Happy New Year!!

I wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy New Year!!  Welcome 2015!!

I am not making resolutions for the new year, but I am making changes!

I make a resolution or two for the new year but this year is different!  I have decided that I am going to make changes in my life.  These are positive changes. 

1.  I am going to lose a large amount of weight.
2.  I am going to sell Mary Kay Cosmetics.  I have already signed up.  The women I have met are so positive and energized!!
3.  I am going to put more money in my savings account.  The other night John and I made an excel spreadsheet to help us achieve this.
4  I am going to worry less about the little things and concentrate on appreciating life.
5.  I am going to surround myself with positive people and things-there is nothing to be gained by negativity!
6.  I am going to plan more fun things with John this year.  We always seem to just work around the house or yard, we need to have fun too!

Basically this is my list for now, but it will be growing.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and amazing new year!!                                                    

I made soap!!!

My daughter, Megan loves anything Irish.  With a name like Megan McDermitt now Nowak how could she not!!  I have always wanted to make soap.  Well before Christmas I bought a kit and guess what the mold was Celtic Knots!!  I thought I would buy a kit first so I would have step by step instructions.  It was very easy and not very time consuming either!  Here is the final results:

Jenny,my other daughter had given me a flower silicone mold for my birthday, so the left over soap mixture I poured into that and made 2 bars of that type soap!  That is the soap on the right.  Megan loved the soap and was really surprised when I told her I made it!!  I gave Jenny bars of the flower soap and she liked that too!

I will definitely be making more!  I have pinned so many recipes off Pinterest that I have alot of recipes to choose from. 

Have an awesome day!

Christmas, Etc.

I must apologize because I never got here before Christmas!  I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  I know our household did.  It was glorious with the girls, their hubbies and the grandboys here!  There is just something magical about Christmas when shared with children.  I don't know if it is the anticipation, the squeals of delight when they see what Santa has left them under the tree or just their innocence.  My grandboys, Owen and Jack just enjoyed the holiday season to the fullest!  Christmas Eve John and I went up to Jenny and Kevin's for a casual Christmas Eve dinner.  We came home and then we went with Ken and Megan to the 11:00 candlelight service at church.  It was just beautiful!  I love looking around the church seeing all the candles lit and everyone singing Christmas carols!  Just priceless!

Here are some photos of our Christmas Day:

 Our Christmas Tree

 Auntie Megan helping Owen open a present.

 Jack playing with his farm tractor we gave him.

 Owen playing with Jack's farm tractor and Rescue Paws tower.

Jack and Owen opening gifts with Auntie Megan and Uncle Ken looking on.

Memories were definitely made that day!  

The Tuesday before Christmas I decided to become a Mary Kay consultant.  I went to a makeover with my daughter, Jenny.  I tried the Time Wise Skin Care products and loved the results so much I decided to sell it.  If you want to take a look and purchase something, you can go to my website:  www.marykay.com/cmcdermitt1.  I will ship for free anywhere in the continental US.  No pressure though!!

Yesterday Megan, Jenny and I went to lunch at Hickory Tavern and then we went to the movies.  We went to see "Into the Woods".  It was wonderful and we had a great time!  I love spending time with my girls.  We don't get to do that very often by ourselves, but when we do we have a great time!!

On Christmas Eve Day my boss gave me a AMEX gift card!!  Today John and I went to Best Buy and purchase a Blue-Ray DVD player.  Now we can watch our DVD's in wonderful color and clarity!  It is wireless too!

Tomorrow the grandboys and Jenny will be coming for dinner.  I promised Owen I would make my Mac 'n Cheese, hotdogs and baked beans.  He isn't much of an eater so when we know he will eat, I try to make something he likes!

I think that is about all for now!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year to all of you!!

Christmas Tree Time!

This weekend John and I will be picking out our Christmas Tree!  Last year we got it at a tree farm stand and we will probably go back to the same place.  We live in Mint Hill and this little old man has the tree farm stand there.  I love shopping local!  Maybe even the grandboys (and their parents) will want to go with us!

