my extragood life

Getting on a schedule

2009-09-18T14:59:00.002-05:00

That's it - I'm putting myself on a schedule. I need to have more structure in my life, especially now that I am unemployed. I'm not getting the things done that I need to get done. This weekend I am going to come up with a schedule for housework, blogging, and crafts. I need to spend a good chunk of time decrapifying the rooms in the house, IN CASE we move. This should be a fun weekend. Big Daddy and I are going to the cabin for Sat. night. We are also meeting Conner's girlfriend and her friend, as they are camping with us. Well, seperate cabins. I look forward to meeting her. She sounds like a special girl to Conner and I look forward to getting to know her. I hope she won't think I'm dorky. Isn't that silly? My new quote is, "I would have more self-esteem, but I don't deserve it." That's where I am in my life right now. However, plans are moving forward and I see the path a little more clearly. That's good and I'm looking forward to a new adventure. OK, must go finish some crafts. Might post pictures later!! Wish me luck!

Countdown

2009-08-27T05:48:00.002-05:00

The countdown is on - to Sept. 8! That's the first day of school here. Yeah or Boo. I'm in the Yeah catagory, but the 2 that I still have in school (not counting college boy who has already started and college girl who is in TN and hasn't started, but I'm not in charge of getting her up and going) are in the Boo catagory, I think. Oh, well. It's the law, boys. Don't blame me! LOL! I owe you all (ALL?) pictures of my yard sale treasures and what I did with them. Well, football starts today (one playing and one marching) so I will post that tomorrow. I am going to start blogging on a regular basis. I promise. Yeah, yeah. Pinkie swear! Have a great rest of the day and GO HUSKIES!

2009-08-21T06:41:00.000-05:00

Post coming later - what I did with all this stuff! Yeah!

Football, you bet!

2009-08-20T14:34:00.000-05:00

And so it begins for one son and one sport. We haven't been a "football" family (except for college - Go Vols - and pro - Go Titans - watching) so this is a new thing. And by football family I mean with a player. DD and DS # 4 either are or were in color guard and this did require our presence at games. However, we were there to watch the band. That is all. This sport takes alot of commitment. Like every day. And blood. There's blood in this sport. We haven't seen much of that in hockey (looking madly for wooden objects to knock on). What we are seeing is a happy kid, just like with hockey. So, we are now a "football" family. Go Huskies!

Thrifty Finds

2009-08-19T15:50:00.000-05:00

Oh, did I ever find some great stuff at the local thrift store. It's either feast or famine there, usually, and today was FEAST! I bought 4 pink dinner plates, 4 desert plates in fall colors, 4 pink napkins, 2 Bill Blass candles that smell wonderful, a silk valance, a leather wine box, 4 glass jars with lids and a decorative lidded jar. Also, a 3-tier black holder for something. Not sure what, but I have a few ideas. The best is a large white platter that I put on a dollar-store holder. I wrote "Welcome to the Clarke's" in dry-erase marker! CUTE! Will take pictures of where everything ended up. Total for all - $17.00!! Yeah!!!

Great Giveaway and wonderful blog!

2009-06-20T07:11:00.002-05:00

For the one or two people who visit this blog (or less) there is a great giveaway going on over at My Sweet Savannah - check it out!

Look for the button on the side! Thanks!
Oh, garage sale goodness coming up, if the rain will let up!

WIP Wednesday

2009-06-17T10:10:00.002-05:00

These are my wip's (works in progress) minus one. Maybe if I post them it will encourage me to get working and turn them into FP's - FINISHED PROJECTS! YEAH! Oh, sorry for the sideways pics in the last post. I'm still learning!!

Be Still My Heart (or, as Jeff says, More Crap!)

2009-06-13T12:51:00.005-05:00

Sometimes when you need it the most, you get a little lift. I got a serious one this morning. I love to yard sale. I think I might have a problem, but oh well! My weakness is for vintage linens. However, I use them, so they are practicle (justification for the weakness, in case you couldn't tell). This morning........Jackpot! See above for the spoils! And, got everything shown (which covered a queen size bed and more) for $10.00!!!!! Yeah! More stuff to move to Tennessee when the time comes. Just what we need! There's also a fabulous blue bowl and a silver mirror in there. I wish you could see the detail on some of the linens - they are amazing. Now they have a wonderful new home. I also got to teach some ladies a little lesson on vintage linens and their care. They were very interested. We have to take care of these little treasures. Well, at least I feel I am called to do so. I had a great morning! Yeah!

