Monday, September 17, 2018

9-17-2018 Monday-noon

Good afternoon!
Yesterday it was 93 degrees and right now it is 49 degrees.  Talk about a shift...from sweating to shivering--LOL!
More marigolds are turning brown so I think they are just feeling the fall weather and are ready to give up the ghost.  The coleus on the left side of the patio are still doing okay, but being blown over every few days. 
The wind is usually coming from the other side so these coleus are taking a beating.  Hard to tell but the front one has been having branches snap off.  About a quarter of the plant is gone now. 
Probably this week I am going to chop them all back.  Even the blossoms on the front coleus are dying now and when it gets this cold the bees aren't here as often.  That's a project for this week.  As well as switching out seasonal clothing from the bins in the garage.  Really feels like fall isn't fooling around anymore.
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I haven't gotten much done at all since I last posted.  I have either worse then usual allergies or a bad head cold and have been a bona fide, mouth-breathing, chair-sleeping old woman this past week--LOL!  Have been mostly taking it easy and even passed on Gramma Day.  Should be better now this coming week, I hope.
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 I forgot to show you the desk organizer I got.  Black mesh like the pen cups.  Takes up much less room on the table than the system I had before.  I'm loving being able to just roll over all my journaling routine stuff every morning.  
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Leah went to Tuesday Morning!  I didn't even know we had one of those stores up here.  She found some awesome deals!!  Biggest deal for us was the We Are Memory Keepers glass craft mat.  I've seen it between $20-25.00 and they had it for $9.99! 
Leah also found some Zing embossing powders for cheaper... 
...and a butterfly stencil, butterfly & bee stamp set, numbers etc stamp set, and a snowflake embossing folder.  
All for way less than normal.  There's not a lot to choose from and they switch up what they have so she plans to pop in there once in a while to see if she can snag any other good deals.  Nice!
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Also forgot to show you my new TWSBI GO fountain pen.
Just wild!  You fill it with that plunger that has a spring on it.  Never have seen anything like it. 
Yes, it only uses bottled ink like their TWSBI ECO, but that's the only drawback with those two.  (I like to use a syringe and love trying tons of different ink samples.)  Well, it's not like I don't have bottled inks--LOL!  ;)
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Lindsey over at The Postman's Knock had her baby boy and is running a special only till Wednesday to celebrate.  He was born at 4:07pm so she's got 47% off on everything!!  Code is: ITSONREMY.  I had already purchased her Kaitlin Style Calligraphy course and the video course to go along with it but hadn't started it yet because I really wanted to buy her beginner one--Modern Calligraphy Course--first. 
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 What's funny is, I usually never have any money left over after the first week of the month but this month I had some left over and felt like I shouldn't touch it.  Of course--I had just enough to order ALL the other workbooks I wanted to buy with a few dollars left over!!  OMG!  You don't know how amazing this was.
So I was busy printing off the core workbooks for each of the five this morning (and praying I wouldn't run out of black ink--LOL!).  She also has intensive alphabet sheets and word practice sheets you can print off, but I'm waiting to print those till I get to each class.  The Amy Style one also has video classes like the Kaitlin Style does.  Got that,too!  I got $80.00 worth of classes for less than $43.00!!  Whoohoo!  That just made my day...my winter, let's be honest.  ;)  Plus I am so happy, of course, for Lindsey with their first baby arriving safe and sound.    
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I guess I am going to have to plan out a calligraphy class day each week, eh?  Man!  I need to get that studio done.  I had kind of planned to work in there for the calligraphy classes.  Before the snow flies, you think?  :) :)
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In closing--I'll toss in a few pics from Leah.  Liam and Blink looking out the patio door.
Ian picking some cherry tomatoes.  
He loves to eat those right out of their garden. 
Lastly--a family shot from Liam's first birthday. 
What could be better than this!
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Hopefully I will be feeling back to my normal by the next time we chat.  I certainly have new motivation to work on the studio now, too.  (So excited!)    
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Until then...
 How many of you remember Roy & Trigger and Dale & Buttercup?
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Maybe our 50 year reunion has gotten me thinking a lot about being a kid and teenager...about all the events and separate "lifetimes" I have lived in just this one crazy life that has been whizzing by--LOL!  I woke up this morning thinking about how through decades of chaos and upheaval I prayed for one peaceful, calm, non-traumatic year...and how I thought it could not possibly get any worse than being housebound and living with constant pain and exhaustion.  Rock bottom I thought at the time (2004).  
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But I have been inadvertently blessed with this current boring life of mine that I eat up with such intense joy and gratitude.  I always was one to grab on to the small miracles and wee delights...the humor, irony, silliness of it all...so I quickly (well, after feeling very sorry for myself for a good while) learned to hold on tight to the blessing of these peaceful, calm days.  So I hurt, am tired, am weak...that is only my body.  Inside...I have never had such contentment, peace and joy.     
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Mysterious ways.  
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See you next week.  :) :)
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"Life does not accommodate you; it shatters you.  Every seed destroys its container, or else there would be no fruition."
Florida Scott-Maxwell

