Time's a Changin'!

The days are getting longer and for some of us the weather is getting warmer. For those of us here in South Florida the cold weather has finally left us alone so that we are free to enjoy the winter weather that was the driving factor in moving us here. The signs of spring are all around us...the birds happily chirp away all day long, warm breezes blow through open windows, and one of my favorite things is happening...the citrus trees are beginning to bloom. Our lemon tree is throwing such a sweet fragrance off that when the wind is just right it can stop me in my tracks. The only down side to this time of year is trying to stay indoors to get anything accomplished. So many days I have fought the urge to grab my lounge chair, drag it out on the dock and chillax with the latest Nicholas Spark novel! Just wish there were times I could throw caution to the wind and live like a wild woman...alas, too many projects keep calling my name. However, this is the perfect time of year to get moving on a project that is best done outside. Then two birds are killed with one stone. A project is completed and one gets to enjoy the beautiful weather! Such is the latest project to be completed in the Richardson household...

This little cabinet came to live with us after a thrift store visit. The price was right  and it is solid wood.  However, the dark finish was just wrong. So after it came home I got to work. I sanded and painted and sanded and sanded and sanded some more. The only things that were left original are the hinges, knob and punched tin.

Here's what it looked like when it came home:

Not a bad looking piece like this but just dark, plain and boring...except for the punched tin insert.

Now it has character and to my suprise my family does not think paint ruined this piece:

At this point I still have not decided where it should live permanently in the house. Maybe it is destined to live at someone else's house. Who knows. What is certain is that it inspires me to pick another project that will require outside work so I have a good excuse to get outside and soak up some of this beautiful weather! Spring fever is raging full force now...;)

How about you? What is inspiring you these days?

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Making Myself Happy

Last night I watched Joyce Meyer and yet again she had inspiring words of wisdom to share with her audience. There is hardly a time one can watch her program without coming away with life changing inspiration. The latest program I watched was no exception. She made one of the most profound statements: "If you're not happy, change it!" Well said, Joyce, well said! So beginning today I am taking her advice and changing what needs to be changed to make myself happy. As I do this and implement said changes in my life I feel it is my duty to inform my family of the following changes...yes, this post serves as public notice to those whom I love the most:

To My Dearest Family:

As of late, Momma hasn't been real happy. Y'all know that if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Therefore I feel it is within the best interest of our family to make the following changes in our household.

The first issue we'll address is food. Namely breakfast, lunch and supper. Seriously, y'all. ALL three every day is so overrated. Therefore from now on y'all may pick which ONE you want me to fix on a daily basis. For the other two you may fast. Listen, fasting is a spiritual principal we don't practice enough. Don't complain to me about this, I didn't come up with the concept of fasting. Take it up with God.

Next issue is my name. I am going to follow Prince's example and change my name to an unpronouncable symbol. When y'all said "Momma" a bazillion times a day it was cute only when y'all were toddlers. It has since lost its cuteness factor and, well, can be down-right annoying.

Should you really need to address me, feel free to write your request down and stick it to one of these:

They will be conviently located next to the refrigerator. I will look at your requests when I feel like it at my earliest possible convience to decide if it is worth filling.

Laundry has become an issue in our household. I will no longer be held responsible for making sure your favorite jeans are clean when you want to wear them. Seriously, it is time to grow-up and start managing your wardrobe better. I do not care if you wore them last week and this is a new week. Find something else.

On the subject of laundry I feel it is important to address this problem with my husband, too. Each Monday morning I send you out with a week's worth of clean clothes. You habitually return them to me on Friday nights dirty. I think I'm getting the short end of this trade-off. Therefore, from this point on, you really need to plan ahead and make these clothes stay clean longer.

Next issue...lack of sick days for Mom. For the past twenty plus years I have not taken many so I have many, many built up. I will begin taking them on a regular basis. While I am sick and taking these days it will be against the rules to bother me for any reason. Listen, even if I am sitting pool side sipping a Diet Coke while reading a Nicholas Sparks novel I really, really am suffering.

Leave me alone!

