My Eufaula Cottage

The Lazy Daisy is going to CANTON!!!

2011-11-29T15:48:00.000-06:00

Ever wanted to go to Canton First Monday Trade Days? Now is your chance. We will be renting a motor coach for the day on Saturday March 3rd. The Lazy Daisy is now taking reservations for for our Canton trip. We will be going on Saturday March 3rd. It looks to be about $100 per person for the bus. $25 deposit will hold your spot and just make 3 more payments before Feb 22nd. More details to follow. Just swing by Lazy Daisy to get your name on the list and pay your deposit or contact me. I have had a lot of interest in our first trip so get your spot quick!

New things at the store

2011-07-01T15:20:00.000-05:00

Be careful what you pray for................

2011-03-31T18:34:00.000-05:00

Life has been a whirlwind over the last few days. I will be renting a space in town and opening up The Lazy Daisy store here in Eufaula, Ok. Don't have a Grand Opening date yet, but will be soon.

A Dream is Realized and The Lazy Daisy is born!

2011-03-13T16:40:00.000-05:00

I have done several craft shows over the last few years, but yesterday I stepped out on my own. I stocked my booth with things that I have a passion for and well............................

It was a huge success. I was so very nervous and unsure, I knew I loved the items and I knew that these types of things were popular on "Blogland" but just wondered in rural Oklahoma would it work. Thank you so much to my family and friends for the encouragement. I think I am on to something and can't wait to see what the future holds. I had a small 8 x 10 booth and I didn't spend time or money on decorations for the booth or sides, just let my stuff sell it self. I sold about 75% of my stock and am looking forward to heading back in the fall. Thank you to the ladies who hosted the Spring into Summer show in Stillwater.

Here are a few pictures of my little slice of heaven.

I also loved speaking to the show-goers and seeing how inspired they were to use their family treasure that were just stored away. What a fun day!

Secret Garden Giveaway

2010-11-01T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hop on over to this newly discovered blog and enter her beautiful giveaway. She is celebrating her 6 month of blogging and also this soon to be open online shop by Dreamy Whites.

If you click my Houzz link on the left side of the blog you will notice many pictures of Maria's beautiful house. I am excited to see her online shop.

God knows how to put on a show!

2010-10-27T20:41:00.003-05:00

As we drove home from our 3 day weekend in San Antonio, these are the storm clouds we came upon. They were much more colorful, but in the 5 minutes it took me to get to a place to pullover the color had faded. These were taken in McKinney, Tx

Gorgeous!

At this point we were being treated to lightening in the clouds and as Hannah said, " I knew lightening could be lots of colors, but I never thought I would see pink and purple lightening." Unfortunately I could not get a picture of the lightening, but it was beautiful.

The photo below was taken of another storm cloud gathering to the north.

Eye Candy

2010-08-03T16:55:00.000-05:00

You have got to check out the photos at this site. They are amazing. It is approaching 110 outside, so I think I will take a stroll through these pictures.

http://suziebeezie.tumblr.com/

Blessings,

Carrie

Conner's Room- DONE!

2010-07-30T21:43:00.001-05:00

Nothing much new in the room just repurposed and repainted. We did get a new valance. My dad cut out the wood frame for me and my brother-in-law gave me the tin. I requested the rustier and dirtier the better. He came through for me. I painted the wood with a sample pot of Valspar Western Brown and then rubbed Ebony stain over it. It came out really good. The dresser, night stand all of the stars and the closet curtain all came from an Ebay purchase. The closet curtain is a shower curtain, a little short but I will fix it at some point. The "boot" chair was also a $40 ebay find.

The denim comforter is part of a pair that we bought for the boys when Conner was a toddler. His MiMi blanket is folded at the foot. Oh also the horns were from the same ebay purchase. The old chippy iron bed is out of Randy's parents attic. The hat rack was made for Conner by my Dad for Conner's 2nd birthday.

Here is a close up side view of the valance. It is before I put the wood buttons to cover the screw holes.

The paint color is Valspar Sand Between Your Toes. It was one of the new paint and primer in one. Definitely worth it. Covered in one coat that dried quickly and went on very smoothly.

I could have staged it and really made a "wow" statement for the pics but it is a real 14 year old young man's room and so I thought I would show you the real thing. He loves it and that is what is important.

Hannah's room is close to being done, just needs to be painted. I know I decorate backwards. We are going to paint her room a nice bright white and add pearl white horizontal stripes. I don't know when we will get to it, but she and I are very excited.

Cooper is a senior and doesn't want his room painted, yeah right like that is going to happen.

Anyway, he has black furniture and has lots of vintage license plates and such, I think his room will be a nice light gray.

Blessings.

Thankful this past school year is over................

2010-07-29T23:50:00.000-05:00

O.k. I know that here summer is almost over and I have been absent for a very long time. To say last school year was a rough one would be an understatement.

Randy's accident kicked off what promised to be a very busy school year and everything ground to halt for a few days and then it just started coming fast from unexpected directions and still the expected directions. I had a very challenging year as a teacher's aide and felt pulled in different directions, missing so much work with Randy and then missing here and there with other things and then missing a month with Hannah. In the spring we had a very big scare with Hannah's health that brought our family to our knees, thankfully we woke up from our nightmare and she is a healthy 10 year old little girl. As soon as she felt better she played the last games of her soccer season, she missed most of them and then started playing in 2 fast pitch softball leagues. Cooper got his first "official" job and Conner has kept busy with mowing lawns in the neighborhood. This last month has been filled with church camps.

