2012 Aspirations

It's a new year & with a new year comes a new list of aspirations for the coming year. I look forward to what 2012 has in store for us and our lil furry family & I wish you all the love, light and happiness for a Happy New Year!!!


~Make butter
~Tap a maple tree and make syrup
~Lay in the back of the truck under lots of blankets and gaze at the stars
~Knit a project
~Try new recipes
~Drive across the Mackinac bridge
~Run 8 races
~Grow a successful garden
~Do something extraordinary for a stranger
~Forgive someone
~Milk a cow
~Ride a mechanical bull
~Sew 6 projects
~Clean & organize craft room…and keep it that way
~Repaint the craft room
~Print off pictures of family and put into an album
~Handmake gifts
~Plan at least two family fun days
~Go to a new campground
~Host 6 game nights with family and friends
~Make birthday cakes
~Stay on budget
~Hug more
~Make lip balm and other cosmetics
~Do something for charity
~Put up a new clothesline and use it often
~Decorate for all holidays
~Read as many books as possible
~Take a class (college, art center)
~Attend play performances
~Crochet socks
~Go hiking on Grand Island
~Go to a Packer game
~Do something that scares me
~Swim
~hand wax our vehicles monthly & get them serviced
~Go to a Hooters
~Simplify
~Learn how to cut snowflakes out of paper
~Make a huge snowman
~Wear a dress at least 6 times
~Change oil in our vehicle
~Ride in a taxi or public transportation
~Volunteer
~Learn something new
~Write
~Learn Yoga, Zumba
~Pray
~Visit where my real mom Karen’s ashes are scattered
~Visit our babies memorial twice
~Plant flowers at Mom & dads grave
~Adopt a family for the holiday
~Go to Massachusetts
~Learn to play an instrument
~Have my nieces and nephews and young siblings over for a slumber party
~Run in the rain
~Paint the garage
~Preserve food from the garden
~Buy locally
~Repair or make the items we need when possible
~Purchase as many of our necessities from independent businesses as we can
~Play Twister

Booya!!

For the past three weeks, on Tuesday and Thursday nights I've been participating in a Boot camp program the the gym Ken & I belong to put on. The instructor is an ex Marine dude. We're talking hard core! I knew I was gonna get my ass handed to me! I was right....After my first session I could not walk for two days. That's no joke folks!! But, I went back... I must not be right in the head but the buttkickin I'd get felt fantastic! So, I kept going. The class only lasted an hour but in that hour we did numerous crunches of various types, pushups up the wazooo, more lunges than I care to even count and numerous other hard core fun exercises. I only missed two sessions. The first one I missed because my menieres had me all wonkified...meaning dizzy mess. The other night was because we were working hard on the Benefit stuff for our friend. Last night was the last session and I knew my friend Danna wouldn't be there. I was very apprehensive about still going. I was terrified what would happen if I went into a mm episode of vertigo. Who would get me home? Who would go to the bathroom with me if that happened? I called Ken and ya know, I ALMOST didn't go last night....but he gave me the push I needed and told me to just go....so, I did! And it was fantastical! I found myself doing more and more each week. Now, I know I'll never be top notch but hey, I did it!! I won prizes three out of the four times I went. The first time I won a water bottle, the second, a protein drink, and last night I won a free one month membership! Oh, and next week we are totally getting free Boot camp t-shirts! Exciting stuff eh!! (That's the Yooper coming out in me btw)

I feel sooo fortunate to be able to be doing the things I am doing. So jazzed up that I wrote my friend, who is also club manager, a lil note telling her just how amazing the gym has been. This is what I wrote:

"Jayne, I just have to tell you how amazing you all have been at the gym. Boot camp has been incredible!! I just feel like giving high fives and hugs to everybody! Just a few years ago I was unable to do so much due to my balance issues from menieres disease. Just riding my bike was difficult without getting extreme vertigo, I had to hold walls to walk, I couldn't cross country ski or run anymore without falling down. I was apprehensive about doing boot camp because of my wankerd up hearing but it has been beyond awesome!! The gym has given me back so much! I've met incredible people that always keep me wanting to do more, my balance has improved slightly and very soon I'll be sportan single digit jeans! A to the freaking men! I just want you and everybody to know how incredible Anytime Fitness is and I cannot thank the gym enough for giving me bits of my life back!! Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could get back to running and now we are doing the 5k in May. I know it's only a 5k but it's gonna be beyond spiffytastic!!"

I'm tellin ya...life changing stuff folks! Take that Menieres!!! It may eventually take away my ability to hear but it sure as hell isn't getting MY LIFE!! =) If you are somewhere in your life, that you don't think something isn't possible, know that it IS possible! Never give up on your dreams, goals or yourself!! You are worth it, believe you can do it.

