Catching Up

There are no excuses as to why I haven't been around here.  So I'll just start catching you up.

Valentine's Day was nice as Donald brought home tulips that were just about ready to bloom.  They were lovely:

I really love the container they came in.  Now, the tulips have come and gone.  Only thing left of them are the shriveled up stems that I need to cut off and put the bulbs away until next year.  Or, I can put them in the refrigerator for about six weeks and they will bloom again.  Maybe I'll do that. 

I don't know if I mentioned we have been, okay, not me so much except as a supervior, working on the inside of the motor home.  We started with just the tv cabinet because we had an old tv in there which worked just fine as long as the, oh, what's that box called that we all had to run out and buy for our old tv in order to watch it digital{?}, anyway, we had one in the motor home until it went ka-poop.  So, we were talking about getting a flat screen for it, therefore, we had to take down the cabinet the old tv sat in. 

That cabinet is gone now.  No tv there yet!  Then the shower was leaking so Donald tore the whole bathroom out including the floor and re-did everything.  He put self sticking tiles in the bathroom and I'm not at all happy with it.  He also put a floating floor down in the motor home which was left over from a room we did in the house and because he put a couple of staples in the floor where it met with the rug, it has separated a little.  Donald's not happy with that, but it doesn't bother me.  :)  Now, I've decided to take out all the carpet and just replace it all with the floating floor.  

New Bathroom Floor

Where the carpet and floor meet.

Here's the kitchen-I bought smart tiles at Home Depot to put on the wall behind the stove and sink

These are the tiles I chose.  Smart tiles are heat proof; sorta plastic, but they are peel and stick and you can cut them with scissors.  Easy

Here are the 'cracks' in the floor.  Floating floors are not suppose to be nails or staples because they 'float' but since Donald nailed down the rug with the floor it started to separate.  It really bothers him! LOL  I'm all for just filling in the cracks.

Renovation realities in the house--haha.  About a year ago our 1970's in wall oven gave up the ghost.  We had some problems with it in the past, but Donald was always able to get parts.  But, there comes a time when it is just vintage and parts can't be bought for it anymore.  We were slightly looking for a new oven when sales ads came out or when were in the stores, but the cheapest one we could find was $1, 399.00.  Wow.  Now, one day we were in Lowe's looking around when Donald came upon a stainless steel wall oven, display model, the last one of it's kind {so the sign said} for $876

.00.  Seriously?  Plus, we got 10% off that!  Here's some advice for anyone near our age..never, ever think you can remember measurements of anything in your home no matter how many times you measure it or how long you've lived in your home.  Haha.  The 'new' oven measured 29" opening and I was so sure that's what our old oven opening was.  So, as not to pass up a great deal we went ahead and arranged to have it sold to us (we didn't have the money at the time; had to come back next day); then when we got home, we measured the opening and it was a 26" opening!  Uh-oh.  Then we had to brain storm how we were gonna extend the cabinet in order to install the new oven.  Here's what we came up with:

You can see the lighter colored wood  under Donald's drill.  That's what we added.

On the left is the added wood.  Donald hasn't cut the the front 'bar' off yet.

I was pleasantly surprised the stain we had on the shelf in the basement matched really well with the rest of the cabinets.

Always a mess when renovating!

A bit blurry, but the opening is ready for the oven.

And here it is.  Thankfully, the cabinet hasn't fallen down! :)

I've made meatloaf in it and that's all I've done.  I need to go to the store and stock up on food!  

Next blog entry is gonna be about gardening.  Oh, I can't wait to get my plants in the ground or in containers.

Blessings!

Family Time at Glory Days and other stuff...

It's been a true winter here in the southern parts of Maryland.  Snow, snow and more snow.  The only good thing I can say about this is that the snow melts, then it snows again; the snow melts then it snows again.  And, on one of the first snows, I did make some ice cream, so that was cool.  {No pun intended!} And now that the groundhog saw his shadow do I guess it's another six weeks of winter.  I'm so  ready to get my garden started.  For Christmas I got an outdoor sink so now I can do my planting right next to my garden because I have an outdoor faucet  there and I won't have to go all the way around to the other side of the house when I have transplanting to do.  Are we lazy or what??

