Favorite Things Friday!

It's Favorite Things Friday, Y'all!

Welcome to My Other Palette!

Glad you stopped by!


Appropriately!  A favorite thing!  My Granbaby girl, Keller!

Being the end of another year and resolutions looming for many,

I often simply reflect on the past year and celebrate it with joy and thanksgiving. 

Yes!  The good, the bad and the ugly. 

The struggles, the blessings, the differences and the shortcomings. 

These things ultimately make us who we are. 

Or I should say, how we react to these things makes us who we are. 

Be grateful to everyone and for everything. 

It's all crossed our path for a reason.  For reasons we may ever know.  

One of my favorite things to do is pull out my journal for the year passing and read.  

I often follow that reflection with a "Dear God" letter, pouring out my heart,

asking for his guidance and protection and grace and wisdom during the upcoming year. 

He hasn't failed me yet!  But, oh so many times I have failed Him.  I am a work in progress.
 I'm learning to exercise grace towards myself and be more forgiving of myself.

I am also an anal list maker so it would be un-natural for me not to make a list of some kind

of expectations for 2012!  Keeping it simple!  You'll notice a pattern! 

1.  Make my bed every single day

(self-discipline and good start to the morning)

2.  Take my supplements every single day

(self-discipline and keeps my insides functioning)

3.  Get some form of exercise every single day

(self-discipline and strength for getting thru each day)

Sure, there are tons of other things in my life that should probably be on that list,
but, these are the things I struggle with  daily .... others come naturally.

Click to Join  > Friday~Favorite Things!

While reflecting on past journals, I came across a post I copied from my mom's My Space page a few years back.  Mom passed away in 2009, less than a week after my first grandchild was born.

"I can't , for the life of me, understand myself. Why would I try to understand someone else? As I look back over my life I see so much wasted time. Time I could have used in much more useful ways. Ways that would encourage, enlighten or lift up someone else. Maybe just a word or a "God bless you" or an "I love you" would have helped. Too often (and I am guilty) we spend the majority of our time on trying to satisfy our own self wants. What can I get? What do I need? What would make me happy? And nine times out of ten when we get it, it doesn't change anything. We are still in that rut of misery. Still wanting and still searching. My prayer is "God, help me to see things differently than I have in the past. Help me to be what you want me to be. Material things that we struggle to acquire don't mean that much so why do we worry. You said in Your Word that the flowers do not toil and that you are mindful of our every need . Help me to totally put my faith in you and let the desires of my heart be to be more like you. Help me to encourage those I come in contact with, to pray for each and everyone that I meet, and to say, "I love you and God bless you” to all who cross my path. Let me be a vessel that your love pours from , a shoulder to cry on, or just a good listener for those who need someone to talk to. I may not be able to solve problems but I can point them to the problem solver. I may not be able to lift them, but I can show them one whose hand is always extended and has all the strength we need. One who will never fail you, and who will always be there for you through sickness, health, or financial crisis. One who never leaves your side. One who, if you will just stop, be still and quite, relax, you can feel His arms around you and hear His voice of assurance. I thank You for Your love for me and I ask that You help me to show this same type of love to others. Help me realize the real desires of my heart are not material but are spiritual. Something that I can really build a future on."

 

 

May God bless you in the coming year! 

May you be a blessing in the coming year!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve Y'all!



Keller and her
"Cookie Bread Man House"

What a month!  It takes four times as long to accomplish a task

while using a pair of crutches to keep from hitting the floor!

So goes the last few weeks after breaking my foot.

Thank Heaven for Christmas Elves!

If it weren't for them, there would have been no Christmas Tree,

no cookies, no presents, and likely no clean clothes or dishes!

I must admit although the last few weeks have been tough

(not just my foot, but ... well, read the previous post),

my heart is full of grace towards myself for not

accomplishing that mile-long Christmas to-do list.

Many, many ideas were scratched, giving way to fewer,

less stressful endeavors, ideas and dreams. 

Less stress at Christmas.

What a novel idea!

What's on your Wish List this year?

Mine includes:

another fire extinguisher for the house

(precautionary - my neighbors' home burned down this week)

my kitchen knives being sharpened

(I do plan to return to cooking soon!)

a bottle of cod liver oil for my stocking.

