So I disappeared for a while. ... ...

Happy Birthday to my BFF, Donna! Woop woop! I'm not sure she's had a GREAT day, so we'll just have to make up for it on Friday when we celebrate with some Japanese Steakhouse. YUM!

I'm so sorry I totally ditched ya'll for a while there.  I'm back! Sorta back, at least. :)  Where have I been? Well...

Saturday: I cleaned my house like a maniac. A friend was coming to visit who had never seen my house and there was NO WAY I was leaving it like it was. Oh no. So I about put myself in traction from cleaning. Partied that night with coworkers and just had a blast. It really was great hanging out and visiting. And you know what - we didn't even talk shop. (SHOCKER!) How cool is it that I like them enough to see them outside of work?? 

Sunday: I went to church. Partied with some family to celebrate a birthday. And I cleaned like a maniac and almost killed myself thanks to my body hurtin' so bad from cleaning the day before. Yes, I vow to never let this happen again. I love my house, so I need to take better care of it. 

Monday: My friends visited! Oh yay, it was great! I miss Paulene, she's so creative and trendy and smart and talented. Her husband is hilarious and smart and together they are a trip. We went to the Clock to eat (I LOVE ME SOME CLOCK) and visited forever. After the tour of my house, of course. Muffin refused to come out, but she sent her love. (cough cough).  That night, my family cooked out and it was sooooo very tasty. 

Tuesday: I took an extra day off to just get stuff done. Ended up taking Macy to the DR with mom. Dropped off some of Macy's clothes at a consignment shop (Go shop at the Painted Pony!!!) Went shopping. Worked on scrapbooks. Watched some tv. Read on my phone. Just relaxed and I really needed that. 

So that is what I've been doing since I ditched ya'll. I'm so sorry. To make up for it, let me share some pictures with you. 

Of course, a picture of Sweet Niece. She's "Jumping" on my bed. :)

It's hay season in the South. You see tractors chugging along and these big hay bales in just about every field.  No rain predicted until Monday, so everyone is in a rush to cut, rake and bale before more rain comes through.  

I have no idea - I was driving and trying to take a picture of something. This is what I ended up with. 

My original caption to this was, "Nothing like a cold Sun Drop on a hot day from McGill's store."  My penpal in NY asked what a Sun Drop was. :)  It's kinda like a Mt. Dew, but better. It's a local thing, or maybe a regional thing, but I think it's bottled not far from home. It's tasty. 

So there, I hope you enjoyed the random pictures and I'll try my best to do better.  I do plan on posting a tutorial either this weekend or at the beginning of next week for a craft project I did recently. So stay tuned for that! :)  Thanks ya'll!!

Friday's Letters

Dear Veterans, Thank you so much for your service to our country.  It's thanks to YOU that we have the freedoms and the way of life that we do in the US and I am so thankful to you and your families - past, present and future.

I'm not sure why she turned into a werewolf when the
camera flash flickered - but here you go. 

Dear Macy, you have been so entertaining this week! And you are so smart - learning something new every single day.  Today, it was Phew! And you are saying flower, bunny, mama, daddy, pawpaw, ball, and so much more.  We are getting ready for your birthday!!! :) :)

Beautiful Weather - I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU!  I'm ready for some cool, dry weather with big puffy clouds and blue skies. YAYAYAY! Not that I'll go outside in it, nay nay. But it makes me happier knowing it outside my window.

Paulene, I'm so excited to see you this weekend!! :)  {check out her blog here - she rocks with her bad self. And her super cool stationary and invivitations}.  I am on a mission to totally clean my house before you get here. ACK!

Dear Bloglovin', I resisted you.  I didn't want to learn anything new about blogging. I wanted to rock along and sing my sing (with Pete the cat) and didn't want to learn your ways.  But I'm slowly getting there and appreciating bits and pieces of you. *sigh*

Ok peeps, have a safe long weekend, hug a veteran or current troop, and have fun!! :) :)  Link up with the rest of the cool kids over a Ashley's place!

Can I get your opnion, please?

I don't know if you have seen the documentary, "The Invisible War" yet or not.  If you haven't, you really really REALLY need to, ASAP.  But be prepared to be furious.

So it's all about rape/sexual assault in the military and how this is a very big issue. Stats are disgusting. The fact this issue continues to be swept under the rug, despite major sexual assault scandals time and time again, is enough to make me want to ... well, I don't know but it's very upsetting.

So upsetting I'm still fuming about it weeks after seeing the documentary.

I've decided to write the Senators who are at least trying to make a few changes to the system and seem sincere in their pursuit of justice for the victims.  Will you please read the letter below and tell me if you think this makes any kind of point at all? I would like to send it to the Senators who are sponsoring bills as an encouragement to not let this die. Even if it doesn't pass, keep fighting this fight!

