Positive Tidbits

Welcome!

I'd just like to share with you a few ideas on having more of the positive in our lives.

Here are my positive tidbits:

A rose may be pretty, but it also has thorns.  In the same way, we should emulate the rose.  We may be nice and kind to others, but others must know that although we are nice, they are not to be mean to us, because we won't put up with that kind of behavior from them.  We will stand up for ourselves if and when we need to.

Instead of reading the latest gossip in the tabloids, a far better choice would be magazines and books that promote positive people, places, and events, etc.

Instead of watching mindless, degrading, violent TV shows, pop in a wholesome DVD the whole family can enjoy together.

Instead of vegetating in front of the TV hour after hour watching others' life experiences, experience the joy of living your own life by doing something fun and educational like visiting parks, zoos, festivals, museums, volunteering, etc.  The list of great stuff to do is practically endless!

These tidbits I've shared are just the beginning.  Bet you've got a lot more positive ideas of your own!

Positive thought:  Eliminate the negative, accentuate the positive!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Happy Retales Helps Animals

Welcome!

Last weekend, Greg and I were visiting in the Brentwood, Tennessee area.  While there, we decided to stop by the Happy Retales store for the first time to buy cat food for our two cats, Kallie and Mitzi.  We try to shop locally all we can, and we found out that Happy Retales has organic, natural, and holistic foods which is just what we need for our cats, especially Mitzi who has severe food allergies.

We were really impressed with the store, because in addition to having a great selection of pet food, they also have many other things, as well.

For That Special Occasion

Clothing for Pets and Their People

Jewelry for Pets and Their People

They also have original artwork, pet beds, toys, etc.

Visitor Coco seemed to enjoy being there!

They even provide a grooming service for dogs.

Daisy just got groomed by grooming manager/groomer Trey Healy.

Best of all, one hundred percent of the profits goes to Middle Tennessee Animal Rescue.  Most of the people who work there are volunteers.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."-Mahatma Gandhi

Any time we're in that area, we're going to shop there, because the prices are reasonable for the type of food that they sell, and we're helping out animals at the same time.  Besides, our cats love their new food and seem to be thriving on it.

You might want to stop by and check out this place for yourself.  Bet you and your pets will be glad you did!

F.Y.I.
Happy Retales
101 Creekside Crossing, Suite 700
Brentwood, TN 37027
Phone: 615-309-1835
www.happyretales.com
General Manager: Kimberly Thompson

Funny Quote:  "Ever consider what pets must think of us?  I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul-chicken, pork, half a cow.  They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth."
-Anne Tyler

Positive quote: "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."-Anatole France
Thanks for visiting!  Until sometime Friday through Monday, Becky

A Busy Week!

This past week has been really busy, and it doesn't seem to be letting up!  I'm not unhappy about it; it's just that I'm running a little behind, like with this blog post!

I hope you all had a-

Here's a brief synopsis, in a few words and pictures, of what my past week (hectic, but fun!) was like-

I had a new Home Solutions job in a pretty rural area of Tennessee where there lived...

a llama!

Then came the weekend-

We visited a special place on Saturday which I'll feature next Sunday on a post.  (The above photo is just a preview.)

And, then, there was Easter-

We enjoyed a wonderful Easter dinner with some special relatives.  We had a great time visiting!

Greg was the first in line!

We went for a walk near their home after dinner.

We later decided to further enjoy nature in a pretty park.

Unfinished business:  On my March 30 blog post, entitled "Doing This Can Make Life More Positive," I asked readers if they could identify the tree in our new backyard that I had pictured on that post, and Mike and Betty from North Carolina said that they thought it was either a crab apple or cherry tree.  Thanks so much for sending us the helpful info.

Positive thought: "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." -Emily Dickenson

An Appalachian Mountain Poem

Welcome!

I just ran across a lovely poem from the Appalachian Mountains, Big Stone Gap, Virginia, (where I used to live) to be exact.  It was written by a talented local poet, Bonnie Ball in 1935.  I decided to share a brief excerpt from the poem with you.  It is entitled "Rare Pleasures."

                   "Rare Pleasures"

Do you know where the violets grow?  I do!

I have gathered them fresh in the due

Over in Grandpa's meadow, white and blue...

Have you ever drunk from a mountain spring, 

From a cup made of leaves...or anything?

Have you heard the sound mountain waters sing? ...

Have you ever made a daisy chain? ...

Have you ever really roamed a country lane? ...

-Bonnie Ball from "Bonnie's Rhythmic Verse"

(There are so many talented people everywhere who can write, sing, act, do arts and crafts, etc. whose work goes virtually unrecognized.  Let's all try to support those locally who have gifts so that others can be made aware of their talents and abilities.  Maybe that talented person is you.  If so, remember-don't hide your light under a bushel.  Step out with your talents and share them!)