(Vitamin D has bottomed out).

My family home for Christmas.

Joy - Laughter - Blessings!

Life is Good.

Be Blessed! and,

Be a Blessing to someone else!



It's Thanksgiving Eve.

I'm suddenly thrown into doing the preparing

instead of being the guest. 

I won't complain!  It's the kind of rush I thrive on!

And whether you're celebrating the holiday

with 21 or 3, it's still a celebration!

It's the pits not feeling well during a holiday. 

We cancelled our road trip to visit with

family in North Mississippi. 

No pickin' and grinnin' in our holiday this year. 

No Aunt Jenny's Dressing. 

No Annabelle's Chicken on arrival. 

No beautiful music from Chapman on the piano. 

No belly laughs following Uncle Carl's jokes. 

No Chicken Train. 

No shopping at The Sanctuary. 

This also means if we have any semblance

of a Thanksgiving meal, well, you know ....

if it is to be, it is up to me. 

Be advised! There will be short-cuts! 

I suppose the bright side is we will have leftovers! 

There are no leftovers when you travel for Thanksgiving. [sigh]

I'm already missing my Keller Bug. 

 I won't see her again til Monday. 

That's FIVE days, people.  Five.

Ok, gotta change directions and head out to the market. 

Maybe when she finally gets outta bed

Lindsay will be inspired to help with

preparing Thanksgiving sides.  Maybe.

Speaking of inspiration, I'm beginning to feel

some after peering into the pantry and seeing

all those quart jars lined upwith green beans,

new potatoes, sweet potatoes and apples! 

Only need to add a turkey breast,

a pan of Carrington's Dressing, (I did say "short-cut")

Aunt Jenny's Shortcut Dumplings,

some Collards from the garden,

devilled horseradish eggs,

and move bread day to tomorrow.  We're set!

Now, I just have to wave my wand over it all!



It will all come together, complete with centerpiece!
And, deserts.  Oh My!  Another list!
Just you wait and see!  I can do this!

First order of business:

Go to the pharmacy and inquire about

prescription strength Quafenisen.

Gotta dose us both and break up

this lingering congestion.

Enough already.

It's the holidays, for Pete's sake!

Remember!!!  In all things, Give Thanks!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

In Preparation . . .



wish I had time ....



Wishing all my pals a less harried

preparation week before the big day!



Link Up!

Art(ology) Gallery & Gifts!

November is their anniversary month!

The gallery's first Artwalk was one year ago!

Woo Hoo! Way to go to a Wonderful Group of Ladies!

I Wish Y'all Many More Happy, Funky and Prosperous Years!



"Esmerelda"


Visit the Art(ology) Website!



Happy Birthday

My Other Palette Blog!!

Three years ago today, I started blogging!  I used to journal all the time ... not so much since I began blogging ... 'cept for the things I don't wanna share here.  Sorry!  Some things are just off limits!


I began bloggin' as a tool to keep my Fb friends abreast of my mom's ill-health situation, saving repetition.  Then I found Caring Bridge and posted updates there.  I continued blogging and sharing events and trials and domestic thoughts.  A lot has happened in three short years!  Loved ones passing from this life to the next, the exciting birth of a princess (aka Keller Bug!) and the transition from domesticity to the art world and back again!  We've shared highs and lows, joy and frustration, tips, recipes and tiara topics!  And I just recently figured out how to include followers ... can you say 'technically challenge'?  

Taking a look back . . .

Thank you all for reading and visiting!! 

Please leave a comment now and then! 

Gimme a holla!!

Life is good!

♥ Terri

Happy Birthday Lindsay!

19 Already!

We're so blessed to call you our Small Child!

Lindsay has a Dream Goal to spend a year in Paris!

(Mom has a dream goal to spend a month in Italy!)

Lunch at The Hungry Owl! 
They were featured on Man vs. Food!!
Awesome Yum Factor!!
Oh-M-Gee!  Jennifer brought a cake to lunch -
Chocolate Decadence (Tarzhay!)
I'd share a picture, but after dropping my camera
in the cake, I'm gonna pass this time.  Holy Moly!

It'll be a weekend-long celebration
topped off with a 
Sunday afternoon Shopping Excursion
with the Birthday Girl!

