Thursday, December 6, 2012

A Little Gray Hare

I have been letting my hair grow out for about the past 6 months.  My oldest daughter, Gennifer, is a hair stylist, and I am fortunate enough to be able to have her keep my hair in good shape.  I have been struggling with what to do about the fact that, my hair is turning gray faster than I would like.  I am tired of needing to color it so often, and I have been thinking about just letting it grow in gray.  My Dad was entirely gray in his thirties.  He had beautiful silver hair.   I used to think that if my hair turned gray early, I would be okay with that, and just let it go.   I will never forget the first time I realized that I WAS gray at an early age.  We were at my daughters softball game, sitting in the bleachers, and my parents were sitting behind me, and it was windy.  My Dad said, "Kristy, you have a lot of gray hair in the back!!"  I said, "NO I DO NOT!!!!!"    I went home and discovered that, yes I did have a lot of gray hair!!!  I was 32!!!!
This was taken about that same time.  The big hair days.
My darling Dad gave me this little sign the next time I saw him, after the day he informed me that I was going gray.
So, I am gray.  Almost totally gray.  But my daughter is a hairdresser, and says I am WAY too young to go gray yet.  So when I went in to see her this week, at the salon, I got a much needed haircut, and new color, and highlights throughout.  I am still letting it grow, but it needed to have a couple of inches cut.
I have been busy working on orders for Christmas.   I did manage a little bit of Christmas decorating this week too.  I am not completely done, but close.
The tree is up, and loaded with ornaments.   Do you remember these cute gingerbread men I made last year?
And these crochet Santa faces?
I put this pillow on the living room sofa. 
But because my dog has a thing for pillows, I have to keep it like this most of the time!
When he was a puppy, he chewed pillows up.  But now, he just plows them onto the floor!  Every pillow!  He's nutty!
Before I leave you tonight, I have a public service announcement.  I had mentioned to Greg that my dryer didn't seem to be working very well.  I used the clothes line all summer long, so I wasn't sure if it was my imagination, but it sure seemed like it was taking forEVER for a load of clothing to dry.  So over the weekend, he went to Lowe's and bought this.
Disregard incredibly messy workbench!  He bought a kit for cleaning the dryer vents that go up into the wall and vents out to the roof.
Clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes for house fires!  This should be done at least yearly.  We have not done it since we moved in here over 20 years ago!  Not a good idea.  Greg got about 4 gallons of lint removed from the vents by using this tool.  My dryer is drying as if it were brand new again!
So if your dryer doesn't seem to be running as it should be, and clothes are taking too long to dry, you may want to get one of these kits and clean your vents.  It makes a huge difference!!!!!
That's it for me tonight.  I went to a wonderful dinner this evening at Citrus City Grille with four of my best friends.  We have been friends since high school, and some of us, before that even!  We were celebrating birthdays.  And friendship.  I am so blessed by these women in my life.  I have some pretty wonderful friends!!
G'night all.  More of the Christmas decorations later.
XO  Kris

26 comments:

Holly said...

Love the hair girly! I have a lot of gray around my face and I know what you mean about being tired of coloring it. Should I just accept it and grow old gracefully? Ummmm, not quite yet. Great advice about the dryer lint. Before we moved in we had our A/C ducts cleaned and never thought about the dryer. Who knows how long it's been since they've been cleaned. Been back and forth between Home Depot and home so many times in the past week that I think I've dug a trench in the road. Back again for one of those thingies. Brian is going to kill me if I give him one more project!

Kerri said...

Your hair looks GREAT Kris! It must be so nice to got to someone you like and trust. :) I have been without a stylist since Aug...mine got married and moved out of state...that always seems to happen to me! Anyway, I my hair is awful and I finally made an appt. and go on Monday so I can get that gray covered up! :)
Thanks for the dryer tip...I'm going to show that to my husband!

Heather - The Good Life said...

