New Day......

It's my last blog post for 2013. It's been a blessed year for my family.
I made it through another year without having chemo, yea for me!!
Tomorrow is a new day, for some it's a chance to start over. Maybe to save more money, or get a new job. It's a chance to start on that diet that you forgot about last January. What ever you choose to improve on in 2014 follow through with it. Make a list and post it where you can see it often. May your journey in 2014 be filled with love, laughter and good health.
Happy New Year!!

Hibernation......

Hibernation is a good thing.....
   I folded up my snowman blanket this morning and headed into the shop. If I didn't have the most amazing job in the whole world I would have never came out from under my warm fuzzy blanket.
   I came home Friday evening and hibernated all weekend. Movies, naps and playing with the puppies. Staying home all weekend in the warmth of your home is good for the soul.
   Everyone should hibernate every now and then.

I'm a winner......

Everyone found lottery tickets in their stocking's. Tradition is you can't scratch till all the presents are open. The suspense was building--Patrick was first to uncover his with no wins. Sarah and Sandra zero, nothing. On the other hand Blake says, I'm a winner, yes, I'm a winner. A big $20 bucks.

 Sandra informed him that he was paying for dinner on Friday night. What you talking about baby...I always buy your dinner!

My Boys.....

My kids, Sandra and Blake, Sarah and Patrick.
 Thomas and I had such an awesome Christmas with them. We laughed till we cried. The house was filled with love and laughter. Both of our girls have had their hearts broken as many girls have. When they weren't looking Patrick and Blake appeared and they have never been happier. To see Sarah and Sandra beam with happiness and their hearts filled with love is priceless.
I couldn't ask for two more perfect guys for my girls.
Sarah and Patrick will wed this October. Sandra and Blake--their getting their.
We raise our children with the hope they will find happiness and live happy ever after. That doesn't always happen but when it does a Mother's heart fills with so much joy that some days you feel like shouting from the roof tops. Blake and Patrick, love my boys......

Glow of the Christmas trees....

Thomas and I have been relaxing for the last few hours watching movies by the glow of the Christmas trees. We have everything ready. All the presents are under and around the tree. Desserts are done and one of our fresh hams is ready to be put in the oven come morning. Sarah and Sandra are making all the sides which makes it easy for us.
Bristol is curled up on the couch and Miss Lily is napping beside me. Temperature reads 19 outside but the fire is toasty inside.
Christmas blessing to our friends. May the true meaning of Christmas fill your home this season

The rush is over......

Felt pretty good  turning out the lights and locking the door today at the flower shop. My work is done for this Christmas season. I designed my last (I hope) centerpiece at 4:55. Also, delivered the last box of Christmas goodies. The rush is over, now I can relax and enjoy the holiday season. No more party's, no rushing to get presents bought. and no more cookies to ice. But...I did get a call just a while ago-could I make one more batch of fudge. Can't turn my friends down...
I have to admit I was feeling pretty down last week. There is just so much you can do in a 24 hour day. I was burning the candle at both ends and it caught up with me. It's now time to turn all my attention on Thomas, Sarah and Sandra. I even have a future son-in-law to spoil this season and maybe one more. It's going to be a blessed Christmas at our home. The six of us setting around opening our presents ,laughing and enjoying time together. The only thing that's missing is Amanda Dee.

Happy Everything......

Happy Everything ..reminds me of a story I read the other day about a Mom who thinks she has to do everything for Christmas. She never turned down an invitation to a Christmas party. She had dozens of cookies to bake and presents to wrap. The last few weeks found her away from home every night. When is enough, enough. This is about how I feel. I've been gone every night so far this week, either at a meeting or a party or helping my Bestie Linda. I've got cookies to ice and more cookies too bake for my gift boxes and a few presents left to wrap, plus been working every day-people need their Christmas centerpieces. If you set down when you come home it's over cause you will never get back up. You can't make everyone happy and you will never have enough cookies to give as presents. So maybe making, "Happy Everything" is not what makes Christmas. Maybe some won't get their cookie box or they might not see me at the next gathering. I might just be home curled up on the couch covered in my Frosty the Snowman blanket watching a Hallmark Christmas movie.

Wordless Wednesday.......

The cookie maker.....

Not for sure who's having the most fun me or Theo... he's been busy getting ready for the holidays. Someone suggested he needs to go to the flower shop one day and design Christmas centerpieces. I'm sure he would enjoy that too.
Just never know where you'll find Theo!!

