Giving Thanks

We are spending Thanksgiving at our new home this year. Just the 3 of us - Little K is going to help me cook, and has requested that we eat dinner early so we can start decorating for Christmas.

I have so many things to be thankful for. It's often easy to get caught up in the stuff that happens unexpectedly, that it's hard to see how much there is to be Grateful for.

This month, I again took the challenge to recognize the gratitude I have around me each and every day.




1. Moderation, 2. A Strong & Pleasant Scent, 3. Friends, 4. Dinner, 5. Moving, 6. Suburbia, 7. Children and the Arts, 8. A Clean House, 9. Grey Hair & Wrinkles, 10. Tooth Fairy, 11. Sweater Weather, 12. Home, 13. Freedom, 14. Game Night, 15. Fun, 16. Unconditional Love, 17. Quiet Time, 18. Nature, 19. Coffee Maker, 20. A Man is Only as Good as His Tools, 21. Inspiration, 22. Moving Cards, 23. Simplify, 24. Sweet Surprises

(click on the links above for details on each photo)


Happy Thanksgiving.

Ten on Ten: November

The concept is simple:
A photo taken every hour for ten consecutive hours on the tenth of the month.
You can read more about it here.

Not the most exciting day this month as most of it was spent prepping for a little trip.





















Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a
Happy Veterans Day!

Shelf Paper

Am I the only person in the world who uses Shelf Paper?

Actually - based on the condition of the inside of the cabinets when we moved into our new home - you don't need to answer that.



And based on the very limited options of Shelf Paper in the stores - you don't need to answer that.



Clearly - I am the only person that still uses Shelf Paper.

I don't know why I do? Maybe it was years of living in college dorms and not so clean apartments that made me want to cover up all signs of a previous tenant. Maybe it's because many of our homes have been older and have shown wear and tear? Maybe it was what my Mom taught me? Maybe I just have issues?



Whatever the reason, there is nothing better (to me) than a nice clean foundation to put away all your personal belongings.

In our new house - we have some really cool cabinets - so it was kind of fun.



This is our kitchen pantry - with shelves lining the inside of the doors and fold away hinged shelves inside to get access to the full depth of the cabinet.



The silverware drawer is behind a fold down drawer front - complete with built in dividers and a cutting board.



Thank goodness for Little K's helping hands. I'm too old to be down on my hands and knees reaching those bottom cabinets.

My favorite "surprise" was this one. Any guesses as to what's behind this drawer?



Have you figured it out yet?



Yep - a built in ironing board spring loaded in one of the Laundry Room drawers.



Funny thing is - we had no idea it was there until I started to line the drawers.

Sweet hubby had been living in the house for almost a month - sleeping on an air mattress, with none of our household belongings (while we were packing up in AZ).

He even went out and purchased an iron so he could iron his work shirts. He was using the kitchen counter as an ironing board, when all the while - this perfectly good ironing board was in the next room mocking him.

Everything is all put away and most of this pretty clean shelf paper can no longer be seen. But I feel better knowing it's there.

Words of Love

Today, my dear sweet hubby and I are celebrating our 21st Wedding Anniversary.

Here we are - in my parents Home where we were married - on our Wedding Day.

October 20, 1989

Someone please tell me at what point the big hair and big glasses from the 80’s stop being a fashion blunder and start to look like something classic and vintage? I keep waiting. At least my dress has some timeless styling. It could have been worse – Gunne Sax was still quite the rage at this time.

I would love to tell you that I found an amazing gift to give my loved one. Or that he is planning a fantastic surprise for me. The truth is, we don’t celebrate these events with elaborate gifts. Partly – because if we want something, we go and get it for ourselves, which makes surprise purchases difficult. But also, because those are not the things we tend to remember, or what really matter.

I hope that we tell each other, and show each other, the depth of our love on a daily basis – and not just on Birthdays or Anniversaries. Some days I’m better at it than others. My Mom occasionally reminds me not to take for granted what an amazing, forgiving and tolerant man I married. Thanks – I do need that.

I did treat myself to a little gift a few days ago that I could call my Anniversary Present.



The Cricut Create Personal Cutter. I used to have unlimited access to one via my friend and next door neighbor Marni – but now that we have moved….I have to begin stocking my own scrapbooking tools.

You could also say that I got a great gadget for my hubby as an Anniversary Present.



Our 20+ year old Garage Door Opener konked out over the weekend, so I had a brand spankin' shiny new one installed yesterday - including sensors and an outside keypad.

But both of those purchases would have most likely been made whether it was our Anniversary or not.

So to Celebrate our years together – and to look forward to the many years ahead – I wrote him a letter, to make sure I tell him how much I love him (in case I forget to mention it one day).

I bet I'll get some sweet words from him as well - because he's good that way.



He always has been.

I love you, not only for what you are, But for what I am when I am with you ~~ Erich Freid