A Non-realistic, Realistic, not put on for the Camera....

Day in the life @ The Frumpy House!

Well, I think that you have this deep seated need to know us on a more intimate level. Yeah, right!!

It's been about a month back that I thought just for the fun of it, I'd snap pics with the iPhone throughout the day....just so people could see what we are really like.  With a few "filters" lets say....thanks to Instagram (which is prob'ly my all time fave app on my phone).

So, here goes.  Just for you, all 26 of you!!  (hehehehe!)

Breakfast, the works since it was a non-working day!

Start of the destruction...aka getting the toys out!

We like us a LOT of music @ The Frumpy House (professional & non)

We also like to play a lot of board games....as u will see!

Time for a 2nd cup of coffee and a movie

Movie & snacks for the girlies...yes, we "encourage" eating off the floor (no dishwasher in The Frumpy House)

A bit of reading time for mom, while the girls play some computer games

A quick fix for lunch....everything bagel with hummus, tomato, zucchini, turkey, onion & provolone

After lunch dance groove...we are all up in that!

While we are still groovin' momma's whippin butt in checkers

A little bit of dolly action with the youngest girly!

The man takes some time out...sitting and reading a book isn't usual for him!

Some of the dinner....baked zucchini. YUM!

Girlies are playing with the cousin from FL. they loved having him for 4 wks.

An evening snack!?!??! Lemon slices...yes, this is my picky eater!

Of course she tops it off with one of these...

Packin' the eldest up for a 3 day camp! Yeah! (oh, did I say that out loud)

And because I can't be bothered with a full blown bath time...feet washing in the sink!

After feet & teeth are clean....bedtime stories are in the line up!
This is one of MY favorite books!!

There you go...a "picture" perfect day @ The Frumpy House.  Believe me when I say, it's not all pretty like this...ya know it!

What's a Mom to do?

There are still three weeks left of the summer vacay....even my seven year old was moaning about that (as in that's a long time to wait for school to start). A girl after her Mother's heart!

We have been busy, or I could say mommy's been busy, the last 2 weekends. Running a yard sale & lemonade stand. Let's just say, mommy made it through the heat better than the Girlies. By the second weekend they weren't wanting to run the lemonade stand!!

We did well. It was a surreal feeling to be going through boxes of Grandma Patty's things. It took Greg & I 4 hours to get through 8 boxes/totes that held papers & photos all mixed together!! We found some interesting things....

....a box of love letters from boys in the military from '67-'69. Funny!

....report cards from GP, Greg & his brother. Funnier!! (that's 5th grade GP in her white flowered dress & saddle shoes @ the end of the front row)

....cards from Greg's dad to GP from the early years of marriage. Funniest!!!

Sooo many pictures!! It was kinda fun reminiscing about her childhood (from what we gathered in paper & pictures).
Finding things from the boy's childhood, Greg telling stories about what he remembered!

Although, I did call my parents that evening & told them this..." I love you. I have many fond memories of my childhood.....PLEASE, don't save all our papers, pictures (multiples) & report cards!! It's too much to deal with!"

That being said, we did well with the yard sales & this crazy momma is prob'ly gonna run it again Labor Day weekend....because we just don't have enough insanity around here!!

HAHAHA.....

--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

I Can't Be Alone....

PLEASE BE CAUTIONED: THIS MAY NOT BE GOOD READING MATERIAL FOR THOSE WHO ARE AT THEIR PEAK OF CONTENTMENT, ENJOYMENT OR
HAPPINESS IN THEIR ROLE OF MOTHERHOOD. CONTINUE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

...in these thoughts of running away. Going somewhere, anywhere, that is new, exciting, peaceful, calm, unstressed stressless uh....kid-free!!


A  place where I can think (without being interrupted). Where there is comfort, serenity and all around lightness/airiness.  You know a place where you can lay back & not feel shut in. Not feel trapped, by four walls, responsibilities, stressors or demands.

here

A place where you can be real...not what others are expecting you to be/do. Sleeping in until you wake naturally (be it 2 a.m. or 2 p.m.). Eating when & what you want. Not having to fix what you know others like, what they feel the cravings for, what you hope they will eat. Where a pair of shorts and a tee can be worn without people thinking you aren't stylish enough. Where if you want to wear a dress, for the first time in 9 yrs., no one will look at you and ask "Where are you going?" or "Why are you wearing that".

via Pinterest

The place where music is what you want to listen to at that moment, where the lights can be off and candles lit without anyone getting any "ideas", where books are plentiful and no one cares if you sit/lay around and read all day.

found here

A coffee can be had whenever you feel the need for that flavor, without having to worry about being awake all night....'cause you don't need to worry about responsibilities hittin' you in the face @ 6 a.m. when your caffeine kept you up 'til 4a.m.!!