We have had a wonderful week, Conner was baptized early Sunday morning and Hannah was baptized late Monday night. I will post pics of those two wonderful events. I have been blessed to be at all 3 of my children's baptisms. Hannah was at camp when she decided but luckily it is nearby and they called us so that we could be there. I just finished redoing Conner's room and can now pronounce it FINISHED! I will post pictures hopefully tomorrow. I know there aren't many readers but if you have stopped by, I am still here and have been skulking around blog land for the last month or so. It feels good to be back.

Well I didn't get a picture of Randy baptizing Hannah, but I did get it on video.

Blessings,
Carrie

Super Easy and Delicious Cobbler

2010-04-11T18:01:00.001-05:00

Easy Cobbler

I got this off of the Weight Watcher Website, I think.

2 packages 16oz frozen fruit

1 yellow cake mix

1 can diet sprite or regular sprite

Spray your 13 x 9 pan with non stick spray.

Pour in fruit, sprinkle with cake mix.

Pour Sprite over top.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes covered with foil and then 40 minutes uncovered.

Let cool slightly before serving.

I made this for Easter with peaches on one end and blackberries on the other.
Today I mixed frozen strawberries and blueberries and made it.
It is absolutely delicious and so easy.

The hardest part is waiting for it to cook.

Let me know if you try it and what fruit combinations you use.

2010-04-04T12:26:00.001-05:00

bless·ed /ˈblɛsɪd;

–adjective

1.consecrated; sacred; holy

2.worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship

3.divinely or supremely favored; fortunate:

4.blissfully happy or contented.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your gift of eternal life, of grace and of comfort. Thank you for the gift of your Son and His sacrifice. Thank you for all of your gifts and hope. You are truly worthy of praise.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Banquet pics

2010-03-21T14:55:00.000-05:00

March 13th we held a banquet to honor our Widows and Widowers of our congregation. This year I asked different ladies to decorate a table in a Spring/Garden theme. These are some of the beautiful ways this was interpreted.

Normally I decorate each table the same and such, but for our Ladies Days the coordinators use this way to decorate. I decided to "borrow" their idea. I think it turned out beautiful and most importantly the guests of honor truly loved all of the ideas, I think they also enjoyed trying to decide where to sit. We gave them each a small plant as a gift and those are on the front tables. I left all of the paintings on the wall alone, they were painted by members of our church and I think when you are honoring some of your older members that sense of history is a nice touch. We had to remember to keep centerpieces low because they like to be able to see around and also not get it too cluttered because it is a potluck and so you have lots of food and plates that are added.

There were several ladies who had never decorated a table before or even thought they were "decorators" and those are some of my favorites because they tried for a good cause and their tables came out beautiful.

This is one of my tables with the terrarium and birds nests. My mom made the tablecloth off of a picture from Better Homes and Gardens. I think it turned out beautiful. The plates are melamine from the CS Post Co. website. I got the birds nests and glass eggs from the Grandin Road catalog. The terrarium was from Hobby Lobby with my 40% off coupon. The birds inside the terrarium were from The Country Door catalog, it has been revamped and has some cute cottage things now. I got some tulle circles and tied up some M&M''s sorted by my daughter by color. They were tied with clearance Martha Stewart wedding accessories. I don't have a really good picture of them, but they are robin's egg blue with silver doves on them and silver ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures of wonderful tables made by kind ladies who so generously pitched in, a good time was had by all.

Blessings,

Carrie

Linen anyone?

2010-02-19T20:05:00.001-06:00

I have been looking for curtains, for Spring/Summer for the Living Room. I have some very cute ones that I had made by using ready made sheers and adding a beautiful Robin's Egg Blue floral print by Moda. The problem is I have rearranged and the sofa sits in front of the windows and covers the pretty trim, they just look like ready made sheers. BORING! I will use them somewhere else. Anyway, I have been looking at Linen by the yard to make some simple panels. Well I looked online at one of my favorite fabric stores. Fabric.com has a great selection and great prices. I have always been very pleased with the quality and they have very inexpensive samples. Well look what I found:

************************************************************************************
Chamberlain Linen Lined Drapery Panel 51'' x 108''
Item Number: TLD-013 Our Price: $101.98 per Each
On Sale: $35.69 per Each.
Sale Ends: 12/31/2010

• Contents: 100% linen
• Fabric Weight: drapery
• Washing: Dry Clean
Description: Create an instant update with this lined, linen window panel that is ready to hang. This drapery panel has a 3'' header at the top to shir on rod or 3'' wide tabs (every 8'') to put on a decorative rod with a 4'' hem at the bottom of the panel.
**********************************************************************************
They also are currently offering free shipping for orders of $35 or more! Hurry before they are all gone. There are other colors available.

Blessings,
Carrie

2 yummy recipes!

2010-02-04T18:21:00.001-06:00

Tonight I made a super easy tamale pie and then I also made mini quiche. O.k. I know the 2 don't go together, but I had the energy and desire and I think the quiches will be good re-heated for breakfast. I am thinking of heating them in the toaster oven so they keep a good texture. Anyway, here they are:

Easy Tamale Pie

1 lb ground beef cooked and drained ( I had some already cooked up on hand)

1 can corn drained

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp garlic powder

Stir all together and pour into a greased pie plate.

