now off of the list v/

       I have done a great deal of pondering over whether or not I was going to do the 'in my mind' proposed postings for this series. Perhaps I should just skip posting about them ... Or maybe I could post them without admitting how long these particular things have been on our 'to-do' lists .... but most likely somebody would remember that I had posted about them going to be done, or needing to be done, (or whatever applies to a particular posting) way back when ....  Then again, maybe if I did both post them and admit to how long they had been on our list, it would be encouragement to others that they too could tackle things which have been on their own lists for a long time .... And around and around the pondering went ....
      And then one day last week our neighbor / friend Chris settled it for me. Brandon and I were at their house - Chris was driving Brandon to get additional parts for his 'in the process of being worked on' truck, and Chris's wife Amy was again being my chauffeur - this time running me to the bank and an attempted grocery shopping expedition.
     A-n-y-ways, Chris pointed out a project he had just finished, and talked about when it was that he had actually started working on their dining room....   Chris, it looks sharp! And thanks for un-knowingly helping me decide on whether or not to post these posting and openly admit about them being on our list for a long time! ;-)
      HOPEFULLY, many of you reading these will be inspired/ encouraged to keep at your 'lists' too!!! ;-)

      [inserted note here - v/ = the closest thing I could make to a check mark! )

      Now off the list - no. 1 -

      Decorating the den. Okay, I see those questioning raised eyebrows. Your asking why 'decorating the den' would be something that remained on our 'to do' list for a long time. In deciding to actually do these postings, I also decided that I am not going to try and 'splain away, or make excuses, for why they remained un-done for so long. All I will say for this particular one, is that in this house, the den is right off of the dining room, and over the years, it has become a great "oh, just put it in there out of the way for now" area. I know lots of you have similar areas, and some of you will even admit to having them o;-p.

     Many years ago now, Brian and I had stopped at an Estate Sale out in an area we seldom traverse ... maybe it was while "Mandy" was living with us and we were driving her back and forth from her special school, not sure. Any-ways, as you have caught on to, I remember both where this particular Estate Sale was, and even what the inside of the house was like. Usually we travel together through such sales. That time, we both seemed to be being pulled this or that way from one another. I remember having gone looking for Brian, spotted him in an area that didn't contain anything which captured my fancy, so I wandered away again. Then I went back to check on him, and then again, and then... what in the world has he found, that's got him so enthralled?!?!!!
     It was this envelope -

      As many of you know, Brian is a HUGE Muppet's fan!!! The Muppet's Show started airing around the same time as when we got married. We use to literally schedule our life around being home to watch that show! (hey, that was before VCR's, etc.!!!  Yeah, ancient history ;-p)
     Inside the envelope Brian had spotted, were six (6) very detailed sketched drawings of three (3) of The Muppet characters. One wasn't that impressive, but the other five... they were indeed impressive! The large brown envelope even included the original mailing label! There was no way we weren't buying them!
      Over time we have also collected lots of The Muppet's movies, and some of their books, as well as this and that thing .... always with the intention of displaying all of them together some how.
      Then a few years ago the boys and I decided that for that years Father's Day, we were going to purchase nice frames for the drawings, and decorate the den with a Muppet's theme.
      We got the frames purchased.... We got all of the misc. 'stuff' into the den... but we never actually got around to packing up the other 'decorations' that were in there, etc.. Thus the project remained on the infamous 'to - do' list.

       I am ever so happy to report that it's now been checked off of that list!!! :-D  With Benson helping me carry out all of the stuff that was in there so I could pack it away for now, and Brandon doing some extreme dusting, and Brent hanging and arranging things for me.... the project got completed!! :-)

       That evening I had the lights in the den on when Brain got home, so he glanced in there while walking by, and then he did good! Brian usually does not get all that excited over things - but he glanced in there while walking by, stopped, backed up, turned and walked into the room while loudly declaring "Oh WOW!".   :->!!!
        Here are pictures of what he spotted -

               (Still need to get a frame for the Life magazine ...)

                    (The Muppet's Christmas Carol is a yearly MUST WATCH in this house!!!)

    (see the 'pink bunny' sitting contently in Kermit's arms, recognize them from our 'profile picture'? ;-p)


         HOPEFULLY,  you too have now been encouraged to tackle something which has long been on your 'to-do' list!   If so, tell us about it!

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For the record - NO, Brian is NOT interested in collecting any and every thing Muppet's related .....

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I 'plan' on linking this particular posting up to:
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "2nd Time Around Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Diane, at 'A Picture is Worth 1,000 words' (http://diane1876.blogspot.com/),
~ "Market Yourself Monday", are hosted by Sumo, at 'Sumo's Sweet Stuff' (http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/)
  ~ "DIY Day('s) {Do it yourself day('s)}", are hosted by Kimba, at ASPTL (A Soft Place To Land) (http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/).
~ "Whatever Goes Wednesday('s), hosted by Michelle, at 'Someday Crafts'
(http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/)