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

I'm Home!

Thank you all for the loving words of condolence.  They mean so much to me.  I will miss my brother

but he is always with me in my heart. 

 Your prayers were felt and gave me great strength.

I was able to fly home on Sunday.  I had a slight delay due to weather but got home safely.

I picked up Charlie yesterday and he has not left my side nor I his since getting home.

Today I will visit the Grands and see all the new Christmas toys. 

 I need some hugs from them and my daughter.  Speaking of daughters...I was so happy to know that Ashleigh was on her way to me last Wed when my brother passed away.  She stayed with me until Christmas day.  I went to visit family in Houston and she flew to So. Ga. to visit family.  She will be here tomorrow.  We decided to have a special meal on Christmas Eve and went to an awesome restaurant in Huntsville, TX

The Homestead on 19th.  It is a cabin built in 1834 and has quite a history.  We enjoyed the rustic setting combined with fine dining.  We both had steak and it was wonderful.

We decided to celebrate with Champagne.  We toasted to my brother Richard, to being strong and to life.  My daughter made the evening wonderful.

As we left (after an awesome desert and coffee) the house next door looked like this!

Oh my goodness!  It was fun to see.  They had a sign out front that they were a finalist in a Christmas light contest.  Tiger and Scout would have loved it! 

I will be resting and enjoying family this week.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

I'll Fly Away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

Some bright morning when this life is over, I'll fly away
To a land on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have grown, I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then, I'll fly away
To a land where joy will never end, I'll fly away

I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away
When I die, hallellujah by and by, I'll fly away

Today my brother flew away...

I hope he has found the peace that he never found in this life.

We love him and he will always be a part of our hearts.  

A Trip To Texas

This has been a rough week! 

First Charlie getting sick and thank goodness he is better

and now...

I am flying to Texas tomorrow because my brother is seriously ill.  If you remember several years ago he was not expected to live but a few more months.  Well he beat those odds and has done well until lately.  I got a call this morning that he is in the hospital and I need to go.  I am the one who makes his medical decisions when he can't.  My Mom wants to go but at 85 and with her health issues traveling isn't always easy.  She has decided to stay here and let me go and take care of things. 

I am honestly not sure what will happen, but we are probably going to be calling hospice.  

I ask for prayers and good thoughts for my brother Richard 

I ask for strength and peace for myself

Charlie is doing well and I am so thankful but he will be going to board at the Vets and they will watch him and administer his meds.  It is so hard to leave him right now, but I must.  

Since I am flying out tomorrow, my daughter brought the Grands over so I could see them before I go.  I decided to give them their Christmas presents!  Tiger was thrilled with his light saber and star wars legos!  Scout got some hairbows and a car that played music.  She loved it! 

Sara took these photos!  I know they will have a wonderful Christmas and they are visiting the other Grandparents in So. Ga. next week!

I will post updates on Facebook and here when I can.  

Linda

Let's Party

Last week was a fun party week!

It started with our annual Atlanta bloggers luncheon.  Sue of Rue Mouffetard was our amazing hostess.  Her home was decorated to the nine's!

Love her tree

Some of her nutcracker collection

The tables were decorated in such a fun way!

 I love how she used a quilt as the table cloth

Each place setting had a sweet journal and a towel sitting on a plate.  Now Sue has a great collection of state souvenir plates.  We had to find our birth state to find our place at the table (such a cute idea). 

This was Joyce's place.  NYC! 

My Texas plate!  We also got to take home our plate!  

Such a clever place card! 

 Of course no get together is complete without food!

Sue cooked the lunch 

and the rest of us brought something to share!

Our hostess SUE!!

After appetizers we exchanged gifts!

So many cute things were received by all!

These are my fun gifts! 

One of the guests and a neighbor of Sue's is an artist and she gave each of us a tile with one of her artworks on it. 

I love it!   Her name is Maureen Kerstein and she is listed in the Artful Home catalog and on line here.

I took bags of 'junk' to share!  I was downsizing some things (all of it good mind you) and thought instead of buying some little something for everyone I could give them a good bag of stuff.  So I did.  

They loved it! 

Each bag was different and random and so they just picked one and opened it.  So much fun!

Surprise I said!   Now we may make this a new tradition with everyone bringing a bag of good stuff and doing a fun gift game! 

We then had some fun playing BINGO with prizes!

Ladies can get quite cutthroat I might add!  It was all in good fun and I even won one game!

Now on to the main course!

Oh my!

Great food, great friends!

I brought a few of these home!  So good!

I made Tiger fudge!

I love Sue's little Red VW cookie jar! 

Thank you Sue for such a fun time!

Many of you follow me on FB or Instagram and know that yesterday I had a big scare with Charlie Kitty.  He had a seizure and I thought this was it.  I rushed him to the Vet and she examined him and thought he was doing OK.  We decided to give him fluids and some meds and see how he did.  Well he is back to his old self today.  I appreciate all the prayers and good thoughts for Charlie.  At 17 I know we don't a lot of time left together, but looks like he isn't quite ready to cross the rainbow bridge.

Wishing you JOY,

Linda