Out With The Old

Alatariel and I had the opportunity to be in Oklahoma City a couple of evenings before Christmas, and we took a drive downtown.  We were both surprised to see the decorations on many of the buldings - sheets of lights that made the street sparkle and glitter with color.  It was pretty cool - much more lovely than a photo can depict.  Cool thing - all the strings of light were swaying in the breeze giving the buildings a liquid look.  Neat.

The general opinion around the house is that we're all glad to see 2012 go.  It was a difficult year and we're still recouperating.  2013 holds updated knees, a repaired back, a garden, chickens, maybe a cow. 

Moving back has been challenging trying to fit our stuff back into our house.  Strange, when we move 3 years ago, I tossed bags and bags of junk.  When we moved back, I tossed bags and bags of junk.  I tossed bags of things that weren't junk!  I still can't get everything put back into this house!

I think we're getting closer.  A 15x20 storage room helps a lot.

We hope to have Mom's house cleaned out this weekend.  I've dragged home a lot of smelly furniture that I'm going to refinish or repurpose.  Can't wait for warmer weather so I can break out the sand paper and paint brushes.

On the artsy-crafty front, I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to make stamped jewelry.  I found some tools and blanks at Hobby Lobby (happy to support them while they buck the system) and made an impulse purchase last night.  I stamped out a charm today - turned the "a" upside down... better luck on the next one.  Problem I have is getting the black into the stamped letters.  Sharpies - as recommended on other blogs - aren't cutting it. 

I had ortho-visc injections in my knees.... still waiting for that to work.  Doc says it will get better as time passes. 

Back surgery next week.  That one scares me!  But I'll be new and improved in time to clean out the old garden spot and put in the summer veggies.  Plus, I'll have three weeks off.  Three.  Won't leave me much vacation for the rest of the year, but three weeks off.  Wow!  :)