Word of the Year

Taken at Gainesville Nami Walk for Mental Health Awareness Festival 

As has been my tradition for years, I once again chose a word/phrase to focus on for the new year. Considering how much crafting I did last year, it's no surprise that this word came immediately to mind: 

MAKE

Yes, I mean it in the literal sense as in the making of my blankets and other cozy things, but also in a more abstract, spiritual way. 

Make...love. Make..amends. Make..friends. Make..peace. Make..meals. Make..a tidier home...Make time for reading..Make healthy choices..etc. etc. etc. 

This was my chosen word, but then, another kept coming up for me as well..

MORE

When I first watched the movie, One True Thing, and of course read the amazing novel upon which it was based, so many great moments jumped out at me, so many quotes, including this one: 

"Your father always says that, 'less is more,' to me, 'more is more." 

Being a Leo who has never achieved "minimalism," and struggles with "moderation," I can totally relate! So, I've decided that my phrase for 2023 will be:

MAKE MORE

Make more love..make more friends..make more peace..make more meals..make a more tidy home..make more time for reading...make more healthy choices..etc..etc..etc..

I love it, and have already started implementing some of it into my daily routine. Well, mostly the making of blankets, but I will be working on the rest, little by little. 

I'm still really easing into the year, haven't found the oomph to do very much. I haven't gotten back to my walking routine, but I'm giving myself a break, knowing that I've had these slumps before and I always work my way through them. I have been reading more, dedicating some of my early morning to my book instead of social media. I'm making more mindful choices in my day to day life, and that feels really good! 

One area that Beren and I have been working on is our tv screen time. Since he retired, we have spent too much time in front of the television, bingeing series after series, which is fine. We have a lot of "free" hours in the day, and as long as our family's needs are being met, I don't feel too guilty for vegging out on the couch, especially since I'm always crocheting as I watch. We usually chose quality shows, mostly British dramas & mysteries, but this year I'd like to focus on more movies. I adore films, have always said that I could literally go the theater every day, so why not create that experience at home? 

The thing I missed most during the pandemic..
I was thrilled when I could finally return to the theater! 

I have been logging our films on Letterboxd, and our tv series on TV Time (I'm sure I could combine the two but I like both platforms for different reasons). If you're a member of either of these, let me know so I can follow! 

Here are the movies we've watched in 2023, thirty-one so far! Some are oldies that we missed, or wanted to watch again, others are new to us. These include the films we see at the theater during our usual Tuesday matinee movie-and-a-coffee date!

I guess that's it for now. Today the "laundry fairies" need to work on Mount Washmore, I'm hoping they also pull the ironing board out and tackle a few of Beren's Hawaiian shirts. I have a phone chat date with a dear friend, and also should tidy up a bit around here. In the meantime, I hear my crochet hook calling..

Have a beautiful day! 

Rapunzel

The Way We Were

I have spent most of the quarantine on a huge project that has occupied my mind, my hands, and my heart. I have gathered up every single photo in my home, begun sorting & scanning, tagging & uploading, then finally filing digitally as well as physically. Since our family are avid photographers and since I inherited both of my parents' collections, this ads up to an enormous amount of photographs dating back to the 1950s. Some of them have been carefully preserved, dated and subject identified, but the majority were stuck in albums or haphazardly tossed into boxes over the years. To my credit, my own personal pictures, especially those from my daughters' younger years, were among the aforementioned, making them easy to sort & file. (Thank you, younger self!) Still, the task is daunting and several times I've closed the door to my craft room closet, thrown up my hands and declared myself finished, announced to my family that they will inherit the mess and can do with it what they wish. But that doesn't last long. A day or two later I decide to peek in, grab a stack, take a deep breath and begin again.

