Cleaning House and Loving It

Today is Wednesday, September 30, 2009. It was another gorgeous day here, house opened up and no air conditioner was needed. We may just have fall here after all.

So yesterday I cleaned my kitchen from top to bottom. Everything out of the cupboards, everything cleaned and put back. Today the same in the dining room and tomorrow my living room. This fall weather really energizes me. Young son is never happy to see this type of cleaning done. He knows that he will be in cleaning his room for hours. And he was. But it looks wonderful and he did an awesome job on it and all by himself. hehehe

The lady bug fabric didn't come today so I thought, let's carry on with the cleaning and over hauling of the house. It smells so good to be opened up again. So this weekend I will be able to finish up all of my pet projects that I have been wanting to finish up and nott feel guilty about doing it.

I want to share part of an e-mail that I received from Ashley's mom Jenn today.

"She is almost finished with the first of the books you sent to her! It's one that she has already read BUT loved! I had given her copy away to the Goodwill in one of our trips not realizing how much she'd miss it - she was ecstatic to have it back again. She had it with her during her infusion today and it kept her mind off of the "yuckiness" of the hospital. She has them all lined up in the box in which order she wants to read them in :) "

See what a box of books can do for a little person? That just made my heart soar!

Renee, everything is fine here, quiet but fine. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers everyday. You are my hero!

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~ Brightest Blessings ~

Its' Monday

Today is Monday, September 28, 2009. It was 90 degrees today, where is that fall weather at? It is supposed to get down into the fifties tonight, we shall see. Today was a projects for friends and family day. So I guess that I really didn't work. Just fun stuff.

I have been spray painting frames to use for a couple of things, well last night I had forgot about them until after dark. So outside I went to get them, I didn't close the sliding glass door behind be knowing that my hands were going to be full on the way back in.

Young son is sitting in the boys living room and in comes a little fat sparrow. This always trips him out when a bird gets into the house. Now he is screaming at me that there is a bird in the house and I am laughing at him. My hands are full so I go to put these things up and then to get the critter out of the house. I guess in his eyes I should have just threw these things down and went straight to getting the bird.

After about twenty minutes the little critter is out of the house and young son lets me know that I need to shut the door behind me. If I had it wouldn't have come into the house. He is lecturing me in that matter of fact tone he gets when he is dead dog serious.

I was also blessed again by Jennifer of happychica0416
She had read my blog and e-mailed me saying that she thought she had some lady bug material! Whoot! She checked and YES she is sending it out today, so I should have it Wednesday! She has been my angel on this project! Thank You again!

Thank you to all of you that are sending Ashley a card, you don't know how much this is going to do for this little girl. She is such a special little person!

Colors for the week:
Monday White
Tuesday Red
Wednesday Brown
Thursday Green
Friday Pink
Saturday Brown
Sunday Gold Blood Moon

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~ Brightest Blessings ~

Could You, Would You, Please

Today is Friday, September 25, 2009. It was another beautiful day and thought I might just get into the pool to cool off. Well let me tell you, that water was no where near the temperature of the day! It must have cooled off a lot last night. Needless to say, no matter how inviting it looked, I entertained myself with a few projects.

I have a very dear friend Jenn, who's daughter Ashley, had to have jaw surgery. We are so thankful that it was a cyst and NOT a tumor! However, she is having a real tough time for her recovery. Basically she is on "lock down". Can go no where or do nothing. Not much fun for a nine year old.

She has had medical problems all of her life, however this is so different for her. As Jenn stated, Ashley is starting to think she did something wrong and is being punished. Not the case at all, it is just to fragile right now that she can eat nothing other than the usually pudding, mashed potatoes, jello you know the drill. She had been eating mac and cheese and the doctor was upset because of the "chomp" of her teeth.

So I asked Jenn about her writing letters and cards and receiving them. Jenn says Ashley will write to anyone and loves getting mail. She likes to read Magic Tree House and Goose Bump books. Loves stationary and pens.

