Friday, December 17, 2010

Moving Day ..........



.......is Dec. 21 for the boxes of stuff and Dec. 22, the furniture moves over. I'm praying that we don't have a lot of snow those days. We don't have far to go it's just the idea of having to take everything out in the snow. I will be so relieved when this move is over. I'm getting too old for this stuff.  The one nice thing about the apartment is that it is priced so if something happens to one of us the other one can still live there. It falls in our budget range with assistance. That means we never have to move again!!!

Are you all ready for Christmas?  We have a 34" fiber optic tree up in the office, I was going to have a tree somewhere or else! I love to decorate for Christmas , it's my favorite time of the year, but not this year with the move.  I will make up for it next year though, nothing will be left without some kind of decoration on it!! LOL

I missed out on all of my holiday baking too, but maybe that's a good thing. I'm still trying to lose weight and keep my sugar under control. I've done pretty good so far, I rarely have to take my diabetes meds., and my Doctor is happy with my readings, if she's happy then I'm happy !

I hope to be able to get back to my sewing and crafts after we are settled from the move. I have some clothes cut out for Kevin and I that I want to get made up and a whole bunch of ideas for craft/sewing things I want to get made and put on my selling blog. The selling blog has had to take a back seat due to everything that has been going on. I had planned on having it up and running the first of November. I was having problems with the backgrounds and deciding if I wanted 2 or 3 columns etc..  I decided it was better to wait until everything was settled down here and I could give it my full concentration.

I hope you all have a peaceful night and a safe weekend if you are out and about. I will be right here in my card board jungle of boxes!!

Good Night,
Hugs and Blessings my friends,
Brenda

Thursday, December 9, 2010

We're Moving!!!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS
 It has been way too long since I was here last.  We have been waiting about 6 months for an apartment that has a walk-in shower for safety reasons. We found out towards the end of October that an apartment would be available soon. I started packing things up because I knew it would take me a while.The older I get, the slower I get!!! LOL   We get the keys Dec. 20th and start moving in. It is in the same complex we are in now, so we don't have far to go. I'll be glad when the move is over and we are settled in. I just wish it wasn't so close to Christmas. I can't decorate the way I like this year!


Kevin and I are both doing ok, just the normal aches and pains and slowing down. I have been getting back to  sewing, at least I was until I found out we're moving. I will get back to it as soon as I can set up my work space. I have a lot of projects waiting to be made.

I just wanted to stop by and let you all know I'm still around and will be here more as time allows during and after the move. I'm tired tonight, went shopping today, groceries, I hate going anymore the prices are so high and it wears me out.

I will be back soon!!

Hugs and Blessings, my blogging friends,
Brenda

Friday, October 8, 2010

Beautiful Fall Day!!





Today was such a beautiful , warm fall day. I wish we could have a month full of days like today!! I know that's not likely  to happen though. We'll wake up one of these mornings and will see snow on the ground!  .......hopefully not for a long time yet!!!

I gave away a bunch of things on Free Cycle today. It's nice to be able to give away things you no longer need to someone who can use them but not afford to buy them. I think it a great alternative to just throwing things in the trash to fill up some landfill. I try to recycle, re-use or re-purpose as many things as I can. It's amazing how many things we have that we bought for one purpose and can be used for several other projects.

I fixed up an area on the wall behind my work table so I can take pictures of things I've got to sell. I just have to move my sewing machines to one side. My swing arm lamp that  I use to see to sew/craft with makes a good spotlight too.  I never did find my other camera.  I gave up worrying about it, I'll find it someday as I sort through things, I'm
downsizing. I'm getting rid of everything we don't absolutely need or use. I have enough dishes and cookware for 5 families it seems. I figure if I haven't used something in the last 6 months it can go out of here. 

I hope to go to the Farmers Market in the morning. There is only this Saturday and next, then it will be over until next spring. I really enjoy all the fresh veggies and fruits, especially since we aren't allowed to grow anything here at the apartment except flowers. You can't eat many flowers!!

Well friends it's time for me to call it a day. I hope you all have a Blessed  night and a good weekend.

Until later ....
Hugs and Blessings to you all !

Good Night!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Have you ever.......

