Sunny Florida in January

I feel sorry for my family and friends that live up north. Florida is wonderful at this time of year. No snow, not too cold. Here are photos I just took. This is 5 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 28. Notice no snow, notice the temperature on my lanai and notice my goofy dog that will only drink water out of the pool.

Happy Mail

Over at House of Paper, I joined a Happy Mail swap. After signing up, you receive the names of four ladies that you are to make something by hand. It has to fit in a 6"x9" envelope. (I'm hoping mine fits). This is what I came up with. They are going postal this afternoon.

I found this on Susanne's blog. Thought I would give it a try.

I am going to change the color to red for everything I have done. If you want, try this on your own blog....here we go.....


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (not yet ...!) almost
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (working on it ... but I wouldn't say I'm facile yet)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt when I was about 2, don't remember it
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check NOT MY FAULT!
68. Flown in a helicopter Bill did this yesterday
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

One Word

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS USING ONLY ONE WORD

It's not as easy as you might think! Consider yourself tagged upon reading this and post it on your blog if you so desire. It's difficult to only use one word answers.

Where is your cell phone?
Counter

Your significant other?
Working

Your hair?
Messy

Your mother?
quilter

Your father?
carver

Your favorite thing?
Home

Your dream last night?
NONE

Your favorite drink?
tea

Your dream/goal?
Happy

What room are you in?
study

Your hobby?
scrapbooking

Your fear?
injury

Where do you want to be in six years?
Florida

Where were you last night?
home

Something that you aren't?
rich

Muffins?
bran

Wish list item?
skinny

Last thing you did?
bake

What are you wearing?
jeans

TV?
yes

Your pet(s)?
dog

Friends?
some

Your life?
crazy

Your mood?
happy

Missing someone?
yes

Drinking?
Soda

Smoking?
Nope

Your car?
Pilot

Something you're not wearing?
shoes

Your favorite store?
target

Your favorite color?
green

When is the last time you cried?
Yesterday

Where do you go to over and over?
church

My favorite place to eat?
home

Favorite place I'd like to be?
?

Look what I bought

I found this wicker chest at a garage sale last weekend. The lady said it is an antique German sewing chest. I am not sure that is correct. There are not labels or markings on it. I just think it is really cool and I am going to put my sewing stuff in there, too. I have it all over the house. It would be nice to have it all together in one place. The lady I bought it from also told me that she had the top reupholstered a few years ago.
Oh! And I got it for $20!

Brooksville Raid

The boys had this camping trip to the Brooksville Raid scheduled for a long time. Little did they know that it would be on the coldest nights of the winter so far this year. Their troop was one of the service units to help the Raid run smoothly. Bill and Daniel were really cold at night, but during the day, it was beautiful. They served the actors and the public. Daniel was taken by the sasparilla. He drank 7 bottles!

Woodcarving Show

Sarah and I went to my dad's annual woodcarving show. A lot of the folks that he has weekly wood carving meeting with show their work, have a contest and also teach beginners techniques. There are also woodcarvers from all over the United States and Canada that show their stuff and some vendors are usually there with supplies.

This year we saw Kathy and the girls there. They had fun painting the little wood shapes that Grandpa always brings for kids to paint. They let him set up right at the door and he asks any child that comes to the show if they would like to paint. He takes care of all the kids and they seem to look forward to it each year. He doesn't charge them anything, just paint and have fun. He is so sweet with the kids. He doesn't try to tell them how to paint their item.

Here are some photos of the girls with Grandpa AND Dad won the Best in Show Award this year!!

He got a John Deere

Bill has been looking and looking for a riding mower. We just could not justify buying anything new. It is really unnecessary because the first time you use a mower, it's all dirty and well, not new. Bill found this on Craig's List and went and picked it up last night. It needs a little bit of cleaning. We bought a new battery for it today and we need to clean up the garage enough that it AND my car will fit in the garage. He is so excited about this as his push mower's self propel feature has broken yet again. Heck, this John Deere even has a cup holder!

Order of the Arrow

We are so proud of Daniel! He participated in his Order of the Arrow Ordeal this past weekend. He did a great job and is well on his way to being a fine young man. He is a great scout and is having fun in the process. Daniel's troop is getting ready to go to an out of state camp this next summer and Bill and Daniel have tried out for the National Jamboree in 2010!

Happy New Year!

I got the new Canon Rebel xsi for Christmas and gave a shot at taking New Year's Eve photos. We went outside early to let the kids do sparklers. I played with the camera. Not sure I have it figured out yet, but I did get a few cool photos. Bill had to work on New Year's Day, so it was early to bed for some of us.

I have been remiss

I have been remiss with my blogging. Christmas came. Christmas went. New Year's Day came. New Year's Day went. Wow! It is now 2009!

Here are a few photos of Daniel's great idea of how to decorate a gingerbread man.




Then we got together with Karen's side of the family for a Christmas celebration.

Chelsea even got a present from Aunt Kathy. A new Gator shirt!

Sarah and Karen sang at the midnight Mass. It was beautiful. Daniel also served, but he changed back into regular clothes too quick to jump into this photo.
The kids got their new cell phones for Christmas and Chelsea was adorned with a bow. Not sure she really liked this, though.




We celebrated Christmas with Bill's family on Christmas Day. Preston had to work, but Chantal and the kids did make it to dinner.