Random Things - Item of the Week

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TTFN
JMS

I'm thankful for...

This is the time of year when folks actually take the time to count their blessings; actively think about the things they are thankful for. This is a time for family togetherness and good feelings and good friends and good food.

Tomorrow, almost everyone in the country will participate in "The Great Feast" - then most likely everyone will take a long nap after gorging themselves on turkey (why oh why do I always want to put an "H" in the word Turkey? Thurkey? What is that? Moving on...) and stuffing (or dressing, as it's called here in the South) and cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole and on and on and on. Oh, I'm drooling already just thinking of it!

This year, we have been invited to spend Thanksgiving with friends here in town and I'm SO excited I can hardly stand it. She said to me, "We're thankful for our friends..." when we were talking about heading that way for roast bird. It nearly made me cry then and it is threatening to make me cry now. Why did we not make the trip "North" to visit Hubby's family for the annual multi-generational gathering to celebrate the Day of Thanks? Because I only have one day off and it is just not enough time for an up and back trip in one day. I'm disappointed, but then again, we're having our Annual Family Christmas on December 19th - so we'll get to see them soon.

Anyway - I do have a point, and it is this...

I am thankful for:

• my son, who is so smart and incredible and sweet and...and...well, just wonderful. I adore him so much I cannot even put it into words. He's reading, and doing so well he barely needs help, except when he decides he's just not into it and would rather you just read for him. He draws awesome pictures and when he colors, he is meticulous about staying in the lines. He doesn't pick up his room or put away his clothes or rarely does he actually listen to what we tell him - but right now, I don't care. He's my buddy, my friend, and my love.
• my daughter, who is also super smart, but mostly right now she's just a princess. A diva. A beautiful little blonde-haired, blue-eyed sweetie who gives butterfly kisses, Eskimo kisses and sloppy wet kisses and hugs that could break your heart with the amount of love she puts into them. Who says, "Ok, I'll get up - after I'm done sleeping." At 2 1/2 years old....she's a woman after my own heart. Who wants her soft blankie just-so, and her fluffy blanket tucked all around her, and her Dora comforter up to her neck. Oh, and I cannot forget to kiss bunny and Curly Shirley - the comfort toys she cannot sleep without. I so adore every little thing about her - even with the attitude!
• my husband, who is always there. I feel like I should say more - but I don't think it's necessary. He's there. He's not out somewhere else doing God only knows what, but he's home, with me. He's my love, my life, my friend and my future.
• my job. Though it may be the most difficult job I've had to-date, I'm thankful for it.
• friends who think enough of us to ask us over for dinner again and again, though we, ourselves, rarely entertain.
• the ability to be creative enough to make Christmas presents this year and have some guarantee that they'll be well received rather than dumped in a drawer to collect dust when I'm not looking.

What are you thankful for this year?

TTFN
JMS

Feelers...

I'm puttin' feelers out there. I'm looking for a bunk bed for Kiddo, and I'm pretty specific about what I want, so I thought I'd see if there is anyone out there (those who regularly read my blog, and maybe those who stumble across it) who knows where I can find a good, yet inexpensive, bunk bed.

I want a wooden, twin-on-top bunk, with a desk underneath and STAIRS rather than a ladder. Meaning, it does not need to sleep 2 (one up and one down), but rather have that space underneath utilized for a desk - I guess they call it a loft bed. I don't want a ladder because I'm uncomfortable with Kiddo going up and down in the middle of the night when we're all asleep. Granted, I'm sure he could probably handle it, but I'm not sure I could.

Anyway - used is fine, as long as it is in good condition - but I'm striking out on Craig's List.

See - I found almost the perfect bunk bed for his room, but it's $2000.00!!! I'm not willing or able to pay that right now. Though, yes, I'm drooling over it. Actually, the one I want has a ladder. Somehow, I cannot seem to find the entire coveted combination: twin loft bed, desk, stairs and NO 2nd sleeping location. Although I guess a 2nd sleeping location wouldn't hurt; visitors, you know. Hmm...

So, if you have any feedback for me, or leads...will you drop me a line or leave me a comment? I know this is an unusual post - but, ah well. Thanks a bunch!

