Resolutions.........................

Every year I get myself a day planner. In that I write down all the birthdays and events. I put in the usual phone numbers I use and our social security numbers, my medications. In fact everything I might need on a daily basis.
It works for me. I also keep a book with it with my bills that I am responsible for with the amount owed and what date to pay and what I pay that month............this system has worked for me for years.
My day planner is something I also enjoy, it has pretty pictures and inspirational verses among other things.

In my planner I write my goals for the year to come. Its wonderful when I look back and have succeeded in doing at least some of them.
This year my goals will be to "Live Life to The Fullest" as my granddaughter Alexandra would say. I mean by this that every day will be worthwhile. That I can accomplish something worthwhile. Oh we always have non productive days, or sick days or varients of that theme. That is not exactly what I mean. I want to enjoy the time we have without thinking ahead too far. Be more in the moment so to speak. I would like to spend more active and influential time with Tristen. I would like to set about the adoption process this year. He calls us Mommy and daddy sometimes, it gives him some comfort in his school situation. May as well make that legal as it will be 4 years since we lost Alexandra.

That was in December and she died in February. We have been raising Tristen ever since. We want to make it permanent and keep him secure. We have put off doing this for several reasons. David, the father has never been involved and we did not want to stir things up. Now after 4 years I think we have the right to do this. I am also concerned about the Commins family, they go back and forth on if we should or not. So, I have put it off. I am nervouse about doing this because I don't want any fights between us. I think this is what is best for Tristen in the long run. I will also do my will, and put everything into writing to secure his future. I leave the rest in God's hands. I keep feeling this nudge to get it done.
That is one goal for this year anyway.............

I also would like to take a trip to the Upper Peninsula. I think maybe Laura and me with the two kids could manage that. It would be more difficult if Gerry and I went because of the dogs. In that case we would have to have someone stay at the house to watch them and that would cost us. We have not been up there in some time now and we want to go. I am not sure we will get as far as to visit Danielle or Carrie but we shall see.
One thing I have been wanting to do is to get down to Copper Harbor, there are some grave yards down there with Cornish miners in them. A lot died in mine accidents, some of scarlet fever and many women in childbirth with babies following soon after. I would like to write down some of the names and see if I can find where they came from and maybe find their family in Cornwall. Just something fun to do.
Well those are things to write in my planner. No overseas for me this year.
The nice thing about a planner is I have goals month by month as well as for the year. We found some great places last year in our days out. I want to find some even better ones for this year.

I really want to make some progress when it comes to crafts. I want to be able to complete some gifts for this year. Some quilts and crochet, some art and felt things. I realize I did a new years post quite simular to this one.............I have at least got all my stuff sorted and on hand. No excuses. I also intend to write a new blog. I have made a start, but it will be slow going. My Dad did a journal, I had asked him to write about his war years. He started in his childhood and died before it was completed. So not so much war stories but at least I have something. So all I really have to do is copy what he wrote, That first, then maybe I can add footnotes and pictures. After finding "An American Piano" and the lady who played it I have much to add to his story. All for now

Finished for now...........................

Well, as I promised I would update after I was all done. For now, its done. I did change out the old coffee table and put Laura's old one. It opens the room up but is the same size, or bigger.

I fluffed up all my flowers, rearranged and made them look a bit better. The one in the living room I bought for 15 dollars a few years ago at a resale shop. It just needed tweeking to be nice again. Beneath that are my three fairies that represent my oldest 3 granddaughters. Danielle (the blond) Alexandra playing the flute and Gabrielle seated. At the time Alex was learning the flute.

Then I took advantage of all the teapots that I have, I took some out of the glass cabinets and set those around. These two are sitting on another of my dad's embroidery efforts

The little gold and white one with salt and pepper shakers, was from my thrift shop that I like. I have not been there in awhile. I take two poodles to the groomers on Sunday so if its open I will pop in.

This display of flowers has been around for quite awhile. The vase was my grandmothers.

I got the flower shop at the thrift shop also. It was originally to use out in the garden but liked it enough to keep inside. The two Siamese cats are salt and pepper shakers

I have put several cups and saucers on display, just for a change. I have a lot of pretty sets and can change them out now. Enjoy them rather than shut them away all the time

I still have all my craft supplies sitting out that I put in glass jars. The picture is me, I loved the hat, so left that out. I don't usually have photos sitting around.

