Was Not So Bad Today

I got to work this morning and a burst of energy came upon me and even with training two new people I had my area done in just 2 hours. I wish I had 1 or 2 people with me all the time but generally it's me stocking six 25 foot isles on my own - scrap-booking adhesives, card crafting, scrapbook pads and paper; individual sheets of scrapbook paper, scrapbook albums, floral embellishments, scrapbook pens and markers, rubber stamps, stickers, tools and technology, cutters and trimmers, Cricut, Slice and Cuttlebug and regular glues and adhesives as well as clay. SO it was AWESOME to have the help and getting it all done in 2 hours instead of the full 5 1/2 hours it takes me on my own. My section also includes Jewelry but they have assigned that to a single person and she does it all which I'm very happy about as all those strands of beads take FOREVER! So in a nut shell that's my Tuesdays and Thursday from now until Christmas - "slinging" freight so the merchandise is on the sales floor for the customers when the doors open at 9 AM. WHEW! I took a nice nap once I got home and had a bit of lunch - I think I needed it.

Someone is waiting.....

I told him Saturday I will spend the entire day in there with him but he is wanting me in there this evening... perhaps a bit of sewing IS the best medicine. He will actually climb up on the table and watch the machines work. He knows to just look and not touch. Most days he is Scott's best buddy and stays on top of Scott's desk but the last few days he has stuck pretty close to me and "checks" on me if I make any negative sounds. I truly believe animals "feel" whats going on with their people long before we do ourselves.

So Tesla says I need sewing time... I think I will listen to him. Dr Tesla RULES!

A certain little boy in my life has asked for a Shark Quilt for Christmas. I am having a really hard time finding shark fabric locally and the postage and cost per yard are so high online. I'm going to do a search for fabric stores within close driving distance and check them out as time and money allows. I have 2 prints so far; both are blue. If I have to I will come up with another plan... perhaps some stitchery blocks using blue thread on a white background. I could print off some simple coloring pages for that and transfer them to the fabric. HHHHmmmm.... thinking going on here - watch for steam.

I think I'm going to make up a "kitchen" basket with potholders, dish clothes, some of our family favorite recipes... still thinking about what else I could add. Incidentally I LOVED the wild picnic basket idea!

I want to thank you all for putting up with my occasional rants and I appreciate your input immensely! Thank you for taking the time to read our little blog. I think I was having a rant day in this picture....

TGITH

Thank God it's THURSDAY! Only one more day until Friday. I have wanted to be a home body ALL week this week. I come home absolutely exhausted from the physical labor involved in my job but worse from all the negative energy in the air. I hate change but understand it's part of life but don't cope well with lots of Drama. Drama is running rampant at the moment and I want to just step away from it. I wonder what they would do if I requested an entire week off... I bet there WOULD be lots of Drama then. AH well... reality is we NEED my little paycheck so I'll trudge on.

I'm trying to come up with some ideas for a gift basket I could donate to the Flood Recovery Efforts in my hometown of Greene, New York. I don't have long to pull something together as they will need what I can come up with before October 2nd when they are doing the event where the baskets will be raffled off. Perhaps some "orphan" blocks will be pulled from my stash to make a quilt up real quick. THINK THINK THINK!

For those that believe in Prayer I have a couple requests... My sister-in-law is dealing with some nasty side affects of chemo that have come upon her unexpectedly and could use some added strength. And a friend has been dealing with blood clots in his lungs and could use a little support there. And several friends have recently lost beloved pets and they need comfort. Thank You.

On My Mind... Pulling out Reinforcements from my bookshelf

This afternoon I decided to pull a book from my bookshelf to re-read. I need to be reminded of more ways to be thrifty....

This is a weekly feature at Down to Earth

Life on Hold - RANT! You may want to skip reading

That's what it feels like to me... "life on hold". I'm finding it harder and harder to "dream" about the future and where we will be in 10, 20, 30 or more years. I don't get excited about much anymore as far as moving to the country. I just can't see it happening and I wonder why we are even trying to hold onto 10 acres we will probably never use. Just seems so pointless anymore. I don't want to plan anything as I just can't see it becoming a reality. I'm disenchanted with Consumerism, the Economy and just want to "get off" the Crazy train! Banks SUCK! It's nearly the "Retail Season" and I can't wait for it to just be over. I'm not even enthused about gift making. We should have lived on cash only from the beginning. ZERO debt... now that's REAL FREEDOM!I WANT MY HAPPY LIFE BACK!


I just had to vent before I blow up... I'm better now.

I just wrote a letter to the President.

Tonight's Dinner

Scott has requested Chicken Chow Mein and I will use his Mother's recipe to make it. This is SUPER easy to make and taste SO GOOD! Here is the recipe in case anyone wants to try it...

Chicken Chow Mein

Brown lightly in 2 Tablespoons hot butter:

4 Tablespoons minced onion
1 Cup sliced mushrooms

Add and simmer for 15 minutes:

1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup diced celery
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sugar

Blend and stir into meat mixture:

1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch
Dissolved in:
3 Tablespoons cold water

Cook until slightly thickened and clear.
Serve over hot rice with chow mein noodles.

Progress on PJ's

 I just need to put elastic in the waist of the bottoms, buttons and button holes in the top and hem's all around and this pair will be finished. Next set has wolves all over them and once completed these will be sent to my youngest nephew; a belated birthday present just in time for cooler weather.

Flannel PJ's (Pajama's)

Once these are in the mail I will get to work on two more sets for my "little Romeo" Phoenix. His will have skulls and dragons; cool "Big Boy" stuff.

The Days are starting cooler

This morning we decided to go for a walk before it started to get too hot. We drove to the West Columbia Entrance and those lots were full; Joe Pinner ( A local personality) was speaking at a 9/11 Memorial so we turned around and went to the Cayce entrance where we could get parking more easily. The weather was absolutely beautiful!