Serials and Scenarios ~ Latest Reviews

I know. I took a break from blogging last week. Not on purpose, just that I didn't have much to share. My job required some training and my brain is spinning with new to-dos and future duty details and the unknown of exactly what my job is at the moment. Two locations or three? Multiple hats. And no control. Yes. Is it any wonder I couldn't come up with anything to share? 

But after signing onto Amazon I found three reviews that made me smile. So I'm sharing them. Nothing like someone getting us to add a happy sigh to my day. And equally exciting was my Saturday. I cleaned, and I filled a couple of bags with stuff that's outta here and mended/hemmed a pile of clothes that have been bugging me including scrub pants that I have to wear everyday and no longer have to roll up.  Happy sigh. I hope your weekend was as great as mine! 

5.0 out of 5 starsDelightful, Absolutely Delightful

Byjubilee readson June 23, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

There are so many things to like about this story: memorable characters getting into crazy situations, humor that makes you giggle out loud, plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing and a touch of romance. Good, clean fun wrapped up in a setting that is unique. I love the way Zula's wobbly high heels were always clipping on the concrete and her interest in fake foliage never flagged. Fern was a no nonsense delight with her practical streak gentled by her tender feelings for Philippe and her utter impatience with Fifi was a crack up. These two ladies aren't letting advanced age keep them from solving the biggest mystery to hit their retirement community yet!
I am a Zu-Fer fan, for sure.

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5.0 out of 5 starsZany and Funny

Bypautoyoungon June 15, 2017

Format: Paperback

Out of the Frying Pan by Michelle Griep & Kelly Klepfer is a delightful book centered around a retirement community in Florida. I could see myself as a combination of a couple of the character and at times, laughed out loud at their conversation or antics and would have to explain myself to my husband. The two main characters, Fern and Zula Hopkins, are sisters-in-law living together and are as different as night and day. Fern, the more serious, seems to be a grouchy bear while Zula, the frilly one, dotes on her puppy and beautifying the world with her attire, makeup, and artificial flowers. Fern and Zula do have one thing in common, both are snoopers. When they run across the dead cook of the retirement village who has been murdered, the perfect opportunity for snooping arrives. Good looking Detective Jared Flynn arrives on the scene, and the ladies also develop a plot to connect him with their niece, KC. Unbeknown to them, Jared and KC have already met thru a dating website. The book twists and turns thru the adventures of the two elderly ladies thru a world of drugs, murder, and romance. If you want to read an enjoyable book where the characters are zany and funny, you will want to buy this novel. The characters and plot will not disappoint you. I received a copy from the author and publisher of The Book Club Network in exchange for an honest review.

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4.0 out of 5 starsEntertaining

Bycnqrkdscncron June 1, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This is a clean, entertaining mystery with a lot of quirky characters. The main characters you will meet are KC and her two hysterical aunts who try to help Detective Flynn solve a murder.
I loved this book and would read more from this author.

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Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Tuesday Monday

What did you do over Labor Day weekend? 

I worked like a beast! 

We finished hauling stuff out of two of the three rooms we are turning into our new space so the kids can take over our upstairs. Drywall, studs, old insulation, carpet, disintegrating carpet stick on pads, it all had to go. 

I pounded through the walls with a fire ax. It might be a construction ax but fire ax sound so much more powerful doncha think? 

We then had to clean up of course. Jules and the kiddos helped tremendously. Those little buggars can get some clean up done when motivated.


Oh, and after we had loaded more stuff into our sons car for his Service Learning Group garage sale fundraiser, we had some furniture we wanted to get rid of. Before just taking it down the road to the Goodwill just to get rid of it, a friend texted me that a friend of her's son was just getting an apartment after rehab and needed everything. Uh, we had a futon, a queen size bed that we were going to probably put in the landfill because who's going to buy a used mattress from Goodwill ya know? 

He wanted those and brought a buddy with a trailer over to get it. While we were waiting we decided to just go ahead and purge more furniture. We will have very limited space. My bedroom is so small we can only have a bed, a dresser and two nightstands or it's going to feel overwhelming. Our little sitting area will be plenty full with our armoire, couch and recliner. Everything else has to go. This guy took almost all of it.  It feels real good that our stuff can bless someone who needs a little extra help. 

After we hauled it down so they could load it up, after we got the last bit of drywall torn off the wall we all collapsed into hot, filthy messes but were all so satisfied with what we got done! 

Sunday we got a bit more cracked out. 

Monday. Wham! We killed it again. I even cut up some branches into logs for fire pit fires when the big remodel is done. Rob wouldn't let me use the chain saw for obvious reasons all of which would involve pain and blood. So I used his saws-all. Ha.Ha. Which he hurt himself with later. I'm lucky to be alive. 

