Snow day

Friday was an icy, bone-chilling day. Woke up to the sound of sleet hitting my window but still had to go to the office for a few hours. We were sent home at 10:30 so it wasn't terrible since the worst of the weather hit my house around noon. Fortunately, I was able to hitch a ride in to work and back home again so I didn't have to show my non-existent winter driving skills. (thank you Rick and Chad!) I was glad to have a few extra hours to do some things I've been procrastinating on including getting some cards ready to mail. I even got a few new ones made in my extra hours.

The neighbors were out playing, so I couldn't be left out. I got to ride on the 4 wheeler with the boy next door and watched Ms. Lynn entertain some of the neighbors' kids. She pulled out a sled from the garage (who knew we had one?) and a plastic wading pool for them to slid down our driveway. Then she gave rides in the street to a couple of the girls. Looked like fun! I rode with my neighbors to rent movies and we all had dinner Friday night.

Thank you, Kristina, for sharing your pictures!! To see more of Kristina's pictures, check out her blog post about the snow at Mouthy Kid, Moody Mom.

Saturday was a lazy day watching the rest of the movies but today I've been productive cleaning and baking cookies I owe my friend Kenny for his birthday - in December! Better late than never. :)

Wordless Wednesday - crafty weekend with Kimberly's treasures

It was a very good long weekend

I had a busy but fun long weekend when we were off for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. I worked a few hours on Saturday morning to finish a really important project for the office. That wasn’t particularly fun but it was rewarding in getting it off my plate. Then I got to spend some time with a few of my favorite friends and neighbors as we wished Matt and Kerri farewell. They are moving to another city for his job and will be missed dearly. But it is an exciting opportunity for them, so that is the silver lining in their departure. It was a great party; Tara has a beautiful home and was a lovely hostess.

Sunday I went to church with my neighbors and got to visit Stacey at her Sunday school class. Stacey teaches a stretch and tone class (or stretch and groan depending on whom you ask) for First Assembly North. I was happy to see her smile at some of her regulars showing up in her other class as well. Love ya, Stacey! After church, I got to visit one of my favorite “Aunts.” Really she belongs to Kimberly and Debbie, but I want to be adopted. : ) Aunt Toots kept us laughing with her stories while Kimberly and Debbie were busy crafting. Debbie looked fabulous when she breezed in wearing her stylish, handmade hat and it warmed my heart to see her smiling and feeling like playing. It was good to visit with Anne, too. She stays so busy; it was nice to hear about some of her sewing projects firsthand – and to see her sewing efforts in person. Sunday she was wearing the resplendently redesigned sweater she made.

After I came home from another fun day at Kimberly’s, I packed up my beads and headed out to see the Chartreuse Butterfly, Charlisa. We had a great time talking and beading until about 3 in the morning. The next day, we went to Hughes to a big warehouse sale, where she bought some gorgeous fabric to reupholster her loveseat. Hughes is a tiny town; it’s hard to believe this warehouse was so busy on a Monday in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. But if you have a great sale, they will come! Cotton Country is the place to go if you need upholstery fabric at reasonable prices. Charlisa showed me some of the sites in her new town – and some unusual local residents.

Like so many main streets in small town America, lots of buildings are now empty. I can only imagine that the walls of this building are full of honey. Talk about a cleanup job from hell! Charlisa and I have been friends for many years now but I am constantly amazed at her talent. She walked me through some of the things giving me problems in my own jewelry making and made it seem quite simple.
Here’s some of the pieces we completed over the weekend.

I really love her sense of style. And here are some of the pieces she’s given me (including a couple of new ones for my birthday).

If I had lots of money, her Etsy shop, Chartreuse Butterfly, would be empty.

And in between all these things that kept me busy and happy over the weekend, I was able to dash across the street to see the boy next door and get a few hugs and kisses. It was a very good long weekend, indeed. : )

Empty bucket

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately and the conclusion I've drawn is that I have spent too much of my life being an empty bucket. I don't mean my life is empty. My cup runneth over and I am very grateful. What I mean is, by letting anyone toss things in, my life hasn't always been a true reflection of what I value. Easily clouded by others' negative thoughts, emotional turmoil, and obligations, I haven't always stayed true to the path I wish to walk. Certainly not everything has been harmful. Life lessons, challenges, and different perspectives to expand my thinking have been very beneficial.

But it's not good to be an empty bucket. What does one do with the void when no one is around to throw things in? And how do you keep out the detritus that steals the joy from life?

One of my goals is to stay present and make life better one moment at a time. Spending more time with friends and family, taking care of my physical self, and helping others are priorities.

Now to make my previously empty bucket full of moments that reflect these priorities...

Wordless Wednesday - Wearing the hat

Wish it were spa day again...

It's almost two weeks since spa day and it already seems like a distant memory. But my car's clutch was fixed and the fridge got fixed Tuesday morning. We made very good progress on the big project at work this week, too. Even though my manicure is ruined and I have sore muscles in my shoulders from yoga that a massage would really help, thinking about spa day for my birthday makes me smile. I guess that money might have been better spent on all the repairs but you only turn 39 once, right?

And I have the pictures Kristina took right after my makeup was done to remember the day. Too bad the facial made my bangs greasy.

TGIF

Looking forward to a long weekend. Gonna wish some friends farewell as they embark on life in a new city, visit friends I haven't seen in a while, and give Aunt Toots a big hug while she's in town. It's going to be a good weekend.

Hope you have a great weekend, too!

Wordless Wednesday - Playing post office

Things I've learned from Debbie

• We aren’t in control of what happens in life but we really are in charge of our attitude about it.
• There’s nothing like a genuine, positive outlook to uplift those around us.
• We all get by with a little help from our friends.
• Remember the good people in our lives, keep them close, and love them lots because they are what makes living worthwhile.
• Our memories are a comfort when we are grieving but even better is to do something -- like the Jennifer Project.
• Have faith things will be better because you never know who you will inspire.
• Always, always fight like a girl!

Wordless Wednesday - Taco Eve 2009

Wisdom from my niece...

It is sad that I needed wisdom from my very smart niece to make me wake up and see reality but there it is. She nailed in 3 words that no matter how your heart gets broken, you can count on your chicks to pick up the pieces. Thank you Sweet Girl for your tender heart, wise words, and putting up with your Auntie and her eccentricities. ; )

I see so much of myself in my niece yet she has strength that I never had at her age. I'm very proud to be a part of her life and to know the person she is becoming.

And thank you to all my Chicks for being there. I'm sorry I lost sight of my anchors by trying to hide under my covers. Love you all! : )