Rollercoaster Days

2010-10-25T21:19:00.002-05:00

So, I did it again...lost my password and had to start all over. I finally found it...obviously, but have been writing my new blog over athttp://lifescherryontop.blogspot.com/ Please feel free to pop on over there and visit anytime.

I Remembered!

2010-05-16T22:20:00.001-05:00

So I finally managed to figure out my password for my gmail account and I'm back! YaY! More later! Good night all!

The Great Deluge of 2009

2009-11-12T14:16:00.004-06:00

It has been raining here, non-stop, for the past 36 to 48 hours and to say the least it is starting to cause some major issues. The dear husband was actually sent home early today because of fears of flooding and in fact he just managed to make it home before they closed the roadway on which he commutes. Last night the wind was roaring, the rain was spattering against my windows, knocking things over, blowing things away, making things go bump in the night...I don't think the dogs or I slept for longer than 10 minute stretches at a time. We aren't supposed to have any respite from this drenching downpour, till at least tomorrow morning(if we're lucky). I confess I am a bit worried and here's why:

So if you have any thoughts and prayers to offer out there, we sure could use them! For now though, the dear husband and I will snuggle close to our puppies, be thankful we haven't yet lost electric power,

Munch our home-made scones,And enjoy our lovely tea.

Here's hoping our house is part houseboat!!!LOL!

A list of sweeps....

2009-11-11T08:45:00.005-06:00

Inspired by today's post over at http://joannedemaio.blogspot.com/, I decided to make a visual list of some of the people and things that sweep me off my feet.....

Alright, I know it was pretty obvious but my husband can definitely make me swoon any day!It is so easy for me to be caught up in anything dealing with ancient history and humanityThere is so much beauty in the natural world that I honestly think it takes a hard-hearted person not to be able to be touched by it.Do I even need to say anything???I have been in love with the ballet since I was in the 4th grade and got to attend the Nutcracker. Such grace and beauty are hard not to become lost in...Let me just state that it is my personal opinion that Billie Holiday is one of the finest singers to ever open her mouth. That woman's voice knows how to creep down in your bones and send your head to spinning!And last but not least...that's right...I went there...chocolate! I mean come on...not to detract from anything....but seriously, sometimes the right piece of chocolate can be a near religious experience!

So what are some of the things that sweep you off your feet??

A simple Thank-you

2009-11-11T02:05:00.002-06:00

I wish to say thank-you to all who have so bravely served our country and also to their families who have been there with all the love and support that they can provide for our troops!

Something to think about....

2009-11-10T23:37:00.003-06:00

An acquaintance of mine recently made a facebook post that caught my attention and got me to thinking. The issue being discussed between said acquaintance and his friends was their" horror, fright, and disbelief" over the fact that Mr. Glenn Beck's newest book has become the #1 non-fiction-bestseller in the Country. Comments promptly headed into the territory of derogatory name calling and the belittlement of the intellectual capacity of anyone agreeing with him( I believe references were made along the lines of surprise that "those people" could actually read and of their being anti-intellectual). Now whether or not you agree with Mr. Beck is another matter all together, but what I find most bothering about this whole issue is the fact that the aforementioned author of the post and his friends have to stoop to disparaging the mental capacity of anyone that simply doesn't agree with their views. I thought a true sign of an intellectual being was one of tolerance and willingness to agree to disagree. I know it happens on both sides and I'm not trying to make it out as if their the only ones underrating other people, but it's wrong for anyone to clump a set of people together and stamp them with your overly-biased judgement. I know that I have been guilty of doing that in the past and believe me, I've had crow to eat over it, but really...are we a bunch of 8 year olds on the playground calling each other names simply because we don't agree on all the issues? Whatever happened to that thing so much called on but rarely enacted upon, known as intelligent debate? And guess what...just because someone doesn't view things the same way you do...doesn't make them any less capable or prone to idiocy. It just means their different and isn't difference something we're all supposed to celebrate?!

What, oh what, to say???

2009-11-10T12:44:00.003-06:00

For the past couple of days, I have been wracking my brain trying to think up some interesting topic to share with you and yet, even now...everything seems so self-centered...so pointless. Do I talk to you about how I just found out that I can't run my microwave and coffee pot at the same time(my soup is only lukewarm, but at least I'll have my much needed mug of hot tea)? Do I tell you about how I've become obsessed with tea and all the comforts a cup of it tends to engender in me? Do I talk about how bleary the days seem here and that I have begun to wonder if the sun will ever show his head out from behind the clouds again? Do I opine about how my sedentary lifestyle is robbing me of my health and that I have been ill so much this year that I can count on one hand, the days that I've actually felt whole? Or do I mention that I'm so weary of my lack of day-to-day interaction with anyone other than my husband, that I'm sure that only my meds have kept me from losing my mind? No...no...I'm tired of hearing my own complaining and self-centered views. I want to hear more about you all...and that's partly why I've been trying to catch up on your blogs(some of you, I haven't been able to visit as I would like to, due to my silly lap-top being a near antique) instead of posting anything of my own. I like to hear about your day and your thoughts on whatever it is that interests you. I guess you could say, I'm becoming a better listener than a speaker. So, are you all looking forward to the holidays? Will you be seeing family, friends? Do you have any traditions that you look forward to each year? What about memories of holidays past? Anyone that you miss this time of year? I look forward to hearing about it all and I ask your indulgence if I don't speak up quite as much as I have in the past. I'm trying a little experiment of living outside myself and not focusing so much on my own concerns. Hope you all will have a great day!

Howdy!!

2009-11-08T17:26:00.004-06:00

Hello Everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine wasn't that bad at all...went out with the dear husband yesterday and spent most of today working on a new painting. I'm slowly but surely starting to make my way back to all you bloggy friends of mine, but I will show you part of what has been keeping me busy lately....Hope you enjoy!

I finally found what's left of our paints and decided to give it a go...This is a rough, fast sketch of one of my grandfathers. The point of the exercise was to get it as nicely done as possible without having to ever erase.This is what I was working on today...It's a picture of my sister Mary. I adapted it from a wedding photo of her's.Just a little close up of the face.

Anyways, I hope you all will have a wonderful week and I'll be seeing ya!

Just Something...

2009-11-04T10:54:00.003-06:00

The past two days have been harder ones for me. I've not had major losses, but I've been dealing with an emotional roller coaster of half forgotten memories and repressed feelings. Last evening things finally came to a head and the dear husband and I had a great row. I think I cried the entire rest of the night and actually had to call off my much anticipated plans for today just because I'm so drained. I'm not very good company these days....I can't seem to drag myself out of the sweep of depression that threatens to drown me, and I'm even still on my meds. I'm not asking or seeking anyone's sympathy....I just need to talk. I feel trapped by circumstances that are beyond my control and seem to only be continuing to spiral out of reach. Life just.... isn't.... I miss my family, I miss the few friends I have, I miss the person I wanted to be. I miss it all.

Hello from me again!

2009-10-27T16:04:00.004-05:00

Another sullen afternoon here and sometimes I think if it wasn't for a good book and a cup of hot peppermint tea, it'd be enough to drive a girl to drink! Took a little walk earlier and it was lovely to be out seeing all the trees that have begun to put on their fall color and having the feeling of a crisp breeze across my face. Lately I find myself staring out my windows for hours on end, watching all the birds and the little squirrels as they all scurry about in search of some kind of sustenance. I keep trying to snap a picture of one of the many little furry friends we have around here, but they tend to be too fast for my poor camera's shutter speed. Speaking of pictures though, I did promise some of the autumn color so I hope that you enjoy these:

I did also want to say that I am sorry that I haven't been around more often and that if I have somehow offended someone, I apologize. Hope you all have a lovely evening!

A Good morning to all...

2009-10-26T09:22:00.002-05:00

Good morning and hello to all my friends out there! I hope you've been able to enjoy this wonderful month so far! I've just been trying to finish up a bit of settling in and have even had a guest already! My best friend came for a week, and as we hadn't seen each other in 2 years, it was a wonderful, but long overdue visit. Other than that, my dear husband and I have been trying to get onto some kind of workable schedule. Now that most of his squadron has finally moved to Norfolk, we are hoping that they will be able to settle on more definite work hours and such. I've been wanting to find a job and get enrolled in school, but as we only have one vehicle currently and haven't been sure of what hours the dear husband would be working, it's been nigh impossible to do such. The family all seems to be doing as well as usual, though an uncle of mine did have to go into surgery. He came through it fine and though he has a long recovery road ahead of him, we believe he'll make a full return to sound health. I have also been trying to keep up with my reading and just finished D.H. Lawrence's, " Lady Chatterley's Lover". I enjoyed it and am currently on to "Far from the Madding Crowd", by Thomas Hardy. Haven't yet made any friends here, but I've been looking at meetup.com for some interest groups, as a way to get out and meet people. I'm supposed to attend a knitting group on Wednesday and am looking forward to learning to knit and hopefully making some new friends. There is also a literary group, that I am interested in, but we shall wait and see how it all turns out. I must admit that when we first moved into this area, I was not fond of it at all; I have however grown to like it and even with all the little flaws and dings, I love our little home. I'll have to try to post some pictures I've taken of the fall color from around here! Unfortunately, I hear some dishes calling my name, so I will take my leave for now. Hope all is well with you and know you are all never far from my thoughts! If I don't write again before then....HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

My thoughts on this fall day

2009-10-07T13:10:00.002-05:00

I have to start out by saying that today has been absolutely gorgeous here! There was a bit of cloud cover this morning, but it melted away early and left us with a vibrant blue sky. I've not been up to one darn thing today either...I needed a brake! Most the morning, I spent contemplating how wonderfully made this old world of ours is and admiring God's handiwork. This afternoon, when I haven't found myself staring out at the sun-dappled tree leaves, I've been catching up on face book and doing a spot of reading. A palpable sense of serenity has blanketed me all day and it leaves me feeling so very grateful. There are loads of trouble and care that we are often asked to carry and I think too often we forget to simply release them for awhile, stand up, shake ourselves off, and just admire the constant swirl and dance of life around us. Tomorrow, I may be neck deep in something I don't think I can take, but for now...in this moment, I am happy. Life is beautiful! I hope that whatever you have going on in your life right now, you are able to take a precious few moments to part the worries and see the beauty that is always waiting for us. Have a wonderful rest of the day and God bless!

Hey...don't I know you???!!

2009-10-06T13:15:00.004-05:00

Hello from one who seems to have lost herself in the shuffle! It has been awhile since I've been around and though I don't have much time to catch up with you all right this minute, I am glad to say that I should be around a bit more often. It's been a rather"interesting" move but, I'm beginning to despair of ever truly getting everything settled and in place. I'm still surrounded by a sea of boxes and let me just add...if I ever have to see so much brown cardboard in one place again(and I know I will) I want it made very clear that I am not to be held responsible for what I may do afterwards! It hasn't helped matters that I've been sick practically from the moment we got here and even had to take a little trip to the hospital(more on that later), nor has it aided in the settlement cause, to have had my husband have to turn around and leave for two weeks about a week and a half after we arrived. Hopefully, things will be calmer the next few months and I won't have to end up running around bald-headed from having pulled my hair out! Well, I just wanted to pop in, say hello, and let you know that I really haven't fallen off the face of the earth(yet). I hope you all are doing well and I look forward with eager excitement to catching up with all our old familiar faces! Have a very blessed day!

Just a quick hello!

2009-08-24T11:51:00.002-05:00

I'll apologize for not being around lately, but I have been under a lot of stress with trying to get ready for the move and trying to find a place to live. To top that all off, they moved up our moving date to the 1st of Sept....so we've been really having to scramble to get everything done. Got our pack-out dates today and I'm just ready to have all this over with! So please, keep us in your thoughts and prayers! Hopefully next time I get to write to you, I'll be in Virginia!!
Hope everyone is doing well!!

You go in for a couple strands of thread and walk out with a bargain...

2009-08-01T21:56:00.003-05:00

You have to love walking into a store with the determination that you're only going to buy a couple of strands of embroidery floss and walking out with not only a really great deal on a metal shelf, but also some cute wall decor too! I bugged the dear husband earlier to come with me to the craft store to refill a couple colors of thread that I've been needing and while we were there, we browsed down the clearance isles. It was there we found this great piece:

It's normally priced at $50, but we were able to snag it for $17!!!! Believe me, I had to do a double take when I saw the price tag!The dear husband was really fond of this too and at 50% off, I couldn't say no!

