I love gimmicks. You have heard of them.  Little games you play to make yourself do chores that must be done.  Like when The Flylady told me to take 15 minutes a day to do just a little of a chore, like dusting or clearing the clutter from the dining room table.

I like to read the blogs that YOU are reading.  That's how I came across my newest favorite game.  The 366 Challenge.  You can read about it here.

I decided to play along.  Every day I'm going to choose an item, maybe more to donate or give to someone that can use it.  Maybe I'll even have a give-a-way or two.  Each week I'll post a picture of what I cleared out.  This isn't going to be easy, but I can DO it!!

What Did You Say????

I wanted to get up early today.  I guess Junior thought I meant 3:30 AM when Opie (the possum) came to visit. So, I had an early start to a good day. 


 Terry had an appointment at the VA Clinic in Ft. Wayne for a hearing test. We had decided that we would leave whenever we got up and have a nice relaxed trip.  It takes about 1-1/2 hours to get there. We go to Ft. Wayne every now and again.  There is always someplace to visit.  Its a big city. 


Now, its official.  Terry has lost 1/2 his hearing in both ears.  O, what 1/2 you ask?  Well, the 1/2 that hears HIGH pitches.  You know the ones that his wife's voice pitch falls in.  Now he has an excuse ~lol~


Seriously, he has been hard of hearing since before we met. Its probably from the big guns, whatever they are called, that he shot while in Korea.  He served at the DMZ during the conflict when North Korea took our Pueblo and its crew captive.  I guess the next step will be to look into hearing aids.


 After we left the clinic, we had lunch and then checked out some shops on the way home.


It was a nice day with quiet time spent together.  The kind of day we don't get very often and cherish when we do.

The "WORD" Is The New "RESOLUTION"

Yes!  Happy New Year!!

I have been giving so much thought to the coming year. I am not dwelling on the past year.  Oh, it wasn't a BAD year. I'm just not looking back. But the coming year is going to be exciting for me.

Terry is going back to the property that he transferred from.  The old manager quit after he left so we expect this to be a good move.

The owner of the business where I work has bought a new building.  It is HUGE. A block long HUGE!  A little farther away from home.  My office will be back in the "Office" and no longer in the shop.  I'm losing my private bathroom.  But I CHOOSE to look forward to the move. AND Boeing got a multi-billion dollar contract so that should be good news for our future.

My daughter and grandsons will be looking for a place to live.   X = (this is my fingers crossed!) I look forward to them moving on with their lives and becoming more independent.  AND Sometimes my house is a circus, or noisy like a depot as they come and go. Or a bank cause we are the go to bankers when the boys need. Or a gym when they practice Jiu Jitsu in the living room or wherever else they decide to throw each other around!  Do you know that Corey can actually (from a standing position) lift his foot to the sink and hurl his body threw a window opening to the next room!!  It's a circus, I tell ya!  Anyway, it's time, though Corey told me he is leaving his room intact just in case.

So.  Are you wondering about the WORD that I mentioned in the title?  Lots of you (us) pick a word to inspire us for the coming year.  Unlike resolutions that are only meant to be broken, THE WORD helps us to focus on what we expect to accomplish in the coming year.  I've had a discussion with a few of my friends about what their word will be and my perseption of their choices.

Since I talked to Susan Elliot, I have only had one word that my heart, no my SOUL, as spoken.  It is FREEDOM.

Freedom to create and show my creations without fear of how others perceive them. I once posted a piece that I LOVED and still do.  It sits before me right now.  One commentor called it primitive. I didn't take offense at all, but it stiffled me a bit. Made me shy to post some other of my pieces for fear that more accomplished stichers would judge them.  I'm shakin' that off!!  So don't worry, say what you think when you see coming pieces.  I'm not self conscience about them ANYMORE. I welcome constructive comments.

Freedom from guilt because I  allow the others that live here to be responsible for themselves.  Ah, FREEDOM.  I welcome you!

