TODAY THE WORDS are OCTOBER SCENTS. I am seeing so many wonderful and amazing displays of fall recently and it brought me to examining what I feel about fall and especially the month of October. While thinking about October, my sense of smell became a priority of thought. As fall enters our lives; we start thinking toward the baking times, the family reunion events, the upcoming holidays and it made me realize October starts my nostrils to fill with the warm and comfort smells we associate with Fall.
No blog message on the October Scents would be complete without the scents of mountain air and beautiful leaves with their awesome display of color. This video was composed from our recent changing of the leaves vacation. Photos in video are property of Greg and Arline Miller
Pumpkin flavored everything seems to be in all ads, coffee, shakes, lattes, cookies, pies, tarts and breads bring the strong allspice and cinnamon flavors. Answer me this…..As I listed these tasty and fragrant delights, did your smell sense rise especially when I mentioned cinnamon? Let’s go on a little memory trip and visit the gingerbread land.
When I was young and always ready for something Momma had baked; I looked forward to her tea cakes, her pound cakes (which we would always catch her out of the kitchen and jump up and down to cause it to fall; bless Momma’s heart it was years before she realized her cakes would have been beautiful if we hadn’t sabotaged her efforts to have it taste better), but I remember her gingerbread best of all. I could smell the fragrant aroma of the gingerbread loaf before I made it home from school. Walking up to our house, I could smell it’s wonderful smell and I was so excited. I am speaking from my heart but this was a unanimous contention for all of my siblings. It was a wonderful and joyous moment and now a great memory of those spices and more importantly, the love shown by our Mom.
We, as humans, are susceptible to smells as much as taste. We are usually expressive either pro or con about smells and aromas. Fall presents strong aromas and seemingly tied to family gatherings and holidays. This brings me to my focus for this message.
Now for the deeper thought……As our senses tell us what aroma is filling the air; we need to be as conscious of who and what is filling our lives. We need to “sniff” our home environment and smell out what children are hearing and watching. We need to appreciate the warm, comforting times we spend with our family and friends. We can seek out God more and take time to thank Him for all the sweet blessings and treats of life. We want to cherish the good taste of life while we smell the cinnamon aroma of living and loving life.
STIR UP A POT OF YOUR THOUGHTS. I have been asked numerous times how I decided to become a blogger. I give credit to a mutual writer, Peggy Mercer, who encouraged me to write a blog when I didn’t even know what a blog meant. She had seen my posts on Facebook. That was in 2012 and I have been blogging since that time. I say this not to boast as I have never learned the art of revenue generating from the blog but I enjoy sharing my thoughts. I hope you do the same as we are thought creatures and that sets us apart, maybe good or bad, but it is what it is! Start writing your thoughts down and I may see your blog soon.
Arline’s side note: Each of us have thoughts, some deep and some lighthearted. Share those thoughts or at least write them down. I cannot tell you how many times a quote I wrote long away will show up and be so appropriate for the current situation or emotions I am feeling. Don’t worry about the grammar as I write the blog from my heart more than my mind and sometimes I get amused at how I phrase certain words but that is only a thing.
LIVE LIFE; LOVE LIFE; AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST by respecting your mind and loving your heart. Both are essential components to a HAPPY LIFE.
(C) COPYRIGHT 2012-2017 Arline Miller/Sipping Cups of Inspiration with all rights and privileges reserved. Any third party material if the source is published will be sourced to original location. All photos are not exclusive property of Sipping Cups unless credited.
MY INTERNAL ALARM CLOCK may not be a subject popular to many of us who never like the sound of a loud, annoying alarm going off but what I will be discussing is our internal alarm clock. We, on the average, do not listen internally but we all have one. Let’s see if it might be a benefit to “tune” into this device sitting idly by. First, how many of us know the history of the alarm clock. I found a great reference on this subject from clockhistory.com
History of the Alarm Clock
The alarm attachment to a clock is a simple concept. There is often a notched cam rotating every 12 or 24 hours. A lever falls into the notch, releasing a gear train that drives a hammer which repeatedly hits a bell. The alarm may ring until the weight or spring runs down, or there may be a shut-off switch.
