Category Summer

Farewell to Non-Fiction (for a while)

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Farewell to Non-Fiction (for a while)

Farewell NonFiction.png

Reading non-fiction has always made me feel smarter. I have not always liked reading non-fiction because I found it to be dry and uninteresting, but for the last six months I have been drawn to biographies, self-help, and historical books. These books definitely educated me on the lives, events, and ideas they captured, but something was missing.

On a recent get-away with my best friend, I read an autobiography and a blogging guide. She read one and a half romance novels. I liked my autobiography and made some great notes on how to improve my blog from the manual. When we discussed what we were reading, it was clear that her reading was much more stimulating for relaxation and imagination. As we discussed her books, I brought up books that I had read in the past I thought she would enjoy, and she recommended a few to me. I realized I missed fiction.

It is time for me to take a break from non-fiction. My brain needs an escape from reality. In the last week I have already plowed through one Nora Roberts novel and a Linda Lael Miller book. My aunt recommended titles from Jodi Piccoult and Sandra Brown. This break from the stark realities of history and technical advice should do my synapses some good.

Consider doing the same for yourself. Turn off CNN or the talk shows. Turn on to something fun and imaginative. Pick up a book, tell ghost stories around a camp fire, color pictures with your kids, paint a painting, play with play-do. Give yourself a vacation from the cold facts of the evening news and soften your heart with creative words and comfortable interactions.

I know I will find my way back to the world of biographies and history soon, but for now I am excited to unravel unreal mysteries and build relationships with the fictional friends only found in books.

Give yourself some time to unwind from the world and release energy from the works and writings of those who know how to tell a great story. It is healthy to let your mind wander every once-in-a-while. You can always reel it back in when you need to. Say, “farewell, non-fiction, if only for a little while.”

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

Cabarnet and Killing Flies

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Cabernet and Killing Flies

Cabarnet and catching flies.jpg

Last Tuesday my husband took the kids out for a ride on our Pioneer, while I cleaned up dinner. After the dishes were done, I poured myself a glass of wine and was ready to enjoy a few quiet moments. There was a problem though. My moment was NOT quiet. There were flies buzzing around my kitchen and living room. 😦

This season the flies have been terrible. I don’t know why, but they have been terrible.

So I took my glass of Cabernet, grabbed the fly swatter, and began my hunt. With each fly I killed, I took a sip of my wine. It ended up being very therapeutic. In fact it was so therapeutic, I wrote about it in a Facebook post.

Before I knew it I had more comments and “Likes” than I had dead flies. About the time the comments started coming in, my husband returned with my kiddos. I hopped in the Pioneer to join them for an evening ride and to check the cows. When I got back, over 100 people had “Liked” or commented on my post about drinking wine and killing flies. It was pretty amusing.

The best part about my post was how many people wanted to join in my hunt. I am not sure if they were more attracted to the fly killing or the wine drinking, but they wanted to share in my new found pastime. A friend told me later that she was just glad I was taking some time for myself. Poor flies. They had to die at the expense of my relaxation.

(Forget the flies. They bug me!)

So here’s the Intentergy message for today. If you have a chance to do something you enjoy (like drinking wine) and you can do it while being productive (like killing flies), do it.

Put your intent into making progress while enjoying the process. Jam out to your favorite music while you clean. Sing to your plants as you weed the garden. Jog or run while taking care of your favorite pet. Eat a chocolate for each sink of dishes that you wash. Tell jokes to your kids as you sweep the porch. Make light of your tasks and your work will definitely weight you down much less.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

 

Fairy Gardens

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Fairy Gardens

Fairie Gardens.jpg

Fairy Garden and Dudenhoeffer’s Countryside Gardens in Frankenstein, Missouri. You need to check it out!

 

I have never had my own fairy garden but I think I need one.

When visiting our local green house, Dudenhoeffer’s Countryside Gardens in Frankenstein, Missouri, my kids were enthralled with Kathy’s fairy garden. I have seen and read a lot this summer on fairy gardens. It is really kind of interesting.

People will turn just about anything into a whimsical space for frolicking fairies. I have seen the Tinkerbell movies and I know how they are supposed to work in a child’s mind, but have not taken the initiative to create one of my own. (My daughter has different plans.) 🙂 One of my future goals for our flower beds is to spend time with my kiddos creating their own fairy gardens. It will be fun to see what they build or create and what they thing the fairies will like.

I have seen where old milk crates, chairs, dresser drawers, and even toilets have been turned into a play place for the imaginary creatures. Some fairy gardens have waterfalls and flowers. Others are designed around rocks and succulent plants. Most all have some sort of cabin or cottage for the fairies to rest. All have something fun and exciting for the winged wonders to check out. The detail and color that can be found in these tiny hideouts is so exciting. But I guess the thing that really makes them impressive is that, aside from their small-scale, someone dedicated a great deal of creativity and inspiration into building the sweet spaces.

I really think I need a fairy garden so my imagination, along with the fairies, has a new playground.

