Job Update

4/20/15 -  All I can say is 3 am is pretty
early to get up.  I am working towards
making my get up time 3:30 by being
more prepared the night before.  I do not,
however, like having to go to bed early --
10 pm to get 5 hours of sleep assuming I go
to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
That doesn't happen by the way.  I may have
to dig out my old hypnosis tape.  That worked
for me when I was employed on 3rd shift.

To the right is my new pair of shoes called
Sloggers.  I am watering plants for 8 hours
a day with lots of water puddles.  I have worn
these for a couple days but still manage to get
my pant legs and feet wet.  I can only hope it
feels good this summer when the temperature
is soaring.  Of course, my curly hair is a
complete mess in the outside windy, damp
conditions.  Good news is that garden employees can wear a hat.  Hopefully mine will be here
any day.  That will also cut some hair combing time off my morning getting-dressed routine! Yeah!!

Running the cash register is getting a little easier, too.  There are a few procedures I have not mastered, i.e. WIC, gift cards, ad matching, opening Wal-Mart charge, warranty applications, etc.  Even some of the coupons give me a problem.  I will just carry on!   I am constantly busy with the watering so I see nothing but the plants in my area.  I am therefore unable to tell customers where to find the fertilizer, fake owls, batteries and lawn furniture.  I guess I could go in on my day off and look over the area, or during lunch break.   That's pretty much the update.  I don't mind the work.  It is good exercise and boy can I feel it!  I hope I make it through the summer.  I did hire in as a "seasonal worker". 

I am cookin' today............

4/7/15 - Tuesday:  It is one of those damp Spring mornings.  I think some vegetable soup would be a good thing, so I will be off early for ingredients.  I should know how to make soup without a recipe by now; however, I always bring out the "Betty Crocker's New Dinner for Two" cook book for reference.  I received this book as a wedding gift back in 1965.  I use a lot of the recipes to this day, i.e. Snickerdoodles, meat loaf, stuffed green peppers, penuche icing to name a few.  The fact that the covers are off, pages are soiled, torn, and loose from the binding are clear indications the book has been well-used.

To the left is the recipe I will use today.  I do add lots of other ingredients and love shredded cabbage strips in the soup over noodles. I guess the addition of marjoram, parsley and thyme is one of the flavor keys.

Speaking of key ingredients,  the addition of juice from one lemon added to bean soup makes a big difference I think.  I've been told that Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, said if he could only have one seasoning, it would be black pepper. It might be a good idea to start adding a little more to my cooking.

Water is not my friend.................

4/6/15 - I am hoping the mailman brings the replacement part I need for my bathroom faucet.  This will be the 3rd time I have had to make this repair.  It has something to do with the anti-scald valve.  After use, it becomes so clogged, hot water will no longer come out of the faucet  The old valve is shown in the picture.  The Pfister company sends a free replacement but the inconvenience of having to replace it is annoying.  Not to mention that I am not the best plumber and I am always concerned that I will break something,

Then, the water heater at the garage apartment has not received much use this winter.  I had to use it yesterday since I do not have hot water in my bathroom shower/tub area.  Just look what one shower did to my silver ring..............I guess it is the sulfur in the water.  This is the same ring I photographed a couple of days ago - my last post on Lapis Lazuli and Cobalt Blue. Now the ring looks almost copper.  It will clean up but it takes some rubbing.   Ahhhhhh!  Country living! 

Lapis Lazuli my current stone and Cobalt Blue

4/1/15 - A stone that has been popping up and calling for my attention is the Lapis Lazuli.  Lapis Lazuli is a stone of manifestation, communication, protection.  It helps with organization, dream recall and contact with guardian spirits.  My attraction to the stone started last year.  I found a Lapis ring that fit perfectly at a yard sale.  Then,  a Lapis Lazuli bracelet caught my eye in the gift shop at the casino.   I had earned several $$$ worth of points the past couple of years.  I don't like most of the gift shop items because they are glitzy, sequiny, leopard printy, Bobby Shandra labeled, resort-wear-style clothes and everything waaaay overpriced.   However, I decided to spend my points on the Lapis piece.....actually quite a few points = to $170.  There is also a ring that matches the bracelet in the gift shop priced at $140.

