Life - Always Changing - New Traditions

How was your Easter? Did you celebrate? At home with family, or was it just another day to you?

I am a big fan of family traditions...but I also like making new traditions.

We have always had large family dinners on holidays, but this year, my husband was having some health issues, we're updating (I'm painting every room) our home so we can sell it and move home, and allergy season has kicked in big time this year.  So I asked hubby "would you mind if we just went out to eat this year?"  What a great new tradition!!!!  I should have done it years ago.

Amanda and her crew came over so Owen could get his basket from Poppa and Gramma, Chuck's brother and wife surprised us with a visit, and it was so nice to be able to just make coffee and then join the conversations instead of being chained in the kitchen.  We should have done this years ago.

One this I did miss, and have missed since we've moved south, was our annual shopping trip to 

The Broadway Market in downtown Buffalo, NY.

No good respecting Polish cook would get their Easter sausage and butter lambs anywhere else.

That I miss, and family.

So how was your weekend?  Any new traditions started at your house?

Be blessed,

Debbi

baby it's COLD outside.

If that title sounds familiar, it's because just a scant 4 months ago, we were whining about the heat in my post "Baby, it's hot outside".  Hahaha.  I just now got in from standing outside with the kids waiting for their buses, and it's only 31 degrees.  Of course, Brandon could only find one mitten, so he was not a happy camper.  I think he used it last month playing cowboy outside on his horse (bike).  Oh well.... 8~)  Now I know I grew up in Tonawanda, (a suburb of Buffalo NY), so 31 degrees should be nothing to me, but I'm not 10 anymore...I'm nunya (buziness, teehee).  And I don't like the cold.  But I do like watching a light pretty evening snowfall from inside the house.  And I did have fun in the snow as a kid.  I spent my first 12 years in an old farmhouse in a great small neighborhood across from the Sheridan golf course.  My 2 best friends and I would sit and watch the balls come flying over a particular hill, and then run and grab them.  We'd then shoot back across the street (don't tell our moms, we weren't allowed across the street) and sit in our front yards and watch the golfers go nuts looking for their balls.  There was one summer when we got older and smarter, we started selling our balls back to the golfers, kind of like a lemonade stand.  It was too funny!  But this same park had a HUGE toboggan run, and for my southern neighbors, I'm not talking about a knit hat.  A toboggan is a large wooden sled that could carry 4 - 8 people.  Here's what Wikipedia says....

"A toboggan is a simple sled which is a traditional form of transport used by the Innu and Cree of northern Canada. In modern times, it is used on snow to carry one or more people (often children) down a hill or other slope for recreation. Designs vary from simple, traditional models to modern engineered composites. A toboggan differs from most sleds or sleighs in that it has no runners or skis (or only low ones) on the underside. The bottom of a toboggan rides directly on the snow. Some parks include designated toboggan hills where ordinary sleds are not allowed and which may include toboggan runs similar to bobsleigh courses."

We would carry that toboggan up the chute (an open deck about 4 stories tall) get hooked up, the guy would hit the lever, and off we would go....think of like a luge shoot in the Olympics, but it was straight.  When you hit the bottom, the snow would fly, and if you were in front, you would be covered by snow by the time the toboggan came to a stop, miles (well, it seemed like miles) from where you started.  Then you would all grab that heavy wooden sled, and climb back up the hill and up the chute.  It was a ball!!!!  But being the youngest, I always got put in front.  Daddy put me in back once, but I fell off the sled when we hit the bottom and missed half the ride.  It makes me smile just thinking about this.  For fun I did an Etsy search on toboggan and here is what came up...

Most of what came up were knit or crochet hats.  But I like this Vintage ski hat from Forgotten In The Attic because it is most like the hats we wore growing up, complete with pompom on the top.  But I also found this... 6 Tobogganer Sleigh cookies from Queen of Tarts Cakes.  I figured she must be a Yankee, but she's from Los Angeles California!  Go Figure!!! hahaha.  So in keeping with my rambling and cold memories today, tomorrows link up party theme is...snow!  or cold, or whatever, teehee.  Have a blessed day and I'll see you in the morning.