Wordless Wednesday......

4,380.......

4,380, that's the number of days since I heard, "Sorry, but the test came back cancer."
Still today I get numb when I think of hearing those words. In a split second all your loved ones flash in front of your eyes and that's when I lost it. After 12 years I still don't remember the drive home. After a few weeks of research and getting a third opinion I decided that if cancer was going to get me it better be ready for the fight of its life. Everyday is a struggle whether you admit it or not. Cancer is always on your mind and it will drive you insane if you allow it to.
A few years back I did have to take three months of chemo. It tried to jump ahead of me and with the treatments I knocked it back down. Chemo is good but it wears down your body. Chemo kills the bad guys (cells) but it also kills the good guys too. Guess you have to take the good with the bad.
4,380 that's a lot of days of kicking butt. I will never give up, I will continue to fight cancer with everything I have.

Wordless Wednesday.....

Goodie totes........

Goodie totes are almost full for Sarah and Sandra. As many of you know this has been a tradition since they were little girls. You just never know what they will find in their totes. It's always the last present they open. Anticipation builds as they can hardly wait to see what I have been buying all year long. As you can see from last year's photo they are checking out the hand cream. There are a few things that must be in the tote and hand cream is one of them.



Theo update....he found a new friend today!!

Hello, Theo.....

Going to have some fun with, "Elf on the shelf" this holiday season. I named my elf, Theo. Each day Theo will be in a different place. He might be inside or maybe outside getting some fresh air. It's going to be exciting to see how many places he can be till Christmas day. I'm going to do my best to post each day on Facebook and will include his adventures in my journey here. Sure hope Theo has as much fun as I will.

Your blessings......

      Count your blessing's name them one by one, count your many blessing see what God hath done.

Bub's birthday......

Happy Birthday to Diesel or as I call him, "Bub."
Bub is nine today and we celebrated with all the things he likes, marshmallows, doggie cookies and pancakes. When Diesel was born he wasn't breathing, Sarah took him in her hands and breathed for him and after awhile he started to breath on his own. All 180 pounds of him loves Sarah to pieces. He knows what she did for him and the bond between them is very special. Happy Happy Birthday Bub!!

1pm.....

Remembering.......

Wordless Wednesday

Farm to table.....

Jubilee enjoyed a wonderful meal at Harvest located on Market Street in Louisville. From the time you walk in to the last bite it's a comforting dining experience. Harvest prides it's self as being a farm to table restaurant. 80% of the ingredients are grown from within 100 miles of Louisville.

Farmers from our area are noted on the wall. As you can see Jackson County is listed but during this season no farmer was named. The white pins represents farmers providing food now. To the left of the map are their pictures with a short story about their farm.

I enjoyed the Harvest steak with a loaded potato cake, hardwood grilled carrot slaw and apple bourbon steak sauce.
If you're in Louisville and you have time stop in and enjoy a wonderful dinning experience.

Christmas Party.....

What a fun time we had at our Christmas party. The average group celebrates in December, but we're not average ladies. December is far to busy for us to exchange gifts and enjoy a great meal. Harvest is an amazing place. I'll write more in a few days on the decor and food. Ho Ho Ho!!

Wordless Wednesday.......

Tis the season......

It's been a busy few days. Seems I've caught myself coming and going. A customer commented, "tis the season." I had to laugh, I guess it is.
I've been busy getting things outside ready for the winter. The shop is bustling getting ready for the Christmas season. Open house is next week and on top of that decorating business and homes.
Saturday afternoon was a fun time as we decorated Bob Poynter GM. We had so much fun. Hard work, but fun. If you get the chance stop in. If your not in the market for a new car just tell them you're there to see the "Winter Wonderland'." Make sure you see the sleeping polar bear. He's six foot long and you can watch him breath as he sleeps. Other bears are life size and they move from side to side.

 

Wordless Wednesday.....

Infinite beauty....

    Nature is a painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have eyes to see them. ~John Ruskin

Bonfire......

Nothing better than setting by the fire on a cool night. Roasting marshmallows and watching Derrick and his friends play, "Maxie Amazing Race."  The kids learned how hard it was to roast your marshmallows to golden perfection to receive your next clue. Making a cow from mud, sticks and rocks. Finding apples at night and lifting rocks to find worms.

Hadley kept his eye on the kids running around and I believe he even got a few bites of their hot-dog. Such a great night to just set by the fire and enjoy the evening at the Maxie farm.

