Happiness is New Flooring

Years ago there was a song that started, "Happiness is two kinds of ice cream." It listed lots of things that make us happy and then concluded that happiness is really having someone to love. I've been going on and on on Facebook about how happy I am to be getting new floors on the main story of our house. But it's been a while since I made a blog entry. I had loaned my camera to my brother and got it back today, and I somehow feel it better if I have pictures in a blog entry. Then too, our computer has been in pieces for a few days while we had carpeting installed in two of the bedrooms. (Thank you, Curt LaClaire, for getting to us so quickly. We love the carpeting!) So here I am, realizing I've been so crazy over the flooring that it escaped my mind that what I am really happiest about is having a house that makes us proud to live in.

So here I took a picture of our dining room, showing how the table looks with the new floor.

This is a corner of our bedroom, also with laminate flooring. It has three functions: book reading, TV watching, and falling asleep. I'm trying to eliminate the last function by setting my phone alarm to wake me if I fall asleep in the recliner.

Here are Ginger and baby Janice enjoying the recliner together. Ginger, Janice, and Kayla came over this afternoon. Kayla spent the evening with her dad, Steve, while we hung out until it was time to pick Kayla up and take them all home to St Paul.

The big gorilla in the room is my quilting and craft area. Most of the stuff is downstairs in my new craft area in boxes. But I keep finding pieces upstairs as well. After I get the upstairs in a semblance of order, I will tackle it. I will separate it into KEEP, TOSS, and GARAGE SALE. Initially, I was going to simply toss or give away, but I'm feeling up to joining the Benton Street Garage Sale next June. I have more than fabic and craft things to sell.

There is always something to look forward to!!!

And the beat goes on, and the beat goes on. . . .

My brother Jerry is borrowing my camera, so again I have no recent pictures to offer. He is taking pictures of his apartment. He says this is probably his last picture-taking occasion, and reflected that the only photos he has taken in his adult life have been of his apartments. His taste runs toward the Victorian, and his decorations are very lovely. He once joked about the huge number of tassels in his decor. His favorite color is blue and he loves gold, ornate things. This pictures gives gives a good general view of his efficiency apartment.

When I get the camera back, I am going to take pictures of things around our house. I wished I had the camera today when Phil and Kyle pulled up the dining room carpeting. I get more excited every day! The kitchen floor is done and Phil and Kyle are working on the dining room. Turns out there were two layers of carpeting from the 70s. The top one we've lived with since we moved in is an indoor/outdoor gold, beige, and brown pattern. UGH! But it was in fairly good shape. The other carpeting is textured gold shades and has a black rubber-like backing that is sticking unevenly to the subflooring. We suppose it lumped up underneath from spills and "animal traffic." When we had "The Great P___ing Wars" with various cats we had through here over the years (And I still miss Indy, the best cat ever!), there were a couple of corners we had to go after to keep clean. PLUS, Annie The Upchucking Cat liked to do her thing by the patio door. But it was always dry, like she ate too much at once and choked out the top stuff. Not nasty or bile-laden. TMI? Sorry.

I get to go out and buy a half-circle mat for the kitchen sink area now that the new flooring is down. We can't let water sit on the laminate, and if anyone ever saw how we splash in the sink around here they would understand that a kitchen throw rug is a major necessity! I can't go out and buy it until Phil gets back with the Trailblazer. He had to get more supplies since Bob and I finally decided to put laminate in our bedroom.

PHIL IS BACK!!! I think I'll run out to Target and check out their kitchen mats!

Out in the back forty. . .

Today I got a good start on our bedroom. Phil and a handy friend of his named Kyle are going to put down some new laminate flooring starting tomorrow. Both are available because they are on seasonal layoffs from their jobs. Then after they finish the living room, hallway, kitchen, and dining room, they will attack our bedroom. Anyone who knows us knows that our bedroom--the last room at the end of the hall-- has been the family catch-all since the 1970s. But that needs to change NOW. I suppose we could just re-place everything after the flooring is in, but we need to thin the crops in anticipation of our retirement in 2010 and our move to Watertown, SD.

Since I am too lazy to organize well enough for a garage sale in the summer, I will be donating and trashing a lot. If anyone reading this blog knows of something I have that you would like, ask me about it. Lots of books, some music, VHS tapes, DVDs, craft items and kits, Stampin' Up card craft stamps and paper (etc), fabric. . . .

Actually, the fabric thinning will probably take place next month when the dust is settled from the laminate installation. That is when we will clean out my sewing room, move it to the back of the basement family room, and paint and recarpet it to be a bedroom again. Bob's mother, Marian, will be moving in with us when the room is ready. She doesn't know it yet, so if you see her, don't mention it. Long story; it will just be easier all around that way.

It's kind of exciting getting things going. My long range goal is to end the projects by cleaning out the garage next spring and summer so we can park at least one of the cars--MINE--in it by next winter.

Excuse me. I have to go and talk with Phil about carrying my night stand out to the garbage since I discovered the cats have been at it. I will be kind enough not to picture or describe what has happened to it. But the preparations for new flooring in that part of our bedroom involves KILZ.

