Tuesday, December 24, 2013

From Our House...To Yours...

The trials and tribulations of this past year have been almost overwhelming...but not insurmountable. You see...this Christmas season is a special one. Old traditions are morphing into new ones. Our family is is transition.  Up until this year...we always celebrated Christmas at my parents home.  My son wrote a beautiful tribute of his memories of the seasons past. It was so refreshing to see as he starts new traditions with his own young family still incorporating the old in with the new.

So many people have lost sight of the true meaning of this Christmas holiday. You don't need that perfect gift...you don't need to beat the crap out of each other while shopping...like many of us have seen tv.  Cherish your family and friends. They all won't be here forever. Don't just look at the wrappings. There's always more inside...

A baby's hug…
 
We were the only family with children in the restaurant.
I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.'
He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray.
His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared
in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
I looked around and saw the source of his merriment.
 
It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper
at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes.
His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers wjere too short to be called a beard and his nose
was so varicose it looked like a road map.
 
We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled.. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists..
'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy.
I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks,
'What do we do?
Erik continued to laugh and answer,
'Hi.'
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us
and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance
with my beautiful baby.
 
Our meal came and the man began shouting from across
the room,
'Do ya patty cake?
Do you know peek-a-boo?
Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.
Nobody thought the old man was cute.
He was obviously drunk.
 
My husband and I were embarrassed.
We ate in silence; all except for Erik,
who was running through his repertoire
for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn,
reciprocated with his cute comments.
 
We finally got through the meal and headed for the door.
My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him
in the parking lot.
The old man sat poised between me and the door.
'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,'
I prayed.
As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back
trying to sidestep him and avoid any air
he might be breathing.
As I did, Erik leaned over my arm,
reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him,
Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship.
Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission
laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder.
The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor,
cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back.
No two beings have ever loved so deeply
for so short a time.
I stood awestruck.
The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms
and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine.
He said in a firm commanding voice,
'You take care of this baby.'
Somehow I managed,
'I will,'
from a throat that contained a stone.
 
He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly,
as though he were in pain.
I received my baby, and the man said,
'God bless you, ma'am,
you've given me my Christmas gift.'
 
I said nothing more than a muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car.
My husband was wondering why I was crying
and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying,
'My God, my God, forgive me.'
I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence
of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment;
a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not..
I felt it was God asking,
'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?'
when He shared His for all eternity. 
How did God feel when he put his baby
in our arms 2000 years ago.
The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me,
'To enter the Kingdom of God ,
we must become as little children.'
 
If this has blessed you,
please bless others by sending it on.
Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us
of what is really important.
We must always remember who we are,
where we came from and, most importantly,
how we feel about others.
The clothes on your back or the car that you drive
or the house that you live in does not define you at all;
it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.
 
This one is a keeper.
 
'It is better to be liked for the true you,
than to be loved for who people think you are...'
Amen!
 
Now...from our house to yours...a beautiful Christmas cactus in full bloom...always a sign of new hope. I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS filled with love, family and friends.


Thursday, December 19, 2013

It's Time for the Fun Friday Blog Hop...Come on Down...



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Thursday, December 5, 2013

Yikes...Two Months Have Gone By...

Wow...It's hard to believe it's been 2 months since I posted here on my blog. They always say that time flies by when you're having fun...REALLY??? It's still chaotic here...just taking it day by day. A friend sent me an email this morning. I was so glad to get it. It absolutely cracked me up...here's hoping it makes you laugh as well. BTW...I'm Catholic so no harm or disrespect intended...


A new Priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak.. After mass he asked the Monsignor how he had done

The Monsignor replied, "When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip."

So next Sunday he took the Monsignor's advice.. At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink.. He proceeded to talk up a storm.

Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:

1) Sip the vodka, don't gulp.

2) There are 10 commandments, not 12..

3) There are 12 disciples, not 10...

4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.

5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.

6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C..

7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the Spook.

8) David slew Goliath; he did not kick the shit out of him..

9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don't say he was stoned off his ass.

10) We do not refer to the cross as the 'Big T.'

11) When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said,"Take this and eat it for this is my body.." He did not say,"Eat me."

12) The Virgin Mary is not called 'Mary with the Cherry'.

13) The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, Yeah God.

14) Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at St. Peter's not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's.


Well, what did ya think? Hilarious...right???

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

A Gift for my Sister...Angel Wings...

My sister and her husband flew down last week to help me with the ongoing family issues. They're staying for 2 weeks...WOO HOO!!! For those of you who follow my blog, you may remember a set of angel wings that I finished for my home. I had purchased another set for my sister...but wasn't able to get to them until now...

