The Best Laid Plans...

My plan to blog more has not happened yet.  I really want to start posting more like twice a week instead of once and I'll get there

I think.

Just not this week!

Work continues in the spare room.

This is progress!  

I have been going through the craft supplies and putting them in storage baskets on the shelves.  I have more to go but I'm happy with it so far.

Emptied all these plastic shoe boxes and other containers.  Yes!

This corner needs more work but this is where I'm storing the donations for my church rummage sale in May.  Empty boxes to fill or recycle.  I have a few other boxes of items I've sold in the living room waiting on delivery.

Some cuteness! 

I love my Maileg Holga (on sale after Christmas) and the pillow cover I found on Amazon before Christmas!  Loving the touches of red added to the gray futon.

In the dining area this storage unit has been cleaned and is waiting to be restyled.  The milk glass will be sold or wrapped up for the rummage sale.  I got rid of more glassware and started rearranging in the kitchen but stalled.

 I'm not so organized.  
I keep starting here and there and it takes me to another room and then I never finish the original room.  I'm going to try to be more organized next week.  Make a plan a day to get things done. 

I love this sign I found at Cracker Barrel clearance.  It says it all! 

I promised you an Annie photo!

She is the sweetest girl! 

And good news, I'm on track for my book reading, seven so far this month.

Also almost caught up on laundry!

I'm a work in progress!  

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

What's Up Wednesday

I have been busy my friends! 

Downsizing is going well.

I've taken 2 large loads to the thrift shop so far and have another one to take tomorrow.  I've also sold several things that were taking up space and I have a few boxes of things for my church rummage sale.  It feels good.

No takers for my milk glass yet, so I'll either try to sell online or pack it up for the church rummage sale.  I have some nice pieces I hate to just get rid of.

Annie's Cat Tree is being sold.  She 'looks' at it and might get on it to look out the window once in awhile but I have found she is more of a race car cat (zoom zoom) then a climber.  I'll get my money back, clear up more space in the spare room and so it's a win win for me! 

I ordered some new paint brushes and a palette, so I am ready to take an online water color class for beginners.

Skillshare is offering their premium level classes right now .99 for 3 months!

What a deal!  Check it out!

I've set my reading goal for 2017 at 105 books!  I read 100 in 2016.  I use Goodreads to keep track of my books.  I add a 'shelf' in my books read list for each year and it's so easy to keep track that way.  I also get reviews and recommendations from other readers.

I use to write down the books in a notebook but I find this easier for sure! 

With all this warm weather I'm afraid things will start to bloom and then we will get another freeze and ruin our spring.  This plant in my house has bloomed and brought me much needed joy!  

It is a Cyclamen and has bloomed so many times since I bought it. They come in many colors and I think I'll try to buy another one in a different color. 

The Grands are doing well.  Tiger had a cold but is over that now.  He and his Dad did a Day of Service for MLK day and cleaned a very old cemetery in their neighborhood. 

The adults worked but so did the kids! 

They live in a great neighborhood and the families are really coming together to make a difference!

Scout is moving up to a new class in daycare and is very interested in the potty!  Hopefully she will be easy to train and soon!  I can't believe she will be two in April! 

Annie Belle is a snuggley sweet cat and is not still long enough to take photos most days!  I'll have to get some of her soon and share! 

That's about it folks!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

First Week of January!

My first post of the new year!

I've been fighting this awful cold and while I am finally doing a bit better it has taken it's toll on my energy.

I'm in the path of this winter storm and we may get some snow.  It's a good time to just stay warm inside and work a bit more on my spare room.

It was a project from last year that never got finished because of my house guest and other various things happening.  I did sell the day bed and got rid of some bookcases and a large (falling apart) dresser.  Some IKEA shelves were added and then I had surgery, so all of it came to a halt.

I now have a futon that will act as an extra bed when needed and take up much less room.  I make a huge mess when I re-arrange and purge items.  A small room doesn't leave much space to work in so it spills out into the living room.  I took a large load of things to the Habitat for Humanity yesterday.

Yay me!  AND...I didn't go in to shop.

I'm trying to stay out of the thrift shops for all of January.  I need to break the habit of just looking and buying small things because they are cute! 

Cute becomes clutter!

Take this purchase from Nov. of four Blue birds of Happiness.  So cute, only .25 ea how could I leave them there.  BUT, now I have a flock of glass blue birds and honestly what do I do with them? 

Time to downsize, and I think it's really reached into my heart and soul this time. 

I love my collections but they have once again gotten out of hand.  I want to edit them and keep the pieces I love the most and return the others to the wild for someone else to find. 

Where to start? 

