I've had ENOUGH!

I usually do not do controversial post.  I stay far, far away from HOT topics at all costs. 

But you know what?  

Today.  Yes, Today, I have had it "up to here"!










I have family members fighting. I have friends fighting.  It is crazy!  It seems like no matter where we turn...someone is offended by something. 

Yes, you all know what I am talking about, so don't sit there and act like you don't!

One person thinks the Minion movie has curse words in it, the other thinks that algea blooms are going to kill us all. (I can neither confirm, nor deny this statement)  Others are complaining about that parent...you know the one..that made a silly mistake or posted something that they meant to be funny, but we think it was inappropriate and will ruin their kids forever.  

I mean, do I have to continue... really...

I know you have all seen these rants...and more, which shall remain nameless. They are sometimes on blog posts, social media accounts....  Sometimes they will say "An Open Letter To (you fill in the blank!)."    Following this sweet dear diary opening, is a verbal assault focusing on belittling, bashing and name calling  (oh no she/he didn't!) when that person does not share the same opinion. 



I guess, the thing is...well, we are all individuals. We are so lucky to live in a country where there is freedom of speech, for both opinions in such case!  


Guess what I am seeing though... Adults (well...TBD) fighting on social media.  I see them turning words, spinning them to make them the victim (and yes, both sides are guilty), using name calling and foul language. It then escalates to derogatory racist or sexual comments directed at the person whom they do not agree with.  They bully.  They belittle.  They, well, like I said...are not acting like Adults!

It has gotten absolutely out of control.  I actually HATE my social media accounts these days because every-time I look at anything, there is a fight ensuing just under the surface. (not to mention the bad things that Nancy Grace likes to trickle in my new feed to just depress my entire day!)

I think it is time for me to put my foot down people...and tell you ALL to:

S T O P ! ! ! 

Seriously, it has gotten out of hand.  Yes, we are all entitled to our own opinions, but, since when is:

 YOUR opinion the ONLY opinion.  

You want to post things on your Social Media account, wait for a reaction, then go ape shit crazy (yea, it's totally a thing!)  on those who may or may not have valid points and want to shine a little light on your one sided opinion.  









No one is telling you to preach this other opinion, but perhaps it can (or can not) give you perspective into someone else's mind.   









And truth be told people, the Media...they are not speaking words of bond...THEY LIE ya'll!

I know some of you are heart broken right now by that realization, but it's OK.  

We are all entitled to think what we wish.  We all have freedom of speech, however, that freedom does NOT mean that we do not have freedom from the consequences of our said speech!






Whew... I know what you all are thinking...I am bringing the HEAT today!  





When YOU put something online, it is out there FOREVER! Let's repeat that... FOREVER!   It is there for EVERYONE to see.  You can't hide from it.  You can't deny it once your name is associated to it. Your words are your own, so preach them carefully on that good old Social Media Network that you choose as your outlet and try to NOT brainwash others into your ideals. 

Now I want to go to that ugly five (5) letter word that I wish did not exist.  In our children, YES, Life at Gray Gables just went through a whole year of this (in Kindergarten, people) of BULLY-ing.  It is NOT OK for our children to BULLY.  

So, why is it OK for parents to bully one another online?  

Would you say these things if you were having a conversation with this person because they did not agree with YOU?  

It is in these moments that a keyboard is turned into a WEAPON of sorts as the words you spew are coming from a hurtful/hateful place.  I don't think that this is OK at all people.



Now, to reiterate, I am NOT saying that you should agree with everyone. That is crazy talk!  I don't even agree with everyone.  

However, I think that when you choose to share your OPINION, act respectfully.  Understand that before you post that you will get negative feedback because, after all, this is YOUR opinion.  

If someone does not agree with  you, why do you feel the need to respond back to them? 

Let it go! 

(Thank you Anna and Elsa!)

Are these people's lives so sad that they have nothing better to do but troll and respond to those who feel different than they do?  I really just don't understand. 

I need to bring truth to you all also...I have seen adults have a civilized discussion.  

Shocking, right! 

I have seen a heated debate of two opposing political sides, they did not agree, but both listened to the other and instead of trying to convince the other side to... well, join them on their DARK SIDE, they shut up and listened.  

It's just an opinion people. And everyone is entitled to their own. 

