Less than Ten on Tuesday

OK first.... in breaking news.... are you ready for it?  Janette Oke has a NEW book coming out.  Did you hear that?! Janette Oke.  My most favorite author of all time.  My most favorite author who hasn't had a new book in literally YEARS... has a new book coming out.  AND it is on Netgalley.... which is where I first spyed it.... spyed?  spied?  You get the idea.... PLEASE Netgalley people be kind to me and bless me with approval to receive an ARC of this book.  I promise to not drool on it too much and to sit down and read it and gush about it immediately.  Because it's Janette Oke.  How could it not be good.  Oh my goodness..... color Monogirl quite excited.  The book is called Where Courage Calls.... and its related to the Canadian West - When Calls the Heart series which is my most very favorite Janette Oke series ever.  How did they know?  Apparently it will go along with the new Hallmark series coming next year as a follow up to the recent When Calls The Heart Movie.. .which was also quite good.  Perhaps I need to add that DVD to Monogirl's Christmas list.... assuming a DVD exists. 

OK... now that I have that out of my system, Hello.  Did you miss me?  Sorry to disappear there for a bit but Monogirl has had a rough few weeks.  As I believe I've mentioned it's rough enough being Monogirl and when you add a bad cold into the mix?  Well sorry but Monogirl is down for the count.  She tired to fight it.  She made it thru her duet a week ago... and then promptly succumbed to the cold.  So Monogirl wouldn't feel alone, her sweet husband decided to join her and they have both been battling the sore throat... the amazing amount of sinus yuck... I mean WHERE does it all come from????... the coughing... and the fatigue.  Fatigue?  Monogirl has plenty of that.  She does not do well with added fatigue.  But... today things are a little better... even though she still sounds something like a frog, but we are being positive and going with it as a better day!

In home remodeling news we are knee deep in the drywall mudding process.  This of course caused me to quickly decide that someone needs to invent some nice Vanilla scented drywall mud because the stuff that is currently surrounding me?  Not smelling so good.  However... I am happy to be surrounded by so much of it because it means we are quickly approaching the putting paint on the walls phase!  We hope to be doing that by Friday and thru the weekend.   That would mean staining floors follows and that would mean an actual Christmas Tree could follow that!  Whew... we may make it for Christmas yet.  That in itself will be a Christmas Miracle. 

And no.... this was not 10 on Tuesday.... but Monogirl figured she'd at least stop in and ease herself back into Blogdom and start getting you caught up on all the latest.  She hopes to return a few times over the rest of the week and then to be a much more frequent blogger for the Christmas season because that always helps her with her unending stash of 1/2 finished December Daily Christmas albums.  But... first on the agenda?  Unburying the scrap room from the remodeling clutter.  Perhaps next time we will start with a before picture.....

Until then - Blessings!

Checking In

Still sick.... trying to function... but I must confess it is at minimum levels.  I may or may not have coughed up a lung last night.... If that would stop the coughing?  Well then I'd gladly do it.  As it is.. I will sit here in my chair, nurse my sore aching ribs and try not to cough up the other lung.  Hope to be better and back maybe by the weekend?  Time will tell.  Monogirl? With a bad cold?  Someone may need to hold a mirror under her nose to detect life.... Let's hope it gets better soon. 

C O W.... ei ei O

C... O... W... eieio?  Yes... we discovered one standing in our yard this week.  The neighbor has dogs.  They like to bark and Monday night they were having a fit.... This tends to mean they are in our yard and from the sound of it, they were definitely in our yard so Darrel went out to see what was going on.  He comes back in and says "Well there's something you don't see everyday!  There is a cow in the yard!"  A cow.  Not a cute little calf.  A giant Cow... who it turns out is named Homer.  Homer lives next door in his pasture but on Monday night, the dogs were tormenting him and either Homer went after them or got spooked or something and got out of his pasture.... into our yard.  OK um we are city folk turned country folk and we were like so how do you lead a cow back to its pasture where it doesn't want to go.... and... it had horns... and we live on a highway.... So we had to do something before it got in the road and someone got hurt!  Because trust me... this cow got around.  He was in the side yard, the front yard, the back yard, numerous times and even went all the way to the back of our 3 acres.  The owner of the cow wasn't at home so Darrel had to go in search of her down the street.  By the time he returned, the other neighbor had the cow by him and was trying to coax him back in the pasture.  They decided to see if they could use an apple to do this.  Apparently Homer is a big fan of apples.  Darrel gave him half the apple and then got the cow to follow him with the other half.... see... I told you animals will follow him anywhere.  Well about the time he had Homer almost back to it's own yard... the owner showed up yelling for the cow and the cow took off in the other direction.  It was cold.  It was raining/snowing.  It was dark because it was nearly midnight yet my husband stayed out there along with our other neighbor helping the owner to finally... after like an hour.... get Homer to go home.  And yes... now we are officially country people... and cow experts. 

