Growing up

While I enjoy watching my children grow up, there are those sad moments when you wish they were still really small. This was one of those moments. Remember when they would get in the tub and play and talk until their skin shriveled and they shivered because the water was cold. I looked at the "bath tub" toys and well, they had not been played with in a really long time. So I gathered them up to put away in storage. When my youngest, who is 8, saw me she quickly protested to the putting away of these toys. When I reminded her that they had not been played with and I thought that she had outgrown them, she asked that I leave them out "just in case". And I did!

Socks

Please tell me that I am not only one in the world with socks that do not have a partner. I have collected over a period of time, this basket of socks that have come through the laundry and have no partners when I fold everything. Where do these socks go? I made an executive decision and tossed them in the garbage. No more clutter in this basket!

HAPPY NEW YEAR---I want to be a LOSER

       As I ponder my New Year's Resolutions, I thought it would be great this year to be a LOSER.   Yes, you heard correctly, I want to be a LOSER of the following things?
            1.  15 pounds ( we always have to think of that at New Year's)
            2.  any negative attitudes or feelings
            3.  any bitterness I have harbored
            4. any desires to exist in any way other than God's will
            5. clutter (both in my home and in my mind)

Have a Wonderful New Year and may you prosper and feel God's love in 2011.

Generational Gathering

We had a Christmas gathering a couple of days ago. My grandparents came,

who by the way, have been married for 73 years as of December 18 ( he is

92, she is 88).

There were also cousins, first, seconds and thirds. If you lost count, that is

4 generations. We ate, ate and ate some more and then played games-the

board kind and cowboys and indians.

What a blessed time and a wonderful gift. No store bought gift can ever

have as much meaning. ...................and life is good!

Winter Vacation

Today was the last day of school for this calendar year!! A two week winter break to celebrate Christmas and spend time together.

My mind drifts back to a carefree time in my youth when Christmas break was such a warm and exciting time. The celebrations, family gatherings, long days at home just to play and read. The remembrance of what gifts I received, if they fit or not or what they cost is long gone, but what remains is how good it feels to have been loved and just to be home, safe and secure without a worry in the world. Ahhhhhhhh! These are the memories that I also want my children to enjoy.

In years to come, it will not matter if they were given a sweater or a scarf, what foods we ate and drank or how much it all cost. What will matter is the difference that we make in the lives of our children (the non-material differences!)

M.E.

Bargains and Burdens

...........the answer to a "Bargain Burden".

I found this designer jacket on sale at 90% off, yes you read that correctly. Regular price was $129.95, mine for $12.95. I could NOT pass it up. However, the pin stripes in it were light gray and magenta. The jacket is a dark gray. Not the easiest colors in the world to match. After a year of hanging in my closet, I found this gorgeous piece of magenta fabric and made a skirt, in less than one hour. Perfect match. The entire outfit cost less than $20. As the executive in charge of all matters of housekeeping in my home, maybe I will wear this to work tomorrow!!

SIMPLE THINGS

I love it when children are excited about simple things. We
had friends over for lunch and socializing. My eight year old wanted
to go Christmas caroling at the neighbors. For two days, she planned
how it would be, the books we would use and what we would wear. We
needed to "look" like Christmas carolers....and we did!

Getting ready for Christmas

Seeing this old fashioned truck with the tree loaded on the back set the mood for putting up my tree and decorating. I would love to have this truck and drive it with the tree up my long country driveway and carry it through the front door. Oh well, it sounded nostalgic!

Instead, we pulled our storage bag off the top shelf of the barn, my son put the artificial tree together and my youngest daughter put the lights on. We always put it together one day, let if "fluff" for a day or two and then decorate. Waiting on the "fluff" today.

A NIGHT OUT--just the two of us

Price of tickets to NCAA basketball game--reasonable. Price of a soda--outrageous. Price of food at the game--ridiculous. The fun we had and memories we made--PRICELESS!!!!


My son had never been to a college basketball game. So, while in the city for a science exhibit, I took him. He was in awe.

The game was great! The Cards made easy work of the the FIU Panthers.

The new stadium and all the entertainment during the game was wonderful.

My Scientist

This is my little scientist. This week he is an agriscientist. He will attend the Annual Farm Bureau State Convention this week to exhibit his project on barns and their usage in agriculture. Big trip to the Big City accompanied by going to a college basketball game. Oh, the excitement!!! I love you feller and I am so proud of you!!!!!

