Thursday, February 28, 2013

It's been a Good Day

My good day started with some sun. That was a welcome sight! We've had many cold, cloudy, rainy, drizzly, grey days. The sun came and went all day, but just having it show it's face was good enough for me!

I got a haircut today. That always is a good day for me! It was fun to chat with Jess, my stylist, and Deb, another stylist who was coloring and cutting her Mom's hair. It was the first time to meet her Mom. We chatted about my grey hair =) Deb's Mom said she will go short and spiky when she decides to go grey. I am not that brave at all!

Before my appointment I visited some stores....Ollie's (no more Starbucks coffee there), TJ Maxx (tried on some tops, thought about buying one but put it back), Salvation Army (bought a top that was $4.99, but wait...it was Senior day and I qualify so I paid $2.50!!), to Penny's to look for dress slacks. All my slacks are too big. The kind I love was on sale so I bought a pair of dark grey. I figured I can wear them with a lot of tops and will get other colors as I can. Yes, it was a fun and good day.

After shopping at Penny's, I went to my car to go to my hair appointment. As I approached the car, I reached into my pocket to get my keys. Oh no, they weren't there. I looked in my purse, they weren't there. As you can imagine, I felt panic coming on fast. I rushed back into the store, up the escalator (behind two ladies who were not in a hurry....like I was), went to the fitting room I had been in....no keys. Back out to the selling floor, wondering how in the world I would ever find them. Two employees were at a nearby checkout desk so I asked them if anyone found a set of keys in the fitting room. YES, they found keys but NO they weren't found in the fitting room. They were found on the floor near that checkout. That checkout desk was not open, I hadn't paid for my purchase there. I guess the keys fell out of my pocket as I walked to another checkout. [Don't tell my kids any of this...after the last key episode, I'm sure they will want to put me somewhere!! ;-)]

On my way home I stopped at Weis Markets to get milk and a few other needed food items. While I was wandering around the store, a lady and I kinda did a 'dance', each trying to get out of the others way. We chuckled. Then she said, I really love your hair! I told her I just had it cut. She said she loves the color!!! I told her I'm letting it go grey. We had a wonderful conversation all about letting hair go grey!!!! So funny. She thought I looked familiar but we couldn't find a connection. You know, I just have a face that people always think they've seen me somewhere. It happens all the time! By the way, I told her where I get my hair cut and Jess's name. I hope she follows through and becomes a new client for Jess.

So now I'm home. I made a chicken and stuffing casserole for dinner. Corey called to say he will be bringing me a present.....the pooch! They have a house showing at 9 AM tomorrow morning! That is an early one, especially for them.

Corey was already scheduled off for tomorrow...it's his birthday! And Aidan has his appointment with the allergy specialist. I won't have the kids tomorrow but I'll have the dog.

Hope your day was a good one too!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

What a day!

Cleaning. Cleaning. Cleaning! I worked in our bedroom. I cleaned out several old purses. Why did I keep them??? I ask myself that a lot! I packed up some books... some to donate, some to keep. I put a few more articles of clothing in a bag to donate. I swept up lots of dust! (and stink bugs. eww) And, I'm not done. Oh my. What a day!

Love a clean and organized space =) It's getting there.

So, what were you up to today?

Monday, February 25, 2013

Zoe had a Party!

Our granddaughter Zoe is 3 years old today! Her party was yesterday. We had such a good time. What fun to watch Zoe enjoy every moment.

Who is that under the table??


It's the birthday girl!


Gavin (cousin of Aidan and Zoe),
Aidan and Paityn enjoy their lunch.


Cutie pie Brinley enjoys her lunch too =)


 Cupcakes...I love making them =)

Beautiful candy flowers made by Christy's sister Laura.
 Zoe opens gifts...this one is from Nana, Pop Pop and Ellen.
She got lots of nice things.....toys, books and clothes. 
She will have a fun time wearing all the frilly, sparkly skirts, shirts and leggings!


My sister Mary Ellen sent me this picture...
Watching Zoe open her gifts.
Looks like everyone is enjoying it very much!


