Trick or treat......

How about a blue crayon?

Or a little super hero or two?
Nate was just interested in opening up his candy bag!

Changing seasons means......

Raking leaves and I mean lots of leaves!

Each year it takes about 50 bags to hold the leaves

from raking our yard.

Big, old trees are awesome until their leaves fall.

Halloween day was the perfect day to begin the process.

This was the first big pile I made....and what's a pile of leaves good for?....Jumping and playing .....that's what they're for!

Nate, Lily and Logan had lots of fun!

Does anyone wonder why Beth fell in-love with CJ?

It was his maturity and dignity of course!

It was such a good day!....

minus the sore muscles from working hard!

What to do with these?

The latest addition to my home are new built-in bookcases.

My poor little fireplace was so dull and frankly, boring!

I have envisioned bookcases of some sort for years

and finally they are a reality.

I totally love them!

It took me awhile to get them caulked, primed and painted.

Talk about tedious work...you have to paint

inside the shelf, above it, under it, etc....

what a pain!

Currently they are pretty sparse looking

while I patiently wait for the enamel to "cure."

So once they have "cured"...I still don't know what
to put on them. I am a collector of nothing!
Seriously,....I'm a "thrower-away-of-stuff" kind of person!
And to top it all off...I don't know how to arrange my
furniture now...seriously...this new addition
has caused me to be perplexed on several levels.
I do know that I plan on putting a big

mirror above the mantle...just haven't

looked for one yet.

Here's the motifs I added to the mantel for some interest.
What does everyone think?

No "Idle Hands" Here......

Isn't there a quote some- where that says an idle mind or idle hands are the devil's play- ground? Well if that's true, then I am the anti-playground. I love dreaming up projects. (Note: the title of my blog is Daydreams and Reality). It's the "daydreaming" that gets me in over-my-head in the "potential" of things. I was chatting with my friend Sharon today and telling her about some of my latest plans and she asked that I put them on my blog for her to see...so this explains this post. First, the little pale blue chest, pictured above, is something my mom bought and decided she didn't want. When you open the doors there are two shelves and I can see potential in this. I'm thinking of painting it a nice black, replacing the hardware and then repainting the door detail in a tan color. I just might use it as an end table in my living room!

The above fabric was a bargain ($9 a yard) at Hancock's a few weeks ago. I've wanted to change my bedroom and happened upon these two pieces. The stripe will be shams. The floral will be a duvet cover and part of the valances. When I got it home I couldn't believe how well it went with my wall color. I will accent my bed with assorted pillows in celery green and reddish-rose. I won't get to this project until after Christmas!
The next project on my list is this little end-table. I found it at a garage sale for $4!!! I've been looking for something just like this to have in the bathroom beside the tub. Now, picture this...when it's done it will be painted black, with the edges sanded off, just enough to give it some character, then there will be a nice handle added to the drawer, candles, etc on top and a couple towels rolled up sitting on the bottom shelf! I think it will be so cute and just the right touch in my shabby-French (if there is any such thing) bathroom! And besides...it was such a bargain!!

The solution to feeling "blah"....

The three-day weekend flew by. I had fun with friends, enjoyed church and my calling, worked on my bookcases (though they aren't finished) and tried to relax. Yet, I'm feeling down ...there are just to many worries on my mind. I'm going to find relief in reading my scriptures. I know that there is comfort within those pages. I will find that tonight! These things shall pass....

Busy weekend = completed curtains....

I'm just going to say it...I'm POOPED!!!

I had so much going on this weekend and was determined to accomplish a few things.

High on my priority list was the curtains for my family room.

I have had the fabric for several months, but never made time to sit down and actually sew them.

Am I lazy at times?....most definitely!!!

My parents gave me their old furniture last year, nothing I would have purchased, but it has turned out to be a good thing....after all, if the grand kids get it dirty I really don't care. However, the sofa and love seat are a blue/tan/cream plaid...and I really don't like blue or 1980's style..so I was limited on the fabric I could choose from...so the above was a good compromise...enough brown with more subtle blue!

I like it...I think it's fun!

There are 3 "basement" size windows
and then the door and full-size window.

After it's all said and done....

I'm pretty happy with the results.

The yellow brick road and lessons learned...

My favorite movie ever is ...The Wizard of Oz.

From early childhood I was captivated with the story.

