BittersweetPunkin

New Neighbors, New Curtains, New Friends

2012-01-16T00:53:00.000-08:00

Well, after being vacant for almost three years, someone finally bought the house next to ours. I must admit, I was rather enjoying the privacy and the peace and quiet that came from having an empty house next door. We were actually making merry on New Year's Eve with our company when we noticed we were being watched......the new neighbors moved in that very night...the last night of the last year and well, with no curtains on their windows or electricity to watch their television with...we were the next best thing to quality entertainment that they could get. I don't mean they were maybe watching us, they were full on standing-in-their-house-looking-in-ours watching us.

I am very happy the house next door now has an owner but at the same time I like to walk around in my pajamas and yesterday's hair-do.....and this house backs up very close to mine with full view of our entire living area. I now had to ponder my curtain-less kitchen window that faces their huge living room picture window...it's bad enough they've probably already seen me go out into the backyard in my bathrobe about a dozen times already, but I guess if you dare to venture outside in your night clothes that's a chance you have to take.....inside my house was a different story.

So, many of you know how frugal I am...after all, I made a curtain rod out of a tree branch for my livingroom curtains. I already had a nice Waverly toile valance on the top of my kitchen window (Goodwill) but I needed some privacy on the bottom half of the window without blocking out all the daylight...so my daughter and I ventured out to Goodwill where she found a few yards of a complimentary black toile fabric. I cut a section of fabric and hung it by curtain clips onto a tension rod and below is the result.

I didn't hem it...not one single stitch was sewn, I just cut and hung and taadaa...that's it. My kind of decorating...cheap and easy. You can see how close the house next door is, we live in like a horseshoe...where our house is right on the bend and their's is on the side of us so the rear of their house backs up to the side of ours.

Also, after we lost Sadie I told my husband that it would be a very long time before I considered another dog and I would certainly never get a puppy. I was so caught up in my own grief and trying to get through each day that I really wasn't aware of how losing Sadie was affecting someone else in my household. People grieve differently and although I was doing a pretty good job coping with it, someone else was not. As parents, we made a decision that we hoped would help the healing process.

This is Walter and he is the newest member of the Bittersweet family. He is not my dog...I had mine and she will be forever in my heart, Walter belongs to another and he is fitting right in.

Walter is a English Springer Spaniel mix and is almost 3 months old....and already has a new BFF....actually I think it's the cat who found a new BFF. Simba mourned Sadie for quite a while...he would walk around the house whining looking for her...it was very difficult to watch, and it took him a while to realize she was gone. Simba and Walter are now besties and they love to play with each other. The other two cats tolerate Walter but Simba finally has a playmate again.

I hope you are all having a very Blessed start to the New Year...we got some snow today and some got to see it for the first time ever.....

It's finally starting to feel like Winter here. I hope you all have a great week!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T14:45:00.000-08:00

Yup, that's the kind of year it's been. It is tradition that we get one bottle of champagne to ring in each New Year. This year, we agreed that it would take a bit more...one to ring in the New Year...and a second to toast the Loved Ones that we lost....four beloveds total. I know 2011 has been full of hardships for many and I pray that 2012 will be full of Hope...and CHANGE (as in no more Obama), but more importantly I wish for you Health, Happiness and Prosperity. I heard a Christmas song the other day and the lyrics said something like..."I don't mind stains on the carpet as long as there's food on the table"...and that is so so true.

May your table always have food on it.
Happy New Year!
Love,
Robin

Christmas is getting closer.....

2011-12-18T18:58:00.000-08:00

I still have *lots* to do...I'll be the crazy lady running around on Friday trying to finish up.
Can't wait for the CALM...that's when I am done shopping and everything is wrapped and ready...are you ready?

Also, I made pumpkin soup last night and WOW I have a new favorite. I have lots of canned pumpkin in my food storage and I was looking for ways to use it creatively....instead of for pie or cake. I found this super great pumpkin soup recipe on Simply Recipes and it was so delicious....I know I'll be making it more often. It's a nice creamy soup with just enough spice to make it NOT bland. Don't let the ingredients fool you....it warms the tongue and the belly just right. It was too good not to share:

Spicy Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Ingredients

4 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional) ***(I left this out because I didn't have any)
3 (15 oz) cans 100 percent pumpkin or 6 cups of chopped roasted pumpkin*
5 cups of chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)**
2 cups of milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Method

1 Melt butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add spices and stir for a minute more.
2 Add pumpkin and 5 cups of broth; blend well. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
3 ( I skipped this step entirely) Transfer soup, in batches, to a blender or food processor. Cover tightly and blend until smooth. Return soup to saucepan.
4 With the soup on low heat, add brown sugar and mix. Slowly add milk while stirring to incorporate. Add cream. Adjust seasonings to taste. If a little too spicy, add more cream to cool it down. You might want to add a teaspoon of salt.
Serve in individual bowls.

Yield: Serves 8.

My daughter's boyfriend is a vegetarian so I am trying to prepare meatless cuisine for him these next few weeks...this forces me to get creative and think outside the box. On Christmas we are having a Prime Rib and a Vegetarian Lasagna...and whatever else I can think of. We still have 2 days left of homeschool before Christmas break....lots left to do.

Blessings to all!

2011-12-11T19:51:00.000-08:00

It's been a very difficult year for me and I am praying that Good Things will happen in the New Year.
Thank you so much my Dear Friends for the kind words, I needed more time than I thought to collect my thoughts. My husband kept asking me if I was going to do a last post about Sadie and I chose not to, the pain is still fresh but now we can smile and laugh when we speak of her..that's not to say there aren't still tears..they are just fewer and far between and she is now in my heart instead of by my side.

Christmas is now upon us and we are having a guest this year for Christmas and through the New Year. In all the years we've been a family, it's only been the four of us each Christmas morning. My daughter's boyfriend is flying in from California and we are most excited. Good Things are on the way. Be Blessed.

My Sweet Girl

2011-10-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Sadie Mae Nov 26, 2002 ~Oct 10, 2011 You left pawprints on all our hearts....love you.

I'm Still Here...and a Road Trip.

2011-09-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought I was never coming back again! Actually, I was always here...the summer was a rough one, Sadie is still with us and each day we have to spend with her is a Blessing. My husband lost an Uncle, I lost my last living Grandmother, we lost Flynn and we are dealing with Sadie's cancer.
I have not been snapping photos nor have I traveled to any exotic and exciting locations this past summer.
My daughter spent 3 glorious weeks in New England however, and my beautiful niece did come to stay with us for a brief but thoroughly enjoyable visit. Summer is turning to Fall and we are looking ahead!