Humble......

The last couple days I've been judging Floralculture at the 86th National FFA Convention. Today I was honored to meet Ana from New Mexico. Ana stood in line just like every other FFA member to begin the rotation of floral contest. Each team consist of four members and Ana waited with her team. We were told there would be a member that would have a shadow (an adult to assist if needed) with them through out the day.
Ana took her place at the design table and begin sorting her flowers. You see Ana is considered blind. She can see some things if they are very close to her eyes and with the help of special glasses. We all were amazed and humbled with Ana. Not letting this one small thing stop her from competing with her fellow FFA members. Some of us stopped what we were doing and watched Ana design her arrangement. Not one time did she ask for help from the shadow. It brought some of us to tears, what an inspiration Ana was to us.
   We complain every day about something, our list is endless. There we all were with almost perfect sight and as I said before-we were humbled.


     The most beautiful people are the ones who are unaware of their beauty.~ Francine Chair
   

Wordless Wednesday....

Blue and Gold.....

The National FFA Convention begins tomorrow in Louisville. I've been ask to help judge floral arrangements again.
These young adults are so eager to learn and to be the best that they can be. There are no limits to what they can achieve. As I set and watch them during their meetings I wonder which ones will be CEO of their own company. How many will become engineers, lawyers, scientist. Maybe president of the USA. As I said before there are no limits to what an FFA member can achieve.

I remember when.....

Remember the good-ole days? How many times have you heard your parents say, "I remember when...."  I took this picture on Friday. I was so excited to see the price of gas under $3.00 that I had to snap a photo. Seems gas prices keep dropping. When I left work today they were down to $2.89. Guess the best thing for all of us to do is keep our tank full, never know when it might jump back to $3.89. I've seen gas change four times in one day. I even remember the day gas jumped to a dollar a gallon. Folks were saying, "what is this world coming to."

Blessings of the day......

Nothing better on a cool crisp fall morning than the smell of smoke from Daddy's wood stove. As I made my way to the garage the frost glistens off the grass. I take a moment to look around at this beautiful morning.

The maple tree is blazing with color as the morning sun makes each leaf shine.

The day begins at the flower shop by designing a casket spray. The family explained to me that Mom loved fall and could I possibly include some fall leaves with sunflowers.

The family called in and wanted me to know-"Mom would have loved it, it's perfect."
 God gives each one of us a gift. We each are blessed with a talent. So thankful that He blessed me with the ability to take a simple leaf and design a beautiful arrangement.
I'm thankful for the many blessings of the day......

Wordless Wednesday.......

Birthday.......

Today is my birthday.... I've been blessed all day with Facebook wishes, phone text, calls, birthday cards and presents. How special everyone has made me feel. Blessed to be surrounded by such love and good friends.

 Blessed to have loving parents, an amazing husband and two beautiful daughters that fill my heart with such joy. Thankful for each one of my friends..
Spent my day doing what I love-shopping for antiques, working in my gardens and mowing.  Receiving birthday wishes from those I love.....priceless.

Wordless Wednesday......

Uncle Hubbie.......

Took Daddy to visit his brother Hube, (Uncle Hubbie to me) this afternoon. What a great visit they had. Uncle Hubbie will be 92 years young this week. I told Daddy last week that we would go visit with him the next time I get a day off. Today was the day and Daddy was like a kid in the candy store. He was all smiles and couldn't get his coat on fast enough.
Uncle Hubbie was excited to see Daddy, when Daddy came in the door he hollered, "Hey, it's my little brother, June". June is what Daddy's brothers and sisters call him. Daddy was named after his Dad. To make it simple, Mamaw Brumett nick named him "June" so she would only have one William in the house.
They talked non-stop about their days on the mountain and I heard them talking about Mr. Cox. Boy, have I heard stories about him. As we were ready to head home they gave each other a hug, said, I love you a couple times and hugged again.
What a blessing today was.......

Shades of fall......

It was a crazy Monday, I couldn't design fast enough. No sooner would I have a color section full it would be empty after a few customers. Everyone was requesting fall colors. Shades of orange, yellow and reds.











As you can see the customers were not interested in shades of pink.

Wordless Wednesday......

Daylight hours......

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.      ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Crisp, cool and chilly......

Finally, October is here. My favorite time of the year. It's a beautiful month. Crisp cool mornings, chilly nights. Great cuddling weather.