Thank you so much for visiting my blog. God BLESS !

Sunday, November 30, 2008

The Weekend Is Over

It's always sad when the family is home for the holidays and then Monday rolls around... back to normal, back to work... back to school. We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving and weekend that I would love for it to never end. But, we know that time does not stand still.

I wanted to share our nativity set with you before I headed off to bed. I have had it for many years. It is from Home Interiors. I have it on Grandma's hutch in the dining room.

I used to put it in the living room, but when the kiddos were little, I noticed there were a couple of fingers missing here and there. I was sad that they were broken off, but decided maybe it was my fault for not explaining ENOUGH that this was definitely a look at piece and not a pick me up and carry me around piece.

I've had it in the closet for years because I simply didn't want it damaged, however, being in the closet in the box is no place for enjoyment, so I explained to our youngest once more what this setting was and why it was so important not to play with it and carry parts of it around. There are a few items that are not attached. I had thought about hot gluing some of the items to the manger and may do so before I put it away after the holidays. I love looking at it and it is a reminder to us all why we celebrate Christmas.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Youtube West Virginia Video


Taylor took most of the pictures and I took a few here on the mountain. The pictures are from Cass, Blackwater Falls, Spruce Knob, Dolly Sods, Morgantown and Harpers Ferry. I hope you enjoy the video as much as we love living in the beautiful state of West Virginia.

Our Snowman Family ~


Years ago I used to attend parties for home decor, candles, you name it. I sold Longaberger baskets and was invited to many gatherings and truly enjoyed them. I purchased this snowman family and set them out every year. They usually stay out through the end of January, just in time to bring out the Valentine decor.

The Day After Thanksgiving...


Sometimes we decorate after we eat our Thanksgiving meal, but this year we decided to play Texas Holdem and then take a nap. Of course, I lost, as I bet the same whether I have high cards or low cards, or even cards that don't match up to anything that is being displayed by the dealer. Yesterday morning we woke up rejuvenated and put our two trees up. We put a primitive decorated tree in the living room and in the family room, we put a large tree up and adorn it with special ornaments that we handmade and what the kids made in elementary school. We use all white lights and really enjoy sitting around the trees in the evenings, enjoying the lights. When do you put your Christmas tree up?

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Sweets from Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.
And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life. Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Snowy Rainy Day ~

Today was such a nice day. We got the best of all weather worlds. We watched the snow fall, rain fall and then the sunshine came out. Tomorrow will be a busy day, the day before Thanksgiving. We will be shopping for Christmas gifts and getting the last few odds and ends for our Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. Shopping on "black Friday" is not my cup of tea. I did it many, many years ago and vowed to always try to have my Christmas shopping finished before Thanksgiving and that works great for me. While everyone else is standing in lines and driving around the parking lots 5 times to get a "good" spot, we are home decorating for Christmas. When do you decorate and shop for Christmas?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Grandma Bonnie Passes Away

For those of you who know me well, know that I have over 300 Longaberger baskets and that my home is accented with Longaberger pottery, wrought iron, bedding, border, pillows and more. I used to be a Longaberger consultant and have done many fundraisers for our local fire department and elementary school by doing basket bingos for them and donating my commission to their cause.

Dave Longaberger died a few years ago and things changed when Tami took the reins. Much of their merchandise is now outsourced and the baskets are the only remaining items that are Made in the USA. Because of the quality shift and the economy, I stopped selling Longaberger, but my admiration of the "days with Dave" will always linger.

It is with sadness, but with celebration of her life, that I tell you that Grandma Bonnie has passed away. This is a letter that Tami wrote, which is posted on their website at www.longaberger.com.


Dear Friends,

It is with sadness that I share with you the passing of our beloved Grandma Bonnie. Bonnie Jean Gist Longaberger was 100 years old. She was a remarkable woman whose zest for life, resiliency in the face of adversity and enduring love of the simple pleasures had a tremendous influence on all of us who are part of the Longaberger family and The Longaberger Company.

Until recent years, Grandma Bonnie remained very active in the community and within our company. Many of you might recall her attending past Bees. For many years, she enjoyed her daily lunches at the Senior Center in Dresden, talking with neighbors and, of course, spending time with the family. She made us all laugh with her stories and memories, and she made raising a family of 12 look easy and downright fun. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother to all of us, and a good Christian woman. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on.

I think what is most memorable about Grandma Bonnie is her approach to life. She had a commonsense attitude and enjoyed simple living. She never complained. She always believed in forging ahead, and she did it with a wit and sense of humor that made us chuckle out loud. She was one of the strongest – and funniest – women I ever have known. This comment, often echoed by Grandma Bonnie, sums it up quite nicely:

“A person should have a good sense of humor, and if that doesn’t work, they should rely on the Lord.”

Grandma Bonnie was born July 16, 1908. She and my grandfather, J.W., married in 1927 and raised their 12 children at their Dresden home next to the workshop where J.W. handcrafted baskets, later teaching many of his children to do the same.

Grandma Bonnie became very proud of my father, our company and all of you. It amazed her that Longaberger baskets could be made with such love and care, and be cherished by so many from so far away. To this day, she embodies our values and our spirit. She has had an immeasurable impact. The memories of her serve as an inspiration to us all.

Arrangements are pending at Vensil-Orr & Chute Funeral Home in Dresden. Burial will be privately observed by our family. Those who wish may make contributions in Grandma Bonnie’s memory by making checks payable to the Grandma Bonnie Fund, c/o The Longaberger Foundation, 1500 E. Main St., Newark, Ohio, 43055. This fund was established in 2002 to alleviate hunger for individuals and families in need, especially in Muskingum County, Ohio, Grandma Bonnie’s lifelong home. Condolences may be sent to bonniesympathy@longaberger.com.

