Is the customer always right?

Is it true that the customer is always right? This is the philosophy punched into any cheerful behind-the-counter worker. I worked in a Health Food store for several years and my experience is that the customer is not always the one with all the great answers in life.
One day a lady entered the store wanting low carb wheat flour. (Just that tells you how much she knew....) Her first line was something like this: "You probably don't know about this!" But that was not all. She continued to tell me that I most likely did not know anything, in between being shown all the low carb items we had in the store. After hearing for the umpteenth time that she could tell on my face that I knew nothing, I told her enough is enough, upon which she immediately stopped accusing me of ignorance and bought a bag full of things I had shown her.
Patience is a virtue! But the truth shall set you free! Sometimes the lady behind the counter is the one who is right.

Cold Dishwashing Liquid

So one morning happily opening the refrigerator door to prepare breakfast for my beloved, what did I see, but a very cold bottle of dishwashing liquid. I started laughing. Arnfinn's first comment: "Well, I did not do it!" I looked at him and had to admit that I might have been the culprit. Just then Anya came down the stairs and admitted the same as I had: "I could have done that!" beautiful Anya said.
Have you ever put something in the wrong place or surprisingly found something in an unthought area of the house? I admit it. I am that kind of person. I have been proud of being the person in the home, who basically knows where everything is, but it's not really true. Not anymore. I spend more and more time looking for things I unconsciously misplace. A waste of time really. Why do things have to hide from view, when you have so little time to look for them? It's not very nice.
If you have time to laugh about missing items turning up in strange places, by all means - do it heartily.

I love Sundays!

Another water color exhibition has come and gone. This was one of the pictures that found a new home yesterday - The Mezzosoprano! Silje bought it. She said it reminded her of me. Funny! First of all - I am not blue!

Today is Sunday. I love Sundays. It's a wise God, who said that we need to rest one day a week. It's a day different from the rest, a day to go to Church and a day to remember what's important in life.

It's also a day to have hot chocolate with whipped cream,

go for walks with someone cute,

work on family photos or histories,

and to have someone over for dinner.

Enjoy Sundays!

The day the dog ate my panty hose!

Ever had one of those days? Not me....
If that had been true, I would never have appreciated days the dog left my panty hose alone. (Still have not reach that state of bliss yet). Hector is wonderful - and learning, just like me.
My mother used to say: "Everyone is dumb, when I am not in a good mood". I have often wondered why she said that, because she seemed to always be cheery and sweet to everyone.
She made anyone feel loved. It did not matter if he was a king or a pauper.
She also had another saying that I have appreciated. Translated into English it would go something like this: "Life is like a day at school, with sorrow and joy as your main classes. You enjoy the classes of joy the most, but learn more from the classes of sorrow."
Today has been a good day. I woke up excited about my work, looking forward to being creative and preparing the exhibition on Saturday.
So what if Hector eats my panty hose from time to time. He's learning - and so am I.

Who is the same as what?

Who is the same? What is it to be the same? I am certainly not the same! The same as what? The same since when?

I am reminded of the time when Tiffany, our oldest went to Preshool, or Joyschool, as it was called. We lived on Okinawa. We as mothers, alternated teaching the children twice a week. I have a photograph of a blonde curly headed Tiffany, sitting with her friends - one black, one Japanese, one with brown hair, one with blue eyes etc. Which one is the same? They were all wonderful children. Each and every one a child of God and loved by Him.

It is the beauty of mankind that we have been given a variety of talents, different looks and a multitude of abilities and personality traits.

My father was good with music. As a young man he wanted to join the Salvation Army and play music in their band, but when he found out that they all wore the same uniform, he changed his mind. He was certainly not the same - not by a long shot.

I felt the same as a teenager. I did not want to dress the same as my friends in school. Did that make me a rebel? Maybe. But it made me feel like I was me - not someone who disappeared in the crowd.

It has made it easier for me to understand, when our children have wanted to be different. It's all in the family!

I am still trying to find out who God intends me to be.

(Water Color "Blomster-Line" by Heidi Morrell Andersen)

When life gives us a lemon

Things don't always turn out the way we want! People will sneak ahead of you in line at the grocery store. Groceries will roll out of their respective bags and find new places in every corner of your trunk in the car on the way home from the grocery store. (I tend to loudly scold them for that on the way home.) Eggs will fall on the floor and break, as you eventually try to put those groceries away in the kitchen pantry.

Our mountain wandering took Arnfinn by surprise, as his right boot decided to stay in the marshes, tired of walking and willing to make a new home there among the grasses and wildlife. I saw him standing there, thinking he had stept in too deep. "Dids you get wet, Arnfinn?" "Wet?" he answered. "My boot is in the marsh." This picture of him is the epidomy of what we should do, when life gives us a lemon. Many situation are actually quite funny, if we put aside normalities and prejudices.

A petition for flying brooms

Halloween has come and gone. last year I dressed up as a witch and scared the children, when I answered the door. Maybe that's why we did not have many visitors trick-or-treating this year? I don't know. The problem was, I could not find my witch hat (and nose) yesterday.
So I hung up the two flying brooms next to the front door and lit two torches, as Linnea had stolen the pumpkin I had outside, only to return it later carved and wonderful. She put a light in it and it was very decorative.
Three missionaries came by, very happy to dig into the candy bowl.
I have a petition for the use of flying brooms. They are great. These are my positive points for acquiring a good broom:

lightweight, uses little space in garage or house
does not use expensive fuel
does not pollute
very easy to park in town, or just carry it with you
has natural A/C
requires little maintenance
teaches you balancing
gives you a great view
is fun to fly

Need I say more? Why everyone keeps buying cars - beats me!