This is a photo of the original finish on the wings...


Originally I painted them a antiqued gold...but it looked like they should have been in Liberace's home. So I began to play. I did several...ok...many washes of antiqued bronze and metallic black. Finally got satisfied with the finish. Often when you see pictures of angels, their wings are highlighted in pink and white. So...I started to play again. I had purchased some pale pink and white crackle paint, so I decided to try that. I did a wash of the pink and white and then highlighted many areas with just the pink. I didn't get any of the crackling that I expected...but still luv the color.

Here's a couple shots of the final finish...


And of course I had to finish it with a lovely brooch...


Believe me...I'm no Picasso...but I luv the way these angel wings turned out. How about you? Would luv to hear your comments on my latest project.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

It's The Small Things in Life...

Hello everybody...making a short comeback. I finally had the time to plant my new miniature fairy garden with all sorts of cute hidden features. It took me awhile to get to it...had to order some more miniature plants...had to make the time...and then had to go buy a new pot...since I broke the first one in a million pieces...can u believe it?

On a previous post I shared some plants and accessories that I had purchased...and of course...I had to use them all. I don't thing I could have crammed anything else in. I must say that I had so much fun creating this one...especially with all the family issues here of late.

Here's a shot of the thyme cottoneaster tree I used as the centerpiece. It gets red berries in the winter and teeny tiny pinkish white blooms in the spring.


Now here's some photos of the finished garden...



Isn't this garden gate the cutest...do u see the hidden features?


And this little sign...adorable...with a phrase that has come to mean so much to me...


All the plants I used except the fern...get blooms on them...including the miniature violet. I hope u enjoyed the photos and would certainly love to hear your thoughts and comments.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Where Were You...

Today is a day of reflection...I seriously doubt that anyone can forget where they were on this day 12 years ago.

12 years ago...I was a nurse working in outpatient surgery...we were crazy busy. People kept telling me bits and pieces of what was going on, but I never saw the TV, after all...it couldn't be THAT bad...I distinctly remember the unusual quieteness in the lobby and NO ONE was complaining about anything... I had no idea of the mass devastation and horror until I got home. I was totally overwhelmed. A friend of mine sent me this and I just had to share. Take a moment to see and listen to this...can't get this hauntingly beautiful song out of my mind...

In The Arms Of An Angel ..
With A Beautiful Song!

http://www.mamarocks.com/in_the_arms_of_an_angel.htm

And because of that horrific day...so many young men and women have lost their lives. Some sights are soon forgotten but NOT this...
I had no idea that Delta and their employees participated in this act of reverence. Check out the people in the terminal...I'm quite sure they'll remember this forever. Delta will get my business...how about yours??

http://www.youtube.com/embed/c_VGxfmDmEo

Volume up!

And finally...may all who were lost that day...in the towers...the aircrafts...the first responders...the Pentagon...the field in Pa...May you all rest in peace. To all that have been lost since this act serving in the military...I thank you for your service and sacrifice.

May the angels be with you all.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

My Next Project...

As you all know, there has been a lot of stuff going on with my folks. Things on the home front are still quite chaotic. So to distract myself, I've decided to go back to one of my favorite hobbies...MINIATURE GARDENING. The gardens I have done the past 2 years are doing pretty good...a bit overgrown...but still growing. I found a wonderful shop on Etsy that has some of the cutest miniature garden accents I have ever seen. Check out this adorable shop, www.etsy.com/shop/TheLittleHedgerow

These are the items I purchased that started my inspiration...


Aren't they the cutest??? Especially luv the hand painted signs...

So then I decided to buy some miniature plants from a site I had blogged about before but never got around to purchasing from. It's a wonderful site for all kinds of plants, especially the ever elusive true miniatures. Check out this fabulous shop www.violetbarn.com

So here's what I purchased...


Aren't they the smallest violets you've ever seen??? All of these plants are in little 2 inch pots. They will look fabulous in my new fairy garden along with the other flowering plants and all sorts of beautiful accents. Pics to come...

What have u all been up to???

Monday, August 12, 2013

Just When I Thought...

Good morning! Just when I thought things were starting to settle a bit on the home front...NOT!!! 

My poor Dad is back in the hospital. We had to bring him back in to the ER last nite. Now he has acute pancreatitis, probably from his gallbladder. But after several doses of pain and nausea meds, he's feeling some better.

Functioning on just a few hours of sleep, so gonna keep it short. Please keep my Dad in your thoughts and prayers.

I have got to tell you guys...Aging sure isn't for the faint of heart...

Friday, July 26, 2013

I'm Back for Now...

