Simply A Musing Blog

I am the worst photographer ever. But let me back up... A week ago, I woke up to the most wonderful surprise. My husband left me a note on the toilet seat telling me not to flush it. Oh...that didn't come out right...the note was on top of a BOX that was sitting on the toilet seat. (Look...I know what you're thinking right now..."why did he leave it on the toilet seat?" I don't know why he left it on the toilet seat - he's the kind of guy that will tell you to meet him at 7:32 pm instead of 7:30. You can't stop him - he's a juggernaut of ambition that grabs life by the throat and squeezes everything he can out of it). Anyway...inside the box was a brand spankin' new one of these: And it wasn't even my birthday. Or Mother's Day. Or Christmas. I mean, the man bought me this camera...get this...JUST BECAUSE. I've wanted a digital SLR as long as I can remember. It seemed like everyone had one except for me - Rachel , Beth , Dianne , Dar...

Summer is slipping by at a fast pace - wishing I could go back and enjoy a little more of it with my sweet kiddos, but as the old adage goes, "time and tide waits for no man." Many of you already know that my dad passed away July 25th. I am thankful I was able to be there with him, holding his hand when he slipped very peacefully off into eternity. Harder than facing his death was telling my mom, who was still recovering in a nursing home from her car accident -- we brought her home the day dad died. But, thankfully, we made it through with God's help and here we are a couple of short weeks later, making great strides. I spent a good portion of today at my mom's house, cleaning out my dad's closet. Bittersweet memories wrapped up in flannel shirts and "old man" khaki pants. Fishing trips, tall tales, and many a late night camping memories came flooding back as I removed each item and folded it to give to a local missionary. It tickles me to no end that m...

*Note - this is a long post, so grab some coffee and a bagel, because it's going to be a while. I've stared at this blinking cursor on the page for too many days, trying to put words on virtual paper...where do I even begin? I've had a month's worth of blog posts happen in a very short time, so I'll probably resort to a bulleted list at some point. We spent Saturday together as a family - the eldest was farmed out to her best friend's house for the night and we had the two youngest with us as we grocery shopped and spent the evening just goofing off. It was around 7:30 p.m. or so when we arrived home, and we were just settling in to watch a movie before the kids went to bed when I received a phone call from one of my brothers on my cell phone. Two things on this: A.) I rarely answer my cell phone if my family is together, because...well, I'm not a slave to my phone and I don't really like talking on it; and B.) I have five living brothers (in order...

Words are hard for me lately. I want so badly to find my voice again...to talk about the things that are happening in my life right now. It's not a very amusing or happy place I find myself in... which is why I have all but stopped blogging. With a title like "simply a musing" blog, what is one to do? What's happening in my life lately? One of my 6 brothers died recently, my stepdad is dying a slow and painfully frustrating death from Alzheimer's, my mom is losing her ability to walk - and I feel overwhelmed at times by the changes taking place seemingly all at once. I think about David when he was in the wilderness and running from the wrath of Saul and think I can identify, even if on a much smaller level. I'd like nothing better than to run in hopes of escaping what the future holds for me and my family...but I realize that God has ordained these events and I am supposed to stand firm and grow through this. I just don't want to go through this. It hur...

Keeping a blog is so much like having a conversation with an old friend. A 40-year old friend -- because you're basically talking to yourself when no one else is reading your blog. And you're 40. It doesn't matter how long you go without writing, you can just pick right up where you left off like nothing has ever happened. Of course, a lot has happened. But that's neither here nor there. Any one else ever grow up hearing that phrase "that's neither here nor there" without really knowing what the heck it meant? I decided to look it up today...it's an idiom that means "Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent." I'm completely embarrassed to admit I then had to look up the word "idiom", because hello? Ninth grade was over 24 years ago and I've slept since then. {Not to mention I've had three kids -- my vocabulary has been decimated by (...

Dave Ramsey says never to buy new. I think the last time I actually had a new car was...well, never, to be honest. My first car was a red 1977 pinto station wagon...I wrecked it when I was 16 with my friend Jody Haas in the car. THAT was a fun experience. My second car was a 1981 Volkswagen Jetta. A white, 4 door that had been wrecked - I remember priming and spray painting the driver's side door because I was so embarrassed by the rust. I drove that until 1990, when I assumed ownership of a 1987 white Toyota Celica hatchback...loved that car. Sporty, fun...but not good for a soon to be mama who had to climb out lugging an extra 50 lbs. Then I purchased a 1995 white Honda Accord (in 1996 - probably the newest car I'd ever owned at that point). Then I moved to Texas and left Honda in Alaska because...Hello? It had no air conditioning. Did you know A/C is not standard in cars sold in Alaska? Well, it's not. So when I moved to Texas in 1997, I purchased a 1996 Chevy Lumina (b...

