It seems everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence, or what is commonly known as AI. It has branched off from what many of us rely on daily: the world’s Informational Technology, or more simply expressed as IT. They both continue to increase at exponential rates. Are our societies ready for AI? Ready or not, it … Continue reading ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A 1984 George Orwellian World?
CREATING BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS (Finding Beauty Series, #3)
Can there be any benefit in filling our minds with beautiful thoughts? Some might counter that if we are struggling with difficult events in our life, which is true for so many of us, having the fortitude to control what enters our brain is out of reach. My response is: consider your reflections or meditations … Continue reading CREATING BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS (Finding Beauty Series, #3)
WHAT IS BEAUTY ? (Finding Beauty Series, #2)
Much of our society—in particular, what is distributed through mass communication, including social media—is focused on what is perceived as beautiful. As I am a woman, I’ll just speak to what I know personally and let someone else speak for men. For girls and women there are endless cosmetics for enhancing the beauty of the … Continue reading WHAT IS BEAUTY ? (Finding Beauty Series, #2)
NURTURING BEAUTY (Finding Beauty Series, #1)
There is beauty all around us. And a worthy endeavor is nurturing that beauty. I find beauty in the sunshine-filled bay window at the front of my house. It has an assortment of potted plants. Some were given to me. Some I bought for myself. In my care, they require a constant vigilance if they … Continue reading NURTURING BEAUTY (Finding Beauty Series, #1)
A Baker’s Dozen (Sayings I Grew Up With #13)
Today’s saying, “A baker’s dozen,” marks the thirteenth of what I might call Nonny’s borrowed ‘words of wisdom.’ Purportedly in times past the proprietor of an Old World British bakery would put in an extra roll or loaf to make sure the baker would not suffer a penalty from the government. Sometimes the baker would … Continue reading A Baker’s Dozen (Sayings I Grew Up With #13)
Kalte Hände, Warmes Herz: Cold Hands, Warm Heart (Sayings I Grew Up With #12)
I used to use the saying, “Kalte hände, warmes herz. Cold hands, warm heart,” first pronouncing the German, and then the English every Sunday morning when members of my church congregation would shake hands with one another during a time of morning greeting. I never got the simple greeting of “Good Morning!” Here’s why. I’ve … Continue reading Kalte Hände, Warmes Herz: Cold Hands, Warm Heart (Sayings I Grew Up With #12)
The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil (Sayings I Grew Up With #11)
Many of us tend to associate getting older with negative consequences. Actually life experiences over many years can help us grow in productive ways. Assertiveness and speaking out are attributes I have grown into over time. I have followed the adage, "The squeaky wheel get the oil," and let my voice be heard when I … Continue reading The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Oil (Sayings I Grew Up With #11)
Holy Ground – An Easter essay of Hope & Encouragement
The Easter season for me every year is a time of serious reflection as it was on Easter Sunday in 1999 that my husband at age fifty-two passed from this life into the next. Our three young adult children and I didn't see his death coming until there was a crisis moment when he ended … Continue reading Holy Ground – An Easter essay of Hope & Encouragement
Escape From Darkness – A Palm Sunday essay of Hope & Encouragement
What do you think of when you think of the word “wilderness”? The first syllable ‘wild’ is what jumps out to me. Untamable like the weeds in my garden sometime! Or in biblical reference, I think of the forty years the Israelites in the Holy Bible book of Exodus wandered trying to find their way, … Continue reading Escape From Darkness – A Palm Sunday essay of Hope & Encouragement
You Catch More Flies With Honey Than With Vinegar (Sayings I Grew Up With #10)
There are parts of our society which thrive on being confrontational with any idea which doesn’t match their own. This idea may be political, religious, or philosophical. Might we all do better to be open to civil discourse and cooperation. Rather than having a stalemate where nothing is achieved, try stating your position with politeness … Continue reading You Catch More Flies With Honey Than With Vinegar (Sayings I Grew Up With #10)
A Job Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well (Sayings I Grew Up With #9)
Whatever job you have, however mundane it may seem, deserves the time and attention to produce a good product. If you can’t commit to that, find another job where you can. Sayings I Grew Up WithConnie Carlisle Polley, 2023ConnieCarlislePolley.comNonnyDay.com
All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Sayings I Grew Up With #8)
We sometimes get caught up in the attractiveness of a perceived opportunity. Perhaps we need to take a step back to see the big picture. Is that golden opportunity really what it seems to be at its core? Let’s not forget the axiom, “All that glitters is not gold.” Sayings I Grew Up WithConnie Carlisle … Continue reading All That Glitters Is Not Gold (Sayings I Grew Up With #8)
When It Rains It Pours (Sayings I Grew Up With #7)
It seems that when a bad or unfortunate event occurs, another and perhaps more than one, happen(s) in rapid succession. We need to remember we can’t always control what happens to us. However, when we find ourselves the recipient of “When it rains it pours,” let’s recall we can control how we react to our … Continue reading When It Rains It Pours (Sayings I Grew Up With #7)
