tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4674586508135590502024-02-19T07:52:12.239-08:00HeartScrapsJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-79192420361897106502013-07-22T19:47:00.000-07:002013-07-22T19:47:30.982-07:00Changing It UpI'll be over at my new blog at <a href="http://heartscraps.jigsy.com/" target="_blank">HeartScraps</a> giving a new blog hosting site a try. Who knows? I may return to blogger, but for now I needed a change. Come see me!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-13891457687377552562013-07-19T15:43:00.002-07:002013-07-19T15:43:58.742-07:00Friday Quickies/QuirkiesI have wanted one of these forever! I would look on e-bay or other sites and most were a bit pricey for my budget. My mom had this one the entire time tucked in some closet! It's mine now, baby!<br />
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I guess I'm not 13, but why is this sexy or cute? I just can't figure out the fascination with this guy. Guess I had teen idols that grownups didn't care for, but I have an appreciation for Big Time Rush and even One Direction, but I will never understand JB. <br />
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Was hoping to be sitting under one of these next week, but the trip was cancelled. I'm a very sad girl right now. I was hoping to regroup, meditate, journal, and forget about job hunting just for a few days.<br />
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I want this sign!<br />
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This little guy made my day...</div>
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with this:<br />
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I've decided that I could camp if I could be a Glamper! Who wouldn't love camping in these? Heck, I'd glamp in my backyard every weekend! <br />
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Check out the inside of a couple. Adorable!!<br />
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Here are some more pictures of some cute exteriors and interiors. Can you tell I'm partial to pink? <br />
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Check out this little cupcake business. Gives me an idea or three. Cute little burger stand? My dad makes such great burgers, I know we'd do well. Yogurt or homemade ice cream stand? Soups for the fall and winter? I know in my area, people are desperate for good food and new places.<br />
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Happy weekend, everyone!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-43788336833027685322013-07-16T16:02:00.001-07:002013-07-16T16:02:14.607-07:00Writing "Young"I have been writing for an online magazine for about three weeks
now. I was concerned at first about the age of their readership, which
is about 16 to 25. I'm going to be 50 next April! I am the mother of a
9 year old so parenting and kids' stuff are easy, but it's not all I
want to write about. How on earth do I write younger than my age? <br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
Firstly,
it's been almost 25 years since I was 25! When I was 16, I was so incredibly
shy that I never spoke to anyone so how would I know what other 16 year
old girls were into? Some of the topics I've seen on the site are about
choosing the best shade of lipstick. Lipstick? Honestly, I'm lucky to
find time to put on makeup at all. Great vintage hairstyles is another
article I came across. I'm happy to have hair still! I also
spotted the article on Inspirational rap songs to listen to when you're
down. Is there such a thing, really? <br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
Coming
upon the midway point of my life (hopefully), all I know firsthand to
write about besides my sweet boy, is how not to pee when you sneeze or
cough, when NOT to roll your eyes at a teenager you see making an idiot
of themselves and hoping your kid never does the same thing, and what
Spanx will do to you if you don't get those suckers pulled up all the
way. <br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
Any suggestions for writing for the younger generation of women? <br />
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Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-20671244945095869602013-07-15T15:49:00.000-07:002013-07-15T15:49:01.124-07:00Another Article up on All Women Stalk!I'm so excited to see another of my articles up on <a href="http://diy.allwomenstalk.com/of-the-best-homemade-playdough-recipes" target="_blank">All Women Stalk</a>! I realize it's a very small start to any type of writing "career", but it's something I never imagined happening. I'm looking for other writing jobs and have a few leads so I'm hopeful. <br />
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I had a great weekend, and it looks like I may be be able to go on the little getaway I was invited to. I'll be able to spend the days on the beach while my friend is handling his business meetings. Then we'll have the evenings together. I can't wait! I need this little respite so badly.<br />
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Happy Monday!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-7279470461770287602013-07-14T12:29:00.001-07:002013-07-14T12:34:46.404-07:00My "Being Unemployed" Pet Peeves (Tongue in Cheek Mostly)<br />
"Wow, your front tires are really bald." Why yes, yes they are. Thank you for reminding me. There are several tire companies up the street if you would like to buy four new tires for me.<br />
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"Goodness, your house is a mess." Priorities? Looking for work is a bigger priority than how clean my house is right now.<br />
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"I saw an ad....gosh what was it...you'd be great at it...man, what WAS that?" Shut the hell up. <br />
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"Susie said you should go to the new office the hospital is opening."<br />
"Which one?"<br />
"It's the new one." (Our hospital opens up new offices practically every day.) <br />
"Well, just go there."<br />
"Where is it?"<br />
"I don't know."<br />
Thanks.<br />
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"Don't get upset." Do not tell me NOT to get upset. I can get upset if I want to. I'm allowed to have a breakdown, to cry, and to be friggin' upset!<br />
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"Well, a lot of people have it much worse." Yes, that is true, BUT:<br />
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"Let me know if you need anything." Okay, I need groceries, gas in my car, and new glasses. "You know I'd help if I could."<br />
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Above all these, the silence is the worst. You rarely hear from anyone aside from the quick "how are things going" you may get in an email or text. No one calls because they think you're only going to talk about being unemployed. Actually, I want to hear from you because I'd rather hear how you are and talk about something so far from my issues so that I can feel normal again. Yes, I could call and ask what's up and suggest we do something. Once I
know my free time, most have made plans. I have learned to be more spontaneous because my free time is dictated by my family, but I'm not sure anyone does spontaneous anymore. I may not have the cash to go to dinner or a movie, yet I still need and want to socialize and talk and laugh. I'm still the same person I was before I lost my job. I'm only going through a tough time. I don't have a contagious disease and you shouldn't have to put a spit mask on me while I'm with you. <snort></snort><br />
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I find myself here at least once or twice a week these days:<br />
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Really, I'm writing what's been in my head the past couple of days, and it's rather silly, but there is some truth in it as well. My stepmom was here yesterday to help me with something, and she asked me if I'd had dinner yet. I said I hadn't, and so the two of us went out for dinner together. She said, "I can at least get you out of the house for a while." It was such a nice thing to hear and really, she didn't have to spend money to get me out of the house. In fact, just being with me and chit-chatting was super nice. Just hearing the words and knowing she understood was relieving and uplifting at the same time.<br />
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That's all someone needs really who is going through a tough time. Your time, your company, your understanding. That's all. <br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-62841260918255541212013-07-12T21:42:00.002-07:002013-07-12T21:44:53.665-07:00First Article up on All Women Stalk!I was SO happy to see my article on the web site! I was assigned this topic so I had to do the best I could with something I really knew nothing about, but I added my take on the topic, Jennifer at AWS liked it, and now it's online!<br />
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Jake is away this weekend; he and I both needed a break from each other, poor guy. I had a lovely Friday evening with a friend. I have more writing to do this weekend, and I'm looking forward to some time for myself. I feel good about things, trying to stay positive, and I've applied for several jobs this week I'd really like to hear from. I'm looking for other writing jobs as well. <br />
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We're scheduled to meet with a psychologist for Jake, just the adults on Thursday. I'm looking forward to meeting her and hopeful that she can help Jake get past his anxieties. I hate seeing my boy this way. It's been a tough summer for him so far and he's really not enjoyed much of it at all.<br />
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I finally watched the Dustin Hoffman video that's been going around the Internet. Whether he's sincere or not, the statement he makes is still true. Men and women make a quick judgement on looks and if you aren't beautiful, you're cast aside. What a shame that is, isn't it? Below is the video if you haven't watched.<br />
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Happy weekend!<br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-19781665864437268652013-07-10T17:29:00.001-07:002013-07-10T17:33:35.315-07:00Hump Day PostThere's really not much going on today. I'm waiting on my topics to be approved so I can get my next set of articles done for <a href="http://allwomenstalk.com/" target="_blank">All Women Stalk</a>. In the meantime, a Wednesday blog post. <br />
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Jake and I have our days and nights upside down. He's a night owl like me so I have just as hard a time insisting he go to bed at 9:30 as he does going. We have to get this fixed though or else I will be in big trouble come the first day of school. Summer bedtime is 9:30 and I don't blame him for not liking it, but he is quite grumpy without his sleep. This past school year, I moved bedtime to 8:30 instead of 9:00 because of how difficult it was to get him out of bed. Once I start working again, it will be really important he get up and get dressed without my having to repeat it 50 times. Wish I had an alarm like Sponge Bob's ship horn. That might do the trick! <br />
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Came across an interesting web site today called <a href="http://www.purpleclover.com/" target="_blank">Purple Clover</a>. I'm still figuring everything out, but I've enjoyed reading the posts so far. Check it out!<br />
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Finally swept and mopped my kitchen floor since moving in! I had some little things to put away still so now that's done, I have a completely clean kitchen. I'm thinking of selling my larger rectangular dining table and six chairs and getting a round table. I've wanted one anyway and it will fit much better in this space. I'll have to price round tables and make sure I can get for my table what a round one will cost. I want the mismatched chairs like this, which perhaps I could borrow (confiscate) from family, except I'm not sure on the blue color or all white or perhaps different colors! I have no fear of color! <br />
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I'm really looking forward to a free weekend coming up. It's been a while since Jake has spent a weekend away and I'm sure we both need a break from each other. I know I'm in desperate need of some quiet time. Jake needs time with Pat and I hope she can get some further insight on his anxieties.<br />
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I'm really worried about this. He was so fearful of a possible storm today and even got angry about it. I did my best to talk with him and explain our area's weather pattern, but it was not much help to him. These fears-an extreme fear of storms, fear of something happening to me so much that he follows me from room to room, and a fear of the world ending and everyone dying-have to be part of a bigger fear maybe? I just can't figure it out. I can't watch the news, commercials about life insurance or fire/flood insurance trigger his anxiety, and the unusually stormy and rainy summer we're having doesn't help one bit. I tried to remember when this started and I guess within the last year. Of course, losing my job 9 months ago hasn't helped and may have exacerbated his fears. I'm just not sure and can only guess. We try to use the tips the family counselor gives us, but they don't always work. Pray that we can get this all figured out and help our boy.<br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-57077663813047087732013-07-08T20:13:00.001-07:002013-07-08T20:15:11.282-07:00Fifty Shades-1000 Times YesI was cleaning up the documents folder on my laptop and found something I'd written about Fifty Shades of Grey, probably at work while bored. While Fifty Shades is now about to become a movie and most everyone has read it who's going to, I'll still post this just for the purpose of sharing my thoughts on the book. I still think Ian Somerholder should play Christian simply because of his eyes! I've not made a choice on who should play Ana, but guess we'll see eventually who is chosen. <br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1000 times YES!</b></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had not heard anything about Fifty
Shades of Grey by E. L. James when I happen to see it on the customer service
counter at my local Barnes and Noble. I had picked it up to read the
back, but never got the chance since the clerk was ready for me quicker than I
expected. Later, I caught an episode of Ellen where she was “reading” for
the audio book version of Fifty Shades. Of course, she was hilarious, and
I made a mental note to check out the book. </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few days later I was
checking in on TallyScrapper, my old scrapbooking stomping ground, and there
was a message board post about Fifty Shades. I was immediately intrigued
by all the comments such as “hubby’s getting more action lately” and “the
spanking wouldn’t bother me” and went to Amazon on the old Kindle to search it
out. </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">A few minutes and $9.99 later I had
the book and started reading. I immediately loved the characters and
everything about the book. Yes, it’s been called “Mommy Porn”, and it’s
been noted that most women reading it are in their 30s and 40s despite the
young ages of the characters. I’m not ashamed to admit I LOVE this book
and the entire trilogy. Before I even finished the first book, I
downloaded Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades of Freed, knew I wanted them
both, and I did not want to finish book 1 without being able to immediately go
into book 2.</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I knew my scrapbooking buddies
were really enjoying the books, but when I asked others I got replies like,
“I’ve not heard anything good about it.” or “It’s really obscene.” or “I don’t
know why you’d want to read that stuff.” Well, I’m admitting it here and
now, I’m a Fifty Shades fan and I have so far read the books, yes all three,
through three times already!!! </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sorry to any of you prudish types
who think sex is something to be ashamed of. Sorry to those of you who
want everyone to think you’re a good girl, when in fact, you’re probably dying
to read it but don’t want to get caught with the book in your shaking little
hands! Sorry to any feminists out there who may have a problem with the book
and how Ana submits to Christian. (I’ve not heard anything about
feminists saying this. This is simply a thought I had.) Sorry
Mom. Sorry to friends and family who thought they knew everything about
me. The books are freaking awesome! </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m telling you right now, if I had
a Christian Grey walk into my life, I would answer him “1000 times yes!”