Mechanical clocks for the home might have been made as early as the 13th century (see Revolution in Time by David S. Landis, Belknap Press, 1983, p. 80), and it is likely that the alarm was available very early on.
The oldest alarm clock I found referenced is a German iron wall clock with a bronze bell, probably made in Nuremberg in the 15th century. This clock is 19 inches tall with open framework construction. It hung high on the wall to make room for the driving weights to fall. Alarm clocks from the 1500s are in existence. See The Clockwork Universe, German Clocks and Automata 1550 – 1650, Maurice and Mayr, 1980, Smithsonian, Neale Watson Academic Publications, New York.
The book Early English Clocks by Dawson, Drover and Parkes, Antique Collectors Club, 1982, documents some alarm clocks. An example is a lantern clock ca. 1620 that has an alarm set disc on front of the dial. One longcase (grandfather) clock ca. 1690 is documented, as is a 30 hour hanging timepiece alarm by Joseph Knibb.
English clockmakers emigrated to the United States in the 18th century and no doubt carried the idea of the alarm clock with them. It has been incorrectly stated that Levi Hutchins of Concord, New Hampshire invented the first alarm clock in 1787. His alarm clock is predated by the German and English ones mentioned above.
Simon Willard of Grafton, Massachusetts, made alarm time timepieces sometimes called “lighthouse clocks” in the 1820’s. Some of the American wooden works shelf clocks of the 1820’s – 30’s have alarms, as do many brass movement shelf clocks after 1840.
Setting the Stage for the American “Tin Can” Alarm clock
30-hour “Marine” movement signed by L. (Laporte) Hubbell and bearing Hubbell’s patent date of October 10, 1865. This type of movement was developed into the movement used in the top bell tin can alarm clock.
Top view showing large balance and spring, and the “ratchet tooth” type of detached lever escapement that uses a verge with solid steel pallets. The “pin pallet” escapement became popular in the 1880’s, but makers such as Seth Thomas and Waterbury continued using the ratchet tooth escapement into the 20th century. Movement courtesy of Burt Kassap, photos by Kenneth Clapp.
This represents the first evolutionary step in the development of the “tin can” alarm clock: the addition of an alarm to the marine lever timepiece movement. Here, the alarm is an “add-on” to the basic movement – notice the riveted “ear” at the bottom to hold the alarm mainwheel.
In this Ansonia movement, the alarm is now an integral part of the movement. (Remaining steps in the alarm clock movement evolution include making the movement closer to square for better fit in a smaller round case, switching to rear wind, and adding alarm trip wheel with stationary alarm hand and setting knob.
Seth Thomas Clock Company was granted a patent in 1876 for a small bedside alarm clock (small compared to an American wooden-cased shelf clock). This may have been the first clock of this type, or perhaps other makers were working on this idea at the same time. In the late 1870’s, small alarm clocks became popular, and the major US clock companies started making them, followed by the German clock companies. The predecessor of Westclox was founded in 1885 with an improved method of small clock construction.
Westclox introduced the Chime Alarm in 1931. This clock was advertised with the slogan “First he whispers, then he shouts.”
The Westclox Moonbeam was introduced in 1949. This clock’s alarm flashes a light on and off, then a buzzer sounds. Westclox now sells an excellent reproduction of the Moonbeam.
General Electric-Telechron first marketed a snooze alarm in 1956. The first Westclox Drowse (snooze) electric alarms were sold in 1959 and could be set for five (5) or ten (10) minutes snooze time.
Many interesting alarm clocks have been made over the years. There was the Tugaslugabed. This novel alarm clock would wake you by pulling your toe. When you went to bed, you would place a loop around your toe and the alarm clock would be bolted to the floor or footboard. Eight seconds before the set time, an alarm would ring and then at the set time this clock would pull hard on the loop to awake the soundest of sleepers.
The latest in high tech clocks is the internet alarm clock, which can also be used as a countdown timer or a stopwatch. The WorldClockshows many statistics such as population, births, deaths, deforestation, gallons of oil pumped, etc.
If you are interested in collecting alarm clocks, you might benefit from the Alarm Clock Chapter of the NAWCC.
