Cracked pot!

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been
made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.'

The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are
flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?'

'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.'

'For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are,
there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'

Each of us has our own unique flaw.

But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.
You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

And send this to any or all of your Crack Pot friends!!

Next time my friends say I'm a little cracked, I'll take it as a compliment!

Welcome to a new blog!

My friend Cathy has started a blog. Here's the link. It's called Catnabarn. If you frequent Rate My Space (HGTV), you may remember her.

If you love country decor, this is the place for you. She has done some fabulous projects and remodeling at her home. Not only is the inside lovely, but her outside spaces are just as wonderful.

Pop over and say hello and tell her Nan sent you.

Gotta watch little old ladies.

A dentist noticed that his next patient, a little old lady, was
nervous so he decided to tell her a little joke as he put on his gloves.

"you know how they make these gloves?" he asked.

"No, I don't," she replied.

"Well," he spoofed, "there's a building in Canada with a big tank of latex and workers of all hand sizes walk up to the tank, dip in their hands, let them dry, then peel off the gloves and throw them into boxes of the right size."

She didn't crack a smile.

"Oh, well. I tried," he thought.

But five minutes later, during a delicate portion of the procedure, she burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"I was just envisioning how condoms are made!"

Gotta watch those little old ladies! Their minds are always working!

Change your time?

Did you change your clocks? You don't realize how many clocks you have until you have to reset them all. I almost forgot to go to lunch since the time was different. LOL What do you think about changing the time? I think it's silly.

Obedient wife?

There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his money, and was a real miser when it came to his money. Just before he died, he said to his wife...'When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me.' And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put all of the money into the casket with him. Well, he died. He was stretched out in the casket, his wife was sitting there - dressed in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said, 'Wait just a moment!' She had a small metal box with her; she came over with the box and put it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and they rolled it away. So her friend said, 'Girl, I know you were not foolish enough to put all that money in there with your husband.' The loyal wife re plied, 'Listen, I'm a Christian; I cannot go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money into the casket with him.' You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket with him! 'I sure did,' said the wife. 'I got it all together, put it into my account, and wrote him a check.... If he can cash it, then he can spend it.'

I adore doors!

I'm not sure when I became interested in pictures of doors but I find them interesting. The one in the upper left was taken in Italy. No, I didn't go there. Darn. My friend did and he took this with the water flowing up to the doorway. It also has cute window boxes. The two center ones are from Spain. The upper right one with the lace curtains is from France. The lower left and right ones are from Italy too.

I have also collected some calendar pictures of doors that need to be framed.


The lace curtain one was the first one I bought at an art fair.
Close up in Italy.
This one came from an art fair, as well. I thought it was very unusual. My friends say it looks a little scary. The more I look at it, it is kinda scary. It's never made it to the wall.

Something to howl about!!!

My dog has a new role model. (See my Bailey on my sidebar)

Westminster Dog Show

Uno, the barking beagle became the first of his breed to ever win the coveted best in show prize at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Despite the popularity of beagles in the U.S., none has ever won the top spot in the 100 year history of the prize. Uno strikes a pose with handler Aaron Wilkerson Tuesday night, after winning best in show at the 132nd Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Watch his win!

Three cheers for beagles!!! Hopefully Bailey will use Uno's picture for some diet inspiration.

Happy Valentine's Day

I thought I would share my Great Grandmother's blanket chest on this Valentine's Day. It was given to her by her "sweetie", my dear Great Grandfather back in 1897!!!

Hope you're having a good day with your "sweetie" or family.

Hugs,

Nan

Things aren't always as they appear

A WOMAN was flying from Seattle to San Francisco. Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes. Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight. He could also tell she had flown this very flight
before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?" The blind lady replied, "No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs."

Picture this:

All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog! The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!


THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR.

A DAY WITHOUT LAUGHTER IS A DAY WASTED!!!

Going green.............

I am tired of buying cleaning products that are costly and that contain lots of chemicals. I bought some simple ingredients at Wal-Mart and I'm planning on trying some recipes for basic cleaning supplies.

