Reny's Place....Random, It's How I Roll

Low Carb and Delicious!

2012-02-12T20:44:00.000-08:00

Hi! I've been busy lately with a number of things. Check out Crafty Reny to see some of the card challenges I have entered if you like crafty stuff. But I've been doing a lot of reading this past week as well. I just finished a great book by Dr. Richard Bernstein called Diabetes Solution. One of the main reasons I watch the carbohydrates that I ingest is because I tend toward high blood sugars if I don't. Since I love to eat, I am always thrilled when I find a new recipe that fits my diet preferences, so this week Dr. Bernstein came through for me in a big way!

What you are looking at is 'cheese puffs'. A slice of american cheese placed on a piece of freezer paper, waxed side up in the microwave for approximately 50 seconds makes this light, puffy, crispy snack. This can be used in the place of toast or bread or as a chip substitute when you want something crunchy to eat with your favorite dip. I'm sure there are a host of other ideas for using this yummy snack as well.

So, I used it as toast this evening. I love bologna, and I placed my bologna between 2 cheese puffs, added a little mayo and WOW! It was just stinkin great!!! Kind of like a toasted cheese with bologna and mayo sandwich. I didn't miss the bread and I eliminated a bunch of carbs this way. And no blood sugar spikes! I feel healthier already.

If you try this, please leave a comment and let me know how you used this delicious treat.

Blessings!
Reny

New Skillets and Back to Low Carb

2012-02-08T22:34:00.000-08:00

We are the proud owners of 2 new skillets! You know, sometimes it is just time to get rid of some of the old worn out stuff and replace it. Today was that time for some very used skillets. I'm not sure how much of the non-stick coating we ate, but enough of it was gone that the skillets were no longer non-stick.

I guess I'm just getting too old to put up with mediocre cooking utensils these days. I want to enjoy cooking and I want the food to turn out right. And I think these new T-fal skillets will do a great job.

And the timing for these skillets is perfect. Since I ended my relationship with the 17 day diet, I will be doing more frying and sauteing. I am looking forward to that.

I was feeling a bit sad about having to give up yogurt again. As far as I knew yogurt was not a low carb option. But I just found out that I can make low carb yogurt! I found the recipe on Hold The Toast and I can't wait to try it.. It is even easier than the crock-pot recipe! So, if you're a low carber, go on over to Dana Carpender's blog and find all kinds of great low carb recipes.

As far as my progress on the 'weightier' issues of my life, it's too soon to tell for sure, but it looks like the scales are showing some decline! This is encouraging! I am still getting on the treadmill almost daily and working out with weights one or two days a week. I should probably concentrate more on the weight training, but with the way I work it's just too difficult. But I am determined to stay with the treadmill as many days a week as possible. Maybe I'll be able to do more of the weight training after retirement. In the meantime, I'll just do what I can. And I've noticed that even the little bit I do is making a difference.

Blessings!
Reny

Adieu, Adieu 17 Day Diet.....

2012-02-04T01:20:00.000-08:00

Parting is such sweet sorrow. Alas! I have come to the realization that you and I are not meant to be together. It has been a short, whirlwind romance, but you have let me down. Or perhaps I have let you down. Never-the-less I find myself disappointed once again. You promised me quick results. All I had to do was follow you without wavering. I tried my best. I really did. I was as faithful to you as I knew how to be. It should have worked out for us. There should have been at least some mild results. And perhaps there were. Perhaps I gleaned more from our relationship than I first thought.

Because of you I now know how to make some delicious home-made yogurt and some wildly nutritious kale chips. I now know that eating carbs too close to bedtime is a bad idea. I understand the importance of drinking gallons of water, though I had a bit of trouble with that one.

I know I'm a better person for having known you, and I only feel mildly chagrined that I gave you so much of my hard earned money. (I have always been generous to a fault.) But now it is time to say good bye. I have found another that delivers far more than you have in our brief courtship.

Hello Treadmill.... I love you!

A Bit of Christian Rhyme

2012-01-31T19:57:00.000-08:00

I love poetry. I have written short poems since I was old enough to write. My poetry is not fancy or deep like Maya Angelo's. You don't have to ponder on the meanings too much to get the point. It's just simple rhyme. That's the way I like it.

I have decided to share a few of my poems with you, my wonderful readers. Some are kind of lengthy so I will only share one at a time.

The inspiration for this one came from the book of Judges, chapters 4 and 5. Deborah was a mighty woman of God. There are still many Deborah s today. They are waging war on their knees all over the world making intercession for peoples and nations.

Deborah

Arise, Oh Deborah, and go to war.

The victory is at hand.

This battle I have given you.

Now go, reclaim your land.

The foe, he trembles at the sight

Of your fair countenance.

With flowing robes and mighty sword

You take the battle stance.

Arise and set the captives free,

And break the evil bonds.

Put up a siege works in it's place,

To rectify the wrongs.

Arise against the witchcraft

That has stolen countless ones.

Take back the broken , wounded hearts,

Of daughters and of sons.

Arise against the preditor

Who preys upon the child,

Destroying innocence and

Leaving helpless ones defiled.

Arise against the thief

Who steals the destiny of man

And weaves deceit and falsehood,

Casting doubt on God's good plan.

Arise and gather now the lost,

The broken and despised,

And wrap them in the Father's love.

I tell you now, Arise!!!

Blessings!

Reny

A Little Progress and a Guest Post

2012-01-29T05:27:00.000-08:00

Hi all! Well, after 14 days on the 17 day diet I am finally seeing a few ounces decrease on the scale. So I am going to give this eating plan some more time. I think it may be worth it since I am feeling very well physically and have not had much trouble with hunger and cravings. So I'll keep you all posted on how it's going. In the meantime, enjoy these positive musings from Mr. Loving Hubby.

Don't you just love it when:

 You are thinking the exact same thing

at the exact same time and then say it

together?

Your scales say you are doing good ?

Calm peace comes over you at just the right time?

You see a twinkle in that someone special's eye?

You've done a good deed with no applause but you feel the smile

coming from above?

People from far away rejoice when someone they don't even know

gets a home make over?

You see unconditional love anywhere?

People give respect and honor to older people?

Children play with abandon, freedom and delight?

Doctors can't explain how that person got completely well,

but you know it was God?

Facebook makes you smile or laugh out loud?

That new recipe is a screaming hit?

You realize that that worrisome pain was just something big

in your jeans pocket, and it was cash you didn't remember you had?

Thanks Ken (aka Mr. Loving)  for helping us keep things in perspective.

I'm Not Impressed

2012-01-26T22:51:00.000-08:00

So far I am unimpressed with the 17 day diet. It has been 11 days and I have yet to lose any weight. As a matter of fact, I think I have gained about a half a pound.

I will admit that I have not followed exactly, but I haven't been far off either. I have my 2 fruits and 2 probiotics daily and try to time them correctly. For my meals I have protein and the veggies suggested. I cook with olive oil and add a bit of mayo to my salads along with vinegar to make the mayo go farther. I have been drinking 8+ glasses of water daily. I have cut down my diet soda consumption to 12 oz. daily. I am drinking a lot of green tea and occasionally a cup of black coffee. I exercise 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.

For 3 days each week my schedule turns upside down and I am eating during the night instead of the day. I do take Melatonin to help me sleep, as sleep is always a problem with this crazy schedule. Perhaps that is what is sabotaging my efforts.

Anyone out there have any suggestions? If I don't see some results in this first cycle, I am going to forget about this diet. However, I am still holding out hope that I will wake up one morning (or afternoon) soon and find myself several pounds lighter.

Sad thing is I bought the book and the workbook. Hope I didn't get ripped off. I really was hoping that this was not just another fad diet. The eating plan is so close to the Body for Life plan that I was sure it would work. And yet, my blood sugars are fantastic. As a matter of fact, I find myself having symptoms of hypoglycemia at times and have to eat something. That's a switch.

Blessings!
Reny

Yum, Yum!

2012-01-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

I am cooking up my 3rd batch of home made yogurt. This is becoming a weekly thing, as I eat it all up within one week. My first batch was about the consistency of Yoplait. Not bad, but I knew I could do better.

In the 2nd batch I added 1 cup of powdered milk and used whole milk rather than 1%. I let it warm for about 20 minutes longer and let it set overnight. The consistency is better, but not what I want yet.

Today I am trying it once again, but have let the milk (2%) warm for about 4 hours and then let it cool for an equal amount of time. I am now allowing it to culture in a warm spot overnight. I will then strain out the whey and 'voilla' Greek yogurt! I hope.

I have been enjoying 2 servings of yogurt daily flavored with Splenda and vanilla. I have added whatever fruit I have on hand. This week that is fresh blueberries. Last week it was canned peaches. I have several recipes for different flavors, but I'm waiting to try them as they sound more like desserts than a protein serving. I will update you when I do try them, so look forward to hearing about Chocolate pudding yogurt, Pumpkin Pie yogurt, etc. Should be interesting.

So I hope you are being inspired to make some yogurt. It's easy enough and lots of fun.

Blessings!

Reny

Progress Report

2012-01-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

I have been a very good girl this past week. I officially started the 17 day diet and have followed it closely with one exception. I have not been able to drink all the water that he suggests. I also have been drinking my diet sodas which he says is OK (I think) if I make up for it by drinking an equal amount of water. He calls this positive liquid and negative liquid, with anything but plain water being negative. The only exception I can find in the book is the daily cup of hot water with lemon, which Dr. Moreno says can count toward the positive liquid total.

So it's clear to me that I need to navigate away from the negative liquids and just drink more water. I'm not that fond of water, but I am trying to drink more of it and less of the sweetened, flavored drinks that I love. This is tough, but I'll try.

So far I am not seeing any drastic weight loss, but I have lost a little. This week's total weight loss is .8 of one pound. Eight tenths is not even the 1 pound that I was hoping for. However, it is better than gaining, and I am seeing the scale go down slowly, but consistently. So I'm only a little disappointed.

The other thing is that when I am working my 3 night shifts a week, I don't get my work-outs in. 12 hours of work is about all I can muster.

On the food side of this diet, I am finding it not so difficult. I have been eating low carb off and on for some time. My main difficulty with the eating part is that yogurt and fruit have been banned from my diet in the past. It has been a little scary to incorporate them back into my diet due to blood sugar concerns. However, my blood sugars have been very good in spite of the yogurt and fruits. With this I am well pleased. I have been feeling quite healthy as well. Can't wait to see what the A1C will be next checkup!

So that's the scoop on the diet and fitness side of my life for this past week. I am hoping that next week will show more progress on the weight issue. We'll see.

Blessings!
Reny

In Defense of Paula

2012-01-21T04:39:00.000-08:00

I happen to admire Paula Deen. In my opinion she ranks right up there with a couple of my other favorite celebrity types, Martha Stewart and Suzanne Somers. These ladies have defied the odds and made their mark in the business world. Each of them have given us something we wanted and needed. Suzanne is the queen of health and fitness. Martha is the maven of homemaking. And Paula is the cook we all want to be.

Lately Paula has come under some judgement and criticism that I feel are unwarranted. She has Type 2 diabetes. Not an easy disease to live with, especially if food is not only your passion, but your livelihood. I'm sorry that she has to deal with this disease. I'm sorry for everyone who does. It's hard.
So she kept it to herself for 3 years. So what! Who says she has to share every detail of her life with the world? Is she a hypocrite for promoting her luscious recipes while dealing with diabetes in her private life? No more than I am a hypocrite for taking care of sick people when I am sick myself, or for taking care of the sick when I enjoy radiant health for that matter.

I tend to think that those who judge her most harshly are likely those who also have been judging her all along for her unrestrained use of butter and other delicious things like sugar. Personally, I would love to indulge in Paula's mouth watering desserts daily, but I have to watch what I eat as well. However, Paula's recipes are so simple and delicious that I do enjoy many of them. Many lend themselves well to revisions to accommodate those of us who prefer sweetener and low carb fare.

I certainly don't think we've seen the last of Paula Deen. I may be wrong, but I'm betting (and hoping) that there will soon be a whole new Paula Deen cookbook filled with awesome recipes for all of us who need to watch what we put into our mouths.

Paula Deen will become the sweetheart of diabetics and weight conscious people everywhere. And those of us who already love her will love her even more. Just my opinion.

Blessings!
Reny

How to Make Kale Chips

2012-01-20T06:24:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Denny, the winner of our first blog give-away!

We will be sending our winner a beautiful set of handcrafted greeting cards.

Thanks to all who participated, and check back often as we will be doing this again from time to time.

Following is the recipe for 'Kale Chips'. If you have never tried them, I encourage you to do so.

This recipe is one of several we found on the internet while searching for something to do with a huge bag of kale given to us. Most of the kale chips recipe were essentially the same, and very simple to make.

trim kale leaves from heavy stems
wash thoroughly and dry using a salad spinner
preheat oven to 350 degrees
place parchment paper on a baking sheet (I skipped this step. No paper)
toss kale leaves with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
sprinkle with seasoned salt if desired (We used garlic salt)
spread leaves on baking sheet and place in oven
bake for 15-20 minutes or until leaves are crispy but not burned.