Top this with 1 cup cheddar cheese.

Mix 1 package of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix according to package directions and pour over cheese. Sprinkle lightly with chili powder.

Cook at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until cornbread is done.

Mini Quiches

1 box of refrigerated rolled pie crusts (2 pie crusts)

Unroll these ( I used a cutting board) and cut out in about 3" circles. I used a glass. Put the circle of pie crust in greased muffin tin. I got 18 circles out of 2 pie crusts with some left over dough.

about 2 cups frozenSouthern Style Hashbrowns

about 1 cup cheddar cheese

1 small finely diced onion

4 eggs and then enough milk added to make 3 cups total

Salt and pepper to taste.

I placed a few hashbrowns in the bottom of each muffin cup and then sprinkled some onion and cheese in each one. I then poured some egg mixture in each muffin cup until it reached just below the edge of the pie crust. Your egg mixture will rise just a bit. I baked these at 350 for 20 minutes. I let cool for a couple of minutes and then placed them on a cooling rack so the crust wouldn't get soggy. I just kind of made up the recipe so that is what all of the "about" is in the recipe above.

Try both of these if you get a chance, I think you will love them. The kids are going nuts over the tamale pie, had to stop them so Daddy would get some when he gets home. I am going nuts over the mini quiches, I love quiche and so does Randy.

Blessings, Carrie

Things that make me go ahhhh.

2010-01-25T17:01:00.001-06:00

To all the talented women of blogland, thanks for the inspiration and eye candy.

You rock!

I am working on a redo of my cabinet I use for an entertainment center. It is going from a nice barn red to Linen White (Glidden) from my free quart a while back. Now all I have to do is find some before pics.

Mental headslap!

Prayers

2010-01-19T17:24:00.001-06:00

I just read over at one of my favorite blogs about truly heartbreaking story of a family wanting a child so badly and having another one die before she was able to give birth. Please take a moment to pray for this family and the heartache they are going through. The blogs is Just Beachy and the wonderfully talented author is Chris Kaufman. I pray for peace and comfort during this awful time for this family.
Carrie

National Championship Time!!!

2010-01-07T18:13:00.002-06:00

Let's go HORNS!!!!

Because of the extreme cold school has been canceled for today and tomorrow. Just to risky for so many of our students who would be standing out waiting for the bus. I pray that they are all staying warm, safe and fed.
Since there is no school tomorrow, we can all stay up and watch the game together. I am making my "Mommy's Queso" for the game. It is an amped up version of Velveeta and Ro-tel.
This is how I make it:
Ingredient List:
1 8oz cream cheese softened
1 large loaf of Velveeta
1 can Rotel Tomatoes (your choice)
1 small can diced green chiles
1 small onion chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
1lb ground beef or sausage cooked til done
Alright first of all I get my crockpot out and put the cream cheese in the bottom and turn it on low. That is how I soften my cream cheese. I saute the onions and garlic together and then cook the meat (You can do this all in the same pan). Cube up your Velveeta and place in crockpot once meat is done cooking, or once the cream cheese is softened, it just seems to mix better when it is soft. Pour in your cans and then add your onions and meat, cook on low/high depending on your hurry. Serve with tortilla chips. YUM! For a little extra kick and in some diced jalapeno.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T14:44:00.002-06:00

Overheard in the Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow

"I would really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin

"Friend I think that it must be

That they have no Heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me."

--Elizabeth Chaney - 1859

We are so blessed by our Heavenly Father, I hope you all have a blessed New Year.

Blessings,

Carrie

Traditions cont.

2009-12-23T15:58:00.004-06:00

We have spent the day cleaning up and getting ready for the fun! I baked another batch of Oatmeal Bread and Cinnamon Honey Butter yesterday and then made salsa for Christmas Day. Yum. Was a bit of a strange smell combination going on, but definitely yummy.
We do have a fun "borrowed" tradition from a friend years ago. We have 3 kids, she had 5. She told me about how every year she doesn't put name tags on the gifts for the kids but uses different colors of ribbon for each kid. I did for a while and wasn't sure if the kids enjoyed it, when Christmas talk started the first thing they asked was if we are doing the ribbons again. I guess we will. As the kids get older it gets easier for them to guess things by box size and such, but now they spend time trying to figure out which ribbon color is theirs.
One thing we always did until the last few years was, we would open our Christmas presents on Christmas eve and then go to sleep anticipating Santa's visit. It helped keep it from being overwhelming on Christmas morning when they were smaller. It was also a fun and relaxing way to end Christmas Eve festivities. We would wait until everyone went home and then put the focus back on each other and back down to just the immediate family. When we moved further away we had to rearrange our Christmas Eve time so that we could still spend it with our family. Definitely worth the trade. I remember always begging our Mom to let us open one present (included in the begging was Dad) before Christmas, I guess that's what happens when the kids grow up and get in charge of their own Christmas.
Tomorrow we are off for a quick and wonderful trip to Texas to spend the day with family and then back tomorrow evening for Christmas at home. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and praising God for all of our many blessing throughout the year.
Carrie

