Since my house didn’t sell last year  I made the decision to wait for my daughter to graduate from high school. I feel calmer not in such a hurry to make things happen. Funny enough things work out maybe not the way you want or planned but if you have faith they work out for the better. Heads up Ikea has amazing cacti for very little money and they are robust and so pretty.

My boiler is old and failing so I made the painful decision to replace it who wants to do that?? Potential buyers don’t get as excited about brand new boilers as they do bathrooms and kitchens ( the women at least don’t) but hopefully I will have a husband that falls in love with my state of the art boiler room.

I have posted about Johan my South African roommate but what I didn’t tell you is he loves to work on houses it gives him a sense of accomplishment. By all means I want Johan to be happy so he is doing great things to the house. First Remi’s room has been painted (by Johan) and he and I went to Ikea for furnishings also for her room.

I pushed the cart and he shopped she is absolutely in love with her room and so am I. Second the garage has never been painted or really cleaned correctly the ex husband didn’t do handy work but hired incompetent people for less money need I say more.

My garage has been transformed from a junk pit to bright sparkling and new.Everything has been removed thrown away if necessary and painted!!! My garage has paint

I can’t believe it even on the floor shelves are coming and I am in love. This is going to be amazing for resale and for my state of mind. I am now motivated to plant flowers spruce the house up and tackle the bathrooms. I posted earlier this year about bathroom renovations, I remember writing that post and thinking that it really needed to be done to my home but I could not wrap my head around the work it would involve.The bathrooms are being remolded when the boiler gets done. My summer it seems will be long enjoyable trips to home depot and Ikea instead of Europe or Mexico.

One year today I started blogging what a gift it has been.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

Johan is my South African flat mate and  has given me new perspective on life.  Johan is in awe of where we live and how we live the enthusiasm is contagious.    Through osmosis I have become more open to new things and new way of thinking and how to have a adult relationship. On one of our many trips to Denver I took Johan to Ikea. He looooves Ikea.

gives me anxiety but he was in heaven. Walking the isles giving him my opinion on his room remodel made me so happy I was truly enjoying myself.

I took a few pictures shame I don’t have before pictures but it is a work in progress. Johan did some shopping in Henrietta’s Hippo I love the way they look in his room.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

The courage to change the things I can

And the wisdom to know the difference

I love this prayer we say it at the beginning of every meeting and it always makes me feel so peaceful. I have heard the long version but the beginning says it all. To be able to feel peaceful on a daily basis and take life as it comes difficult and sometimes infuriating life. I cannot say how shaken I felt about Boston my oldest daughter attends Northeastern and lives very close to downtown. Ironically I was nervous about Belgrade and she living there. It proves to me that madness is rampant and we live in a different world.We just had  one of the old days storm, maybe a record breaker 3 to 4 feet in three days My daughter had her wisdom teeth extracted and is on narcotics great a high teenager. I will post tomorrow properly but today I will allow myself to knit and relax with the babies.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

The voices are creeping back they have been chattering all weekend if I had made better choices as a young adult, If I had raised my children differently or most of all if I had never started drinking. Knowing very well the damage that has been done to my children, myself and the people around me during my very dark days. Easter really brings these memories back as we always celebrated Easter with a large party. My daughter’s birthday is around Easter it comes at the end of our season and always an excuse for a large get together with friends and family. As you can imagine Easter is very different for me now. I reflected on my life how grateful I am to be sober and to be there when needed for my family. For the first time in along time I am really working at being a upstanding citizen and a good role model. Am I succeeding its hard to tell the voices say no I am failing miserably. The first thing that needs to be done is to quiet the voices. They will never dissipate completely but a dull roar would be nice. Walking my dogs always helps I try to take them to a solitary place so they can run and I don’t have to think or talk of course this dosen’t always happen but its so pleasant when it does.Yoga is a option I have tried a couple of times but I don’t believe I was in the right frame of mind.

Meditation is what they recommended in re-hab which works if you can find  the right moment. So many things thrown into life’s journey, my sister’s illness my youngest daughters age and personality and my oldest daughter’s life abroad. My head fills up so much that self medicating sounds so inciting that I have a difficult time ignoring it.

Gratitude, hard work and finding the joy in every day life is the only self medicating allowed so here I go on a quest to quiet the voices. Remi and I are going to start yoga and of course I want pretty mats and bags if I am going to complete this endeavor. Henrietta’s Hippo has some beautiful yoga items so I am in luck stylish we will be.

One last thing before I go Easter was spent yesterday with my sister in law and her family for dinner. One of the best things besides my children that came from my marriage is my sister in law. Maureen was married to my ex-brother in law who makes my ex-husband look like a saint which says it all we have remained friends and she is truly more like a sister to me than my own. I am so grateful to Maureen she is a contant support even though she has her own agenda and makes me feel that I am not alone in this life. Maureen and I have celebrated so many holidays and family events together our children are months apart so we have such strong ties.

