Gratitude....

Indulge me....

I know that watching birds feed is,

well,

maybe, not the most interesting video.

But from my point of view,

this is heaven.

My sweetie and I are in a new home,

surrounded by beauty,

covered in love.

I'm so very grateful.

No one can know what 

goes on in the mind of others,

not unless they 

explain.

Hopefully,

I will be able to make sense of the past year....

they say insight only comes in retrospect.

I believe that must be true.

Thank God.

Movin' on....

Now that we have completed the repairs,

we are ready to move on.....

We have loved this house.

We have renovated, painted,

remodeled, ripped out the old in order 

to install the new....

It is beautiful.

We love it.

But it is time to 

do something 

different....

The following photos are not mine, 

but they are all wonderfully created.

If you need an excellent interiors shooter,

I know just the man you want to hire.

(email me for his contact info)

This is the Video Tour Link

http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=1090672&idx=1

Yes,

it will be hard to leave that BAKW!

I have sat there and observed the world for hours at a time.

I watched the film crew working on the Pilot for 

"Homeland" 

from that window.

(Carrie's apt interiors were shot in a neighbor's condo)

It feels very strange to think of leaving here.

Have you ever left a place with ambivalence?

How did you deal with those feelings?

I'm sure it's time, 

but there are doubts.

smiles

Wow....what a year...

So

Very 

Grateful

2013 

is 

over.

It was simply one of the most difficult years we've had to endure.

Things are looking up though.

But, first...

Someone stole my other blog when I was cleaning up after the flood.

Remember

Not Yo Mommas Handbag?

named for my Etsy shop?

Created by me to chronicle the making of my 

Handbags?

Yes,

well, someone stole it.

Now if you go to the old site, 

there is one post

months old

of a vacation somewhere.

Not mine.

So, here is my new 

blog for the shop,

(which will be re-opened as soon as we move)

http://ellensnotyomommashandbag.blogspot.com

Hopefully, 

I can hold on to this one....

smiles!

done.....

so

very

done.

Gratitude.....

I am grateful for all Service Members,

past, present and future

that make a huge sacrifice

for us all.

My brother went to Iraq,

twice.

I am so very grateful that he came back unharmed.

smiles.

smiles......Friday.

My Uncle David attached this photo to one of his emails....

I love Sunflowers.

LOVE.

They always make me smile.

I hope your day is filled with 

love

smiles

and 

sunflowers......

WTF.......

On February 27th 2013,

I was in my downstairs office

and noticed a wet place on the carpet.

The beginning of a nightmare.

truly.

on-going......

A water leak from outside into our condo,

began a long string of events

that I am unwilling to 

re-tell.

However, 

after many sleepless nights,

and much "hoo-ha"

the work began......

The front yard was trenched.

The water-proofing was installed.

The front steps were replaced.

And

work

began inside

(after months of no work in between)

The young men began to remediate the 

"MOLD PROBLEM".

Haz-mat type plastice sheeting went up.

Blowers were installed.

Protective breathing apparatus were used.

And

then

it 

came 

to 

a 

HALT.

"Ms. Reed, please come down here, I have something to show you...."

water is still coming in to our home.

I am so discouraged.

I want desperately to be optimistic.

But, I am done.....

no smiles today.