A sudden storm

We had a snow storm on Friday.

We live in Idaho, and snowstorms are supposed to happen here, especially in the winter. But we have been having Spring worthy temps lately. Even the robins started to come back.

What makes this snowstorm newsworthy?

Well, we were only supposed to get 1-3". It was supposed to be spread out over 3 days; Friday-snow, Saturday-sun, Sunday-snow.

Our Magic Valley got 5-8". We got it all on Friday and into Saturday morning.

This is the sun coming over the clouds to the East of our house.

This my antique grain drill. It was pulled behind a horse or tractor to plant seeds. I love this piece of machinery. In the spring I will plant either flowers or strawberries in it.

This is the chicken coop. I get to have chickens! I have wanted them forever, and Rick has finally said I could have them. However, I won't be using this building. It is small and I am a big gal. I also have rheumatoid arthritis, not a good combination for this little building. There is a bigger storage shed with screened in windows that I think I will be using for the chicken coop.

This is a photo of the building I want to use for chicken coop. Sorry this is so dark, I was out taking photos at 8:30. The blades for the windmill are propped against the building. The windmill tower is right next to this building. Right now the tower has an old TV antenna on it. I would love to be able to convince the landlord to take the antenna down and put the blades back up. But I think I will bring the blades out and use them for a climbing vegetable or vine in my garden.

Icicles on the barn. The barn has a metal roof and creates great icicles. You have to hurry to get photos of them though, the sun on a metal roof slides the snow off rather quickly.

This is a photo of my wheelbarrows. I have no idea how I got to have that many, but I do. In fact, there is another one behind our garage that I just saw this morning.

This is a picture of my photo taking buddy. This is Loki. He is my daughter's dog. He couldn't go to Boise with her so he lives with us. He insists on going out to take photos. He had just bulldozzed his way through the snow and was trying to like the snow off his nose.

Have a great day!

Donnelly

Thrifting finds February 2011

On Friday, I hit our local thrift stores. I picked up a vintage glass flower frog and a box of Shiny Bright christmas ornaments.

I opened the box Friday night to find that it was missing two of the ornaments. On Friday, there had been a second box that I had left there. So Saturday morning, I went back and found the second box and it had the missing two ornaments in them. So now I have a set of 12.

I love Shiny Bright ornaments, have I mentioned that?

I love glass flower frogs. My love affair with them began when my grandma gave me hers when I was in high school. I now have 5. And now that I have a garden, I plan on growing flowers to be able to use my flower frogs. I can't wait until the lilacs bloom and the fruit trees bloom.

Have a great day!

Donnelly

Happiness!

Today I got a text message from my Hannah Banana...

Happiness!

I love this girl a whole bunch! I am so proud of her.

Have a great day!

Donnelly

A catch up is in order

It has been a while since the last time I posted and I was feeling a little bit (okay, a lot) sorry for myself.

I came to the realization that I have yet to post a photo of the necklace I won on Betz White's blog. I love it! The chain was a little small, so I got extenders at Micheal's to make it more comfortable. I love that I chose the word SIMPLIFY. And I really feel that I have accomplished a lot toward my goal of simplifying my life. Since the first of the year, I have cleaned my house every weekend but one!

That weekend, we took the rest of Hannah's belongings up to her and spent the day with Brady at the thrift stores. We don't have a Goodwill in our town. Our capital city has 2. It was rather exciting. Didn't come home with a lot, but it was still fun!

I have been missing my Hannah Banana something fierce, I am not going to lie. But I love that she still texts me almost as much as she did before she moved. And there is also Facebook. She told me this weekend that she will be here on March 10th and 11th. Happiness is not a big enough word to express how I feel about this.

I had a four day weekend this past weekend, and it was a much needed break. Rick and I reclaimed our house from my mother-in-law.

When we moved in to our new house, Rick set up a small den as our t.v. room. We set up Rick's mom's t.v. in the living room.

Picture 2 large adults, 2 large dogs and a small dog all crammed into a 6 x 6 room. Not comfortable, not condusive to relaxation.
Rick has been so stressed out about being in that small room. We were desperate. Rick told his mom that she was going to have to switch places or go to a managed care facility. Needless to say, she thought that the alternative to switching rooms was not for her.

When we moved in to this house, we had set up the living room with Rick's pool table and the dining room as the living room. This weekend, we moved the pool table into the dining room and moved a loveseat, Rick's recliner and my rocker into the living room.
I bought Rick a 32" Vizio t.v. for his birthday/Valentine's day present. His birthday is the 15th of February. I thought it was only fair as he had bought me a new Blackberry for my Valentine present. Here is a collage of the new arrangement. I am already planning on making it flow better, have to wait until next payday though.

I am loving being able to look out the windows. I am enjoying the light. I love the fact that our record player is in the living room and we can listen to music. I am loving that the dogs can stretch out and not be on top of me and on top of each other.

It is really wonderful!

Have a great day!

Donnelly

When did I get old enough to be an empty-nester?

I have been seriously contemplating when I got old enough to be an empty-nester.

My baby girl is moving 130 miles away.

Makes me a little sentimental and a whole lot sappy.

I don't feel old enough to be one of those people that only get to see their children when you go to their town or holidays or weddings or anniversaries or funerals. But as of tomorrow, only one of our five will live in the immediate area.

I don't feel old enough to have grey hair and rheumatoid arthritis.

I am not afraid to say that I am 43 years old and that I will be 44 in April.

I don't feel old enough to be in charge of taking care of my mother-in-law.

I have been married for 20 1/3 years. Sometimes I think about that. It really seems like I have been married for less time than that.

I really like my husband. I know that seems kind of silly. Let me explain. I certainly love my hubby with all my heart, no question. But I really like him. If I weren't married to him, I would definitely have him as my friend. He is level-headed he has a kinder soul than I do.

I guess that what I am getting to is that I am sad to see my baby girl move, but I know that I will be okay. I am glad that Rick will be here to see me through it.

Have a great day.

Donnelly

Happiness and Sadness

Some days... life hurts.

Today is one of those days. Today is full of raw feelings. Today is full of hurt.

My son, Brady, and his wife Kylie have filed for a divorce. Not sure of all the circumstances. I know they have had their problems, wish I would have been able to help.

And my heart hurts.

Hannah, Brady's sister, has gotten a job in our capital and will be moving in with her brother.

Makes my heart hurt...and makes my heart happy.

Happy that they will be together to take care of each other.

Donnelly