Imagination is alive and well in fairy gardens. Imagination is something that too few of us exercise enough. A fairy garden may not be your cup of tea, but this summer I encourage you to find something that stretches your imagination. Give your creativity a work out. Try a new hobby, visit a new town, check out a concert or poetry reading, take an art class, or design a webpage. Everything you need to start your whimsical workout is inside you. It shouldn’t take much more than some faith, trust, and pixie dust to get things going. 🙂

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Don’t Go Anywhere

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Don’t Go Anywhere

Don't go anywhere.JPG

My kids really like stay-at-home days. I LOVE stay-at-home days! It is so nice to be able to enjoy the comfort of our home and not rush to go anywhere.

There is something so healthy about lazy days. Relaxing on your couch or porch. Eating straight out of the pantry. Being surrounded by the familiar sounds of the air conditioner running or the creaks of floor boards or the hum of the fridge running stimulates your inner peace. When you can be completely at ease, your body can rebuild and replenish itself from the grind of constantly being on the run.

It isn’t always easy to find a full day to stay in, but find a morning or an afternoon where you can just be at home. Make time to soak up the simplicity of just being in your space and be grateful for all you have. Keep your car in park and station yourself in a seat or space that allows complete stillness.

The benefits of making quiet time resound in all you do. Allowing your mind and body some down time will make your busy time much more effective.

Not a quiet time kind of person? Play a board game with your family or work in your flower beds. Organize some drawers or rearrange your furniture. Freshen up your space with creativity or movement. You might find a new layout for your living room or a simpler way to sort your socks. All of these are ways to make your life better.

Keep your energy at home and your intents on gratitude and relaxation. Positive things will come from keeping yourself in park and will make revving up your engine a little easier next time.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

Soup in Summertime

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Soup in Summertime

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I don’t make soup very often in the summer. I don’t know why.

Yes, it is hot outside, but thanks to the miracle of air conditioning, it is plenty cool inside.

Summer is when the perfect ingredients are fresh from the garden and it is so easy to have a bowl of soup with a salad and be on our way.

We eat meals every day at home. I believe firmly in cooking and eating together, so soup is perfect. My kiddos can help prepare and add the ingredients and then we can enjoy the fruits of our labor together. Plus left overs can be a life saver on a busy day, and soup is often better the second time around.

The message of today’s post is this: Take time to consider options that are available to you which you wouldn’t normally take advantage. If there is a free service or program, check it out. Enjoy the things your community has to offer like park programs, nature talks, free concerts, art shows, car shows, or patronize a farmers’ market.

If fresh fruits and veggies make themselves available to you, be grateful for the source and share in the wealth. My father-in-law brought us a bucket of zucchini and potatoes from his garden. I prepped and froze some zucchini for us, grilled some, and shared the rest with our neighbors. Continue reading “Soup in Summertime” →

I Made It Myself!

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I Made It Myself!

I made it myself watercolor

Recently my amazing friend Sonya hosted a painting party for a group of our friends from school. She created a simple, landscape watercolor scene and then guided us through the steps of painting our own landscape.

Because the painting was a watercolor the lines were not finite and bled into one another. For some of us the lack of clear delineation between background and foreground and water and land was disturbing. Sonya assured us that the watercolor was really a “loose landscape,” to which we came up with some interesting interpretations.

It was a very cool experience.

We ate and drank and talked and painted. We took photos and shared our thoughts on the process. We celebrated the differences in each artist’s work and surprisingly the emotions we each felt were as diverse as the results of our work.

Some found the experience to be fun and relaxing, while others found it nerve-racking and stressful, they were just there for conversation and painted to be a part of the experience. I am pretty sure a few came just to see if they could test Sonya’s patience. ( Seriously, who puts orange in a cool toned sky line?) 😉 In the end we were all excited to be finished with our paintings because it meant, while we worked together, Continue reading “I Made It Myself!” →

Dog Days

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Dog Days

Dog Days Bandit.jpg

 

On the hottest day of the year (so far), we brought home a puppy. We have wanted a puppy for a very, very long time but my husband and I told our kiddos that they had to show us they could be responsible enough and get along with each other enough to get a dog. I guess they have shown us (or I just really wanted a puppy and my husband finally gave in.)

Well, he is here! His name is Bandit and we LOVE him!

Due to the hot weather, Bandit has been pretty lethargic during the day. My children seem to be oblivious to the sweltering heat and want to play. I keep trying to explain to them that he is too hot and just needs to keep cool in the shade.

As the sun has gone down each evening, the puppy has grown increasingly playful and the kids are really enjoying their new friend.

Today I woke all three kiddos up extra early, so they could get some good play time in with Bandit before it got too hot.  The puppy was glad to have a distraction. (He is still missing his mama a little bit.) My kids were able to employ all the new toys they have bought for their furry friend. It was a wonderful way to start our day!

It was tough to get them going before 6:30 a.m. but definitely worth the extra effort.

