Little man is now a proper "Robin"

 Just in time for Halloween! 

I told the story in a previous post how my little grandson and his brothers played costume and while the older boys had proper Batman and Spiderman costumes little Alex had the left over costume parts and would dress up and tell me "I'm Robin".  I felt so bad for the little guy and after I returned from my visit to their home in OKC I went on a "Robin" costume search. 

Thinking since the Halloween costume stores were all open this time of year, I'd find Robin.  Was I wrong!
The clerks all told me "Robin is not popular anymore" and none had a Robin.  So I bought the supplies needed in the craft store and got to work making one of my own.

 The best part Robin simply wore a red shirt with black cape. It was easy enough to recreate.  Since I needed to make a large black circle I used a cooking pot to trace shape.

Used simple paper to cut a letter R Stencil  and used craft paint to create the letter and tool belt.

 As for the mask, well that was just as easy.  I bought a simple party mask and cut it to the rounded shape Robin is famous for. A Black marker to paint around the white styro showing and it was perfect.

 The costume arrived at Alex's house this week and now my little man can battle with the best of them.
He was so surprised and happy! That makes this  grandma smile.

I've been at my daughters house in Jupiter the past few days helping her build her bedroom closet into something special.  We took this large dis-functional space'

So far so good, it's working and looking good.

I love to see women with power tools!

 Another day of closet building and I'll be sure to show the reveal in a few days. Cyndi is so happy and excited to complete this special project.

More to come!

Metamorphosis Monday

Tuesday's To Do List 

Create and Share 

Wow Us Wednesday 

USUFRUCTUARY.. hugh? What did you say?

Jenny over at "Alphabet Thursday" wants us to use the letter "U"  Well,  I just don't want to use the usual words like, under, or upside down, I thought to find a word that most of us have never heard of. But, know what,  I'm sure we all do this from time to time but did we know it?

 USUFRUCTUARY

Right that allows the use of property that belongs to another. The owner of land that bounds or contains a natural water channel has a usufructuary right to use of the water. The water itself is considered to be held by the public with all adjacent property owners holding rights to its use. Restrictions on that use vary under state law.

 This term comes from Roman law. Usufruct is the right of temporary possession and enjoyment of something that belongs to somebody else, so far as that can be done without causing damage or changing its substance. For example, a slave in classical Rome could not own anything. Things he acquired as the result of his labour he merely held usus (et) fructus, under “use (and) enjoyment” — it was his master who actually owned them.

The term remains in use in modern US legal practice and elsewhere to mean somebody who “enjoys the fruits” of something, usually land. These days a usufructuary can be a trustee who enjoys the produce or income from property he holds in trust for somebody else. Many Native American groups hold land on a usufruct basis, with rights to enjoy the renewable natural resources of the land for hunting and fishing.

 Well, I know I enjoy the fruits of another persons property.. a few of my neighbors have grapefruit trees and they told me "Take all you want"  

You know I do!!

I'll be joining Jenny Matlock over at 

Alphabet Thursday 

Going to my daughters for the week to build her master closet... my kind of week!

I'll be going to my daughters home in Jupiter for the next week. She and I are going to take her large long closet and turn it into something wonderful.  Were going to measure then have the HD guy cut the wood wood and then build selves and cubbys to hold the large amount of clothing  she has scattered in several closets through out her house.

Some of you may remember I took my own closet and turned it into my very own Better Homes and Gardens creation.  

You can see how I did it here. 

Well my daughter called last week and pleaded with me to come help her build something similar in her useless closet.  I'm the kind of person that loves to do such projects and when someone I love says to me come help me build,, well I gather my tools and I'm off.

Cyndi spent last evening taking off the doors, ripping up the carpet and tearing out all the wire shelving, then  gave her closet a fresh coat of white paint.  I'm sure having all her clothing scattered around might make her nervous but once we get it going she will be fine.  

I'll be sure to take photos to show the before and after.

In the mean time I wanted to tell you about a shelf I found on Pinterest. Look at all the extra storage space for the kitchen. Although I do have a great pantry this shelf will hold so many small things.  This will be a project for me after I get home from Cyndi's. Looks easy enough.  It is on rollers and just pulls in and out.

Then there is my downstairs bathroom that I've been wanting to do for the past 6 years. It's tiny and I always knew there was a way to  make it both functional and good looking. Well again I found a photo on Pinterest (don't you just love that site!) that is perfect for my space.

 via pinterest

Look at all the built in storage.  My bath is tiny and has useless walls.  Not for long because I'm going to build it exact sometime during the winter months.

Before I go let me share a photo I received today of my beautiful 15 yr old grand daughter.  Eve lives up in Alaska and is modeling the sweater I knit for her... looks good on her, don't you think. I love how she added the belt for more decoration.

Ok, I'm off for the week but will be back. Hopefully with good news on our project.

