Making my day and so much more...

My friend Paula is doing a July Blog Challenge. If you click on the link below the banner that says Paula's Place it will take you to her blog if you'd like to join. If you click here it will take you to the list of daily topics for the month also at her blog..

Paula's Place

TODAY’S TOPIC

Post a picture of something or someone that made your day special.

Independence Day  is a rough holiday for me . On the third of July seven years ago our daughter Gretchen 30 and our son Eric 23 were killed in a horrible accident here on the highways of Virginia. 

As I reflect on my loss I cannot do so without also reflecting on the many blessings of our family, friends and a faith that continue to lift me up and give me strength. 

This part of the challenge was a no brainer for me. He not only makes my day but he is my rock.

My husband Bill...

Bill standing in our tomato garden. 

This is no rest at all!

Hi everyone!

Miss me?

I know it's only been a few days but I just wanted to let everyone know I've been trying to keep up with everyone's blogs the best I can on my smart phone. I installed my reader app.

Without my laptop (out for repairs)  it's practically impossible and my husbands desk top doesn't support the reader I use ( all your blogs are organized there). And commenting, sorry I'm doing my best and that's pretty bad! I try to get a few minutes here and there on his computer but I really don't care for his space at all. It's...what can I say, well it's not mine!

For all of you who have been so kind and have sent get well wishes to Bill, he's doing much better and we both send our thanks. He had bronchitis and a sinus infection at the same time and was pretty miserable. with wheezing a cough and a bit of a fever. When he does it he does it all the way!! But I made him soup and made sure he took his medication with plenty of fluids and he's almost back to his good-ole self.

I haven't heard from the computer guy about my (mysteriously turning off when left idol ) laptop. And I hate not knowing what's wrong with my baby.

I hate not having something to do.

In the mean time idol hands have not been idol...

The weather here hasn't been all that great so .....I have cleaned and organized every closet in my house. I have cleaned and organized every draw in my kitchen. I have cleaned and organized every draw in my sideboard in the dining room as well as my mothers old breakfront which I have for my extra overflow stuff. Frankly, I'm running out of things to organize.

Oh!  And out of the 52 hills of potatoes we planted 34 have already sprouted. Yippee! I'm feeling a good potato year.

I actually am going pretty batty! Can you tell?  For one fleeting moment this morning I actually considered checking each and every odd battery I found at the bottom of the junk draw to see if they were working or not.(there were A LOT) I ended up putting them in a bag when I realized the very thought meant I was going off the deep end!

Mother nature isn't cooperating one bit either! Today is so horribly gray  and so are my roots so being the trooper that I am I've decided to make the best of it....  I'm heading out visit my favorite hair dresser for a color and a cut. Nothing like a bit of a spruce up to brighten an otherwise dreary day.

I think we're going to be pretty much homebound since storms are headed our way. Looks like Red Box movies, soup and some home made bread are on our agenda for this weekend.

Anyone have anything exciting going on this weekend?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Be positive

My husband went to the doctor the other day for a check up, part of his exam is a blood test. The doctor checks for liver function since he takes cholesterol medication. After the physical was done, the doctor excused himself and send the girl in to draw the blood from his arm.

Bill likes to joke around so as she was taking his blood he tells the girl.....

"You know vampires and zombies don't care for the taste of my blood."
"Seriously, I have good vibe juice running through my veins!"
"Oh really, and why is that?" she remarked!
"Because it's B+"

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He's gotta be joking!

I was off to New York for a few days but this post update has been on my mind for a few days.

The original post was a pretty popular one.

Back in September I wrote a post about my neighbors who were involved in a domestic dispute that ended up on my front deck when I had a house full of company and Bill called the police.

I wrote about it here if you want to refresh you recollection or read it for the first time.

Read on.

Anyway here's the latest. 

We have noticed that the neighbors house has been relatively dark for months. Lights would go on and off sporadically so we really weren't sure what was going on over there. We have not seen hide nor hair of him or her since September after we called the authorities about their domestic dispute.

We sort of got the feeling maybe one possibly both of them moved out but we just didn't know for sure.

We were rooting that she'd leave but we are very aware how difficult that can be and the statistics are grim depending on many factors. And since we don't know much of their situation nor are we clairvoyant  we could hardly know what would happen.

Then we finally got one half of the story.

Guess who my husband ran into in the grocery store the other day?

