Day #30- Your Highs and Lows of this Month
This Month has been HECTIC. We have been busy with this house and getting a few things completed and checked off our never ending list! We have also had our share of COLD weather which has caused us a lot of lows! Negative 15 weather and were not talking wind chill here people - is INSANE!
But some positives are that our kiddo turned five. I can't believe my baby is five! (Proud/Sad Mama moments!) We had a successful birthday party for her with company to the new house.
Another positive is that I did not lose my job- hallejuah. This is good news because I was told a few months ago that they were talking about eliminating the position that me and another girl are in and it sounded like a possible closure of our building, but all lights are green to keep trucking. Of course, that being said, I still have high ambitions of being a stay at home Mom with a self employed career! I will make this work, I promise this to my kids.
I can't say a lot of negative things have happened in the last month. We have been trying to stay upbeat and positive with everything going on! And, hey, we didnt run out of propane this month- GO US!
Hi! Kel here. Welcome to Life at Gray Gables! I am building the life of my dreams. I am a Wife, a Mom, a Writer, a Dreamer, and an Artist for my soul. Come on in and let's create the life we deserve!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
30 Day Challenge- Day #29 - Goals for the next 30 days
Day #29- Goals for the next 30 days...
I have set high ones- are you ready? I am working on launching my own business. I am terrified but I know that this is something that I WANT TO DO! I want to be a stay at home MOM for my kids and I know that what I am trying to do at home, work wise, will be amazing for me and for my family. I am still in classes to master my art, but I am confident that in the next 8 weeks I will remain just as determined as I am today and make this happen! I have to, for my families sake!
I also have high hopes of getting this place organized. (this is where I laugh because I am so overwhelmed, I don't even know where to begin!)
I have this massive attic that is completely FULL. It is ridiculous. I have shelves to install and get things situated, just need T-I-M-E. I am also going to ride Hubby's butt this weekend to get our stuff ready for plumbing inspection on Monday- so we can FINALLY get our cert of occupancy and own this Bee-otch! (Sorry, but it is what it is!)
I would also like to go to the Imagination Station and see the Titanic exhibit. I am pretty excited about having it here the opportunity to check it out. My Mom was telling me about an Art Museum exhibit going on also, would like to check that out with her too! The Art Museum has always interested me.
I think that I have set pretty high goals- now I HAVE TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN! I am not the person to set the goals and not make them reality- I am a go getter and a multi-tasking fool- so I WILL ACHIEVE SUCCESS!!
Ready, set, go...
I have set high ones- are you ready? I am working on launching my own business. I am terrified but I know that this is something that I WANT TO DO! I want to be a stay at home MOM for my kids and I know that what I am trying to do at home, work wise, will be amazing for me and for my family. I am still in classes to master my art, but I am confident that in the next 8 weeks I will remain just as determined as I am today and make this happen! I have to, for my families sake!
I also have high hopes of getting this place organized. (this is where I laugh because I am so overwhelmed, I don't even know where to begin!)
I have this massive attic that is completely FULL. It is ridiculous. I have shelves to install and get things situated, just need T-I-M-E. I am also going to ride Hubby's butt this weekend to get our stuff ready for plumbing inspection on Monday- so we can FINALLY get our cert of occupancy and own this Bee-otch! (Sorry, but it is what it is!)
I would also like to go to the Imagination Station and see the Titanic exhibit. I am pretty excited about having it here the opportunity to check it out. My Mom was telling me about an Art Museum exhibit going on also, would like to check that out with her too! The Art Museum has always interested me.
I think that I have set pretty high goals- now I HAVE TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN! I am not the person to set the goals and not make them reality- I am a go getter and a multi-tasking fool- so I WILL ACHIEVE SUCCESS!!
Ready, set, go...
L-O-V-E is in the A I R...
Love is in the air today...
