Electronic Overload

Hey, friends...I've been lost in cell/cyber world, and am still spinning. How many operating systems does a civilian have to know? How many cell phone cords and accessories....minutes, ringtones, EVDO, GSM....aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhh! You get the picture.
















Actually...today, you don't get the picture...not my own, anyway. I'm still not home, and though I do have my new camera phone with me, naturally, I don't have the right cord for downloading pictures. Nor does this computer have bluetooth, which is something else I'm having to learn about. I'd much rather be using my REAL camera anyway...the Christmas present I got in July. (We thought we'd do that, so as not to be stressed about the present thing in December.) It was a good thought...and I do like my camera...which, as I said, is not with me.

Sooooooo...I may be "off my blog" for a bit, and attempting to get my electronic world back together again. Stay tuned...I'm determined to keep writing, and to continue photographing things I love...I'm NOT giving up!

Swings and Swingsets

Hey! It's a sunny day, and I'm thinking of summer things, and something most of us remember as our first vehicle: a swing! What could be better than flying high in the air, then feeling that uncontrollable let-down, only to be up again, in no time! Little did we know, then, what an analogy of life we were living in our play time!

The swing to the left is at my friend's cabin, "up north" in Minnesota. It's just like the one that my Grandpa made. That was one of my favorite things about going to his farm....as a little kid, I just fit right in there, and there were always plenty of cousins around to push. (Though sometimes, a bit too severely!)

We had a swingset in our backyard. The kind that had a glider on it, and one leg that always jumped a bit if you swung too high. Plastic seats, with a design that followed you (on the back of your legs) for the rest of the day! Occasionally, I'll see a rusted out one in someone's backyard, now considered a "safety hazard", because it's metal and had bolts. Now that I think about it, I did once require stitches because of a bolt in playground equipment. I'm sure I'm stronger for it.


The beautiful swingset with Lake Michigan behind it is in Holland, Michigan. It reminds me of the one at the park in the town I lived in as a kid, in Minnesota. My girlfriends and I still went there to "swing and chat", up until a couple of years ago, when they replaced it with something smaller and less fun. Kids just don't know what they're missing. Height is everything, in a swingset! And a worn patch of dirt, or sand, is necessary....not asphalt. What a view of the lake!

I used to pretend I was flying to a different destination, each time I got on a swing. Go figure. Now I do! But I'm more inclined to be swinging on more mundane swings, these days....like the porch swing. I'll take what I can get. (I think CasaTini could use one of those tall, double swingsets, though....don't you?)

Have a "swingin' weekend"!

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

One thing about camp....no matter how long you're there, one day it will rain. Not sprinkle. It will pour down rain. In England, they put a positive spin on it, by saying "It's a bit FRESH out, I say!", when, in fact, it's raining. Add fog and call it London Fog...(like the coat in the picture)...but it's raining. You know the tune. (Click on tune for a 70's flashback video...I'm sure you'll enjoy the dancers!)

Speaking of tunes, there are so many good songs about rain, that I think I'll share some of my faves with you today...(the BJ Thomas one above, isn't what I'd call a fave....of mine, anyway!)



Ever heard Buddy Guy sing "Feels Like Rain"? I like this rendition which he performs with John Mayer. Buddy also sings "Change In The Weather" on that same album, which makes me wonder if he had a few too many rainy days at camp.

Johnny Cash is one of my all time faves....I actually got to meet him and his lovely wife, June, once, (God rest their souls), but that was before I'd even heard him sing "How High's The Water Momma?" Rumor has it, that this song is based on a true story. Yikes!

Here's one last fave...Andrae Crouch...I love the "Tribute to Andrae Crouch" CD...lots of great artists singing his songs of praise! This one's about Noah and the Ark. "It's Gonna Rain".

Uh-oh...I can't find that one online...here's a substitution: Sonny and Cher singing "It's Gonna Rain Outside". Not a fave, like Andrae, but available.
Meanwhile, the one I can't find online is on the album to the left. Love, love, love the whole album.


Sooooooooooo.....it rains. People write songs about it. Some of us listen to those songs, and spend their rainy days blogging, cutting and pasting, hoping that other people will appreciate their taste in rainy day songs.

