I have been busy keeping myself busy these days designing our new home. I designed the one we live in now and still love it 23 years later so I am hoping that I will have that much success this time.
Where the house we live in now has been great for raising our four daughters I'm thinking that the new one needs to fit our needs and life style now.
This is where my dilemma comes into play. The kitchen I am looking at is about 14x14. That is almost 200 square feet. The cost to build a kitchen these days is area $200 a square foot.If my math is right that means this one room costs 40,000 (more than my first or second home). Now this price of course does not include appliances..another $10,000 for that and we now have $50,000 in a room that we never use.
Sooooo I am thinking....What if I just hired someone to cook our dinners for us.Surly there is someone out there that loves to cook and would like to make a little extra cash. All I would need is a drive thru window with a warming drawer.
Between what I would save on money that I throw out because I never get around to making it and not eating out all the time because I don't feel like cooking...truth is I never feel like cooking but sometimes I feel guilt....I could pay someone a nice sum of money.
I would have a lower energy bills and probably eat healthier. Not to mention my mortgage would be less.Hmmm no more pamper chef parties ....look at the money I would save there.
....What if I count out the dinning room and just admit to the world that we eat in front of the tv?
I think I have something....Think I could justify getting rid of the laundry room too?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
My computer
I hate my computer! In fact I'm wondering why I ever invited this thing to live in my house....
It yells error at me every time I do something wrong. I have a teenager that already does that.
It's memory is full and can't hold anymore...my mother's memory is the same way.
If I buy anything for my computer it cost a small fortune...just like my kids.
But it knows to much about me so I can't get rid of ...just like my best friend.
Guess I should just name it and realize this is just the way life is, now maybe I should think about who I am going to will this thing to. Heehhee revenge is great.
It yells error at me every time I do something wrong. I have a teenager that already does that.
It's memory is full and can't hold anymore...my mother's memory is the same way.
If I buy anything for my computer it cost a small fortune...just like my kids.
But it knows to much about me so I can't get rid of ...just like my best friend.
Guess I should just name it and realize this is just the way life is, now maybe I should think about who I am going to will this thing to. Heehhee revenge is great.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Spring and Garage sales, what could be better
I am not a fast walker but show me a garage sale sign and I'm off and running. I hate to get there just as someone is buying the one thing I have always needed, so I jump out of my car as it's still rolling, hopefully when someone else is driving, and take off as fast as I can.
As I make the approach I scan the whole area. What large items do I see that I might be interested in? You can't assume anything. I have gotten things for a lot less than I ever imagined that they would be. I have also seen things that I thought was just there to hold their stuff and came to find out it was for sale too. I bought my kids a really cute table and chairs this way. No one saw it but me and I asked and sure enough they wanted it gone. I think I paid $10 for that set 28 years ago. Four kids later it still looks great and is waiting for grandchildren.
You also can't assume that it cost to much. The other day I saw a beautiful ceramic pot. It was very large and they wanted $75 for it. I really liked it but I knew my husband would kill me if I paid $75 for something to hold a bunch of dirt and a few dead plants....I don't have a green thumb, even though I love flowers. I asked the man if he would take $30 and he jumped at it and even loaded it in my car.
I have lately been buying kitchen gadgets. I am not much of a cook so therefore I don't tend to spend money on all the latest and greatest things out there. The other day I came across a bread machine in the box for $20. I have never even thought about having one of these but I decided why not. Wow, what a great thing to have. I love fresh baked bread and when I was a young bride I use to work hard at kneading and baking fresh bread and rolls. This is great...all the calories and none of the calorie burn....hmmm on second thought...
Today I got a rocket blender ....never been used for $4.
I'm thinking a nice smoothie would go well with a loaf of bread.
As I make the approach I scan the whole area. What large items do I see that I might be interested in? You can't assume anything. I have gotten things for a lot less than I ever imagined that they would be. I have also seen things that I thought was just there to hold their stuff and came to find out it was for sale too. I bought my kids a really cute table and chairs this way. No one saw it but me and I asked and sure enough they wanted it gone. I think I paid $10 for that set 28 years ago. Four kids later it still looks great and is waiting for grandchildren.
