HAVEN'T QUITE LEFT YET- ANOTHER PRAYER REQUEST-TWO OF THEM

I am sure many of you know

the blog

RAMBLINGS OF A RETIRED LADY.

Her husband, Jim,

is in a coma

and ready to 'go home'.

Please pray for a peaceful passing

for him and 

for peace of mind for her

and her children & grandchildren.

She is 78 years old

and her blog has changed

but here is the link

if you would like to leave her

a word of comfort.

Ramblings of a Retired Lady

Also, my friend, Jettie's
brother-in-law, Leamon,
is passing.
He is the last sibling on her husband's side
so it is a sad passing for her hubby.

Please keep them in your 
thoughts and prayers, too.

Thank you so much.

I will be on the road soon

and out of touch for a while.

If you don't pray,

please send good thoughts

and wishes their way.

Love to all of you~

TAKING A BREAK-SEE YOU SOON

I will be gone for a while

but may catch up a bit

while I am away---

Otherwise,

see you when I get back

with pictures of

BEFORE AND AFTERS

of the condo!

Meanwhile,

I'll be here---

yeah boy

Love you guys-

Thanks for being such faithful followers

all these years!

PRAYER REQUEST-SUSAN FREEMAN-ASH TREE COTTAGE

It is always hard to do a 

post like this.

That being said,

I do believe that there are

MIRACLES TO BE HAD.

Many of you know and follow

Susan-Ash Tree Cottage

and her little dog, Bentley.

She is a decorator and

miniature enthusiast.

She got sick before Christmas

and was hospitalized 

while they looked for answers.

Here is what she posted on Facebook.

Susan Freeman

January 16 at 5:23 PM · 

The results from my boost are in. The shadow across my kidney. Is as cancerous mass. No chemo, surgery instead. Bye bye kidney. Hopefully I have a couple more months to live. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement🤗😘

 

She is asking for prayer.

If you don't pray,

please wing healing thoughts 

and well wishes her way.

Thank you all so much.

You are the best.

WHAT IS CALIFORNIA SHED STYLE?

For all of you that have asked-

WHAT IS CALIFORNIA SHED STYLE?

It might be called something different

in a different area.

Here, it is a late 1960's/1970's style

that has a rustic exterior with a

more modern interior.

It has a slanted roof in the back

and soaring ceilings inside,

usually with a loft (open or semi open).

I am attaching pictures

front and back so you can

see what I am talking about.

People either love the style

or hate it.

LOL- Guess I am an

OLD HIPPY 

at heart 

(although I never lived like a hippy-

too much of a chicken-lol).

because

I like the style.

I have lived in traditional,

coastal, Florida style,

colonial, two story,

ranch style & modern-

but nothing like this.

I will keep posting pictures

as we go along.

All changes will be interior

because we have to abide by

condo rules to not change 

"the look" from the exterior.

Front-We have a lofted area-

each unit to the side is a single story.

Our main living area,

including 2 bedrooms/2 baths,

is on the main floor.

The big windows upstairs overlook

the river one street over,

and that is where my sewing/craft area

will be---whoo hoooo---

finally a place of my own.

I have never had a dedicated space

like this before.

There were always kids, etc.,

to think about and contend with.

FRONT VIEW~

Back-

Units are staggered so we will

not see our side-by-side neighbors

unless we chose to do so.

Upper windows are in the loft area

where there is 3rd bedroom/bath

in case we need live-in care at some point.

Hopefully not-but life 

throws things at us sometimes

that we don't expect.

So...here ya go---

CA Shed Style Back View

There you have it, kids.

Be back with more soon!

I know y'all are dying to see the inside.

Did I say DYING?

Remember...there is a graveyard

right behind us...

and I have a shovel if needed!

BIG NEWS- WE BOUGHT A CONDO

Listen-

Grab your coffee or tea

or vodka-

this is more wordy than most of my posts.

I am the person that has always said,

"I will NEVER live in a condo"~

Yep!  That was me!

NEVER!

Plus, after selling our home on the bay,

we have been renting from

the greatest landlord(s).

A brand new twindo that is gorgeous--

but not ours, you know?

I sure hate letting them know

we are moving.

So-Why are we moving?

Life changes.

Health changes.

Needs & wants change.

There is a small complex

that I have always loved.

45 units total-

3 or 4 blocks from my daughter's home.

NOTHING ever comes up

for sale in this complex.

Well, guess what?

Being in the real estate business,

I pull up new listings everyday

in the price range I am 

interested in.

Lo & Behold (don't ya love that old saying)--

a WONDERFUL UNIT came

on the market in our price range.

I jumped on it.

In less than 30 days the unit 

was ours-

signed, sealed and delivered.

Here's the best part-

the original owner's daughter

is one of the nicest people

I have ever not met.

We have texted and emailed

and she is thrilled that we will

LOVE THIS PLACE

like her mom did.

