Hiatus

In 5 months, I will turn 40. *gasp* I remember when my mom turned the Big 4-0 twenty-one years ago and I thought it was OLD.
I had me some thinking time this weekend as the boys and The Mr. weren't around much and I purposely limited my time online severely compared to the amount I normally spend on time. I thought about what things I really want out of life and where I want my focus to be as I approach the next decade of my life. And then I thought about how much time I spend reading about other peoples' lives instead of living my own. And I got a little depressed.
I thought about two of my good friends and how one of them doesn't even have email (okay, I could never do that!) and the other one who if I need to contact, I have to call because even though she has email, she just doesn't go online that much to check it. :) And I thought about how these two friends are two friends that I look up to and rather envy because they're always enjoying life and doing things. And I also thought about the reasons The Mr. and I decided that I would stay home with the boys, and how they are seriously getting the shaft with all the time I devote to this blasted thing.

So with all that said, I'm doing a little experiment; I am going to seriously cut back the time I spend online. Because of organizations I belong to that require me to check my email daily, as well as banking, bill paying, etc. I do have to get online every day, but I don't need to check email obsessively just to see if there's a message that says if I don't forward it to 10 people in the next 7 min. I will have 7 years of bad luck. Nor do I need to see (and really don't care all that much) what Pioneer Woman is doing down on the ranch.
You see, for me the internet has become a bad habit. A habit I need to get in check.

I'll be around.....just not as much. ;) FF

Bird

I have a new buddy. The Mr. and I were sitting on the front porch the other night when he says, "look at that bird" and here's this crazy bird walking around our flower bed. Right away I knew it was a pigeon, but he's much prettier than the typical pigeon you see on top of grain elevators and underpasses. He's even got some purple in the feathers around his neck. I noticed he was tagged, so we figured he must belong to somebody. He was letting us get so close to him.
But now, after a couple days, he's getting a bit too friendly.
You ever feel like you're being watched?

The cat isn't real big on our newest "pet" either. I did call Animal Control today and they said it sounds like a homing pigeon. They said it should leave on it's own accord in a few days or so. Guess I'd better tell the boys to quit feeding him.

Farm House

So, we're just driving along I-29 near St. Joseph MO when I see this billboard:

Oh yeah, I'm so going there. If it wouldn't have been for being on the way home from a long weekend I might have insisted we stopped. But, we were all tired. The kids were asleep. And The Mr....while he will say that going to these kinds of stores doesn't bore him to tears, he will stand around and make sighing noises loudly so I end up spending only 10 minutes in a place like this as opposed to 3 hours. Ya know? I mean, this is the same man who calls potpourri and scented candles "man repellent" after all.

So, I'll just wait and hit this place the same time I hit this this one....Nell Hills And it will be so, so sweet........Ahhhhhh

Cars

Last big car show of the year. We'll still hit one more local show, but this was the second and last Goodguys Show we go to of the year. This one was in Kansas City, KS at the Speedway: The Mr. and I have a little game we play after every car show. What was our favorite car? His was this one:

And this one. He likes the Camaros:
This was mine. I like Camaros too, but I saw this Hemi Cuda and the Camaros went out the window:
And the boys, being carnuts as well, decided that Twizzlers make good roads:


And you have to get "tatoos":


Fall is my favorite time of year, but I'm always sad to say good-bye to Summer and car shows. One more local show, then the '68 will be in the garage and The Mr. will be going over it with a fine-tooth comb and getting it ready for next year.

Mamma Mia!

Look what I bought:After seeing Mamma Mia a couple weeks ago I ran out to buy their Greatest Hits. My mom bought the soundtrack, but she is nuts 'cause who wants to hear Pierce Brosnan sing Abba in the car? Not me.
Great movie and even better music.

I *heart* the Goodwill

I took a deep breath, pushed my twitchiness to the back of my mind and I went in. It stinks, you have to really dig through stuff and you will feel like you need a shower when you walk out.
But all this for just under $25? I can deal.
Score:
(1) Leather handbag, brand new, it even still had the tissue inside it.
(3) Sweaters, one black, one cream, one white. All popular name brands
(1) Pretty and simple white blouse I can wear with anything.
(1) Very nice sweater for The Mr.

