Sorting Comic Books Tonight

No time to bloggy blog. I have help from the PiePie, so I must not abuse it! :)

Photo Fun

So I had an idea (again) about a post, and I loaded some photos on the computer for another post, and then, I am posting a bunch of photos that are none of the above. Go figure. I'm pooped tonight after meeting a ton of neato peeps at the flea market today, and I have to get ready for work tomorrow and get my (our) life back in order for this week. Good thing *he* likes to help keep the house and laundry up. I think I shall keep him. :) On Friday, when I was supposed to be at the flea market, I was out running and working on that dream. I promise the photos will be here fairly soonish. So, since I was working on the dream instead of selling fleas, I got to have breakfast with two of my favorite people....the PiePie and the Nanna. (As if I had to tell you.)

I found this in my perusings on the internet this week. Isn't it superb??? It is made from an actual pool ball. It looks a bit thickish to me for my comfort, and at $55, it wasn't going to be mine, but considering how I love the number 6, if I *had* the extra money to throw away, I do think I would throw it towards this beauty. Just because.

Next thing I would throw it at would be these awesome-cool shoes. Lookie at the baseball stitches on them!!!!! *love*

You maybe have seen Alyssa before. Kate made her last year in Art. I love her so very much. I tried to get her to make another, but she just couldn't seem to make it work, so I enjoy this one as much as possible. I added the matt for the frame and the words....Kate made the actual girl from magazines. She's far better up close and personal. Alyssa, that is.

Every time I see a 6, I try to snap a pic and send it to my son. I wish I had a photo album of all of them that I've seen over the years. That would be a fun collection, wouldn't it? This one was at the mill last week. You should have seen R's face when I was walking through the muddy mulch to snap an up-close photo of this little woolly friend. Ha.

The flea market was a learning experience this month, for sure. I managed to pull rent out of the last two hours of the show, and that is a very good thing. I also managed to make some way-cool friends and contacts, and I got some uplifting that was much-needed. Yesterday was a very bad day. I'm not one to give up often, but yesterday, I must admit that I sat there and felt sorry for myself. Today, I went in with the attitude that I was going to have a better day. Good thing I'm stubborn like that. :)

I'm tired, and everything is irritating me tonight, so I am going to curl up on the couch with PiePie and go to sleep very shortly. Tomorrow is a good day, right? Right.

Meet Ms. Georgia Elizabeth...

Isn't she a gem? It's amazing to me to think that nearly a year ago, I was told she was coming, and PiePie and I started working on her blanket almost immediately. It was hard to stitch, so it was slow going, but it was so well worth it in the end...perfect for a family of Bulldawg fans, doncha think? :)

I'm hoping that the next 9ish or so months goes by as quickly as what it seemed to go by for me waiting on Ms. Georgia, because my lovely sister just let her girls announce to us that she will be introducing the next Haley baby into our family sometime in October. Is it October yet? I, for one, cannot wait! :)

Blankety Blank Blank

That is my mind right now. I sit down to write, and I have all these great ideas, and then they just go....somewhere. I dunno where. I wish I did so I could have them come back. But alas, I don't.

Let's see. When I lack for things to do, you know that I end up doing something silly like telling you what all I've done all day, even though you really don't care what I did all day long, and something witty would be better.

I actually had a very productive day, and that is an awesome thing. (Especially since I didn't go to bed last night until about 1:30.) I got to have breakfast with two of my favorite people....the Nanna and the PiePie. Went to work on th dream that is becoming a reality....I will be sharing that soooooon. Went to Wal Mart for things like pillows for the flea market and dogfood...necessities. Among other necessities was liquid Band-Aid for the PiePie, who is *not* an electrician, and some sort of antacid stuff for me, because my "insurance" will not pay for me to have the drug that helps me with the fibro. So I have to buy the two components that make up that drug separately, and they are known for tummy troubles. I can see why.

On a side note...piggapancake...Jennifer Aniston is on my TV at the moment...er.....PiePie's TV.....and let me just say that in whatever it is she is playing on, she is beautiful. I don't think that so much in some newer things that she's done, but in this one, she still looks...soft???...and she has always had great hair.

Now, back to the day. After getting home from necessity shopping, I had to get ready for the flea market that I did not attend today because I had too many other things to do to get ready for it, and life got in my way. I am very proud to announce that in light of the new, outrageous gas prices, I decided I was going to MAKE everything fit in the two-door Honda Civic, and I DID IT. Yes, I did :) Go, Me. I do admit taht probably most of that happening is strictly because PiePie told me it could not be done, and that is just the absolute wrong thing to say to me 99% of the time.

