Career Changes Going On!!

I've been out of touch on Magnolia Blossom Art for some time. Haven't been able to work much on crafting and boy do I miss it. Things are going well around here, lots going on. After 25 years of in-home daycare, I have made a career change and have been extremely busy these past few months!! Not one, but TWO new businesses have I launched ... it is so exciting!! They are slow going as I guess is to be expected in the beginning, but it has only been a bit over 1 month since both have been up and running. I have started a new blog about all the changes and will be posting regularly about new information about my businesses.

You can follow the links below to my websites and I would love for you to become a follower on my new blog ... Nanny Goes Digital!!


With Heritage Makers we are able to preserve our family's heritage through digitally storybooking. Check it out and if you are interested in what you see contact me right on the website, I'll be glad to get right back with you to answer any questions you may have. Also, if you think you would be interested in becoming a Personal Publishing Consultant like I am, please get in touch .. I just know you will love the company and what is better than making a living at something you love!! You may want to become a consultant as a hobbyist, or for some part time income, or perhaps would like to turn it into a full time business as I have, whatever you feel would work best for you, it is a rewarding, easy, convenient way to earn money. Just get in touch, I'll help you with any questions you may have!

With Beacon Errand And Concierge Services I am able to provide help to my community by doing what I love ... helping out those in need!! Getting the word out is somewhat of a challenge so any networking ideas you may have would be greatly appreciated, you can email me right from my website!! Suggestions and ideas are welcome!!!

Hope all's well with you and look forward to hearing from you, your thoughts on my career changes and any helpful hints you may have in the area of networking!!

LOTS GOING ON ... NONE OF IT CRAFTING ... BOO HOO ... BUT GOOD NEWS FROM MBA

Where have I been you may ask? Well shortly after my last blog I found myself going in the hospital for emergency surgery ... apparently my appendix decided it was feeling quite out of place in there ... with me having a hysterectomy 30 years ago, gallbladder removed 6 years ago, the gastric by-pass done last June, there's really nothing left in there to go after ... I hope anyway!! Following the appy surgery, the abdominal muscle was a bit slow to heal ... so, long story short ... even though I only missed two days work, it was all I could do to get through the days ... then I would crash at the end of the day. On top of that, ball season has begun and with 3 of the 5 grandsons playing on 5 baseball teams, we are gone most afternoons watching them play ball ... LOVE IT!!! So crafting has taken the back burner and I sure do miss it ... I forget how relaxing and gratifying it is to loose myself in creating!!!
I also have been very busy gearing up for our Relay For Life Event on June 5th. Being coordinator of the Kids Care Program there's been a lot to get organized and that has kept me busy ... it's all good, though ... we have an awesome night of activities planned for all ages, from the youngest of kids to the oldest of adults ... we are looking to a fun night of relaying together.
Admists all of this ... I have somehow managed to reach my goal weight given to me by my surgeon at the time of my gastric by-pass surgery!!! I have lost 148 pounds in less than 10 months! I am so excited, happy and proud of myself .. but more importantly, I feel marvelous!!! When I had surgery my daughter encouraged me to set some goals for myself and fix some rewards to those goals ... so I did. Every 30 pounds I lost I went for a manicure ... and when I hit goal my husband and I were taking a cruise. I just didn't expect to accomplish it in 9 1/2 months!! As a daycare provider for school teacher's children. I have the week of spring break off ... so on a Cruise we're going ... we leave Monday morning at 5:45 for Miami to board a Royal Caribbean ship to cruise the Bahamas ... I can't wait!!!
I'll be busy when we get back finalizing things for the Relay ... but crafting is in the near future ... I can't stand staying away .. gotta get back!! In the mean time, I'm making curtains for 2 grandsons and my daughter, so that will keep me in the mode.

Do You Have Plumber's Insurance????