Let cool and enjoy. We munched on them right from the baking sheet and were so surprised at the rich flavor. Then we crumbled some into soup and over salad. They were good. I'm ready to roast another batch soon.

Have a great day.
Blessings!
Reny

WHAT IS IT????

2012-01-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

OK. The first person who can identify this wildly nutritious dish wins a set of 6 handmade all occasion greeting cards.

Just post your guess in the comments section. I'll post the winner as soon as we have one. If no one guesses correctly in the next 4 days, I will post the answer on Monday. Happy guessing!

Blessings!
Reny

Creamy Vegetable Soup Recipe

2012-01-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

1 head of cauliflower, diced and cooked.
2 crowns of broccoli (I used a bag of frozen instead)
4 carrots (I used a can of sliced carrots)
1 leek (didn't have this so I left it out)
2 stalks of celery
6-8 cups chicken broth
2 cloves of garlic
1 large onion

Chop all veggies.
Saute celery, onion, leek and garlic in a skillet coated with cooking spray.
Place cauliflower in a large pot and cover with broth. Boil until tender. Remove from pot with slotted spoon and place in food processor. Process till smooth.

Cook remaining veggies in the broth remaining from the cauliflower until tender. Add to processor with slotted spoon and puree till smooth. Serve.

This soup recipe came from the 17 day diet recipes site. I did tweak it a bit to suit my own preferences. The recipe calls for all the veggies to be pureed after cooking and then combining all the ingredients. I decided I would like bites of veggies in mine, so I only pureed the cauliflower for the creamy texture.

If you are a serious vegan, just substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth.

I found that it needed salt to satisfy my taste buds, but season to please yourself.

Blessings!
Reny

The 17 Day Diet,,,My Take

2012-01-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

I had never heard of The 17 Day Diet until I recently saw a co-worker that I had not seen for a few months. I was astonished! She had lost about 50 pounds! I asked what her 'secret' was, and it turns out that it was no secret at all. She has been following the 17 day diet. Although I had never heard of it, it has been around since 2010.

This book is written by Dr. Mike Moreno. I had never heard of him either before now. But I'm sure he is a nice guy and a great physician. My first thought when I heard the name of the diet, (also the title of the book) is that it sounded like another weird diet fad. But there stood my co-worker, 50+ pounds lighter. I could not ignore the evidence that this obviously worked for her! So I thought it might be worth taking a look at and I purchased the e-book and began to read.

Some of the things I have gleaned so far are:

The diet is quite healthy in it's composition.
The calories initially amount to about 1200 per day.
It is a reduced fat and reduced sugar and carbohydrate diet.
It promotes clean water intake of at least 64 ounces per day.
It promotes lots of lean protein and cleansing veggies.
It suggests limited healthy fruits.
It encourages probiotics twice daily. (Think yogurt).

This list is just what I have gleaned thus far. It turns out that the diet is really 3 cycles of 17 days each. So far I have only read the parts concerning the first cycle. I will read about cycle 2 when I have nearly completed cycle 1. Why wait? Because I don't want to press through the cycles with only the thought of reaching the next level so I can have more to eat. I am hoping this diet will become more than that for me. I hope that it will help me to develop the healthy eating habits that will finally lead to weight loss and improved health.

Dr. Moreno has not neglected the activity factor in all this. He recommends 17 minutes of exercise a day in addition to the eating plan. I had to roll my eyes a bit on this one simply because it seems a bit cheesy. However, since I haven't completed the entire book yet, I will concede that there may be some hidden merit in this. I totally agree that daily, or almost daily exercise is essential to total fitness. But 17 minutes? I think he might have picked that number just to coincide with his book title. And I'm still wondering what makes 17 days a magic number, Why not 14 days or 21? But I am not the expert here, so I will go with the flow on this and see what happens in my particular case.

So here I am on day 2 of my first 15 day cycle, starting the day off with a cup of hot water with 1/2 of a lemon squeezed into it. (I also added a bit of sweetener). This is supposed to stimulate my digestion if I understand correctly. Now I'm off to the treadmill for my exercise. Will it be 17 minutes or 30 or somewhere in between? I'll decide when I get there.

Have a great day.
Blessings!
Reny

I Made Yogurt!

2012-01-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

I made homemade yogurt in my crockpot today. It was a fun and interesting experiment. I shared it on facebook and received several fantastic comments and suggestions, so I thought I would share it here as well.

It all started with the 15 day diet. As I was searching for some recipes I come across this site.

It is just filled with contributed recipes and tips from others. The yogurt recipe was one that caught my eye, and since this diet recommends 2 servings of yogurt daily, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at making my own.

Here is the beginning of my yogurt experiment. 1/2 gallon of milk in the crock pot. Set the control on low and leave it for 2 1/2 hours to heat through.

After the 2 and 1/2 hours have passed, simply turn off and unplug the crock pot and let it set for another 3 hours.

When the 3 hours are up, take out about 2 cups of the milk and mix it with about 6 ounces of plain yogurt, then return the mixture to the crock pot and stir to blend well. Cover and wrap the crock pot in a heavy towel or blanket and leave it for 8 to 10 hours.

This is what I ended up with. Pretty cool, don't you think?

Next I needed to decide how to flavor my yogurt. This is where my facebook friends came through for me.

just had some vanilla greek yogurt plain with honey and blueberries. Excellent think you could work with that.
Love those cute little jars in the front!!!! I'd use strawberries and bananas... and probably a lot of sweetener... but that's me..
peaches...yum
Several years ago a dietitian said to flavor Joe's with sugar-free jello powder. Sprinkle on the jello and stir.
Cheese cloth and a strainer turns it into the expensive greek style!
The Simply Fruit, all fruit preserves. Unless you have homemade.

Well, I have already tried the sugar free jello idea and it tasted great! I might add that the consistency of this yogurt was somewhat like yoplait. Next time I think I will turn the crock pot on low for awhile after adding the 6 onces of yogurt and see if it thickens up any more. I also will get some cheesecloth and try straining it. Oh, and the two commercial containers have my home made yogurt in them too, just in case you were wondering. Just didn't have enough 6 ounce size containers, so decided to recycle. Total cost of this yogurt was less than $3.00.

Blessings!
Reny

Health Trumps All

2012-01-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

So what's wrong with a 70+ Grandma looking like this??? Absolutely nothing! People like Earnestine Shepherd inspire me. Who says Grandma has to retire to a rocking chair with the TV remote in hand? Maybe she would rather run marathons and set new world records for being the oldest, fittest Grandma on the planet! Earnestine Shepherd and Marjorie Newlin are both at the top of my 'most admired' list. These awesome ladies defied the status quo for Grandmas and paved the way for many of us to aspire to greater heights of fitness and endurance. Just goes to show that 'With God nothing is impossible'!

As I pick up my dumbbells again I will keep a mental image of these remarkable women in my mind. Earnestine says that 'health trumps all'. I may never reach the level of fitness that she enjoys, but I am certainly going to improve my health and fitness level.

I am already seeing some improvements in my health since I rededicated myself to this fitness goal at the beginning of the year. My blood sugar levels are well within normal levels after months of discouraging elevations. I can only attribute this to almost daily exercise and maintaining a low carb/ healthy carb diet.

And now, as promised to you, my loyal readers, this weeks weight loss. Yes! I met my goal of 1 pound/week! I have actually lost 2.9 pounds since last Sunday!

Tomorrow I will address The 17 Day Diet, and my personal thoughts on what I have learned about it so far.

Until then....
Blessings!
Reny

Yikes! A Mouse in my House!

2012-01-15T00:42:00.000-08:00

In general I love all creatures, except rodents, spiders and snakes.   We live in a rural area at the edge of small town USA. We are bordered on three sides by vacant lots, one of which sports a densely wooded area. Small wildlife are common sights around our little neighborhood. (See my post about Dawson the groundhog for example.)

I just love watching these adorable, furry little creatures scampering across our lawn or climbing our trees. It is always a special treat when I look out my kitchen window and see a squirrel on the ledge just a few feet from our house. And there must be hundreds of bunnies dwelling in our block of the neighborhood.

But no matter how much I love to watch these animals, I do not want them in my house. (Or eating my garden.) Never the less, each autumn brings in at least two (I think they might be mates) mice. I see evidence of their presence on my counter tops and out of the corner of my eye when I am up late at night.

My first response is always to inform my darling husband. He is, after all, the guardian and protector of our family and our home. His response usually goes something like this, "Awe, those cute little things don't hurt anything. They're just looking for a warm place to stay."   He is such a kind hearted fellow. I mean, this man catches crickets and spiders and puts them outside rather than kill them. Me, I just stomp the stuffins out of them or spray them mercilessly with Raid, which ever is easier at the time.   But Mr. Loving Hubby will dutifully set out the d-con knowing that it is better to side with me than the mouse if he wants to live a peaceful existance.   And this is what he did when I spied the first autumn intruder this fall. D-con out, I figured that this rodent was toast and I just put him out of my mind.

Several evenings later Mr. Loving and I were sitting in our respective recliners enjoying the quiet of our cozy little home when I felt the presence of 'something' near my left arm. Looking over I saw (I shudder even remembering) a chubby little mouse sitting on his haunches (do mice have haunches?) on the arm of my recliner! Not only that, it was looking at me!

I'm not given to drama or theatrics, so I slowly arose from my chair and took several steps toward Mr. Loving.   "Uh, Honey," I said, pointing at my chair. A huge smile spread across Mr. Loving's face as he took in the scene before him. "Awe, Honey," he said, "it's sick and is just looking to the nurse to help it!"

Sure enough, it was a sick little mouse. Mr. Loving was quickly able to capture it, and yes, he put it outside. I'm not sure that this particular mouse survived, but since then we have trapped 2 more. Yes, I said trapped. No more D-con. From now on it's glue traps in our house. Inhumane? Maybe. But if it keeps the critters out of my chair, it's worth it!

Blessings!
Reny

Pinterest, I Love You!

2012-01-13T01:35:00.000-08:00

I love doing crafts of all kinds. I also love finding new recipes to try. And I love organizing ideas. So, how could I not love Pinterest? This site is so full of information and ideas that I could browse it all day and never see everything that pertains to my particular interests. Add to that the many categories that hold very little interest for me, but are of great interest to others and you have a site that just can't lose!

My favorite category on Pinterest is DIY and Crafts. I have literally spent hours perusing this area of the site and find a host of new things each time I log in. The Lawn and Garden category is superb in all the variety of ideas and styles of garden layouts and landscaping, not to mention the variety of plants. There are tons of beautiful photographs of exotic and wonderful places to mesmerize a wanna be world traveler like me. The awesome pics of recipes make my mouth water. And if you need an idea for holiday or party decorating, this site is chock full of more ideas than you could ever hope for.

Have I said that I love this site? Go check it out. I'll bet that you fall in love too.

Blessings!
Reny

Never, Never Give Up!

2012-01-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

Well, in my last post I promised to keep all of you, my wonderful followers, up to date on how my goals for 2012 are going, especially on the fitness front. I am happy to say that I have made some progress in that area. I am disappointed to say that the progress is not yet evident in the weight loss arena. My scales showed a 3/10 of a pound weight loss for the first week of 2012. I was on the treadmill 6 days out of 7 for 30 minutes each time and at a 3 to 3.5 mph pace. I did 40 minutes of weight training 3 of those days as well. I stayed on my low carb eating plan faithfully. It is a bit disheartening, but I have to remember that I am a 60+ grandma and my metabolism is not that of a 20 or 30 year old.

However, I have noticed some other benefits that make it so worth keeping on. I feel much more energetic. I am regaining strength and endurance. I have not had a lot of food cravings. Basically, I am feeling more fit already even though the weight remains stubbornly attached. It's enough to keep me going. So my advice to any of you who are on the same track, don't give up! I believe some tangible results are just around the corner.

BTW, if you would like to read a neat little blog with all kinds of great ideas, visit here.

http://thehappyhomester.wordpress.com/

Blessings!
Reny

New Year's Progress So Far

2012-01-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

Well, for those of you are interested, I am making some progress on my goals. I've replaced all my kitchen dish cloths and towels. I'm doing well with my fitness goals so far. Having 5 days off from work has helped me to jump start my exercise which consists of 30 minutes on the treadmill daily. At least I hope I can do it daily. When I work my 12 hour night shift, I'm often out of steam after about 2 of them and have to focus my energy on just doing what is necessary. I'm also doing some weight training again. On this I'm aiming for 3 times a week, but once again, it will depend on my work schedule as to whether or not I accomplish that.

I have learned that at my age it is better to pace myself in these areas. It just won't do to wear myself out working out and have no energy left to go to work. Therefore I'm trying not to be obcessive/compulsive about this whole fitness goal.

That said, I will say that I do notice a difference in how I feel when I can get in my workout. I feel much more energized and mentally sharp as well as maintaining a good positive outlook. That alone is enough to make me look forward to that treadmill. I've also downloaded some great music to walk to by Spirit Fit. It keeps me focused on God and helps me be thankful that He has made me able to even do this at my age. As a nurse I see what age, neglect and illness can do to a person. It makes me wish I had been more diligent all along. But they say it's never too late.

