March Sadness/Madness Notes

I haven't written much lately.

Little inspiration nudging me to put my thoughts down.

Late winter & spring have been a bit of a downer for me for some reason...nothing to put my finger on.

But, in the past few weeks since March 11th I've been obsessed with world news, specifically anything to do with Japan's tragic earthquake & tsumani. CNN has replaced HGTV in my life--whoa! Serious, heartbreaking, life-changing, TV, as it was in Indonesia & Haiti & New Orleans & of course 9/11. Life crisis on a grand scale.

I've been mesmerized:(

Add to that the opposite; fun hair-raising, nail-biting March Madness, with UNC & Duke going to the Sweet Sixteen & my UNC team making it to the Elite Eight. Watching both teams play great ball has been exhilarating:) A great feat since Keith & I have taken two weekend trips out of town since the Madness began! You should try finding sports stations on a car radio traveling through numerous states or trying to find a TV at each place you visit which is broadcasting your game!!

Well, this afternoon Kentucky ended UNC's ride. UNC began their season looking pretty pitiful, but ended it going further than the 2010 NCAA champs' Duke!

Way to go Heels:)

But I will miss watching/hearing your every move, keeping me on edge, making me feel like I might have a heart attack, for 2 solid hours per game.

(Also cheered wildly for Duke until they were stopped in their tracks last week. They did well too:))

An exciting tournament this year!

I've been mesmerized:)

As for Japan & their people, I hope & pray they will come out of their desperate situation somehow better than before, yet knowing with thousands dying, March 11th will go down in history as one of the tragic dates filled with unbearable sadness.

In these times, we never tire of the countless heroic stories. Hope springs eternal in the deepest of pits.

What will nuclear power plants do in the future to prepare for the safety of people during a crisis?

How can we prepare for a tsumani?

How can the world help?

How can one individual help--One contribution, one kindness, one prayer, at a time.

A Family Project

Last Saturday, spurred on by DIL Kelley's offer to help, I invited all the family to join me in a painting party, painting our living room, stairwell, & second floor landing:)

A great idea because it felt pretty daunting to do such an undertaking on my own:)

After the family pitched in to help me paint our bedroom for Mother's Day 2 years ago, & it turned out looking super fine, I figured I was in good hands:)

I asked Kelley what day suited her & she answered immediately that March 5th was good for her. Good for extra "womanpower" too, since Skye would be home:)

So, the previous Tuesday & Thursday I stripped the border off the living room walls (took 2 hours to put up & 6 hours to remove!) & taped off the trim work.

Saturday morning Cameron, Seth, Kelley, & Three arrived about 9am. Cameron had picked up Bojangles' biscuits to "fortify" us for our day's work--a bit heavy cholesterol-wise, but oh so good:)! Armed with coffee and a sausage & egg biscuit, I was ready to tackle the project:)

Kelley, Skye, & I grabbed our brushes & rollers & began painting the living room walls gray--Evening Twilight by Velspar. Went on like cream:) It has primer in it & covered in one coat like a dream:)

I do recommend it!

While we painted, the guys were discussing how to rig up the ladder to reach the stairwell ceiling, a real bugaboo:( That discussion & figuring out the solution lasted about as long as it took us girls to finish painting the living room!

But, the logistics were ironed out, a trip to Lowe's was involved, & Skye volunteered to "scale the heights" of the tall ladder to do the trim brush work along the ceiling while Cameron held the ladder.

Cameron rolled part of the stairwell, Seth rolled the last wall of the living room while Kelley zipped out the landing (with a little help from me), & finished rolling the stairwell with Seth's help.

And Keith did the dirty job of cleaning the brushes & pans & rollers:)!

Great teamwork:)

Kelley, I so appreciate your offer to help. It wouldn't have happened without you!

PS. Seth looked after Three-Three & Wyatt during all this commotion:) Plus ordered pizza for lunch:)

By 3, all was FINISHED:)!! The walls looked clean & fabulous!!

We were all TIRED!

