Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

I’ve had a pretty good string of luck this year.  Yup, 2009 has been all right!

First, I won this spectacular sweater in the first annual Stupid Cupid Valentine’s Day party & white elephant gift exchange.

I'm too sexy for this blog

I know you are SO jealous..

Then I went to the local farmer’s market near my new home on opening weekend, and I won the Harvest Basket.  This meant that the following weekend, I could swing by and each vendor would donate something.  I came away with fresh rhubarb, eggs, a caramel apple, 2 tomato plants, and some flowers.  Yum.

And just last week, I entered the weekly giveaway on The Womens Colony.  (Seriously, if you’re not reading this blog/webzine you are missing out.)  I almost didn’t even bother to read the post with this week’s contest, and last week’s winner because I figured that I didn’t win.  But, hey, there’s always this week’s colonist to check out, right?  I was completely shocked when I saw my name listed as the winner of these sweet coffee cozies:

I won all three of these! Plus a 4th, holiday-themed one!

Really – I can’t wait to get my hands on them (literally)!  I also can’t wait to give some away as gifts for a few coffee-addicted friends.  The tree-hugger in me completely agrees with Ashley (the creative mind – and hands – behind these gems) when she says:

Instead of using a boring & wasteful cardboard sleeve at your local coffee shop, brighten your cup with a unique cozy!

Please go check out her Etsy shop to see all of the styles she has on there – and pick one (or three!) out for yourself at One In The Hand.  Thank you, Ashley!

In bloom

One of my greatest sources of simple joy lately is my back yard. And my front yard, too.

Everyday I get to discover something new that is popping up.  New plants, new perennials, and maybe even a few weeds that are kinda pretty.

First came the periwinkle border with its lovely purple flowers.  Next were the crocus, the daffodils and the fern.  Oh. My. Word – those ferns are getting HUGE!     I’m having so much fun peeking in my yard to see what surprise awaits.  As soon as I find where I place my camera connector – I’ll have to upload some pics.

One of the most pleasant arrivals are my lilacs.  I have 3 on my property (two lavender, one white) and another purple one that borders my yard & my neighbors.  Lilacs have always been one of my favorites.  They bloom right around my birthday each year and I love. Love. LOVE the way the smell.  Yum.  I have a few jelly jars and bud vases around the house right now with purple and white blooms in them.  They add so much cheer – and my place smells great.

Imagine a whole, big, windy vine of these! photo by ladycarolina19 - taken from photobucket.

But – here’s the real winner so far this spring:  I have two wisteria.  I’ve never seen them before, but the neighbors told me about how pretty they were, and how great they smelled.  One is way out on the corner of my lot, but the other is right outside my family room doorwall.  Each afternoon they are getting more full and more lovely.  And the perfume – Wow!  I can’t get over it.  So sweet and rich.  I just discovered it tonight and inhaled deeply a few times.

I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings….

Unplugged

I’ve been feeling a major disconnect the last few months. Now that the winter is over – and the sun is finally blessing us with it’s presence – I’m hoping that this feeling will ebb away.

But it’s not just the weather.  I feel like I’ve been so busy with all sorts of activities – but not really plugged in.  I’m around people, but all alone.  And I’ve been completely unable to find time, and more importantly, the words to share on this site for close to 1/2 a year.

I realize that I’m in a stage of “pruning” in my life.  God is really cutting things out that I don’t need.  And even things that are good.  Many of my friends are moving on to new stages in their lives.  Beth – my constant companion – has moved to Venezuela for 3 years.  Melissa leaves this weekend for 6 months in Vermont and Colorado.  Kelly, my best friend for over 20 years just got engaged, and therefore won’t be moving back in the area like she had planned.  Kathrin just got engaged as well.

And for those of my good friends who might be more available (and on the same continent) – our schedules just haven’t fit.  I’ve also been spending a lot of time lately with family in town (or going out of town to see them.)  When I emerge back into my social sphere – I feel more than a little out of the loop.  I find that I’m spending more time alone then I have in a long time, and it’s a hard adjustment.