Your new "do" looks great. I am actually letting my hair go gray; it's very salt-n-peppery. I may not keep it this way, we'll see, just wanted to take a break from the chemicals for now. Happy Friday and have a great weekend. Heather

Petunia Pill said...

The dryer works more efficiently, to say NOTHING of the fire danger that all that lint posed...yikes, Kris! People don't realize. I can't tell you just how often we hear about house fires here in Virginia, caused by lint in dryer vents. Entire homes just torched. I NEVER heard of this in California...but it sure happens here a lot. I NEVER cleaned a vent in Cali! Your photo of the Santa face...awwww - I'm so grateful for you sharing that pattern last year. I've been sitting here creating them for the past few weeks! They're just so darned cute...and a bit hit when I tie them on the front of the bottles of homemade liquers I give to friends and neighbors! They are the perfect holiday tie on! And your dog with the pillows...that brings memories of our very first dog...oh so many years ago...he would hump the pillows! Problem was...our couch sat right in front of the window in the front of our home and people driving by would see quite the spectacle of him on the couch having his way with those pillows. Embarrassing!!!!! I guess all our fur babies have their own little crazy bits and bobs! Hugs to you. Annette P.S. Love the hair!

Debbie said...

I am right there with you on the grey hair. I got more and more grey hair every time I had s baby. Weird huh? So by 32 I had quite a few. Now at 58 I am totally grey! Wish it was a pretty silver grey so I could just let it go, but it really is horrid, lol. Soo I am in there every 5 or 6 weeks for root touch ups, highlight touch ups, and trims. Good thing I have a niece in the business or I'd be going broke, lol. Your new cut is just adorable btw! Love it. Glad you got that dryer working well now. My younger sister just had that same thing happen. Enjoy your week-end!

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Kris, Love your new hair do! It looks so lovely and I love the color. About the little gray Hare, I think that is so cute about your dad presenting that to you, a real keepsake. Me too! I'm mostly gray and color my hair faithfully every 5 weeks. That appt. I will never MiSS!
Love your decorations, xoRobin❤

Bethany said...

I agree with your daughter--you're too young to be all gray. My grandma was an early silverhead and I'm constantly checking for yankables--so far I get one only every now and then (and I blame Zach for them :)

Gloria Baker said...

Love your Christmas garnish especially this so cute gingerbread man!:)
I think you always love georgeous but yes you are so young to all grey, Im worst because I have black hair if I dont pait you know:(

NanaNor's said...

Happy Friday Kris, Loved getting caught up; it is such a busy time of year for all of us. What a blessing that your girl is a hair stylist and can help whenever you need it. Love your decorations too.
Have a delightful weekend.
Hugs, Noreen

Unknown said...

Ok, you can call me the crazy one. But, then you kind of already know I don't operate like the norm. But, I love gray hair. I adore the feeling that someone has lived a good life and it's a shining silver soul in their hearts. They are not worried about their looks but what they can teach others with their wisdom. I love gray hair. By the way, I'm a virgin now.....not a lick of dye on this head and it feels liberating, like all the other new stuff this year for me.
Have a great weekend. But I do love the cut...

Val said...

Your hair looks amazing!!

Unknown said...

I know we look younger without the gray but it sure can get expensive, I didn't start doing mine until I was 56 and I wish I had never started. However, if I saw myself, I am sure I would continue to do it.

Thanks for the dryer tip. I am constantly telling my friends to clean out the trap cover on the outside of the house but this gadget is even better!

Susanne Tyree said...