When our girls were little, we would go to the local tree farms for our tree.  We were lucky enough to live in an area that had so many tree farms.  Actually we raised Christmas trees on our own farm but they were to small to harvest when we lived there.  We would go in the morning before the crowds got too bad.  We would traipse all over the farm looking for just the right tree.  My girls would loved "hunting" the perfect tree down.  Then we would come home and warm up in front of the fire drinking hot chocolate.  Then we would bring the tree in, get it in the stand, fill the holder with water.  We wouldn't decorate the tree for a few days, we would let the tree take in water and let its branches come down a bit.  The girls and I actually strung cranberries and popcorn strings for the tree-we had such fun!!

Even though our girls are grown now, I still remember those tree hunting days like they were yesterday!  Great memories!!

Ocean Breeze Shawl Complete

I was working on a Mystery Knit Along called Ocean Breeze by Boo Knits.  I used hand dyed silk yarn and silk/mohair yarn.  There are 1,000 beads in this shawl!  I am done with beads for a bit.  I really love the way this shawl turned out.  Here are some pictures:

This is the tussah silk mixed with mohair yarn I used.  It is hand dyed.

Ring of leaves around Ocean Breeze shawl

 Closeup of Shawl

Ocean Breeze Shawl

Me wearing my shawl.

I will be wearing this shawl alot this winter!  I love the simmering of the beads-it will be wonderful for the holidays!

Completed Nightstand Makeover

John and I finished the nightstands last weekend!!  They look so much better in our room.  Here is the steps we took:

This is the nightstand before we started.

Sanding the finish off.

The nightstand all painted ready to take upstairs.

Tada!!  All done!

We added new handles and put a basket where the drawers used to be.  I love the white color!  Now I will be doing something fun with the lampshades.  I will post that when I have decided what I'm going to do with them. 

Master Bedroom Makeover in Progress!

John and I have been married for 35 years and we have finally decided we needed a King sized mattress!  We went to Ashley Furniture, where our daughter, Megan works and we bought one.  It was delivered on Saturday and it is wonderful!!  The Queen sized bed we moved into the front guest room.  So now when we have guests we have two Queen sized beds to offer everyone.  Now I have to decide if we want to have a headboard, footboard, etc. anymore.  I am liking the no footboard bed, but the comforter falls to the floor in the night if you fold it down.  I would like a head board but now I have to decide if I want a wood one or a material covered one.  Decisions, decisions!  I am leaning towards a material one, but now I'm thinking I only want one that come just above the pillows, so a wood one would work for that.  I have talked to Jenny about she or Kevin painting me an abstract painting in an oblong for over the bed.  I'm thinking sand, sea and sky abstract.  I've seen them done before and I love them.  John likes them too!  Here is the bedroom the way it is now:

Now I don't like the brown stained nightstands anymore either!  They are in perfect condition so I think I am going to rehab them!  This coming weekend I am going to work on them.  Here is a closeup of the nightstand:

So I have decided to cut off the "wing" on the top of the nightstand to make it flat.  I will fill that with wood putty and then sand the entire piece.  I am also going to remove the middle and bottom draw.  I have seen on pinterest that they take those drawers out and the hardware also.  Then they put a basket in there, just makes it look a little more airy.  I am going to replace the knobs of the remaining drawer also.  Then after it is sanded I am going to paint it white (semi-gloss).  I think it will brighten up the room!  I'll let you know how that turns out.  Eventually I am going to remove our dressers and make a sitting area with the TV.  I have to organize the closet with shelving, etc. to do that.  So when you are looking across the room from the bed you would see the TV and a small sitting area.  I think it will look great and I can't wait to get started!!  Pictures to follow after the weekend nightstand redo.

What a beautiful weekend!

I took this picture this afternoon in our backyard!  This weekend has been gorgeous!  There is a nice breeze filtering through the trees, the sky is Carolina Blue, the sun is shining and the humidity is almost non-existent!!  What a truly lovely day in Mint Hill!  I hope your weekend is just as beautiful!

