Me and Things

What can I say?

2010-03-15T11:40:00.002-05:00

It has been awhile since I bothered to post anything. Things have been on the up and down for awhile and after finding out my SIL had been reading this and found much of what I said offensive to her (which doesn't matter to me in the least as she is about as in need of therapy as anyone I have ever met) I just didn't care about posting anything.

I guess I could try and catch up a little. I had a hysterectomy on February 10th. The surgery went well but the bladder recovery has taken a bit longer. Not a fun issue to have but I am on the mend and that is what matters. Because the day before surgery I got a new job at Lowe's after a bit of recovery time at home I quit the job I had a Murphy's. I really had not intentions of going back to that job if I could help it and luckily found another job quickly. I start my orientation this week and hopefully will be back to working full time soon!

My baby turns 13 this month. I haven't thought too much about it other than we have a cake on order and all her gifts are tucked away and in need of being wrapped. We may or may not have some sort of party as we have no idea what any of ours schedules are going to look like by then. I figure if I think about it too much I am likely to bawl my eyes out.

I got a new hair style last week. After getting a terrible cut back in September I had refused to get another one figuring I could just make due with what ever it looked like on any given day. That worked for awhile but I just got really fed up with it and Will needed a haircut anyway so we broke down and did it. My good friend Christina has her own shop and so we ran up there and let her do what she wanted. She knows me well enough that she couldn't go too crazy, but I was more than ready for a change and that is what I got. Cut and color. I was tired of looking at all the new grays popping out all over and so now I am definitly not gray anymore. I have been told that I look 10 years younger. Way to go me!

I have been trying to work on a graduation album for Tori while I have been home and had the time to get it finished. Don't you know that my scrapbooking mojo has taken a hike and I have managed to complete 2 pages. I have pictures lying around that will go in it and several hundred more on the computer that I need to go through and make decisions on and I just get blocked when I get time to do it. I refuse to disappoint her like I did Amber. Amber didn't get her album until her 20th birthday. I need to just sit my ass down and get busy. It will look great when it is done and she will love it I just need to stop worrying about everything. I can't seem to help that part though.

Well, off to do another load of laundry, damn stuff multiplies like rabbits!

Still alive and kicking!

2010-01-25T15:01:00.003-06:00

This girl here is officially an adult. She turned 18 on the 17th and we celebrated by having a nice lunch in Bowling Green. We had a bit of a family dinner the next evening and then she had a big friends party here at the house the next weekend. It was alot of fun and I am really proud of her and her accomplishments so far in her life.

School is back in session again after the long Christmas break and then a bit of some weather issues that forced them to wait almost another week to start. Both girls are happy to be in school again.

Andrew, my boy, is headed out into the world. He was home for the holidays and was supposed to be sitting in sunny San Diego soon after getting back, but his plans got changed and he has spent the past week in Norfolk, VA awaiting his first trip abroad. His orders are for Bahrain, which is an island off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Not the most ideal place I'm sure, but at least he will be on a ship and he is doing something that he wants to do. Doesn't really make it any easier for those at home. Now I understand how all of the families of our servicemen feel.

This week I am working the opening shift since the manager is at meetings all week in Orlando. I don't really mind the getting up at 1:30 in the morning to get going and all the different things that have to be done each day, and getting off before lunchtime is a bonus, but I don't take a nap when I get home so that I can sleep at bedtime and that makes for a long day. I have been going to bed pretty darn early so I miss out on most of the family time, but at least it is only until Monday. I have Friday off but have to again work the weekend opening then two days of the day shift before finally getting a couple of days off.

On the 10th I am having a hysterectomy done that will lay me up for about a month. I am really looking forward to it. I have lots to keep me busy while laying around in bed and I have been wanting to have this done for about 10 years now. I finally found a doctor that was willing to just do it without trying something else first. I think I have tried all of those something elses.

Tough Decisions

2010-01-07T10:33:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago we made the tough decision to take one of our 5 cats to the Humane Society. Freckles had been getting dirtier as time went on. She was making messes anywhere she was at the time and it was getting really hard to take. The decision to get rid of her was not an easy one as we had had her since birth and of course the love and attachment one has with a pet was there. I did miss her greeting me each morning begging for her treats which she would inhale. We called it her Kitty Crack and stocked up on a regular basis.

The overall feel in the household has been better without Freckles messes to deal with and Fuzzy one of the two males in the household has been a bit calmer too. The two of them were always battling and I think that was one of the biggest reasons she made the messes that she did.

