Pink Saturday 11/20/2010

Happy Pink Saturday. Go visit the participants and be delighted with all the pinkness your heart can bear!

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I'm healing nicely from the fall/flip I took at the end of August and am through with the physical therapy. Well, not really through exercising, but insurance would only pay for 8 weeks so hubby and I spent the afternoon shopping at the local sports store, and I picked up a couple of things to help me PT here at home.

And speaking of home, I want to show you some of my absolute favorite rooms. These are rooms I love and will love until the day I die.

I love French and English elements in decorating, but I love shabby romantic roses mostly. Throw in a bit of French and I'm in heaven. I like this living room.

I was into country about 25 years ago, but not so much now. But this living room is one I could live it. It's very romantic with the roses sofa and y'all know my favorite color combination is red/pink and yellow. That sofa is my sofa, just with different fabric.

This bedroom just appeals to me also even though it has elements of country. It's still very much romantic and kind of shabby.

Another one of my favorites. Any shade of red appeals to my senses like no other color.

Oh, squeal, squeal, squeeeeeeeeal!!! I love this bedroom also.

But THIS is my all time favorite living room. When I saw this in the Ethan Allen magazine about 17 years ago, my heart did flip flops. If I could achieve this look, I know I'd be in heaven. I cannot tell you how much I love and adore this room. To me it is just warm, snugly, homey and comfortable.

This is the dining room that goes with the above living room. Do you see what I mean? Is it not gorgeous? Oooh, how I love to look at these pictures and dream about being in that living room and dining room

Lastly, I've had this fabric for several years and have never used it. I've given up making pillows to sell so if anyone is interested in it, it's on eBay and it's 2 full yards at a very good price. I love it but I know I'll never use it or make anything with it. So with the Christmas season coming up, I thought I'd let you know in case you're interested. Here is the URL for it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350415016392&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Be of good cheer, my chicks. I think I'll be trying to post more very soon. I've missed not surfing the blogs and I haven't because I know once I get started, I'll not be able to move my backside from this chair and that is NOT a GOOD thing!
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Food Storage and 72 Hour Kits

First of all, a bit of eye candy for you. I've promised you beautiful things on this blog along with useful things also, but you'll pretty much see eye candy no matter what.

The vases I finished recently are now stuffed with some coffee filter roses I've made.

Little faux cupcakes that grace my living room end table.
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Right after Easter this year hubby and I went to the stores and bought up a bunch of marked down candy for emergencies. (Yes, this is a boring subject today but one that definitely needs to be addressed.) We vacuum sealed some candy and thought we'd open it after several months to see how it survived. This past week we opened up our Milk Duds.

This is how they looked when I cut the sealed bag. Hubs said to throw it out. I beg to differ, man!!! Throw out chocolate? Is the man nuts?! Never. I peeled the cardboard box off it and broke it into tiny pieces and ate it. While it doesn't look quite appetizing, I can assure you it was delish—hard but delish. It softened up after sucking on it for a few seconds and then it was just fine.

Hubby and I recently went through our 72 hour kits for emergencies. We do this periodically and it's a good thing. Listen up. You can do this. You need to do this. Remember Haiti, New Orleans and other areas hit by natural disasters? Those people could have survived if they had some food and water. Besides, our church leaders tell us to do it, and I'm obedient in as many things as I can possibly be because I'm pathetic is so many other ways.

Hubs and I started with backpacks and put them on luggage carriers in case I couldn't carry it on my back any longer. Easy peasy.

Then we added extra undergarments, shoes (good thing I checked it because I could no longer get my feet in the shoes in my pack after all the surgery 2 years ago), towel, washcloth, dry packed food, change of clothing, which can be just any old thing you want to put in since it'll be an emergency and the fashion police won't care. I hate MREs so we opted to buy Mountain House at WM and will now buy some that is even better called Dri-Lite from a local sporting goods store. We got 3 dinners but just put oatmeal, cereal and pancake mix in the backpack for breakfasts and snack type things for lunches. See the blue bag in the bottom right. Never hurts to have a few of those in there. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!! Pair of wool socks and gloves in case the disaster is in the winter time.

