Thank you

Thank you.  


Thursday is Thanksgiving and I have so much to be thankful for.

I came home today to packages. That happens more than you might expect and frequently (but not always)  I am not the one who did the ordering.

This giant package was waiting on my doorstep tonight. 

It's supposed to be an outdoor fireplace- assuming I can put it together. 

Thanks, Cathy! Stargazing will be much warmer now. 

I have mentioned before that there are bears and mountain lions around here. It's true, although they don't camp in the front yard or even show themselves much. Most of my experience has been from seeing them on the game camera.  A couple of times I have seen bears in the road as I'm driving to or from the cabin and Belle saw one down the street this past summer.

A game camera shot from 5 years ago. 

 The neighbor has filmed a mountain lion in the middle of the day on his porch but my contact has only been through the game camera lens.

And another from 4 years ago.

Nevertheless I have seen bear prints recently. One morning last week we had a little snow and while I was walking Carlos I noticed some very large dog prints. Then I realized they weren't dog.  The human looking back foot gave it away... I was walking in the steps of our local bear.  

Last weekend Carlos barked in the middle of the night. Since Carlos barks at the wind, at squirrels and not much else, I didn't even bother to get up.  Whatever was outside wasn't coming in.
The next morning I noticed the gravel in front of the porch was covered in deer hoof prints and  a couple of bear prints.  I feared the mama and baby deer that lounge in the side yard were his targets.

No deer visited for a couple of days and when I did finally have deer, it was just one. A mama. Baby was no where in sight.

Posts of these adventures went on Facebook and dear friend Ann asked if I was being safe while walking Carlos each morning. I assured her I wasn't scared and Carlos had jingly dog tags on and we were fine.

Bear bells for the two of us showed up before week's end.  Lights for Carlos's collar came the next day.  We now sound like Santa and Carlos will be the mysterious alien light that is spotted flitting through the woods.

A bell on my romper and a bell on Carlos's harness. 

The bears will know we are coming so they can get the condiments ready. 

I am tickled that everyone is concerned (Although those packages were addressed to Carlos so I'm pretty sure I know where Ann's loyalties lie...) but truthfully I am more likely to be injured driving to and from work dodging the deer than I am being eaten by wild animals. In Chaffee County (where I work) it is the leading cause of accidents. Between 1986 and 2004, there were 35,302 recorded incidents of vehicle collisions involving wildlife along state and interstate highways just in Colorado.
That's thirty five THOUSAND!!!  

Bunny managed to hit TWO deer in the span of eleven days. 

$4000 in car repairs and one dead buck for this little adventure. 

In the 2000s (17 years now) there have been 27 fatal bear attacks in the United States. That includes Alaska.
So my odds are with being killed by hitting a deer rather than being eaten outside my front door.

In spite of all the odds, good and bad, I'm grateful my friends worry. And care.

And what else am I grateful for?  After a week of just seeing a mama deer, this morning they both were back. Mama and Baby.  I'm not sure if I had a different mama on her own earlier or what. But today I had both of my friends back on the side of the house. All in one piece.

I was so worried about this little one, but today he was back with his mama- all in one piece. 

•••••••••••••••••••••••

I am also thankful for...in no particular order... many many people places and things:

My kids who have had a daunting year yet have come through for me and for each other in ways that I never expected. 

My friends who have fed me, entertained me, helped me pack (thank you Jill), helped me move (thank you Martha), helped me get a job (thanks again Martha)  and pretty much gone above and beyond what I would ever expect.  I am so beyond grateful for each and every one of you. 

My sweet mother who I am sure would prefer that I still live across the street from her rather than 1000 miles away. In spite of the fact that I abandoned her, she has been so supportive. 

My brother who has stepped in to be with mom when I can't, who has helped support me and has had my back. I'm also grateful for his kids who have helped be there for their grandmother. 

The roof (a tiny bit leaky) over my head and the view out my window. Wow. I'm really grateful for where I live.

My job where I literally work with the nicest people ever. 

My neighbors who also feed me, help me with projects, babysit Carlos and generally keep me from getting arrested and/or eaten. 

And my friends. Did I mention them? My friends are the BEST.

Happy happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope that you too have many things to be thankful for.  

😘

Redemption ...

Redemption in the Form of Chalk Paint.


Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard of chalk paint. It's the magical paint that goes over anything and covers everything. No sanding required, no priming. Supposedly.  Once the paint is on, you can wax over it to finish it (easier than it sounds) or even use polyurethane. I wish there was chalk paint make up.

Annie Sloan introduced chalk paint but other companies have come up with their own version. Supposedly you can even make it yourself with latex paint and plaster of Paris but I'm not that adventurous. Yet. Since there are no Annie Sloan "stockists" around here, I settled for some Rustoleum chalked paint from Home Depot to refinish a little project that I had inherited.

Last summer neighbor Heather posted a headboard and footboard on the local Swap Facebook page (kind of a tiny local Craig's List) that she had been given to sell. No one wanted it. I'm pretty sure it had been stored in a barn for a while. A long while. She offered to give it away. Still no takers.  I finally said "Stick it in my shed if you can't find a home for it. Maybe I can do something with it."

My bed has been in need of a headboard. I saw possibility.

Once I arrived back here in Colorado and peeked into my shed...eek!
That possibility was looking more like a catastrophe.

Here's what I started with:

 Both pieces were a lot rougher than I expected.

Notice the center of the headboard- a finial or something was broken off. 

 The foot board also had a broken piece. Half of a ball missing. 

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I didn't want a ball here- that sounded uncomfortable.

I found a piece of wood in the basement and had it cut to fit. 

Works for me. 

