Goat Tips

These are my daddy's goats and this post is for him. I checked out a book from the local library titled : Pearls of Country Wisdom. This is the tip for daddy (and any of you other goat lovers out there): Goat Breeding Tip. One cup of apple cider vinegar to 3 gallons warm water beginning 6 weeks before breeding will help generate more doe eggs, getting up to 75% doe kids. Aren't his little goat babies cute???

Is it really November, already?

I woke up this morning and realized it was November 9, 2008. Where has this year gone??? It is almost a blur to me, as it has come and gone at a very high rate of speed. Let's see.... husband and I relocated in February to a town two hours away. I un-relocated two months later, moving back into our home and returning to my previous job. We do a lot of commuting these days! My son was married in May. We've done a few cosmetic things to the house this year. My daughter moved back in with me in August.... bringing along her puppy. We now have three young dogs in our house.... yep, that is where the time goes! Three dogs will really keep one busy! I'm working four ten hour (+) days a week... way more than I want to work. I'm praying for a change... and hopefully, if it all works out... it is just around the corner. I'll keep praying about that one. Our family took a nice drive today.... husband, myself, daughter, and the three dogs. We took a scenic tour of the fall leaves, or what is left of them. I think our peak leaf season was sometime last week. It was still very beautiful and was fun to just get out of the house and see something different for a change. We don't seem to have a lot of family time anymore, and it was fun, just being together..... even with the three dogs, who love to ride in the car! I look forward to life slowing down a bit.... I want to enjoy the years, the months, the seasons.... and not just wake up one morning and realize that another year has almost passed me by!

White Trash Cooking

This is one of my most favorite cookbooks of all times! I bought it while living in Western NC and it has continued to be a favorite read of mine. I suspected, but didn't realize I was "white trash" until I read through this book. :o) It has a lot of what us good 'ol southerners like to eat and a few things I had never heard of, but they sounded good too! (has some great photo's included) Since I like this book so much, I purchased White Trash Cooking II from Amazon this past week. As expected, I didn't like it nearly as much as the first one, but am happy to have it all the same. Not only are these recipes interesting, easy, and tasty, most of them are very cheap to make. So, if you are watching your pennies, like most folks are these days, you may want to get yourself a copy of this book. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine.

Proud mother

I received my notice in the mail today! My son will officially graduate from college in December and we received our graduation instructions in the mail today. We have been informed where to park, what to wear (the arena will be covered in ice for another event), and how to RSVP. woo hoo! It's official..... my little boy graduates on December 18th at 10:00 am! I'm very proud and look forward to seeing him go forward in life with his new degree. Even without a degree, Will makes me very proud! The little boy that I love with all my heart has turned into a wonderful young man with strong morals and values. He is truly a mother's dream for success! Congratulations, Will... I love you!

Time to cook!

The weather is cooler and the kitchen is calling. Does cooler weather make you want to get into the kitchen? I made beef stew and a pot of dried beans last weekend. I've been thinking of apple cake, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, soups and stews, and other yummy fall foods. A lot of churches have their annual "homecoming" this time of year, when all the ladies cook and bring their favorite dishes to share with others. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and of course, there will be great food and fun! Then Christmas will be here.... more time in the kitchen for lots of good food, cakes, and candies! I love this time of year... I love food and family! I read through old cookbooks last weekend, looking for new ideas and recipes. I have several books that were printed in the 1950's and the recipes seem more "natural" and "homey" than a lot of the recipes printed today, that call for so many prepackaged foods and mixes. I would love to have more available time in the kitchen, to plan and truly cook for my family, instead of just throwing something together in a hurry, like we seem to do so often with our busy lifestyles. What about you? What's different in your kitchen this time of year?

Still here.....

I know, I know..... can you believe I would put a picture of myself on here? I've been gone so long, I thought I would let you all know that I really am still alive and well. Where have I been? Not on the computer, that' s for sure. My daughter recently moved back in with me and brought her dog and her laptop computer. The laptop is the only thing working in our house right now and I HATE using this thing.... it feels so foreign to my fingers. And.... having an extra dog in the house is keeping me even busier. Work has been busy, but better. Last weekend we traveled home for my sweet niece's wedding. It was a beautiful event and we all had a great time. My mom snapped this picture of me on the stairs at the reception location. It was a lot of fun! Congrats! to Kenny and Holly.... we love you guys!

Still here....

