Donnas Word Doodles

Photo's from the weekend.

2012-02-09T17:45:00.000-05:00

Angie Thrilled with her 2nd Place

Liz on her way to the interview for Miss HOCO.

January Wrap-up

2012-02-06T11:49:00.002-05:00

Although part of this wrap up will go through this weekend, and yes, this weekend WAS Feb (but just barely), I’m going to tell you about our busy, busy month!

Silly me, I had NO idea that Liz would take on the HUGE project of trying out for Miss HOCO this year, so I scheduled her for Drivers Education for the month of January. She had 30 hours of classroom training, to include one weekend and weekday afternoons from 4:30 to 7:30pm for almost a full two weeks. Then she started doing the in car practice to include parallel parking – yeah – I don’t have to try to teach her that one! 6 hours of behind the wheel training and she’s officially done with Drivers Ed! That add s up to a lot of running to classrooms and although she was getting 1.5 hours per shot at behind the wheel training, it was done in three hour blocks as it was split between two drivers at a time. So – it added up to some serious time input on her part. Her last night driving they drove all over the place and drove themselves home – how convenient was that? I didn’t even have to go get her!!

Add to this a few evenings of practice for Miss HOCO as well and it added up to a VERY full month of running here there and everywhere. According to my calendar I had 6 whole days without ANYTHING on the appointment schedule – now keep in mind some of that stuff was my appointments and Angela’s stuff as well, so it wasn’t ALL Liz, but a major portion was J

This all culminated this weekend with the pageant this weekend!

Lizzie did BEAUTIFULLY. She was poised and beautiful on stage and did a great job. Her talent (optional performance) had a slight glitch or two, but she recovered well on both accounts. She did a flag routine to sleeping beauty with flag and saber. Only one near drop when her flag hit the overhead curtain – oops – she was too far back on the stage!

I’ll post a video of her during her evening wear when I get home – it just won’t post from cell phone or via email. Drat it! I ordered the CD from the professional photographer as well, knowing we would NOT have good lighting and no flashes were allowed.

Not to be outdone, Angela was wrapping up her Science Fair project about
the end of January too. The good news on this one is that she had
finished up the actual project and had done her presentation at school
at the beginning of the month, so on a day to day business issue - hers
was a wash.
The culmination of her 7th grade Science Fair was - drum roll please -
the 1nd of February with the presentation of the project to the judges.
Friday evening was the presentations to which Grandma Sally was able to
attend as well. Angela received a 2nd place for her presentation -
photo to follow shortly from Sally!
She was quite happy with her award and the board was nicely done.

Whew - talk about a busy, busy week...
And me with NO pictures to post to the blog yet!!

Expressions and sayings...

2012-02-02T11:30:00.000-05:00

Here is one that will be new to you…

“..wouldn’t know you from who shot John”…

Now what on earth is this in reference to? Well, I went and looked it up – I had to – it’s something MY father and mother used to say and guess what? It is VERY southern expression and according to the wikitonary – and shockingly – even attributed to a very specific town of Texarkana(close to where I grew up): http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Talk:who_shot_John

“Bread and Butter” when on a walk and having to split up (release hands to go around an object) during a walk… This was used to ward off bad luck.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bread-and-butter

Funny world out there, isn’t it?

Are you feeling lucky?.... Well, are ya?

2012-02-01T11:06:00.001-05:00

I was just talking with a friend at work and I realized I’m truly lucky, blessed and living the good life.

I’m lucky that I have a husband who works at a job that provides legal services (not to mention a killer salary). It’s those legal services that got me out of a potential ticket lately. To which I feel very lucky and blessed that I don’t have to go to court again regarding it and that I don’t have to pay a huge ticket fee. That would have hurt financially!

I’m lucky that I have a side business that is doing fairly well, even with the transition of the business to another owner. I just got my first order after the change over. I’m so lucky that they kept me on and business will continue as normal, even if it has slowed considerably, that business has blessed me with a VERY good income for the last few years. With enough income I was able to purchase a computer and an iPad and can now travel where I want to go without worrying too much how I will pay for it!

I’m lucky that I can travel… lucky that I have a friend who travels for her job for years at a time and goes to FUN places. I’m lucky that she welcomes me with open arms to come and stay with her for a week to go and play in her part of the world.

I’m lucky that I have a job… which if things go as bad as I think they could… may be a short lived blessing.. but I’m also lucky that if it came down to it, we would just pick up and move to the next place and follow the jobs where ever they may lead. It could be that we end up with a vacation home in Georgia out of it… but we really could move and follow the job(s) if it came down to it. I’m lucky that my house – if jobs did stay local, but paid less – would make a KILLER “stay”cation place to play for an entire summer, just having friends up and over to play with us!

I’m lucky that I have healthy and happy kids – even if they do drive me buggy by not doing homework and fully applying themselves at all times. I’m lucky that for the most part they are happy well adjusted kiddo’s with a lot of friends. I’m lucky that my kids are not afraid to try new things, go new places and expand their horizons.

I’m lucky that I have parents who live close by that are willing to help me out when needed and are flexible when life hands them changes. I’m blessed that they are still in good health and very easy to live with (just in case), and are very self sufficient. I’m lucky and blessed to have a great Mother-in-law who loves her grandkids and comes to see their big events – even if it means driving 5 to 6 hours to do it! I’m blessed to have a home that will support many, many people in it at the same time in comfort and warmth. I’m blessed to have a hunter husband who has filled the freezer with LOTS of fish…. Now we need to EAT it all!!

I’m just very, very, very lucky and blessed in general…

Organization update

2012-01-30T13:16:00.000-05:00

So this week was shelves...I didn't really do shelves, I did desks, under desks and on top of desks - to my defense, part of the task this week was simply "storage" and towards the end it DID move to piles and piles, I have a LOT of. I have shelves, however, they are down to a dull roar for now... so I chose to concentrate on the desk(s). I have a LONG way to go, but I can now get to the closet (and even shut it!!) so that's a major plus. Next up in this room will be actually cull out some of the items I will NEVER use...

Now the question comes, can I be that brutally honest with myself?

Probably not, however, we'll try!!

Bench done!

2012-01-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

AND let it be known I will NOT do any more upholstery in the future - near or far.

TOOO much a pain in the butt!!

Fear of disposing medicines - vindicated

2012-01-20T14:39:00.000-05:00

The following is an excerpt from: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/460159

First, the expiration date, required by law in the United States, beginning in 1979, specifies only the date the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug -- it does not mean how long the drug is actually "good" or safe to use. Second, medical authorities uniformly say it is safe to take drugs past their expiration date -- no matter how "expired" the drugs purportedly are. Except for possibly the rarest of exceptions, you won't get hurt and you certainly won't get killed. A contested example of a rare exception is a case of renal tubular damage purportedly caused by expired tetracycline (reported by G. W. Frimpter and colleagues in JAMA, 1963;184:111). This outcome (disputed by other scientists) was supposedly caused by a chemical transformation of the active ingredient. Third, studies show that expired drugs may lose some of their potency over time, from as little as 5% or less to 50% or more (though usually much less than the latter). Even 10 years after the "expiration date," most drugs have a good deal of their original potency. So wisdom dictates that if your life does depend on an expired drug, and you must have 100% or so of its original strength, you should probably toss it and get a refill, in accordance with the cliché, "better safe than sorry." If your life does not depend on an expired drug -- such as that for headache, hay fever, or menstrual cramps -- take it and see what happens.

One of the largest studies ever conducted that supports the above points about "expired drug" labeling was done by the US military 15 years ago, according to a feature story in the Wall Street Journal (March 29, 2000), reported by Laurie P. Cohen. The military was sitting on a $1 billion stockpile of drugs and facing the daunting process of destroying and replacing its supply every 2 to 3 years, so it began a testing program to see if it could extend the life of its inventory. The testing, conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ultimately covered more than 100 drugs, prescription and over-the-counter. The results showed that about 90% of them were safe and effective as far as 15 years past their original expiration date.

I feel so vindicated in NOT tossing medications for all these years… I guess I will chuck them when they get close to 15 years old… nawh –maybe not. Never know when the end of the world will happen, right? Isn’t it supposed to end this December?? (http://www.december212012.com/) hahahahaha!

Update on Organization efforts and discussion on FEAR

2012-01-20T10:49:00.001-05:00

First the fun (?) one… organization…

I’m doing well this week – well, not really, but I’m going to lie to myself and say I am.

Monday – Hair do-dads, sort, cull, get rid of any that you no longer use. That one worked well for me, I was in my bottom drawer digging for something… and I started chucking hair things out. I got to the bottom then moved onto the pull out rack under my sink and did the same thing. Then I moved to the tilt out drawer in front of my sink and did the same thing. I had a PILE of headbands and pony tail holders. Why do I have them? Eventually I get sick of going to the hair dressers and stop doing my hair and revert to letting it grow. It gets to 12+ inches, just enough to donate and WHACK, it gets cut off again. I’m going to fight that urge and get rid of all my hair “junk” and see if I can maintain the short do longer this time before apathy strikes and I let it go again!

Tuesday – Clean face products – cull expired items. Bottom line? I don’t USE face products. Well, I do, I use Oil of Oley and have since I was something like 15. I guess the last few days of this cull will tell all if I’m chucking things I didn’t know I had at the bottom of all the drawers J

Wednesday – Clean out medications – my downfall. I don’t know what is with me, but I have an apocalyptic view of the world. Could it be that mom would ALWAYS say “We’re living in the last days”? (love you mom!) Could be. I just have a VERY hard time letting go of meds. Why? Well, you never know when the end of the world will come and you’re either very happy you have all those pain meds and antibiotics, or you use them to go out “happy” – ha! Ok, really. Yes, I know meds loose their potency with age, but at what point are they of NO use what-so-ever? I guess I need a book that tells me the half life of the drugs in question – then I can decide if having 5 year old antibiotics will do ANY good when the zombie apocalypse happens. I didn’t grow up in the depression, but I have a waste not – want not mentality when it comes to meds. I did toss one thing – have not tackled the meds bin in the cupboard yet, this was from the drawer that had all the hair do-dads in it… it was Pepto that expired in 2006. Would it still work? I’m sure if you took two it would make a dent… it’s just not full strength. I had a hard time releasing my grip over the garbage however!

Thursday – Saturday – clean out a drawer a day. I guess that has been dented a bit by the bottom drawer and the hair stuff, however there is more to be gone through in that area – matching up razor fillers to razor bodies. I’m sure they have a mate in there somewhere, just finding them could be a challenge as they could be in different areas of storage. So, sometime this week/weekend I have to tackle the medicine bin and the drawers – can I count my bin as a drawer? Ha! I did the bin a while back in another de-clutter/organize effort. It works better than the shoebox of the past…. Now take it a step further and get rid of meds that are outdated. I have a feeling I won’t need a bin after that effort!

So maybe fear is really addressed in both of these subjects – fear of letting meds go and fear of going outside of my comfort zone.

I have never been shake in your shoes afraid of change. I have been uncomfortable and a little afraid, but total fear to the point of vapor lock and not being able to DO what you want to do, what you need to do to make something happen? Not typical for me. What is my fear factor right now? Travel. Did I hear a collective gasp out there? Yes, I said it, fear of travel. I jumped on a plane with NO plans and “stopped off” in New Zealand on my way to Australia the first time I stepped foot outside of US Soil. Yes, you’re reading correctly, not even a trip to Mexico or Canada. I went to Australia, by myself and without a care in the world. A few years later, I was off to Europe with my (lovely) cousin Suzanne – with very few plans and NO reservations. We just stopped in at youth hostels along the way and went where we wanted to go. I jumped on weekend flights to Korea. I even moved overseas without a care if the world too…. Now? I’m freaked about committing to going to UAE, to going to Europe without plans. I don’t know if this is just age, or the fact that I have not traveled in 15 years. Yes, you read that correctly – no overseas trips since we moved back from Europe. Sad but true. I have done small trips with kids, with my folks and our biggest adventure in a long time – Alaska. So, what is with the fear of going to a place I have ALWAYS wanted to go (Dubai – well, I’ll be close – in Abu Dhabi) ??? AND we’ve always said we would take Liz back to her birthplace. Sigh. What is WITH me? Why so much fear over this? Why so much trepidation? Today I am facing this fear – fear of choosing incorrectly on mode of travel, fear of the SUPER long flight, fear of going somewhere I have never been, fear of getting off my butt and going. Today, I’m booking my flight!

I’m going to look fear in the face and give it a friendly nod… and move ON…

And I have…. My flight is booked (breathe!!)

