With great sadness

        Marilyn Ewing was born February 4, 1951 to Warren and Viola Amen.  She grew up in Pierce, Colorado, where she graduated from Highland High School in 1969. Marilyn graduated from the University Of Northern Colorado (CSC) in Greeley with a teaching degree in Elementary Education. She met her husband Wallace while attending college.  She taught in Granby, Colorado for several years then moved to Wiggins after marrying Wallace Ewing.  Marilyn and Wallace made their home in Wiggins where Marilyn taught at the elementary school for 37 years.  In 1981 they had their daughter, Sarah Joy, who was the love of their lives.  

          Marilyn was first and foremost a child of God.  Her actions glorified Him. She was a woman of many talents and activities which included playing piano for the children's activities and teaching Bible School at the Wiggins Community Church.  She also played bells in the Bell Choir for the church services and special events.  Marilyn gave English High Tea for family and friends and was a master gardener.  She was quite a seamstress making all the Halloween costumes for herself and later her family. Marilyn also made her daughter's wedding gown and jewelry for the bride and bridemaids.  She was an excellent crafter, making her own greeting cards and made unique and beautiful gifts for her family and friends.  She designed and contributed to her own blog making friends all over the world.

       Marilyn was a wonderful daughter to her parents, a dedicated sister to Keith, a beloved sister-in-law to JoAnn Nelson and Virginia Quill, a loving wife and mother to Wallace and Sarah, a caring friend to many, and an encouraging teacher to hundreds of students.  Marilyn left this world on May 19, 2014 to join Wallace and have him help her complete her unfinished bucket list.  She was a true treasure!

          Marilyn is survived by daughter Sarah Buluran, son-in-law Alexander and her grandson Maxx. Along with mother Viola Amen and brother Keith Amen and wife Peggy.  Marilyn was proceeded in death by her father Warren, her husband Wallace and her mother-in-law Alice Ewing.

Memorial services will be held Friday May 30, 2014 at the Wiggins Community Church at 11:00am.

Puffy White

While driving home on Saturday I thought to myself that the puffy clouds and deep blue sky looked so much like a spring or summer sky!

Colorado is known for our beautiful blue skies

The ground/pasture is still brown so spring isn't here yet. But I can wish.

♥♫

Brain Freeze

It took me forever to save this picture and get it here! Then I discovered I had posted it on a practice blog that is for my eyes only. Now it's in the right place, FINALLY!  Not posting for such a long time made my brain freeze...sort of like the weather around here.

I saw it on FB this morning and it is the only thing I've seen that made me think of SPRING, which is not here yet. There is a forecast for warmer weather here this week, but those temperatures never seem to find their way here.  It's always hotter in the summer and colder here in the winter  than in Denver.  Yesterday we had a high of 14 degrees and I was freezing cold all day. Today 50's?? I seriously doubt it. 


It will be a long time before I see my daffodils blooming as in this picture from 2010! But I'm ready.

♥♫

Tulips in Bloom

I picked up two bunches of pretty tulips on a trip to town while taking care of my mom last week. One to take home for Sarah for Valentine's Day and the other a thank you for my SIL for letting me stay overnight with her while my brother was gone on a trip. (Much too hot in my mom's house for me to sleep).

With some warmer days recently most all of the snow here has melted. That moisture will help the spring bulbs bloom later this spring. A few of mine will be this lovely red, but most are shades of pink.

The time to work and play in the garden is getting closer! 

♥♫

I'm Hungry

Being a second generation "German from Russia" one would think I could whip out  cabbage pockets without any effort. Sarah has made them, but me? NEVER. Why? Wally simply could not eat any cabbage.

Today I had my first lesson from my dear momma. Success!! Maybe not the perfect shapes but they didn't pop open. My mouth is waiting patiently for my mom to get up from her catnap so we can eat. 

                         ♥♫

February 4

The front of my birthday card from my sweet girl and SIL. 

My Story

Many years ago my mom, dad, aunt and uncle went to the movies one Saturday night. The next time they saw each other was the next day at the hospital.  I really don't know if the cause of two babies being born that day was the result of too many peanuts the night before or not. It is what I've been told!! I arrived first, 20 minutes before my cousin made his appearance.

