Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.  -Larry Lorenzoni

Today we are celebrating my youngest sons birthday. Still cannot believe that Matthew is 19. The years have flown by much too quickly. I was blessed to give birth to this young man, and so thankful to be his momma. Matthew is a gentle, old soul. 19 years ago as I held him for the first time he melted my heart and took my breathe away and 19 years later that feeling still continues…

I love you Matthew.

-Jenny

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked- Bernard Meltzer

I tried to escape Nikki’s need to go shopping this morning by telling her I was depressed, exhausted, and had no clean clothes. Sounded like very reasonable excuses to me, but she accepted none of them and practically forced me in the car. So off we went shopping. While Nikki was having her hair done, I had a manicure. I had forgot how wonderful it is to have a manicure. Must remember to spoil myself more often…I picked Oliver up a special treat and found four new shirts for myself.

So happy to have Nikki in my life.

Another quick and easy card, with no worries of perfection, that I created tonight. I want the focal point to be on the beautiful paper, and the message that I write inside to a dear friend..

Hard to believe that tonight is the last night of my vacation. I can’t say that I have gotten a whole lot accomplished, but my exhaustion has lessened and I feel pretty good. I’ve spent some wonderful time with my husband, and have been able to sleep in, and today, was able to spend time with my best girlie…I am blessed.

-Jenny

I am beginning to realize that it is the sweet, simple things in life that are the real ones after all. -Laura Ingalls Wilder

In Terri’s words here’s a look at a few of my new ch-ch-ch-changes that are also meant to challenge myself.

• The look of my blog posts
• Weekly tried and true recipe
• Daily 15-minute project
• …more stuff in the next few days

A few more photos from our trip down to Rockland and the Farnsworth Art Museum yesterday. Such a charming town!

Today we’ve been kicked back relaxing, and being lazy. Playing around on my blog, writing down ideas, things to do, watching movies, and slowly reading thru these pages, and I have to say Jo’s studio simply rocks!!

Cooking up some new foods here [seriously need to put all of these cookbooks to use], Chicken Divan, delicious!

Loving this fast, and simple card that I created tonight. I am going to attempt to ‘create’ something everyday. 15 minutes of creating ART without worries of perfection, etc.

For here I am going to run along to enjoy the remainder of this beautiful Sunday. Here’s to a beautiful week full of good stuff for each of us.

-Jenny

Life has been busy for my family and I the past few weeks and as a number of you have noticed my blog entries have been empty.

A few behind the scenes happenings:

• Since passing that dreadful NCLEX, and finding out I had officially became a Registered Nurse, I put most of my energy into organizing my entire house, and ‘simplifying’ my life. My house looked like a tornado had gone thru it, and I lost count of the number of trips to the Salvation Army to donate bags and bags full of ‘excess stuff’.
• Our oil furnace decided it’s life expectancy was over so a new furnace took its place, which took an entire day to be installed.
• Doctors appointments, errands, and visiting with friends and family.
• And of course, a couple of lazy days.

We celebrated Thanksgiving quietly with no stress and complete laziness, and the next morning headed out to Wilmington, North Carolina to spend time with my daughter, Toni.

This water fountain is in the middle of the street in town and has a plaque that reads: Anti- Germ Individual Cup Fountain.

With another plaque that reads: The School Children of Wilmington, Through the Generosity of Miss Annie M. Dore, Arlington, Mass. Present This Fountain To The City. MCMXV. (1915)

Loving all of the palm trees!! and just absolutely loving this city!! Not to mention the 70 degree weather!

We’ve been exploring and having a wonderful time, and I’m just not looking forward to returning to Maine.

 And of course like everywhere, you run into a few shady characters!!

Well friends, that’s a quick peek into my world for the moment. I’ll be back tomorrow with more photos, and will try to get back on track with my daily blog postings.

xO-Jenny

Seems impossible that eight years ago so many innocent people lost their lives. That their loved ones lives would forever be changed, and that the sadness would still be as raw today as it was on that horrifying day…

A day filled with such sadness and grief and disbelieve that such evil could exist. The many heroes who stepped forward offering a hand, and sadly some sacrificing their lives…

We will never forget.

Today I am participating in: Project 365, Wordless Friday and Color Carnival.

In Love and Remembrance…

The Bamford-Perkins Family

It’s an absolutely beautiful Sunday here in Maine. Keith and I took a ride to Belfast and walked around the Art galleries and stores. We stopped at an old cemetary on the way there looking for angels in particular. I am using this photo as my Project 365 photo for today also.

We passed a lot of yardsales, but only stopped at one, and found these goodies:

I am putting a spin on Today’s Flowers…I could easily run outside and snap pictures of flowers remaining in my front garden for this meme, but this photo that I took today makes me realize that a flower really can be forever…As I outlined the flowers with my fingers it made me wonder how many of her loved ones did the same exact thing so many, many years ago.

Going along with Window Views meme, here is a beautiful building in Belfast.

Well friends, I have some Sunday stuff to do and thinking more reading for statistics is calling me, so for here I’ll catch you all tomorrow.

xO-Jenny