Now, get your affairs in order and stock up on snacks because soon we are taking a road trip down Memory Lane :) I came across all my old photos on Google+ from my old blog before my previous computer went up in flames and lost everything.

You're excited...I know, I was too!
See you soon!

Me and my Girl

2011-07-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

We are on this journey as a family and we are just now getting to the bumps in the road, Sadie can no longer jump up on the bed without some help from my husband lifting her up....the past 3 nights have been rough and sleepless...seems she does the most suffering at night, alternating between panting heavily and drinking tons and tons of water...and then the countless potty breaks. We sit up with her and comfort her, petting her and talking to her softly so she knows she's not in this alone.

This photo was taken tonight (Sun)...she was feeling pretty good and had an extra spring in her step...she even trotted ahead of us a few times. I picked a Daisy and tied it to her collar...she loves flowers and seems to take delight in watching the bees buzz from blossom to blossom. Taking this day by day and counting each and every new one with her as a Blessing.

Blessings to all for a great week.

Sadie May....

2011-07-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

...awww...this is one of my favorite pics...Kai got a new kitten a few weeks ago and Sadie just adores him, they became fast friends once the kitten figured out Sadie wasn't going to eat him.

If I were to describe Sadie I would have to say she's gentle, sweet, patient, loyal and trusting....we couldn't have asked for a better dog. From the moment we adopted her years ago, we knew she was special. I didn't think a dog would fit into our lifestyle but we learned very quickly that Sadie was willing to work us into hers.

A few weeks ago we noticed Sadie was not acting like her usual self....she was panting while climbing the stairs and started to refuse food on a not so regular basis...about every third day she would fast and then she started running a fever. We took her to the vet who said her chest sounded congested and they decided to do a chest xray with no results...then maybe a uterine infection, so an abdominal xray with minimal results and finally, we got a referral to another vet for an ultrasound...just to rule out the uterine infection.

The ultrasound revealed some very grim news, Sadie was diagnosed with stage 5 Lymphoma. All of her lymph nodes are affected as are all her internal organs...chemotherapy was discussed but with her prognosis it was revealed it would have little, if any, effect. I was told to take her home and enjoy her...the vet told me it could take "days or weeks"...... so crushing to hear.

I have googled this disease and read story after story until my husband told me to stop...I was trying to learn as much as I could, but reading other people's stories of how they lost their beloved dogs to cancer was just tearing me apart. I did. however, learn that cancer cells feed on carbs and the best thing I could do for Sadie now was keep her comfortable by cooking her high protein, low carb, grain free meals to possibly slow the progression of the cancer. Will it work...I dunno...but it will make me feel better knowing I am doing something for her that I can control.

Sadie is currenly on prednisone which is a steroid to help reduce the inflammation...we have already noticed that the lymph nodes in her neck aren't as swollen as they were. One of the side affects is that she pants every now and then.....but only for a short time. Otherwise, she still enjoys fetching her ball and continues to bark whenever the doorbell rings. I have noticed she's gotten a bit slower on our nightly walks and she doesn't like to walk as far as she used to...she now lets me know it's time to go home by simply turning around and walking back towards home....so I obediently follow.

We live within walking distance to a lake...it's just down a short trail. I took Sadie to the lake on Saturday and she couldn't wait to get in the water...I was a bit hesitant at first because I wasn't sure if she was strong enough to swim but she proved me wrong! I threw her tennis ball out into the lake about 10 times and she swam out to retrieve it each and every time. I didn't take pics of her in the water because I was trying to keep an eye on her...I did take her into the arboretum to dry off and play fetch so we took pics there.

...at the lake....look at that smile...she know's shes going to get to go swimming soon.

..waiting for me to throw the stick so she can go fetch it.

...look at that face....does that look like a sick doggie to you?

She had so much fun, she didn't want to get in the jeep to come back home...but she loves going for rides so I was finally able to persuade her.

Back home......that's my big sweet couch potato. The only thing I can do is love her as much as I can.
She is ever present, always at my side...I'm ashamed to say that there was a time that it used to annoy me....I couldn't even go to the bathroom without her finding me.. but now I am savoring every single second of it.

Blessings to all for a great week.
~Robin

Just taking some time......

2011-06-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

...thanks for the emails. :)

Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.
- Barbara De Angelis

So Blessed

2011-06-11T22:06:00.001-07:00

...and so proud :)

It's Grad Week!!!!!!!!

2011-06-06T11:21:00.000-07:00

This is a busy busy week! There are final exams for both students and some make-up work for school at home that needs that needs to be completed and then it's Graduation!!!!!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!!

I hope you all have a Blessed Week!!

Thank you

2011-06-01T00:33:00.000-07:00

...for your support...I am better with the scholarship situation...not happy with it, but better with it. We had to go through a few stages to get this point, and even though it's something we are still working through....we don't want to take away from the fact that this is a major accomplishment for our daughter. While we are saddened that she will not recieve the funding for college, we are very proud of her for being chosen as one of the "best and brightest" in WA state.

Onward and upward.

Our girl is now legally an adult, it happened recently...she can now vote and got her curfew extended. Where has the time gone...it is passing by me so fast and I am trying to hold onto what I can, savoring every moment. I have done so much reflecting lately and so happy for God's blessings.

Aren't these the most darling Graduation pops you've ever seen? They are made with Reese's pb cups, squares of chocolate and licorice strips...I am entertaining the thought of making them for graduation. We are not having any family fly in for the graduation but we'll probably have a small get together at the house for friends. Nothing is planned as of yet. This momma still needs to go buy something to wear to the ceremony...I've recently lost 10 lbs and am feeling pretty good. For those of you who wonder...I did replace my half and half with evaporated skim milk....I have gotten used to it and actually enjoy it. I did have some Hawaiian pizza and Birthday cake recently but that was one special day...as long as I am alive I will eat cake on my childrens birthdays.

