Happy DO Year --- a recap.

For three years now - I've chosen a yearly focus word.

I has been so very effective to help me focus for the year ahead. And much easier for me to keep than an entire list of resolutions.

The words have been easy choices at times and more difficult at times.

"DO" was the choice for 2013, and it was an easy word to decide on and to implement.

And boy have I DONE.

I've submitted work for a design team call and been selected for the GlobeCraft and Piccolo design team for 2014.

I crocheted 10 baby blankets (and made a huge dent in my yarn stash)

I made several additional baby gifts.

I finished many projects that have been languishing in my UFO pile for WAY to long.

I have read.

I have exercised.

I have eaten better.

I have made decisions that have affected my life for the better - hard decisions that hurt - but rather than stringing them along, I buckled down and made them .

I posted a short story that I wrote many years ago - and now am working with a college student who wants to go into book illustration as her career. She wants to illustrate this and then lets see if we can at least self publish a few copies.

I sang in the church Christmas Cantata. (Including a solo that left me shaking in my shoes)

I've lived beautifully.

I've learned so much.

I've counted blessings. (Thank you Ann Voskamp for the pattern I use)

I've paid off several debts - and made a huge dent in some others - and I have put away a bit of money as well.

I have also taken the advice - DO unto others as you would have them DO unto you. I've reached out and shared and helped and loved and prayed and encouraged.

As 2013 winds down - I am reflective about the year about to pass and trying to lock in on my word for 2014. I hope for the next word to be as effective as this one was.

My life is beautiful --- and my life includes the word DO. Having that word be my focus has made this life and love even more beautiful.

Happy DO year 2013 ----- let's see what 2014 brings.

Find more inspiration over at the ONE WORD 365 site. It is amazing what we can do if we focus.

Smiles

Good Monday morning.

Right now - I find myself wondering if Bin Laden might be looking for his virgins.

Anyway - this is not a political blog. It is my world. It is my place of happiness and joy and beauty and creativity and all that stuff.

And it is time for a word challenge update. MaryAnn chose the word for April, and she chose the word SMILE. It was a good time for a really fun word. I smiled every day this month. My world is full of amazing surprises right now. Those make me smile. My baby girl is winding down her Senior school year. That makes me smile as she moves on to the next phases of her life. And we recently got the great news - Softball Princess was named the Valedictorian of her class and that really makes me smile.

And we are busy at work. For the first time in a long time, we have seen promise in the construction industry. That is reason to smile.

I have chosen the word for May - and that word is PRAISE. So go ahead play along with us and PRAISE in your own way this month. I promise this one will be fun.

Now for a couple more pictures of "the dress" we designed and made -




For Carrie - a super nice detail shot of the bodice. What cha think? Oh and check out that smile. I'm kinda partial to it, but I think she is beautiful.


I stole this one off her facebook. It really shows the beautiful way the grey underskirt shows through the lace. Love this picture.

I'll be back in a few with some MaggieGrace reality. Things have happened in my life that have given me some energy and enthusiasm for finishing some projects. There is a tiny bit of extra time as the soccer season has ended. Life is good - no actually - life is GREAT.

Hope all this finds you guys having a fabulous day.

I know I am.

the tv cabinet.

We must be the last people in the USA to not upgrade to a huge flatscreen tv. But we don't think there is a need for that expense at this time. So our older - tiny little tv fits our cabinet just fine.

The cabinet is made from a cedar armoire. Now do not freak out - this was a free cabinet and the door panels were busted when it showed up on my front porch a few years back. Yes - just like a stray dog - the dang thing was on my front porch when I came home one day. Cool in and of itself.

At the time, the Man at my address converted it using shelves made from recycled wood and trim we removed from our house during the remodel. I took the broken panels out and replaced them with luan (a really thin plywood like product.) I put bookshelf wallpaper on the front of the panels and painted the inside white. In THEORY, we would keep this closed and the pretty "bookshelves" would be seen.

YEAH RIGHT - NOT.

Then dang thing stays open all the time. Just like this........



Saturday - I dragged all the crap out and cleaned it. Straightened the stuff inside. And decided to go ahead and complete a project I had been PLANNING on doing for weeks. Actually years.