Once a year it would be on TV and I'm pretty

sure I never missed watching.

I loved the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow,

but most decidedly the Tin Man was my favorite.

I'm not sure why, except maybe it was

his "tender heart" that touched me.

(But he didn't have a heart...go figure!)

I wanted to marry him!

(ok, this is when I was a little kid and no I don't have issues with being attached to aluminum foil).

There were many times that I would walk with a friend or two with our arms interlocked imitating the walk/skip action that Dorothy and the others would do as they set off down the yellow brick road. I remember being so impressed with Dorothy, somehow, she was the one with the brains, the courage, the fortitude or something that kept the group moving along toward the Emerald City. Think about it; she was young, in a really strange place, with very odd people and a lot of opposition..."Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!" and let's not forget the Wicked Witch of the East....the stupid flying monkeys...trees throwing their own apples....and yet..she kept going forward!
I thought Dorothy was amazing! I wanted to be just like her!

Dorothy, despite the difficulties, always seemed okay. She didn't indulge her fears! If she was down it was short lived. She quickly pulled herself together. She did what she had to do! Having Toto to worry about only added to the load she was carrying. She never lost sight of those who needed her help, though her circumstances could surely have derailed those efforts. She knew there was "no place like home" and determined to make it back..no matter what!

I've come to realized that Dorothy is nearly the perfect, although fictional, LDS woman. A real pioneer! She reminds me of some quotes I have recently read...

President Hinckley said "Stand strong, even to become a leader in speaking up in behalf of those causes which make our civilization shine and which give comfort and peace to our lives. You can be a leader. You must be a leader....in those causes for which the Church stands." He also said "I feel to invite women everywhere to rise to the great potential within you.....I hope you will not nag yourselves with thoughts of failure....I hope you will simply do what you can do in the best way you know. If you do so, you will witness miracles come to pass."

And then one that has stuck in my mind since the first time I heard it several years ago, we need to become "righteous, problem-solving women of faith."

Isn't this exactly what Dorothy did?

The ruby slippers were cool...I wished I'd had a pair, but the slippers weren't the secret to Dorothy's success...it was her own strength, her willingness to put her faith into action, to get outside her comfort zone and just do it! I'd like to think there's some Dorothy in me and I've been blessed to have many Dorothy's in my life...great women of faith who have helped me discover my own talents and strengths and with love, shown me the way to become the person my Father in Heaven wants me to be! (These ruby slippers...they aren't the ones I remember...sorry...I think everyone gets the gist of things anyway)

Edith, "Don't Sigh", Stink-Eye, PeeDink....

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel...

a must read..

you'll learn about Edith, not "sighing,"

about getting the Stink-Eye and PeeDink!

I am a confessed "book club" drop-out!

I admit it...not ashamed, but probably should be!

My friend, Becky, is hosting the ward book club

at her house and I have agreed to attend.

Then came the hard part...

agreeing to read the book and the even harder part...

making time to actually read the book.

Becky came to my rescue by getting the book

from the library...a book on CD...

that meant no excuses for me..

afterall...time alone in the car

is something I have plenty of!

So, last Thursday Becky called to let me know the CD

is available for me and would I like to come get it!

I picked it up on my way out-of-town to work

and put it straight into the CD player.

I thought, "I could use a little break from talk radio.

I could listen to the book during a local talk show,

but promised myself I would listen to Dave Ramsey

at 11am....that wouldn't be too hard!"

The CD started. Thirty minutes passed,

an hour, two hours. Before I knew it,

Dave Ramsey was nearly over and I had put the

3rd CD into the player! I was hooked.

I laughed, cried, and laughed some more!

I was totally drawn into the story!

I just finished listening to it the 2nd time

and I still laughed and cried and laughed some more!

Child-rearing, my way....

Today, in one of my doctor's offices, I saw this hanging on the wall. I thought I would share it with all of you! If you already have teenagers this information may come in handy some day!

TEENAGERS!

Tired of being hassled by your parents?

ACT NOW!

Move Out,

Get a Job,

Pay Your Own Bills

While you still know everything!

Toothless in KC: A fun visit....

Last week my dear friend, Tera,

along with her sweet children,

Joey, TJ and Bailey,

stopped by for a quick visit.

It's been 2 1/2 years since they lived here

and I was so excited to see them and get

caught up with their lives!

