Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journal. Show all posts

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Sat. 2/13: Journal-Lane Question for 2/14/2010: The Letter N

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/14/2010: Valentine’s Day! There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is N.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Fri. 2/12: Journal-Lane Question for 2/13/2010: The Letter M

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/13/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is M.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Thurs. 2/11: Journal-Lane Question for 2/12/2010: The Letter L

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/12/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is L.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Wed. 2/10: Journal-Lane Question for 2/11/2010: The Letter K

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/11/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is K.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Tues. 2/9: Journal-Lane Question for 2/10/2010: The Letter J

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/10/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is J.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Mon. 2/8: Journal-Lane Question for 2/9/2010: The Letter I

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/9/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is I.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Sun. 2/7: Journal-Lane Question for 2/8/2010: The Letter H

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/8/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is H.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Sat. 2/6: Journal-Lane Question for 2/7/2010: The Letter G

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/7/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is G.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 2/6/2010: The Letter F

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/6/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is F.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Journal-Lane Question for 2/5/2010: The Letter E

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/5/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is E.

If you have trouble finding words to match the day’s letter, pick up a dictionary, and leaf through it. You’ll find lots of idea starters!

I choose "exercise".

Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Journal-Lane Question for 2/4/2010: The Letter D

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/2/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is D.

From this point on, I'll just be posting the questions.

I'll be putting my posts in my own "personal" journal for my kids, where I can put ALL the details I want for them, and don't have to edit it for this blog.

Many people just need some questions anyway. If you have one you'd like to see posted here, send it on.

Otherwise ... just enjoy the questions from here on out each day!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Journal-Lane Question for 2/3/2010: The Letter C

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/3/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is C.

For me, C would have to stand for cat-lover! My kids were grateful for this, especially my middle son, who brought home his fair-share of kittens. I couldn’t resist, and they knew it.

I even was a “cat lady” at one time. You know how dreaded that description is. Anyone looking to give their cat a new home and lucky enough to find one of my neighbors, always found my doorstep. I’d debate it, “I really can’t take in another cat,” I’d say, and my kids would whine and cry, “Oh please, please, mom! If we don’t take it, what will happen to it!?”

At one time, we’ve had almost a dozen … when we’ve had kittens. And we had several sets from time to time as we wanted the children to witness the wonder of birth. We always kept them till mama cat weaned them, and then found new homes for each and every one. We even had one stray which we took in ONLY till she had, and weaned, her kittens.

My first kitten was when I got married. She was a “secret” kitten, because we were not allowed to have pets. I’ll never forget when we bought a new mattress, because we inherited an old one from my in-laws upon marriage. It had a hole in the bottom, and my little “secret” just happened to climb up and into that hole the same day that they delivered the new mattress, and took out our old one. Along with my “secret”! (Yes! We discovered it before they got out of the building and rescued her.)

My middle son developed asthma when he was about 5 or so. Our “secret” had to go … and my parents luckily took her. My dad, who did not like cats, fell in love with her, and she lived with them till death.

My dad grew up in a time where cats were kept on the farm … to catch mice. If you had new kittens, you put them in a sack and dropped them over the bridge into the water below, unless you needed a new one. They served one purpose.

Throughout my life, I’ve had many wonderful cats. Some of the names, as I can’t remember them all, and some received more permanent names upon adoption of other families, were: Whisper, Bud, Baby, Honey, Maynard, Little Bit, Sugar, Scooter and Holly. They all come with a story, of course. But that’s not for today.

And, of course, no cat-lover would forget their most recent experience with a cat. A cat named Sammy.

Sammy was a stray as well. He came into life about 5 years ago, and walked out about the same way. He left one morning right before Thanksgiving, and never came home. But, that happens to outdoor cats, and he loved the outdoors. It’s a fact of life that I always preached to my kids. You don’t always get to choose your cat. Mostly, the stray ones choose you.

Even though he’s gone now, I will probably NOT take in another stray. They are so cute as kittens, but they grow up to be cats. And while I still love them, the expense of keeping them is so great today. Vets have been replaced by animal hospitals with increasingly high costs. I never thought I’d see the day where you needed insurance to keep a pet. But, it’s here.