Too bad I don't have girls because you wouldn't believe the nice, nice clothes there. Not so much for boys. This time anyway.

And lastly, can I just say? I cannot believe the stuff people take to the Goodwill with price tags still on. Nice stuff. Namebrand stuff. Why? I guess at least they're passing it along rather than throwing it away. I just can't believe the wastefulness, and that's why I've started shopping consignment, garage sales and thrift stores. I feel like it's one more environmentally friendly thing I can do to help out. Not to mention the money saved. Amazing!

Sunday Hymn

For this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.
Isaiah 66:12 NIV

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
- Words by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873- Music by Philip P. Bliss, 1876

I think it's important to include the story behind this beautiful, haunting song:
The words to this hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford's life. The first was the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford's daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford's wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram: "SAVED ALONE." Several weeks later, as Spafford's own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write these words.
Bliss originally named the tune "Ville de Havre" after the ship on which Spafford's four girls perished, the SS Ville de Havre. Ironically, Bliss himself died in a tragic train wreck shortly after writing this music.

And if you really want to get out the box of Kleenex, then check out this beautiful version as performed by Amy Grant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EieDEB1ddMU
It gives me chills.

Mums the Word

Look what I picked up at the grocery store the other day. That can only mean one thing; my favorte season, Fall, is almost upon us.

Crisp nights, cool misty mornings, warm days.

Orange, rust, brown, red, yellow.

And this......Go Huskers!

Routine

After having a fairly laid-back summer, no routine, no structure, it is time to get back to reality. And can I just say....I love it! I love routine. I love structure. I love knowing that at this time on this day we will be doing this, or that. It's comforting.
My oldest boy is exactly like me in this regard, so the past couple weeks he had been getting very antsy. And very difficult to deal with. I had a suspicion that once school started back up he'd be back to his old self. I was right.

1st Day, 1st Grade

And we're off! So nice to be able to walk to school this year. Waiting to head off to the classroom.
He was up at 6:00 with butterflies and there was some last minute nervous tummy, but once we got there it was all good.
And I did fine....'til we were walking out and I saw all the Kindergartners walking in together and I they looked so small to me. It's hard to believe I have a first-grader. That's the big time!
And my baby starts preschool tomorrow. And The Mr. turned 40 today. Ay-yi-yi!

Mistreating My Window

Nester is having a little Window Mistreatment thingy over at her site today and I cannot believe I'm actually going to post these pics of my own mistreatment, but here goes:

And you know, for my first attempt, they look pretty good. The fabric is really, really pretty and these photos don't do it justice. I'm just not convinced I'm in love with the swaggy, drapey look and might take it down and make more of a straight, pleated look? Then again, that sounds like a lot of work.

I will say that anyone who comes over always comments how much they like it, so it can't be too bad.

Thanks for looking! FF

Sunday Hymn

Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 46:2 KJV

"Here I am Lord"
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Words and Music by Daniel L Schutte© 1981

Long Day

The Mr. was moving to a new job site the other day and he asked if I'd follow him while he took some equipment and a work truck out and pick him up and haul him back to the old job site so he could get his other truck and then follow him out again with a different piece of equipment. It made for quite a long day with just a quick break while my oldest had his piano lessons.
First a drive West on the Interstate. The Mr. is just ahead with the Bobcat. We got to see lots and lots and lots of corn fields. Of course, you know I don't mind that! :) I tried to snap a pic of a spray plane spraying that field, but he was too quick for me and I missed him. The boys thought the plane was cool, then they thought I was cool since I went to school with the guy that was flying the spray plane.
Almost there; we're on gravel now. A tornado went through here earlier this summer. Check out this poor person's home. Yikes!
And here we are. Our customer had a little wind damage himself, which is why The Mr. is needed here.
Later in the day, almost sunset in fact. This time I'm following The Mr. driving the crane. I'm driving his truck this time.
Finally made it back home around 10:30 that night. Long day, but an enjoyable one.

PSA

Just a little Public Service Announcement and apology to the six people that read my blog for the changing of the templates this past week. The first was boring me, the second was way too busy-looking and this one, I think, is a keeper. I like simple. :)

All talk...

I want to go here: http://www.nellhills.com/ It's in Atchinson, Kansas. Only a 2, maybe 2-1/2 hour drive from where I live. My mom and I have been talking about going here for several years now, but that's all it is, talk. We are going this Fall. We will.

