State Fair

The State Fair rolled into town a couple of weeks ago, and I was fortunate enough to have been able to go and enjoy all of it's fried food-smelly animal-barking carnie goodness!! The little guy you see above was my prize for winning the squirt gun game, which I ROCKED;) Sadly, the Whack-a-Mole game was nowhere to be found...

Named "Green Monkey", because I'm original like that, he has given me more than a few smiles since I brought him home. As you can see, I've already trained him to bring me flowers. Of course, they came off of the rosebush in my yard and I had to clip them, but it's the thought that counts. Right? Don't judge.

I didn't go to the Fair last year because I was in a huge pity pile after Snow White left for college, and it wouldn't be the same without her, and it was too depressing, and wahh, wahh, wahh. Well, this year I decided to send her photos while I was there. Pig races, tractors, farm animals, OH, MY! To my delight, she and I carried on quite a conversation via text as I visited many of our fair faves:) Still wasn't the same as having her home, but that chapter is closed, and we are beginning to create new traditions. With the holidays tapping at the door, it's time to embrace our new reality, and look for ways to just make things work!!

The sun is shining here this morning, and the temps are predicted to reach into the eighties. I have a busy day ahead, and plan to enjoy every moment of it! Happy Monday, my friends! ((hugs))

Crossroads

The urge to get back here and post has been overwhelming, so here I am. Life has taken me to a place I never thought I'd be, and I am doing my best to navigate these waters. There are good days, and there are not-so-good days. All things considered, I feel stronger and more determined than ever to live life to the fullest. I have an amazing family and fabulous friends who have held me up when I was falling, and who have told me what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it. For that, I am MOST thankful.

I'm living in my grandmother's house and attempting to put it back in order. My goal is to have it ready to receive family and friends for the holidays. It's important that it be as warm and welcoming as it was when Grandma was at the helm...a daunting task, at best! I talk to Grandma every day, and I know she's here to guide me along. I just wish she could tell me where to find her recipes for homemade chocolate ice cream (hers was the best in the county), and for deer barbecue! It's the little things...

I lived in this house many years ago, and at that time the roads were identified by Route Numbers. When the county set up the 911 system, each road was assigned a name. I now live on New Hope Road, very close to where it intersects with New Beginnings Road. New Hope and New Beginnings...it's nice to be home.

Apple. Tree.

Well, my baby girl has come to the dark side. Please head over and give her some bloggy love!

Snow White's Blog Spot, Musings Avant-Garde, is located here.

I guess this is my clue to get back on here and actually POST something once in a while!!! I miss visiting with the people who live in my computer:/

((hugs))

Bricks

On a recent work-related visit to a teeny, tiny little town in the middle of nowhere, I stumbled upon this pile of old bricks. The house (a portion of which is shown in the top right corner) had burned, and these beauties were salvaged from the wreckage.


I couldn't help but wonder where these bricks would eventually end up. What would they be in their next life? My imagination went WILD with the possibilities! Personally, I would be willing to give them a nice home, and lovingly care for them. Unfortunately, no one offered to hand them over!!

What would you do with these bricks? I'm really hoping that my friend the Vinyl Villager responds to this question...he always has the BEST ideas:)


The temperature is hovering in the mid-seventies today. It gives me hope that spring is near. It's been a long, hard winter, and this chick is SO ready to get outside and play in the dirt!!!

19

Nineteen years ago today, I gave birth to an amazing little bundle of joy. She has been my sunshine since the moment I first saw her!

I've watched her learn to walk, and learn to drive. I've seen her dress like a princess, and sing like a bird. I've wiped her tears, and picked up pieces of her broken heart. I've worried, prayed, cheered, scolded, clapped, laughed, and worried some more. She made my life complete.

This is the first time that I have not been with her on her birthday. It's sad, but I take comfort in the fact that she is moving on to bigger and better things. She is once again learning to walk....this time, on her own.

Happy 19th Birthday, Snow White! You are the light of my life!

Red Doors

I started a new job in December, and one of my favorite assigned tasks is to visit an old property to determine if it's a candidate for revitalization. These doors belong to the beautiful Oak Grove Elementary School in Westmoreland County.

I don't know if she'll ever make the cut...

...but, as with most things in life, time will tell.

Thinking of my beloved grandmother on her birthday. She would have been 99. Happy Birthday, Grandma! You are loved and missed.

Friends

As soon as Noe Noe Girl posts photos to Facebook, I will try to update this post with a visual. Until then, you will just have to take my word for it....I have the best (and cutest) friends EVER!!

Last night, Noe Noe, Chesapeake Bay Woman, and a host of other characters stopped by for a bit of socializing before we headed out to hear a local band. The words live, laugh, love spring to mind when I try to think of ways to describe this group. We are all living our lives one day at a time, and trying not to take ourselves too seriously. We all crave the craziness that ensues when old friends gather, and wine is consumed;) And, I love them all as if they were my family. In many ways, they ARE family! (Names have been changed to protect the guilty.)

Today I am most thankful for good friends, good music, good food and good times. Life. Is. Good:)