First Day of My New Job

Well, in a few minutes, I'll be off to my new job as a substitute for the school were Dane will be going for Pre-K. He will be going with me today since they have child care for any day they make us work. We had an orientation on Saturday and I got to meet alot of the other ladies. I really think it will be nice working there and a great way to get Dane adjusted to a new school before he starts Kindergarten next year.

So, I'm off to work :0) ....Hope everyone has a good day.

Ya' Gotta Read This!!

Someone on the book swapping site posted a link to this auction on ebay this morning. I believe it has ended since then, but you have got to read this!!!

Ebay Listing

Have a good day!!

I Know a Secret....

Have you been worried about me? Wondering where I wandered off too? I must confess. I have been very easily distracted the last couple of weeks. Seems I can't keep my mind focused on any one thing for very long. And now I think I know why ;0)

Let me tell you.

On July 4th, Charlie had to work. We were planning on leaving right after he got off from work & drive to Mobile & spend the weekend with the family. Not going into too much detail, but I was having a curious feeling. So off Dane & I go to the Dollar Tree on 4th. I came home with my purchase & sure enough, I'm pregnant!! So then we hopped back into the car & drove to Charlie's work. I had thought how nice it would be to tell everyone when we arrived in Mobile, but my sweet DH can't keep a secret if his life depended on it. So within the next 30 minutes, everyone in the family knew.
We stopped in Milton to see our brother Mark & Jennifer. Jennifer had a friend over that is a mid-wife & she had a wheel-chart-thing that tells you when the baby is due. We figured out it should be due around March 7, 2008. Dane was born on February 21.
As for me, I haven't been to a doctor yet. We don't have any insurance (I know, I know!!) It's almost $1300 per month through Charlie's work!! The mid-wife has offered to help. But she lives in Pensacola. I'm going to look around. I feel that I can find someone to do reasonable, dependable work if I look hard enough. I wasn't happy at all with the last doctor we had when Dane was born. I mean really not happy. :0(

And I have been SOOOOO tired!!! All I want to do is sleep! I know it will get better after the first trimester. I'm going to the health food store & get some pre-natal vitamins. And I've been craving fruit, my mouth has been watering for some watermelon. And I haven't bought any yet! I'd like to find a Farmer's Market & buy locally grown produce. I'll have to ask around.

So now you know the secret, even though it's not a secret anymore.
All I ask of my fellow bloggers is Well wishes & lots of prayers! You can never have too many people praying for you!

I Did It, I Did It....

I got a job, I got a job. LOL!!!

Let me explain. Dane is 4. We've been talking about getting him into school. Because of his age, he will have to go to Pre-K this coming year. Since moving to our new neighborhood, I've meet a few mother's that recommend Celebration Baptist Preschool. So I called on Thursday & got some information from the director, Patti. The school year starts September 5. They are in school from 9-1 pm. The State of Florida pays for him to go to school from 9-12:30, so there is an extra 30 minutes each day & their school year runs a little longer than what the state pays for. Total program fee is $400. I was making arrangements to come by next Tuesday when Charlie was off so both of us could see the school. While talking to Patti, I jokingly made a remark about getting a job now while Dane was in school. She said she needed some more substitutes. So I meet with her yesterday. Dane is now enrolled for school and I have a job!!! Whenever they need me, I'll work that day. I'll only have to work 8:30-1:30pm. And since I'm on the staff, we don't have to pay the $400!!
You can't imagine what a Blessing this is! I prayed so hard about this on Thursday. Charlie & I had a little "disagreement" about it. I know how hard it is to find a job working just the hours that his is in school. And with no other family/friends, I can't ask someone else to pick him up.
The Lord is so good!!!

And then...our realtor friend, Mary Alyce asked me yesterday if I wanted to make some extra money. She has a new listing & it needs some cleaning. Nothing major, just wiping down the bathrooms & kitchen, some small things. I'm drinking the last of my coffee now, and then heading over there. Maybe I can stop at a few yard sales on the way!!

God made Truth with many doors to welcome every believer who knocks on them.
Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931)

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

Not sure if there are any Men reading this, so I'll tell the ladies to tell their men!!

So, whatcha been up to? It's taken me a while to get back into my "routine". I had a little morning routine that I did & it seemed to start off my whole day (it started in my studio). But when Krystin came, the studio was also the guest bedroom, so I was kicked out!! LOL It was worth it though. I'm planning on having everything back in order by tomorrow.