Poor Katie's room is a disaster, war-torn-looking area. That is...it WAS. You see, I've learned something about myself. If all is not right in my world, I start cleaning. If you see me cleaning, and really concentrating on my cleaning, you better watch out. I've only just noticed this about myself in the last year or so...but then, everything else has changed in that amount of time, too, so why not? Anywhoooo, Kate's room is free of all of the junk that did not qualify as hers, and you can now see her floor and her dresser tops. This is very exciting news. She will think she is at the wrong place when she gets home tonight from work! Maybe I should warn her first. :)

After that, I then went into MY bedroom and started cleaning. I picked up all 12 pairs of my boots and shoved them under my bed....just like a 13-year-old....but it was a place that they could fit and be out of sight. We just have too much stuff for such a small space. I cleaned up all my jewelry, did the laundry, and folded my socks. I hate folding socks, so this is something to write down in the history book. In truth, I must say that the reason I folded them is because there are none left in my drawers-of-plenty. I had no choice. There you have it.

Let's see....I also made some hair ribbons for the flea market that are of the Leprechan nature. They are cute, but then, last month, I didn't even sell ONE hair ribbon, so who knows? Months before, that's been what has paid the rent. Go figure.

I have accomplished allllll of these things WITH the Nanna in tow. NOT an easy feat for anyone who has the "help" of a four-year-old, but then, spending the day with her is something that happens all too rarely these days, so I'll take it.

Now, I have to start sewing on some Alabama and Vandy cases for the flea market that were special requests. There's no minute like the last minute! (And I wonder why PiePie told me I had too much going on at once?????)

Now I have to go and find a photo to go with the post.....that one up there ^^^^^^^^^^^ ought to worok. It says something like "Today is a Gift". Which is true. So is bed time. :) It's almost here!

Chasing My Tail.

That's what it feels like I'm doing these days. It seems like I never get much done, but I have an ever-growing list of things to do. I am unprepared for the flea market this weekend, again. I am frantically stitching a few cases this evening because there were a few I promised folks that I would have. I sure hope they come back for them this month, but I'm not holding my breath. I was going to make a few st. Patrick Day hair ribbons for this weekend, but I can't put my hands on the clips to glue down or the wire to make them with, so I suppose those will have to wait, eh? BUT.....I did accomplish one thing! I did! I did!!!!!! Kate needed a button sewn back on her pants, and I was able to get that done this evening. She only had to wait for about a week, and not a month or forever. I am of utmost amazement at my speedy button-sewing, and that is a for-real thing. :) Maybe it is because I have a love for buttons; one that maybe I inherited from my mother (she made the cute flowers below) but must likely, its roots were established long before my mother....with my grandmother. :) I mean really....how could a button NOT make you happy????

I'm thankful....

that my parents taught me to believe in myself and to have confidence in myself. I am so thankful that I do not have to talk about other people, or put other people down in order to feel good about who I am. I am thankful that I do not have to have expensive items, drive a "new" car, or wear the latest name-brand clothes and a new pair of shoes every day of the week to feel good about who I am. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for teaching me the ability to be who I am, and to be proud of it. I hope I have been able to instill those same ideas in my own children as well as you did in me.

Why am I so infatuated with this chick?

Perhaps it is because everyone I know seems to think that I am her. She is me? Whatever. You get the idea. Most days, I would smile and say, "Why, of COURSE I am Wonder Woman!!!" But today, I would rather respond with something more like this: "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING?!?!?! I AM NOOOOOTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!! WONDER WOMAN!" Insert the hand-on-hips voice of the Nanna here: "Don't you know????? I told you THREE TIMES!!!!!" And there you have it. Good thing tomorrow is a new day, huh? I hope everyone gets the message that they should be nice to me tomorrow, since they weren't today.

:)

No one can be uncheered by a balloon. ~Winnie the Pooh (Or sisters. ~Me) Sooooo, as I posted this morning on Facebook, I was awakened by a kiss from my favorite four-year-old....right on the tip of my nose. How could it get any better, I ask you!?!?!? For breakfast, we had cake, left over from the bridal show put on by Wilson Living magazine, thanks to Publix. And we played with balloons. And THEN....drum roll, please....we went to work on my little dream-come-true....which is different than the dream I've BEEN working on. This dream is the one that I gave you the owl-y hint about. I'm still not quite ready to unveil. We're getting close.