......put something just where you were sure you would find it  and then it's no where to be found????  I did just that with my Olympus Camera. I've had it about 15 years and it's had a lot of use but still took good pictures. I use it for back up now  because it is a little on the heavy side and my hands shake when I'm trying to focus on a picture. It also  needs a new memory card. I have been using Kevin's Fugi film camera but I miss some of the features mine has. It has been less than a month  since I saw it last but I can't find it anywhere now. Maybe Missy (my cat) took it!! LOL  When something goes wrong or we can't find something it's always "Missy did it".  She is such a sweetheart of a cat , and would never do anything  wrong, haha., besides she is 18 years old!

It sure got cool today I don't think it ever made it out of the 40's here and the wind chill was in the very low 40's. I guess we can say that fall is really here now.  Fall is my favorite time of the year with all of its beautiful colors and the crispness in the air. I like spring too because of all the new beginnings for everything, but there is just something about fall. I guess it could have something to do with the fact it arrives only a day or 2 after my birthday!!

Kevin and I both have  very early Drs. appt. in the morning...it's blood work time. It's an every 3 month thing for me to keep a check on my A1C levels and blood count  since I'm diabetic and I tend to get low very low on iron, anemia. It got so low once they  were talking bone marrow tests. I ate everything made that would bring my iron back up and it worked. I make sure I eat plenty of iron rich foods now. I get a B-12 shot every month too to give me extra energy.


You will find me at my sewing machine every day from 12-4 now. I've tried to set up a regular work schedule for myself so I make sure I get my time to sew. It tends to get lost in the shuffle of everyday life if I don't set aside a regular time. It seems to be working out pretty good too. I've got the mending all caught up, made 4 tops for myself and have about a dozen different piles made up some for craft things to sell, some for Christmas gifts, some for clothes for Kevin and I....a little bit of everything. I'm seriously considering going back into the craft show/ Farmers Market business and having a selling blog after all. I just need to get things made and gathered up and listed on the blog before I go public with it. I got ahead of myself earlier.


I better get myself headed towards bed , Morning will be here before I'm ready for it to be.
 Have a great Monday, talk to you tomorrow night!!
Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Friday, October 1, 2010

Butterflies and Blooms !!!


 
Good Evening Friends,

I hope you are all well and happy!!!
 
My Live Forever/Sedum plant was covered with butterflies a week or so ago. I just thought I would share a few pictures with you.  The plant was huge this year. I'm planning on separating it when it dies down some in the next couple of weeks. This is the first year it has had butterflies like this on it. The butterflies were landing on me as I was taking the pictures.That was an experience I won't soon forget.

I just gave my blog an updated look. It isn't what I had planned for a background but Blogger wasn't being very nice last night and I was tired.......Well you see what I ended up with today  when I got it straightened out. I would still like to have a different background, but I do like the 3 column layout. I will have to try to figure out why it won't let me use a background from ShabbyBlogs or some where else. It will only let me use one of Bloggers backgrounds for some silly reason. Let me know if you have any suggestions, I'm always open for new ideas. I plan on spending a lot more time here instead of on Face Book.

I have  gotten 4 tops for me finished up now. It's nice to have something new to wear. I have also altered 4 shirts for Kevin.  I will start making Christmas gifts next week and also start working on some craft projects.  I was finally able to get all of the things I was behind on caught up.  I can do the things I want to do now!! It is such a good feeling to not be so far behind on things that needed to be done. The pain level just gets to be too much sometimes and I fall behind. I'm hoping if I pace myself, not try to do everything at once, get more sleep and start eating right I will be able to keep my sugar and the arthritis under control.  Wish me luck!!!!, I'm going to need a lot of it!!!!

Have any of you started your Christmas shopping yet?  Ours will be a strictly "homemade" Christmas.  I think that is the best kind anyway. Christmas has gotten to commercial and I think the real meaning of Christmas has been lost for way too long!! I think it's time we put "Christ" back in "CHRISTmas"!!

We cleaned out the garage this past week, that was a job and a half!  I have a large pile of things to go on FreeCycle. I threw out a lot of "stuff" too. It looks pretty good in there now   ;<)  !!!!   I just hope it stays that way!!!!

