Idle Awhile

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

2012-01-20T14:59:00.000-08:00

What to do on a snowy day.....? Why, polish the silver (seems silly to polish the silver because I rarely use it, but I did), make pumpkin muffins....oh, and take Miss Gracie to the vet for more shots. Shy as she is, she did quite well. She loves the vet techs to death. But then who wouldn't when they ply her with treats! While Gracie took a long nap, I made Martha Stewart's pumpkin muffins. Here's the recipe so you can enjoy some too.

Pumpkin Muffins

10 Tbsp unsalted butter at room temperature

3/4 cup of brown sugar

2 large eggs

2/3 cup buttermilk

1 can (15oz) pumpkin purée

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

TOPPING

1/2 stick melted butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon

In mixer, Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, allspice. In separate bowl combine buttermilk and pumpkin purée. Add dry mixture alternately with pumpkin mixture. Spoon batter into greased and floured muffin tin. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool on rack for 10 minutes. In the meantime, melt the 1/2 stick butter and combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Brush with melted butter and toss in sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Makes 13 muffins. YUM!

Miss Grace Kelly

2011-12-30T12:40:00.000-08:00

After we retired Mr. A and I decided we really did miss having a dog around the house and began a search for our new "forever friend." Over the years we've had several cockers and golden retrievers. Our last two dogs were goldens and we can't say enough wonderful things about the breed. However, they are a big dog (something I prefer) and Mr. A was hoping for something along the line of a "lap dog." Ideally, we wanted a nice, mellow middle aged dog that wanted to go for leisurely walks and enjoyed laying by the fire. As you can imagine, there aren't many dogs available with those traits...and when they are, they're snapped up immediately. We also thought it would be nice to adopt from a shelter. So, I began searching local humane societies in surrounding counties. If I would be willing to take a pit bull/mix dog there were many to choose from. That's not what we had in mind, so I moved on to searching on Petfinder. And, that's where we found Miss Gracie. Her story is less than ideal. The "rescue" organization turned out to be more of a no-kill shelter. The woman who ran the rescue had a house and barn in the country with lots and lots of horses and several kennels full of barking dogs. Miss Gracie and her littermate sisters, we were told, were an unwanted litter belonging to a neighbor. The owner volunteered to surrender the puppies in exchange for spay/neuter of her adult dogs. So, we went over the river and through the woods to her rescue farm and without much hesitation at all, returned home with Miss Gracie.....fleas, worms and all! Yup...for $158.50 you get all the fleas and worms you could ask for! So, Mr. A. and Mikey gave Miss Gracie two...that's two....flea baths and the next day we took her to the vet for worm medication and her first set of shots. She seems to have settled in quite nicely and has Mr. A. wrapped around her paw. He's the Alpha dog and in charge of teaching her things like not eating the lamp cord, rugs and our hands. We asked what breeds she might be...reply was...mother a poodle/schnauser and father a great pyrenese/collie. The visual of that is strange at best! The vet thinks she may grow to 50 lbs. (there goes Mr. A's lap dog) but only time will tell. So...stay tuned!

Christmas Cookies

2011-12-27T09:40:00.001-08:00

I've been told, by a "follower" that my lone December blog...was...well...less than exciting. Ho hum to be exact. I agree. I was caught up in holiday decorating, baking cookies and following my favorite blogs! Did I mention EATing LOTS of my favorite Holiday cookies? Each member of our family has a favorite cookie. Mr. A's favorite is his Grandmother's cutout cookies (lots of work but he says well worth it); Michael loves fudge; and Carrie and I can't get enough of my mother's Pecan Short cookies. My friend, Beth, thinks the pecan short recipe is the same one her mother made. Quite possible as we lived next door to each other way back when. Because this is MY blog and because they are my favorite....below is the recipe for pecan shorts:

PECAN SHORTS

350 degree oven

2 cups butter (4 sticks at room temperature)

1 cup powdered sugar

4 cups flour

2 cup pecans (chopped)

2 tsp salt

Cream butter and powdered sugar

Add flour/salt mixture a little at a time

Add chopped pecans

CHILL dough

Roll into small balls and flatten with fork

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until lightly brown

Cool slightly

Put in a large zip loc bag ( 10 or 12 at a time) filled with powdered sugar and tumble till coated

Simple...and delicious...and all gone...I ate the three in the picture while I was typing! Guess I'd better take a really long walk!

Yard Waste

2011-12-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

In early November we had a heavy, wet snowfall. I love heavy, wet snowfalls! Unfortunately, they can do damage to trees...especially pines. For years...20 or better...I've gone around my neighborhood with the car picking up these branches to turn it into wreaths and garlands. I always ask before I take...it's the polite thing to do. And sometimes, if an entire tree has gone down, I'll make a wreath for the homeowner as a thank-you. This year Carrie joined me and made garland for the new (almost finished) porch on their 150 year old farmhouse. It's a wonderful way to start the holiday season!

Fall Art Festival

2011-10-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

Well where have I been? Painting...yes, painting. No time for posting...just painting! I offered to paint spindles and railings and lattice for my daughter's new front porch. It's been a lot of work but the end is in site and the son-in-law is happy.

Mr. A and I did find time to take in the Fall Art Tour, one of Southwest Wisconsin's most popular events. This tour is held every year with artists from Baraboo to Mineral Point, Wisconsin opening their private studios. One artist, Audrey Christie, print maker and painter of Short Horse Studio is located right down the road from us! She carves on cherry wood, using an 18th century art form, makes a print and paints with gouache to achieve her unique style. Surrounding her 1850's stone home are the many creatures inspiring much of her work. She offered to tell me all about her many varieties of chickens. I just might take her up on that!

If you are in and around Madison you can see her work at the Winter Art Festival at the Monona Terrace and Convention Center November 12-13th. You won't be disappointed!

Little Lamb Hydrangea

2011-09-13T19:43:00.001-07:00

Thought I'd cut one more bouquet of hydrangea to enjoy before cold weather sets in. We planted 7 bushes (4 Twist & Shout and 3 Little Lamb). The Little Lamb bushes have outdone themselves! Delightful!

Acorns, Acorns, Ancorns!