So even though I am currently cat-less, I still love the furry little creatures. But should my heart yearn for a good stroking of fur, I’ll remain cat-less for at least now … and head to a pet store to satisfy my needs.


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 2/2/2010: The Letter B

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/2/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is B.

B is for “book-lover”. Anyone that really knows me knows how much I love books.

When I was young, and raising my children, one of my favorite places was the library. And I knew how to use the old catalog system. And I loved, “a bag of books for a $1” when the library had their sales to clear out old books.

A great excursion for me was a trip to the bookstore. It still is. I can investigate there for hours until I finally decide on my purchase/s.

I have one bookcase in my office, and it is teeming with books. Mostly on art. But I also have books on diets, the Zone, South Beach, etc. Recipes. I also have math or algebra from when I taught my daughter through homeschooling. I love Saxon Algebra books.

I have an old book from my high school years on Accounting Principles. And, surprising, I have lots of coloring books. I love cartoons and love to draw those, so they are there for reference seeking.

I have a few crochet books on the shelf since I used to crochet a lot, but developed an allergy to sizing additives in the yarn, and had to give it up. I have an old “Airbrush” book, but no longer have the airbrush itself.

And, of course, it would be naked without a few “Dummies” books. I have some of those as well.

Every now and then, I have to clean out my bookcase to make way for the newly purchased, died to have, book. That’s agony for me. I either have to donate them or store them. I still have a few boxes of books stored, that I couldn’t bear to part with, but will probably never use again.

Books teach. They tell a great story. Books are my buddies! I just love books! Books make me better and stretch my world. I couldn’t imagine a world … without BOOKS!

Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Journal-Lane Question for 2/1/2010: The Letter A

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

2/1/2010: There are 26 letters of the alphabet. This month, let’s take the first 26 days, and choose a word/words to describe something about you to fit the day’s letter. Today is A.

Being that today’s letter is A, I’m choosing the word: attitude.

Attitude is something that can “make” or “break” my day. Attitude is something I work on constantly because it can bring wonderful things into my life … or it can end them.

When I was young, my grandmother told my stepmother that I wore my diapers “with an air”. That’s attitude … for short! So, I guess I’ve had one for as long as it can be remembered.

I am still shaping my social attitude. Deep down, I know how I feel. And mine tends to get a little down, so I’m always trying to open it up.

Ideas I use to “lift” my attitude are things like remembering what I do have. The things I am grateful for. Whenever I’m feeling really down, I remember there are truly people with REAL problems, and if I had to deal with those … maybe then I would have a good reason for the attitude I’m currently feeling when I’m down.

Many problems enter our life, and we navigate through them. Attitude helps us get through those, so I examine it daily.


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Journal-Lane Question for 1/31/2010: Honesty/Team Work

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

1/31/2010: If you’re part of a group effort, and your boss tells you what a great job you did on a project, would you accept the compliment, even when you knew you did not add a lot to the project, and someone else did? Would you offer that information to your boss on who did most of the work?

I would NOT take credit for something I didn’t do.

I might say thanks, and that the team did a great job pulling together, but “so and so” was really the instrument that made it such a success.

I believe in honesty … even when it hurts a little. Sometimes, it hurts a lot.

But in the long run, I think it pays off to be honest. Your boss will see you, hopefully, for the person you really are. And your co-workers will know they can trust you to place credit where credit is due.

If you’re lucky, your honesty will be contagious!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 1/30/2010: Donations for a Free Gift

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

1/30/2010: If someone sends you free address labels, in hopes you’ll send them a donation; do you use them even though you don’t send a donation?

Personally, I always have.

I’d read once, long ago, that is okay to do so. You didn’t ask for the labels. Anything sent to you without your asking … is a gift. You are free to use them without any stabs of conscious.

Sometimes, I have sent the donation. Other times, I have not. If the request being made is one I support, and it’s been awhile since I’ve made a donation … I’ll make one.

But I always use my FREE gifts.


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 1/29/2010: Value

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

1/29/2010: If you found a garage sale item of value, and the seller didn’t know, would you let them in on the information, or just buy it yourself?

Actually, I would just buy it. And I was glad to know that this is considered okay from an article in REAL SIMPLE.

