Antiquing

I love antiquing or junking. I could spend hours in antique stores. When I found this
http://www.antiquesofcameron.com/events.htm and realized it was only about 35 miles away, I began to drool...well, not really drool because, you know, that would be pretty disgusting.

But I did start planning a trip for this Saturday. After checking the weather, it looks iffy...It is giving thunderstorms for Saturday. So we will see...

Something that exciting, that close to where I am! I must go, I just must...........

Southern Living

Have you seen this cover on the new Southern Living? How gorgeous is this? I LOVE hydrangeas! These are beautiful! I would love to have several big beautiful bushes full of these blooms in my yard. In fact, I think I will go to Lowe's and buy a couple of them to plant at the end of my porch. Wow! These flowers combined with the rough, rustic look of the boxes is devine. Like eye candy.

If you don't already have a subscription to Southern Living, click on the photo and get yourself a monthly subscription. There's nothing like reading about all things southern. Besides, the photo's are awesome. This would be a great idea for a Mothers Day gift for your mom or someone special. The deal is great, two subscriptions for only $16! That is terrific. Rush on over there right now and get a great deal. I just did.

What I am reading now...

I am the type of person that can't just read one book at a time. I usually have several going at once. Usually they are totally different books. These are the ones I am involved with at the moment.

Because I love to read about writing. My dream has always been to become a published writer. I started writing very young. I remember in seventh grade writing my "first book". I have always written poems, and have had a poem published in high school. About ten years ago I had an article I wrote published. It was a small publication, and unpaid...but I was in print. While in college, a professor of mine wanted me to submit several of my writings for publication. But I got sidetracked trying to graduate and didn't ever submit them. While in college I also wrote a children's book and sent it to several children's publishers, but got several rejection letters. One letter actually said that it wasn't the writing, but they just didn't feel that it was what they were looking for at the time. I have considered taking it out and dusting it off, doing some editing and re-submitting it to some other publishers...but sometimes life takes priority.

I have neglected my writing for years, while busy doing other things, mostly raising a family. But lately I have considered trying to revive my creative side. I now have a desk and work space that is all my own, so there is really no excuse anymore.

This is my space in our bonus room. The window looks out onto the front yard and the cul de sac where we live. I haven't done anything here but put the desk and chair. I need to get better window treatments and put up some art work. I need something that will inspire me...

This book I am reading because I am always interested in food and what's good to eat. I read Michael Pollan's other book; In Defense of Food. Today while in the library I found this one on the shelf and decided to read it now.

Oh, Ina Garten, what can I say about Ina? I love her. She is my favorite celeb cook. She seems like the kind of lady that I would enjoy just sitting down at her table and talking and eating like old friends. She is my kind of cook. Besides, I love her house. This back to basics book is great. I just love cookbooks. I collect them. But I have to have a cookbook that has photo's in it. If there are no photo's, I don't want it. Hers are filled with beautiful photo's.

This one I bought some time back at Goodwill for like 50 cents or so. When I got my bookshelves up, and started putting my books out so I could actually see what I had, I found it again. So since I am trying to revive my writing side, I thought it would help inspire me to jump back into the writing mindset.

Here are my shelves. They are just rough, nothing fancy, just a place to put my books. Even this isn't enough room. So I have to decide where to put more shelves for more books.

Now I have visions of getting up early in the morning, going out onto my front porch and spending a little time curled up on the settee reading. It is still a little cool here in the mornings and the neighborhood is quiet, just perfect for reading and enjoying the sounds of birds chirping. The only problem with that is, I can't seem to beat Noah up every morning. He is an early riser. At three, he usually doesn't get to sleep until 9:00 or a little after, but he is up and at 'em by 6:00 or 6:15 every morning. This morning he did sleep until 7:30! Which is really sleeping in for him. I wish he were a little more like his sisters in the fact that they like to sleep late. He however, takes after Andrew. They are both morning people. Sunday morning Andrew was up before 6:00, not because he had to be, but he just couldn't sleep anymore!

Speaking of which, this is his area. Of course, ignore the chair looking thing with the blanket folded on it. I actually have his chair in my area. So until I get another one, he is using that thing to sit on. As you can see, we still haven't gotten everything unpacked and in order, but it is functional enough until we pull it all together. The other part of the room has a futon for sitting and for a guest sleeping area. I plan to get a sleeper sofa to replace the futon, but for now, it will have to do. I am getting a living room set first! Basically the area's of the house that people will see when they come to visit are being taken care of first, then we will move to our area's for fixin' up.

Neglectful

A weed is but an unloved flower.

