First Day of SPRING...yippee

Spring has sprung, and I am seeing signs every where! Took a walk around the yard as soon as the sun came up and marveled at all the green. The azaleas are done..one week of gorgeous was all we got. Had some pretty heavy rains and that always guarantees blooms on the ground. We still need more rain...my lake is so low..lower than I can recall in 21 years. We are under our first burn ban of the season already. Had a fire out here 2 weeks ago, 1/2 mile from home. Started in a dry lake bed, spread to 20 acres and threatened 5 homes. Our fire guys rock, though, and they saved all the houses!! I was at work, as usual, but my son called and said a helicopter with a huge bucket was dipping from our lake. About 20 dips, Chris said. Wish I could have seen it...would have been some great pictures. Anyway...first day of spring and I have to go to work...if the boss wasn't doing taxes today, I would definitely be calling in with Spring Fever! Don't wanna work...I wanna play! Happy Tuesday...HAPPY SPRING!!! *e*

I had a stump....

About a year and a half ago, I had a huge pine tree that had been hit by lightning cut down. When Dallas, the tree guy, was cutting I requested that he leave a good height stump. For the memories, you know? So, I had a stump. I also have a strange thing about galvanized metal things. Things like buckets and wash tubs...turns out I have 3 wash tubs {that's officially a collection, right?}. So, I had a stump and I had a wash tub...or 3...What to do with these 2 odd things? That was easy. Nail the tub to the stump and fill it up with lots of color! Went to Lowe's last night after work, as a customer tipped me off to the fact that Monday is when they usually mark down the plants that are not so perfect anymore. They had 5 huge rolling carts filled with all kinds of plants...all 1/2 price. Score! I like instant color, but I love 1/2 price!! Came home from work tonight and thanks to the time change, was able to fill the tub before the sun went down and grab a couple quick pictures. So now I have "stumptub", and I think once the plants adjust to their new home, they should thrive. I love this time of year in Florida. Spring right around the corner, and no need for the A/C yet. Oh...and some great news...the barn is back on track!!! The electric will be put in next Thursday, and then we can finally finish off the inside. My son is really tired of sleeping on my sewing room floor {can't imagine why. it's only been 18 months!} A lot of stuff has gotten in the way...my carpenter has cancer, my electrician is getting a divorce, and my bank account sprung a leak. :o} So, I'll keep posting and maybe real soon we can have a blogger barn warming!! Thanks for reading. I'll be back. *e* PS I guess blogger still doesn't understand me! Why can I never get my pictures in the correct order? arrghh!!!

Some deeper thoughts & some beautiful colors

Okay...I know it's been almost forever since I posted anything, except maybe a letter in a mailbox. Contrary to rumors that I have run off to a foreign land, I am still here and slowly making my way back to the land of the sane {?} people. It's been a weird year, and I just went through 5 solid weeks of difficult "it happened then" days...but today the sun is shining, I'm here to enjoy it and I know I'm getting stronger every day. My faith has been tested with all the sad news of the past week and my heart aches for all those who have lost so much. We had the 5th anniversary of our Groundhog Day Tornado, and I can still remember the fear that came with that 5 years ago. My thoughts and prayers are there with all those touched by these terrible storms. I've been reading a lot of your blogs...some happy...some sad..and all have been a part of my healing...to be able to "reach out" to others, even when I did not feel like putting myself "out there". So, I hope I'm back to stay for awhile. I'm playing with my camera again and when I saw the great colors in my yard today {once the sun finally arrived} I just knew I had to share them. These are just 3 of my Azaleas that are blooming as we speak. The really deep magenta{?} ones were planted by Joe 8 or 9 years ago...and have never looked this beautiful. I'd like to think he can still see them...they certainly are bright enough! Hope you like 'em....and since they are not in any sequence I won't have to fight with blogger to get them in the right order :o}...Happy Sunday! *e*

Happy Independence Day ...

