Feeding Our Little Friends

Dear HUBBY, are you reading this POST?

Yes, this is ON my back patio. I do NOT NOT NOT NOT have bird feeders!

I must resort to walking out each morning and pouring a cup of birdseed out for the little buggers.

They got an extra treat with the apples that were going bad.

Normally I give the fruit to our chickens. The chickens got the oranges.

While doing our school work this morning....we were able to take time to smell the roses...oops, that is for another day and time....we were able to watch the birdies.

Can you spot the Cardinal?

Is this a meadowlark? We are going to look them up in the bird field guide.

Awwww, soooo cute.

The apple of my eye!!!

Go ahead, get rid of the bugs before we bring the wood into the house!

Yesterday, there was a beautiful woodpecker on the woodpile.

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take a picture.

Take time today to enjoy the little things God has created just for your pleasure.

Since When Have These Been Here?

Please, please tell me I'm not the only who didn't know about this....

Did you know that you can find perforated tabs on the ends of your foil and saran wrap boxes?

How many years and boxes have I wasted because the stupid roll popped out of the

box while trying to tear a piece.

To me, this is almost like discovering SLICED BREAD!!!

I really should be putting a picture of my mutilated saran wrap box on here.....it is so mutilated that I can't even use the STUPID TABS.....it is a total loss.

Shaking head in SHAME!!!

Anyhow, I'd like to thank my father-in-law, Charles for sending me this amazing piece of information.....and to whomever sent it to him.

I know 99% of the emails seem like they are written in a FOREIGN language to me because for some reason you think I CAN READ YOUR MIND when you send a picture with ONE WORD in the subject. Yet, this time......I UNDERSTOOD IT......I can die happy now!!!

I sort of feel like Ralphie when he dreams of how the teacher will react to his BB Gun essay......A+ A+ A+ A+ A+.....

Wood Stove Glass Care

Do you love having a wood stove or fireplace?

Do you hate it when the glass gets sooty?

Do you hate it when you try to clean it with the "recommended" Windex ONLY?
I have found that Windex does NOTHING for getting the glass clean.
I was beginning to think we made a mistake paying the extra money for a glass fronted wood stove.



Then, I made the AMAZING discovery of the BEST window cleaner....no, I did not have to purchase it at the fireplace store for $10.00 a bottle.
All I needed was a bucket, water, newspaper, and the cold ashes from the fire.

Wad a piece of newspaper.

Dip it into the water....you don't even have to soak it....just make sure it is wet.

Dip the wet part of the newspaper into the cold ashes.

Begin rubbing on the sooty glass.

Believe it or not, it doesn't take much effort and the soot will just start melting off.....

You might have to add a little elbow grease to the really cooked on soot....

Keep dipping into water and ashes....use more newspaper.

Get a wet paper towel and wipe down window and dry!

SEE!!! It WORKS!!!

I don't do this regularly, just when it drives me nuts that I can't see the fire very good.

I think the last time I cleaned the window was before Christmas and we burn a fire almost every day.

Here are the dirty supplies.....didn't take much did it?

Now, if I can figure out how to keep the hearth from being ashy.....don't you love my made up words?

This method works on fireplace glass as well.....just a little harder to clean because of the accordian glass on most fireplaces.

What Can I Call This Project?

I previously called this the revolving frame (click)....should I call it the holiday frame?

I want to change it each month and/or holiday.

I decided to go with Valentine's in January since Valentine's day comes early in the month and right after, I'll be able to do either St. Patrick's Day or Easter.

I used my good ole' Microsoft Word to create the letters....I think I set the size at 150.

I googled vintage Valentine's images.

Printed them.

Slapped them into the frame that was previously GOLD....yep, just a little black spray paint did wonders for this frame.

Now, I need to get some Valentine garland to add around it.....hmmm....might even be inspired to make a material garland....I'm sure there is a lot of red christmas material on sale right now....throw in a bit of pink and white....yep, just might have to try it. I've tried to find some pictures on google to show you but I guess I don't know the correct term for it....I'll just show you the finished project if I make one.

Trying to Get Back to Normal

Most of 2008 was normal.

The last quarter of 2008 made up for the normal part with a BANG.

While getting through the fall fairs, my mother had colon cancer surgery.

I made it through that phase.

Then, my daughter announces she wants to get married in EIGHT WEEKS!

So, I managed to have the extended family to my house for Thanksgiving, help my mother with her chemo treatments and Dr. appointments AND plan a wedding.

I survived that phase.

Then, I still hadn't done anything for Christmas, so I headed straight forward and got busy shaping Christmas while still helping mom with chemo (she has had 4 of 12 treatments, GO MOM) and planning the wedding and welcoming the fiance into our home.

Then, a few days before Christmas, we get a phone call from the police at 4:00 a.m. to let us know that the building we supervise is FLOODING.....thatis when I almost had a nervous breakdown.

Did I mention that we had the same thing happen almost a year ago.....same song different verse.