Now, as for more new year's goals, I am hard pressed to think of any. I guess I could set a goal of just staying on top of my current lifestyle. I have so many projects going on, and so many more I want to do. So I could also set a goal not to over extend myself on all of those things. And I also could set a goal to get my priorities straight. I have spent too much time majoring in minors this past year.

Anyway, enough said tonight. My next post will include an update on weight loss or gain. Hopefully I will have reached my 1st week's goal of a 1# loss.

Blessings!
Reny

New Years Day...And a Clean Oven

2012-01-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

This may come as a surprise to those who know me, but this year I will start the new year with a clean oven. No, I didn't get the oven cleaner and the rubber gloves out. I just used hot soapy water and a steel wool pad. But it's clean enough for me and that's all I care about. I'm not necessarily a neat freak, but I do like things tidy and relatively free of disease causing organisms.

That said, I want to address this thing of new years goals again. I suppose I should get serious about it and make a few goals that are challenging and worthwhile. Trouble is, I've done this every year and seem to make very little, if any, progress. However, I am not one to just give up, so once again I will add fitness and diet to my list of things to improve on in 2012.

My daughter, Mac, is striving for 52 # in 52 weeks.

check out her blog here.....
http://thehappyhomester.wordpress.com

That sounds reasonable to me, so I am borrowing her plan for myself. How to go about doing this is still a mystery to me, but I hope to figure it out as I go along. I do already walk for 30 minutes at least 4 times a week. Most of the time I try to incorporate a slow jog of about 5 to 10 minutes into that time. The eating plan is probably going to be my biggest challenge. It's crazy, but I eat about the same things as my DH, and am twice as active, but he doesn't gain and I do. Totally not fair! I'm convinced it has something to do with the kind of carbs I consume, although DH consumes all manner of concentrated carbs with no apparent ill effects. But I think this is where I need to focus, so I'm off to research glycemic index.

I won't be posting my weight, but I will post my weight loss and anything special that I think may be contributing to it.

In the meantime, Happy New Year to you all!!!! May it be filled with health and happiness.

Reny

T-SHIRT YARN

2011-12-31T00:30:00.000-08:00

I have to say that making t-shirt yarn is fun. I love the idea of taking something that appears worn out and useless and turning it into something useful and completely different than the original. However, t-shirt yarn is not the best choice for the dishcloths I was hoping to make from it. It is at least as thick as rug yarn if not thicker. While it is not difficult to crochet with, it is more suitable for a project that loves bulk. I'm thinking rugs, totes, coasters, baskets, maybe placemats. Things like that will be fantastic with t-shirt yarn. But I like my dishcloths to be easy to handle and not so bulky. Terry cloth is my idea of an ideal weight for washing dishes with. Maybe that's just because it's what I'm accustomed to using. But I think I will just stick with it.

So, I will be shopping for my dark colored kitchen textiles in the next few weeks. And as for the old t-shirts begging for new life, I will continue to search the web for fabulous ideas for projects. With so much creativity floating around the web, I'm sure there will be a plethora of projects to be found.

First Goal Accomplished.....

2011-12-28T19:36:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right! I have already accomplished my first goal for 2012 and it's not even the new year yet! Would it be fair to say I'm on top of the game so far?

I completed transferring all my contact info into my iPod today. No, I did not toss my old address book. Well, I did toss it...into a drawer. If my iPod crashes or gets lost I may need to refer to the book again, but I hope that doesn't happen,

Now, for my next feat of New Year's Goals daring.... I shall replace all white and light colored kitchen textiles with dark colors that do not show stains. This may take a bit more time since I want to combine this with a crafty idea I found on Pinterest. BTW, if you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, I highly recommend it. Just Google it and take a look. It is amazing!

The crafty idea is to make t-shirt yarn, (what a great recycling idea) and crochet it into kitchen cloths. I'll have to try one to see how I like it first as I am pretty fond of terry cloth to wash my dishes with. ( And no, I do not own a dishwasher.) And I'm not sure if a crocheted cloth would work well for a kitchen towel. But I promise to let you all know once I have made and tried them. Should be interesting at the least.

I read a blog post today from Jonathon Roche, fitness guru: (you can find him at the link below.)

http://www.NoExcusesWorkouts.com/

and he said that we should set big goals. He thinks that most of us set goals that are too easy to achieve and when we achieve them we are living way below our potential. He may be right, but what about us who set easy goals and still don't achieve them? Therein lies a dilemma. However, on his advice I am going to think of a few 'big' goals just for the fun of it. I'll have to ponder on them for awhile because I don't want them to be so outlandish as to be totally impossible for an old gramma like me. I am open to suggestions if you care to leave me a comment. If you do, please keep it nice.

So for now, I'm off to make dishcloths. Now that's a goal any granny can achieve, right?

Goals for 2012

2011-12-24T22:57:00.000-08:00

Well, it's time again to reflect on the past year and set a few goals for the year coming up. I've been giving this some thought, as I am wont to do this time of year. I know that there are many folks out there that do not set goals or make resolutions for various reasons. If you are one of said people, bless you! It's your life. Live it as you choose. But I, for one, love doing this each year.

Now I will confess up front that I seldom reach my goals or keep my resolutions. It seems that my pleasure is more in the making than the keeping. But just because my follow through is weak is no reason to stop. I always go into the new year with the best of intentions and renewed determination to 'get fit', 'lose some weight', 'keep my house clean', 'de-clutter' or whatever. And I really do think I make a bit of progress in some areas each year. And every little improvement counts in my book. So, here I go again.

This year I am starting out with random things that come to mind, so they will not be in any certain order or listed by importance.

#1. Transfer all names, addresses and phone# from my address book to my IPod contact list.

I have already started this and expect to complete it. This will put all my contact info at my fingertips and hopefully make connecting with others easier.

So that's as far as I have gotten at this point. But, hey, it's Christmas and I have other things to do right now. Still, it's a start and I feel good about it.

I'll try to keep you all posted on my progress and on any other goals that come to mind. In the meantime......

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Blessings!
Reny

White is NOT My Color

2011-12-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not talking about fashion or skin color. I'm talking about laundry. White never stays white for very long. A few washings, and I have a dingy shade of grey, brown or multicolored stains.

My mom used to have sparkling whites. My daughter seems to manage to keep her whites sparkling as well. I used to do the same. But these days I just can't seem to do it. On laundry day it's all I can do to keep myself from just tossing it all in together. I do sort lights from darks, but that's about as far as my laundry sorting goes. I used to wash almost everything in hot water and add a good amount of bleach to the white load. But it seems that no one washes in hot water anymore and utility prices have caused me to follow suit. Bleach is hard on clothes and doesn't seem to do what it used to in getting my clothes sparkling white when I do take the time to sort and bleach my whites.

Then there are the emotional issues. Every time I pull out a stained dish cloth or a dingy pair of white socks I feel like an epic fail. This is the worst part for me. I don't know why that should matter after all these years. It must be because of my upbringing. Yeah! That's it. I'll blame it on Mom! It's all her fault for doing things right and expecting the same from her daughters. ;-)

Actually, my mom was an amazing woman! And she did teach us all excellent housekeeping skills. I love her and miss her a lot. So, Mom, in honor of you, I will give it one last shot. Hot water and bleach for the whites. If they don't come out sparkling this time, I'm replacing all white items with dark colors.

Blessings!
Reny

Pinterest....A world of Wonder!

2011-12-08T17:13:00.000-08:00

I Love Pinterest!!!

Here are my versions of two handmade greetings from Pinterest. I simply adore the colors and the way these are put together. Of course the originals are much more striking than my copies, but I try to use the materials I have on hand. I also have to cut out some of the images by hand since I don't have a large collection of cutting dies. This makes it quite time intensive. However, I am delighted with the finished products and these cards will go to some special people on my list this year.

A special thanks to my Sis, who always sends these special 'pins' my way.

Love you, Sissy!!!!!

Days Off!

2011-12-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

Ahh, I have two days off! I like my job, but I love my days off. Plan for today is to tidy the house and finish a crocheted Viking Helmet for one of my grandsons. I'm making one for each of the little ones. Hopefully their mom will send me a pic of them wearing their new headgear and I'll get to post one here. I haven't done any crocheting for awhile, and I had forgotten how much I enjoy it.

Christmas!!!

2011-12-06T22:27:00.000-08:00

Normally I go all out for Christmas, but this year I'm scaling back. Money is tight for most of us these days, and Christmas time brings with it the potential for all kinds of stress. I've spent years trying to find just the right gift, or the most interesting way to package a gift. I've given expensive gifts that often end up in the trash, on the floor or at the Goodwill.

I'm opting out of all that this year. The gifts we give will be small and practical. I'm hoping the gifts we receive will be small and practical as well. I would much rather spend some quality time with those I love. I'd like to have a bushel basket full of sweet memories this year.

That said, I still love this time of year!

My Latest Crafting Adventure

2011-10-27T23:42:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I posted, and the thumbnails on the left will give you a hint why. I have found that working with bits and pieces of pretty paper make me happy. I like working on my multiple scrapbooks, but I love making greeting cards! The possibilities are just endless and they generally come together fairly quickly, which is perfect for an impatient person like me. While I have several cards for sale in my Etsy shop (I need to recoup a little money to help support this habit) I have just shipped my first package of cards to Operation Write Home, an organization that sends handmade cards to service men and women that they can write in and send back home to their loved ones. There are no card shops in some of the places overseas where these fine members of our military are sent. I'm glad to help out with this endeavor and hope you will click on the link and check them out.

http://www.operationwritehome.org/

Helping Grandma

2011-08-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

My grandchildren are the smartest, sweetest, best looking kids I know. Yeah, I know all of you grandparents feel the same way about yours. And it's a true statement about them all! Kids these days are just awesome! I love watching how my grand kids grow and develop in character. Each of them have special and unique attributes that just amaze me.

Charity is my 12 year old granddaughter. She is my housekeeping helper. She helps me with dishes, dusting and cleaning the floors. She knows how to shake the rugs and polish the sink. Since I still work full time, Charity makes my life much easier. In return for her cheerful help, I give her an allowance. It's a win-win situation.

But we actually both get much more than the obvious from this arrangement. While Charity gets a little spending money and I get a little more free time, we both get the benefits of spending time together. The laughing, talking and sharing that goes on is priceless! And need I say that this is a learning experience? Charity is gaining valuable experience in how to keep house and grandma is gaining more and more insight into the delightful young lady that Charity is and will become.

In Charity I see a tenderness of heart that is uncommon in most kids her age. She is very sensitive to the feelings of others. And she seems to have understanding that many adults lack in what makes people do the things they do.

When I was growing up, I didn't have a lot interaction with my grandparents. Time constraints and distance prevented it. But as a grandma, I realize that I have a place in the lives of my grand kids and I cherish that place. I hope that I will influence them in a positive way as they are growing up. They are way to precious to be ignored or neglected. They are a gift from God. I love each of them so much!

Long-Distance Grand-parenting with a new Twist

2011-07-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

I was having a conversation with my elderly dad the other day and the subject of long distance relatives came up. He seemed a bit intrigued that folks these days go to such measures to stay in contact with their children and grandchildren who live many miles away.

"I don't remember people doing that so much when I was younger," he said. "People would just write a letter once in a while, but you just kind of lost touch."

Well, these days it's much easier to keep in touch with distant relatives than it used to be. I used to tell my kids that I was as close as the nearest telephone when they were far from home. And now cell phones make long distance calling much less expensive. But I an totally sold on my little apple ipod with facetime capabilities. One touch can connect my husband and I face to face with our little grandson in another state in seconds. We can look at Sammy's booboo's and even blow kisses at him. He can show us his latest favorite toy, or we can just make funny faces at one another and share some giggle time. There is just something about eye contact that makes all the difference in the world.

If you have loved ones who live too far away to visit frequently, I highly recommend one of these little treasures. Actually, it takes two of them, one at each household. But I deem it one of the best investments we have ever made. It keeps us connected in a whole new way and now we don't have to feel like strangers in our grand children's lives.

Thank God for technology! But lately I've been wondering what it would be like to facetime on the new iPad with it's nice large screen rather than the 2 inch ipod screen. So, what next? A hologram of Sammy in our living room? Or maybe one day we'll just 'beam' on over from one location to another. Technology is a fascinating thing.

Creating Greeting Cards

2011-07-07T21:38:00.000-07:00

After going for a month or two without doing anything crafty, I found that my enjoyment of life was a bit diminished. It seems that creating things is just a part of my nature that cannot be denied. There is just something about watching an item take shape and color and become something of use.

My latest passion, (and I've had many), is working with paper. I never thought of paper as a craft medium that would capture my attention. That's something I did in grade school. It didn't seem like something for a mature adult to play with.

Well, maybe I'm not a mature adult after all, or perhaps I was just wrong about paper. Several family members have given me gifts of scrapbooking supplies along with ,of course, some scrapbooks. I dabbled with them a bit and then laid them aside. At one point, while in a cleaning, decluttering frenzy, I gave all my scrapbooking supplies away.