Oh, and today, Out of the Frying Pan RELEASES! Fern shares a bit about herself here.  

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ The American Dream ?

I think the American Dream used to be centered around courage and strength and good old-fashioned grit. You know, like John Wayne style.

People weren't afraid to work hard and break a sweat and make a decent days' wages. Just enough, not too much, but not too little.

They grew a lot of their own food and food wasn't tossed very often. My grandma quipped after I took her to visit the organic farm we worked at, "We ate organic when it wasn't cool, it just was what it was."

Somehow the American Dream has twisted itself into collections and toys and possessions. And that's bothersome. 

A few years ago I set a goal to get rid of 1000 things in a year's time. That goal was busted out in three months and I haven't stopped. Now that we are making room for four more people in our home the purging has intensified and I'm appalled at the amount of stuff we have accumulated because materialism had become part of our American Dream. 

This picture is the second large batch of stuff we are getting rid of in just a month. And there is more in the room. I just took a picture of half of it. The last load filled my husband's pick up. And I have actively been downsizing and purging for almost three years. 

This stuff is in the way of the life we want to live. Literally and figuratively. In order to make room for the ones we love we have to get rid of mere stuff. Stuff that required space, upkeep, dusting and hard earned money. Good riddance. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Chapters Part 2, Flipping the Page

As shared in part one here we are downsizing big time around here. 

I thought I had unloaded a lot while purging over the past two years. Oh, no, that was the tip of the iceberg. I've read about the folks who get rid of up to 90% of their stuff. The downsizing, minimizing super stars who transfer a family of five from suburbia to a tiny house, for example. Rob and I are probably at 50% and counting. And I'm looking around as I type this and deciding there is still too much that I'm looking at. 

Instead of buying our little 700 square foot house, we have been talking with our daughter. She is able to and good at single parenting, but she has nothing to prove to anyone anymore, including herself. Single parenting is hard. We are involved but not daily. And we have empty rooms. So we've decided to leave our upstairs, hand it over to her and the kids and turn the three downstairs bedrooms into an apartment for Rob and me. 

We will share a downstairs living room and a kitchen/dining area with our daughter and grandkids. She will have an upstairs living area as well where she can have people over etc. We will build a small sitting area in our little apartment where we can go to escape if necessary and to chill when needed. Our personal space will be about 300 square feet. This is our bedroom, our private living area and a den that will be invitation only where kids are concerned. Now a tiny house is usually under 200 square feet and that includes a bathroom and kitchen so we definitely have a space luxury. Our bedroom will be big enough for my big dresser and our bed and a few odds and ends. It's 9 x 11. The sitting area is roughly 9 x 9. Rob has some space saving creative ideas so I'm real excited. 

We will have someone to share the cleaning and upkeep with. She likes to clean. I do not. We will have better meals because there is one more creative cook to add to the mix and a reason to actually do sit down dinners and go beyond quick and frozen meals most nights. We will have chatter and company whenever we want it. And the dogs will have company always. Our daughter can put the kids to bed and run to Target or meet a friend and not have to worry that the kids are up too late at our place or that I'm falling asleep on her couch, or paying a teenager to sit with sleeping kids. 

Last night our daughter and I went through several boxes I've been putting off. Some of it was hers, a lot of it was stuff we had purchased together or with an idea in mind. We poured through old pictures, cards, crafts odds and ends, things from our gift cupboard and drawer. We got rid of more than we kept. 

We have gotten rid of so much I'm honestly feeling very much like one big dresser and one bed, two closets and two bedside tables is going to be enough space. Right now my big walk-in closet is down 75% of what was in there. My big armoire (which is going to become a living area piece not a bedroom piece) is half empty. Rob smartly built drawers in the base of our bed when he made it years ago. Those drawers are empty. Two craft closets are down to 3/4 of one. The kids happily discovered and played Battleship while we cleaned out the game cupboard. What's the point of having too many games to go through so the choice is overwhelming? My three heavy duty bookshelves have become so decluttered I'm only using one and a half and when our den/office is finished most of those will fit there.

Our daughter has three kids and three years worth of accumulation. She is purging as much as we are to make this happen. 

I just can't even put into words how happy this solution makes me feel. And I'm feeling like with every item I put in a box for someone else who might need it, that I'm making room for the important things in life. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Chapters

I have stated multiple times that I love change. This is either a good thing or a twisted self-fulfilling prophecy. 

I guess either way it is my life so I'm just going to embrace it. 

