Becoming Thirty-five

So, I’ve been THIRTY-FIVE for a whole week now! A solidly middle-aged 35! It doesn’t seem right. I feel like I should be 28. But, I digress. 

June 18, 2021, was most definitely an "EAT CAKE FOR BREAKFAST" kind of day! I had taken blueberry cheesecake cupcakes to VBS for snacks the night before and luckily had ONE left! So my rainy birthday day started off right with that small delight, several slices of medium cheddar cheese, and black Griffin’s Wharf coffee. After donning my new cute Joules rain boots which were a birthday present from my bestie Jill, Danielle and I scooted up to the Atmore Library to take in a “rodeo” that was presented for the summer reading program. Once we said our heeyahs there, we headed to good ole WeCare where I had a $5 birthday reward to spend! I mean how cool is it to have $5 off at a thrift-store?! Erica Lyn and Summer joined us there, my mom soon also. We scavenged and dug and smiled and scored! I fell so in love with a comfy, Old Navy, thin, cotton blouse that looked cute over my dress, that I just wore it out of the store and for the rest of the day! It looked clean and smelled freshly laundered! What you don’t know, doesn’t hurt you! I also got 3 more books, and a small kitchen strainer I had been needing. Danielle got a large Ryan’s World pirate treasure chest. This daughter of mine… sometimes, I just don’t know why I let her choose “one thing.”

Katie and kiddos joined us at Cafe 251 for an amazing lunch! It was my first time dining there, and it did not let me down! For one, the kids’ play area is just beyond  brilliant! They quickly gobbled chicken fingers and then happily played away while we lingered over our lunches in peace, mostly. I had chosen the “Greek Goddess” wrap which was an excellent selection, along with loaded baked potato salad and sparkling water! My fave. Thanks, Mom, for treating us all! Next stop was Mutton Hollow Farm where Danielle and I gathered fresh eggs and picked Japanese cucumbers from Rhonda’s garden since they were gone. I was most delighted to open the gift she had left for me on the counter in a darling reusable bag! The electric teapot I had been longing for, a peachy tote bag, and 3 cans of peach Sunkist! YUM! (Would be ideal over ice cream for a peaches and cream float!) Once home, I caught up on birthday messages and peachy puns and got Danielle ready for her last night of VBS. Then Danl said he wanted to take me out for tacos! He couldn’t have done better than giving me a date night, authentic street tacos from Alcapuco, and cash to spend! (Perfect for the impending Prime Days!) The VBS Balloon Liftoff was the next item of the evening; followed by listening to the children enthusiastically sing their songs! Best music ever! Danielle was ecstatic to be onstage. Back home, it was time for more cake! This time it was 7-up pound cake with peach tea. I tried to stay up until midnight like I always purpose to do on my birthdays, so I don’t “miss” any of it, but alas. I remember seeing 11:46pm on the ceiling before drifting off into a sweets dream-filled slumber. 

 Becoming 35 got the best of me. 

Taking Time to Think

Saturday was the annual Fish Fry at the Walnut Hill Volunteer Fire Department. So enjoyable, as always. Miss Smith and I got our usual to-go boxes of a fillet of fried fish, fillet of grilled fish, and a piece of chicken! No decision this way, just the chance to enjoy it all! I did feel rather complicated when the cashier asked, "For our records, are you getting fish or chicken?" "Well....both!" "OK, for here or to go?" "Well...I'm getting a to-go box so I can take home any leftovers, but I'll be eating here!" Keeping it simple has never been my talent. Maybe that's why she gave us all non-winning tickets! Oh well, I'd rather win nothing than some junk or clutter that I don't need! (Wow! Did I really just type that?! Maybe I am slowly becoming FlyWashed...but the bags of loot I scored at Aunt Donna's family garage sale wouldn't prove that...I could do a whole post on my treasures!) Anyway, after a Walmart grocery run for Miss Smith, I dropped Danielle off at Aunt Rhonda's and donned my camo and grabbed my bow before meeting Daniel to get my hunting instructions. I had forgotten to bring the bag that contained the artificial scent killer, so we crushed some cedar (leaves?? they don't seem leafy...maybe I should say sprigs??) and rubbed them in my hair and on the back of my neck. Major ITCH. Then I climbed the ladder and sat happily nature-watching while basking in the bliss of having time to just THINK. I can honestly say I have never been bored a minute in my life. It feels sorta Dr. Suessy, but oh, the thinks you can think! I love to have the chance to just think and think....I thought about past memories good and not so good, projects I want to do.... projects I will skip this year (sadly I shelf the adorable pumpkin family I had visually created) I mentally clean-swept our home of current clutter and relished its "new" look, I thought about God and His plans for me, I thought about how fast our little baby is growing up... that the days with her being this needy and clingy seem long, but that the years are short, and I need to consciously enjoy her tugging at my skirt and live in this moment...that this will be the only Fall that she is 7 months old! And that it doesn't matter how much my friends with babies can accomplish, I shouldn't compare and complain, because I am doing the very best I can.

