Hands To Work

Baby, it's gonna get cold outside!

December 7th. 8:19 p.m. 50°. But all that is about to change it seems.
On another note, I've surpassed 3000 pins. Can we say addictive?

Back to reality...

Well, this is it. I'm off to bed in a few and the Thanksgiving holiday will end. I'm tired and ready for a bit of calm but also sad that the days flew by so quickly.
Chuck and I took our parents to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. It was really nice. I'm ashamed to say that it was our first visit. They are showcasing quilts from the region and there are a few stunners! The tiny hand quilting is amazing! Only one sampler.

Deep breath. Time to gear up for Christmas! Enjoy your week.

Holiday Weekend

We are enjoying the long holiday weekend. Family came to celebrate Lily's fourth birthday and of course the big feast on Thursday. Some left. Parents and mother in law still here.
Matt, Courtney and I took the dogs (only Helen and Jack. Betty and Chloe aren't hiking dogs) for a hike on the Appalachian Trail. Only a few miles. Helen was so excited that she jumped on a big rock and fell about 20' off the other side. I first thought she broke her hip but she's just bruised. She scared all of us! So home we came.
Hope your weekend is fun and relaxing. I think football watching is on the schedule for this evening!

Just a little hair styling going on today.

Snow!

Since I still can't figure how to attach photos from my mac, I'm taking the easy way and using my phone. It's been snowing all day. Chuck of course had to go out and work as I am certain there are many power outages. He was grumpy when he left. Poor guy!
Do you pin? If not, you should!!! It's the best way to keep beautiful pictures, recipes, funny quotes all in one place. I've been a member for well over a year but didn't use it much until the app was released. I now have over 2500 pins. I've included a couple pictures that I've pinned. So fun!
Gotta go. Courtney and the dogs just stopped by!

Knock, Knock...

I'm here.  Just unpacked an Apple computer to replace my nearly dead desktop that I've been struggling with for ages.  Still short on time but hope that maybe now it will be easier to update my blog.  More than once every six months or so!

So, here's what's up at my house.  Working like crazy.  Traveling at least twice a month.  Working ten hour days and overtime.  Lily and Elisabeth still live here.  Lily touches everything I own at least once a day.  I had to see a therapist (long story but I will tell you soon) for two sessions and she kept telling me BOUNDARIES, BOUNDARIES!  I know, I know.  Trying...

I agreed to teach a class.  I will be at Jean Lea's in AZ sometime in January.  Still working on my project and am excited to get things finished up.  Jean is anxious for me to give her a price and details.  I am hoping that the Amish woodworker that is making a piece for me has it done this week so I can get things measured and know more about how much to charge.  Think wool, chippy white paint and a sampler to go with it.  Exciting!  Scary!!!  I haven't done this in a long time.  

Okay, I have to get my pj's on.  It's 8:30 and I turn into a pumpkin at 9.  Before I go, I will share a picture of Lily who will be four next month.  FOUR.  Wow, that went too fast.  Okay, I unpacked this computer two hours ago and I can't figure out how to get the picture in here.  So that gives me incentive to come back soon...

 

Could it be???

December 27th???  Where oh where has the time gone.  I know I don't have the market cornered on losing track of time.  Has this year been crazy fast for everyone?  Wow.

 
We had a wonderful holiday at the Riffle house.  Lily loved everything about the holiday this year.  She spent Thursday through Saturday afternoon at her daddy's house and by the time she got home she was absolutely worn out!  After a handful of presents, she was over it.  I think she enjoyed the preparations more than the actual day.  She and her mommy are out fighting the crowds today looking for bargains and making returns.  Glad it's them and not me. 

Guess someone has been adding some interesting posts to my blog.  That's what happens when I am MIA.  I hope to get things cleaned up later this week when I have some time...to...mySELF.  Such a rarity anymore and I'm counting the hours.  Chuck and I will be in the house alone this coming weekend and I haven't been this excited over anything in a long time!!!

Hope all of your wishes came true and that you have a safe and exciting New Year!