I have always loved the writings of Lewis Carroll. His "Alice in Wonderland" series was one of my favorites as a child and I was especially fond of the book, "Through the Looking Glass". I imagine it was because at some time or another, we all speculate what life must be like on the "other side", whether it be the looking glass, the fence, the computer, or this life. Recently, I have had a look at what life on the other side of "healthy" and "young" is like and aging gracefully is something that I'm starting to believe only happens in Hollywood movies. Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty, but everything else seems to wear out, fall out or spread out. Taking care of aging parents is demanding, draining and if you're not careful, it can be downright depressing. I have always known the day would come when I would be responsible for taking care of my parents, but as with everything else in life, the day has come before I f...

Sickness has invaded our household...and it's landed on me. Out of five people in my family, I am the one who has gotten sick. Body aches, fevers, lovely things coming out of both ends...sick. The good news is that everyone in my family feels so badly for me that they are willing to do almost anything for me. No matter how much attention I receive from my family, I'd much rather feel like a normal human being again, without rolling stomach and bowels, ya know? (sorry if that was TMI) I guess I'm just sick of being sick. Going to lay back down now and see if I can beat this nasty illness back to where it came from. Hope your weekend was much better than mine. Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

You know it's a sign that you've quit blogging altogether when you don't even post photos from your staycation a month ago... Or when you forget to even drop in and say "Happy Resurrection Day"...or take ONE photo of the cuteness that was your kids all dressed up for Easter services to show off on the old blog. Or maybe it's a sign that you've just got way too many things on your plate and don't have a clue how to keep all your plates spinning and the blog is the first thing to go? Regardless, I shall return with a vengeance once things settle down a bit - if that ever happens. Hope you're doing well, mom...since you're probably the only one still reading this! Photos of K's haircut coming this week! (I've got you on the edge of your seat now, don't I?) Gratuitous shots of my cat taking over my desk while I'm slaving away on websites: Is he not just a beaut? Sigh...if he were a man, he'd be a prince. Look on the bright side!...

***Update with photos!!!*** May I just say that I amazed and slightly overwhelmed from all the terrific responses to Tuesday's post ? I am wary of posting things like that too often, for fear of alienating my readers, but I just feel the need to thank each and every one of you that took the time to read the post and email me or respond in the comments. And yes, Floy is my husband -- the one who hijacked the comments with his "post" within a post. But honestly - I don't mind, because I really felt that HE should have been the one to write my post after reading his eloquently crafted response. You would never know he's a preacher, would you? lol So anyway...today is a busy day. I have a mockup that is long overdue to a very patient client, and thanks to my good friend Kelli (woot! Kelli!!!), I finally have some design direction for this piece. So hard when you have a design idea but have no idea how you're going to accomplish it. Maybe I shouldn't admit tha...

Well, I love my internet folks, but y'all are about as helpful as teats on a bull when it comes to helping me pick out my new handbag! And I do apologize if I've offended anyone with my Southern colloquiallism - but I'm positively full of them. Or it. I can't decide which. So the results of the highly scientific poll are as follows: 29 votes total (I used to have a LOT more readers than this!?! See what happens when you quit writing regularly? eek!) ~The zebra print was the lowest with 31% of the votes. ~The giraffe print garnered 34%, and ~The slouchy hobo also received 34% of the votes. (And you have no idea how incredibly taxing it was on my pea-brain to come up with THREE separate descriptors for the outcome of the voting.) Somehow I really felt the need to explain myself on that and I have no idea why - maybe it's because I am highly desirous of getting my writing mojo back??? So ya know what? I'm going to live on the edge and buy two of them. The Giraffe ...

I have always been a lover of handbags (I was taught not to say "purses")- every since I started working for Nordstrom in the Handbag Department in 1990. I had a buyer/manager named Carrie Forrest who was the epitome of what you'd expect from a Nordstrom buyer. She was tall, very thin, and absolutely gorgeous - with a heart of gold. She taught me everything she knew about handbags, and until I was promoted to Dept manager of another Department (Hosiery, thank you very much) - I sold many a Dooney & Burke, HCL, and Sharif bag. But I can't find a decent handbag to save my life today. At least, not one that is *cheap* enough for my tastes. Until now. I was browsing The Avenue and stumbled across a couple of really, really cute bags - I need your help deciding which one to purchase! They are all relatively *cheap* (Carrie would have killed me if I used that terminology in her dept!) - it's just a matter of deciding which one. The zebra tote: The slouchy hobo: The...

