Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Phone booth

Carley and I had a great time in Asheville at this great antique store.  This was an old phone booth that they had.  

It was lots of fun to look at all the interesting things they had in this place.....it was a huge old warehouse filled with treasures.

Enjoy the day♥

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Swingin' the time away


This is the swing I received as a gift for my birthday.  I already had a similar one on our front porch.  I really wanted one for the back screen porch.....and now I have it.  YEA!  It is super comfortable and takes up very little room.  

I am spending lots of time on the back porch just swinging my cares away.   I highly recommend it.....

Enjoy the day♥

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Power nap














My daughter came to our house, at my request, to offer me some assistance with my etsy shop.  She is very creative and has wonderful ideas.  I took this picture of her and my faithful companion, Scout, to show how hard they were working to assist me.

Only kidding.....she was extremely helpful.  She works very hard at her employment and on her own endeavors.  So, she just needed a power nap.  Scout, never wanting to miss ANY opportunity for napping, decided to join in.  

Enjoy the day♥♥♥ 

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Relaxing on the sofa

What a great life.....just hanging out on the sofa all day!! She is very content.  

Not much gets her upset.  Very 'cool dudette'.

She does get excited when the UPS man comes to the door.  Not sure what that is all about.....maybe she likes the cute brown shorts he wears......



Enjoy the day♥♥

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Love these shoes

I discovered these shoes and I think they are so unique and lovely.  I am saving up my money so I can purchase a pair.








They are from the etsy store 'soleilduautomne'
http://www.etsy.com/listing/48190265/the-all-blacks-crochet-mary-janes-with


They are available in different designs and colors as well.


Enjoy the day♥

Monday, May 31, 2010

Poison Ivy

So, I have just recently learned that you  can get poison ivy from your dog!!

This is from a short blurb in Family Circle Magazine, June 2010 issue, page 128.

Apparently, most pets don't actually get a rash after coming in contact with the poison ivy plant.  They can, however, give YOU the poison ivy by rubbing on you.  Who knew?!?!

They suggest giving your pets a warm soapy bath if they have been outside in areas with low bushes or vines.  And wear rubber gloves when bathing them.

I don't really know what poison ivy looks like.....will have to look into that.  

Well, have a rash free summer.....

Enjoy the day♥♥

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Keep Your Pet Protected

Here are some tips taken from an article in Family Circle Magazine-June 2010 Issue, page 100.

These are suggestions for taking care of dogs during the hot summer months.

1.  Apparently animals don't sweat like people do...I didn't know this!  So they suggest limiting strenuous outdoor activity in the hottest part of the day.
Also suggested having a shady spot available for the pet to rest and cool off.

2. Pet's can get a sun burn.  Now, this I DID know since our dogs got sunburn on their noses when we spent a day at the beach.
Anyway, they suggest using a pet-safe SPF sunscreen (found at pet supply stores) on the belly, nose and ears and to reapply after the pet has been swimming.

3.  Specific fertilizers can be dangerous to pets....even if you don't use them on your own property, your pet my run across them in other areas.  Pay attention to where your pet is going and watch for any signs of distress.

4.  Watch out for those pesky bugs!!  The primary offenders are mosquitoes, ticks and fleas.  They suggest checking with your vet for the best anti-tick and bug repellent for your pet.  Also, check daily for any bites or unusual sores on your fur baby.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy summer.

Enjoy the day♥♥

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Junk Mail Be Gone!

This is a great site to use if you are looking to reduce the amount of 'junk mail' you receive.

catalogchoice.org

It seems pretty simple to use and it is offered at no charge.

I like to do anything I can to save the trees!! Love my trees!!

Enjoy the day♥♥

Friday, May 14, 2010

Puprle Clematis

This is the lovely Clematis vine that grows on the other side of our trellis.  It doesn't have as many flowers as the lighter vine on the opposite side.  But we love it also.


It still has a few flowers yet to open and then it will be finished flowering until next spring.


Enjoy your evening♥

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Time to leave the nest


The babies have left the nest!  Two fell out yesterday....well they flew a bit but didn't really have the whole concept under control.....
So, in my pj's and rubber gloves (not a pretty sight!!)  I chased them around and managed to get them back in the nest. 

But, while getting them settled back in, the third one took off.  So...I managed to get him and when I went to put him back in the nest, the other two were gone.  I looked everywhere, but could not find them.  I did chase away a HUGE owl that I think was after them.  The parent robins were dive bombing the owl.  I guess the babies were out there in the trees/bushes somewhere and looked like a nice snack to Mr. Owl.

Anyway, I hope they made it.  The third baby stayed in the nest all day yesterday and the mommy robin continued to feed it.  When I looked out this morning, he was gone.  

