Getting on a schedule

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

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!

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

Football, you bet!

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

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!

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

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!)

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

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.

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!

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

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

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?

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!

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

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.

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!

My Bunny on a Stick project!

I've got to do better!

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!