to celebrate is to have a picnic…hot dogs and hamburgers, maybe potato salad and coleslaw. Potato chips and carbonated drinks are high on the list for food items as well. It seems to be very popular to make a cake that is decorated like an American flag with strawberries and blueberries on it. I think it’s a great idea…I’ve just never made one. People go camping, boating, spend time with family and just generally have a fun week-end.

This past three-day holiday here in Kansas was a bit on the cool and rainy side. Well, torrential downpour side. We needed the rain…and we got it. In bucket loads. I know it probably put a real damper on some people’s plans for the week-end, but I rather enjoyed the cool, cloudy weather. It was a nice break from the three digit temperatures we’ve had in June this year!

And then everyone goes out with a Bang! The fireworks here in our little town were really spectacular from the videos I’ve seen and from what people have said. Fireworks have never been a ‘must see’ for me…but maybe that is another post. Now, there’s nothing left but the clean-up. Traveling through our town this morning was like steering through an obstacle course. For some reason, the side roads seem to be a great place to light fireworks. Not so good when you have to drive. Just a side note…please clean-up your mess! It would be very much appreciated! 😉 Fireworks are extremely expensive in my opinion…so if you would rather, you can just throw money in my yard and I will gladly pick that up rather than burnt rockets, etc. 😉

Happy Independence Day, America!

Marriage, Where do I go?

I’m Not a Procrastinator!

deborahanndykeman

Yes, I am procrastinating! I love to write. I adore getting into that very special little space where the ideas, dialogue, and story is flowing faster than I can type. But some days, I keep putting off the begin time. This is one of those days.

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I’ve accomplished all the ‘tasks’ I set for myself each day before I write. You know the ones. Dishes, laundry, vacuuming, and just general upkeep of a home so you don’t have to shovel out after a couple of weeks.

But I just can’t seem to ‘jump’ in this morning. Maybe it’s because I was interrupted during a really great, pivotal scene last night. (Really…I can’t write when I’m being stared at!) And now I’m afraid to try again because of plans I have later. I don’t want to be side-tracked . If you are a writer, you know how frustrating that can be. After you try to write a scene several times…in my case it just loses some of the ‘oomph’.

Life is rather like that for all of us at times. The best laid plans and that sort of thing. I’m not really a very flexible person. The humor is there, in the fact that I had five children and a husband that drove over the road. Anyone with children understands that your day doesn’t always, (almost never) goes as planned. But we all survived.

That last statement brings me to why I started procrastinating this morning. It was Face Book…again. No, it’s not their fault, but it’s probably the number one time waster for me. I stopped writing last night because our second daughter had given me a challenge to post pictures of my husband and I when we first met, and then a recent one. I posted that last night, and then this morning I had to check it…of course!

So, I will share the pictures with you all. That statement about survival also pertains to these pictures. My husband and I have survived. We started out as children, young and full of exuberance, and half our size. The first one was taken right after our wedding rehearsal on October 19, 1984. The second one was taken last fall, October 4, 2015. We haven’t changed a bit, have we? 😉

The third one is just a bonus shot for all of you. It was taken on October 19, 1984.

October 19, 1984 day before wedding.

We were raking my parents yard. Cleaning it up a bit before our reception at their home the next day. My parents had just purchased the property in upstate New York, the Catskill Mountain area. It was a mess when they moved in, as you can see from the roof of the pump house. But it was beautiful when they moved fifteen years later! My husband and I were commenting on how it looked like we were on a set. Then our youngest daughter asked who the man was.

This last one was of us in September 1984, just after we were engaged. We were taking pictures for the newspaper to announce our engagement.

September 1984 engagement picture for newspaper

So many memories…and that’s how I got off-track in my writing last night…and now this morning! I know you all never do that! Have a great Thursday…and now…back to that scene!

 

Just For Fun!

Handyman Special

deborahanndykeman

I spent the better part of yesterday in Menards with my son. He has a couple projects he is working on at his place. So, he was picking up supplies and wanted to know what his options were. I’m great at figuring out all the possibilities and I love designing it. But having the money to complete the project, and now the energy is another matter!

And no, the above pictures have nothing to do with our son’s place…unfortunately!

At one time, these ‘Big Box Stores’ as they call them were one of my favorite places to be. It was thrilling to be in there for hours, just wandering through all the products. My mind would race with all the possibilities of what ‘we’ could do at our house.

Not so much anymore! After four hours in there, my brain was swimming and in serious need of rescuing! Yes, we found some great deals, my son now has some wonderful plans to put into working order. All my mind can concentrate on is: Contractor anyone?

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