DEBBIE-DABBLE BLOG

I am a Victorian Soul, who lives in a small townhouse that was built in the mid 1970's, not a huge Mega Mansion!! I just recently lost my Hubby Joe, who was a Retired Letter Carrier. I worked night shift as an RN on a Hospital based Rehabilitation( Physical Medicine) Unit for 37 years before I had Knee Replacement Surgery and officially Retired in 2019 after 41 years working in Direct Patient Care ... I am so glad that we retired at 62 years of age and got to spend that time together before he passed....I still do love Retirement!!!!

I DABBLE IN A BIT OF THIS AND THAT!!!!

" IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN"
George Eliot

George Eliot was actually a pen name for a woman named Mary Anne Evans......

BLOGGING FOR FUN AND FRIENDSHIP!!!!!!

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Where DO I Put It All?, Part 2, The Attic, February Rudolph Day

Happy February Rudolph Day!!!!!

It's the 25th of the month which is deemed Rudolph Day by many........

I hope to post something about Christmas on the 25th of every month over on my Christmas blog, A Debbie-Dabble Christmas.......

After Christmas, I decided to do a Series titled "Where DO I Put It All?" since I am frequently asked that question in regards to my Holiday decorations......

But before I provide you with the link to my next post in that Series, I want to talk a bit about my last post, A Milestone, Whether to Blog or Not?

I have decided to continue to Blog but at a slightly slower pace......

I guess you could say that I am burned out with all the changes that have occurred with Blogging and because of my own self imposed schedule of posting 3 times a week........

I hope to post at least once a week, maybe more if I feel that I have something of interest to share and have the time to do so...

I have just been feeling a bit repetitive in my posts as I do not change my decor and holiday decorations around as much as others do so I am fearful that I am boring you to death!!!

And the one thing I do want to say is that I meant no harm to anyone with that post.....

It was not meant to criticize anybody and how they chose to run their blog and why I have been feeling rather disillusioned......

I just wanted to state the facts about what I personally do not like when I look at a blog......

So if I offended anyone, I am truly sorry because it was not meant that way.....

I also did not wish to cause bloggers to feel that they had to defend their choices about what they do on their own blogs!!

What you do with your own blog is your own business and no one else's.

I do understand why some bloggers do need to make a bit of money blogging...

And who knows....maybe when I can FINALLY retire , I may need to do the same......

Truth be told, I originally started blogging as a means to advertising the hand made crafts that I was selling on Ebay at the time!!

But I never used my Blog for that because I stopped selling on Ebay right after I started my blog and my Blog became a stress outlet for me instead........

Again, I did not mean to offend anyone so PLEASE FORGIVE ME if I did!!!

The funny thing though is that I have gotten the more heart felt comments and the more comments on that post then I have on any of my most recent posts!!!!!

Interesting, huh???????

Now if you would like to read my latest post over on my Christmas Blog sharing where and how I store decorations in our attic, please click HERE.......

And I hope you will be back to visit soon!!!!

Hugs,
Deb

Thursday, February 22, 2018

A Milestone and Whether to Blog or Not

Welcome!!!

At the end of January, I celebrated 8 years of Blogging........

My 8 Year Blogaversary!!!

Blogging has changed greatly in those 8 years ......

Why should blogging be different from anything else in this world...

I once heard the quote " The only thing constant in life is CHANGE"

So true!!

I will be truthful when I say that every year, I agonize over whether I will continue to blog or not......

When my Blog was hacked through my Debbie-Dabble Face book page 2 years ago, I seriously thought of throwing in the towel.......

But, I decided to start a new blog and copy what I wanted from my old blog onto the new one and start all over....

I did it all myself and refused to pay someone to create another blog for me but I did lose over 700 followers through blogger and I have no idea if those people are still following me or not.

Lately, I have been feeling that I "Live to Blog" and feeling that I am sharing the same old things.....

I have NOT been feeling like I blog about life......

Many of the reasons why I started blogging in the first place are hard to find in Blog Land anymore.......

These are the reasons that I allude to:

Friendship

Inspiration in Decorating

Sharing similar Decor ideas

Learning new Crafts

Being Inspired by other's Home Decor and Improvement Projects

Sharing similar thoughts and ideas about life

Sharing one's personal Life Experiences

Many of the Blogger's who welcomed me with open arms when I first started have closed their Blogs and disappeared because of all the changes in Blogging

I MISS them!

When I first started Blogging, it was more personal and Bloggers showed and embraced their own styles with joy and pride!!

Don't get me wrong, I still have a few of those treasured Bloggers left in my life.....