20 years later....

Twenty years and three days after I did a shoulder roll doing gymnastics in 9th grade, which, resulted in me breaking my collarbone, I did it!! I, Katherine M Woodbury did a somersault. Not only once, but TWICE!! The first attempt sent me into the coffee table. The 2nd somersault was a success but neither Ken nor I even thought about taking a picture. So, for the heck of it, and because I'm super daring I did another one tonight. Why you might ask? Because for 20 years I cringed anytime I saw someone do one. Plus I'm 35, and well, ya never know how much longer my bones will allow it. Oh, and I'm cool like that & it was on my aspiration list for 2011.

Sure, there have been several other things I've accomplished that were on the list, but do we really need to see pics of me laughing daily? uhhh nope.

Have fun, laugh, and embrace your inner geek. It makes life that much more fun!!

Aspirations for 2011

Holy wowzers!! Christmas came and went so quickly & before you knew it, we were ringing in the New Year! I realize I didn't even write about Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. I guess the month's all blurred together. Ken was involved in an accident in his semi the beginning of the year which pretty much kept us busy, and still is. He is fine and so is the other guy. But what a headache and a real happiness mojo damper. We've had some positively fantastic happenings and I'm going to do my very best to share them here. But, this post is about the New Year. New dreams, goals and aspirations. A time to reflect and a time to grow. Each year I make a list of aspirations, dreams, goals I have the coming year. I don't always achieve it all but oftentimes I fulfill those dreams without even noticing it until I begin my new list for the New Year. This year is scattered with a myriad of such goals. Some serious and some wacky. I'd like to share some of them with you.

~Read a book a month. I don't read as often as I'd like or as I used to. I tend to get dizzy if I read too much at one time and the letters dance on the page causing me to get headaches. Thank you meniere's for that. But 12 books is realistic and actually I am hoping to read a lot more than that. The year before last I was lucky to read 3.

~Limit Face book time. I get notifications to my cell phone and I feel it is my duty to respond right away, which interrupts my day. Before you know it, an hour has passed. I won't be ignoring my fab friends or family, instead I will manage my time more wisely.

~Anonymously pay for dinner for a stranger. It's just something I want to do and to see somebody smile would make my whole day, week and month!!

~Get down to a size 6. I know, one of those health type goals. We joined a gym on November 12th which was the 25th anniversary of my Mom's passing. We are both enjoying healthier us's and plan to continue this way of life for the rest of our lives.

~Work out at least 3 days a week. The gym we belong to is open 24/7 365 days a year so there are no excuses other than if I am sick. Knock on wood, the flu bug that is raging through town has not hit either of us yet and I am working very hard on doing everything I can to keep my meniere's under control. The gym has helped that so much. I not only see an improvement in my overall health and size but my balance has gotten a bit better which pretty much rocks all sorts of fanciness!!

~Ride my bike more. Last spring and summer I was such a slacker. The year before I rode 10-15 miles almost daily. It's something I thoroughly enjoy and it also helps my balance and keeps me healthy. Plus, if you've ever been to the Upper peninsula of MI, you know I live in a gorgeous area and it's a shame not to get out and enjoy it.

~Run a marathon. They have a memorial run on the 4th of July and another run in Green Bay in the summertime that I'd love to partake in. They are both for an amazing cause.

~To make birthday gifts. Sure some things will be bought but something has to be handmade for the gift. Be prepared friends and family. Gone are the days of $ or lotto tickets or the like. You might be getting something crocheted, cross stitched, baked or sewed. Who knows what it will be. But I have a deep belief that handmade gifts really show a special kind of love.

~Grow corn successfully in our community garden. Last summer/fall our corn was already thigh high by the 4th of July. Around here the saying is "knee high by the 4th of July" So, we thought we would have a bumper corp...nope. We have several organic gardening books so I will be spending some time this winter and spring learning everything I can about corn. 2011 is going to provide us with enough corn for our consumption and to share with friends, family and whomever I can pawn some off on. Hopefully.

~Make our own bread. The store bought stuff doesn't even come close to a home made bread. First I need to scour my dozens of cookbooks for a recipe. My hope is that all, if not all, then the majority of our bread will be home made.

~Make butter. No, I don't have a butter churn. I would love one though but that's really not going to happen. Instead it is my hope to acquire cream from a farmer or even buy some at the market and make it into butter. Just something I think would be pretty neatotastic!!

~Brush the dogs weekly. Ok, we have 5 dogs and for the most part they are self groomers and don't get all snarly haired. But, brushing on a regular basis would definitely cut down on the loose hair that floats around the house. Say buh bye to giant "extra pets" that are found when the furniture is moved. Plus, it's cute when I'm all done brushing them, they think they are royalty the way they walk around all fancified.

