Where DOES The Time Go?

I guess the saying is true...time flies when you're having fun (and as busy as a little bee!!) Who knew that in all of my fun, that my poor blog would be the one to pay the price. I know!! I know!! I still spend an awful lot of time on facebook, (farmville is my newest gaming addiction) keeping up with my day-to-day things, so why can't I come here to do the same? Maybe because my lack of time to scrap, and this blog's reminder of my passion being put to the side as other things have taken it's place.

For one, I've really started taking an interest in my health. Researching low glycemic foods, foods to lower blood pressure, and studying the effects different foods have on my body. In the past 3 years, I've gone from a size 20/22 to a size 10!! (It's amazing how just changing your diet the weight falls off...very happy about the results) In the past 6 months, I've incorporated an exercise routine, and even joined the YMCA. (My arthritis isn't hurting me nearly as much as before.) And did I mention I'm now incorporating MORE vegetarian means? (Gave up red meat & pork, but still eat fish, poultry and dairy) Eventually I may go total vegan, but for now, I'm happy.

Then there was a change in our family dynamic...my youngest son moved back home from Michigan this past February. It's been WONDERFUL having him back here...but now he's ready to move back to Michigan to be with his fiance', Felicia. (Our family got to meet her this past Christmas, and we just LOVE her.) It's been a bit cramped in this tiny house, but we managed just fine.

I've started spending time with my pastor's wive's father twice a week. (To give the family a little rest.) He'll be 99 in November and just the sweetest man you'll ever meet. Once upon a time he was a checker champion, so we spend a LOT of time over a game of checkers. (His philosophy is if you can win at checkers, you can win at anything life throws at you.) Once a week, he still gets on his tractor to cut the grass (even if now some of the rose bushes suffer from his deteriorating sight ::grins:) Smart as a whip, amazing sense of humor and loves the Lord. Just a delightful blessing to be around...and I consider myself blessed just knowing him.

My jewelry sales are up. I've sold quite a few pieces to several ladies at church, and even more at one of the local hair salons. Nothing that is considered a steady income, but enough to keep gas in the car (and these days, who could complain about THAT?!?)

And finally, after my success with the tomatoes last summer, I took the plunge to add MORE veggies to my gardening this year. (3 types of tomatoes, yellow sweet peppers) And then there are the flowers... (4 hydrangeas, 4 spider plants, 3 wild rose bushes, 1 schefflera plant & 1 fuschia plant.)

Of course, these are only the highlights...however, my time is up and I'm about to rush out the door.

Happy New Year!!

IT'S 2009!!

For the most part, it's been a busy day for me. Got up early to cook while watching the 2009 Rose Parade. (It's always fascinated me how they make their floats out of nothing but flowers and natural materials!!) Fed everyone, cleaned the kitchen, checked email & blogs and then caught up on the ADSR4 Rules.

YUP...it's that time again...The Amazing Digi Scrap Race-Season 4 begins on January 4th.
(For those unfamiliar...At NDISB, they've come up with a cool internet digital scrapping game that will mirror the excitement of the TV reality show "The Amazing Race." Teams of two will traverse the digital scrapping world, site by site, completing challenges and collecting prizes along the way. Everyone who completes the week's challenges in the allotted time frame will move on to the next week, where they can collect even MORE prizes! And at the end of the race, everyone who has traveled around the digi-world and completed each and every challenge will be entered into a drawing for the GRAND prize!) Last year was my first time to compete as half of the MAJOR CONTENDERS. We had so much fun together that Lilly & I teamed up again this year.


The rest of the day was spent in PSPland...with Matt & Robert being off with friends, Kat sick and sleeping in my bed, & hubby comatosed on the sofa in the den since lunchtime. I should have been locked up in my bathroom installing more river rocks...but just couldn't help myself. *giggles*

This is the photo that I selected to play with...

This is what I did to it...

FULL CREDITS:
Weeds & Wildflowers
Circle Cluster from Jolly Holiday Mess
Blue Paper from Lazy Days
Jen Ulasiewicz
Rock Wall Paper from Old Americana
Grass from Farmers Market
WaterLO Project
Tree from In The Sleeping Orchard
Plants from At The Picnic
Fence from At Grandma's Backyard
Gravel Paper by ASTC (me)
Waves and Blue Paper from Cruisin In The Carib by MicroFerk
Beads/Stars from Nice Xmas 4U by Bel Vidotti
Photo: Robert & Kat - December 30, 2008 - 4:30pm
Program: PSP-9

*raises glass*
Here's wishing you a healthy, happy & prosperous New Year!!

Rush Rush Rush

I'm in a rush...still knee deep in bathroom remodel. So far we've installed insulation, drywall, flooring, the bubble tub and it's framing and I've just started on the river rocks. I must have been on drugs the day I decided I wanted river rocks...it's a very slow, tedious process of installing them one at a time. (I know...I know...I could have gotten the 12x12 mesh tiles with them already glued on and it would have made my life simpler, but a 40lb bag was cheaper...lol)

Christmas was wonderful...having all of my children under one roof was all I could have asked for!! Now dealing with trying to get our gifts to WORK was another story!! Seriously...48 hours spent on 3 different MP3 players. Finally got Robert's and mine filled with music and videos...but Kat's was being stubborn. (It's now at a friend's house and hopefully she will be able to figure it out this week.)