This flight arrives the next day
Wed 14 Mar	Departs: 3:28pm from Atlanta, GA(ATL)	DL 1195
	Arrives: 5:20pm in Washington-Dulles, DC(IAD)	1h 52m
Layover in Washington-Dulles, DC(IAD)1h 50m
Wed 14 Mar	Departs: 7:10pm from Washington-Dulles, DC(IAD)	DL 93851
Thu 15 Mar	Arrives: 7:45am in Amsterdam, Netherlands(AMS)	7h 35m
Layover in Amsterdam, Netherlands(AMS)2h 50m
Thu 15 Mar	Departs: 10:35am from Amsterdam, Netherlands(AMS)	KL 449
	Arrives: 8:05pm in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(AUH)	6h 30m


Sat 24 Mar	Departs: 1:20am from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(AUH)	DL 94021
	Arrives: 5:45am in Amsterdam, Netherlands(AMS)	7h 25m
Layover in Amsterdam, Netherlands(AMS)5h 15m
Sat 24 Mar	Departs: 11:00am from Amsterdam, Netherlands(AMS)	DL 71
	Arrives: 2:30pm in New York-Kennedy, NY(JFK)	8h 30m
Layover in New York-Kennedy, NY(JFK)2h 20m
Sat 24 Mar	Departs: 4:50pm from New York-Kennedy, NY(JFK)
	Arrives: 7:35pm in Atlanta, GA(ATL)

Total flight time: 15 hours and 57 minutes – making this a 20 hour plus day to get there with layovers

I gave up calculating times coming back.. it’s too scary!

Weekly organization tasks

2012-01-15T12:07:00.000-05:00

no picturesa this week. we had to do the following:
Clean night stand drawer - done
top of night stand - done
one bedroom self. I don't really have one. I have the TV console.. but that's alredy done I counted one of my closet shelves instead.
clean out your junk drawer. Ok, done
orgnize your junk drawer - also done..
So there you have it - all done for this week and movingo on to next week as of today

Freezer organization

2012-01-08T13:16:00.000-05:00

What I would have liked in the ideal shot is one my most prized things... my candy stash. I pick up Halloween candy at 75% and 90% off at the end of the season and deposit it in the freezer for the following year... it's a huge money saver for Halloween, and mom tested to know that the candy is just as fresh as the day it went in the freezer ;o) You KNOW I have to test... I LIKE to keep them in Target bags to keep prying munchies out of them.. so that there IS a stash at the appropriate season... but this is not to be in the new freezer setup. Sad.

What I also didn't show was the sadly full trash can of freezer burned fish and odds and ends meats that had died a painful death from NOT being identified by date in this freezer!!

So - next up - some dates will be tagged on each of these bins to indicate the year contained... now to get everyone to ONLY get the oldest fish out first... that will be the trick!!

AND we will not even discuss the indoor freezer just yet.. I'm still debating if I'm up for that one. So far the headache/earache that has been plaguing me for the last few days seems to be at bay... so maybe it will happen today to get the indoor freezer done as well. Maybe!

Last years goals for 2011 - and where it all ended by the close of the year.

2012-01-04T21:27:00.002-05:00

Kitchen
• Tile in the kitchen back splash
• Paint the kitchen (OK, these have to go in order – tile first – THEN paint)
**DONE - doing a happy dance - painted on New Years eve, but DONE!
• Master bathroom
• Paint the ceiling with the new ceiling paint I just purchased
• Paint the walls to match the brown in the potty room.
**DONE on all accounts!!
• Have the living room painted (by someone else)
• I would LOVE to get some crown molding put up at the same time….
**not done....
• Trees:
**DONE, however no happy dance here as the drought and lack of water took care of this goal and it will have to be revisited in the future....
• Call the dentist… I need to have a tooth worked on
**DONE
• Install screen door
**DONE - Thanks to Butch!
• Paint the front door frame
**DONE
• Sprinklers:
**Not Done

THAT is a LOT of green... I feel good about last year. Goals were met...
What are my GOALS for 2012?
OK, in writing again!!

Back door needs to be fixed near the garage - fix it and then have it vinyl clad to avoid future rot!
Sprinklers - yes, we HAVE to add this back on there

Revisit tree solution - as sickening as that is to say
plant flower beds to the north side of the pool

Transfer the lovely Wisteria vine dad has for me to my arbor THIS spring.. just before the thaw and the roots start growing...
get the rest of the house organized with the group

get the craft room up to snuff (scary statement)

Bigger goals that really will get done in time, is travel more - stretch my legs in different directions a bit. That one is a personal goal. I am taking Liz to Italy and for the first time ever I am scared to travel abroad. It has been way too long and my adventure level is really lagging with age. I used to be easy going, jump on a plane, figure it out when I get there... now? Scared spit-less - time to break out of the comfort zone and get back out there... time to travel and see the world.

First up - Leslie in UAE. I can NOT wait!!!!
I'm excited to share this with Leslie as she's a kindred free spirit. I can't wait to see a part of the world I have never experienced before. I'm excited that when I go for the gusto I won't break tradition and seek out the furthest place on EARTH I could go to start my travels again ;) First time I traveled outside of the states ever, I went to Australia - why break tradition?

So there you have it...What are your goals for this year?

It's a few days into the new year and what have I been up to?

2012-01-04T21:12:00.002-05:00

Lot's - I joined a de-cluttering group and started on the "to do" list for this week. All in the kitchen. I skipped around a bit, but the list was:
Sunday, 1 January: Think about who you want to be in this coming year.

how about just sane??

Monday, 2 January: Set up a donation station.

it's called my garage and I tote it to the thrift store when I can!)

Tuesday, 3 January: De-clutter the top of your kitchen cabinets and dust.

I don't have this - they go to the ceiling

Wednesday, 4 January: Declutter the top shelf of ONE of your kitchen cabinets.

OK, I started here - in my spice cabinet... so I went ahead with tomorrows goal too!

Thursday, 5 January: Go through your spices and discard expired and old ones.

Done - oldest one found was 2001 - not bad since McCormick came out with a website a few years back to tell you the age of your spices based on the address... some of mine were 10 years - yes, YEARS old at that time. Not much better this time, but in my defense they were just peppercorns!

Friday, 6 January: Put all of your canned goods together in one place.

wouldn't you know it I just bought a can organizer just before Christmas, so this is done too :) Yeah me!!

Saturday, 7 January: Go through your freezer to let go of old, freezer burned food.

this one will be my challenge, I have already gone to WalMart and picked up freezer baskets to assist in this effort... I'm going to need all the help I can get to put the BIG freezer in order!! It will have to be by year of fish, then type of fish... fun, fun, fun. NOT! Wish me luck!!

So instead of doing THAT tonight, what am I doing? Playing on the computer, surfing sights and finding cute vinyl to cut for the house...

should have done this one on a MUCH bigger scale, but I did plan it for a different wall, but was shot down :o(

New Years Eve projects

2011-12-31T17:00:00.016-05:00

OK, so this was painted on New Years Eve, and posted (in reality) on New Years day... but my justification is that it really DID happen IN 2011

I like the contrast between the VERY dark yellow in the laundry room

(note door shut JUST enough to hide the semi-permanent pile of laundry on the floor in there...

yes, there IS laundry all over in there again!)

You can even see the cucumber green of the dining room from here as well.

Goes nicely together, don't you think?

Butch working on his computer at the breakfast table.

And a nice view from the living room - includes ALL the colors of the main part of the house... the tan in the upper walls, the green of the dining room and the yellow of the kitchen.

Fire in the Hole!!!

2011-12-28T22:39:00.001-05:00

Dad came over today to help me with my lockers... he ground down the sharp edges on the open locker (ripped off the hinges) doorway and helped me swap out the bottom left door with the one that had been ripped off... the one with a working locking mechanism.

Sparks flying!!

next up... paint...

I think I am going to let Liz have her way and go for a nice Tardis Blue

the center middle open one... and the interior of all the others... I'm really thinking a deep yellow/gold

Sound about right?

Thanks Dad for all your help today - couldn't do it without you!!!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-28T22:26:00.003-05:00

Christmas Eve and Angela can NOT contain herself. she switched presents about 10 times while the movie was playing (Scrooge with Jim Cary in the background!)

She finally settled on a BIGGIE!! Liz's reaction says it all...

"When I was her age..."

Can you hear it now?? ha!

OH, SNAP!

Appropriate for her!!

Now I know my kids are older when *I* have to wake them up and get them moving on Christmas morning :o) What a pleasant change to sleep to about 8am!

Lizzie started into her stocking and kept pulling out 1's... more and more and more came out... until Grandma was shaking HER stocking to see if any had made it into her stocking too :)

Pile of 1's for her trip money next summer!

WOW - big stack!! (looks more impressive than it was!!)

Angela got a new camera and let me tell you - she is USING that thing!!!

Grandma has a new monogram for her car (installed and everything!)

Ah... she's not grown up yet... she's loving the new Chloe :)

Grandma is right - this shirt is sooo her...

it says:

I have been very good

for the last week or so

let's just focus on that

Beautiful Christmas ornament for Sally's tree from Robin and Donald

(sure missed having them there this year!!!)

checking out the new bobby pin holder

Liz got her all time wish and got her Scoodie!

I think she likes it!

And a Sonic Screwdriver from the "correct" Dr - David Tennant. ha!

A new mouse pad for Sally with the girls all over it!

SHARK!!

Her Sweet 16 book wasn't as big of a hit for her as it was for Grandma!

I'm sure she'll appreciate it later in life...maybe

Butch was shocked to find I snuck in a cribbage board from Alaska for him while we were there this summer.. there have to be some surprises in life!!

One HAPPY girl!!

This is the "Oh no, you didn't" look....

When will he learn, I really DO listen.... he got his much awaited IPad 2

She REALLY loves that Scoodie!

We had a shortened holiday season this year.. Butch is busy with work, which I guess is a good thing, because it means in this time of uncertainty that he still HAS a job to go to... so we didn't complain too much when we had to head home early.

We did get to cram a number of Push the Dummy game, a shopping trip for a little after Christmas shopping and a movie (We Bought a Zoo - LOVED it!) and had a GREAT time just sitting, visiting and being bums!

I, however, will be doing partial days this week in an effort to get a few things done :)

Paint, paint everywhere... and an organization backfire!

2011-12-22T18:24:00.001-05:00

What do you think? We voted the VERY pale yellow - what do YOU say?

I got a can organizer (or two) and I'm not sure it helps when you have SOOO many cans to begin with! And boxes - oh, my!!!

Ice Skating with the kiddo's!

2011-12-21T20:54:00.000-05:00

Skating fun - for most of the 8 kids this was the FIRST time they had ever been on the ice.

This is the 5 girls - three I brought, two met us there - two more joined later... and we also had three boys with us too - a good crowd of teens!

Where am *I*? I learned my lesson with roller skates.. I was in the bleachers having a nice chat with Ms. T :o)

NOT speedy, but in their defense... they did speed up eventually!

And no picture of Angela - she decided today would be a great day to start ditching photo ops... sigh... here we go with THAT stage!!

LOOK - a CAR full - and I do mean full - every single seat was taken!!

Wild hairs and lost minds...

2011-12-20T16:50:00.003-05:00

Why lost minds too? Well, I think I'm officially loosing my MIND.

I go into Goodwill, find a treasure (see below) I buy said treasure for $25 plus tax (bonus!).... I head out the door to put this in the car... I unlock the car, I get the seats all folded down and for the life of me can no longer find my ~~kids~~ KEYS (thanks for the correction was stuck on partial KID fault!).. what the heck? Did I have them in my hand and decide at some moment that it was just too much trouble to keep hold of them? Where did I finally find them (AFTER dumping my treasure on the ground and breaking off a corner - insert wailing and crying here)??? UNDER the VERY back seat. Apparently in my rush to REMOVE the head rest some child decided to wrestle out of it's hiding place under the VERY back of the car and put on -which it's NEVER on so I can drop the back seat at, well, the drop of a hat... goodness.... talk about loosing my mind!! I thought I was going to have to have Butch get my keys from home and come get me... now THAT would be a pickle.

Anyway, keys found, mind still lost and pretty little treasure made it home and put back together with glue and a clamp. Whew!

BEFORE:

After a bit of sanding, and I'm thinking I rather LIKE the distressed look and may not even paint it.. what do you vote? To paint or not to pain? Think of it as french shabby chic...

what do you think?

All that is needed are some cute glass knobs - Target here I come!!!

Projects for the last few weekends.

2011-12-18T22:23:00.002-05:00

Last weekend I got the wild hair to finally remove the boarder in the kitchen in prep for painting. I started on the opposite side of the room and turned around to find Butch up to his elbows in the deconstruction... to which he fesses up that he HATES construction, but the deconstructing and tear down is so much fun. Sigh... So, I had a little help and a few places to patch as well. Ah, well - the boarder is now gone, gone, gone from the kitchen. Believe it or not BOTH girls are sad to see it go. I have to admit it does look a bit naked without it up there...

And today, I finally put my my saying for the laundry. I'm still unsure if I like this version...

but I can always change it out if it doesn't grow on me :D

How appropriate that the floor is FULL of laundry? ha!

