Our Latitude and Longitude

Onward with our year of projects...

I saw this post on Pinterest last year and I loved the idea of displaying the latitude and longitude, of a special location, in our home. 

This picture originated from this Esty shop.

It seemed pretty easy to make..choose a latitude and longitude, find a piece of wood, get the wooden numbers/letters, glue on, hang up and tada, there you have it!  Right? 

Well, finding the piece of wood proved to be more challenging than I thought.  I started looking last year when I first saw this post, but then got sidetracked and put this project aside.  A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to get this done!  I kept seeing it on my Pinterest board, mocking me!  

There is an awesome ReUse Warehouse (not the Habitat for Humanity one) in our city.  This warehouse specializes in reclaimed barn wood, windows, doors, etc.  A few weeks ago, Hubby and I went and we found the perfect piece of wood, salvaged from an ancient farmhouse. 

 

I brought it home, cleaned it up and set out to find the numbers.  We decided to use the latitude and longitude of where we got married.  We felt that place was the most special since it marked the beginning of our lives together.  Finding the numbers the right size was really difficult.  The standard numbers at the craft stores were either too big or too small (too hot or too cold, just not right!).

 

I thought I was going to have to paint the numbers on, until I found this awesome company online called CraftCuts.  They have all different fonts to choose from and you can custom order your sizes.  They were also super helpful with figuring out the right size for the piece of wood I was using.  The numbers came in a few days! 

I painted the numbers, and then used heavy duty wood glue to glue them to the backing piece.  We just hung it up today and I love it! 

 Oh, and sorry for not showing the entire thing, I would like to keep the exact location, shall we say, a mystery, since it is on the property of a relative!

So, one more project down...only a billion or so to go!  But I am so happy to put this on my "done" list.  What latitude and longitude would you choose?

Little Bags of Memories

I have to be honest with you all, I have had quite a hard time getting in to the spirit of things this Christmas.  I have my suspicions as to where my lack of enthusiasm is originating.  It could be that being an "adult" at Christmas is never quite as fun as it was as a child.  Maybe it is because I don't have the glow of a Christmas tree in the late evening and early quiet (we decorated by I didn't want to fool with a tree).  Maybe it is because there are those I hold in my heart that will never be here for Christmas and that makes me sad.  Or maybe, just maybe, my dear husband, who can be quite a "bah-humbug", is rubbing off on me (I do love that grumpy old man)!

No matter the cause, Christmas is fast approaching and I have found myself resiting the cheer of the holiday season.  

That is until last week.  

A few weeks ago we got an email from our neighboorhood "association" saying they would like for everyone to put out luminaries.  Oh "bah-humbug" I said, I don't want to fool with that!  Then the email said they would even give all the neighbors bags and candles, free!  Argh, I said, I still don't want to fool with it.  THEN...we were walking the dogs and they had a table set up by a corner, "Have you gotten your luminary kit yet?"  So there we were, FORCED in to putting out candles in bags...can you believe it?  

Waylon can't believe it!

So after much complaining on my part, I finally resolved that on Sunday evening, I was going to have to put out bags and light candles.  I mean, isn't that just the worst?  So I grudgingly wheeled them out to the street and along with my other neighbors put out my luminaries.

Then something magical happened...like the Grinch when his heart grew...as the lights glowed and the neighbors shared Holiday greetings and excitement I began to warm to the idea, I began to regain my Christmas cheer!  It wasn't necessarily the glow of the candles or the twinkling lights from the neighbors' trees and windows, it was the memory.   The memory of seeing my dad put out luminaries, the memory of driving through neighborhoods with my family and seeing Christmas lights.  

The memory of riding home from the family gathering on Christmas Eve, in the back seat of the car, head pressed to the cold window, watching the stars whiz by, wondering which one was Santa and his reindeer.  It was the memory of the anticipation and sheer joy that I had as a child when Christmas was approaching. 

Those little bags of lights,  they reminded me that this season is not about stress and plans and travel.  This season is about rejoicing and being grateful.  This season is about joy, love, sharing, cheer, and most of all the celebration of the coming of our Savior.  

Sometimes we forget and get wrapped up (!) in the craziness that surrounds the holidays.  Sometimes all we need is a little bag of memories to remind us what Christmas is all about!

 

Thankful

Today is a day that folks all over the US will be gathering with their loved ones, eating tons of yummy food and perusing the paper for Black Friday ads.  People will be giving thanks, playing football and watching parades.  The holiday season is officially in full swing.  I am sitting here in the early morning, drinking some tea and gearing up for the day.  Cornbread is cooked and roasted root vegetables are simmering in the crockpot.  This morning we will head over to my parents house to share in thanks with my family.  This will be one of the first years we will not be joined by extended family.  An intimate Thanksgiving, if you will.  This year my brother raised and butchered the turkey (aunts and uncles and cousins who aren't joining us are missing out :-)  I am looking forward to the homegrown goodness!  