2011-09-11T20:15:00.001-07:00

The acorns are falling...a sure sign of the change of seasons. A few weeks ago, in the middle of the night, I heard the first ones drop like hail against the roof of the house! Don't let them fool you...they may be small but they pack quite a punch!

Favorite Things

2011-08-24T20:44:00.000-07:00

Delicious little cookies! Thank You Fig Newton! Only 120 calories for three cookies. Four different flavors. My favorite is, of course, chocolate raspberry, followed by blueberry. They're perfect with coffee in the morning, low in sugar, contain real fruit and...yes...fiber! They must be selling out as quickly as they're put on the shelf...I've had to virtually HUNT these cookies down! So buy several at a time! They're a good thing!

Treasures

2011-08-23T09:32:00.001-07:00

I spent a few days up north visiting my best friend last week. We used to live in the same small Norwegian town. I have so many fond memories of that town and forged friendships that have lasted 25 years! Robbie gave me this small table and Laurel gave me the basket filled with produce fresh from her garden. The table will be painted and will sit on the screen porch....the vegetables were eaten for dinner! Thank you Robbie and Laurel!

New Neighbors

2011-08-09T21:22:00.001-07:00

Looks like we have new neighbors! Let's see...cattle, geese, sheep, peacocks, and now horses! Totally loving life in the country!!

Peaches, Peaches, Peaches!

2011-08-09T21:00:00.001-07:00

Peaches, peaches, peaches! I bought a crate of California peaches last week. We've eaten them with just about every meal and frozen some for a refreshing treat this winter. Today I made Martha Stewart's peach raspberry slab pie. It was a hit!

Summer Porch

2011-07-25T09:59:00.001-07:00

OOOH....what I wouldn't give to have a bed just like this on our summer porch. Unfortunately, my porch is small so I'd have to choose between a bed and seating. Hmmmmm.....think I'd like the bed! Now to convince Mr. A!

Image unknown

23! How Can It Be!

2011-07-13T14:01:00.001-07:00

Mikey turned 23 today! Where has the time gone!!

Independence Day

2011-07-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

Today is a day for barbeques, fireworks and celebrating our country's independence with friends and family.
It's also a time to thank all those who have served our country and remember those that lost their lives for the cause of freedom.

...When I'm 64

2011-07-03T15:38:00.000-07:00

What a lovely birthday I had! To have my husband, children (Mikey, Carrie & Darren and their boys) and my dear, dear friends from Iola here to help me celebrate was the best present anyone could ask for. A PERFECT DAY!

From The Garden

2011-07-01T12:15:00.001-07:00

We are NOT good gardeners. We are great planters...so, so weeders....even worse at harvesting. So I was pleasantly surprised to see we had a good crop of radish, onion and rhubarb. Froze the rhubard, ate the radish and onion. Delicious!

Laundry Room

2011-06-26T10:10:00.001-07:00

Our laundry/mud room is small and definitely in need of storage. We found this antique upper cabinet at an antique shop a few months ago and it's working out well. Next Mr. A will build a narrow storage unit on the opposite wall.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

2011-06-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

If you'll recall, when Mr. A asked me what my thoughts on a driveway were I told him I'd envisioned a gravel drive. He, in turn, explained the hazards of midwest winters called for cement or asphalt. I picked the lesser of the evils and went with cement. Lots and lots of cement. OK...I'll get over it. Maybe. The landscapers spent several long, hot weekends grading the land and distributing bark around the house and it looks fantastic. Last Saturday they seeded and shot hay on top. That night it rained, and rained and rained and then it rained the next day and the day after that! So much for Mr. A worrying about watering the lawn! Michael came Monday to help reseed but it was just too muddy. Instead we went strawberry picking!

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

2011-05-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

The day we visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas they just happened to be having a ARTrageous Parade. It definitely lived up to it's name...even the local school band had white ghostly faces and played selections from Michael Jackson's Thriller! Above are just a few pictures of participants. Eureka Springs has welcomed visitors for hundreds of years as legends of several tribes spoke of a Great Healing Spring in the mountains of what later became known as "Arkansas." As the legend spread it drew the afflicted in such numbers that Eureka Springs transformed from an isolated wilderness to a flourishing city in a few short months. This delightful city is a MUST SEE if you are in Arkansas!

Mildred B. Cooper Chapel

2011-05-14T14:46:00.001-07:00

Mr. A's brother played host and chauffeur last week. One of the highlights of his tour was the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel located in Bella Vista Village in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of northwest Arnaksas. The Chapel, with its glass walls and a ceiling measuring 48 feet, is positioned on a wooded hilltop overlooking Lake Norwood and seems to reach out to the towering pines and stately oaks surrounding it. It's patterned after cathedrals of the Middle Ages which were based on the pointed Gothic arch. The individuality of this Chapel lies not in its links with the past, but in its departure from the materials used in those ancient structures. Glass and steel are the building blocks which exemplify modern man. Thirty-one tons of steel join 4,460 square feet of glass to create its aura of strength, yet weightlessness. Upon entering the chapel you can't help but immediately feel a sense of peace and serenity.

Lisa Gets Married

2011-05-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Our niece, Lisa, and her fiance, Will, were married last Saturday at the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Mr. Amazing, his sister and I drove down to be part of their special day. The Hotel is apparently haunted and has quite a history. But on that day, the only thing I saw was the love between two beautiful young people about to begin the rest of their lives!

Garage Sales

2011-04-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

Found these treasures at garage sales this morning. A queen Pottery Barn duvet/shams for $6; black box for $2.50, basket for $3; pinecone wreath for $1 two old picture frames for $2; and this great wicker rocking chair for $10. Nothing better than a good deal!

Easter Greetings

2011-04-23T13:05:00.001-07:00

These darling lambs belong to our neighbor. They won't let me get much closer than this!

Happy Easter!

Look What I Found!

2011-04-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Stopped at the local Goodwill store yesterday and found these wonderful treasures! A king size Pottery Barn duvet for $10 (to be resized to a twin and perhaps a cushion cover) an old photo of fruit for $5 (for the kitchen) and a sweater for $4 (soon to be a pillow for the sofa).

Such a good feeling leaving the store...I've found new treasures and supported a non-profit organization that provides job training, employment placement services and other community-based programs for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.