He ran into the husband. Lets for the sake of this post call him wife beater.

The conversation went something like this.

Bill: So we were just wondering if you were living next door? We've noticed some strange cars coming and going at all hours and we're a bit concerned living next door and all...

Wife beater: No Bill. I'm actually living with a family member. But I do come by every once and a while to pick up a few of my things. Don't want to come at the same time as the wife.

Bill: So then your wife, is she still in the house then if you don't mind me asking?

Wife beater: About that I'd like to apologies for the last time we saw each other, things got out of hand.

Bill: Well, You do understand once you came to my house you left me with absolutely no choice but to call the police?

Wife beater: nods

Wife beater: So about "the wife" you're never gonna believe it, after over 20 years....

Bill: What's that?

Wife beater: She left me! Can you believe it? She actually prefers the  manager at her store and better than me?
                                                           

I'm not sure how my husband kept a straight face during this conversation! Most especially during the whole "why would she prefer being with someone else rather then me a wife beater?"

Really is he kidding me?

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Christmas is supposed to be joyful and holy!

My husband went into town today to do the banking today and to run a few errands and as usual to do his "socializing" with the town folk. He ran into a local clergyman who we've known since our kids were in grade school.  It is hard as men of faith with families not to then enter into a discussion about prayer and the need for more of it with current events being what they are and with Christmas upon us.

When the Rev.B talked about the holidays he expressed his feelings and we agree that this is a time for joy for light amongst the darkness and we celebrate Christs birth in a very few days. And we who grieve can rejoice because we believe in Him.

And it seems to me for those of us who do believe it is getting harder and harder to express our beliefs without ridicule if we choose to express or practice what we believe when we are in public.

For some reason it seems something as simple as the words "Merry Christmas" is cause for offense; this I do not understand.  And this was something the Rev.B told Bill he saw in one of the large department stores in the mall a few days ago.

I was speechless when I heard this story. And the actions of both of these men, unbelievable. All I will say is that I am profoundly disappointed that the Christian man failed to be Christian in his response. I'll just tell you what I was told happened and let you be the judge and you can tell me what you think in your comments.

He (Rev B) was standing on line at the store (not our town) but at the mall when the person in front of him was finished checking out said to the cashier. "Have a Merry Christmas."

The person replied. " I'm insulted that you would even say that to me!"
The customer said. " Your insulted that I wished you a Merry Christmas what's so insulting about me wishing you a Merry Christmas?"
Cashier. " Like I said you should keep it to yourself I'm insulted."
"Really?" Exclaimed the customer who was now agitated.
Quickly adding."Usually I would have to say something much worse to insult someone."
"Like go fuck yourself." Now you can be insulted" he mumbled back turned as he walked out.

Oh my goodness people can't we just be nice?!
What is wrong with you people?

You may wish me a Merry Christmas, or a Happy Hanukkah even a Happy Kwanzaa, or tell me Allah blesses me I am good with it all! Because if you love God and believe in your heart then I will gladly accept you good wishes and your blessing. I cannot understand how someone could be insulted by it.

I believe in Jesus but I respect you if you believe otherwise and I pray you feel the same about my beliefs.

I notice however in stores and in the schools they're doing a lot of the Happy Holiday wishing if anything at all. My view is it's a result of a lot of political correct nonsense that is just getting out of hand.

What say you?

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eating in real life

If you read my last post no I haven't really then I am happy to say I can cross # 10 off my list of haven't done's!
     
        10. I have never met any of my blog friends person yet!  But I'm hopeful :)

I received an e-mail from my friend Jenn over at the blog so this is love on Friday night. She was wondering how close I lived to Richmond and if I want to get together with her and her husband Casey Sunday morning for breakfast.  If you're familiar with Jenn and Casey they've been traveling around the country on a month long vacation together with Jenn's Mom and their dog Skeeter. I was so glad to hear they were around my area and we quickly made arrangements to meet.

Anyhoo, this morning was their final stop on a months long journey thru the country and we (my hubby and I) got to share a meal with them. We arrived a bit early at the restaurant to make sure we'd get a table being Sunday morning and all. Have I mentioned there aren't any real diners around here? A fact that my husband has grumbled about many times over the years.