Both pieces got dragged into the basement- I highly recommend having a heated basement- and I DID sand. And used a lot of filler. And sanded some more. That chalk paint can only do so much.

While the center of the headboard got that little block of wood, the footboard ball was left as is. I figured we were both starting new lives a little worn and chipped.  Some kindness and magic and a little elbow grease go a long way towards making things - if not new-at least good again. Useable. Functional. And yes, even beautiful. 

Heres' what I ended up with:

 I love the light gray. So soft.

 That little wood block at least finishes off the center, even if it isn't perfect. 

 The broken ball has character. 

I know it is there yet I had to look for it when I was taking pics. 

Isn't it cozy looking? 

Fortunately you can't see the dirty paw prints on the comforter.

Carlos has been trying to dig up gophers. He comes in a total mess. 

I was so happy with the bed that I decided to tackle a vanity that has been up in the guest room. I bought it used and in only slightly better shape than it is now. 

Isn't it a fun little deco piece? 

 Love these fan pulls. 

I hope they polish up nicely. 

The mirror has the same ribbed design. 

I think they belong together and have just been separated.

This side is going to need some filler. 

Spackle.

Work. 

It will require a lot of filling and some sanding before it can be painted but I think it will be worth it. The vanity was purchased at a resale store in town eight years ago, the mirror came from the dump (!)  just a few years back, but it looks to me like they were made for each other.   I have a nice dark charcoal gray chalked paint to cover the war wounds. 

So, even the broken and worn stuff can be salvaged. And maybe, just maybe, these things turn out even better than new with their scars and character.   Or at least more interesting.

Substance over flash. 

•••••••••

A funny. 

I had an 8"x2" piece of wood for that center piece that I needed cut to about 5" long. 

I sent neighbor Sue a text asking if her house had a saw that could cut a piece of wood for me.

Her son showed up a bit later with a chainsaw.

Sometimes you need to be more specific. 

The awesomeness of randomness...

The awesomeness of randomness amazes me.


I've talked before about random acts of kindness. I thoroughly support surprising strangers (and friends) with little treats, compliments, and or thoughtful gestures.

 Driving through the Sugar Land McDonalds

and spreading some cheer. 

But today I'm thinking about random occurrences that turn into "something".  That mean something or delight or add to life.

A few years ago I ran into a girl from high school that I knew back then but wasn't close friends with. I would say we reconnected but seriously, we weren't that connected in the first place. But a friendship grew from that random meeting. Actually a few friends and acquaintances have come back into my life after an absence of 30 or more years and they are the best, most meaningful relationships.  A shared background along with the wisdom of years makes for a really great connection. Yay for those random reunions.

One of my most favorite, most random evenings was last year. Friend Diana treated me to an early birthday dinner in downtown Denver. We parked in a convenient spot and walked about six blocks to the restaurant. In that six blocks we encountered more fun, more surprise, more delight than you can imagine. TWO Tyrannosaurus Rexes, a FLEET of Lamborghinis AND fireworks. Seriously. In just one little evening stroll.

Maybe six or seven years ago I woke up one morning and thought "Wow. Belle is driving and Bunny is in Middle School and maybe I would like a job." About an hour later I logged onto Facebook where my niece had just posted that her acupuncturist needed a receptionist. Random.  Gee. I could probably do that. And I did.

Me with the amazing boss and acupuncturist Sonya

Last January, after having been out of work a while, I once again thought "Hmmm. I need a part time job." I logged onto Craig's List and there was a posting for a receptionist at a psychologist's office. Gee. I could probably do that. And I did. Although when I applied there was a mix up with my emails and I missed my first interview appointment and then when I did actually interview I was told that the position had been offered to someone else and they were still thinking about it. Random. But I still did the  interview and the other person decided to do something else and I got the job after all.

Which leads me to being in Colorado and thinking "Whoa! I NEED a job. That has benefits. And pays. And is full time."   And there was an ad in the paper looking for a receptionist for a cardiologist that offered benefits and a salary.  And that's where I work now. Each little random occurrence built off the previous random occurrence.

And that brings me to this past few weeks of randomness that I have just loved.

While I was watching TV one night I got a text.

"Lets go Yankees!!!!"

From a number I didn't recognize. I don't think I know any Yankee fans. And I certainly didn't know any Tonys on the East Coast.  I considered being polite and replying "Wrong number." but instead decided to have some fun.

Tony may have had a few drinks already as he then confused me with Sam.

So I confessed to being a little old lady in Colorado and an Astro fan.

And he proceeded to keep me updated on the game through the night.

What a good sport.

Once it got interesting I tried to find the game on TV but no luck.

Instead I got a play by play by text from across the country.

Bunny said that was creepy and I shouldn't text him back.


But you know what? He seemed like a nice guy and obviously he loves baseball and why not?

I left him alone for the first game of the series. And the Astros lost.

So, being a tiny bit superstitious, I texted him during the second game. And he replied and we texted back and forth and O my goodness! That game 2 was the most exciting thing ever.

Every game that one of us sent a text to the other, the Astros won. The games that we didn't text, they lost. 

By the end of the Series I was apologizing but adamant that I needed to hear from him to make sure we won.

And the Astros won! Their first World Series ever. Such an exciting last game, such an exciting series and -to top it all off- the most marvelous marriage proposal at the very end.

And I told Tony he wouldn't have to hear from me again. Except maybe next year. I got no reply.
Until the next morning.


Ha. We shall see.

So.

Embrace the random occurrences in your life.  You never know what will come of them.
And go treat the person behind you in the drive through to their breakfast/lunch/dinner. Because we are entering the holiday season and we all need something to be grateful for.