Only Essentials For You

05/11/2024

3 Things My Mom Did NOT Teach Me (Part 3):

This was not a likely friendship.

Two women, initially separated by both the North Sea and the English Channel, my mom and Dorothy found themselves sharing an English hospital room. Although with different ailments, the Nordic language and Cornwall dialect did not seem to create a barrier.

My mom would recall how frightened she was, not only being horribly ill but also not knowing how to communicate with the doctors in English. From the next bed, Dorothy gently tried to calm my mom, to connect even though she did not speak a word of Danish and act a liason with the medical staff. The bond grew.

Over 40 years later, they continued to write and sometimes make an appointment with the phone company for a long-distance call (remember, this is before personal phones). Every conversation or letter was like the years had melted away.

My mom eventually learned that while Dorothy had been made a widow on the beaches of Normandy, yet almost like a movie script, her husband’s best friend came to tell her the bad news and then over time they eventually wed!

As I got older my mom encouraged me to write to her as well so we became pen pals until her passing. I learned that distance and time do not matter when you have found a true friend.

Thank you, Mom, ❤❤for living out the example of a devoted friend.







Tippy's Tales
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05/10/2024

Three Things My Mom Did NOT Teach Me (Part 2):

It is just mind-blowing that someone could do this.

To leave behind a war-ravaged, formerly Nazi-occupied, country. To depart from all things comfortable and familiar to travel thousands of miles over stormy seas. To settle in with people related but unfamiliar--not even speaking their language. All for a new, better life with endless opportunities.
When my mom left Europe, she did find a new life, my dad and then me. She not only then successfully helped establish a multi-decade business but also adopt to her heart a child at a much later age.

In my living room are two large sturdy steamer trunks. I bet they could tell stories about the careful packing of only the most important necessities, the conversations overheard of doubts, fears mixed with excitement and the roughness of traveling via steamer across the Atlantic... And now I keep them nearby to remind me of that courage mustered in both my mom and dad—that against all odds, they had the gumption to pursue a life well-lived.

Thank you, Mom, ❤❤❤for the example of courage you lived in front of me.






Tippy's Tales

05/10/2024

Three Things My Mom did NOT Teach Me (Part 1):

Every year they came back.

And every year my mom filled a brag book full of snapshots.
Yet again she would host these gentle winged creatures, the next generation, who would again settle atop the Sparkletts water dispenser nestled in the corner of our patio.
My mom was like a proud grandma of these newest hatchlings; apparently when mourning doves find a safe place to nest they will come back to the same location year after year..

Because of this annual event, how could I not become fascinated with the beauty, the ebb and flow, of God’s tender creation. I see His very character reflected in nature. While my mom did not directly teach me the love of nature, she so wonderfully demonstrated how to care for and find delight in God’s blessings.

I ❤ you, Mom!







Tippy's Tales
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04/20/2024

Inhaling it all in ...‘til the cheeks hollow out and dimple.
All the hope, all the expectation of the moment.
All the elation of a delightful reward—the flurry of dandelion seeds parachuting away on the breeze. This is what I see captured in my little grandgirlie’s photo.

As adults, does it seem we can lose some of this delight in simple things?
Do we sometimes find ourselves worrying too much about the annoying weeds that will invade our yard from the release of these seeds?
Do we get too caught up in the weeds of do’s and don’ts rather than stopping for just a moment...and just breathe?
Do we often forget to simply stop and do something that delights our heart?

These early days of spring just make me full of glee!
(Try saying “glee” without smiling, I dare you!)😁😆
Here at Tippy's Tales our pungent rosemary stems are exploding with blue blooms. The varieties of lavender are popping with purple buds and the bright calendulas 🌼🌼are unfurling in the sunshine as if to say, “Hello! We are here again!”. All of these organically-grown beauties are blended into our luxury goat milk soaps and healing lotion bars—like balms to the soul—for both your furry friends and you! Delight your heart and pamper yourself and your pet today.







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04/17/2024

“Can you smell a butterfly?”, I asked, ‘though not really expecting a reply from Frodo.
Mind you, Frodo is one of our “lost” dogs who “found” us over five years ago. This wee curly-haired, pom-pom poof-for-a-tail terri-poo came into our lives by bouncing up our stoop stairs and planting himself next to me as if to say, “Nice weather we are having. And, oh, by the way, this is now my new home”..As Frodo twitched his little black mushroom nose taking in all that was blowing in the wind, I just had to ask.

It was finally hot enough in these early days of spring so it seemed like a great day for tip-toeing through the tulips, er, hanging out the wash to infuse all that spring-y goodness, er, for giving the dogs a good scrubbing followed with a sun spa and paw pampering. (By the way, if our dogs were Springers, would that be Spring Cleaning? Hee!)

As I toweled each pooch soaking in the glorious rays of sunshine, what better time to have a chat and catch up. If only they could speak audibly or that I knew how to listen. (Although there was one time when Tippy, our “Corgi on stilts” looked deep into my eyes and I could swear she spoke!)
So where are my pet “whisperers” out there?
How do you “hear” animals?
What are some clues us “grasshoppahs” can, well, clue into? (If you are over 45, you will totally know what that reference is!)

And can one smell a bird, a fluttering leaf, a butterfly? (Nose twitch) Inquiring minds want to know.

Tippy's Tales
Tippy's Tales Community




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12/10/2023

🎵🎶Oh, what memories of singing this every Christmas in my high school madrigal group!! 😅😂🤣
Need a good laugh?
Enjoy!!! HAHAHAHA!🤣

From the BBC series "The Lesley Garrett Show" in 2001

07/23/2022

Join us on Zoom at noon PST at From Ragged to Rested: How A+ Moms Can Get More Zzzzzs 3-Day 'Help'shop !

07/21/2022

Super excited to start my 3 Day Helpshop! Want to come? Head over to From Ragged to Rested: How A+ Moms Can Get More Zzzzzs 3-Day 'Help'shop to hop on the Zoom!

07/20/2022

Got friends who are exhausted and way too tired to get the sleep they need? Young mamas who are ragged? Please let them know about this 3 Day Helpshop starting TOMORROW! Just request on invitation and we would love to have you and your friends join in! https://www.facebook.com/groups/577319177396952

07/20/2022

03/24/2021

BOGO Buy One Get One Free is going on all this week addressing issues of sleep, seasonal discomforts, anti-aging, and so much more. Head over to my group Only Essentials For You - Simple Natural Living Community Group for all the details on each 24-hour deal going on until Saturday!

Today's ONLY deal today!

11/18/2020

TODAY ONLY!
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