I'm off to the Farmers Market in the morning. It's time to stock up on apple and pumpkin butter for Kevin.  He loves the stuff. I bought a bunch of honey last year toward the end of the season only to find out a couple of months later I was diabetic. I still have a little now and then though, I love that fresh raw honey!!! I sure won't need to buy any this year!!

I'm getting sleepy so I'm going to bring this to an end.  I've had 9 hours sleep in the last 2 days so I'm a little worn out.

See you all tomorrow,
Hugs and blessings my friends,
Brenda

I would love to hear any comments or suggestions you might have for my blog. I'm always open for new ideas!!

good night friends!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

A Nice Visit Today....

We had a nice visit today with my aunt and uncle from Dayton. She is my dads only living sister, she's 84 and the last of the 4 kids. My dad was the 1st to pass on to a better place in 1971....3 weeks before I graduated from high school. They come down 3 or 4 times a year and always try to make 1 visit close to my birthday, which is tomorrow. She brought an Apple Dump Cake she made, so good! and a card. We also got a pizza to share. I really enjoyed the visit. It was so nice to see family, something that doesn't happen very often. Everyone is scattered around here and there like so many families.

I've finally gotten back to sewing..YIPPEE!!!! I've finished 3 tops and a night shirt, for me. I have some shirts Kevin needs to have altered next, then it's onto making Christmas gifts and things.... TO SELL.... hopefully. I have quite a pile of things gathered up to list on here and I keep finding more as I sort through things. I have aprons, towel sets, wreaths, etc. and a lot of extra supplies and I'm still finding more.

I had a panic attack yesterday, the worst one I've had in a while. I'm not sure what triggered it but I got through it after a while. I prayed my way through it. I know God was with me. It sure scared me though. I hope I don't start having them like I used to. I have too many things I want to do.

It's been a long day and I'm getting tired. Kevin went to bed at 8PM. I just can't wind down that early, I have to wind down slowly. I think I've managed to wind down completely now so I'm off to bed and slumberland!!!

I hope you all have a good night.

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Today was Beautiful........

The sun was shining bright and the temps were in the 70's, a little breeze blowin'! I just love days like today!! Don't you?? The best part was I got to go out...even if it was only to get some groceries, put gas in the van,(I only had 1/8 of a tank left), and get the new sticker for my license tags. My tags expire this month on my birthday UGH!!

This has been a very busy week, but then the first week or so of the month usually is. We get our checks, the bills get paid, some food gets bought and then we are broke again until the next month! I just feel happy and blessed that we are able to have our checks to pay the bills, etc. I can make do with whatever we get. We may not eat fancy, but we don't go hungry either. It's the way I was raised!!

Kevin has an appt. for a consult with Physical Therapy tomorrow morning. He broke the femur in his left leg 4 years ago and is losing more of the limited mobility he had, which was not much to begin with. He has trouble raising his foot to even get it in the van, our van is one of the lower one's. He uses a step but even with that it's a battle. Please, if you can, say a little prayer that maybe they can help him.

Tomorrow afternoon I am going to be posting things for sale on the store blog... http://countrydreamsandcreationsstore.blogspot.com/. I have the pictures taken and the info ready to go. I have so many ideas and plans for the store, I can't wait to get it up and running. I hope you will like what you see!!!

I just have to hope and pray my computer doesn't crash completely before Kevin works on it Friday. I've already saved all of my files to a folder on his computer. We have our computers networked together.

Well blogging friends it's getting late, I'm getting tired and I just know morning will be here sooner than I want it to be. I will say Good Night to all of you until tomorrow. I hope you have sweet dreams and a great day tomorrow!

Hugs and Blessings, my friends,

Brenda

Monday, September 6, 2010

It's been a long day...



It has been a very long day following a very short 4 hours sleep last night. I'm getting to old for this. Kevin has an 8:15 appt. for physical therapy in the morning. He is losing what little mobility he has in the leg that he broke the femur in 4 years ago. I don't think there is anything that can be done at this point, but we will see and hope for the best. I hope I am wrong and they can help him.

