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Tag Archives: friendship

hello, again

11 / 1 / 14
source: Warren Photographic
source: Warren Photographic

hello.  again….

I’ve been gone awhile.  Six months, to be exact.  But I’m back. In my usual, haphazard sort of way.  You know; a post every day for 2 weeks.  Then nothing for the next three weeks.

Or six months.

I needed a little social media hiatus, I guess. A time to chill.  Regroup.  Collect my thoughts. Ponder life…

Bold statement: “I’m going to attempt to be a bit more consistent in my blogging” (don’t think that I  don’t hear the muffled giggles amongst you…)

Followed by the “however…” statement: “In order to do so, however, I must learn to be a bit more, well.. brief?”  (OK – the muffled giggles just turned to outright laughter…!)

OK, Yes.  I said brief.  I know.  It sounds ridiculous coming from me, doesn’t it!?  I agree. But I’m sure gonna try. Truth is, I think that I really need this place, this little space, to share what’s in my head and my heart. I’ve said it a million times before, but blogging – for me – is an online journal. My diary. My therapy. I’m sharing my thoughts, feelings, experiences with you, in hopes that something that I say may touch your life in some small way. Perhaps we will connect on some level. Start a conversation. Or not. It may simply be something you just needed to hear or see at that very moment. Something in your heart; not to be shared with anyone. That works for me too…

So it’s November. A beautiful month to honor the spirit of gratitude. Every day this month I am going to post a picture on Instagram; something that I am grateful for.  I am going to jump back on Facebook, as well. Although not as often as I used to. And, of course, stay tuned – right here – for future “brief, yet meaningful” blog posts from yours truly! (teehee!!) 

yes.  it’s hello. again…

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joyful scribblings

4 / 22 / 14

serendipityAbout a year ago, I stumbled across the blog of a gal named Dawn. “Joyful Scribblings“.  I like it. She made a nice comment on one of my blogposts, so I went to her blog to “check her out”. (No. I’m not a creeper. That’s what bloggers do with other bloggers!) In the process, I stumbled across a “few” similarities…  Married with a son and a daughter, an SUV and a brown 2 story house “in the suburbs”. A dog person with a sweet tooth and a frequent shopper at Ann Taylor Loft, Trader Joe’s and Target. OK. Nothing earth shattering so far. But then it went a little deeper. Self described as “a dreamer, a list maker, a person who is passionate about collecting ideas. All with a touch of sarcasm…“??  Oh my. She was describing ME! She went on to list two things that are on my “bucket list” that most people don’t even know about me… I would love to play the drums (yes. really.) and I dream of publishing a book of my writings someday. OK, Dawn. Whoever and wherever you are; You had me at “Hello”.

I immediately called my mom to inquire about the day of my birth. Is it possible that I might actually have a twin sister somewhere out there that someone just forgot to mention…? I told my mom that somehow, somewhere; I would meet this obviously “wonderful, amazing, All-American” blogger… named Dawn.

f4eee-lazydaysmainpicsmSeveral weeks later, I got an email request to participate in a group blogpost “Lazy Days and BBQ’s” from another blogger that I had never met. I was invited to come in as the resident “expert” (teehee!) on entertaining/table settings. That bloggers name?  Yep.  It was Dawn. Don’t believe in fate? Fair enough. Read on.

In the world of blogging, one of the really fun things is getting to “meet” people online that live hundreds (or even thousands) of miles away. I was excited to know where I was headed if I wanted to meet this new friend of mine at some point. As it ends up, this get together wasn’t going to cost much in the way of travel miles.  Dawn lives less than five miles from my house…!! Ha! But wait! There’s more. Our daughters share the same first name. Our sons share the same middle name.  And her son’s first name is what we were going to name our daughter when we thought she was a boy! Ha! And it just continues on and on from there.  Some of our extended family similarities would blow your mind…   

dawn cathy BlogHerSo we eventually met at a Starbucks to discuss the details of our “group blog”. Soon after, we decided to go to a “Blogging Conference” together in Chicago. The conference took place in July, and although we had only known each other for a couple of months, everyone thought we had been friends forever. Many even thought we were related! Too funny! One year later; we are great friends! We have lunch, we go on “double dates” with the hubbies, we share stories and problems and challenges, and we talk and text more than we probably should. We both love photography, food, crafting, the beach and have wonderful hubbies. We are a lot alike, but at the same time very different. Almost like the “yin and the yang” of the same person!