A New Year

Here are a couple of pictures from Christmas at Ryan and Andrea's. I decided to include them after writing my entry, which starts in the next paragraph. The first is Janie and Abby and their new dolls wearing the nightgowns I sewed for them. The second is a shot we managed to capture of Mason wearing the flannel PJs I sewed for him. We had to roll up the sleeves and cuffs that night, but it leaves plenty of room to grow!

I haven't written here since well before Christmas, and I've been putting it off for some unknown reason I haven't taken the time to figure out. I can dismiss that concern by admitting that I am plain lazy. Looks like I'm absolving myself of responsibility by saying, "That's just the way I am. So there!"

Writing a blog is totally unlike anything. It is a journal. Yet it isn't private. If I were the only "audience" to consider, I'd have written a lot more often. I am always filled with things to write or say. I believe we all this "conversation" going on inside our heads. But when I consider the wide variety of those who might care to read my blog, I naturally weigh what to include, and even sometimes HOW to say it. That isn't so different from how we human beings act when talking with each other. Yet it can be even more so (for me, at least) when I think of the great unknown audience who could possibly click on my blog. I often think maybe because I am the youngest of my siblings I hold back and say less in order to be sure we all "get along," and that generalizes to how I interact with the rest of the world of family, friends and acquaintances--and even strangers. But as I already wrote, I am always filled with thoughts and therefore have a wealth of things I COULD say or write here.

After Christmas I would like to have posted pictures of Ryan and Andrea's girls with their new American Girls Dolls, which they got from Santa. I sewed Abby and Janie flannel nightgowns and matching nighgowns for their new dolls, Samantha and Nellie. I sewed Kayla a nightgown as well. Those were some of the gifts I took such delight in sewing as Christmas gifts. But then, I thought, that might sound like boasting. I didn't want to sound full of myself! I also realized I didn't sew for ALL of the grandchildren, so didn't want to make Robin and her children feel left out because the gifts I sent them were not personal. I have rarely sewn for my Utah grandchildren, and I really ought to. I made dresses and quilts other years for Mazie, Hannah, and Nina, and was happy to get advice this year for books as gifts since they are getting into their teens and any good grandmother knows better than to sew surprise clothing of any kind for kids that age! So I remained silent here on the blog. I could have written in my personal journal, but then I get back to the fact that I am generally lazy. Writing takes energy! Did you ever notice that?

Well, I can say that this Christmas was very good for me. I had the time to sew a number of gifts, as mentioned above. I took the time to reflect on the Savior's birth and thank Him for his sacrifice in coming to the world as a baby and showing us the way to return to the heavenly home from which we all came. I have a renewed gratitude for family. I'd have to say this has been an "internal" Christmas since I haven't spoken a whole lot about what has been going on inside me. It's just been that tears of joy well up whenever I think to speak and very often when I simply watch those around me. It happened when I watched the Primary children sing at the ward Christmas party and sacrament service, when I was with family, and yes, even when I watched other shoppers at Target and Walmart and package-mailers at the post office. Try to discretely handle a Kleenex waiting in line to send off a Christmas package! I started straightening the Post Office pamphlets and found myself explaining to the stranger behind me in line that I often do such things and even clean the sink area when in public bathrooms. She kind of smiled and said nothing back. I don't blame her. You never know what comes to people's minds around the holidays, and I might have been a Looney Tune.

And it happened again at church today. I didn't clean the sinks in the ladies' room, but I did find myself looking around at family and friends very near grateful tears. I am so blessed. I am so loved. I am so grateful for Bob, who has loved me all these years without question. I am grateful for six beautiful children and 15 marvelous grandchildren (so far). I am grateful for being privileged to teach the Sunbeams in Primary again this year. I have so many to love and serve. I look forward to 2009 and beyond.

So if I don't say much, please understand. This blog is unique and unlike anything else I have ever experienced. I want to share the good things and some of the silly things. Yet I still feel the need to edit myself as I consider you who might care to read, whether it be only a few or everyone I know. My basic laziness (paired with my procrastining ways) kicks in after wearing myself out with all of the thinking and here I am with few blog postings! Looks like in the course of making this entry, I may have figured out--or invented--the reason I put off blogging during the holidays.

The best to us all for today and all the tomorrows to come! I can't make any promises to blog regularly, but I promise to be here. And you know how to get a hold of me.

Furry Christmas Helper

Hi! I'm Annie, the more appreciated feline in the family. Since it is Christmas, it becomes my duty--and pleasure as well, now don't get me wrong--to help Janice with her Christmas sewing. I promised not to tell what this material is being used for since certain grandchildren of hers might look at the blog. But I can tell you this: the flannel is most comfortable and soft. I wish she would make me a fluffy bed pillow from the scraps. (Hint, hint.)

Here I am inspecting the material for flaws and administering the sniff test at the same time. There is one tiny flaw, but I warned Janice, and she did avoid it. As if it might show. Ha!!! But Janice gets a bit anal about stuff like that. She thanked me and picked me up for a quick pet. I don't understand why she then released me on the floor. She knows I like to be where the action is. And I hadn't reported that it smelled of fabric softener!