Where has all my time gone?

2011-12-13T08:49:00.001-05:00

I was looking at my leave calendar, planning all my AWESOME upcoming trips for the new year and wondering just WHERE all my leave has gone. I didn’t have much, but should have been earning this “much faster” now that I’m earning that big “pie in the sky 8 hours a pay period”. Someone said I’ll earn it so much faster I won’t believe how fast it accrues. I have to laugh at that theory, as I am firmly ensconced in the “earn and burn” philosophy. Sad but true, and my leave records will attest to this too!

So I went back and was looking at where my leave started to take a nose dive this year… I was going along great – just a few hours here and a few hours there max of 8 hours in any given pay period, which in and of itself will kill your leave when you only earn 6 in that given pay period. Ok, it’s growing quite well then July happened and a glorious trip to Alaska with my family for Dad’s 80^th birthday. We had such a ball fishing and sight seeing and just enjoying our time in the great outdoors! We did celebrate his actual birthday last night and not a single picture even with Mom bringing her camera with her to the restaurant. We went to Olive Garden and had a yummy dinner then on to the High School for Liz’s band concert. All in all a great night in my books. Could have been better with a little push the dummy, but beggars can’t be choosers some nights J Tonight we get to go to Middle School Band concert – yeah us.

Ok, back to the leave count down! (Leave – 48 hrs)

Moving right along and little leave taken here and there to take care of doctor visits, braces, and chiropractor visits. No complaints… did I mention I enjoy my time off no matter how it comes to me. Well, with one exception, and we’ll get to that at the bottom!

Next big chuck of time was my Trip with Angela to Jekyll Island. Now that was an experience… bugs and heat and LOTs of hormonal pre-teens. Fun, fun, fun! An experience I will not repeat, thanks. I think I’m more of the lay on the beach on a blanket than a trudge through the swamp person. Especially in September in Southern Georgia. You would have thought it would have been a bit more breezy, and cool – no such luck! (-24 hrs)

The very next pay period was my saving grace and a week in Orlando at a very nice resort and our first visit to Universal Studios (-40 hrs)

The last few nails in the leave coffin was 1) Thanksgiving but only a little as I did partial days off and used comp time I had on the books (-13 hrs) 2) Christmas – I’m still not sure how much time Christmas will cost me… it will either be 28 hours (two full days and three ½ days) or 5 full days for 40 hours… time will tell

Sick leave is a whole other story. This was my year for visits to the docs. Mostly the dermatologist, but we’ll throw in some chiropractic visits for good measure. This was the year for skin cancers and partial ear removal and lots of time off between grafts not taking quickly and the actual surgery itself, thus my one reason I wouldn’t be happy about THAT time off. I think I racked up 90 hours alone for all of that. Add to this – Elizabeth had to have all 4 of her wisdom teeth removed this year as well along with orthodontist visits and actual sick kids and I am NOT looking good on sick leave this year either.

But all in all, I can look back at Alaska, Jekyll and Universal Studio’s trips along with a short trip to Utah to scrapbook and I’ve had a VERY good/bad year for leave. I had a ball burning through it all!

Christmas... what little I have up...

2011-12-08T17:19:00.001-05:00

Was in all reality in place on or about Thanksgiving... and it consists of this:

One nativity that Grandpa Ashwood made. Butch's mom was sweet enough to bring this down for us this year, so it was promptly put up on the entry table. I think for safety we should move it to the one behind the couch, but I haven't gotten that far yet!

Another thing from Sally - some very cute place mats with snowflakes stitched on them, matching napkins and some cute napkin rings the girls helped make - such a festive table isn't it?

... up on the roof top reindeers pause....

2011-12-08T08:17:00.002-05:00

Oh, wait, no… that’s the squirrels above the drop ceiling running around, disregard.

Ha! Can you imagine what will happen if one of those ceiling tiles happens to fall with one of those chubby little squirrels on it? All heck is going to break loose!!! There is a missing tile in one gals office and she turned around one day to see a squirrel peaking out at her. Ha! Love it!

The Bench with promise....

2011-12-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

One more of my MANY projects that are ongoing is this lovely (?) bench... to it's defense, it is a very sturdy and comfortable little bench... and it has springs... and for $10 it was really screaming to come home with me as my FIRST ever upholstery project. I MAY regret this decision yet!

the bottom is looking OK, but not knowing what those strings are all about.. to keep the springs from springing too far up? It's a mystery for now...

So, let the great reveal happen... Angela and I grabbed some pliers and started ripping off the cover to find THIS underneath... EWH. NOT what I was thinking would be under there. I'm not SURE what I expected but lovely 50's bridge scenes was not it.

Looks like the original/original fabric was in oranges and reds. No telling what that looked like.

Angela is definitely my helper of helpers, but she is getting grossed out by this fabric and it's age as well - ha!

string mystery solved. Apparently the buttons came off ages ago and the "fix" was to pull the string through the bottom of the bench and affix them to the side with nails. Interesting approach. I don't think I'll do it that way. But OK. Also the batting is very loose batting, so we opted to chuck it as well. The strings are stiff with age and heaven knows what else, so I think it's time to go back to the basics for this poor thing!

all that is left is the burlap. I debated removing it too, but it's stapled to the springs, and that's just a bit more work than I plan on doing. I will have to put another layer of fabric over the burlap to "help" it stay in one piece, but for now, it stays.

I have painted the legs white... but pictures of that process will come in a few more weeks as we make progress.

The &^#$%&( lockers

2011-12-07T16:44:00.000-05:00

After the parade, I decided to cut the back way and head on to the house - well, after Liz passed in the parade - and they were near the first ones in the parade, so it was early. I kept seeing blue lights flashing pushing me farther and farther from the house, so by the time I hit Green Street I gave up and decided I would see what Salvation Army Thrift store had to offer me this fine Saturday.

I wandered the store and found... nothing. Then I noted they were having a yard sale - they have a HUGE 3 sided pole barn setup outside the building, so I hoofed it out there to see what they had. They had lots and lots and lots of projects out there, but this one caught my eye. I have always wanted some old lockers to refurb... and look what I found for a whopping $15.00

This is the part both girls fell in love with - of all things - the cow stickers on the front of one of the doors. How very funny is that? They both want to be able to keep the cows. ha!

HERE is why I got them for $15 - two of the door are damaged. This door is the worst - I have no idea what could have ripped the thing off the hinges and NOT dent the door. That is some talent, for sure. However, being the pragmatic girl I am, I think the center middle can be an open shelf type area with contrasting colors painted... what do you think?

I'm telling you talent - the bottom hinge is ripped ALL The way off - whowzer - someone with strength!!

"Orange" you glad it's December?

2011-12-07T16:37:00.003-05:00

I've had a hankering to find one of these old type juicers for a while... and wouldn't you know it, I found one at Goodwill for a whopping $2.02 I'm telling you, it really IS the little things in life. I got this, washed it up and gathered ALL my oranges and tangelos from the fruit sale at schools - yes, as in plural. Both the High School and the Middle School band chose to sell fruit THIS year. Grrrr - so our fruit bowl over floweth.

Here is the "pile" of fruit to be done. most were still good - a few had some molding at the seeds - YUCKO!

So, I'm there juicing away happily when Angela saw what I was doing SHE wanted to try. Can you see something like Huck Finn here? No *I* want to do this, I have wanted to do this for a while... if you insist you can HELP with one or two... really, I want to do this, don't do them all - hahahaha. She did majority of them with me on clean up duty. We got almost a full gallon of juice - something I wasn't anticipating, and it is soooo good!

Being in the kitchen and seeing the wish bone it was determined it was TIME to wish on that bad boy... so they pulled ....

and readjusted fingers and PULLED... and pulled...

and the wishbone won for now... we'll dry this a bit more and try again in a week or two more!

High School Christmas Parade

2011-12-04T21:30:00.000-05:00

After a two hour wait while I did laundry at the laundromat ... here they come!!!

I see Lizzie - do YOU see Lizzie?

THERE is Lizzie and for once - on MY side of the street!!! Yeah!! I even got a sly wave from her (although a HUGE no-no in the parade from band members!)

And there she goes!!! By Lizzie - have fun marching!

And not to be outdone - with time off for Thanksgiving came some projects!

2011-11-28T17:38:00.003-05:00

A truly scary before on the right - this was BEFORE I scrubbed them. Ewh. Can you say years of dust and grease? GAG. however, to their defense, they really did clean up nice (left) ($.50 each)

And painted up even cuter :)

Have the throw in a non "craft" project - the backsplash all installed and looking better than it ever has!

AND Butch hung up my new mop/broom/crap hanger in the room as well! Yeah!! I think now all I have left to do is the vinyl and I'm DONE with this room and can move on to the Kitchen (insert sound of heels dragging!)

Ok, ANOTHER one that I swore I had a before picture of before I started. Hum. What happened to the before? I don't even know when I bought this for a whopping $5.xx it was on 75% off at my favorite thrift store and I actually had walked away from it and we had driven back out of town, however stopped at a local hamburger joint for lunch... while we sat there, we discussed this piece and figured out it would look cute in the girls bathroom over the toilet... and it sure does! We drove back and picked it up before it was gone..

The only issue it had was it was missing one of the wooden slats that separate the inside from the corner shelf. It's just thing bolsa wood, so I went to Michaels and found a piece just the right height... the cost? $5.xx So my $5.00 shelf is now a $10.xx shelf, but oh, so cute.

And started to be used to get some of the stuff off of the sink - yeah!!

I'm on a white kick and finally put the last coats on this cute little table as well.

Another very inexpensive find at $8.00 a little paint and wallah!

If you're thinking what I'm thinking... that the paint prior had a lot more "character" you're correct, but I haven't had the heart to "distress" this one yet...

maybe someone will give it a happy home where it won't be distressed? Hard to know for sure. I've debated putting it on Etsy to see if I could sell some of my finds.. but I'm not there yet.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T17:25:00.002-05:00

Our Thanksgiving could have been MUCH longer and made us all much happier, however, we're still eating Ham and Turkey - what's not to love there? Yum! I was the cook this year, with a lot of help from Angela. She has turned out to be quite the helper and a good hand in the kitchen as well. She helped inject Mr. Tom and get him all set with some Cajun season and everything - she loved it.
Our menu this year was: Turkey (roasted), stuffing, gravy, Ham, Sweet Potato souffle (thanks Sue Brumbaugh!), Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, strawberry jello salad and of course the olives and pickles. Can't forget the pickles and olives!

Sally was able to join us from Florida and Mom and Dad came over for the feast as well.

The table all set and ready to go with extra room added on to get everyone in!

Sally Making the gravy!

Of course we have to have three shots to get everyone in... I should have just photo shopped me in from the next picture (picking the best of course - ha!)

Think Angela is tired of getting her picture taken? ha!

The aftermath! Look at the turkey - all picked clean - oink! Kidding, my favorite part is to pick the turkey, so while we were all digesting, that's just what I did - I sat there and picked the turkey clean :D

After a little more digesting, we broke out the "Push the Dummy" and finished off the night with a piece of carrot cake, pecan pie or Pumpkin pie - your choice!

Angela even left a lot of turkeys outside for us too :)

Sunday "doings"

2011-11-21T10:43:00.001-05:00

Well after painting most of the day on Saturday, I really wasn’t motivated to do much, however had promised Mom and Dad I would work on their computer as they were getting new modem in Saturday and not hearing from them by Sunday via email let me know it was not working….

So.. after a VERY lazy morning laying in bed drinking coffee and reading the Sunday paper and catching up on a few taped shows…

I finally got off my duff and headed out to the folks in the late afternoon – like 2:30pm – so yes it was a very SLOW start to the day!!

After a little bouncing around and changing out to the new modem and a call to tech support.. we opted to see if it was the cable or the computer. I plugged my laptop into the cable and it worked. Hum. Weird. I opened the computer and the NIC (network Interface Card) wasn’t screwed into place… so when in doubt, reseat it and try again. So I pulled it out, reseated it and fired up the computer and it worked! So, there are/were two things in consideration, the modems power supply was as hot as a fire cracker when I pulled it off… so, really it could have been the issue all along – overheating, etc. Or it could just have been the NIC … hard to know for sure. So, Dad is going to see if he can find an alternate power supply for the unit.

And the best news? They are still up and running this morning – albeit with a few errors, they’re running. Always a plus!

So, that done, I was off to Lowes to figure out a return of the extra long mop/tool holder I had picked up. Apparently I only had 35” to play with, not 36”. Drat the fact I didn’t measure it before I purchased! Ha! Oh, well, that was fixed as well. I returned the too long one for a less lengthy one. Problem solved. I’ll have to mount that this week sometime as well.

