Visitors on a cold winter's day!

Spending the weekend at the cabin and always get to enjoy mother nature!  Our living space at the cabin is actually on the second floor as the main level is a garage and shop - so our deck is off the ground one level - so we don't usually get squirrels up there - but we have them now!  This little guy was a pesky fellow  - well all squirrels to me are pesky - I am not a lover of them - despise them actually - but this guy was too funny!  Kept falling off the patio table - not sure why - maybe too much to drink?? 

And as always we have ALOT of birds - alot!   Love to watch them they are a hoot!

So how is everyone doing on de-cluttering?  I am doing good - I think! 

Well this weekend since I am not at home to do the de-cluttering, I got to thinking...maybe I should de-clutter my mind. 
Like holding onto things I am not in control of and should not probably be holding on to.  Like what other people are doing in their lives.  Instead of worrying about them and trying to help or trying how to "fix" them or why they are doing what they are .... maybe what I should be doing is just letting it go.  It's not my problem anyway.  Why do I waste my time and energy on someone else's problems.  Especially if it doesn't concern me.  And what is even worse is when it is really none of the other persons' problem to begin with.  In short - Drama.  I really don't like it - so today I made my mind up that I am "dumping" about 3 or 4 "issues" floating around in my head.  They are things that I can not change, they do not directly effect myself or any member of my family and are things I should not be involved .. . period.

So I sent a prayer up about the people involved in the issues I am dumping and I must say - I feel much better....not carrying those around - doesn't mean I won't still pray for them - just means I am not actively involved.

Also, decided that I am going to be more positive and upbeat.  It's like excerise for the brain! Ha!  Or at least that is the way I am treating it!   Every day when I wake up in the morning I am going to find 2 positive things to think about - and then at the end of the day be thankful for at least 2 positive things.

I found this today on Facebook and thought I would share it with you...goes with the de-cluttering of the mind...

 

Thank you for stopping by today - I wish you Peace and Blessings for the new year!  I hope you have good health and happiness.

and

I pray you have a calm heart.

 

Snow! Snow! Snow! Let it Snow!

This is a view from our cabin that my husband and I have been building from the ground up the last 5 years!  Talk about a journey! ha....I am "almost" a professional carpenter!  Ok...not really, but I have learned ALOT!  And not only about building a home, but about relationships WHILE building a home together - I have gained patience (family of mine - stop laughing - I have).

I have learned to trust myself and others while overcoming fears ( the fear of heights while building the second floor deck- ugh)  And I have learned the joy and pride of finishing such overwhelming tasks!  We decided 5 years ago to purchase some land in one of our favorite areas for our retirement home.  We can actually see the Mississippi River from the deck - but only in the winter when the leaves are down!  We have taken this long to build because we are on the "pay as you go" plan.  As of right now our 2 level, 2 bed, 3 bath, 2 car garage with work shop "cabin" is paid for in full!  We have alot of trim work and custom cabinet work left to do but we are working on that now.  Hubby (will refer to him as Mr. B) and I are only able to go there about every other weekend to work on it.  It is about 3 hrs from our southcentral Wisconsin home.  We tried to build a home that was energy efficient as possible.  I love it there and can not wait to retire!  It is a much simpler place to live. 

Speaking of simple....I started my de-cluttering project.  Went pretty good.  While picking thru the house I picked up a recipe that I had left laying out from Christmas that I thought I would share with everyone.  It is one of my family's favorite.  YUMMO!

Strawberry Bread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
MIX:
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cup veg/canola oil
4 eggs

ADD:
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp cinnamon

After the above are well blended add about 8-10 ounces of frozen Strawberries with juice
and stir well.  Add a couple drops of red food coloring.  Pour into 2 loaf pans and bake for one hour.

Once cooled you can top with powdered sugar before serving.  Can also put a powdered sugar glaze on the bread as well.

So as I sit here this morning and try to answer my daughter's question from last night,   "Mom, I see you started a blog - why?"  Well, good question - not sure - just felt it was something I was being pulled to do.  Like I said in my first post - I am NOT a person of schedule - would love to be!  But not probably happening.  So maybe this is Gods way of putting me in a schedule of sorts.  So this morning I was visiting one of my favorite facebook sites ( Proverbs 31 Ministries) and found this scripture: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

I like to plan but I don't always follow thru with the plans I lay out for myself - always thought I was lazy or forgetful if I didn't follow thru.  It seemed that something else always comes up or is more interesting or more fun or more important then what I planned.  Now it seems maybe God has a better plan, a more interesting fun or important one than that of mine.  ummm....something to ponder for the day. 

Day two of de-cluttering - let's see what I can find today to share with you.  I hope you try the Strawberry bread - it's so yummy!

Day to Remember....Day One!

Good Morning World! 
Day one as a "blogger"! 
The start of a new journey.  A journey into the mind of me....sit down and buckle up folks - this could be a bumpy ride!  (you might want to grab a cup of Joe  - caffeine never hurts)

First things up let me introduce you to me.... I am 51 years old and my proudest attribute to this crazy world is...I am a Grandma!  Love that word!  I am blessed to have 15 grandchildren!  My husband of 11 years and I have 6 children between the two of us - he has 3 daughters and a son and I have a daughter and a son.  I work full time outside of the house in customer service in the medical billing world.  I also have a profitable hobby... I like to paint - I paint custom to order signs, refurbished furniture, and just about anything that doesn't move!  I also like to punchneedle, crochet and knit.  Teaching myself how to make rugs using scraps of material - either by crochet or by locker hook.  I am also wanting to learn to quilt.  I guess you could say "artsy fartsy" should be my middle name!  I like crafts that re-use or re-purpose things.

I decided to start a blog to share the things that are roaming around in my brain...things to make you laugh, to inspire you, to spark creativity, to encourage, to leave this world a better place by just being you.

I think Abe Lincoln once said "Whatever you are going to be - be a good one". 

It is 5:30 am December 27 2012 and 27 degrees outside - beautiful winter day in Wisconsin.  More snow on the way tonight - about 2-4 inches!  I love the winter!  My family just all rolled their eyes as they are reading this!  ha!  I think beside my husband,  everyone else in my family either live in Florida or want to be living in Florida.  Me.... I just want to live where I can have the 4 seasons to experience in the extreme!  I want those days where it's 20 degrees BELOW zero as well as 100 degrees ABOVE!  I like change.  Not sure I ever do things the same every day - if I do it's not on purpose! 

I am a creature of change - constant change.  What I think I may like or want today is not usually what I want tomorrow.  This reeks havoc with my organizational skills - or lack of!  And with the start of the new year right around the corner I have lofty plans of sticking to a schedule and organizing my life!

First thing up - DE-CLUTTER!  I have a plan - everyday for 15 minutes - I will take two plastic grocery bags around the house .  In one bag I will place at least 6 items of trash.  The trash can be old bills, junk mail, newspapers, items that are broke and can't be repaired and etc... In the other bag I will place at least 3 items of things I no longer have a need for and will give to Goodwill.  This can include clothing and craft supplies.  I want to try this for the whole month of January.  This will be a tough one as I may have to do this while the hubby is not in the house - he saves EVERYTHING!  Drives me crazy! 

Join me if you dare to DE-CLUTTER!  I know I need to make room in my life and world for the things that really matter.  God and my family.

Please share your ideas and thoughts on De-cluttering - I know I will need them!

Welcome aboard!  Enjoy the journey!
Please invite Peace to your day.  It tastes good with the coffee.