I could go room by room but wont. I think we have had enough of all this now. Time to move on. Maybe I will show the bedroom when that gets done.

Third of January.......................

Well now, the Christmas tree is down. All packed away. I spent yesterday and today polishing furniture. Gerry lugged all the Christmas boxes downstairs and brought the usual stuff back up. I am going through each box sorting and rearranging things as I go.
The living room, as I mentioned before I am changing its theme. It was Native American, built around a picture I love that my parents bought us. It was time for a change though. This is an abstract that we swapped it with.

Not exactly thrilling art, and will never be as loved as my Indians but........it is what it is and brings colour to the room.
I used that picture as the base to choose colours for cushions and things to bring into the room. I used a picture my dad did many many years ago in needlepoint. Hunting is not my thing at all, but it is a typical English scene and serves the purpose for now.

Notice I brought in tea pots and things to make it more English. I am doing this throughout the downstairs. Please note, I have yet to straighten and tweek things as I am still unpacking. It may be very different once I am done.

New lamps and there were only two left so I lucked out on that. Same with the cushions.

I used an embroidered runner that Dad embroidered. Yes, my dad did that. I remember my mum and dad sitting in front of the fire embroidering. Later Dad did the tapestry work instead, I have a picture of the Pope in the dining room that he did for my Mother in law. We got that back when she died. Anyway the flowers have to be reset as they got sort of crushed during their hiatus.


The poodles are a tad put out. Their heating pad is still there but their quilt is gone. I will probably have to put it back once it has been washed. Spoilt little brats

The idea is to lighten up the room, I took down the drapes and will have to readjust the under curtains, but for now they have certainly lightened things up during the day. I brought in a painting I did to replace the old one that was dark also. I may be able to paint some different ones later.

I put my fish floats in a crystal bowl instead of the wire basket, again more light reflecting

The one on the coffee table is in a glass bowl I bought.......it will be the only thing on there. I will be swapping out the table and using Laura's old one that is less heavy. Maybe tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the rest of the house is still in disarray. I have everything that is left in the dining room. Tomorrow, last day for sorting upstairs and relocating. Two more boxes to unpack.
Look what I found in the CHristmas tree box.....Cooper

I will do another post when all is done. Although I don't think there will be a lot of change in the other rooms. Maybe I will do a tour of the house once its all in order

A New Year coming 2015........................

Time marches on, without a calender one day would be much the same as another. We would mark time by the seasons. We are commanded by a calender that January 1st begins a new year. So we sheep like, follow along with that. What does it mean to me?????
Well I actually like to have a clean slate so to speak. I like the idea of starting over. This year, 2014 has not been good financially for us for many reasons. Having a new start makes me pull up my knickers and take a deep breath and be ready to start over. New ideas, new  resolutions. Do I keep them? sometimes.!

I keep a day planner. I write everything in it. I have already got mine ready, I have all my birthdays and anniversaries, special events etc already in place. I have my passwords, my phone numbers and all that. Also I have my goals for the year. When the year ends I can see what was accomplished and what I want to aim for in the New Year to come. I seldom get to cross off everything but this year I did manage to cross of a couple and one was weight. Still have a long way to go but at least I had a positive loss at the end of the year. So what for this year.?

Well, I must loose another 10 pounds at least and I am ready to get going. I put back 3 after the holidays and so that makes 13 but that was pretty good actually. I lost 20pounds and put back 3..........a new start now.
We had some great walks and days out this summer with the kids. I want more of that this year. We all enjoyed the exercize and activities.

I have enjoyed my birds. I want to get some of the pictures printed and framed. I want to redo the theme in my living room without spending a lot of money. I don't have any to begin with and one goal is to pay down debt.
I need to cut back on shopping..........I spend too much. Food being the biggest expense. Now Dan is not living here we can certainly do cheaper meals. He didn't like the same things we do. I love spicy foods so we can do curries and chilli's and so on. I want to use more of my recipes in the tons of books I have. I love recipe books. So my annual resolution of doing one new thing every week is going to be reinstalled.

I also want to get back into quilting. I have so much fabric I must use some up. I spent most of this year painting. I want to do that too but in order to refurbish the living room I need to sew cushion covers and make some lap quilts. I want brighter and lighter colours than this one I already have.

I would also like to take some time and go to the Upper Peninsula for a few days with the kids. Take Reina and Tristen. It could be during the week while Gerry is working so he can watch the dogs. Have Laura get some days off work and just go.............I love it up there. Have missed it very much. Maybe go see Danielle for a day and then see how far we can go from there.

