GOOD INTENTIONS...

With summer coming to a close and school beginning again next week, I am hoping to get back into a routine, which I hope includes only weekly or bi-weekly trips to the grocery store! I feel like I have been in the grocery store just about every day this summer! Yuck!!!
Starting this weekend, I will browse the grocery store flyers, go shopping on Monday and plan my meals ahead of time...wish me success fellow bloggers!
I'd love to hear how each of you do this...how many trips to the grocery store do you make? How do you plan your meals? Any recipes you care to share with me? Tips?
Feel free to post a comment, or email me....I'd love to hear from you!!
Have a great day everyone....it's foggy and rainy here today.....good day to try and get my house organized!
Marion

SHORTEST JOB IN HISTORY!

Well, if you can believe it, I only worked for 3 days!!! I knew after the first day that it wasn't for me, but decided to keep trying. I liked the work, but I didn't like having to push memberships to the place, I am not a seller, and time didn't seem to mean anything to the person I was working for.....no one else there was married, or had a family, and when you are expecting to get off at a certain time and don't...and have a daughter waiting for pick-up...it's not good....so I thanked my boss very nicely for giving me the chance, but it just wasn't for me. Part of me is relieved, part of me is sad...but what is meant to be...is meant to be.....right? I will find something eventually that will feel right.

In the meantime, we are on our last full week of summer vacation here. Today we went to the beach (well myself, my youngest and her friend)...this is a new to us beach...and I am in love!!

It was absolutely gorgeous!!! We are going back on Wednesday!!

Have you read about THIS designer in the Halloween Issue of Just Cross-stitch??? I love THIS design! I don't know that I'd attempt it....but I sure love it!! I would not frame it with a clock though....but that's just my opinion. I think I will actually put it on my wish list.....

Have a good evening everyone!!

Marion

NEW BEGINNINGS.....

Good evening!

Summer is winding down here in eastern Nova Scotia....we are down to our last two weeks of summer vacation.

As for me...I start a new chapter of my life tomorrow! I am going to start working part-time!! It's been 11 years since I technically worked outside the home...I did do three years of lunch-time duty at the kids school, but this in official part-time job! I will be working at a Massage Therapy Clinic about 20 hours per week. I am hoping it works out...it will be a nice change...and if it doesn't work out (or at least this job doesn't work out)...it's not the end of the world.

We've been busy around here...two family BBQ's this weekend! Lots of good food, good company.....

I've been busy stitching too! I started "Seven Days of Creation" by Plum Street Samplers.......I do love Paulette's designs..this one is stitched on 32 count..

.and I also started (and "almost" finished)"From The Deep" also from Paulette.....this particular design will hang in my bathroom when done. It's stitched on 32 count as well.....AND....I finished up this freebie that Paulette designed......it's stitched on 40 count!! My first attempt at 40 count, and I LOVE it!!

I also started Jenny Bean's Humble Servant Sampler and it's stitched on 40 count!! Who knew that I would love this count!!

Sorry for the bad photo of Jenny Bean!! I cannot seem to get a clear photo of this one!!

And so my friends...I will say goodnight for now....

Take care......

Marion

Greetings Fellow Bloggers

I am still among the land of the living. I have been browsing Blogs the past few weeks when time permits.....I have been stitching a bit, knitting a bit, and basically doing things with the kids (okay.....actually mostly just my youngest child, as older two are both working for the summer). We've been going in the pool, to the beach, to movies, etc...etc....etc.... I've gotten away for a night with a friend (great time...yard sales, second hand stores, etc....).....
and that's pretty much it so far this summer. We still have another month to go around here before school starts, so not sure what the rest of the summer will bring.....
hope you are all still with me for when I start Blogging more in the coming weeks!
Take care everyone!
Marion

MY YARD SALE FIND...

Don't you just love this old wicker rocking chair??? I picked this up on Saturday at a yard sale...we are going to be building a veranda on the front of our home this summer and I thought it would be perfect for the veranda! It is so comfy!! I was sitting in it on Saturday afternoon...stitching away.

I have been missing in action once again...........I guess I haven't really felt like posting...no real reason....

Also, if you are so inclined, would you keep my oldest in your thoughts and prayers? She has really struggled these past few months with growing up, things/people in her life changing and career/school choices......19 is such a hard age........so good thoughts that she will find what she is looking for and make good decisions for her are welcomed. She's a beautiful girl and I want to see her very happy.

Take care everyone!
Marion

HERE I AM AGAIN...AND MORE PHOTOS...

Thank you all for your comments...I really appreciate them!! I know we will be fine..we always are...and that job isn't DH's only source of income, he actually has his own business, so we will just have to incorporate benefits into that......god has a plan for all of us and we will survive. I just get stressed about things sometimes!

Anyway, I do have another finish!! I started this a couple of years ago and dug it out of the UFO pile and told myself..."Self, you are going to finish this!" I love this design, and hope to get it framed soon.....I'll give my framer a bit of a break, since he only frames in his spare time..LOL

Also, a few posts back I mentioned that I was doing a Mother's Day exchange with an online friend of mine......we were to make something, and then send something else we thought the other person would like......I made a pin cushion (Blackbird Designs) and FOB for her, and I included a couple of other things in her package, which for some reason I did NOT take a photo of?!

And, this is what I got from Terry! Look at that beautiful wool to make myself some cozy slippers! And a dish cloth, which she knitted, a sweet change purse, which she made herself, and two pairs of earrings, which her daughter made!! Thank you Terry!!

Anyway, enjoy your day everyone...it's sunny here, so I am going to enjoy mine!

LONG OVERDUE....AND PHOTOS!!

Good evening everyone!

I have been hibernating lately...I've been here, but not really in the mood to post.....I've been doing some "soul searching" so to speak.

When I made the decision at the age of 41 to leave work and stay at home with my children, I did not do it lightly...I had been at the job for 20 years, but I KNEW that the time was right, and it was what was needed to be done. I had wanted to do that the entire time I had been married.....fast forward 11 years.....I am still a stay at home mom, with the exception of a 3 year stint as a school lunch monitor at my childrens' school (again I felt it was needed for a couple of reasons).....and now I am at the age where had I stayed at my origional job of 20 years, I would be 3 years away from retirement. Do I think I made the wrong decision? Not on your life, but there are times when I wish my future years were more financially secure. I think what brought this on was a change in one of the jobs that DH does. We thought it would always be there....it is no longer going to be there after next week...and it was a shock to us. Not the end of the world, but it was the job that paid our medical and dental benefits, and therefore we must (and have) search out alternate benefits. I don't like change...I am the first to admit it! I have been thinking that maybe I should start looking for a part-time job, now that my youngest is almost 13....but at what? I am not trained for anything anymore and the thought of a department store makes me gag (sorry if any of you do this...I admire you, I could not do it)...so....I have been doing some soul searching and whining! When I read Katy's post today I realized how selfish I had been...and how fortunate I am......thank you Katy!

I guess we all have days/weeks where we feel unsettled, discouraged, etc...


I took a couple of photos, (borrowing from Katy's idea)...of the wonderful things in and around my home, and yes, I am truly blessed.
My doggy...Nallie...who is 12....and my daily companion:


Looking out my large kitchen window to the back deck and back yard...

My other kitchen window...looking towards the road that passes by our home....

AND.............TA......DA.......

Here it is in all it's glory!!! I love it!!!! "STILL WATERS"

I truly love this piece and am so glad I decided to stitch it (and finish it! LOL)

Have a great evening everyone!! Maybe you each can tell me one thing you are thankful for in your life today!

Marion