I have always loved having a houseful of near and dear ones. When my kids were teenagers I was thrilled to be the congregating house. For several years before American Ninja Warrior we had a second story that was just roughed in (2 x studs, windows and weather protection.) It was a massive clubhouse at times. The kids and their friends wrote their names, funny comments and Bible verses on the floor, and in framed out doorways They'd hang from rafters and swing from board to board. 

Our daughters two best friends lived with us over a summer, one extending her stay nearly a year. We even had a soldier camp out on our couch for a few weeks while he was waiting to head to Iraq. 

I'm not saying there weren't rough patches here and there with constant patter of big teenage or young adult feet. But our house always felt alive. Zinging with energy. 

Slowly, our upstairs was finished. We moved into our new square feet and used the previous bedrooms downstairs as storage. Our kids got older. Number one married and moved out while still in college. Our youngest moved out way too young. Our middle daughter hung the longest. She finally moved about three years ago. 

This house has felt pretty empty and huge for the past three years. The relationships are great,  and we are within 25 miles of each other. All is well. Children have entered the picture making our children an even bigger draw. My absolute favorite times are when we are all together, whether in our house or one of theirs, or actually anywhere. 

The past Christmases since our middle daughter started foster care the whole family has spent Christmas Eve night. And Christmas night. The 26th always feels a little hollow when they pack up their noise and their clutter and their sweet little selves and head out the door. 

Rob and I talked. Our house is too big for just us. Two people don't need 4+ bedrooms. Or 2,500 sq ft.  But our last rooms aren't quite ready for resale. See them scattered about through here. 

In anticipation I've been getting rid of stuff like a maniac. You've seen my posts on and off for two years now. First year 2000 items goal. Bam. Done in three months. Realistically we purged probably 5000 items. Second year real close to that. I haven't quit. Actually I've ramped it up. We decided we'd like a 700-800 square foot house. Just enough room for cozy sleepovers with kiddos on Christmas.  Stay tuned. There's more coming. 

Scribbles and Scrambles - Oh the Details....

We are purging again. For great reasons. And we are still finding things that are dead weight, of little value, and just clutter. Nearly every time I look at my closet, in one of my drawers or in a cupboard, or even scan the rooms I walk through I see more stuff I want to get rid of. 

Don't worry. The dogs and hedgehogs stay. 

But hundreds of pounds of good stuff that I just don't want anymore is going to be donated on Monday. What amazes me over and over again is the volume. The stuff we've hauled in, stored and taken care of, the money we've spent acquiring it. And the energy it takes to clean around it. 

I'm not even going to share a picture of our newest to go pile. It's real similar to the pickup loads we've already donated. Good riddance. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ More Minimizing Around the Corner Comes

Another season of purging is upon me. With the prepurchase of Joshua Becker's new book, The More of Less, I was able to sign up for a 12 week challenge/class. 

The book arrived the other day and I'm two chapters in and so glad I parted with $11.00. I already have a few folks who want to read it when I'm done. So I'm excited about that, too. I can share the information. 

What speaks to me in what I've read is the fact that too much stuff can crush our mission, our passion, our very lives. If I, as I strongly believe, have a path already set out for me before my birth. And that God has uniquely created me for that path, then the clutter of life distracts me and keeps me from finding the bumps and turns and twists of that path. 

The fact that so much of that stuff is just an annoyance. Things I don't love, things I have to move over and over again. Things. Cheaply made, ill-fitting, items I don't enjoy. Just stuff that takes up space in my physical, emotional and mental world...it just needs to go. 

Even more reason to get rid of stuff. 

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime I'm going to be Unflattering and shedding some stuff this weekend. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Scrambled Wisdom on Purging

I'm not sure what underlying drive fuels my desire to purge stuff. Psychologically it would probably be about trying to control what I can while Rob is going through his health dealio. Maybe. Or maybe I'm feeling guilty about starving children. Or am trying to recreate who I have become.  

If you walked into my house your first thoughts would not be "Man, this chick/hen is a minimalist!" Not at all. I'm not even close. I don't even know if that is my goal. I listen to podcasts occasionally by these guys. (While I'm cooking, usually, nice to have friendly voices in the kitchen with me. And I usually get caught up on two or three episodes. Beats bingeing on Netflix...

:  ) )The one I listened to the other day contained comments regarding feedback they get on their name, The Minimalists, and how some people are critical of that label. Like they aren't minimalist enough. They mentioned one guy they follow on social media and how he's got 55 possessions. The point they made was that he was living this extremely spartan life because his heart's desire is to pick up and move internationally every four months or so and 55 items works well for him. 

Another minimal mindset guy I follow is Becoming Minimalist. He had a really simple, thought provoking article the other day. 

