Moving, Moving and Moving

Oh my gosh it's been a busy past couple of weeks!! Chris has moved into his own apartment...He and a friend from work have taken the big rental plunge together. It's a nice apartment complex on a golf course..neither play golf..but next summer I can see them both hanging out at the pool and checking the views out (and I'm not talking about the golf course!). So here is a pic. of the view from their front window. It's really pretty and across the 'pond' is the club house.

So...after the announcement from Chris that he was moving out things sorta snowballed. It became necessary to find Lance and Nathan an apartment. Thankfully I found one right a way and I have to pat myself on the back!!! I love this little place! To me it's 'homey' and I do mean that in the old fashioned way. It's in a quite area of Bentonville and the security can't be beat since it adjoins the Walmart general office's property. Nathan took pics but hasn't sent them to me yet. But I did take a few pics of the necessities of a bachelor life and a pic of them on the phone trying to get their internet hooked up! Okay these pics are at the top of the page....my laptop has decided to go stupid...or...maybe it's the operator....

So anyway, we have a HUGE storage unit in Rogers that is holding the household items/furniture that we couldn't get moved all at one time to Mtn. Home or situated with the boys. So we'll go through it a little at a time and then rent a moving truck and bring it home. Plus we have to get our house ready for it! Which involves repairs and moving my mother's things up to her house....slowly but surely.

Okay, gotta get around and take our beautiful Shasta to the vet!!! I think she'll finally get her first shots today!!!! I can't wait to see how much weight she's gained and for Dr. Robbie to see how well she's doing! She is so spoiled!!!

Finally some Good News!

It's time for some good news.....I haven't blogged about the latest additions to our family because it's been so hard. Bailey (our Bassett) and Buster (our Boston Terrier) gave us 14 precious babies on July 27. One didn't survive delivery. Bailey had a really difficult life before we adopted her last October, we can only imagine what she indured. So because of her past she wanted nothing to do with her little ones. She gave birth and that was that....thankfully I had two extra hands with my mom! Between the two of us we took the majority of the pups out of the sac and cut the cord and tied it off....and then went to feeding every two hours! Plus hubby helped with the feedings. When I fed by myself it took almost 2 hours to get all 13 fed...I'd get done just to start all over again. A lot of sleepless nights. Well.....it appears that the Good Lord has some Angels who really needed some precious puppies. Over 5 weeks we lost all but one puppy, Shasta. I went through so many pairs of contacts with all the tears....the puppies started developing hip issues and I feel that many were underdeveloped. So when only Shasta was left I took her to the vet that day...mom and I couldn't figure out what was wrong...neither of us are inexperienced with raising puppies and we knew we were doing everything right...but there had to be something we were missing. Thankfully we took Shasta in when we did...because she had so many issues she wouldn't have survived..but it was also comforting to find out that we had done everything we could to save the other 13...it was simply a no win situation from the beginning due to the fact of such a large litter and no immune system from their mother. The pain is still there from loosing all my little babies. When I took Shasta in Dr. Robbie was not very positive on our chances of even saving Shasta. She is most deffinitely a special needs baby or 'baby in a bubble'. She has absolutely NO immune system. Plus mommy passed on worms and a really horrible parasite to her through the womb. Her stool sample was horrible 10 days ago. Robbie gave her a 50/50 chance of survival and that was very generous. Well, today she went to see Dr. Robbie and she has gone from 1.8 pds to 2.3 pds!!!!!! in just 10 days and her stool sample was perfect!!!! So we have made it through a week and a half with flying colors!!! We take it one day at a time and then celebrate each week! She won't go back for 3 weeks (unless I feel she needs to) and then we'll evaluate and she'll possibly be ready for her first shots. She's going to be approximately 2 months behind other puppies on getting shots and such. Dr. Robbie was very impressed with 'mommies' meal concoctions for her!!! Only the best for my baby! So above is a picture of Shasta several weeks ago....and above that one is a picture of Liberty born about 2.5 weeks before Shasta and her siblings. Liberty is Shasta's best friend....and Shasta likes nothing more than beating the crap out of her! Liberty isn't much bigger than Shasta so their relationship works out good and Dr. Robbie said it was fine....she needs the stimulation and activity. Shasta also has a skull problem...when she first saw the Dr. he was real apprehensive about this issue. It's the same as newborns having a soft spot on their head..only Shasta's will probably never grow together completely. So that means that parasites can get in through her skin into her skull and also we have to be careful with blows to her head because there's no protection. But Dr. Robbie was surprised that the split has gotten smaller in the past 10 days...something he didn't expect! So we're hopeful....but careful. Shasta has her play crib in the family room and loves to play with her mama Bailey and Aunt Sadie through the mesh....Liberty has also figured it's safer to play with Shasta through the mesh also..I thinks he gets tired of being beat up by a 7 week old puppy!!! I thought my days of mixing formula and buying baby food was past....well, I guess not! But if it keeps our Shasta healthy then it's worth it. Shasta has such a sweet spirit, even when she's growling and barking! Each time she's gone to the vet she's made new friends and made an impression on the other patients and their human parents....and her Dr. thinks she's adorable!!!! And as a special needs puppy mom...it's great to have a vet who you've gone to school with from kindergarten and can renew a friendship with! Thank you Dr. Robbie....who would have thought that bratty boy would turn into my hero!

The View From My Window!

Yes! I get to see this site every afternoon! We have several deer that come up to our back door to check on us and have their evening meal. The little one still has her/his spots!! It's soooo cute! Sometimes they pay a morning visit as well but mainly keep to their afternoon/evening schedule. I'll stand at the window and wave to them. Behind our home is the fields of clover that we planted for my horses. I'm so glad the clover keeps coming up and these lovelies can enjoy it.