My computer has been doing weird things the last couple of days so Kevin is going to work on it for me in a few days and see if he can get things right. I have a lot I need to do on here right now so it isn't a good time for it to have a "Hissy fit" LOL

I did some cleaning in the apt. today and will do more later. I do believe that is a never ending job. I need to get the rest of the shopping done for the month too. I want to free up as much time as I can the next few months to be able to post more on here. I'm going to need all the time I can get to make things for Christmas gifts and for the store also.I have a lot of projects in the making for the store! I will be posting some things on it the end of this week. I have been digging into my recipes also, so keep an eye on the Kitchen blog.

I would love to stay and visit longer with you tonight but I'm beat. I'm also creating all kinds of new words by hitting the wrong keys....OOPPSS. Good thing I proof read every line or 2 LOL.

See you tomorrow friends, Sweet Dreams,

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Sunday, September 5, 2010

110 Days Until Christmas !!!!

I know it's too soon to be thinking about Christmas on Labor Day Weekend! The time goes by fast though when you are making all of the gifts by hand, computer or sewing machine! I am making all of Kevin's gifts which really won't be all that many...10-15 maybe, if I get busy and get started. We make each others gifts each year, it means more because of the thought and work that goes into the projects. They are usually just little things but they mean a lot!

I'm also trying to work on my store blog. I have some information I need to add about shipping and purchasing, and I have some items finished that I will be posting later this week for sale. I have a huge amount of stuff to make yet, but it will all get done in time so I can add several new things each week. I could get a lot more work done if I could train Missy, my cat, how to cook and clean LOL!!!! Kevin is really good about helping out with doing things around the apt. He runs the sweeper, does his own laundry, empties the dishwasher, I fill it. He even cooks sometimes too. We both have some mobility problems so we balance out what each other is able to do. It works for both of us that way. I do more of the things that require lifting or moving, plus fixing supper, food preservation, shopping, laundry, mending/sewing, cleaning etc. and trying to get a business going.

I really enjoyed the cool weather we had this week, it made me feel like getting some work done. I see now that the heat is going to return this week. I guess we had better enjoy the warm weather while we still have it soon enough we will be complaining "it's to cold". I know, it's a vicious circle LOL!!!!

It's getting late and I'm getting tired. We went to Krogers today for a "few" groceries. I don't think it's possible to go to the store for just a "few" things, the cart was almost full!!

I hope you all have a good night,, what's left of it anyway. I will be around daily from now on. I have given up Face Book for the most part. I might use it to help advertise the store blog after I get it going, but other than that it's just a darn good way to waste time! I've got too many other things to do!!!

See you all tomorrow,

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Beautiful Day........

It was such a beautiful day today. The sun was shining bright, not to hot, I could enjoy days like today year round! Makes it kind of hard to stay inside and work though. I did finish a blouse I started yesterday. I will post pictures if I can get my camera to work again. It takes 1 or 2 pictures and then quits until I put in new batteries, they cost too much to keep doing that.

Kevin drove for the 1st time today since his fall 4 years ago. He did great, just like he had been driving all along. We went to the cemetery for him to practice, figured he couldn't hurt anyone there LOL!! He has a Dr. appt. tomorrow and I have 2 next week. I'm getting tired of Doctors!

I've been working on another blog. It's not published yet because I still have a lot to do before it's ready. It's called "Country Dreams and Creations Store". It will have a little something for everyone ...Crafts of all kinds, Teddy Bears made from old cutter quilts, Handmade kitchen items...aprons, towel sets, herb scented trivets and a lot more things. Too many to mention now. Homemade baked goods...Breads. zucchini, lemon, etc. ..cookies and all other kinds of goodies , depending on the season and availability of ingredients. I hope to have it up and running by the end of September, hopefully sooner.

I'm going to call it a day and get some sleep. I have a LOT to do tomorrow and want to get an early start.

Have a goodnight,
Hugs and Blessings my Friends,
Brenda

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Good News Today....

I had my follow up exam with the surgeon today and he said everything had healed up just the way it should have. Thank you Lord. I was glad to hear that. I had tried to be careful with what I was doing, not lifting too much etc. , but I felt so good it was easy to forget I had even had surgery.

