Dear George

Dear George,

I thought about you today, as I do nearly every day but with today being the 4th of July I thought about you each time I saw a star or a stripe.

I thought about you yesterday when Sarah Palin said she was stepping down as the Gov. of Alaska and I thought of you the day before that when someone (probably Sharon) moved the American Flag to the very center of the table by the elevator so that it wouldn't be missed.

I think of you when I crawl into bed at night because I know that you aren't sound asleep just on the other side of the wall.

I think of you each time I go into the garage and see my husbands car in the spot that was once yours.

I miss you George.

I thought you might like to know that.

Love to you,
Kristin



I just wrote this to my former neighbor, George, who moved away a few months ago. I felt a very strong urge to write to him and tell him that I missed him, so I got up out of bed found one of my very favorite note cards and wrote this letter to him. I think it's very important to tell people that you miss them and that you are thinking of them. When the urge hits to write a little note, just do it.

I think George will be thrilled to get this note, but I hope he is even happier knowing that I was thinking of him.

Have a wonderful week.
Kristin

Muppets take the 4th!

I hope you have a fabulous Fourth of July weekend. Cake Wrecks posted this funny video featuring the Muppets. Watch it, it's a hoot.



Kristin

Up North

So many folks are traveling this weekend. I think it's always so great when the 4th is on a weekend so folks can really get away and enjoy the day. My husband is traveling right now on his way to Michigan. He will be arriving at his parents house tonight, but tomorrow he should be enjoying the 4th of July festivities on his friend's boat. I hope he has a real good time!

Michigan folks tend to head to the cottages of friends and family or even to their own cottages. They tend to go "Up North" which in Michigan speak means North of the city of Clare. A lot of big lakes are up north, lots of woodland lots and of course, the beautiful U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) Some of the cottages are tiny little two roomed things with primitive facilities but lots of fishing. Some cottages are million dollar places with guest houses and several bathrooms sitting on a huge lake. Most cottages though are somewhere in between but never more than 3 miles from any lake or stream. (that's a Michigan factoid)

My family was one of the 10 in Michigan that didn't have a summer cottage or went up north. In order to go up north, we had to be invited by someone. I think my parents made it very well known that we didn't want to go because we never got invited LOL If there was a party in town, we were there. Out of town, nope!

My husband and his family went up north all the time. They went to a place in the U.P. called Dead Mans Farm and it's been in their family for a few generations. I've now been there. I choose not to have to go back LOL I'm not an up north kind of gal. I can appreciate it though and I'm really happy to have seen the infamous Dead Mans Farm. Tom has his own cottage now too. It's called Piper Camp, named after Mr. Piper who helped build it and owned it for about 5 decades. Piper Camp has indoor plumbing, electricity, a hot water heater and some of the most fabulous tasting water I've ever had in my life. Piper Camp is just a few miles from Dead Mans Farm in the UP.

I got so far off track from where I wanted to go in this post. To my US friends and bloggy friends - I wanted to say , that no matter where you are...if you are like me and at home sitting on the porch for the 4th or if you're with family and friends, please have a lovely time and be grateful for all that is around you. It's a pretty great country in my book.

The photo above - I took that. I didn't realize until just a few moments ago that it's the stars and stripes! Happy Independence Day!
Kristin

Wreck This Journal part 4

It's another fabulous installation of Wreck This Journal. There are so many people participating (and I've enjoyed going to each blog seeing what each person has done) that I'm still so very grateful that I found Jamie's Next Chapter. I've never had so much fun coloring, cutting, gluing and creating. Please go visit the other wreckers if you have a chance. 80 people participated last week. That's 80 different ways to wreck a journal! I can't wait to see how many join up this week.


I became brave today. I made a video of me talking about the journal. Someone else last week said that they just hit the start button and talked and just did it. So, that's what I did. I didn't comb my hair or put on lipstick or anything, I just went for it! I was so nervous! I rarely post my picture, let alone a video. Ah well, this is all about breaking out of our shells, right?!

So, here's my submission this week for Wreck this Journal. Please laugh and enjoy the show!! I have a few photos below, too, as I wasn't able to get everything into just a few minutes. AND due to the lack of patience on my part - I totally cut off the end of my video. LOL Being a dork is so much fun.




Here is the page that I sent off to my friend and her family. I can't believe I cut off the most important part of my video! Well, here, let me explain. Rachel folded the paper in half and asked each child to draw only on their own side - no peeking! Turns out each child was thinking of dinosaurs! Bill, the dad, got in on the act and he added in the football (being a football coach, it sort of figures lol). Rachel made it all into a football theme and added in the finishing touches, plus the referee. I love it.

Here is the picture. You can click to enlarge it.



I took the envelope that this arrived in, cut it to fit the book and then taped this page to the envelope and taped the whole thing back into the journal. Excellent! Thanks to Kole and Gage, Bill and Rachel for helping me! You guys did a great job!!




Here is the paper chain that I made from the book. The paper chain is hanging from my lamp pull chain. I took a few dozen photos of this and promptly forgot about it. Now, any of you with cats know that I have just created a VERY tempting plaything. It finally was just too much for her.

She begged me to take it off the lamp and toss it on the floor for her. I finally obliged. She managed to tear the thing apart in about 5 minutes. She wrecked my paper chain! Good Kitty!





