I Want To Live In Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

My Hood.

So, why you ask?  Why do you want to live in Mister Rogers Neighborhood when you live in such an awesome neighborhood already?  Well, if you have a little time, grab a cuppa, come spend a wee bit of time with me and I'll tell ya.  Welcome!
  
You probably already know Kathy from her, pretty much famous writers workshop.  She also has a blog AND she does videos over at SheKnows Mommalogues, which if you haven't checked that out you should because, it will give you a big laugh every day, and we all know that big laughs are good for you.  They're better than vitamins even!

On the Mommalogues Site, lots of mommy's, even some famous ones, film video responses to everyday questions that moms are asked.  Mama Kat answered the question recently, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO GROW UP AND BE WHEN YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL? Then she put the question out there for us to answer too.  I commented that, I wanted to live in Mister Roger's Neighborhood so he could love me just the way I am.  Then, Kathy commented to me that she thought that was sad but would make a good blog post.  Then she linked me in her writers workshop and whew!  That meant I had to get off my beach bum hiney and back on this blog to post an explanation to that glib response of mine.  It worked and here I am so, thanks Kathy!  You make me laugh everyday, but you really motivated me to write today.

The way I see it the most important gift is the gift of life.  And the most important thing about life is to love and be loved. But how many people love you just the way you are?  No, really.  Think about that.  I often don't even love myself just the way I am, so how can anybody else, right?  It's really not that deep, it's just a little something I think about now and again.  But, sometimes there's somebody who really does love you, just the way you are.  And Mister Rogers did.  He really did, he said so himself every day in the between 1968 and 2001 on his original TV show, Mister Roger's Neighborhood and you and your kids can still hear him exclaim it today right here at Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on KPBS.  That's where you can find it if you live in California where I do, but if you go to the site you can find out when and where it's on in your state. I know, Yea!  We all know by now that every thing we hear on TV is true, right!  So, in short that was my answer to Kathy's question and I'm stickin by it.  However: those of you who know me by now, know I can never keep anything short, ("laudy, no matter how I try"), so here's the rest of the story. 

The following was a gift from my eldest son, to me, for my birthday.  Yup, it's a re-post but, my blog is so unorganized at the moment you wouldn't be able to find it if you had the time to try, so here it is again but, in a revised form. 


There hasn't been a day since my son wrote this for me that I haven't read it.  And it brings happy tears of love to my eyes every time. For some odd reason this kid knows me and loves me anyway.  Not only that, (just like Mr. R.) he loves me just the way I am!

Today and every day is a day to be happy to be alive no matter who you are, where you are, or what your situation.  Just because you are.  Because of that, I leave you with one of the greatest blessings I have in my life.  A love note from my son to me for my birthday.  Children certainly are, a heritage of the Lord!

  

 

I simply can't imagine a world without you.  So today as you complete your 55th trip around the sun, I give you 55 reasons I love you, mom...

1    Your penchant for cozy socks

2    Your sense of humor

3    You passed down to me your germaphobic habits

4    How very religious and prayerful you are

5    Your love for dogs

6    The sound of your voice

7    Your humility

8    You drink tea everyday out of the tea cup I got you, a reminder to me that I am with you even when I'm  not

9   Your kind heart

10  Your generosity

11  How cute you look when you laugh hysterically

12  How serious you are about bloging

13  How hard you work at keeping your promises

14  The way I miss you when we're not together

15  How lucky you make me feel each day for having someone like you in my life

16  When Dylan used to bite us, you would encourage us to bite him back.  If we were crying too hard, you would do it for us