I know that I probably shouldn't be buying more stuff right now, considering we've got the move coming up in about 5 weeks, but I just couldn't pass these up! Did I get some great bargains or what??

Congrats to the Winner!!

2009-08-01T15:13:00.002-05:00

Well ladies and gents we have a winner!! Congratulations go out to Sandy @ http://newfie-girl.blogspot.com/ for being the winner of my giveaway contest.

Hope you'll really enjoy it Sandy and everyone else be on the look-out for another giveaway coming soon!

A quickie...

2009-07-30T23:55:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to pop in for a quick little post to say hi and hello! Hope everyone out there is doing well. I actually had a good night tonight and am really looking forward to tomorrow afternoon. I've got a Dr. appt. then and I hope to be able to get back on my medication. I know for my dear husband's sake and heck, for my own sake...I need to stick with my meds and not allow myself to go off them. Speaking of the dear husband...poor guy came home feeling a bit under the weather, so at first I thought that any plans I'd had for going out would be nixed...however I sent him to bed to rest and decided that even if he couldn't go with me, there was no reason why I shouldn't still go alone. At the last minute though, I called up a friend of mine here and asked if she'd like to just go walking around Wal-Mart with me and when she agreed, I was glad I'd gone through with the impulse. It was so nice to be able to get out and have someone besides the dear husband to talk to. I haven't had a lot of that lately, so it was exactly like a breath of fresh air! It was even more productive too because she also happens to be the ombudsman for our squadron and she's going to help me get everything as organized for our move as possible! It's nice to have someone to help us that knows what she's doing!

Anyways, I hope you are all doing well and wanted to give you one last reminder about the giveaway on Saturday! Good luck to everyone!

Am I driving you crazy yet???

2009-07-26T18:50:00.005-05:00

I know lately the only time I write is when I'm posting about some new thing that I've made, but honestly...it's just about the only thing I'm doing right now. It's been a lot of fun trying to make new things and seeing what I can come up with, but it's also been a way for me to kinda bury my head in the sand and not have to deal with some issues that aren't the most pleasant. Between the upcoming move(to which we haven't done enough towards), issues with my family, financial problems, and worrying about my pup's health...I just feel a need to escape. And I'll be honest, I'm working on trying to improve so that maybe I can use my needle crafting as a way to bring in a little extra income. So please, bear with me till I can get my head back on straight and once again start blogging about more than just the pillow I made or the embroidery I'm working on. With that being said, here's the two newest projects that I've completed:

Okay so I haven't exactly figured out just yet how I want to use this piece, but I've at least gotten this part of it done. I wanted a bit more of a challenge and it was fun to try and get all the little detailed lines in there.I made this mini-pillow with the idea in mind to start working on my blind stitch....which I'm terrible at! I'm just glad you can't see how badly I stitched the bottom of this poor pillow!

Well, that's it for now. I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and please don't forget to put an entry in for my giveaway!

Finally another Giveaway!!!!

2009-07-24T11:32:00.002-05:00

Well, I know that I've been talking about a giveaway for a couple of posts now and guess what...it's finally here! That's right ladies and gents this is the post where I ask that if you want to enter please send me one email only with " Hey I Want That" as the subject line and you'll be entered to win. The giveaway runs from today till August 1 and the winner will be chosen using a random number generator. Good luck !

Two New Completed Projects....

2009-07-23T09:59:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to post these two new completed projects that I've been working on.

I've developed quite a little fascination with crows lately, so I made this as a throw pillow for my bed.

Getting a bit away from needle-crafting, I wanted to try to experiment with working on paint textures on wood and this is what I got with this piece. I think it's kinda fun:)

I also wanted to let you know to be on the lookout for a giveaway that I'll either be posting tonight or tomorrow. Hope ya'll have a great one!

Hello??? Whose may I ask is calling??

2009-07-23T03:21:00.002-05:00

As I read through many of the blogs that I follow, I'm continually struck by how wonderfully unique and how clearly the person's personality comes through. I bring this up because I often question what my authentic voice is...am I being true to it...is it coming across as clearly as I would like? I know I'm not the cute, perky...so lucky to be -in-love-and-life kinda person...nor am I the serious dedicated writer or the witty, smart-mouthed hipster....so where oh where in this bloggy world of ours( and admittedly in the real world too) does that leave me?? It's so hard for me to find some type of semblance and say with surety that, " hey, this is me!" My interests can change as quickly as the breeze and something that I may be passionate about one minute, will be yesterday's news ,in the next. I swear sometimes that the only constant I've got in my life is the threat of sliding down into a depression that I can't drag myself out of.:( So ,I guess what I'm asking is how do I come across to you dear friends? I don't ask from any place in need of an ego trip...just wanting to try to bring some light of understanding to the dark caves of my ignorance. Maybe that really is a question better left unasked...but you know the old saying...A life left unexamined isn't worth living(or something along those lines....)

A place to go when you're feeling blue!

2009-07-21T16:45:00.003-05:00

Living with bi-polarism isn't always easy and so often I have to face the downward slopes of depression that I can't seem to overcome. I get so wrapped up in the darkness that it's often hard to see any light at all and to be honest with you...I hate that! I hate how I focus only on the negative when there is so much that is positive in my life. I have to change that! I recently found a blog from a young woman that can only be described as refreshing, uplifting, and quite simply I love it. It's inspired me to do my best to not allow myself to wallow in all the things that I can't do, aren't going right, or that I don't have. So if you feel like you need a little shot of positive thinking please head on over and check out http://melissabxoxo.blogspot.com/ . You won't be disappointed!

So why has time stopped flying by???

2009-07-20T21:09:00.005-05:00

It's funny how up until now, this year has flown by. I say funny, because now when I actually want it to hurry up and be September...it seems bound and determined to drag itself out. September is when we are scheduled to move to Virginia and surprisingly, I am actually beginning to really look forward to it. I suppose that stems somewhat from the fact that I know we HAVE to move and I'm looking forward to trying to find a new job, getting into school, and settling into someplace longer than 6 months. Everything is on hold right now too and the crazy thing is we still haven't even found a place to live! Oh I know there are certain things about Corpus Christi that I am going to miss, but for the past several weeks it's stopped feeling like home and that's left me feeling extremely antsy. Of course in the coming weeks, I'll probably look back on this post and end up kicking myself for wanting things to move faster, especially because everything tends to pile up one on top of the other! I just hope this move will go much more smoothly than the one down here did(here's hoping the movers won't break or lose anything else of mine!) So here's to counting down the days till September!!

A change in gifts....

2009-07-18T20:04:00.003-05:00

So recently I posted a tote that I had originally planned to send to my mother-in-law and after giving it more thought, I decided that I didn't really think it was her. I talked to her some and after a post on facebook I finally came up with this:

Seeing as she has two sons in the Navy, I thought this was something that she would really appreciate. What do you guys think? I'm thinking of doing something similar for a give-away here...so your feedback would let me know if anyone would be interested. Hope you're all having a great weekend!

A rather bumbly post

2009-07-16T10:10:00.004-05:00

Good morning my friends in blog world! Hope your week has been going great for you and that you've got a fun-filled weekend ahead of you. I've been having a blast lately, working on trying new crafts and browsing through several drool -worthy Etsy shops. At the risk of scaring you all off with using the dreaded "C" word in another post, I've decided that I'm going to try to make dolls for my nieces for Christmas. It'll be a fun challenge and I hope that they'll cherish the dolls as much as I cherish the one my great grandmother made for me. Speaking of dolls I want you to meet my first attempts at some funky Halloween buddies:

This is Max. He's one crazy black cat and I have to admit he's grown on me quite a bit since I made him.

This is Max and Edgar. Edgar was my first attempt and I thought he was going to turn out horribly, but surprisingly even with the bunching around the eyes(I need to get an embroidery hoop so that hopefully won't happen again) he ended up being pretty cute. What do you guys think?

Well I think that's all for today. I apologize for the rather bumbling post, but I'm too excited to sit here much longer and I'm ready to dive right back into working on new projects. Have a great one!

A Happy Birthday to my Mother-in-law...

2009-07-15T04:43:00.004-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to wish my mother-in-law a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Okay so, she doesn't read my blog...some day she might and hey it'll be here! LOL! Anyways, even though it'll be late, I stayed up all night making her this tote:
It honestly looks better in person because my camera just can't capture the colors correctly. What do you think? I hope she'll like it.

Hello from a stranger!!

2009-07-14T11:38:00.002-05:00

Hello my bloggy friends, I hope you all had great weekends and a nice start to this week!

I've been doing okay and I am praying that things will finally start to get some kind of order to them. We've been trying to convince my mother-in-law to come and live with us. She's become disabled and cannot work, drive a car, or really support herself. My poor husband has been really worried for her health and state of mind, but she wants to remain independent...and I can understand that. It's a delicate situation and we only want what is best for everyone involved.

I do ask that you all pray or send good thoughts to my little dog, Pepper. The other day my dear husband found a lump on her hindquarter's and so we are trying to get a vet appointment to see what it could be. We love our little pup as much as we would a child, so please keep her in your thoughts.

We've also begun our apartment search for our move to Virginia. It's coming up in the middle of Sept. and to tell you the truth, I am more than ready to just get it over with. I love it here in Corpus Christi, but since I know I can't stay...I've begun to detach myself some. So please send out your prayers and thoughts that we'll be able to find a new place that we can call home!

Thankfully, it hasn't been all doom and gloom here lately! I know some of you may not want to hear the "C" word just yet, but my dear husband and I decided that this year, we are going to make all our ornaments for our Christmas tree. I've even gotten a bit of a start and plan to do mittens, hearts, stars, and stockings. I think it's going to be fun and I might even make a few as Christmas presents this year. The great part about it is, they are inexpensive(I use felt) and easy to make. What do you think? I'm also working on a project for a giveaway...so stay tuned for that!

Well, I guess I'll close for today. If I don't get back before the rest of the week passes by, know I am thinking about you all and I hope you have a fantastic week!

An indulgence to be asked for and an afternoon visitor...

2009-07-08T06:48:00.002-05:00

I know that I have promised to be around a bit more often and that I have not yet carried through with that promise, so I have to apologize for that. The dear husband and I have been having some difficulties that we are having to deal with and they have been enough to keep me away a good deal. I do miss all my bloggy friends and I hope to get back to regularly visiting with you all sooner rather than later. Now for my afternoon visitor:I let the pups out for a bathroom break and found that we had a lovely visitor for the afternoon. This pretty moth was nestled up on the beam of the patio's roof. Seeing him, I had to hurry to find my camera so that I could share him with you all. Fortunately my dear husband was able to make it home before he left, so he was able to visit with our new friend too.Our little visitor flew off sometime later in the evening and I am glad that he stopped in for awhile. Well my friends, I need to get busy with some things...just know that I cherish each and everyone of you and I will try to be back soon! Hope all is well with you!

Something for my niece....

2009-07-02T20:19:00.002-05:00

So feeling inspired recently I headed to the craft store to snag some supplies for making my niece a tote where she can carry around all her little treasures and here it is:This is the front

I did her intials on the back.

What do you think???

Is She a Zombie???

2009-07-01T00:06:00.002-05:00

No...I haven't died(though at times I felt like I wished I could)....I just haven't had internet access for a bit. I hope you all are doing well and I'll be back to share in your bloggy lives and get caught up, just as soon as I can. Right now though...sleepy time! Have a great one!

Some Poetry for you

2009-06-22T13:49:00.002-05:00

I am not very inspired today so I thought I would leave you with two poems by one of my favorite poets, Edna St. Vincent Millay:

First Fig

by Edna St. Vincent Millay
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
It gives a lovely light!

EXILED
Searching my heart for its true sorrow, This is the thing I find to be:That I am weary of words and people, Sick of the city, wanting the sea;
Wanting the sticky, salty sweetness Of the strong wind and shattered spray;Wanting the loud sound and the soft sound Of the big surf that breaks all day.
Always before about my dooryard, Marking the reach of the winter sea,Rooted in sand and dragging drift-wood, Straggled the purple wild sweet-pea;
Always I climbed the wave at morning, Shook the sand from my shoes at night,That now am caught beneath great buildings, Stricken with noise, confused with light.
If I could hear the green piles groaning Under the windy wooden piers,See once again the bobbing barrels, And the black sticks that fence the weirs,
If I could see the weedy mussels Crusting the wrecked and rotting hulls,Hear once again the hungry crying Overhead, of the wheeling gulls,
Feel once again the shanty straining Under the turning of the tide,Fear once again the rising freshet, Dread the bell in the fog outside,--
I should be happy,--that was happy All day long on the coast of Maine!I have a need to hold and handle Shells and anchors and ships again!
I should be happy, that am happy Never at all since I came here.I am too long away from water. I have a need of water near.

