Monday, Monday!

It is a bit cloudy and rainy today and the perfect time to catch up with what's Going On!

This was all the Valentine's decorating I did this year.  The red heart was made by my Dad many years ago and is very special to me.

I took balloons and a little candy to the Grands and enjoyed a few hugs.

Scout has discovered my watercolors and is very interested in painting.  We will do much more soon!  I have some brushes and paints just for her.

Winter has been so dreary that I wanted a little color so found this cute pillow cover on Amazon.  I love having lots of pillow covers so I can change them out for seasonal and holiday decor. 

Annie has been napping with me most every day.  I'm healing well and slowly and I do mean slowly getting my energy back.  I went to WalMart with my Mom one day and made the mistake of walking instead of taking one of the riding carts.  I was more then ready to come home and it took me two days to recover.  However my Mom did buy me this for Valentine's Day!

I love Flamingos and this cute girl just jumped in my cart and came home with me.  I've named her Rose (Pink in French).  Along with my Flamingo pillow covers she makes a sweet corner on the couch!

A little trip to Trader Joe's was fun and this little Hyacinth plant was only $2.99

I can't wait for it to bloom!

So not much else going on.  

I've binged watched several shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime.  Read at least 3 books and slept a great deal.  Healing is hard work.  

Wishing you Joy!

Linda

When Things Run Their Course

run its course means "to continue (naturally) until finished".

To progress along something's 

natural course and conclude at its 

normal pace.

Don't panic...I'm not talking about my blog!

Let's back up a bit!

Texas trip was a success but not without it's problems.  Mostly that Mom got sick on Thanksgiving with a nasty cold and is still not feeling well. Still we got to visit family and enjoyed lots of talk, laughter, jokes, memories and sweet hugs and kisses! 

The view from our beach front condo on Padre Island.  

The view of the condo from the beach.

Not bad at all!

It was pretty warm but lots of wind.

Cloudy mornings with mostly afternoon sunshine.  I took a couple of walks on the beach, collected seashells for me and the Grands and relaxed!

Next to us was a public beach.  You can drive your car onto the beach and set up camp.  Fishing, grilling and fun!

They had the Berkeland spelled wrong but the thought was nice.  

We had 62 for Thanksgiving Dinner! 

There was a group photo taken on the beach but I don't have a copy of it yet.  I'm looking forward to getting that memory.  

Before leaving Houston we were able to visit with my niece Amanda and her son Ethan.  Mom enjoyed seeing her Granddaughter and Great Grandson!

I miss them so much!

Beach feet!  I've been taking a photo like this for years! 

The travel home was hard since Mom didn't feel well.  Thank goodness for wheelchair assistance, portable oxygen and helpful flight attendants! 

Picking up the kitties and getting home felt so good! 

I missed Annie so much.  She forgave me rather quickly although she is not sure about this 'tree' in front of her window.  I love this photo of her.  Napping under the Christmas tree was always a favorite place of Charlie's and it warms my heart to see Annie there! 

Getting home on Nov 28th put me behind in my Christmas decorating!

So I hauled out the tree and got it up right away.  It took a few days to get out the ornaments but they are mostly on the tree now. 

I started working on the cubbies filling them with vintage Christmas.  Then I sat down and realized it looked cluttered to me.  So I decided to edit my vintage to the items I really love. 

The top cubbies are good! 

My collection of nativities is too crowded so I'll rearrange that soon.

I love everything in this cubbie!

It feels good to let go.  Some things I'm sending to my friend Donna and others I'm donating back into the wild. 

So here is where the phrase 'when things run their course' comes in...

I realized it was truly time to downsize my Christmas.  This isn't the first time I've done this, but this time it was 'use it or lose it' time. 

This tote of ornaments and decorations most of which hasn't been used in years is going to my church.

This box of ornaments and various decorations is going to the thrift shop

This box of ornaments is going to my daughter's house.  Some for her if she wants them, some for the Grands (they each have their own tiny tree they decorate) and what they don't want...donated!

I am looking at two empty totes and more space in my ornament boxes! 

As I've gotten older it has been harder and harder to haul out those totes, decorate, put the totes away and then clean up after Christmas.  I still love to decorate but I decided I can't keep things I no longer use.

**The ONLY exception is shiny brites some from my childhood that I don't display around the Grands or the Cat**

I will still hunt for vintage Christmas. This sleigh and Santa are both 2017 thrift store finds and keepers!

But I no longer will buy everything I think is 'cute' or 'old' or 'tiny' or ...

I just can't!

I thrifted all of these items this year and some are staying, some are gifts and some I'm returning to the thrift shop...sigh!  

I'm not done going through all the Christmas yet, but I've made a great start.  Sometimes things just run their course!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

October!

I can't believe how October has flown by!  Life is busy busy and yet there has been some time for reflection.

I did dig out my one bin of Fall/Halloween decor and put up a few things in the cubbies.

I love the colored glass and this will stay until Christmas but the Halloween bears and owl will go back in the bin soon!  Maybe a few Thanksgiving items will take their place. 

My favorite witch is out with some lovely handmade pumpkins 

I can't seem to take a decent photo lately.  I guess I need to get out my 'better' camera.

These two continue to bring me such JOY!

Tiger is 6 going on 16 his Mother says! He is doing well in school and just getting to be such a big boy.  He has started calling me Grammie which I love!  

Scout at 2 and half is a tall girl and so smart! She is a mixture of rough and tumble and girly girl!  Her favorite color is pink!  I have such a good time buying her clothes and indulging her princess personality!

