On your mark, get set...

I've been writing, and typing, and thinking, and reading, and cursing the snow that is currently falling!!! And sitting, and an old song just popped into my mind, which is quite appropriate....A you're adorable, B you're so beautiful, C you're as cuddly as can be....


Yes, I am preparing to participate in the A to Z blogging challenge. I have eight blogs pre-scheduled. One reason is that for the first 10 days of the challenge, Hubby and I will be with our granddaughter and son, doing as much spoiling as we can (for our granddaughter, not our son.)


I have read that some people have a very good plan all laid out. I'm just trying to think of topics to match the letter for the appointed day.  


I'm a little nervous about it, but, most of my letters have at least one topic to choose from.


I've been sitting at the computer for so long that my "little bum" (not literally, darn it!) is getting ready for me to give it some relief.


So, I'm going to take a little walk around the house, do some more thinking, and writing, and typing, and hopefully, I won't look like this at the end of the month.
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I'll be seeing you around!!

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Project 52 - Week 13

This will be a short post today, because I am going to work on #13 - repaint the bathroom. I have the primer on, and am waiting for it to dry! That was exciting new, wasn't it?


I can finally cross off  #9 -finishing my jeans quilt! I will post pictures one more time, and this will be the final time. I put a flannel backing on it, and it is much warmer. Here's a little story about the flannel. I know you're waiting with baited breath....


On my first trip to JoAnn's Fabric, the designed flannel was $6.99/yd. The plain flannel was $2.97/yd. My "Little Saver Ego" kicked in, and told me that the plain would work just as well as the prettier flannel. But, since I did not have the official finished size, I left the store. Last week, when I went to purchase the plain flannel, I discovered that the price for it was $6.99/yd. and the prettier flannel was now $2.97/yd. That made me happy. The design is very subtle, and may in fact, look plain. But, here it is, for the final time:

Ta Da! It's finished!!

In case you wanted to look at it one more time!

Seams are properly fringed. (Easiest way to make a blanket.)

I used dark blue yarn in the darkest squares for the knots.

#43 is completed. My vacuum sweeper is all fixed and ready to go. The problem was easier and cheaper to fix than I expected, thanks to the fact that my sweeper repair man is a good friend!

And, finally, #21 and #32 - hair and make up are completed. But, I'm saving that story for April's letter H. So stay tuned.

I'm now off to finish painting the bathroom. Pictures will be posted, of course!!

I hope you are sticking with your projects, and getting to cross things off your list!

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Before and After

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I've been giving my Amazing Daughter a helping hand in re-decorating her bedroom. So, I'm just going to link over to her blog and you can enjoy the scenery!

Click here: Cheap Therapy 

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Project 52 - Week 12

Another week has come and gone. I've had a few successes, but I've also been helping my Amazing Daughter aka Cheap Therapy "simplify" her room. We've been stripping off wallpaper and repainting. I won't steal away her thunder, but I will show one before picture. 

That wallpaper is history. I'll leave it up to her to show the "after" pictures. It looks really nice!


So, I have made some progress with working out three times a week. I've managed one or two P90X workouts.  Haven't made it through an entire workout yet, but I've got 40 more weeks! Jennee and I are switching off with a little yoga and a little zumba. We're working on a couple programs that promise that we will be bikini ready by summer. (They just don't say which summer.) Don't hyperventilate. I don't plan on donning a bikini any time soon.


Let's see. #42 gets crossed off. I cleaned out the closet in the office, which is where we put our "hanging up clothes". This closet wasn't in as bad of shape as I thought, but I did get rid of a few items that don't fit I don't wear anymore. And, guess what else I found hiding in the closet. More jeans! Good grief. I didn't know I had so many pairs lurking around. I guess I will be making another blanket! 


I also made an executive decision to nix #13 (save up for a laptop). I'm not babysitting anymore, so there's no extra moolah for that little extravagance. I am replacing it with "Painting the bathroom". Helping Jennee has put me in the mood to do a little more painting. I have an extra gallon of paint sitting around from another job, so this won't cost anything. I'm not a huge fan of the paint color, but it will be an improvement over what I have now.


I will now unveil my (still unfinished) jeans blanket.

The front

The  back

I debated  over whether I wanted to cover the back, but after using it only once, I realized that it is not warm and cozy. It feels very cold, and no matter how much you wrap up in it, you just don't get warm. So, I hope to get the fabric for that this week!


I had a couple shirts that were made out of denim, so I incorporated them into the blanket as well.

