I hope you enjoyed the week of sheep pictures.  I took Sunday off and enjoyed friends and family.  We had a fish fry with the fish Chris and Juliana caught at the lake.  Very tasty!

I was going to wrap up sheep week with before and after pictures of the llama.  She had her first shearing ever on Thursday!  She looks like a totally different animal.  I have yet to get the after picture taken, however, so you will just have to wait.  For now I will leave you with my quote of the week. 

      The best way to find good in thyself is to begin to look for good in others.

Unknown

Humans have a tendency to be negative.  Well, some humans anyway.  We all know that negative breeds negative.  I know people who can not respond positively to anything, literally.  It drags me down.  I wish I knew how to politely respond to those types.  Maybe just being blunt, like hitting them over the head with a clue-by-four! 

This isn't exactly a kindness quote, but here's my quote for the week, having had a large dose of the negative this past week. 

“Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy.”

Cynthia Nelms

Rude people have been a topic of conversation here of late.  I am not sure why people find it in themselves to be rude.  It takes much less effort to be kind and polite.  I found this quote and thought it fitting.  Think about it the next time you encounter a rude person.

Rudeness is the weak man's immitation of strength.

Eric Hoffer

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,

compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving

and tolerant of the weak and strong. 

Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. 

George Washington Carver

This quote brought a smile to my face.  I have this friend who is a very giving person.  It's been rather difficult for me because I am not used to being gifted with things for no reason.  Her belief is that you should be able to give when you want to, not when society expects it, such as birthdays and Christmas.  She recently gave me a dozen chickens for my birthday.  I told her it wasn't my birthday but she didn't care.  I then told her I'd make it up in some way, which I did in a sneaky way.  I had picked up 3 bags of goat mineral for her and she forgot to pay me.  When she realized it, she called and I said, "I told you I'd get even somehow!"  Well, she got a little miffed at me!  She took it as a sign that I didn't like her original gift of chickens.  I had to explain that wasn't the case at all.  I just was not accustomed to someone giving me gifts for no apparent reason.  A gift of a dozen chickens is quite a large gift in my eyes.  Once I explained it to her she understood, but it was quite a conversation about "getting even or getting ahead".  We both agreed that gifts shouldn't be about either!

So.....fast forward to last week and this same friend and I were having a conversation about this man who comes to help her on her farm and never charges her a dime.  He is so grateful for the opportunity to do it.  He works a desk job, but loves working outside, so it's a win/win for both of them.  Then she makes the comment to me about "never being able to get ahead of him"  I just burst out laughing and said, "Hmmmmmm, now you know how I feel!"  It all came full circle and was a good reminder for both of us.  Gifting, no matter if it's a tangible gift or a gift of labor, etc. should be unconditional. 

You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.  ~John Wooden

When I first read the quote I am using today and with the calendar changing to May, I was reminded of a time when my teenage (or almost) son and his friends made May baskets and played ring and run on May Day.  It makes me smile every time I think of those kids.  Just at the age when they thought they were so cool, hormones raging and mouths on them like, well....teenagers.  Give them a May basket project though and things all changed.  I do think they had fun scattering joy!

There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Since a large part of my life revolves around animals, I thought a kindess quote about just that might be fitting.

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do,

or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature,

let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Ettiene De Grellet

Two weeks, that is!  As I was reading back over my blog for last week, I noticed I had not posted a quote for the week.  Considering the lack of sleep, I am not surprised that it totally slipped by me, so this quote of the week will have to make do for last week and this week.  Although I've never heard of this person, I really like the quote.  Too many times I've witnessed people trying to be something they are not or trying to be just like someone else.  We are all as individual as blades of grass.  Why not celebrate it?  My friend, Sarah, always says, "It is what it is!"  In that same vein, "You are what you are!"

“You can gain more friends by being yourself than you can by putting up a front. You can gain more friends by building people up than you can by tearing them down. And you can gain more friends by taking a few minutes from each day to do something kind for someone, whether it be a friend or a complete stranger. What a difference one person can make!”

Last night I had a hankerin' for a hamburger.  We have this thing about burgers.  We are always trying to find the best one around.  We are very fortunate in our little town of Manhattan to have 2 of the best places to get a burger, so we hopped in the car and headed to town to the Oasis.  I think it's been in Manhattan since time began there.  Seriously.  It's a steak house and bar and is very well known.  Several years back they were featured on a national beef commercial and became just a little bit famous.  Generally you need reservations to eat in the dining room, but there are also tables in the bar.  We usually just pick a table in the corner and observe.  Some people are funny, some are obnoxious, like the loud cowboy who didn't know a stranger and did not shut up the entire time we were in there.  His visiting partners came and went, waiting for their tables in the dining room, but it was as if they had not left his side.  He just kept right on talking. 

Then my husband looks up and says, "I think those people are going to sit with us."  We were at a table for 6.  They zoomed right back to the corner and asked if they could sit there.  "Sure!  Sit right down!"  By now we were enjoying our food.  It was clear to me that they were not from around here, because that rarely happens here.  People are way too stoic. 

So the conversation began and they asked us if we were from around here.  We told them it was our hometown.  They were from Canada, Manitoba.  They live just 14 miles from the Red River that is flooding and didn't know if they should leave home.  Their kids had been hounding them and so on Thursday they made the decision to go visit their kids.  Both are here in the states, but living miles apart.

I noticed a slight accent in the woman's voice that was clearly not Canadian, so I asked her what nationality she was.  German.  Just as I thought!  I told her she sounded more like my relatives in North Dakota than a Canadian and she laughed.  He husband's family are Czech. 

