Tomorrow I have my left eye cataract removed and the corrective lens inserted. I had my right eye surgery last Wednesday and I am excited about completing this procedure.
I hope to return to my blogging soon afterwards and I appreciate all of you who have been reading some of my previous posts and checking out the other pages.
One of my objectives is to do a series of posts introducing some of the dishes I have learned are better for my health but are tasty to prevent the boredom. I have some friends who have Facebook pages on wellness eating and I will ask them to guest blog too.
I hope to “see” you soon.
Thanks for your patronage of the blog.
Here are the many looks of your blogger, Arline Miller with and without glasses. Wait a minute I think I resemble some animals in some of them. Just kidding but then again, I am not seeing very well at the moment……Until We Read Again…..Arline Miller
WHY NOT WHAT NOTS? I expect many of you may not have a clue what is a WHAT NOT and this is primarily the reason for this post. For some of you around my age, you will know what a WHAT NOT is, you will look around and see plenty of them around your home. Allow me to explain for those of you who have seen these trinkets, souvenirs, etc around houses of people in my generation and those who were in the latter generations. It is the collectibles you were warned as a child to not touch or pick up. The collection may consist of valuable collectibles or junk yard quality statues. Now, it is beginning to jog your memory. The curio cabinets with all of the glassware that have filled up to the point you have to turn your head to see them all. Why would I be asking WHY NOT WHAT NOTS? I have given this some thought since this inspirational topic and I think it is significant to our current life and events going on in society.
My curio cabinet of treasures of the heart and not of the worldly value
First, I concur we can collect too many what nots but who gets to decide how many is too many. I have noticed a pattern beginning in the generation younger than me and it represents a huge difference in our lives. Have any of you noticed that when Grandma or Grandpa dies, no one is claiming the WHAT NOTS and immediately an estate or garage sale occurs. The treasures of the past (whether actually monetarily measured) go for 5o cents or up to a few dollars. What I wonder, “Does the history of the treasured WHAT NOT leave the home too?”
I am a realist and understand that younger people are not into the same collectibles as we have been. I have accepted the future of THE WHAT NOT and it is not looking bright. I want to make an analogy of my observation of the loss of the real treasure in our society. As I observe, we are now a disposable society and younger people (there are exceptions) have lost the respect for history and tradition. See from the list I composed how would your children respond and I think you will see where I am coming from:
When my parents or grandparents die, I want to receive some of the what nots.
I stop and look at the collectible in the cabinets at your house.
I know the story/history of some of what nots/collectibles from listening to my parents/grandparents.
I am not interested in any of the stories on how or where the what nots came from.
I had rather collect Rock Bands/Celebrities paraphernalia than those antiques.
I LOVE LUCY collection at a beach bungalow. Yes, I heard the history behind this magnificent collection
Many what nots are found at garage/estate sales. History lost.
Wonderful collection of Lucy treasures
This cast iron skillet is from 3 generations in my family.
This antique chair has a history of its own.
How many of you received one of these as a wedding shower gift?
I have the first birthday present my Dad gave my Mom. Priceless to me.
I could have made the list a lot longer but you can make your own list and it may open our minds of a new way of thinking and I am not sure our disposable society will endure. Before we lay blame on the young people, let us absorb what got them to thinking in this direction. WE MAY BE THE BLAME.
Technology found its way into our generation. I remember the day I first touched a computer, DOS to say the least but that day changed my life. I found I could research all of the things I could find in a library at my desk. I stopped going to libraries. I found out I could make foods easier and I stopped cooking fresh, nutritious meals and substituted fast or frozen foods. I found out I could communicate online with emails, texts, tweets, and posts and I don’t call people as often. In this conversion, did I forget to listen to my parents and grandparents’ stories? Did you?
One more thing to think about? We are depending on DNA tests, ancestor links, but when did we ask our parents their life stories? Some of my favorite times were sitting down with my Mom and Dad and hear their adventures. Now, I ask, “When have you set aside family time to tell your story to your children?” Have you explained the history behind those WHAT NOTS in the cabinets? Did you tell them that rock you keep on the shelf was from your first time you met their Dad and it is priceless how he gave it to you? Have you explained the crochet doily was handed down from your great grandmother who could crochet even when her eyesight failed and she made it from memory?
When did we decide we had time to collect our WHAT NOT memories but not have the time to share the history behind them? We, our generation, have busied ourselves out of significance and young people found other things to occupy their minds.