Having come across a tote of family pictures about a year ago, I decided to take up scraping again and try to put the best of the pics in a pleasant, interesting format. Not long after, my daughter sent me a lovely handmade card which caused me to start taking notice of other cards I received. I noticed that the handmade ones were so special. They were more personal and unique. An item to be treasured as a special greeting from someone who goes the extra mile to choose or to make the card themselves.

It seemed to me that making a card would be sort of like creating a mini scrapbook page, only without the pictures, and with a personal sentiment added. So I began making cards for special occasions for my family and friends.

I am particularly fond of the iris folding techniques and love to come up with my own unique templates as well as use patterns I've seen on the internet. Iris folding is a rather time consuming technique, but the effect is an image with dimension and resembling the iris of a camera. Just changing the patterns of paper or the colors can change the whole look from one card to the next.

Die cut shapes and stamp and ink lend themselves well to unlimited designs. I never know just how a card will turn out from beginning to end. I just kind of wing it usually with no specific pattern in mind. A piece of paper here, a ribbon there and voila! a card has been born. It's fun.

So now I have an ever growing stash of greeting cards and I need to do something with them. Hence my online shops at Etsy and Artfire. My user name in both of those shops is RenysDesigns. So stop in and have a look. Maybe you'll see something you like, or think of a custom card you would like to have created. My prices are very reasonable since I'm really just looking to support my habit. And tell your friends. I would appreciate it.

Reny

Me???? Scrapbook????

2011-05-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Through the years I have always been one to take pictures, save memorabilia and toss it all into a box. My collection of pics, etc. has no rhyme or reason. Yet, deep inside I have always felt that these things were just too precious to toss. Actually, quite a few of the pics have found their way into albums, yet drawers and boxes full of them still seem to abound in our home.

Recently, (and I fear it's due to the aging process) I find myself wanting to organize these items so that our children and grandchildren will not be clueless when they look at them in years to come. And while I've never been particularly interested in family trees, (that's my sister's thing) I do want my children and grandchildren to know who their ancestors are and how they lived. This family has a rich heritage and fascinating history. The stories are worthy of documenting in some form.

I am pretty much in awe of some of the scrapbookers I have encountered. Some of the scrapbooks I've seen are literally works of art. I would love to be so creative. However, my scrapbooking is mostly functional with a little room to endulge my artsy side, such as it is. I've found that I enjoy creating pretty pages with lots of meaning. Going through the the pictures and scraps of paper I've collected over the years has brought back many fond memories. I'm excited about sharing them with the younger generation of this family.

My grand-daughters are my frequent scraping buddies. When they come to visit we almost always end up creating a page or two. Usually those pages will consist of pics, etc of their parents when they were young. It's a great time for me to share funny little stories with them that add a bit of interest to the whole scraping session. And I get one or two more pages completed in the process. It's all good.

I have collected all loose pics, etc. into one tote, and my goal is to eventually have them all in scrapbooks. No, my scraping style is not fancy like some I have seen. I can't color coordinate an entire scrapbook. I do well to manage a page at a time. But someday I'll have the job completed, and I expect to have hours of enjoyment looking through them either alone or with someone else. I know you can't live in the past, but the past has made me who I am presently. So I embrace the past, relish the present and anticipate the future.

To those who started young compiling scrapbooks of notable events in the lives of yourselves and your children, I commend you! What a great past-time. Wish I had had the foresight to do that. But from my late start, I say, "carry on". One day you will look back and be so glad that you did. It's the story of your life dressed up in pretty paper, brads and ribbons. What better way to present it to future generations!

Revisiting What Works

2011-05-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

I confess..... I have been a major slacker. I have lost ground in my fitness goals due to plain, outright laziness for the past 2 months. Don't ask me why, but I seem to fall into this same rut every few months. I am faithful to my low carb eating and exercising program for 2 or 3 months and then....Bam!! I revert back to my old habits, telling myself that 'at my age it shouldn't matter' or 'this just isn't worth it' or some other lame excuse for my slackery.

After a few weeks of the old, bad habits, I begin to feel tired, listless, achy and in generally poor health. Then I begin to relate very closely to the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:24. Although I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about physical fitness, the concept still rings true. I do what I know I should not do (eat junk, get lazy) and I do not do what I know I should, (eat right, drink plenty of water, exercise). It is, however, some consolation that Paul had struggles too. Yep....Paul and I; both wretched, both forgiven, and neither ready to chuck it all and give up.

So I am revisiting the things that have worked for me in the past. As I chug my water and fire up my treadmill, I look forward to feeling like a million dollars in a week or so. Granted, I will probably look no different, but I will embrace the feeling of well being that I know will come with this return to healthier habits.

Not My Favorite Subject

2011-03-23T18:59:00.000-07:00

I have been putting off writing this post for some time. It's hard, you see, to write about eating habits and the effects of them when I have such a problem with them myself. I am a carbohydrate craver. I love em, and every time I eat them I want more. So I have a love/hate relationship with food. Can any of you relate? Ice cream and macaroni and cheese are my comfort foods. Chocolate pudding with a healthy (read large) serving of vanilla ice cream in the center of it can make everything alright. Well, at least for a few minutes. After that the realization of my chronic failure in self control kicks in and I start 'kicking' myself emotionally. I suspect that this issue haunts many more of us than we could ever imagine. It ruins health, robs us of energy and destroys our self-esteem. Yet, as I look around at people in general, I see that the majority of us are in the overweight category. How can this be?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

My feelings for some time is that there is something in our food, (notice I didn't say something in our diet), that is exacerbating this problem. And we are now finding out that high-fructose-corn-syrup is almost certainly a contributing factor. Dr. Robert Lustig has studied the effects of this food additive on his patients and explains how it affects the human body in the link above. I think the food industry will do just about anything to make a buck and since sick people are big money in many different ways, no one cares to challenge them. So we just blame the victim, in this case the fatty.

Now, I'm not saying that overweight people are not to blame. We do have to take a lion's share of the responsibility for the shape we are in. However, the wealth of conflicting information does not make this an easy task for the majority of us. Just google HFCS or any diet information and you will get several hundred pages of info that will support just about any viewpoint you choose to take on the subject. No wonder many of us throw up our hands in defeat and carry on trying to enjoy life as much as we can in whatever state of health and fitness we find ourselves.

The answer? I wish I had one. My best advice is this. Do your homework on how different foods affect the body. This is especially important if you have a metabolic problem like diabetes or insulin resistance. If you are over 40, try to understand how your hormones are working, or not working in many instances. If possible, find a doctor who will take the time to help you learn about your hormone levels and assist you with optimization of your existing hormones and possibly discuss hormone replacement with you. As a side note here, I believe that synthetic hormones carry much more risk than bio-identical hormones. Learn as much as you can about both before agreeing to replacement therapy. Try to eat the best food you can afford including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay away from concentrated carbs as much as possible. Concentrated, meaning sweets and pasta, breads and pastries. And drink plenty of good, clean water.

Do I do all this? Not nearly enough. I tend to do well for days and sometimes weeks, then fall off the wagon and binge on something totally bad for me, like ice cream. I drink way too many diet soda's and not enough water. I don't workout nearly often enough. And I don't do hormone replacement therapy. But I do keep trying. I hope that counts for something. Without that, I'm sure I would be pushing 300 pounds. So I'll just keep on doing what I am doing and hope that at some point my cravings will disappear and my energy level will increase to the point that workouts will be fun instead of a drag. In the meantime, will someone please tell the food industry to stop trying to kill us and instead, try to help us become healthier?!

More Retirement Fitness Info

2011-02-10T15:56:00.000-08:00

In keeping with the subject of being fit to enjoy retirement, I ran across this article in the American Profile a couple of weeks ago. It has some very good tips on aging well and avoiding injuries. Wouldn't it be cool to be 96 years old and still live in our own homes and see to our own duties and needs?

http://www.americanprofile.com/article/44283.html

I highly recommend this article. Thanks to Anne Gillem and American Profile for addressing this important health issue for senior citizens.

Fit to Retire

2011-01-25T18:54:00.000-08:00

Approximately 2 years ago, as I was bemoaning the effects of growing older to my daughter, she told me of a lady she had recently seen on a television talk show named Marjorie Newlin. At the age of 72 she was having difficulty lifting 50# bags of kitty litter without help. Being a feisty and independent type of gal, Marjorie decided to work on getting stronger. Read her story at the link below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phillykevflicks/2239213791/

Well, I decided that if this spunky little lady could do all that, then I , being considerably younger, should be able to improve my physical strength as well.

Let me just say that I am no Marjorie Newlin. However, I realize that what prompted Marjorie should prompt many of the rest of us as well. In the nursing profession we are constantly faced with the effects of loss of strength and vitality in our patients. One of the most devastating accidents for the elderly is a fall resulting in broken bones, and most notably, hip fractures. Sadly, we often take it for granted that this is just one of the 'side effects' of aging. As I researched articles about senior citizens and weight training I came to realize that the lack of strength plays a major role in debilitating falls. When our muscles are strong, our skeletal system has the support it needs to keep us on our feet, so to speak. It made sense to me.

So... I now have a set of dumbells and a treadmill in my back room. I still am not a Marjorie Newlin, but I am a stronger me than I was 2 years ago. Carrying in the groceries is easier, doing my job is easier and I have fewer aches and pains than before. I have increased energy and a more positive outlook on life. I am beginning to feel like I may, after all, have the vitality to enjoy my retirement when the time comes.

Having said all that, let me say this. Embarking on a weight training and fitness program is a great idea, but each program must be individualized to avoid injury. I initially joined a fitness club and even invested in the coaching of a personal trainer for a few sessions. In doing this, I learned proper technique and how often to work out as well as becoming familiar with which muscles were being worked. I found it well worth the money, as I have to confess total ignorance at the beginning.

If you decide to try a similar path to fitness, I suggest that you do your research and find someone who knows to help you learn the correct way to do it. Then just persevere. And remember, fitness is not about how you look. It's about being strong, healthy and full of vitality. The bonus is that the benefits are exponential!

Count Down to Retirement

2011-01-20T21:57:00.000-08:00

I've noticed an interesting phenomenon as I grow older. The things that once held great importance for me are taking 2nd place to things much more pressing. Career aspirations have given way to spending more time with family and friends. Material items are losing importance and being replaced by things more worthy of time and energy.

I've noticed that the days fly by, but the nights grow long. My step is a bit slower and the joints occasionally ache. The recliner is becoming a fast friend, and a good book a welcome companion. Things that once were taken for granted are now receiving the appreciation they deserve, such as health, strength, comfortable accommodations, electric blankets and warm fuzzy slippers.

As I look ahead, I relish the idea of being retired. It will be a time of doing what I want, free from the restraints of a work schedule. I'm fortunate to have many interests and hobbies, so I really can't see retirement as a time of boredom or inactivity. I intend to enjoy my retirement to the fullest. But in order to do that, I must have a certain level of health, strength and energy.

I thank God that I am a healthy individual. It helps me continue my work as a nurse, and to do the things I enjoy. But I realize that if I am to enjoy my 'golden years' I need to do a few things to keep myself strong and healthy. I also need to be proactive about exercising my mind to keep it clear and sharp.

In my next few posts I will be sharing some of the things I believe will help me be in a position to enjoy my retirement. I will also be sharing some tips from some of my favorite 'old folks' on how they handle their retirement.

So, if this topic interests you, visit again next week. Until then......

Be Blessed!
Reny

The Demise of My Garden...the rest of the story

2010-09-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

My square foot gardening adventure started with a book and a vision during the winter of 2009/2010. I drew a plan for 4 boxes and made my list of needed supplies; wood for the boxes, several bales of peat moss, several large bags of vermiculite, multiple varieties of compost and weed barrier for the bottom of the boxes. I also purchased skinny pvc pipe and netting to make a frame and cover for the boxes as the plants grew to keep out pests. The book also suggested building a trellis out of electrical conduit pipe and twine to support the beautiful tomato plants that I dreamed I would have, heavy with juicy, red fruit.

With the supplies at hand, I set myself to the task of constructing my garden. I enlisted the aid of my son to cut the boards to the appropriate lengths. I then built my boxes using long deck screws to hold them together. I have to confess that I felt rather proud and empowered to have put the boxes together by myself. I do love using the few simple power tools that I own and can totally relate to how guys feel about them now.

After constructing the boxes, I put my weed barrier under them and proceeded to mix my soil, called 'Mel's mix' in the book. This is a mixture of the peat moss, vermiculite and compost that is combined in the prescribed amounts and then shoveled into the boxes to a depth of about 8 inches.

Next I measured off 1 foot sections and formed my square foot grids. This would be my guide for planting. The book even offers a chart that tells how many plants of any given vegetable will grow well within a square foot section. The pictures in the book showed a lovely variety of vegetables and flowers in each box, and I arranged my boxes accordingly. After all, variety is the spice of life, right?

Now to wait and watch this fabulous garden grow. And grow it did! Beautiful, thick luscious foliage soon burst forth with blossoms and the promise of some yummy fruit in the near future. My mouth would water just thinking of the fresh, organic salads and other veggies we would soon be eating.

