As Though I Have Nothing Else to Do...

So, the other day, Marchelle at Chronicles of a Working Mom was brave enough to ask for some decorating advice. I guess she hadn't heard before, "be careful of what ye may ask." 

And she posted this pic of her living room, complete with Mr. Clean's brand spankin' new man box over the mantle and she asked, "Do I need rugs, pictures, anybody out there... HAYLP!"

Dana and her wonder-mac to the rescue! I said YES you need rugs and art, girlfriend, and I am all over this for you! And in one hour, I came up with a list of things for Marchelle to spruce up her home, and might I add, the total is likely less than that big screen that Mr. Clean sprung for. See, Marchelle, like so many of us, has high tastes on a limited budgie, and she explained she likes the PB look. So, first I went to PB to see what's shakin' this season at their place, and then I came up with these alternatives for Marchelle.

This rug is a near knock-off of one that was sold out on PB online. I found it at WalMart.com, for $188 for a 5 x 8. They also have it in a larger size, depending on Marchelle's room size.

Then I hopped over to Pier One to see what finds they had, and I thought these pillows have that dhurry pillow look that PB is so famous for, but these are on clearance for 12.48 each. Notice they have some beige in them and would go with her furniture.
Then this little piece de resistance; big bold flower patterns are in, or had you noticed? I said she needs something light and vibrant. How about this chair from Tarjay. This is the big ticket item for Marchelle's spruce-a-roo. But well worth it at $300. And I recommend she explain, this is Momma-Bear's chair to her little ones. Uhm, I did suggest she kick out the rocker recliner and replace it with this chair, just for her. Mr. Clean might fuss a little, but just remember, a happy wife makes a happy life! Notice I am also bringing in the kiwi green she boldly painted her kitchen and admits she loves.

I also said some bright white drapery panels with those big modern grommets would update her window treatments. These are available for about $20 per panel at places like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond. Hopefully she will be able to use her same rods. I find rods are the most expensive part of window treatments.
And how about a cozy up throw on that big beige sofa! The kids will appreciate it at cartoon time, and Marchelle will snuggle up when she's indulging in her not-so-secret love affair with Edward Cullen. It plays off the colors in the wall art I picked...

Voila, have a pear, or two. I liked this piece from Target for $75. Marchelle is not hip to fruit in the living room. Okay, well, it is HER living room and all. So I also found this alternative:
The idea being to bring in some of the green onto her living room walls, capture another accent color, like the blues in the throw. 

Marchelle is also opposed to clutter in her home. Oh goodness she would freak out here. But I said, a few non breakables (since she has small children) would dress up those tables; ie: books, candles, a plant or something. 

Marchelle facebooked me last night and said Mr. Clean has finally done a 180 and agreed to PAINT her MANTLE! OMG! We just about jumped for joy over that one! I think he might have heard that happy wife saying afterall. When it is all done and purtied up, she's gonna post about it!  I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Do you have a decorating dilemma? Because I have exhausted my own shopping funds on my kitchen redo, so I'd love to help you spend your money! hee hee! Just say the word, and I'll be right over!

Jane and Daisy, separated at birth?

Jane is an adorable little calico feline at the Casbah Kitten. She is quite the blogger, and she gave Daisy this show of affection, the friends award. Thank you Jane, that is so sweet of you! Jane and Daisy look so much alike, I wonder if they are twins who've been separated by birth. Hop over and see Daisy's friend, Jane.

And Daisy, of course felt she was being deprived her own blogging voice and was relegated as mere eye candy on my blog. So as to keep her happy, as no one likes an unhappy cat, I turn the reigns over to her today. She picked these photos herself and asked me to tell you about them.
This is Daisy's morning ritual. Perching close to her mother (that would be me) she likes to watch a few minutes of the early morning news. She prefers CNN. I think she really likes that Anderson Cooper fella. I catch her watching him a lot.
And then she might take up a perch on the barstool. She particularly likes the stool where I usually sit. She likes to taunt me that she is sitting in my chair.
Always needing to assert herself on a spot higher than humans, she looks for opportunities to revel in her position of superiority.
As is also demonstrated in this photo. After watching me work all day in the garden, she fell asleep on top of me. Ah, such hard work that she does all day! She thinks of me as the giant food dispenser as well as her personal pillow.
And then her final Beauty Shot. This photo shows her moodier side. Not to mention the long whiskers she sports. I understand a cat's whiskers are the length that is the same as the width of their body. They are used like curb finder's so they know not to go into spaces so small they will get stuck. Uh hum, I think Daisy missed kitty-ed that day in school.

And now as to who Daisy would like to give this award: 

The new baby goats over at Morning Ramble

All the critters over at Punkin's Patch

Big Bird at the Flowerweaver 

and handsome as ever, Mr. Pickles at Cowboys and Custard

Sneak Peek at the Kitchen

I still have not made up my mind what furniture pieces to order to replace my table and chairs, but I am making progress in my kitchen. I have addressed some of your suggestions.

Like curtains: These I found at JC Penney ON SALE!. I love the color, and the pattern. And while some of you thought I needed more color in my kitchen, I've been drawn to some of the blogs on my list which have more neutral decor and calmer interiors. So... I went neutral. One of real life friends suggested a lamp on the buffet, so voila! I have a lamp there now! New art work is coming soon! And while I liked the hardware onmy cabinets. I did take Lisa's suggestion and tried new hardware on my buffet.