I was so blessed with a seller from Bonanzle yesterday. I found her booth happychica0416 with 25 Magic Tree House books. So I contacted her about all of them and she is an angel! She did all of them in a lot and is going to ship them right to her. She is also going to put her name in them and wrap them with a card! You don't get any better customer service than that! Thank You Jennifer! So Ashley will have them Tuesday or Wednesday!

She also loves lady bugs. I have searched high and low for lady bug material to make her a dream pillow and drawstring bag. I even went to the thrift stores yesterday looking for used clothing maybe that might just have lady bugs. NOTHING! Not even in the toddler clothes. So I may just have to settle for butterflies, I know they are not lady bugs.

So I was thinking that maybe if you have time, you could write her a note and send to her. If you would like to send her a note, letter or card, e-mail me at brightestblessingswiccans@comcast.net and I will send you her mailing address. I just don't know what else to do for her. I can only imagine what Jenn is going through on this one. It really sucks when your child is ill and there is nothing you can do about it!

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~Brightest Blessings~

A Fairly Productive Day

Today is Wednesday, September 23, 2009. It was a beautiful day and hot. Lots of birds are back and even a mocking bird was here this evening. That is the first that I have seen in the back at the feeder.

Today was a fairly productive day. I started and FINISHED four dream pillows and even have taken the pictures. Go me! So tomorrow I will get them listed on my Etsy shop and site. Tomorrow I start a new tote, that has been sitting just waiting so patiently to be done.

The pool is clean and looks beautiful. I love it when it just sparkles in the sunshine. It is so inviting. Looks pretty at night too with the solar lights on it.

Made a fresh hot pot of coffee all of my chores are finished for today anyway, so I may just get the dream pillows listed tonight. Who knows?

Young son has been a bear since dad is gone! It isn't just me, son number 5 said the same thing. Wanted to know what was wrong with him. And of course son number 5 has no patience with that kind of thing. So we are just making a wide birth around young son. We are so hoping that things change with him and this attitude. If not, we are going to ship him to his dad. hehehe

I hope that everyone have a wonderful Mabon and that the colors of your world are changing. Ours aren't changing here yet another month or so and then maybe our world will be colorful too.

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~Brightest Blessings~

A New Day...

Today is Monday, September 21, 2009. The sun is shining and a squirrel is in the bird feeder. I haven't seen the little injured one in two days. The Cardinals have been here and since left this morning. It is a new day....

Hubby left last night, the two boys went to their sister's house to spend the night. Sister's hubby has a four wheeler that he just finished getting "ready", for what I am unsure. The one thing that I am sure of, the clothes that they bring home will be full of mud.

When it came time for hubby to leave, I had told myself no tears, he doesn't want to go and he feels bad enough about having to contract. No need to make him feel any worse with a seven hour drive ahead of him, not to mention the weather was terrible, he was heading right into it. He needed to be focused on driving and not home.

I was good, no tears, he closed the front door. Breathe..... When I heard the truck start, well all was not good any longer. I watched him through the bedroom window, drive out the gates and then close them. I watched the tail lights until they were out of my sight. Thirty days...... and then to get two days to do it again.

As I sat alone in a very quiet house, I asked myself, will this get easier next time? Then I asked myself do you really want it to be easier? If it got easier, wouldn't that mean that I was losing something that I really loved and cared about? No, I don't want to lose those feelings, no matter how hard they seem to be right this minute.

This is the tote that was inspired by my daughter, with one large pocket inside for her keys and cell phone, "So they don't go to the bottom, I can just reach into the pocket." OK. Hers is finished and I made another one in the Halloween theme with a handmade clay pumpkin button. I will get it listed today in my Etsy shop.

Colors for the week:
Monday Lavender
Tuesday Scarlet
Wednesday White
Thursday Green
Friday Purple
Saturday Black
Sunday Gold

I hope that everyone has a Blessed Mabon tomorrow!