I promised Shelley that I would list the details of my diet so here are the general rules:
NO white bread, rolls, danish, etc
NO rice, pasta, potatos
NO cookies, chips, granola bars, candy, crackers etc
NO peas, corn, beans (except for green or waxed)
NO butter,spread, margarine, oils etc
NO fruit juice, soda, milk (skim is okay in moderation and sugar free soda is okay)
NO pork products, salami, pepperoni, ham

Yes:
100% Whole wheat or protein bread (nothing enriched or bleached)
No more than 2 eggs per week, prepared without butter or oil
Lean meats such as chicken, fish, steak, lamb, buffalo....(even ground beef is allowed)...nothing fried though
Salads dressed with vinegar only...no oils
Hard cheeses are lower in fat than soft ones...one serving per week...(I make a salad with cheese slices)
Broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, zuccini, peppers, tomatoes...(I use raw spinach in place of lettuce for more nutrition)
Low carb fruit is encouraged, canned is okay only if packed in juice not syrup.
Tuna fish packed in water, not oil and NOT mixed with mayo
Grapefruit is ideal to have each day *make sure it does not interfere with prescription drugs* 1/2 for breakfast and the other 1/2 to enjoy after lunch or dinner
Drink lots of water (I occasionally add Crystal Lite)

Breakfast for me everyday is one slice of dry wheat toast sprinkled with cinnamon and a serving of fruit with coffee. The main goal is to have a protein and veggie for lunch and dinner. . The one day a week that you can have eggs, that will be your protein...with veggies. You can also decide any day to have 1/2 cup of cottage cheese and fruit...instead of meat and a veggie...(this also helps stabilize your blood sugar).
You are allowed to have 2 slices of wheat bread per day...you can split that up any way you like. If you want to make a sandwich...skip the mayo and use yellow mustard.

Eliminate the "filler" items like rice, pasta, stuffing, fries, rolls etc that you would normally put on your plate. They really aren't necessary and after a while you won't miss them.

I do not snack between meals anymore, if I find myself hungry I can munch on celery/carrots or I usually have some water. Once my dinner is eaten I am DONE for the day. There is no portion control with the exception of what I've noted, just eat until you are satisfied. Get creative with your ingredients and your menu won't get dull. Trust me, I look tempation in the face more than once each day, but I'm on a mission to succeed. :)

Blessings to all for a great week!

WA State gives and takes away Scholarship

2011-05-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

I try so hard to make my posts as lite as possible, I've even restrained from posting anything political and I really haven't "vented" in a while.

At this moment, I feel as if I was punched in the stomach and spat on.

My daughter won a scholarship from the state of Washington to pay for tuition for two years at the college of her choice here in WA, but due to the "recession" she will not be recieving the funds, only a certificate saying she won.

I am mad as hell and I am bitter and my heart aches for my daughter as she was anxiously awaiting the release of the winner's names. I don't even know why they bothered going through with the "scholarship". She is crushed and I am left completely speechless. Graduation is about a week away and this has brought a dark cloud over what was supposed to be a special time.

The best in the Northwest....

2011-05-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

I know some of you remember the country music video that my daughter directed, edited and produced not too long ago...if not here's a refresher:

Today at the Northwest High School Film Festival in Seattle, she won the Music Video Award of Excellence for best music video. Twenty-three schools were being presented at the Film Festival and Kailei won in this category.

Yes, I am one proud Mama. :)

I said Goodbye today............

2011-05-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

...to my coffee creamer. Half and Half to be exact. I'm done...we've had a long affair and it was great while it lasted, never left me unsatisfied...but I am now left with those "comfort pounds" one gets when in a stable relationship. I am not an artifical creamer person, never have been...I don't like the flavored liquid kind or the powdered kind (ack!) and milk just doesn't cut it for me. I have only ever bought fat free milk and quite honestly, fat free milk in coffee is gross to me.

I like to languish over a few cups of coffee in the morning, so my creamer consumption was adding up. I looked into the "fat free" half and half brands but after reading the ingredients at the grocery store I found there are syrups and additives that I just don't want in my body. It was suggested to me to use evaporated skim milk because it has a thicker consistancy like cream but without all the "extras".......has anyone ever tried this?

I can drink black ice coffee but I like a hot cup first thing in the morning and for some reason I cannot drink black coffee hot. If you've ever tried evaporated skim milk in your coffee, let me know what you thought of it. I may be running out to the store soon to pick some up.
Blessings to all!

Spring is.....still springing.

2011-05-18T09:53:00.000-07:00

We finally have a bit of sunshine here and there...although many of you have been experiencing warm tempatures, it's still jacket weather here as we are having a late Spring. On Mother's Day, I recieved a wonderful flowering hanging plant and 2 tomatoe plants. My wonderful neighbor gave me a half barrel that we put on the back porch and planted the tomatoes, so we'll see if they come to fruition. I have also put in a bed of yellow pansies and a bed of blueish pansies in the front of the house and moved all my indoor plants onto the front porch and added a hanging fushia. (Next post I'll have pics :)

Yesterday, I chaperoned the LAST field trip my daughter will go on as she is graduating in a few weeks...it was bittersweet. Reminded me of all the field trips I went with her over the years... to the zoo, aquarium, fire house, cider mill, pumpkin patch, and so on. We are counting down, just a few weeks til graduation and her 18th Birthday is just before that. My how time flies. This really is a time for reflection for me...and my son will only have 2 more years of school left as well.

I am back on my diet....really going for it this time, a few years ago I blogged about cutting out all "white foods" like rice, potatoes, pasta, white bread etc and I lost a lot of weight only to let it crawl back on, but I am going to lose it for good this time. I've been putting everyone else's needs before mine every minute of every day and it's only made me stressed and fluffy :) I have dramatically cut my fat and sugar intake so I've been a little cranky lately...lol....but I am allowing myself to enjoy all this season has to offer like lean meats, crispy veggies and low carb fruits. I am also saying hello to my treadmill again. My husband has recently lost quite a bit of weight and he looks great...it's different for men because they don't "wear" the weight of the household like women do. You ladies know what I mean....I know you do.

I hope you are all enjoying your Spring and I hope to hop on by and visit you soon.
Blessings!

Happy Mother's Day

2011-05-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

I hope you ladies have a fabulous Mother's Day weekend!

Patience is a Virtue....

2011-05-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

...but one can only be patient for so long. Toby was convinced that if he just sat a little ways away from the bird feeder he would be undetected by the birds.....

When that plan didn't work out he thought he should just get a little closer....surely the birds will still come..

Maybe if I shake it..the birds will see the feeder and come around.....

....in this photo he looks irrated with me as if I am the reason the birds are not coming around, guess I was making too much noise with my camera.

