HAPPY BIRTHDAY

This gorgeous girl became an official member of our family two years ago but I fell in love with her long before that. Gina brings warmth, great fun and great music into our lives. Happy birthday, dear Gina! I hope you were able to lay back and take it easy today.

Lamps

We lived right near a JC Penney outlet store in PA. I loved to take a stroll through there from time to time to see what I could find- usually left with something good. The last time I was there before we moved I bought this lamp....for $30!. (If you click on this link you will see what a bargain that was.) I really liked it in our new living room and wanted another one. We stopped there when we went back to PA last weekend because I wanted another one. I was so sad when I did not see the stack of boxes where I bought the last lamp but as I looked around I found more of the same but this time I paid $9.99!!! (Bought two- my husband says it's for parts!)

Catching up....

I can't believe it has been two weeks plus since my last post. So much to do and so many things to find when you move and I guess that is what I have been doing all this time. I wanted to get shelves of some sort to make up for the great built ins we left behind. Of all places we ended up getting them at Ikea. I am not always an Ikea fan- was good for some furniture but generally does not stand up (in my experience). We drove to Charlotte on Friday evening as that is the closest store and picked up these black shelves. I actually think they look better in person than the photo shows. They were quite easy to assemble too.

I found 4 of these covered soup bowls at Tuesday Morning. I just love them! We have a Tuesday Morning just up the road and I like to tease my mom that our Tuesday Morning is bigger than hers! Speaking of birds....we are loving watching all of the birds that have found our feeders. There are some different varieties here than in PA. So many have found our feeders that this is becoming a rather expensive hobby!

I was surprised with not one, but two deliveries from a group that I was involved with in PA. What a special treat!!! Thanks, folks!

Made in Mexico???

Have you ever thought about where all the Valentine candy we see on our store shelves originates from? This story lets us in on the fact that most of the USA's valentine candy comes from Mexico. Wonder what their regulations on food safety are? Kind of takes the sweet out of the sweets in my mind.

Creamers

There was once a time when cream for coffee was served in something other than those little plastic cups at even the most ordinary of eateries. I say it was a prettier time indeed! I love these little creamers I have gathered but just like so many other odd collections I have, finding places for them is a challenge!

Wash your hands

My house may get cluttered but one thing I am nuts about is handwashing and food safety. Guess it goes with my job. I am amazed as I use public restrooms and see folks who leave without washing hands or by those who merely run their hands through the water. This story will make you think twice about handwashing (not to mention eating out!). My kids have grown up with instant read thermometers and a mom who nags about refrigerating that leftover pizza. In fact, when they made burgers on the grill and used a thermometer they had friends laugh and wonder what they were doing. Food safety is an issue that is so important- this peanut contamination is one that also brings the issue to light. I had read about the salmonella problems last fall as they worked to determine the source- they knew it was something that had a long shelf life- who'd a thought peanut butter! I get nervous when I see returns of refrigerated food or refrigerated items sitting in stores- are they really going to just put them back in the refrigerator case after being temperature compromised?? My sons have worked in grocery settings and have told me they do........I told you it is scary!

Friends that follow

As I walked around my house I saw lots of friends that have followed me here. The bunny and the penguins have been with me since I was a child. Unwrapping them brought a feeling of home and the familiar.

This hutch holds so many friends both inside and out.



The two pieces of pottery are new friends that remind me of friends I left in PA. The bowl is a piece made by Lester Breininger (I know the link is dated but he doesn't have a website). I have always admired his work from afar and now I have a piece of my own! More importantly, each time I look at it, I am reminded of the wonderful coworkers who are my friends. The snowman plate is also pottery and from the other home economists I worked with in our region. It is a wonderful reminder of those wonderful folks!

We visited a nearby church today. We went to their first service and I was shocked by the sea of cars and people waiting to get in for the next service. I am not used to the size ( approx. 2000 attend each Sunday over 3 services). The message was excellent and the people so welcoming. The other thing that surprises me is that the church has a fitness center with a pool! Anyone who knows me knows how much I miss my daily water aerobics- this pool has a class each morning!

Cousins

(not the clearest of pictures, I know!)

They're cousins and I can't wait to meet them. (Have to wait until August for both beautiful babies to meet us!) We are so enjoying having one grandchild...I can't imagine the joy 3 will bring!

Buried in paper

Yesterday I spent the day swamped by paper and boxes.

It is fun to rediscover familiar treasures with each unwrapping of the paper- sort of like Christmas as a child. Having a tough time finding spots for my stuff- rather overwhelmed at this point. My last house was smaller but had built in shelves and nooks and crannies that developed over the years. I need to give this space some time to speak to me. There are some places clear enough to sit but the walls seem so bare. I hung one of my husband's paintings on a hook left by the previous owner just to have SOMETHING on the wall.


I decided to avoid the news shows today- well at least for the morning- may need the radio this afternoon for company. I am just so dismayed at this whole "stimulus" bill. I know things are tough and there are folks out of work but I say let the market sort it out. I also believe that some of the news media and some of our elected officials are making this into something worse than it really is. We have spent a lot of time in restaurants with this move and a lot of time in stores as we have needed odds and ends. I have had to wait for parking spots, wait in line to eat and to pay for purchases. Not exactly the doom and gloom we are told is out there. Not saying I am unrealistic, I fear for my son's jobs as they both are retail based, however I fear more for their children's futures should we adopt this ridiculous bill. I am also thoroughly disgusted by people who do not pay their taxes. Especially worsened when they are people who are trying to raise ours and who make their living as a result of those of us who do pay taxes. What is it they say...you reap what you sow. Saw this all coming before the election. Why didn't the majority of Americans also see it??

Today is my first day at home...all day. I have been employed for more than 30 years and most of those were at positions requiring close to 60 hours a week. Today I am unemployed- my choice and in our new house. I hope that I am able to stay this way until the fall. It is not even 10:00 AM and I have cleaned a bathroom, done 3 loads of laundry, made and froze 3 dozen meatballs and a meatloaf and baked a pumpkin pie plus washed all the dishes created from the cooking.

What to do next.....UNPACK BOXES. Afraid I will be doing that until the fall and beyond. Still have not unpacked my camera.

Wishing I could kiss this silly face.