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today! ~Brightest Blessings~

A Very Short Week

Today is Friday, September 18, 2009. It has rained most of the week here and doesn't look like it is going to be ending anytime soon. So another day in the house.

I received these wicked greeting cards from Cindy of The Shabby Hag yesterday. The cards are so cool and the packaging is just wonderful. The little gold pumpkin seal is a special touch! Thank you Cindy!

This week has just run by. I think it is the realization that hubby is leaving Sunday night and won't be back for at least thirty days. All of the years that we have been married we have never been apart more than three days. Figure I can throw myself into my work and the holidays. I am not prepared for this, never thought that I would have to be.....

Young son got the reality check Friday evening while dad and mom were talking. He is not a happy camper. "Dad is really leaving this weekend?", yes son, he is. Vanished to his room for a few hours and then became very clingy. Very out of character for him.

This will be harder on the oldest son and the youngest son. They are their fathers sons. Not that the other ones aren't close to him, they will miss him too, just not like the other two. Dad is the "fun" one. The one that they tell about the tree getting caught up in the vines while cutting it down or how long the rattle snake was or their "battle wounds". Mom doesn't want to hear this stuff, I worry about them enough without all of the details.

I did get to finish up a different style rag quilt tote last night, inspired by my daughter and three dream pillows that I will get listed maybe, sometime today on my site and my Etsy shop. If not today, for sure tomorrow. Will probably work all night Sunday, waiting on the phone call that says he made it there and all is well.

Today is a New Moon, don't forget to smudge and write those abundance checks!

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~ Brightest Blessings ~

Pictures Are Re-Done!

Today is Monday, September 14, 2009. It has been another cloudy day, no rain as of yet though. The weather has returned to hot and humid. UGH

This morning I have been working on replacing pictures in my Etsy shop. I am finished! They do look so much better than they did. Kind of proud of myself for getting this finished, we all know that taking pictures for listings is my favorite job to do.

Going to work on another Halloween tote and maybe a lap quilt. I love Halloween the decorations and of course the endless supply of goodies. There are certain candies that you can only get at Halloween time and I have never understood that, so I tend to stock up.

It looks like hubby will be either 3 hours away or 8 hours away. YEAH! At least it isn't the fifteen hours away contract. I was so disliking the thought of only seeing him once a month. I can live with the weekends, this is what I am telling myself.

Colors for the week:
Monday: Silver
Tuesday: Gray
Wednesday: Topaz
Thursday: White
Friday: Pink
Saturday: Blue
Sunday: Yellow

Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today! ~ Brightest Blessings ~

Projects Finished and Listed, Followed Blogs Are Back

Today is Sunday, September 13, 2009. It has been rainy the last couple of days. A good thing, I had lots to do in the house. It is hard for me to stay inside when it is nice out and knowing that the summer is coming to an end. It is supposed to get down into the fifties next week. A little chilly a little soon I think.

I did get a few more projects finished and four more started. Now I know, I am supposed to finish one project before starting another. However, this time I have a legitimate reason. I went to get the lavender for my dream pillows and she was out. So I have to wait to finish them. See this time it was not my fault. I do have four of them ready to finish when the lavender gets here. Not only did I finish my projects, I also got them listed too!

My next project it to retake some pictures and upload them. Some of them are really terrible. A photo taking person I am not. They never seem to come out the same twice. Maybe I need to change my attitude about taking pictures. I know that I am no good at it and I really dislike doing it.

I was so excited last night. I won some wickedly wicked greeting cards from Cindy over at The Shabby Hag She does some really awesome work, check out the link at the wall clock that she just finished. It is so wicked! My son would love that in his room. He loves the Halloween decorations. Would like to leave them up all year. And for the most part, I let him in his room.

