Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Painters "R" Us

This past fall my sister and I were utilized as painters by our Grandparents. We spent 6 or so days painting different rooms in their new home. I was able to get a hold of some random pics. Even with all the work, it was fun. ☺

(Don't mind my "fancy" painting attire, my old scrubs are great as paintin' clothes.)

Buh-bye icky mural!!
Uh oh...someone missed a hole ☺
We were SOOO glad to cover up that "pink".
I was caught makin' graffiti ☺

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas ♥

We started out our Christmas at Beepa's house, this was just some of the presents awaiting us all.
It didn't take us long to dig right in, after Dad started playing Santa...

Ohh, the chaos ☺





"I wake up like this!" haha...ok, not really ☺



Everyone seemed to love their handmade gifts this year ♥



 
Mom demonstrating how the elderly might use her new "garden kneel-er thing-a-ma-jig" as a walker.


She was later shocked.....yup, Dad got her an iPad ☺ (She was literally the only one in the room that didn't already know about it, we are good at keepin' secrets.)



Snowmen ☺



She liked it ☺

And thennn...there was the Moose! The brainstorm of some of our family up north, and Grampa made it a reality. They loved it! ☺ Big hit Auntie Liz and Uncle Scott, and Grampa! ♥

I was asked to take a video of my parents finding their moose, so here it is:

Gifts were followed by way too much food, games, talk, and Lots of laughing ☺
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I know I did. A HUGE thank you to Mom, Dad, Beepa, Gramma, Grampa, Kathy, Jason, Cortney, and Jerry!
I ♥ my family!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Crafties

Another year of painting Christmas stuff...this is what I came up with this year...LOVED how everything turned out!

Made two of these, got out the power tools and cut them out myself!

More ornaments...




Hope everyone has a Very Merry Christmas!!! ♥

Monday, December 5, 2011

Christmas Tree ♥ 2011

The entire house is all decked out and ready for
♫ ♪ The most wonderful time of the year! ♪ ♫
The Christmas tree this year is already bursting with gifts!
I absolutely love this time of year!
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving this year was extra special. I remember holidays as a kid and just how enormous our family get togethers were. The kids table alone would fill up most of my grandparents living room. This year we saw some of that enormity back on Thanksgiving.

Our cousins from out of state were able to make a surprise (only a surprise to some people) trip, loved having them here!! They brought along some extra cuteness! ☺

Yay for long tables again! (Most everyone)
Alot of...passing along....
And what holiday isn't complete without dozens of family photos...


Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! ♥

Thursday, November 10, 2011

up and UP

"I remember the days when boys had cooties, "stupid" was a bad word, and drama was "SHE STOLE MY CRAYON!"

Growing up seemed like such a thing to hurry up and get through as a kid. Some boy stealing your hair scrunchy in school seemed like such a big deal! I remember I couldn't wait to be an adult, I couldn't wait to be out of school. Every adult I came across told me to not rush past it all. They told me that when I was an adult I would wish to be a kid again. Of course at the time, I didn't believe a single word. I don't always feel like an adult, sometimes I feel like a lost little kid. But they were right, things were so much simpler when we were kids. We didn't have all the responsibilities and the stresses. What we had was so minor in comparison to what we have to go through now.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Another Creepy Critter

Came across another southern creepy crawly. I saw one in the house weeks ago and I had no idea what it was...I just let out a yelp, shrieked "what the h*ll are you?!?!?!" through a shoe at the wall and ran away! It was huge! There was a second and third sighting so the bug guy was called in. Found out they are harmless and around here they are called a spider cricket. I still think they are freakin' creepy! Judge for yourself:
They look like a cricket and a huge spider got together and this was their offspring. Can you tell I am not a big fan of bugs? ☺

Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween Goodies ☻

I went searching for a Halloween recipe and I came across these!! I had to do a lil' substituting with the fingernails, (pecans instead of almonds) but they came out just as creepy!
Hope everyone has a hApPy hAlLoWeEn!! ☻

Friday, October 28, 2011

Friday Fill-Ins 33


Just before Halloween, another Friday Fill-Ins

1. Beware of ghosts and ghouls on All Hallows' Eve.

2. NH's Halloween decorations are covered in snow.

3. And since we moved Halloween hasn't quite been the same, or as scary.

4. Do you believe in spirits?

5. Where wolves...NG=no good.

6. Taco soup is one of my favorite meals when it's cold out.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to keeping warm by the fire, tomorrow my plans include more painting and Sunday, I want to watch the Patriots game, GO PATS! ♥