To make a long story short, the Humane Society called this morning asking what kind of cat food we had fed her because she wasn't eating very well and they were getting concerned. Well hearing that made for alot of tears and talk. We talked to each of the girls about the situation and both agreed that we need to bring her home. Will and I both agreed that that was the only decision we could make in the matter.

Today it is snowing for the first time all winter and driving anywhere is not recommended. With the decision made to return her home we now must wait for the roads to clear a bit. If a prior appointment made for today gets cancelled then we will most definitely get her as soon as we can.

I know that all the reasons we got rid of her in the first place are still here, and we have all agreed to take that in stride and deal with it.

A new year and a new decade

2010-01-05T08:52:00.002-06:00

Hard to believe that another decade has begun. I remember when the world was gearing up for the beginning on the new millenium and all the Y2K stuff. It was almost like a let down when nothing happened after all of the hype.

2010 marks the beginning of alot of new things in my life and the life of my family. I am looking forward to seeing alot of these changes and making things happen. I want to see changes in myself personally and have been taking steps to take back my life and be the one in charge. I have felt abit adrift for so long but am finally ready to take the reins.

2010 brings the turning of age for my Tori. She will be 18 very soon. She will be finishing up her senior year of high school, graduating with honors and moving away from home and onto a whole new life as a college student. Emily will be hitting those teenage years in a few months and the changes that brings are unspeakable! :) In ways I am glad that we have made it to this point, but in others I am saddened that my baby is growing up.

2010 brings in changes in our financial situation. Taking the bull by the horns and making decisions that are good and will benefit us in the long run. I have never been good with money, shopping has always been a crutch for me. I am finally ready to make the changes necessary to really live life well. In turn those changes will allow us to move and expand our horizons. We don't know where or when yet, but the ideas are churning in our minds.

2010 also brings up the possibility is my returning to school. I am finally ready to tackle those few remaining classes and get my Associates degree and then go on to do even more and find a career that I like. I am thinking Accounting or something like that. I want a regular office job that allows me to have the off days spent with my family doing fun things.

2010 is going to be full of changes. I look forward to seeing those changes happen and help make them happen as well. I want to change and be a better person. I want to be able to spend quality time with my girls before they are gone from the nest. I want to create and learn and expand my horizons.

The slate has been wiped clean and I am ready.

Making Changes

2009-12-29T14:03:00.002-06:00

Alot of things are changing around here recently. All for the good for sure.

Yesterday Will and I took advantage of a day off from work for me and an empty house and did a bit of cleaning, tossing and organizing in the basement. We had decided that we really needed to get down there and muck out the dungeon as it has become known. We got started around 7am and was really surprised that when we took a break for lunch we had not only completed the first room we wanted to get done but also had decided that we would conquer the next room too. By 2:3opm we had made two truck load trips to the dumpster and then filled the truck again with stuff for Goodwill. There is still a huge pile to go to the dumpster, and lucky for us it comes on Wednesday morning. We need to bring it all upstairs and put it into the back of the truck so as not to find it scattered all over the lawn by the dogs before the garbage truck gets here.

After getting that all done we decided we deserved a nice dinner out and a trip to the store for a few storage totes. Dinner at Shogun's was nice and we even survived a trip to Lowe's and Walmart. We did end up making a midnight run back to Bowling Green to pick up Tori who had gotten sick while at Amber's. She figures she got a bit of food poisoning but she is feeling better today.

This morning I repacked a few of the Christmas totes into the new ones we bought and labeled everything in site so we would know what we have where. That in itself feels good. We still have a bit of cleaning out and organizing to do but it is something that will take a bit more time than we wanted to spend yesterday.

The girls are still off of school this week and hopefully they will decide to spend a bit of that time at home before the busyness of things start up again. Will is off of work until the end of January when the college kids start back up so he plans to help out his mom with the apartments she has. I have to work of course which is fine. I get out of the house and with the raises I have gotten recently it is more worth it.

I am planning of having a hysterectomy done come February. The store will be at it's slowest and so I will be able to take off easier. I have a call in to the doctor's office right now trying to find out if it can be done simpler than we had discussed back in October. I wouldn't mind having the entire month off, but I really need the paycheck coming it too. Hopefully will hear back from them this week so that I can buckle down and get some plans made.

Some other changes happening around here are all about me. I have decided to make some personal changes that have so far had some positive affects on all of us. The job was the first thing that really made a difference in my overall attitude. The struggle at first is beginning to pay off. I have made some financial changes as well and although I haven't seen the differences yet the fact that it has been taken care off has lifted a very heavy weight from my shoulders. Physical changes have been going on too. Because of my crazy work schedule and lack of grazing while at home has prompted my pants to fit alot looser. That has a way of making things better!

