Coat of Many Colors

If I rubbed a bottle and genie came out and granted me 3 wishes, one of them would be the ability to play & sing this song the exact way Dolly does.

Look at those nails! How does she do it? I can't even do it with my little nubs.

This is one of my favorite songs and I always relate it to Christmas although there is no reference to Christmas which brings me to my next point.....

I'm learning Christmas Tunes!

Any suggestions? Little Drummer Boy? Joy to the World? Feliz Navidad?

After I learn all of these Christmas songs I am going to hold a Christmas concert at the Kingdom.

You're invited.

Be there.

(okay..i'm not really holding a concert but I would like any feedback on your favorite Christmas cover!)

fantasy land

I am back from the depths of despair. do not worry internet world.

A long holiday weekend of feasting and locking myself (& Andrew) at home with all three extended editions of Lord of the Rings and the new Robin Hood made life all better. ( that sounds healthy, doesn't it?)

It also led us to name our newly formed Kingdom of Traiylor

(pronounced TREA-LOOOOOOOR)-the crest of Traiylor-

I realized that we were taking our geek'dom level to all new heights when were referring to the dogs and Olivia as Knights and Princess (and don't even get me started on our trip to the mountains--I may have pretended that I was Frodo taking the ring to Mordor.....geeeeeek out. But it made me happy. And it helped make the whole Holiday gloom go far, far away to other distant Kingdoms ruled by elves. (and its not my fault..I grew up watching Ewoks, Dark Crystal, Willow & any other fantasy movie my brother could get his hands on)

thank goodness Andrew appreciates and fully participates in my fantasy world.

happy monday!

(me last week thinking about T-giving)

t-giving blues

This morning, I decided to be a poopy pants blogger and tell the ENTIRE WORLD that I am taking a T-giving internet machine break.

Do you want to know why? Because I'm the T-giving Grinch this year. I just overheard a woman at a diner talk about how she just couldn't wait to get the Holidays over with and my immediate reaction was, "Oh I just can't stand people that are so bah-humbug about Holidays" and here I am microsoft painting my feelings away.

I could be real chipper dipper and tell you everything I am thankful for (I will try not to get nausea reading the 1,000,0008498759827489 things people are thankful for this week -see...there I go again being a big fat grinch) because of course, and I hope you know this, I am so blessed and thankful for many things.

But.

I am sad.

Everything is changing so fast. It has felt that way since college. I just feel like I have been inside of some wonderful tornado giving blessings and changing everything I have known all at the same time. Thanksgiving will not ever be the same for me again. I can't go back "home" because the family and home that was once there is not (this is my inner divorced child speaking). And that's okay, life evolves and things change and I have my big girl panties on and can deal with that but Holidays like Thanksgiving just bring the memories to life and I can't help but feel......sadness.

Last year I was planning my visit home to Norton to spend time with Mamaw. Last Thanksgiving she was feeling better. This Thanksgiving she is gone.

Last Thanksgiving Mamaw gave the prayer and she cried the entire way through it just as I am crying all the way through writing this. I wonder if she knew it was her last Thanksgiving? I guess none of us really know.

Today and this week, I am happy for you, I really am. I can't wait to read over all of your posts and pictures about your family celebrations. But for me, this week is a little sad. I am mourning over the death of not only my Mamaw but my past. Maybe this is necessary to move on to my new family? Maybe we all mourn the loss of our childhood as we move into this new phase in life? Maybe when I have my own babies and start new traditions with my lil' Crummett family I will not feel this way?

But for now, I hope you don't mind, but I think I am going to take the week off to take care of myself. I get to sing on Friday and that will surely be a bright spot. I know she is watching me.

Love and blessings.

music like this...

It just makes me want to curl up on a couch and write, write, write.

I wrote a song a few days ago. It was the first time something has come together in awhile. I really struggle with writing because I battle this thing called ME. But when I finally push fear aside the words and music just drip out of the pen and I just feel liberated.

I was supposed to sing in an open mic night with my friend Peter last night. Peter is amazing at the guitar and I love playing music with him. He unfortunately got sick and couldn't come leaving me naked on the stage (I mean..not forest gump style..but you know what I mean). Guess what?

I made mistakes.
I was a bit nervous.

But. I did it. Solo. Guitar and all. And it felt absolutely wonderful.

Baby steps my friends. xoxo

one year ago..

This was happening.

It's gone by so fast!

I'd like to think all of my internet friends (oh yes, that's you!) for keeping up with this little blog. It has really become a healthy outlet for me throughout these big changes in life and I hope that sharing my story, whatever story that is, has helped someone out there, even if it was to just pass the time at work. That was always my reason for wanting to blog...to share, to create, to make this big ole' world not seem so big some days.

(ps. I finally figured out how to look at my stats and was THRILLED to see so many people are taking a peep at this thing. Even people from Germany, Australia & Maylasia--what what???!! I would love to get to know you & maybe become internet friends. Whaddya say? Always feel free to "follow" me, you know, that thing on the sidebar? I won't bite. I might stalk you, but I will not bite you.)

me and Olivia in the trailer-pre furniture bloggin' our hearts out.

We love you!

FINALLY a wedding post

So I'm not gonna get all crazy bride on you and share every itty bitty wedding idea that pops into my head(not that i'm sayin' there's anything wrong with that ...it would just send me over the edge and I want some elements to be a surprise!) , but I feel like there is a big pink elephant on the blog and it's called OUR WEDDING.

woo hoo!

Here are some details that I can divulge:

We are having the ceremony, reception...the whole shin-dig at the farm. I'm so excited that I don't have to deal with an outside venue. It has it's own challenges (like...I'm pretty sure that I'm responsible for getting the cob webs & horse poo piles out of the indoor riding ring) but not having to deal with deposits, deadlines and someone else's rules is great!

I said YES to the DRESS. A few months ago, I went wedding dress shopping in Harrisonburg, VA with a few of my g-friends. I had NO intention of buying a dress but when you know, you KNOW. I had very specific things that I wanted in a dress (no beading, cream, outdoor appropriate style) so when I found IT & there was a very nice sale price attached, I just couldn't pass it up. It's killing me not to show Andrew. BUT I can't, I shan't, I won't. It's oh-so-dreamy, though.

Here are some pictures from the day:

Me & Molly (my stylist/bridesmaid)
Why do I look all drunk eyed in this picture? Most have been all the sticker shock.

Johannah (Co-President of the Anne of Green Gables fan club/Bridesmaid) & Priscilla (neighbor/soul sister/wedding blogger)


They were the best crew ever to have. They knew exactly what I was looking for and gave really great opinions. It was absolutely perfect. I could wedding dress shop with those girls every weekend.
I really feel like planning has been a million times easier since I know what the dress looks like. It kind of, sets the tone in my opinion.

We've got the bridesmaid dress search underway (and I have to say, I am a little jealous of my bridesmaids...I'm so excited about "look") & next comes the STD's (let's all giggle) & Invitations!

So that's my big wedding post thus far. Oct. 15, 2011 seems eons away right now!

new homeowners=new conversations

"I'll shave my legs when you fix the hot water heater!"

and this conversation has been going on for awhile, folks.

I can hold out alllllll winter buddy. You better get to fixin'. The birthday party is over.