Tagged!!

TAGGED (and this is sooo embarrassing too):

Donna, at Designs on 47th Street http://designson47thstreet.blogspot.com/ has tagged me for a photo game.

Here are the rules to this fun game:

1. Go to the the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.

2. Post the 4th picture in the folder.

3. Explain the photo.

4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun! I pass this on: (see at the end of this post who I have tagged.)


OK, now here's my photo. Know what this is? Shame, embarrassment, turning bright red right now. . . it's Ford Field, the home of our Detroit Lions Football Team, um, yeah. You know, we set a record this past season. . . 0 - 16. That um, was, won -0-, lost 16!! It's a photo I took of my parents in front of Ford Field two summers ago. We were on our way to a Detroit Tiger's Baseball game at Comerica Park, right next to Ford Field. My dad wanted a picture in front of Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. Why? I may never know. Maybe Dad knew we were going to set a record soon!!

Now, I pass this on to the following 4 blogging buddies:

Jan at Rose Haven

Karen at the Bunnies Burrow

Darlene at Our Creative Life

Michelle at Treasure the Moment

I made sure three out of the four tagged were from Michigan. They will understand my embarrassment ;)

Blessings. . . until next time,

WALDEN FARMS - WOW, WHAT A RESPONSE!!

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT????!!!!

I can't believe all the e-mails I received regarding this dressing; what does it taste like (wonderful), where can I buy it (various locations), how much is it ($3-$4), what's the ingredients (see my prior post edited to add ingredients). I've tried all the dressings in the above photograph and I have to tell you they are excellent. It is a thinner dressing, not a thick mayonnaise type dressing. But the taste is unbelievable!! Here's the link to Walden Farms to locate a store in your area. Just type in your zip code. http://www.waldenfarms.com/

I do not work for Walden farms, I'm not getting a discount on my dressings, I'm not getting any free coupons (I wish) . . . just so you all know ~ LOL!!


Blessings. . . until next time,

IS THIS A MIRACLE, OR WHAT????

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

Have any of you been fortunate enough to find and try this Walden Farms Salad Dressing? It comes is all types; Ranch, Thousand Island, French, Raspberry, Caesar, Italian, etc. Fat Free, Sugar Free and Calorie Free!! I mean really, people, does it get any better than that???? And the best part, the very best part . . . it tastes GREAT and it's reasonably priced too.

*Edited to add ingredients listed because I was asked to:

Purified triple filtered water, white vinegar, tomato paste, cellulous gel, natural spices, natural flavors, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pickle relish, lemon juice, white pepper, xanthan gum, propylene glycol alginate, food color and sucralose.

I’m typing this right off the label of the Thousand Island Dressing (yes, I have a few different varieties. . . and I plan on trying them ALL TOO!)

Blessings. . . until next time,

A NEW FAUCET!!

Little changes here and there.

When we built our house eight years ago ~ there were sooo many choices to make. And so much money going out all at once too!! Some things we just took as standard from the builder and determined we would change them out at a later date. Well, later finally came!!

I love this faucet my husband installed for us!! We purchased it from Overstock.com. (No, I'm not getting anything for giving them a shout-out ~ LOL!! I just am not a brick and mortar store shopper and love on-line shopping.) My husband said this was an exceptional deal and the quality was just as exceptional as well.

The above photo is of our old, builder standard faucet that we had in the Powder Room for too long. Nice update, don't you think?

Blessings. . . until next time,

Second Post Today - An Award!

Lemonade Stand Award

from my friend Cathy at Domestic Bliss

This award comes with a few rules: Put the logo on your blog or post. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE! Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

You all know I can't just pick a few of you wonderful bloggers. I always have such trouble passing these awards on because I want to pass it on to everyone!! So that's exactly what I'm going to do. If you're reading this. . . I'm passing it on to you :) Yup, that's exactly what I'm going to do!! Tag, you're it~!

Blessings. . . until next time,

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2009!!

Happy New Year

Dear Friends!!

