Songography - Let it go

Songography - Let it go

Don't let them in, don't let them see

Be the good girl you always have to be

Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know

Well now they know

Lyrics from a song...

Idina Menzel/Frozen  - Let it go

My first

Self Portrait

titled

"Who am I?"

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Just linking up with Kathy over at

I'll shoot your eye out

five minute friday - Visit

I was in a deep sleep that summer's night, when my Father woke me up. He wanted to visit with me, alone, just the two of us. So I brewed a pot of coffee, and we sat down at the kitchen table.

He asked me what was troubling me. My teenage daughter and I had been arguing that night. I had been questioning my parenting as she was growing up and becoming a woman.

He looked me in the eye,

with nothing but silence in the room with us, and he said to me:

“She is learning who she is and this is her time. I know it is difficult to sit back and allow your child to make a mistake, even the smallest one, you want to protect her. But you have to allow her to make mistakes while they are small, that way she will learn how hard they are to clean up. She will learn, on her own, how difficult some of life's decisions can be and she will develop her own sense of self.”

We sat there drinking coffee while having a long conversation about my deepest worries.

Then he took the last drink from his cup,

gave me a hug

and said goodbye.

Then, I heard the phone ringing. It just kept ringing and ringing and ringing. I awoke and slipped down the hall to answer it. My brother was calling from miles away. He called to tell me our Father had passed away just a few minutes ago. The cancer had taken his last breath. I didn't feel upset, scared or angry. I felt calm, and I felt a sense of peace within.

For before he left,

he had come to visit me.

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Linking up with

Lisa-Jo today.

Today's word: Visit

Five minute friday with

Lisa-Jo Baker

over at

http://lisajobaker.com/2014/01/five-minute-friday-visit/

Every Friday Lisa posts a word to be used as a subject that we can then take five minutes to write about, unedited, without thinking, stopping when the five minutes is up.

This was my "Five Minutes" today.

Time for change...

Our redecorated guest bathroom is done. 

A great big THANK YOU 

to thehubs for his painting time and skills.

AFTER!

 It is much brighter in there with the lighter colors.  I love my blue cross in the skylight. I still need to find a wall art/framed art that has less burgundy in it for the wall. I am looking forward to days out with friends and the treasure hunt to find something for it!

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It is a typical January day here in Southwest Missouri. Everything outside is winter brown, it is cold and windy, and I don't really like it.

If I were rich, I would move my entire family someplace warm, someplace where it averages 72 degrees year round. I would take us on ski vacations in Idaho, or Colorado, for a few weeks each year then return to my sunny and warm homeplace.  

If I were rich, I would have a housekeeper, or two.  I would not worry about the dust collecting on the blades on my ceiling fan or wiping down the baseboards in all of my closets.  I would leave for the day, probably go to my country club for lunch with my girlfriends, then return home to a spotless and sparkling home. 

If I were rich, I would hire a professional organizer to come for a week each January and help me purge my goodies so I could make room for more and better stuff.  I wouldn't think too long as I purged, after all, I am rich, if I want another one or just more stuff, I'll just order it from Amazon. 

I LOVE to dream.

It distracts me from real life.

Trying to find humor while purging is hard for me.  I pick up an item, think to myself of the possibilities this item could have, a little paint, a ribbon, it would be perfect. Wait a minute, didn't I have this same conversation with this same item last year when I purged? Do I give it another year? Or do I pass it on to someone who will actually use it? After all, it has been taking up valuable real estate space for a year, just sitting there, waiting for me to do something with it.

So I let it go, I put it in the donate box and I feel sad about it, my good intentions did not come through. 

So,

I called a meeting with myself

and I made a few motions.

Motion #1: If it has been sitting, waiting for over a year to be changed, updated or crafted, donate it. If you didn't find time last year to use it, you won't this year either. Give someone else a chance at it.

exhibit #1: old picture frames

Motion #2: If you bring in something new and put something else into storage, something already being stored must be donated.

Storage space is shrinking in this house, I am getting older and wiser, and crawling under the bed, in the attic and in the back of closets is not as much fun as it used to be, and it takes me twice as long.

Motions passed.

Meeting adjourned.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Linking up today with

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...

The sun is shining! It is winter brown outside. It is quiet here on our country lane, only birds, a dog, and a cat are moving about.

I am thinking... “what needs to be done today?” After checking the calendar, answering emails and phone calls, I may get to stay home today. It appears that all work can be done via laptop.

I am thankful... that our guest bathroom redo is done, everything is put away, hung on the walls, etc. A BIG thank you to thehubs, he is my painter and I love him.