Driveway envy

2011-04-04T17:44:00.001-07:00

Flickr Photo by Chris B In Sea

FINALLY....Spring has arrived here in the Midwest! The Robins are back, Cardinals have visited the feeder, my neice has planted lots of cool weather garden goodies, and the fields are starting to green up. Because we moved into our cottage in November, we didn't have time to plant a lawn. So we're surrounded by mud.....lots and lots of mud! Conversations have now turned to planting a lawn and putting in a driveway. I've been pretty adamate about not wanting asphalt or cement. My vision for this cottage in the woods is more like the beautiful eco friendly driveway above.

Or this incredible gravel driveway belonging to Kelley at The Polished Pebble. If it's possible to have a new favorite blog......Kelleys is it! You can check out her blog at ppebble.blogspot.com.

Photo by Kelly at The Polished Pebble

Though Mr. Amazing agrees this driveway is indeed "lovely," he's quick to remind me that both of the above driveways are in warm climates and we live in the Midwest...where we deal with snow, lots and lots of snow. After a long winter of snowplowing, a good portion of that beautiful gravel would end up in our shrubs and grass. Way to spoil a girl's dream!

Not I just have to decide which is the lesser of two evils....cement or asphalt!

The Best

2011-03-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

After complaining about stain removers not removing stains, my daughter told me to try DREFT Laundry Stain Remover. As the mother of two toddlers and a newborn, she uses a lot of stain remover and has tried them all. Dreft is gentle enough for baby's clothing and strong enough to remove the toughest stains. I gave it a try...and have not been disappointed. It's magic! Buy it!

Yummm!!!

2011-03-13T19:41:00.001-07:00

Out of this world delicious!

The Christening Gown

2011-03-11T18:41:00.000-08:00

My maternal grandmother made this precious christening gown in the early 1900's. Four generations have worn it.

My mother wore it (and possibly her sister, Bernice, wore it),

I wore it,

My daughter wore it,

Her first two sons have worn it,

And tomorrow her third child, sweet baby Donovan, will wear it.

I've embroidered each name on the bottom of the gown.....a history of this special dress.

I miss my grandmother....I miss my mother.....

THE HELP

2011-03-03T15:26:00.001-08:00

I've read three wonderful books since I retired. "The Room" and "Slammerkin" by Emma Donoghue and now "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett. This is Stockett's first novel and I hope it's not her last. It was so beautifully written I was sorry it had to end!

PUT "THE HELP" AT THE TOP OF YOUR READING LIST!

Red Sky At Night....

2011-03-01T16:18:00.001-08:00

Sailor's Delight!

The view from my kitchen window this evening!

We Fish Through Ice

2011-02-26T20:44:00.000-08:00

Once again, we joined the throng of protesters at our state's capitol against Governor Walker's Budget Repair Bill. Though I haven't heard any official estimates, my guess is this week's crowd was well over 100,000. Protesters marched in the cold and snow for hours. At 3:00 p.m. there were songs by Peter Yarrow and speeches by union members, clergy, teachers, students as well as appearances by well known actor Bradley Whitford and co-pilot Jeff Skiles. Bradley Whitford, an East High School graduate, appeared on The West Wing and returned to his home state to support the protest. He said: "Wisconsinites are so stubborn they fish through ice." A rather catchy phrase for a T-shirt don't you think....We Fish Through Ice!

The Rally

2011-02-20T12:22:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I was one of an estimated crowd of 68,000 that gathered at the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin to have their voices heard in protest...and support...of Governor Scott Walker's plan to end collective bargaining. It was a peaceful rally and it felt good to be part of this historic event. After a walk around the square, I headed inside to the rotunda. Though I lived in Madison for 21 years, worked right across the street from the capitol and walked through this beautiful building many, many times, I've never seen it so electrified with the passion and commitment of this great state's electorate. Especially significant to me were the four panels of glass mosaic work on each of the pendentives which make the transition from the octagonal form of the rotunda to the circular form of the dome. I did a little research and found the following information on the State Historical website:

Between the four arches in the rotunda are pendentives, which make the transition from the octagonal form of the rotunda to the circular form of the dome. The four pendentives of the rotunda are decorated with four panels of glass mosaic works designed by Kenyon Cox, for a total cost of $20,000. Kenyon Cox, born in Warren Ohio, (1856 - 1919) was an important American painter, draughtsman and art critic. He also painted murals for the Library of Congress and the Capitols of Iowa and Minnesota.

Cox's mosaic panels are twelve feet high and have an average length of twenty-four feet. Each mosaic consists of approximately 100,000 pieces of glass tile and represents Wisconsin's three branches of government (the legislative, the executive and the judicial) and liberty - the foundation of all power in a free country. "Legislation" is represented as a powerful older man with a long beard who holds a stylus in his right hand and is seated by a sphinx symbol of wisdom. A young man holding a leading staff in his right hand while his left hand rests upon a great sword represents "Government"- the executive power. "Justice" is represented by a young woman seated in a lion throne, who tests the scales in the balance to demonstrate the purely judicial function of weighing one cause against the other. "Liberty" is represented as a young woman wearing the traditional Phrygian cap of red, but is otherwise dressed in two shades of green, the color of youth and hope. Her right hand guards the ballot box while her left hand points upward.

As you can see, Liberty is the foundation of all power in a free country and Justice tests the scales in the balance to demonstrate the purely judicial function of weighing one cause against the other.....that's what this past week has all been about.

Foggy Day

2011-02-16T14:17:00.001-08:00

Today, the view from my kitchen window shows my favorite oak tree shrouded in fog.

It's definitely a day to stay inside by the fireplace (I do LOVE my gas fireplace!) So, I spent a lazy hour reading The Recipe Club, a novel about food and friendship. Which, of course, made me hungry. I rumbled through all my old recipe cards and discovered my old Girl Scout recipe for Streusel Filled Coffee Cake and, within an hour, I was eating this yummy coffee cake, sipping a huge cup of Dunkin' Donut's coffee and back to reading my book!

So many of my recipes were given to me by my mother. They've gotten brown and faded over time but I treasure them nonetheless! My mother passed away 22 years ago but just looking at these recipes, written in her hand, makes me smile!