Then I thought I heard a deer approach...crunch...step...crunch...step....BE STILL, my beating heart! THUD, THUD, POUND, POUND....slowly I turned my head to view with disdain, not a deer, but a fat o'possum! So I watched him creep around nibbling on my deer's corn while the squirrels fought like two-year olds, the birds chirped, the leaves fell, and the stars came out. Then I wrapped it up by thinking that even though I am still a bow-huntress with no bragging rights, it had been a most successful THINK. From now on instead of going hunting, I'm gonna go thinking! I know I'll always be successful at that! We even heard in church Sunday morning that taking time to think is a key to success, spiritually and financially! So really, going thinking should become a priority! If I ever do happen to snag a deer, it'll be a bonus!  

#happysaturday

I know this is Sunday, well almost Monday actually at 11:59 pm, but I wrote this list in my head on Saturday, and I still want to share it!

1. Going to Market in the Park with Danielle...

(And later savoring the cinnamon rolls I purchased from Aunt Rose; gooey caramel pecan are thee best!)

2. Shopping WeCare with my sisters...

 Scored some apparently unworn BabyGap moccasins ($1.99) for Danielle and  classy black Yellowbox flip flops ($2.99) for me! 

3. Visiting Grandpa Smith at the nursing home...

4. Eating a corn dog, fries, and chocolate/vanilla swirled cup of ice cream from Dean's Grill...

(Thanks for the Food Certificate, Mr. Hiebert!) The gal at the window gave me a medium cup of ice cream instead of the small that I had the balance for! And a medium at this Southern food shop is a whopping 16 oz cup! I gave it my all and conquered!

5. Chatting with friends and neighbors at our hometown Piggly Wiggly...

especially made my day to say hey to one of my favorite Walmart employees there! Maybe we both share a love/hate relationship with Walmart!

6. Watching Danl operate his new machinery...

 He is so talented!

7. Taking a family walk on Garrett Road...

We all love the "new-to-us" jogging stroller!

8. Skipping cooking and dishes for an evening!

9. Ordering my childhood favorite menu items at Taco Bell...

(hard taco, soft taco, pintos 'n cheese!)

10. Hearing our baby "sing!" 

She loves to coo along to all her favorite little songs!

Life is Good...in so many ways!

How is Life Good? Let me count the ways....

Daniel is loving his new job at the Atmore Police Department! It makes my day to see him so happy and excited to go to work!

I'm pretty sure I've finally felt our baby girl move... some soft thumpish feelings....WOW! This thing of creating a new life is just plain amazing! I'm 19 weeks now, almost half-way!

The 6th Annual Yard & Bake Sale last Saturday was  a roaring success! Especially the Bake Goods Booth which brought in a whopping $2,544!

Diesel's surgery to remove a growth/tumor was successful! He rather likes having surgery, I believe, since he was allowed to recuperate like a king on the couch in the living room!

I finally gave this blog a new 'do! Not sure that I love it, but at least it's different! Trying to learn to not let my perfectionism hinder me from just getting things DONE!

The vintage strawberry coffee cup I got from pilfering through Aunt Charity's treasures delights my soul every time I drink from it! The handle doesn't get hot in the microwave either!

Melvin repaired the kitchen floor by the sliding doors in a flash! Why didn't we do this sooner?! So pumped about the pending kitchen renovations on the horizon - new countertops, flooring, pantry, and cabinet hardware! Also, "Goodbye, butter yellow paint!" "Hello, fresh creamy white!"

Jill is the best bestie ever! She has cut out, sewn, and shipped me two adorable maternity dresses, and is currently working on the third!! I am beyond blessed.

Trent, Kristi, and kids are home on furlough from Guatemala! It was awesome to be with Kris again yesterday and to finally meet my little cousin and birthday twin, Elena! She even has reddish hair! xo

William's Station Day is today! It's one of my favorite Atmore activities! I love small-town times....and all the booths of art, and things like funnel cakes and fried Snickers.