So yeah, I know it's been a while.....Time just gets away some times. Terry is loving it here although he's fed up with his schedule and no one wants to change it to make it any easier. He changed it but then was told that it can't be done that way for one reason or another....mainly BS! I am enjoying the move also. It's nice being back close to family and attending family events like my nephew's birthday party and the emergency call that he was in the hospital!! He's fine now...had to have his appendix removed. It was nice not having to worry miles away...I could worry close by in the surgical waiting room.

The draw back has been the amount of work that needs to be done on our new home. Oh my goodness!! Our To Do list has doubled and naturally the cost has tripled. Putting off getting these estimates for the repairs...we'll just deal with as it comes. If we didn't have bad luck we'd have no luck at all!

So my dear Bloggie, I will try to do better and keep you updated more often. But right now I have to get ready to take Shasta to the vet....I've lost 13 of her siblings...just can't take the chance of more heartbreak....have to do everything I can to keep her safe.

Last Day

Well today is the last day of work out of the Bentonville office for hubby. Not sure how sad he is to be leaving here. I know he's going to miss a lot of his customers and many of the guys he works with...however, the big boss here will not be missed! So as he was saying good bye to everyone I spent most of the day in the Drs. office trying to get my blood pressure down. It did it's little spike thing and decided to impress the Dr. with a whopping 200/153!!! So Doc hit it with all sorts of combinations of pills and finally after 2 hours brought it down to an almost reasonable level and then sent me home feeling totally wiped out. So then I slept most of the afternoon with Bailey beside me and Sadie and Buster at my feet. So more drugs to take and instructions from Doc! Darn I forgot to get that note from him saying all I could do is sit and supervise with all this moving going on! Not sure when we will head over to MH to get started on getting the house ready for us to at least live in...thankfully we can still move in before fixing the things that need to be fixed. I still have to go grocery shopping for the boy so they won't starve. Okay, getting off so I can go pick up all those prescriptions and get something for supper together.

Reality is Depressing

Yeah, I knew it was coming soon and I really, really thought I was ready...but now I'm not so sure. I've spent all week here in MH helping my mom sell and take some of her stuff up to her home and I've been okay. But tonight hubby gave me the date of July 6 as the day he has to be in Batesville...OMG...I'm NOT ready! I want my dogs, cats and birds here with me!!!! And I just don't see how we can bring them over yet when everything is in such a disorder...ceiling has to be replaced painting done and we don't even have a bed to sleep in yet. I think this is only second to the overwhelming feeling I had when we moved back to AR from GA and left Lance and Chris there in GA. I really could just sit down and cry... So if you come by please bring kleenex!! So anyone involved in this ordeal reading this I'm sorry...I'm not out to hurt feelings...this is my own battle with myself. I am happy to be moving close to family I just have to wrap my head around everything else going on and deal with everything that needs to be done. I don't think it's odd for me to be feeling overwhelmed at a time like this. I'm going to miss my boys even though I can visit them a lot....they won't be with me daily...even though it's a bit much at times. I'm a mother hen who doesn't like my chicks out of the nest...and yes I do remember how old they are. But they're my babies...

Life Happens

Just when you think you have a plan LIFE HAPPENS! As mentioned before we have a plan set up to 'eventually' move back to Mtn. Home. It's a year to year and ahalf plan that will/would work out great for us!! It's all set up, even on paper..it looks so good! Then LIFE HAPPENS..hubby was offered a transfer starting basically immediately...or at least within the next 2 weeks. Uhhhhhh.... They're re-routing and wanting to get rid of the current tech on this route and have offered it to my hubby. There is so much to do to our new home...and we thought we had so much time! If we wait the position may not ever come available again...so do we have a choice. Is this a God Wink? My mother who storms Heaven daily.....she says she hasn't been praying that we move soon...she's been praying that we move at the right time......I might need to add that in the past her prayers have proven to have great strength! She must have a lot of pull with someone! At least we won't be pulling up with a moving truck...it will still be a gradual move and we will have a lot of time to get our stuff there....it's just the stress of having two households! WOW..and do I need to mention the stress on the boys??? Is live ever easy????

Date Night

I know we should do it more often but it just seems we don't get the chance but this weekend hubby and I had 'date night'. I'm so stingy a movie was not included! Our date nights are usually a little unconventional...we started the evening out at Lowes...yes, Lowes and then we headed to Home Depot!!! Oh it was wonderful!! So then we went to Carraba's. We'd never been there and had wanted to try it. It was very good...high prices for what you get but good. Then we headed to Borders to browse the books. I found the neated 'Home Journal'!!! It has divided areas and each area comes with pages to hold those fly away things like paint samples! and there's measurement pages for laying out rooms!! It's just what I need for the home project we're tackling!! Plus the cashier gave me about 35% off my purchase!!! I love my Borders card! Then we were off to Barnes & Noble...not such a great experience. I'd never been in this store since we moved here and I doubt I'll be heading back anytime soon. It looked like a homeless shelter! People were laying in the aisles! Spread out all over the furniture and was totally discusting! Plus the workers were just plain rude and unavailable. The books weren't neatly placed on the shelves like they are at Borders. And then you have to purchase their card to get a 10% savings...I Don't Think So!!! I believe this was my first and last visit to Barnes & Noble. I'll stick with Borders where people are friendly, it dosen't look like a homeless shelter and I can find the books I'm looking for easily and don't have to step over bodies to get to the books!

Hardwood, Tile, Carpet or Carpet Squares

Stop the Insanity!! Decisions, decisions, as if paint colors aren't enough! Now I have to consider flooring options and with that comes the type of flooring..then when you make that decision you have to consider colors and textures...It's just too much for my little over-worked brain. But I have made my decision (for today). I want carpet squares! And possibly tile in the dining room...but that is still to be decided. I'm not a big fan of carpet under the table but my family are all adults and there's no sign of any tiny feet in the near future...plus their carpet squares, if they get stained you just pick them up and put a new one down! So now I have to decide colors for rooms and textures. I really like the idea and look of using different colors and textures, it's a really cool and funky look..might be too much for the living room! But maybe the family room!!! I could use all the different colors and textures from the other rooms to do the family room!! Plus it would differentiate the boundaries of the rooms since the two rooms are part of a 'great room'. Oh my gosh, I just had an idea, hope I didn't blind anyone with that bright flash of light...it doesn't happen often! Gotta go write it down in my 'To Do and Decorate the new Home Book'.

