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.

Today, I am grateful.....

so, here's why....

life delivers things you don't expect, sometimes.

usually, I find myself totally unprepared....

But,

I have learned

that when I've been blind-sided,

I can get out my toolkit of chaos busters.....

My Gratitude list is the best on I can think of when I have nothing else to say.....

so, here tis....

I am eternally grateful for coffee

I am grateful for roses.....

and sunflowers...

of course, the beach....and sun....and quiet....

I am so very, sincerely, honestly grateful for my sweetie....

and magnolias....

and waterlilies.....

hydrangeas....by the bucket full!!

pasta.....;-)

homegrown tomatoes.....

and, as Wallace says, "CHEESE!"....

and bread.....(I am noticing a pattern here....)

and different types of CHEESE!

from assorted countries.....(thank you Whole Foods)

and lastly (but never leastly, is that a word?)

Chocolate!

There, I feel much better now....

don't you?

now

I 

can 

smile.

First of the season!!

That's right!

Mr Blue Jay.....

Not as sweet as a Blue Bird,

and he has a very distinct

in fact, sort of annoying call.

But he is my 

bellwether that fall is well and truly here.

Even though 

I sit here at my desk in shorts,

t-shirt and sweat....

Isn't he handsome?

Yes, I know.....in a semi-obnoxious way, right?

I live in the town in which I grew up.

When I was elementary school age, my parents fed the birds each winter.

Predictably, as soon as we saw our first 

Blue Jay of the season, we would put up the bird feeder and carefully fill it.

There were tons....no TONS of Blue Jays back then.

In the last century......

decades ago.....

Now I sound just like my parents...

Have you seen a Blue Jay?

What is your bellwether for fall?

Any interesting fall practices in your family?

smiles!

(I usually try to use only my own images in this blog, however the Blue Jay I saw today wouldn't pose, so this is a googled image)