I’ve admitted it and I’ve said it out loud! In a heartbeat, I would go
for it and enjoy every single second! </span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">E. L. James, THANK YOU from the
bottom of my curious and more than likely perverted little heart! And
would you please go ahead and finish writing the books from Christian’s point
of view? Me likey that little teaser!!</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">You think you know someone, right? Ha! </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-59477295151347317692013-07-05T21:20:00.001-07:002013-07-05T21:20:06.952-07:00Actually Finishing an Old ProjectI have no idea how long ago I cut the squares for these quilt ideas I had, but let's just say "a while ago". I'm determined to finish them. Here are my color combos.<br />
<br />
These are all shades of brown, but some look a little pink in the photo. I'm wondering if I should reverse the pattern. Not sure I'm liking this, plus I ran out of room on the table to finish out the entire thing. Probably should move to the living room floor to layout the complete look. The squares are 2 x 2 inches. This will probably be just a quilted throw as opposed to a bed sized quilt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkS3bJA6nSywiRZH0mqKVVyQve0fr9kxVIYWBm8cl0LVIZxGlB40zymuj7c-sz5FaudSa6hK1nbS4haEYIFklsw7bVpDcb6VV-wh6ykz92pMW04aFI-eDZ0YGmW5v_jNR45VjeRgHMB4/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkS3bJA6nSywiRZH0mqKVVyQve0fr9kxVIYWBm8cl0LVIZxGlB40zymuj7c-sz5FaudSa6hK1nbS4haEYIFklsw7bVpDcb6VV-wh6ykz92pMW04aFI-eDZ0YGmW5v_jNR45VjeRgHMB4/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are 3-inch squares of purples. Not sure I like the two paler colors. May just stick with the other four.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLQ-vE_sfmsNg683jbqWFKXzo_ggb_DrzO0TcwV9-OkQ7LkthPKYhit4tSwUgIVr2cl68Li0GFsRXyBM0ydCO5IveVYi8700mQMVJMTy2-dDXUy34WKEdxJuGqv-BoNI-RugsvNSXVRc/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLQ-vE_sfmsNg683jbqWFKXzo_ggb_DrzO0TcwV9-OkQ7LkthPKYhit4tSwUgIVr2cl68Li0GFsRXyBM0ydCO5IveVYi8700mQMVJMTy2-dDXUy34WKEdxJuGqv-BoNI-RugsvNSXVRc/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another 2-inch set of squares. Not sure of my pattern yet for either purple set, but I'll play with some once I get the brown quilt finished. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibAcRyNgwti3V1tfBeePS6o5HHQbI-iv5AK7mbevQff6FxJIh399Yq6E8J-8cOSKNh3tKcw132e1sqjHHYtpqEj3bE4Mnu_jB99fK8UHiqRiIWuJF2G2ViSqqKk7t68QoUuM92eluOe0/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibAcRyNgwti3V1tfBeePS6o5HHQbI-iv5AK7mbevQff6FxJIh399Yq6E8J-8cOSKNh3tKcw132e1sqjHHYtpqEj3bE4Mnu_jB99fK8UHiqRiIWuJF2G2ViSqqKk7t68QoUuM92eluOe0/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have one quilt that's ready for the quilting. I think it's a perfect quilt to use on the floor when your baby needs tummy time or napping. Ignore the black threads. That's just the basting to hold the layers together while I quilt. The backing will be hemmed toward the front to make the border.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHygg316sQeLj9l17MpfzjcwwWxhC3fnMRZifaR5OtOl9kxHW_wC86PRKd3giyywUbxTvSo-qST9k1L0wUqvhJrCsOD0jrrXmnepI-oR9hLLi0L1Qa5BVZI4z1K_42m-uIYL7y31zLVbM/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHygg316sQeLj9l17MpfzjcwwWxhC3fnMRZifaR5OtOl9kxHW_wC86PRKd3giyywUbxTvSo-qST9k1L0wUqvhJrCsOD0jrrXmnepI-oR9hLLi0L1Qa5BVZI4z1K_42m-uIYL7y31zLVbM/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Somehow, Carrie Williams from Monsters University made it into this shot. Couldn't have been Jake had anything to do with it, right? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1YZ_D_8SADd3Lgl60WnKeFULLJjlTd5RLuqcvug8THJyZoVOONfy-U59MMj_muwLS6XAg2iVkputVUAU0usnmKBA5JtkLOguCn5hrXr_spouQz4hsLDvmpDfU9ZxIT0wrt47lPMBGV8/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1YZ_D_8SADd3Lgl60WnKeFULLJjlTd5RLuqcvug8THJyZoVOONfy-U59MMj_muwLS6XAg2iVkputVUAU0usnmKBA5JtkLOguCn5hrXr_spouQz4hsLDvmpDfU9ZxIT0wrt47lPMBGV8/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I saved 5 or 6 of Jake's baby blankets and I thought I'd create a simple patchwork quilt using them, but haven't completely decided yet. That would be it for quilting though. I'm not the best seamstress and then as far as the actual quilting part, I'm very slow. My goal is to finish them so that's the main thing. <br />
<br />
Look for most progress photos soon! I'll drag out my great-grandmother's sewing machine and get started!<br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-85663485069932558672013-07-03T21:25:00.001-07:002013-07-03T21:25:59.321-07:00Finally Doing Something Crafty AgainAnother odd day, but they all seem to be that way lately. It's still too strange not getting up and going to work every day. Maybe if I felt like I could enjoy it that would help? <br />
<br />
I'm planning on getting my craft on this weekend, possibly starting tomorrow. I have not put together a quilt that I've had the pieces cut for and it's about time I did! I'm thinking if it looks like I want it to afterwards, I'll try selling it to help the financial situation around here. <br />
<br />
My yarn stash is running short so I can't finish up my crochet projects so that I can get them donated. I'm hoping soon there will be a little extra money for me to hit Michael's and the yarn aisle. <br />
<br />
I also need to print pictures. I guess I haven't printed pictures in several years. Every time I visit my grandmother she is always asking if I have new pictures to show her, so I'd better get them done. <br />
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Planning to put these on e-bay if I can find some information about them first. They are tiny vases, less than 2.5 inches, all made in Occupied Japan. <br />
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If you know anything about the value of anything like this, leave a comment. I've had them for years and I don't display them anymore so I thought that maybe selling them to someone who could add them to a collection and appreciate them would be better than them stored in a box here. <br />
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Keep an eye out for the quilting posts coming soon! <br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-28071836518453879192013-07-02T21:30:00.001-07:002013-07-02T21:32:25.576-07:00Writing, Family, and Trying to Stay PositiveWhile it is taking longer than I'd hoped to see my articles on the blog, I am officially writing for <a href="http://allwomenstalk.com/" target="_blank">All Women Stalk</a>, a women's blog that provides you with a little bit of everything in one place. I've even been paid in a timely manner for my first article. While its audience may be women between 18 and 35, there is still lots of good information for women of any age. There are articles on a huge variety of topics from makeup to sex, food and health to travel, dating and weddings, and so on. I have always wanted to write and while this may not have been where I thought I'd start out, it certainly is great experience. Currently, I'm working on my second week of topics. You can bet I'll post them here so everyone can read them, and I can't wait to hear your feedback! I'm also hoping to find my way into another writing job similar to this one or completely different; it really doesn't matter. While writing has always been a dream, could it possibly be that I CAN do something I love and make money? <br />
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I <i>think</i> I'm doing much better with maintaining a positive attitude despite the fact that it's very difficult! It's so hard not to think of my utility bills piling up unpaid, and when the cupboards and the fridge get close to empty, it's hard not to get upset. I'm trying, though, for myself and for Jake. Despite the feeling that it doesn't matter how positive I am, it's not going to pay anything or buy food, I'm trying. I did end up awake until about 5 this morning worrying about everything, and that's not good. Sometimes, I wonder if anyone can understand that this kind of thing affects you in so many ways. Without sleep, I'm exhausted and can't think straight. My reflexes aren't as quick. Worry and depression have so many physical side effects. I can't multitask anymore. My ability to focus is nonexistent. My memory is laughable. There's no enthusiasm for much of anything. I've cancelled dates or meetings with friends because I just couldn't motivate myself. The toughest is just feeling so alone. I do my best to not think that way.<br />
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I have made more of an effort to touch base with my family this week. I put in a call to my dad and grandmother today and enjoyed talking to both of them. My poor grandmother has lost so much of her hearing that with my higher/softer voice, she can't hear me without my yelling. Do you know it will tire you out to yell for 45 minutes? <br />
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My poor mother is dealing with what we all knew she'd have to at some point. When her stepfather died last summer, we knew that eventually the day would come to deal with the will and probate. Not only that, but deep inside, she and I knew how her brother would end up behaving about everything. Up until this past Sunday when they met to talk about things for the first time, he seemed to be quite agreeable with everything, but of course it was all pretense. He pulled the "I took care of Pop for seven years and if I hadn't there'd be no land to sell." Of course, that's not true because Pop, as we called him, ended up in a nursing home anyway, and when discussing the expenses my mom was told they weren't in the land business, but if the bills weren't paid they would do what they had to do. Sadly, Pop wasn't in the nursing home long before he passed. My mom and her sister are executors of the will, and my mom thought that selling some scrap metal that ended up on the property, an old tractor, and a 1930-something Chevy truck would settle the debt with the nursing home and not have to come out of anyone's pockets. Then they could sell the land and split the proceeds from the sale three ways as the will specifies.<br />
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Sunday evening, my mom told me that now her brother wants the truck and the tractor and he doesn't want to sell his land. In my opinion, I think he may have tried to convince my mom's sister not to sell either because she's saying she doesn't now. There is not much road frontage to this property so this would make it extremely difficult for my mom to sell whatever her part would be of the 36 acres. What gets me is my aunt has no use whatsoever for 12 acres of land down in the boondocks. She and her husband are retired and comfortable, but you never know where health issues may arise. To me, it makes sense they put their part in the bank and let it grow. My aunt knows this, too, but for some reason she's balking. My mom's brother has some pretty severe health issues and had major heart surgery last year. I can only imagine the hospital bill from that. He's not physically able to do anything with the land or the truck or the tractor. It's simple greed that's motivating him. He told my mom she didn't deserve anything because she didn't help with Pop, her stepfather. I guess that doesn't matter since Pop included mama in the will, does it? I just get so aggravated that my uncle would treat my mother this way.<br />
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A few years ago when their aunt passed, she left everything to her nieces. My mother felt bad and gave her brother some money from her part of the inheritance and had him come with her to the sale of household items telling him that if he wanted anything to let her know. She didn't have to do that, but she did it because she cared about him. What she gets in return is the fact pointed out that she's "just a stepdaughter" to Pop. Well, she is my grandmother's daughter and if it weren't for my grandmother there would be no land. That's what my aunt and uncle forget or choose to overlook. This whole thing makes me sick and I feel bad for my mom. I told her though, that she's an executor and that she should just take charge of it. And when she was thinking about not taking the percentage one gets as being an executor because she thought it was unfair to her brother, I told her to take it and not feel an ounce of guilt! I think every will should have the stipulation added that the first heir to start fighting about the will should be excluded from it immediately.<br />
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As far as our new place goes, It's about as organized as it will get. As small as the duplex is, I can only do so much. It'll work though until things change. It's a lot darker than any place I've lived with dark brown doors to each room and dark brown closet doors and even the wall color is a dark beige. We have lights on most of the time. Bad thing is, we aren't allowed to paint! If I could only paint the closet and room doors white and lighten up the walls, it would help so much. Don't say anything, but I may just do it anyway! <br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-69573645368384633852013-06-30T18:48:00.001-07:002013-06-30T18:48:16.008-07:00My Sweet BoyWhat an odd past few days, odd in the way that everything "felt" strange, like something was going to happen. Nothing did, or perhaps it hasn't yet. <br />
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I enjoyed Friday evening with a great guy I've known for about a year. It's nice to be close to someone again, but still without strings, without pressure. I haven't introduced him to Jake and until I know it's serious or going somewhere, I have no plans to. We have enough going on there without my adding anything for him to stress or worry about.<br />
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Jake will start seeing his counselor again. He even asked me if he could. We'd thought it might be good for him to talk to someone about his anxieties. He did really well with the counseling, although he'd only had about 3
visits. Pat decided to not send him anymore, but I knew stopping it was
a mistake. Once again, we're back at square one if not another step
back.<br />
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He is so afraid something is going to happen to me. He gets upset if he doesn't know where I am at all times. I have gotten out of the shower to find him sitting outside the tub waiting to make sure I made it out. He spent Friday night with my mom and around 9:45 he called crying, worried that something had happened. I realize this is something bigger than I could handle. I can't leave the room without Jake following me. <br />
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On top of this, he has become absolutely terrified of storms. I'm talking full-fledged panic attack scared. Every morning, we have to check the weather. Then at least every half hour, he's looking out the window and asking me what kind of clouds are out there. Are they storm clouds or is it nighttime and that's why it's dark? <br />