The Youth at our Church, Port Norfolk Baptist, are participating in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine to raise money for hungry children around the world. The end of the month they will be sleeping outside in front of the church in cardboard boxes during the actual 30 hour famine period. They had a Sweetheart Luncheon last week serving fried chicken and fixins to raise money, but I think one of the funniest and most original fundraisers I've ever seen is the Plumber's Insurance Plan. If you do not buy insurance, this lovely tub can be placed in your front yard until you come up with $10.00 to have it removed. You can also pay$5.00 to have it placed in a yard of an uninsured person. The lovely tub was randomly placed (by the youth, they LOVE us!!) in our yard and we then paid money to have it placed in someone else's yard (after paying the $10.00 removal fee) and it now is in our daughter's yard (we didn't pay for this placement ... she has two teenage boys ... again randomly placed by our youth, I think ... youth loving youth !). We have gotten such a kick out of this inventive way to raise money ... our youth minister is GREAT .. always coming up with new and unique ways to get our teens excited about Christ and the love He wants us to share with all ... and this way to raise money for those less fortunate is certainly a lesson our youth will not soon forget, nor many of us older folks ... keep showing that love guys!

New week ... new Fabulous Friday Freebie ... this week's featured Etsy shop owner is Robin of Robin's Art's & Craft's

Robin has a lovely shop with handmade cards, tags, stickers and more. You will enjoy browsing her shop as much as I have ... her things are lovely with much time and care taken with each design. Stop by her shop ... feel free to do some shopping ** wink, wink ** and then stop back here and leave a post for a chance to win ... scroll down to see the rules ... and remember ... there are more ways than one to get in for a chance to win!! Robin has offered this lovely clutch purse card this week as our Fabulous Freebie giveaway ... you won't want to miss out on a chance to win ... GOOD LUCK ... ENTER MANY TIMES, MANY WAYS ... INCREASE YOUR CHANCES!!!!

There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up!
Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her Etsy shop ... Robin's Art's & Craft's
2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-) 3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about Bonnie's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from Robin's Art's & Craft's ... 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

Wheeewwweee ... Glad they've found homes!!!

We were having puppy withdrawals and were getting a bit concerned that maybe one from that fabulous litter of 10 puppies I posted about in January may end up HAVING to come to Virginia! But, fortunately for everyone, they have all found wonderful homes. I think we may be in trouble, however, when and if Izzy ever has a litter. She is the sister of our Blossom and is a beautiful girl! She's not the next one planned for a litter ... good for us ... 'cause we may just melt and give in to the temptation ... OH NOOOOO ... three Saint Bernard's .. what would we do .... we'll see what happens ... I'll pray for sanity!!!

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures of the last two to leave .... you can see why we melt when we think of another baby in the house ... aren't they adorable!!!!!

THIS WEEK'S FABULOUS FRIDAY FREEBIE

Okay ... another week, another Fabulous Friday Freebie ... ready ... set ... here we go!!! This week's shop is Bonz Photography and Cards.

New Etsian, Bonnie, has some beautiful works of photos and card sets. She specializes in photography and handmade note cards of dogs, cats, animals, flowers, landscapes, and architecture. I just loved her shop when browsing through Etsy one day and invited her to participate in the Friday Freebie ... I was thrilled when she agreed to offer one of her card sets as a giveaway. I know you will be taken away by her work of art and I'm more than happy to be part of sharing her art with all of you. Bonnie is offering the winner a choice between the "Dogs Galore" card set and the "Assorted" card set ... so you know the drill ... follow the rules below to have a chance to get in the drawing ... the more you click and post the more chances you have to win ... SO GET BROWSING .. AND HAVE SOME FUN!!!

There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up!

Here's how it works ...

1) Go to her Etsy shop ... BonzPhotography and Card Shop

2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-)
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop

4) Come back here

5) Leave me a post about your favorite item

6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!

Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about Bonnie's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!

* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win

* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win

* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!

* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!

* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)

* Buy something from BonzPhotography and Card Shop! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!

GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

Getting old sucks!!

