So these are a few pictures around my yard from a few days ago. The chairs in my back yard are now literally covered, you can't see them anymore. Does that tell you how much we have had here. The official count of inches so far for December is............drum roll please 53 inches.

The sparkle you see like glitter is the sun on the snow. I love it when it is like that, it is so very beautiful. Have to remind myself of that after all the shoveling we have done and continue to do because yes, there is another snow storm early in the morning.

So far all this snow has brought with it plenty of challenges for our household, before the snow we were in the minus for temps and we got a leak in our pipes. So when we went to fix the leak because it was so crazy cold it wiped out our whole system. We finally got it all thawed so we can fix it as of 2 days ago. So we are almost done with it and then .....yes, then the roof sprung a leak. So my dd and I were up on the roof last night shoveling for all we were worth in thigh high snow. So roof leak fixed today, back to water tomorrow. Thankfully we were between storms, oh thank you Lord!!!!!! So needless to say, all I want is for the last of the pipe repairs to be done, which included taking out our tub!!!!! So I can clean like crazy and find my house again.

A girl needs to be able to sew and this has put a real kink in it!!!!!!

You know the saying, all good things must come to an end, well this water adventure needs to come to an end....grin. It will and then life will be more normal. I am not sure there really is a normal. Every family and their dynamics are different and they work for each one. If we were all the same how boring life truly would be.

We had a nice quiet Christmas, played with the grand kids, had dinner and then napped. Life couldn't be any simpler and it truly does bring joy when I allow it. And yes, I need to remember in the midst of all the crazy water escapades that there is joy. Yes, there is joy!!!!!!

So hoping your Christmases were enjoyable as well.

Merry Christmas and may you have an amazing New Year filled with joy and wonder.

cs

Yes, that is my little Geo metro buried under that pile of snow. At our place, we measured 26 inches of snow from yesterday to today. We had an inch an hour going, and wow are we buried.
We have shoveled and shoveled and shoveled. We get a break for two days and another storm headed our way. We made records for the snowfall here for the last 2 days. Pretty crazy if you ask me!!!!!! Sledding shall be had by all tomorrow.....lol.
I will try taking more pictures tomorrow, just stayed indoors today. Cozy and warm.
later,
cs

So Steph girl
I didn't make those curtain panels into an apron, I put them up in my sewing room and on my front door and I adore them.

And girls this is my insulator tree, it is old insulators that I put lights into on my last years Christmas trees. I cut the branches down off of it last Christmas, then I stored it till this Christmas. We call them bah humbug trees because they are bare and then I decorate them. I have another bah humbug tree that I have lights, trim, bulbs on. I like both of them. I have a couple more trees waiting for some inspiration. Hey if you can't afford a tree you use the one you have.....grin!!!!!
That is only part of the insulator tree showing, it is about 6 and It to1/2 feet. It took me quite a while to do it, hubby helped and I wired it on there. Will need to do a better job of it later, just wanted to see how it would look. I have to say,
I like how it turned out. So those have been my adventures, along with shoveling snow and hauling water as we fix another pipe that froze. Are we having fun yet? LOL
Y'all stay warm and dry.

Yes, this is my recycled

Christmas tree. It was in the garbage and the bottom part of it was pretty bad, so Teresa helped me undo the bottom half and only used the top of it. Used a couple of cans of snow, old bulbs that were thrown out, an inexpensive teal beads, silver tinsel and there she is. All prim and proper. Then I did the garland with blues and teas, have my Santa's from Miss Wilma's on the fireplace and other junk as you can see sitting around. And yes, that is a real fire in my real fireplace.

I finished decorating today. It took me a long time this year to get a little bit done each day, but I finally have it up and it feels festive here. The snow outside helped too.....grin.

Hope each of you are enjoying your family and friends, relationships after all are the most important gifts we can give each other.........

cs

That is a picture from my folks front window. They can see Mt Rainer every morning when it is clear out. It sure is a pretty view is all I can say.

Makes me think about my views, what are my views during a day. I look out my sewing room window onto the road with the tall cedar tree across the street that looks really cool when it snows. I sit on my couch and have a great view of the maple tree out front in all its seasons. But their are other views with have every day. How we view ourselves, how we view those around us....I tend to view those around me with much more grace than I tend to give myself. So thinking more about the view of myself. Not physical but emotionally, mentally, spiritually..... how does pain effect all of these.

Last night was a very long night with pain and grief. Having to go another round of dealing with the fact that I have Fibro and that it does have limitations. That sometimes the pain just plain gets overwhelming and I can't take one more minute of it. Not pretending every thing is okay and fine. Having the cry that is needed. Telling a couple of close friends where I am really at, not hiding and pretending that life is just fine. Being real in life makes me vulnerable, but it is necessary for living a genuine life and for my mental health as well.

So let your life be genuine and real, no matter where you are at. Find those who you trust and let it all hang out. We need those friends in our life, whether they are family, adopted family, or friends that have become family to us. For in sharing we allow them to be who they are as well.

cs

What? Me playin in the dog water..............

not me Nana.....lol

That is handsome little Mr. Caleb discovering how much fun it is to splash all the water out of the dog water bowl. Grinning, talking to the water bowl and wondering why the floor was wet all around him. Yes, this was part of our Thanksgiving day weekend. We had dinner at my nieces and then came home and just took it easy.

Easy being going out on Black Friday to buy slippers and Pj's that were majorly on sale. Hey 40% off is nothing to shake a stick at when they are desperately needed. The grand girls had grown out of theirs and the price was definitely right. Along with the same price off of all slippers, which were needed as well. Yep, those kiddos are growing like weeds.