On behalf of the entire Longaberger family, we want to thank you so much for your caring and concern. Words cannot express how much it means to us.

Tami

The Kiss

The Kiss.....
She is pregnant, he had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire. When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest. A photographer from the Charlotte, North Carolina newspaper, noticed her in the distance looking at the fireman. He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do. As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her unborn babies and kissed him just as the photographer snapped this photograph.

...and some think animals are dumb...

Saturday, November 22, 2008

To A Keeper


TO A KEEPER ~
One day a mother died.
And on that clear, cold morning,
in the warmth of her bedroom,
the daughter was struck with
the pain of learning that sometimes
there isn't any more.

No more hugs,
no more lucky moments to celebrate together,
no more phone calls just to chat,
No more "just one minute"

Sometimes, what we care about the most goes away.
never to return before we can say good-bye,
Say "I Love You."

So while we have it . . it's best we love it . .
And care for it and fix it when it's broken
and take good care of it when it's sick.

This is true for marriage .... and friendships. .

And children with bad report cards;
And dogs with bad hips;
And aging parents and grandparents
We keep them because they are worth it,
Because we cherish them!

Some things we keep --
like a best friend who moved away
or a classmate we grew up with.
There are just some things that
make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important,
and so are the people we know
And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone today
who thought I was a 'KEEPER'!

Thank you very much
For being a special part of MY Life!

Send a Card to a Recovering American Soldier


When you do your Holiday cards this year, take one card and send it to the address below. If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful special people who have sacrificed so much would get. When you are making out your Holiday card list this year, please include the following:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

Friday, November 21, 2008

Give to the Troops

Send a Postcard to the Troops

Sears ~ Christmas Shopping This Year



Sears - Christmas shopping this year...

I know I needed this reminder, since Sears isn't always my first choice. It's amazing when you think of how long the war has lasted and Sears hasn't withdrawn from their commitment. Could we each buy at least one thing at Sears this year?

How does Sears treat its employees who are called up for military duty? By law, they are required to hold their jobs open and available, but nothing more. Usually, people take a big pay cut and lose benefits as a result of being called up for active duty.

Sears is voluntarily paying the difference in salaries and maintaining all benefits, including medical insurance and bonus programs, for all called up reservist employees for up to two years.

I submit that Sears is an exemplary corporate citizen and should be recognized for its contribution. I suggest we all shop at Sears at least once, and be sure to find a manager to tell them why we are there so the company gets the positive reinforcement & feedback it well deserves.

This is TRUE and can be verified at http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/sears.asp

Thursday, November 20, 2008

CANVAS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA FLAG


This is a really cute canvas flag that would be a great Christmas gift for grandparents. It is the only one left and is available in my eBay store. You can click on the link on the right and see all of the wonderful primitive items that are available.

Deer Jerky Recipe


As promised, I am posting our deer jerky, or beef jerky recipe. You can buy seasonings in the store to mix in with your meat, but this is a good flavor for deer meat. Of course, it is filled with sodium and may not be the best choice if you have high blood pressure...

This mix will be good for one pound of meat. Marinate the meat overnight for the best flavor. If you do not like your jerky hot, reduce the amount of pepper you put in your mix.

3/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
8 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons of ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon of onion salt

Mix thoroughly and put the meat in it... sit it in the fridge overnight to marinate.

Christmas Banners Canvas Scrolls On Sale ~





These pretty canvas Christmas banners are now on sale in my eBay store for 11.99. They are very nice and can be used as a door decor or on a wall. They would make a great gift as well. Click on the link to the right to my eBay store to find these banners and many more Christmas items including snowmen, angels, and much more~

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

What Love Means to a 4-8 Year Old



What Love Means to a 4-8 Year Old ....

Touching words from the mouth of babes. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?'

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'
Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.
You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.'
Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.'
Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.'
Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.'
Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.'
Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss'
Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.'
Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,'
Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.'
Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.'
Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.'
Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.'
Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.'
Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.'
Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.'
Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image)
Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.'
Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.'
Jessica - age 8

And the final one... The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Poem Written By Judge Roy Moore From Alabama

The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama . Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama ! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.

America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray

We've kept God in our
temples,how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not
angry,that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

This says it all. May we all forward this message and offer our prayers for Judge Moore to be blessed and for America to wake up and realize what we need to do to keep OUR America the Beautiful. Pass this on and let's lift Judge Moore up in Prayer. He has stood firm and needs our support.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Tuesday Dreams...


It was snowing earlier with the sun shining brightly! I am taking the screens out of the windows today and washing windows. I tried to cheat outside and hosed off most of the dirt and grime, but still need to do it with cleaner and paper towels... hehehe! I just don't know how we can ever get crafting, cleaning, yardwork and FAMILY time all in our days... I guess that is why I get nothing of anything done. I just popped on to say hello and am going to go back to dusting the family room and watching Paige play on her hobby horse... dreaming of a maid to come in and clean everything for me... Enjoy your day and be blessed xox

Monday, November 17, 2008

Raggedy Monday ~


No jumpin' back in bed for me today... I had so much to do I couldn't take a snooze this morning. I had to lug the broken piece of equipment out onto the side porch alone, as I received an automated call from UPS telling me they could be by at anytime to pick it up and I only had 3 chances to have it picked up. I managed to turn it and twist it enough to get just a tad more duct tape around it and I put the whole 79 lbs of it on the side porch.

It started out a gorgeous, sunny day. As the afternoon rolled in, so did the clouds and rain. The UPS man had not arrived yet, so I had to go out there and lift the box up and prop it on my bench to protect it from the rain. Fortunately for the poor UPS guy, I remembered to confine Bear right before he pulled into the driveway. :)

I sold quite a bit on eBay this weekend, fortunately, so I had several packages packed and ready to go for the mailman today. I even slipped a few bills out the door, too.

