New Treasure

Back to collecting..... I love vintage enamelware and my friend Jenny is carrying some in her shop, His Light In Our Valley - the most unique little Christian book and gift shop. Since she is located in the same building as my office I have the opportunity to keep up with her inventory. I happened to be over there when the latest supply was delivered and look at this little treasure I found. It is a sugar bowl in fairly good condition. This is the first time I have seen this particular piece and I was so happy to snatch it up quickly. I looked on eBay and haven't found anything similar so it must be unique :)
Lucky me!

Sandwich Generation

They say my husband and I are part of the sandwich generation which is people who are still caring for their children and have become caretakers to their parents, but that is not how this generation applies to me. How blessed Ray and I are that our children are all grown and independent and our parents still have their health and independence too!! I probably could write a book about my parents and still would come up with things I feel the need to share, there are so many memories. Describing them in one word: Constant. Constant in their faith, their love for us and most of all each other. My sister, Missy and I often joke how we had such a great up-bringing and were so smothered with love and security that we weren't prepared for the "real world" as adults. Such great examples they were - when life is tough - you get tougher!!! And there were no illusions, truth and honor and integrity and hard work is what God requires of us and so did Mom and Dad. Forgiveness was taught AND demonstrated in our home, an attitude of service and not selfishness will take you places in this world. Their love and devotion to each other for almost 50 years is a constant example to all. Our family has so much to be thankful for that it should far outweigh anything the future throws at us.

Sing ... sing a song...

My weekend project. I am having a fling with organization right now; cleaning out drawers, cupboards, closets, boxes, everything in my path - one way or another I am going to get this house organized! Now herein lies the problem, when your are blessed(?) with a bit of an OCD personality you can become your own worst enemy. I decided the project to tackle this past weekend was organizing my Cd's and downloading them onto iTunes for easy access and mixing play lists so that I can load my MP3 Player and the new iPod Shuffle my sister got me for Christmas. I am a music lover for sure - I like all types - starting with my favorite Christian, followed by Country, Classic Rock, some Pop, Bluegrass, Classical, Island music, a little Rap (depending on the lyrics) just about all of it. And this is where the OCD issue comes into play - once I started the downloading process I couldn't stop until it was finished. I didn't realize how long this would take (and my computer is fairly fast) but needless to say I didn't get much of anything else done all weekend!

Pencil Tree - Chapter 2

Well I warned you that I am into my pencil tree this year. Who knows what you may see on it next. Right now we're geared up for St. Patrick's Day. Not as colorful as I like - green on green, but it will have to do. I do have a bit of the Irish blood running through my veins. Perhaps that is where my stubborn streak comes from. Not sure about the luck o'the Irish - I don't really believe in luck. I do believe that our lives are a combination of the choices we make and the will of God for our lives, and where one stops and the other begins isn't always obvious. As far as the pot of gold ..... I settled for some gold raffia at the base of my tree.

My Three Sons

Snips and snails and puppy dog tails .......... let me tell you what boys are really made of, perpetual motion! Even though they are grown men now, when I see them together it brings back all the memories of years gone by; of how every activity can be a competition and "tough guy" contest. Spending every waking moment possible outside building tree houses and cabins and playing games. Backyard football could be more intense than the Superbowl (without pads) Hunting and fishing until it was too dark to see. Tearing bikes and battery operated vehicles apart then reassembling them for more speed and power. And using their sister as a crash dummy or paintball gun target. Memories of broken bones, stitches and wounds galore!! I thank the Lord for these three young men who at times I thought would send me to an early grave with worry. Now here they are; a school teacher (Ray) a telephone lineman (Tyson) and a Marine (Adam) This picture of them setting up a canopy for a party was so funny - it became a tug-of-war and he-man tough-guy contest! Little boys really never do grow up ... and that's just the way I like it!

Mother of One Daughter

Sugar and spice and everything nice ..... that's my girl - NOT!! She is a tough one, had to be -remember she was the crash dummy and target for my three sons. Katie is a unique girl, she decided to wait until she was 25 to choose what she wanted to be - an architect. She attends PTI in Pittsburgh and lives with the love of her life - her dog Petey. She says she is not looking for a perfect man just the perfect man for her. Hm - smart girl! She loves outside more than inside but seeing that she is accident prone that makes her life very interesting. Speaking of accidents you should see her poor little Dodge Neon - dents and all, she truly believes it is an animal magnet (several deer, possum, a raccoon and one porcupine) have had encounters with the Neon. One thing for certain you usually don't need to try and guess what Kate is thinking she is quite willing to inform you:) I love that we have reached the point where we are friends now not just mother/daughter. I thank God that in this house full of testosterone He sent me an ally!

