What a scare....

There is nothing as scary as finding your daughter sitting on her bottom step gasping and saying I can't breathe. That's what happened to me yesterday. Diana and I were going for our weekly shopping foray. We had ran to Five Oaks first and were on our way to East Town when that horrible rain hit. Traffic started backing up so we took the backroads. We both had on flip flops since we had not watched the morning weather. Since we would be passing my house, I decided to stop and grab a jacket and change my shoes. Diana thought that was a great idea and asked me to stop by her house so she could do the same. Well, I'm in the car with the kids and looking for something in my purse when Caleb calmly says, "Mommy just fell." I look up and she's sitting on her bottom step bent over. I'm thinking she must have hurt her ankle. I jump out and run through the rain and ask if she's okay. I think my heart almost stopped when she didn't look up, just gasped "I can't breathe." It was awful. She was gasping for breath and I didn't know what to do. I ran back to get my phone and couldn't find it. I was so full of panic. I ran back to get her phone asking her if she was okay. She is trying to tell me to call Michael to see what firefighter/EMT might be closest to us (he was in West Knoxville with his brother) when Michael's oldest brother pulled out of a neighbors driveway. I flagged him down and he came up and checked her out. By the time, she was breathing better and able to get up and walk. She was sore and scared, but she said she was fine. I went back to the kids and Caleb wanted to go and check on her. I must say, if I'm ever in an emergency situation, I want Caleb by my side. That child was a rock. Seven years old and not a bit of panic in him. He helped her in the house and helped her change to dry clothes and get her shoes on. Then he helped her back down the steps to the truck and helped her climb in and shut her door. It was so sweet. Long story short, we ended up at the emergency room to get her checked out (even though she fought the idea and wanted to go shopping instead). She has a slightly bruised kidney, but they can't see any broken bones or cracked ribs. They will have the x-rays rechecked on Monday to make double sure. She will be pretty sore for awhile. Her back started bruising within minutes of the fall. Michael had arrived at the hospital before we left so I went ahead and left to go finish our errands. Today is Shelby's 2 year birthday party and yesterday we were heading out to get the party supplies and for Diana to get birthday presents for Shelby. As I'm leaving the hospital parking lot, Michael calls and tells me what the x-rays showed and said they were releasing her. They told her to try to move around as much as you could so she wouldn't get too stiff. Being my daughter, she told Michael "Call my Mom and tell her to come back for me. I want to go do my shopping for the party." I just had to smile and shake my head.

The Quarter

As we grow older, we remember fondly the days when a quarter could buy a hotdog, an ice cold Coke or a loaf of bread. In later years, a quarter could get you a candy bar, then a phone call raised to a quarter. I heard someone say recently that a quarter didn't buy you anything anymore. It depends on where you shop. I was driving down the road yesterday and there was a big pink yard sale sign. I had no intention of stopping, but my car had a mind of its own. Next thing I know, I'm at some man's house in Swaggerty Hills and he's putting things in boxes marked 25 cents. Being a sucker for a good buy, I had to jump right in and see what I could not live without. Here are my finds:

I'm don't normally do wind chimes, but I have other plans for this. I'll post it when I get it done.

I love Christmas tins. I use them all over the house when I decorate at Christmas. Was very thrilled with these.

I'm going to put a picture of Michael in his gear in this and give it to Caleb for his dresser.

My Masterbath is outdoorsy and in these colors. This was brand new in the box. Never opened. I always keep a jar candle in there so this is perfect. This was my favorite. I have one section of the living room that is done in Snowmen at Christmas. Can't wait to use it.

Well as you can see, a quarter can still buy you something.

Basket ideas-complements of my sister, Rachel

Happy birthday little princess...

Happy Birthday to my youngest granddaughter, Shelby Rayne Hayes I hope you have a fun day!

Recycling

I have had this flower pot for years. I had it in my office on my old job and moved it home with me when I started my own business. However, my plant recently died and I am just not in the mood to get another plant. I was cleaning it up, washing it and thinking I guess I'll put it in the yard sale pile. But I really like it so I don't really want to get rid of it. My hallway bathroom is done in these colors with birdhouses as my theme. I looked at the pot and thought, how could I recycle this into the bathroom without putting another plant in it. I walked into the bathroom, looked around the limited counter space and had a great idea. The result isn't anything brilliant or anything that will cause oos and aahs of delight, but it now serves a new purpose and I can continue to enjoy it.

If you have recycled any of your home decor and found a new use for it, send me a photo and I'll create a new page on my post to showcase recycled home decor projects.

Watch for new basket photos on Friday

You will notice I have added a new page on my blog called Basket Showcase. I would love to see some of your wonderful baskets and the many ways you use them. Please email me photos to brendakeefer@comcast.net and I will post them on the Basket Showcase page. I will just keep a running photo of different types and styles of baskets and their many uses.

Where do the years go....

I was looking at some photos this morning and found this one of my nephew Jacob Tyler Garretson. I remember it like it was yesterday that we found out Angie was expecting. I remember them talking about naming him Jacob Tyler and he was going to be called J.T. Once he arrived, he looked more like a Jacob so we alternated between the two. I remember when he was about 2 or 3 and had started talking pretty good, they started calling him J.T. because they thought that would be cute when he started in sports. Shortly after that somebody asked him what his name was and he smilingly said "Goatee." From that day forward he has been Jake or Jacob. No more J.T. Eighteen years later, that little tyke has grown into a tall handsome young man. When I see him or look at his pictures, it seems like yesterday that he was our little "Goatee". I have to wonder where the years have gone.