Ella Wilcox, 1855 - 1919

Yes, the last few days I have been neglectful of this blog. I have been somewhat busy, but mostly there hasn't been much going on worth writing down here. Well nothing that anyone would really be interested in hearing or reading, should I say.

Today we made our first trip to the local library. Yes, I am getting slack. We've been here a month and I just made my way there to get a library card. That was usually one of the first trips I would make when moving to a new place. The library we chose was a small one, and a bit on the warm side. I sure hope they run the air conditioners during the summer, because if it is always that hot, I won't be going often.

Over the weekend we did work around the house. I went to Lowe's and bought some plants for the planters on the porch and got those planted. We visited another church. It is our second to try out since coming here. We will go back tomorrow night and again Sunday. Then we will probably try another one or two before deciding which one to make our home church.

Thursday I go back to the doctor to have that biopsy. I will be glad to get that over. I have tried again this week to put it out of my head. Just continue to say a prayer for me.

Well, like I said, not much going on to write home about. It sure is hot here. I was hoping it would be somewhat cooler here than Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas...but we have had quite the warm spell lately and I have to say, it is pretty warm here. Probably not as humid as Louisiana and south Texas, but boy heat is heat...and it has been hot. We are suppose to get some storms the end of the week and the weekend, so maybe that will bring cooler weather.

I have to end here. I am talking about the weather! That shows how little I have going on right now. Sorry, I will try to come up with something better than discussing the weather conditions for my next post.

Today's Thoughts

Sit quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself

~ A Zen Saying~

Life is like a taxi. The meter just keeps a-ticking whether you are getting somewhere or just standing still

~Lou Erickso~

For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin--real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life

~Alfred D. Souza~

News Footage

Here is a link to the news footage about the vandalism of our church in North Little Rock.


http://cfc.katv.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=38870



And some raw video from the security video at the church.

http://cfc.katv.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=38844

Church Vandalism

Getting ready to hit the flea market today. It is a sunny and warm day, just the kind of day to look for junk!

Got an email this morning that our beloved church in North Little Rock was vandalized last night. I was so saddened by the news.

I couldn't put my finger on any of my photo's of the church, so I found this one on the internet. I don't know who took it or I would give them credit.

I am anxious to hear how much damage was done. Hopefully not as bad as originally thought.

I was told that there was damage to both buildings. What exactly I am not sure.

If you have never seen this church, you should make a special trip just to see it. It is beautiful. But the best part are the services. The Spirit of God moves in mighty ways. There is such a beautiful Spirit flowing freely there.

If your ever in Little Rock, go by and take a tour. There is always someone there to show you around. There is a book store inside open during the day.

I truly miss the church and the people there so much. Because there isn't another FPC anywhere! Nothing like it anywhere. Now I need to find a cd from one of the church services to take along with me today to listen to in the car. So I can feel like I am there...

A Doctor, a Banker and Me

Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke...

But it really was my day.

The doctors appointment that I had for a little, uh...proceedure...well I got there and found out that the doctor had been called out to the hospital for an emergency surgery. So I had to reschedule my appointment. So now I have a whole week for the stress and worry to ruminate and build...

Before the doctor, actually on the way to the doctor, I stopped to get a small drink so I could take some pain medicine before the actual procedure. Would you believe my debit card was almost confiscated! The other day I went to town and found a skirt that I wanted to buy. Such a rare event but true, anyway, I got to the register and my debit card wouldn't work. It wasn't declined, it just would do anything. The machine just kept saying attempting approval, or something along those lines. So I had to use another debit card. Today the girl at the window went over and talked to another lady, the manager, with my card and they both looked at me and then came to the window and I asked if there was a problem. She said that it was telling them to keep the card!! What? Well if I hadn't had a problem in Chicago this past summer I would have freaked out. This past summer we were traveling and they put a fraud alert on my card and I couldn't use it until I contacted my bank and the fraud protection department. So I figured since it was an out of state bank and I was spending in another state, well...

So I presented my debit card on an account in state and it had the same name on it so the very nice lady let me have my other card back.

Immediately I called Andrew to call the bank to get it straightened out. Cause, I NEED my debit card...

In a little while I find out that my procedure has been cancelled and I have to wait another week to have it done. Then I find out that some account numbers were stolen or something and all those debit cards were cancelled on the 20th, after everyone had been sent new cards...

The only problem is, you guessed it, I didn't get a new card because we moved and it didn't get sent to our new address. If it can go wrong, it will, and usually at the most inopportune time.

Oh well, such is life and it could be so much worse. I am not at all blind to this fact. This little melodrama that played out today for me is NO BIG DEAL. I know in the scheme of things, it was nothing but a little distraction from a usually ordinary, dull, boring day...