Streusel Filled Coffee Cake

Mix together thoroughly:
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup milk

Sift Together and add into above:
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Streusel Topping Ingredients
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
4 tablespoons flour
4 teaspoons cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter (melted)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease and flour a 9 by 13-inch pan. Mix sugar, shortening/butter, and egg thoroughly. Stir in milk. Combine and sift flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl Add to sugar, shortening/butter, egg, and milk. Stir together.

Spread half of the batter in pan. Sprinkle with half of the streusel mixture. Add the remaining batter and sprinkle the top with the rest of the streusel.

Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T07:27:00.001-08:00

For you see, each day I love you more

Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.

~Rosemonde Gerard

Happy Valentine's Day To You All!!

To Curtain or Not to Curtain...That Is The Question

2011-02-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

My intention was to leave all my lovely windows free from blinds or curtains. But, it's looking like I will need something at this window as the morning sun shines right on my new sofa.

Hmmmm....

Dinner Perhaps?

2011-02-11T12:18:00.000-08:00

They're getting braver....this big fellow was right next to the house!

Sweet Baby Boy!

2011-02-03T13:42:00.001-08:00

This morning at 2:05 a.m. our daughter gave birth to a healthy 9 lb, 22" baby boy! She was scheduled to be induced later today but this little guy decided not to wait!

Everyone is tired and happy! Time for bed!

Will It Be Pink or Will It Be Blue?

2011-02-02T13:54:00.001-08:00

Burp pads. Lots of burp pads. I could NOT make enough burp pads for my daughter's last two sweet babies--both boys. They were definitely spitters!

This time around I've changed the style a bit and even made some PINK ones just in case we hear "It's a Girl!!"

We're Having a Baby Basket

2011-02-02T13:46:00.001-08:00

Our third grandchild will be born very soon! In preparation for each delivery I've put together a "We're Having a Baby Basket" to take to the hospital. Though it's not finished yet, here's a peak at the most recent one.

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW

2011-02-02T13:37:00.000-08:00

I guess the weatherman wasn't kidding when he forecast 12" to 18" of snow for our area!

Our driveway is winding and long. So, today, the fellow who plows for us earned every penny! Mr. Amazing was a happy man!

What to Do On a Lazy Winter Day

2011-01-28T13:47:00.000-08:00

Bake!

I decided to bake these sweet treats to cheer up my very overdue daughter and her family who are also battling nasty colds. There's something about going past the "due date" that makes every single day thereafter seem twice as long.

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Brownies

2 Cups flour

2 Tsp. baking powder

1/2 Tsp. salt

1 Cup peanut butter

2/3 Cup butter

1 Cup sugar

1 Cup dark brown sugar

4 Eggs

1 Package of chocolate chips

2 Tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 9 x 13 pan. Mix together the peanut butter, butter and sugars. Add eggs one at a time and mix well. Add mixed dry ingredients. Add vanilla and stir in the chips. Bake 20 to 25 minutes. When done, a soft imprint will remain. Do not over-bake.

Let's hope this gets the ball rolling!

A Rafter of Turkeys

2011-01-27T11:52:00.000-08:00

There is definitely something to be said for looking out the window! Today we were greeted by a rafter of turkeys. I wasn't sure what a group of turkeys was called so had to look it up. I guess they can also be called a gang or a gobble of turkeys. Either way, it was such fun watching them move cautiously across our land!

2011-01-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

RETIREMENT

is...well...wonderful! I'm amazed at how quickly I've adjusted to it all. The downside....if there is one....is that I'm rather lazy these days! I can spend all morning reading and looking out the window at sites like this. We've had a spell of frozen fog the last two days and it's absolutely breathtaking!

My New Year's Resolution should have been to get up and get going!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T13:53:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our first Christmas in our new home and it was wonderful. To have my husband, children, son-in-law and grandchildren all under one roof was the best present I could ask for! There's no gift you can buy that tops the warmth in your heart as you watch the ones you love laughing and enjoying each other. Those memories will be with us forever. Christmas is a time of reflection as well. As I look at the ornaments on our tree, I am reminded of past Christmases and the many dear friends and their gifted ornaments. Many of those friends are no longer with us but they're remembered every year as we decorate our tree.

This sweet Santa ornament, made of cotton batting, is one of my very special ornaments. It wasn't given to me as a gift, rather it was discovered it in a box of treasures I'd bid on at auction many years ago. We'd bought several items that day and it wasn't until near the end of the auction that I found out the name of the person whose possessions we were bidding on. They belonged to a very lovely woman named Carol. She was an interior decorator who I'd met through work. We'd chat over the years and then she stopped coming. What I never knew is she'd had a stroke, a bad stroke. She was in a nursing home, unable to speak and her life was changed forever. Her mother was auctioning her possessions, and many of her treasures. When I opened the box I found this Santa tucked under layers of yellowed tissue paper with a note pinned to his chest which read, "Santa Claus...made in second grade." Every year I think of Carol as I gingerly place her ornament in a special spot on our tree and it reminds me to enjoy every minute of every day.

I wish you and your families a magical, memorable holiday.

2010-12-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

The view from my kitchen window! Yesterday's storm was categorized as a blizzard and it's definitely lived up to its name. I find it difficult to pull myself away from the window to get some work done. There's nothing quite like a "snowed in" day with the fireplace going, Christmas music playing and beautiful oak trees! Hope you are all snug and warm in your homes too!

2010-11-28T13:57:00.001-08:00

Someone pinch me...please! The Great Move of 2010 is officially over and we're finally living in our cottage in the woods! Moving day was rainy as predicted but we were able to pack and unpack the U-Haul truck in between showers. As we drove up to the house we were greeted by a WELCOME HOME sign Carrie had made. And, to see Mikey standing behind it...well, let's just say, kleenex was needed! We moved from the condo to the house and then from the storage shed to the house. All of this was completed by 3:30 p.m. thanks to lots of hard work on the part of friends and family. What wonderful people they are! Boxes still need to be unpacked, pictures need to be hung and the fireplace needs to be tested before we can enjoy our first fire. Yet, each morning I wake with a feeling of peace and contentment knowing we are just where we're meant to be....HOME.

The Countdown Begins!

