Is God trying to tell me something...

I move back home to my beloved Virginia Beach, back to friends and family that love me and will keep me occupied and hopefully out of trouble while Big Daddy is overseas. Not that I don't have great friends up in Maine who did the same thing..but home is home. The other reason for the move was for the weather. The thought of shoveling snow, storm after storm, was enough to send me totally over the edge. Awe the thought of a fairly warm, OK 40 to 50 degrees, which is down right hot for Maine standards, weather. No snow! And if we did get snow it was enough to close the office for the day. That's how we do it in the South if it snows, we close. Then usually by 2:00 it's melted enough so that you could go shopping or go out. PERFECT!

So I move home and what do I get hit with... a bizarre November Nor'Easter that slammed into Tidewater wreaking total havoc. It was worse than a Cat 1 Hurricane with the damage. Kinda creepy and I still see the uprooted trees and the damage to a landmark restaurant that pretty much went into Chesapeake Bay.

Then all week all I hear about is the snow for the weekend. When you live on the coast the forecast of snow is always a crap shoot. Well so far they are right on target. We are expecting almost a foot of snow fall today. This ladies and gentlemen should be interesting. So this is what we have so far at 5:45 this morning.

It doesn't look like much, but for VB this is almost a crisis. In VB they don't plow "secondary roads" which means neighborhood roads. Taking Jake to the Vet this morning is going to be a fun little ride.

So now I'm trying to figure out just what is God trying to tell me??? I move home for the weather and so far I'm not batting a great average. Well I do have the essentials. Bailey's Irish Cream for the Hot Chocolate, Rum for the Diet Coke, soup, cheese and bread. See I do have my priorities straight. But to add insult to injury, it's snowing on a Saturday no work snow day.

And Jake...Jake is loving it, in..out...in ....out.

Who says having a dog is nothing like having a kid.

Love and Hugs,

Bec

Thrifting while ill.....

I'm still not feeling up to snuff! But I had to go to the Commissary for food today. I even ran out of butter. Really....who runs out of butter??? So after getting myself and my hair (my hair is it's own entity) washed up. I felt good enough to head out for a bit. On my way to the store I saw a sign ESTATE SALE..I swear I was not looking for it, I just happen to see the sign. It always happens that way! I thought to myself "Nay Nay Fluffy" (which was so true if you could have seen my hair) straight to the store only. Well after doing the shopping I was headed home and there it was again ESTATE SALE. Well I thought to myself, I'm feeling OK and I'll only do a quick run through then go straight home and back to bed. Needless to say I found a few things and only spent $31.00 total. Let's see what I got..

No not him...the comforter, Jake just happens to really like it!

Thick and heavy and warm and Yummy! It's a Queen size but hey I can put it at the foot of my bed.

$20.00

4 of these great Aqua Blue plates

$2.00 a piece

Now let me explain the next photos! I have a thing for Granny Night-Gowns. This is a summer

one

And I bought 4 of light weight Cotton flannel ones. They keep you warm, but you don't burn up alive in them while you sleep. Here is just one of the 4, they were all L.L. Bean

Small things of yarn so I can play with my Knit-Wit

2 pair of L.L. Bean Wool Socks

Grand total for the gowns, socks and yarn $3.00 for all!

Total spent $31.00!

Not too shabby for a sick girl!

Love and Hugs!!!

Bec

Reflections of 2009

First let me apologize for any typo's or incorrect grammar. I'm suffering from the Tidewater Funk. If you don't know what that is, it is a combo of sinus, cold, cough and sheer yuckiness that blankets Tidewater a/k/a Hampton Roads, Virginia this time of year. You feel like you have a horrible hangover without the whole OMG what did I drink last night. So much fun! I even stayed home from work today. This pretty much means I was out for the count. When you can't even focus on what the news man is saying and you almost fall asleep sitting on the potty, you know you should not operate a motor vehicle to go into work and handle anything to do with any type of law. Someone could end up in jail!