Hubs tent and plastic ware for eating and his little mess kit that contains cooking pot, plate and cup.

A ziplock bag can hold soap, toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner, comb and brush and any meds you might need. Rotate them for expiration dates.

I have a whole roll of toilet paper squished and put in a side pocket. You'll be very surprised how much you can get in a backpack. A coat need not go in there because in the summer you wouldn't need it especially, and if it's in the winter time, you'll be wearing it on your back. ;-)

A plastic bandaid can will hold an entire infirmary in it if packed right—bandaids, neosporin, pins and needles, lip balm.

I love having a whistle just in case we might get separated. Plus a length of cord can save a life. Side bar here:

Once with hubby was taking a scout troop for snow camping they came upon a pretty sheer cliff of snow and ice. Hubs is a large man—6"2' and about 200 pounds and the strongest man I've ever met. One of the other adults went across with the rope while hubs stayed on the starting side to sort of belay his across the chasm. Then the boys would have an adult at both ends to hold onto the rope while the boys were secured to it. A ways across this 300 ft. drop a boy slipped and started sliding. (He was an only child and very protected by his parents and I hate to think what would happen if he got injured or fell to his death on this trip. Anyway, hubs kept telling him to be careful but he got a bit cocky and started sliding. Hubs, in his best USMC drill sergeant voice told him to stop and grab the rope tighter to not slide so much. He listened and did what hubs told him but he was shaking badly when the guy on the other end got hold of him. He was sliding pretty fast and good on that rock covered with snow and ice. My man is a hero and I never doubt that he could save me from just about anything. But a rope can be used to throw to someone who might have fallen over a cliff or into a river.

Flashlight, my utensils and a foil blanket for warmth that packs down very small.

Lots of sweets and cocoa and herb tea. If you in a stressful situation there is nothing like sweet candy to help with the stress. And it's the best stuff for bartering you've ever seen. Have lots of it. During WWII cooking oil was the most precious commodity for trading. If you had sugar, candy or oil you could trade it for anything.

Hubby's jacket and the water filtration system. Easy and small to have. You don't want to get sick on the water if there is a major catastrophe. Light that goes around his head so he can help with hands free in the dark.

This is the back end of our garage where we have a 250 gallon water storage tank. I never worry about anyone stealing it because water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon so that tank weight 2,075 full of water. And it's house water to drink. We got the tank from a man in our church who made them for about $180 each. Well worth it if a catastrophe hits. And there have been many lately.

Now, within the next couple of weeks I'm going to talk about food storage. We have a years supply of food and all the essentials. You can learn how and do it surprisingly quickly and easy. Here we had all our canned fruits, vegetables, pastas, peanut butter, nuts, ketchups, sauces, salt, pepper, spices, packaged dinners, cake mixes and frostings, vinegar, oils, canned meat, vacuum dried nuts, jerky, mayonnaise, mustard, candy, cereals, pancake mix, etc.

As you can see, I had a virtual grocery store in my basement. That was our former house and we have less than half the square footage here in our house now than this one—the former one. It's a bit tighter and we have to be more creative but it can definitely be done. The five gallon tubs contained dried carrots, dried onions, sugar, dried potatoes and dried beans. This was just part of it, the largest part, but there was more upstairs and meat in 2 of our freezers.

Here we kept toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, fabric softener, bleach, soap, toothpaste, lamp oil for oil lamps when electricity would be shut off.

So later on I'll tell you how to start your food storage. In reading an article this past week on food, there is no doubt it's going to climb in price and there are already shortages on some things. As Mormons we've been told to be prepared for these kinds of circumstances. Please, please listen and get some essentials for your home for the coming days. I doubt very seriously that you'll regret it but if it's not there, you'll regret not having it.
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Pink Saturday 11/13/2010 Office Chair Cover

Happy Pink Saturday. Please visit other participants at Beverly's Blog.


