When Someone Crushes Your Dream

http://www.dailyjournalonline.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/doc4907215e39fab572558509.txt

The above link and article might give you all an inside look to what is going on here on the homefront. My husband and I attended our first City Council meeting on Monday night. We went in regards to a letter that we received Friday afternoon at out home. It was sent anonymously from someone in our subdivision. Our contractor never informed any of us. It just so happened that a neighbor was walking in the neighborhood and saw a very small sign posted on the empty lots where the large construction equipment was parked. Very well hidden. The sign was to announce the hearing for the rezoning of our subdivision for low-income rental duplexes.

We have lived in our new home for only 13 months. It is our VERY FIRST real home. We have lived with family, rented low income housing and bought and lived in a double wide trailer for years while I attended nursing school. To say that this house is our dream come true is SUCH an understatement! It is not JUST our dream, it is our investment, my daughters future and where we chose to live and raise our family.

I know that our builder/contractor is having financial trouble due to the economics of our country, but who isn't? All of the homeowners in this development had a dream, just like our builder did. I am very sorry that he is having $$$ problems, but you do not give up on your dream of a great, beautiful, special and really different development when times get tough. He should not give up on his dream that he had for this area.

It is like making us homeowners choose the lesser of two evils. Either 700 square foot low-income rented duplexes, in a housing development that the LOWEST square footage built here now is 1750, OR he builds stripped down, 1400 sq foot, no garage, gravel driveway houses, that if he does not sell he will rent anyway.

I don't know. I can't cry any more tears that are just useless anyway. I am too exhausted.

From the feelings that I got at the council meeting, it may not pass. But, this is just one battle. I can not see him giving up, or letting his business go bankrupt. I think this is going to be a messy fight.

There is much more to the story than this too. I forgot to tell you that 3 of the larger houses out here are owned by his subcontractors that could use some work too, so not everyone out here is against this new development. But most are and a good majority spoke at the meeting.

Thanks for listening to my woes of the day. Sorry to bore you all and bum you out too! Keep us in your thoughts please! Have a great week and Happy Halloween! I hope to pop back in and post some pictures of our Halloween! Take care!

Warmly,
Leslie

Fabulous Fun Finds.......Thank you!

After a LONG day at work giving hundreds of flu shots all morning, it was such a great surprise the find my Family Jewelry featured on this blog. Fabulous Fun Finds blog is such a beautiful site! I do not know about you, but I can always use some help perusing the Internet for some great goodies! Thank you Heather for a very nice write up!

It is going to be a LONG week, plus with Friday (Halloween) coming up, I am already feeling the pressure of "everyday life". I will pop in a tell you about it soon. Let me catch my breath first!

I wish you all a great day!

Warmly,

Leslie

Mom Tested And Approved Reviews

Hello all! How about this to wake up to this morning!

Sherri is the WONDERFUL originator of this fantastic blog! I can not tell you how SUPER nice Sherri is, and has been, to me and my family! I love her blog, she has wonderful communication with me (she lifts my spirits and always says the nicest things) and is a sweet and caring SAHM and WAHM!! She has a beautiful family and children to attend to and she also finds time to run this GREAT blog! Go and read ALL of the great reviews she has done! There are some wonderful items there.......makes me want to go do some holiday shopping!!!

I really appreciate all that she did on this review! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! What a wonderful morning it is! THANK YOU Sherri!!!!

Take care!

Warmly,

Leslie

What Have I Done???????

Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Extravaganza - Cape Girardeau Art

Hello! Just wanted to drop in and let you all in on a little information. I am not sure how it happened, but a friend of mine wanted to participate in a juried arts and craft show, so she asked me if I wanted to share a booth and I said yes......just like that. Next thing I know I am filling out papers, typing artist statements, taking pictures, sending money, interviewing on the phone.......and just like that, I am accepted and in booth number 15 at the Show Me Center.

I guess I should have found out more about this event before accepting.....ya think? Because this is apparently one of the nations LARGEST shows. I was working on a Saturday at a health fair when my friend asked me to share a booth and I just said "yes"....without thinking. And now, I have a 10 x 10 booth all to myself.......and I am a little FREAKED....yeah that is the word.

I have been frantically buying supplies, display items, tablecloths, boxes, bags, etc....

Now, I have to somehow figure out how much jewelry to make. What kind to make....more earrings, more bracelets........ahhhh, the stress!!

Anyway, if there are any of you near or in the area, please come and support this crazy and nervous artist........did I mention that I have NEVER done anything like this. Not even a craft show.....

So, here is the information for those who are interested. If you need more information, just let me know! Wish me luck, send love, verbal flowers......Thanks!!!!

Event Date
Saturday, November 22, 2008

End Date
Sunday, November 23, 2008

Name
Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Extravaganza

Brief Description
Annual Event with local arts and crafts

Type
Event

Category
Cape Girardeau Missouri Art Events

Description
November 22-23. This event features high quality artisans and crafters. Two locations: the Osage Community Centre and the Show Me Center simultaneously. Your ticket admits you to both locations on the same day.

http://www.capearts.org/

Address
1625 North Kingshighway (Osage Center)

CSZ
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

While I Am Sick.....

I am learning to use Twitter...see the right side of my blog.

Now......on to Facebook, Myspace, Craigslist.

Maybe I am not feeling THAT well.

Me Is.....

Me is sick.

Me has Strep.

Me has fever.

Me went to work.

Me is tired.

Me is achy.

Me have headache.

Me throats hurts.

Me neck hurts.

Me ears hurt.

Me wants me mommy.

Me REALLY hopes me daughter does not get it.

Me could think of a better way to spend weekend.

Me wishes you all have a great weekend and me hopes to be back soon!

Halloween Decor.....Take 2

Hello again all! Yes! Here I am again....I know, twice in 2 days.......can you believe it? I should be concentrating on the art show coming up November 22 & 23 that I am participating in, but instead I am having too much fun trying out all of the Halloween projects from The Craft Crow blog.

Yesterday evening Tim, Maddy and I made these ghosts. I had left over ribbon from the Halloween banner and instead of using monofilament and hanging them horizontal as shown in the instructions, I came up with the design above.......again, we make do!

Tim made his own design too, and I gave Maddy a print-out for her to color, but she was more interested in the play-doh after coloring the first ghost.
Here is my husband Tim's design. Actually, I messed up the first set of ghosts, this set, and he made these instead of throwing them away. Those eyes are tricky to cut out without a craft knife and I did not like how they turned out, so I started over. He outlined the eyes in black and then just started drawing on them after Maddy got her hands on the marker (see ghost "B"). Oh well, when all else fails make lemonade!

My next project is to finish the book sculptures I have been working on.....strangely enough also listed on The Crafty Crow. I saw them on Etsy long ago, and since I am an avid reader fell in love with them at once and I new I could make some for myself.........sorry Etsy sellers, I want to do this one myself instead of buying them.......I apologize for not supporting you all on this one!!!

I hope you all enjoy more of the decor here on the home front. It has been so much, SUPER FUN this year with Maddy! I tell ya, they just get better every day..........remind me I said this when I come on here and vent about her on one of her bad days!!!

Enjoy, and again, send some of your holiday pics to me of your own decor, and if you want I will do a post on my readers holiday crafts and link your blog too, if you have one!

Go forth and create!

Warmly,
Leslie