Rain, Rain Go Away
We continue saying it over and over, this has been the rainiest year in decades. The house is dark, and the lights are on. Two days of solid rain with the forecast for three more. I like rain when I am sleeping, and when the ground is dry, but today I would have preferred sunshine. My perfectly wonderful geraniums had just reached their peak in bloom. Now they look like this: Well, guess I am not in charge of the weather so I will quit complaining and get to work on something that makes me smile no matter what the weather brings. : ...
Critters
All afternoon I had noticed the number of yellow finch feeding on my cone flowers and black eyed susan's. Plan was when I sat out on the patio to eat dinner I would take my camera and get as close as possible for some memorable shots. Best laid plans just didn't work out. There was not a bird around tonight, almost eerie. So I turned my attention to something else quite by chance. This large yellow spider, I don't recall it's name, made it's web behind my rocker on the patio. How dare he scare me like that. So then ...
Summer in Bloom
Weather records measuring rainfall and temperatures have been broken back to 1905 this summer in the Kansas City area. We have had abnormally high rainfalls and cool temperatures that have been a welcome relief on our watering the lawn and flowers as well as our electric bills for running the A/C. Actually had a few people believing we would just head into fall when we were wearing jackets in the evenings during the month of July. Not much exciting or newsworthy here today, working on something special for my great granddaughter this afternoon. When I took my break I grabbed the ...
Opening and Closing Doors
One of my big pet peeves with my husband was he always left the closet door standing open. He finally broke me of complaining when he told me he would shut the closet doors if I would always put my shoes in the closet instead everywhere around the house. I have a bad habit of just stepping out of my shoes and leaving them to the point on occasions I might have several pairs by the door. Well of course I failed so we never nagged about those issues again. It is not those kind of doors that I am closing ...
Digging In to Dig Out
I wonder if you are like me and have so much "stuff" that when you begin to look around, open closets, peruse the garage, you are amazed at all the things you have accumulated. The worst part for me is how long it has been since I have used some of it. Today I dug out just a few pots and vases. These are just a few of the ones I am not using right now! I still have multiple numbers in the garden, on the patio, etc. David took at least a half dozen home already and Julie and Deb ...
Aug 09
5
A Laughing Matter
This evening I spent two hours sewing out an embroidery pattern with 43 thread changes. Now I did not know there was a potential to get carpal tunnel is my upper arms from changing thread not to mention the neck strain from lifting my heavy arms up all evening…. However, I persevered through all of those serious trials and finished my project. Along the way I broke a needle which flew into my cheek and managed to keep my calm demeanor which in itself is no small thing.
When I had finally finished I was so excited to get it out of the hoop, cleaned up and put to rest just like my body….Well here is my final result and you will not believe, seriously I had to laugh and at my age laughing too hard can be a serious problem, if you know what I mean ladies… Please try to contain yourselves when you see this project.
Front side of apron still in the hoop! Isn’t he just adorable.
Now here my friends is the back side of the hoop and the reason I broke the needle, duh!
Apparently when I took the hoop off to reload my bobbin, I failed to check that the neck tie of the apron was not under the hoop. Now I have not figured out exactly how to fix this problem. But if you know me at all you can bet I will find a solution because I am too stubborn to spend that much time on nothing.
I hope you had a good laugh on me because I sure did.
Aug 09
4
Opening and Closing Doors
One of my big pet peeves with my husband was he always left the closet door standing open. He finally broke me of complaining when he told me he would shut the closet doors if I would always put my shoes in the closet instead everywhere around the house. I have a bad habit of just stepping out of my shoes and leaving them to the point on occasions I might have several pairs by the door. Well of course I failed so we never nagged about those issues again.