Now you guys know me - I am all about the right tools - (insert hysterically appropriate commentary here).

I grabbed a hammer and a prying device ........ yes that is a flat blade frosting knife from the kitchen drawer.

And I set up an appropriate painting table on my front porch. Yes that one is a bar stool.

And this one is a porch rocker.

Don't judge - it worked just fine.

The result - a much nicer look for the cabinet door when they are open. There is even more PLANNED for these now almost always open doors.

Even cooler - I used things I already had. No money spent. WhoHoo.

Stay tuned......

Update for some faraway friends - yes, I work in Athens, GA. Yes, there is a cop killer on the loose. The main focus of the search is focused in the area around my work. Most of it less than 5 miles from us. It is an uneasy feeling to be so close to the focus area. All of us will be very relieved when it is all over. But please friends remember the Officer Buddy Christian family in your thoughts and prayers. He leaves a wife and two small children. Funeral services will be Sunday.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

Teresa

FORGIVE........

This post has been written and deleted so many times. It has been written in my mind and edited and edited. I am struggling with the words here. But I want to follow through with the post about the word challenge between me and my sweet friend, MaryAnn.

She got to choose the word for February and she chose FORGIVE. I cringed. I complained. I wanted to quit the challenge.

I have a lot to FORGIVE. Honestly people we all do.

Often it is much harder to FORGIVE the closer the person(s) are to us. And most often FORGIVING ourself is the most difficult act of all.

I worked hard on this challenge and I let go of some small things - I am still working hard on this and I am slowly letting go of some bigger things.

What I discovered about myself - sometimes hanging on to the hurt and anger becomes the comfortable way to feel. That comfy shroud becomes sort of an armour. Even a weapon. And without realizing it - I become angrier, cynical, ugly. MaryAnn pointed out that even in my blog writing of the past the sense of ugliness was there.

I went back and read many many posts. It was awful. It was ugly. I was ugly.

This is not a religious blog, but I am a Christian. I went to the scripture. I read other people's writings on FORGIVENESS. I searched blogs. I talked to friends.

I learned - FORGIVING is not a once and done thing. It is a do over and over thing. A slow release of the hurt, of the anger, of the ugly. It is an act. It is a discipline. It requires work. Focus. Determination. It allows those feeling to surface again - raw and painful - instead of being buried and covered up, tucked away to minimize the horror of it. There has even been a process very similar to grieving over some of this.

But this word - FORGIVE - this challenge set forth by my precious friend (who didn't give up on me) has been by far the most rewarding word so far.

I am still working on it.

.....................................................................................................................................................

Remember - the actual act of GOD'S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS was not a stunning, gorgeous piece of art or Jewelry. Like the bracelet pictured below.

It actually probably looked more like this ----

And this ....


But His act brings me closer. And FORGVING myself and others leads me closer to ...

FORGIVE - it is hard. FORGIVE it is necessary. FORGIVE it will make room for JOY in my life.

FORGIVE.

******************************************************************************

Thank you MaryAnn for this challenge. I am still working on it.

I have chosen an easier word for this month -- my word is PLAN.

Love -

As we going into the Lenten season (today is Ash Wednesday) Spend 40 days in the Wilderness with Jesus and know that His Sacrifice means everything to us.

Word

Happy Wednesday All. There is a picture below here but we'll get to that in a bit.

Yesterday I said we would discuss the February word. MaryAnn got to pick. I love her, she knows this. She has been a rock and a light in my sometimes very dark and turbulent world. Texts everyday. Sometimes a lot of them. Sometimes a few. Her handwriting is part of what I look for in my mailbox. She inspires me. AND she pushes me to be better.

So I absolutely FREAKED OUT when my text came ----

FORGIVE.

I was "ticked off". Well my initial wording before the backspace key won the battle was different.

See - real forgiveness is hard for me. I get what the man calls "historical" and I can remember all kinds of screw ups from the 30+ years I have known him. This particular talent for recall is not limited to him either. If we have known each other long enough to have a difference of opinion and/or hurt each others feelings, I can and will use that in a verbal discussion - also know as a fight - or screaming match - or cussing fit - hello, I even slam doors.

