Saturday, February 26, 2011

The Best of Intentions

This is what we woke up to yesterday morning:


I definitely was not "enchanted" to see this.  Ugh!  That meant another mess to shovel on top of the ice that we were trying to chisel off from earlier in the week.  We need only a half inch of snow to break the record for the most snow in February in our town.  Hopefully we won't break it.  Bring on spring!

Anyway, this is a project that I have seen elsewhere on the internet and thought that I would try it:


I found this frame at T.J. Maxx and thought, "That will look good as a menu board for my kitchen."  So I took it home, framed some scrapbook paper and got the dry erase board markers I had on hand and wrote out my menu plan for the week.  Look good, huh? ;-)  Well, this is how it really worked out:

Since my son wanted a friend to spend the night during his break, I thought we would take them out to eat as a treat.  I thought this said friend was spending the night Monday night.  That changed to Sunday night.  As we were in the thick of an ice storm, I wound up driving around the corner to our nearest fast food joint and getting it to go. (What moms won't do for their "little" boys, right?)  So that meant leftovers on Monday.  Which worked for me.  Tuesday we did have pork chops and stuffing, but no mashed potatoes.  I made carrots in place of them.  Wednesday turned out to be a very hectic day for me, so since I had bible study that night and was running around like a chicken with it's head cut off (not a good picture, but that is something my mom would say) I put frozen pizza in the oven.  Easy, peasy.

Since we did not have really anything in the way of leftovers, I made spaghetti on Thursday and yesterday I put a roast in the crock pot.  So that means we have a ton of leftovers, which will be on tonights menu.  Got it?

So, I had the best of intentions with my weekly menu plan.  But it fizzled.  So now I think that I will turn this frame into a message board.  What do you think?

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Enough Winter Already

Now that I have posted several days of winter photos and stories, I'm ready to think about warmer, balmier weather.  And more sunshine.  You know something like this:


Aaaah!  Warm salty breezes, walking on white sandy beaches with the waves lapping at your feet.  Memories. *sigh*

But today I am also thinking about this:


This is a scrapbook layout I did last week with some pictures I ran across.  These are pictures of when my son was *sob* around two or three.  He is now about four times the size than he is in these pics.

I used what was in my stash.  I vowed I would do that this year.  But, I broke that vow the other day by ordering some October Afternoon products. (Shhhh, don't tell hubby that.) ;-)


I know I am a wienie when it comes to my son, but I just wanted to cry when I looked at this picture.  I remember the "Snoopy" swim trunks my mom bought him.  And those little toes.  And his shock of bright, blonde hair.  And that sweet smile.  I can even hear his squealing laughter and his little voice.  Like I said, I'm a wienie.  And I'm not afraid to admit it.

Here is another look at this layout:


Think warm thoughts today and thanks for looking in! :-)

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Enchantment


At dawn this morning, hubby woke me up out of a dead sleep and exclaimed, "Get up!  You really need to get some pictures of the scenery outside!  It's beautiful the way the sun is hitting the trees!"  I'm all bleary-eyed and am thinking, "Really?  Really!  My only day this week that I get to sleep in till noon because our son is off school and I am not on a schedule and YOU want me to take pictures of trees?!".  So I go, "Okay".  I get up, put on my robe and my hubby's boots that are four sizes too big on me, grab my camera, walk on the deck and snap away.  Brrrrrr.  The cold air hit me like a ton of bricks, but I still cannot get awake without a cup of coffee.;-)  I will say that I was enchanted by the scenery like hubby was, but pictures just cannot do it justice.  I know that I should have set up the aperture and shutter speed and all that good stuff, but I was only conscience enough to use all auto settings.  So I hope you enjoy the scenery as much as we did.



And I am still enchanted by this guy.  Even if he did wake me up out of a dead sleep and has a serious case of bedhead.;-)

No, he doesn't wear a lamp on his head.  Although I'm sure he probably has back in the day.  He was acting very quickly and hid behind the lampshade just as I snapped the camera. Darn!

Thank you for all the kind words regarding our health, especially hubby's.  He seemed to be doing so well this morning and afternoon.  But by this evening, I was wondering if I was going to have to take him to the Urgent Care Clinic.  His fever spiked again and he felt like complete crud.  He took an extra antibiotic and drank a ton of cold beverages over the course of the evening and napped.  His fever was down and he seemed to be feeling better before going to bed.  I think we will be back to the dr. tomorrow. Ugh!  I pray my mom doesn't get this bug.  I brought her over today to see our new kitchen.  Hubby stayed in the other room and she was only over here for a short time.  Keeping my fingers crossed.....

Hope everyone else stays well.  Have a good night!




Monday, February 21, 2011

Ice, Ice Baby!


This is what we woke up to.  Four inches of new snow with a layer of about a half-inch of ice on top.  In a word, "Yuck!".  After the mild weather we had the last week (temps in the 50 degree F. range), we were not too pleased with seeing this last storm blow through.  Especially those that lost power.  The weatherman is saying another three inches tonight and another system moving in later this week and then yet another on Sunday.  Can someone send Spring here?  I'm trying to be positive and say that it sure beats looking out at brown everywhere.  But I'm ready for Spring.  Bring it on!

Anyway, I was going to post pics of my new kitchen.  But the flu is keeping it's grip on my house.  Had to take hubby to the doctor this morning.  He needs to go to an ear, nose and throat doctor next.  He woke up in the middle of the night last night shivering like crazy and he was running a fever.  He has an infection in his middle ear that a specialist needs to clear up. (I won't go into details).  That, and I have a few finishing touches that I want to put in my new kitchen.  Then I will be ready for the "Big Reveal".  It will be real soon, I promise! :-)

Here are a couple of more pics of what Old Man Winter left us last night.


Hope everyone has a restful evening and stay warm!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Sunday Inspiration


"Hear! Hear!" screamed the jay from a neighboring tree, where I had heard a tittering for some time, "Winter has a concentrated and nutty kernel, if you know where to look for it."

Henry David Thoreau


Sunday, February 13, 2011

Sunday Inspiration


I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me.  Love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person.  Love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of.  Love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak in the knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.

Unknown

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Saturday, February 5, 2011

A Kitchen Re-Do Update

I promised an update on my kitchen.  I was really hoping I could post my "Big Reveal" by now, but as with most remodeling projects, there will always be delays.  So this is what I can show you so far...


I was so excited when this truck pulled into my driveway.  It was hauling my new cabinets!  Yay!

And here are some pics with the new cabinets up on the walls.



Well, that's about all.  Aren't they pretty, though?  I LOVE them.  They were supposed to install our new countertops yesterday.  But because of the nasty weather we've been getting lately, those have been delayed until next week.  Then our contractor has to install our sink and dishwasher and a few finishing touches here and there.  Then, I can have my big reveal.

This is one project that has tried our patience in more ways than one.  Not just delays and things not working out the way you thought they would.  But in the midst of this, the cold/flu hit our household.  It really kicked me in the backside.  What's weird is I could feel like complete crud one day, then feel better the next, then go right back to feeling like crud.  And I have had a lingering cough that is driving me crazy.  But this virus has been going around for a few weeks.  I'm hoping I can put it behind me along with this project by sometime next week.  Then I can tackle the messes that is in every room of my home.

Thanks for looking in!  Until next time....