I said I would repurpose this shelf, and I still might. But in the meantime, I gathered a few things from my cabinet that were more neutral in their color pallet. Uhm yes, I will remove the hook on the wall if I decide this is permanent!
Then, I was at TJMaax and saw these canisters. Loved them, but thought I do not need more canisters. Anyone else a canister junkie? I dreamed about them all night and went back to get them. Turns out my old favorites are going to the cabin, so I DID need new ones afterall! I love the pale green color. The other items, I had hidden away.
I had this plate rack, but no plates to fit it. I went to Old world Pottery and bought three white plates for .89 cents each! You heard me! And I put things I already had in the same light robin egg blue on the tiny shelves at the end of my cabinet.
But this has to be my favorite thing so far about my kitchen update: And no one but me sees it! I took all the mess off the refrigerator. But I had to have a few favorite magnets and important notes. So, I repurposed an old cookie sheet by hanging it ont he back of my pantry door and voila! A cheap and easy magnetic bulletin board. You could even spring for a new one if you don't like the "well-used" look.
One final suggestion: New rugs. I am nervous about these in the kitchen as they are not washable. But I am willing to give them a try. Becasue they are so gorgeous and they really update the look of my floor. I got two of them, one for the sink, and one by the stove. Oh boy! I better be careful now!
I hope you've enjoyed the sneak peak at my kitchen. I am still cleaning out cabinets and you have no idea how much clutter is really on my counters right now! The magic of the crop tool! lol! when I get it all finished, complete with new table and chairs, I will post pictures of the full view!

For a look at the beautiful homes that have inspired me, please visit:

Pat at Back Porch Musings

Layla at the Lettered Cottage

Liz at Mabel's House

The Nester at Nesting Place

and Sarah at A Beach Cottage

Dana is...

addicted to facebook now.

amassing a pile for goodwill.

putting new stemware in the cabinets, unwashed!

running virus software. Or is that anti-virus?

posting photos of everyone she knows. Not all are complimentary either.

spray painting old stuff to breathe new life into it.

documenting her life on the web, step by step.

listening to Dinah Shore.

wondering who cares, anyway?

behind on her workout. Funny, behind... giggle giggle.

thinking life is good today, except for the news about more taxes.

thanks, Mr. Obama. We will be in the poor house next.

not going back to Whole Foods today afterall.

couldn't be happier about that.

Wondering if she should twitter, too?

information overloaded.

sure most of it is trivial, meaningless, unless you are an anthropologist.

not an anthropologist.

hoping she remembers to wash those glasses before using them.

not afraid of germs.

concerned you might be.

still looking for the sweet spot in her new bifocals.

I am from the land of white sugar and homo milk.

I had coffee with a friend yesterday and we went somewhere that makes me feel like a foreigner... Whole Foods. I marched up to the counter and asked if I could get a non-fat latte and was listening to the whirr of steaming milk while looking around for the sugar. Hmm. There's a honey jar, but where are my packets of white crystalline addiction? I NEED my sugar in my coffee! And then I see a glass jar with this dirty looking beige stuff in it and so I have to ask... "uhm, like is this sugar?"

Bwahahahaha. You would have thought I was petitioning for the return of red food dye number 3 or something. And I was telling the story last night to Steve, I realized I also forgot to pay for my coffee so now, I have to go back today to the store where I once was so stupid I asked where the Crisco is. You are beginning to understand my trepidation. 

And while we are on the subject, why are dry goods not in packages there? Anyone? Am I the only one who is afraid of those dispensers of granola? Because I can hear the loud speaker in my nightmares, "Clean up on aisle three, Crisco Lady spilled 10 pounds of Granola!"

I have to admit that I have been known to go to Whole foods for two things: Cheese and flowers. Okay, make that three things, they also sell Burt's Bee's products. And somehow, I got addicted to Burt's Bee's. I think it is psychological addiction, but I go through withdrawals if I notice myself getting low on rosewater and glycerin toner. But I think the gig is up when I go in and buy cheese, flowers and burts bee's... that I am not a regular customer. Maybe it is my polyester pants, not sure, but I get some weird looks when I am there. Perhaps it is my bumper sticker on the car: Republican or Bust! Okay, I was joking, about the sticker. Sort of. 

I once went into Whole Foods thinking I would find a good multi-vitamin. I'd been hearing the synthetic vitamins are bad, so I thought, gee, maybe I should take a "real" vitamin, and so off I went to Whole Foods. They have the largest vitamin department on the planet and all. Again, I opened my big mouth when the lady asked if she could help me. "Ya, I was looking for a good multi-vitamin, like you know, a One a Day for women only better." It is as if I do not speaka da language or something.

And the thing is, I would like to buy healthier foods. I really would. And I know Steve would too. But it is just so intimidating to go there. I need my grocery store to be a place where I am familiar with the layout. I know where to find the toothpicks and the toilet paper. And I need to buy my food already in packages. And I need to know if I get a cup of coffee at one counter, that I can pay for it at the same counter. Most of all, I need to know that I am not the only one who feels this way.

