It's Time to Jam! ~Gratituesday~

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of summer! Up until this past January, I lived my whole life in Eastern Oregon---freezing cold winters and hot, dry, dusty summers. I've never enjoyed the heat, don't like to swim in public, and regularly burn instead of tan. Summer is just not my thing. However, there is one redeeming thing about my least favorite season: berries!

When we moved up here to Northern Washington at the first of the year, I couldn't have been more thrilled. At first, I could think of nothing, short of family and friends, that we'd miss about Oregon. As time went on, I began to remember things that were traditions for our family that we'd not be able to do now that we were six hours from home. One of those yearly traditions was our early August trips to the small town of Weston to pick blackberries near a little bridge on the outskirts of town.

Little did I know what God had up his sleeve....


A few months ago, these crazy, viney plants began to overrun our back fence, weaving their way up into our gigantic Rhododendron bush.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to brave the jungle and start chopping away at the thorny brambles that had begun creeping into our lawn.

Blackberries!!!

God knew I'd miss our berry picking times, as well as the joy of making our homemade jam that we ration out so carefully all year long. So, he brought the berries right to my back door!

Today I'm linking up with Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers. If you have a few minutes, head over there and see what others are thankful for today.

The Things We Remember: Pink Saturday

Today is Pink Saturday over at How Sweet the Sound. One can't help but be put into a better mood after reading through some of these happy PINK blogs! I've linked up with this party as a challenge to myself to find (or acquire!) pink things. My morphing from tomboy to ladylike lady has been slow and pink is a newly acquired taste!


Yesterday, while getting ready to go shop yard sales of all things, I decided to spritz on some of my "spendy perfume". A few years ago, my Mom took me on a shopping spree and bought me several really nice things. One was this PINK bottle of Gucci Envy Me perfume. I only wear it on super special occasions or when I look especially gorgeous! Yard Sales are special occasions, right? Ha!

Anyway, when I got into the car my 10-year-old daughter went on and on about how she loved the smell of my perfume and how it reminded her of Christmas and... She told me all the things that the smell reminded her of---all happy memories of me. This, on one hand, makes me want to wear it more often---since she likes it so much. On the other hand, I think I'll stick to every now and then---I want her to keep those special memories, rather than allow them to wear out their welcome too fast!

I got to thinking last night about some of my early memories of my Mom. Here are just a few things---

As long as I can remember, her favorite color has always been purple. She had a green handled nail file that she always kept on the coffee table in the living room, along with a white flowered candy dish and a larger blue Carnival Glass covered pedestal dish. (By the way, Mom, I found this in an antique store last week...didn't buy it but can go back for it if you want it!) I remember sitting on her lap in the truck, late at night after a fishing trip, and playing Pac-Man with the window roller-downer thing and the lock button. This game was fine as long as I didn't touch the door handle! Several scents remind me of my Mom: Enjoli, Lady Stetson, Charlie, Wind Song, lavender, cinnamon rolls. My mom likes to watch Looney Tunes cartoons and she used to sell Avon.

When I was little, she liked to watch Dynasty and General Hospital and the Ogilvie lady always reminded me of her...Victoria something. When I was in grade school, she tried to make every class party---bringing cupcakes, cookies, or other pretty treats that she had worked so hard on the night before. I remember orange frosted pumpkin cookies with candy corn eyes and green frosted stems on Halloween. Red Hots were a key ingredient for Valentine's Day. She even showed up to one party dressed as a clown---I acted mortified, but inside I was so proud!

I think of my Mom when I hear Olivia Newton-John's Let's Get Physical, as well as the Beatles or the Eagles. My mom makes the best fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and buttered corn. When I was little, I loved to watch her put on her makeup but she'd always kick me out of the bathroom---she still would! Two things that can always be found in my Mom's makeup drawer are Maybelline mascara---the pink one with the green lid---and the black eyeliner pencil that is painted red with the red lid.