Okay I had put it off for more than two years ... getting my eyes checked that is ... using only Walmart "Reading" glasses to get by. But finally I made an appointment and had them checked and today I got my new glasses .... tada ... I can see again!! I am typing this post without having to hold my head backwards while looking through the bifocals and leaning over the computer desk at the same time ... guess the neck kinks will get better now, huh! They are going to take some getting used to, however, cause they are a small frame with bifocals, so depending on how I tilt my head, the vision is totally different. I was told that they would take a week or two to get used to, but if I wore them all the time I would get used to them more quickly ... wow, sewing and crafting is going to be so different now ... whoo hoo ... I can see again!! But I have to admit that facing the fact that I need bifocals is not something I was ready to accept, I guess using the Walmart things didn't make it feel real ... but now I don't look like I have on "Granny" glasses that were perfectly positioned half way down my nose .. but still ... getting old SUCKS!!!

GREAT MONDAY FIND!

As I was "dropping" some Entrecards this morning I came across this site ... "Cents" able Momma ... great find for those of us looking for ways to save on our grocery bill and more!! Her site has printable coupons, recipes, menu ideas and much more. I just wanted to give a shout out and share her site with you. I know I'll be printing some coupons and passing the info on to my daughter-in-law who, as a stay at home mom with 5 in the family, does count on coupons to make her grocery $$$ stretch. Scroll down and you'll find her button ... you might want to grab it while visiting her site and add it to yours ... I'm always about sharing the wealth of ways to make our dollars stretch!!! ENJOY AND THANKS TO CENTS ABLE MOMMA!!!!

CANCER AWARENESS ITEMS ...

Okay, so I haven't posted much this week, and it's for a reason! I've been very busy, with the kiddies here at my daycare feeling somewhat under the weather with winter colds I haven't had much time to do much but make them feel better, which usually requires holding them! In my free time (when and if they did take naps!) but mostly at nights, I was creating some new items. As you have seen, I love making the Crazy Quilt purses in all different colors and this week's brain storm (I have to be careful of them ... they're dangerous!!) was to expand my purses by creating some cute, funky, chique purses that would bring awareness to the different types of cancer. Being very active with our local Relay For Life, on of my passions is to not only raise money for the research to find a cure for cancer, but also to bring awareness to the community at large of the disease, cancer, and how we can all work together to try to put a stop to this horrible invader that has touched so many people. ... So last night I created my first of hopefully many Colors of Cancer Purses. This first one is in PINK .. the color for Breast Cancer. My grandmother lost her life to breast cancer when I was 12 years old and I miss her dearly ... but my mother is a Breast Cancer Survivor of 10 years and for that I celebrate her life and this purse is in honor of her!! It is a cute rectangle embellished with ribbon and buttons, fully lined and ready to be proudly carried in honor of all those who are or have battled Breast Cancer. I am keeping the prices very reasonable on these purses and will donate part of my proceeds to the American Cancer Society.

I also started working on Colors Of Cancer Key Chains and Bookbag Pulls. These simple ribbons come in any color which represents a type of cancer. I will be making them in a number of colors, but if you tell me what type of cancer you would like represented, I'll make the keychain iin that color! As with the purses, these keychains and pulls are very reasonably priced with part of the proceeds going to ACS.

You can find both of these items in both my Etsy and Artfire Shops ... help us with the cause!!!

AND THE WINNER IS ........................

.................... BLUE VIOLET ... one of our followers. Congratulations!!! You're the lucky winner of that lovely, yummy Valentine Heart Necklace .... YEAHHHHH!!!

THIS WEEK'S FABULOUS FRIDAY FREEBIE

Another great freebie this week! It's from a fellow artisan who has absolutely BEAUTIFUL jewelry. In her Etsy Shop, Adorn Me Jewelry, Tina offers "Handcrafted Jewelry that fits your body, your style, your life." She has offered a lovely pair of earrings for this week's freebie. As you can see from her Etsy Shop Welcome, she is having a Valentine's Day Sale ... check out how you can get some fabulous items for a terrific sale price ... details on her welcome page.

Check out Tina's Blog Adorn Me Jewelry... give it a read:-)

Also, visit her Website ... Adorn Me Jewelry ... it's fabulous!!

There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up!

Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her Etsy shop ... Adorn Me Jewelry

2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-) Don't forget her Valentine's Day Sale!!
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about June's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from Adorn Me Jewelry ! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

NEW BLOG ...