~Open and ETSY store online. I love to craft and I want to do something to bring a bit of income into the household. I believe it would help my esteem or whatever you'd like to call it if I knew I had a "purpose" other than my at home domesticated chores. I love being a housewife but I do miss working. Even if it only brings in a small amount. I'd be doing what I love to do, sharing that with others and contributing to my home.

~Simplify. There are so many areas of my life that need to be simplified. It is something I work on all of the time. We are getting closer but still HAVE way too much and desire too much at times. This is a subject very dear to my heart. I could go on and on for paragraph after paragraph on the different areas that need work.

~Try one to two new recipes per month. I love to cook and Ken loves to cook. Eating the same old things gets rather drab. Even we get stuck in a rut eating the same things from time to time. Time to put those dozens of fabulous cookbooks to better use. If you have a recipe that makes your taste buds have a foodgasm, I'd be happy if you'd share it.

~Write more on my good ole blog. I write often but rarely share my thoughts on here anymore. The last 6 months we have been dealing with so much. It hasn't been all bad but much of it is pretty deep stuff and my heart needs to heal. Those closest to me knows what we have been dealing with. I just hate to clutter my funtastical wacky blog with stuff that does not represent me entirely.

~Become more fluent in ASL. In October Ken & I joined our local deaf club and let me tell you, it's been amazing!! Most people know I have meniere's disease which affects your hearing, eventually making you deaf. At 1st I didn't do as well digesting all of it, then I accepted it. Or so I thought. Since joining this group I am now at total peace with it. It's an amazing group of fab friends. many of which I have known for years. Ken can see more confidence in me and I can totally feel it!!

~Write more on my story. My story, meaning my book. I tend to get frustrated when writing about certain times of my life. It was anything but normal. What is normal anyways? right? It was scattered with love, abuse, death, hardships, infertility, hope. I often times tell people my life began when I met Ken. If I could just get passed the sadness and hurt of the early years and get onto the past 17 years I'd be all set. I'm going to work on that.

~Go on a self searching journey. For lack of better words I call it that. I know my true self and I love myself. But, I want to take a couple days and just "be." I am always connected to many fabulous people and at times I just want to be with myself. Challenge myself, try something new, do something I never thought possible. for myself, by myself.

~Laugh daily. This is a no brainer and is the key to a happy life.

~Hug more. You'd think with me being all sentimental I'd be the extreme "huggy type." Nope. I like my invisible bubble and like it when people respect that bubble. I'm going to work on it.

~Preserve food. Whether it be from our garden, the Farmer's market, berries we foraged for in the woods. The pressure caner and dehydrator will be in full force and the pantry will be well stocked.

~Try a new food. This differs from a new recipe in that I want to try a new ingredient. Like fish. Neither of us eat it. But I want to.

~Ice Skate. It has been years since I skated. I was never really very good but I did enjoy doing it. This past year was getting back on cross country skis and getting my balance where it needed to be to do so. e live in a wunnaful area that offers a few rinks. It's time to utilize them. or at least try my very best.

~Forgive someone. For the past couple years I have done this and it's THE most fantastic feeling to have the anger and hate in my heart gone. I never set out each year with a person in mind. It's just happened. I have a couple people in mind this year. It's gonna be tough, but it can be done and I will do my best. If complete forgiveness does not occur I hope my heart brings me to a content place with that person.

~Sing in front of Ken freely. Ok, we have been together for almost 17yrs and we don't sing in front of one another unless we are goofing around. I love to sing.

~Follow our monthly budgets and put $ in savings. I'm pretty good with this but I do fall short at times. There's always something tempting me to stray and at times I do. I will be accountable and stay focused.

~Go to more play performances. We used to go to several performances a year. Truth be told, we stopped going after my ears took a poo and the whole meniere's thing. It affected so many areas of our lives. But this past year we went to "Wit" and it was the best and totally enjoyable. Plus, in the back of both of our heads is the fact that who knows how long I will be able to enjoy them. So, yup, date night supporting our community theatre is a must.

~Learn how to weave a basket. They offer classes at the Art Center now and then. I've always wanted to enroll. I want to make a basket to gather goodies from the garden.

~Learn something new. I have no clue what. Maybe it'll be yoga, or kickboxing. Maybe it'll be a form of dance. Heck, you never know, it could be yodeling. Doubt the yodeling. But you never know.

~Make a meal for a neighbor.

~Go to our babies memorial at least twice.

~Do at least 6 sunrise bike rides. This past summer I did a few and holy smokies!! amazing. I even had two deer run toward me and then continue down Main Street right in front of my eyes at a little before 6am.

