Monday Mania & I think Someone Loves Me!

It was snowing, it was blowing, and it was cold today.

I came out to my car after work...

Was it my imagination?

Or was 'Old Man Winter' sending me a message?

Take care,

~Natalie

Out with the Old...In with the New

This weekend I said good-bye to my old red Taurus...I have driven this car for twelve years. We purchased her in 1997. Emily was 8; Amy was 12. It's really not the car that makes me feel sentimental, but all the memories...

In this car we drove to swim team work-outs, to the dance studio, to tennis and golf lessons; to gymnastics and basketball practice.

In this car we went to Discovery, Peer Ministry, SADD and Teen Court Activites. One summer I kept track of how many miles I drove around town, delivering car pools of kids to their events...the average...45 miles a day. She was faithful...She was paid for...but, she was old...
So...I said good-bye to my car. And...hubby said hello to a pick-up. I think he has always secretly wanted one...do you see how seriously he is taking this drive?

Within 24 hours of owning the pick up, we are hauling leaves to the landfill...This pickup will earn her keep.

Sooo...hubby now drives his redneck pickup...and I am driving the Trailblazer. Am I complaining?? Absolutely not...the Trailblazer has an AutoStart...and you all remember the winter we had last year!!

Tuesday's Tip of the Day & True Confessions

Slow Cooker Season is upon us. Here is a pic of my Vegetarian Chili from yesterday. There are not too many household chores that are worse than scrubbing the cooked-on-food from the sides of your crock pot.

About a year ago, I discovered the liners...

They are so easy to use and makes the clean up a dream.

And now for my true confessions...
Last spring, after we had passed inspection and were approved as a suitable host family for a foreign exchange student, I wanted to make her room perfect.

This involved removing Amy's possessions from her closet, two dressers, and desk drawers.

And where was I going to store these precious keepsakes?

Well...this was my problem...this was our garage...for two winters, one of our cars has been parked outside...

How did this happen??

I can tell you it didn't happen overnight. It may have started in about 1999, when we moved my mom from her 5 bedroom farmhouse into her two room townhouse in town...We loaded our vehicle and a trailer...and brought it here to store it for her...plus, every time we visit her, she sends home a few more of her cherished possessions.

Then there are the boxes of our daughters' toys and school memoirs...from kindergarten to college...

Then there are the tubs of crafts and crafting supplies...

In the spring of 2007, the flood forced us, and nearly everyone else in town, to take everything out of the lower level of their home...By now...both cars are parked outside the garage.

Sooo...I knew it was time for me to do something about this...because I couldn't wait for Oprah to have me on her show...

This task pretty much consumed my entire month of July...and yesterday...for the first time in years...

Back to School ~ Part 2

It was Emily's turn to head back to school. She was only home for two weeks since she had been to the second summer session. The time went so fast for us. We spent the day packing her clothes, more apartment stuff, some groceries. Her car was loaded...


Line, her new sister, brought out her fish...

One more good-bye hug for Callie...

Getting to Know You

Line, our Norwegian daughter for a year, will be here in 4 weeks. While she is busy packing, we are busy here cleaning and planning.

Here's a little more about us. Hubby was born in this community and has lived here all his life. He has worked in retail and now for state government. He is a drummer in a jazz group and also for our church praise band. He enjoys golf and brewing his own beer.
I was born and raised in North Dakota. I came here to teach in 1978...so have called this my home for over half my life. I enjoy cooking & entertaining, sewing & crafting.
Our oldest daughter is 24. She graduated from UNL with a degree in Nutrition Science and is currently going to graduate school in the Physician Assistant Program.
Our youngest daughter is 20 and a junior in college. She studies Exercise Science with the Pre-Physical Therapy option. Right now, their hobbies include reading textbooks and studying.


Blogland Awards

Because today's post is all about getting to know us, I'm thinking it is a good time to catch up & share the blog awards I have received recently (two of them just this week and two of them earlier this spring). I am posting them in a group because the award criteria is similar...to share personal and honest tidbits about yourself. Please be patient while I go back and forth to hook up the links.

The sisterhood award was passed along to me earlier this spring by Della and by Kelly Maria.

I was nominated for the Kreativ Blogger Award by Carol and Kim.



Just this week, the Honest Scrap Award from Ramblin Mama.

And today I have received this Lovely Blog Award from Planet Treasures.

