New Craft Room!

(Table before I put all my stuff on it) Notice the huge lazy susan on the left-hand side---it holds a ton of stuff!)

I had a hutch and a big kitchen table with 2 leaves in it as my studio. This sat in my living room, which is large. However it took about 1/3 of the living room to house all my stamping stuff. Plus the huge table was FULL of stuff and not efficient, as it was hard to reach all the stuff on the back side of the table. It AWAYS looked cluttered. Dean built screens for me to block it off from view when company came over. That was ok for awhile. But then I just got tired of always having screens up and/or the clutter!!

So he built me a long craft table for the back bedroom. I thought I wouldn't need the hutch any more------but I really did, and we moved that back there too. We took out all the furniture except for the Q-sized bed, and 2 night stands. We added the new craft table and the hutch. It actually works out quite well. The long narrow table is much more efficient, and he added another shelf on the wall to house more "stuff". I love it!!! He even built in a corner shelf for the new flat-screen tv I'm getting for Christmas to fit in that spot.

I also use an ordinary-size lazy-susan to hold all my pens, pencils, markers, and colored pencils. Oh----the living room looks huge now!!! I love it.

OUR NEW ADDITIONS!

This is Max---the gold male, and Cally, the female calico Manx cats we have adopted. They are not like traditional breeds. After much research we have found out that besides having no tails, they are the friendliest breed and most like dogs, than any other breed. We have had them 2 weeks, and they aready come when they are called, and listen to the word NO. They are about 10 weeks, and love to sit in our laps. Every time we sit down, they come running and jump in our laps. They like to"snuggle" which is a joy to us. They have double fur and are very "round" cats and are broader in the chest. They have tiny little voices and like to talk. They are not fully developed until they are about 5, and live to be 18-20 years. We are just so enjoying them, even though they are exploring and getting into things. Aren't they cute?

DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE by Isabel Allende

Just finished this wonderful book of historical fiction. I wished there had been just a few more words at the end----or an epilogue! This book was translated from Spanish---the author was raised in Chili, but now lives in California. This is what the back of the book says:

"An orphan raised in Valparaiso, Chili by a Victorian spinster & her rigid brother, young vivacious follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. She enters a rough-and-tumble world whose newly arrived inhabitants are drivin mad my gold fever. A society of single men and prostitutes among whom Eliza moves---with the help of her good friend and savior, the Chinese doctor Tao Chi'en----California opens the door to a new life of freedom and independence for the young Chilean. Her search for the elusive lover gradually turns into another kind of journey, and by the time she finally hears news of him, Eliza must decide who her true love really is."

I learned a lot about this historical time while reading the book (I obviously never paid attention in school!), and was surprised that so many people from all over the WORLD came to California during this time. The biggest problems CA had during this time was the influx of foreigners, crime, and fires. (Gee---sounds, the same, huh?) Interesting reading and a good story.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

We had a WONDERFUL family dinner today with all the karps & karpettes. Brian deep-fryed a turkey---a first for us, and it was good. We had all the usual foods and watched a great movie: AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING (by Louisia May Alcott).

I feel truely blessed to have wonderful family here. I did miss my boys & their families, but I appreciate them when they are here.

For my wonderful grandchildren!!

I'm so very thankful for ALL of my family near and far.

For all my friends----the ones who live in Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, and Louisiana and the ones who live here.

For God and all He continues to teach me-----and for discernment re: His gifts.

For my two new little Manx kitties. (Max & Cally)

For being able to participate in all the hobbies I love to do so much.

For having an appreciative and loving husband.

For all the glorious and fun trips we took this year-----and all the people we were with along the way.

For great books to read----and the ability to still read and enjoy them.

For the ability and joy and pleasure in always learning new things.

I know there's more---that I'm not thinking of right at this moment. God's Grace is a wonderous thing. Thank you God.

THOUGHT ABOUT MY MOM

When I was born my mom was only a little under 17 yrs. older than me. We were destined to become "rivals" not by my choice. I remember when I was a "tween" watching her put on make-up and thinking-----"not me---I'll never do that". She was beautiful, and a C & W singer in my dad's band. She had a beautiful voice and looked like a movie star. Everyone loved her singing, and she even made a record once with the band. She played guitar also, and was always a "hit" at the many parties at our home and others. (My dad played accordian).

She had difficulty nurturing, and I now suspect had problems with depression. But in those days----you never spoke about it. Between the ages of 16 and 30 my mom had 5 live births, one stillborn baby, and 7 D & C's. Then she had a hysterectomy. I was 13 when this happened. Because my personality was more like my Dad's we got along better, and my mom resented this. I never understood all of the physical problems she was going through at the time. My job was to take care of the kids.

I remember resenting her because she wore mini-skirts and "gogo" boots and had her hair done every week into big beehives for performing in the band. I didn't think it was right that she try and look like "younger" people. She was 30!!! And my mom. Plus I had to stay home and baby-sit.

