ORGANIZING

Today I really got the organizer bug. I found these containers at Walmart and decided to put all my little boxes of food into the containers and label them. I was surprised how little space they took up. Containerizing is the way to go.

FINALLY, A SUNNY DAY

Yes, there is still snow on the ground. In the shadows of the trees it's still hanging on. It may be sunny today but the temp was right around 32 degrees this am. I think I saw a bud! This is a plant that I planted on the bank in anticipation of the landscaping that I plan to do this spring.

The daffodils are coming! The daffodils are coming!

Shadows

Thoughts

I've been thinking about my mother and father who passed away lately. It's too bad you don't appreciate them fully until you lose them. I found this poem on the web. I would like this to be read at my funeral.

Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name; speak to me the easy way we once used.
Put no difference to your tone; wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at little jokes together.
Play, smile, think of me, and pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without the effort, without the trace of shadow in it.
Life means all that it ever meant; it is the same that it ever was.
there is absolute unbroken continuity.
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval somewhere very near,
just around the corner.
All is well.
Henry Scott Holland

NEW KITCHEN COLOR

How do you like the new wall color in the kitchen? Pretty bold! The reason the pics are hung so high is that I'm getting a shelf to put below it. On the floor to the left is the wall art that I have to hang on that wall. by the phone is a white board (used to be a blackboard) that we just use constantly for messages. I love the new color. How about you?

My Feelings exactly

I came across this on one of my favorite blogs: Little Red House. She has been cleaning out closets and posted this. It was like she was reading my mind.

"Back to the cleaning out of closets. I've been in a very contemplative mood lately, and it seems to me that I've reached the age where a metaphorical cleaning of the closets is underway. I feel the need to jettison all the things that are not important. Does it really matter if I go to the supermarket in my sweats? No. Do I need to drive a car that reflects my personality? Only if there is one that screams "menopausal woman -- get out of her way!" Should I worry about doing something deep, meaningful and earth-shatteringly important with my life? No, just create. Make something that brings me happiness. Life is short. Beauty is forever.
So I am letting go."

I have been feeling that way exactly lately. Each time I clean I ask myself,"Do you really need that? or How many of those do you think you need? It might be getting older makes me feel that I don't need so much anymore. I'm more content with less. Less to deal with, less stress, less to clean, less to worry about, less to think about. I like routine, I like dependability. I like the status quo. I am getting old.

A WINTER POEM

Take heart--for better days are coming-
sunny days with yellow song-filled mornings.
And afternoons echoing distant happy shouts of children playing in the sun.
The evenings-ah, the evenings.
Cooled down from the heat of day.
When silver sparks of fireflies make meadows look like night-time skies.
The memories stir my heart-heat up the icy landscape outside my window.


I wrote this poem many years ago and every year about this time I read it again and think...just hold on. Better days are coming!

Dieting...fun, wow!

Ok, I'm being sarcastic. Dieting is a crazy roller coaster and only those who ride for awhile can know the long trip and quick relapses involved.

Miss those chocolate rabbits!

The day after Easter

My best friend is out with my husband!!! Hey, it's ok. Don loves to go over to our local casino on Monday nights. That's the night they triple the free play that they give him every month. So, he's not a big gambler and only gets $10 this time. But tripled it's $30..enough to have some fun. He usually breaks even but one time won $500. Yrsa loves the casino too. I, on the other hand, would rather have my fingernails pulled out than to go over there. I'm not that lucky and after the first 1/2 hour am ready to come home. So it's really better if I don't go at all. Wish them luck!
Today Don worked again with Bill putting in furnaces then came home and painted the walls. They look fabulous! Can't wait to hang up new pictures. I have two boxes of decorations that I took down and don't intend to put back up. Maybe I really am into simplifying????

Yes, All we did was cook and eat!

I'm teaching Chris how to make lasagna.

Dan is making a cherry cheesecake.

Everyone at the table for Easter at Rose's.

"Charlotte's my favorite aunt" said Chris. (it might have to do with the chocolate peanut butter meltaway cake that she made just for him.)

Celebrating Dan and Scott's birthdays....13 and 17!