This is not something I am proud of and at 45 I have learned to control at least the full blown display of this trait.

Even worse than all that - I hold myself to some pretty exacting standards and I get historical about that too.

Forgive - this word - it will be my most challenging one yet.

So there you have it - full confession of a month quite full of very difficult focus.

I'll let you know how this works out. There are some major ones that I really need to deal with --- we will see.

Now ----- about the picture below. Maggie Grace has not done a whole lot of late. But this picture has been in my notebooks for a long time.



Picture is from here.

There's a party going on here - and if you do not read The Pioneer Woman, you should. But that is not why I have this picture.

See those 4 squares on the wall - the artwork. LUV LUV LUV. I have right clicked every picture that I saw of those on her site. What the crap -----

I have zoomed in and tried to see them better ----- again what?????

4 squares of mottled color on a wall - I can't tell if they are paintings, photos, prints, I CANNOT TELL. But....

I can hack into the idea, right? That is what art is about, right?

I bought 4 canvases - smaller ones - retangular ones - cause they were on sale and I am cheap like that.

Last night found me digging color samples and scrapbook papers out as well. ( I know - why paper?) Well because I like words too.

My next MaggieGrace project will be a Pioneer Woman inspired group of 4 canvases labeled with the words -GRACE - FAITH - PEACE - TRUST.

I'll let you know how this works out too.

Have a wonderful day - how about share a link to something you find inspiring in the comments.

Celebrating beautiful moments

Note - all images are from DOVER. And they are chosen as a reflection on my friend who loves this artist. She knows who she is.

MaryAnn and I are doing a word collaboration - funny when we started it was about making or doing - about not spending money - etc. Like so many projects it has morphed into something completely different. Gotta love that -

January's word - chosen by me was beauty (beautiful) and in the bleak post seaonal days that January brings, I have enjoyed looking for those moments of beautiful.

so here are some favorites of my month

The Softball Princess has multiple options for college - that is a seriously beautiful thing. College campus visits almost always include a visit to the art gallery - there is some serious beauty in each of those. In addition - every campus has its own beauty.

As I record my daily gratitudes - I find myself focusing on abundant - often tiny - beautiful moments each day.

Things like - sunshine after several grey days.

Thumbing through the mail and finding a handwritten note among the junk mail and bills.

A funny comment by a facebook friend.

Realizing that an old (immature) boyfriend did grow up and become a contributing member of society.

Good food - shared with good company - that happened this month too. It was a beautiful thing and in this particular case - needs to happen more often.

Speaking of food - broiled asparagus with balsamic vinegar and parmesan cheese - yummy.

Asking my body to do one more pushup - and accomplishing that - yes people that was a beautiful moment. Bootcamp is a great thing. And the friendships made there are wonderful too.

These were moments. Moments make up days. Days make up weeks. Weeks make up years. Years make up a lifetime. Things change. Challenges happen. But in the still of each moment there is beauty - you just have to pay attention to see it.

I leave you with a quote

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play and pray in, where nature may heal and give strengthto the body and soul." John Muir

Have a beautiful day - I have a beautiful life.

MaryAnn picked the word for February - It is a hard one for me - Super hard. I'll tell you tomorrow.

Frustration being resolved.

2010 was a hard year. I work in the construction industry. We all know how that's going even until now. I faced the CANCER demon head on, which resulted in some financial debt increase and some long term health issues that I'm still working through. Of course, I am fully aware of the blessings that also accompanied me through all that. But, I have been frustrated.

I chose ABUNDANCE for my word of the year. I am seriously focusing on what that means to me - IN MY CURRENT SITUATION. One thought that keeps working it's way to the front of my musings - "Teresa, why are you afraid to move ahead?"

I'm going through the series of tests that I'll will be subject to every 6 months for 5 years. Fear accompanies those tests. My facebook status from a day or so ago was that I wondered if there would ever be a day again that CANCER does not cross my mind.

Well, pondering has brought me to a point (several actually) of action. I've been holding my breath, waiting for the next thing. I have fallen prey to the negative form of "what if". Okay so

What if --- I push to do one more lap around the track - well, then my stamina is increasing and I can take a long walk to see the BEAUTY of nature provided by the Master himself. I will have more energy to get through the day. And a healthy body is much more able to handle surprises like last April tossed us.

