The Table Search Continues

I’ve worked on my zone work and gotten the house in shape for the holiday happenings around here. I have not decided on the table yet but I’m zooming in on a decision before long. I’m thinking I’d love to have a table chairs hutch and buffet so it’s back to pounding the pavement and looking at more catalogues. I’ve decided to wait and do this for one of my art dates. Without grand kids in tow so I do not have to worry about them jumping from one new couch to another and I’m not kidding about this! Or swinging from the chandeliers kidding here, but I now realize why I was overwhelmed by this decision. I’d find a table with out chairs at one antique store, no price yet on it so I’m waiting for a call. I found one or a dinette set I liked in the right color of wood but the chairs were not comfortable, so I had to keep looking, another one awesome but over powering and was huge and for a formal dinning room, ours is not.

A hutch is on my list as well; would like a hutch one with a mirrored back to reflect more light because of the Northern exposure. I found one or two and a couple buffets Now I’m hoping to find these pieces in a wood we like. Hubby likes the oak, I’ve given up on pine and will be looking at oak and have seen some older pieced at the antique shops. This has been an interesting adventure. One of the plusses of a new set is that they will deliver it free! That is a consideration around here.

TV night

This is one of my favorite nights for TV. Last night I watched a pretty new TV show called Friday Night Lights I’ve seen it a couple of times and enjoyed it. This show took me back to my high school days and I knew they had done their job with I found my self reflecting dating my hubby he was on the foot ball team we were. There is some thing soothing about life if your biggest problem is what student to start as qb [quarter back] on Friday night. This show is on too late I think. Don’t know if I’ll be able to catch very many of these. Tonight The Unity one of my favorites new shows from last year. I should get dinner done early so I can get the evening stuff out of the way and sit down and relax and watch it.

Hanging Iron

There is snow in the forecast here for later in the weekend it’s frosty out now. I asked hubby if he had hung iron yet, that’s trucker talk for “put chains on the truck”; to have them with you for getting up and over snowy road conditions in the winter. He said yes he put them on the first of September. There is snow in the forecast over night the first week of snow was last week. It's breezey and blustery outside now.

New TV show fav. picks of the season

Men in trees a delightful comedy has us laughing and feeling good a Friday night delight.

Shark is a surprise I did not think I would like this one but the salty main character’s experience holds his own. Fresh camera shots are great in this one. I look for it to be around for a while.

These two shows get my pick of the two top new TV shows of 06.
The rest of the new shows could not hold my attention for a whole hour.

I look forward to the return of house after the series. My fav. pick of last season.

Friday Finds

Finds:
[If I was doing a list journal this would go in it.]

metal footed candle stand
pj's
silk roses
decor tin w/ pumpkins on it
note book to draw on & in
decor hat for office w/ flowers on it
sweater in my size
button down sweater
fabric
white mini crochet baskets
beads
2 silver spoons
plastic ice cream bucket
gloves kids long
fabric
noise maker
hat for wall w/ flowers on it
carpet bag tote
jars for canisters
slippers

Aprons for Mama & Others!

I remember one year mom made aprons for everyone for Christmas it was such fun for her to sew these up and for us to receive them. After that we have gotten a John Deer BBQ apron, and I have a sheep apron I use for my spinning and weaving crafts.

I've been gathering up aprons for mom. What she used to call cobbler style aprons, I've found one at a yard sale like new in an tropical print and some others at a thrift store. She cooks at the senior center part time and wears them for her work.

While I was clearing out the basement and going through the dear grand daughters toys. I found a tiny apron it reminded me of ones I made for our daughter and one for her doll that matched I did one for myself too. I made some for the dear grand daughters and their dolls they have loved playing at cooking wearing their aprons and feeding their dolls.

I found some aprons that the home improvement store has for kids and small ones like a nail apron to wear when daddy is building something to keep nails and a hammer in.