Traditions

2009-12-22T10:35:00.003-06:00

Do you have traditions around the holidays? Most of us do. We try and have a tradition of enjoying the day for everyone as the ultimate tradition. We always try and get together with my family on Christmas Eve and get back to our house for Christmas Eve night in time to get in bed and Christmas Day. Christmas Day has turned into a day of just our immediate family, it is a relaxing and enjoyable day that goes at it's own pace. We get together with Randy's family usually on the 26th. After many years of trying to be everywhere for everyone and trying to make everyone happy and feeling like no one was, this has settled into a very enjoyable "tradition". This year we will be having a traditional Christmas dinner that is absolutely delicious with Randy's family, so we sat the kids down last night and asked them to decide the menu for Christmas day. We will have French toast, sausage, bacon, biscuits and gravy for breakfast. We will have cheese enchiladas, beef enchiladas, beans, rice and queso for lunch/dinner. The kids are very excited about the menu, and I must say I am too. I guess having said all of that, while traditions are important and fun the tradition of love and understanding is the most important.
p.s. A funny little side note. Last year as we all sat still in our jammies eating our Christmas lunch ( we like to have marathon jammy days) we looked out our window as our neighbors were all arriving in their "Sunday best" heels, pantyhose and all; the kids all said in unison, I like ours better. I told them, some day we will have new additions to our Christmas day and we will need to get dressed, but for now we will enjoy this relaxed day. As my kids grown I will do my best not to dig in my heels about how my view of the day and days should go and just be thankful for my family and blessings.
Have a blessed day,
Carrie

What are your family traditions?

Cranberry Salsa

2009-12-20T20:38:00.003-06:00

From these wonderfully fresh and colorful ingredients.To this, in a matter of minutes.

Fresh Cranberry Salsa
　
1 package of fresh cranberries (12 oz)
1 large rib of celery rough cut
1 small onion rouch cut
1 jalapeno seeded and ribs removed (unless you want it hot instead of with a bit of bite)
¼ cup rough cut cilantro (I use considerably less)
Put all of this in a food processor and pulse until it looks like you want it. Put in a bowl and mix with the following:
½ teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
¾ cup sugar (I use ½ cup)
3 Tablespoon fresh lime juice (bottle if you don't have it)
Stir well and store in the fridge in a covered container.
　
I have tried it over turkey, yum! I also served it over a block of cream cheese with Wheat Thins and Triscuts.

Quick & Easy Oatmeal Bread

2009-12-20T13:29:00.002-06:00

I have a great recipe for Oatmeal Bread. It makes 2 loaves and is super simple. It is wonderful served with the Cinnamon Honey Butter over at Heather Bullard's blog. Here blog is listed under Blogs I Love to Visit.

Oatmeal Bread

(makes 2 loaves)

2 cups boiling water

2 cups oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 stick butter

1 tbsp. salt

2 pkg yeast

1 cup warm water

5 1/2 cup flour

Add 2 cups of oats ( I have used both kinds) to the 2 cups of boiling water. Cook until done. Add 1/2 cups packed brown sugar, butter and salt. Let mixture cool to lukewarm. (Important, otherwise I think if it's too hot it kills the yeast and you have wonderful smelling bricks, not that I know that personally or anything). In a bowl dissolve yeast in 1 cup of warm water. Mix in oat mixture. Gradually add flour. Knead bread on a lightly floured surface until smooth. (I have a giant "that'sa bowl from Tupperware and was able to do it all in that and not put it out onto the counter, less cleanup) Put bread in greased pans and let rise. ( I let them rise about 45 minutes or so). Bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

While the bread was baking I made the Cinnamon Butter. YUM. I gave this as gifts to some co-workers and am now making up some for neighbors.

Have a blessed day and once I am done with my baking I will have a wonderful Cranberry Salsa recipe to share. I don't like Cranberries and I love this!

Have a Blessed Day.

Carrie

Awesome Website!

2009-12-14T20:02:00.002-06:00

Check out this awesome website, www.wordle.net if It were better at the blog thing I could embed it in the word website, but I'm not so there is the address. It allows you to print out your creation. Picture this: do a custom word layout for a friend/loved one, print it up on card stock, grab a great frame= one of kind Christmas gift. It is definitely the thought that counts on this one!

Christmas Party

2009-12-06T20:48:00.004-06:00

Several friends got together and decorated for our first annual Eufaula Elementary Faculty/Staff Christmas dinner. We had so much fun transforming the middle school cafeteria into a Winter Wonderland. Here are a few pictures of some of the decorations and centerpieces. The centerpieces were given away as door prizes. We made all of the centerpieces from Goodwill finds, dollar store treasures and donated leftover decorations and of course Gorilla Glue. I think they turned out beautiful.

The above was the picture area. We got several good pictures.

I think this was my favorite although there were several. Old silver tray (tarnish included) and mismatched silver candlesticks, beads and beautiful silver and blue Christmas balls.

Of course, the fire marshall visited the day before the party and nixed lighting the candles. So you will just need to imagine all of these lit with beautiful candles.

Blessings,

Carrie

The Christian Chronicle: Dialogue: A conversation with Colt McCoy

2009-10-21T20:35:00.001-05:00

The Christian Chronicle: Dialogue: A conversation with Colt McCoy

Posted using ShareThis

Happy Fall Ya'll!