Couldn't resit this shot of Katie (Christy's sister-in-law)
holding her adorable daughter, Ainsley.


 Zoe tries to blow out the candles!


 I get to eat this?? Cool!
(Mary Ellen photo)


This is my best birthday yet!


A few more pictures because I can't decide when to stop........

Scott, our funny guy =)
He took a tutu (which Christy made, by the way) and put it on his head.
Kids loved it!!

Christy and her Dad having some good conversation time.


 Did you hear me???
I said,
This is the best party ever!!
(Mary Ellen photo)

The party is almost over....
Zoe plays a game on Mommy's phone.
(Mary Ellen photo)

Our sweet Zoe is 3. So hard to believe. Happy Birthday, sweet girl! You bring such joy to all of us....by just being Zoe!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

I FOUND MY KEYS!!

I found my keys! I found my keys!!!!

Oh how we searched. Dale even emptied the garbage bag this morning before putting it out to be picked up....now that was not something I was willing to do! I told him just to listen for a jungle of keys as he lifted it out of the garbage can. But, he emptied it into another bag just to be sure the keys were not hiding there!

So where did I find them? In a plastic bag holding my medications that came in the mail. I had the bag sitting on the cabinet where I often put my purse. I often just lay the keys on top on my purse instead of placing them inside. I guess they fell off the purse and slipped inside that bag! I had moved the bag to the dining room table to be taken upstairs. I then moved the bag to the stair steps to be taken upstairs. There they sat. Just now as I was going to bring some dirty clothes downstairs to be washed, I saw that bag. Thinking that I hadn't looked in that yet, I picked it up.....and there they were!! I am sooooo relieved.

We do have another set of keys I've been using....they're my hubby's keys. But that set doesn't have the remote on it. Oh how I missed that! I suppose the keys will go in my purse from now on......even if I must dig to find them each time!

A glorious day! I'm doing a happy dance =)



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Changing Skies and Some Updates

Tuesday morning started like this -

Beautiful!

That sky didn't last long. On my way home from taking Gina to work, it started to sleet. It's now snowing like crazy!


A few moments later it looks like this - 


I really wasn't expecting it to snow, not even this much....I thought it was to be mostly rain!

Updates - 
Aidan does have the beginnings of pneumonia. They caught it early and he is on the road to recovery. His Dr. said the paint could have caused the issue. They have an appointment soon with an allergist. The other issue is their dog. They know Aidan should not live with a dog. Pray for them as they make this very hard decision. The dog is old....you can guess the rest  =(

The showing....last evening got canceled just before the time it was to be. So very disappointing. 

I have not found my keys. I continue to look.... and earnestly pray!

Blessings to you today!

Monday, February 18, 2013

It's Monday Again!

It's Monday again. It's cold. Only Zoe is here. And, a hairy dog is here. Aidan is sick. There's another house showing at C&C's this evening. My house seems always to be dirty, always. I lost my car keys.

Wow, how's that for a first paragraph?!!