With that warning I will go on. So after my mid-morning into the afternoon nap, I started reading some blogs. I keep seeing the reoccurring theme of Reflecting on 2009 and what every talented individual accomplished in 2009. Believe me these women I follow are TALENTED!! So many sewing and craft projects. Thrifting adventures and turning cast offs into fabulous show pieces. Pioneer Woman even wrote and promoted a cookbook. Which I will buy when I can afford it. Me....I really got nothing along those lines. So what did I accomplish in 2009??? Let's see....

1. I managed to keep my job at the Bank, made great friends who I will always keep up with and value. Plus I learned a thing or two about Commercial Banking.

2. I stayed very active with WLU which I will always and forever cherish! Talk about some talented ladies. Again I learned so much about, crafting, sewing, knitting, baking and again made friendships that will always stick! These ladies have no idea how they saved me from myself while living in Maine and I will love them and the Foss Mansion forever!

3. Girls trip to Brimfield Mass. Now that was fun!

4. Camping trips with my Big Daddy and his side of the family!

5. Seeing a Bald Eagle in the wild! Granted I wish it wasn't literally right outside of my camper window. Those birds are damn loud!

6. Taking the love of my life to the airport and seeing him off to go overseas for a year. I think that had to be the bravest I've ever had to be. I could not shed a tear or have a breakdown in front of him. It's a huge no no for a Military wife to have a massive breakdown cry fest in front of their spouse as they leave. So I waited until I could not see him anymore then went and threw up in the garbage can outside of the airport and called Sissy balling like a baby!

7. I had one hell of a Living Estate Sale to try and scale down for the big move back to the Beach.

8. Planned and coordinated the move from Auburn, Maine back to Virginia Beach!

9. With the help of Thelma, drove my happy butt, her tiny butt and 2 furry butts in a Jeep hauling a trailer from Auburn Maine to Virginia Beach.

10. Walked into a complete mess with I got back to my house in Virginia Beach.

11. Cleaned, painted, and crammed stuff from a 2400 square foot house into a 1200 square foot house. Big Daddy is still impressed with that one.

12. Attended my 20 year High School reunion.

13. Went back to work for Boss Dude and having new duties. Which I'm still muddling through and learning.

14. Reconnected with friends and family.Which thank the Good Lord in Heaven for and made some new friends!

15. Went to a NASCAR race and a Wine Festival. Only I can say that in one sentence and not snicker.

So I guess 2009 was pretty dang eventful for me. 2010 has just started and I've already hit an estate sale and scored a couple of things. I've also scored one big fat head-cold funk thing too. Welcome to 2010 Bec.

Here's to 2010 may it be filled with learning and adventure! Achoo, sniffle cough cough, may you not get the Funk!

Love and Hugs

Bec

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND DECADE!!!

WOW 2010!! Like a friend of mine said "Where's my flying car?" Of course I have big plans for this year but the most important thing I've decided is to take it all day by day. Learn to live in the present. Which is right now!

My Holiday Season was great. It would have been perfect if Big Daddy were home, but at least I can talk to him. That's more than my Mom got when Daddy was in Vietnam. So I'm thankful!

It was a quiet Nee Year's Eve at the Norway house. Although I was busy... Taking care of a terrified 85 pound German Shepherd who HATES and I mean HATES fireworks was a trick. He got stuck twice trying to hide under the bed with his brother Stevie! Poor guy! I know Stevie was laughing at him while tucked safely away from those nasty loud ka-POW.

I did do a craft project. It was from Martha Stewart..of course..

I sprayed it white and hung it with a blue ribbon. Of course I didn't take a finished product pic because well I forgot and it's already packed away. It was pretty. I plan on doing many more projects. I bought a Knitwit so I'm hoping I'll be able to "knit" without my hands cramping up so bad. That's why I stopped the knitting. My poor hands could not take it.

More thrifting will also start! As a matter of fact, I'm going to head to an estate sale today in a very fancy neighborhood. So I'll keep ya posted on what I score.