Give Me A Reason ...

to give a present that is. One of my favorite activities is to give gifts. For anyone and for any occasion - it makes me happy to see someones face light up and watch their reaction to receiving a present. So birthdays and any legal holiday are fair game. My husband thinks I'm crazy because I look for any excuse to buy someone a gift. My brothers once told me that I never have to be concerned with being wealthy because I give everything away - and I took that as a compliment. Sometimes I think it causes the hubby to worry (especially times like now when he is on lay-off from work) and money is tight, but gifts don't have to be expensive - just a little something to show that you care and appreciate others. So here is my work table with the goodies I plan on delivering tomorrow. I hope you all get a special gift this Valentines Day ♥

Glass Jars

I love my glass jars - I guess I have been thinking more about them now that our local Glass Plant is closing but I have fun displaying and organizing things in them. It is nice because you can actually see what you are looking for instead digging through boxes and bins. And they look nice sitting on a shelf. I am always looking for more ..... just another hobby to add to the list.

Collections

Here is an interesting question - how many items does a collection make? I like to say I collect many things. But do I need five or ten items or can it be anything I am always looking to add to? Just for fun I cleaned off my small hutch and placed some bottles we have accumulated through the years on it. My hubby is always in the woods - digging ginseng, blue and black cohash, bloodroot, goldenseal etc and picking mushrooms so he runs across some interesting finds. Anyways here are some of the glass bottles he has found plus one hand blown favorite of mine.

Scavenger Hunt

OK - maybe that title is a little formal for what I do, cleaning out the basement and closets etc.... but when you have lived in the same home for 26 years and during each of those years collected some things that you stashed away - well what else should I call it. I found this cute little hand painted slate that hung by my Grandma's kitchen door for as long as I can remember. I was excited when I found it! The most amazing thing is I keep finding things I have totally forgotten about. Now I will try and track down where and who it came from - there may be a little family history that goes with it. I hung it in my "work" room and every time I sit at my table in there I look up and see it :)

Bible Study

It never ceases to amaze me how energized I become when we start a new study. Tonight was the first meeting for our study "Having a Mary Spirit" and it was great. We have a wonderful group of ladies enrolled and always have room for more. But here is the amazing thing - I am the one who suggested this study and after the books were delivered started having second thoughts .... why would I do a study on the one part of scripture that I struggle with? The story of Mary and Martha is so well known, I mean here we have two ladies entertaining our Lord - and Martha is rushing around making sure everything is fit for a king (which He is) and Mary is sitting there listening to Jesus like she doesn't have a care in the world. For anyone who doesn't know me personally - I am sure you can guess which personality type I am. And what does Jesus do? He rebukes Martha for wanting a little bit of help! BUT - I am learning!!! And taking comfort in the fact the there is a time and place for each personality. Each one had their shortcomings and THAT is the essence of the study - whatever personality you are blessed with - we all need work. Not one of us has it all-together. Here is a quote from the book that pretty much says it all "I am so glad we have a Saviour who loves us just as we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way." Joanna Weaver

WORK

Today I just feel like rambling about my job (while I am on break of course) I wish I had one of those jobs that when someone asked - What do you do? I could say I am a __________. Instead I fumble for the words because it is so difficult to explain what I do, I wear many different hats on any given workday; from bookkeeping, mail clerk, office manager, executive administrator, facilitator, accounts receivable and payable manager, editor etc ..... See what I mean? Actually I work for 2 manufacturing businesses (we sew all American made gloves, and a gas meter test and repair plant), a natural gas production company, commercial leasing business, real estate holding company, a rental business, real estate company, certified appraisal business, and in my spare time a development company where we build modular homes and commercial buildings. I really do use two computers all day long! I took a picture of my desk in the middle of the work day and I hope to share another that shows what the goal is to achieve by the end of each day :) Hey see the picture on top - clean desk!!!!!!!!! I made it though another day - now I get to go home and think about what I might have forgot to do.

My British Heritage

The most amazing thing happened to me on Friday evening, I received a Facebook friend request from my cousin, Diane, in England. Sharing a little bit of history with you: My parents met in England while my dad was stationed there in the Air Force - talk about love at first sight - he walked into a little diner with some service buddies and he spotted my mother and he told his friends "that is the girl I am going to marry"! And marry her he did. They were married in 1962 and the following year I was born. I was nearly a year old when Dad was discharged and we came home to the states. In 1974 we made a trip over and spent six weeks with our Grandparents who had never met any of my siblings. Two of my uncles, George and Eddie, have made the trip over here, but other than that I haven't had much contact with my extended family. And out of the blue Diane accidentally comes across me on Facebook. We actually chatted over the weekend and I am so excited. I have been sharing pictures and info with Mom in Florida (she has a hard time navigating the computer - but she is trying) I know it made her cry this morning when she saw the photo. Can you imagine- 17 years old and married to an American and leaving everything you know to start a new life in a foreign land! Anyhow - it sure has made my weekend and hopefully plans will be in the making for a reunion - sometime, somehow. In the meantime we will play catch up on the good old Internet!