Ticks and Chiggars OH MY

Having been raised in the 'country' you'd have thought that when I go back I'm right at home....NOT! I've discovered I've become a 'city' girl when it comes to the 'dark side' of country living! By 'dark side' I mean the ticks and chiggars that live in the 'country'. And let's not forget the snakes, I DO NOT tolerate snakes at all. There sits our 'country' home all pretty and nice nestled in the pretty trees which are sending a wonderful breeze through the open windows....oh the life to sit on our front porch and listen to the birds and if we're lucky a doe and her fawn will come wandering up to graze on the patch of clover left over from when my horses ran the field.......and then you step off the front porch and are attacked by ticks! Yes, the dark-side! They are just waiting for their next victim...Now I must end this blog...to put more nail polish on my chiggars and more meds on my tick bites....but I'll leave you with a picture of our beautiful cozy country home....

Go Home

It's that time of year again...the Walmart stockholders are in town...Whoopie. You can't go anywhere that you don't run into a dozen buses! You can't go into any store (especially Wm's or Family Markets) that you don't run into several dozen foreign speaking people with cameras. I wonder what they tell their family and friends when they get home and share their pics...."Look at the crap these American women feed their families." Because for some reason they are fascinated by taking pics of people in the checkout line! Did I sign a waiver that says you can take my pic? NO! So PLEASE go back to where you come from! Give us back our stores, streets and peaceful living!

New Challenges

I've had my little break from volunteer activities so I guess it's time to slack up on the 'NO' word. I finally said 'YES' to a position with For Pets' Sake, actually two positions since they're combined. I am now the Secretary/Treasurer for the organization. I am so proud of what FPS does for the people in the NWA community! I never thought sticking a needle in a family friend could be a good thing...but when you put a micro chip in someones pet and you know that IF they get separated from their family their chances of being returned double because of that tiny little thing it makes it worthwhile! Being raised with puppies all my life and holding them while shots were given is a lot different than actually having to do it myself! But when Biscuit was just a baby I had to give her shots when she was sick so that prepared me for future needles! As hard as it was to loose April last year to parvo, if it wasn't for me having to give her the iv's with that HUGE needle I'm not sure if I could do the micro chipping...it's a pretty large needle! So anyone need their pet micro chipped give me a call...I have a gentle touch! And, Thank You For Pets' Sake for being in our community!!!

Weekend BBQ

So we decided to BBQ this weekend. We use to live outside with our grill but not so much the past couple of years. As we were sitting outside on Saturday evening, after I replanted some herbs and planted my rhubarb plants!!!(Pictures later) It was so nice out side just a lite breeze. Sunday the same...so nice out, slight breeze. We fire up the grill that evening and here come the winds! Let's just say our food was well blessed by hubby, he seemed to call God's name quite a bit! I haven't made potato salad in forever, so because I bought a 10 lb bag of potatoes for only $3 this weekend I felt a craving for the popular salad. Oh my goodness, we could feed the entire community potato salad! No, I didn't use the entire bag...just 5 or 6 of them...but geezes...so we have potato salad! Anyone want some?? Plus I got some cucumbers!!! so a cucumber salad was made also..YUUUUMMMMMM!!!

Side note: I'm watching ABC Good Morning America (the only morning show worth watching!) and they're talking about the abortion Dr. in Wichita that was killed this weekend in his church. He was only one of a few Drs. in the U.S. who performs late term abortions. He wore a bullet proof vest at all times and drove an armoured vehicle...his friend/attorney was asked by Diane Sawyer "Was he concerned for his safey?" the friend/attorney says "No, absolutely not." UHHH??? He wore a bullet proof vest and drove an armoured vehicle..... I don't wish the end of life on anyone...but....

When Do They Stop Making Parents Feel Guilty

Okay, I'll be the first to admit my boys are spoiled! And have been made to feel that the world centers around them (especially our oldest). He's the only one we've ever actually bought a car for. He and Lance will both finish at U of A at the same time. However, Nathan is focused on his education like no other...so he is all set to go to graduate school. And I'm so proud of him!! It looks like he'll have to go to UCA for graduate school so he'll be leaving home. Well, as some of you know and most of you don't...Terry and I will eventually be moving back to Mtn. Home in the future...no date is set...a lot has to be done to our home in many ways before it will be ready for us to move into and Terry has to get a transfer through with work. Now if push came to shove we could actually move into it tomorrow..but there's things we want to do before making the move. So hubby and I have talked about this at length and we both agree that our boys no matter what need our help. So keeping a roof over their head is number one on the list...until we move we'll be supporting 2 households, so in the beginning that won't change. But one son in particular is having absolute hissy fits over the idea of us going back to MH. In the long run our sons will benefit the most from his change in our lives...but seeing into the future undoubtedly is not a life lesson our sons have learned yet. Talk about feeling you're between a rock and a hard place!

Wet & Working Memorial Day Weekend

What started out to be a weekend of fun and food, turned out to be a weekend of food and work....

My two 'sweet' nephews playing video games with Nathan!

And let the eating begin! Peter and Brandy fixed: chicken breasts wrapped in bacon, hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, mussels, scallops, shrimp and steak (I hope I didn't forget anything), ALL on the grill. Plus several salads and desserts!!! Oh my gosh we were all so full

So when we went over to Terry's parents house and saw the mess that the tree-trimming was making we should have been grateful to have the opportunity to work some of the food off! Above is Brayden working hard picking up the limbs that came down at a fast pace.

