Almost Here

The cabinets, that is, are almost here.  Yes, it's really going to happen soon.   Seriously, the install is just around the corner.   I stopped in at the cabinet shop to pick out the paint for them and they walked me back into the shop and there they were.....our kitchen cabinets.....at least the start of the cabinets.  

This beauty will eventually become my baking center......oh, joy!   I can hardly wait to see it all painted and installed.   

And these are some of the drawers and lower cabinets.   I finally decided to have the cabinets painted white since our kitchen doesn't have access to any natural light.   By choosing white I can vary the decor by changing accessories.   And we all know how much I love to change my decor from time to time, right?  The center island will be black with a distressed finish to it.   And there will be little pops of some black that you'll see when the kitchen is completed.  Hey, I don't want to give away all the surprises at once.  

This is Harold, hard at work making all the doors for us.   He's awesome!   See all the plans on the clipboards hanging over his bench?   Oooooo, I love the smell of wood shavings early in the morning.

Just thought you'd like a sneak peek,
Debbie

A Little Radio Time

 I know the economy is not exactly a "light hearted" topic, but I love you.   All of you.   And I want the very best for you.   Really......so please click on the link below and listen to Mark Levin interviewing former U.S. Congressman Archer regarding the "fiscal cliff".   It's less than 15 minutes long, and the first 7 minutes contain some of the most important info.   Come on, you've got 7 minutes, so just do it.   
 
This isn't about politics for me, this is about preparing yourself to be a little more self sufficient if our economy greatly declines so you can feed your family and take care of them.  Please take 7 minutes to consider the direction our country is taking. 




http://www.therightscoop.com/mark-levin-interview-inflation-is-coming-and-it-will-devastate-the-economic-environment-for-every-american-family/

Thank you,
Debbie

Show Me The Money!!

Remember that line from the movie, Jerry Maquire?   Well, I ran across this article and thought you might be interested.  So, am I the only one that kinda freaks out when I read this article?  Scary stuff, friends, scary stuff.  Keep praying and plant more corn!   LOL

Read on,

Debbie

 

Why $16 Trillion Only Hints at the True U.S. Debt

By Chris Cox and Bill Archer | The Wall Street Journal – Mon, Nov 26, 2012 11:06 PM EST

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A decade and a half ago, both of us served on President Clinton's Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform, the forerunner to President Obama's recent National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. In 1994 we predicted that, unless something was done to control runaway entitlement spending, Medicare and Social Security would eventually go bankrupt or confront severe benefit cuts.
Eighteen years later, nothing has been done. Why? The usual reason is that entitlement reform is the third rail of American politics. That explanation presupposes voter demand for entitlements at any cost, even if it means bankrupting the nation.
A better explanation is that the full extent of the problem has remained hidden from policy makers and the public because of less than transparent government financial statements. How else could responsible officials claim that Medicare and Social Security have the resources they need to fulfill their commitments for years to come?
As Washington wrestles with the roughly $600 billion "fiscal cliff" and the 2013 budget, the far greater fiscal challenge of the U.S. government's unfunded pension and health-care liabilitBuies remains offstage. The truly important figures would appear on the federal balance sheet—if the government prepared an accurate one.
But it hasn't. For years, the government has gotten by without having to produce the kind of financial statements that are required of most significant for-profit and nonprofit enterprises. The U.S. Treasury "balance sheet" does list liabilities such as Treasury debt issued to the public, federal employee pensions, and post-retirement health benefits. But it does not include the unfunded liabilities of Medicare, Social Security and other outsized and very real obligations.
As a result, fiscal policy discussions generally focus on current-year budget deficits, the accumulated national debt, and the relationships between these two items and gross domestic product. We most often hear about the alarming $15.96 trillion national debt (more than 100% of GDP), and the 2012 budget deficit of $1.1 trillion (6.97% of GDP). As dangerous as those numbers are, they do not begin to tell the story of the federal government's true liabilities.
The actual liabilities of the federal government—including Social Security, Medicare, and federal employees' future retirement benefits—already exceed $86.8 trillion, or 550% of GDP. For the year ending Dec. 31, 2011, the annual accrued expense of Medicare and Social Security was $7 trillion. Nothing like that figure is used in calculating the deficit. In reality, the reported budget deficit is less than one-fifth of the more accurate figure.
Why haven't Americans heard about the titanic $86.8 trillion liability from these programs? One reason: The actual figures do not appear in black and white on any balance sheet. But it is possible to discover them. Included in the annual Medicare Trustees' report are separate actuarial estimates of the unfunded liability for Medicare Part A (the hospital portion), Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (prescription drug coverage).
As of the most recent Trustees' report in April, the net present value of the unfunded liability of Medicare was $42.8 trillion. The comparable balance sheet liability for Social Security is $20.5 trillion.
Were American policy makers to have the benefit of transparent financial statements prepared the way public companies must report their pension liabilities, they would see clearly the magnitude of the future borrowing that these liabilities imply. Borrowing on this scale could eclipse the capacity of global capital markets—and bankrupt not only the programs themselves but the entire federal government.
These real-world impacts will be felt when currently unfunded liabilities need to be paid. In theory, the Medicare and Social Security trust funds have at least some money to pay a portion of the bills that are coming due. In actuality, the cupboard is bare: 100% of the payroll taxes for these programs were spent in the same year they were collected.
In exchange for the payroll taxes that aren't paid out in benefits to current retirees in any given year, the trust funds got nonmarketable Treasury debt. Now, as the baby boomers' promised benefits swamp the payroll-tax collections from today's workers, the government has to swap the trust funds' nonmarketable securities for marketable Treasury debt. The Treasury will then have to sell not only this debt, but far more, in order to pay the benefits as they come due.
When combined with funding the general cash deficits, these multitrillion-dollar Treasury operations will dominate the capital markets in the years ahead, particularly given China's de-emphasis of new investment in U.S. Treasurys in favor of increasing foreign direct investment, and Japan's and Europe's own sovereign-debt challenges.
When the accrued expenses of the government's entitlement programs are counted, it becomes clear that to collect enough tax revenue just to avoid going deeper into debt would require over $8 trillion in tax collections annually. That is the total of the average annual accrued liabilities of just the two largest entitlement programs, plus the annual cash deficit.
Nothing like that $8 trillion amount is available for the IRS to target. According to the most recent tax data, all individuals filing tax returns in America and earning more than $66,193 per year have a total adjusted gross income of $5.1 trillion. In 2006, when corporate taxable income peaked before the recession, all corporations in the U.S. had total income for tax purposes of $1.6 trillion. That comes to $6.7 trillion available to tax from these individuals and corporations under existing tax laws.

