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!!!