Hello my friends. It has been awhile...hasn't it? I've missed you all and especially the blog hops. I truly enjoy them. It's not that I'm still the Bad Blogger...haha! Well maybe...but there have been many family issues the past 4 months which have totally consumed almost all of my time. All too damn depressing to talk about here. But needless to say...taking one day at a time.

So instead of making everyone boo hoo...thought I would just share some new listings in my etsy shop. I made these when I felt like I was falling off the abyss.

I especially luv this one cause I've looked like this for the past few months...pretty huh?


Or I have felt as tho I was in outer space...like this monkey.


Or maybe...just wanted to get in my car and drive away. But look...it's raining on my escape...wah...


I chose all children's themes to cheer myself up. Just looking at them made me laugh. Hope I brought a little joy into your day with my chaotic thoughts and personal photos. Hope you all haven't forgot about me...♥♥♥

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Late as Usual

Good morning blogging friends. I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to visit my blog, leave comments and follow. The Bad Blogger is still getting her act together...ya see...when you're older some things just don't come easy...haha!

Well, where did we leave off last time? Ah yes...spring chores. Lowes and Home Depot had a sale on red mulch. For you mulch fanatics...I'm included here...you know that $1/bag is a steal. So I bought 90 bags. My yard guy went and picked them up for me. After all, how can I cart 90 bags home myself in my small SUV. It didn't seem like too many til it was unloaded...WTH WAS I THINKING??? So needless to say, I've been mulching...bag after ever unending bag. I have dumped them on my feet, in the grass and over my plants. Mulch in one's shoes is not a pleasant thing.

Well, that's all I have to say about that. Here's what I've been doing in my etsy shop this week. I listed some new light switch covers. Here's some pics of a few...



Would luv to see your thoughts on my new listings. Need to keep it short this morning...got a few bags of mulch left...whahaha...

Saturday, March 23, 2013

The Bad Blogger is Back!

I have been seriously neglecting my blog duties.I told myself I was going to start blogging once a week...NOT HAPPENING! It's not that I can't find SOMETHING to talk about...it's...well...hell...I don't know. Time to quit making excuses.

So here's what I've been up to here of late. Anyone who knows me...knows that spring is a big time for me. This year in Florida we've been having some great weather on and off. So the old spring chores have begun. Added more plants to my front flower beds, refreshed a planter from an old solar fountain in my son's garden. Redid the gardens around my deck. Pulled weeds, weeds and more weeds. All of the gardens are just starting to wake up, so I'll post pics when they're in bloom. And I got a wild hair up my rear and decided to plant some fruit trees. So far, we've planted a pear tree, a peach tree an orange tree and 2 satsuma nectarine trees. To keep things simple I chose self pollinating trees and types where the fruit is yummy right off the tree.

Here's a pic of my orange tree...it has so many flowers on it...and see the little green balls where some of the flowers fell off...they're oranges! Aren't they cute? So, they're a little small...hahaha...but off to a good start.



Found this beautiful pink dogwood tree with fabulous burgandy blooms...so naturally I had to get that. So much symbolism in the dogwood tree.



Also found some beautiful rose trees at my favorite store...Lowes. Got a pink and a red. Planted them in large pots with mini roses surrounding them. The pots flank each side of my arbour going down into the yard. I was hugely surprised at how many buds and the amount of new growth on them. Here's a pic of one of the beautiful pink buds.



Lots more still to do...hmmmm...maybe I should save my energy for harvesting my oranges...Mwahahaha. So, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO???


Saturday, March 2, 2013

Vintage Victorian Style

Good Morning Everybody! I've been absent the past two weeks...took a road trip...woo hoo! I had an epiphany a couple of weeks ago and went and did something special for myself...but that's another story.

Today I thought I would share some of the new vintage Victorian style items in my shop. I luv the Victorian era...such decadence, beautiful clothes, wonderful architectural details and style. Not sure I could have tolerated those waist cinching devices tho...when getting undressed at the end of the day...it would feel more like a nuclear detonation. Awh...relief. A pun directed at all the weight loss spam I've been getting on Fb recently...10 more from the same person overnite. Grrrrr... But I digress..

So here's some pics of some of my new shop items



I had so much fun making them...and more to come including some black and white items. Hope you all enjoy them and feel free to comment. See ya next week!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Weekend Meet & Greet Blog Hop #13

Welcome back to Meet & Greet Blog Hop!



Join in, meet some fellow bloggers, greet them with comments, and grow your blog with new friends!




Meet Everyone!
This week’s fun question is: What is one thing you always wanted as a kid but never got?