As you might imagine, the process has been not only challenging physically, straining my eyes, my neck, my back as I sit for hours sifting and scanning, but it's been emotionally draining as well. I've dredged up so many lost memories, dusted off forgotten moments in time, become reacquainted with old friends & lovers as well as past versions of myself I thought I'd left behind. Some of this has been happy and exciting, some absolutely wrenching. Letters from my mom, cards from my dad. Journals and calendars filled with stories, snapshots of my life at various stages. Adorable toddler. Awkward, angsty pre-teen. Young adult. New mom. Divorced mom. (Repeat). So much stuff, so much emotion! It can be overwhelming, so I check in with myself, only do as much work in one day as my body & heart feel able. I aim for an hour a day and then see how I feel. Sometimes that's enough and I move on, but other days I can spend four or five hours back there, holed up with my music & memories.

I get so caught up in the task, immersed in whatever era I'm working on, that when I emerge & pass by Beren, sitting in our dining room/pseudo office, I'm surprised to see him,  this person who wasn't a part of "that" life, at least another than a couple of snapshots & calendar entries from one blissful teenage year. Yet here he is, as is my current home, belongings, pets. And as I catch a glance of myself in the mirror, it's not the ten-year or 20-year or even 30-year-old self I see reflected back at me. Who is this older woman, and how do I reconcile her with those other versions? Is she who I expected to be, oh so long ago when I painstakingly sat and preserved those photos, those mementos, knowing that one day I'd be doing exactly as I am right now?

Probably not, and that's part of what I'm processing. As painful as this is, I also am driven, almost manically so, to complete this task, to have my life tidied and in order before...? Before what? Yes, before I die. Morbid, perhaps, but the reality is that I am on the other side of middle age and all that that entails. My memory is already not as sharp as it once was, and if I don't record the stories now, they'll be gone forever. I don't want my children to inherit a mess of random bits of my life, of their lives, without rhyme or reason. I want to sort it out before I pass, leave behind order instead of chaos. In thinking of it this way, I'm not "just" doing a mindless organizational project, or even a therapeutic exercise for myself, it's a labor of love for my family. A gift to them. And it's that mindset, that goal, that keeps me going, photo by photo, memory by memory, moment by moment.

Rapunzel~

Great Castle Update of 2012

Since returning "home" from Ormond last week, my family and I have been doing some serious work on the Castle.  It's been quite a long time since I last redecorated, and the place really needed updating.  Honestly, I haven't bought furniture since moving here in 1998! Yikes! I think it's time, don't you?

Family Room Before - circa 2005-ish

We started on the family room, replacing the torn leather couches (thank you, Loki!) and old oak wall unit. A trip to IKEA was in order, Kali & Jesus were kind enough to pick up, deliver and install for me!

Kali, my designer/delivery gal/assembler/IKEA pro!

Jackson "assisting" Jesus with the assembly

Jezebel getting in on the act

Loki thinks it's a playground

Ta-Da! We just need a few more decorative items and we're done! 

Jez loves the new sofa!

Lucifer found a new perch

Recliner Kitties

We're in the process of setting up the office area and awaiting more furniture delivery, so stay tuned! I'm so excited, what a wonderful way to start the new year!

Rapunzel~

30 Days of Photos: Day 26

30 Days of Photos, Day 26: A picture of something that means a lot to you



When my ex and I separated, one of the first things I did was to redecorate my bedroom, turning it into a reflection of ME and my likes, tastes, desires. Even though I've been sharing it with a Special Someone for quite a few years now, it still looks pretty much the same, and I'm grateful he doesn't mind the girly-ness of it. *smile*

Still to Come...

27. A picture of yourself and a family member

28. A picture of something your afraid of

29. A picture that can always make you smile

30. A picture of someone you miss

Rapunzel~

Making a Home

Today's Daily Om is quite timely for me as I am still slowly setting up our other house, making it into a home. I'm enjoying taking my time, carefully choosing each item that I bring in, making sure everything is what I love and really desire to live with. It's exciting for me to start new & fresh with Beren, almost as if we are newlyweds! *smile*

I'll share a few pics of the humble abode but understand that we are still living "bare bones," and honestly I love it this way! No clutter, no mess, just the essentials. I'm hoping I can keep it this way.

My favorite part of the whole house, the back yard! We have about 1/3 acre which is huge by Florida suburban standards, lol! I love that Beren didn't clear the whole thing and install palm trees like so many others did, he left a nice big natural grotto. You can't see it in the pics, but there's a pond running alongside and a creek down the back!




