Checking In

With stomach bugs going around the family, Baby E spending Christmas holidays with Melody, grands being out of school, Getting together with all 3 girls and their families, playing games and watching movies with the grands, making sure Rusty has a dry spot to go potty has been keeping me kinda busy. The days seem to go by so fast and I don't seem to get a lot done. I am looking forward to a new year. Feels right starting new adventures in a new year. Connie sent a book among all the goodies she gave me that I started today. Its called "Rise and Shine" and written by a woman for women. There is a small chapter and prayer to read each day and I am looking forward to starting each day of the new year in a positive way. I know there will be days of depression, days of anger and just out of sort days, but by starting them in a postivie way the strength will be there to get through what each day brings. Tonight I am sitting with grandson #1 and Baby E while Melody and Joseph go out and the other grands are at a lockin. After baby goes to sleep I have a magazine to catch up on and watch the ball drop on the TV. Looking forward to the adventures 2010 has planned and all the blessings coming with it. Our snow and ice has so far been rain as the temps didn't go down like expected. Tonight is suppose to bring snow as well as in the morning.... we shall see. I hope your 2010 adventures is filled with blessings!

Snow and Ice

is heading our way. For the next few days we are suppose to get snow, sleet, freezing rain and can you believe the weatherman even said hail! Strange weather but am looking forward to it. Have did my grocery shopping to get supplies in for Rusty, Troubles and I. Did the last house cleaning job for the week today so I don't have to go out. Am doing laundry now and borrowing some movies from Melody so I will be all set for the next few days. Rusty won't be happy going outside but I plan on taking lots of walks. Megan and family have tickets to go to see the Carolina Panthers play this weekend so hope the roads are clear for them to get there and back home. The grandson is very excited about going to see them play in person. We have had some very cold temps but the cabin is staying warm. I just love winter. Thank you Jenny for the 2 embroidery kits. I have some very nice projects to sew and keep my hands busy while Mother Nature has her fun outdoors. I wish each of you a very blessed and peaceful New Year full of love and laughter. Thank you for sharing 2009 with me. See you next year!

Happy Day After

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We had a servere wind and rainstorm which left our road flooded. That was fine as I enjoyed watching the grands dig into Christmas at 5AM before going back to the cabin for a nap before lunch. Megan fixed a huge Christmas dinner at noon.Grandson read the Christmas story from the Bible and granddaughter said the blessing. Meal was wonderful and after cleaning up I headed back to cabin to watch movies and relax. Enjoyed a quiet afternoon till the road was  passable to Melody's to see the grands there. I had a very blessed Christmas thanks to family and friends. Rusty and Troubles even had gifts to open and are enjoying thanks to some very special friends. The snow is almost gone but the temps are staying cold so maybe we will get more soon. Stay warm and happy!

Merry Christmas

A house to clean, a few errands to run, a few presents to wrap, a Christmas gathering to drop the grands off for, pick up Melody from work and then Rusty and I will be settled down with Christmas movies and a good book. That will be my Wednesday. The snow melted alot today and the snow that was predicted for Christmas has been changed to sleet and freezing rain. Am hoping there are lots more snow storms coming my way this winter. As it gets closer to Christmas I hope all the hustle and bustle has settled down for everyone. I wish a stress free, happy, loving, laughing, peaceful Christmas each of you. May your Christmas wishes come true and may we all remember the reason for the season and say a thank you for that special blessing. Merry Christmas blog friends and Happy Birthday Jesus.