I spent the other day digging through my fabric stash. I gathered up enough to make 19 tops, dresses and jackets for me to wear, and fabric for 19 pillows, 18 aprons and 24 wicker baskets to line to sell. That's just for starters too, lots more after that. My Store blog is waiting to be published. I will let you all know when I publish it. I hope to sometime in late September. I'm glad the creative side of me is back . I'll just bury myself in my work and God!

I got a start on my sewing a couple of days ago, but as usual real life got in the way. I hope to get a chance to sew some more this week in between Dr. appts. etc. It really felt good to cut out a few tops and get them ready to sew. I'd be happy to just sit and sew and craft all day and forget everything else!! Wouldn't that be fun??? I think it would be!

It's getting to be that time of year to start thinking about doing some large batch cooking and then canning it up the next day. I like to have some canned meals on hand as much as possible. It is just to hot in this apt. even with the AC on to do much cooking in the summer. I would love to have the "Summer Kitchen" my great aunt had on her old farmhouse when she was living. It was large and open with lots of windows for those breezes to blow through and cool things down. I miss that. Those were the "Good Old Days" for sure, life was so much simpler then.

I have a lot to do tomorrow so I better try to get to bed soon.

Hugs and Blessings my friends,

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

God is so Good!!!!

Hi Friends,

I had my surgery July 16 and was home by noon on the 17th., they sure don't give you anytime to even get the pain med. and anesthetic out of your system. I was dizzy for days!!! Kevin(DH) would tell you I'm dizzy or dingy anyway though LOL!!! The Surgeon didn't take my sense of humor out just everything else!!! I had a Vaginal Hysterectomy, never knew they could do that! I was in surgery longer than they thought I would be. The Dr. said my uterus was huge and full of tumors, they took everything out. The good news is they were all BENIGN. Thank the Good Lord for that. I just found out the results yesterday when I saw him for my post-op consult. I've been on pins and needles since the surgery wondering ???. I finally got tired of worrying and gave it over to God and I was at peace after that. I did the same thing before the surgery, I was getting so stressed out. I went in with a sense of peace and calm because I knew God had taken the weight off my shoulders and carried it for me. This whole experience has brought me closer to God than I think I've ever been. He will always have a special place in my life over everything else. I go back in a month for an exam to be sure everything healed as it should!

I feel like I'm being drawn back here and away from other things on the computer. I want to spend more time blogging, I've missed you all and FB is getting kind of trashy.

I am getting back to sewing again. I had cut out a night shirt pattern in Dec. and never got it sewed up until a week ago. I have lost so much weight since Nov.
I had to take it in 6" and re-make my pattern!! Woo Hoo!! It's nice to have something too big for a change!! LOL!! Now I've got to go through all the patterns I had matched to fabric and check the sizes. I think most of the patterns are multiple size, so I should be ok. I'm getting back into crafting again too. I have a lot of projects set up and ready to be made. I have been working on a blog to use as a place to sell things. I may set up an Etsy account too. I have to think about that and check them out more.

I think I needed to get the household in order and my health before I felt settled enough to spend time doing the things I enjoy. I can't sew and craft if I feel I am letting the necessary things slide. I feel a lot more at peace now about a lot of things.

I think I'm going to call it a night and get some sleep. I've been doing a lot more of that since the surgery.

I will be back,

Hugs and Blessings my friends,

Friday, July 9, 2010

Short little catch-up before I call it a night.

I hope you all have had a good day! We had a pretty good one here. I just keep thinking that next week this time the surgery will be over and I will be on the road to recovery, hopefully. I've been doing a lot of talking to the Man Upstairs to help me get through all of this. I know He's been listening because He's lifted a big weight off my shoulders.I can't imagine anyone not having God in their lives, but I know many don't and that is sad. They are missing out on the most wonderful experience.

I just finished making out my grocery list for tomorrow. I'll be lucky if I will be able to get 1/4 of what I need but we will make do. I thank God everyday that I was brought up learning how to stretch food and everything else as far as it will go. I don't think there is anything that goes to waste around here, be it food or other things, I can always find a way to re-cycle things into something else. Kevin is really good about eating some of the crazy concoctions I come up with. It fills us up and I make sure it is healthy. I can up the leftovers if there is enough for later meals rather than freeze them. I don't have to worry if the power goes out or anything thing, they will keep.

