Not quite how we planned...

Did you ever have a perfect plan and it not work out quite the way you envisioned? Well that's what happened yesterday. I have talked about my girlfriend Holly before. We've been friends forever and the two of us are very much members of each other's family. Growing up, I would go with Holly to her camp just outside of Franklin. It is so peaceful and serene up there. And I always said that I wanted to honeymoon there. Years before I even started dating, I asked "Mom and Dad" if I could use it when I got married. And when Kenny and I got engaged and started discussing possible honeymoon destinations we realized that we didn't have a whole lot of money. So, I asked him if he would care just going up to the camp. He didn't. He understood my reasoning. Planning a wedding is so hectic and stressful. I wanted to regroup, to regain my senses and just plain relax. I asked Mom and Dad if their offer on the camp was still in effect and they said of course. So that's what we did. We drove up to the camp on Sunday. Took in a little Franklin, a little nature, a little peace and quiet. It was definitely more romantic than some old cruise ship. That camp, which Holly's mom over the years turned into a second home, will always be my peaceful haven and honeymoon bungalow.

Now Holly's mom passed away on my dad's birthday, March 16, 2005. And her father has moved up to the camp permanently. So, on our way to Franklin yesterday, I fulfilled my ongoing promise to come and see him. We never did make it into Franklin. He was so pleased to see us pull up. We sat outside for a little bit. I gave him some heck for condition of the camp. Nancy would have pitched a fit if she saw it looking like that. And we got to talking. He commented that he and Paul (Holly's older brother who has Down's Syndrome) were probably going to ride into town later to get something to eat. He hardly ever cooks. Nancy always did. He doesn't even really know how. So I offered to make him something. He wanted spaghetti with meat sauce to eat later that night. He's so sweet, he offered me a jar of Ragu and told me that I could use that and just add some meat and doctor it up a little. Now no self-respecting Italian uses jarred sauce. He did have a few cans of tomato sauce though. I checked out his pantry and he had the right seasonings. So I made it from scratch. He was thrilled. I put in a pyrex dish and put it in the fridge (which I cleaned out.) Then I picked up, threw things out and vacuumed. Made him some coffee and was planning on leaving.

Well he was deep into another story with Kenny. So I sat on the porch with them and listened. And one story flowed into another. And before I realized, it was almost 4 o'clock. Paul hadn't eaten yet and was getting pretty hungry. So, I put the water on and heated the sauce back up. He apologized over and over for wasting our day and my sweet husband assured him that we never had a concrete plans. This was fine. See Dad has told all us these stories a million times. But, most of them were new to Kenny. And he had a captive audience. He could talk about Mom and cry if he wanted. He could reminisce as slow as he wanted and no one was hurrying him along. Now, don't get me wrong, Holly's family treats him like gold and has nothing but the upmost respect for him. But they've heard all of these stories (so have I) and sometimes talking about Mom for that long does the opposite of what he intends. Instead of just thinking of her in happier times, not wracked in pain from all of the cancer - they start to get bitter. How could someone so full of life and so good to others be taken away so quickly. Feeling fine in October, diagnosed with stage-four cancer in December and gone in March. But with us, he could do all of that reminiscing and while I cried with him during certain stories, I didn't rush him along.

It's now 7 o'clock and dark outside. He gave us some flannels for the ride home and thanked us for sharing a day with an old man missing his wife of 49 years. We promised to come back up for Paul's hayride on the 27th and with me I will bring some more sauce. He told me how proud he was of his 3 daughters: Holly, her sister Kim and me. Mom always called me her adopted daughter and loved me as if I truly was one. Dad is no exception. I love this family like my own. So our trip to Franklin and romantic dinner never played out. But, sometimes something better happens.

Love,

Taking Off

Good Morning Everyone! This is going to be a really short post. Since the boys aren't here, and both Kenny and I are feeling better AND it's supposed to be close to 90 and sunny today - we're taking off! Hopping on the bike and traveling up to Franklin where we spent our honeymoon. The first weekend in October is the annual Applefest of Franklin. So, we might as well take advantage of the coincidences God is blessing us with. Then tonight we're going out for a romantic dinner - just the two of us! Can you even stand it?? I love my kids, don't get me wrong. But it's nice to get a break.