friends cartoon B&WSo off we go...  Heading to Salt Lake City this week for another blogging conference. SNAP! (Talked about this conference in a recent blog called “creative thinking“) Both Dawn and I are really looking forward to going. It looks like a GREAT group of bloggers that will be there!! Our “peeps”!! Last year we (somehow) ended up taking matching Martha Stewart turquoise leather notebooks. Not kidding. This year??  I’m thinking maybe matching “Hello Kitty” lunch boxes…

dawn-pasco2012

So without further adieu; my friend, Dawn…  “Although I consider myself ordinary, I’ve always believed I was meant to do and experience great things. We all are because we were created. I sometimes overlook the simple abundance and possibilities which surround me because I get caught up in the treadmill of life. My intention for creating this blog is to find the joy in the everyday.  Joy is something you feel from within and makes your heart smile. Outward circumstances can’t affect it unlike happiness. I hope you find joy from within and follow your passions.” 

Please hop over and check her out at Joyful Scribblings…

joyful-scribblings-blog

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business? ethics

8 / 23 / 13

be yourselfYesterday my daughter’s boyfriend approached me with a request.  Could he interview me on the topic of “business ethics”.  Hmmm…  On the first night of class, his teacher made the statement that there is really no such thing as “business ethics”.  Nice.  Couldn’t agree more.

So he did our little interview, and I, shockingly, rambled on and on and on… (SO good at that!). But our conversation stayed in my little brain long after “the interview” had ended, thoughts rolling around up there like little tiny frozen peas.  So here’s how I feel about it. (I sensed that you were dying to know)  I feel that ethics are ethics.  Period.  You can’t have a different set of values, morals and ethics – one for your personal life, and one reserved solely for business.  Nope.  Doesn’t work that way.

walk away

I have been in the retail world basically my entire life.  I started selling Avon door-to-door (And I mean that literally!) with my best friend, Laura, when we were 14.  Our moms had to drive us (Ha!) to the “required meetings”, where we rubbed shoulders with all of the “old ladies”.  (Yep.  Those “old ladies” were probably well into their 30’s… at least!!  HA!!)  Time marches on, and along the way I did everything imaginable with regard to retail; ultimately starting my own retail business, “Creations“, over eleven years ago.  Being an entrepreneur means having to get out there on your own and make it work.  I was a “one (wo)man band” – the CEO as well as the gal who makes the coffee.  And sometimes the coffee got burned.  There are lots (and lots) of people out there who really don’t care about anyone but themselves.  Fact.  However…. there are so many more who DO!!!  I really do believe that.  You just have to search them out and make them part of your circle.  When I say “circle”, I don’t mean in some “exclusive, you gotta meet all of these expectations, uppity, nose-in-the-air” kinda stuff.  Just the opposite, actually.  I care about the people that I call friends, and I want THEM to succeed, as well.  If we all work together in that circle, promoting each other, sharing info, contacts, suggestions, positive energy… we will ALL grow in ways that we cannot ALONE!  On the contrary, those who are out to (negatively) compete, with gossip and backstabbing… well; I would just have to ask them if they believe in karma??  I sure do.  If we are good and kind to others, the world will give all of that back… and more.  Believe it.   (Insert music to Kumbaya, and let’s all hold hands.)

So there it is.  That, my friends, is how I feel about (business) ethics.  Any other questions…?

live happy

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my “lovely” friend; alice

4 / 2 / 134 / 2 / 15

alice taking tea(A repost from exactly two years ago… With love. To you,  Alice. I miss you today   xoxo)

Today would have been my lovely friend, Alice’s, birthday. April 2. My birthday falls on May 2. We celebrated our birthdays together in 1987 and 1988.