Here

OH, I HEAR YA....YOU WANTED TO BE A MOTHER!! YOU WANTED TO BE A WIFE!! YOU CHOSE TO HAVE A HUSBAND AND CHILDREN....NO ONE FORCED YOU TO!

TRUE.....
Lets just say, some things don't ALWAYS turn out to be what you dreamed they'd be. Some things/husbands/children are not perfect...as I am not perfect. THAT my dear readers is what brings me to this place.

Not that I don't want to be a wife and mom and do the things I do for my family (okay, I would've given up fixing and trying to get my kids to eat, like 5 years ago!!). Realistically, I would never give it up...well, maybe for a week month how long do sabbaticals usually last?

I'm pretty sure that these feelings of taking off for the unknown will pass, as it has before. Probably when school starts up again & I don't have to be on the receiving end of whiney kids 24/7!!

How bout you? Instead of a "fun family vacation" would you like to take a solo leave of absence?

So if you see something like this headin' down the back roads of Michigan...don't let the hubby & kids know you saw me!

Here

Sometimes it's in....

the Details!

When I find things out thrifting there are certain things that I buy out of necessity. Clothes for the Girlies, items for etsy, or storage needs (baskets r cheap in the thrifts people!).

Then there are things that I buy because they make me smile. The little things, the details are aesthetically pleasing to me.
I walked through the house this morning a took a few snapshots of things that I have decorated my home with. They make me feel comfy, at home, settled, happy when I walk in & see them! They aren't what I live for....but they sure make living a little brighter! Enjoy!
FIGURINES











Chenille Bedspread





Curtains


Pleated Lampshade


EMBROIDERY





Pictures in Girlies rooms





A Worn but Pretty Wedgewood Plate


Painting


Vintage Globes


Huge Vintage Twig Basket I store linens in



I hope you all have items around your home that make you smile when you see them. Be it a memory from when or where or who you got it with. Or maybe just an inexpensive item you brought home from the thrift cause it was delightful to you!!



--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

Latest but prob'ly not....

Greatest. This weekend to keep myself occupied I decided to do a small project that has literally been sitting in the living room for quite a few months.

I bought this set of HomeCo owls @ GW for .99 each. They were kinda fun as they were. The one owl had a look of "whatever" on his face, similar to the eye rolling my oldest is trying to perfect.



Hmmm, they are both lucky I don't knock their blocks off!! Haha

Well, I happened to have a set of quail that I bought @ GW almost a year ago while on vacation. I liked the all white look, it makes a statement. Since I'm trying to act like I know about decor, I tho't maybe I should take some paint to the owls too.....



Matchy-matchy is good....right!?

Well, I decided to do the deed this weekend & here's how it turned out....



The brownness & the yellow eyes!!



Gonna get 'er done!!



Layer one.....covered well. Four layers later...



The finished product back on the dusty stand!! I like'em. May do another layer of high gloss paint to get 'em nice & shiny!!



See no more annoyed facial expressions!! Haha




--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

Trying....

To get back in my groove, my schedule, my "loco-motive"!! Trying to just plain concentrate on life & living it. It seems like my body is here (believe me it's all still here), but the mind isn't focusing.

Maybe it's the fact that we had an unexpected extra week off work. Greg's been home all week, picking up after everyone, doing load after load of laundry (after load, after load!!).

Maybe it's the fact that the girls don't seem to want to even try to get along & play with each other, or friends that come to play.

With the week long bedside vigil, the weeklong trip for funeral, visiting family & the benefit concert. Staying @ brother & sister in laws house is a blessing, but it's not the same as staying in your own home, with your own bed & your own chores!!

In all of this I've missed my blogging. My etsy work (from the shopping, to the pictures & listing). My routine. Who new I was such a stickler for schedules!!!! HAHAHAHA!