In the kitchen... I have hot rolls raising, pork chops marinating, and potatoes ready to be peeled. Perhaps hot baked brownies for a late night treat? With friends?

I am wearing... my pajamas... yeah, that's right, we stay up late and sleep late around here. We normally go to bed around 1am, almost always during the dark days of winter. Most of our work happens between noon and 9pm, so staying up late is relaxing for us.

I am creating... organization... purging... cleaning... for the entire month of January.

I am going... to call several friends today, chat for a bit, then invite someone over for dinner tonight.

I am wondering... whether to start something new on my blog. Whether to give it a try and see what happens, after all, the worst that can happen is that no one likes it. My self esteem will heal and bounce back. Failure is not that scary at my post menopausal age.

I am reading... my new Pioneer Woman Cookbook and drooling over the photos.

I am hoping... that the Olympics in Russia remain safe, that all the haters in this world will allow athletes to come together in peace.

I am looking forward to... spring... flowers... vegetables... especially tomatoes.

I am learning... my new ipad, all the how to's, etc. and a new Roku. Lots of new gifts to get to know right now... typical January at our house.

Around the house... the wall colors, and accessories are changing. I have added some white. I use to not like white, it reminded me of my dentist office, but I am starting to relax and enjoy it. So far, two rooms have cost $250. Paint is expensive.

I am pondering... how to address a relationship with a friend who is angry. She has been very angry for two years. Inside is a great person, hiding behind a lot of anger, and sometimes I can't find the real “her” and it is exhausting.

A favorite quote for today... “I'm going through an evolution. I'm completely cleaning out my closet. I'm purging, because I saw that show 'Hoarders.” Fergie, of the band Black Eyed Peas

One of my favorite things... is my new Ipad, I can now read in the dark.

A few plans for the rest of the week: continue to purge and organize, get some baskets for our chest freezer, so I can find make my “everyday chores” a bit easier and less time consuming. (chores: are we still using that word?)

A peek into my day... no, not today, no photos... I will be changing from my pajamas to my sweat pants, holding cleaning rags, and the vacuum cleaner hose.

Have a "Sparkling" Monday!

Songography link up

Songography - The Lazy Addition

"No, I ain't gonna comb my hair

'Cause I ain't going anywhere

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no"

Lyrics from a song...

Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song

Have a Hilarious Sunday!

Just linking up with Kathy over at

I'll shoot your eye out

Five Minute Friday - Encouragement

Linking up with

Lisa-Jo today.

Five minute friday with Lisa-Jo Baker over at

http://lisajobaker.com/2014/01/five-minute-friday-see/

Every Friday Lisa posts a word to be used as a subject that we can then take five minutes to write about, unedited, without thinking, stopping when the five minutes is up. Here is my "Five Minutes".

Todays word: Encouragement

stock image

Yesterday we drove 80 miles away

to visit our neighbor. 

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Brandi and Brian had just completed and moved into their new home last spring, just months after giving birth to their son.  Brian had worked his day job, then worked for months building their beautiful dream home just across our pasture. Often, I would see Brandi on their front porch holding their son, rocking in their pair of matching oak rockers.

But last Saturday afternoon,

everything changed for this family.

Brandi collapsed, Brian rushed her to our local hospital, where she was then helicoptered to a larger town, to a large trauma hospital.  The news was not good.  She was put on a ventilator and doctors determined she had a stroke, a large brain bleed. They removed the ventilator yesterday and she spoke a few words, but has no feeling or movement on her left side.

There I am

standing beside her bed

needing to say something encouraging.

Her eyes are open and I can tell she can hear me. But what do I say to this young mother of a small son. The usual came to mind.  So I said "Let us know if you need anything", "Just call and we will be there to help" "Don't worry about food, when you get home, we will bring you meals each day"...

Her stare, her look did not change. You could see in her eyes she was scared, she was asking God for guidance.

"Will I get to come home?" 

She is scared of what is ahead for her.  Brian is scared of what is ahead of her. So I leaned down, kissed her on her forehead, and told her she was beautiful.

Then I said:  

"MY father once told me.

You can still do the same things

you have always done, but now,

you just have to find a new way to do it.

Your body may change,

but your

heart and determination

are still the same.

You are still you."

Please keep this young family in your prayers.

Black and White Wednesday

 

My husband is a Veteran and was stationed in Korea during the capture of the Pueblo, 

the only American Ship still being held hostage, by the North Koreans. My Dad was a World War Two Veteran, he was in the battle of New Guinea and Luzon, two of  the bloodiest battles of that war. My brother Roy, served four years on a nuclear submarine stationed out of Hawaii, during Vietnam. He did reconnaissance and rescue missions, never knowing where he was while on the boat.