Welcome 2009!!

Another year closes and a new one begins. Isn't that exciting? It's a time of new beginnings, fresh starts and things renewed. I'm excited! It's been a wonderful 2008 getting to know so many new friends through blogging. I never thought when I began this blogging journey in 2007 that I would come to love it as much as I do. I feel like so many of you have become close, personal friends to me too. I've enjoyed checking in on all of you and getting to know you and your families as well. And, wink, wink ~ just what you're all up to :)

I'm looking forward to some down-time now that the holidays are over. I've taken down all the CHRISTmas decor and placed it back in its proper storage location. I worked very hard today to get it done too. Doesn't everything seem so clean and fresh when it's all back to normal? Our youngest told me it's not called clean and fresh, but BARE! This is my time to clean-out, purge and re-organize our household, try new recipes and just NEST in my own personal BLISS *sigh* . Now, doesn't that sound wonderful???

Blessings. . . until next time,

THE HACKERS ARE OUT AGAIN!!

Yup, those people must have marbles for brains!!
Remember a few weeks ago when someone from India tried to crash my computer and I shared it with you all? Well, they are out again. I detailed the episode this time because I want you all to be aware of what their little game is so it does not happen to you too!! This is the message I received:

Susan <http://www.blogger.com/profile/09986100770407045723> has left a new comment on your post "2008 Holiday Tour <http://sherscreativeexpressions.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-holiday-tour.html> ":

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Susan
http://www.car-insurance-xxx.com

Madras, Tamil Nadu arrived from blogsearch.google.co.in on "Sher's Creative Expressions: 2008 Holiday Tour"

I disabled the direct link so no one would read my blog and accidentally click on this stupid car.insurance sight. I also changed some of the words in this link. . . just to be doubly safe.

I included exactly where this crap came from. Madras, Tamil Nadu, which is in India.

I mean, don't these people have anything else to do? My husband works for a large, very large, computer company and said they may be receiving money for direct hits to this sight, just trying to spam us, or as they did to me crash my computer with their virus. Remember, I had to Rescue and Recover my computer. You can read all about it here if you don't know what I'm referring to. And my link is SAFE, just so ya know!!!

Because of this, I have had to enable my Comments Moderator feature. *I also disabled the option to allow search engines to access my blog. Thank you Karen from The Bunnies Bugalow for suggesting this to me. I wouldn't want this jerk to leave a comment, me not know it yet, and one of you click on her comment to find out where her blog is and maybe want to read her profile. Yeah, that's how it all started for me a few weeks ago. . . I wanted to see my new friend's profile/blog. Yeah, right.

BLOGGER BEWARE!!!!!!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

ANOTHER "TALL" PROJECT COMPLETE

* Be careful. Someone from Bangalore, Karnataka ~ India, arrived from blogsearch.google.com and tried to do the exact same thing as last week. It was a bogus "Susan." They leave an open ended message, which requires clicking on to finish reading. This time they said look at these bedroom sets.

This one about did me in!! Drapery Treatments for the Great Room:

Goals. Sometimes they can almost kill ya!! My goal was to complete these drapery treatments prior to putting up our Christmas tree. The Christmas tree goes right into this corner. I waited until the conditions were right. Fabric selection took me a long time to find just the right fabric. Then, after finding just the right fabric. . . I had to wait until Joann's had it on sale. Then I had to find just the right trim, drapery rods, lining, etc. also on sale. . . because I'm cheap (or frugal is a better choice for a word perhaps :)

I measured and I rolled (oh yeah, did I mention that Joann's didn't have enough on the roll so I had to special order it? So instead of having them cut me two 4 1/2 yard sections I had it all delivered in one large, heavy, cumbersome 9 yard roll.) and I cut and I pinned and I serged and sewed and pressed and serged and sewed and I pressed some more. I mean. . that's a lot of fabric to work with people!! I finished these late, late last night and we hung them. We just wanted them done with! We dropped into bed at 3:00AM, but still made it to the 11:30 service at church this morning.

