KEEPING ON

I remember one of my favorite sermons from Paster Lund

was Keep on Keeping on. 

Still today, many years after that service, when

things get tough I remember to keep on keeping on.

This had been one of those weeks.

Steve, has not been feeling well so it has

left a lot of everything up to me.

I do not mind, just get tired and sometimes

very cranky. When I am really cranky

I go out and rake and bundle leaves. I love that

job!  don't think I am crazy.  Being out side

even on my tiny space, the cold making you feel cold and the raking making you warm.

I still have ton's to do, and the  wind

came along and blew my bags over 

but I am keeping on!

 This is my tiny back yard, even though it actually is a side yard.

That's how things work around here!

When it comes time to organize

Drusilla is right there, ready to help.

MAKING SOME HEADWAY

The lights

  Lights have been a sore spot to me for a long time.

Finally, some changes are being made.

I also added a few flowers

I think flowers are always needed.

 

For the dining room, I chose a five light.

I had all sorts of fixture in my search but

practical and easy to clean won

I think for this space, it is the perfect

solution.  Just a soft light and doesn't demand attention.

 

I then added lights to the cabinets as was 

suggested by Marty

decorating and changing the cabinets 

out will be so much fun.

SAVING TUNNELING CANDLES

Candle time again

I love burning candles, but way to often

I lose my candles to what is called tunneling.

When the wax burns just in the center,

leaving a hole around the wick 

and the candle no longer burns.

Kind of like this:

 

 There are different reasons why candles tunnel.

The main reason given is, it is not burned long enough

the first time it is lit.

On pier 1, web site, they recommend burning

the first time for a total of three hours.

Candle in bad shape. Deeply tunneled

These candles came from pier1 and really

do need to be replaced. But!  I wanted to

know about tunneling and if you could fix it.

The remedy I chose, was to 

use my old hair dryer. If you had a heat gun

it would work even better.

The other method i read about

used fire.  So I went with non fire.

The idea is, to melt the wax build up

around the wick, and make the top

of the candle level again.

There was a lot of melting, digging

melting, digging, going on.

I chose to dig with a spoon, just in case! 

I also saved my wax scraps, that I will put

in a cute holder to help make the 

bathroom smell better.

So this is what I have now, I just need a 

few hours to burn them and see

if they will burn evenly.

With all of this, I am still in need of new candles.

I just hope I take better care of them.

SHOPPING AND DECIDING

Some help!

I have been trying to decide on the light 

fixtures for kitchen and dining room.

I keep going back and forth with my thinking

on what I like, what will work and whats on sale

I like these. They have a very modern clean look. Not sure modern would be the look I am going for.

I

 I also like these.  Not quite as modern looking

Still very clean looking.

Both light sets are LED. 

For the dining room!

Of coarse I fell in love with

the crystals and sparkles. Lets face it

those would not work.

Maybe one of these?

At first I was thinking small and

searching for  three lights

because of the space. This is a five light

vintage tuscan.

This is a five light Allen Roth

I think it has more weight to it.

I don't think it would over whelm it's space,

Five light French. I almost think this one might

be my favorite.  I like the look of the small 

shades on the bulbs.

I also think, because of the location 

I would like to add a dimmer. Not sure 

about that either!

 So, I do have some decision to make. If there is

something you like please share 

your thoughts.

TUCKED AWAY

Then there is this!

I will come right to the point. Sitting all

by itself, on a mountain highway

You will spot!

They make their own fudge!!

Did I tell you, they make it?

It is so yummy, so fudgie. 

I made that last word up because

there are no words!

 The back yard is a roaring river.

All around this wonderful place

with such wonderful fudge

Is the beauty of the mountains 

Who could resist a trip to the forest

to sample some fudge.

TAKING IT INSIDE

Fall and time to go inside.

This post is very hard for me, but

I feel I really need to share.

I need to come to grips!

We moved to this mobile home community

after Steve had his heart attack and five way

by pass.  There was just so  much to be done

to keep up our home and that was no

longer possible, without hiring help.

Mobile homes are hard to find, we

were lucky and found this one by

word of mouth. So far all the homes

in this area go before ever going on the market.

With that said! it was not in the best shape,

But we dug in.  Not long after we moved in,I

got pneumonia and spent several weeks in the hospital.

The next big thing to happen Steve had

a stroke! 

Now!! it is time to dig in and turn this place into

a home, I can be proud of.

This is the dining room. 

I want to do something to the cabinets, 

not sure what!

They are dark holes at night

This is the ugly dining room light. 

I think a small chandelier, would look nice.

What do you think?  

The next thing that has to go is the ugly

kitchen lights.

That is probably enough ugly for one post.

besides it is a bit embarrassing.