Granny’s Hammer

I remember granny’s hammer today at a tent sale outside as I was chatting with a friend I spotted this hammer and got it I remember granny had one just like it for small jobs in the house the bigger hammers the guys would [borrow] borry as she said and not bring them back. This smaller one they did not want to mess with it was just right for small jobs like hanging a picture or helping us to nail a bird house before we painted them or pulling nails that were in the way.

I found a canvas satchel for my art sketch bookand my writing journal I ‘ve been looking for just the right container for my things ant this just fits the bill. Hubby commented that I seemed to be having more fun at the stores he wanted to go to that had hunting gear. I found fender bags for my ATV too!

The Traveling Basket

I’ve been thinking about a basket my grandmother and grandfather brought a sea grass tote basket with them on the train. One time it had some food to eat canned tuna, cheese and cracker packets for the three day cross country journey trip from where she lived to our house.

It was great because we remembered this basket from when we went back one year. So this basket was passed back and forth across the country several times. Mom filled it for their return trip adding a can opener as I remember, I have fond memories of these type of baskets today.

I have a basket similar to this in my cupboard today it’s a smaller version when my sis was out last time we talked about our memories of this basket. It seems to come up when we are visiting each other! It has come sort of a tradition of portable hospitality for us.

Rubber stamping Fun & Mini-mancation

I went to a rubber stamping party for gno [girls night out] this past week. It was great we made some cards and ordered supplies. I came home and hubby was having a miniman cation a party for one having dinner in front of the TV watching wrestling. I was not the only one having a fun break in my routine this week!

Today I took a rain walk with my newest wardrobe addtion a purple rain coat, and a hat, soon the rain stopped while I was on my fourtyfive minute walk. After I got home sun came out. I've been cooking chicken in bulk I thawed out that whole bag of chicken thighs and cooked them up using two crock pots and the oven. The house sure smells great, I have broth for soup now yummy!

Morning Painting Evening Pages

I found stationery that said special on it and I custom cut it to fit my planner and I’ll will be using it as a writing exercise for 21 days write about being special.

I’m enjoying a book I found last week and nearly have it read I highly recommend this book Writing alone and with others by Pat Schneider especially if you have writing aspirations you need this book! It's a great read too about her experiences of leading writing work shops and what is good in a writing work shop or writing class.

I wrote and auto bio of my younger years a few years back and that was such a fun experience I took my note book and went to a coffee shop one morning and got the bulk of ideas on paper that went so smoothly without the distraction of phone or TV; I see why they suggest that in the books on writing that I love to read!

I enjoyed a writers group that I was in one fall it so inspired me to keep on writing it was a very productive fall. That was before blogging for me.

No, I do not write fiction not writing a book not working on a manuscript some are doing NaNoWriMo 2006 for a fall fiction project writing project what is this? http://www.nanowrimo.org/

My dear grand daughter 2nd grade is supposed to be doing journaling and I’ve talked to her parents about keeping it in her book bag so she can work on it here, yesterday I had her write down a line of the topic she wanted to write about. I do this to help me remember if I do not have my journal / planner with me. Journaling is one of my passions I love to read journals by others like early pioneers Lewis and Clark journals have been a fun read for me. I’ve found this at the local camp ground and others in
our area. So next time you are traveling check out books at tourist attractions of local authors.

Morning painting evening pages I’m painting in the mornings these days instead of doing morning pages and journaling in the evening whatever works! I"m Painting bird houses doll chairs and other fun items!

I did my art date yesterday ie play time over town shopping / doing research for dining table was exhausting I thought it would be fun it's not!

My 'finds' this week on my art date were two Emilie Barnes tea books! I love these they were on my book wish list last Christmas last year so I’m feeling very blessed to have these to read now. Timeless treasures and the Twelve teas of friendship. I have her gardening one and it’s time for a re-read of it I think! I love the art work in the Timeless Treasures Sandy Lynam Clough is the featured artist in this one; and twelve teas has art by Susan Ross. If you want a gift suggestion for a mom or granny that loves teas this is one you need to check in to getting!