The kumquat tree on the porch is loaded down with perfect little orange orbs of tart sunshine!
I carefully counted and was pleased to discover that my precious tree bore 65+ kumquats this year! They are rapidly diminishing though. Harrison (Jarrod & Casey Schneider's 2 year old - I'm keeping him several days a week during peanut harvest) loves to pick them, but doesn't love to eat them, so I let him pick them and I let me eat them.

Bow Season came in today! I am thrilled to begin a new session of nature watching with a deadly weapon! Hopefully the new, cute little food plot (food plots CAN be cute, even though guys would probably digress!) that Danl planted will be my lucky charm this year and I will be able to nail my first kill with my bow!

Getting rid of clutter is so liberating! I am giving nursery closet tours today, free admission! I'm just a little bit proud of how much better it looks and how much roomier it is! I think MamaBear from Berenstein Bears and FlyLady are both smiling.

This list could continue, but my mocha hot chocolate got cold and I need to go microwave it, and then go out to walk in this lovely Fall morning. Fall is simply the best season God made, in my opinion. I've been rolling a Fall poem around in my head for over a month now...maybe tomorrow it will finalize and I will post it here. I've missed writing - and can't figure out why I've been so slackish. Also, ask me for my new favorite breakfast recipe! Gingerbread in a mug! Mmmmm.....

Take me out to the auction!

This morning after donning my North Face and my houndstooth rain boots, Danl took me on a date to the 41st Annual Walnut Hill Ruritan Club Farm Equipment Auction! I love a good auction, and this one always provides in the way of entertainment! ANYTHING, and I do mean ANYTHING imaginable can be on the line! From completely worn-out creepers, 5 gallon buckets, old gas cans, chicken condos {portable coops}, to an old Mercedes car! Today they also had some cool vintage items like old trunks, antique school desks, industrial light fixtures, and a darling little black pot-belly stove! The auctioneer wasn't the speedy type - I could actually understand what he was saying - so we didn't hang around long enough to see very much of it get sold. Danl scored some big chain binders for $7 each. I really enjoyed seeing a lot of the awesome community people that I knew from working at Walnut Hill Farm Supply! And I enjoyed my hot dog with the works! Eating at an auction is kinda like eating around a fire; it makes the food taste better! We found an old table to perch me and our diet Pepsis on, and this country girl was smilin'!

The guy far left in this pic made me so lonesome for Uncle Kale...he always loved a good auction too! 

Life is a Gift! That's why we call it the "Present." GIVEAWAY!!!

  Presents, presents, and more presents!!! But I am not complaining! {My birthday was Wednesday, June 18, by the way!} I think I am finally reaching a stage of maturity, because I didn't mention my birthday with nearly every breath like I usually do. But if you would ask Daniel for his opinion, I think he would tell you that I did still mention it quite often, even though I didn't blog about it! My dear hubby and sweet mom-in-law hatched the most splendid idea ever which was to give me presents for 5 days in a row preceding my birthday and ending up on the day! Was that ever a blast to have a gift just waiting to be opened each day! One even got eagerly opened at 12:01 a.m.!! But I was good, and didn't even sneak early peeks or open them all at once like I wanted to!

    Celebration started early on Tuesday with MamaLisa! As I was heading down to meet her in Pensacola, I added another warning to my stack of speeding warnings. {Still no ticket though! Yay! Fingers crossed...} I told the trooper that I totally knew I was speeding and was so sorry, but that I was meeting my mom-n-law for my birthday lunch....and did he know Chris Chambles?? I grew up down the road from him... :) lol! It worked! We had a fabulous lunch at the Fish House where I was privileged to mark eating the world-famous "Grits a Ya Ya!" off my bucket list! There's definitely a reason that these grits are renown!! After lunch, we hit Pensacola Hardware which is NOT your normal boring hardware store! It's as good as the mall! Then we browsed the Bodacious Olive and had fun sampling gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Birthday Cake yogurt with piles of toppings from Wild Honey topped off the day! Thanks again, Mom!! On Wednesday, I started the day off right in birthday style by eating microwave baked oatmeal covered with colorful sprinkles.  I didn't put a candle in though....Then Katie, Mel, Anne, and I had met at the Coffee House for some java & girl time. Next stop was Novus to see Marnita since she hadn't been able to make it for coffee. After that, I shopped Miller Pawn Shop {found a drop leaf table that I want, but it's $120!}, Dirt Cheap, and Goody's. Amazingly, I didn't spend a penny! Lunch was at Jalisco's with Daniel. Next item of the day was swimming with Mel and Katie. Instead of going out for a birthday supper, I went along with Danl to wreak havoc where the beavers are wreaking havoc on the old fish ponds drainage pipes. Eager beavers they are for sure!! They haven't gotten the message that they are supposed to MOVE, RELOCATE, or SCRAM because their home is scheduled to be leveled, so they have been most diligently trying to maintain the water levels that they are accustomed to! A Cheeselovers pizza with light sauce and black olives on half sure hit the spot after that escapade! Peg Leg Pete's will have to wait...sigh. After supper, I was kinda sad because my birthday was almost over, and it wouldn't come for another whole year...but I still have several celebrations on the horizon! My birthday twin Roxie and I have yet to give ourselves the honors, and I think my family is planning an outing or two and a good meal to boot! So there's no reason to be blue! 