I'm linking up to

Tuesdays To Do List 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Create and Share 

My front porch is ready for Fall...

It's that time of year, time for the  Chrysanthemums to be proudly displayed on the front porches all around America.  And of course, I had to get mine.

My porch has so many terracotta and red colors so I had to choose Yellow Mums to brighten up the space. These two were placed out there only two days ago and were full of tiny buds and this morning they are blooming bright and so colorful.

I love living in Florida. Where can you see Fall Mums growing right beside Lemon, Limes and Orchids.?

Ya know, where I live Fall is a state of mind and if you put as many touches, like the ones we had when I lived up North, it helps, really! I'm even thinking of buying a bag of Fall leaves and scattering them around the potted plants.. (hmm, wind?)

I'm ready, bring on the Fall.

 

"Have a wonderful week everyone" 

I'm linking this post to

Metamorphosis Monday 

Make It Pretty Monday 

Tears of Sadness and Joy, all at the same time...

;

Over the course of our lives we start to collect things, stuff and items that bring "Tears" of both joy and sadness when we remember the time, person or place where we first got the item.

Of the literally thousands of items in my home the Embroidery sampler that hangs on my wall today is one of those.

The story is long but in my heart, very interesting.

When I first moved into my new home back in Illinois, with my then new husband, my mom hand stitched a sampler embroidery with her rendition of my home.  I loved it.  She put so much energy into each little stitch.

The date, 1976.

 What brought this long lost thought to my mind was my bloggy friend,  Pat, over at Corn in my Coffee Pot 

 She spotted the wall hanging that has graced my walls over the years, in the background of a photo I posted in a previous post.

The story behind this also has another twist, not only did my mom embroider this beautiful sampler but during a move many years ago, my family went from Illinois to San Antonio, Tx, and this sampler came along in a moving van. Since my moms death it has hung with such pride in every home I've lived since.

My brother Tom died in 1986 and during the sad time of his death I remember asking his wife if I could have a liothograph he bought on a trip to "Boys Town, Nebraska".  He was so proud of this treasure and I so wanted to hang it in my home.  Well she said no and with tears in my eyes, I let it go.

Time and the Mr's Job  had me moving every few years and when I got to Ft. Lauderdale my Tears came flowing when I saw the movers broke the entire frame and did a bit of damage to my moms embroidery. But low and behold, behind the embroidery was this beautiful wall art that my brother cherished.  "He gave it to me" was all I could think (16 years after his death) and then again the Tears began to flow.

It's time to pass this beautiful piece of art down to my daughter.  As most of you know she now has 3 sons of her own and these brothers are so close.  Uncle Tom loved Gina when she was young,  and totally doted on her.  I know he would be proud to know it will hang in her home as her boys grow.

"Tears of joy and sadness all rolled into one"

A special thank you to "Pat" for bringing back a fond memory and a Tear to my eye 

I'm linking this post up to

Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

Flaunt It Friday 

Inspiration Friday 

A Favorite Thing Saturday 

        

" Gold Star Mothers"

 Gold Star Mother’s Day is observed in the United States on the last Sunday of September each year. It is a day for people to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving the United States Armed Forces.

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The name the Gold Star Mothers was derived from the custom of military families who put a service flag near their front window. The flag featured a star for each family member serving in their country – living members were denoted in blue but gold stars honored family members who were killed while in duty. In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson approved the wearing of black arm bands bearing a gilt star by those who had a family member who died in the military service to the United States. This distinguished them from the blue stars, representing a family member presently serving in the armed forces.
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was incorporated in 1929, obtaining a federal charter from the US Congress. It began with 25 mothers living in the Washington DC area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups throughout the nation. On June 23, 1936, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother's Day, a holiday that has been observed each year by a presidential proclamation.

If you know a "Gold Star Mother" give her a hug or a phone call today, let her know your thinking of her and her sacrifice for us all.

Arranging Fresh "Cone Ginger" Flowers,

 It's a glorious Sunday here in Clearwater.  The weather is perfect and I feel great after 9 days with a vicious bout of vertigo.
  I had the physical therapy treatments and 'it's gone'!! (I'm crossing my fingers it stays gone).
I took a walk through my gardens and found the Cone Ginger was blooming.  There must be two dozen flowers and their so big.

I brought three into the house and washed them of the dirt and grime that settled in the little grooves of the large cone.
  The feel of these flowers is waxy and they held much water that had to be shaken out. I've never put these flowers in an arrangement and thought 'why not'?  

  I also cut a few Firespike and some greenery from the African Iris that grows out back.
Perfect!  I wonder how many days the arrangement will hold it's shape?  Interesting floral arrangement.....

jj

As I said, "I'm feeling great today" but will follow the therapists instructions and take it easy for one more day, so I'll work on a costume I'm making for my young grandson.  He and his brothers play costume at home and the older boys have proper "Spider Man" and "Bat Man" costumes.  Poor little Alex has parts from other costumes and tells everyone he is "Robin"

Poor little guy!  He needs a proper costume don't you think?