What if - I write down three random things I am grateful for every day - well, then 45 days into that exercise, I will realize that the laughter of my Softball Princess is one of the most BEAUTIFUL sounds on earth.

What if - I choose to conciously give something (an act or an item) everyday and record that with my daily gratitudes - well, then I will find myself looking for opportunities to DO GOOD - one of the points of this past Sunday's sermon.

What if - I choose to pray for my family in a more specific manner than "Lord, bless my family, care for us, and keep us today." -- well then, prayers like "Lord, let me have a quality moment with each of my children today that I see Your hand in" will lead to phrases like "thank you Mom for helping me figure that out" and "sure me and Barefoot Boy would love to eat dinner with you and Dad."

What if - I choose to write down a tangible and reasonable goal for finishing a task today - well, then the Christmas decor may just make it back into attic storage before June - that was intended to be funny, but there really have been times that that is how long it took.

What if - looking for moments of ABUNDANT BEAUTY, ABUNDANT JOY, ABUNDANT BLESSING, ABUNDANT HAPPINESS, ABUNDANT LAUGHTER, ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITY became the way I approach each day. ------

WELL THEN - THERE IS NOT NEARLY AS MUCH ROOM FOR FEAR OR FRUSTRATION IN THOSE DAYS.

As I seriously focus on these words and the above actions, I can feel frustration and fear resolving themselves to a degree where I can move on and stop holding my breath. Turns out the blue shade my face takes on when I am holding my breath kinda makes me look dead - actually it makes me feel a little dead too.

I'm looking forward again. I'm moving ahead again. It's a good feeling.

I'm expecting moments where I fall backwards on this journey, but I already know that picking myself up and dusting off are abilities that I have. I also know that if I am struggling with that - I have friends who will help me along.

Now for some random things.

I make pecan pies...




I use the recipe off the label of this syrup -- KARO DARK CORN SYRUP.

You know the sticky sweet corn syrup concoction that makes so many things taste so wunnerful.

I bought a bottle on Sunday. I has this note on the label.........

HUH??????? how can Corn Syrup be zero grams of high fructose corn syrup....

Now that's the way my mind works.

Happy New Year -

2011 - so glad to meet you. We are going to have a great time together. I have a wish list of things I want to do. I have an agenda for laughing and celebrating - all year. There are huge and fabulous opportunities lying in wait in the days of this one. So let's get on with it.

I made one resolution -- I WILL NOT TAKE EVEN ONE SECOND FOR GRANTED.

I picked my word for the year -- ABUNDANCE.
1. of a great supply; more than sufficient quantity.
2. great plenty; wealth

While I hope that money will be in sufficient quantity, I really hope joy and beauty and gratitude and all those other blessings will really be abundant.

MaryAnn and I are also continuing our word focus. January is my month and I chose BEAUTY (BEAUTIFUL) and there have already been beautiful moments in the year.

One New Year's Day I was awakened - not by the alarm - but by the song of one very energetic bird singing his little heart out on my smokehouse roof. (a beautiful moment)

I also spent last night enjoying the great outdoors at bootcamp - cold night, but it felt great to run and exercise and spend time with that fabulous group of women - and pushing my body to increase my fitness is beautiful in its own way. We also recorded our measurements - on the WebMD BMI Calculator - I am obese. But I am only 30 pounds from the "safe range" for my height instead of 80. Maybe I will get into those blue pants yet.

Now - I am sharing thses photos just for the fun of it. Notice - I was not intoxicated - but I am also not a teenager comfortable with the whole self portrait thing. We went to hear Uncle Rockstar and the band he sings with for the New Years Eve party. Saw more Tits and A$$ than at a strip club. Young girls in way too small - revealing - tight - short - low cut clothes. And they were "hanging" all over the boys. One day those girls will realize how "trashy" that is instead of being "sexy".
I look drunk here ---

He really looks drunk here.

Notice these pictures were taken seconds apart. And neither of us was intoxicated at all.

Thanks to John for reserving us a table - we had a blast.

Let's see what 2011 brings us. Hope it is great for all of us.