I just started a new blog ... Team For Abie ... I'd love for you to give it a look and tell me what you think. I'm hoping to use it to keep our team informed as well as to bring awareness to fellow bloggers about Relay For Life. Any tips, suggestions, ideas you could thow my way would be greatly appreciated ... I'm lovin the help from my blogger friends :-)

READY FOR ANOTHER FABULOUS FRIDAY FREEBIE???

Here we go .... this weeks giveaway is just in time for Valentine's Day! June, owner of "I Sew Cute" has a special Valentine's Day "pretty" for our blog giveaway. Take a look at her shop ... very unique and yummy jewlery. Her things are so adorable ... sweet and lovely.

June has selected this beautiful heart necklace "Sugarlove" for our lucky winner. Sugarlove is perfect for Valentine's Day or anyday you're feelin' the love!

There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up! Check out June's Blog I Sew Cute... and draw pretty nifty also! ... give it a read:-) Here's how it works ...

1) Go to her Etsy shop ... I Sew Cute
2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-)

3) Pick your favorite item in her shop

4) Come back here

5) Leave me a post about your favorite item

6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!

Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about June's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!

* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win

* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win

* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!

* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!

* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)

* Buy something from I Sew Cute! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!

GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

AND THE WINNER IS!!!

The winner of this week's Fabulous Friday Freebie is Renee Henderson from Something Homemade ... CONGRATS!!! If you go to Jenn's shop and convo her, she'll instruct you on how to pick out your earrings!! Thanks for playing along .. and thanks to all who played this week ... ready for another one???

LEMONADE AWARD ... WHOO HOO!!

Julie, at Julie's Daily Inspirationals recently nominated me for the Lemonade Award. I appreciate the nomination, thank you so much. The Lemonade Award is for sites that show gratitude and a wonderful attitude. I think that’s a good group to belong to!

Rules for the award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Nominate your favorites and link to this post.

My Choices for the Award:

Inspirations In Clay

Smart-Bottom Enterprises

AutismLearningFelt

Mommy's Little Corner

Kitt's Krafts

My Strength and My Song ~ A Personal Journey

Nascarnana's Ramblings

PickleBerriesGlass

Savvy SAHM Reviews

Smilemonsters

Spotted Cow Soaps

The Pink Bird House

RELAY LIKE IT'S 1985!!

My husband, daughter and I went to the Regional Relay For Life Kick-Off tonight and we "Rocked Like It Was 1985"!! Not only was it fun, but it is so inspiring to hear all the survivors and caregivers tell their stories with such courage and strength, to hear all that has been accomplished in cancer research, and to witness the numbers of volunteers that work so hard to raise money to help toward the goal of finding a cure for cancer. We all have our stories of loved ones who have battled cancer, some winning the battle, some not, but to be there with the hundreds of others who put hour upon hour of volunteer time for such a great cause is so rewarding. We had a great time dressing in '80 garb, sharing fun and excitement with others, but more importantly, just knowing that it's the beginning of another year of preparing for the big event this summer that will bring more money to go toward reaserch, treatment and prevention of cancer is a wonderful thing!! RELAY FOR LIFE ROCKS!!! Our team Relays for the Elizabeth River Event in Portsmouth, VA which will be held this year on Friday, June 5, 2009. We have already raised over $2400.00 and have another fundraiser in March .. our annual Tea Party! We have a great group of people on our team and we all work hard while we have fun raising money for cancer. My daughter is Chairperson of the Activities for the Event and I help her by taking care of the children's activities .. it's fun ... we're busy ... WE LOVE IT!!!

Okay ... Have to Share this!!

A terrific fellow artisan with beautiful work, Joani, wrote a great post on her blog that I just must share with you ... it is so nicely put and so true!! Go check it out ... Inspirations In Clay .... enjoy!!

AND THE WINNER IS .....

ADORN ME JEWELRY , (her shop) (her blog) ... one of our followers ... congratulations! Thank you all for entering our Fabulous Friday Freebie Giveaway featuring Kitt's Krafts. CONGRATS again to Adorn Me Jewelry!!