Here I am telling Janice she dropped a pin. I like to pretend I'm a pointer dog, just for fun. I know that if I hadn't told her, she would have found it later with her foot. Even in winter she walks around the house with only stockings on and sometimes even bare feet!

I'm not usually one to say "I told you so," but I TOLD her she should have stuck to the layout the pattern company suggested. But NOOOO. She thought she could do better. So, as I told her, she ran out of material and has lots of big scraps that are too small to use for her remaining pattern pieces. She's going to have to return to JoAnn for another yard. Good thing for her, the material is still on sale.

This is Roger. He lived here long before I came, so technically he is The Top Cat. He isn't interested in sewing and quilting as I am. He just likes to stick his nose into things to remind me of his status. Like, we nap and play together, so often he sees me on an equal footing with himself. I don't really mind that he feels he has to supervise or put his stamp of approval on what I do. (He knows nothing about any kind of sewing or crafting, and doesn't care to learn.) He said he guessed everthing looked OK. But then he warned Janice that she needs to get the table cleaned off before supper time and not leave her scraps and threads all over the place. After all, he reminded her, she has a whole ROOM for that kind of stuff.

Merry Christmas from the Anderson Cats. Let's hope Janice gets her projects all done before Christmas!!

Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins!! Oh my!!!

Tuesday Ginger was in Anoka to bring Kayla to her father, Steve, for visit. While in Anoka, Ginger and I took Janice to meet her Uncle Justin, Aunt Madelyn and their girls for the first time. Justin loves babies. It was like old times for him to have a baby girl on his lap.

Mazie--now 14 years old--was equally as happy to meet her new cousin. Mazie and Janice are both quite mellow and agreeable girls. "You can get endear yourself to everyone by just giggling quietly and smiling a lot," Mazie is instructing her. "Sounds easy," is the reply.

You can easily tell Hannah, 12 years old, and Janice are related from the looks on their faces. I'd caption this shot, "Hmm m m ......" They share a studious nature.

This is Nina, now 10 years old, laughing with her new cousin about how great it is to be the "baby" of the family. Nina is telling her, "Yes, and when you get into a little trouble, all you have to do is . . . . "


It was great to catch all their family at once and visit by the family room fireplace. Visiting this way really gets the holidays off to a great start.

Feeling the Christmas Spirit

Each of us experiences Christmas in our own way. Actually, in multiple ways I suppose. The first experience each year is most often soon after Thanksgiving, going shopping on "Black Friday" or putting up the Christmas tree. I now leave the thrill of the hunt for Christmas bargains the day after Thanksgiving to the younger and those with stronger legs and stomachs. But I'll never forget shopping with Andrea about 11 years ago at Walmart the Friday after Thanksgiving in Nebraska. We aced out a man in a wheelchair for the last drastically price-reduced crock pot! It brings a giggle every time I think of it. But this year, the kinder and less adventurous me is content to get the tree up as a beginning to our Christmas celebration. If I were an animal, I would be a cat. . .

and be content to cuddle on the tree skirt and bat around an ornament or ribbon when I got all slept out. And here I must give thanks to Dan and Jenny for setting up the tree this year and dragging the bins labeled "Christmas Stuff" in from the garage. We set it up on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and it occurred to me that when we retire and move to Watertown, I won't have Dan to help. After the prick of panic passsed, I grabbed Bob's arm as he passed us on his way to find a snack in the kitchen and tried to "share" some of the spirit of Christmas home decoration. Bob's middle name is Virgil, but I think it should be Scrooge, as he even repeated, "Bah, humbug!" as he headed to his recliner with snack in hand. I'll have to work on that next year. By now, I'm pretty sure I can cajole him when necessary. He'll be the reformed Ebeneezer one day.

Sometimes the Christmas Spirit pops out of nowhere and surprises us. For me, it came as I was pulling into a local SuperAmerica gas station (aka: The Icee Store). On the car radio I heard Kenny Rogers singing, "And she believes in me. I'll never know just what she sees in me." Well, I just melted and filled with thankful tears. I had to stop the car, breathe deeply, and wipe my eyes in order to park. This song is about a man who comes home late and tries to slip into bed without waking his wife. He has been working at a singing career for a long time without feeling he has made much difference in doing so. ". . . with my little song." The wife wakes and is happy to see him. Years ago when that song was played more often, I grew to love it because to me, Bob has always been the one to believe in me. Not that I've tried a singing career, but that through all the changes and time together, he has always been there loving me, believing in me. And so often I have wondered "just what [he] sees in me." It is this attitude in him that gives me hope in myself when I'm sure I am a failure trying to slip in unnoticed and fall into oblivion. He is the greatest Christmas gift, and all I need is to have him with me again this year. Like the Jesus, he makes up for what I can't do; he is my savior. And if I can't always love myself, I always do love Bob. Merry Christmas, Sweetheart.

My strongest childhood Christmas memories are of times spend with family. Sure I remember a couple of magical gifts from Santa, but more than anything, I treasure the times with aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws. People is what Christmas is all about to me. I am blessed by the family and friends in my life.