In other farm animal news.... I woke up yesterday to find several feathers in my hair... now I am thinking they came from the down comforter, pillows and/or feather bed.... however.... I kept wondering if I had a fight with a chicken during the night....


 When we saw this....which would be the cat and the dog drinking out of the same dish together at the same time... we wondered if we also saw a pig fly by about the same time.  Why?  Because although Sophie thinks she and the dog get along great?  Well Tanner?  Not so much.  Yet here he is... sharing his water dish and not growling at or chasing the cat.  And I must add Sophie is not the easiest to share a water dish with because rather than drink out of the dish on the side she is on she likes to lean over the dish and drink out of the opposite side... therefore taking up the whole dish.  Apparently she is happy with her cat self and secure in her uniqueness. 

OK fellow scrappers have you seen the Very Merry December kits by October Afternoon?  Check them out here.  Did I buy one last year?  Yes.  Did I use it... yet?  No.  Did I need this one?  um apparently yes because I bought one.  No one knows why.  It's apparently part of the scrapping sickness I suffer from that causes the hoarding and collecting of scrapbook supplies whether or not you ever intend to put them to use..... It was too cute to pass up.... wasn't it? 

Drywall is actually ON the walls.  You are all invited to the celebratory party.... well OK.. there was no party but if I had a house that was finished?  We certainly would have been happy enough to celebrate.  Our good friend Jim came over last Saturday and helped my husband get the drywall in place.  Um like 1000 lbs of drywall that he was also kind enough to loan us the use of his truck so we could pick up said drywall. At this point the living room and dinning room are completely drywalled and yes.... also green. I told Darrel I feel like we are now living deep inside the middle of a pool table.  The green is because it's mold resistant and NO the green is not staying.  Here is another look at the end of the day.

SO happy to be progressing.  Currently we are now trying to get 1 million and one screws into the drywall so the unending mudding process can begin soon to be followed by paint!!!

Yes... Monogirl has not had a good week.... being Monogirl... she always has some issues with not feeling well and being tired.  This week, for extra fun, we have added cold and sinus symptoms.  That right there will take Monogirl down for the count.  However... she got herself some meds and some prayers yesterday and she is doing OK!  Which is good because tomorrow she is supposed to Lead Worship, sing in a duet (which she is very excited about) and teach Sunday School... Oh!  And there is an Operation Christmas Child luncheon and packing party after church!  Just one or two things huh?  So today? Making the famous pound cake for the luncheon.  Studying for Sunday School.  Singing thru the duet.  Hopefully a new manicure.  And somewhere in there... some more rest so tomorrow will be survivable.... is that a word? 

So that means I must leave you for now.... but promise to return soon to get caught up from last week.  Have a wonderful weekend and if you are in our neck of the woods.... stay safe from tomorrows storms. 

 

Blessings!

I Don't Have a DR's Excuse....

BUT stopping in to tell you Monogirl is out sick.... and she hopes to return by the weekend to visit with you.  It's hard enough being Monogirl but when you add cold symptoms... or flu symptoms or sinus infection symptoms or whatever the heck kind of symptoms they are.... well then Monogirl is not in her happy place.  She is hoping to feel better tomorrow.  She has to head to work.... and she has a busy Sunday and is supposed to sing a duet... and do worship leading... so um a sore throat and yucky sinuses are NOT helpful for that.  Praying all is better tomorrow.  God can sure take care of it.  Right?  Blessings.

Thankful Thursday

I know... you are like OK..what the heck is that stuff?  Car mats?  Tire treads?  What is it.... This would be a recent shipment from Zulilly which includes a new "sign" or should I say "art" for the new living room AND 2 new anti fatigue mats for the kitchen.  And OK... now that I've looked them up on Amazon?  So happy I bought from Zulilly because they were $15 cheaper than that marked down price and I mean each! 