Magic.......

I looked back on the first post of the year just a few minutes ago. I accomplished both goals stated - well kinda -

We are no where near what I want the interior of my house to be. But we have finished the Softball Princess room. A dramatic improvement. Other things have been accomplished as well. The very first attack for the 2011 year will be the bathroom redo.

I also made more money that I spent on MaggieGrace "stuff" - I was diligent about looking for things "I know I put somewhere" rather than buying it again. I focused on putting and keeping like items together. Progress has been made.

All that is very good. But......

The "surprise kidney cancer roadtrip" affected me. TO MY VERY CORE. Now the personality hasn't changed. I'm still a loud rowdy obnoxious redhead. But little aggravations do not bother me as much. Need to wait in line at the post office - no problem. Being left on "ignore" waiting for someone to answer the phone - no problem. Dealing with someone who works in our industry and can't speak our language - let me call a friend to interpret for you - no really it's not a problem. Temper tantrums come less frequently. Demands to live my life fully and happily today are the most important.

There is no "why me" -- there is a lot of "what can I do to make someone else's life better."

I'm taking generosity lessons from one of my most inspiring friends. If you don't know her, you have missed out. She is smart, funny, beautiful, kind, caring, uplifting, sometimes brutally honest. And even though I have never wrapped my arms around her, I feel as though we have know each other always. (Plus she mailed me a replacement kidney in April - I kinda owe her - ya know)

Drop over and read her archives about her 365 days of giving. It's good stuff.

We are playing a word game - and this month the word is GRACE. I have not made a single thing using that word, but I sure have focused on it - A LOT. Amazing what grace you find when you focus.

But back to generosity lessons. I took the challenge. 365 days of intentional giving. The important part is the intentional part. I have always been willing to share my time and resources "if I was asked to." I considered that to be generous - and it is. But this - this is different. Looking for ways to give. Finding tiny or huge opportunities to give without expecting to be recognized. It takes planning. It takes initiative. It takes intent.

I started earlier this month. So far so good. I will mention this from time to time here. Not for recognition, but for accountability. I am recording each day on an index card for myself - each daily card has three gratitudes and the intentional giving for the day.

This is just too cute not to share.


I made this cute little beanie hat with the intent that it be one of my "gifts" - special thanks to Jennifer Larkin for the easy peasy pattern. I prayed over it an then sent it to live with its new owner )and hopefully new wearer.

By the MAGIC of the cell phone camera - I learned that this cutie happens to love the new hat.

Now how adorable is she?

The fun thing is many things are totally anonymous in their nature. Some are just fun. Some are obviously a Universal Spirit completion of a challenge. All in all - I can already tell the one most affected by the MAGIC of the project is going to be me.

Any one else out there wanna join?

GATHER.... A conclusion of November's word.

Image is a scan of floss cards I picked up in a grab bag over the weekend. You are welcome to use as you would like, But if you make something really fun, please send me a picture or a link so I can ooh and ahh over your creations.

As you regular readers know, MaryAnn and I are doing a word collaboration. November was my month to pick the word and I chose -- GATHER.

Initially MaryAnn was like - dangit, I'm trying to purge. But after a few texts we went with my word.

Little did I know how profound this was going to be.

NOTE - You can look at the pretty thread holders and copy the picture and quit, but I want this recorded, and since MaggieGrace is my entire being - here we go.

I chose GATHER, because I knew my family would do just that for Thanksgiving, which we did. My family is not very openly sentimental about things, but my heart has been so full of the blessings I recognized because of the C word, I wanted more from this years days. So I GATHERED my courage and opened myself to the ridicule of those closest to me. On Thanksgiving day I opened my heart to those around my table, I poured my feelings of gratitude and love out for them to hear. I asked if anyone else wanted to share anything and I got SILENCE in return. For a moment I was stunned, then hurt, then (maybe because I really had no expectations on this activity) I was blessed by the reality that my Mom was there and healthy and active. I was blessed that College Girl was there for us to tease about her food not "touching" on her plate. I was blessed that Softball Princess was laughing and teasing and wondering why we don't have pecan pie "all the time." I was blessed that the Man at my Address puts up with all my crazy and bizarre (to him) ideas. And that even if they did not know how to share their feelings with me, I AM BLESSED TO HAVE THEM GATHERED AROUND ME.