   Yesterday had me singing "O Happy Day!" Mel gave me an awesome present that has me ready for some fun in the sun!! Then when I got home from working at Dad's, an enormous birthday present from Jill was sitting on my front-porch bench! Wow, Jill! So many gorgeous gifts up in that box!! Thanks!! Also got to open a loaded card from DaddyWayne and MomDenise! Thank you!! I already know what I am going to buy!! Supper at Kim Holdeman's was the next highlight. Fajitas with friends out on the porch, balloons, coffee & cupcakes, and a magical present from London a is a perfect combination! You're the best, Nes!!!! 

   Now for the GIVEAWAY! Since I had such a wonderful birthday, thanks to all my dear family and friends, I want to share the joy by giving YOU a present as is the custom in some cultures! And since birthdays always make me think of cake, what could be better than this marvelous cupcake batter dispenser?! I have been in love with mine ever since Tiff gave me one for Christmas! It works like a charm! To enter this Birthday Giveaway, please describe in the comments your most magical birthday ever! Why do you remember it? What made it special? Once entry per person will be counted, but feel free to add as many comments as you like! This giveaway will be open for entries until July 18, 2014. Bring on the memories of your best birthday, because after all, birthdays are the reason we were born!

london giveaway update

Behind with everything like I am, I still have not given Aunt Tricia her giveaway gift! Shame, shame! But after finding this adorable tin at We Care for only $.79 the other day when I was there hunting for Bible concordances for Barry for school, I was pleased that I hadn't because now I can give it to her in this "rare" cookie tin that is valued at approximately $20 on eBay! {where I snagged this photo btw} That, my friends, is the thrill of thrifting! 

a shopping day = a little more giveaway

The giveaway gift is now complete! Aunt Tricia, this dazzling box of black British tea will also be bestowed upon you once the British bookmark finally arrives. {Sigh of relief to have finally found something else Britannic that I liked! I think things of the mother country are going out of style!} It felt strange but blissful to be out shopping before 4:00 p.m. on a school day! Since I couldn't get an after school hours appointment with Dr. Cleveland, and it didn't make sense to rush back to teach for maybe an hour, Roxie subbed the whole day for me! I met my sweet mom-in-law for a quality-time lunch at Cheddar's. Today was the day to try "Chicken 'n Waffles!" Loved it! Thanks, Mom! For some reason I was totally in turtle gear and went slowly plodding around the stores, looking at everything and buying basically nothing. I kept telling myself, "Less is More." and "Think of all the stuff you have piled up everywhere at home." And it worked! I barely remember what the things were that I thought I wanted to buy! ....except that darling pillow that said "sparkle" in glittery copper letters...and that aqua scarf with the little birds all over it...and that emerald fabric at JoAnn's.....guess I'm not as good at forgetting as I thought I was....but I pinched my pennies and only came home with a birthday gift for Anne, a yoga mat that I'm going to ingeniously cut into a mod-looking shower mat, a book-themed journal to use for checking books out of my home library {no more not knowing where my books are?!} from World Market, the British Invasion tea also from World Market, 2 books from a thrift store {Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell and Be Happy or I'll Scream by Sheri Lynch. Gonna send this one to you for your birthday, Annie! :) Looks like your style!} and some awesome essential stuff from WallyWorld like deodorant and paper towel and trash bags. So unglamorous but so necessary. Why can't they at least make it more appealing to shop at Walmart?! Like maybe lime green shopping carts...food samples...tellers with British accents...

this butter dish

Forgot to write about this butter dish that came into my possession on Saturday. I had gone to a clean up job with Daniel that morning to "help." I put on a pair of gloves, picked up a few sticks, and tried to look busy before sitting in the shade reading my Nook while swatting bugs and sweating! Daniel was so thankful for my help that he took me out to dinner at Happy Palace and then to the Pawn Shop! They were having a small yard sale out front. I spied this butter dish nestled among the junk and walked away with it for only $.50! The bad news is that I think it's sorta ugly and I don't need a butter dish! The good news is that it is worth $15-$25!! People collect this stuff. But I don't. I just wanted to make a dollar or few.