2009-10-17T15:59:00.003-05:00

This is my absolute favorite time of year. We are super busy and all healthy. Randy and I went back to work last week. He is pretty much back to normal and that is good. We have had a ton of rain lately, the sun came out yesterday for the first time in weeks, it was wonderful. Our lives are busy with work, football, marching band competition, soccer, basketball and a touch of softball practice; also scouting and church. I have a few projects I am working on trying to get enough to put in a space at my hair dresser. I am excited. Hope this finds you all happy and healthy.

Busy Life, Busy Wife

2009-09-01T17:01:00.002-05:00

Life is hectic around the Sullivan house. Randy started physical therapy on Monday, he will go 3 times a week for the next 4 weeks and then for a check up with the orthopedic Dr. He has been released by the trauma Dr. that originally met the Air Evac helicopter, that Dr. was amazed at how well Randy was doing. He told him he didn't think things were going to turn out so well as he was being flown in to the hospital and as they were preparing for his arrival. We went to see the ENT Dr. on last Wednesday, he says that Randy will not be released to go to work until they get the vertigo healed, he also wants him to have a hearing test. We still haven't heard from AT&T on whether or not his disability is approved, the deadline was yesterday.
Conner is in the high school band and playing soccer this fall, Hannah is playing soccer and Cooper is playing football. I am still in charge of the Quarterback club which is the football booster club. I am still off work with Randy, he still hasn't been released to drive yet and with the vertigo still an issue, I don't feel good about leaving him alone for very long.
Life is good and very busy.

Life as we know it...

2009-08-23T19:14:00.002-05:00

It has been 10 days since Randy's accident; it has flown by and it has crawled by. I remember looking out the waiting room window at one point and saying, "The world still goes on." We have had a good week for the most part. A quick trip to the ER at St.John's on Wednesday and a rough Saturday and Sunday. He has had a couple of setbacks with a diagnosis of vertigo; caused by either inner ear concussion or fractures. We will know which if he doesn't improve in the next couple of days, so far no improvement unless he is on the medicine, it is obvious when it wears off. Randy did too much on Friday, which mainly consisted of following me through a hectic day. It was just too much and he has paid for it the last two days. We met the kids at worship this morning, but only made it for about 5 minutes of visiting when he felt like he was about to pass out and suddenly started crying uncontrollably. He didn't know what was going on, some men helped us out to the lobby and then I went and got the car and took him home. I feel like it was partly his vertigo medicine wearing off and partly head injury. I'm not an expert though, but I am quickly getting there. We have been so blessed by prayers and well wishes. Thank you so much, I remember thinking I would not answer the phone that night because life was never going to be the same once I did answer. I will tell you if this is now life as we know it, it is a blessed life. We are all together and many cannot say those simple words. I find myself saying so many times, "If this is the worse thing that happens to me today, it's been a good day." Maybe that phrase will help you in dealing with problems, no matter how big they seem; if it doesn't involve losing a loved one or the possibility of that happening, it's been a good day.
Blessings

In the blink of an eye.............