In addition to that little experiment, I also GATHERED up three loads of donated stuff and got it our of my house.

I GATHERED all of my craft/decor/gotta keep magazines and have them all in one place.

I GATHERED all of my ideas for redoing my bathroom and laundry room area into one big folder and am well on my way to actually doing that redo.

I GATHERED what few things MaggieGrace had completed and participated in an art market.

I GATHERED pecans and put them in the freezer (yes, Softball Princess will get some pie soon).

I GATHERED my stupid moments and combined them into the stupid idea to run my first 5K. (this Saturday.)

I GATHERED a few supplies for a project into a wonderful tote and have been working on these projects (more later).

I GATHERED a lot, mentally, emotionally, and physically this month. It was a good month.

Now I have a feeling the month of December may be even more enlightening. MaryAnn chose our word.

Decembers word is GRACE. Come on - play along if you wanna

I double dog dare you......

So MaggieGrace (aka Mother Teresa) is struggling. What do you do when struggling, you send a text to your friend - Very Mary. VM - is a very good friend - and she instantly reminded me to DO SOMETHING DARING.

See we are doing this word thang every month. October's word was chosen by Very Mary and she chose DARING.

I don't do DARING well. I want to. I wish I could. But MaggieGrace is a pleaser. She really wants to fit in. She wants her kids and their friends to like her. She wants her husband to be happy. Work - let's please don't wear anything that might cause scrutiny or God forbid someone to think her overly sexy- or even comment in that direction. Oh - and mortification if by some chance the attire could be considered people of Walmart dot com appropriate. That just ain't MaggieGrace.

But I am a good sport and can laugh at myself. I also am taking this word challenge seriously.

So I have dared myself.

To be honest about how I feel - with myself and those around me. No swallowing hurts - no swallowing frustrations - no swallowing irritations. This has been traumatic for some - but hey - I don't feel like a doormat. Although - the handprints on the wall over the mens room toilets at work - those have been labeled my pet peeve and much joking and fake handprints have resulted from my inquiry about why men prop on the wall.

I dared to stop waiting. If I can handle it myself, I make one request of another party, then I will just do it myself. I quickly fixed the kitchen door lock myself after waiting for months and griping about it. A little WD40 made me and the softball princess so so so so so happy.

I am working thru the 31 days series with all the ladies over at Nester's place. This has been an awesome challenge - particularly the 31 days of grace posts.

Finally - on Saturday the Princess had a Region banquet. I was really feeling blue, so I DARED do something out of character for me. I put on a black skirt - a red sweater - very softball mom attire.

Then I added really fun - RED AND BLACK FISHNET STOCKINGS. The Man at My Address freaked. I wore them anyway. They made me feel bold. They made me feel like I was doing something rebellious. Dammit - it made me feel good.


I did not wear two different shoes - I was doing the which one thing here.

And today - I ordered some more fun hose and leggings from www.sockdreams.com

I DARED be bolder. I like this feeling.

Go over here to see what VERY MARY dared do.

Oh and it is my turn to pick. November's word will be GATHER.

I have a beautiful life.

bouncing ....

Sorry - didn't mean to go mia again.

I seem to be struggling with some heavy emotions right now.

The horribly blurry picture of the poca dog was taken Saturday on the way home from the vet. She rides wonderfully, but is in steady motion the entire time. She also does not mind the trip to the vet. They are so good and she just goes right in. Good thing, because she is staying with them this weekend.

Softball Princess team made the Elite 8 Level of the State Tournament. So softball is a priority right now. Every game is emotional, because this is her Senior year and we are closing in on the end of the season.

Can we also go ahead and say - OMG what am I going to do with her daddy this time next year. He is almost a nut case right now too. They have traveled so much together for softball and travel tournaments. It is great that we (he) was able to do this, but it makes it so hard to realize that she is about to move up and on into the next phase of her life.

Last week we got the first college acceptance letter for her. I am so not ready for this.