I am thankful for so many things this year...My wonderful husband who is patient and kind, hard working and funny...My family, an amazing group of people who inspire me everyday...My friends, both old and new...Our new church that we love, a community of awesome people...I am thankful for events that have unfolded in the last year that have brought me closer in my relationship with God...I am thankful for food and shelter and the warmth of a home...I am thankful for insulin and good doctors, things that help me live a healthy life...I am thankful everyday for this wonderful life I have been given.  

I hope you all find many things in which you are thankful for today and throughout this Holiday season.  Oh, and I am thankful I don't have to do any shopping on Black Friday (be careful ya'll!).  Happy Thanksgiving!

Mini-Vacations and Fish Tales

This past weekend Hubby and I went to Cape Hatteras for a few days.  We stayed in a quaint little hotel which sat directly on the beach.  It was a much needed mini-vacation for both of us.  This will be the last chance we get to go away for the summer since vacation season (i.e. summer) brings for us loads of work in the garden and the kitchen.  So we like to take advantage of the cooler temps and better fishing and take our vacations in Spring and Fall. 

We spent some time on the beach while Hubby surf fished and I relaxed and read my book.  We also kayaked some on the sound side of the island.  Hubby did some night fishing on the beach and caught a huge Red Drum.  The biggest fish he has ever caught and one of record breaking stature.  Unfortunately for him, he did not take my advice to bring the camera along on his fishing jaunt and he didn't even have his phone.  I mean, these days, who doesn't have their phone?  Plus, being that it was pitch black on the beach and around 11:30pm there were no witnesses (I was snug in bed!).  Anyway, so he now has a tale of fishing legend that might as well be a tall tale since he has no documentation.  And, although I am not a fishing guru or a fellow fisherman, or the guy running the local tackle shop, I believe his story and well, shouldn't that be enough?  

Anyway, here are some pictures of our trip.  It was quite a success as the weather was nice, the food was good, there were fishing adventures to be had and no one got sunburned!  

The view from our room

 Climbing Hatteras Lighthouse

 

View from Hatteras Lighthouse

 Climbing down Hatteras Lighthouse

 My view most of the weekend (Book: In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by Alexander McCall Smith part of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series)

 

 

Brothers and superheros

Let me tell you about my brother.  Or better yet, let me embarrass my brother by writing an entire blog post about him.  I'll refer to him as "Day-go" from here on out...you know to protect his "real" name, and well, because "Day-go" was what I called him when we were little...so you know...its cute. 

Day-go and I are a few months shy of 2 years apart.  He is older. Our birthdays fell in a way that we were only one grade apart in school.  I would venture to say that our relationship is similar to most older brother/younger sister pairs.  He always watched out for me, and I bugged him a bit.  Growing up, Day-go and I were pretty much like night and day.  I had dark hair and dark eyes, he had light hair and light eyes.  I took after my mom's family and he could never have denied relation to my dad's kinfolk.  I was a diligent student, stayed out of trouble, and followed the rules...and he...well let's just say he was different than me.  

I am told that when I was very small and still sleeping in the crib, Day-go would wake up early and crawl into the crib with me.  My parents would get a few extra minutes of relaxing in bed while they listened to us "talk" on the monitor.  Which mostly consisted of him making me laugh.  He was quite the entertainer.  As we grew older, I never remember a time we did not get along.  I can count two times (I am not exaggerating) that we actually got into a real fight.  When we both entered into the horrid middle school years we kept out of each others way and only acknowledged each others existence at home.  But nonetheless, we continued to get along and remain civil.

When we hit high school, we ran with the same crowd, had the same friends, and got into the same kinds of trouble.  All the while, Day-go had his "big brother radar" on high, always keeping a watchful eye.  Day-go was well known at our high school and I was well known as "Day-go's sister".  I know for some folks, being known as "someone's sister" is annoying, but I liked it, I wanted everyone to know who's sister I was, I was proud to have the label.  

A curious thing happened after high school.  Even while going our separate ways, Day-go and I continued to cross paths within the same social groups.  We attended the same parties, hung out at the same coffee shop and most often folks could find one where the other was.  Day-go was as much my friend as he was my brother.  

To this day our relationship continues to be the same, equal parts friend, equal parts sibling.  Day-go has taught me many things and made me laugh many times.  He married an amazing woman who is like the sister I never had and together they made me an aunt to two amazing little boys.  I am lucky they live close to me and I visit them every week.  So, when Day-go suggested that this year, as a gift to our mom, we should take a picture of just the two of us, I was definitely on board.  The last picture we have of just us, was from high school.  Day-go's lovely wife took our pictures one day and we gave them to our mom for Christmas.  

