The Mayonnaise Jar

My niece Kathy did a repost on Facebook with the story of "The Mayonnaise Jar." 
I did not write the story below or have any input, but these words have touched my heart and I wanted to share it. 

The Mayonnaise Jar

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and fills it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. 

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. 

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. 

He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES”. 

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.” he said.

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you...” he told them.

“So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. 

The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

Pazcki Day is Tomorrow

Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, and  Paczki Day are some of the pre-Lent celebrations that I am aware of. As a Polish Roman Catholic, I am most familiar with and celebrate Paczki Tuesday.

I will do my best to tell you how to pronounce this word phonetically.

•Singular noun is Paczek (pohn-check)

•Plural noun is Paczki (punch-key or poonch-key)

Paczki are a yeast dough that is fried then filled with custard, raspberry, apricot, or prune, and is covered with sugar or a glaze. While this Polish sweet treat resembles a bismarck, the dough of a Paczki is much richer.

My mother was Irish, and my father Polish we lived in a Polish neighborhood that provided all of our shopping needs within walking distance. Our Paczki always came from the Polish bakery that was just down the street.  Some of my friends' parents' and grandparents' would prepare Paczki and serve them hot from the frier. I have had the pleasure of many warm homemade Paczki. Thank you, Mrs. Semasko and Mrs. Werenski.

It seems that before the start of  the Lenten season all of the lard, eggs, and sugar needed to be used up before the fast began, and so began Paczki Day. This is the story that I was told as a child, this is what I have told my children, and what they are now telling their children. 

I have ordered my Paczki and will picking them up in the morning so I can have a cup of coffee and a prune Paczki.

If Paczki are available in your area, perhaps you might give them a try.

54 years ago

Because my father saved and made notations on almost everything that he saved. I know what I was doing fifty four years ago today. I was sick at home with the measles. I remember being at home and wanting to itch. Thankfully we now have shots so that our children and grandchildren don't have to suffer from this illness.

My father saved everything, and always made notations.
He misspelled measels, should be measles.

in the mailbox

On Monday, the mailman filled my mailbox with lovely surprises, two packages and several envelopes that contained Valentine greetings, from family and friends.

My mail arrives between 2:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on weekdays, but for some reason on Saturday, our mail carrier delivers the mail between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.. I often wonder why he has an early delivery time on Saturday, he does the same route with the same amount of houses. I like going to get the mail and I especially like getting the mail when surprises packages are waiting for me.

I opened my first package, you can read about it here; next I quickly unwrapped the second box.  I was an extremely lucky lady last week because the box I was opening was the second giveaway that I won from Deborah from Confessions of a Craiglist Junkie. I had just begun reading her lovely blog when she was offering a giveaway, I entered and won......

 Rachel Ashwell's book 

Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces

A message congratulating me on winning the giveaway.

 The book contains so many inspirational photos, and ideas.

Who wouldn't want to wake up in a bedroom this pretty?

I love this book!

Deborah, thanks for having a giveaway, I am thrilled with this book. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I enjoy reading Confessions of a Craighlist Junkie and perhaps you would too, take a few moments and  check out the blog Confessions of a Craighlist Junkie you'll be glad you did. 

Hey Mister Postman - Thanks

*music playing* 

Wait Mister Postman

Please Mister Postman, look and see

If there's a letter (or a package) in your bag (or truck)  for me.....

Mister Postman stuffed my mailbox today with some envelopes and two packages. The box was filled, and I was excited. 

On January 30th Jenny from the blog .Red House/ Red House Chronicles posted a giveaway after her blog got its 150th follower. I entered, won, and the package arrived today. Let's take a peek at my goodies.

Four wrapped surprised, a chocolate candy bar, and a card.
 

I opened the card and had a chuckle, it was a birthday card. I loved the "oops!"

This book is full of beautiful photos and brilliant ideas.
I've  already had a peek inside, the flowers are making me think about spring.

Such a sweet cut out of a flower basket, when opened is a sewing kit. "Sew" cute.

 Some package or craft is going to have a very cute ribbon.
Inside my Plain & Thimble Beauty pouch was, hand cream, sewing
kit & thimble, 2 bars of extra fancy soap, and lip balm.
The vintage packaging was very attractive.

A CHOCOLATE BAR from England, Jenny says it's her favorite.
Looking forward to my first bite.

All I can say is WOW, and of course, 

thank you very much, Jenny for the wonderful surprises. 

Please stop by and visit Jenny at .Red House, and perhaps become one of her new Linky Followers. Don't forget to tell her that you popped over from my blog.

Tomorrow I will show you what was in the other package that I received.

Happy Valentine's Day

Estate Sale Finds

What a potpourri of items, was sitting inside, the estate sale I attended this weekend. When I walked into the house, the first thing I noticed was a rectangle framed print of three women in traditional costumes. My sister and I, stood for just a bit, to admire and talk about the lovely picture. The lady that ran the sale told us the women were wearing traditional Estonia costumes. 

The picture featured traditional Estonia costumes similar to this.

The husband was born in Germany, and the wife was born in Estonia. The house was filled with books in many different languages. They had a small library that was filled with books, magazines, travel brochures, and scrapbooks filled with souvenirs from their many trips. I found a child's trip diary, The Mexico Olympics, 1968. The child drew pictures and wrote about her experiences. 

Paper bound diary from Linda's 1968 Olympic trip to Mexico.

This picture depicts the speed walking event.
"No skipping, jumping or running - just walk."

Swimming

Linda's ticket to the 1968 Olympics.

How could I pass this up?

I found a glass case that I thought was beautiful, I put it down, but because of the beautiful stitches, hand or machine done, I decided to purchase it for $.100.

The front has lovely flowers

while the back has Helbe Meyer's initials.

Such treasures inside this home, I like to think that Meyer's family had an exciting life with many happy memories.

Thrift Share

"I can't throw that away, I might need it!" I say this phrase to my children, who think I should get rid of anything that I don't use at, least monthly. I have a tendency to purchase small items, sewing kits, manicure items, ribbon, scissors, you get the idea. 

So when I saw this canister set with the cute jugs and flowers I knew I could use these for storage. 

Four cooper topped canister, that will hold all of my little items.

Made in the USA by Ransburg company, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

 These whimsical soldiers are leading

 a long line of soldiers that are

 protecting the court yard

of this very cute card table sized, tablecloth.

Looking forward to see what everyone else found this week.

I am linking up:

 with Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds

Apron Thrift Girl, Thrift Share Monday

Me and My Shadow, Magpie Monday

and Hey, What's for Dinner Mom?, The Penny Worth Project