I relied on the Lord to get me through that one without losing my mind. I've stayed strong in my faith through all this.....He is who got me through it without searching for a Prozac salt-lick.

Made it through Christmas, made it through the wedding.....barely, just barely made it through sending the daughter and son-in-law to Hawaii TO LIVE.....

I know this is one reason I love blogging....I will get to read this post next year and LAUGH...yep, laugh...because it will all seem like a blip in my life.

I just want to say that I will still Praise God through all the storms in my life....sometimes louder than other times....but I will continue to PRAISE HIM!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." [2 Corinthians 4:16-18]

The Hardest Day of My Life So Far

January 2, 2009

We took our oldest daughter, Carly, and her husband, Dustin, to the airport.

That is almost 4:00 AM!!! I actually didn't sleep at all and I was up and moving at 3:00 a.m.

I can't believe we are letting her go........


I know she is happy........

Look are her all grown up....checking in her own luggage......
I'd swear it was just yesterday that I was changing her diapers.
Not once did she turn around to ask me to help her get the stuff checked in......
Wasn't it just yesterday that she was asking me to tie her shoes?

I would like to thank all the terrorist for making it where I couldn't see my baby get on her flight and wave goodbye as the plane departs......
This is as close as we get.

I was supposed to be taking a picture with her here....

I just couldn't let her go long enough and stop the crying to let hubby get the picture.

I was getting that last smell of her.....wanting to keep it forever.

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was hugging her because she scraped her knee?

One last look.....

I LOVE YOU BABY!!!

That man of yours had better take care of you....

I don't want to have to pull out my can of mommywhoopass....

May the Lord guide you and bless you on this new journey in your life....

I will still always be available kiss your boo boos and wipe away your tears....

JUST CALL!!!

Yep, so far that is the hardest thing as a mother I've had to do.....

I'm sure it won't be the last....I just know it ranks at the top of the makes my stomach sick, going to puke want to crawl in bed and close my eyes scale.

They arrived safely on their journey and are beginning a new chapter in their lives as husband and wife.

Carly, if you are reading this.....GO GET A NEW CAMERA TODAY and START SENDING PICTURES! Make sure he calls his mom also.....she loves him!!!

EDITED TO ADD: WE DID HAVE TO WHIP OUT OUR CAN OF WHOOPBUTT!! Hard lessons were learned in this ordeal and the divorce was final November 16, 2009. We continue to pray for him. Thank you for your continued prayers for Carly as well.

Showing Some Vintage LOVE.....

This is my sister, Terri and I hamming it up for the camera. These coats were bought back in the 90's in Eureka Springs, Arkansas on a mother/daughter trip we used to take every year w/ our mother and other sister. I call them our Barbie coats.....

When I first wore it back in the 90's, people made fun of it....

Now I get all kinds of compliments.....I always knew I was way ahead of the fashion game....ba haaaaaaa.

Did you notice the HEELS on my feet?

My dad actually bought those for REGAN to wear in the wedding.....I'm just imagining a trip to the hospital if I had let her wear those.

I don't think the bones in my feet have gone back to their normal position since the wedding!!

I just don't see how women wear those things all day......I like them for a very short period, then I want them OFF!!!

And to Us this Day, a Child is Born.....

Isaiah 9:6-7 (King James Version)
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

This is my niece, Lindsay, who is expecting her first child. I took this picture while at my daughter's bridal shower. When I got it developed, I teared up. No words can express the feelings that bubbled up in me when I saw this picture. I thought I would share it with you.

Let us not forget why we are celebrating Christmas.

Know that Christ will return....may peace be in your heart.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thrift Store Find of the Week!!

I was hopping around blogland the other day and hopped on GEORGIA PEACHEZ' blog. She has an amazing display of vintage Christmas items. I drooled over a pink and green felt tree she posted about.

So, fast forward several days and I'm running errands around town and have to stop in at my favorite flea market, CLARK's THRIFT STORE and THERE IS THE SAME TREE....I'd swear it had a spotlight shining on it and a sign pointing at it for me to see it in all its glory!!!

I about took down the rest of the display trying to grab that glorious felt tree.....no matta the price.

Well, I casually asked the price.....and she so sweetly said ONE DOLLAR!!!

Yeah, you bet I jumped on that!

My flash is too bright and it makes the colors look dull....they are NOT dull!

Ain't she purty?

Gingerbread Crime Scene

Ok, this is not done by me but it was too funny to just leave on flickr and hope that people saw it. After read underneath the picture, click here for more of the story on flickr.

Gingerbread Boy was reportedly making Smores when tragedy struck. His single story dream home burned to a molten pile in just about 3 minutes late Sunday. Officials have ruled out foul play but indicate the possibility that this was an alcohol related accident as the smell of rubbing alcohol was quite apparent. Remarkably Gingerbread Boy maintains a cheerful smile and is simply thrilled that the gumdrop lawn ornament that had been in his family for over 6 days was spared.