Happy New Year, may it be blessed with peace of heart, love and joy!

Love and Hugs

Bec

39 and holding....on Christmas Eve

Well a couple of days ago I turned 39! Wow a year away from 40. Somehow it's not that old to me anymore. I sometimes think I should have it more together than I do. Then I think back to all that I have accomplished. More than some but not as much as others. But I can look back and honestly say..."I did it my way"! (I love ole Frankie). All and all a good life and I'm looking forward to many more birthdays! I thank God for the life I live and the experiences I've had.

My friends and family have been my saving grace since Big Daddy has been gone. Hot Chick threw a party for me, which consisted of Friends, Football, munchies and a couple of Rum and Diet Cokes.

As I sit here on Christmas Eve, I'm remembering just how magical this night is! The anticipation and excitement. I still look in the sky to see.... what, I don't know..... maybe 8 tiny reindeer. Or just stare at the stars and realize just how loved I am. It's a wonderful feeling. I quietly thank God for sending Jesus here to show us how to live and behave. Love one another for the greatest gift you can give is Love!

Happy Birthday Jesus! I'm so glad you are a part of my life!

Love and Hugs

Bec

The Reason for the Season

First let me wish.... Happy last day of Hanukkah to my Jewish friends!

I thought I share some pix from a Christmas Pageant I went to on Wednesday night. It was so cool. Greenbrier Christian Church in Chesapeake, Virginia set up what it would have been like in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.

There were Roman Soldiers,

The Market was really busy..

They had Shepherds with live sheep and lambs. It was so sweet. I was able to pet an Alpaca and a baby lamb. I'm still wanting an Alpaca and now I think I'll have a couple of lambs too on my imaginary retirement farm. I'm all about the wool. HA HA.

Just look at that sweet little face!!! I now know I could NEVER eat lamb again. (I also love the Hot pink collar)

We went through a tunnel holding a candle and I was moved to tears when I saw the grotto where the Holy Family was.

"And unto us a Savior is born". Yep..... he is the Master I follow!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

I moved back to the Beach so why does it FEEL like ME!!!

OK what the Cow Pokey is going on???? I move back to VB where it is fairly warm in the winter. I mean it's no Florida, but still the average temp is 50 or so in December. Dear Heavens I woke up to a hard frost and my feet are freezing. Might help if I put socks on, but still! This is so wrong on so many different levels! UMMM God, yes I do miss somethings about Maine, but the weather is not one of them. I really don't need to be reminded of frigid weather. I know all about it. Remember??? I was using your name in vain while shoveling white stuff off my sidewalk. Yes, I am very sorry for that!

Speaking of ME. I was laughing and sharing some of the antics from Maine while at an impromptu gathering of office buddies...

Linda our Fearless Leader and Office Admin. Yeah SHE ROCKS!!! LOVE HER!!

Me and Ms T from OV she is the resident fashion guru of the firm!!

No we could not squeeze closer, God I look like a Line Backer!

So after one and let me repeat one Margarita, any more than that I feel like I've licked sandpaper for a week. I headed home. I was thinking about something Linda, our fearless leader, said...."I miss the stories from Maine". Yeah I know Buddy, I do to. Once I moved back to "La Beach" the Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom stopped. I got Nothing but the dogs and Seagulls, which are nothing more than rats with wings. Nasty Birds, just nasty.

AWWW but wait I do have something, Beckie trying to cook soup! I saw this great recipe on Dear Daisy Cottage Blog and it just looked so goooood and soooo easy. I just had to try. Well I did and yes it was easy, but I don't suggest over stuffing your pot or letting it cook for the full 11 hours it calls for, because this is what happens

How the heck one burns the heating element on a crock is beyond me, but I managed to do it. So out the door with the "new" crock. I think I'm going to the thrift to find a good old fashion one! But my "soup" is more of a stewish thing. I'll let ya know how it tastes later.

Love and Hugs

Bec