creative little daisy

Lost in the junk drawer

A few days ago, Rachel emailed out of concern that I had fallen victim to my out of control junk drawer and was unable to find my way out. So sweet!  I assured her that I was fine, that the junk drawer had not sucked me in and tossed me to the back with the twist ties and random batteries.  Nope, I'm here and I'm well. I'm busy and happy and have a life full of blessings I should be documenting.  I'm such a slow blog poster. I type and delete, type and delete. Stare at the flashing cursor and type and delete some more. I find it so difficult to jot down a few lines, throw in a relevant photo or two and get on with the rest of the day. I want to work on that and maybe I'll have more success at blogging on a somewhat regular basis. In the time since my last post, things have been pretty busy- where to begin...what to talk about first? Since my last post there has been a trip to the  beach, Bible School crafting, some fireworks watching, transplant evaluating, and a little sewing. 
In the next week, I will try to catch up and do it in brief posts, instead of the long rambling ones that take forever to read and even longer to write.
A few justcause photos, just cause I hate to post without a photo. 

More random bits

I'm not sure what has come over me, but I'm riding the wave while it lasts. I'm on a cleaning/organizing binge. I've cleaned parts of my kitchen that haven't been cleaned since, well, possibly never. I've rearranged cabinets, thrown out clutter- do sprinkles have a shelf life by the way? Cause I can't tell you when I've sprinkled anything, but I had four bottles of sprinkles. Had being the key word. I actually have two cabinets with nothing in them now. Imagine that! I threw out canned goods with '05 expiration dates. See what I mean about riding the wave while it lasts. It may be years before it hits me again. I'm not a slob, I like things clean, but I just don't have the energy to be a clean freak. I wish I did. It is noticeably  easier to clean a house with two occupants than a house with four, especially when two of the four are teens.  I still have to tackle the dreaded junk drawer and the darn tupperware cabinet. For the life of me, I can't keep plastic bowls and lids neatly placed in a cabinet. I organize and straighten, think everything's cool, go back to find an explosion of bowls and lids strewn about. It's worse than socks in the dryer. Nothing matches up. What happens inside that cabinet when I turn my back?
Along with scrubbing and scouring, I've done some prettying up too. Some new shelves (built and hung by my sweetie)  to hold pretty bowls and plates and changing out the lighting over my bar made it feel like a new kitchen.

We had recessed lighting over the bar. I never liked them, it was a harsh, bright light so I rarely turned them on.  One day in Lowes, I noticed these. They were a little more than I wanted to spend on something that really wasn't necessary.  I kept watching them though. I'd stroll down the lighting isle and consider putting them in the cart, then tell myself, maybe next time. Last week I took my stroll through lighting, and what's this? Clearance?!! I didn't even have to put them in the cart, they jumped right in.  The best fifty dollars I've spent in a while.

I think the next project, once I get control of my tupperware cabinet and junk drawer will be to paint my lower cabinets black (and all of this cabinet that surrounds the oven and microwave).  Sound like fun?


I also want to remove that useless piece of real estate (aka a desk) in the photo above. It is right beside the door and ends up being a catch all space. It's never been used as a desk, so I want to replace it with this.
Another project I'm itching to tackle is putting sheers on my back porch. I can't be blamed, how could I possibly resist after seeing this? Heaven on earth!

Gotta go, that junk drawer isn't going to clean itself.

Random bits, part one

Here I find myself, once again, like I have many times before, thanking you guys for being so good to me. Your words of sympathy and support on the loss of our sweet little Gracie  have meant so much.  Truly, if you wonder if your comments matter, if they make a difference, let me say,  yes!  Yes they do! Your words are uplifting and encouraging and I treasure each and every one! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I've been getting used to life with one less four-legged family member. I'm still so saddened by her somewhat sudden and unexpected loss, but I am smiling more at happy memories of her gentle and loving spirit. Life goes on, isn't that what they say?  Here's proof.

Alyssa and I  found these little guys abandoned in a parking lot. No mama in sight. I don't plan to keep them, just fatten them up a bit and find them loving homes. These photos are from their first days with us,  they are eating kitty food now,

and getting fat, round little bellies. A  welcome addition to their formerly emaciated little frames.

If you live in the southeastern NC area and want a sweet little kitty (or two) to love, email me. I can hook you up! Seriously.


Toby loves the babies,

and they love him.

It seems as though I've been away from this little corner for so long. There is so much I could ramble on about, life is so full. My blogging voice seems a bit horse, forgive me while I try to catch up.  We were lucky enough to have Casey home for a few weeks. He was able to get recruiter's assistance duty while waiting for his class to start up in Pensacola. It was really a joy to have him home and I'm so happy to be able to say that.  Even a year ago, joy would not have been a word I would have used in conversation about time spent with Casey.  I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong and I was wrong in feeling that joining the Marines was a terrible decision for Casey.  I don't look forward to the worry that will surely be my constant companion when the time comes for him to be deployed, but the contentment that he carries with him, the confidence. They mean so much to this mama.

His flight out left from Charlotte, so after dropping him at the airport, we visited Ikea. It was my first time. Wow! What a huge and wonderful place that was.

More random bits to come. Try to contain your excitement, but it involves cleaning my kitchen.