Finally my word for 2010 has been decided upon and I picked CHANGE as my word. I figure it couldn't be a better fit as I have been making so many changes already. Life is looking up, home is much cleaner and more organized and overall I couldn't be happier. Heres to 2010!

Merry Christmas 2009!

2009-12-25T16:46:00.003-06:00

Wow, it came, it went and I am happy to see it go.

For whatever reason I find the holiday season a bit stressful and because of all the changes in the daily schedules around here this year I found I didn't particularly enjoy it much. Between the discord with my parents, the stress of a new job that keeps me sleeping, physical issues that will not resolve themselves, kids, and life in general I sometimes felt that I was just going through the motions day to day.

Right now it is almost 5 pm on Christmas day. Twelve hours ago the girls woke us up to open presents. Because there were so few this year we took turns opening so that it would last just a little longer. Tori and I headed back to bed soon after finishing up. Will got on the computer to play his game and Emily played one of her new DS games. Around 9am the folks came in to drop off goodies from an Amish neighbor and we made plans to go over to their house after they finished up the chores. Chores didn't go so well and by the time we got over there around 11 everyone was just plain tired. We managed to open presents and then we got out of there.

Amber and David took Emily with them to Bowling Green to spend a few days. Tori came home with us, showered and proceeded to visit some friends on the way to stay at Amber's. I went back to bed after finally eating some leftovers and now I am in the process of I have no idea. Waiting for the football game to come on at 6 or so.

I remember when the girls were little and the anticipation of Christmas was almost more than any of us could stand. Maybe it is because they are older now and their outlook on the season is different. Maybe it is because there is so much tension in the air whenever everyone is all together that it takes effort not to get mad. Who knows, I just know that despite it all I did have a good time but I am really glad it is over. I am ready to start looking towards the new year and all the changes that we hope to make happen.

I think that with patience we will have a good 2010. There is alot that will be going on all year that we have to be prepared for and I am trying on a new outlook on life to make sure that I get where I want to be. I want to do more with less this year and really get on top of some of the issues that caused me so much stress this year, and I want to really enjoy life.

So, Merry Christmas to all who partake of my little blog here. Hopefully I will be a bit better about posting and will try to find a new updated look for it.

What to do?

2009-11-16T11:55:00.003-06:00

Here I am sitting in front of the dang computer playing games on facebook instead of actually getting off my butt and doing something productive. But ya know what? So what!

Actually I have managed to watch some of the videos from an online class that I am taking that involves the Zutter machine. I have had this little blue wonder for awhile now and because I didn't really understand all the ins and outs of it I rarely used it. Well along comes a class that teaches all that stuff and more and for the small fee I paid I feel like I have really learned alot and we haven't even really started. I need to get busy and finish up the first 3 lessons, and that may or may not happen today, but at least I have started.

I have managed to get a few of the gifts I have planned for Christmas done and out of the way and that is good. I am trying to plan out several projects that will require some time to do and I let that get in my way sometimes. I spend too much time worrying about what I have plenty of time to do instead of concentrating on what needs to get done now. That is something I need to work on.

Saturday will be the official start to my title of Assistant Manager. I have been training for about 2 weeks now and after another drug screen and a deeper background check then I will be good to go. Overall the job isn't that hard to do. There is alot that needs to be remembered and I suppose that over time I will get it. The pay is better too!

Right now I have a bit of lunch in the oven and an episode of Bones to catch up on so I think I will sign off and maybe even get a nap in!

One Day Closer

2009-11-04T08:09:00.002-06:00

to starting a new position at my job.

having my daughter moving away from home

to finishing countless unfinished projects

to having finances under control

to spending the holidays with my family

I got up early today in hopes that I can get some things done around the house that need to be done and maybe get a bit more organized. I have several projects for Christmas that I want to make and I just need to get all my ducks in a row so that I can get them completed.

Yesterday was a great day. Tori, Carol and I went up to Louisville to visit the Bellarmine University campus. We had a nice visit with LeeAnne in Admissions, Emmy took us on a great campus tour. She was very helpful in answering questions we had about such things as meal plans and whether or not the dorm room beds are twin or xlong twin (as a mom I need to know these things). Lastly Tori me with the English Department Chair Dr. Fred Smock. He was very nice and encouraged her to ask questions and told her all those little things about the school that will ultimately help her make a decision.

