Time Travel and other Adventures

For some odd reason I am really struggling with this morning's post. I actually wrote my Mosaic Monday post last night, but I didn't like it last night and I didn't like it even more this morning.  The Year in Review thing just isn't working for me because as I go through my photo library of hundreds if not thousands (but who's counting) of photos, I am having a very hard time selecting which photos best represent last year.

So I decided to start by looking forward because it seems a bit more manageable to look at the next few months.

I will be doing a lot of reading. I am half way through book 4 in the Outlander series. My dear friend has read all eight books in the series twice, if not more, insisting all the way that I should read them. After watching the Starz mini series last summer, I was hooked. Clair, a nurse in WWII gets launched back in time to 1745 Scotland and there her adventures begin when she marries the handsome clansman Jamie Frazier. The books are lengthy, 600-800 pages each, so they require long periods of non-stop reading. Okay by me on these snowy days.

My reading list also has a plethora of catalogs that feed my passions, some coming unsolicited. These will do until the gardening catalogs begin next month. I am working on dollhouses, so of course, I study the Miniatures.Com catalog. Now looking for lights for the farmhouse that I am renovating.

After seeing Diane's Madame Alexander 18 inch dolls on her blog other other day, I am thinking that perhaps. . . .? Maybe? The American Girl Doll catalog intrigues me, but I am leaning towards the Madame A doll.

Speaking of dollhouses. The ballet studio needs it roof shingled. 

 I purchased this farmhouse at an antique-junk store. Don't ask me why. I just had to have it.

I feel like the HGTV show Rehab Addict with the pretty, perky blond woman who buys old houses destined to be razed for $1.00 and restores them to their original grandeur. I am neither pretty, perky, nor blond, just an aging woman reverting to her childhood. 

Once the old walls are stripped and sanded, I will feel that I have accomplished something. I am also working on the electrical system, thus the catalog page turned to light fixtures. You can catch up on my dollhouse adventures on my other blog Anns Dollhouse Dreams. I haven't spent much time with that blog. I need to work out some Google bugs. If you sign on, your comments are emailed to me so that I can keep up with the one or two followers who  have probably given up on the blog since I don't post to it regularly.

My dear friend sent me a box full of her departed aunt's hankies. I have seen those beautiful hankies made into Barbie dresses on Pinterest, so I have grand plans of doing the same. So grand daughter Lucy and I hit ARC Friday to look for suitable Barbies. We came home with several @ 99 cents apiece. I wonder how these dolls end up in the thrift store. I picture some college age girl home for the holidays becoming nostalgic for her childhood best friend Barbie and goes on a frantic search of the basement storage looking for her childhood dolls. When she can't find them, she asks her mom where there are. Donated. What? She cries, yells. Swears never to forgive her momma. Oh please. However, I do have my first Christmas doll, Susie. I understand. So if Barbie is lucky, she will be rescued by an old lady who was too old for Barbie in 1959.

She will look smashing in this pretty pink gown.

Crocheting always remains on my TO Do List. I made dozens of the fingerless gloves as little gifts for friends. The dark blue pair will go to my son-in-law's sister. When she saw what I was crocheting, she raved about how perfect a pair would be for her job. Another pretty, perky, little blond woman who is a roofer, working along side her dad and brother.

Looking Back over the best of 2014:

 Sunny days with golden horses with sweet little girls.

And pretty pink summer flowers

Sweet Berries and Golden Butterflies

Lions, Tigers, and Bears, too.

And a new puppy joined the Garden Spot Crew

Boone Doggle, a rescue pup half German Short Hair Pointer and part 

Weimaraner.

A rescue pup, one lucky dog, I'd say.

We said a sad good-bye to dear, sweet companion Country who had been with us for 18 years.

And then woke up one morning to see that the Gnomes had taken over the Toad Abode.

It was a year to get some projects done:

The water feature began to take shape

And the old patio was transformed into a beautiful pergola

The house got painted and what a chore that was.

There is plenty to do today: I'll put way the Christmas Cheer. All the pretties will go back in their boxes and crates for another year.

2015:

I'll take time to enjoy the little things in life this year like the joy of watching the winter birds at the backyard feeder, spending time with the grandchildren, and maybe we can take a trip or two. Certainly work hard in the garden, hoping to do better this year. Staying healthy, counting blessings, helping others, being kind and loving and trying not to get so depressed if the Broncos don't make it to Super Bowl or worse lose if they do, praying that our leaders can make our lives safer and simpler--well I can hope, can't I?

To you my dear readers and friends, I wish the same for you: happiness, joy, peace, tranquility. That you keep busy and that your garden grows sweetly and with good cheer.

Thank you so much for visiting today. Join us at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday hosted by Judith to see more great mosaics.

Happy New Year.