Yesterday I was talking to Adam on the phone; I haven't seen him in about a month {even though he lives 10 minutes from me} but I asked him if he wanted to go to dinner, and I mentioned a favorite place of his, hehehe, and he decided that he would.  I went downstairs to tell Meghan to get ready we are going to have dinner with her brother.  It was one of those nights where we just had fun and everyone was in a good mood.

 

Times like these are far and few between these days.  It's hard when everyone is working and have their own schedules..it's hard to find time to get together.  Sometimes, I think of when life was simpler, yet harder, too; when families lived on the same farm and grandma and grandpa was always around.  That would have been awesome times.  

I'm thinking about doing some youtube vlogging..haven't decided yet about it.  I'm about 80% sure I will, but I'm still thinking.  I'm sure I must have something to say that might help someone. 

Still having sleeping issues, but I totally need to work on it.  I know other night owls feel the same way as I do, but nighttime is so peaceful...nobody to bother you...the phone stops ringing, it's time to have to one's self.  I do not manage my time very well and I suppose I need to work on that, too.

With that said, I'm signing off for now.
Blessings!

Shoveling Snow

 Well, we may be doing a lot of this tomorrow if the weather forecasters are right.  Not looking forward to it.  And I always worry about Donald, Adam and Meghan driving in the snow and rain.   I've been blessed to be able to stay home and not have to go out into this mess.....oops, but I'm remembering just now that I have one more day before the emissions testing on my car expires.  Drats!!  That means I have to go to the emissions place.  *shaking my head*  I need to start getting things done when I'm thinking about them.  

I took my car in for service last Thursday.  That car sucked up $590.00 of my money! LOL  Unreal.  I don't know how people afford service on their cars.  Seriously.  For 35 years my husband has taken care of the maintenance on our vehicles when needed because we didn't have extra money to spend on the cars.  So when I bought my Hyundai two years ago I decided that it was easier to take it into the dealership for service and give Donald a break from worrying and working on the car.  Especially in the weather; there would be times he'd be out in the snow or rain under the car and I would feel so bad for him.  So taking my car in  for service is a break for him, but boy, he has to work overtime sometimes to pay for it.  Crazy.

Little by little and step by small step I have been cleaning up around here.  Donald sometimes complains that he 'just took the trash out' and it's filled up again.  I told him to be proud of a filled up trash can.  That means I'm cleaning and getting rid of stuff we don't need.  And it really feels good too, to walk into a room and see it organized and cleaned.  The dumb thing is is that I forget to take pictures of the before and then when I'm done and look at what my hard work has accomplished I think to myself, 'I should have taken a before picture'.  Duh!  Story of my life! 

I so can't wait for spring, I so can't wait for spring!  Winter is just so 'live in the cave' kind of thing.  It's okay for a couple of days, but I would love to be planting a garden and smelling fresh cut grass and sitting outside.  

April is my birthday so I look forward to that because spring is right around the corner.  My mom said that when she brought me home from the hospital it was snowing.  Maybe that's why I don't like the snow, per se.  :)

Blessings!

It's Time to Get Back to my Blog!!

I didn't expect to be gone so long, but wouldn't you know it, on Thanksgiving night I got sick.  I had gotten some type of intestinal bug.  While at my brother's house I started feeling chilly, which, when that happens, I know that I'm getting sick.  So, me and the family left to come home, but on the way home i was feeling sick to my stomach.  By the time we arrived home I was soooo cold that I went to my bed with my coat, hat and gloves on.  I pulled the blanket on me and I was still cold.  Meghan went to get another blanket for me and she put that on me and I was still cold!!  Let's just say, it was downhill from there.  It took me a good 3 1/2 weeks just to get somewhat back to normal.  I took a leave of absence from my volunteering, but I'm trying to decide when's the best time to go back.  

As I was getting better, the day before Christmas Donald came down with what I had.  It didn't stop him from enjoying Christmas, though.  

 

We had a good new years.  Meghan was with us, but Adam had to work.  

 January has really claimed itself...we've had snow, winds and temps as low as 5 degrees.  The poor dog; she hasn't been able to go outside and run to her hearts content like in the summer time.  It's basically go out and come in.  Then lay around the house all day as there's nothing for her to do.  