2010-11-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

A very busy week...but productive! We painted, painted, painted all weekend and threw in attending our grandson's 3rd Birthday party in between (I think we're getting pretty good at multi-tasking!) Our son-in-law and his friend spent the past two weekends building retaining walls and yesterday topped it off with rough landscaping and a gravel driveway! I was speechless when I walked outside and saw the incredible job they've done (hugs and tears to both guys here.....). Brad the Builder finished the fireplace wall and it's turned out exactly as I'd hoped it would. I can't wait to turn on the gas fireplace on a cold winter's night! I've been asked why I opted for gas over wood. I'll defer that question to Mr. Amazing as, amazingly, he would only make a wood fire over the holidays. Now I can have a lovely fire with the flick of a switch! Next Saturday Phase III and IV. I am definitely getting excited! Stay tuned.

Trick or Treat!

2010-10-31T17:14:00.001-07:00

I received a wonderful Trick or Treat email today. This picture was taken in 1952 when I was in Kindergarten. I'm the little witch in the back row. How fun is that!

Now The Fun Begins!

2010-10-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

Only two weeks until Phase III and IV of The Great Move of 2010! I can hardly believe it! A lot has happened since last weekend and there's still more to do. We headed out early Friday morning and stopped for breakfast at Lazy Jane's Cafe on Willy street. It's by far my favorite place to eat breakfast or lunch. Then on to the City-County building to vote early. From there we headed west to our house to see what progress Brad the Builder made last week. Floor360 had been there and the tile in the shower and around the fireplace looks amazing! But my favorite is the kitchen. I love my kitchen! Just makes me smile to look at it. Can NOT wait to bake bread in that kitchen! I'm so glad we decided to use the IKEA beech countertops. They're the frosting on the cake! Pictures are out of order...but you can get an idea of just how much stone was delivered Friday. Can you say retaining walls! Next week even more changes! Stay tuned!

Three Weeks and Counting!!!!!

2010-10-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

A busy weekend! The usual painting, painting, painting with some added sealing of cedar boards for the porch. In between all of that, we celebrated Jim's birthday with Barbara and John on Thursday evening and on Sunday afternoon drove to Oshkosh to have lunch with an old college friend and his daughter who flew in from NY to attend the Packers/Vikings game (GO PACKERS!!!). Here's a peek at the flooring. This week Floor360 comes in to tile the shower and around the fireplace and Brad the Builder will put trim on upstairs. This is all making my head spin, but Jim remains calm and reassures me we will be able to get everything done prior to Phase III of the Great Move of 2010! Stay tuned!

Progress

2010-10-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

Unusually warm weather has allowed many flowering plants to show their beauty just a bit longer. The Morning Glories on my daughter's patio were no exception... treating us to one last explosion of color before winter. I'm not sure I can call it a vacation, but we spent the past week dog sitting and painting walls and trim in our little cottage in the woods. I'm amazed that my right arm still works! Mr. Amazing and I worked quite well together and finished a first coat of Benjamin Moore's Simply White paint on all the trim. I need to give Benjamin Moore a plug here as their Advance paint is truly incredible. It went on as smooth as butter and, as a bonus, is an environmentally safe paint. I did question the wisdom of painting everything in site, but I'm hopeful the finished look will be what I've envisioned. We were also able to stain and seal the beech countertops from IKEA. I've attached a picture of the three products used. While we painted, Thompson Flooring was installing the wood floors upstairs. Monday they will apply stain and Tuesday apply a seal coat. Next comes Floor360 for tile in bathroom shower and around fireplace. All in all a productive week. Did I mention how sore and tired we are? Stay tuned!

Another Lovely Fall Weekend

2010-09-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

Drywall is up and base coat sprayed on. Next week Mr. Amazing will be painting walls....Benjamin Moore's Linen White. Willy Street Festival was on the agenda for weekend entertainment as well as a bonus trip to Elkhorn's last Flea Market. How fun is that!

Just About Time To....

2010-09-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

...start thinking about things like painting, staining and color schemes! I don't remember where I found these images, perhaps the Cottage living website but I absolutely LOVE the stairway in the first photo and...don't the next two photos make you just want to curl up on the sofa and relax! This is the first weekend we didn't make a trip to our little cottage to see the progress. Saturday was spent at Floor360 to check in with Erin...probably the best sales gal ever...on carpet and bathroom flooring, then to the Benjamin Moore paint store, Home Depot and the local antique shop. I've picked up a few pints of paint to try for wall color and found the Waterlox we'll use on our kitchen countertops. All in all another productive weekend! Stay tuned!

2010-09-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful way to start a Sunday. Up at 5:30 a.m. to see the sun rise from Barbara and John's boat and watch the start of our fair city's 9th Annual Ford Ironman triathlon. Over 2,000 athletes from around the world came to compete. Competitors are vying for 72 qualifying spots to the 2010 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and a $30,000 pro prize purse. One participant made it through the swim and was heading out on his bike only to have tire problems. He had to walk/run back for parts. We had the feeling he was not going to give up!

Insulation, Countertops, Lights!

2010-09-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a busy day. It started early with a trip to IKEA in the great state of Illinois to purchase countertops. We needed three 8' pieces of beech countertop but ended up purchasing four. The price is fantastic ($59) each...thank you IKEA! We filled the car with the panels and headed to Milwaukee to BBC Lighting to pick up lights that had been ordered and 4 ceiling fans! Believe it or not, Mr. Amazing was able to fit it all into our small CRV....thank you Mr. Amazing and HONDA! A long day in the car but a lot was accomplished. Not much visual progress to see on the house. Insulation was blown in...dense pack and the garage is filled with siding. Next 2 weeks will be drywall! Stay tuned!

Windows

2010-08-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

Windows are in! I was expecting the house to start feeling smaller as windows and drywall were installed; and I was right. It's amazing how much smaller those openings become once windows are installed. Top photo is of the kitchen. I've already decided to trade a larger, lower level bedroom window for the one selected above the sink. Middle photo is the dining room area and, though the triple window is good I WISH we would have picked french doors leading out to the screen porch. Darn! Bottom photo is looking at the fireplace wall and the triple windows on the outside wall be good. Lesson learned here is YOU CAN NEVER HAVE WINDOWS THAT ARE TOO BIG!!!! Pick what you think you want and then go a size larger! This week heating and air conditioning, rough electric and plumbing. Stay tuned!