~Watch the sunset and moon rise.

~Pet a horse or ride one. Those that know me know that I am terrified of horses. I find them gorgeous...at a distance.

~Do a somersault. Strange right? I haven't done one since I was in the 9th grade when I broke my collarbone while doing a shoulder roll doing gymnastics. Basically a shoulder somersault. Time to get over the fear I think. lol Hope my bones hold up!

~Grow watermelons and honeydew in the garden.

~Make Christmas gifts.

~Take each of the pups for a walk/run once a week.

~Go fishing and eat the fish we catch. I won't touch the worm but will touch the fish. Ken is the opposite so we make a good team. Now we just need to acquire the taste for it.

~Start a fire with two sticks. Meaning, no lighter fluid, matches or even flint and magnesium. I swear I should have been a boyscout at times. But, I like being a girl. =)

~Do four jig saw puzzles. I never make time to do them and it's something I like to do.

~Visit friends and family monthly. Too often we only get together for special occasions. Holidays, bdays, etc. Gone are the days of "just because" Those are coming back. =)

~Make a skirt using Nana's sewing machine. I have the fabric, the pattern and I've had the machine since Nana passed away. I was always too scared to use it, that I'd break something. Time to use it and make something beautiful for myself.

~Milk a cow. Yup, horrified of cows too. But, I like milk and want to just try it. Any farmers out there willing to let me play with some udders?

~Make household cleaners/soaps/candles. This just goes with wanting to be more green and frugal.

~Use our solar clothes dryer religiously. meaning hang laundry on the line, which I love to do. But sometimes it's so much easier to pop it in the dryer.

~ Visit a new Campground. Camping is an adventure we both love. It's great fun to visit a new place and meet new people.

~Visit Joy. Joy is my sweet baby niece that we were given custody of this past June. We made the difficult but right decision to let her go. She has a new forever family. Yet, it sometimes hurts. I'll get into that some other time.

~Knit. I still want to learn how to knit well. I can do the basic knit and purl with some difficulty. I have Nana's gorgeous needles and want to do something great with them. I will do it. Yup.

~Decorate for holidays. No, not just for Christmas. I used to make little things for different holidays and put out different decorations. I stopped after ken thought it was a waste of time. I do miss having a few decorations out throughout the year. I admit, when ken said it was a waste of time I was a bit over the top. I want to decorate but do it simply. Remember? Simplify.

~Last but not least, I want to tell the people I love them as often as possible. If you are in my life I truly do love ya.

First bikeride of the season & some goals

Today I took my first bike ride of the season!! It was an amazing, gorgeous day here in the Yoop. That's the Upper Penninsula of MI, for my non Yoopish friends =) The ice cutters were on the lake today. Spring is coming and soon, the big honkan boats will be coming in and out of our harbor!!!!

My goal was to ride 8 miles but do to some ice and big puddles I opted to settle for 7 miles. Before long I'll be back to biking 15 miles per day. Well, that is my hope at least.

Another goal of mine is to drop 50lbs...yes, 50. I am ashamed to even say that I would be at a healthy weight if I lost 50lbs. My goal is not far fetched. Spring has sprung for the time being & this gal is going to take full advantage of it.

Tomorrow afternoon I have a date with a dear friend, and we're going jogging!! I am hoping I will be able to have an every other day biking schedule and on the days I am not biking I will take walks, jogs, do tummy crunches, jumping jacks...basically whatever it takes!! I also want to take out my Pilate's & Yoga DVDs and immerse myself into that. I'm hoping it will unclutter my busy brain, make me more focused, get in touch with myself and work on regaining some of the balance Meniere's has taken away from me. I'm going to need some pillows on either side to cushion those falls that I am certain to have.

As a way of holding myself accountable I am gong to add a sidebar on my blog of how many miles I biked and a weekly update of the lbs I lose. Once I get to my goal I will post my ending weight...not too happy with the current digits. Here's to getting healthy and to Spring!!