In the meantime I bought this book on Ebay:

Now if it would just hurry up and get here already. I need something to tide me over.

FF

Old House

My love affair with big, old homes began as a child. I was friends with a girl who lived in a huge house built in the early 1900s. It was a Four-Square, which is probably why that is one of my favorite home styles. It sat on a hill with several other homes that were equally huge. Getting an invitation to a sleepover at her house was a frequent treat. I can still see it clearly in my mind; it had a huge front door.

I remember that when you rang the doorbell, the deep, rich sound of the bell sounded as though it was coming from somewhere deep within the house.

I remember the foyer was huge and rich with lots of oak woodwork. There was a floor to ceiling beveled glass mirror off to the right and an elaborate built-in hall tree with a bench just next to the mirror.

I remember that there was this cute little powder room under the stairs right off the portico. It had a portico!

I remember it had this huge open staircase with a landing. Giant, oak balustrauds. We used to pretend we were princesses gliding down those magnificent stairs.

I remember a laundry chute in one of the upstairs bathrooms. That fascinated me to no end. That you could drop laundry down a chute and it would end up in the basement two floors away was mind boggling to me.

I remember it had a back stairway. A servants stairway just off the kitchen.

I remember the big old attic and the creaky old stairs leading up to it. We spent lots of time hiding up there and scaring each other silly.

I remember it had something like 14 rooms. 14 rooms! Can you imagine? It was just a mansion to me.

Several years ago I collected historic postcards of my hometown. And I couldn't believe my luck when I stumbled upon this: That's the house. As it originally looked. When my friend lived in it it was painted a light yellow color and a screened-in porch had been added to the one side. I came across this the other day when I was sorting through stuff. And I framed it. Kinda weird maybe, but so many great memories of playing with my friend in this house. And it's what started me on my life-long love affair with these old homes.
The home isn't in her family anymore. They sold it when all their kids were grown and they downsized. Her mom owns the cutest store ever in my hometown. It's full of all kinds of cute shit, just like their home was. I need to get back and visit that store.
Anyway, the people who bought it from my friend's family did some painting and restoration on some of the woodwork. Then they put it up for sale about 6 or 7 years ago. I walked through it at an open house. I was afraid it wouldn't look as big as I remembered it, but I needn't have worried. It was as glorious, if not more so, as I remembered it being. Happy times! FF

Countdown

7 more days! And it can't get here soon enough. ;)

Cute Haircut Tuesday

I'm digging this haircut big time. The color too. But this woman's eyes are freakin' me out. I can't look at them. I'll just look at the hairstyle.

Runner

Running was something I always loathed. From K through 6th grade I went to a small, Lutheran school. So small, that you had to be on every team. Every team; basketball, volleyball, and, ugh...track. Running was okay if it was something you were doing because you were outside playing. But running a race? Against other girls? Forget it. I'm not a fast runner, and I'm not competitive.
So I loved it in 7th grade when I went to a public junior high and I didn't have to do any sports if I didn't want to. heh heh.
Fast forward to this past December. I've always tried to maintain some semblance of an exercise program. I've been doing Pilates 3 times a week for about 6 years, give or take. And I've walked off and on. And last December I started walking on the treadmill. Fast. Walking very fast. I started going a mile, than a mile and a quarter, and so on. One day, I dared myself to run. And I did. And I haven't looked back. I now run 2.5 miles 3 times a week, sometimes 4. That's anywhere from 7.5 to 10 miles a week! Pretty good for someone who used to hate to run. Now I'm addicted. If I miss a few days, I go through withdrawals.
I'm sure people who run marathons wouldn't consider me to be a runner. I'm small potatoes to them. I don't care. I'm running, aren't I?
So there!
FF

Sunday Hymn

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV

*I've been noticing that on several of the blogs I frequent that many of the authors post a Bible verse or inspirational quote as their Sunday post. I think that is so cool. I've decided to do something similiar on Sundays. I love hymns, and I especially love hymns that were inspired by a Bible verse. So that's what I'm going to start posting on Sundays. I started with one of my favorite hymns.
I hope you'll find them as inspirational and comforting as I do. FF

Score!