College Girl was home this weekend and we had a surprise "date night" with her. Seems the boyfriend had to work, so we graciously stepped into being her date. It was wonderful to have her undivided attention. But, then she drops the news about grad schools she is emailing and talking to advisors about. Places like CalTech and Nebraska and MIT. You know - places a long long way from home.

All of this following very closely on the heels of my "surprise" tour earlier this year.

I feel lost - adrift - like others are okay planning for the future, but being fearful of making too many plans myself.

So I bounce - much like the dog in the car - from window to window - door to door. Reacting to the latest request for my time or attention.

I text MaryAnn about some of this on Saturday - and she reminded me that our word for this month is DARE. I'll be closing the month tomorrow with how I DARED to do some things this month and how I've been affected.

Til Tomorrow my friends - the crazy nutcase leaves you with this ---

I really do have a beautiful life. Love. More. Most. Mutual.

Finished .......

I'll will elaborate more on the striped blanket tomorrow. But for today I am super busy at work and celebrating the FINISH of the kidney cancer surprise side trip today.

I took this picture this morning - a filet crochet sign at the check in desk of Northeast Georgia Cancer Care center. I loved this detail.

My Oncologist gave me the lowdown on the future for me. There is a 70% chance that I will have no more cancer. Follow up scans for 5 years (every 6 months). No need for a prevention drug. Watch the cysts in my pelvis - if they grow then deal with them - otherwise just watch 'em.

It is done. On with Teresa's life.


They cheered me out of there. Nurses - staff - patients in the waiting room.

I'm calling that my most successful FINISH - since our word for September is just that.

But I also FINISHED crocheting the striped blanket last night. Got a bit more I want to do to this, but I'm giving you the cell phone picture I snapped this morning.

It is a beautiful day - I have a beautiful life - I do hope you have beautiful in your life too.

100 affirmations ......

Last night / yesterday I undertook a little self imposed challenge. Nothing fancy, I was just counting blessings and realised how full full full my life is with them. I decided to send out 100 affirmations in some way. I sent texts - I sent emails - I wrote a few personal notes - then I wrote some non personal ones that I could leave for discovery. I had no expectations from this exercise. It was all about letting people know that they matter.

Wow - I got texts back - I got emails back - I got email from the random cards I left places. (I used a freebie email account that I set up just for fun stuff. ) Try it - with no expectations. It was fun - I am so glad I did it.

Now for more of my weekend' s progress.

Remembering that September' s word in my collaboration with MaryAnn is FINISH. I am still working on the softball princess room redo. We are close.

This desk - an old college dorm room desk that my mom thrifted when I was a pre-teen - has been in the room all along. It was okay - functional - but hellooooo - it was ugly. That 70's brown stain finish. And brass pulls. Stunning. We had discussed painting it, but never gotten around to it.


Well, I headed to HD on Sunday afternoon and bought some of this paint in black. Picture below is another look at that lovely finish.

Because I spent hours of research time, I knew exactly what to do -- hehe. Did you see the workbench in that first picture - the man's toolbox on the front porch? Now that is a dream workshop if I ever saw one. (the weather was gorgeous and the temps perfect to be outside)

I took the hardware off and kinda sanded the shiny spots. There weren't many after all these years.

Then.... again because I have that dream workshop....

I poked the hardware through a holder (aka a cardboard box) and spray painted the hell out of it.

Shh thats an extra drawer pull - more on that later.

I held the box upside down so the loose part of the hardware would dangle and give me the coverage I needed. (Krylon spraypaint in brushed nickel)

A Sunday afternoon well spent. Looks great against the wall in her room. Oh yeah - I forgot - after I painted all of it but the top - we decided to paint the top with chalkboard paint - I may become obsessed with black furniture and chalkboard paint.

Anyway - one FINISHED desk checked off the list of projects I just never got around to completing.

I am blessed. You are beautiful. I love my life.

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes

MaryAnn and I are doing a word collaboration. My first word was Celebrate (July). She then chose the word for August (Change). I did a few repurposing projects. But we also tackled a huge CHANGE at our house.

Softball Princess and College Girl have shared a room all these years. Mind you it is a huge room. But Softball Princes requested a room redo now that College Girl is only here part time. We have been putting money aside for the project, but like so many people, the "right time" was just not here.