Little by little, I'm decluttering and organizing.  Years, when I was having depression really bad, I had let things get really out of control.  I'm happy now that I'm tackling it.  Although one might not be able to see what's being done, I can see it and it's exciting to have things organized again.  Yes, it's going to take me awhile, maybe even this whole year to get things done, but I am keeping my eyes on the end result.  

 So this is the a short update on me.  Next post will not be as long!

Blessings 

Well, Hello There!

I think I've been in a funk.  I'm so unmotivated, yet I want things done.  It's almost like having a split personality!  The one side of me says, "let's do it!" while the other side says, "it can wait until tomorrow."  Then that Annie's song starts playing in my head.....'tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow, tomorrow's just a day away."  But the truth its, no one is guaranteed tomorrow.  How often have you heard of someone passing away when least expected?  For example, 911.  For all those people it was just another day.  For some it was another day at work, for some children it was an exciting day flying on an airplane.  Can you imagine being a child, excited about your first plane ride, can't wait to tell your parents or friends or siblings about your experience when you get home, but you never get home?  So, we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  We have to show people we love them today.  I watched the life leave my baby girl when she was 12 years old.  We didn't expect it, thinking we have more years with her, but she didn't get to have a tomorrow.  That's why today is important.

I've changed up my blog here several times.  I read other people's blogs and they are so creative and cool; mine is so drab.  When I first started this blog it was just a place for me to post our family's activities and things to do, but I'm feeling now it needs to be a little bit more.  I don't know what, though.  

See, I really live 'in the woods' but a piece of my heart loves the beach.  Not that I spend time on the beach because if I get there once a summer I'm happy, but I love the sun and the warm weather and the summer breeze...and I do love going to Ocean City, Maryland to a store called Salty Yarns.  Walking the boardwalk is always fun, too.  

I thought about changing my blog to a woodsy theme, and I did for a short time, but I really love the beach theme.  Hence, I changed it again.  I'm so having trouble putting a banner up top..I don't know what my problem is!! LOL

Here are a couple of things I wanna talk about {listing them here so I don't forget}:

Donald's birthday

Planners

Crafts/craftroom

Donald's 60th birthday was last month.  Can't believe he is 60 now.  It's crazy.  It doesn't feel so long ago that we were dating and planning our future!  Where did time go?  I got to thinking that maybe this is how time feels in heaven.  I mean,  there is no time in heaven.  Here on earth we can measure time by the clock, months, years, things we do, things we've done, but really, if you blend all that into your life and don't think about what divides those things...it's like eternal time.  I will admit, that we've had friends die, spouses of friends and they've been our age or younger than us.  How can we not think that our end is near and that we need to prepare ourselves and our families for it?  But it's crazy, really because I'm still that 20 something girl in my head that was planning her future and now I have to plan the end of my life, just in case.  *shaking my head*  It's a hard concept to grasp, to say the least. 

I had thought about doing a surprise party for him, but time got away from me.  And then again, what if there is no next year and I don't get the chance to try again?  See, we have to embrace today.

I have some subscriptions to youtube that I watch daily and sometimes a video will pop onto the side list that looks interesting, so I watch it and somehow I started watching Filofax videos.  I think I was looking at home management binders and that's when I saw some videos about organization and Filofax.  So now I have a few subscriptions to people who post about their organizers, be it Filofax or some other planners they've made.  They decorate their pages, too.  

I had made a home management binder a couple of years go from a regular sized notebook and it sorta worked, but I was getting bored with it so I decided to try a planner method.  I didn't care if it was a Filofax or  not so I went to a few office supply stores and I couldn't find anything pretty.  I ended up buying a Dayrunner planner that is a dark red color and to tell you the truth, it's drab and doesn't motivate me {but maybe like I said before, it's my other 'personality' LOL}.  I was thinking if I had a really pretty, colorful planner I would be more willing to use it.  I'm so fickle with stuff.  I mean, here I've changed my blog name a few times because nothing seems to fit me.  It's the same way with other stuff.  I get bored with it easily.  I need changes with some things in my life.  :)

Anyway, I'll take some pictures of my planner and do another blog post on that.

