What we leave behind
is not what is engraved in stone monuments,
but what is woven
into the lives of others.
--Pericles
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Where has all of my time gone?
So it's more than a little obvious that I've been guilty of neglecting my blog. I've been doing something odd these days- I've been working out at the gym near daily. Hey, one has got to do something with all of this so called "free time". And while I have access to a gym with in walking distance that's also "free" I might as well use it right?
Now with all of the time I've spent at the gym it's got me doing some other stuff- like sewing. Okay should say doing alterations to some of my skirts. I've also gone out and done something that I haven't in quite a long time, I've bought myself some summer clothes. One doesn't really need summer clothes in England unless you're going to another country for a summer vacation, LOL! But none the less I've done just that. My hard work has not gone unnoticed as my sister in law the fitness guru has noticed my efforts at getting into shape (I greatly admire her by the way) and complimented me on my weight loss. I don't know if my husband has noticed but at least someone else has which is a big boost to my ego.
Now I'm off like a dirty shirt- got to hit the gym before my mammogram appointment.
I promise to be more diligent in my blog posting. I've got several recipes in the works and will get to posting them soon! I've got to make a better effort at kicking my husband off of the computer :-)
Now with all of the time I've spent at the gym it's got me doing some other stuff- like sewing. Okay should say doing alterations to some of my skirts. I've also gone out and done something that I haven't in quite a long time, I've bought myself some summer clothes. One doesn't really need summer clothes in England unless you're going to another country for a summer vacation, LOL! But none the less I've done just that. My hard work has not gone unnoticed as my sister in law the fitness guru has noticed my efforts at getting into shape (I greatly admire her by the way) and complimented me on my weight loss. I don't know if my husband has noticed but at least someone else has which is a big boost to my ego.
Now I'm off like a dirty shirt- got to hit the gym before my mammogram appointment.
I promise to be more diligent in my blog posting. I've got several recipes in the works and will get to posting them soon! I've got to make a better effort at kicking my husband off of the computer :-)
quote of the day
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited.
Imagination encircles the world.
--Albert Einstein
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The crazy things I do...
...to occupy my time. Okay so my Kindle is my new BFF. The places I enjoy checking out every day on the www are Pixel of Ink and Kindle Nation Daily . Seriously, I've given up on all Internet groups and just read books these days. I read both of these Internet sites daily. I'm up to 24 pages of books on my Kindle (really, I'm not joking). I've started to archive books I've read on my Kindle. Just from the "FREE" and Discounted books offered and show cased I've discovered so many new to me authors and I've enjoyed it all immensely!
I'm still working on that table quilting project. Actually I got a little fed up with it and put off fixing it. Don't ever think that something that looks simple is simple. I've got a needlework project that I started when we first moved out here in March that's still (as I look at it) in the beginning phase. I have turned into a major procrastinator - that is where crafting is concerned anyway. Slow but sure my craft room is coming together. I dream of one day having a huge crafting space...one that does NOT have to also be used as a guest bedroom which is most inconvenient!
On the job front- we're both still unemployed. I'm almost done with my physical therapy and I am feeling an improvement in the mobility of my arm. I've got a great therapist who really gives me great instructions for exercises that I can do at home. I push myself to work on my arm and it's all paying off :-)
Now for more exciting news...our son is off to Germany for a month of German Studies. He'll be earning college credits and will immerse himself in German Culture. And as a bonus his girlfriend will also be on this trip. She's keeping a blog about the experience and I plan to follow along daily. Days in Deutschland is the name of the blog if you all care to check it out.
Oh and I did do it...It's official I am now a card carrying member of the National Bone Marrow Donor program also knows as Be the Match. What a wonderful thing to do for others, it really is! I want to encourage others to donate blood and also to sign up to be a bone marrow donor! We, all of us have the power to save a life by giving a little of ourselves. My only regret is that I didn't sign up to do this years ago!
I'm still working on that table quilting project. Actually I got a little fed up with it and put off fixing it. Don't ever think that something that looks simple is simple. I've got a needlework project that I started when we first moved out here in March that's still (as I look at it) in the beginning phase. I have turned into a major procrastinator - that is where crafting is concerned anyway. Slow but sure my craft room is coming together. I dream of one day having a huge crafting space...one that does NOT have to also be used as a guest bedroom which is most inconvenient!