Unfortunately, that was all the time we were blessed with…

alice cathy birthday

We moved to London in the fall of 1986 for a (short… way too short) two year adventure with my husband’s accounting firm.  Knowing that I only had a very limited period of time, I decided that the best way to do things was to jump in feet first; and ask questions later.  So that’s exactly what I did.  “Getting cozy” with the Brits, however, was a rather daunting task.  It was much easier to develop friendships with the New Zealanders, Aussies and the other Americans.  The British are, overall, a bit more distant and hard to get to know.  And I am the first to admit that my personality might be a bit “over the top” for them.  Regardless, I decided to venture out of the old “comfort zone”.  We had been attending mass in a massive English cathedral… cold and dark and full of gold and stained glass.  “Cozy” is not exactly the word that I am going for here.  I decided to pursue some volunteer work through the church.  I made some contacts, and before I knew it, I had a slip of paper in my hand with two names, addresses and telephone numbers.  They were “older women” who might welcome a visit or two.  One of the names scribbled on that piece of paper….was Alice.

alice flat and streetalice with flower

I phoned her “straightaway” and made arrangements to stop by for tea.  Her flat was down a quiet little cobblestone street near “Marble Arch” in the heart of London.  I knocked, the door opened… and, in that very moment, a friendship began.  Yes; Really.  Just like that.  We started out setting specific times and dates for my visits.  But as the friendship deepened, we started having “impromptu” visits between visits!  I would phone her to see if perhaps I might stop by for a quick visit.  “That would be lovely”, she would say. She loved the word “lovely”.  Not once did she turn me away. And they were not usually quick visits, either – ha! We would just sit and talk for hours. Alice had lost her husband many years prior and had no children.  Her closest relative was a niece (and her family) who lived outside of London, but she didn’t really get together with them very often. I knew that my visits meant the world to her.  Truth is, they meant the world to me, as well.

alice and cathy

Alice would leave the front door open when she knew that I was on the way.  I would let myself in, and from the moment that I stepped inside that tiny, dimly lit, cozy little flat – it was like my heart coming home.  If I close my eyes I can still remember everything like it was yesterday… the sound of the teacups and saucers clanking against the tray as she made her way

tea tray

to the tiny little kitchen table… the scent of freshly brewed tea and something warm from the oven… sometimes the soft little purr of a kitty that also called Alice “home”.  Alice had a frail little body, crooked fingers, soft golden white hair and a tiny little voice.  Her eyes would sparkle when I entered the room with a love that was, indeed, mutual; and shared between the two of us. We were separated by many, many years; it’s true.  But we were kindred spirits; friends of the heart.  It was a gift, and I think that we both knew that we were blessed in the moment.  We treasured those moments up until the very, very end.  Leaving Alice felt like I was ripping out a piece of my heart and leaving it there in London…  Indeed I was.

alices flat

Upon returning to the states, we kept our promise to each other to write often.  Those letters meant the world to me.  Sometimes I would even call her just to say a quick “hi” and hear her voice. I still remember calling to tell her that I was pregnant with twins and she was going to be a “grandma”… xo!  She was SO excited and just kept saying how “lovely” that was… her favorite word!!  She started making plans to come to the United States after they were born.  “Nothing would make me happier”, I told her.

I still remember the day the letter came.

