Yes, this is what 36 looks like

Dear Twenty Somethings...or for that matter Dear Teenagers:

Yes, this is what 36 1/2 years of living looks like. Do not look at me like I have two heads or just dropped the F bomb in class. I am becoming accustomed to your raised eyebrows and dropped jaws when someone who is still young enough to ask others how old they are pops the deadly question. I am resigned to the fallout that occurs to all other college students within hearing. Thirty six is great, I hear forty is even better. All my pieces and parts still work as good as yours, some even work better, although out of politeness I shall not name them here. I did not have my babies when I was still a baby myself, 36 explains the nine and seven year old, don't you think? Please don't ask me to get out my driver's licence. Really? Have you ever heard of anyone lying to make themselves older???!!!! Thirty-six is just that, a number. You are as young as the body God gave you and the sense you have to treat her gently. So remember me on the eve of YOUR thirtieth birthday. Don't buy black balloons. Thirty is no occasion for tears or fears. Thirty is wonderful. It's like getting all the perks of being twenty but without being quite so, ahem, stupid.

Sincerely,

ME

For me...

I would be a liar if I said I wasn't more than a little disappointed with my feeling of isolation writing this blog. One of the things I enjoy most about blogging is reading other blogs that inspire me. I always try and leave comments or small encouragements. Perhaps it is the fact that I am such a "words" person, nevertheless, the lack of comments on this blog have left me feeling a little lonely out here in cyber space. Is there some way to check to see who if anyone is even reading this blog? I'm still trying to learn my way around blogger domain.

I try and give myself the pep talk, you know the one that says: "It takes time to establish a community anywhere. Give it time."

or

"You are not writing here for the approval of others. This is your own record of your own journey. This is a gift for yourself and your kids one day."

Still, it's disappointing. I like feedback. I like comments. I like feeling as if I'm not speaking to the wind.

All right, pity party aside. I wanted to be sure and record what's happening in our little corner of the world. We finally got the snow we have been hoping for all winter long. We live in the Appalachian mountains, but far enough south that snow is a rarity. We have watched longingly as different cold fronts have moved across the nation, hoping, just hoping they might drift a little farther south and kiss us with snow. Today was the day. We woke up to a soft dusting and gentle snow falling. The kiddos are so overjoyed and have been sledding, building snowmen and generally frolicking. Thank you kind winter for this gift.

A fun project

Here is the collage piece I put together for my Mom's birthday. Art is kinda weird for me. There is always the idea in my head first. Sometimes they just randomly come to me, and other times I am inspired by something I see. In this case I was inspired by Atlanta artist Paula Joerling who was featured in an old issue of ME's Home Companion magazine (sorry I'm unsure of the issue). There was a picture I had clipped of small dresses Joerling had created from book pages, sewing materials, and then dipped in beeswax. I wanted to incorporate this element into an entire piece using the nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary". Although my mom is far from contrary, her nickname for years has been Merry Martha and something in the merry/mary-ness of it all, it evoked this project in my head. The garden to me, being the children and grandchildren she has been so careful in tending.

I made photo copies of some poems that reminded me of my mother from very old poetry books I have. Then I set about cutting dress patterns from the paper and sewing them together. I then added some vintage trimmings I had in my sewing supplies. The lace is beautiful but not enough for a real dress so I was so excited to find somewhere to use it. Finally I dipped the whole sculptural piece in melted candle wax. I think I went a little overboard on the dipping. Next time I do one of these dresses I won't dip it quite so fervently!

And voila here is the finished project. Sorry I did not take any pics before I framed the entire thing, so the quality through the glass isn't the best, but you get the general idea.

Give, release, and breathe

It's that time of year again. The time when the holidays have left us, and a new year has begun. This is the perfect time to clean out your closet or other areas in your home that may be a wee bit cluttered. I like to clean out my closet about two times a year. The general rule I use is: if I haven't worn it in 6 months give it away. Sometimes I make exceptions for classics or sentimental favorites...but otherwise it goes on to someone else who might actually use it! The six month rule works for me because a) I don't have so many clothes in the first place and b)I keep only the current season clothes in my closet. I've been working on it some this afternoon, actually cleaned out my dresser as well, and so far I have two bags of items to donate. Now I can breathe and release. Let's exhale together, shall we?

Inspiration, failure, and other musings

I have been inspired by this blog from the Pleasures of Homemaking and this one from Happy Foody to create more meals from what we have on hand and waste less. I hate waste. I try and compost and recycle and it still seems we waste. The worst for me is when you buy fresh produce and then because of poor planning it rots in the refrigerator before you can finish it. I certainly do not have money to burn and am resolved to do better in the fresh department. Anyhoo... along these lines I created a Shepherds pie of sorts last night. It was not on the schedule of meals I had planned out before shopping but carpe diem and all that.

We had on hand...a mass amount of leftovers from KFC lovingly sent home with us from the in laws. The chicken, for all intensive purposes had been dutifully consumed, it was just all the sides hoarding space in my icebox. I also had half of a red onion not used from last week and a pea/carrot combo. I sauteed the chopped onion in a little butter and then added some ground beef. Then I dumped in the peas and carrots, some green beans, and a wee bit of KFC gravy. For good measure I threw in a can of cream of mushroom soup - which any good southerner will tell you we always keep on hand. I sliced KFC biscuits in half and lined the bottom of the pan with them. Then I poured the meat/veggie mixture over the bicuits. For the grand finale I topped it all with the leftover KFC mashed potatoes. My crew kept asking what was for dinner and I kept saying SURPRISE CASSEROLE! My son announced before dinner he was NOT eating any of it and Ewwwwww... and then he proceeded to eat two bowls at dinner. Not the healthiest recipe on the planet but resourceful n'est pas?