What a week! And it's already Sunday night... time to start another week. We had a very rough week at work this past week.... very emotional, very heartbreaking stuff! But we have to keep going! We had tornadoes in our area this week. We were able to practice our tornado drill at work, which included placing all residents in the halls with their doors closed. Most of them seemed to actually enjoy it.... a break from the monotony of nursing home life. There was a sense of excitement in the air throughout the whole ordeal. I read something today that spoke to me: When you get tired of suffering from trying to do your own will, maybe you should turn it over to God and seek His will. There is a lot going on in my world and I hope I can recognize God's will in all this! This picture was taken several years ago when we were living in Western NC. This was the view from my front porch after a big rain. If you look closely, you can see the little creek below was flooded. We have a creek running beside our house now, that also floods with heavy rains. With the bad weather we had on Wednesday, it flooded once again, but thankfully it has never risen as high as our house sits on the lot. God is good!

Goodbye Willow bench... hello memories!

Who would think that a very tired willow bench could hold so many memories? When we moved to the mountains of Western NC eleven years ago, this was one of my first purchases made there. I bought it at a flea market from a little old man dressed in overalls, whose name turned out to be Mr. West. He told me how he climbed up the mountains in search for the perfect branches for his furniture, then cut the branches, brought them down from the mountain and into his truck, where they were transported to his workshop where he made beautiful pieces of furniture and flower baskets. He was a very small framed man who didn't look strong enough to do the work he did, but he was very good at it, and made lots of beautiful pieces and sold them at the flea market. Shortly thereafter, I met a little woman who resided at the local nursing home, where I worked. Her named was Mrs. West and she had Alzheimer's Disease. Sure enough, she turned out to be the wife of the little man who made my bench. He would visit her, still dressed in his overalls, which was his everyday attire. I tried to take good care of Mrs. West and frequently tried to comfort her while she was crying for her mama to come get her. She no longer recognized Mr. West and it was difficult for him to visit her. I used to imagine what Mr. and Mrs. West's life had been before she got sick, when they were both healthy and raising their own family. An acquaintance of mine started dating a new man and eventually married him. His name was Mr. West.... yep, the son of Mr. and Mrs. West. They built a beautiful log home across the road from Mr. West's home, which was a very humble little white house, nestled at the foot of the mountain, where he continued to make willow furniture. A few years later, a very special wildlife officer, who worked for my husband, was driving down the road and noticed a truck on the side of the road, piled high with branches in the truck bed. He knew Mr. West and recognized that Mr. West was out replenishing his supply used to make furniture. He then noticed a man in overalls lying on the ground near the truck. Yes, it was Mr. West. He was not breathing and his heart had stopped. The young officer called for help and performed CPR on Mr. West, who did not survive. Mr. West had died, doing what he loved..... making furniture. My willow bench has moved with me four times since I bought it and it now sits under a tree near my back door. It is for decoration only, as it never would sit comfortably, unless it had a nice cushion on it. I inspected it closely today to find that it has rotted over the years and can not endure another move from it's current location. I will let it sit where it is for now, but when we sell our home, the bench will no longer be a part of my life. I have several pictures of my bench, so the memories will always be there..... of Mr. West, his family, and of my special time while living in the mountains of Western NC.

The dog lady

I have a best friend at work who always remembers my birhtday by giving me a gift. This year she gave me a night shirt which sports a dog theme. My friend and I have been very close friends for five years and we really have a lot in common.... except dogs. When we met, I was a lot like her, in that I would never dream of having a dog inside my house. Over the past couple of years, we have become proud parents of two wonderful pups, thanks to my dear daughter. I have to admit that I have truly fallen in love with our little guys. I'm the typical "dog lady" now, as I do tend to talk about my little guys at work and to my dear friend. She always shakes her head when I start talking about my little ones, as if she just cannot believe I am now one of "those people." This week, for my birthday, she gave me this adorable little night shirt with a few other "dog" related items. It was probably the best gift I had ever received from her, and she had a big smile on her face while watching me open my gifts. After it was all over, and she saw how happy she had made me, she replied, "You really disappoint me." hee hee So, happy birthday to the dog lady!

Snake Plant

Believe it or not, this is the first snake plant I've ever owned. This plant was part of an arrangement that someone gave to me as a going away gift when I left work a few months ago. It has been in a dark room with very little water or attention since that time. Since it was determined to live anyway, I decided to repot it and give it a new chance at living. Why have I never owned a snake plant before? I don't know... my mom has plenty of them. Did you know that another name for the snake plant is "Mother in Law Tongue"? That's funny! I hope I haven't jinxed this little plant, now that I've decided to give it a little attention. Time will tell!