But I must say there's no better way to get a project done:)

Thank you, Kelley, Seth, Cameron, Skye & Keith:)

The End of February--Whew.

Today is the last Sunday of February.

I am glad to see it go.

Either we've had freezing weather or occasional days of mild weather with harsh gusty winds (dislike wind).

And little rain.

Forecasters tell us we're already in a drought--this may make for a long 2011.

March may have winter like days/nights but in reality it's the beginning of spring in NC.

Buds are sprouting, forsythia is blooming, daffodils are appearing, cherry trees are blooming.

Spring is always uplifting for the soul.

Sunrises & sunsets are glorious.

The nights are still chilly, but as the day progresses the air warms & swirls around us like bathwater.

Birds are singing:)

People become less grumpy:)

Everybody flocks outdoors.

I feel joy renewed.

“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again

Sarah Ban Breathnach

On My Mind Lately

1. K. & I need to make a will & fill out End of Life forms.

2. The house needs: painted outside, painted inside, wallpaper stripped in living room & kitchen & master bath, hardwoods refinished, bathrooms remodeled, living room carpet replaced, kitchen updated. Whew!

3. Dream of a trip to Scotland; for our 45th wedding anniversary & to take Skye to see the Isle of Skye (with all the family:))

4. Always wanted to do a family trip to upstate NY to show the kids where K. & I lived as newlyweds.

5. Would love a family trip to Santa Fe, NM, & the Grand Canyon.

6. Dream of traveling to San Francisco, taking a train across the US & through Canada, seeing Glacier National Park, visiting Europe.

7. Should be more careful with my Diabetic diet--definitely should!

8. Reading on my Kindle "A Journey" by Tony Blair...very good!

8. Am I doing what the Lord requires of me?

My Valentine

“Here is the deepest secret nobody knows.

Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

And the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

Which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide.

And this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart.

I carry your heart.

I carry it in my heart.”

E.E. Commings

Growing Old Gracefully...

2011.

A new year.

It brings thoughts of promise;

new beginnings,

new dreams,

old dreams fulfilled,

more time with precious friends,

less time complaining,

eating well,

walking more,

reading the Bible more,

reading more,

smiling more,

hugging more,

treasuring family times,

traveling,

encouraging others,

being kind,

loving the unlovable,

comforting those in need,

being more compassionate,

reaching out to others,

resting peacefully,

being still,

lavishing loved ones with love,

savoring a good cup of coffee,

relishing the moment,

looking up,

thinking before speaking,

laughing at myself,

traveling more,

being thankful,

saying thank you,

praying without ceasing,

praising the Lord,

allowing myself to be inspired anew,

and....

maybe buying a pair of red cowgirl boots:)

Christmas in Photos

Saturday, Christmas morning, everybody gathered here at 8am to open gifts & have Christmas brunch--egg & sausage casserole, oj, coffee, blueberries, & tea rings.

Opening gifts took a while, especially with Wyatt & Three Three entertaining us simultaneously:) Skye loved her aqua KitchenAid mixer, Keith was excited about his gas blower, Cameron really liked his Rock Band Keyboard, Kelley seemed glad to see her king comforter, & I loved my jewelry & new Kindle cover:)! Blessings galore:)

By noon, S&K & Three Three had to leave to celebrate at K's mom & dad's. Cameron stayed on most of the afternoon.

Snow was forecast for the afternoon/evening so we were all on snow watch:) I prayed for enough snow I wouldn't have to work Sunday:) And, low & behold, the Lord answered that prayer! By the following morning we had 7 inches of the most glorious fluffy white stuff!! A first for NC on Christmas!

My extra special Christmas treat...a Sunday to sleep in, rest, & pack for our trip to Pa. A day for our part of the world to be calm & quiet since most activities in the area were cancelled--no church, no traffic, just a peaceful beautiful snow day in N.C. A day to look forward to our time the following week with the Mc Clan, a whole week away from regular routine, a week to be with family.

So sweet:)