My Reading Blog

Since the middle of May, my mind has been going so many different directions and with so many different emotions running through it.  From the high of getting an offer on the house, to the lows of will it actually happen with everything else thrown in the middle. We were excited to get the offer, to find the "perfect" home to move in to, to learn that the buyers' house closed.  The packing started and with each box that I packed, I would get a sinking feeling - wondering are the buyers really going to go through with the closing.  No word, silence, nothing was heard from the buyers.  I checked with our realtor, he was getting concerned that nothing has been issued regarding the buyer's loan.  And then, a call - the closing would need to be postponed from June 30 to July 10.  Sinking feeling.  What's happening?  What will we do if they don't close?  We prayed, we halted the packing, we prayed more - being more specific.  Two weeks a...

While there are many things that I'll miss about living in our log home, there is one in particular that brings much enjoyment (sometimes) into our lives. We have an over abundance of wildlife in our area, especially the deer population which has grown to become a nuisance to many.  I love to: watch them grazing across the yard lolling in the grass looking at Max as if to say "Who are you and what are you doing in our yard?" snorting at us, warning us to get away posing for pictures waiting for the little ones to be born watching their antics as they play and feed seeing them grow and mature watching Mama's nurturing and guidance Yes, I'll miss seeing these creatures on a daily basis. But, then there are the times when: flowering plants have gone from beautiful blooms to nothing!

Cabinet by cabinet Drawer by drawer Closet by closet Purge Donate Toss Pack It's never ending It seems to grow each time I look The boxes are piled high The movers have been called The date for closing has been moved out Good and bad More time to pack More worry that it will close In the meantime I'll keep purging donating tossing and packing

My friend, Liz, has been doing pottery for the past 10 years and has created many beautiful pieces.  I have been fortunate to be the recipient of many of these.  This last year, she has started to give classes in beginning pottery, so I thought I'd give it a try. This week will be our 5th class with one more to go before we "graduate"???  I find it amazing that a lump of clay can turn into something recognizable.  I've created boxes, bowls, a mug, and now I'm working on 6 aperitif glasses.  Liz has been firing all of our items and next week we get to pick the glaze that we want to apply.  Are they all "masterpieces"?  (I'll share a picture after we've seen the finished products.)  Hardly, but I've enjoyed getting my hands dirty and bonding with others of like minds.  While I don't think this is something that I will pursue, it's been fun and something different. Now I'll have to find some place to "put" these cre...

After the contract on our house was finalized last week, we started our search for a new home.  We searched on line - what an easy way to find something in our price range, size and area.  It's wonderful to take a tour of a house before ever entering the door.   Our realtor found a couple that he thought might work and so we looked.  We said only three to four at one time.  They all seem to run together if there are too many options.  Some we took a step in the door and said "Not for us", others we said "A possibility, but we'd have to do this and this and this."  But, there was one house that grabbed at us from the beginning.  Although, we thought maybe it was too small, did it really have everything we needed/wanted.  Coming from a totally open concept, could we really move into smaller rooms?  The questions kept coming, but after each house that we looked at, we kept coming back to this one house. Yesterday, we called our r...

A week ago last Friday, we received a phone call from our realtor, actually two of them.  We were in Walmart shopping and missed both calls.  When we got into the car to head home, I noticed there were voice mails.  First call, "we want to show your house tomorrow".  No problem.  We have been ready. Second call, "Good news, we have an offer on your home!  Call me." Hubby and I looked at each other - OMG - can it be?  Who could it be?  Our thoughts went unsaid for a few minutes while we pondered that life changing phone call.  A quick call to the realtor, arranged a time to talk, still wondering which of the visitors were loving our house. When our realtor arrived, she said it was a "sight unseen" offer contingent upon a visual by Friday and closing of their current house a week later.   The offer was good, so after sleeping on it, we signed the contract.  Praying all week that they would love the house more in person th...

We are so blessed here to have a two year college extension of Arkansas State University.  It's a beautiful campus with so much going on.  The past five years have brought many different cultural events to Mountain Home.  And this weekend was no different. We attended a concert entitled "Neil Berg's 101 Years of Broadway".  Excellent! The five performers have all performed these songs in the Broadway shows.  Neil Berg, along with a drummer and guitarist accompanied each singer.  Neil narrated in detail the Broadway shows and gave some history to create the backdrop for the music.  There were no costumes or elaborate settings, but as each song was performed, you felt like you were seeing the Broadway show. There were songs from "The Phantom of the Opera", "Les Miserables","Evita", "Jersey Boys", "Chicago", "Man of La Mancha", "Pippin", "The Color Purple", "Wicked" and many...