On the job front- we're both still unemployed. I'm almost done with my physical therapy and I am feeling an improvement in the mobility of my arm. I've got a great therapist who really gives me great instructions for exercises that I can do at home. I push myself to work on my arm and it's all paying off :-)
Now for more exciting news...our son is off to Germany for a month of German Studies. He'll be earning college credits and will immerse himself in German Culture. And as a bonus his girlfriend will also be on this trip. She's keeping a blog about the experience and I plan to follow along daily. Days in Deutschland is the name of the blog if you all care to check it out.
quote of the day
They will envy you for your success,
for your wealth,
for your intelligence,
for your looks,
for your status-
but rarely for your wisdom.
--Nassim Taleb
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Are we having fun yet?
They say that time flies when you're having fun, I'm not so sure about either part of that last statement. I've been looking for something worthwhile to occupy my time. I've come to realize just how much I miss being involved in the various spouses groups through the military. I've found that I want to be able to make a difference in peoples lives out here. To become involved in the community. Just how to do that is what was my question until yesterday- when I found an answer.
I'm looking into "Be the Match", which is basically a bone marrow donation program. Yes, me Sandie is looking into being a bone marrow donor. There's a health screening and blood testing and tissue typing. BUT (and it's a huge but) all in all I think this is a wonderful way to give of myself and to help another human being. We all give money to various charities, but sometimes what's really needed is for us (and quite literally too), to give a little piece of ourselves.
I'm looking into "Be the Match", which is basically a bone marrow donation program. Yes, me Sandie is looking into being a bone marrow donor. There's a health screening and blood testing and tissue typing. BUT (and it's a huge but) all in all I think this is a wonderful way to give of myself and to help another human being. We all give money to various charities, but sometimes what's really needed is for us (and quite literally too), to give a little piece of ourselves.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Shape of things...
Slow but sure we're making our way through our cardboard jungle. We've never been one of those quick to unpack and put away everything people. We're methodical and we go through every single box, making sure that things are put away or hung up the way we want them to be. I have to say that this time is yet again one of those challenging moves as this place is smaller that we had anticipated and we've got to weed though and downsize yet again. Of course this means re-packing boxes and getting a storage unit. Thank the Lord that the master bedroom is done (well much of it is anyway). We've begun to hang pictures on the walls- that's a sing that we're nearing the end of unpacking. My wonderfully creative and crafty husband has put up some shelves in the lower cabinets to utilize the wasted space there (of which I am very appreciative).
My donate Box has spilled over and now I've got more than one. It's funny how one can purge so much before a move and then after you arrive at your destination you can purge some more. I'm ready to get creative and to start working on some crafty type projects. First victim will be Hannah...OH did I say victim? I meant recipient ;-) I want to work on a lap quilt, I've got the perfect pattern in mind and I'm anxious to find it and get working on it for her.
Now I'm off...I could use a little more coffee and then to get to work on putting more stuff away in my craft room/ guest room.
My donate Box has spilled over and now I've got more than one. It's funny how one can purge so much before a move and then after you arrive at your destination you can purge some more. I'm ready to get creative and to start working on some crafty type projects. First victim will be Hannah...OH did I say victim? I meant recipient ;-) I want to work on a lap quilt, I've got the perfect pattern in mind and I'm anxious to find it and get working on it for her.
Now I'm off...I could use a little more coffee and then to get to work on putting more stuff away in my craft room/ guest room.
quote of the day
It's only when you have the courage to step off the ledge
that you'll realize you've had wings all along.
--Gail Lynne Goodwin
--Gail Lynne Goodwin
Monday, April 18, 2011
finding pieces of me
Moving is rough, living in 3 different places in one year (again) will be insanity in it's best element. So here I am, contemplating my next move (so to speak). After over 7 weeks without our household goods- they have finally arrived. Being reunited with my bed has done wonders for my happiness and attitude. Not that I didn't like my reminiscing of my college days- using a card table as a dining table, and sitting upon borrowed furniture etc...I'm glad to once again to be surrounded by our things (or at least some of them).
Alas, I've got 3, no it's 4 (now) storage shipments around the USA housing my kitchen, outdoor furniture, indoor furniture and yard items. Once we find a house and all...then I'll get all of our things in storage delivered to us. For now it's apartment living and all of the joys that brings (at least we don't have to do yard work).