I did get my followed blogs back. I went into a panic mode when I went and had nothing. I hit the refresh button like a mad woman. Then logged out and back in, still nothing. So I went out and refollowed so if I am following you twice, you will know why. What lesson was learned from this? I now have a folder in my bookmarks for the blogs that I follow. This panic will not happen to me again.

It has been a productive weekend and looking forward to next week. Usually if the weekend is productive, the following week is great for productivity. Hope everyone had an awesome weekend! ~ Brightest Blessings~

I Have Lost My Followed Blogs! Not Happy....

Today is Wednesday, September 9, 2009. It was a beautiful day out. The sun was shining and there was a breeze. Made getting three loads of laundry a snap. Yeah I could have said a breeze instead of snap. LOL

I decided to make a pin cushion today. The going back and forth from the ironing board to the sewing machine was getting to be a bit much. If I was at the sewing machine it was at the ironing board, if I was at the ironing board it was at the sewing machine. So that and doing chores was just about all that I got done today.

OK when I logged into my "dash board" on blogger, I have NO blogs that I am following! I am not happy that I have lost all of the blogs. So I will go out and try to get them back. If I miss one, PLEASE let me know! The blogs that I follow I really do enjoy following. So I ask, if I miss you please let me know. I don't know why or how this happens. I do remember a few months ago blogger had an issue with followers and I lost followers as well as a lot of others.

Off now to find my blogs, to try to refollow them. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Wednesday and got to do something that they wanted to do.

~Brightest Blessings~

My Project For The Day For A Special Friend

Today is Monday, September 7, 2009. It is still dark out and very quiet in the world. My favorite time of the day. All set for the moment with a hot cup of coffee.

Today my project is to work on a "selling blog" for a wonderful friend. Sharon of SNL Designs. She does the most wonderful templates, banners, avatars and web designs. She sells on the bay and after they make it against the rules to do digital downloads, sales went south. Which I can understand. When I purchased my templates and banners, avatars, I didn't want to wait for a CD to arrive in the mail.

Yesterday I had sent her an e-mail her about a banner for my Etsy shop and within a couple of hours I had it in my in box another thirty seconds to upload it and it was in my shop. If we had done it the bays way it would have been a week before I received it.

She does ALL venue templates, banners and avatars. I truly enjoy working with her, she doesn't collect your money and that is the end. I remember the first template that I bought from her on the bay for my bay store. When I got the e-mail, well needless to say, I thought what have I gotten myself into. After reading her instructions, I did it! She had been checking my store to see if I had an issues, this I didn't know until I received an e-mail from her, telling me why the red x was next to my pictures and how to correct it. She is a sweetheart and today I will set up a blog for her, Branding Your Business.

The picture is of the apple stacker that I did get to make and is now hanging in the window, when the sun is shinning on it, oh it smells just wonderful. Going to bake a few trays of the apples while working on the selling blog. Maybe I will get to use them for the wreath this time.

Time to get to work and another cup of coffee. Hope that everyone had a splendid weekend. Remember yesterday, dream about tomorrow, but live today. ~Brightest Blessings~

Colors for the week:
Monday White
Tuesday Black
Wednesday Yellow
Thursday Green
Friday Rose
Saturday Blue
Sunday Amber

Halloween Rag Quilt Tote and 4 Halloween Drawstring Bags Started and Finished

Today is Saturday, September 5, 2009. It was a hot day, however it was cool enough to open up the house for most of the day. The squirrels are back in full force, don't know where they have been, but they are back.

I am proud that I finished everything that I started today! The Halloween tote is finished and will be listed on Etsy tomorrow. Started and finished 4 drawstring bags. Two silky spiders and two very cool owls. I will get two of them listed tomorrow on my site and the other two in my Esty shop. Love the owls, check out those eyes.