Update

2009-06-06T08:09:00.002-05:00

My vacation was wonderful! Thank you Nana! We had a great time shopping, stitching, eating the best BBQ in the world, stitching, visiting and stitching!! Staying with her is like staying in a Bed and Breakfast. I can't wait to go back.
Cleaning project is going slow. I hope to have another update this evening with more pictures - DS # 2 graduated from High School last Wed. and this week was pretty hectic. Celebration dinner tonight and BBQ with family in another country tomorrow. Still, I have alot to get done. Will post pictures tonight, I promise.

2009-06-01T09:19:00.000-05:00

my santa mug collection - this weekend, I went garage sailing. Found 5 large santa mugs for $1.00, 5 small mugs for $1.00 and at another one, found 3 that I got for a quarter! LOVE IT! The Santa mugs are put away for now, but come the holidays, I will have more! YEAH!

going on vacay!

2009-05-21T10:30:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow I'm leaving to go see The Nana in Almost Heaven! I'm so excited! Of course, this means that the rest of this week will drag by and everything that can go wrong will before I leave. I got most of the second corner cleaned up and might have time to post a pic tonight. I'm so happy with the work I've gotten done. I know it doesn't seem like much, but it's a big job. After the room is cleaned up and organized, I will post some decorating pics and some craft ideas. Look out, Nana, here I come! Have a cold Coke at the ready!!!! BYE!!!

Costs and a new corner to clean

2009-05-19T08:32:00.005-05:00

Here is the next corner to tackle. The cost for the first bookcase was a whopping FREE! It was on the side of the road and I knew it would be perfect for organizing my endless craft supplies. I have stuff in this room for embroidery, quilting, cross stitch, scrapbooking and crafting in general. That's alot of stuff, folks! The drawers on the bookcase were wonky, so I just had some shelves cut. I plan on replacing the white tubs with pretty baskets. This shelf unit is a nice green, but I think I will paint it another color. The bi-fold door has a match and I'm going to cover them both with material and flannel for a giant noteboard. I think that will be a great place for inspirational things. Those projects are later - now I just need to get everything cleaned up!

Craft room organization

2009-05-18T11:06:00.002-05:00

Here are some before and after of the craft room organization - I'll post later on how much all this cost. Hint - not much! The first picture is of my little stitching corner. Newly clean. The next is the after shot and the last one is what it looked like before. Yeah - now I just have to keep going!!!!

Where is the warm weather?

2009-05-15T10:09:00.004-05:00

If you will look at my weather wench, you will see that she is relatively covered up. Where is warm weather? UGGGHHH. OK, my goal is to get pics up of the craft room on Monday. Right now you can't walk in there, but I've been so busy. He-man is working more and more hours (and we are very thankful) and I've been busy almost every evening this week. Last night it was staff meeting and then, right as I was getting ready to leave, I had some parent issues to deal with and some kid issues to deal with. SO, I didn't get out of there until 9:45. YIKES! Almost past my bedtime. Anyway, just thought I'd sit and blog and get in the habit of blogging more. For your viewing pleasure - this is what heaven looks like to an 18 year old car nut. Don't judge - he paid for it all on his own, made a trip on his own for the first time to get it and did what he said he was going to do. On his own. (but I still worried).

Gettin' with the times!

2009-05-12T08:47:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited - I have a new computer! I snazzy little laptop model that will travel easily and allow me to expand this blog. YEAH! I am followed by 1 whole person, but I would hate to disappoint that person. Just kidding. This is more for me than for anyone else. We also have a new family computer. I am going to get on a regular schedule of blogging and talking more about crafting. Specifically, I am trying to organize my craft room. I think I will post pictures while I go, in case anyone is interested. Well, look out blog world - here I come!!! Hugs!

I'm so sad

2009-04-12T20:33:00.002-05:00

I'm very sad and glad. Today has been a really rough day. Well, actually, it's been a rough weekend. First of all, we are visiting in the area where the Good Friday Tornados hit in Murfreesboro, TN. We were within a 1/2 mile of the destruction. There were 2 lives lost and many people have lost their homes or have damage to their homes. We are all ok, but it was very scary. If we would have left another 15 minutes earlier, we would have been right in the worst hit area with our grandchildren in the car. We are so blessed to be safe and sound. We are leaving in the morning to go back to Michigan. It is so hard to say goodbye to the grand youngens. It literally feels like someone takes my heart and stomps on it. It makes it physically hurt. I want to move back so bad. I'm really hoping and praying that everything works out and we come back in a year. Sophie was baptized today and it was just such a joyous occasion. To see the next generation be welcomed into the Church that I love was just such a wonderful thing. We probably broke some sort of record with the number of people there to support Sophie and pray for her. She is such a blessed child. And, we are blessed to have her. Praise the Lord! I'll try to not have such a depressing post, but I can't guarantee it. I'm very down right now, but I'll try. Really, I will.