It was from her niece.  I sat down.  I started crying before I even opened it.  “Auntie Alice” had passed away peacefully in her sleep.  She knew that I would want to know. She had found my letters, along with my address, there next to her bed.  She thanked me for being such a special person in her “auntie’s” life.  Wow.  “Ever had a memory that sneaks out of your eye, and rolls down your cheek…?”

yellow rose
If a yellow rose is the symbol of friendship, perhaps those are the tears of missing a friend…

i miss you

So today, Alice, I am thinking about you with my whole heart…  I brewed a pot of tea, selected my favorite little floral teacup and saucer and put some quiet music on to help me write this post.  So many memories are running through my mind.  It truly feels like you are right here with me.  I know you are.  There were tears in my eyes as I wrote this entire blog post, but they flowed uncontrollably as I attempted to type that last paragraph…  I still miss you so much.  I always will.  I realize, however, that I am so very, very lucky to have been blessed with such love. “Missing someone isn’t about how long it’s been since you’ve seen them or the amount of time since you’ve talked.  It’s about that very moment when you’re doing something and wishing they were right there with you.”  Oh, Alice; If only heaven weren’t so far away….  Happy Birthday, my dear friend.

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a faraway (facebook) friend

9 / 12 / 12

Today I just wanted to share with you a dialogue that transpired this past weekend with my new (Facebook) friend, Eunice…

“To welcome my newest Facebook friend, Eunice Hohn, from the beautiful country of Germany… I share with you one of the most recognizable landmarks of Germany – Neuschwanstein Castle.  It truly is what “fairytales” are made of!  We were there in 1987.  An absolutely GORGEOUS country! Breathtaking.  Munich, the “Black Forest”, Baden-Baden… Ahhhh; so many beautiful memories  🙂  Welcome, Eunice!”

Eunice: “Olá, muiito obrigada pelo carinho e receptividade essa foi a melhor desde que estou no Face … realmente esse País é cheio de encantos…com pessoas honestas…pontuais…e competentes!Vivo aqui há quase quatro anos e minha única dificuldade é o idioma…nao sei um dia conseguirei vencer esse obstáculo…mas vou vivendo e aprovetando da melhor forma possível o que posso.Desejo um excelente final de semana com muiito carinho a Creations by cathy.”

Translation: “Hello, muiito thanks for caring and responsiveness that was the best since I’m in the Face … actually this country is full of charms … with honest people … timely … and competent!Live here for nearly four years and my only difficulty is the language … do not know one day be able to overcome this obstacle … but I’m living and aprovetando in the best way I can.Wish you a great weekend with muiito affection the Creations by cathy” (Translated by Bing)

” It IS a beautiful weekend here, Eunice…  blue skies, sunshine and a cool breeze.  Absolute perfection!  I wish, for you, the same…!”

And just to prove to Eunice that sometimes the language barrier is NOT a problem…  A little German video for you to enjoy.  Watch this video until the end because the last two gals are proof positive that we ALL laugh in the same language!!   German water bed prank…     live happy

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a sprinkle of lemon sunshine

9 / 10 / 12

(This is actually a re-post from my old blog.  Just decided to share it with you today…)

Yellow is “the color of happiness” – which really comes as no surprise to me.  No color in the world makes me happier than bright, warm, sunshine yellow.  It is also “the color of  forgiveness, peace and joy”.  I like that. Yellow is perky.   Today was a rainy, gloomy day – but these beautiful yellow mums were just smiling at me from my kitchen table, begging to have their picture taken.  Naturally, I obliged.

They say to use yellow to suggest freshness and citrus fruitiness.  Perhaps this explains, in part, my recent obsession with lemons.  If you have been following me on Facebook or Twitter, then you know that I have had a case of “Lemonade-itis” lately!  Two recent posts were recipes for Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes and Cherry Lemonade with vodka!!  OK – I’m sorry, but they just sound delish!  And guess what.  I found yet another recipe for Lemon Cupcakes (just wait until you see how cute they are)!!  Oh my – Someone please stop me!  Did I mention that yellow is also “the color of… insanity“?!  Seriously. ( Oh well.  Sanity is SO overrated!!)  OK – No more lemon “food”.    Let’s think “SPA”.  How about a wonderful lemon scrub to exfoliate and smooth away dead skin???  Ahhh…  There we go.  And since we’re at the spa now; how about some refreshing lemon water… Simply slice several lemons and add in your choice of other goodies.  Some of my favorites are lemon and fresh mint, lemon and cucumber or a combo of lemons, limes and oranges.  Fill your pitcher with fresh cold water and ice and you’re ready to be refreshed.  Calorie free!!!

