Take Away 104 ~ On Speaking

"Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary, does it improve upon the silence?" -Shirdi Sai Baba

This quote has been on my mind for two days now. These certainly are words I would like to live by but I fall short some days. I just keep getting up every morning and give it another try.

TAKE AWAY: The golden rule is still golden.

Take Away 103 ~ Patience

Dude, I got a Dell today! My old computer contracted a bad virus last November and I've been working on a nice little, older laptop a good friend gave me. However, I really need a desktop but just couldn't bring myself to spend the $500+ for one. I found a screaming deal on a nice 'puter with a huge flat screen and some extras for $100.  Brought it home, plugged it and I'm in business.

TAKE AWAY:  Patience always pays off.

Take Away 102 ~ Laughter

Last night I stepped outside my comfort zone and said something that caused an entire room full of people to crack up laughing which in turn busted me up. What's best about my rare moments of comedy relief is that people don't expect it from me. I'm a little too careful most of the time. I'm trying to get over that but how do you undo a lifetime of carefulness? Being married to a witty man helps.

TAKE AWAY:  If there is a chance I can make someone laugh,

I'm gonna do it.

Take Away 101 ~ Sleeping on a Slope

We traveled to a big camp-out on Friday. Great friends, beautiful weather, awesome food, butterflies everywhere, a nice quiet river nearby to cool the dogs off.  We pitched our tent in a nice shady area that had a slight slope to it. I said to my husband, "that's no big deal" but I had to eat my words. By dawn the next morning, we decided to pack it up and come home to sleep in a comfy bed after one night of tossing and turning. I love those quick decisions we both can agree on!

TAKE AWAY: The older I get, the less likely I am

to be unnecessarily and physically uncomfortable for very long. As I hunkered down on our sleep-number mattress last night, I was so happy to be home.

 

Take Away 100 - Freaky Joy

Our new dog, Abbie, is a freak of nature. She lives to catch the frisbee and can tear up some ground getting from here to there fetching it. We had to move her out to the more established grass on the front lawn because she is so focused on catching it that her feet have torn up the ground in the back yard. Between the two of us, we figure we throw it to her no less than 150 times a day and it's probably closer to 200. The take away?

TAKE AWAY: I cannot think of anything more relaxing than 

throwing the frisbee to Abbie. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes 

to completely wear her down to the ground. It is really something

to watch and be a part of. I'm pretty sure the universe knew

we needed her as much as she needed us. What a joy!

Take Away 99 - Time I Can't Get Back

I attended a 7-hour photography class on Saturday. I've been to it before and the speaker presented pretty much exactly the same material as the last two I've been to. I thought perhaps I would get something from it that maybe I missed the last two classes.  Note to self: don't need to do that again.  While it was exciting the first time I took it, it was hard to sit still through screen after screen of information that really led to the only one take away I was looking for.  White balance.  I still don't understand it but I think I'll do some googling and figure it out. That's 7 hours I can't get back.  The only consolation is that it was raining.

TAKE AWAY: Sometimes I only get one take away and I might 

have to sit quietly for 7 hours to get it.

Take Away 98 - Splitting Up

We are having heavy rain here in the Tri-Cities. If it isn't enough that the skies are gray and I feel like someone has kicked me from head to toe (colder, damp weather does this to me), everyone is saying how bad this is for the cherries. I learned yesterday that when it rains right before cherry picking season, it makes the cherries split.  Who knew????  The farmers' remedy is to fly helicopters over the orchards so the down draft whooshes the water away. They also use large, industrial sized fans to form wind. I am amazed at the lengths they go to for this precious crop.  I do love cherries and will have an even greater appreciation for them now.

TAKE AWAY:  Rain in June = no bueno.

Take Away 97 - A Dog Named "Dumpster"

Our neighbors came over to visit this afternoon to meet "Abbie", the dog we have on a trial basis from the Humane Society. It hasn't been quite the wonderful experience we had hoped for with our dog, "Missy".  Abbie is high energy and not playful with Missy, as we had hoped for.  Our neighbors are dog lovers and they encouraged us to give Abbie and Missy a chance to adjust to one another.  They had 3 dogs but one of them died last year. The two remaining dogs are each very different in personality and it was refreshing to hear them talk about how one of them is a very difficult dog to live with.  I love that they did not give up on that dog.  Her name is "Dumpster".  Because that's where they found her. (gulping the lump in my throat) ....

TAKE AWAY:  I never know where encouragement is going to come from.

It's always at the least likely time and place.