Contributors: Jeffery Wood
LET’S LEARN TO USE OUR INTERNAL ALARM CLOCK from an article from Sleep.org
Learn how to open your eyes naturally in the morning.
There are two specific kinds of mornings. Some of them involve you coming to a sudden start from a deep slumber as soon as the alarm goes off loudly. In those situations, you groggily get ready for the day, wishing you could go back to bed. And then there are other mornings when you naturally wake up a few minutes before your alarm goes off. On those mornings, you start the day feeling well-rested and alert—the complete opposite of the first kind of morning.
What if you found out that you can actually train yourself to have a lot more mornings where you wake up without the jarring interruption of an alarm? The key is understanding how to use your body’s natural circadian rhythm to your benefit. Your circadian rhythm is what makes you feel alert or sleepy, depending on the time of day. When you let the rhythm wake you up naturally, you feel alert because you were ready to stop sleeping. When an alarm forces you to wake up before your body is ready, you feel groggy, as you may have interrupted a deep stage of sleep.
To stop using an alarm, you need to create a consistent rhythm from day to day. If you go to sleep around the same time every night and, before drifting off, tell yourself when you need to wake up in the morning, you can actually train your body to come to at the right time. But this won’t work if you’re exhausted. No amount of circadian rhythm training can help you if you are getting less sleep than you need.
First, figure out how much sleep you really need (hint: most people require seven to nine hours). Then count backwards from when you need to wake up to find out when, exactly, you should be asleep. If, for example, you should be going to sleep at 10:00pm, rather than 11:00pm, try moving back your bedtime gradually in 15-minute increments—10:45pm during the first week, 10:30pm during the second week, and 10:15pm during the third week. When you transition slowly, you give your body more time to adjust to the new schedule and it’ll be easier to nod off.
An hour before your new bedtime, start a bedtime ritual to get ready for sleep. Dim the lights, turn off electronics, and try to relax by taking a warm bath, reading, meditating, or stretching. It can also help to make sure to expose yourself to bright light in the morning. So if you do wake up a big groggy, open the shades first thing to start to get your body clock back on track. Also, just to be on the safe side, set an alarm anyway. After all, you don’t want the anxiety of worrying that you’ll oversleep to get in the way of dozing off.
Blogger Side Notes: My husband and I don’t use an external alarm clock unless it is a very important meeting, appointment, and/or event we cannot afford to miss but even if it is set for an exact time, we find ourselves waking up and turning it off as we have learned to rise early, get started without having to rush, and set a positive tone for our day. I realize that not all people are early risers, but if you can develop this trait your life will become more productive and less stressful. These suggestions above would be helpful if you desire a wonderful change in your life. The birds sing more freely, the air smells fresher, food tastes better, and exercise becomes routine.
LIVE LIFE; LOVE LIFE; AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST by beating the rooster up and do a little crowing yourself.
(C) Copyright 2012-2017 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material if recognized is sourced to the original location for reference credit. Photos are not the exclusive property of Sipping Cups unless stated.
CALLING ALL SEENAGERS seemed to be a great fit for me since my 50th Class Reunion happened last weekend. Yes, that is right 50 big ones since I roamed the halls of my high school. You may ask what is a “seenager” and I came up with that word when I witnessed the high energy from my classmates. It is a combo from Senior and Teenager and I think I will keep this word to describe those who are seniors but who act like teenagers.
Here is what I witnessed and I have to confess, participated. I think most of the ladies took a little more time with our hair and for those of us who wear make up…a little more cover up and maybe a new wrinkle cream. I ordered a new top so I was in the same mode. The guys may not have gone to as much trouble but I know the ones who have lost some or all of their hair took a look and wondered how many classmates would say something.
I had a silent laugh when Claire handed me my name tag with my senior picture and looked at that famous 60’s hair flip. I thought that picture’s title should be changed because I am a true senior now and that was a little premature titling all of us teenagers. Time would take care of that error and with time comes a lot of change and all of them not necessarily bad changes. I am including a video from that night and it includes the names of the classmates who have passed away. I was asked to do an inspirational short speech which I based on Where Do We Go From Here. It is humorous but what I found which made it hilarious were the amusing jabs from my dear friend Jan Malphus Downing backing up my remarks.