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I had x-rays done and all is normal but continue the physical therapy. The therapist has given me more exercises and variations on some of the old ones. My advice? Avoid doing a 180° flip at all costs, chicks! You would laugh if you could see how I have to sit in a restaurant booth. (I prefer tables and chairs but at the moment I need the cushioning of the booth seats. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, stops my monday and friday nights eating out. Even if I do have to sit kinda weird.
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Several weeks ago I came to the realization that I could not sit in my office chair without pain so I switched with hubs and he took my chair. His is much more comfortable for me and comfort is a necessity at this point. However, he doesn't want to have a roses chair cover on his chair and it won't fit what is now my chair. But when I looked at it, there was an "unraveling" of some fibers on one side. I thought of selling it and repaired the tear. I then washed it. I then put it on a chair in the studio to dry it. I like it! I think I'll just keep it on that chair—after I iron it. The thought of selling it distressed me because I love it but I was willing to pass it on to someone for a nominal charge with the knowledge that it was repaired. If I change my mind, I'll let someone who loves office chair covers with roses fabric on it know. I'd like to see it go to a good home!

Just a fancy stitch to repair the tear. Voilà, looks like new.

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Feelings On a Wintry Day

Sitting in my home the other day I was peering out the window and patio door as I was feeling sorry for myself. (No, don't you feel sorry for me; I do quite a good job at it by myself and don't need you to waste the energy! I'd rather do it myself.) Anyway, I watched my 3 aspen trees denude themselves and remembered a day many years ago doing the same thing—different house, different town. I just sat there that day watching a very small catalpa tree drop every single leaf in the span of a couple of hours. It just amazed me because I'd never taken the time to do that when we lived in California. I was too busy working, raising kids, keeping house, being a wife and those things we do while younger. Those falling leaves were like an eye opener to the wonders that await us when we don't let busyness distract us. I truly felt peace this day. Some of my gauzy jejeune recollections hit me at the strangest times lately.

Then I looked out over the back fence and saw the roof of the home behind us. It reminded me of England and Ireland or even France somewhat. Mist and frost on the roof beginning our cold season here. It simply mesmerized me for several minutes so I quickly grabbed the camera and flicked away.

This was the actual temperature outside that day and I was barefoot. It felt good to have my feet a bit cold. It also looks like I need to power wash the house and patio!

I took these plates off a shelf next to the new cabinet I painted white and shabby-ed up. Hubby was going to lower it a few inches and I didn't want these old plates to get knocked off. And I thought I'd photograph them to show you how lovely they are.

This is one of my favorites plates: pink and roses!

And our granddaughter Mandy and her daughter Miss Caroline—the best eye candy of all for me. Those are baby eyeglasses sized for their sweet little faces and have a strap to hold them on. Mandy says she loves having them on and doesn't try to take them off. I think she thinks she's a diva!

And a funny photo of Miss Caroline's great grandparents—me and th' hubs—about 25 years ago visiting relatives back east. Would ya look at all that hair...on both of us! Him, not so much; me, just the same but a bit grayer. ;-) And that man still fills out a pair of jeans the best of any man I've seen!
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And my many thanks to our Veterans this day. You've all stolen my heart for your sacrifice for me, my family and my country. Those of you who have lost loved ones defending this country need have no fear of where they'll go. No man has such love as to lay down his life for his country or fellow man or woman. I salute all them and our brave soldiers and troops fighting for our freedom. This family loves you beyond measure!
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Just Missing Ya

I've been missing blogging something fierce, but I have to tell you it's been nice not having to take pictures every single day and think of what might be worthy of a blog since I've been doing absolutely almost NOTHING. And I mean truly not much of anything at all...except read a lot of espionage and mystery novels.

Okay. I needed some mascara recently and searched out Youtube for any recommendations. This one called Falsies caught my eye and I bought it. I have to say it really is nice. You can curl your eyelashes immediately after applying and it goes on really well.