Painted the Front Door and New Color!

Well I decided the front door was just too blah!  I wanted to paint it a color that would "pop".  I chose Valspar's Ancient Burgundy.  It turned out so pretty.  Now I think I'll paint the 2 sets of shutters on the second floor the same color.  I am really happy with the way the door turned out. 

What a really crazy week!!

Fountain at work outside my window

This week has been a busy one!  I was offered a job by a company that has offered me a job with them 3 times.  This time it was too good to pass up, so I took it!  I will be an office manager/construction administrator for a high-end residential builder who also does commercial framing and siding.  My boss also just opened up a millwork company!  Very ambitious!  Can't wait to start working there on 9/29!

Gave notice at my present job.  Very nerve wracking for sure!!  Glad that is done!

John has been home all week with pneumonia.  I have been doing my chores and his (including mowing the front lawn on Sunday).  So glad today the Dr. told him he doesn't have pneumonia anymore and that he can go back to work on Monday.

I really think that is enough for this week!   Tomorrow I will painting my front door a beautiful burgundy color!  I also want to make a nice Autumn wreath for the door.  Megan told me she would help me create one!  I got some lovely ideas on pinterest!

The rest of the weekend will be resting up from this crazy week!  What do y'all have planned?

Autumn is on it's Way!!

You wouldn't know it today due to the heat we experienced in Charlotte  (100 degrees) but there are signs that Autumn is on its way!  I do enjoy this time of year.  Not only for the cooler weather but the leaves changing, apples are abundant, pumpkins start arriving at Farmer's Markets, etc., etc.  This weekend I made the first apple crisp of the season!  I love the smell of cinnamon wafting through the house while the crisp cooks in the oven.  I will have to get some mums for the urns out front soon.  I sprayed the urns a shiny black this spring, so the mums will look beautiful in them.  The squirrels have also been gathering nuts for their winter storage.

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

Sunset in Mint Hill, NC

It was a great day here in NC!!  A little humid but I can deal with that.  Tonight Jenny and the boys had dinner with us.  We went into Mint Hill to The Creamery and had ice cream.  Jenny and the boys left and headed home.  John and I decided we would take a drive.  The sunset was just gorgeous on our drive.

When we got home the sun was still going down.  We sat on the front porch and enjoyed the sun going down.  I thought I would share it with you!

My New Job is Wonderful!

On July 21st I started my new job with C.F. Evans Construction.  I went for training in Orangeburg, SC at the home office for 2.5 days.  Everyone was so nice and I enjoyed the training as well.  Then I started in my office here in Charlotte that following Monday.  I work with 2 project manager, an estimator and a divisional manager.  It is a much slower place than I had at my last job, which I held for 7 years.  That is a huge plus for me!

Here are some pictures of my new office:

This is my office.  Or I guess I should say part of my office.  I don't know if you can see the beautiful fountain that is in the lake outside my office!  Just gorgeous!

I went on a job walk yesterday in an office building uptown.  This was taken from the 23rd floor.  You are looking at the Charlotte Knights baseball field! Wouldn't you love to work in an office overlooking this!!

John and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary on Monday and he had these beautiful flowers sent to my office!

So change is sometimes good and in this case it is very, very good!

Interview Tomorrow!!!

Hi Everyone!  Please send good job vibes out to me tomorrow a.m. at 8:30.  I have a job interview!!  It is with a really good company and I'm really excited about it!  I'll let you know all about it after the interview!  Hopefully this is something good that will happen in my life after all the bad lately!

A big storm is brewing here so I better sign off!  Talk to you all tomorrow!

Tybee Island, GA Beach Trip-Part I!

My family went to Tybee Island, Ga from June 7th until today June 14th.  We had a really great vacation!  Megan and Ken came down on the 7th, Saturday but they had to leave on Monday, the 9th.  Jenny and the boys were with us for the whole week.  Kevin, Jenny's husband came down on Thursday and they went home together today.  It was so much fun having the little boys with us everyday!  I miss them so much right now.