Our class president James O Smith pays tribute to our former classmates with a lighter follow up speech by Arline Miller. Videoed by Jan Malphus Downing with great interjections of humor.
As I woke up the morning after the reunion, several thoughts came to mind and I posted a Facebook message which I am attaching as it sums up a seenager’s response. Each day is valuable and we shouldn’t miss an opportunity to show love and friendship to each other.
Bloggers Side Note: May all of my classmates remain Seenagers with the energy, passion, and friendship. Our bodies may be reflecting a Senior Feel but in our hearts and minds we are and will always be the teenagers at Coffee High.
LIVE LIFE; LOVE LIFE; AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST by remaining yourself because you are unique, interesting, and lovable just the way you are.
(C) Copyright 2012-2017 Arline Miller with rights and privileges reserved. Photos are not exclusively property of Sipping Cups and if source is known, reference credit will be given. All third party material if known will be sourced to original location.
HOW TO ENJOY A REUNION is the focus for today’s post. I want to post the definition of the word reunion before we get into the discussion. According to Google:
re·un·ion
rēˈyo͞onyən/
noun
an instance of two or more people coming together again after a period of separation.
“she had a tearful reunion with her parents”
a social gathering attended by members of a certain group of people who have not seen each other for some time.
“a school reunion”
the act or process of being brought together again as a unified whole.
“the reunion of East and West Germany”
Basically there are two popular reunions:
Reunion of classmates, employee groups, unions, fraternities, associations, and military groups.
Reunion of family or close friends
TIPS FOR ENJOYING YOUR CLASS REUNION. THE GUIDEPOST offered a great guide and with my 50th class reunion I thought I might benefit from these suggestions:
by Brett Leveridge – Posted on Aug 8, 2016
In my experience there are three schools of thoughts when it comes to class reunions: There are those who wouldn’t miss theirs on a bet, those who wouldn’t attend one if their lives depended on it, and the rest of us, who find the prospect of reconnecting with our former classmates both intriguing and daunting.
I’ve always taken the approach that a class reunion will definitely be interesting, and it just might prove to be fun. I attended my (gulp) 40-year reunion a few weeks back, and, like the trio of 10-year gatherings that preceded it, it was not only less painful than I might have feared, it was downright enjoyable.
Skeptical? I understand. But hear me out: Following the reunion, I turned to my classmates on the Facebook page we’d used to organize the event and asked them for tips that might help those people who were hesitant to take the plunge to enjoy the experience, and I have to say, the class of ’76 came through with flying colors. Here are 10 indispensable tips for making the most of your next reunion, even if it happens to be your first.
1. If it’s the first time you’ve attended a reunion, whether you graduated ten years ago or thirty, make plans to go with a friend.
It helps to have someone you’re close to who can serve as “home base” as you try to overcome your nerves (almost everyone experiences a bit of nervousness at a reunion) and reach out to your former classmates.
This tip grows more useful with every passing decade. If you’re just ten years removed from high school, chances are pretty good that you’ll recognize everyone at the reunion, but after forty years, I can tell you from first-hand experience, not all the faces you’ll encounter will be so familiar. And when you do recognize former classmates, you may briefly struggle to recall their names. A little time with your yearbook could a long way toward alleviating both problems.
It’s also a good idea to bring your yearbook along to the reunion. Your friends who are struggling with all those not-so-familiar faces and names will thank you as they sneak a quick peek at it.
3. Use Facebook to (re)connect with folks ahead of time.
Facebook and other social media outlets have really had an impact on the reunion experience. Ten years ago, at my 30-year reunion, I had very little idea what was going on in the lives of my classmates or, in some cases, how their appearance had changed.
But this time, I was familiar going in with the basic circumstances of many of my classmates’ lives and was able to quickly move beyond the typical catch-up chatter (and in some cases, to avoid asking awkward questions) and spend some quality time with them.