Some food for thought!

2009-06-20T18:25:00.004-05:00

If you watch the news at all ,or read the paper, or get your 411 over the web...then I am sure that you have heard about the situation brewing in Iran. I don't know how you feel, but I have not been able to get the Iranian people out of my head and have been glued to my T.V. watching for any new developments. A flood of mixed emotions is flowing through me and my feelings run the gamut of hope, fear, and helplessness. It makes me feel humbled and proud of the people who are risking their very lives to stand up and say..." NO! This is not right...we are tired of your harshness, your oppression, your ignoring our basic rights. We will be heard!" I am even more proud of seeing the great numbers of women that are right there marching with the men. I fear for them too though and wish that a corrupt regime was not resorting to violence to try and crush these brave people. I suppose though, that's one of the very reasons these men and women are marching in the first place! I also hope and pray that this won't have all been in vain and that some positive outcome can be produced. I feel helpless though because all I know to do right now and sit and watch and pray. It really has touched me because here in America each and everyone of us has been given the freedom to claim our basic human rights, and it angers and saddens me to know that there are people out there suffering under the cruel thumbs of dictators. What I believe I will take away from this moment in time is, a desire and a determination to in some way reach out to those that are oppressed, down-trodden, and stripped of their rights to life. I hope too that in even some small way, you'll join with me in a movement to show those who are suffering under the cruel hand of oppression that there are those out here that want to help...that care about each and everyone of them!

I've got a million and one things to tell you...okay maybe just 5!

2009-06-19T16:11:00.002-05:00

I'll go ahead and ask your forgiveness for the yo-yoing I will probably be doing with this post. I feel as if I have a million and one things that I want to tell you all about, but I'll try to keep it into some kind of cohesive whole.

1.) My mom and I have been discussing the possibility of she and my niece coming down for a week. I would enjoy this beyond measure and hope that we'll find a way to make it happen. My niece has been telling my mom that she really wants to come see me and you can probably tell how much that gets to a big ole' softy like me. The dear husband and I have been so inspired by the idea that they might come see us, that we have decided to write and illustrate a fairytale with my niece as the heroine. I'll keep you up to date on how that turns out.

2.)I've decided to do my own little summer reading project and, as silly as this may sound, I'm hoping to be able to have read 100 books by the 14th of Sept. I've got 5 down so far and I just started on the 14th of this month. So wish me luck! It maybe over-stretching just a bit, but hey ya gotta have a goal...right?!

3.)A few of the books I've been reading have really begun a process of self-reflection, culminating in a moment of clarity this morning. I've been trying to figure out why I allowed myself to gain back almost all of the 100+ lbs that I had lost a year or two ago and why I still haven't gotten my sorry self back into school. I realized they both have a common problem at their roots...namely that I'm afraid. Now I know that may sound strange to you, but I've never really been one to take chances, rock the boat, or done well with big changes and I realize now, that I have allowed certain things to happen as a way of letting me off of what I really want. As crazy as it may sound, I think secretly the idea of actually achieving the life- long dream I've had of being a healthy weight sent me reeling and scrambling for the other direction. It's also allowed me to criticize myself, as I've always done, for failing myself. I think it's so ironic that the very thing I seem to want the most...a chance to really live...is the thing I'm running from the fastest. I'm tired of running though and I'm tired of allowing every single thing I do to be controlled by fear...fear of the unknown, fear of what could and should be. So, I've decided to do my best to pick myself back up, shake myself off, and go for it! It's gonna be baby steps I'm sure, but I know I can do it. And to show you how serious I am about this, when the dear husband gets home, I'm gonna have him take some pictures of me so that I can have some before and after and even as much as it may kill me to post them, I'm gonna. I think of it as a way of helping to hold me responsible to myself and to you for going through with something that I really need to! Besides...who doesn't want to be eye candy on their husband's arm?? LOL!

4.)As I go about trying to make the physical changes that I need to, I also have to take care of my mental health as well. I am bi-polar and I know this and I also know that I need to be on medication to control it and help me not to hit those ups and downs that would cause me to fail. So, in order to have an over-all sense of well being, I am determined to start making sure that I regularly take my medication. I want to set myself up to succeed, not leave an open door for failure to slip in.

5.) Which brings me to my final point and I'll try to be as brief as possible. I have decided to start up a new love affair...that's right...I said a NEW love affair. I've decided that it's time that I actually start courting myself a little bit....take a chance to get to know who I am and what I want from life...what I truly enjoy and what I can do without. So, I'm not only going to be going on dates with my husband, but starting this weekend(probably tomorrow night) I'm gonna take myself out on a date with myself. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do just yet, maybe I'll just get myself a nice bottle of wine and have a sunset picnic...who knows...but I'm sure it'll be fun! Oh and flowers...I'll have to get flowers...I know I love em! LOL!

Well, I hope that hasn't been too silly or rambly for ya. I hope each and everyone of you have a fantastic weekend and don't forget to take a little time to pamper yourself! Oh and I'll post those pictures as soon as I can take em!

Unexpected blessings....

2009-06-15T13:25:00.003-05:00

I've been having a hard time trying to figure out exactly how I want to start this, so I think the best way will be just to say Thank-you! Thank-you to my 4 year-old niece Elena, for sending me these really cute pictures that she drew just for her Uncle Paul and me. They're gonna hang right next to my inspiration board and I know that every time I look at them, I'll have a big, goofy grin spreading all over my face. I hope that you'll enjoy the mermaid picture your Uncle Paul and I are working on for you. I love you so much baby girl!

Thank you Shauna over at http://trying2staycalm.blogspot.com/ for the book I won. It came in the mail today and I'm really looking forward to diving right into the middle of it. Thank-you hun for having such great giveaways! May you be truly blessed!

And finally, Thank-you Angie at http://angie-ledbetter.blogspot.com/ for picking my caption as one of the winners! I am truly honored and very thankful for being allowed that privilege. It means a lot to me and I look up to you as a writing mentor. Thank-you again!

I hope you all will be blessed this week with unexpected blessings!

Adventures in the backyard!

2009-06-14T08:02:00.005-05:00

I want to first wish each and everyone of you a good morning! I hope that your weekends have been filled with all the wonderful bits that make life worth living!

The dear husband and I have had quite a lot of fun around here. Yesterday afternoon we(okay so mostly him) set up the tent in our backyard for the first of what will hopefully become our summer-monthly outdoor movie/camp-out night.

I have to confess that I absolutely love our little tent. The roof is a sheer screen and it allows you to lay back and stare straight up at all the stars(which we did with utter delight!) And oh yeah, it does have a covering you can put over to keep the rain out...so put your worries to rest...we shouldn't drown....I hope!

I had to take the cutesy picture of me and our tent... it wouldn't be me without trying to fit in some kind of cutesy picture! Oh and um yeah, we let the grass grow so high to give us that jungle feeling...yeah that's it...jungle atmosphere!

For any respectable outdoor movie/camp out, you have to have cracker jacks(or the equivalent). Did I mention that you will have to watch out for wild puppies though? Somehow they can sense when caramel-covered popcorn is in the vicinity and they come right out of the wood work!

And just because you need a morning after shot here it is...

We had a really great time and even if we weren't off camping in the great wild somewhere, we still got to sleep beneath the stars! What makes it worthwhile is being with someone you love and the new memories that you make. Plus, who wouldn't love waking up to a sunrise like this???

Some pictures of the pier

2009-06-13T00:31:00.003-05:00

Some of you asked that I post pictures of the pier where I like to walk to in the evenings. So tonight ,I took along the camera and here are the results. The wind was really whipping out there and my poor ole camera isn't the best, so the shots aren't going to be of the highest quality. Hope you enjoy them anyway!

This is the pier, obviously! LOL!

See...Gold and silver!!

I've loved this boat and I'm going to have to go around sometime during the day to get better shots of it!

A friendly little visitor that I took about a million pictures of and only this one turned out! LOL!

To Sleep, perchance to dream...

2009-06-12T11:37:00.004-05:00

Last night I dreamed that my husband and I were visiting the town were my sister and mother live and we decided to check out the little gift store/bookshop that's actually there. As we walked in, my husband disappeared into the realm of the books, but I stopped to scope out the front section of the store. The owner then began to talk to me and eventually asked if I cared to have my tarot read. With a bit of mischief in me, I said yes and though now I don't remember all the cards she pulled, I do remember my last one was The Fool. So when I woke up this morning, I decided to find out what that particular card is supposed to symbolize and was a little shocked to learn that it represents new beginnings and infinite possibilities. Now I don't necessarily believe in the whole tarot idea, but I do think it funny that I have been looking to new things and for fresh starts and that the one card I remember is the one that represents that! Hmm guess you never can tell what your heart will say in your dreams....

My lover, the sea...

2009-06-12T01:05:00.003-05:00

I walked down to the pier tonight and in fact doing so has become an almost nightly ritual with me. Strolling past the bait shop, I spied a heron, in the shallows, and even a little fish jumped up, as if to greet me. Others had reached the pier before me, so I sat at a distance from them and after a short while everything but the sky, the ocean, and I ,disappeared. There was just this magic communion between the rushing of the waves, the never-ending sky, and the beating of my earth- bound heart. There is a fluid solace and sense of belonging there, that saturates every fiber of my existence and I give myself over to it with utter abandon. It isn't hard to understand what has driven men to the sea for eons upon eons....she is a siren and I too have heard her call. I wish you could see how lovely it is when the street lamps send out their fingerlings of filigreed gold and molten silver, to waltz across the foamy waves. I keep telling myself to remember to bring my camera, but somehow I always forget. Perhaps it would lose some of the magic that makes it my sacred harbor if I tried to capture it with anything but my mind. Oh well...I am tired and with a shirt that smells of the fresh sea air, I shall take myself off to bed. Sweet dreams!!

Advice from an Old Farmer

2009-06-11T12:54:00.005-05:00

I got this in an email from my grandmother and just had to share it with ya'll! Enjoy...:
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tightAnd bull-strong.
*Keep skunks and bankers at a Distance.
*Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than aJohn Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies.. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meanerThan you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry aGrudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't Never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best Answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get
Older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't Bothering you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably everHave to deal with, watches you from The mirror every mornin'.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and aLotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lotEasier than puttin' it back in.

* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of someInfluence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.

* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

*Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight,
he'll just kill you.

Smile and the whole world smiles with you!

2009-06-10T22:52:00.004-05:00

His smile could melt the sun and make the moon go weak in the knees!

Saying Thank-you and many more...

2009-06-10T11:31:00.005-05:00

This post marks the 100th time I have sat down and typed in a few words, added some pictures, and sent it out into the great wide world of the internet. I hope that along the way I've been able to entertain you, caused you to pause for thought, or just brought a smile to your face. May my next 100 posts be filled with the joys and sorrows of a full life! To celebrate and as my way of saying thank-you for sticking around to read my randomness, I thought I'd invite you all over to my little corner of cyber-world to enjoy a cup of coffee(or tea) and a piece of my favorite, Black Magic Cake.

BLACK MAGIC CAKE

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa

2 tsp. baking soda

1tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup strong black coffee

1 cup of buttermilk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9" in. pans. In a large bowl blend sugar, flour, cocoa, soda, powder, and salt. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Batter will be very thin. Pour into prepared pans and bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 for rectangular. Cool 10 minutes and then remove from pans to wire racks.

* I sometime substitute orange extract for the vanilla and also will put in a little coconut and orange zest.

I hope you all know how wonderful I think you are and how sincerely I do appreciate all the kind words you have sent me! This wouldn't be half as much fun without you! So please kick back, sip your coffee or tea, and just enjoy the sweetness of life!