Ricky and I celebrated our birthdays together for many years. We each had our own cakes--his fancy with special decorations made by his mom, a Home Ec teacher. Mine had to be tastier as my mom always baked it and made her yummy frosting. At the time, however, I was always a wee bit jealous of his pretty cake.

This is the second year without him, and I know his mom still misses him, as do I. I like to think he is celebrating with our dads and grandma.

If  your child hasn't heard about the special story of  her/his birth, please take time to share it soon. I've told Sarah her story about how I was watching Little House on the Prairie (7:00 p.m.) and for the first time that day thought I should be timing the odd feelings I was having all day long. Long story, but it was time to get to the hospital!!

♥♫

January Doldrums

Synonyms: gloom, low spirits, inactivity, or listlessness

Hmmm. Maybe a severe case of cabin fever?

Sunshine and blue skies should help as soon as the frost is gone. Warmer temperatures would also help! 

I've been entertaining myself with hummingbirds--now that would be a great warm weather activity. Here's a picture of two eggs in a nest, but am not sure if these two are actually the ones that a rehabber has cared for since the mother disappeared.

The eggs hatched December 29 and today are out of the nest learning to fly in their enclosure. Here are some links if you would like to see this because after trying for almost an hour I can not get the video to load.

Feeding the two, Ana and Pavan:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzvscZ-G24&feature=youtu.be

Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoebe-Allens-Hummingbird-Webcam/119799518053054 

You will be surprised at how their beaks grow longer and how quickly they mature.

Please enjoy!♥♫

Aurora Borealis

Recently people of Colorado might have been able to see the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It was cloudy here that night, so no such luck. But here is an amazing video that I found this morning while checking out my weather. It is almost five minutes and has some beautiful music to accompany the sights.

If I ever have a "bucket list", seeing this phenomenon in person would be close to the top of the list.

♥♫

January Book Club

During December our book was our choice and then in January we'd share our selection.

 A Fine Romance was my pick.

 

When this book had arrived in late October I started it right away. But it was put aside as daily life was taking my attention.

Late in December I knew Book Club was soon so I let things slide and restarted the book. I loved the book so much that it may be the first book I wanted to read again after I was finished. Just like the time we returned home after visiting Great Britain...if someone had given me a ticket the next day I would have repacked and returned!!

This is a book that won't be posted on PaperBack Swap. If you would like to visit England, you'll enjoy this book. 

♥♫

December 2013

December is almost over - as is 2013. Life has been busy this past month and a half. Getting "ready" for Christmas was not high on my list. Too many changes. Grandma was in the hospital and family called as her condition was fragile, but she rallied and came to our Christmas Eve family celebration. However, Grandpa spent the day in the emergency room and has been in the hospital since then. They are 90 and 91 and are the beloved parents of my late husband.

This post is all over the place and just as random as my brain is right now. I usually like to create a variety of things in December, but about all I did was paint a tarnished trivet and sprinkle glitter on it. I stuck it up on the mantle that never got decorated. I also went to the Dollar store and brought home some of the ugly little ceramic houses, sprayed them white, and glittered them. They do look so much better and will be fine for January and some of February with the snowflake and candles that were already there.

 

Christmas balls were discovered in a box of ornaments and I asked my daughter if I could put them outside. The box was hers and hadn't been put away from moving here with me earlier in the month.

One morning I was looking out my kitchen window and saw an eagle flying back and forth over the dairy. A while later it was sitting on top of the power pole that is about 100 yards from my back door. It's a horrible picture, but I want to remember this later. Wildlife in my backyard makes me happy.

Work on my bathroom also happened the week before Christmas. Tonight I primed the base boards that were removed so I can put the first coat of paint on tomorrow. It's not a fancy re-do, but I like it already with the flooring, new vanity, and new "throne". All this should have been completed a while ago, but when you need to wait for the floor everything else stops.

 Thank you for stopping for visits during the past year! I appreciate each of you and treasure the comments that you leave. May you be richly blessed in the new year!

