Humm....Something to ponder as the New Year approaches.

Truth and life are all around you.

What matters is where and when you decide to put yor focus.

-Roger Von Oech

What will you focus on as we turn our calendars to start a new year?

For me...

-Relationships

-Organization

and

-Having a happy heart.

Happy New Year friends!

Christmas 2007

Well this Christmas was not the ideal for me. Working in retail really changed the season for me. But I made the best of it and still enjoyed the little bit of time off I was able to take. I did have off the thursday before Christmas and spent the majority of the day baking and wrapping gifts while listening to my favorite Christmas music. It was a really fun day that I enjoyed thoroughly.

These few pictures are of my little house decorated. I just love my tree. It is the perfect size for my little house. I also collect Annalee dolls. This is a tradition I picked up from my Mom. these little guys covered my house throughout my entire childhood. When my Mom knew I wanted to start collecting them too she passed the majority of her collection to me. I was so happy. This is the third year I have had hers and I love them. They are all dated and some of the ones I inherited from her are from before I was born. They are so cute and really make me smile. I hate packing them up in January. I often refer to them as my "friends". I know, some of you are thinking "She needs to get out more!". Well I beleive that friends should make you smile, and these guys make me smile everytime I look at their sweet faces. Aren't they the cutest?

I spent Christmas eve and Christmas day at my Aunts house. We had a great time. my cousins and thier baby were in town from NY and it was so fun to spend the holiday with them. Since I didn't have a lot of money to spend on Christmas this year I was able to focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Well I hope your Christmas was enjoyable and you were able to spend time with your loved ones.

Little Loves

My sister and Brother-in-law are in town for Thanksgiving with Vincent and Carley. I cherish this time with my adorable nephew and niece. Vincent is now four & a half and Carley is two and a half. They are so much fun to be around.

Vincent is getting so mature and is definitely acting more like a boy than a baby. He is very independent and is always saying "I can do it all by myself" and when he is in the bathroom "Please close the door, I need my privacy" It is really cute. He is very protective with his little sister and loves to "help" her with whatever she is doing. He loves to "read" stories and is doing a great job with knowing all his letters and what sound each letter makes. He is doing very well in soccer and seems to enjoy it.

Now the little miss is very sweet. She is extremely affectionate and loves to give hugs and kisses. She is sweet and gentle and loves to be picked up. She is getting the hang of going pee-pee on the potty but doesn't do it all the time yet. But gets very excited when she does. She talks a lot but only about half of it is in a language you and I could understand. She is very much a Daddy's girl and loves to point to my brother -in-law and say "Dats my daddy" in case we didn't already know that. She loves to make a scrunchy face smile and knows we all think its adorable.

A rose from my garden

I just had to take a picture of this beauty. My roses are not doing as well this year as they have in previous years. I think this summer was just too much for them. They are doing okay I just don't get as many blooms as I would like. I fed them well this week and hope they have a growth spourt soon. In the meantime, I just couldn't resist taking a picture of this beauty to share with you all. I love the color and it has a wonderful fragrance too.

It worked again!

Time away is always good for me. I am so blessed to be able to have this little sanctuary to escape to. I'm not sure what I did before it. I had a wonderful 3 days in Pine at my sweet cabin. It was however an emotional weekend for me. I am not really sure why...

I arrived late thursday evening. I had worked that day too so I was really tired when I got there. It was just starting to get dark and the moon was looking beautiful. Of course my picture does not do it justice. So I made it an early night. I read a little of one of the books I brought, Dakota Born By Debbie Macomber and went to bed early.

Friday morning I woke up refreshed and ready for all the splendor Autumn in Pine had ready for me. I took the boys for an early morning walk, read some more, crocheted a bit then after lunch went out exploring. I found this beautiful little spot. It captivated me really, I was so happy there. I felt like I was a million miles away from everything when the reality was that I was only a few turns off Hwy 87. It was so peaceful,I was so relaxed and then....I started to cry. I don't know what came over me. It lasted a good while. I felt really scared and lonely. This is not normal for me. I don't know why, I just all of a sudden felt like I should be enjoying the beauty around me with someone. Then that started a string of thinking about life and dreams and goals and wishes etc. This only happens to me once every few months. Most of the time I just go about my business without harping on the fact that I am still single, but sometimes it hits me. And when it does it usually hits pretty hard. Anyway, I am okay now. After my little excursion I went back to the cabin to make Velvet Bricks Pumpkin corn chowder...Oh my! It was fantastic! I love anything pumpkin but this was outstanding. I am so grateful that she shared this recipe. It is one that will be added to my fall menu year after year.