My husband cracks me up sometimes, he wanted to know how I was going to know who they were if I'd never met them. Umm! Do you kinda get the idea he never reads blogs? That would be mine included so I don't really think he gets the whole friendship- pictures- flow of information that goes on between us bloggers. Anyway he may not read my blog but he must listen when I talk (there is hope ladies) because I didn't even get my bottom in the seat and he said "Jen there's a woman with a Maine sweat shirt walking thru the parking lot," and it was Jenn with Casey at her side.

Jenn & Jen

Did you ever just meet a couple and on the spot know that you liked them? I did today. Jenn and Casey are genuinely nice people. Did I mention we had breakfast together? he he! We talked over breakfast about their travels, our travels chit chatted about our lives. But what's truly interesting is our common life paths as northerners who have made the move south. And although their southern journey is new and ours began long ago, you know what? I think that their life is going to be great down here.

I really do ya'll..

kickin back with my cannon

I thought that since yesterday was such a glorious weather day I'd take a walk with my hubby out and about on our property. It was 70 and sunny here and even better; it is pretty much going to be that for the remainder of the week.

It's been a long time since my camera (it's a cannon) and I have been together for a serious outing so I took her along. I hope you like the picture I took while we were on our walk. Nothing fancy just the good ole outdoors!

Mother Nature at her best....

We have about a zillion (slight exaggeration) of these trees on our land. And I'm allergic to every darn one of them!! Achoo...

This is our pond, we really don't fish there and it's never cold enough to ice skate there either. Bill was saying today there's so much poison Ivy around it we should really get some goats to clean it up.

I'm sure this old fella used to stand sure and tall by the ponds edge years ago. It's just an empty shell now but I bet the creatures enjoy its presence. 

I know I enjoy its beauty.

These are some type of wild berry that were growing by the pond. What an amazing color!! I'm not sure what they're called or even who eats them. We were rather surprised to find them intact since the birds and the wildlife are abundant here.

This picture of the broken branch is actually taken from above looking down and the background is actually the waters reflection of the sky and the trees above

And these are just plain beauties aren't they? Really who could resist taking a picture of these Black Eyed Susan's?

I know what I did today to relax and enjoy myself, how about you?

Something wasn't quite right about them

New neighbors moved in next door to us two years ago during the summer. They're a couple a bit younger than me each have kids that are adults from previous marriages so it's just them in the house. Just them and lots of cats and a snippy little dog who I can attest is an ankle biter. When they moved in we went over with some fresh ground coffee and some new coffee mugs to welcome them to the neighborhood. After that however our contact was limited.

We'd bring them fresh tomatoes one month and maybe the next they'd drop by to say hello or to check to see if their cats were getting along with our cats. Other then the usual mailbox hello's and waving pulling out of the driveway that was the extent of our interactions.This Christmastime we were surprised when they asked to borrow money, not something we felt comfortable doing so we told them no. Then a few months back there were a few occasions when she'd knock very early in the morning ask for a ride to work saying their car was broke down when it was brand new, strange, but Bill gladly obliged.  

We had decided long before that there was just something off about them. Did you ever just get a feeling? Nothing tangible just a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.

This past holiday weekend my house was full with family, eating, the kids were playing and the adults were enjoying a cold beverage. The weather didn't cooperate so we were indoors, music playing, voices raised in family banter. 

And the neighbor knocked. And now I finally know what the "it" was that I always sensed.  She was coming here because he had hit her and pushed her around. My husband confronted him and he denied it, not surprised! I'm not sure if she wanted the police involved but clearly she was afraid enough to flee to my house.Without missing a beat Bill called 911. Believe me when I tell you Bill didn't ask her if she wanted him to call he just did. 

He'd been on enough domestic calls when he was a cop to know they were needed. Sad thing was we couldn't physically keep her here and she took a walk down the block to clear her head. Shortly thereafter the deputy arrived but we didn't go over or interject ourselves in that part of the situation. I'll be curious to see the arrest list in the paper next week to see if he's in there. 

I know this relationship is one of many many years. That fact doesn't mean I'm not gonna try to say something or do something. I also know a place she can go where he can't get to her where there's people trained to help her. My friends daughter Mary works in a local battered woman shelter, it's safe and there's counseling available. I'm going to bring all the information and give it to her at work. She needs to know there's help available for her. I'm sure she's feeling pretty alone and isolated right now.

I'm also not naive and I realize she's gotta want help.  Lets all pray she does. 

 Sad thing, isn't it?

my vintage chairs are done!