The campus is beautiful, the buildings are all really nice. The dorms are great. The amenities that the campus is close to are wonderful and with the public bussing system in place she would be able to go about anywhere in Louisville with minimal trouble. I think she really liked the overall feel of the school and so now we just wait to hear about the scholarship package that they are offering her and also hearing back from Centre.

As a parent either school would be great and I can see Tori doing well at either school. Louisville offers more in ways that a city can whereas Danville is small and closeknit and just has a good vibe to it. Either school would be a perfect fit for her and I think she will be happy in either school so we will just wait and see what comes of all the paperwork.

After our visit we headed over to a couple of malls. The first was so that I could see what all the hubbub was about concerning Archivers. It is a good store with alot to offer and if I lived close I would take advantage of all the classes they offer, but overall it is just another scrapbook store. Since I had Tori with me I had her pick out the paper and album she wants for her graduation album. I let Amber pick hers out several years ago and I plan to get this one done in a more timely manner. I have all the pieces now and just have to sit down and get it completed. I plan to start after Christmas as I have so many gift projects I need to complete first.

After the mall we headed over to The Cheesecake Factory for some delicious lunch. It was awesome and we even managed to force down a piece of cheesecake for dessert. After that we walked around the mall a bit and picked up some gifts in Bath & Body Works, new shoes for Tori that are purple plaid chucks and then we headed back to pick up some cheesecake to bring home. Pumpkin cheesecake for Will & I, Red Velvet for Emily and Raspberry Lemon for Tori.

Well, off to clean off the scrapbooking desk so I can get started on some of those gifts!

Plans for the day

2009-10-26T12:42:00.002-05:00

1. Get out of the house and take some Fall pictures before all the leaves are gone.
2. Shower and take Emily to Bowling Green to get braces fixed.
3. Finish laundry that darling hubby of mine started yesterday.
4. Actually accomplish something on this rare day off alone.

What have I done today?

Called about Emily's braces only to find out I can't get her in today.
Went back to bed after girls left for school and slept until 10am.
Ate a pop tart and watched CSI:NY.
Turned on computer and decided to catch up on 365 Cards.

What I have left on my list to do:

Shower and hopefully remember to take camera with me so that I can get some pictures of the leaves today before they are all gone while on my way to pick up Emily from school to turn around and head home to finish the laundry before hubby gets home so I can say I at least got that done. All in all not a bad day!

October 1

2009-10-01T10:54:00.003-05:00

Just where in the hell has the past 9 months gone? I sit here sweating from mowing on the much overgrown lawn hoping that it will be the last time I have to push that damn thing around for the season and wishing I lived somewhere else when BAM!

Do I really wish I lived somewhere else? In all honesty I guess not. I mean I live in a house that I do not have to pay on where I have no neighbors to speak of, plenty of space for the 3 dogs and the 5 cats to roam, away from the busy lifestyle that would accompany living in a city setting. I mean what more could I really ask for?

I get really frustrated sometimes as I am not a very patient person. I am good at hiding my head and pretending that all the bad things are not there if I don't look at them, and I really hate that about myself. I keep wishing for a job that doesn't require me to be away from home at the hours that I am. I want a job that is consistant in the hours I get each week, and I want a job that allows me to give my kids a little spending money when they need it.

I get frustrated because my life got turned upside down when the economy tanked and my mother decided that she didn't need my help anymore. At least as far as paying me a wage goes. She still expects me to do all the things I was doing before and now I am not available as much as she wants and that puts a kink in all her plans for me. What the hell?

I hate not being able to sit down once a month on the computer to pay all my bills. I liked knowing what was left over after they were all paid. I hate not having enough money each week to even pay what is due. I just really get pissed off over the whole thing. And knowing that it is all my doing doesn't help matters much.

Today I start a new class online and just knowing that it is 12 weeks long almost makes me rethink it. Can I do another class? I haven't finished the last 3 yet. Is this something that I really want to do or do I just get excited about the teacher and sign up without really thinking of the time commitments. Yea I think that one is it.

I think I need a nap!

Feeling in limbo

2009-09-20T11:47:00.002-05:00

I am not entirely sure what is up with me, but I feel a bit out of wack. Is it my upcoming 40th? My lack of overall sureness of where I fit in this world, my utter lack of knowing what to do from one minute to the next and so feeling like nothing is getting done at all? Who knows. I do know that I am a bit on the weary side of life right now.

I do like my job for the most part. I hate that there is constant drama, and no one really wants to do the job right and so it is left to me, who decided to try to fix things for the better, to do it with no help from anyone. Plus since they hired the new girl my hours have been cut in half which really hurts that paycheck in a big way. I need the hours or else it isn't worth it to work there. Knowing that they will pick up when the pregnant girl goes on leave really doesn't help matters right now.

