started a group on facebook...

it's called:

De-crapping My House:

My clutter is your treasure.

its a closed group...

I have already been giving things away...

but there is much more to go...

if no one wants something...

in the trash it goes...

it feels good to de-clutter...

have had this 10 years and never used it once...

I gave it to my father in law for Christmas one year...

took food to church dinners with it...

got to rid of things because this is coming up next...

Craig has scraped the ceilings...

needs to go back and touch up a few spots...

he started painting in the hallway...

got a guy coming to put bead board on the south wall in the living room and removed the ceiling fan and cover the mirror with bead board...

going a flush mount light to match the one over the table...

that will happen tomorrow or Thursday...

got much to do and would like it done before spring weather happens...

but, we will just continue to get things done on Craig's days off...

have a good week...

what one child receives...

this is a typical pick for one child...

some items are bigger than others so pile sizes vary...

but this is the amount of items they get from the toy drive...

then there are other items that people donate that don't fit into these categories that are added on...

we are so blessed to be able to provide for the children in our school district...

we had a very good year with great donations...

one of my favorite parts of doing this is watching how so many come together for one common goal....

the children...

that no matter where you at in life, everyone can help...

every single penny adds up to this going out many times...

we had 48 children in the program this time...

we had plenty of things for them to choose from and even left overs to begin next year...

the fact that we have never had to turn any child away because there wasn't enough is amazing...

and for that, I am so grateful...

God is good to these children...

time after time...

to those of you who donate to programs like this...

know that you make a difference in the life of a child...

and their family...

and to all those in the background working to make things happen...

:)

in the middle of it...

or maybe just the middle of the start of it...

we are doing some upgrades here...

got Craig scrapping the popcorn ceilings...

he has done the hallway and living room...

its a mess...

but it looks so much better and will be totally awesome when its painted...

it was a tan color- the way it came...

so anxious to have white ceilings with a small bit of texture...

easy to clean texture...

the trim is going white...

so we will tape off below the crown molding and do the ceilings and that together...

then we are going a medium gray on the walls and the rest of the trim will be white...

and we will also paint a few things in a darker gray...

like the doors and odd furniture...

(just bought a piano bench for the front door entrance that needs redone)

its really great to sit and take your shoes off and on...

and I put my gloves and scarves in the bench...

we have had weather that's been all over the place...

snow covered right before Christmas...

to the 50s for the 24th and the 25th...

these photos were taken on the 25th...

the snow was 99% gone by then...

but it made travel good for people who have places to go...

so, ceilings painted 1st...

then the walls...

then the flooring will be pulled and new put down...

that could take us a couple of months to get done...

only working on it when the guys have days off...

AND...

I am giving Craig my play room area...

so he can game in there and have him computer in there....

so he can have an actual bedroom...

where he only sleeps and keeps his clothes...

so...

it is going in the kitchen where I am sitting now...

where my laptop is...

this small table is going in a corned in my bedroom...

for my make up, hair and all that stuff...

so when I get out of the shower it will all be right there for me...

and not in the kitchen...

there are several pieces of furniture to move from room to room, too...

and DH's desk is going in our bedroom also...

its in the living room and he will not keep it nice...

so I am going to hide him from view of anyone just coming in to visit...

:)

I think I have it all planned out, but you can never tell until you actually move something into place on if it will work or not...

so may have to change the plans as we go along...

you know how it goes...

will try to get pics of before and afters to post when we get done with the different areas...

we just have too much stuff!

so a lot more is going...

and that will be a good thing...

have a great day!

where does all the time go?

this is probably the best display in town...

but its with tears this year...

a very sweet retired couple has taken the last decade and created a mini wonderland in our little town...

Jim and Darlene worked very hard at it...

he always says she's the brains of it...

well, she passed away just before Christmas...

a brain aneurysm...

so unexpected...

I can't imagine his pain and his family's...

I so hope he continues to work in their yard...

that he doesn't give up...

(I don't think that word is in his vocabulary, but his loss is great...)

and then the talk of the town...

our beloved golf course...

has been tilled up so it will be ready for spring...

they didn't clear cut it and only tilled here and there in between all the beauty of the course...

but some people are really outraged!

this father and son bought the course 5 years ago and really put a lot of time, sweat and money into it...

it had been so run down for several years...

and they stepped in and bought it...

now the son has a degree in golf course management and knows all about keeping it green and well kept...

and they play themselves, so this was like a dream come true...

but...

no matter how good the course was and how well kept it was...

the business just wasn't there anymore...

and its not just this one course...

3 closed at the end of the year right around here...

they have no choice...

people just don't play like they used to...

there is no market for them really...

so they are going to plant hemp and soy beans...

and people are throwing a fit calling it a pot farm...

and other things...

I just cannot believe how mean they are...

and I would bet the most vocal of them have never played a round on this course or any course...

so we shall see how this plays out...

its really sad...

but its still there!

and I will show you this spring and summer and fall how beautiful it will continue to be...

and we are doing some home renovations here...

and still purging in a major way...

along with doing Christmas and the toy drive...

can you believe we have already been shopping for next year?

I still have a bit of sinus problems left...

just can't seem to get rid of it all...

maybe spring will help...

DH had so many days off the last 2 months, but he is now back to work and this will be his first full week in a long time...

not sure how he's going to like that...

we have been pretty busy around here...

or resting up in between being busy...

we have been planning his retirement this summer...

crunching numbers and all that...

but he did finally told his boss he was doing it the end of June...

I know the months will fly by...

and he will be home all the time...

oh, the things we will be able to get done...

LOL

happy 2020...

its going to be a good year...

Merry Christmas...

I hope your Christmas is everything you dreamed it would be...

and that its full of joy...