  • Monday comes too fast. I could sleep in a little bit this morning because Ellen didn't have school today. Gina didn't go to work till 11:30. I didn't need to go get the kids this morning. A slow morning was a good thing!
  • It's cold. Feels a little bit better today than yesterday. Yesterday was bitter cold and windy. Was a day for staying indoors...that's how I felt about it!
  • Zoe is here. I went to pick her up after I took Gina to work. Zoe makes me laugh. We laugh a lot when she is here! I can't wait to live with this sweet girl someday!
  • Yes, a hairy dog is here too. She stays here when someone wants to see the house where she lives. She is leaving small clumps of hair everywhere she goes. I know she can't help it. Zoe didn't like that her dog was not going home with them last night. (An open house on Sunday brought the dog to our house already on Saturday) Zoe was so anxious to see her doggie today. She said she will say, "Come out come out, where ever you are", when she got to my house =)
  • Aidan is sick. He was coughing almost non stop yesterday and by evening he had a fever. Christy got her schedule changed to go in later today. She was taking Aidan to the Doctor at 12:40. That's why I only have Zoe today. They think that painting the kids rooms may have triggered his asthma. He is so sensitive to so many environmental things! They did air out the rooms and I didn't detect even a hint of paint odor today. They would like to also paint the trim in Zoe's room. Aidan may have to spend the night here if they do that. All this painting, not because there was anything wrong with the paint...it has everything to do with making the rooms more neutral. All in hopes of making it easier for someone to love their house.
  • Someone wants to come see their house tonight. Yeah! They had a good turnout at the open house yesterday, too. We continue to pray for that family who will see the home and fall in love with it. Selling a house is hard work!!
  • My house seems like it's always dirty. Of course, I have a hairy dog right now and that doesn't help ;-) If I work at going through things upstairs, I don't keep after things downstairs. It I keep after everything downstairs, the upstairs never gets further along in my goal to get it whipped into shape. Ugh. Getting ready to move is hard work as well!
  • Oh dear oh dear. I have lost my car keys and I don't know where to find them! How could I have done such a stupid thing? I hadn't gone anywhere since Thursday morning. Saturday evening when I wanted to go away, they were no where to be found. Oh my, I have looked through trash bags, pockets, under cabinets, cleaned everything out of my purse, moved the sofa front, used a flashlight to see under things better, looked in the car trunk, the driveway.....even my kids looked under things yesterday to help me find them. (talk about embarrassing for them to see all the dirt I had glossed over the day/weeks before!!) All I'm finding is more dirt to clean up =/ I continue to look.....I'm very embarrassed to say that this is the second set of keys I have lost for this car. I MUST find this set!!
Crazy, crazy life! Time to get busy cleaning up some dog hair, more dirt, and for pete's sake....LOOK FOR THOSE KEYS!!

Have a blessed Monday =)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day!

It started as a snowy (slightly snowy) day here in Lancaster County, PA. It was beautiful!


 I see the sun =)


Looks like a pretty day ahead!

It is a pretty day but the snow is doing a fast disappearing act. After taking Gina to work this morning, I stopped at Ollie's again. Last week I got two bags of Starbucks Holiday Blend coffee. I wanted to try it first before I bought more. Well, it is really good. The price is a steal so I went back for more. Oh how I hoped there would be more. There was! How can you go wrong at $2.99 for a bag of Starbucks?? (my V-gift to me, hehe!)



Last evening my Hubby brought home these for me....

 I do not need big gifts, expensive gifts, or lots of gifts...
a bunch of flowers from the grocery store was special, indeed.
Even more special, because I wasn't expecting a thing!

Imagine my surprise when Gina handed me this.....
Just the other day we went by a Cracker Barrel billboard.
I said, Mmmm, Cracker Barrel breakfast.
I guess Gina was listening!!!

For dinner tonight I plan on making some kind of chicken, a green bean dish with bacon and we'll have the cookies I made yesterday (chocolate chip  minus the chips - dark choc M&M's instead. Oh, yes, they are good!).

A special Valentine's Day to you!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Frosty Morning

It's a  frosty morning here in Lancaster County PA.


Some sun and blue skies....for now.


 More snow is in the forecast for later today. Our snows have been light and it looks like that's what it will be again. I know some people want a big snow storm. I DO NOT! I'm ready to see some green!

It was so light at 7:00 this morning while waiting with Ellen for the school bus to arrive. We like that! Also a sign that spring is on it's way, it wasn't completely dark at 6:00 last evening. More daylight is a very good thing!

Wishing you a good day. I plan to do more laundry today and work on our bedroom. I have some things ready to donate again but I don't think they will be taken anywhere today.

I almost forgot...the house showing at my son's home on Sunday. The couple really liked the house but thought the bedrooms were small and it's not the house for their growing family. The agent had some really nice things to say about the home. She said she will keep it in mind for other clients. So, we continue to wait for the right person/family to come along who will love the home and put in an offer. (Selling is such hard work)

Blessings!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Houses and Kids =)

I don't usually do this. I'm starting to write a post before I choose a title. There usually is a direction in which I wish to go.....not this time! Guess we will see where my words take us.....it's been almost a week since I posted. Guess we will start with that.

