I have been creating!!

I have been busy creating earrings and have posted them on my etsy site- cherylmcdermitt1.  It felt so good to go through all the gemstones I have and create things.  Then I took photos of them, edit them, named them and put them on the site.  Here are a few of my creations:

I have been sketching some necklace ideas and some bracelet ideas too!  Yesterday I bought alot of supplies to make some more things.  It has been a great time for me!!

Short Ribs Thursday and TGIF!!

So far my Friday is turning out to be a good one :)!  Jenny asked me to watch Jack for just a little while so she could go to an appointment.  I read 2 stories to him with sound effects and everything-LOL!!  He loves that!  Then Jenny treated Jack and I to lunch.  Then we went to Ollie's so I could get my peppercorns for my grinder.  Then I treated myself to a much needed pedicure!!  I didn't go to my usual place in Matthews, I went to My Bella Spa in Mint Hill.  It was so relaxing and wonderful!!  I read the whole entire time, so it was double relaxing for me! 

Tonight DH and I are going out for dinner.  Don't know where we are going just yet, but DH would like to go out and spend some time together!  No specific plans for the weekend but it will be nice just to chill out with DH!  Sunday night Jenny and the boys will come for dinner like they normally do.  I have to think of something to cook for them-we can't have pizza all the time-LOL!!  Well Jack and Owen think we can!

Last night I made short ribs in my cast iron pot.  Oh my goodness were they good! My Dad always raised grass fed beef.  This is the last freezer full of his beef we will get.  I will really miss his wonderful beef!  I didn't do anything fancy with the short ribs, I just cooked them with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onions and a little water.  I seared all 4 sides then turned them way down to simmer for a few hours.  Here are some photos:

Searing short ribs in my cast iron pot.

I added onions, salt, pepper and garlic powder.  I also added a little water.

Short Ribs almost all done.

The short ribs all done and ready to serve.

I served the short ribs with fresh carrots and noodles.  What a lovely dinner!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the day and weekend!!

Getting more exercise!

When it came time on New Year's Eve to make new resolutions I didn't make any.  I usually say the same old things every year and this year I chose not to.  But as it has worked out one of the resolutions I have almost always said is to get more exercise!  Well I have been walking with Jenny two mornings this week.  The first day was Tuesday and we walked 1.5 miles.  Today we walked 2.25 miles!  We are going to try to walk on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Those are the days Jack has Pre-K.  It works out perfect!  Of course if the weather doesn't cooperate, then we won't walk and if we have other appointments we won't walk either.  I bought a pair of Sketchers gel sole sneakers not too long ago and I love them!!  They are perfect for my walks.  I had broken my foot in 8 places about 15 years ago and I had surgery on that foot.  So it is very important for me to have a comfortable shoe for walking.  This is the first sneaker that works!!

Everyone have a great day!!

Wednesday, 1.08.17

Today I had to take Emma for her vet check up.  Good thing I took her, she has a double ear infection poor thing!  She has meds and should be back to normal soon.

Jenny, Jack and I had lunch today.  I enjoyed having lunch with one of my favorite little men!!

Jack 1.18.17

For a few years now Jenny has been knitting hexagons out of left over yarn or yarn people have given her.  She started sewing them together and this is the results so far!!

It looks like a quilt!  She is doing an amazing job!!  This is only a small section of what she has done.  It will look so beautiful when she is all done!!  Great job Jen!!!

Well off to clean up the office some more!!  Everyone have a great afternoon and evening!!

Tuesday, a day of new beginnings!

Today started out wonderful.  Jenny and I walked twice around our block which is a mile.  It was great having a good walk and talk with Jenny.  Owen is in school and Jack is in Pre-K.  We will be walking pretty much on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays when the weather cooperates or we don't have other things that need to be tended to. 

After Jenny left I started organizing the downstairs of the house and dusting.  Usually I dread this task, but today is was actually therapeutic!  Now I am sitting in the office, I hear the wind chimes on the front porch, the diffuser is on and I have Peaceful Piano playing on Spotify, with puppy, Emma laying here besides me sleeping away.  Can't get much better than this!! 

