Weekend wrap up

I have a to do list that is going to take up most of my day. But I am glad that I am nearing the end of all my things I want to get done on my project list. I started off the morning sitting on my porch watching the sun come up. 

From the side view, I can see the mountain range.

It's not a fancy view and was a little shadowed early this morning. But it is a view and I will take what I can get. 

I got a package Saturday from my niece Christy. She sent me a new beach towel for my upcoming Miami trip. Had several other little things in that I just loved.

But my favorite is my new palm tree flip flop necklace. Oh my!

A friend called and told me they had new beach salt and pepper shakers in at Cracker Barrel. I love the beach ones in the little blue sea creatures. I am collecting them. But only one per set.

Because they are going on a shelf in my beach bathroom as a collection of sea creatures. So far I have the sea horse, puffer fish, crab and sea turtle. Trying to find the octopus.

I looked around while I was there and spotted some patriotic ones. Since I decorate around the first of May, I decided to pick them up. I do buy for the kitchen and dining room in the sets. 

Since I had taken Easter down and it is almost time for my red, white and blue to last thru Memorial Day, Flag Day and Fourth of July, I decided to go ahead and do the dining room table centerpiece. I am happy with it.

Sunday we had a smaller crew of Children's church kids. I decided I need to take a picture with the kids until I make sure I have pics of all of them in at least one picture since I only have five more months back there with them at 2 Sunday's per month. So 10 more weeks of my babies and then I will be the one leaving the nest. 

After church, I went out to the cemetery. I stopped on the side of the road and picked some wild flowers to put in a vase on Allen's grave. He loved while flowers and we both loved daisies. So just made me feel good to take him some real flowers. I had some water but they still won't last long. I'll go back next week with a new spring arrangement.

Well, that was about it. I'm working on my to do list this morning. I already hung my new curtains and replaced the blind. Me, being me, hit a stud first try. The curtains are just white drapes to defuse some of the bright sunlight but not darken the room. I am happy with them. Have a great Monday.

Flamingo Fancies

I am loving flamingos. A friend bought me a resin one a couple of months ago and I already had a couple of figurines. But there is a new craze out and flamingos are showing up everywhere. I found quite a few things I like,

Weekend Wrap Up

Well, Thursday was the last day I worked before getting a rare Friday and Saturday off. Then on Sunday I didn't go in until evening and only worked 6 hours and I am off again today. Feels like a mini vacation. Thursday I got to sit in my current dream car that I have been wanting. A red Dodge Challenger. This was a 2012. I am even more in love with it now that I sat in it. I told I want to trade cards in about another year so he has that long to decide to sell me this one. He did tell me to come by and take it for a test drive any time I wanted to. I may just do that.

Friday, I woke up to pouring down rain and an all day forecast of rain. But I was so tired of being at home or work and going nowhere recently, that I decided to spend my rainy day antiquing. It was a great idea. Our church is having a tea cup exchange soon so I found a cute little tea cup and saucer at at an amazing price.

I have been wanting a deep dish pie pan. I found a vintage Pyrex one for $4. Oh yes, it came home with me.

I also scored 2 new pieces of Pyrex in my favorite Town and Country pattern. Normally a casserole dish like the one on the right goes for $25-30 in an antique store. I got both of these pieces for less than $20. It was a great deal.

This is one of my dream sets that has been on my wishlist about 5 or 6 years. The only time I have ever seen a complete set in mint condition like this was for $225 which was way too high. But this lady had her's priced for $115. Not a crack or a chip in them. No stains. Perfect. But this was not a week I could budget spending that much. I was so sick at heart because I have wanted this set for so long. Then the lady said the magic word....layaway. So I put it on layaway and am going to go back and get it the first week of May. Happy dance!!

When I got done with my wonderful day antiquing, I went home and the skies cleared up and we had a beautiful rainbow. 

Saturday morning I got up and made a cherry pie. Only the second pie I ever made. The edges don't look the best but overall it looked pretty good for my limited pie experiences.

My daughter and I went and did a little shopping Saturday and I found me a cute new top that I just fell in love with. It was on sale so I snatched it up. Now if it will just get warm enough to wear it. 

When we were on our way home, a friend of mine sent me a message and wanted to know if I wanted to go to the shooting range with him. So once I got home and put everything away, we went. I had never been to a shooting range. We had a blast. Lots of fun and lots of laughter. I did get to shoot at a weird target. He shot some at this one as well, but I got some really good hits considering I have only shot a 410 and a 22 back when I was about 17 or 18. We were shooting with a AR15. That's what I get for going with a military man to a shooting range.

Sunday morning Sunrise Service was amazing. Lots of beautiful music and a great view of the sun coming up in the East. I took this right before the service started. By the time we were finished it was completely up and beautiful but I forgot to get another picture.