She is going to come see us

after we get the work done

and we move in.

So-the condo---

California Shed Style Condo.

It was build in 1976 and the

original owners took 

excellent care of it.

It is in wonderful condition

but dated!

My son, Ryan, has graciously

stepped up to the plate 

and is overseeing the work being done there.

The best part is that it has a 

PRIVATE FRONT PATIO

and an even more

PRIVATE BACK PATIO.

We don't back up to any other condos.

However, we do back up to 

A GRAVEYARD.

My wonderful son has said that

"when the time comes"

he can just throw us over the fence.

Yes-it is true!

I raised a kid that has my 

warped sense of humor.

Not everyone thinks we are funny---

starting with MyHero~

So, I will be doing lots of

BEFORE & AFTER 

pictures as this reno progresses.

We are slated to move in by 

the end of March.

Meanwhile-

I have to get busy 

a-sortin' & a-purgin'.

Wish me luck cuz you know 

I will need it.

Just a little teaser for you---

Our backyard---

OH DEER!

PRAYER REQUEST(S) UPDATE AND THE PASSING OF A BLOGGER'S HUSBAND

Thank you for all the prayers

and well wishes for my friend,

Jettie.

You can read that post here.

They could not do the surgery

as planned. 

To do so, they would have had

to take a portion of her leg bone.

Instead, they are going a different route.

They are trying a 24/7 IV antibiotic

for the next several weeks. 

If this works, she will not

need surgery.

So, continue to keep her in your

thoughts and prayers.

Also,

Please continue to pray for 

Connie's husband, Steve.

He is in the midst of 

a very tough battle.

You can read that post here.

And, I have known about this

for quite a while,

but have not had the heart to post it.

It took me some time to 

work through this-as I was

'with' Sharon/Sugar as 

they walked this path.

Wild Bill passed well before Christmas.

You can read one of the requests here.

Please send prayers and good wishes

to Sugar.  

They had packed up their whole lives

and moved south seeking 

treatment that might be lifesaving.

Now she is away from family and friends.

Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks to all of you that are so faithful

in praying and/or sending 

healing thoughts and wishes out.

You are 

THE BEST!

Love to you-

Hope to be back with some

FUN STUFF 

in a bit.

Got some 

NEWS

for you!!!

BACK WITH A PRAYER REQUEST---

You KNEW something

would drag me back

to blogging

didn't you?

Well, it is my dear friend, 

JETTIE.

I know you won't believe this

looking at that baby face

but she is in her 70s!

YES.SHE.IS

(disgusting, isn't it to look that young at that age)

Once again she is having surgery

tomorrow morning

on her hip for an infection

that has never fully cleared up.

I believe this is her 

SEVENTH SURGERY

on her hip-in about a year's time.

This time they are taking the

hip replacement part out

and putting in an antibiotic 'spacer'.

I believe that will be in for about

SIX WEEKS OR SO

and then she will have another

surgery!

Please pray for a successful surgery

AND 

for her spirits.

I can't begin to imagine how

discouraging this must be.

If you are NOT a person that prays

please wing good thoughts

and healing wishes her way.

I have other requests coming up

but needed to get this one out today.

Thank you all so much!

This is such a 

GREAT GROUP-

You all have no idea how special

YOU are!

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED NEW YEAR

I hope you have had a wonderful

2019!

If, like some of us,

your 2019 

was less than perfect,

I hope that 

2020

brings us health and happiness.

See you on a more regular basis

SOON!

Love to all my blogging friends~

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I want to wish

each and every one of you

a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

You all are the reason

I continue to blog.

Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you for your visits.

Thank you for your comments.

But most of all-

Thank you for being YOU!

I will be taking a break over the holidays

to spend time with family.

I hope all of you have

SOMEONE WONDERFUL

in your life to spend the holidays with-

a family member (or several),

a sweetheart, a spouse,

or even a friend that you love.

God bless you & Merry Christmas.

I will see you all after the first

of the year.

I don't know where the tree image is from-

it is off of Pinterest.

If it is your image-

thank you so much!

SOCKS & MITTENS TO WRAP AT THE LAST MINUTE?

You know how there

are mundane things like

SOCKS 

that need to be wrapped?

And sometimes

you don't want to just

stick them in box

with a bow on it.

Right?
With a little extra work
you can make a really
CUTE SOCK PRESENTATION!

I shared this idea two or three years ago
but thought it is worth a repeat
with wrapping season upon us.

Look! Here's a peek!

Want to know how I did it?

Here we go~

First you must get a sock..

well, make it a pair because

one sock won't work for

MOST people.

How about something like

these-

Cute, huh?

Then you must find some of

those short peppermint sticks.

You can buy them
or just chew the hook off candy canes.

Then let the

peppermint stick

SNEAK UP ON

the SOCK!

Before you can say

Alla-ka-zam-whoheebobster-helloworld

that peppermint stick

has jumped into the sock

and worked its way down

into the toe.