Then came this challenge and we all attacked that room redo --- Here is my big CHANGE project for the month of August.



This house is over 100 years old and has no closet space. Dad built these curtained enclosures in two corners when the girls were little. Check out the dusty rose panels ( twin sheets) The broad shouldered topless man is The Man at My Address. I also have to say that Softball Princess did a significant amount of the work on this one. (Fun note - that big St. Bernard dog was a gift from The Man to me for my 16th birthday - I'm 45 now. That makes this do like really really old.)

Blogger will NOT turn this picture back. The floor was cheap white vinyl. It was pretty awful. White walls and pale grey trim.

There was also this handpainted border. College girl was three when I painted this. She's 20. Can you say serious time for a redo!!!!!

I did not watch when they painted over it.

Here you go --

While there is still work to do, the hard part is done. Dark purple paint. (indigo night in the paint and primer from behr --- love it -- still took two coats) Ultra white trim.

Good quality snap together flooring in wood toned squares - cherry finish. Abby picked this out - I didn't argue - these are gorgeous. I will use this same brand in my bathroom and laundry room soon. Most likely in a plank style rather than these squares.

Since this room has two double beds, two closet enclosures, a desk, chest of drawers, dresser, and entertainment center setup, we reworked the furniture to give them more space. The entertainment center stacked on the dresser. (The room is 17' by 15')

The closet enclosures got new curtains (white twin sheets.)

The girls are happy. I am happy. Dad is happy. Thank you MaryAnn for playing these word games with me.

It is now my turn to pick a word. This still needs completion. I have other things that need to be completed.

MY WORD FOR SEPTEMBER is going to be FINISH.

September 1 brings more tests - and procedures. Thank you all for you prayer and encouragement. Keep praying - I (we) will eventually get good news. Because "my story is not over yet."

I have a beautiful life.

For Lannae

Lannae was SUPER CONCERNED about my being MIA. or maybe she was just SUPER AGGRAVATED that nothing new was here. So she hit my facebook wall with a comment.

Here ya go my sweet friend.

Last week found the Man at my Address alone and in the little town of Dahlonega, GA. Softball Princess was there for a camp and he was early to the scrimmages they were to have that afternoon. He wandered around the little downtown area, which includes one of my favorite antique malls.

When I got there for the late game, he moved his stuff from a friends car into ours. Late that night, games are finished and we are starting the 2 hour drive home. I find a little bag in my seat. The little bag contained the stuff pictured below.

Buttons - yup in the last 4 months he brought me a shelf for the studio, a cricut for my birthday, AND a little baggie of buttons. Maybe he is nearing his first graduation certificate for husband training 101. (been married almost 25 years folks)

Then yesterday, Flea Market Fred appears at the store. He had aquired some freebie things over the weekend and brought me these souvenir display spoons. Not sure ultimately what will come of all these, but

two of these three will soon be a baby bracelet. And three way cool pendants. Love the shape of the spoon bowls on these.

Now - you saw my CELEBRATE BANNER. (Scroll down one post if you missed it)

MaryAnn got to choose this months word -- her choice was CHANGE.

Here is a breakdown of my first CHANGE project. Hear this -- all from the stash with one exception. The fabric was sent by MaryAnn for the softball princess room makeover. Pictures of that change still pending. I dreamed this project and had to make it RIGHT NOW.

I have moved this tray out of the way too many times to count over the last several years - yes years. It was 80's pink with a floral heart print. I grabbed the tray and some satin nickle spray paint. Look closely you can still see the heart faintly through the first layer of paint.

Also grabbed a leftover chunk of foam insulation and using a highly technical measuring and circle drawing device, (I traced a dinner plate) I marked and cut a circle of the foam.

Spray adhesive - from Elmers. I bought it at the Dollar General so it is inexpensive too.

Short sequin pins and tacky glue for the edges.

I pinned it fairly close together. Then I added double stick foam tape squares.

Leaving me with this......

A metal edge for magnets and

A purple and silver pinboard for over the softball princess desk.

So in my first interpretation of the word CHANGE - I CHANGED a tray and assorted other stuff into a custom pinboard.

How does that sound?

Have a wonderful day.