 My original strategy was to not waste my points by turning them into gambling credits.  I was going to use them to get a sure thing.  After buying the bracelet with my points,  I checked Ebay and found some nice Lapis rings, including shipping under $10!  I may take a new strategy and use my points to gamble with the hope of hitting something.  Even if I only make $10 it will be enough to get a ring!  ........................  In the photo with the bracelet and ring are a couple other Lapis pieces that I have had for years but never wore until this recent attraction to the stone.  Now, for the properties of this stone  There is a nice article on the stone and its properties available here.

Another blue item has popped up in my life.  This Wal-Mart associate vest.  I was hired 3/28/15 to work in the Lawn and Garden area.  I actually am looking forward to tending all the little plant allies.  Perhaps this is the event the Tower was forewarning.  A total upset in the routine of my life status which was "retired" for oooohhhh, say 10 years. 

Baseball Tarot Book & Deck by Mark Lerner & Laura Philips

3/27/15 - It looks like today may be a good day to stay in and work on some positive affirmations.  I usually draw 3 Tarot Cards every day for a little insight.  For several months, I have been using the Baseball Tarot Deck by Mark Lerner & Laura Philips. This deck gets a two thumbs up rating from me.  The back of the book describes this deck as follows:

 LESSONS OF THE GAME, LESSONS OF LIFE.  Are you batting a thousand or in a slump?  Has your boss thrown you a curve or caught you off base?  Baseball actions have become metaphors for life, and BASEBALL TAROT applies these metaphors as a means of finding insight into love, work, relationships, dreams, decisions, dilemmas, and virtually any other personal issue.  Expertly translated from traditional tarot, it is an enterraining and accessible way to seek guidance and advice through familiar baseball situations, players and lingo.  From the All-Star to the Umpire, from Error to Grand Slam, each card image evokes the card's original meanings.  The book explains how to pose questions, lay out the cards and interpret the answers for yourself and for others.  It's insightful and inspiring.  Now step up to the plate!...............

Yes, step up to the plate!  Even if not a seasoned Tarot reader,  you can get a sense of what is brewing with the three cards I have today:

Nine of Balls - Strikeout - mourning a loss
XVI Whole new Ball Game (traditional Major Arcana Card would be The Tower) - shocking change, deeper truth comes out
Seven of Balls - Spitball - unethical means

On a positive note, Balls represent a traditional Tarot deck's swords so they refer to conflicts within one's mind, as well as with others.  Therefore although a change is definitely coming (the Tower/whole new ball game) maybe my thoughts are what make this seem unfair and a lot worse than it really is........................... 
          ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
****I must admit The Tower/Whole New Ball Game is not one of my favorite cards.  I remember years ago there was a time when almost every reading I would draw/receive the Tower.  That was the time prior to my divorce.  Just saying, I have respect for the cards when the same message comes through repeatedly.

Old Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards, copyright 1940

3/26/15 - I have been collecting Tarot decks for
some time.  I am astounded by the number of
decks available and the subject matter.  Just the
other day I took a picture of my oldest deck - 0ld
Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards by Whitman Publishing Co , copyright 1940. 

Today on Mary K. Greer's Tarot Blog she mentioned this deck (see below) along with some much older decks.

Old Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards, Whitman Publishing Co., 1940.

This 36-card deck is essentially a Lenormand with twelve cards that vary from the standard—some a mere substitution of a different image and others, entirely new but drawn out of the Mülhausen/Drake selection. It has more of an emphasis on love and marriage. There have been three different artistic renditions of this deck, all designed in the style of children’s book illustrations. There are no playing card associations.

 

Also included in her discussion: The Evening World’s Home Magazine (New York) reproduced the original “Philippe” (heirs of Mlle. Lenormand) Instruction Sheet in their October 19, 1903 issue. Included are the standard Kunst-Comptoir 1854 images that one is encouraged to cut out to make one’s own deck. Here is the article if you wish to print it out and do the same.

I have saved this image and hope to be able to blow it up on the library photo machine. 



I just checked Ebay for the value of the 1940 deck I have.  It is listed now from $28.00 to $80.  My deck was found in the Smith house. 

Project gone wrong.................

This post is a bead project gone wrong.  I longed for the book Beaded Bracelets to KNIT by Leslieanne Bellar.  I finally found it on sale and promptly completed the beaded bracelet in the photo.  I have to admit, I do not care for it.  It is just too bulky.  I will probably take this one apart and salvage the beads.  If I try any more patterns from this book, I will do one of the flatter versions.