hug | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Jul 20

Top 10 Things I Look Forward To…

So here it is…

My list.

The list of things I look forward to. This list is a combination of “bucket list” items and everyday items and “someday dreams” items. It’s not put into order by my most important item as #1, it’s more in timeline order.

As I sat down to write this list I realized there are so many more things I could put on here. The “little things”…like watching Gabi run cross-country races this fall, or her basketball games. Or seeing Sam off to her 2nd year at college…and the daily phone calls when she’s gone. Or the chances I get to see Alex, Tom and my adorable grandpuppy Louis (snorts and all). Read more

Jul 12

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A Parrot in the Northern Minnesota Woods and a Sweet Walk in the Alley

The little Miss’s Elena and Nicole have struck again…

Touching the funny bone and sweet, heart melting part of my heart.

It all started yesterday morning as we went for a walk down our alley. Well, in all reality, I walked, Elena rode our tricycle, and I pushed Nicole on her little car.

As we continued our walk (me intent on trying to steer little one year old Nicole), Elena said “What wath that?” I look up to see she’s looking into the woods and realize she’s asking about the bird songs we were hearing.

I found the little blackbird in a tree and as I tried to point it out to her she exclaimed “There it ith…it’th a parrot!” Read more

Jul 10

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Welcome with a Little Vintage

If you were to come to my house, and come through the garage (which is the most used entrance), you’d find this fun little vignette. It’s a bit of an ode to summer here in the Northland…

A few fun drink coolers for your water, or lemonade, or kool-aid for picnics.

A fun little lantern which is perfect for those summer nights…it reminds me of going night crawler hunting with Dad. (For those of you not from northern Minnesota, the night crawler (worm) is great bait for fishing!) Read more

Jul 7

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Because Nice Matters

I have a plaque with this saying on it in my living room as a gentle reminder to my family.

As a Mom of three girls, one of which is 23, one 19 and one 12 (all with Fall birthdays), we have had plenty of female hormones raging in this home. Soon we’ll have two out of the teenage years and one just beginning – whew! Now add in this perimenopausal Momma to the mix and let’s just say this….poor Tim. There’s a reason he loves his woodworking shop as much as he does!

But I digress…

A few of the characteristics I’ve tried to instill in my girls are empathy and kindness. We all react to someone else’s attitude – whether it be bad or good. Sometimes it’s all too easy to crank back at someone who’s being cranky at us (I’m just as guilty)…but if we can stop ourselves long enough to realize that we don’t know what they may be dealing with – maybe we can deal with it in a different way. Maybe a smile, a “Have a good (or better) day”, or even a gentle touch on the arm with an “Are you OK?” can do wonders.

Sometimes all someone needs is to know someone cares.

Be that someone today.

Happy Sunday all!

Patty O

Jun 30

My Prayer for You on This Sunday…

Another find from Pinterest, these words say it all.

God Bless…

Patty O

ps… I promise I’ll try to be back to my wordy self tomorrow. It’s been a crazy weekend of moving things into the basement (the storerooms are now done) and cleaning, moving, and organizing in my NEW workshop (aka old storage room).

Needless to say I’ve been having fun ~~working~~ playing in what will be my new workshop!

OK…full disclosure: One of the keys in selling Tim on the idea was to describe it as our “Finishing Shop” where we’ll do all the painting/staining of the pieces he builds.

Shhhhhh…don’t tell him I’m still going to call it “my shop”!

🙂