Attention! Draw Swords! Charge! (Sayings I Grew Up With #6)
Believe it or not, in years past, I heard the instructions, “Attention! Draw swords! Charge!” all the time in the Bible Sword Drills’ practice at my church. Participants (which included me) in our children’s or youth groups memorized Scriptures and where they were found in the Holy Bible. We stood in single file facing the … Continue reading Attention! Draw Swords! Charge! (Sayings I Grew Up With #6)
A Lick and A Promise (Sayings I Grew Up With #5)
In my mind I can still hear my mother’s voice describing a quick cleaning she had done to a room or rooms in her home by saying she had given the job “a lick and a promise.” She meant her dust rag had wiped around the perimeter of perhaps a lamp, some framed photos, and … Continue reading A Lick and A Promise (Sayings I Grew Up With #5)
Better Late Than Never (Sayings I Grew Up With #4)
The maxim, “Better late than never,” advises me that whether it’s a day or maybe even years later than when I should have said ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry,’ to go ahead and do it. Usually even a belated word of thanks is appreciated. And who knows? Maybe a heart-felt admission of regret may bring … Continue reading Better Late Than Never (Sayings I Grew Up With #4)
A Stitch In Time (Sayings I Grew Up With #3)
In sewing if you have a garment/household or other item made of a sewable material and it develops a hole—you’d better mend it quickly before it gets bigger. Beyond its literal meaning, the quote, “A stitch in time saves nine,” advises us that delaying addressing a problem may increase the time, energy, and cost of … Continue reading A Stitch In Time (Sayings I Grew Up With #3)
A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned (Sayings I Grew Up With #2)
I grew up with the saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned." On a recent morning television broadcast, I heard how to save almost painlessly over $600 in one year. On day one, put one penny in your savings jar. Thereafter, each day add one more cent toward your daily savings jar deposit. In … Continue reading A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned (Sayings I Grew Up With #2)
Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness (Sayings I Grew Up With #1)
There are numerous sayings I grew up with. One of them, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” was a favorite of my mother as she instructed our family to wash our hands before eating to rid them of germs. But also, after eating to keep our house furnishings clean. It was a good practice then and … Continue reading Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness (Sayings I Grew Up With #1)
Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthful New Year 🎉
Thank you, my blog readers, for allowing me to have some of your time this past year as I shared my thoughts on various topics. I hope you picked out the posts that interested you and maybe found something you could benefit from—whether it was humor, crafts, recipes, activities for children, poetry, music, or reflections on … Continue reading Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthful New Year 🎉
A Journey Full of Hope
Have you ever started out on a road trip knowing the highway you were going to take, but not quite sure how many miles you were going to travel, or exactly what would become your final destination? This was the kind of journey the “Magi,” or Wise Men from the East” found themselves on as … Continue reading A Journey Full of Hope
A North Star Worthy of Following
I don't think anyone reading my blog today would disagree with the statement that our society has become less and less civil. As information is spread so quickly through mass media, we make snap judgments which may or may not be based on truth. Consequently many allow their perceptions of what is right or wrong … Continue reading A North Star Worthy of Following
In the Beginning…
As I was recently going through some old family documents, I came across a United States Postal Service first class stamp with the denomination of six cents. “Wow!” I thought. “When I sent a Christmas card this year, the cost was ten times as much-sixty cents.” The stamp had never been used to send a … Continue reading In the Beginning…
Carlisle Family Christmas Eve Gift Game
I remember a game passed along in the Carlisle family, now still finding interest down to the fourth generation---passing from my father to me, to my children, and to my grandchildren. My son says he has done research trying to find an earlier origin of the game, or to see if there is another family … Continue reading Carlisle Family Christmas Eve Gift Game
A House for Toddler Jesus (craft project)
Some of you may be thinking, “What in the world is a house for Toddler Jesus?” Let me give you some background information before I jump into telling you how my two school age granddaughters and I recently made a little cardboard and popsicle stick house. We are going to use it at Christmastime alongside … Continue reading A House for Toddler Jesus (craft project)
Vibrant Vibes: A Musical Phenomenon
We see a wide-eyed little girl, maybe six or so, in a church worship service. She’s standing next to her mother in a pew at the left side of the sanctuary, very close to the pianist whose fingers move adroitly over the keys of the ebony baby grand piano. The child’s eyes shift from the … Continue reading Vibrant Vibes: A Musical Phenomenon
Carrying Each Other’s Burdens
There are times when life can become overwhelming. The sense of not being able to shoulder alone what is being thrown at you is very real for all of us at one time or another. It may be the loss of a loved one. Or losing one’s job. Struggling with health issues. Betrayal of a … Continue reading Carrying Each Other’s Burdens