Alas, a hint of optimism: The sun IS gonna shine in my back door someday. Then I'll take my own pictures for this blog in all the good light...and we can all camp out and roast hot dogs.
Meanwhile, it's raining at CasaTini.

Favorite Things

Hello friends...and thanks for returning! Please disregard the underlining today. I can't seem to make it go away. Do you ever have "one of those days"? Today is that day for me. My pictures are not in the order I'd like them to be, I'm making frequent spelling errors, and it's so foggy outside that I can't even see CasaTini from my window. All this, plus the fact that it's Christmas, remind me of the lyrics: "...I simply remember my favorite things - and then I don't feel so bad!"

Ironically, yesterday my friend at work and I were laughing at how our "list of favorite things" differs so much from what they would have been years ago. This discussion started when I pulled out my much-loved Perlier White Almond Body Cream, which smells like wedding cake to me! Heavenly!
You know you're "maturing", when your excitement over your new insoles is greater than your excitement of your new shoes! My aunt sent me an ad for these over twenty years ago, before comfy, squishy shoes existed, other than in sneakers. They make all the difference when you're wearing heels! I ordered them recently, and could hardly contain myself when they arrived in the mail! I don't remember being that excited when I got them the first time!

Note some other favorite things below. (This is what's above my sink.) My collection of convertible Hot Wheels are right below the stemware. What favorite collections do you have?


If I had written the "favorite things" song, I'm sure I'd have different lyrics. Mine would include:
"black cocker spaniels and white goldendoodles, nieces and nephews who I just love oodles, days out with friends, TJMaxx with my sis, these are just some things that fill me with bliss!" ...and "Ice cream containing chips and Junior Mints, rides with the top down and when hubby grins, hot Abuelita and cool autumn nights, these are just sev-er-al of my delights...."


"...when the bank breaks, when the job's hard, when I'm filled with stress,
I simply remember my favorite things, and then realize....I'm blessed!"

Wow! I really feel better already! I'm not kidding! Try it for yourself!
Man, I'm gettin' goofy. Thanks for reading. (...and sorry about the fact that you'll be humming that song in your mind for the rest of the day!)

December Birthdays

Hey there! Welcome back! Especially to all my fellow December Baby friends! You know who you are...and there are a LOT of you out there. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!


Did you know that turquoise was once the December birthstone? As was blue zircon, blue topaz, and many blue glass stones that are sold in sets for little girls, like the one my big brother gave me in third grade. I still have it, of course.

Now that you understand why I chose "turquoise" as the font color today, you might even know why I'm putting this picture of a pointsettia here. Isn't this pretty? This was a centerpiece given to us at Thanksgiving.....but I'm sure it was chosen, so it would last through December!

People seem to think that December kids have a bad rap....getting all mixed up in there between holidays. I've never thought it to be so bad - especially since mom always made it a point to wrap the presents in BIRTHDAY paper. The worst part about a late December birthday, was that you had to "share" your school birthday party with all the other kids with birthdays over school break. So, we December babies have bonded from the early years. I guess there was one other not so great time for a December birthday...but that has more to being the youngest family member...and all the siblings would go back to college on my birthday. (That probably only happened once - obviously made a big impression.) But for the most part....

There could be worse. I have a friend whose birthday is January 1. Can you imagine that? Never getting a birthday card in the mail on your birthday, because the mail isn't delivered that day? Not to mention that when people turn their calendars, it's OOPS! Missed THAT one! My niece who was born on December 31, however, can be confident that there will always be a party on her birthday! Somewhere. Just like anyone (in the U.S.) who has a birthday on July 4th!
My brother has a birthday on "tax day". Yikes. Talk about stressful days leading up to that! See that clock? That was one of my childhood birthday presents. I woke up to that for YEARS! (If I remember the sound of that long-ago-broken alarm, everyone in the family woke up to it!)
I still treasure the message: "Have a Happy Day!", and, much to the annoyance of my friends, still say it often! As there are SO many of my friends with December birthdays, I'm wishing you ALL a "Happy Day", and a Happy December!

Routine and Organization

Where, in heaven's name do I begin on THIS topic? It's FRIDAY, and my DOW Friday picture didn't upload! Shucks! Oh, Hi! ..and thanks for stopping by!