I have jerky to make with the tenderloin. I am going to use my old standby recipe on this batch and will post it shortly in case someone would like to try it. We are going to grind the other meat up and use a jerky gun to make the strips for the rest of the meat. Everyone loves the jerky and it is very healthy for you.

I sure do miss the group at times... I think the group gave me much inspiration to spend more time at the sewing machine. I hardly have anything crafted to list, and have so many things I want to make. It's almost rediculous to think I can fit all that I have to do into a day.

I posted a pic of one of my first Raggedy Ann dolls. I used to enjoy making them, but I can make bowl fillers faster and I don't get as bored making them as I do making bowl fillers.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Another Vintage Quilt Christmas Tree


I just finished another pretty vintage quilt Christmas tree. The tree is covered in mica flakes and has a rusty wire wrapped around it with dangling rusty hearts. There are rusty safety pins and bells on it as well and it is topped with a large rusty bell. A cute hang tag is attached by a green and red homespun tie and is attached with a small rusty safety pin. This tree was just listed on eBay as a buy it now item.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Hang Tags With Christmas Homespun Ties


Stop in and check out my hang tags. They are stained and have pretty green and red homespun ties on them.

New Exercise Equipment


We were eating dinner and someone started pecking on the side porch door. I opened the door and the UPS man was standing there, all eyes on Bear. ROFL!! We were expecting him to be here on the 14th. I ordered hubby exercise equipment for his birthday and it came early. Bear was running around and of course, "greeted" the UPS guy. He had thrown Bear a treat to distract him until he could get HELP. He asked if Bear was mine and I told him yes and explained that when we know someone is coming, we confine him. The poor guy told me that Bear had really scary eyes. Bear is a very tall dog, a mutt lab shep mix and who knows what else, and is somewhat intimidating to people that first meet him. I held Bear while the UPS guy could get down the steps and he entered through the back door of his truck and left. I couldn't help giggling, as Bear to me will always be a big baby, but rest assured, he did not allow any space between me and the UPS guy ;)

By the way, the equipment has a chipped piece in it and the main bar is bent, so now I have to return it via UPS... if he'll come back!

Dogwood Trees and Birds


I had every intention of going outside with my camera today to sneak a shot of the cardinals eating the red berries off of my dogwood that sits outside my window, but this morning, all of the berries were gone. Yesterday, they enjoyed plucking the berries off and eating them. There were several male and female cardinals bouncing from one branch to another, enjoying the bright red berries. If you are planning on planting a tree near your home, but you are not sure what type to plant, I would suggest a dogwood tree. A dogwood gives such pleasure in the spring, with blooms as large as your palm and in the fall, they turn a gorgeous deep red, leaving red berries behind for the birds to enjoy. Because they do not get large, you can plant a dogwood near your porch, deck or just outside your window. They are beautiful planted as specimen trees as well. I have approximately 14 white, pink and red dogwoods planted all over our yard. Birds love to make nests in them and you can get a bird's eye view of the little ones from inside your home. Dogwoods are definitely a bird's best friend.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Primitive Country Quilted Tree Skirts


Time to purchase a tree skirt before they sell out... These gorgeous tree skirts are still available, but not for long. I have sold many of the Tea Star Skirts and they have a limited supply available. These are from Victorian Heart and are absolutely gorgeous. I have several patterns available in my store.

Happy Wednesday AKA Hump Day

Good morning ~ Getting ready to work on eBay templates... I was fortunate enough to sell all of them to a very dear lady that didn't want to pick just a few, so I have been plugging away at them for her. She has been very patient with me. The sun is shining today and I hope to get outside and work on trimming more of our perennials back. I have many peonies and still have a few to trim. I hope you all have a blessed day :) xox

Veteran's Day








Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Veterans March In PA - Go Uncle Bill!


We are very proud of you and all that have served...

Veteran's Day


It seems sad on one hand to say, "Happy Veteran's Day", however, for those who served celebrate this day with much pride and tears. Yesterday, my child sang to 7 veterans who sat in the front row of the old auditorium and watched them wipe tears from their faces as the choir sang American Heroes. We display our American flag with pride on the garage. The red, white and blue is a symbol of the blood shed, lost lives, triumphs and sacrifices made so that we can live in freedom. There is a wonderful website you can go to that shares stories of all who served the United States. The site is www.greatamericans.com. Let us honor our veterans today and say a prayer of thanks to them and their families.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Do You Like To Wrap Christmas Gifts?

I love going downstairs on Christmas Eve to wrap Christmas presents. I enjoy having our Christmas tree lights on and thinking about how each gift will be perceived and appreciated on Christmas morning. We always use our Longaberger cookie plate with matching tumbler to put Santa's cookies and milk in on the counter. Wrapping paper is still a traditional wrap here. Sometimes we put the grandparent's gifts in a nice bag with tissue paper, but I think kids always love ripping the paper off of the gift to unveil the surprise. Do you like to wrap Christmas gifts?

Greta's Interview With Sarah Palin

I'm working on templates and listening to Greta's interview with Sarah Palin. I am not sure that Palin would be able to win the Presidency in 4 years and not sure that I would vote for her. I am hoping a few strong leaders will step up to the plate to represent the Republican party. Time will tell.

When Do You Decorate For Christmas?

Only a little over a month left before Christmas will be here. This summer and fall have breezed by quickly. We usually enjoy decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving and we keep our decorations up until New Year's Day. When do you decorate for Christmas?