Another Rodeo, Come and Gone!

We had a grand time on the island the last four days!  Beautiful sunsets!  Great food!  Chillin and relaxing!  Started out literally with a bang!  The cannon sounded bright and early Friday morning signaling the beginning of the 2011 Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo on the Dauphin Island. 

Tony loaded up the grill Thursday evening and we visited with friends at The Dock while the Liars' Contest was held next door at the Rodeo site. 

Friday found us continuing my week-long birthday celebration with Jaron Kucera entertaining the crowded dock with his talented guitar and vocals!  Lots of friends dropped by and together we thoroughly enjoyed the evening!  Ribs from the grill.  Walter manned the fish fryer!  Todd dropped by with prime rib and monster shrimp!  An over-abundance of food, beverage, laughter and sing-alongs!

Saturday started off wet but the overcast clouds kept things cooled down and some blue sky peeked thru by late afternoon while we sat on the dock watching boats of all sizes come into the rodeo site to weigh in, having their catch lifted off by the crane.  Another afternoon of long-time friends dropping by for a visit!  I love Rodeo weekend ..... more so for the reunion of friends than anything else!

We awoke Sunday to massive rain.  All day (give or take twenty minutes here and there).  The parking lot flooded and the crowds were thin until the end of day when all the big boats came in with tired, wet anglers who had weathered the storms.  We finally made it to the rodeo site after 6pm!  I caught up with Larry Rackley for a hug and an autographed rodeo poster!  Larry's art was featured on the tee-shirts and rodeo memorabilia this year! 

http://www.yellowfingallery.com/index.html

We had just returned to the condos and were visiting with some friends when our youngest daughter, Lindsay came back from the rodeo site visiting with friends telling us the Jaycees were only 12 tickets away from breaking the Guiness Book of World Records for the largest saltwater fishing tournament.  With only 15 minutes left til the deadline, we all scrambled.  Lindsay took off down the boardwalk shouting at everyone to bring out their rodeo tickets.  Since many anglers didn't fish Sunday because of the torrential rains, many tickets didn't get turn up during weigh-ins.  She returned with a friend of ours to the rodeo site with only a couple of minutes to spare waving the tickets in her hand. She was ushered right to the official tent where they checked and counted them and reached the total needed to break the record!  Rodeo officials took her picture and gave her an armload of tee-shirts!  It was an exhilarating end to a long four days of fun!!

I have to give a shout out to Team Byrd Dog for winning (again!) #1 place in the King Mackeral Division!!  Congrats Ritchie!!!  Way to go!!

We were so tired we decided to stay the night!  I was ready to be home and was shortly greeted at the front door by my two year old grandbaby (we almost share a birthday - both were this past week)!  It's good to be home!!!

Happy Birthday Small Child!

Happy Birthday to our youngest daughter, Lindsay Morgan. Today is her 18th birthday! Lindsay is a freshman at the University of South Alabama and stays so busy, busy, I don't see as much of her as I'd like. I often don't think she realizes I'm her biggest fan. Perhaps cause of the mother/daughter dynamic. : ) She loves photography and writing and hanging out with her friends. She also loves watching movies and plundering thru my photos for her monster bulletin board ... not to mention heisting things from my studio. I wish I could have found the photo of her at two years old with the bucket on her head or the one at one after feeding herself spaghetti. What a riot! Lindsay was born ten years after her sister. After Jen married and took up housekeeping elsewhere, Lindsay declared she was now an only child and has been enjoying those benefits for nearly half a dozen years now. Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for our "Small Child" but for now enjoying watching her grow into a beautiful young woman!

Keller turns 1 !!!

This watercolor was created by a fellow artist friend, Satomi Miyahara. Satomi is also an artist at Cathedral Square Gallery in Mobile and creates beautiful art! Thank you Satomi for this beautiful painting of my grandbaby girl, Keller! I gave the painting to my daughter and son-in-law on the occasion of Keller's first birthday, which is July 13th. Gramma's birthday is today .... have a century...yeah! the big 5-0! Enough about that!


Such a sweet baby! Love my Kell-Bell!! Looking forward to baking cupcakes and painting and growing flowers and playing dolls and Candy Land and all those fun things I missed when my girls were this age!