still counting...

Still continuing my list:

20. Good friends are hard to come by.
21. Being on the internet has opened up a whole new world of friends. We touch, and are touched by, people from around the world. It's the most amazing thing to get an email from some one halfway across the globe, that you find you have so much in common with. I may never meet you ladies, but I have been touched by you. That's a gift to me!
22. I am extremely loyal as a friend. Sometimes I feel let down by my friends, does that mean I let them down too?
23. I wish my best friend and I lived closer together. We keep missing each other when we move!
24. Thank goodness for webcams! Now I can see my family and friends live, and it makes a whole world of difference.
25. I am really lucky to have such close relationships with my sisters and mother. Christine and I are true Irish twins. Now that I have children, I can't imagine taking care of two babies, born in the same year! Wow, good thing Mom was 22 at the time...
26. I miss my mom and dad. I miss my sisters. It feels weird to be so homesick at my age. At my age. Shouldn't I be more "grownup" about this?
27. I am getting to know my husband's father and stepmother, stepbrother, and youngest brother- and that's cool. We have not had much time with them, and it's great to see the kids getting to know them too.
28. Both my brother-in-law and my husband like to work with metal. That's great, because I love metal too. I'm attracted to it when I drive by junk yards, or spot things at flea markets or antique stores. I hope to learn about making charms and things this year.

29. There are all sorts of cool metal hinges and things in the barn. I can't wait to go exploring.
30. And our property too- I look forward to the spring, when I can get out and see what's growing here.

31. At my parents house, there are spots in the field behind the house that old household bits and pieces come up out of the ground. I hope to find something like that here!!

OK- 10 more to go...
hugs- Lee

I am 42

I have been feeling the need to be creative lately. Painting and gluing are very soothing for me. They are magical de-stressors. But it's hard to do right now, everything in boxes... but that's why I need to get messy and full of paint and glitter. The other problem is that I have no direction right now.

So, I read one of my favorite blogs this morning, Ornamental, and Nina has embarked on writing 55 things, for reasons of her own. Very interesting reasons... go see. I love her blog, love her writing style. After reading her blog, I often have words and ideas swirling in my head, stream of conciousness, snippets of poems, thoughts. I don't write them here- thinking you, dear reader, may not be interested. But, that may change my friends, I'm warning you...

So, since I am 42, I am going to write 42 things. It may start here and end here. Or maybe not. It might take me awhile.

1. I am 42 years old. I am not happy that my face and body are aging.
2. The changes I see lately aren't pretty. Stress makes my face and lips thin and pale.
3. I am happy, sort of. I like who I am. Like my creativity. Like my profession.
4. I am wondering WHY OH WHY did I agree to move? I am not happy here. No yet, anyway.
5. I have spent a life time making the same mistake over and over again- the idea that I must be fair to everyone. Have I made that mistake again??
6. I need to excercise and workout.
7. It's too cold to even be outside, much less take a walk.
8. Maybe I'll just run the stairs in my house- I have enough of them!
9. I want to really launch a business this year.
10. I want 300 followers, each of them loving my blog and shops, buying up the lovely things I find or create.
11. I am excited about KC Willis' online workshop to help get me there.
12. Is it hubris to want to be a household/online name?
13. I love being a nurse. Taking care of people has it's own rewards.
14. I love taking care of really really sick people. It's an adrenaline rush.
15. My last boss was really awful. It made working painful. It caused all sorts of physical problems. I was scared to go to work every single day. Why is it so many really unqualified people are in management? My last boss should be fired. Seriously.
16. I hated my last job. It was super busy, but not challenging enough.
17. I sometimes think that I should take less-demanding job, so I have more time and energy to be a good mother and wife.
18. I am not getting any younger.
19. I love my husband, really, truly and deeply love him. He is my rock, my solace, my funny bone. I get him. He gets me. Mostly.
20. Good friends are hard to come by.

OK, more later. What's your list going to have on it? hugs- Lee

Happy New Year

Christmas came and went pretty quickly in our house... moving so close to the holidays made it hard to find my decorations, much less put them up! The kids awoke to a tree with lots of presents, and we had a really good morning with them.

I had dinner here for my Maine Family- Chris' Dad Rick and stepmom Nancy, his stepbrother Jesse, and his brother Eric and his girls. We started the festivities with some hot crab dip and chips and salsa. While the two older "boys" Eric and Jesse waged a Nerf gun war, Nancy and I got the rest of dinner ready. She brought ham and lasagne, and I had the fixings to go with it. Our center piece was the gingerbread house the boys decorated. Too bad we can't eat it!!