I'll be sure and catch up on my blog reading later tonight. Have a great Saturday everyone!! And look for the blessings God has given you in the form of a coincidence.

Love,

Halloween Pranks and Hijinx

Did you ever pull any Halloween pranks as a kid (or adult for that matter)? I have to admit I did. I was not one for soaping windows or throwing eggs. First of all, had I been caught, my parents would have killed me. And I knew that eventually I would have to come home and face them! No, I was never destructive. Eggs on a car could peel the paint. And besides, there's a good chance that would have made me a little sticky. And I can't handle being sticky! Soaping windows, while that's probably not destructive, I never saw the fun in that.

A new blogging friend, Jason at Redneck Nerd Boy posted yesterday about Halloween hijinx. And it got me thinking. My girlfriend and I would sneak up into the corn fields by our house and pull corn in the summer. We would dry it out all summer long and then around Halloween we would go cornin'. Dried corn doesn't really do any damage to it's intended target. But it sounded really cool when it hit the house. Ping, ping, ping, ping, ping! Hehehehe - we made a loud noise!

But my most favorite prank was not only not destructive, it could actually benefit the homeowner in the long run. We would buy plastic forks in bulk quantity. Then sneak into yards and "fork" em. HA! I still get a kick out of that one. Imagine waking up and looking out your window only to see a million forks sticking up out of your yard. Giggle giggle. Now before anyone gets their bikinis in a bunge, think about all the money those homeowners saved at their next picnic. Granted it was probably a slight pain in the dupa picking up all of those forks. But then all they had to do was wash them and voila - flatware for your picnic! It was our little take on "sticking it to the man." And what better way to say that than Fork You. HA HA HA!! I gotta say, I am really chuckling this morning as I type this. Good clean fun. Nobody got hurt and no property was damaged. But we thought we were SO cool.

So, does anyone have a prank they used to pull? Any stories of Halloween hijinx you'd like to share? No one's gonna tell on you. We won't call the police and we won't tell your kids....

On another note, thank you EVERYONE for your sweet comments on my anniversary. That meant so much to me and it truly touched my heart. As for our anniversary celebration - it went kabunk. Kenny was supposed to work until 7. He came home at 4:30 with a fever, stuffy head and nose. I on the other hand was suffering from intense stomach pain. I still made dinner and a cake though. We had steak parmesan and thin spaghetti. And I made a white cake with white icing and coconut in the shape of a heart (oh for pete's sake, I know!) His fever didn't alter his appetite. Well maybe a little. He only had one helping of each. Austin, on the other hand had two huge steaks and 2 mounds of spaghetti. He's 5'4 and he's only a hundred pounds!! So needless to say, we ate dinner. Sat on the couch each feeling sorry for the other and went to bed by 8:45. WOO HOO!! Whatever... Oh well, we still have this weekend, wink!

One more thing: Be sure and drop over at Cara's Cravings today to wish her good luck - she's getting married on Saturday!!

Love,

At Last!

The 2 men in my life: my daddy, my husband



My gorgeous family


The passing of almonds (an Italian tradition of thanks)
Our beautiful cake
Our first toast
Dancing with my daddy (to the theme from the Godfather, no less)


I snagged me a good one!



My new family!



Today I will marry my best friend ~ the one I laugh with ~ dream with ~ live for ~ love
(Our invitations)

4 years ago today I became a Mrs. I can say with all honesty, that it was the happiest day of my life. It rained in the morning which is supposed to be good luck. I think people just say that though because what bride wants it to rain that day! But, by late morning it had stopped. The sun came out, although it was still a little chilly. And at 3:30 that afternoon I married my soul mate. I know that I recently told you a little bit about the dynamics of our family. That was so if I ever mention something that doesn't seem quite right (like for instance: the boys are going to their mom's this weekend) you won't be scratching your head wondering if whether I was drinking heavily in the wee hours of the morning or smoking something last night. Today I want to share some photographic evidence of what the happiest person in the world looked like.

