New Job Search is On

Well it's official, I'm unemployed. The company I worked for is moving to Florida. The announcement came right before Labor Day and they closed December 19th. 
It's such a strange feeling  not to have to go in to the office. I'm not upset tho, nor am I sad about all this. I am trying to look at this as a start of another chapter in my life even tho it was unexpected. And another opportunity to grow and learn more in a new job.

First application sent this morning......whew.....glad that's over. 

What a horrid time of year to be looking for a job! 

But I'm trying to optimistic none the less.

Merry Chirstmas

Another Christmas is coming to an end. 

Lots of preparation

Lots of cleaning

Lots of cooking

Lots of company

But more wonderful memories and gratefulness for family and friends.

Wishing that all of you had a very Merry and Blessed Christmas Day.

Ukuleles

I was just walking in the door yesterday after work and my phone is ringing. I couldn't get it out of my pocket before it went to voice mail tho....don't you just hate that?!
Well, it was friend Susie and I called back right away and all I could hear was this music in the background. Couldn't figure out why I was hearing "When All the Saints Come Marching In".
So then the voice mail dings at me and I start to listen and it's the same song!
Before you know it, the dear calls me once more and AGAIN all I hear is that song.....
I decide to be patient and lo and behold it is my two dear friends, Susie & Chris singing and.....

Wait for it....

playing ukuleles

                 

Now you know why I love to go to see them.

Unexpected they are and a hoot to boot!

After a long day at work I needed the chuckle.

Comfort Foods = Yummy Casserole

Winter is officially here……early! We never even had Indian Summer!

Multiple layers of clothes in an attempt to stay warm

Winter coats, hats, gloves

Higher heating bills

However this is also the time of year for what I fondly call comfort foods. Things that sound perfectly awful in the summer when all I want to do is have something quick and get outside.

So hello to Chili, 

soup

and things that I actually cook instead of throwing on the grill

 and of course Yummy Casserole.

This recipe had a very generic name so I decided to rename it

 and since dear husband and I are always are saying Yummmm when we have it seemed logical to dub it 

"Yummy Casserole"

AND here's my dream kitchen where I would love to cook it!
Tho my kitchen is perfectly lovely I would love to have all this extra room!
And the stove....and the windows...and the fabulous island...and the lighting
And those plates in the glass cupboard!

Kaleidoscopes

I have a  fascination with kaleidoscopes.

 Friend Joanne bought one for me for my birthday years ago and it is a constant source of amusement for not only myself but for my grand kids as well.

Son and Kindle DIL also gave me  one that has pieces of glass to make the designs. There are two pieces that rotate to make the designs even more beautiful.

I'm so easily amused!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday....hands down.

There is no agenda

No presents

Just good food and better company

This is the day that gratitude overwhelms me for I am so blessed with amazing family, friends and a wonderful life.

Thank you for stopping in to read my blog.....you have no idea how much it means to me.

So Happy Thanksgiving......and please know how blessed I feel today knowing you are reading this.

I wish all an abundance of peace and happiness...



Disney Coffee Mug

Miss Heather showed up at work with this mug  after her trip to Disney World.

Utterly adorable!

Miltenberg, Germany

~~Miltenberg, Germany~~

I discovered a new city in Germany that is at the top of 

my "must go to" list if I get back to Europe again.

....oh my gosh......doesn't it look amazing.

 I discovered it on Pinterest of all places!

I traveled there yesterday via the internet. 

Cartwheels

I was visiting with dear friend Jeanne today and since it had been way too long since we had talked we covered alot of topics in a short time. She reminded me that about a year ago I tried to do a cartwheel. I was the cartwheel queen at one point of my life. I could even do cartwheels with a flip. 
I was good....really good. So why couldn't I do it now...of course I can.
So when everyone was gone one day I decided to practice in the house. There must have been a part of me that was worried I would fail since I didn't dare go in the back yard in front of all the neighbors. Anyway long story short.....my cartwheel skills are entirely gone. I couldn't do it ....at all.
I have to admit I was shocked at myself. 
In my head I was capable of the perfect cartwheel and the reality was quite different. 

You do know that I will probably have to try again.

Halloween House

Once again while I was "touring" the lovely homes in Mariemont, Ohio I saw this house and it was so darn cute that

 I wanted to share the photo with you.

All about vision.........and seeing beyond what others see!

Amy Woods Watercolor

I purchased another Amy Woods watercolor! 

