jo burgess hannon

fit for today, fit for life

What I am loving right now November 2015

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dog days of summer
Benny and me on the back patio

 

I am really missing the dog days of summer and the blue of the sky and my garden hydrangeas. I’m also missing ‘Ol Man. The dark, rainy days can really get me in a funk.  I thought I would take some time to look for the joy around me.

Jack the Labradoodle-The-Inspired-Room
Jack the Labradoodle from the Inspired Room

 

Jack the Inspired Room dog. I am totally in love. We lost our dog Benny Boy a few months ago and decided to wait awhile before bringing home another family member. This weekend I fell down the rabbit hole and spend an hour looking at photos of Jack. And looking at Jack’s blog. And then looking at Jack’s Facebook page. And then looking at his adorable ‘sister’ Lily. I actually met Jack and Lily sitting at a sidewalk table back in September. They are as friendly in person as you see in the pics. Warning: if you click through: you’ll fall in love; or at least fall down the rabbit hole with me.

I was shocked how many socks this basket can hold
My sock drawer. Hello Goodwill.

 

Darn Tough socks from Vermont. I just ordered  these to wear in my booties. My feet have been SO cold now that we have moved on to rainy Northwest weather. My husband might be rolling his eyes as he reads this because he knows I just counted up my socks and I have enough pairs to wear twice a day for 30 days without doing laundry. I didn’t tell him I was ordering more. After an inventory of my socks I decided that all those cotton blend socks I have been buying for years are cold. My mom-in-law believes in the warmth of wool.  I have an aversion to wool. It is itchy and I haven’t worn it much since I was a kid. Ok, even as a kid I never wore it. However, these Darn Tough’s somehow have enough nylon that I can wear them for several hours before the itch sets in.

 

my painting tools

Alex Fast Dry paintable caulk. Weird I know. But here’s the deal: I have almost completed painting out ever bit of trim in our 30 year old house. I’ve gotten pretty good at it. I don’t even tape anything off any more. I am not for hire. Through the process I have discovered my favorite paint, paint brush, caulk and a variety of other tools. It’s peaceful working by myself on a ladder. I can think about a lot of things. As a matter of fact this blog was a direct result of time on the ladder.

Painting the stairway
Painting the stairway

 

These are the things I am loving. I don’t get paid for any of the links. I probably could if I spent time googling how to. But that is a whole other rabbit hole and I have to get back to painting.

And yes Mom, I’ll be careful on the ladder.

 

Veteran’s Day 2015

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dad army flag & card

Before I was born, my dad served in the United States Army.  When I was a kid, and both my parents were at work, I used to to rifle through the drawers in their bedroom.  I’d try on my mom’s costume jewelry, wear her high heals around, generally be snoopy.  Did you ever do that? Anyway, in one drawer, my dad had a red, silk bomber jacket with a dragon embroidered on the back.  It was his souvenir from when he was stationed in Korea.

A few years before my dad died he gave me a photo album from his army days.  As I flipped through the black and white photos he was quiet. He never did really talk about his days serving our country.  Today as I drove through our neighborhood and the American flags where flying I felt a great sense of pride. I’m proud to be an American, proud of my nephew currently serving in the US Navy, proud to have a brother who served our country in Vietnam,  proud of my dad.

Thank you, to all veterans, past, present, and those currently in active service.

Are you a list maker?

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sticky notes with random lists

I make a lot of lists.  I have packs of sticky notes in the kitchen, on my bathroom counter, at my desk.  When a thought strikes, I grab a pen. When I have a task to complete, it ends up on a sticky note. Sometimes in the middle of the night I have to write down my thoughts or I can’t go back to sleep. I think it is because I am visual; once I see it I can visualize my to-do list.  Otherwise, I am constantly trying to re-create the scene where the thought occurred.  Have you ever done that? You know, walked back to the kitchen to remember what you needed to get from the garage?

Maybe because it is November and people are posting 30 days of gratitude that this list came to mind.  Maybe it is because my people are important. I found a sticky and starting writing quick, one word descriptions of my girlfriends.  It was easy. Their gifts & generosity are abundant, yet one word came quickly to mind for each; time, possessions, money, home, spirit.

Are you generous with time?  Getting together with friends is a priority. You’re generally first to initiate and make the plan happen.
Are you generous with your things? You are the type who loans out what someone needs, offering your possessions for others to use.
Are you generous with money? You are the one who donates readily when asked to give to fundraisers & non-profit groups. You are quick to say yes when asked to sponsor a friend’s fundraising efforts.
Are you generous with your home? You easily offer to host a get together. You put together a spontaneous party with friends and family at your house.
Are you generous with food? You love to cook and can pull a snack or a meal together in no time. You take cold lemonade to the gardener, ask the window washer if you can make him a sandwich.
Are you generous with kind words? Your friends always leave the conversation feeling good. You are quick to encourage and uplift.

What one word would your friends use to describe you?

grateful

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grateful

I heard Oprah. Keep a gratitude journal. Start every day, end every day remembering what you are grateful for. I was not prepared for being this grateful. Sometimes the giving spirit of those around me is overwhelming. I am certain I don’t always deserve it. I am sure I have been stingy with time, money or effort to the same people who have shown such kindness to me.

I knew our friends and family were kind, generous. However, as we grew closer and closer to Wedding Weekend, the gifts of time, money, encouragement, creativeness and kitchen gadgets piled up. A pile so large it still brings me to tears. My gratitude meter flew off the charts. Many of my close girlfriends asked repeatedly ‘how can I help?’ And they did. And their husbands did.  In addition to showering our daughter and new husband with all that they needed to set up their new beginning,  I received gifts never imagined.

So grateful.