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There are also anxieties about dying and the world ending. I have no idea where this came from. I know better than to have the news on or watch any TV show that may be about a topic that upsets him.<br />
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I am praying that the counseling on a more long-term basis will help him. This breaks my heart knowing my boy is dealing with anxiety and I can't help him.<br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-73629257938648340782013-06-25T17:51:00.000-07:002013-06-25T18:16:51.880-07:00Trying to Keep Calm and Carry On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am desperately trying to make this my mantra from now on. I can't take the negativity, bad things happening, or plain ol' shit any longer. I see my stress rubbing off on Jake and I can't let that happen. No one wants to be around me and I can't blame them. I know since losing my job I have become very negative. How could anyone stay positive when you lose a job, fail to get unemployment, have to depend on family to make it, then eventually lose the home you wanted to be yours so badly eight months later. I've been so negative I can't stand to be around myself, so I apologize to friends and family who've had to deal with me.<br />
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The past couple of days have shown me that I need to think before I react. Yes, I need a job, but upon accepting a part-time job I didn't take into consideration what they were paying, the hours, and what expenses I would have just to go to work every day. I should have thought it out, but it wasn't until orientation that I knew how few hours I'd be getting. While some may say it's better than nothing or it may lead to something else, it's right now that I have to deal with. It's not better than nothing when I'm in the negative financially before I even get a paycheck. Yes, it probably could have led to something good or even great, but I can't wait for that. I know now that I must have a full time job, what I need to make hourly, and I have to go in knowing that I'm worth it. <br />
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With all this information, despite everything that has happened and may continue to happen, I decided to simply be happy again. Who cares how many do-overs you have as long as you keep trying. <br />
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<br />Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-10885031442487879292012-03-14T17:50:00.001-07:002012-03-14T17:53:22.419-07:00Finding Normal<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> 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mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">So much has changed over the past 2-1/2 years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Actually, I cannot believe it’s been that long since things kind of went upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A separation after so long<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>together, a move to an apartment that never felt like home, and then another move to a place I really love and that is beginning to take the shape of home, a place that’s headed in the “homey” direction, that’s comfortable, and feels like my own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Oh, I procrastinate at procrastination when it comes to unpacking, sorting, tossing, organizing, etc. but it’s getting there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Who knew I had 8 years of toys stored in the attic?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And I guess I did know I had way too much in the way of scrapbooking supplies.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I probably have way too much “stuff” for the kitchen, but there was more entertaining at one time that I hope to begin again although the “stuff” could be thinned out some. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t even get me started on photos and photo albums. At some point, everything will have a place, and I remind myself I do not have certain furniture pieces yet that would make storing these things easier.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It will all come though.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">Jake has a room of his own that usually has laundry on the bed, toys on the floor, and whatever I might be sorting through at the time laying around since we sometimes watch television there. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His bathroom needs cleaning.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He has clothes that are too small that need donating. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He needs a curtain or blind on the window.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">My room is a work in progress.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m fickle when it comes to colors, bedding, styles, and furniture.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I love an all-white bedroom, but orange does something for me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Blue is serene and the girly girl in me can’t help but want a little pink in there somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll make up my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">The other day, I was sitting at the dining room table working with a jigsaw puzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These puzzles have become my wind down, my stress relief, my brain work, and perhaps they do not help with my procrastination problem, but I enjoy them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sitting there I looked up and saw Jake blowing bubbles on the patio and singing some song he’d learned watching a Monster High YouTube video, I heard the dishwasher humming in the background, I had the television on my favorite classic movie station, and I thought…gosh, we’ve found normal again!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It was a “normal” Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I had cleaned the downstairs, started the dishes, and was taking a break before I went upstairs to conquer my constant laundry pile, and “normal” was happening all around!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There may be things I still need for the house, things I still need to do something with, but here we were enjoying being at home, enjoying bubble blowing and the fact that the dishes were getting done and that laundry was waiting and it was a wonderful feeling!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It felt so…normal!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It hit me that I didn’t need to worry about all the things that needed to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They were getting done, perhaps not at a pace I would have preferred, but the piles were getting smaller and the boxes were being emptied.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What a great feeling it was, exciting and calming at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"">Jake came in the house about that time to tell me something about Monster High that he’d told me at least 1,764 other times, and I pulled him close and asked him if he knew how much I loved him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He always says yes, but I know he really has no clue.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I looked at my little boy and felt <a name="_GoBack">very</a> happy.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s been a long time coming, but “normal” is back, “normal” is the new haute couture for 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I knew it would find us again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Eventually. </span></p>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-10233802818416445902011-12-14T17:45:00.000-08:002011-12-14T20:13:52.499-08:00Merry Christmas!We have an Elf on The Shelf, but he's not staying on his shelf! Elfis (cute, right?) is very mischievous! Here's what the little guy's been up to since he moved in.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMpbe_ifQJBJ1M7uzg_kkoQGZFEZPnR4UEh7v9x2g6SxXzl5SEdta1QOJb3HJubl1ZfB9z2fp6GE_x17ny-IAElXtM7oElbi5QeRwBGJD37eTtuayc0QUbzV1BALZ2uT32wIr55g_aDM/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMpbe_ifQJBJ1M7uzg_kkoQGZFEZPnR4UEh7v9x2g6SxXzl5SEdta1QOJb3HJubl1ZfB9z2fp6GE_x17ny-IAElXtM7oElbi5QeRwBGJD37eTtuayc0QUbzV1BALZ2uT32wIr55g_aDM/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686170522568477906" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">He got into the Skittles!</span><br /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uw04IVGgyyAcxPZbUlpYvxvKGYXC1J8PJ2NHTrp4h9-N6tG04wYx-xuQTqBWJnXyt5lz1XJc93gilWBZUfwuifsvuK8s4yddso5MNzrJi2k9oTm7UmLizwk03_PZ2cF5G9OaJX3-2wc/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uw04IVGgyyAcxPZbUlpYvxvKGYXC1J8PJ2NHTrp4h9-N6tG04wYx-xuQTqBWJnXyt5lz1XJc93gilWBZUfwuifsvuK8s4yddso5MNzrJi2k9oTm7UmLizwk03_PZ2cF5G9OaJX3-2wc/s320/012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686170519080780690" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mistook my ceramic turkey for a horse!</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Uw04IVGgyyAcxPZbUlpYvxvKGYXC1J8PJ2NHTrp4h9-N6tG04wYx-xuQTqBWJnXyt5lz1XJc93gilWBZUfwuifsvuK8s4yddso5MNzrJi2k9oTm7UmLizwk03_PZ2cF5G9OaJX3-2wc/s1600/012.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYV92XsFRJ2Lu99-cmMgFswtOWIAZfFdtBtcPgmVEwG-qI7mQUBOenr-UsCjxhitqGG0O8OaomWlar8y8yHtQm14btxX9TmJFaz1AM4iqIuhGSrZJvbJtheIMPFnxogZm9CRgFyCuxf8/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 227px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYV92XsFRJ2Lu99-cmMgFswtOWIAZfFdtBtcPgmVEwG-qI7mQUBOenr-UsCjxhitqGG0O8OaomWlar8y8yHtQm14btxX9TmJFaz1AM4iqIuhGSrZJvbJtheIMPFnxogZm9CRgFyCuxf8/s320/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686170506497581794" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Found him swinging on the light fixture!</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjYV92XsFRJ2Lu99-cmMgFswtOWIAZfFdtBtcPgmVEwG-qI7mQUBOenr-UsCjxhitqGG0O8OaomWlar8y8yHtQm14btxX9TmJFaz1AM4iqIuhGSrZJvbJtheIMPFnxogZm9CRgFyCuxf8/s1600/010.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu_wmrOA9yhO9G6TpmMpyl-qDjXbefBTnKFoFf7pDNkUhGGLvbMT_fH0cLwaiKJFtpoekeCqxxkA9y8UpYFBU_-9_IGwWeTItxAA299TbxJcQYzC4-dT1lZtpcLBGwPHuvnrozssRp0I/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu_wmrOA9yhO9G6TpmMpyl-qDjXbefBTnKFoFf7pDNkUhGGLvbMT_fH0cLwaiKJFtpoekeCqxxkA9y8UpYFBU_-9_IGwWeTItxAA299TbxJcQYzC4-dT1lZtpcLBGwPHuvnrozssRp0I/s320/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686170501793787314" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Obviously, he's one of the Elf designers on the DS.</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcu_wmrOA9yhO9G6TpmMpyl-qDjXbefBTnKFoFf7pDNkUhGGLvbMT_fH0cLwaiKJFtpoekeCqxxkA9y8UpYFBU_-9_IGwWeTItxAA299TbxJcQYzC4-dT1lZtpcLBGwPHuvnrozssRp0I/s1600/008.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQvyyJ3MlF6IC8Naj0e75fl64FgLlS4E22_xKXQ1Emy2f6IZv4ndpNRLTo7IZhjUqkHDYWPVPVUjrrJOX-b1Mg4VhvZ_0CyL2rt0lI692GZ0xtwOq44pxMAMGOEBuL_-z_lbqBMmEmBU/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQvyyJ3MlF6IC8Naj0e75fl64FgLlS4E22_xKXQ1Emy2f6IZv4ndpNRLTo7IZhjUqkHDYWPVPVUjrrJOX-b1Mg4VhvZ_0CyL2rt0lI692GZ0xtwOq44pxMAMGOEBuL_-z_lbqBMmEmBU/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686170532391895810" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And today, we found a flour angel in the middle of the stove top! </span><br /></a></div><br />Elfis has been really fun to have around for sure, and Jake cannot wait to see what he's been up to while we've been away all day.<br /><br />I'm enjoying preparing for Christmas this year much more than last. My tree is up and decorated, and I've actually finished with Santa Claus already. Still have other gifts to get, but I feel good knowing Jake's all taken care of.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTCachr6hQAwtuTH2DxxhQsvyzOYK2ZbFI9rEYmsSeu6mVQiYGSaUStKz8AUTc_-tgkHKJIp7TFN0cpFLTMsYab2atjVTYZf9EMi-sChPzmjat5gk4oFaVhyphenhyphen1gJbO-7lGo7pg1E8QbXg/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTCachr6hQAwtuTH2DxxhQsvyzOYK2ZbFI9rEYmsSeu6mVQiYGSaUStKz8AUTc_-tgkHKJIp7TFN0cpFLTMsYab2atjVTYZf9EMi-sChPzmjat5gk4oFaVhyphenhyphen1gJbO-7lGo7pg1E8QbXg/s320/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686186890639869266" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I found these snowflakes at Publix really cheap. I think they look cute in the window.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUOrIutgZBJGvcgWrc5gDfiq5Lok_fd9uE_4FerHas5bDH6WpRV_a7_qwgSkBm-mleoHnWEXWFV_6pSCHwF_2ju-B4AqanlqLBr4KoMSyZW5iwA5K-lnOXT3QAxA66glLIBgzWZhKLe0/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUOrIutgZBJGvcgWrc5gDfiq5Lok_fd9uE_4FerHas5bDH6WpRV_a7_qwgSkBm-mleoHnWEXWFV_6pSCHwF_2ju-B4AqanlqLBr4KoMSyZW5iwA5K-lnOXT3QAxA66glLIBgzWZhKLe0/s320/002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686186887588867266" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Our tree and mantle. My friend, Lisa, gave me the Santa portrait. I just love it! And hey, is that neck and those ears not the sweetest stuff?</span><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AAGqnB104RfyrUaB7q16Xx1-pKKoURSAoiJbIPfs3cVEckI84U5871cqWwZTAny-ds0E6SWkDQf89GjSZ3I0ZYpWuwlRXEvtqHak6JTTL97llkmf6EYicuX995EKLbV0TIthVyIYXjk/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AAGqnB104RfyrUaB7q16Xx1-pKKoURSAoiJbIPfs3cVEckI84U5871cqWwZTAny-ds0E6SWkDQf89GjSZ3I0ZYpWuwlRXEvtqHak6JTTL97llkmf6EYicuX995EKLbV0TIthVyIYXjk/s320/012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686186895178256210" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I have always wanted some apothecary jars and found these for half off at Joann's. I love my grandmother's ornaments displayed in them.</span><br /></a></div><br />My other grandmother will turn 90 in April. This past Sunday she hosted her traditional Christmas dinner for our extended family. There's usually anywhere from 25 to 40 people depending on who makes it. This year I think I counted 37. She cooks all of the food herself still, but does let my step-mom bring a couple of dishes and desserts. Everything was delish as usual, but dang it, that tradition of letting the men prepare their plates first has got to go! Most of the piggers are back in line for seconds before us gals get kids' plates prepared and then our own! Seriously, I believe her mother did dinners this way and she's kept that tradition. I'd like to think it's to get them out of the way and hush them up! Ha!