I' m so excited my husband worked on our old vintage chairs while I was up in New York isn't that sweet? If you missed my last post jump over now and see the before pictures here. They have really been a labor of love. Actually we want to put a clear sealer on the yellow accents just in case but that's a quick spray. I'm afraid the camera isn't doing justice to the color the red really is fire-engine red, the marigold yellow is showing pretty true to the actual color.

What do you think of the table? I actually stenciled that pattern off the pair of chairs that are the same and then transferred it to the table so that it would match. The table isn't really the old fashioned metal like the chairs it's just aluminum and has a lot of imperfections so I thought it would hide a multitude of sins.

The seat on the right is a rocker. I'd love to trim those round areas but cutting out templates just seemed like a lot of work! There's a chair too so the work would be double! What do you think?

This is what they all look like together. There was a lot of sanding and priming and many many coats of paint involved in this project but I love love love these chairs. I can't believe they only cost $110.00. When we came in from taking these pictures before Bill said he's ready to look for a glider, I can't believe it!! 

pull up a vintage chair....

Not much going on here. I've sort of fallen into the rhythmic lull of summer....slow!  Bill and I spent a quiet weekend doing gardening... picking weeds, trimming hedges, planting pots but not doing much of anything else. Oh there is the chairs, I forgot.....keep reading.

The weeds were getting out of hand in the rows between our tomatoes and other veggies. Good news is while weeding we found 5 tomato pants that have grown up naturally [Bill calls them orphans] from last year from seeds. Our peppers [bell] and eggplant [Japanese] and cucumbers [burpless]  are  looking great....happy about those cucumbers since they had a rough start. The eggplant and the peppers are wonderful, tall, full and strong.

eggplant, pepper and cucumbers

Do you remember during A-Z when I got the Mick Jagger Poster at that local auction? Well that day we also bid on some vintage 1940-50's metal porch furniture. We've been hard at work sanding, prime painting and refinishing three awesome chairs that I paid $110.00 [for all three]. The first two pictures are the two chair styles we got and the color and condition the chairs were in.

we have one of these

and two of these, one chair one rocker

Now we're at the point where we're just starting to tape out and paint the accent color on the raised trim area's. Bill purchased the paint for the chairs, red [fire engine] and for the accent color he chose marigold [a bit more orange than a school bus]. This chair below is just showing one coat of  red after all the sanding priming. This is pretty labor intensive work, we've been at it for a while! We'll finish soon I hope. I'll put up pictures when they're done, I promise. They're gonna look really good!

Btw, I was expecting to do a guest post over on  today May 29th [Tue] but a-to-zchallenge.com to due to a scheduling conflict of some kind I've been rescheduled for June 1st. [that's this Friday] I do hope you'll swing by and read it then. The topic I chose to write about  is role models.

Other than that life is pretty much hot; summer has arrived.....

our garden granddad

We planted our tomatoes some time ago.  They are growing so fast they need to be tied up weekly- as is our grass but that's another story. And as you can see it won't be long before we'll have our first red fruit. I cannot tell you how much I look forward to biting into my first tomato, yum! And this year we will be using nine foot poles because our plants kept on falling over last year; ugh what a mess it was.

It won't be long before this baby turns red!

Each and every year during tomato season I get a bit misty thinking about our very first year here when we planted our first garden in our yard. It was tended by us with care, believe me we didn't really have many friends being new to this community. So the tomatoes kept us occupied when we weren't going back and forth to the baseball field with Matthew and Eric, where by the way we did eventually make some friends.

The guardian of the garden...Linus our eldest cat.

We live in a very rural area. One day I was sitting out on the back porch in a big t-shirt and my undies reading a book in the sunshine and something caught my eye.  There in the garden I could see the top of the head of an old man bobbing up and down atop the rows of my tomatoes. He was checking - actually inspecting my plants. I went in told Bill and put on some shorts and we walked out to meet and greet our garden guest. As it turns out he was the Great-Granddad of two of the boys the kids played ball with, his grandson was one of the few men we had met and considered a friend in the short time that we had been living here.

One of our many rows of tomato's they're a little more than 3 feet tall now. 

