I'm so glad you could stop by. This is my personal blog of daily life and my journey through life. You will find a strong emphasis on family and friends as well as finding my ancestors through genealogy. Unlike my other blogs this blog is more of a catch-all so any topic is fair game.
We are gradually winding down from the move. I'm still rather high strung and getting my bearings but we have the house pretty much livable. I'm taking advantage of the upheaval to do a bit of decluttering even though we did a lot of decluttering preparing for the move. The reality is what works at one house doesn't always work at the next house so there's no point hanging onto these items. I started experimenting in cooking with natural gas but found my childhood and camping days are somewhat like riding a bicycle so using natural gas for cooking has not been much of an adjustment. Surprisingly, this house is quite a bit quieter than our old house so I'm sleeping better as well as getting up earlier in the day. The house is lighter and brighter so it's really helping me with SAD. I think this winter will be a lot nicer in terms of mood with all the beautiful sunlight in our new home as well as the few weeks we get away to our vacation home. I've changed all the email and addresses over. I kept our old email account until the end of the month just to catch those who haven'tor need to be updated with out new contact information. All in all, things are winding down with the move. Now off to ceramics to create a couple of new gnomes :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Creative Lego Construction
September 17, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
My husband and I have had an absolutely amazing week, tiring but amazing. There are so many good things happening in our lives right now that I can't help but be on cloud nine. Early this week a couple of my online friends, Ben and Turnip, who established CMF Ads about three years ago announced they are closing their blog advertising network effective October 30. I am very saddened by this announcement. Good gosh, it is not as if Ben and Turnip haven't worked hard to make a go of it and they are such nice people that I really hate to see them hurt like this. The blessing this week has been appreciating what Ben and Turnip have done for the blogging community. They are top notch, stellar folk that I as well as many will miss as influential folk in the blogosphere. They have brought class and integrity to the blogosphere. So with sadness I lift a final toast to them, warm in the memories the left us and cherishing the blessings they gave us. Farewell, old friends and until we meet again...
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Since moving my goal has been to go for a daily walk. I don't care how long as long as I walk. We've been walking daily since our move and I must say that the results are showing. I am seriously liking what I'm seeing in the mirror. I was antsy today so decided to go for a walk. It was threatening rain but then I thought well what the heck, the worst that is going to happen is I get wet. So I headed out. It was beautiful but threatening rain that hit about a quarter the way into my walk. By the time I got home I was soaked but you know what it felt good. I stood in the warm shower thinking oh good gosh life is good. And it is :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Not only are we nice people our motto is always to treat folk with respect and take the high road. That's just the way we are. Today it was so difficult though. So my husband's aging laptop is giving it up so we went shopping for a new one with a game plan in mind. The new one goes home, the old one stays here and if the old one finally goes I get a new Mac with the old Mac coming here. Hey, I thought it was a perfect plan. First my husband is driving along and for no reason was flipped the bird. Apparently he was number one in their book. Then this little car and I do mean little figured they could squeeze between us and the car in front of us. This is precisely why a bit of alcohol for the passengers should be allowed when driving!
We continued on to our next stop where either I am invisible or simply not tall enough to signal the shopper behind me not to run me over. Thanks so much shopper as now I have a few fresh bruises to take over the fading bruises from move. I'd hate to see myself walk around without at least one bruise! <sarcasm> Perhaps I should get my husband to put me in the kiddie part of the cart just to keep me safe from other shoppers <major sarcasm>. Then we picked out our purchase (laptop, computer equipment and misc.) some of which had to be unlocked then taken immediately to the till where the guy told the gal we were next inline BUT apparently Miss Holier Than Thou I'm in a Hurry felt it quite appropriate to cut in line then proceeded to waste a good 20 minutes trying to pay. By then I was ready to lose it, gave the check-out girl a glaring look while making a comment to the effect we were there first to which I got a glaring look from my husband so shut up silently thinking I should wander off to their pharmacy section to get any possible sedative available. We finally got checked out then put our lovely purchases in the car and headed home upon which I declared it an excellent time to go to the club house for dinner. I'm sorry but I'm tired, miserable, and have more aches and pains from moving than anyone needs.
So we get to the club house and ordered a Greek salad and large pizza. We clearly told George what we wanted on the pizza which of course came with none of the toppings we ordered. I told George that isn't what we ordered while my husband quietly started scrapping off the toppings to eat what was left. I was just too tired to say much more and besides there are in our long married life together only a couple of times we have ever sent a meal back which is saying a lot considering we both are major foodies. We left three-quarters of the pizza untouched, paid our tab with me vowing to my husband I would never eat there again on the way to the car with him saying 'you know what mistakes happen' so we will try it again.
My husband wandered off to play poker with his entourage while I had a steaming hot bath. In the big picture a lot of things that happened today could have caused a blow-out. My husband and I are nice people so blow-outs are just not our style. We believe in Karma and pay-it-forwards. Today was a bad day but tomorrow will be a better one and you really can't ask for more than that.