I have been looking at this particular one for a while now and it just spoke to me. 

It came back up for sale so I hopped on it.

I just love Bunny. 

She is just a cute as a bugs ear....or maybe a bunny's ear!

Amy, don't forget what I told you about Bunny.....

amywoodswatercolors.com

Cold Weather....it's here!

I finally couldn't take it any longer so I  put the fleece sheets on the bed. It's only early October but I have been so cold already.
I am cold all the time...all year round...with the exception of a few months in the summer...if I have the wonderful opportunity to be outside.
If not, I freeze in air conditioning, and well of course, I freeze once the temperatures get to be a bit below my comfort level.
Kindle DIL took pity on me several years ago and bought me a fleece sheet set.....

Oh

My

Goodness

The bed is always warm and soft and beyond comfy. I think it was the best gift ever for me....well not true, she bought me an electric toothbrush once and I did cartwheels of joy! I love brushing my teeth and keeping them sprakley clean. 

And I never have woolly sweaters on my teeth when I wake up anymore! 

Fabulous right! 

I think I need the gray polka dot ones in the back.

The hunt begins!

Thomas Pumpkin Spice Bagels

About a year ago I discovered Thomas Pumpkin Spice Bagels. Oh My Goodness! 

What an enormous treat they are at this time of year. 

When the temperatures are cold and pumpkins and mums begin to appear on front porches 

When cooking once again starts to sound like a good idea because of cooler weather  

When thoughts of Thanksgiving begin to occupy my mind 

Lo and behold they appear in our grocery stores waiting for me to snatch a bag up and enjoy with morning coffee.

Tucker always got my last bit as a treat....bittersweet memory.

It was a Fiesta morning for me today.

My Puppy

My puppy of 14 1/2 years left me on September 16th. 

He was my boy, my secret keeper, and my buddy. I miss him every day...hour...minute.

Thank you for sharing your life with me Tucker.  

Put on you Big Girl Panties

 2014 has been a year of many changes for me. It’s difficult some days not to dwell on them since they aren’t what was expected. I am going to try and concentrate on the constants in my life instead of the changes ahead. I have found over the years that  changes have a way of not only working themselves out but sometimes aren’t as bad as they seem initially. However sometimes they are worse. 

I guess this is an opportunity to grow and accept what I can’t change.

It's time to put on my big girl panties and move forward with the inevitable flow!

Antique Store in Cologne Germany

Unfortunately the store was closed so all the pictures had to be taken 

thru the window glass.

I just stood there with this silly smile on my face!
I just loved every minute in Cologne.
And yes...the cathedral is  fabulous!

Morning Glory

I have this random Morning Glory plant growing right up thru the middle of my bushes in the front of my house. Now that it's poked thru the top it is starting to bloom.  

Dear husband doesn't really understand why I want to leave it but is working to live with this random flower

Rainy Day

Rain.....Lightening.....Thunder   

What a perfect day to be home. 

Snuggling with my hound dog, 

reading a book, 

and having that second cup of coffee.

Under a warm quilt of course. 

Off to work I go!
Great dream right!!

Inch Worm

Inch worm, Inch worm measuring the marigolds or in this case the purple cone flower.

This little guy showed up in a flower arrangement at the table where I was sitting!

Photo courtesy of Kindle D-I-L

Oreo Cake Balls

These are one of the best little desserts I have had in a very long time. 

So quick to make...

 and in my life that's critical. 

Delicious

Drool worthy

Wanna come over and make these with me????

Here is your link to this heavenly treat

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/oreo-cookie-balls-126799.aspx

Fiesta Ware Display & Anthropologie

No it’s not a wonderful display of Fiesta Ware in a store.

It’s my Kindle DIL house and the dishes she is accumulating.

It makes me feel like going shopping tho! And I never feel like shopping.

Want to see the Aqua plate in the back???

Scroll down.......

What a hoot right???

French Patisserie

On my trip I fell in love with French Patisseries.

 Really fell in love with them...how could you not? 

We were so fortunate to have 2, yes I said 2, pastry shops within 2 blocks of the hotel.

We would get up in the morning & just walk down the street to the most wonderful food.

 Pastries....sandwiches made to order....coffee

Then if you weren't full you could stop in at the fruit/vegetable store for more treats

Yep...that's what we did....

View From the Swing

 I love to sit on Miss Susie’s swing.