I’ve really been inspired to get in gear with my painting by a book Creative Artist by Nita Lealand got it from north light book club I’ve got a wish list of at least $200.oo of books I want from the last catalogue. If only I had more time to read.

Table Shopping

I’ve been on an elusive search for the perfect dining table.
I wanted pine with knots but found out they don’t recommend pine
because the wood is too soft.

So I’ve been scouring thrift shops, going to yard sales
new and 2nd hand furniture stores.
with out luck but I’m not giving up not yet any way.
This week I"m still shopping and doing research.
I'm learning a lot about this process.

Gathering Walk

The Gathering Walk This is a walk I'd been planning this one for a week or so. I headed out to the corner and only made it half way to the first block I had to go back for got something, back home I grabbed two bags there were pine, fir and spruce cones I wanted to gather along the street there were dove feathers I'd spotted the other day. I found some cedar hedge trimmings from yard work done earlier in the week I spotted and that was a true find to add to the fragrant woodsy smell I was after.

Today the weather was perfect 68* clear blue skies the kind of weather I love to walk in. Twenty minutes later after the loop the first part of my gathering adventure was done I had to come by the house to shed my sweater.

I was off to the next part of my walk about a half mile down the road there was a walnut tree I was heading for English walnuts, and further down the lane black walnuts I was after nuts and shells, for craft supplies I scooted my feet in bright yellow leaves as I walked along just like I remembered doing as a kid walking home from school it was such a great feeling.

I have a potpourri recipe for fall I want to try I found it in a December magazine how you could do that and then let it sit the three weeks needed and get it ready for the holidays is beyond me but I was able to start early and will be trying this next.

Mancations & ATV-ing fun

We are back from an ATV picnic ride. The ride on the way up before we unloaded the machines
we saw 13 head of mountain sheep a couple of rams were fighting in the road. Then in the next pasture we saw 4 deer, we saw birds during the day after we unloaded blue birds, ravens, a sparrow hawk, and on three elk, and three wild turkeys.

It was great we found a camp ground we had been trying to get to but did not get the right road until today. That was great, found another camp ground on the way to it. The one we went to had scenic attractions of info. about CC camps during the depression they had built a look out tower. This spot was called mount misery.

The fall color was glorious the huckleberry bushes were vibrant red. The road was smoother this trip and that was good just a couple of rough spots. Hubby showed me where he and our son had tent camped and woke up to 6” of snow the next morning. It was a complete surprise to them that snow was in the forecast this was an elk hunting trip. One of those man-cations I heard about on the news the other day a vacation for men.

On the way we stopped at what looked like a cabin a place the snow mobile riders can warm up in the winter. There was another place we got some info. men looked like they were on a mancation too, it was a forest ranger place I found out later.

We were close to the places that had fires and saw the trial heads that were closed. On one of our earlier trips in July, I think we stayed in one of the camp grounds that was closed because of the Columbia complex fire.

On the way home we traded ATVs and I rode hubby’s. and he rode mine for about ¼ of the way approximately 22 mi. I think we did 44 miles today.

20 Creative Actions

Creative actions you I can take list.
1. fix hole in basement stair wall & paint
2. Hang curtains in sewing room.
3. Put the primrose into a good pot.
4. Change the downstairs pics.
5. Work on creativity notebook.
6. Send my sister send mom the apron I got for her.
7. Send my sister crochet afghan book I got for her.
8. Buy socks.
9. Go to church wearing new sox.
10. Work on a computer file of fall name tags.

11. Send afun tag or stat to friends.
12. Write about my current life and send a letter to granny.
13. Put something in my "God Jar," a special incubator for my dreams and hopes.
14. Designate something else a "what the heck!" basket for my resentment, annoyances, and fears.
15. Throw a tea party and request that each guest bring a good story to tell.
16. Make a pot of home made soup.
17. Donate clothes that are too big.
18. Pray for more creative ideas.
19. Go to a great body lotion store and get one great perfumed soap.
20. Take an friend to a lunch, or granny play date with others grannys that have kids at home too.

