Missing in Action

I haven't been MIA, just busy and apparently not thinking straight either; I can't believe I missed my first Way Back When Wednesday.  Please come back next Wed. I promise there will be something good.

What have I been up to?  Shoe shoppping just like I said I was going to.  I bought two pair of shoes and a pair of boots.   Hubby bought me two new Liz tops and I couldn't let the $85 fleece go by that was on sale for $9.50 at the Bass store either.  My savings for the shoes and clothing was $201.00. 

The shoes and boots were very necessary if you don't believe me, check out last weeks post here, where you will see just how bad I needed some shoes.

I've also been baking.  A coworker gave me some Amish Friendship Bread, you know--the starter mixture.  You then squish and mush the bag - add more sugar, flour and milk and squish and mush some more and on the tenth day you give three starters away, keep one for yourself and bake the rest.  This is where the story takes a very sad turn.  I took my starters to work to give away and not one single person would take one.  I was crushed.....it's friendship bread, didn't I have any people I could count on as a friend at work?  You'd of thought that I had bagged a plague the way people were fleeing from me.  So being the frugal friendless person that I am, I kept them all myself and did a lot of squishing, mushing and adding in my own kitchen feeling very much like the Little Red Hen.  But, this story has a happy ending.  I originally made Blueberry Cheesecake muffins.  Out of the starters I couldn't force on people (don't worry I'm never going into sales) I made Pumpkin Spice Bread, Cranberry Walnut Bread, Lemon Poppy Seed Bread and the most delicious Belgian Waffles ever.  Here's a picture of the Pumpkin Spice Bread with Cool Whip Lite as a topper.  Yummy!

Another project going on at my house is sorting, washing and boxing up of baby things.  I have a friend at work who's daughter just turned a year old and she's getting rid of everything, so she gave me first dibs on all her stuff.  Boy! did I ever hit the jack pot.  There's clothing that's never even been worn, some barely used and the rest lightly used.  I took both boys and girls clothing because the two new grandchildren arriving in Sept. is still a mystery as to which variety they will be.  I also bought two carseats, a Pack n Play, a tubby and a swing/highchair combination set.   I'll be ready when the grandchildren come this way and am willing to part with anything my girls can use at their houses.

Today I must clean my house, cook a couple meals, and pack as I leave for North Carolina on Tuesday.  I can't wait to rebond with Griffin and catch-up with Miss Sydney.   Hubby is sitting out this trip, he and the dog will have to maintain the fort without me.

My Maiden Name is Hose

A few days ago I was contacted through this blog by a gentleman by the name of James Hose.  This James Hose is not my cousin, he lives in England and is interested in Geneology.  He has a facebook page on the web called Hose Family - Worldwide.  Check it out - I found it very interesting.  I've always been interested in finding out more about my maiden name and my ancestors.  Computers have made it much easier to connect and share information than ever before.

I didn't know that there was a Laura Hose Elementary School in Indiana.   Much of the information on the site pertains to the Hose family in England.  But...... I did find a bit of information on the site (under the Discussion Tab - Death Announcements) that was very personal.  After navigating around the site I found myself face to face with my own father's obituary.  I didn't expect that and I wasn't prepared to read it.  Fresh grief hit me, I hadn't felt it so deeply in quite some time and wasn't prepared for how hard it hit me.  I miss my Dad.  I wish I'd spent more time with him in his beloved gardens and had him help me start an orchard in my back yard.  He'd be so proud to know that a couple of my girls have the Hose love of gardening in their blood.

If you know someone who might be interested in the Hose Family name, please give them the link, so they can add additional information to the site for all to share.

Be Strong in the Lord

I awoke at 3:23 a.m. and these words instantly and loudly and clearly popped into my head.  

 "Be strong in the Lord, Never give up hope." 

Something about it was sing-songy so I googled it to see if by chance it was lyrics and here's the song.

Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say


From the album These Simple Truths

Three in the morning, and I'm still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I'd say

If we were face to face
I'd tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths

Chorus

Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You're gonna do great things
I already know God's got His hand on You

So don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
Love will find you where you are
I know 'cause I've already been there
So please hear these simple truths

Chorus

Say from one simple life to another
I will say come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You're gonna do great things I already know
God's got His hand on You

So don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
And thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say

Is this message for me, from the Father, or just a coincidence?  Perhaps the reason I felt compelled to blog about it means the message is for someone else.  Perhaps you.

Good Grief - Why did I do that?

Quit faking it.  That's what Courtney challenged us to do.  Okay!  Is this real enough for you, Courtney?  Not only am I not a fashionable dresser, but I lack the basics of a descent wardrobe.

I have a pair of boots that I really like and some stitching started coming apart on them, so I decided to take them to see if I could get them restitched rather than look for a new pair.  Alas, the snow started melting and I discovered they also leak.  Okay, so I'll look for a new pair and ditch these.  To tide me over in the meantime I  pulled out an old pair of hiking boots to wear for the time being.  They didn't look to be in bad shape, so I strapped my feet in them and went off to work.  I work at a Nature Center, so hiking boots are acceptable footwear.  Soon  I discovered that they weren't that comfortable, in fact they kind of felt like I was walking in someone elses shoes.  One heel was low and the other foot felt like I was leaning toward the edge.  I tried to remember the last time I wore them and couldn't, so it must have been a while back.