Now about my craft room....it's a work in progress.  Eventually, I'm thinking that maybe I'll do some videos in my craft room as soon as it gets more organized.  I'm really proud of the progress I've made in it so far.  It had gotten to the point where I couldn't even open the door.  It became a ...what do you call it?.... a place where you throw stuff in because you have no other place to put it.  But now, I can open the door and freely walk in.  I have my books organized now, too.  It's so nice to have room to turn around in it again.  However, my workspace table is still cluttered so I gotta get to work on it.  

I also wanna redo my wedding pictures.  Here's the story on that: I did not have a professional photograper take my wedding pictures.  I thought I knew better than my mom at the time and if she was alive today I'd tell her how sorry I am that I didn't heed her advise to me.  I was in a relationship for about four years with the neighborhood boy that I basically grew up with.  When I say relationship I mean 'going steady'.  Relationships back in the day are not what they are today, for sure.  However, after four years it wasn't working out so I broke it off, but we were still friends because the guy lived a couple houses away from me and we grew up together. So, when I met Donald and started dating him, guy #1 tried to win me back, but it didn't work. Then when Donald and I were getting married, guy #1 said that he would take our photos as his present to us and to save us money {he wasn't a professional phtographer, but he dubbled in it and has some pictures published in the newspaper}.  My mom was against it {for obvious reasons, of course}, but I trusted guy #1.  As it turned out, the pictures came out okay, but they are definitely not quality pictures and I do wish now that I had some really nice photos.  But, live and learn, right?  Right now the photos are in an album from the 70's and I'd like to scrapbook them instead.  That's a project I gotta put on my list of things to do.  And it would make another blog post!

I'm gonna really try to stay current here.  If others can do it so can I!

Blessings <><

I Know I Keep Saying This, but.....

How time flies!!  Geez.  Well, finally the rain cleared and we've seen the sun again.  It feels like winter here already...dark, some days are cold, too.  I've been extremely tired; don't know if my thyroid is out of wack or I need some iron.  

My son had his birthday Sept. 27th.  Here's some pictures from that:

I made Adam an ice cream sandwich cake.  The layers were cool whip.  Adam likes mint chocolate chip ice cream and Giant had mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches.  Never saw those before.  I don't know where I saw the idea from.  But it was good.  

Donald has gone back to work part time.  He's still going for his iv's and chamber, but Friday will be his last day for that.  It was kinda hard when he was home all day when he first started staying home, but we each found our own routines.  Now, again, since Donald's not here now I have to wait for him to get home to 'fix' something or ask him a question.  

I just wanted to do a quick check in..will write more later.

Blessings!

Catching Up With Ya'll

My, oh my, how time flies by.  What have I been doing?  I don't really know.  Crazy.

I guess I do have a few things I'll share.  They aren't in any chronological order. 

I had some squash growing in my garden and decided to find a recipe on youtube.  I picked one that I thought would be good and easy, and it was when it came out of the oven, but reheating it wasn't so good.  Next time I will try a different recipe.  But here is the one I did make.  

Meghan's 28th birthday was the beginning of the month.  She was actually due to be born on August 12th, but she just didn't wanna be born then and she waited a long time -- Sept. 6th to be exact!

Donald took me out eat one night and we found this soda made by Coca Cola.  Never saw it before, so that was weird.  Did you know that Pepsi Cola Company makes a drink called Baja that is only exclusive to Taco Bell?  Anyway, here's that Inca Cola looks like:

To me it tastes a little like bubble gum.  I didn't ask Donald what he thought it tastes like and he didn't say.  Sometimes you just want something different.  

And, omgosh take a look at this.  Creepy.  Donald and I were on the side of our house when I spotted this.  It's getting to be spider season around here, but really!

What the heck kind of spider is that???  I've seen more and more of these around.  We live with woods around us, but living here for 35 years this is a new breed.  And these spiders are humongous!!  Please let them stay outside.  If I ever got one of these in my house.....can't even thing about it.

Tomorrow we will be celebrating Adam's birthday.  It's three weeks after Meghan's, but different years, of course.  