While sitting on the sofa talking Joey was

feeling her loose tooth.

How loose was her tooth?...well, it was

at least 4 or 5 days away from being

loose enough to come out.

(I've had considerable experience with baby teeth).

The little tooth was only slightly moving.

Tera started wiggling it,

then we heard a "pop!"

Joey was startled by the sound coming

from her mouth!

I offered to get some string so Joey

could keep working the tooth loose.

She wanted pink thread! Request granted!

Tera and I got the thread securely around

the tooth.

Tera checked the security with a quick, firm tug!

"Ouch!," I thought.

Then without hesitation Tera gave it another tug!

And pop!...there was Joey's tooth hanging

in mid-air.

I thought Joey was going to cry, but

instead her expression turned to one of joy!

She had finally lost a tooth and become part

of the group....

"Children Missing Teeth!"

I don't know what the tooth fairy brought her

but I'm sure it was amazing!

Congratulations Joey!!!

A round of underwear for everyone, please...

So what would every kid hate to get from their

grandmother? Did I hear someone say

"UNDERWEAR?"

Well...that's probably true for most kids,

but not for mine!

Everyone is or will be potty-trained soon

and I thought it would be fun

(and it was) to buy them all cute undies!

Logan was so excited that after putting his on

he went over, climbed onto the second shelf

of my new bookcase and

PEED!

Can you even believe that one?

Nate loved his boxer-briefs and Lily...well
she would put a pair on, run around and then
want to put a different pair on...
then she would say
"That's better!"
The next day Beth let her put panties on when
she woke up...
and then she peed on the floor!
So much for potty training right now!

A Royal birthday for me!!.....

My new policy for birthdays (well for my birthday)

is to treat those I love to something fun!

This is the first year of my new policy

and I decided it would be a blast

to go to the Royals game!

The family all agreed...

are we surprised about that?

I guess not!

The "K" as the stadium is known as

was remodeled, spiffed up and basically brand new

...it's awesome!

In fact, you don't even have to watch the ballgame

because there is so much entertainment going on...

besides...the Royals are having a bad year..

so you don't even notice when they lose!

That's sort of sad, isn't it?

Laura and Logan had to come without Adam...
poor boy was home sick with a fever!

CJ, Beth, Nathan and Lily were having a good time!
Nathan and CJ are both baseball fans!

The Friday night games usually end with a huge
firework display.
Nathan was prepared for the Bangs & Booms!

The show was spectacular!
One of the best I've seen in a long time!
The kids loved it...but Lily cried!

Awe...an empty field...and no...that isn't my
beer bottle sitting there...just
in case anyone was wondering!

To Blog or Not to Blog?

You may wonder where I have been since my last blog in January? Did I fall off the face of the earth? Did I move away? Did I hit my head and forget everything? No, it's none of those things, but...after Adam and Laura's wedding and reception I was a little worn out...let's just say I had no finger nails left. In the past six months I have been busy (that's an understatement) with family, friends, work and alot of traveling...and I even managed to grow my nails out...they actually look great! I've spent the evening getting my blog caught up (8 new posts)...so if you've got some time...enjoy looking at my life!

I thought I heard banjos playing.....

I've never seen the movie "Deliverance"..but isn't

it about some people getting lost in Arkansas?

On a Friday in July I thought I might possibly be

involved in the re-make of that movie...and

yes...I was hearing banjos playing in my head.

Cheryl (back row, far left) had made arrangements

for a girls' getaway to Greer's Ferry Lake

in North Central Arkansas.

Her friend, Sue (in the blue shirt) has

a lake house and it promised to be a retreat

that we all needed and would enjoy.

Cheryl, Cheri (back right) and Barbara (front left)

left on a Thursday.

Kara (back center) and I left at 6:30am

Friday morning.

It promised to be a great adventure.

Kara and I had decided to "enhance" our trip

by also making it a "shop-hop."

For you non-quilters/sewers this is

when you go from quilt store to quilt store

to admire (we didn't plan to buy) all

the different collections of fabric.

I'm sure that sounds totally weird...

