Carryin' in the New Year!!!

image courtesy of Harmonious Posh

In Venezuela, people who want to travel in the New Year take a suitcase and carry it around the house.  In Chile they carry a packed suitcase around the block!  In the kingdom of red.neck-ville they pack it up, set it by the door... then trip over it continuously until they carry it around the pasture at midnight (and try not to get run over by cows, goats or various other critters celebratin' the New Year) - all in the hopes that the fortune cookie they inhaled yesterday holds true.

 

You see... I have a whole big world I'd like to see this next year... a chair to lift in Nebraska, Ann's store to get lost in for a few days (and then a few more days), a side trip to pick up Karyn so we can be Thelma and Louise - and a tundra to wreak havoc on, a storage building to raid, some swan butts to see, a few occassional sales to load up at (I hear Kris is one heck of a cook...so some food to eat), all of YOU I can leave some duct tape on along the way... and a partridge in a pear tree.

Some poems don't rhyme,

and some stories don't have a clear beginning,

middle,

and end.

Life is about not knowing,

having to change,

taking the moment and making the best of it...

ALL without knowing what's going to happen next. - Gilda Radner

image courtesy of sharonfostervintage

I'm ready for Chapter 2010 in my book... I hope you will help me fill the pages!!!

Have a wonderful New Year!!!  What do you do at midnight?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...heehee

;-)  Robelyn

have you met Jill?

If you haven't met Jill, please allow me to introduce you to her!

This is Jill.  Well, THIS isn't Jill...

This isn't Jill either - but it is her chair... and I bet she sits in it sometimes until I make my way to Nebraska and snake it out of her house when she's not looking... just remind me to remove my trail of duct tape so she doesn't know where it went.  I SWEAR there's a chair pirate cruisin' around Nebraska... I saw it. Yep.

This isn't Jill either.
BUT!!!  These ARE Jill's photos!!!  Aren't they awesome?!!?

I met Jill over at the Junk Revolution (with a whole PLETHORA (my word of the day) of talented Men and Women!) and I've been in awe of her ever since!  She's talented and creative and full of sense of humor, life and has a huge heart - has a drill press (SO impressive!!!) and a sewing room I would give up my chocolate for.  AND!  She's a talented photographer!  AND! She has the look I want SEW BAD for the red.neck Chic website (don't go look at my site... it's very skeeeeery. LOL).  Except Jill's in Nebraska and I'm in Texas...

I've thought about sending her a pleading letter accompanied by a box of purses BEGGING her to take pictures for me... but I haven't done that....yet... I DO feel a New Year comin' on.  hee-hee

And so... I have tried and tried, using Jill as my muse, to make my photos look like hers.  Oh wait, you have to take a GOOD picture first...and I am SEW not talented in the photography department like Jill and David and Michael.  I've tried photoshop, but they STILL don't have the look and feel of Jills.  So... Santy Claus recognized and acknowledged my dilemma and gave me...

a Diana F+.  My own pinhole camera!  I'm so excited!!!  It uses REAL film, is NOT battery operated... and it is so simple even I can use it!!!  Seriously, that's important... my digital camera is set on "running man" because I don't know how to change it and usually can't even figure out how to turn it on without serious levels of concentration (never a good thing for a red.neck such as myself.).  LOL  I am SO not technicalalalalalal at all. And I am going to name my camera Jill because I believe in giving credit where credit is due and she's duuuuuuued it!  Now I just have to figure out how to get the stinkin' film roll open.

Now you have the basics on Jill, you must trot, rush, RUN over to meet her for yourself (I wonder what she will have YOU creating?)... she's my photographic muse after all!  Does that make her a red.neck?  Hmmmmm......

She can be found here: http://www.jillruth.blogspot.com/,
here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jillruthandco and
here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jillruth and
in Nebraska if you aren't 745.25 miles away.  geesh...

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee
;-) Robelyn

Thank You Letter...

Hey Santa,

I'd like to Thank You for acknowledging that I at least gave being good dis here year a try and for overlooking the whole dumpster diving/speeding ticket thang. It was right nice of ya to bring me the following for Christmas:

My lawn chair stuck in the neighbor's pear tree - now I can get back to watchin' the picture show "bug zapper on patrol" 

Two cords of firewood and butane for my torch - that's gonna make a heck of a New Year's Eve bonfire.