Yesterday we were going back and forth between dd's house and mine because we were putting up a few Christmas decorations and we had to see what each other was doing. As well as the grand girls wanted to show Nana their progress in decorating their room. Oh they were having fun and so very excited about decorating the top of their dressers and Mom making them garlands for above their beds. DD takes a green garland, wraps a string of beds or Pompom balls around the garland, then adds all of their Christmas oranaments because they have gotten a new ornament every year. It is fun because they talk about when they got the ornament and what they think about each one. What a wonderful way to share memories. I enjoyed listening to them.

Today went out in the craziness to pick up a couple of craft needs to work on finishing a project. Yes, are you laughing, actually wanting to finish a project. It makes me laugh as well because it sure seems to take me time to get anything done. Especially in the last 2 years learning to deal with Fibro. I think the hardiest part has honestly giving myself time and space, praticing patience on myself. That, surprizingly has been harder than I thought it would be. Now why is it that I am so much kinder to others than myself. Hmmmmmm.........

So today went out and learned a whole new lesson on being kind and how much it matters to others. I was thanked for having a good, happy attitude from cashiers. Now who would have thought........not me.

Then came home and promptly dropped the back hatch of my little Geo on my head. Forgot to prop it up because it is cold out and the arms drop without warning.....So promptly came in and got a couple of Tylenol and went "dang buckets, that puppy hurt" You would think I would remember that it does that, but the challenge is sometimes it will and sometimes it won't. Guess I was hoping for the won't!!!!!!! LOL

Hope you each and all had some good memories all your own this weekend.

Take the time to remember what this time of year is all about. It tends to remind us to slow down and enjoy the moments.........

cs

Today has been a day of tears knowing that I was losing my friend to cancer. She has fought long and hard, her body could no longer go on. This evening she passed away, in no pain.

She has left a mark of love on my life. We meet on MaryJanes Farm Forum, and stated chatting and emailing each other. She began a good friend who listened and LOL, let me have it when I needed too. She understood dealing with horrible physical pain and the frustration of not having things figured out. She laughed and told stories as I told her some of mine. My story, one of them being, how I had my fingernails done for a weekend with my honey, didn't know they were flammable and lit those puppies on fire....sure made her laugh hard. Her sharing her children with me, the ups and downs of them, what project she was working on, her struggle with the cancer itself. She was a fighter but she was human and had her down moments, her outrage, her sadness. But in all of this, she cared and gave into others lives on a constant basis until close to the end, when there was no more energy to do so. She will never leave my heart.
In sharing herself with me, I have more love to give to others and I can pass her love on.
I will forever be grateful she was a part of my life............

This is a picture of Teresa and John, her dh, then their is Kaitren in the blue shirt, Caleb and Bethany. They were sitting down after they all had been running and jumping in the leaves. They should have been tired!!!!!!









We had a day of playing in the leaves and what a day it was.


Caleb and I decided to decorate him with a leave,


Papa, my dh, warmed him up after he had been playing for a while.

Fall can be quite fun, I always like kicking my feet through the leaves. We had raked up a huge pile so the grand girls could play in them. It was a good thing we did it that day, because the next day it rained like crazy. Now that would have been a mushy mess.....lol

The first picture is of bittersweet, that is a weed back in Kentucky that I think was so absolutely beautiful. It is such a brilliant orange and the leaves are waxy, almost like they aren't real. What others tend to call weeds we call flowers, now isn't that the truth.

It was part of the beautiful decorations for the gathering at Miss Wilma's. I got to help doing some of them. Maggie and her husband, George came and helped Miss Wilma out decorating. I got to help do some of it too. Maggie was in her eliminate doing this and she brought this grand pasta salad. The second picture is George, Janice, and Maggie working on the decorations on the fence. They were fun to be able to meet and help with.

Just a part of the glorious time that I had there. This was on Friday afternoon, in between chopping and cutting and laughing and eating and chatting some more. Friday afternoon, Jonni and Justin, Janice and Dave were there working on food preparations, I was the go to girl. What ever they needed done, tell me, so I can do it. I love doing that.

The weather the whole time I was there was sunshiny and warm, that made it even better.

So let me back track a few here, Thursday morning I was up and awake at 8am there time. I don't even want to think about what it was my time, cause I knew my body would start screaming at me that is was tired. This was my first full day in Kentucky and I was up for fun.

I meet Janice and Dave downstairs at the desk and then we had breakfast at the hotel. And what a bunch of choices there were. I tried country gravy, then a banana and muffin and a little of this and that. Then it was off for the drive down to Miss Wilma's. I loved getting to talk to Dave and Janice and learn about the state. About the Kentucky Derby, the land itself, that it is on limestone because of how it was created by the volcano's and floods and freezes. I always liked learning those kind of things because my Dad always was teaching us that kind of stuff.