The middle of my day was pretty stinky. I'm pretty sure *someone* woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and try as I might, I was not able to remain a cheerful person, especially since I was tired and sore when I woke up anyways. This is beginning to sound like complaining, so I will move on to the other highlight of my day....

As we were out today running errands, I received a phone call from the younger sister asking if we would be home this afternoon because she thought they would venture over to our house in Beth of Page. You know the one....the one I fondly refer to as "Perry's Paradise"...but that Anna referred to today as "PiePie's Paradise". I think they are interchangeable, don't you? And so I said of COURSE we were going to be at home this afternoon, and so they came to play. We had a lot of fun cramming in a lot of conversation into a little amount of time, and topped off the visit with Publix cake, grilleld garlic bread, and Italian sausage. In that order. It's a long story. :)

Looking forward to more dream-realizing tomorrow...doesn't that sound much more fun than the word "work"? I thought so, too.

(There are photos to come of today, but I am way too lazy tonight to put them on the computer, so they will remain in my camera for now.)

I've Got Plans.

I've got plans with this one tomorrow: Every day, she asks me if I have to work the next day. Every day, she wants to spend time with me, and I want to spend time with her. Truth is: we both miss those days when we were home together, getting some Mommy and Anna time. She likes to stay wherever she thinks she can sleep the longest in the mornings, and that cracks me up. She will really be in for a treat when she has to go to school next year.

Anyways, I do not have to work tomorrow, so I was delighted to hear her giggle when I got to answer a big, fat NO when she asked if I had to work, and then when she asked me if we could paint her birdhouse and I said yes, I couldn't believe the child-like laughter and delight when she reacted. THEN...I told her who to guess who else would be home with us, and when I said, "No one," she giggled. And then I giggled.

I can't wait to paint birdhouses tomorrow. What are you looking forward to about tomorrow? There HAS to be something, even if it is a Monday!

I have an announcement....

but it can't be announced quite yet. I'm very, very excited about it, and I cannot WAIT to tell you! But it must be announced complete with photos! For those of you who do not know me well, I'm sure you will guess that a little Perry is on the way, but rest assured, that is not possible!

On to other news....there is a bridal show at the Mill tomorrow in Lebanon. Come out and see us if you dare! :) There should be lots of neato things to see. Even the garage people that sat up next to us seem pretty neat. (For real.)

Today's photo is a little bit of a hint at what the surprise announcement is, but you'd have to be pretty with it to get it. :) You would have to know me well, and put the many clues this offers together to figure it out. Good luck.

I have two days off this coming week, then not sure when the next off day will be. I love being busy, sort of. The rest of me misses my house (especially in the days when it was clean) and my kiddos. Summer will be here soon enough, and then it will seem like I see them more because it won't seem like bedtime at 5:00.

I am going to go and enjoy the PiePie....and someday, when I have a brain, I have another post I need to get out of my head. It's about my friend, *M* and how much I love her. :)

...and she went to bed thinking that she was the luckiest girl alive. For countless reasons.

But she is too tired to write about them just now, so she will wait until tomorrow.

Sometimes.....

I think. (And sometimes, I don't!)

There have been a lot of things that have happened in my life lately that have caused me to have conversations with folks about the past. It's something...I normally don't think too much about the past...what's behind us is stuff that can't be changed, so why dwell on it? Typically, I don't.

However, like I said, this week, I've had conversations about what has led me to be where I am today, and with a somewhat bitter voice (At least I think I probably don't disguise it well, so the bitterness seeps through, if not in my voice and tone, then with the sarcasm. Hey...it's just me!) I have chatted fairly candidly about all that. And, to one individual that knows who she is, I have tried to voice things that couldn't be voiced to anyone else, because I'm certain she gets it. The feeling that comes with the hard work for something you believe in, something you want, and something you feel like you rightly deserve, but then the world thinks otherwise is one that is familiar to Friend, just like it is to me. You know the one? Well, the bitterness comes in there: why am I not there, doing that, when I thought I would be, think I should be?

And then I have to stop and think. Again. Back to....well....always, I guess. I was going to say 2000, then I thought nope, wait....when I was 16 and had Kate. Then I thought...wait...wasn't I just TWO when I kicked that window out? Even then, I was stubborn, and taking the unconventional way to get from point A to point B. And while a lot of people seem to think that I am (or was) crazy, I've always felt a certainty about my choices, and been peacefull in my heart and soul about what it was I was doing. I've always known that I might have to work hard to _______________ <-------insert whatever word or phrase here. But I also knew that no matter what others thought, I was doing what was right, being where God wanted me to be. And that is the bottom line....that is what gives me the peace that I have.