I just wanted to stop by and say HI and that I'm thinking of all of you. I want to try and get back in the habit of posting here daily, writing seems to help calm me down and put things in perspective. Thanks to you all for being here to listen. I'd love to here any comments or suggestions you may have, I value your input!!!

I hope to get an early start to beat some of the crowds in Walmart, Saturdays can be a real pain.

Take care and have a peaceful night.

Hugs and blessings,
Brenda

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Murphy's Law has been in full force here lately!!!!

Hi Friends,

If it could go wrong it has lately!!! the day after I last posted I noticed a wet spot on the carpet in the hallway. The first thing I thought was my 18 year old cat, Missy, had an accident. The spot wasn't made by her much to my relief but where was it coming from? It kept getting larger and quite soggy by the following Monday when I was finally able to reach the landlord...grumble, grumble, grumble..She told me to put a fan on it and try to soak up the water and let her know if that helped, of course it just kept getting worse. A couple of days later she finally sent maintenance in to check it out, It was close to the bathroom so they checked that & fixed what they thought the problem was and told me to call them if that didn't help, well they got called, by this time I was ready to call them a lot of things! They shook their heads no idea well to make a long story short, I had asked about the AC & they said no way but checked it to keep me happy. It was the AC but not mine . The apt. behind me was were it was coming from. Their AC leaked and the floors are so uneven it all ran into my apartment between the concrete floor and the carpet! It was finally fixed and dry the end of last week!!

I saw my Dr. last week and told her the "little" problem I had was getting worse and thought it was time to check it out and do something. July 5th, I saw the surgeon thinking my bladder was dropping, did I ever get the surprise. He said I have good news and bad news, you can imagine all of the things that were going through my mind by then. The "good" news was it wasn't my bladder, the bad news was, my uterus had prolapsed. He said that was a lot more serious. I'm scheduled for surgery July 16th @10 AM. I'm supposed to take it easy, no lifting etc. I will get to come home the next day if everything goes right. I have been having a lot of extra conversations with God to get me through this, and I know He will as He feels fit.

There has been a lot of downsizing going on around here again too! I gathered up a bunch of stuff, had a yard sale the 1st of the month and took what didn't sell to Good Will. I have gathered up more things but these are the old family pieces, and my cousin told me to go ahead and sell them. I will take pictures before I do. I will do that tomorrow. I have spent most of the day today researching the pieces I have so I know what price to ask for them.

I have started sewing some again. I had made a night shirt a couple of months ago but got sidetracked and didn't get it hemmed.I have been losing weight,40lbs. since last November, I tried the night shirt on and it about fell off. I need to take it in about 10" total and remake my patterns . I will have to cut all of the patterns I made down a bunch now...which is good !! I will have a lot of time to sew and craft while I'm taking it easy for a while. I'm very happy about that!!

It's getting late and I need to get some sleep. I have a long list of things I want to get done before my surgery. Talk to you all soon!

Hugs and Blessings my friends,
Brenda

Monday, June 21, 2010

Just a quick note.....

Its been a long day and I can barely keep my eyes open. I got a lot done today straightening up around here. The landlord was down today and checked out the wet spot on the hallway floor. We live on a concrete slab floor covered with carpet. A few days ago a wet spot appeared on the floor. She thinks it is coming from the bathtub maybe , something with the pipes that are under the cement are leaking and coming up through the carpet! It will be interesting to see how they fix this. We might have to move to another apt. if they have to tear up the floors according to the maintenance girl. time will tell!! We have an inspection tomorrow from HUD where we get housing assistance. They will make sure things get taken care of one way or another!

It was a nice day here today but they are forecasting storms again. My plants are all looking good still but we have so many spiders on the porch and coming into the apt. along with an invasion of ants. I found a spider about the size of a quarter in one of my tennis shoes. I knocked it out and killed it then threw my shoes in the trash. I am not putting my foot in there where that spider had been living!!!! I had a little spider spray left and used it up outside. I will have to get some more and for ants too! I have breathing problems and have to be very careful what I use or I can't get my breath. I have an appt. Wednesday to take paperwork into HUD and hopefully everything will pass their standards.

