We're calling tnem the 'watergate brownies...'

so recently I was gifted a bag of lemons.  Have you noticed the price of lemons??  I love lemons and all things lemony so I began to look for something new to try to bake.  Be forewarned, I'm not a baker, don't like it at all but for some reason lately I've been trying to think outside the box.  The box...I love it!

I found a recipe for "Lemonies" that sounded great, basically a lemon brownie.  I can do that.   So I got my ingredients together, dry in one bowl, wet in another, asked hubby to squeeze some lemons for me, still can't to that one handed!

Everything mixed up, in the pan and baking away as directed.   Twenty minutes later I pull them out and what the??  I look over the ingredient list again, no not missing anything, all was carefully measured.   Went back to the computer to look at the 'after' photo, hmmmm, definitely something wrong here.   Mine were flat and dry actually quite pathetic looking.  Hers?  you know, moist and fluffy.

Now the cover-up.  With a nice heavy layer of lemon glaze and some fresh lemon zest and berries and voila.   From drab to fab.

what are your weekend plans?   I still have lemons to turn into something~~~something.  Enjoy

it's here, it's here, it's finally here...

 ...it's finally here, the beginning of a New Year.  Not being one to look too far forward or too far back I must admit that I am glad to see 2013 come to an end.  Many wonderful memories and experiences have graced our lives; our daughter's first child (a grandson), celebrating birthdays of our children, grandchildren and loved ones, our long awaited debacle 60/40 vacation, celebrating 40 years of weddedness, and turning 6-0.  Still don't know how that happened!  I feel like a child inside, maybe because I am surrounded by them!  The tough times were tough indeed.  A lost spring and summer due to emergency surgery and continued health problems for me and impending surgery for a surprise diagnosis for hubby.   I think looking back any further would negate the lessons learned from 2013 and possibly taint the things I am so grateful for.

Thus I come to my new word for the year.

Last year's 'nourish' did serve me quite well.  I was often reminded to nourish my body during my long recovery, and worked diligently to nourish my soul, to cherish each and every relationship I have and nourish those friendships that have sadly slipped away.  I took on the challenge of renewing my relationship with my sister but after ten years I am afraid it is lost.   I truly believe I have done everything in my power to invite her back into my life and thought maybe that would happen when I was so ill in the hospital but once again she walked out of my life without a single word as to why.  So I am giving her what she seems to want...peace.  The door is and always will be open for her if she decides to return but I must move forward now, this has taken far too much from me.

And that new word for 2014.

COURAGE;

to face my fears and step out of my comfort zone.
to keep my promises no matter the difficulty.
to get my life back to 'normal' after such a difficult summer.
to get caught up on all the things I let go during my recovery.
to get back in the car and drive again.
to eat right, exercise...take that first step.
to care for my husband.
to believe.

No resolutions here, I gave up on those long ago.  Life is not about depriving yourself of something, within limits, but it is a journey of discovery, of learning, of becoming.

What are your wishes for the New Year?

be well friends, be safe, be blessed.


there are great things waiting on the other side of fear.

Keeping my word...

this is the second year that I have taken part in the

One Word Campaign

(link below)

basically, you choose a word

sometime around New Years,  a

word

to help guide you

remind you

change the way you think.

One Word.

I have chosen to celebrate

my one word

by having it engraved on a

simple steel cuff.

Not only do I enjoy wearing them

but it serves as a

reminder to me

that I have purpose.

That I can change

not only myself but

perhaps the world.  Not a

grand gesture or impact but

the equivalent of a

smile

to the Universe.

this year my word was/is

"nourish"

nourish my soul,

my body,

my relationships.

last year I chose the word

"listen"

after a particularly tragic moment

in our extended family.

I had to keep reminding myself to

listen to my heart.

Your first instinct, that little

nudge

that says something is not right,

is your heart speaking to you.

best listen.







and this is a family tree.

I bought it just because

I am so

blessed.

It is not an easy task to remember to call my word to mind, much like a New Year's resolution

it is easily forgotten after a few weeks.

But I'm trying,

trying to put a little less of something

and a lot more of another thing

into my world

and yours.

Thursday's thought...

In this world,

full often,

our joys are only the tender shadows

which our sorrows cast.

Henry Ward Beecher

Choosing to see the joy in the shadows today.  There is always something to be grateful for, so in the month of Gratitude I challenge you to look into the shadows of your own life

and choose to see the joy.

Five hundred pieces...

google images

...500 pieces, of me.  Five hundred bits of information.  Five hundred peeks into my heart and soul, my life, my loves...500 pieces of the puzzle of my life.

A few weeks ago, when I realized I was about to hit the five-hundred post mark, I began to wonder about the purpose of this blog and whether or not I had said everything I intended to when I started it..500 posts ago.

In short the answer is NO!  What started out as a place for me to quietly vent about some personal issues has become a source of great joy, inspiration and support.  It is very comforting to me to know that I can come here any time, day or night, and there is a community waiting to hear what's on my mind.