 

BREAKING NEWS!!!

GLENDON, ANNA, & BECCA UNRUH ARRIVED YESTERDAY FOR A SHORT SURPRISE VISIT TO THEIR HOME STATE OF FLORIDA!!!

 

Becca is as beautiful as ever; we enjoyed a sushi bonanza with them tonight down at Sake Café.

More quality time is on the horizon tomorrow.



missplaced days

 

 I intended to write yesterday about things that happened on Friday, but that never came to pass so I will write today about things that happened yesterday {and Friday.} It's painful to believe that it is already August 4!!! I am having mild panic attacks about not being prepared for school to start in a mere 22 days... But life is good, it's ALWAYS gonna be busy with some deadline or other of some nature smashing down upon my brow, but bottom line, I like it that way and wouldn't have it otherwise. Most of the time anyway. Meeting Moni and Rhonda at the Coffee House Friday aft. was a big bright spot of my day! We hashed old memories and made new ones over frappes and fruit smoothies. Why don't we all go out for coffee with friends more often?! Next I browsed WeCare and Dirt Cheap looking for "things" for my classroom. I didn't find any, but did find some fab gift wrapping supplies at DC and a "early bird gets the donut" coffee mug at WeCare that I am going to trick my Dad with. He has one identical to it, but his is all faded out. I'm going to wordlessly exchange them and see if he notices. It's his favorite mug to have his coffee in every morning. And then I kept on shopping once I got home. I ordered stuff online. LOTS of stuff. I can't wait to start hearing the rumble of the UPS truck and the honk of the mail lady's car. But it wasn't frivolous spending. Not at all. I ordered a rug from my childhood. Mom always had one of these at the back door. And the dog always chewed the daisy off.

And I ordered new batteries for our cordless phones. I felt really frugal because I wanted to just get new RED cordless phones, but I didn't. It's gonna be awesome to be able to finish a conversation again without the phone giving up the ghost.

 bye, bye rad red phone.... in my dreams.

 Then I went over to mardel.com to order my sock monkey planner

 and was most delighted to find that my procrastination had saved me $7! Instead of being $11.99, they were on sale for $5! So of course I had to add other nifty items to my cart since I was saving so much. I know I going to love this classy hanging file, banner, and bulletin board set!

The dogs are living the high life and loving their new classy enclosure! I finally purchased this with my birthday $ and my heart has been brimming over with happiness ever since. It's SO. MUCH. BETTER than making a ramshackle, tacky area blocked off with an assortment of furniture! We have it right inside our back sliding doors.



OK. That's all! For now.

 

Marco's and the Ninja Turtle!

 Here I am fixing to type about FOOD again! But our worlds really do revolve around food if you think about it. We have jobs to earn money to be able to buy food to stay alive! Without food, we would all wither away and life would cease. Anyway, Aunt Sue was so kind as to let us take her Mazda CX-7 {I think that's what she has!} down to Goodwill to pick up the large green La-Z-Boy that was sitting waiting patiently to be permanently adopted into the Daniel Faircloth family. This chair definitely has some character! When I pulled up around back and told the guy that I was there to pick up the green La-Z-Boy, he said, "Oh, that ninja turtle green one?!" "Yes, sir! That would be the one!" I think it was originally a somewhat dark hunterish green, but over time, the areas that have been sat upon the most have evolved into a glowing green patina! Chair on board, it was time for lunch! Neither of us had tried Marco's which was right handy on 9 Mile Road beside Tokyo. They offered buffet for $5.99 and we took them up on it! It reminded me the most of Mellow Mushroom pizza! Chewy, crispy crust with fresh toppings such as feta and tomatoes! I'll post the link to their website below. If you had a hankering to try something that wasn't on the bar, all you had to do was mention it, and it was soon out there swirling steam. The White Cheezy was my favorite! It is a small buffet, only 6 pizzas out a time which means they are always bringing out new ones! There's no salad bar either but who wants to be a rabbit when there's cheesy pizza around?!

http://www.marcospizza.com/

thriving on birthday thrifting!