2009 in review

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? touched a dead person
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions...I like to call them aspirations. I was able achieve some of them. I like to have many aspirations
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? nobody really really really close
4. Did anyone close to you die? Ken's Nana passed away June 13th...I lost a part of myself when she passed away.
5. What places did you visit? various states in the semi and we took a lil vaca to Ontonogan, MI for my birthday to do some hiking in the Porcupine Mountains and camped.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? game nights with family and friends, dinner parties, debt free
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? June 14th...just walked in the door from our camping weekend at camp & we were told of Nana's passing.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? riding my bicycle 10-15 miles per day.
9. What was your biggest failure? staying on budget as I would have liked
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing out of the norm.
11. What was the best thing you bought? The new toilet. The old bugger wasted gajillions of gallons of water per flush!!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? anyone who stood up for what they believe in and worked to make our world a better place
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Not for me to judge
14. Where did most of your money go? diesel fuel for the semi!!!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Going camping, hiking and riding my bike. I seriously got psyched out for those 15 milke bike rides.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? She's Country by Jason Aldean
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? Sadder...My friend Amy died less than a week ago and another friend Josh died today... b) thinner or fatter? thinner c) richer or poorer? about the same
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? entertaining, writing and reading
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? worrying
20. How did you spend Christmas in 2009? went to Ken's grandparents on Christmas Eve & my family shin dig on Christmas day
21. Did you fall in love in 2009? I fall in love everyday with my hubby
22. What was your favorite TV program? probably Survivor
23. What did you do for your birthday in 2009? We went camping and hiking in Ontonogan, MI area for a week. It was fantastic!!!
24. What was the best book you read? The Perks Of Being A Wallflower
25. What did you want and get? another year with my fab hubby
26. What did you want and not get? debt free
27. What was your favorite film of this year? Not sure that I had one
28. Did you make some new friends this year? yuppers
29.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? less debt
30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? I wear what I am comfortable in
31. What kept you sane? a supportive and wonderful husband and my fab friends
32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I honestly don't get into the whole celebrity thing
33. What political issue stirred you the most? Gay marriage, healthcare reform
34. Who did you miss? Nana...it was extremely hard losing her
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. To Love me for who I am. I cannot change certain things about myself.

Hopes for the New Year

The year is coming to an end & a new one will begin before we know it. This past year we've had some ups & downs but all & all it was a good year. Of course it was a good year!! It was an EVEN numbered year!!!

Birthdays were celebrated, another anniversary with my hubbykins was had, crafts were made, adoptions failed, hearts mended, relationships nurtured. There was weeding out of toxic relationships & oodles upon oodles of hours spent canning & preserving. We went raspberry picking for the 1st time at a farm, witnessed numerous sunsets, swam in the lake, ran with the pups, camped in the sticks, read I don't know how many books, my gorgeous niece Hayley was born, we paid off the tv & den furniture. We saw the mountains & trucked 100,000 miles & didn't take a single moment of it for granted.

Every year I have a list of hopeful accomplishments for the coming year. I was surprised to see a real crafty gal Holli over at http://feedingthebigguy.blogspot.com/ posted a partial of her aspirations for the New Year. Below is a smidgen of my hopes for the upcoming year.

• Grow what fruits & veggies I can in the limited space we have
• Visit the Farmer's Market religiously
• Can & preserve as much as humanly possible. This not only provides fresh produce but saves on the pocket book in the winter months when the produce is out of season
• Further my knitting skills. There's so many neato ideas to make but yeah, I don't have the knitting mojo in my bones apparently.
• Crochet at least 6 afghans
• Continue being a Chemo Angel & up my letter/card sending
• Learn a new sport even if it's through a DVD. Such a Yoga, Kickboxing
• Read at least 28 books.
• Better balance my diet to help control my Meniere's
• Only purchase yarn when needed for a project. I have a tendency of purchasing yarn for funzies
• Be more frugal. Ex: shutting off lights, hanging clothes on the line (which I luv to do by the way) Keeping the finances in order & better myself at saving
• Laugh every day. I'm a firm believer in positive thinking will make a much happier person
• Keep a journal of daily thoughts of my wonderous hubby & give it to him next Christmas or our anniversary
• continue working on my strong headed-ness. I know I'm no walk in the park sometimes
• stay connected with friends. This is such a struggle sometimes with being on the road
• Visit Nana in Massachusetts
• drink more water
• go out with friends. yes, I typed that right. We rarely, if ever go out with friends anymore. Whether it be for dinner, movies, bowling or gatherings.
• Visit our babies Memorial carvings at least twice
• Go camping & watch the sunsets
• become more familiar & less afraid of our canoe
• Use my crockpot at least 50 times
• go on a closet cleaning bonanza
• Make meals for neighbors
• make pillows out of Gpa W's old shirts & Mom's old dress
• un-rustify my ASL so when we see Gwen & Shash we will be able to converse
• which leads me to...going to NY to meet Shashica, Darren, Logan & Dasha

And to live live to it's fullest, not take life, or my loved ones for granted. I know I can't save the World but I will do what I can to hopefully make a difference.

The purpose of life is not to be happy – but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. - Leo Rosten, American teacher and humorist

Be the change you want to see in the world -Gandhi

Happy New Year!!

Transformationalizing

So, the day is almost done...I accomplished quite a bit in the house today & got my behind out of the house to pic up our pictures for the cards & then went shoppin for some odds & ends.