Grape Pie

Yesterday after school the grand kids helped me to pick the grapes something that they love to do. These are green grapes.

Then they played in the back yard we had recess

for an hour or so. The weather was perfect 72* and sunny out side.

This reminded me of a time my granny made grape pie.

As I sat on the patio swing I realized what a joy this was to

watch grand children playing and it was what makes me happy.

They played with the toys I set up on the new cubes in the rec. room

with renews interest after rotating the toys for the new fall season

indoor toys and kids books have such a new place in the schedule now.

First Snow

First snow!

Lets by-pass fall and zoom right on in to snow season
Lord knows we need it for all the fires in the PNW
I heard on the news Mt. Spokane had snow this morning.
That oh saw a 3.5 hr. drive from here.

It was cold on the walk today even with a sweater 65* ish was our high temp.
aver 90* for weeks it feels cold. Rain that predicted did not show up.
We needed it but it breezed right past us.

I am looking forward to the fall color around here.
We are enjoying cooler temps.
they will be up to 70* again next week.

One year it was warm enough to go camping in November.
That was great.

Full Tank

I was watching Yanni on PBS and it made me think now that really filled my tank! So now I am thinking about priming the pump, on the farm you have to put water in to prime the pump some time what we put in our spirits helped us to get the creative forces going.

My weekly hikes and daily walks help, and some of the other things that have made me feel refueled in the past. have been been reading some on being refreshed getting some time for me after a busy summer; it’s become evident that I need to move me up higher on the list and important for me understand that I really do need to take some down time to get refreshed from time to time.

Last week of vacation really helped I did not realize how dry I’d become in my spirit. Some times just taking a walk to see the color of fall will do it for me but fall color has not arrived here yet, but we did see some fall color in the mountains.

Other times for me it’s having a fresh perspective on life. I need to schedule time to write, read, draw and do creative pursuits that I enjoy.

Today after I mowed the yard on my art date this week I was able to find a silver coffee service I’d had my eye on for a while I decide to go ahead and get it. It was black and took some elbow grease and some Mr. Metal to get most of the black off. I am going to use this for decoration on the piano for now and it will be fun to have on the serving table during the holidays. These are some of the things that fill my tank.

After getting refreshed I was able to return to my work with renewed enthusiasm and vigor things like dishes were not longer so over whelming I understood they were just a part of life. My whole perspective had changed about it.

Create a Personal Sanctuary

Create a personal sanctuary a place for quiet reflection alone to read write and contemplate. Some people are able to do this when they drive. I realize that when we are on the ATV's this is a wonderful time for me to have what I call the solace of solitude. No traffic no on else was around and have a time to reflect pray and enjoy God's creation over the week end we saw two different groups of big horned mountain sheep, some deer and wild turkeys too! Getting to pick black berries in the bottom of the canyon was a treat.

It was neat when hubby said I was getting better on my ATV when I pulled up just seconds after he stopped. I was trying to keep up so we had time to pick berried. Other times I'm just enjoying the view and lolly ~ gagging behind. I enjoy a slower pace at times too.

At home my office is that place at times any way; so I'm trying to dig it out before it gets any deeper in here we almost needed a snow shovel to scoop out the piles papers, and stuff I'd taken out of the living room in my latest stash and dash when people stopped by.

We have a home that is not Martha Stewart clean but has that "lived in look". I try to keep the living room presentable, the first two places we had were open kitchen floor plans what a night mare for me that was now the kitchen has a wall and that has been a life saver for me!

On my art date yesterday at the thrift shop I found a tote bag that zipped closed, I'll be able to put a sketch pad and journal in that. I'd been looking for one. I found a pail with a bail and a lid it is blue with white dots on it and geese a wonderful size for berry picking just enough for a pie! That will come in so handy I have another one like it only it holds a gallon or more. So this one is a better size. The lid is great if you trip on the trial you do not spill all your berries!

