Busy, busy bee.....

So much going on this winter. Seems like the days pass as quickly as they begin. Sometimes I get frustrated because I have so many things to do, I don't know what to do next. I've been trying to stay focused on homeschooling and family, but I've also managed to do a few other things after spending two full weeks of this month sick. I'm going to show some pictures of a doll I made for Anna and a friend of hers for Christmas. Yes I did make these in Dec., but they were so cute, I didn't want to forget them and thought posting a picture would be a good way to always remember. Also, perhaps someone else will see and be inspired. She's a "flip-flop doll". I found the idea in Gooseberry Patch Christmas book #10. Anna thinks she is just the best. Also I've been doing some knitting, (with a little help from my friends) and I've got a new quilt on the machine downstairs. I've decided to make my four children each a quilt this year, so I have to get started on that now! Also I'm getting ready to my spin my first two ply yarn. I've spun two spindles of yarn and now I will reverse the wheel and spin them together to make a nice two ply. It is the coolest thing, that spinning wheel. Can't wait to get it all done! Better go get busy at doing something now...the clock is ticking.

Passing on the smiles

OK so I got evrything posted alright (I think!), so now I'm supposed to give it to 8 deserving people. I am so bummed because I'm so new to blogging I don't know 8 people at all! The few I do know already have the award and they definitely deserve it. I will hand it to one deserving fellow however, and that is my sweet hubby at Artworks & Gift Gallery.

Hey I got an award from my good friend Cindy

Cindy at Lovie's Cotton Candy gave me this award and boy was I suprised! I was even more suprised that I could actually download and post it!! Well, you just never know what you can do till you try! Thanks Cindy!!

"'This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are extremely charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award.'"

Snow at Last!

It snowed for a full day, which here in TN is alot! Although it snowed all day..it only added up to about 3 inches or so. Not much to some folks, but it may as well have been a blizzard to us!

It was just enough to make a tiny snowman. It was just enough to make everything look lovely.

It was just enough for the kids to have a blast.

It was just enough to make everything feel magical.

It was just enough.

Be Careful What You Wish For....It Just May Come True

We've all heard that popular phrase, but I've come to realize there's alot of truth in those old sayings. For fourteen years, we lived in a small, but warm and cozy home way up in the mountains. When property started sky rocketing, my husband suggested that maybe it was time for us to sell and "move up" in life a little. The children and I heartily agreed. The thought of a roomy home, a "nice" home in the city sounded great to us all! It didn't take long to realize however, that bigger isn't necessarily always better. We did sell our lovely mountain home, for a really great price. And..we were able to buy a beautiful BIG house in the small city close to our mountains. That's been over three years ago, and we all still mourn for our little mountain house.
The home we bought is fantastic. Almost seven thousand square feet! We have plenty of room for all our kids. (And others too!) And we have lots of room for our home based business. We have been truly blessed. We actually just live in half of the house and the other is designated business and storage. The thing is....our hearts are still just in the mountains! We're just a short drive away, but it's not the same.
I said from the beginning that I believed God put us in this house for a reason and I still fully believe that. Every day I try to remind myself of something I love about this house. It truly is fabulous. We knew right away that we wanted to go back to the mountains, so after about 18 months, we put this house on the market. Weeks, then months went buy...then the economy fell apart and a year and a half had passed with no serious offers. We took the house off the market in Dec. and are trying to decide what to do. For now, we're gonna stay right here and enjoy this awesome house! Perhaps we'll re-list it in the spring, maybe not. In the meantime, we're gonna start living in it like it's our home and not just a re-sale house. We've done a few things to personalize, but our taste is so unique we didn't dare do much when we knew we wanted to sell. Now.....we're just gonna live. Do things the way we like them and I suppose when God wants us to move, He'll make that happen.

Poor Anna!! Today we started taking down wallpaper. It was just not our taste, and after three years, it's outta here! Anna and I started and thought we were prepared for the worst. The first layer came off slowly, then the backing....then....another wallpaper!!!!Another backing!!! It took over two hours to do the small wall below...(apologies for the poor quality photo)

Hubby finally came in and feeling sorry for us, did the hardest parts. (Top of the page)

The section seen on this page is just a small library. The wallpaper goes through the living area which is quite large. Oh my....I think I may be in over my head! But really girls....be careful what you wish for...

What to do?

So....this is what I want to do....all the time. I just want to sit and knit or spin, sew or punch needle. SO many things I want to do, BUT.......

This is what I NEED to do. School, book work, business stuff....all important, but jeepers, I guess I'm selfish. I know what I have to do and most days I'm very diligent to do them, but I always have to make a little time for the things I LOVE to do. It's that time of year I guess when you just want to snug in and nest. Too many responsiblities for much of that, but I know this is a season of life that won't last forever. In Pigeon Forge they are doing Wildnerness Wildlife Week with lots of hands on science and nature stuff. Think we'll take take the children there this afternoon, but before hand, think I'll go knit a couple of rows!

The BLOCK is in the house! & Round II

After being sick for 6 full days, I was almost well!! On Wed. I thought, "tomorrow I'll be as good as new!". That however, was not the case. I woke Thurs. morning feeling worse than ever before. Sinus infection and bronchitus both set in and once again, fever, chills, nausea, etc. It all went by in a blur as things do when you run a fever. I don't remember much except severe pain in my head and sleeping...sleeping...sleeping. I tried to go to the dr., but they couldn't see me till Mon.! That's no good, I thought I was dying then!!! Tony ran to our health food store and bought two things on their reccomendation. Air -Power (guaifenesin expectorant) for the bronchitus, and Super Quercetin for the sinus thing. By Thurs. evening, I could hold my head up briefly, and by Fri. morning I was much better. Also on Fri., I came into my kitchen to see my chopping block had made it upstairs!!! I absolutely love it and can't believe it's finally done. Made out of 2x18 pieces of maple and oak, one board at a time. Several years ago, my husbad built my dining table for me out of 100 year old walnut boards. These two things are my prized possesions. I think this evening I may actually feel good enough to make a meal to set on that table!!

I guess it was...inevitable

Ok....so I've been very blessed. Haven't been sick in so long I can't remember, at least, seriously, like bed ridden etc. So I suppose it was just bound to happen sooner or later. On New Years Day, while putting away Christmas decorations, I started feeling weird. Just yucky. Thought it was probably just dust or whatever. On Fri. morn., the next day, I was sick. I mean, fever, chills, deep cough, splitting headache. All symptoms of... you got it, THE FLU. I spent all day Fri., Sat., & Sun. in bed, barely able to hold my head up. Finally on Mon., I was able to get up and migrate to the couch. Today is better, able to do a few more things. Hopefully, everyday will bring lots of improvements. We seriously take our health for granted. Just being able to do simple things like feed ourselves....yikes! We are blessed indeed. Now hopefully, the evil bug is on it's way out and life will resume in it's lovely fashion. Today however, I don't take anything for granted and am very thankful for all unassuming privileges.

Before my downfall, I bought this beautiful arrangement as part of my Christmas splurging. I just fell in love with it. After the holidays, I had to take out all the Christmas stuff, but the grain bucket is still so pretty, I decided to play around with it and see what I liked best in it. Today, I like dried hydrangeas. Tomorrow I may like some fruit. I'll keep playing and keep ya posted. BTW~When posting this, it did NOT look this way, even in preview. I think I'm hopeless when it comes to doing this right! The worst thing is...I can't fix it!!