♥♫

Cookbook Bookcase

I've had the inside of my kitchen bookcase painted for a week or so and was waiting for the paint to cure as I didn't want to put my cookbooks back on the shelves and have them stick to the paint. This is one of those inexpensive particle board bookcases and it fits (very important!) at the end of my kitchen counter. I did some cleaning and traded a 2 shelf for the 3 shelf version  that is a bit higher than the counter now. The backside was UGLY, and that little part that would show HAD to be pretty.

I gathered my supplies:

glue

  a sponge brush, and

a new brayer.

My old one is somewhere downstairs and the rubber is most likely brittle so I used a coupon at Michael's and now own a new one.

 

I sorted through my cookbooks, gave away only 6, and still have a heavy box that is going OUT the door. Soon, very soon! I found one that I liked (but not enough to keep) and tore out the pages I used.

I spread glue on the bookcase top and back and put the pages down on the glue. Rolled over them with the brayer and wiped excess glue away with a damp cloth.

I did wrap a bit around the one side where the next step is to glue on some beadboard wallpaper and paint it.

Little projects seem to take the most time in this house because I work rather slowly and tend to be a perfectionist. I guess that comes from being a teacher and retirement cannot change that part of my being. So I'm hoping those wrinkles disappear as the paper dries. At least I remember that's what happened years ago when I did real decoupage with the layers of varnish and sanding to get the flawless finish. When the paper dries I am planning on ONE coat of poly! It better be good.

As you work on projects, small or large, may the imperfections become unimportant so you can enjoy the satisfaction of having done your best. Progress is bliss!!

♥♫

More Bliss

Discovering new neighborhood shops among housing developments is something that comes with a change of address. This set of wind sculptures was across the street when the three of us were out looking for breakfast one weekend recently. And look at the mountains in the background! They seem to be my happy place and I look forward to getting to see them either on the way to my mom's or heading to the big city to see Alex and Sarah.

Back at home the only mountain I can see out my kitchen window is the pile of ensilage for the neighbor's dairy. But, that could be difficult if these five wild animals are blocking the view! They had been watching my every move until I was ready to take a picture.

Painting continues with things like a new vanity, furniture, and now the bathroom and eventually my bedroom. My new flooring was not available in Denver and so the expected overnight delivery will have to wait until December 9th. 

Because of that issue I had some time to work outside and "plant" this tree with lights near the door. It's my solution to my entry light  needing a bit of rescue in that I broke the old bulb, tried to replace it and got the new one only halfway in. Can't remove it and can't get it in straight now. Stuck!! Now the whole fixture will have to be taken apart to replace the bulb.

I'm trying to get things out to decorate for Christmas, but the painted pieces are not in their final places yet and are in the way of everything! I am waiting for it all to be put together because of the flooring delay which has given me time to take it easy after having an odd skin growth removed and the uncomfortable stitches that closed the wound. Maybe in a few more days, I'll be able to get around a bit easier!

Hope your time before Thanksgiving will be spent thinking about the many blessings you have. 

♥♫

Number 7

These lower cabinets received their final coat of paint today. Now just some details to touch up and clean handles to put back. They are soaking in some ammonia and Dawn so I will be able to easily scrub away 32 years of life. I wasn't going to replace them as I'd need to purchase 31! And this make-over is as inexpensive as it can be--shellac, primer, and paint. My time is FREE! But, you would not be able to pay me enough to do this for anyone else!! I waited 24 hours between coats of  whatever and didn't rush the process. I'm good at going slowly.

The top of this dresser is shiny now. It had the varnish removed, sanded, stained, and two coats of finish. This was my first attempt at staining and actually refinishing a piece of furniture. I've done smaller craft projects, so even though not perfect, I'm satisfied.

True bliss is bringing in what will really be the last roses of the season. These are miniatures and are white in the summer, but these have a beautiful touch of pink on the tips of the petals. The stems are full of pokey thorns so the arrangement is what it is.

Those fully opened roses are only 2 inches across. Some of the edges are brown because we've had snow, cold winds, and freezing temperatures recently.

These are quite hardy little roses, most coming from the grocery store and planted outside. 

And, the last bit of bliss this week has been the lack of flies. I think I'll be able to put my fly swatter away for the winter--at last! Of course, with warmer weather coming later this week, a few flies might be back. Living in the country next to a dairy has some drawbacks, but love where I am. 

Hope you will be finding bliss and enjoying your life where ever you are.