As I continue on my unconventional road, being happy, not necessarily practical, I am reminded here and there that life is good, and I am in good hands. After all, whose hands are better to be held in that that of our Father? I can think of no other hands that would compare, and I am happy to be one of His children...I know of no other father that can paint a spectaculare rainbow like this one in the sky for me, especially on a day when I really needed to see one.

The day I needed this one was on one of the particularly harsh days I had at my last job, and as I drive home, this is what I saw, even through my tears and bewilderment. A promise from God for me. All because He loves me!

I am slowly and surely learning to be content with what I have, where I am, all the time....it's definitely a work in progress.

Happy Almost-Friday!

So tired.

These late nights are catching up to me, especially when you throw in the daily stress....like when your husband comes to you with half of his thumb laying over his knuckle because he somehow managed to electricute (o?) himself. Thirteen stitches and 4.5 hours or so later, we finally made it home from the ER, just in time to see American Idol go off. Grrrrr. That photo up there is Carter and his adventurous and stubborn pal, Eggs. Isn't this a great photo? I'm too tired to write tonight; my eyeballs are crossing, so I'm going to bed. :)

Pattern Mixing.....Try It!

So this is not a post for those who are *ahem* of the "monochromatic" favoritist group, or for those who are faint of heart when it comes to their clothing and decorating likes. :0) (Love you, *M*!)

This post is born from the idea that I would discuss with your our furniture. Furniture? Yes, dear reader, furniture. PiePie and I have two pieces of furniture from our gallavanting days of yardsales last summer. We have Chair and Rocker. Both have a lot of personalities; far more than their names portray, I'm quite certain. Chair has been loved for almost a whole year now by my back side, daily. Rocker has not been loved by us yet. Rocker was not in the condition to be loved until he's fixed.

Today, Honey got the bright idea that she and PiePie should make a trip to visit Michael and Miles (I'd insert link here if I knew it, but you can find them on Facebook by looking for "Michael's Cover Up" and friending them....) to look through the store full of fabric, color, pattern, and texturey goodness. Trust you me, they have allllll of the above in abundancy. After much deliberation and conversation, PiePie and Honey decided on the fabrics in the photo below. We came to this conclusion by finding something that a: we both could live with, and b: could withstand a few years of grimy hands x 37. (That's a lotta hands, folks.)

I think we have decided that both Chair and Rocker will be sporting both Rooster and Geo in some form or fashion. PiePie is not yet aware that Honey is planning to find a third fabric and pattern to use as draperies when he moves out his big man tv. Shhhh....don't tell him. (He is reading over my shoulder.....)

So, I was thinking that sharing the fabric with you would be the extent of this post, but then, as I was cleaning out my photos off my phone (errrr....all nearly 800 of them) I found the one below of yours truly at work one day this month. And knowing I was on the subject today of patterns and mixing....I thought it was worthy of being shared as well. Doncha think? :)

PS....PiePie consented to this French-ish fabric "on account of it has a Rooster on it". Isn't he just so lovable? I think I'll keep him.

Good Day, Part Two

So, the best part of today was spending it with the PiePie and the Nanna, and then family dinner. Oh, wait. I told a fib. The BEST part of the day was walking around with an awesome new haircut...3.5 months later. Color me happy.

So, the PiePie, and the Nanna, and I went for the haircut, after sleeping in a bit, then to KMart for new shoes for Anna (that promptly fell apart and will be taken back in the morning, shame!), and then we had Chinese buffet for lunch. (And I wonder why I keep gaining weight???) While I was getting my hair cut, Anna came in with a card and a rose for me, alllll from her (with a little help from the PiePie). She was so very proud. She's growing up tooooo quickly.

When we got home, I opened the doors and windows and cranked up the stereo while I did a bit of picking up and putting away and cleaning. This allowed me to enjoy the sunshine, even though I was not able to be outside to enjoy it better.

We had valentines for all....sugary marshmallow goodness ones....yes, I took photos. And we had grilled burgers, dogs, and brats as well as chips, a shrimp platter, and the yummy cookies with the cool little heart sprinkle confetti on top. We ahd lots of conversation, and were sad that Meg, Addi, and Gatlin are sick with the flue and couldn't make it. Had they been here, we would have ALL been here. Boo!