Catch Up

We still have snow and I am still loving it. Some of it melts during the day and that turns to ice each night making for rough mornings if you need to go anywhere. There are still people without power in western NC. We are some of the fortunate ones. I am at Melody's and camera is at cabin so no photos of snow or packages yet.
I received a package full of yarn, material, set of bed sheets, a absolutely adorable primitive santa that fits perfectly in the cabin, a beautiful devotinal book and other wonderful goodies that warmed my heart from Connie. She doesn't have a blog but has been a wonderful internet friend through my blog and emails. Thank you so much Connie and Rusty is loving his teddy bear!
Kelly and Alex surprised me with a huge package of beautifully wrapped gifts. They said Santa left them but I know these ladies. They are very very busy with their farm plus working nights at the hospital and it touched my heart they took time to think of me, Rusty and Troubles. They have a beautiful farm in Maine. Click on their names and check out their blog. I have had the pleasure of meeting Alex. She stopped by Hidden Haven last year and we had a wonderful visit. Thank you again ladies for your friendship, your words of encouragement, and the gifts sitting under the cabin Christmas tree. I can't wait to post pictures of the book Pea sent in the book swap. Its a beautiful story of The Nutcracker but the graphics of the book will take your breath away. The grands pick it up off the coffee table everytime they visit and drool over the pages. I love it Sis! Thank you Marci, Kelly &Alex, Sheri, Connie, and Mary for the beautiful Christmas cards. Your sweet notes brought tears to my eyes. They are hanging across a shelf with 2 vintage stockings. I have a picture of that too I will post. I am very blessed to have such sweet, kind, loving friends.
Baby E is very at home at Melody's. She is spoiled of course but we all love holding and talking to her. We love making her smile and laugh. She is getting to stay with them more which is making everyone happy. Grandson Q went deer hunting and shot his first deer. His dad says his hands were shaking so hard he don't know how he hit the deer and they were still shaking 30 minutes later from the excitement of getting his first deer. There are pictures of that too. I will be posting photos for a week when I finally get to download them.
Rusty is doing better about going outside for potty breaks but will not go for a walk or stay outside. He is not a snow or winter dog thats for sure. He looks so funny trying to walk and keep his feet off the cold, wet ground at the same time. Troubles is always in trouble but loves the snow and will actually go outside and just lay in it. I spend a lot of time picking up things he knocks off tables, shelves, etc as he goes exploring. I still fight for a space in bed between Troubles and Rusty. They seem to think they should have first choice and I should find a spot that doesn't distrub them. This season has its ups and downs but when I take time to remember the true reason of the season and how blessed I really am its actually a very wonderful one. Have a blessed, happy Christmas and know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Spell check isn't working so forgive mistakes

Count Your Blessings Monday

Time to join Marci and count our blessings. Today I am counting my blessings of wonderful internet friends. I have been so blessed by gifts, cards, calls, beautiful notes and letters. This Christmas season has been somewhat depression but each of you have went out of your way to show your love and kindness. I am very blessed and thank God for such wonderful, kind friends.

Still No Computer

But still enjoying the snow. Came over to Mel's to bring grands home. We have had a awesome time in the snow. Rusty does not like it at all! He doesn't want to get his feet cold or wet. I carry him to a spot I fixed with no snow so he can do his business and he is ready to go back inside. I am outside as much as possible. I love it! More snow predicted tonight so tomorrow will be a fun day.
I have so many thank yous and photos to show and hope I am back on my computer soon. I am so very blessed. You guys have helped me stop being so depressed and  see how very blessed I am this Christmas season. Thank you until I can get back with real thank yous and show some photos of some of my blessings.

Snow

Still no computer but had to come to Mels and wanted to let everyone know we have   SNOW!!!! About 2 inches but snow today, tonight, tomorrow, Sunday and Monday....... I have pictures. Had a snowball fight with grandson, built a snowman with granddaughter...... I love the snow!!! Can't wait to get back on line and share photos and stories.... miss you all and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Sorry

Having computer problems so haven't been able to post or catch up with everyone. Have lots to post about so hopefully soon will be back on. Am over at Melody's and wanted to let everyone know I am okay, Pea I got my swap package (Christmas book swap) and love it! Will post photos and proper thank you soon. Thank you everyone for all the beautiful Christmas cards. The notes you wrote inside have been a blessing. I will post more about them also. Hope everyone is having a blessed week. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Be back soon!

Frugal Friday Tips

It's Frugal Friday Time and I have a list of links to freebies. We all love free stuff so click on the links and fill your mailbox with free samples!

Free hand cleaner sample

Free Pita Chips ( if you become a fan on facebook)

Free Block Buster Movie Rental Codes

50 Free Christmas Song downloads from Amazon

Free Sample of Prilosec

Free Flip Photo Book

Free Guide for I-Phone Ebook

Mr. Potato Head for 50cents this week

Free Sample of Soothing Vapor Patches

A Baby For Christmas!

Isn't she adorable? Melody, who already has 5 children is taking care of this darling. She is helping a single mom who has had a rough time. The mom finally got a job but its working nights. Melody picks up the baby on her way home from work and takes her to her mom the next morning on her way back to work. When E is older and staying awake more during the day I get to watch her a few hours while the mom sleeps! She is a doll and just now started cooing and laughing. Last night I got to rock her to sleep. It felt so good holding and cuddling E.  I think she is going to be one spoiled little baby!

Thank You J !