Now onto the issue of your "needs." Okay, so you say you "need" a band-aid, cold medication or ibuprofin? Well, listen up...I need Godiva chocolate AND Starbucks on a regular basis. Do I get it? NO! And by going through this denial on a regular basis it has helped to shape my character and strengthen me in ways I never thought possible. Time for you, my dear children, to toughen up. Learn to deal with a little pain. It will make you a stronger person.

I also would like you, my family, to know that I am going to begin a new business. From this day forward I will be breeding Dust Bunnies in our home. You are forbidden to disturb them while they procreate. I may plan on selling them one day.

Last issue we'll discuss here is the lack of a Momma Vacay. Yeah, you read right, MOMMA Vacay. As in MOM only! So to remedy this situation I have given myself the right to take one as needed, by myself, for as long as I deem it is necessary. I will change my phone number before I leave so if you need to say anything to me while I'm gone, write it down and attach it to our new message board (see above picture). I'll check the board for messages if I return home.

In the event y'all decide you want to howl over said changes...well, where I come from when a dog just howls and howls they're likely to get shot. Just sayin'...

All my love,

*** (my new name)

Okay, I guess that about sums it up for now. I sure feel better after getting that all of that off my chest. Guess we'll go through a bit of an adjustment period as these changes are implemented and they'll have to get used to seeing me super happy. I think it'll be worth it for me in the end. Oh, and Joyce, don't hold it against me if my family decides to send you hate mail. ;)

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Part Two: Love at the Table

My man suprised me by coming home a day early and, well, he got suprised with our new table setting...and said he'd feel mighty bad about spilling food on his brand-new love inspired placemat. Somehow I just do not believe him, about feeling bad, that is. Before any *accident* happens I asked him if he'd mind snapping a few pics. He agreed. Hate to think of what this is going to cost me later...maybe two peach cobblers!?!

He appreciated the hard work I put into these but said they're the scrawniest turkeys he's ever seen! We've had many laughs already over these placemats and will surely have many more as the month progresses. I do treasure his sense of humor!

One of the aspects of our marriage that has grown so much better with time is our ability to lighten up and have fun together. We love to make each other laugh. We do not take ourselves seriously. It makes for some crazy times in the Richardson household. Thankfully our house is not bugged or others would think we've lost our marbles! ;)

So, girls, when was the last time you lightened up the mood and had some F-U-N with your man? If you can't remember the last laugh y'all had together then it has been w-a-y too long since it happened! Purpose to make today the day that changes. Let having fun and laughing together become a habit in your household, too!

Happily Feathering ~Betsy

Love at the Table

Shhh! Please don't tell my man I sometimes do this  on purpose...I love to aggrivate bless him with custom placemats done all girly. Look, y'all, its not my fault he swims in the deep end of the estrogen ocean! He is a good sport even when his only option is a pink paddle! ;) Though he did threaten me once when I asked him to paint a pink spot in his boat for me to sit on. He walked away muttering something about painting it on the bottom...under the water...

He does keep his sense of humor through it all though I know at times its tough. Seriously, the man has no feminine side to his personality. I AM his feminine side! So when he has to come home and look at his name all done in pink by a pink flamingo the humor kicks in.  And it reminds me to make sure I slip in a masculine set of placemats every now and again!

See, last June I began a "placemat of the month" tradition here in our home. Each month gets it's own new, personalized, custom set of placemats. My man fondly refers to them as my little *masterpieces* as I lovingly slave over them. Okay, so that's laying it on a little thick, I know. Thankfully we do not eat off these, as they are for decoration only, because I think this month he'd refuse to use his and starve.

(Please bear with the bad lighting in some of the shots. I snapped them quickly and do not have the time to play around with them this morning.)

Here's a shot of the entire table:

This month both his and my placemats are identical:



The conversation heart on the pocket:

 Close up of the flamingos...their eyes are red hearts:

Our girls got these:

Their conversation hearts say different things and I chose to do the lips in pale pink to match the flamingos.

Now I think now I need to go bake a peach cobbler as a peace offering for my man...

Happily Feathering ~Betsy