In short, if the government confiscated the entire adjusted gross income of these American taxpayers, plus all of the corporate taxable income in the year before the recession, it wouldn't be nearly enough to fund the over $8 trillion per year in the growth of U.S. liabilities. Some public officials and pundits claim we can dig our way out through tax increases on upper-income earners, or even all taxpayers. In reality, that would amount to bailing out the Pacific Ocean with a teaspoon. Only by addressing these unsustainable spending commitments can the nation's debt and deficit problems be solved.
Neither the public nor policy makers will be able to fully understand and deal with these issues unless the government publishes financial statements that present the government's largest financial liabilities in accordance with well-established norms in the private sector. When the new Congress convenes in January, making the numbers clear—and establishing policies that finally address them before it is too late—should be a top order of business.
Mr. Cox, a former chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and the Securities and Exchange Commission, is president of Bingham Consulting LLC. Mr. Archer, a former chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, is a senior policy adviser at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

AdChoices

Calling all sewers

I'd like to extend an invitation to any and all of you who would like to sew with us this week. On Wednesday, March 4th from 1-5pm and Thursday, March 5th from 10am-4pm we will be sewing quilts for the children at the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg. We will make crib/lap quilt sizes for babies through 3 year olds.

Bring all of your out-of-date-don't-know-why-I-bought-that-color cotton fabrics you would like to donate and we will cut them into strips and squares and sew them into colorful quilts for the kids. Don't feel pressured to bring fabric, as we will also have plenty of fabrics ready to sew. If you have batting you would like to donate, we'll be happy to put that to good use. Let's see how many quilts we can make for these deserving toddlers.

Snacks will be provided and I'll put the coffee pot on, too. Bring a bag lunch or we'll order out on Thursday. If you can sew a straight line, you can help!!!

What should you bring with you?
1. your favorite scissors
2. your sewing machine
3. any threads you want to use up
4. sewing supplies you can't live without
5. a cheerful heart

Please call the shop @ 474-3893 so we know how many to count on. I can't wait to see how many quilts we can put together in 2 days. See you Wednesday and Thursday!!

The Quilt Fairy,
Debbie

Time for another "Stroll"

Yes, it is Antique Alley's annual Chocolate Fantasy Stroll time. Tuesday, February 10th from 6-8 in the evening, you can stroll The Alley by candlelight, shop for your favorite Valentine and eat lots and lots of chocolate. Yum, sign me up!

In case you've missed me, I thought it was time to explain that my family and I bought and moved into a home 2 weeks ago. Pink Florida Threads was closed for a few days while we made the transition. It's been a crazy couple of weeks, but we are so happy to be settled in a house of our very own once again. So, if you dropped by the shop and found it to be closed, I hope you read my note explaining my absence and will come back to see us again soon.

See you at the Stroll...
Debbie

Art and about

Several days ago, I stopped in at The Coffee Mill to do a little last minute Christmas shopping. It's a wonderful store on Indian Rocks Road that has been an icon in our area for years, and I always find the nicest items for my friends there. Not to mention they have the yummiest coffee and tea assortment. And, we all know how I feel about my caffeine! As I was about to pay for my purchases, I spotted a calendar and asked the clerk about it. What a find!

The calendar has 12 gorgeous plein aire paintings of the quaint cottages on Indian Rocks Beach in the most beautiful, vibrant colors. (Plein aire painting simply means work done by the artist, on site, with an easel and their paints just like Monet used to do in Giverny, France.) I snapped one up especially after learning that the $20 price tag goes directly to benefit the Indian Rocks Library and Historical Museum. It turns out that these paintings were created by 3 local women who have been painting small homes on the beach for 6 years in an effort to capture them on canvas before they are all torn down to build McMansions.

