The Power of a Dollar

Jack came home last week and tried to explain a story about his class, brownies he told them I would make & a guinea pig!! The next day, when I dropped him at school, the teacher said "I need to talk to you." She further explained that, yes, they were having a bake sale to raise money for a new guinea pig. Apparently, the one they had for years, met with an untimely death this summer. Now, I know that the pets in the classroom go home with different kids for the weekend or summer. If that had happened on my watch, I would have made a beeline for the nearest pet store and bought a replacement immediately. I also would have probably said nothing. If someone wondered out loud about how they thought the guinea pig had more brown on him, I would pretend to not understand what they were saying!!
The bake sale gave me an idea. The night before the St. Paul's boutique, I made up a box, put a sign and a photo of a guinea pig on it, and placed it on a table at the entrance. All I asked was to "Donate a Dollar". Loads of people did! I am not sure at this time how much is in the box because Jack is going to take it school tomorrow and he and his classmates are all going to open it together and count out the dollars (math lesson). I am sure that the teachers will also use it as an opportunity for a lesson on generosity and giving.
I am humbled by the thought that one dollar, multiplied by many kind people, will have such an effect on these children. Never think what you have to offer is too small and won't matter, because it does.
And I don't even like guinea pigs ~ but I adore my grandson!!

Happy Birthday

Seven years...gone so fast...so many fun memories...so much more to look forward to with you, our FIRST Angel Bug!!!
Life was good...then there was you...now it is great!! Who knew?? Lucky us!!

Pumpkin Seeds

I had to laugh when I found this picture of the "puking pumpkin"! It really is a rather clever display for Halloween night, if not a little "barfy"!
One of our favorite traditions of the season is roasting the seeds we find when we cut open the pumpkins. We have tried a few variations of the recipe over the years, but why mess with perfect?? We love them salty and crispy. Here's our simple, yet satisfying recipe for you to try:

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups raw whole pumpkin seeds (or however many you are lucky enough to find inside)
  
• 2 teaspoons butter, melted
• 1 pinch salt - or more to taste
  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. Toss seeds in a bowl with the melted butter and salt. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally.

The trick is to get them before everyone else does!! Enjoy!!

Inspiration

Today was Soccer Saturday and I attended both grand kid's games. Although the calendar reads October 1st, nobody told Mother Nature to tone it down a little and the temps were in the high 80s. Blah ~ no feeling of fall in sight! Seeking refuge under a tree to find any spot of shade, I sat and watched the game. While sitting there, I looked around and noticed many, tiny fallen twigs on the ground. That's all it took for inspiration to hit me! I gathered them up and held them tightly, knowing exactly what I was going to do with them when I got home.
A little ribbon, a silk leaf and flower and my ever-ready glue gun and ~ PRESTO! ~ a place card setting is born. I can see them all adorning the Thanksgiving table now. Who knew soccer could be so inspiring!

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Girls

Happy Fall!

I have always claimed to be a summer girl ~ sunshine, long, hot days, BBQs, etc. While I still enjoy summer, as I am approaching the "fall of my years", I think I am becoming more of a fall girl. Today is officially the first day of fall and, while that is not so easy to distinguish in California, it is still worth noting. The days are slowly becoming shorter, the temperatures at night (at least) are cooling, more leaves are on the ground. I am longing to start baking in earnest again. I find myself pouring over soup and stew recipes. Instead of sadly saying good bye to summer, I am happily welcoming fall. I plan to enjoy each day of the season & I hope you do too!

Cool for Awesome

A while back, Jack was describing something to us and he said it was "cool for awesome". It has become a family saying when we think something is "really neat". Cool is one level, but "cool for awesome" is clearly way above just a simple cool.
I am struck with the thought that children, in their early years, really think they are wonderful, awesome, special creatures. As time goes on and we release them into the world, they find that not everyone feels they are "cool for awesome". Some people are downright mean or cruel and seem to make it their mission to make them feel bad about themselves. As a parent or grandparent, or anyone who loves them, for that matter, it makes our heart ache to see them hurt. I don't like to see my grown children hurting to this day. To think that these darling girls of mine, who are preening in the mirror in a princess dress and smiling at their awesomeness, will someday, sooner than I care to imagine, be wailing because their hair doesn't look "right", or someone told them their nose was too big or they were not their friend anymore, makes me want to cry. I will always be there to tell them they are perfect and beautiful, but my words will soon mean less than those of their friends. Even if my words become a smaller voice in their life, I will never stop telling them, over and over. Hopefully, I have filled up their reservoir of self esteem with enough "cool for awesome", that they will have an abundance for their future.
Wasn't it easier when all you had to do to protect them was to keep their fingers out of the light sockets?!