And Christian was in charge of the wheelbarrow...there's grandma loading up!

Oh what would a day of food and yard work be without some beverages! Father and son enjoy the same 'beverage'! But is was a great weekend despite the rain and I do mean rain ALL 3 days! and terrential down pours coming home that afternoon!!!

More of Nathan's BIG Vacation

What would be an evening in NYC without friends! Here is Nathan (middle) with Vic and Nicki...Vic lives on Long Island and Nicki is a friend from Georia doing her internship in fasion design in NYC...Go Nicki!

Vietnam Veteran's Wall........

Oh my son is so much like his mom...gotta do a little window shopping!

WW2 Memorial....just recently opened in D.C. Oh you should see more of the pics! It's absolutely wonderful (more pics to come of it).

Another view from the apartment they stayed in...what a view! I asked if they had a telescope!!! Nathan said all they had was binoculars...DARN! Oh what a voyeur I would become if I lived there!

And the Winner Is

Taking time out from the vacation pics to give kudos to Kris Allen, Arkansas' American Idol Winner!!!! I was thrilled that my two final pics from day one made it through! I'll admit there were some weeks when I thought Kris may be the one leaving....Oh Thankgoodness he didin't. It's even okay that we attended UCA my alma mater's rival. For some things I can overlook that fault in him. Honestly it didn't matter to me which one won...because history shows that with this show placement dosen't really make a difference in the career they can have! But when they called his name as the winner I have to say I was estatic! I should apologise to my neighbors next door...hope my scream didn't scare you! But get use to it....football season is coming soon! GO HAWGS!! Good job Kris...Arkansas is proud of you!

Vacationing with my oldest son

So I thought my son Nathan was going to Albany, Georia to visit a friend that was on break from school in India...they ended up in New York! Sri's cousin flew down from NY and the 3 of them decided to take him home instead of him flying back! So at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon they headed out to NY with a stop in D.C.! It had been several years since Nathan had been to D.C. so he got to see our nations capitol again!

I can't believe my son can take such great pics with my old digital camera! The pics of D.C. were taken at sunrise. They drove all night through, taking turns driving and sleeping! The best time to see D.C. with NO crowds!

Vic's parents have an apartment in NY and his brother is staying there while he attends college in NYC. This is the view from the living room window! Not bad uh?! What a great view of the Empire State building and the city. With binoculars you can see the Statue of Liberty!

The 'poor' boys had to have something special to drive into the city from Long Island....why not take daddy's Ferrari! Yeah, and you must have a lift in the garage for it! I believe it's still in one piece after these 3 got done with it!

And what would a vacation to Long Island be without this view from your bedroom window! This is the view Nathan woke up to each morning from his bedroom at Vic's parents house on Long Island....Billy Joel lives on the same street, I personally think it would have been neighborly to drop in to say 'hi'!

Will add more pics to the next post!

GOD Winks You've Gotta Read These

I've got a name for you SQuire Rushnell..he writes the God Winks books...If you've never read his books or heard of him, get on Google NOW! I saw him on Good Morning America and was so impressed by him (infact, he use to be the producer at GMA). I got on Amazon and ordered 3 of his books and just finished the last one yesturday...so here are the 3 that I reead and my God Wink jounal. It is so amazing! While I was reading the books my own God Winks's would come to mind...It's like WOW! god really does know I'm here!!! He dosen't preach or anything like that and it's not a 'self-improvement' book..These books will not be passed on for others to read, these are staying on my book shelf! I swear, each of you are in my God Wink journal...and including this blog!

P.S. I didn't mis-spell his first name, he really does spell it with a capital S and Q.

Hot, Hot, Hot

My sunshine really shouldn't be smiling but being that we haven't seen it very much lately I figured when it would come out it should be smiling. It is HOT out there! I headed out early to get stuff done...lots of stuff to do. EVERYWHERE I went they were having air conditioning issues! Even down to the Post Office! Is it a conspiracy of the ac repairmen? They should all be doing a booming business right now! Yes, I was complaining just last week because it was cold and rainy...now I'm complaining because it's HOT! But it's not dry..our yard is still wet and more storms coming tomorrow. Figures it's a weekend, but don't blame me, hubby has to work and we didn't have any plans this weekend. I knew I'd forget something while I was out...and of course remembered when I got home that I wanted to go by Sherwin Williams to pick up some paint samples for the bathroom...darn! I'll save it for tomorrow...maybe they'll have air conditioning.

Today he forks over his hard earned $

Yes, today is the day that my youngest son hands over a fist full of $ to Uncle Same and the State of Arkansas! He has to tag his newly purchased car! He's ran it down to the final day, so proud I've made him a procrastinator just like his good ol' mom! Of course right now he's still sitting around in his t-shirt and lounge pants talking to friends on the computer...he's in no hurry to rid of himself of this pesty $ just sitting there doing nothing! And yes, he's actually speaking to him which gets really annoying.

We do have a second quest...since it's me and Chris who have been sick, we are hoping to pass on our illness to the employees of the state revenue office! We finally decided our plans for world domination were a little more than we can handle with illness running through our veins...so we'll start with state domination and bring them to their knees with this junk we've got!

So wish us luck on both of these endeavors! And stay away from us..we wouldn't want you to become victims of our illness...just yet.

Oh How My Garden Grows

Yes, Look closely and you'll see the little green leaves starting to show!!! YEAH!!! The top picture is one of the flower pots and the bottom are herbs!!! YEAH, They're really growing!!!