The netting proved to be an annoyance every time I wanted to pull a weed or pluck a lettuce leaf, so I removed after awhile thinking that I probably didn't need it since I had seen no garden predators since things had begun to grow. But getting the garden watered as often as I should have was a bit of a problem. Working the 12 hour night shift didn't leave much time to tend to the garden, so unless it rained, the garden often had to go for 3-4 days at a time without water. Still, it began to produce some tomatoes, cabbages and cucumbers as well as a few sweet zinnias to add color and aesthetics.

And then it happened. Slowly at first, and gradually picking up speed. I would visit my garden, (which was within a few steps of my patio) and find that something had feasted on my plants, or eaten whatever was within reach. Cabbages were chewed up. Half eaten tomatoes hung from the vines and cucumbers were disappearing. My carrot bed and onions were flattened from the weight of whatever critter was feasting on my garden.

Not to be outwitted by 'whatever it was', I sprung into action and made my way to Menards. Fence posts and chicken wire. Yeah! That should do the trick. By now we had determined that the pest was a groundhog that lived under the abandoned house next door. Well, groundhogs dig, so I also bought tent stakes to secure the chicken wire firmly to the ground in the hope that he would give up if it became too difficult to get into the garden.

Well, it took him a few days, but he found a loose place in the fence and made his way inside only to be surprised by my darling husband one day coming home from work. The poor groundhog was so terrified at having been discovered that he forgot which way he got into the garden and tried to get out by going through the fence! In a panic, he did finally find his way out, but left several imprints of his head in the chicken wire. LOL! "That'll teach him", I thought. I patched the hole he got in through and for a week or so things were good. Garden was growing, and no groundhog.

About that time we discovered that there were actually two groundhogs. And they found a way to get back into the garden. An internet search offered several possible ways to discourage them from our garden, many of which we tried. Fake birds, aluminum pie plates on twine blowing around, a colorful beach ball bouncing on the end of a string. Even wind chimes attached to each garden frame that would jingle whenever the animal disturbed anything in the garden. We even had a radio playing in the garden for awhile, but soon realized that the batteries would bankrupt us if we kept that going all the time.

By now 'Dawson' (yep, we gave him a name) had burrowed under the fence and was dining daily on some of the finest produce I have ever grown. It became quite apparent that the only way we were going to get to eat any of our garden produce would be if we followed the food chain and ate the groundhog. But being nature lovers and having an affinity for cute little furry animals, that was not an option. We also had friends who offered to trap Dawson (and his friends) and relocate them to another place. However, we decided that Dawson had earned the right to stay by virtue of the comic relief he had provided in spite of the frustration of losing the entire garden to his voracious appetite.

Meanwhile, my sons both planted gardens as well. And they had beautiful gardens that had no pests. Their gardens yielded such an abundance of produce that my hubby and I had all we could eat plus some to can and freeze.

Hey, I know when I'm beat. And I know a good deal when I see one too. Next year I'm donating all my gardening energy to my son's gardens in return for a share of the booty. And if Dawson finds his way to their gardens, well, they can deal with him however they please.

Just don't tell me about it.

Blessings!

I'm Back.....

2010-09-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

Wow! I haven't posted for over a year. Where has the time gone?!

Well, friends, I've been busy. I've been working on a number of projects, but today I want to address the one that has been the most challenging to me. This project actually began in earnest last summer and was continued into this summer.

I was raised in the country. Think fields, barns, farm animals and gardens. I currently live in a small town, but am still a country girl at heart. So it should be no surprise that I still think gardening is a good thing. There is just something about watching your garden grow and produce tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, etc. It's very satisfying to see shelves of mason jars filled with the abundance of a well tended, productive garden. So last spring I decided to plant a garden rather than just a few tomato plants around my patio.

In the early spring of 2009 a friend came with his tractor and broke up the ground in our little back yard and my gardening began. I planted. I hoed. I weeded and watered. I made a nice little border around the parameter of the garden with bricks and landscape timbers. In short, I worked my butt off, and the garden grew! What a delight!

At the appointed time, tomatoes began to appear on the vines and shades of yellow and red began to peek through the foliage. Ahhh. My garden was producing and my mouth was watering. Time to begin our succulent and tasty harvest. Life was good.

As I began to pick tomatoes, I noticed that more than a few had already been sampled. A bite here, a half-eaten fruit there. Not only that, but the plants were beginning to die from the ground up. This I attributed to some sort of blight or other plant disease, and I made haste to harvest what I could before the whole garden succumbed to whatever this was that was attacking it. Maybe I would have better luck next year. I had all winter to research and find out what the problem was and how to avoid it in the future.

During the course of my research, I ran across what seemed like an excellent form of gardening in small spaces. Thanks to amazon.com I soon had my copy of 'Square Foot Gardening' in hand and a whole new plan forming in my mind. What a great idea! Raised boxes of a special soil mix that was practically guaranteed to grow the finest produce imaginable, and with very little effort after the initial set-up and planting. Hurry up spring!!!! This is my year for the best garden ever!

The rest of the story?......Later. I'm tired.

Susan Boyle

2009-04-17T02:31:00.000-07:00

OK. I think she is awesome! How refreshing to see a real person get a little recognition for a change. Her voice is stunningly beautiful. Her manner, refreshingly transparent. Her perfomance, bold and passionate. There is nothing fake about this delightful lady. I hope success doesn't change her sweetness.

If you haven't seen her, check her out on youtube. You will be amazed!

Living Frugally

2009-04-12T22:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been awhile since I posted here. Things have been very busy. With warm weather approaching, I have been into spring cleaning and fix-up. My hope is to get things ship-shape inside and then concentrate my free time and energy on some yard work and a small backyard garden.(yum!)

With the economy in it's current state, it seems prudent to me to start cutting back in areas where I can. Being a hands on, project oriented person, this has become my new past-time.

I started with cutting costs in the laundry room. Rather than use the clothes dryer, I began hanging clothes out to dry whenever it is not raining. I guesstimate that this will save us around $30 a month on our electricity bill. I still use the dryer briefly for fluffing a few things and for our permanent press items. (I'm not particularly fond of ironing.) I also purchased a folding wooden drying rack for drying smaller items indoors on rainy or very cold days. And a couple of lines put up in my back utility room help with larger items if I can't hang them outdoors.

Next I searched the web for a recipe for making my own laundry detergent. With just a few basic ingredients and a few minutes of time I had approximately 2 gallons of liquid laundry detergent for an average cost of 5 cents a load. After using this for about 3 weeks, I have found it to be as effective as the Tide I formerly used.

Fabric softener was my next goal. Hanging clothes out does leave some of them feeling rough and stiff. Too bad we're such pampered folks. Our ancestors never gave such things a second thought. But I do like my laundry to be soft and cozy. My daughter gave me the solution to the fabric softener, though. She read somewhere that white vinegar in the rinse cycle would do the trick. I was afraid that this would make my laundry smell like vinegar, but had to give it a try. I am still experimenting with how much to use, but at this point I am filling my Downy ball with it and it is making my clothes much softer. And it leaves my laundry with no odor at all! What a great thing for those with allergies to fragrances.

So my quest begins. I will keep you all updated from time to time as I come across more ways to live frugally. Now in case you are thinking that I must be building up a fantastic savings account, the answer is 'no'. My main agenda is to have money for the things I want by cutting back in other areas that don't matter to me that much. I consider it a challenge, and I believe we all need a challenge routinely.

I am searching the web and blogs for more thrifty ideas. If you have any, I welcome your comments and your help.

Shoes, How many are Enough?

2009-03-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

I just counted that I have 16 pairs of shoes!!! 2 pair of them have never been worn, but I still think I may wear them someday, so I keep them around. 1 pair is fun 'dustmop' shoes from my grandkids, so I have to keep them. I'm sure they'll come in handy one of these days. I have 4 pair of sandals. 3 of those I wear on a regular basis in warm weather, and the other pair is sort of dressy in case I ever have a dressy summer event to attend. (One can only hope.) 3 pair of croc wannabes. I wear them often, so they are keepers. 2 pair of causal winter shoes that are great with bluejeans or dress slacks. Gotta have those. 2 pair are work shoes. (Nuff said about that.) And 1 pair of worn out sketchers that I still love. So I can justify having them all. But still, it seems kind of excessive to me.
Comments???

Stem Cell Research

2009-03-10T20:52:00.000-07:00

There's something inherently wrong with embrionic stem cell research.

When I look at our little Sammy, and think of stem cell research, I just get cold chills! You see, he was an embryo not that long ago.

What if little Sam had been sacrificed in the early stages of his development for stem cell research? Without even realizing it, we would have been robbed of one of the most excellent blessings God gives.

What if the recipient of little Sam's stem cells happened to be an uncaring, hateful person who had spent their life doing terrible things? Perhaps a tyrant or a murderer or a child predator who should have been locked away, but instead gets a chance to be cured from some dreadful disease so that they can go out and destroy the lives of more innocent people?

I know there are some wonderful people that may benefit from stem cell research, but there have been great strides in adult stem cell research that should be investigated before we sacrifice our precious children.

I shudder at the thought of creating a life only to destroy it for the sake of science. In my mind, this is just as bad, if not worse than abortion or infanticide.

Just saying....

A Well Sharpened Sword

2009-02-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

This is reprinted here with permission from my wonderful hubby. I was so touched by it that I wanted to share it with all of you.

We went by for our usual hugs,

If you don't know who I'm talking about click here.
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f3f81e94fefac1757ff8

and she had to move this book out of our way on the couch,
as usual. In fact I cannot remember when that book has not
had to be moved out of the way to make room to sit down
on the couch with her and visit.

I have had to move this book many times before but a little voice said
take a couple of quick pics of this.

This worn book is the most important part of her daily life.
She is ever, always reading this worn book. It's like she
is almost attached to it. When I realized the power,
the hope , the faith that has transferred from the pages
of this book to her and then to many, many of us who love
her, I thought, " Wow! This is worthy of some special attention."

When I thought about how much reading was done to put the wear and tear on this book and then thought about how much of a treasure of faith and love is stored by this book being used to this point , I realized that what I have in these little quick pics is more priceless than a world famous painting.

See, my friends, this is a true living battery charger for life today, and
every day. This is a power pack, a mountain moving, faith giving,
living link to our personal LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
So as this wonderful lady always says,
"BE SWEET AND SAY YOUR PRAYERS."

Little Fife

2009-02-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

I am soooo excited! Our newest grandson is due any day. So far we have only seen him as an ultrasound image or a hidden form in his mamma's belly. But soon we will see him face to face.

He's going to be a big boy, over nine pounds. I believe that will be a good size to hold and feel comfortable with.

He will be the first for our daughter and son-in-law, and first babies are always special. But he will be our eighth grandchild. And everyone of them are special! (I know. Every grandparent feels that way.)

His first name will be Samuel. I don't think the middle name is decided on yet. At first we just affectionately called him 'Little'. But now he is Samuel or Sammy or sometimes just Sam.

I picture him as robust, alert and active. I believe he will be one that will want to touch, taste and experience everything he sees, a bouncing baby boy in every way. I see him as smart, quick and inquisitive. I think he will learn fast and retain much. I hope he will have his daddy's musical talent and curly hair, and his mommy's wit and creativity. I know he will have deep roots with the Lord because that is his heritage from past generations.

I know his parents are going to be the best mommy and daddy. They have so much love to give, and such a wise perspective on parenting. It is going to be so rewarding to watch as they raise little Sam in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

So,yes, we are eager for this child to arrive. He is going to be such fun!

My Two Cents.....

2009-02-15T14:37:00.001-08:00

I have a lot of opinions, and when it comes to politics there are just a couple of things that I would like to see happen.

First of all, I think that all politicians should be held to a high standard of honesty and integrity. Maybe a '3 lies and you're out' rule would be good.

Secondly, I firmly believe that no politician should be paid more than the average middle class American, and that the benefits they receive should be comparable as well.

The problem, in my opinion, is that politicians feel that they are somehow not subject to the same standard of living or the same moral standard as the rest of us. Therefore, since they are so out of touch with our reality, how can they govern effectively?

Sadly, I see a 'Lord and Serf' culture hidden in our present day society. Braveheart anyone?

Fun Blog

2009-02-12T17:17:00.001-08:00

This is the funnest blog I have ever run across.

http://colormekatie.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-button.html

If you want to smile, this is the place to visit. I am amazed at the multitude of ways Katie finds to add interest to otherwise mundane things or times. I visit this blog often just to remind myself that we don't have to take life so seriously. Some moments of our lives should be fun and carefree!

My advice: Bookmark this one and visit often. You'll be glad you did.

Octuplets....

2009-02-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

Since I am sleepless again tonight, I thought I'd just check out the news on the net. And, yes, there are yet more stories vilifying the mother of the octuplets. I find it sad that this woman's own mother is being reported as putting her down in almost every interview. Whatever Nadya Suleman's motives for being implanted with so many embryos, the fact is that this is a beautiful miracle! Surely God's favor was on this woman for all these babies to have survived and to be doing so well!