Saturday was another gorgeous morning. I set out early with the boys for our walk then headed down to the laundromat. While waiting for sheets and towels to wash and dry I walked the little fall festival in town. It was everything a small town festival should be. It is always a little hokey but that is also what makes it fun. I walked around and treated myself to a pumpkin ice cream cone. It was really yummy. I also found a cute little black bench for $3 that you will see in a later post when I figure out what I am going to do with it.

I made a delicious pot roast for dinner in my crock pot which came out better than I could have imagined. I also met some new neighbors saturday afternoon. They have the cabin next door and I have never met them. It is actually their parents cabin and they don't get up to Pine very often. They were very nice, we exchanged information and are going to meet for coffee tomorrow. I love making new friends. These little guys were wondering the neighborhood and were very patient while I took a few pictures of them.

Sunday is tough...the day to pack up and come down the mountain. I had planned on leaving at noon but did not wind up getting going till almost 3. It was such a beautiful day and I just was in no rush to leave. But I did, with a journal full of emotional entries, two books read, a scarf almost completed, a spirit rejuvenated, cozy fires in my memory and my two faithful companions I headed home.

A beautiful morning for a hike

Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! (My grandma used to sing me that song when I was little) Anyway, I woke up before the sun to get ready and meet my friends from my singles group for an exhilarating hike on South Mountain. It was a fantastic experience that I enjoyed tremendously. Physically it was harder for me than I originally thought it would be but emotionally and spiritually it was more than I could have hoped for.

The morning was perfect. It was cool and breezy and the air felt wonderful. We set out at 6:45am and hiked for 4 hours. The hike we did was Mormon Loop at South Mountain. It was an awesome trail. The beginning was a lot of inclines and then we went down in to a valley, called "Hidden Valley" it was cool and quiet. We took a 15 minute rest there and then we were off again to finish our hike before Mr. Sun got too strong.

The hike was a total of 6 miles (so they said, it felt more like 10 to me and my legs) We finished around 11. My legs felt like jello but I felt invigorated to have accomplished a hike of this length. I used to hike all the time but the past year or two have gotten away from it. It is something I really enjoy and am going to make a part of my life again. This group goes every Saturday so I am going to try to take off one Saturday a month to join them.

This is called "fat mans pass" it should be called "fat man can't pass" We all were laughing so hard. I thought I was going to have to be pulled through it! It was the hiking leaders way of being funny. Little did we know there was another way, we could have hiked "over" fat mans pass. It was fun. I had a wonderful time and can't wait to get out and hike again soon!

This and That

I have been hearing a lot of people talking lately about change. This is not an easy thing for me. It never has been. I wish I was someone who embraced change but instead it makes me quite tense and stressed. So this is what I am working on right now in my life, adjusting to change. I read a new blog last night and it was very well said. It was written by Cassie, my dear friend Jessamyn's sister. It is inevitable so I might as well try harder to embrace it. I have been going through a lot of change lately and although most is good stuff, I still have a hard time with it.

My new job is going great. I really like it a lot. It is so much work and there is so much to learn. Some days, most days, I feel like I am working 10-12 hours and hardly accomplishing anything! But I know that little by little I will get there and start to see improvements. So the change to my life outside work has been dramatic. At my last job I was at a desk all day with maybe 4 hours of work to do in an 8 hour day. That left plenty of time for me to do my online banking, check my favorite blogs, read a magazine, catch up on phone calls etc. Now I am feeling like I have no time to get "life stuff" done. So basically for the first time in 5 years, I feel like the rest of the working world. Although for part of that time I was working 2 jobs between Real Estate and Starbucks I still had more flexibility. So I am working on being more organized, that definitely helps a lot. And planning social things, since I am no good at all at being spontaneous. Each day will get better and I will adjust appropriately I am sure.

I did make it up to the cabin this week on my 2 days off. The experience was very different than most of my trips up there. My parents came with us, and although it was nice to spend time with them, they are not really "cabin" people. So instead of reading, crocheting, watching a DVD, cooking a yummy meal in the crock pot, sitting in front of the fire like I normally would. I was out in town, going out for each meal, went to see a movie at the theatre etc. So it was good, just not my kind of cabin time. I am trying to get a few days off at the end of the month to go up and do it "my way"

Until then, I will keep striving to be better at my job, to be a better friend, a better dog mommy, a better daughter, a brighter spirit and be more open to change.

