REUSE, RESTORE, RECYCLE and A GARDEN SURPRISE!

This has been a day to do all of the above. I'm one of those people who doesn't throw rubber bands away - all the time! Especially the ones that come on bunches of veggies or flowers. They're wide and strong and come in handy. Like today. I decided it was time to clean the glass light shades over the bathroom vanity. I do this about once a year. I know - should probably do it more often, but I'm just not anal about that kind of cleaning. Anyhoooo, when I took them off the fixtures, some of the ceramic surrounds inside that keep the shades from moving had broken and was coming off in pieces. I didn't even realize they were in there. Well, I cleaned the shades - they're so pretty and shiny now! - and then thought, what can I put around the bottoms to take the place of the ceramic pieces. And then it hit me - my wide rubber bands! They are just the right size and fit around the bottoms perfectly. See!

I know, they're blue, but they won't show, so who cares? It works!

I also started working on a refurbishing project. I've added that to my "Craft" page. It's not finished yet, but well on it's way! That's the "restore" part.

So what about the "recycle" you ask? Well, I'm a fiend about recycling our cardboard and our plastic containers - mainly bottles. I recently received 2 large boxes - stained glass in one and a lampshade in another. Neither can be used for reshipping, so off to the recycle place they go. Although.... Halloween is coming up and we might be able to use them in decorating our branch. So maybe I'll keep them for awhile.

I had a very nice surprise when I went out on my back deck to have my afternoon mocha and enjoy a bit of fresh air. I had some ripe tomatoes and a cucumber!! OMG!! I'm in Heaven!

Sliced cucumber and tomatoes for dinner tonight!!





Well, that's all for today. Between doing a little cleaning, a little refurbishing and getting some rest - still stuffy, but getting better - I've had a good day. Even got a movie in - UP - have you seen it? Kind of sappy, but cute and a good choice for a gray day.

God Bless and Keep You!
Jackie

THINKIN' I NEED A VACATION!!

Not sure whether it's allergies or a summer cold, but something hit me in the middle of the night Wednesday and now I'm all stuffed up and tired. I just want to wrap up in a blanket and drink hot tea and watch movies or take a nap. Wah, wah, wah!!! Got to get over it before next Wednesday because that's when I take off for Pennsylvania to see my beautiful daughter, Carman, and her handsome hubby, Matt and my fabulous grandkids, AJ, Jenna, Laine and Mia!!

SKI TRIP  2008

I can hardly wait to see them all! Can you blame me? So, I'd better get over this, whatever it is right now!!

I've been kind of mopey all around lately. Ever get that way? Just kind of restless, but nothing really jumps out at you. Zumba was fun, and I'm definitely going back. I have several projects to finish or get started. Reading is always nice. It's probably time to start in on the Bible again. I've read it 4 times over the years and I always get something different from it depending on my life experiences at the time. I've downloaded it onto my Kindle, so it will be easy to take with me when I travel next week.

I'm also at that stage in my life when I'd really, really, really like to retire, or at least just work part time. I DO have projects to keep me busy, but limited time to do them. And then there's my neighbor friends who play cards on Wednesday and golf on Mondays and go to the fair during the week, etc, etc, etc. I'd like to travel and do things while I'm still reasonably young and healthy. So, how do I accomplish that and pay bills at the same time? Sounds like another project to me!! Think I'll take a real vacation first!

That's what Tom and I plan to do soon. Drive down the coast and then over to Sedona with stops in Reno and Bryce Canyon along the way. It will be our first real road trip and I'm so excited!! We'll spend a week in Sedona doing some hiking and checking out the galleries and "vortexes". And just relaxing! Awwwwww, yes. We'll find out if we can travel for a long time together without killing each other in preparation for our big trip across country in a few years! I don't think we'll have any problems. We both like to explore and take backroads. We did take a short trip several years ago on our first visit to Arizona. So, it's not completely new. It will be fun, to say the least. And when I get back, I'll have a new perspective and be refreshed and renewed and reenergized - at least for a day or two. HA!

Bye for now and here's a hug for anyone who needs it today!!

WHIMPING OUT!

Yes, I whimped out from another night of Zumba! I was ready, even had my clothes in the car to change into. But then, one of my neighbor gals called and asked if I wanted to walk - and - what can I say?! I was glad though. My legs were like rubber just walking the 2.5 miles. I don't know if I would have made it thru another Zumba class. Tomorrow is another day, though, and I WILL go again!

Today I found out that one of the younger gals I work with is certified to be a Zumba instructor! Sooooo, we're thinkin' why not have a class here after work? We have the room and I'll bet there would be enough interest in the staff to get a class going. We're just starting to remodel right now, so after it's done, we're definitely going to approach management. Fun in the workplace!!

I posted some more pictures on my craft page last night. I really need to finish my latest glass project - a butterfly on a diamond-shaped bevelled background. I have it all cut out. Just need to do the fine-tuning on the grinder, clean, foil, and solder. Maybe this weekend.