After dinner, we kept Kalani while his mom and dad went to eat. (They're nuts!) :) I made more flowers, too, throughout the day, and now, I will be heading to bed. I've posted just two photos I took today, and I have not done any editing to them yet, but you know my rule.....

...and it was a good day.

One of our favorite things to do is find little hole-in-the-wall-type places to hunt for treasure. We think treasure hunting is probably Heaven's first cousin. :) Last year on Valentine's Day (which we don't so much participate in), we happened to be in Bowling Green (I think we were shopping for my netbook) and on the way home, we stopped at a little "flea market" that we know of, and we ate at a catfish restaurant called Harpers. (It used to be a pay lake, I believe, but that was "back in the day".) Soooo, when THIS year came around, we decided to "celebrate" Valentine's Day by doing the same, minus the netbook shopping. I have two favorite parts of the day: waking up and laying in bed just an extra 10 minutes talking, and going to bed, and falling asleep talking. I think I love these two times the best because it is the only two times in a typical day that while we are at home, we are alone. I'm not complaining by any means, but it is very hard to have a conversation with 12,000 other people being around, texting, and calling. Today started off just right because I got that time, but instead of 10 minutes, it was probably closer to 30.

After the lounging/talking part, I was able to talk to Kate for a bit, alone, which, again, is a very treasured time that doesn't happen often enough. Gotta love my Kate time. :)

We both were excited that today was a day that we *needed* our sunglasses. Sunshine is just plain good! :) Got to slip out and go for our now-traditional meal....all-you-can-eat catfish for PiePie while Honey gets the butterfly shrimp. Yummmmmmeeeeeeeee!

Shopping was in store for us after eating, and we slowly perused the booths of treasures we had not visited in quite some time. Many good finds later, we were on our way home.....after stopping at another "flea market". Sunglasses, backroads, a bit of conversation, some good tunes....yeah...it doesn't get too much better than that!

However...if you add a caramel sundae to the mix, it does get better. Especially when it is shared.

Next came the unloading part, the cleaning of the front porch, and much enjoyment of sunshine.

A visit to see the grand baby, including PiePie, Honey, and Sally Sue (aka B. Nanna) was next, and Honey was able to hold him and rock him and let him sleep on her lap. This made Honey happy.

Upon returning home yet again, PiePie and Honey went through their purchases and showed them all to Kevin, who enjoyed seeing their finds.

Movies were next on their list of to-do items for the day. While Kate and Nanna watched movies in Kate's room (and promptly fell asleep), PiePie, Honey, Kevin, and Makayla tuned into a couple of movies. Honey was able to make a garden full of flowers whilst "watching" the movies, and as she types, she has hot glue ALLLLL over her fingers.

As she types, Honey is sitting next to PiePie, her personal heater, while she types, because she is very very cold.

Yes, it doesn't get much better than this. It WAS a good day. :0)

***Photos of today's events will be posted, but Honey is sleepy and has to get up early in the morning, so it will have to wait until another day.***

Little-Known Fact....

He giggles. :0) Shhhh.....don't tell anyone. Papa Bears don't giggle. It ruins their big-bad-bear image, you know.

On Expectations...

Let me preface this, friends, by forewarning you I am not in the best of moods as I sit down to write tonight. I suppose everyone is entitled to a grumpy day now and then, but I try not to put my grumps on my blog. That being said...today is not a day I'm trying...I'm going to grump...at least somewhat...anyways. Because I can.

Expectations. Big word, no? I'm sitting on both sides of the fence tonight on this one. Perhaps that's where my frustration comes from...I'm frustrated on both sides! I guess today's my day, eh?

Let's first look at the side of the "expector", if you will. As the expector, I am a firm believer that you can, to some extent, control the behavior of the...?...expectee? Yes, expectee. I believe, and think I could write a thesis on this subject, that the expectee will, if not right away, eventually live either UP to your expectations, or DOWN to your expectations. I also believe that if you are expecting in the right fashion, for the good of the expectee, you are expecting them to live UP to your expecations, rather than down. This being said, and stating that I am of the "UP" belief, after believing UP in someone and investing a lot of time in them because you see they are worth it, and getting the DOWN instead...well, folks, to be as nice as I can think to be at the moment...the best thing I can say is it bites. Disappointment, I should think, is something that most of us are not fond of. When you couple disappointment with the DOWN behavior from the expectee, well....it's not too pretty, as you could imagine. Here's the part I have to get better about: I have to get better about voicing the disappointment in a teaching manner, rather than an "I'm-hurt-that-you-disappointed-me" manner. There have been times in my life that I have disappointed, sometimes in a bigger way than others, I'm sure, but those that were in teaching roles for me either handled it in a teaching manner (thanks, you who taught!), or handled it in the "I-m-hurt-that-you-disappointed-me" manner (definitely not the manner you wish to be remembered, trust me).