Valentine's Day is mentioned ruefully by Ophelia in Hamlet (1600–1601):
I was super sneaky this year! Hubby and I don't usually make a BIG deal about Valentine's day. It is usually a Card and maybe some candy. This year, however, has been a rough transition into 2014 and I just really wanted my Hubby to know how much I appreciate him, and let the kids show Daddy how much they also appreciate him. He is a good man, hard worker and he is so great to us. He always makes sure that we have everything we could want or need and even picks up on some of the little things, like putting gas in the tank when I am at a quarter (I have O C D bad and I freak out when I get to a quarter of a tank!), or he will pick me up something just because he thought of me, like a candy bar or a pop, without me asking.
I got him a super sappy card that said everything I would want to and a Heart with Reese Cups in it ;) I also picked him up some Sour Skittles (his fav) and some butterfingers. Then, I got him a Titanium Wedding Band because, he has 2- (don't ask) but says that are to tight to wear, so he doesn't wear a wedding band. I figured with the titanium, it is black and would be more durable, plus I didn't spend a whole lot on it so if it gets ruin, its ok. I am pretty nervous though, because I have no idea if he will like it. I kind of feel like I am asking him to marry me! HA
We also got our children some Valentines Day goodies. Celebrating loves here!
So, Happy Valentine's day from our family to yours.
To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.
—William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5
**Just for FUN..
Gammer Gurton's Garland (1784):
The rose is red, the violet's blue,
The honey's sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou'd be you.[54][55]
Thursday, February 13, 2014
30 Day Challenge- Day #28- Something that you miss
Day #28- Something that you miss
Something that I miss...hmmm.. I have been thinking a lot lately about my Hubby and I and our life so far together. We have been pet parents to a lot of pets during our relationship, including an all white flop eared dwarf bunny that he rescued for me when we were still pretty new in our relationship. I named her Leilah (she was Pearl prior to me having her) and she adored Jason!
I had always had bunnies growing up and when I was in the 7th grade, I lost my bunny, Cotton, on Easter Sunday. It was tragic! I couldn't talk myself into getting another bunny...until Hubby brought me Leilah.
I loved her! Then about a month or so later, we were at the pet store and they had bunnies and somehow I acquired Thumper- my broken lop eared dwarf. He was SO TINY! I think it was the second night or so that I had him, Leilah caught his face in her cage and ripped half of it off- it was disgusting! I had to take him to the vet and they stitched him good as new! He was SO special to me. This began my bunny family.
I lost Leilah in 2008 and it was terrible. Somewhere around 2004-2005 I had acquired another bunny, Peanut- who was Emma until I had him fixed and found out he was a boy..oops! So, we had Thumper and Peanut, who did not get along so they had scheduled times out.
We had our first daughter in 2009 and surprisingly, she still remembers going into the bunny room to visit the bunnies!
In 2010, I lost Thumper. He passed away at home and it was just as tragic! I hate losing my pets. I vowed to never get any more bunnies. Does that mean I don't think about it - well no, I think about it, love me some bunnies but it is so hard to say goodbye. I miss them everyday.
Then there were our dogs. We lost our Olde English Bulldog, Choppa, in June of 2013. He was only 10. It was horrible. He started having seizures in March and it was heartbreaking to watch him on his decline. They couldn't figure out exactly what was wrong with him but each seizure he was having, and they were daily, were making him unable to go up the stairs or control his bathroom habits. It is still raw and hard to think about. He was such a great dog.
Then, we lost our Boxer in October 2013, shortly after we moved into the new house. He was 13. We did have them cremated and we have their remains on the fireplace mantel. I don;t think that either of us have had time to process our loss as of yet with everything we have had going on in our lives. It is hard to lose them both so soon to one another.
Something that I miss...hmmm.. I have been thinking a lot lately about my Hubby and I and our life so far together. We have been pet parents to a lot of pets during our relationship, including an all white flop eared dwarf bunny that he rescued for me when we were still pretty new in our relationship. I named her Leilah (she was Pearl prior to me having her) and she adored Jason!
I had always had bunnies growing up and when I was in the 7th grade, I lost my bunny, Cotton, on Easter Sunday. It was tragic! I couldn't talk myself into getting another bunny...until Hubby brought me Leilah.
