Friday, January 24, 2014

~A MUCH, MUCH, MUCH TOO LONG POST...

I'm sorry, I get carried away so I shortened it.  A LOT!  
I actually took a photography class in high school, I did!  I learned how to develop film.  I just can't take pictures.  I cut the tops off things..my focus is terrible..but you can see the time on my..oops.. stopped clock!
We all have things in our homes that are special to us.  At least most of us do. :)  My mantel is an old corral post found on the ranch of my late husband's cousin.  It has been cut at both ends..by Frank and then lots and lots of sanding and a couple of coats of walnut stain..then buffed..sanded stained and buffed again.  
I love it.  Problem?  It isn't exactly flat and I have to be really careful of how I sit things on it.  The wall is solid used brick, not half bricks, and the bolts are very long and far into the brick and the wood.  It stays on the wall....but my things fall off, or they used to.  I use earthquake holding stuff now. Smart, huh? :)
I love decorating it.  
...and here is where I get serious!  Kinda.

What IS it that makes me crazy every holiday, that I think I have to decorate..and always think I have way more than I need..and then I go on a mad hunt for cute things.  I just have so much fun decorating things up..(fluffying the pillows!) and yes I get teased about my decorating from my family!  
I have to tell you this story about my sweet daughter Sandy who passed away from Cancer this past February 22.
She came to visit me one day and we were chatting away..and suddenly she threw up her hands in exasperation and said " Mom!  It's so HARD to talk to you when you have so many CENTERPIECES everywhere!"  
Centerpieces?  Me?  Where??
Another comment I get is that my home looks like a "store" and it DOES NOT!  Maybe a Goodwill store..but that's it!  

Michael's kraft store..is that the name (?), well, they DO get the cutest things sometimes.  It's the little things, isn't it? :)  That little wooden teddy bear that you see down in the right hand corner..has a little painted heart on him, and he was made for me by my dearest friend for the past 60 years.  We went to high school together, double dated together.  Her husband was my husband's best friends and  they graduated together too. We all had such wonderful times together.  Ten children between us, at first..then it later became 12! 
Once during a very difficult time for them, they came to live with us..with their five children (before we each had another baby)...and our 6!  Yep!  We did that.  We made the garage into a bedroom for the six boys.  There were three sets of bunk beds.  The floor was covered by big braided rugs.  Very cozy.  
The girls we put in one bedroom.  One was a baby (mine) still in a crib.  It worked.  Nedra and I did not have one problem with who did what!  We both cleaned, and we both cooked on alternate nights.  She kept me company or I kept her company..just chatting away.  I don't think we knew that what we were doing was impossible for most folks.  We had a wonderful time and we all have great memories of those days.  Finally they moved to a home next door to us that became vacant.  That lasted just a short time as we were all either at their house or at our house so they all moved back in!!!  LOL  It was a waste of money!  Their home was a rental and we owned ours.  And besides..it was too much trouble to keep running back and forth.  (I wonder now what the neighbors thought!)
What a great time of life it was!!  One of my favorite memories!!  When we tell that story to people...we get comments like, " I could NEVER do that!"  We know.  It was uncommon and it was just until they got on their feet.  We missed them when they finally moved into their own home for good.  If you think it was only for a very short time.  It wasn't.  Eight months the first time and I think just three or four when they moved back in.
Nedra is my earth angel.  Nedra was the sister Pat never had and Mick, her husband is like my brother.  Our lives changed so much after Pat passed away.  We all lost a best friend.
 My very favorite angels here were a gift!  A dear lady I knew long ago passed away and one day her son came to my door and gave them to me.  He said his mother would have wanted me to have them.  I was so surprised and pleased and very humbled.  One has a broken wing..which reminds me not to fly too high!
That's my grandmother you see in the background.  Her name was Lilly! 
Are you still with me?  :)
Big hugs and love,
Mona
P.S. Don't tell me you read ALL of the above!  I don't believe it!!  You wouldn't believe how much I just erased!

37 comments:

  1. Well, another beautiful post of all your thoughts and goodies. I seem to be blank as just a trying time in my life but I will survive with reading your blog. I need to go and check out all the goodwill stors and see what I can find. Have a Bless day my sweet Friend, Mona

    Barbara
    xoxo

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  2. Believe me dear friend, I read it all!
    I love your writing Mona and do believe you are one amazing woman.
    My mom would have done the same thing with the 2 families living together story.
    You two would have been great friends too.
    Hugs,
    Cindy

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  3. Of course I read it all and I always love your posts and I love all of your vignettes too. Such fabulous memories of such special friends. Hugs, Marty

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  4. I read it all . . . a huge smile from what your daughter Sandy said . . . something like " too hard to concentrate with all the CENTERPIECES . . ." Your decorating and including "bits and pieces"and stories of your life is so authentically you! Your Opened Heart and Giving Soul is YOUR GIFT Mona . . .
    Hugs . . . and love,
    Lynne

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  5. I read EVERY word:) You can do things for others, like sharing your home with them, that changes lives... theirs and yours! So many precious memories! My Sister shared her home with another Sister for a couple of years and really missed her when she moved out!