Oh and I have to tell you about a wonderful person coming out of a store we were going into. His arm was in a cast and he was using a crutch. Like a true gentleman he held the door open for me. I smiled and said I should be the one holding the door for him. He smiled back and said 'pass it on'. Even a bad day holds priceless gems :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Pink Flowers
May 11, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Our last night spent in our old house was August 31. My husband flatly refused to stay another night there so we started our adventure of living basically between two houses until the closing date. I had been sleeping rather late into the morning at the old house. There were some days I slept until close to noon and this went on much of the summer. Now in fairness I was quite sick complicated by a rather serious drug reaction which obviously took it's toll but still sleeping past 8 AM is a rarity for me. The first day in our new home I was wide awake ready to greet the day at 7:30 AM, still late from my normal 5 AM but considerably better than sleeping until noon. Since then I've been waking fairly consistently at 7:30 AM. I know my body is still healing and I'm tired from the move but I'm getting back to rising early which of course means going to bed a bit earlier. Early to bed, early to rise make a man healthy, wealthy and wise - so the saying goes.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Quite frankly our last house despite owning it and a beautiful location never became our home. I don't know why but the feeling was mutual. Our new house in the matter of seventeen days has become a home! Original paintings have been hung. I know where I'm hanging family pictures, my needlework pieces and those lovely documents that prove I'm not stupid. My pre-depression and Depression era glassware is on proud display in a beautiful china cabinet with bowed glass that hasn't been a focal point in our house/home in over ten years. Another glass cabinet that was pushed to the side joins the china cabinet to display antique canning jars, milk bottles and Fiestaware. Sitting atop that cabinet is the very last gift my Mom ever gave me before she died - a gorgeous painted vase. The handmade pieces of ceramics my husband and I made back in the 80's have come out of their hiding spots. My stunning and I do mean stunning pieces of cut lead glass grace one of our dining areas. My books are still being unpacked but one bookcase is already filled. My books bring me great pleasure, filling me with peace. Surprisingly most of them are scientific, not novels or fiction but in many ways they define me as a person. They say the best way to know someone is to view their bookshelf and my gosh that is so true with me! That reminds me, I need to check for the scheduling of this year's symposiums and drop in for a chat with a couple of my former professors. My husband's grandfather's beautiful oak desk complete with my husband's aunt's signature in one drawer is now in the computer room, a piece of pride and many, many memories. As I've unpacked, rediscovering items that have been in storage too long it hit home that the vast majority of our possessions are not about the actual item but rather the memory associated with that item. I have seriously broke out in fits of laughter at finding a long stored item while breaking out in tears at finding another as the memories come flooding back.
I had my first bath in our new home. As I stood before the mirror, tired and pretty much exhausted, looking at my reflection complete with blackened eye (yes I really did walk into a wall because I failed to use a modern invention called lighting) and greying hair, I could not help but ponder how good our lives are! This move was a good one for us, something we should have done long ago. We are walking more, reconnecting with old friends and seeing more of our family. That is never a bad thind :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Redneck Wine Glass
August 28, 2011
We spotted a redneck wine glass in the country store in Lexington, Michigan during our recent visit. My husband wanted to buy it but I said no at $14.99. It is cute but easily made from a mason jar and glass candlestick holder from the dollar store. In told, it would cost about $1.50 to make and I do have an abundant supply of mason jars. I might make a few for gift giving :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
I am a book fanatic! As a result I have a rather extensive library collection that much to the dismay of my husband and anyone else helping us move. In addition to my library collection I have binders and binders of carefully written notes for every course ever taken during my academic career spanning 4 degrees over a ten year period. Our last house was rather odd to say the least and I just don't know why. Our family photos, original artwork and the vast majority of my books were never unpacked. We simply never bonded with the house despite the beautiful location. It was our house, not our home ... something that is difficult to explain.
This new house has immediately become our home. Three of our original pieces of artwork have found their perfect spot. My gorgeous and I do me gorgeous buffet with curved glass door is now gracing our main dining area with all of my Depression and Pre-depression glass sparkling on the shelves. It's a real beauty that hasn't had a true display location for almost ten years. Another display cabinet in the main dining area is loaded with my antique canning jar, milk bottles and similar items all sparkling on their glass shelves. Then there's the books ... I'm like a kid in the candy store. All my precious books are coming out of their boxes. It's like I reacquainting with old long lost friends!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Moving can be frustrating to say the least. It is all those little things that you take for granted that suddenly aren't there. Today is day 12 without my dryer or cook stove. I dropped a box of glassware today only to realize it was a box with cut glass and a couple of pieces of antique glass. I stubbed my toes countless times, ran into boxes, have more aches and pains than I care to think about as well as racking up the bruises. I am seriously about ready to curl up in a corner and cry! My mantra is "this too shall pass" but right now it hard to keep that in mind.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
We started moving into our new house on the first but the movers didn't bring out our furniture, washer, dryer and fridge (games room) until the sixth. Bell connected the satellite tv and DSL the same day. At that point our new house was on it's way to becoming a home. I hung a couple of pieces of our original paintings we collect from a wonderful local artist. His landscapes are extremely realistic and the neat thing is each painting comes with the story of how it came to be. These paintings take on a life of their own with the looks changing depending on the light. It is easy to lose yourself in them as they mystically draw you into the landscape! I chose new knobs for the kitchen cabinets to personalize the kitchen. My husband installed the new dishwasher this morning and oh my gosh that was a chore but now it's in, it will be like childbirth with the pain quickly forgotten.