The Ghost of Rememberance

2009-06-09T11:29:00.003-05:00

I woke this morning in the midst of remembering those steamy ,Mississippi, summer days from my fifteenth year. My sister Mary and I were spending the whole summer with my grandparents and enjoyed simply being in their home. In the mornings, my Memaw and I would take a walk down the winding country road that lead from their house and in the afternoons I loved to waltz through the little peach orchard that my great-grandfather had planted. There is so much that comes back to me now...so much that I had forgotten. The little wasp's nest that seemed a threat every time you went into the laundry room, the smell of sun-ripening peaches, the neighs of my great-uncle's horses from the field adjacent to our property. My grandfather took us fishing across the road at a neighbor's pond, with him while he transported cars for various dealerships (I got to see the Gulf Coast for the first time), and playing on my cousin's trampoline. It all feels like a lifetime ago...and yet still fresh. As the summer came to a close, we were given the option of staying with my grandparents and starting the school year there. My sister Mary chose to stay and I only went home because it was the year my baby sister, Sara, was beginning Kindergarten. I felt that she needed me there somehow and I missed my parents. So, homeward I went and as the school year began, I fell once more into the rhythm of things. It would be that winter however when my world started crumbling. My mother and I were standing in the kitchen when the phone rang and as I listened to her side of the conversation, I began to feel the knots of dread twisting in my stomach. After she had hung up and turned to deliver the news, the flood gate of tears burst open and I was inconsolable. My grandfather had cancer, but they were hopeful that they had caught it in time. Somehow though....I knew it was a death sentence and no amount of soothing words...no amount of prayer, could convince me otherwise. By that time the next year, he was gone and I'd lost one of the greatest friends I've ever had. Because of that, I think I chose to bury everything surrounding that time and so this morning, when the first remembrance popped into my head, I was a bit shocked and uncertain if I wanted to open that door. I am a little bittersweet about it still, but I know now, that I don't want to ever forget even the tiniest memory of any moment I spent with my grandfather.

I love you Pappaw and I miss you so much!

Even Weeds Can Be Beautiful...

2009-06-08T16:05:00.002-05:00

I've been looking around my house today and bemoaning the fact that I had no flowers to brighten up the place nor the funds with which to acquire them. I got to looking out in the backyard and that's when I became inspired to pick a few weeds!

I think the pert little white flowers of this particular weed make a cheery sight and I find them quite becoming!

These lanky stalks of weed grass(or what I always called wheat grass) seemed to be calling to me as well and I couldn't resist installing them in my work room.See...Don't they just perk the place up? Guess it just goes to show that with the right eye, even weeds can be beautiful!

New Treat

2009-06-07T01:43:00.001-05:00

Just got this album tonight and am totally head-over-heels for it! If you haven't heard this girl sing...DO!!

Today I am feeling....

2009-06-06T13:28:00.007-05:00

Today I am Feeling:

SPICY!!!!

Come one, come all...hurry, hurry, HURRY!! It's time to throw your caution to the winds....lose your inhibitions and just go with the flow!

Let the spice of life fill you from top to bottom, let it simmer you from the inside out! I see you over there tapping that foot...come on...let go...throw your body and soul into the rhythm...that's life calling folks...LIFE!!!

Get up and dance! I know I'm gonna!

Are you feeling spicy today?????

Ramblings...

2009-06-04T01:21:00.004-05:00

I am lost to these feelings of inadequacy, of regret, of broken relationships. Tonight is one of the nights when I have dredge up almost every lost hurt, every harsh word, every terrible sin I've committed, and slapped myself in the face with it. Why I continually do this, I can't say. Am I masochistic? Am I not able to rise above mistakes in my past and let an ocean of forgetfulness claim them? And what of the new wrongs that I seem almost unable to stop myself from constantly creating? I feel marooned on a sea of motionless tides, no breeze to fill my sail, no paddle or steering with which to guide my boat. I get so tired sometimes...so discouraged...so drowned in a well of doubts. I wish that I could find some kind of answer, some big roadside sign that says..."Here it is...come and understand"! I guess though, this is just the way that life is and there probably aren't answers to everything I want to ask.

Think a dog can't fly?? I've got one that can!!

2009-06-03T14:37:00.004-05:00

I'll admit...I've been in quite a sorry mood lately and I just can't seem to shake it. I have a feeling that I am beginning to hit a depressive phase and I know that I need take myself to the doctor and get back on mood stabilizers(for those of you that are newer to my blog, I've been diagnosed as bi-polar). However, in the spirit of trying to cheer myself up I thought I would post some photos that show proof positive my dog, Bronson, can fly( for the right incentive of course)! Enjoy....

A Book Q & A

2009-06-03T09:33:00.002-05:00

Alright, so I acknowledge that I just did a Q&A type post, but I saw this one on a blog that I follow and decided to give it a try.
1. What author do you own the most books by?
Surprisingly it would be Louis L'Amour. I got most of my little collection from my grandfather, so they've not only been fun reads, but cherished keepsakes. After him would be Ray Bradbury.
2. What book do you own the most copies of?
Well, this one is tough...I've got several books that I have duplicate copies of.
3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?
No, I don't think it did, considering that I ended my answer in such a manner!
4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?
Alright I'll admit it, I've always had a bit of a thing for Prince Andrey from Tolestoy's, "War and Peace".
5. What book have you read the most times in your life?
Oh this one is a hard one....I've read several, many, many times....if I had to guess though...it would probably be..."Dandelion Wine" by Ray Bradbury. I LOVE that book!
6. Favorite book as a ten year old?
I'd have to guess that was probably, "The Giver"
7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?
The worst is one that I don't even remember the title to, because I only got part of the way in and realized that I did not like it at all!
8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?
At first thought, I believed this was going to be a hard question to answer, but I quickly realized that the best book I've read this year has to be, "Sophie's World".
9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?
I'd never actually force anyone to read anything, but I would and do suggest that everyone read "Sophie's World". It's a wonderful book on the history of philosphy, but written in novel form. It opened my mind to new possiblities and I believe it would make for a great discussion!
10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie?
Now this is a hard one....if they could capture the true essence of the book, I think I would like to see "Dandelion Wine" made into a movie.
11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?
Nothing actually comes to mind for this question.
12. What is your favorite book?
I really can't choose just one, but some of my favorites include: "Dandelion Wine", "Sophie's World", "Henry and June", " The Brothers Karamazov", and " Jane Eyre".
13. Play?
"The Taming of the Shrew"-I've always loved how sassy Kate was!
14. Poem?

Almost anything by Wordsworth.
15. Essay?
I don't really have a favorite essay that springs to mind right now.
16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?
I know that I'll probably offend some of you with this, but Stephen King. I've never been able to really enjoy any of his work.
17. What is your desert island book?
See now this is not only a tough one, but also a loaded question....hmmm I'll have to let you know!
18. And . . . what are you reading right now?
I just started reading "Lorna Doone".

Book Review

2009-06-02T10:28:00.002-05:00

As I have stated before, I do not often write reviews of the books I have read or am currently reading; however, there are a few that capture my imagination and leave me feeling compelled to share my thoughts and ideas concerning the book at hand. One such book is, " Women of the Four Winds", by author Elizabeth Fagg Olds. The book compiles short biographies of four of America's first female explorers and is written in a straight-forward, enjoyable-to-read manner. "Women of the Four Winds" tells of Annie Smith Peck(1850-1935) and of her adventures in mountain climbing, of Delia J. Akeley(1875-1970) and her travels across Africa to collect big game specimens for American museums, as well as, living amid certain pygmy tribes. The book also includes Marguerite Harrison(1879-1967)(and my personal favorite) who became not only a reporter for the Baltimore Sun, but also a spy for America and was jailed in Russia because of it; and Louise Arner Boyd(1887-1972) who led seven scientific expeditions to the coast of Greenland. What makes these women even more remarkable is the era in which they conceived and carried out their respective adventures. While most women were still installed by the hearth, these four women stepped boldly out into the world of men and not only claimed pieces for themselves, but also trod where even most men were scared to go. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it not only to those admirers of strong women, but to anyone that fancies tales of daring and courage.

TAG YOU'RE IT!!

2009-06-02T07:03:00.004-05:00

Sandy aka Doris the Great at http://newfie-girl.blogspot.com/,tagged me the other day so I thought I would have some fun with it and here is what I came up with....

SIX INFORMATIVE THINGS ABOUT ME....

1. I have a hunger to learn that runs deeply in me. I always enjoyed school(well except for algebra class and P.E.) ,but I do realize that you can't learn the most important lessons of life from a book(or can you...I know a couple of books that have helped to change my points of view...hmmm...good discussion topic...). I try to live each day in the attempt to learn something new and only wish that I had a greater capacity for remembering things!

2. I am a certified bibliophile! Ever since I first learned to read, books have been so very important to me. Moving often and being a shy- natured child, books served as friends that never left me and as portals of escape into other times, dimensions, and worlds. I can't seem to get enough of them!

3. I am the oldest of three girls. My middle sister, Mary, is two and a half years younger than I, and my baby sister, Sara, is nine years younger than I. Growing up, I had a closer relationship with Sara, but unfortunately, at the moment, I'm not as close to either of them as I would like to be. However, both of my sisters are beautiful, strong, young women and I admire what they have accomplished and am certain that they will both go far in life!

4. I have always loved to sing and I think I'm decent at it. Ever since I can remember, I have sung and was in choir from kindergarten through the middle of my junior year. I only left choir because the school I transferred to, did not have one. I recently joined the choir at my church and have really been enjoying a time of fellowship and song. Which reminds me...I've got choir practice tonight!!

5. Even though I almost always start out early, I'm usually late. I don't really know how this happens, but if I had to take a guess, it would probably be the simple fact that I end up wasting away the saved up minutes and hence becoming late. I don't desire to be late and feel that it leaves others with the impression that I think my time is more important than the time they have set aside for me, and it really isn't like that at all. It's something that I am having to work on.

And finally because Sandy asked for at least one embarrassing fact here goes:

6. I have to wax my upper lip, chin, and eyebrow. Yes, it's true...I have to, otherwise I end up looking like I have a more of a mustache than my husband, eyebrows from the stone-age, and just the beginnings of a beard. I know it is a side affect of having PCOS, but it's still embarrassing! I mean come on...who wants to be able to grow a better mustache than their husband???!!

And now for the people that I choose to tag:

Everyone that follows my blog

HAVE FUN!!

Yay, I'm a winner!

2009-05-30T11:04:00.003-05:00

I open my inbox and browse through my email and what do you know, but I have an email in there letting me know that I was a winner in a book give-away by this very nice lady over at http://trying2staycalm.blogspot.com/. I am so very excited and grateful, partly because I hardly ever win anything and also because this comes at a time when I have been feeling a little low. So thank-you Shauna for having such nice give-aways and everyone please go check out her wonderful blog!

Some favorite childhood books

2009-05-29T14:11:00.006-05:00

So in line with my whole summer memories post, I got to thinking about what were some of my favorite books as a child. Here are ones that I loved most:Even before I could read, I loved going to my granny's house and looking at all the pictures in the Little House books. As an adult I've thankfully been able to collect all but one of the books and am so thankful for the way they bring back wonderful memories of my childhood.I was in the 3rd grade when I first read " Charlotte's Web" and even though I'd first seen the movie, I couldn't get enough of the book. In fact, I checked it out of my classroom library so much, that when the year was over, my teacher gave me the book. I've always cherished this book!

"The Giver" was the first book that I ever read that really opened my eyes and made me think. The society described in the book is one that left me feeling sorry for it and hoping that humankind would never sink to actually going through with something like this. Life is so worth living even with all the hurt and pain we have to face.

What are some of your most cherished childhood books?

Friday Lemonade

2009-05-29T10:55:00.003-05:00

With Summer just around the corner, I find myself thinking back to past summers and the celebration that this time of year always brings me. I know it is the embracing remnants of childhood flights of fancy and freedom, that so inspire and instill this wondrous sense of excitement and adventure. There I am...12 years old and tearing off on my bike, trailing after my best friend as we head down to the little creek. Freckle-faced and with sun-kissed hair, we were mighty explorers charging through the wilds of far away lands and always on the look-out for dangerous natives and animals. Then there we are, hiding in the gloom of a lost forest, trying to grill some hot dogs and getting caught by the local authorities(my mother), to be marched off to prison. Each morning was wrapt in a magic web and pregnant with the gift of possibility. I still find myself waking to each new day and being awed by the quiet beauty of the hopeful unknown.

So as I pour us each a refreshing glass of lemonade, I hope you'll feel open to sharing your favorite summer memories with me!

Ramblings....

2009-05-28T03:07:00.006-05:00

It's Late....I should be sleeping, but my tooth is keeping me up. I'm searching for a dentist on my insurance plan...but no luck just yet. I've contemplated having the dear husband knock me for a loop, but he keeps shaking his head no and muttering something about how he was raised not to hit a girl...le sigh!! So...what's a girl to do when sleep alludes her and she has all this time on her hands??? Why...try to learn algebra of course!!