I've been working on some projects around the house. Krystin helped me paint the hallway a few weeks ago. And this past week, I started on the living room.
Before:

















After:
















Charlie hung the tv on the wall and then mounted the surround sound speakers on two sconces I found at Michael's for $5 a piece. Next, we want to get a cabinet for the wall below to house all of our DVD's (last time I counted we had 240!)
I love the color. It's called Applesauce Cake. And the red is Sweet Spiceberry. I still need to paint the trim moulding. Haven't decided on that yet.

Ciao For Now!

Too Short

Well, she's come and gone.

My step-daughter Krystin was her for the last two weeks and it just went too fast.


We had a lot of fun together just playing around & visiting.





Not sure who got more paint-the walls or her pants!!

We took a family vacation to Sea World



It all went too fast. Kinda like her growing up :0) She is really turning into a beautiful young lady-inside & out.

Thanks Krystin for a great time! We can't wait to see you again!

Love ya!

The Mermaid Chair

Actually, it's a cross, but I did read the book "The Mermaid Chair" by Sue Monk Kidd and since that was the inspiration behind me noticing this beauty, I'll keep it at that.
A few weeks ago, Dane & I went to some yard sales. At the last one, we meet a wonderful person named Kathryn and we struck up a conversation about kids and life. Then she told me she started painting & asked if I wanted to see what she had been making. Of course I said "Yes". We going into her beautiful house and she opens a closet & pulls out a basket FULL of all these beautiful crosses. All different. I wish I had taken a picture of all of them. Anyway, as we were looking through them, I noticed the one with the mermaid & commented on it. Well, that sweet Kathryn gave it to me!! And now it is hanging on my pretty green shelf in the foyer, first thing you see when you walk into our house.

Don't you just love it?? I really need to take a picture of that basket. If you could have seen the whole thing full of all this little beauties!!



And since I brought up the subject of reading, I've just finished my 16th book of the year!! I recently joined a challenge on PBS- A-Z Authors. It's really making me read some authors outside of what I normally read. But some of the books that I've read earlier this year were duplicate letters, so for the challenge I've only read 9 letters.

Do you have any reading plans for the summer? I'd love to hear some of your favorite books/authors. Please share!!

An ATC & Shrek 3

An atc and a little book to keep them in that I made for a swap I was in. The "Bee Queen" atc turned out so well, I had to make another one for myself:0) And I just love making the little books. They're so much fun!

I just found out last night that my MIL is coming to visit later today (from Mobile). This will be the first time ANY ONE from our family will have seen our new house! Kinda excited. I've taken lots of pictures to show everyone but it's not the same when they actually walk through the front door.





We went to see Shrek 3 last night. And it was funny as usual. I don't know who enjoyed it more, Charlie & I or Dane!! Very cute.

Ciao for now!

Thank You Heather

Yeah-I've finally got my banner back (after I tried to play around with the template thing and LOST it!!!) The good & sweet Fairy Heather helped me out with this one. Oh thank you the great & powerful Heather!!!

So, now I feel like posting. And it's been awhile, so I'm not sure where to begin.
All of us have been sick for the last 3 weeks. We went on vacation and have been sick ever since. Yuck. Seems to be allergies. Sneezing, watery eyes, coughing. An overall feeling of crude. I'm ready for it to go away.

Below are some pictures from Mother's Day (BTW-hope everyone had a good one).
My DH planned on everyone meeting for lunch at a very good resturant called
The Crab Trap in Perdido Key, FL. My MIL, SIL & her kids & boyfriend Bill from Mobile and my BIL & his gang from Pensacola all meet together. It was such a nice experience for all of us to get together. And the food was outstanding, as usual.






My hubby and his mom.



Angie, Alyssa, Dane & Bill.





Angie, Alyssa & Grammie.

Bohemian Manifesto

Bohemian Manifesto
Originally uploaded by Bella Grace.

"Who am I? I'm poet.

My business? Writing.

How do I live? I live.

In my happy poverty I squander like a prince,

my poems and songs of love.

In hopes and dreams and castles-in-air,

I'm a millionaire in spirit."

~Rondolfo, La Boheme

Pink Sunday Favorites

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature.

~Henry Ward Beecher

Happy Birthday(s)

(Some are late and some are on time-sorry!)

On Wednesday the 18th it was my mother-in-laws birthday.

Happy Birthday Grammie!!!!

Doesn't she look pretty in her pink??