On a plus side, I’m getting some things done around my new house.  Not any big changes yet, but baby steps each week.  I now have a guest bed room.  And some flowers.  I think painting some of the all-white walls is next.

And, hopefully, some updating on this site as well.  I miss the time I spent flexing a little creative muscle, and visiting my online friends.

Here’s to Spring – a season of new beginnings.

I’m In!!

Last Friday, I took possession of my new house at closing! Not one to waste time, I rolled up to the closing with a packed car. The closing was only a mile away from my place.
I then took another load over from my parents house (less than 3 miles away). Next I went home and grabbed some more stuff as well as my cat.

I spent last Friday camping out at my new place in my sleeping bag. I just couldn’t wait to be here!!!
The rest of my stuff came over in a U-Haul and some friends’ cars on Saturday.
Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of boxes, cleaning, and figuring out just how I fit into this new space.
More pics and updates to follow!

2 Things Post… 2 Days until my move!

Because my life is a chaotic whirlwind of packing, and preparing to make the biggest purchase of my life in Just. Two. Days.    And because I have been horrible at posting on this site.

I’m going to take an easy-cheesy meme from my facebook friend and use it as my post today.  Because, today, 2 is the magic number!

 

Two names you are called that are not your real name:

1.JoAnne

2.Gina

 

Two things you’re wearing now:

1. green sweater

2. fun, stripey socks

 

What are 2 of your favorite things to do?

1. read

2. watch movies

 

Two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. To be in my new house already! 

2. a relationship

 

Two things you did yesterday:

1. packed

2. packed some more

 

Two things you ate yesterday:

1. Paczkis

2. Hersheys Kisses 

(Note they are both plural.  But I’m okay with that because it was Fat Tuesday and I gave up chocolate for lent)

 

Two people you last talked to:

1. Sarah

2. John from U-Haul.

 

Two things you are doing tomorrow:

1. Small Group! 

2. more packing? :c 

 

Two favorite holidays:

1. Thanksgiving

2. New Year’s

 

Two favorite drinks:

1. Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper

2. Bell’s Oberon with an orange slice. mmmm 

 

Two people no longer alive that you’d like to talk to:

1. Nana Alice 

2. Nana Marie

Anticipation

So…. one of the things I’ve been busy with lately, is my new favorite pastime: House Hunting.

I’ve fully allowed myself to indulge in my voyeurism over the past two months.  It’s so interesting to see how other people live, how they decorate and what their style is.  It’s also fascinating to see just how some people abuse perfectly good homes.

Given the Michigan economy – many of the houses I looked at were foreclosures.  God bless my realtor – she suffered through some horrible viewings with me.  One of the places smelled so bad that I didn’t make it past the front hallway.  Most were colder on the inside than it was outside.  Brrr!  I am truly grateful for Linda’s patience, advice and all of the time she spent looking through listings for ones that I might like.

 

And her hard work paid off.  She found one last week that she suggested to me.  I was on the fence about looking at it – but decided to give it a try at the end of our day together.  I stepped in the front door at 6pm on Saturday night – and spent close to an hour there.   Went back on Sunday to the Open House to talk to the listing agent,  see the house better in daylight and to check out my “competition”.   Monday afternoon I put the bid in.  Tuesday afternoon the terms were agreed to by myself and the seller.

And in 22 days I get the keys to this place:

My new home!

Sabbatical

I’ve been taking a bit of a sabbatical from this site the last two months. Life has been chaotic and dramatic and I had to devote all my energy to just staying afloat…

But i hope to get back on here regularly soon – I have some drafts in the works and am looking forward to reconnecting with my blogging community!

Thankful

It just seems silly that there’s only one day each year where we focus on all that we have to be thankful for.  When, really, with all that we have

Some of the things that I am thankful for:

My awesome dad and mom. At the beach this summer with my church

My parents.  (there’s a story behind this photo – I’ll share it soon!)

Mwah!