One more Christmas gift is bought!! We are both sooo clueless when it comes to ken's uncle...and we have his name for Christmas. I scoured the Lions sh** with disgust & couldn't bring myself to purchasing such poop. Soooo I figured I'd let the kenster figure out what to get him...it's his uncle...heeeheee. Well standing in line at the checkout was taking forever & a day & that's when I spotted it....GIFT CARDS!!!!!! Yup, I totally went the easy route & got a gift card. Is that bad? I know Ken will say that's bad. But then again it's not like he puts any effort into buying gifts. And really, who wouldn't want a gift card? I know I think they are dandy things. Fingers crossed his uncle likes it.....

I also decided in order de funktify I need a change....in the form of a hair color. I've had it my natural dark brown for months now & honestly, the Kester isn't too snitz on it. LOL It's the reason I kept it for so long. ;) But today I picked up a handy dandy light brown with highlights & am all ready for my outwardly transformations. I should have bought a new over shoulder boulder holder too to spruce up the girls. I planned on zip zappin (waxin) my eyebrows & doing my nails all snowflakey too but that will wait till after the hairdo.

I just totally ordered the gift I am giving for my family gift exchange!!! I'm superly duperly stoked!! We play this super fun game & the gift changes hands...yeah, I can't explain it but it's pretty darn fruitan funtastic! I wouldn't be sad if my gift ended up in my hands. I have a few ideas for our other gift for the exchange but want to have ken put some effort into it too. I'm guessing I'll be left figuring it out. I also bought some yarn...and it's not even for me!! Yup, imagine that my friends!! My brother & sister have been on crocheting safari's every night & so, they will be getting yarn for Christmas!!!

We nixed the idea of putting a real tree on the porch & decorating it with birdseed drenched pinecones & cranberry & popcorn garlands...too many darn tootan pigeons!!! Now, I know they have to eat but I'll be darn tooted if I'm gonna turn out like the crazy bird lady!!! Plus to cut down a tree just for that kinda makes me sad for some unknown reason. Now watch, I'll have some r-tarded dream about a tree screaming as I slowly kill it....

Anyfartles....I'm workin on the de-funktifying still & I have ta thank my swellacious friends for their support & for the laughs!!! You know I luv your punk butts to the moon!!!!!! xoxoxox

A Fantastic Recipe!!!

A GREAT RECIPE...

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God aboutwhat is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'Mypurpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food thatis manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskansalmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issuesof the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Insteadinvest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like acollege kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what theirjourney is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years,will this matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friendswill. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: Iam thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.You'll be smiling before you know it.



I got this "Recipe" in am email & just had to share it!!! I know some of these are no brainers but in this hustle bustle time of the year I thought it would be fitting to post as a reminder to slow down....and appreciate life!!!

Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away!!!!!

Tuesday's Tasks

Good fancy mornan!!!

I just saw the salt truck go by on the avenue. We only got about an inch of snow yesterday. Kinda a bummer...I was hoping for a crap load. But it looks sooo pretty out my window!!

I watched two Christmas movies on ABC Family last night. They have this fabulous countdown to the 25 days of Christmas. PERFECT!!! I have stuff to watch at night now!!! While watching I munched on stale candy canes from last year...maybe the year before. Before you think oh my, she must be desperate....ok, I was kinda but I prefer chewy candy canes actually =) Well the insane amount of candy cane eatage made me hyper. It was around 2am when I decided it was time to let the puparoodles out for the last time before we head to bed.

Ok, this is the funny part. I open the back door, let the pups into the yard, I stand on the back step looking at the white rooftops in the neighborhood, munchin on my candy cane. As I took a bite out flew a danged bird from under my eave!! I assure you I almost peed myself silly! Some oh so colorful words spewed out of my mouth! They weren't the normal gibberish words I use. Well you can use your imagination! My head was almost dive bombed by a bird at 2am for crypes sake!!!

Once I got up to bed I was still too hyped up on sugar that I barely slept. So, I'm kinda draggin butt today but am determined to accomplish a great many things!!!

1. Vacuum


2. mend the pants & shorts Ken wants mended, and FINISH the quilt!!!


3. clean Chloe's terrarium


4. finish the hats for my nieces


5. make the aprons for Linds & I for our cookie makin extravaganza coming soon =)


6. finish decorating our bedroom


7. maybe hang the garlands on the porch & let the pups play outside (I won't go into the attic or basement by myself to get the rest of the outside decorations)


8. Find the computer desk in the den (Christmas odds & ends have found their way there)

I also find it very important to take time for yourself each day. I know life gets busy, things need to be done... but there are so many fantastic things right in front of your eyes that get overlooked or not enjoyed. Fascinate your senses today & open your eyes & hearts to the fantasticness around you!!!

