Looking Back at 2017

January found me downsizing again and doing a pretty good job of it.  I also started gathering supplies to start watercolor classes!

The craft room continues to be an ongoing project for January 2018!

February was hard.  I got sick with a cold/flu and didn't seem to be able to get better.  I did find some time to start watercolor classes online and found a new passion.

March seemed all about watercolors but I did stop in a few thrift shops and found a little favorite to share

This adorable nativity which joined the others for Christmas this year. 

April is Birthday month around here.  Both Tiger and Scout were born in April.

They turned two and six!  It's been a great year with them and boy have then grown since then!

May was super busy with a church rummage sale which I helped set up and run.  

As I continued my downsizing I donated many vintage items to the sale.  It was a fun but exhausting week and much was sold.

Annie Belle and I became closer and she helped ease the pain of missing Charlie!

June brought a birthday which I tried to ignore this year and more watercolor.

Started to see real improvement in my paintings.  I also continued my downsizing as I realized I no longer wanted to decorate for every holiday!

July was a fun month as I was able to plan a little trip to the mountains with my friend Carter.  It was my Birthday trip so I indulged and bought myself a few presents...vintage of course.

All Pink!  This was also the month that started my health issues.

I ended up in the ER with awful pains in my lower quadrant and was afraid I had pancreatitis.  It wasn't and so I was sent home.  The pain has come and gone since then and I've been having lots of tests and Dr's appointments trying to figure out the cause of this. Answers soon I think! 

August wasn't a very good month.  Hurricanes, floods, racial violence and I lost my beloved mother in law. 

She was a great lady and is missed by all. 

September found me blogging only once.  It just seemed a busy month with nothing much to say.  My health issues were starting again and I had lots to deal with. 

October and results from my MRI were pretty good.  No stones or masses.  Additional tests scheduled and the discomfort and pain persisted.  I made some dietary changes which helped a little.  Still life goes on.

These two kept me smiling! 

November and another month where I only posted once.  

More tests ruled out cancer and other bad things.  Still no diagnosis but an appointment with my Dr cleared me to take the trip to Texas at Thanksgiving with my Mom.

December!  A month to relax and enjoy the holidays and family.  I downsized more Christmas decorations and it made me feel so good.

I did not get a cold or the flu and was able to enjoy church activities, family fun and a visit from daughter #1.  The Grands were so excited this year about Christmas.  I was truly blessed! 

I find that I'm happy to say goodbye to 2017.  Not the worst year of my life but not a good one either.  Health issues were my main focus for the 2nd half of the year and I'm ready for some answers and solutions to this pain and discomfort.  I've been so thankful for my blog friends this year.  You stayed with me and encouraged me to keep blogging even when weeks would go by and I felt like I had nothing to say.  It's amazing the friendships we've made without ever meeting in person!

I don't make resolutions but I do set some goals.  I'll share that with you in my next blog post! 

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 

Goodbye 2015

2015 was a year of mixed emotions for me.

The birth of my second grandchild was such a joyous occasion...we are all in love with her!

Watching her grow and seeing her with her big brother brought many smiles this year.

Having my Mom living here is wonderful.  We've had a few ups and down's with her health, but she is doing really well right now.  I am so blessed to have her close by to share in my life.

This year found me downsizing more and more.  Of course I found some new things to collect!

I fell even more in love with McCoy pottery and was able to add several pieces to my collection.

I also tried some art projects 

and did some pocket letter swaps!  

I also continued to thrift shop and will do a post soon with my favorite finds of 2015.

So much JOY was tempered by the illness and passing away of my brother on Dec 23rd.  It was such a difficult time that I have not recovered from it yet.  It takes awhile to get your energy back and I don't think I'm done with the mourning process.   My Mom is doing pretty well but it doesn't take much for either of us to cry. 

His smile and that twinkle in his eye will always be in my heart!

I had some amazing times with my crazy group of friends this year.

The 'come as your favorite Barbie doll' party

Our trip to the Biltmore Estate to see the Downton Abbey costume exhibit was so much fun

Including our crazy shenanigans wherever we go!

Our Christmas party this year was full of good cheer and great food.  Friendship means so much!

Of course my Grands are the light of my life!

Having two just made my heart grow larger!

The laughter this little guy brings into my life is always so much fun!  Lots of hugs and kisses also!

Watching this little one grow and learn so much has been a wonderful adventure!

I can't wait to see what the new year brings with these two loves in my life! 

I also am so happy to have had special time with both of my daughters this year.

Sara is a wonderful Mom and takes such amazing care of Tiger and Scout.  She also works full time and makes sure she is there for me when I need her.

I love Sara, Blake, Tiger and Rosemary Scout so very much!

I was able to see Ashleigh several times this year.

I am always happy to have time with her and this year she made a special trip to Texas to be with me when my brother passed away.  

Her presence, love and support helped me deal with all of it. 

Of course I can't forget Charlie Kitty.

He turned 17 and age has started to really take its toll on him.  He gave me a scare a few weeks ago but seems to be OK.  I treasure every day I have with this sweet guy.

So much Joy and Sadness this year.

I am looking forward to 2016 and hoping it brings only good things! 

Linda

Junkin Awards 2013

What better way to start the new year then to look back and give my annual Junkin Awards!

This was a year of more re-thrifting then buying, but of course,

 I did get some great finds this year!

I usually start with my favorite Pyrex find, but I did not buy any Pyrex this year.  I already have so much and so nothing just grabbed me this year! 

Favorite Find in White

This wonderful little table was bought at the WLYS from my friends Kathy & Jeff

It is one of my bedside tables and I love it!

Favorite Find in Red

I've been collecting these small pieces of pottery in this amazing red glaze and this year added this adorable ball mini pitcher

Favorite Find in Blue

This $1 find made me so happy!  I love this color of Blue and I have a few of these jars but this one is a new size and it has the lid!!

Favorite Find in Green

This green pottery 'elf' shoe was such a fun find and for $1 just made me so happy!  I added my own little kneehugger elf at Christmas and it was just perfect!

Favorite Find in Pink

Usually a hard category to choose just one for, but this year these Hazel Atlas bowls were hands down winners.  I use them and love them so much!

Favorite WLYS find

My friend Kathy made this pillow to sell in her booth at the WLYS,

 but once I saw it, it was mine!

Favorite Christmas Find

Love these little Scottie mugs and used them all through December!

Favorite Find for Tiger

Made a great score on some clothes and

  books were my best finds for Tiger this year!

Favorite Find in Plates

Found all these plates and they were 1/2 price! 

These Poppy Metlock dishes were my fall plates this year!

Favorite Find in Paris

A new 'category' this year and probably the only time I can really say, I found this at a flea market in Paris...this Quimper Bowl is a wonderful memento of my great trip to Paris in Sept.

So those are my favorite junkin finds in 2013!

I can't wait to see what 2014 brings! 

Thanks to all of you who follow me and junk along with me!  

Wishing you all a very 

Happy New Year! 

Linda