Monday, July 13, 2015

Three Quotes



Out in blog land, some bloggers are taking the three quote challenge where they share three of their favorite quotes. Lois at TheEcoGrandma has shared hers and tagged me to do the same. It's not as easy as it sounds. As we all know if you have access to the internet, you also have access to endless numbers of meaningful, humorous, or helpful quotes.  So picking just three was next to impossible. However I "tried not to sweat the small stuff" and pick three that I have gone back to then and again over the years.


1. Everything you've ever wanted is one step out of your comfort zone. - Anonymous -


I am a cautions person by nature. I like to have things planned and predictable. My sisters say that I like to have control over things and I think they're right. That's how my cautious personality feels the most comfortable. And most of the time, planning is a very good thing. I find I waste fewer things including time and money when I have a plan. However, I think I miss out on somethings when I am always trying to be in control. 

One of the views from our spur of the moment hike.
So while I wouldn't exactly call me spontaneous or a risk taker, I am trying to get out of my comfort zone more often these days. For example, one time while driving the long drive back from my mother's house, I suggested we stop at one of the parks along the way for a hike. Usually the only stops are bathroom stops because we "have" to get back and do our laundry and whatnot to get ready for work the next day. Well, we did stop and had a lovely hike that took us to a great view. And we didn't really use up that much time. Now this is a favorite stop of ours. That was a small step out of my comfort zone, but one that had a big payoff.

When I thought about the quote more, I realized that I have more examples to share where I have stepped out of my comfort zone that have really made a difference for me, but it's time to move onto the next quote. I'll share those another time.


2. Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise.  ~Michael P. Garafalo,  gardendigest.com

Anyone who has tried to grow anything can relate to this one.  No matter how hard you try to plan (see quote #1), you have to realize that you can't control everything--especially Mother Nature. It might rain too much or it might rain too little. 
Storms may blow down branches (or whole trees) or hail may pelt your plants into oblivion. The bugs, birds, deer, rabbits, groundhogs, etc. may eat your whole garden one morning for breakfast. I've had all of these things happen to my gardening attempts--many times. When these things happen if "I didn't laugh, I'd cry."

The rabbits eat more than their fair share of what I don't want them to, but they sure are cute to watch.

So how do I deal with it? Sometimes not very well, at first, but then I remember Nature is a much bigger force than man/woman will ever be able to control and and you'll drive yourself crazy if you think you can. Then I try to shift my attention away from my garden to other parts of nature. How do thunderstorms form? Where are the rabbits' nests? What kind of bug is that? How many eggs did that bird lay? And I find that I get such enjoyment out of learning about those things that I forget about when my gardening doesn't work out the way I wanted. Well, I really don't forget about how all of my hard work was "changed" by Mother Nature, but I do try to "make lemonade out of lemons." That has been the whole purpose of my Second Looks. :)

(By the way, does anyone remember the Chiffon Margarine commercial from the 1970's with the quote, "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!" That is what has been playing in my head since I started writing about the gardening quote.)


3. He who laughs.....lasts. Erma Bombeck

Erma Bombeck had a great sense of humor especially about every day things and she was a great role model for us all. I try to channel my inner Erma and when I'm not in the best of moods, I try to remember that "Laughter is the best medicine" and do something to have a good laugh. It might be watching an old Andy Griffith show or a funny video on YouTube. Or I may just take a trip down memory lane and remember some of the silly things Wally and Theo used to say. Or maybe I'll check an Erma Bombeck book out of the library to read. 

Now for our laugh of the day, take a look at the titles of some of Erma's books.
  • Just Wait Until You Have Children of Your Own, Doubleday, 1971. Written with Bil Keane.
  • I Lost Everything in the Post-Natal Depression, Doubleday, 1974.
  • The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank, McGraw-Hill, 1976.
  • If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?, McGraw-Hill, 1978.
  • Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession, 1983.
  • When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time to Go Home, 1991.
  • A Marriage Made in Heaven ... or Too Tired For an Affair, 1993
  • All I Know About Animal Behavior I learned in Loehmann's Dressing RoomISBN 0060177888 HarperCollins 1995


7 comments:

  1. 3 quotes would be quite a challenge for me. It seems like it would depend on my mood and what was going on in my life at the time. I like yours! And yes, I remember the Chiffon margarine commercial, although I wouldn't have remembered the brand name if you hadn't written it.

    Erma Bombeck is a classic. Today I checked the latest Dave Barry book out of the library because I wanted something to read which would make me laugh. Sometimes he's a bit over the top and crude for my taste, but he is funny. Erma was classier with her humor.

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    1. I usually like Dave Barry, too, when I'm looking for some lighter reading. I find sometimes I have enough drama going on in my life that I don't want any more in my books. That's when I seek out Dave Barry type books. I hope he is a good distraction for you.

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  2. Mother Nature--my friend and I were just at Fred Meyer and she saw these bags of living Ladybugs. She decided to buy a bag. We joked and joked, about it being a felony to leave them in a hot car, and since there are supposed to be 1500 lady bugs in that bag, that she better count them. I asked if she would video "the release" and she laughed. I know she bought them to set them free.

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    1. We don't have Fred Meyers around here, but they are grocery stores, aren't they? I've never seen lady bugs for sale at a grocery store or for that matter any store around here. Sounds like a fun shopping trip.

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  3. I loved your quotes and post with them. It was a wonderful pondering moment, and made me start to think of some I would use.

    The Mother Nature commercial with Mother Nature with a garland of flowers in her shortish brown hair and her long flowing white dress? No way I can remember that. I am way too young


    When I was a kid Erma Bombeck's column was in our local paper. One day she wrote an article about what being a mom meant. She said something to the effect of wearing plaid pants to the grocery story and putting on the closest pair of socks, green girl scout ankle socks. We looked at my mom in the kitchen wearing brown pants and the same girl scout socks. My sister and I died laughing. (Or not, maybe I'm too young for that story also)

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    1. That's too funny that your mom was wearing "Erma's outfit." I bet that's a classic family tale.

      I know you're too young, but do you also remember the jingle at the end of the Mother Nature commercial? "IF you think it's butter, but it's not, it's Chiffon." BTW, Chiffon was the first soft margarine, so it was a big deal.

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  4. Finally, I am caught up visiting with you. I had looked at your three quotes while my granddaughter was here but didn't have the time to comment. Thanks for playing along.

    Yes, I most definitely remember the don't fool Mother Nature commercials and I think we are going to pay for thinking we could control her, and pay dearly.

    I loved your quotes. Erma Bombeck was one of my favorite writers. Her stories were hilarious and were a great way to see a problem in a more positive light.

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