Obama Must Forsake Cap Gains Tax Hike

OBAMA MUST FORSAKE CAP GAINS TAX HIKE TO STABILIZE MARKETS
By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN
Published on DickMorris.com on November 10, 2008

Wall Street is engaged in a test of wills with President-elect Barack Obama. The market, which dropped one thousand points last week, is not going to recover until the next president forswears his plans to raise the capital gains tax. In our book Fleeced we predicted that the Dow would crash after an Obama election because of fears that he will raise taxes, particularly the tax on capital gains.

As we argued in Fleeced, even an unsophisticated investor realizes that if he sells now, he will only have to give the government 15% of his profits whereas if he waits until Obama takes office, he may have to fork over an additional five to fifteen percent of the profits to Washington. Any moron can tell it makes sense to sell before the tax hike kicks in. And since these increases are usually retroactive, investors will take care to sell ASAP rather than wait.

So Obama is in the position of asking people to have confidence in the markets, even though he proposes to as much as double their taxes should they succeed.

The collision course between Obama's leftist ideology and the reality of the markets could not be more striking. The president-elect is surrounded by economic advisors who want to raise capital gains taxes, as much because of their ideology as for any practical benefit. Dick recalls vividly his meeting with Bob Rubin when he was Treasury Secretary under Clinton. Rubin opposed any cut in the capital gains tax even though he admitted that a cut in the tax would not cut, but might even augment, government revenues. Obama, himself, defended an increase as a matter of social fairness in the campaign debates when he was asked whether he favored increasing the tax even though history showed that a higher tax did not generate increased revenues.

Now Obama will have to choose between ideology and reality. Unless and until he pledges to abandon his plans for higher taxes, he will find nothing but bad news in the business sections of the nation's newspapers. He can claim all he wants that the crash is due to Bush's policies, but the fact is that the market advanced during the last week of the campaign when it looked like McCain was gaining and then fell sharply in the two days after Obama's victory.

Depressingly, many of the predictions in Fleeced are now likely to come true, from the overloading of our health care system and the resulting rationing of health care to the weakening of the Patriot Act. We will report on these as they unfold, hoping to generate a climate of moderation and pragmatism in Washington. LOL.

Order a copy of Fleeced from either Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com – Click here now!

Go to DickMorris.com to read all of Dick's columns!



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Denise Austin Mini Stepper... Uh Oh


I bought the Denise Austin Mini Stepper from Amazon for my birthday a year ago. I really loved it at first, but after using it awhile, one of the shocks is already broken and I end up with one shock working and the other side collapsing when stepping on it. It wasn't that expensive, but it was expensive enough that I feel it should have lasted longer. I have also read on the review guides that people write that it seems exercise equipment that has shocks does not last. Sometimes the grease/oil spurts out of the equipment onto their carpeting. So, even though I told many of you that I was so tickled with my mini stepper, at this point, I would not advise you to get one. A good old fashioned walk outside is free and won't break down.

Happy Monday ~


Hubby got me these pretty flowers for my birthday :) Believe it or not, I set them out on the porch when a few started losing their petals and they are still pretty! Most of them are mums, which you know can tolerate cooler weather. I will be cleaning today... always try to do that on Mondays after a weekend of this and that. It's a bit nippy here today, but the sun is shining, which is always pleasant. I am working on templates today and still contemplating on what to do with my store at this point. It's a shame eBay has to "fix" what isn't broken, but what do you do? Weigh what will benefit you the most and roll with it...

Sunday, November 9, 2008

EBay Best Match Search


I just wanted to mention again, when you get a chance, do a search on your eBay items to see what comes up. A friend emailed me earlier and told me her items were not in the search results either. This means we MUST put a few auction listings out there to draw business into our eBay stores. I have personally used the .35 cents 30 day listing option and I haven't made any sales from it, however, I may have sold something indirectly by putting items on auction. Search results are not displaying store items. I have called eBay in regards to this, but in the meantime, if you only have a few items in your store, you may want to close your store and simply list on the 30 day auction listing for .35 cents per item. You will save money.

I removed my store banners, quilted throw pillows, bed ruffles and some of my other miscellaneous things. I hope they put our stores back on the site soon, or I may be closing my store. Why have it open if nobody sees the listings due to their poor search engine?

The Weekend Is Over...


Bye bye primitive strawberries! Fortunately, I made a few sales this weekend and the strawberries sold. They are one of my favorite prim bowl fillers to display. I am sure she will love them. The pictures don't show the aged look of the painted osnaburg and the french knots were time consuming. This weekend went by quickly. I have spent an hour alone sitting here sorting through the adorable template backgrounds to choose from. I get tired of the same old look on my blog and love color and change and she has so many backgrounds to choose from, I must have changed my template 7 or 8 times. We spent hours outside today. We raked and blew leaves in the wind. LOL! We were fortunate that most of the time God was blowing in the right direction for us :) As the day progressed, the wind got much colder and now it almost feels like winter out there...

Going to close for the night and want to say a prayer for a dear friend of mine who received bad news recently. *sending prayers and hugs*

The Last Leaf by Oliver Wendell Holmes




In case you missed this on a thread, a poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes

The Last Leaf

I saw him once before,
As he passed by the door,
And again
The pavement stones resound,
As he totters o'er the ground
With his cane.


They say that in his prime,
Ere the pruning-knife of Time
Cut him down,
Not a better man was found
By the Crier on his round
Through the town.


But now he walks the streets,
And he looks at all he meets
Sad and wan,
And he shakes his feeble head,
That it seems as if he said,
"They are gone!"


The mossy marbles rest
On the lips that he has prest
In their bloom,
And the names he loved to hear
Have been carved for many a year
On the tomb.


My grandmamma has said--
Poor old lady, she is dead
Long ago--
That he had a Roman nose,
And his cheek was like a rose
In the snow;


But now his nose is thin,
And it rests upon his chin
Like a staff,
And a crook is in his back,
And a melancholy crack
In his laugh.