So we had a very nice visit talking about the flooding, animals, living in the country and growing up on a farm.  Both of them had and still live in the country.  They had just lost their beloved black lab who was 18 years old. 

By the time they were served their enormous steaks, we had finished our meal and bid our goodbyes.  As we walked across the street to the car I said, "I feel like I just had dinner with my family!" 

Pulling out of the parking lot we saw their cozy little motor home with Manitoba license plates.  It pleased me to know they had a place for their leftovers, because I knew they'd have some!

So my quote today comes from the Bible.  It is a favorite of mine that I have stitched on antique linen many times to give as gifts and offer for sale.

As I sit here looking out the window to snow falling, I truly have to wonder if Mother Nature is insane.  Has she gone mad?  Moisture is good, I know.....but alright already!  I was searching around the net looking for a kindness quote about Mother Nature and didn't come up with anything, so I will just settle for

How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!

I also wanted to add that Chas was the winner of my yarn give-away promoting my Twisted Fiber CSA.   Although Chas knew she had won, I consider the yarn one of those RAKP (random act of kindness pacakges) that come in the mail.  It's always fun to receive something unexpectedly.  Even when YOU ordered the item and forgotten all about it!  We've all done that.

I am off to check on sheep for lambs.  None yet.  With the snow coming down, I wouldn't be surprised if I see some soon!

Today's quote is quite short and simple.  A very good friend, who knows of my kindness theme for 2009, sent me a coin in the mail (among other awesome things) for my birthday.  I was hoping to take a picture of it, but things just got too busy here.  One side is a smiley face and it says, "Practice Kindness".  The other side states:

Expect Less  Give More

Here's my quote for the week.  Every now and then someone will mention some little thing I did that seemed very inconsiequential to me, but apparently it impacted them.  Truthfully, most of the things I had forgotten and so it's a fun reminder that you made someone's day a little more special for no apparent reason......just because......and then forgot all about it.

That best portion of a man's life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.
William Wordsworth

This is a lovely quote.  It comes via my friend, Linda.  Her brother sent it to her.  That says something about her, don't you think?  She is a very kind person and is married to a very kind man.  I've told you about them before here, so I won't bore you, but count me among their fans!  Truly GOOD PEOPLE!

The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.

Ok, I admit.  I'm a little behind on the kindness quote of the week.  I am blaming the drop spindle.  Well, it is true!  I can't stop spinning and I've spun out of control! 

My quote this week is one that touched my heart for a couple of reasons.  First, it mentions Forget-me-nots.  They were a favorite flower of Tasha Tudor.  It's no secret that I am a Tasha fan.  As a matter of fact, I find myself uttering her name a lot in conversation.  I am not an obsessed fan, but she has made a mark on my life that's hard to explain.  I've traveled to places I'd never have gone (her very own garden, for one) and met some life-long friends because of her.  Mostly though, she taught me as an adult that I didn't need to leave my imagination behind in childhood.  What a gift she gave back to me.

The second reason I chose this quote is my friend Correy Kimm.  She past away last December and not a day goes by that I don't think of her.  She was like a mom to me and made a great impact on my life.  Just yesterday I was wishing I could show her my new yarns I've spun.  I know what she'd say in her heavy, Dutch brogue, "Awwwwwweeee Sis!?"  And just shake her head in disbelief, all the while smiling!

A good character is the best tombstone.  Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered.  Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. 

~Charles H. Spurgeon

My quote today reminds me of another quote I have hanging in my dining room.  Sometimes things are spelled out so simply for us that we must stop in wonder and realize that it is so.

My quote today is by the Dalai Lama

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."

The quote I have hanging in my dining room is one I stitched on old linen.  It's by Abraham Linclon. 

 When I do good, I feel good.  When I do bad, I feel bad.  That is my religion.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.

Mother Theresa

This past week I received a RAKP in the mail! That's a random act of kindness package.  Don't worry if you're scratching your head.  I just made that up!  Well, it is my blog and I can do that.    Anyway, my friend out in Portland (you know who you are!) sent me a box of goodies, just because.  I love her RAKPs because you never know what you're going to find in there.  One guarantee though, there's almost always a little chocolate!   

One of the things in the box was a fun little book by Bonnie Jensen.  It's called "A Lifetime of Girlfriends....Moments of Connection."  The awesome part of it is that there are tons of kindness references in it!  Perfect fodder for my blog.  I  it!  Thanks, my friend!

This week's kindness quote comes straight from the first page.  (There is no author quoted.)

It is through kindness and compassion that hearts connect and friendship begins.

It's been interesting reading and researching new quotes for my kindness quote of the week.  What are we, about 4 weeks into it?  I wonder if I will be able to find 52 quotes on kindness that I really like!  Anyway, today's quote comes from Lao-Tse, who is considered the first philosopher of the Taoist school. The Te-Tao Ching, attributed to Lao-Tse, is one of the most sacred texts of Taoism, none of which I know a thing about! 

It is interesting to note that all religions teach kindness.

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profundity.
Kindness in giving creates love.

The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Yup!  That's me!  Pollyanna!  My husband says I live my life in a bubble.  I always respond with, "Yes, and it's MY bubble, so don't burst it!"

I have to say that this kindness "bug" has bitten and bitten hard.  Here we are less than 2 weeks into January and I have to say that when you make a conscience decision to change something in your life, beware of what you're looking for! 

Simply put, since posting about my kindness theme, I am more keenly aware of mean.  Have you seen the bumper sticker "mean people suck"?  It's so true!  It takes so much less energy to be nice instead of walking around with a chip on your shoulder.  As we all know, there are 2 ways to look at things.  Is your glass half empty or half full?

Try a little kindness today.  You may just shock a few people and delight yourself while you're at it!