The 19th was my most favorite celebrity's birthday, Ashley Judd. We were both born 1968. And she married her hubby on my birthday, December 12. Cool, huh? :0)












And today is my grandfather Papa's birthday. Born April 21, 1921. I guess today was the first time in 64 years that my grandmother wasn't there to wish him a happy birthday. But they lived a wonderful life together and he seems to be doing fine.

If anyone else is having a birthday or had one soon:
Happy Birthday!!

Family Time

Just wanted to share some pictures of the family in the last few weeks.



This is my sister-in-law and my niece, Alyssa. She is 16 months old. Can you see she got a little bo-bo on her nose?



My wonderful hubby trying to be a cowboy!!



I really loved how this picture turned out with the solid blue background and the horse being white. BTW, the horses' name is Angel.

Blue Sunday Favorites

Sacred space and sacred time and something joyous to do is all we need. Almost anything then becomes a continuous and interesting joy.

~Joseph Campbell

A Special Thank You

I would like to say "Thank You" to all the wonderful people that sent kind thoughts and words to me about the loss of my grandmother. Your kindness means so much to me. I still think about her almost every day-something I'd like to show her or something Dane has said or done. But I knew awhile back that my days with her were numbered-at 93 years old it's no secret. She lived a long and fulfilling life and my goal now is to live a life that I know she would be proud of. Hugs to all of you.

Happy Easter

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful and Blessed Easter. I hop(e) the Easter Bunny brings you lots of goodies!
What do you have planned for the day?


I wanted to share some pictures of my Easter display.




The tall gray bunny is from the very talented Rose Marie of The UnionRose from ebay. I love her creations-she is one talented lady.








My Easter Tree
Not sure if you can really see the wall color but I had attempted to try something new and it didn't turn out quite as I had planned. So now the wall is painted a beautiful golden color and I color washed the shelf which was made by my father almost 20 years ago. I thought it made the perfect backdrop for all my pretties!

Another of my little creations. I made these little birdies many years ago and they still bring a smile to my face when I see them.

HAPPY EASTER

Sea World

Here are some pictures from our trip to Sea World



















There was so much beautiful foliage everywhere!




Feeding the dolphins was the Best. I don't know who had more fun-Dane or me & Charlie.







This is taken outside a restaurant in Orlando called "Race Rock". For any of you that love any kind of racing-car,bike,boat this is the place to go. It's great for the kids too!

Steel Magnolia

Grace "Gigi" Nuckolls
November 9, 1913-March 26, 2007
A true Steel Magnolia-they just don't make 'em like that anymore.

Nuckolls, Grace R. NUCKOLLS Grace R. Nuckolls, a native of Baldwin County, AL and a resident of Mobile, AL died on Monday, March 26, 2007. She was a member of Azalea Hills Christian Church and retired from Gayfers after many years of service. She is survived by her husband of 64 years Mr. Charles Scott Nuckolls of Mobile, AL, son Gaylon S. (Judith) Nuckolls of Mobile, AL, granddaughter Kristal (Charlie) Leaver of Tallahassee, FL and great grandson Dane Leaver of Tallahassee, FL, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Graveside services and interment will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 10:00 AM in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Thursday 9 AM until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers family request memorials be made to the American Heart Association or to The Diabetes Association. Funeral arrangements by MOBILE MEMORIAL GARDENS FUNERAL HOME 6040 Three Notch Rd. Mobile, AL.

I miss you so much

Pieces of Me

I started making some flip flops again. I have this pair listed on ebay along with a really nice vintage black and white purse. Ebay is so finnicky sometimes. I know the purse is a really nice one and so far there are 5 people watching it but no one has bid on it. I still can't believe no one bid on my little cross stitch piece last week-she is so cute! (At least I think so!!)
I'm going to make some more flip flops in different colors and list them on Etsy. I'm going to see if I have any better luck with Etsy than on Ebay.

There has been some really upsetting things going on in our lives lately. Yesterday, DH had to fly to Charlotte for a four hour meeting with his company. Basically, they are restructuring and after 7 years, 9 moves to 4 different states, they are moving him down to a store manager. It's very frustrating to him to not get any kind of recognition for all his hard work. And there are some other things that I just don't want to get into now. But life is trying to tell us something right now, and I'm really worried. I've cried almost everyday since last Wednesday when we found out. As much as I want to say that it's not fair, I know Life isn't fair. But I'm not going to let someone else take all of my dreams for me and my family away. I feel that all of this has happened at the same time and now Charlie and I have to work together and find out which direction we have to take.So for all my blogging friends,just say a little prayer for us. We could uses it :0)

{Dane helping me with my display for my ebay items}