Ok, now....WISH MY LUCK!!! =)

Continuation

Mission organization & declutteriation continues...


I've done a great many things already & was in need of a break. What better way to break but to check email, blogs & put some thoughts out into cyber space!!!


Working on putting the pine garlands above the kitchen cabinets, decorating the buffert area by the curio, Chloe (the tortoise) has a clean tank & has taken her daily soak, sewing cart is organized, the stack of papers on the dining room table has been gone through & out away. The main floor is almost finished!! HOORAY! I can't wait to show pics of all of the Christmas decorations up & in place & all lit up!!! Oh how I wish you all could come over!!


Tonight while I have my sit down & chillax time I will make the scarf to match the lil mittens & finish up on the book purse I am crafting for my lil sis. Ok, so back to work here!!! p.s. the clouds are lookin like it's gonna snow!! =)


For funzies here are some pics of the jewelry I've been making. I can't be havin a blog with no pics =)

Whew, it's been a long day!

I set numerous goals today & accomplished a great many of them. I have never made pumpkin puree & my to do list did not allot ample time to do this AND the other tasks. I am happy to report that 4 of the 6 pumpkins have become puree though =) The other two were so hard to cut & my hands had had enough. So those two will go for the deer.



I chopped off the top, cleaned out the pumpkin brains, sliced them up & placed onto an ungreased cookie sheet & baked at 350 for 45 minutes. See, they have a hint of brown? Oh, added bonus is that the baking made the house smell delicious!!!

After they were done baking & let sit to cool a bit I began peeling the outer skin & chopping the pumpkin up & placing it in a bowl.

Loaded up the blender & pureed the bazoinkels outta the chunks

And whaaalaaa! We have a total of 16 cups of fresh pumpkin puree for breads, pies, cookies & who knows what else I'll make. I suggest setting aside a couple hours for this. I had figured it would take a half an hour tops to clean them & get them ready to bake...WRONG!!! It took 3!!!

After that task was finished I cleaned up the kitchen, emptied & ran the dishwasher, swept, scrubbed the floor, etc. I now have a clean kitchen =) Well for the time being...

I tidied up the house a bit, did a batch of laundry. My neck is still sore since Saturday morning. I either slept wrong or dancin to "Black Betty" Friday night did me in. So I figured I'd work on my sit still type tasks.

Logan's afghan is finished...

Also made some mittens & a scarf for special lil ladies in my life while I watched a movie "Christmas in the Clouds".

Tomorrow will be a much more productive day! I plan on going to bed at a decent hour. Which means, before 5am!! Ken's on the road so that means I rarely sleep. Tomorrow I will tackle the den and take the Christmas decorations upstairs after I put the Christmas Village we painted out on display. Tonight when I go to bed my jewelry making supplies will be taken to my craft room.

Hopefully I will have some time tomorrow to work on the memory quilt. The pieces are cut & the rows have been laid out & put back in order. Now I just need to park my fannie in front of the machine.

Letting Go & Letting Sunshine Back In

I was uncertain what to title this post as. Last October Ken & I put our hearts back out int the world of adopting. We first joined MARE, then went into exploring the other options. We came so close to getting the most amazing little girl one has ever seen. Things seemed to be going great. I allowed myself to buy some stuff for the room, drew & painted the themes on the walls, we borrowed a crib from Ken's aunt & uncle. The whole shabang... we had everything. We were ready, our hearts completely in it.

Well, needless to say, the adopting stuff took a royal crap, as our normal luck goes. But as usual we got back up, put the pieces of our heart somewhat back together . It's a place neither of us will allow ourselves to go again. We've lost so much & picking up the pieces never gets easy. But, we've managed to go on with life. It took me awhile to use this room for any functional purpose other than a place to house the litter pans for Buster & Betsey. But I am now pleased & absolutely luv this amazing place! It was started out with such love & hope. In this room I now hope to create loving pieces of craftyness. Below are the before & after pics. Meaning...all set up for kiddo & to the now ultra fabulous Kathy's Krafty Korner!! I couldn't be more stoked!!






See the yellow blankie draped over the back of the crib? My Mom made that for me when I was in Readiness Kindnergarden to use during "nap/rest time" I cherish such things so much. It now sits on the shelf in the den. I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate it into our bedroom.

I absolutely LOVE Pooh, more specifically Eeyore. So naturally the nursery had to be in that theme. In one day I free hand drew the characters on the wall & painted them. I know, Pooh looks a bit gimpish with a wimpy arm. I've never claimed to be a good drawer. It was fun though.

She only got to play with this little kitchen a couple times. It now sits in our attic collecting dust. I'm thinking I could give it to my lil baby niece or my cousin who is opening up a fabulous daycare in her home!!