Putting out the Fires!

Is he not the cutest fireman ever. I know I have posted it before, but it is MY blog!

Has anyone but me been swamped with to-do lists lately? It seems like I am stomping out fires left and right. Busy busy busy! 

But if my sis is reading, I am never too busy to spend time with this little guy, or his big sister. So call me if you need a babysitter. Cause I need some new pics. I can hardly believe this one is two years old. I will put my whole life on hold to spend time with this guy!

I've been upside down before

You know I don't talk a lot about politics here, and I try to keep some boundaries about my personal life. But I have a few things I am just itchin' to say. First of all, to anyone who is going through a financial crisis right now, I'm sorry. I truly feel for you and your family. I have compassion for anyone who is living in daily uncertainty of providing for their family. And I whole-heartedly believe in families and communities binding together to get through the tough times. But I am disheartened about what our government is doing to "save us". I think it is doing more harm than good. And I think they are using fear as a weapon of political persuasion. And I think it is shameful.

Our country is having a monumental shift in it's thinking. A large percentage of our population has come to expect that whatever we cannot provide for ourselves, it is the government's duty to provide for us. And our government is stepping up to the plate in ways it never has before. And now, we are seeing a threat to the democracy on which this country was built. Our system of government, which was once idealized as "of the people, by the people and for the people" is becoming a government for government state. 

The nationalization of the banks is just the first of many steps that will change the freedoms of our country forever. Socialized medicine will be the next step and I believe socialized oil and gas is in the radar screen of many legislators. You may be thinking, well, so what? What is the harm in it, especially if the government can provide things for me that I want, like cheap mortgages, and free medical care and cheap energy. Before you think the countries with socialized programs have it so good, you should probably check out their cost of living, their access to medical care, and their tax rates. You might want to step back away from the table of offerings that is being served. Not to mention, it takes away our freedom of choice. And it takes away the initiative of people, individuals and companies, to invest, to work, to prosper and to succeed, the driving force of a competitive market place. This initiative is at the core of our society. True, the playing ground has not always been level. But it has not kept people with the least in their favor from competing and succeeding. As a second generation descendant of an immigrant family, who worked the land to provide for their family, this is my personal truth as well as my view on our society. 

Now as to my post title. I'll admit, I've been upside down on a house before. It's no fun. It takes a long time to get caught up. You have to change your life plans. You have to reign in your spending. You have to make the best of every penny and you live every day hoping the bank does not call in your loan. Right now, I don't think there are many lenders calling in loans just because you are upside down. They are swamped in foreclosures due to default. I want to encourage you if you are upside down and you are wondering why should you keep paying for your house when someone just bought the house next door for half the price? I would encourage you to keep paying because you are bound to the agreement you made. And if more people would continue paying, and stop waiting for the government to bail them out or turning in their keys, then the foreclosure rate would begin to lessen. By walking away from your home, you are simply adding fuel to the raging fire.

And I want to encourage people to stop with the incessant spending! If you do not have cash for your purchase, do not buy it! The reason our country is in this shape is because we have become a buy today, pay tomorrow society. In my opinion, the credit card industry is the biggest threat to our country's stability and position as one of the wealthiest countries. Most people have very little personal savings, if any. And they have credit card debt on top of their lack of assets. And we have a government that is encouraging us to spend every dime we get. Does that sound ridiculous to anyone but me? Can people really not see what their future holds if they continue to spend, continue to acquire debt, continue to depend on the government to provide a safety net? I personally do not want to rely on my government to take care of me if I have a choice in the matter. But I feel like I'm a dying breed.

I have not read the contents of the stimulus bill. But since I do not live under a rock, I have heard a few of the tenants of it. I heard there is an $8000 tax credit for people who will buy a new house if they have not bought one in the last three years. I am sure this will stimulate some real estate business. Even I thought, "GEE! Maybe we ought to take advantage of that." But what will people do with that? They will buy bigger, more expensive homes than they already have, and will acquire a higher debt to income ratio and the cycle will continue. A lot of people will take what little money they have in savings and plop it down on the most expensive house they can qualify for. Isn't that what got us here to begin with? And how about those bonuses for people who pay their mortgage on time. Are you kidding me? We've been making ours on time because it was the agreement we made. We've been thinking the way to protect ourselves from falling real estate prices was to pay off our mortgage early. Ha! The government is not encouraging that, are they? Our benefit would be the savings of interest over the term of our loan and the realization of owning our property outright. But hey, maybe we ought to cash in on those timely payment bonuses while we can, and keep our money in the bank!

You see it is not hard to imagine how these government bailouts will change the mindsets of Americans. After all, everyone likes a little cash coming their way. But what is being eroded is the initiative of hard working people honoring their agreements. Those who choose to pay as we go (as our President is saying the government will have to do) will miss out on these subsidies. In effect, be penalized for paying their way. And oh by the way, who do you think is going to pay for the governement as it goes? Yes! You will. And I will, and we all will. For years and years to come. It is a vicious cycle we are on. 

Is this the change we hoped for? At the risk of sounding like a zealot, there is a verse in the Bible I think it is really relevant to our situation today.