It is not those kind of doors that I am closing right now. It is the friends at work, the habits of activities we take for granted, putting distance between me and friends, my hairdresser, my doctor, the list is endless. Brandon reminded me recently that God never closes a door that He doesn’t open another. As I began paperwork for my new residence yesterday I have to admit I broke down and cried because I will miss so much of what I loved having here. However, as I sat filling out the paperwork across the room a group of probably twenty were having a Bible Study and I knew God was opening up a door that I could easily walk through to make new friends. Here are just a few pictures of the memories I will take into my new journey and I am so grateful to have them in photo medium to stir my heart and remind me of the love life has given me.
Aug 09
2
Digging In to Dig Out
I wonder if you are like me and have so much “stuff” that when you begin to look around, open closets, peruse the garage, you are amazed at all the things you have accumulated. The worst part for me is how long it has been since I have used some of it. Today I dug out just a few pots and vases.
These are just a few of the ones I am not using right now! I still have multiple numbers in the garden, on the patio, etc. David took at least a half dozen home already and Julie and Deb have taken a few also. Needless to say flowers have been such a big, big part of my pleasure and leisure activity. I will miss it, but plan on doing it on my terms from now on by heading to one of the kids yards when I feel the urge and quitting before the job is finished will be okay! Sounds like a bargain to me.
Check out our Creative Chics blog, http://www.creativechics.com/cchicsblog, next week for a more detailed accounting of the history and memories of the pots I have shown here along with lots of photos.
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Jul 09
31
TGIF
I didn’t work today, but I am certainly glad it is Friday! A long week with lots of activity, my muscles still need a massage or sore body remedy of some kind. Got the house listed today, hopefully it will not take a year to get a buyer.
My big challenge now, how to sew and not leave a mess 
I am not sure that can be possible but I am willing to try! Hope you all have a great weekend, will post up some old pictures because I didn’t take any new ones today! An old picture but one of my favorites of Aria, my great granddaughter. If your up for a conversation, you need to meet this beautiful little talker!
Now let’s see who can find me in this picture? This was only taken about 50 or more years ago!
Jul 09
30
No Time for Fun Stuff
Have not been able to find time to get a post up the last two days. Yes to all of you who are hearing the rumors that I am selling the house. I am listing it tomorrow and hopefully I will not be delayed by the economy in getting it sold in the next 60 days. Plans are fairly settled but not written in stone to move to Olathe, close to Rich and the girls.
No more yard work and who cares if the hot water heater needs fixed, someone else can deal with it! I am past ready for retirement. However, so much to do to get ready for such a big transition. I didn’t realize how dirty my house was until I started thinking of selling it. Touch up a little paint scratch here and there, get all the cobwebs, wash the windows, etc. Can you imagine I am tired again. : )
Today is Julie’s 30th Birthday, so took time to treat her to lunch and she in turn washed my windows in and out, so think that was a pretty darned good bargain! 
Still left to do before people show up to see the house tomorrow, sweep the garage, get the cobwebs, mow the grass, ugh that weed-eater, won’t miss that at all, freshen up the flower pots on the patio. Biggest goal is to get my sewing/office to where it doesn’t look like everything is thrown into it. Quite a challenge when you have 40 yards of material, batting, threads by the dozen, and the list goes on. I need Kim to come organize it for me!
What’s my house guest been up to? Well since it stormed so bad the second day she was here, she has been sleeping in my bed! Know that is hard for
those of you who know me really well to believe but she was terrified. I was pretty frightened myself. The neighbor’s tree was totally uprooted and in his and my yard; I didn’t get any pictures as he cleaned it up so quickly.
So that is where I have been and why I haven’t posted but will get back to my normal daily posting hopefully by Saturday. Have a great weekend and if you know anyone who wants a starter or finisher home that is CLEAN, send them my way : )
So glad I have pictures to remember the loving memories of this home I have enjoyed for over 10 years..
Jul 09
28
Normalcy is Back
Just an ordinary day, isn’t that awesome. Sometimes we take ordinary days for granted, become bored, always wishing for something different. Today I was just content to have an ordinary day, off to work, little grocery shopping, home to some housework, and a time just for what I love to do, sewing.