Oh my goodness, I nearly forgot! I took my journal into the shower the other day. This is the before photo - and pretty much, it's the after, too. I didn't plunge it into water or anything, but I got sufficiently wet for a regular shower. I was quite pleased.

Have a fabulous weekend! Here in the United States we are celebrating our Independence Day on Saturday. I'm looking forward to all of the Fireworks that I can see right from my patio.

Kristin

Manatee Mailbox

Welcome to the early Friday edition of Post Card Friendship Friday, hosted by Marie of Vintage Postcard. The theme is of this carnival is pretty much anything to do with postcards, mail, post offices, mailboxes and other assorted fun stuff that's mail related.

Marie is talking about a potato postcard she found and then she did a fun video on the historical significance of the potato on the country of France. I would have never thought there would be such potato controversy! Check out her video and see what I mean.



This picture is of the post office nearest to my home. I took this photo on Sunday...that's why the parking lot is nearly empty. It's a nice post office, but it totally lacking in the wow factor. It's really quite dull inside. I like to go to the busier post office most of the time, just because there's more stuff to look at and browse while I'm waiting.


I was taking photos down by the beach this week when this truck pulled up right next to me. I thought it was a pretty good photo op. so I took it :)



My friend and I have thing for Manatee mailboxes. I have to take a photo of each one I see if possible. I was walking by this one, so it was easy this time. This little guy is down by the beach where the salt air rusts nearly everything in sight...poor manatee is just a victim.


IN the vintage stash of postcards that I have, I found these two cards from Wisconsin. This first one is from Kenosha, WI. My bloggy friend, Keetha, is in Wisconsin this week. That's why I chose these cards.

Isn't that just the sweetest looking bridge?!! (You can click the photo to enlarge.) It makes me want to visit. :) I'm a sucker for a stone bridge.


This postcard is from LaCrosse, Wisconsin. It had some water damage, but is in pretty good condition otherwise. I like the old river boat. Once again, you can click the photo to enlarge the card.

I hope you've enjoyed Post Card Friendship Friday. Please visit the other participants and see what interesting things they've posted!

Have a fabulous weekend!
Kristin

It's all Leigh's Fault

Thrifty and all things that go with Thrifty are a part of Leigh's Thrifty Thursday. If it was a good deal, a great find, a vintage dress, or even a lovely basket from the thrift store, it's all perfect for today's blog carnival.

Before I go on with my finds this week, I need send out a big Congrats to Leigh on her 2nd Blogaversary!!! She's so excited that she's giving away a $25 gift certificate to all who enter before midnight the 3rd of July. That's Friday Folks!! You can read all about it HERE.

The gift certificate that Leigh is giving away is to Marshalls. I'd never gone into that store before and I'm really not a clothes shopper so I just assumed it was another women's clothing store.

After reading all of the excitement over the gift certificate I decided to find my local store and see what all the fuss was about...not to mention, I needed a few pairs of shorts.

The glass vases in the photo above were taken at my local Marshall location. They were so nice looking in the store and as I recall at a pretty fabulous price. At my home they'd be dusty in a day or two and pretty much stay that way, so I let them stay for someone else to purchase.

I thought of Leigh when I saw the shells. They were beautiful and just $5 for the large bag. See that starfish? Leigh's got one of those in her new header on her blog. It's a beautiful photo.


I love the look of shiny, neon plastic. I do! It's something about the potential for organization. If I buy the shiny plastic my stuff will get put away. At $2 a piece, these were a steal. I didn't buy these either, but I know where I can get them if I decide I need them.

This recycled paper magazine basket tugged at me. A lot. I took it down, held onto it. Looked it over real good. Put it back. Took pictures of it. Checked the price - $20. I thought that was a little high, but it was a giant basket, so the price all of a sudden seemed reasonable.

But I couldn't do it. I don't need it.

I did come out of Marshalls with 4 pair of shorts, 2 shirts and a 3 pack of reader glasses for my husband ($10). The whole bill was $60 I think. Really Thrifty in my opinion and it's all Leigh's fault. I'm also going to thank her when I get to go outside in my new shorts. I only had one wearable pair so I was getting mighty hot in my long black pants in this hot Florida sunshine.

My thrifty finds this week were all at Marshalls - I wanted to buy the store out of a few things! I really wish I would have known about that store when i was decorating my rental condos, but I'll know about it now. Thanks Leigh!!

If you'd like to see more Thrifty Finds, please go on over to Tales from Bloggeritaville and see all of the folks who are participating this week. You'll even find some great tablescapes!

Have a wonderful day!
Kristin

Favorite Things

I am in love with swaps. I had so much fun participating in the Christmas and Valentines Day swaps that I've been itching to be in another one. In fact, the other day I was thinking I might just start one of my own! gasp!

Thankfully, Kelly over at according to Kelly, is having her Third Annual Favorite Things Swap. I read about this last year and was so bummed I had missed it. I have been keeping up, I though, with her blog making sure I didn't miss it again and it snuck up on me! The deadline to participate is Friday July 3rd.

If you are into swapping fun stuff and meeting new bloggers, please head on over to Kelly's place and read up on the Favorite Things Swap and see if it's something you'd like to be a part of this month.

I've already sent in my autobiography, typed and single spaced.

I can't wait to meet all of the Favorite Things Swappers!
Kristin