I will miss them.  

They did leave us something to remember them by....
Heehee......looks like a good clean up job for my husband!  Ha!

Enjoy the day♥♥

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Growing Babies



The three babies are hanging in there.  They are squished in this little nest, but so far, they are all staying put!! YEA!!

The parents are working hard to keep these youngsters fed.  Lots of worms and bugs coming on a regular basis.  

This corner of our porch is getting a bit messy.....heehee.....but we'll just give it a good clean up after the babies take flight.

I am hoping that will be soon as I don't know how much longer they can all continue to fit in this little home.

Have a wonderful day♥♥

Monday, May 10, 2010

New Wind Sock

So I have this new 'wind sock' that I am enjoying. It twirls and twirls.  So fun......of course I am easily entertained.

As for the baby robins...so far, the three are still in the nest.  I hope they can all hang in there until they are ready to fly away.

Enjoy your day♥♥

Sunday, May 9, 2010

And then there were three.....



Well, the baby robin saga continues.  
This morning I went out to check on them.....one of the babies had fallen out of the nest.   As you can see they are rather crowded in there!!


So I put on rubber gloves and attempted to place the sweet one back in the nest. The other babies thought I was trying to feed them, and stuck up their heads and opened their mouths.  This pushed the baby right back out.

It landed on the concrete porch below.  I picked it back up and it was not in good shape.  So I laid it on the porch railing and watched to see if is was going to revive itself.  

It did not.  I watched as it took it's last breath.  It was so sad......

I am hoping that the remaining three babies can manage to stay in the nest until it is time for them to fly away.

After my 'renesting' attempt, I was afraid the robin parents would not return to the other babies. So I sat and watched for a bit. They came back to feed them.  Thank God!!  I was already thinking about what I was going to do if the parents didn't return.

We will see how it goes and hope for the best for the remaining robin babies.  Apparently, navigating the growing up process can be difficult for all creatures!

Let's hope these sweet ones do well.

Enjoy your Mother's day♥♥

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Vacation time!!

It is about time to be thinking about some good ol' vacation time.  I know $$ is an issue for a lot of us these days, but there are still great ways to have fret-free fun, food, frolic, and general frivolity (I ran out of useable "f" words!)

I found this site and it has some useful info.  Thought I'd pass is along.

vacationfun.com

We live near the Carolina beaches and this is always a wonderful place for some relaxing vacation time for us.

I hope you have some terrific get-away plans for the summer.

Enjoy the day♥♥

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

How Many????


So, I still can't tell how many babies there are in this little nest!! It sure is a bunch of birdies squished in there though.

I don't like to stay around the nest too long because it upsets the Mommy and Daddy Robins.

I think the babies are beginning to open their eyes.  So sweet.  

I am loving this♥




Enjoy the beautiful day♥♥

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

EFA

 I am happy to be a member of this group!

Check out the blog:
http://efaartistshelpinganimals.blogspot.com/

 Enjoy your day♥

Monday, May 3, 2010

Three Babies!




So this is the front porch pillar that I have tried to 'cat proof' to protect the baby birds in their porch nest.  

I am sure the neighbors are wondering what type of new decorating sense I have adopted with this look.....

Just hope it will keep the cats away.  I think I'm going to add a bit more plexiglass, but have to go and get it cut to fit.  I had to break the pieces I already had hanging around in the garage.  This was no easy task and it splintered a LOT.

The babies are not chirping yet, but I really love watching them through the window that overlooks their little nest.  I have a bird's eye view....pun totally intended!!

Mommy Robin is bringing a steady supply of worms and other delicious bird treats to her ALWAYS hungry, wide mouthed babies.  

Watching how hard she is working to keep these little ones fed has given me a whole new appreciation for the convenience of breast feeding.....it was great especially in the wee hours of the morning when I was half asleep!!

I'm looking forward to watching the progress of these little feathered friends.  And I have a great deal of admiration for this very dutiful Mommy Robin. She is awesome!

Enjoy the day♥

Saturday, May 1, 2010

I AM WOMAN

Another beautiful spring day here♥

I wanted to share this website that I found. It has great information for women on many different topics. And it is easy to navigate around in the site to locate areas that may be of interest to you.
healthywomen.org

Great to find a place dedicated specifically to women.....YEA!!



I am WOMAN ...... see me be healthy and happy!!

Enjoy your day♥♥

Friday, April 30, 2010

Happy Home



We have a sweet new family that has moved into our house. 
This nice little nest home is in the corner of our front porch.  

I first noticed this when checking something on the porch.  I was alarmed when a bird flew right over my head. So, I look up and there is the nest.

SO SWEET!!!