There is a terrific lesson in consideration behind this story. We all need to have compassion and understanding when someone is feeling the “heat” of life.

When you encounter someone who is moving slow, is in your way, or distracted, consider what might be going on in their life that you can’t feel (like my children and their disregard for 99 degree temperatures). You may be able to provide that person with relief from their suffering or ease their discomfort with your kindness.

It might take a little extra effort but may make an even greater difference for those you encounter.

Take time before lashing out at those who are not doing things the way you want them done. Be patient with those who aren’t moving at the same speed you are. Be ready with a kind word or action for those you encounter who aren’t up for revelry and celebration. Offer a “cool” alternative for those who are not up to taking part in games or running with the pack.

If your intents are supported by compassion and consideration, your energy will provide a positively pleasing reassurance for those who are feeling “heat” from their life experiences. Be the cool kid! Show understanding and acceptance.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

The Trouble with Goggles

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The Trouble with Goggles

Goggle Trouble

The trouble with goggles is they are a pain.

As a mom I spend most of my time poolside fixing, adjusting, or finding the protective eyewear of my children. Goggles are a pain.

We wear goggles to protect our eyes underwater and to see clearly all the awesomeness that lies beneath the waves. But goggles are a pain.

Goggles leave imprints on our faces and red marks that take time to fade. Goggles are a pain.

Here come’s my metaphor. Like goggles, there are many protective efforts that we can take that are a pain. We should wear sunscreen and eat healthy foods. We should avoid alcohol, tobacco, sugar, fat, aerosol sprays, too much sun, too little fresh air, and overexposure to the internet (please keep reading my post :)). We need to educate ourselves on the programs that run our society and have awareness about those running for office. They might be our leaders someday. We have to talk to our kids and family members about the dangers of the world. All of these things can be a pain.

Here are the lessons goggles teach us about protecting ourselves from the dangers of the world:

png 1 Finding solutions (like goggles) can be a pain and hard to find the right fit for the situation. If we try to figure out the best fit, our experience will be so much better.

png 1 When we find the right solution, we are able to see clearly all the awesomeness that lay beneath the waves of turmoil and frustration.

png 1 No two pair of goggles fit the same, so there probably isn’t a solution that will fix all of our problems and we need to be accepting of the differences in each goggle wearer.

png 1 Sometimes the ugliness that we find with our solutions (a.k.a. goggles) has to be faced and addressed. This is a pain but we need to do it.

png 1 The efforts we experience to find the right solution can leave their mark on us. The physical and emotional scars brought on by fighting the good fight make us who we are. They are not always permanently visible, but we always harbor them in our memories, and hope they will fade (like goggle marks) as we grow in this big beach party we call life.

Take time to find your googles today. Find a way to see things clearly where you were troubled before. Make an effort to right a wrong or adjust an uncomfortable situation. Put energy into finding a way to get past the waves, and your intent will definitely be clear and positive.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

 

 

 

Batter Up! – First (Make change happen)

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Batter Up! – First (Make change happen)

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So excited to lead off, my son beat everyone onto the field.

 

The first batter of a team is called the lead-off hitter. At a recent game my son was awarded the honor of being the lead-off hitter. He was so excited; he beat EVERYONE onto the field.

This is a key position in the batting line-up because your team is counting on you to hit your way on base and get the game going on a good note.Being the lead-off hitter is a lot of pressure. You don’t want to start the game with an out.

In life we are offered chances to be the first to take on a task or start a movement. Do you embrace those opportunities, do you shy away from the chance, or are you empowered by the ability to start things off with change?

If you are not presented the lead-off spot, do you cheer on your teammates or those who step up to the plate before you? Are you ready to give them support for their efforts and rally them in losing situations?

Today my wish for everyone is that they would feel the same excitement and enthusiasm my son felt.

I hope that each person finds it in their hearts and minds to step up to the plate for a cause or opportunity that leads to positive change in our world. Be the lead-off player who brings it home for the underdogs or who bolsters your team with a hit to the heart of an unkind adversary. Take the lead. Make change.

By: Melanie A. Peters

 

Catchin’ Crawdads

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Catchin’ Crawdads

Catching Crawdads.jpg

One of the coolest parts of playing in the creek is catching crawdads. On our last creek excursion my husband, daughter, and son caught two crawdads, and you would have thought we discovered a new species. Well, I guess the crawdads were a new species to my kiddos, because they had never had one in their possession before.

As a kid I caught a few of the snappy, creek dwellers and I now harbor fond memories of trying to keep them alive in a big jar with water and rocks.

Crawdads are simple creatures. They hang out under rocks and wait for their food to float by. When something big enough is caught to share, they feed off one another’s catch.

They know all the good hiding places and forage for the simple floating foods.

When you catch a crawdad, they wriggle and try to pinch you with their claws and seek to return to their home of rocks and water. They probably do want to hurt you, but not because they are mean, but because they just don’t feel safe.

We are a lot like crawdads. Continue reading “Catchin’ Crawdads” →