TTFN
JMS

Random Things: Item of the Week

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TTFN
JMS

Now I'm Gobsmacked!

Aw, shoot...now I'm gonna have to make more button rings! Such a shame. I mean, everybody knows it's something I absolutely hate...right?

OK - can you hear the sarcasm dripping off those words?

LOL!

The first ring I sold after renewing some expired items arrived at its destination yesterday and the buyer (bless her) loved it so much she went back and bought 3 more! As UB says, now I'm more than flabbergasted, I'm gobsmacked! (Brit-speak for being smacked in the mouth, or "gob".) LOL!

Anyway - just thought I'd share!

I mean, any excuse to drag out the ol' craft stuff again, eh?

TTFN
JMS

PS: It's Veteran's Day today - to find the nearest vet and give him (or her) a hug and thank them for their service!

Little Bit, Kiddo, and Hand-Me-Down Clothes...

So my Little Bit still has a temp. Well, not right at the moment, but when she woke us up at 3AM it was 101.4. She's exhibiting no other signs of any kind of illness except for the initial upchucking (and even then, it was just a tiny bit). She doesn't have a runny nose, she isn't having difficulty breathing, her lungs sound clear to me (and I'm an expert...honest. If 30+ years with asthma and bronchial issues doesn't make you an expert, I don't know what will!) and she's not tugging at her ears. Can she possibly be teething at 2 1/2? That was suggested to me, but I can't see how teething can bring a 101.4 degree fever along with it.

Maybe that's just me.

Anyway - she's really doing OK. She's not floppy and lethargic anymore like she was the first day and seems to be her usual self otherwise.

Kiddo has been doing GREAT at school! He didn't get any checks at all last week (did I mention this already?) and he didn't get any checks yesterday, either. His behavior at home, however, definitely leaves something to be desired.

I think he and I are going to spend some quality time together tonight going through all of his clothes making sure what he has still fits him and if not, we'll give it to our friend little boy (who is just a few months younger than Little Bit right now. I'm sure they'd love to have them. Plus, they were the ones that gave us bins and bins full of girl clothes when Little Bit came along - so now maybe we can return the favor!

Anyway - Kiddo was just given 3 bags of boy clothes from another friend, so after we figure out where we are with what he has, we'll start weeding through the new stuff.

I love how kids clothes get passed around through families and friends. It's such a nice thing to be able to fill a need and/or have a need filled - especially for your children.

And one final note before I leave off for the day: I just added something new to My Etsy Shop! I really like it because it's simple, yet useful and quite pretty, too - IMHO.

TTFN
JMS

Follow up to "I'm Flabbergasted" (a.k.a. the last post...ya know, the one just below this one.)

I spent the entire day taking care of my sick little girl. She really did OK for most of the late morning and early afternoon, but come late afternoon early evening, her fever came back. Low-grade, but still elevated. She either gets really super grouchy or super lethargic when she's sick even a little bit, so she was quite floppy today and needed a large amount of hugs and kisses - which, of course, I was happy to give.

She'll be OK...it's nothing major, I don't think - but we'll keep watching and if I think a doctor visit is in order, we'll go - insurance or no insurance!

Kiddo spent most of the day with Hubby. Church this morning (he sat through the entire service and was extremely well-behaved, so I'm told) and then later this afternoon Hubby and the Chancel Choir from our church went to another church for the annual choir concert. I went last year (or maybe it was the year before), and it was an awesome experience. Hubby said, though, that if I had gone this year, I would have most likely needed an entire box of tissues. (I tend to cry if music of any kind is involved - it is a very emotional thing for me.)

Then Kiddo and I went to the grocery store and to get something for all of us to eat - and then we had our Sunday night ritual (such as it is) which includes America's Funniest Videos and Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Little Bit goes to bed after the videos and Kiddo hits pillow after the makeover show.

I just logged into my email about 30 minutes ago to see if anything interesting was happening that I needed to know about and wouldn't you know it, I'd had ANOTHER sale on Etsy! Again from someone I do not know. I'm floored by this because I've been basically inactive on Etsy for 4 months and then I go and reactivate some listings and BAM! It's like I'm suddenly the popular kid in high school.

Anyway - quite happy about the sale, but will be even more happy when my Little Bit gets better.

TTFN
JMS