HeartRocksHome

It is not about 'what I do'.

It is about 'who I am."

Thinking about this a lot lately.

Here we go.......

As promised.
No more mildewing - or pity party or such things.
It is onward and upward.
Just deciding I am going to so SOMETHING has been helpful.
What was my problem?

1. - I have decided what to memorize for our Christmas gift this year.
I also have something else in mind but in case, I don't get that accomplished I am beginning to memorize.
Deciding is the hardest part.
This year we have expanded the 'gift giving' a bit. Although the gift of 'something by heart' is still there, perhaps we will choose to do one of the following.
I can hardly wait for Christmas.
Our new and expanded family gift giving guidelines:
* Memorize
or
* Learn and share a new skill (I think the grandkids do this great...but - um - us olders sometimes don't look for 'new' areas of development.)
or
* Make (create) something to share (not to give) but to share.
or
* ANY way to share a developed or improved talent or gift.
To stretch a little - or a lot.
Personal growth and SHARE that (your personal growth) with us as our Christmas gift to one another.


2.

Number two has to do with this.
A raggedy quilt I found at the thrift store.
I am going to make some banners with it.

It is in pretty bad condition.
And flimsy.
I like pretty bad and flimsy but want to recreate something new from this AND I need something Christmasy in my booth in November. So I will begin with this.
Inspired by this. I love her things.

3. LIst something in my shop every week. Just take the pictures and write it up and get it listed.
Come on girl.
The least favorite part of my little hobby/business.
I would much rather create than sell.

4.  Decide about these kitchen cupboards.

Oh. My.
They either need to be refinished or painted.
I am leaning toward paint...easier - cleaner - brighter.
RR likes WOOD.

As bad as they look in this picture they are worse in real life.
Looks like a good scrubbing might help....well...the finish is so bad..the good scrubbing made them look like this.

We might compromise. I have a build in china cabinet and the finish looks fine, so maybe leave that - just spruce it up with some furniture oil and paint the rest.

Stay tuned...I am done mildewing.
Feels good.
Real good.

Mildew

Or in other words..hanging around.

When we were little and didn't know what to do...we'd whine to Mom, "What can we do?"
Her answer was always, "Mildew".

I didn't know what it meant then............still not real sure.
Even though I don't know what it means - it seems that is what I am doing.
I can't seem to get my legs under me.
So I am just mildewing...hanging around with Miss Pepper.

I am giving myself until Monday and then by golly - things are going to happen around here.
No more puzzling and mildewing and hangin'...it is onward and upward.
Even I am excited to see just what that will be.

We have a weiner.

Is my RR the only one that says that?
At any rate....

The puzzle is done.
Very fun to put together.
My sister and kids helped out.
It was a matter of necessity, we had a family dinner and needed the table.
Actually, isn't that how it is - we need family to help us out?

I did the drawing the old fashion way.
Put the numbers in a dish.
Held it over my head.
Picked a number.
23

So Tami who lives in a stone house, please email (contact in upper left column) your snail mail address and this little found paper journal will be on its way to you.

Thanks for playing along friends - it was fun.
If you didn't win and still want a journal there are a few listed in my shop.

Coming along nicely.

I feel like I am beginning to "C" a sense of direction.

 

Being more involved in meaningful volunteer work is bubbling to the surface.

There is still time to enter for the journal give away.
My sister is coming for a weekend visit.
(Excited!)
Either the "puzzling" will gather speed or slow down, don't know which it will be, yet.

Puzzling - and a give away.

As my/our  'show' season draws to a close.

(Still love this rusty little trailer.)
I find myself in a bit puzzled.
 

 

As to what I need to be doing........... now.
???

I pulled out this puzzle and told RR that as I work to put it together I am thinking-puzzling-planning what to do 'next'.
I have several ideas in my mind.
I plan to have it figured out when I get this puzzle put together.
I am going to enjoy this 'down-thinking-planning-sharping the saw''  time and think and puzzle it all through.

What would you do it you had the winter ahead and some time?
Precious time.

What would you do?
Leave a comment and I'll put your name in the hat - to win a little 'found paper' journal.