The most important room in the house...wink....this bed is so tall I can barely climb up onto it!



The second most important room..please note that I do not share the former tenant's appreciation for pea green/aqua blue walls...shudder...we will be painting very soon!



November 9, 2009
A Living Dwelling ~ Creating a Beautiful Home

The homes we occupy are seldom ideal. A space that satisfies our basic needs may nonetheless leave us wanting where location, décor, or style are concerned. Yet every home has the potential to be beautiful. When we fill our homes with love, we transcend worldly factors such as market value and design. Our conscious, loving intentions can literally transform the spaces in which we live, dispelling any lingering unharmonious energy and replacing it with an ethereal beauty that is felt rather than seen. Our homes become spiritual dwellings that feel soulful and alive. Regardless of their outward appearances, they radiate love, making all who enter, including ourselves, feel instantly welcome.

Turning a space into the beautiful outward expression of your inner warmth is as easy as projecting love into it. When your intentions are sincere, you can infuse the walls of your home with your energy, your emotional sensitivity, and your generosity of spirit, turning it into a haven of affection, joy, laughter, and togetherness. It is up to you, whether you want your personal spaces to be peaceful and quiet or lively and inspiring. Begin by cultivating awareness within yourself. This will allow you to see your home as an integral part of your existence rather than somewhere you simply return to at the end of each day. Consider how you relate to each element of your space, and remind yourself that every room in your home can serve a purpose in your life and the lives of your loved ones. Finally, lovingly thank each room for providing for your needs. As you become more mindful of the manner in which your home contributes to your well-being, you will discover that, more and ! more, you want to love and be loved by it.

Appearance and other superficial qualities can be deceiving. An aesthetically beautiful home can prove unwelcoming. And a home that seems mundane in every characteristic can be as comforting and cozy as a beloved relative or friend. When you nurture and care for your home as if it were a loved one, it will absorb your tender intentions and project a love so touching you will soon come to feel a great affection for it.

Autumn Hearth & Home

Since we live in the tropics where there is barely a change of season, we have to work a bit harder to get into the Autumn spirit! I do this by decorating every spare inch of The Castle, lol! Since I've been so busy the past few weeks setting up our other house, I've decided to decorate slowly, one area at a time, appreciating the transformation, just like Mother Nature does with our earth home!

If you were to come visit me today, you'd be greeted by a bright new doormat welcoming you to my Castle...



a cheerful little jack o' lantern at the entryway...



and fresh flowers on the table enveloped with my favorite Fall tablecloth.



"What's that heavenly scent?," you might ask. Ah, dear friend, that would be the loaf of freshly baked cinnamon bread! Won't you sit down and share some with me?

Cinnamon Sugar Bread

Ingredients

* 1 cup milk
* 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 1 egg
* 3 cups bread flour
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
* 2 teaspoons yeast

Directions

Place ingredients in the bread machine pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer.

Bake using the sweet bread setting if your machine has it. If not, use white bread setting.

When the bread is done, remove from the machine and let sit on a rack for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

Enjoy!

And don't mind Lily's new baby Clementine, adopted just in time for Samhain...she won't nibble much...wink...



Brightest Blessings,

Do I Have an Addiction?

I have a big project at work I need to finish before I go on vacation (yay!) Thursday, the sink is overflowing from last night's birthday celebration (more on that later), the laundry is piling up (again) and the dust bunnies are threatening to take over my house. Oh, and there are bills to pay, treadmills to walk, cats to play with, family to enjoy, a man to love.

There simply isn't enough time to get it all done, and yet here I sit blogging and playing on Facebook. Why is that?

My friend Karla is considering taking a moratorium on social networking sites but just the thought of that makes me panic. I think that while some people spend hours in front of the tv (Beren comes to mind) to relax and unwind, this is it for me. Other than a movie here and there and a couple of favorite shows, I could live quite nicely without the television. The internet, though? No way in hell. It's my lifeline to friends, out of town family, education, inspiration, and just plain fun! It's an outlet and a distraction, even call it an addiction if you will, I'll own it. I'll find other ways to squeeze more time into my day but I'm not giving up my time in cyberspace. As long as my family is cared for, my house is reasonably clean and my finances are in order, I just don't see the harm in spending a couple of hours a day in front of my laptop, do you?