I'm pretty much thinking this phone is going to be every present I get for this year...mom, you're the best! Music, video, camera, email, rss, this phone has it all. I'm in gadget heaven. Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

It dawned on me the other day that I'm no longer a "sahm". I've officially become a "wahm" - I work at home (what woman doesn't? you may ask). The beauty of this is that I can do my work from home, in my pajamas if I want to. The down side of this is that I can do my work from home, in my pajamas if I want to. I am juggling three jobs at once - my paying gig, being a mom to my three kids (and homeschooling them), and being caretaker of the house. I think I've realized what is wrong with this picture. I am in serious need of a schedule of sorts. Up until this week, I have been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of gal...homeschooling early mornings, doing some housework in between and fitting in my design work when I can. So how's it working for me? Meh...not so well. This week we are taking off of school so I can get some things in order in my home office, (hello, taxes), clean out our shop at the farm (hello, garage sale) and do some catching u...

Typical conversation in our house: Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

There are some things in life that although they are not really necessities, you become so dependent upon them that you literally have a difficult time functioning without them. I am a lover of all things technological. Computers and phones and gadgets are such wonderful tools that when used properly and not abused, can enrich lives and bring people closer together. I have a very deep and abiding love for certain gadgets - my cell phone is one of them. I rarely use it, but just know it's there if I want to use it -- it gives me such a sense of security. Weird, isn't it? In fact, I've had one for so long now that I don't even remember what life was like before I one with me 24/7. I mean, how did I ever manage those late night trips to the Mart that Mister Sam built? For that matter, how did I manage to feel confident about doing anything any distance from my home in my old beat up '96 minivan? Yes, I'm totally waxing nostalgic tonight. I'm feeling a tad b...

I have started this blog post no less than 5 times. I have 3 drafts sitting in my drafts folder that I started and have absolutely no idea how to finish. Other moms compose witty, humorous posts about their crafty and adventurous days with their kids while I find myself wanting to escape to some place where I can have a day to myself to just be. Other moms seemingly have it all together, while I am falling apart at the seams on a daily basis. Christmas is three days away. I have not decorated my house (save the tree, which the kids did), I have not baked one Christmas item, addressed one card, created one newsletter, or purchased/made one gift for anyone. I am at an impasse. I want to find the words to explain what I'm going through, but they escape me. I want to cry, but I can't. God has just been too good to me this year. He has seen us through some of the worst times in not only our financial lives, but our marriage as well. I should be expressing my thanks and giving Him t...

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Let's just say that I am nothing if not a peacemaker. I don't like conflict. I like for everyone to be happy and I always feel the need to be the one to make it so. Especially when it comes to my husband. Until now. As Popeye™ once said, "I've had all I can stand, and I can't stands no more!" You see, conflict has reared its ugly head, and for once, I am determined to get MY way. Hear me out, folks. I'm talking about my hair. What works for my husband is long and grey. What works for me is some semblance of style and not looking like my 78-yr old mother. Exhibit A: Photo of subject taken on December 5th. Note the 3 inches of *lovely* new GREY! growth and the dull, stringy, lifeless (not to mention "NO STYLE OF ANY KIND") hair. Please disregard the horrible, washed out look of the defendant due to the unfortunate pairing of camera flash, no makeup, and yellow sweater that is TOTALLY the wrong season for her: Note the "Deer-In-The-Headlights...

Some time last year, I remember reading several interesting conversations about metaphors for blogging. I couldn't think of anything at the time to write about (imagine that), but after a year and a half of thinking, I've finally realized what I think blogging is like . And I'm going to share it now - aren't you giddy with excitement? I know I am. Without further ado... Blogging is Like Singing. It's always best if you do some warm ups. Breathe properly and your voice will be clearer. You must learn your range, because singing in the wrong key can hurt your voice. Sometimes you sing only for an audience of One. People will love or hate you based on your sound character - don't try to sound like someone else - just be you. Singing is a skill that requires muscle memory. It takes lots of practice before you sing well. You must believe in yourself to sing in front of others. Sometimes you sing off-pitch. Sometimes you get laryngitis and can't sing at all. Other...