I also had a chat with the Lowes cabinet folks who put up the Façade backsplash panels… to see what I could do about getting a LONGER piece of the edging material as it was pointed out that the shorter pieces put together would look tacky. Well, come to find out they don’t make it in longer lengths – just 18” which is bad because the panel I have is just wide enough to put behind the utility sink and give a little overlap to boot. Not bad! Well, after much discussion with these folks I have opted to go without the boarder and just trim it down to relieve it of it’s flat edge… looks OK cut too. Maybe I’ll boarder it with some vinyl swirls? Hard to know right now.. not sure I want to draw any attention to it at this point. I’ll have to cut it and start the install before I’ll know if I like it or not. Worse case it will look horrible and we’ll have to drop back 10 and punt with a new idea for the backsplash.

That taken care of it was time to think dinner. Goodness, for a day starting out so smooth, it’s getting a bit ragged, eh? I cheated and went to Publics – mostly to look for the creamer my MIL recommended (White Chocolate Raspberry)… which I found!! So I picked up some chicken and some potato salad and headed to the house to feed the hungry mob. I also fixed some biscuits and some gravy (thanks mom for those packets!) and heated up some left over Mac-n-cheese and called it a feast. Ha! Not really, but Angela’s friend who stayed for dinner called it one… boy she doesn’t get out much, eh? LOL

So much for me sleeping all Sunday with no guilt. Didn’t happen. Ah, well.

Saturday project and one more off the goal list!

2011-11-19T15:41:00.004-05:00

Let the project begin... all taped up, floor behind and under the washer cleaned.. now THAT was gross! There were at least three socks, a penny, some jewelry pieces and a lot of dirt and fluff back there! Bleck - note to self, clean that much more often!

where everything went while we painted!!

LOOK who my helper was today - she painted a good 50% of the whole place - especially above the cabinets and behind the washer/dryer! She was such a trouper!

one coat done!

So sad, I said "do the Vanna White Pose" and she had NO idea who Vanna White was. I'm so old!

We're almost done! The fish are semi-permanent - one goes on the back porch and they were so inexpensive when I got them (clearance of course) that I got two and the twin has been in the laundry since! I guess when the outdoor One (which is fading!) dies, this one will move out and I'll get a proper rug.

Now to put up my vinyl on the back wall (to the right in this picture - above the garbage)...

The more I do Laundry... the more I understand Nudism.

Not sure what color vinyl however...

hahahaha!

And if you remember correct this was done in the BRIGHT color of the three pack I had looked at color wise. I do believe the kitchen will go to the middle shade rather than this.. It's pretty - just NOT in a large amount in the kitchen. Lighter for Kitchen it is, descision made - however that painting effort will wait for another weekend. It will require removal of a boarder... not looking forward to that!

To work, or not to work....

2011-11-17T10:55:00.001-05:00

That is seriously becoming a debate in my head…

I am frustrated with my job. I don’t seem to accomplish anything on a daily basis… I try and I try, but it’s road block after road block after road block.

The level of concern or lack there of is scary. I guess that’s my issue… I care. Then again, I’m on the front line, I hear it from the users, I get complained to daily. The ones in the ivory tower don’t hear all the yelling and gnashing of teeth, we do. Not sure how to make it a point that this is killing us down here….

Band Night.

2011-11-15T22:01:00.001-05:00

Did I mention I KNOW these kids don't get their musical talent from me?They don't - Angela is first chair in flute and has a ton of talent. Liz is really good with clarinet and can pick out music by ear. Such talent kids.
Angela was playing with the Jr. High Bands and Liz was color guard in the back left.
I was VERY grateful it was an unseasonably warm evening and we saw all but one band perform - Angela had enough after 4 of the 5 High School bands had performed - couldn't blame her.

promised Photo from the ATL trip with mom

2011-11-15T21:33:00.000-05:00

Can you SEE what the draw was on the Asian antique store? To see this in a garage door type set up... very pretty and very EXPENSIVE at I believe $16,000.00 yes, I believe you read that correctly SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. It's pretty cool... but not that cool!

Blue Funks

2011-11-14T08:29:00.001-05:00

Ok, I’ve been in a blue funk on and off for the last month… can’t seem to shake it. Face book is doing a month of being grateful, maybe that would help me realize what I do have – what do you think? So here is a good start to maybe carry me through ½ of my month.

I’m grateful for:

1. The fact my car fits in the garage after a lot of cleaning and moving – nice to have a warmer car on a colder day

2. That I don’t live in Utah where it’s snowing and VERY cold

3. That I don’t have to shovel walks (I could go on for 30 days of that trend)

4. That the leaves are particularly beautiful this year in color

5. The fact my Christmas card photo shoot went OK and I have pictures that “will do” for a card for this year

6. That the girls actually enjoyed the Christmas card photo shoot and had a good time

7. That I didn’t attempt to put together my own cards this year and print them myself and fight printers and programs, and fuss about it until well after the first of December like I typically do

8. That everyone is healthy in the family

9. That Mom and Dad are healthy (with exception to your cold this weekend Mom)

10. That my family is all talking and on good terms with each other

11. That I had everything I could possibly want/need in a physical sense… when you look through the Sunday sales adds and NOTHING leaps out at you, you’re doing well, I think… I haven’t seen anything in there in a long time that I would truly want

12. That I am prepping one daughter to go to college because it means she’s growing up, choosing right decisions (college) and has the grades to even consider it as a viable option

13. That I have a good car in working order that takes me where I want to go

14. That I had some simi-disposable income that I can even consider taking my 2^nd vacation of a life time

15. That I had friends all over the world that allow me to plan for vacations of a life time

16. That I’m healthy enough to consider going on these vacations and seeing more of the big wide world

17. That I can consider taking Liz to Europe and letting her stay the summer with her best friend!

There, that should carry me through to part of the month of being grateful… there are always things that sap the energy from me.. like not being able to actually set a date yet, but this too shall pass… soon enough, I’m sure.

Georgia Southern University Open house

2011-11-13T14:34:00.001-05:00

Liz and I were up at the crack of dawn yesterday to participate in an open house at Georgia Southern University. boy, College dorms have SURE changed since I was in college. No more communal showers, no more communal bathrooms... each one has a bathroom shared by at most two individuals How would that be?? Wow... what a world
Right on the heels of the dorms in my college town being shut down for the final time due to a heating outage.. it was too costly to fix it... what a sad day in the world, eh? I did submit one memory that was highly illegal. We used to sneak up on the roof and just "chill"... didn't do much - well, with one exception I did Frisbee a horrible painting from my summer oil painting class from said roof. ha! I guess that would be considered littering.

All in all a very interesting day. She did talk me into swinging by an international fair in the local area that was a total bust.. of course it was 1pm and it was slated to close at 4pm, but still - maybe 10 food booths and that was about it. No-one seemed interested that folks were there to check out the fair and it looked rather teen agerish in nature and in construction. Interesting...

A long drive home, and that was my entire Saturday - what a day!

I take it back, I did have a photo from the day... Liz found a cyberman on a garbage can - and HAD to backtrack after we were done seeing everything to take a picture with MY phone - so it would be a better quality than she had on her phone :o) Geek to the core, that's my girl :)

Mothers, Doctors and trips to Atlanta

2011-11-09T10:23:00.001-05:00

Weird subject line, isn’t it? I agree, but it really is what the subject is.

After talking to others in my same age range with aging parents, I have to say I’m lucky. I’m very, very lucky both to have my mother still here on this earth with me and to actually like spending time with her. And I also have a great mother-in-law too, so I’m doubly blessed. I hear horror stories of parents in homes, parents who are highly dependant and have to live with the family – not that this is a bad thing, I think having older generations in the same house as a great thing for kids to live and learn to appreciate who their grandparents are as people. Note to self, have more family time with folks :o)

Anyway on to the subject at hand. Mom had a Dr’s appointment in Atlanta at Emory – the very same place I had my surgery back in 2007 (has it been that long?) so knowing the area was key to getting her there in one piece. Driving through ATL can be a challenge on a good day and impossible on a bad day. This was a good day.

I worked ½ a day and then picked mom up and had a nice lunch at Olive Garden (soup and salad – yum!) then headed north. We only made one other stop and got to Emory right on time – literally – got there at 2pm for a 2pm appointment. Hum should have planned that a bit better, eh? Either way, they didn’t look at us funny. Mom got in and out fairly quick for a large teaching hospital.

Now, if we headed home, we would get into traffic of schools, work, etc, so *I* had made some plans to go thrifting while there in a LARGE town.

The run down:

1. Finders Keepers (2134 N Decatur Road) – clothing, just clothing and nice clothing.. but tiny clothing. Not for me, thanks.

2. Last Chance (2525 N Decatur Road) – HUGE goodwill sort of place. Tempted by one console table. Good prices, but nothing screamed buy me

3. Buckhead Thriftique (800 Miami Circle #1600) – looked to be very nice – why I headed that way to begin with… but they were CLOSED at 4pm – what the heck?

a. Side stops here included one place with a moving sale banner that drew us in. Very nice, very high end, nothing there for me.

b. Antique Asian Market with a cart in their roll up door (picture forthcoming when I get home)

c. Note to self, this road is KILLER with shopping!!

4. Last Chance (yes this is another!) (5488 Peach Tree Industrial) same as the last one, smaller building with a very tempting hotel close out store next door, however, we were running out of daylight and due to NOT knowing the area and shopping thrift, not something I wanted to do in the dark, thanks!

5. My Favorite Place (5596 Peach Tree) right down the road from the last and the mother load of all fun things. My whole childhood was in this store… and some of mom’s too. Found a lunch box like Dad’s old metal one he took to work every day of my childhood… old rotary phones – the big black ones that I would love to have hooked up now in a house just for giggles. My mother-in-law has one in her kitchen that I just LOVE in a green. Had the wall one I found in this store been anything other than tan, I think I would have been more tempted to buy it just to mount to the wall (we don’t have a land line!) There was soooo much in this store it was scary and so much fun!! By far the best place to end our thrifting trip. Mom even purchased something at this one too – a nice solid rooster made of cast iron and metal – very nice one too. What did I purchase? Nothing – the whole trip – nothing was purchased by me… how very sad, eh? Not really, I have enough projects to last me a year.

The drive home was adventurous too. We ran into traffic on 285 just as we hit 85 – so I zipped over on 85 across to 75 south and zipped right along in the HOV lane (carpool) until we were just south of ATL and saw a warning of “all lanes blocked” at Cleveland street.. Where IS Cleveland Street? Not a clue… so I see the sign, just as I see a lot of solid red so I continued on 85 around the airport…. However, not before I noticed the “all lanes” was only in reference to the actual Cleveland exit… 75 was clear as a bell, drat it. Oh, well, just a few more miles out of the way and around the airport… zipped back over on 285 to 75 and headed south… doubled my miles the whole way – but better than sitting in a parking lot, I guess.

All in all a great day!!

Daylight Savings Time...? Really?

2011-11-07T10:47:00.000-05:00

This weekend was a full one (when are they NOT full?) We had a friend of Angela’s overnight Friday night and most of the day on Saturday.

The kids really enjoyed that part – they slept until they wanted to get up, they did nothing but play games on the xbox up stairs and visit, talk, eat, play… ah, the life!

We had to take Liz to the school at 4pm for her last football game and we headed to the fish fry. She was NOT happy she was missing the fish fry this year again – seems it always conflicts with football schedules in the last few years. Poor Lizzie!

We had a good time while there, Butch was flying kites and I was helping the gals with the fish (no complaints, as we get all the gossip while in there too!).. we ate and sat around and chatted by the fire late into the evening. We were some of the very last to leave and got home about midnight – just in time for Butch to get Liz from the school after her return from the football game (they won!)

Sunday morning I woke up LATE – looked at my clock and thought – WOW – it’s LATE, then looked at the TV and discovered it was changed already – well, lookie there, it wasn’t THAT late after all – ha! Good theory. I really didn’t sleep all that long as compared to when I went to bed and when I woke up, but let’s just say that it was over 8 hours… but under 10 J Ah, the life!! I got up to find Angela still at home and not on her way to church as she had overslept as well due to our late arrival home the night before.

We had another bummy weekend day lazing around, doing laundry and waiting for Butch’s 15 bean soup to finish in the crock pot – it smelled SOOO good cooking!!

I did a few more coats of paint on my projects – and even took a BEFORE picture of a few of the new ones (finally remembered). Ran to Lowes for more spray paint… let them dry one more time then moved them all into the garage along with my car.. yes, it’s true, the car is STILL in the garage.. now to keep it that way J

Today…. Sinus headache… what’s up with that? I did notice late yesterday there was a front or something coming through as it clouded up like it was going to rain… I don’t think it did actually rain, however. Hum. This morning seems to be fairly clear.