Blogger’s note: I am not saying young people have to collect all of our WHAT NOTS but a few WHY DID YOU COLLECT THIS stories might give that angel on the shelf, that rock, that tiara from your beauty pageant participation, the statues from the horse shows, first place ribbon from the 4H project, and on and on. I suggest we all walk over to the curio cabinet and tell the story behind it. You may find the children or grands will find it and you more interesting. WHY NOT THE WHAT NOT? Just food for thought….Arline Miller
(C) Copyright 2012-2018 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges reserved. Third party material is sourced if known to original location for credit reference. Photos are not exclusive property of Sipping Cups and are sourced if known.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS WE TREASURE…and I should add THE MOST. Even though I am living in a blurry world right now until I have the cataract surgery in a couple weeks, I was reminded how much little things are huge in our world. I am focusing on some personal memories for this message but I want to exemplify the message by pointing out the “feel good” messages and news. They warm our hearts when we hear or even reach out to a total stranger and lend a helping hand. Right? You are going through your memory bank at this moment and pulling one or more of those “feel good” memories and your heart is beginning to warm even if it is freezing outside.
This inspiration started when one of my FB friends posted a video which I am linking for you to take a minute or two and realize how much we can touch another’s soul or have that same person touch ours. Please look and let it soak in before I go into some little, but huge tugs at my heart:
I added this because this was the second point of inspiration for this message and I want to share what was so beautiful and inspiring from our Mom’s actions. Momma lived on a fixed income so extra money was not available so she found ways to help others in the most creative ways. Until close to the end of her life, Momma would find out what her neighbors favorite dishes were and asking a place to eat that had to discard unsold leftover food to “bag it up” and when she was not able to load or unload it, those sweet workers would load her trunk with the otherwise discarded food and off she would go to several homes and she would blow her horn and tell them where she had their portions placed. Yes, it cost her a little in gas and time but she thrived on being a gifter and seeing them smile.
Another time when she was younger and working, she would bag up the leftover sweets and drive over to a home which had a lot of little ones who would yell, “It’s Aunt Bea” when they saw her smiling face. She would hand the bag of goodies out the window and drive off to another one. It gave her so much happiness to share what was available.
Momma grew up in the depression and she had the memories, not stories, of doing with little and any kindness from another was welcomed and appreciated with all of her heart. She never forgot one person who had helped her, cared for her, or sacrificed for her.
I could tell countless stories about Momma but I was doubly blessed with a Daddy who had a heart that was irresistible to babies and small children. He would give when he didn’t have it to see that little children had a little treat or gift. I will share this story which was posted by a family member who remembers to this day Daddy’s visit to their home:
Christmas is a time of giving and a time of receiving in the eyes of a child. After the gifts are open and Santa is gone it is a time for playing and excitement for many little boys and girls. There was a Christmas that two special parents were unable to buy gifts for their four little angels. It was Christmas day and these little ones were not allowed to go out and play with the neighborhood children. Their mother did not want the other kids showing off their toys; causing her to have to answer questions as to why Santa did not come to see them. As parents it was difficult not to have the money to buy your children gifts on Christmas.
There was a visit from the children’s uncle that day. The uncle cared for his brother’s family very much. The children were always excited to see their uncle and their faces would always light up. He asked his brother and sister-in-law that Christmas day, “Where are the children’s toys?” The stressed parents replied there was no money for Christmas this year. The uncle smiled and said that he understood. He said they may have to stay in today! But as soon as the stores open tomorrow, Santa will come to see them.
The day after Christmas Santa did stopped by. The children were excited and ran and played just like children should on Christmas Day. There were toys, crayons, paper dolls and little trucks and cars. Uncle Arlie and Aunt Bea helped Santa out and witnessed four little children jumping with excitement. Uncle Arlie and Aunt Bea were as special to the children as the children were to them.
Christmas is a time for caring, sharing, loving, forgiving and remember what family is all about. It is a time to make a child smile and helping those in need. All this comes from having Jesus in your heart. With knowing Him personally comes the true meaning of Christmas. Without him you will never experience how special Christmas can be.
To all of the Uncle Arlie’s and Aunt Bea’s out there I want to say thank you and Merry Christmas.
All of these stories can be matched by your memories too as I am sure there are the Aunt Bea’s and Uncle Arlie’s in your families and this brings me to the focus of this message:
Please grant me the blessing of gifting to others. Please grant me a charitable heart. Please allow me to share the bounties of this life. Please, Oh God I pray, let me follow in the footprints of YOU and my parents to share love and hope to all of those who are in need. LIVE LIFE; LOVE LIFE; AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST by giving little things and time so that others will think of us and smile.
Until We Read Again…….Arline Miller
(c) Copyright 2012-2018 Arline Miller with all rights and privileges reserved. Third Party Material sourced if known for reference credit. Photos may or may not be exclusive property of Sipping Cups and sourced if known.
TIME TO GET THE EYES BLUE AGAIN……I found out that I will require cataract surgery on both eyes. I will not be posting until I have both of the procedures completed. During this break, please feel free to check out the posts dating all the way back to 2012 to give you my take on a lot of subjects. I am nearing 1000 blog posts so check them out by going to the ARCHIVES right side that has dates by months and years and click on them for some reading.
I look forward to “seeing” you on the flip side when the baby blues are clear and not cloudy.
Have regular eye exams and take care of your eyes. Please comment on the blog on the older posts. I love reading your reactions and personal experiences.