Debbi 

Saturday Shopping Link Up - labor day holiday

Ok, this linky party theme is all about what us Americans like best...reasons for vacations and picnics.  But lest we forget, here is the history of labor day, the short version.  (copied from Wikipedia) The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York. It became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  But more importantly, labor day now marks the beginning of.....FOOTBALL SEASON!  So that is this weeks "theme", football.  Whether it be your favorite NFL or collage team, or even European football (what we yanks call soccer) link up here.  A logo, a uniform, or even items needed for football parties, link up here.  Then be part of this team and share this party, cuz the more the merrier.  And since I'm a Bills fan, here is what I found in the wonderful world of Etsy.

If your a Bills fan that loves your dog too, here is a Buffalo Bills Dog Scarf from cindyloudogscarves.  Everyone knows that Bills fans are die hard fans, willing to submit to subzero temps to root their team to victory, and we like our 4 legged friends to join us in our Bills passion, lol.

For the loyal ladies, I found these wonderful Buffalo Bills Hooray earrings at the shop of scbeachbling.  This shop carries jewelry for most every sport and team out there.  While I did not find any Buffalo Sabres items, it's too early for hockey season, so I just made this shop a favorite.

And then I found this....the perfect gift that every Buffalo Bills fan needs, a Buffalo Bills Dammit Doll by the dammitdollstore, cuz lets face it.  Sometimes the Bills just plain suck, hahahaha.  There are all different teams listed in this shop, and what you do is when your team is losing, or just messing up, you grab the doll by the leg, slam it down and yell....dammit. I LOVE IT, hahaha

Ok, now it's time to link up what you have for the upcoming football season.  And if you don't have anything to do with football, link up anyway.  Shops, blogs, whatever, 8~D
Debbi

my baby turned 70 yesterday!

Ok, so he's not really my "baby", but he is my honey bunny, my knight in shining armor, my soul mate.  He looks pretty good for an old man, huh? And yes, he got a new power tool for his gift, of course!  I can't believe we've been together for 20 years.  I first met him when he was 49 and I just turned 30.  We started dating the next year, after he pursued me, hahaha.  We lived just a few blocks apart for about 3 years, and I don't recall ever seeing him before, but after our first meeting, he was everywhere...he told me later he would ride around on his bike (motorcycle) to look for me.  I loved it.  My marriage was in it's last death throws, and it was so nice to have someone interested in me.  I mean he liked to talk (he did not follow sports, a big plus in my book), and to actually listen to what I had to say.  We talked about everything.....it was wonderful.  I know people, especially my family, was concerned about the almost 19 year age difference, but I never was.  When it started to get serious, Chuck tried to back off, so I did the pursuing, and prayed him down the aisle.  Literally.  I proposed, and when he left to go home, I called my girlfriends, and we prayed.  The next day Chuck said, "let's do it".  Like he ever had a choice, hahahaha.  Now, it wasn't always hearts and roses, after all God put together a conservative man of the 50's with a woman's libber of the 70's, and while we learned from each other, we learned mostly from God.  He had a plan to bless us, not harm us, and we both came out of difficult marriages, with equally difficult divorces.  So it took almost 3 years from that first meeting to our wedding day.  And the day we married, we both put Jesus dead center of our lives.  That's the only way to do it, and have it work.  I look back on our lives together, and feel so blessed.  And I am looking forward to what God has in store for the next 20 years.

Thank you God! (and thank you Robin.)

I LOVE CATALOGS!

I know that the latest greatest thing is shopping on-line (lucky for me) and reading via e-books, but there is nothing that will ever replace the printed word on paper. Books, newpapers, magazines, catalogs, handwritten letters delivered by a mailman. The feel of the book in my hand, turning the pages by licking my fingers, the being a bad book lover by turning down the corner of a page when you can't find a bookmark, catching up on the local news, connecting with far away friends and family. And making wish lists for future purchases. It's such a shame that future generations may never know the simple joy of sitting down with a real book, or visiting a library. But for today, we still have the printed word, and for that I am grateful. Which brings me to my joy for today, catalogs that come in the mail. Today I received my Fire Mountain Gems catalog, and ohhhh the joy! hahaha. The colors, the beads, the findings.....I guess you just have to be a jewelry fanatic to understand :) I used to make jewelry years ago, and just recently re-discovered the fun of beads and started to list some pieces on Our Home To Yours, mine and Amanda's e-shop on Etsy. Like these 2 pieces:

Now back to the subject of catalogs....I remember as a child getting the Sears Christmas Catalog and just spending hours with my sisters making up our Christmas wish list.  I think those were the only times we weren't fighting.  When I started my own home, the Brand Names catalog was essential.  And of course, FingerHut.  Today I watch my kids fight over the catalogs I get,

and it makes me smile. 

