Visiting, Antiquing, an art lesson, Spirituallity and too many Carbs

My brother and his girlfriend just left after spending a couple days here with us. It was SO good to see them. John has been in Greece for the past four years and have only seen him once in that time, and that was when our mom was dying in a hospital in Colorado. It was wonderful just to hug him and talk, and have the things in common that siblings have. And I hadn't seen his girlfriend since '81! It was fun to catch up, go to the quaint Amish town of Arthur just 9 miles away. We found the best antique store and was able to buy an cast iron birdbath, that used to be white, now rusted for $26! And a picnic hamper with cups, plates and utensils for our daughter for.. I'm not going to say in case she reads this, but the owner of the booth gave me a great deal. I know she has wanted one for a long time. If she doesn't like it..I'm keeping it! :) Then my brother took us to a pharmacy with an old fashioned soda fountain and we got some ice cream. Took pictures of Amish buggies and horses and later that night had an art lesson!

What a great time! I also bought a limoges Haviland china tea cup and saucer for $8 which to me is a steal. Probably shouldn't have spent ANY, but oh my gosh, it was so fun. Then my brother bought us a bird-house-shaped shelf for the wall and we had the perfect place to put it, and got my husband an antique Boy Scouts of America first aid kit tin that used to be used by strapping onto your belt. We had food, fun and family! And took photos on a walk around the property.

The last thing I bought was a pair of earrings for $2, which anywhere else would have been $12 or so. Then I told myself to STOP! I saw some small bird sculptures for $3 and $4, and almost got them, but changed my mind. I mean you've got to stop somewhere. I've decided to try sculpting birds. The great thing for ME is... Arthur is only nine miles away. The antique store also has at least 200 substantial and ornate oil lamps and is the supplier of wicks for them as well. So happy to know where to get extra supplies for emergency preparedness.

Ended up eating FAR too many carbs. But I've got some time to burn that off. Not quite weight watchers week. But I'm hopping right back on the wagon of weight loss and Zumba. The other day I did a pilates class, lifted weights and did an hour of Zumba, and I didn't stretch very well I guess because, MAN did my quads hurt for a couple of days!

I've got plenty of fruit salad left over from last night to help me stay full while getting back on track. Used some of our food storage fruit and fresh bananas. I might chop up some apples and add it to the mix.

While they were here I taught John and Donilee an art lesson, in landscape with acrylics. I had so much fun and their paintings were great. My brother has the creative "Canaga" gene so he was a natural, and he pays such close attention to detail that I can't wait to see what he starts coming up with. Donilee was more, "I just want to have fun" and we did. The cat sneaked through the passthough over the counter and put her paw into my splotch of red paint and proceeded to get it on my arms. I picked her up right before she got her back feet in the yellow and blue! Took quite a bit of time, paper towels and water to get that paint out of her paw and fur. Otherwise, that just might have been a disaster to the carpet. I would NOT have been happy about it!

My husband had to work late both Wednesday and Thursday nights, but even though he had to go to bed at a somewhat decent time, and went into work late yesterday morning, John and Donilee and I stayed up til one just talking about everything. Between the four of us we pretty much solved the world's problems.

I've been having a somewhat of a spiritual battle, but I'm at peace now. I know I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and the only way back to Him is through the name and ways of Jesus Christ and the promptings of the Spirit. We are never going to be perfect in this lifetime, but we have Christ's example to look to. We can never base our faith on another individual because that trust is misplaced and can most easily be one's downfall. None of us are perfect except Christ, Jesus.

At church the young women's orgzanization has its "values"; faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity and virtue. These things are worthy of pursuing, especially knowledge. It is important to learn all that we can about as much as we can and be the judge of what to keep and what to cast away. I'm happy I have made some choices that are most definitely going to make my life tougher, but ultimately happier. I'm not looking forward to the process, but I believe in learning all that I can, and without that we are stagnant, and in effect damned, unable to progress. There is so much to know out there. I'm looking forward to my new adventure.

Back on the subject, after a brief detour, my brother said to me while he was here that he had read in my blog that I spent over a hundred dollars on my hair. He said, "If you were a college student, you'd be cutting your own hair (he says this as he uses his fingers as scissors acting like he's taking chunks out at random places over his hair.)" But.. since I don't know how to cut my own hair, my next haircut will be at the cosmetology school and my hair color will come out of a box. Lesson learned. I do cut my husband's hair and have for nearly 30 years. I learned how to cut his hair at a Relief Society meeting at church in Utah. That was one good lesson, because I don't know how many hundreds of dollars we have saved just doing that.

I believe in taking on a new project, a new skill, learn it well enough to have a bit of confidence in it, store that knowledge, and go on to something else. Try out your desire to paint, bake, sew, repair a car, canoe...whatever! You will, with patience, be most of the time, pleased and surprised at just how easy it can be. If you don't know how to do something.. Google it! That is how our mechanic son-in-law comes up with his processes of doing things or trying things. He hasn't gone from a paperclip to a house yet, but he has bargained his way from a small clunker to a large Jeep Cherokee the works fine, just needs a new radio and some interior work!

My brother and his girlfriend convinced me. We went to an art gallery in Arthur which takes in consignment work from around 17 different artists, they suggested I take some paintings in, so when we got home I found one to sell and two more in the detatched garage that I have never finished which I am now going to. I will take them there and use the money to buy a few more canvases and put most of the money into paying off bills. I really think I can do that and maybe mat a few photos as well. Another day another dollar.

Have a great day! I plan to!