2009-08-16T10:18:00.003-05:00

That saying is so fitting in most of our lives at any given time, but there are times when the importance and truth of that statement are thrown at us with such force. This happened for our family and friends on this past Wednesday evening. The following is my account of what happened first from my recollection of what was told to me at the scene and then for the next few days that followed.
At 9:30 Randy and Conner pulled in the driveway from going to get a few school supplies that Conner needed for his classes. Conner came in, Randy didn't. There was a honk and then Randy leaving quickly, I asked Conner where Daddy was going and he thought to a fire. I told him he was probably right the way Randy hustled out of the driveway. I visited with the boys and then told them they needed to get in bed, Hannah was already sound asleep. Conner brushed his teeth and got in bed. Cooper was finishing something up in the kitchen and I was getting dressed for bed. Around 10pm or so the phone rang and the caller id showed that it was the asst. fire chief. I knew instantly he was not calling to me how much fun they were having at the fire. Nothing was going to make me answer that phone quickly, I just got up and started re-dressing. Cooper came in with the phone in his hand and asked if he should answer it, I said yes. I was told that Randy had fallen at the fire and that the helicopter had been called for him and that my ride was on her way. I told Cooper what I was told and let him know I would call him the instant I knew more and that if Conner woke up in the commotion to let him know what was going on and I would be in touch as soon as I could. I stood in the driveway for my ride with and called a dear friend and said something to the extent of, " Randy's been hurt at a fire, life flight is on it's way, I need you with my kids now." I stayed outwardly calm for the next 14 or so hours but inwardly I kept having to sit down, because I thought I would pass out numerous times, but I tried not to show any panic. My kids needed me to be calm when I reported to them, I needed to be calm so if these were my last moments with my husband I would remember them, the men working to save my husbands life didn't need to have to deal with hysterics from me and lastly I needed to let them know that I was so grateful for them being with him and doing so much for him. When I got to the hospital parking lot, the ambulance had just pulled in, as soon as I got out of the car I could hear Randy screaming. I don't remember if I opened the door to the ambulance or if it opened as I came up, I stepped up in the ambulance and saw his fellow firemen and the emt's trying to get him under control and hold him down so he wouldn't hurt himself more. I knew instantly that it was still Randy that was screaming, but that he was obviously hurt very bad. He did respond with a second or two of silence when I loudly called his name and told him he would be ok, just to let them help him. The EMT said he didn't think I needed to witness anymore and I told him that I would get out of their way so that they could do what they needed to do. At some point in the parking lot I think, I learned that Randy had been up with another fireman on a ladder between 12 and 14 feet in the air, he some how fell and on the way down his helmet came off and he landed on his head. I believe I was told that he went unresponsive and cpr was performed, but even once he started breathing again it was very erratic. I had several people coming up and offering support and it was very much appreciated, one man went and got my wedding ring off my nightstand; I had just taken it off to put lotion on before the phone rang, the same sweet young man gave me some pepcid, because I had just eaten a bedtime snack and that turned out to be a huge mistake. The helicopter arrived along with every law enforcement and firefighter in the area. They were taking care of their own and for that show of support and strength I will eternally be grateful and in awe. It took a while for them to get him stabilized in the ambulance and calm enough to transport. Randy was given a paralytic, pain medicine and anti-seizure meds, because of all this they had to bag him to breathe for him. The men who were not taking care of me, loaded him on the helicopter sometime around 10:45 or so. I was immediately escorted to a police car along with the chief and asst chief, and we were driven to Tulsa, we arrived shortly after the helicopter. I made notification phone calls on the drive up, and tried not to faint. It felt like a constant battle not to faint, that was the only feeling of stress I had; the blessing of comfort from the Holy Spirit is so strongly felt at a time like that. I truly believe that God sent his angels to catch my husband as he fell and to comfort my family until we could all be together again. The flight crew called me as soon as they got Randy in the hospital and let me know that they had arrived and that he was sent straight to CT. He was Ct'd from what I understand from head to toe. By the time we got to the hospital and to the private waiting area, the nurse came in as soon as we set down and let us know that he was in CT and they were checking everything, very shortly after the on call trauma Dr. came in and said there were absolutely no signs of anything broken or out of the ordinary. ( That's a God thing!) They then transported him up to the Neuro TraumaICU. We were told to go ahead a follow him up and as soon as he got settled they would let us go and see him. A few minutes later I went back to see him and the nurses took a brief history from me. After I got done with that and seeing him, I went back out to the waiting room so that the men who had seen way to much could go back and see him. As the night went on we were visited by other firemen and their wives. I stayed in the waiting room mainly, but would go back for a few minutes at a time, I also made sure that everyone that came up could see him, they needed to see him stabilized because they had seem him at the worst. I didn't spend very long at any one time in his room, I would go back frequently and give him a kiss and tell him I loved him. I knew that if I stayed in that room with him on the respirator and basically in what I think is referred to as a medically induced coma, the strength I had would not be enough to get me through what I needed to do, I was also at peace knowing that he was going to be o.k. It's not that I didn't realize how serious things were, I just had been blessed with peace that night and that helped keep the panic at bay. That peace does not come from with in, but from above. From the instant that I got in the patrol car, snatches of the following verse kept running through my mind: Matthew 6:27 ( although I had my mom look it up when she got there to find where it was) And which of you by being anxious can add a single second to his life? Then that would be followed by, "Cast all your cares on Him". I was not looking comfort in scriptures in my mind, I was just trying to put one foot in front of the other, I know that those scriptures were placed on my heart, because that is what I needed to know. Around 4am or so I convinced the men that were holding vigil with me that I was fine and that they needed to go home and rest and be with their families. I then went and got a pillow and blanket and laid on a couch in the waiting room. I dozed a couple of times, but mainly when I closed my eyes, my mind wouldn't hush. I went to see Randy several times through out the remainder of the evening and made sure I was awake to see him once last time before that break in visiting hours between 6am and 9am. I did sleep for about an hour from 6am to 7. Around 8 or so people started coming in to visit their loved ones, the clock seemed to start moving extremely slow. At 9 sharp I buzzed in to go see Randy, when I got in the room he was awake and breathing on his own, they had him sitting up in bed to keep the pressure off of his head. He doesn't remember anything until that point, he just kept saying how much he hurt and there was some panic in voice, because he didn't know what happened. I talked to him and calmed him down some what and told him what had happened, he asked me several times that day what had happened. He sat up in a chair for the rest of the day and was given pain meds and various other meds to help him. The men that had brought me the night before brought the kids to me around noon and our car to us, they were taken back home by a police officer who came to check on Randy. The kids and I all felt better once we saw each other and once they saw Daddy. The men who had seen him fall just a few hours earlier were very relieved to go in and talk with him. He was transported to a regular room right at the 24 hour point of the phone call I received. (THAT'S GOD!) Throughout the day I constantly had to try and get him to stop trying to do things, he was wanting to make phone calls to finish up some football things we were working on and to check in with work, etc. At one point I left the room to go eat and evidently he made lots of calls, he told work he would probably miss "tomorrow" but would be there Sunday, this was Thursday. He also sold 2 program ads, for the football program. I received a text from a friend, that said he doesn't do "nothing" very well. I finally was able to sneak the phone a way from him when the battery got low. On Friday his headache continued and his soreness, he also had several bouts of nausea; these were from the concussion which was the only major injury he suffered. It is a serious injury, but not as a bad as it could have been. We came home Saturday afternoon after they had waited long enough to know that their wouldn't be any swelling of the brain or anything else that would show up. As I left the hospital with Randy, I prayed how grateful I was to be leaving the hospital as a wife and not a widow. The inches/seconds that separated that line are very slim. We will now spend the next few weeks trying to get Randy to slow down and not do too much, it should be fun. So many hundreds of prayers went up for Randy throughout this whole ordeal, and we covet your continued prayers. I also ask that you remember the men and women that were with him that night and can't shake what happened. There is absolutely no blame, it was truly an accident. There is only undying gratitude to them for saving his life. Randy works by himself everyday climbing ladders and going up telephone poles, if this would have happened when he was by himself the outcome would have been very different. You always hear about the family of law enforcement and fire fighters, but until you see it or experience it for yourself when one of their own is down, you just can't imagine. Our God is an Awesome God!
There are many more details and such, but so many have asked what happened hopefully this will help you understand more.

