I decided not to make resolutions this year. Only to try harder at the things I want to improve. I've learned a lot this year. Seems I sort of took off from my life for a little while this year only to find that what I want I already have. I found out that I am where I am from my own making and not someone else's. That indeed I am here because that's where I want to be. And I enjoy it very much. Aren't self revelations just wonderful?


I will try to become more aware of the things that I do and the things that I say this year.


I will try to simplify more of my life. Not just my home but my way of thinking and my feelings for others.


I will try to 'do less and be more.'

Hope your Christmas was everything you wished for. I believe this was the best one yet. Last Christmas I had so much worry on me but this year I had thanksgiving in my heart for having another year with my family. The presents seemed to be right for every one this year and the thoughts of each individual seemed to be in one accord as a whole. Now time to anticipate the new year and reflect on the passing one. Until next time......Kristi.

December 27, 1977 to December 27,2010 = 33!!!

I'm always thankful for another birthday, I just wish they didn't come so close together.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you the company of good friends,

the peace of a happy heart,

and the joys of a warm home.

Christmas Pasts

Picture Thoughts

Picture Thought

Memories on the Tree

Zach's Blue and White Tree

My Gold White Cream Chocolate Tree, aka My Bedroom Tree

Picture Thoughts

Picture Thought

Homemade Memories

Picture Thought

Projects, They Keep Going and Going and Going.....

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We have been very busy around here the last few weeks. But busy is good. We extended the office in our shop and made a reloading center in there for the hubby. Plus there was enough room to move the tanning bed out there which means I now have an office with a view. I am typing this in between gazing out the window watching the sun rise.
We just finished making a pantry in the kitchen out of a spare bedroom closet. The hubby just split it down the middle and opened it up into the kitchen. Then he closed up the bedroom side of the pantry which meant the room had to be painted. I just finished that this week. It isn't finished yet, we still have to put up baseboard, add a few floor seam strips, and touch up a few places with paint. I plan to post pics when we get through with all the tweaking.
In between the two projects mentioned above, the man also found time to build a clubhouse for our son. The trampoline has been moved to just below it that makes for lots of stomach swallowing which translates to "lots of fun" if you are ten.
I've been sitting here counting my painting projects, from this year alone, and it is staggering. But honestly things just look better with a fresh coat of paint. So I guess I won't be hanging up my brush just yet.
I know this is a pieced together post but I wanted to check in. Hope you and your family had a great holiday. Next up, Christmas! The excitement is building here. The countdown has begun!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Putting One Foot in Front of the Other

We've all seen those ads for the tennis shoes that tone. You know, the ones that look like tug boats? They are suppose to tone your legs while you walk. The other day a flyer came in the mail about a new style of toning shoe. This one looks more like a normal tennis shoe, except for two cross hairs ,if you will, in strategically placed locations on the bottom of the shoe. The ad states that these are in place to provide micro instability. I had to read it twice. Instability in a shoe is now a quality we look for? I don't want that. I don't care how micro it is. A shoe is for protection. Remember non skid soles? Are we now going to remove that in an attempt to provide entertainment on an otherwise boring day?

The Hobby Closet

I love to organize. I love to simplify and see how less of something we can get by with. I also have an unhealthy obsession with throwing stuff out. Don't ask me to explain, because I don't know,
I just love to get rid of stuff. But I have had such a love-hate relationship with an extra closet lately. This closet was organized and nothing on the floor. So it was easy to vacuum and housed stuff we used occasionally but not daily. But for some reason it just bugged me and I'd find myself rearranging it often trying to get it to feel right. Cooler weather has set in here where we live and we were getting out jackets and hunting gear, I was inwardly cringing thinking of how badly our clothes closet would look until spring time. These bulky clothes crammed in with our everyday clothes makes it look like its almost bursting at the seams. So I suggested to my husband that he go through his hunting attire and what he knew he wouldn't be using this year we could store in a labeled bin out in our storage shed. He agreed but there was still a lot that would be staying in the house. Then the extra closet came to mind. Why not make that a place not only for the hunting clothes but also the gear too. So we reevaluated the things already in there and some got delegated to the shed. In their place went all the guys stuff plus plastic on the floor to set hunting boots on. It still houses our board games and my sewing machine but we also added our dirt bike riding gear and our race bag and fishing bag. We call it the hobby closet now. It no longer has the floor space it did, and we had to remove a shelf for the clothes to hang right, but now it's being useful. I think that was the gripe I had with it earlier. I felt it was wasted space. Now I know it's keeping all that stuff out of my walk-in and that makes me happy! Until next time.....Kristi.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Aprons

My Mother's Apron

My mother's old checkered apron
Was a garment full and wide;
It filled its humble mission,
And a million more beside....

'Tws made of 6-cent gingham,
It was neither fine nor grand,
Just a plain and simple pattern,
Made by a busy hand;

It had a little cross-stitch
Along the bottom row
And two long strings that tied behind,
In a hasty half-hitch bow.

It had no lace or ruffles,
Nor pretty applique,
But its simple, homey usefulness
Was an epic of the day.

'Twas used to shoo the flies,
'Twas used to wipe away the tears,
From weeping infant's eyes,

'Twas used to carry in the eggs,
In leafy bowers,
And bring in half-drowned chicks
Caught in sudden showers.

'Twas used to fill the kindling box
With chips of cobs and twigs,
And tote the pesky pursley weed
From the garden to the pigs.

'Twas used to snatch the hot kettles
When a pot rag was not at hand,
To tighten on fruit jar lids
When winter stores were canned.

'Twas used to gather garden stuff
And peaches from the hill,
And many a mess of greens
Did Mother's apron fill.

Her hands were sheltered from the gale
Beneath the sheltered fold
And tiny feet nestled there
On mornings bleak and cold.

'Twas a queenly garment
And Mother was queen,
As memory brings back to me,
" Twas a noble thing, I ween,

And when I wander at Heaven's throng,
With robes so bright and fair,
I'll say the old checkered apron
Is what I want to wear.

-Author Unknown

Wheels

Just as he has had many hats in ten years, he's also had many rides. Motorized vehicles, four wheeler, four bicycles, dirt bikes and they keep getting bigger and bigger!

I'll try to be as little sentimental as possible. You'll have to excuse me, this is a sentimental month for me. My baby just turned ten, I'm still trying to find where all the years went and who's responsible for it!

A little side note here. This dirt bike is different from the one above. The first was a new 110 Kawasaki.and this one is a used 60cc two stroke Kawasaki. I think he is a collector. Until next time......Kristi.

Before and After Again

Zach's Room

The walls are painted a light gray and a medium gray. The trim was painted in the same light gray and chair rail was added. The night stand was painted a blue color that Zach picked out himself. Turned out very pretty. The posters have since been put up on the wall. He decided to go with framed Mario posters for his decor this time.

Ten!!

You've worn a lot of hats in ten years. But no matter what you choose to be when you grow up I couldn't be more proud of you than I am at this moment. Mom loves you Zach and hopes you have a great tenth birthday!!