Already, Chris is headed back to Pennsylvania for the week. It was hard to say goodbye. My mom and sisters, and their children, will arrive for a fast and furious visit tomorrow. The beds are ready!

I hope you're enjoying your week!

hugs- Lee

Merry Christmas to All

And to all, a good night. Rejoice in Him! I hope you all enjoy your holidays.

Hugs- Lee

morning

It's cold here, cold, windy, and overcast and gray. The storm that hit the east coast is working it's way to Maine. It's snowing already. I was hoping Chris would get home today. I'm not sure that he will, though. It's not safe to be travelling with this amount of snow on the ground.

I have to admit I'm depressed. I went blog hopping to all my favorite sites. I soaked up the Christmas decorations and cookies. My house is cluttered and devoid of decorations. I had hoped to get them out this week, but with Chris not here... who knows. I know that the Christmas season is for celebrating the birth of our Savior, but the lights and things make it so much more inviting. Plus, we have two little kids, and Christmas is such an exciting time for them.

I also hoped to go out and shop last night, but that didn't happen. I was too tired, and Adam didn't want to stay at his grandparents' house with Jason. at Least I don't have to listen to fighting today. Not yet, anyway.

It's snowing again. Maybe I'll brave the weather and go buy some lights and some decorations. The cookies, however, will be homemade! At least the smell will perk up the house. Here are just a few pictures:

hugs- Lee

Wooooooo Hooooooooo!

Finally- connected! It's been a long ten days here in Maine. Hubby left the Sunday after we arrived to go to work. So, this week it's been me and the kids, unpacking, cleaning, walking in circles, digging out from snow, salting the sidewalk, breaking in the GPS- you get the picture.

I have to say, I'm exhausted. I cannot look at another box. And that's not even the worst of it. So much dust and dirt and cobwebs. ICK. (Note to self- NEVER buy and old house again, EVER). It seems like wherever I turn, there's still more to do. And there is... BUT, I really have made a dent, with many thanks to my in-laws (mother, father and brother). It's SO easy to get overwhelmed- like every day. But, I just have to keep plugging along.

Right now, I'd be happy to get some Christmas cards in the mail- oh, that's right- I have to order them first... But hey, gotta have some goals, right??

I have missed all of you out there. More than ever, I think you'll be my link to sanity. Julie- your story is hysterical. Lynn- I always love your spin on things. Tam, thanks for checking in, Debbie- I totally need the blessings, and I really hope and pray I laugh about this some day! Natalea- good to hear from you, and I'll be posting pictures soon.

So, to all of you out there- Merry Christmas! And I should have new photos up soon.

BIG hugs- Lee

Another Quick Update

I've been using my father-in-laws computer to check email and give you updates. This saturday I'm supposed to get my cable/internet/phone. UGH. A whole week and a half without any TV and computer.

It's snowing here again. Chris left this morning to go back to PA to work. He'll hold on to that job until I get something up here. So, I'm hanging out with my in-laws tonight. Today I did pretty much nothing- as far as unpacking. I did laundry and read Stephen King.

Thanks for checking in. I'll be posting photos soon!

xoxo, HUGS- Lee

I've Landed!

Just a quick update. We left for Maine on Monday. It was an excrutiatingly long drive, with 2 cats and 2 kids. When we finally arrived around 7:30 pm, it was snowing.

Tuesday STUNK- no two ways about it. We did our walk through and found lots of water in the laundry room- enough to soak the subfloor and lift the tiles off. Oh, a dehumidifier and a heater will fix it- the owner's realtor says. Suffice it to say the 1. he wasn't that bright, and 2. I almost grew fangs and ripped his head off. Finally, the funds came through after 6 hours and we signed the papers. Then we headed over and emptied the u-haul.

We set up the mattresses on the living room floor, and we all slept there.

Wednesday is snowed- BIG TIME- like 10 inches. God help me, I was ready to just lay down and hibernate. BUT- as of today, one POD emptied, house full of stuff. NOT A SINGLE thing doesn't leak, every sink... Filthy. Filthy. Filthy.

BUT OURS.

Back later- xoxo

And The Winner Is...........

Thanks to all of you who entered. Giving away stuff is so much fun! Connie from She Dreams Big is the winner! Connie, email me your address and the goody of you choice!

This will be my last post until after the move, which is set (again!) for this Monday 12/7. I'll try to check in from my in-law's place- so keep coming back!!

hugs- Lee

Where, Oh Where Are My Followers

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeell, don't know what happened to my followers? And what happened to all of the blog I followed? They're missing from Blogger site. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. SIGH. Will have to start over. But hey, I know who you were!

hugs- Lee

I guess it was a glitch. Thank goodness!