Happy New Year to Everyone!

 

                                       (courtesy of Pinterest )

 

Stay tuned, a Valentine swap is in the making….:):)

Looking back on 2013….

Can you believe we at the end of holiday season?  Where did it go?
This was such a different year for us as a family, and me in particular for the holidays.  I was very low key, almost apathetic…better than the manic, out of control Sandy of old….I am confident I will find the middle ground next year.
I don’t think there are many of you who follow my blog that don’t know what a rough year 2013 was for me personally.  I am seeing a wonderful psychologist every week, and it is amazing the breakthroughs that I am making in understanding who I am.  These two thoughts represent my change of thinking, of being…. s-l-o-w-l-y but surely the realization that I can be OK and have a good life is becoming a reality.

How I felt before….injured, scarred and bleeding most times….


And how I am looking at life now…..



I am strong!  I am still breathing!  I told my doctor that it just isn’t enough to “survive” life anymore, I want to live it and be OK! 
And so….I leave this year with a lot of thoughts and feelings not necessary to bring with me into 2014…..I like these thoughts below better!







And one last thought…..perhaps the best…..



Happy New Year my friends!!!!  I am so looking forward to what 2014 brings our blogging community. :):)

Merry Christmas to all…..

 

…and to all a Good Night!  

Can you just imagine?????

 

                                       (source Pinterest)

I was looking at photos on Google and Pinterest of Sears Wishbooks….

How fun this would be….again!

I got this Corning ware Set here backed in the red background.

and who of you out there in Blogland remember this thin plastic “food”?

I got a new set about three times in my childhood, I actually have a box of it ( in the original box) that I got on Ebay awhile back…when I can find it, I will show you…lol

Ladies, look at the prices of these Marx Dollhouses!

When Fisher Price toys were metal and wood!

 

And of course the decorations and goodies….

 

 

 

Look at the original prices on these HTF antiques!

 

 

 

and last but not least the kitchen goodies….

It is so fun to see these ads and remember the toys, or be lucky enough to have any of these items now…:)

I am just getting the baking started…not too much this year….but the decorations that were going up are up, the rest will wait until next year, Bailey gets into too many things now! :)

Oh, I wanted to show you what she originally used this pad for….it is meant for going potty…..but…..

Great perch to watch the birds……lol

 

 

Secret Santa Arrived! Three times!

 

I joined Suzanne's Secret Santa fun!

My Santa sent three separate packages…it was SO fun!

Look !!!!!!!!!

The Bath and Body goodies came first….

then  a second package came!

Can you believe there is a vintage children’s book called Baby Sandy????

Look at some of the pages…amazing graphics..

Ok…now I need to tell you when I was little I slept in a PINK crib…look at the color of her crib! lol

Then I got a package from my good friend Elizabeth Fedorko…come to find out , Santa had purchased some of Beth’s fun fun vintage goodies!

Look at this cute thimble tree….:) I just adore Beth’s work!

And a bunch of fun vintage graphic images…

Thank you Secret Santa !!!!!  This was wonderful!

Suzanne, this is a GREAT fun swap, thank you for doing this again!

 

Sometimes less is more….

 

I wanted to share this with you, when it comes to editing vintage photos, it is not always necessary to do a lot of fixes. 

This is a photo of my husband’s grandfather who he never met…

Great photo, in great shape, just “muddy” color….

 

I opened it in my Windows Live Photo Gallery and adjusted the contrast, the shadows and a bit of highlights….I also cropped out the edges…

This is all this needs and it took about 45 seconds!  If you have Windows, look at using the Photo Gallery for editing photos that are not trashed.  For those you need Vertus or PSE.

 

Just an FYI….

This and That…..

 

I have a few minutes to let you know how things are going….CRAZY!  OMG…this puppy is work!!!!  She is just 9 weeks old now and still having issues with going outside instead of going inside….today was really tough….we were outside numerous times, some as long as 30 minutes, no potty…walked in the house and guess what?  Good thing I have laminate floors right now….

She has changed a bunch in looks and is starting to get more “fuzzies” on her face, ears and her back…

 

And she is a pistol!  Maya was so easy…this one is a little firecracker.  I have never seen 5 pounds run so fast!

I am not sure how much decorating will be done this year….

I found that this is one of the designer breeds….They call them Pinny Poos! 

Here are some examples…I am glad she is not this fluffy!

Bailey learned what a cardboard tube was for a toy today too!  She loved it!

 

I almost for got to show you the wonderful gift that Shirley Hatfield ( Zetta’s Apron) gave me! 

These are so me, aren’t they????  They are cardboard numbers she decoupaged for me, with everything from my blog…  I just adore them…they are on the top shelf  in my craftroom, I just love seeing them all of the time….thank you Shirley!

Still missing my girl…it is getting better but having a tiny puppy that exhausts me is not making it any easier….sometimes we just sit together and cry…This will be the first Christmas in 11 years without my Maya…..this is one of my favorite photos, healthy, happy and loving life a few years ago….

Time just keeps going…..The weather is being really tough on my RA, the disease is starting to rear it’s ugly head again, I am having some major changes in bones.  My husband hates this time of year, he works retail, enough said….and my sons are grown so this will be the first Christmas without a lot of gifts and stockings….they both agree it is time….I don’t think so, but I will honor their wish….the holidays just are not what they used to be when they were just little guys….It is wonderful to be able to just sit back and relax on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  So many past ones running from place to place, hectic and tired and cranky.  I do so appreciate the 4 of us, well, actually that is 6 with the grand pup and Bailey! :)

Thanks for stopping by…

Bailey

 

Hi everyone…hope Thanksgiving was wonderful.  Ours was one of the best we have ever had,  the food was easy and wonderful and the turkey got done! :)

The Saturday before Thanksgiving, Wayne came home from work early with a little bundle in his arms….long story, short version….he thought it would help me with the sadness.  At his work a woman came in with two pups, one male, one female and stated that if she couldn’t find them homes, they would have to go to the pound. That was the all Wayne needed to hear.  I married a very kind, thoughtful man….just no common sense! lol

I was SO not ready for another dog… not one this color and  7 weeks old?  Are you kidding me?  I haven’t had a tiny puppy in 25 years!  The first two days all I could do was cry  and think of Maya….but little by little with the help of some good friends this little pup and me found a way to connect….it isn’t anything like I had with Maya, and it never will be…but she is so sweet and she needs me….for now that is enough. 

This is Bailey….

She is a cross between a Miniature Pinscher and a Miniature Poodle.   Pray for both of us please….we have a rough couple of weeks ahead in our new journey, it is like having a baby all over again…..I asked my Maya to send me a dog I could care for and love while I am still on this earth….Not in any way, shape or form is Bailey the dog I thought I would end up with….amazing how prayers are answered. :)

Have a great weekend…:)