My Motto:  To each their own!

At the end of the day, only YOU can control what you post online and how you take the response to said post. 

However, words to leave you with... 

"If  you can't say something nice...don't say anything at all!"

I think we all have forgotten this, which is a shame.

That's all.

Book is closed...

Life at Gray Gables: How to Raise Chickens Cheaply

Life at Gray Gables: How to Raise Chickens Cheaply: Our farm is getting ready to blossom, as we work on our research for chickens.  My first question is, how much is this going to cost... righ...

There is always a road left behind.... 7/13/2015 [a personal post]

Ugh.  Another beginning...to another week.

Monday is coming to a close and all I can say is..boy was today a horrible, terrible, rotten, NO GOOD day..until I got my kiddo's (well, and the Hubby sent me a text!)

This is so difficult for me.  I feel like God has a plan for me, for my life and I am trying to figure out how to make it happen. Is that weird?


I am so confused, so torn about what I need to do...while trying to have patience, trying to let whatever is supposed to happen, well...happen!  Does that even make sense?

Well, the curve ball that I have been thrown is seriously turning in my direction, about to plow right into me.

Am I having a hard time?  Um, YES.  Am I miserable?  Um, YES.  I am a mess!

But on the BRIGHT SIDE: on Saturday, I took my kiddo's to get crafts and I worked no a wreath for my front door and I am in LOVE with how it turned out.  I seriously was HAPPY, I was so myself again making that wreath and I felt wonderfully, exhilarated and full of JOY. Kind of makes a girl start to think..right!

[pictures to follow....in another post! tee-hee]

Well, I am now torn between two brilliant (I might add!)  ideas....

1. Do I start making wreaths and join the Craft Show circuit?

-or

2. Do I start taking in kids to watch (yes, I am in love with this idea! Making a schedule, having circle time, craft time!) and getting some for the school year, since the bus stop is right at the end of our drive?

Then comes the MOST DIFFICULT thing...how do I ask...Hubby?  I mean, I really, really want to quit my J- O- B...it is making me physically ill.  Stress is a MOTHER!


I know...yes, I know that this conversation will NOT be going well.  I wish he could understand where I am coming from.  I don't want to be like everyone else. I don't want to figure it out, having my family NEVER see me, not being a part of my kids lives, or Hubby's.  I mean, seriously, I don't see my Hubby until the weekends. NO JOKE!  It is seriously making the weekends uncomfortable or awkward because we are not on the same page, we don't see each other and I just feel so...ALONE.


Being ALONE is a hard thing for me. I mean, I feel like I am a single MOM here, and it is HARD. I don't want this LIFE.  And the only one who can fix it, who can make me be a part of my kids lives, my hubby's life..is ME fixing it.  But, I can't be a Stay-At-Home Mom (BOO!) - I have to still earn an income...

So, this is the path I have been on..the path that I have been trying to manage by myself.  I have been trying to find where my heart lies, where my happiness lies.  It has been a journey.  The mind is a powerful thing, one that I am learning to navigate, even at my OLD age!

I have tossed around the whole childcare thing to my Hubby before, and his response was that 'That's ridiculous' and that was hard to swallow, but I feel that maybe that is where I am supposed to be at this point in my life.

I started me educational journey in College, where I was dead set on being a teacher.  I was geared for third or fourth grade with a focus in English and Social Studies.  I put in four (4) years of hard work to come to a wall...a road block and literally stopped me in my tracks!

I ended my journey in year five (5) when I met with my guidance counselor and refocuesed on Business Administration and English, in order to graduate that year.  How is that for a kick in the gut?  It is one that keeps kicking me, twelve (12) years later! 

I just applied for an Alternative Teaching License review, in which I can use the credits I have earned (which I have a lot of!) and take a test in my licensure area and if I pass, I get to teach!  The problem is that the review is taking FOREVER!  I was thinking that I would have heard from the state by now, being that I applied over a month ago.  Yet, here I sit, trying desperately to be PATIENT.  I love kids, I can relate to them, be on their level and think that in a lot of ways, this is what I was destined to be, I just got side-tracked!



So, now it is GO time.  It is time for me to make a choice, two paths and it is time for me to run! Here's hoping that I can get the family on-board!

To our future...

To being a working stay-at-home Mom...

To being happy...