Monday, October 24, 2011

Sad Epiphany

Tonight I finally came to a realization...I have heard it talked about, I have heard it on TV. I am not naive to it, but I thought it was always someone elses problem, someone elses title, not mine. I don't tell people, I don't like calling myself a victim. For so many years I stayed in my marriage trying to make it work and never called it what it really was.
I am a victim of domestic abuse.
I interact with others and see how they interact with each other and I read my fictional books and watch movies. I find myself getting anxious if anyone raises a voice. I get scared for "her" (real or fictional) that contradict what any man in a conversation is saying. I fear she will be yelled at or it will start a huge argument, that she will be met with what I had to meet on occasion. She will be met with resistance, and each time I find myself a lil' shocked and bewildered when the reaction is calm, even over the simplest things. When she isn't met with an argument, anger, raised voice, or worse, I am almost confused. Tonight it finally hit me why. Every time I disagreed or brought something up that "he" did not want to talk about, I met an angry monster with no conscience who had little or no control when he was angry. I wasn't met with calm or understanding. I sadly came to expect the anger and the arguments. I still am surprised when I don't see it. I lay in wait, waiting for it to bubble up. When it doesn't, I still hold on to anxiety that it will rear its ugly head, it will just come back at me later. I had learned to hold my tongue, unless I was ready for a fight.
I shouldn't of done that, I shouldn't of stayed for as long as I did. But I didn't see it, not until I left and stepped so far back there was no other way I could of missed it! I had to stay until I had no more "what if's", which I did. I left knowing then and there, there would be no going back. I do feel lucky for at least having enough sense to get out when I finally did.
I have to unlearn what I have learned. I never even realized I learned it. I should not be shocked to not be yelled at or met with anger when I disagree or simply talk. I have spent the last two years now, trying to put myself together. I didn't realize the extent of things...the shame, the mourning and grief were just some of the things I had to go through. I didn't think I would have to unlearn anything.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Halloween Funny

10 Things That Sound Dirty On Halloween, But Aren’t…

1. So…What’d you get in the sack?

2. Once you get under the sheet, start moaning and groaning!!!

3. Just hop on that broomstick and ride it!

4. Those small suckers are gone in a few licks!

5. I got the best piece from that house.

6. Quit screwing around on the porch!!!

7. Stick your hand in and guess what you’re feeling….

8. It was so filled and heavy, I had to use TWO hands!!

9. They’ll suck you dry if they get their teeth in you.

10. I bobbed and bobbed, but couldn’t get my mouth around it!

HA HA HA

Friday Fill-Ins 32

Haven't done one of these for a long time, Friday Fill-Ins!!

1. It's easy peasy lemon squeezy.

2. Sleep tight my darling.

3. Once upon a time, there was a girl.

4. it all works out in ... the end.

5. What is that cat doing eating dog food?.

6. Will go crazy sooner than later.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the 31 party and relaxin' with a movie, tomorrow my plans include painting and Sunday, I want to watch the Pats game!!!! GO PATRIOTS! ☺

Saturday, October 1, 2011

TV Past ☺ Mayberry USA

Us ladies took a lil' trip to "Mayberry" (for those of you my age or younger, that would be the 'fictional town' where the Andy Griffith Show was). Who knew it was all based on Andy Griffith's real home town! ☺
This was Main Street, it was Mayberry Day and there were all sorts of going's on.
Beepa by one of the replica police cars...
Of course my mother had to stop to talk ☺

They even had a live band? hehe, they were pretty good.



Hehehe, too cute Beepa, this was in the Andy Griffith Museum!
Yes, this town has a museum for this one man. I thought it was crazy too, but it was definitely interesting. Everyone here ♥'s Andy Griffith and the Andy Griffith Show. I have never seen a town so immersed in one man or fictional tv show. Most of the shops on Main Street are named after characters of the show. Made for a fun day!
On the way home, we headed up Pilot Mt. or as we called it..."The Nipple"

Monday, September 19, 2011

More Flooring

Back in time a lil bit....earlier in the kitchen "before"...
...and the marvelous "after"....
Like I said, we weren't done yet ☺ Next was carpeting in the living room...
Another "before"....
...Us girls got right to work, after we had moved out all the furniture, we started to rip up the old carpeting...
...and scraped up all the old paddin'....
...we of course didn't install ☺ Had some help in that department....
...anddddd....*drum roll please* "after" SO so So much better!
...and so soft on your feet! ☺ Hurray for you Beepa!! Enjoy your "new to you" home! ♥