I'm going to call it a night and hopefully get some sleep tonight! I will talk to you all tomorrow. Have a good night!

Hugs and Blessings,

Brenda

2 Months, Too Long Between Posts

Hi Friends,

I can't believe it has been 2 months since I last posted. I've stopped by a few times, but just couldn't seem to think of anything to say. I've been dealing with a lot of back and leg pains lately and it has been taking over my concentration.

I did manage to slowly sort through things around here and had a garage sale last weekend. It was supposed to be 2 days but Saturday was rained out completely. The things that were left went to Goodwill. It's amazing how things accumulate...being a "pack rat" doesn't help either. I have been breaking that habit though. I have stopped going to yard sales and if I see something in a store, I ask myself if I really need it or just think I do. It seems to be working, but it isn't easy sometimes.

I have finally gotten caught up on all the things I have let slide, now I can turn my thoughts to gardening in containers , working on my Recipe blog and family cookbook and sewing & crafts to sell on the new blog I have been working at setting up. I will be selling some vintage items, etc . on it also. I will publish the blog when I have things completely set up. I hope It will be ready around July 1st. Keep checking back for updates!!!!!

I think I'm going to call it a night and go to bed. My back and legs don't seem to be hurting too bad right now, thanks to pain pills. I hate taking them and only do when it gets really bad.

You will be seeing me on a regular basis now. I plan on spending a lot of time between the 3 Blogs, sewing & crafting and my little container garden.


Have a good night my friends,

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Kitchen Blog Updated!

I've finished updating the kitchen blog, now I just need to add more recipes. I still have a lot of them to add. They are sitting right beside me as a reminder too. I will try to work at adding them to the blog in between sewing projects!

I need to find a sunbonnet pattern for a special friend, I know I have one around here somewhere. I've looked, just haven't found it yet. I've moved so much around in this room it's a wonder I can find a place to sit!

I'll be back tonight to post more, I need to get off this computer and get busy on the sewing machine.

Have a great days friends,

Hugs and Blessings ,
Brenda

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Making Changes


I'm going to be making some changes on here...new background, little things here and there to spruce things up a bit.. I just thought the blog needed a little spring cleaning and up-dating, so please bear with me until I get this done! I had intentions of starting earlier today on making the changes, but going to the grocery seemed to take up most of the morning. It was one thing after another then , so I'm here now. I've been checking out new backgrounds and found a few I like, now just to decide which one I will use.

I have some sewing to start on tomorrow, I have a lot of projects on my list. I will probably have some to sell and will post them on here or start a new blog just for selling things on. I'm downsizing around here so I will have a lot of things to sell! I'm going to be adding more recipes to the kitchen blog too....so keep checking back! Change is in the air!!!

The weather was just perfect today, sunny and warm. I hope it stays like this!

I'm going to go look at some backgrounds so I can confuse myself even more.

Have a good night!

Hugs and Blessings,
Brenda

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Been a long Time....

since I was here last. I can't believe how fast time goes by. The older I get the faster it goes...and the slower I get LOL!!!!

I have been keeping busy though, re-arranged the apartment, doing spring cleaning, finding lots of things to get rid of, either to sell or donate depending what it is. I've decided if I haven't used it in the last 6 months it's going out of here, with the exception of a few things.

I've scanned well over 300-400 pictures from family albums into my computer so I can store them on a disc and give the originals to my cousin to pass on to her kids. I don't have anyone to pass anything onto so I'm getting rid of stuff I don't want or need. I'm not planning on leaving this world for a long time yet, but that's not up to me.

I've got my sewing area set back up again and I'm going to start back into making things to hopefully sell. I'm thinking about setting up at the local Farmers Market this summer. I need to make some new clothes too, I've lost 30#'s since November...only another hundred to lose and I will be happy. I'm stuck on a plateau now so I would be happy to lose 5#!!

I'm thinking about changing my background on here and updating some things. I've definitely got to get back to working on adding recipes to the cookbook, the pictures got in the way of that among other things. So many things to do and not enough hours in the day to do them all.

I need to stay off FaceBook and spend more time here. It is so easy to waste time on FaceBook....the devil's playground!