Hi, I'm Rapunzel, and I am an internetaholic.

Peeking Out of the Kitchen

Debbie Reynolds with the Dishmaster - still for sale today!, originally uploaded by 50s Pam.

I have today all to myself, kids & Beren are off to their respective school/jobs..ahh...as much as I love my family, I really cherish these days alone in the Castle.

Today I'm focusing on more cleaning, decluttering and a bit of cooking. Thanksgiving is going to be different this year; since Mom is not feeling up to cooking I'll be tackling the whole thing myself, with the help of my immediate family, of course. We're going to take a couple of shortcuts, am not going to attempt Mom's stuffing and since I can't make a lump-free gravy for the life of me, it'll be Stovetop and Pepperidge Farm to the rescue. *blush* I'd like to prepare some of the other dishes in advance to make the day go even more smoothly, came across this timeline which was originally posted on Food TV several years ago. I thought it might be helpful to you all as well. Obviously it's too late to do some of these things (three weeks ahead? Sheesh...) but anyway, here you go:

Thanksgiving Countdown Timeline

Thanksgiving preparations can always be stressful. That's why it's important to
plan
as far ahead in advance as possible. With our helpful countdown tips, you're
sure to
have a stress-free celebration.

Three weeks ahead:

* Prepare your guest list: Firm up how many people will be there.
* Find out if there are any special dietary needs for your guests.

Two weeks ahead:

* Decide on your final menu.
* Assign cooking projects to family members who offer to help.
* Order your fresh turkey, or buy your frozen turkey and put it in the freezer.
* Order or pick up alcohol and other beverages.
* Shop for non-perishable goods now, before the rush. You can buy items such as
flour, sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, canned pumpkin, and fresh or frozen
cranberries.

One week ahead:

* Shop for non-perishable vegetables, such as butternut squash, carrots,
potatoes, parsnips and turnips.
* Buy heavy cream now. In the days before Thanksgiving, it can be hard to find.
* If necessary, wash and iron linen or polish silver. Dig out your turkey
roaster and
platter and any serving dishes hidden away in closets or high shelves.

Three days ahead:

* Defrost. If you have a frozen turkey, clear a space in your fridge and put the
bird
in now.
* Clean the house--enlist household members who aren't cooking.
* If you're having a lot of guests, you may want to set up the table and ensure
you
have enough chairs.

Two days ahead:

* Make pumpkin pies or pumpkin cheesecake, rolls, breads, and cornbread for
stuffing. Refrigerate pies; you can always warm things up again before serving.
Don't
make apple pie, however. The crust won't stay flaky and crisp.
* Make things that can sit for two days in the fridge such as soups and
cranberry
sauce.
* Prepare items such as sweet potato or green bean casserole, which can be
stored uncooked in the refrigerator, to bake on the day.

One day ahead:

* Set the table. It's easiest to do it now.
* Do any remaining baking, including that apple pie.
* Buy your salad greens and perishable vegetables. Wash lettuce leaves now, dry
well, and store by packing them in paper towels in a plastic bag in the
refrigerator.
* If you ordered a fresh turkey, pick it up from the butcher.
* Calculate your cooking time for tomorrow and your cooking sequence. Figure
out what time that turkey needs to go in with our famous Turkey Calculator, the
Turkeylator.
* Figure out what can't be cooked along with the turkey in the oven, either in
terms of temperature or space. Plan to prepare those things before or after the
turkey
is done, or on the stovetop while it's cooking--or, better, make them today.

November 27, Thanksgiving Day:

First off:

* Prepare stuffing for the turkey, plus extra to cook on the side.
* Prepare your vegetables for cooking--clean, peel, and chop. Cover the ready-
to-go vegetables and put them in the refrigerator. Boil potatoes for mashing
later.

Cooking time:

* Stuff the turkey and get it in the oven according to the schedule you
calculated
yesterday with our Turkey Calculator.
* Just before the turkey's done, begin cooking vegetables.