Debbi

my God....my life

*A friend once asked me to explain my faith to her, why do I believe what I believe.  After much thought, I realized that I couldn't really explain why because faith is not something you just think about and decide, but I could share how He changed my life.  So here is part 1 of a 3 part series where I will try to explain my faith. *

When I was a child, about 5, I sat on my daddy's lap and watched my mommy pick up her suitcase and walk out the door, and out of my daily life for the next 7 years.

But God was God, and God was good.

When I was older, about 12, I lived with my daddy next door to my gramma Rose.  I ate breakfast and dinner at any friends home that would offer, then at bedtime I would walk to the corner bar, put daddy in the back seat, drive him home and put him to bed.

But God was God, and God was good.

When I was older, about 15, I started drinking myself, with my brother and his friends.  I went to a party on the West Side of downtown Buffalo, not a good place to be.  Three days later, I woke up and went home to my mothers.

But God was God, and God was good.

When I was older, 17, I became pregnant out of wedlock.  An unwed teen, still in school.

But God was God, and God was good.

When I was older, about 23, I was pregnant with my 3rd child, alone and away from family in Texas, with a husband who drank his paycheck at the Texas moon.

But God was God, and God was good.

When I was older, about 30, I became a single mom.

But God was God, and God was good.

When I was older, I examined my life, and discovered....

God sent me a loving step-mother,

God placed his angels around the car when I drove daddy home,

God protected me when I placed myself in dangerous situations,

God gave me a family to help me,

God sent friends to me in Texas,

And

God gave me a new life, in Him.

I do not ask why I had to go through situations in my life. I ask, why not?  Everything that I know, and everything that I am, is a result of all of my past.  So today I can say....

God is God, and God is good

yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

A Carolina White Christmas

Well, Christmas has come and gone in a whirl, and I'm finally sitting in my chair, with my feet up, and wanted to share some of our day. We are originally from Buffalo, NY and are used to snowy days, but we've been transplanted to Statesville, NC for the past 10 years, and enjoy the warmth all year thru. Today, IT SNOWED! The news said that this is the first white Christmas since 1958 (?) so I had to go out and take some pictures. The snow started about 10:30 am with big soft flakes. This is my butterfly garden on the left getting dressed up in it's winter garb. On the right is my knock-out rose bush that blooms for most of the year. Then the tree line on our property. And my favorite picture, our horses running to us for attention. (Really they just wanted the treat Hannah was carrying). Now, remember, this was before noon. And it snowed all day. So now I will share with you the photos of all the snow by evening. We had to drive to my step-son's home for a visit, and they only live a couple of miles away. Our van was slipping and sliding up the hill on the way home.

But it's been a wonderful and blessed day. A day for family, for friends, and to remember the gift of salvation that was offered to us with the birth of God's Son, Jesus Christ. So Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

the making of a wedding banner day 4

I DID IT!!!! I GOT IT FINISHED!!!! I finished the just married banner for Janine and Matt, with 2 days
to go before we leave for NY.
I really enjoyed using my mom's sketches, and this process reminded me of when I would go to the outdoor art shows she would enter, and just sit and watch her draw (she liked to do cartoons with pastels). There was one year that I remember my sister Dawn even had her artwork side by side with my mom's. Someday I'll have to blog about the fun we had at the Allentown Art Shows in downtown Buffalo, NY during the 70's. What a great time we had there, despite the riots. This second picture is the finished project with the
lettering. I didn't outline the date, but now wonder if I should have. What do you think? Leave a comment below, and left me know your opinion. Later tonight it will be my husband's job to figure out how to attach this to a car. My husband is great for making my ideas into reality.
It was fun sharing this with you all, and hope to do more in the future. Maybe Mandy could share some of her work with us next, hint hint mandy!