Please leave me feedback on it before I start firing off letters tomorrow. I want to be professional but passionate, not rabid and crazy.

Thanks for reading and commenting.  This particular letter is for Senator McCaskill - I'll have to research each one of the others to make it specific to them.  Thanks!!!

Dear Senator McCaskill:

While I realize I am not one of your constituents, I am writing to thank you for your efforts in protecting our men and women in the military.  Please, do not give up this fight.  After watching “The Invisible War” documentary, I am disgusted at how those most vulnerable have been treated like criminals themselves while too often their predators received no punishment.

In an Huffington Post article in 2011, you cited 8% of sexual assaults investigated in the military are prosecuted compared to 40% in the civilian world.  Even more distressing is this only reflects those cases investigated and does not account for the thousands assaults not reported or reported and not investigated. One in three women in the military are victims of sexual assault - double the civilian rates. Yet a small fraction of these predators ever see justice; some even see promotions and awards.

While the statistics are haunting, the image of a young woman featured in the documentary, who called her father and told him she was “no longer a virgin” due to being raped is the one I cannot possibly get out of my head. I want to meet the father who tells his daughter, “Well sorry, sugar, but that is an occupational hazard to being in the United States military. Suck it up, Buttercup.”  which is basically, what the courts have told the women who dared to bring a lawsuit to their doors concerning sexual assault in the military. 

Obviously, our current system is badly broken and causing life-long repercussions to those thousands who are assaulted each year. Please stay strong and be their voice.  Fight for them. Continue to stand up to the “good-ol’-boy” mentality and keep this issue on the front burner. We need you and others like you to be brave for those who protect us.  Thank you for the work you have already done on this matter; you and those standing with you are making a difference.

Sincerely,

Me!

Pressed Clovers: Graduation

I am SO excited to complete this scrapbook for a dear friend who commissioned it.  Someone in her family is graduating from college and she wanted a manly scrapbook to document his special day. I gotta tell you, I really like how it turned out. Manly, smart, streamlined... sharp.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.  - Gandhi

So I blotted out the logo to hide the actual college, but let me tell you, their logo is AWESOME. That's all I can say. So it looks even better without the post-it note. Just saying.

Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.  - Benjamin Franklin

In lieu of stickers, which I didn't find very manly, I chose to include one of the college logos and an inspirational quote in each spread.

Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't know why I like it - maybe it's just the simple lines and you know I'm GAGA for quotes. But I do like it and I'm really psyched for her to see it in person. And for the graduate to see it!

Ok, so there is a little taste.  To see the listing online, click here to go to my Etsy shop, Pressed Clovers. And now I received another commission for a Mother's Day book last night from a friend that is my BIGGEST SUPPORTER EVER.  I blogged about her here (and you'll see my ugly mug while you are there!) So I'm excited to start on a new adventure in Pressed Clovers land! :)

Every Day in May: Favorites

I couldn't keep away from today's Blog Every Day in May posting:  A listing of my favorite blog posts from this blog! :)  Immediately two favorites came to mind.

First, the post where my sweet niece made it home from the hospital!
http://whiskeytangohello.blogspot.com/2012/06/blessed.html

The second post that came to mind is the before and after pictures of my house remodel!  

Serious changes in my little cottage. We took it down to the studs and started over. :) 

http://whiskeytangohello.blogspot.com/2011/01/beforeand-after.html

This was probably the hardest article I have ever written and I cried the entire way through it. But it did have good pieces, just a tough one to share. 

http://whiskeytangohello.blogspot.com/2011/02/extraordinary-gift.html

In 2012, I finally learned to give thanks. Not just for the great things, but in all things.
http://whiskeytangohello.blogspot.com/2012/11/in-everything-give-thanks-2012.html

And today, as we pray for the people of Oklahoma and the long road they have ahead of them... those who have lost their precious loved ones, their homes... I remembered seeing Alabama two weeks after their tornadoes.
http://whiskeytangohello.blogspot.com/2011/05/alabama-tornadoes.html


Those are some of my favorites, or at least ones that came to mind with this prompt today. Enjoy!

Someone help: Bloglovin? What the heck. Help.

I totally don't understand Bloglovin' can someone please explain it to me?

I can't seem to claim my blog. This blog. See? It's here. Right here.

Maybe if I post something in it?

Let's try this:


Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Well... there you go. Let's see how it works now. :)

Muffin Monday + A Bit More.

Happy Monday, my friends.

Muffin is happy because I finally found some MSM for her at GNC. MSM helps her tired ol' joints and really makes a difference in her ability to jump up on the bed and chairs. Everywhere I've looked has been out, so I'm thankful for GNC.  Granted, the poor fella in there who is taking a few too many of their supplements thinks mom and I are freaks for buying their products for our animals... but whatever. A happy Muffin makes for a happy Beth.