This is my spot, my little piece of the universe..of eternity perhaps.  And so I move forward, making a few changes along the way, out with some of the old things, room for something fun and new. And always, always, room for new ideas, room to vent when necessary, room for thrifting and junkin', room for a few hundred photos, room for my sad and pathetic attempts at decorating and gardening, and room for a view.

What would you like to know, see, do, in my part of the world?

“*We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.”* — Thornton Wilder

The Information Society...

...I've been thinking about this post for days.  What I was going to say, how I would say it, word it.  Whether or not I would remember all the things I need to purge from my mind.  Should I just jump in or maybe it's time to jump out...I don't know, I didn't realize that I would have to start somewhere.  hmmmmmm...

recently I read a post that was so moving to me.  Deb always has a way of speaking to my spirit and calming my soul.  She has the most wonderful outlook on life despite some very real and surprising difficulties.  I always leave there wishing that I had her photography talent and her gift of words.  

After three years and 400+ posts I still feel that I really have nothing to say. I know how strange that sounds but looking back I don't think that I have shared the things I imagined I would when I started blogging.  I usually keep things lite and rarely share much of the real me.  Not that I don't want to.  There are things that need to be shared, need to be put to paper for that someday when my grand-children see this.  So much to explain, so difficult to do so.  Why?

I hesitate to bring up some things in my life that are truly difficult to understand, difficult to explore, difficult to dig through the emotion and bring it all to fruition.  It would be easy enough to do here in blogland...just put it all out there, afterall, they are just words without meaning when we don't know who we are.  But there's the rub.  Some of you do know me.  My children come here and I have yet to share many of these things with them.  It would be so much easier if I had nothing invested here.  Or would it?

I am desperately trying to find balance, in every sense of the word.  Physically, I am struggling and mentally...well...it's a crazy mess in there!  I will be working through some things here, both on the blog and in my life.  There will be some changes coming, more of the real me and more of the old me.  I want you to leave here thinking that I have touched your spirit in a tender way and made your heart smile.

See you in a few days~~

NOLA on my mind~~

~~whenever I think of New Orleans I have an image of Fleur de lis, the beautiful stylized lily (fleur=flower, lis=lily) that has been around for centuries. It has many connotations from religious to political, coat of arms to military dress. 

In 2008 Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisana, passed a law making the Fleur de lis the official symbol of Louisana.  After hurricaine Katrina the Fleur de lis became a symbol of support for New Orleans.

In honor of New Orleans, Louisana and the entire Gulf~~~

believe it or not

this is a cake!

In 2007 the Art Council of New Orleans and the Fore!Kids Foundation teamed up with 40 local artists for the first public arts project since Hurricaine Katrina.  The 40 fiberglass Fleur de lis were then spread around town for several weeks eventually being sold at auction, with the proceeds going to 40 different charities supported by Fore!Kids.
For more info on the artists and to see the other Fleur de lis go here.

New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf~~after seeing the beautiful pristine waters of Prince William Sound dessimated by the Exxon Valdez~~my heart goes out to you.  My thoughts and prayers are with you in my every waking moment, and may this nightmare end soon....if only.

Living with Intention...

..as you may (or not) recall I christened the year 2010 as the year of 'Living with Intention.'  I have set forth a goal for every month and, although I am late getting to this months goal, I have been working on it.

March = Balance
~~~finding beauty in everyday~~~
~~~finding time for solitude~~~

I read somewhere that liviing a life with balance does not mean that everything is perfect and pretty.  For me it means learning to be happy with where I am and who I am at any given time.  

Whether it's painting the kitchen (the never ending story) or purging the house, pulling the gazillion weeds out in the yard, or purging the house, looking at a pretty magazine, cooking a nice meal, cutting those darn coupons, looking for thrifty treasures, cleaning and purging the house~~~it's all about finding balance.

Do you take the time to find beauty in everyday?  How about solitude?  Do you make time just for yourself, to nurture the special, wonderful person that is uniquely YOU?

making milk glass...

...I love milk glass.  I want milk glass.  Knobby, bumpy, hobnaily, milky milk glass.  I search for it where ever I go.  Thrift stores, antique malls, consignment shoppes, the internet(s).  Some of it is easy to find, vases for instance are quite plentiful.  I have found that compotes are also fairly easy to spot.  Often though, anything worth having is well beyond my thrifting budget.  Enter the world of faux milk glass!

I was perusing the internet looking for some history and relavance to a certain type of milk glass.  There seem to be many different patterns on them and I was searching to find out why.  Different manufacturers?  Perhaps, but what I found that was so hysterical to me were the tutorials on how to make your own.

First off we have the "do it yourself milk glass using white paint."  (Of course, why would you use any other color?)
First you pour some of the paint on the inside and while holding the vase, cup, bowl, whatever you choose, roll it around so the paint covers the inside.  Then paint the outside.  You do this a number of times until you achieve the correct "whiteness."  Let dry for two weeks.  And viola...