We Have a roof!

2010-08-16T17:24:00.000-07:00

WALA! A busy week for Brad the Builder. The heat index was over 100 degrees and there was one entire day of rain. Yet, in spite of all that...WE HAVE A ROOF (and probably a really hot and tired contractor)! September will bring the plumber and electrician followed by the really fun stuff...flooring, painting, carpeting! Kitchen cabinet order going in this week and windows should appear within the next two weeks! I've been told, once the inside work begins, I'll see progress slow down. However, the decisions on where to place lighting, what color to stain the flooring and wall paint selection should keep us pretty busy. A trip to IKEA one of these weekends is planned to buy wood countertops. I've never been to one of their stores but I'm told I'm going to want to bring a trailer! Stay tuned!

Lovely End to a Busy Day

2010-08-08T07:58:00.001-07:00

After a busy morning doing "house stuff" Mr. Amazing helped John move his 1,000 lb. boat lift toward shore. There's been so much rain here that John wasn't able to get his boat on the lift. Barbara and I were skeptical and had Michael John not come home we're pretty sure the guys would still be standing on the lift wondering what to do next. We spent the rest of the afternoon on their deck enjoying the beautiful day and topped it off with a cook-out and a movie! What a wonderful way to celebrate our 40th Anniversary!

Brad the Builder

2010-08-08T07:51:00.001-07:00

Just have to put in a plug for Brad the Builder! Here he is going over the plans with Mr. Amazing.

Weekly Update

2010-08-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

Having never built a house before, I'm amazed at how quickly things move along. The lower level is framed in and Brad the Builder is capping it off! If the weather permits (and rain is predicted on and off all next week...) we could see the main level framed and roofed by next weekend!

Foundation Is In

2010-08-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Foundation walls are up and backfilled. We've been making a trip to our lot each weekend to check on the progress. Mikey stopped by to check it out too. This week Brad the Builder will be pouring the basement floor, framing basement walls and, possibly, capping it all off. We were off to Milwaukee last Sunday to BBC Lighting. It's in an old brick warehouse close to Marquette University. You can find lighting up to 50% off retail prices. Mr. Amazing thought we'd only be there about an hour (me laughing a lot here).....right.....try almost four hours! We darn near closed the place! We found outside lighting, kitchen lights, front hall and back hall lights. I brought pictures of the fixtures I was looking for and, unfortunately, most would need to be ordered. How can that be! A warehouse filled with lights and I like fixtures that need to be ordered! In the end, I compromised. Sigh.....yes, compromised. Kitchen cupboards need to be ordered SOON to take advantage of the company's 15% discount so stay tuned!

It's All About Compromise

2010-07-24T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'm finding, with each decision we make, that the art of compromise plays a BIG role. Mr. Contractor is now asking for siding, window, fascia and soffet and roofing colors. Samples were brought home and many hours spent (mostly by me as Mr. Amazing says this is not his area of expertise) trying to visualize just what color this cottage should be. You see, my first choice was cedar shingles. I LOVE THEM! Mr. Amazing does NOT love them. Can I live with a green cottage, a brown cottage? If not cedar siding, what should we use? In the end $ reared its ugly head and I SETTLED. You'll be hearing that word quite a lot as we move along with this project. Since my goal is to stick to our budget, I eliminated the Smart Siding. It's a fairly new product, very nice looking and three times as expensive as vinyl. Vinyl won. It was my third choice....and it fits into the budget. I'll just have to cover it with trellis and grow lovely flowering vines! Not telling the color so stay tuned!

No Turning Back Now!

2010-07-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

Here it is....what you've all been waiting for.....the first pictures of our cottage in the woods! Footings were poured last week so we drove out to the site on Sunday to check the progress. Though it was a very hot day, there was a beautiful breeze to cool us down. I know it doesn't look like much now...so please, stay tuned!

Phase II Completed

2010-07-11T17:35:00.001-07:00

Phase II completed. Check. We're officially condo dwellers. During this "in between" time we're renting a condo in a lovely old complex on the Lake. It's a small two bedroom unit, newly renovated and...the best part.....it's three doors down from good friends from college! How fun is that! Barbara and John have lived in their home for well over 20 years...it's historic and sits on a quaint dead end street, a towering four story home with lots of windows overlooking one of the two lakes here on the Isthmus. They've added this incredible deck across the back which overlooks not only beautifully landscaped yards but the lake which, on any given day, is filled with canoes, sailboats and other water sport activities. I'm feeling quite spoiled and I plan on enjoying every minute of this as I know soon we will begin Phases III and IV of the Great Move of 2010. So, please stay tuned!

Harvest Moon

2010-07-11T17:31:00.001-07:00

I could get used to this!

Refrigerator Envy

2010-07-11T17:29:00.001-07:00

The only thing Mr. Amazing misses is his GE Profile side by side refrigerator. He LOVED that refrigerator. I've assured him GE still makes the Profile series and we would get a new one.....but you have to wonder....will it really be the same!

One Last Look

2010-07-11T17:28:00.001-07:00

One Last Look out our kitchen window before we closed the door to our home and began the next part of The Great Move of 2010. Phase II turned out to be harder than I'd expected. First, there was the moving of furniture and boxes filled with things we will need for the next few months. A big Thank you to Mikey, Andy and Darren for working all day to help us get everything moved out of the old and into the new! Because the condo was not quite finished we stayed at a local hotel for two nights which was a lovely diversion from all this craziness.

Then, there was the closing of the house that now belongs to someone else. I held up rather well....only a few sniffles.

2010-07-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful weekend with friends and family!

Phase II

2010-06-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

Happy, Sad, Excited, Scared.....that pretty much sums up how I'm feeling this week as we begin Phase II of The Great Move of 2010. Mr. Amazing spent a restful week in Canada fishing and is recharged and ready to get the "show on the road." This means I'll be off line for a week at least while we get ourselves situated in our temporary quarters. If all goes as planned, Friday at noon, we will no longer own our home and a new family will get to make memories, be they good or bad, at that address. Over the 21 years we've lived in our home, many neighbors became friends and so the sad part is leaving them behind. I know, I know....Christmas cards will be sent but it's not the same as being able to run across the street and borrow a cup of sugar! I'm guessing I won't get to the excited part until a big yellow digger drives to our lot and starts making a hole in the ground for our foundation! So, please stay tuned!

