Thursday, January 28, 2010

You Might Want To Sit Down

The weather people are calling for snow and freezing rain here tomorrow.  Now in this part of the south, that could mean any number of things.  A foot of snow, drizzling rain, or blue skies.  But--just in case they get it right this time--I want to be prepared.  Ran out to my local Dollar General Market yesterday.  Picked up the obligatory gallon of milk and loaf of bread, but thought we might want something to snack on, too.  Did you know Dollar General has cheap imitation Girl Scout cookies!  Mint Thins (wonder how long it took them to come up with that name!) and Fudge Caramel Coconut.  I bought some of the FCC ones and let me tell you--they were really good.  I'd give them an 8--compared to Samoas.  Maybe a 9 if you figure in the lower cost--only $1.85!
  Go get you some!


Thursday, January 21, 2010

12 Months of ......

....of?  I thought of calling it "12 Months of Christmas", but that's not really what it is.  Let me 'splain it to you, Lucy.

I procrastinate.  I have good intentions, but we all know where that road leads.  Time gets away from me and the next thing I know, someone's birthday is tomorrow (or worse, TODAY!) and I haven't done a thing.  I can't tell you how many times we've stopped on the way to a birthday party to buy a gift--and wrapping paper, tape, and maybe even scissors.  Then had to wrap the gift on the hood of the car in the parking lot!  I was soooo happy when gift bags became popular.

And holiday decorating?  Christmas is about all I do.  And not much then.  I have been known to take it down Christmas Day!

Then along comes blogging and all you wonderful ladies.  While I'm packing up boxes of decorations and taking down the tree, you're already planning for next year.  And the things you come up with astound me.  Leave me in shame.  Please sit down for this next confession.  I only have *gasp* one Christmas tree.  I know!!   Some of you have trees in every room.  And decorations abound everywhere--inside and out.  Plus you have little homemade gifts for neighbors and friends.  Wow. 

This year I have set a goal to work on gifts and/or decorations every month---at least one thing a month.  But it may be things I give as birthday or thinking of you stuff during the year.  That's why I can't call it 12 Months of Christmas.  I think I may put a list on the sidebar, then I can be accountable.  And I'll link back to where I got the idea from--because we know I ain't coming up with this all on my own.

So, if you have any good, easy--stress the easy part--ideas for gifts, let me know.  And join me if you like.  When next December 1st rolls around, we'll be ready!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

I Must Live Under a Rock!

Luckily, Joni at Old Centennial Farmhouse doesn't.  She has a great post today about those ugly swirly light bulbs and opened my eyes to a hazard I didn't even know was out there.  Go see for yourself!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

"Feather Your Nest"

 ETA as of 1/18/10--looks like the response has been overwhelming.  The blog is down and the store is quickly selling out.  Even the items I ordered the other day aren't available.  Guess that's a good thing though.  Thanks, everybody.


Are you looking for a gift for someone?  Or maybe a little something for yourself?  Would you like to help a sweet deserving person at the same time?  Visit Gina at Feather Your Nest.  Gina lost her dear husband this past week and is closing her physical store, as well as her online store.  In an effort to clear out her inventory, everything is discounted 25%.  (Reductions are taken when you check out.)  


Maybe you could stop by her blog and leave a few words of sympathy and encouragement, too.  Thanks.


It's Love!

Remember this guy?



Remember I told you I'd be going back for his brothers?
Well, here they are!
*sigh*  I'm in love  *sigh*



 

(sorry for the lousy pictures.  it was getting dark and the light was bad.  plus i'm a crappy photographer!)

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Progress?

I went to the cemetery today.  Time to take down the Christmas flowers and candy canes I put up last month.  The last time I was there was the Sunday after Christmas when Darrell and I went together. 

When Shana first died, I felt an overwhelming compulsion to go to her grave.  At first I went almost every day.  Then I was able to go once or twice a week.  I guess I wanted her to know she wasn't forgotten.  And I wanted to be sure the grave was taken care of--I wanted people to know that the person buried there was loved and missed.  And putting out flowers and keeping the stone clean are all I can do for Shana now.

Sometimes it was hard to go to her grave.  Just writing that sentence still seems unbelievable to me.  How is it that I use the words "Shana" and "died" in the same sentence?  I still stand at her headstone and look at her name and find it unfathomable that it's actually carved in stone that she's gone.  I look at the grass and can't wrap my head around the fact that my child is under there.  How is that even possible?  As hard as it was to go to the cemetery, it was even harder to leave.  Leave her there alone?  Especially when it's cold or raining.

But I know she's not really there.  It's just the empty shell that housed her spirit.   I rarely talk to her when I'm there, though I usually tell her I love her and goodbye when I leave.  There's a shepherd's hook beside her foot stone with a wind chime hanging from it.  Sometimes it rings softly and I like to think it's Shana saying she loves me, too.

I've found lately that the desperate need to go to her grave is not so strong.  I hope and pray that means my heart is healing.  I fear it means I'm forgetting her.  I know that's not true--how could she be forgotten by the person who carried her, nursed her, "grew up" with her.