So as I go through boxes of stuff I'm finding little pieces of myself. I now have a sewing machine, a paper cutter, some paper, 2 sided sticky tape, loads of thread and of course quilt patterns and fabric! Granted I am once again in a country that has reasonable prices for 100% cotton quilting fabric. Not too far from where I'm living now I saw a quilt shop- one that I'd like to go visit.
I've come across my collection of Jane Austen novels plus all of the hardbound Pride and Prejudice spin off novels that I have started collecting since moving to England. I've been adding to my collection since moving back to the USA- Kindle is a wonderful thing. My Kindle has been my companion as I take it everywhere with me. LOVE that 3G network thing it's got too! I can read books, surf the web for free...what's not to like?
I'm still surrounded in cardboard and packing paper but am making major headway with help from my husband and daughter.
I'm surveying my options for employment- I know where I want to work, now for them to have an opening for my to apply for. But for now there are plenty of fun little part time jobs to be had. Places that would be fun for me would be...shoe store, cooking store, clothing store or even a jewelery store. Then again I'd leave for the day owing more money than I had made...so maybe those wouldn't be good options right? OOh but the rewards would be sweet!
Alas, I've got 3, no it's 4 (now) storage shipments around the USA housing my kitchen, outdoor furniture, indoor furniture and yard items. Once we find a house and all...then I'll get all of our things in storage delivered to us. For now it's apartment living and all of the joys that brings (at least we don't have to do yard work).
So as I go through boxes of stuff I'm finding little pieces of myself. I now have a sewing machine, a paper cutter, some paper, 2 sided sticky tape, loads of thread and of course quilt patterns and fabric! Granted I am once again in a country that has reasonable prices for 100% cotton quilting fabric. Not too far from where I'm living now I saw a quilt shop- one that I'd like to go visit.
I've come across my collection of Jane Austen novels plus all of the hardbound Pride and Prejudice spin off novels that I have started collecting since moving to England. I've been adding to my collection since moving back to the USA- Kindle is a wonderful thing. My Kindle has been my companion as I take it everywhere with me. LOVE that 3G network thing it's got too! I can read books, surf the web for free...what's not to like?
I'm still surrounded in cardboard and packing paper but am making major headway with help from my husband and daughter.
I'm surveying my options for employment- I know where I want to work, now for them to have an opening for my to apply for. But for now there are plenty of fun little part time jobs to be had. Places that would be fun for me would be...shoe store, cooking store, clothing store or even a jewelery store. Then again I'd leave for the day owing more money than I had made...so maybe those wouldn't be good options right? OOh but the rewards would be sweet!
quote of the day
Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth,
the egg of the phoenix.
-Christina Baldwin
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Are you kidding?
I find myself saying that a lot lately...Are you kidding?
So there we , the spouse and I were getting our new Massachusetts Drivers licenses (our previous state was South Dakota)...
proof of residency in MA- check!
Now for the cost...it was $100 EACH! Holy Catfish! When I did my last drivers license transfer (it was a California license to a South Dakota license) it was $6.00, no joke! Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that it would cost me $100, that's just unreal!
Another one of those "are you kidding me" moments is when I first saw people wearing jammies out in public. This is not cute people, it makes you look like someone who is simply too lazy to take a shower and get dessed for the day.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Oh the things I do in my spare time...
I'm leading a very boring life these days... wake up at 5 am, get daughter off to school, go to the gym, tidy the apartment blah blah blah. So to stay sane I read. I read a lot these days (I mean a lot a lot) . My Kindle is my new BFF. There are sites like Kindle Nation Daily and Pixel of Ink where you can see the latest great deals on e-books and even pick up some great freebies to read! Get this- there are even some FREE cookbooks to be had for your Kindle! I've found a lot of "new to me" authors and have discovered that there are types of books that I like to read other than murder mysteries or Jane Austen spin off novels. I've been reading a great deal about cowboys of late and before I knew it, I was hooked. Strange but true, I find them rather fascinating. And after consuming the entire Twilight Series of novels in a matter of less than a week, I'm completely hooked on vampires and werewolves. Of course I still enjoy historical romances- if that's your thing I recommend Georgette Heyer, her work is awesome! It's not the modern kind of romance novel that has the characters having mad crazy sex all over the place stuff- it's historical stuff that gets into the theme of the period the romance is from.