First of all I must get my spare room arranged and cleaned of things I no longer use so I can have some space to make decisions.  It feels good to do this!

I want to own my things, not have them own me.  Now I will never be a minimalist.  It's not in my nature but the sheer number of things I own is overwhelming.  January has begun a change for the better!

  Anyone else feeling this way?

I had a few photos I wanted to share.

This one of Scout might be my favorite Christmas photo of 2017

The Grands were going to bed Christmas Eve and Scout headed back out to the living room alone.  There she found the cookies & milk for Santa that Tiger had left out and just helped herself.

Her Dad caught her in the act and thus this photo!  Makes me smile!

My girl and her girl!

Tiger, in tiger pj's brushing his teeth!

My Grands seeing a new baby lamb!

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

Reflections!

I ended last year with the sad passing of my brother.  

I was hoping for a better 2016,

 but it wasn't to be.

February 6, 2016 I lost my sweet Charlie.

That along with the loss of my brother sent me into a depression that has taken a good while to come out of.  With my immune system down I got sick and for months didn't seem to be able to get well.  It was a hard time.

But great friends to the rescue...

These gals came over and gave me a pity party which cheered me up so much! 

The love of friends is amazing.

May was crazy but we moved my Mom from her Independent living apt to the duplex next to mine and it was great!

I love having her next door and being able to spend more time with her.  She is much happier here, this feels more like a home to her!

June arrives!

Birthday month!

Fun right? Not!!

Just as I'm getting 'well' and feeling 'better' I have acute pancreatitis and gallbladder surgery.

I think will the good times return ever?

The summer passes in a blur of unpacking and setteling Mom in.  Time with the Grands and of course some junkin!  Then my friend Carter sells his house and moves in with Mr. Toes his cat until he can find a new house.

What is expected to take a couple of months max turns into several months.  In fact he just moved out a few weeks ago.  He is a great friend and I was glad he had somewhere to stay while he house hunted.

So during times of loss, stress, depression and worrying about my children, I did what I often do and that is shop.  Thrift shop, junk shop and find treasures.  Not spending a lot of money but buying stuff.  To fill up my life?  my home?  my broken heart? 

Now that Carter has moved out I realize my home has once again become stuffed to the gills with stuff!  It's time to make some changes in 2017!

The best things about 2016?

The Grands of course.  They are the light of my life and watching them grow and be a part of it all just makes me the happiest Grandma ever!

They are ending 2016 with some time on the family farm in South Georgia!

I also found this sweet girl 

She has helped heal my heart! 

This year I also got more involved in my church.  Joining a Women's Bible study has strengthened me.  I've made new friends and that has filled my life also.

I don't make resolutions but do set some goals and here they are for 2017!

*Get the Clutter out of my Home!!

*Take better care of myself, which includes eating healthier and getting more exercise.  I'm not getting any younger!

*Take time to enjoy special moments with my Mom, my children and my grands!

*Blog more!

*Pray more!

*Enjoy Life More!!

I still choose JOY!

Happy New Year to all!

Linda 

I Made It!

I made it through Christmas Day! 

This head cold has now settled in my throat and as of this morning, no voice!

But yesterday, what a fun time we had!
It started like this!

And ended like this!

The in between was chaotic but fun!

So many gifts!

Scout got blankets and a 'cell phone' that is in her hand (it's blue).  She would put it down to open another gift then go find it!

Her Minnie Mouse Sofa
(and Cheetos, this girl loves them)

A new purse with hair brush and other fun things.  Dolls, books and so many fun things I can't remember them all!

Last year she was such a baby but this year she got right into it!

Tiger was so excited!  He loves 'Thunderbirds' a British TV series from the 60's that he and his Dad watch on Netflix or Amazon.  It is about the Tracy family and the International Rescue's they do. They live on Tracy Island and this toy on Amazon was selling for as high as $200 but my smart Son In Law watched it and this past summer scored it for $30. (I just checked Amazon and today it's selling for $130). It was the highlight of Tiger's Christmas.

 He already had many of the space ships, characters and other things so this was just the best gift.  He also got PJ's, video episodes of the series and more space ships!

I got him a globe and a beginners Atlas that he will enjoy.  He is very curious about the world and always wanting to know where something is.  He also got clothes, hiking boots, a hiking stick, books and a marble maze.

I know we gave them a lot this year but my soul cried out for big Christmas
 and so it was! 

We had a breakfast of pigs in a blanket

That was enjoyed by all!
After Breakfast I went home to rest!
The Grands played with toys and then Scout took a nap.

Sara prepared the best meal and my Mom and I returned to enjoy it with them.

As hard as this Christmas was in many ways, it was also filled with Joy, Love and Laughter.  I am so blessed with this amazing family.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda