2013, not such a sad goodby!

As I go back through the past 363 days, I see many, many things to be thankful for.  We, for the most part, stayed healthy and happy.  We ended the year with the water damage in our home FIXED, and it was hard not to let that overshadow the good times.  We are blessed, but take so much for granted.

 The past week, we've seen family members have severe health issues, friends of the family in horrible car accidents, and deaths in families close to us.  We or family members have experienced the awfulness of addiction, anger, and disappointment. 

The bad has overwhelmed the good at times.  But, we look forward to the new year with a new hope.  We pray openly for the government, those who wear the robes of the court, and those who are homeless. 

We pray for the mentally ill, the hungry, and the people are affected by war, recently or past. We pray for the strong willed and powerful, those who think only their way is the best way.  We pray for those who have desired to make amends, but were shunned.  We pray for those who begged for help, but were denied.  

We pray for peace, for love, and for this wonderful country we live in.  God bless the USA!  Sandi 

Another lesson to be learned from this!

This is what happens when your water line to the dishwasher breaks and water runs all weekend while you are gone!  Ick!  Did you know you are supposed to change your water lines to your dishwasher and your washing machine every 5 years?  Nope, we didn't either, but you can BET we won't make that mistake again!  Live and learn, right?  

Thanks for stopping by and leave a comment if you have a minute!  Sandi 

There's a lesson to be learned here! Turn your water OFF when you leave home for more than a day. Trust me!

Sometimes life gets so comfortable, we take things for granted.  Sometimes life just seems so easy.  I'm not bragging, just stating a fact.  I feel blessed. I certainly don't feel worthy of all I have.  I love my home, and am so glad that I have a place to call home.  6 Months ago we paid the last payment on our home.  It's ours!  Free and clear!  Finally!  

Nothing fancy, but it's home.  We spend our leisure time at our lake house, but more about that some other time.  

Last Sunday 10/13/13 is a day I won't forget soon.  I came home from the lake house, which is a 4 1/2 hour drive.  My DH stayed at the lake, since he's retired - he can do that.  :)  Anyway, I pulled into the garage, loaded my arms full of "stuff" and headed to the door.  Oh course it's locked as usual, and I juggle the things in my arms until I can get the key in the lock.  As I open the door, a HUGE gush of HOT air hits me and humidity like someone has taken a shower and left the water running.  If only I'd known how close to right that was.  

As I pushed open the door, besides the heat and humidity, I realized I could hear water running.  Not like out of a faucet, or hydrant, but like out of a water fall.  I tossed my "stuff" aside and ran into the foyer.  I could hear water running particularly in the basement as I ran by the door.  I switched on the basement light and could see water standing, and see water gushing through the ceiling.  This gave me the clue I needed to figure out where this water was coming from.  I ran into the kitchen and before I got through the dining room, I was running in water.  When I got to the kitchen there was HOT water running and apparently had been for quite awhile.  

Panic sets in at this point.  I call my DH and try to convey (through my obvious hysteria) what is going on.  He is trying to describe to me how to shut off the water at the well pit (we live in the country and have rural water). Looking back on it now, we both realize he was telling me to shut it off in the WRONG place!  Guess he was hysterical too, huh?  Anyway, long story short - he got someone to come shut off the water - and I remembered to shut off the electricity.  

This is some of what I found that night - it was 5:25 pm when I made the first call to my DH for help.  

 We have (had) kitchen carpet.  I was getting ready to get something new, but didn't have this in mind.  

The base cabinets in the kitchen had set long enough, they were absorbing the water.  

This is my island top.  It was custom made by a friend, in butcher block style, out of cherry, maple and oak.  One of a kind.  

Over the next 48 hours we went from a house that was paid for and finished - to one that was paid for and demolished.  We lost 100% of our kitchen.

We went from this beautiful kitchen......

To this yesterday - and down to the studs today.  We lost 100% of our living room carpet which now looks like this......

We went from a 100% finished basement

To this.........

And now down to the studs.  This is not fun.  I'd like to scream everytime someone says, "Wow!  you get to start all over!"  I didn't WANT to start all over.  I didn't WANT a new kitchen.  I liked what I had.  

I'll keep updating you as we go along.  So far our insurance has been cooperative, but we keep hearing nightmarish stories, so we shall see.  

Thanks for stopping in!  Please leave a comment so I know you were here.  

Sandi 

It's one of my favorite DECORATING times of the year!

 The only thing wrong with Halloween is that we have no kids around any more to make costumes for, have parties for, make treats for!  I have a lot of Halloween decor, and have decided to pare it down.  So, the above photo is my mantel this year.  I like the way it turned out.  The decorations are some that I will keep. \

The picture in the middle was actually a wall hanging from years ago (80's).  It's yellow and orange, and it goes perfectly with the Halloween theme!  It was supposed to just be a pretty picture.  I'm thinking about painting some big nasty vultures in the trees!

 The above photo is in the entry way.  On Halloween night, I will light the candles, and keep the overhead lights low, so when the 4-5 kids we have trick-or-treating come, it's kind creepy.  

 I got this skeleton last year, don't even remember where, but I was so excited!  He is about 4' tall, and looks pretty scary!

 The pop-up book is really cute, love pop-ups!

 Many of my decorations are ceramic.  We used to have a ceramic shop here in town (which is something considering we only have 30 people)  The kids and I used to walk over and make things, and many MANY of the things were Halloween.  Love the mummy getting out of the coffin.  The mummy in the background is an art project DD#2 made when she was in grade school.  I framed it, and have used to every year.  Just love the one eye open!

 The goblet were from a thrift store in Colby, Kansas!  I lived there for a year doing therapy, and every week, made it to the thrift store.  

I bought a rat last year - he was only a dollar, but adds SOMETHING!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and leave a comment!  Sandi 

Meme and Papa Camp 2013

We have had an amazing time this week, hosting our youngest 4 grands - all girls ages 5, 4, 3, and 2.  We have had so much fun, playing games, dressing up, baking, swimming, taking a trip to the zoo, boating, and of course drama!

I went to Hobby Lobby a week ago, and bought a project to do several days in a row.  The photo above, shows them doing some foam flower decorating - they love anything with glitter and glue!  Of course all of the projects will go home with them when they go.  

One day we made cupcakes with my "cupcake machine".  I got it at a K Mart that is closing out, for $12!

They took turn stirring the batter, made from scratch with the recipe included.  They were good!  

The cupcakes are the perfect size for little hands, and not enough to ruin their supper!  Of course at this age, we seemed to end up with more sprinkles than cupcake at times!  

Out of 7 days, we've had 2 where it was nice enough they could get out in the yard.  They played hide and seek, which isn't always a great idea - but we have one who volunteers to always be the seeker, so it works out well.  Here you can see 3 of them hiding behind the flowers in the yard.  Yes, at the very top of the photo that is the lake you see.  So that means 100% of the time they are outdoors, they are monitored.  

One afternoon was spent at the beach and on the boat.  We require life jackets if you want your toes to touch the water.  If you agree to NOT get in the water, you can do without for short periods of time.  They have never complained about that rule.  

We spent one day at the zoo.  The girls were SO well behaved and had such a good time.  

 Great Grandma sent us a package that had bridal veils in it, so everyone could have one of their own!  Yes the photo of me is way off - the shirt I'm wearing is comfortable, but always makes me look preggers.

 One day we played beauty shop and Emma wanted curly hair.  This is the curls while they were drying.

This is her picture after we got done.  They wanted makeup and the whole make over, so that's what we did.

This is Greta after we got done.  She said she felt, "beautiful"!  The other 2 girls opted out for this.  They settled for nails only.  

We are still having a good time, and have a couple of more days to go.  Hope you enjoyed my little gallery of memories.  Sandi 

41 Years later......

 Here is a photo of DH (dear hubby) and me, July 1, 1972.

We were married on a very hot day, and in those days there

was no air conditioning in the church.  We were married at 2:30 pm, 

not a conventional time as most people are married on the hour not

the half hour.  We were married in the middle of wheat harvest, which was a BIG no-no in Kansas!

My wedding dress was made of white dotted swiss, with princess lines and white daisies with yellow centers accenting the lines of the dress which I sewed on by hand. DH's neck ties was the same fabric, and he wore a dark green suit and yellow shirt.  I made the dress myself on the White sewing machine my betrothed gave me as a gift.  My bouquet was yellow roses and white daisies with my white bible. I carried something old (my childhood bible given to me by my deceased maternal grandfather), something new (DH gave me a pearl necklace),  something borrowed (my veil belonged to my sister-in-law to be), something blue (my great aunt made a garter trimmed in blue), and a penny from the year of my birth in my shoe. My Mother-in-law made our wedding cake, which was decorated with white daisies.  Through the years we've had children and grand children, lost our fathers and grandparents, built houses and completed many MANY projects together.  I think we make a pretty good team.  DH promised me 50 years, so I guess my expiration date may be coming up!  Ha!

This was our last family photo in September 2013.  L to R is Anya, Jeff (son), Julia, Carla and Greta, Austin,  

DH, Ethan, Me, Angie (daughter), Emma, Emilie (daughter), Curtis, Brady, Landon, and Lady down in front, completing our family.  

I'm joining Metamorphosis Monday at 

http:betweennapsontheporch.com 

A fun gift for my sister! Shhhh! It's a secret!

I've been working on this for a couple of weeks, but I plan to get it finished this week.  I really like to do machine applique, and this was a fun one to do.  I found this little pattern in a quilt shop in Burlingame, Kansas, and just had to have it.  If fits my sister and I's relationship to the "T"!

All I have left to do is put the backing on it, and add a bow to the toe of each shoe.  I thought it was SO cute when I saw it in the store.  Thanks for stopping by this week, I'm posting this for the Life on the Lakeshore Drive Linky party found below:

http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/2013/06/a-bouquet-of-talent-linky-party-38.html

Mosaic Monday - Mother's Day 2013

We had a wonderful time at the lake for Mother's Day.  As you can see the weather cooperated with our activities!

I'm joining Mosaic Monday, trying to get back in the swing of things!  Please join me, as I post with other Mosaic Monday people.  

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com

Caught up in the busi-ness called LIFE!

You know how it is?  One week turns into two - then a month - then several months?  I wish I had a dollar for every time I thought - I need to get something on my blog again.  I've had SO many great projects and haven't shared them with you at all.  My bad.  Then, I started getting all these "Anonymous" comments that meant NOTHING on some of my older posts, and that really made me UNHAPPY.  So, here I am - back again (yes, this is the third time).  Here's some photos of what we've been up to.  The girls are all growing up SO much and we get to see them much more than we used to.  We are loving it.  

 Mothers Day weekend, spending time along the beach.  Papa has a treasure!

 Spending a lot of time at the lake house, but never enough!

 This is a wedding cake that Angie made for my nephew and his beautiful bride - just last weekend.  It tasted as good as it looked!

 My two beautiful daughters!

Kids, just want to have fun!

Thanks for not dropping me from your friends list, I promise I will do better!  Sandi