We had dinner together and she made her infamous bunny cake who knows how many she has made over the years but the bunny cake took on new meaning this Easter it made me think of events when the children were younger and the days seemed so promising and made me truly grateful to have her in my life.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

I had to go to Denver yesterday to have my car repaired so I spent some time browsing and finding the yarn a  winter white cashmere yarn at  The Lamp Shop in Denver caught my eye, It is an amazing store with knowledgeable people and so very helpful. My day is going wonderful I have my yarn, coffee and blue sky and I am almost finished with another pair of socks for the store my day is good. Focusing on the positive is easy what could possibly be a problem I met with a dear friend I have had for 25 years, made my amends for my drinking days and left realizing that our relationship will be different but in a positive way. This I must say was a big step for me it shows I am healing and moving forward.

My sister is very ill with cancer and it seems that there may not much that cannot be done. My first reaction to the news was of course I need to travel to Utah. I realize now that as much as it kills me to say my sister would rather I not come. I have made and cancelled plans twice to travel. In the AA program we have several phrases that are passed from one person to another to help us get through the day. Be grateful, thy will not my will be done, don’t try to run the show, you have no control and of course focus on the positive. Everything written here directly applies to my current situation. Family is an interesting concept we love them dearly but as we grow and move on with our lives the realization that the common thread that held us together is broken. Maybe anger, resentment, or truly nothing in common is a factor. I feel in my heart I have changed evolved and am trying to be a different person but I am still the youngest sister who is spoiled and self-centered and wants her own way in the family dynamics.Today is a new day who knows what will happen but I have choices on my reactions and mental attitude. I will focus on the positive no regrets today, accept what is given and be happy with your situation and blessings. My two wonderful girls and people who I consider my family not from birth but choice. Today I am going to concentrate on being a better person and no longer dwell on what was but what can be.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

So I recognize where I am emotionally now lets talk about what to do or better yet not what to do. First I will not take my frustrations out on other people like my ex-husband who replied when I texted him he could not help today with Remi’s upbringing as he was flying to Florida to be with his girlfriend and he is sorry isn’t available. I will not list all of  my grievances when asked “how are you today”? I will not yell at my dogs. I will not drink. My oldest daughter bought me this card when I was 3 months sober and I was going through hell, this will be hanging on my wall.

I have some wonderful art that I am carrying in Henrietta’s little reminders to feel grateful and happy. Signs of wisdom they are called the words are simple but hold incredible meaning, words we forget to repeat every day. ” My  mom did the best she could.”Also signs of art because what a better way to pull yourself out of a deep funk than some wonderful art to make you smile. These pieces will make great gifts for friends or little reminders for yourself. They come framed in glass and a cream silk ribbon for hanging. Coming soon to henriettashippo.comFrom our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

Daisy wanted me to remind you the Bento Boxes are dishwasher safe.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

Reblogged from Hopeless Wanderer.:

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Maybe this is a very shallow thing to say but really I love my stuff. The reason that I hold my stuff so dear to my heart and find so much joy in it is because no matter where I go in the world, it is still there, either as a comfort companion or waiting for me to come back to.

Read more… 637 more words

Don’t slip and fall and not get up, some may say this is not an option, of course you get up you can’t just lie there but I have personally witnessed  those who don’t. Life is a hard and sometimes a devastating experience so many times I  have a hard time grasping that I am the adult and am responsible for making myself get up and go on that I don’t have the privileges of a child I have to be strong make good choices be a good example for my children.

Don’t be embarrassed, we all fall down emotionally or physically its how we deal with our injury and pain is what matters. How can we possible expect ourselves to carry on through life without falling it’s not possible, be kind to yourself and understanding.

Don’t slip and fall and pick up that first drink. Now this statement pertains to me especially self medicating is not an option if I choose this route I will be one of those unfortunate souls who will not be able to get up. I have had one of those devastating life experiences recently my oldest sister who got up when my mother was dyeing from cancer and took the role of mother for me is ill and her daughter to is suffering from cancer. Overwhelming is the word that comes to mind, maybe even mind-blowing I am not sure what to say my sister was always the one that I called when I was scared or lost and now I must step up to the role, its my turn to get up and do what is needed. I am thankful for all I have learned and have grown during my sobriety without it I would be physically and emotionally unable to get up.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo

I have added a new category on my website personal adornments. This is for all of the things that don’t really work for decor, but make great gifts that are unique and have a special place all of their own. When I go shopping for gifts for loved ones I am always on the look out for unusual items preferably functional art.  All of the items I am posting today fall into that categories bottle openers  made from cast iron and are adorable art pieces that pop bottles.

The animal figurines make fantastic paper weights.  Here is an idea put velcro  on Marley the bulldog in honor of Daisy Mae maybe as a hood ornament or on my dashboard.

I am going to Seattle this weekend to meet with my website company. Henrietta’s Hippo is so close to being done I can taste it. I have the “cabin fever” feeling I am anxious and restless but patience is a virtue something I am trying to obtain.

I am so amazed how things work out, placing my faith and my life into my higher power’s hands is the best decision I have ever chosen. When I drank I never made wise decisions I allowed other people and alcohol to make my choices for me.

I hope you like some of the personal adornments, cuz I love them.

From our home to yours,

~Henrietta’s Hippo