17  The smell of your perfume

18  Your handwriting

19  How we get See's every time we go to the mall together

20  You knit me scarves

21  Your smile

22  You blogstalk

23  You gave me a brother and sisters

24  You were recycling long before it was cool

25  You are very forgiving, and we've given you a lot to forgive along the way

26  You don't consider it cake unless it is chocolate

27  You bring me Sprite and toast cut into strips when I'm sick

28  You listen to good music

29  You kissed James Taylor

30  You have pretty hair

31  You cry during romantic comedies

32  I love watching movies with you, even though you talk the whole time

33  Your freckles

34  You are an amazing writer

35  You're strong, in many ways

36  You have traveled all over

37  I inherited your artistic abilities, a talent of mine I value above all else

38  We are more alike than I sometimes care to admit

39  You taught me well

40  You let me make my own decisions

41  Your hands are always cold

42  Your heart is always warm

43  You love yoga, I love yoga

44  You spoil me

45  When I was little you always let me borrow your beloved silky blanket

46  My favorite birthday present I ever got was the letter you wrote me when I turned 19.  I cried when I read it

47  You let me keep Bailey

48  You like Soulja Boi

49  You married your best friend

50  You make me laugh

51  You survived my teen years

52  You are convinced that all of your grandchildren are gifted and talented.  Really, they are

53  You always told us our birth stories on our birthdays growing up, even if we didn't always want to hear them

54  You make lists

55  Dessert doesn't always have to come last in our house

I love you more than all the days we've been together,

Cooper

  

My son Cooper, because you took all the love I gave you and gave it back to me in one simple note on my birthday, and therefore made me feel like a bizillion bucks and because you love me, "just the way I am", (just like Mister Roger's)- 

You're my hero, boyo!

I love you more than all the love there is in the world...

My son Cooper is a Junior in college now.  He carries a full load at a rigorous University, works two jobs and has an internship in his field this year.  He is always doing service hours, feeding the homeless, visiting rest homes, (where he has a 100 year old girlfriend), and tutors kids in the poorer areas of Los Angeles. Yes, it's true I'm bragging big time, wouldn't you!  I'm just so proud of him and I can't imagine where he got the time to write 55 things about why he loves me. But he did and that's what made my heart sing.  He also writes a little blog when he has the time, which isn't often but, you might enjoy getting to know him and his art a little better. I'm willing to share him as long as I always get him back.  So, if you want to visit him, his blog is called Look Hear.

So, go forth, love one another and remember, even if nobody else does, just like good old Mister Roger's, I also love you, just the way you are!  

Blessings one and all,

Tia

Help!

Because I believe this to be true, here I am, humbly and publically asking you my blogger friends, in the here post, for your h e l p.

This post is an unabashed plea.  Blogger changed their format and I can't seem to post without great difficulty.  Which, in case you were wondering is why I have been absent for a while.  My past posts are not present on my design page and as it was, I needed to update my header, and get all around help and bring my blog into this century.  Have I mentioned I'm terrible with change?  I yearn for an awesome header and the ability to use my own photos on it.  I want to learn how to do watermarks on my photos so I can put them on Pinterest. I really, really, need help putting separate tabs up top so I can introduce you to the characters who inhabit this cottage life of mine and make it easier for you to navigate 'round here.

I've seen such awesome work by so many of you out there.  I'm in awe. You're all keeping up with these changes and I'm sitting in your dust over here.  I'll be your best friend if you can come save me?  If there is anyone out there who can give me some recommendations for blog designers, blogger help, etc.  PLEASE email me or comment.  Until then my blog is completely on hold and my creativity is stunted due to my lack of computer skills. 

Thanks guys.  I know I can count on your awesomeness.  There are no other people I've ever met who are more supportive and generous than fellow bloggers.  I know lots of you even do this for a living and I so want to know who you are.  I'm a potential client.  Contact me!  

Help bring me out of the shadows.  I wanna come back and share my sunsets with you, pleeze...

Cottage life is for sharing.  I'm a good sharer. 

Come back to the beach all ya all.  I miss you!

We got shenanigans galore still going on around here.

 We got the cutest pups evah!

 My quirky kids and the pups are still up to mischief.

I have no shame.  I need you.  I'm vulnerable and I need my girly powers back.  I depend on this little space for a creative outlet and to keep in touch.  We've got adorable pets and babies around here and I need to know how to do cute collages and all the creative things so many of you are doin now.  How do you do it?

This is Grace. I haven't even been able to tell you about her yet. She's my newest love and I think your gonna love her too.  Save me!

