Simple Pleasures: 2011

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Tree is down!

It is hard to believe, but my tree and decorations are packed away! I spent today trying to rearrange the living room. I am not sure I like it this way as much as the way I had it before the tree went up, I will leave it this way awhile and see. My living room is small so it is hard to arrange everything the way I want.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Decorations are coming down ! ! !

I have always dreaded having to take down the Christmas decorations,it seemed so sad that all the celebrating was over. I usually take them down the day after New Years Day, although one year I did leave them up until the end of January. This year is so different, I enjoyed Christmas with my family it was wonderful, but this year I am so ready to get my new home ready for the New Year and what it holds for us! Happy New Year! Elizabeth

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas from my home to yours !

Monday, December 19, 2011

Grandaughters "Winter Wiggle" and Weekend Guest

Monday, December 5, 2011

Getting ready for Christmas

I have been busy getting my new home ready for Christmas,the tree is up, no mantel to decorate this year,my fireplace has the t.v. over it,so no mantle. I decorated my sofa table and around the fireplace. It is starting to feel like Christmas around here!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Our Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in our new home was very nice. I did not miss my large kitchen at all,it was actually nice cooking in my new small cozy kitchen,everything was in reach without running back and forth the way I did in the large kitchen,I sat up a card table along side my dining table and we all had a place to sit and were in the same room, not some in the kitchen and others in Dining room, like the old house. It was all good,wish I had downsized a long time ago!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Halloween at our new home

We had a wonderful Halloween, a neighbor counted 700 trick-or-treaters, there was a constant stream of them from 6:00-8:00 we ran out of candy twice, hubby went to the store for more once and neighbors shared some of there's,they knew we did not know that we would have that many! A big difference from the last few years at our old house where we did not get any! This is a new sub-division and has the reputation as the place to go!Everyone goes all out decorating and its like a block party,it was a lot of fun!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Our new home !

We spent the first night in our new home last night. It was very nice, even though everything is not in place yet, it feels like home. We still have to go back to the old house and clean out closets and clean and get it ready for its new owner. I have not cried yet,about leaving our home of 21 years and I may not it all just feels right. I should not be surprised should I, God knows what he is doing!

Monday, October 10, 2011

Thank You Friends

Thank you all so much for the encouraging words, it really does help. I am still going from the sadness of leaving here to the excitement of this next chapter in our lives.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Is it normal?

Everything is working out. We have a buyer for our place. We found a smaller house,we love,with a smaller yard,that I really love! So why do I feel so sad. Is it normal to feel this way about leaving a place I have been so long (20) years. I feel like it is a new chapter in our lives and that we are going to be happy in this new place,but I cannot seem to shake this sad feeling about leaving here.

Monday, September 12, 2011

It is almost here!

It was 59 degrees this morning at my house, So after the grandchildren were put on the school bus,I had my breakfast out on the deck,it was wonderful! They thought it was COLD waiting for the bus,they are too use to our high 90 degree weather. I love this fresh cool air and I am so excited because I know my favorite season of the year is almost here!

Monday, March 28, 2011

A place you want to linger!

My friend and I found a new Tea Room this weekend at our annual boating club event in Mt. Dora Fl.It was a wonderful place. Almost everything was white,there were bible verses posted on the walls,the owner was a wonderful lady,you know the kind of person you meet and feel like you have known them forever. The food and tea were excellent,this will be "Our Tea Room" from now on.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

a new beginning!

I have finally decided that it is time for a change in our lives. My hubby has wanted to do this for awhile but I said,we have spent 20 years of our lives here and it is "home" I want to stay put,I love my home. There are things that I do not love though, raking leaves,picking up limbs almost daily on our 2 acres and fighting ants,that always win, anyway I have come to the realization that we need a smaller place,we really do not need a 10 room house and 2 acres in our later years. So I am getting our home ready to put up for sale. We have been looking and found a place we both love and will fit our live style now. So, I am excited about the change,but a little sad about leaving here,but I have to remind myself,most of the things I love about here,will be going with us, this place just houses all the things I love.

Monday, March 14, 2011

There is nothing like watching the sun go down over the water!

Monday, February 14, 2011

I love my life!

Yesterday my husband took me and our grandaughter to one of our favorite places,a Tea room.

We then did some shopping in antique stores, last night made Valentine cupcakes with 2 of my grandsons,tonight candle light dinner at home with my hubby!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Growing up!

My puppies are 4 weeks old. I have found a home for all of them but 1 and the 1 we are keeping.They have been so much fun to watch these 4 weeks,from tiny ,helpless little things to now playing,barking,eating,its going to be hard to see them go.Just a little bit like,(on a much smaller scale of course)having our children grow up and leave,not needing us as they once did. I am just a little sad because my first grandson turned 13 a few months ago and I miss that little boy that he was for all those years. He is now a teenager and interested in so many other things than Grandma and Grandpa

Monday, January 24, 2011

Along the Coast

A day trip along the coast was just what the Dr. ordered! We were really getting cabin fever since Jim's surgery,so Saturday morning we left home and drove about 100 miles along the coast,stopping for lunch, a quick visit with family and a little shopping along the way. It was a wonderful day! A couple of weeks ago,I didn't know if we would have days like this again but God is Good and I thank him that Jim is well enough to do these things,we enjoy,again!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

New addition to our family

We had a big surprise at our house about 2 weeks ago. The afternoon before Jim got sick. Ellie our Cavalier King Charles gave birth to 5 puppies,we had no idea she was expecting or that she had a boyfriend. A very good friend has her mate and we had been waiting for the right time to get them together. It was quite obvious who the Dad is, 4 of the puppies look just like the Jack Russell next door,the other one is black and looks a lot like Ellie,so we have decided to keep him and today we decided on the name Simon.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Home from the hospital!

Some of you know that Jim had emergency surgery last Thursday (gall bladder) that went well but because of his severe emphysema he had a lot of breathing problems afterwards.He was able to come home today but had to be put on oxygen,we are praying that it will not be permanent.We were so appreciative of all the calls we received and the way our children stayed at our side during the whole thing. I guess sometimes it take something like this to know how lucky we are to have such wonderful family and friends.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

I am over it!

Okay so much for holiday blues,its time for me to get over it. I realize as wonderful as it is all things must come to an end and I have to move on to the next exciting thing. I am slowly beginning to take down my Christmas decorations. I have my new calender out and I am making plans for the year.January will include a long weekend trip, my oldest daughter's birthday. Febuary will of course include Valentine's day, a visit from out of town friends. March will be our first boating event of the year with about 50 other club members for 4 days of boating. So just the first 3 months have a lot to look forward to!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Post- Holiday Blues ?

I thought I was the only one who had this let down after the holidays but today on the morning show I discovered that this is normal and a lot of people have it. I think I feel better just knowing that it is normal and not just me.
I have always had this,as long as i can remember. This year it has been pretty bad.
I have learned in the past to have things planned to do in January,often taking a trip in January. Do any of you have this? If so how do you deal with it?

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

I am enjoying a quite New Years Day. My 2 youngest grandsons spent the night with us last night. We got up this morning and had pancakes (their favorite) and then went out on the back porch,finished up some sparklers from last night,watched the squirrels and birds playing in the trees all in our pajamas. They have gone home now and I am still in pajamas,drinking coffee and blogging! I think this is a wonderful way to start the New Year. I plan to try to take things slower this year and enjoy the simple things more,I seem to have gotten away from that this past year as well as my blogging . I certainly plan on doing more of that this year. I have met some wonderful friends here and look forward to meeting more and spending more time with those I have met in the past 2 years when I discovered blogging.Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed New Year!