PAINT

The paint story continues. First, the quart we first bought was a surprise when we opened the can---peach instead of cinnamon! Second, the gallon we bought next was so watery it was the worst paint Don had ever used. Finally, I went to Home Depot and had them match the paint chip I had chosen. Success! (I think). It looks good in the can. Next week...the walls!!

happy Easter!

MEN AREN'T DEPRESSED!

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:Men Are Just Happier People--
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can never be pregnant.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks and engines.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars. Y
ou get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original colour.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier

Rushing the Season

Ok...I couldn't stand it! I want Spring now. I put up this picture in my header of my little garden in Spring a few years ago. Maybe that will encourage the rain to stop and the fog to lift.

Today I went to Red Hats. We had lunch at the Model T Inn...a taco salad.

Don is painting the kitchen and he says it is the worst paint that he has ever painted with. It is too thin and doesn't cover very well and leaves streaks. I think he wants to take it back and complain about it. We just aren't having any luck at all with that paint. I think I need to go to Home Depot and get a different brand of paint. It looks waaaay too orange now. It is supposed to be BRick Oven...a dark cinnamon-like color.

Almost Easter

I'm getting antsy for good weather. I know this is a typical March for us..about 35 degrees and snow on the ground. And I have a long list of inside projects that I want to get done before the weather turns nice. This week Don is working with his old friend Bill putting in furnaces so the house is empty. Usually when that happens I clean up a storm. BUt today I just feel like taking it easy. The boys will be coming up for Easter and I can't wait. They will be up Thursday evening. I should get some egg coloring and we'll color eggs. It will be the boy's birthdays and I think I will take them shopping for new clothes.

How well I know!

It may be cold outside....

But my mind is already in summer. This is a book I bought about Garden Structures. It made me dream about the landscaping I want to do as soon as the weather breaks.

Here is a French basket planter that I want to use outdoors.

I have big plans for this piece of art. I want it to be part of a wall fountain that I hope to have.

The crane will sit on the wall beside the fountain.

THE KITCHEN BEFORE SHOTS

HE'S BACK!!

We were quite surprised when we went out this morning and saw that our pesky bear had paid a visit. This time he knocked down both bird feeders and broke the picket fence. The tracks in the snow led right up to our porch and then he went around by the garage. Don found the finch feeder there. I don't know what we are going to do. We had stopped feeding the birds until we were sure that he was hibernating. I guess the warmer weather brought him out last night for a midnight snack.

Treasures

Easter is coming

Next week will be Easter. The time seems to be passing with alarming swiftness. Am I making the most of these days? I hope so. It seems this weekend I don't want to do anything productive. I'm not in the mood. I finished my book and took it back to the library..all 1000 pages. Tonight I'll settle down and watch a movie. Quiet day.

I took a quiz online and here are the results:

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who’s extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to kno w you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken

boy, does that hit the nail on the head.

Time for a change

Don is painting the kitchen ceiling white.

Friday musings

What a day! It's dreary out..cold...and I just wanted to curl up in a ball today and read. I'm trying to finish a really long, long book by Ken Follett. I know you've heard me mention it a time or two. It's not hard to read, just really small print. But it tires out my good eye so much to try to read for a period of time. I'm very discouraged about my eye!
I picked out a color for the kitchen...a brick color which I think if dramatic. Don went to the store and when the guy mixed it some ran down the side so he had to fix it. When Don opened it at home it was peach!! Peach!! Not a good color for the kitchen. SO he has to make a special trip back to the other side of town to get the right color. While he is painting the walls, he decided to also paint the ceiling white again. It looks very nice. I can't wait for the walls to get done so I can decorate again. I am in a period of "less is more" so we'll see how much I put back on the walls.

Cleaning Tornado

I was a cleaning tornado today... moving furniture, mopping floors, sweeping, dusting, rearranging....I moved so fast and furious that I tired myself out! It started with the new piece of furniture I bought (see it in the picture above, the little black drawered chest under the shelf.) Well of course I had to move the couch, chair, ottomans, etc to accommadate it. That led to more rearranging and moving and then of course there was the kitchen to get back in shape. I don't know where I found the energy after traveling over eleven hours yesterday from Tennessee. I guess it's the new diet. I'm doing Slim Fast and it seems to give me energy. I know when I eat the wrong things I get sluggish. so maybe this is the answer. Don't eat. Just drink. We'll see. The next pic shows the lantern that I got at the Pottery. Just like the one a Pottery Barn only with a lower price. I really like it.