Now you have to understand ,in high school, algebra was the first and only class that I failed. My first teacher wasn't the best of help and I admit that after him, I just sorta tuned out and didn't even really try. And it wasn't like I was a total idiot...I mean I was in honors classes in other subjects, but it just got frustrating when you need help and it isn't forthcoming. I wish now that I would have applied myself more...in everything really...because over the past few days I've been working through a copy of the dear husband's refresher algebra book and I've actually been understanding and enjoying most of it! Who would have thunk?!

I've also been looking over old-world maps and compasses because...well... they are things that I've always liked and they evoke thoughts of exploration and adventure. I could use a bit of both of the later, right now. I've been dreaming of Cairo...Istanbul...the Amazon...ah, exotic lands, foods, cultures! Okay so there would be bugs, poisonous snakes, not to mention restless natives...that's all part of adventure and exploration right?! Alright...so maybe it's better in dreams and fantasies, but it does sound awfully tempting doesn't it? Set your sights on the horizon and follow the compass north!

Where would you want your map or compass to lead you??

I am alive...sort of....

2009-05-27T09:28:00.003-05:00

I haven't been around the past few days because I haven't been feeling ship-shape. Between my allergies driving me batty and having a toothache, all I've wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep. This isn't going to be much of a post either, but I just wanted to take a moment to send my congratulations out to a friend and a cousin of mine. They both had new babies on the same day!

Congrats Betsy and Husband on having your beautiful little girl Athena! May she grow in grace and beauty every day of her life!Congrats to my cousin Josh and his wife, Maggie, on the birth of their son, Tristan! It's hard to believe Josh that you are now a father of three, because I can remember when I was still your "Big Sissy" and we were playing Ninja Turtles! May all three of your boys grow up into the strong, handsome men that their father is today!

Well, I hope you all have a great day!!!!

I wouldn't normally ask...

2009-05-23T04:09:00.002-05:00

I normally wouldn't come here to ask this, but I have a need of your prayers. I have really been praying lately that God would show me the career path He would have me choose and until last evening, I thought that would lead me towards nursing or something similar. Well yesterday, I sat reading 2 Chronicles 7:14, " If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." and I started praying that the verse would become my prayer for our country. I then prayed that I would always remember to follow not after my own heart, but after God's heart and almost immediately I heard the word, "minister". I was a little like...um excuse me...huh?! Um...what exactly does that mean and are you sure that you don't want the fellow down the street?? " Minister???" Really?? Do you not remember who I am?? I have to confess that as a career for me, a minister of any kind has been the furthest thing from my mind. But all that aside, what I am asking for is that you pray that God will not only make it abundantly clear to me exactly what He means by "minister", but also that He will prepare me for anything and give me an open, obedient heart! I thank-you ahead of time and will definitely keep you posted!

Wonders and Beauty

2009-05-22T09:36:00.004-05:00

Last night, I was lucky to catch a program on about the Hubble telescope and some of the images it's captured. As some of you may know, the astronauts that are currently working on the telescope are scheduled to be the last ones to do so.

I was first struck by the beauty and amazement of how wonderfully different each and every single one of the stars, nebulae, and galaxies are.

Then I started thinking about something else that totally took my breath away and left me feeling so humbled and speechless.Amid all the vastness, brilliance, complexity, and motion of our universe ,God still saw fit to bring me into existence!And not only did he bring lil ole me into existence, but He also loves me and provided a way of salvation for me.The same God that put everything we see, everything in the universe into motion, still cares and loves me enough to be concerned over my every need! How wondrous and beautiful is that? If that doesn't give you pause for thought and send shivers up your spine, I don't know what will!

I hope you all have a wonderful blessed weekend!

A Love Story In The Making....

2009-05-20T11:03:00.002-05:00

It was going to be the day she ended it all. She was tired of life and the constant pitfalls and storms it seemed bound and determined to send her way. Thankfully, she had early release from school, so she knew no one would be home to stop her. On a whim, she decided to log onto the cyber world and bid her friends there a good-bye, though she highly doubted anyone would miss her there even. The"Coffee Cellar", her friend Jen flirting with some guy as usual...Jen always seemed to find someone to flirt with. She sat reading their words till another guy friend of Jen's entered the chat room and Jen focused all her attention onto him with a "running tackle" to welcome him in. There sat poor Nemo...typing away about how he wished someone would "tackle" him and even though she figured it wasn't worth it...she decided to try to "Steal" one of Jen's guys. Little could she have known that the decision to start chatting with Nemo would lead her far away not only from the action of taking her own life, but also towards finding the love of her life. Over the next few days she and Nemo chatted constantly and then they decided they wanted to talk over the phone. His coming into her life at that time, was not only perfect timing as far as stopping the suicide, but also because even rougher waters were up ahead for her. Her parents began the long, painful, and drawn out process of a nasty divorce and when she felt that she had no one to turn to...Nemo was there waiting. Offering support and a shoulder to cry on...even if it was a few hundred miles away. That year she graduated High school and he enlisted in the Navy, but before he was sent away to boot camp, he made a special trip to Texas to visit her. Those two weeks sealed and cemented their relationship and they knew that they had both come to care deeply for each other. The year would pass quickly(though not as quick as they wanted) and they spent Christmas together with his family. They wouldn't see each other for 5 months after that and believe me...their phone bills showed it! Then one day in March of 2001, as they were talking, she playfully told him that she was going to move to Alaska so as to be as far from him as possible and his reply to that was that he hoped it wasn't true because he had been thinking about asking her something all day. Now, she had an inkling of what it might be, but not wanting to get her hopes up she told him to ask away and before she could fully understand...he'd said those magical words she'd waited a lifetime to hear...."Well, I was wondering if you would Marry me?" Without a hesitation and with all her heart and soul...she declared YES! They would finally see each other again in May of that year and in her grandmother's kitchen, with her daddy as minister, they became man and wife. They would go on in July of that year to have a wedding too, so that his family might be there and share in the joy and love they had found. Over the next few years they had some rocky times...almost called it all off, but now that they are coming up on their 8th year of marriage, they find they are even more in love with each other than ever before and hope and pray to continue that way for the rest of their lives....

Well, as you can probably tell this is the love story, or rather just the beginning, of the love story of my husband and I. We've had our ups and downs, but have truly come to realize and be thankful for the gift we have in each other. So, now that you know how we meet...would you want to share the story of you and your spouse? Would love to hear about it!

Some Awards To Hand Out...

2009-05-20T10:17:00.005-05:00

So I thought today would be a perfect day to give out some awards to people whose blogs I have come to cherish and admire!

I would firstly like to give the above award to Doris the Great and Barbara for the lovely job they've done on their sites! Thank-you two for sharing with us a part of the beauty that is you!

I would love to give this award to both Carmen Gamble and Linda for their inspirational blogs! Thank both of you for always having such uplifting and thought provoking topics! What a wonderful gift you bring the world!

And last, but not least I wanted to give this award to Kathryn Magendie and Angie Ledbetter for having two blogs that I always turn to for a dose of help with writing! I admire the dedication and thoughtfulness you both put into the act of writing and I am thankful to have found such amazing blogs as your's!

A List

2009-05-18T12:07:00.002-05:00

So the other day the thought occurred to me, what would be some of the top five things that I would want to do, if I knew I only had a year left to live. Well, obviously I would want to spend time with my family and friends and make sure I left my affairs in order...but if I could do 5 of my deepest wishes, what would they be. So, here's my top 5:

1.)Take a photography class( I think it would be interesting to see what I would find worthy of capturing in a photo.)

2.) Learn another language.( This is something that I've always wanted to do and hey if you don't do it then...when could you??)

3.)Get my pilot's license.( This actually came as a bit of surprise to me even , but I realize that after watching the pilots that train here on the base, I would love to be able to know what it's like to know how to fly a plane.)

4.)Buy my own home.( Since the dear husband and I have to be always ready to move, this has been a dream of ours from the beginning)

5.) Finally ride a rollercoaster.(Okay, so I admit...I've never actually been on one because I've always been a bit scared of them...but if I were dying it would definitely be a time I wouldn't want to let me fears get in the way of the little bit of living I had left to do!)

There is my list...it isn't full of totally ambitious things, but I think it's an interesting one and I've even started to take steps to actually working my way through a part of my list. I am beginning a new program to teach myself another language!What about yourselves? If you want, send me your lists and with your permission I'll post them for others to see and be inspired by! Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Because of the night...

2009-05-18T02:28:00.003-05:00

A soft wind lifted up the branches and caused leaves to dance with cloud and stars. I lay on our back patio and stared up into the night sky, awash in thought and the illusion of thousands of years falling away. I was an Egyptian princess lost in the night...whispering out the name of my lover and with it the magical incantations to bring him to my arms. The stars overhead circle the sky and the moon lends her wings to my lover's feet. He is there suddenly, standing before me...looking deeply into my painted eyes and as our breathes mingle he calls my name. Bam...back thousands of years and I am once again me...happy wife of a loving man...half sphinx and half woman...a modern girl connecting in heart to the woman of long ago that loved her man and under the same night sky that saw it all.

A Letter Returned....

2009-05-15T17:30:00.004-05:00

So as I mentioned earlier today, the dear husband and I had a meeting with Cpl. Robert McMahon's daughter. We waited at the bookstore cafe and at around 2 p.m. Ms. Tina McMahon arrived and greeted us. She was very grateful to have the letter back and we sat and talked for well over an hour. She told us that her father had come back to the states after leaving the army and became a geologist. He did that for several years, but hated how the companies he worked for kept him out of town a lot, so he finally settled in here and opened a little bait and tackle shop over on Padre Island. Her father and mother had two children, Tina, and an older brother and her mother passed away last year. Tina told us that at first she was a little confused, when my dear husband called because, the doctor that had administered her mother's dialysis shares the exact name of my dear husband! It was really great to sit and talk with Tina and we found we had so much in common and though we aren't certain yet, they even might be relations of mine! Before we parted, we exchanged numbers and the dear husband and I are planning to invite Tina to have dinner with us sometime this coming week. I'm so thankful and so happy that I was able to return something to not only Tina, but her father as well. It makes me feel very blessed!

Update on the letter...

2009-05-15T11:46:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to give you all a little update on the letter we found last night. We did manage to find Cpl. Robert W. McMahon and in fact he lives here in Corpus Christi. He is 93 yrs old now and my dear husband was able to contact a daughter that we are going to meet this afternoon to return the letter. I'm very excited about this and will let you know how things went!

A Fun Little Find

2009-05-14T21:25:00.002-05:00

The dear husband wanted to make a visit to our favorite little book corner, so this evening found us strolling through it's story-strewn walls. While he scoped out the role-playing games, I decided to browse through their antique section. I found a couple of lovely children's books I would love to have( I collect antique children's books...with one of my favorites being published in 1853), but moved on to look over other works. My fingers came across a copy of " Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam-by Edward Fitzgerald", I opened it up and on the first page there was a letter from 1945. That sealed it for me and I had to have the book. I worried a bit that the cashier might take it out, but he left it there and once in the car I had to read it! My husband and I sat wrapt up in the words of one Cpl. Robert McMahon and felt so lucky to have found such a wonderful little note! It seems to be a letter home to his family and he talks about how he hopes to only have to be in San Francisco for little over a year, now that the war was over...and how he'd sent a Billy(I assume a brother) some money from Japan. It wasn't a long letter, but he did talk about how he went to the show nearly every night and how the week before he had gotten to see the world premiere of "Big Sleep" with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. I don't quite know how to explain the feelings this little piece of history has inspired in me, but I am kinda excited that now I get to be the guardian of something like this. I plan to try to do a bit of research and see if I can find out anything more about the young man that wrote this letter. The dear husband and I sat and wondered how life turned out for him...when did he get to go home again...did he ever marry....those kinds of things. If I find out anything more, I'll be sure to let you all know! Just had to share what a fun little find I made tonight!

Silly Picture Day photos

2009-05-13T17:21:00.003-05:00

As promised here they are:

Gone DogFishin'

2009-05-12T22:06:00.008-05:00

* I know that I promised to post the results from "Silly Picture Day" last night, and didn't, but I do promise to get them up tomorrow. Right now though, I just had to brag about our adventures in the growing sport of dogfishing.

You know it'll be a great day for dogfishing when the morning sky is cloaked in billowy waves of rosy-hued cotton and the mourning doves, seagulls, and blackbirds are joined in three part harmony. The dear husband and I rose from our bed, with eager anticipation for what the day might bring and after a few hours spent beach-combing for the ever elusive gold doubloon, we headed on back to try to get in a few hours of dogfishing. Now the sport of dogfishing is a fairly new event and requires relatively small capital for the initial investment.