...and do I still remember how to do this ? Roaming around blog land today, I suddenly realized that I started this blog on July 4th, 2007. It's been hit or miss lately...scratch that...11 months without a post is definitely a miss! I still read other blogs frequently, just couldn't seem to find the push I needed to start blogging again. I think the 4th anniversary is a pretty good push, yes? So, if I remember how to do this, I'll start with my one patriotic display, my flag. I always have had a flag flying on the front of my barn...for 15 years at least...replaced every year cause the Florida sun fades them to pink so quickly. Fast forward to 2010, when I started closing in the upstairs of my barn and one of the first things to be taken down was the flag, for it's own protection. The barn, like my blog, has been hit or miss depending on weather, finances and the health of my carpenters {2 very good old friends}. This morning I woke up and decided that the flag must fly again...so I hung myself out the window to get the flag back into it's bracket. I suppose it would have been easier to get the ladder, but this was before my morning coffee...too early for 8' ladders! This is the second floor of the barn, with the awesome Gothic windows I scored at a yard sale...$20 for all 3...needed many hours of scrapping, sanding and reglazing before they could be painted and installed. Totally worth it, right? After taking the flag picture, I cruised around and took more pictures of the other windows and doors that we have been repairing, painting and designing. The back wall has 2 of the huge windows that I curbshopped a couple years ago, an octagon that perfectly frames the sunset over the lake and a door that I think a Hobbit would love {both designed & built by my buddy Steve}. The window dormer on the side has 2 other custom built windows that have a view of the tops of the pine trees. It's like the best treehouse ever, and when we finally finish this project, it will be a loft room for my son Chris. The barn was built by my husband in 1996, and was slowly falling apart. I could not bear to see it fall, and neither could Steve. It has been a major project, costing much more $$ than I ever could have anticipated...new floor, replacing roof beams, bug lady spraying for powder post beetles...and the list goes on & on. But because Joe built this barn, it's worth every penny I've put into it...and more. His dream was to build a house on this little acre on the lake...we were unable to accomplish that, but we have Joe's barn. May it stand for many more years ...Have a safe & happy 4th...and I'll be back! *e*

Love 2 Junk...on ice?

Cannot believe it's September already! It's also been way too long since I posted anything...and I still added 2 new followers any way! Amazing! Any way, I guess Love 2 is on ice for right now...or on the back burner...or any other place you put things that you just don't seem to have the time for at this moment. This summer has been so crazy...and so busy I cannot think straight most days! I have no fewer than 14 1/2 done, undone, can't seem to get 'em done projects going all at one time. Still have not finished painting the mobile home...too hot. Am working on barn restoration for a place for my son to sleep, and in the meantime, he's sleeping on the floor of my computer room. Severely cuts into my 'puter time! Have been junking & found some really good stuff, but can't seem to find the time to take pictures. Arrghhh...have I bitten off more than I can chew?!!? People keep telling me that staying busy is one of the best ways to get through the grieving process...but now I feel guilty that I have so many "UFO's" {unfinished objects} in every room of my house! Okay...alright...I know I'm whining...but I just need to let you all know that I'm still here. I miss talking to everyone & sincerely hope that I can get some of this stuff off my plate...soon. Oh, almost forgot...son Chris came home with a puppy...a very large puppy...that I flatly refused to love. Sadly, Pup had other ideas, and now I'm hooked...so add walking the dog, cleaning the porch floor of huge paw prints and mediating between the 3 cats who were here 1st and Pup...who just wants to play! So...my usual run on paragraph and no pictures {all still in the camera}...and I promise I will try harder to not be a no-show for 2 months running! Hope you are all doing well and maybe even feeling a teeny bit of fall?? I'll be back soon....honest...now where did I put that paintbrush?? *elaine*

How HOT is it???