However the view is nothing in comparison to visiting with Miss Susie!

Bread in Germany

On my trip I fell in love with German bread. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had. It’s dense but not heavy. Some of us made sandwich’s in the morning and put them (Earlene’s idea) in our purses and had them later in the day. What a treat! Sometimes I had a sandwich for breakfast (which is something I never do at home). So the hunt was on when I got back for fabulous bread. I tried several different brands and nothing comes close to the deliciousness of what I had in Germany… but the 9 grain deli bread at Target is by far my favorite.

Next up….On my trip I fell in love with French Pastry Shops……

Sweet Peas

Out my side door

On my neighbors fence

Is this delightful sight.

I’m making excuses to go out the side door more often.

Just lovely.

Next year I simply have to plant some on my side of the fence!

Vintage Laundry Basket

My Kindle DIL discovered this vintage laundry basket at an estate sale.

So much for the perfect place to display your vintage quilts!

Rosie Cat always find the best place to sleep!

Wen Cleanser

Thoughtful Miss Heather gifted me with a container of Wen Cleanser for my birthday this year. I have been wanting to try it forever but it’s a little cost prohibitive for me. I really wanted it for my travels in May to tame the hair insanity I experience in humid weather.... well actually every day. Also as I speed toward old age my hair is less manageable…..and those are very kind words to explain my hair.

Moving on…..I wanted to have a good hair day every day while I was gone. Such vanity right?  Then I was treated to a lesson in humility when I burned out, literally, my flat iron on the 4^th day. It’s not like Paris has an Ulta store on the corner I could run to and replace it so I had to live with frizz & fluff  basically every day. Having the Wen Cleanser helped me get thru all of it tho. It tamed it to a degree and made it liveable….so many thanks for such a wonderful gift.

This is what I saw when I looked in the mirror each day.

Pearls

For a rather significant birthday  friend Celine gave me pearls. She said the day should be marked by something extraordinary…so pearls were in order.

So for several years now I have been the proud owner of the pearls in the picture below. I always thought that I never was dressed up enough to wear them. Business casual or jeans and pearls? How could I pull that off? I was told that of course I could wear them….with anything actually! So I have been wearing them more and more. At first I felt a bit “June Cleaver-ish” then I felt more “Julia Child-ish” then “Audrey Hepburn-ish”. In other words I got more comfortable wearing them.

I love them

I love how they look

I love how I feel when I wear them

But most of all I have always loved my dear friend (who I met in the 7^th grade) who felt I needed them.

Bracelet & earrings not shown!

Three Sisters in Evergreen, Colorado

Friend Susie and family just hiked at Three Sisters in Evergreen Colorado. 

I have hiked there once and can't wait to go back....hopefully soon.

Dear sister took me and it was wonderful, peaceful,relaxing, etc.

I think you get the picture!

Montreux, Switzerland

I wanted to share one of my pictures I took on my Europe trip. As I was getting ready to take this shot I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of what I was looking at I didn't give much thought to what the picture would look like. 

How could I ever capture how I felt at that moment.......

But that is exactly what I accomplished.

What an amazing day.

Goodbye Mom

This past week we said goodbye to my mom. It's the ending of a chapter in my life and a very strange and unsettling feeling to have both my parents gone now. Even tho I  have been the parent and my mom the child for a number of years now because of dementia she was still the person who took care of me, sacrificed for me and loved me unconditionally. 
I'll be sure that she lives on through me, my children and grandchildren. 
I loved you to the moon and back mom and always will.

                                            bye  mom…..i love you

Spring Bouquet

Chris on The Farm just sent me this picture of  loveliness from her flower garden!

I'm totally jealous.....

Europe

I am leaving for Europe tomorrow ( I know....lucky me!) and I know I will come 

back with a plethora ( just love this word) of ideas for new posts for the blog. 

Unfortunately I don't have a laptop to take with me so be patient 

and when I get past the jet lag I'll be back to posting again. 

I am so thankful for this chance to travel again..... 

and I know how blessed I am to have this opportunity.

We'll talk soon!

Germany

France

Switzerland

Austria

Czech Republic    

Wildflower--Lavender Mountain Lily

This is a picture from my dear son who is stationed in Afghanistan. 

How does something so lovely grow, much less thrive, in this cracked dry earth?

The power of nature is flippin' amazing!

Ixiolirion Tataricum

A variety of magnolia??