A little bit of whimsy

I wanted to have fringed blocks

My secret pocket

OH! I also got my hair cut this week. But, I'm saving that story for the April edition of "H", so stay tuned. 

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April's Challenge

I have decided to take a very bold leap. I am going to participate in A to Z Blogging, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. The goal is to blog on every day of April, except Sundays, and go through the alphabet. The blog for April 1 will start with "A", the blog for April 2 will start with "B", etc. This is very risky for me because as you may (or may not) know, I'm lucky to manage three blogs a week.  So, I'm very nervous, yet somewhat optimistic, that I will be able to pull this off. 


I'm also going to be spending the first 10 days of this challenge with my granddaughter, Sweetie Pie. That means that the first 10 days will have to be pre-scheduled, because, well, I'll be pre-occupied. (And, most likely, totally exhausted!)


So, does anyone want to take this challenge with me? Check it out here.

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Project 52 - Week 11

As I look out my window, I'm happy to report that it does look like Spring might actually arrive. I have a purple crocus in my possession, the sun is shining, at least right now, and I can see the grass. On Friday, we had rain. All. Day. Long. Saturday morning, we awoke to several inches of snow covering everything. It was kind of a pretty snow, but after admiring it for five seconds, I was done with it! What a crazy spring we've had. Hopefully, our March snow storm is over, and every day will get warmer and warmer. 


I've been working on several of my projects. I'm close to finishing my jeans blanket. I have to decided on the backing. I kind of like it without the backing, but decided, it wasn't warm enough. So, now I have to decide on a red and white checked flannel for about $6/yard, or plain red flannel for about $3/yard. Since I'm basically cheap, and unemployed, I'm leaning towards the plain red. 


One of my other projects is finding "Do not fear" verses in the Bible. I had heard someone say there were 365. I thought it was interesting - a verse for every day of the year.  I'm not trying to prove a "do not fear theology", because I came across a lot of "fear the Lord" verses. But, here are the first ten "Do not fear" verses.

1. Genesis 15:1 - After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."


2. Genesis 21:17 - God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying.


3. Genesis 26:24 - That night the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."


4. Numbers 21:34a - The Lord said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, with his whole army and his land."


5. Deuteronomy 1:17 -  Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgement belongs to God.


6. Deuteronomy 1:21 - See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of our fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.


7. Deuteronomy 1:29 - Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.


8. Deuteronomy 3:2a - The Lord said to me, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you with his whole army and his land.


9. Deuteronomy 3:22 - Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.


10. Deuteronomy 7:21 - Do not be terrified by them, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.


I hope you are still working on your goals.

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There's a First Time

Yes, it did finally happen.


It happened a little sooner that I expected.


I thought it would be exciting to save a little money.


I thought I would be ready for it.


And, now I'm not so sure it was that great.


My hairdresser was right.  She said I would look 60 if I "let my hair go".


Oh boy. Sigh.


Today, I went out to Ryan's for lunch.  I ordered the buffet, as usual, only this time, my bill came to $5.51.  I didn't really think about it. I didn't really notice. 


When I got to my table, I sat down and noticed the bill. 


"Lunch buffet - Senior"    AAACCCCCKKKKKK.  


And, he (it had to be a "he") didn't even ask me.  


Ok, ok. Technically, I am a "senior", but I don't qualify for the discount. And, now that I think of it, what IS the age for a discount? I think I'm even more depressed!


A pox on that little man child who gave me a Senior Citizen Discount! 


When Hubby hears about this, I'll never hear the end of it. SIGH.

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Five for Friday

1. Have you ever forgotten your child in a store or at school?

No, I never have. My sister got locked inside the church building when she was about three. She wasn't left, but she was "lost". That event may have left its mark on me.

2. Where did you go on your very first date? (Like...first first, not first with your spouse or current significant other!)

It was so insignificant that I barely remember it. We went to some kind of a church  teen event.

3. What's your "silly" fear? (We're not talking water and heights.)

Of course I don't have any silly fears. I am afraid of getting lost while I'm driving somewhere new, and that my GPS  will be invaded with aliens and intentionally take me far, far away from my destination, and I will never be heard from again.

4. Confrontation: do you cause it, deal with is as it comes, or run far far away?

I've never met a confrontation that I felt the need to deal with. I will run far, far away and eventually land in "Forgetful Land". 

5. Wood floors or carpet?

Right now we have carpet. Light carpet that is now dirty carpet. Why do they even make light colored carpet. It's a nightmare waiting to happen.

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