Not exactly what I bargained for.

Cluttery Mess

Small Storage Cabinet

As advertised in ad from a newspaper.
Many pieces with instructions in Engrish.

All you need is a Phillips.
I recommend a power screwdriver, this little one is very handy.

I have 14" wide available space.
10" wide means 10" deep? (crap!)

It didn't fit! Had to put hamper there instead.Luckily the hair dryer and brush fit in the drawer.
Here it is nearly 2 hours later.

Martha Stewart close your eyes.
It does hide a lot.

Happy Lent

Roses are red, roses are blue ?

Yesterday was a thoughtful exchange of flowers, valentines and candy. The bouquet above may look like one large bouquet but it's really a collection of vases clustered together. Look at that blue rose from Tom! And the peach one from Theresa. The white rose is from my sweetheart and all the rest of the beautiful flowers are from Nora. (Thank-you)

And...
Xavier 's other front tooth fell out!

bet you didn't know I was a poet.....

T.C.B.
I stand at my closed window in quiet retreat,

(taking care of business)

Thankful for hot running water.

(Dirty glasses, forks and spoons)
Waiting patiently for the warm days and wild flowers,

(a stack of assorted dirty plates)

So I can throw open my window again.
(what the heLL was in this bowl?)

But take your sweet time February.

(that's what I get for hiding it in the fridge.)

I love you because you are today.

(water swirls down the drain glug, glug.)

And that is what I live for.

(pat my hands dry....sigh )

~Elaine Vermette 2009

Fastest Growing Sport in Norway Today

My friend Dave sent me an awesome video today I want to share with you. Have you ever dreamed of being able to fly? I have, many times. When I was a little girl, I would have dreams of being swooped up by the wind while I was running to catch my bus. I would glide through the air like a bird with my cardigan sweater billowing behind me. Those dreams will probably be reoccurring now that I've seen this death defying video clip. Only this time, I'll be wearing my wingsuit and I won't be needing the bus.
In Disney's movie Toy Story, Sheriff Woody tells Buzz Lightyear..."That's not flying, that's falling with style!" Woody was right about Buzz...but Aye Yie Yie This is something else. THIS IS WILD!
I situated the video down this page by the jukebox control to make it easier for you to mute the blog song playing but still be able to hear the video, if you want. Watch the Fastest Growing Sport in Norway Today. (awesome video Ali thank-you) (and thank-you too Dave)




UPDATE...Today is April of the year 2018 and I deleted the clip...sorry people.
Also the jukebox company folded years ago.
You can always count on change.

Living With A Crime Fighter...

You can take Xavier out of the Spider Man costume,

but you can't take the Spider Man costume out of Xavier.

The Naked Truth

A fresh coat of paint. A clean start. When it's on the ceiling and walls it brings atmosphere and warmth. It will preserve and protect the outside of your house. When it's on a piece of furniture it adds charm and personality. On canvas it becomes a masterpiece. It gives a punch of color where needed. No matter what colors are on your palette a fresh coat of paint does wonders.

I absolutely love painted furniture. I don't have any trouble changing an already been painted piece to suit my taste. My favorite style is folk painting or peasant style. I like old world, old fashioned....old! Pennsylvania Dutch is sweet. I just love any piece by the artisit Peter Hunt .

So, if I like paint so much then will somebody please tell me why I feel so guilty painting the grain of wood? There's this feeling of remorse that succumbs me when I get the urge to paint wood. First, I think about what color I would choose "IF" I painted it, and that makes me happy thinking of the possiblities. Next comes the guilt of perhaps ruining antiquity or disturbing it's history, or just plain hiding the grain. It's as if I'm not really the owner but merely a custodian or curator of a rare artifact. Soon... I dismiss the urge. It's silly because the fact is, that the things I'm wanting to save from paint would never be aired on the Antique Roadshow.
I look around and see various shades of brown. Some of these things are begging for a splash of color. Things I've always wanted to paint but never had the nerve to. For example, an antique wooden medecine cabinet missing it's glass from the door. It hangs in my kitchen and holds spices. Thank-goodness somebody had the courage to paint the inside of it a pretty robin's egg blue. I love it. I haven't replaced the glass because it's more convenient (read lazy) to reach in and grab my seasonings. But if I can muster up the gumption... it will be painted. The glass door will be repaired. Inside the door a sheer curtain will hang tight. It might be nice to actually use the door with it's little brass hardware. It hangs right over an old jelly cabinet that has lost it's door. Again...unpainted. I keep my pots and pans there.