We chatted and he asked us about our family, what church we attended the usual and necessary niceties of southern conversation and we filled him in about where we had come from. He stayed for a while so I gathered that we passed his inspection...hehe! I think he was impressed that we were from NY and knew how to do a garden but he was playing it close to the vest at this point. He was actually quite adorable and at the very least in his mid 80's by my estimation. So we talked about our garden, if we fertilized or not, how early we planted , if we were organic, planted heirlooms  or if we used compost then after a time we said our goodbyes and went on his way.

This is the leaf of an heirloom tomato call German Johnson 

The very next time we went to a baseball game with the boys we saw his grandson whose my age and he was grinning from ear to ear. He recounted this to us, he said when his Granddad got home from our house he took out his phone book and called some the other old timers from our community and told them "you better plow under your gardens gentlemen, those Yankees down the road  have a garden that will put y'all to shame!"  

Beautiful flowers yes?

Granddad visited most every year after that and our friendship bore fruit. He got a kick with the fact that we knew what we were doing. Bill and I both grew up in the suburbs and always had gardens we weren't city dwellers but Granddad had an idea of New York and he was sticking to it! And Bill and I? We came to look forward to his yearly visits and were tickled that he enjoyed us and taking a peek at our garden. Granddad lived until he was 100, bless his heart.

do you grocery shop with your eyes open?

Do you grocery shop with your eyes open? From atop my new soap box I would like to tell you I never have.  I've been pretty blind; foolish if you will, big time. The kind of foolish that's had my blood pressure on the rise and the weight packing on a few pounds a year over these past years and before I knew it my girlish size eight figure now had a one in front of it.

Size 18, how the hell did that happen? Bad food choices, that's how!

So as I said in my things ` a changin post hubby and I have made some big changes in our lives.

What happened when we went to the grocery store the first time after committing to those very changes? What changes you ask? Well I'll tell you...cutting out all wheat/flour and sugar from our diets and which basically eating fresh veggies and herbs, all fruit, fish / shell fish, lean meats, yogurts, cheeses, eggs, beans, brown rice....you get the picture.[organic whenever possible]. Activity lots of activity....eventually exercise once the doctor approves something for us when we go later this month.

credit

Needless to say going to the grocery store was an eye opener. We went in the store and spent a good amount of time picking through all the fresh produce, fruit, veggies, herbs. That department is located on the right side of the store, then towards the back corner we stopped by and picked up some fresh fish. Directly along the back we picked up some chicken, turkey, pork tenderloin and some lean beef.  The along the other side of the store we went to the dairy and picked up, low fat milk, organic Greek yogurt, some goats cheese as well as some other cheese selections that we'd use on salads. We pretty much traversed the three sides of the store never visiting one aisle in the middle of the market at all.

Then we realized we did need a couple of other things but our time spent in those inner aisles was minimal, some good olive oil, oatmeal, almonds, brown rice and beans; lot of beans in may varieties!

Then we were gone we paid first though...
No boxes, very few cans [which I now read the labels], no processed foods, nothing frozen, all fresh!
My eyes are open now!
Hopefully my health and girlish figure will return some day in the future....
Or should I say womanish!

There's a lot of money to be saved not spending a lot of time filling my cart with food from middle aisles. My bill at check out is a lot less than it used to be. Now I can't say that I'm not going to be shopping more frequently because it hasn't been long enough to say.

We are already feeling the positive effects from changes and it's only been a week. In my next post will I'll fill you in  on what we've noticed so far.

things a ~ changin

My husband and I have decided to make some changes in our life. Basically we've decided to eat better and live a more healthful life style. We're committed to doing this together, which I would highly recommend doing with your honey.

We have no excuses for being over weight or  lazy  inactive  but that weight; it just seemed to creep up on us pound by pound as did the excuses. So today I write this without offering any excuses for my ass being plastered to the couch or my hand being on the refrigerator door, or the one to many passes thru the drive thru, that my dear blog friend was all me!

And because I'm one for personal accountability I thought I'd just put it out there that this chick will be getting fit, by being more active and eating right. The result will be what I hope is a decent amount of weight loss and a more healthful Jen and other half.

I'd like to share this journey with you as I experience it, and it's my hope you be be rooting for me-us.

Let me just say my first visit to the grocery store with my new attitude about eating and was a trip- what an eye opener.

I'll tell you about it in my next post....stay tuned.

Are you free tonight?

"D"

I was scrolling through my list of "D" words in my mind and came upon a word very worthy of this challenge. It's something I haven't done in a very very long time but everyone does it so lets explore it shall we?