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKV-YY21x3Q5oxEMtgzmyZNQcOUmzdolZih0CGMLUtmVvS7uRBQHLhBcOmrUKmtMARtEpCgiCUQolQ7n5B33IBv-uNUMPkCvwZe2VmHgDeZqJxclFchqmx4w4eIMJUHfj9SirqJON4Js/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKV-YY21x3Q5oxEMtgzmyZNQcOUmzdolZih0CGMLUtmVvS7uRBQHLhBcOmrUKmtMARtEpCgiCUQolQ7n5B33IBv-uNUMPkCvwZe2VmHgDeZqJxclFchqmx4w4eIMJUHfj9SirqJON4Js/s320/008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686191790666559986" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">My dad. I'm so thankful he's done so well since his prostate cancer and radiation. </span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKV-YY21x3Q5oxEMtgzmyZNQcOUmzdolZih0CGMLUtmVvS7uRBQHLhBcOmrUKmtMARtEpCgiCUQolQ7n5B33IBv-uNUMPkCvwZe2VmHgDeZqJxclFchqmx4w4eIMJUHfj9SirqJON4Js/s1600/008.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VDqBYNmIVQUdAKMnGaUhG-OIZJ1zlTiRtncxULWX0UBHNOu41SAJlRqxCH9QLnxcjUHQZEbcAUMdaI6NrsR3V_3h1VrxdkgeTHPMf5cZ6xqprqBWaxKXsGlJqW6VB-jZZrYN07DxAno/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VDqBYNmIVQUdAKMnGaUhG-OIZJ1zlTiRtncxULWX0UBHNOu41SAJlRqxCH9QLnxcjUHQZEbcAUMdaI6NrsR3V_3h1VrxdkgeTHPMf5cZ6xqprqBWaxKXsGlJqW6VB-jZZrYN07DxAno/s320/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686191783600465490" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This is the lovely Carson D. I kind of like her a little.</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VDqBYNmIVQUdAKMnGaUhG-OIZJ1zlTiRtncxULWX0UBHNOu41SAJlRqxCH9QLnxcjUHQZEbcAUMdaI6NrsR3V_3h1VrxdkgeTHPMf5cZ6xqprqBWaxKXsGlJqW6VB-jZZrYN07DxAno/s1600/004.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_E6DCQRtMI1j4K6R9Np4lt1GkeKlpjawhCVE-k6688qb_vtjG9qld9ebz9KY7yyuZuSaKZ7zaAwk2rFSalx569IPuIUHGPEj1Szlm3TzDOLorV4vLuAo79rX_xOL6LSvwh9rDoV6OaE/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_E6DCQRtMI1j4K6R9Np4lt1GkeKlpjawhCVE-k6688qb_vtjG9qld9ebz9KY7yyuZuSaKZ7zaAwk2rFSalx569IPuIUHGPEj1Szlm3TzDOLorV4vLuAo79rX_xOL6LSvwh9rDoV6OaE/s320/003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686191770498462258" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And you know Rudolph.</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_E6DCQRtMI1j4K6R9Np4lt1GkeKlpjawhCVE-k6688qb_vtjG9qld9ebz9KY7yyuZuSaKZ7zaAwk2rFSalx569IPuIUHGPEj1Szlm3TzDOLorV4vLuAo79rX_xOL6LSvwh9rDoV6OaE/s1600/003.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-npMG34mF3CGQDefppm3qjYGGdgIh2SJhPeAdinhkJSCWnAxkyV7K9h7bnbOjqoRshZ50RlX6ywmQzdElyPBIEt5C0Dybk8yrfgniV1Ql1_2vGJW_J0EXFJ3KLv7pgmA9RbHnRCM2lGs/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-npMG34mF3CGQDefppm3qjYGGdgIh2SJhPeAdinhkJSCWnAxkyV7K9h7bnbOjqoRshZ50RlX6ywmQzdElyPBIEt5C0Dybk8yrfgniV1Ql1_2vGJW_J0EXFJ3KLv7pgmA9RbHnRCM2lGs/s320/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686191763903032418" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Green beans, potatoes, corn, turkey, sweet potato souffle, dressing, gravy, nom nom nom!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCJdlujTZPsrhfHD7wnYTRgnO4DBRNHwuEMNEP3ksYXjcTw_9V4MZzDsi2Dtu5xfca3-gNkspgS181W0uFUY-HuU_BfYruAmLLxONYq2F42El8mnDrlnT56GWfEOh5qjG0m-2cQ3LCV0/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCJdlujTZPsrhfHD7wnYTRgnO4DBRNHwuEMNEP3ksYXjcTw_9V4MZzDsi2Dtu5xfca3-gNkspgS181W0uFUY-HuU_BfYruAmLLxONYq2F42El8mnDrlnT56GWfEOh5qjG0m-2cQ3LCV0/s320/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686191794184344402" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In my opinion, you have never tasted a German chocolate cake as good as my step-mom's. About 2 minutes after I took this picture, the plate was completely empty. </span></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCJdlujTZPsrhfHD7wnYTRgnO4DBRNHwuEMNEP3ksYXjcTw_9V4MZzDsi2Dtu5xfca3-gNkspgS181W0uFUY-HuU_BfYruAmLLxONYq2F42El8mnDrlnT56GWfEOh5qjG0m-2cQ3LCV0/s1600/016.JPG"></a></div>My cousin, Hope, has connections with the big guy from the North Pole. He made an appearance at my grandmother's! The kids were very excited!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi-KGFQLjV6t2-tnO1UfLSBXOODZ7ZApAA-VZpbQssD5-TknIIFlGLMR1kKqgKsnlQrfIKpLU-XGS2BNqvGI_ybO4uPOW5a55y5d61i3Oc37sriiJiV7P-XGIyPu92arGTop1GEQLdy4/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi-KGFQLjV6t2-tnO1UfLSBXOODZ7ZApAA-VZpbQssD5-TknIIFlGLMR1kKqgKsnlQrfIKpLU-XGS2BNqvGI_ybO4uPOW5a55y5d61i3Oc37sriiJiV7P-XGIyPu92arGTop1GEQLdy4/s320/029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686195792734148674" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Carson had NEVER sat to talk with Santa before!! We were all very proud of her!</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEi-KGFQLjV6t2-tnO1UfLSBXOODZ7ZApAA-VZpbQssD5-TknIIFlGLMR1kKqgKsnlQrfIKpLU-XGS2BNqvGI_ybO4uPOW5a55y5d61i3Oc37sriiJiV7P-XGIyPu92arGTop1GEQLdy4/s1600/029.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkqH1YbE8NGXurEeIdqPjIboFDVO-EKlwtAk_id6w-2NZ_AU6J-lsmExYWfgajdmJZ3jAG46DpvzxYJiNvSzLqAny5-i8_01-hmaFKRf1iyoUc-MWQaXlGEz2mxZ4r33fTMwYbaKlRPk/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkqH1YbE8NGXurEeIdqPjIboFDVO-EKlwtAk_id6w-2NZ_AU6J-lsmExYWfgajdmJZ3jAG46DpvzxYJiNvSzLqAny5-i8_01-hmaFKRf1iyoUc-MWQaXlGEz2mxZ4r33fTMwYbaKlRPk/s320/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686195783218695474" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Will was NOT afraid to talk to Santa!</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkqH1YbE8NGXurEeIdqPjIboFDVO-EKlwtAk_id6w-2NZ_AU6J-lsmExYWfgajdmJZ3jAG46DpvzxYJiNvSzLqAny5-i8_01-hmaFKRf1iyoUc-MWQaXlGEz2mxZ4r33fTMwYbaKlRPk/s1600/028.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lf-HByBGvQy3-Y5LDqbbT7FAvIoE-6woSzZP3tajyoGpRNH0OInhQpxYHVKrRnITvWoMDwCL5dIMW4HyZXoKUKh5cWFS8n3N7rJC0Cnxe9hDNVuTdhU-pBFOOfJhoMOnNmQmMi06ejg/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lf-HByBGvQy3-Y5LDqbbT7FAvIoE-6woSzZP3tajyoGpRNH0OInhQpxYHVKrRnITvWoMDwCL5dIMW4HyZXoKUKh5cWFS8n3N7rJC0Cnxe9hDNVuTdhU-pBFOOfJhoMOnNmQmMi06ejg/s320/026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686195761935865874" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Carson's "brudder" Jackson. I kind of like him, too!</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Lf-HByBGvQy3-Y5LDqbbT7FAvIoE-6woSzZP3tajyoGpRNH0OInhQpxYHVKrRnITvWoMDwCL5dIMW4HyZXoKUKh5cWFS8n3N7rJC0Cnxe9hDNVuTdhU-pBFOOfJhoMOnNmQmMi06ejg/s1600/026.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQOEY2DMEGn-UKCYvxpAPUH9pnuEv20CVEBQ2wh09akOGVi9nim9Fe0DGM-YSviHOIR1k35dhzT7j7ZyAGkckNN_du2kq1NHlyetqVeN5YwLKHIZ14nRGWU6CW6FrvzZI8zdL758BltY/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQOEY2DMEGn-UKCYvxpAPUH9pnuEv20CVEBQ2wh09akOGVi9nim9Fe0DGM-YSviHOIR1k35dhzT7j7ZyAGkckNN_du2kq1NHlyetqVeN5YwLKHIZ14nRGWU6CW6FrvzZI8zdL758BltY/s320/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686195752604349474" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">My boy letting Santa know what to bring.</span></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQOEY2DMEGn-UKCYvxpAPUH9pnuEv20CVEBQ2wh09akOGVi9nim9Fe0DGM-YSviHOIR1k35dhzT7j7ZyAGkckNN_du2kq1NHlyetqVeN5YwLKHIZ14nRGWU6CW6FrvzZI8zdL758BltY/s1600/024.JPG"></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB11ge4Fcif_wYipPjFfvaxtlf9lU1iYh6fMr7iq1ZAfgUHUdWlpZtQgrIsUSsPhjwVq_vdUzL9KKqQwV00XJLzrv_MatMBQcXdOKu8s0Dwfhhrb_SPzp4ImClJb-HVix4Q4ADtus_CCM/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB11ge4Fcif_wYipPjFfvaxtlf9lU1iYh6fMr7iq1ZAfgUHUdWlpZtQgrIsUSsPhjwVq_vdUzL9KKqQwV00XJLzrv_MatMBQcXdOKu8s0Dwfhhrb_SPzp4ImClJb-HVix4Q4ADtus_CCM/s320/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686195822730634786" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hope, who made Santa possible, with her hubby Curtis. Thanks, Hopie!</span></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcJjZF7pG6qkoASu0w-agtqlv4NtHhcYQNjoonvB6lPrzD4VwCKaayT0lEnsPC-kKHMtOA29Yw0Ge9FbeM6pexQi4Xag5YLWQbSGczaHfloIy57a4sfv7ukEVrWt5t9HTm1V75K0qdTw/s1600/036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcJjZF7pG6qkoASu0w-agtqlv4NtHhcYQNjoonvB6lPrzD4VwCKaayT0lEnsPC-kKHMtOA29Yw0Ge9FbeM6pexQi4Xag5YLWQbSGczaHfloIy57a4sfv7ukEVrWt5t9HTm1V75K0qdTw/s320/036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686198768127407730" border="0" /></a>All the kids with Santa.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another good time at my grandmother's and we're all hoping next year is just as nice!<br /><br />It's only going to get busier from here. I have to finish cleaning the house for this weekend when us girls get together for my great aunt's birthday. We're all meeting here, and I'm very excited for some of them who will see my new place for the first time. I also have Christmas dinner at my dad's Saturday evening. Jake's out of school after this week and then it will be Christmas Eve before you know it! We'll go to my mom's and then Christmas morning to my grandmother's again. Hmmm...I feel the need to make a list. I have way too much to do!<br /><br />Merry Christmas, everyone! <br /></div></div>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-27243018163395564072011-09-26T18:44:00.000-07:002011-09-27T18:05:24.810-07:00Our New Place-The Living Room Part 1I know I've posted pictures on Facebook of our new place, but I wanted to share what ideas I have for decorating and see if anyone out there has some suggestions or some assurance that what I'm doing looks good. I do have a problem though and that is I love too many different styles. I'd have to have a 100 room house to incorporate all the styles I love. I love French country and sorry, but shabby chic still remains on my list, but maybe only certain elements of it at this point. I love the look of a warm cabin, a sweet cottage, or the retro look of a 1950's Formica and chrome kitchen table and chairs. I love it all and that makes it really hard to pin down MY style and exactly what I want in my own home.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPECCkbsoQf7GRijrEITiF_mfiRbEDfNLopJnBy7H-qPZyFDTYoRBa8ctlrkMIFnmicRSR5NagOXeO4SKm6koyTG2gTVPBaQI_2beRunRWdad6T-O4Ku0ou2rljYuOBg7fT7o2udCFnsk/s1600/158041756_nHx5jQhw_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPECCkbsoQf7GRijrEITiF_mfiRbEDfNLopJnBy7H-qPZyFDTYoRBa8ctlrkMIFnmicRSR5NagOXeO4SKm6koyTG2gTVPBaQI_2beRunRWdad6T-O4Ku0ou2rljYuOBg7fT7o2udCFnsk/s320/158041756_nHx5jQhw_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656858835705137378" border="0" /></a>This is so cozy and warm. I can hear the rain on the roof.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1Pw6gO6_rt5PicBi1FGCP2X_hRzancB-_mERyYP9hmxAwWITvxrT7jUAm_5keMWI0ckXCbpqrx8ww7A1ljO1kzmjG8OgqYBNvlwgvXRMgkAJYquFMmpay-hQghTL4fzla-ngEYxvskc/s1600/93591738_FNemwX2F_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1Pw6gO6_rt5PicBi1FGCP2X_hRzancB-_mERyYP9hmxAwWITvxrT7jUAm_5keMWI0ckXCbpqrx8ww7A1ljO1kzmjG8OgqYBNvlwgvXRMgkAJYquFMmpay-hQghTL4fzla-ngEYxvskc/s320/93591738_FNemwX2F_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656858832333084066" border="0" /></a>And this little cottage is perfection.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyH4n35dCDenEysWZE5ytTAQKgfrphn5Lov0hWMUoLriei0q4bmAQI22mOUI3FCWVt0gcImbvaYjo5ZQNsIdc9usMzXjtWmJA5YhHv82_T4PWqEjgUtnSOCVNY2imPn6D4633sIpvSYo/s1600/102537136_GR3naLD5_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSyH4n35dCDenEysWZE5ytTAQKgfrphn5Lov0hWMUoLriei0q4bmAQI22mOUI3FCWVt0gcImbvaYjo5ZQNsIdc9usMzXjtWmJA5YhHv82_T4PWqEjgUtnSOCVNY2imPn6D4633sIpvSYo/s320/102537136_GR3naLD5_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656858826800219346" border="0" /></a>Do you know what I'd give for this retro pink fridge??<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWlVPXPt7a70EA3naLpVo25XZW4GDYflLkkM_k9tPLMibFLfuQnvHkN5-PWfvxnjIl45GG72YJQ2MlCEMKtkGNOlvJ9sKDVHxRbxmcNjPNu65IJqRi43Xf56B89i-VmPhh3DOhQ-QKLA/s1600/6a00e54fccb6d28834011571d7ab0d970b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWlVPXPt7a70EA3naLpVo25XZW4GDYflLkkM_k9tPLMibFLfuQnvHkN5-PWfvxnjIl45GG72YJQ2MlCEMKtkGNOlvJ9sKDVHxRbxmcNjPNu65IJqRi43Xf56B89i-VmPhh3DOhQ-QKLA/s320/6a00e54fccb6d28834011571d7ab0d970b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656858822409503250" border="0" /></a>I love the cleanliness and crispness of white, but I must face facts that<br />white furniture and an 8 year old boy do not mix!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo22SUXrIZ2cI6_vWZQTIgOzQv2LuC0Geaho-TYWn0EeT3vp1nd40g153dD7o7PgLNtaRkprm83IJEbcJQC2KbVBF6PnKF_U4-Gn1-AISZbwRA2QLUcusYNqSwZFWL6M3RmDr6NUBjQA/s1600/french-country-kitchen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGo22SUXrIZ2cI6_vWZQTIgOzQv2LuC0Geaho-TYWn0EeT3vp1nd40g153dD7o7PgLNtaRkprm83IJEbcJQC2KbVBF6PnKF_U4-Gn1-AISZbwRA2QLUcusYNqSwZFWL6M3RmDr6NUBjQA/s320/french-country-kitchen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656858835621243618" border="0" /></a>Just look at this French country kitchen design. I don't even care about cooking!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8djKvBjvRdzpvabScgY2VftwyJds1pPKGIkg1k6IjcT9SQzdE0jJPeB1iA0WxQAJeMPTLFAoHpS6W6bYFyaS7AkFrXhnciRt3LeFD4oPfxzYogb0CGFX0naa5dtIiICu12OxNKY1YsO0/s1600/farmhouse-sinks-flowers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8djKvBjvRdzpvabScgY2VftwyJds1pPKGIkg1k6IjcT9SQzdE0jJPeB1iA0WxQAJeMPTLFAoHpS6W6bYFyaS7AkFrXhnciRt3LeFD4oPfxzYogb0CGFX0naa5dtIiICu12OxNKY1YsO0/s320/farmhouse-sinks-flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656861218160396690" border="0" /></a>This farmhouse style calls to me, also.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXQxJYOAspQsWRvm3PHvtvBY4cWMVWffdQEW20y5aGB2ucV-Rfa10f5x0XTgr9v30Z6glK4eONMOk3uoAKyByXOdGYnc_2qpYE7beBu1LpAfzVGHQ_4TTAJiaPaa0tsr-xrVSOrPOEnM/s1600/new_happy_days.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXQxJYOAspQsWRvm3PHvtvBY4cWMVWffdQEW20y5aGB2ucV-Rfa10f5x0XTgr9v30Z6glK4eONMOk3uoAKyByXOdGYnc_2qpYE7beBu1LpAfzVGHQ_4TTAJiaPaa0tsr-xrVSOrPOEnM/s320/new_happy_days.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656861212082138770" border="0" /></a>I can remember my grandmother's set. Why is this so awesome??<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQRF2QiCI0A6M0ZVY5YI6ZL-D6VDQCcoE9vsbIBwYw7yUw8AUMbRb18omEyd9Wu81hxpxovSkVi7fUYn7d4DkYy5g_w_vtnGJrKrkOSdAl0LiftklN3e25WhaaF3Fd0SdobATmhhjD9Y/s1600/images+lr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQRF2QiCI0A6M0ZVY5YI6ZL-D6VDQCcoE9vsbIBwYw7yUw8AUMbRb18omEyd9Wu81hxpxovSkVi7fUYn7d4DkYy5g_w_vtnGJrKrkOSdAl0LiftklN3e25WhaaF3Fd0SdobATmhhjD9Y/s320/images+lr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656861220676933938" border="0" /></a>This is so Samantha Stevens! Simple? Linear? It just appeals to me in a big way. Not the color scheme mind you, but the style of the furniture.<br /></div><br /><br />Do you see what I mean? How on earth could I incorporate all the styles I like into one cohesive design? Possible or impossible? And, do I have to stick with a decor that "fits" the townhome we live in now? If you didn't see the pictures, here's our new home:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTpPMzRDxnsijN17a7scYcCDz2UWj3yCZYDV_zWOQQZpYo3DC82-Oa41UyI_tONsL6YNdua9fnNYzSyxLmO55z2ZjQAyF-hXtJj9d_KNgowc9v2pRHtGU4VYMMeFoFD1n2F2fARuDTRY/s1600/066.