Goal revisited

2011-11-06T17:42:00.000-05:00

• Kitchen    ~~• Tile in the kitchen backsplash~~
   • Paint the kitchen (ok, these have to go in order – tile first – THEN paint)
~~• Master bathroom~~
   ~~• Paint the ceiling with the new ceiling paint I just purchased~~
   ~~• Paint the walls to match the brown in the potty room.~~
• Have the living room painted (by someone else)
   • I would LOVE to get some crown molding put up at the same time….
~~• Trees:~~
~~• Install screen door~~
~~• Paint the front door frame~~
• Sprinklers:
   • Find the sprinkler box UNDER the ground from when the wall was put in a year ago…
   • Get the new sprinklers laid
   • Borrow the trencher and put the new sprinklers

I think I first published these goals about a year ago... but look they ARE getting done. I'm still toying with the kitchen color. I think the current goal is to paint the laundry room first so I can see if I like the much BRIGHTER color for the whole room, or if I should tone it down for the main room.

So there it is in writing - PAINT ... starting with laundry room
how about I just get the laundry done today instead?
Yeah... that sounds good.
I did accomplish another coat of paint on a LOT of little projects outside today.. so that is something... not really the end goal, but something :)

Why I love my new buiding the photo explanation

2011-11-05T10:51:00.000-04:00

This is the hallway outside of my door - I'm actually standing in my doorway looking towards what used to the be the gym - that is natural light you see at the end of that hall - the hallway is flooded with light from the courtyard and from the big windows at the end of each of the hallways to left and right. Ah... light... the opposite direction has the same effect

Turning around facing into our room - what you can't see is there is a window the the left and right of this photo - albeit above the cubicle walls, it is still natural light into the room...

What I can see if I'm sitting in my chair and just turn around. There are squirrels in the trees too - and, well, in our ceilings for the time being too - ha! Small problem. Two rooms over there is a panel missing in the ceiling and the gal turned around to see a squirrel checking her out from the hole - how funny! This is also our FAT trap door... note the cube goes one third over the door -doesn't stop us!! I have since put two rugs - one inside the door and one outside the door for the dirt factor. :o)

My cube in the background... where I sit.every day for the better part of 8 hours. it's smaller than before, but really, I LIKE it... Even Butch said I'm a lot happier since I moved into this building. I really think it has to do with getting more sunshine in my day!

What I see when I step out the door... ah, it's so nice!! It's more of a fall landscape now with leaves changing fast.

the white building you can see to the right of the picture is the BX (clothing store, like a mini-target without the grocery store). they have a food court and this is where I will walk to most of the time for lunch. short white building in the FAR distance (not really that far).. is the commissary (grocery store) so no more excuses that I can't get to the commissary for shopping - drat it! Within walking distance there is a Pizza Depot that has everything from Pizza to burgers to salads. There is a bowling ally with a grill within walking distance and of course the BX food court with two sandwich shops, a Cinnabon (I have avoided it this far!), a pizza place, and a Mexican place. Ah... the life!!

Fall School Pictures

2011-11-05T10:29:00.000-04:00

NOW I remember why I don't buy school pictures!

This is SO not Angela - she isn't smiling big - she looks like she's in pain (or constipated!)... HATE this picture of her.... she is SO much more beautiful than this picture shows and something with the angle gives her a MUCH more rounded face than in reality. Horrible picture!

Liz's, I had to take a picture of a picture (from her school ID) because I don't know where her package went to purchase (thus couldn't get a good picture of it...)... I like hers well enough. But there are no glasses - reality is that there are glasses in her life. Hum.. interesting.

Even though I don't buy them, I do want to see them, look at them. Then take my own with their personality shining through :)

Happy Halloween (yes, I know this is late - we've been busy!)

2011-11-03T20:48:00.000-04:00

I think Angela changed outfits about three times before heading out.. she had this choice on first, then went to bride of Frankenstein (*my favorite!) then back to this - vampire girl :)

Her Friend - Miss M is a SkullAnimal person. Cute girls!

Not sure about the bloody bandage on her wrist, but it's an addition that couldn't be passed up given it was in the blood package I picked up for the night :)

Liz looks positively scary and actually answered the door to some trick-or-treaters and gave them a second thought about getting candy form this house! ha! Can you believe that is her MIDDLE SCHOOL chorus dress? Yes, she's a Junior now... and it still fits - it's a few inches short in the length, but overall the rest fits just fine.

Although looking horrible, actually a smile for me before she headed out... all alone with her sword in hand ... She never did catch up with her sister on their rounds.

They were all back in the house at 7:30 and 8:00 - Angela came home first, then Liz came in thinking it was closer to 9pm since it was dead (no pun intended) out here... Our last trick-or-treater came at about 7:50 - then NO MORE. I went through about 3 1/2 bags of candy where as we typically go through about 5. Weird event this year. It didn't seem nearly as busy I actually watched part of the Walking Dead (zombie apocalypse show filmed out of Atlanta for those not in the know) between treaters.. how appropriate, eh?

Hot Tub Season is now OPEN!

2011-11-03T07:06:00.001-04:00

Yes, it’s official – hot tub season is now open and in full swing… the tub has been heated and occupied for about an hour last night – ah, the life!!

Come on out and join in on the soaking!

College Meet and Greets and choices...

2011-11-02T08:27:00.001-04:00

Well, last night was a meet and greet with Georgia Southern University. We’re trying to get Liz to concentrate on a school or two to figure out just WHERE she wants to go. This could be interesting.

She has been to the SUU Campus (my Alma Mater) by default because *I* wanted to see how much it had grown and changed since the 80’s and boy has it!! It’s still a very small campus (only about 4 city blocks long and two city blocks wide), but has a lot more to offer than when I went there.

We drove through the GSU campus on Saturday night on the way home from the band competition in Statesboro and it was large, but looked to be fairly manageable and they have transportation on campus, so that is a plus.

There is an open house on campus on the 12^th, so I guess that is the next step – have her go there and see what she likes.

I should have all my nieces and nephews and even Sister tell her how great SUU is and the benefits of it as well. Butch doesn’t want her going that far away from home, however it could be an option in the future…. Or not. I think she is destined for a much brighter future than I could even dream of. We have even teased her about Harvard… maybe it’s not so far fetched…

So – for now, we keep visiting campus’ and see what she feels is a good fit.

Should I tell her Princeton is a very small cute campus too? Hee hee hee.

Tupperware....

2011-10-31T10:01:00.001-04:00

On our trip to Orlando this fall, I inadvertently left a whole Tupperware full of crackers as well as a jar of peanut butter in the cabinet of the Condo. Was it worth it to call the condo place? Do you think they would have kept it – it took me a few weeks to even discover it was missing? Sigh. Today I went over to the BX and picked up a replacement container from the Tupperware Lady… did I mention just HOW much I like my new office location?

I now have a door and a window to my back – which you would think would bug the crud out of me with folks behind me all day, but really I don’t mind as I can look OUTSIDE. This is a first – in 15 years with civil service and 5 years with contractors for the government and this is the first time I have a window, much less a door!!

I’m so thrilled with the cubicle I have. So thrilled that I can actually walk out the door.. even if it is a “fat trap” – aka it’s not to be used for anything other than emergency as it’s partially blocked with the cubicle furniture… thereby making it a smaller than normal opening.

Even with all the horrible flimsy furniture (plus side is it’s new), and the odd door, and the fact that it is a school house and still is very much so with the tack strips down the hall that everyone saw fit to decorate with cutouts for the holiday (yes, now it SCREAMS school house)… even with all that I LOVE the new place. Parking is wonderful. You can walk to multiple food locations: BX has sandwich shop, pizza place, Philly cheese place, and a taco place; class 6 has Churches Chicken; bowling alley; old NCO club has the pizza depot. AND the thrift store is also within walking distance. Yes, yes, I know – NOT where I need to go, but I still do!

I’m in love with my new work location!!

Concessions

2011-10-31T08:36:00.001-04:00

This was our last weekend with concessions too – this year I only missed one game. I had a sinus headache/migraine and just wasn’t up for it that night. I thought there was ONE more home game that I was going to ditch… one that they had swapped from a Friday to a Saturday. Turned out that was/is an away game, this last Friday was the last day our team would man the concessions – so I did my motherly duty as well as my school duty and did the concessions for my 3^rd year – yeah me!!

Band Competitions

2011-10-31T08:26:00.001-04:00

Last year there were three band competitions if I remember correctly – one in Southern GA, one in Atlanta (really enjoyed that one) and another to the west, I believe (we didn’t go to it).

This year there was only one and it was this weekend.

Do I have a single picture? Nope.

Did I care? Not really, I really enjoyed sitting there and watching the performance and cheering on the kids instead of worrying about missing a shot, and trying to get it “just so”… it was nice to sit, snuggle and watch the performance. It was COLD – 40’s which to some isn’t too bad, but for us warm blooded folks, cold!.

The kids did GREAT. They got excellent in all the classes and over hall “High Guard” as well. They were excited.

They still lost the overall best in show… but that is because there is a smaller band that goes for the “fun” factor and always puts on an excellent show (sorry Liz, but they really do have the entertainment factor down!) Our band is good, really good and really BIG. They are huge compared to most on the field and they can do some intricate work. However, they do it as a band does, without a “show” and without much more than the band uniforms… these guys were dressed like crash test dummies or road crew or something… and really hammed it up. Ah, well – our guys are good and very intricate and very formal :o) That’s a good thing too.

All in all a good weekend activity. Angela got to bring a friend with her, so was running back and forth to the concessions and here there and everywhere. Half the time wrapped in blankets, which I didn’t care because they were red, so I never really lost sight of them! Ha!

Project in full swing!

2011-10-22T17:56:00.000-04:00

Low and behold you CAN see the original color still from the bottom side. I guess I haven't perfected the art of spray paint at all angels yet and spray from my HIGH vantage point without taking height into consideration - woops!

All painted and looking loverly on the mantle with some tiny pumpkins :)

The full Mantle experience

BOOOOO!

2011-10-17T17:57:00.001-04:00

Just don't look up!!!

Woops - you looked up!

things still hanging around on the floor that will go outside come Halloween night (floor) and a rat infestation!

The mantle

Sofa table on the wall behind the sofa...

Project in the works

2011-10-17T10:10:00.001-04:00

Three vases/candle stands are being repainted... and would you know it, I forgot to take a BEFORE picture - drat it!!!

Oh, well. It was a brass vase (with scroll work sides, so not solid functional vase, just decorative), a candle stand in multi colors with the same type of open work and a solid ceramic vase that started out as a gaudy gold...

Let the painting begin - they are BLACK now and will go on my mantle with some pumpkins on top of them....

Photo to follow after I get the final coat of black on them… and if I think about it a shot of some of them where the original color still shows through – if I remember!!

A Universal Adventure!

2011-10-13T17:47:00.010-04:00

We were able to get a GREAT deal thanks to the Air Force Vacation club and booked a week in Orlando for a whopping $300 - yes, that was from Sunday - Sunday... We didn't use the entire week at the condo/apartment, but it was sure fun for the days we did spend there and for the price, we just couldn't beat it. We stayed at the Summer Bay Resort (http://summerbayresort.com/orlando_villas.htm) villas. I must say that they had a LOT of nice amenities there. Some of which you will see on this, some we'll just tell you about ;)

This is what greeted us when we went into our kitchen in our nice unit:

Living room/Dining room/kitchen combo - tiny but good for what we needed. To the right is the kids bed and bath and the left, master bed/bath.

Master bed/bath combo (with Liz visiting!)

Kids bed

Kids bath

After we settled in, the kids and I set off to explore the area - found a play ground to play

(note Angela's hair is sticking STRAIGHT up with the static from the slide - ha!)

Obligatory "pose" by the flowers :o)

Day 1 - Monday in the Park!! Universal Islands of Adventure - here we come!!

We had been told to go straight to Harry Potter as it would be the most crowded (they were NOT kidding!).. we went there and rode the Harry Potter ride - it's mostly 3D stuff and screens with a little bit of actual motion in the car... Angela even rode on it with us and seemed OK with it.. didn't DIS-like it, but has stated over and over NO roller coasters for her...OK. 'nuff said. Butch rode the dragon challenge roller coaster (feet are hanging) while the girls and I got some much anticipated butter beer - frozen cream soda basically with a cream on top - very cute!

This is the Hippogriph ride - you pass by Hagreds house and can hear Fang barking...

The view of the castle and a little of the track that for the ride - its a fairly calm easy roller coaster.. and Angela LOVED IT! She rode that thing over and over and over again!

Chilling with the butter beer my story got ahead of me! I guess we rode the Hippogriph first. ;o)

After Potter World we made our way through the rest of the park. Jurassic park had the LARGE water flume ride that we opted out of since everyone was coming off it dripping wet... no, thanks! We wandered into the Marvel comics area - fun stuff!

Liz and Angela could not resist the Bilge Rats ride...

and it was a SOAKER!!

Angela and I amused ourselves with a tea cup style ride for "storm" from the comics it was fun.

All the while Liz and Butch were riding the Hulk!!

