I’m thinking tonight is a good time to share this little video ‘cuz it pushes my moody post down a bit and I may have some new visitors to this little blog. I certainly don’t want them thinking I’m a grumpy pants. :) I think of this song every year around this time and I’ve been patiently waiting for the leaves to start changing and Halloween to be near to post it here on the blog so others might appreciate it the way I do. :)

That Martina sure has a way of tugging at your heartstrings doesn’t she?

So why am I worried about new blog visitors you might ask? Because the incredibly  sweet Kim over at Today’s Creative Blog has featured my little ‘ol blog today. Just because I made a little blinkie for her that I now get to display proudly here. :)  I’m totally flattered and I hope her readers aren’t too disappointed if they drop by.

When I look at the list of blogs that she’s featured I feel a little like I’m back in high school and just trying to be part of the cool group but worried that my clothes aren’t cool enough or I’m not funny enough or my bangs aren’t big enough (oh yeah, that style went out years ago, didn’t it). :)  I should probably go re-read my sweet friend Nancy’s blog post for today. :)

Speaking of music there’s some GREAT tunes on the blogpod. Like who hasn’t fallen in love with Ingrid Michaelson’s song on the Old Navy sweater commercial? And Natalie Grant’s latest release which I hope means a new album soon although I couldn’t seem to find any talk of one. Natalie’s got a pretty sweet website design too. Love checking out music artists websites. Courtney DeLaura posted about Rilo Kiley on her blog recently and ever since I’ve been hooked. Fun stuff. And then there’s a song called Falling Slowly that’s actually been in two movies that I’ve seen recently. This one, which was rather disappointing, especially for having a rather impressive cast but this one was really really good. The entire thing looked like it was filmed by someone’s dad with a handheld video recorder but I just loved the music and the story and, speaking of accents, I could listen to that strong Irish accent all day long. :)

Kay, back to work on blogs and probably watch the bachelor. I’m still watching (sortof) but I’m a little bored with it. Bring on So You Think You Can Dance. :)

Have a great night!

Found these little cards here and filled one out digitally Friday night.

Feeling a little better now but it’s been a rough week. Seeing a grandmother who was always so strong and independent become so frail is tough. Seeing her casket carried to the gravesite next to my grandfathers by my brother and cousins was even more difficult. But to be honest I think it’s entirely different circumstances that made the loss of my grandma this week particularly difficult. Circumstances that I chose for myself that I don’t regret but that seem to emphasize otherwise bearable feelings of being alone. The email from my mom letting us know that Grandma had peacefully passed on came late Tuesday night after any friends that I could call had already gone to bed. Going to bed alone each night is a lonely feeling anyway but it’s emphasized when you could really just use a hug. Going home to an empty house after the visitation Thursday night was equally emotional for me, emphasized by a severe storm (which I normally love) and tornado warnings nearby (which is a bit scary when you’re in a 2nd floor apartment). I live alone by choice so I’m not looking for pity. I just want to remember what this time in life was like for me and this is my only journal so those of you who read unfortunately get the bad with the good.

Fortunately there is good to share too. I’m feeling better today. Wishing there were 2 more days to the weekend. But I got to spend alot of the day yesterday surrounded by the most adorable nieces and nephews on the planet. Sharing tiny cookie bites with Ainsley, watching Isa wink, cuddling with Selah in the nursery and getting one of the world’s best hugs from Paige just a few of the good bits.

And I haven’t even blogged about me new sweet baby niece that I got to hold for quite awhile Thursday night. She was such a honey. This is Gracyn Kay. You can see lots more pictures of her here.

Off to work today and then working on blog designs tonight. I decided it was time to start a separate blog to post about the design stuff. I felt like it was sortof taking over this blog. So if you are interested in what’s going on in the blog design part of life you’ll find all that here from now on. I have a lot of ideas for this new blog including links to fun blogging tools, advice on posting, tutorials and of course posts about the current blogs I’m working on. So, the following is the last (well, last regular) peek at a blog that I’ll be finishing up hopefully tonight…

And finally a fun little quiz that I stumbled across and had to check it out for myself. I think it was right on for me. Funny cuz I really never think of myself as having an accent. Apparently mine is an Inland North accent. What’s yours?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak “Standard English straight out of the dictionary” but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like “Are you from Wisconsin?” or “Are you from Chicago?” Chances are you call carbonated drinks “pop.”
The Midland
The Northeast
Philadelphia
North Central
The South
The West
Boston
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Have a great Monday.

I remember…

Summers at the Conference Grounds and her firm belief that the black sand on the beach was caused by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Saint Helens. I’m still not buyin’ that. Or how the water in lake Michigan could basically cure any illness or rash, especially poison ivy.

Sunday dinners where she mostly sat quietly and observed the craziness of a table set for 14.

Having a stash of pop and munchies in our bedroom when Grandma would watch us for the weekend because “pop turns your insides all black”.

Cod Liver Oil —> *shivers*

A ride with her and Grandpa to visit my cousins in Canada. The trip should take us straight east across the state of Michigan and then on into Canada. Instead somehow we ended up so far off track that we were passing Amish buggies on the road. Now the only amish area I knew of in the area is due South down in Indiana. That’s a pretty major wrong turn. Not a particularly fun trip but one I’ll never forget.

She was beautiful with great skin and a metabolism like none other. Two traits that I hope she passed down.

A hairdresser she was not. (poor mom – that had to be rough) LOL

She was a horrible driver and when they finally took her car away she called the cops to report it stolen. That’s my grandma.

But she did have a green thumb and was a pretty good seamstress.

She volunteered endless hours, refused to turn down any charitable cause and even took people into her own home who seemed less fortunate.

And, although it seemed their entire lives that they never got along, when my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer she never left his side. He was a gem and he loved her. You could tell. I’m thinkin’ there must’ve been something pretty special about her.

Right about now she’s probably up in heaven getting one of Grandpa’s scruffy cheek kisses. Man I miss those. And she gets to see my uncle Bob. He was a gem too. And hold Jacob. How sweet that would be. Hope she’s giving ‘em all kisses for me.

I know I haven’t blogged in forever and I have so much to blog about but tonight I just wanted to get some thoughts down about my Grandma. She passed away earlier tonight after a rather short fight with cancer and a much longer struggle with alzheimers. It hadn’t really occurred to me until the other night in her room that she was my last living grandparent. I regret that I didn’t spend more time going through photos with her or learning some old fashioned sewing tips. I’m proud of my mom for taking such good care of her. I hope she’s resting peacefully tonight knowing Grandma’s finally home.

I promise to be back soon with more of an update. Right now I’m off to bed but I do have a post full of fun blog news including:

• a big blog move announcement and fun new design options
• updates on 2 projects that I mentioned WAY back in my last post a month ago. (One that’s done and turned out super fun, the other unfortunately took a rather different turn)
• A store update
• TV show thoughts…the Bachelor, Brothers & Sisters…
• and LONG overdue photos and announcements.

In the meantime, go hug your grandmas.