I have had throw rug after throw rug in front of my stove and sink.  They get looking raggedy fairly quickly.  Is that true at every one's house or are we just rug abusers here at Monogirls house?  I blame the dog since he is incapable of ever laying on a bare floor.  Well a few years ago I bought the husband an anti fatigue mat for his workshop/garage and when I did that... wow was it cool.... Well then I found out my BFF had one for her kitchen and so of course... then I need one right?  My BFF and I we are like that... and then of course we tell our husbands it was the other one's fault cause you know, if Lisa didn't have one, well then I probably would have never come up with that idea on my own ... right.  Anyway... fast forward to a few months ago when Zulilly had a special on them AND my throw rugs were in sore need of replacing... and Viola!  Monogirl now owns 2 kitchen anti fatigue mats and let me tell you... they feel great!  WHY did I not get one of these sooner?  I am sure Monogirl's achy knee and hip will be very appreciative next time Monogirl gets it in her head to stir up a pound cake or something or OK even just an egg sandwich. 

The sign?  Well I have some other similar ones in the bathroom and we got a new one at Hilton Head this past year and well I have this whole floating shelf wall in my head for the new living room.  This scripture sign will be placed there and Monogirl will be happy happy happy.  Except she was just thinking she is pretty sure the cat is going to think the whole floating shelf thing is new kitty steps for her since she is all about climbing on anything possible.... We will be needing to come up with a game plan for that I am thinking.

Do you love the floor?  What a nice look... brown Kraft paper which yes is an improvement over the 9 old finishes that were on the floor before sanding.  Now that the floor is sanded however, we.... OK.... the husband... put down the paper to protect the floor until we get it stained since we aren't quite ready to do that.  Would you believe we have even managed to vacuum the Kraft paper?  Trust me.. that takes talent which pretty much assures you that I was not the one to handle that task. 

Since its a Thankful Thanksgiving kind of month... I have been posting a few thankful thoughts on my facebook page this week.  Thoughts such as:

• Is God fed up with me for all the dumb stuff I did yesterday so therefore I'm on his last nerve today? NO. His mercies and compassion are new every morning. LOVE that thought! So thankful for his mercy on me.
  Lamentations 3:22-24 The Voice Bible
  22 How enduring is God’s loyal love;
  the Eternal has inexhaustible compassion.
  23 Here they are, every morning, new!
  Your faithfulness, God, is as broad as the day.
  24 Have courage, for the Eternal is all that I will need.
  My soul boasts, “Hope in God; just wait.”
• How cool to get to hear a bunch of 5th graders play amazing grace on the recorder. :-) so thankful for the blessing kids hope has been.
• Feeling thankful today that after 26+ years of marriage my greeting from my husband this morning was "How is my Princess today?" Gag if you must... ha... but I think he is awesome and that greeting or any other sweet talk from him never fails to soothe me, bless me, and make me smile.

And other things that came to mind today were....

• a very kind compliment about our marriage from a friend
• wonderful Saturday pancakes this past weekend
• purchasing drywall this evening
• a kind friend that loaned us not only the use of his truck, but also his muscles!
• a working furnace
• not to mention shelter when the cold weather starts sneaking in
• a husband that fixed the furnace issue for at least 1/3 of what it would have cost us to call someone
• the things God has been teaching me
• this new devotional that I am using and reviewing
• watching Miss Sophie play fetch with Darrel
• a clean bathroom... well mostly. 
• pink long johns and the heated throw
• getting some things caught up at work
• my husband making date night dessert
• Sunday lunches out
• my Sunday school class
• the picture in my head of the new living room and dinning room
• sleeping in
• the gorgeous leaves, its like everything is glowing right now
• getting an extra hour to the weekend
• Kids Hope
• reading
• my Kindle fire
• coming up with an idea on how to close off the old stove pipe holes in the chimney. 
• a husband who helps with laundry and housework and cooking... oh my
• order in my life
• the little contented happy noise my husband makes when he kisses me hello after work... it always feels like he thinks ahhhh that is what I needed.  Who wouldn't love that? 
• the holiday season
• still loving the library
• my boss
• coming up with a solution for the living room/dinning room ceiling
• a gift from a church member for clergy appreciation month. 
• my friend Sally who helps me by folding the church bulletins each week
• the book I just finished!  Loved it!
• and now.... a little more time to rest before work in the morning

Have a fabulous Friday!  Blessings. 