Yellow, by any other name ( banana, cadmium yellow, chiffon, cream, golden, goldenrod, lemon, mellow yellow, saffron, chartreuse,  topaz, yellow ocher) is still yellow.  So maybe yellow isn’t your favorite color (Hmmm… trying to process) – but perhaps you are redecorating a room or planning a dinner party, and you would like a few tips when it comes to mixing yellow into your color palette…  Well look no further.  Here we go:

  • Use yellow to perk up a more subdued cool palette of blues and grays.  Perhaps an end of summer “pool party”?  No pool?  Me neither.  Just call it a “Beach Party”.  I live in Kansas.  Enough said.
  • Use lemon yellow with oranges to carry out a healthy, summery, citrus theme.  Nothing is simpler than a bowl of fresh lemons, limes and oranges!
  • Very pale yellows can work as neutrals alongside darker or richer colors.
  • Yellow and blue are a high contrast, eye-popping combination.  My choice of colors for our guest room.   A classic combo and “gender neutral”.  It just works.
  • Mix yellow with neutral gray and a dash of black for a high-tech look.  Suddenly I’m thinking about New Year’s Eve.  And champagne.
  • Try a hot, exciting mix of red and yellow.  Anyone for a Mexican Fiesta?? Ole’
  • For an earthy palette, especially for fall, mix yellow, olive green, and brown.  Thanksgiving at your house this year??
  • While yellows and bright or light greens can be part of a natural, fruity color palette, be careful not to use colors too close in value or they will appear washed out.
 Alrighty – Let’s check our “party prep” list.  We have a delicious Cherry Lemonade, with or without vodka, and two different kinds of lemon cupcakes.  Yum. We used our lemon scrub while we sipped on our lemon water – so we will be a bee-u-tee-ful hostess.   Our “color palette of choice” has been embellished with a little happy splash of yellow.  All that’s left is to leave that fresh scent of lemon behind as we spritz those kitchen counters down one more time.  This little recipe might help.

All natural “General Cleaner Upper Spray”

  • 1 tsp Liquid Dish Soap
  • 1 tsp Borax
  • 1 tsp Lemon Juice
  • 1 tsp Vinegar
  • 1 Spray Bottle
  • Essential oil; like lemon (optional)

Add dish soap, borax, lemon juice and vinegar to bottle.  Fill bottle with 1 quart hot water.  Place the spray nozzle on the bottle and shake until all ingredients are well mixed.   A few drops of your favorite essential oil will make it smell yummy.  You could  use lemon, lavender or tea tree oil (All three are antiseptic and antibacterial).  If you have a problem with hard water stains, use 2 tsp lemon juice and 2 tsp vinegar.

Well –  I think you’re pretty much ready for the party.   Just one more thing before I go.  Do you believe in serendipity?  I was in the middle of writing this blog when the phone rang.  It was my neighbor, Deb, and she needed a missing ingredient for her dinner.  Any guesses?  Yep.  A lemon.  Make that two lemons.  I quickly took a pic of the three lemons on the plate for this blog, so that I could share them with her.  When she walked down to get the lemons, she told me that she had a little gift for me.  Something she saw and thought of me.  It is the tea towel in the pic.   She had no idea that I was writing a blog about lemons or that I would post a recipe for Cherry Lemonade – with vodka on Facebook and Twitter.  That’s just how friends are sometimes.  True friends.  They just know.

Oh – and one last thing that I forgot to mention.

Yellow is also “the color of  friendship”…  but, then again,  I already knew that.

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Hello, friends!!

I love mismatched chairs and organized closets; springtime thunderstorms and Sunday morning coffee; pearls and puppy breath; welcome home hugs and walking the beach; fresh flowers and flea markets; autumn leaves and afternoon tea.

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