Proverbs 13:11-12 (NIV) Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Living the American Dream

A repost from my old blog, seems timely still.

Once, our grandparents hoped to have a little plot of land, and a roof of their own. A chance to farm and keep all the proceeds instead of sharing it with the landowner. They struggled and saved and eventually had gathered enough money for a small acreage. They bought it and built a house with their own hands. They didn't have running water. They had an outhouse. They raised many kids in two rooms. It was cold in winter and hot in summer.

Then their kids grew up. Their sons served in wars, some did not come home. The ones who did married sweethearts and bought two bedroom houses in neighborhoods where each street looked alike. They had indoor plumbing. The whole family shared one bathroom. It was so luxurious compared to the outhouse they grew up with. The husbands went to jobs and earned pensions and the wives stayed home and used their state of the art hand-crank washers to wash diapers.

Their children graduated from high school. Some even went to college. They married young women who were educated and they bought brick homes with modern conveniences. They had telephones and no longer had to share a party line. Some of the women worked outside of the home. They earned enough money to buy the second car for the family. They hired help with the kids. They had central heat and air. They complained about electric bills, although they lived in all electric homes. Some families began to look to the suburbs, a return to the countryside, but wanted the conveniences of city life. They built bigger houses and their children played sports and worked their way through college.

And they married and bought homes down the street from their parents. Four bedrooms and by now, two car garages were attached to the home. They even had an indoor heated laundry room. And two bathrooms, even though dad's bathroom only had a shower. Mom had to work to help pay the bills. The kids were in daycare. No one was home to enjoy their lovely house for more than half the day. But they had the latest furniture designs and new appliances. They borrowed money to send their kids to college.

And those kids graduated and moved back home. Life as an adult is so hard these days and all. They married later in life and sometimes even raised their families in the spare bedroom at their parents houses. Then they found a way to buy a house with no down payment, on interest only adjustable rate mortgages. They had great faith their future was bright and they'd catch up eventually. They bought only the best, all on credit. They deserved it. No more laminate countertops, everyone had granite. There weremore bathrooms in the house than people who lived there. Only the best for our family. Afterall, we can buy it today and make no payments till 2020. They were stressed as they talked on their cell phones and drove their SUV's wondering how they would buy gas this week since their credit cards were max'd out. To relax, they sat in front of their giant flat screen tv's bought on credit. They had never made a payment on it.

And their kids drove cars their parents bought with a second mortgage on the house. And they went to college and had apartments paid for by mom and dad. And they hoped to graduate some day, but college life was pretty good so they took 6 years on average to finish. And they had their eye on big diamond rings that they'd buy on credit and start out their life together in their dream home, even bigger than mom and dad's house, and of course it has a pool. Why save money now while we are young. Retirement is so far away.

And somehow, I don't think this is what our grandparents had in mind for us when they dared to dream the American Dream.

A Pattern has Developed in My Life.

If you have been reading me very long, you know I am an avid supporter of the Eureka Springs School of the Arts, affectionately called ESSA. And you have figured out by now I'm also a confirmed Obsessive Compulsive Blogger. This is not a disorder though, and does not require medication. Anywho, it seems my www-interactions have led me to a new-found purpose in life. And this week, I unveiled a new blog for ESSA. Which you can find at esartschool.blogspot.com. It is going to be chock full of info about all the questions you have about this wonderful school in the Ozarks. They will also still have their website, esartschool.org, where you can see the class schedule, enroll online, and even make a donation if your heart so desires.

And that is not all the internet activity going on in my life. I'll also be putting together a facebook page for ESSA. Look for an announcement soon. And you already heard about my Kinnamon Cousins page. AND... I have a barter project with a reader/friend/fellow artist to offer knowledge for knowledge. I know, you are as surprised as I am, but he wants some advice for putting his art online and I want some advice about planting at the cabin, and so, we're going to swap info for info. Any advice you have for him can be left in a comment, below.

While none of this is work for hire, it just goes to show, that if you do what you love, eventually people find you and put you to good use. I wasn't looking for a job anyway.

Now about that picture above: It was a class of young seamstresses last summer at ESSA, taught by the talented and nationally sought-after seamstress, Mary Tait. Her pre-teen students learned how to custom fit a pattern to their own bodies, and make their own dresses. And don't they all look adorable in the dresses they made? I heard they had so much fun in their class, they ASKED if they could come in EARLY on the last day! See what happens when you put young minds to good use! By the way, if you know any young seamstresses or designers in the making, Mary is offering a slipcover class for youth this summer. If I were age 12 to 17, I'd sign up in a jiffy! You can see more of Mary's work in fine magazines such as Veranda or through her decorating business in New Orleans, Mary Tait, Inc. 

Bear with me, I'm getting old.

You guys are soon going to know my family tree, backwards, forwards, and upside down. These are my grandparents, John Robert and Anna Marie Kinnamon. I am so psyched that I got this pic! The wonders of the digital world. My cousin Janell, not Janelle, posted this on facebook. It's like Christmas morning since Aunt Wilma's funeral, all respects to her, but something has happened.

It is like all us old (and some of us overweight, not naming names though) cousins are getting sentimental. We are the ones picking up the puzzle of our extended family relationships and filling in the missing pieces. 