OK, so some want to address the medical expense of all these preemies, and the possible 'drain' they could be on our health care system. I work in a hospital and I could write a book about irresponsible, non-compliant patients and how they are a drain on our system. Want to discuss alcoholics, drug addicts, smokers, not to mention those who are constantly in the ER with vague symptoms just so they can get a legal buzz? Would it surprise you to know that most of the above mentioned patients health care is paid for by the government? And why is that? Because they have chosen a destructive lifestyle that has left them disabled. Besides free medical care, many of these also get assistance with rent, utilities, and food. Now that is a drain!

Now, please don't misunderstand. I am not against these people. Frankly, they help keep me in a job. I'm just saying that maligning the mother of the octuplets for this reason is totally ridiculous.

Well, what about her ability to care for all these kids? Just this week I spoke with an elderly woman who was the mother of 16 children. She was amazing! And she was surrounded by love. Compared to some elderly people I know who are alone, either because they have no children or their children cannot or will not visit, the lady with 16 kids is so blessed. No one will deny that caring for 14 children, 8 of them newborns, is going to be a tough job. But God put us all here to be family to one another. And if the Christians in Nadya Suleman's life pitch in to help like those in the lives of other parents of multiples have, then she will manage. In just a few short years those babies will be able to do much for themselves. And as they grow up together, they will never feel the loneliness that plagues some children that have no siblings.

My parents had 7 children. We didn't have a lot of material things. We wore hand me downs and ate simply. I never had a room of my own and seldom had a bed of my own. Sharing was a way of life. So was looking out for one another. And working along side my siblings and parents was considered normal. We were 'family' in every sense of the word. I think it will be somewhat the same for Nadya Suleman and her children. They will make it, and the difficulties will make them strong. And it will all be worth it.

Who knows what kinds of wonderful contributions these children may make to this troubled world. What if from this 'batch of embryos' there will be one who is destined to discover the cure, once and for all, of cancer. Or perhaps one of them will develop that car that runs on water instead of gas. Who knows? But time will tell. In the meantime, I hope Nadya gets all the help she needs. It's not our place to judge. I prefer to marvel at what the Lord has done. And I look at it this way. It replaces 8 aborted children. PTL!!!

Poetry

2009-02-04T00:13:00.000-08:00

I've been writing poetry since I was in grade school. Just a little hobby of mine that only a few close friends and family knew about. Here are a couple of poems I wrote in recent years for my children. I have four fabulous sons and one beautiful daughter.

My Son
My son, what will your life be like,
What will your future be?
What untold joys and sorrows wait,
What wonders will you see?

Have I prepared you well enough
To deal with what's ahead?
Have I imparted courage
That will chase away all dread?

Will you be strong in troubled times,
Yet tender in your heart?
When others look to you for help,
Son, will you do your part?

When temptations beckon you
Will honor be your creed?
Will you give up your own desires
To fill another's need?

Will you look at your children
As a blessing from above?
And be to them what they need most,
A father full of love?

I pray your life be kissed by God,
No matter what may come,
And that He'll be your strength and shield
When all is said and done.

I know that seeds of greatness
Have been planted deep in you,
And what the Lord has promised
Is the thing that He will do.

So listen closely for His voice,
And do not fail to hear.
A whispered prayer will move His hand,
For He is always near.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

My Daughter
I remember well the day you arrived,
A tiny, pink bundle of love.
No doubt in my mind as I looked in your face
That you were a gift from above.

You fit in my arms so perfectly then.
You still fit there perfectly now.
I'll cherish and treasure each loving embrace
As long as our Lord will allow.

In watching you grow, and watching you bloom,
I know just what I am to do.
By God's grace and love, for the brief time you're mine,
I'll plant seeds of Jesus in you.

I know that one day you'll be leaving this nest
And the shelter of this 'mother hen'.
God, give me the grace to allow you to fly
As I offer you back to Him.

(Thank you, Jesus, for my wonderful children!)

Cabin Fever

2009-01-29T16:28:00.000-08:00

You know I'm getting bored when I write a whole post about mops! LOL!

Today's best friend.....

2009-01-28T18:26:00.000-08:00

This little tool has been my best house-keeping friend today. It's my swiffer mop with a microfiber cloth attached. Those micro fiber cloths are magic when it comes to mopping up those drips and spills that are tracked in from the snow. I think I like microfiber.

Yay! The Sun!!!

2009-01-28T08:30:00.000-08:00

I love how the same pictures look so much happier in the sunshine!

It's Winter....

2009-01-28T06:42:00.001-08:00

This is what it looks like around our little house today.

Dog Revenge

2009-01-27T12:36:00.000-08:00

Sugar used to always sleep on our old sofa. I hated all the dog hair and doggie smell she left behind, but the sofa was about worn out and tagged for replacement soon anyway, so I didn't fuss at her about it.
The new sofa has been here since early December, and Sugar is forbidden to get up on it. Often she will walk over to the sofa and longingly look at it, then look at me, knowing it is off limits.
Well, Sugar has found a new place to relax. We have two recliners in our living room. Of course, she has taken over mine.

I Love My House When It's Tidy

2009-01-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

It's my favorite place to be. It's so warm and cozy here. Today I cleaned, did laundry and scrubbed floors. It is a labor of love.
I got a great little mop for my floors. It's a Clorox Ready Mop. But I really don't like the cleaning solution that comes with it. It leaves a streaky film on my floors that makes them look dull and dirty. I have been experimenting with different ways to use this great little tool, and I think I have finally settled on a satisfactory method. I tried diluting the solution with half water, but that didn't make much difference. So I emptied the whole container down the drain, rinsed out the bottle and refilled it with plain water and about 1/4 cup of white vinegar. I replaced the commercial mopping pad with an old terry washcloth that gives more scrubbing action. Voila! Clean, sparkling floors.
And I save money because I don't have to buy their solution or disposable pads. Yes, I do have to launder the washcloths, but that is no big deal. I do laundry at least every week anyway.
That said, I must confess that I am very attached to my swiffer duster. Hope things don't get so bad that I have to go back to the old 'dust cloth' days.

I'm A Dreamer.....

2009-01-23T21:02:00.001-08:00

Yes, really. I dream all the time. Sometimes my dreams are so entertaining, I don't want to wake up. In my dreams I go places and do things that I would never do in real life.

Some of my dreams are amusing. Some are confusing. Some are happy and some are sad. Some of them are frightening. But they are never boring.

I believe that some dreams have meaning and that God will reveal the meaning to us when we ponder and pray about it. Those dreams usually stay in my mind for days or weeks and the details remain vivid to me. Those are the ones I journal. How interesting to go back through my journals and realize that some of those dreams did, indeed, point to significant events that came about later in my life.

And then there are the 'pizza dreams'. Those dreams that keep me entertained while I sleep, but fade from my memory within the first few minutes of being awake. I seldom bother with trying to remember or journal a dream that doesn't stay with me for at least an hour or so.

All in all, I enjoy dreaming. For someone who doesn't watch much TV, I love watching my dreams most of the time.

Do you love your dreams?

Thanks LeeLou

2009-01-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

As I am often want to do, I have rearranged things again. How do you like my blogs new outfit??? Leelou makes it so easy to get a new, fresh look.
Visit her at:

http://leeloublogs.blogspot.com/

She has a wonderful collection of free templates and also does custom work if you want something really special. Go pay her blog a visit. You won't be sorry.

Any good diet tips......?

2009-01-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

I seem to be having a growth spurt, and I'm too old for this! 'sigh'

This is Me

2009-01-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

I finally decided to post a pic of myself. This is what I look like. For those of you who thought I looked like a lovely Hibiscus blossom, sorry. I didn't mean to deceive you. I was just being timid.

Oh My Gosh! I'm 60!

2009-01-12T15:44:00.000-08:00

Yikes! Another birthday. I can't believe I'm 60. I don't feel sixty. I certainly don't want to act 'my age'. However, the years are catching up with me in some ways. One of the sweetest things about growing older is that I have learned so much!

Finally I realize that there are more important things in life than ('gasp') me. I now know that if I don't get my way in all things, my world will not fall apart.

I have come to understand that relationships are more important than material possessions.

My need for frenetic activity has been replaced with beautiful moments of quiet meditation and reflection.

I have discovered that God is closer than I ever imagined, and that my relationship with Him is the most important thing in my life.

All in all, I'm feeling pretty good about being sixty. Life is simple and good.

'My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness.' Psalm 63:5

Merry Christmas!!!!

2008-12-25T02:35:00.000-08:00

Finally, Christmas is here! I do love this time of year. Everything is so beautiful with colored lights and sparkling things everywhere. I love sparklies!

I finally got the tree up 3 days ago. No, I'm not being a scrooge. It's just that our main Christmas event will not take place until January 3rd. That's the day that all the kids can get home. So I still have a few days to prepare the last minute items and get the house ready to be filled with people, love and laughter.

Right now I am at my job. Sickness, it seems, is no respecter of persons or seasons. My patients don't want to be here, but we all make the best of things. It pleases me to be able to tease and cajole with these dear people to perhaps make the day a bit brighter for them under the circumstances. In a couple of hours I will go home, but they will remain until their bodies are sufficiently healed before they can go home. I am blessed.

I am excited about 2009. In spite of all the dire predictions of 'hard times', I still see each new year as a time of positive change and new opportunities. I used to get together with a friend of mine each year and we would review our accomplishments of the year past and write down out goals for the new year. She always managed to accomplish her goals, but mine often fell by the wayside as I was easily distracted by one thing or another. Or just to lazy to work toward the end result. This year I want to eliminate some of the distractions. I want to refocus on the things that really matter. I also would like to take a little time to just enjoy the simple things of life, like a nice walk on a summer evening, or a good movie. So we'll see how that goes.

But for today, it's Christmas!! So Merry Christmas to each of you! May God bless your socks off!

Searching for normalcy.....

2008-12-07T02:30:00.000-08:00

My very wise, 80 year old Dad says, "Life goes on." I know he is right. So in my grief I am groping my way back to normal. It's hard. A part of me wants things to be normal again, but another part of me wants to think about and remember my sister. Well, I suppose that is normal, too, under the circumstances. So, I guess all is well. My sister lives in Heaven now. And it's not 'Goodbye' but 'See you later.'

I do have plans for a couple of projects in remembrance of my sis. She had 4 very special friends that I plan to make special gifts for. That would make Jo happy. She was also trying to grow her hair long to donate to 'Locks of Love'. I will do something special for some cancer patients on her behalf. Jo was always about giving and serving. I can't be Jo, but maybe I can become a little more like her. I'm looking forward to seeing her again, later.

My Sister. My Friend.

2008-12-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

On the evening of Thanksgiving day I received a call from my nephew in North Carolina.

"Irene," he said. "Mama's having a heart attack."

"Oh John, are you sure?" I asked.

Yes, he was sure. I could hear the EMT's in the background. I recognized the sound of the ACD directing 'No shock advised.'

"No Lord," I prayed. "Please don't let my sister die!"

Not long after, my other nephew, Barney, called to tell me that "Mama is gone."

How sad. I'm going to miss her so much. She was only 56 years old. Younger than I.

I heard her announce her arrival in Heaven. "I'm here."
I saw her being welcomed by my baby sister and my mom who had gone before. I saw her walk toward me to welcome me into Eternity. She was beautiful and happy. So was I.

I thank God for allowing me a glimpse into Heaven at a time when I needed it so badly. Still, I'm really going to miss her. She was so uniquely special. I am so sad.

Saving Thanksgiving

2008-11-07T22:27:00.000-08:00

This post is written by my lovely daughter, Amanda. I hope you enjoy it.

Here is my solution to our culture's dismissal of Thanksgiving:

Every year, at about this time, I express concern that our most important American holiday is losing significance in our culture. While Halloween celebrations become larger events, and involve more child AND adult activities, the largest Christmas marketing kickoffs have migrated from "Black Friday" to Nov. 1, and earlier. With events such as the Macy's parade being pitched less as Thanksgivnig celebrations, and more as Christmas kickoffs, with an increasing number of families that have decided to "do Christmas on Thanksgiving", and with holiday lights beginning to glow long before our harvest feast, Tom Turkey sits forgotten on the sidelines.

As I try to raise awareness, many have argued, "But isn't the birth of our Lord more important than pilgrims and Indians?" Yes. But need we necessarily sacrifice such a significant day of gratitude and family? A national day of Thanksgiving also invokes the unavoidable issue of WHO it is we offer our gratitude. Also, are we ever commanded, or even encouraged, in Scripture to institute a yearly celebration of our Savior's birthday? Or is it more often emphasized to "In everything give thanks!". I'd argue the holidays hold nearly equal importance.

Though my grassroots campaign (okay, so it's pretty much just me) has little influence over the commercial giants that be, if you find yourself concerned as I am over this recent phenomenon, perhaps you'll join me in steps to preserve Thanksgiving Day.

1. Refrain, as much as possible, from making Christmas related purchases before Thanksgiving Day. If early Christmas marketing campaigns begin to prove less effective, merchandisers will become more inclined to focus their efforts later in the season. If you want to avoid holiday shopping crowds, perhaps shopping on-line through December would be an appropriate alternative.