The more I write, the more I think of so I'll stop for now! What are some of your memories of your mother---or another special woman in your life? It seems a lot of young girls dread the day that they become their mother. Not me. I've been praying to be more like her since I was a really little girl! It makes me proud to see the ways in which I've become more and more like her in looks and personality.

Happy Pink Saturday to all my readers---but especially to Mom!

This Article Will Feed Your Addiction.

It has occurred to me lately that I have an Internet addiction. My husband has teased me about it for a couple of years now---but I think there's really a problem here and I intend to fix it.

In preparation for this article, I did a little research into Internet addiction. I found that in 1995, the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery was formed, as an alarming trend had begun to emerge of people involved in compulsive surfing, Internet gambling, Internet gaming, and Internet affairs. There are actual treatment centers all over the US and abroad that serve to treat those suffering from Internet addiction. Wow.

Many people who wouldn't think of picking up a dangerous drug or alcohol habit would be offended if they were told they had an Internet addiction. What defines an addiction anyway? According to www.netaddiction.com, meeting five of the following symptoms would make you a candidate for diagnosis:

1. Do you feel preoccupied with the Internet (think about previous online activity or anticipate next online session)?

2. Do you feel the need to use the Internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction?

3. Have you repeatedly made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use?

4. Do you feel restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use?

5. Do you stay online longer than originally intended?

6. Have you jeopardized or risked the loss of significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet?

7. Have you lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet?

8. Do you use the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)?

Personally, I'd say just one of those is an indication that you might be taking things a little too far...

I've been thinking about why I might find myself turning to the Internet for entertainment/distraction/avoidance. I think the main thing that is drawing me lately is FarmVille on Facebook. My brother, a game designer for EA Salt Lake, says that these types of games are designed to build an addiction fast. They start out by rewarding the player for every small accomplishment but, over time, it takes longer and longer to achieve a similar result and accomplishment. Others have realized the addictive nature of the game as evidenced on the Facebook page, How To Quit FarmVille!!

I think it's that sense of accomplishment that draws me to FarmVille. I told a friend the other day, only half-joking: "It's pretty bad when my house is trashed but my farm looks great!" Now, I wouldn't say my house is necessarily trashed, but there are definitely areas of the house that I never seem to "have the time to get to". The sense of accomplishment after housework is short-lived around my place. Even though the kids have all been trained to pick up after themselves, a house inhabiting nine people is bound to avoid spotlessness! My farm, however, is a place that is orderly and peaceful all the time---and I did it all by myself!

Recently, a fellow Facebooker and distant relative (whom I've not yet met) took a Facebook quiz about me. The question was, "Do you think Sarah spends more than eight hours a day online?" His answer was, "Of course not. She is a good mommy." Wow.

Because of the huge amount of guilt that washes over me when I read that, let me preface this next part by reminding myself that I am a good mommy. Anyone who knows me will agree. However, does my time online interfere with the kind of mommy I want to be? Absolutely.

I'm ashamed to say that it's very possible that I do spend eight accumulated hours online on some days. I usually feed my newborn in front of the computer, but if his feeding is done and I'm not, then I tend to stay longer. He eats every two hours right now so that time definitely adds up fast! It is summer though so I just keep telling myself that the kids are on summer break and have lots of free time so I'm just giving myself the same...ha! Still, I feel guilty...there's so much more we could be doing.

I'm not going to beat myself up about it...I'm just going to make some changes. First thing that is going is FarmVille. Just the thought that someone designed it to be ultra addicting ticks me off and makes me want to boycott it out of spite! There are so many other things I'd like to be doing online. For instance, I'd like to continue my ancestry research on Ancestry.com. I would also like to write in my blog more, as well as read the articles others have written in theirs. I'd like to craft, sew, and scrapbook more. I want to take on some DIYs and beautify my house. I want to learn to play my guitar, Celtic harp and cello. I'll also be starting back to school this fall online.

All of those things will feed my creative soul and bring a sense of accomplishment---and we'll ALL be better for it!