A Book about Dogs, Love and Houses

I just recently joined Library Things "Early Reviewers" program.
I thought it might be fun.
Well I got a book my first time choosing and what a perfect book it was for me!
Carol's story of her 42 year marriage and the 10 different dogs they had through the years sounded so much like my life!
I have only had 4 dogs and I hope I am a better chooser of breeds than she was at times. Her quick wit with the stories of her dogs made me chuckle out loud many times to where I was annoying my husband. Which leads me to her relationship with Millard, her high school sweetheart! It is so refreshing to read about a real couple. The things they loved and shared and the things they just put up with. Their love was deep and special and I am glad Carol chose to write about their life.
If you love dogs, fixing up houses, antiques and especially have a good long lasting marriage, I think this book will give you a few good evenings of pleasurable reading!
It's available now at Amazon.com or many other book stores.

(note: the real cover has a Jack Russel on the front)

What a Mothers Day gift!

Me and my first baby, Elizabeth!

My daughter who lives in Chicago, going to fashion design school, just gave me the BEST Mothers Day "blog" card ever! I just can't say how blessed I have been with the 2 wonderful daughters God gave me.
I wanted so bad to be a mom about 5 years before God had planned. I cried, monthly for the last 3 of the 5 year wait. I feared I would never be a mom. It was a very difficult time for me but a long lasting, important lesson, I have had to go back to over and over again in my life time. The hope I always come back to is that God wants the Best for us, in His time.

He gave me the Best for sure.

The best husband, the best kids and the best dog.
Everything I am experiencing right now will be OK because He always comes through!

If you want to read her dedication to me you can go here.

http://lizzziekate.blogspot.com/2010/05/happy-mothers-day.html

My mom is gone but not forgotten. I owe the great parenting skills (See daughters blog, She said so) to her. She was the best and I Miss her at times when, even at 50, I need help!

I hope all you mom's have a great day.

Dreaming and Waiting on God

I am sitting at a golf course in Defiance, Ohio enjoying the wonders of technology. I watched day 1 of the golf match yesterday of my daughters boyfriend. I had a good day but today for the 2nd round I decided I'd sit this one out and read at the club house. Then I found out they had free wireless! So, I get to sit outdoors, enjoying a beautiful view and a wonderful breeze. Catch up on my blog and check in on friends then read my current book. Can't ask for a better Sunday.

I was catching up on a fellow blogger
thecottagenest.blogspot.com
and was reminded how wonderful God is.

So often we are lead to believe he isn't interested in what we would enjoy, or, we think He doesn't care if we are happy. "He is the mean parent keeping us on the straight and narrow!"
Well Jen reminded me that He does care, and for those of us who are artistic, He understands our need for beauty in our lives. (He made us this way!) Sometimes we need to look closely for it in tough circumstances but He gives it to us. Actually it is all around us. We just need to open the eyes of our spirit and see what He sees!

I have had a very difficult year and have been pushed to the brink several times but I just keep hanging on to the fact that God wants the best for me. It may not be what I think of as best but as I look through His eyes I see things a bit differently. All the things I thought I needed or were important have fallen away and now I live simply and much more at peace since I just live each day in quiet expectation of what he will show me today.

At this time our home is in foreclosure and I wonder where we will end up living? My photography studio is in our home so this loss will also affect where I will work as well as live. Early on I got scared that we would live on the streets. But God has been so faithful and has provided that I am now convinced that He will give us a place to live and a place for me to work in the vocation that He called me to.
Jen, reminded me that His timing is perfect and Good things come to those who wait. If we do loose our home, I would love to have a smaller cozier house. I will live where ever He has for us but a cute little place with a woods and nature would be a dream! Most of the time I feel I don't deserve what I dream. Old negative voices say it won't happen and God doesn't care but I know better.
I live near a wonderful, artistic community that has some of the cutest homes and I would LOVE to live there, BUT, it is a very expensive town. It probably isn't possible with our situation and will never happen. (Negative voices) but you just never know where God wants you, so I am posting a few of the places I dream of living and we will just WAIT on God and see where He takes us!

My First Prom with a Daughter

Saturday was my 1st prom experience with a daughter.

My oldest daughter didn't get into the High School social scene and even though she had a boyfriend, they decided they did not want to waste the money on a pointless evening.

That was ok with me, saved me lots of $'s

But...