After lunch I think I am going to attack sorting thru things on the desk.  I need to get my act together in that department.  I am also going to save some time to knit and listen to my book on audible!  I haven't done any knitting in some time.  Not sure how Emma is going to handle the yarn and not want to bite at it, but she will learn.

I hope everyone is having an amazing day!!

Sometimes You Just Have to Do What You Have to Do!

Everyone is probably wondering what I'm talking about in the title of this post.  Well today I quit my job.  It has been stressful, not good for my health at all, negative and just plain ridiculous at times!  I came home from work on Friday and I told John that the meeting with my boss and supervisor was the last straw.  I typed up my resignation, made a list of things for HR to know about and then chilled out for the rest of the night.  I am going to take some time off.  I started not feeling very good about 2 weeks ago because of all the stress.  My health and well-being is more important than putting up with the circus I have been dealing with for sure!  Now I am going to turn my life towards happier, healthier and less stressful things. 

I am going to get back to making some jewelry, soap, knitting, reading books and just plain resting.  I just started a book called The Titans by Leila Meacham. 

Photo Courtesy of Goodreads.com

I have a shawl I started called Lilli Pilli that I need to get out and start working on.

Lilli Pilli Shawl Photo Courtesy of Ravelry.com

 
My youngest daughter, Jenny and I want to make soap.  We talked about getting started on that.  I will be selling some on etsy.  I'll let you know when it is on there if you are interested.  I am really excited about that!!

I will also be drinking alot of tea while I read.  I have so many favorites and some new ones to try.  Looking forward to that.  I also will be doing some pencil drawings.  I have some pictures I would like to try to draw.

There are so many things that are so positive that I can do to undo the negativity!!  This is a life-changing day for me!!  Life is too short my friends!  Carpe diem!!

Late Summer and Fall in Our Home

I am sorry friends for being away so long!  I have not had a very good late Summer and Fall.  My Dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer the end of August and passed away on December 6th.  My Dad lived a very long life and had a very good life.  On Halloween, he turned 80 and that was one of the things he wanted to accomplish.  My Dad was a husband, father and his profession as a residential builder was something he really loved.  Christmas was great but after we had spent the day with Jenny, Kevin, the grandboys, Megan and Ken we came home and the first thing I saw was the large dough bowl my Dad hand carved for me.  I have to admit I had a good cry.  John hugged me until I caught my breathe and stopped crying.  It is very hard losing someone who has always been there.  My Dad was of German-Dutch descent and he was very strict and a no-nonsense kind of man but in his own way he loved us.  Dad made wonderful wooden inlaid bowls.  I have 4 or 5 of them.  He also made my sisters, their children, my children and myself many pieces of furniture.  I am sitting here in the office in our house looking at the beautiful built-in bookshelves and cabinets that go along one whole wall.  I look on my desk and one of Dad's bowls is here for me to admire every time I sit here.  My Dad taught me many things about carpentry.  I worked hand and hand with him making something in his shop when I was growing up.  The family joke was I could hammer better than my husband when we got married!!  Sometimes I didn't understand some of the things my Dad taught me or why I even had to do them, but I appreciate what he did teach me now.  When you are a child you really don't understand everything you are asked to do or shown but when you become an adult you learn to appreciate what was asked of you or shown to you as a child.  I learned many, many things from my Dad.  Some good and a few not great.  My Dad had a really bad temper when he was younger, which mellowed out somewhat as he got older.  No matter how things were between Dad and I, I know that if I called him he would try to help or try and figure out what was going on.  He never spoiled us but he usually pointed us in the direction that would help us figure out how to deal with what was happening in our life.  I do know he loved taking my grandboys, Owen and Jack, his great-grandchildren for rides on his antique tractors.  I have photos of him taking them for rides and really enjoying himself.  Those tractors were his pride and joy!  I know I have to be an adult and not dwell on Dad not being here but I tell you he will be missed by me!  Love you Dad!

Dad when he was 16 or 17 with his favorite cow, Marina.

Mom and Dad's Wedding 4-5-1958

My Uncle John is in the doorway and my Dad is leaning up against the house.  I don't know where this was taken but it had to be the early 1970's.

10-2016 My Dad having a conversation with Owen.

Dad, Mom and I 2014 or 2015.