I also learned about the tobacco industry. I think I gave them a good laugh when they were showing me tobacco barns. I had never seen any so I had no clue. They are painted black, for the best amount of heat from the sun, they have louvers and doors to let airflow through for the leaves to dry. When we got close to Miss Wilma's, they turned on a road and I got a picture of a tobacco barn. Yep, tourist here. LOL

Then it was on to Miss Wilma's and Sterl's. You drive down this long lane with the tree canopy touching each other and covering the road, some leaves are green, bits of yellow as well. Then there is the clearing and you can look up the hill and see Miss Wilma's. There were cattle grazing and we pulled up into their place. Dave checked around for Miss Wilma and found her done in the shop. That is her house that has her antiques and primitives in it. So out of the truck we went, to hear a vacuum cleaner going. Dave called out to Miss Wilma because we sure didn't want to scare her. Janice stood in the doorway and Miss Wilma turned and saw her. She came out the door and there I was. Her first wonderful comment to me was, "Why, you're just a youngin!" Now that was a compliment indeed. Yes, I got my hugs and then we set to unloading and helping Miss Wilma get the house ready for the rest of the girls coming in on Friday. Dave helped set up beds, we helped put things away in the primitive part. Ok, I just plain ogled, and touched and asked questions. I put my luggage in the wonderful room I got to sleep in and then off to the main house we went for some lunch. We had sandwiches and I got to eat some of Miss Wilma's and Sterl's frozen white peaches. Oh, they were so so so sweet.

Then off we went to go a junkin. I had the best time, handling stuff in this older warehouse, just getting to see all the history. The furniture, old fans, doorknobs, books, boxes, and getting to ask all the questions of, now what is this and what is it for. I sure wished I had brought a tape recorder and my camera but that didn't even cross my mind when we took off. How silly of me. But I had a great time with telling the owner that ok, this is the money I have, what can I get for it. Then I pulled out the change I had and said " You haven't got it all yet, what else can I get?" It was so much fun. Then we stopped at another place of Miss Wilma's that she liked. It was wonderful, but that early morning getting up was starting to get to this girl.

So there were headed off to I want to say Glasgow, I think that is right, for shopping for food preparation for the next day. I voted to go take a nap cause this girls tushie was majorly dragging. So down to the little house I went, laid my head down, and my eyes were wide open. It was all those primitives calling my name. So I got up and wandered around for a bit, because they was so much to look at, dough bowls, chairs, quilts, toys, books, pillows, lanterns, clothing, you name it, it was there. My senses were on overload trying to take it all it. Finally, I went back and laid down and slept for a bit. It was twilight when I woke up and went up to the main house. I got a tour of Miss Wilma's and Sterl's and supper to boot. Now that was a great way to have an evening go. After supper, Miss Wilma made this great peanut butter fudge and taught me how to make grape jelly. I had always done jam and never done jelly. That was easier than I had thought it would be, plus I got to drink some of Miss Wilma's homemade grape juice that she had done this summer. I also got to work on helping Miss Wilma turn some of the projects we were going to be doing on Saturday. Then it was off to bed for this girl.
What a full and fulfilling day.....and the adventures continued.....later,
cs

So here is a photo of Miss Wilma's little house where I stayed. It was filled with all kinds of treasures. Old quilts, dough bowls, primitve dolls, chairs, dresses, hats, wooden blocks, her famous and wonderful beyond belief pillows, sticherys, towel holders, one from later part of the 1800's, tins, rolling pins, history in every little space around me. Learning some of the history of "what is this" was lots of fun.

Now you can laugh at me, but I thought I did such a great job getting pictures and I did for me, but as I have started going through them I realize that it hasn't left some people in the best poses. No one wants their back side only in a shot. At least I sure as heck wouldn't, so it will take me a bit to see what I can do about some of them. But I sure can share my memories with you and let the photos follow in a bit. I know, wahhhhhhhh.

So I have not flown but 3 times in my life and this was to be my 4th. Yes, I was a nervous nelly to say the least. I had my bags ready to go the night before, then double checked them like crazy the next morning. Then before I knew it it was time to head out the door, hubby drove me to the airport and hung around until everything was cleared, kisses and then through security for me. It still all felt like a dream, like ok, this is happening to me. I got on my first flight and it was fun lookin out the window to see the city that I live in from the air. I was in the middle seat and will make sure I ask for aisle or window next time. Middle not too bad but if you are tired leaning on the window is rather nice. So had one plane change in Minneapolis. That is a big airport, but had fun walking around for a bit, streching the legs. Then it was on to the next part of the journey that would land me in Kentucky. I did decide that taking a pain pill right before the descent into Minneapolis was not a good idea. NOt having enough in your stomach added to the descent was not my wisest move. Kinda like I don't take the meds that help me soon enough, I keep thinking oh, it will get better. No, but I sure want to think that....ahhhh such is life. So we were almost to Louisville and they said it was 10:30pm. I am going what, I thought it was only a 2 hour difference from me. I didn't realize that part of Kentucky was in eastern time zone and the other part was in central. That threw me for a few minutes. I did see the most beautiful sunset from the skies that night thought. It was so beautiful with all the colors reigning clear out to the distance and the north star shining bright. So I landed in Kentucky still pinching myself that this was really happening. I am all bright eyes looking around, cause I am really here, the sign says welcome to Kentucky. So off to baggage I went to claim my bag with goodies for the get together. So I found my bag and sat down waiting for Janice and Dave. Then the thought hits me, I am in an airport, have never meet them in person, will I know who they are. Just as this is running through my brain, Janice and Dave show up with my first Kentucky souviner, my Kentucky purse. What a releif. They took me to a hotel, first feeding me dinner and then helping me with my bags to the room. Talk about hospitality from those two, yes, when they left it made me cry. I felt like a queen. Of coarse, I was so darn excited I couldn't sleep till after 2am. My mind was buzzing and then my body finally said, enough girl!!!!! And the first day of my adventure was done.....
and the saga shall continue....lol
cs

I have not fallen off the face of the earth, I have been off having some major fun.

I got to go to Kentucky and visit some of the most amazing women.

