There's a Vacuum Salesman at the Door...

 This delightful young man came over today to practice his new Kirby sales pitch. Despite the fact that I got a lovely vacuum for Christmas, I really wanted to purchase the Kirby when he was finished with his demo.

Local friends, if you are in the market for a really fantastic vacuum/home care system, please let me know and I’ll get you connected with

Christopher Martinez

for a demo in your home. I can’t BELIEVE how much better my carpet looks!

#VacuumSalesman

#Kirby

#KirbyVacuums

#DoorToDoorSalesman

#ChristopherSJ

#ManCrewHouse

#CleanCarpets

#100HappyDays2018: Day 60

#100HappyDays: Day 60
This table. To you, it may just be a table. But this table has served three meals to 6 people today in what seemed more like a steady stream than 3 separate meals, was covered in all the White Sands nonsense we dragged in from the car for a few hours, helped me sort and fold 7 loads of laundry, was where PattyCakes and I sat and discussed life/marriage/children/Dad’s old car/work, sorted the mail, where I sat to read a book, and is somehow magically clear once again this evening to hold a candle and rest peacefully until tomorrow. This table is life.
#100DaysOfSummer
#CornersOfOurHome
#ManCrewHouse
#WorkHorse
#100HappyDays2018

It's the Little Things: Day 198

I want to focus on the good things this year.

All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we? 

• How can this year already be more than half over? I'm enjoying this blog series so much. It has become one of my little things. I don't get to post it as often as I'd like since I can't blog from my phone or my tablet, but whenever I get the chance to review some of my blessings, that's a blessing in itself. 
• It's as simple as a Pandora music station that plays only songs you love and gets smarter and smarter the more you play it. (Currently playing, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound radio.)
• It's a week on my own at the office. Which isn't necessarily a little thing, since it allows Jodi to have a week of stay-cation, but her trust in me to handle the students is a wonderful gift. 
• It's Hercules and DT spending a whole day together playing Minecraft and hanging out. Mama got to work in peace and they had a ball together. And neither of those is a little thing. 
• It's a hilarious Facetime visit with my 'Shua, Lauren and Caden. Little Punk was NOT all about sitting still to talk to {Grand}Mama K. At. ALL. But it was fun to visit with 'Shua and Lauren in their new house looking so happy and content. 
• It's getting a gift of candy corn from one of my this-week-only students. 
• It's my breakfast nook roof not leaking anymore thanks to some extra attention for Dan earlier this month. This is NOT a little thing, but I'm mentioning it just the same. Monsoon season is upon us and it's raining at least for a while nearly every day, so this repair came at just the right time. Thank you, Dan!
• It's an hour to blog in between students. And with DT at home with Dan again today, it's only interrupted by the office phone ringing. And that's good news for the business so that's okay with me. 
• It's pulling random ingredients from the fridge while I'm still sleepy and bleary-eyed this morning and once I woke up, realizing I've got ingredients to make a spinach salad topped with honey-chipotle chicken tenders, tomatoes, cucumber, zesty Italian dressing and Cheez-It crackers as croutons. Not bad, indeed. 
• It's looking forward to "Swing on the Plaza" tonight if I'm not too tired. Free swing dance lessons, followed by 2 hours of music and room to dance. Dastroyah recently discovered swing dancing (with Z Benson's help) and it has changed his life. Even if I don't have the energy to dance, just enjoying the weather and watching the youngsters dance will be pleasant. Plus, food trucks will be there with Taco Tuesday specials. One can hardly go wrong in that environment. LOL! 

All of these and more make up my little things list this week. Isn't it so difficult to not see the blessings once you start looking? What's on your little things list today? 

 

#100HappyDays: Day 91

 

Day 91 of #100HappyDays
Finally getting that task accomplished that's been lingering on your To Do list for days. What's that task, you ask? Clearing the table, putting a clean tablecloth on it and making it pretty.
Feels good.
Check check check!

#100DaysOfSummer
#ManCrewHouse
#ToDoListVictory

— feeling happy at The Man Crew House.

 

#100HappyDays: Day 82

 

Day 82 of #100HappyDays
Progress on getting my living room back to normal. I like progress 🙂
#100DaysOfSummer
#TakingBackTheHouse — feeling happy at The Man Crew House.

Welcome to the Big Boys Club, James!

James is turning 15 next week and my BIGS decided that it was high time he was welcomed to the BIG BOY CLUB, so they made a plan with Jodi for him to come spend the night. There were all sorts of teenage antics, but mostly they spent the whole night playing video games, eating junk food and laughing at each other, which lead to my living room looking like this...

YIKES!! Who is cleaning this mayhem up?!?

They even let Derek hang out for a while, which I thought was nice. Everyone had a grand time and James felt quite excited about being invited into the 'gang'. He loves to hang out with Pat and David, but they are often busy when James is available, so I was touched by them coming up with this idea. It was a proud mama moment for sure.
Happy Birthday James!

#100HappyDays: Day 75

Day 75 of #100HappyDays
A new-to-us entertainment center has the LR looking sleek and shiny.

#100DaysOfSummer
#ManCrewHouse — feeling happy at The Man Crew House.

#100HappyDays: Day 19

Day 19: Clean Cast Iron
All the daily service cast iron is clean and shiny again. P and DT had put it all to good use while Hercules and I were away. Hooray for them not eating out every meal!

Mama K worked hard on putting the house back together from the "trip aftermath" today. Dishes are clean, laundry is (temporarily) caught up, LR is tidy, I settled an argument between the PS3 and the Internet, and it's time to put the Littlest Meyer to bed and then put my feet up while I enjoy some Netflix time. 

#100HappyDays   Clean Cast Iron

 If you like this challenge, head over to www.100happydays.com to sign up. You can choose a start date, your favorite photo posting platform and even a custom hashtag if you want to be more original. Do it, you might just decide you love it.

Corners of our Home

 I've shared in posts past about my holiday hallway, the fireplace mantle, and showed pictures of my home often. However, they are generally wide angle pictures that don't show the details of the house, more of an overview. So here is a peek into a corner or two of the house. Enjoy!

A corner of the kitchen bar counter that never gets used, so I decorate it for each season. Here we are ready for all those summery AMERICAN holidays!

Our fireplace has a lovely little hearth that is perfect for perching on while chatting with Dad in his recliner, or putting little toys on for toddlers to find, or putting school books on during a chilly winter morning.

Or for decorating for the seasons as well. Ta Da, all dressed up and nowhere to go!

Here is my office desk in the Dining room/School room. Between the calendar, the bulletin board, the bill paying center and my laptop, I do my best to keep the family organized and on time from this little corner.

I will add to this series as time allows. Thanks for taking a little tour with me!
  Blessings, ~K~