* MORE CREATIVE PASSIONS *

In 2013, Ron and I moved into our "first" of smaller, downsizing-homes. We rented because at the time, we weren't sure exactly where we wanted to live. It was a townhouse and had plenty of room and storage and I really loved it there. Ron...not so much... mostly because that's when his knees were finally causing him enough pain that he was almost ready to have knee-replacement surgery. I could've lived there forever, but as plans usually go...we moved, and ended up in a little condo that is almost perfect.

Some of you might remember one of the pictures I posted on my blog, shortly after we moved into the townhouse:

 

I'm posting it here again because of the paper wreath on the wall,

 and that's what has to do with "More Creative Passions"!

In my previous post, I wrote about creative passions, and my passion for writing. This post is about an artistic talent that one of my daughters-in-law has...about ONE of them, because she is multi-talented. I'll call her "M" and she made the paper wreath on the wall. You can click on the photo to see it much larger. She made lots of other 3D wall designs and I asked her around that time if she could make me a wreath, using pages from my book...when I finally got it finished, and published! After that initial conversation, I honestly forgot about it until just a few months ago, and I asked her in an email if she still made those wreaths. I never got a reply but didn't think anything more about it. She's busy, she forgot, whatever.

On Christmas Day, I was presented with the most beautiful, artistically unique, made with love and creative passion...a wall hanging, made from pages of my book. She even named it: Reading and Roses.

These are real, dried roses, and real twigs...plus the paper roses, obviously!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think it's an amazing gift and one that I will cherish forever.

 

 





Here's What You've Been Waiting For!

I'm only posting these photos now because I know my family and friends will understand my non-perfect house! So far, the only two rooms that are showable are the living room and the kitchen! 

One wall of the living room. This is my favorite part of the room! A comfy chair, large bookcase, and behind the chair is a small radio/CD player. The paper wreath over the chair was made by one of my daughters-in-law! Click on the photo for a larger view. After my book is in print, she's going to make a different one from its pages!

Another wall in the living room. As you can see, to the right is the kitchen and to the left is a hallway. The three pencil sketches above the love seat were drawn by my deceased sister, Jo Ann, in 1973. I had them hanging in the upstairs hallway in our previous house, which was silly because nobody ever saw them.

Another wall in our living room...complete with Vern on the couch! The Peace Sign blanket is his personal one! From the moment I saw that framed picture years ago, I was in love with it! But again, it had been hanging in a room where it wasn't seen very often. It's as if we have new furniture and accessories here!

Here's one view of our kitchen. I really love the huge windows we have in every room. (The Baker's Shelf is NOT finished being "decorated." Right now, it's full of junk!)

~~~

That's about it for now. Every day seems to fly by and I get a few more things accomplished. It's probably going to be a LONG time before I can post any bedroom/office photos!

* Welcome to my newest follower McGuffy Ann, from McGuffy's Reader. It hope you'll stop by often and always enjoy what you read and see! *

"A house that does not have one worn, comfy chair in it is soulless." -- May Sarton

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." -- Jane Austen

"Housework is what a woman does that nobody notices unless she hasn't done it." -- Evan Esar

"Home is where you can say anything you like 'cause nobody listens to you anyway." -- Author Unknown

* HOME UPDATE *

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm alive and well, still unpacking boxes, still donating more items to Goodwill, and not nearly finished. But one day at a time, right? The Ronald, Vern, and I are all loving our new place of residence. The second or third day we were here, I told The Ronald I feel like a newlywed, unpacking and deciding what to put where. ☺

I've only hung four items on walls so far because I have no idea where or if I'll want to hang the rest of the paintings, plaques, drawings, etc. 

The four I've hung:

A clock on a kitchen wall

A calendar on a kitchen wall

A very small plaque that says Home: Your Soft Place to Fall

A larger plaque that says Home is Where Your Story Begins 

(I think I'll cross out the "Begins" and write "Continues" on it. What are your thoughts on that?!)

I've taken a couple of photos, but haven't downloaded them onto my laptop yet, and of course I can't locate the camera and case at the moment.

I miss visiting your blogs and I'll get back into the swing of things when I can!

P.S. I did find my hairspray and makeup, but would you believe I haven't used any of it yet?? Whenever I do need to go anywhere, I just plop on my white baseball cap!

There's nothing better than being happy where you are and with what you have....

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude." -- Denis Waitley

* WE'RE HOME *

I'm definitely in one of my "What day is it?" modes. We moved into our townhouse on Easter Sunday, so I feel like Easter hasn't even arrived yet. I was at Walmart yesterday evening, picking up a few essentials.....shower curtain liner, cheapie toilet brushes, etc....And especially a can opener because we haven't found ours yet! ....and the young checker asked me how my Easter was. I had to stop for a minute and think....Uhhh, I didn't know Easter came and went already....and then I remembered....

We love our new home ....it's not a "new" townhouse, but it's new to us and I can't wait to make it completely ours. Vern has adapted really well, too, which we wondered about. The biggest obstacle...so to speak.... right now, is the maze of boxes on our living room! He's managed to squeeze through and find a place to rest and chew on a bone, or up on the couch next to us!

I'm not sure how soon we'll have internet at home, so I'm at the Bread Co right now, accepting their free wi-fi! The past few days I've been using my cell phone for texting and e-mailing, and even some web browsing, so I am HAPPY to be able to use my laptop for a little while. And it's a minor miracle that I even found my laptop and plug-in cord.....in two separate boxes! 

The main thing I just have to find today is my makeup and hair spray!!!!! I've been looking like an old hag, and I'm not exaggerating one bit!!

That's it for  now. Thanks to everyone who has left recent comments and also for recent e-mails. I hope to attempt to catch up.....someday. 

AND I'm rarin' to go to finish those last few sentences in my memoir, and add the photos!!

I'll be thinking of y'all as I unpack...

The Ronald and I definitely have wonderful friends who have given us a hand, in more ways than one. 

Have a beautiful, blissful day!

"I always tell my kids if you lay down, people will step over you. But if you keep scrambling, if you keep going, someone will always, always give you a hand. Always. But you gotta keep dancing, you gotta keep your feet moving." -- Morgan Freeman