People Grats

People that have helped me grats of people who have helped me on my weight loss journey.

Dr. H. who delivered our kids and had me walking a mi. a day when I was pregnant with gestational diabetes.

Hubby ~ for starting to journey and being a great leader on
the weight loss journey.

Pastor Ron King who said from the pulpit please don’t bring goodies at the holiday season.

Neighbors / friends Mr. & Mrs. K.

Neighbor Mr. A. positive comment

The next door neighbors to the west who said their dr. said eat half.

Neighbors directly behind us who shared about their daughter that had gastric bypass surgery that groups donated free clothes to her that was so inspiring!

Oprah & her trainer Bob Greene

Dr. Phil

Kristi Alley [the Jenny Craig spokeswoman].

For all those on TV shows that had the courage to share their journey.
For the authors of books I read that went on the journey before me to inspire me so much!

To my sis that completed suicide and showed
me a path I knew I did not want to take.

My grand children who like to go on walks with me, and give me so much
more inspiration to continue on my journey.

For those doctors and nurses that taught us how do deal with our son’s
diabetes and who ever made the teaching video on how to mange blood sugar for our son when he got diabetes type I at 17 when he was a high school senior.

For all the P.E. teachers that were such a great example for me when I wasn in PE is school eons ago when they actually taught PE as a class.

For my high school track coach that taught me to love that sport.

For my grandpa who taught me how to overcome the obstacle of blindness from glaucoma and the dedication to church when he could
no longer drive.

For my other granny at fourty-five who said her dr. said she she she needed to loose some weight – and she did. What a wonderful example she’s in her 90’s and still alive today.

For s.h.e. sisters who taught me how to have and implement a plan.

For the 4-5 people we know that had heart attacks since we started on our journey it really it really confirmed we are on the path!

My jeweler who said “congratulations” when I took my rings in to
be down sized again!

For my fear of the dr’s tools of the needle, and the knife that spurned me on to do it my own.

What Have You Learned In The Past 18 Months?

What is the important thing you have learned in the last 18 mo.?

Don’t give up, even when I thought I’d failed and the scales seemed suck, or went in the wrong direction I just kept plugging along! I kept on keeping on. When I fell off my eating program I got right back on and started all over again. And yes I did have set backs. But I did not give up I kept walking, exercising and monitoring the size of the portions I consumed.

I reviewed the de-fat the kitchen part of my program, and tossed the junk that crept back in occasionally. I asked family members not to bring the stuff I was not supposed to have with the sugar, white flour, chips and other junk foods. We replaced them with on program alternatives.

Our home became a haven and refuge we learned that we really could enjoy life again with out candy bars cakes cookies and the all you can eat buffet! We learned to love salads at lunch and dinner too. At some point our focus changed off of the food and we moved on to let other things be our focus. Seeing how we could get past the issues that were stressing us so much a death in the family of an aging parent.

The exercise we got during sale of the farm, seeing childern finally getting their ducks in a row helped too. I found an on line support community of prayer that lifted me up and encouraged me. I kept walking daily through the steps of my life I discovered an internal strength that I did no know I had. What a joy to discover my affirmations were helping and actually working.

My yard and garden became work out zone and helped as we worked on projects together. Helping others move created a renewed since of community and family ties were strengthened as we went through this process. We grew stronger in our faith and closer as a couple.

Challenges of having my last close extended family member move cross country helped me to refocus my energy and attention on immediate family. My friends could not keep up on walks as my health improved and we enjoyed trips to the park with grand children it’s been fun to devote time energy and attention to them and being grateful for the opportunity to see them grow past the stroller stage as when the lived with us. And now that they have moved they still like to go on walks and nature hikes with us we helped them to understand some healthier life style options.

On our walks they gathered treasure in bags for treasure boxes leaves
became art projects to trace cut and glue for even more fun. The joy in our lived increased greatly in those times that we shared.