Tying these two thoughts together I think I'm just done with being encumbered with stuff. I've gone on about the joy of some drawers being empty and all the rest opening and closing with ease. I spent a few hours this week purging my book shelves again. And every time I do it I think I can't possibly find more books to get rid of and every time I do it I find dozens. This time I was motivated by my grands. I had a sick one the day before yesterday and I suggested she read some books. She found a few, but honestly the kids books were a mess, laid on their sides, picture books mixed in with chapter books, and not really at eye level for them. Cleaning it up seriously took about five hours.  Making piles, sorting, bagging up ones no one wanted, dusting the shelves and putting everything back in a kid friendly, organized space. That thrills me. Because I honestly don't want a bunch of books sitting around that my kiddos won't read because it's too complicated to find them. I want my stuff to be used, not stored.  And I'm loving wide open spaces between objects. 

I haven't been keeping count this year since I whomped my 1000 things last year goal in three short months. I don't want it to be about getting rid of a set number. More like allowing my possessions go that are not adding value to my life because chances are someone out there needs what is gathering dust on my shelves. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Just Because You WERE Dying to Know

I think the caretaker gig is inspiring me to get my goals cracked out. Honestly, I got rid of three boxes and two more bags of stuff on Friday. Okay, I had a little help in a deadline kind of a situation. My son heads up a service learning team at the high school he teaches at and they are having a fundraiser rummage sale in a few weeks. With Rob's bumtastic knee bothering him, my son offered to take his dad's truck to go buy a recliner to make his dad more comfortable. Being the wife/mom of the whole situation I decided I should go along. And since he was using his dad's truck and heading right to his school's neighborhood it would be great if I could just go ahead and help his fill and then unload the truck at the school. Since I already had three bags, I decided I could give those to him, and then went crazy in the areas that have just been barely touched. Have I mentioned I love getting rid of stuff? 

Why on earth did I keep this stuff as long as I did? Some of it is just embarrassing. Last year I purged the stuff I saw all the time, stuff that was in my way. This year is the year of purging the hidden. Since Friday I've found a few more items that just need to go. 

On another note. Rob's sitting at the kitchen table/his desk doing some work. His leg is getting better, enough that he can actually do some sitting for long periods of time. While he's occupied I've written two articles for Out of the Frying Pan's blog tour and have begun an extensive list of what each blog wants from me. It feels so good to get things checked off my to do list, even if it's only in my head. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Goal(s)?

I revealed a few goals I had for January. 

Results? 

I filled five bags that have now exited my house. Yay. 

I also did get three articles started for Out of the Frying Pan's blog tour. And through a friend, I scored several more opportunities. And inspired by that I went ahead and asked four more of my favorite book review bloggers to put Out of the Frying Pan on their radars. Win. Win. 

Violin. UGH! Total fail. I practiced once. In a whole month. I did have a lesson, too, and maybe got some more insight and help trying to figure things out. But. Fail nonetheless. 

February Goals (even though we are almost two weeks in). 

Going to go big. Three more articles and/or Q and A's for the virtual book tour. 

Three more bags/boxes of unwanted/unneededs. 

Violin. Focus on memorizing key signatures. Practice three times. 

Survive living well with a man with no knee. And working on my caretaker skills. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Plugging Away at the Goals

My goal to fill two bags this month is done. But I have another bag that is just itching for use. I may just have to fill that one, too. The thing I've noticed about getting rid of THINGS, and by things I mean items that really have no value to me. Those items might be really valuable to someone else. And by hanging on to my THING I'm maybe hanging onto someone else's blessing. 

I've also actually forced myself to take time to put together the three marketing pieces I need for our book release. Since it's not even the middle of the month I'm going to double my goal.  My violin sits neglected though. However, I have a lesson soon and I'm planning on asking some questions that might clarify some things for me so I can practice more efficiently. That's the plan anyway.   

I'm thinking about February goals. I think budgeting will be one of them...YIKES. 

Scribbles and Scrambles - I Diderot

Recently, I wrote about the Diderot Effective. The one wherein psychologically one purchase leads to more. The new skirt morphs into the shoes and necklace, too. Or the paint for the living room stretches the budget or assaults the credit card because new accessories and decor are a must.

I might be guilty of ignorance of this effect but marketers are not. Slap my forehead. This would be why window shopping or emotional shopping might be the deadliest thing for your budget. Can I just call out the elephant in the room? Who doesn't have their head turned by the ever morphing magical place called the Target $1 area? I can discover a lot of needs while standing and inhaling the scent of cheap plastic and burlap.