Most modern synthetic cleaning products are based on age-old formulas using natural ingredients that were passed down through the generations because the chemistry was right. Going back to the original naturally derived ingredients is a way to make cleaning products that work, don't pollute and save you money. Most are found in your kitchen cupboards.
Non-toxic cleaning can give you a deep feeling of gratification in knowing that your family's health is protected, and that your home is a place for your bodies to rest and recuperate rather than promote harm.

Here's a site for simple recipes for CREAMY SOFT SCRUBBER, WINDOW CLEANER, OVEN CLEANER, ALL-PURPOSE SPRAY CLEANER, FURNITURE POLISH, VINEGAR DEODORIZER, MOLD KILLERS.
Edited to say: That's not my hairy arm in the picture. LOL

Gender Specific Driving Ettiquette

A woman is driving at night on a narrow country road. At the same time, a man is driving in the opposite direction on that same road.


When they narrowly pass each other at high speed, the woman rolls down her window and loudly shouts - HORSE! Immediately the man shouts back - *ITCH!
The man laughs. He is proud to have reacted so quickly to the shouting woman and takes the next turn in the road, maintaining his speed.



Moral of the story:
Men never listen, and when they do, they don't understand one word a woman says.

Looking at architecture in a new way.....

I love the idea of making framed wall art with pictures of letters in architecture or every day items. I found this site and I'm thinking of ordering. Here is another site. I suppose I could make this myself if I start looking at buildings in a new way. I usually have my camera ready.

I think this would be a great wedding gift. If you know of any other sites that have these, please let me know.

Government Warning!!!

*************GOVERNMENT WARNING*************
Do NOT swallow bubble gum!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist sharing this.

What a week......................

I am looking forward to the weekend! Gotta be better than the rest of this week.

Thursday night:
Bowling night. Bowled like crap. We lost all our games. Boo hoo...........

A winter storm is expected tonight and into the commute time tomorrow.

Wednesday night:

Had to attend a funeral. Freak accident happened to the brother of my H's aunt.

A 71-year-old man died after he apparently fell off a small tractor being used for the first time while working for the County Fish and Game Association, according to police.

The man may have fallen off the tractor or may have been checking the area of the mower deck when he was run over by the machine, according to the police report. The mower was not engaged, police said.

A neighbor noticed the tractor on top of the man and called for emergency services.

My husband's BD was today. We just had a quick dinner at Applebee's after the funeral. Not much of a celebration.

Tuesday night:




A heavy wind, rain, and snow storm blew through the county Tuesday night, leaving behind a trail of destruction. According to a press release , the storms were a part of a quick moving squall line that caused straight line wind damage in many areas across the central part of the state.

This was about 5 miles from us. Not to make light of this but.....................my husband immediately unplugged his new TV. I lit some candles in case we lost power. It was a relatively short storm but some very scary winds.
Edited to say that was NOT our house that was hit by the winds.

The twinkle in his eyes.

OMG.........You would think a new baby had been born yesterday. The twinkle in his eyes could just blind you. The smiles went from ear to ear. There she was...........a beauty...................the perfect picture.........................full of sweet sounds.........................and just in time for...................
THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My H's "new baby"

Your chocolate IQ

Have you taken the test for your chocolate IQ? I got 100% right. Yippee!!!!!!!!!
I just love chocolate, especially dark. What's your favorite food or drink made with chocolate?
I love chocolate cake and Godiva open oysters.

"A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands".

Learning to cuss!

A 6 year-old and 4 year-old are upstairs in their bedroom.

"You know what?" says the 6 year-old. "I think it's about time we started
cussing."

The 4 year-old nods his head in approval.

The 6 year -old continue, "When we go downstairs for breakfast, I'm gonna
say something with 'hell' and you say something with ass.

The 4 year-old agrees with enthusiasm.
When their mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 6 year-old
what he wants for breakfast, he replies, "Aw hell Mom, I guess I'll have
some Cheerios."
Whack! He flies out of his chair, tumbles across the kitchen floor,
up, and runs upstairs crying his eyes out with his mother in hot pursuit,
slapping his rear with every step. She locks him in his room and shouts,
"You can stay in there until I let you out." She then comes back downstairs,
looks at the 4 year-old and asks with a stern voice, "And what do YOU want
for breakfast, young man?