I love these pictures, because they are the still life proof of what we share.  I could not have asked for a better brother or a better friend.  I am so proud to be "Day-go's sister".   

 This is the picture we made larger for my mom.  

The next few were put into a collage

 I told you he always knows how to make me laugh!

These are two of my favorite candid shots.

Yep, it was that funny. 

I saw this quote once and it always makes me think of Day-go...

     "Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." -Marc Brown 

Not just because he used to dress up in a superman cape and jump off the hearth (sorry Day-go) but because having an older brother like him was like having a personal superhero, someone to look up to and someone who was always there whenever I needed him.  Thanks Day-go!

Because Diabetes Sucks That's Why...

Today I am writing this post because diabetes sucks.  Burnout has arrived.  I am in a slump.  I am weary.  I find myself aimlessly wading through my world of finger pricks and insulin, failing pumps sites and high blood sugars, sleepless nights and debilitating lows.  I am tired of this disease and my numbers don't lie.  I am ready for a break.  A break I will never have.

The burnout and weariness is all part of this disease....like a symptom they forget to put in the handout.  Diabetes is the culprit, but not the only reason I feel a little defeated.  I am at the tail end of a 6 month stint of sickness and food allergies, food diaries and doctors visits.  Although I find myself happy to report that I figured out what was making me so sick...I shed a little tear for the loss of more food groups and the installment of an even more restrictive diet.

A recent genetic test shows that my genes have a plan of action...one I would have never suspected...they lie there ready to ambush when I least expect....my immune system playing more tricks on me.  The onset of food allergies and the dreaded news from my genetic test that I am at the highest risk possible of developing Celiac Disease.  The reality that if I continue to eat gluten in any form my body will turn on itself once again.  The stern recommendation from my doctor to remove all gluten from my diet from here on out or run the risk of developing Celiac...this is my new reality.  New news that is hard to absorb, hard to hear.

But don't yall worry about me.  Gluten hasn't been too hard to take away from my diet.  I figure if this is the worst I have to deal with, I can manage.

But if you ask me to tell you the truth...I know this is not the worst.  This is not likely to be the only complication I will ever face.  Removing gluten is easy.  Taking away nuts, soy and fish...a breeze.  It's been hard having a more restrictive diet but that just pales in comparison.  You see, this week the diabetes community lost 2 young souls.  Two young souls who were living full lives with Diabetes, two young souls who succumbed to the complications of this horrible disease.  And as I write this another struggles in the hospital fighting DKA a life threatening diabetic complication.

The reality soaks in when news of death and suffering cross my ears.  A reminder that as I sit here feeling normal and healthy, in reality I am not either of those things.  Sure, I am a "healthy" Type I Diabetic and I am as normal as any other woman my age...but I am still at the mercy of a disease that can so easily take a life or two...or mine. 

I struggle at times with this reality.  I often don't speak of these fears aloud to family and friends sometimes it makes it too real to say out loud.  I share this fear with you today because I realize how lucky I am to be here typing this, how lucky I am to have support from family and friends when this disease takes its hold on my heart and mind.  I share this with you today so you can take a moment to pray for the families of these young souls and all of the others who have been lost to diabetes.  Pray for a healing hand and a cure.  Pray for me.

The Old Homeplace

When I was a child I always looked forward to visiting my grandparents at the homeplace.  The homeplace was a once, working farm in Nash County, where my dad and his siblings spent their childhood. 

When I was young, my grandparents no longer worked the land, but the farm still produced crops mostly maintained by other family members.   The homeplace was littered with memories of a working farm, buildings and barns and old farm equipment, but the barns no longer echoed the sounds of livestock. 

I have vivid memories of playing in hay lofts and exploring the many corners of the delapitated buildings.  My imagination would take me back to a time when those old barns were filled with animals of the cute and cuddly kind.  As a young girl who's image of a perfect world involved horses of every breed, I especially enjoyed stories of my dad's good old black stallion, Black Beauty. 

I would listen in awe as my dad told me how this horse was just like the one in the book, wild and crazy and all his.  I remember wishing I had my own Black Beauty.  Alas, I was left to my imagination, standing in the old barn, peering into the stall once housing a magnificant animal.  Running my fingers over the wood and dreaming of what it was like to brush the long mane of an animal I only knew from my father's stories.

The barn held memories that were not my own but those of generations of farmers.  As a young girl I dreamed of furry animals and fresh hay, horses and cute little pigs.  How different would I imagine that barn now?