I loved her! Then about a month or so later, we were at the pet store and they had bunnies and somehow I acquired Thumper- my broken lop eared dwarf. He was SO TINY! I think it was the second night or so that I had him, Leilah caught his face in her cage and ripped half of it off- it was disgusting! I had to take him to the vet and they stitched him good as new! He was SO special to me. This began my bunny family.
I lost Leilah in 2008 and it was terrible. Somewhere around 2004-2005 I had acquired another bunny, Peanut- who was Emma until I had him fixed and found out he was a boy..oops! So, we had Thumper and Peanut, who did not get along so they had scheduled times out.
We had our first daughter in 2009 and surprisingly, she still remembers going into the bunny room to visit the bunnies!
In 2010, I lost Thumper. He passed away at home and it was just as tragic! I hate losing my pets. I vowed to never get any more bunnies. Does that mean I don't think about it - well no, I think about it, love me some bunnies but it is so hard to say goodbye. I miss them everyday.
Then there were our dogs. We lost our Olde English Bulldog, Choppa, in June of 2013. He was only 10. It was horrible. He started having seizures in March and it was heartbreaking to watch him on his decline. They couldn't figure out exactly what was wrong with him but each seizure he was having, and they were daily, were making him unable to go up the stairs or control his bathroom habits. It is still raw and hard to think about. He was such a great dog.
Then, we lost our Boxer in October 2013, shortly after we moved into the new house. He was 13. We did have them cremated and we have their remains on the fireplace mantel. I don;t think that either of us have had time to process our loss as of yet with everything we have had going on in our lives. It is hard to lose them both so soon to one another.
Leilah Bunny |
Thumper Bunny |
Peanut Bunny |
Choppa- Our Olde English Bulldog |
Champ - our Boxer A.K.A. Bubba |
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Summoning the Stars...
I left for work today and the world looked different. More than that, it felt different. I don't know why, maybe it was the moon that was hanging to low, or the fog that was enveloping me in its cloud, or the air that was crisp and cold, too cold for life to exist without the heat of our homes. I took it all in. I saw the fog's shadow, outlined like a cloud lying on our world. I felt the cold hit my face like I was getting a hard smack. I watched the darkness surround me, the stars above me twinkling, dancing around the almost full, white moon.
I feel the doom that is lurking around, in and out of the shadows. I can't know what the doom might be, but I feel its power surrounding us all. I am trying to keep my worry to a minimum, for I do not know what stems from this worry. I keep my children close, hugging them a little too long, kissing them while telling them how strong my love is for each of their hearts. I still feel the doom all around me.
With a glance to the blue ceiling above, I feel the weight being lifted off of my shoulders. I see the stars summoning the good in mankind, the good in my life. I heave the one last spell of doom and find the sun shining bright down on my world as I once knew it. For the doom might still exist but only in mine eye tonight. I have been summoned upon summoning the stars...
I feel the doom that is lurking around, in and out of the shadows. I can't know what the doom might be, but I feel its power surrounding us all. I am trying to keep my worry to a minimum, for I do not know what stems from this worry. I keep my children close, hugging them a little too long, kissing them while telling them how strong my love is for each of their hearts. I still feel the doom all around me.
With a glance to the blue ceiling above, I feel the weight being lifted off of my shoulders. I see the stars summoning the good in mankind, the good in my life. I heave the one last spell of doom and find the sun shining bright down on my world as I once knew it. For the doom might still exist but only in mine eye tonight. I have been summoned upon summoning the stars...
30 Day Challenge- Day #27- A Problem that you Have Had
Day #27- A Problem that You Have Had.
Open ended questions, right here !!! [raising my hand]
I have had MANY problems over the past year, let alone my lifetime! A huge problem that I have had, as of late, in regards to Gray Gables (seems suitable since this is what the blog is based off of) would be our financial woos and all the problems that we have had since moving in, back in October.