Can you see it there?

I've pinched it to make it stay

and now I am gonna roll

that little sucker up

into what I like to call

THE SOCK ROLL.

Well, GREAT, we have a

SOCK ROLL.

Now~ what the heck do we do with that?

Welllllll....

There's another kinda roll

lying around my house

cuz I've been saving them.

Used toilet paper rolls.

No..No..Not used toilet paper..

Used up empty rolls.

They look like this when they are naked.

Don't worry about that little bit of

white tissue left-you won't see it soon.

Find some foil based wrapping paper.

Foil works best because you can

bend the edges down and you

don't have to glue/tape it

unless you want to go tape crazy.

Wrap the foil paper around

that roll leaving about 1/3"

extending over each end.

Simply bend the paper down

so that it overlaps the edge of the roll.

You will not see this when it is

done but you can glue/tape it 

if you like.

Then..

Sneak up on those socks and

stuff them in the roll.

A roll in a roll.

I'm just keeping myself rolling here!;>)

Remember you won't see this at the end.

Then, take some sweet tissue paper

and cut an 18" x 18" piece~

or thereabouts.

Starting at one end,

roll that baby up and then

twist the ends so that it

looks like a big old fat

piece of taffy.

Laffy Taffy!

Now is that cute, or what?

I only need to tie a bit of ribbon

around the twist and I'm done.

And, when it's unwrapped

they will see the shiny foil roll

and NOT this..

Cuz the only place we

REALLY want to see THAT

is in the bathroom....

And we don't even really want

to see it here because that

would mean that someone

like MyHero..

not pointing fingers here but it

has happened

has used the last piece on

the roll

 and neglected to replace

it and there is none to be found

making me want to scream

bad words...naughty words...

Right-

Now get rolling and wrapping

cuz it's DECEMBER and 

Christmas Is Coming!

And I'll just say a little prayer for you

to have to go to the bathroom

a whole lotta times

(if you need empty rolls

to wrap your socks)

cuz I am just nice like that!;>)

Have fun getting going--

You're welcome!

USE THOSE BEAUTIFUL CARD BOXES AS GIFTS (WITH A TWIST)

I have done a post about this before

but I wanted to do it again

just in case you need a

Little sumthin/sumthin to take along

to give as a little gift.

AND you can use those beautiful boxes

that Christmas cards come in---

you know the ones that are so pretty

you don't want to throw them out.

Here is a use for them.

It's the sweetest little gift ever!

This is 

THE EASIEST HOMEMADE

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

ever.

I wish I could tell you where

I got the recipe but I can't remember.

Here's how to take the box below
and turn it into a 

special gift.

Don't you hate to throw them away

because they have such pretty

"faces"?

They make wonderful little

Candy Boxes.

Open the box and line it with tin foil.

Butter the tin foil.

Then make this:

EASY PEASY PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

In pan over medium heat melt

2 sticks of butter

When melted stir in 

1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy.

Like this.

Stir in one teaspoon REAL vanilla.

Add 3 cups CONFECTIONERY SUGAR

(not granulated)

(That old tin scoop belonged to my Mom-Good Housekeeping 1954)

I beat it quickly with a hand mixer

(it sets up fast) 

and then pour it into the 

buttered foil lined box.

Put it in the fridge to harden

and as soon as it sets up

lift it out and wrap it in 

parchment paper,

then wrap it with a piece

of ribbon and place it

back in the box.

 I pick up odd knives all year here and there
and include one in each box.
Or you can buy real knives at
Wallyworld for about 59 cents each.

The fudge stays fresh
until they cut it.

Put the lid on and it presents

like this when opened.

 Recipe:

SMOOTH AND EASY

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

2 sticks butter

1 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups confectionery sugar

In saucepan:

Melt butter

Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.

Use hand mixer (or mix by hand)
and quickly

mix sugar in. It sets up fast.

Place in tinfoil lined box and

set in fridge until hard.

This is the smoothest peanut

butter candy I have ever made.

This recipe makes two card boxes 

full OR 1 8x8 buttered pan.

It's quick, easy and just
a sweet little surprise.

Save a few pieces for your friends.

 Let them eat this while you sip

black coffee or diet Coke.

Remember...

The fatter THEY get the 

THINNER YOU LOOK

next to them!

It's nice to have some

HEALTHY SNACKS 

this time of year, too.

Have a GREAT DAY...

I will be finishing up a couple of 

Christmas gifts tonight and then

I AM DONE!!!-
Well, except for cooking, baking, washing, ironing, cleaning, scrubbing,disinfecting,
need I go on?????

CALGON--TAKE ME AWAY...

for all of you youngsters...

that is an old ad for relaxing 

in a bathtub!

(which I used to do while floating a

plastic bowl of M&Ms in the tub

while four kids were screaming

outside the door)...

now THOSE were the days!!!!

Happy Tuesday!!!