MIA and Some Good Blog Advice

I've truly been MIA - Missing In Action - the last few days!

I attended a continuing education class for four days - two days here in town, two days spent driving back and forth to San Angelo.  (It's amazing how much sitting in a classroom for 8 hours a day can wear you out!)  The weekend sandwiched in between was taxing and the weather dreary.  So, all in all, the last few days were pretty exhausting, both emotionally and physically.

I spent most of today working on a new listing in the office and tomorrow is lining up to be rather busy, too. But, being busy is good for a Realtor - much better than the alternative!  Now, I'm resting up this evening with the pups gathered around me.  The relief of having that class behind me feels like a huge burden has been lifted and I can already feel my body beginning to relax and recover. I was able to sit down and clean up my e-mail Inbox and catch up a bit on Facebook and blog reading.  I really felt like I was missing out the last few days when I simply didn't have the time or the energy!

I am looking forward to the weekend and finishing up the new shelf project and painting furniture in the kitchen eating area!  The supplies are all sitting on the dining table, just waiting for me to get busy.  I refuse to put everything in the garage, out of the way, for fear that I will put off the project.  My twisted reasoning - that the clutter on the table, in full view of everyone who enters the house, will motivate me to get it done!  Hope to have some photos to share when we get that wrapped up. 

And just FYI - I've been reading alot of scary things about blogs on Blogger "simply disappearing".  Here is a link to a terrific post on backing up your blog to your harddrive -

Simply Klassic Home - BACK UP YOUR BLOG - NOW!!!

It contains some really good advice and direction on this issue! 

Now that we are past the midway point, how is your week shaping up?  Drop down to "comments" and leave me a note....I love hearing from you!

A Sad Day for Our Team....

Today is a hard day....difficult in a way that none of us ever wants to experience.....

Because one of our precious friends has passed from this world to the next. 

Unexpected.  Shocking.  Surreal.  Our broker pulled several of us agents who were attending a continuing education class at our local association office from class and broke the news to us that we had lost one of our "work family".  We only had a few minutes to compose ourselves before going back into class and trying to spend the next 7 hours focused on Real Estate.  When all we wanted to do was curl up and grieve the loss of one of the most cherished members of our team. 

Jody was a cancer survivor, a fighter and one of the classiest ladies in the world!  She had the most upbeat and positive outlook of anyone I have ever known.  She was at the home of her daughter, resting and recovering from a biopsy; she laid down for a nap and slipped peacefully to her place in the Heavenly Kingdom. 

Stovall Realtors' Facebook photo for October, Breast Cancer Awareness month - featuring our own "superstar" - Jody

Our tears are not for Jody, who is now in perfect health and communing with her Creator, but for our tremendous loss. 

And the thought that has taken firm root in my mind is that we simply never know when we will be called Home.  We never know when someone we love will leave this world.  Let us never take a single moment for granted!

Jody, I will miss you, pretty lady!  You have been an inspiration and encouragement to me and so many others.  I know that every moment in your new digs will be "just ducky"!  

Happy Hearts Day!!!

Valentines Day - perhaps the most ambivalent holiday on the calendar!  Love it?  Hate it?  Feeling a little lukewarm?

Eddie Dale and I "celebrated" a little early.  We had plans for dinner with friends on Saturday....so, we sort of celebrated then.  And, I had a closing yesterday, so we went out for dinner again last night and that was sort of a celebration.....

I think we're kinda pooped out on making a fuss over it this year.  I do have to say, though, that my sweetie did come through with the traditional roses on Saturday afternoon.  He made a quick run to the grocery store while I was working on the closet project and came home with these.....

Although they were already a bit weathered (the greenery was completely dried out and brittle), we salvaged the roses and put them in the living room to enjoy for a few days.  I love the deep red in the afternoon sun.....

Good job, Eddie Dale!

Wishing you all much love, happiness and fulfillment on this Valentines Day!

Closet Clean-up - Check!!!

Today was the day for the closet project!  Yippee!!!

I emptied my closet this morning and actually remembered to take "BEFORE" photos......

Oh, my, this IS embarrassing.  But, you have to see the BEFORE to appreciate the AFTER, right?

The floor was literally covered with "stuff" other than shoes.....is that really a dirty pillow down in the corner?  Yep, it was!  It found it's way to the dumpster, thank goodness!!!

The hangers were so tight I couldn't get them squeezed in there.....

Eddie got busy installing a new L-shaped shelf in the corner to increase storage space.  It was a pretty tight fit in there....but, he only had one mini melt-down.....

The dogs were petrified at all the noise and activity.  They huddled behind the bed on the other side of the room.