Me being the smart one that I am decided to google all the quilt stores between here and the lake. We skipped the two in Springfield and the one in Branson for the 5, yes 5...shops in Harrison, Arkansas! Guess what...we only found one! We drove at least an hour going from one end of the town to the other only to find closed stores or a random farm house at the said address! Being greatly disappointed we continued on our journey, and about an hour from our destination we got a call from Sue with "better" directions! We proceeded to drive another couple hours and a hundred miles up and down hills, around corners, over bridges, etc (note to travelers: there are no straight roads in Arkansas. I don't know if they were designed by people drinking moonshine or what). Kara and I thought we were permanently lost in Arkansas...never to be found...and we were getting low on gas! We finally found the dirt road leading to the lake house. We met Cheryl and Sue on that road as they had set out to "find" us. Cheryl was panicked because she couldn't reach us (note to travelers: Sprint and Verizon don't work in Arkansas). She said they had literally prayed us there!

Despite the "trials" in traveling we had a wonderful time...great food, lots of laughter, rides in the boat, sleep, deep talks and friendships increased. The bonus is a book we found, "Guide Me To Eternity" by Christine Monsen. I highly recommend it...check out Amazon to find it.

Let's add a little sewing project into the mix....

Finally...can I say that again.?... FINALLY!..

I got a sewing project finished.

You would think that getting a little dress

made would be a piece of cake,

but not for me!

I have had fifty-million things going on

and getting time to sew has been

way down on the priority list...

but here it is.....

Lily was so excited to put it on and

twirl around......

I have two more just like it in the works
for my other granddaughters...
let's just hope I get them done before
they go to college!

An "Open-Door" Policy...

I have always wanted my home to be

a place that is welcoming.

For years we have had a steady flow of missionaries

come and go. We've fed them, done their laundry,

tried to be a home-away-from-home

and because of that I have had the privilege

to get to know some pretty special young men.

Our ward was the first area for Elder Barnes.

After he had been here a few weeks I received

a note in the mail from his parents.

I later called them to let them know that their

son was doing great and that they raised

a wonderful young man.

Elder Barnes' parents and little brother

came to pick him up in July and

came by for a quick visit.

Such a sweet family.

At the same time Elder Barnes was going home,
Elder Kafu (on the right) was going home too.
It was so sad to say goodbye to him.
He served a great mission.
Elder Anderson (on the left) is still in our ward..
he makes me laugh!

The end of June brought a quick visit from another
former missionary, Miles Crosby and his father.
It's hard for me think of Miles as a "former" anything..
he's my adopted son!
Who would have thought that a young man
spending a brief time in my ward
would create such a lasting friendship.
We were so excited to finally meet his dad!

The afternoon I got home from South Carolina brought
another visitor just a few hours later...
Brent Thurgood...yes..another former missionary,
but once again...a dear friend,
was driving through!
We all went out to dinner and he spent the night.
Brent was the missionary who taught and
baptized Beth....
that makes him an important part of our family!

The South re-visited...May 2009.....

Months ago Maldia invited me to come

back to South Carolina,

this time to actually have more that 1 1/2 days...

so this trip....I spent a week...and loved every minute!

One evening we took Maldia's mom, Verna Mae to the river

to look for shells and enjoy the water.

This is a seafood restaurant on the Island of Port Royal.
Fresh seafood?....yip...below is the boat that brought in
the delicious shrimp and scallops we dined on.

I absolutely love the water....

Beaufort, SC is home to three military installations...
Naval Air Station, Naval Hospital and Parris Island.
I thought this statue with the setting sun behind it
gave reason for reflection...
to remember those who have protected our country
and to think of those who now serve!

Just 2 1/2 hours away is the Columbia, South Carolina Temple.
We spent one day at the temple.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve
within those sacred walls.
As we entered the temple president and matron greeted us
and when we left we were thanked and
given a warm embrace!

Another day we went to Hilton Head Island...
this is just a view of the harbor...
we ate lunch and watch boats come and go!

The last evening of my trip, Maldia and I went "Crabbing!"
Her dad got lines for us, a net, weights for the lines..
and guess what you "catch" crabs with...
rotten chicken necks!
You tie the chicken necks to your weighted lines,
lower them to the bottom and wait....
then...you carefully pull up your line..and
low and behold...you just might have a blue crab
dining on the chicken.
We only caught five..not enough for a meal,
so the crabby little guys went back to their watery home!
While we were on the dock crabbing I turned around
only to see dolphins playing nearby in the water...
Totally awesome!

Savannah, GA was the final destination.

We spent a quick evening there...I fell in love

with the town and hope to return there

next year!!