Today Is Tuesday

(Newest family pix taken a coup;le of weeks ago - this collage has our children pix too.)
I love today - I am surrounded by the love of two little boys today. Our two oldest grandsons come to our house one day a week while their mom works as a cardiac care nurse at our local hospital. These two little boys are here and fill our house with instant energy and unconditional love.

This morning, Wyatt said, "Crapa - are you a grandfather to my brudder and me?" I love those kinds of questions. He and I decided that next year we are going to make a purple christmas tree with jets and other things on it. He loves purple and he loves jets. He loves that there are food tornado's and that grasshoppers are sleeping.

What a world of wonder he has brought into our lives. We have 4 other little boys (22 months, one 14 months, two 5 months) so excited to grow up with them too!

Valentines is Coming

I am working on some Valentines projects during my afternoon project time. (Read about that below.) If you want to see some of the fun things I am working on come on over to my Valentine Blog http://bucketsofvalentinesdayideas.blogspot.com/ See you there!

January Goal

I finally figured out a routine that works. I have struggled with this for a couple of years since our kids all left and I finally have it! WOO HOO!

a.m. till about 9:00 a.m. ----> scripture/ prayer/ eat breakfast/exercise/ check e-mail and get ready for the day time.

9 till about 11 ----> clean house (one hour for pick up all over, one hour for deep clean)

11 till about 2 ----> work at home business

2 till a bout 5 ----> rest/ daily project/ fun, read, look up gardening ideas, etc

5 on supper and evening activities

It is working!

My goal for this year is to get my house in order. I need to be a better manager. I want to be organized and clean. Everything is so grungy and I am putting my foot down! Clean here we come!!!

Last week was my kitchen week. I started by deep cleaning my stove - it needed it! The drawers and everything were just disgusting. I cleaned out all the cupboards and drawers. No more grime now!

This week is my hall and extra room week. So I did the hallway closet. The next room I did this past week was my "Girl Cave." It seemed everything from Christmas landed in there. I redid the closet and put all the extra shelves I had all over the house in there - it is awesome!

Here are the before and after pictures:

Mt closet after - it was awful before and I didn't evern think about taking a picture. All the sewing things are together, my scrapbook and card things together, all the misc. together etc.

Sewing corner BEFORE
Sewing Corner AFTER (Still have my peppermint tree up in this bay windwo - I can't help myself it is just so cheery!)

A New Year!

It has been a while since I have posted anything - I am ready join the blogging world again!

Last spring I was having issues with Adrenal Exhaustion. I was doing better and in August our 2 daughters had babies, my husband ran for city council, I canned like a maniac all the stuff from our garden, then I got sick about the middle of November and have been sick since. Swine flu is on my list of experiences. We also had our family here for Chrismtas and I am feeling the adrenal exhaustion again.

I am simplifying my life. I have needed to do this for a very long time. After much prayer and pondering I am cutting out much of the activities I have done. I am already feeling the benefits of it. This is the first time in my life I have really stood up for myself and I am going to get better. I have things to do and places to go and people I need to serve and love.

Another New baby!

Isn't this so amazing - another new baby born August 15 - Baby Tate!

Our New Baby!

Woo HOO! Our new baby grandson was born today - he is beautiful!
Grandma's really do have fun!

4th of July!

I love the 4th of July! We are going to see the Balloon Races, the fireworks, have picnics, play games, eat and have a great time.
Our son won't be here and we will miss him tons!
Happy 4th!

RAIN! It looks like we live in Oregon!

Storms Rolling in Pictures

Don't you love the rain! We live in Idaho and where we are is considered a desert. We gt an average of 7 inches of water a year. To date we are at over 8 inches. It is amazing here. It looks like we live in Oregon! It is a rich emerald green everywhere. We haven't watered our garden or lawn once yet. We have toadstools growing in our lawn, puddles everywhere and there are flash flood warnings but we are loving it!

Happy Birthday To Me!

I love my birthday..... My family and friends call and tell me they love me - it is always just a perfect day. I get to do whatever I want all day.

Today I am turning over a new leaf - forget the New Years Resolutions - I am going to do Happy Birthday Resolutions. I am stressed out too often about things that really don't matter and I am the one who does it to myself. It is me who must make the change.

1 - Enjoy the day! Be refreshed in my spirit daily - this is what I too often let slide.
*I am going to walk around my beautiful yard every morning and feel the beauty and be filled with the love of Heavenly Father as I see all that He has created in my own little world. Thankful for the gift I have been given to create my own little Garden Of Eden.
*I would like to watch the sunsets everynight that I am able.
*I love to have Daily Devotion time, but sometimes I rush through it...slow down
*Everyday exercise for me
2 - Say "no" to too many commitments and say "yes" to loving others
3- I would like to go back to school, I have about one semester to get my bachelor's and I would like to finish it. Then maybe go on to get my masters.
4 - Live in love and light and joy

I have done my daily devotion time and exercised. Today, being Monday I get our home in order which I love to do, picked up the house, done a couple loads of laundry, finished the cover on my book.
What am I doing the rest of the day.... we like everyone, trying to cut back so we are having a stay at home day. Mitch is coming home early and bringing lunch . We are putting up the trellis we already have up in the side yard which I have wanted to do for a couple of years. We are spraying it purple along with other pieces of yard art that is in our own little retreat. I will post pictures on my garden blog when we are done. http://bucketideasforgardening.blogspot.com/ I know it sounds weird but it is quite amazing! Then I hope we can watch a movie and have a nice dinner together.

Happy Birthday To Me!

4:30 a.m.

I don't know why I always have time to write on this at 5 a.m. and then I can't think of anything clever to say. I am often awakened at 4:30 a.m. by my darling husband who has sleep apnea and sometimes really, really snores.