Fabulous Friday Freebie

This week's giveaway ...you pick!! Our artisan, Jenn, is willing to allow the winner to pick a pair of earrings of their choice from her shop.

Her work is really beautiful ... you must check it out. She's a lovely gal and her shop is so nice. Her jewelery is outstanding and reasonably priced.

Don't you just love these frog earrings .. they are so adorable!

There are several ways to enter for this week's giveaway ... don't miss out ... you won't want to pass this up! Check out Jenn's Blog ... give it a read:-) So Bead It Jewelry Blog

Here's how it works ...
1) Go to her shop ... So Bead It Jewelry

2) Browse Around ... feel free to do some shopping :-)
3) Pick your favorite item in her shop
4) Come back here
5) Leave me a post about your favorite item
6) You're in the pot for the drawing!!
Want more chances to win? ... you can do one or more of these things after you post about Jenn's shop and you will have additional chances to win !!
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Etsy Shop and tell me what you like the best ... 1 additional chance to win
* Go to my Magnolia Blossom Art Artfire Shop and leave a link of your favorite item in a post here ... 1 additional chance to win
* Blog about this contest ... 1 additional chance to win ... Leave a comment here with a link!
* Become a follower of this blog ... 1 additional chance to win ... no need to leave a comment! All Followers will be entered in our Fabulous Friday Giveaways!
* Let your friends know about this contest! ... 1 additional chance to win for every person you send an email to ... (include me via CC at magnoliablossomart@gmail.com)
* Buy something from So Bead It Jewelry! 5 additional chances to win for every purchase made by a Magnolia Blossom Art Reader!
GOOD LUCK ... HAVE FUN!!!

They Just Jump Out Atcha!

I decided last night to make some new Thumbprint notecards for my Etsy and Artfire shops, so between watching the kiddies, getting an order ready for the mail and having a Vacation Bible School meeting here today with my VBS co-chair, I got them finished. Whoo Hoo ... they are so cute they look like they just want to jump off the paper right at you! After I get some more crazy quilt purses done, I plan to create more designs of these adorable notecards. As my tag under my name displays, I love making a variety of art. I've self diagnosed myself as adult ADHD ... I get board quickly working on one item, I have to break from it and do something else for a bit ... so I decided to break from the purses and create a few of these notecards ... so much fun, so cute ... I just love them!!

I am only putting 2 of the sets here, but there are 4 complete sets listed in the shops :-)

MY POOL IS GREEN!!