Managed to find a bit of time to scrap a page...though I must admit I cheated. I used a quick page and just added a few embellishments.

FULL CREDITS:
Quick page by Kenna from Weeds & Wildflowers Christmas Countdown Freebie
Stars from Lil Bit Of Chalk Sampler from Weeds & Wildflowers Christmas Countdown Freebie
Tree from Traditions from Weeds & Wildflowers Christmas Countdown Freebie
Photo: Robert & Fred
Program: PSP-9

This is my latest personal blog header:

Forest Nymphs by Sensual Poser
Paper from Happy Birthday Renee Freebie by KimB Designs
Swirl, Leaves, Butterfly from In The Evening Forest by WaterLO Project
Glitzy Alpha from Blog Christmas Gift by Weeds & Wildflowers
Cat tails from Memories Of The Sea by Myborkova Design
Crystal Drops from Vintage Central Park 4 by Annies Digital Things
Program: PSP-9

Monday Mayhem...

For those that missed it, I spent half an hour throwing away close to $400 in frozen groceries yesterday at lunchtime...not because of faulty freezer, but the fact that someone unplugged it. (From the temperature of melted water, thawed food & SMELL...I'm guessing at least 1-2 weeks) Due to yesterday's humidity and my lack of iron stomach, I put draining & sanitizing off until nightfall. However, plans tend to change so quickly in this house and it was put off again. (Lid is closed TIGHT and awaiting me to clean...though I might be investing in a gas mask now)

I was already taking the day off from the kitchen due to stiff muscles. By the time I was finished throwing all of the gross food out, I was really hurting. Spent most of the day lounging, rubbing lotion on my legs and trying to massage the cramps away, and applying medicated heat patches to my back.

Kat made it home around 9:30pm. I feel my baby girl slipping away from me. She no longer talks to me about everything going on with her. We never spend any time together since she started working full time and traveling every weekend with the drama team. Though I'm proud of what she's doing and the hard work she's putting in to it...I'm feeling somewhat neglected and ignored. Used to, if you were looking for me, it was automatically assumed that Kat would be near. I know I've whined before asking if this is what it's suppose to feel like when you are no longer needed, but this feeling is heart-wrenching.

I rode with hubby this morning to help with directions to the place for his drug test. Turns out he didn't need me. He had to go to Wal*Mart first to pick up the paperwork to take to the hospital, but while there he had another "small interview". (Dang...how many times must someone be interviewed to work in a garage?) Nearly an hour later, hubby comes back to truck sans medical paperwork. I asked him what was up and he said they decided to put him in another position making less money that what he was making at the Truck Stop so he said he was sorry he wasted their time for the past 6 weeks and that he would have to decline. It didn't sit well with the guy in charge, but he did leave it open for hubby to return at a later time.

Hubby was disgusted. He was told the reason they were giving him less money is because of his work experience and history. Hubby asked what he meant since he had managerial experience at AutoZone, Napa, and the Truck Stop. He then was told they wanted more years than what he listed. *sigh* For what they wanted to pay him, he would have been making LESS than what OS is making now at Costco changing tires. So we stopped by a couple of places on way home for him to get aps.

Hubby has been on the phone ever since we arrived home nearly an hour ago. Unsure what will happen now...especially since we thought he HAD this job and was quoted a certain amount 2 weeks ago and it didn't happen that way today. Something more for me to worry about and try not to let it get to me.

A few minutes ago, I received a message through my MySpace from YS saying that he was coming down with his Dad and Grandma to get pickup his other sister Somer. Would only be here for the weekend and would be able to spend Saturday with me. Now I'm really freaking since my entire house is turned upside down and my kitchen in shambles. How am I suppose to be relaxed and play gracious host to Grandma Joyce when there isn't a clean spot to sit? ROFL!! Guess I better get off my hiney and bust tail to get the kitchen halfway completed.

Good & Bad News

I'll start off with the bad news first...

It's a sad day in the world of scrapbooking...I just learned that Tina Williams is closing the doors to her store. Will hate to see her go...but wish her all the best in wherever life takes her. Don't pass up on this great opportunity of grabbing some amazing products at an incredibly low price!!

SO...on to the good news...

For the past 2 weeks, I've been trying to decide if I wanted to purchase a bus ticket and risk health issues by riding 24 hours one way to see youngest son graduate, or go broke by purchasing a plane ticket so that I wouldn't be uncomfortable. In the end, I called YS and let him know that it just wasn't possible for me to make it...that was until last night. MIL called hubby and before I knew it, had purchased me round trip airfare!! *jumping up and down* So now I have less than a week to pack, his graduation ceremony is Monday evening!!