What is it?

Yesterday we hit a thrift store and found this little item - the wood and metal thing. I was so excited to see it and it brought back some fond memories from my childhood. The two little girls with me kept asking "what is it?" Well, I wonder, do you know? Post a comment and let's compare notes. I will reveal the answer later on.

Sew & Quilt Show Atlanta

I don't want to be boring and repeat everything that I put on my dd's blog - you can go there to see all the pictures and details about what we did and saw. I am STILL coveting the rose velvet corsage that Evy (pictured above with my dd) had at her booth. Ruth says don't fret it . . . I will get one, but patience isn't one of my virtues, Evy said those machines are affordable . . . I think it is time to start saving money.

On to other things. A huge congratulations goes out to my niece Emily and her husband Caleb - they are proud parents of a sweet little baby boy, Jack. They made me a great-aunt. Is that possible? My sister a grandmother? hmmm. All our love to this sweet new family. Babies are pure pleasure and special gifts from heaven.

Snow!

Finally! Snow! We had to wait until all the little buds began to show up on trees to get it . . . but it finally came. While we were at church this morning we watched the rain turn to snow, big fluffy snowflakes. So purrty. There is actually some accumulation. Wow. I know what you northerners are thinking, I was once a northerner too. But we haven't seen hardly any snow in two years, so it was a /bit/ exciting today. Church was even cancelled tonight! Wow. (That's a Mickey Mouse snowperson.)

So we had our Disney party today with the "R" family cause we are getting all pumped up about our trip. I am not going to tell you how far away it is because that too will seem crazy. We are crazy. No doubt. We celebrated with a Pop Century Tye-Dyed Cheesecake. It was a funky cake. I wasn't hugely impressed with the taste, the cake seemed too dry. I made us new countdown calendars and keyring reminders. Let the fun begin.

Just thinking aloud here, well . . . typing my thoughts. Yesterday we visited two malls - they were so packed with people it felt like Christmas. The restaurants had lines, the stores were amazingly full and people were spending . . . is the economy really hurting? Really? Then, a couple of days ago, our college class cabin was broken into - it's a small house on the church property, labeled "The Cabin" of NMFBC. Someone came in and stole the few things we had, an X-Box game, TV, VCR, couches, lamps, chairs, washing machine and dryer, all the snacks and drinks and paper goods. We are sad of course, it seemed strange this morning in Sunday School without our lights or comfortable seating. (Bathroom had no mirror or TP.) Hopefully the desperate persons that did this thing will get what they need out of the items. It just makes you want to stop . . . and reflect on the world . . . and its need of the only real help, the Savior.

Want -to -declutter . . .

There is this constant battle going on in my mind when it comes to purging my home of stuff . . . "what if I need this later?" "wouldn't this be so cute used like this?" "why are you storing this?" Yes, I have problems. My arguments with myself are quite intense. It is usually punctuated by eating chocolate. Good example: Pulling stuff out to put on Ebay today, stuff purchased specifically for Ebay . . . and the dilemma starts. Found this wonderful large Longaberger desk set with the separators and clear plastic liner for a great price - purchased to sell. While taking pictures of the thing, I am thinking, "oh that would be perfect to store my files in, or bits of folded cloth, and it is my favorite retired stain. This would cost me almost $100 to replace." And, not sure who won, but the thing is sitting on my desk with stuff in it. Sad, pathetic story, I know. Well, I did manage to get 3 things up. It takes me forever to list an auction, usually because I am afraid I will forget some important detail to put in the listing. I will admit my shipping prices are on the high side, but it takes me so much time to photograph, list and ship items, I try to recoup that and the unbelievable fees Paypal and Ebay get nowadays. It is really kind of pointless to list anything under $10 now - used to be no biggie to list little things. Hopefully this coming week there will be many more things up and our family budget will be replenished a little.

Oh, and speaking of renovation . . . there is a toilet in our front yard right now. (Could fill it with dirt and flowers . . . ) Yes, another unexpected expense to this project. The old one said, "no way, I am done," as it leaked blue junk all over my new grout and tile. And the mirrors took more of the wall with them than they were supposed to and it is becoming a horror of an ordeal trying to replaster the gaping holes. Ready to see this project come to a sweet end. Did I mention that I LOVE the glass tile? It is so rich rich rich. Every house needs some -glass -tile -somewhere in it. Hey Mom . . .