IS THERE ANYTHING SWEETER?

Who knew?

Who knew that Ryan would be such a great chef? Last night he fixed a pasta dish for us which was as tasty as any that I have ever eaten. He got the idea from a place he ate at when he was in Texas on business. There was a pasta place he ate at where the chef had burners in front of him and was cooking to order. He had small frying pans in which he placed ingredients according to the customer. Then he would add the pasta of choice, meat and sauce then serve. Ryan calls it "fried pasta".
Here is Ryan's version:
Have ready cooked bow tie pasta and cubes of a little undercooked chicken
In a small frying pan put some olive oil, pesto, and a can of chunky tomatoes which have been flavored already with herbs. Saute that and then add mushrooms and chicken. Cook for a minute or two.
Add the pasta and then some alfredo sauce and heat.
This is a simple dish but delicious!!

It's amazing what sunshine will do!

It's sunny and 68 degrees out there in Tennessee. It's liked I walked into summer today despite the fact that it snowed two days ago. It's amazing that the sunshine makes you feel soooo good! I walked around without a coat or a sweater in Knoxville where I went on a shopping expedition. knoxville is only a half hour away from Ryan's house so I ventured to the big city by myself. With good directions from Jenny my first stop was Hobby Lobby, one of my favorite stores. The first thing I saw when I went in was the furniture. I've been on the lookout for an end table to replace the home made drop table that dad had built for me. This one is beautiful. It's black with hand rubbed reddish highlights. It has four drawers in the front which will give me extra storage in that room. It's big enough to hold some things on the top too. I love it! Thank goodness for the van. It was very easy to get in! My next stop was the large West end Mall with anchor stores and a Coldwater Creek. I spent my free gift card for a great 3/4 length sleeve peach top. Even lunch was great there. The food court had many different types of restaurants that you don't see up north...mexican grills, oriental, and the one that I used. fruttala. I got a 1/2 a chicken salad sandwich that I thought was the best I had ever eaten. It was on whole wheat bread with onions and sprouts! Also I got a Ceaser salad with it. That fortified me for more shopping so I went to Home Goods. What fun it was running around in the nice weather enjoying the variety of stores. In hobby Lobby I bought a great black frame and picked up my pictures. I put a 5x7 black and white picture of Jenny and Sean in the fram and gave it to Jenny. She loved it!
We were planning on coming back tomorrow, but ryan and Jenny both begged us to stay longer, so we'll be back on Wednesday. I'm not looking forward to coming back to the snow.

The House I grew up in

We always referred to it as the "green house" because of the paint color and the address was 659 W. Washington St., Bradford , Pennsylvania. It was here that I spent most of my childhood years which were idyllic. Those were the days of Sally, Dick and Jane and our neighborhood and family life were just like those readers. The green house had two floors. There was a big kitchen in the back and the washer and dryer were in the kitchen too. I remember the tall cupboards and the black dial phone on the wall. Underneath the small back porch we played in the dirt hidden by the lattice. We made dolls from the hollyhocks that mom grew there. In the small living room in the front we listened to the radio until later when we got a television. Up the stairs were three bedrooms. I had the one over the garage all to myself while Diane had the smaller one. I had rheumatic fever when i was 10 and mom and dad moved me into their big bedroom. I had to be on bedrest for 6 weeks. I was upstairs all by myself for a lot of the time and I remember writing poetry about my furry kitten stuffed animals and my small dolls with the large crocheted dresses. when I was sick somone kept sending me cards signed "Your secret Pal"> I thought it was a friendly woman who worked in the pharmacy with dad, but it was really my mom. The house had pine trees in the front and a small lot in the back. Dad worked with a landscape architect and planted a number of beautiful trees and flowers there. The neighborhood was so friendly that we felt at home in the homes of our neighbors. All the kids played together without battling and we loved being outside from the time we got home from school until bedtime There are so many good memories associated with that house.

baby photos

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

GReat news!