Now, to the other side of the fence. Let me forward this with this statement: I am by no means perfect. Yes, I know this will come as a huge shock to most of you readers out there, but it is true. I am only...um...99% perfect. :0) BIIIIIIG Grin! OK, really...even IIIIIII have room for improvement. :) But!!! You know how when you really feel like you are giving it all you have, and then some, and you continue to do and to do and to do, and you just want to look at the expector and go, "HEY!!!! You!!!!! Can you not SEEEE what all it is I HAVE done????? Can you not see that your expectations are too great for even the Pope to live up to????" But alas, dear reader, I think I would be remiss if I didn't point out that that is NOT the correct way to handle the situation. What? You already knew that? Good, cause so did I. But don't you WANT to say that sometimes? But then instead, you tie a knot and hang on, right? Why yes, you do! Because if you are a good little expectee, and you try to live UP to the expectations of the expector, you just keep smiling. And trying. And doing. Even when you might feel taken advantage of, or under-appreciated, or under-paid, or under-thanked, or whatever the case may be...insert your under-____ here. This does, however, remind me to reevaluate my expectations as the expector, because it can't be too fun being the expectee, either. Right?? Right.

Now, I feel all better. Enough of expectors, expectees, and expectations. It's time for bed. Thanks to your listening ear, I think I shall sleep a little bit better with all those words *not* roaming around in my noggin.

Happy Friday, dear reader. I shall make it my goal to have a happier post on the morrow.

And because no blog post is a blog post without a photo, here is Carter-Bug with a smile for you today. Ain't he just the cutest thing ever?

I Really Like Him.

He Loves Them....

Before I came along, PiePie lived here all alone.....almost. He had his trusty sidekick, Harley. You can see Harley below, on the left. He and Harley were buddies. Harley was company for him to come home to; Harley needed him. He needed to be needed. Don't we all? I should think so, in some form or fashion! Harley is and was and will always be his pride and joy, and that is fine with me. :) Are you wondering yet why we are having Ode to Harley Day? It's because my writing block continues, and as I was sitting beside the PiePie tonight, listening to him talk to Harley like he was a real person, and watching as Harley cocked his head this way and that, as if to speak back, I knew that my bloggity bloggy post was formulating in this noggin' o' mine. You see...PiePie is the atypical man...that is, at least, if you compare him to the stereotypical man. He does laundry. He cleans. He does dishes. He makes the bed. He leaves the toilet seat down when he is done. (Perhaps my favorite aspect, especially at 4:00 a.m. when I seem to always need to make my way to the throne....no one likes falling in, especially in the dark.) He also has manners. But here's the thing: I swear he taught his dog manners. Harley has a bad habit of "drinking" if it can be referred to as such by sounding like a very thirsty horse in the middle of a very big desert on day 12. PiePie can say, "Harley, you slobberin' dog, stop it! Don't drink like that! You sound like a horse!" And do you know that Harley stops drinking like that? He also doesn't jump, and does a myriad of other "tricks" which I find endearing. Lately, our four-legged friend has become afraid of the vents in the floor. The best we can figure, maybe he was laying on one when it came on, and scared the beejeezers out of him, and now he is deathly afraid of them....who knows. So tonight, when Harley was asking his owner to PLEASE help him into the living room from the kitchen and PiePie told him to come on through, because nothing was going to hurt him, Harley cocked his head this way, made a noise that way, stuck his head down, and skulked right past that vent like he was somebody. This is where the blog post was born. I love how he talks to them (Emma's on the right.) like they are people, and how they respond....sort of like people.
Emma came to live at Perry's Paradise shortly after I did. We got the bright idea that we were going to raise Boxers, sort of like I raised Boggles in a previously lifetime. Yes, this plan wasn't the brightest one we've ever had...but anyways....we went and met Emma's she-owner about 2 hours away, and I wrestled with her, checked her teeth, her temperament, asked a ton of questions, and we ultimately decided to take her home with us, a decision I was SURE we would regret soon, but one that we actually never did regret. Emma's he-owner was abusive, so the she was trying to find a good home for her when along came PiePie and Honey. I suppose Emma was so grateful to be away from Mr. Abusive Pants that she decided to let Harley show her the ropes. She never used the potty in the house (my fear) and she fit right in with no problem. It's like they were made for each other. This being said of two spoiled adult dogs, I should think, would be unusual. Emma has tolerated Anna from the beginning, too....she can wrestle with them, fight with them, sleep with them, and go out and play and be guarded by them. They are her friends, and she is theirs. :)
Back to PiePie and the doggers....I love that he refers to me as "Mama" when he talks to them, mainly when he thinks I don't hear him, and I don't care how dorky that sounds. What I love even more is that when he asked me if I let them out this morning, this is what he said: Honey, did you let the kids out to play this morning???? And it was at that moment that I was reminded, for the first time today, why I love him. :) Sappy, yes, but again, I don't care! :)
It's funny how "just animals" can complete a family, isn't it? They are not "just animals" when they are yours. :)
Happy Wednesday!

