Need New Furniture?

Last Wednesday after I dropped off my donation I checked out the thrift store and found this set of living room furniture. It's in great shape and I am guessing you can get all 3 matching pieces for $250. What a deal, huh? I am sure it's made much better than some of the items we'd see in the stores today.

 Isn't that sofa calling your name for a nice, long nap? It sure looks comfy. And this big round chair would be perfect for a grandparent to read to a child. I tested it and it is roomy. It's rather low to the ground though, a little difficult to get up and out of. 

 Or, for the more traditional person, there's a standard side chair (upper photo).
I'm sure, for just the right person, this set would be perfect....but  not for this person. How about you? Do I need to get this post out to more people? 
Yes, I do love thrift stores. I don't need to buy anything to have a good time. The simple things in life make me happy.
It's friday! Have a good weekend!!!

What A Week and Some Silliness

 I want to let you know, Yes, I am alive and very well. Just busy, as is everyone else. My (small) side of the family is coming over tomorrow so I am trying to get things done. So why did I agree to let our 3 grandsons spend the night??? One is used to coming here, the older one will be bored, and the youngest one will want lots of attention and toys. 

The past week was good and bad.......maybe I'll explain later.

In the meantime here are some of the silly antics Robin Jingles had been up to.

He was fascinated by J's nativity set.

But this afternoon I found him under the tree. I was not happy! I do understand that it's hard when there are lots of presents under the tree.

I'll have to keep an eye on him tonight....our grandchildren want to open their own gifts.

I lost 2 followers in the past few days. Yes, I let it bother me. I know I can't be everything everyone wants. This blog goes from one thing to another. 

Merry Christmas!!!!

The Ugly Sweater Contest

Last week I and 2 of my friends hosted our Red Hat Christmas party at a local restaurant. We chose to have an ugly sweater contest, and take it from me, ugly sweaters are hard to find. I looked for one all year long and ended up with a sweater vest. Most of us embellished our sweaters. 

This is most of our group.

  Here I am in my ugly sweater, I added every single Christmas pin I had to it and even some lights.

  The embellishing paid off....I won 1st place.

Second place (the tree) also had lights. Debbie and Darlene tied for 3rd. Needless to say, I don't think any of us will be wearing our sweaters in public any more.

One of the gals who was a hostess made the cute, little treat bags: one was the M&Ms I posted earlier, the other one she made was with a Grinch saying. Our Queen mum passed out individual packages of candy.

Darlene tried to steal a bite of Sandi's dessert but Sandi had her eye on the planed dastardly deed doer. 

We had a white elephant gift exchange. Joyce got a pair of sparkly, sexy, red pumps....she doesn't think she has any occasions in the future that need red heels.

 Carolee received some homemade cookies in her white elephant gift.

We have really nice group of ladies and always enjoy getting together. Quite often we take up a collection for a deserving charity. this month we brought items for the Salvation Army. They pass out Christmas gifts and everything is appreciated.

That was the first of my Christmas parties..............I have another one this friday. Let the fun begin!!!!

Oh, The Things I Have to Put Up With

You may remember when Robin Jingles, the elf on a shelf, came to live with us this past summer. My granddaughter was here for a visit and we named him together. Now that it's December and the holidays are nearing he is certainly more active. One afternoon I found him near the ceiling sitting on this valance.

 Later in the day he was peeking at one of my nativity displays.

 Thursday I baked cookies and I caught him before he swiped a taste of the dough. I don't want him to be sick over the holiday season.

 As I was making M&M treat bags for my grandchildren yesterday  I found him diving in, head first, into the bowl of M&Ms. It's going to be a trying month, I can tell.

This is a really cute saying for an M&M treat bag that I found here. You simply print off the cards from that site and attach to a small bag or jar of M&Ms. It's really cute, one of our gals made them up for our Red Hat Christmas party....that post is coming up.

I am making one for all of my grandchildren,

Have a great weekend.............I hope to get my tree up and decorated. Wish me luck!