After the funeral, a few of us had exchanged email addresses, and when I got home, there were comments and friend requests flying around the virtual hemisphere. So, I did what any self-taught internet guru would do, I made a Kinnamon Cousins page for us on Facebook! And I have already reconnected with one cousin I never knew very well, and gee, one I never knew at all. And am getting to see pics of fourth generation cousins I never knew I had!

Who would have thought the internet, originally designed for military communication and government use, would lead to a Kinnamon Family Reunion? Oh, and a real reunion is now being discussed. Janell brought it up and she is older than me so she should be the organizer. I offered to be her sidekick. She is trying to push it over, er, uhm, give me the opportunity.

Has anyone ever been a reunion organizer for  BIG family reunion? How hard is it really?

Because I was thinking I could convince Janell to do it.

My Kitchen Could Use a Little Love

When we built our house about 5 years ago, there was a lot going on in our life. It is very fair to say that I dropped the ball on decorating our new home. Details aside, I was on... hmmm... a strict decorating budget the first year. I had to work with what I had. But I feel like now, I could afford a few upgrades.

So, I am going to start with the kitchen table. This table has served me well for 22 years. Some of you reading might not even be THAT old! I bought it at one of those unfinished furniture stores of the 1980's with my Christmas Bonus and spent New Year's staining and sealing it. It has seen me through many stages of my life. And for 6 years has taken a daily beating of family dinners and use from teenagers. I better stop praising it before I get sentimental and decide to keep it.

From this view, you can see better, that it is not really the best shape for the space. I have decided a round table would work best. I have in mind a pedestal table and four chairs with what I call a keyhole designed back. And I have decided to narrow down the clutter and repurpose that bookshelf in the corner to another room. But what I am stumped about is what color of wood to order for the new table. Why I am stumped? Let's talk about a few things I wish I had payed more attention to during building... Starting with my wall color. It is blah... But do I have the energy to repaint my entire open floorplan house? No. So, I am keeping it, but maybe just for a few more years. Shh! Do not tell Steve I said that.

Then, let's talk cabinets. Okay, we can all admit they are cheap builder grade cabinets, not nearly enough storage, and why did I pick 1980's Medium Oak? I thought it was classic and I would never tire of it. I am tired of it. It is ugly. We are going to have to gently bring Steve to this understanding also. And can you see what I see daily in my kitchen? Yes, I have black appliances, except the fridge. What was I thinking? They, with my already blah wall color and dark cabinets and my black (ie: expensive upgrade) granite on the island, make me feel like I need to wear one of those mining hats with a light on top. 

So... where does this leave me? Well, I do not want oak, that is for sure. Been there, done that, Do I dare introduce yet another wood color. You might want to refer to photo number one and see I also have an antique pine buffet that I'd like to keep. I have a lot of white trim in my house, but white furniture with all this black seems like a second guess. And so, I am asking you my readers to make some suggestions. Oh, and before anyone says red. Let me say I am tired of reds, oranges, ochres and the like, so I have been thinking of a more muted palette in my world. And before you say antiqued white, uhm, I really don't like that look.

I told you I am stumped. I will concede this... I am willing to paint, yes I said paint part or all of my buffet. I am a negotiator like that and all. But you have to pick the color, because I can't.

The Things We Remember

Do you know about the crocus? A tiny little bulb, which grows a sliver of a leaf and then a tiny little tulip shaped flower. It often appears as early as February and is considered by gardeners to be the first sign of spring. It will even bloom under the snow! It comes in this shade of purple, bright yellow, white, and my favorite, the purple and white stripe, which I believe the variety is called Mr. Pickwick.

I wanted to leave you with some wonderful thoughts about my Aunt Wilma. She was an avid gardener. She grew the most beautiful begonias, roses, hydrangeas and tiger lilies like you never saw before. She also was the keeper of the vegetable garden. Corn, tomatoes, cantaloupe, cucumbers, watermelon, peppers, black eyed peas... the table was never empty at Wilma and Walter's house. I can still smell the aroma of fresh vegetables from the garden cooking on the stove. She was a canner, too. Pickles and oh my goodness, pickled okra! You northern gals have missed out if you don't know about pickled okra! Wilma used to enter her recipes in the local fair, and she'd won more than a few ribbons, too. One of her recipes my family likes to make is called Yum Yum Salad. If you are lucky, I might post it some day. 

Yesterday, I found out a few things I didn't know about Aunt Wilma. Like she was the church clerk for 22 years at her little country church. Yep, she counted everybody's donations and kept the records, and she also was the church historian. She began teaching Sunday School to the children, and she did that for 7 years, from 1963 to 1970. I remember going with her to Sunday School a few times when we visited from out of town. Then from 1970 until 1996, 26 years, she taught the young married women's class. What we would give today to have the kind of teacher and mentor she must have been to the ladies of her church. Steve and I both chuckled when her pastor said, "It takes a person of great character to go to the same church that long!" Well, ain't that the truth!