It's already started to get chilly here in Maryland.  Donald and I have had no vacation per se this year since he's having to go to the hospital every single day for treatment.  He has 3 weeks vacation he needs to take or he will lose.  I think once he gets back to work he's boss won't be happy to have him gone again.  I'm thinking maybe Donald can have four day work weeks until his vacation is used up.  The doctors are saying he might be able to go back to work next week.  I hope so.  Otherwise, he'll have to put in for SS disability.  {thumbs down to that}

I'm starting to think more about eating vegetarian..more fruits/vegetables.  I think if I can come up with some vegetable dinners I can slowly have a couple nights when we eat that and eliminate the meat.  I'll have to work on that.

That's all for now.

Blessings!

When Fighting Depression...

Years ago when I was severely depressed (well, it was after my daughter passed away) I knew I had to pull myself up by my boot straps.  But it was hard.  The only way I can describe depression is that it feels like the living dead.  What I mean by that is that you feel dead, yet you're still alive.  Let's see if I can explain this:  one thing I love to do is go outside in the summer time and feel the warmth of the sun on my skin.  To me, that feels nice.  I am a part of my environment.  I hear the birds, I smell the grass so it feels good to be alive.  However, when one is depressed, you are detached from your environment.  I could be outside yet I felt so detached from the sun, the birds.  It's as if you are living in a bubble and can't reach out to the things that you want to be a part of.  That's why I call it the living dead.  You're alive but can't feel a part of living.  Dead.  So, I don't ever want to get in that 'black hole' ever again.  Some days though, I just don't feel like doing the chores I need to do, especially loading the dishwasher.  And that scares me because I don't ever want to get to the point where "I can't" load it.  So what i try to do every day is do one thing I feel good about.  If I accomplish one chore or clean a room, then I feel good I got something done.  I know, it's not much, but some days I can get a lot done thinking this way.   And yet, I don't feel guilty when I 'can't' get something done.  It's okay.

I say this because my kitchen needs cleaning.  I sorta cleaned it, but it needs one of those deep cleanings.  I haven't done it yet.  But, I've been thinking about it!

In the meantime, I did get this done: 

On the right is what was on the stool

The material I replaced on the stool

I love the new material.  It's so pretty.  

Donald and I also went to Petsmart for cat food and then to the grocery store to get a few items.  I can't believe how much food cost.  Donald had not been shopping with me in a long time and he just couldn't believe it either.  I think he has sticker shock.  Haha.

On Aug 6th, A&W was having a free float day.  Someone said it was National Soda Float Day.  But the flyer I saw on Facebook said A&W were giving free floats and asked for a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project.  When I asked about it at the restaurant, they didn't know what I was talking about.  Also, we had a choice to get a medium or large soda.  Crazy.  Again, the flyer said A&W would give small free floats.  Okay.  How can I argue with that?  

I appreciate the days when we get out and enjoy ourselves.   

Blessings!

Been Stay'in Inside

Just when you think this summer was gonna be cold and rainy, here comes the heat!  Two weeks ago temperatures were okay and I was outside fixing things up and cutting things down = beautifying!  All this while Meghan was away in Ireland:

Before

After



 

Fence Before

Fence After

Cleaning the pond

Pond after...just needs fish and plants

One of two pepper plants I bought

Second pepper plant

Our miniature peach tree



Our peaches





 We were waiting for our peaches to get a little softer before we picked them, however a groundhog got to them before us.  :(  So maddening when animals take one or two bits out of the fruit and got to the next one.  It's a waste. 

Meghan got home from Ireland just fine.  Well, not exactly.  She came back with an ear infection and bronchitis.   She was on antibiotics when she left for Ireland and had to get more when she got back.  But, she had a great time!  She loved the church they were working for.  She said she could live in Ireland and I told her no way she is.  Hahah.  It's hard to let go of the kids no matter how old they are. 

Door to door letting the neighbors know about Elevate

Donald is still home on disability, but his foot is healing somewhat.  He's now at the point of his disability where his company doesn't have to keep his position any longer.  It scares me because I don't know what we'd do if he didn't have his job.  Well let me restate that, God will take care of us.  I do put my trust in Him.  It would just make things easier if Donald still has a job! :)

Blessings for now