I Wanna Paint.

I just did a chair for Megan, and I have ideas, and not another "naked" chair. I guess my ideas will just have to continue rolling around in my brain. This piano is pleasing to me for a myriad of reasons....my childhood memories, the fact that those flowers are just THE stuff, and because WHO paints a piano!?!? It's just AWESOME! That flower is like the one that is on Granny's wall, thanks to the Madre. (She stretched fabric over canvas....it rocks.) Forgive me for not remembering where the photo came from....but what's new? :)

Oh- Did I tell you???

See that light pole....the one down there that is in two pieces? Yes? My son did that. He did that with his Pa's Explorer. He is A-OK, minus the humiliation and the fact that he totaled the car his dad needed to run the mail route. All I'm saying is that two totals from two children in less than a month is enough to destroy the nerves of even those made of steel. Trust me...I should know. :) I'm just glad we have a few years before Makayla and Anna can drive. PiePie says he is going to get them both a car and just ask them to go barge a tree down with it right off, get the total out of the way, and THEN get them a real car...get it over with first thing. I'm thinking an Army tank would suffice.

Happy Sunday!

We have spent a cozy day at home today. I love days like that. I had a somewhat productive day. Here is a list of some of the things I've accomplished:

*Finished Meg's chair.

*Took a nap.

*Made some flowers.

*Did the dishes.

*Ate birthday cake.

*Made flowers again.

*Ate more birthday cake.

*Finished a pillow case.

*Watched (listened to) two movies.

*Ate birthday cake.

*Did some laundry.

*Cooked supper...mom's bean dip. YUM!

*Drew custom order pillow case.

*Dug through building for a few things. Found some, not all.

*Stitched half a case while putting the custom one together in my head.

*Ate chips and dip.

*Watched super bowl...held breath until Greenbay scored some insurance points.

*Stitched custom case.

*Would eat more birthday cake, but...um....SOMEONE ate it all already. :/

What did you do today?

13 Years Ago

Thirteen years ago, this kid ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ was born. I didn't know her. I didn't get to watch her grow up. I didn't get to enjoy her personality, or help mold it. I didn't know to pray for her, and I didn't get to care for her. I didn't get to watch as she learned to walk, or as she tied her shoes, played basketball, learned to read, graduated from grade to grade. I wasn't there to nurture her and love her when she lost her daddy, even though she was too young to remember, or to grieve for a mother she really never had. I didn't get to kiss her boo-boos, praise her for making right decisions, correct her for the wrong ones, or help her learn to read. I wasn't there to help as she worked hard to read, but faltered, wasn't there to help her understand it was OK. She had an awesome family full of love, and had all those things from that family. But it wasn't me...I missed out on all of that.

When I came to know her, I met a child who wasn't sure she wanted to love; a child who was guarded, to say the least. She was a child who regarded me with curiosity...she would look at me when I wasn't looking. She would talk to me if i spoke to her. She would not look at me when I spoke to her; she was alsmot shy. (This makes me giggle now, for I know there really isn't anything shy about her.) She was street-smart. She was the epitome of maturity, all the while, the epitome of immaturity. She was mouthy, and she ran the show. Whatever she said went. Period. As I was around longer and longer, this kid learned to trust me a bit more, and spent one of the only nights she ever spent away from home with Granny and Papa with me. And she did just fine. And then, she stayed another night, and another, and another. And each day she was with me, I held my ground, in a loving, yet firm manner, and each day, though at some point in the day I was quite sure she hated me, she would continue to hang around, to talk, and eventually, to love. I learned that when she loves, she loves unabashedly, wholeheartedly. There's not really a lot of middle ground there; she is pretty much just like me. We've both done a lot of growing, a lot of maturing, and a lot of loving over the last year or so, and we've both decided that even though it's a lot of work for both of us, the relationship we have is equal to none, and therefore is worth the work. There's nothing I've ever loved more than being a mother, and there's nothing that she wouldn't have given to have one. (We know that now.) We went from a few random nights here and there to a full-time home for her here with us, and grandparents who get to enjoy being her grandparents instead of her parents AND grandparents. We have our rough spots, sure. Who doesn't? But over all, our days are not a lot of work, and mostly fun. We cook. We clean. We talk. We giggle. We laugh. We create. We love. We hug. That's a big one; this deer-in-the-headlights girl now will come and pile up in my lap, arms and legs hanging everywhere. We do homework, we celebrate over good grades, and we've learned that it's less work to do the work than it is not to. We've learned that sometimes, the most broken of us, with a bit of nurturing, can be the wholest. (That is a word. I said so.)