I am so thankful that hubby and I make a team. He's always ready to help me achieve whatever hair brained idea I cook up. Thankfully, he has one of those 26' Little Giant ladders that I special ordered him for his birthday (gee, bet he wishes sometimes I didn't) when we first moved into this house. It's a great ladder and he took responsibility for securing the curtain rods and climbing to the top. I did go up on the ladder to make a few adjustments, but I sure didn't look down.

The finished product, we all LOVE. Our daughter's compliments this morning were overwhelming. They love them too. My husband said he was going to watch the football game in there today for a change because he just loves being in the Great Room now (considering our crappy Lions team, I guess sitting in that room was the highlight of the game). It's much cozier than before. I have a schedule for things and I never did drapery to these windows because I knew we were going to change things around after the basement was finished. Like, Den furniture to the basement, some of the Great Room furniture to the Den and then ordering new Great Room furniture. So, here were are now. Schedule completed!

Goals, projects & schedules! I think I'm about done for the remainder of the year now. I think it may take the remainder of the year for my neck and back to return to normal after this project anyways. I'm going to decorate for Christmas, bake, entertain and enjoy the Christmas season for the remainder of the year.

Blessings. . .until next time,

" I " FIXED IT MYSELF!!

MY COMPUTER THAT IS!!! I FIXED IT MYSELF!!

Oh yes, I was going to wait for hubby to get in from out of town tomorrow night to help me with my computer problem. . . but you all know me by now. . . I like to get things done, not to wait and I like to do them by myself (hey, I was raised in the 70's ya know, Helen Reddy ~ I Am Woman Hear Me Roar In Numbers too Big to Ignore ~ oh never mind ~ you're probably too young anyways :)

Well, this computer "situation" bugged me to no end. I'm not a techy person at all, but I thought, maybe I can figure this out. So, I re-started my computer. Just before the screen would go out I would get this 2 second error message. A too long to read in 2 seconds error message. So, I restarted my computer like 20 times to be able to read anything off that error message that could assist me.

BINGO!!! Technical Message. . . Cannot start Windows XP due to fatal errors which will affect hardware. . . then the words "Unmountable Boot Volume." Hmmm, sounds like something techy to me. I went to my daughter's computer, googled "Unmountable Boot Volume" and up popped a Microsoft Help screen with step by steps on fixing my problem. I had to use the Windows XP systems disc to "Recover" my system. I could do that. I had it somewhere. I found it, popped it in the CD-Rom, followed the steps exactly as my daughter's computer screen instructed for repairing a system. . . it took forever to repair. . . like over an hour I'd say. I just let it do it's thing and went onto Wednesday night service at church. Yeah, I prayed over that computer too. I came home, typed the word "exit" as instructed and entered. Boda Bing, Boda Bang ~ Sher's BACK!!

Now, don't you all go e-mailing me with your computer problems. I know nothing about them. . .really. . .truly. It was just prayer, perseverance and some more prayer. And. . . maybe because I have sooo much work to do for church. . . God answered my prayer very quickly and led me in the correct direction.

*I also have put back on my Blog the Comment Verification ~ those crazy letters that need to be typed in before a comment can be left. I'm taking all the precautions I can from now on.

Thanks for joining me on my computer repair journey. This is one trip I hope you never have to go on and that I don't have to visit again!

Blessings . . . until next time,

WARNING ~ COMPUTER PROBLEM

* Edited to add: Thanks friends for all of your computer "get well" wishes ~ so many of you are telling me not to click on e-mail attachments. I know this. It was the e-mail that was sent indicating a new comment had been left on my blog. You know, when it says Sher's Creative Expressions left a new comment on your blog (except it's also underlined) then a message is left sort of like "Thanks for the get well wishes." This is where I clicked on the name Liz or Lisa, or whatever it was. I'm thinking I would go to the blog or profile page (you all know what I'm talking about?)