This morning I tried incorporating some more leftovers into breakfast. I had some steel cut oatmeal from yesterday's breakfast leftover. I found a recipe for scones using cooked oatmeal and whole wheat flour. However the scones never perked up much in the baking process. I think perhaps my baking powder has lost its potency or I added too much flour as the recipe got rave reviews from others. I still have a wee bit of oatmeal left. I might try a batch using yucky self rising flour just to see what happens...maybe throw in some dried cranberries...ohhhh my I'm getting hungry.

Other less edible inspirations include the marvelous stories and drawings found at tollipop. I'm like a kid opening a present every time I see she has posted a new one. If you haven't popped over to her blog you really should. Tres amusing.

Here on the home front I have been busy straightening the nest before chaos returns like the cyclone it is to our peaceful sleepy home. I start back on Thursday as a full time student. I am working desperately to complete my degree in Early Childhood Education. My nerves are all a twitter as I have to go before the Board this semester. I know it will be fine it's just the act of doing one more thing that seems daunting. I felt this same mix of dread and anxiety just thinking about returning to school. Alas I must summon my best little engine that could..."I think I can. I think I can. I think I can."

Projects here include covering the beast of a man chair my husband dragged home (love you babe!). I will concede, the chair is delightfully comfortable, but that does little to detract from the horrendous eye sore that it is. I made a slip cover for it, and the accompanying ottoman from some grey fabric I had purchased on clearance years ago and had never done anything with. The result is a hulking, grey, slip covered mass now instead of the aforementioned behemoth. Not much better, only slightly so. It really has to do with the lines of the chair (yes, honey I am obsessed with the lines of everything...dancers and furniture). But it is a small price to pay for his cute little bootie to be all snuggled up in it every night. I love having him around more!

Other projects include creating chair cushions for the kid's dining chairs, a case to keep my new phone in, and an art piece for my mom's birthday this week. For me, creating art always starts in my head. I have these ideas, it's just getting the visual to translate from what I see in my mind's eye to an actual piece of art. The project I am working on for my mom, I am not quite sure how to put all the elements together yet. Today I will hopefully work it all out. Below is a pic of the phone case. I moved all of my sewing supplies after Christmas and I could not find my embroidery thread, so I just improvised. It is soft and will due, again not exactly as I had envisioned. I have a thing for birds...

Hope your nest is feathered and full today!

My Word for the Year

Several of the blogs I read have been discussing choosing a "word" that is the theme for this year. In years past I have noticed such themes as love, and straight (as in make my paths straight). I didn't choose those words, they just seemed to be recurring themes in certain seasons of my life. This year I think the word is refreshing.

This verse just really spoke to me for 2009: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you." Acts 3:19

After recently reading the book The Shack , this verse really takes on a richer meaning for me. If you've read that book perhaps you understand what I am talking about. Just the essence of sin being those things that keep us separated from really experiencing a loving relationship with our Creator. Sometimes we do not view our own misconceptions of God as sin, but when they keep us from fully experiencing Him, that is truly what they are. Repentance then, is recognizing those things and choosing to let them go. We are powerless in and of ourselves to change but when we acknowledge the truth of our brokenness and yield it to God, He is more than able.

So this idea of letting go of my hang ups and then experiencing a refreshing, well that is just beautiful to me. That's what I want in 2009.

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

99 Things You Should Know About Me Before You Die

I was reading livinglearningandlovingsimply when I ran across this. Thought it was a fun get to know you. Feel free to play along. The items in the list in bold are some of the exciting and not-so-exciting things I have done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain ( that was actually how I got over my fear of heights)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo ( shocking, I know - lots of times as a child in church)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (oh how my heart longs to go)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (art is subjective right?)
15. Adopted a child (Compassion International, but I'd love to add to the fam in residence)
16. Had food poisoning (Gag, more than once)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (every year)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (again, I wish!)
20. Slept on an overnight train (This is a family dream...maybe to Portland one day?)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (in a former life)
24. Built a snow fort (my kids love this!)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (college)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (can we squeeze that in with the France thing?)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (I've hit the ball, just never that far)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (kelly is taking me on that trip)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (un petite peu)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (I've repelled down rocks)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (God help us all)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (one day)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (rub it in already!)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (another family favorite)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China (Yes, please)
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (not cookies, but I've sold the heck out of cubscout popcorn!)
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (I have the best hubby)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (it was a sad, sad day)
68. Flown in a helicopter (and two seater plan with my Grand Daddy)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (the dolls my Grandmother made me)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (I have dillusions- one day)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (my father would kill me)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (another life long dream)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (HAHAHAHAHA)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (Keep America Beautiful Baby!)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (I've tapped at the White House...ok I tapped danced on the tour!)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I grew up in the rural South)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (natural childbirth Baby, hear me roar!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person (Pee Wee's big adventure doesn't count..."This is Pablo!")
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (progress is forced upon me;)
99. Been stung by a bee (so many red wasps, I ran a fever and was in bed for a day or so)