Our kids and friends have been a central component this past week helping us get moved and settled into our new home. What a true blessing to have the help of family and friends when needed the most!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
My gosh it has been a long, long week! We are adjusting to our new home but still going back and forth to the old house. I'm sick so it really is taking longer to do a lot of things and there are a few things that need to be done before the house is fully functional (eg. fixing toilets, fixing a shower, installing dishwasher, installing dryer, installing kitchen stove). So my husband fixed one of the toilets this morning. The good news is it is no longer just running. The bad new is now it is flushing itself ever 30 seconds. The outdoor grill is up an operational so we had a lovely porkchop dinner with friends over while battling mosquitoes and bees but the good thing is I ate almost my entire meal something I haven't been able to do in almost three weeks. I have reverted to falling asleep early then getting up early as opposed to falling asleep early then sleeping into late morning so I think that is a good sign as well. My husband is sleeping better as well. I don't think we realized how much the external noise disrupted our sleep. That has been one of the biggest changes in that we are getting a better quality of sleep so we are awaking considerably more refreshed and alert in the mornings. We are both having problems adjusting to the hard flooring with me being worse as far as aching but in fairness we have had a week of rain so my joints would be aching anyway. So we are adjusting but only sort-of at the moment.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Pretty in Pink
August 27, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
The problem with moving is the numbers game. Now my husband is really good at numbers and so he should be given he's a numbers man. I'm not a numbers person. As with many scientists, I am a lazy mathematician. I do the math necessary for my discipline and then just enough to keep my brain active. Other than that forget it! Moving brings a new 911 address into the picture, new postal code and new phone number. Then it adds in new access codes for tv and and in my case a new cell phone number. I'm telling you it's just a numbers game!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
My husband and I were full of anticipation waiting for the keys to our new house on September 1. Now legally the house is not in our name until September 15 but we took an early possession because at this point everything is merely a formality now. We put the word out that we were starting the move on the first and taking up to the fifteenth to finish. In reality we will be fully moved by the sixth with nothing more to do at the old house other than do any necessary cleaning. Friends and family were right there ready to help! We are so very, very blessed to have such a strong support system in our family and friends. They are absolutely amazing!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
We are in the midst of moving. Now technically we have fifteen days to do the actual move which is nice because I detest these move in one day moves. We are essentially living between two houses at the moment. We have no phone service at our old house but have a new phone number at the new house. That didn't really matter much as we were considering going to cell phone only. We don't have tv or internet at the new house until Tuesday so to blog and do my Adgitize I have to go to the old house. My new gas range, dishwasher and pub style table arrived this morning. Once the moving is done for the day my husband will connect up the stove and dishwasher. It will be a laid back evening of relaxing. I've been unpacking a putting things away as they come in so on the new house end things aren't too bad. Other than that we are plugging along, happy with our new house and can't wait until the work is done! Oh an one of our grandbabies is coming to stay overnight. We are babysitting while the parents go to a wedding tomorrow. It's too bad the pool isn't open but peaches are ripe for the picking! I'm sure grandbaby will love the new guest bedroom we've set up.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Lexington Harbor
August 27, 2011
Lexington Harbor lies at the bottom of a rather steep hill. The only way to get to the restaurants or shops is to climb that hill. On average we climb the hill three times a day and I do have to say that it is most annoying to get back to the harbor only to realize you forgot to buy a needed item so back up the hill you go. It makes for a wonderful mini-vacation filled with a fair amount of exercise. Pictured is Lexington Harbor flags on the harbor. The stone wall separates the harbor from Lake Huron. There is a paved walking path along the top of the stone wall to walk from the harbor to the lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor (southern end of harbor). It is a rather popular walk to watch the sunrise over Lake Huron. There is a public beach on Lake Huron on the north side of the harbour that is quite popular.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Hubby's Parrots
August 26, 2011
There was a contest for the best decorated boat during Margarittafest (Lexington, Michigan) which translated into hubby's parrots coming along for the ride. Jimmy Buffet fans are called Parrotheads, and believe me my husband is a Parrothead! It was hilarious watching him decorate the boat. There were six strands of party lights, two strands of rope lighting and the parrots. That wasn't enough according to Mr. Parrothead so we headed up the hill to see what else we could find...
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