First of all, I have never been to Kentucky so there was lots to learn. I was headed for a gathering at Miss Wilma's. She is one amazing energized lady with a heart as big as they come.
She had a farmgal gathering at her farm in southwestern Kentucky.

The country side in Kentucky is the most gorgeous rolling hills and hollers. The start of the colors turning was beautiful as well. And I saw the most brillant orange color in bittersweet. It is an invasive weed, but I thought it was beautiful. Some weeds are, you know. It was bright orange and had a waxy feel, they looked like a really good dried flower arrangement. When I have seen bittersweet on embroderiery I had no idea what is was until now.

I would post pictures but for some reason the toolbar for that didn't come up. NOt sure why, but will have to ask some gals that are more in the know than I am. For tonight, just starting you up on where I have been, with lots more stories and hopefully pictures to come.

I got all the pictures downloaded to the computer so now it is trying to figure out what I did with this toolbar. I can hope it is on their end for tonight but something tells me it is something that I did. LOL.

You all have a great morning....
cs

So you think you are keeping up with things until you look at the date of your last post, eeehhhh gadssss how did that happen. The last time I posted was after the quilt retreat.....lol
I could say I was recouperating from it, which I was, but in truth have just been dealing with ordinary life. Clean up the floors, wash the dishes, do the laundry, feed the animals, play with grand kids, take care of niece hospital visit and doc visit after, no matter, you take care of family, catch back up on sleep. I have to tell you, when I miss a nights sleep now, it takes days to catch up. I remember when younger how, you just slept in and kept going. My how life has changed, or come to think of it, I did get mono from burning the candle at both ends....hmmmm
Does this mean I can say I have gained some wisdom because now I catch up on that sleep by taking it easier and taking those naps and going to bed earlier....lol
At least I sure would hope so!!!!!
So this week, I am taking a trip to Kentucky. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I am meeting up with some wonderful farm girls at a gathering there at Miss Wilmas. I get to learn crafts that I haven't done before. So since this is only my 4th plane trip in my life, you can imagine my slight nervousness.....getting there on time, making it to the gates on time, making sure I don't have anything that isn't suppose to go on a plane, wondering how well the silly Fibro will be.....looking forward to meeting gals I have talked to for a long time in person, laughing, eating very well, a pie made by Jonni, Miss Wilma and her antics. I know for sure that I won't be able to keep up with her, she is one woman who gets an astounding amount of life done in a day. Getting together with women from different parts of the country and learning what their lives are like, how they cope with challenges, knowing that laughter truly is the best medicine for me. So I am sure I will come home with plenty of stories and good laughs, enough for a lifetime.
Now that sounds delightful,
so whatever adventure you have planned for the day, whether just dealing with ordinary life, or something more, delight in it.
cs

These are a couple of photos and not always so good of the lovely place I got to go to for a small gathering of friends for a quilt retreat.
It was nice to take the break and funny how you don't realize how much you need one until you have gone and come back.
The place we went to is Simply Country Retreats. The gals that started it quilted with their friends and wanted a place where others could go and do the same. It is set up so well for doing just that or crafting. If you want to take a better look at the place go to www.simplycountryretreats.com to take better looks at the place.
It was a wonderful group of ladies, 4 that I already knew and 4 I didn't. We came from all different ages and backgrounds so it makes it fun to get to know others lives. For the first day, I spent a lot of time just chatting and getting set up, having a leisurely dinner. Then down to sew and laugh some more.
On Friday I actually got some sewing done, I have had the pattern for Jinny Beyers Moonglow for a very long time, but when I bought it I was not up for the difficult of a pattern,not sure I still am. I did get one block done and I thought that was exceptional because I really was exhausted. Prior to getting to go, 2 of the wonderful grand kids were sick, one has asthma. She was in duress and we tag team as a family unit when it is like that. Needless to say, sleep isn't something that happens then. So on the day I was to leave, dd came down and followed the list and helped groggy me pack up. I will have to say the drive out their was spectacular because you drive out through wheat field territory and the golden color is awesome. So I considered Friday a success with getting that one block done, then I worked on another smaller project that I got a head start on Friday and Saturday. It was a good break for me, regardless of what I got done. Sometimes just having the time to connect with woman is the important part of the trip. AT least it turned out being that way for me this time. Woman need woman at times, to bounce ideas off of, to share a tear and a laugh, to commiserate and to move on. We are unique that is for sure and I sure appreciate the wonderful time of uniqueness I had.
Have a wonderful time connecting with the women in your life......
cs

Now aren't I just a cutie, Nana sure thinks so......
A couple of pictures I took this week when baby boy was hanging out and playing at Nana and Papa's house. His smile can sure make me smile especially on a day where life just didn't go as planned. You know those days, where you think, okay, I am just going to do this little bit in my sewing room, only to realize that there was a mouse capade that had happened in the kitchen and you just discovered. So life takes the detour that ends up taking a few days instead of the one that you were hoping for. When you finally get back to your sewing room, it has exploded, kaput, everything everywhere and you are leaving for retreat, mind you quilt retreat in days. Panic begins to set you because you realize you cannot find anything in your sewing room at all, your sewing machine is buried, what floor, are you sure I have one, how many days do I have....where is the shovel when you need it.....yep that would be my last week and today. So me thinks, I have to unbury myself a little more and find stuff for quilt retreat. Then abandon ship!!!!!!!!
Here is to hoping your adventures are not so crazy, but knowing life......yep, here it comes......lol
cs