2009-04-02T17:26:00.002-05:00

We're off to TN next week! Yeah! I'm so excited about another trip down south. My sweet grandaughter is getting baptized Easater Sunday and we're really looking forward to some family time. I will take some pictures and post then. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DD! Just thought I'd add that. I've been thinking about her all day long. Where has the time gone? Well, before I start to wax poetic, I'll go now. Until next time!

2009-04-01T13:54:00.001-05:00

My Bunny on a Stick project!

I've got to do better!

2009-03-22T22:30:00.002-05:00

I've really got to try to get better at blogging. There's so much I enjoy about other people's blogs and I want to create a really great blog of my own. I will try to blog more. I'm really following alot of decorating blogs right now.
An update on everyone on my blog - were still in Michigan. Right now I'm visiting in TN and I will be back down in 2 weeks with the other members of the family. I just needed to see my grandchildren and make sure all is well. It is. I feel a little better.
Projects that I need to work on when I get home - Easter decorating, finishing up my unfinished projects and planning a trip to see the Nana sometime soon.
I will try to post one time a week, if not more. Talk to you soon!

I'm Back!

2008-11-27T09:30:00.002-06:00

ARGGHHH! Now, I finally have my sign in information and I can get on and post! Well, we've been in Michigan for 1 year and 3 months. Wow, time flies! We are currently in Tennessee visiting for Thanksgiving and my Dad and Stepmother are having a little ceremony to renew their vows. The weather here is, of course, perfect. Today is Thanksgiving and it's going to be 63 degrees! We're staying at a beautiful hotel and we are having a good time. We had a really nice trip down here. I'll try to post pictures soon. Oh, and while I was not blogging, my dd went and had another baby! We now have sweet Sophie, aka the crab. She has moments where she is just, well, crabby! But, she's a beautiful baby and we're so happy she's here. They lived with us for awhile, but are now back in TN. Not talking about that. It's sad. I miss them. ALOT. But, not talking about that. Well, I'll post more later. Have a happy Thanksgiving!!!

I'm Back

2007-10-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

There's just too many password,user word, account number and name combinations!! I'm embarrassed to say that I forgot my password to get on and blog, but all is right in blog-land now. Well, we've been here almost two months, the weather is unseasonably warm and I love my job. I think it's going well. I'm enjoying several Internet swaps right now, one from Sweet Goodness Swaps and a yoyo swap on MaryJane Farm Girls for Christmas. I love making yoyo's. When I get a camera, I'll post a picture of the queen-size yoyo quilt that I made in 1999. I put the 2000th yoyo together on Jan 1, 2000. My Mom has another one that I made. I included scraps of clothes from all the kids on those two quilts. They are very special. I have plans to make a Christmas garland for the tree with yoyo's. DS #4 scored his first Michigan hockey goal on Saturday - way to go, buddy! That's about it for now. Will check in again soon, as long as I remember the right password, user word, account number................

20 Questions

2007-09-23T15:18:00.000-05:00

I'm doing a swap online at Sweet Goodness Swaps and I have to post the answers to these 20 questions for my swap sister - here goes!

1. Favorite Color:
Really like red right now and decorating with black, cowslip #3 and olive green
2. Chocolate Lover? Milk, Dark, White, or none of the above?
Milk
3. What is your favorite craft hobby?
Cross stitch and yo yo quilting making
4. What is a craft/art hobby that you would like to start?
I don't need to start anything else!!
5. What craft do you NOT have an interest in or just not great in ( so your partner doesn’t send something you wouldn’t use)?
I'm sticking with cross stitch and scrapbooking and knitting, so I don't have an interest in
anything else right now - need to finish what I have!
6. Do you have any allergies? (we don’t want to send anything with peanuts if it’ll make you blow up like a balloon!)
Just to housework
7.What’s your favorite part of Halloween? Decorating, candy eating, costumes, or something else?
Candy corn! and decorating!
8. Do you decorate for Thanksgiving/Fall?
Yes
9. December Holidays--what holiday do you celebrate? What type of decorations do you like to put up in your house for that holiday?
We celebrate Christmas - I'm going with an old world, elegant look this year.
10. Do you have any children, if so what are their ages, boys/girls?
I have 5: DD age 20, DS age 19, DS age 17, DS age 15, DS age 12
11. Do you have any pets, if so what kind?
We have a spoiled Boston Terrier
12. Are you a reader? If so, what type of books do you like?
I LOVE to read (and work part-time at Barnes and Noble) - all kinds, but especially craft magazines!
13. Are you celebrating a birthday or anniversary in October, November, or December? If so, what day and what is the occasion?
On the 14th of Nov, He-man and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage!!
14. Do you collect anything? If so what type of things do you collect?
I collect anything in black toile, cookie cutters, fabric and black transferware.
15. What type of things do you like to cook? Are you an appetizer person, cookie maker, dessert freak or a take out type of person??
I like to eat out, but I also like to cook some. We're just so busy! I like to make cookies when I can.
16. What is your favorite scent? Is there one that you can’t stand?
I love Bella Candella candles at Hobby Lobby in the Musk scent and Yankee Candle Midsummer's Night
17. What’s your favorite song?
Unforgettable
18. What’s the last movie you went to see at the movie theater?
It's been awhile, but the last one was Cars.
19. What’s your favorite Candy?
Anything chocolate, but sometimes like things like Nerds or Chewy Sprees
20. Tea or Coffee or other?
No tea or coffee for me, I drink regular coke religiously!

