Genealogy and Pinterest

I have this blog, that I barely understand how to operate, and then, there is what I do, which is what some refer to as work--and that's genealogy research--I'm trying to combine the two here but tis hard to do. Then, there's Pinterest, which is where I can have some fun and also combine both! My love of gardening, genealogy, scrapbooking, blogging, cooking, baking, companion animals, crafting and all kinds of things--I wish I had been the one to come up with the Pin Your Interest! Ha! If you've made anything, whether it's a craft, or wreath, or special dish, or painting or house idea from Pinterest, how about sharing it on here with me?!

Wintry Nights and Spring around the corner!

Daffodils are pushing up and starting to bloom in my home gardens. Makes me excited for spring--know it's coming!

This little daffodil is trying hard--coming up thru the hole in this tiny flowerpot!

My friend, Mimi, is curled up tight on the end of the bed--she's my companion on cold wintry nights!

Gypsy is happy to have the suitcase bed these days--she's been a 'good girl' and gets to sleep in the kitchen without the crate!

Lulu enjoys sleeping in on cold wintry nights.

Rainbows and Promises--a daughter's memories

It's already the 11th of January, and would have been my Dad's 90th birthday had he been living. He passed away in August of 2004, just about a week or more before Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Coast region--what a mess it was, we were reeling from his death, and learning to cope without him, and all of a sudden, there were bigger problems on the horizon. Just when life seems to hand you all you can seem to stand, something or someone appears to come along and yank the rug out from under you--that's how we all have felt at one time or another--I just try to look for the good in every little thing no matter what, and this morning as I was preparing to go to work, decided I needed a little bit more pick me up than a bowl of grits--so headed towards BK first for a biscuit, and wow!! I was feeling down and sad, and looked up and there was the prettiest rainbow! Just arcing overhead! So beautiful and I thought of my Dad smiling down on me today! Just like Our Heavenly Father promises to see us thru the dark times as well as the bright times, that little rainbow seemed to beckon to me and say--hey, Sherry, it's all gonna be all right! I promised you!
If I can figure out how to post my photo on here, I'll post it for ya'll to enjoy too, and remember the promises God gives us everyday!

Happy New Year!~

My goodness, where has the time flown!? It's New Year's Eve here in Southern Alabama--a chilly end to the year of 2012! A wonderful Christmas spent with my children--and grandchildren, sisters, nephews, and families. We enjoyed being with Mama at her home, and next door at mine during the Christmas holiday, as it extended past into the weekend. Hated to see my kids leave--it was so nice to have them all at the house, sitting around the supper table at the same time!
I'll post some pics later today of the family gatherings, I hope! A clean slate, a New Year--Happy New Year to you all!

7 days and counting! Oh MY!!

I've simply not had time to scribble much lately!! But I've wanted to, and I've missed all of my blogs I follow so very much! I promise to get busy after the holidays--maybe! Christmas is coming--such joy! Joy and Promise! I love decorating for Christmas--putting up beloved Christmas decorations that bring a delighful smile to my face--memories of the children all being at home, tucked into bed at night, sugarplums all..seeing their faces on Christmas mornings--riding a new bicycle or playing with a new doll--the time sure has flown past--now I watch for the joy on little ones faces again, but these faces belong to grandsons! I hope each one of you find your Christmas JOY!! Let us celebrate the true meaning of Christmas--when Love came to us in the birth of our Savior! Merry Christmas!

Twenty-two Days and Counting

Over the last month, on facebook, we'd been stating thanks for each day of November--it was interesting to see what mattered most to us. Most of us seemed to be thankful for God, our health and our families; our jobs & friends; and so much that goes on everyday around us. In doing this, I'd posted my last Thankfulness for the month, and realized how truly blessed we have been. I decided to start something myself--it was 24 days and counting when I thought to myself, what can I do to make each day "count for something", so that's where the idea to do something every day to 'count for something'--whether it's for yourself or someone else--make that day count!
Over the weekend, instead of doing some things I needed to do, I found myself decorating a couple more trees in my old country farmhouse! I decide to take a snippet of a tree--the top of a large one--that was in the garage attic--and decorate it for my kitchen--I'd always wanted one in the kitchen! I'm definitely not through with it, but placed some tiny graters, some spoons, and cookie cutters on it so far. Take a look and tell me what you think--it's only about 4 ft but I placed it in my pickle urn, surrounded it with lights and topped it off with a couple of wooden utensils tied in ribbon. I love it!

Since I was having so much fun, and had other ornaments that didn't belong on the kitchen tree nor the Santa Tree; I decided to find me another tree--so found the one that used to be out on the front porch, in a little decorative urn, and found the perfect spot for it, plus the perfect theme: Music Room Tree--it's on top of the piano in the front foyer and is in perfect harmony with everything there! It is a joy to play the piano and see the twinkling lights; the musical themed ornaments; the cardinals too! I'm planning to roll some sheet music and use it too! See what you think of the Music Room Tree! Come sing Christmas Carols with me sometime!

The Clarinet possibly belonged to my sister, Maureen--as we all three played Clarinet in the EHS Marching Band--along with the tree and the clarinet is a crystal bowl filled with ceramic 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments; and a reproduction violin; hanging on the wall is a framed photo of a covered bridge and the sheet music, "Amazing Grace", my favorite hymn; and a photo of the EFUMC church back in the days of the hitching posts. It's so much fun to decorate every room in this old country farmhouse--just so you can experience a bit of Christmas Magic wherever you find yourself!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas, everywhere we look..

I saw this idea on Pinterest, and it tweaked my thinking cap--so found this sweet little snowman at home; brought him to enjoy Christmas in the Archives--and taking some of the tourist pamplets I promote for Heritage Tourism--created my own scenario...see what you think....

Then, going with the theme I've adopted for the Canebrake Oral History Series: A Window into Our Collective Past--Christmas Memories Shared: I chose a Christmas from my childhood in the 1950s era and decorated our pre-lit tree with red, silver and white ornaments; a paper garland made from my scrapbooking cardstock inventory; some silver ball garland and will find the star for the top.

Underneath the tree, I'm planning to place a red felt tree skirt; until then, I'm using a checkboard rug; a dolly in a crib; a blackboard; some sleds...to go along with the lyrics to the most popular Christmas song: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas. I created a songsheet with part of the lyrics--will borrow a pair of skates and always can find a book, especially in a library.

If you're in the 'neighborhood' of our library, would love for you to drop in over the Christmas Season--enjoy the trees that will be found from the top to the bottom; the garlands of joy we've spread from end to end; and perhaps pick up a book for reading; an audio tape or book on CD for your listening pleasure; check out the archives for some family research to share with your kith and kin during the holidays; or just visit with us--we'd love to have you spend Christmas with us. You might enjoy our little Christmas Village.