I'm lost without you.  I await your comments with great anticipation.  I await with great hope.

The fruit of faith is love, (Mother Teresa), and I have faith there is someone out there who can help this blogger blog.  I'll love ya forever?

Have a seat.  We've got work to do!

Blessings,

Tia

My Mommy Loves Me

My mom lives in Idaho.  The weather is brisk in Idaho in November and there are about five more increasingly chilly months of burrrrr left up there in the Potato Province.  On my temperature scale, cold is anywhere under 73 degrees.  That 73 degrees must be in the sun.  If it is not in the sun then it has to be 83 degrees.  My husband says that I have about a 2 degree range of comfort where weather is concerned.  With all due respect that's just not accurate.  The way I see it,  I have at least a 10 degree range of comfort,  if you don't count water.  If I am in any body of water which is outdoors then the water temperature must be 85 degrees, and we just cannot debate that.  But I digress.

I stepped out my front door last week and there was a parcel right there on my porch.  My heart gave a small leap in my chest.  Parcels usually mean you are finally getting something you ordered online or from a catalog.  Or from Nordstrom where they will mail your merchandise to you for free!  I racked my brain.  Hmmm.  Brain, think back.  Did you order anything from the internet or Nordstrom's lately?  Then my heart actually did a little flip when the thought occurred to me that this could be a present.  I love presents!  But, why would anybody be sending me a present?  It's not my birthday.  It's too early (although you wouldn't know it by the decorations in the stores), to be a Christmas gift.  Then, I saw the return address.  Then I saw the familiar handwriting.  Some people have such distinct handwriting.  My mom has beautiful handwriting.  It's a work of art really.  Don't you agree?

I tore open that box.  Well, tore open in a relative sense.   My mom wraps boxes with a full sized, stainless steel, professional, industrial, taper.  She can tape along with the best of them.  Think of when you try to open the packaging on a new CD.  It's like that.  But much worse  better.  Of course its better because, you really have to want what's inside that package to continue the ordeal journey of getting it unwrapped.  Not just anybody succeeds in getting a package wrapped by my mom, unwrapped.  It's safe from unwanted unwrappers, or those who are impatient.  You have to have patience.  You must also have a good pair of box razor cutters.  But when the return address label on a package is my moms address, and it's in my moms beautiful handwriting, it's worth it.  It's a present.  A really cool present, and it's not even my birthday!

There's nothing, and I mean n o t h i n g, I love more than a soft, cozy, blankey.  It goes way back to when my mom and my auntie used to save blue chip stamps.  In the 60's and early 70's when you went to the market or a pharmacy or hardware store, depending on how much the receipt was, you were issued blue chip stamps. Typically you got one stamp for every dime you spent.  The stamps came in a sheet and my sisters and cousins and I would lick the nasty tasting glue and paste them into a 'saver' book.  Once you filled up a book it could be redeemed for cash or merchandise at a redemption center or through a catalog.  It was kinda like getting something for nothing...  Sort of like grace.  I don't even know what all the prizes were. Dishes and pot roast pans, televisions and appliances or some such.  I don't care.  Because for us, the prize was always a blankey.  A silky blankey. Those immensely soft, rose patterned blankets epitomized the word 'silky'.  When I snuggled up with my silky the world was a better place.  I was comforted, and safe, and warm, when I had my silky wrapped around me.

This blankey my mom sent me has automatic, adjustable controls and three settings.  If you lose your mind and walk away from this blanket it will automatically turn itself off in 3 hours.  You can clean this puppy right in your own washing machine!

Not  this puppy.  This puppy is mine and what he is doing here is guarding me.  He's guarding me because someone might try to disturb my sleep.  Someone might need a Lacrosse shirt washed (immediately) or a ride to - Casey's, Courtney's, Kelsey's or Wylie's, (right now).  Someone might want dinner for goodness sakes.  But this puppy knows that his mommy has a hard-time case of insomnia.  She doesn't sleep easily or for long.  Sometimes there has to be drugs,  prescribed medication involved.  This pup is tougher than he looks.  He can be vicious and fierce when he's protecting me.  So back off.  I am now the proud owner of a silky soft, heated blanket that matches my favorite chair and I must not be disturbed.