So anyway............as I said, I love that clean slate. A new book to write in. What will this year bring? It will be 4 years in February since we lost Alexandra. It is still dream like to me. I can not wrap my head around it that she is not coming back.

 Tristen is 5 now and a challenge. I am sure he has ADHD and it is a real challenge for us at the moment. I need to learn more about that and again, this is a new start for everything. So I will take a deep breath and resolve to do better.

Done and Dusted.........

That's it then, over for another year. Christmas that is. It is always a lot of work leading up to the big day. When it's over and everyone is gone home it's sort of a let down in a way. Now what?

Christmas morning Tristen helped Granddad to distribute the gifts. After that it was rip and shred. Went quite quickly first time around. Jason was with us from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day when he had to get back for his cats. We opened our gifts then. Tristen was quite restrained he had no problem waiting for us to be ready. Coffee comes first even at Christmas. Also it keeps things under control somewhat. He was up at his usual time and was not nagging immediately to open stuff and I am glad of that.

Gerry and Jason had to help with the putting of things together

Jason bought Tristen some Lincoln Logs. "Just what I always wanted" says Tristen.


When the gifts were open Tristen had a short time to play before Laura and Reina arrived. Then we did it all again. They got their gifts and Tristen got a few more. Next to arrive were Gabrielle, Tony and Cooper. They got their gifts and then Tristen and Cooper and Reina played.
We had dinner sooner than expected, around 3pm. We enjoyed that as always. I did a roast turkey, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, baby carrots, broccoli, brussel sprouts and two dishes of stuffin.......and gravy. My most favourite dinner. I don't usually do a dessert because everyone is stuffed.

The poodle girls all got a gift bag with chewies and treats and a toy each.
We had champagne with dinner and after that we made some "snowballs" That in case you don't know is egg nog, brandy and 7up. Yummy. Gabrielle enjoyed the Champagne.

After all was cleared away, the kids all played games.

I think they enjoyed that. Gabby and Tony spent the night so no problems with driving home. Me, well I just sat and relaxed, it was a busy day.
Robert left to go work on his car and Gerry took Laura and Reina home when they were ready. A good day I think.

Reina's Birthday...........................................

Saturday, today, we celebrated Reina's birthday. It was officially on the 11th but we had to wait until the weekend. My gift was an adventure. Reina likes my adventures. Today's was to Pahl's country store out in Buckley. They have a pumpkin patch in the Fall and we went there one time to a hay ride. Anyway today was a trip into the woods to Santa's house.

Today was 40 degrees, warm for this time of year and perfect for being outside. It was foggy from the mists coming up from whats left of the snow. We found our way though. We were just in time to catch the next tractor ride. Off to visit Santa.

We do not encourage our kids to "believe" in Santa. That is not to say we do not indulge in make believe. That is fun and does no harm. We were explaining how the legend of Santa came to be, we told about St Nicholas and that he was such a good man and that  Santa is based on him. Tristen asked if he was still around and I said no he died a long time ago.

Here are Reina and Tristen waiting to go in and see Santa.

They did not really get enthused about Santa. Tristen said "you are not Santa, Santas is dead" I had to explain what we had talked about, I think Santa was a little put out haha. Santa said "No I'm not I am right here" Anyway, they were entertained and went on to hot cocoa and marshmallows. They got into that.

I even enjoyed the marshmallows and I am not keen. It was smokey and smelled lovely.



We came back to visit the barn where they had small animals to pet. Goats and a pig, a pony and donkey and the roosters. A couple of barn cats were available to be petted.

They had a nativity in the straw, a nice touch.
The next stop was the craft house and they got to choose one of three things offered. Needless to say they chose to decorate cookies.

Apparently Tristens tasted pretty good

After that we went home to have cake and ice cream and for Reina to open her gifts. She was anxious to get back by that time.



Aunt Laura bought her a new set for her Pet Shop and so Tristen went home with them and they spent the rest of the day playing with that. Maybe they will sleep better tonight, they sure didn't get much sleep last night. Laura had to work so Reina spent the night. She slept in Tristens bed with him. He came in our room at 3am and said he and Reina were hungry..............I looked at the clock with unbelieving eyes. "Geeeeetttttttt baaaaackkkkk to bed" I said as the dogs all protested being awakend. He did, but they were up by 6am. At least we can sleep in tomorrow.