The birds are wise to stay away, Toby is a very skilled hunter...if there's talk to be had in the animal community it's surely "stay away from that one".....Toby has brought home everything from birds to bunnies, mice and moles and the occasional snake. My husband said that after Toby hopped off the fence, the birds came along to feed. Now who's smarter? Whoever coined the phrase "bird brain" anyway....?

Blessings for a great weekend!

Friday Whoopsie!

2011-04-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

Nobody was hurt...just the pride of a new driver. Hugs of reassurance and now laughter...waiting for the garage door repairman as I post this......:)

I hope you all have a Blessed weekend........free of Whoopsies!

It Snowed Today.....

2011-04-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, large fluffy flakes fell to the ground for several hours....didn't stick but it sure looked lovely while it was falling.

This week is a busy one for me......I hope you are having a Blessed one yourself!

Happy Easter

2011-04-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

Instant Collections....

2011-04-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

I only pick up vintage rolling pins if they're under $2 and only enough to fill this old salt crock.

(Don't mind the dust)...my collection of vintage enamelware coffee pots on top of my red amoire...the red lights add a nice touch in the evening.

A collection of husband's photos from when his Grandfather dabbled in race horses, with a remnant of an old metal horse weathervane thrown in for impact.

Rulers....so far I've found 19 in cupboards and drawers, and I have a feeling more will surface.

I collect many things, dust and clutter seem to be heading the list but I am trying to keep on top of it.

We are starting to get some very lovely days here and are seeing the sun more....thank GOD.

Just wanted to share....

Blessings!

Senior Prom

2011-04-17T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Senior Prom was held last night at the Seattle Aquarium.......our little girl took our breath away.
Blessings to all for a great Sunday.

What's going on?

2011-04-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize it had been 2 weeks since I last blogged...WOW!
~ We had Spring Break last week which was nice.....daughter went to Disney in CA with her Jazz choir...they performed there and then had 3 days to play with Mickey and Minnie.
~ Son got his learner's permit so he's been driving his parents around...even to run mundane chores
~ Busy with high school graduation plans, college readiness etc...
~ I still need to get my taxes in the mail...(although they are DONE)
~ Doctors, Dentist visits and all that fun stuff
~ Registering courses with the state for next years school at home
~I am trying to get a handle on the overwhelming amount of stuff that seems to multiply in my home

There are some days I just want to throw my hands up and run from the house screaming but then I realize I won't have anywhere to go...lol. Recently I have found that I am very overwhelmed and I just can't please everyone all the time...and that's okay. I've come to grips with the fact that God has placed me in this role and as long as I keep Him in sight I can be whatever I want to be, regardless of what others think of me. This is just a season that I need to get through.

It's still damp and chilly here in the Pacific Northwest....we are still experiencing almost daily rain, we had ONE nice day last week where we ran outside and cleaned & vacuumed both cars and mowed the lawn to get ready for Spring. The house is still chilly and the heat still kicks on at 64 degrees....I am SO READY for warm weather.

Blessings to all for a great day!

All Dressed Up....

2011-03-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

I bought these adorable glittery birds awhile back...I just now got around to dressing up my hutch in the entryway.....I hadn't done much with it since I took down my Christmas decor...lol. Soooo, over this past weekend I decided to gussy it up a bit...I like to change it up from time to time just a bit.

I put this sweet Princess Bird in a little nest....she looks quite regal sitting there...waiting on her beau...

..and he looks very attentive and dapper in his top hat. These birds are much more beautiful in person...I got them from DanieGirl on Etsy.....she's a girl who loves glitter...as I do.

Since my hutch is usually where I like to display my birds and nests etc...I mix up the accessories a bit. This time I decided to add punches of white throughout....my sparkley birds are white and so is this great key I got from JCKEEVER on Etsy...she has a darling little shop and the keys were but a few dollars each.

The wood and the natural elements sometimes can be so dark so I really like the contrast of the bit of white...

................sprinked throughout.

I love my big old chippy seagull....he gets to sit right in the front and center.

Now if I can only get the rest of my house in order I'll be sitting pretty too!

Blessings to all!

Survivors....

2011-03-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's a real pumpkin from last Fall...it rests comfortably on this antique kitchen scale on my counter.
They are both survivors...the scale is well over 100 years old and the pumpkin is going on 7 months. I am amazed that this little pumpkin is still holding strong...not a soft spot to be found.

I originally had three of these pumpkins but when I was taking down my Fall decor to decorate for Christmas I tossed the other two. I really liked how this pumpkin looked on the old red scale so I decided to leave it for just a little while longer, I check it every week for signs of decline but so far there are none.

It just goes to show you that with a good support system you can survive just about anything.

Blessings to all!

Thanks for the Memories.........

2011-03-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011. Thank you for all the great films.

Still Here.....

2011-03-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

I'm still here.....we've been busy bees here at the Bittersweet household...lots going on. March has always been a busy month for us. I should be back posting and visiting sometime next week. I have lots to share!
There are state exams this week and since my son is schooled at home we are having to travel for the exams 3 days this week....not too too far away but wish it was closer!
Blessings for a great week!

A Great Find.....

2011-02-28T00:34:00.000-08:00

You Gals all know how much I love to thrift...I haven't had much opportunity lately but a few weeks ago I got lucky while at my local Goodwill. While cruising the aisles, I came across a Bakers Edge Pan...not sure if you are familiar with them..I wasn't until I saw Oprah's Favorite Things episode this past Christmas and she had this item featured....

The pans are for people who like the crusty edges on their brownies..like my husband, who carves away the entire perimeter around the brownie pan so he can have the edges. The brownie pan retails for about $35 and the lasagna pan retails for $50 which is way more than I would spend on a baking pan....it's just not worth it to me. So imagine my surprise when I found this little gem at Goodwill for $3.00.

I snapped it up, I figured what the heck.....I only have one 9x13 baking pan anyway so even at $3 it's worth a shot. There were only a few light surface scratches on it so I popped it in the dishwasher and cleaned it up real good and then made a batch of brownies.....

....you just have to evenly spread the brownie mix throughout the pan and then just pop it in the oven....

..the brownies were a big hit...a few hours later there was only this much left. So, my investment of $3.00 was worth it. I am way too frugal to spend $35 on this item brand new but it really is a neat item and may be worth the investment for others.

