Anyone else caught in the January Doldrums? I just can't seem to get motivated to do anything. I am still eyeing the last of the Christmas decorations and wondering where the gumption to take them down is going to come from. At least I have the Christmas tree down! I can't see decorating for spring, which is a good 3 months away up here in the bitter north. I am already sick of the snow so decorating with snowmen and winter themes leaves me "cold". I have just begun working on a few new projects for etsy (a sneak peek is above) but it's going very slowly. Next week I start a second job that will seriously hamper getting any of these things done. I need to find the energy/motivation somewhere fast! Anyone got some to spare?

A little kindness

A paper journal made for me by my daughters
Blogging has so many positive rewards, so many wonderful kind people who lift you up with their comments and some who even become good friends across the miles. I have been blessed that I haven't encountered any of the bad comments yet. Well, I have had a few of the hijackers who put links to their V**gra advertisements in my comments. What's up with that? (no pun intended) Yuk. But overall it's all been sunshine and roses here at the cottage. Not so for some of my other favorite bloggers. I have seen bloggers pack up and take their beautiful blogs offline because some nasty person had to shoot them down. The world is full of people who will tell you your idea is stupid or selfish or crazy. They will tell you that you will fail or you aren't good enough or "who do you think you are? someone special!?" Really, the sad little lives that some people live. And I'll tell you this, they are always anonymous. Always. They may have google I.D.'s and "names" but when you follow it back it leads to a blank page. And that pretty much sums it up. What are they looking for? Why do they do it? I'll tell you, they want your reaction. I can almost guarantee that they will come back to see if they got to you. Will you mention their comment? Will you try to refute it? If you do anything but hit the delete button on their comment they win . They got what they wanted. They brought you down. You have made their sad little day. But hey girls (and guys if there are any reading out there) your blog is YOURS. You don't ever have to let a snarky comment see the light of day. To hit the delete button and send it into oblivion and never mention it again is the only weapon you have against the flamers. Sure, the comment hurts, but think about it, you don't know this person, they hide beind a cloud of anonymity. They aren't your friend. And for every snarky comment you get, there are so many kind and loving people who appreciate your efforts and your blogs. Our blogs belong to us. They are completely under our control, they are our expression, our forum, our artistic outlet. Don't allow someone to hijack that and bring you down. Just. hit. delete.

I know, I have been MIA this week. I am just now getting the Christmas decorations packed away. A full week with the funeral of an old dear friend and a visit from my brother for a few days, sending Victoria back to school:>(, just a million things to do. I need to get back in the groove. I need all these chores to magically be done (Where are those Christmas elves when you need them!?) I will see you soon. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I had over 100 entries in my google reader this morning, I'm catching up on visits too! See you soon.

A sweet update...

Look what I got for Christmas! in the spirit of handmade gifts this year, dear husband did a little beadboard backsplash project in the kitchen and I couldn't be happier. We remodeled the kitchen about 16 years ago. When we moved to this little cottage as newlyweds, there was no kitchen to speak of. A few floor to ceiling built ins from the 40's was it. No counter top, nothing. We finally remodeled the kitchen after years of make do and as it happens with so many DIY projects, some of the details never got done. Namely, the backsplash. So many things have needed to be worked on over the years (we doubled the size of the house, by ourselves, while having children, attending school and sweetheart working 50 hours a week!) that the details have suffered. I mentioned that I would love some beadboard for a backsplash and that is one of the things I got for Christmas! Thank you darling! I hurried and took some photos while the counters were cleared, lol!

I love how bright and cheery and finished it all looks. Now I step back and imagine the cabinets painted white and a beautiful new color on the walls, or maybe a fantastic sage green wallpaper with lush cabbage roses! Oops, guess you opened a can of worms honey:>) I think I'll enjoy just dreaming about what to do until spring. Isn't that part of the fun?

Happy New Year

A blank slate can be a scarey thing. I know, you are all expecting a post about resolutions (I don't make them), or a new beginning. Am I the only one who wakes up and says, "hey this feels exactly the same as last year so far!?" Kind of like your birthday when you really don't feel a whole new number. Did the first day of 30 feel different than the last day of 29? So here I am. The kids are gone, one to work, one to a friends house, the hubby is working on a project, (beadboard backsplash in the kitchen, looks great:>) and I have the day ahead of me and I don't feel like doing a thing. I am not used to being unproductive. I think about the year ahead and wonder what it will bring. How will I make each moment count? What changes are ahead? Kind of like being handed a clean sheet of paper and being asked to write. How long do you stare at the whiteness, the possibilities, until you mar it with your pencil? So, maybe I'll grab a cup of coffee and an old movie and savor the blankness of today. I don't get many days like this, no demands, no projects, no work. A blank sheet of paper. I think I'll start writing tomorrow.