Not so surprising, were the relatives present. Wilma had 3 sisters and 6 brothers. I have so many cousins I have a hard time remembering all their names. I saw and hugged most of them, and missed the ones who were not there, for reasons we all understood. Wilma made each and every one of us feel special. She was always full of sparkle and hugs to see us. And she kept a candy dish full of Sparkles, too, and we all recalled that we had our fair share of candy when we went to visit. She and Walter always sent us home with a sack or two of fresh vegetables. They provided food to anyone who wanted or needed it. I thought about how that is so rare today. Summer before last, my neighbors in my cookie-cutter neighborhood complained about a man who dared to have a vegetable garden on his unfenced corner lot, right where you see it as you drive down the street! Sorry, but people need to get a grip. You know with our economy going the way it is, maybe more people will take to a backyard garden. Maybe share a few veggies with their neighbor. Help out a struggling family by putting nourishing food on their table. Put up a few jars for winter. This is the kind of person my Aunt Wilma was.

And I remember that she was about the most mild-mannered, kindest-spirited, soft-spoken member of our family. (Something I could work on.) She was never one to seek the spotlight. She was as unassuming as the crocus. She did not do things for her own glory. And... she was an immaculate housekeeper. 

These might seem like simple achievements in today's fast-paced, self-fulfilling lives we live. Some might say Aunt Wilma was imprisoned in the ways of the past. But I just bet she had more courage, more determination and more devotion than most of us will ever witness. She might have been simple. But she left a wake of love and kindness and devotion behind her that touched so many people. I hope I can be half the woman she was.

Show a little love!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

I hope you are spending time with people you love today.

I'll be heading to Shawnee, Oklahoma today and seeing lots of relatives as we pay our last respects to my Aunt Wilma today. I am so glad she is celebrating being with her loving Walter again.

On the home front, I don't mean to brag, but Steve was blow over by my toffee yesterday. The way to a man's heart...

Then the doorbell rang and it was the Fed-X man. Well, Steve must have ordered more vitamins I thought. Surprise! He ordered a box of beautiful chocolates for me from Recchiutti Confectioners. I thought I would share my chocolates with you! The calorie free version of course!

They even came with a road map!

This blogging can really work to your advantage girls! You may recall I posted about them during the holidays, but I also snuck a link to them on my sidebar for Valentine's Day. And Steve was paying attention!

We are headed off to a little breakfast for two this morning. Nothing fancy, the Village Inn, which suits me just fine.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Love, Dana and Daisy

Remember the ones you love today. And if you feel alone on Valentine's Day, just remember to sow a little love along your path, and the seeds will sprout!

Love, Dana and Daisy

Toffee for my Love.

Daisy and I have hardly moved from the couch this week, sick with some kind of flu thingy. But today, I was feeling a wee bit better, so I got up and got dressed and put my make up on and went to the store and everything.
A delivery occurred this week, which just made my heart sing. That man is sure good to me. He's been taking care of me all week, too and let me tell you, I was not a pretty sight.
But today, I donned my cutesy apron and I got out my cookbook and I made a treat Steve is sure to love. Toffee is one of his favorites, but he has NEVER had my homemade toffee.
I also got him a little non-flower thingy and card and put candles on the table. Now don't expect me to cook tonight. I'm not feeling that well.
Here is what I made for my handsome Valentine. This is a recipe from Betty Crocker herself, and it is in my 1978 version of the Betty Crocker Cookbook. But I altered it just a little.

Ingredients:
1 cup of chopped pecans
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of butter
1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (or more if you want)

Butter a square 9x9x2 inch cake pan (I don't have a square one so I used a round one)
Spread pecans in pan
On the stove, heat the butter and sugar to a boil, stir constantly, and boil over medium heat 7 minutes. Stir all this time.
Immediately pour the mixture over the pecans in the pan.
Evenly spread the chocolate over the hot mixture and cover with a cookie sheet temporarily to melt chocolate. ( I added more chips because really, have you ever heard anyone say, that toffee was pretty good except it had too much chocolate on it. I rest my case.)
Then uncover and spread it evenly
Cut into small square pieces while hot and refrigerate until firm.


Makes about 3 dozen 1-1/2 inch squares, or not so many if you cut them as big as I did.

Tomorrow is my Aunt Wilma's funeral, so I thought we'd celebrate  Valentine's Day a little early!

For Better or Worse, and Tissue Alert

Today, I'd like to to tell you about my Uncle Walter and his bride, My Aunt Wilma. Walter married Wilma just after the worst of the great depression, during the time Oklahoma called the Dust Bowl Days. It was called that because there had been severe droughts and the winds would sweep up the dust from the prairie and create blinding waves of dust in the air. It was a horrible time in Oklahoma. Especially for farmers, The bride and groom both came from farming families. WWII was  about to explode, when they were starting their family. I don't know if he served in the military, but Walter would have served his country well, and with pride. I do know that he had a long career in a civilian job working at Tinker Air Force Base in maintenance. He and several other men from his farming community travelled about 40 miles to and from their jobs at Tinker, and Walter maintained his farming activities as well. He raised a few head of cattle and of course cut his own hay, and he and Wilma grew a garden big enough to share their fresh produce with others. They had their first child, Anna, just a few years after the war was over. Then they had a son, Chuck, and Walter began an almost 50 year volunteer job on the school board of their small community. He and his brother-in-law, John Lee, also volunteered at the small fenced in cemetery in their little town, mowing the grass and digging the grave sites and then waiting until the family is gone to cover the graves for people they knew. 