This morning the girls & Greg were up early. I had the privilege of sleeping with Lauryn in my bed last night....sleeping being a relative term! While Greg & Liyah had a sleepover in the living room after our movie. Let's just say, this mom slept in til almost 9 am....& then drug myself out of the bed for some coffee!

We were all outside early this morning. While they were all running around crazy playing tag, hide n seek & hitting the wiffle ball I was walking around looking at the plants in my flower beds. They are mostly all flowering now so I got to take some pics....it made me feel some better. Doing something that is more familiar & calming.




The skies this morning! Beautiful & bright!



My hollyhocks have almost all gone, blossomed while we were out of town.



One of my three lavender bushes has blossomed. I was watching a honeybee buzz around, he's in this pic somewhere!



Most of my roses blossomed while we were gone too. This is just a little bud starting to open.



Some "Mary Beans" growing on the bush...maybe they will be ready by next week!

So Greg & I are back to our regular work schedule next week. Hopefully that means I'll feel more like myself, & actually feel like a productive part of this family again (not just the cook, cleaner & referee)!!

How is everyone else's summer going!?
I continue to see pics on Twitter & Instagram of other produce from gardens...our big garden down @ my Mom's house might actually give up some veggies next week! Yeah, I can hardly wait for fresh homegrown veg again!!

I'm looking forward to finding "normal" again, no matter how insane it may appear to others!



--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone

The end...

It has been a long 2 1/2 weeks since I wrote last. It has bothered me that I haven't written, but there has been no inspiration. No drive. No sarcasm. No crazies. Just tiredness, real bone deep tiredness.

You see, Grandma Patty is gone from our lives here on this earth.

The woman, who when she first laid eyes on me, smiled a huge smile, hugged me tight & said she was so happy to meet me.

The woman who came & stayed with me when I had Lauryn. When she could still travel to Nashville on her own. Who could still cook & did it very well I must say!!

The same woman who came when Liyah was born. Who had to get a ride to Murfreesboro, TN. Who couldn't cook anymore without forgetting that she had burners on....yet could still take a morning walk with Lauryn just to give me a break from a toddler.

The very same woman who spoiled all four of her granddaughters with every penny she could spare. Who loved to hold them, cuddle them & hum to them when she could no longer remember the words to the songs she knew so well.

The same woman who moved in to live with us. Utterly unable to care for herself, so frustrated that she KNEW what she wanted to say & do, but unable to make her mouth speak or her hands work as she used to!

The same woman who loved her sons unconditionally, her 4 sisters & 2 brothers unequivocally!! The one who missed her "mommy" unashamedly when she passed away.

The one who in her last 10 days of life could not eat or drink. Who when a favorite niece called her to tell her she loved her, found the strength to raise her arms & let out a moan. Who continued to tap her toes to the Southern Gospel music, until there was no strength to do so.

This woman, who has been so much to so many. A daughter & sister first of all. A best friend & niece & aunt secondly.

Who loved her boys & granddaughters with her whole being, even through the 8 years of dementia taking away her mind & mobility.

This is the Grandma Patty we will miss.

Will I miss the early morning wanderings? No.
Will I miss the ever challenging mealtimes? No
Will I miss the hit & misses when it came to toileting? NO!

I WILL miss the smile, the laughter, the shopping, the movies, the family get togethers @ Camp Coutney in NC. I will miss her not being here to see her granddaughters grow up. For her to be around giving them good memories of their Grandma Patty.

This one thing I know...she is in a better place! I don't say that lightly. I believe it! I believe there is a God, who loves his creation. I know Patty believed in God & was his adopted child....an heir to his kingdom. I also believe that in heaven there is no crying, no pain, no weakness or loneliness! I know that she has a new body, a new mind & is relishing the fellowship with her Lord & her loved ones!!

Though we are sad she is no longer here to see, to hug to talk to....we are so very joyful that there is going to be a heavenly reunion & she will be more than she ever was on this old earth!!

With love we said our good byes & with love we will greet her with hugs in heaven!!




Grandma Patty's hand, held many times throughout our week of bedside vigil. She left her human body knowing her family loved her dearly!





--Jeanette using BlogPress on iPhone