I know it is a sin
For me to sit and grin
At him here;
But the old three-cornered hat,
And the breeches, and all that,
Are so queer!


And if I should live to be
The last leaf upon the tree
In the spring,
Let them smile, as I do now,
At the old forsaken bough
Where I cling.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Old Man Winter Is Headed This Way...


I was able to mow the leaves into the woods yesterday and I got up this morning to find the back yard was full of oak leaves again. We had a nice visit from my parents and this afternoon, I spent a couple of hours back out on the mower blowing leaves with it again. It was another gorgeous day here on the mountain. With most of the leaves gone, you can see the beautiful mountain range in the distance. The tall timbers sway in the wind and look so weak, but they are very strong and have withstood many storms and ice storms. Old man winter is headed this way...

Friday, November 7, 2008

Obama's Change: Back To The Democratic Washington Insiders

OBAMA'S 'CHANGE': BACK TO THE DEMOCRATIC WASHINGTON INSIDERS

By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

Published on DickMorris.com on November 7, 2008

What's with Obama's choice of old-time Clinton cronies and recycled Washington insiders to run the transition to his new politics of change?

Can't the anti-Washington insiders President-elect find anyone who isn't a Beltway has-been?

Judging by the appointments to his transition committee and leaks about possible top staff and Cabinet choices, Obama appears to be practicing the politics of status quo, not the politics of change.

Obama based his innovative campaign on an emphatic and convincing commitment to change the culture of Washington and bring in new people, new ideas, and new ways of doing business.

But now, Obama has definitely changed his tune. As president-elect, he's brought back the old Washington hacks, party regulars, and Clinton sycophants that he so frequently disparaged. Like Jimmy Carter, the last President who ran as an outsider, Obama has reached out to the same old folks who dominate the Democratic Party and represent the status quo.

His Transition Committee looks like a reunion of the Clinton Administration. No new ideas of how to reform the system there. The Chairman, John Podesta, was Clinton's Chief of Staff. He presided over the outrageous last minute pardons and his style is strictly inside-the-beltway and make-no-waves.

Then there's Carol Browner, Clinton's competent former EPA Administrator who became the consummate Washington insider. She's Madeline Albright's partner and recently married mega-lobbyist and former Congressman Tom Downey. During the uproar over Dubai taking over U.S. ports, Browner brought Downey to meet with Senator Chuck Schumer to plead Dubai's case. Downey was paid half a million dollars to push Dubai's position. He's also a lobbyist for Fannie Mae, paid half a million to try to cover their rears on the subprime mortgage mess. Is his change?

Federico Pena was Clinton's Secretary of Transportation and of Energy. The President felt he was unduly soft on Air Florida after their crash and lost confidence in him. Now he's back as a Transition Committee member.

Bill Daley, Clinton's former Secretary of Commerce and the brother of the Mayor of Chicago, is the epitome of the old Democratic establishment. Clinton appointed him to the Fannie Mae Board and his son worked as a lobbyist for the agency. Aren't these the kind of folks that Obama ran against?

Larry Summers, President of Harvard and former Clinton Secretary of the Treasury is not exactly an outsider either. He's also alienated more than a few with his bizarre suggestion that women may be genetically inferior to men in math and science.

Susan Rice, Assistant Secretary of State under Clinton advised John Kerry and Mike Dukakis. Does that tell you enough?

Obama has named one of his big bundlers - Michael Froman, an executive at Citigroup. Is this supposed to symbolize change?

Obama's choice of a spokesperson for the transition is also surprising; hers' is definitely not the face of reason and new politics. Stephanie Cutter is the brash and combative former Clinton, Kerry, and Ted Kennedy mouthpiece. The liberal DailyKos.com once described Cutter as "a moron to the nth degree" when she tried unsuccessfully to force the New York Times' Adam Nagourney to treat her unsolicited email criticizing Howard Dean as "background" without mentioning her name.

Speaking of brash, Rahm Emmanuel, the new White House Chief of Staff, makes Cutter look timid. Rahm is also a former Clinton White House staffer - and a very obnoxious one. He spent his White House years leaking to the Washington Post whenever he didn't like what the President was doing. Even Bill Clinton stopped trusting him. Any hopes of Obama keeping his commitment to reach across the aisle would go right out the window with Rahm's appointment. Instead of extending a hand to the opposition, it would be like raising just one finger. And Rahm's strident demeanor laced with the 'f' word in every sentence will do little to elevate the bipartisan dialogue in Washington.

Christopher Edley, another member of the transition team, is Dean of the Berkeley Law School. He's a former member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission under Clinton and his wife, Maria Echaveste was Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff.

Transition committee staffer Christine Varney was a Federal Trade Commissioner under Clinton and worked in the White House.

Throughout the early debates, Obama criticized Hillary as part of the inside-the beltway establishment that needed to go. But now he's reaching out to these exact same folks. Some change.

Going Outside Today



It is a gorgeous day outside today! I am getting ready to go outside and mow the leaves into the woods. It is warm and beautiful and I don't want to miss one moment, as winter will be coming soon and I do not like to be outside in the cold. What is the weather like in your area?

eBay's New Search Engine

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine closed her eBay store. She told me that her items were not showing up in the new search. Well, last evening I finally got the time to do a search on a few of my items and guess what? They were not in the search. I searched my store banners and bed ruffles and throw pillows. I did find a couple of bed ruffles, however, they were WAY at the bottom of bed skirts and there were only a couple out of the thirty plus I had listed. So, I am in the process of going through removing many of my listings. Why bother paying to list your items if eBay is going to cater to the power sellers that have sold THOUSANDS of items over you? Has anyone else noticed this that has a store?

