Thanksgiving

This has been one HECK of a year for my family. It was last year at this time that we just came off of a 3 month no-job-barely-any-income status to a yes-job-barely-any-income status. This has been a good month, financially, and we are all sighing big but the battle is still ahead. We are working with an agency to try to get our mortgage situation back on track. Yes, we are 'the' statistic out there, with people struggling to make mortgage payments and the "foreclosure reaper" hanging out on the back deck.

BUT, we have even more to be thankful this year. DH and I are a million times more humble than we were last year. A million times more faithful. A million times more grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Truly.

Not to be corny but my etsy shop has a Black Friday special going on right now- 15% off everything-- in store or custom order.

And, finally, to toss it all in one post:

Love you and miss you 7 years, Mom. XOX

I've been tagged!

Does this mean I've truly 'arrived' in Blogland?

Anyway, here's my assignment :-)

A. I've been tagged by Sabrina of http://mylilsliceofpie.blogspot.com/ She's another SewingMama- which is another amazingly cool and inspiring place to be a member of. In checking out her blog recently, I see she won a contest (I LOVE blog contests!) by Dawn of http://olabelhe.blogspot.com/, another SewingMama that I've gotten inspiration from. Go and visit her too! Sabrina tagged her, as well. Sabrina also posted a recipe that I am itching to try!

Now to my assignment:

B. 7 Random/Weird Things about me (oh boy!LOL):

1. I am a Virgo and, while not neat and tidy by any stretch, I am VERY particular about certain things. For example, I hate my bed and sheets all messed up. I really have a hard time getting comfortable if the sheets and blankets aren't 'just so'(which is not like my dh at all, btw)

2. At age 14, I went to LiveAid with my cousins in PA and had the time of my life! I saw all kinds of legends-- Tina Turner, Mick Jagger-- and saw my all time favorite band member, John Taylor, who I LOVED at the time more than the air I breathe! He was in both DuranDuran and The Power Station performing that day. ~dreamy sigh~ I still think he's 'the bomb'. He even shares my Dad's birthday, how funny is that?

3. I am motherless and have been since the age of 31. Ok, that's a sad random fact but true. She died 7 years ago this week and I don't know how the time has passed so quickly and so slowly all at the same time. I've still not gone through her effects yet (the ones we moved here after we cleaned out the house).

4. Let's get more upbeat.. Those who only know me in Blogland don't know that I'm just a hair under 6ft tall. I didn't always love it but I do now. I love that I don't need a step stool to reach something and that I don't even own one. I don't love trying to buy pants that are long enough but I do love wearing heels and commanding a room when I walk in (ok that's a total secret .. shh.. LOL)

5. I'm a Survivor Junkie. Yes, it feels like one of those things you start with "My name is Tonya and I am a Survivor Junkie" I've followed every season and missed very few shows. When I have, I catch up with them online.

6. I am a people watcher. Yep, I'm a total nose-bag LOL. I love to watch people and how they interact and how they talk to each other and their children. And then compare it to our wacky ways of dealing with things LOL

7. And lastly, when given the choice 15 years ago whether I wanted a diamond engagement ring or a honeymoon in Ireland, I chose the honeymoon in Ireland. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my lifetime and I ache to get the opportunity to go back again someday. I told my dh "I'd rather go to Ireland than have a rock on my finger any day!" I'd been engaged one time before and had a ring and it really didn't mean anything so I learned then that objects over experiences isn't usually what I am looking for. So, 14 years of marriage later, I've never had a diamond engagement ring. And I don't care.

There you have it! That last one was more like a 'two-fer'.

Now for those who are getting tagged! ;-)

1. The StoneAged Techie -I met Karen and her boys at a great outdoor event at Capen Hill

2. LoveLeighThings -A terrific blogland friend with a very fun blog to visit!

3. CheryinMA -A friend IRL and a fellow homeschooler of which I could visit her blog more often if her music didn't crash my cruddy system everytime LOL

4. BlueberryCottage -Another friend IRL whose blog I like to visit for inspiration to be a more mindful parent- a mission that I am on every day.

5. Vegbee - Not only does she blog adorable pics of her babies, she has a fabulous blog that I go back to frequently! Tutes Galore!!

6. Kip - Another SewingMama who sews for boys only! What a concept! I admire her for doing what I usually don't-- heehee. I save most my sewing for beautiful girlie things but, ahem, I do have THREE men here. ~shaking head~

7. Aiti -Yet another SewingMama who does AMAZING work, sells on HyenaCart and Etsy, works with many hard to find fabrics and I won a gift certificate at her blog!

And there you have it, Ladies! Tag, you're it!

So Many Pictures!!

We had a spectacular weekend. It's nice to even be able to say that.

Saturday, we had a church fair and picked up a great fare-- tape player for Puppy Feet, homemade pickle for LilLady, a Barbie sewing machine (more later), and some yummy treats. The oldest didn't find anything, which put him out immensely.

The sewing machine came home and LilLady was very excited to use it! It works but likes to be threaded. And re-threaded. And re-threaded. Oh, and rethreaded. But she did make the three sides to this pillow, fill it with scraps, and then let me teach her how to hand sew.

On Sunday, we had an opportunity to go to Worcester Art Museum with some friends. They had sculpture making, bulb planting, a scavenger hunt and snacks! The two younger children and I went and it was truly a really nice afternoon.

Enjoy the pictures!

Back on Track

Ok,

Saw this posted somewhere and HAD to share.

Go, look, and laugh your butt off!

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Latest Up to the Minute News??

NBC: Obama elected 44th president

Really? Truly? It's 11:39 pm here and I just went cold. My stomach fell to the floor and I feel sick.

Is it true?

Hopefully, I'll wake up tomorrow and it'll all have been a miscounted dream..