Señor Picasso, I would much prefer to be doing art than dusting my daily life. But today, I was cleaning up the kitchen a little after my baking/cooking frenzied Friday. I figured I’d do some laundry, strip the bed and wash the bedding, and one thing just led to another.This is a long story, so grab a cup of coffee, or better yet, a glass of wine. I’ll join you. 🍷
While I was getting ready to put the nice clean sheets back on the bed, I noticed that the headboard, rails, and wooden crevices were very dusty. Why did I look? My motto has always been, “If you don’t look at the hole in your shoe, it won’t bother you .” My sister reminds me of my motto quite often. Bit, it’s true.
So, I bit the bullet and got a damp cloth and was wiping all the dusty woodwork. I couldn’t quite reach the tippy top of the headboard, so I gave it a swipe with the towel. Wouldn’t you know, the towel fell and wedged behind the headboard and I couldn’t reach it. Therefore, I went and got a broom to try and finagle it out. It dropped to the floor. Still couldn’t reach it. I swiped and yanked and tried to oooch it out. After many attempts, I slid it Up and out, along with a LOT of hairy dusty yuk.
I put in another load of laundry, and feeling quite inspired with the broom in hand, I swept the kitchen and bathroom floors.
I have a magic broom. It stands on its own merit. I just wish it would sweep on its own merit. Oh no! When’s the last time I dusted the blinds? Like… never.
Let’s not forget the baseboards. Why do we need baseboards anyway? They should call then dustboards. Man, there is dust everywhere. my friend Brunhilda the broom got quite the workout today.
Seeing as I was on a roll, I took out My Sharona, my shark vacuum cleaner. Everyone is coming out to party today.Then, my least favorite task in the entire world… the tedious tempestuous toilets. I hate cleaning toilets! 🤦♀️ I always save this task for last, so I can jump in the shower after I’m done.
A funny story about toilets. When my youngest son Matt was in about third grade, they had a writing assignment to say what was their mother and father’s favorite thing to do for fun. Matt wrote that his dad liked to play golf, and his mother loved to clean toilets. He was a smarty pants even back then.
Be careful when you start a little project. One thing leads to another. My tip for the day…DON’T LOOK AT THE DUST. IF YOU DON’T SEE IT, IT’S NOT THERE.
“I love my fabulous frantic frenzied FridayS with my fabulous art friends at Towne Creek Apartments. Sharing is caring.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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My house is usually a chaotic mess for a couple of days preparing for my art group at Towne Creek. I’ve been volunteering there for over 15 years. The funny part is, I never run out of ideas to share with the group. Granted, some projects we’ve done a few times before, but we are all seniors, so we probably forgot what we did five or six years ago…thank goodness.
My biggest dilemma is what food to prepare for our feast. Instead of hot dogs, I decided to make sandwiches and homemade potato salad. Of course, more triple lemon pudding cheesecake cupcakes and some watermelon. I wasn’t going to make my popcorn/pretzel/cereal snack mix, but I decided last minute that they really look forward to the snack for watching tv later in the evening. A busy couple of days in the kitchen. Then, a few hours preparing art projects and packing up supplies.
My potato salad was awesome. I sautéed the onions and celery, used little baby potatoes and hard boiled eggs. So good. Always sauté your onions/celery. It gives us a sweet caramelized flavor.
This is my refrigerator on Art day. 🤦♀️
Then, pack up the car and off to the east side for a day of arts, painting, crafts, feasting, laughing, singing and friendship.
Everyone hard at work, painting their wine bottles. NO… we didn’t drink the wine first, if you were wondering. 🤦♀️🍷Instead of baking them in an oven, we set them outside in the 100° outdoor oven for a while to dry before adding the next layers.I brought red roses so each artist could have a rose for their awesome new wine bottle vase. 🌹 They were all amazing, but Miss Kathy’s red roses on her pink bottle was just perfect. I painted a couple of examples for them to get some ideas.
It was another “amazing” art day at Towne Creek. And, everyone will agree, and I’ve been told, because…. Miss Toni is….. wait for it…. “AMAZING.”
And, I can’t forget my firemen. We made a couple of stops with treats on Wednesday for our awesome firefighters.
We stopped at Station 5 with my cupcakes and a huge tray of sandwiches that Dave Manders donated after the Celebration of Life funeral Mass.My buddies at Station 9. A busy week, a busy Friday.
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.”
~Cicero
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Being thankful for what you already have and appreciating all the good in your life just makes your blessings overflow.
So, you may remember my dilemma posted on Facebook about being afraid to climb up to the 4th step of my ladder to change my kitchen floodlight. I realized my limitations. Well, I received many tips of getting a bulb changing extension pole, etc. Then, my nextdoor neighbor texted me, “I’m sending Jack over in the morning after his football practice.” Yay!
Thank you tall and strong Jack for saving the day. He even brought his own 8 foot ladder. Feeling blessed with awesome neighbors.
This morning, I decided to seize the day and get put for a morning walk before the triple digit heat set in. I walked a few loops, listening to the birds, watching squirrels, and taking in the beautiful sights. Well, the yellow and grey withering lawns weren’t that pretty. Hopefully they will come back if we ever get some rain. I stopped and rested on my favorite bench by the pond in the shade. Feeling blessed to live in such a lovely neighborhood.