I also realized after Christmas that her absence was not so bitterly felt this year.  Maybe it's because there were so many people in the house--especially little ones.  I know she was here.  She always is when we're all together.  But in the past, her physical absence was painful--almost too painful.   The picture below will give you an idea of what I mean.  It was taken the first Christmas after Shana's death.  The look on my face says it all.  But this year was better.




To quote one of her favorite Rascal Flatts song, "I'm Moving On".

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Nester's Giveaway!

Do you know the Nester?  Oh, you should, you should.  Especially today, since she's hosting a fabulous giveaway from Dayspring.  I'll let you click on that link for the details, but here's what I've designed and will order should I win.  Our 34th wedding anniversary is quickly approaching and this would make a perfect gift for Darrell (or for him to give me *wink wink*).




Giveaway ends tonight, so hurry.  
What are you waiting for?


Monday, January 11, 2010

Don't Judge a Book....

There's a little store in town that my hubby loves, but me--not so much.  One of those hole in the wall hardware stores.  Unheated for the most part and not really stuff I'm interested in looking at.  After spending several days indoors due to the cold and icy weather, we ventured out on Saturday.  I was hoping to hit the GW on the other side of town, but Darrell had other ideas.  We considered GW, then Big Lots, but he really wanted to go to Bill's Wholesale.  Well, I certainly learned a lesson!  Bill's has doubled in size and has lots more than they used to.  I wish their Christmas stuff had been marked down, but it's probably better it wasn't.  Look what I got for $10!



It was love at first sight!  I actually jumped up and down in the aisle!  This guy is a good 15 inches tall.  And--be still my heart--he has two brothers!  I will be going back for them this week.

Also, while Lauren was here over Christmas, we managed to accomplish a project or two.  Here's one:



I bought these animal prints last summer for $1 each.  Not really my style, but I did like the frames and had a couple of ideas in mind.

After a coat of primer and a couple of coats of craft paint, then vinyl letters from the dollar store, here's the result:



I can't decide if I like it or not.  Seems to be lacking something.  I'm thinking I should have used scrapbook paper as a background.  I do have some leftover wallpaper that I think would look good.  Back to the drawing board?  Whadda ya think?


Observations

Wow! It's been a long time since my last post.  I think I need one of those gadgets they advertise on TV that let you speak into the computer instead of type.  Ideas for posts run through my mind all the time.  I even "write" them in my head.  Unfortunately, that doesn't always translate to the blog.

If you'll give me a penny, I'll tell you some of my thoughts.  No penny?  That's okay.  We're buds and I'll tell you anyway.

Did you know:  if you have heartburn, you should lay on your left side.  This helps your stomach empty faster, so whatever is causing the problem gets gone quicker.  I also do this when my stomach's upset and it really helps.  This is a good tip for me, because lately it seems everything I eat makes me sick to my stomach--spicy stuff, sugar, everything.  And, no, I'm not pregnant.  That is physically impossible and has been since 1982!

Cold weather stinks!  While I love the seasons, I hate being cold.  It's 23 degrees here this morning!  Yesterday when we left for church, it was only 10!  Supposedly, it's going to warm up later in the week.  I think I want to be a weatherman--excuse me, meteorologist.  That's the only job I know where you can be completely wrong again and again and still keep your job.

January is my least favorite month.  After the rush and drama of the holidays, January is a letdown.  All the pretty Christmas stuff gets put away and I am almost always dissatisfied with my house.  Last week I could have happily tossed 95% of the furniture and stuff in my house and started over.

Have you seen the new show on Style Network called "What I Hate About Me"?  The participant lists 10 things about themselves they'd like to change--physically or a characteristic--and the show helps them make those changes.  I watched it the other day and it made me wonder what I'd change if I went on the show.  While there are some things, I honestly couldn't think of 10.  That made me feel better about myself.

One thing I would change is how I look at that blasted glass--the one that's either half empty or half full.  Most of the time, my glass is half empty.  Tell me about your glass.  Empty?  Full?  How do you keep it full?  Inquiring minds need to know.


Saturday, January 2, 2010

Dag Nab It!

Well, here it is January 2 and I've already broken my one and only resolution.  All I wanted to do this year was be more on top of things--more proactive, less waiting till the last minute.  And what did I do this morning? I wanted to get a picture of all the grandchildren together and I kept waiting and waiting for the right moment.  One of my daughters left about 45 minutes ago with her three children and I've just realized I didn't get the picture.  I am so sad now.


Friday, January 1, 2010

Look What I Got For Christmas!

My sweet daughter and her even sweeter husband (sorry, Lauren) revamped my blog for one of my Christmas gifts!  Don't ya love it?  I do!  Red and black are two of my favorite colors--if you saw my closet, you'd know for sure--and add in white for one of my favorite color combinations.  They also made me a button--which you may so kindly grab if you wish (and I hope you will).



Thanks, Lauren and Cam,  I owe ya big time!


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