The Traveling Velvet Shorts..

In many families, heirloom items are passed from one generation to another. Sometimes its pieces of jewelry or china, books, pictures…etc. Well, in our family it’s a pair of hand sewn black velvet shorts mother made for my two older brothers. Together with it's matching jacket, my brother Eddy wore it for his Aunt Addie’s wedding back in 1960. Throughout the years it has been passed down a generation and re-worn by various young boys in our family. It was worn to various weddings and special occasions throughout the years by our nephew Michael, then again by my brother’s son, my nephew Brett, and afterwards worn by my son Andrew. In its most recent appearance, my youngest son, Nicholas officially wore the notorious shorts two weekends ago at my cousin Elaine’s wedding. It was worn first at her mom's wedding. After 48 years, as you can see in the picture below, it looks just as new as it looked years before. It is now presently hanging in the closet awaiting for the next generation of little boys in the family. I can't wait to know who will be wearing it next..we can only wonder.. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the bride, due to the fact that my camera battery died-which is very sad, because my cousin looked especially beautiful, and her groom was quite handsome. They looked like the perfect bride and groom you find on top of the cake—very Cinderella and the handsome prince. Sigh.. I did manage to take a few pictures before my camera refused to take anymore.


Nicholas wearing the famous shorts..


Playing catch up with November…and I'm going a little backwards--still bear with me..

Okay November is more than half way over, and I haven’t really even been making any entries this month.. When this happens, please know that it’s not because I’ve given up, but it’s due to the fact that I've been overwhelmed with routine daily life! Sad that I don’t have the time to sit and write something-because, a lot of stuff has been going on!


My niece Tara, Lizzy & Mom

I have two Christmas boutiques scheduled for my Avon booth. I had one last Saturday, and it was NOT what I expected it to be. I was told that the event was going to be "widely advertised". I really beg to differ--I think I counted about 10 or 15 people who actually came to the event. I'm not kidding. It was in a small, dark, church hall, and it was freezing. It was colder inside than outside. The only enduring thing was a picture hanging in the kitchen area. It was the same painting that used to hang in my mom's kitchen when I was growing up. A picture of a bowl of fruit, and a bouquet of flowers. It was surreal---I forgot about that painting, and to see it again brought back a lot of memories. Other than that, it was a VERY LONG day. Considering the lack of flow of potential customers, I did break even and did sell--not half as much as I wanted to of course. I honestly made more money from the other vendors who were selling, who came to my booth. It was so boring, we were visiting eachother to pass the time. I did meet some really nice ladies though. It was exhausting nevertheless, and I didn't get home until after 4 pm. Now I still have over 50 gift bags to sell.. I need another boutique to sell! Hopefully the next one will be more fruitful..


Andrew, Nicholas, Mom, my nephew, Michael

We had a birthday for my youngest on the 5th which involved movies and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. (That was fun—I had no idea however how BUSY that place can be on a week day evening---I would be scared to go anywhere near that place on a weekend!)


Birthday Boy Nicholas











I have yet another goal for this month—I want to finish the throw blanket I’ve been meaning to complete for the last I don’t know how many years. No, I’m not kidding. I’ve promised my daughter to crochet her a blanket since she was 11 years old. (She may have been younger—I’ve lost count of the years.) She brings it up now and then, and teases me about it, so I am really going to try and finish it THIS YEAR. I’ve started various times, throughout the years to make good on this promise to her, only to put it aside for one reason or another. I’ve had various good intentions of start of blankets that are “somewhere” in a bag in the attic. Sad, huh? I vow that I WILL MAKE GOOD and finish this blanket---hopefully before the start of the new year! You read it here folks! THEN, I will finish that green and blue blanket I started for Andrew (that started over 8 years ago-gee I hope I can still find the same color yarn.)

We are on the heels of Thanksgiving... So, here is a list of my thankfuls:

1. I'm thankful that my kids are healthy.

2. I'm thankful that I and my husband have a job.

3. I'm thankful for the bills we can pay.

4. I'm thankful that I live in a safe, loving, stable home.

5. I'm thankful that I have a good man for a husband.

6. I'm thankful for the children we share our lives with. They aren't always easy to live with, but they are ours.

7. I'm thankful for my friends.

8. I'm thankful for the simple things, smiles, giggles, hugs and "I love yous"

9. I'm thankful to be alive.

10. I'm thankful to realize that I have a lot to be thankful for...

Magicians, Rabbits & Candy... OH MY!

Well, Halloween came and went, and we all survived! The day started with some unnecessary drama, but ended quite well! Here are few pictures from the magical evening...


Nicholas, the Magician


Me and my little magician

My pictures are a little dark---couldn't get the flash to work...but we figured it out later:


Nicholas will make this candy disappear!




What do you mean? I always dress like this when I'm in my kitchen..


Nick trying to make me disappear--didn't work..


Lizzy & Nicholas--the magicians..

Lizzy had her own rabbit..






It's not every day you find two white rabbits on your porch..

After only a trip around the block Nicholas was happy with his amount of candy. I was a bit surprised, but I guess I should be thankful that he really didn't want much more. This all means less temptation for everyone else. I heard on the radio that if you eat just ONE fun size candy, you would have to walk a mile to burn it off! Have two candies? That's two miles.. It just doesn't seem fair, does it? I tell you that I was looking forward to walking a little more with Nicholas because I had this in mind, but since he decided to call it an early night, it was probably for the best!

Regretably, I have no photos of Andrew, my Cereal Killer. He spent the night at my mom's and hung out with his friends that night, but was home by 10 pm. He wore a shirt with torn cereal boxes, and cereal glued all over, with random splatters of fake blood all day to the dismay of my mother. She had it hanging outside in the backyard the next day claiming it was attracting ants. I have a feeling it will be hanging in Andrew's closet very soon. No, I'm not too excited, but hope to take a few pictures of it before it goes "mysteriously missing."

October is gone, and November promises to be another busy month.. Will check in later on that! Have a good one!!