No Hidden White Bias Seen in Presidential Race

No hidden white bias seen in presidential race

Graphic shows presidential vote by religious affiliation and race; two sizes;

Fri Nov 7, 6:29 AM EST
Whether whites supported Barack Obama or not, they don't seem to have lied to pollsters about it.

Obama's election triumph on Tuesday presented no evidence of the so-called Bradley effect, in which whites who oppose a black politician mislead pollsters about whom they will vote for. Instead, national and state pre-election polls were generally accurate in reflecting voters' preferences in the presidential contest.

"I certainly hope this drives a stake through the heart of that demon," Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin political scientist and polling authority, said of the Bradley effect.

The phenomenon is named after former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, an African-American who in 1982 lost the race for California governor after leading in the polls. There were similar contests over the following decade in which black candidates facing white opponents had comfortable leads in polls, only to lose or narrowly win the elections.

Critics have said such turnabouts might have been largely the product of poor polling. Others have concluded that some whites, nervous about appearing to harbor anti-black feelings, in fact misled pollsters up through the early 1990s but that such behavior has faded over time.

Obama, who will become the first African-American president, defeated Republican John McCain on Tuesday by 52 percent to 46 percent with nearly all votes counted.

If the Bradley effect were a factor, pre-election polls should have consistently overstated Obama's share of the vote, or understated McCain's. Instead, most did a solid job of previewing how the vote would go, both nationally and in crucial states.

Shortly before Election Day, an NBC News-Wall Street Journal survey showed Obama ahead 51 percent to 43 percent among likely voters. The Gallup Poll showed a 53 percent to 42 percent Obama lead, while CBS News had Obama up 51 percent to 42 percent.

An Associated Press-Yahoo News poll in late October had Obama ahead 51 percent to 43 percent. An AP-GfK poll in mid-October showed a virtual tie, 44 percent for Obama to 43 percent for McCain.

Web sites that combine major polls to estimate support also performed well. Among some popular sites, http://www.pollster.com/ had Obama ahead 52 percent to 44 percent, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ saw Obama up 52 percent to 45 percent, and http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ gave Obama a 52 percent to 46 percent advantage.

Such accuracy was a relief to pollsters rattled last winter when widespread projections of an Obama victory in the New Hampshire primary were upended after Hillary Rodham Clinton won narrowly.

"We're getting much more sophisticated estimates," said University of Michigan political scientist and polling analyst Michael Traugott, citing improved techniques.

Among them is the increased polling of people who have cell phones but no landlines. A Pew Research Center report in September, and exit polls of voters conducted Tuesday for The Associated Press and the television networks, suggest that people who have only cells tend to vote more Democratic than people like them with only landlines.

Many state surveys were impressively accurate also.

For North Carolina, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ gave McCain a pre-election edge of less than 1 percentage point. That state finally was awarded to Obama on Thursday, when he had a 14,000-vote lead out of 4.2 million votes cast.

Pre-election polls by Quinnipiac University, Mason-Dixon and AP-GfK all showed Obama ahead by 2 percentage points in Florida, which the Democrat won by 3 points. The combined estimate for Pennsylvania by http://www.pollster.com/ put Obama up 8 points, and he won by 11.

None of this means race was not a factor on Tuesday.

Whites nationally preferred McCain by 12 percentage points, while 95 percent of blacks backed Obama, according to exit polls. Seven percent of whites said race was important in choosing a candidate, and they backed the Republican 2-1.

Analysts said any reluctance to support Obama because he is black may have been overwhelmed this year by a desire to support the candidate people thought would fix the struggling economy. They also said the Bradley effect has faded as Americans have become used to blacks winning local elections and as the 1990s' more intense focus on crime and welfare has ebbed.

The Bradley effect was "a product of a particular political environment that seems to have passed us by," said Daniel Hopkins, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University who wrote a study this summer concluding that the phenomenon has disappeared.


---------------------------------------------------------

I certainly hope someone shares this information with the middle school and high school students. My kids have experienced "in your face" comments and have even been called racists before and after the election if they even showed one tiny bit of support for McCain. If this continues, I will be contacting the school board and local paper. I am so tired of hearing about suppression, etc, when if it were not for the white votes, Obama would not have been elected. I am not a racist nor have I raised my children to be and I will not tolerate them being called names as such. HELLO!! Obama's mother was WHITE and he was raised by his WHITE grandparents. I will give them their time to gloat, however, will not tolerate this much longer.

Has anyone else been experiencing this? I know a couple of people have told me similar things with adults and my husband experienced it on his part time job before the election...

Unity, change... all of the things Obama speaks of will not happen until this type of ill mannered behavior ends.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

What Are Gas Prices In Your Area?

Gas prices in the western part of Virginia are as low as $2.15. What are gas prices in your area?

An Election That The Republicans Needed To Lose

AN ELECTION THAT THE REPUBLICANS NEEDED TO LOSE — GOOD LUCK OBAMA

By DICK MORRIS

Published on TheHill.com on November 5, 2008

If ever there was an election that was not worth winning, it was the contest of 2008. While it was hard-fought on both sides, had McCain won, it might have spelled the end of the Republican Party. As it is, the party is well-situated to come back in 2010 and in 2012, if it learns the lessons of this year.

Simply put, all hell is about to break loose in the markets and the economy. The mortgage crisis will likely be followed by defaults in credit card debt, student loans and car loans. We will probably be set for two years of zero growth, according to economists with whom I talk. And the federal efforts to protect the nation from the worst of the recession will probably lead to huge budget deficits and resulting inflation. We are in for stagflation that could last for years.