When she and I got older we became friends of a sort. Her social life was always most important to her----while I became a mom and a wife and learned to do all the things she didn't do, like crocheting, knitting, embroidery, needlepoint. I went to all my kids activities at school and tryed so hard NOT to be like her. Then when my kids grew older and left home, my husband and I moved to Florida (for work) and lived closer to my folks. My mom was so very happy to have me there and was hoping for a fabulous freindship and companion. I failed her. I was nothing like her I thought, and didn't want to do all the socializing things she did. Although we did shop, and play cards and I'm very grateful for that and that we did have that time together. When my daughter moved to be near me, I turned all of my attention to her and preferred spending time with her and her babies when they came along. My mom always resented this.

By this time she didn't play in the band anymore, and sad to say had become a very funtioning alchoholic (we never EVER talked about this in the family) and she had several other health problems. We had many many family functions where she attended but didn't stay long because alchohol was not the main attraction. My dad was the classic "enabler".

When my mom got sick they had moved back to Michigan full-time, and somehow she knew her time was short. We had an argument over something I now forget. She had a heart attack in December of 2001 and I flew or drove there 6 times over a period of 4 months and stayed several weeks each time until she died on May 5, 2002. I tried and tried to reconcile fully with my mom over all these weeks----and to have some good talks with her. It didn't happen. She was bitter about dieing, and wasn't always nice to me. She did say she would really miss not seeing the girls (Katie & Bekah) grow up.

Sometimes when I pass a mirror I see my mom staring back at me with a knowing look in her eyes. She knows I understand everything better now.....life......her. I wish I could tell her that.
But maybe she knows.

MUDDLEING THROUGH

life's little crises can be so irritating! When my youngest son James moved away from this area a few months ago, he adverdently messed up our mail. When he filled out the change-of-address form he marked the little box that said "whole family"!!! Thinking of course---HIS whole family, forgetting that his mom & dad still lived at this address. Chaos!!! We've been having trouble ever since.

At first our mail & BILLS went there, and he sent them back. Then some of OUR mail started going to him with HIS address (N. Carolina) on it. Bills were late b/c we didn't GET them, and lots of phone calls had to be made to various people. We are STILL having problems with this. I just want to scream! Last month I had to pay extra money----almost $20 ea. for the "service" of paying our bills on time OVER THE PHONE and I did it early so as NOT to have a late fee.... Yes, they charge for this----but I didn't want a late fee. Only they neglected to follow through on one of them, and so I got the late fee AND was then overdue!!! I had to call the "dispute" center and explain all of what happened and they THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR END!........... You can see I'm exasperated..... It's supposed to be "fixed" now, and all late charges taken off.

I think I even talked to India once during all these transactions.

My goal this year is to a pay off my credit card (I only have 1 with a balance) and then use it only for convenience with NO balance carried......EVER!

So sayeth Lynn.......

OH THE DAYS DWINDLE DOWN....

...TO A PRECIOUS FEW.....November....(song)

I think in music---ok, MARLEY & ME was a great book, and I think it will be a good movie. I really enjoyed it. It's great if you have pets, and even if you don't. Me---a non-cryer, cried (yes I did) reading this book. Really really good.

THE WEDNESDAY LETTERS by Jason F. Wright is a "fluff: book. If you like Nicholas Sparks, you will probably like this one. This is about a couple who coincidently die at the same time. When the kids come home, they find thousands of letters the Dad wrote to the Mom every Wednesday throughout their life. They all discover secrets that on one knew about their parents, and their family...... A good easy read.

Right now I'm reading another Jodi Picoult----very unlike the only other one I've read by her. I hope I like it as well as I did the other one. What I'm NOT doing is reading the book I'm supposed to be reading for Library Book Club: The Secret Life Of Owen Meany by John Irving. I tried several times to get into this book and as rare as it is for me-----I couldn't do it!! So I will have to pass on this one. If anyone out there has read it??? Let me know and tell me about it.

So Halloween is over (see pictures on my facebook!) and Thanksgiving is coming. I love fall. I love the holidays. I feel happy allllll the time.

OH----We had our Saints Day Party at church, and Katie wanted to dress up at the last minute, so she put together a costume to be St. Katherine. Sherri got out an old felt costume she had made previously for Noah, and adapted it for Caleb (the only other kiddo who wanted to dress up). They did discuss the Saints they were being, but she cautioned them they wouldn't win. She didn't even stay at the party to hear who did win, as she had to take Noah to be in his play (everyone should go see this play at JBU). 5 Judges all interviewed each child asking lots of questions about "who" they were (Saint-wise). So they called 4th place which I did think he had a chance at---then 3rd, 2nd, and yes----he won 1st Place and $50.00 and more importantly, a blue ribbon. He was so excited. Luckily I got pictures. Katie was indignant, as she pointed out---he doesn't even know how to SPEND $50.00!!!