Military service is part of our family, and we are very proud of each and 

every soldier, and family that has served.

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Linking up with Adrienne

over at

http://www.mymemoryart.blogspot.com

It's a small world!

I am a follower of

Brenda over at

http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

On January 10th,

Brenda posted about a

great blogger/designer named

Michelle Edwards

http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2014/01/michelle-edwards-loses-her-battle-with.html

and her blog

Sweet Something Designs

http://sweetsomethingdesign.blogspot.com/

Michelle had been undergoing cancer treatments.

But on January 9th, Michelle lost her battle against cancer.

I clicked over to Michelle's blog and started reading about her. She had been fighting cancer for some time, was very honest about her fear, and was an extremely talented designer.

That is when I found...

she lived just a few miles from me. 

Her celebration of life services were to be held at a church just down the road from me. For years, I had even been going to her booth in a local antique mall and purchasing some of her beautiful handcrafted designs. Her booth was well known and a local favorite among my friends.

But until January 10th,

I didn't know who she was.

It's a small world.

Guest Bedroom Makeover

Every January, we try to

address our of list of "honey do's".

We started with the guest bedroom. I could say we are "getting older and wiser", but we started with this room because it has less furniture, less stuff, and wouldn't disrupt our everyday living during the painting process, which lasted 3 days.

Day one - cleaning out, purging, wiping down walls and trim.

Day two - taping off trim, and painting.

Day three - painting, trimming and moving everything back in.

BEFORE

DURING

The color change started with bed linens. I knew the wall color was going to be a calmer and more neutral tan. I want to be able to switch out bed linens and accessories and add pops of color without re-painting the walls. I hope to get at least 4-5 years from this paint color.

AFTER

 Please note "kitty" in this photo. She thinks this is her room, her bed, and her special heart blanket.  When she gets tired of our business, she retires to quiet solitude of her own room.

AFTER

 The antique school desk in the corner

is a great place for guests

to put their suitcase or overnight bag.

AFTER

All the painting supplies came from

Lowes Home Improvement Store.
Valspar Signature Paint - 2 gallons
brush, rollers, paint trays
Sale - Now $5 off a gallon or $20 off 5 gallons


I still have a few more things to finish up in this room.

I am looking forward to some flea market trips

and finding something along our travels.

I found these lamps on clearance at Kirklands for

only $12 each.

I added the ribbon and burlap flowers to give it some of "my" personality (insert giggle here).

The picture above the bed is one we purchased on our honeymoon, thehubs loves it, it is full of happiness. The cowboy was a gift from our daughter, and the storage boxes were purchased on a "girls day out" adventure with dear girlfriends.  When I see, touch, and use these things, I feel happy inside. I will keep them forever.

I love the new whites and neutrals that I am seeing on the web. They bring a calmness, and a serene feeling.  But I need these memories around me. I am so grateful for having little touches of our past around me. 

I just can't pack them away in a closet,

they need to be out, around me,

so I can feel them.

Here is a peek at our next project!

BEFORE

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek into our world.

Linking up with:

Brenda over at Tweak it tuesday #73 over at 

Cozy Little House

http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/

and

Linda over at Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2014/01/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no195.html

Five minute friday - the word see

Linking up with

Lisa-Jo today.

Five minute friday with Lisa-Jo Baker over at

http://lisajobaker.com/2014/01/five-minute-friday-see/

Every Friday Lisa posts a word to be used as a subject that we can then take five minutes to write about, unedited, without thinking, stopping when the five minutes is up. Here is my "Five Minutes".

Todays word: See

When I read that the word for today was "see", my thoughts immediately went to a friend named Tracy.

At the age of 16 Tracy's doctor told her that due to a disease, 

she would be totally blind

within a year. 

She and her brother took that year and looked at everything, everything they could, anywhere they could. They left school, and traveled, small little one or two day trips here and there. 

They woke early to watch the sunrise. They stayed up late to count stars and learn about the constellations. 

They chased butterflies. 

They went swimming in the lake. They went to every museum, library, and movie they had time and money to see. 

Then... she went blind.

When I met her she had taught herself to sew and was well known for her skills at fitting and altering wedding dresses, making custom quilts, and doing alterations for people with special needs.

Tracy was happy earning a living doing something she loved to do. One day I asked her "Tracy, do you miss being able to see the world?" 

She replied:

"No, being blind has afforded me

the opportunity to stop and listen,

to smell, and to touch.

I still see the world,

just not with my eyes."

Linking up with...

Adrienne

over at

http://www.mymemoryart.blogspot.com

Memories from the past...

Growing up in the country,

along a river,

in a small town,

just down the road.

Thanks for stopping by

and taking a peek!