From there it was off to Seuss land...

they really should have had the maintenance crew dressed as characters :o)

Look Hogwarts in the background!!

Poseidon's adventure was a fun walk through special effects show. Very entertaining!

And full circle to Hogwarts and BACK on the Hippogriph ride once with me, then two or three more times on her own :o) Ah, the energy of youth!

A trip to the candy store

(puking pastilles - it was scrolling down from her mouth to the bucket - ewh!)

And making our way out of the park!

Liz at the condo with her frog... it didn't get far, she ate it's head off first - poor frog!

Liz and I had Henna Tattoos done and Angela opted for two feathers in her hair...

Day 2 - Tuesday - bumming at the resort club house for the day!

Butch and Angela in the paddle boat!

THIS is where Liz and I chose to hang out instead - reading books!

WAY out there!

Cranes on the lawn

Cute little perch in the lake. I tossed a few pieces of fish food in to them them to leap out for the picture! They were fast little things!

Butch let Angela get the power boat for a 1/2 hour around the lake...

getting instructions...

backing out slowly and calmly...

and she's OFF!

On the way back to the condo, we stopped in the little water park in the complex - it was really cute - Angela was all over it... running around shutting off water, turning on water...

Butch even tried to get in the act....

And paid for his involvement by being soaked by Angela turning the water on him - ha!

Day 3: Universal Studios and the FIRST ride.

That REALLY is Elizabeth and Butch on the ride ... back car, 2nd from last

They loved it!

Off to the Mummy Ride! SCARY stuff!

She was really picking his nose.. just glad Butch was holding a hand, not picking a butt ;o) ha!

Yeah, Liz is DONE with me taking pictures - ha!

JAWS! I was the ONLY one who wanted a picture with the shark. I need to find the one from when we were about 10 and went to Universal in California!

... Another fun filled day over and on our way OUT of the park ...

I look worse for wear, but felt pretty good..

Pretty sunset!

Day 4. I had to ask my girlfriend Lesselle where the place we used work back in the 80's was... this is it - 1987 - bustling family hotel with a restaurant - Days Inn at the time... yeah, those were the days!

..and today is the day MOM rides the roller coasters. Most of the time they give me a headache from the movement and the jerking, but I must say the new ones now are SMOOTH and don't jerk you and are... really, really, REALLY FUN!!!

hahaha

another view of Hogwarts!

I tell you, they are set up for HORRIBLE lines, but where they don't have any - they suck! It took us the anticipated 5 minute walk to walk from the opening to the ride.. there was NO ONE in line.. they didn't even have anyone telling you what ROW to go in because, really - it didn't matter - they were all OPEN!! yes, it was that light of a load on this ride. Scary!

The candles were illuminated, but you can't see that due to the flash - very cute effect... even with the flash, I can't really see the way they're held up without zooming in!

After all the roller coasters it was time to get some lunch - the squirrel in the area had the same idea and just sacked out within almost reaching distance from us.. cute!!

From here forward there are no more pictures in the park because simply put - we did the water rides... and did them over and over and over... until we were soaked. We had put dry clothing into a locker at the beginning of day just for this reason. So... we rode them all - log rides, bilge rats, everything over and over until we were SOAKED then we rode the hulk (Liz and I) ONE more time before slogging to the entrance of the park and changing in the bathroom for a nice dry ride back to the condo.

The weather forecast was for rain all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday - so we bailed out for a much needed and welcome visit with Sally... we drove up there on Friday - out of the rain and into the sunshine. We had a great time visiting with grandma for the rest of the weekend - sure wish she could have joined us for some of the fun in Orlando - next time we'll plan further in advance so we can all make it down there!!

This treat should say the end... but Thing 2 works too :o)

Rain, Rain, Go away...

2011-10-12T07:39:00.001-04:00

Rain, Rain, Go away...I want to paint and can’t because it’s tooooo wet out there!

Questions on WHY braces again

2011-09-29T06:49:00.001-04:00

Ok, the question came as to Why? Why does Angela have to have braces again – didn't she just have them a few years ago? The answer is yes and here is why:

Because she's got BIG teeth and a little mouth. She takes after both of us – Butch's little mouth, MY big teeth (whinnnie!) – ha!

Ok, seriously, she was put in the braces the first part to keep things lined up and together as they stretched her little jaw wider (wider… wider…) so the first appliances were: bumper on the bottom to pull the lower jaw wider and a spacer on the roof of her mouth to crank the top open. The top four front teeth were wired together with braces to keep them from gapping and make room for the canines that were to come. So.. the jaw was wider, however, the teeth are/were still crooked while coming in and the canines really have little room to squeeze in there… but they are coming regardless. So – now comes the braces to align and straighten things as they come in…

AND looking at her x-rays her 12 year molars are coming in sideways… so her wisdom teeth may have to come out sooner than Liz's did…

Poor Angie!

Metal Mouth once again!

2011-09-27T17:26:00.000-04:00

Look who's back in full braces as of today!

A pool side home....

2011-09-17T13:49:00.000-04:00

OK, it's a silly place to build your home if you're a caterpillar, but it's such a pretty chrysalis... I don't know if we should move him or not at this point!

Jekyll Island field trip

2011-09-17T13:47:00.000-04:00

As soon as I got home from Utah, I packed up to chaperon the Jekyll island trip for Angela's class here: http://www.jekyll4h.org/
It was a very BUSY three days and a very HOT and buggy three days as well!

Our outdoor meeting "room" for the classes to start.

They had 6 classes a day - two in the morning, two after lunch and two after dinner!

First class MARSH

Meet a female fiddler crab!

They don't look thrilled to be holding them, do they?

Male fiddler crab

What IS that blur in the middle???? A HUGE banana spider (Golden Orb if you must know their real name) they were EVERYWHERE down there and huge and icky. Sorta glad this camera isn't too hot on close ups...

Why is the ground moving?

Fiddler crabs EVERYWHERE!!

It's spa day at the swamp...

They tell me it's wonderful...

The girls tried it...

Beach time! gathering shells and learning about the tides and the shape of Georgia's coast

and a night walk on the beach which was very nice as they were to be very QUIET - ha!

There are no shots from day two because I have discovered batteries in this new camera are short lived and they are (drum roll please) double A's - so not rechargeable. Needless to say this camera is going back. :o( Makes me sad, but I just can't handle the double A battery world when it comes to cameras. Thanks!

Day two they did bird watching, which was a bust because the gal who was teaching was too new and too scared to drive them out there on her own. Instead we got a mosquito infested walk through the brush near the beach. This is where I discovered that Bull Frog with mosquito repellent NOT so good on the mosquito part - GREAT sunscreen - sucky bug repellent - they ate me up!!

They also got to do seine fishing - during high tide and the BIG waves. This was a shock to us as we were told they wouldn't get wet past their knees - surprise. I even went in and helped and got wet to my waist with waves. Ah, well, it was cooler, that's for sure!!

We had a self guided explore the beach - that one was fun for even me. I just turned them loose!

They did some shore fishing - which was a bust, but that's OK

That night was the bon fire and smores. The kids really seemed to enjoy that and I was party to the first and best scare. Two gals had gone to their room to get something and were walking back when I encouraged them to sneak up from the darker side and scare people. Worked wonderfully!

the last day we were there we got to play with snakes and take a walk through a hot maritime forest. I was sooo glad when someone had to go potty and I walked them back to the cafeteria (closest place). Forests there are FULL of those banana spiders. No matter where you looked there was one of those things - even above our heads - ick!

All in all a good trip, but boy was I glad to get home to my nice shower and my comfortable bed!!

Camera...

2011-09-17T13:27:00.000-04:00

Normal shot... no zoom

Closer

Closer....

CLOSEST!

OK, although I like this camera for it's zoom,not so much for close shots. I need to find one that will do both well... this one is not the answer to this problem at hand... drat it

UTAH!

2011-09-17T13:23:00.001-04:00

OK, off to Utah!!

I got there on Thursday afternoon and we were able to go to Provo to see Sarah play in her volley ball game. Regretfully, they lost. After the fact we found out that they were playing varsity players against Sarah's JV team. That doesn't seem right,now does it? I think it was even their first game.

We stayed in a condo at Park City this year and it was so nice just to sit and visit and gab!

Linda and Gail met up with us that night and drove out to the condo where we set up "house" and visited!

Friday we snuck out and went to the expo - I think this is officially the LEAST time we have ever spent at an expo, however I was determined to just scrap and NOT buy... I did have to buy a little to get me through a 2nd book, however, I did just sit and scrap for the most part and finished two, yes TWO Christmas presents.

because of the nature of the present, I can just show you the STACK of photos I was working with the cull through and choose the photo's for the projects. I think they turned out really cute!

Our typical huge spread of tools and things :)

WHO can resist a purple cow? NOT us!!

Saturday Robert, Sarah, Linda and I went to Park City to play a while! This is Sarah and Linda waiting in line to get on the zip line. I didn't want to go because if you're too heavy, you won't make it to the bottom and will have to swing your way to the end... I just didn't want to be mortified like that, thanks!!

playing with the zoom on the camera I had just bought!

They were really THIS far away... however zoomed, they were CLOSE!!

you can see Linda in the above shot just hanging down in the air! Fun!!

And here they come!!!

closer and closer!

Sarah zipping past!

gotta love this gal's outfit behind Rob - ha!!

Next it was off to the alpine coaster... this is all gravity - and you go up above to where the zip line starts and zooom down the hill - here are shots heading UP the hill - none going down! I have to admit I did put on the breaks a few times!!

Next up was the slide - Rob and Linda riding the lift to the top! She has the picture of all of us, so you'll have to check her blog for it :)

Later that night - the dedicated scrappers (I was NOT one of them!)

Gail, Britney and Janet

The Bogglers :)

As always it was a wonderful time - we really do enjoy this time of year. We even got to go hot tubing one afternoon as well. Ah, the life!

Next year we're talking about doing a Creative Memory retreat... for a change of pace, so if you hear of one, let us know!

First things first.

2011-09-17T13:06:00.000-04:00

The tile was finished as I was literally getting into the car to head to Utah... so here it is - in it's finished state!

Have I mentioned I LOVE it???

Borrowed from my sisters blog (Library Linda)

2011-09-06T21:42:00.000-04:00

I'm going to steal this from Linda's blog because sometimes you just have to think about these things...

"What brings you joy? What do you just LOVE?" We were not allowed to answer anything that included newborn babies, ourselves, or our family. Those might have been the pat answers that any and all of us would have and could have answered. There were little girls who answered and they gave answers that were nature-related, like "flowers" "The ocean." Stuff like that. It was nice. Misty's ending though for us was that WE are the crowning creation of God. And I know that. I have a great deal of self-worth and appreciate the crowning creations of our Heavenly Father. But can I just tell you what makes me smile?

She hesitated to state hers... I'll share mine.
I think my first would be BRIGHT blue days with puffy clouds. I have a thing for puffy clouds. Why? I think it really stems from laying the grass in the spring and finding shapes in those puffy clouds... just laying in fresh green grass and finding shapes, animals, things in the shapes.. watching them change into something different... just "being"... Now instead of laying in the grass watching the clouds (something about age and bugs...). I will find myself laying in the pool on my back, watching clouds. Such a fun past time. It's been a recurring theme in recent pictures too... I find myself taking more pictures of clouds, sunsets, sunrises... just nature in general, most are posted on face book and not to the blog.

Just the other day I was driving to an appointment in the morning and had to pull over to take a picture across a field in the misty early morning... it was just beautiful... I like the dew on the grass... the peace of it all.

I enjoy early morning on the back porch, coffee in hand watching the squirrels play. I regret taking the peach trees out last year as they have nothing eat back there... so not a lot of squirrel watching anymore... the pecan is on the side and is producing nuts... so they're eating them, just not where I can sit and enjoy them :o| May have to plant another fruit tree back there!!

So there are my simple things... things that bring me joy (oh, and finishing long overdue projects! ha!)

What greeted me when I came in the door today!!

2011-09-06T15:54:00.003-04:00

Oh, so pretty!!!!!

And what I did to it once I looked at it closely...

What it looked like after I got hold of it....

Must say I love, love, love the way the glass looks between the back splash and counter at the bar - beautiful!!

Yes, I felt SOOOO destructive. I ripped out ALL of the travertine halves...

Why you ask?

Because I knew if I had to look at the way it was for the rest of the life of the kitchen I would go bonkers... and this, ladies and gentlemen is why:

The travertine on the right is MY travertine I pulled out - the travertine on the left is what will be going in it's place tomorrow. There is a HUGE height difference between the two and it looked nice from a distance, but a CLEANING nightmare up close. Sigh. It was soooo pretty though... but the problem will be fixed tomorrow with the new "shorter" travertine being put in. Crisis averted and it will look even MORE beautiful that it did the first time around!!

Goodness - looking at this post you really can't tell there is NO tile in the holes...

how funny (and sad!)