Although I no longer think much about horses, I do imagine a barn filled with animals.  Working animals.  Mooing, oinking food.  Animals who serve the same purpose as those who lived in that barn long ago.  No longer does my imagination take me to the barn of my childhood, it takes me to the place I want to build my life and provide for my family.  A place of hard work and satisfaction. 

Imagining myself standing now in my grandparent's old barn, the scene is quite different than what I dreamed of long ago.  An old and crumbling barn, years of dust settled into the cracks, still breathing with the wind.  Memories of hard work and sweat are etched into the wood. 

The stall, once holding that magnificent horse would still be there, but would no longer remind me of the horse I always wanted.  It would be a reminder of a time when farming was a necessity and hard work was commonplace. 

A time when sustainability was a way of life.  A place where rewards were in the form of satisfaction in a hard day's work.  Where the simple joys in life where all that mattered.  A place where after a long day's work, a young image of my father would trod into the barn and jump on the back of his wild and crazy horse and take off down the long dirt road.

Wonderful, Wintry, Weekend

I have been buried in Christmas preparations.  Today I have spent my whole morning and expect the remainder of the afternoon doing secret Christmas presents :-)

Although Christmas is sneaking up quickly and I have been swamped I took a much need and break earlier this weekend to hang out with my beloved nephews!  My brother and sister needed time to do some last minute Santa's helper errands and Hubby and I offered to keep the kids.  We had the boys Friday, Friday night and most of the day Saturday.  We had a blast but...let's just say I have a great appreciation for my sister. An appreciation that was there before this weekend, but has tripled....no quadrupled after our few days together. 

Now, don't misinterpret my comment, my nephews are amazing, polite, and well behaved.  They were nothing short of great this weekend.  But two boys under the age 9 and 5 take a lot of energy and a lot of ingenious methods of keeping them busy (and out of trouble)!  Not to mention someone should follow them around with a dustbuster!  But so is having the boys around and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Hubby and I did have a blast and we cherish every minute we can spend with them.  They offer a new perspective and they are too funny for words.  (I think I recall my brother saying that his kids must be really funny when you don't have to spend every day with them....and yes bro, yes they are hilarious!)  I have to laugh at how Lil'D (the 5 year old) snuggled up to my hubby on the couch while we watched a movie Friday night, my hubby who, bless his heart, doesn't generally do well with hugs and snuggling.


The boys and I spent some time at the Scrap Exchange on Friday afternoon.  A great place to get re-purposed materials for crafts.  Then we made these really cool Christmas Ornaments with some clear glass ornaments and re-purposed crayons.  A great cold day activity.  All in all, we had a great weekend and even had more snow on Saturday afternoon! 

So there is my quick update.  I hope to post lots of pictures of all the things I have been working on (after Christmas....I would hate to ruin any surprises!)  I hope you had a wonderful weekend too!  (I bet your weekend wasn't as good as my brother and sister's was :-)

My Family Shares

Current Blood sugar: 89

For yesterday's prompt for 30 days of Diabetes, I was asked to have a family member guest post on my blog.  The purpose of this guest post was to have a family member share how they felt about my diabetes and how it affected them.  I am honored to have my parents guest post today.  Here is what they have to say... 

We've always heard about diabetes but never quite fully understood, until now.  When our daughter Melissa was diagnosed with Type I  just three and a half years ago, it caught the entire family by surprise and struck fear in our hearts for her well-being.  We realized from the beginning we had no real understanding of diabetes and the life-changing impact of this disease on her and on us.  However, as she has grown more confident in managing her diabetes, we have gained a greater understanding and realized that although it is a life-changing disease, it does not define who you are...if you do not allow it to do so.  That's the goal Melissa has set for her life and she is doing a wonderful job of making it a reality.

We are so thankful for the strength and courage she has demonstrated in managing her life with diabetes. Her determination to maintain her health and to reach her life's goals is a comfort and inspiration to us and all who know her.  She has helped us, as her parents, to put aside much of the worry about her future with diabetes because of her discipline and dedication to managing her health.  Her example has also helped those in her family to pay greater attention to a more healthy life style.  

Although she has helped us feel more relaxed, we still worry.  We continuously strive to balance the desire to be overly protective while allowing her much deserved independence to manage her health, especially in times of family meals.  We try to strike a balance between accommodating her needs while not making diabetes a visible point of menu preparation.  We're sure we sometimes fall short on the independence side; after all, we're still her parents.

Our hope for Melissa is that research will one day soon free her and others from the constraints of diabetes.  In the meantime, we are so grateful for her dedication to managing this disease and for the loving support she receives from her husband in the daily struggles only obvious to those closest to her.  We are so proud of who she is, her commitment to helping others with diabetes and the example she provides in addressing this life-changing disease.