    I still haven't gotten my Valentine tubs out of the attic, perhaps today:) Enjoy your weekend dear Mona and all of those sweet memories! HUGS!

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  7. Your boots were full and you had a lot to say.....you did it. Mona, it was all very interesting and quite enjoyable. Just do what you did here - write when you feel like it or have something to say and it really doesn't matter how much you write in a post - people follow you and read your posts because they are genuine and real. Don't ever feel guilty when you cannot think of something to post - eventually a story or something will come along and you'll be posting. I think its wonderful that you looked after each other as families living under the same roof and gave assurances to your dear friends until they were able to break away from the nest and fly on their own. That alone says a lot about you and your lovely heart. Keep writing whatever...... whenever you feel the need -eventually there is a story to tell or the elves have messed up your garden cause the fairies wouldn't go to the Saturday night dance or something, eh :)....OR you have talked sweet PH into going to another yard sale. ha,ha

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  8. I'm glad you share your memories with us...I know it's not easy. Love your sweet decorations and the angels in your home! Happy weekend my friend! Hugs, Diane

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  9. I read the entire post. What a wonderful story about true friends. Like your cute decorations. The comment about the angel with the broken wing was great. Mona have a blessed day. Madelline

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  10. What a nice post about people you love...I am laughing about the many centerpieces!
    Have a great upcoming week, Mona.

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  11. What a beautiful post! You were certainly blessed to have such a wonderful friend. Your'e right! i could NEVER do that.
    As long as you love decorating your home - keep doing it!!!

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  12. I did read it all and at first i thought i would skim, but it was really interesting so i read every word. i have a friend like Nedra, she lives in Savannah.. we have been friends for 55 years.
    about your mantle.
    i will decorate it my way and you will know what i like.
    I love the wood, the clock, the sconces and the candle sticks.
    SOOOO
    just remove the ivy, all the hearts, slide the candle sticks in on either side of the clock and that is what mine would look like.... i do love that wood mantle and the bricks

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  13. I did read it all and at first i thought i would skim, but it was really interesting so i read every word. i have a friend like Nedra, she lives in Savannah.. we have been friends for 55 years.
    about your mantle.
    i will decorate it my way and you will know what i like.
    I love the wood, the clock, the sconces and the candle sticks.
    SOOOO
    just remove the ivy, all the hearts, slide the candle sticks in on either side of the clock and that is what mine would look like.... i do love that wood mantle and the bricks

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  14. I wish you'd left it all to read, for it's such an interesting, cozy story. Are you sure you're not from the SOUTH?? We have folks move in and out all the time, coming for a week and staying for years!

    And a golden friend like your Nedra---I think they ARE sent by angels. And does it ever occur to you that YOU were sent to be HER angel, in all that time of needing a friend and a home?

    Hope you're warm and well---Chris just stomped in, rosy-cheeked and hair flying every which-a-way when he took off his hood. He's been out shoveling the path to the car, for I'm taking him out for his birthday supper tonight.

    love and,

    rachel

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  15. PS.. I suffer from long blogitis myself. i keep thinking i will shorten them and the next thing i know they are long. that is ok, it is OUR blog

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  16. I did read it all and enjoyed every word...and that is quite a compliment to your writing talent as I have a very short attention span..lol! God blessed me with lots of wonderful talents, but writing is not one of them, I've even had people contact me and offer to write for my blog, told them "no"...ya'll are going to have to suffer with my writing! Hugs, Penny

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  17. Dear Mona - I read every word. You are so genuine in your writing - it's like having a conversation. A friendship like your's and Nedra's is truly a blessing and doesn't happen to everyone. I think I remember reading a post some time ago about her coming to visit you. It's so wonderful to have a forever friend. Your home looks beautiful, as always. Hugs - Rhonda

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  18. I read every word. We had a missionary family live with us for about 6 weeks. They all slept (5) in our daughter's room. We did it. They were strangers though, not friends. i wouldn't do that now!
    I was going suggest earthquake putty....I use it too, just to be sure!!