 Life gets in the way of keeping my resolution of blogging every day. As you know, Roxie and I are birthday twins. We had postponed our celebration until after the wedding, so finally on Thursday, we and Anne set out to celebrate in Pensacola with some good ole secondhand snooping! We were on our way too early to stop at Dixie's since they open at 10. Next stop was "Miles of Art" which is in the old Miles Furniture store across from La-Z-Boy on Bayou Blvd. We had to wait on them to open too! Such a strange feeling for me to experience... But once we got inside, it was well worth the wait!!! That place is a HUGE treasure land! Booth after booth of unique novelties, gorgeous art, and expensive antiques kept us enthralled for almost 2 hours! The most beautiful painting I have ever seen hung there; a monstrous 6' x 4' canvas of green dappled sea water with a vivid sea turtle swimming by. I want to go back to just stand and gaze again at all of its beautiful $2,100 self. But for now, I am thrilled with my $4 juice box purse similar to the one pictured below that I ended up with! Daniel does NOT appreciate its recycled beauty and has forbidden me to carry it in his presence, so I will happily go green when I am without him!

  We dined at "The Cactus Flower Café." It was raining a good drizzle by then, definitely a "Seattle" day. I was wishing I was wearing cute rain boots! We had a good girly lunch; Anne and Roxie both had the special which was a sandwich and a cup of tortilla soup. I had a mango shrimp salad and a different kind of soup that I can't remember the name of. Next on the agenda was the Teen Challenge thrift store on 9th Ave. I found a beautiful hardcover copy of "Marley and Me" for $1.00, a paperback "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan" for $.59, and a frosted stemmed sundae cup for $1.00  that exactly matches the one I had broken! Now I have a set of 12 again! The Miracle Box thrift store on Davis really made me smile! I found an almost new pair of black Gianni Bini leather wedges for $4.99!! They are a touch too narrow but I've been reading some great tutorials on how to stretch them. I also fell in love with a British flag coffee mug that was only $.49. After a quick Target run, we were back to business at the Goodwill on 9 Mile Rd. I spied a green leather La-Z-Boy chair for only $34.99 but it appeared to have a broken back. {Later, after discussing this chair with Daniel and Dad, I realized that it probably just wasn't hooked properly on one side in the back. Wade and Rhonda checked it out on Saturday, confirmed my suspicion, and purchased it for us! Yay!} I did make Daniel smile with the rolling office chair I found for $3.99 that will enable him to sit in style in his deer stand. The Teen Challenge next door was our last secondhand shop of the day. I netted a Richard Peck book "The Preacher's Funeral," a turquoise measuring cup set, and a tomato red coffee mug all for FREE! This happened because the lady ahead of me in line only wanted to purchase one item for $1.83 which didn't meet the $5 minimum for using a credit card. She told me to add my stuff to hers since she had to pay $5 anyway!  "Thank-you, Ma'am!" I will pay this favor forward some day! On the way home, we savored piled high Burger King cones along with fun and friendship! Twas a thrifty day with friends that was totally a thrill!

TIP OF THE DAY: Even if you don't have an umbrella handy and it's pouring rain, it's not a good idea to put a plastic bag over your head to keep dry because the temporary blindness could result in a nasty bonk on the head from the vehicular door frame. Just sayin'. Not that I would know or anything, but I do have a really sore lump on my head for some reason...

spending $25

 

"After all, a vacation is not a matter of place or time. We can take a wonderful vacation in spirit, even though we are obliged to stay at home, if we will only drop our burdens from our minds for a while. But no amount of travel will give us rest and recreation if we carry our work and worries with us."
- Laura Ingalls Wilder, essay September 1919


Love this quote! It was today's "Moment of Happiness" email from Gretchen Rubin. I'm a fan of hers; love the daily email quotations and I just purchased both of her books! Happier at Home and The Happiness Project. Both are previously loved editions, gotta go green and buy used books ya know! I am having the best time spending a $25 Visa card I received from one of my students... Trying to stretch it SO FAR..... Also nabbed this splendid hot pink phone cover as my yellow one has suffered a fatal blow from dropping to the pavement from lap one too many times.... Rhonda says PINK does not sound like me, but for some unknown reason, it HAD to be pink this time! Every now and then, my girly streak flares up, I guess! Wonder what I will find to spend my last $.40 on....

 

What do you think about a Summer Giveaway??? :)

I think it's about time, but I don't know what to give away! Give me some ideas please!

 

the moment

Just live in the moment and enjoy life! Yes, I want to live in the moment, but can it please be a different moment, someone else's moment? My moments are too overwhelming...I'd like a moment without worries, bills, dishes, or laundry looming. I'm tired of being tired. I know this is droll matter to blog about, but this is my moment, my "right now." And it doesn't comfort me to know that my right now moments have been brought about by my very own choices. I shouldn't complain one tiny bit. But I'm too human, too woman, I guess. But at the same time that I am feeling and thinking these drab thoughts, I know deep down in my heart that I am happy and content in spite of it all. "This too shall pass" as my mother always comfortingly quoted. And there are so many others the wide world over that would give years of their lifetime to have but a few of my privileged, blessed moments. Moments filled with true love, real friendship, good food, sins forgiven.