I'm going to say goodnight while my eye lids are still partially open, I don't get much sleep at night due to having to help Kevin. I have to go to the grocery in the morning and don't want to be sleep walking. I need to be awake enough to stretch my money are far as I can.

Have a good night,

Hugs and blessing,
Brenda

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Sunshine and Feeling Better......

Sunshine, this morning, what a welcome sight to see, even if it only lasted a few hours!! I hope all of you got to enjoy some sunshine also! The sun really brightened my day!!

I saw the Dr. yesterday, she said all of my vital signs were good and gave a new prescription for the Extended Release Metformin to see if I could tolerate it any better. I told her I hadn't taken any Metformin for 5 days and felt better than I had in a long while. She told me I could try going without it for a couple of weeks as long as my sugar readings stayed good, if not, back on the meds.. I will try and hope for the best!!

I started back on my project of scanning all of the family photos onto my computer.I've done about 200 so far, had to take a break but now I'm back at it. I've got pictures of one of my great-grandmothers, 6 generations back, it was taken in the 1850's. I have quite a few from the 1800's. A lot of memories go with all of these pictures. I plan on putting them on DVD's then passing the pictures onto my cousin. I am the only one left of my immediate family, she can pass them onto to her kids.

I have a lot of ideas for sewing and craft projects, I just need to get busy and get them started. I hope to try and set up at the Farmers Market this year. I bought some batteries for my camera the other day. I'm not sure what is wrong with it but it will only let me take a few pictures and then quits until I replace the batteries. I can't afford another camera so I guess I will have to keep a supply of batteries on hand. I will take some pictures as I get things done. I do have one I can post now, it is a teddy bear I made for Kevin for Valentine's Day:



I better get back to scanning, I'd like to finish a few more tonight and I owe a dear friend an email.

Take care,

Hugs and Blessings, my friends

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Panic/Anxiety Attacks, Snow & Stress......

has been keeping me occupied the last 2 months. I can't believe it has been that long since I last posted. I wish I could say "time flies when you're having fun" but it hasn't been fun at all. My panic & anxiety attacks started again. It has been a long time since I've had any really bad attacks, fortunately these weren't as bad as some that I had that ended in a trip to the ER. I'm still not sure what the trigger was this time or if it was a combination of things. I think being snowed in, fluctuations in my sugar and a few other things thrown into the mix was the cause. I eventually was able to get out of here and to the Dr. and she changed my meds. which has helped some. I'm still anxious about things but I'm forcing myself to deal with it.

I got off track with watching my sugar intake over the holidays and am still having a rough time getting back on the diet! I'm working on that too. I can't leave out all the pain from the arthritis and fibromyalgia that has had me on edge and been almost more than I can stand at times. I have a high tolerance for pain too, I can take a lot but even I have my limits.

OK enough of my complaining about everything that ails me!! LOL

I hope all of you have been okay and survived all of the snow and ice and cold! I've stopped by off and on to check out some of your blogs and have enjoyed reading about everything you have been doing.

We've been moving things around in the apartment , our computers used to be in the living room. We have a spare bedroom that has/had LOL 8'x12'of space. We split the space so we each have a 6'x12' area. Kevin's is all computer "stuff" mine is divided between my computer & printer plus my sewing machine table and cutting/work table,etc., which is doing double duty as my computer desk too. I call it all "organized clutter". I have the use of the whole closet too, it has all of my fabric, trims etc. in it so they are handy. I will post some pictures of the room after I straighten it up a little.....if I can get the camera to work. The camera keeps losing power even with new batteries.

I hope to start spending more time here. I always feel more at peace after I've posted.

Hugs and Blessings, my friends
Brenda

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Yes, I've been MIA again......

Happy New Year to all of you!!!

Don't you just hate it when real life gets in the way of your computer time???? I sure do!!! LOL...but now.....All of the Christmas decorations are packed away, cleaning is done and things are back to normal!!

I'm trying to get back into a normal routine again too. The diabetic diet is getting easier to follow. My numbers are good and I've lost 16#'s in 2 months. I'll be happy now to just keep things going like this.

I just wanted to pop in for a few minutes to catch up. I will post more tomorrow.

Hugs and Blessings my friends,