Link Issues

I know I'm missing/ doing something stupid...
I have tried, every way imaginable (except, obviously, the right way) to add a link bar to my blog. It's not working, it's not working, it's not working!!!! I've gone to "Customize", hit the stupid gadget button, scrolled down to the poopy link section, copied & pasted the meaningless links, hit save, made sure (3 times) that I hit the blasted save thingy, crossed my fingers/ toes/ elbows, prayed out loud....
Get to the dreaded "View Blog" part and....same stupid blog with no links to other sites. Blah! UGH! I'm done...thanks for listenin' :-)

Oh my GOSH! I don't know HOW, but I decided to give it one more try, after I finished this posting. It worked...I don't know how it worked, but it did. I was actually able to add a link to my ebay stuff. Of course, I have no idea what I did or how to do it again, but I did it once...correctly...and that's enough for me...for now :-) WOOHOO!!!!!

Bouncing Baby Boy

At 6:59 p.m. Lyrik James made his very dramatic entrance into the world. Right now I'm simply too tired to write much more than Mommy and baby are doing fine. It was a difficult labor with some terrifying complications at the end. Everyone made it through, though, with flying colors and that is all that matters now. After it was over, I'm thinking it's almost easier being the one on the table than the one at the side of the table, watching helplessly. I have never, in my life, heard a sweeter sound than when that precious baby boy finally let out his first cry...never!!!

Crystal Stemware Help Needed

Honestly, the topics of my posts range from the sublime to the ridiculous. Suddenly, I'm treating Blogger as if it's "Ask Jeeves". On the off-chance that someone out there knows more than I (which shouldn't be difficult) about crystal....
I know that this glass is made by Cambridge, but I cannot, for the life of me, find the name of the pattern. It is a bit like Rosepoint...a bit like Chantilly...and a bit like 25 other Cambridge designs. I have scoured the internet, including Replacements, and am coming up empty-handed. Help?

Tomorrow I Play Mid-Wife!

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the baby shower I threw for my best friend's daughter, Jessie. Tomorrow they are inducing labor and we will welcome "our" baby boy into the world. I was absolutely thrilled when the Mommy-to-be said she would like me to be there for the birth. Aside from the fact that it will be wonderful to be on the "other side" of the birthing process, I get to experience the miracle of birth from a new perspective. As if witnessing the birth isn't enough of an honor, the VERY soon-to-be Grandma asked me if I could spend Monday with Mommy and baby because she has to work. This will be their first day at home and Jessie is feeling a bit anxious. If I recall correctly, there will be very little for me to do. I will happily watch him sleep, carry him to Mommy for feedings and soak in every bit of that delicious newborn baby scent.

Thrify, Thrifty, Thrifty

There's so much to post about today, so I'll work my way backward...story of my life :-) I went to drop some things off at the thrift store up the street and was thrilled to find that they were having their huge, spring cleaning sale. When I say "huge", I mean HUGE!!!!! Whatever you can fit in a paper grocery bag is $5. The ladies who work there love me because I'm always bringing in bags of goodies and I'm fairly certain they get first dibs on the good stuff. They were very generous when they were packing my finds into the bags. The pictures show about a third of my "haul" (just in case anyone is wondering what I left out: a pair of brand new window treatments from Pottery Barn, a duvet cover for my bed, 3 framed pictures, a men's cashmere overcoat from Neiman Marcus, a spring jacket from Abercrombie & Fitch for my son and a slip-cover for my living room chair) and the grand total was $15! YAHOO! I absolutely LOVE the 3 copper molds I snagged. They've been in the shop all season, but I couldn't make myself pay $5 a piece and I never could narrow it down to just one. Today, I didn't have to :-) Once the wire baskets get a coat of spray paint, they'll be perfect for holding fresh fruits in my kitchen. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the funky chicken and the dalmations, but they were too cute to pass by.

