Friday, February 19, 2010

~AN EARTHQUAKE, A PINE TREE AND ME~

My advice is to not try and do it all at once! I mean, don't put in new floors, paint every room and then have new carpet laid all at one time. It will KILL you!
Please believe me. At least don't do it and live there! I'm still not myself nor is it all back together...however...I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

Sweet Howard is in the garage trying to find his work bench, however he did smile this morning because he was able to get the car into the gargage. It's been a month since that has happened.
I just had a call from daughter Mary, and she was a bit shaken. There was a trembler centered not far from us, and two tiny after shocks. Even a tiny one can make us pause and cock our heads listening for that tell tale roar that comes at us like a freight train. Since Haiti..we pay attention.

Pine tree. Well, yes. We have ONE! But it is a doozy! My husband planted it nearly fifty years ago, shortly after he and his family moved into this home. It is now very large!

You really should enlarge this one!


It is a Canary Island pine tree and the cones you see on the porch are the small ones. I have filled every empty container, every basket, every box I can find...and now since our rain and then warm sun..yesterday we got 9 at one time.

When he used to pick them up and bring them in..I would sigh and smile and admire and now my smile is getting weaker and weaker as he trudges up to the house and says, "where do you want me to put THESE!" I just say.."Oh, anywere you can find..and so now the porch is piling up. You see, my idea was to give them in baskets, at shined up and with a bow, to my children. Well, I 've done that. Now what. Some of these are nearly ten inches long..and longer. Lovely, but...now what?

Oh...and more tremblers today...makes one nervous! Yep...

Hugs and love,
Mona

17 comments:

  1. Good evening my Dear Mona, girl I know what you mean about trying to do everything at one time...I did that same thing 2 years ago oh what a mess I got into and trying to get it all done before my family reunion plus do the cooking...I think its a woman thing to take it all on at one time ha ha!! Love your HUGE pine tree and the cones are so great to do crafts projects with...I didn't even know we had another shake up the other day...must take time out of my life right now to watch the news...Hope you have a GREAT Sunday my friend...Love ya sis...Gl♥ria

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  2. Hey Mona,
    Can't wait to see pics of your house all re-done. I know it's a mess to live in, but it will be so nice when your done. That tree is lovely and heck you can start selling the pinecones on e-bay. I see them in stores now. Hugs and stay safe, Cindy

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  3. A whole house makeover would be so **exciting**, but just too much for me to deal with. I think I am a one room at a time person. :-)
    Sorry you are getting tremors. I hope that is it and they never come back.

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  4. I have always heard that some times your "guests" get upset when things are being changed in the home so it didn't surprise me to hear you are having some thing happen.

    I so know what you mean about having everything done at one time. We did that with the two bathrooms, painting and all new floors being put in throughout the house. We are done but still don't have everything put back. Just got to burned out.

    Oh on the pine cones, paint them and sprinkle glitter on them then bag them up in cello bags and put a pretty ribbon on them. Give them to your friends at Christmas time.

    Or you could put peanut butter and bird seeds in them then tie them with a string and give them out as winter bird feeders.

    You can always drop them off at a school. They would love them for crafts. Or a daycare at a church or even a senior center.

    Or you could save some for me and when you invite me over, after your house is done I can take some home :)

    Hugs,
    Joanne

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  5. Your pine tree is Majestic! I don't know how you survived all your remodelling. Remember when we were younger how much fun that was! In April we are having some of our kitchen cupboards re done(just a small job compared to yours and I'm already gettting cold feet. Thank you for your visit and for your vote.Never did anything like this before and I was shy to post about ir, but my son convinced me to go for it. Blogging has changed my life! I always appreciate your kind words.
    Rita

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  6. Mona I will say a prayer for you and your family that you do not experience any more fear. You poor thing.
    Your home will be back to normal in no time at all and you will be able to enjoy the marvelous fruits of your labor and be glad you did it!
    xoxo,
    Kim

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  7. You're braver than brave to have it all done at once and remain in the house! But, at least there's light at the end of the tunnel that you can actually see!

    Those pine cones are awesome.

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  8. I can't wait to see it when you are finished. I know you have to be exhausted. I would be. I bet it is going to be gorgeous!

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

    That tree is beautiful! I love trees.

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  9. -sigh- Tremors. -sigh-

    Living in your entire house in upheaval, must be... Hard! ,-)

    As to his keeping allllllllllllll the pine cones... Why?!?!?!?

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  10. I LOVE the large pine cones.

    I have felt one tremor, and it was an odd feeling. We are close to the New Madrid fault. I hope never to feel a big one.

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  11. Oh the pine cones are wonderful, but you really can finally get too many. Your home must look gorgeous with all the new paint and floors. A lot of mess all at once, but oh what a wonderful treat. Hope the tremblers stop, they really are scary. Hugs, Marty

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  12. I gather my pine-cones and use them to start fires in the fireplace. Daycares, schools, community centers and nursing homes would love them for crafts.

    You were one brave woman for tackling a whole house makeover while still living there. We did about a third of ours one summer, it was major and very difficult to live in.

    I can't wait to see your finished home. I know it's gonna be beautiful1

    God bless and have a great Sunday!!!!

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  13. Hello Mona ~I wanted to stop by to reconnect. I've had a few absences from blogging and have lost touch with some of my friends that I miss sooo.
    Since winter landed on our doorstep...it provided us the motivation for some indoor fun.
    Looks like you're enjoying a bit of fun yourself with...the pine cones harvest. It would nice to have a few scented in cinnamon, so it would fill your home with the smell when they burn in your fireplace.

    It's wonderful how inspiring blog friends as yourself can be, that's why I love returning the gesture, by sharing cooking or DIY ideas too.
    I hope you can stop by so we can reacquaint ourselves. .

    Sweet wishes,
    Sara

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  14. Hi Mona,

    Just popping in to say howdy! I can't wait to see your home when it is all done :)

    XO,
    Dena

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  15. OOO, doing things all at once just about KILLS me, too. I have to take it slow and easy and I want to finish one room before starting another...can't always do that, tho.
    I can hardly wait for photos of your newness...Have a wonderful day..
    hugs, bj

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  16. Mona, I think I would just fall over dead in an earthquake. Hope it stops soon for you.
    Tracy

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  17. Oh Mona, I am sorry about the tremors. I hope they've stopped completely. Those really scare me. Stay safe. I've been wanting to plant more pine trees like that on our hill but I can never find any at stores....Christine

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