My "D" word is Dating....

I dated frequently when I was single, I dated cops, military, a dog trainer, surfers, a felon even { don't ask, long story!}, bartenders, waiters you name it..... all ages and back rounds. Some of it was fun, most of it not so much! Now there were a few memorable ones....

On my last memorable date I went out with a very handsome guy,  he was a Coast Guard officer and his first name was Gordon. He was very polite and quite handsome and interesting to talk to. He held the door open and really was the full gentleman package. The problem; he was really very much in love with his ex. Not the worst date I'd ever been on but that's not the whole story.

Sometimes we find these things out over a lovely dinner of seafood and wine; { I'm referring to the wife} but that's OK he really was a nice guy regardless. What could possibly go more wrong than going out with a guy in love with some one else?

Unfortunatly food poisoning did! I kid you not; I was sick for four days..... I will spare you the details of my projectile vomiting and my poop stories!

So Gordy and I pretty much fizzled out after that date but I knew eventually lightning would strike; so I was determined to date on!

When I recovered my girlfriend called begging me. " Please come with me there's this hot guy bar-tending at such and such a bar."

So even though I felt rather weak I went with her to see Mr Hot Guy.  While she flirted I hung out nursing a beer looking a the beach and as I remember I was NOT having a great time.

An hour later while contemplating my toenails {the most interesting thing in the bar} and about two minutes from leaving she walked over grabbed a guy and brought him to where I was standing." Here," she said,  "meet my neighbors friend Bill talk to him he's a nice guy I won't be long."

Remember that lightning I was talking about.....?

“Attraction is not a choice.”

              David De Angelo

Bill and I dated.
We married.
And my girlfriend got the honor of being our first born's Godmother.
I wasn't on a proper date where I fell in love- we fell in love -it was a chance meeting.
What about you?
Any dating stories?

order in the family & the home

Keeping order in family is hard to do, believe me I know. I raised five kids- three of which were step children. To be a family I think you have to act like a family, do things as a family unit and one of those things is to be responsible for the space in which you live. How you ask? Chores! Yup you heard me right we made the kids do chores, age appropriate chores, this is something my husband and I were firm believers in.

Did you have chores assigned to you when you were a kid? My Mom and Dad asked me to do things when they needed doing and I was responsible for keeping my room clean but I don't remember having a regular schedule of chores. I remember doing my own laundry from a pretty young age, and we had a huge house with a big yard. We were always doing some type of gardening or bagging leaves. But all and all we- my brothers and I just did what we were told when we were told, you didn't question you just did.

We made our kids do chores, keeping their room tidy, dishes, mowing the grass (we have a riding mower). Then as they got older they helped with other things,firewood, weeding, planting the garden, vacuuming, and laundry. That's not to say they were happy about any of this because they weren't; well... sometimes they were happy to help! Sometimes it was like pulling teeth.

My daughter cracks me up when it comes to this subject; she and her hubby work full time. To deal with this  she has a list of chores that the boys have to do every week; vacuuming, tidying up their rooms- their bathroom, putting away their laundry, that kind of stuff. I asked her if she had to keep after them like I did her when she was younger. She replied," the kids get an allowance if they don't do their chores they don't get their allowance that means no spending money." "You don't yell at them or anything?" Thinking back to the knock out drag outs we used to have over dish washing and bathroom cleaning. She just shrugged and replied, "I'm not riding my kids like Seabisquit a trip or two to the store without money and they get the idea!" Problem solved for her, but then my grandsons are little angels, just sayin!

Yesterday Bill and I set off to do a few things on our list of many that need to be done around the house. Might as well get some stuff done while we're stuck in the house in this cold weather, right? I cleaned the oven. It has a cleaning cycle which takes 3 hours and leave ashes that need to be wiped out afterwards. Then we defrosted- cleaned and organized all the food in our chest freezer out in our breezeway and closed down our extra refrigerator which stands right next to it. We only use that over the summer months for beer and extra food since we usually have lots of company.

As hubby and I meet ourselves coming and going bringing order to this house and a huge piece of property without the help of the children I started to think.....  I never really gave much thought to how all those things got done after I left my parents house. But I can guarantee like us the did it with a good bit of effort!

How do you do it?