My sister – she’s the coolest chick I know.  She lives far away now and I miss her something terrible!  She also has a great fiance,  but he’s camera-shy….

nap time!!

My cat, Puppy.  He’s a snuggler.

She also takes great self portraits!

Most of all, my niece.  Who is the best thing that ever happened to our family.  Besides me.

Of course, rounding out the list are: friends, my job, my health.  Each day is a gift – and I am learning to embrace gratitude daily.

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday, and continue to keep an attitude of thankfulness beyond today.

McDonald’s Myrrh Milkshakes

‘Tis the season to be jolly – and to enjoy a McDonald’s Egg Nog milkshake.  I rarely go to McD’s – but I love the Shamrock shake and the Egg Nog one too.   However, I’m not a big fan of the new “Triple Thick” recipe.  I like mine “Single Thick” thank you very much.  I just have to work too hard to get the new one into my mouth. 

 

Let’s get something straight, here:  I ain’t drinking these things for the excersise.  If you know me – my mouth gets enough excersising with all of the talking and wild facial gestures I make each day.  Sometimes I just want to relax and enjoy some egg nog goodness.  And, oh boy, is it good!

I had an online fun conversation with my facebook friends yesterday on the subject. Here’s what went down with E’s status update yesterday afternoon:

EP: E thinks Jesus must be proud of egg nog ice cream being associated with his birth.

SL: Wasn’t Jesus born in the summer? Eggnog ice cream makes all kinds of sense.

Me: I like to think that Jesus is a big fan of ice cream, personally.

EP: that’s what I’m saying… I’d be proud to have eggnog ice cream associated with my birth.  If there was a fourth wise man, I’m sure he would have brought some.  I’m kind of assuming a lot here, though.

Me: The only reason they didn’t bring it was because they didnt’ have a cooler.  So they substituted with myrrh.

SL: Or maybe myrrh is just a fancy pants bible word for ice cream.  I don’t know you, julianne, but i appreciate your theology.

 

The moral here is Triple-Thick, Single-Thick or what-have-you… I hope you have a chance to enjoy one of the simple pleasures of the holiday season.

Dear Malibu

Dear Malibu,

I know these last few years have been a little rough on you.  I want to apologize right now for the lack of care and time I’ve invested into you.  I have not been holding up my end of the bargain most days.

I mean, I’ve been there when it comes to the big stuff – the trips to the “ER” and such.  But there have been a lot of missed opportunities for me to show you small kindnesses.  To brighten your day.  Like issues of personal hygiene:  I know you can’t take care of that stuff yourself, and I could be doing a LOT more to help you in that area.

What I’m saying is, can’t we just get along?  I’ll make more of an effort on my end, if you’ll just meet me halfway.

For example:

I could give you a good vacuuming, and you could maybe start a little easier on these cold winter mornings.

I could unload some of the junk from your trunk and you could maybe get your heater to work a little better?

If I emptied out a lot of the unneccessary items from the back seat, could you make that annoying “tick-tick-tick” clicking sound stop?

 

My friend, the possibilities are endless.  We’ve been together for for eight years, and 150K miles.  There have been peaks (you are totally paid off!) and valleys (numerous trips to the shop – where they know me by name now).  But I’m not ready to give up on us.   Not after so many good times.

Remember when we first met in that lot?  You were the most beautiful thing I had seen.  :0)  My first real automobile, all in my name.  Shiny & new! Remember that road trip to the east coast?  How about all those visits to Virginia beach?  Heading up to beautiful northern Michigan – I know: better in the summer and fall; a little rougher in winter storms. 

And let’s put a few things behind us.  I’m willing to forgive you for the time your fuel pump went out on my way to work. In February.  When it was -3 degrees and I had to wait on the side of the road for almost 2 hours with no heat.

Can you find it in your heart to  forgive me for putting you through that unfortunate incident with the dog – who was chronically getting ill in your backseat…. out of both ends?   Trust me when I tell you that hurt me more than it hurt you.

We have a good thing going.  Let’s keep it that way.

Love,

Juli