Odds 'n Ends

Today my bff and I are leaving for a weekend scrapbook retreat, one of our favorite things to do. It ends Sunday at 3, so we'll be home sunday afternoon. We'll be staying at a really nice, Lutheran retreat center. I've been busy all week getting supplies together and organizing them. Look who I found in my little tote! Robin Jingles, I guess he wants to come along. Sorry Robin, but you have to stay home, I will be so busy that if you get into mischief I might not be able to take care of you.

I am disappointed that the retreat is on Halloween weekend, I look forward to seeing 'the boys' (our 3 grandsons that live nearby) in their costumes. Hopefully someone will get pictures so I can still see them.

I am looking forward to getting some scrapbook pages completed and not having to do any cooking or housework....If I want I can wear my jammies all day.

Last week I started attending the Silver Sneakers exercise program at our senior center. Yes, I am one of the youngest ones there. That makes it relatively easy for me to keep up. First we do chair yoga, we sit or stand, no floor yoga........how many would not be able to get up??? Next we do range of motion;

sometimes we use weights, a ball, and an exercise band. You can make yourself work harder or take it easy, depending on your ability. I dread getting out of bed and making myself go in the morning, but I love it when I am finished. I don't even have the desire to stop at the thrift store when I'm done exercising. 

I'm still doing the Livestrong program at the Y, but I've missed a couple of sessions. Last tuesday night was the pajama party and next tuesday I won't be there either. I guess I am just busier than I knew. 
Since I'm off the anastrozole I've noticed a significant decrease in my leg and joint/knee pain. My ankles and calfs still bother me a little, but not so much that it wakes me up like before. My ankles bother me b/c I have been exercising...that is a usual occurrence when I walk/exercise a lot. What I'm waiting to see is if it affects my heart at all. Three months to wait though.

Have a great weekend!

Don't eat too much candy!!

It's A Pajama Party!

Usually one of our local Red Hat groups hosts a Halloween party. I usually attend, I like to dress up and play. This year it was decided to have a pajama party. That was right up my alley, as I was hoping our group would wear pjs one year. I have some really neat (almost new) onesies! and an ugly flannel nightgown....I opted for the one piece pjs. I found a teddy bear, my pillow, put some rollers in my (already curly) hair, donned my robe and pulled on my slippers and was ready to go.

Our chapter had a good turnout! 

It was fun to watch everyone walk around in their jammies. Some gals had really cute pjs, several others also had onesies, and some looked good enough to go to Walmart (joking, ha ha....get it?)

A raffle was held to pay for the entertainment, a magician. He was pretty good, but it was apparent he's not a professional. I think there were 8 raffle baskets and our group won 3 of them. Yay for us!!!

The food was very good and the company was great.
Gwen, one of our members, is assisting the magician.

 Our 3 raffle winners.

 We admired Joyce's slippers. 

 Nighty, night.....I'm ready for bed.

The weekend is almost here!!!!
Get ready to enjoy!

My table mates, including my pink cancer buddy bear. I have made some wonderful friends through Red Hats.

Fruit Loops and More Nonsense

Nope, no one ever accuses me of being a Cheerio, I am definitely a Fruit Loop. My grandson and I joke about that often...only we don't say fruit loops. Our descriptive words are crazy or silly and, of course, awesome! I think it runs in the family...he is too. The other night I was talking to one of my granddaughters and asked her how her younger sister was and she replied "just as crazy as ever, but in a good way". There is nothing wrong with being a little outside of the box.

For instance, my grandson was over on saturday, and I gave him 2 paper crimpers and showed him how each one impresses a different design into the paper. I would have never thought of it but he put the paper through one crimper first and then the other one. 

I like to do things a little different sometimes too and hubby HATES it...he doesn't like to make waves, at all!

I think Robin Jingles is thinking about making some waves and is getting excited about the upcoming holidays. He jumped down from the shelf and I found him snuggled up next to Crash and my pink cancer cure buddy. He was probably lonely, so I'll let him relax with his buddies until Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, my granddaughter and I Have a secret....we're involved in a conspiracy involving her mother. I can't go into details on here just incase mom reads my blog. One can never be too careful, you know? It's a good conspiracy though, one that will produces smiles............I hope!

One more thing - if  like to read my blog but sometimes forget to check for it or don't have the time, you can sign up and get it in your email when I post. Then you can read my blog posts at your convenience. At the top right of the page, under my bio is a box where you can enter your email...and it's as easy as that.