We basically, ran out of money. It was a series of dominoes that fell all at once. We purchased this old house through our counties land bank program, which means that the house was days shy of the demo block. There was a bidding war, we won and then work began. It just ended up being A LOT of work! We had foundation problems, a roof to put on, windows, we had to level the ground so that the basement could stop filling up with water- which resulted in putting in a pond to use the dirt as fill. Hubby's only condition with buying this property was that he gets a Pole Barn, and wish was granted. It actually fell last year and needed to be rebuilt and that was a DISASTER and huge set back. Of course, more money also!
We have had to make change after change and take this house down to the bones and replace plaster for drywall. The house itself has been a soul sucker, then you have the drama with my parents. I got a whopper when we ran out of all of our funds and needed to go for an Equity Loan, and got denied. That cracked open the case of unpaid, delinquent student loans and added to the melting pot that was already boiling over with my Parents. Unbeknownst to me, the financially responsible parent seemed to have stopped paying, like I was never going to find out. -Um, opps.
I would like to insert a disclaimer here - there was an agreement made when I graduated from high school that I was going to college- no ifs/and -or- buts to it. The terms of said agreement were that I was to live at home during the course of my education and they would pay for the classes until I graduated, of which I had five years. After the second year, I started paying for all books that I needed, but they still agreed to pay for the classes. I upheld my end of the bargain and stayed at home, following their very strict rules for the duration of my college education.
So, this left me bitter, shocked and hurt. How can someone else hurt your credit and not care. I heard that other family members credit were just as bad as mine, if not worse because of my Brother and my education. I was in shock that it was so nonchalently excused and brushed under the rug. There wree other things on my credit that are still not makign sense that have to do with this time frame, but they are being handled at this point and time, so it is neither here nor hterhe, I suppose.
This was a huge burden on my shoulders, because now we are really broke and only have 1 income and two homes. I swear, this is when the gray hairs began!
Anyways, these are all major problems that we have battled. Today, we are still struggling now and again, but prayers to God have helped me keep my sanity and understand that these are challenges that we need to overcome and so far, we have, somehow, someway. It has gotten easier, but it just seems like now, there is something wrong Everyday!
This week it seems to be furnace issues! Next week, who knows. It is always something, but we are managing to keep our sanity!
Somehow, someway, we will survive....Problems and all!
Open ended questions, right here !!! [raising my hand]
I have had MANY problems over the past year, let alone my lifetime! A huge problem that I have had, as of late, in regards to Gray Gables (seems suitable since this is what the blog is based off of) would be our financial woos and all the problems that we have had since moving in, back in October.
We basically, ran out of money. It was a series of dominoes that fell all at once. We purchased this old house through our counties land bank program, which means that the house was days shy of the demo block. There was a bidding war, we won and then work began. It just ended up being A LOT of work! We had foundation problems, a roof to put on, windows, we had to level the ground so that the basement could stop filling up with water- which resulted in putting in a pond to use the dirt as fill. Hubby's only condition with buying this property was that he gets a Pole Barn, and wish was granted. It actually fell last year and needed to be rebuilt and that was a DISASTER and huge set back. Of course, more money also!
We have had to make change after change and take this house down to the bones and replace plaster for drywall. The house itself has been a soul sucker, then you have the drama with my parents. I got a whopper when we ran out of all of our funds and needed to go for an Equity Loan, and got denied. That cracked open the case of unpaid, delinquent student loans and added to the melting pot that was already boiling over with my Parents. Unbeknownst to me, the financially responsible parent seemed to have stopped paying, like I was never going to find out. -Um, opps.
I would like to insert a disclaimer here - there was an agreement made when I graduated from high school that I was going to college- no ifs/and -or- buts to it. The terms of said agreement were that I was to live at home during the course of my education and they would pay for the classes until I graduated, of which I had five years. After the second year, I started paying for all books that I needed, but they still agreed to pay for the classes. I upheld my end of the bargain and stayed at home, following their very strict rules for the duration of my college education.