While the cooked turkey is resting:

* Put a foil tent over the turkey. You now have about an hour to do the
remaining
cooking.
* If you have a pan of stuffing on the side to bake, put it in now.
* Warm whatever needs to be warmed, including rolls, soups, and casseroles.
* Mash the potatoes.
* Make the gravy.
* Put all the food on the table or buffet. Don't hesitate to press guests into
service
to put food in bowls, open wine bottles, top up glasses, and dish up the
cranberry
sauce.
* Get a plate and eat! Don't spend the meal running back and forth to the
kitchen
and end up missing out on the Thanksgiving feast you created.

Weekly Routine

Now that I'm mostly back on track (it took me four hours to clear my desk and pay bills yesterday!), I will share with you my daily focus/weekly routine:

Monday: General Tidying & Weekend Recovery

Tuesday: Focus on Laundry/Ironing as needed (wash rugs, etc)

Wednesday: Personal Day/Desk Day (pay bills, make grocery list, schedule beauty appts)
(This is also the day that my lovely housekeeper comes every other week)

Thursday: Errands/Shopping (Groceries, thrifting)

Friday: Focus on Bedroom/Bath (change sheets, etc)
(Beren is off every other Friday so we try to keep this day open for each other, even if it's just doing "honey-dos" together)

Saturday: Focus on Outdoors (gardening, pool area)

Sunday: REST, Socialize w/Family/Friends, prepare for work week

Now, as I said before, if I keep up on things by doing a little each day, and since I have Josee do the deep cleaning every other Wednesday, there's no need for another heavy cleaning day. The key, again, is for me to keep to the daily routine and the weekly one falls into place. Easier said than done, I know!

How about you all? Do you have a weekly routine that you follow? How does that work for you?

Daily Routine

Since I posted about my pursuit of a peaceful home, I've been making a concerted effort to get things under control and achieve that goal. I dusted off my old household notebook and implemented the Morning/Afternoon/Evening routine that worked so well when I followed it before. I haven't been perfect, there have been days when I went to bed with dishes in the sink because I got a better offer (*wink* *wink*) but for the most part I've kept up on things much better. When I work the system, the system works for me, it's as simple as that.

Now, this week I need to get back on track with the weekly schedule, but that's for another day. For now I'm just going to reward myself with a big ol' pat on the back and a fresh cuppa java. *clink* *clink* Cheers to me! (No, there's not Kahlua in my coffee, really there's not!)



Morning Routine

Personal Care (shower, dress, make-up, other necessary beautification)
Pet Care (feed/water/scoop litter/cuddle)
Make bed, tidy bedroom & bath (pick up the lingerie that was tossed onto the floor the night before..oops!)
Prep for dinner if necessary
Tidy kitchen & Living Areas
Quick e-mail check
Off to Work



Afternoon Routine

Gym on the way home from work
Laundry as needed
Update organizer, handle day's mail & paperwork
Spend 30 minutes in Focus Area (more on this later)
Start Dinner


Evening Routine

Beren Care (pre-dinner cocktail and cuddle)
Serve dinner to grateful family
Clean up dinner dishes
Set up morning coffee
Pack lunch
Pet Care (see above)
Tidy living Areas
Personal Care (Brush/floss/Bubble Bath/don sexy lingerie)
Choose fabulous outfit for tomorrow
Take out trash
Read/relax before bed
Beren Care (cuddle, romance, swoon)
Sweet Dreams!

In Pursuit of a Peaceful Home

Life at the castle is a bit unsettled at the moment, dear friends. With so many activities going in the past few months, Kali & Lily's graduations, Bambi's birthday, Kali's wedding and pre-event festivities..and then, of course, Mom's illness..well, it's taken it's toll on our home, on our lives, on our spirits. I'm behind on everything, from laundry to grocery shopping, just don't have the energy to do it all. Regular mealtimes have fallen by the wayside, even though I am cooking several nights a week we're rarely eating dinner together. Beren's been putting in longer hours as have I, and the girls' work schedules are all over the map so I never know when to plan dinner.