Was out in the yard checking out how the tomatoes were doing and caught this picture of the bee busy working. Kinda like I have been doing in the house. Found the lovely present of a couple of mouse "presents" so cleaned all the cupboards. That wasn't on my agenda at all, but the kitchen has had its fall cleaning to say the least. My body sure as heck does know it. Overdoing for me is a painful, painful process. Overdoing means my muscles go on fire and spasm, but at times you just can't help it. Like having to be on mouse patrol. So I will be the couch potato for a few days and try and settle it all down.
Getting to see the bee in the flower and actually getting a good picture was a gift for me today. When you are feeling down and your body is revolting, getting a moment like that picture was precious. Just like watching the hummingbird lit in the butterfly bush, or my grandson giggling. It doesn't take big thrills, just the every day extraordinary life. Seeing the wonder in small things, makes the load lighter. Don't we all need those small moments to lighten our loads. So here is hoping you have a small moment of wonder to lighten your load today.
cs

Yes, I do love petunias.
I plant them in planters every year and enjoy their color and the sweetest of their blooms. I have 4 planters full of them this year and have enjoyed every moment of their pinks and purples, stripped and plain. Taking the moments to enjoy them has been something I have been doing this summer. Yep, dead heading them as well.
My neighbor, who we call Grandma Emma, enjoys them everys summer with me. Next year I am going to have to plant her a planter full on her front porch so she can smile everytime she walks out the door. Didn't think about it quick enough this summer.

We have been enjoying real live tomatoes off of our tomatoe plants and some globe zuchinnis, lemon cucs are close but not quite there yet. It was a very small garden but we are enjoying the bounty of it. That and we have gotten our first eggs, yummo are they good poached.

Today headed off to the western side of the state for my family reunion. Haven't seen a couple of the aunts and uncles for 4 years. I am really looking forward to spending the time together. Catching up on everybodys lives and sharing ours, that and laughing a lot. So here is to the hooray of that last part of summer before school starts here for grand girls. Hope you are enjoying yours as well.
cs

Now how is that for hanging out and having fun. That would be my grandson and our dog Dudette. She is quite protective of her boy as she considers him her very own.

So today is still hot and I am not doing as well as I want too. Pain for some reason is upped and making me struggle more than I thought I would. Seems just when I get a bit of reprieve here it comes again. My reprieves being less pain, not no pain. How wonderful that would be. But I live in this crazy FM world, where life is just plain different. So will believe for a better day and some time to rejuvenate, meaning resting and naps and go forward from there. So for tonight, it is time to go get some sleep and trust that tomorrow I will be more rested and have a better outlook. So here is to you getting the rejuvenation in whatever form it takes, be it quiet, a nap, a good book, a piece of chocolate, a good laugh, whatever it is for you, take the time and do it.....
cs

It"s here, it's here
Yes, our very first egg from our chickie girls, our heney hens. Now dh says it is because I bought 5 dozen over a week ago, to do salads and other adventures.....lol
and they knew they had to start putting out....no matter the reasons,
our very first egg has arrived........
cs

Yes, I
like old
fans. And
ones that
work.
Ok, hubby
fixes them
for me.

One of the other things I enjoy is the old bottles that I have from my brother. He had a house long ago that he lived at that had boxes of old bottles, he has used them a lot and given them away, and they have gotten broken over the years, but off and on he has given me some. These were 2 out of the last box he had of his bottles and he gave them to me. Now how perfect is that. It is fun playing around with my camera and taking pictures. I certainly have been enjoying it. It is a way for me to express myself and share with my friends. That just makes it all the better.

Yes, those are sprigs of lavender from my lavender plants. Ohhh now that is a whole nother story. My dd moved some plants in my flowerbeds for me. 4 of them being my lavenders which I had not realized how big they had gotten in the spots they were in. So I now have a lavender bed because believe you me, they needed more room. It is back by our bedroom window and oh what a great fragrance we will have. A wise move with the chicken coop being back there as well. LOL I knew the plants had out grown their space, I just didn't realize by how much. What a shock when you move them and they have room to spread. One was 3 feet by 3 feet literally. Now wonder it was looking a little bent!!!!!! Just like plants need to grow so do we. We need the room to expand and try new hobbies, or exercise or a different kind of book then we normally read. To just take a step away from our norm and try something new. You never know what that can bring. So spread your wings and see where it takes you.
cs

Ok, after several attempts with no luck uploading pictures, I will try for it tomorrow. So you will all have to wait in anticipation of what those pictures are.....lol

Today has been laid back day, over did it yesterday and I wasn't even the one doing the work, my daughter was. We moved some plants from my flowerbed to her flowerbed. Her flowerbed looks grand, mine looks a little empty. But I need to be patient and let my plants fill in. Next year, it will make it look better and I always can use the excuse that it looks so bare I must buy a couple of plants that are you those magazine articles I have been keeping. I shall have to get them out and start looking at them all and deciding what I want to do.....seee always a good way to get a few new ones. Then when they get overgrown, you give to your dd again or friends and can reinvent the flower garden again......our gardening is never done, now is it.....lol It is a continual work in progress just like our lives are. So we grow, get pruned, dug up so our roots have more room, and reinvent ourselves. Yep, life is certain a circle now isn't it.
You each have a great day....
cs

This is so
I can show
my friend
my block
that I am
w orking on.

I still haven't mastered getting pictures into email. Somewhere I have it written down the directions from my mom, but put them some where safe. Now I think it is terribly funny that I have to get directions from my mom, who is 72 so I can figure it out. That just plain makes me laugh.

