Most Commented Posts of 2010

I thought I would list my top TWELVE blog posts of 2010.  I have seen some bloggers post their top 10 posts for 2010 and thought it was a great idea.  I changed it up a little and decided to list the top commented posts for each month.  These are not necessarily my personal favorite posts but the posts that got the most comments.  Now for me, getting more than twenty comments on a post is a huge thing, I usually average about six comments.  Just click on the link to see the post.

  So here goes:

JANUARY

From Shabby Old Window To Chic Home Decor

FEBRUARY

Canvas Project

MARCH

A "Just Because" Giveaway

APRIL

Teaser Reveal

MAY

Finally My Dream Has Come True

JUNE

Wet Spring Makes For Beautiful Gardens

JULY

The Art Gallery

AUGUST

(There was a tie)

He Thinks He's A Lap Dog

And

Our Two Baby Bumps

SEPTEMBER

Have You Ever Felt My Pain?

OCTOBER

Oh Christmas Tree

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving Charger

DECEMBER 

Cute Santa Hats


That's a wrap for 2010!

CHRISTMAS WISHES FOR YOU

May you have the spirit if Christmas with you this holiday season.

Especially to those who are facing trials, the loss of a loved one, loss of employment, health concerns or wayward family members.  May you feel the warmth and love of our Savior's arms around you to comfort you and lift you.

BLESSED IS THE SEASON WHICH ENGAGES THE WHOLE WORLD IN A CONSPIRACY OF LOVE

Happy Birthday Jesus!

BLOG CHALLENGE DAYS 28, 29, AND 30

Photo courtesy of Jupiter Images

 I have had a couple of cute grandchildren staying with us and got behind on getting this blog challenge finished up.

SO, FOR THE FINAL 3 DAYS OF THE CHALLENGE,

HERE GOES.....

Blog challenge for day 28 is to post a photo of myself last year and a photo take this year and tell how I have changed.

I think I look the same this year as last and not much has changed.  No new hairstyle, no change in weight (darn it anyway), no liposuction, face lifts or botox either.

I have posted enough pictures of me already so I choose to use my discretion on this one and not post any photo's, you'll just have to take my word for it.

Blog challenge day 29 is to share what I have learned in the past month.

I have learned that I can take on a challenge and finish it (even though it took a couple of extra days).  I have also learned that in order to move on in life I need to forgive.  I have learned that lots of people have viewed my progress on this challenge but few have left comments (for those who took the time to leave comments,THANK YOU, that is what kept me motivated to finish this challenge).  And last but not least I have learned that hard work pays off.

Blog challenge for day 30 is to tell what my favorite song is.

(now this seems like a lame question for the final day, but I didn't make up the questions so I will have to answer)

Being as this is the Christmas season I thought I would share with you my favorite holiday song...............

..................................

............................

OH HOLY NIGHT, sung by Josh Groban

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 27

For today's challenge I am supposed to tell why I have done this 30 day challenge.

First of all, I thought it might be kind of fun to have something to post about every day without having to come up with something myself.

Second, I just wanted to see if I could be consistent and keep up with it for the whole 30 days.

I know it would be much more interesting if I did this challenge because I had some strong inner desire to share my hugely interesting life with y'all but unfortunately I have a very low key life without endless adventures and numerous stories to share.  I am just me in my little corner of the world doing what makes me happy and if anyone happens to stop by and read about it, then all the better.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 26

The challenge for today is to tell what I think of my friends.

I happen to have wonderful friends.  I wouldn't say I have a best friend, just lots of good friends who inspire me, who show their kindness and love in many ways in all that they do.  I have been very blessed throughout my life to have friends who loved me through thick and thin, good and bad and accepted me for who I am.

I have a few blog friends that I have never met but would consider them in the 'friends' category.  They leave words of encouragement and stroke my ego from time to time.  They even send surprises on occasion, (I am such a lucky girl).

SANTA CAME EARLY, YIPEE FOR ME!

Look at what came in the mail for lil' ol' me!

My sweet  bloggy friend Saimi sent this quilted table cover as a thank you gift for some extra vinyl/blocks I made for her a couple of months ago.  Imagine my SURPRISE when I looked in the mail box and saw this package.  Hmmmm, who could it be from?

Isn't it gorgeous? 

She even put her personal touch on it so I would always remember where it came from.

It is just perfect for my farm table and the centerpiece looks like I made it just to sit on it.

Thank you so much
Saimi, it couldn't have come at a better time,  I was having a couple of really 'down' days and this just brightened it right up.  THANK YOU!!!!

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 25

Today's challenge is to reveal what is found in my bag. 

(I am assuming they mean my purse.)