I may have missed the first 12 years....but I'm thankful that it is *only* 12 years that I missed. I still get to see so many things...basketball games, growing, learning, relationships, fun times, personality, banquets, prom, graduation. I could go on and on....she has given me so many gifts I couldn't begin to count them, and I look forward to that many more. I am blessed to be able to say that she is my daughter, and I am her mother.

Go Red

I had this longish post in my brain for today, but my brain is tired tonight, so this is all you get...my outfit for Go Red today....yes, I know...the shirt is pink, but it has red hearts on it, which I found appropriate. I also had on red shoes, and they are oh-so-comfy. Red hat...not-so-comfy. Makes my ears hurt and squeezes my head...good thing it's uber cute...makes the sore ears and noggin' worth it, I suppose.

We'll wrap this up and keep it short and sweet and I'll just say this: I am happy to have survived what should have been/could have been a catastrophic event for me...I'm blessed to be alive.

Tell 5

Tomorrow, February 4th, is Go Red For Women Day 2011. This is the day that we are all supposed to wear RED to help support the fight against heart disease, especially in women. Tell 5 women you know to go and have a routine screening done; a well-check, a physical....make sure they are heart-healthy. Tell them to go to http://www.gored.org/ to see the signs and symptoms of a heart attack in women....they are very different than the classic steriotypical heart attack; everyone should be aware of what they are! Challenge all of your friends to tell 5 of their friends about women's heart disease.

If you are in Lebanon, please come by the Crystal Couture store and purchase our "Go Red" shirt...100% of the proceeds from this shirt will go straight to the American Heart Association for Go Red. If you are NOT in lebanon, go to our website, http://www.thecrystalcouturestore.com/ and put in your order. You can also email us at info@thecrystalcouturestore.com if you would like to purchase one. We will ship to you! Also a heads-up: take a photo of yourself in your red and send us a photo or tag us on Facebook...see below on how to get to our group....

ALSO....I predicted we could hit 500 friends on Facebook by Valentine's Day. I don't think my hopes are too high, but I need your help. Please find The Crystal Couture Store's group page and LIKE it so that we can see this happen. I'd love to be right. :)

Tomorrow, I will be discussing more about heart disease, and my story. I would like to hear yours...please share if you have one.

Who am I to question God?

But how can a woman be happy when God gave her toenails? What are their purpose? Is there one besides just to poke into the sides of your toes?

I've had them removed. I've dug them out. I've let them grow. I've worn flip flops. I've worn closed toes. I've went barefoot....I've had pedicures. I just don't get it. I think it will be among my first questions I ask of Him when I get there. :)

Happy Wednesday from she-who-has-achy-toes.

Who looks up to you?

Did you know that someone looks up to you? And you may never know who it is? Or why? I remind my kids of this all the time, that so-and-so looks up to you, and so you have to act in a way that so-and-so should model....it depends on which kid I'm lecturing, but I'm sure you get the idea. :) Sometimes, though, I guess we all need to be reminded, and not in a lecture-y type way, even, that someone looks up to us. It may not be the expected person, like the younger brother or sister....or it could be. BUT....it could also be the person that sees you coming to their line to check out, and knows that you are a habitual smiler, or a Tootsie-Roll-Giver (love you, Grampy)...or it could be someone who is a complete stranger, but sees you do something that makes them think they want to be like that....you just never know. I suppose if not for any other reason, then for that one, we should always act in a way (even when we think no one is paying attention, or perhaps most espececially then) that we would want someone to model after us, and in a way that would better the world we live in.

After all, you just never know who might be looking up ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ to you. :)