"I don't know," he blubbers, "but you can bet your fat ass it won't
be Cheerios."

Need your opinion..........

We are thinking of doing a little remodel in our master bath. We currently have a large jetted tub and a really dinky shower. Most of the time we don't have time to take a bath so often the dirty clothes hamper ends up sitting in the tub. The tub takes up a lot of space. My H wants to eliminate the tub and build a larger shower where the tub sits. He also wants to make a small closet for him on the end of the bathroom where the current shower is plus a little more space. I am so torn. I'd love a big shower but wonder about resale, not that we are planning a move. I'm thinking resale would be OK since we have another tub in the house. I also like the idea of a closet for him because that would give me the whole walk-in closet in our bedroom. But.............would I miss my jets???? Should we/could we put some jets in the shower for a reasonable price?

Got any good ideas for showers? We would do some sort of tile walls. I want a bench. I want an inset for shampoo etc.

About Exercise.................

This is dedicated to every woman who has ever attempted to get into a
>regular workout routine. A must read! If you can read this without
>laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you.
>
>- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>Working Out
>
>Dear Diary...
>For my fiftieth birthday this year, my husband (the dear) purchased a week
>of personal training at the local health club for me. Although I am still
>in great shape since playing on my high school softball team, I decided it
>would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and
>made my reservations with a personal trainer I'll call Bruce, who
>identified himself as a 26 year old aerobics instructor and model for
>athletic clothing and swim wear. My husband seemed pleased with my
>enthusiasm to get started. The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart
>my progress.
>
>Monday:
>Started my day at 6:00 AM. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well
>worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Bruce waiting for me. He

>is something of a Greek God - with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling
>white smile. Woo Hoo!! Bruce gave me a tour and showed me the machines. He
>took my pulse after five minutes on the treadmill. He was alarmed that my
>pulse was so fast, but I attribute it to standing next to him in his Lycra
>aerobic outfit. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted
>his aerobics class. I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching
>from holding it in the whole time he was around..... This is going to be a
>FANTASTIC week!!
>
>Tuesday:
>I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Bruce
>made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air - then he put

>weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made
>the full mile. Bruce's rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel
>GREAT!! It's a whole new life for me.
>
>Wednesday:
>The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying on the toothbrush on the
>counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a
>hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer
>or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Bruce was
>impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.
>His voice is a little too perky for early in the morning and when he
>scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt
>when I got on the treadmill, so Bruce put me on the stair monster. Why the
>hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered
>obsolete by elevators? Bruce told me it would help me get in shape and
>enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
>
>Thursday:
>Bruce was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin,
>cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half
>an hour late, it took me that long to tie my shoes. Bruce took me to work
>out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the men's
>room. He sent Lars to find me, then, as punishment, put me on the rowing
>machine - which I sank.
>
>Friday:
>I hate that bastard Bruce more than any human being has ever hated any
>other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic
>little cheerleader. If there was a part of my body I could move without
>unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Bruce wanted me to work on my
>triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the
>floor, don't hand me the &*@*#$ barbells or anything that weighs more than
>a sandwich. (Which I am sure you learned in the sadist school you attended
>and graduated magna cum laude from.) The treadmill flung me off and I
>landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone

>softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
>
>Saturday:
>Bruce left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice
>wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing him made me want to
>smash the machine with my planner. However, I lacked the strength to even
>use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the
>*$@#&$ Weather Channel.
>
>Sunday:
>I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and
>thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my dear
>husband will choose a gift for me that is fun - like a root
>canal or a hysterectomy.

First Kiss

It's your First Kiss and several questions might come to mind:

Is it the right time?

Is anyone watching?


Does your partner even want to?

Is your breath fresh?

AND,---Should you use some tongue?


Then you say . . ..

'What the heck!' and Just Go for it!!!