Then there is every new season's and holiday display of colors and styles draped on dummies (Of course I don't mean those who buy! And those mannequins aren't dummies....those are effective tools). Each item paired with multiple pieces, shoes and accessories. Hmmm, not an accident that everything goes together oh so well! 

Speaking of colors. Who's the evil genius behind the new it color palettes? And don't forget the creative minions who use those colors to design cute household accessories. Oh, and the off-to-college themes with the clever space saving furniture and organizers. 

I don't want to become a conspiracy theorist but...if the whole industry is conspiring for our hard earned dollars can we say the shoe fits????

I think I need to ponder this more. I may have a bigger issue than I thought. Fingers tapping on the table top.

This hideous Exhibit A photo is my stack of fancy paper cupcake liners. Remember back in the day when you either got plain white or an assortment of pastels and that was enough? 

Do I really need polka dot, leopard print, stripes and plain fuchsia, teal and blue cupcake liners? Apparently I thought I did. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Decluttering Update

Since I've posted several times about my decluttering/purging goals I thought I'd give you an update. 

You know I met my goal of purging 1000 items from December 1 thru December 31 in the first quarter of 2015?

I haven't stopped. We had long term house guests in June and several boxes and bags found their way out of the house. After they returned home we unloaded some big items that we needed to unload. I now hate holding onto something that I don't use and someone else might not only use, but could be blessed by receiving it.  We have a ministry thrift shop down the road plus a homeless shelter in a neighboring city that need and want our stuff and they use it to help. So it's a win. Win. 

My closet population continues to diminish. I haven't followed the ruthless advice of those who say pull every item out and make three piles. I have too many things I wear infrequently, or need to keep on hand. NEED is a word that I have to consider and act on, ehhh? 

I have taken to looking at an item I pull out of the hanging rack, try on, or put back and ruthlessly decide right then and there if this item does anything for my life. If it doesn't, it goes right into the bag in my closet. Right now I have two of them that are half full. Here's the kicker. When that item goes, so does the hanger. If something comes into my house that needs a hanger, something already living here goes so I don't have to put out any new hangers. 

While Rob was hospitalized and I was visiting I also did something I've been thinking about doing for months. I have too many scarves. Yes. (I also love purses, note the one, the RED and ADORABLE one in the giveaway bag...it doesn't work anymore for my life. So it has to go.) I decided I'd wear them if they were infinity scarves. 

So I shoved them in a big bag with two colors of thread, needles a thimble and scissors and simply stitched the two ends together in a blanket or hem or hidden stitch. I got most of them done in the first two days and they are all infinity scarves now. If you think that's useful, make sure they are long enough or you'll just be annoyed. Compare them to the favorite infinity scarf length to be sure. Now, if I don't wear them I either donate as is, or I snip the simple stitches, pull them out and give them away for someone else to wear. Win. 

Again. I have to say I have very few items I even remember to miss. Purging has been excellent for soul and house. Cleaning is easier because I have space to put things away where they belong. I do kind of want to get rid of kitchen bowls and pans and crockpots because I have multiples of each. But just when I get brave something big comes up and I'm glad I have all those duplicates. Darn. And I keep looking at Tiny House stuff on the computer. I'd love a 700 sq foot or slightly less house with 2-3 bedrooms. Oddly, our first purchased house was a duplex and we lived in 900-1000 sq ft and were very comfortable even with 2 kids. And our current house started out at about 1100 sq ft when we moved in and we were cramped but comfortable with 5 of us under one roof. The second story was a great thing. But two of us do not need that much room. Hmmm we'll just have to see what happens with that. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Nailed It!!!!

 Yeah. I know. Nailed it is used for Pinterest fails. But honestly, I am going to reclaim it as a victory chant. 

My 1,000 item declutter, discard, purge is done and done 9 months early.  I haven't been on top of bagging things up since the last big purge for my son's fundraiser garage sale and I had to stop that day without meeting my goal because I'm down to having to become more thoughtful. Yesterday, I decided I was going to finish and finish strong before April 1st dawned. 

So I opened up some cupboards and really looked at a couple of items that have been on my list as the next ones to go. And I asked myself when I was going to use them? How they were enriching my life by hanging out in the closet? Then I wondered out loud how someone else might see those items as a blessing, a joy, a need met, and the decision became easy. Then I looked at my clothes again. I asked each item. Yes. Literally, I asked out loud to some of the more unique and quirky pieces. I forced myself to think of two other items in my closet that could be paired with each item so that I have two potential outfits for each item. Another dozen items couldn't answer that question appropriately so out they went. 

Guess what? I'm not going to quit. I think I need to question all of my belongings. And remember how freeing it is to let something fly away to someone who really needs it.