I had enough energy on Thursday to finally work on some of my quilt blocks, it has been a long time. I love two color quilts and quite a while back I decided to do one for myself. I helped my dear daughter do a red and white one for a friend, and decided then to do one for myself. I love blue and white. I think it should go on my guest bed, hmmmm maybe or on my bed....maybe......not sure for sure where I will put it but I love it and that is all that counts!!!!!

So because I did sew, yesterday with the Fibro was a bit of a pain, last night couldn't sleep, so read blogs and topics on mj. So it was fun to get to catch up on a few of my friends.

I have to go figure out how to add another dear friend to my favorites. She has been taking time for herself, to sort through life. Now don't we all end up doing that. Sometimes for a day, sometimes for much longer. Life can bring such changes, sometimes we really need to take some breaths to catch up with what life has thrown us. Whether it is, you are diagnosed with Fibro like I was, some one in your family passes away, cancer hits you or a family memeber, it literally takes the breath out of you. You have to learn what your "new" normal is going to be. Your life will never be the same as it was, it can't be, you had life altering events happen, so now you have to figure out what your life is really like and what is normal for now. Sometimes you go through several new normals for a while until life settles in again. Trust me, it does settle in again. You might have a time of grieving of what use to be, I still do, but life will return.

Just keep taking one breath at a time, and live will return.
cs

This is my
lovely
daughter
who won
the best
prize of
all an
apron
from our
dear
farmgirl
friend,
Kathie.

Kathie to say you have outdone yourself doesn't even cover it. DD was speechless and cannot even decided which side she likes better. She put it on and didn't take it off till eating. She didn't want to get it messy!!!!!! Girl you so outdid yourself. Kudos to you and her. Thanks Kathie!!!!!!

How is that
for bright
and pretty
coloring.
It is
the most
beautiful
orange.

I enjoy color and putting together colors especially in quilts. I haven't truly worked on a quilt top in a long time. So tomorrow, that is my goal, the thing I am going to do for myself. Ok, maybe I should wash the dog first, she is looking grey instead of white, and then, and then. I think I will put the things that need to be done away and enjoy myself in the pure pleasure of something I love doing.

This last week has had tougher news for a couple of my friends, they sure have been in my thoughts and prayers. It makes you start realizing how precious life is, that living it, being in the moments are really important because we don't know what tomorrow brings. Not trying to bring ya all down, just thinking through life.
Having Fibro, I have to live one day at a time. I do not know from one day to the next what my level of pain will be. Not that I won't have any pain, but what level it will be at. I do not know where the pain will be, if it will be all over, in my knees, my shoulders, my back, my elbows, if it will be all my muscles, tendons and ligaments. If walking down my 4 steps will be something that puts me in agony or just pain. If I will want to scream at the top of my lungs to make it stop or if I can just slowly seep through all of me. Here is the good news, I have great friends, ones who encourage me, who make me laugh, who tell me to snap out of it....
that check on me. To me those friends are family along with my family they get me through each and every day, encourage me to adventure out even with dealing with this. For that I am grateful every single moment of my life, it is what gets me through every moment of the day. Thank you to each one of you and you know who you are. Blessings every one.
cs

Don't ya just like flowers, they just make you smile. That is one of the ones in my yard. It is one of the reasons I have a garden. To enjoy looking at the flowers and this year taking pictures of them. Learning how to use my digital that I was given by a dear sweet friend, has made life lots of fun. Taking pictures of my grands, my crazy animals, flowers, chickens. Yep, reminds me of how good life is. Don't we all need those kinds of reminders. That life is good, that we need to take a moment and enjoy what we are working to get. That the end isn't always the goal, the journey and learning along the way. Whether it is making a garden, changing it around, talking to your kids or grand kids and learning about them, sitting with a cup of tea in your swing and listening to the chickens, or the birds, or the noise around you. Life living!!!! So here it is celebrate life in whatever place your are!!! Makes you smile every time......
cs

Now isn't that the sweetest little sleeper you have ever seen. Ok, I might just be a little prejuidice but he is my grandson after all. I have to say I sure do have fun with my grandkids. All of them, they are the very very best!!!! I think every grandparent feels that way. At least the ones that I know.

So what have I been up to, ohhhhh how I wish I could say no good. Drat, not even so. Doing some sewing, watering, napping, owwieeeeeee, then back at it again. Sitting and listening to the chickens, hanging out with a couple of friends and their daughter and my grands having a picnic and playing in the water. Ohhh that was so nice cause it was hot. Ohhh yeah, addicting more people to going to the Buggy Barn. It is a carriage house in the middle of wheat fields that is a quilt shop. Dd and I sure love to get to go there, it is only 20 minutes from our house and is a beautiful drive with the wheat ripening up, turning that golden color.
If you want to visit it on line go to www.buggybarn.com. I like the friendly woman that work there and they are always helpful. If you haven't ever tried doing a buggy barn crazy quilt, go for it. They are simplier and esaiser adn addicting. Be warned!!!!!! LOL

So I wander in my thinking as you can tell, I am just that way. Start thinking about one thing and then go a whole different direction. Right now my dd is down with sweet Caleb, yep that picture was from him tonight and she is pulling my lavender off the stems. It sure does smell heavenly. I am glad that she is doing it for me. Don't have the energy and it needed done. She does lots of helping me with things that maybe wouldn't matter to others but does to me. So does my dh, as well. I have a family I am very very thankful for. Friends that are kind and giving and listen when I am having whoopers of days. Now what more could you ask for? Not much, that is for sure. Thanks family and friends, I love each of you.
cs

This is for you Ronna.....for comparisons to see how little those boots were and to show off my new muck boots that dd found for me for a great discount. She can find them. She saw the boots the day prior and was really bummed when they were not her size and wondered if they would fit me. Does she tell me about them.....no.....not until we get there and she says hey mom try these on. I loved them and they fit to boot. Oops, sorry for the pun on words. I really really like them and they will come in perfectly handy when I need to clean the chicken coop. Yep, you gotta be pretty when you are mucking.....lol

Hot here today and feeling kinda cranky tonight. I think that is because Pain has been my constant companion since I salvaged the decking with my daughter. So taking it easy and one step and day at a time. Isn't that the way we truly need to live.....yep, I just don't always do it. There lies the truth!!!!!
Here is hoping you do a bit better in that arena than me!!!!!
cs

Thought I
would give
us all a
cooling
moment
with the
heat we
having.

