It's the big 40.

Wow. Forty years ago today the world of The Garretson family changed. My sister had a beautiful baby girl and became a Mom for the first time. My mom became a grandmother for the first time. And I became an Aunt for the first time.

Today, my precious niece, Christy Dawn turns the big 40. I can't believe it's been 40 years. She was our first baby in the family. I would "steal" her every chance I got and take her places or bring her home to stay all night. Here are some of my favorite pics of her growing up.

From the "no hair" days

Through the "baby fine" hair days....

...to the "finally has hair" days

...to the big hair days.

To the long hair beautiful hair days.

She is a true beauty in and out and I love her with all my heart. I hope you have a very happy birthday Christy. You still hold a piece of my heart and forever will. You were our first baby in the family and I love the fact that even after 40 years, you still remember to call and text me. 

Happy birthday, we love you.

A quick update....

Thank you everyone for the prayers for my friend with Cystic Fybrosis. It was touch and go for a couple of days, but with all the prayers across 7 states (that we know of), she had a quick turnaround and her levels started dropping back to a range the doctors felt safe with. She was returned to a regular room and after a couple of days she got to come home. Now to regain her strength and continue to improve. You can tell Momma and daughter are happy to be back together again.

Too cute for words

Check out these primitive free style embroidery applique wall hanging. talk about easy to do. I may have to just try some of these.

This is my favorite. My sister and I need to make one of these.

Trade Time

Yesterday was a great day for trading. When it comes to my Pyrex collection, I rarely buy my pieces any more. I try to do trades or old fashioned bartering. Yesterday was a very successful trade day. My friend Stevie had a mixing bowl set I have been trying to trade in our Pyrex group. She had decided it didn't go with her color scheme. She asked me what I had to trade. The only thing I had that she wanted was the yellow 503 fridgie.

So I took it to her yesterday to see what she would trade. She then asked me if in addition to trading it, I would make her 4 year old son a plastic canvas box in green with an R on it so Ray can keep his Power Ranger keys in it so they don't lost. She just wants a simple box, something like this only in the green.

Since those are so easy to make and I love to do it, I gladly agreed to do it for her. So what did I get in exchange for one piece of Pyrex and one plastic canvas project? I got the mixing bowl set I have had on my wish list for months. My Early American mixing bowl set. I am in love!

Then she blew my mind and said, "Here. Take these, too. I don't want to collect this pattern any more. Oh wow, oh wow! I was definitely doing a happy dance.

So as part of our trade, I agreed to help her do a couple of trades in my Pyrex groups. She had this JAJ that she got from Australia in the clover pattern. She wanted to trade it for something to add to her Friendship collection. So I posted it in group and the offers for trades immediately started pouring in. Since this is an Australian JAJ Pyrex piece, it is very, very rare here in the USA.

But she was able to trade for a piece she has desired that is also a hard to find piece. It is the Pyrex Friendship Pennsylvania Dutch Promo piece. There is a plate that it sets on so we are in search of that now to complete this set.

While I was at her house, she showed me her new cabinet for her craft room that she is going to keep fabric in. I loved the cabinet. The picture makes it look green but it was actually more of a blue than a green.

Whoever made it took out the glass on the doors and put in chicken wire, but what made it so adorable is the fact that they installed a coffee table on top of it and inserted a mirror. I just fell in love. Going to have to try to do this. Isn't the result gorgeous.

When I came home from all the excitement of the trades yesterday, I went to the mail box and my new tablecloth had arrived. I have been putting off redoing the kitchen decor and rearranging my Pyrex until I could get my Woodland bowls (which I got last week), my Early American and my new tablecloth. I have them all now. Time to get the re-do started.

I also forgot to show you my pretty flowers I got at Walmart for just $3.00. They are going to go in a display somewhere in the house for Memorial Day. I will leave them out for Flag Day in June and the 4th of July. I just love the fabric flowers.

Hope everybody has a great Wednesday.

Tonight's the night

For those who don't know, I am not a big TV fan. I have one or two shows I watch on a regular basis and that's about it. But the one show I try to never, ever miss is The Voice.

I made it through this entire season without missing one single minute of the show. Some nights on Tuesday's I would make it home at 7:58 just in time to slide on the couch and watch every minute of the live, the battles and the knockouts all the way through the live eliminations and the semi-finals. 

But the performances are all in. The Top 4 have done their final performances. The votes are being cast and tonight we find out the winner of season 8. I have my pics just like everyone else, but without a shadow of a doubt I would love to see Sawyer take it all home. He turned all 4 chairs on his blind audition and three of them turned after the first few notes. His voice is that awesome.

In 8 seasons only one time did my favorite end up going home. So I am hoping my record holds and my prediction will be true that Sawyer will take it home tonight. His style is so unique and different. He succeeds at every song he has tackled this year. Some of the finalists have had moments where I thought, why did they try that or what were they thinking. But he has been spot on with every song choice and his vocal abilities just blow me out of the water week after week. Can't wait to see who wins. My second choice would be Megan or Coryn and Joshua is good, but he's just not one of my favorites. Good luck, Sawyer!

Here are a couple of my favorite Sawyer performances.

Weekend Wrap Up

I had a fabulous weekend. It started off with Alexis and Colby coming over to spend the whole weekend with me on Friday. We got up on Saturday morning and went to the Bloomin' Barbecue and Bluegrass festival in downtown Sevierville. We had a great time.



They had some bounce houses and a kid zone set up that were free and the kids loved playing there.



Colby was so excited to see the pig mascot. We had to track him down to get a photo op with him.

Sunday was my turn to do Children's Church. We did the lesson on David and Jonathan and the importance of friendship. Then we made Popsicle Pals. This was my sample and I thought it was rather creative....Till the kids in class started adding eye lashes and then making hair from the spare pipe cleaner. I love when their imaginations kick in.



Sunday night the family gathered at Applebee's for my grandson Caleb's birthday.



He was tickled to pieces with the new watch his mom and dad got him. It was a Zippo brand and he has had his eye on it for weeks. One very happy boy.



A few things I picked up this weekend. Saw this sign at Family Dollar on Friday for just $5.00. It goes good with my kitchen.

Saturday at the Festival there was a lady who made travel pillows and cases. I couldn't resist. I had to get one. She is also making me a couple of extra pillow cases. One in flip flops and one in anchors. 

I got my order from the Thirty-One flash sale in. I am so excited about my new retro metro weekender. 

And my wristlet.

And my Easy Breezy Tote.

I already had the organizing utility tote in the same pattern.

I am now set to travel for weekend trips with all my Citrus Medallion patterned pieces. 

They discontinued that pattern but the new Bubble Bloom has the same color scheme. I will be using my make up case in the new pattern when I travel.

This has lots of room for make up and I don't use that much so I use one of the pockets to hold my jewelry.

After my busy weekend, I was wanting a snack Sunday night. So I gathered up some goodies. 

This was the end result. It was delicious.

Now it is Monday and back to work time. I hope I can make it through the day. I have went non-stop for the past three weeks and I can tell it is about to catch up with me. 

Thoughts for Sunday...

On Facebook, it gives you a flashback of your memories on specific days. It just randomly pops up. Today, mine popped up to show me what I posted today in 2011. It is as true now as it was then:

"I personally believe in Jesus Christ. One person on Facebook has challenged all believers to put this on their wall. The bible says, "If you deny me in front of your peers, I will deny you in front of my father." (Matthew 10:33) If you love God and you are not afraid to show it, re-post this."