Now, you'll want to purchase a time tested lure, such as the one you see above. Usually the furrier and squeaker the lure, the better the dogfish like them. I've yet to see one that can resist the charms of such a lure for too long! Oh and don't worry about hooks or any other such nonsense, since dogfish(or it's latin name fishiuscaninus) have pretty strong teeth and once they've sunk those babies into your lure...all you have to do is reel them on in!

Next, you'll want to find you the cosiest and most comfortable couch or chair in your very own living room. The best dogfishing spots tend to be in the living rooms or family rooms of your own home, so no real travel costs there! And hey...you'll always have a place keep those cold beverages too!If it seems like you just can't get a nibble, no matter how hard you might try...DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!! Sometimes dogfishing can be slow going, so that's why it's important to also bring along either a book, the radio, or even that ole idiot box, the T.V. But make sure that you don't get too involved in any of those things because dogfishing is a sport where the more attention you pay to it, the better it pays off!Before you know it...your diligence and patience will pay off and suddenly there will be a flurry of activity. The dogfish will start to show a great deal of interest and might even decide to take the bait!Be careful however, not to be too eager to reel the dogfish in, because that tends to scare them away! The bigger ones are the most cautious and have been around just a big longer than the rest of them.Whether it's the small and agile dogfish that you catch.....or the bigger, trickery ones....you can't get a bad one in the bunch when you've gone dogfishin'! Why not give it a try today!

*Paid for by the association of dogfishersRus

Something to tide you over...

2009-05-11T12:22:00.008-05:00

Because I'm sure you all can't wait for the photos...I knew it might be a good idea to leave you with a little something:

THE GREAT PUPPY WARS OF TWENTY-09

No one even remembers what started it all, but the Great Puppy Wars of Twenty-09 were the puppy wars to end all puppy wars. It was between the:

BEDGUARDIAS

And the....

COUCHSLEEPIANS

Both sides fought, tumbled, crashed, crawled, fumbled, pillaged, and plundered....

The wars raged on and just when it seemed as if there were no hope left in sight...the Masterowni stepped in:

And taught the Bedguardias and the Couchsleepians how to live in peace and harmony....

THE END.....OR IS IT????!!!!!!!

For a bit of fun.....

2009-05-11T10:51:00.002-05:00

Today we are having silly picture day, where one of us will grab the camera and declare "Silly picture day" and the other has to grab a prop from on hand and take a funny picture. I'll be posting some of our favorites later this evening, but wanted to challenge you all to take a silly picture of yourselves today and post them! Hope you'll have fun!

HE'S HOME!!!

2009-05-09T20:30:00.004-05:00

So last evening, my dear husband came home! There aren't words enough to describe how wonderful it is to have my man back! Everything didn't go exactly as I had planned it, but you know what...it turned out the better for it! Over the next few days I'll post some pictures of our little party, but for now I hope you'll enjoy these...Well, I couldn't leave these two out of the whole spirit of things. Even if they had to wait here at home for their "dad", I wanted them to be able to share in the excitement!My friend Christina's husbad came in on the same flight as my dear husband did, so we went to the airport together. It was nice to have someone there to talk to, so I didn't get so nervous waiting. That is her beautiful daughter Hope with her and off to the side is her son, Cantrell. They were so happy to see their dad last night!Cantrell and I had to get our picture taken too. He's a great kid and was showing me how to play Mario on his Nintendo DS.And finally...there we are...so happy to be back with each other again! I can't get over how handsome he still looks, even if he did spend practically all day going from airport to plane to airport to plane and back to airport again!

Want proof??

2009-05-08T09:42:00.003-05:00

Need proof that God answers prayers???? Well as you know, earlier in the week my husband called to let me know that he probably wouldn't be coming home this weekend as had been scheduled. Of course I was upset and money-wise it would have been a disaster for us too. So yesterday morning, upon waking up with a heavy heart, I prayed about the whole situation and turned it over to God. He gave me such a wonderful sense of peace and guess what...my husband called me this morning to let me know....not only is he coming home this weekend....he's coming home TONIGHT!!! Now if that isn't an answer to prayers I don't know what is! Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Another love story...

2009-05-07T16:45:00.003-05:00

Betty Woody had been engaged to marry another man, but somehow they both knew it truly wasn't meant to be. She gave him back the ring and he wished her well, hoping that she'd find the one that was meant for her. May 1950 rolled around and her older brother Bill had just been married. His new bride hadn't a clue when it came to knowing her way around the kitchen, so his sister volunteered to show her a thing or two and with a bus fare paid by Bill, she set out from Graham, Texas to sunny El Paso. Betty moved into the quaint trailer park with her brother and his spouse and quickly became acquainted with their neighbors, Ross and Claire Allen and their 14 yr old daughter, also named Betty. Now Ross was in the army and worked as a cook in one of the mess halls and he and Claire would invite some of the single men over on the weekends for a taste of home cooking and relaxation. One Saturday morning, not too long after Betty arrived, her other brother Bob and a rather dapper friend of his showed up for the weekend. She found out that this handsome stranger was named John and that he was stationed there, in the same company as Bob. John and she spent a great deal of the day talking and later in the afternoon he asked her to take a walk with him. Betty Allen meanwhile, being as boy crazy as 14 yr old girls are apt to be, and not wanting to miss out on a chance to flirt with this new young man, informed them both that she was going with them. Not too far into the walk, Betty Allen noticed John take her "rival's" hand and boy did that steam her up good. Didn't this guy know that he was supposed to pay attention to her and not this other woman?! The child stormed off and left John and Betty in peace. From then on, John and Bob were quite frequent guests of the Allens and he couldn't get enough of spending time with this blue-eyed, blonde -haired bombshell that he'd been so lucky to meet. On another adventure, John, Bob, Betty, and Betty Allen went to a nearby swimming pool. Poor Betty had never learned to swim, so she merely sat on the side, dangling her feet and watching everyone else. After a few laps, John swam over and got out to spread his towel next to her and flopped down on his belly for a nice, long conversation. Meanwhile, Bob had stayed in the pool playing with Betty Allen, but quickly tired and joined the other two. Well that of course didn't set well with poor, lil' ole Betty Allen and she stomped to the changing room and stomped off home, vowing that she'd never be friends with any of them again! Somehow neither John nor Betty seemed to mind that! June rolled around and John and Betty had continued to see each other. On a soft evening ,on one of their walks, John told her he had something he wanted to ask her. He told her, she didn't have to answer right away, but he did want an answer and he would only ask her once. Somewhat curious and a bit naively, she let him know she understood and when he asked for her hand in marriage, found herself a bit shocked. Betty had known that he liked her and that she liked him, but she hadn't expected this so soon. After a few moments consideration she agreed, but being the old-fashioned girl she was, quickly informed him that he either had to write or call her daddy and get his blessing and permission. John did and on July 3, 1950, in the living room of one of her sister's homes, Betty Woody became Mrs. Betty Raines. Ever the pessimist, Betty's daddy had never been a pleasant sort of man and he informed both her and John that he gave them 6 months before they were divorced. Four kids and years of loving each other later, when her father was close to dying, John jokingly reminded the man of his wrong prediction and informed him that he and Betty had only stayed together to make a liar out of him. They really did love each other and through the thick and thin of things they forged their life together. They watched their children grow, marry, and have children of their own. Then a year before his 70th birthday, John was diagnosed with lung cancer. Betty stood by him, watching him go through the pain of the illness and the treatments to combat it. Their love grew even stronger and their children, and grandchildren rallied around them both. On January 9, 1999, John went home to be with the Lord, and left Betty behind. Betty and the whole family grieved at the loss of this wonderful, vibrant man, but rejoiced to know he was out of pain and with the Lord. Today, Betty still loves John and she knows for certain she found the one that was meant for her.

My grandparents loved each other and all their family very much. My grandfather was my best friend, growing up, and his death hit me very hard. Now, my grandmother is one of my closest and dearest friends and I am so grateful to have such a wonderful example of what a marriage can be and what love is!

Thoughtful Thursdays

2009-05-07T12:51:00.002-05:00

Every Thursday morning, at the chapel here on base, there is a wonderful group of women that get together and study the Bible. I began joining in with the group about a month or so ago and at first saw it merely as a way of getting out of the house and meeting new people. Now, however, I feel so blessed to have this opportunity and I believe that it's helped to change and renew my heart and my outlook on life. I grew up in church, as my father was a minister for many years, but after my parent's divorce I strayed away from it. I was angry and hurt and felt the whole thing was just one big hypocritical mess. I did try to go back a year or so ago, but neither the dear husband nor myself felt totally comfortable, but somehow it just works here. I spend all week looking forward to Thursday mornings and the chance to fellowship with a fantastic group of women. That's partly why, when I woke up this morning, still heavy with worry and despair over the possibility that my husband may not come home this weekend, I knew I had to pray and give the whole issue over to God. I am thrilled and grateful to report that since doing so, I have felt nothing but a sense of peace and I know that no matter what may happen, God will work it all out for the best! What a blessing and what hope! It is my hope and prayer that as you all go through the rest of your week and weekend, that God will watch over you, bless you, and guide you in all your paths! Have a wonderful day and know that even if the whole world despises you...God loves you!

A Letter To My Husband...

2009-05-06T17:19:00.004-05:00

My Dearest One,
Today just hasn't been a good day for us, has it?! You're missing home, I'm missing you, and now we find out that because of someone's ineptitude at administering the duties of their job...you may not get to come home this weekend. If you could only know how much I've fretted and cried, this afternoon...but I'll do my best to keep the tears to myself..at least till after you're here! I love you my darling one and no matter when it is that you return to me, I'll be waiting here with open arms! Patience and hope...Patience and hope!
Love For Always,
Your Wife

What to do when you should be doing something else...

2009-05-06T12:51:00.004-05:00

Alright it's confession time! I have a million and one things that I should be doing...cleaning house, getting the car washed, laundry,etc. Earlier however, I just wasn't feeling like doing any of it. I guess it's because I've been so concentrated on getting everything just perfect for the dear husband's return that I'm a bit burnt out on it all. I needed a break...needed a chance to just push it all from my mind and do something that was totally selfish and different. What would it be though??? I looked high and low...browsed through a couple of my favorite magazines...and finally it hit me. I've been wanting to put up a "inspiration board", but the poor bulletin board I had, just really wasn't all that lovely to look at. Even if I intend to cover it with letters, cards, pictures, whatever...it still needed some help. So....

Here's what I did with the time that I could have used more productively. No it isn't upside down, it's more a "hey the sky fell" kinda thing. So what do ya think??

Something

2009-05-05T22:15:00.003-05:00

In an hour I'll be leaving
For that sun-baked summer coast
Where the blackbirds throw their feathers
And the seagulls drink a toast.

In a minute I'll be washed away
With the tumbling sandy crab
To the deeps of great big oceans
Pulled by currents of a sea-horse cab.

In a second I'll be breathing
Winking with newborn baby eyes
My head laid down to resting
Through tornado laden skies.

In this moment I am present
With my love here by my side
His loving arms thrown round me
I've nowhere left to hide.

Learning to be a child again...

2009-05-05T15:21:00.004-05:00

Well, it's only about 4 more days till my dear husband is supposed to come home and let me tell you...I'm getting EXCITED!!! I've still got a million and one things that I need to get done before then, but I've been enjoying every minute of it. Today, I got the finishing touches on welcome home gifts for him.These are a couple of movies that I know he's been wanting for awhile and a book by one of our mutually favorite artists.I've also been thinking a lot about, how too often I waver toward being a more serious person, and I feel that something that will help our marriage grow even stronger is to learn to be a kid again...hence the silly string and bubbles!
With that in mind and with knowing how much we really love going to the beach, I just had to snag these cute beach towels for both of us.Last time we were at the beach we thought about how much fun it would be to build a sand castle, so as I passed the toy isle, I had to get this basket full of beach toys that will let us build to our heart's content. I also bought the sidewalk chalk for a fun little idea I've had.Instead of trying to find a way to hang welcome home banners, that won't be gone with the wind, I decided that I'll take the chalk and write it out on our walk. And because I just couldn't resist trying it out....Hope everyone has a great day today and finds small ways to let their inner child have a bit of fun!

Something for fun

2009-05-04T22:44:00.003-05:00

Barbara over at http://theserenityroom.blogspot.com/ had this cute little thing up so I thought that I would play along....like her though, I'm picking all of you because it would be fun to know what you all think! So...tag...you're all it!