Okay, I survived Mother's Day! We went over to Mtn. Home to celebrate with a cookout at Terry's parents home. So there was Terry's sisters; Tracey and her husband Mike, Paula and Lisa. Our niece, Brandy and her husband Peter and their two boys Brayden and Christian, me and Terry and Lance and my mom! Oh and of course Terry's mom and dad! Chris couldn't come because for one thing he's been sick with whatever and off for two nights and had to work that night and of course Nathan is vacationing in Georgia. Can you believe that it didn't rain until everyone was leaving...we took my mom home and on the way it started raining! Then it rained on us ALL THE WAY HOME! But I made it through the day sucking on the Chloraseptic throat stuff...this stuff is wonderful! It just melts in your mouth and your sore throat is gone!! Just don't eat or drink for a long time after putting it in your mouth!

So after two weekends out of town, I have got to stay home the entire weekend coming up! Saturday is Farmer's Market day, so that means fresh veggies and who knows what I'll come home with. Terry has to work Saturday so no painting will get done...unless I decide what color I want the main bathroom..we could do that Saturday evening or on Sunday!!! Oh heck, I haven't even got the paint samples yet for that room...oh well. It'll probably rain anyway.

The Crud has Creeped and Caught Us

So I've dodged it for months but I think it finally caught up with me. Not only me but Chris too. Sore throat, aching bod, sinus drainage which I'm sure is causing the sore throat, semi runny nose...just plain horrible! Swine Flu?..I feel like a swine (whatever a swine might feel like). Chris missed a couple of days of work because of it week before last and he couldn't go in last night. I can't wait to see the water and gas bill next month..it's all because between the two of us we've run up quite a bill! It just feels so good to stand in the steam!!! and then when you get out about 30 min. later you feel like crap again and you start all over again. So I hit the cough drops last night...sucked on one and broke out in bumps, great time for an allergic reaction to these things! I've gone for so many years without having one..now here we go again. So I sent hubby to the dollar store for some cheap candy of any flavor except anything with mint! There goes the chocolate mint ice cream..no more for me unless I want to visit the friendly, expensive emergency room...all for them to tell me 'Hey your allergic to something in mint products' DUH!!! Ya Think???

I had my flu shot again this year..so I don't think it's the flu on my part. I think it's allergies or such. Probably 1/2 allergies and 1/2 old fashioned cold. I'm sure being out in the cold freezing rain with soaked socks and shoes and clothing drenching wet for 4 hours didn't help...then going out that night and not getting home till 11:00 and to bed until after 1 a.m. and up again at 5:30 a.m. didn't help ward this crud off.

Excuse me now while I take more Tylenol and snuggle with my blanket....because tomorrow we're travelling over to Mtn. Home for Mothers Day...a picnic with family..oh boy! Bah Humbug...

Why Do The Good Neighbors Leave

This is so depressing, trucks pulled up to my next door neighbors house this morning and all day they've been taking stuff off. : ( They have been such great neighbors for over a year! I've watched their kids grow and the new baby flourish and spoiled their dogs! Majestic (a blue pit bull) has become like my own pup! and Kody is a pretty cool girl too. Now, I really don't care for pits at all..I'd never own one myself. But having them next door, I can spoil them and get those big kisses and then if they attack, the fault is all on their owners!!!

I noticed after the baby was born several months ago that she didn't go back to work and it suddenly appeared that he wasn't going into work. I thought perhaps he was working from home. Well, I found out today that they were both layed off at their jobs at Superior! Oh my gosh..I couldn't believe it. He worked in management and she worked on second shift and they've completely shut down the entire 2nd shift. This is a family with 4 children all under 6 years of age and her mother lives with them. So they could no longer afford the rent and are moving to a cheaper home. Their rent was only around $625 so I don't know where they could rent a home large enough for all of them at less rent especially in this area. That's one reason when we were thinking of looking for another place we decided to stay where we are. We've noticed the rent in our subdivision going up recently. So we signed a new lease and are staying put.

I had my reality check that I need to be more grateful that my husband is employed and it appears that his job is secure...but that can change tomorrow. We take so much for granted and get so comfortable with what we have today, we don't think about it all being gone at the blink of an eye.

Goodbye neighbors...I will miss your family and my good friends Majestic and Kody.

YOU Know Who You Are

YOU know who YOU are...YOU call right at the high point of one of my favorite programs is on. Now I don't have many...I'm not a t.v. aholic, the t.v. is on because it's noise! It dosen't mean that I'm actually watching it. And since the wonderful invention of DVR's I am not against pushing that little yellow button with the word 'PAUSE' on it. However, there are 3 particular shows that DO NOT get paused! I don't care if I can reverse the program and catch up..I don't care if I'm recording it along with watching it...I WILL NOT ANSWER THE PHONE!!!


I'm not so fanatical over these programs that I'll buy the dvd's of episodes or watching re-runs. I only need to see it one time...but I will NOT be interrupted! So if you've lost a limb and are calling me to meet you at the hospital, I'm sorry for you loss and if you'd have called at a different time, I would have been more than happy to drive you to the hospital!

Baby has his first car

My 'baby' boy has finally bought his first car:

DON'T call it 'baby blue' when talking to Chris about it's color! It's a silver/blue! I'm so proud of him for saving and hopefully making a wise decision on this car. He didn't invite his dad a long to car shop but he did take his older brother with him and Nathan drove it to the automotive place to have it put on the machine and checked out. So that makes me feel better...I think. So each of them has purchased a car, although Lance purchased and sold his and is now driving MY car! How did that happen?!

I think when they purchase their own vehicle it hits me hard because it's like when they learn to walk. When they learn to walk they no longer need to rely on mama's hands to help them get to where they want to be...they just take off! When they purchase their own car I can no longer take the keys away, they no longer have to ask permission to use the car, etc... Yes, they've taken some of my control away....and YES, I am a control freak!