I am so blessed! I was giving thanks for the embroidery floss from Marci while I happily stitched away when I received another package. My wonderful blog friend J sent me a package full of surprises! I think God whispered in her ear as she was filling the box. She sent me a beautiful set of kitchen towels and dish cloths ( I only had one of each before). Some cloth napkins (I have started cutting back on paper products and only had 3 cloth napkins) Some lovely vintage material that I had plans for the minute I saw it. A adorable tea light holder and wonderfully scented tea lights. I love candles and had used all mine up. Embroidery thread (2 of them I needed right away) Knitting yarn (I had decided I was going to start knitting again after Christmas when I could purchase some yarn). A adorable gingerbread photo frame. (Have had a picture forever that needed that size frame). A Christmas brooch ( I picked one up at a thrift store but decided not to spend the money on it). I have it on my sweater. She also included a precious doggy pin that I love! Some laminating sheets for photos (already using them). And she really touched my heart by sending me a angel that belonged to her mother. It is now sitting on my bedside table. A nice big tea mug ( all my tea cups and mugs were left at the farm) that I really needed and love. Inside the mug were beautiful seashells. I will have to hide from the grands as their bathroom is Ocean theme with fishnets and seashells. A nice little book that had me laughing and sharing as soon as I opened it. She hid some old fashioned peppermint sticks in the package. I absolutely love these and think its not Christmas without them. The only problem is Rusty loves them too and will swipe one if you don't hurry and eat it. I had to hide the rest so he wouldn't eat them all. J also enclosed a beautiful Christmas card with a gift card. Made me cry. The gift card will be used for items I have put off getting till after Christmas. Just when I start to wonder how I am going to work in things in my budget God steps in with a wonderful friend like J. Its really hard not to worry and lose patience over things but I truly shouldn't. Blessings and things that are needed always come at the right time. God always provides. I am so blessed J to have you for a friend. Not because you sent the wonderful package (I love everything!) but because of your wonderful words of encouragement, your thoughts and prayers and you love and concern. God has blessed me with such wonderful friends that though I have not met some of you I have a love and bond with nothing could break. Thank you again J. You can only imagine how your wonderful package made my day.

Thank You Marci

I have been working on some stitching projects for Christmas gifts and ran out of cranberry and black floss. I put the projects aside and wondered where I would get more floss when a package arrived from Marci ! She had sent me some of her mom's embroidery floss a few weeks ago and this package that arrived yesterday had LOTS more which also had the colors I needed to finish my gifts! What a nice surprise and a blessing. I get impatient and worry over things only to have God supply me with my needs at just the right moment.Thank you so much Marci for parting with your mom's embroidery floss and allowing me to have it. The way she had each color and code wrote and the way she kept her floss is heartwarming to me. I think of her and you each time I sit to stitch and feel so blessed. Thank you ever so much!

Count Your Blessings Monday

Time for Marci's Count Your Blessing Monday. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends and daughters. They made my at first depressing weekend wonderful.

Dianne (a lady I clean for) called yesterday trying to find someone to take her 2 tickets to see The Nut Cracker. She was ill and really wanted to see the tickets used. At first I tried to help her find someone to take them as I was helping Melody with Christmas decorations and plans. After several phone calls and no luck finding anyone able to go Melody's husband told Melody and I to take the tickets and enjoy some time together. We did and we had a awesome time! The Charleston Ballet Company did a fantastic job and the scenery was breathtaking. I am so glad I went and very happy to have a chance to spend some one on one time with a daughter.
Friday night Megan's family and I went to the winter wonderland displays downtown. I remembered my camera but forgot the memory card! Never fear though they are doing it again this Friday and I will make sure to get photos. The store windows had people dressed old fashioned doing things of the past. There was a boot cobbler, basket weaver, spinner, tatter, etc. I loved each window! The streets had old fashioned carolers going up and down. There were old fashioned carriage rides. Each shop had hot cider or cocoa with cookies, candies and snacks, We practically ate our way up and down the streets. You could have free photos with Santa and his wife, with the Grinch and elves. It was truly a walk in winter wonderland and back in time. We only got a few flurries though one town over got 2 inches of snow. Even without snow it was a nice weekend thanks to friends and family.

Tis The Season

Sandy had a good quote on her facebook this morning:

WHEN YOU ARE DOWN TO NOTHING

GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING

This is the time of year when depression sets in for lots of us. One thing we all have in common is that we suffer from emotional pain from time to time. As we are humans there is no escape from this. However, I have always been a strong believer that it's not what happens to us that shapes our life but, how we respond to what happens. Some of the greatest wisdom we can get in life comes as a side effect of our worst nightmares. Heartache can bring us a appreciation for what has been lost. Remembering what we had in the past gives us a greater appreciation of having been able to have or experience those things in our life. So if we find ourselves in the midst of emotional catastrophes, we can't just sit here and experience the pain. We need to learn from it and use it to make us a better person. I know I am going to try my best to count my blessings and not dwell on the past and what ifs. It's the Christmas season. A time to rejoice.