Here goes:

Dr's. visit summary

wallet

cell phone

pack of sugarless gun

3 sets of keys

JC Penny calendar

I checkbook

digital camera

chap stick

1 tube lip gloss

a pen

a pencil

misc. change in bottom

pad of paper

a bookmark

coupons for JoAnn's and Michaels

This is my actual purse.  It is a Miche bag and I have two other shells for it to fit my mood.  One is black and the other is dark burgundy.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 24

Today's blog challenge is to write a letter to my parents.

Dear Dad,

It has been nearly six years since you passed away.  I want you to know that I miss you very much.  I feel bad that most of my grandchildren have never had an opportunity to know you and know what a wonderful person you were.  I am so sad that I didn't get to say goodbye, but am glad that you didn't have to suffer.  You know I think I had a talk with you one time about death and we both decided that just going to sleep and never waking up would be the way to go.  Good job on that one.

Love you,

Bugs

Dear Mom,

I wish things could have been different between us all of these years, there is LOTS of water under the bridge.  I have been able to find forgiveness for you and can now move on with my life.  I would like to wish you well in your new marriage and hope you can find the happiness that you have never been able to find elsewhere. 

Sincerely,

Connie

BLOG CHALLENGE DAYS 22 AND 23

GEEZ, I am not doing very well at this blog challenge thing, I keep forgetting to post.  Therefore today's post is for both  challenge 22 and 23.

Blog challenge 22 asks what makes me different from everyone else.

That is a tough one.  I find that I have personality traits and quirks that I see in others.  I guess what makes me different is that the traits and quirks are my own variety. 

Here are some of those:

I like ketsup on my tacos.

I HATE TO BE LATE FOR ANYTHING!

My hair has it's bad days and it's good days.

The crinkling of candy wrappers and cough drop wrappers drives me crazy, especially if it takes someone forever to unwrap them.

I don't really care to see movies in the theater, I would just as soon wait until they come out in video.

Puzzles, brian teasers, card games, crossword puzzles and board games are some of my favorite things to do.

One of my 'bucket list' things to do is to sky-dive.

I don't have a profession but if I could do whatever I wanted I would go work for Buddy at THE CAKE BOSS.   Their cakes and decoraters are amazing.

Ok, that is enough to make me unique, don't you think?

======================================================

Blog challenge for day 23 asks what I crave.

I crave carbohydrates.  I wish I didn't like breads and cakes and pies and potatoes and cookies and all of that good stuff.  It is my drug of choice, unfortunately none of them are illegal so I have no incentive to not eat them for fear of going to jail.

Maybe if sugar became illegal and a felony I would consider giving them up...nah, I don't think so.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 21

Today's blog challenge:  Post a picture of something that makes you happy.

I WANT SOME NOW!!!
I will splurge and buy some of this once a year because, seriously, if I bought it more than that I would become so huge that I couldn't get clothes big enough to fit.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 20

Today's blog challenge is to identify who I will marry/see myself with in the future.

That would be hubby Jim.  We have been married for 37 years and eternity to go.. 
(I wonder if he realizes how long eternity is?)

CUTE SANTA HATS

My friend Christine made these adorable Santa hats the last couple of years for the bazaar and I somehow ended up with three of them.  I wasn't sure what I would do with them, I just knew they were adorable. 

So this year we went from a seven foot Christmas tree to a nine foot Christmas tree which created a 'happy accident', I needed more ornaments.  I decided to tuck the hats into some holes and loved how they looked.



I have also been whining that my sewing machine died on me last spring.  I was able to get a new one on Cyber Monday for a REALLY great price.  (Kind of a little reward to myself for working so hard on the craft bazaar).

I plan on making a few more Santa hats for the tree to fill in some of those holes.

Thanks Christine for the inspiration.(Be sure and check out her adorable blog that has lots of cute ideas she has made with fabric.  She is quite the seamstress and crafter)

BLOG CHALLENGE DAYS 17,18,19

A BIG OOPS ON MY PART

I let three days of the blog challenge get away from me. 

Let's just say my computers were giving me fits and leave it at that.

Day 17 challenge is to name someone that I would

 want to switch places with for a day and why.

Well I thought and thought about this one and decided that there isn't anyone I would want to change places with.  I realize that EVERYONE has challenges and trials and I don't know how to deal with other's trials as well as I do my own...but if I could switch with anyone maybe I would choose Oprah Winfrey just because of the really cool people she meets and interviews, not necessarily because of Oprah herself.

Day 18 challenge is to list some of my plans, dreams and goals.

Some of the things I want to accomplish is to learn to be more forgiving, less judgemental and more compassionate.

I would love to list things like run a marathon, write a best selling novel, learn to do watercolors and sail around the world.

  Realistically though, one of my goals for this next year is to read every book for book club, (I usually fall way short of this goal because unless a book grabs me in the first three pages I just can't bring myself to continue).

 I would like to better use my time and not let myself get so side tracked.