Here are the rules:1) Name the person who tagged you.2) List six unimportant things that make you feel happy.3) Tag six people and link to their blog.4) Leave a message on those peoples' blogs to let them know they've been tagged.

My six unimportant things that make me happy.
1.Painting my nails
2. The smell of a new box of crayons
3. Finding just the right pair of shoes
4. Blowing bubbles
5. Watching cartoons from my childhood
6. Playing poppit over at pogo.com

Marvelous Monday

2009-05-04T13:52:00.008-05:00

I had to take a break from my rather full schedule(yay the dear husband comes home this weekend...so much to do before then) and I wanted to go drool over things over at Etsy.com. I don't know how many of you have ever heard of the website Etsy(it's a really great site where everything is handmade), but I just had to share with you some of the things I'm crushing on from there!

I really love the messages and simplistic beauty of these two adorable necklaces from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5830407 !!

Who could resist the whimsy and softness of these chic prints from http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5408586 ???

How about a comfy slipper chew toy for the pup who has everything else?? Or maybe for the pup on a diet(sorry Bronson..trust me it's for your own good) a nice, big, fuzzy steak to help them remember the good ole days?? Head on over to http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6941457 for these and more great items!

So, now that I've shown ya'll the stuff that I'm drooling over(man I need to get some rain boots over here) I should get back to my regularly scheduled program. Hope you all have a marvelous Monday!

Fabulous Friday!

2009-05-01T09:08:00.012-05:00

I've really begun to realize that in order to be happy, it's important that we continually take stock of the many blessings that have been bestowed on us. I'm not just talking about the big things, but the everyday miracles that we too often take for granted. So in that vein, I've decided to make up a list of some of the things that are true wonders in my life.

1.) My two lovely dogs. I derive so much enjoyment from watching them play. It's fun to see the reckless abandonment with which Bronson throws his efforts into rescuing the squeaker(even if it does mean more stuffing for me to clean up and a new toy to buy). And I adore the funny, little, happy run that Pepper does when she believes she's managed to steal something from Bronson. You can just feel the pure satisfaction and elation pouring from her at moments like that! They are walking, breathing, thriving, examples of immeasurable love and I am so grateful to be their guardian.

2.) New Friends. Since coming to Corpus Christi I have been blessed with being able to meet some really sweet ladies and I am so grateful that they have chosen to share their friendship with me. The young woman in the picture here is my friend Christina and I feel as though she has been an answer to prayers I've had. I admire her strength, her uplifting spirit, and how great a mother she is to her children. The fact that she is also a military wife(her husband is actually away with my husband at school) has been a blessing in itself, because it makes life a little easier to know you have someone to talk to, that knows exactly what you are going through.

3.) My Phone. This may seem a silly thing to be thankful for, but my reasoning for this is simple.It allows me to call my mom...my grandmother...my husband..my best friend...anyone dear to me... and ,even with miles in between us, have conversations that help us to stay vital parts of each other's lives. Who doesn't like that?!

4.)The Natural Beauty Around Me. Though others may not see it, there are slices of pure delight in every nook and cranny of this corner I currently call home. I see it in the bee-kissed flowering bushes that grow close to my home, or from sitting on the pier and watching as the pelicans and seagulls dive bomb the water for their afternoon snack. I find it in the cooing doves that sometimes perch in my backyard or the nesting sparrows that call my pretty tree their home. I see it in the butterflies that mysteriously appear and flit off just as quickly as they came. It's in the tiny, cute chipmunks with their tails flashing as they dodge to and fro or those ole long eared Bugs Bunny like jack rabbits that flourish in the fields. It's truly all around us here and it only takes a moment to find it.

And finally, what kind of blessings list would this be if I didn't include that wonderful, dear husband of mine?!

5.)My Dear Husband. We've been through some very rocky times and almost called the whole thing off, but somehow we've stuck it out and I know I am so abundantly, overwhelmingly blessed to have done so. My dear husband is my best friend, my rock, my strength, the glue that holds me together, and an infinite number of inexpressible things more. I love how he makes me laugh even when I'm mad at him, how our dogs adore him and miss him so much that all I have to say is, " Daddy's home" to throw them into spasms of ecstasy, how he always holds my hand when we are walking together, how he's never called me a bad name or run me down to anyone, and mostly I love how he loves me. Is he perfect? No, but then show me another living human that is. I am beyond grateful and over-joyed that this man is my husband and I get to spend the rest of my life with him. What a blessing!

So, now that you know some of the things that I am most thankful for, would you care to share some of your own? Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Getting ready for a Welcome Home!!

2009-04-30T21:08:00.003-05:00

It never fails to surprise me at where and when inspiration can hit you. As some of you are aware, the dear husband has been away at school for awhile now and I have missed him terribly. Obviously with only about a week left till he is supposed to come home, I am feeling a rising tide of impatience, excitement, a smudge of confusion, and overwhelming joy. As the time has begun to draw closer for his return, I have been wracking my brain trying to think up various things that I could do to make his homecoming memorable. So as I strolled through the bookstore the other day, this little gift box drew my attention and I went over to investigate. The raffia tied box had a hula girl plastered to the front and promised that the music and pages inside could teach you how to hula. Thinking it might be something fun to try, I snagged it up and came home with it and a few other purchases. That's when it hit me...why not throw a little luau party! Even if it would be just the dear husband, our dogs, and myself...it would be fun and definitely not something that he would be expecting. After a discussion with my grandmother(who was also a military wife) and one with my mother, I knew that I'd hit on just the right idea. So today, I set out in quest for just the right decorations and touches to make this luau work. As you can clearly see it was mission accomplished and I am so giddy about the whole idea that I'm having trouble to not continually take things out and look at them. If only there were words that could begin to compare with the excitement and enthusiasm I am feeling...then I could somehow convey these overwhelming sensations. I feel almost as if we are back at the beginning of our courtship and am flooded with the desire and happiness that comes with knowing that you've just found your true love. It may sound so very silly to some of you, but this time apart has made me so much more appreciative of the wonderful and amazing man that I have been blessed to be married to.

With all that in mind, I decided that I wanted to do something new to my hair and try to spruce it up, so I went and had highlights put in. I think it's adorable and the picture truly doesn't do it justice. So ladies and gents...the countdown has begun in earnest! Just about a week left till my dear husband is home and we finally get to be together again. You've no idea how much I can't wait!!

A perfect moment....

2009-04-29T21:53:00.004-05:00

As crystal shards of prism-colored water flowed from my garden hose, a special visitor lighted upon a fence post and sent inquisitive glances my way. I spoke a soft greeting to my new feathered friend and could not help but to beam him a smile as he cocked his head in left and right turns and fluffed his downy feathers. I made comments on the weather, but cheerily bid him adieu as he took off after other pursuits. His short and sweet visit lingered with me the rest of the evening and I was thankful for perfect moments like these!

Wednesday Wonders

2009-04-29T16:47:00.003-05:00

I've got a confession to make...instead of cleaning the downstairs like I should have done, I decided to throw responsiblity to the wind and do some shopping! My first stop was to our wonderful local bookstore where I found some great deals(and something for my next giveaway) and got a cup of the best coffee around. Then I meandered over to World Market and that's where I found some even more amazing bargains! I was able to pick up this adorable woven, outdoor rug for around $20. They had them in a decent color variety, but I chose the green edged one for a nice compliment to the red table cloth and because it also matched the chic pillows I also purchased.

Speaking of the pillows, aren't these just too cute?! They were on sale for 50% off and I couldn't resist! They scream spring and summer to me and at $7.50 each...to much of a bargain to pass up.

I've been so lucky to have found all these great pieces that add up to making quite the outdoor retreat. The dear husband and I are going to have a wonderful place to escape to all summer long and we won't even have to leave our own backyard! Truly some Wednesday wonders!

More Spring Smiles

2009-04-28T10:08:00.006-05:00

Stretching, yawning, stumbling, I shuffled to the back-door to let the dogs out for their sunrise tour of the yard. Bleary-eyed and with bed-ruffled hair, I let my half-awake gaze roam over the lay of the land and felt a jolt of giddiness surge through me when I looked to my right and, where the night before had been nothing but a quaint little dirt bed, there was now these vibrant,fragile stalks of sown grass. I had given up my hopes that the grass seed I had so loving planted would ever come to fruition, but there they were...as beautiful and fresh as a newly minted dollar bill. Even if the grass has only pushed it's shiny tendrils into a small area...it still brings a spring smile to my heart and a word of thanks to my lips.

A True Love Story

2009-04-26T09:05:00.003-05:00

Her daddy thought that the boy was just comin' round to visit with his sons, a prime example for them of what a good Christian young-man should be. Even if they didn't discuss it, she and her momma secretly knew the real reason he shadowed their doorstep every weekend and she had the letters to prove it. He was a dashingly handsome fellow, with a headful of dark, wavy hair and a smile that could disarm even the most crochety old maid. How it was that her daddy finally had the blinders taken from his darkened eyes and opened to the light of truth no one ever really knew. He'd be damned, however, if he was gonna let that sorry old son-of-a-gun come around anymore. Her daddy told her she had two options...she could either write him a letter and tell him he wasn't welcome anymore, or when the boy showed up the next weekend, he'd tell him. Either way, daddy was determined to put an end to the budding relationship between his little girl and that good-for- nothing-never-possibly- amount-to-anything- so and so. So with a heart breaking clean in two, she sent him out the letter she'd never dreamed she'd have to send. He read over her words with a mix of sadness and a growing determination that he wasn't going to let things go that easily and if she loved him as much as he loved her, he knew she'd not let it either. So, he wrote back to her and told her that if her daddy wouldn't let him come to the house to see her anymore then they were going to have to get married and she would come to his house because he had to keep seeing her. As Christmas time rolled around, her momma, an unspoken ally, made sure she had a new coat and a new dress and two days after Christmas the whole family headed over to Cousin Glady's for a big Hall family dinner. She told them she was just heading out for a walk after that huge feast they'd devoured and smiled a cheshire-cat grin when she saw him waiting at the edge of the clearing. Hopping in the car he brought, they made their escape and after a flying visit to a justice of the peace, just barely made it onto the ferry that would get them into Lousiana. Her daddy was never really happy with it, but she loved her husband right till the end and a more devoted man you could never have asked for. They brought up two fine boys and were loved not only by their children and grandchildren, but by their great grandchildren as well..........

I've been thinking about my family love stories lately and the one that my great-grandparent's had has always stuck with me. We called my great-grandparents Oomaw and Oompaw and two more devoted people you never could find. Oomaw ended up having to be in a nursing home a good many years, at the end, and Oompaw would get in his little truck, every single day and head up there to spend the whole day with her. He couldn't bear the thought of his " Little Nancy" needing him and he not being there for her. My grandparents love story was one of equal love and devotion, but that's a tale for another day.

Tender Graces: A Review

2009-04-25T08:44:00.002-05:00

I finally got my copy of Tender Graces a couple of days ago and could hardly wait to delve right into the middle of things. Little did I know just how wonderful and thoughtful this book would turn out to be. For the past few years, I've had a problem where I start a book I'm interested in and then I just end up not being able to finish it. I can assure you though, with this book, that definitely wasn't the case! I believe I got it on Thursday afternoon and by midday on Friday I was reading the last pages. Tender Graces is a book that will draw you in...keep you captivated...and leave you wanting to know more. I'm sure any of you that do read it will agree with me when I say that I can hardly wait for the next book in the saga! Kathryn Magendie's style of writing is easy to follow with a flow that is lyrical and enchanting. I don't often recommend many books, but this is one that I can whole-heartedly stand behind! Ms. Magendie...it's amazing...simply amazing!!

Crazy Dazy Friday

2009-04-24T09:40:00.003-05:00

So after reading one of the blogs I follow, I decided to use the idea she had posted for today and make it part of my own.Eight Things I'm Looking Forward To:
1. The dear husband hopefully coming home around the first part of next month.
2. Celebrating our 8th Anniversary together around the end of next month.
3.Finishing reading Tender Graces, because I can hardly put that book down!
4.Hopefully getting to spend my sister's birthday with her and the rest of our family.
5.Seeing the new X-Men movie that comes out on the 1st of May(yeah I know I'm a nerd, but I'm really okay with that:)
6. Going back to the beach with the dear husband and our dogs
7.Getting more plants for our little flower bed
8.Visiting the bookstore again for more books and a cup of their delicious coffee!!