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTpPMzRDxnsijN17a7scYcCDz2UWj3yCZYDV_zWOQQZpYo3DC82-Oa41UyI_tONsL6YNdua9fnNYzSyxLmO55z2ZjQAyF-hXtJj9d_KNgowc9v2pRHtGU4VYMMeFoFD1n2F2fARuDTRY/s320/066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656870293877182338" border="0" /></a><br />I love the kitchen. The cabinets are a cream, not white.<br />Sure, I'd love granite counter tops, but down the road maybe.<br />I'm thinking an island since there's plenty of room and of course, there's<br />a refrigerator now as well as some items hanging on the backsplash walls.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd0_X60hgU8uChWZwiyS1ZGtMPv_nfSYoXqx-1FQWWeDm0tSWKXv_7LDz8UoaZ_ltOv6erkl1I9f2e4oeg38Zo2Lk8tLIvISmGRUTryWMdvkl8k4qTCmMAsilRqZMnxm8omI8tPczNRg/s1600/IMG-20110509-00062.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpd0_X60hgU8uChWZwiyS1ZGtMPv_nfSYoXqx-1FQWWeDm0tSWKXv_7LDz8UoaZ_ltOv6erkl1I9f2e4oeg38Zo2Lk8tLIvISmGRUTryWMdvkl8k4qTCmMAsilRqZMnxm8omI8tPczNRg/s320/IMG-20110509-00062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656870289367613106" border="0" /></a>So here's the outside. I like the stone and brick combination<br />and the shrubs are gardenias, which are a big favorite of mine.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-Th98DwBED-7xxQj_KnWrpmzoKfdibPxsAaP6nQB0HDIwobxGUPiqYXR5y06O14X2KujAqIqczub6790Ice2ZkkevhWCodCilqZinTr3OSXThnzvUkrxp2zP41Eyl12Nadlnsxq9aGY/s1600/069.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-Th98DwBED-7xxQj_KnWrpmzoKfdibPxsAaP6nQB0HDIwobxGUPiqYXR5y06O14X2KujAqIqczub6790Ice2ZkkevhWCodCilqZinTr3OSXThnzvUkrxp2zP41Eyl12Nadlnsxq9aGY/s320/069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656870294390390402" border="0" /></a>I definitely need updated pictures, but the living room is more rectangular than square with patio doors on the left of the fireplace, the dining area entry to the right. There's also a double window on the left as well. My one dislike? The flooring. It feels and sounds like plastic. I hate it. But that's another something I can live with for a while and perhaps an area rug will help.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So, I have my first real purchase coming and that's my sofa. I saw it a while back at <a href="http://www.pier1.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx">Pier One</a> and fell in love with it. My first choice in color was going to be the sage green, but now I've decided on taupe and that's what will be here in two weeks! It is also on sale for $100 off until the end of September. Here's a picture:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYtnKjhWaOOSvPotuIsemoLulaeuPr6gP7E1wuy9YfzNzBJ0R-xQ5b2_Tu4GThOe3WX1vk7DxhmO2CI-pqlBdYZum6nYzqkAFTmHnoPu_MQKSfFOz2ZFiEdS1rsqAJz8QySOwZQP1Uz0/s1600/pier+one+sofa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYtnKjhWaOOSvPotuIsemoLulaeuPr6gP7E1wuy9YfzNzBJ0R-xQ5b2_Tu4GThOe3WX1vk7DxhmO2CI-pqlBdYZum6nYzqkAFTmHnoPu_MQKSfFOz2ZFiEdS1rsqAJz8QySOwZQP1Uz0/s320/pier+one+sofa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656874101833100498" border="0" /></a><br />I love the shape of the back, like a sweetheart neckline on a dress, giving it a feminine look, but not too much. I think it also has a retro feel with the clean lines. It's also firm without being too hard. I don't like sinking into a sofa and not being able to get out of it without the assistance of a crane.<br /></div><br />So, my next purchase at some point will be a storage piece/bookcases for (of course) my books, photo albums, and other items. My first choice is an Ikea piece. It comes in white, which is probably my first choice since there is white moldings through the house. I'll show you a little trick I found to liven it up though further along in the post. I do like the gray/brown pictured first, but I think it would be hard to find other pieces that go with it color-wise. The chocolate brown is way too dark, I think. What I like about these are the drawers and doors that could hide things I don't necessarily want on display such as pictures not yet in albums, some old books that don't need to be subject to the light, etc.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS93RTysCsE-IdI3VBvCYAmIn5jZEyoAI4nfISvX7z2JuK3fh7oLwt9CiQVD_iPAEvu7JHhu2X3HgENxT5vFQTY8Ka8kyy0O0g_G0o1QmNx_n368kej2mk31imlv-lQCHI0UzST27XgZY/s1600/hemnes-storage-combination__0116149_PE270291_S4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS93RTysCsE-IdI3VBvCYAmIn5jZEyoAI4nfISvX7z2JuK3fh7oLwt9CiQVD_iPAEvu7JHhu2X3HgENxT5vFQTY8Ka8kyy0O0g_G0o1QmNx_n368kej2mk31imlv-lQCHI0UzST27XgZY/s320/hemnes-storage-combination__0116149_PE270291_S4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656876968808103442" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt0jNZz9Zmr5j5jjFVbL4eRgRfRlX7bBqwIm0LFniF1S0bDUdrBITypsGruoAv1uiHbFqNEP3Yroyvj1xHDBQrn9SOg6ysgBuBHjOvNgLN02ri-CmWl_W2uiqYcc-0wiVBwbr8pEcKm4/s1600/93584007_4DSvEAPi_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVt0jNZz9Zmr5j5jjFVbL4eRgRfRlX7bBqwIm0LFniF1S0bDUdrBITypsGruoAv1uiHbFqNEP3Yroyvj1xHDBQrn9SOg6ysgBuBHjOvNgLN02ri-CmWl_W2uiqYcc-0wiVBwbr8pEcKm4/s320/93584007_4DSvEAPi_c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656876966198477874" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49odkepOh68YUeGfMpH5MuuHwwibwyviN36zoWbWzPCrQcoAZuKpezgrB-GN8MZwmTqLP7WM2aEZYx18ohB5FCdtun72E6bSdq2AWXeTTcC23QWhgG4Y0gMDhZLBSzBoUabs5UMZfcN8/s1600/hemnes-storage-combination__0116150_PE270292_S4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49odkepOh68YUeGfMpH5MuuHwwibwyviN36zoWbWzPCrQcoAZuKpezgrB-GN8MZwmTqLP7WM2aEZYx18ohB5FCdtun72E6bSdq2AWXeTTcC23QWhgG4Y0gMDhZLBSzBoUabs5UMZfcN8/s320/hemnes-storage-combination__0116150_PE270292_S4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656876972268995042" border="0" /></a>So, I saw this idea that gives the white bookcase some pop, and I could do something like this, adding my accent color, which I think is going to be a shade of blue.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWnxh0CKi8pzlkfFIyZLxUgh72kp3pNtT9YjKIb9Yt5arkFfI3m_Jhw7jpGtRc3-a8FI7yQrN4RrIueyBox6NbqxkMGJp3KYYGYCMsFuNDIgErgdPD42W9sHqf8vmBg7pCwkk0VPzLvg/s1600/136804374_LPMHoWGJ_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWnxh0CKi8pzlkfFIyZLxUgh72kp3pNtT9YjKIb9Yt5arkFfI3m_Jhw7jpGtRc3-a8FI7yQrN4RrIueyBox6NbqxkMGJp3KYYGYCMsFuNDIgErgdPD42W9sHqf8vmBg7pCwkk0VPzLvg/s320/136804374_LPMHoWGJ_c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656878479267296258" border="0" /></a>See how they painted the backs of the cases?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love it! Not so stark, especially if the piece is bright white.<br /></div><br /><br />Then there is always a much more inexpensive way to have what you need. The description of this says these are wine crates stacked and secured together to make the unit. You can also purchase crates unfinished at Micheal's or Joann's, stain them, and assemble them like so. Instant bookcase/storage. Can you get wine crates around here? Is this too rustic for what I'm going for? I'm thinking maybe it is, but I could live with it.<br /><br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WqPmDBLTBrFRFA6P0HRUG77bdJG4Adm8zyAcu-p1cHeuUWhaWYq8OAL3CHcgzhDF5r71MLl_orNoFqAfck_uqLDIQ2No5hS-3PPWwsPy9R0u6M8IZeTFUwmbAfnPC2EPM0csq13bqPQ/s1600/104403730_KY1NhAah_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WqPmDBLTBrFRFA6P0HRUG77bdJG4Adm8zyAcu-p1cHeuUWhaWYq8OAL3CHcgzhDF5r71MLl_orNoFqAfck_uqLDIQ2No5hS-3PPWwsPy9R0u6M8IZeTFUwmbAfnPC2EPM0csq13bqPQ/s320/104403730_KY1NhAah_b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656878479293004738" border="0" /></a><br />One more shelving option is to take inexpensive bookcases, say 3 of them, stand them as close together as possible. Secure them together and add inexpensive molding at the top and to hide the joinings, making them look like one unit. If I want them white, this would more than likely require painting, which means more labor. Here's an example someone put together for their craft storage:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimr_q2xfs4tPC3GuenBr7c9yJNRNTeO-qFtFf_iMl0G2SjSMYM5HL8CLIY0FXHMsHSQ6GRYWDRC_j0R3PlI1em16q-Y47eoZ_dcQ_h4qLRYCb_sDqPXjKZdF-gKOSKOv3dfDnttJ6JceM/s1600/132393780_Qd0u95vk_c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimr_q2xfs4tPC3GuenBr7c9yJNRNTeO-qFtFf_iMl0G2SjSMYM5HL8CLIY0FXHMsHSQ6GRYWDRC_j0R3PlI1em16q-Y47eoZ_dcQ_h4qLRYCb_sDqPXjKZdF-gKOSKOv3dfDnttJ6JceM/s320/132393780_Qd0u95vk_c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656881733113399554" border="0" /></a><br />Pricing for the bookcases? Ikea's piece is $910. Really expensive and out of my price range if I'm honest. Perhaps I can find something similar at a lesser price? The crate system is cheap! The crates run about $5, add in some screws and paint, and I bet you could come in under $100. The other idea, with bookcases I saw at a surplus store here in town for $47 each would total under $200 once you purchased 3, the hardware and moldings, and the paint.<br /><br />I'm going to ponder on this for a while and make a decision. I'd definitely need some help with the crate system or the 3 bookcases idea. I'll look for similar pieces to the Ikea item as well, to compare pricing. It would be nice not to have to do all the work and painting involved in options 2 and 3. LOL<br /><br />Suggestions? Ideas? What do you think?Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-49765725915407034982011-09-26T16:45:00.000-07:002011-09-26T16:57:26.736-07:00Back in the Saddle<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> 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mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I have ignored my little blog and other things I enjoy doing for way too long now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The past year and a half has been tumultuous, stressful, and full of changes, and I’m still praying for things to settle down to anything close to normalcy for Jake and me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But what is normal, right?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I know what it used to be, but who knows if it will ever be close to that again.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">To recap: </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">May 2010 Jake and I moved out of our home with Pat into an apartment that Jake and I ended up hating. LOL!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There were a few good things: the pool, Jake won a Halloween costume contest; things like that.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Overall, the apartment was too small for us and I felt closed in.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I guess Jake picked up on that.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">If it weren’t for my parents, my good friends Lisa and Mandy, and Kelly P, I’m not sure what I would have done.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My cousins helped me through it by letting me vent endlessly about the breakup, the apartment, money issues, and I’m sure it felt like on and on and on to them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Around June 2010, I realized Pat had met someone else already.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Interesting to me considering it happened so quickly, and they were already seemingly “in love”.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Gag me with a spoon!)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, the denial of any cheating again was made, so whatever!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I did speak my peace concerning this person interacting with Jake at this point, so hopefully we are on the same page, and my wishes will be respected in that regard.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">We actually worked out a support agreement between the two of us concerning Jake and expenses for school, medical bills, etc. for him, and so far that is working out well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Honestly, I never expected us to agree on anything and for this, I’m very grateful.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Jake and I made it through our first holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pat came over Christmas morning and watched him open his gifts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jake wasn’t happy when she left and didn’t do anything else with us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">During the holiday time, I was VERY blessed to have a lady at work and her parents sponsor Jake and me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They helped out so much with gifts for him, groceries, gift cards for me to spend on anything else he needed, and even cash.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This really got us through the holidays and I felt so much better knowing Jake had the things he wanted from Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Despite that I never really decorated our tree and my mood was a little somber, we got through it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Jake finished up 1<sup>st</sup> grade in the spring of 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I could not believe my baby would be headed to second grade come fall!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This summer he really enjoyed summer camp at Kickin’ Kids.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He met his first best friend, Don Criss, and two other boys he enjoys playing with, Noah and Emerson.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We still need to set up play dates for Noah and Emerson, but Jake and Don Criss are very insistent on seeing each other outside of school!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They are best buddies and it’s really cute to listen to Jake’s side of the conversation when they talk on the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think at one point, he was giving Don Criss a virtual tour of our place over the phone!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Too cute!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Once our lease was up at the apartment and after looking for a new place for us, I found a townhouse that I am renting to own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I guess it was meant to be since it all came together the way it did, but the worrier in me is concerned that I did the right thing, that I can afford it, and that at the end of the three years I can actually purchase the home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Luckily, the owner said if I needed extra time, it was no problem.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">We moved in at the end of June.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My sister was a huge help along with my parents and a friend of my dad’s.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lisa B. came over and helped me unpack the kitchen and set it up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kelly P. helped me move boxes around, up to the attic, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And a friend of mine, Joan, was amazing helping with moving boxes from downstairs to upstairs as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’d recently been in a walking boot after hurting my ankle so her climbing the stairs for me like that was a godsend!