July 11th 2015 [Personal Post]

Sometimes...it's hard to find yourself!


I woke up this morning...exhausted....to two (2) beautiful, smiling, happy little people. 

They were playing, quietly, carrying on to themselves, as I left the warmth of my bed.  Just seeing their faces made my day a little better, a little brighter just because, here I am, getting to spend my day with my two (2) best-est friends, two girls who are caring, compassionate and understanding, two (2) girls who are learning and understanding the world at totally different speeds, in completely different ways, I might add!

And I am the lucky one, I am the one who gets to call those two (2) little girls MY KIDS. 






The week has been a rough one.  I had to head out to Columbus on Wednesday for work, and to say it was not a LONG day would be a complete, blatant LIE! 

I am lucky to have great parents who help me SO much with these two little ladies, who took them for not only Wednesday evening but Tuesday before I left to help me get my stuff done and get some rest...of which I DID!

I survived.  That seems to be what I keep saying when co-workers ask me about my trip.  I drove down there, blind.  I made it.  I found the parking garage I had a key card for..and of course the key card did not work. (Am I surprised...um, NO!)

I got parked, used my Google map on my find to find my destination and showed up on time (early even!)

I made it through the day, knowing one very BIG thing from this experience...it just aint for me.


I made my way home (in pouring, terrenchial rain!) and finally was able to take a breath.

Boy did I miss my kids that night.

The week has been a rough one.  Tears are shed every evening. Alone. By myself where I find myself on a regular basis.








I am working hard to "Find my Way" in this world and trying to keep myself out of the depths of dark despair, that I am finding myself being lured to as time keeps passing by.













But, today is Saturday.  It is a day of FAMILY and I got to spend mine with my two beauties. 

We had breakfast. 

We had Lunch. 

We had a Ninja Turtle hour! 

We went to Hobby Lobby (YESS!) and found some crafts to work on! 

We had Ice Cream. (Score!) and we colored today.



        All in all- it was a GREAT DAY (thanks Fresh Beat Band!)




Here's to hope for a repeat tomorrow.  And here's to hope that I find my way soon! I am a mess right now and need to find ME.

#tocraftsandhobbies
#letscreate
#lovemykidsmorethananything
#buildingwithbulishiisgreat

Junami...yeah its a thing...

Saturday, June 27th 2015

Well in case you didn't know, I live in Ohio. I started my day by waking up to rain. Upon further inspection, I notice a lovely pond in the neighbors back acreage...un, where there is supposed to be a field...which is now missing.

So, as I carry on with my day, and as more rain falls, steadily I might add, this said "pond" has now grown to the front acreage of the neighbors lot.

As I continue with my day, and as we edge towards evening, this rain has yet to simmer down, let alone STOP, and as I look out back of my own acreage I can see a SHOCKING scene unfolding.

Our drains have now backed up and my pond has grown (yes, an actual, real pond) and the drive to our pole barn (behind our house) is now covered with a third "pond" . 

UT oh!

Houston....we have a problem.

Hubby jumped to his feet, panic and a few choice curse words lingering in his dust as he grabbed the old fire boots my Dad had left at our house.

The news was not good. Upon opening the pole barn door, Hubby was greeted with as much water as he had traps ed through to get to his destination.

The problem...well my beautiful cherry vanity for our master bath was now sitting in about 7-8 inches of standing water. Cabinets for our laundry room were in the same boat.

We had to call in reinforcements to help lift the incredibly heavy furniture up and onto blocks before it was all ruined.

By the time we had the kids in bed the water was rising. It was a quick thinking move for Hubby to put his 63' Impala up, due to the water now half covering the exhaust.

Junami your a mother ... 

It only got worse...we checked on our basement....and it was wet...eek!

The nightmare began again.  The sump pump was pumping was working OT and struggling.

All is well, as the impeding water finally, slowly, started to dissipate.

But, we still have the seemingly uphill battle with the pole barn as our pond became one with our backyard and still water is what is left, causing issues with our Boom Lift, the cars and our stuff.

This blows!

Mother Nature needs a drink cause she has lost her Damn mind ...

To bed I go, to try and get some sleep. Let's hope the water drains by the morning...maybe we can salvage some of our stuff still.

Signing off from the SS Gray Gables ship at sea, Junami survive...I hope...2015.

~Kel