So I found some serious cute shit today, y'all! Just so you know, I used to be all about the cute shit and decorating, blah, blah, blah. We used to live in a log home and believe you me, I was all about decorating it. Then we had one kid, then we moved, then we had another kid.....and well, at least for me, the last thing I wanted with babies and toddlers around was cute shit. Now I start reading all these cute blogs, and slowly get back into visiting antique stores, consignments shops, flea markets, and well, ya know....
So, back to my finds. I loaded up my two little guys and we went to a garage sale yesterday. Now let me just say, I don't love garage sales. I'm not really a competitve person, and I loathe crowds, so a garage sale just doesn't go with that mix. But they had a nice big ad in the paper and it was nearby in a fancy-schmancy neighborhood....and the kicker? Lots of home decor. So off we went. It was to start at 9:00 and we got there at 8:55. The garage doors were closed, but people were already lining up, and she had some cute shit sitting in the driveway. Looked promising. Finally....finally! she opened up the garage doors at around 9:05 and the vultures descended. I ordered my boys to wait outside and look at toys and I was going in.
So, here's what I came away with for $8 even. And that doesn't include the Discovery Binoculars/Viewmaster I bought the boys. Sorry about the blurriness! And here's where it ended up. I had to put that placemat down otherwise the accessories just kind of blurred into it. The tray: (The plate is laying next to it. I just need to pick up a plate stand so it will set upright)
And another look at the tray. You can't really tell, but it's huge!
And here's one of the birdhouses. It made it's way onto the deck where I have my other ones. The cute little white one with the green roof shown in the first picture? I don't know what to do with that yet, so I put it away for now. Along with my cute little witch who will hang on my front door in October.
So, yeah, I guess it was worth the sweating and twitching to get all that loot for $8. However, that was the ONLY garage sale we hit yesterday. One was enough! :)
FF

Busy-ness

Sorry to be away from the Blog for a couple days. Busy, busy, busy around here and I'm doing good to get online much at all, let alone blog.

Since The Mr. needs to "make hay while the sun shines" ;) the yardwork, which is usually his area, has fallen on me. I really don't mind though. I actually love to mow. It's a mindless activity where I can have some thinking time and the kids aren't demanding my attention. For some reason, they tend to leave me be when I'm mowing.

I also get the task of running parts out to The Mr so he doesn't have to be away from the job site. I like getting that call because that means I get to go for a drive in the country. The boys enjoy going to see Daddy work as well.

We've been school shopping, dentist appointments, packing in last minute summer fun activities. Got my 6yo signed up for piano lessons.

In the midst of all this crazy busyness, I'm also planning a project; painting the kitchen, the dining room and hallway back to the master bedroom. Here's the hallway:

I'm going to take that picture down and move it elsewhere and I'm thinking of doing something like this:
And here's part of the living room. I'm trying to decide what to do with those niches. I don't know if I should pain them a different color or the same?
So that's what I've been busy doing. Painting will wait 'til after school starts as I don't need any little helpers for that, if you know what I mean. :)

Have a good one! FF

My vice

I have a confession to make. I have a little vice that unfortunately doesn't get as much time devoted to it as I'd like; Consignment Stores. And I'm picky too, it must be a nice consignment store, as in clean, neat and orderly. Because frankly, I don't want to sift through someone else's dirty junk. I know some people like that thrill of the hunt where they have to really work for their bargains, but I just don't. It makes me get all weird and twitchy. And then I feel the need to go home and take a shower.

Anyway, back on the subject of consignment stores: I have three that I frequent; one is devoted entirely to clothes and accessories, the second has a mixture of clothes, accessories, and home decor, and the third is all about the home; furniture, home decor and the like.
My love of consignment stores started years and years ago as a way to find bargains. Now it's more about the fact that I feel good buying something and reusing it rather than it getting tossed out. And in the case of buying used clothing; I like that the chances of me running into someone wearing the same thing are pretty slim compared to if I went over to Target and bought a shirt, ya know?