If I'm not reading, then I'm working on a needlework project. The one I'm currently working on is a reproduction sampler. Nothing uber fancy, just something nice to occupy my time.
Still no word on our household goods - no idea if they're here in country or not. I'm not trying to say that I've got higher standards than others, I'm just growing rather rather tired of us dining on a card table is all. Okay that and sleeping on the floor on an air mattress is not the way to get a restful nights sleep. Okay, I'll say it- I miss my stuff. Now for me to work some more on my needlework project before I die from complete and total boredom, retirement is begining to be rather boring.
quote of the day
Stiletto Heels-
"people say they're bad for the feet
but they're good for the mind.
What's more important?"
-Terry DeHavilland (UK shoe designer)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
quote of the day
Character is like a tree
and reputation like its shadow.
The shadow is what we think of it;
the tree is the real thing.
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Lincoln's Own Stories
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Moving Day
It's day 2 of part 3 of this crazy move...the final part. Am I ready for it? Yes and No. I'm sad to be leaving so many wonderful friends here in England, but I'm also ready to get on to living this next part of my life called retirement. Sure it's retirement from the Air Force for my husband but it's also retirement for me as in all of that volunteering that I do.
Just a couple more days until the retirement ceremony, then we have the weekend here with my husband's family (some are flying out for the ceremony).
w leave this aea on Monday, fly back to the USA on Tuesday. I'm sad that my friend Renee wasn't able to make it out here, I think that she would have really enjoyed England. HOWEVER...that does not mean that she and I could not come out here together for a vaction in the future! I'm all over that idea! Heck, i Hannah and I can plan a trip to Paris and fly out from Boston, then why can't Renee and I plan a rip to England? Anything is possible and nothing is written in stone. The future holds so many possibilities! Many advntures are waiting right around the corner :-D
I'm drinking my last cups of coffee made by this coffee maker as it's about to move to a new home this afternoon. Oh to many sad toughts,I need to get happy thoughts going on in my head!
Just a couple more days until the retirement ceremony, then we have the weekend here with my husband's family (some are flying out for the ceremony).
w leave this aea on Monday, fly back to the USA on Tuesday. I'm sad that my friend Renee wasn't able to make it out here, I think that she would have really enjoyed England. HOWEVER...that does not mean that she and I could not come out here together for a vaction in the future! I'm all over that idea! Heck, i Hannah and I can plan a trip to Paris and fly out from Boston, then why can't Renee and I plan a rip to England? Anything is possible and nothing is written in stone. The future holds so many possibilities! Many advntures are waiting right around the corner :-D
I'm drinking my last cups of coffee made by this coffee maker as it's about to move to a new home this afternoon. Oh to many sad toughts,I need to get happy thoughts going on in my head!
quote of the day
Those who speak most of progress
measure it by quantity and not by quality.
- George Santayana
- George Santayana
Friday, February 25, 2011
Stylish Blogger Award!
I want to thank Karen at ScrappyKSue for this award. Karen has some great ideas going on over at her blog, please stop by and take a peek at her scrapbook room, scrapbook layouts, cards and more!
In order for me to accept this award, I have to spill the beans on eight things about myself. Here goes...
1- I'm an avid collector of china tea cups and tea pots, I started collecting when I was 8 years old.
1- I'm an avid collector of china tea cups and tea pots, I started collecting when I was 8 years old.
2- My favorite fruit is ...the Apple. There are so many things you can do with apples and all of them are YUMMY!
3- I have this constant drive to always be creating things. I really can't explain it other than I've got to keep my hands and brain busy. Be it cooking, sewing, quilting, gardening, scrapbooking or card making.
4- I enjoy making special things for my family and friends- be it sweet treats, gourmet picnic lunches or crafty handmade gifts.
5- I'm writing a cookbook - I really am!
6- I have a true aversion of ground beef.
7- I jokingly call myself a professional volunteer as I put the same kind of dedication to volunteering as I would to a paying job. Then there's the part where it sometimes feels as if my volunteering is a full time job.
8- Before anything else my family comes first!
Here is a list of the 8 creative persons who I think deserve this award as well. Visit their blogs and see what kind of creativity they've got going on and hopefully you'll be regular to their blogs too!
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