Embrace each moment.

Something to think about.....

Remember Sit-Upons?

I was a Brownie for a short period of time when I was a child growing up in Sioux Falls, SD in the late 1960's.  My uniform consisted of a plain brown dress, a felt beanie cap, and a sash with badges I had to earn by accomplishing tasks from my Handbook.  My uniform had been handed down to me after my older sister no longer needed it, but that was fine with me.  I was simply satisfied that I was now big enough to wear this symbol of maturity, and old enough to be part of the Brownie clan. It didn't bother me one little bit that my uniform had been previously worn by my elder sister.  All I wanted to do was shout, "Hey, world!  I'm old enough to become a Brownie, and by golly, a Brownie is who I intend to be, no matter what!"

My friend, Cheryl, and I were both members of this Brownie group.  We used to do everything together, being kindred spirits and all, so becoming Brownies together was a given.  Meetings were held at a neighbor's home near Cheryl's house.  Mrs. Perault was our fearless leader who kindly opened up her home so a number of us girls could gather and learn how to become competent members of society.  Through Mrs. Perault's willingness to lead, our group learned how to become better citizens.  We accomplished this honorable status by learning how to sew buttons on our shirts, help elderly neighbors cross a not-so busy street, and become survival guides in the wilderness should anyone get lost in the woods and need our assistance.

One of the items we needed to make for an up-coming survival session was a 'sit-upon.'   A sit-upon was used to sit yourself on when camping in the wilderness so that your clothing would stay clean and dry while sitting on the ground.  I could hardly believe that I was old enough to be able to go on a camping trip with my fellow brownie  members, let alone make a tool that could be used for my own survival.   I could not wait to begin working on this project to prove I was ready to conquer the world!  My mother took me shopping for the materials needed to put together this project.  We needed to purchase either a vinyl table cloth or vinyl sold by the yard, as the main material for our project.  We also needed newspaper for the padding inside, and yarn to seal the vinyl  closed.  I picked a blue floral pattern table cloth for my sit-upon, and I used green yarn to sew it together.  It was perfect!

The day finally arrived when our group had the privilege of piecing together our material to create our very own sit-upons.  We cut, folded and sewed together our squares until everyone had accomplished their task. At the end of the session, each of us had successfully created a survival tool to use when sitting on wet grass during our camp out to the wilderness.  I was proud of what I had accomplished and could not wait to use my sit-upon on our upcoming adventure!

I am not sure if our first camp out was a day camp or an overnight one, but I do remember the fun we spent outside exploring our world with fellow Brownies and learning how to survive in a wilderness setting.  When free time was over and it was time to gather together formally as a group, each of us proudly presented our hand-made creations.  Carefully, we placed our sit-upons in a circle and sat cross-legged on the ground so we could sing and listen to stories without the slightest fret of getting our clothing wet or dirty from the damp grass.  Just as planned,  there was not one wet bottom among us.  We had accomplished our goal and learned how to survive in the wilderness!   I was a Brownie on the rise and had the dry clothing to prove it!  Take that, damp grass!  I'm a survivor now!

"The Andy Griffith Show"

A television icon died a couple of days ago, on July 3, 2012. His name is Andy Griffith.

 My favorite television show of all time is, 'The Andy Griffith Show.'  This show is a classic example of small-town American life in the 1960's.  It's a TV show that never goes out of style in my book.  People today can still find the humor in this little treasure, no matter how old they happen to be.  I never tire of watching these old re-runs filmed in black and white.  They still make me smile and still warm my heart, leaving me with a moral message to consider at the end of each episode. 

 How many modern television programs today give underlying lessons on how to behave charitably and selflessly towards others, lifting the needs of others above our own?   How many teach that standing for what is right (even if it means getting into a bit of trouble yourself) is worth far more than compromise and/or avoiding persecution?   How about teachng the importance of following-through with a promise even if it meant missing out on something else you had wanted to do because good character meant your word was your bond and your word was more important than temporal pleasure?  Business deals and agreements could be made with handshakes alone because good character was something to be esteemed and treasured, never to be lost or compromised through carelessness or deceit.

The list of moral messages from this old black and white comedy goes on indefinitely.  To me these messages still have worth in our society today.  I pray the values from this classic piece of American culture will never go out of style or become extinct.  God help us if they do.

Ah, yes, 'The Andy Griffith Show' was a small, but enchanting part of my childhood growing up.  It was yet another influence of many from my past that had helped to strengthen and to shape my young character...a tiny piece of the whole of who I have become.   Thank you for your legacy, Andy Griffith.  May you find rest and peace in your new heavenly home. 

Celebrating the 4th.