Long weekend :o)

I have worked and worked and worked the past couple of weeks. Now I'm off for a four day weekend.... yay, yay, yay! Daughter and I will be going to see hubby this weekend. We will be doing a couple of things for a niece's wedding while we are there. Daughter has to pick up her dress (she is a bridesmaid) and we have a shower to attend on Sunday. I went to the doctor today, thinking I was going for my "yearly" exam. It's never that simple, is it? I will be going back in a couple weeks for more tests. I guess the older we get, the more tests they find to do. That's okay, though.... once the results come back normal, we're glad we did it! My pups have been with their "daddy" all week and I've missed them. It will be great to be with hubby and puppy babies this weekend. I hope you all have a great weekend too!

Summer Time

Do you remember how we, as kids, always looked forward to summer? No school; just many long days of playing, hanging out with friends, going to the beach, swimming, and thinking of fun things to do? Wouldn't you love to go back to those days.... just one more time? I have so looked forward to summer this year, just to realize that it is passing right before my eyes! It's been tougher than I thought, being apart from my husband during the week. We are, once again, rethinking our situation and if all goes as planned, I hope to reunite with him by late Fall, if not before. :o) Then I hope to find some of my "lost" summer days. I hope you guys are having a wonderful FUN summer!

Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! I hope your day is full of fun and fireworks. One of the things I love about living in my current home is that we see free fireworks from our front yard. We don't even have to fight the traffic! We live a road over from Victory Junction Camp and get free access to their show every year. Also, we have very extravagant neighbors who put on a huge display of fireworks over their little lake just across the road. I love the peaceful feeling of pulling out a chair into the middle of the driveway, in my summer gown, with barefeet on the warm concrete, relaxing in the quiet of the night, without the crowds and noise, sipping coffee, and having my very "own" firework display. I'm looking forward to tonight. Hope you all get to see great fireworks!

My little quilt

I've had this quilt for at least 12 years. I bought it from a little flea market in a very tiny town in NC for $5. It is all sewn by hand.... the flowers, the quilt, and the quilting stitches. I have had it tucked away all this time, as I didn't want my children to "mess it up". Now get this... I brought it out over the weekend for my little dog to sleep beneath when she lies on the couch next to me. What kind of mama am I? I wouldn't let my kids touch it, but now I'm using it for my little dog??? hee hee The funny (odd) thing is, that after all these years, I noticed for the first time ever that there is embroidery on the back, that I never have seen before. It says 1984-McClung. I'm sure a Ms. McClung made it in 1984, but I think some of the fabric looks older than 1984. What do you think?

PS. My little birds flew away today! (see posts below) I was a little sad when I came home from work to find the empty nest. But that is nature... and I really enjoyed watching them while I could.

Country Living

These pictures cannot reveal the true beauty of this recently cut hayfield near my home. This field seems to go on and on, but my camera could not get a view of the whole area at once. I love these huge round bales of hay and how pretty they make a landscape look. Believe it or not, there is a pretty blonde lady who is responsible for cutting all this hay. I've seen her in several fields in the area, on her red tractor, working away in these fields, while someone else comes along with the baling machine to finish up. I'm proud of her... I have no idea who she is.
I imagine she is used to hard work and probably doesn't enjoy her work nearly as much as I enjoy seeing her handiwork. This is country living at its finest... true beauty found in what is a necessity and money maker for the farmer, yet such a pretty site for others to enjoy.
By the way, Mom, this field is just a yard or two away from our very famous neighbor. (The King of Nascar)

See how we have grown!

Look at my baby birds! There are still six in the nest and look how crowded they are! I hope they can continue to live together as they grow and that none fall out of the nest. Look at all that YUK! that I will get to clean up after they fly away. Do you think Mama bird poops on the edge of her nest? Or does part of that mess belong to the baby birds? Whatever it is, it is surely making a mess on my front door. I look forward to cleaning it!

His eye is on the sparrow....

This is what we saw on Sunday when we peeked inside the bird's nest. Lots of little feathers, with one egg not having yet hatched at this point. Now, look what I see today: Scrawny little birds packed tightly inside their very tiny nest! It 's amazing how much they have changed already!
They seem to be just flopping around in the nest... apparently, waiting for Mama bird to bring some supper in this picture. I've had new carpet put down this week and new furniture delivered today.... all without disturbing the birds. Everyone is still using either the garage door or the back door. This has been a little inconvenient to all of us, but it has truly been a gift watching these little miracles right in front of our eyes.
And you know, God not only watches over the little sparrows, but he truly watches over ME. There were fatal shootings at a nursing home this week, in our new town where hubby transferred recently. As many of you know, we decided to keep our house, and I've moved back home and resumed my former job. However, if we had not made that decision, I would have been at that very nursing home when the shootings occurred. My office would have been just down the hall. I don't think I would have been in any danger, as the shooter did not intend to take anybody's life, other than his own, his wife's, and his mother's. But I don't think my mind or my body could have handled the horrific events of that day. I turned down that job just days before returning to my current job. I pray for all those involved and I thank my dear heavenly Father that he truly watches over me!