~I also want to say a big Thank You to all of you who have kept my Etsy friend Cindy in your thoughts and prayers, and Thank You to all who have visited the Helping Hearts shop to make a purchase...and to those of you who donated goods as well. As of last week, there was about $3500.00 raised from the Helping Hearts shops to help Cindy and her family. I am so proud to be among such wonderful compassionate Bloggers. :)

I hope you have a Blessed Day!

Happy Valentines Day :)

2011-02-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

A Tragic Loss

2011-02-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

I was so saddened to hear that one of my online friends, Cindy, lost her 11 year old son Kevin, her home and most of her pets in an early morning fire. Cindy is a long time Etsy and Artfire merchant and was well known in the Etsy and Artfire communities for her kindness, knowledge and sense of humor. My heart breaks for her as I cannot imagine what she and her family are going through right now.

The Etsy community and others have generously donated items to be sold online and all of the proceeds will go to Cindy and her family to help with funeral expenses, temporary shelter and other needs they may have during this difficult time. The shop is called Helping Hearts and I have a button right here in my sidebar at the top that will take you to the shop or you can click on the link. The outpouring of love from the Etsy community has been overwelming and they are trying to post new items to the shop as fast as they come in.
There are items ranging from a few dollars on up...something for everyone and again, the family gets 100% of the proceeds and shipping on all items is FREE. There are many items listed so make sure you click on ALL in the left hand side bar of the shop to see everything.

If you are unable to make a purchase, I ask that you pray for Cindy and her family during this most difficult time.

You can read the news story of the fire HERE.

Thank you and God Bless you all.

When it rains it pours....

2011-01-30T23:49:00.000-08:00

Well...I had a bit of a toothache last week and took myself to the dentist....I have an old filling thats gone bad, and an infection soooooooo now it's gonna be a root canal and crown...oh goodie. I just love getting root canals...ugh. I have a old crown that needs to come out and a filling on a root canal that should be a crown so looks like they'll be seeing a lot of me over there at the dentist's office. I realized that it can never just be ONE simple thing...no, that would be too easy.

I'm on an antibiotic and quite frankly, if the infection isn't gone by the time I have to have the root canal done then I am postponing it.....when you have an infection you are unable to get numb and you feel EVERYTHING.....I've already lived through this once and it's not an experience I want to repeat. I would rather give birth quite frankly....at least you get a surprise at the end. I remember when we were kids we had a dentist who used to magically remove animal shaped erasers from our mouths.....you don't get that at my age.

Blessings to all for a great week!

Sweet Treats, a Rip and a Rainbow

2011-01-20T22:38:00.000-08:00

I ended up baking 4 Lemon Pound Cakes and 2 Banana Nut Breads during my baking spree in preparation for the Jazz fundraiser. The sliced Lemon Cake in the back was for us... (oh so yummy, my favorite).
Another of the Lemon Cakes I gave to my daughter's boyfriend to take home for his family so that left the rest for the bakesale. It was a silent auction and went VERY well...the kids who performed in the Jazz Chior and Jazz Band put on a fantastic performance and it was a wonderful night out.

Just prior to leaving for the fundraiser, I was ironing the dress my daughter was to wear for her performance when the most horrific thing happened..............

..I had the setting too high on the iron and it grabbed hold of the fabric and ripped a HUGE hole in it! It was right in the very front of her dress...I was so mortified! Mind you, this was about an hour and a half before she had to be at the school...the Jazz choir has a dress code of black dresses for girls and black suits with pink shirts for the guys.....and this was the only suitable black dress she had. We jumped in the car and drove to the next town over (we live in a very small town) to the nearest big department store. With about 30 minutes to spare, Daughter found the most perfect dress for her performance. Whew!! It was a costly mistake on my part but we loved the second dress even better than the original one. I thanked God for letting us find one right there waiting for us. I think He was just telling me to SLOW DOWN.

As I was walking down my hallway to the front door, I looked up through the window over the door and saw this.....

..so my Son and I grabbed our cameras and headed out on the front porch for a better look.

It was a double rainbow...not sure if you can see both of them in the photos but they were lovely.

I hope God blesses you all with a rainbow or two and take my advice and slow down, take a deep breath every now and then! Blessings to all!

Semester One is closing....

2011-01-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

I will be posting irregularly this next week, the first semester is closing ..although my son is schooled at home-his curriculum is run by the state so we have some fine tuning to do to get any late work in so he can receive credits for these classes. Then of course, next week is finals week so lots to do to prepare.

This week there will be a fund-raising bake sale for the students in Jazz choir and Jazz band....the proceeds help fund the student's trip to Disney, where they will perform in April. My daughter is in Jazz Choir so I will be baking up a storm tomorrow in preparation of the fundraiser, and I'm sure I'll be a patron as well!

Blessings to all for a great week!

A Sweet Deal....

2011-01-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Amy at Four Sisters in a Cottage is having a sweet Valentines Giveaway! Hop on over to enter and make sure you follow her directions for eligibility!

I can can in the New Year

2011-01-04T10:20:00.000-08:00

I have made it one of my New Year's resolutions to learn how to preserve and can my own food this year....I believe this was one of last year's resolutions as well but it just never happened. With the rising cost of food...not to mention the questionable ingredients in much of what we consume today...I've decided to go ahead and give it a shot. I know many of you fabulous ladies are very resourceful and have already been canning your own food for years now....any tips would be greatly appreciated.

2010 found me diagnosed with high blood pressure so I really need to watch my sodium intake....I have become quite a label reader and I am vowing to cut out processed foods from the BittersweetPunkin household. I am beefing up my pantry...I'm getting ready to buy large glass containers to store things like rice, beans, oats etc that I will buy in bulk and I am making it a mission to never serve a boring meal again. Sometimes I find myself being very redundant in the meals I serve, and my family's lack of enthusiasm is very telling. Hopefully this is the year that we can buy a chest freezer to store excess meat in.....right now I am at the mercy of a tiny over the fridge model that doesn't hold much.

Our grocery bill has absolutely sky-rocketed and I am getting alarmed at how much it costs to simply feed this small family of four...and trust me, I am no stranger when it comes to buying generic or store brands and reduced price meat. Our family hasn't taken a vacation since about 2003 when we went to Mount Rushmore...so sad isn't it?

I would love to hear any and all of your tips for frugal living.....won't you share?

Happy New Year!

