Winter Wonderland

Happy Valentines Day!

&

Fantastic Friday!

I suppose I should start off with apologizes for being absent for sometime but sometimes life is just life. No bells and whistles!

But 

Nature has been full of it's own excitement in the way of the weather. Does anybody need another post expressing how cold it is or how traumatized we all are...NO..Quite honestly, the kids in this house have been loving it even me the big kid. This is the first double digit snow fall that Stuart, Virginia has had since 1993. At least, that's what the radio has been proclaiming from several different folks that have been calling in. I'm not sure if I agree. I remember some pretty significant falls since I've lived in Stuart but it's very possible it was accumulating snow that I  am remembering.

Needless to say, we have made the best out of it. I think we have almost ate everything in this house, I've drank and extreme amount of coffee, we've played in the snow, I've laid out of work(so glad they finally decided to close the plant), watched movies, played cards, and been absolutely lazy.

Isn't it nice when GOD says, not your will but mine!

Would we ever stop, if it were our choice? I doubt it!

Here's a link to some of the food we've been chowing down on..

Peanut Butter Delights

&

Potato Dumpling Pie

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.

Be Blessed!

&

Be a Blessing!

Last Day of the Month and the Long Range Forecast

Wow! What a roller-coaster of a month!

The month of January has offered up some extremely low temperature and a bit of winter weather in the way of snow or ice 

but maybe not as often as here in Stuart, Virginia.

What stands out for me is that when precipitation fell it also hung around.

The past week has offered up extremely low's in the mornings. On more than a couple of mornings(7 am) in the morning, the temperature would be hovering around 0 degree's; every morning seemed to be single digits and even one reading of -3 degrees as I would be coming out of the plant.

Baby...that's the kind of cold that can chill you to the bone and stay there.

A couple of teaspoons of "Jack" in a stout cup 'o coffee has offered some gentle relief.

For the folks that have been keeping up with the Long Range Forecast,  I'm ready to share my info:

• January 1--Sunny skies the temperature on Rorrer Lane reached 48 degrees
• Precipitation for the month of January--22 days of clear skies, 8 days of precipitation(rain, snow, and sleet)
• Average High Temperature on Rorrer Lane--42 degrees
• Lowest Temperature here at our house--5 degrees. Lowest record in the Southwest Virginia area was -24 degrees.

It seems to me, the Long Range Forecast was relatively accurate for January.

Did anyone else keep up with the forecast?

If so give a shout out!

If not..

Well...just give a shout anyway!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

I hope you are filled with warmth and blessings.

Be Blessed! 

http://southerndirection.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-long-range-forecast.html

Snow Day in the South~Wordless Wednesday

New Fabric on the Piano Bench

Finally, finally attacking what had become
 a catch-all. To recover our piano bench 
had been on my to-do list for quite some time.

Our little Currier Piano is not an expensive or high end instrument but the joys this little piano has brought to me have been unmeasurable. It was really shameful that I'd let myself neglect it so.

I am not a pianist but like so many, I had taken lessons as a child. My three older children had taken lessons and there has been many little fingers touch these keys. My daughter, Hannah had become quite good at playing even though she'd look over her shoulder and roll her eyes when I would rave over a piece she had decided to practice on. My son, Louis desired to play the drums; our deal was a year on the piano and we would consider drums...lol..I did end up winning that battle. He played the piano a year and then wanted to tackle the guitar instead. Alisha was small but she took just a few lessons before some of the logistics changed and we fell off from taken the lessons but she, so typical to younger children picked up a lot from just being around the older two and using their books.

I'm doubtful playing the piano crosses Hannah and Louis' mind these days unless they are in for a visit then they will all seem to find their way gathered up plunking, playing and giggling a bit.

As for myself, I have gone as much as a year and not have even touched the keys but I have found myself using it many time as a stress relief.

It's funny how the pages of the old Broadman Hymnal will fall right open to those pages that are most dearly loved.

There's been many times when the worries of the day could be washed away with a sit at the piano, a sweet hymn, a tear and a prayer.

I'll promise you it works much better than most peoples pills.

but...

With all that being said, there our piano sat a catch-all, keys stuck and out of tune.

Bench shredded.

It's high time to gather some supplies.

This shouldn't be so bad.

Oh my...that's alot of staples..

Don't forget to tighten the legs up while you've got a wrench in hand.

Yes, I used just as many staples as was there before & some glue.

Alisha and I decided we wanted it padded well, so it seemed a little lumpier and I really, really had to pull on that fabric. The fabric didn't seem to have any stretch in it until I went to working with it.

I mean you better give it a real good pull and tighten it up.

It was a good idea to tape up the hymnal. It was loosing it's precious pages.

When all was done I was satisfied and feeling blessed.

I hope you'll tackle your projects with vigor as well

and 

BE BLESSED!

Our Little Home Story~What's Next?

My prior husband and I bought our home in 1999; it was a bit of a fixer-upper but we saw all grades of potential. He worked in construction; I was capable and willing. We saw this as a place that could look a lot like home for a cat, two dogs, three children, and the two of us. In March of 2000, hung up my plaque and we made our move to our little Virginia home.

Bless This House

Within these bright & solid walls,

God holds a golden key;

to rooms of safety, warmth & pride,

a place called "family."

May all our days be filled with trust,

nights blessed from up above,

and as the years pass tenderly,

May this roof shelter Love.

From month to year...from friend to kin,

God Bless

the hearts that dwell within!

With all truth and a prayer, I hung my plague and sent my prayer and I am assured that my prayer has been honored. 

This three bedroom, one bath home wasn't fancy but it has been secure, warm and safe for

 all who has dwelt between these walls.

Just a few years later, my marriage ended. He left; I stayed. 

Whatever had been accomplished in our transformation of our little house was greatly halted.

Now...

I look at my house sometimes with a shake of the head 

for the things that may never be accomplished and the dreams and desires

that may never transpire...

and

Oh my word....

 The little house has managed to endure a lot of changes. 

2006 brought the Ole Man, his son, and me with a new baby boy. 

Not to bad...

Girls in one room.

Boys in another.

One bathroom means learning patients and true consideration.

For a time we also included the Ole Man's other daughter in the mix.

When you have five teenage kids and a baby, to boot, you've got a house full.

They've came, they've went, they've sometimes came back again...tantrums, fits, fighting, and just plain ignorance had left the poor house worn.

I don't say those things because I consider our children bad. I just know they are what they are.

Our three oldest have all grown their wings and moved into adulthood leaving just one son, one daughter, me and the Ole Man.

Should I dare think?

Should I dare think of all the forgotten things?

I thought...and..there's a lot of forgotten things.

I'm putting consideration to projects around here that need attention. You know the kind of things you know need to be done but instead there's something more important or more pressing that needs the attention. I would have a hard time remembering how many times I have repainted the kitchen, bathroom, and the kids rooms. My bedroom has not been repainted since I moved..eek..The front room & living room have wallpaper so I have managed to paint the ceiling and baseboards a few times.

I'm looking forward to tackling some home projects. 

I can't wait to see what can be accomplished.

Budget: Shoestring

Training: None

Ideas: A plenty

Thanks for stopping by for some of my rambling.

I'm feeling blessed and I hope you are too!