Not so bad (so far)

2007-09-19T13:17:00.000-05:00

Well, we are getting settled in - I found the Salvation Army store and we love our new church. I bought some great bargains for the house. Soon, I'll try to give a room-by-room update, as we start to paint. The weather turned really cold for a few days and I really panicked, but fear not, it's back up in the 80's all this week. All the windows are open and there's a wonderful breeze.
I thought I was doing better emotionally, but Sunday was really hard for some reason. The songs in church made me cry and then the sermon was on the "Lost Sheep". My sheep is not lost, but not here with me. I know that lots of people are away from their family. Heck, I'm away from my Mom and my Dad, too. There's just something about leaving DD and the grandson. Did I get too close? Is there such a thing? Will I ever be able to sit through church without crying? Will I ever stop being a baby? Stayed tuned .... I'm sure that there's more drama to come. Oh, on an ironic note, the Canadian he-man is the first one of the two of us to get a bad cold. Ha,ha. I can laugh at that because he doesn't read my blog. Poetic justice, I say. Later!!

The Move is Complete

2007-09-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

We're here! In Michigan. We moved last Monday and last weekend, he-man had to go back to tie up loose ends in TN, and now there's just the unpacking to do. The kids started back to school (2 high school, 1 middle) and DS#1 is still in Canada, trying out for a junior hockey team. He's been doing that since the 27th and we still don't know if he'll make the team. He's made it this far, though, and that's not bad for a kid who couldn't stop on the ice something like 5 years ago. I'm so proud of him for even trying. Those other kids have been doing this since they were little. We went and watched one game and will go this weekend to watch 2 more exhibition games. Then, hopefully we'll know something. We are so close to the Canadian border that when DS#1 tore his contact the other morning, I was able to take him his spare contacts (yes, I know - he should have had them with) without much of a problem. Only took me a few hours and that included visiting time with the in-laws! How fun is that!! Well, send me your good thoughts on getting settled. It's harder than I expected. I know that this is where we should be right now, but I'm so out-of-pocket and anxious and sad. I guess this will pass. I hope so. Ending on a positive note, it's not 109 degrees here - it's beautiful and I can go to the beach when I want! Yeah! See, I'm trying. Really, I am.

Guess where this is?

2007-08-15T21:38:00.000-05:00

At McDonald's! At the drive -thru! Can you believe it? So pretty. I think it was somewhere in Kentucky. It was very calming as we waited for our fries!

The Right Thing

2007-08-15T21:28:00.000-05:00

Whine alert! Caution - this post is very whiny, because, well, I can. Read at your own risk.

That being said - moving sucks. We are moving for the "right reason" (i.e. a family need), but it's hard because I'm leaving my daughter, grandson, dad, stepmom, and church here. I can't even think about it for too long. I've cried alot. However, I am not completely devistated about going. I know my way back, if I need to visit. We have phone and internet to keep us close. I don't live close to my mom, but we talk all the time and that keeps us close. It's just not the same.

Starting tomorrow, I'm only going to be positive about the move. It will be good for us, it is not 200 degrees in Michigan like it is here and it is the right thing. I will be with my family (most of it anyway) and I do get to paint and decorate the new place. I look forward to starting my new job, which is part-time. And, I look forward to using some of the inspiration I'm getting from the wonderful blogs out there.

But again, I just have to say one more time - MOVING SUCKS. Now, bring it on.

2007-08-13T08:03:00.000-05:00

This is the Bluewater Bridge, on the Canadian side. We are going to live on the other side, near Port Huron, MI. Isn't it beautiful? Don't look at the date on the picture - my camera is messed up!