Per Jeffrey L. Seglin who writes THE RIGHT THING, a weekly ethics column for the New York Times News Service/Syndicate, he writes that you are under no obligation to inform the seller. He states, “One of the beauties of yard sales is such finds. Savor yours.”

I know when I have a garage/yard sale, I’m just trying to get something for things I’d throw away. And when I do stop at a yard sale, I’m trying to buy something I want and need for a cheaper price than I can find anywhere else.

While I probably wouldn’t recognize anything of real value, I am happy with what I purchase. I just look for things I personally find attractive to myself, or items that I might use in a project. If have something I’m selling, and I thought it might be valuable, I would do a little research before offering it for sale.


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 1/28/2010: modern conveniences

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

1/28/2010: Regarding modern conveniences, what type of things have changed the most in the years you’ve lived?

Being as I’m now a “seasoned” age, a lot of things have changed within my life time.

I remember being in my teens when transistor radios came out. We teenagers were in heaven, much like the teens today with their DS, DS1- or iPods.

I was a pre-teen back when Elvis hit the airways, so you can imagine how important a little radio was to me. My parents did not like my music. (Ahhh! And this trait passed onto me because I just couldn’t understand metal music!)

Throughout all life times, I imagine someone always publishes a list of “Inventions for the Future”. One that hit when I was young had a coat on it that had its own heater built in. I was yearning for this, as my stepmom got me a vinyl coat one year, and I liked to freeze to death that winter. I wanted one of those personal; adjust your own heat temperature, coats! (I’m still waiting.)

Instead, we developed better fibers, and we now layer more because we know that keeps us toasty. And being seasoned, I came into my own “hot flashes”, and no longer needed this “future” coat.

I saw records, 45’s and lp’s, pretty much go out of style, although I still own both. In fact, I bought a new stereo a few years back. My needle broke on my old one, and when I tried to replace it, the needle to it would cost me more than buying a new one.

I saw tape decks come and go. They were short-lived, but we had a few tapes.

We now have double-sided tape, but tape dispensers that don’t cut well. I try to save the ones that cut, from my past, and put the new rolls in those.

Thanks to some evil person, we also now have everything we buy sealed to keep you from getting in it. As I get older, it gets harder and harder to open newly purchased items. It now usually takes more than one person to open any simple container.

Cell phones are big now. We didn’t have those. I still remember when phone numbers started with letters from the alphabet: We1-2345. And party lines that you shared with 2 or 3 neighbors. We had more consideration for each other back then, because people didn’t stay on the phone that much as you knew others might need it.

I remember penny candy. A lot of candy was 2, 3 or even 4 for a penny. A nickel could buy you a lot of candy.

Pop was a dime for a bottle, if you drank it there. Thirteen cents, if you took it with you. And, of course, we were always picking up pop bottles since we could turn them in for $0.03 each and buy lots with our pennies.

I remember the Five and Dime. A dollar went a long way then.

I bought cigarettes for my stepmom, with a note, of course. Those were $0.35.

The biggest change I’ve seen in history, though, is the computer. I remember DOS, and our first computer was the Commodore.

Communication is a breeze today due to the computer. Fewer post-office letters out, and more email. And … you can pay your bills online, and even purchase online. And stamps. The price of a stamp goes up so fast, I only buy forever stamps now. I also like that when I use my ATM, I can actually choose the purchase stamps before my transaction. Wow!

I think of all the things I’ve seen change. Many for the better. Some not.

Now we can watch fairly new-released movies in the comfort of our own homes. The ticket prices have sky-rocketed at the movie theaters, so I don’t go to the movies once a week anymore. More like once a year. And many years, I don’t go at all.

I watch for movies I want to see, and pick them up when they’re released. After all, I used to have 3 channels and rabbit ears on the tv … when we still had FREE television. Today, we have a gazillion channels, and they still show the same things over and over and over. C’mon! You know Law and Order had more seasons and more shows than the ones they rerun constantly.

And when one channel gets done running a movie to death, you know it’s premiering on another paid channel! So those movies come in handy. If I want a rerun, I can choose my own, thank you very much.

I know I’ve left lots out. So much has changed. Homes. Cars. School online. Work online. I’m sure the list is endless.

We’ve entered the “information” age. They keep extending our years on earth as well. Frankly, it’s a good thing that we don’t live forever. I hate to think of all the things my grandchildren will see.