So I am taking control of them in other ways....I am not paid to be their maid...so if it items don't belong in a certain place and I or hubby didn't put them there...I will give a warning and at the same time a time of 'trashing' and if the items aren't claimed or moved by that designated time...they will be put in a trash bag and taken to the trash can! If they decide they want it, they will dig it out of the trash! This includes clothing, games, cd's...everything! And I WILL NO LONGER be purchasing clothing to replace what they caused to be thrown away! IF I have to continue to be a 'maid' then they will pay me a wage! Yep, this mom's fed up! Independance comes with a cost!

Tacos and Friends

Sorry no pictures today. What can go better together than great cheese dip, tacos and good friends? The answer is Nothing! 4 of us got together today and spent over 2 1/2 hours at Glasgows enjoying great food but even more wonderful was the friendship! To think that only 4 months ago none of us knew eachother...and because of one person posting on a web site we've come to a group of 9 (I think that was the last count). Some of us haven't met yet but that's okay, we will soon. We've got NWA covered from Siloam Springs, Fayetteville, Rogers and Bentonville...and all different ages 40's, 30's and 20's!! And the talents and life adventures that each of these wonderful women bring is amazing!

Okay, enough for now...gotta get some sleep...I was officially trained to administer micro chips into pets today...and we have a micro chip clinic tomorrow. I bought dog bones for the poor babes that I have to stick that big needle in. I'm hoping after I cause them pain the treat will get me back in their good graces! Will post pictures soon...Pray for my victims!

My Get Around To It Project

Okay, stop laughing! A friend has taken up knitting and doing a really nice job at it. Several years back I decided to teach myself to knit..yeah, well that didn't work out too well. I have needles of all sizes! I have books for idiots! I just have NO patience! In the years past I have given away/thrown away the yarn, but over the weekend I found this yarn and I sorta liked the color scheme but I love the soft feel of it! So the needles and books haven't come out of the closet yet but they will soon, I hope. Knitting seems like a winter hobby...however, I'm thinking it will take till winter for me to just figure out the first stitch! I keep asking myself 'how hard can it be'? Because I know people that can knit and some of them I know were born without a creative gene..but they can knit! But for some reason my mind will not wrap around the concept of making knots with two needles!! My patient mother attempted to teach me to crochet...so I did complete one project, it was a baby blanket for my first born. Thank goodness babies don't care if they're blankets are rectangular or pyramid shaped! As long as you only saw it folded up it looked good..just don't lay it out flat! I can cross stitch with the best of the pros...it's just something with string that boggles my little brain. So don't be checking the blog just to see this finished project real soon.....but I will try to keep you posted....like when I finally get the needed needles out of the closet!

Healthy, Healthy....

I decided a while aback to start an herb garden...I love herbs to cook with (when I cook, which isn't often) but just the smell of them is so relaxing! So after looking around I decided to start the plants from seeds. Dollar General has packets of flowers and veggies 3 for $1!! Yeah! I'm not out much if I kill them! So I started looking...but couldn't find any herb seeds, finally one wonderful cashier told me to look at a particular store...why this store in particular??? Well, she said because of where they are located they don't sell as many seeds as the other stores who are in more rural areas...so between two other stores I did acquire seeds...but at one store I found the wonderful package deal of seeds, soil and planting pot!!! They only had one of each variety left so I bought them both!! I can't wait to smell the lavendar!!!! So here is my current project...I do have more pots and I forgot to include my individual packets of seeds in the pic. But I think you can get the idea.

Also, after watching the price of eggs going higher and higher and thinking about what is injected into the chickens and their food to make them lay more eggs I decided it's time to go just a little bit organic! So I went on a search of finding people who sell fresh eggs and can actually tell me what their chickens are eating! I found several people and their eggs ranged from $1.25 per dozen all the way to $2.25 per dozen!! What is with these people wanting $2.25??? I discovered they were the ones feeding their chickens supplimented chemicals!!! So I have decided to use 2 suppliers! One will be offering fresh veggies this summer!! Oh I can't wait!!! So we went over to Garfield (which is a really nice drive) to pick up our first 3 dozen eggs!!! And in the picture you see a dozen and 1/2 of these beauties!!! I don't use a lot of eggs...but I plan on sharing with a few friends and family! For supper the other night I fixed omelets, oh they were soooo good!!! yep, I can flip an omelet, sometimes I amaze myself!

CL Latest Find...and so Much Help!

If you know me, you know my fondness for Craigslist! Between Craigslist and a couple of Yahoo Groups I may never buy retail again! and I may never have a yard sale to get rid of stuff I no longer I want!!

Above is my BIG weekend find on Craigslist! Ignore the crinkles in the rug..I hadn't straightened it out yet. So this CL find replaces my previous CL find! I love my other rug but with the new Broyhill coffee table (yes, CL) you can't see the design in the middle, so it looks a little funky. Also, Bailey (our beloved bassett) constantly sheds! and on dark red/burgandy carpet her white hairs show up and there is no possible way to vac. enough! So although this carpet is also red...it is more 'busy' and the hairs don't show up as much. This rug is also larger than our previous one, which I didn't think I wanted. Infact, when I saw it on CL and saw the measurements I 'assumed' it was the same size as the rug I had...well, needless to say I can't measure! But I love the size of this rug!!! I've decided that if you have pets, you should have rugs everywhere!!! Last week I put two rugs down in my kitchen. I got these for FREE off a freecycle group! The woman was moving and didn't need them any more! So the huge one (which is the same size as my new lr rug) went under the table and the smaller (which is the same size as my previous lr rug) went under our portable island in the middle of our kitchen. They look so good!!! and all I have to do is take my rechargable vac. and go over them and I'm done....and not such a huge area to swiffer and scrub!!! Plus there is still enough room to put my rug near the sink! Gee, after living here 2 years it might finally be coming together!

Of course I had 'help' in getting the rug put down and situated....too much help! and then they were just plain tuckered out!

Bailey and Buster 'resting' after all their hard work on helping me pull the carpet! Sadie was on the couch 'supervising'!