My Youngest is very much into the High School scene. She was going to her Junior prom with or without a date!

Her big sister's fashion project at fashion design school was a draping class. We decided to have her design the youngest dress for her project. How cool to have a custom designed dress made by your fashion student sister.

Great Idea!

Well...my youngest is, lets just say, a bit "picky". I began to worry that if my oldest came home on break 2 days before prom and THE dress wasn't what she had hoped, Well, it just would not have been pretty.

So,

On our way, to just go look at styles that we could tell her sister to copy. I began to think about this potential problem.

I decided to put some cash in my pocket and if she found a dress that was perfect and with in the budget, we would get it. I did not tell her this. I just wanted to have fun trying on all kinds of dresses.

We started at a local bridal shop and she found 2 crazy red carpet type dresses.

She said "I just want to see what I look like in these."

I need to interject here

my girls have listened to me for years say, "I WILL NOT spend a lot of money on a wedding gown that you will only wear for one day. I work this industry and it is all hype. I know what is reasonable and I have a budget and we are sticking to it!"

So, back to the dress shop, and the 1 dress dress that fits of the 2 size 0's.

She walks out

My heart stops

I gasp, OMG!

the sales lady tells her to step up on the podium

that was it, I was undone!

She is B E A U T I F U L

Did I mention we have no intention of purchasing these dresses. They are just for fun. They are 100.00 over what I had in my pocket (just in case).

We agreed it was way cool but we needed to look for other ideas for her sister.

We went on to the mall.

She tried on other typical prom dresses and then she finds another one to try "just for fun" and she loves it. She stands there looking at herself for 10 minutes in this dress with matching jewelry. She loves it, I love it

But this whole ensemble totals $500.00.

NO WAY!

We leave the pretty dress behind and with ideas for big sis, we leave the mall.

In the car the fears come back. I tell younger daughter, "If you still like dress #1 we will go back try it on again and if she wants I will just buy it.

She is excited! She tries it on again...She is so Beautiful!

I can't believe I caved in and spent more than I wanted.

I can't believe I did the mom thing,

Oh You are so beautiful, It's only money and it's your special night.

What will I do when it's a wedding dress?
I better start saving now!

The couple

She had a great evening,

everything went well and

she came home this morning at 7am safe and sound!

This was so much fun!
The End

Flower Power Fun

I am very fortunate to live near one of the most artsy towns in America. It is called Yellow Springs. Many people from near by towns call it the "hippy town". My girls and I like it because everyone has their style and it is a fun, friendly, arty community.
Some ladies started a group to help beautify the streets with felt flowers. There were already poles decorated with knitting and other various things but they decided to add lots of pretty felt flowers too!

Here are the ladies (and 2 little boys) making their flowers. They meet every Friday morning at Brother Bear Cafe. The two small flowers in the center of the bottom photo are the ones the little guys made! The grey and pink flower was one of my 1st flowers I made.

I just saw a post on my Facebook and decided to join them. These ladies have been so much fun! My oldest daughter is in from Chicago this week so she joined me too! She enjoyed the conversation that went on among the women. My favorite comment was made by Corrine. She said she was ok with her "Fatattude"! I love hanging out with artist, we are so much fun!

Check out their blog for other fun projects. http://sitekreator.com/jafagirls

Book giveaway!

I really hesitate to pass this along because I want to win! But here is your chance to enter to win this book.

http://miastoriadivita.blogspot.com/

Who doesn't like to win something, espically a book?

Check out her blog, she has lots of fun blogs she follows also! Happy Sunday.

BTW- this week is National Library week! Check Out a book!

Opinions needed please

My Newest Cache of Books!

I took some of my older books to my local secondhand book store and traded for these!

Got to love trading in the books you are not fond enough of to keep on your bookshelf.

Just wondering if anyone has read any of the above books and has an opinion to share.

Not sure which one to start first. I usually see if one calls out to me or depending on my mood I will obviously pick by subject matter. Most of these are serious I think. I was in a serious mood the day I went shopping.

Do any of you do that? Buy books according to your mood?

I am also very guilty of buying because of the cover photo and title. I know I'm not suppose to do that but we all do it. That is why many books come out with different covers. It's all amazing, the physiology of selling and buying.

Maybe I should get a book about that...

Well If you haven't read any of these maybe you might want to add them to your "to read" list.

Have a great weekend!