LeisaWorks, Pink Pumpkins, and My Last Little Gobbling

PRETTY PENDENTS

I've been getting a lot of compliments on the pendent that Kris' cousin Leisa made for me.  It's a one-of-a-kind piece,  fused glass and then hand painted.  There's special meaning within too.  If you look closely its a heart balanced on a mound of coal.  I just love mine!!!

Here are some of my favorite pieces. 





If you would like to purchase a piece of Leisa's art, you can visit her blog page HERE or visit her Etsy online store HERE.  Tell her I said hello!

PINK PUMPKINS

Today I made my donation for Breast Cancer Awareness.  I made a darling little purchase at a local bank in town.  I bought this one for me and one that said "Lady In Pink" for my mom.  I think they are just adorable.

My Last Little Gobbling

Today was Karsons last Halloween Parade at school.  I got one picture of him and he had already taken his mask off.  He's 11 and thinks he too big for trick or treating.  How sad.  I didn't realize that this day would roll around so soon.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Coalhearated Thoughts

Last night the boys and I watched the Chile Mine Rescue documentary on the discover channel.  If you missed it, you can catch it this Saturday.  Pretty cool to see, they documented it from the very beginning.  I only wish we had that with Quecreek.  Its a wonderful thing to see a successful rescue.

On a sad note, the miner from western Ky that was struck by a shuttle car and his family have been laying heavy on my heart the last few days.   He leaves behind  a wife and 2 children.  Kris & I have become good friends with the safety director of that mine where the accident happened.  I know he must be dealing with a lot, the devastation of losing and friend/co-worker is hard enough.  But having to deal with the investigation must be mind blowing.  Please pray for that miners family, friends, co-workers, rescuers and government officials during this time.  As hard as we may try as a mining community, even when our fatalities are low, one fatality is one too many.  Until we are accident free, its not enough.  Kris has had a few close calls before, and times like this remind us how we are not 100% in control.  It reminds us to say our prayers a little more often.  Reminds us to hold tighter to our families.  Reminds us to be thankful for each day we have and not take it for granted.  Reminds me to tell my husband everyday to "Think Smart, Work Safe" cause your family and fellow miner families depend upon it.

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Its called "Daddy's Home....Every Shift, Every Day"

I hope our Ky miners are wearing their PINK today, thinking SMART, and working SAFE!  Also I want to give a "Shout Out" to our AMS Girls.  I know your days are long and tough sometimes and dealing with all those screaming men all day can give you a headache.  But you are the eyes and ears that help keep our MEN safe....So THANK YOU!  Hope you have a safe & wicked Halloween.

Shine Your Light for a Cure

Friday is Paint Coal Pink Day....so remember Coal Miners and Coal Families...make your donation and get your PINK on!

 Kelly G and I at Rend Lake contest sporting our PINK mine rescue shirts.



The coal industry is making plans to “Paint Coal Pink” on Friday in support of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink hard hat stickers have already been distributed that read “Coal Miners Care. Shine Your Light For A Cure!” Industry officials are partnering up not only to encourage miners to wear pink during their shifts on Friday, but to also help raise money for cancer research.
Read more: The Harlan Daily Enterprise - Industry plans to paint coal pink

Oh Happy Day! 1-week Post-Op

Today was a good, I mean great, Oh OK.....a FANTASTIC day for Lane.  We made it through the bad storms this morning just in time to get to his second therapy session.  He made some great progress.  I think his nerves were a bit more settled along with his stomach during this trip.  He had one of Muhlenbergs finest PT's today, Mr. Alton.  Alton is one of my best friends (Penny) dad.  Him and Lane are also big buddies, they like to go on rock digs together.   So needless to say a bunch of "bull" flies during these sessions.

After therapy we headed to Nashville for Lane's 1-week post-op appointment.  His knee looked good and we go back in 2 weeks for another follow-up appointment.  His pain has dropped dramatically and he can now take a real shower.  He's will be using a CPM machine for about 6 hours a day to exercise his knee.  We are hopefully on our way to a successful recovery.