I am so inspired by my friend Melissa over at mamemusings whose word of the month is ORDER or click on this button to find out how you can join in and be inspired too.

gems picked up in the bathroom

I was always very good with time management- still am. I tend to be an organized person- good at getting things done. With a family of seven I'd have to be or I'd have went crazy, right?  As each of the kids left the nest our schedules freed up more and more;

there are perks of an empty nester-well sorta!

Going through transitions are not without their challenges especially for us; but we tried to approach it with a touch of humor.

Anyway, Bill - my husband -loves those funny little books with facts or cute little stories, you know the ones

- you keep in the library bathroom! 

Well, I was looking through on of them the other day and I came upon this quote and I couldn't help but laugh! Then I thought it was so ridiculous and humorous yet relevant to our lives it worth sharing. 

Linking up with Bits of Bee today.

our attempted break in-country style

Tonight after my husband and I finished our dinner we went off to our respective computers. His is out in the den, it's a desk-top. And mine is a lap-top which I usually use while sitting on the couch while the TV drones on in the back round. Have you noticed how bad TV is lately?

All of the sudden I heard this rustling noise by the deck, my husband went out to investigate.....nothing. It almost sounded as if someone had banged against the furniture on the deck. We were curious but found nothing. Maybe a stray dog or cat? After a quick investigation which resulted in finding nothing we went back all was forgotten.

A few hours later I heard this God awful banging, the den door was closed so Bill didn't hear it but it sounded as if someone was bashing against the duct work under the house. Let's not go into the fact that Bill needs to get his hearing checked, that's another story!  Now I'm thinking to myself, if these are burglars they are dumb as dirt since we have a crawl space not a basement! And frankly we have a bazillion guns since hubby's a gun collector so they'd be making a really really big mistake picking this house.


This time however we did find the culprits trying to break into the crawlspace door and making quite the racket doing it.  I'm thinking their intention was for a night of romance out of the rain and cold. They had a bit more hair and much sharper teeth than the average criminal! As it turns out it was a pair of Opossums, they are nasty little suckers. And the last thing I need is a mating pair taking up family life under my house.

This type of thing is occurring more and more often since a timber company came in and removed about a square mile of trees on a property closely neighboring ours. I swear I don't understand what people are thinking when they clear cut like that.


Tomorrow Bill will put some type of tasty morsel in our 'have a heart trap' and see what we can do about relocating these two to another location, preferably not near my house or anyone else's for that matter.

I am SO at that point in my life

Remember when you were a kid and you could sleep till noon? I remember days when my Mom would come into my bedroom and pull up the blinds to try to lure me out of bed using the sunlight. Later when that tactic failed to rouse me from the comfort of my bed she'd pull off my covers; that always worked!

Then as a young adult and old enough to par-tee I would be out all night, sleep for a few hours and then go to work. Oh, those were the days. I don't remember feeling all that tired after those nights.The only down side I can remember was having a hangover to two. And if I didn't go out, I could sleep forever- the advantages of youth right?

Oh, but the kids came and I was tired all the time, I would call it.... perpetual exhaustion. Five kids does that to a person. Mix that with a husband who worked shifts around the clock and you can bet as soon as I put the kids down, my head hit the pillow. Getting up and down all night for feeding and diapers, hugs and illness, nightmares, monsters, peeing and boo boo's.....did I forget anything?As the kids grew and then my husband retired, I finally started to sleep. My husband whose a morning person started to let me sleep in and believe me it was heaven. Eight blissful hours of sleep for days on end. I must admit I really got spoiled because of the whole morning person thing. I must admit I might have taken advantage of that fact just a teensy bit- well more then just a teensy bit!

somebody's getting sleep in
my bed!

Now I'm fifty-two and I cannot remember the last time I slept a complete night. Ugh! This is driving me crazy. It's been said it happens to women my age that we either have trouble falling asleep of difficulty staying asleep. I can seriously vouch for that! I believe on a good night I get four hours without disturbance! Then for the rest of the night I toss and turn and toss some more; I can tell you it's just terrible. I have cousins that take Ambien, but I hate to go there. Sleeping pills worry me, addiction worries the heck out of me.

Maybe it's just the stubborn Irish woman in me hoping that one of these days this problem will just settle down and I'll start to sleep again. Hubris of the not young and very tired!

Can you relate to any of this? Or am I just a so sleep deprived that I actually think I'm the only one?

Misery loves company ya know! So tell me what's going on in your bedroom, but keep it G rated.