Intending to be Intentional

 

January 6, 2017. Any resolutions made? Broken? Or have you decided to buck the tradition and go with the truth that every day is a new day, whether it is February 26, June 7, or December 13? I'm a little bit of "all of the above".

2016 ended quietly, just Leo and I. It was almost too quiet. I finally tuned into Spotify and put on some instrumental Worship songs. This made me relaxed and too sleepy, so I browsed some more and put on 1980's Love Songs. As Chicago, Air Supply and other unfamiliar artists with familiar words and tunes ushered in 2017, Leo and I reminisced about the "Good Old Days" of the 80's.  Has it really been 30 years? And what was so special about Betty Davis' eyes anyhow? (This was the song being sung at midnight.)

My New Year's resolution: Be more INTENTIONAL. What does that even mean? For me, it means that I want to have an intent and purpose to whatever it is that I am doing. For instance, browsing the web: I can spend waste so much time going from one thing to the next. If it isn't going to benefit my family or enrich my life in some way, then what is the point? I mention the internet because, for me anyhow, it can consume way too much time. Instead, I want to spend more time reading from books, studying the Bible, praying, cooking, keeping my household organized, exercising, talking to friends, and the list goes on.....

Have I broken resolutions? Yes. Will I be more successful this year than others? I don't know, but I'm going to take each day as it comes, and I'm going to strive to be intentional. 

" Intention is a mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out an action or actions in the future. Intention involves mental activities such as planning and forethought."
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intention

So far, in 2017, I've exercised three times but I've also eaten three chocolate chip cookies. I finished the book Remnants of a Life on Paper by Bea Tusiani but haven't decided for sure on the next; Adrienne gave me Hind's Feet in High Places but I have some others that I've started, like Strong Women, Soft Hearts by Paula Rinehart, and Riverton by Kate Morton. I have a coffee date with a friend that has yet to be finalized, but it will happen! In the end, being intentional is great, but it does involve following through with the intention.

 “What one does is what counts. Not what one had the intention of doing.”
― Pablo Picasso

The best part about a new year? It makes us feel like renewing, revisiting goals, cleaning up and clearing out. And while I can do that on any day of the year, I'm thankful that I am reminded and given a push at least once a year. 

Happy and Blessed New Year to each of you!

Love, Dianne

Cookie Envy

Madame Cookie Baker 

She's ready to roll.

The dough that is.

I may be experiencing cookie envy. This is not the same thing as Cookie Monster wanting another person's cookie. This involves Christmas baking and could mean the difference between a plate of exquisite macaroons, detailed gingerbread men and perfectly puffed meringues or misshapen Amish church cookies that should be in the shapes of Christmas trees, cows, music notes or hearts, but instead look like the art of Picasso in a variety of blobs with randomly placed chocolate chips.
(See Exhibit A)

Exhibit A

 I like making cookies. (Who am I kidding? I like eating the cookies.) The taste always takes me back to my childhood and my mom making these cookies. I loved the fact that they had to be rolled out and we got to use her cookie cutters in the shapes of a bunny, hen and Scottie dog. She'd add just one chocolate chip per cookie (for the eye) and they were just the best. And I do not remember any blob shaped cookies. Ever. (See Exhibit B for a sampling of the umpteen dozen that my mom and my sister Kim made the other day)

Or the beautifully decorated and perfectly shaped confections my sister Roxanne made.

 (See Exhibit B)

Exhibit B

I think part of the appeal in baking Christmas cookies is the nostalgic feeling it brings. Floured counters, wooden rolling pin, cookie cutters in all variety of shapes (some of which I've never used, like a tooth shaped one. What is that about?? Of course, my blob shaped cookies could be misconstrued as the tooth.)

In the end, I could see a few star shapes here and there. And I had to overlook and overcook at least one batch. We are just calling those "biscotti". Ahem.  I mean, anything tastes better dipped in coffee first thing in the morning, eh?

Love, 

Dianne

Lovin' a Snowy Day

 I was feeling a little sad that the snow over the weekend had all melted by Monday morning. I don't mind snow and, like most folks, snow is especially welcome in December during the Christmas season.

On this gray morning, Ryan and I were both in the living room. He was working on his English and I was practicing my typing, trying to improve my word per minute stat. Then I looked up and saw a fine mist of snowflakes coming straight down. This misting soon turned into full-blown, I'm-in-a-snowglobe kind of a snow. It was the kind of snow that made me want to run outside and play.


So I did.

I found my winter boots from the back of the closet and put them on over my fuzzy red and green striped Christmas socks. Then I decided that snowflake PJ bottoms were 100% appropriate for walking in the snow and grabbed my jacket before donning red gloves, scarf and hat. Not that it was really all that cold outside, but somehow it all just felt right.

I grabbed my camera from the stove and I was off out the door.

 The cows enjoy being outside when it isn't too cold. I think that they secretly make snow angels and put their tongues out to catch the flakes when no one is looking. Don't let them fool you.

 And I walked and I may have put my tongue out to catch a few flakes and then I remembered a 7th grade science fair project on acid rain and I wasn't so sure, but then Ryan joined me and he did the same thing. I thought, "Shucks, we used to eat the snow and the kids would make snow cream like Little Bear did and they all survived."  So, go ahead, catch a few flakes!

Even John Deere green goes well with the snow. And it never hurts to have the old thing around when a snow blower is needed. Maybe not this snowfall, but you just never know!

I walked peacefully to the end of the driveway, got the mail and then back down. Hot cider with chai tea sounds just about right, don't you think?

Happy Snow Day! 

Love, Dianne