Color-coordinated book-marks

When I go to a store that has a paint department, I frequently select several of the paint sample cards. I enjoy picking out the colors and dreaming about what the walls will look like when I repaint. As a result, I often have a handful of the cards sitting with me on the sofa.

One day when I was in the midst of reading a book, I realized I needed to check on something. I absentmindedly grabbed a piece of paper to mark my place and went on my way.

When I returned to my book, I was delighted to see that I had picked a paint sample card that complemented the book cover. Now I make a habit of recycling the paint sample cards by using them as book-marks.

Turkeys

There are turkeys living in my neighborhood. Yes, real ones -- the birds.

As I drove to work today, the tom decided to cross the street in front of me. I slowed and let him pass. Since the car windows were down, I "encouraged" him to speed up, and he did. I thanked him and we continued on our ways.

That made me think: how do I deal with the people who are turkeys in my life?

My first response is to try to avoid them as much as possible. Of course, avoiding an issue doesn't really remove it from my life. It just adds to the pile of things I carry around in the back of my mind. And all of the things I'm subconsciously dealing with distract me from the projects I truly want to do.

So, how to deal with turkeys?

It may take some time to figure out why they are a turkey. If I really stop and think only about it, I may realize it was a simple misunderstanding. At that point my problem is resolved and I can move on.

It may be that they truly are unhappy people who want everyone else to join them in the gloom and doom club. In that case, it really is better to avoid them as much as possible.

As is often the case, they are probably nice people who don't see the world the way I do and I need to agree to disagree and look for all of the things we do have in common.

So, the next time a turkey crosses my path, I'll look for the common ground rather than the differences -- and continue on my way.

Summer rains

Since the summer rains have begun, the daylilies, sunflowers and cosmos have begun to flower. The grass now requires a weekly "haircut" and the frogs are singing on a daily basis as they celebrate the returning moisture.



Another result of the rain is mushrooms. Several have popped up along the driveway.



The tomatoes continue to grow, some successfully, some not. There are people who have so many tomatoes that they give away bushels and bushels. I am not yet one of those people. As a matter of fact, the tomato plant that has produced most successfully so far, was a volunteer!



Still, I look forward to my annual tomato adventure. As with many other areas of my life, each year I learn a little more and make a little more progress.