See I was 28 years old, overweight and truly convinced that I would never find someone. Then my old friend came back into my life. He loves me for me with all of my faults and I have QUITE a few. When I was complaining about my weight he told me that it was my soul he loved and all souls weigh the same. Makes me cry just remembering. He makes me laugh, he can make me cry and while yes there are days I could just kill him - on any given day my heart just aches when we're not together. He is my love and my rock and my best friend. I love you, Kenny!

Thanks for sharing my memories.

Love,

A Mom's Day in 2 minutes & 55 seconds

I received this video from my cousin Mary in an email yesterday. I absolutely loved it and had to watch it a few times because there were so many parts that I couldn't hear over my own laughing. Enjoy!

Love,

What Does Your Dream Home Look Like?

Recently I have seen a few bloggers posting what might be considered their dream home. I think everyone has a style in mind of what they want. Obtaining that look is sometimes a little more difficult than one might like. I have seen gorgeous homes on the web, in person, on TV - everywhere. Do you have your favorite style in mind? Maybe after looking at a few these you may feel differently.

If I was a better blogger, I would be able to rearrange the pictures like I want them. But, I'm not. So just bear with me and I hope that you get the gist of what I'm trying to say. I have always wanted a log cabin. Well, not so much a cabin but a luxury log home! I love the look of the wood inside and out. It's very homey and rustic to me and it creates an inviting atmosphere for all who happen by. But, on the other hand, I so strongly feel the need to live by the water. Going to the beach is my favorite vacation. I love to get up early in the morning and watch the sun come up and the waves come in. My family tries to take a vacation together every 2 years or so. Since there are 17 of us in just my immediate family, that's not always easy. We end up getting 2 condos, ocean front view of course. The kids have a ball at the beach (so do the adults really) and a genuine feeling of relaxation takes hold. My mom and I get up, sit on the balcony with our coffee and yes, our smokes and watch that glorious sun rise over the ocean. My father, husband and sons think we're nuts to get up that early on vacation. But by the end of the week, one by one, here they come. If you have never experienced a sunrise ocean vista, I strongly suggest that you do!

Maybe you're more of a Martha's Vineyard hopeful. And you've experienced this awesome feeling already. Now I have never been to MA. My husband, the weirdo that he is, read where you can take what's called a "Haunted Honeymoon." You travel through New England stopping at different supposedly haunted hotels ending up in of course Salem. No Thanks! I enjoy watching "Haunted Whatever" on tv. And I wouldn't rule out taking a trip like that some time, believe it or not. But I kindly explained to him that on my wedding night the only other person I wanted in my bed that night was him.

Are you a ski chalet enthusiast? I wouldn't mind staying in one. Nice cozy fire, beautiful snow-covered mountains, hot toddy. It all sounds lovely. Now, being that I can't walk on flat ground half of the time without falling, I do not, however, have any desire to go down a mountain standing up! Because I can guarantee, I wouldn't be upright for long. But the whole ski experience might be nice.

And it's nice to dream. We even make out wish-lists in this house. Just for fun. But, back to reality, are you happy with what you have? God doesn't always give us what we want but He does give us what we need. And sometimes it's hard to distinguish the two. I have always maintained that even if Kenny and I had to dig through the couch cushions for change in order to buy ramen noodles for dinner, there's no one else I'd rather dig with. So, my home may not be a luxury log cabin. It may not be situated perfectly on the Atlantic ocean. And it may have a few less bedrooms than I would prefer. But even if it was a shack among shacks - it's ours. It's home. It's where my kids have grown up. It's where we have experienced joys and sorrows. Triumphs and failures. It's filled with photos, personal touches and memories. And whether we stay in this house forever or move some day later, the essence of home will always be with us. Home is where you hang your hat, they say. But I say, Home is Where Your Heart Is. Make you house your dream home by filling it with family and friends. And when you look back and ponder Christmas Eve, Easter Sunday, family game night or even the neighborhood block party it won't really matter what your house looked like because your memories will be filled with love. And that's what makes a home! God Bless, everyone.