2. Keep Halloween in perspective. No, I don't think celebrating Halloween will cause Satan to rise up and eat your soul. But, as fun as it is, we must acknowledge it as an almost entirely "Hallmark" or manufactured holiday. What are we teaching our children when we decorate our houses, play nonstop Halloween specials on TV, and shop at those special, seasonal "Halloween Shop"s for nearly a month before Trick-or-Treat day? I can't help but think that, for a child, it sends a message that Halloween is as important, or only second in importance to Christmas. We have to teach our kids that, yes, it's a fun holiday, but that it also holds little or no significance in comparison to Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, or even the "minor" holidays, such as Memorial Day or St. Valentine's Day.

3. Make Thanksgiving related purchases. As critical as we are of it, the commercialization of a holiday plays a great role in its perceived significance in our culture. We should really thank God that Christmas and Easter are so well commercialized. Its how these distinctly Christian holidays have maintained such prominence in even our very secular culture. Why not spend a little cash on those pretty harvest dishes for your Thanksgiving table? Perhaps, if you're not as gifted in the culinary arts, you could, order your Thanksgiving turkey from Honey Baked Ham or Boston Market. Target has a really cute set of Thanksgiving themed bath towels for sale right now. (Ridiculous, I know, but if your financially blessed, why not help the cause and have a cutesy seasonal bathroom.) Hallmark has a gorgeous assortment of Thanksgiving cards. Do you know someone faraway or overseas that would find encouragement from such a small token? What would it hurt to find a harvest wreath for your door that says, "Happy Thanksgiving!" If you have the dollars, why not vote with them?

4. I've seen an increasing number of families choosing to celebrate Christmas on Thanksgiving as a way to ensure that all members can attend. Let me suggest this, if you can't celebrate Christmas on Christmas, maybe New Years would be a more appropriate holiday to sacrifice. My own family in Illinois will be holding their Christmas celebration on January 3 this year. If we don't begin our Christmas holiday before Thanksgiving, extending it an extra week won't seem nearly as much a hardship.

5. Find those things that can make Thanksgiving magical for children. What customs can we adapt in our own families to delight future generations with warm memories and traditions to pass on? Maybe your little girl could get a new dress to wear Thanksgiving day. Perhaps special games can be reserved and played only on the holiday. What kid-centric treats can we offer every year at our table? I don't have kids yet, so I'm sure there are dozens of possibilities I haven't even thought to explore in this area. What other ways can we ensure Thanksgiving's prominence in future generations?

Something to Think About

2008-11-06T20:28:00.000-08:00

This letter was emailed to me with the claim that it had been written by David Letterman. After doing some research on the net, I found that it had also been attributed to Jay Leno, but was in fact written by Craig Smith. No matter who the original author is, I found it to be very thought provoking. Perhaps you will agree.

'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'
'The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''
A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J.. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M.. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?

Make no mistake abut it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

The Votes Are In.....

2008-11-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

...and Barack Obama is the peoples choice for president of the United States. While I personally favored John McCain for various reasons, I will honor Mr. Obama and pray for him. May God be with him as he leads this great nation.

Three Long Nights

2008-10-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

I've spent the past three nights working. I have a great job, but sometimes the nights just drag by. These last three have been sooooo long. I'm glad I'll be off for a few days now.

New Look in my Bathroom....

2008-10-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Last month I painted my bathroom a luscious bright coral. It made the room absolutely glow! So much so that I couldn't see to put on make-up with the normal ceiling light. I tried adding florescent lights on either side of the mirror, and that helped. But every time I went into that room my beautiful coral walls assaulted my senses and disturbed my peace. So, obviously, something had to be done.

Well, today I finally settled on a new color. Now my bathroom is a nice soothing blue. Yep, I toned it down and rediscovered the simplicity that makes my life peaceful and quiet. I think the blue is going to be very pretty with the coral accents that I already have in there. No more eerie glow coming from that part of the house. No more extra lights needed. Yes, I think I'm going to like it.

So, which do you like best?

Easy Christmas Gifts

2008-10-14T05:08:00.000-07:00

So, all these marvelous handmade cards I am now collecting are serving as my packaging for my 'non-clutter Christmas'. Yes folks, at the risk of shocking all you Christmas giving traditionalists, I am giving cash this year. These beautiful cards will be the package and gift wrap for my gifts. And for those who feel the need to have a memento of the gift, the card will serve the purpose. It can be framed, scrap-booked, stashed or just scraped. Whatever suits the recipient is fine with me. They can then use the cash for whatever they would really like to have. No more unwanted and disappointing gifts and no more useless clutter.

And for me, no more giving anxiety. No more searching for the perfect item just to find it in the charity box in a few months. In today's economy, I have no desire to waste my money on something that may or may not be the right thing. And as I grow older, I find that the simple life suits me much better. The chaos of Christmas shopping no longer appeals to me. And I no longer feel the need to do things just because that's the commonly accepted way.

So, call me Scrooge, or the Grinch if you like. Or even rebellious. But I think it's time to live life a little differently. I'm done competing with the 'Jones's".

That said, I do have plans for a wonderful holiday celebration with my family and friends. But that will be another post.

Handmade Holiday Greeting Cards

2008-10-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

This year I am endeavoring to give beautiful personalized handmade cards to all my family and a few close friends. My friend, Gina, from BabyFishDesigns is such a great help to me in this project. Having tried making my own cards, I found that it is a time consuming task that requires lots of creativity. Since my time is limited, and my creativity does not lean toward paper crafts, I am doing the next best thing. I am having them made. While Gina has some outstanding items in her lovely Etsy shop, I tend to hit the custom request most of the time. I have found her to be exceptional in creativity and in promptly getting to work on my request. With just a little bit of information about the recipient of the card, she is able to create cards that perfectly fit the occasion and the person. And did I mention that her prices are exceptional as well? I could not buy such a perfect card at the card shop for the same low price. I was especially delighted with a 'rush' order for a birthday card just recently. As I placed the card in the envelope, I noted that the butterfly on the card was repeated on the envelope! How perfect is that!? Such attention to details is what makes me return again and again. Please visit her shop at:

http://www.babyfishdesigns.etsy.com

Christmas is Just Around the Corner...

2008-10-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

..And I'm doing something different this year. With a scary economy, I think everyone is rethinking their approach to holiday giving. We give so much stuff to so many who are already living with excess. Our houses are cluttered with things, making it difficult to clean and keep things tidy. I know of some people who rent storage sheds to keep their excess things in. Others of us have closets, basements, attics, garages and sheds filled with things we no longer need or want, but are afraid to get rid of because "we might need it someday" or "Aunt Jane gave me that. She might be offended if I get rid of it."

My husband will testify that I have been on a crusade to de-clutter our home for several years now. It takes awhile to decide what to keep and what to let go of when you have a lifetimes worth of stuff accumulated. But we are making progress.

"So, what does this have to do with Christmas?" you may ask. Well, this is the time of year when 'things' make their way back into our lives in a subtle and seemingly innocent way. We are all big-hearted people who are accustomed to showing affection through gift giving, which usually redounds to 'more stuff' in every household. Stuff that brings delight for a short time, but then ends up in a closet or corner until someone has the courage to get rid of it.

Surely, there is a better way to celebrate the holidays. I will be posting a couple of my ideas of ways this might be accomplished in future posts.

Mother Teresa

2008-10-09T01:31:00.000-07:00

I've just finished reading about Mother Teresa. What an amazing woman. I began thinking of her the other night at work as I walked through the hospital halls and realized how much suffering, loneliness and fear was all around me. I wondered how Mother Teresa could carry the burden of so many poverty stricken, unwanted and unloved people throughout her life. She loved and cared for many who most of us would shudder to even touch. (yes, even us 'angels of mercy'). Yet, even with all her struggles and spiritual battles, she did not give up. She was convinced of her calling and walked in it even when she couldn't feel the presence of the Lord, which, according to Wikipedia, was the last 50 years of her life. But even while feeling empty inside, she was not deterred from what the Lord had set before her.

I wonder how many were comforted by her ministry? How many homeless people were given a place to call home? How many orphans were rescued from the streets? How many were able to die with dignity, receiving love and care until they breathed their last?

I wonder if there are more people like Mother Teresa in the world today? Surely there are. Surely we need them.

Rainy Tuesday

2008-10-07T06:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just love a rainy day! There's something about the subdued skies and sound of rain on the roof that is just relaxing. And all the better when I know that I don't have to leave the house today.

I have a bit of an annoying sniffle today. It's that time of year I guess. A bit of extra vitamin C will help, and lots of soft fluffy tissues. ;) Still, it's a great day!

Two new items have been added to The Kings Treasury today. If you get the time, go check them out. One of them has a prophetic word included. This is a bold step since not everyone understands or accepts that God still speaks to His people today except through His word. And when this subject comes up, I always stress that the Bible is the number one way God speaks today. And any prophetic word given must be in line with what the Lord has already spoken and recorded in His word. That said, I think it is exciting to know that God is not totally silent in these tumultuous times. I love it when He has something special to say to only me. It makes me feel like He is near and He really is mindful of each one of us. That makes even a rainy day seem special!

The Kings Treasury in up and running!!!

2008-10-06T11:14:00.000-07:00

Well, I may be sleepless, but I'm still productive! My new Etsy shop is up and running. This shop is special in that it is comprised of inspirational jewelry complete with related scriptures and color interpretation. I am relying on inspiration from the Lord on everything I do in this shop, from the set-up to the jewelry designs to the prices.

I am using the very best materials I have on hand for these items. I think that this shop will probably never have a lot of inventory, simply because it is not about volume, but about Jesus. I am striving for one page of excellent items that have lots of meaning to them.

Some of the pieces will have prophetic words attached. My feelings as I create this jewelry is that each piece is intended for a certain individual. I have faith that God will get each piece into the right hands, and that the recipient will be outrageously blessed! This is truly a labor of love, and I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do through this little shop.

Monday Morning.....

2008-10-06T03:39:00.000-07:00

It's Monday morning, and I haven't slept all night. (sigh) Since I work nights, that's nothing new, but last night I did not work, and I really wanted to get rested so that I would be on top of things today.
But here I am. Tired but unable to sleep.

Poor Sugar's routine is upset too. She has been doing her doggy best to herd me into the bedroom tonight. Her habit is to stay near me almost all of the time when I am at home. Tonight I have been all over the house, and she has been right there, no matter which room I find myself in. It is nice to have a faithful companion!

Yes, my husband is my most faithful companion, but tonight he is out of town. So I'm glad to have Sugar here.

In about 45 minutes two of my beautiful grand-daughters will be delivered to me for a ride to school this morning. I am looking forward to that. They always make me smile! Maybe I can get a nap after I get them to school, and still salvage most of the day. That would be good. I think it is a plan.

I think it's a good time for a new blog look. Something that 'pops'. How's this!?

New Template!

2008-10-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

Do you like it???

Visit LeelouBlogs at:

http://leeloublogs.blogspot.com/

She has loads of fabulous templates in fantastic patterns and colors. And they're free!!!

Thanks Leelou, for sharing your awesome talent with all of us.

I Am Learning!

2008-09-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

The more time I spend working on my blog and looking at others blogs, the more I learn. This evening I decided that some blogs are hard for me to read. Usually it's because the font is so small, and sometimes it's because the background is so busy. So, in an effort to make my blog more readable, I am increasing my font size. Let me know if this makes reading it easier.

Now, can anyone tell me how to increase the font in my titles?????

A New (sort of) Venture

2008-09-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! It has been a while since I posted, but I have been very busy. I am starting a new Etsy shop, and am in the process of getting all my ducks in a row, so to speak, before I officially launch it. That means setting up the shop, getting banners and avatars, making products and numerous other little tasks that will make this shop special. And did I mention praying? Because this shop is inspired by God and will be a bit different from most others. I would love to say more about it, but I am going to wait until I begin listing items before I promote it too much.

Besides the new shop, I have been busy with the normal day to day things that we all contend with. Housework, shopping, etc., along with working my full time job. I could use a few more hours in each day, but I would just fill them up and still have things that I want to do. For instance, I would love to learn needle felting. But I just cannot add another hobby to my schedule right now. But there are such pretty things out there that are made that way. I admire you felters. You are so creative and talented!

But for now, I will stay with what I know. And if I don't add too many tasks to my days, perhaps I will find time to update my blog more often, and to read your blogs as well. As a matter of fact, I am off to read blogs right now. Catch you later!

My Grand-daughters Are So Creative!

2008-09-22T19:45:00.000-07:00

Two of my darling grand-daughters came to spend some time at Grandma and Papaw's today. After homework was done we decided to pull out some beads and see what we could make while we waited for their momma to come and pick them up. I was delightfully surprised at their creativity. Destinie is 5 and Charity is 10. Look at what they did!

Like My Background?

2008-09-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

You can have one too. Just visit

http://leeloublogs.blogspot.com/

for a fantastic selection of gorgeous backgrounds. They are free and she also gives simple instructions on how to import them to your blog. And if you want a custom template, she can do that too. I have really just begun to explore all the different templates she offers, and will probably change mine routinely.

Go say 'Hi' to leelou and get your blog a classy new look!