"SWEET DREAMS"

My sister brought this and asked if I could work on her pillow. If that is what you call it. It was flat enough to use as a pot holder. Now, this pillow is from our childhood, we are talking the mid to late 1970s!! So, I said, "Yes".

So, I got busy and inside the pillow were only a handful of feathers. I had some down pillows that I no longer used. With some new ticking and the re-purposed feathers, my sister now has a set of new feather pillows.

The pink ribbon marks the end of the pillow where the feathers from her "childhood" pillow went. Sweet dreams, Sis.

wandering jews

I just brought this pot of "wandering jews" in for the winter. These vines thrived on my back veranda this summer. This is one of my favorite house plants as the green jew belonged to my maternal great grandmother. So did the pot that it is in (blue and white swirled metal bucket). Amazing are the treasures that we hold dear.

Deferred Compensation at its best!!!

This is my latest "project". Our daughter (high school freshman) was accepted to play with our local university orchestra. The first performance was the other night and was it breathtaking. With presentations from Brahms, Sherwood Forest, Phantom of the Opera and others, I sat in awe of the years of preparation and study along with the hours of practice that all the performers pour their hearts into. This was our daughter's first "grown up" (for lack of a better term) event and did she look grown up! We are so proud of you sweetheart. Sitting in the audience made all the hours of lessons, practice (sometimes involving nagging) of the past 9 years seem worth it all. Kudos to you and Mr. "D"!

Time

..."The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."
Albert Einstein


How often do we say, "Where does time go"? As I grow older, I find myself wondering this frequently. Yesterday was our 18th wedding anniversary. Am I old enough to have been married for 18 years? What have we done for 18 years? In that time, we have been blessed with three amazing children and good health. We have enjoyed beaches together, many ball games and competitions with our children. We have worn out 5 (at least) vehicles and had four addresses. We have buried beloved family members and pets. We have seen the world change and rearrange. We have seen that the things on this earth are not steadfast. According to my calculations, I have prepared approximately 19,500 meals (give or take a few for vacations and eating out), washed close to 6000 loads of laundry and driven around 300,000 miles!!!!! It is a good thing that it doesn't all happen at once as Einstein referred to. Did I mention, that I wouldn't change a thing about it all.

Let Her Twirl!!!!

Put a sweet skirt on a little girl and see how she loves to twirl!! This "twirly" skirt is made from chocolate brown baby wale corduroy with coordinating turquoise fabric. It is fully lined with muslin and has a ruffle at the bottom. The top is a purchased t-shirt with fabric from the skirt appliqued on. The skirt and top can be worn as is or layered with leggings and a long sleeve tee or turtle neck. A must have for all young ladies' fall wardrobes. Thank you Miss L. for allowing me to create this one for you!!!! Enjoy.

How Now Brown Cow

Every year in September, our small town hosts "Cow Days"-our fall festival. The festival itself dates way back but in the past years it has grown into a good sized event. There is an annual fun run, many craft booths, singing, beauty pageants and much food!!! The most famous food is the "Legion" fish sandwich and a Ski to drink. The fish is sold by the local American Legion post and well a Ski is just a central Kentucky trademark.

This pink corduroy jumper will make its debut at Cow Days next weekend on a sweet little two year old. The cow appliqued and is cut from soft brown fleece. The jumper is fully lined with coordinating bows at the shoulders and covered buttons. I have more pink corduroy, so order yours quickly!!!

Spring is a time of renewal for some. My youngest, decided on her own, to donate her beautiful brown hair to Locks of Love. Her hair had never been cut. 10 inches in two braids will now adorn a precious young lady that has lost her hair due to illness or disease. What a grown up decision for a six year old!!! My hat is off to you little one.

The dinosaur and the truck sweatshirts have been sold!!

This sweatshirt is navy with gingham trim, decorative stitching and large button closures. This is a size 3.

OUT OF HIBERNATION

Alas, Spring is nigh!! I feel like a bear out of hibernation. I have worked on some projects for early Spring. One project is sweatshirt transformation. These sweatshirts are pullovers transformed into embellished cardigans. They are adorned with appliques and tab closures. The possibilities are endless and they can dress up any outfit.