After his doctors appointment we took a ride over to the Bass Pro Shop at Opry Mills.  This was our first visit since the flood.  BPS was the only shop open for business.  Really sad to see it so empty.  Did a lil shopping, had some Starbucks, and then we were home bound.  Now its time for bed........Have a Wonderful Wednesday!!!

Lane's Post-Op Progress & Mine Rescue Banquet

Last Tuesday the family loaded up and headed to Nashville for Lanes knee surgery.  We took him out to eat at Hooters and then back to the hotel room to rest up for the next morning.    Dr Anderson said everything went great, couldn't of asked for a better outcome.  He was fortunate enough to come home that evening as well.  Thursday & Friday was pretty rough, as the nerve block started to wear off.  We went to therapy on Friday and he got so sick on the way over.  It was a really bad day.  Saturday was our first good day.  Daddy had a company golf outing, Karson was in Louisville participating in Boo at the Zoo, so Lane & I stayed home all day doing nothing but resting.  It was so good for both of us.  We also had a really good night last night and we have almost winged him off the "Hard" pain meds.  On Tuesday we go back to therapy and TOA in Nashville for his 1 week post op appointment.  

Home from surgery on Wednesday.

The knee.

Feeling better!

He's had a lot of down time lately to piddle, he made this bow and arrow last week out of pvc and some string.  And it really does shoot!

Saturday night Lane was feeling pretty good, so my mom & dad came out to sit with him while Kris & I attended the 2010 Mine Rescue Banquet.   My sweet niece came out and baked him a cake too.  I think he was excited to see us go and new faces come in. lol  THANK YOU MOM, DAD, & LB!!!

We had a great dinner and a good time with some old and new company and mine rescue friends.

This is Kris' boss Michael and wife Mandy.........she's is such a sweet girl.



Jeff is one of the other boss' at the mines where Kris works.   I graduated high school with their son Billy.   His wife Demetra is a gem.  They have been long time family friends with Kris's family.

This is our head safety director Rick.

Kris and I during dinner.

For those of you who went to MNHS, look who I ran into.  It's Tabby!  Her dad was this past years president of the Post 11 Mine Rescue Association and received the Man of the Year award at last nights banquet.  She was also there helping her mom with her new catering business.....they food was absolutely great!  Her dad Bill and Kris' dad Steve were on the 1989 National Championship team together.

My old buddy Mrs. Gomez, our husbands served on the Ky Coal Academy team for 2 years together.



Michael & Mandy won the half-and-half pot.  A total of $203.00!

Thank You to all of those who have called, sent messages, visited, and sent prayers up for Lane.  I am so thankful for Gods watchful eye over him this last week and the family and friends that he has blessed me with.  A friend said to me this last week that this wasn't life's story  but only a chapter......thanks for the encouraging words.  Hope you all have a great weekend!

Show and Tell Saturday - Murder Mystery

This is my first Happy Show and Tell Saturday.  You can see Be Different...Act Now's list of show and tell bloggers HERE

We like to host a Halloween Bash for all our friends and family in October but considering Lane just had surgery our Bash is going to be downsized  just a bit this year.  I usually like to go all out, decorations, D.J.'s, hay maze & hay ride.  Last year we tried something new, we hosted a murder mystery.  It was a lot of fun.  And most everyone played along.  It was very easy, just pay and download from this site HERE.  You can choose from a variety of themes, number of participating, murder or non murder mystery stories.  Here are some of the pictures from Deadwood Saloon.

Some of Deadwoods Finest Gentlemen including Mr. Dirty Fruit of the Looms to the far right.

 Some of our mine resuce family members, Mr. & Mrs. Gomez

Sheriff Sam of Deadwood and Saloon owner Heneretta Highstakes (Joel & Julie)

Banker Bob (my dad) and some of the saloon girls.

GOTCHA - Another mine rescue team memeber Jarret aka Country being held up by Mr. Gomez.

The Sheriff of Deadwood keeping close a close eye on one of the thieving saloon girls.

Banker Bonnie (my mom) getting the inside info.

One of the Mavericks paying off a saloon girl for murder info.

