There will be a slight break in our regularly scheduled programming. I Just got hit with a whammy and Now find myself back home in Seattle, WA. I’m going to try really hard to keep up with my posting in the next week or two but… I don’t want to make promises.
I hope this new year finds you doing well and setting the stage for a great year for yourself. I’ll have a totally inspiring room tomorrow. Until then…
One of the best things about life is that no trouble lasts forever. At some point even the worst things come to an end. The past few months have been a real trial for me, personally and spiritually. My solace and consolation has been my sister, Jada, my friend and DIY partner, Dawn, and writing this blog.
Lately my interactions with readers and fellow bloggers has started to increase dramatically. It’s been such a balm to my spirit. Thank you all for stopping by, commenting, sharing your suggestions, and your own creativity with me. I really appreciate it. I think it’s probably what is keeping me sane.
Hopefully, the new year will bring some peaceful changes onto the scene. In the meantime, I’m dreaming of time with family and friends, a walk on a sunny dune like this one, maybe a bonfire, and lots if awesome music and conversation. My idea of a perfect day.
Happy Wednesday, everyone. Until tomorrow!
The Thanksgiving Day crew at IKEA Charlotte. I’m the only one in a blue sweatshirt. What can I say? I’m a rebel. 
Sometimes, it is the little things in life that elicit the most pleasure. Today Patrick, a coworker from IKEA, sent me a copy of the group photo we took just before everyone arrived for Thanksgiving dinner a week ago. The pic put a smile on my face and reminded me of the great time I had doing it.
My sister’s new puppy, Bluey.
In the same batch of emails was this picture from my sister of her new pit bull puppy, Bluey. Isn’t he darling? She’s excited about the new edition and her kids are over the moon. He’s fitting in nicely, if all the cooing I hear over the phone during our convos is any indicator.
Yep, it’s the little things!
I don’t usually post twice in on day but…
Today is my nephew Gabriel’s second birthday! I can’t be with him and my sis and the rest of the fam as they celebrate. My heart is with them though. I wish my litte buddy all the best today as he marks his second year on Earth. He’s growing up so fast! It makes me so proud to see him becoming a little man.
Happy birthday, Gabe! Auntie Jo loves you!
When I showed up at work today (IKEA for those who don’t know) all the Christmas stuff was out on display with ornaments, decorative accessories, and gift wrap ready for the early birds to take home. In all honesty, I liked most of what I saw. Still, before Halloween, y’all? Really? I mean, just how early is too early?
I don’t know if we’ll ever figure that one out! In the meantime, I hope you enjoy a few snaps I took while I looked around. Happy… Thursday! I’ll wait til after Thanksgiving to start doing the holiday well wishing mambo. 
PS. My sis is going to see my favorite band ever, Duran Duran, tomorrow night in WA. I’m so excited for her… especially since I worked behind the scenes to get babysitting for my niece and nephews so she could go. I thank God that it all came together. Don’t you just love real life happy endings? I know I do!
My sis sent this pic to me this weekend. She was at a beach near my hometown city, Seattle, WA. Sunsets over the water are such a huge part if what “home” means to me that receiving this made me smile… and a little Tad homesick.
Things are challenging right now but I keep reminding myself of what I’m trying to accomplish and praying (a lot) to get me through. Little things like this picture, little bits of beauty and goodness are a lovely balm when the going gets tough.
I hope your Monday is shaping up like a Friday.
I spent the entire day with my family today. We barbecued, talked, laughed, and had a great time with each other.
The miracle of it is that it’s the first time in well over a decade since all of my cousins have been together in one place. How wonderful for us all to finally come together!
We’ve packed up everything and everyone has gone home but we all promised not to go so long without seeing each other.
I call that a blessed day.
I’m happy to announce to the world that the person who taught me to crochet was none other than my Gram Nash. I was just a wee girl and I thought the little frilly dresses she made for those once ubiquitous toilet paper holder dolls was the best thing ever. I wanted to do it too and my Gram showed me how.
I played around with crochet for a few years… into my preteens and even tried to teach myself how to knit. I was so proud when I finally learned how to do stockinette properly (Hey! Purling is HARD darn it!). But of course, as happens with so many of us I let go of it to pursue other things – bands and boys being chief among them. Still, if I picked up a hook, I knew I could always rely on my Gram, even though she’s a lefty and I have to reverse everything to get it right, to see me through any snarls.
Now cut to a few years later (no, I will not tell you exactly how many…) and I’ve once again picked up a hook. When I showed my Gram the project that I was working on her eyes sort of started to get a certain gleam… so I asked, casually, if she wanted to work on some projects together and she agreed! So we’re off tomorrow to go drool over yarn and hopefully pick out something cool… because you can never have enough yarn, right? I mean, a day of yarn stashing, working the craft, and hanging with your Grammy… what more do you need?