This little girl just celebrated her one year Gotcha Day!  She has brought much love into my life.  She has turned into a complete snuggle kitty.

I love this little face and those eyes!

Annie Belle I'm glad we found each other!

I haven't done much watercolor painting

I am happy with how this tree turned out!

I was happy with this wreath until I tried to add 'give thanks' to the middle and then I ruined it.  I need to practice before I try this again.  I'm hoping to make some Christmas gifts this year.

I have been having some health issues and would ask for your prayers

After my gallbladder surgery over a year ago I was feeling really good.  Then this past July I had an episode of pain that sent me to the ER.  They said it wasn't pancreatitis which was my fear but didn't give me any diagnosis.  The pain went away and I was just trying to be careful of fats in my diet.  Then about 3 weeks ago I had another 'attack'.  Almost as painful but this time it has been up and down in intensity.  I had blood work done which showed that my pancreas and liver functions are fine.  Monday I had an MRI to check to see if I have stones or some other blockage in my bile duct or whatever else is in there!  I'm waiting on the results.  As of now my pain comes and goes but the discomfort seems to be constant.  I've been eating but very small meals and very low fat hoping that will help.  All this has taken a toll on me.  No energy and doing much of anything has been hard.  We really need an answer to this.  Mom and I have a big trip planned for Thanksgiving for a family reunion in Texas.  She will see her brother and sisters and visit other family also.  We are praying that whatever is going on with me doesn't cancel this trip.  So prayers and good thoughts appreciated! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Catching Up!

Once again the month is almost over!

Summer has been a busy time.

Mom bought a new car!

She had been having a bit more difficulty getting in and out of her RAV-4 so we went car shopping.

We decided on this 2017 Toyota Camry!  It is a really nice car and Mom is having a much easier time getting in and out.  So far we like it.

(I drive she rides)

Sara took the kids blueberry picking!

As you can see they had fun!  Tiger helped to make blueberry muffins and cobbler and shared it with us!

Delicious!

If you follow me on IG or FB you saw where I ended up in the hospital ER.  I was having pains that reminded me of last years pancreatitis and so my Dr told me to go to the ER.  I am so glad it wasn't pancreatitis but the Dr said yes it can come back so I need to be more careful of my diet.   I started feeling better after some IV fluids, pain meds and a clear liquid diet for a 24 hours. 

THEN... I got a summer cold...picked up I'm sure at the ER.  Ugh!

Finally feeling better this week. 

I think my blog has become a diary of my illnesses.  I have always been so healthy and suddenly it seems I catch every cold and virus around.  I've been trying to up my immune system and get healthier before we start another round of flu season! 

I've been doing a bit of watercolor painting but not much.  I'm working on a fun challenge of a color a day prompt.  This is one page of my efforts!

I recently bought a tube of Coral watercolor paint, perfect for this first attempt at a Flamingo.  I surprised myself! It even looks like a Flamingo!

I've been downloading photos of flowers as inspiration for my painting. This was my first effort.  Side by side the colors are all wrong (mine looks so blue!) but this was my first try and it was fun.   
Edited to add the poppy photo was from my friend Jeanie from The Marmalade Gypsy! 

My friend Cheri sent me a Hobby Lobby gift card for my birthday.

I bought this journal 40% off

on sale and used a 40% coupon on a tube of watercolor paint and used up that gift card! 

 Thank you Cheri.

Sara and Tiger will be heading back to school soon.  They start so early here.  Scout continues to enjoy her friends at daycare and Blake is working at the YMCA.  We have so much to be thankful for.

During children's time at church!

Annie Belle has survived the trauma of roofers pounding away.  She hid under the couch for hours (poor baby).

As we say goodbye to July I hope you are having a wonderful summer! 

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Friday Finds!

It has been awhile since I did a Friday finds.  Since I'm not thrifting very much these days I don't have a lot to share.  I do wander through the thrifts but have cut my buying down to almost nothing!

This cute cat earring holder was found at GW and I just had to have it!  It is on my dresser and holding some of my favorite earrings!

I had butterflies on my mind when I bought this .99 plastic bin.  Not sure what to do with it but it's mine now! 

I love vintage table cloths and this Christmas one is round and makes a great tree skirt for $1

These footed glasses were hard to photograph, but the dragonfly on them had me smiling!  Only .75 for three!

(I looked for that 4th glass but guess that's why they were at the thrift, only 3 of them)

Three Lefton Lambs for $1

So cute!

This Hall restaurant ketchup container was .99 at Habitat for Humanity!

I could not pass this cutie up! 

I've been doing a little planting as Spring has sprung!

A tomato plant

and some Herbs for my Mom

These are outside our mutual front doors.  I got this little fountain as a surprise for Mom.

It is solar powered but with the wind blowing it blows the water everywhere and empties the bird bath or bucket pretty fast!  So maybe in summer with less wind it will work better, but it's cute!

We have bird feeders and flowers and hope to plant a few more things.

In front of Mom's window and both our front doors!  

In front of my window so Annie Belle and I can watch the birds from inside.

We have a young pair of Cardinals we are watching grow!

We have such a deer problem here in our neighborhood but they don't like these flowers very much so they might last!

It's cold and rainy today but hopefully I'll get a bit more outdoor planting done this weekend. 

Annie says this is not her 'best' side but as you can tell from this view she has gained a lot of weight.  I bought her 'diet' food and now if I can just get her to play a bit more and lose some weight.  I am careful about the amount of food I give her but she has 'fluffed' right up! 

Still a sweetie and loves her Mama...even if I do have her on a diet!   

Wishing you JOY,

Linda