Frugal Friday Tips

It's Frugal Friday time! Hope you find something in the list you can use. Just click on the item you want to know more about or take advantage of.

Walgreens Quaker pancake mix for 50cents

Free pint of international coffee creamer

$50 give away for Alice.com

Free calendar from Eat Better America

Free Splenda Sample

Free Calender and Coupons from Muellers

Free Book (The Purpose of Christmas)

Free printable Christmas planner

Chance to win $30 Walmart Gift Card

Handmade Advent Calender

Free pattern for knitted hat

Mother

Bonnie Marie-November 28,1923-January 14,2005

Mother's birthday was November 28th. With all the Christmas events going on I didn't want a post about her to get lost in the midst.... Happy Birthday Mother

Her friends called her Bonnie, her 14 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren called her Nannie Bonnie. Her children, well we called her Mother. We never called her mommy or mom. From the time we could talk it was always Mother. It was a respect she wanted and got from her children. Mother went through so much in her lifetime. She had 3 sons and 2 daughters. She buried a son that died at 18 months old from a rattle snake bite. She had another son while her husband was on a ship during WWII. Mother moved from her mountain home and family when her husband came home from war and wanted to go to barber school. The only one in the state was in Winston Salem. She not only kept the home up and meals on the table while taking care of 2 boys she worked so her husband could go to school fulltime. They moved back to the mountains so her husband could have his barbershop and she had 2 daughters. She continued to work fulltime while teaching her children how to cook and take care of the home. All of her children grew up and left home able to cook, clean, iron, sew, garden, and everything else that was needed to take care of ones self. Mother was at church every time the doors were open. We never ask if we were going to church, we knew we were. We also knew that the allowance we received on Saturday had to have 10% taken out for tithe before we spent any of it. Mother had to bury one of her daughters after a long bout with melanoma. She also went through a divorce after being married 28 years when divorce was a hush hush subject. She held her head up and went on years later to marry a wonderful man who she had to bury 20 years later from cancer. Mother later battled colon cancer with surgery and strong treatments that made her very weak and ill. She was cancer free for 2 years and found she had liver cancer which the doctors told her was untreatable and she only had 6 months. Mothers words were no one would tell her when she was going to die and lived for almost 2 years. Not one time in anything that came mothers way did I hear her ask why. Not once did I hear her complain or cry that so much heartache had came her way. She remained strong to the very end, making sure she had everything in order and that every family member had something of hers. She got to see a grandson that she hadn't seen since he was a child and he brought his new born son with him. She was very happy and ready to go be with her love ones that were waiting to take her home. She died with a smile on her face and her hand on my cheek as I was telling her the angels were there to take her home and that we would be fine and stay strong for each other. I am so blessed to have had her as a mother. We had our ups and downs and she could really give me a hard time if she didn't like what I was doing or saying but she was always there for me, always ready to forgive me, always ready to forget and go on. She was there for me at the beginning and I am blessed I was there for her at the end. I was blessed I had the strength to talk to her about God and heaven and our loved ones there waiting. I was blessed I was able to see that smile and feel that touch and say I love you one last time and say goodbye. Today I can't feel that touch or see that smile except in my heart but I can say Thank You for being my mother and making me who I am today. I love you.

Molar Roller

Am off this morning to take Julie to her dentist appointment. I just love this dental office on wheels! Its so cute and everyone is so nice and gentle with the children. I have a paperback in my purse to read while there...that is unless I get involved in the dvd they have playing for the kids. Have a blessed day everyone!

Christmas Tree

Last week Megan bought me a little white Christmas tree at a thrift store.

She also bought a string of mini lights. I spent $1.00 on a angel topper

Thanks to Marci sending me her mom's embroidery floss I stitched some ornaments for the tree.

I also made some cinnamon,applesauce ornaments. They really make the tree smell nice.

When Rusty and I went on a walk we took some items from Mother Nature to help decorate the tree. In the above photo you can see some of the rose hips we stuck all around the tree. We also gathered some dried weeds and scattered them among the branches.

Its not the 19 trees I use to decorate and display all through the farmhouse, but its perfect for our little cabin Christmas.

And the best part... I only spent a little time and $1.00!