Randoms for Wednesday <3
Happy Wednesday!
Seems we are due for some randoms so here we go ….
Random #1
We have one of those digital photo frames on our kitchen counter. Russ’s brother and his wife gave it to us for Christmas two years ago and we love it.
LOVE it.
It scrolls photos past from a variety of years that we have sent along when they pop up in memories or transfer from a text message.
Besides the obvious four characters you would guess to be frequent fliers across the screen, we have photos of our kids and their people and friends and even just scenery or flower photos I have snapped that I treasure.
Yesterday I glanced over as I passed through the kitchen and saw Rachel and me smiling back from a trip Russ sent us girls on to New York City. Rachel was newly married and Sarah was on Spring break her sophomore year of college. (don’t have the actual photo on my phone so the one above is a reenactment…lol)
The photo is a selfie, of course, and I noticed a pair of earrings that I still wear sometimes. They are not out of style and look much like the teardrop discs that are still being sported by those younger than me.
They are a black and sliver mesh weave and are favorites. I remember buying them in some kind of a buy one, get one deal at some store at some mall.
But I pause and think how really they are quite old now.
Our trip to NYC was sixteen years and a whole heck of a lot of life ago. The earrings weren’t new in that photo.
Do you ever see a picture of yourself and realize that not only was it taken a long time ago, you are actually still wearing the same top or jacket currently?
Time is an enigma isn’t it?
Sometimes hours drag, seasons lag…and yet it’s traveling much faster than we can even wrap the mind around.
And that’s it for this random thought.
Kind of the beauty of randoms…
Random #2
Working in retail has always been one of my favorite ways to earn a little cash on the side.
Maybe it is because I love to shop and have always been distracted by shiny things, but the atmosphere and everything about it never really seems like work to me.
One of the intriguing aspects of being a merchant is the opportunity to create a place where people begin to make choices based on personal preference and then without even realizing it, making a purchase based on that choice.
When I worked at Talbots, sometimes we were assigned the task of using the most current shipment to create a rack of employee favorites. Because we all had different tastes and styles, the various ensembles would catch the eye of customers as they came in.
Inevitably, they would either love something or say how they would do it differently. Their preferences would cause them to look for a sweater or accessory piece that suited them better and often someone would end up with a new piece to add to what they had at home.
Choice is a tricky thing.
We may not even have the intention of getting an item, but we see a shelf with multiple colors and begin with a draw to one particular shade and the next thing you know it is in the cart.
We choose by packaging or presentation or arrangement, perhaps the way something is displayed evokes a feeling and we are sold.
So interesting to study, and yet such a place where I have to apply what I have learned and not fall into my own choice traps.
Random #3
I have recently picked up my knitting needles and bags of yarn after a hiatus. So far I have completed a half dozen wash cloths, one sock out of a pair, most of a baby blanket that I need a baby for, a hat for Caroline and have several projects in the wings.
Because I am knitting again and now in the age where artificial intelligence is active on my phone, I get lots of adds for knitting websites. This doesn’t bother me since I like it.
I do wish my artificially intelligent phone could also pick up the vibe that I have absolutely zero interest in how the Kelce/Swift world is going…but sigh…thankful for the X option in the corner of those posts.
So back to knitting.
One of the things that keeps popping up and I can completely agree with are the posts about how knitting helps with anxiety. I feel certain this is true for any creative activity we pursue, but since it is hard to draw or paint with watercolors on the go, knitting is wonderful.
It occupies a little portion of my overactive mind as we watch a movie that I might get too engrossed in, or I ride in the car with nothing but my imagination to fuel conversation, or after a long day when I don’t really have the concentration needed to read.
The motion of the hands and the way you can still talk and listen but keep knitting is amazingly soothing. It’s calming and also quieting to the mind and a mouth that speaks before it thinks.
And the art of using two or more sticks to weave a string of yarn into a garment or cloth or whatever is magical.
Random #4
The other night Caroline was the catcher at the baseball game.
I stepped up to the fence and snapped a photo and it was like I was superimposed on another fence a heartbeat ago when her mom was in the same position.
One time a ball popped up and hit Rachel on the cheekbone. The result was one of those gaping small places that mean you have to leave the game and thank God for a doctor that had you call him at home.
He butterflied the wound. She was in the middle of a tournament and asked if she could still catch. He said it wasn’t the greatest of ideas but if she chose to do it, keep it clean.
Right.
Dirt, sweat and a butterfly bandage to be kept clean.
Sure, we can do that.
Back she went, caught she did.
Random #5
Over the weekend, I noticed that our Zinnias were suffering. Some of the stems were brown and the flowers were sadly wilted. We were heading out for an evening walk so I gave them a wee bit to drink and hoped and prayed for the best.
The next morning, I took out the watering can and gave them a good drink.
By that afternoon they were beautiful. Only a few brown leaves hidden under bright green and colorful flowers.
It happens often in the summer. A neglected pot looks like the coroner will need to be called and then after a good dose of water, voila!
New life.
We are like that.
We can feel so wilted and down and then just the right refreshing comes along and the turn around is evident to all.
How blessed we are when we can experience this.