Neverisms

I recently started receiving Dr. Mardy’s quotes of the week which are quotes, little tidbits and things that happened that week in history. Here are his neverisms:

NEVER PASS UP A GREAT BARGAIN.

NEVER LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH.

NEVER BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT.

and here is my very favorite:

NEVER ATTRIBUTE TO MALICE THAT WHICH IS ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED BY STUPIDITY.

His theme for the week was “Would you benefit from an attitude adjustment?”
Here are some of his wise quotes:

”If you don’t like something, change it.  IF you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.”  Maya Angelou

”A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”  Hugh Downs

”Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different. Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change of attitude.”  Katherine Mansfield

How To Say Bonjour Correctly and My Scariest Moment Traveling

Here's another video from Sonia's Travels. Everyone ought to know how to say bonjour correctly. You never know where you will need this information.

All Done

The computer desk is assembled and I am so happy with it. I went to Erie yesterday and picked up the bookcase and small file side table to match. (Another project for Don). Can’t wait for the room to come all together.

"Paris: People Watching at a Cafe"

I found this video on the web.  How I wish that I were there!

SUMMER SOLSTICE

Welcome to the longest day of the year and the official beginning of summer. I was a teacher for 35 years or so and oh how I looked forward to putting away the books and having three months of free time. Well, it wasn’t exactly free time considering there were classes to take and many things to do. But just having sunshiny weather always brought a smile to my face. Do you have a favorite summertime memory?
   Here’s mine. I was in my last year of college at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. I went during the summers so I could finish up as quickly as possible so I could get married...Don was serving in the Navy at the time. When I reported to my dorm I discovered that there had been a fire and the dorm was going to be closed for the summer. My sorority sisters and I were out of home for 3 weeks. What to do?
    One of the girls had a cabin on the Clarion River in Emlenton which was a little over a half hour away. She called her mom and since I had a car all five of us decided to go there. What a delightful time we had! Since I was an art minor I was taking an oil painting class. That meant no homework!! Yippee! I was free to swim in the river all day and sunbathe. The radio speaker shouted outside as we sat on a raft and whiled away the time. I even remember the song that was so popular then:  “I can’t get no-o, satisfaction!” by the Rolling Stones.
   When I think of carefree times this is the memory that always comes to mind. Do you wonder what I looked like way back then?
I’m the blonde in the middle with the flowered sweater. 
Here’s a little closer picture..sorry about the blur.
And here is my sorority picture:

Those were the days, my friend!

Landscaping Plan

I’ve been photoshopping a new landscape plan for around the house. I didn’t care for the one that the landscaper offered so since I know what I want I’ve been working on it all week. Here is the idea I have for on the end of my house .  What do you think?

This is the front:

And this is my idea for the back space:

I am not a professional landscaper and this photoshopped image is not the greatest, so use your imagination.

ALWAYS BUY PREASSEMBLED

“Fasten two long right cabinet rails (KK) to the right end (a) and two long left cabinet rails (LL) to the right upright (E). Use a Gold 5/16” flat head screw (RRR) through the first and third holes in each rail.”

That is the beginning of step 5 out of 31 steps it takes to put together my new computer desk.  Even with explicit directions it’s a daunting task.

The winds of change are blowin’

It’s seems that there is a lot in motion here at the Karrasch household. Things are leaving and new things are coming in. It started with the departure of a player piano that didn’t work and had been in residence in a back bedroom for more years than I want to tell you about. After Don’s valiant attempt at repairing it he finally had to cut it up and pieces and remove it. That must have sparked something in him because before you know it he had someone from a junk yard come to our house and take away an old red Porsche that we had sitting on the other side of the garage for more years than I want to tell you about. since we were on a roll I convinced him that we no longer needed our hot tub since we barely used it anymore. Off it went to a new owner leaving an empty room. Not being one to let a room sit empty I quickly decided to make it into my new computer room. 
   On a trip to Erie with my sisters we found flooring, a beautiful floral rug, and a computer desk with hutch, bookcase and file table. Don finished the floor today and we put back the dresser. I hand painted this dresser many years ago and used it in the sunroom.

  I can’t wait until the other pieces get in the room!  P.S.  The picture are yet to be hung. I got the silver desk lamp at Marshall’s. It will be on the computer desk when it gets in place.

Happy Father’s Day

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.  ~Clarence Budington Kelland

LEWISTON KITCHEN TOUR

Hey all you lovers of tablescapes, pretty dishes and beautiful interiors. You should have been with me yesterday when my sisters and I went to Lewiston, NY (above Niagara Falls) to the kitchen tour. I’m the one on the left with Diane in the middle and Linda.
We weren’t allowed to take any pictures inside the homes but I took some on the outside. Isn’t this home magnificent.
A wonderful stone porch overlooked the Niagara River. There were a lot of amenities like this outdoor fireplace.
This house had a beautiful white kitchen and lots of room inside. Here is another tablescape at a different house.

Photographing Children

My hat is off to all the photographers out there who get such perfect pictures of children. I attempted to take a great picture of my two grandchildren from Tennessee while they were visiting this week. Trying to get a good shot was next to impossible with these wiggly worms. Can’t you just see the devil in their eyes?

Whoops..moved again.
Trying to get them to show a little love didn’t work either.
This is about the best I could do.

Ok, I give up!

Random thoughts on a Tuesday evening

Grandchildren

There is nothing more fun than when the grandchildren all are here. They do the craziest things. Here’s Dan climbing up a telephone pole..just for the heck of it.

NO pictures of Sean, he was too busy running around and playing. I love this pictures of Sara and Sadie looking out the window at the chipmunks who frequent the bird feeder.

Busy, busy

I’ve been missing in action on my blog for a while now. I’ve been busy with my family. Over the weekend we celebrated Don’s birthday with a large party.
There was great company, lots of delicious food and a fun time for all.