I was worried that the robin would be too afraid to return to the nest, but she came back after just a few minutes.

She is a very good Robin mother. Very consistent about sitting on her nest.  Even when we go in and out the front door, she remains at her post.

She will only leave if you get really close.  But we can check on her from inside the house by just looking out a window right by the nest.

It is going to be fun to watch the progress.  Looking forward to new Robin babies.....

Enjoy your day♥♥

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Spring has sprung!!



Spring has come to our area and it is really beautiful.  This is the trellis on the side of our house. 

Each spring and summer it is covered with flowers.  I just love it!! Requires basically no care from us and gives us such beauty in return.  ♥♥

"Earth laughs in flowers."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


Makes me smile.

Enjoy your day♥♥

Thursday, April 22, 2010

HAPPY EARTH DAY

Happy Earth Day!!!  There are a lot of sites that can provide useful information on how we can take care of our home.....

I ran across this one and it seems interesting.
recyclebank.com

There is a variety of info, ads and places to explore on this site.  I haven't fully explored it myself.  It does say that you can sign up to receive points for "eco-friendly actions" and then these points may be redeemed for coupons or gift cards.  So check it out.  I intend to browse around the site myself and see what it is all about.

Have a great day and enjoy our lovely home.....the earth is a glorious place that we all need to cherish and take care of♥♥

Enjoy your day♥♥

Friday, April 16, 2010

Where did the day go - Part 2 ?????

So this is the chair that broke.  Poor thing just couldn't take my squatty butt sitting on it anymore....

I actually spent some time attempting to fix it before my new chair arrived. 
This attempt involved metal brackets, duct tape, glue and a variety of tools. Nothing worked.  My dog, Scout, watched the whole process and she was quite perplexed  by it.  She listened to all my frustrated utterances....most of which should not be repeated....heehee.

So, the new chair arrived in a box and had to be assembled. You know you always need to be concerned when it says "easy assembly".  That is a sure fire way to know that you will be spending some serious time getting this put together.
It wasn't too bad though and I have to say I love my new chair. It is comfortable and it is blue, my favorite color.  

I couldn't part with the pieces of the old chair just yet.  I am thinking about what I can make out of it....so it will hang around for a while with all the other things that are supposed to be destined to be transformed into something wonderful.

Enjoy the weekend♥

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Wonderful Women


















I am consistently touched by the gentle, courageous, open and strong spirit of the women I meet.

Yesterday, I ran into a wonderful woman in the grocery store.  Well, I almost literally ran into her with my cart----I'm not the best grocery cart driver.....but that's a whole 'nother story....

We started a conversation in the dairy aisle about Almond Milk (which is GREAT by the way).  Very quickly we discovered we are both breast cancer survivors.....and instantly we are connected by this bond of understanding.

So there in front of the dairy case we share some of our 'cancer journey' with each other....our boobs, chemo, our hair (or when we didn't have any!!).....all inhibitions gone.  No self consciousness about our discussion.  We laugh and share info like old friends.

I left the store feeling like I'd made a new friend even though the chances are I won't see or talk to this gentle woman again. She's now part of my story and I feel like a part of hers......and I wish her all the best and thank her for bringing a smile to my day and to my heart.

Enjoy the day♥

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Where did the day go?????

Well, I know we all have "those days".  I'm talking about when you take on a little project that you believe will take maybe 5 minutes to  complete.  And then a long time later, you still have not completed the project.

Mine began with a simple squeak in my desk chair.  Now this is not a top of the line chair to begin with, but it serves it's purpose.  Unfortunately, it developed this really annoying squeak.  I put up with it for quite a while until I decided I couldn't listen to it any longer.

So I rounded up my usual tools for a minor repair job.  I examined the chair for the source of the squeak, applied WD-40, tightened screws....and the squeak remained.  Did some more examining, applied more WD-40, more tightening of screws.....and we're still squeaking.  

At this point, I seriously debated the merits of even attempting to rid the chair of the squeak and entertained wistful thoughts of just replacing the chair.  I felt sure someone, somewhere would love to find this squeaking chair at my local donation store.

But I am stubborn (just ask my family!) and would not let this squeaking chair get the best of me. So I trudged forward in my quest to desqueak the chair.

FINALLY, after a LOOOOOONG time, it stopped squeaking. Success was mine!!
I was so proud of myself.  I just had to take a few moments to sit in the chair and bask in my squeakless joy!!!!

Of course, in the  process of desqueaking the chair I had made a bit of a mess.  Now I had to clean up.....and then decided that since I was in clean up mode I would straighten up a few other areas of my office.

By the time this whole deal is done, a large portion of the day has evaporated and none of the things I had planned to do have been accomplished.  But hey....I have conquered the squeak in the chair.  Now, that has to be worth something in the scheme of things, right?!?!

