Unity Challenge


Unity Stamp Co. has a new challenge. Click on the link below and follow the directions. This months challenge is ♥♥hearts♥♥

http://www.theunitystampco-challenge.blogspot.com/

Following is my card for this months challenge:

Loves, hugs & kisses,

ML Brown

Day 25 of the 30 day challenge

Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs:

1. Oklahoma Texas Line

2. It's Not OK - Zack Brown Band

3. White Horse - Taylor Swift

4. 1000 Miles - Blake Lewis

5. Modern Day Drifter - Dierks Bentley

6. Saddle in the Rain - John Prine

7. I'd Love You All Over Again - Allen Jackson

8. Just to See You Smile - Tim McGraw

9. Rodeo Moon - Toby Keith

10. People Puttin People Down - John Prine

Well, I guess this sums it up. I like country music. Just sayin'!!!

BTW (which again I remind you, that means 'by the way'), I am ready for this 30 day challenge to be OVER!!!!! I want to blog about things I want to blog about. I want to tell more stories. I want to show off my card making ability, with a design sense like no other. That is pretty funny isn't it? What a journey!!!

Loves, hugs & kisses,

ML Brown

Day 24 of the 30 day challenge

Something I've learned

The following blog is about things I have learned because of my old age. I absolutely love the old saying "If I only knew then what I know now"!

I've learned that patience is a virtue.

I've learned do not sweat the small stuff.

I've learned to live as if you were dying.

I've learned to surround yourself with positive and back away from the negative. Surround yourself in the white light!!!

I've learned that I am a better person today because I did learn from the mistakes I have made in my past.

I've learned from my last rugrat who introduced to me this poem, at my nephews funeral, the profound words of the following poem which are embedded in my soul until the end:

The Dash Poem

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

©1996 Linda Ellis



I have learned how inportant it is how you spent your dash.

 

Loves, hugs & kisses,

 

ML Brown

Day 23 of the 30 day challenge

Favorite Vacation

The man in the uniform and I have gone on some pretty exciting vacations. A few years back we went to Daytona, Florida for speed week and the Daytona 500. Talk about a 14 day wild and crazy time. It makes me feel total exhaustion just thinking about that vacation. I remember waking up after the first day and I made the big ol' fat mistake of saying "I really don't think I can do this". The whole crew chimed in and said, "If you can't hang with the big dogs get off the porch". Well, I hung and I mean hung on for dear life.

I absolutely love our long weekends riding our 4-wheelers in the Appalachian Mountains in West VA. But, I think my all time favorite vacation was a trip to Ft. Meyers Beach, Florida. Now, mind you, we have been there many times. The vacation that stands out is the one in 2007. It was a very laid back affair. I have never laughed so much in  my entire life. You know "the man in the uniform" completely, unequivocally threw our host under the bus. I mean like no other has been thrown under a bus before. The funny thing about it was that everyone and I mean everyone thought it was funny except the person he dogged. Now, do you want to know what he said? But, you do understand that it isn't that funny unless you were actually there. But, she got mad and said she wanted out of the car so "the man in
 the uniform" told her man to let her out, they'll bring her back when it gets daylight. Then it was on. The week went on from there. There were so many laughs, so much dancing, sand, ocean and pools. It was absolutely an AMAZING vacation. We all, to this day, still laugh about that week.

A beautiful Gulf Coast Sunset!!!



9:00 a.m. The start of a loooonnnng St. Patrick's Day!!!



The beginning of the end!!!!

I do have to say that anywhere I go with "the man in the uniform" is always a favorite time!

Loves, hugs & kisses,

ML Brown

Day 22 of the 30 day challenge

My favorite city

As I ponder this 22nd day of my 30 day challenge my mind goes only to small towns. I do not like cities. I do not like crowds, noise, pollution, fast pace and the hustle and bustle that comes with large cities. I get anxiety just thinking about it. My heart starts to race. The palms of my hands start to sweat. My mind does crazy things. I think it is just best I stay away from them in general. So, I guess that means I will not be blogging about cities.

I think I will blog about a small, little, quaint town that I love. Hmmmmm, let me think. Oh, I know, Circleville, Ohio. Sorry, I do love this little town that I live in. Where else can you go to see the "Greatest Free Show on Earth"?

Just look at the line of pumpkins right up to the pumpkin tower.

Can you go anywhere else to see a pumpkin pie this big?

The sights, the smells, the sounds. It all gets into your blood. The excitement becomes a part of you.

A little history of this wonderful little town:

Daniel Dresbach founded the community of Circleville along the Scioto River in 1810. The town received its name from circular earthworks that Hopewell Indians had constructed in the area, although urban development has destroyed many of those original mounds. Circleville became the county seat for Pickaway County in 1810, and the first courthouse was built in the middle of the circular earthworks for which the community was named.

Dresbach laid out Circleville in a circular pattern. During the 1830s, residents tired of the unusual street patterns. In 1837, the Ohio legislature authorized the Circleville Squaring Company to redesign the community with a more traditional grid pattern. The Circleville Squaring Company completed work in 1856. This marked one of the earlier examples of urban redevelopment in the United States. Most of the native earthworks disappeared as a result of this redevelopment.

OK. I am now finished with the history lesson. BTW, I copied it from a history website.
I love everything about this town. I love to shop in the downtown shops. I love the farm markets that surround this area during the season. I love the gossip. I'm only KIDDING. There are some down falls to the small town atmosphere also. Every body knows every body else's business. Too funny at times. I love it!!!

OK, one more thing. I also love the comfort that my small town brings to my soul!!!

Good night all!!!

Loves, hugs & kisses,

ML Brown

Day 21 of the 30 day challenge

Picture of myself

UGH!!! And that's all I have to say about this blog.

Loves, hugs & kisses,

ML Brown

My Friend the Racoon

Now, I am sitting here blogging about nicknames for my 30 day challenge and I see this big ol' fluffy thing looking in my side door. His big ol' fluffy striped tail was curled beautifully around his right side. I look him square in the eye and he just 'humpfs' and saunters away. So, I am like, where did he come from and where is he going? I get up and quietly, so I do not startle him, go to the front door and sneak out hoping I will see what this little ball of fur is doing. Low and behold, there his is rolling around on my driveway. My first thougt is, should he be hanging out here? My second thought is, why isn't he running away, because I am standing right there lookimg at him? My third thought is, is he rabid? Then I think, I should run and run really, really fast. But no, not me. Not "Scary Mary" who isn't scared of anything. You know, there are certain things you should be afraid of, but not me. I get my camera and start taking pictures. What do you think he does? He poses. What's up with that? Not only does he pose, he looks me square in the eye and actually smiles for the camera like he does this everyday. Well, maybe he does, who knows?

I do know this, this little guy is way too at home here for his own good. Since he has made this part of the trailway of his adventurous life I think we should name him. I will have a "Name the Racoon" contest. There is no prize because I am not a big enough blogger to have sponsers that would donate their goods for me to give away as advertisement yet. But anyways, that will happen someday. So, leave the name you want him to have in the comments section of this blog or on facebook. I will then vote for the one that I love most. I just may come up with some kind of consolation prize. Everyone  needs to play fair

Happy naming!!!!!

Loves, hugs & kisses

ML Brown