Don’t sit at a table waiting for classmates to approach you. It’s perfectly normal to feel shy or be nervous—everyone goes through that—but try to push past it. Just find a familiar face or two and say hello. It won’t take long at all before those nerves dissipate.
5. Introduce yourself when greeting a classmate you’ve not seen in years.
Don’t put people on the spot by asking them if they remember you. They may recognize your face right away, but still experience momentary difficulty in recalling your name. That happens to most of us at one time or another, so simply state your name when saying hello. Believe me, your former classmates will appreciate it.
6. If you sometimes feel you don’t know what to say, ask others to tell you about their lives.
As you learn about the paths your classmates have followed through life, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be inspired, and you’ll be reminded that everyone goes through good times and bad. It’s one thing we all have in common.
7. Look at everyone with new eyes and a forgiving heart.
If you encounter someone who hurt or offended you in high school, try to let bygones be bygones. Chances are, they don’t remember the incident and if they do, they are very likely now sorry for their behavior. Give everyone you encounter at the reunion a pass on the past and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how decent and kind most of your classmates have turned out to be.
8. Don’t compare your insides to anyone else’s outsides.
With each passing year, the social pressures of high school—the resentments, the rivalries, the unrequited affections—fade away, but many of us are still tempted to compare our lives with others’. You may encounter some people at your reunion who appear to be especially prosperous and happy, but we can’t always know someone else’s pain or troubles, past or present.
After a decade or more, it’s a good bet that every person in the room has experienced setbacks and heartbreak as well as good times, so be happy for those who appear to be doing well, sympathetic to those who might be struggling, and embrace your own journey, wherever it has led you.
And most of all, don’t worry about your weight, your hair (or lack thereof), your wrinkles, or what you’re wearing. Before you know it, you and your classmates will all feel as if you are back in high school and you won’t even know notice the changes the years have wrought.
9. Spend time with people you didn’t know very well back in the day.
This is one aspect of reunions that can be very rewarding, especially for those of us who went to larger schools. There were more than 450 people in my graduating class, for example; there’s no way I could have been close with them all.
At the past couple of reunions, though, I’ve had the chance to become better acquainted with some former classmates I was only casually acquainted with back in the day, and it has been a gift. Not only can you reconnect with old friends at your reunion, you just might make some new ones.
10. Don’t talk politics—focus instead on the memories.
This was especially good advice for me, as my recent reunion took place during this heated election season, but it’s a good policy for any such gathering. Who needs friction when old friends have convened to celebrate the bonds they share?
If you follow the above advice, I think you’ll find your reunion to be a positive experience, one that is not only interesting but rewarding and fun.
Our thanks go out to the members of Oklahoma City’s John Marshall High School, Class of 1976, who contributed their wisdom, experience and insights to this story.
Here is another good guide on Enjoying Your Family Reunions:
It can be different this year. Imagine walking into your next family reunion feeling excited about being there and knowing that you’ll leave feeling happy about your whole experience.
It’s your choice. You can use these five tips to make your next family gathering the experience you’ve always wanted.
Tip #1 – Decide What You Want to Experience
We call this creating an intention. If you aren’t very clear about what you do want to experience, then it will be difficult to make that happen. And it may be hard for you to even notice it when it is happening. How do you get clear about your intention? Ask yourself these questions:
“How could my family and I benefit from this?”
You might choose fun, caring and harmony. Or peacefulness: “If my experience today could only be peaceful I would walk out happy and wanting to return next time.” Take some time to imagine all the qualities that would make your next family gathering a wonderful experience for you.
“How could you and your family benefit from this quality of experience?”
Perhaps you could gain a greater sense of connection. You and your family might really look forward to seeing each other again. Or you might be more playful with one another. The time you spend identifying these benefits will help you remember your intention if things start to get challenging at the gathering.
Tip #2 – Know That People Are Doing the Best They Can
You might ask: “When Aunt Sue complains about everything under the sun, is she doing the best she can? When Dad criticizes me about every part of my life, is he doing the best he can?”
Yes. They’re doing the best they can.
Stop and think about it. Do they look like they’re having fun at these times? Are they being effective at getting what they really want? If they knew a way to take care of themselves that was more fun and that worked better at getting what they really wanted, don’t you think they would do it?