Baby, it's hot outside!

Eastern NC is having a heat wave and boy, is it hot! I've been in and out of the car for two days, running errands, and the heat is unbearable. I cannot imagine NOT having an air conditioner during this time. The a/c seems to be working overtime, but it's doing a fine job cooling our little apartment.

I started back to work last week. Everything went well and most everyone seemed glad that I was back. After having not worked for almost two months, it was a big adjustment, having to set the alarm clock and actually leave the house every morning. But I made it through my first week and look forward to being with so many of my friends again.

I am working Monday thru Thursday, which gives me a three day weekend every week. (my new position doesn't require me to work weekends) Other than not having to work at all, what more can one ask for? Right? Coming to the apartment on Thursday night was almost like taking a little vacation. If the gas prices would only come down, I think this living arrangment will be okay for awhile.

For those of you interested in seeing a few of my son and daughter in law's wedding pic's, go here: http://thebabysitterslove.blogspot.com/ I'm the mother in the blue dress. Babysitter's Love is my daughter in law's blog page and I always look forward to reading her posts. Please check her out if you have time.

Hubby and I will be heading back to our real home this afternoon. From there I have to get busy, as we have homecoming at church tomorrow. I posted about homecoming once before and was surprised at the number of people who had never heard of a church homecoming. I guess it's a southern thing. Everyone will cook and bring several dishes and dessert to church tomorrow. Friends, family, and former members are invited to share in our meal after church. We will have a guest speaker, which is usually a former pastor from the church. It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun.

I hope you guys are staying cool and enjoying this "spring" time weather!

Time Alone

Wow! I forgot how much one can get done without distractions! Hubby and I have decided to keep our house and I will be living here during the week. He took the dogs back with him on Friday, so I have been alone for two days. Don't get me wrong, I miss them terribly, but I have enjoyed my free time. I have worked in my yard and been able to really enjoy my flowers. I visited with the newly weds... had dinner with them and watched the wedding video. (which was awesome, by the way) I shopped at Wal Mart late last night (late for me, anyway). I got up early this morning and enjoyed several yard sales. I treated myself to breakfast and had my nails done today. I came home and washed my car. I hope to start painting in my laundry room as soon as I cool off a little. (it is hot here today) Last night was my first night alone and I was a little nervous. I kept thinking I was hearing things and didn't get a lot of sleep. I could have sworn I heard the garage door opening at one point. Someone hit a deer in front of my house and I got up to look outside without turning on any lights. I walked into the door frame on my way back to bed. I have a tiny little black eye today. I don't like things that go bump in the night! So, to my hubby, if you are reading this... I have enjoyed my free "day light" time... but I sure do miss you guys at night!

Progress

Mama bird has been very busy, hasn't she? When we left to go back to our apartment last week, I forgot to put the sign up to warn people at the front door . My daughter in law told me that she and my son came over Tuesday night to pick up her wedding dress. They didn't know about the nest but quickly noticed mama bird flying around their heads while trying to open the front door. They decided to exit through the back door after they picked up their things. I now have a sign on my storm door, just under the wreath, which says: "Please use back door, Mama bird is on her nest. Thanks!" So far, the sign is working. Hopefully, the eggs will hatch soon and we'll get a good picture of her babies! Isn't nature amazing?

Happy Memorial Day

What did I do today? I was at our apartment, with not a whole lot to do today. So, I watched tv, read a little from a quilting book, did laundry, read blogs, and played with my dog babies all day. Husband had to work today and it was a very quiet day. We played ball over and over again. My dogs never get tired of chasing their balls. They are both very good retrievers and I usually get tired before they do. Sweet Pea got into a mess, as usual. She is my DESTRUCTIVE dog. She has torn up every toy we've ever bought for her, except for her Nylabone toys, which she really doesn't seem to enjoy that much. This toy was a little stuffed dog when I bought it. She enjoyed taking the stuffing out, piece by piece, which kept her entertained for a long time! Once she was exhausted from all her destruction work, we took naps. We got a really good nap today!
And little Butterbean, as usual, was sweet, sweet, sweet! He is such a loyal little boy, who really seems to love his "mommy". He is never far away from me when I'm home. And I mean "never". When I'm bathing, he lies beside the shower. When I' m putting away laundry, he follows me back and forth as we do our chore. When I go "potty", he is right beside me. If I'm working in the kitchen, he lies near the kitchen door, with his eyes watching every move I make. When I rest, he rests! I know why lonesome people love their dogs. They are great company! I hope you all had a nice day today too!

