Whine Without Cheese

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Ok I am an ebay seller of primarily vintage items--that have some provinance to combine with a beautiful look---little pieces of history, if you will. But since I am a seller I am looking to make some money even though I love much of what I put up for auction.


My whine today is about metal cookie cutters and I have many--cutters that is. Some have been in my family for decades and have cut the best of cookie doughs a cutter could hope for. They have shape, shine, sharpness, and a sincerity of being truly vintage with credentials if required. So I put them on eBay and watch as maybe 2, then 3, and now OMG 5 viewers appear. My start price is only 9.99.

Then "Along Comes Martha la la la la", Stewart that is and claims to have cookie cutters out there that are worth over $200.00. Huh?????????????? I understand new might be better for some than vintage and maybe the shapes are cute and ok so copper is nice, but come on already. Most new ideas are based on what we have learned from and know of the past--which makes my cookie cutters somewhat forerunners in the baking world. However they will be overlooked and trampled on while people point and click their way to spend $200.00 to $300.00 on cutters with a few differences the biggest one being --they carry the name Martha Stewart. Ok how about this--my cookie cutters were made by Paul Revere and have Martha's name on as well--Washington that is--any takers??? Nevermind---I can always relist............................. By the way--check it out-- http://www.ebay.com/ seller----  angelfireredhead

I was just sent an email from my favorite cousin, actually one of my favorite people in the world, and now I need to share it with the world.  Its about hugs--via Italy and You Tube--and it is very special.
What is even more special to me is that my cousin is the one that taught me how to hug--by doing.  I was not raised with a lot of outward affection and was always shy about that.  Growing up though I didn't have anything positive or negative attached to hugging as far as I can remember--just wasn't used to it. 
I do remember visiting him in his state of Oregon where he lives-- with a view of the sea meeting the mountains--right outside his windows--poor baby huh??? But no matter where one lives life is still life.  I wrote that sentence with the idea "LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!" ringing in my head--as if there are no problems if one can see the ocean from their windows-- which has been my idea for years.  But being wiser or maybe just older I realize that again--life is still life.
 He lives his life and sharing is a big part of it, but in a way that does not invade ones privacy or compromise any values.  HE HUGS! I watched him during my visit, which now to date, was one of several.  I watched him hug friends and I watched their reactions. I felt him hug me just to say good morning and I remember how it made me feel.  So I asked him how that all began and how does one go about hugging another person.  Sounds like a silly question but if your not used to that behavior --which I doubt many in the western world are--it comes on a need to know basis and I needed to know.  I was profoundly aware that I was missing out on something that was priceless yet has no price.
He told me that he could not remember when he started hugging but simply put--it is free like a smile and also like a smile, allows one to be a part of anothers life if only for an instant.  I love that idea for thats what life is--instants--seconds built into minutes; built into hours; built into days--you get the idea.  Anyway I also asked how can I start hugging.  He said, "just do it and it will become second nature."  He was right and 25 years later I am still doing it.  Talk about an ice breaker...  Of course if you go in for the hug and the other person does a back flip then perhaps they are not ready for such closeness--so go accordingly.  But in all these years I have never had that happen.  Hugging is how I say hello and good bye whether I know you for now or forever. 
So when I received this email and connected to You Tube, I watched; I smiled; I cried.  Once we all realize that nothing is expected--no strings are attached, no monetary value connected we become free to share a little part of ouselves with another human being.  The feelings it brings are instantly gratifying and forever uplifting.  Please watch this segment from Italy and follow the experiment as people begin to leave their insecurities and uncertainties behind.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN8CKwdosjE   

Free Hugs in Sondrio, Italy

My Next Life

When this life merges into the next and provided I have an option of what or who to be, I have decided to live my next life as a DANDELION!  We have many sharing our 6 and 1/4 acres, but most seem to inhabit and thrive on the what is considered to be --the front lawn.  The front lawn is usually the place I mow so I am sure not to include new plantings or other flowers getting ready to bloom during the demolition of way too long grass.  There are those in my household that believe machines rule--so if a flower gets caught in its path--it must have been in the way.

Sooooo as I was mowing my front the other day, I noticed how healthy, strong and seemingly proud these little wonders are.  Their "flower" is not totally ugly and to me looks nice when seen massed in a field.  The stems from some are clearly almost a half inch in diameter--huh??? We better get checked for any nuclear run off here. There leaves are hearty and thrive anywhere I believe.  I can attest to on the lawn, in the dirt, in the cracks of macadam, in between every walkway we have, in the sun, shade, and in between.  So when left alone they have a rather long and continuous life span. 

I have known that my ancestors used this wonder for salads and wine--- making it practically a plant to be worshipped.  If I would google it I am sure there would be tons of info as well but I won't. 

I'm not ready for the next life yet so until then I lead my mower around cautiously and continue my damage to their species.  When done, it does look, to the naked eye,  as if the grass is trimmed and the dandelions are gone--mainly because the yellow is no longer present.  But remember those stems I mentioned---well here is what happens.  They don't get cut-- they lie down and squeeze themselves closer to the ground. There is intelligent life here.  I know this to be so cause the very next morning I come out to take a peak and there are tones of headless stems standing proud and unconquered. I now have a lawn that looks as if it is loaded with green pencils. 