My Newest Find!!!

Aren't they great??? I absolutely love these lamps!!! Now I just have to find the right lamp shade for them. With no soccer tournament this weekend hubby and I went off on our own. We hit a few yard sales and antique shops. These lamps were my Big Find! I saw them as we drove up and commented on them. I got one of those 'are you kidding' looks from hubby! I didn't see a price so I inquired as to their price..."FREE" yes, "FREE"!!!! Take them to the car quick before they change their mind!!! You can't tell it from the picture but the narrow brown area is wood and then the top and bottom is like a pleated pattern in shades of egg shell and brown! They are going in our bedroom! Now I'm starting to rethink the color we'd planned on painting our bedroom! But I think I can still pain it the same green shade and pull the lamps in by getting shades with a touch of green in them! I don't care if they match or not...those lamps are in my bedroom!

Don't forget to clean the oven

For the past several years my ovens have been self cleaning..just turn a dial or push a button and wala..it's clean! So the property managers decided they want to 'inspect the property' and sign a new lease...suddenly I look around and see all the dirt! Yesturday was 'clean the kitchen' day. My drip pans are so clean you can eat off them! Same thing goes for the counter tops and the sink..just fill it with water and drink out of it! Then I remembered the OVEN..oh darn! I had a roast planned for that night so I needed the oven. This was a great excuse to say 'oven is tomorrow's project'!! I 'knew' I had bought oven cleaner right after moving in here 2 years ago. So while taking a break I decide that I can at least read the can and see what I have to do to clean this thing..the can is not where I 'knew' it was! So I headed out to the store, I had to pick up some chips anyway. I prefer to go to the small IGA instead of going to WM or Neighborhood Market (also WM). I look everywhere for the darn oven clean..it's no where! So I go ahead to the check out and ask, he sends another person on a search and she finds it up front..why is up front?? Shouldn't it be with the cleaning supplies?? So she says 'we have it in the can or the spray' I reply back 'give me one of each.' So off I go with my spray and my can of oven cleaner. I get home and read the can...Hurray I can spray it on a cold oven and leave it over night and then wake up and wipe the junk away!! Now I've got a plan...Then my husband comes home...and immediately announces that the property manager called and informed him there is no need for an inspection! All we have to do is sign the new lease and return it to them. Now this is a blessing because I really didn't want to make my bed just for this guy who since he assumed this position last year is a pain in the tail end!!! (Really, I don't need a phone call each month reminding me to pay my rent! IF we'd ever been late it might be a nice touch, but since we haven't it's just an annoyance!) Anyway, I then asked my husband if he'd like to eat out of the drip pans! And NO I didn't clean the oven...but I guess I do need to before I forget..again. Oh another thing...don't forget to clean the top inside the microwave!!! Next time...the microwave will be on the side walk (in front of someone else's home, I don't want the person taking it off the sidewalk to know it came from my place) and I will be out purchasing a new one!!!

Please don't go Anoop

It's a sad night in our household...our boy Anoop was sent home tonight on American Idol. Now we all knew he has no chance to win this thing and he's not even my favorite. But Anoop held a special place in my heart. He could be the twin to my son Nathan's best friend Sri! Nathan met Sri in Georgia we lived in the same neighborhood for a while till they moved to a house with a pool in a subdivision near us. Sri and Nathan were unseparable, they didn't attend the same school...Nathan went to public school, Sri went to Deerfield Windsor Prep. Don't let the name fool you....these kids weren't any smarter than the kids who came out of Westover High! Nathan chose to stay in Albany and go to Darton College and Sri headed out to Statesboro to Georgia Southern....well, things don't go as planned and Sri is now in India where his parents are from and entering medical school there. Poor boy didn't want to be a Dr., he wanted to study engineering. Sri is like a 4th son to us so seeing this young man on American Idol was like seeing our son Sri each week...... Hopefully we'll get to see him this summer...but he's thinking about spending his 'holiday' in Europe...gee, why would anyone want to spend a couple of months in Europe when they could come to good ol' Rogers, AR??? Guess some people are just weird! Ummm...wonder if he could come here first? and if I could then fit in his suitcase???

I hate house cleaning

Cleaning house has got to be my least favorite thing...well, it's pretty much even with cooking! I remember a neighbor we had in Maryland, she cleaned houses for a living. YUK! But this woman really liked to clean house, not just her own, others homes too. She tried to explain to me about what a sense of accomplishment she has when she sees something go from dirty or dull to clean and shiny. My thought process tells me that if I clean it, I'll just have to clean it again very soon! Today I hit the hall floors, tile may look nice but it can be a real pain to clean at times. Then I hit the kitchen floor..where does all this dirt come from that I sweep up? I had gotten two really nice rugs off a freecycle group several weeks ago to use in my kitchen. They match but are two different sizes. I thought I might need to shampoo them but they just needed a good vaccuming. So the big one went under the table and the smaller one under the island in the middle of the kitchen. I really like how they look and I think it will be easier to keep clean, I'll just have to go over them with my smaller vac and will be done! Quick cleaning, that's what it's all about! So tomorrow I tackle the junk that has fallen behind the living room chairs and the kitchen counter tops and appliances...Oh I just can't wait. And we'll finish the week off by shampooing the carpet in the living room...oh can you feel the excitement? NOT!