Aging Gracefully

How cool is this? I was blog surfing...a treat for finishing my resume revision...and came across a link for a site that ages pictures for free! All you do is upload a picture and they age it for you in seconds. Don't be surprised when you first get to the site and it's in Japanese. Hit the "English" button and have fun! I only gave myself a few minutes of playtime, so I randomly chose pictures to age. Just to give you an idea...
***Thank you, "Anonymous" for pointing out that I had not included the link to the site. OOPS!

Feelin' the (Blog) Love

To quote my teenage son: "You guys ROCK!". I needed to take a moment to thank you all, again, for the sweet messages/ emails you have sent me. General update on my dad: the doctors appear to have reached a conclusive diagnosis and decided on a definitive course of action...PHEW! It is NOT life-threatening, so he will (God willing) soon be on the road to recovery and back to his wonderfully perky self. WOOHOO!
I've been blessed to have made yet another fantastic "blog friend", Sharon. I stumbled across her blog, via Lynn's, and she is an amazingly talented....and I do mean amazingly....jewelry artisan! After exchanging emails over the last few days, we had the opportunity to chat on the phone. Just as Lynn described, referring to her immediate connection with Sharon at the craft store, we gabbed away like two old school chums until she had to go make supper. Good thing because I need to finish up yet another revision of my resume :-) I have to admit, I had a moment's hesitation about "going public" with Sharon's creations because I know what a hit she will be with you ladies. That said, it's just not right for me to secretly covet her treasures. So, when you have a few minutes....go for a visit!

Leftover Coffee is My Friend

First and foremost, thank you ALL for the prayers and support r.e. my dad's health issues. It has helped more than you can imagine! I have a tendency, when life throws me a challenge, to keep a smile on my face so as not to burden others with my problems. The result is, I leave myself running around in my own head: which is one playground I should not be hanging out at, without a chaperone! A very wise friend often says: "A problem shared, is a problem halved". So true! Okay, back to coffee. Heidi has me on a roll with coffee left-over projects. While I was cleaning out my basement, last weekend, I came across boxes & boxes of blown eggs. I called my landlord to see if he wanted them for his kids (Easter projects). He laughed and told me his late Aunt Peg, in whose home I am living, would spend hours blowing out eggs from the farm, but (to his knowledge) she never did anything with them. Since my landlord still has easy access to all of the eggs he could ever use, courtesy of his 100+ chickens, he advised me to "toss them...they've probably been sitting down there for the last 15 years". Toss them, indeed! Into a bowl they went, with my left-over coffee (I really didn't need any more caffeine anyway) and they're now having a lovely bath du cafe! Because of their age, I think, some of them are turning a yummy speckled caramel, while others are transforming with a marbled pattern. I just love this kind of fun, (virtually) free project! I'd love to hear if you have any other uses for left-over coffee or similar projects!

Prayers Please!

My dad is dealing with some very complicated health issues right now...complicated because the doctors can't pinpoint anything specific, so there are more questions than answers. I don't need to get into details (and wouldn't out of respect for his privacy), but your prayers would be greatly appreciated!!! I know how much my mom would/ will hate this, but I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and I know that there is strength in numbers. At the end of the day, it is in His hands...and I know that His plan is perfect. Right now, though, my little girl heart is aching for my dad to be okay!

A Borrowed Project Idea

As soon as I saw this project idea on Heidi's blog, I knew I had to give it a try: leftover coffee, coffee filters & a string of white lights...what could be easier than that? Well, it wasn't too challenging, BUT my version looks a bit like a second graders when you hold it next to the art teacher's example. As I continually tell my kids: "You (I) tried your (my) best". Heidi, major kudos to you for patiently attaching all of those "flowers". I got tired of it after 7, so a friend did the last 3!!!

Setting the Record Straight

I have had several wonderful blog friends comment on how "organized" I appear to be. I mentioned my disastorous garage, in yesterday's post, but didn't want to horrify you/ embarrass myself by posting a picture. I just can't have you all thinking I am something I'm not...organized, so this should set the record straight :-)

Meanwhile, Down in the Crypt

And, while Sammy was soaking up some rays, what was the Mom doing? Well, let's just say I was not basking in the sun, pondering the meaning of....mice. I spent much of the day down in the basement: organizing, purging & hoping the creepy crawlies were still hibernating! I got most of the bins labelled and put in their proper place. The garage is next, but I'm going to need a dumpster for that task!
***I did take pictures of the garage, but the mess is just too gruesome to post. I think I'll wait and do a before & after post :-)

It's Good to Be the Cat!

We were blessed with another warm, sunny day...WOOHOO! What does any normal, warm-blooded cat do during the first days of spring? Catnap, of course! Sam, who is getting old and has a tough winter, was loving life today.

Squeaky Clean

I had to run over to Michael's (craft supplies) this afternoon. "Had to" is such a joke. Who am I kidding? Any excuse for a field trip to Michael's, works for me! After wandering the aisles for a little bit, I realized I truly didn't need anything...until I stumbled upon the soap making section. Uh oh. Big trouble! I have been wanting to make my own soaps for quite some time, but the process looked far too complicated for my liking. Time for a short-cut. I bought a few different, microwavable blocks of soap (olive oil, goat's milk & glycerin) and two sets of molds. I already had some essential oils at home. I had such fun making soap tonight and realized how inexpensive it is, when you consider paying $3.99-$5.99 for a bar of "specialty" soap. I took apart an old sachet and used the dried lavender in the lavender scented soaps. I like the natural look of those bars. Any recipes/ suggestions for things that work well with or in soaps, would be greatly appreciated!

Can it Be....Spring??????

I'm almost afraid to say it, for fear that we'll get hit with another Nor'easter tomorrow, but...today was an absolutely glorious SPRING day!!! The sun was shining, the birds were chirping appreciatively and I was like an overly-caffeinated Tigger all day long. I know that this is the time of year (every year) we New Englanders lament that it has been the longest winter in the history of the world. This year, though, it's true...it really is! I'm sure the meteorologist guys have pie charts and weather graphs that would dispute my claim, but what do they know? It has been LOOOOOOOONG!
Although I have a huge list of (inside) spring cleaning tasks to tackle, I just couldn't stay inside. I picked up pieces of broken planters/ pots that I forgot to move inside last fall, cleaned up my gardens a bit and (only me!) got the hose out to melt away the one remaining pile of snow at the top of my driveway. I called three friends who, much to my consternation, agreed that I could not plant bulbs yet. I was advised to wait until I was sure there would be no more frost. Well, what if I am sure? Does it matter what the weatherman has to say about it???? REALLY! For once, I decided to heed the advice of the masses, lest my gardens fail to produce to their fullest glory. I suppose, since I've waited this long...

My Dad

My big sis sent us (the siblings) an email yesterday, expressing how proud she was to be the daughter of a man as wonderful as our dad. I didn't read her email until this morning, but it's not surprising that we're on the same page. Last night I was trying to describe my dad to a friend who has never met him. I went through the list of adjectives that are commonly applicable to my dad: honorable, hard-working, funny, loving, outgoing, patient, honest...All of those characteristics certainly describe my dad, but they fall so short in painting a complete picture of who he is as a man, a husband, a father, a "Granran" and a friend. It's like sketching the outline of a picture, then leaving the inside blank. As I was ineptly trying to express what an amazing man my dad is, I found myself saying: "I don't know of a single person who doesn't love/ like him". After reading my sister's email this morning, I thought more seriously about my statement. It's absolutely true: people just love my dad. Everyone...from the local lobsterman to the former mayor of Norwalk, heads of Fortune 500 companies to the gentlemen who sells mulch at the hardware store. Can you imagine? I'm sure, at some point in his life, there was someone whose toes he inadvertently stepped on...must have, though I can't think of a single example. I do my best, on a daily basis, to follow God's will for my life and "do unto others....", but I know I continually fall short. How many people can honestly say, about anyone they know: "He/ she is well-liked and well-respected by everyone whose path they cross"???
A significant sidenote: my "dad" did not get that title through any contribution to my birth. He inherited my brother and me 32 1/2 years ago, when he married my mom. I had, at that time, a biological father. It has been the man I described above, however, who taught me what parenting is all about: loving unconditionally, administering healthy doses of tough love when necessary (and it was more necessary with me than with my 3 siblings combined :-) and...most importantly...always, always, always having a strong, sturdy outstretched hand to help us get up when our decision making wasn't quite right!