Now that I know....

I have a large patch of irises that were already planted when we bought our home. I have ignored and neglected them and they didn't do as well this year. However, do you see this pretty flower in the midst? Hubby and I never realized it was a flower before, and we would always pull these up and toss them aside before they had a chance to develop. We thought they were weeds. As we have been in the process of moving, we have neglected the flower bed even more this year, which allowed this baby to develop and bloom! I have several of these and had no idea what they were. My mom says they look like, what my Grandmother used to call, California Poppies. The flower is so pretty and has a very sweet smell. Now that I know they aren't weeds, I think we'll start keeping them. :o) Also, any advice for getting my irises to be pretty again next year?

Surprise!

Don't you just love surprises? I have a pretty wreath on my front door made with silk flowers. I noticed two birds flying around my porch for the past few days. I mentioned it to my husband and he told me they were probably building a nest in my wreath. Oh no! I thought.... we'll be attacked by birds. I went inside to inspect the wreath from inside the front door glass and look what I found.... A perfectly formed and beautiful bird's nest, buried within my arrangement, almost like I had put it there myself for decoration. The little bird had come so far, I dare not disturb her work and her future plans of hatching babies there. Today when I inspected her work, I found her first egg! My husband wants to rope off the front porch area to keep people from getting near the nest. I told him I will put a sign on the front door, hoping people will notice before they get attacked by the mama bird. Just a few weeks of inconvenience.... not being able to use the front door... will be worth the perfect view I have of God's creatures in all their glory!

Wedding

It was a beautiful wedding! She was a beautiful bride and he was a very handsome groom! I hope to have more pictures to show you later. We are very proud of our children and delighted to have Ashley as our new daughter. Welcome to our family, Ashley!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all you moms! I've been away for a few days packing up more things from the house. We helped move my dear son into his new home on Friday and Saturday. He and A. will be getting married this Saturday!!! They have a beautiful new home and it is great to see the excitement in their faces as they start to settle into their new life together. Both of my wonderful children came to see me for Mother's Day. Unfortunately, my husband and I didn't see our moms for the special day. We will definitely see them this week and hope they know just how special they are to us. Life can get so complicated, can't it? I dream of a simple life again... where it's a "given" that we can always be in church on Sundays, where we can always make it to the holiday celebrations, family reunions, birthdays, and anything else that "normal" people do. Nursing is a great career, however, it does tend to interfere with one's social life. Oh well, what does that have to do with Mother's Day? ;o) We were three hours from our moms on Mother's Day, as that is how far away our home is from them. We should have everything moved out in the next couple of weeks and be ready to sell it. But guess what? We are now having second thoughts! We had visitors all weekend, encouraging us not to sell our house, and to wait a year to make a decision. (I'll explain later, Mom) So, now we are torn... do we sell.... or do we wait and see what happens? Life can be so complicated, can't it? Anyway, back to Mother's Day.... I LOVE being a mother and thank God for allowing me the opportunity to do so! Children are definitely a gift from God and a gift that we should treasure very deeply. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Moving along...

Things are moving along for us here in our "real" home. We had our appraisal done last week and were very pleased with the results. Yesterday we received estimates from moving companies for the big moving day. Funny thing is: We are walking around with Mr. Mover and telling him what things are NOT going.... like the livingroom set, son's bedroom set, diningroom set, a chair here and there... the nicer things that we own. The guys look a little puzzled when we tell them what we ARE moving.... junk. You know, all those boxes of stuff that you've saved forever, and don't really know why, but it's stuff you can't part with. I have my children's toy furniture in the attic.... in need of repair... and Mr. Mover sticks his head down from the attic and says "Are you moving THIS?" Yes. Then he looks at some old dishes sitting off to the side that obviously have not been used in years. Are you taking THESE? Yes. Then two old pink rockers with peeling paint from a front porch many years ago? Do you want to keep THESE? Yes. I had to giggle about what he must have been thinking: She's nuts; she is keeping the junk and sending the good stuff away. But I have dreams... big dreams. Hubby and I plan to start fresh in our next home....with new stuff.... with all the old JUNK still packed away in the attic. Not junk.... many years of memories. One day I will restore those old pink rockers, which by the way, I have many pictures of my little children rocking in years ago on the front porch. I will restore those rockers and use them again. Those dishes.... maybe they are valuable by now???? The kids furniture... my grandchildren will use to have tea parties, rock their baby dolls, and I will restore the baby doll bunk beds for my granddaughters. My daddy made these bunkbeds for my daughter. I will make bed linens and quilts for their little dolls. So, while others may think my stuff is junk.... these things are very valuable to me and the movers had better take very good care of them. Well, off to packing boxes today... my dear son will be moving out this weekend into their new home... one week before their wedding. Yes, things are moving along here.