Eight things I did yesterday:
1.Watered all my plants and made sure they got sprayed with the solution I'm using to make sure they don't have spider mites
2.Ran to the grocery store and picked up some more supplies to get me through till next payday...honeybun anyone???
3.Came home to find my copy of Tender Graces had arrived and promptly started reading it
4. Played with my dogs and their new chew toys(okay so what if Bronson likes to carry around his sister's pink little heart while she goes after his duck...their just toys right??!!)
5. Called up my mom crying because I just missed my husband so much and I needed to talk to someone about it
6. Determined to call up my mother-in-law and get the recipe for the Rhubarb pie the dear husband loves so much, but then forgot to actually do it!(today...today I swear!)
7.Watched the birds eating the grass seed I put down a couple days ago( >.<)
8. Read Tender Graces till I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer and went to sleep( Yeah it's just that good!)

Eight TV shows I watch:
1. Ghost Hunters
2.Though it isn't actually a T.V. show, rather a channel, I do watch a bit of TCM
3.Extreme Makeover- Home Edition( I love how they help people out)
4.John and Kate Plus 8
5. Charmed
6. Local news.
7. King of the Hill
8. That 70's Show

Eight things I wish I could do:
1. Go back to school...I really would like to get a better education.
2. Decide just what I want to get an education in and what career path I would like to follow.
3. Learn to play either the violin, the piano, or the guitar.
4. Lose all the weight I need to just by squeezing my eyes really tight and saying, " I think I can, I think I can."
5. Push myself to work more on improving my drawing and painting skills
6. Learn to forgive people for hurts that happened in the past and to put all the anger and frustration that still exists, to rest for good.
7. To be able to find something that I am so passionate about that I am able to not let it just fall by the wayside like I do with so many things.
8. To not feel like I have to hide what I think and who I am from people because I'm so afraid of them rejecting me and turning their backs on me.

Anyways, I hope you all have a great weekend!!

Feeling a bit Melancholy...

2009-04-23T08:57:00.003-05:00

So this morning, I am really, really missing my husband. It seems like everywhere I look, there are couples and they all seem so happy together. Yesterday morning, I was waiting for the NEX to open and there were this husband and wife there holding hands and talking with each other. I felt so jealous of them and ended up sitting there just staring at my wedding band with misted eyes. I know that time wise he hasn't been gone that long and it isn't too terribly much longer till he is supposed to be home, but it honestly feels as though it's been years and years! It makes it much worse too knowing how much he wants to come home and how lonely he is there. I think that is what affects me the most because I hate that there isn't anything that I can do to cheer him up more. I can hardly wait to be able to look up into that handsome face of his and see him smiling down at me.... Hurry up May and bring my husband back to me!!

A New Project For Me

2009-04-21T15:24:00.004-05:00

The other day I stopped into our Navy Exchange and browsed a bit, when I noticed a very cute wreath hanging up. I inquired as to how much it was and was a little taken aback when the floral clerk informed me of a price tag of $50! However much I might have liked it...I didn't like it $50 worth! So, when I went to Wal-Mart a couple of days later, I checked out the small craft section and even though there wasn't much to choose from, I grabbed a couple things of silk flowers and the grapevine wreath and determined to try to create something myself. I had intended to use these pretty, bright, pink and yellowish flowers along with a couple of the greenish ones and the hydrangeas, but somehow it took on a life of it's own and I think it came out better than I could have hoped for and all for about $14+tax. Not only was it pretty bargain priced, but I also have the satisfaction of knowing that I made it and there isn't another anywhere just exactly like it! So what do you think???

A Lesson For Everyone....

2009-04-20T17:27:00.003-05:00

You may be wondering why I have posted a picture of my vacuum cleaner and so I don't keep you in too intense of anticipation, I'll explain the reason it's here. The other evening, after coming home from walking with a friend, I was on the phone with the dear husband when I noticed a line of ants marching from one of the windows to the front of my couch. Not having any ant spray that I would want to use around my dogs, I knew that I had to get them up, so I rushed, grabbed my vacuum, and started doing all that I could to get the little buggers up. I noticed that there was poor suction and was a bit upset by the thought that my vacuum was breaking down on me and right now I couldn't afford to get a new one. I unattached the hose to nab the ones in the window sill and had no suction at all. So throwing the hose to the floor, I turned the machine off and prepared to see if I had a clog and that's when I noticed something missing. Yes ladies and gents....I had forgotten that two days before I had taken off the whole plastic front part to wash it and the filters and you guessed it I hadn't re-attached any of it. So there I was...trying to vacuum up ants with no filters in, no trash bucket, and let me assure you while I was relieved that the blasted thing wasn't broken, I felt a little silly for forgetting something so necessary. So, let that be a lesson to ya...always make sure you have ALL the vacuum parts attached before you try to get anything up. It just makes life easier in the long run!

What To Do When Your Saturday Plans Change...

2009-04-18T18:37:00.006-05:00

Have you ever found yourself in the position of having to change plans you've had all week because the people you've invited over for lunch decided not to come after all?? Well, if you are anything like me and are prone to feeling a bit melancholy over something not happening that you were really looking forward to, here's some things you can do to fill up that extra time you suddenly have on your hands...
You can call up your grandmother(or mother...friend...distant auntie..whoever)
And wish them a very Happy Birthday(Happy 78th Birthday Memaw!!!)....

You can hang up that picture you were planning to wait for the dear husband to help with, but you figure hey why not give it a shot...
You can finally start working on that puzzle you always ment to get around to, but didn't for who knows whatever reason...

You can have a tea-party for one and go fancy-smansy with the tea-pot, cup, saucer, and hey even a sugar bowl...
You can go ahead and water the plants and the yard because that rain that was promised to be here( and even if it has been cloudy) you still haven't gotten...

You can even go ahead and dead-head your poor rose-bushes because you keep hoping they won't die on you....

All in all, I'm sure there's a million things you can find to do when you're company hasn't come over....now if only it would all really be as fun as it would have been if they had showed up!!!

Just a bragging day....

2009-04-16T01:54:00.002-05:00

I guess this entry is going to be a bit of bragging for me. I haven't really been around much lately because I've actually developed a bit of an active social life!! Imagine that...me...with a social life!! Amazing!! It's kinda funny how it took my husband being away to get me out of my shell and to push myself into meeting new people and trying new things that before would have sent me running in terror! Guess that's just learning how to be a tad self-reliant and a means to keep myself from the insanity of loneliness! This is one of my new friends, Julie, and we took this on Easter. She was down here visiting her sister Christina, whose fastly becoming a valuable and trusted friend. Both ladies are sweet, amazing, and joyful people to be around! I'll have to try to snag a photo of Christina and I sometime soon and seeing as we are going to become each other's work-out buddies, it won't be long till we'll both be looking pretty svelte!!

Okay so the dear husband and I have been wanting some patio furniture for the longest time and I found a great deal on this cute table and chair set at Wal-Mart, so I splurged a little and got it as a surprise for my husband when he comes home. Let me tell you...it was just a ball of fun to try to put together....but hey...I did it!! LOL! Now we've all just gotta hope and pray the few missing nuts and bolts won't matter...>.<

Happy Easter One and All!!

2009-04-12T12:54:00.001-05:00

The Puppies and I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Easter! Hope it is a blessed time spent with those that you love!

Some Spring Time Color

2009-04-10T18:51:00.003-05:00

So this afternoon, while taking the pups for a stroll, my attention was arrested by the beauty and the color of this little "weed" flower. I loved how the bright yellows were mixed in with the crimson reds(the picture doesn't do it justice) and couldn't resist "rescuing" it before it ended up as lawn-mower chow. I can't get enough of the vividness of all the little wild-flowers, the newly budded tree-leaves, and the brilliance of the azure-toned, cloud studded sky. It is a refreshing reminder of why this time of year always makes me feel blessed to be alive!

Hope Your Easter is Great

2009-04-09T19:26:00.003-05:00

I haven't been around a lot the past few days because I've been a bit busy. Wednesday night I was invited to the meet-up of the spouses of my husband's squadron and as it was a pot-luck dinner, I had to hurry and try to figure out something to take. It was pleasant though, and I had a nice time getting to meet other military wives that share things in common with me and that I hopefully can build up friendships with. I think it would be nice to be able to be a support network for each other when our spouses are on deployment. This morning I was also invited to a bible study to meet other women and it was a fun experience as well. I've enjoyed having a reason to get out of the house, getting to meet new people, and having something that has helped me to take my mind off my husband still being away. He might get to come home early, so I'm keeping my fingers and my eyes crossed! Anyways, I hope that you will all have a wonderful Easter and in whatever way you celebrate it, may you be blessed!

What are you planning to do for Easter??

Congrats to the Winner of My Giveaway!!

2009-04-06T14:19:00.004-05:00

Well, I would like to congratulate Kathryn from http://tendergraces.blogspot.com/ on being the winner of my first giveaway! I really do hope that you will enjoy it Kathryn and for those of you who entered but didn't win, please keep checking back because coming up soon I'll have a few more fun and different giveaways! Hope everyone has a great Monday!

Just Randomness

2009-04-03T19:22:00.004-05:00

This week has been a mix of ups and downs for me. I'm really missing the dear husband, but do keep reminding myself that it'll only be this month and part of next and he'll be home again. It does help too that we are able to talk for a few minutes a day. I have had the pleasure of getting a letter from my sister Mary and a card from my new Blogger pen-pal(you can check out her page here: http://everythingilikecausescancer.blogspot.com/), so that's definitely been a bright spot in my week.

I also finally gave into the temptation and bought a pretty plant for next to my front door. Eventually, I want to get about 6 more planters like the one in the picture and line my front walk with them.

While I'm thinking about it, I want to send out the reminder that the deadline for my giveaway is April 6, 2009. All you have to do is email me once with your email address and on the 6th, I'll use a random number generator to pick the winning number.

I think I'm going to spend most of this weekend getting caught up on the house cleaning that I've been putting off and I might take the pups to the beach.

What have ya'll got planned for this weekend??? Whatever it is I hope it'll be at least some fun for ya!

Some Good Clean Fun

2009-03-31T20:06:00.004-05:00

So, Today was my first full day without the dear husband being here and let me tell you...it already feels as though he's been gone a week! In the process of trying to find something to do with myself this evening, I took the pups out back and blew some bubbles for them. They've both always loved to chase after them,pop them with their teeth, then come back to me for more bubbles. I don't think I've ever seen anything funnier than these two dogs chasing after bubbles and mostly snapping air.

Missing Him Already

2009-03-30T19:33:00.006-05:00

So, I got the dear husband off to the airport today and right now, he should be getting closer to Virginia. I already miss him so very, very much and I'm just thankful that I've got a great phone support group, where I can call a few people anytime I need to. I'm still not sure what to do with all my time, but somehow I have the feeling my house is gonna be spotless the next couple of months!

We took these photos on Saturday night and they each bring a smile to my face. I had some printed out so that the dear husband could take them with him. He said he's going to miss me and our puppies more than anything.

He really is my best friend and I have already begun the count down for the day he gets to come home!

I wish I had gotten a better angle on this one because she was licking her lips too! Oh she loves the attention!!

And I have to send out a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRONSON!! to my little guy here. Today is his 8th birthday and I still think he looks pretty handsome! The dear husband told the boy that we're gonna celebrate his birthday more properly when the hubby gets home. There's going to be so much to party about come May!!!

Something funny last night

2009-03-28T09:06:00.004-05:00

So I had to pop on real fast to relate a funny event that happened last night. It was a tad warm in the house and during the evening the weather had finally cooled down and a gusty wind had picked up. I decided to sit out back, with my dogs, and enjoy the breezes. A sudden noise over by a part of my fence caught my attention and I looked over to see these two little black paws climbing one of the posts. My first thought was, " Boy cat, you sure are going to be surprised when you hit the top of that fence." Then for some reason the idea that it might be a skunk(yeah I know...in my moment of irrationality I forgot skunks can't climb like that) and tried to rush the dogs inside. I lingered long enough to catch a glimpse of the face similar to that below and am still laughing a bit at the creature's bravery and the way it's paws looked climbing my fence.

I'm gonna be MIA for a couple of days.

2009-03-26T23:23:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to give ya'll a heads up that I probably won't be around much the next few days. My husband leaves, for a few months, on Monday, so we are trying to make sure that everything is ready for his trip and just busy spending what time together we can. I did however want to share the picture with you of the purse I made the other night. What do ya think?? Hope everyone will have a great weekend!!