Thanks for visiting Deadwood Saloon!  Time to ride out here.  Happy Octoberween.

Show Us Your Life - Kids Rooms

BOY O'BOY Bedrooms!

This Friday at Kellys Korner is Show Us Your Life Childrens Rooms.

First up is my youngest Karson's room.  We just repainted all the bedrooms and they still need a lil work.  I chose to do a chalkboard on one wall; can you say DUST!  But they are only lil once, right?  Well nothing big and fancy here, less than $100 purchased his sheets, bedding, and curtains at the big Wally World in town.   He wanted black..........black walls, black bedding, black furniture, black everything.   So this was our compromise.

I just got Karson this bedroom suite this summer from Ashley Furniture.  After having black in the oldest sons room, I really didn't want more black furniture in the house.  Pretty when its clean, but I don't have time to dust more than once a week.  So we went with a dark brown.  Not much better, but like I said....pretty when clean.



The walls are pretty bare right now.  I'm trying to find some type of shelving to place sports trophies and awards on.  Just haven't found the right "something" just yet.

We don't have many toys in the house these days :( Makes me very sad.  Between Xbox, the computer, and the million dollar investment I've made in LEGO for the past 10 years, that's about it.  Maybe a few guns, swords, etc.

I've been on the look out for a terrific lamp for a boys room, I think I found it....just maybe.

Second up is my oldest Lane's room.  He picked the colors himself, and I pretty much agreed with him.  I love color.

Not too much going on in here either. 



My son is a big fan of the military, which by the way lays heavy on heart.  Not that I wouldn't be a proud mom but........that's my baby!  I couldn't find exactly what I wanted to put above his headboard, so one day at work I just went through a lot of clipart, found this and decided to make some slight changes.  For those who don't know, I work for my parents who have been in sign business for 35+ years.  So I get to do my own designing, kinda fun!



And that's about it.  Oh how I do miss the baby rooms.  They have outgrown so much but are turning into fine young men.  It happens so fast.  Don't know what I will do when these rooms are empty, oh yes I do, I'm going to college with them.  I always wondered what dorm life would be like.....Have Fabulous Friday!

And The Spooks Are Out - Well Kinda-of-Sort-of

 All my close family & friends know how much I love this time of year.  I love to decorate for Fall & Halloween.  But most of all I love hosting our BIG Halloween Bash.  But this year I have slacked.....I mean some major slacking going on.  We've been repainting most of the rooms in the house and replacing the flooring.   I have about 5 different paint swatches on my living room walls, so decorating really isn't that much fun when your place is in "shambles".  My oldest son has had not one, but two knee injuries since June.  So we are awaiting knee surgery next week.  As you can tell, other priorties have assumed my free time lately, and you could say that my maid serives have been lacking as well.  My house just doesn't feel complete so I wasn't going to put out any of my decorations in my living room.  But the more I thought about it, the more I just couldn't stand it any longer.  So out came some spooks.

These are some of my favorites - my "trick or treaters"  Aren't they sweet?

And every Wtich needs her Spell Book

These adorable lil polk-a-dot candles sticks are from RAZ, they flicker too.

My Halloween tree was given to me for my birthday a few years ago from my sweet friend Kelli B.

Aren't these perfect for my tree?  Dollar Store!

Can you see that I love Witches?

My backdoor greeter.  She's sings too!

I've really missed having all my spooks out this year.  But my living room looks like this....

I've had these paint swatches on my wall for about 3 weeks and I still can't decide.  What do you think?

I need to get the main living area finished ASAP, Christmas if right around the corner!  Gotta get my "JINGLE" on.

Well.....Fall Break is officially over, time to start a new week.  Lane will be having his surgery on Wednesday in Nashville.  He has a great ortho surgen and we feel really good about the procedure on his knee.  Just wish he didn't have to go thru this at the age of 14.  We got him out of the house this weekend, took him shopping and out to eat at Cheddars with some friends and Uncle Country.  But I need to find things to keep him entertained at home, its going to be a long recovery.  Please keep my big boy in your thoughts and prayers.

Have a Marvlous Monday!