Now, please don't go by these horrid pictures I took late in the evening because the one on the left side in the photo looks a tad bedraggled but the one on the right in the photo shows how lovely it goes on with just one application/swipe over the eyelash. I like it and will buy it again. With the way things are ever changing in the cosmetic world I'm sure there will be another one as good or probably even better soon, but this one is truly a nice one. I think the inside of the brows near my nose need plucking severely! Yuck...

This past weekend I just stayed home and really just felt very sorry for myself. Our ward was having Stake Conference (held every 6 months) and I couldn't go. My leg and back were simply too bad and in pain so that I couldn't make it. But let me go back to Friday.

I went to my doctor telling her my left hip is still hurting pretty badly and she set up some x-rays to see if maybe there is a pinched nerve or whatever might be going on. It just aches and burns constantly. Ibuprofen helps but it's a nuisance to have to live with it. But just a few days before I realized I was getting a yeast infection (you know where, so don't ask) and went to WM to pick up some OTC Miconazole. Well, while talking to her I mentioned a cold sore than the usual medication isn't fixing. During the last several years I get them 4 or 5 times a year and they are very painful, usually in the corners of my mouth. I mean I've been slathering the prescription in the corner to no avail. When I mentioned that she said, "Hmmmm, well, that could be a yeast infection in the corner." BINGO! The night before I put some Lotrimin on it just to see if that would help and the next morning (Friday) it felt a tad better. So, I had a yeast infection instead of a cold sore. (I have no clue about what causes these things, but I'm betting stress...S T R E S S...has something to do with it. So she gave me one of those Diflucan one-time pill to take and it's definitely feeling better. I'm even putting the Lotrimin on it also. I tell ya, this has been one heck of a summer and autumn for me! But some wonderful things are happening also.

Two friends who were in my eBay group but left for major health issues sent me something I received on Monday. I was in shock and so grateful for these two chicks and their thoughtfulness.

This is from Katie—a watercolor painting on card stock. Isn't it gorgeous?! I'm going to frame it and hang it somewhere in this house.

And then my sweet friend, Rhea, who has a major illness and can hardly get out of bed most of the time, sent me this little garland. I commented on her blog how darling those were and loved how she creates. (I've known her for about 6 years now and still keep in touch by phone even though she's no longer in our group.) To have received 2 packages on the same day was much more than I had ever dreamed of. I am so truly and absolutely blessed it is beyond my imagination.

I stuck it on my mantel temporarily until I decide exactly where I want to hang it. It is just precious and took some skill to do this. Rhea is very, very creative.

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Random Thoughts:

I read recently on a news site that NYC is going to try banning catcalls and lewd whistles. I think that's silly to waste the government leader's time on something so frivolous. (But when has that ever stopped them!) Personally, I'd love to have as many as I can get. I should think that they have WAAAAAAY more important things to legislate than catcalls and lewd whistles. Which begs the thought: What in the heck is a lewd whistle? I want to know so I can use it next time hubby is standing in the front of the mirror shaving.
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Now, I love kids, especially little babies, but truly all kinds in general. But I gotta tell ya, chicks, I truly don't think a 3 year old can leave a message on the answering machine that can make anyone understand them. I've called people and tried deciphering some of those messages. Most times they don't tell you whose residence it is or the phone number. Most times I have no clue if I've reached the person I've wanted to talk to or not. I know this post here won't make a lick of a difference to anyone but I can hope, can't I? And then there is the silly message they leave. Why in the world would you do business with someone who leaves a silly/stupid message on an answering machine? Bottom line: identify yourself or tell them what the number is so they know they've reached the correct person.
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Indian summer is the warm days after the first frost but before the first snowfall. And the Indians harvested their squash and corn in this period.
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Churchill called it the equal sharing of misery. Margaret Thatcher said the trouble with socialism was that you eventually run out of other people's money.
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I truly do miss blogging and commenting but I can still only sit for very short periods of times at this computer. I'll never post a blog without some sort of eye candy. Until next time, my little chicks.
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