I will make another pass with the mower and just like a sharpener make those stems a little shorter for they will again lie down and play dead til the next day.  Yes I could dig them out by the roots but then that seems drastic and far too time consuming on a summer day.  Besides we are developing a bond of sorts. I am beginning to respect their determination to survive.  Now put all that together --Purpose, Poise, Persistence, Pretty (at times), Pride without Prejudice--and there's more if I take the time.  Looking at all those attributes and pondering the idea of re incarnation--brings me full circle to looking forward to the possibility of returning as a DANDELION.  Now if I knew I could pick my own location.............

What JUNK?

I was just wondering why some men feel so comfortable when surrounded by old lawn mowers, pressure washers, shop vacs, buckets, barrels and a host of other paraphenalia that help create that "Sanford & Son" look.




We have recently moved from a tiny house in town with a nice size two car garage that never saw a car to a large property of six and one half acres plus a huge barn in back. The plan of course is to let me take charge of the house and my husband gets the barn. Its a great arrangement in theory but I was hoping that he would use more of the inside of the barn. Of course it will take him awhile to sort out all he has transferred from the other place--the one where the only way to go was UP and I understand--but in the mean time can some of this stuff go behind the barn? There is tons of space and it certainly would make our lovely property so much lovelier.



We have talked about this many times or at least I have talked about it. Perhaps I am not aware of some male rating system where your score depends on how much debris can be seen from the road--or maybe its the idea that if junk is everywhere it gives the appearance that one is always working.



We are a foster home for any appliance that may have an ounce of pep left in it-- with some hours of labor and overhaul--and of course the reason that is given for having two or three or sometimes four of any one machine is "BACK UP".



We do recyle and my husband takes that to a new level as well for we have tin, aluminum, cast iron, and other non precious metals everywhere. I occasionally ask why these can't go behind the barn as well til they are taken to the area recycling/scrap metal spot. "Well"... he says, " I don't want to move things more than once". Ok so lets just move them once---out back since they are not destined to go to the scrap yard any time this year. But I talk to deaf ears---so no more talking. he's taking a nap right and it is trash night sooooo I need to move quickly if I want to whittle down some of this junk or maybe I will give up and bring my laundry and ironing out on the lawn--wait I can line up all our shoes on the front steps--Hey I think I'm on to something.

Women and LCD Hope Help and Healing

Women like and desire emotional consistancy although it seems to men that we are emotional roller coasters. All the attention, adoration, plan making, belonging is what makes us thrive--and its what men provide in the beginning stages of all relationships. We as emotional beings are like little --no like glacier sized sponges sucking all this dribble up. Oh some of it is real and some of it is getting caught up in the heat of romance for them as well--what the rest is I haven't put a tag on--not lies exactly. I think what happens is that men are like puppies in a way--they want to please so they will will do all the little antics truthfully that help us accept them and take them into our hearts. Think about it--they run, jump, play, snuggle and slobber just like our canine friends--but there is a main difference. Our canine friends stay consistant--I don't mean loyal --I just mean consistant. I honestly don't know the real reasons why the consistancy leaves--although there are tons that can be used as excuses. When it does leave however our behavior changes--we become uncertain, insecure, and oh yes needy. These conditions can be terminal but they are treatable if not immediately curable. First the conditions of uncertainty, insecurity and being needy were diagnosed by men using the following criteria--I have to call her all the time, I have to tell her where I am all the time, I have to care about her feelings, I have to hug and kiss her regularly--uhhh I have to be there for her. These criteria produce the following hypochondria symptoms in men- I feel rushed, scared, pressured, trapped etc. all treatable and curable in an instant by pulling back and collapsing that consistancy we desire. The results for women are like "leaving the scene of an accident".
This scenario plays and replays over and over for many women. While our Lack of Consistancy Disorder or LCD (and you thought that had to do with lights) manifests we find ourselves "self medicating" with worry, tears, apologies (many unnecessary) and other completely debillitating symptoms. But there is hope since as I said LCD is treatable if not curable and best of all the treatment is totally "Green" being environmentally safe, non toxic. Step1. You come first! Step 2. If you have family--they come second. Step 3. You come third! Step 4. Your financial security comes fourth or whatever steps you are doing to help that. Step 5. You come fifth. Step 6. Your home and environment come sixth. Step 7. Your occupation comes seventh. Step 8. You come eighth. Step 9. You come ninth. Step 10. You come tenth. There ---its only a 10 step program that low and behold--- begins and ends with you. This program has no link to any narcisistic disorder.

While following this program and having it become a way of life several things will happen--your home will get organized--your family will feel stable and cared for--your financial situation, whatever it was before, will improve since you are watching over it- your occupation will seem less of an annoyance if thats possible. Best of all--all the rest of the benefiits are for you. You no longer wait for calls or texts--your eyes are not swollen from crying--you are getting out of bed without a catapult--and you are beginning to look out the window and notice that the sun is shining--the air feels great and you have a whole brand new day--ahead of you--and it has nothing what so ever to do with the day before. Its yours and only yours. Now as you are recouperating---changes happen in our "canine like friends". They tend to come sniffing around again wanting our attention and affection. Thats fine but now its YOUR CHOICE--either take them in or give them a pat on the head, a tickle behind the ears and send them back to their original or new owners--for they have one or the other.

In closing--know that LCD is real--its affects can be crippling but it doesn't matter when you stop this condition as long as you stop it. The choice is yours--it always was and always will be.

LCD is not recognized by any health organization and its treatment has not been studied by the FDA. What a surprise huh? REMEMBER--Today is the first day of the rest of your life.