This and That

 Hello Friends,

A little of this and that today.

 

We recently visited my sister and her husband. My sister knows I love to visit thrift shops. We stopped at Pancakes in Heaven Thrift in Eagle River, Wisconsin.  I found a few treasures.

A little pheasant to sit under my homemade pine trees that our friend Charles made. 

 

 

I also found a ruffed grouse. 

 

 

I love blue. I found this blue candle holder.

 

 

 The T-shirt quilt is coming along. I will start to put it together.

 

 

 I decorated for Easter. One of my treasured decorations are these eggs. My friend Judy had our family over to her home, her daughter Lori's family and we dyed eggs using onion skins and nylon stockings. Our boys were young, I actually do not remember the year we did this together. I still have the eggs and I smile each year bringing them out for Easter, reminiscing our young family days.

 

 

 My friend Deb likes to share funnies with me. How many times has this happened to you?

Last week I went to have my haircut, while trimming my bangs a Bon Jovi song came on the radio and the salon broke out into song. Ha! And the next morning, I still had Livin' on a Prayer stuck in my head. 

 

♥

Carla

The Tale of Two Brothers

 The Tale of Two Brothers

 August 1st our two son's moved into a two bedroom apartment together. Our National Guard son is heading back to college August 24th. He will have online courses Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He travels to campus on Tuesday and Thursday for in class learning.

 Our 2020 Graduate son is currently working full time. He is looking at starting his generals at Chippewa Valley Tech College in the Spring semester of 2021.

 Here is a peek at the apartment.

 

 

I gave the boys an outdoor plant and put some solar lights in it. They love having a patio. We loved that the apartment was on the first level and we could use the patio door to move in.

 

 

We found a fun shower curtain. 

We put in the shelving for them. They each have a shelf and baskets for their toiletries. The bathroom is small,  by adding the shelving it will work out well for them.

 

 

The kitchen is spacious, with lots of counter space. 

We are very pleased with the new apartment for the boys. 

It has a washer and dryer in the apartment. Their very own washer and dryer. Yay!

It also has a dishwasher and microwave.

 

 

I created this little corner for them in the kitchen. Tomatoes, onions and garlic from mom's garden.

They both like to cook. 

 They are doing well and are happy with their place.

 

And with the move, that means that my husband and I are in an empty nest. 

I have gotten use to Sam being off and on his own. 

Having my little guy head out the door, well to be honest, my heart broke for a few days. I am so excited for the boys to venture out into the world and want to make it a better place.

At the same time, it is the big. ugly. world. and in 2020 it seems even more ugly.

I am thankful for friends and family that cheered me on the first few weeks of the empty nest.

I am getting use to the empty house. I am not use to the echo that is in their old room, with all the furniture gone. We are going to re do their bedroom into a guest room. I already have paint colors picked out and the way I want to decorate it, so that has been something to get my mind off the echo. Ha!

A dear friend gave me some positives to ponder...

♥ They still want to live together as friends, not only as brothers.

Good job on fostering that relationship, mama!

 ♥ They are responsible enough to live ALONE!

Good job teaching those  "real life" skills, mama!

 ♥ They can afford to live on their own. 

Good job teaching those budgeting skills, mama!

 ♥ You survived and thrived, adapted and learned these past 18 years as their parent and you will continue to do so in God's grace. 

YOU'VE GOT THIS!

High Five's for Thrifting ~ It is the Hodgepodge

Hello Everyone!

It is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge!

 My garden mailbox is a "tossed out to the trash find"!

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. I read here four creative activities to try this month. They were-calligraphy, make your own cookbook, dance or learn a new type of dance, and letter writing. Which activity on the list appeals to you most? Will you add it to your August? 

Friday night our family will be attending ...

The Cameron Public Library presents authentic Celtic music with the Barnyard Banshees on Friday, August 19th, at 7:00 p.m.
Get ready to tap your toes to lively Celtic jigs and reels, and catch your breath while listening to a few lovely ballads. The Barnyard Banshees is a family band from Elk Mound, Wisconsin. You'll hear fiddle, cello, guitar, whistle, flute, bodhran, and voice. Dancing encouraged!

The advertisement says"Dancing encouraged" .... I will let you know if I learn a new jig!

 2. Bertrand Russell is quoted as saying, 'To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness.' Agree or disagree? Explain.

This quote is giving me trouble ... so here it goes ...

Part of happiness is our dreams, our goals, of things to come.

3. August 17th is National Thriftshop Day...are you a 'thrifter'? If so, tell us about one of your best or favorite finds. 

 

 

I do enjoy going out and thrifting. Sometimes I have luck, sometimes I do not.

Just a few weeks ago we went to a Homestead Estate Sale and I found this blue cup. 

It was love at first sight.

 

 4.  On a scale of 1-10 (with 1= almost none and 10=loads) how would you rate your sense of wanderlust? What kicks your wanderlust into high gear? 

 

I am a 6 .... I do like to travel ... but I also love Home Sweet Home!

Planning a trip kicks my wanderlust into high gear. 

 

 5. Has life felt more like a marathon or sprint so far this month? How so?

 

 

Sprint

Harvest! Harvest! Harvest!

Everything is ready at once and all of a sudden we are eating like kings with fresh from the garden produce and at the same time preserving all the goodness to enjoy during the Wisconsin winter.

 

 6. What do you need to get a jump on before fall officially arrives? 

Happy to say, nothing! I am just sprinting along with all of this harvest and will enjoy Autumn when it arrives.

7. What's the last thing you did with friends or family where you lost track of time?

We visited family last weekend. 

My uncle and aunt took us all out for a lovely breakfast.

Eating, visiting and laughing .... we lost track of time!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 

Gladiola 

I have been so blessed with all the beautiful gladiola blooming in my garden. This beautiful flower has really helped me at the farmer market as well.