Last night I was taking clothes off of the line that to be honest, I had forgotten about. I fold the clothes as I take them off of the line at the table and then into the basket. Hubby had told me that the birds were using my clothes pin shirt holder as a resting spot. This is OK with me, I don't have a problem with it. I went to take a pair of my sons shorts off of the line and OH MY WORD, a bird came out of them. I don't know who scared who the worst. Hubby just grinned that grin and said are you alright?

I have never seen them in my clothes or the clothes pin holder, so when that bird came out of those shorts, I screamed and it flew. Hubby shook the rest of the clothes and said, "They are safe, nothing in them." Ha,Ha

Claire is having a pumpkin carving picture taking and sharing going on over on her blog. Make sure to check it out. She is a hoot! Need a great laugh, go see Clarie! It is called the Pumpkin Project it should be lots of fun!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful extended weekend! Have fun and be safe! ~Brightest Blessings~

Halloween Rag Quilt Table Runner Finished and Listed

Today is Friday, September 4, 2009. It was a hot and muggy one today. No fall insight. After yesterday and the day before of opening up the house and enjoying the cooler weather, today was ugly. The birds were singing strong at 5:30 this morning, they must have enjoyed the day.

I did get a good start today with chores and things for the shop. Finished up this Halloween table runner and the tote is finished all but for the button. I had a pumpkin button cover or so I thought, when I went to get it, well you know how it goes. So I thought I would get a large black or orange button at the store. Wrong again.... So I have a clay one in the oven and when it is finished, I can make it into a button cover and list my Halloween tote.

It is a definite that hubby is going to have to contract. Just don't know where until next week. It could be Tampa, Jacksonville, Macon, Savanna or and I really hope not Delaware. Calling all friends for thoughts of Jacksonville, he would be home every night.

The moon is gorgeous tonight. I enjoyed it to the fullest and hope that you did too.

Here is to a terrific weekend! Please remember to take some "me" time. The holiday season is right around the corner and that is when things really seem to take a toll on us. We have to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take care of others. ~Brightest Blessings~

Opened My Etsy Shop Today

Today is Wednesday, September 2, 2009. It was a wonderful day today, the sun was shining for the most part in between the clouds and there was a breeze. Yes, we were able to open up the house today and no air conditioner. We may not have as much summer left as I thought.

For the most part today was productive. My Etsy Shop is open and listed the eight new products that I had finished. Thank you Sarah again for yet another shove. LOL This was a new adventure for me and I seemed to muddle through the listing process without any pains. Was even able to set up Google Analytics and it is now working! Still having issues with it on my web site. If you have a chance stop on over and "heart" my shop.

Didn't get the tote finished today, however tomorrow it will be done and listed too. Went and picked up some more logs, so those will need to be split and stacked. Stopped over to see mom and she was just full of herself. I did manage to leave in under the normal two plus hours. She is so special to me.

Then off to the fabric store. This was my treat for finishing up all of the unfinished projects that I had started and listed too. So tomorrow will be new fabric and project day. I am sooo excited. I think I am getting better about finishing projects before starting so many others. It just seems like when I am on a roll, I just go with it and then there are so many unfinished. I really am working on that, really I am.

Hubby may have to go contracting. This was not the highlight of my day. Depending on how far he has to go, will mean seeing him every night, on the weekends or once a month. I am not liking the thought of this contracting at all. I know, suck it up....

I hope that everyone had a happy, healthy, productive day. ~ Brightest Blessings ~

An New Adventure

Today is Tuesday, September 1, 2009. It has been cloudy all day and a little rain here and there. Not a day to spend outside.

Today I did get my pictures taken of my finished items and will list them tomorrow. No they will not be listed on my site or on Bonanzle. Instead I will be listing them on Esty.com, this will be a new adventure for me and I am kind of tickled about trying this site.

I also got fabric cut for another tote that will be finished tomorrow. A witchy tote, it will be. That will also be listed on Esty.com. Another widget to add to my blog too. I will post the link to my shop there tomorrow. I am sooo excited!

Hope that everyone had a great day! ~Brightest Blessings~