Kris, I doubt that you would look old or bad no matter what hair color. I have colored my hair 2 times in all these years and both times because my hairdresser talked me into it. Her motives were questionable, but job security probably played a big part of her convincing me to take the plunge. I was really relieved when it all grew out, how liberating it was to not have to keep paying bucks to touch up the gray (which I never did to begin with). Yeah, I have a mix of gray and dark brown hair, I feel like I earned every damn one of those gray hairs. My hubby and I are the youngest on his side of the family and we are the only ones who do not color our hair. Between the hair dying and the old comb overs we figure no one is fooling anyone but themselves, lol. The tip is to invest in the Clarol company though, his family is keeping the stock holders rich, lol
You are beautiful just the way you are because God doesn't make mistakes.
(((HUGS))) Susanne :)

~Niki~ said...

i went gray at 21, seriously found a lot of gray then. i dye mine medium brown all the time. i really need to do it again. i hate having to do it constantly too. about the dryer thing, my husband used to do it himself, get on the roof, drop something down and clean it, but i think i will pick up this tool. how much about did it cost?

Gracie Saylor said...

Years ago I let my co-workers talk me into putting a rinse on my hair...one that claimed my hair would not turn orange...it seemed like it took years to get rid of the orange that was not supposed to be there :) And as the years have passed I find myself celebrating being alive so much that the gray and white are just part of that celebration. I love the sweet gift your dad gave you, though, and the cut and color that Gennifer gave you as well :) And thanks for the public service announcement! Blessings to you and yours. xx from Gracie

Teresa Kasner said...

Kris, you are beautiful and young looking no matter what color your hair is. I went through a mid-life crisis and colored my hair burgundy purply-red - but I'm a natural girl at heart and that did not last long. I grew it out and have just enjoyed the heck out of letting my hair do it's own thing. But you just do what you want.. you're gorgeous no matter what.
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

priscilla said...

Cute hair Kris ! You are lucky your daughter can do it for you ! I have an appointment on Tuesday , every 6 weeks for me !

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

LOVE your hair Kris! You are one cutie pie! We so need to get together! Hugs, Maryjane xox

Sunny Simple Life said...

I just love your new style. So cute. I can't go gray. My mom did but she had black hair that became silver but mine is an ugly color. You look fab girl!!

Genn said...

I am glad you like your new do!
I do too, you look really pretty!
And I see so much of myself in that picture you posted of you and Papa when you were my age!!! That is crazy to me.
It's also crazy to me that I seem to remember you at that age like yesterday and now I am that age...? How does that happen. ha.

:)

Nicolle said...

I love the sign that your dad gave you. :) Such a fun memory for you! I'm glad you shared that with us here. My mom was totally white by the time she was 40, and I think I might not be far behind. I think your new haircut is so cute!

That gingerbread man ornament is adorable. So cute and clever.

Enjoy your weekend.
xo

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi Kris,
getting oler and getting the greys is the pitts! I have to color my roots every month. Because it's the same color I just do the roots. Figure the ends don't need drying out. Being lighter helps for the grey not to show as bad. Believe it or not though my hair gets so oily when my roots grow out. Love the fun card from your dad. We haven't cleaned our dryer vent since we moved in here. Probably ought to go buy one and do it. Glad you were able to spend some fun time out with your gal pals!
Hugs,
Jann

Linda said...

You look fantastic!!! So pretty, Kris...
I have a lot of grey...so I streak it blonde to blend in..
But, you look so young,that colour suits you...
There is plenty of time to go grey!!!

Thanks for your continued lovely remarks on my blog...much appreciated!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...

Cheers!
Linda :o)

Whosyergurl said...

Kris, I LOVE your new do! I color, too. Have for a lot of years. I'm not one of those gals who keeps it the same forever. I am always changing it up- letting it grow and cutting it off. For now I am in a letting it grow stage. XO, Cheryl

Cheryl said...

First....I love how sweet of your dad to get you that sign...a good memorty. Your hair is super, super cute!! Love seeing all your wonderful Xmas decoations..and the pillow looks really cute on your couch!! YIKES, I haven't cleaned out my dryer vent for about 20 years either!! Think I will be visiting Home Depot tomorrow.

Jill said...

Your hair looks awesome! ;-)
Those dryer vents are awesome, we got one too and they work really well!