Positive thought:  "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." -John Muir

Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

A Picnic, in Early Spring?

Welcome!

And a special welcome to our newest Follower!

A few days ago, we had such a warm, pretty day where we live that we decided to go on an impromptu picnic, even though it is still early spring.  We went by one of our favorite local restaurants and got a carry-out which we took to one of our favorite local parks and had a picnic lunch.

After our picnic, Greg and I enjoyed exploring the park.

The flowers, flowering bushes, and trees were a profusion of loveliness.

The hyacinth is not just pretty; it also has a wonderful fragrance.

"(One of) the things that makes me happiest in the whole world (is) going on the occasional picnic."
-Kate Winslet

F.Y.I.: International Picnic Day in 2014 is Wednesday, June 18.

Positive thought:  For many of us, the best time of year is here for the next few months.  Looking forward to that!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

Doing This Can Make Life More Positive

Welcome!

This past week, I've been doing something that has already made life easier and more positive-organizing my life!

"Good order is the foundation of all things."
-Edmund Burke

As a professional organizer, I organize other people's things, but, in the meantime, I noticed that I had been neglecting my own.  It's like the professional groundskeeper who's own yard is in disarray.  I already had an organizing system for myself in place, but it was no longer working as it should.  It needed to be updated, because my life has changed since I'd put the old system in place.  Greg and I have recently had a lot of changes in our lives-a new job for Greg, a new place to live, a new house, new people, a published book for me, and a couple of new business opportunities that I'm presently working on.

With all this change, I needed a new, more efficient way of doing things, hence, I now have a new streamlined system that seems to be working just great.  I have created a new chart, etc. system that helps me stay on track.  I need something like this, because I'm more of a right-brained, creative type of person who can use some structure in my life.

There are structural types of people who like schedules, and there are conceptual types of people who know they have to get something accomplished, but don't use a schedule to do so.  Greg, most of my family members, and I are conceptual types.  (However, we can be very structured when we have to, as the workaday world is, for the most part, very structured.)

For example, I may get a coal jewelry order, and I'll have it done right on time, but I don't work on it the same time every day.  I just work on it whenever I decide to.

What type do you think you are?

Anyway, I'm happier and more positive now since I'm much more organized.  I'm accomplishing more and enjoying life.  Who could ask for anything more?

We're enjoying our beautiful spring here in Tennessee.  We love this tree with all it's blooms in our backyard, but we have no idea what type of tree it is.  If anyone knows, I'd appreciate your letting us know by e-mail.

Positive thought:  "For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned." -Anonymous
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky

The Good Old Days, Nostalgia

Welcome!

I've gotten several emails lately about nostalgia, the good old days.  That prompted me to write a blog post about the subject.

Nostalgia: "Remembrance of things past."
-William Shakespeare

I did some research on quotes about the good old days and nostalgia.  Much to my surprise, most of the quotes were negative!  While I certainly realize that the past was not always ideal, (and we don't want to live in and dwell on the past) much good can be taken from the past and used in the present.

I like and agree with this quote: "I don't think nostalgia has to be negative."
-Van Morrison

Greg and I love the old shows that used to come on TV, so we're gradually collecting them on DVD's-"I Love Lucy," etc.  We get them at Walmart, Cracker Barrel, and online, although a few of these are still on TV.

Cracker Barrel is very popular, because it's whole concept is rooted in the past, and many people like that, as it takes them back to a simpler, less complicated time.  Cracker Barrel carries many other nostalgic items besides DVD's-candies, clothes, etc. that are hard to find anywhere else.  Greg and I love vintage items.  We have a whole house full of them.

Greg and I were recently talking with a couple of people about the Cracker Barrel and another local restaurant that also has country cooking.  We all agreed that that type of food is hard to beat.

Another part of the past that I loved when I was growing up, was our old neighborhood where we knew everyone who lived on our street.  They were more than just neighbors; they were also our friends.  I can still remember walking in the warm sunshine to Sunday school with the other children from across the street.

Another thing I really used to enjoy this time of year, in March, was that my brother, mother, father, and I would go to a large open field down below our house and fly kites.  In winter, on the hill in that same area, my brother and I would go sledding.

Remembering the good things from the past can bring a warm glow to our hearts.  Once, my uncle told me, "Becky, remember the good times."

"There is a lovely warmness about feelings of nostalgia as though one's head is putting on a pair of comfy old slippers and curling up in front of a fire."
-William E. Geist

I don't think incorporating the past with the present is a bad idea.  We can take the things we like best and eliminate the rest.  We can even take a not-so-great past and turn it into a positive present and future.

What good from the past would you like to bring back into your present life?

Positive thought:  Let's make this the good ol' days!
Thanks for visiting!  Until next Sunday, Becky