As you can see from my dishtowel/curtain decor, I need a bit of help in order to get my daily act together. Who doesn't? That must be why I love Day-Of-The-Week (aka: DOW) dishtowels! Not only do you remeber to change your dishtowel every day, but you get a hint at something practical to do WITH your day! For example, if my Friday dishtowel picture had uploaded properly, I would have known what to do today. I do remember that I'm attempting to write.
Daily. In this blog. To establish a habit. A routine.

I never realized what a creature of habit I was, until I had a Golden Retriever named Fred. Apparantly, I always opened the curtains in my house in the very same sequence daily. I didn't know that until the one day I did it backward. Fred, who normally followed me around the house, kept turning around that day...until I realized he was trying to lead me around the house in the OTHER direction!

Now, these buddies have different routines. They get thrown off a bit when we go to bed too late, or don't get their scheduled play time in the field. Bailey, on the left, stares at Tom until he HAS to take her out. Her routine involves tennis balls, running, tug-of-war, and, if there's a body of water near, swimming. Luigi, on the other hand, is primarily here to be coddled. He's about the food, the petting, the sleeping and the following. They make a great team of "siblings".
But, they like a schedule. For example, I took that picture yesterday at about this same time. Guess where they are now!

The "real" job that I'm fortunate to have, is dependent on scheduling. Yet, because of that job, my time off is very unscheduled. Hence, my need to establish routine. I keep trying...I have calendars and lists throughout the house and my purse. I try to start my day with devotions and prayers, but often wind up with coffee and lists instead. How do you begin YOUR day? In an organized fashion, or haphazardly, like me? "Always organizing, never organized."....that's a symptom of Attention Deficit Disorder. It applies to many of us, diagnosed or not. So, how do we either rectify or embrace our sloppily scheduled days?

May I suggest that you take the part of your day, when you're "at your best", to use as "productive" time - whether actually producing something, making calls, writing, or whatever is most important on your schedule. I tend to lose productivity after 3pm...which then becomes "brainless task time"....laundry, baking, cleaning....a good time to accomplish things that require no brain, but keep you physically moving. (like the DOW curtain suggestions!) And, "Forcryingoutloud"! When you actually have a day off, give yourself permission to take that day off!

This blog is my attempt to establish the routine of writing daily. I wrote daily for YEARS, and yet, the habit died. Is it true that it takes 21 days to establish a habit? If so, I've still got a couple of weeks to go. How about you? What good habits are you trying to establish? Maybe we can encourage each other to stick with it! Then.....at the end of the day.........we can REST.
(After a long, hot, soak!)




P.S. Clean on Friday. Bake on Saturday. When to blog?

Have a great weekend! Good-Lord-willin', and the creek don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow!

Acquaintances and Reacquaintances

Hello friends...new friends, used friends.....(who wants to be an OLD friend?!)...okay, I do. Which brings me to todays topic....a lifetime of friends!

As I get into "this blogging thing", I've made numerous realizations. I've found that there are "gazillions" of interesting people out there! That, in itself, is no surprise, but that there are so many whose blogs make me want to sit down and have a cup of coffee with them, or tour Europe together - now THAT surprises me!

See, I've moved - MOVED - 30 times in my life. (...and I don't even consider myself to be "mid-life" yet!) My childish attitude of not wanting "new" friends - "I just want my OLD friends - closer!" keeps popping up. When that attitude is just about to destroy my chances of ever ironing pillowcases for company again, I meet someone...somewhere. An ACQUAINTANCE.
Whether it be online, in a class, at work, travelling, or a friend of my mom's that I just "have" to meet...I keep meeting people, in life and online...who I find absolutely fascinating.

What I find funny, being a lover of words, is that a REacquaintance brings warmer, fuzzier thoughts than an acquaintance! Usually, words that start with "re" have a USED, do-it-again feeling. Recycle. Repair. Regress. Regret. But to be reacquainted? It's not a word one generally uses with people or things not enjoyed! Which brings me to the picture of the bike.