Count down to cabin time

Why doesn't it feel like fall yet? It is the 5th of October and it is suppose to be close to 100 degree's again today! I am so ready to feel the cooler weather. I want to smell the leaves....do you know the smell I am talking about. I love fall, it is my absolute favorite season. I have 5 days of work left then I am cabin bound! I am so excited to get up there. I just checked the weather in Pine and it is suppose to be 72 degree's today. WooHoo! I am going to make Velvet Brick's Pumpkin Corn Chowder. If it is a favorite of hers I am sure it will be fabulous. It should also be cool enough at night to have a fire going. I plan on reading a bunch and crocheting a bunch too. I'll me sure to write after my little escape.

Sorry I have been gone for a while....I've been selling cards...

Might seem like a strange post but I wanted to fill you in on my new work life. I started working for Hallmark about 2 weeks ago. I was hired on as a store manager and have been going through a very vigorous training program. I would have never thought so much goes into running a store such as this. I am really excited about this new venture. It feels like a really good fit for what I am looking for in my life. I was assigned to a really great store that is already making its sales plan. So I am entering it at a good time. I am sure the next few months will be really busy with holiday season upon us. I have been working a ton of hours but don't expect that to be the norm. I hope to get in my groove in the next few weeks. Thank you all for your continued support as I went through this change in career....again!

Prayer Request

I want to ask for your prayers for Andrea. I grew up across the street from her Husband Kenny and sister-in-law Jessica. Our families grew up very close and were more like family then friends. Andrea went to the doctor with really bad headaches and found out she had a brain tumor. She is going through a really tough time right now and has a long road to recovery. She is a fighter and has a great attitude. Here is her story.

Andrea writes:

I found out today that I have a very rare form of cancer, they are calling it a PNET (Primitive Neuro Ectodermal Tumor). Usually found in children and not adults, and I've been told I have a long fight ahead of me. Although the tumor was removed I was told that I definitely have more cell's in my brain that can cause another tumor, and sometimes the tumor can be inoperable depending on how it spreads. The cell's can also spread through by spinal fluid and they will be testing that Monday. The doctor did give us encouragement in that I can win this battle, just that it's going to be a hard road to travel. This type of cancer is rarely found in the USA, and only a few cases per year are noted. They don't even have enough studies to show what causes it or 100% how to treat it. My doctor has seen on average one case per year, and he's been doing this for 30 years. Although we will be starting treatment soon, we will be taking our records for a 2nd opinion for review just to help us feel better. I will be starting with chemotherapy very soon, then moving on to radiation. Please continue to pray for me, my family and friends. I'm doing quite well.

Thank you so much for adding Andrea and her family to your prayers. They are a wonderful family and are all praying for her to have a full recovery.

Learning to crochet

I am finally learning how to crochet! And it is so much fun. As a little girl I used to watch my grandma crochet for hours. She would crochet without even looking. She was always working on something and brought her crochet projects everywhere with her. She made the most beautiful afghans. She tuaght me the basics when I was young but I lost the knack somewhere along the way. Grandma has been gone for many years now (18) and I have always wanted to be able to crochet like her. She I solicited some lessons, read some books, watched some videos and now I'M CROCHETING! I am really excited. My first project is a simple scarf, I should have it done in a few days. It felt so great to actually have a project close to completion. I know this is a hobby I will enjoy for many years. I know Grandma would be proud!

We will never forget

A day of reflection, a day of prayer, a day of mourning.

God bless America

Land that I love

I started my day today by attending mass as I have done on September 11 for the past 5 years. I remember that tragic day like it was yesterday, it is hard to believe it has been 6 years. Isn't it funny how you remember where you were, how you found out, how you felt, the reaction of friends & co-workers. That is the first truly historical event I have been alive for. It is kind of like how my parents will talk about the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated, they remember it so vividly. It is truly a day anyone alive can not forget. Each September 11th since that horrific day I take the day off. Not for me, but for the many who lost their lives. I like it to be a quiet day, a day of reflection and prayer. It helps me. I did watch some of the footage on TV but after a few hours of it decided to turn it off. I did not need to see it over and over again to remember it. It is clear in my heart as it always will be.

Today,

Thank God for your freedom.

It is not something to take lightly.

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short.

Forgive quickly.

Hug tightly.

Kiss slowly.

Love Truly.

Laugh uncontrollably.

And never regret anything that made you smile.

Always remember how truly special you are.

This little piggy went to market...........