Winnie and Tulula''s!

2009-07-27T20:26:00.005-05:00

The wonderful shop next door to Sweet Peas in Athens, Texas is Winnie and Tulula's. Enjoy some of the wonderful things this shop has to offer.

2009-07-21T17:34:00.005-05:00

I think this may be my favorite store ever! I gasped as I pulled up to the shop and I thought I would hyperventilate every few seconds. It was definitely my kind of store with all of the things I love about shabby chic, cottage whatever you want to call it style. The fabrics were gorgeous, the beds and decorations were beautiful the displays were so creative. Below are just a few pictures from Sweet Peas. Tomorrow I will show you the Winnie and Tulula's side of the shop.
(903) 677-6868

219 N Palestine St. Athens, TX

http://www.sweetpeacollection.com/

2 good friends + 1 beautiful daughter = 1 Great Road Trip!

2009-07-20T18:04:00.010-05:00

I am so not a morning person, but after I read on Garden Antiques blogspot about Carolyn Westbrook's Summer Market, well I guess I can be a morning person for a really good reason! I immediately called Lori and said, what are you doing on Saturday? She said, "Let's go!" It just all fell in place, the one Saturday I don't have anything going on, my husband didn't have to work, Lori was free, her husband was free for kid duty! AWESOME!

Lori's beautiful daughter Brettlyn decided to walk on the wild side and join us. What a great young lady, with a lot of talent. Her future is definitely bright!

We left at 4:45am from Eufaula and headed south down Highway 69. Here is us coming to the Texas state line.

We got to Carolyn's about 9:15 and were ready to look and have fun. We took my little VW Bug Convertible for a reason, no room for impulse buys. You see I promised I would be good, if I could go and just go look and soak it in. Oh and I did, I was very proud of myself. Financially responsible is not how most would describe me, but I am trying.

We met some wonderful vendors and saw some absolutely beautiful furniture and home decor. Someday I will go back with some shopping cash and I will have fun, but not more fun than the day I had on Saturday. I laughed so hard that I cried more times than I can count.

Next post will be the sights from the beautiful shop Sweet Pea in Athens, Texas.

Carolyn Westbrook, Athens Tx Roadtrip!

2009-07-19T13:59:00.002-05:00

A wonderful road trip I will tell you all about later today or in the morning. Right now I am about to leave to take my daughter to church camp.

Freedom-what is it?

2009-07-06T11:26:00.002-05:00

Today I got an email that really got me to thinking. The weblink to the video and website is www.donttearmedown.com It is about a simple war memorial erected in the middle of the desert many years ago by veterans. Now it seems that this memorial is offending someone who lives no where near the memorial. I know that freedom means that this person has a right to sue, but I have to ask. Is it truly freedom when your freedom takes away someone else's? Is the right of someone who might be offended if they ever drive out a remote road in the desert and happen upon this memorial more important than the people who erected the memorial so many years ago? Do we sometimes get so busy saying "Don't I have the right to....." That we forget that our "right to", isn't always the right thing. I have heard it said, I have a right to be angry! Yes, but do you have the right to yell about it and hurt someone else's feelings? I know that if any English teachers read this I am in trouble. It just makes me wonder, have we all taken our "rights" too far when fights break out every where over every thing?
In case you wonder, I signed the petition and absolutely support our veterans at every turn. I didn't want to get up on my soap box and rant about my beliefs just questions about why can't different beliefs co-exist anymore? Why does it have to be my way or the highway, or the court room?

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T20:05:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father thank you so much for the blessings you have bestowed on this great nation, help turn our hearts and eyes towards you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

House warming gift

2009-07-03T16:49:00.000-05:00

This afternoon I went to a friends House warming party. She and her family recently finished a beautiful log home on the lake. Hanging plants were suggested. Here is what I came up with to bring:

The view from here.

2009-06-18T20:58:00.000-05:00

It has been so hot here, but even the heat can't beat the view! I have taken to saying, "I may live on the wrong side of the tracks, but you can't beat the view!" Of course in a town of 1500, the "wrong" side of the tracks, isn't that "wrong". I hope you are able to stay cool during this heat! If you need to, come take a dip in the lake.

Does Size Really matter?

2009-06-13T17:05:00.001-05:00

I sure hope not. The phrase that comes to mind is, " It doesn't matter the size of the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog!" You might notice that Hannah and the catcher are roughly the same size when the catcher is in her position, but as soon as the catcher stands up! Just don't tell Hannah she is much smaller, she doesn't realize it.

Eagle Scout!