LOL. This is a picture of sometime in January of this year. Made me cooler looking at it tonight with being so warm still and having a tough time with trying to sleep.
Decided would go write a bit on the blog. Now imagine yourself sinking into that lovely snow and cooling right on down. Ahhhhhhhh.............

One of the events my dh and I do in August when we are getting down with the heat is watch Christmas movies. Ususally the last part of July and a couple of weeks in August. Funny how watching them can cool you off, give you good memories and a few good laughs while you are at it. We have done it off and on for a few years. We have to laugh when we have the ac on and I am under a light blanket because I get chilly. This year when watching them I will have to get out the shawl Bonnie made me and wear it. Now that will be fun.

Cooling off right now is the name of the game and watering the plants so they do well. We have only had a trace of rain the first part of the month and none anytime soon is expected. I like when we get a rain and it clears out the dusty air, but no compliants here either because my tomato plants are adoring the hot weather.
I just tend to get a little cranky when I am too hot. Drinking ice tea is the past time, and doing chores in the morning and later evening are part of the routine as well. Fans on our chickens to keep them cool is what they are enjoying the most I think. We have 2 of them working right now. The hens will take turns and come up to the fan that is outside of their pen and strech out their feathers and fluff their backsides. Then that hen wanders off and the next one takes it's turn.
Funny creatures they are but they do know what is good for them. Too bad this silly woman hasn't always done what is good for her. Yep, over do and you go opppss and owwwiieeeeee but it was for the chickens sake that I was doing it. Hmmmmmm, that sounds like trying to justify my overdoing. Yep, it sure was. DD and I went and finished taking apart the rest of the old decking and driving it home here to our place. So now finally everything is ready for the building of the chicken house. First was collecting it all in the backyard so we could build it. So the building part finally begins tomorrow. Prep work always takes the longest but if that is done right then the rest is sure to follow. Sometimes it can be the tedious part but the most important. There are no shortcuts when it comes to good working habits and prep work. So now that my part is done, I am back to resting and giving this body a chance to recoup. Hope each of you do the same, take some time to rest and enjoy your quiet moments.
cs

This is my sweet
old grumpy
hubby.

We tell
him he reminds
us of Eeyore and
Grumpy of the
Seven dwarfs!!!

He was playing with Caleb last night and tried to get a couple of decent pictures. I got one whole picture because they were playing and moving so much. I took 15 and got one. Hey, at least I got one good picture. I count myself lucky.

He may be grumpy at times, drive me crazy at others, but there is a sweetness in side when he lets it out that is worth it. He also loves a good joke and a good laugh and I have given him plenty of opportunties..... I think the words he fears the most are......Honey, I have been thinking and I have an idea.....that means to him, oh my gosh she has come up with another project, someone help me please!!!!!!

Yes, I can make fun of myself because that is so true. Sitting and thinking and mulling things over for me brings with it ideas and ways to make my home and yard more ours. In the end, he enjoys the benefits of more creative spaces but the work, now there is a dirty word at times. Not just for him but for me too, because it takes the two of us and lots of elbow grease to get somewhere sometimes.
Thankfully he has been in the trades for a long time before he had the accident on the job that changed our lives forever. His advice for others, don't try flying off ladders because eventually you have to land. And land he did. For him to even be alive after all that happened 18 years ago is miraculous. Now I didn't say the journey was easy, nope, it has been downright hard for both of us. When your mate has a head injury of any kind, your life changes, how you handle circumstances changes, what they can or can't do changes, how you respond to it all changes as well. It can be a roller coaster ride at times. It means I appreciate the calm moments all the more. Being grateful helps as well, because grate fullness tends to change our perspective on how we will look at life.

Here was my musing from yesterday morning. My shoulders and collar bone have been in a great deal of pain. Happens with FM. But I realized that I was holding my shoulders up, they were not in a relaxed position at all. No wonder they hurt, but here is more to the point, why was I doing that? What burdens was I carrying that I didn't need to be, why was I worrying, what cares had I taken on that I didn't need to? I was worrying about all the projects that needed to be done, how was I going to do them when my body was giving me fits, now that may sound silly but it is what goes on with me. So standing in the shower going I am letting it go,I AM letting it go. You see sometimes I just have to talk to myself to get it through my thick head at times......lol My shoulders were more relaxed and I enjoyed my day more.
How often do you or I need to let things go that we are hanging on too. I know I surely do that to often. So here is to us letting go and giving our shoulders a break.....
cs

This is my
prewar bike.
I was
thinking
proably WWII.