For which I am very grateful!!

But they are far and few.......

Now I do NOT want anyone to take this personally because I am just going to state what I personally HATE about Blogging nowadays:

All the Adds and Endorsements

Pop Ups to Follow Bloggers on all types of Social Media Outlets

Bloggers calling themselves "Experts" in Design and when you look at their posts you are wondering what the heck are they talking about

Posts being titled by the Bloggers themselves as the "Best" and the "Prettiest" showing a total lack of humility

Posts showing photos that are not the Bloggers own photos, using "Sources" like magazines and other outlets

Guest Blog Posts, mostly for money, instead of the Blogger's personal posts

Linky Parties where everyone can participate falling by the wayside and being replaced by Blog Hops where only a certain group of Bloggers, usually always the SAME Bloggers, share posts on a certain topic and no one else can join in

Everyone posting about what the latest Decorating Trend is regardless if it is their own personal style or not

Bloggers no longer adding Blog Rolls to their Blogs showcasing other Blogs

The "New" design of Blog Headers where all it shows is only the Title of the Blog which tells you absolutely nothing about the Blogger . I like photos that show what this Blogger is all about........

The "New" Blog Designs that show nothing but various categories and you have to scroll down and search all over just to find the Blog Post. I truly HATE this and I find myself no longer reading these blogs....

Food Bloggers and Link parties being bombarded with nothing but recipes....Did I mention that I HATE cooking and would much rather order out that cook???????

Sorry, that was a really personal thing that I hate about blogging.....Food!!

I hope I did not offend anyone and if I did, I am truly sorry but this is how I feel.........

Will I continue to Blog????????

I feel it is Time for Change.......

I will continue to Blog but I am going to cut back from the 3 weekly posts that I have been doing on a routine basis......

I admit that I imposed this on myself so ME and only Me is to blame......

I know what my Style is and My Style is NOT in Style.........

I am a Victorian soul......

I LOVE the Shabby Chic.......

Romantic.....

French Country Style......

and Vintage Decor!!!!

I LOVE Color!!!!

I LOVE Tradition......

And Elegance......

I decorate like a fool for all Holidays.......

And Seasons.......

This is who I am and what I like.......

I am not going to change because this is What makes Me Happy!!!

But I feel I have been a bit repetitive lately.........

And maybe I have bored you.....

I don't change around my decor every week....

No time to do so.......

I pretty much decorate the same for each Holiday only adding a few new things......

Now maybe I am evaluating how I Blog because of this........

Not only did I celebrate 8 years of Blogging at the end of January but I celebrated my 60th Birthday......

Yes, A Milestone Birthday.......

And one that I honestly thought, as a cancer survivor, I would NEVER see.........

I am not big about making a Big Deal out of my birthday and I guess you are realizing that since I am just mentioning it now, a month after the fact........

We celebrated it quietly at home with just my sons and daughter in love with a simple pizza party.......

And cake......

The next day, Joe and I did see the stage production of one of my all time favorite Movies......

Dirty Dancing.....

It was wonderful........

How do I feel about turning 60 years old.......

As I said before, I never thought I would make it......

And I am only that much closer to RETIREMENT!!!!!!

It is terrible to wish you were older so you can FINALLY quit working!!

Okay, back to my decision about Blogging.......

I am going to continue to Blog but I will only post now when I feel that I have something new and interesting to share with you......

Something personal to share......

I will continue to keep my blogs personal......

About Me and What makes my heart leap........

This also goes for my Christmas Blog, A Debbie-Dabble Christmas......

So you may not see me posting as much as you did in the past...

Maybe only weekly.....

But I will continue to post..... but not on a schedule........

I will still be around to visit those blogs that I love and those bloggers that I have a personal connection with......

But I feel it is time for me to Live Life and then to Blog about that experience......

This isn't a Good Bye but .....

"Until I see you again"!!

And I sincerely hope........

That you will be back to visit again soon.......

And thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment. If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......

