as our world is covered in white...

I refuse to look out the windows...

so decided for an inside photo op...

pardon the ears...

someone likes to sleep with the snowmen...

Sarah is going on 11 months old...

she is not very big at all...

see, I have started what I said I would...

I love this little scrap book...

we have winds up to 45 mph today and that makes the windchill at -5...

so, I am hanging out in here for awhile...

(like until spring)

;0)

I guess winter had to happen sometime...

we have been so spoiled so far...

with 60s in December...

so, you probably want to know what the doctor said Friday...

he said a bad, bad word...

rotator cuff...

anti - inflammatories and pt first...

heating pad...

(not a problem at -5)

go back on the 18th...

I supposed if this doesn't work, he said MRI next time...

to see if its torn...

he is hoping it is not...

(me, too)

SOOOOOOOO...

here I sit being good...

at least its not the butt wiping arm...

( I keep telling myself that)

it is some better...

;0)

even with the front that moved in...

so, I am hoping for the best...

I have no idea what I did...

there was no...

aha moment when I thought,...

oh, I really did something now...

I suppose it takes a special kind of talent to get a "sports" injury in your sleep...

;0)

I told you I was talented...

;0)

got a pot of veggie soup in the works here...

my potato peeler has finished his job and now I have to do mine...

opening cans and dumping things in...

scrap booking and a movie might be in order for the afternoon...

if I can work that in around my nap...

got a load of towels in the washer...

the cats are chasing each other and the dog is hiding under the table...

not sure if he's scared or getting ready to pounce...

;0)

either way, I would say he's in big trouble...

have a fun day and stay warm...

;0)

are ya wondering where I've been?

well, it hasn't been here for a long while now...

but we did get the oldest son moved out this week...

and its going to take some time to get this back into shape...

but, I have spent an evening in there now...

and really have missed my own space...

been sorting through some old photos...

and I have a couple of brand new (at least 4 years old now) scrap books that I want to use...

so I am thinking that can be my winter project...

as I reclaim this for me again...

and I can start planning the work outside for spring...

while they forecast 2"-4" of snow for this weekend...

and we need to get the Christmas stuff down...

I know...

but we wanted to get the kid out first...

cuz the totes are in that closet...

and that needs to be stored away first before I start moving things around in there...

because the futon is gone and I have gained space...

but not for long...

have plenty to fill it up with...

;0)

ya know how it goes...

 I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon in Paris...

I have been having some major shoulder pain...

for the past few weeks...

and there are a couple of lumps there...

so going to go get it checked, probably x-rayed and some new muscle relaxers for sure...

mine are over 2 years old and are just not working anymore...

so making the old man stop and get me a whopper for supper and we are stopping at Kroger...

for sure...

unless they throw my sorry butt in the hospital...

then I will have pizza delivered...

;0)

even though  its a very nice hospital...

its the last place I want to spend my weekend...

for those of you yet to do yours...

happy grocery shopping!

and shoveling...

and sliding...

let the winter games begin...

;0)

did ya ever wonder?

the story that happened under a roof?

how many it took to build that and how long?

way back when...

or how many butts have sat on those old steps?

how many fires in the stove to cook or heat the home?

what the crickets sounded like coming through those windows on a hot summer night?

how many years did that old roof protect its family inside?

or how loved this old place once was?

still is...

who planted the yucca?

or laid the stone in place?

so many stories...

how many bedtime prayers?

how many dreams?

I have been told that the ones who lived here...

were a couple named...

Everett and Lily...

and that later in life, they moved to town...

and every now and then, they ventured back...

and just sat on the front porch in the evenings...

;)

watching the old pick ups drive by...

waving at old neighbors...

generations later...

she still stands...

to remind all of those gone on...

of days of hard work...

family...

I hope you have a wonderful Monday...

;0)

and take just a moment to wave back at your grandparents and great grandparents...

I'll bet there are old front porches in Heaven...

;0)

and we're off...

into a brand new year...

a year that can be anything we chose to make it...

its time to pick a word for the year, too...

and I am not sure about it this year...

but I think I will go with hope...

HOPE

that there is still hope for me yet...

that there is hope for this world...

that hope will keep us moving forward...

with a better plan...

we rocked our new year's in on gravel roads and the oldies playing...

and taking photos and just enjoying the way God makes things..

He does such an awesome job...

Happy New Year!

another year has come and gone...

and it was mostly good...

got some things figured out...

a few things done...

a few other things we  just lived through...

we are really blessed...

there were so many things we didn't have to do...

no surgeries or hospital rooms...

we have had both kids here with us through the holidays...

and for the most part, its been nice...

being the family here...

made some new friends and said goodbye to some old ones...

we did have to say goodbye to our sister in law...

that was probably the hardest thing this year...

her passing really hits close to home...

all in all, it really wasn't a bad year here...

we have had better, but we have had so much worse years...

the guys are working...

the bills are paid...

the lights are on...

and the fridge is full...

what else do you really need?

I guess I am looking forward to 2016...

my one regret is that I have been a bad blogger this year...

really bad...

and I do care about you all...

its just...

I am living my life for the first time in years...

I am doing things...

not just sitting here trying to find things to pass the time...

I am able to do things on my own more...

and trying to do more, keep up here...

housework waits for no one...

just being able to have things done and pretty when the guys come home...

that the days aren't wasted...

that I didn't lose all that time...

this is what I do in my down time...

;0)

I need to work on a compromise on that this year...

I miss you and your humor and your ideas...

so here  is to us...

may this be our best year yet...

;0)