Okay so they are not cute little pigs, they are big and kind of ugly. Thankfully, I saw them before my dogs did and was able to get them inside without them realizing who/what was in the front yard. I could just imagine Chili trying to take on a pack of wild javalina. I stayed on the porch and took these few pictures. They didn't seem too concerned that I was there. This is the first time I have actually seem javalina, although I see deer all the time. I have had a few guests tell me they have seen them from time to time.

Peace and tranquility part 2!

Days 3 and 4 were just as wonderful as 1 & 2. I had a fantastic few days off from the rest of the world. I read 2 books, watched 2 movies, did tons of stuff around the cabin, enjoyed the cooler temps, spent some quality time with my dogs, did some yard work and relaxed a bunch. Sunday afternoon I decided to go hang out on the hammock. It was so relaxing. I was just laying there watching the clouds move across the sky. A storm was definitely on its way. I wound up falling asleep and woke up to rain. I actually heard it before I felt it. It was the neatest sound. It was really slow coming at first. For a few minutes I just layed there and let the drops hit me. Then it started coming down harder so I went inside. But it was a great, I loved the feel of the rain hitting my body. This picture was taken while I was laying on the hammock looking up.

The entire weekend was relaxing even thought I had a lot on my mind. I went on a few long walks, some with the dogs and some alone. It was good for me to be alone even though I really wanted some company this time around. I always think really clear when I am at the cabin. I feel connected to that place. I think it is truly where my soul belongs. I started a new journal that I bought before I left. I love starting a new journal. I am not sure why but that first entry in a new journal is so fun for me. Thanks you all for sharing in my weekend out of the heat and pressure of the valley.

The drive home is always a little sad for me. But the day was so beautiful with big fluffy clouds all around that we actually enjoyed the ride home. It has been good to get back in a routine since getting back to work.

Musashi enjoying the wind against his face on the ride down the mountain.

Peace and tranquility

I always write about the time I spend at my cabin. What I have yet to do is write while I am at my cabin. So this time I brought my laptop. This is a first for me. I got up here on Friday afternoon and have really been enjoying myself. When I got here Friday I spent a good part of the afternoon cleaning, unpacking, making beds etc. After all was settled I went out on the porch with the first book of the weekend. It was a beautiful evening with a wonderful cool breeze passing through.

Saturday I did some things here at the cabin. I drove down to Payson to get a few things I needed at Home Depot then came back her and got started. Moved around some furniture, put up some pictures/old windows, just puttered around really. I had so many little things left to get done. I am very happy with the way the bedrooms turned out. They are starting to look really "put together" instead of just looking like rooms with beds in them. The afternoon was spent, as most are, on the front porch reading and relaxing. I can spend hours out here just looking at the beauty around me. It is really nice to see. After grilling up a steak and making a small salad I watched a movie. It was good, Premonition with Sandra Bullock. I went to bed pretty early and woke up feeling great. It has rained a little through the night so I woke up with that heavenly smell lingering in the air. It was magnificent! I woke early and made a little breakfast. Ate out on the porch and finished my first book. Now a big decision of what to read next. I brought way too many books with me but I like to have variety. Anyway, today was laundry day. I don't really mind it. I put my stuff in the washers and took a little walk while waiting for them to wash. I came across these beautiful flowers. I think the blueish purple ones are morning glories. I just love the way they twisted and twirled their way around this old fence. It was so natural and beautiful to me.

I went to the "Randall house" for some iced tea and to enjoy the morning. This flag waves outside. True Americana! It feels like a little town you read about. I know that's why I love it so much! More to come...........

Somewhere over the rainbow............

Your lucky I am typing that and not singing it. Now that would be scary! I couldn't resist taking a picture of this beautiful rainbow during the storm last night. It was just so amazing. I looked for the pot of gold but had no luck. Oh well, the picture was still worth a million bucks in my opinion.

My baby was not well

Well my little chihahua Chili was not doing so great this week. It was so hard to see him in such a huge amount of pain. He would just look up at me with those little eyes (okay so his eyes are not very little) and stare at me, it was torture. After a few trips to the vet and some testing it was determned to be acid in his pancreas. So they put the little guy on antibiotics and he is starting to act a little more like his old self again.

Randomness is fun

I have been tagged by Jessamyn. So here are a few random facts about me.