Walter and Wilma had a simple life together. They raised their family, raised their food, lived in a small home in a small community. They weren't accustomed to fancy events or big parties. But they went to every wedding in the family, and coming from large families, there were lots of nieces and nephews to celebrate exchanging the same vows they had celebrated so many years ago. My mother, who is the second to the youngest, told me her sister Wilma was married even before she was born, so Walter had literally been in her family since the day of her birth. When couples stay together that long, the lines of brother and brother-in-law are erased. Walter was as much a brother to my mom as her own brothers were. 

Walter retired from Tinker and began enjoying his days on his farm. He had a close friend and brother-in-law, Ellsworth, They had worked together at Tinker for so many years and retired about the same time. Walter had helped see Ellsworth through the recovery of open heart surgery. They were as close as two brothers could be, though they were married to sisters. They were out driving together one day in Ellsworth's pick-up, when a large truck carrying oil field supplies lost its load in the oncoming traffic. Ellsworth swerved to miss the heavy iron debris flying through the air, but his truck was struck by an iron pipe, and they landed in a ravine, overturned. The passenger side was crushed. Walter lay inside struggling for his life.

Ellsworth, who was driving, cracked his ribs, but essentially walked out of the hospital that day. I wish I could say Walter did not suffer long. He had many injuries, a broken back, broken ribs, and wrist, many lacerations, and the worst of all, a severe head injury. He spent the next six weeks in intensive care. He had several surgeries during that time. He was in a hospital in Oklahoma City and my Aunt Wilma would not leave the hospital. She was always what you would call a fragile build, but she showed us just how strong she was. Her son, Chuck brought their RV, formerly used for overnight trips to the lake, and Aunt Wilma would find a few hours of rest in their RV, parked in the hospital parking lot.

Eventually, Walter was moved to a hospital that was able to provide intensive therapy. He re-learned some speech and some muscle ability, but it was a long slow process. The hospital had rooms where spouses could stay, and my aunt lived in the hospital with him the entire time. After about six months, he was allowed to return to the comfort of his home. He required intensive personal care and my Aunt was his primary care giver. He came home a different man than he had left that morning some 7 months earlier. My cousin Anna and her husband, Larry, were also caregivers. They took separate work shifts at their jobs so they could take turns helping out with a shift caring for Walter. Larry helped lift Walter in and out of the bath and other needs that the women were not able. See, Walter had been a large, muscly man and he probably outweighed my little Aunt Wilma by 2 to 1. Their simple home was not equipped for a wheel chair dependent person, and eventually my cousins built a house for all of them, including living quarters  for Wilma and Walter with things like a roll in shower and floors that were easily maneuvered in his chair. Walter lived several years beyond his accident. The day of his funeral, John Lee stayed behind and finished burying his brother-in-law and friend, who had helped him bury so many others.

Shortly after his death, my Aunt Wilma was showing signs of memory loss. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Anna and Larry have spent the last 7 years caring for her in her degenerative condition. What a testament of love and devotion they have been, first to Walter and now to Wilma. No one could have provided better care for my Aunt. Larry and Anna both have been true servants to her care. What is more astounding to me is Anna and Larry had not been married very long when this all started. So, most of their time as husband and wife has been spent in caregiving to parents. 

This morning, my Aunt Wilma joined Walter in Heaven. 

While I am mourning the last years of their life on earth together, for all they went through, their life together was long and there were many years of happiness and serving others. Years of building a life together and pouring out love to others, myself included. They are both now living beyond the pearly gates, where streets are paved with gold. But knowing them both, I imagine they are happy to sit together in a green lush meadow with a cool spring as they reunite in heaven today and they begin the ultimate better part of their life together.

Tooting Another's Horn (Repost)

Since I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing me cough, I thought I would repost a favorite from my old blog. Vicki has just heard some great news about one of these rugs, but I won't steal her thunder... she will get to be the first to post her story when the time is right!

Do you know any artists who are just too darn shy about showing off their talent? Just take a look at what Vicki Hardcastle has really been up to.

She would have you thinking she makes little felted animals and dolls, which she does. But... she has been developing this wholly original art form that just blows my mind. She has combined her love for sculptural needle felting and rug hooking into one amazingly beautiful technique. I am not sure yet what she calls it. She is too humble to brag about it herself. So I barged in with my camera the other day and shot these photos, just so I could post them on the internet and give her the credit she is due. She has raised the bar several times over with these creations. Go over to The Hogscald Holler and tell her how terrific she is!

Is there a doctor in the house?

I actually feel worse today than any day so far. If I felt a little better, I might try to go see the doctor. That's pretty sad huh?

I am one of those people who doesn't like to go to the doctor. I just keep thinking, this too shall pass. I don't have fever, and I can breathe, although not perfectly, and it is just my throat! ugh! And a dry cough. I'm staying on the couch today.

Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm going to go snuggle with Daisy now.