I got it
at a sale
a ways back.
The man
wasn't going
to do bikes anymore. She needs tlc but I love her. Have to get her new tires, oil her up and she definitly needs a paint job. I was thinking pink, then I say Bev's bike which she recently purchased. In fact she is on my blog list. Bee Haven Acres. I will have to look up and see on which of her blogs it was on. Got my wheels a spinning, no pun intended. One of these days soon hope to be a peddling on that beauty. Yes, that would be another project, laughing yet, you should be. Good thing my dear hubby is going to do it for me. He wants to do it just because I love the bike. Sweet isn't he....I certainly think so.

And this would be
another picture of
my lovely chickie
girls who I love
sitting and
listening to.

It sure makes you appreciate what they give us, a nice peaceful place to sit and listen in the later afternoon. Listeing to the rooster crow in the morning, and watching them contentedly scratching for bugs. They remind me that life is really much simplier if I just slow down. I do go at a much slower pace with having the Fm, but even that pace can be too fast.

It was last week anyway. I thought I had been pacing myself well. I was not doing at all what I would in the past and wasn't feeling too bad until the beginning of last week. Oooopppppssss was on Tuesday, when my left leg went numb. Drat buckets, indeed. My left leg has numb spots from back injury 26 years ago. So the left leg has had numb spots ever since then, but not my whole leg!!!!!!! My niece, who is my dd's age, came into town for a doctor's appointment. She said how about you come out to my place and spend the night. Well, ended up spending all the way through Friday at her place and didn't do a dang thing. It was a nice mini vacation of literally doing nothing. Came home to see some more wonderful flowers in bloom. My trumpet vine has the most delightful red flowers that yep, look like trumpets.
I have 2 small crockneck squashes coming on, and some tiny green tomatoes. It was good to be back home again. Still have to majorly behave myself and don't have much energy. When thinking about that, it is frustrating but maybe a wiser event. No energy to overdo it!!!!! LOL Learning to live with a new normal every day can be downright maddening at times, but this is my life and it is still good.

Here is to hoping that you are enjoying your summer days no matter what they bring,
cs

Here are my very first attmepts at pinkeeps. I needed to feel creative today, to do a project that was simple and had some good memory with it.
The green glass was from my niece. I love the color of it but didn't really have a use for it until now. As my friend said, "Are you sure you didn't need it that big so you wouldn't lose it in your sewing room?" Or how very true that statement is. LOL A person could get lost in this sewing room even thought it is only 9 x 11. You take a risk when you come in here.

The other one is a cup that I bought long ago and loved but haven't really drank out of it. This way I can gaze upon it and it has a use besides. Beauty and function, now that is a great combination.

So here is too allowing our creative sounds come out!!!!!!!
cs

Here is a not so great picture of the 3 oldest chickens which are 4 months so we think since they are they rescued/adopted by us ones.

Yep that would be Mister, who was Jersey girl until he crowed. Suppose to be hens but you know how that can go sometimes. LOL Yep, ain't life just grand and funny at times. How did we find out it went from Jersey girl to Mister? Simple, dh went out for his morning pipe and heard you guessed it, this kinda quiet crow and then he let er rip.................I laughed so hard when he told me. So he will be a busy boy with 10 hens. Ahhh the wonders of the unexpected.

Like walking out and seeing the starts of your blooms open up. The surprize for me this last weekend was seeing my orange tiger lilies open over night with the heat that we have been having. My pink tipped ones are open today. What beauties they are too. Seeing everything growing so well makes me smile, yep that includes some of those weeds to, but life is like that weeds, dirt, work, and then the beauty comes. I have to remind myself of this as the weeds get plucked out of my life, the dirt gets moved around and the seeds get planted, and then surprize one day parts of your life are in full bloom. No mind you other parts of you are in different parts of the process so there is always something to hope for. Hope, it keeps me going when I don't know if I can take one more step, when I want to give in and up with the pain, I remember that I have friends and family who give me hope when I don't think I have any. They encourage me so I can get back on the road again. To each of you that are my hope, thank you.
cs

Yes, these are
flowers from my
gardens. I
took the pictures
at dusk.

I like seeing
the blooms at the dusk of the day, as the sun is almost gone out of the sky.
The light makes you see then in a completely different view.
At times I need to see life in a complete different view, it is a reminder for me about perspective. My perspective can become quite narrow, especially when my pain levels are up. So walking about my small compact yard reminds me that the light does shine again, giving me a different view.
Here is to seeing new light and views in each of our lives.
cs

This is my
teapot that I
found at the
one garage
sale that I
went to.


My dd and I did a garage sale for my niece, her cousin. They are one year apart and are like sisters. We watched her girls while she got to go to a wedding with her boyfriend. She is definitely twitterpatted. We are so happy for her. I digress.
So dd and I loaded up my grands and all the stuff and headed out on Friday night. I watched kids as they set it up. Then my niece headed out. We made a camp in the living room and after it cooled off they were all asleep. I watched baby booboo while dd finished setting it off. Off to bed we went. Saturday dawns bright and beautiful and hot!!!!!!! The whole town, very small town had garage sales.
We didn't do so well in the bucks but we sure had fun. The grand girls sold Kool-aid and they made money. More than each of us at the garage sale. That was way too funny. They were quite happy and learned about paying for supplies and then after those supplies are paid for you make the money that is called profit. Hey, teaching them is part of learning about business. Teaching our children and grandchildren some life lessons along their journies makes a difference in their lives. I am glad I get to have the priviledge of being a part of that in small ways.

I do have to tell you after we loaded it all back up and headed for home I was one very very tired chickadee. I had a smile from the memories. Isn't that what it is about it making those memories? I think so. So fill your day with good memories, whether you are reading a good book, sitting and watching the butterfly in your flower beds or taking a good nap. Make memories for yourself along the way.
cs