Freedom to be less serious.  To smile and laugh more.  To be more of the person I keep hidden inside.  Freedom to be free.

Happy New Year.  I'm going to be "out there" much more this year.

Back Packs For Lunch

While I was on sick leave, I watched an episode of Anderson Cooper.  One of his guests talked about how she had started a lunch backpack program at a school in New York.  I remembered hearing about such a program before.


Well, you know how I am about listening to the Universe.  She sent me a message the very next day.  I received an email from the boy's school telling us there would be a basketball game soon.  The team was supporting a local program and asked that everyone that attended the game, both home and visitors teams, bring a jar of peanut butter.  They would be donated to a program that the elementary school custodian and his wife had started called CAREousel.  Yep, you guessed it...a Back Packs for Lunch Program.


I sent an email to the basketball coach asking for more information.  He forwarded it to Mr. K, the custodian, who called me that same night.  He explained that he had noticed that one child in particular was saving some of his lunch to take home on Fridays. After talking to the boy to find out that he was saving food for lunch on Saturday, Mr. K.  talked it over with his wife and they agreed to send a bag of food and snacks home with the boy on Fridays.  The project kind of took off from there.  Mr. K. told me that there were at least 150 students that would benefit from the program in just the elementary school.  So far, they have only been able to commit to 50 bags a week.  I asked him how much it would cost to fund one bag.  


Since we are on a pretty tight budget right now, I thought about what I could sacrifice to sponsor a couple of bags each week, and made the commitment to do so.


I'm not telling you this story to get a pat on the back.  I'm just telling you, because you may be looking for a way to make a difference.  You may want to be sure that difference is made in your own community.  If you have been thinking along these lines...take the leap.  Someone is waiting to hear from you.


Merry Christmas.

What Would You Be?

Sometimes I wonder what I would be if I had taken a different path. Oh, that thinking sets me off on all kind of paths.  


I am not talking about wishing I could be a rock star that could just belt out a song in perfect key, dressed in perfect rock star garb.  No, not GAGA.  I don't think I could ever be THAT creative or WANT to dress that way.  I would probably dress more in Cheryl Crow mode.  But that's a day dream.


Sometimes, I'm a dancer..Broadway Dancer! Kicking high, doing a quick roll and back on my feet to kick again.  In my day dream I ALWAYS spin  and spin and fall right off the stage.  No matter how many times that one has run through my head, it always plays out the same way.  I actually do remember riding in the car when I was about 8 years old having that day dream!


Of course, sometimes I sew, and knit and embroider like no other and actually make a living at it creating one of a kind always in demand high-end ...anything.


But what I REALLY wish I was is a Psychologist. I never day dream about it.  I just wish it was the path I had taken. Of course, I would not be a rich Psychologist.  I would be helping those that have no one else..


So, I am rambling, but I really am content in the path I took.  I just wish I knew then what I know now.

Things Have A Way of Happening/ Counting Blessings

I have been telling this to a few of my friends.  This information has had a huge impact on me.  It actually blew me away...scared me a little..gave me pause....I am re-evaluating priorities.


I went to my doc Tuesday to discuss the test and surgery I had.  I got a little more than I bargained for.  I also got some kind of shocking news. Remember I posted that I had 2 gall bladders? The 2nd gall bladder is refered to as a second gall bladder, but its really a somethin-somethin cyst that is usually not detected unless you have gall stone problems. If it goes undetected it usually develops into cancer. Mine tested OK.  So I am one lucky lady with a whole lot to be thankful for. It was lucky that Terry pushed me to have the colonoscopy or I would have let the GB issue go for a long time.


So, on especially this day, I am counting my BLESSINGS.


Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends.  You are in the count.

Diamonds R Forever

The best presents I have ever received from Terry, have been the unexpected ones.


For a long time I have wanted a ring that fit just right on my thumb.


Even though my gem of choice is not diamonds, and my metal of choice is not gold, I cherish this ring.


Because "diamonds are forever, like you and me, and gold is preciouse, like you are to me".  That's what he said after surgery.