Across Wilmeth Road, I saw my two horsey friends prancing around. They must be young, as they didn’t seem to mind the heat too much.
They came over to say hello to Miss Toni. They let me pet their cute muzzles.
Beauty and blessings, everywhere I go. All this before 9 o’clock in the morning. Happy Thankful Thursday, my friends.
“Sharing is caring, and tearing apart the kitchen. When you’re blessed, you get messed. Just sayin’.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Today was a sad-sweet celebration of life at church. Our friend, Dave Manders’ wife, Carole passed away a few days ago, and there was a Mass and reception afterwards in the community room. The 60 Plus group volunteered to bring food, set up and clean up afterwards.
I decided to bake my world famous triple lemon mini cupcakes. I made a few extra for neighbors, friends and firemen. (You know me.)
I got out all my pans and bowls and fixins and started my baking marathon last night. I used my mini marshmallow trick for the small cupcakes, and used my Peeps for the big ones. Poor bunnies. I cut them in half and put the body in one and the heads in the others. 🤦♀️They worked well. These still need pudding and frosting inside. See the buried bunnies? A lot of cupcakes were baked. All this from just 2 boxes of cake mix. This morning I filled and frosted. A dollop of lemon pudding inserted in the centers with a swirl of no-bake lemon cheesecake on top. Woa! I just realized, I haven’t tried one yet. I heard they were delicious. If you want my recipe, don’t ask… I’m not great at following recipes. 🤦♀️
“Believe in yourself, your abilities and your own potential. Never let self-doubt hold you captive. You are worthy of all that you dream of and hope for.”
Roy Bennett
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Sometimes I think I can do just about anything. My tip for today is…”Always try your best with inspiration, but don’t forget to know your limitation.”
I have this flickering ceiling pot light in the kitchen that has been flickering for days. So today, I brought in the ladder from the garage, then got a new LED flood light from the closet.
I Just discovered that my ladder has this nifty hole on top that I can put the bulb in to have my hands free. Cool! I put my cell phone in my pocket so I could take a picture of my endeavors, but also in case I fell down and had to call 911. (Smart)Well, I climbed up the first step, then the second, and I was still no where close to the ceiling. I braced myself and carefully scaled to the third step. I reached up to the old flickering light… I couldn’t reach it. Dang! Still about 4 or 5 inches too short. I have never gone up to the fourth step, and in my antiquated age, I have NO intention of doing so now. (But, I Gabe it my best shot.)
I have fixed garbage disposals, irrigation panels, sprinkler heads, trimmed trees, carried heavy mulch and have done marvelous landscaping feats of strength, but… I ain’t climbing up on the fourth step of the ladder.
KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS!!! I left the ladder in the kitchen and will ask for assistance from a taller braver person tomorrow. I think this requires a call to Super Sid again. 🤦♀️
“Showing gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to create abundance. Giving thanks is one of the most beautiful ways to appreciate life.” ― Debasish Mridha, MD
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A great week full of memories made and more to come. My week with family in California was awesome. I needed an entire week to rest, recuperate, and get back on track. I was up early today, up and out for my walk while it was still in the 80’s. It was 102° this afternoon, but it’s cooled down to a comfortable 93° this evening. (Where’s my sweater? 🤦♀️)
“Consider once before you give, twice before you receive, and a thousand times before you ask.”
Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach
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Another beautiful Sunday… if you are partial to living on the scorching surface of the sun. Just kidding, well, almost. Actually, it was only 83° when I woke up at 7 am, but the temps rose about 10 degrees every hour. But, what do you expect from Texas in the summer? It’s only102° right now, but the forecast says we will cool off by Friday, the high will only be 99°. I hope I remember where I put my sweater. 🤦♀️
It was good to be back at the front door at St. Gabriel, greeting the parishioners before 9 o’clock Mass. A few people even asked where I was last Sunday, and did I have a note or a good excuse for my absence. When I told them I was at Disneyland with the grandkids, all was forgiven.
Today’s Gospel was the story of how “The Lord’s Prayer,” better known as the “Our Father” was introduced to the disciples who asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.
Gospel
Lk 11:1-13Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
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My take on it…. I thought about the “ask and you will receive“ part, and had to think twice. We can’t always just ask, ask, ask, like spoiled children. To me, Prayer should be more like thanking God for your blessings, and because He knows your hopes, dreams, fears, and needs, He will take good care of you. Just like a good father, a child could ask, ask, ask, for candy, a new toy, a bike, and have a tantrum, demanding his wants. A good father knows what’s best for the child and acts accordingly.
You know the old saying, “Watch out what you ask for?” Sometimes, what we ask for may not be a good idea. Maybe that is God looking out for you.