Tornadoes, Laryngitus, and a Hot Toddy

Give Oklahoma a warm day or two and we manage to make a tornado out of it. The news keeps butting in on Dr. Phil and Oprah! dang it! And there are not even any sirens going off in my neighborhood. When you live in Tornado Alley, you tend to get a little non-plussed unless they show a map of tornadoes on the ground like a mile away. The ones we are having today are a long way away. D'oh, they just said some cells are forming over Tulsa! 

Anywho, I have lost my voice, if not my fingers, and it is going on day four. At first I thought it was an allergy attack from the tree cutting, even though I don't have allergies typically. But now, a few days later, I think not. And I am so tired, but I lay down to take a nap and then I start coughing.

What I need is a hot toddy. But I have no bourbon. Steve poured the last bottle I bought down the drain so we wouldn't have to worry about it "mysteriously dissapearing" at the hands of minors. Dang me again!

But in case you need one, too and don't know how to make them, here is my secret recipe, not so secret anymore.

Brew a good strong mug of tea, add the juice of 1/4 lemon, and a double dollup of honey, lastly drop a jigger of bourbon in it. Put on your pj's before imbibing and say, "Night- night!"

Now be a sweety and if you have some bourbon, please bring it on down to my house, honey!

Loving Yourself, by Forgiving Others

I haven't had a serious post in a while, maybe it is time. You know it is the month we celebrate love, and it is not confined to amorous, heart-throbbing love. Although that's good, too. We also observe this holiday to reach out to all kinds of relations to show them we love and care for them. Wouldn't it be nice to have a little white paper sack with hearts on it where people could drop you a love note any time of the year? I would sure love that. Hmm? I might even do it! Just to see what happens! 

Anyway, back to my story. Quite a while back, Steve and I rented a movie from Netflix, Forgiving Dr. Mengele. This is an amazing story of Eva Kors, a woman who is a survivor of the Nazi death camps. But even more staggering, she was one of a pair of twins who underwent unspeakable experiments at the hands of Nazi scientist, Dr. Mengele. Her will to more than survive, but to live in the freedom of forgiveness for her persecutors will leave you humbled and awestruck. Her story is controversial, as she implores other victims of the Nazi's to forgive, but never to forget. Quite understandably, not all who shared in her experiences have come to the same place about those who tortured and terrorized them personally. 

What has left an impression upon me by her story is the resulting benefits of forgiveness, for the one who offers it, more than one who receives it. Not until Ms. Kors was able to forgive her trespassers was she able to find the freedom to live life fully, and to spread the healing message of her life. Few of us have the depth of injustice that Ms. Kors experienced. But we all have hurts.

Have you ever wondered, when we hold onto grudges, who do we hurt? We hurt only ourselves more. Those who our grudges are aimed at, really do not feel the burden we carry concerning them. But we ourselves, become a pool of putrid stench. Our hanging onto vengeance and feelings of injustice only serve to empower the one who hurt us. 

Many of us recall memorizing and reciting the Lord's prayer in school as a child, or maybe in Sunday School. "Lord, forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us" Wow! What powerful words if you look at their meaning. What we are asking is for God to forgive us in the same way we forgive. Honestly? Do you hope God over-delivers on this request? I know I have been slow to forgive, long in my grudges, and hardened myself against those who have hurt me. And whom have I hurt more by doing this? Myself.

I hope that today, you will love yourself enough to forgive. If you observed a close friend hanging onto grudges, wouldn't you want her to find forgiveness so she could live a full life again? Wanting the same for yourself is an act of love towards your own heart. 

I hope this touches your heart and moves you to consider forgiveness today. Just for the record, I have some forgiving to do of my own. Let's pour some love into our own hearts today, so we can pour out more love to those we cherish.

More information about the Eva Kors story and her outreach to others can be found at the Candles Museum, a Museum for Holocaust Survivors.

Daisy's New Love, Kindness Returned

When I returned from Houston the other day, I was greeted by boxes and cards from recipients of my recent art purge. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed giving away my art and hearing people really enjoying the things I made, true joy, I tell ya.

One box contained a variety of wool roving, ready to spin, all the way from Punkin's Patch, one of my favorite blogs. If you ever wished you lived on a farm, but never got to, you can get a daily dose of the bucolic life by reading her online journals. She is also a gifted spinner and fiber artist, so in my book, she's top knotch!
The softest wools you can imagine from Jacob sheep, and all natural colors, too. And a generous sample of curly locks from one of her favorite sheep, Mr. Woolliam. Well, guess who else took a liking to the wool? I swear she is obsessed with wool. 
I mean this is getting to be too much! Now, just to be sure, I smelled the wools myself and they smell clean and no trace of any barn smells, but I wondered if Daisy was recalling her youth. If you remember, she was born in a barn and I saved her and brought her to a safe and cozy apartment in the city where the year round temps are 72. She now dines on fancy feast by candlelight. 
But I think she was recalling her first days of life in the warm straw bed her mother made for her, there among all the animals in their stalls. Well, unless I want yarn of a wool and cat hair blend, I stowed the wool away on the landing until I go upstairs to the studio next time.... But I heard a rustling of paper...
Look at this crazy cat! I think she has found true love!

If you are a spinner, or use wool batting in your quilts, you should check out the online store where you can purchase these products, directly from the grower: www.myfavoritesheep.com

Maybe I should make Daisy a quilt and use wool batting to keep her happy and warm!