So, this left me bitter, shocked and hurt. How can someone else hurt your credit and not care. I heard that other family members credit were just as bad as mine, if not worse because of my Brother and my education. I was in shock that it was so nonchalently excused and brushed under the rug. There wree other things on my credit that are still not makign sense that have to do with this time frame, but they are being handled at this point and time, so it is neither here nor hterhe, I suppose.
This was a huge burden on my shoulders, because now we are really broke and only have 1 income and two homes. I swear, this is when the gray hairs began!
Anyways, these are all major problems that we have battled. Today, we are still struggling now and again, but prayers to God have helped me keep my sanity and understand that these are challenges that we need to overcome and so far, we have, somehow, someway. It has gotten easier, but it just seems like now, there is something wrong Everyday!
This week it seems to be furnace issues! Next week, who knows. It is always something, but we are managing to keep our sanity!
Somehow, someway, we will survive....Problems and all!
30 Day Challenge- Day #26- What kind of Person attracts you
Day #26- What kind of Person Attracts you?
I find this question odd, at best! I think maybe my first step should be to define attraction:
Oh, ok-now that that is summed up... The people that I tend to attracts into my life are usually young. That is kind of weird! My Hubby is older than me, and I knew he was the one the first time I laid eyes on him. I befriended him to attract him and wa-lah here we are today!
Friends on the other hand seems to be here and there! My BFF growing up was the complete opposite of me from eyes to hair to personality and interests. She loved tennis, me, not so much! In the latter years of Elementary, we definitely drifted apart. My next BFF, also a neighbor, was younger than me but always a lot of fun. She was also very different from me.
I have had a lot of come and go friends along my journey, most of them were sort of like me. My very best est friend even had the same name! We were like sisters, because we were a like, yet SO different from one another. She was so much FUN. Always shooting for the laugh. We went to Canada when we were 18- drove all the way there at like 10 o'clock at night with another friend too. We got up there, drank till we couldn't see straight, then ended up in a park somewhere near the casino. She is so crazy that she is riding these crazy animals that are on springs and it was the most hilarious sight ever! I was DD, so I was the only sober one and I was literally rolling in the snow dying from laughter!
It was always like that with her. We would have the time of our lives one minute and it would be dreadfully serious the next minute. When she got grumpy- watch out, she was a major pill and we would fight! We went to Cedar Point one summer day, left real early and she was a pill that day! It was hot, yes, it was a long trip there, totally, but we fought from the moment we got there, to the moment we left! That is when our friendship started to fade. I guess I knew we were growing up in that instant. We still had a decent day- but things were definitely changing!
Today, she is invisible. She definitely left an imprint on my soul, a friend I will love forever and never forget but one that remains absent in my life to date. Kind of sad actually. I always thought she would be in my wedding, be there when my kids were born, like they would call her Aunt and vice versa. Just a dream, I suppose!
Then there was my Maid of Honor. She was younger but we were like instant sisters! We got along famously. I don't really know what happened. We became friends through my Hubby and her Boyfriend at the time. Shortly after our wedding, she split from boyfriend, who was fiance at that time. She went cold on me. Then she came back a few months later with some story about us being close to her X and she doesn't want him knowing her business- like I was going to tell him, a person who I didn't even see, like EVER! I was hurt by her distrust of the meaning of our friendship to me and we drifted. This girl left a hole in my heart. She came around when my daughter was born but that was the last time I saw her, five years ago.
Man, I think I answered this silly question. I attract people who apparently do not stay in my life. My Hubby is my best friend, always has been. I was always closer to boys anyhow! My Best Boy -Friend was in my life through all of this- he didn't distance himself until Hubby and I started to get serious. He had already moved down south by that time and was visiting less and less. I heard from him now and again, but nothing like our friendship had been. I really miss him too. Guess that is why Facebook is such a great invention, we do keep in touch- but its barely a friendship at this point. That one is hard to swallow too, he was my best est- best best friend. He knew everything about me as a person. I loved him, like a brother and he played the role perfectly too. And no, we never dated, nor did either of us ever want to. He was literally like a brother, always.