Yesterday, I was compelled to take pictures of my old Western Flyer, thinking I might sell it on Etsy. It's not been used for ages, and I felt like "clearing out". I hadn't even looked at it in months, except to move it, in order to reach something else stored in the garage. But I got reacquainted with it, as I polished it for it's modeling debut. It looks so pretty, and the darn thing just makes me HAPPY! Like an old friend! So, the fact that the pictures were too large to upload on Etsy convinced me (temporarily) that I'm meant to keep it! Also, like an old friend!


Old friends have been returning to my life more regularly in the past few months. Some, I've hunted down. Others, have reappeared by pure happenstance. All have been refreshingly welcome. There is a bit of joy that comes with aging, despite what people will tell you. When one is young, people seem to leave....whether breaking up, moving, or moving on to other friends. When one is old, people migrate back - like a homecoming - returning to the warmth of an old friendship. And THAT, my friends, also makes me HAPPY!


Is it time for you to get back in touch with an old friend?

Encouragement, Working Hard, and Networking

Come on in! It's another beautiful day at Camp Liz, and there's so much to be thankful for!

No need to wait for a holiday to give thanks! (Bear with me, as I learn to blog...font and color will change frequently here!) I'm a big believer in encouragement, both giving and receiving of it. So here's to giving credit where it's due!

CasaTini was recently graced with the presence of one of my favorite encouragers. I see my sister-in-law once a year, and she never fails to gently push me forward toward unrealized goals. As someone who picks up a copy of What Color Is Your Parachute every few years, I'm perpetually attempting to determine what I want to be when I grow up. Some days the quest is fun....and other days, I just go to my "real job" and forget the quest. So, Thanks, Janet, for your encouragement!

Sometimes, friends encourage without even knowing it. As "actions speak louder than words", we've all got friends who inspire, by being themselves! One friend inspires with regard to WORK, where we all need it, in PURPOSED worKING Thanks, Rusty, for believing in hard work, responsibility in leadership, and a relationship between faith and work life! Another friend inspires with her observations of everyday life, by writing regurlarly in her blog called Wonders Never Cease Thanks, Becky, for peaking my interest in writing again!


Spouses encourage one another, too, and mine is no exception. Where I tend to delay, procrastinate and "hold myself back" when I could "move forward", he will try anything, head into it full force, and has a "can do" attitude. Here's an example of his latest creation - hand hewn logs from barns, cabins and a mill, became a 2000 square foot cabin. Whoa! But, wait! There's more! Not only can he fly jets, build log homes, add really large numbers in his head and get our dog to come inside the house, but he also grows fraser fir Christmas trees, and can make the wreaths, too! Thanks, Tom, for showing me that a range of talents are meant to be explored, not hidden.

So, where does the networking come in to play? I'm a believer, that when God puts people in our lives, He does so for His purposes, not necessarily ours. He shows Himself through each of us, and we're to pass on our observations of Him, through our "network" of friends, family, and acquaintances. You never know, when YOU will be someone else's encouragement. Thank YOU, for visiting!

What's In A Name?

Hey! Thanks for visiting!

What you see to the left, is what I call "CasaTini"....which, in my world means "Tiny House"....or "House of Tinyness". In Italian, I suspect it means nothing at all! But that's okay, because it's not actually IN Italy...though that might be nice! CasaTini is in my backyard. It's a whopping 10'x10' log cabin, built last year by my husband. It was supposed to be his...until I set my eyes on it!

So, what does this have to do with "Camp Liz?" Well, within the walls of this small, solid structure....is a poorly painted sign I made that says "Camp Liz". That's all. No exciting story. I've always thought it would be neat to have little buildings that people (nieces, nephews) could stay in while visiting, that would give them a sense of independence. Kind of like those little New England camps. Only, I have just one building, instead of ten. Mine, however, has a deck twice the size of the cabin, with a view of mountains and the sound of a creek that runs below. Neato. It is from this place, that I pretend to write. (In truthfulness, I'm looking at it from my house, and there is snow on the ground now.)

I'm often asked, "So, what do you DO out there? Camp Liz is a place of respite...I turn on the little electric fireplace, sit back in my Grandpa's naugahyde LaZBoy recliner, and I read my devotional books. I write letters. I draw floorplans. Make greeting cards. Nap.

Soooo....this is the "introduction", background blog....from here....this blog could go anywhere. More later!