...'tis hot enough that a bolt of lightning comes from an almost clear blue sky...finds my spaghetti strand of ethernet cable that enters my modem...and goes straight into my computer & causes huge amounts of damage!! 2 1/2 weeks and 2 1/2 hundred $'s later, I have my pc back and she is so sleek, shiny and fast that I now call her my Bionic 'puter and my computer guy that fixed her is my "minor miracle worker"!! Loooong run on sentence, I know but I have been offline for soooo long I seem to have forgotten how to end a sentence! Anyway, the month of July somehow got past me and I'm not really sad to see it go. How hot is it??? Hot enough to dry the paint on my brush between the can & the house wall. Hot enough that the thermometer in my {black} Blazer read 116 degrees last Thursday. Hot enough that I leave the fan on for my cats, and when I come home, it looks like I have 3 cat skin rugs on my porch floor. Hot enough that the bolt of lightning really came from an almost clear blue sky and struck several yards from a tree that was struck 15 years ago, and is somehow still standing. Hot enough that the local Baptist church has a sign that declares "It's not hot as Hell yet"...I beg to differ...Okay, so enough of the "how hot is it", because I know I am not alone in this and most of the country is melting. HELLO...can we say global warming? What's that? Global warming is just a political buzzword to try to win an election?....wait. It's much to early to talk politics...I hear you. But we had snow in Florida in January & now our heat index is literally through the roof ....and I swear the sun looks closer this summer than I can ever remember. So this is a picture-less post because my camera is full of pictures of cool junk, pretty flower & sunrises and lots of other neat-o stuff....but I don't have time to get them out of there this morning...and deal with Picassa and other techie issues. Been so busy that I missed my 3rd Blog*A*Versary...which will be remedied ASAP...i just need to decide what I shall give away to my faithful readers...wait...I still have those, don't I? HEELLLLOOOO...followers? Where are you??? I've been trying to catch up on all you have been up to, but had to spend 2 computer nights deleting 340 unread e-mails...can you say "unsubscribe me, please?"...It's hard to catch up on a couple weeks, but I shall do my best. In the meantime, I'll be back soon with some great junk...while I try to figure out what needs to leave my house for my 3rd! Can't believe how much I have missed this thing we call blogging...stay as cool as you can, watch out for those bolts from the blue, and I will be back very soon. Happy Tuesday *elaine*

Bittersweet Father's Day

So, this is the 1st Father's Day without Joe {have had 3 holidays without my husband and some of the most difficult yet to come} and I went to bed Saturday night feeling down. My oldest son Chris said he was feeling bad," cause he has no Dad". Youngest son Jason is unavailable, my father has been gone for almost 3 years, and I was getting myself into a real pity party. As I lay there trying to fall asleep, I decided to make Sunday Joe's day anyway. We have out favorite beach and when asked "So what do you want to do today?" Joe's answer would usually be "Go to the beach". Headed out at 6am, watching the sun rise along the way...what a picture perfect morning. Arrived at "our" spot at 7:15 and was walking on the almost deserted beach by 7:20. I don't know why I feel closer to the spirit of my husband while walking on the beach, but I just know that I do. Walked a ways, picking up shells & stones & only an occasional piece of beach glass. Wrote a note to Joe in the sand, walked a little more with my tears for company, and then I saw a single, solitary pelican out over the ocean. Joe was a nature guy from the day we met, and pelicans were always his favorite bird, next to eagles. Usually the brown pelicans travel in groups of 5...sometimes as many as 15...in a long line stretched out over the ocean. This guy was all by himself...just cruisin' along...not in a hurry to get anywhere...just like my Joe. Dried my tears and kept walking and feeling a tiny bit better. Walked close to 2 miles and by then I was starving, so headed into the teeny town for breakfast. Unfortunately, every one else in town got hungry at the same time...lines out the door...so I headed to our "favorite convenience store" for a Starbucks & a breakfast bar. Stopped at the local Home Depot on my way out of town, and bought a huge pot of Brown-eyed Susans which will be planted in Joe's favorite garden spot in our yard. So a day that started off pretty badly the night before, turned into a day of fond memories, and a further understanding of this path that I have been set upon. I did not chose this path, and given the chance I would step off in a heartbeat. I cannot step off...my job here is far from done. Have a wonderful week...hug your husbands, and never let your loved ones doubt how important & loved they are. *elaine* P.S. The MickeyD's billboard was spotted on my way to the beach...had to pull over and get a shot of that! {My Joe was only Joseph when he was in big trouble!!} P.S.S. My destination {previous post} 2 weeks ago was Virginia Beach..Paula guessed correctly. No prize, but thanks for reading my wanderings anyway! *e*

I'm Back!!...

Although you didn't know I was gone! Decided telling the blogging world at large that I would not be home for 5 days was like good advertising gone bad :O}! Every year my boss, Carol and I go on a buying spree at a Fraternity/Sorority show called The Spirit Show. Each year it's held in a different city, and we usually try to go at least a day ahead so we can play tourist and have some fun. This year we had 5 glorious sun filled days in....no...you guess where I was. :O} We had a ball, ate way too much, walked on the beach, ordered like there is no recession {is that over yet?} and just had too much fun...nah...no such thing! As much as I enjoyed the trip, it's always good to come home...although on Sunday morning I was whining about having to go to the airport....I did not want to leave the ocean! Told my boss I'm going to be a beach bum when I grow up...she just smiled and said "I'm not going to support you"... darn...another dream shot full'o holes! Hope you all have a great week...staying cool? We had a heat index of 107 yesterday!!! And it's only the middle of June...bye bye low electric bill :O{ *elaine* So.....where was I? Any guesses?