2010-12-30T01:50:00.000-08:00

Isn't this just the creepiest vintage New Years card you've ever seen? LOL

We've got our bottle of Dom chilling in the fridge...it's probably just going to be a quiet evening of celebration for us. We have a lot to be thankful for and much to celebrate. The Christmas tree is coming down on the 1st...the Boy Scouts will be coming around on the 2nd to haul the trees away for a small donation..it will be nice to be able to put my living room back to normal again.

I pray that the Lord Bless you and keep you in Good Health in the coming year...and I hope you are surrounded by those that you love when you ring in the New Year.

Fat and Happy...

2010-12-26T23:35:00.000-08:00

We're very jealous of all the snow that the East Coast is getting...but we are content to be here with lots and lots of leftovers. We're lounging in new pajamas, watching new movies, and playing with our new gadgets.....enjoying being in the house together. No school...no work...just a happy little family. :)

I hope yours was GRAND!

Christmas Cooking

2010-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Just like you, I'm feathering my nest for Christmas...I am just now finishing up the last of the laundry...not to resume until after Christmas, next I will be baking. I am making my son's favorite cookies...peanut butter kiss cookies....I make them for his Birthday, at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

One of our all time favorites is a cookie I started making a few years ago after I came upon the recipe from my friend Lynn at The Vintage Nest...I had always loved Italian Wedding Cookies but never took the time to make them until Lynn posted the recipe on her blog....my Hubby eagerly looks forward to these yummies...

This is Lynn's photo of the cookies she made...and you can find her recipe HERE...she was kind enough to share. Thank you so much Lynn!

Lastly, I'm going to make another new favorite....Buckeyes! I started making these sinfully delicious things after my friend Dianntha from Ohio Farm Girl posted her recipe on her blog a few years back....

You can find Dianntha's Buckeye recipe HERE. I've been making these in place of my traditional fudge and they are a huge hit! Thank you Dianntha!

We will be a few of the crazies running around on Christmas Eve Day to tie up a few loose ends....we are having our neighbors from across the street over to watch It's a Wonderful Life so I'm going to lay out a small buffet and then sit back and wait for Santa.

I hope you all are enjoying your week and don't forget to take the time to breathe!!

Just a sprinkling.....

2010-12-10T21:43:00.000-08:00

I've been consistent in my effort to bring a little Christmas into my house without having to display all the Christmas decorations that I own. I just sprinkled a bit of the Season into my existing vignettes to dress them up a bit....I added a bow here and there and some shiny ball ornaments...

I love my little bottle brush tree collection, I usually add a new one to my collection each year but so far I haven't bothered to purchase one. I created a little grouping with this ceramic Christmas tree music box that belongs to my son. All of my birds nests are now sporting shiny new 'eggs'...some of them even have jingle bells.

This is the view of my fireplace when you're sitting on our couch...I don't have the stockings hung yet. That bright light on top of the mantle is the light in the manger. It goes off every night except for Christmas Eve...when we leave it on. Also, can you see our sweet kitty laying under the tree?

Well, while I was out shopping today someone came to the house and notified my son that the passenger in the car that ran the red light and hit us last year on Black Friday is going to try to sue us for imaginary damages....in the form of medical treatment past, present and future, lost wages past and present and future and attorneys fees. Unbelievable...that's all I can say. I've called our insurance company to notify them and I have to wait until Monday to find out what's next. There's never a dull moment around here.

I hope you all have an absolutely Blessed Weekend!!

Colored Lights and Cupcakes

2010-12-06T00:47:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize it had been so long since my last post....we've been in full Christmas prep. mode as I'm sure you all are. For many many years my husband has been a stickler for white lights only on the Christmas tree...this year he decided he wanted to go with colored lights for a change and we love it! We opted for a slightly smaller tree, you know how it is, the kids get bigger and the gifts get a bit more pricier so they are fewer and far between...plus I liked not having to put up every single Christmas ornament that we own. (It's the putting away part that I loathe)

We recently celebrated a certain someone's special birthday....Sadie turned 9! She gets her very own cupcake each year since she's been with us...this year it was red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

She loves her carbs, a girl after my own heart...no wonder she follows me everywhere...:) We love her so much, we've had her 3 years now and it seems like it was just meant to be.

I hope you all have a great day!!

Happy Black Friday!

2010-11-26T09:26:00.000-08:00

Everything in my Etsy shop is marked 50% off today! I am having fun sifting through other shops buying for those on my Christmas list. Soon I have to venture out of the house to buy groceries, I'm sure it's going to be a mad house out there! What are YOU doing today?

2010-11-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies! We got about 3 inches of snow here yesterday...the local school districts called today a snow day...we are pretty excited because last Winter we got NO snow at all. I'm sure all of you are doing your Thanksgiving prep work and so am I. I am baking pies and cookies on Wednesday...and we are NOT going out shopping for Black Friday. (remember last year we got hit by a driver who ran a red light?)

Hopefully, we'll go out on the weekend and cut down our Christmas tree. We have quite a few tree farms here to chose from....we went to a great place last year that had a gift shop and hot cider for all the patrons....loved it! My Christmas shopping is in full swing and I am going to get my parcels mailed out early to the East Coast...that's where ALL of our extended family is.

I pray that you have a Happy Thanksgiving and you are surrounded by those that you love!

Discipline or Abuse?

2010-11-17T08:40:00.001-08:00

http://drphil.com/videos/?Url=/house/flv/9039_1.flv&background=header_drphil_video.jpg

This woman has clearly lost all control. This is child abuse NOT discipline, this child needs to be taken away from this family ASAP. The worst part is, she ADOPTED this child...stood before a judge and SWORE to give him a warm, loving home.

Could that possibly be a picture of JESUS hanging on the wall behind them?

Moving on....