I found this adorable lamp on Ebay & totally had to have it!!
I made the cushions for the rocking chair ken's folks gave us...we were all set to spend nights rocking & lul-a-bye-ing.
Now, this is what I've transformed this baby space into! It's a craft room/office!! I've still got some work to do in there. Man, the craft stuff I have!! Yesterday I worked on the cleaning part & got inspired to make some Christmas cards. Notice a few of the blue colored jars my fabulous friends Sam & Pat gave me? I couldn't use them for food. Well I could have but to me they are way too pretty!!! They have found a new purpose now...holding my pens, markers, colored pencils, craft scissors, shells...you name it. They friggen rock!! Thank you Sammers & Pat!!

This is another windowsill in the room. I have miscellaneous things to put in the jars. This one has shells from Coco Beach in Florida. Buttons, acorns, pine cones & who knows what else will find a home in the other ones. I'm still working on cleaning remember...lol

This is one of my most favoritist things in life...YARN!!! And I have plenty!! I have it all organized by the rainbow color palette. It's so wunnaful being able to see just what I've got. I tend to go out and buy yarn just for funzies. There is a slight addiction to my yarn buying.
This part of the closet houses a small portion of my fabric. In that gorgeous basket I keep my embroidery threads. The basket was the one I bought at the gas & Steam engine show. Remember that Red Owl box I wrote of this summer that I got at a rummage sale? That now sits on the closet floor & holds stray balls of yarn from past projects. It makes me smile every time I see it. Brings me back to my childhood of weekend grocery shopping trips with Mom & Dad.
This is another part of my scrappin desk. I love how it looks out the window. Yeah, I still get the litter pans in my room. But that's ok. They will stay cleaner this way anyways. As who in tarnation would want to work in a cat smelling space? Plus the whole Pooh thing rocks my socks!!
Go Spartans!! Yup, still a big MSU gal!! The picture is blurry but in the rack there I have myriads of papers to fart around with.

I also have another desk area in this space. It's my old vanity. Actually it was my sister Chrissy's & then Laurie's...and now mine. I wish I knew how to insert a photo & move it around. I'm sure it will be included in another post...at another time. I've still got A LOT of cleaning to do up there! This is just a smidgen I've showed.

Anytootles...I've been ooberously busy cleaning, getting back to "me", crafting & all that fancy stuff. It took me many months to allow myself to claim this room as my own. My heart is healing & I am totally diggin having this Eeyoreiffic room to craft & do paperwork in!! =)

My Bucket List

I highly recomend the Movie The Bucket List! I had myself a little "Kathy time" & watched it last week. Sensational movie!!!

Now to some this may sound wierd, and a bit wackadoodleish but for as long as I remember I have always had a "bucket list" But mine was called "the to do before I die list" I know, kinda morbid. I've always thought I was going to die young. Wierd huh? Anyways this list totally fits my personality though & a fantastic way to fulfil my need for making lists. Plus it keeps me on target of my life goals. I don't need a reason such as an impending death time frame to do extraordinary things. We're all gonna die wheather we like it or not & it's best to make the best of the short time frame we call life & experience everything life has to offer!!

I'll share a few of my life goals that have been achieved & some yet to achieve...

1. Be kind to others (I continue to try to do this daily)

2. Marry a wonderful man (I am so lucky to have met & married my best friend. Ken's pretty super neato if you ask me!!)

3. Climb a mountain (We kinda sorta went rock climbing in Montana...but I don't consider that to count)

4. Live out West (One day....Out West is where my soul belongs)

5. Travel in all of the United States (We were so fortunate to travel through the 48 continental states & 5 of the providences in Canada)

6. Learn about anything & everything (This is a never ending goal)

7. Be an advocate for cancer (I haven't even touched the surface & I will never stop!)

8. Help abused, orphaned, shelter dogs & cats & well any animal in need of a loving home (Well, we have 5 dogs, 2 cats...all from bad homes or shelters)

9. See Phantom Of The Opera on Broadway (Haven't done this yet...)







10. Be a Mommy (Can I consider being a mommy to my animals being a mommy? I've always wanted kids...5 to be exact. But the man upstairs apparently has different plans for us in life)







11. Meet my bestest gal friend Shashi (This is a huge one for me!! I don't think she even knows just how much her friendship means to me & how very much I treasure our friendship. She is a total hero & a great inspiration & I can't even imagine how I'd cope with MM if I hadn't met her swellacious self!!)







12. Make a difference (as in make people happy, be kind, share in life experiences)







I could go on & on here...but I won't bore ya!


Do any of you have a list of goals to do before you kick the bucket?