Stitching time away

Even though I don't have a paycheck coming in these days, I do LOVE being unemployed. (even if it is temporary) Yesterday I ran by Michael's and picked up some floss and a hoop to start this new embroidery project. This is a primitive piece that says: "When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. And that's my religion. Stiched by Emma 1862." I hope to make it into a miniature quilt to use somewhere. Notice the Mary Engelbreit (ME) sewing box on the left.... it was on clearance at Michael's for $3.00. Now, I love ME and thought this was a great bargain. The top is a pin cushion and the inside has elasticized pockets for thread, etc. So, yesterday was a good day.... new stichery project and a new sewing box. I love being at home!

No more laundry :o(

Yesterday hubby and I made a trip to our real home to mow grass and run a few errands. My son rode along with me while running errands and I enjoyed his company so much. The next time I see my son we'll be helping him move his things into his new home. As I walked out the door to leave, I grabbed his laundry and brought it home with me since we'll be seeing him again in a few days. Believe it or not, on my way home, I got a little emotional thinking that this will be the last time I "get" to do my son's laundry. How many times I have cursed having to do laundry??? And now, my baby is getting married and his new wife will have the pleasure of keeping up with his laundry. Really, it's okay, as I LOVE his wife to be... it's just an emotional thing about mama's little boy being all grown up now. So, I'm heading off to the laundry room now.... to lovingly do my son's laundry.... one last time.

My Friend's Table

I thought I would brag on one of my friends today. Every spring, sometime around Easter, she hosts a tea party for her daughter and her little friends. She started this when her daughter was quite young and invites about six little girls over for tea. The little girls dress up in their Easter dresses (and sometimes Easter hats) and come over to Connie's for this little celebration. I'm sure my friend enjoys this party way more than the little girls do, but I've always admired her talent and creativity to put on this little event every year. This is a picture of her table from a couple years ago. The funny thing is that her "little" daughter is growing into a young teenager now and isn't too excited about this frilly stuff any longer. So what did God do for my friend? He surprised her last year, at age 45, with a new little girl to love!!! Now, my friend can have tea parties for years to come!

Here we go again...

Sweet Pea and I have had a lot of "rest" time the past few days. Guess what I've done? I quit my new job! I decided night shift and an hour commute both ways was a bit much for me. Plus, have you seen the gas prices? I'll be finding something more local to do. Butterbean has enjoyed his "rest" time with me too. He seems to be a little warm these days, as he is lying under the ceiling fan, trying to cool off. I think a summer haircut is in order for him this week.
There will be lots of rest time for the doggies this week, as I hit the pavement, trying to find another job. I'm sure there is something out there.... most places still have a nursing shortage. Wish me luck!

Sunday

I wanted to show you my new little angel that I hung in my new bathroom. If you click on the picture to enlarge, you can read her message. I found her at my favorite store: TJ Maxx. You just never know what you'll find in there. That's why it is very important to go there at least once a week. :O)

Recovering....

I made it through my first week of night shift and I'm still alive! It was a little tough, but a good experience, for sure. It was fun being with the children that I now work with and was great relearning prior nursing skills. I am also reminded of how thankful I am for healthy children! Sometimes we forget how blessed we are.

This whole moving transition is coming along, as I am actually doing something fun again. See my yo yo's in the picture? This little yo yo maker is fun and makes perfectly formed yo yo's everytime. I've made them the old fashioned way too, and this is much more fun!

I also started tanning yesterday. We have a big wedding coming up in less than a month now! I need a little tan to make myself looked relaxed, and so as not to blind anyone when I am escorted into the church. :o) I'm going to look for my wedding shoes today and will find someone to hem my dress. I think we just may make it through all this!