Three cinder blocks - now I got somethin' to park my radio flyer on...Yee Haw!!!

Four cases of RC Cola - Mr. Flannery, I'll get a second lawn chair so you can have somewhere to sit.

Five new mud'n tires - that radio flyer needed some new ones WHOO HOO!!!

Six NASCAR t-shirts - Gentleman - START YOUR ENGINES!!!

Seven bumper stickers - "I ain't speedin', I'm qualifyin'"

Eight moon pies - YEAH!!!  I got some of the yellar ones AND some of the chocolate!!!

Nine goats a ropin' - that poor goat over thaar on the corner just didn't see it comin'... 

Ten cows a tippin'  - that getaway sleigh is all pimped out - big ol' turbo diesel engine, massive runnin' boards and some smoke stacks like I've never seen before!

Eleven rolls of duct tape 'cause a girl needs her arsenal... and I'm likin' the hot pink roll!!!

Twelve shotguns a shootin' Hmmmm....How about.... 12 trips to Bass Pro Shop  - Well, I have to say... I sure liked that 12 half hours I spent in Anthropologie... just 'bout as good as makin' faces at the fishies...

And I'm thinkin' this dress with my gift card... it shoooooooooooooorrrr is purty and would look right nice with my camo boots!!!

I thank ya from the bottom of my sparklin', peep-toed shoes, 

Yo fav.o.rite red.neck.

What did that Santy Claus bring YOU this year?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee

;-)  Robelyn

Oh Holy Night...

MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!!!

Today is my FAV.O.RITE day of the Christmas Holidays!!!  Why you might ask?  Well.... tonight is the candle light service!!!  It's when Friends and Family are standing near, the Church is dark, and everyone is holding a lit candle and singing Christmas Carols. (And I get to play with fire AND I have permission to do so!!!) In the midst of all of that, there I stand feeling the Peace That Passes All Understanding and cacooned up in God's Unconditional Love... (and then the candle wax drips on my finger and it hurts for a second, then I think "cool"...and I pretend I had my nails done...) - I reflect on my faith, my life: the path I'm on and the paths that will be lit up for me, my friends and my family, my Son - all of you my blogging pals!  I realize yet again just how wonderful life is! (AND LED pillar candles - those are wonderful too...especially for the flame-challenged (Santy Claus came to visit me a lil' early.))

O holy night,the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope,
the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees,
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born!
O night divine, O night,O night divine!
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus
in lowly manger,
In all our trials
born to be our Friend!
He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!
before Him bend.
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name!
Christ is the Lord,
Oh praise His name forever,
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim.

I hope you and your family have a WONDERFUL AND JOYOUS AND

VERRRRRRRRYYYY MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS YA'LL!!!!

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide... hee-hee 

;-)  Robelyn

'Twas the Night before Christmas...

'Twas the night before Christmas, in Texas ya know.
Way out on the prairie, ain't any snow.
Asleep in their cabin, were Buddy and Sue,
A dreamin' of Christmas, like me and you.

Not stockings, but boots, at the foot of their bed,
For this was Texas, what more need be said?
When all of a sudden from out of the still night,
There came such a ruckus, it gave me a fright!

And I saw 'cross the prairie, like a shot from a gun-
A loaded up John Deere, come'n on at a run!
The driver was "Yee-in" and "Haw-in", with a will,
The diesel (not reindeer) he drove with such skill!

"Come on there Powerstroke, Duramax, Cummins - to the right,
There'll be plenty of travelin' for you all tonight!"
The driver in overalls and a shirt that was red,
Had a ten-gallon Stetson perched on top of his head.

As he hopped down from the Deere, he was really a sight,
With his beard and mustache, so curly and white!
As he burst in the cabin, the children awoke,
And were so astonished, that neither one spoke.

And he filled up their boots with such presents galore,
That neither could think of a single thing more!
When Buddy recovered the use of his jaws,
He asked in a whisper, "Are you really Santa Claus?"

"Am I the real Santa? Well, what do you think?"
And he smiled as he gave a mysterious wink.
Then he leapt on his 4-wheel drive tractor, and hollared back in his drawl...

"Merry Christmas, You RED.NECKS! Merry Christmas Y'ALL... YEEEE HAWWWWWWW!"