If you love the beach, the arts, quaint cottages, or beachy scenes, you will go crazy for this calendar. I called the artists, left them a message telling them I'd love to have their calendars at P.F.T., and 2 days later they showed up at the shop with an armful of calendars! Yippee! So, come in and check out this wonderful calendar. Also, the artists will be at Guppy's restaurant on the beach January 9th with 60 of their oil paintings for sale. You'll be able to see the actual works in person. The show starts at 6PM and you'll get to meet these interesting ladies. I, myself, can't wait to go. Hope to see you there.
Here's the link to the artists and their work: http://www.pleinaircottageartists.com/


Feeling Artsy today,
Debbie

Oh, what a night...

Yup! Last night was the Belleair Stroll and it was a fun couple of hours. I'd like to say a huge thank you to my friends that came to help serve punch and put out the homemade goodies, and brag on me to all the customers old and new. Teresa was a great help writing up sales and telling people what we are all about at P.F.T. Then, my sweet friends Carolyn and Melissa came and Melissa surprised me with our Treasure Island friend, Margie. It was more like a party than work! Carolyn brought her punch bowl for us to use, and Melissa provided the tablecloths....remember, all my stuff is still hidden deep inside the storage unit from our move out of the big house.

And,to put the icing on the cake, a lovely woman named Chris from the St. Pete Times came to interview me at 4PM just before the evening got started. I'll let you know when the article is due to appear in the Times. God just keeps blessing me in ways I never dreamed of to promote this little adventure of mine. Come on back and stay tuned for the next installment of Pink Florida Threads.

Deb

Had to show you...

Here's what we did today. Gina came over to the shop and painted until she had to go home due to darkness setting in. She'll finish doing the shop hours by next weekend. Don't you love what she painted? I especially like the OPEN sign, don't you?

2 days and counting....hmmm, just like McCain

I

think this one picture says it all, don't you? I spent another 13 hours at the shop yesterday, and honestly, I don't know where the time goes. It seemed like I had just gotten there and it was dinner time already. I reheated some Greek food from the refrigerator, and kept sewing. Before I knew it, it was 10 o'clock!

Now, in all honesty, this pic is from last weekend. The studio portion you are looking at doesn't look like this anymore. I just wanted you to get the flavor of the fun I've/we've been having. The desk still has to be painted today(if Joel would please finish putting on the corbels). He is just about "over" helping me with all these honey-do's. And Gina is on her way to paint the signage. I'm going to finish painting some pieces, and hang the last of the various stuff that has to be hung. Tomorrow, I'm locking the doors, scrubbing the floor, and pricing everything I currently have in stock.

THEN, Tuesday is my first official day open! There will be lots of kinks to work out, but, there just isn't any more prepping to be done, I simply need to jump right in and open. Oh, man, pray for me, please. And, next Sunday, the 9th, is the big show in Antique Alley. Should be interesting, don't you think? By the way, the phone number for the shop is going to be in the next phone directory and the yellow pages. The number is 474-3893, and the address is 596 Indian Rocks Road N., Suite A-1, Belleair Bluffs, Florida, 33770. My corrected business cards came Friday, so, now at least when I hand them out they have the right info on them.

Well, I'm off to meet Gina and have some more fun. Hope to see you all soon at the shop.

One very happy girl,

Debbie

I'm in....sorta

Don't think I've forgotten about you. It's just that I've been really busy working with Joel each night grouting the floor, and scurrying around every day completing the details for the shop. Yesterday, Friday, October 17 was move in day. Yippee! I took a couple of quick pics during the hustle to share with you.

Now, I plan on taking the next 2 weeks to do all the detail work, like....hmmmmm, signage, hanging things on the walls, getting a phone, unpacking bins, bins, and more bins. Oh, yeah, and sewing as much product as possible before I open. I've set a tentative opening date of Tuesday, November 4, which gives me just one short week of working the kinks out before the big Antique Alley sale on Sunday, November 9! Crazy, isn't it? But, I'm having so much fun. I can't remember when I've been so dog-tired, and yet so happy! Hope you come to see me when I am finally up on my feet and have everything in place. I'll keep the cappuccino machine ready for your arrival.

Creatively yours,

Debbie/Mom

We're getting closer

Oh, my goodness. I can hardly stand it. The work crew is making such great progress on the buildout for P.F.T. Last night the crew boss told me that he expects they will be done Wednesday night with their end of the work, then I've got to get started on my list of improvements. The ceiling/trusses were all painted white yesterday and look so much better than the jumbled mess it was just 10 short days ago. I'm trying to keep the atmosphere casual, Florida Keys style, and a little funky. You know I have to be a little rebellious! Or, is that just sassy? Hmmmmm.....

The address for the shop is going to be 596 Indian Rocks Road N., Unit A-1,
Belleair Bluffs, Florida 33770. Currently, I'm using my cell phone
@727-348-4013, if you need to reach me. Hope you enjoy the new pics.