Ten On Tuesday

1) OK first of all can we pretend it's Thankful Thursday for a moment because Monogirl is thankful!  See.... I am not coming to you tonight from deep inside pink long johns and thermal night shirts.   I am not even wearing my beloved Ugg slippers.  Why?  Because Monogirl's house once again has a furnace that can function without gassing said occupants.... an important detail I am thinking.  The chimney insert arrived... my husband took himself and the insert up on the roof.... dropped it down the the chimney.... hooked it up.... and viola!  Heat!  I forgot what a gift it was to gaze across the room and see 70 degrees rather than oh say 58 degrees.  Turns out that this adventure was a gift because the husband discovered that there was a rusted pipe or two in the basement that was also in sore need of replacement so as not to gas anyone in the basement vicinity. 

2) And #2 would have to be how beautiful is this row of trees?!  Love them.  This is the lane that leads into the local cemetery where my grandparents are buried.  The road is lined on both sides with these trees and right now they are all this beautiful red orange color.  I drive past every day on my way to and from work and a few days ago I just had to stop for a photo op.... hey that rhymes... and um I am easily entertained. 

3) My current book of choice is this one.... Christmas in Apple Ridge.  It is actually 3 books in 1 volume but as it turns out the stories are related and are set in the same town and then some of the characters reappearing in subsequent stories.  I am loving it and actually last night when it was time for bed Monogirl had a good ol' argument with herself because night owl Monogirl wanted to keep reading and Non Morning person Monogirl knew that would be a very bad idea.... Non Morning person Monogirl won...

4) OK and every time I write down a book title I have this major urge and sentence go thru my head that I "must underline book titles!!!"  This is because back in Jr High School I had to do this report in Earth Science.  The topic I decided on was "Petroleum" and because my Dad worked at an oil refinery he was one of my main resources.  I also had resources from the library.  The grade I got on that report was 99.... nearly perfect.  My teacher said it just about killed him to give me that grade because it was an excellent ALMOST perfect report with one flaw.... when I did my bibliography... I did not underline my book titles.  So yes... that rule has forever stuck firmly in my brain. 

5) Yesterday on the way home from work as I headed to the post office this sight greeted me...It was sooooo cute I had to circle back around just so I could take a picture.  Love how the whole group is all cuddled up with Mom nearby and I must say.... these babies look nothing like their mother! ha. 

6) Date Night Report! We met up at home for a relaxing evening together.  There was pizza... there was yummy bread sticks and cheese sauce... there was popcorn... a movie... and my husband made us dessert.  And yes... I think that was the best part.  He made us this skillet cookie which was a recipe I saw on Pinterest.  You have yourself some of that with Schwan French Vanilla ice cream and you are set.  YUM. 

7) Have I told you that Miss Sophie plays fetch better than the dog?  We never taught her.  She just took it upon herself one day to start up a game with Darrel.  There are rules however... it has to be her idea to play.... It has to be with Darrel.....and it has to be with one particular toy.  It's very cute.  She is very good at it.. and I must try to capture a video of the event so I can share it with you. 

8) Also ffeeling thankful today that after 26+ years of marriage my greeting from my husband this morning was "How is my Princess today?" Gag if you must... ha... but I think he is awesome and that greeting or any other sweet talk from him never fails to soothe me, bless me, and make me smile.  He has lots of other sweet talk where that came from too... he is good at it. 

9) Drywall will be entering the house tomorrow and soon after that it will be finding a new home on our walls!  Yay!!!  SO excited to be getting closer to paint on new walls and stain on a newly sanded floor.  We also have some new ideas for the ceiling that we are discussing.  Hopefully that will be done in the next couple of weeks also.  We are hoping... and I do mean hoping to have the drywall up and painted, the floor stained, and the ceiling installed and painted by Thanksgiving weekend.  And yes... we probably need your prayers that will actually happen.  We are definitely giving it our best shot! 

10) So who has started thinking about doing a December Daily album for this year?  Yes.  You saw my hand go up.  I am hoping to do a project life style with a mini kit I got from HSN recently.  I always have all these nice plans don't I?  Won't you be amazed if it actually comes to fruition?  It could happen... there is a first time for everything. 

And whew... I made it to 10.  I was getting a little worried there.  Tune in for Thursday.... or maybe sooner... Perhaps we need some more posts for being thankful since it is after all turkey month? 
Blessings!