32 Comments

Thank you for telling us about your grandmother, Sue! I can picture you being enlisted to hold the tail of the table clothes going through the wringer! And I can picture the care your grandmother and her friend took in preparing the meals for their customers. Lovely! Just Lovely! I have been encouraging retired friends to consider doing whatever they might enjoy to bring in pocket money. Our future may make this necessary. My basic plan is to make a list of things that you like to do, that you have experience in and make a second list of what people need help with. Your grandmother Is a wonderful example of making this plan work! Could you cat sit for people on vacation? Ditto plants? Would you be willing to sit with a parent, or kids while the shopping gets done? Could you teach someone how to play Bridge or Poker? Or a musical instrument? Yes, this can be fun!!

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Yes!!! Yes absolutely!!!! What you wrote rhymes exactly with my thoughts as I wrote my newsletter!! Thank you so much for your comment - I so appreciated it!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Wow Sandy, thanks for all these suggestions. I used to be a therapeutic Massage Therapist until covid happened and I fully retired. But your ideas reminded me that I still have my table and all the accoutrements out in the storage shed. I may have to get them out again! I did work out of my home, so was able to keep my prices reasonable. Thanks for the ideas.

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Yes!!!!! Let's get creative about how we can help each other!! We can barter our skills too!

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Just so you know Sue, I am still sorting my Christmas shopping list. It will include at least one pillow and some coasters and of course the Meatball Stew post card!! :-)

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Oh how fun!!!!! Thank you so much!!! I appreciate you 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Gail, this sounds like a winner for you and those in need of such helpful messages at a time like this. I used to use a beauty salon that also offered arm/hand massages. Loved them!!

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That's a wonderful combo!!!

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Beautiful! What a great gift!

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Thank you!!! I'm so glad you liked it!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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I love this story! Women showing entrepreneurship despite the system being against them. Wow I had such visuals as you described their business.

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I'm glad you liked my description of grandma's business!! They had beautiful fabric lined baskets to carry thing in... the one holding plates had fabric dividers/sleeves to slide plates in.... so glad you could "see" it all!!! Thank you for your kindness!!!

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Oh wow, that’s so fancy with the little fabric bits for the plates. I was thinking of your grandmas business Saturday as a friend always comes so prepared with chairs and a beautiful flowery picnic set in her boot. 💚

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That's wonderful to hear what your friend comes prepared for!!! Preparing to make ordinary events as pleasant as possible is an excellent creative skill to cultivate!! Niceness doesn't come ready-made … it is we who create it!!!!! Hugs to you!!! 💚💚💚💚

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You’re dead right! Everyday deserves a bit of fancy and specialness. Big hugs back 🤗💚

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🥰😘 Huge hugs to you!!!!! 🤗💚💚

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I love the coasters! But they're too pretty to get all stained and yucky! I love the story of your enterprising grandmother. I'll bet the food was delicious.

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FYI it's really okay to use pretty things- that's what they're for!!!! And yes grandma's cooking was very good in my totally unbiased opinion 😆🥰💚💚💚💚

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Thanks for the encouragement, Sue!

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Sending you hugs!!! 💙💙💙💙

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Thank you for the hugs!! 🥰

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OMG, I need to add that soup mug to my collection! What size is it, Sue? 16oz?

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Lol!!! It's 28-ounce: 5.4" D x 3.4" H

Made of porcelain and microwave and dishwasher safe. And thank you so much for your kindness!! 😘💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Woo hoo! That's what I've been looking for. Ordered 2!!

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Wow!!!! I'm glad I could do something nice for you!!! Thank you so very much!!!!! 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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Love your story about your grandmother, My dad told me a story about his mom—my grandma—who was a diminutive woman. During the depression her oldest son would go out and set traps and whatever he brought home, she would skin it and cook it in a big stew pot. Dad said there was always something cooking on the stove and they never went hungry. Plus she would grow a small garden and trade or barter with neighbors. His grandfather—a reverend—use to have cockfights out behind the old church after the service and whichever rooster lost the fight, would end up in grandma’s stock pot. People did what they had to just to survive back then.

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Yes, people can be very creative and resourceful!!! We do well to remember those skills! 💚💚💚

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Hi again Gail. Just so everyone will know, cock fighting is strictly prohibited these days. Here in Washington state the fines can be as much as $5000 for the first offence and 1 year in jail with much longer time in jail and permanent prohibition of owning any animals after that. Both cock and dog fighting have become underground rackets with many bad side issues. So better to think of another way to raise some moola. Like a pie or cake baking contest! :-) Maybe the winner could receive one of Sue's blue cat drawings on a cake plate!

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Lol!!! I'd love to have my artwork as a prize for someone!!!! What a delightful thought!!! And thank you!!! 💚💚💚💚

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The coasters are really cute, Sue!

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Aww thank you!!!! 💚💚💚💚

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Oh, I loved reading these memories, and thank you for the recipe - I laughed at loud at the gleeful dive-bombing meatball! Your art brings me such joy every time!

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