And last but not least I would love to take a cruise or a trip to Hawaii.

Day 19 asks me to tell of what nicknames I have.

The only nickname that I have had in my life was "Bugs".  My dad stuck that one on me when I was

 very young because I would look at the dead flies in the window sill and ask "what are those, yuck?"

Sorry I don't have some outstanding nickname with a very humorous tale attached.

Oh wait, my brother and sister used to call me 'constipapted', which they thought was hilarious.

Link to FESTIVAL OF NATIVITIES

IF YOU LIVE IN THE GREATER

 PORTLAND, OR/VANCOUVER,WA

AREA THERE IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A FABULOUS DISPLAY OF NATIVITIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ADMISSION IS FREE.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

And while you are at it check out Melinda's blog called UNDER MY UMBRELLA.

She is the one who has been so hard at work putting this all together with her helpers.

SHE ROCKS!

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 16

For today's challenge I am to post another picture of myself.

What the heck?  Good grief how many photo's do I have to post?  I can't believe anyone would want to see another picture.  But here goes...

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 15

For today's blog challenge I was supposed to shuffle my Ipod and list the first ten songs to play.

Guess what...I don't have an Ipod.   I know, I know I am probably one of the last three people in the United States that doesn't have one. 

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 14

Today's blog challenge is to post a picture of my family.

Here is a photo of my husband and I with our four children, Maria, Ryan, Tasha and Dustin.

Sadly I don't have a recent family photo to post.  This was taken two years ago before the two new babies, (check this post for some cute pictures of them)   which were born this past September.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 13

The blog challenge today is to write a letter to someone who has hurt me recently.

Dear Hubby,
I realize that my crafting has been stressful lately while getting ready for the bazaar and I have been pretty snippy with you.  Please forgive me, I will try to be better in the future.  However, I must say that when you went off on me the day we were loading up for the bazaar was just NOT very good timing. It hurt my feelings that you would dismiss the importance of my addiction need to craft and create.  I do appreciate all you do to help me load and unload all of the display shelves and peg board, I couldn't do it with out your muscles.

Your very grateful wife,
Connie

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 12

For today's blog challenge I am supposed to tell about how I found out about blogger and why I made one.

You see I have this darling daughter over at  Rainy Day Farm that told me how much fun blogging was and that she would help me create a blog of my own.  I resisted for a while but then caved when I found myself cruising around blogland and becoming so inspired by some very talented people who share so much about lives, loves, crafts, tip, ideas etc.

WHAT SHE DIDN'T WARN ME ABOUT WAS HOW STINKING ADDICTING IT IS.

It has been so much fun blogging that I have had to eliminate a few things in my life to make more time to post and follow and comment.  I have also met some really terrific friends via blogger.  Who would have thought I would meet friends from all over the country?

I don't know how much longer I will be blogging, I just kind of go with the flow. 

So if you are reading this post and haven't taken the plunge and created your own blog then you are missing out on some real fun and satisfaction.

BUT I WILL ADD THIS DISCLAIMER:

IT IS ADDICTING.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 11

Today's blog challenge is to post another picture of me and my friends.  

Since I don't necessarily have tons of photo's taken with my friends, rest assured that I DO have friends.


As I got to thinking about this I decided to post pictures of people that I think I could be friends with.  If I had photoshop I would doctor up a photo and insert my picture in with each one of them.  But since I don't have those capabilities then you will just have to use your imagination.

Jamie Lee Curtis.

  She seems so real and down to earth mingled with lots of humor.

 Kathie Bates.
I just know that she and I could be best of friends.

Leah Remini.

What can I say, her humor and sharp wit is contagious.  With her, what you see is what you get. I like it when someone can be so real.

Trisha Yearwood.

She is such a lady.  I think she and I could have lots of laughs together.

Carol Burnett.

Last but not least is this woman of legend proportions.  Funny to the core.

I don't have pictures of my bloggy freinds (whom I have never met in person but would LOVE to someday) but I have included  their blog addresses below if you would like to check out some pretty special ladies.

Beverly @ The Beverly Buzz

Saimi @ Archie and His Family

Dawn @Momza's House

Laura @ Nana's

Cheri @ Bakow Babble

Amy @ Keepin' The Sunnyside

Tina @ Sunny Flower Days

Janiece @ One Moment at a Time

Lene @ Embrace the Chaos

Tammy @ Time Flies

Lori @My Life Among the Three Stooges

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 10

Today's blog challenge is about music.

What songs do you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad?


I don't necessarily listen to music for emotional reasons, I just like having music playing when I am working on crafts and in the car while driving.

You can find me listening to all kinds of music.  Below are a few of the ones that came to my mind that I REALLY enjoy listening to.