I found a new place to have my nails touched up yesterday. I met the funniest woman ever in the nail salon. Her ex-husband is mayor of our town and she was a hoot... talking about him and his new wife. I was truly entertained while getting my nails done.

I've been walking on the treadmill... believe it or not. It sat in our garage at our "real" home for two years, hardly ever used. I now have it in the livingroom of our tiny little apartment and it's finally getting some use. I decided that walking is now a necessity, as I don't get nearly the exercise at my new job, as I did at my old job.

We found a very pretty lake in our town yesterday and took our dogs for a walk. Our dogs are not used to being around strangers and it was a very interesting walk. Big dog wagged his whole body each time he would see people.... little dog barked viciously each time she saw the same people. We need to socialize them a little more!

I talked to a dear friend last night who worked with me at my old job. Seems a lot has happened since I left... things I would not like at all. It made me happy that I was no longer working there.... see, things really do have a way of working themselves out. I didn't have to leave on a bad note and I didn't get fired!

I have some really big dreams right now. #1 is that our house will sell quickly and then my other dreams may follow. I am definitely looking "up" right now as our life is moving in this new direction. 'Hope your week has been a good one!

Whew! I made it!

Okay... no kidding! This is how I felt after my drive home this morning! I worked my first 12 hour night shift last night and surprised myself with how easily I stayed awake. The one hour drive home was a booger! I prayed all the way home for safety. It should be easier tomorrow, as I have slept all day today! Isn't this a funny picture? That's probably how I looked on the bed today!

Saturday

It's been a good weekend so far. Thursday night we had dinner with our new neighbor, who was so kind to invite us over. We enjoyed getting to know him and the dinner was wonderful. Isn't it nice to know there are still nice people in the world? Friday I went to my real home and was able to spend a little time with my dear son, who will be getting married soon. I took the doggies with me and I am so very proud of how well they ride in the car. They are great traveling companions. Today I attended a wonderful wedding shower for my son and his soon to be wife. It was a great time and the lovely couple received some very lovely gifts. I traveled back to my "pretend" home tonight and hope to rest up on Sunday, as I start my new job on the night shift Monday night. Yikes! Night shift after working 11 years on day shift!!! I hope I can make it. I used to really enjoy night shift and felt as if I got a lot more done around the house back then. I hope that will be the case again. If you happen to wake up during the night, say a little prayer for me, that I'll be wide awake and doing a good job! This picture was taken last weekend when my children came to our pretend home for the day. The puppies are always glad to see them! My daughter is always happy to see them too.... she still claims to be Butterbean's mommy. I beg to differ... I think I'm his mommy now. Either way, neither dog suffers from lack of love! They are rotten. 'Hope your Saturday was good and that you enjoyed everything you did!

Soon to be newlyweds!

As I have mentioned here before, we have a wedding coming up in a few weeks. This is a picture of my son and his soon to be wife taken at their shower on Saturday. My sis in law gave them their first wedding shower and we all had a great time. The fun is just beginning for them, as they have another shower coming up this weekend. Wouldn't it be fun to have another shower... and have everything all pretty and new again?

Here's the pig!

Remember the pig I told you about a few weeks ago? I've been wanting to show you his picture. My sweet daughter was here yesterday and showed me how to work the picture thingy on my new computer. Is this pig's expression adorable, or what? Daughter and I just had to run to TJ Maxx last night, just for a quick minute or two, to see if they had anything new. She found another pig and "almost" talked me into buying it. But I exercised self control and didn't bring it home with me. I have no place for pigs in the apartment and I just hate to pack them up for storage. So, no more pigs for Pen pen right now! But isn't this one cute?

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Today my dear little one turns 21 years old! Happy Birthday April... you make me so proud! You are a beautiful young lady: inside and out. I hope you have a wonderful day!

It's almost time!

Today is my last day in my home. Tomorrow I will take my clothes and personal things to my new home to live with my husband. I start my new job on Tuesday... two weeks of orientation... woo hoo! I'm really looking forward to working with children again.

My son gets married in about six more weeks. Changes, changes... major life events. I'm a "little" stressed, but I'm still seeing many positive things in our future. For one, when I get moved tomorrow, I will have access to a decent computer, and I promise I will post REAL pictures again!

I have several computer friends that I have lost contact with recently with the big computer change at our house. I have lost all my email addresses. If you are reading this (especially my friend, TJ, in Kansas) please drop me a quick email so I can add your address to my list again. I will be getting a new email account soon and I want to carry everyone with me.