 

(Not this exact one..but similiar)

Um...I'll close the drawing, um..when I get the puzzle put together.
How does that sound?

Red Helmet

I love to read.
Sometimes I will go to the library and check out a dozen books and read them in a week.
I don't watch  much TV... on those weeks I don't get to The Magic Room, either.

I often find an author I like and read all they have written.
My current favorite author.
Homer Hickam.

Did you see the movie October Sky?
It is THAT Homer Hickam.
Will we ever forget the look on his face as he was going down the mantrip and looked up and saw that satellite?
Oh.
My.

I don't really love space - nor do I love coal mining, but I was hooked on his story and the dreams and eventual success of those "least likely to win" Rocket Boys.

First I read Sky of Stone.
Another memoir of his coal mining days.
Enjoyed it.
I think because I was raised on a Homestead.
I understand hard work.
I understand love of hard work.
I understand the community of those who work hard.
Well written.
Really enjoyed it.

Then I checked out a couple novels.
I wasn't sure....but really like the easy reading style of Homer Hickam.
Also like that it is a book my Grandchildren could read over my shoulder and not be embarrassed.
It is back luck for a coal miner to swear, did you know that?
They say I 'swan'. Like they won't even say, I swear. Instead they say, "It's the truth, I swan."
And coal miners believe in God, well, of course they do.

I just finished "Red Helmet".
It is a novel based on being a coal miner.
At first I thought, oh, I don't know - a novel about coal mining.

But one chapter into it and I was hooked.
Great story.
Well told.
A love story.
An adventure.
A mystery.
All in one.

Tug

With 'school days' upon us
I feel melancholy.
In a good kind of way...but still melancholy.
There are some things in life we can only do once.
A small window of opportunity, that can't be brought back.
Like, earning an Eagle Boy Scout award.
You turn eighteen - and haven't earned it, even if you are just one merit badge short.
TOO LATE.
Sorry Charlie, that can't EVER  be earned - the opportunity is over, gone, never to come back.
Oh, there are many good things that can still be done...but NEVER will you be an Eagle Scout.

Raising a family falls in this category.
In many ways.
I guess that is the reason for melancholy this time of year.

And now...what about now?

I have thought about this season of my life.
Am I taking full advantage of and doing the things right now that can only be done during this season?

I hope so....I pray so....I really want to be doing the RIGHT things.
As so many things tug for my time and effort and energy.
Please, dear Lord, help me live my life so I won't have regrets.

 
At our reunion this summer - tug o' war teams prepare for the big tug!
Sometimes I feel like I am the rope...being tugged back and forth!

This is fun

My friend
Entered a contest.
She is in the finals and needs votes.

The video is VERY cute.
So go watch (she is the screen with the Barbie doll (without her head showing) and the pull down map beside her)
and then give her a hands up vote.
The video is ONE minute.

p.s. she could win $40,000!
How incredibly cool - awesome -rewarding could that be?
p.s.s. The video really is awesome.
It is stop motion, which means she would set the scene, take a picture, move one thing, take the next picture and then string all those ma-nillio - ga-zillion pictures together to make the video.
p.s.s. You can vote once a day...everyday this week, if'n you want.

YOU GO LAURA!
AWESOME!
YEAH! for creativity.

Heaven

Spokane Symphony - in the park.
Seagulls overhead - gliding, flying.
Geese - in an arrow of flight - just in time for the bass notes.

Home - simple supper of left overs.
Summer squash, new potatoes, fresh tomatoes, grilled chicken.
Just picked today sliced peaches for dessert.

Delightful conversation.
- concerns of our ward family
- love for children
- retirement (a bit scary)

Sleeping on the deck.
Cool breeze - pine trees swaying - a few stars twinkling
Positioning pillow to stop downdraft - cool  spots as feet are moving about.
AH.
Full moon - illuminating.

Waking at 5:30.
"Arlene, it is raining."
Giggling, scrambling to get inside.
Opening windows.
Drifting back to sleep listening to the gentle rain.

I am not sure what heaven is like...but if it is like this, in any way  - I want to be there.