You also can't assume that it cost to much. The other day I saw a beautiful ceramic pot. It was very large and they wanted $75 for it. I really liked it but I knew my husband would kill me if I paid $75 for something to hold a bunch of dirt and a few dead plants....I don't have a green thumb, even though I love flowers. I asked the man if he would take $30 and he jumped at it and even loaded it in my car.
I have lately been buying kitchen gadgets. I am not much of a cook so therefore I don't tend to spend money on all the latest and greatest things out there. The other day I came across a bread machine in the box for $20. I have never even thought about having one of these but I decided why not. Wow, what a great thing to have. I love fresh baked bread and when I was a young bride I use to work hard at kneading and baking fresh bread and rolls. This is great...all the calories and none of the calorie burn....hmmm on second thought...
Today I got a rocket blender ....never been used for $4.
I'm thinking a nice smoothie would go well with a loaf of bread.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Ghosts
Ever have one of those moments when you are home all alone and you can almost see and hear the ghosts of days gone by?
I'm having one of those moments right now. I am thinking back to those days not to long ago when our house would be very busy on the day before Easter.
All our friends and their children would come every year and celebrate with a large potluck. Each child would bring their baskets and we would line the children up with the smallest in front . Soon we would send them off. they would run in all directions laughing and giggling as they looked for eggs. We parents just tried to stay out of the way as we tried to capture the moment on film.
The whole day would be full of relay races for both the young and old. Those were fun times. Now all those children are all grown up, many with children of their own. And I sit in my home, by myself wondering how come life has to fly by so fast.
So if I could go back in time this is one of those moments I would go toBut I can't so for today I will just be glad that the ghost of days gone past came to visit me to put a smile on my face.
Happy Easter
I'm having one of those moments right now. I am thinking back to those days not to long ago when our house would be very busy on the day before Easter.
All our friends and their children would come every year and celebrate with a large potluck. Each child would bring their baskets and we would line the children up with the smallest in front . Soon we would send them off. they would run in all directions laughing and giggling as they looked for eggs. We parents just tried to stay out of the way as we tried to capture the moment on film.
The whole day would be full of relay races for both the young and old. Those were fun times. Now all those children are all grown up, many with children of their own. And I sit in my home, by myself wondering how come life has to fly by so fast.
So if I could go back in time this is one of those moments I would go toBut I can't so for today I will just be glad that the ghost of days gone past came to visit me to put a smile on my face.
Happy Easter
Friday, April 2, 2010
Easter
Today is good Friday ...the beginning of Easter weekend.
Easter has always been an important time in my family. I can remember as a little girl my parents would take me to the capital grounds in Iowa and my brother and I would run around, along with every other child in town, to find Easter eggs. Such a time of joy.
The next day would be Easter morning. My mom would get up early to make sure my brother and I looked perfect on this day. Out would come the pink spongy rollers that mom had put in my hair the night before. On went the Easter bonnet with the elastic under the chin making a red mark that I thought would never go away.
The very last thing mom would let me put on was my beautiful white shoes. I loved those shoes. This was the first time all year that white shoes could be worn so mom would buy me new ones and they were to last me all summer.
I was advised to be careful how I walked because if the shoes rubbed against each other they would make a big black marks. There was no way I could make it all the way through service with out making alot of scuff marks but next week mom would get the Vaseline out and clean them up like new. Today I just had to keep them nice through pictures and hopefully to Sunday school, where I would show them off to all my friends.
People don't tend to make a big deal about Easter anymore. Many people may just wear their jeans to service, if they go at all. And I guess that is ok, it's just .....
When we would walk into the church....My dad looking so handsome, my mom in her beautiful dress and hat, my brother in his bow tie and me hanging onto my little white Bible with my gloved hands. I felt like we were coming before the King of Kings.
And when my little church would sing out "Up from the Grave He Arose" my heart would jump with pride knowing that my savior did that for me. So this Easter who knows, maybe I just might pull out an Easter bonnet or at least some gloves and hum "Up from the Grave" as I walk into church.
Happy Easter
Easter has always been an important time in my family. I can remember as a little girl my parents would take me to the capital grounds in Iowa and my brother and I would run around, along with every other child in town, to find Easter eggs. Such a time of joy.
The next day would be Easter morning. My mom would get up early to make sure my brother and I looked perfect on this day. Out would come the pink spongy rollers that mom had put in my hair the night before. On went the Easter bonnet with the elastic under the chin making a red mark that I thought would never go away.