SUV's Will Survive

Okay, I'm sorry, it's been several days...but life happens and I got busy and lazy! So once again a weekend was spent at the soccer fields. This was a small tournament so not a lot of teams were there. Infact, I think it's the smallest tournament I've ever watched or been a part of. Terrential downpours overtook the tournament on Saturday afternoon. Games were delayed and shortened but not cancelled..the games must go on!! And the only reason they were stopped was because the lightening detect or went off, no lightening was seen but the machine felt that the atmosphere was favorable. As I looked around the parking lot of this tournament I witnessed the impact of the SUV's in the world of soccer parents! When we traveled with our kids with traveling teams the thing was to have a mini van...and yes we still have ours! Now it's the SUV world...soccer parents do not care about the price of gas, they MUST have an SUV. Large or Small SUV it dosen't matter....it just has to fit that classification! Now if I were to open up a auto dealership, I think I'd open one especially designed to sell only SUV's and I'd place my sales lot right next to the town soccer fields! Maybe have a few mini vans for those new soccer parents..then a special trade in for when they are ready to go for that SUV! I can only imagine the 'soccer' specials I could run to get these things moved off my lot! I guarantee you if you see a 'regular' car in the parking lot it belongs to a game official, tournament director, grandparent/or other relative who feels obligated to come watch Jr. play or a brand new soccer family! So the SUV is in no danger of becoming extinct as long as there are parents with kids who play soccer and play and the traveling teams!

Watching the obituaries...

One of the first things I do in the morning is go online and look at the online edition of the Baxter Bulletin...the hometown newspaper of Mtn. Home. The obits. are the first thing I read...Now today there were 8 obituaries listed...Out of these 8// 1 person was 72 years old, 1 person was in their late 80's, and the rest were in their 90's or over 100 years of age!!! What does that say about MH?? Do people that live there live longer? Is over 90% of the population over 80? My youngest son has a theory that when he visits MH the 'old people energy' sucks the life out of the younger people! That's how they live so long...so I told him that it's his fault of all these obits today...he hasn't visited for several months!!! If he had, they'd all still be alive because they'd have sucked his energy from him...he agreed! We have told this theory to others living in MH and surprisingly they aren't insulted they agree with his theory!!! But then as I looked at these obits. I thought about the life stories that each of these people had to share....The lives that each of them led, the adventures they had, the loves, the heartaches they experienced...what a legacy that together they had! What lessons they could teach us all...

When you're feeling down...hug your dog

There's just one word for the past couple of days 'Crappy'! At times it has just plain felt like if at that moment it was the last moment on earth...I would have said 'fine, whatever'. But when I'm feeling down I can count on my Sadie to be there, she'll lay her head on my lap or just sit beside me and bring my hand over to her with her paw...what a sweetie. We adopted Sadie a year ago last month and I have to say she has truly been a Blessing! She has a heart that knows no boundaries...she shows nothing but love and makes it known when you need it most. We got her from a woman who was divorcing her husband. The husband didn't want to take her with him and she couldn't take her to her small apt. she was moving to. We got her right after our Biscuit passed away because Buster was acting depressed...I wasn't so sure about her when I first saw her, she wasn't what I expected...Oh How Wrong I Was! She is such a patient sweetheart. She's always right with me and she's as dedicated to me as I am to her. She's got her quirks...she freightens at any noise and reacts by barking and she's afraid of storms and she hates to have her picture taken, if she sees the camera aiming at her she runs and hides. And she absolutely HATES to have her hair cut!!! All you have to do is lift a scissors and she's gone! Which is getting to the stage of deperation because she really needs the wads cut off her luxurious coat!!! But we all have our quirks...and hers just makes her unique! Mama loves you Sadie...

Happy Easter

What a better way to say Happy Easter than with a picture of these Easter Buns!!! Gee, I miss the days of coloring eggs at midnight! I never thought I'd say that. And then the fun part of cleaning it all up before the boys caught on and then their daddy going out and hiding the eggs. We learned early on that the real eggs never left the inside of the house...ever smelled a rotten egg after the lawn mower ran over it? Well, take it from me, it's not pleasant! My daddy always walked with me along the flower gardens at the house and pointed out places on the flowers where the Easter Bunny had licked the petals..this is how the Easter Bunny got the color for the eggs. What a smart Bunny he is! He'd also tell me he was watching for him with his shot gun loaded so we could have the Bunny for Easter Dinner....He'd always do that when my mother was around so she'd have to deal with my tears! Gosh I miss my Daddy!

I LOVE My Birthright Family

Any day is great day when I receive an e-mail from one of my Birthright family but today I received one that really can make a difference! Carolyn e-mailed me 'chain' mail from a nun here in Arkansas. It's calling for EVERY ONE between noon and 3:00 tomorrow (Good Friday)to say the rosary for the benefit of ending abortion! Now I don't need an excuse to get out one of my rosaries..but how cool to think that all over the world there will be so many people weaving these precious beads through their fingers and the one thought on their mind will be the possibility of saving the lives of our precious future. I sometimes wonder how many presidents have been killed...could one of those souls be the person to bring hope and promise to us? How many Dr.s have been killed...could the person who will cure cancer have already been denied his/her life? So many things to ponder about who and what these babies could have accomplished...but had no voice. Oh I miss my Birthright family and the women who walked through those doors....So even if you're not Catholic just take a few minutes to pray for the end to abortion...He hears ALL!

What Do You Get? Razorback Stadium + Soccer=??

What do you get if you add the wonderful stadium our beloved Hogs play in PLUS Soccer????

You get WORLD CUP SOCCER!!!!! We were jumping up and down in our house early this morning when it was announced that our stadium is under consideration as being a host stadium for WORLD CUP SOCCER TOURNAMENT games!!!!!! I swear if they get the bid I can go to the games and then die a happy person!!!! Oh my gosh being at a Word Cup game may bring on a heartattack for both me and my hubby! We were fortunate to see our National Team several times when we lived in Maryland. We could go to games in Washington and in Hershey PA and oh my gosh the atmosphere is so much fun!!! We did get to see them play in a World Cup qualifier in D.C. and it was amazing!!! The party starts before the game and carries on even after the game....It starts and ends in the parking lot!!! We have met so many amazing people at these games!!! Please World Cup Committee...DON'T bust my happiness bubble....come to NWA!!!!!