Overwhelmed and out of control, I talked to my friend Jersey because she always gives the best advice! *smile* She suggested a routine, a schedule, and gave me a couple of websites to peruse. This one especially resonated with me as it focused on ritual & routine in a very Zen-like manner. One of the most important components is a morning and bedtime "calming routine." Morning & Bedtime routines, I had those once-upon-a-time when I followed the S*H*E homemaking system (Jersey, remember that's how you and I met, on the SHE boards!). It worked very well; my life was more orderly and there was a nice marking point to begin and end my day. Once I got divorced though, the proverbial hell broke loose and my lifestyle changed dramatically. No excuse, though, it's been 4 years, things have calmed down tremendously in personal/professional areas, it's time to now focus on what is truly important: my home and family.

So, this week I'm going to focus on taking back some control of my life. A couple of things are already in place - Beren and I have a morning ritual together where we wake at the same time and have our first cup of coffee together before work. I have also started menu planning which is great for getting the food on the table but it doesn't help if there's no one here to eat it. So, an established dinnertime is needed, even if it's just two of us dining together. The nighttime will be harder, everyone stays up later than me and I tend to push myself even though I'm tired and should head to bed, I just don't want to miss anything. *grin* I'm suffering as a result, though, am tired and drained and that doesn't do my family any good either.

Tell me, do you all have a schedule and routine that you follow on a daily/weekly basis? If so, how does that work for you? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Dirty Girl

Remember a few months ago when I bought new fresh herbs for my garden? Well, I planted them yet due to the horrible drought and water restrictions here, it was really tough to care for my little herbs and they were sorely neglected. Some died, some were overcome with weeds, it was a mess. I was so busy with the wedding, etc. that I would occasionally glance over there, feeling guilty, and promised that I would rectify the situation...soon. Well, my lawn service took care of that for me. Apparently they got a bit carried away with the herbicide and I came home to find my entire herb garden dead along with..gulp...the gardenia bush that my Mom bought me last Mother's Day! I was heartsick and angry but realized that they truly don't know the difference between weeds and herbs, they just spray anything in sight that doesn't look like grass! I called the owner of the company and politely asked him to NEVER spray my back yard again, that Beren would tend to the weeds there when necessary.

(Hmm...I think Beren had way too much fun photographing me on my knees in the dirt!)


So, I bought new herbs and this morning before the sweltering heat set in I got to working on my little patch. I plated jalapeno peppers, red bell peppers, parsley, oregano, basil and rosemary. It's got a long way to go but looks so much better than a few days ago! I can't wait to go out there and pluck some fresh tasty seasonings for my summertime meals!


(notice my creative use of an empty beer case? Makes a great weed-holder!)



While I worked on that, my Sweetie put together my new red tables which match my Adirondack chairs purchased last year. Then we jumped into the pool to cool off...whew!!! A productive and relaxing Saturday so far here at the Castle.

Tidying Up

In case you haven't noticed, I've been sprucing things up a bit here at the cyber-Castle; I added a couple of nifty little widgets to the sidebar over there, a fun reader's poll, and a link to my e-mail addy so you can "talk to me!" Please check 'em out and let me know what you think about the new additions.

Lovely Linen Closet

With the wedding festivities complete and the happy couple off on their honeymoon, I've had a bit of time to catch up on things around the Castle which has been sorely neglected for a few weeks (months?).


Monday evening I was perusing a magazine and came upon this article from Family Circle magazine. The above picture so struck me that I decided to tear apart my girls' linen closet which was an absolute mess!

Bright and early yesterday morning I trekked over to Target, loaded up my cart with some pretty storage containers and was on my way. (I also made a quick stop at the garden department but more about that another time).

A few hours (and 6 loads of laundry) later my linen closet went from this:



to this:





While it's not exactly like the magazine pic (I really don't like my towels rolled), I think it's darned close and soooo much better than before! What a pleasure to open the door and not be greeted with clutter and empty shelves. As you can see, Jezebel has been enjoying it as well! You know, I am loving this closet so much, I'm tempted to just leave the door open so that everyone can walk by and see it's cuteness!

Now I'm all excited and motivated to spruce up some more..hmm...which area should be next?!