How're the last minute preparations goin' for you today?  Me? I'm juggling all my candy canes...oops, I think I just lost one...

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee
;-) Robelyn

Who let the Elves Out?

Wow.  I didn't realize that it looks like Christmas exploded in my dining area until I started taking pictures....repeat after me: "Bohemian Rhapsody Christmas". The dearest Debra (who knows me SEW well!!!) titled my house for me (sight unseen!!!) and I think that's fer sure what I've got on my hands...and this is just one corner of my open living area!!!  It's like some of Santa's elves were sick of me putterin' around (and changing things up constantly 'cause all ya'll inspired me...several times over!!!) got "all jacked up on Mountain Dew" and got a lot bizzzzzy in this here single-wide!

Who let the elves out? - Who? Who? Who? Who?
Who let the elves out? - Who? Who? Who? Who?

Welcome to my Dining Room!  Please, hold on tight...there's a whole lotta Christmas goin' on here!!!

Remember when I was running around minus my top tree toppers? Well... they are all lined up and spread out in my dining area on top of my shelving!  Debbie suggested running them down the center of my dining room table (debs...whatcha' know about shiny poles?  LOLOL!!!) and Mindy seconded that suggestion... but them elves got lazy (and had some dusting to do...you know, toaster ovens and the way they "cook" are the very devil.) so the elves threw in some greenery, some lights and placed them all in one spot!  Well, not really ALL in one spot...

This was my first tree topper... I got it with my 5 finger discount at "shop o' Mama"...seriously, I'm going to have to take you there sometime!  This one is parked in the center of the dining table... dang, I think the silver tray was purchased in the same store. Imagine that!!!

And those elves spread the joy... all the way around my dining area and into my living room!

Here's a secret from me to you: this tree topper actually has a broken point, but - me being who I be - I couldn't just toss it aside!  Oh no, no!  So I grabbed a light globe, flipped it upside down (or, in my mind - right side up!) placed the topper in and GAVE it a top (couldn't have it runnin' around topless...it's too cold outside.)!!!  Oh... vintage ornaments are SO versatile aren't they?  hee-hee (Oh wait, no - the elves did all that - I couldn't POSSIBLY be held accountable for the Christmas explosion that has happened in my home.)

Once the tops tree toppers were all where they were supposed to be, everything else just sorta fell into place!

Dig up some cool thrifty/sale/junk finds (and of course goodies found at my favorite discount store *snicker*)
and throw in a bunch of vintage ornaments...

and I mean... a BUNCH...

 Even the chandelier got gussied up by the Christmas elves!!! Perhaps they had some red bull as a chaser to the mountain dew? Dunno... but this is what I ended up with!

And I repeat... this is just one corner.  LOLOLOL As soon as I wrap some gifts (have you been to see Margo?  She's got the coolest gift wrappin' ideas!!! ) I'll get you some pictures of the tree... and there's the kitchen, and the other corner, and the other corner, and the other corner and the living room... if I told you right now that my house really isn't shabby chic or cottagey/vintage chic you wouldn't believe me at all would you?  I think the Elves gave the ol' single-wide an alter ego for the Holidays!  LOL

Oh!!! Maybe it wasn't the Elves that were let loose in the single-wide... it could be those crazy girls and boys runnin' amok over yonder at Debbie's par-TAY!!!  I'm goin' back over thaaaar, but not without my shaving cream and food coloring... wanna go?

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide (and I'm ducking from Elves on Starbucks...)...hee-hee
;-) Robelyn

I'm going to a SLEEPOVER!!!

WHOO HOO!!!  Debbie's havin' a PAR-TAY!!!  That trash talkin' DIVA has had 100,000 peoples o'er there looking at her and lapping up the wisdom she imparts...
uh-uhm.
The TRASH she talks. Oh... what PURRRRRRFECT trash it is!!! And - better than that?  It's a Pajama Party!!!  How fun, right?!!? Well...

Ain't no red.neck girl in her right mind gonna be caught out paperin' houses and makin' pizza runs while somebody else drives ('cause I'm CERTAINLY not old enough) in her Spongebob Jammies, so I'm bustin' out the special nightgown - I'll do the trash talkin' diva proud!!!  And if we have to corral any of the inmates we can just use some of my night dress - ain't duct tape grand? Oh!!!  And this'll be great when I'm out playin' in the yard... uh huh Malisa, I'm on to you!!!  Do I REALLY have to come back in?  Geesh...