Back from up North

2007-08-10T16:48:00.000-05:00

We're baaaack! Our trip up north was fun and very productive. We took our grandbaby (5 months) with us and that was an adventure! He was very good for the whole trip. It was HOT in Michigan. Yuck. But only for a few days. We came home to 106 degree weather. Really yuck. Well, in 5 days, he-man and I came up with 2 fabulous jobs and 1 great house. Well, the house needs some work. I'm taking before and after pictures and hopefully I can get lots of inspiration from some of the great blogs out there and decorate it up nice. It's a manufactured home (formerly called trailers) but it's about 2200 square feet and very economical with utilities and payments. So, we're moving in 2 weeks. Well, gotta go - must pack! Will post pictures later.

With apologies to Mr. David Bowie

2007-07-26T20:43:00.000-05:00

ChChChChChanges............. Ah, there is a change in the air. It seems that he-man, and at least 3 of the kids (and me, of course) will be making a change in location. Going from sunny Tennessee to snowy Michigan. We think. No, we are. We think. We'll know more after an exploratory trip next week, but we used to live there. Long story short, marriage in Tennessee, move to Canada (he-man is a Canuck), move to Michigan, then move back to Tennessee 8 years ago. So now, we're going back. For family reasons, but for me this is hard. I'm leaving my family here and even some of my kids. Don't call Child Services, they are over 18. YIKES. Well, this will give me plenty of material to b**** about. I mean blog. Yeah right.

2007-07-08T07:31:00.000-05:00

This is my first go round with a blog, so I thought I'd put music on it. Just to see if I could (don't laugh if you are completely computer-literate!). The song is, of course, Unforgettable. A classic. When I listened to it, it made me think of the things that I think are unforgettable for me. So, here just some of them. There are many more - but here are some for now.
1) The way he-man husband makes me feel every day!
2) The memory of my daughters cute, fat cheeks and how happy she was as a baby.
3) DS#1's high school hockey career (the good and the bad) and how we still have good talks, even
though he's almost 19 and I thought he'd outgrown me!
4) DS #2's hugs (few and far between, but oh, so wonderful when they do come out)
5) DS #3's birth (very dramatic - 2 months early - totally his personality to this day)
6) DS #4's youth hockey career (the penalty minute king!) and how he always smiles, no matter
what.
7) Time spent with my Mom. We always have fun.
8) The way my grandson smiles at me and does the "happy-wiggle"!
9) The look on people's face when we say that we have 5 children. Yes, they are all ours.No, some are not twins. Yes, we meant to have this many. Yes, it's alot of work. Yes, they are truly "Unforgettable".

Why I Have An Extragood Life

2007-07-03T13:48:00.000-05:00

I have decided to post some of the extragood things about my life, not to gloat, but to keep myself reminded about my many blessings. Here was the scene last night: Setting - my bedroom, Cast of Characters - DS #1 (almost 19), DS #2 (almost 17), and DS #3 (almost 15) and me, Action: just hanging out and talking. That's right, talking. No fighting, no yelling, no cussing, no issues, just blissful conversation. Ahh, that's heaven. Those of you with teenage sons (especially 4 of them) will appreciate the wonderfulness of this experience. Thank you, boys. Love, your grateful Mom.

Employment and Shoes

2007-07-02T07:38:00.000-05:00

Currently, I am a lady of leisure (Read: unemployed, but I think that has a nicer ring) but I am looking. My job-hunting process has me thinking about how we treat one another in the big, bad world. My worst experience was being asked to come to an interview, driving 30 minutes to said interview, being kept waiting over 15 minutes only to be told by the very young person doing the interview that the only position that she had was not for me ( too much experience on my part for that position and not what I'm qualified for, nor interested in). She had my resume and application yet didn't bother to look at it for one minute. A simple phone call would have saved all that time and gas-money! I just wish that people would put themselves in other's shoes more often. Sorry, I'm starting out with a whiney post! Ok, no more. Speaking of shoes, I got a whole box of pretty much new shoes from the scuba-stepmom in my life. They didn't fit her foot right, but they fit mine! I have a little shoe fetish going on. Now, if anyone can't get their purse to fit right, I'd be in heaven!!!

Beginnings

2007-05-16T20:49:00.000-05:00

Well, this is my first try at a blog. Bear with me - I'm a rookie!! I have 5 children, a he-man husband, a dog, a grandson, and an extra-good life. Most of the time! There's always something going on at my house. Some good, some bad and some ugly. Hey, that sounds like a good movie title.....wait a minute........ Never mind. This should be fun!!