I had the camera out today to take pictures of my sewing project so will give you one of my latest embroidered pillowcase and the rest a beautiful mosaic 
picture from the flower gardens. The flower beds are really wet and I have no geraniums blooming. Geraniums have always been my focus in pots for their color that lasts into fall but this year’s lack of sunshine has definitely held the blooms down. No more chatter just pictures, hope you enjoy them.
Jul 09
27
Sore Monday
What a day this has been…I took my car in to have them check my tires because my kids insisted there was something wrong. I hadn’t noticed anything but I took it in because they were confident I had problems. Result, two new wheels, two new tires, new brakes, those things turned when you do brakes, and I can’t remember but think that was all! Just several hundred dollars!
The Goodyear service center I use is within a mile of work, so I walked to work. During that 15 minutes I truly thought I would crash, my butt is sore, my knees hurt, my hip joints screamed, all were saying “too much yard work in a short period of time, old lady.” Well the hard part is over and it looks great. Just one more stage in this major cleaning process on Thursday and I can relax.
I don’t know what you put on sore butt muscles but whatever it is I need a huge dose, just sitting in the chair hurts. I went to work and stayed for close to two hours and came home (10:30), hit the bed and didn’t wake up until 1:30. I am reminded of those roadrunner cartoons and how smashed Wylie Coyote always ended up. Today you can just call me Wylie!
Jul 09
26
What a Difference a Day Makes
We started early this morning to weed, trim and mulch my flower beds. I didn’t do a good job of taking before pics but hopefully you can see from where Deb and Robert are working to the next pictures of it finished what a major difference the days work made. Trees were thinned, weeds pulled, flowers on their last bloom pulled and it looks like a beautiful garden anyone would enjoy calling there own once again. How can I ever say “thank you” to these incredible hard working kids…I tried with BLT’s. take a look at the sunburn on Deb’s arms, and Robert he is a Samson who never complains, You guys are awesome!
The final picture, almost 20 bags of yard material for pickup are on my driveway!
THANK YOU GUYS SO VERY, VERY MUCH! I COULD NEVER HAVE HAD THIS DONE WITHOUT YOUR HELP, LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH.
Jul 09
25
Special Children
I am one of the most blessed Mother’s that ever lived. I sometimes hear people talk about not having a good relationship with their Mother and I feel so sad for them and for the Mother. Beyond a doubt the greatest thing a woman ever experiences is being a Mother. Now I know a marriage and relationships are important but kids, you just can’t describe the love of a Mother.
Today my children blessed me so much. I am trying to get my home cleaned up beyond the normal Spring/Fall cleaning so if I decide to put it on the market it is buyer ready. Today David and Julie came and power washed the entire house and that was no small task. Five plus hours with a break for a BLT. We are all pooped but I assure you it looks like new again! Thank you guys, you are beyond a doubt the best of the best!
Tomorrow we tackle the flower beds, I think I owe them more than a thank you don’t you?
Jul 09
24
A Dog’s Life
I am not sure how old Maddie is, I believe they got her when they lived in New York after the huge lab they had just kind of mysteriously, per Brad disappeared??? The lab was so big that on one occasion it went between my legs to get to where it was going and truly lifted me off the floor! Talk about a shocker!
Maddie is probably 6 or 7 years old. Her activity for the day is very limited as you will see in t
he pictures. Wagging her tail is her official form of exercise. She was so excited to see me when I came home from work today, of course she tinkled. The picture on the sofa spread out is her most normal pose. She was laid out like this when UPS dropped a package and the driver rang the doorbell. Immediately she was barking a very ferocious bark, like she could hurt or scare anything or anyone!
She finally came into my office where I was working and just looked at me, like “hey stupid, did you hear the doorbell ring or not.” I kept telling her, ” it is okay Maddie it is just UPS, no kids to play with.” Five minutes later she had regained her pose! A dog’s life, boring or perfect, I haven’t decided.