Later when we got to church, they had set up donuts and coffee. I wanted a donut so bad, but I have lost three pounds this week by watching my sweets and going 100% free of carbonated drinks. So I was strong and didn't eat any.

Got a good picture of Shelby (L) and her best friend Megan. It being Easter they brought their ever presents friends with them. Bunny and Lammy come to church with them every Easter.

I worked Sunday night but was off again on Monday. I didn't do anything but hang out at the house. No laundry to do. No house to clean. Just me and relaxation. I took some time to just pamper myself. I spent a couple of hours outside and got some sun and good rest.

In just three days....

A lot can happen in three days. This middle day, the day between the death and resurrection, make me think so much of those who loved knew Him. Just put yourself in their place. Yesterday had to be horrific. It is bad enough to lose a loved one in any circumstance. It is even worse to watch them as they suffer in the pains of death. But to lose your best friend, your mentor, your guide, your teacher. It had to be horrible what they went through on that second day. To watch what was done to Him and then to wake up that next day with questions. Why? Why Him? Did they wonder if they could have done anything differently to prevent this? Did they second guess and relive every little thing that had happened in the past week. Did they close their eyes and see Him hanging their in pain in agony? 

Did they really even then understand that it was all part of God's perfect plan?

I cannot in any of my wildest imaginings begin to understand the pain and suffering they were going through. I would think that your own thoughts would be like those of someone on the brink of insanity just trying to take it all in, to try to reason it out in your mind. 

This day all those thousands of years ago had to be one of deep torment and deep grief for those who loved Him and knew Him best. 

BUT on that third day, oh wow! To have been there when they found out He was alive. To know that He arose and conquered death. He paid the final price and gave the ultimate sacrifice. And only after His death could they completely understand the purpose of His life. 

Tomorrow is going to be a wonderful day of rejoicing in the fact that the grave could not hold Him. Death could not keep Him. He paid the ultimate sacrifice and He did it for each and everyone of us. 

Happy Easter!

Finally....

I have lived in my current home for three years. And for three years there is a tree at the corner of the house that buds every year, then never blooms. This year though, it did bloom. I had long suspected it of being a dogwood tree but was not sure. Imagine my delight when the first blooms started opening up and this is what I saw...

The blossoms are absolutely perfect.

It is full and loaded with blossoms and more open every day.

I couldn't be happier. 

Tea Cup Exchange

Our church is going to have a tea cup exchange soon and I'm looking for a tea cup and saucer to take for my exchange. I went to the online Marketplace because they can be new or used in good shape. I am finding some real pretty ones. I am going to have a problem with purchasing one. Because every time I find one I fall in love with it and want it for myself. 

Well, I have a couple of weeks to get one so I'll keep looking.

This makes me smile.....

I had a cat for 17 years and loved her dearly. When she died, I didn't get a new one right away. By the time I thought I wanted a new one my husband had passed away and I lived somewhere that does not allow pets. I have missed having a cat to come home to but I haven't missed the litter box, the feeding, the care. 

One day about a little over a year ago, a friend of mine donated some stuffed animals to my children's church class for a project we were doing. We had some left over so the kids all got to take one home. Since Shelby was born shortly after K.C. died, she never got to know her but had heard many stories. So she decided since I couldn't have any pets, I needed a stuffed cat. She picked this one for my "new pet". The cat lays on my bed all the time. She is soft and fluffy and Shelby named her midnight. I will admit it is kind of sweet to come home every night late and have my "cat" laying on the bed. 

My bucket list...

I am having the time of my life with my bucket list this year. There haven't been a lot of major things on it, but there have been fun things. For example, I got my first tatoo. I got a personalized license plate to commemorate this year. I have tried new food. I've started and continued writing my book. I'm doing a recipe book for my fave recipes. I'm learning to dance. I have spent more time going out with my friends and not so much alone time. 

But here is the biggie......

I have booked a flight on a plane! That's right. I am 62 and never been on a plane and harbored a slight fear of one. But thanks to a friend who provided me with input and confidence to do it, I started researching round trip non-stop flights and found one that was super affordable. I posted the ad that triggered it on Facebook and another friend saw it and has decided to go on a trip with me. Within a couple hours of my original post we had a flight booked.

Where am I going? Now that is the reallly exciting part. My one place in the U.S. that has always been a dream destination that I never told anyone because I knew I would never go is Miami, FL. Ever since the 1980's and my love affair with Miami Vice and Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) I have wanted to experience Miami. So that is where we are going. I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. 

We are going in mid summer because I want to experience the height of the season with sunny skies and warm sunshine. 

One thing I hope to do is visit somewhere that I can see live flamingos. Since my friend has a beach room and is flamingo crazy like me, I am sure we will find some while we are there. 

It's hard to tell what we will see or do, but one things for sure. We will have fun.