Thank you for visiting Poppy's Blog!

 Welcome to Poppy's Blog!

We are having fun creating the weekly videos from the photo shoot to the audio clip. We hope you are enjoying them as much as we enjoy making them.  Poppy and Sophia thank you from the bottom of our hearts for visiting weekly.  We have from 3.5K to 5.9K views weekly.  Comments are always welcome.

Expect nothing. Appreciate everything.

Thank you!

Poppy

Sophia
aka: Producer

My Red Balloon

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Thank you for joining me on this holiday weekend.  Today I will share a story I wrote on February 29, 2020.

 

It was a couple of days before my 8th birthday and I overheard mom talking with my

godmother about a party. Hosting gatherings came natural for my mom because she loved having company.  The night before my birthday, my godmother Mary and godfather Ernie came to visit. They had a special present and wanted me to open it. I slowly untied the pretty bow and opened the box. My eyes lit up as I pulled the dress out of the box. It was emerald green on top with a pink ribbon tie and off-white pleats. They asked me to try it on.  I ran into the bathroom and slipped it on. I felt like a princess, it was pretty, and the material was soft. I walked into the kitchen and everyone stopped to stare.  Mary said, "it fits perfectly." I went over and gave Mary and Ernie a big hug to thank them for my birthday dress. 

That night, as I went to bed, I thought about my birthday party and how fun it was going to be. I cannot remember if I slept that night. My sisters and me woke up early and mom had breakfast ready. We ate and then put our play clothes on to help with the decorations.  My mom had music on and was dancing as she cooked up a storm in the kitchen. We went out and blew up balloons, set up the chairs and covered the tables.  My cake was a "carousel cake" my dad had ordered at Wilson's Jewel Bakery, where he worked.  It was colorful.  My mom made her special punch with orange slices. I had to stop on the way into the house to look at the punch bowl because the suns reflection made it sparkle.  My dad had the barbecue going and my mom and her sister Mercy along with Mary helped with the side dishes. Everything was perfect. After we finished with the decorations, we went back into the house to dress for the party. My friends from school started to arrive and were sitting at the table along with my cousins. 

We finished dressing and mom brushed our hair.  My sisters and me ran to the front door and tried to fit through the doorway at the same time. I ended up falling and scraping my knee and arm. My mom came running as I cried. She hugged me and helped me up. I told her my dress was ruined and my knee was bleeding along with my arm. She cleaned my scrapes and then applied red medicine. As I cried, she tied a red balloon to my wrist. She said when my boo-boo started to hurt to pull on the string and my pain would go away. I stopped crying as I looked at the balloon. I tugged on the balloon several times throughout the day. The party was fun and I forgot about my scrapes.

As I became older, the red balloon which became my safety blanket as a child

reappeared because of the many loses I was experiencing. My daughter and friend had to pop it before I floated away. The red balloon had taken me from a child, teenager and now senior. A couple of months ago, I released it, for someone who may need it. If you see a floating red balloon catch it and tie it to your wrist. It will help you through the tough times.

Let me leave you with this quote - As they say, you may not end of where you thought you were going,  but you will always end up where you were meant to be.

In memory of Mom – My kitchen is for DANCING

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Friday's Quote - CHARITY

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 CHARITY

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we do not judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone does not handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other.

(A Marvin Ashton quote) 

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Girls Compete and Women Empower

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Thank you for joining Poppy on this beautiful Sunday

 Girls Compete. Women Empower!

Last night while watching Vera the British drama series. I started to crochet. It took me a while to realize that crocheting is supposed to be relaxing.  Nowadays, I genuinely enjoy watching my work unfold before my eyes which brings me great joy. 

When I first started to crochet, it became a challenge.  I figured if I can make 3 granny squares that night, then the following night I could do 4, then the next day 5 and so on, I was up to 10 squares a night before I threw in the towel. I stopped crocheting.

In my younger days, I worked in large firms in the bay area and it was extremely competitive. Everyone wanted the corner office with the amazing view. It was jump over or step on anyone that gets in your way with a smile.  Here is what I have learned along the way. In your 20's you are insecure and unsure of yourself. But your skin and hair are beautiful and glowing. Then you hit your 30's, you are still figuring out who you are and trying to ground yourself. Then along comes children and you lose some of your identity or maybe all of it. Your life becomes a mission and you try and please everyone or you try and control every situation which eventually you run out of gas. Then your 40, your hips get wider, breasts hurt, even if you exercise and eat right the weight starts to shift in other areas of your body. Your hair thins and your skin starts to dry. Oh yea, let us not forget the hair that starts to grow in weird areas of your body. I can ramble on about this subject, but I know a lot of women get the gist of this story. If you are a man and reading this, please take notes. I am Joking!

I have come a long way. I am in my 50's, and I feel fabulous, sexy and I have more patience with myself. I have started to march to the beat of my own drum, and I am extremely comfortable in my skin.

Let me leave you with this quote –  Real queens fix each other's crowns.

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Friday's Quote - HEART

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I believe life really comes down to deciding to follow your heart over your fears.  Your heart speaks to you through your feelings deep within your soul while fear speaks through others and their judgements. Fear and anxiety can tell you to leave a relationship, but your heart says, “hold on" because it knows its way.” Your heart may say to start a new career – but fear can enter and say you will fail or be judged. 

If you follow your heart, life will undoubtedly change.  You will be guided by your true inner self instead of fear and others.  You will find the people, jobs and places that are truly intended for you.

Remember - Always listen to your heart, because even though it's on your left side, it's always right.

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Tomorrow

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Tomorrow is not promised. Not a single second or minute. So, live for today. Keep the promises you make. Take action on the things you desire and need. Remind those that matter to you that they are loved and you are grateful for them. Never leave someone you care about on negative terms. Give more than you take. Make the calls you've been telling yourself you'll do 'tomorrow'. Let the small stuff go. Never go to bed angry. We will all die one day, so learn to live each day with the promise to yourself that it'll be better than yesterday.

Another day in the country

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The last couple of days the weather has been hot.  I soaked my garden and made sure my birds (lesser goldfinch) visitors have plenty of fresh water to take a bath.  

I picked a few tomatoes and put them in a baking pan outside my balcony to make sun-dried tomatoes.

I have been keeping myself busy because it helps me stay positive. I have also chosen my circle of friends wisely. Staying positive is essential to have influences in your life that support you and lift you up instead of dragging you down. I try to eat healthy and keep hydrated. I limit my time on social media and television.  My granddaughter Sophia keeps me busy, too. 

Most of the time I am in my garden, writing, crocheting, and cooking. This year, I am canning and preserving. I really enjoy sharing my bountiful harvest. It makes me happy. My mom would be so proud of me.

Try doing something different this week and sharing with a friend. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. Please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

I will end with this quote.  

“In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”

                                        Poppy and Sophia