Wow, I really need to blog more! My life has been extremely hectic but it seems that things are finally coming together. We just purchased a new home and once we get moved at the end of March I hope to have more time to blog 2-3 times a week and work up to daily even! Mom has been doing well, I thank God that she seems to be enjoying the little things in life right now. She is loving on the great grandbabies and its fun to see her be more interactive with them--maybe the Alzheimer's progression has slowed some for now?
I can't wait to post pics of the new house. It's in an established and very large subdivision which will be great for long walks in the evening and a children's daycare I have been dreaming of! 3 bedroom, 2 bath, beautiful fireplace (which we will never use, but it looks pretty anyway!), fenced rear yard with play equipment...I love it, can you tell???
Just put all my etsy items at a substantial discount in an effort to sell them instead of moving them...check out my site www.divarocks.etsy.com
If you stumble upon this blog I hope you have a blessed week!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
PAY IT FORWARD
I am a big believer in helping yourself by helping others, so when I discovered the social shopping site THISNEXT I thought it was the perfect way to not only highlight my hand crafted items but those of others I like as well. If you haven't checked out this website please do, I think you'll find it as fun and easy to do as I have. I am always in search of great products I want to buy for myself, my family, or my grandaughters and this is one way to keep a list all together in just one place. No more researching for several hours trying to figure out just where I saw that cute little something something at, anymore!
Pink Penny lil Hoot by ManicMuffinTotes on Etsy
What a hoot! (Pun intended) Owls are so big right now and the attention to detail on this and her other items really make these stand out!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Grammas House
I had chose the title At Gramma's House with the babies in mind. I want Gramma's house to always be a fun place to visit with lots of unique and fun things to do. I am taking my que from my daughter's step-grandma. Her name is Margaret and she was an awesome friend and mother in law as well. She taught me how to quilt, how to dye easter eggs using onion skins, and also how to bake pies--that year we made 13 for our Christmas dinner, we were having so much fun we just kept going and going and going. She always gave us the most unique gifts, like the "hers and hers" antique monogrammed pillowcases she gave my then middle school aged daughter. She simply stated she was too young to have a his and hers, and we all laughed at her cleverness. Anyway, I lost Margaret in a divorce 8 years ago, I would have negotiated her in the divorce contract, but I thought her son probably needed her more than I, so I gave in. I actually really only lost her when she moved to Virginia a couple years ago, I hate to travel and therefore I doubt I will ever see her again, but she will always hold a special place in my heart.
Anyway, today I was thinking about how Gramma's house is for sale and who knows what our next house will even look like--could be an apartment over the shop until we find just the right place. You would think finding a house would be easy, I think statistically in Fort Wayne 3 out of every 10 homes are currently vacant, but alas we go in search every weekend and nothing feels like "home". I find it very sad to walk into a home that someone once loved, only to see it in total disrepair simply out of frustration of the previous owner losing it in a foreclosure. I can't tell you the number of times we have searched the internet, thought we found a great home that is well decorated and obviously happily lived in, only to arrive to a now foreclosed property that has been totally trashed by an angry individual. It saddens me to see doors torn off hinges, holes knocked in the walls, and God only knows what has caused the stains on all the carpets. Some of the houses, well most of the houses, I have to hide my nose in the neck of my shirt because the smell is so bad. And we aren't looking at bottom of the barrel priced homes either!
Last week we found a gem, the owner is still living there but we learned on our way there he is about to lose it. He is the last on our list so we play tag with his Realtor, first he can show it only after 2 (we asked for a morning appointment), then he can't show it at all, two hours later he guesses he will let us come thru in the afternoon...When we arrive on time, we are met at the door by a female informing us he is still in the shower and we should wait in our vehicle until they are gone. (Indiana in the wintertime, very cold, snow on the ground, snowing now, did I mention very cold?)
When we can finally enter, the first thing that catches my eye is an imprint of someone's fist in the drywall next to the front door--nice. Keep in mind the house is only 6 years old. Next, is the kitchen where we see at least 75 very large Vodka bottles on display--maybe the reason he can't afford his mortgage payments? A knee sized hole in the laundry room and 6 or 7 other fist holes in various rooms thru out the home. Somehow I felt better when I saw the large hole in his king sized tv, I thought well at least it isn't just the house he delves his anger on. This one is off the list simply because we could never trust the depth of his anger when the sheriff serves him his final papers.
What was suppose to be a fun adventure in finding our new home together has turned into more of an unwanted chore I am afraid. Our realtor wanted to take us back out next week, and I have decided to wait, three weeks in a row is just too much and I am actually looking forward to a trip to Cabella's instead!