 

Change of Attitude

Do you think you have a pretty good perception of who you are?  How you come across to people?  I always thought I did.  When I describe myself, happy is the word that always comes to mind.  Happy.  I love that word.  I love happy people.  I think I'm happy most of the time.  Imagine my surprise when my husband told me the other day that I'm grumpy a good bit of the time.  Hmmmm.  I didn't believe him.  So I asked Courtney.  She said...well, you are tired and stressed a lot.  Wow.  Really?  Me????

So....I'm rethinking things.  Maybe I've just gotten lazy.  Maybe I am unrealistic.  And maybe I've been selfish.  With my time, with my wants, with my space. 

I'm working hard on my attitude.  I'm trying hard to see what others see.  I'm trying to think of others first.  Wish me luck...this is going to be a long journey!

PS: thanks to all who have commented on Courtney and her recent surgery and ER visit.  She is doing great.  Your thoughts were SO appreciated!

 

This Knocks My Socks Off!!!

Y'all know I'm addicted to blogs, right?  I love to find cool recipes, decorating ideas, confessions...the whole bit.  My new blog love is Lori's awesome blog called Frugal Farmhouse.  She has a tutorial on her blog right now showing you how to cover your floors with plywood and make it look like old painted planks. 

She buys a 4x8 sheet of plywood, cuts it into 8" widths and glues it to the subfloor.  Then it's painted and coated with varathane.  How cool is that???  My entire second floor has carpeting that needs ripped up and thrown away.  I'm currently working with the man to get him on the plywood bandwagon!

Here is a pic of a an old drop leaf table that she spruced up with paint.  Lori is so generous to always include all of her how-tos and give links to vendors. 

 
Spend some time on Lori's blog.  You are sure to be inspired.  She has a huge list of other blogs that she visits.  And her older posts are well worth spending time reading. 

One more thing.  I recently found this beautiful shop called Hand and Cloth.  I love what is being done here.  I have some Christmas presents on their way! 

 

"Hand and Cloth is a social enterprising ministry in India that provides a living wage, school scholarships, and a loving community to young women at risk of prostitution and trafficking. Each young woman is paid per-piece to stitch kantha dorokha, a traditional two-sided blanket made from recycled sari material. Hand and Cloth provides school fees and tutors for the young women and also offers regular Bible studies. The young women live together in a community outside of the red light district, where they sew together, share meals together, study together and pray together."

Tomorrow I will be driving up to Frederick to get my hair cut and colored by my baby girl.  I'm excited to get the gray covered.  I'm dragging the man with me so he can see what E and I have been gushing about for months.  The Temple is AWESOME!  If any one reading this that lives somewhat close to Frederick MD needs a cut and color, please call and schedule an appointment with Elisabeth!  She is doing a great job and I am oh so proud of her!!!

Have a great weekend ~ love Tracy 

  
  
  

Busy Weekend

My parents spent the weekend with us and we all went to the air show in Martinsburg on Saturday.  I whined and complained because I thought it would be boring.  Hot.  Too many people.  You know how I am.  I never want to leave my house.  But I put on my big girl pants and joined the family.  So glad I did.  It was a lot of fun.  Especially since my son Matt spent the whole day with us!

I'm so happy that my kids enjoy each other.  Matt and Courtney are 18 months apart in age and when little, were so close.  Then they spent many years pretending they didn't know each other.  Now that they are adults, they have a great time together.  That makes a mom happy.

The day wasn't without it's problems.  Lots of kinks in the shuttle schedule to and from the parking areas.  We spent quite a bit of time in line waiting for buses and still had to walk and walk and walk.  It was tiring for my parents.  My mom was a good sport but Dad.  Cranky.  Very, very cranky!!!

Sunday we went to church and out to eat TWICE!  Sunday evening we took the parents to Five Guys.  A first for them.  Who doesn't need a healthy portion of fried food once in a while.  We sat outside as the weather was perfect and Lily entertained us with made up songs.  Dad finally got out of his grumpy pants!

Yesterday was spent at the farmer's market, cooking delicious fresh veggies and washing lots and lots of laundry.  All in all it was a great weekend and hated to see it end.  But I'm reluctantly getting back in the groove today and hope to get a lot accomplished this week! 

So how was your weekend?

Dislaimer: All pictures were taken by my iphone and since I'm too lazy to carry a camera any longer, this is the best that my photos will get.  Please accept me with all of my quirks!