Yes, I have Norton Antivirus protection, firewalls, etc. So I'm hoping and praying that my system shut down to prevent the hard drive from frying.


Hi Friends:

I'm using our 14 year old's computer right now. . . because I am experiencing some computer problems. I wanted to let you all know about so you don't have the same problem. Yesterday, I received a blog message on my e-mail from someone named Liz or Lisa, something like that (I don't think the name even matters because they change it every time). The message was simply "You should check this out!" Like an idiot, I clicked on her name to take me to her blog to "check her out." I was directed to a web page listing different insurance companies. Never a blog page. I thought that was strange. I went along my merry way and did my daily stuff. When I went back to my computer later last night. . . my screen went blank. I shut down and restarted, but am now unable to access Windows "due to a major system error ~ " My computer states it will not allow me to re-boot due to major damage that will be done to my hard drive.

Yeah, it's one of those things. My hard drive will be erased if I access my computer. I checked my blog from my daughter's computer to remove this Liz or Lisa or whatever the heck her name is and she's not there.

Now what do I do? Anyone have any idea out there? Did this ever happen to you? I'll be using my daughter's computer every now and then to check my e-mails so if you have ideas, please, please let me know. For now, I'm not touching my computer. I will just wait for my hubby to get home and check it out, or take it in for debugging. I need my computer to do our monthly newsletter for our church, which I was just about to get working on. AAAUUUGGGGHHHH I don't like it when things don't go right.

Blessings. . . until next time,

VOTE ~ VOTE ~ VOTE!!!!

VOTE TODAY. . . IT'S YOUR DUTY!!!

God Bless America!!!!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

THANK YOU ~ I'm Feeling Better!!

Thank you to all of my wonderful blogland friends who sent prayers, cards and well wishes my way. I'm feeling so much better now thank you very much!!!

My hubby took me to the doctor again today and I was told that I need to start physical therapy next week 2x a week for 6 weeks. AND ~ today ~ I decided to stopped taking those darn pain meds. that hubby kept giving me (as he was instructed to do at the hospital). I do not like that loopy, light-headed feeling at all. That's not for me. I will take some pain meds. before I go to sleep tonight to help me rest painlessly, but no more during the day time. My doctor told me I could try stopping them if the pain was tolerable. Believe me, I'd rather have a little pain than a loopy, light headed buzz going on. I mean, I like to function properly, know what I mean? Not like, "Oh, whatever, life is but a dream :) "

We do have a wedding to attend tomorrow night and naturally, I was told "no dancing at all" by my doctor :) " That's OK, I'm a lousy dancer anyways!




Since my bedroom is still torn apart (and driving this AAA personality, take charge, creative type absolutely crazy), I cannot post pictures of my new improved bedroom yet. It will be painted this Saturday, if I have to do it myself (just kidding ~ the doctor and hubby said they will roll me if I even think about touching a paint roller right now.) Hubby said he will roll the walls for me Saturday and I will oh, so do my very best not to give my two bits to him while he paints (pray for me folks!) Did I happen to ever mention I'm also a control freak and like to do everything myself? Yeah, another problem of mine.



Anyway, I thought I'd post pictures of our Harvest Decor that I took before my little mishap :) I mean, what fun is a post without pictures anyway? The first few are of the outside of our home ~ Welcome and come on in!


Now that I'm looking at these pictures I realize I've even changed some of these things around a bit since snapping them. Some of the pumpkins are now sitting in urns, some items moved. Oh whatever!! You can get the overall idea. This is a shot of the Great Room.

Close up of the mantle with staggered pumpkins and fall foliage tucked in here and there. Love, love, love those burgundy pumpkins!!

Close up of our sofa table (This is the table I always use to decorate with our holiday decor).

Our little glass block light on the kitchen counter. I think this is sooo cozy with the gold lights inside. Doesn't it just make you want a warm cup of cider?