That piece of stained glass came out of the corner of the closet, too!

Meanwhile, I started working on the mountain of clothes that had to go back in the closet.  Sorta looks like a hurricane blew through the room, doesn't it?!?!?

Is that my bra hanging on the door knob?!?!?  Oh, well, all us girls do that.....

By the time I had gone through everything, this is the pile of unused hangers I ended up with....

Now, several hours later, I have everything put away and cleaned up.  Feeling so much better!!!

Plenty of room for hanging necklaces and nighties now

Much better!!!  Now that I can see the weights, let's see if I remember to use them!

The shelf is perfect for odd items that needed to be up off the floor.  A few baskets will help to organize this a bit better, but for now - I'm loving it!

There is definitely some tweaking to be done.  But, for now, I am reveling in the fact that I can actually slide the hangers on the rods....there's extra room to do that now!  By the way, anybody need some plastic hangers????  I've got a few to spare!

Feeling pretty good about checking this project off the "TO DO" list.  Hope you're having a productive weekend, too!

Picking Paint Colors....

It's looking like tomorrow is going to be "the day" when Eddie Dale helps me get my closet in shape by adding some new shelving.  The forecast is calling for a cold, wintery weekend - perfect for a project indoors.  So, this evening - or early in the morning, depending on how I manage to get my rear in gear - I will be emptying one side of my closet.  Completely emptying.....

My plan calls for going through every single item and weeding out before I put anything back in.  Ambitious, I know!  But, the organizing gurus tell us that if it hasn't been worn in the past year, it really must go.  And, so, I am setting my sights on putting back less than I take out.  We shall see how I do on that.....

Now, if I could just settle on the shade of "white" I want to paint the shelf we are going to build for the kitchen/dining area.....

There about a million choices when it comes to "white" and I am sure struggling with this decision.  Look at all these paint chips I picked up the other day when trying to decide what shade to paint the corner hutch and soon-to-be-constructed shelf....

Okay, I know there are some "khaki" shades in there....not white, at all....but so very pretty (perhaps I can work that color in somewhere else in the house???)

I have narrowed it down to these choices.......

Looking at this photo, I can see that "cottage linen" is nearly the exact same shade this piece was already painted....

As you can see, the green on the walls in this room is a rather "cool" color, with a bit of a gray undertone.  I love this peaceful shade, but want to avoid getting this room too gray and cool.  I'm really leaning towards the clean, neutral white of "wedding bells" (top left corner).  What do you think???

Hope to post some photos of the closet project, before/in progress/after, over the weekend....so stay tuned!

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch....

I've found a sister porch lover....Patrice at "Everyday Rurality".  She is hosting a chat on her farmhouse porch today, so I'm stopping by for a visit. 

Here are the questions we're chatting up this week.....

Stephanie asks, "What kind of competitions do you prefer to watch? Dancing, singing, or cooking?

I love to watch singing competitions - and by that, I mean shows like American Idol or The Voice.  I find myself holding my breath and hoping people hit the notes!  I feel so badly when they don't.  Occasionally, I will watch Dancing with the Stars, but I'd much rather listen to people sing!

My Kid's Mom asks, "Do you work? Are you retired? Are you a stay at home mom?
I stayed at home for 12 years when my kids were little, but I have never worked harder in my life that when I was a stay-at-home mom.  I have worked outside the home most of the time since my youngest started 4th grade.  I am a Realtor and my hours are somewhat flexible - it works perfectly for me!

Empty Nester asks, "What's your favorite thing about winter?
Well, honestly, Winter is my least favorite season.  But, I do still get excited when the snow falls; and I love wearing warm sweaters and boots....and I have a couple of fringed shawls that I am rocking this year!

Homeschool on the Croft asks, "What do you love most about where you live?"
I love that all of my family lives nearby, here in the same town - all three of my grown children, my two grandkids and both of my parents.  Plus, I love that I live in the same neighborhood where I grew up - only 4 blocks from my childhood home.  What I love specifically about the house we I live is the wonderful natural light we get here....lots of southern exposure! 

Did you or your children(grandchildren too) ever have a dollhouse?

I had a wonderful doll house when I was a child.  It was a pressed tin model with the decor and fixtures painted on.  It had two levels and a lovely little "flagstone" rooftop patio out to one side; the style was very colonial.  It looked just like this one that I found on Ebay....don't even ask how much they go for now......

      

My sister and I spent countless hours moving the little plastic furniture around inside; maybe this is where my love of rearranging furniture started!  Ya think?!?!? 

A big THANK YOU to Patrice inviting us all to this link-up chat on the porch!  If you haven't checked out her blog yet, GO DO IT!!!