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  19. I read every word, Mona. What a wonderful story- uplifting and full of the promises of what life is really all about. The story of one person helping another and having that wonderful closeness that is a blessing from God. I have a friend that I could do that with. We live so far away from each other now- it is just sad! God bless you. I think of you often and I think about your dear Sandy. Nedra might be your Earth angel but Sandy is your Heaven angel. xo Diana

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  20. I love your valentine decorations. Especially your little cupid. LOL! so sweet. I love decorating for all the holidays too. I somehow miss out on valentines day though. Maybe it is because I have no sweetie. LOL!
    Have a lovely weekend.

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  21. Read every word, yes I did, Mona because I would not want to miss anything. The story of your family and your friend's family living together was a happy one and I am sure that it made for lasting friendships for all your children as well. Also, I enjoyed reading about and seeing the racy little angels in an earlier post.

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  22. I enjoyed your post and didn't think it was too long at all. You had a lot to say. I also liked seeing the way you have your mantel decorated. My daughter thinks I have too much stuff. Her decorating style is much more streamlined and totally modern.

    I liked seeing the little racy angels with "blushing cheeks" in your earlier post also. I had never seen any like that before.

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  23. I enjoyed your post and didn't think it was too long at all. You had a lot to say. I also liked seeing the way you have your mantel decorated. My daughter thinks I have too much stuff. Her decorating style is much more streamlined and totally modern.

    I liked seeing the little racy angels with "blushing cheeks" in your earlier post also. I had never seen any like that before.

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  24. My darling friend Mona, Yes I read wevery word and I would have love to read the long version. What wonderful memories and I bet the children had the best time with so many to play with.
    Ha ha both got pregnant... You are a very special lady.
    Don't fly toooo high you never know when a wing might fall off????
    Hugs Kay

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  25. Oh dear Mona, what a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing this with us. And yes, I read each and every beatiful word. You are one incredible lady and by the way, I love your mantel decor!

    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  26. Mona, you really are a special lady to take your friends in like that. I took a friend in one time and it was a complete disaster! We ended up not being friends by the end of it. Your story (yes, I read the whole thing) is so sweet and shows true friendship.

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  27. I'm so sorry for your daughter's loss. Such a sweet way to keep her memory alive by sharing sweet stories with us. I can imagine her words coming out of my daughter's mouth. Your Nedra sounds like a true gem. We all could use a sweet friend like her. So glad you have each other.

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  28. I read it all and loved every word of it.

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  29. I did read it all! Heck, I wouldn't want to miss any good stories! I can imagine you being so kind to your friends. Growing up we had family that lived with us at times. That's what people did back then. You helped where you needed to. We didn't have a big house but there was always room for guests. With six kids it was cozy at times! Your decorations are lovely. I bet everyone would miss them if you didn't decorate...so keep it up, you inspire me!

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  30. What did I ever do without your blog? I adore..just adore, reading your stories. It makes my day....really!

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  31. Your post reminded me of a similar situation I was in with friends we lived with for awhile. We had a ball and I truly missed them when they went on their way.

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  32. Yes I read it all and it's a wonderful post. I'm glad you are still blogging. I've been away but I'm back :)

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  33. I cam by to tell you hello, Beautiful Mona!

    I hope this finds you well and pressing onward with life. So many ups and downs, joys and sorrows, huh?

    Just wanted you to know that God placed you on my heart this morning and so I said a big prayer for you.

    Love you always girl~

    Rebecca

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  34. I read it all. Now about decorating for every holiday. You ask why and people make comments. Don't worry about others. You do it because it makes you feel good. And what is wrong with that? You do it for YOU!

    Now about your best friends - gosh i wish I had one as close as you all were. I am jealous.

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  35. Mona I think you would have probably been a great decorator. I always love to go in stores that change with the seasons and houses should be the same. When I had my shop open decorating the house was not on my agenda after always having to do the shop but since I am home I have begun to decorate a little more. I won't ever be as crafty as you are tho. Don't worry about what anyone says as long as you love it. Sometimes friends are closer and dearer than some family.

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  36. Dear Jean..when you comment..please come back and look for a response here as there is no other way to respond to what you say.
    Actually, I don't think I would have made good decorator, but thank you. :) The closest I ever came was I sometimes would go redo a friends home with exactly what they already had..upon their request. I instinctively know not to give ones opinion about how another decoratates and even when bloggers ask us to tell what we think of this or that..I very seldom give my opinion. I don't think they really want it...only to let them know that whatever they do, we will LOVE it! :) Thanks for stopping by! It's always so nice to see you.

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  37. Always nice visiting with you Mona. You have a very nice decorating touch and you are very sweet.

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Thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts! Your comments are very important to me.