Thanks for stopping by..............have a great day!!!

Just A Quick Note Before I Go

One more sleep and I get to leave for a long weekend scrapbook retreat!!!! Two of my good friends are also going. It's gonna be fun (and productive too). I do have my supplies 90% ready to go. There's no need to take my Silhouette cutting machine b/c the retreat center has a Cricut, punches, etc we can use. Today I have to pack and get my contribution for saturday's lunch ready. 

I was planning to get more done yesterday but my grandson called and asked if he and his brother could come over....and he always has to add 'if Landon can't come too then I can't either'. Doesn't mom know that if they ask nicely and I am not too busy they can come over????  Guess she has a need to feel in control. *sigh*

We went to the beach to feed the seagulls....the beach is about 2 miles away...this is the first time he's fed the seagulls....his whole family has lived here for about 15 years and at 5 he's never chased or fed seagulls????? He really had fun....we'll do this again.

Here's a shout out to Rosie, she's very artistic and loves to work with mixed media. Click on the link above and check out her blog. She dedicated her last post to me (thanks) and her latest page of art....it reminds me of my granddaughter. Here ya go Ava, this reminds me of you!!!

I have many more adventures to write about...but no time.

Ciao, until next week!

Make it a great weekend!!!!

In Love

I LOVE my home grown tomatoes. Usually I have 3 plants........last year I had more but this year it's just 3. I have to plant them in pots and it works pretty darn good for me. They are barely keeping up with my appetite....yesterday I had to buy one *sad face*.

This is my first tomato I picked, just a normal one. It tasted so good on my BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato) sandwich.

 This is a new variety I am trying. I've eaten 1/2 of one so far....delicious. 

You can see that I left it on the vine too long....I have to stop waiting for the top to get red...it doesn't.

This is the tag.

Random shot of some wasps (?) stuck in the hood of my car. The blobs are rain drops.

 Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

Have You Ever Made A Mask? Would You Like To Make One?

I haven't ever tried it. A friend of mine posted a question on facebook (sometimes it is a good thing) to see if anyone was interested making masks with the kids. I said I could bring my grandsons. A couple of days later we were at their farm making masks and painting paper mache fish. Come along with us and see what happens...

First some of the children cut the colored cheesecloth that was already "plaster of parised" into 4" pieces that could be dunked into water and put onto your face.

Then you have to have  your hair plastered back with some heavy duty hair mud. 

Next you get to have your face slathered with lanolin so the plaster does not stick....if it sticks to your hair getting it off could hurt. 

 After the plaster of paris strips are applied to your face you look like this...

or this.

If it's not your turn or you don't want to make a mask you could play on the play equipment. But stay out of the cornfield!!!!

 When the mask is dry you can paint and decorate it any way you like.

Crystal finally was able to paint the plaster cast she made of her pregnant tummy almost 2 years ago.

She was also nice enough to make lunch for everyone.

 Here are most of the children with their masks/art projects. 

Here's a close up of Jalen's. 

Everyone had fun! Thanks for hosting us Crystal.  

Meet Robin Jingles

I finally found an Elf for my Shelf. His name is Robin Jingles. Two of our granddaughters were here the past few days and I let them choose a name for him. They sat him on top of a curio cabinet....I told them I didn't know if he'd be nice or sassy...........He was very good while they were here...just like they were....but... 

It appears that as soon as they left he wanted to get some fresh air and enjoy the flowers.......  Look where I found him when I was watering. 

Robin Jingles picked a pretty place to sit.

I am just wondering what he will do next, if he's getting into things now I just don't know how I'll be able to handle the holidays. 

Keep reading my blog Ava, I'll keep you up to date on Robin's antics. 

Wordless Wednesday

Suicide via salsa

Cherry Picking In Door County

The other day I went with a good friend and her daughter and son in law to Sturgeon Bay in Door County, WI to pick cherries. I went along with them 2 years ago also. Door county is a very beautiful, touristy place to visit. I could have spent the whole day (and more) sightseeing....but there wasn't time. We had sticky, icky, fun. We entertained the couple that was picking next to us with our lively conversation. He was from close to the area that I grew up in. It was a perfect day to pick and eat cherries. After I went to bed I thought "Maybe I ate too many cherries".