Had McCain won, he would be the latter-day Hoover, blamed for the disaster that unfolded on his watch. Now it is Obama’s problem. With the Republicans suffering a wipeout in congressional elections (although not as bad as they feared), the ball is now squarely in the Democratic court. Good luck!

If Obama raises taxes, the situation could get even worse. With a liberal Congress on his hands, he will be constrained to move to the left, if he needs any pushing. When Clinton was elected in 1992, the Democrats in control of Congress gave him a clear message: Either you govern within the four walls of the Democratic caucus or you won’t get our support. Crossing the aisle to get Republican votes, even including the GOP in negotiations, was a no-no for which the president would pay dearly if he transgressed.

The result was predictable. Moderate initiatives like welfare reform were scrapped, the Congress passed tax hikes and legislation became festooned with liberal amendments. Faced with the need to round up every last vote in the Senate and House Democratic caucuses, Clinton had no choice but to load up conservative bills like an anti-crime measure with liberal pork (like a provision for midnight basketball courts in urban areas) to get unanimous caucus backing.

Obama will have to move left to appease his caucus. He will become their hostage, and they his jailers.

This dynamic will produce extreme-left-wing governance, which the Republicans can blame for the continuation of the recession and for any worsening. The party will recover, fed by anger at Obama’s policies, and will emerge from this defeat stronger than ever.

But the Republicans must learn the lesson of MoveOn.org. Founded in the bleak days of the Clinton impeachment, MoveOn developed a grassroots Internet base. Building up its e-list of activists and contributors, MoveOn laid the basis for the incredible Internet appeal of the Obama campaign. At last count, Obama has 4.5 million donors, most online.

Conservatives cannot count on the Republican Party to fight their battles for them, and certainly cannot count on them to win. The right needs to develop cyber-roots conservative organizations to rival the power of groups like MoveOn.org. The stellar efforts of NewsMax.com and its ally, GOPtrust.com, illustrate the power of such efforts. Together, these groups raised $10 million for an independent expenditure on media in swing states featuring the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s anti-American bombast.

And their efforts worked.

Virtually all the polls agreed that Obama would win 52-53 percent of the vote, but the surveys varied in the amount of undecideds they found. On Election Day, virtually every undecided voter went to McCain, and Obama’s final vote share was no more and no less than the 52-53 percent the surveys had predicted. This unanimity among undecided voters is attributable to the endgame of groups like GOPtrust.com and NewsMax.com.

These groups have to lead the way in running media to battle against the leftist legislation that will undoubtedly emanate from the Obama administration and the liberal Congress America has just elected. Then they can become the basis for a Republican resurgence, just as MoveOn.org was this year for the Democrats.

Chuck Norris To America: Wake Up!

Go to DickMorris.com to read all of Dick's columns!

Stocks Continue to Drop

Is it my imagination or were the stocks going up when McCain's poll numbers were going up? A friend just told me that she heard on the news that the stocks dropping were a direct drop from our President Elect. I suppose the people that have or should I say had money, are taking their money and running before they are taxed to pieces on it. I know we will be buying more ammunition before he raises the taxes on firearms and ammunition, or totally bans the sale of such items. I am still sad about the choice, as we will all have to suffer the consequences of our economy's pitfall, as the experts reported that this would happen under a Democratic regime.

HaPpY ThUrSdAY!

One more day until the weekend... one more day of much needed rain. I can't believe how many leaves have fallen off of the trees. Of course, the oak leaves are clinging on and will be blown around all winter. Thank Goodness I invested in a leaf blower many years ago. It is a Toro electric blower. The drawback, of course, is adding cords and trying to keep them untangled. It is very lightweight and easy to use. Because it is electric, it is very easy to start as well. I will probably get out in the yard this weekend and blow leaves. It is also great to blow leaves out of your gutters. Maybe by then, most of the leaves will be off the trees, although I have found myself blowing leaves in the middle of January :)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Gorgeous Primitive Tree Skirts


Christmas is right around the corner and you know how holiday items are there one day and gone the next... Be sure to stop in my eBay store and choose a gorgeous primitive tree skirt while they last!

Obama: Conservator In Chief By Dick Morris & Eileen McGann

OBAMA: CONSERVATOR IN CHIEF

By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

Published in the New York Post on November 5, 2008

While the Democrats and Barack Obama won big yesterday, even coming close to a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, Obama will find their options substantially constrained by reality.

Their handicap is the financial condition of the nation they'll inherit. Think of a trustee or conservator of a bankrupt company.

Those who fear a radical Obama miss the point of the lack of maneuverability of the next president. Behind the mortgage crisis looms the credit-card crisis, the student-loan crisis and the car-loan crisis. Sweating this mess out of the system will take two years of zero growth or contraction.

We won't have a Great Depression, for the government will irrigate our economy with money. But we'll have stagnation, followed by inflation.

So Obama will take office with unlimited political power but highly circumscribed practical power. He can pass whatever legislation he wants, but will be unable to indulge his ideology.

The irony will be bitter for the Democrats. Finally able to rise above the political limits they've faced, they'll encounter new limitations in the fundamental problems of the economy.

The Republican Party's role is to rebuild in the shadow of the frustrations of the Obama presidency. Just as MoveOn.org built the massive grass-roots base that yesterday impelled the Democrats to victory, so Republicans must go down to their grass roots, get in touch with their base and rebuild an opportunity to win national elections.

Power has been bad for the GOP, sapping the party's soul and eroding its purity. But opposition, especially when a socialist like Obama wrestles with the practical problems of capitalism, will be a heady experience for the Republicans. The conservative movement can be reborn in opposition in a way they never could have been as the governing party.