*Hosts*

Kim - from 2 just B you: Oh there was SO much that I wanted and never got (aahhh...we always want so much when we're young, don't we?)...But one thing I really wanted to do was take piano lessons. I never got to do that, though. =0( The closest I got to playing an actual instrument was the recorder. At least I got to learn how to read music (though I've forgotten now).

Laurie - from Created By Laurie: I love animals and when I was younger I saw a Toucan in a zoo. I was determined to own one and asked my Mom. Obviously it isn’t a house pet!

*Co Host*

Ann Marie – from Moanas Unique Designs: When I was a kid, we went Easter dress shopping. I found these little pair of shoes with kitten heals and just fell in luv. My Mom wouldn't let me get them. When she changed her mind and we went back to get them...they were gone...wah...

*Featured Guest*

Nichole - from Pinkie for Pink : I was a serious Barbie fanatic when I was young and continued to collect them into my teens and the one thing I never got that I always wanted was the big mansions. I had the cars, the clothes and the dolls but I never got the big old fancy house.

What is one thing you always wanted as a kid but never got?

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Friday, February 1, 2013

Weekend Meet & Greet Blog Hop #12

Welcome back to Meet & Greet Blog Hop!
Join in, meet some fellow bloggers, greet them with comments, and grow your blog with new friends!

Here’s how it works:
* Start by following the hosts, co-host and our featured guest! (First 4 links below)
Leave us each a comment letting us know you’re following, to say “Hi!”, or answer our fun question for the week!- We would love to follow/comment you back!
* Link up and add your blog to the list! Please link to your blog home page, not a specific post. And we also like to keep it family-friendly. =)
* Please visit and MEET some other bloggers, greet them with a comment and make their day a great one!
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* Share and invite others to the Blog Hop, The more the merrier!
* Each week one participant will be chosen and featured along with the hosts for the following week’s Hop.
* Remember to come back next week and join the fun again!
The Meet & Greet Blog Hop will run Friday nights - Mondays each week!

Meet Everyone!
This week’s fun question is: What story does your family always tell about you?

*Hosts*

Kim - from 2 just B you: Uuummmmm....I don't know. If they're telling stories about me, they're not telling them to me. I have no idea!

Laurie - from Created By Laurie: I have very long and thick eyelashes that I got from my Father. People always comment on them. When I was in early Elementary school I didn’t appreciate them and got annoyed with the comments so I cut them off! When my Dad heard he laughed his butt off. Turned out he did the same thing roughly the same age for the same reason! He still laughs about it.

*Co Host*

Ann Marie – from Moanas Unique Designs: My family luvs to tell the story of my bangs. When I was young, my Dad would sit me up on the counter to cut my bangs. Being a pilot, he was very precise. He'd trim...look...and say..."not quite straight"...trim some more..."not quite straight"...by the time he was done...my bangs would be so short, I was all forehead...

*Featured Guest*

Brie - from Breezy Pink Daisies: Along with way too many stories about my "clumsy" phase in my middle school years, my Dad loves to tell a story of when I was about 2 or 3 years old (much cuter, not so clumsy) and we were shopping at Wal-mart. Apparently, I really wanted to go sit on the top bunk of the display bunkbed, but my Dad told me, "Don't count on it." I said, "I promise Daddy, I won't count it on." And since I didn't start counting, he just had to let me sit up there. (Lucky little me, too bad my middle school self missed out on that same cuteness!)

What story does your family always tell about you?

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Friday, January 25, 2013

I Got Me A Case of Spring Fever

The weather here in Florida has been so beautiful, cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. The robins are here in full force enjoying the berries on the huge tree in my backyard. So, ya know what that does to me...SPRING FEVER!!! It's kinda like a wherewolf with a full moon a rising...grrr...

So, once again, I decided to try a new project. I wanted a wreath that would light up my front porch. Back to Hobby Lobby...the wreath was $3, the strands of roses $5 each, the small flowers $3 each and the beaded piece was $5. I already had the string of lights. I cut the floral elements into smaller pieces so that I would have easier pieces to work with. Having never made a wreath before, I really had no idea what I was doing. Here's what I came up with.

This is the wreath with the lights and roses in place...once again I forgot to take a picture before I started...duh...those lights were a pain to weave in and out of that grapevine wreath...



Then I intermingled and entwined the smaller flowers and beaded pieces, here's a closeup...


Of course I had to have a bow...


Here's the finished product above my house numbers...


And the final picture taken at night...


I was pleasantly surprised with how well it lights up my front porch. Just underneath my house numbers is a fountain. Can't tell you how many times I stuck my boobs and belly into it getting it hung just right. What do ya'll think?