That Debbie set down some house rules... do you think she's going to make me sign anything upon entry?

1. No dancing on the furniture...that includes the Twist, Mashed Potatoes, Jerk, Iron Horse, and the Cabbage Patch! (Oh Oh!!!  Can we do the Chicken Dance! na na na na na na na na na na na na - you didn't list THAT one...)
   
2. No smoking in the bathroom...I don't care if everybody else is doing it! If everybody else was running naked in the streets, would you do that too? (Uhmmmm... depends on which side of the road the chicken's on.)
   
3. No prank phone calling...unless I'm the one doing the dialing! Hello...you got Prince Albert in a can?(Yes... I'm calling for Aaron Thetires...)
   
4. No opening the windows for boys to sneak in and NO sneaking out to meet guys...bring 'em in the front door...just let me get the curlers outta my hair first and some lipstick on! (Oh... I used my lipstick to write on somebody's forehead... I can't help it that they went to sleep first!!!)
   
5. No gossiping...I don't care if you can see through Gussie's gown...pretend you don't! Here! Here!!!  (Did you hear?  Debbie said no gossiping...can you believe her?)
   
6. Finally...no toilet papering the neighbor's house. I gotta live in this town after you go home! (I've gotta few rolls of charmin... and I live South of her by a few miles... and toilet paper always ALWAYS looks better when mixed with some duct tape...) 

I even rolled out some of my speeeecial duct tape for Debbie's par-tay!!!  Bring it on girls and boys... I like me a good pillow fight!!! You'll probably win, I get laughing too hard... especially after drinking some of the Hot Dr. Pepper that's gonna be there.  tee-hee-hee-hee

And look at what she has laid out at her par-tay!  I'm thinking... if I wear the mask and don the gown - top it with THIS

then I'll have the purrrrrrrrrrfect New Years Eve outfit!!!  Add in some of those barbi slippers with the little fluffy things on the toes... I am such the fashion diva! Yep.

Games and Music and Food and Cat Daddy and crazy hair-styles... oh my oh my - it's gonna be fun!!!
She SAID I could bring my friends - so you wanna go? huh? huh?  Please do... just RSVP over here with the Trash Talkin' Guru herself!!! (And let me know if you need a ride... I can get my hands on a hot lookin' John Deere if I need to.) HA!

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee
;-) Robelyn

Please say a lil' Prayer...

UPDATE! UPDATE!!!  READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE AND HERE!!!

One of our own, Angelique - Six in One Hand, needs our special thoughts and prayers today...

Prayer is a triumph, in whatever form.  ~Mirakel Reves

I'll be Home for Christmas...

Well, I don't know where I'm going to be for Christmas... but I was home this week-end!  My fav.o.rite shopping spot... my Mama's house (5 finger discounts are the greatest, aren't they?)!  Seriously - I spied several things that need to come to my house... think she'd notice?  I've cropped all items of interest out so that she doesn't have photographic proof that she once owned certain items.

Glittery sparkly greenery everywhere in the house!

Now - my Mom and I are polar opposites in the decorating department.  She is normal - I am not.  She is traditional in her design and decor...I am not... give me the SLIGHTEST of slightest chances to show off her house and I am ALL over it. When I saw that The Nester and Southern Hospitality were hosting a Tour of Holiday homes - I jumped!

Welcome to My Mama's House!!!

 Formal Living Room...
And, just so you know...that's not my Mama, that's her owner, Posie. hee-hee

With age has come my love for red - and THAT I get from her (mirror, mirror on the wall...).  Just in a different way... she does traditional red with her toile and plaid and transferware dishes and and and... I go all out with some serious bohemian/vintagy style (or would that be red.neck?) - needless to say, her house makes WAY more sense.  LOL

Right off of the Entry...

This manger scene has been 'round for...I don't know how long.  And...for I don't know how long...it has ALWAYS been displayed in the dry sink that my Grandfather made (You will see LOTS of furniture and toys courtesy of his mastermind!)!  Here's a lil' FYI for you though...see the wise guy up in the very tippy top left?  See the tiniest bit of gold in his "hat"?  Well...I don't know how long ago...we had gold "dingly ball" trim layin' around and he REALLY needed a hat - so I'm fairly certain that is some version of 1970's harvest gold pom pom trim!