2009-06-13T16:40:00.000-05:00

Cooper became an Eagle Scout in September of 2008, but because he is so involved in school activities, community and church we just had is Court of Honor. He worked hard the last 10 years to reach his goal. We had a wonderful weekend with lots of friends and family. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed most of the weekend outside. We have been truly blessed by God. I pray that he puts this work ethic to everything in his life.

Roses and Mother's Day

2009-05-08T21:14:00.001-05:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Some new fun!

2009-04-14T21:12:00.000-05:00

I have really enjoyed finding and following different decorating and idea blogs. Check out my blog list on the right to find some treasures. One of my new favorites is Farm Chicks and they are having a give away of darling fabrics! It's an addiction of mine and it needs to be fed! Check them out at right by clicking on Farm Chicks in the blog list.
I just got back from playing Bunco with a fun group of ladies, thanks for asking me in as a sub. I also won Most Buncos! I never won that when I played all the time, but put me in as a sub and I clean up! Lots of fun.
We had a beautiful spring day here and I got to ride home from work and to Bunco with the Bug's top down!
Welcome Spring! Why don't you stay awhile!

Abby the Labby is a Mom!

2009-04-13T22:33:00.000-05:00

Sometime today while I was at work and the kids were at school, Abby gave birth to 9 lab puppies, we lost one sometime this evening; the other 8 look healthy though. This is her first litter as well as all of ours, it's very stressful and worrisome! She seems to be doing a good job as a mom and seems very tired. We have 1 chocolate, 3 black and 4 yellow. I will post pictures as they grow.

Quick Hello

2009-03-08T22:06:00.000-05:00

Things have been super busy around here, not much time for new projects. Hopefully over spring break, I will get to work on some of the projects running through my mind. I did just finish up the annual Widow and Widowers banquet honoring those wonderful people from our church family. I won't post pictures of that right now, but I will show you something beautiful I snapped outside. My camera is about to be thrown in the street out of frustration, it's got to be repaired. But even my stinky digital camera can't completely hide the unexpected beauty of everyday things in not so everyday ways. Thank you God for giving me eyes so that when I stop running around and look up, I see your gifts. Freedom and flowers two huge gifts!

Baby it's cold outside......

2009-01-28T14:46:00.000-06:00

We are iced in for our second day here in Eufaula. Randy has had to be out in this weather fixing phone lines. This ice storm we have been blessed to keep all of our utilities so we have just had some down time. I have been surfing other blogs and have found some pretty pictures to share.

O.k. I will try and venture out now and get some good ice pictures. Of course it is starting to melt, but I'm going anyway. Send a search party if you don't hear from me in a month or so ;)

2008-12-09T20:19:00.000-06:00

My livingroom on a budget. I love the feel of the room. I only had to go through 20+ paint samples before finding the right blue. It is a little more green than the pictures show. It looks and feels like a true robin's egg blue. All of the furniture items are second hand, the rug a Wal-Mart special. The flooring still needs to be changed, but this is a tight budget home, so it will wait. The couch and floral chair used to be a denim/plaid combo that were very very worn. The couch had loose back cushions and a skirt and the chair also had a skirt. I had them recovered for a very reasonable price and absolutely love the look. Although if I had to do it over I would probably go with a lighter fabric for the couch.

A close up of my couch and my 50% of pillows.

By the way my fabric for the couch was a whopping $6.99/yard. I understand that some may say how will that inexpensive of a fabric last, but it will probably at least last until I change my mind. :)Randy and I can comprimise, he has a recliner I have a chair that doesn't look so much like a recliner. The dark green also gives a little bit of a more masculine look so that it isn't completely overboard.
I loved this fabric by 3 sisters for Moda, the catch it was $7.99 a yard I had $20 to spend on my window treatments. Creativity came in and I bought sheers on sale at Walmart and enough fabric to add to the bottom. I get my look without breaking the budget.

Here is my super comfy chair covered with.................wait for it............... $3.99 a yard fabric from the local fabric outlet. Yeah for bargains. I think I actually got it on sale when it was $2.99 a yard. The upholsterer charged me $100 to re-upholster it and with my less than 8 yards a fabric, that's a pretty awesome deal!

Here is a picture of looking towards the couch, duh! O.k. the rug on the floor is what I had been looking for and had all the colors I loved and came before all of the other things. It was one of those I know what I want to do and I'll know it when I see it. I paid a huge sum of $79 at the big Walmart. I have never seen another one and continue to look so I can have a back up.

Again, quality maybe questionable but you would question me if I spent much more on a rug that would live in a house with 3 kids, 3 dogs a cat and a husband! O.k. and also a mom who is much better at cleaning other people's houses than her own.

The two large crosses on the wall were a gift from my sister. The other things were gifts from other people. Many of my favorite wall hangings have been gifts from Sonja over the years, how does she always know what I will love even when I don't? It's a God thing and one of the biggest blessings he has ever given me, her friendship.

Alright you've seen this picture before, but can't exactly figure out how to delete. I never said I was an expert on anything, especially not computers. That's my brother's department and God forbid if he ever sees this he will probably be beyond humiliated since he is "The computer Man".

Well, that's all for my first post.

I just really enjoy how this room makes me feel. For a house that I refused to even go inside

the realtor brought me down the street and through a lot of strange turns I actually own, well I thought I better document it's transformation from no ,to well maybe, to someday who knows?