Found It!

2010-06-05T06:08:00.000-07:00

OK, OK, OK.......since so many of you (thanks David and Mara) are itching to see what I'm hoping our little cottage in the woods will look like...here it is! I found this photo at http://www.houzz.com (I know there's a way to insert the link but...well, it's back to the "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" post). If you haven't visited this site.....you should, as it's filled with incredible photos of everything and anything to do with houses! The thousands of photos are amazing eye candy and help get those creative juices flowing. Though our home will be smaller, the footprint is the same. When I saw the photo, I knew it was the look I was going for--clean lines with just the right amount of character. This home was redesigned by Thomas Saxby Architect in Walnut Grove, California. It was originally covered in stucco which has been replaced with....yes....wood shingles to bring a classic traditional style to the entire house. I know we won't be using wood shingles but I'm hoping to create a similar look with vinyl shingles on, at least, the front of the house. Cross your fingers please and stay tuned!

Photo by Thomas Saxby at www.tsaxbyarchitect.com

What a Relief!

2010-06-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

.......I KNOW WHAT THE OUTSIDE OF OUR little cottage in the woods will look like! Found a picture on Houzz and IT'S PERFECT! PERFECT I TELL YOU!.......all six of you my dear, faithful blog friends! Stay tuned!

One Down...Three to Go

2010-05-31T18:27:00.001-07:00

There you have it. Phase One of four moves is over and all went well. The day was warm and not too humid. Mr. Amazing supervised and seven wonderful friends and family volunteered to give up a day of their holiday weekend to help us pack the U-Haul and move our "stuff" to storage. I can't thank them enough! Yesterday was a day of REST and today we've tried to finalize the "cottage in the woods" house plan.

Mr. Amazing is off to Canada for his annual fishing trip and, when he returns, we will begin Phase two of the Great Move of 2010. Stay tuned.

The Dilemma

2010-05-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

I've got a pretty good idea of what the INSIDE of my cottage in the woods will look like, but I'm struggling with what the outside should look like....hence the Dilemma. Mr. Amazing says craftsman. I'm OK with that but it doesn't quite fit the "cottage in the woods" feeling I'm going for. SO, in between packing and working and packing, I've been googling exterior house photos, driving up and down the streets of our fine city looking at small ranch houses, checking out books on house styles from the library and spending time at Barnes & Noble in search of the right "look." I initially knew exactly what I wanted--a cottage in the woods covered in cedar shakes. Mr. Amazing wants NO MAINTENANCE and informs me that cedar shakes are HIGH maintenance. Nothing like throwing a girl a curve ball. Back to square one.

Yesterday, as we were heading for groceries, I suggested we drive very slowly through a small subdivision close to our house. Nothing inspiring......until we came to a house clad with what looked like weathered cedar shingles. And, I still LOVED the look....Mr. Amazing studied it carefully and decided it might be vinyl and, if that was the case, he thought it looked pretty nice too. So, after lunch I drove over to this darling little house, knocked on the door and was greeted by the nicest fellow EVER! His name is Dennis and he most graciously spent an entire hour talking to me about his exterior siding and....wait...there's more....his kitchen! He invited me in while he looked up the siding manufacturer and when I looked into his kitchen! Well, Heaven! His house is modest in size, as ours will be, and his kitchen is a mix of commercial range and hood (with a warmer I might add), stainless appliances, no upper cabinets (he used shelving instead.....just like I want to) and painted lower cupboards. To top it off...he'd just finished making huge muffins! I had to tear myself away from his house to attend a high school graduation party, but I can not thank Dennis enough for all the information he shared in that short hour visit. Stay tuned!

Boxes and more boxes....

2010-05-10T16:42:00.001-07:00

Just a sampling of what used to be the dining room.....now filled with boxes. Each room in our house looks pretty much like this. I find myself wondering WHY we've accumulate so much. If I think back to the beginning of "us" it was two people (in love of course), a small VW beetle, a few boxes of clothing, books, dishes and a dog. Now, some 40 years later it's still two people (still in love....most days anyway!) no dog and hundreds and hundreds of boxes filled with stuff we apparently just can't part with! We've been culling as we pack, yet the garage sale pile pales in comparison to the things we think are absolutely necessary for survival! Less is more is our mantra yet....well.....look for yourself!

Oh The Places You Will Go.....

2010-05-04T17:36:00.000-07:00

JUST LIKE A BOOK, our lives have many chapters. Today we ended one chapter and tomorrow we'll begin another. You see, our LAST child has packed up his worldly possessions and headed off, sweaty and tired...but happy, with his friends to begin a fun filled summer living next to State Street in our lovely university town. Mr. Amazing is fine, I'm a little sad. I really, really do like knowing my entire family is under one roof! However, I also know it was time for him to go; he was anxious to begin his own life, make his own mistakes, realize his own dreams. After all, that's what we prepared him for. He's a nice young man. Sniff...

Photo illustration Dr. Seuss

The Great Move of 2010

2010-05-02T16:08:00.000-07:00

Mr. Amazing has put a name to our adventure....The Great Move of 2010. Our heads have stopped spinning and we 're beginning to formulate a plan. Boxes are brought home daily and filled almost as quickly as they are unloaded. A storage facility has been secured close to our soon to be cottage in the woods. We've consulted with the builder and it looks like it's possible we will be homeless until November. The words "November" and "travel trailer" don't fit well in the same sentence when you live in the north, so I'm pretty sure that idea has been thrown out. Where to live is the new big dilema! Five weekends left before the Great Move of 2010. We're feeling pretty confident we can pull this off. But then.....Mr. Amazing will be fishing for three of those five weekends. It could get interesting....very interesting!