Here's a little list of awesome moments that I experienced today!

Sleeping in until 7:30...BLISSFUL.

Purchasing a colorful, old-fashioned braided rug that was made by hand by Leah, Mrs. Alvin Hiebert from Polly's yard sale. LOVE the turquoise accent it adds in my kitchen.

Basking in the sun {yet still shivering} on the beach with Tanya, Jen, and Mel. THANKFUL for my soft, yellow chevron blanket from Jill.

Devouring a DELICIOUS Key Lime Krispy Kreme donut on the way home.

Talking on the phone with my dad. I have the best FAMILY.

Hearing my HUBBY tell me, "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Figuring out once again that WRITING always makes me feel better about LIFE!

escape to London

 

 

Lest my sunshine start to shrivel, and my head completely disappear into discombobulation, I purposed to give myself a healthy break from continually pondering such thoughts as, "WHY did he make that grade on that test when I had thought that he was quite prepared?!... What should I do to make today's geography lesson come ALIVE so that she will grasp it???.....and WHAT really is going on in the boys' bathroom?! It feels like my mind is almost constantly swirling with school-related thoughts! So, here and there, sentence by slow sentence, I read this keeper of a book { $.69 @ We Care} this past week! I love all things Jane Austen, and this was playful prose set in London about her Pride and Prejudice. I mostly bought it because it was such a pretty book; the vivid red and green of the cover just did me in! But this time, twas a book rightly judged by its delightful, outward appearance! But alas, whilst I was whiling away my few precious minutes at home with my nose in this book, the dishes didn't do themselves, the laundry multiplied and so on and so forth. But y'all don't wanna hear about those mundane matters any more than I do! I gave it a lick and promise for now, and am eagerly anticipating Mel coming to the rescue on Tuesday! Hope you all have a terrific week, with a sneak of Jane Austen {or whatever literature tickles your gizzard and gives you extra gumption!} stuck in here and there! I'm sticking Sense and Sensibility in my bag where it can nestle with my Geography manual. Who knows? Inspiration might seep through their covers.....

did you know?

...that life has been moving along quite nicely for certain individuals, and  we are excitedly anticipating a family wedding in the near future? {Congrats, Roxie and Jer!!}

...that I will be back in the classroom for the next four months starting January 28?! {HELP! am I crazy?!}

...that you never know what the next day will bring? {wonder what is happening today, RIGHT NOW, that we don't have a clue about?}

....that washing dishes in the winter isn't so awful, because the hot water feels lovely to my perpetually cold hands.

....that I've managed to stick to my new year's "try-to" {I don't make RESOLUTIONS!} of making the bed for 5 days in a row? {skipped yesterday since it's the day of rest!}

....that Daniel took my lil sis hunting and found out that we aren't related because she can walk like a DOVE!!! {he even had to look back to see if she was still there, she can walk SO QUIETLY!}

...that I desperately need some new dresses for teaching? {WHY don't I keep my wardrobe replenished like normal people?}

....that I'm yearning to stop by the thrift store when I go to town this afternoon for my allergy shots? {I should stay out of them and do IMPORTANT things like s.e.w.i.n.g.}

....that TODAY is the last day for you to tell me your Christmas dinner menu and get your name entered to win the measure of all measuring cups?

....and last, but not least, that I would welcome and covet your prayers for the next while? {It's gonna be a super challenge to step into the place of such a fabulous teacher, to try be a good wife and homemaker, and to keep my sanity!!}

THANKS in advance! :)

word of the day and more books on my bucket list

antepenultimate  \an-tee-pi-NUHL-tuh-mit\ , adjective:

 

{Did you know that I am an antepenultimate child?! I didn't either until yesterday when I read this word for the day on my igoogle page! Pretty cool, eh? Next time I get asked about my fam/sibs I will proclaim, "We have a rather large family as I am the antepenultimate offspring...."}

1. Third from the end.
2. Of or pertaining to an antepenult.

noun:
1. An antepenult.

The vengeful eagles of the open sequence [and] the birds of augury watched outside the library and the emblematic kinsmen who shake 'the wings of their exultant and terrible youth' in the antepenultimate entry in Stephen's diary.
-- James Joyce, introduction by Hugh Kenner, Ulysses

But all day that is how it is, from the first tick to the last tack, or rather from the third to the antepenultimate, allowing for the time it needs, the tamtam within, to drum you back into the dream and drum you back out again.
-- Samuel Beckett, Mercier and Camier

This adjective is the product of three Latin roots: ante meaning "before," paen meaning "almost" and ultima meaning "last."