Here are so photos from the week:

Beach Signs at AJ's Restaurant

Hibiscus

Jack in a nest with eggs at Oatland Island Wildlife Reserve, GA.

Jack getting ready to go to town for dinner.

Jenny and Owen buy a sailboat at AJ's Restaurant.

Jenny and Owen sitting in a huge beach chair.

 Jenny and Owen looking at pictures of the day.

Megan and Ken at the Crab Shack.

This oleander was growing in the yard of the beach cottage we were staying in.

 Owen in his awesome straw hat.

This beach house was across the bay from the restaurant we ate at on Thursday night.

Tomorrow I'll post some photos of Savannah.  John and I went into Savannah on Thursday for lunch and we walked around. 

Remember

This weekend is a time to reflect about those who have served, given their lives and protect this country!  Yes, there will be backyard BBQ's, parades, etc. but always remember what this day is for.  There are members in my family that have been in the Air Force, Army and Navy.  They served their country and protected us.  My one uncle was a prisoner of war in the Korean War.  He served his country, struggled to stay alive, was tortured so that you and I could remain free.  I am going to end with a poem that we listened to every Memorial Day when we lived in a little town in NJ called Branchville:

The GreatWar 1914-1918

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Today is my youngest daughters birthday!  Jenny turned 31 today! I remember when she was a little girl she would run around just like a little bee buzzing around the house.  I even called her bee for a little while! 

Jenny is a wonderful daughter, mother, sister, friend, wife!  Jenny loves art and music, her boys, her honeybees, her chickens and pretty much life.  Jenny is a very strong person.  I remember Jenny riding her horse Sadie.  The first time she took a jumping lesson, my heart was in my throat!  She did great though-sailed right over the jump and had a huge smile on her face.  She was about 8 years old.  I remember when she was downhill ski racing in high school and I climbed to the top of the mountain to watch here.  She whizzed by my and again my heart was in my throat but she won her race that day.  Again a huge smile on her face.  Some things in Jenny's life has been very challenging for her but she always pulls through and has that smile on her face.  I'm so proud of her!

I hope Jenny has an awesome day today because she deserves it!  We won't be getting together to celebrate tonight because we celebrated on Saturday night instead.  They have friends from out of town visiting so that is why the celebration was on Saturday night instead.

Love you Jenny!!

Peony from a Friend

I took this picture of this peony bud for a reason.  Over twenty years ago my dear friend, Esther gave me this peony plant.  I lived in Branchville, NJ then.  She told me that because I was a gardener like her and I treasured my plants she would give me part of her peony plant that she had for over 50 years.  This peony blooms earlier than any of the other peonies and it is a beautiful pink/light magenta color.  When I moved down here to Charlotte, I planted this peony and waited and waited nothing happened.  The plant came up ever year but it never budded up and bloomed.  I have been in Charlotte now for almost 10 years (June of this year will be 10).  I noticed the other day that about 10-12 buds have formed and is getting ready to bloom!!  I was so happy, I quickly got John and showed him.  He knows what this plant means to me.  I will be taking a few photos of the peony when it is in full bloom for sure!

The reason why this plant has a special place in my heart is because about 2 years ago Esther my beloved friend passed away.  Esther was 106 when she died.  She was a truly wonderful, spiritual and one of the most positive friends I have ever encountered.  I meet Esther through my church.  She and I went through Disciple I together.  We found we had a love for gardening and old fashioned things.  We used to have tea.  She would get out her silver tea service and I would walk the girls down to her house and everyone would have tea!  Of course, the girls tea was more milk than tea.  Esther taught me how to weave.  I joined the weaver's guild in Warren County with her.  She also brought me to the spinner's guild in Warren County.  We could talk for hours about our gardens, our children, the birds that frequented our gardens and yards and about our faith. Esther kind of reminded me of Katherine Hepburn.  They were both strong women.  There will never be anyone else in my life like Esther, she was one of a kind!  Where ever you are Esther, I hope you are looking down and smiling at the peony bud/flowers!!