♥♫

Bliss and Not

These are the final kitchen cabinets to be refinished. It was over a year ago when the painting bug 'bit', but school started and  I ran out of time to get them finished. (Once school started, my life was controlled by all things school). The whole set made the kitchen dark and dreary so after seeing lots of inspiration I began the work. My first mistake was believing the statement that Annie Sloan paint needs no prep work. This is not true with oak and the tannins they leach out and using her Pure White.

  

THAT I discovered AFTER the first set of upper cabinets were finished. So I put on two coats of shellac, then primer on the next set on another wall. They turned out much better!! After removing the handles I washed the cabinets and got started with the brush. I still need to prime the frames, but the doors and drawers are ready to paint. I just need some sunny days to continue working so I can see what I'm doing.

While I was in this painting mode, I brought in some  drawers from the garage to paint.

I finally got my school stuff sorted and put away and now I'm filling up the house with more work. I need to get this out of the way ASAP. Sarah came during the week and helped me bring in the actual chest to work on, too.

Wally always did all the painting. I'm not a painter and it can make me cranky. 

Seeing these beautiful leaves before bell practice and practice itself put me in a better mood.

And a visit on Thursday from my 'dot' and SIL was a nice break! Sarah and I did lots of little things that needed two people to get done AND we made butterballs for our German noodle soup. BLISS in the midst of painting chaos.

Waking up the next day to 5-6 inches of an early snow was rather surprising. Snow almost always comes and ruins Halloween fun for trick or treaters. This year it was early!

But it was BLISS not having to worry about shoveling the snow and going to school!! By the time I had to leave, most of it was melted off the sidewalk and car.

Looking out the back across the irrigation ditch to the dairy's "mountain" of ensilage covered with plastic and tires reminded me of my time in Granby when I lived in the high country almost  (GASP) 40 years ago!

The snow melted during the day on Friday so now it's back to fall again. 

Thanks, Sarah for the picture of your tree. It must be gorgeous in person.

Here's wishing you some fabulous fall color where ever you are. Even when chores make the bliss appear to be rather scarce.♥♫

BLISS 5

Finding a calendar for my mom for Christmas is bliss. It's the first gift for this holiday!

Having a coupon for 50% off at Joann Fabrics to use on the calendar is bliss. Lang calendars have easy to see numbers and pretty flowers! Bonus bliss. It was such a good deal that the next day I decided I should get mine, too.

Shopping for a few necessities at Costco I found a Christmas garland that matches the tree Sarah and Alex got for me last year is bliss. I do love the sparkles and lights!

Bliss is enjoying our Indian Summer with warm days and cool nights. This blossom was a "bonus" as it was on the other side of the driveway and I had actually forgotten about this rose. It smells divine!

The fact that Sarah and Alex have a new address and are happy here is bliss. No, they didn't buy a new house, but are sharing this beautiful home with a friend. So you might hear more about Julie, the owner of the house. Julie and Sarah have been friends for a long time and she was Sarah's maid of honor. Buster, the grand-dog has adjusted nicely!

Celebrating my brother's birthday last week was also bliss. I also celebrated Sarah Josephine's birthday the night before. Delicious meals for both-- one in town and the other a feast that my mom made.

Celebrate each day and bliss will find you.

♥♫

Finding Bliss. 4

Food and flowers were bliss this past week or so.
Eating at this cafe is edible bliss. Alex and Sarah took me here and it's become one of my favorite places to dine when I'm in Denver. Actually it's near their new home in Thornton, so I'm looking forward to more visits to the  Vietnamese Cafe.

My garden has a few final blossoms.

Mini roses in pink and yellow.

A standard pink rose, ready to open, with three more buds. This fragrant bloom may be the final one because the other buds may not open before a possible frost this Friday.

A few petunias, most are ready to be pulled out.

New pansies planted for fall.

Delicate colors.

 The baby tears has grown so much and will come into the house for fall and winter.

The rest of the yard is a wreck and is in need of a good mowing. The pasture, too! Weeds everywhere and I'm lacking ambition to work on it. This September was my real month of adjustment to retirement and have decided I need to get over it and get busy. Have a lovely week looking for bliss inside and out.

♥♫