I think that the attraction is two sided. I am a very introverted person. I like my space, my time to be alone and my privacy. I am sure that this has impacted my meaningful friends in a lot of ways. There has really only been one person who I have never let my claws out of, and that is Hubby. Lucky him, right! Ha.
I find this question odd, at best! I think maybe my first step should be to define attraction:
at·trac·tion
əˈtrakSHən/
noun
noun: attraction; plural noun: attractions
- 1.the action or power of evoking interest, pleasure, or liking for someone or something."she has romantic ideas about sexual attraction"
synonyms: appeal, attractiveness, desirability, seductiveness, seduction, allure, animal magnetism; More
antonyms: repulsion - a quality or feature of something or someone that evokes interest, liking, or desire."this reform has many attractions for those on the left"
- a thing or place that draws visitors by providing something of interest or pleasure."the church is the town's main tourist attraction"
synonyms: entertainment, activity, diversion, interest More
"the fair offers sideshows and other attractions" - Grammarthe influence exerted by one word on another that causes it to change to an incorrect form, e.g., the wages of sin is (for are ) death.
Friends on the other hand seems to be here and there! My BFF growing up was the complete opposite of me from eyes to hair to personality and interests. She loved tennis, me, not so much! In the latter years of Elementary, we definitely drifted apart. My next BFF, also a neighbor, was younger than me but always a lot of fun. She was also very different from me.
I have had a lot of come and go friends along my journey, most of them were sort of like me. My very best est friend even had the same name! We were like sisters, because we were a like, yet SO different from one another. She was so much FUN. Always shooting for the laugh. We went to Canada when we were 18- drove all the way there at like 10 o'clock at night with another friend too. We got up there, drank till we couldn't see straight, then ended up in a park somewhere near the casino. She is so crazy that she is riding these crazy animals that are on springs and it was the most hilarious sight ever! I was DD, so I was the only sober one and I was literally rolling in the snow dying from laughter!
It was always like that with her. We would have the time of our lives one minute and it would be dreadfully serious the next minute. When she got grumpy- watch out, she was a major pill and we would fight! We went to Cedar Point one summer day, left real early and she was a pill that day! It was hot, yes, it was a long trip there, totally, but we fought from the moment we got there, to the moment we left! That is when our friendship started to fade. I guess I knew we were growing up in that instant. We still had a decent day- but things were definitely changing!
Today, she is invisible. She definitely left an imprint on my soul, a friend I will love forever and never forget but one that remains absent in my life to date. Kind of sad actually. I always thought she would be in my wedding, be there when my kids were born, like they would call her Aunt and vice versa. Just a dream, I suppose!
Then there was my Maid of Honor. She was younger but we were like instant sisters! We got along famously. I don't really know what happened. We became friends through my Hubby and her Boyfriend at the time. Shortly after our wedding, she split from boyfriend, who was fiance at that time. She went cold on me. Then she came back a few months later with some story about us being close to her X and she doesn't want him knowing her business- like I was going to tell him, a person who I didn't even see, like EVER! I was hurt by her distrust of the meaning of our friendship to me and we drifted. This girl left a hole in my heart. She came around when my daughter was born but that was the last time I saw her, five years ago.
Man, I think I answered this silly question. I attract people who apparently do not stay in my life. My Hubby is my best friend, always has been. I was always closer to boys anyhow! My Best Boy -Friend was in my life through all of this- he didn't distance himself until Hubby and I started to get serious. He had already moved down south by that time and was visiting less and less. I heard from him now and again, but nothing like our friendship had been. I really miss him too. Guess that is why Facebook is such a great invention, we do keep in touch- but its barely a friendship at this point. That one is hard to swallow too, he was my best est- best best friend. He knew everything about me as a person. I loved him, like a brother and he played the role perfectly too. And no, we never dated, nor did either of us ever want to. He was literally like a brother, always.
I think that the attraction is two sided. I am a very introverted person. I like my space, my time to be alone and my privacy. I am sure that this has impacted my meaningful friends in a lot of ways. There has really only been one person who I have never let my claws out of, and that is Hubby. Lucky him, right! Ha.
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