2010-11-11T22:59:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure how I was going to write about this, or...if, I would at all.
To those who have been faithful readers, you know I've been going through "something" and there are others who know exactly what. It's been a very emotionally draining past few years because we've been dealing with something very delicate...not in our family per se...but with a child from another. This child, who isn't a little child anymore, has become as close to me as one of my own children and has been around our house almost as much.
   We have always raised our children to be that one person in the room to extend themselves to others in kindness and to be a voice for others when they have none. More than once my daughter has been the child, sometimes the only child, to tell others to back off when someone is being bullied or picked on. She lives by the motto "A strong person speaks up for himself, but an even stronger one stands up for others." She would tell you it's just a case of right and wrong plain and simple.
My daughter is a very warm, loving person and she attracts some wonderful friends...we really enjoy her friends very much and love having them in our home. Not quite 3 years ago, one of her dear friends let it slip that there was something going on at her house that wasn't right.....it was a brief exchange between my daughter and her friend that only lasted a few moments and then the subject was changed.
   My daughter came to me the next day....told me about the exchange...I was stunned to my very core.   She knew her friend needed help and to make a long story short....the next opportunity I had I spoke to the child in question and she confirmed our fears....she had endured 11 years of abuse at the hands of her stepfather, starting since the age of 6. I won't go into the details of the abuse...we're all grown-ups here and I know none of you are stupid.   The worst part is ladies...the mother knew about it. Not once but twice she went to her mother for help....and got none.
    With my support, my daughter reported what she knew, against her friends wishes, because she loved this friend with everything she had and she didn't care if it would end up costing her their friendship...she just wanted to do the right thing.
    I am going to skip a huge chunk of info here...I was on the witness stand on my Birthday....a Birthday is just a day afterall....my daughter fared very well....she proved herself to be a very strong young lady. Her friend had to endure 3 days of testimony..which was so difficult for her I know. The trial was unusually long for a trial of this nature, I was told.
I found out there had never been a case where so many family members knew about it and did nothing.   Can you imagine that? It took an outsider to bring this ugly truth to light...makes me sick...and so sad.

We got the verdict by phone....guilty on 4 counts...imprisonment until sentencing in December.

I believe God puts people in your life for a reason. God put these two girls together so one could help the other. Through counseling-she has come to terms with what happened and has a new outlook on life...and is thriving...her mother is in complete denial and has abandoned her....I pity this woman.

I beg of you, if you ever think something isn't right..or hear that someone needs help-get involved. Make a difference. Listen to your children, they can teach you a lot.

Cheater Mulled Cider

2010-11-08T14:08:00.000-08:00

Now that the weather is finally turning a bit chilly and the trees are mostly stripped of their leaves...this has been a favorite drink of choice around my house. All we do is pour a cup of apple cider and microwave it for 2 minutes...then sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and voila...instant 'mulled" cider.

Also, if you are planning on a Holiday party this is nice..just fill the crock pot with Cider...heat up and then top with pumpkin pie spice...your guests can ladle it out into cups themselves. Yummy!

I am getting the urge to start decorating for Christmas...anybody else?
Stay warm!

Happy Halloween!!

2010-10-29T22:27:00.000-07:00

Our Anniversary

2010-10-25T19:01:00.000-07:00

We had an Anniversary recently...we're still crazy about each other after all these years....

Hubby tells people we've been married since 1483...it really hasn't been that long although sometimes it may feel like it. We had a great lay low weekend...I cooked...he ate it. What more can you ask for?

So cute!

2010-10-22T15:51:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to post something light and cute...things have been so serious lately..it's nice to get a break....and this is so gosh darn adorable.

2010-10-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes doing the right thing is also doing the hardest thing you've ever done. Some of you who know me well or have emailed me know what I am referring to. I can't share anything right now but I do ask you to pray for myself and my daughter...pray for the Lord to give us guidance, patience and endurance to speak the truth so twelve others can understand. Someone we love needs to move on with her life and start to heal. I believe the Lord puts certain people in our lives for a reason...nothing is an accident.

Never take anything for granted...ever. Kiss your loved ones and Thank God for your Blessings!

Wear your Pearls Girls.....

2010-10-17T00:03:00.000-07:00

Today...I am going to don my pearls to clean my house and pay homage to the woman who raised the bar for the American housewife.....June Cleaver. Won't you wear your pearls today too?

Barbara Billingsley 1915-2010.... thanks for the memories.

So sinfully easy.....

2010-10-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

Wanna make a GREAT pumpkin cake? See the two ingredients above? That's all you need! Buy any boxed spice cake...I used Betty Crocker...and any regular size canned pumpkin, I used the above brand...mix the two ingredients...pour into a pan and bake according to the direction on the box for the size pan you used....then serve with Cool Whip or frost with Cream Cheese Frosting...sooooooo good!! So easy!

Do not, I repeat..do NOT add the oil, eggs etc that the box mix calls for...I know I know...the consistency will not resemble cake batter but TRUST me...it works in the end!

Today is my special day but we are celebrating tomorrow, I hope you are having a great week!

Catching up....

2010-10-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies...I am still here ! Look at the November issue of Country Sampler magazine..it is chock full of Christmas ideas! LOVE this magazine...I have to go pick up my copy this weekend.

Nothing very exciting going on this end...I am still without my own computer...lol. We have been pretty busy with school, my Son had a Birthday and purchased a new electric guitar, Daughter has been pretty busy with choir and the outings that it entails....and..we are dealing with a sick kitty-cat. Flynn...our newest fur baby has taken ill and I am taking him to the vet again later today. I am feeling rather guilty over this as he was very healthy before I took him for his initial visit to get declawed due to him scratching my furniture and rugs and doing some damage to them. It seemed as if he took a bit longer to heal and was limping long after they said he should...so I took him back to the vet for a follow up...where they said it was normal...maybe he was more sensitive.....and now, a few weeks later..he can barely walk and is experiencing some new symptoms of an illness that is affecting his ears and nose as well as all the rest of his paws. I hate to say it, but I think he was exposed to something at the Vet's office or he has a blood infection.

Flynn was the sweetest most rambunctious kitty before...and he just hasn't been himself....so this is what I am dealing with now.

We have been so busy here we haven't even had the chance to put out our Halloweentown display that we set up every year, I am hoping to get that up by this weekend...once all the errand running is complete....a new guitar means multiple trips to the local music store for "supplies" and so on....can't wait until my kids can DRIVE themselves. :)

We bought some funky looking pumpkins...hopefully my Daughter will upload the photos to her computer so I can share them with you next post!
Blessings to all for a Great Day!

NOT Happy as a Clam

2010-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

Aren't these cookies adorable? This comes from Family Fun magazine...they have such fun ideas :)

It is clammy, balmy, sticky, moist and warm here in my neck of the woods....UGH! We had some crisper cooler weather a few weeks back but lately it's been awful.......there is no movement in the air....no breeze..nothing...and the temps have been very warm for late September. I have to open the windows to let some air in but walking across my kitchen floor feels icky and sticky.....(and my floor isn't dirty).
I have had the fans running....I'm not sure if it's my hot flashes or the weather itself..but I am very uncomfortable indeed. It doesn't feel like Fall at all.