And the Winner Is...

The winner of my "Bits and Bobs" jewelry give-away is... Whispering Poppies! My son picked the name, although he clearly didn't understand or appreciate the significance of a blog give-away. If "Whispering" would kindly email me with your name/ address, your goodies will be on their way. Thank you to everyone who entered. Keep checking back as I'm on a spring cleaning roll (in spite of the winter weather) and I suspect another give-away id right around the corner :-)

Spring Has Sprung...Yeah, Right!

Last week, I thought I could fool Mother Nature into bringing spring about a little early this year. I optimisticaly dragged my table and bench out from the garage and up the stairs to my front stoop. I hung my pretty, glass hummingbird feeder on my "Rose of Sharon" tree. Guess what? You really can't fool Mother Nature!

Tag...I'm It!

what are you wearing now? work-out pants & top (sounds so much better than sweats), Tinkerbell t-shirt and pink slippers

favorite smell: newborn babies or the ocean

who was the last person you hugged? my little girl

if you were a tree, what would you be? weeping willow

what's for dinner? left-overs

what was the last thing you bought? my new craft cupboard

what are you listening to right now? HGTV

what is your favorite weather and why? sunny & warm, because it's anything BUT that right now. UGH...6-10" of snow coming tonight!

what is on your bed side table? a pair of earrings, an empty water bottle, my alarm clock & a bookmark that should be IN my book

what is your most challenging goal right now? finding a job!

say something to the person who tagged you: I miss you and wish I was there to chat & bellylaugh

if you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Anywhere would suffice

favorite vacation spot? Old Lyme

name the things you cannot live without God

what movies can you watch over and over? Breakfast at Tiffany's, Gone With the Wind, Serendipity

if you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
a warm, tropical beach..anywhere, as long as it's warm

who is the most interesting person you have ever met? Kallif (a former student of mine)

RULES: I am SUCH a rule-breaker, so I'm re-writing this part. The rules are: there are no rules :-) If you read this and feel inspired/ compelled to join the game, please do. If not, well...you've learned some things you may or may not have wanted to know about me :-) The real rules: ~Remove one question you don't like, replace it with one of your own choosing ~Answer the questions on your blog and "tag" eight other bloggers.

I think those are the real rules anyway. If you don't like them, make your own & just have fun :-)

Cozy Cupboard

Early yesterday afternoon, I took a quick run over to my friend, Melody's, fabulous antique consignment shop. It's been a while since I've visited with her and the shop is one of those places I gravitate toward when I need a little pick-me-up. Mel had gotten some terrific new things in and was trying to find room in her cozy retail space. One of the things she no longer had need for was this terrific cupboard, with oodles of compartments, so I took it off her hands for a song! A few months ago, I had bought 5 rolls of beautiful black & white drawer liner paper (on the clearance rack, at T J Max, for $1/ each) and decided I would line the back of each compartment with the paper. Of course, I couldn't stop there once I saw how great it looked. I did the sides of the piece as well and was so pleased with the final outcome. Picture #1 shows the beginning, picture #2 shows the finished project and picture #3 shows...WAIT...#3 looks the same as #1??? How can that be? Well, for some unknown reason, the wallpaper paste didn't hold the paper to the cabinet. One by one, the squares I had painstakingly measured, cut & pasted in each cubby, began to peel off. So, for now, this piece stays "as is". UGH!
***I apologize for the eye strain the color of the (above) font may have caused. As soon as I published the post, I realized it was too light. I spent 1/2 hour trying to change the color, but I must be experiencing the return of the Blogger poltergeist. I tried, every way I could think of, to switch it and have finally given up. I'll steer clear of that lovely aqua blue from now on!