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">We’re settling in slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There are still boxes in the garage that need to be unpacked and an organized stack of them in the living room waiting for bookcases.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We need furniture, storage type pieces as well as a couch (more on that later) and a few other things.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’ll all come in time, and I’m hoping to create some artwork of my own for the walls.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Things are better than they were all the way around.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Pat and I get along for the most part; we have our agreement on financial support as well as visitation so I guess we’re okay.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Jake isn’t enjoying 2<sup>nd</sup> grade as much as 1<sup>st</sup>, but hopefully that will change.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He’s been back for about a month and a half so I’m hoping it’s a matter of him adjusting to the increase in schoolwork as well as homework, no naps or rest times like in kindergarten and first grade, and a lot more structure thrown into the mix.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">My mom has been a blessing for us as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She helps with Jake when she can, and I enjoy spending time with her and wish we could spend more together.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thanks to her, my wonderful Pier One Imports sofa is on its way and should be in our home in 2 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m so excited to know it’s coming- a good start to decorating our new home.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll definitely be posting my ideas on decorating soon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I’m seeing a little more of Amy, (my sister)not like I’d wish, but more than in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I hope she’s doing well and can accomplish some of her goals, too.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She deserves to be happy, and I think if the two of us can overcome our own self-doubt, it make work out for both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is over halfway through his radiation treatments after surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m so glad he’s doing so well and pray every day that he is cured from this.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s been so hard on him and my stepmom, but also on my grandmother.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She has worried herself so over her son, and who can blame her?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Overall though, my dad is great, feeling well with no radiation side effects, and we are so grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I still enjoy my job for the most part.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There’s really no room for advancement of any type, and this company really isn’t known for giving raises, but I have insurance, the pay could be a lot worse, and one thing that gets me through it is I have my own office.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Although people come in and out during the day, I’m basically alone and that’s how I like it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m hopeful that next year I will not use up all of my PTO time on Jake or me being sick.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We both had the flu, I hurt my ankle at work, but still had to take PTO time to see the doctor, which I think is wrong, but oh well, and I’ve had some other health issues so not one of my 128 hours of PTO was used for any fun.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Jake and I have started a vacation $ jar and we’re planning on no sickness to use up my PTO and a fun vacation for us, even if it is a trip down to the beach for a long weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’d love to take him to Disney because I think he’d really enjoy himself, but I may be reaching too far.<span style=""> <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">My friends, Lisa and Mandy-what can I say? They are wonderful to Jake and me, and I appreciate them so much. Kelly P.-gosh, he's helped us so much and Jake has a Wii competitor, too.<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Lastly, and I’ll write more about this later, I have discovered something about myself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I may have blogged previously about seeing a counselor and dealing with weight/eating issues.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After changing counselors (because the previous counselor was one that Pat and I both saw for couples’ counseling as well as individually), I know now that I have a true eating disorder.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s really hard for my family to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think they just see me as someone who enjoys food and over eats.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Well sure, I do enjoy food.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Who doesn’t?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But, they don’t understand the binging, the night eating, the compulsiveness about it all, and how it is much, much more than overeating and not exercising or needing to diet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Perhaps also they think I'm just using that as an excuse? </span>I think my cousins understand and are very empathetic because they too struggle with food issues.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I think my friends understand although perhaps they think it’s simply a lack of willpower?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hopefully, I can explain enough in later blog posts to help them understand more about eating disorders.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">For now, I’ll leave off here.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I can’t catch up a year’s worth of events and changes in one post, but I’m planning to start doing the things I love again, the things that keep me going on another level, things that allow me to be creative, <a name="_GoBack"></a>and that inspire me to be a better mom and a better person all the way around.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC""> </span></p>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-57163641190668268442011-03-29T17:19:00.000-07:002011-03-29T17:50:10.495-07:00Project Comfort-Still Here and Crocheting!I'm almost finished with a beautiful yellow shawl for a co-worker. I can't wait to finish it and give it to her! I used <a href="http://www.michaels.com/Bernat-Satin/nw0106,default,pd.html?start=3&cgid=products-yarnandneedlecrafts-bernat">this yarn</a> mainly because it was the perfect shade of yellow, but it does unravel easily and splits like the one review on the site says if you aren't careful.<br /><br />I have a pink shawl finished except for fringe and I have got to get that finished. I think I'm finally back in the crochet groove so hopefully I can take care of that pretty quickly.<br /><br />Remember, if you'd like a shawl for someone send me an e-mail. I've reprinted the paragraph below from another post that tells you what Project Comfort is if you're new to my blog.<br /><br />I started Project Comfort when I learned about the Prayer Shawl Ministry. About the same time, I learned of a woman diagnosed with cancer, someone close to my age, and it made me realize how fast things can change in our lives. Half of the proceeds from the sell of any comfort shawls go back into Project Comfort so that shawls can be made and donated to anyone undergoing a difficult time in their life such as chemotherapy, dialysis, or grieving of a passed loved one. Many choose to have the shawls blessed by their pastor or priest before giving it to the recipient. My crocheted shawls may have slight imperfections, but these should not be anything you notice. Items are from a smoke-free and pet-free home. If you have any allergies to yarn materials such as silk, alpaca, wool, etc. please let me know and I can choose a yarn made without any of these materials.Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-44053995920041366132011-02-14T19:36:00.001-08:002011-03-29T17:15:16.128-07:00Trailing Roses<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> 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</w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">I have always wondered what our dreams are saying about what's going on inside us and/or what they mean. I have been dreaming weird, scary, reminiscent, and even repeat dreams for quite a while now. Last night I was completely in the past.</span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style=";font-size:12pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">At first I was with someone who I realize after this dream probably contributed more to my self-esteem issues than I ever realized. I lived with a home-away-from home family in Atlanta for one semester, and I can remember before I even met them, the husband saying to me they wanted someone to be a part of their family and not close up in their bedroom all the time. Didn't take me long to figure out WHY their previous students shut themselves in their room! His wife was awful! Doing chores in return for being given a free place to stay is NOT a problem. Being forced to do certain chores like "Cinderella" is another. I said "no thank you" to something at dinner one night and got a lecture in my room about how I should eat whatever she cooks so that her kids will eat it as well. She wasn't that great a cook, and I was a picky eater. I already stashed food in my dresser. One day, they grilled steaks and we're eating outside, a very nice day. I take a steak from the platter, and she says asks me if I'm going to eat the entire steak. I know I turned beet red, cut the steak in half, and put half back on the platter. It was demeaning and hurtful and she was a bitch to even ask. Here I was, away from home for the first time. I was trying to act like an adult and take on my new responsibilities at a new job as well as being a good student, and no matter what I did, this woman had something negative to say to me. Needless to say, I shut myself in my room and ended up getting an apartment for second semester.<br /><br />As far as the dream with her in it, sorry for digressing, she was letting some auction company take all of my grandmother's things that were stored in an attic. My mother and I had been trying to get rid of everything, but we were also going through it all in order to keep things like photos and other personal items. I spoke to the woman in charge of the auction, explaining everything and she promised I'd be able to go through everything. This didn't happen for whatever reason, and all through the dream I was doing my best to get through every section of this huge building where they were selling my grandmother's belongings. I was finding things that in reality I don't have and I know are not in my grandmother's attic or home, but it was as if I was completely reliving my time with her. I was picking up pictures I'd never seen before (and have never seen in real life). I was finding old toys that belonged to my sister and I. I came across items that hung in her kitchen or living room. The kitchen cabinets and drawers were in a room and I knew I wanted the drawers for some reason and I pulled four of them out and put them in a box with all the other things I'd collected. I had the worst time in the dream keeping up with my boxes, my sister and my son. I'd go from one thing to the other, leave a box somewhere and have to get back to it before someone took it. It was so unnerving and frustrating. It felt like I did this all night long, fighting to keep what was my grandmother's and see what every item was they were bringing out of the attic. I remember being half awake and still fighting to keep up with everything before completely waking up.<br /><br />It's hard not to wonder what all of this is about. Yes, I miss this grandmother terribly. I miss being able to go to her home and talk to her. I think how I'd like to talk to my mother and her siblings about possibly tackling the HUGE project of fixing up the small house and bringing it all back to life again right down to the barn and the chicken coop so that my son can grow up in fresh air, and play in the barn and pick the blackberries and where we can have a garden and plant the entire front acre in corn. Perhaps this is just a longing for simpler times, but gosh how I do long for that. I'm not sure my mother's brother would be amenable to this since he feels he should "inherit" it all once my grandfather, who lives with him, passes away. Oh, what death and greed does to people. Do I dare ask? Could I take on such a project? Would I want to live so far away from everything? Would I be just as happy if I could create this simpler life somewhere else?<br /><br />Another part of the past crept into my dreams last night. For a while, way back when, I did some wedding photography. Most was done for people in my family, but there were a few people I photographed their weddings who I didn't know well at all. Last night I was AT a wedding that I had photographed and I actually had the photos from that wedding with me. In other words, I had taken the pictures, the couple had gotten married already, but for some strange reason, it was all happening again. I had to keep the pictures in my hands hidden so that no one would see that I already had all the photos. Strange, I know. I had originally attended this wedding with my other grandmother (in the dream), but this time was with my bestest friend, Lisa. As we were leaving the wedding, I was gathering up boxes and boxes of photos, all photos of weddings of family members and friends. Again, it was a constant struggle to keep all my boxes together and get them all in my car. This dream continued on and on, and all of it seemed to be a repeat of a dream I'd had before. So strange.<br /><br />Now, I guess you would like to know where the trailing roses comes into play? The grandmother I spoke of whose personal things I was trying to collect in the first dream? In real life, she had these gorgeous pink and white roses in her yard. They were small, cabbage-type roses. When I first started my photography classes, I would come home on weekends and click away at the roses and the barn, the tractor and the chicken coop. Somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, the image came to my mind of her with the roses. She didn't "prune" them, but when the trailing branches become so long, she would simply take a large rock, pull the branch to the ground and place the rock on top. She told me the rose branch would create a new rooting system and simply start new growth. Her rose bush was huge and full of roses, so I guess she knew what she was talking about. This makes me wonder...do I hold on to the original rose bush or do I create a branch of my own? Do I grow off in another direction and let the past go? Or do I need to take a step back into my past to find what I'm looking for?</span><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal; font-family: times new roman;" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS09IYDC4jHavGBVn4HKn6wdN7d-_WzqjZomzZENja4JsGEqqV2Qh0sEIiiwW33qWTkGlSXPYorJDV2uzDxm3kgWCQgcgsUoC68k6XnFe9urkscc8PDYQ1j0bdsbnMiGjSXbGfjyNa1zI/s1600/scan0002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS09IYDC4jHavGBVn4HKn6wdN7d-_WzqjZomzZENja4JsGEqqV2Qh0sEIiiwW33qWTkGlSXPYorJDV2uzDxm3kgWCQgcgsUoC68k6XnFe9urkscc8PDYQ1j0bdsbnMiGjSXbGfjyNa1zI/s320/scan0002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573755509829591330" border="0" /></a><a 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mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </a></p><h4>1 comments: </h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="c342132291132972650" id="av-0-09974556423547376569"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09974556423547376569"><span style=" text-decoration: none;color:windowtext;" ><span style=""><span style="color:blue;"><span style=""></span></span></span><span style=""><span style="color:blue;"><span style=""></span></span></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/09974556423547376569">Leah Crowe</a> said... </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in;">While reading this it feels like you are fighting to hold on to something, or struggling to keep what is yours. I feel this way when I go to my mom's house now. She was 2/3 of the way of kicking her husband out, and in he waltzes the morning she passed away and moves back into her house. Feel like I'm fighting to get anything of hers, because none of it meant anything to him. Eeeks. sorry for venting here... I loved hearing about your dreams, and your grandmother roses. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span class="comment-timestamp"><a href="http://peoniespopsicles.blogspot.com/2011/01/trailing-roses.html?showComment=1295313000141#c342132291132972650" title="comment permalink">January 17, 2011 5:10 PM </a></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=5577800847812637945&postID=342132291132972650" title=""Delete Comment" "><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style=""><img src="file:///C:/Users/Jan/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.gif" alt="http://www.blogger.com/img/icon_delete13.gif" border="0" height="13" width="13" /></span></span></a></p> <span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:11pt;" > </span> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-40633563992809056472010-09-06T16:51:00.000-07:002010-09-06T17:33:36.477-07:00A Month to the DayWow, it was August 6 when I last blogged, and here it is Labor Day, September 6. I am having blogger's block these days because so much is happening and so much is changing. I just hope I can handle it all. It's very scary. I didn't expect to be raising my son alone, doing everything on my own, and it's overwhelming if I think about it. So I'm trying not to think and just do. <div><br /></div><div>I'm trying not to be angry, but that's the toughest! My friends say it's time to be angry. Maybe so.<br /><div><br /></div><div>It's hard to get over the hurt and sadness that someone can inflict, but you have to, don't you? Especially if you have a child involved in it all. And I'm just trying to do what's best for him, my top priority. </div><div><br /></div><div>What I don't understand and what hurts the most is how someone can move on so quickly after 16 years. I'm thinking take this time and find myself again, get back that "self" I lost in the relationship and spend some time on my own. I assume that my ex would do the same. And yes, there may have been a little part of me that wondered if we just might patch things up. Nope! New woman already sleeping in what was my bedroom, visiting the people I love and taking my place. So I ask myself: Can the ex really have found someone so quickly or were they seeing this person for quite some time even while we were in counseling in hopes to repair our relationship? I choose B, but I guess I'll never know for sure. </div><div><br /></div><div>And where does our boy stand? How do I explain to him what's going on if this family he's known since birth disappears from his life? I know divorce happens to everyone, break-ups happen, and family dissolve. But it's happening right now, it's fresh and painful, and I have to find a way to explain all of this to Jake. As I look at him sleeping beside me, I worry about him and yet I try to tell myself he'll be just fine. Dear God, I hope so. It's up to me now. </div></div>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-71566734164480316832010-08-06T17:12:00.001-07:002010-08-06T17:46:04.328-07:00Progress...At least Mommie thinks so...Back before school was out this past May, this is the way Jake would draw people. We all had rectangles for bodies and lots of fingers and circular feet attached to stick legs. I love them! This is a drawing of his classmate, Corianne.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR5DzaY7ITTXu5Qm7_aMfwHlBoePUa-cQtjy1sVWIh1O4zJDs0yxuOrX4F5ca9M8oOLVqYqbabkOCqYiVA2C2wQWTYijrPnVLGaNIQPTn4c2ER4KrbuKMclVB5XAqxSn_m8W0nPuTnb0/s1600/Jake-June+2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR5DzaY7ITTXu5Qm7_aMfwHlBoePUa-cQtjy1sVWIh1O4zJDs0yxuOrX4F5ca9M8oOLVqYqbabkOCqYiVA2C2wQWTYijrPnVLGaNIQPTn4c2ER4KrbuKMclVB5XAqxSn_m8W0nPuTnb0/s320/Jake-June+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502454476925795762" border="0" /></a>Over the past three months, he has really come a long way in how he draws people now. I would love it if he enjoyed art as much as I do (or did it seems these days), so I definitely encourage him to draw and paint. Tonight, he was in the mood to draw so he picked up his Jessie and Woody figures from Toy Story 3, similar looking to the one in the pictures below. I told him just to look at them and draw what he saw.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEM5J9uu3qp8VwCSrlHteEefGf7g4UyUs3c8VDz3LlRgnFeAHCaC2CenculRIBKJvYXrJWU_xQONuOyWmSkOsSGh1WVqTUVdtTr7agAK9zcSMSFhjlnLwEBxU6BM8sBPNcYxUmCg78x58/s1600/3079026_s1_i1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEM5J9uu3qp8VwCSrlHteEefGf7g4UyUs3c8VDz3LlRgnFeAHCaC2CenculRIBKJvYXrJWU_xQONuOyWmSkOsSGh1WVqTUVdtTr7agAK9zcSMSFhjlnLwEBxU6BM8sBPNcYxUmCg78x58/s320/3079026_s1_i1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502455441896380818" border="0" /></a><br />Here's Woody! I think in three short months he has really come a long way! Look at Woody's spurs! And he has a bandanna around his neck! And a holster!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCvr5odsIRjIxdAC6j8Za6g6BXzHTBHcHdaj4yiMETHKaoDH0NoWDPrUQCOO3X89bB2aVv_8Br1h8W-Jk0xbzycjFw6uchs0qOSFOvJPLnix9Oiv8yHPDHrT4uRWjG7t-c2-DhyphenhyphenJlxe0/s1600/Jake+August+2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCvr5odsIRjIxdAC6j8Za6g6BXzHTBHcHdaj4yiMETHKaoDH0NoWDPrUQCOO3X89bB2aVv_8Br1h8W-Jk0xbzycjFw6uchs0qOSFOvJPLnix9Oiv8yHPDHrT4uRWjG7t-c2-DhyphenhyphenJlxe0/s320/Jake+August+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502454492520365218" border="0" /></a><br />And here's Jessie! She has cow hide print chaps and yellow cuffs on her sleeves! Her hair is red and her eyes are green! Okay, her feet aren't quite right yet, but hey, I see progress!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr_wU0vNLvOVAoIkz0LJXgDYP54BUY6L6Czs9hEvozygc1uKtrJvEFS5yN_pXOrJjU8DloDFXYcmpVEiw7hYDNU06lVeib1_BQwSB4chmmk13T2SV3G0Akx-0m3WUWbQ5c2ec2TunOq4/s1600/Jake+August+2+2010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr_wU0vNLvOVAoIkz0LJXgDYP54BUY6L6Czs9hEvozygc1uKtrJvEFS5yN_pXOrJjU8DloDFXYcmpVEiw7hYDNU06lVeib1_BQwSB4chmmk13T2SV3G0Akx-0m3WUWbQ5c2ec2TunOq4/s320/Jake+August+2+2010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502454486025945378" border="0" /></a><br />School starts in a week or so and I can't believe it's FIRST GRADE for Jake already. I still want him to be my baby. I want to hold him and smooch on his chubby cheeks and blow raspberries on his belly! I want him this size again:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJwxA1OIcMRjyNNObfL99BWN9kClINGB44FZSPL8g1xrF5EorIFK6Bha41HE_PkZbeEJOoazKmnVaDjwZSiW1XjVV1Dz9AVDtiG-AwSaXrVKeqNn92qxOSgS-vNTPCBBQPSikLWkbAaQ/s1600/DCP00332.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJwxA1OIcMRjyNNObfL99BWN9kClINGB44FZSPL8g1xrF5EorIFK6Bha41HE_PkZbeEJOoazKmnVaDjwZSiW1XjVV1Dz9AVDtiG-AwSaXrVKeqNn92qxOSgS-vNTPCBBQPSikLWkbAaQ/s320/DCP00332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502459093460040402" border="0" /></a><br />Yet, today at our doctor's visit, he measured 4 feet 1-1/2 inches tall and 47 pounds. He's a bit thin, but before you know it, he'll be taller than me!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHhwKv9Ql3GTiXNaqXEbEfjAwExHsTLLavDmf4s_NAAOhnupxjdGk0ZTE9XHkHgsscMEUPB7Iz6-eaD7jxqu0-gpD_0tL2QD9T_BJkifBR3wLTRwu87lQaA90hrOiHRM2CeaCVQCunFY/s1600/001.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw7iHUBKsgkmJA-tKdv_cQ1PxeATbiKyT0aomSa7gCfWCGQAN5rIQhGBvH0D7FdoNZHbpsA0LhrXYrntlhfyuGYtfprfz9YEMZOOxGFJrsm7Vbb7FOwWdEzgmf_XRit0m5vH574VG9_g/s1600/048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw7iHUBKsgkmJA-tKdv_cQ1PxeATbiKyT0aomSa7gCfWCGQAN5rIQhGBvH0D7FdoNZHbpsA0LhrXYrntlhfyuGYtfprfz9YEMZOOxGFJrsm7Vbb7FOwWdEzgmf_XRit0m5vH574VG9_g/s320/048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502461927928538018" border="0" /></a>Here he is at Fine Arts Day Camp Family Day with his friend, Evangeline. Where'd my baby go?Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-43727656838439136822010-05-30T18:22:00.001-07:002010-05-30T19:10:21.112-07:00Has it really been two months?I honestly can't believe my blog has sat idle for so long. Of course, there has been an incredible amount of "stuff" going on, some fun and some not so fun. Things are settling down a bit, and I hope they continue to do so.<br /><br />How about some kindergarten graduation photos!? Jake graduated from kindergarten Thursday, May 27! I am so proud of my sweet boy, and he had a great report card, too! We did forget to return a library book that happened to get mixed up with our own books in our move, but I found it and we'll take it to the school on Tuesday. Oops!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8S2-Y4FqG-d4QUT3a-8inR827VpBCc8mzT84zO5K06TxdnPaE_pOojQPGQs6cOIG1lBiBDZm8UDXgNCR8361u9MCHS7-SoZ_WJ0CfWwxiENl1gLKDWBe3TPA6hfiaowTRH7ee_O54do/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8S2-Y4FqG-d4QUT3a-8inR827VpBCc8mzT84zO5K06TxdnPaE_pOojQPGQs6cOIG1lBiBDZm8UDXgNCR8361u9MCHS7-SoZ_WJ0CfWwxiENl1gLKDWBe3TPA6hfiaowTRH7ee_O54do/s320/001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477244003875955378" border="0" /></a><br />This was taken before we left for graduation. Handsome!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip468IO0K0rQ873d-iV8EAnNdbWta_eeimCNyXBg5kMCrlNsyJd3TK_a5WDpwIEjJsj8UM_VkBGhkWahegeuDGTCUX4Hs0UF3S6XUaD3ukQwOoFD3VvGKQzhyphenhyphenoewxYVJP5Q2sLaw_6tIE/s1600/053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip468IO0K0rQ873d-iV8EAnNdbWta_eeimCNyXBg5kMCrlNsyJd3TK_a5WDpwIEjJsj8UM_VkBGhkWahegeuDGTCUX4Hs0UF3S6XUaD3ukQwOoFD3VvGKQzhyphenhyphenoewxYVJP5Q2sLaw_6tIE/s320/053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477244004960239730" border="0" /></a>Waiting to hear his name and receive his diploma. (See video at the end.)<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BCub39fqYNn52KFE78cxe6n3U2ulG37L31PxOJUL8Frg8GriCBvFKbo99avJH9uiNi-HIhbZlnXcY_-B_QAfHZDqzev6oS-DRsQFvdYVjfj5uUGn7m3yCUQPIPAgft1m-2zCG02Ncjk/s1600/064.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BCub39fqYNn52KFE78cxe6n3U2ulG37L31PxOJUL8Frg8GriCBvFKbo99avJH9uiNi-HIhbZlnXcY_-B_QAfHZDqzev6oS-DRsQFvdYVjfj5uUGn7m3yCUQPIPAgft1m-2zCG02Ncjk/s320/064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477244017293224850" border="0" /></a><br />Oh boy, does Jake adore this little girl, Sarah! They certainly do make a cute couple!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7TSiyZQurNkz6uC7Zg2qjVKQyRty8oynMKtFnWorGPG0hP_HWv0Gygt6EC6U5cxWO1m3i3ID02vprdPiC5e8vm0GbWWk1kc0r7JOK7b7Y3ncp5FftOckBdF_O9x1SXtVCENMGqWK2pk/s1600/063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7TSiyZQurNkz6uC7Zg2qjVKQyRty8oynMKtFnWorGPG0hP_HWv0Gygt6EC6U5cxWO1m3i3ID02vprdPiC5e8vm0GbWWk1kc0r7JOK7b7Y3ncp5FftOckBdF_O9x1SXtVCENMGqWK2pk/s320/063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477244012979340450" border="0" /></a><br />Here's Jake and Bethany. This little girl has the sweetest smile!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLl9XXCP-ZypMGfGQkGhlUlKzVrEx-mTeTbRK3LMil6Jb85Vko_IuHUpXdNAlpb3AJD_c3NwkVPISikDm8SCpc8axuh8a2jmygjoMAVMJt2A9Sigm-oMlok8iHX7kGqBlHqenNV418Ls/s1600/065.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLl9XXCP-ZypMGfGQkGhlUlKzVrEx-mTeTbRK3LMil6Jb85Vko_IuHUpXdNAlpb3AJD_c3NwkVPISikDm8SCpc8axuh8a2jmygjoMAVMJt2A9Sigm-oMlok8iHX7kGqBlHqenNV418Ls/s320/065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477244019882651442" border="0" /></a><br />Mrs. Sullivan, Jake's teacher. She's super nice!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctaoVis7G17GOIpR3rU9LAheF3fbI6ZOVHlPdG6aPqfp4_LwiAQuV0sg2FfYCd5lW9bccL9CBbihfcAKJVCTpceq-CLMU5PD7J2Gmh93ceQa57mrszS9fbpOqvP6u5KD3r1nfYm35Nww/s1600/069.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctaoVis7G17GOIpR3rU9LAheF3fbI6ZOVHlPdG6aPqfp4_LwiAQuV0sg2FfYCd5lW9bccL9CBbihfcAKJVCTpceq-CLMU5PD7J2Gmh93ceQa57mrszS9fbpOqvP6u5KD3r1nfYm35Nww/s320/069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477246837463809858" border="0" /></a>Mrs. Browning, Jake's teacher, also. Super sweet lady!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OmLmS3raLJCGQUyL2Xq-OEZOhJJdPW8lVchwGZrqBi90ZBuz-nl5UKjgL05hr1dv7XX0jFHkrbGjcWUSNpjHy7ZIrAbtT7XGUa6BBRKvd-T3a9MCKbQxpTdXAKLtOxoOwYhP3o88V4Q/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OmLmS3raLJCGQUyL2Xq-OEZOhJJdPW8lVchwGZrqBi90ZBuz-nl5UKjgL05hr1dv7XX0jFHkrbGjcWUSNpjHy7ZIrAbtT7XGUa6BBRKvd-T3a9MCKbQxpTdXAKLtOxoOwYhP3o88V4Q/s320/070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477246842794493634" border="0" /></a>Jake and Andrew. They were also buddies in the after-school program. <br /><br /><br /></div>Graduation Video:<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzoVQWKZTBl88bK1OT3wnhftvG_Ug3w13HtpuD5kpqbZVyLR4FPsuUnSVhKWLxSRF_PH8T4mLqBxso63hYuBw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />So what else is new? Jake and I have moved and I guess things are okay. I'm super worried that I won't be able to afford everything, so definitely send a prayer my way. In the meantime, I can only take one day at a time. I'll have some photos of the apartment up soon. We're still unpacking, and it feels like I'll never be finished. <br /><br />I took some time off from work to make this a long weekend, and Jake and I have spent some time in the pool. He's doing a terrific job with learning to swim. <br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7CCcXdKz2dqynWECxUX__B8zDMlxBSj3fdaSgFo26Ysx6A4KBXDt977wV3pdj79odRzvjNypYgedA6wDU0A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />More updates later. Time for bed around here!