I feel about cars how I feel about computers: They’re great when they work, they suck when they don’t. Before we moved to Mississippi I leased a Nissan Rogue, which I loved. My lease was up right about the time we sold our house, so everything worked out almost perfect in that regard. For about the first year of our innkeeping experience, we only had one car. It’s all we needed. But then my husband took a job outside the home and it wasn’t convenient for me to drive him to work every morning and pick him up every evening. Neither was it convenient for me to be stuck at home without a vehicle.
(more…)Archive for the ‘gratitude’ Category
A Trip To the Oligocene Epoch Right Down the Road
Posted in blogging, blooms, driving, flowers, friends, gratitude, history, humor, Jansen Schmidt, Mississippi, travel, Vicksburg, writing, tagged Earth science, erosion, Flora, Flora Mississippi, forest, fossils, lichen, Loblolly pines, National Natural Landmarks, National Park Service, nature, nature walk, petrified forest, petrified wood, pine needles, prehistoric, science, trees on May 16, 2022| 6 Comments »
A few weeks ago, I time traveled. I wasn’t gone very long and I didn’t travel very far, but I definitely went back in time. Back about 36-38 million years ago in fact, if scientists are right. It wasn’t as exciting as I thought it might be but it was interesting none-the-less.
(more…)I Still Wanna Believe
Posted in Baer House Inn, blogging, blooms, Family, flowers, friends, goals, gratitude, humor, innkeeping, Jansen Schmidt, laughter, money, motivation, positivity, Shopping, success, Vicksburg, writing, tagged aroma, craft booths, craft fairs, crafters, faith, flea markets, good business, good people, honest people, honesty, pre-pay, promises, scents, selling stuff, smelling, strangers, trust, trusting strangers on May 2, 2022| 6 Comments »
There are so many dishonest people in the world today. So many people with harmful agendas. So many people out to make a buck. I think you’d be somewhat foolish if you weren’t always a little leery of people selling stuff. There are thieves who will take your money and disappear. But I also choose to believe that there are still good people out there too. People who are just trying to make a living. People who come by their money honestly. People who aren’t trying to trick you into buying something they have no intention of delivering.
(more…)Life Lessons In Unexpected Places
Posted in April, blogging, Family, friends, goals, gratitude, inspiration, Jansen Schmidt, motivation, positivity, resolutions, Shopping, success, writing, tagged doing the right thing, habits, integrity, learn by example, life lessons, parenting, shopping carts, teaching on April 18, 2022| 10 Comments »
I’m not sure if you’ve seen this graphic (below) or not. I first saw it on Facebook, read it – twice – and thought: “Wow, there’s so much truth in this.” It’s so often the little things in life that determine the kind of person you really are. How we perform certain tasks, if at all, says a lot about how we may or may not treat people or perform other tasks. Or just approach life in general. Little hidden meanings surround all the little things we do.
(more…)The Shiny Is Wearing Off
Posted in Disney, Disney World, Disneyland, driving, eating, Family, food, friends, gratitude, humor, Jansen Schmidt, money, Shopping, travel, vacation, Walt Disney World, writing, tagged bad behavior, big business, clean up after yourself, cleaning, cutting in line, elite, entitled, line jumping, losing luster, morals, not fun, privileged, waiting, waiting in line, waiting your turn on April 4, 2022| 9 Comments »
I’m a Disney fan. Have been since my first trip to Disneyland in early 1970. As a kid, my brother and I would always choose Disneyland as our destination of choice when asked where we wanted to travel during the summer break from school. Sadly, we seldom went. As an adult, I can go, pretty much, whenever I want to. That’s the beauty of being an adult.
(more…)Valor In the Pacific
Posted in beach, Family, friends, gratitude, inspiration, Jansen Schmidt, travel, vacation, Vicksburg, writing, tagged hallowed ground, Hawaii, Honololu, monument, Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor Day, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, sacred, tombs, USS Arizona, USS Utah, Valor, veterans, WWII on December 6, 2021| 6 Comments »
On this day, 80 years ago, 2,403 service members and civilians were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Additionally, 1,178 people were injured. Two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) permanently sank. 88 aircraft were destroyed. On Aug. 23, 1994, the United States Congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
(more…)Thanksgiving Greetings From Vicksburg
Posted in Autumn, Baer House Inn, blogging, books, eating, Family, food, friends, gratitude, Holidays, innkeeping, inspiration, Jansen Schmidt, love, pumpkins, reading, travel, vacation, Vicksburg, writing, tagged Cooking, family time, give thanks, holiday meal, holiday shopping, holidays, prayers, Shopping, thankful, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving prayer, turkey on November 22, 2021| 8 Comments »
The holiday crush is upon us. It’s time to pack on the pounds and dole out the dollars. With a mad dash here and a mad dash there, here a dash, there a dash, everyday a dash, dash. In other words, it’s the holidays. November and December are always such special months of the year. But ultimately, the hustle and bustle culminates in the sharing of relaxed meals with loved ones and cozy nights by the fire.
(more…)Making Lemonade
Posted in Baer House Inn, Family, food, friends, gratitude, humor, innkeeping, Jansen Schmidt, money, positivity, success, travel, Vicksburg, weather, writing, tagged bad luck, Baer House, displaced, electricity, evacuation, evacuees, good luck, haven, Hurricane Ida, hurricanes, innkeeping, Louisiana, lucky, Mississippi, no electricity, running water, safe place, storm damage, storm shelter, utilities on September 6, 2021| 8 Comments »
The best advice, when life hands you lemons, is to make lemonade. Not always an easy thing to do. Well, I’ve been handed some lemons. Lots of lemons. Cancellations have been flooding in – AGAIN. Between school starting, this new covid variant, and threats of violent weather, people were opting not to travel to Vicksburg. August is usually our month of European travelers. But, we all know they are still forbidden to travel to the US. So . . . . here we sit. Again. With a houseful of empty rooms and a lap full of lemons.
(more…)Sshhh – I’m Not Rooting For the Home Team
Posted in awards, blogging, Family, friends, goals, gratitude, humor, inspiration, Jansen Schmidt, motivation, positivity, resolutions, success, travel, watching tv, writing, tagged 2020 Olympics, athletes, best athletes, cheering, gold medals, gymnastics, international sports, medals, olympics, sports, Tokyo Olympics, underdogs, winners, winning athletes on August 2, 2021| 7 Comments »
I enjoy watching the Olympics, but I don’t get to see as many events as I’d like. In years past, I recorded them on my DVR but there are so many events I don’t care to watch, that it gets tiresome fast-forwarding past them to get to the good juicy events I really want to see. This go round I’ve seen almost no events, but I did catch some highlights. One constant for me is that I almost always find myself rooting for the unexpected underdog who shows up out of nowhere with overwhelmingly high scores and blows everybody else out of the water. Or wins by a nose. You know? That athlete that sneaks up on everyone who is supposed to win and steals that medal. The one nobody is watching. Yeah, that person.
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