Of course we had to have a group photo.

For many of my younger years I was called a carrot top. Now I finally am one....and my hair won't cooperate.........life just isn't fair.....

Yup, I had to try this topping............it is GOOD! I highly recommend it!

I did get some of the cherries pitted and frozen. Our grandson wants to try pitting some....but he's usually over on saturday so I'll have to save a few for him to do.

This is the kind of cherry pitter I have. I think it works pretty good.

Now to do some baking.........looking forward to eating some cherry muffins. Should I drizzle some cherry caramel topping on top????

Normal? Normal? What is Normal?

I know it's not a setting on my dryer..........I just checked.

I picked up this framed puzzle at the thrift store because I like the colors and thought it would go great in my basement scrapbook area, it kinda looks like me when I had red hair, and it's silly and makes me smile. 

I've always felt different, partly because of my red hair. We lived in a very small town and I was the only redhead....I was teased, I was skinny, I was shy, I was alone and learned to keep things to myself. When you're growing up it is probably 'normal' to feel alone and not understood, I did.

Finally I decided to embrace my differentness....I was tall, thin, independent, and had red hair, I stood out in the crowd and I wanted to celebrate it. I stood tall and dressed in my own style. 

Then I became a mom, a housewife, just another person. It's ok, I was content...for the most part. I divorced, was single, and remarried later. 

MANY years later (in 2014) I developed breast cancer and congestive heart failure. I think I took it all in stride, I tried to. I tell everyone that I feel great, almost as good as BC (before breast cancer) and that is mostly true. When I look at my window sill lined with pill bottles I know it's not totally true. How can anyone feel great after cancer? You don't, but you do the best you can. I am really happy with how I feel now....but I am NOT back to 'normal'. 

I'm thankful that I retired last year.......there's no way I could have worked through my cancer & heart treatments. I work in slow motion.............it's the only speed I have. When I go for a walk I weave (that is so weird), if I were driving I'd certainly be pulled over. My fingernails have vertical ridges and the ridges are thin and my nails often break at the ridge, therefore are very short. I've never had long nails, but I'd certainly like to be able to polish them ....now I just don't want to draw attention to them. There is such a thing as chemo brain, so many times the right word does not come to mind. Several times I've had to ask Kev what the word is as I try to explain what I mean. When I am in bed every night my knees (sometimes elbows) and legs just ache. The knee aches and pains are nothing new, but the leg cramps are. I can feel a cramp coming on in my calf, it tightens up but never totally materializes. ....thankfully. I am not sure why that happens but I do know another woman who gets awful cramps in her arms and legs. Through one of my facebook groups I found out that sometimes fibromyalgia appears after chemo. I hope that stays away from me. My sister is afflicted and also the husband of a good friend is. Under my right arm (where the lymph nodes were removed) it gets tight, I don't know how else to explain it. Sometimes it's also tender, not a big problem...but not 'normal'. 

I've decided to celebrate my differentness once again. I've lost weight and am so happy about that. I love my new short, sassy hair style. I even dreamt it was red again and chin length and I had to make an appointment to get it cut and colored back to the current style I have. I usually dress in a t-shirt and capris but when I go someplace I like to dress with some type of style...maybe add a scarf or just something to add interest. I am not afraid to be different. I love maxi dresses. Our thursday night church service is very casual but I decided to wear a maxi dress last night. Church is only a couple blocks away so I walked.....and I probably looked a bit strange walking home carrying 2 bags of green lettuce. (a church member had an abundance of it so I had a bag for myself and one for bff).

Lots of times I do something silly to make people laugh, and usually I am the butt of the joke. I like happy people!

To me normal means being my spunky self; silly many times but serious about serious things; standing out in the crowd; working up a storm at home one day and doing nothing the next (by choice); having friends just stop over for no reason. 

I am so thankful for the life I have.

P.S. Hubby is still not working and his unemployment is messed up right now b/c he didn't know he had to do job searches when he was working for a temp company. Woe is us..............  He did have 2 job interviews this week so wish him luck!!!

Happy 4th of July!

Be safe!