 As you can see, I have an eclectic taste in music.
Celtic music, The Guess Who, Pink, Montgomery Gentry, Kelly Clarkson, Bing Crosby, and Big Band music...Quite eclectic don't you think?

I AM DROOLING OVER THIS BEDROOM

Have you ever been just cruising around blog land and come across something that just
SPEAKS TO YOU?

Well that happened to me this evening.  I innocently clicked on Miss Mustard Seed's blog and saw a thumbnail picture of this room.

EVERYTHING about this room speaks to my decorating soul...ahhhhh, the angels sang. 
Yes, it was that good.

Hop on over to Cre8tive Designs Inc. for more pictures and the story behind the dresser in the room.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 9

The blog challenge for today is to post about something that has made me proud in the last few days.

If I didn't post about these two sweet little ones then I would be a very neglectful grandma indeed.

This is what makes me proud.

Miss Dawson, 2 months

Mr. William, 2 months

NOTE:
I also have six other grandchildren that I am equally proud of, I just didn't have current photo's of them that were easy to download.

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 8

Today's blog challenge is to identify my short term goals for the month.   Being as December is only two days away I will set the goals for that month.

1.  Pay cash for all Christmas presents.
2.  Have tree up and house decorated by Dec. 8.
3.  Take time to enjoy the holiday and not get so caught up in 'doing meaningless things'.
4.  Complete this blog challenge on time. (Dec. 21)
5.  Keep the true meaning of Christmas in my heart.

Photo from mattkillian.blogspot.com

I better stop right there or else I will overwhelm myself and want to give up.

BLOG CHALLENGE: DAY 7

Day 7 of the blog challenge asks to post a picture of someone or something that has the biggest impact on you.

I don't think it is any coincidence that this question would come up on Sunday.  Reflecting on someone who has the biggest impact goes without question.  Jesus Christ is my savior, my brother, my mediator with the Father, my comforter, my friend.  When life seems to come at me in ways that tear me down I am comforted in knowing that I am a daughter of God. 

BLOG CHALLENGE DAY 6

Day six of the blog challenge asks who is my favorite Superhero.

I am not a huge fan of Superhero cartoons or movies but I do have someone that I consider to be one of the most outstanding people to ever walk the earth.  She personified what a true Christian should be, what a wonderful example she was to the world.  Selfless and untiring with a gift of compassion rivaled by few. 

That is Mother Teresa.

Superhero indeed!

Here are a few of her quotes:

–Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.


–Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.


–Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.


Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.


–Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own.


–Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.


–God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.

–I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.

–I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn’t touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.

–If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.

–If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

–In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.

–It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.

–Jesus said love one another. He didn’t say love the whole world.
–Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.

–Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.

–Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.

–Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

–The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.

–There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.

–Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.

This list was taken from Mukund's Blog

DAY 4&5 OF BLOG CHALLENGE

I missed day four (yesterday was Thanksgiving, I was busy cooking), so I will be  doing days four and  five.

Day four was "A habit you wish you didn't have."

Wellllll, my habit is not keeping tidy and organized closets.  I let them get really messy before I have had enough and HAVE to clean them out.  I like to call it a 'high tolerance for clutter'.

Right now they are on the higher end of the messy meter.  I am so embarrassed that I won't even take a picture for you to see.

Image, courtesy of

http://www.clipartguide.com/

Day five of the blog challenge is to post a picture of somewhere I've been.

One of the most beautiful places I have seen is Zion National Park in southern Utah.  It is AMAZING.   You just can't believe how nature could be more beautiful, one of God's master pieces.

Zion National Park photo courtesy of:

kenrockwell.com

DAY THREE: BLOG CHALLENGE

Day three of the blog challenge was to post a picture of

me and my friends.

This was the only photo I could come up with.  These ladies are some of my friends from the book club I belong to.  It was actually taken almost two years ago.  I am second from the left in the back row.

We have been meeting monthly for the last 5 years.  We rotate homes with the hostess preparing a lunch each time.  Most of the time we discuss the book but more often than not we end up talking about just about anything and everything.  They are a great bunch of friends and we have LOTS of laughs.

CRAFT BAZAAR 2010

The Craft Bazaar of 2010 is now history.

This is taken just before opening on Saturday morning.  Do you think we could cram any more stuff on these shelves?

We actually downsized our space from a 10'x20' space to a 10'x10'space. 

BIG MISTAKE.

  It got so crowded with people trying to get in that I am sure we lost customers who just got tired of waiting.

Here are my anxious? workers, they were ready for the rush...I think.

More items crammed into every available space.

This was taken just before closing on Sunday afternoon.

Sorry about the awful pictures, my camera wasn't cooperating

This may be part of the reason the second day was so slow.  The bazaar opened at 11:00 a.m. and the snow started falling around 11:30.

This was the scene when we were loading up to head home.  Luckily for us the temperature stayed above freezing for our hour and a half trip home.