The second tutorial I found was much more exciting and would give you the look of "real" milk glass at a fraction of the cost.  First you find a vase, cup, bowl, what ever you want to use.  Then you'll need a bag of split- peas.  Carefully glue the split-peas onto the object of desire.  This will achieve the popular hobnail look.  When finished, let dry, then cover with several coats of white paint.  Again, viola...

I hope to grow my collection a little at a time but keep in mind that a resourseful, frugal woman would simply create her own.

Have a good weekend...I'm off to paint...the rest of the kitchen.


photos courtesy of Google Images

All the pretty primroses...

...when I went grocery shopping last week, I noticed, as I was walking in the door, primroses by the six pack for $6.99.

ohhh pretty, I thought, but a little early.  Then I noticed that they were on sale for $4.99.

ohhh pretty, I thought, but it's just too cold yet.

then I realized that I had a coupon for $2 off any flower purchase.  Really~~how could I resist?  And they look even prettier in my milk/green glass containers!  Happy Monday y'all.

White Wednesday...

...I am joining in with Kathleen over at Faded Charm for my very first "White Wednesday" post.  I hope you enjoy some of the pretty whites that I get to live with and enjoy on a daily basis!

flowers for a friend

Thanks for stopping by...join me next week for "Milk Glass."

some days are diamonds...

...some days are dust.

I am going to speak from my heart here and not my head as the two seem to be so far apart lately.

I am not the kind of person who easily gets her feathers ruffled.  I rarely get on my soapbox but when I do, watch out, I take no prisoners.  I try to be respectful of others feelings, opinions, and beliefs and I expect to be treated in the same matter.  I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and am very sensitive to having my feelings hurt, especially when it's "personal."  I've just never been able to toughen up nor am I able to dish it out, unnecessarily.   I am an enigma...I am a paradox.

There has been so much pain and suffering in the world lately.  The big world and my little one included.  I often get caught up in all the suffering and find that I have spent hours upon hours in thought.  It is overwhelming.  I don't know any other way. 


When I lost my first born, well intentioned-well meaning, friends and realtives made some of the most painful comments to me. I immediately took those things to heart and wondered how someone could be so cruel. It is difficult, even now, for me to find forgiveness for such insensitivity.


I appreciate all of your supportive comments, you are my diamonds and will always have my gratitude.  I am beginning to find some comfort and peace with all of this.  I know that keeping busy will help.  We have weekend plans with the kids, I've decided to paint my kitchen, and there is always the purging of the house to sort through.  Hell...I even laughed today!   Take care y'all and have a good weekend.

making sense??  I think not!

Heartfelt Friday...

in this life

be kinder than necessary,

for everyone you meet is

fighting some kind of battle.

live simply,

love generously,

care deeply,

speak kindly...

...leave the rest to God.

life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

it's about learning to dance in the rain.

choose this day

to not simply be alive

but to LIVE.

Simple math...

...wind+rain+flooding=pumpkins floating in the river.

today I am Thankful for a good nights sleep.  It's been eons since I've had one but I remember it well.  Restful, dreaming, relaxing, refreshing, energizing wonderful sleep.  Ahhh, yes, that's what life is all about.  That, and chocolate.  Oh, wait...life is like a box of chocolates...o.k., maybe that explains why my mom always stuck her finger in the centers to see what flavor they were.  What are you Thankful for today?

Tuesdays tids...

...just some bits and pieces from the windmills of my mind (who sang that) that are too small for their own post.

My dog is shedding, huge chunks of golden blonde fur, falling/floating everywhere.  I could make a puppy out of the fur I clean up on a daily basis.

Remember the $5 chair?  Of course not, it was way back last summer.  Anyway, there will be before/after pics some time this week.  Yes, it only took me three months to get it painted and recovered....I suck at this.

Update on Frankentoe:  at my two week check-up xrays showed normal healing with new bone growth, all pins and screws were firmly in place.

At my four week check-up xrays showed no new bone growth, in fact all the previous bone growth was gone.  All pins and screws have migrated to other parts of my toe.  What the hell??  Back in a cast for another week.

I've been keeping our thermostat at 67degrees during the day, 65 degrees at night, which is just a tad bit too cool for me.  Thus, I am wearing leggings, sweatpants, two tank-tops, a long sleeved shirt, two pairs of socks and my normal unders.  I wonder if it's worth that one degree of savings.

What temp do you keep your thermostat set at?
Have a great tuesday y'all.  Be Thankful....as I am today for Tuesdays, so I can spread the misery joy!

Seeing red...

oops!  moving car alert

...I snapped these on my way out of town Saturday.  I had a good 'visit' with someone I love and I feel much better.  So how was your weekend?

Thankful today for that special someone I can talk to in the worst of times.

Just a peek...

...I was originally going to name this post "Artsy-Fartsy" but I'm not sure that my photography skills are worth such a moniker.  Here's a little peek into my home...these were taken on a very, very, ugly, rainy, dark day, when I was bored and had nothing better to do than to take photos of crap some of the lovely things that live with me.

Next up, my craft/sewing/ironing/dressing/wii fit/room...are you not excited??  Happy Monday y'all.