The very last thing mom would let me put on was my beautiful white shoes. I loved those shoes. This was the first time all year that white shoes could be worn so mom would buy me new ones and they were to last me all summer.
I was advised to be careful how I walked because if the shoes rubbed against each other they would make a big black marks. There was no way I could make it all the way through service with out making alot of scuff marks but next week mom would get the Vaseline out and clean them up like new. Today I just had to keep them nice through pictures and hopefully to Sunday school, where I would show them off to all my friends.
People don't tend to make a big deal about Easter anymore. Many people may just wear their jeans to service, if they go at all. And I guess that is ok, it's just .....
When we would walk into the church....My dad looking so handsome, my mom in her beautiful dress and hat, my brother in his bow tie and me hanging onto my little white Bible with my gloved hands. I felt like we were coming before the King of Kings.
And when my little church would sing out "Up from the Grave He Arose" my heart would jump with pride knowing that my savior did that for me. So this Easter who knows, maybe I just might pull out an Easter bonnet or at least some gloves and hum "Up from the Grave" as I walk into church.
Happy Easter
Friday, March 26, 2010
Shouldn't have said that
I have a very good friend. We have been best friends for 30 years. She is one of those people you can tell anything to.
She has been on a new diet and when I saw her the other day for the first time in a week I commented on how I thought she looked like she lost weight. "Really?" she asked with a smile. "yes" I replied. "Your boobs now stick out farther than your stomach".
Now I meant that as a compliment but she looked at me and with a very straight face said, " Can we pretend that we aren't such good friends?"
It made me realize that sometimes with our family and our bestfriends, there are some things that we shouldn't share. Maybe we need to go back and treat these people with alittle more respect. Thank them like we might a stranger...send them a thank you card. Dress up to spend time with these people. And maybe we...me....need to remember to think sometimes before we speak.
So next time I will tell my friend that she looks great and leave it at that.
She has been on a new diet and when I saw her the other day for the first time in a week I commented on how I thought she looked like she lost weight. "Really?" she asked with a smile. "yes" I replied. "Your boobs now stick out farther than your stomach".
Now I meant that as a compliment but she looked at me and with a very straight face said, " Can we pretend that we aren't such good friends?"
It made me realize that sometimes with our family and our bestfriends, there are some things that we shouldn't share. Maybe we need to go back and treat these people with alittle more respect. Thank them like we might a stranger...send them a thank you card. Dress up to spend time with these people. And maybe we...me....need to remember to think sometimes before we speak.
So next time I will tell my friend that she looks great and leave it at that.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Life Lessons
I'm not smarter, I'm just older. That is one of my husbands favorite says these days. Life has a way of teaching all of us things that we could never imagine when we were younger.
One of these things is that even though your parents want to be your friend, now that you are an adult, that friendship comes with some restrictions.
Here are a few of them.....if you got all the way through school with your mother believing you never tried pot believe me she doesn't want to be told different now.
If you must tell some one your story about last nights bedroom activities, look at your mother and ask yourself, do you really want her to share this information with you?
If your mother is in a nursing home and about out of money, don't share this information with her, just fix it. What do you want her to do about it? I guess she could take nude shots, put them in a calender and try to sell them but do you really want her to?
We all have a right to leave this world thinking that we did a pretty good job while we were here and someone is going to miss us when we are gone. So even if your mother was crappy suck it up and lie. God will forgive you and maybe just maybe someone will do the same for you some day.
One of these things is that even though your parents want to be your friend, now that you are an adult, that friendship comes with some restrictions.
Here are a few of them.....if you got all the way through school with your mother believing you never tried pot believe me she doesn't want to be told different now.
If you must tell some one your story about last nights bedroom activities, look at your mother and ask yourself, do you really want her to share this information with you?
If your mother is in a nursing home and about out of money, don't share this information with her, just fix it. What do you want her to do about it? I guess she could take nude shots, put them in a calender and try to sell them but do you really want her to?
We all have a right to leave this world thinking that we did a pretty good job while we were here and someone is going to miss us when we are gone. So even if your mother was crappy suck it up and lie. God will forgive you and maybe just maybe someone will do the same for you some day.
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