In fact instead of painting things I've gone to the other extreme and I've stripped paint off of some furniture. This takes time ... a lot of time, and to tell ya the truth, I can't say all this restraint and preservation is worth it. So I will make some changes soon and paint those 2 pieces as a start. Will I share the before and after pictures with you then? Of course I will. Bbye for now. ~Elaine

Madonna of the Kitchen

There's a little shelf in my kitchen that I keep a candle on ...just in case we lose electricity.

Or

Just in case I need to illuminate my blog space.

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Because this is MY blog space and I can be me here.

But YOU are always welcome.

SEE!

Xavier has a surprise to show you.

SEE?
It's exciting to be almost 7 years old,
and your tooth wiggles out all by itself!

The tooth fairy used to bring me a shiny quarter for each lost tooth.

Xavier is hoping for a dollar.

The Party is over Santa

I've been so preoccupied grieving all the loved ones I've missed and having the "holiday is over" blues that I didn't even remember the very first day of January was when I started my blog last year. So---Sorry that I don't have a "give -away" to offer. The Christmas tree is outside, the snow babies are tucked in their drawer, each and every Santa is packed away until next December. The pixies and nutcrackers, angels and my favorite of all... the Nativity are all packed up. I feel like the Grinch as I undecorate Christmas.
I will leave you with some faces from my collection that are now back into hiding again.

Yo - Ho - Ho!

Happy New Year

It's the year 2009 and you and I are still alive! I know that's a weird thing to say but I do think about these things. Alright so I'm a weirdo. Maybe I think about dying more than what is probably healthy but if it weren't for death I wouldn't be so thankful to be alive. I look at life the way an artist paints a picture, with life being light and darkness death. The darkness is very important, because without darkness we wouldn't even see the light. So maybe death isn't a topic you want to read about as you skip merrily about from blog to blog. But the truth be told ..it's always haunting me. Not a day goes by that I don't miss the ones I've lost to death. Now a new year rings in and it's so full of promises and hope and renewal but I can't help but think that it will also bring it's share of heartaches, disasters, darkness and death. One thing that always keeps me plugging along is hope. If I were to lose everything I own, I hope that I would not lose hope. If I lost everybody I love, I hope I would not lose hope. If I were down as low as a worm ...I just hope that I would not lose hope. Even if it seems as if the only thing that changed today were the hands on the clock or the page on the calendar or that day turned into night... I still hope. I hope against hope. That means that even if I don't really believe that anything good will happen to me today...I still hope something will.

I'm not here to talk politics because that causes arguments and I sure don't want to push my religious beliefs on anyone, I don't want to divide. I would be the first to admit I don't have any prophetic answers about life and I spend ridiculously many hours pondering my own destiny and wondering if I even have one.

But thank-you for visiting me because I put myself out there and it's good to know that somebody cares enough to read what I write. Happy New Year...I hope.

A holiday video

Right before Christmas we got snow. I think all snow is pretty, but especially this kind. It was heavy snow that stayed where it fell, like a blanket rather than the blowing, drifting and sugary kind. By the time the storm moved over, it dropped at least 6 to 8 inches. But then ... as what usually happens here on the Cape it was soon all gone. Christmas Eve brought hard rain and strong warm winds. By the time we woke up on Christmas morning about the only snow left was the mound at the end of the driveway left by the plow trucks. But ...hey....I'm not complaining!

A Christmas Card

For unto us a son is born,

to us a child is given...

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

hi, I haven't been documenting all the wonderful things happening lately.
But, this lovely Christmas card arrived today from the pastor of our church.
I feel like sharing it to the world.
Thank-you Father Mark.
_____________________________________________
The unique face of this card comes from an original oil painting from Zaki Baboun. A native of Beit Jala in Bethlehem. Zaki uses Biblical themes and local landscapes, his own faith and love for the Lord, as inspiration for much of his art.

All proceeds from the sale of this card, benefit the works of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in the Holy Land.

This card is designed and printed in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Artwork by Zaki Baboun
Designed and printed by:Nour design & print Co.,www.nourdp.ps

Thanksgiving Day

xox~Elaine

Tom is 21

Tom loves little stuffed mushroom caps, crunchy chicken wings, marbled fudge cake (if there's no carrot cake available) and a girl named Theresa. Look at how he dreams up a good wish. I hope it comes true Love. Happy Birthday. It was yesterday but the glow still lingers.