I won another giveaway!!!

Okay...so I think the storm clouds have passed and I can finally go online and show you my prize. Last week sometime, Deb a.k.a. Garage Sale Gal had a giveaway for her 300th...um, follower?...post? Damn CRS syndrom... I can't remember, but it was her 300th something! Anyway...Deb picked not 1, but 2 names, and MissElaineous me was one of them! So, I came home from work last night, in a not so good, very bad, terrible, horrible mood...with storm clouds & lightning chasing me all the way and didn't even stop at the mailbox. Got home and realized the rain had gone elsewhere, so I took a quick walk...still in a not great mood. Popped the box open, and these rays of sunshine just seemed to beam at me from the dim interior of the mailbox...a sunny yellow priority box just for moi...already my mood was improving.....I hurried home to open the package...and I've got to tell you...My bad mood evaporated like rain on the hot summer sidewalk!! This little box was filled to the brim with some of the sweetest little things ever! And, boy,was it filled...Deb sure knows how to pack a box of goodies. Sweet little card, sweet note and I just love the polka dot tissue...I seem to have developed a fondness for polka dots recently. :O} ...and under the tissue were bingo cards, and note cards, napkins, a gorgeous towel with huck weaving, tiny little parasols, buttons and other goodies galore! There's even a teeny little bag of glitter dusted shells. One of the last things in the box was the sweet little bluebird pair all snuggled up, beak to beak, wrapped in a pretty hankie. I had one very similar to this and sadly dropped it while dusting a couple months ago...it did not survive. This little pair now has a new home on a shelf with very special things on it, that I see every day. Thank you, Garage Sale Gal, for the thoughtful, happy package. I'm not in a bad mood any more! Have a great week, all. *elaine*

Weeds?

Weeds are simply wildflowers...growing in the wrong place.

I have been 2 busy!!

I know I have not posted in forever, but the entire month of May has been a blur. A tornado of activity, the likes of which I haven't seen in a long time! I really have to start at the beginning, when a sweet little "wicker" settee followed me home from the Habitat Bargain Barn at the end of April. Of course, it had no cushions, so a quick stop at Lowe's remedied that problem. Got it on the porch, and of course, the new cushions made the old cushions on the 2 green iron chairs look so bad...you know what's next, right? Back to Lowe's for new seats for them. Got them on the porch and all colorful new stuff made the rest of the porch look horrible!! Now, I've been wanting to redo this porch for awhile, but the sheer amount of stuff out there was daunting to say the least. Then one night my friend Steph was over, and after admiring a rearrangement of the living room, she informed me, as only a true friend will do, that the porch looked like crap! Thanks Steph...love ya too! But....she was right. So began the whirlwind month of May...cleaning, moving stuff, stuff & more stuff... cleaning some more, and finally painting! I live in a very old single wide mobile home, so I decided that I would paint the entire thing by hand, with a brush...a 3" brush, no less! I thought I would use this as" therapy"...there's something almost mindless about painting a sea of aluminum with a 3" brush. So I'm in "therapy"...and have been on every day off, cool mornings when I don't have to open the shop, some evenings when I get off work, and sometimes even in my sleep! So, it's cheaper than a shrink, or a grief counselor, and I do feel a real sense of achievement when I look at the house, but I have found and used muscles that have been ignored for far too long and are letting me know it! Now, the end of May is almost here, and all the "fun" parts of the house are painted. I'm am now facing a 60' x 8' expanse of ugly old aluminum, broken up by a shed, 1 door and 3 windows...arrggh!!! That's a whole lot o' brush strokes. Hey, maybe I'll have muscles in my arms after all this, instead of that weird thing I call the Granny Flap! Hmm...that shrink's couch is starting to sound better and better. Just kidding...I find that I feel much better when I am busy right now, and now I have the added benefit of my neighbors yelling "WOW!" at me as they walk by my house! Not bad for a 3" brush!! Boy, this post is really wordy...so I'll pop in some more pictures, and let them do the talking. My arms are getting tired...again!! Have a great week *elaine* ps...please ignore any weird, jarring elements in these photos if you look at them enlarged. The bottom of the mobile will be skirted, as soon as I can figure out a way to do it without taking out a second mortgage...oh and excuse the morning's gardening socks in 1 picture...what's that? You didn't see that? Okay...never mind. :o}