Okay, so we have only had our in-ground pool for about a year and a half and there seems to be a debate in the household (which only consists of myself and hubby, since Maggie and Blossom can't really give their opinion, and if they could probably wouldn't cause they hate the pool anyway). Here's the thing ... last year I followed the instructions of the pool installer thinking he just might know what he was talking about ... shocked the pool, backwashed it, added DE to the filter, etc, and then set the timer to run the pump 4 or so hours each night so the pipes wouldn't freeze. Well this year hubby decided he would take over the task of "closing" the pool, except he didn't do ANYTHING to close it! He every once in a while goes out there and skims off leaves and pine needles (not really necessary) and hooks up the Phantom (robot vacuum, which BTW ... now it's green too) and will run it for an hour or so. Now don't get me wrong, he's a great guy, loves me more than life itself (and me him) is a great husband, wonderful father and best "Big Dabby" in the world, but he usually argues with most of what I have to say ... something in the testosterone I think! So when I suggested we shock it he debated that it wasn't needed and rambled about the whys and whatevers that it was necessary. If I make mention that it appeared to be turning green his only response was that the water wasn't green, it was only on the bottom ... WHAT?? I've tried to not get upset or emotional when bringing up the ever greener pool so as to not get his male parts defensive and this past Saturday as I had Maggie and Blossom out back giving them a well needed bath we "tried" to have some sane discussion about the ever growing "stuff" in the pool and there were more ramblings about what it didn't need and what the solution was (not sure what it was, nothing I thought relevant, but anyway) I did mention that it was getting to the expensive point just with the chemicals that would be needed to open it this summer and that I was concerned about the pipes freezing. More ramblings ... we'll get some DE and backwash it, I'll vacuum it ..... what about trying to CLOSE it (just my thoughts). I did convince him to set the timer to run the pump for a couple hours each night as the forecasters were predicting below freezing temps this week ... he had some rambling about that as well ... “We probably don't need to run it without backwashing the filter and we can't backwash the filter without DE (we ran out, imagine that!)” ... oh my goodness, what's more expensive, again my thoughts, the filter or new pipes that just happen to be UNDER CONCRETE!! Anyway, the timer got set!
Last night about midnight I let Maggie and Blossom out for one more potty before bed and the noise was quite loud from the pool pump area ... went outside (freezing by the way .. me, not hubby, he's sound asleep!) Not much flow in the pool ...hum that's not so good ... but it's cold and I'm tired! Off to bed...
So this morning when I went outside to fill the dog's outside water trowel (well they're almost as big as horses!) I decided to turn the pump on to check it out ... not a good idea. My emotions finally got the best of me. My beautiful NEW pool is green, the pipes are in jeopardy of freezing, the cost is now going to be high to get the mess cleaned up .... urggggg.
I got my self together and placed a calm (somewhat) but firm phone call. “We need to talk about the pool. What are your plans? (this is where I almost started crying) What are we going to do to fix this?” I went on to tell him about last night and the “no flow” I observed this morning. He broke ... okay we need to get a handle on this (you think?) this is what we'll do. So we, together!, came up with a solution about how to get this under control ... now that didn't hurt, did it (didn't really say that, BUT WANTED TO!).
So why am I bogging about it, you may ask ... well, first, cause it's good therapy .. and second ... to share that after 38 years, there are still things couples need to work out and work on and we're prime examples of that. Besides that ... it's really funny if you think about it. I'm at the age that I can often look forward, I used to say “It really is funny after looking back on it” ... now I try to find the humor in it at the moment ... makes life easier to live while living it :-)

Excitement Fills The Air

I went today with my daughter and two members of our Relay For Life Team "For Abie" to a Regional Leadership Training Session ... it was awesome!! We are so excited about this year's Relay For Life Event. My daughter in Chairman of the activities for the event and I serve as a sub-chair for the activities for the children. The other two team members co-chair the entertainment. We got so many ideas and are pumped up for the event in May. We have LOTS of planning and coordinating to do between now and then ... but we're ready to get busy. In addition to that my daughter and I are co-chairs for our team, so we have to work with our team to plan fundraisers between now and the event (including a Tea Party in March) and deligate duties for the 24 hours of the event. The theme this year for the Event is "Hollywood" and we are brainstorming how we can decorate our site and what fun things we can do as far as fundraising.

I, as have most people, have been touched personally by cancer. My father-in-law for who the team is named, lost his battle with cancer as did my grandmother, my grandfather as well as my step-father last summer. My mother is a breast cancer survivor and we have many friends who have or are currently battling cancer. It is such a tough disease and touches so many, but we also have seen major strides in the development of ways to treat and prevent cancer and our hope is that in years to come, with the help and support of all that help fight this battle, we will see a cure!!

I just wanted to share our excitement and enthusiasm as we work to Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back. Our team has cookbooks we are offering for a $5.00 donation and also we have Luminaria bags we will be glad to light for a loved one for you with a donation to the American Cancer Society. There is a link here on my website where you can make an online donation and if you leave me a comment telling me if the donation is for a cookbook or a luminaria bag (be sure to give me the information about the loved one you would like to have a bag lit for) then I'll get the cookbook out to you and be sure to light a bag for you. If you are donating for a cookbook, please email me with your address.

Thanks to all who help us and may all of us that have been touched by cancer continue to work toward finding a CURE!!

Some New Crazy Quilt Purses !

I just finished these two crazy quilt purses and two pouches and listed them on my Etsy shop. They are so much fun to make. I had an order for a green/brown one and decided to make a couple extras:-) Have two more orders for different colors ... they're so popular around town!!