Anyway, today I was thinking about how Gramma's house is for sale and who knows what our next house will even look like--could be an apartment over the shop until we find just the right place. You would think finding a house would be easy, I think statistically in Fort Wayne 3 out of every 10 homes are currently vacant, but alas we go in search every weekend and nothing feels like "home". I find it very sad to walk into a home that someone once loved, only to see it in total disrepair simply out of frustration of the previous owner losing it in a foreclosure. I can't tell you the number of times we have searched the internet, thought we found a great home that is well decorated and obviously happily lived in, only to arrive to a now foreclosed property that has been totally trashed by an angry individual. It saddens me to see doors torn off hinges, holes knocked in the walls, and God only knows what has caused the stains on all the carpets. Some of the houses, well most of the houses, I have to hide my nose in the neck of my shirt because the smell is so bad. And we aren't looking at bottom of the barrel priced homes either!
Last week we found a gem, the owner is still living there but we learned on our way there he is about to lose it. He is the last on our list so we play tag with his Realtor, first he can show it only after 2 (we asked for a morning appointment), then he can't show it at all, two hours later he guesses he will let us come thru in the afternoon...When we arrive on time, we are met at the door by a female informing us he is still in the shower and we should wait in our vehicle until they are gone. (Indiana in the wintertime, very cold, snow on the ground, snowing now, did I mention very cold?)
When we can finally enter, the first thing that catches my eye is an imprint of someone's fist in the drywall next to the front door--nice. Keep in mind the house is only 6 years old. Next, is the kitchen where we see at least 75 very large Vodka bottles on display--maybe the reason he can't afford his mortgage payments? A knee sized hole in the laundry room and 6 or 7 other fist holes in various rooms thru out the home. Somehow I felt better when I saw the large hole in his king sized tv, I thought well at least it isn't just the house he delves his anger on. This one is off the list simply because we could never trust the depth of his anger when the sheriff serves him his final papers.
What was suppose to be a fun adventure in finding our new home together has turned into more of an unwanted chore I am afraid. Our realtor wanted to take us back out next week, and I have decided to wait, three weeks in a row is just too much and I am actually looking forward to a trip to Cabella's instead!
Friday, January 1, 2010
In 2010
I really don't believe in New Year's Resolutions but I like to spend time reflecting this time of year on the past year and visualize positive changes for the new year.
- I guess I should start with the fact that 2009 wasn't a great year for a career--in fact, it's the first year in my life that I hadn't been employed at all! Commission sales and a poor economy do not mix. This year I hope to find something that I can rely on for a steady and good income, whether it involve my art or a career in or outside my home.
- Learning mom truly has Alzheimers and that she is getting worse--I hope we will have many more years with her where she is coherent enough to accept our love and be able to watch the babies grow. I want this year to be a year of mending hurt feelings, a time for forgiveness, patience, and understanding.
- Getting married--This year I am marrying Lowell, poor guy lol.
- Carsyn and Lydia--The best thing that happened in 2009, being a grandmother is such a blessing and I look forward to watching those babies grow this year and what fun that will be!
- Crafting and Art--Hopefully I will find a way to make it profitable in 2010! I never really liked the term starving artist but I sure understand it.
- Let me be a better person in 2010, I am not perfect by any means but please God help me to help others and be a better friend, mate, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister to all those that I love.
- Is there any hope for procrastination?
- No pun intended for the above question, but I will add to this list at a later date or dates...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
What Is It?
Making cookies for Lowell this year reminded me of when I was a little girl and all of the pretend recipes I put together by the age of five. My mom would pull out a pink and white mixing bowl and let me create my own special recipes using whatever ingredients I could find in the cupboard or fridge. I would mix eggs, ketsup, mustard, flour, etc. until it became too disgusting to look at, or too hard to stir. She would always ask "What is it?" and I would have fun making up an answer for her. This was our little secret, because my dad would have had a fit knowing food was going to waste.
By the time I was in the third grade I was responsible for making most of our meals. Frying pork chops, making meatloafs, baking roasts, etc. So cooking became more of a chore to me than doing something fun. I am going to try and change that mentality this year, enjoy a few new recipe books and get a little more creative in the kitchen.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Last Minute Presents for Holiday Cheer
This past summer I started these cute little name blocks for both my grandaughters. Today I put the finishing acrylic spray on them so I can get them wrapped and under the tree. Those who don't know me would say it's ironic that the first items I made would be one of the last items I complete to put under the tree. Those who do would say, "Oh no, she's always been a procrastinator!"
I can't help but feel its a good omen that something I completed out of the love I have for my grandaughters has developed into a business for this other wise unemployed gramma as well!
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