Love,

Getting The Attic Ready

Benvento Amici, (Welcome Friends)
As you know, the air is getting cooler. Summer has faded into a sweet memory. And we're getting the attic ready for Autumn. We're updating our inventory and looking forward to Christmas. Each month we try to send out decorating tips from Kathleen Wilson, The Budget Decorator. She has great ideas which don't seem to cost the proverbial arm and leg. She always puts a new spin on items that chances are I have lying around. Check out her tips for fall.

Fall Decorating for Every Room in Your Home

By Kathy Wilson

The Budget Decorator

The change of the seasons is a special time for home decorator’s…and Fall decorating is a great way to cozy up your home for the colder months ahead. Fall decorating doesn’t have to be just about Thanksgiving, and it doesn’t have to be limited to the main room in the home. Here are some easy and inexpensive home decorating ideas to bring the glory of Autumn’s bounty and warmth throughout your entire home.

Make branch bowers for every room in your home. Gather interesting branches from your yard or a neighbors. Curling, knarled, and colorful branches add extra character! Gather them into two bunches, and join the two bunches at the cut ends with wire to make one long swag. Wrap ribbon and tie bows around the center of the swag to hide the spot where they are wired together. Now just stick in a couple of fall dried flower bunches or fall craft berry picks and hang over mantels, over headboards, and make smaller ones for over bathroom mirrors and closet doors. Designer look, for pennies!

Gather fall leaves and press between paper towels and heavy books for several days to a week. The resulting natural beauties can be scattered over shelving, fireplace hearths, or even over your tablecloth for your first dinner party of the Autumn Season!

Pick up a roll of raffia or natural colored twisted paper from your craft shop. Layer the towels in your guest bath, then tie them with the raffia for a rustic touch. Slip in a cinnamon stick for a heavenly fragrance when company comes to visit. (Or even when they don’t! ) Use the same raffia as tiebacks on the shower curtain, front drapes, or even round throw pillows on the porch!

Pick up a grapevine wreath and soak it in hot water overnight. Clip with pruning shears, and unwind the wreath. Now wrap the wreath around a chandelier, pot rack, or porch railing for a gorgeous testament to the beauty of nature! Tuck in some dried flowers and grasses here and there for interest. When winter arrives, change out the dried flowers for evergreen sprigs!

Now is the time to start drying some of the flowers from your yard, or perhaps with permission from a neighbor. Air drying is by far the easiest way to dry flowers, but not all flowers can be air dried. Some good choices? Roses (choose them in bud) hydrangeas, grasses, yarrow, and sedums. Tie them in bunches and hang them upside down to dry, it should take a few weeks. You can even display them while they dry by securing the ends with rubber bands, them tying ribbon around the bands to cover, hang from curtain rods, pot racks, over backsplashes or create a simple rack for them from a painted board and small nails or cup hooks.

Visit your farmers markets and pick up inexpensive fruits and veges to display and eat! Squash, corn, pomegranates, apples, pears…the list goes on! Small acorn squashes, apples, and even pumpkins can be hollowed out to hold candles for evening dining. (Don’t wait for company to make your meals a celebration, but this is perhaps something the kids could help with on the weekend!) Have a bowl on your kitchen counter and even in your entry, stack squashes and pumpkins on the front porch, and make sure you make at least ONE apple pie this season!

Simple, easy, and fun to do with the family! Fall is a great season to celebrate the simple things that make life special, including time spent in our homes with our loved ones. Make memories.

Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist and editor of The Budget Decorator, Decorating Your Small Space, and Decorating Cottage Style.

We also have a new special for the month of October: Wood and Metal Autumn Wreath for just $10. And remember what we say around the attic - Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!

Love,