And you won't find me giving out the names of said stores either. In fact, I'm afraid I've already given out too much info as it is. I like to keep them a secret, though I will take my mom with me sometimes, but she wears a different size than I do. And besides, she doesn't tell anyone about these stores either. I have a friend who wears the exact same size as me and she is always saying, "that's a cute top. Where'd you get it." I have to be very careful how I answer this, because I'm not a good liar, but I don't want to give up my information, so I will say something like, "Oh, it's Banana Republic", because technically, that's not a lie. It is Banana Republic, I just didn't buy it there. ;)

Another reason I'm anxious for school to start; I can start shopping again. Shopping with two boys does not work. First of all, you cannot take them into a store with breakables because I don't want to end up buying a ton of broken crap. And secondly, in the clothing store, before I know it, there's a pile of clothes laying on the floor off their hangers and I'm getting dirty looks from the saleslady. Not fun!
17 more days, 17 more days, 17 more days....*sigh*

FF

Redneck

I remember hearing somewhere that everyone has a little redneck in them. Okay, actually I think it was Denise Richards on her reality show and she said something about everyone having a little white trash in them. I think that's what she said. Don't quote me.
I don't know about that, but I do know that I have a little bit of redneck in me, and I'm not afraid to admit it. I say a little bit because I have all my teeth and even though we do own a '68 Camaro, it aint up on blocks, thank you very much.
I grew up with a dad that hunted and shot blue rock and I thought nothing of it. I knew how to shoot a gun and had my own Red Ryder BB gun (think Ralphie) by the time I was eight.
I was driving tractors and pickup trucks pulling the pipe trailer to lay irrigation pipe before I could even reach the pedals. I would just sit on the edge of the seat and jump off and stand on the brake when Grandpa said "whoa".
I helped butcher and clean chickens. My job was to clean out the gizzards. Yeah, I don't much like eating them, but they sure were fun to clean out. You'd be amazed at what chickens eat.
I almost drowned in the pig lagoon when I was three. I vaguely remember it, but my mom and dad still tell the story, always saying it was a good thing Grandpa was nearby and heard my screaming or I'd be a goner.
I know the joys of driving out to the field on a sultry late summer afternoon to pick sweetcorn until the box on the back of the 4-wheeler was full then bringing it back home to shuck it.
Growing up, my playground was the pasture, the "crick" (we call creeks "cricks" around here), and the grain bins. My mom never worried about where my sister and I were because there were no strangers around and Dad and Grandpa were always nearby.
My Mr. grew up almost exactly the same as I did. Farm living. Nothing better.
We live in the "big city" now, and it makes me more than a little bit sad that our boys are growing up so differently than we did. They're city boys, born and bred. They will never know the joy of going fishing in your own pond for Bullheads, of jumping in the back of a grain truck loaded with corn or milo, or climbing a mountain of haybales.
Although The Mr. and I enjoy going to fancy-schmancy restaurants (when we have a sitter, that is), we still always have the most fun when we're with our "redneck" friends doing "redneck" things. You know: drinkin' beer, going bowling, parking in the country (oops, did I just say that? and we don't do that with friends either, just to clarify.)
Call it redneck, hick, white trash, hayseed. I just call it normal.

Happy Monday! FF

Never Had One Lesson.....

We found my Grandpa's old harmonica the other day when I was going through stuff, organizing. Here's my oldest. Pretty good for just picking it up if I do say so myself.

FF

Wild Things

Yesterday we ventured to the zoo. It's hard to believe the last time we were there was just after the last day of school and here we are and it's almost time for school to start again.

First stop, milking the (fake) cow with the (fake) um....udders?

Um....oh my......that looks like a problem. I have to say thank God I never had that happen while I was nursing:


Got some food?

Are you sure they won't bite?

Well, okay then......

Is this my child?! Because I don't think any child of mine is going to be holding some bug, let alone a hissing cockroach. Ewwww.....


There's one of my little hatchlings:


Ahhhh....thank goodness. Lunch time! Yum! PB&Js!

And string cheese!

Now that they're all fueled up, it's time to dig for dinosaur bones:



And I have to tell you; this sweet young gal, my youngest asked her I don't know how many times where this bone came from and she patiently explained it to him every single time. I would've been like, "little boy....where's your mom?" But then, I'm not a member of the "zoo crew" either....for good reason. :)


The seal pool:

There's the seal:

Outside the butterfly pavillion:

Inside the butterfly pavillion:

And you can't go to the zoo without a pony ride:

And a train ride:

Until next time!

FF