The end of the saga is that I sat in my chair this morning.....the day AFTER the desqueaking session.....and the chair BROKE!! Oh, the nerve of this chair!!! I can still sit in it, but it now leans and wobbles.......and I know it is not long before the seat completely breaks apart from the chair stand.  

So, it will be a new chair after all.....hopefully without squeaks.

Enjoy the day♥♥

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Women's Health

This is a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  It has a lot of facts on a wide array of topics.

It can lead you to places to find good info on what you may be researching.
womenshealth.gov

Good to browse around so all of us fabulous ladies can stay happy, healthy and gorgeous-both inside and out!!

Have a FANTASTIC day♥♥

Friday, April 9, 2010

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate


This delicious treat is from an etsy shop,
Nicole's Homemade Treats.
www.nikid.etsy.com

Everything in this shop is wonderful♥
This particular treat is:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40052685  


I recently read a little blurb in Oprah magazine about the benefits of chocolate.

It stated that "the creamy indulgence confers health benefits, including possible protection against cancer and heart disease." and "It turns out that chocolate can also reduce skin damage from sun exposure." (Oprah Magazine, March 2010, page 106)

Now we can all indulge in chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

I plan to eat a bit of chocolate everyday....for health reasons, of course....heehee.

Have a chocolicious day♥♥

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Health Information

    

As a breast cancer survivor, I am particularly interested in health information.  I like to read about new research as well as learn things that are new to me.

I discovered this site that offers some good info.  They have different categories to browse that include:  health topics, medical encyclopedia, news, and drugs and supplements.

Take a little time and have a look. 
nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus

I hope you have a happy day♥♥


Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Helping Animals

 The EFA charity of the month is Ambulance Alphen.

"This Dutch animal ambulance service provides emergency care to injured animals and transports them to the vet. Also they transport animals to specialized shelters troughout the country. The ambulance staff is highly trained and in possesion of a diploma for Animal First Aid.... Also for transporting your pet to the vet and back home, you can call upon the animal ambulance. "


Aren't these pictures precious??!!


If you would like more information you can check out the EFA site.
http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org


Have a wonderful day♥

Monday, April 5, 2010

Pediatric Health

 Our daughter is grown now. I can remember clearly though the days of chickenpox, measles, colds and all the other ailments that seem to come home from school with our children.  It was often difficult to navigate through the health concerns.  

Things like:  Do you need to see a doctor or not? Which medication is the best?  How much sleep do they really need at different ages? And so on......

So I ran across this new site that I hope may shed some useful light on some of the issues parents face with the health concerns of their kiddos. 

It offers diverse information on a broad array of topics.  Seems easy to use and understand as well.
So give it a try and see what you think.  
Healthychildren.org

Enjoy the day♥♥

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Organization Idea

 I have this angled section of wall in my studio.  It is a place where the roof line slants to accommodate the shape of the room.....this was an added space.

I couldn't install shelving here due to the angle.  Then I thought of a VERY simple way to utilize the space.  I attached dowels to the ceiling with silk ribbon that I had on hand.  

I made three separate hanging rods that are staggered.  They work great for my ribbons and clamps. 

I have also used them for a variety of other tasks......for instance hanging projects to dry.

So, if you have a space like this, give it a try.  Simple, inexpensive and very useful.

Craft on♥♥

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Pets Find Their Way Home

 I found this site for lost and found pets.
It is sad when one of our furry family members gets lost.

I hope that this site can be useful.
www.thecenterforlostpets.com

Have a beautiful day♥♥

Friday, April 2, 2010

Personalize Exercise

  I personally do not like exercise.  But I know that it is something that I need to do. And the truth is, when I actually do exercise, I generally feel better.   Go figure. So I have taken to daily encounters with "Teddy the Torture Treadmill".  It would be a stretch (pun totally intended!) to say that we have become good friends, but at least I no longer shudder whenever I gaze at the thing.

So, we have reached a mutual understanding.  I agree to walk everyday, if possible.....and not to use "Teddy" as a clothesrack.  "Teddy" in turn, has agreed to....well, I'm not really sure "Teddy" has agreed to anything. 

I also ran across this website that I like. It offers a lot of diverse information on fitness:  exercise programs, calculators, recipes, and other miscellaneous info.  So you can check it out:
acefitness.org

Have a great day.
Sharon♥

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Healthy Women

This is a great site for information pertaining to women's health.  You can research a variety of health issues, read about stories from other women and download helpful fact sheets.

Today there is so much conflicting information out there. This seems like a good place to explore.....add it to your list of potentially useful health sites.

http://www.healthywomen.org/

Have a wonderful day♥