1. I love anything vintage...books, fabric, furniture, windows...you name it, I love it.

2. My favorite color is blue.

3. I love books...new/old doesn't matter, I love them!

4. My childhood was amazing! I wouldn't change a thing about it. I lived in a great neighborhood with 12 kids I knew from the time I was 2 years old. I cherish those friendships till this day. We played kickball, rode bikes, played in the "woods", sleigh riding in the winter, beaches in the summer, went to the pizza parlor, had block parties...it was fantastic, there was always someone around to play with (Families don't move every 3-5 years like they do out here)

5. I LOVE the beach! I can't wait to be able to sink my feet in the sand again.

6. I love Italian food and miss my mama's cooking.

7. I got my first job when I was 14 years old (I told them I was 16 to get the job!)

Guess what VB? Your it! (your the only other blogging friend I have besides Jessamyn)

The serene sound of a gurgling fountain

My new addition! I just love the sound of a fountain. It is so peaceful and relaxing. I saw this fountain at Costco back in May. I really liked it but knew I shouldn't spend the money on it. So every time I was in there I would walk over to the display and found hope when they still had some left. I would walk away saying "maybe someday". As you may know with Costco many of their seasonal stuff you have to grab while they have it because often times it does not last long at all! Well when I was there yesterday, the huge stack of them was diminished to 4 fountains. Oh no, they were down to 4! I put one in my cart to just walk around the store and think...can I? Should I? I quickly ran and put back the $12 book I had picked out (I can get it from the library) and put back the $10 container of raspberries (I can get a smaller $2 container from Fry's) and I quickly came up with $22 towards my fountain. The other $20 came from my pedicure money...that's okay, I can do that myself, on my patio, listening to my fountain. Almost like a spa or fancy salon.

So I came home and cleaned off the patio to make room for my new addition. It has gotten so dirty with all the storms. All the glass has been cleaned, the patio itself hosed off and table wiped down. Now for my fountain! It was so easy to set up and looks just as good as I hoped it would on my patio. It is in the shade for most of the day so it should last a long time without having the hot sun beating down on it all day.

I definitely got my monies worth out of my last fountain. It only had cost me $3 on clearance at Target. Well it lasted over 3 years on a wall that got sun, Arizona sun, 90% of the day. It was composed of resin/plastic that eventually cracked. I liked that fountain a lot but I LOVE this one. Its classy looking isn't it. So now I have the lovely sound of trickling water to listen to as I enjoy my morning coffee in my backyard. That along with the occasional sound of my wind chimes swaying in the breeze makes for a really lovely way to start my day.

Solitude

I thought it was such a coincidence that while I was away, in solitude, that my reading in my "Simple Abundance" book was titled "The importance of Solitude" Hummmm...Lord, are you trying to tell me something? Here are a few lines that struck me as I was reading (from the porch at my cabin as I sipped a glass of wine and listened to the rain fall)

"I believe that it's essential for busy woman, by which I mean all f us, to pause a moment-this moment- to reconsider the entire subject of solitude. Too many of us approach time alone as if it were a frivolous, expendable luxury rather than a creative necessity. Why should this be so?"

"Certain springs are tapped only when we are alone. The artist knows he must be alone to create; the writer to work out his thoughts; the musician to compose; the saint to pray. But woman need solitude in order to find again the true essence of themselves"

(VB this picture is for you)

"The problem is in how to still the soul in the midst of its activities. In fact the problem is how to feel the soul"

Take some time alone, you will be so glad you did. It really gave me time to think about what I want for my life and to realize that whatever it is I want I can achieve. I just need to be prepared to work hard for it, make a plan and stay focused. Nothing great is every easy, but man is it worth it.

We had 4 days and 3 nights in pure peace. It was a perfect little getaway. Away from the stresses of everyday life. Time to sit quietly and reflect on all the wonderful things in my life. I forget to be grateful when I am running around day to day just trying to keep up with the demands society puts on us and the ones I put on myself. I need to keep telling myself "Simplicity wins". I try to remember in the midst of a day that I make choices and those very choices will determine how simple or difficult my life, or at least that day will be. Seems pretty basic, I know. But we all do it to ourselves. I am hearing and reading so much more about that lately. People feeling so overwhelmed and busy. I can't do that. I need my time to just "be". It is so important to take time to slow down and have time to collect your thoughts, time to dream, time to appreciate the important things in life.

The boys had a great time too. I think they really like it up there. Who wouldn't? Musashi loves to run around in the yard. It is so nice to see him run so freely and get some energy out. At home, our backyard is so small he doesn't get the chance to do that. Chili the mellow dog that he is just hangs out as he would if we were home but he likes to hang on the porch and growl at the birds and squirrels. I am always glad to have them with me. I get to be alone...but with the company of my 2 best friends. Maybe someday I will actually get to enjoy my cabin with friends and loved ones....but up until now, its been just me and my boys! And that's A-OK with me!