For political historians, it's worth noting that Obama hasn't scored the knockout that many predicted. As I write, it seems clear that John McCain will lose by a few points in the popular vote, not by the double digits so confidently predicted in the media polls. The fact is that most of the undecided voters went to the Republicans.

In the face of a mandate limited by reality and undermined by his inability to sweep the nation as had been predicted, Obama will face a difficult situation. As the economy falters, he'll find himself unable to raise taxes as he wants and stymied in his plans for government takeover.

A very tough future, for a man who won such a heady victory.

Chuck Norris To America: Wake Up!

Go to DickMorris.com to read all of Dick's columns!

I Cried Last Night

I cried last night, for the first time in a very long time. A hard fought campaign ended in the election of Barack Hussein Obama. It has been no secret that I am a McCain supporter. I have spent endless hours volunteer calling and blogging on behalf of the McCain/Palin campaign.

Obama's volunteers fought harder. Obama fought harder. Through all of the negative history he has, he was able to overcome it all. With the questionable affiliations and voting present, he was able to rise above it. Through the voter fraud affiliated with ACORN again this campaign, he rose above it. Through the history of his childhood growing up in Indonesia and studying the koran, he rose above it... Although he voted 3 times in favor of partial birth abortion, he was able to receive votes from Catholics and Christians alike. Obama is now our President.

We can sit and analyze the things that made our campaign and election fail, however it continues to come back to the main focus Obama was able to center on which was the last 8 years with George W. Bush. People were not voting against McCain, they were voting against George W. Bush. They were voting against the Iraq war, not our soldiers or John McCain. People did not care about the affiliations that Obama had with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or The Black Panthers, or Ayers and Rezco. They cared more about voting against George W. Bush.

John McCain is an honorable man and perhaps at a different time in our lives, he would have won the hearts of Americans as our President, however, Obama won the hearts and minds of Americans... A time when our economy is spiraling downward... a time when people are losing their jobs and the Iraq war is costing Americans 10 billion dollars per month... Obama made many excellent points and was able to speak at a level that touched every person in some way shape or form.

I am posting Obama's speech from last night below. I stayed up and watched McCain and Obama speak, well into the wee hours of the morning. It was worth it. It was worth it to me to witness history being made and to have closure to this long, hard fought campaign. Both men gave everything they had to earn the right to serve our country as President and both should be commended.

Please, let us move on and support our country. I know my friends and blog followers feel as I do, and have resentment towards the dirty money, questionable affiliations, Michelle's racists comments and her comment about just now being proud of her country... the desire for Obama to change our First and Second Rights of the Constitution, his partial birth abortion stance, failure to cut taxes after voting to raise them 94 times... and the beat goes on... Resentment and ill feelings will only hurt within our own hearts. Let go and let God...

My husband called me this morning to see how I was doing, as I have truly been very emotionally involved with this campaign and told me that Afghanistan is already saying they demand civilian deaths to cease. My IMMEDIATE reaction was that I hope Obama will prove to the world that he will NOT back down and he will not be pushed around just because he is the new kid on the block. We must pray for Obama to make the right decisions and circle himself with the right people who will make the right choices for ALL OF AMERICA. Am I an Obama supporter yet? NO. Do I love my country? YES. Yes, I love my country. I do not support Obama as a person, but I will support Obama as the leader of our country.

Thank you for all of your support and comments to me on the blog and behind the scenes. I have made some new wonderful friends through my blog and that I will carry with me for a long time...

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If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Pre Christmas Sale!


Are you thinking about Christmas yet? I have bought my children a couple of things, but will wait for lists before venturing into the unknown further. I am having a Pre Christmas Sale in my eBay store. There you will find primitive ornaments including angels, santa ornies, Christmas templates, gingerbread man items and much, much more. Stop in by clicking on my eBay store link on the right. I love to combine shipping to save you money as well... Enjoy!

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Last Set of Pumpkins - How To Make Them


I have one last set of primitive pumpkins in my eBay store. I enjoy making these and usually start making them at the end of July-early August. These pumpkins are made by using 4 pieces of material, and then whip stitching the bottom, turn inside out and rag stuff with a bit of polyfil on the top. I whip stitch the top closed and hot glue a stick and spanish moss on the top. A small piece of gingham adds a finishing touch. I always spray my pumpkins with a delicious pumpkin scent and add a little hang tag with a little rusty safety pin. They are great to use in a wooden bowl from October through November...

eBay Winter Auction Templates - Boost Your Sales!


Stop in my eBay store and find a template to make your auctions look professional and uniform during the holiday season. I offer over 100 templates to choose from. I will email them to you directly after payment, as well as send the code to you on a cd. Many request a refund, as the cd is not necessary and contains the same code as the one I send via email. The link to my eBay store is on the right. Thank you for viewing my items~

Fall ~ A Gorgeous Time Of Year On the Mountain


One of the most gorgeous times of year here on the mountain is fall... A time when the leaves are changing and the gorgeous evergreens compliment the foliage of the deciduous trees of all colors. The picture of the Kwanzan Cherry is so pretty, and if you think this tree is pretty in the fall, you should see the spectacular spring blooms.

This is a Temple Maple. It is not like most fast growing maples. It has grown extremely slowly and is very dense. The birds love it in the summer time.

Dogwoods with their deep red leaves, are such a rich contrast against the evergreens. I have many white and pink dogwoods planted throughout the property. In the fall, the red berries provide food for the birds. They usually have the seeds eaten before hard winter comes. In the spring, the flowers are breathtaking and some blooms get as large as my palm.

Many of our leaves have fallen. The Bradford Pears are just now starting to turn red. The Ash trees have dropped their leaves, along with the walnut trees. The Hickory trees are vibrant yellow and look so pretty near the evergreens and dogwoods. I hope you are enjoying your fall foliage as much as I am...