14 comments:

Rita said...

my comment. :)

DJan said...

You do sound very content with your life just as it is, Rita. And congratulations on getting all those goodies for such a great price! :-)

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Thanks for the heads up at Tuesday Morning. I may have to check them out very soon. Loved the McFamily photos and your new container on your desk. Of course, I loved that glass mat, too. That's a very good price.

Lady Fi said...

Lovely family shot! And sounds as if autumn is on its way.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Yes what a slap in the face the cold weather was this morning...after Sunday was so warm...but it is September and it could snow anyday:) LOL! Hope you have a good week

IntenseGuy said...

Beautiful photo of the family!!

And your positive upbeat attitude is an inspiration to me and probably many others.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

You have a good life with a loving family and a couple of adorable grandsons who bring such joy to your life

My name is Erika. said...

That is a great family portrait. The kids are getting so big so fast but they are really cute. You must be a proud Grandmother for sure. And I am jealous you have some cool temperatures. Hopefully they moving East to us because I am sick of the summer humidity and heat. Hopefully you've had a little fun with those new craft supplies. :) Hugs-Erika

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Loved Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, great there song. You have added some great supplies to your office - and what great calligraphy courses you will be enjoying. Thanks for sharing your week in pictures and words, always appreciated. Family love is so precious.
Hugs.
Joy

Divers and Sundry said...

Wow! That's a temperature swing! We're expecting a heat index today of 100F+, and there are no temps that low in sight. That's hotter than usual here this time of year. My coleus is in the ground and standing up fine in this protected space. We're still getting bees (though no honey bees) at those flowers. Y'all are far ahead of us seasonally, but that's to be expected.

What a sweet fountain pen! I've never seen anything like it and will show it to my husband. It's so pretty. And unusual.

I feel the same way about having lived different lives in my span so far. Each one so different from the one before. I'd never have seen it coming, but that's a blessing I guess. I was never a Roy Rogers fan, but Hubby was.

Good luck on that studio :) We have a new Tuesday Morning move into a shopping center close to us, but I've resisted the temptation. So far ;)

Anonymous said...

No Gramma Day?: Boo-hoo!!

Serena Lewis said...

Sorry to hear you’re still dealing with the head cold or allergies. Hope it clears soon for you.

Nice desk organiser! Aaron had a smaller one in orange a few years back. They are so handy.

Have never heard of Tuesday Morning but it looks like a good place to visit and stock up from. We have a large Kaiser Craft store opening near us very soon. Can’t wait to explore it.

The TWSBI GO sounds cool! Gotta get myself a TWSBI!

Loved the photo of Lindsay with her baby and, I too, made use of her fabulous offer.

We have been eating a mix of cherry and gourmet tomatoes this week after visiting Mum....she has heaps growing in her back garden. Home grown seems to always have better flavour. Loved the pics....especially the family one.

I loved your thoughts about being happy and content with your life despite the pain and health ailments you endure. I am getting there.

Love and hugs xo

Dee said...

Dear Rita, this posting left me with a feeling a great gratitude for the life you are now living and for the peace and contentment that have become the foundation of your being. You've shown such fortitude for so many long years and decades and now your soul, your spirit, your very essence is residing in a place of Oneness with itself and all creation. Thank you for sharing your journey into contentment with us through this posting and all that have gone before. Your life inspires so many of us. Peace.

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

Holy cow! Did your temperature ever go down quickly there! Your positive attitude and perspective on life - despite being in pain - is inspiring!