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 1/27/2010: Exploring a point of view

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

1/27/2010: Have you ever had to try to explain your point of view on a subject with a child, so they might understand better?

Recently, my granddaughter remarked that several new rules or laws should be made. I didn’t think she understood the implications of what she was saying, so I tried my hand at trying to make her see it, from another point of view.

She basically felt that they should MAKE A LAW that people can’t drink, smoke, or do things that hurt others.

I really didn’t want to go into the prohibition era, where trying to limit/abolish alcohol was employed.

Instead, I tried asking her a question.

”Do criminals/bad people follow the laws?” I asked.

”No.” was her firm reply.

”Will regular people like you and me follow the law?”

”Yes, we would” she said proudly.

”So if the bad people or criminals will not follow the new laws, and only the good people will, why are we making the law?” I asked.

I went on to talk about the freedom offered and still enjoyed in America, and how everybody wants to come here to have that freedom. I also told her that when criminals get caught, it seems to me that most of them don’t have to pay a very big price. Many don’t stay in jail. Our jails are too full, and it costs a lot of money to house them, so they often let them out again.

I told her that there’s always a good side and a bad side to everything. Eventually, the new laws will be made to somehow make the good people lose some of their freedom. Because the laws have NO EFFECT on criminals, it’s only the good people that can really be controlled. And life is about control.

I told her that I feel that until the laws we currently have are enforced against the bad criminals, that lawmakers are wasting our time and money. There should be NO NEW LAWS until we clean up the mess we have now. And lawmakers should not be paid BIG salaries for doing nothing.

We are ruining our own freedom. If what you do is done and it doesn’t hurt others, then you should be free to do it. And if those who enjoy those freedoms are considerate of others, then they will enjoy their freedoms so that they don’t hurt others. This is what good people do … not bad people.

How would you have answered this situation?


Check out my website at: http://www.easyaspiedailygraphics.com/ (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://homespungraphics.blogspot.com/.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Journal-Lane Question for 1/26/2010: Gambling

Ponder this question for today. Write it down in a journal to pass on to family members once you're gone.

You can post it here, or in your own journal book.

Have a great day.

1/26/2010: Do you gamble? Have you ever gambled? Why? How do you handle it? Do you see it as good … or bad?

Yes. I have gambled. I’ve gambled because it was my choice of entertainment for a specific evening. I could have gone to dinner or to the movies. I could have gone bowling or skating. I could have gone shopping.

I’ve done it for just an entertaining event, and it has been fun.

When I’ve gone gambling, I take a set amount of money, as I would for any activity. For me, that is $20 for this activity. I might spend more on dinner, a movie, etc. But for gambling, it is always $20.

For me, $20 is a good price for entertainment, if I enjoy it. I don’t do it often. Maybe one or two times in a year, and frankly, I have not done it for several years.

I handle it this way. I have $20 to spend. I usually buy $1 coins, so I get to play the $1 slots 20 times. If 20 pulls brings me nothing, I buy a beer and walk around till it’s time to go home.

But one time, I did hit it big on my 3rd pull. I won about $---.-- after spending $3. I was elated. I cashed it in right away, and bought myself a beer to celebrate.

I leaned up against another machine to drink my beer and wait out the others. That’s when I realized I still had 17 coins in my pocket, and had not cashed them in. I had planned on spending the $20, so why not continue to play?

So, I did. And believe it or not, I won again. Another $---.-- or so. I took that and the 16 coins left, and cashed them all in. And I bought myself another beer!

I left that day with extra money in my pocket! It was wonderful. But that was ONE time out of about 10 times in all my life. I haven’t been gambling where I gambled more than that.

I could’ve spent that remaining 16 coins since I had already designated it for that entertainment, and I would’ve still come out ahead. Why didn’t I?

Because … I had already reached my entertainment level! I was totally happy with my little fortune. I did not need to go further. I was, frankly, done!

For me, this makes gambling a fun activity. It hurts no one, and I come out ahead since I don’t do it often.

I may never do it again, and that would be fine with me, too!


Check out my website at: http://www.EasyAsPieDailyGraphics.com (3 new free graphics each day) and my other blog at: http://HomeSpunGraphics.blogspot.com.