So if you get upset seeing people act the way they do, remind yourself: They’re doing the best they can. Then get back to creating what you want to experience as fast as you can.
How do you do that?
Tip #3 – Don’t Take Things Personally
“Don’t take it personally if someone says that what I’m doing is stupid?”
You can avoid taking things personally if you start with this understanding: Everything people do or say starts with a desire to support something they value.
And what could that be? Guess.
Your father says to you: “How can you possibly think that starting your own business is a smart thing to do?” He might value security, or predictability. He might be worried about how you’ll continue to pay your bills. Believe it or not, this might be his attempt to contribute to you. And, he is Doing The Best He Can.
So the next time you hear something you don’t enjoy, the next time you want to defend yourself and justify your position, STOP and remember: It’s about them. Don’t take it personally.
Instead, try to be curious. “Wow, I wonder what’s going on with them?” Imagine yourself in the other person’s shoes: “If I said or did that, what might be going on with me?” See if you can guess.
Tip #4 – Clarify Your Understanding About What Others Want
One big cause of upset between people is not being sure about what they want from each other.
Have you ever heard people express concerns or complaints like: “I just don’t know how I’m going to pay my rent this month?” Or: “I hate it when we start eating without giving thanks first.” Or maybe a family member starts talking to you about how your favorite cousin is making a mess of her life.
What happens then? Do you feel confused or uncomfortable? Do you try to justify yourself, explain the situation, or give advice?
Whenever you feel uncomfortable hearing people’s concerns or complaints, we believe this is partly caused by your not understanding what they want from you.
We suggest you start asking for clarity. Say or guess out loud what you think the other person might want from you.
Before you start, remember tips 1, 2, and 3. Get present to the intention you created for the gathering. Remember people are doing the best they can. Don’t take things personally.
Suppose cousin Jim says: “I just don’t know how I’m going to pay my rent this month.” What does he want? Ask him: “Do you want to brainstorm some ideas about how you might get your rent this month?”
Or when your grandmother says: “I hate it when we start eating without giving thanks first.” What does she want? Ask her: “Would you like to see if somebody is willing to give thanks before we eat this year?
If your guesses aren’t accurate, they’ll let you know by saying something else that gets closer to what they do want. Your guess will open the way for a conversation that can lead to more understanding and less stress for both of you.
Tip #5 – Develop Your Ability to Be Grateful
What you focus your attention on grows.
If you constantly notice things that cause you pain, then you will continue to suffer. “How inconsiderate he is.” “She doesn’t care about me.” “He’s the most selfish person I’ve ever known.”
Try focusing your attention on what you do enjoy.
It may sound simple. But ask yourself: “What would it be like if I spent my day simply noticing everything that I enjoy about being with my family?”
Imagine looking for all the things that you do enjoy, and being thankful for them. “It smells so good in here; I can’t wait to eat.” “I’m so grateful that everyone cares enough to spend time together.” “It’s nice that my mom enjoys having these gatherings at her house.”
How would you feel if you only focused your attention on the things you do enjoy?
So here’s the plan for a family reunion experience just like you’ve always wanted 1. Decide what you really do want to experience 2. Know that people are doing the best they can 3. Don’t take things personally 4. Clarify your understanding about what others want and 5. Focus on what you enjoy
Following this plan is the fastest, easiest way to enjoy any family experience.
Note from Arline Miller: In all things, familiar or unfamiliar surroundings, BE YOURSELF! You have qualities and unique traits that are your own and this is the best way to reflect to others the best image. I have been in many environments and crowds and what works best for me is not to “try to work it” and do what comes naturally to me. I suggest everyone do the same. It is okay to not interject something into every conversation and give the speakers your undivided attention. It is okay to smile and laugh when it is appropriate. The biggest advice I can give is relax, move around as much as you are comfortable, and remember the other people here are friends, classmates, etc. and they are feeling the same as you. HAVE FUN!
(C) COPYRIGHT 2012-2017 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges. Third party material is sourced to original location if known for reference credit. Photos are not the property of Sipping Cups unless stated.