Today's New Etsy Listings

2008-09-17T15:18:00.002-07:00

Here are two new listings for today. I am trying to be more diligent in listing items every day now for the Holiday season.

This silver bracelet is much prettier than the picture shows, but I think that is the case with most of my pics, since I am still working on my photography skills. 'sigh'

And now my camera is acting kind of funky. I'll probably have to get another one soon. Any suggestions on what kind to get for the close up detailed pictures I need?

Sugar's New Accessory

2008-09-17T15:18:00.001-07:00

As promised, here is Sugar's new accessory. Isn't she glamorous?

Sugar, Our German Shepard

2008-09-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

This is Sugar, our dog. Well, she is actually our daughters dog, but when our daughter left for college, Sugar had to stay home. That was nearly 7 years ago. We have loved and cared for this dog for many more years than that actually, since we got Sugar when Amanda was about 10. That makes Sugar about 17 years old now. But she is still a great dog who at times forgets she is not still a pup.

One problem with Sugar is that she sheds like crazy! I have been up to my ears in clouds of dog hair floating around our house. The sofa is always covered with hair to the point that no one can sit on it besides Sugar. It has been a real chore to try to keep the house clean under such circumstances. But I think I might have found a solution. Yes, you guessed it. Sugar now has a stylin new haircut, and I have a lot less cleaning to do.

She actually acted like she enjoyed the whole grooming process. She just loves attention of any kind. For being such a good girl, I have promised her a new 'blingy' collar. Something that will be perfect for the beautiful girl that she is. More pics to follow once Sugar gets her new fashion accessories.

Hurricane Ike Arrives in Southern Illinois

2008-09-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

I was awakened Sunday afternoon by a heavy knocking on my door. It was my grandson, Chris, telling me that we had a problem. One look out the door confirmed this as I gazed at my husbands car nearly covered by a huge branch from our neighbors tree. I had taken note that morning, as I left work, that the winds were pretty stiff. I just didn't realize how hard the wind was really blowing. The sun roof is completely shattered and the windshield is broken as well. There are also numerous dents and dings from the impact of the limb.

Since we don't carry full coverage insurance on that car, I called our household insurance carrier to see if they covered such things. Well, of course, they don't. Hmm. So, I guess we are just out of luck. Wonder how long the duct tape will hold up?

My Latest Creation

2008-09-15T09:59:00.000-07:00

Winter is coming and I'm thinking of beautiful blankets of pure white snow sparkling in the sunshine. And that is the inspiration of this pretty charm bracelet. I hope you like it!

Cute Little Snowmen

2008-09-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

My latest bead project is now listed in my Etsy shop. These sweet little snowmen were quite a challenge. Everything had to be added before oven curing these little guys and trying to get all the little textures right and still hold the shape of the bead almost made me give up on them several times. I would love to make more of them, but I'm going to have to find a better way to do them first. Any clay artists out there with some advice for me????

Lazy Monday

2008-09-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

What a lazy day. I've just been sitting around, reading some blogs, doing a bit of housework, (yuck) and preparing some packages for the mail. I have traded off my Christmas Tree beads, so I should make another set to list. Maybe I'll get to that this evening.

Ho hum. I am badly in need of some motivation. 'sigh'

Maybe It'll be OK.....

2008-09-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well, we are beginning to grow accustomed to our bright new bathroom. The color really is awesome, and when I start accessorizing, the possibilities are going to be endless. Today I held my aquamarine bath puff up to the wall and thought, 'Wow, that's pretty.' But I am leaning more toward sage green and white to offset the coral. It looks like the wall cabinet will have to be custom made, so it might be awhile before we get that. The new mirror is leaning against the wall and has to be mounted soon. I'm toying with the idea of adding some lights on either side of the mirror, but we'll see. My perfectionist son (who is a fabulous home improvement guy) came in, looked up and said, "Mom, you should have painted the ceiling first." Of course, he is right. I was just hoping to get by without doing the ceiling right now. But I may put some ceiling paper up. It is a small room and I think that would be easier than trying to paint it now. All in all, it's work, but fun. I love seeing the difference that a bit of redecorating can make.

Yikes! I Painted My Bathroom Coral!

2008-09-03T22:44:00.000-07:00

And it positively glows in there. I'm afraid to go in there now. It's just too bright. Maybe if I wear my shades...

Well, I guess I should wait until I finish with my redecorating before I make a final judgement. The worse case scenario would be that I would have to paint it over again. Or maybe I could just put a lighter colored wash on it to tone it down a bit.

But the reactions of those who go in there are priceless! Everyone comes out blinking and shaking their heads. Some roll their eyes. I'll post pics later, after the whole thing is finished, and you can all vote on whether I leave it as is or change it.

Christmas is Coming!

2008-09-02T18:42:00.001-07:00

Christmas will be here before we know it, and I have started creating some fantastic Christmas beads. Check these out, and let me know what you think.

Win a Beautiful Necklace and Earring Set!

2008-08-31T04:51:00.000-07:00

I am sponsoring a give away for this beautiful crystal necklace and earring set on the blog listed below. Go check it out and enter for your chance to win.

Handmade showcase is a great blog with lots of interesting crafts and people. You will enjoy it.

http://handmadeshowcase.blogspot.com/2008/08/giveaway-contest-renys-beads.html

Be sure to leave a comment stating your favorite item in my Etsy shop so your name will be entered in the contest.

Oh, I can't wait to see who the lucky winner will be!

ACEO's in Polymer Clay

2008-08-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Well, after much musing, I have finally decided to list one of my polymer clay art cards on Etsy. Creating an art card from clay is a unique process. It is abstract in a way, but turns out to have a definite, identifiable subject. This is done by mixing 2 or 3 colors of clay to make a ball with swirls of the colors visible throughout. The ball is then flattened and shaped into a rectangle about the size of a baseball trading card. The next step is to examine this 'card' from all angles and both sides to see if an image becomes visible. This may take a bit of imagination. Once you are able to discern an image you will want to outline it. Any sharp tool or toothpick will do. Adding a bit of texture to the background will help bring out the lines of the image. I do this by making thin lines, poking with a needle or perhaps using the end of a small paint brush to make little craters. Just choose a texture that will bring out the lines of the image so it will stand out from the rest of the card. I also enhance the features when I can by using a needle to 'draw' hair or beard, or making small lines to show up facial features if the image is a person.
Making these is so much fun! I hope you will give it a try. Check out my rendition of 'Jarius', the Roman centurion of the Bible.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14757803

My First Tutorial

2008-08-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have written a jewelry tutorial for craftbits.com and it is now up on their website. I invite you all to go there and try this little necklace tutorial out.

http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=2190

Home Sweet Home

2008-08-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

What a great week! But, boy, is it good to be home. We started our short pilgrimage on Sunday morning after a rather busy 12 hour shift at the hospital. I was able to doze a bit in the car, so I wasn't too frazzled when we arrived at Michaels town house in Grove City near Columbus. We spent some time with Mike and Josh, then headed north to Brunswick just south of Cleveland where Amanda and Marcus have recently relocated. We found them in a very comfy 2nd floor apartment in a nice complex. Their apartment is easily twice the size of their Florida apartment. It will be perfect for them as they begin adding to the Fife numbers. We slept in the future nursery and I could already imagine my new little grandchild there.

Marcus is the worship leader for the Polaris Christian Church in Brunswick, and so we got to see where he works and had a quick tour of the church building, which is located in a former movie theater. Hopefully we will get to attend a service next time we are there. We did meet a couple of the church family though. Of course, they were very nice.

On Monday we went to Canton to see Ashley at Malone Bible College where she is a sophomore. She gave us a tour of the campus. We took her out to eat and for a bit of shopping. Then back to Brunswick.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent just hanging out with Marcus and Amanda, eating and shopping and getting familiar with the layout of the town. I helped Amanda with some crafty wall art, we looked through her collection of baby things, and I began coming to grips with the idea of my baby having a baby. It was so different with my sons. I just sort of took their new fatherhood in stride. But with my only daughter, I find that it is a bit more emotional for me. I didn't really expect that. I wonder if this is a normal happening for mothers of daughters. I don't think I've ever heard it discussed before. Hmm.

Thursday we did a bit more shopping, ate out for lunch and just enjoyed our last few hours of visiting. At around 2pm we headed for home, making a stop again at Grove City and having a nice meal with Mike. We then went to Josh's workplace to give him a hug before we left there.

During the 5-6 hour drive home we entertained ourselves with downloaded segments of John Tesh's 'Intelligence for Life' radio show. So now we are smarted than we used to be and emotionally satisfied for the time being for having spent time with our kids who live away from here.

Now, back to the everyday grind. But with a smile and with gratitude to the Lord for richly blessing us and our children.

Heading North!

2008-08-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm at work with just a few free minutes. But I am so excited! When my shift ends in the morning, we , my husband and I, are heading north to Cleveland, Ohio to visit our daughter. On the way we will stop at Columbus to see my son. I don't see them often, though we communicate a lot, so I'm really looking forward to this trip.

Ah, Mary....

2008-08-21T22:14:00.000-07:00

If you remember Mary from one of my earlier posts, you will smile at this one.

I related how Mary had to move from the senior apartment complex due to loud and obnoxious behavior when she has a bit too much to drink. So, because we love my dad and didn't want to see him work like a dog helping Mary move, several of the family pitched in to help. We helped Mary find a nice duplex in our town in a fairly quiet neighborhood. We moved her stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. We were all utterly exhausted for a week following.

Mary got all settled in in record time, and her place was absolutely beautiful. It seems that she has a knack for interior decorating. That was 2 weeks ago. This week, Mary was politely served notice of eviction by her landlord. 'sigh' It seems that she has a penchant for calling the police whenever the neighbors make any noise. Now, I don't know if the neighbors deserved that or not. I guess perhaps they could be noisy. After all, they have children. But there seems to be a pattern here with Mary.

So, today Mary found a mobile home to rent. She is going to have to part with some stuff. Lots of stuff. So here we go again. But this time we are setting limits on how much we can do for Mary. I'm just hoping that my dad, who is 80 years old, will not overdo helping her with packing, etc. He is a pretty healthy 80 year old, but I still hate to see him work to exhaustion. I'm going to be out of town for a week, and I'm a bit concerned.

For those of you who feel led to, I ask that you send up a little prayer on behalf of my dad this next week or two. He's a great guy. And send up a prayer for Mary too, if you don't mind. In spite of all the trouble, she is a sweetheart in her own way. If she can't get along in the new neighborhood, I don't know what she will do.

As for me and my husband, we are heading to Ohio to see our daughter and also pay my son a visit on the way. It's going to be a great visit and we're looking forward to it so much!

I'm a Lazy Blogger

2008-08-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

OK, I confess. I'm am just plain lazy when it comes to blogging. It's not that I don't have anything to say. I'm full of things that I am wanting to share with the world. But sitting down to the keyboard is a challenge for me. I have so many projects and other things going on, not to mention my real job, that finding time to blog is pretty far down on the list. But I promise you, my faithful few readers, that I will try to do better. So don't despair and don't give up on me. Just give me one more chance. Please... Pretty please?

And now, back to my bead making table. And if you would like to see some of my latest polymer clay bead creations, just check out my Etsy shop.

http://RenysBeads.etsy.com

Thanks!
Reny

More Fun Than Designing....

2008-08-14T23:18:00.000-07:00

If someone asked me what is more fun and more satisfying than creating beads or jewelry, I would have to say, 'teaching others to do the same.'

In the past couple of years I have volunteered to teach jewelry design classes to clients of our local pregnancy center and ladies from my home church. I am constantly amazed at the talent I witness pouring out of these young women! They always come up with color combinations and different beading designs than I would have ever thought of.

The desire for beautiful things was ingrained in us by our Creator God from the beginning of time. The ability to design and create is so totally a gift from Him. And that gift is given to the Christian and non-Christian alike. It is a seed planted in us by Him that is destined to grow and produce fruit ultimately for His Kingdom.

One of the most delightful things I have witnessed in my time with these young women is their desire to create and to give to those they love. While some created only for themselves, which was my main idea, others immediately saw their creations in light of a gift for someone special to them. How awesome to watch those who had so little exhibit a heart that was so big!

So, yes. I have been richly blessed to have been a part of teaching others what I know. There is great satisfaction in seeing the smile of delight on the faces of those who have created something lovely.

My Latest Bookmark

2008-08-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hi! This is my most recent creation. I love this bookmark. It is crafted with genuine black onyx faceted rectangular gemstones, swarovski clear crystals and sterling and bali silver. I just think this bookmark has a very nice classy look. It will be a perfect gift for someone who is hard to buy for. Look for it in my Etsy shop in the next day or so.

With God All Things Are Possible

2008-08-09T13:49:00.001-07:00

This is one of my beautiful grand-daughters. She is older now, but this picture was taken at about the time that she was diagnosed with Wilms tumor of the kidney. We still marvel at how God pulled her, and all of us, through this ordeal. Surgery, then chemotherapy, and through it all God provided just the right people to help her through it. Today she is a happy, healthy 9 year old with no recurrence of cancer. You always want to think that it won't happen to you or those you love.... and then it does. Where does your help come from? Mine comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth.