The Gramzie Chronicles

Don't panic, this is not exactly what you may think. I know there are many, and may God bless them, who are already putting up Christmas. I say that if it is something that shines a light in the midst of the shitshow by which we are all being affected, go for it! Now, I'm a hard and fast weekend after Thanksgiving decorator. You do you without any judgment from me. Some years I go all out with everything I have; others, like this year, it's more pared down. I'm just not feeling it this year, so I'm keeping it simple, sister. Randy is rolling his eyes at that, knowing it may not evolve that way. I'm pretty sure my decision will hold this time. Actually, it's come to my attention that the decking of the halls may be happening all the time here, however inadvertently. Randy was about to take over my chair the other night when he reached out and picked up a long strand of hair that had taken up its home on the back of the chair. I don't shed much but do tend...

It's Friday. Two Grands were sent off to school after breakfast and showers. The big kid at home was up and out, as well. My daughter is way out of town, working 12 hour shifts for her preceptorship toward her nursing degree. The news was a typical representation of the discord in our country, and I broke the carafe to our coffeemaker, not in protest, it was an accident with my granite sink. I'd become used to sleeping all night long until recently. I enjoyed not experiencing panic and anxiety, or those horrible feelings of being unsettled. I know my friends will understand when I'm not engaging as much in social media. Instead of just a step back, I'm clear out in another room. At least for now. I decided I needed to dust off my coping mechanism, make an adjustment or two, before I end up causing some real negative impact on my well-being.   I relish my morning routine, that won't change as the peace I get is worth being a bit selfish about that time. What I did do...

  When we were finally able to move back into the kitchen, it was such a frenzy to get to some semblance of normal. While all the items had been boxed with what went together, I really had no plan for what would go where, mainly because I had no idea with what amount of space I'd have. That resulted in finding a general idea of what worked and where it all fit. Now, after working in the new space, I realized I needed to fine tune the cupboard organization. Actually, it began with my spice rack and evolved from there. Yes, I'm the mouse with a cookie... It occurred to me that the spices had been ignored in a box for over 6 months, and aside from the "regulars", there were several I hadn't touched in a long time. So when I found a dried herb that I could no longer smell what it was, it got emptied into the trash. Same with a few that had solidified into hard-packed blocks, needing to be broken up just to get out of the bottle. Fortunately, I had replacements for tha...

  There is so much information out there about self care. What I've found is that one thing may work for one, but not the other. It's a more matter of finding what works for you. This post is probably the most inane of what you might read today. I just feel the need to blather a bit. In my opinion, if it requires a lot of money to purchase services, products, gadgets, equipment, and whatever, that can be more of a deterrent than a benefit. We all have that guilty pleasure in which we indulge, yes? For example, I'm a clothes horse. This blog is also a form of self care for me. It isn't as though I blow buckets of cash into my wardrobe, but I do invest in that which makes me comfortable and fits well. I don't claim to be a fashion maven; I just know what I like and try hard to make sure it's flattering, if nothing else. During my last few years of purging and organizing, I've actually been more cognizant of not stuffing my closets and drawers with just anythin...

  This is not about me. If you saw my post with a picture of Nancy, you've come to the right place. With Fall officially here, it's time to introduce you to her. She has quite a story! Fall is my season. I'm a fall baby. I love the weather, especially when it gets a good freeze that gets rid of those tiny obnoxious no-see-ums.  My mom, Mary Ann, used to produce some of the most incredible craft items, from wooden painted jewelry to spectacular stuffed dolls. I'll show you my Santa when the time comes. But for now, you need to get to know Nancy. I had the advantage of having a November birthday. This particular year, Mary Ann had brought this wooden witch to life. There were several made, special order of course. One particular day, a potential customer stopped by the house to view some of the items Mary Ann had available. The witch was standing in the living room, a gift for me. When the customer commented on how she'd like to have it, Mary Ann told her it was Nancy...