And finally, our little "Happy Harvest" pumpkin on our kitchen table. The little squirrel is a salt and pepper holder I found at Cracker Barrel a few years back. I think it's so cute. I don't decorate for Halloween, only Harvest/Fall. I'm not into all that celebration of glorifying gore, death, devils, witches, ghosts, etc. That's just my personal feeling. I like to celebrate God's Fall Harvest. I mean, don't get me wrong, I DO give out candy on Halloween LOL!!! I'm not the mean lady in the hood who doesn't turn her lights on or anything :)

I hope and pray that soon I can post our finished bedroom. The walls need painting, the new sleigh bed moved in and the old one out, new decor hung on the walls, drapery made, oh I do hope my back gets back to normal soon. All this to do and not being able to do it is causing me a great deal of FRUSTRATION and ANXIETY!!!!! I like to move, I like to keep active, I live for projects and being and keeping busy. In time, in time, I know.

Blessings. . . until next time,

COUNTRY LIVING 2008 FAIR!!!

This time next week, I'm planning on attending the Country Living 2008 Fair in Columbus, Ohio
This is a picture from the Country Living web site. I guess it's the line waiting to get into the Fair. Don't you think they would post a picture more exciting than this? I'm guessing the photo was really about capturing the banner. What do you think? Don't the people look bored? I think I would have posted some lovely Fall pictures, some wonderful vendors maybe, a work shop or two. I love the ad in their magazine. That looks exciting and made me want to attend. It states:

Bigger and Better Than Last Year

And In A New Ohio Location

Join us in Columbus at the Historic Ohio Village, September 12-14,

for the 3rd annual Country Living Fair. Shop the more than 100

exhibitor booths for antiques, vintage furnishings, gifts, crafts, and

collectibles. Enjoy cooking demonstrations in the Country

Living kitchen designed by the Workshops of David t. Smith.

Attend free decorating and crafting seminars, including pumpkin

carving and floral arranging. And join Editor-in-Chief Nancy Soriano

for three days of shopping and fun family activities!

Anyways, I have my tickets to attend all three days, got my hotel reservations for two nights and I have my directions ~ from Michigan to Ohio. My mom wants to attend with me so she and Dad will drive down on Thursday, spend the night with us and Mom and I will take off in the AM.

Oh, I think it will be. . . so. . . much. . . fun!! If not, I'll be heading home early. Especially, if I'm standing in a line like that most of the day :)

Are any of you planning on attending? This will be the first time I've attended this Fair.

I have some projects I want to share with you all. Yes, I've been working hard around here. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to post these projects for you within the next few days.

Hope to see you at the Fair!

Blessings. . . until next time,

Rock Pool FINISHED!!!

After our Rock Pool was installed it needed some finishing touches to it. (I shared that I would post a picture of it when I was finished too.) It needed some filling in around the base, a few low growing perennials, some more small stones and marbles. Yes, I added clear marbles. They glisten wonderfully in the sunlight and I'm liking it :) You may click on the photo to enlarge if you'd like. Oh, and I can't forget the lily pad either. It's floating in the pond as well.

I love sitting on my patio and hearing the water trickling down the Rock Pool. I think every patio could benefit from a little water feature. . . it's soooo relaxing people!!

It's now all finished and I'm loving it!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

What a FISH Story!!

My Hubby's Alaska Fishing Trip Story (true story)

Ever try to SAVE a buck, only to COST you MORE? Well, that's what happened to my husband this past week.

Every year my husband takes a fishing trip into Alaska with his buddies. He loves fishing, always has and always will. I do not share his passion for fishing. . . at. . .all! He finds it extremely relaxing and since he has a very, very highly stressful job -- I encourage him to go with his buds annually into Alaska for Salmon and Halibut fishing. They river fish for Salmon and then charter a boat out into the ocean (like 5 hours out into the ocean) and fish, fish and fish for Halibut!! It's exhausting and wonderful he says. . . all. . .at. . . the. . .same. . . time. Apparently, Halibut live 250 feet down in the ocean so you have to fish deep. It's a workout pulling those buggers up.

