Monday, January 23, 2012

E~Room Re~Do

Though the quality of my photos may not be the best
The E~Room Re~Do is finally complete (Almost)
I took the above photo as we were beginning to clean
The carpet is awful and the walls were a mess
Matthew goes a bit crazy with nails, tacs and screws
I was able to take down this 27" TV
Which will eventually go in my bedroom
(Why is it that the Kids get the newer better stuff?)
Son #2 was a super help when it came to
Patching holes, sanding and painting the walls

 He is also an {E}lectronic Fanatic
He has between 8 and 10 game systems
A lap top, a PC, 2 televisions,
And a host of other {E}lectronic gagets
The photo above is of his walk in closet
Mind you we have a 1180 sq ft home
Not large, but room enough for us
In the closet he now has a table/desk where he keeps
His PC and 1 small TV
 On this wall in his room
He has most of his other game systems
A 32" TV and a stereo
 Though most everything in his room is
Black, Silver and Red
I just could NOT paint the shelves that my husband
Made for Matthew before his passing
This is where Matthew keeps most of his
Horse figurines and his Championship Ribbons
 I talked him into bringing a little grey into the room
Instead of all Red
 One of his favorite books
Some of his 300 or so Horse and Gaming Magazines

It was a fun project and allowed us to spend a
Couple of good quality days together
Next up...
Laundry Room

Considering Projects A Joy,
Cindy

Linking up with these two favorite bloggers


Organize and Decorate Everything

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Sometimes Beauty

This past week I joined a group on facebook
Entitled [un]framed
It is a challenge to get outside to
Walk, run, bike or whatever
Just get outside
And then to photograph
The beauty you find during that outside journey

But today I share that
Sometimes Beauty
Is found as you walk INside

Tonight
After a very long day
I walked into my home and found this


Yes
The flowers are beautiful
But the Who and Why behind the flowers
Brought me to my knees in humble gratitude
For they came from a new and young widow
Whom I have never met
But whom I love dearly
Admire Wholly
And have great respect for

Tonight
This is my [un]framed Beauty!! 

Saturday, January 14, 2012

This Girlie Needs Advice

This girlie has always considered herself
A rather neat, tidy and organized girl
Everything in my home has a place
And most often all things are in said proper place

That is with one major exception


I cannot for the life of me
Keep my home office clean
My craft table and the left side of my desk
Have become what I lovingly call them
"The Landing Zone"

Whenever something (mostly mail)
Comes into my home without a specific place
It ends up on "The Landing Zone"
And it makes me "NUTS"


It is true that my children already believe I am nuts
So they don't seem to mind much
But truly it does make me nuts
To see all this 'stuff' without homes

What do you do in your home office (or wherever)
That helps to keep the un-housed stuff (mail)
From becoming your nemesis?
Nemesis:   a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent

I sure would love to hear your input :)

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Do You Know Why Women Need Fat?


Well, at least the Title was intriguing!

From time to time I have the opportunity to review a new book through BlogHer book club.  I usually receive a few sentences about the book and its author(s) but not much else.  Until I receive it I never know for sure what I have gotten myself into.  The title of this particular book intrigued me from the beginning so I was excited to give it a read. 

I must admit it was a rough read for me.  If you like facts and figures, statistics and numbers, this is a super book for you, but if you don't, this book just might give you a headache.  Yet, if in the end you feel like eating real butter and frying pancakes in bacon grease, then by all means give it a try.

My mother has been telling all of her children that processed foods and 'health' foods are the ruination of our society and the cause of people becoming overweight.  After reading this book, I will need to tell her she may have been right all along.  I should have listened; I might not be fighting the battle of the bulge myself.

Doctors William D Lassek and Steven J C Gaulin have researched in depth the ins and outs of animal versus vegetable fats, Omega 3's and 6's, and the 'health' food industry in general.  Controversial and surprising answers can be found in their work and words.

I take issue with the anthropological side of this book due to my Christian walk and have questions regarding the comparison of humans to primates but there are many valid and factual truths about weight and the eating habits of Americans found within the pages of this book.  If you would like to be challenged and begin to see health from a different perspective, I suggest you purchase "Why Women Need Fat".

You can join the discussion here

Though I did receive a small compensation for my time and a free copy of this book, the views and opinions regarding this review are mine alone 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Lesson In The Lawn

It has been my desire to write a post for several days
However I have been experiencing a stressful situation
That has caused me to feel physically ill in recent days
So I have not had the energy to sit at my computer

Yet tonight (after my sister made me take a walk with her)
I decided to get up out of my 'easy' chair
And do a little catching up 

After I lost Mark I went into a rather deep depression
I functioned only enough to 'survive'
But did not do anything of substance for many months

The remnants of that season
Began to show vividly around The Place this past summer


The above photo was taken during the late summer
Early fall and is of my backyard lawn
What lawn you say?
Yes, I ignored it for all those months
No water, no trimming, no nurturing, no anything
Death had not only overtaken my heart
But my lawn as well

As I began to breathe and begin to feel again
I decided to plant a winter lawn
We never had winter lawn before
Mark rather disliked the extra work it required
But I wanted needed something green
Something Alive Again
So I mowed, thatched, seeded and fertilized this barren area


Soon, sprouts and sprigs began to pop up all over
Signs of life
Signs of regeneration
Signs of newness
Certainly not much at first
Patchy and thin
Yet, springing up non the less

Eventually more and more patchy areas began coming up
The lawn was becoming thicker and filled in
Each day I would wonder outside just to see the progress
Slow at first but soon it was truly beginning to look like lawn


I look this photo a couple of weeks ago
There are still patchy barren spots
But mostly it has become a beautiful
Green lawn that I definitely enjoy looking at
And my granddaughters have even been enjoying playing outside
The weather has been wonderful
And it is a precious gift of life to watch them play and run on the lawn

What have I learned?
I am just like the lawn
In those months post my husband's passing
All aspects of life within me had died
I was lifeless, depressed, dry, and dead for all intents and purposes

Then one day
God began plowing, planting and tending
I began to feel again
To have hope, peace and even joy
I am still rough around the edges
I continue to have many dry and barren patches
God has much work ahead of Him
There is much tending to still be done in this area of land
But from a distance I'm lookin' fairly well

Thank you for journeying with me friends
I'm considering YOU with Joy,
Cindy


Sunday, January 1, 2012

ANEW

ANEW

"In a New or Different Form"

This is the first year in a long time
That the Lord has given me a Word focus
As well as a Picture to go along with it


I took the above photo in July 2011
It was early morning driving home from CA
After we took Mark's remains home to his mom

The Lord spoke to my heart
That is was a new day
A new dawn and a new beginning

Unfortunately
My heart didn't feel very new
In fact
Things got worse for me emotionally
Instead of better

However
With the passage of time
And the first year of grieving behind me
The Lord has refreshed my heart
And spoke again

ANEW

He has not chosen to give me a new heart
A new home, a new talent or a new husband
But He has placed within my heart
The desire to take a fresh look
At the life I already have

To look anew at the gifts and talents
He has blessed me with
To look anew at my relationship with Him
To look anew at all that is within my grasp

He has not told me He is doing a new thing
He has told me to look around
And see things in a New and Fresh way

I do not know what 2012 will hold for me
But I do know that I will walk it
With the Lord by my side
While I am seeing ANEW this life I have been blessed with

Considering ANEW with Joy,
Cindy 
 
The Lettered Cottage