Garages

I know the initial purpose of a garage was to house and protect the car. But they have also become warehouses for
tools,
gardening equipment,
freezers,
refrigerators,
old art,
paper towels,
out of season cushions,
luggage,
bicycles,
chairs,
boxes,
packing materials,
ladders,
garbage cans,
artwork not worthy of being indoors,
laundry supplies,
excess big box purchases,
shoes.
Yes, those are just some of my garage's contents and it drives me nuts. You cannot open a car door for fear of hitting a planter pot on one side or a 3' by 5' mirror on the other or the other car, with little green or white dings to prove it's happened. The mirror was moved here almost 10 years ago, never hung inside but it can't leave!!!
It's a nearly impossible space to keep clean....think oil drops, leaves, spiders and more. It has been, past tense, the residence of a 4' black snake, a bird and a black widow spider, to my knowledge. Who knows what other creatures have come and gone (hopefully)?
But I am grateful to have it, nonetheless. For 6 years in new York I didn't have one...think snow, so I am appreciative.

I am happy that we can put the cars inside but I just wish someone, anyone would clean it up. Are you listening, Mr. Someone???

UPDATE: He listened and didn't read this post. The garbage can is full. There's a nice pile for the yard sale and the floor is squeaky clean....almost. Hopefully the mouse we disturbed finds a new home!

Flowers

I am not a floral, flowery person. I virtually never wear prints of any sort, just a rare stripe or check. I don't decorate my home with florals either-no photos of buds or sprigs and no flowered chair anywhere! I do have plants indoors as well as outside and if one of them decides to bloom, I'm over the moon.
There is nothing like this time of year for flowers and I do enjoy them. When my hard work from digging in clay soil rewards me with a perennial bloom, I am gaga!
So today I just want to share my 2012 garden....so far! The last photo is an odd,yet beautiful flower from an indoor plant. You'll have to wait for the "O" post to see my orchids....talk about over the moon!!!!

Expectations

If you're an online seller, you mentally have certain expectations and hopes about your product. I always thought "Maybe this is the next pet rock or Cabbage Patch doll or hula hoop"......wrong approach.
False or misleading expectations can lead to disappointments. Beauty is in the eye....you know the phrase! And what I may think is an indispensable thing of beauty and function can be seen as a worthless piece of junk by another.
Make what you like. Create what you believe in. Find a niche. Prepare to be disappointed and then it won't hurt as much. We have winners and bombs and with that comes experience and knowledge. Don't over inflate your expectations. If one or two sell, terrific. Three, very nice. Four,hmmmm, maybe you have something. Take it slow. Do your research. Listen to experienced friends. Don't overstock with supplies, just in case.
The world changes so fast it is hard to keep up. One of my "winners" are my magnetic bookmarks. I have been very pleased with the sales. I had a reasonable expectation but I did NOT anticipate (how could I?) the advent of the Kindle and the Nook tablet readers? Many still read 'real' books but now I have to pause and adjust the expectation.
Again, create what you enjoy and love to do. There are bound to be others with your sensibilities and they will enjoy your product. Just don't expect there to be a line outside your door with crowd control guards...not likely.

Drive......

Is drive a noun? A verb? An adjective?
All!!!
1. to send, expel, or otherwise cause to move by  compulsion: to drive away the flies;

2. to cause and guide -to drive a car

3. to force to work or act: He drove the workers until they collapsed.

4. urge, compel.

Well, for me, Drive is the name of my grandson's travel elite baseball team. They are all driven little guys. And I drive all over to watch them play!! It is so enjoyable to watch these future men learn about sportsmanship, develop their skills and have great passion for the sport. They are a driven group! I know how sports had a positive influence on my son throughout his youth and I wish the same for these fellows. Oh, and they won a tournament last week...so proud!

Connect-Comment-Create-Coexist

I love reading the comments that people leave here on the blog. I also love to comment on other blogs & I even read other comments. I believe it's validation and a way to connect with others who may be alike or different, doesn't matter. It's letting the writer know they have been read and that something may have been stirred, a connection. To me it's almost silly to open the door-read a blog-and then not say hello! They are saying "Come in!"
Many blogs are  creative outlets for the writers and making connections through comments is crucial. Many blogs are tools to show creations & comments are helpful. And in the blog world as well as reality, it is vital to coexist.
So this commentary is really short because I am off to comment on others and make some creative connections while striving to coexist!!!

C is also for clocks!!!....and to coexist, my dream.

And B is for.......

First off I must tell you I am participating in the A to Z Blogging Challenge so you will see and hear alot more from me than normally! The posts will be short and sweet.

Today's letter is B and an easy one for me!

buttons

Braden

buttons

boys

Baba

blog

buttons

baseball

bananas

and did I say buttons?!!!!

Imagine life without buttons...

Can't believe I left off my name from that list!!!! Barbra....

A is for Apples

For 2 days now I have been thinking about apples. I have a recipe to make for next week which is basically apples and walnuts and a few other ingredients, a semi-sweet concoction.
The recipe just says 'apples'.....Delicious? Granny Smith? Macs? Macoons (can't get them here anyway)? Fuji? Cortlands? Honeycrisps? Galas?
Life was so much simpler with fewer varieties but some new things make life so much better. I'd like to do a taste test of apples one time....fun, not fattening.
But I haven't yet decided on what type of apples to use. Maybe I'll mix it up since I need about 5 but maybe that will muddy the taste.
Questions...Does the color of an apple affect its taste? Size? What's your favorite?