Projects, Projects everywhere...

2011-09-05T15:52:00.002-04:00

Here is the before for a project I have had in the works for a year... for those of you wondering - 1 year is the magical number - before I hire things done.

I should hire the yard done first, but honestly, I don't go to the back of the yard and all but FIVE trees are dead now, so it's a lost cause... so I fixate on the inside for now... and here is the before!

Tomorrow you will either see a during or an "after" look for this room :)

The hint of what is to come in on the counter... yep, you guessed it!! I'm excited.

Angela...

2011-09-01T20:59:00.001-04:00

Today, Angela is officially.....

60 inches tall... that's 5 foot - whoop!!

The doc said today that she's due a growth spurt... yep, just in time for winter when pants will be effected... it's about my luck ;o)

Congrats my now BIG girl!!

Projects spiffed up... and one more "complete"

2011-09-01T20:40:00.000-04:00

I have only fessed up to a few what this cake stand started out as before it became what it is...I think I have a bit more work to do on the process, but it's really cute and a few more tweeks and I'll be in LOVE with it.

One that DID get a tweak tonight was this one:

Finally using my robo for my OWN projects again :)

They come in three's... is a LIE

2011-08-31T08:58:00.001-04:00

Bad things don’t come in three’s they come in a mob… in my case the mob has grown to 5 and counting.

Car A/C, House A/C, Pool Pump, Big screen in LR, and now the washing machine… what the CRUD????

Sigh. Are we done yet, or can I look forward to one more to make it a nice even 6?

Please, please, please say we’re done!

Angela's "new to her" bed

2011-08-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

One of the things Angela kept talking about for her birthday was a daybed with trundle. I had put her off and put her off until right about her birthday and SCORED on this find at a local thrift store. I got the bed frame and the trundle for $50 total. I put about 2 cans of white spray paint into the project - getting rid of the brass accents.

Today was clean the room and get ready for the bed to be installed....

The beginning of the setup - putting the frame together

It's all put together and awaiting the final touches to make this "her" room again! Thanks Natalie for the cute bed skirt it worked out WONDERFUL!

Everything put back in place and ready to call it "home" again!

What happened to "things come in three's?"

2011-08-27T12:29:00.000-04:00

No, seriously, what happened to that saying? I think that God is playing some cosmic trick on us - or telling Butch and the girls to get out of the living room... our TV is now broken. :o(

The week in review...

2011-08-26T21:26:00.003-04:00

After going to load the picture of ONE project I discovered I have done a bit more... so will share them with you now...

What is this? THIS is the STACK of games that came out of the bottom of our linen closet in the hall - ALL the games. Why are they on my dining room table??? Because they are being sorted through and taken to the consignment store!! Why, oh, Why can't family live CLOSER when I'm in a culling mood???

This is the side that went to the consignment store... the left side above is the side that stayed. Of course the reality of games is that we tend to only play ONE game at a time... domino's for a while, then it was/is Push the Dummy. We go in fits and spurts! We did have one substitution and Scramble was rescued and Operation went to the consignment store instead.

Funny thing is I messed up and when bagging these to be shipped out, forgot the Chinese Checkers AND the lamp - drat it! They are still at the house waiting for the next drop off.

Project time!!
This looks silly in progress.
The idea comes from this:

but first and foremost this is where the idea was born:

full instructions on HOW to: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/04/pickle-jar-project.html

I had actually seen a black set done similar to the white originally, but can't find them.. could be the black one shown above, but don't really think so. There are a few variations on the black one to include Christmas as well. (http://theautocrathaley.blogspot.com/2010/11/fall-apothecary-jars.html and http://theautocrathaley.blogspot.com/2010/12/apothecary-jars-joy.html)

Again, I forget to take some of the core "before" pictures - like the raw glass candlesticks. Sigh. So forgetful sometimes. I did take a picture in the middle of the epoxy part however

Butch's scuba weights came in handy :o)

And finally on the mantle - not filled, but in place on the mantle now...
next up filling them with fall things. I saw a cute one with little pine cones and acorns...

Cost? Hum - $2.50 total with paint and glue as I've not used all the paint or glue.

And last, but not least... I went to do something out by the pool and one of my succulents is in bloom - how cute is that?

Put a fork in me...

2011-08-26T12:34:00.001-04:00

I’m done… as in – “put a fork in me, I’m done”

I was doing well until yesterday… then it was the beginning of football season (did you hear the crescendo in the music?) Yes, that means that I’m in Concessions again. The first night was last night – not thrilled with Thursday night games AT ALL. I’m dragging bootie this morning. I think I spent 6 hours between taking Liz to the game, getting to the concession stand, getting things set up and organized for the first game…. And having said first game against a rival in the next town didn’t help as we had a lot of folks in the stands to support their team! Ah, well, made the night go fast if nothing else!

Our team stocked and cleaned as we went, so we were able to get out of there before the game was over – 99% of the food was sold out and folks had stopped coming in. The downside to Liz not getting her license yet? I had to then go to the school and wait for her – I could have gone home, but really? Just to get comfortable then have to go back and get her, not really thinking it would be best… zzzz ha! So just under and hour was driving to the Hight School and waiting for the busses to get back and kids to file out… and Lucky Liz had Theatre cleanup – that’s where they meet before and after the games, so I’m sure it was a bit trashed…so it took longer than it will on the next Thursday game.

Angela was “honored” to be placed in the football band this year. It’s typically reserved for 8^th grade and only those 7^th graders good enough to be “honored” to be in it.. why the quotes? Ha! I don’t see it as an honor. It’s more work, less time for homework and a lot of work. However, Angela does see it as such, so I’m trying my best to put on a smiling face and support it. Sigh. Her first game was Wednesday – yes mid week – however, I was sooo glad it didn’t conflict with High School games. That could have been a fiasco and the first thing I checked was the schedule for conflicts as I simply can’t be in two places at once! Good news? They don’t conflict. Bad news? They don’t conflict – ha! They’re always on Wednesdays. Oh, this could be fun. The child who’s strugging with some classes will now miss a night of homework mid week. Hum…. Yes, she’s “honored.”

Other than that, the week has been full of painting and doing projects. The primary project being a daybed that Angela has been dying for (begging for) is still in the works, and almost finished. If I’m really lucky and don’t sleep all weekend, will get done and posted J I did finish one project Wednesday that will be posted shortly as well… so it’s not like the week was a total loss and spent doing Kids stuff, but it was close.

Oh, and an update on the “breakage” at the house for those who know about it all. I had the pool pump go out on Sunday the 14^th of August – just quit working with a poof of smoke – literally. I heard a funny noise and thought “oh, they must be using the log splitter next door” and went to the kitchen for a snack. When I looked at the pool through the window, I noted that the fountain wasn’t working. It’s not a typical thing for me to have the blinds open, so very lucky they were open. I had this thought of “OH NO” I had a thought of what that noise was now. Yes, you’re correct - not the neighbors after all. Sigh. So I dashed out, saw a bit of smoke, pulled open the switch and turned it off. Smoke in both the motor and the switch – fun. Sigh. Then Tuesday the house is again getting tooo hot to handle and I keep insisting that there is somethings wrong with the A/C and being told it’s just a heat pump, they can’t keep up with super high heat. It’s 84 in the house and only 95 – 98 outside. Yeah, something is wrong with the HOUSE A/C. Sigh. I’m hot and miserable and have to go take Liz to band practice and my Car A/C isn’t working either – nada, nothing. What the CRAP?? I’m Not happy about any of this and seeing dollar signs at every turn!

So – Wednesday is the “fix it” day for the pool pump. We opted to replace the whole motor with a quiet one. $600, but on the plus side the guy who did the work did more than promised for the same price quoted. Can’t beat that – he took care of some stupidity from the installer where they put the Polaris feed line before the filter – so our poor Polaris would always get gunk in it and clog from time to time. So, now that is fixed. Wednesday I also got my car A/C fixed to the tune of $288. The house A/C was on the “can’t convince husband it’s really broken” mode still. After another weekend where the temps soared in the house to the low to mid 80’s everyone’s on board and the house A/C gets fixed. Twice to the tune of $390. Yes, you’re correct… we’re now broke. Sigh. The good news? We should be good on these things for another 5 to 9 years.

Project - done.

2011-08-21T15:17:00.001-04:00

Where IS my mind lately? I totally spaced getting the before pictures of this one. I had seen it at my favorite thrift store. It was a yellowing white rubberized job with holes in some of the corners that were rusting and just looked HORRIBLE. Anyone else would have looked at it and thought "NO WAY"... I looked at it and saw this:

ONE less thing on the floor in there to deal with :)

Project done.

2011-08-20T13:23:00.001-04:00

The pedestal bowl

I had to patch a whole in the middle of it

After - all dolled up and holding fruit in my breakfast area.

Just to put this in perspective, I started this one on the 14th - however that's NOT the day I bought the piece. I think I bought it on or around the 8th and finished it on the 20th. So, although I am now trying to put all projects with the before and after... I'm trying to lump them into one post... not one long drawn out, have to reference back to see what it looked like end post..

In Three's....

2011-08-17T19:44:00.004-04:00

OK, things come in three's right? Well, the house A/C has been having issues "keeping up" in the heat. The car A/C went out the same day the inside air decided to let it be 80 in the house AND the pool pump went out on Sunday.

Sigh.
Today the car had it's A/C fixed and the Pool Man was to come this morning... well, after much delay, the new pump is IN!
This after an initial greeting of "uh...." and a that ain't right. A discussion on the Christan merits of the past builder (*yes, I did clarify that the situation he left us in does NOT qualify him as a GOOD Christian in my books).. and further discussions of "that's not right"... der... ya think?

BUT on the plus side, he didn't charge me any more than the first quote for the pump - so the Polaris is now feeding from the correct location AND I have a nice quiet pump for the pool. Yeah me!

AND the car A/C is fixed as well - all by 6pm. Not a horrible day considering I got to go to lunch with Mom too :o)

Wild Hairs and Organization

2011-08-16T21:42:00.001-04:00

Don't ask, I have NO idea what is WRONG with me lately... but I am compulsively cleaning and organizing and doing projects. Yes, I know, I know.. STOP. Right?
Well, I was walking through Lowe's to get some spray paint to paint Angela's new "to her" daybed (project pictures to come in time) and found some nice heavy duty containers and had a thought to organize my coat closet.
i really should have taken a before picture, but didn't. this is 10000 times better. All for $25 in bins. I need to go through the closets in there, but that's next. There were a few things in the closet that are going to the thrift store next week (some candles and candle holders that I just can't see using anymore (the wire ones that hang the candles).... then watch someone will come up with a cute craft project and I'll think "I had those in the closet and sent them to the thrift store -that was dumb" ha. A chance I'll take, thanks!

Next up was the pantry today. Yep, another case of "what is WRONG with me!"... however, you have to admit it looks wonderful (and yes that is TWO packages of Oreo's you're seeing there!) Note also I'm just showing you ONE shelf ;o) The rest is still fairly trashed! I did go through the rolling bin at the bottom and get some of the older jellos and stuff that we NEVER make out of there... Now to just keep on top of it will be the trick...

Birthday parties Oh, MY!

2011-08-14T20:09:00.001-04:00

it's a little late in coming, however with school starting on the 1st, it's hard to commit to a bday party RIGHT after school starts. My theory is to get her to make some new friends and THEN have a party. it worked to some extent with ONE new face in the crowd - so that's a great thing!

Roxanne, Angela, Sydney, Grace, McKayla, Marina

Opening presents

Blowing out the candles on the cake

What happens when Mom turns her back for TWO seconds...

Lord have mercy - 12 going on 2?

Project completed

2011-08-10T19:59:00.009-04:00

Well, here it is in it's beginning glory. Where I failed was the before picture. It was about the same color as the lamp started out. Brownish/bronzie color.

A little antiquing to take out the BRIGHT red factor

regretfully, I don't like the red on burgundy look this has so it's been since moved out of this bathroom and placed on the edge of the tub with a bright red vase instead. Hum... bad color combo - note to self, put reds together before committing. I think what I'll do is paint it BLACK and then distress it to have some red/bronze show through. What do you think?

Rain!!!

2011-08-10T07:37:00.003-04:00

Over the last two days we have had some LARGE thunder storms with a lot of lightning and quite a bit of rain!!

We had .7” on Monday (8^th) and 1” on Tuesday (9^th)

Now the only issue I have with this, as we really need the rain, is that it comes in a HUGE downpour and we get all that rain in about an hour then there’s not a drop after the deluge!

I guess beggars really can’t be choosy about it, eh?

Lamp Project done.

2011-08-09T15:59:00.001-04:00

Much more "teen girl" than the one that was in there before.

My FAVORITE!!