Happy Saturday to all!

Busy week!

This is a busy week for us and I'll be glad to put this one behind us! We are working to get the house ready to sell. Painting, yard work, cleaning, etc.... all the things we should have done anyway.... but now are a necessity! We hope to call the realtor to have the house listed by the weekend. I look forward to getting into my new place... with not much to do. I miss reading all your blogs and hope to find time to play "catch up" to all your wonderful posts soon. Wish us luck.... we need to sell this house!

It is over... sniff sniff

Yesterday was my last day of work. When I woke up and got dressed for work, I thought to myself "oh, this is easy, I'm not going to cry." When I drove into the parking lot, a swarm of butterflies entered my stomach like never before. I walked into work, clocked in, put my cokes into the fridge, and as always, went by my best friend's office to say hello. When I walked in, there she sat, with tears in her eyes. She handed me a card, that I started to open, but then I started to cry too. I took the card, unopened, and put it into my tote, and told her "not now... maybe later." We hugged and I went to my station. As I arrived at my station, people started to hug me, and I cried. I went for coffee, pulled myself together, and called my son to bring my "dope" to me. Once my dope arrived, I knew it would be okay. :o) Around noon, I was paged to the private dining room where all my friends and coworkers were waiting. They had all brought a covered dish (it was like a homecoming dinner at church!) and they showered me with gifts. My friend and I both cried during the whole thing, but we made it through. The day got better after the luncheon. I was able to say goodbye to most without crying, until the end of the day, as I was telling my patients and their families goodbye. A few of them cried... and I cried. Whew, what a day! I can honestly say that yesterday's party was probably the best party I've ever had in my life... I felt loved... and that's all any of us can ask for... is to be loved!

On, to new beginnings.... I talked to a friend on Wednesday night who still works at the job I will be returning to after 11 years. She made me excited about returning to my old job and I am truly looking forward to relearning the things I used to do there. My heart is a little heavy this morning, but the sun is shining, the birds are singing... and I'm looking forward to moving on.

Have a wonderful day!

Here and there...

I hope everyone had a nice St. Patrick's Day. I shopped all day. It was a lovely day. I promised you "real" pictures soon... well, I bought a new pig yesterday, and can't wait to show you its picture. However, my antique computer at home, for some reason, won't allow my new software to upload pic's. Next week, I'll be in my new home again, and I promise there will be pictures!

This cartoon reminds me of a dear friend that I used to work with a few years ago. He was a little short man with a full white beard who had the quirkiest sense of humor of almost anyone I know. I remember when he came to interview for his position and I saw him come through the door. I could tell he would be a funny person with a sense of humor... he was wearing a sailor shirt with a sailor's cap... for his job interview! He and I ended up sharing an office and he became one of my best friends ever... sort of like a father to me. He passed away a year ago from cancer and I think of him often. St. Patrick's day really brings back his memory, because he looked so much like a little leprachaun.

Thursday is my last day of work on my current job. Can I say I'm now happy about that? We had a really rough weekend (abuse investigation) and I hope I never have to be involved with anything like that again! I bought new scrubs yesterday (fun and happy scrubs) and am looking forward to moving on.

My baby turns 21 this month. Where does the time go? My children have grown into wonderful young adults and I am so proud of them.

We have a wedding that will be here very soon. Guess who doesn't have her dress yet? Yep, me! I shopped yesterday and found a really really nice one, but it is too late to order it. Yep, that's me! I do, however, have the option of buying the one off the rack... I may just go back and do that.

Hope your week is going well. What have you been up to?

My new country look!

Even though many people think the country look is no longer popular, I still love it, and think I always will. I purchased this bedspread for our new apartment and it was delivered to my house today. I was afraid it would be a little too red, but when I opened the box, I was excited to find just the right color inside.... it's brick red with cream accents. I bought the little pillow you see in the center of the picture too. I can't wait to see how it will all look on "our" bed.

Next week will be my last week of work at my current job. I'm receiving lots of goodbyes and well wishes already, which makes me feel sort of sad. I'm truly looking forward to a new beginning, but knowing that I am closing another chapter in my life here brings mixed emotions. I have met many wonderful people here and developed friendships with several people that I will truly miss.

I think living in different areas of the state during my husband's career has been a very rewarding experience and I wouldn't take anything for it. If we had not done so, I would have never met a few very special people in my life, who will never know just how much they have touched my heart. I'm amazed at God's goodness and how he put the right people in the right places, just for me, to make my life a little more special. Thank you, God, for the wonderful people you have blessed my life with!