All those fish you see hanging in the top photo are from their charter trip. If anyone is interested the name of the charter is "Puffin." Each year they have tried a different charter, but from now on will be sticking with "Puffin." My husband raved about the captain and how he went above and beyond what the other boat charters do.

All six guys evenly divide up the "catch" and have it processed, packaged (dry ice) and shipped home. That's what they always have done. BUT, this year, the plans changed a bit. My husband found out how much shipping has increased. . . so it would have been $127 dollars to Fed Ex that fish home (with a two day delivery). So, he devised a plan. He was not coming home, but going right to a customer's location. But his plane was flying into Detroit first, then flying into his destination. He came up with the brilliant idea to check in his package, er fish I mean. I would meet him at the airport baggage pick-up, take delivery of his package, er fish, and I'd be on my merry way and so would he. EXCEPT. . . Northwest Airlines goofed and shipped the package to his final destination city. . . even though he clearly instructed them otherwise.

So, here he is now with his package, er I mean fish. He had to take a cab to the Fed Ex location, Fed Ex the fish home after all (overnight now!!). Total $152.71 and $40 for a taxi to go to and from the FedEx location and then onto the work location. Now, $192.71 in the hole!!

Next year, I hope he just ships it from Alaska to begin with~!!

Blessings. . . until next time,

My Favorite Thing!!

Cindy, from My Romantic Home, is hosting a "favorite thing" in our home. I thought I'd join in on the fun."

My "favorite thing" is in our den. To the left of our love seat is my little "tea table."

I purchased this about 11 years ago at an Amish Auction. I do not believe it is actually an antique, but I was told it's a reproduction mass produced out of the Philippines. I don't care, I still love it! The top lifts off and can be used as a tray. The glass doors open up and I am able to display my vintage tea cups inside. *Sigh*, yes, this is my "favorite thing" in my home. I love sitting in the den in the evening drinking a cup of tea and reading. Really now, it doesn't get any better than that for me!!

Blessings,

Lavender Festival - Aaaahhhh!!

Lavender Festival - Romeo, Michigan - Wonderful!!

(Can't ya just smell the lavender????)

Last week my mom and dad needed to come down from their home up north to drop off some things (their great granddaughters - looonnnggg story!)

Anyways, they always stay with me when they come down and my mom wanted to attend the Lavender Festival. What a wonderful time we had!!

The parking was down and around the corner from the festival so a shuttle bus was provided. What a shuttle bus, huh? It was only a 3-4 minute ride, but what a ride. Here's my mom, isn't she adorable?

Mom selecting lavender plants. I adore the smell of lavender, it is so relaxing to me. I have three different varieties planted in my yard this year. This is my first attempt at planting lavender - so I hope it does OK in my soil.



Mom and I had so much fun shopping and purchasing our lavender products. Vendors were selling many products made with lavender as well as jewelry, food, garden decor, furniture, etc.

This will definitely be an annual outing for me. I'm already looking forward to next year's festival!! Aaaahhhhh!! Lavender. . . doesn't get any better than that!

Blessings . . . until next time,

Thank you Rhoda!

Rhoda of Southern Hospitality is a "dear." She literally "walked me through" the steps of how to change my blogging background. Do you like my new background? I've always known how to change my banner pictures, but the background was a bit challenging for me since it involved Html. I love my background now, Fleur De Li's. My favorite "french" design. . . OK, some argue it's Italian too. Whatever, I love it! Thank you Rhoda!!

Rhoda is a very talented and creative lady. Be sure to check out her blog, linked above and her business, linked following. She is a pro at turning nothing into something and re-purposing garage sale finds. Rhoda has a home decorating consulting business called, The Restyle Room too. If you don't live near her, she's available to hire over the internet. You provide her with pictures and she'll give you the inspiration!! How cool is that? If I needed help in decorating, I would certainly hire Rhoda to assist me. If you need help, please be sure to check out Rhoda. She has a talent beyond words.

Blessings. . . until next time,