2011-08-08T13:55:00.000-04:00

This one is by far my favorite project so far. the original had a piece of metal attached to the finial that I removed. Looks like it used to have a 4 sided glass shade that bit the dust ages ago. The base is ornate and pretty - just HATE the color!!

Oh, so pretty in white...

I'll post when I get a cute shade for it! it's going in Angela room for her dresser....

there may be a few things that get a bit of a makeover in her room.

A jewelry box is SCREAMING for a bit of paint :)

Used to be that I would vinyl everything -

now beware, I could PAINT you if you stand still too long!!

Now some of you are probably wondering just WHY do I do these things? Well, I just don't know... I felt the need to surf the net last week, found a bunch of stuff on the DIY pages with Pintrest so I was hooked. There are soooo many cool ideas of things to do with Goodwill finds.

It all started with a wooden bowl... but have I done MY bowl project yet? Nope. That one requires a drill with a countersink. I'm just not worked into doing that one just yet... but I'm getting there!!

What is the cost you ask?
For the three projects you have seen so far and two more you have not:
Thrift store cost: $11.00
Paint: $8.00 (estimated becasue I can NOT find that receipt - but two spray cans of paint)

So - who can say that they have gotten a lapbase for less than $19.00 that would have THIS much character?

One more!

2011-08-08T13:46:00.000-04:00

Dirty little thing, isn't it?

I'm sure it was used for condiments in ages past...

Now it's used as my catch-all for keys and box tops for education, tape and receipts.

May need a little depth added - what do you think?

Antique it or leave it as is?

The necklace tree in the bathoom...

2011-08-08T13:43:00.003-04:00

One more project down

2011-08-07T12:30:00.002-04:00

well, it started out the natural wood color:

This paint is the one that matches the girls bathroom. It's a very (and I stress VERY) light lilac color:

What do you think??

First day of school

2011-08-01T21:32:00.001-04:00

Angela

Entering 7th grade

In her own words, now in the MIDDLE of the food chain!

Liz

Entering 11th grade

Scary that my "baby" is now a Jr!

The only time they're together now for school is the bus ride in the morning.

What LIZ really feels about this whole "summer is over" business!

Day 5 post - op and almost back to "normal"

2011-08-01T21:22:00.000-04:00

Not too happy after a HOT day on the band practice field to catch up on what she missed with the tooth removal.

maybe she won't flub it all tomorrow at "official" band practice? Hum... follow the leader Liz, follow the leader!

Inspirations and projects

2011-07-31T11:21:00.002-04:00

well, after spending three work days home two of which timing ice packs, so not really having time to settle in and DO much, I started surfing blogs. I found the following inspirational blog: http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/p/good-eats.html She does some phenominal work... so I got to thinking about an item in my house that doesn't quite "fit" in the color it currently is...

In my burgundy and brown room, this one is just too WHITE to fit in properly, so the seeds of the idea were struck. and the transformation began!

First painted red to be more in fitting with my room:

Then antiqued and put in place:

Liz has lost her wisdom...

2011-07-29T21:16:00.003-04:00

Wisdom teeth that is.. poor Liz! She went in last Wednesday to have it done. It went OK for her, but she sure puffed up like she's hoarding marshmallows!

Shhhh - you're not supposed to take pictures in there :) Couldn't resist!

All trussed up and ready to go! No IV just yet.. but it's coming soon!

AFTER - no more wisdom teeth! Not sure where the before is... somewhere in my archives of stuff :D

Looping our way home... NOT happy with my taking a picture of her at the stop light!

Settled into the bed her little sister kindly set up for her... favorite blanket and all - ah, the life!

Later in Day 1 when she can actually walk better and not 'tilt' so much - ha! Slightly puffy... but not bad.

REALLY puffy on day 2 - we did the walking thing a bit... get out and move and get out of the house...

Day three - either I'm adjusting to the new "look" or she's going down just a bit on the puff factor. She's able to eat easy to chew things - even wanted and was given hash browns for dinner tonight :o) Ah, to be the injured spoiled one.

Indianapolis Continued

2011-07-26T16:54:00.001-04:00

Well, as is par for the course, work travel = food and hotel details.

We were in the Sheraton downtown Indianapolis.

The view would have been GREAT however the city is a mad frenzie to repair EVERYTHING in prep for the Superbowl so even the lady at the top of the center of the circle was taken down for refurbishing AND the fountains surrounding it were fenced off - very sad. The good new? Next year we'll be here again, so we'll get to see it in it's full glory then.

View from my room of the rooftop pool, I had grad plans to go to it, but never did. I even brought my suit and we had the highest temps in the last 12 years while we were there. Lovely, eh? Right in the middle of a heatwave. Yuck!

Of course the room - to include the potty below - small, but efficient

Night one was actually Ruth Chris Steak house. I'm still in shock at the cost - not really. I knew what it would be... however, still have a little issue with $65 for a steak, one side (we split between two of us with each picking up a single side) and water... mostly because the waiter forgot I ordered wine - what a goober. Oh, well, I didn't need it, right?

Day two, meeting began and four of us decided to hit the challenge spot of Bub's Burgers. Finish 1 and you get a 3x5 picture on the wall - there were a LOT of those. Finish 2 and get a 8x10 on the wall - fewer. Finish 3 and get a small poster size on the wall - 11x18 - much fewer of those. Finish 4 and get a life size poster on the wall - only ONE of those.

The Challenge Burger!

The rest... I got the middle one on here 1/4 lb was enough for me!

Jason and Jerry decided the challenge was ON

They both finished without much effort. They even had ice cream AFTER - yes, both of them! Jason commented after the fact he could have done two, no problem. After last year, I have NO doubts!

More meetings and another dinner. Weber Grill - one of the ONLY ones outside of Chicago. It was good... and this isn't perspective until you see the person working with the meat - they are BIG grills.

OK, maybe the steak size will tell you - those are full size steaks.

More meetings and a wrap up at RAM Brewery where two of the folks got a heart attach on a bun - but it looks OH so good! That's onion fries, hamburger, cheese, ham, bacon, egg on that burger. It was said to have been VERY good.

Mine was a Blackjack burger with the edges rolled in black pepper, but not overpowering. then with pepper jack cheese. Very good, but I should have gone for the egg one!

what the square should look like. The tower actually holds an elevator and stairs and an observation deck at her feet.... this was the wallpaper at the elevators. maybe next year you'll get a color picture of the real thing?

When I got home, it turned out to be puffy cloud type of weather... I LOVE puffy clouds!!

Indianapolis

2011-07-19T17:03:00.001-04:00

Ok, so here I am in Indianapolis...still wondering if there really IS anything to DO here. I have been to the mall around the corner. A nice 4 story one. there is a theatre there, so I could go to a movie there. Maybe I will - tonight I am going to Bub's Burger made famous by Man vs. Food from the food network. The one who loves challenges isn't interested in going to this place, but I'm going to go with some of the others and see what it's all about because TDY = FOOD for us :) Not sure that's a good thing, but when out and about might as well get some good grub out of it right? Last night was Ruth Chris Steak House... $$$ but oh, so good!
I chose to go computer less this trip and do ipad only - I may regret that choice as no photo's can be uploaded until later. May not be much photo worthy here either way - time will tell. This is night #2 and just getting into the swing of things with all in attendance.

Day 10 - 11th July

2011-07-17T16:24:00.000-04:00

And departing from Alaska. What a fun time we had. What adventures and fun sights.

Happy 80th Birthday DAD!

That would be the tallest peak in the background...

not sure of the name as we were not near it, just flew by it

This is glacier bay from the air...

looks to be quite an impressive glacier.

Day 9 - 10th July

2011-07-17T16:21:00.001-04:00

Last REAL day in Alaska - everyone else is heading home.. and things to the CHEAP part of me, Mom, Dad and the girls and I are staying ONE more day. The mix up and the fact that Butch went back a day prior is due to his use of sky miles to get there.

We headed out to Seward to the Alaska Sea Life Center (http://www.alaskasealife.org) It was small but very nice and you were able to touch a lot of the soft corals, and the star fish. The downside? They pipe the water in from the bay at about 200' down and 45 FREEZING degrees, so no-one keeps their fingers in long. The anemones were cool - they would stick to you for a brief second before loosing grip. Fun stuff for even the diver in me. I like to touch things and in diving, you wear gloves!

After the Sea Life Center, we dropped by Exit Glacier. We didn't think we would hike to it, but they said it was an "easy" 1.5 mile round trip hike. Well, they were half way right. It was VERY easy for young girls with me, fairly easy for 46 year old me, and VERY hard for 70+ parents. Dad and Mom were fussing on the way up, which lead to a mishap with dad. Mostly because Dad didn't really have his land legs back after a week on the water every day. All was well, but one little step off the trail on his part lead to about 10 years coming OFF of mine, thank you very much. Sigh. BUT - stubborn man (and I say that with a lot of love and admiration) made it to the TOP! Mom quit about 20 vertical steps from the top and a lot of loose rock and a lot of "stair" action.

The view from the road looking at the wash plain where the water is melting from the glacier.

believe it or no, we are 90% of the way there at this point - the little trail you see in the back ground is just about the final hump to the overlook where we stopped.

The overlook. The girls went just a bit farther up - about 1/3 down the picture on the right - there was a little overlook there too - you were not to go to the edge of the glacier as the rock was VERY loose and the ice is melting from the bottom, therefore you can literally slip UNDER the glacier in a worse case scenario. Not good. There were some fools going under the ropes and scrambling down loose shale rock to the edge of it just so they could "touch" ... just glad they are still alive!

Streams of water flowing from the top of the glacier... and the deep blue of it. This one didn't CRACK very much... I just heard ONE as we were coming up to it and let me tell you - the wind coming off was FREEZING which for the first few minutes feels good, then it gets downright cold. This is such a drastic change from the hike up where you are positively WARM for the first time on the trip! We did see clouds of mosquito's, however, none of us were bitten. On the way back DOWN the trail, I had my hoodie off flopping it around to shoo away the little buggers!

Liz's picture from the edge... she went to the "end" of where they could go...

you can see a bit of the gaping at the sides.

Then we headed down. Dad gave me ONE more start on a step - his heel caught and he stumbled towards the edge, another three years gone! I grabbed his side and refused to let go of his hoodie until we were OFF the steps - good thing as there was one more heel catch. Goodness... I'm too old to loose that many years! Liz went ahead to check on mom who we had (this sounds horrible) left on the side of the trail. No, really, we left her sitting on a step and continued on. Well, she had gotten the wise idea to head down. Liz got to where she had been and NO grandma. She got a little rattled, so I asked someone coming UP the trail if they had seen her. They described her and said that she was heading down slowly and doing well. She was asking each passing person to help her over the rough parts (good thinking on her part) and making her way away from the pesky bugs.

Liz finally caught up with Mom and we finally caught up with the two of them. THEN we found out that Liz had fallen as well - she had been running and hopping down the trail, but it wasn't until she slowed to a walk that she tripped and skinned both knees! Good thing I wasn't there to fret over her too, eh? ha! So - no more hiking for Grandpa OR Liz for a while :o)

What and adventure!!

I would have taken a picture of the part of the trail that dad experienced "up close and personal" however, when it happened, we just wanted to know he was OK and not hurt. On the way back, Liz had my camera, so opportunity missed for that picture.

However, I did get a good wildflower picture on the way to the car!

Day 7 - July 9th

2011-07-16T21:44:00.001-04:00

Because I had hit my limit, Angela was able to go fishing in my spot... doesn't she look thrilled? Butch went this last day and Sarah took the extra spot on the boat that was open.

Lizzie kissed a fish... why? who knows...

I just knew I didn't want fish lip kisses!!!

heading out for the float trip - aren't we all attractive???

listening to the instructions....

Not sure what she's thinking... not sure I want to know - ha!

OK, by the end of this float I didn't want to hear "look there's an eagle" again in my life! ha!

we went down a few riffles (Linda calls then, I just report them) and they were very easy and fun... but this is the Kenai and VERY swift - although very shallow on occasion.

Poor Angie had to pee... she tried to hold it and made it a few more minutes before calling it and asking for a potty stop... only to have the poor guide get out in VERY swift water and a very steep slope into the water and get a LOT of water in his boot and all the way up to his crotch - I felt so bad for him. The other potty options in the middle all had fishermen on them, so he was trying to be nice and find a more secluded spot for her business :o)

The wet results of the potty stop. And not a single critter on the float with the exception to the "e" word. Really - then what do we see on the RIDE back to the launch?

MOOSE!

we got home rather late for us and it's really dusky - it's almost 11:30 now...

campfires even in daylight are pretty nice!

it's now 10pm or closer to 11pm when we took this picture... overcast so a bit darker than normal.

What was at this overlook.

For all the non-mosquito experience we had at the camp and everywhere else we went - this overlook was LOADED with mosquito's in the woods. I guess it was just the right time and place to see a LOT of them - darker and not very windy and they were out in droves. But I didn't get a single bite - amazing!