Wherever Will We Live

2010-04-22T20:04:00.001-07:00

The excitement of selling our house has quickly faded and been replaced with hunting for boxes, storage sheds and discussions on just where we might live for the next several months while our cottage in the woods is built. I suggested several things....this nifty RV perhaps? The Terra Wind Amphibious RV" has all the proper accoutrements for a luxury vehicle of its class, including an 6-foot swim deck, an 8-jet whirlpool, marble floors, wood paneling, leather furnishings, and a fully equipped home theater system featuring a 42-inch plasma TV, according to Uncrate. In the cockpit you'll find the instruments needed for the aquatic half of its persona to operate the submerged motors, rudder controls, bilge pumps, rudder control, and other standard yachting fare. It prices out from $850,000 to $1.2 million. We decided against this one....

2010-04-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

We could scratch the idea of building, buy a VW Bug just like the one we owned back in the 70's and hit the highway.....

2010-04-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

OR, maybe a tent perhaps? Mr. Amazing didn't go for any of these ideas. Other, more "normal" but boring options are being considered. Stay tuned.

S O L D

2010-04-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Closing June 18th.......W H A T!!!!!!!!!

For Sale

2010-04-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

FOR SALE to a loving family. One home, gently used. Filled with memories of good times, laughter, tears, celebrations, graduations, and dear friends. It's the home we've lived in for 21 years and raised two kids, 3 dogs and one cat. Memories not included!

Mack Turns One

2010-04-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

Our youngest grandchild turns one today! Happy Birthday Mack! I'm not sure where the time has gone! Hmmmm....that seems to be something I say more and more lately. Gone are his days of colic and crying and not sleeping.....well, the not sleeping still holds true, but the colic is gone. No one is happier about that than his mom and dad. Mack has moved on to, well, moving! Currently he doing the army crawl but it's just a matter of days before he's up on all fours and into all sorts of mischief. I only hope GB00 (that's me) can keep up with him! His birthday party was a HUGE success thanks to lots of hard work on the part of his parents and, especially, Auntie Leesa who puts on totally awesome themed birthday parties! The weather was perfect, the kids had fun in the new bounce house (shared by Carrie and her BFF, Teres,) and filled up on delicious cake from a local Bakery. I'm pretty sure everyone will be in bed early tonight!

Yesterday we listed our house with a realtor. It's time to see if we can sell this house and get enough out of it to build on the lot we purchased a few years ago. I'm excited and anxious.....so stay tuned!

Rock, Paper, Scissors

2010-04-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

Belated Happy Easter! Over the Easter weekend I spent two days with my entire family! I love it when that happens! We celebrated an early Easter to accommodate Carrie, Darren and their boys. I'm sure you all remember how it goes when you're young with children. There are parents, in-laws and grandparents to visit. To many "folks," not enough time! Their goal was to attend church Sunday morning, get the kids back home in time to find the baskets left by the Easter Bunny, drive out to the cabin to see what goodies Buttons, Jane and Leesa (Darren's parents and sister) had for them...oh, and in between maybe grocery shop, do some laundry, feed the dog....need I say more! So on Saturday, Mr. Amazing took us out to the local restaurant for Easter eggs and pancakes! We even convinced Mikie to get up at the crack of dawn and join us! I was in Heaven!

Both Jim and I are amazed at just how much work two little boys can be. Carrie and Darren are incredible parents, always attentive to the endless amount of diaper changes, feeding, diaper changes, naps, diaper changes, feeding, diaper changes….well you get the picture! They’ve even figured out how to make the dreaded diaper change into a game. Rock, Paper, Scissors! Why didn’t we think of that way back when! Their rules are simple…two out of three wins. The game always ends with lots of laughter and the boys get fresh diapers!

YaYas

2010-04-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

I DID IT! With a little help from my daughter...I did it! A profile picture and a post picture ALL IN ONE DAY! WHEW!

If you've read "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" by Rebecca Wells, you'd know that it's a story about loyalty and friendship between women. My YaYas initially came together as a group of women interested in stamping cards. Others start as book clubs, child play groups, etc. It doesn't matter how we find each other. It just matters that we do! My Yayas have developed a strong, lasting bond of female friendship that sees us through life's ups and downs. We're empathetic listeners when someone needs to vent, strengthened by the group's support when we're down, accepting of each others weaknesses and quirks and.....we still find time to laugh and be downright outrageous! Our group ranges in age from 14 to 62 and consists of mothers and daughters. What a treasure we have, what memories we are creating. We are blessed!

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

2010-03-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you give a mouse a cookie....that's sort of how I'm feeling right now. You see, just like in the book....you can't just GIVE the mouse a cookie. It's very complicated. It's waaaay more complicated than that. This is how I'm feeling right now as the author of my very own blog. Yes, I've got the blog. But, now I want to post pictures. I can't post pictures until I learn how to use the digital camera. Once I've learned to use the camera I'll have to learn how to get the photos from the camera and INTO my computer. Once I figure that out, I'll have to learn how to use I-Photo. Then I'll want to get creative with the pictures, crop some, soften others. You see where I'm going don't you? I think it all boils down to me calling the Apple geeks and signing myself up for their $150 "we'll stick with you until you learn all this stuff" package. They WILL have their hands full!

HERE GOES...

2010-03-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

I LOVE blogs!

I LOVE reading blogs. I LOVE discovering new blogs. I LOVE it that these blogs link to still other blogs and each blogger tells a story, shares a photo, a recipe, a thought. It reminds me of Show and Tell in grade school. I've always been content sitting in the audience soaking up all this wonderful stuff. My husband's family is OVERRUN with good writers. They make the art of putting thoughts to paper seem, well, easy! My daughter has inherited this gene. I encouraged her to start her own blog and she has. But when she decided I needed a blog...that was a different story. After all, what will I talk about? I'm a 60 something wife to, well, let's call him Mr. Amazing as, when he wants to, he can fix anything, build anything cook anything and as as an added bonus is a darn good dancer! We're parents of two grown children and grandparents of two ADORABLE grandsons. My dog is dead, the cat is gone (thank goodness) one of the kids is out of the house and the other is teetering on the edge of the nest about to fly on his own. Retirement was set for last October. We had a plan. We were going to build a small house close to the grandkids, spend the winter in some warm climate, start exploring this great country we live in and find a new dog. That was LAST October. The ECONOMY had other plans for us. With so many Americans unemployed, I know I shouldn't complain. I still have my job and so does Mr. Amazing. We may not have much left in our retirement nest egg, but we have our health, we love each other, we love the kids, the kids love us. Enough said.

There...I've started.