I hope that lumping them all together does not minimize the meaning and intent of the each award. I do appreciate each one. It is a compliment to know that someone in blogland is stopping in here.

And now before this starts to sound like the Academy Awards...
Here is the personal trivia, the honest tidbits...

• I am an only child
• I grew up on a farm...and can drive the tractor
• There were 10 people in my graduating class...5 boys, 5 girls
• I was a cheerleader in High School
• I was an overachiever in college...double major, double minor
• My oldest daughter is now my sister (Kappa Delta)
• My youngest daughter and I attend (attended) the same university...but 30 years apart.
• I had a baby and a Mater's Degree at the same time (1989)
• I like to get up early and wish I could stay awake later at night
• I cannot keep a plant alive but love pretty flower gardens
• I am 100% Norwegian, but the only thing I can say is 'Thanks for the meal'
• I may have inherited the 'too pretty to use' syndrome from my mom...but I'm working on that
• I drive an old car...but it's paid for
• I'm hoping to be retired in 5 years...or less
• I love to read other people's blogs..

So...now I must pass these along...this is the hardest part...because some of you like to get thse awards...and some of you don't...and I don't really think there is any in-between...

From Winter Storm to Spring Celebration

My hubby and I used just one vehicle yesterday, the Trail Blazer. Two reasons...my car would have probably gotten stuck on our street and this is the pile of snow in front of my garage door. Do you think we can get by with just one vehicle till this melts? Probably not. This is our little bench right outside our front door. Might be awhile before we can sit there to enjoy the birds and flowers.

The Etsy team to which I belong has just launched a Spring Celebration. We each focus on creating 2-4 items for the Spring Season and we list them all in our shops last night and today. To see all the amazing creations, click this link in my side bar to the left.

Saturday Celebrations

Here is 'The Birthday Girl'...
We were treated to a lovely Birthday Brunch, prepared and served by Wendy. We met at 11:00 for Smoked Salmon Appetizers with champagne. For brunch, a Seafood Puff Pastry Creation, Caesar's Salad, and Fresh Fruit. And of course, a Birthday Cake. The coconut cake had delicious cream cheese frosting...topped with more coconut. The best was good conversation with great friends.

I am listing a few more Valentine items in my Etsy Shop before I turn my attention to Spring and Easter.

The forcast high for today is 3 below, so yes, it would be a good day to stay inside...however, I have two friends who celebrate birthdays today. Wendy has invited me to join the 'girls' for brunch at her home to honor Pat's birthday...and we will likely celebrate Kari's birthday after the girls basketball game tonight. Thank goodness for warm cars with automatic starters.

Then...and Now...

My Personal Development Class…on Thursday, we were discussing High School…and the students asked me if I drank in High School…when I said ‘no’, one Senior boy was quick to say, ‘Liar”…one of my Freshmen girls wondered if I regretted it…cause she said that I didn’t have any fun…I’ve spent a lot of time since…thinking about how my high school experience was so different, just 35 years ago…
COMMUNICATION
Then…we had only one phone in the house, and it was a party line. That means, all the farms south of town shared the same telephone line. Each family had a different ring pattern. Ours was two longs. The neighbors had two shorts and a long, etc. And if you wanted to call someone, you had to pick up the receiver and listen to see if someone else was talking…and you only called someone when it was quite important.

Now…I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t have a phone on them at all times…I wouldn’t buy a purse anymore that doesn’t have a cell phone pouch! Well, High School kids are connected 24/7. “Whaz Up?”... "Whatcha doin?"... “Where you at?”... “Who’s there?”... They can all be together in a snap!


TRANSPORTATION
Then…I rode the school bus through my Junior year of High School; during my senior year, my parents got a new car and I got to drive the old car into town…to go to my activities and events.
Now…a lot of HS kids have their own car…if their parents don’t buy them one, they get a job and buy it for themselves.

SPENDING MONEY
Then…My parents gave me money when I needed it for something specific. I worked on the farm, driving the tractor, hauling grain, making meals, mowing the yard, cleaning the house…no set salary or wage…just part of being a family.
Now…Teenagers are a big part of the work force…fast food restaurants…retail stores…day care centers…fitness centers…nursing homes…they earn their own money and have it to spend on anything they need or want!

I'm not saying it was better...or worse... it's just different. Today, most teenagers are still growing up with solid family values and a strong work ethic. I love teaching High School age students!

"Find a job you like, and you won't have to work a day in your life!"