I needed this blankey.  My mother innately knows these things.  My temperature comfort range was about to be compromised!  It's November.  Even in Southern California!  But I have not a care in the world because, my mommy is still making sure that I am surrounded in a soft, warm, cloud of comfort.

MY MOMMY LOVES ME.

Love you more than all the electricity I'm saving by turning off the heater and turning on my blankey,

Blessings,

Tia

Fat Tuesday Cottage Style

Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first. ~ Ernestine Ulmer

Last summer I wrote a post about life in my neighborhood Sauce Sunday's.  It was a super long post, and since I was pushing it, I promised to continue later because, I knew you would want to see the goodness that comes next. Its been a while but, I think you're gonna find it worth the wait when you see what's up.  It's glorious. "Food glorious food!" (Name that movie.)  This is my ode to Fat Tuesday because after tomorrow I'll be observing Lent and will be trying to abstaining from indulgences like these.  But until then - enjoy!

SWEET.  Chris makes every one of these baby cupcakes.  Each one is decorated individually with love.  I like to call this the pieze de resistance of cupcakes!

 As you can see, they go fast!  You have probably heard the saying, stressed spelled backwards is desserts.  Coincidence, I think not!

If cupcakes aren't enough of a treat, or if cupcakes aren't your thing - phssst, Chris provides ice cream too.  One scoop or two?
My husband and kids think that without ice cream life would be chaos and darkness.

Because of the fact that I don't like ice cream, (don't judge me, my drug of choice is Jr. Mints), and I eat enough of those to keep the Hershey Company in business, I never would have thought of this embellishment.  Well, that and I'm not that innovative where food is concerned. But I almost changed my mind because of this creative idea.  Flavored syrups. It was a huge hit and now my own family is hooked and we have our own stash.  Unlike myself, my fam loves ice cream.

Now Hershey's syrup I can get behind; and under and over and beside and all over.  Have you ever had banana slices covered with Hershey's syrup and slivered almonds?  Excuse me, I'll be right back.  I just happen to have 3 fresh bananas and a ravishing appetite for sweets.

I'm back and fat, but HAPPY.

Lora Brody once said, "Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty."  What a wise woman; and I wholly concur.

 Oh Chris, how I love thee and thy cupcakes.

For those who don't eat sweets.  I know, weird huh?  But if this is you, I wouldn't admit it. If you love me and you wanna be my friend, you must love sweets.  I never trust a person who doesn't eat sweets or love my dogs.  Just sayin.  

It's Fat Tuesday, so go make some baby cupcakes, have some ice cream on the side and watermelon isn't in season anyway - so just skip it.  

Tomorrow is the beginning of the Lenten Season in our church.  No more cupcakes for 40 days.  Ah well, there's always Sauce Sunday next summer.  Right Chris?  Right?  I know I'm right.  Right?

Here now, is your sunset for tonight.  Have I told you lately how much you all mean so much to me?  Your support and kind words are why I write this blog.  So please enjoy the sunset and may you all be blessed by the season, whatever it means to you.

Love ya more than cupcakes!

Blessings,

Tia

399 In Dog Years Yo!

I'm 399 years old in dog years today.
I wrote this poem in my honor.

My skin is getting wrinkly
My thighs are getting fat
When I tug on my cheek in fact
It doesn't fall right back

My eyelids are starting to droop
I have trouble going poop
One eye sags lower than the other
And when I sleep on my back
I choke and fear I might smother.

There's a creak in my neck
That wasn't there before
And when I look in the mirror
At my back side
It's practically drooping on the floor.

There are kids who call me grammy
Box boys no longer flirt
And when I bend to genuflect in church
My knees they really hurt.

Even though I like to rest
My head on my bed before nine
At least I can say
I'm not dead (yet)
Before my time!
Happy Birthday To Meeeeeee!

Blessings for a beautiful day,

Tia