The weather has turned cooler here this week. I'm hoping my tomatoes will get enough sun to turn red. And my cucumbers are trying like the dickens to grow. We'll just have to wait and see.

Until next time! Live life to the fullest - dreams were meant to be reality!!

Jackie

SURVIVING ZUMBA!!

OMG!! I made it through the whole class!! Loved it! Going again tonight. Am I crazy? That was a rhetorical question, of course I am!!

But first, before I go any further about Zumba, I want to let my friends know that I have fixed my site so that you can leave comments as "anonymous". I'll leave this setting as long as I don't start getting any funky, rude, or inappropriate comments. But I really look forward to any others you may want to leave. Suggestions for topics, pages, ideas you'd like to explore on here. I'm pretty flexible.

Okay, so on to Zumba. First, there are at least 3 places in our little town where you can take Zumba classes. Amazing! I chose this new place because one of my neighbors goes there and invited me to check it out. Also, the class times are more convenient for me. I'll get there a couple minutes late, but I caught up pretty quickly. It was an hour of almost steady dancing! And some of the moves were more like belly-dancing moves than Latin dancing, but that's okay. It was alot of fun. I love to dance, so this is a natural way for me to get some much-needed exercise. They will also start line-dancing classes on Saturdays next month - fun!! I've been riding my bike after work, but soon it will be dark earlier, so it will be good to have an alternative to get me through the winter months. I'd like to greet 62 about 20- 30 lbs lighter. Let's see if I can do it!! I have until the end of March.

I won't get many classes in this month due to taking a trip to see my oldest daughter and her family. I am very excited about that! They live in Pennsylvania, so I only get to see them once a year for a few days. The older kids have Face Book pages, so I can sort of keep up with them thru that, but it's just not the same, you know?! I'm hoping the weather will be good so we can play some pickleball or take a hike at the near-by state park. The leaves will be starting to turn, and it's always beautiful around their place this time of year!.

Well, I'll post some pictures later from my trip to Westport and my projects. (I know I promised to do that yesterday - but then I took Zumba, soooo.....) I have a little desk I got for $2.00 at a yard sale that I'm going to do something with. Any ideas?

Bye for now!

Jackie

WHAT A WEEKEND!

Well, this was a very busy weekend for me! First, I had to attend an Architectural Committee meeting for our homeowners' association to get a permit for a temporary structure. Tom wants to build a metal-sided carport off the side of our already existing carport so he can work on stuff like boats and other projects and not have to move the cars out of the way each time. I used to be the secretary for this committee, so it was nice to stop in and see the group again.

After getting that item out of the way - it was play time!! I've been reconnecting with many of my high school friends this past couple of years and a group of us met out at Westport at this great place called the Half Moon Bar & Grill. It doesn't look like much on the outside, but it's nicely remodelled on the inside. Here's their website to check it out! http://www.westport-islander.com/
Some of the group spent the night at the hotel, but I don't live that far away and needed to get up early the next morning, so I hot-footed it home (oops! I really only went the speed limit, I promise!)

First we did a little shopping. There are a bunch of great little shops in Westport to browse thru. The weather was sunny, 74 and a slight breeze - in other words just right for runing around in capris and a t-shirt. I'll post a picture later.

Later we met at Half Moon for dinner, drinks and music. The Murchy Brothers, a local band, was playing. Check them out on You Tube. They graduated a few years after us, but we don't hold it against them since they're such good musicians! Was home, safe and sound before 10 pm. Even checked in with Tom via my bluetooth device - hands free for me!!!

Sunday, my Rotary club was co-sponsoring a 9-1-1 Safety Days and Patriot Day Gathering in the parking lot of our local Wal-Mart. Again, the weather was perfect, if a little hot, and we had a huge turn-out! If you do Face Book, check out the Shelton Rotary Club page for pictures. I had to be there in the am to help decorate our stage (a 50' flat bed lent to us by one of our local lumber companies). Then it was dash home, change into clean clothes, drive to church for an hour and half of great praising thru music and message. Left there and headed back to Wal-Mart to help set up chairs, have a bite to eat and pass out programs. The whole event was fun, respectful and memorable. I'm so glad we did this! It seemed the whole community wanted to pitch in with donations of food, water, advertising, time etc once they found out what we were doing. Small towns have big hearts!

Two of my friends from Saturday stopped by the event Sunday on their way home and then came by my place for a chat, some lunch and check out my neighborhood. What fun! Once they left, I was pretty pooped, so just cleaned up a little, sat on my back deck to enjoy the birds and the waterfall and relaxed a bit with a glass of sun tea. I have to admit, I made a killer sun tea! Everyone loves it. Very refreshing. Recipe below. Today it's back to work and I'm thinking of trying out the new Zumba class. I'll let you know how that goes.

Bye for now!


Sun tea recipe:

In a 2 quart pitcher - hang 2 bags of the extra large bags of black tea and 2-3 bags of regular-sized  bags of raspberry or mixed berry tea. Fill pitcher to top with hot water. Set out in sunny area - either outside or on a window sill. Let brew for 8-12 hours. Refrigerate. Serve over ice, enjoy!!