I still have no computer and I am having a harder time getting one at my disposal as the kids have been so busy using theirs for school etc....Hubby has one in his home office that's just for business so I have been outta luck...oh well...pretty soon I'll be getting a new one anyway. Just be patient with me :)

I have been continuing on my mission to purge the house of all unnecessary items and it feels great. I am in no way even close to being a Hoarder but watching that show does put a fire under my butt as far as getting organized goes. My issue is paper...paper everywhere...receipts, school papers, tax papers etc. It's all coming together and I am very satisfied with my progress. I have the most lovely shabby floral file folders in which to organize the goings on of the Household. :)

Hope the weather is awesome where you are!

2010-09-22T23:50:00.000-07:00

I am hoping my pansies hold out...we've had about 2 weeks of rain and lower temperatures which rendered them to brown withering stalks in my flower bed. I went out and dead-headed them and noticed some considerable moss growth in my flower bed...I resisted the urge to pull them up by the roots ....hopeful they'll bloom again and give me one last hurrah.

This is a busy week for me...lots of purging and organizing...cleaning up and paring down...a Birthday...some baking.....booster shots at the vet for daughter's kitten....lots of fun stuff. School is going great although Daughter is finding herself completely overwhelmed at the brick and mortar...SIX hours of nightly homework is taking it's toll and is much too much.....there needs to be a change...it's so easy to take on more than we can handle at times...we all do it from time to time. Changes will be made so there will be more breathing room...I insist on it....going to meet with the school counselor today...Senior year should be a joyous time...not filled with stress and tears......there's plenty of time for that later on in life.

I have taken a hiatus from my Etsy shop to be more involved with those who need a little extra attention....be it emotional support for one or a birthday celebration for another.....and to let my own newly prescribed blood pressure medication do it's job.

I hope you all have a great week and that your flowers are still blooming.

Food For Thought....

2010-09-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

Can't you just smell this pumpkin pie from your home? Doesn't it look so mouthwatering...ready to burst with seasonal cinnamony goodness? Pumpkin pie is my favorite and when I saw this I wanted to take a big bite out of it...............................but wait..........it's not edible...it's SOAP! Yes....I said soap. You can get it by the slice........

..or you can get a whole pie!! How wonderful is that! I think, in addition to being the perfect soap for pumpkin lovers, this would be adorable on display in a Fall vignette...don't you? This wonderful creation comes to you from SilverFirsFarm who also makes some other yummy treats for your bath and body.

You ladies know I love all things Fall...and all things Pumpkin....I've never taken a piece of pie into the shower before but there's always a first time....

I am going to spend my weekend relaxing and reading...and probably trying to find the last box of Fall decorations that is hiding somewhere in my garage.

Blessings to all for a GREAT weekend!

How great is this?

2010-09-16T08:38:00.000-07:00

My laundry room pretty much became something of a dumping ground...a place where baskets of dirty laundry waited their turn to be washed...and clean hung laundry waited to be taken down and folded, then forwarded to it's rightful owner. Now that I am an early riser again, thanks to the school year, I am throwing in a load first thing in the morning.....so nothing remains to be dealt with and nobody is looking for their favorite pair of jeans or sweatshirt. I am also feeling quite victorious because whenever I pass through the laundry room...nothing is calling out to me and I'm not tripping on a tangle of clothes. My laundry room is CLEAN and now looks more SPACIOUS.

What does not escape me though, is the occasional wayward orphan sock....makes me wonder if my kids wear mismatched socks sometimes....maybe it's a trend, I dunno. So I fell in LOVE with the above fabric bucket for lost socks made by HandmadeByBette. I think I need this...right now I have orphaned socks taking up a few much needed little drawers....I am so bad about tossing things unless I am absolutely sure there is no mate to speak of...socks are not cheap anymore...not like they used to be.

And then there are those who take advantage of lost socks and maximize their potential......

How cute is this little guy? LostSockCreations has come up with a clever way to avoid tossing out the sole survivor of a lost pair of socks...complete with adorable names and occupations for each creation. The above little guy is a Biology teacher named Harold who loves to eat nachos :) Very clever indeed.

What do you do with YOUR lost/wayward/orphaned socks? Toss them? Dust with them? Or are they like mine.....just laying in wait for their mates to resurface from the abyss that has sucked them in?

Blessings to all for a great day!

Just like this......

2010-09-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is exactly how I feel without my laptop you guys!! I know it's not that bad but WOW...I didn't realize how much I relied on my laptop for certain things! LOL

Actually, I have plenty to do but I am dying to show and tell some pics but I don't want to upload a bunch of photos on either one of my kids' laptops that they are generously and patiently letting me "borrow". I don't have access anytime...as they are both in school and need their computers a lot so my routine is off kilter so to speak. I have Daughters computer in the morning and Sons in the evening and I am also trying to get some online Christmas shopping done...not very easy on a borrowed pc.. I'm looking forward to catching up with you all in the morning....hope all is well!

Just in time.....

2010-09-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

This is pretty much what happened to my laptop yesterday. It's toast...fried....done. The smoke was very impressive-at least the kids thought so. Just in time for the new school year...80% of all work is done online.
I am now begging and borrowing for computer time from my kids...they have been very kind to their Mom. :)
Son took my laptop into the garage and took it apart....I knew that the fan probably wasn't working in it because it would get hot pretty fast, but he said there was a layer of dust in there covering it...the damage is not fixable. It's been 2 years....maybe that's the average life...I dunno. Before now, I had never seen smoke come out of anything that wasn't plugged into the wall.

I think I need to put an urgent message in to Santa for an early Christmas present.

Have a totally awesome day!

Clean Slate

2010-09-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

I finally decided to back up my blog and then delete the old posts...all the way back to 2007! I would encourage all Bloggers who blog about their families on occasion...to be very careful with how much information you give away...even if it's just a little- you'd be surprised what one can do with those tidbits of information. We are dealing with what we think is an attempted identity theft on both our children..I never gave too much in depth information- but even mentioning their school or birth date is enough if someone really wanted to rob you of something. Starting fresh with our eyes to God and the future :)

I had a wonderful restful summer and we are ready to start another school year. I have missed my blog friends...and I have a LOT of catching up to do as I have not been on blogger at all....not even a little bit! I've lost some followers while my blog was closed for construction..I guess that's par for the course.

I'd love to hear from you and please know my new policy is to return the favor each morning over coffee...HONEST! It's good to be back!!

Hugs,
Robin