Sleep Apnea - do you know what that is? We didn't either and about 4 years ago he had a massive heart attack because of it. After a week in Intensive Care, a sleep study and roughly $70,000 in medical bills which our insurance paid all but about $10,000 (whew!) and a few years of living with it, we have become experts.

If the person you sleep with gasps for air, then seems to stop breathing and convulses a little, the chances are pretty high that your darling spouse has sleep apnea. You need to check in with your doctor and get some medical help. It is quite a serious condition that is quite simple to take care of.

A few 4:30 a.m. blessings

• I have time to catch up on e-mails, on facebook, reading blogs etc.
• I always hear the birds just before the sun comes up
• I usually go back to bed for an hour or so about 7 a.m. by then my eyes are crossing
• I get my world straightened around and clarified

Vintage Thursday - My Grandfather's Pitchfork

I am cleaning out my gardens and so today I wanted to share a picture of this pitchfork that belonged to my Grandfather. He was born in 1879 and died long before I was born. I would guess this is from the 1920 or 1930's pre-depression days. This is tucked in my herb garden close to my back door. I think about him everytime I see it.

Thanks to Colorado Lady for hosting this! To see other Vintage Sharers, visit http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

I Am So Blessed

This week I am concentrating on being more grateful. I have realized that I need to be more aware of that. We are all so blessed. There is bad news everywhere...but there is good news too! We have a beautiful world, I need to just open my eyes to see it. I know that Heavenly Father loves me and knows me by name, I have wonderful people all around me, my list can go on and on. This week my quest is being grateful in all things.

And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more. (D&C 78:19).

Vintage Thursday - April 16 - My Mom's China

My dad left for Korea 3 days after my parents were married and my mom was still in High School. They didn't buy china when they got married because they couldn't afford it.

When I was about 4 years old, my dad bought my mom some china for Christmas. He told me about it and hid it under my bed so she wouldn't find it. He told me I coudlnt' tell her about it. I remember being more excited to get up on Christmas and have her open that box, than I was for Santa and what he had brought me.

This T-Cup is from that set of china.

Thanks to Colorado Lady for hosting this! To see other Vintage Sharers, visit http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

Vntage Thursday - Goblet

I showed this once for a show and tell day, but it fits better with Vintage Thursday, so I going to share it with you, sorry if it is a repeat for any of you.

This beautiful goblet is one of a set of six goblets that I have of my great grandmother's. This great grandmother was a pioneer that crossed the plains with the mormon pioneers as a child. Her husband fell off a roof when all of her children were young and she was on her own to support the family. Her son, my grandfather as a young teenager worked all summer at a farm in another state. He took some of his money and bought his mother a set of 12 goblets. He did it because she had never had anything nice and he wanted to get her something beautiful.

My grandfather was born in 1895 so these would have been purchased around 1900. My mother was his youngest child of 8 children. My grandfather died when I was 5. When I think about this story it always brings tears to my eyes. We all have such amazing heritages. I wish more of the stories were available.

Thanks to Colorado Lady for hosting this! To see other Vintage Sharers, visit http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

April 6 - It Is A Boy!

We have 2 darling daughters who are expecting in August.
We just found out that one of them is having a boy!

April 2 - Vintage Thursday

Woo HOO It is Thursday again! I wanted to share a quilt my grandmother made me when I was born in 1953. It is totally hand stitched and it is still lovely!

Thanks to Colorado Lady for hosting this! To see other Vintage Sharers, visit http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

March 30 - I Have Spring Fever

We work up yesterday to winds and by the time we got out of church we were in a full blown blizzard. The wind was blowing 35 mph with gusts up to 50. Visibility was less than 1/4 a mile. It was blowing so hard that it would blow people over. I opened the door of the car during a gust and it popped the door and sprung it. Now it won't close all the way.

Anyway, I was just looking out the window today while doing dishes and it officially hit - I HAVE SPRING FEVER. I get this way every year - it is a seasonal sickness and this year it is the worst I have had! I try so hard to live in the moment but I can't stand it anymore! I am so ready to be outside. I am afraid the only antedote is warm and sun and dirt!

Vintage Thursday - Cup from Occupied Japan

I got this cup at a garage sale last summer. I was carrying it around and lady came up to me and said, "Do you know what that cup is?" I didn't and she told me it was made in Japan during the war. I was impressed that she noticed it right off and as well enough acqauinted with the history of the cup that she knew all about it. I appreciate any information any of you may have about this cup.

Top rim

This is the bottom of the cup...it says, "Sone China" made in occupied Japan.

Thanks to Colorado Lady for hosting this! To see other Vintage Sharers, visit http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/

I Love Faces - Week 11 - No Flash

Be sure and visit http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2008/01/week-11-kids.html to see all the other entry's! Thanks for hosting this Ann and Angie!

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This is our darling g-son Wyatt. This was taken in the play yard in our back yard early one June morning last summer. He is watching our cat in this pix. I love it because it captures the wonder of his world!

Vintage Thursday - Quaker Oats Plates

These are plates that belonged to my Maternal Great Grandmother. I took some cookies to a church function about 10 years ago and an 80 year old lady who lives in our ward (congregation) said, "I haven't seen these since I was a little girl - we used to get them out of bags of Quaker Oats Oatmeal. It was before the cereal came in the round boxes, they were in bags and we bought them to collect these dishes. Everyone did it and if you didn't have a piece of one size but were long on a piece of another size, we traded them around so we could all get complete sets."
Since then I have looked at garage sales to find more. I have found other dishes that match but aren't the exact set so I can set a table, but I am still on the lookout for these from the original design.

Thanks to Colorado Lady for hosting this! To see other Vintage Sharers, visit http://coloradolady.blogspot.com/