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-7534232736722614952010-03-21T15:08:00.000-07:002010-03-21T15:18:50.842-07:00Toof Fairy Comes Tonight!Most of you know how concerned I have been about this tooth. About 30 minutes ago while Jake was playing Wii, I heard "My toof fell out!" I ran into the living room and hallelujah, the tooth was out! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1-im5DrqOQGpp8Zvi8nls8fQPJvsWURdvHeHMHKorvNB8xmOiWUhHZ1oUXbWg-GHygcCU78QPCq9uRM91dDqgRbsfvIJplxqAdAmaX9OHPR1v1oLKwl0smr8Zno8eqDejUeT89o5q9k/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1-im5DrqOQGpp8Zvi8nls8fQPJvsWURdvHeHMHKorvNB8xmOiWUhHZ1oUXbWg-GHygcCU78QPCq9uRM91dDqgRbsfvIJplxqAdAmaX9OHPR1v1oLKwl0smr8Zno8eqDejUeT89o5q9k/s320/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451213128159529362" border="0" /></a>He still has another on the bottom just hanging there. Can you say "braces"? lol!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD_vGEpjUHeBOWajVYLbmcE97KYSmWcl4cz5iKuevyXY2ppjC03d7OUw50aIkaS1p9sH0dxDyrQCxvZ_iTeXhn2o-mvIyo4kGw-yzVEcO7YJetjBXXuK0WmItglubz-19U6RZaxUlKO8/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD_vGEpjUHeBOWajVYLbmcE97KYSmWcl4cz5iKuevyXY2ppjC03d7OUw50aIkaS1p9sH0dxDyrQCxvZ_iTeXhn2o-mvIyo4kGw-yzVEcO7YJetjBXXuK0WmItglubz-19U6RZaxUlKO8/s320/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451214528633218770" border="0" /></a>Look at that sweet face! I do dread going through this for the rest of his baby teeth. This is only the second one he's lost. Help!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-24997797089464909672010-03-16T18:24:00.000-07:002010-03-16T19:21:20.744-07:00Back from HiatusI used to be a little better at keeping up with my blogs. I have more of the <a href="http://heartscrapsjan.blogspot.com/2009/07/bringing-it-back-to-life-part-1.html">Home Place</a> story to post as soon as I get some pictures sorted out, and there's lots of things coming up, but since I started my job, which I really like, it's been tough to find any time for all the things I love. I haven't scrapbooked in close to a year, but I actually have a scrapbook to create for someone else! I'm nervous about it, hope I can do a good job, and she likes my style. Plus, her little one is a girl! I get to use pink and flowers and all kind of girlie stuff!<br /><br />Thinking of selling the house, may be putting it up for sale around the end of April. We don't need a house as large as this one. It costs way too much to heat and cool. I can't keep up with all the cleaning either. I love the idea of simplifying and downsizing, and to prepare, we've started cleaning out and organizing!<br /><br />I figured we'd start with a small space, and we picked the master bedroom closet/laundry room. I'm not sure I ever want the laundry room inside the closet again. I guess it's nice because all the laundry is hidden, and you just have to toss your dirty stuff in the basket, but it just seemed to stay a mess all the time. It was also kind of weird to have the washer repairman in the closet the other day.<br /><br />Do I even have to say that small space took all freaking day? I still have to pull the washer and dryer out and clean the floor there, but otherwise, we're done with that. Hopefully, we can keep it clean and not have to start over once we get the rest of the house done. <br /><br />I didn't take before pictures because that would have shown what a slob I've become, but here are some after shots. LOL!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy98SkSg3cSsudCweI2G-8l_GsibVLsiC4MJTRL03Ce2OSCLOHjoVsT_AIleWPAVk653Nwn2tHh0faM-Z9o2f5-WVIaR5XPekvzGQBS2ScG7EZDvJIZXW6KvGfSLgLRdq7V65yHHKY2tw/s1600-h/108.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy98SkSg3cSsudCweI2G-8l_GsibVLsiC4MJTRL03Ce2OSCLOHjoVsT_AIleWPAVk653Nwn2tHh0faM-Z9o2f5-WVIaR5XPekvzGQBS2ScG7EZDvJIZXW6KvGfSLgLRdq7V65yHHKY2tw/s320/108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449409801338393762" border="0" /></a><br />The laundry area. Can you believe I actually had to call the Maytag Repairman? Washer was just a year old, and the transmission went out.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeihDSbjs3c6ZN4Ka7SG3lusRjyJjzTzGBFEYINBem2j2jS_lMAaqf6X8hlMEEgwUfsMr0UTKaGhDO6LDgiijYBkYcUz0QnkMEVEoSimooQDymqw1QB5Dxyf_f35OFluOyytRFGftMW8/s1600-h/105.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeihDSbjs3c6ZN4Ka7SG3lusRjyJjzTzGBFEYINBem2j2jS_lMAaqf6X8hlMEEgwUfsMr0UTKaGhDO6LDgiijYBkYcUz0QnkMEVEoSimooQDymqw1QB5Dxyf_f35OFluOyytRFGftMW8/s320/105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449409526149481330" border="0" /></a><br />It's sad how few clothes I have. I definitely need to shop for clothes. Can't wear my PJs to work like I have for the past 8 years. IGNORE the horrible floral border. We never did get that down.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzLpdOjq6cqHL5QSVGhyphenhyphenG7BJFCdYVvbmesALC_VG7YNhjJXWXnity0-WFYN_rDe8ClQNANe-8_QCzWZ2BSwSP43e4XzzrRPJl7wmq5-M41YWuFxbdk3eomnxqRoLScvLqJCFtao3lB6c/s1600-h/104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzLpdOjq6cqHL5QSVGhyphenhyphenG7BJFCdYVvbmesALC_VG7YNhjJXWXnity0-WFYN_rDe8ClQNANe-8_QCzWZ2BSwSP43e4XzzrRPJl7wmq5-M41YWuFxbdk3eomnxqRoLScvLqJCFtao3lB6c/s320/104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449409520673147810" border="0" /></a>Towels and sheets. I love neatly folded towels!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I mentioned, I really like my new job. It's so close to home and to Jake's school, that the extra gas isn't too big a factor. My insurance started this month! BIG YAY! I feel more like a real person again instead of someone struggling with everything. AND...look where I got to park the whole month of February! <br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchB-Mg4xiDP8cfDYPpKNtf_sxezqgwn6LvL_1Lm4SeLHFDFMKjxFIM3zB5dXZGKKTUe6j1gzjVpIG8dPfHZWQ-I5q0sv10qmI-WPhErXKJIZyJFsvqkTCx6uLun08ZHW0HibKiNPfCVk/s1600-h/360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchB-Mg4xiDP8cfDYPpKNtf_sxezqgwn6LvL_1Lm4SeLHFDFMKjxFIM3zB5dXZGKKTUe6j1gzjVpIG8dPfHZWQ-I5q0sv10qmI-WPhErXKJIZyJFsvqkTCx6uLun08ZHW0HibKiNPfCVk/s320/360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449409513464310242" border="0" /></a><br />I'd like to say I earned "employee of the month", but they draw names! : ) I'll take it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, so the tooth fairy paid her first visit a while back. Jake had one of the baby teeth on the bottom front so loose that I couldn't believe it just didn't fall out. I managed to get him to let his Papa "feel" of the tooth, and Papa just popped it right out! I think the little bit of blood was scary, but Jake got over it pretty quick. Now though, he will not let me wiggle any of the REALLY loose teeth basically hanging out of his mouth. Look!<br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5r5MDyPhUYf_5Ew9VqTHlOuCmGpfqWULUIlZ3ZNqcluO8U5AbrbEl-MyTC7M9UaoHZem_n_NgurGJCGi7MUesoksNEr71WsNrr3-SXn7hgMthpHeesxTfS41NlLNkq3c182Ps63CZI0/s1600-h/110.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitblDReUfjP84GOj6HSdkbYhDZkpFKJEe_r8ZLee8TNE0FkXXn2RvvSoUJnUNDb_GBTJRUXZM9bRdZKzbeFA16Quf8YoM7CKTGLp9Q99oaaEZ5Jzru_pPE3tvaWHFQGoMCzhDiVJzEI_A/s1600-h/109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitblDReUfjP84GOj6HSdkbYhDZkpFKJEe_r8ZLee8TNE0FkXXn2RvvSoUJnUNDb_GBTJRUXZM9bRdZKzbeFA16Quf8YoM7CKTGLp9Q99oaaEZ5Jzru_pPE3tvaWHFQGoMCzhDiVJzEI_A/s320/109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449409491874128786" border="0" /></a>See that front tooth? It's almost horizontal, it's so loose! He won't let me wiggle it and he won't wiggle it himself. It's driving me nuts! It's the same thing with the other front bottom tooth. The little thing is just dangling, and his permanent teeth are already in! I managed to get him to agree to go to a dentist here in town, a kids' dentist, so that he can get a cleaning, and if I have anything to do with it, have these teeth pulled! Well...the dentist could blow on them and they'll probably come right out. My silly boy!<br /><br />What else? We had Bella spayed. She was out of it the day of and the day after, but then she was basically back to her wild-girl self. WILD! She's really a sweet girl, has learned to sit for her biscuit, but the potty training sucks! We take her out and she'll do her business. Then, we bring her in, and she does her business again in the dining room! In a few weeks, she's going for some training, and my friend Stephanie recommended a great trainer who specializes in potty training. I can't wait! We need the leash training, too, because Bella runs on the leash likes she pulling an Alaskan sled dog team...as the lead dog of course.<br /><br />I will leave you with this...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5r5MDyPhUYf_5Ew9VqTHlOuCmGpfqWULUIlZ3ZNqcluO8U5AbrbEl-MyTC7M9UaoHZem_n_NgurGJCGi7MUesoksNEr71WsNrr3-SXn7hgMthpHeesxTfS41NlLNkq3c182Ps63CZI0/s1600-h/110.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5r5MDyPhUYf_5Ew9VqTHlOuCmGpfqWULUIlZ3ZNqcluO8U5AbrbEl-MyTC7M9UaoHZem_n_NgurGJCGi7MUesoksNEr71WsNrr3-SXn7hgMthpHeesxTfS41NlLNkq3c182Ps63CZI0/s320/110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449409502194098290" border="0" /></a>Bella says...Spring is almost here!<br /></div>Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-467458650813559050.post-24686691176124712722010-01-10T08:58:00.000-08:002010-01-10T09:05:02.204-08:002010 - A Week In<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">I am definitely looking forward to the New Year, definitely hoping for positive changes, and I have lots of plans, but I am feeling:<br /></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >mel⋅an⋅chol⋅y</span><br />noun, plural -chol⋅ies, adjective–noun<br /><br />1. a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged; depression.<br />2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.<br /><br /><br />Definition #2 fits the best, I believe. <br /><br />My great aunt passed away the day after Christmas. She was 88. Although I didn't see her as much as my immediate family, every time I did see her, she always had a hug for me, a squeeze of my hand, and since Jake came along, would always tell me how special he was. She was a wonderful lady. <br /><br />Her passing perhaps brought about some reflection, and I'll admit I also heard Kenny G's rendition of Auld Lang Syne and although this sounds silly, the clips played of people from the past, from events that happened over the years all made me realize how much has happened in my lifetime: events that changed us all, some that shocked and astounded us, and how many people were a part of this world and are no longer with us. <br /><br />In reflecting back on my own life, I realized how much I miss certain people. My mom's mother, my dad's brothers, my stepbrother, Pat's mom, and others are no longer with us and I truly miss them. <br /><br />There will never be another time when I walk through the screen door at my grandmother's house and call out "yooooohoooo!" and have her call it back to me. No more walking in her bedroom and seeing a quilt in progress on top of her bed and watching her applique while we talk. <br /><br />No more e-mails to my uncle, Bob, sent just to make him laugh with a smart-ass comment sent back to me, and I can't delete him from my address book because I miss him so much. <br /><br />At the wake for my great aunt, a lady was telling my dad she had 5 kids, and when she asked my dad how many he had he said well, we lost one, but we have 5. My stepbrother, Jim, passed away an unbelievable 10 years ago after an auto accident. I still see how much my stepmom misses him and I can feel it when his name is mentioned or it's his birthday or the anniversary of his death. I miss him, too. <br /><br />Pat's sister and her family were here visiting and brought in the New Year with us. We were talking about their mom and laughing about some of her silly sayings, some I can't even put in print here! Let's just say she loved the phrase "horse's ass" and used it regularly. What a beautiful lady she was and again, I can feel how much Pat and Karen miss her. I cannot imagine not having my mother here on earth with me. <br /><br />I got to visit with my best friend, Maria, as well. I went over after work to spend some time with her and her family before they had to drive back to Raleigh. We figured it up, and we have been friends for 30 years. Do you know she looks exactly the same to me? I practically grew up in her house and her family feels like my own. Gosh, it was wonderful being there again. I even discovered that the wall we all wrote on downstairs in their workout room still has everyone's signatures on it. Her dad said, he looks at while he works out and it gives him a good feeling. Maria was going to have her kids sign the wall as well. I wish I had my camera with me that night to get a photo. That's high on my list for next time! <br /><br />One of my biggest wishes for 2010 is that my personal life improves. For every step we take forward, we seem to take one back, just spinning our wheels. I just hope that we can work things out and no matter what, it will be in Jake's best interest. I'm so sad that things have turned out the way they have. <br /><br />This post was actually interrupted since I started it a few days ago. I woke up this past Tuesday feeling horrible, aching all over. I made it to work, but after about 2 hours I ended up back home. I crawled into bed, called my mom to pick up Jake, and then slept off and on. I would wake myself up moaning. I don't think I've ever been in so much pain. <br /><br />When my mom brought Jake home, she took one look at me and called my doctor. My flu test was negative, but with the back and neck pain I was having, he was concerned for possible viral meningitis and had me go to the ER. Once there, they gave me fluids and started some tests. Luckily, the doctor did not think I had viral meningitis, but definitely a viral illness. He said he could still be the flu despite a negative test. I was given more fluids, some pain meds, and eventually sent home. <br /><br />I'm still feeling weak from it all and now Jake and I both have stuffy noses, cough, and low-grade fevers. Oh the joy of winter and school kids passing colds and such back and forth to each other!Janhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04548883431156508117noreply@blogger.com2