Top of the piano in the Formal Living Room...

My Mom is a  Choir Director/Pianist/Organist/Vocalist so I have ALWAYS grown up around a piano (or under it...depended on how much trouble I was gettin' in to during a service...) so the top of her piano gets the "OFFICIAL" treatment each Christmas!  One year there was a guest singer at our church and he was practicing at our house with my Mom before the service...well...when I was growing up the Christmas tree always sat at the end of the piano.  THAT year my older brother, myself and my little brother all sat in stunned disbelief (kinda like 3 monkeys on a limb) for roughly 15 minutes watching our Christmas tree tremble and shake and vibrate and dance 'round - I swear it moved 10' over to the right... that man had the biggest, boomiest (and tree shakin') voice I've ever heard...to this day. So, needless to say, each year that I see her piano all "Christmased" up I laugh...I make sure it's a big shaky, trembly laugh in his honor.

 

Dining Room...

This is where all the fun happens...and she's a pretty good cook too!  Did you know that you can cook a full on Christmas dinner without burning the house down?  I find that extremely impressive...

China Cabinet...

Inside of the China Cabinet...

My Grandfather made this GORGEOUS china cabinet for my Grandmother - it is soooooooooooo pretty!  And my Grandmother collected up "Father Christmas" figurines, ornaments...anything really... so my Mom has the hutch FULL of Santa's Merrymint!!!

And since we're in the dining room...

This here's a Christmas Cactus!  For YEARS my Grandmother would give my Mom a Christmas cactus and she would always have one too!  When my Grandmother passed away my Mom drug hers home with her... and here it is!  The crazy thing ONLY blooms when everyone in our family is coming home... and it doesn't seem to matter if it's Christmas or not!!!  I've seen this thing FULL of blooms at EASTER AND in AUGUST!!!  Not kidding!!! I guess my Grandmother is giving my Mom a heads up that she's gonna be invaded by her critters 'cause there are some flowers on here... huh.

Winter Wonderland in the dining room...

THIS is some of my Grandfather's handiwork!  He made lots of intricate toys...I have a few myself, but not a Santa sleigh... dang.  I think I missed cropping this photo... think she will notice if he drives his sleigh to my house?

 

Kitchen Table...

I have two things to say about this.

A.  Even the CAT has a Christmas dish and

B. I see the perfect spot for a bowl of lime green slime...

 

Shelves over the Buffet Cabinet in the Kitchen...

On top of the Buffet Cabinet in the Kitchen...

Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'? No really, are you listenin'?  They are much more pleasing to the ears than fire alarms...

Next up?

The Mantle in the Den...

This Angel card was the first Christmas card my Mom got... and she was ALMOST one when she got it 'cause the whole world celebrates her birthday a week after Christmas!  Thank You for celebrating with her...her 40 somethin' anniversary of turning 21... (don't tell her I just told you that.)! She ALWAYS smiled from the top of our Christmas tree (the Angel, not my mother...)!

And this was my Grandfather's!  Do you think that horse is thinkin' "I did not sign up for this" or do you think he's happy to be pullin' along the Christmas tree?

Doctors Cart in the den... my Grandfather made that too!!!

I couldn't get a whole picture of the den for you 'cause my VERY OWN Santy Claus (my StepDad) was trying to take a nap... and I didn't want him to hang me from the mantle with care.  I guess I'll just show you that when you come to visit!  Believe me, my Mom's house is worth the trip (and she's got GREAT stuff...I'll offer you my discount...hee-hee (don't tell her I said that either.))! For me, Christmas is not only about celebrating the birth of our Savior, but about Family - the time spent with Family and the times TO BE spent with Family.  My Mom's house is full of praise and worship... memories and family...laughter and tears...and JOY - great JOY.

I'm going to load some more pictures up on my flickr page here in just a lil' bit, so if you need to see more - come visit me there!  In the meantime, go visit the Nesting Place and Southern Hospitality- there are SEW many beautiful homes on their Holiday Home Tours, you could get lost for days!!!  And SEW inspirational - Each and Every one of them!!!  For now?  Merry Christmas - from my Mom's house to Yours!!!

Comin' to you LIVE from a single-wide...hee-hee

;-) Robelyn