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Snowy Inspiration

Happy Sunday, I had so much fun creating and photographing these wonderful words in the snow yesterday and today. I just couldn't wait to share with all my online friends.

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

P.S. See More Here on my AC site.

Merry Christmas Every One!!!

(Thank You Peggy)

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,

Tess

De-cluttering

Greetings, It's been a while, so sorry I've neglected my blog. I wanted to share a triumph with you today.

OK, so I have a cluttered home. I admit it, I save things. I am a hoarder. I have this corner in my living room. It's near the front door but behind it when the door is opened. It is my magazine corner. I love magazines. Purchased magazines, free magazines, subscriptions to magazines, traded magazines, craft magazines, art magazines, clothing magazines, scrap booking magazines, any magazines. I love to read, browse, hoard magazines. I read them when I'm sad and when I'm tired and when I'm bored and when everything is just fine. Especially when I'm bored, with the tv on something I have no interest in watching for background.

Why am I telling you this? Because I just spent 4 hours sorting and cleaning that corner. I cannot believe I lost that much of my day to my magazine corner. I did not read, not even browse. I started about 11:00 this morning. My Mr. wanted beef stew for supper and mentioned it around noon. I sent him to the grocery store. He brought back chicken wings and stuffed peppers for lunch. I took a break long enough to eat and went right back at it. I tore my name and address from the front of every subscription magazine and then tore out the order pages because my address and account number is likely there too. It's sad we have to worry about this but in this day and age I don't dare throw out that information. I had a big trash bag and when it was half full I could not lift it so we went to plan B. I made a pile and my Mr. tied up the pile with twine. Then I made another. I ended up with 5 good sized piles that are tied up and a trash bag half full of the torn out things and smaller things. Plus I kept only the treasured ones, like Rolling Stones and Handyman and a few US, Weekly, In Style and More magazines for cutting up for collage making. I have trouble throwing things away. A true hoarder becomes ill and even sweaty when facing throwing things away. This is how I usually get; and anxious. I decided to do this today and get it done. No looking back, no stopping, just do it. My corner looks so much better and I can now see the titles of most of the ones I kept so I know what I'm grabbing. Wow! I did not feel ill or get too sweaty at all. And to think this wasn't even all of them as through out the year I usually will grab a bunch and take to the free table at the local library so I can snatch up some new to me from there. Oh I finally got done around 3:00. That's 4 hrs. Geez!

Oh and we won't mention my other magazine pile, neatly stacked in a plastic zippered bag with titles like Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studio, Artful Blogging and the like. They don't get tossed in the corner pile. They are special and handled with care. Like the precious works of art they are. No we won't mention those as I dare think what could happen if I even tried to get rid of any of them. I think I'd give myself a heart attack. I love those special magazines with all of my favorite artists and ideas. ("Someday I'm going to try this", "I must buy try that product", "Oh wow look what she's doing now".) I've found so many of my favorite bloggers in the pages of these magazines.

Are you cleaning or sorting out for the end of the year? What and how?

You all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays however you celebrate this wonderful time of the year.

Be Happy Be Healthy, Be yourself,

Tess

Hello Blog Friends,

These photos were taken last week just after the big snow hit our area.

This little elf, (or gnome, or maybe he's one of Snow White's Seven Dwarfs,) seems to be hiding under this wash tub. Trying to escape the snow I think. Maybe he's one of Santa's elves watching out for good little girls and boys. I think he seen me feed the birds some bread crumbs. That counts for good, right? :)

This little guy thinks he's hiding behind those thin branches. He stayed right there for the longest time. I waited until I could wait no longer and snapped the shot. I think I like it as is.

I have no idea what is hiding under this snow drift but decided it reminded me of a sand dune. Sand dunes are in the desert, the desert makes me feel warm. Waaarrrrm!!!
Hope you are all are having a good week.

Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings and a Merry Christmas to you all~

Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,
Tess

Happy Anniversary To Us

Greetings friends,

Today is my 20th wedding anniversary. Have I ever told you our story? It is not unlike others and yet somewhat different/special. It is a story of love found, lost and found again. I fell for my beloved when I was but the tender age of 12. I spied him from behind a bush, the guy next door. I loved his crazy curly hair and Elvis sideburns. And his eyes, I could melt in those blue eyes. I, the little girl next door was noticed, although I didn't really know it then. I had my jr. high friends and he his sr. high friends. He was forever the gentleman. Always sweet, always kind, always mindful of my age. I was a tease, a flirt. So bad, now that I think of it. What he tolerated, poor boy. But even so I blushed as he chased me around the dinning room table for that lucky midnight kiss for the new year of '74. He taught me how to swim and how to skate backwards. He took me on my first car date and to his Senior prom. The only prom I would get. He was my idea of the night in shining armor. I decided I'd grow up and marry him someday.

But, as does sometimes happen life got in the way. He went off to college, left me behind to finish growing up. And then my parents separated. I was taken away from family, from home, from him by a cad of a father. Life was not as it should have been. It was not ideal, it was harsh and cruel. I cried often wondering if he ever thought of me as I did of him. Over time we get on with our lives, especially at such a tender age. I learned to be a survivor. He finished college, followed his favorite bands overseas, became a sailmaker then returned home. I too returned 13 years and two children later. You don't forget old friends, especially the adults that were a good influence on you. I visited his mother often. She had cancer, had surgery, was doing fine. We'd visit over coffee now and then; in the same kitchen I remembered so well. Then one day, she tells me not to leave, he'll be home soon. He'll be home soon? For months I had been visiting and thought he was still back East. He was there all along, he'd come home to his ill mother. Was here in town all along. He did not look anything like I had remembered. I didn't recognize him at all when he came through the door. I admit it. We spoke, I felt it was awkward. Then his dog dies and he stops ion on a cold wintry night to tell me he;d held his dutchess in his arms and she's dies. I didn't even have a hot drink to offer him. He settled for a warm hug. Long story short we seen each other again, and again, and again, until one day I realized I had fallen in love with him all over again. The new him, the now him, not just the memory. He knows me, he knows my story and he loves me and it's all good. I would not give these past 20 years back for anything. They have not been all fun and games but then life is not that way. But we have traveled these 20 years together side by side. He is my friend, he gives me unconditional love. This was/is his promise to me:

A friend is one

who knows you

as you are

understands where

you've been

accepts who you've

become

and still gently

invites you to grow.

~~~

Happy Anniversary Honey, I Love You!

~~~

And to all my blog friends,

Be happy, Be healthy, Be yourself,

Tess

Happy Birthday Travis

Greetings Blogland,

Today is my nephew's birthday. How is it possible he is already 13 years old. Officially a teenager today. Wow!! I made a collage of some of my favorite pictures of him. They sure do grow up fast.

Happy Birthday Travis. I love you!!!

Tess

THAT'S SO CUEGLY!: VINTAGE NECKLACE GIVEAWAY!!!

Have you been over to Linds blog lately? She is giving away a beautiful necklace with fabric flowers she made just for one of us. Stop by and take a look. She is so creative and her blog is so much fun. Go ahead and tell her I sent you (I'm sure she has no idea who I am as I'm a fairly new follower to her blog). LOL!
Be happy, Be Healthy, Be Yourself,
Tess

THAT'S SO CUEGLY!: VINTAGE NECKLACE GIVEAWAY!!!