I have all the items I need and will get it ready for his birthday box to be mailed on Tuesday.  Just in time for Halloween also.

I wanted to send out a big "Thank You" to all who sent messages on my not feeling well.. your concern and good thoughts helped me, a lot!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

(( huggss ))

I'm joining

Sunny Simple Sunday 

Wow Us Wednesday 

Outdoor Wednesday 

Fertilizer Friday 

My Vertigo came back....

It's back!  Vertigo.

This will be my third bout with this very nasty sensation and for the past 4 days I've been dizzy. Not 24 hours a day but only when I bend or stoop or roll over while in bed or try to walk down the stairs. 

I saw my PCP Doctor two days ago and from what he tells me many people are afflicted by this.  My case came on with a vengeance from my flights home last week.  The second plane did a very slow decent and my inner ears started to hurt and it took me two days to hear properly.  Then the vertigo  hit me during the night.  How the room spun when I rolled over in my sleep.

6 months ago when I had my second bout of vertigo I went to a physical therapist who did  "Vestibular rehabilitation" (VRT), or more generally, "balance rehabilitation"  She laid me down on a large low bed of sorts and twisted and turned my head in different directions to move the crystals from my inner ear, then sent me home with a neck brace that I was to wear and not move my chin from the position she put me in, for 24 hours.  It was torture to sit sleeping and not move but know what, it worked. 

I will be going back for this treatment but they can't take me until next Friday, that is  7 days to wait!  So in the mean time I'll take the meds the doctor gave me... they make me sleepy but I can walk without being afraid of falling down from being so dizzy.  This means no driving, no crafting, no nothing. Even knitting bothers my head.

My plans for Fall decorating is out for another few weeks.

If it sounds like I'm whining, yes I am.  This is no fun!  And today is the first day of Fall and it's not raining here.  

Ok,, I'll count my blessings and be grateful for what I do have and try to overlook my upcoming week of misery.

I'll not be posting for the next week or so but I'll be looking in to see what all my bloggy friends are up to and I'll be flying again in the months ahead but this time I'll take my Doctors advice and put in a really good pair of ear plugs before boarding.

It's been two weeks now and the treatment worked. I love my physical therapist, she knows her job!  Who knew a bit of rolling over would move the crystals in my ears and eliminate  the dizzy!

 

 "Happy Fall Everyone"

I'm linking up to Jenny Matlocks

for the letter "V"

Alphabet Thursday 

It's looking a lot like Pumpkin time.....

It's that time of the year.  

Pumpkin time and I've noticed all around blog land and in magazines the pumpkin is coming out in full force.

A Short History of the Pumpkin
Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C.

References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for "large melon" which is "pepon." "Pepon" was changed by the French into "pompon." The English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion." American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin."

Native American Indians used pumpkin as a staple in their diets centuries before the pilgrims landed. They also dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. Indians would also roast long strips of pumpkin on the open fire and eat them. When white settlers arrived, they saw the pumpkins grown by the Indians and pumpkin soon became a staple in their diets. As today, early settlers used them in a wide variety of recipes from desserts to stews and soups. The origin of pumpkin pie is thought to have occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and then filled it with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire.

 The pumpkin although is loved by everyone, not everyone will eat it or it's brother and sisters, the squash!

 Cheese Pumpkin

 Cinderella Pumpkin

This week I thought to update my header photo with the fall experience and start getting my home decorated for Fall.  I'm sure many of you are so tired of the hot long summer we have had and are also in the Fall mood.  I may be a bit early but our weather man said, "Hot Rainy Season is only three more weeks" and that put a big smile on my face.  Time to get out the pumpkins and silk Fall leaves since we don't have the glorious color as our neighbors north of us.

My dining room table was the first to get the Fall treatment.

My monthly magazines have been coming this week and I just had to laugh at how many ways we can decorate the pumpkin.
Use veggies for hair...

Country living Mag

Womens Day

 Then I took a walk through a few stores to see what they have to offer in the way of pumpkins.  We have dishes, table decorations and tons of other ideas for the home, all to look like the pumpkin.

 We are so crazed by the pumpkin we even dress our pets to look like the giant squash.

As for my front porch, I'll have to wait a few more weeks to decorate that.  I did pick up some new bright red cushions for the chairs out there... all the heat and steam going on for the past two months caused my cream colored ones to mold and they were trashed yesterday... Red cushions with orange decorations should be really nice, don't you think? I'll keep them stored in the back of my car for now (it's raining still) and will post more asap.

Happy Fall Everyone.. get those kiddies out to the pumpkin patches and enjoy the much needed changes in the weather all over the country...

(((hugs)))

I'm linking up to

Inspiration Friday

Flaunt It Friday 

Grace At Home 

Count down to Fall