After Mass, Helene and I stopped for coffee at McD with Jerry and Patricia. Then, Joyce, Rich, and Barbara joined us, too. We should have our own St. Gabriel after church section. When I drove home, I thought, oh man, I totally forgot to take a picture or selfie of our little group, can you believe that? Me, Miss Selfie herself, forgot to take a picture. I must be slipping. 🤦♀️
When I got home, I was looking at Facebook and emails and kept nodding of in my chair. Seeing as I had nothing planned all day, I went and took a 3 hour nap. It pays to be old and unencumbered. ($2 word)
This evening , Sid and I went to the The Cove Art Show over on the Square. Several of my friends were displaying their beautiful work this weekend. It’s always great to see their artwork and their beautiful smiles. Most of the Artists were from the Jump Onto Art Studios.
If you haven’t been over to the Cove on Tennessee, you should swing by when they have an art show, always fun. Sherri Murphy had quite the display of awesome artwork.Maylee, the Mayor’s wife stopped in to check out the show. Miss Magda did such a wonderful job as hostess., fine artist in her own right.I hadn’t see Miss Erma in ages. Such a fun surprise to catch up.
“An old friend can be somewhat you just met today.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I am blessed with so many awesome friends and relatives. And thanks to Facebook, I have become good friends with people I have never met, and also relatives that I have never met in person. When people say they hate Facebook and all the stupid stuff that goes on, I just think…”I ignore or delete the stupid stuff, and I look forward to keeping in touch with people.
I love seeing their family photos, and watching their kids and grandkids grow right before my eyes. I love finding cousins that I never even knew about. I’ve been friended by friends of friends who become friends. Technology is a gift and a curse. It’s kind of like being really rich or really poor. It’s how you use it that counts. It can be used for good or it can be used for evil.
This afternoon, I finally met with a Facebook friend that I hadn’t met in real live person. Debbee Kiel moved to Texas a while ago, and we’ve been trying to meet in person for over a year. She used to live in my old stomping grounds near Hawthorn Woods, Long Grove, and Buffalo Grove area in Illinois. She bowled with and went to the same church as my best girlfriends back home, Lin, Viv, and Vicky. They were friends for probably over 30 years. Some are Lutheran, but I love them anyway. 🤦♀️ I had heard her name in conversations and she knew mine through these friends. So when she moved down to north Texas, she looked me up on Facebook, and we never got around to meeting, But alas, she has since moved down to Houston, and was just in town house sitting for a friend.
Today, we finally met in person for lunch at Palio’s, a four hour lunch. We met at 1:30 and we were the only ones in the place. A little time passed and we wondered why so many people were coming in to pick up to-go orders and why there was so much traffic out on 380. It was 5:30! Yikes!
It was great to finally meet you, Debbee, my new old friend.
Hmm? Let me make up a new word. JOLD? NOLD? NEWOLD? I like NEWOLD!
What sound is this that has me reeling? Scratching, clawing, up in the ceiling. It really gave me an awful fright. These strange things “that go bump in the night.”
~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I didn’t tell you my story about the strange noise that went “bump in the night” around 4 am on the morning I was catching a plane to meet the family in Disneyland. 🤦♀️ I heard a loud scratching clawing kind of noise in the attic above my bedroom. It sounded like it was above the ceiling vent. I pounded on the wall and it stopped… temporarily.
My alarm was set for 5:30 because I still hadn’t finished packing.🤦♀️ I’m a last minute kinda gal, leaving around 7:30. A few minutes after lying down again, scratch, scratch, scratch. I pounded on the wall again, with another short reprieve. I decided that whatever creature was up there, hopefully it wouldn’t squeeze through the vent and attack me in my sleep. As I tried to fall asleep for an hour, my brain was trying to solve my problem. I certainly wasn’t going to cancel my trip, and there was no time to call anyone for help. So, I thought and thought. They say when you have a problem, think about it before you sleep and your brain will find a solution. TA DA!
I got up before the sun, searched for my old trusty radio, and grabbed my wasp spray (because it has a long reach spray)
I looked in the tiny walk in attic where the noise had been coming from. I didn’t see a critter, but I saw some disrupted white insulation and some strange dark stuff, maybe chewed up something or other. I had my spray in case I was attacked by a ravenous raccoon or scary squirrel. Nope!
Sid came to pick me up for the airport around 7 am, and checked the attic too. He didn’t see anything either. So, I plugged in the radio and found the most annoying channel on a Mexican station, and blasted the volume. Hopefully the critter didn’t t speak Spanish. I left the light on and the radio blasting the entire week I was in California, when I got home Monday night, no noise. Tuesday night, no noise. See, they didn’t like the Spanish station.
Last night… scratch, scratch, scratch. More of my pounding on the walls, silence, more scratching, more pounding. 🤦♀️ I woke up early and googled where to buy some critter traps. I had emailed Sid, and told him of my critter reinstated dilemma. He emailed that he had a critter trap that he had used a while back that he could bring over this afternoon. 😇
I prepared a lovely lunch of apples, peanuts and cheese for him to use inside the trap. It just captures the critter and doesn’t harm it.The trap is set, and hopefully the critter or critter family will be enticed into the trap. Wish me luck! Thank you, SUPER SID, for saving the day. (Now, If this trap catches something, Super Sid will get another call. 🤦♀️)
Toni Andrukaitis 