Also, I really want to read and own both of these books!! I love Gretchen Rubin's thoughts about life and happiness; her article each month is the main reason I look forward to the next issue of Good Housekeeping! She writes candidly and with humor about her year-long experiment on making small life changes that added to her daily happiness. I like how she brings out that tiny seemingly mundane choices can really add or subtract from how happy we are "at home" each day, and that we have to embrace TODAY because we are living our life right now! I could purchase both books on eBay or on my Nook, but I'm kinda hoarding the rest of my Christmas $ {since I had a fine time blowing quite a bit of it which will be a whole 'nother blog post one of these days!} and am hoping to find used copies second-hand instead! So, please, if you happen to find either of them and don't want 'em, nab 'em for me!

reflections by the dozen

1. You know you have a super good book when you end up reading it everywhere you go... Like reading at stop signs, in parking lots before and after grabbing groceries etc.

2. Roasted, salted pumpkin seeds taste amazing mixed with Reese Pieces!

3. Hosiery was created by someone who wished to stifle the natural joy of life.

4. I don't actually go bow hunting....I just "nature-watch" with a weapon of deadly destruction on my lap.

5. Dogs love people the way we all should; totally without any scorecards or or prejudices of appearance! And they give kisses without ever expecting any in return.

6. Sometimes when I'm at school, I feel like telling the children, "You is kind, You is smart, You is important." But they haven't read The Help and would call me out on my grammar, so I just tell them they are smart, kind, and important. I do try really hard not to come across as crazy as I truly am.

7. A painting I intend to call "The Fall Tree" is waiting on the easel for some attention. I started it yesterday and it is definitely in the "love me not" stage. Usually somewhere along the way to completion, my paintings suddenly morph into the "love me" phase. Thankfully.

8. A silly little dog figurine called out to me at We Care today. For .$49 he now is mine. I plan to spray paint him a solid color to give him more class. Red, navy, or turquoise???

9. Daniel keeps making me fall in love with his sense of humor....life injected with laughter is irresistible to me! God knew I would need a man who can always make me laugh.

10. Can the deer sense my intentions of spray-painting their antlers hot pink once I have them mounted?! IF I ever get to nab one....

11. Don't bother buying a souvenir mug on vacation. Just wait until you get home and buy it at We Care. Totally siked about the NYC mug I got today!

12. Spray paint is my BFF.

right now

Outside my window... a bright, sunshiny day that is calling for me to spend it at the beach! (very wishful thinking!!)

I am thinking... that I MUST get the yard/bake sale ad listed in the newspaper, on northescambia.com, and on craigslist ASAP!

I am thankful... for the 5 hours of sleep I got last night, or ere..shall we say this morning?!

In the kitchen... piles and piles of nasty, greasy, grimy dishes and a newly reorganized pantry! :)

I am wearing... ummmm...grungy but comfy pjs!

I am creating... a children's book that is coming along SO S-L-O-W-L-Y!! (I wish I could be my own illustrator, but my pics just don't cut it!)

I am going... crazy! (shall we meet for coffee once we all arrive?!) 

I am reading... Same Kind of Different As Me,(borrowed from a friend) A Lucky Child, (overdue library book) Life to the Max (on my Nook)

I am hoping... to get this place cleaned up before I have to leave to get my shots this aft.

I am looking forward to...having a Pumpkin Decorating Party with friends and fam. :) 

I am learning...to trust God with the future.

Around the house...lots of guns, fabric piles waiting to morph into dresses, general clutter and shoes.

One of my favourite things... the spindly, wobbly little stand I rescued from a thrift store for $.25 and painted turquoise. it now sits outside on the porch by the bench so I have a place to rest my coffee and breakfast. :)

a touch of chevron

Yesterday afternoon I indulged in a bit of retail therapy at Dirt Cheap, and this amazing chevron lampshade was my consolation prize! It's currently selling on target.com for $26.99 which is not the delightful, thrifty price of $8.72 that I paid. Luckily, it's in awesome condition; no dents and was still in the original wrapping! For all my chevron adoration, I didn't have the first hint of it in our home yet. (great intentions are planned though! such as navy chevron curtains in the studio/guest room, and a black and white chevron DIY paint job on my file cabinet) I love how this gold shade spruces up the living room atop my handmade cedar lamp from Grandpa Smith. It sure makes the couch cry out for a modern, neutral slipcover though.....