 On Wednesday evening we went to see a house. It's been listed since the end of December and was one I really wanted to see. Oh, we liked it. Really, really liked it. There are many features about this home that would fit the many people who would live in it. It's not perfect, no home is. It needs decorating to our taste. We aren't in love with the colors or the wallpaper/borders in this home. We would need to create 2 more bedrooms. The space is there to do this. The garage is very large, my Hubby could keep his workshop tools. The home is newer than anything I have lived in, ever. I like that. The kitchen isn't large but seems open enough that more than one person in it would work. There is a large family room off the kitchen which we love. The dining room is small. Not sure where we would have large family sit-down meals. I'm sure we could figure it out. I came away from this visit really wanting this home to be ours. I've been crying out to God ever since.

 We feel pressure to get our son's home sold so we can put an offer on a home. Yesterday after church, Christy had a phone call from their listing agency asking if they would be open to having their house shown to a perspective buyer that afternoon. They usually ask for a 24 hour notice but said it would be ok. Soooo, it was a hurry-up-get-the-house-ready-to-show kind of afternoon! I've not heard any feed back from the showing yet, but you can bet we are all hoping that the buyer loved it and wants to make an offer =)

 So here we are, a new week has begun. Not much happening other than the usual. Aidan and Zoe are my company today. It's a rainy, drizzly, grey day. A good day for drinking tea and reading a good book....not a chance! Too many dishes waiting to be washed and chores to be done. Speaking of which, I best get to it!

Still thinking of a title for this post.....

 Almost forgot to post a few pics from last week. Aidan and Zoe dancing to a show on Netflix...

Zoe gets ready to move.


Go Zoe =)


Aidan dances too.


Go Aidan!!
These two make my day!

(Thought of the title, which you already read, hehe!)

May your day be sunny and bright. Some days just take more effort than others, especially when the sun is safely hidden behind the clouds. I'll light a candle, I'll be making a meatloaf and the kids and I should bake something. That would be bright and sunny, don't you think?

Blessings!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

A Party in the Works

As many of you know, I help lead our women's ministry at church. We just finished a year long study of Beth Moore's book called So Long, Insecurity. It was an awesome study. What will we do now?

It's February, Valentine's Day is a week away, we love to have fun.......how about a Game Night with a Valentine's theme? We invited the ladies to bring their daughters. We will play a group game involving M&M's. Yum. I'm making several Valentine's treats. We will have a pretty pink punch.....oh, it will be soooooo much fun!!

I shopped at Ollie's, Target, and Amelia's today.

I found these cute plates at Ollie's ......

 Aren't they just adorable?


And, I'm working on these. The idea came from Pinterest....where else?!!


I just made a chocolate peanut butter chex mix. I'll be coating some things in white chocolate tomorrow. I'm having so much fun.

You bet, a party is in the works!

******************************************************

Are you in need of pretty paper supplies? Ollie's, at least at the Lancaster store, has beautiful plates, napkins and cups for wonderful prices. I bought supplies for the Women's Retreat today too. Just couldn't resist even though the retreat isn't until April.

Have a good night and a Blessed day tomorrow!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Nana's Little Helper

Paityn wanted to come home with us after church. (we ate lunch at church today) After we arrived home she said that she wanted to come with us because she wanted to help me get out the plates and cups for the Super Bowl party =) We got busy placing the items on the table. I washed the dishes that were waiting to be done. Paityn decided to wipe them and put them away.

\
 Busy little beaver....

 Wiping it dry.

 Reaching high to put it away!

Hanging a mug.

What a good little helper I have today! Thank you, Paityn!

She was also thrilled to see this.....

She had fun looking for the heart with her name, then looked for Aidan's, Brinley's.....
each member of the Fahnestock bunch has a heart with their name.

Not everyone will be here tonight to watch football. Some have plans to watch it elsewhere. That's fine.

But, will we ever have a lot of food! Scott made sure of that!

Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday....may the best team win =)