Happy Turkey Day

It's not a Tradition to go round the table and saying what you are grateful for at my MIL's, (which is where we will be today) so I thought I'd post it here.

First I'm thankful to live in a country where I am free to worship, live, and pursue my dreams whatever they are. I'm thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints. I'm grateful for the scriptures which bring peace and comfort to my heart and soul and that I live where I can read them openly.

Next I'm thankful for this time with my beloved Frog. I know that the only reason he is alive now is because I've been home with him these last 2 years. It was brought home in a big way just the other day up at the hospital.

Third, I'm thankful for my family and friends, who support me in ways big and small to be able to do #2 on my list. What a blessing and support system they all are for me. I'm thankful I have a group of neighbours who call the minute the ambulance turns into our street to see what they can do to help us.

Fourth I'm thankful for my home, which shelters me from storm, wind and rain. I love my little cottage at the bottom of the mountain, weeds, dings and all. (I'd love it even more if were actually clean but that's a different post.)

Then I'm thankful for my talents whichI take for granted sometimes, but that I've been able to share with friends and family this month. I'm also grateful for their talents, and the ways they share them to bless my life.

Next I'm thankful for the opportunity to make my voice heard to the leaders of my country by my power to vote them out of office. To let them know if I'm not satisfied by the job they are doing and to give them a pat by the power of one vote.

And finally I'm thankful that I know what a precious gift that this life is...that I've learned to laugh thru tears and sorrow, to live in the moment.

Starbucks

What is a non-coffee drinking girl doing in Starbucks you may ask? What can she drink? What can she afford?

Well One...there's a Starbucks right inside the door of the new Target. So it isn't like I made a special trip.

Two...... I thought it might help my cold.

Three....I ordered the large which is really the small.

Four.....it tastes heavenly and did soothe my throat.

I was introduced to my new favourite drink a few weeks ago at my friend T's house. Now I'm addicted. I tried making it at home like she did but it doesn't taste the same without the clear caramel syrup.

So like a sheep I stand there and wait for the barista to fufill my dreams

Caramel Apple Cider mmmmmmmmm good!

and Away She Goes!!!

I really thought I'd make it through without getting my annual case of Laryingitius. I was wrong.
I've been squeaky and whispering since Thursday making all kinds of goofy and funny sounds. This is the 4th year in a row. I really thought I had it made when I got through October without even getting a cold.
I was wrong.
It struck with just a bit of a tickle, then horrible hacking and finally when I started to feel better ......no voice.
Go figure

Goodbye True Value, Goodbye

After almost 26 years my Aunt and Uncle decided to sell the True Value store. This is the original newspaper photo from the Grand Opening announcement in the Green Sheet of Daddy and Uncle Gaylen in 1981.

We had a Surprise Retirement party for them on Saturday night. It was a BIG Surprise!! They had no idea at all and thought they were stopping in at a reception after dining out with their friends. It was so fun to see the look on their faces when they saw that Gary & Jen had flown in from Indiana, and Steve and Lorell had come from Texas just for them.

I'm so glad that Roo & Sarah along with Mike & Di, decided not to just let it close with a fizzle but went all out with a BANG!!

They invited all the current employees from both stores and all the past employees that had worked there longer than a year along with the family. All in all I think Sarah said she sent out more than 150 invitations. So many people showed up it was great to catch up and reminense with some simple refreshments.

I've spent almost 13 years of my life working at that store. The first four years it ws open and then most of the 90's. It has changed alot over the years but one thing always remained the same...... "Help WAS just Around the Corner". You can't get that at the big stores like Home Depot and Lowe's. You have to walk miles and then buy whole packages when you only need 2 nuts and 2 bolts, if you still had trouble you just called and someone would stop by on the way home from work.

All the paint for all 4 of our homes came from "the Store" and so did the help in getting them painted.

All the assorted nuts, bolts, light bulbs, screws, joint compound, sandpaper, wood filler, stain, nails, electrical tape, extension cords, Christmas tree lights, glue, vacumn belts, craft paint, brushes, hammers, saws and screwdrivers we own came from True Value. So did the fabric for most of the curtains and the sofa we sit on, the rods that hold them up, the garage door opener, the sprinkler system and numerous other things.

Goodbye Dutch Oven Day

Goodbye Lawn Tractor Races

Goodbye Craft the Nite Away

Goodbye Hello My Friend what are you here for? How've you been? Back Up on the Til

Farewell Drippy Ceiling, too Hot, too Cold, key machine buzz, Speed sweeping races and as Matt reminded me the other night "Monkey Butt up there and toss me some paint"

There's a Hardware store on the corner but it will never be the same.

What to Do? What to Do?

So there we were up at the hospital again and it was SNOWING!!
I am so not ready for winter or anything like it.
I figured out that I have about 6 weeks til Christmas and that doesn't sound fun either....So not looking forward to it this year.
Twenty Seven years on December 27.
Christmas Eve he will be 49.
the Frog was so dehydrated today that they had to give him an IV before they could find a decent vein to do his blood work. He's been bruising so easy now too because of it, but he's sleeping anywhere from 15 to 20 hours a day...how can I make him drink more? I think we may have to do something more drastic soon if this keeps up. He's lost another 5 pounds so he's now all of 112. No wonder his tummy is concave and his hip bones are sticking out.... yesterday all he ate was applesauce and a couple of corndogs. Today some rice and beans and a couple glasses of milk.
I hate that he's fading faster. I think it was easier to deal with the progression than to see this slipping everyday a bit more. One of those so close to the problem you don't see it til you get away for a bit...you could fool yourself into thinking you were making a difference. Not anymore. Sometimes I think if we could just get even one of the pressure sores to heal he'd do better. I don't see it happening though. I'm guessing our next trip he'll be admitted with another raging UTI.
This is a depressing mood... Sorry just sounding off.

Just us Girls

Don't you totally love a " Girls night out"? I swear lately I just live for them. Big Beautiful studio downstairs to work in but I adore getting together with my Buds to play and be creative.
Last Night ( tonite) it was at Memory Preserve in my favourite take out of town visitors to spot...Gardner Village. Unloaded the car then made a leisurely trip to Sweet Aftons for fabulishous Fudge to share and scrapped the night away. Well til they closed at midnite anyway. Got some cute Chloe pic's and She got her Very First Secret Santa gift!! So cute and so Chole!
She is so spoiled.
I of course talked the night away and accomplished all of 8 cards and one half of 1 LO. But I had a ball!! it was my to me, myself and I gift for getting back into the pool and getting some exercise. Best of all I get to do it again next week at another Official Croppin' With Chloe store!

Chloe's so cool

So since she was begging me so much I gave in and got Chloe her own email address. It's sort of funny, she got a letter from Em already. I found some super cute pawprint background paper for her staionary and she has her own kids home page bcause I put in her actual birthday.
She's so spoiled! She got new clothes because of the new catalogue that came in the mail yesterday. Next she'll want her own blog. which might be sort of fun. But in the meantime if you want to contact Chloe her email is ChloeAzalea@msn.com