If you noticed, I kinda missed the Every Day in May blogging this weekend. I tried, but my attention span did not lend itself to following prompts everyday. So I'll do a few here and there until this month is over. But go enjoy other people's blogs. :)

I'm so very excited to see May end since my sweet niece #2 will be turning one in June! This weekend I worked on the giveaways for her party, clay bunnies made from air drying clay and a bunny cookie cutter.  This week I'm going to experiment with watered down paints to see how it looks. You know I'll let you know how it goes.

Sweet niece #1 was home this weekend! She was a HUGE help with the yard sale we had on Saturday.  What a great seller she is! And she's just hilarious with her running commentary. I don't think she means to be funny, but she really cracks us up sometimes.  Sweet niece #2 has a rotten cold and it's making her miserable. She's also teething, so you can imagine how happy she is, poor baby. She clung to my shirt this morning and just rested on my chest.

Ok, I'm off to do work. To do something. Ya'll have a great Monday. Pics of a new scrapbook tomorrow! :)

Every Day in May: Photo. & Friday's Letters

A favorite photo of me. There really aren't many, but I do like this one:

Me and Sweet Niece #2. Adore that girl.

(Join in the Every Day in May blogging fun - click the button on the right.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday's Letters:

Dear Pintrest, I have wasted so much time this week looking for projects to use up these buttons on.  Yard Sales suck me in and I bought this box of old buttons for a buck.  Now it's time to make some money on them! (You can find me at catlyn_sc or maybe under Beth Covington??)

Dear elementary schools, when did ya'll get so cool and trendy and paint this massive murals all throughout the lobby?  I feel like I'm chilling at the park or something when I come to visit. :)

Dear Sweet Niece #2,  can I just say you are adorable? This week you have learned to shake your finger when you and MiMaw read, "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."  When Mama calls the doctor and the doctor says, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" she'll shake her finger like a stern doctor. TOO CUTE!

Dear Write More Love Letters, I've been signed up for months and have never actually written a letter. This guy's story, Ray, really hit home as he battles cancer.  So I felt compelled to share a word of encouragement with him. So many people have done the same for us.

Ya'll have a great weekend, and hopefully I get my blogs written each day. :) Yard sale tomorrow, so wish me luck!

Every Day In May: Struggles

Today's prompt is about something you are struggling with and what you are doing to overcome it.



My family is struggling with my dad having bladder cancer. He completed his treatments and we waited. Yesterday, he went for his checkup and we found he'll be going back through treatments. We'll know how many after his biopsy.

So what am I doing about it? I am praying. I aM searching for verses of comfort and I encourage you to share a few! I'm drawing closer to God, talking to Him, and learning about faith in tough times. I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact I may not like the path God has given my Pop, but He is much greater than me.

So that is what we are facing round her. Feel free to send up a prayer on his behalf, the more the merrier! Thanks!

Every Day in May: Oops.

Oops. Looks like I did THIS particular assignment when I should have just chosen one moment before... so the link to today's assignment, done last week, is here.

Today, I will do the one moment thing that I should have done on before. Sorry. :)

Enjoy the messiness that is my desk. It's totally trashed right now. Not sure why, but eh, it's all good. I'll get it straightened up Friday.Notice the McDonald's tea cup. My life blood. And if you'll remember, I'm trying to THINK before I speak - so I turned our post-it note board into my reminder.

Back to life:

Today Dad went back to the doctor and unfortunately we didn't exactly receive the news we were looking for concerning his bladder cancer.  He'll have to go back in for another biospy at the end of the month and start treatments again.  The number of treatments (three or six) depends on what the biopsy says. So please say a prayer for him.  It's tough, you know? But how thankful we are that we even know about it and he is in treatment! This could be much worse.

I never posted about Mother's Day. We had a really nice Mother's Day - my sister's first as a Baby Mama Mother and not just a step-mother. My niece AH was home on Friday to wish her a happy mother's day, so that was very special. Katie and I took care of the Sunday meal and it was a FEAST. I tried my hand at an Italian Creme Cake and I gotta say, it was good! I messed up over and over again and it still turned out super tasty!

Macy, after a good long nap, was a sweetie and we took a million pictures of her. Here are just a few...

Folks, I'm worn slap out. I was going to do another post today, but instead I'm going to head home to cook dindin for mom, dad and me. Burritos anyone? :)  Thanks for your prayers and I'll see you back here tomorrow.

Every Day in May: Happiness

What makes me Happy?

1. Family.

2. Sunshine! Sunrise!  Sunsets! 

 

3. Kind People (strangers, too, but I don't have pictures of strangers)

  

4. Flowers

 

5. Ok, My Nieces get their own bullet point

6. Success

7. Autumn Leaves

8. Quotes

9. OTTERS

10.  Muffin. Well, cats in general, but I love my Muffin. 

 

So there you go!  Enjoy - and follow the button on the right to link up!