As the day progressed, so did the weirdness of my footwear.  The hiking boots felt loosier on my feet and the step felt less firm and more wobbly.  Then I notice a bunch of black debris under my desk.  At first I thought it was mud that had loosened from the soles of my shoes, no big deal.  Later I noticed little pieces of black all around the floors of the office.  I picked up my foot and looked at the sole of my hiking boot and found that it had a loose sole.  Great!  Okay, so these will have to be pitched too. 

I went about my day and began wishing I hadn't worn these stupid hiking boots.  While rolling coins collected from the Wishing Well I accidently dropped a couple and when I bent to pick them up I grabbed what a thought was a chunk of bark.  That's when I really got worried, it wasn't bark, it was a chunk off the sole of my shoe.  I looked around the office and sure enough there were little pieces of my shoes strewn all over the carpet of the office.  My shoes were crumbling off my feet as I walked. 

The rest of the day I tried to limit the amount of walking that I did about the office.  How embarrasing, I had worn boots to work that wear that had dry-rotting, they were literally disentigrating before my eyes and the eyes of my co-workers.  I thought about calling my husband to bring me a different pair of shoes or running home myself to get a pair, but it was only a couple hours until it was time to leave and the roads were really muddy and rutted, so I decided to stick it out.

To make light of the situation I asked my boss for a raise, so I could afford to buy a decent pair of shoes. LOL  I went around the office before I left and picked up all the chunks of rubber with a napkin.  I felt like I could possibly walk right out of them if they weren't tied around my ankles.  They were really giving me the heeby-jeebies and all I could think about was getting them off my feet.  Ugh!  I can't believe I did something so foolish.

I will be going shoe shopping this week folks, and if I can find more than one pair that fit, I'll buy them.

Never Pay Full Price - My Motto!

This has become my motto.  It doesn't just pertain to grocery shopping, but extends to eating out, and buying resale.  Yes, I've gone so far as to make my own liquid laundry detergent.  By the way, it was super simple, super cheap and I haven't notice a bit of difference in how my laundry is coming out.

I've been meaning to post about how much I've been saving, but haven't gotten around to it yet.  I used to try to save a t least half of what I spend, but when that became less of a challenge I changed my goal.  My new goal is to save more than I spend.

Here's my latest, big save and the pictures of what I purchased at a local resale store.

Mr. Roger's Sweater - Baby Gap - size 12-18 months.  It's lined - very nice.

Plaid Moose - (New with Tags - $42)  Size 18 months

Carter's size 18 months - Monkey outift

The bottoms have the cutest monkey face in the back and the hoodie has monkey faces all over it.

6-9 months Children's Place Fleece Jog Suit  New With Tags!

Carter's & Children's Place Girls Clothes

Leap Frog Leap Pad Learning System with Back Pack Type Pack-N-Go

This set includes 4 games and also a head set.

2 Books like new.

Okay folks, now it's time to guess.  You knew I was going to say that didn't you?  I know my girls did.  I like to try to amaze them at what a great deal I managed to get.  Well if I told you $64 dollars would you think that was a great deal?  Well that's the original price total - before it was reduced to 80%.  I only paid $12.80 for all of this.  When the last time you ran into a bargain like this????

Dorsey, you did GOOD!

"Way Back When" - Wednesday

On New Years Eve I purchased a photo scanner.  I want to be able to scan and share old photos and keep the past alive for my girls and other family members.  The name "A Blast from the Past" was mentioned, but I think "Way Back When" seems to fit the feel I have for resurrecting these old photographs.

Today's WBW photo features the birthday girl, my niece, Taryn.  Happy Birthday - (March 1st, I know I'm a little late, but I did send her a birthday email on the correct day).  She's the blonde cutie in the middle.  The other two ballerinas are my two oldest girls, Amanda & Meghan.  I do have some pictures of her alone, but not easily accessible since I'm just in the beginning stages of this monumental project.

Look at the skinny legs.

 

Tea for Me

My hubby loves tea, he drinks several cups a day and can be seen browsing the beverage isle for new blends yet to be discovered.  My husband's favorites are: Stash - Green & Whtite and Tazo -  Zen Green Tea. 

Chamomaile is my personal favorite and I received this tin of it in it's very basic form last October.  It took me a while to find the mesh tea infuser, so that I could properly steep the tea.  I know that you can use cheesecloth and I had some on hand, but it's very unappealing to see what looks like a dirty dishcloth soaking in the cup you're about to drink.  I can vouch for the fact that yes, steeping the little flower heads of the dried chamomaile flower is far superior to the flavor you'll get from an ordinary tea bag.  And I happen to know someone who makes the best cup of chamomaile ever - sorry I refuse to name the source.  I'm doling this tin of tea out for special times, when I need a pick me up or when I'm not feeling well.  And occasionally when I just want to pretend that I'm in Maine cuddled up on the couch with two of my grandkids, sipping the best cup of tea ever made.