Today is the day Americans celebrate our independence and freedom.  I have great memories of 4th of July celebrations as a kid.  For me the day started out  at our annual church picnic held at Tuthill Park, in Sioux Falls, SD.  Our church would rent the pavillion on the upper level of the park each year and everyone who attended our small church would gather at the park with loads of food to set out on tables for everyone to share.  We would put several picnic tables together and cover them with table cloths.  Everyone would then place their casseroles, salads and desserts in order down the line until the tables were full of delicious home-cooked food.  There would be fried chicken, baked beans, scalloped potatoes, 7-layer salad, potato salads,  jello salads, and tons of desserts; such as apple pie, chocolate cake and chocoate chip cookies...all made with love from the members of our congregation.  What a feast this was!  I can still see the abundance of this smorgasborg in my mind and it makes me hungry just thinking about it.

After endulging in this amazing feast we would then gather for games.  The adults enjoyed a game of softball which was a favorite of my dad and my sister, Thurza.  I was not much of a fan, but would play on a team regardless. 

There were also games for the kids.  I remember water balloon fights, gunny sack races, and relay races that ended in prizes for the winning teams.    Free time was spent walking the 'indian trails' along the banks of the Big Sioux River in Tuthill Park.  I loved walking these trails because it was shady and cool under the trees along the river and I enjoyed the feeling of being in the same wilderness setting where I envisioned native Americans once walking. 

The 4th of July was always hot and humid.  After the picnic was over my brother, sisters and I would beg our parents to be able to go to the lake for a swim.  My dad was not a fan of nature as we were, so we didn't always get our wish, but sometimes we would.  There was nothing like jumping into a  lake to cool off after a long hot day in the sun.

Evenings on the 4th of July always meant watching fireworks.  My favorite celebrations were spent at my cousin's house out in the country where my Uncle Mel would have a fine selection of fireworks that he would set off after dark.  Everyone loved sitting in lawn chairs and watching the colorful display as it lit up the evening sky.  The kids were given sparklers and smoke bombs to set off, and my brother would get into bottle rocket fights with his friends.  Greg was the dare-devil of the family, but has managed to survive thus far.  I was not a fan of the loud firecrackers, but the boys and men in the family seemed to like those best.  Even my dad would enjoy setting off a package or two of Black Cats.

Yes, Indepedence Day is full of tradition.  It's a time to gather with family and friends and enjoy the day outdoors.   This tradition still lives on in my memory as if it were only yesterday.

 Happy 4th of July everyone!

Summer Festival Anyone??

I am a kid at heart, always wanting to find a little fun in my day.  I seem to be the one in our family who wants to plan various activites to do on our days off and holidays so we don't end up bored with nothing to do.  Summer is my favorite time to wander out-and -about outside.  I love finding outdoor festivals to attend in various small towns near us.   My husband likes to go along for the ride and is my best friend and cohert on these experimental missions.  He enjoys small town life as much as I.  Together we have attended the Mantua Potato Festival, Chagrin Falls Blossom Festival, we've been to Medina's Art-in-the-Park, and we have even attended the Twinsburg Twins Festival, even though niether one of us are twins.  We just enjoy the excitement of seeing people gather on hot summer days, shop outdoor craft booths and eat lots of foods from various local food vendors.
 We especially love when there are musicians playing music at these affairs, and we often find a place in the grass under a tree to sit and have ourselves a listen.  One can do a lot of people-watching while perched under the shade of an oak tree listening to a polka band playing in the background.  There are usually toddlers in front of the stage dancing around happily while their parents cheer them on.  Elderly folks are seen watching these little children, and they smile when they remember how it was when their children were that small.  The twinkle in their eyes says it all as they watch and remember.

 Other children run about with ice cream cones dripping in their hands, while men scarf down various meats that have been cooked over outdoor grills with onions and peppers.  We like to follow our noses to the vendor who is making kettle corn over an open flame in a large brass cauldron. The line in front of this vendor is always long, but it is well worth the wait.  One handful of this freshly-made treat is never enough.  We like to buy extra so we have enough to enjoy this sweet/salty treat in the car on the drive home. 
I often like to find booths where hand-made jewelry is sold.  I've always been a sucker for unique pieces of art to wear, as long as it is reasonable priced, of course.  I steer clear of the very expensive jewelry because I know I can find pieces that I love at a reasonable price I can afford.  I suppose this thriftyness stems from my humble beginnings in South Dakota, but that's ok.  I buy what makes me smile and often leave the festival with a small treasure or two that reminds of me our day spent in small town USA. 

Yes, I am a kid at heart and I wouldn't want it any other way.  Bring on the festivals and let the summer festivites continue!