I am linking up to these parties:

FRIDAY
Friday Features Linky Party
Funtastic Friday
Friday Favorites
Feathered Nest Friday
Home Matters Linky Party
What To Do Weekends
Flaunt It Fridays
Sweet Inspirations Link Party
Awesome Life Friday

SATURDAY
Pink Saturday-Anything Goes!!
Best of the Weekend Party
Simple Saturdays Blog Hop
Saturday Sparks
Share It One More Time Inspiration Party

SUNDAY
Snickerdoodle Sunday
Bouquet of Talent Linky Party
Sundays at Home
Silver Pennies Sunday
Happiness is Homemade Linky Party
Nifty Thrifty Sunday
The Fabulous Party

MONDAY
Inspire Me Monday
Inspiration Mondays
Dishing It and Digging It Link Party
Busy Monday

Amaze Me Mondays
Creative Mondays
Celebrate Your Story Monday Night Link Party!
Over the Moon Linky Party
Merry Monday Linky Party
You Are The Star Blog Hop

What'd You Do This Weekend?
Cooking and Crafting with J & J
Metamorphosis Monday
Lou Lou Girl's Linky Party
Make It Pretty Monday

TUESDAY
Show and Share Party
Tuesdays At Our Home
Inspire Me Tuesdays

The Scoop

Tuesdays with a Twist

Reader Tip Tuesday Party
Keep in Touch Party

WEDNESDAY

Fluster's Creative Muster Wednesday's

Ducks in a Row Wonderful Wednesdays Blog Hop
Wow Us Wednesday
Sizzle into Summer Party
Talk of the Town Party
Party in Your PJ's
Dream Create Inspire Link
Dagmar's Home Linky Party
Waste Not Wednesday
Style Showcase

THURSDAY
Home and Garden Party Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Share Your Style Thursday Link Up Party
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop
Inspired Creations Linky Party
Vintage Charm
Grace at Home Party
Create and Celebrate Blog Party

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Winter/Valentine's in the Powder Room 2018

Welcome!!

Sorry I have been missing in action but with Joe falling and fracturing a rib and now having what could possibly be 3 bones fractured in his left wrist, it has been a busy week filled with Dr.'s visits and of course, I also worked a 3 day stretch......

Joe is feeling better as far as the rib fracture goes and now has his left wrist splinted for at least 3-4 weeks so that means he is not able to work at his part time job as a cashier at Wegman's right now......

He will be Xrayed in 2 weeks to see of the bones in his wrist look better or worse which we are told can happen with wrist fractures.......

Today, I will finally be sharing how I changed over the Powder Room from Christmas to Winter and Valentine's decorations......

As I have mentioned before, I leave up Valentine's decor for almost the entire month of February as it has been deemed American Heart Month by the American Heart Association.......

But first, I want to Thank Bev, over at Eclectic Red Barn , and the other hosts of the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop for featuring my post, Pink Valentine's Decor in the Dining Room, as one of the Very Popular posts from last week's party!!

Thanks so much to:
Bev, Eclectic Red Barn
Sinea, Ducks'n a Row
Marilyn, Marilyn's Treats
Mom's Resource
Tammy, My Life Abundant
Jennifer, Engineer Mommy
2JustBYou
Lynn, Turnips 2 Tangerines
Cindy, Simple Steps fro Living Life

Please stop by this lovely party and link up!!

I decorate the Powder Room for Christmas and Winter mainly with Snow Buddies.......

I removed anything having to do with Christmas from the Powder Room.........

And I added a few Valentine's touches.......

Over by the sink.......

I added a red bottle brush tree with a ruffled heart trim around the pot to this shelf.....

2 silver hearts hang from the shelf.......

I used an Amazon gift card to buy this set of 3.........

Here's where I used them.........

This one hangs next to a Valentine's wreath that I made......

I hung another one by the sink......

You can also see that I added these plates on the sink for Winter along with the Soap sign......

I made a few changes over here in the corner.......

You may remember Joe bought this in Bed, Bath and Beyond after Christmas......

Here it is on top of this shelf unit.....

I removed any ornaments from the Tree that had to do with Christmas........

And added red and silver heart ornaments.....

I changed some things around on this shelf and added a Valentine Snow Buddy......

Another Valentine Snow Buddy and a vase with red roses grace the top of this stand.....

"The Queen of Everything"

I replaced the Santa's on the glass shelves with 2 silver Mercury Glass battery operated Trees.......

And tucked red roses into the greenery.......

I also added another red bottle brush tree to the top of this shelf.....

And replaced some Snow Buddies with some Valentine's ones ......

A Mercury Glass Silver heart was added here.....

Hearts were hung from the sconces......

And a Valentine's Wreath that I made was hung on the door......

In the hallway from the Living Room to the Kitchen, on the mirror........

Hangs a Heart Wreath that I made........

Along with a heart plaque......

And a Winter one that I also made.....

And that finishes up my Winter and Valentine's Decorations.............

Next week, I will start to take down my Winter and Valentine's decorations.........

In my next post, I will be doing something I wanted to do for some time.......

Sharing my thoughts on whether I am going to continue to Blog or not......

So I hope you will be back to visit again soon.......

And thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment. If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......