The driving of the Amish children is not a hard job and although they can get a bit annoying in the afternoons it really is only 30 minutes a trip out of my day and I know that once the check for the month comes it I will know it is worth it.

I put in an application with WKU as an office assistant online. Will just started working on campus this past week and if we could work the same or close to same hours I would say we would be working on getting ahead finally.

I have projects coming out the wazoo that I have been trying to finish up as I find a minute to sit and create. I am half way done with the Lisa Day class and the Cathy Z class that is currently going on is well into the almost done stage. I need to sit and get the pictures together and finish up the journaling for some of the alphabet and it will be done. The class itself has about a week and a half left. The Ali Edwards class starts on October 1 so I want to get things done.

I really hate feeling at loose ends. When all the little things in life don't fall in line I get frustrated and then I fall apart. I want a steady job that allows us to not only get all the bills paid on time, but allows us to actually do something. I want to feel secure and not like the end of the world is coming at me. I know that things will work themselves out as they should but I don't always have the patience to wait. I need to find some!@

A little contest that I would love to win!

2009-09-15T11:46:00.002-05:00

This is contest entry for those crazy folks at TodaysMama and Cricut. Be sure to check out Cricut's cool new cartridges and the chance at $30,000 in travel for you and your friends at the Great Gypsy Escape site! http://bit.ly/FWcudGreat Escape Meme

1. If you could escape to anywhere in the world where would it be? Right now? just about anywhere. But I would love to see the New England Fall colors

2. What song do you play when you are by yourself in the car? Anything from the 80's works for me

3. If you had a night to yourself, and money was no object, what would you do? Actually I think I would love to spend the night just scrapbooking

4. What is your guilty pleasure? Online shopping

5. What is the farthest place you have traveled away from your home? From Utah to Kentucky as a kid and then since moving to Kentucky I would have to say the furtherest is to Charleston, SC

6. Last book that you couldn't put down? James Patterson's Trial

7. When you want to escape into another time, what movie do you watch? Gone with the Wind

8. What is your favorite local escape? My scrapbook room

9. How do you escape on a budget? Just to a fantasy getaway and maybe plan the real thing

10. Best food you've ever had while on vacation. Queen Anne's Revenge in SC

A new day

2009-08-31T10:28:00.003-05:00

and so far so good.

Today I started my driving job. I will be picking up Amish school children and one of the teachers everyday. Aside from not knowing if anyone would be ready or not and knowing that because of a repaving on the highway that I would have to deal with I had my fingers crossed when I walked out the door this morning. Everything worked out and I found out a few more details along the way. This afternoon should go smoothly and then I will be headed up town to work.

I have managed to get a few things done. Some may be more appreciated than others but I don't care. I made a letter to send home with the children this afternoon with information that I thought they needed and then I started working on a checklist for work. Since we have to stock the pop/juice coolers several times a day and orders have to be put together at least once a week if not more often then I had been working on a system of writing down what we had as far as the juice/gatorade and energy drinks went. So far it seems to be working and if everyone subtracts from it as they should then when it comes time to order then it only takes a glance. I plan to make one up for the pop coolers too. If we know what we have to have before we head to the back to get it and how many it makes it go so much quicker than trying to remember a couple at a time. Plus it goes back to if we are out of something then we know it before we have to tear the entire storage building apart looking for a specific something. I plan to see what the manager thinks about it, and since we are beginning a new month and the audits have been a bit off then maybe this will be a way to take better control of everything.

Will starts a new job today. Pan Olson laid off over half their workforce last week and he was lucky enough to get another job at the Country Oven Bakery that started today. He had no idea what he would be doing or when he would get off, but at least he is working.

Not busy enough!

2009-08-29T20:59:00.002-05:00

Apparently I am not because I just took on another job. I was called the other day about driving a couple of Amish children to school. They had someone lined up but he decided that he didn't want to do it daily and so they were trying to find someone that lived close to all the families that may would do it. Well, I am a sucker and I cannot tell Ervin no after all he does for my family so starting on Monday morning I will be picking up 7 children and taking them to 2 different schools in the morning and then picking them up in the afternoon before heading to town for my other real job. But when you are offered what will be about $400 a month just to drive 30 miles a day and an hours time how can I say no? Sleep is overrated anyway!

Well, I don't remember what was the going on with Tori the last time I posted, but she has dropped Color Guard and took up running for Student Council President, became the President of the Book Club and joined the Gaming Technology club that will meet twice a month after school. Not to mention she is still doing the school yearbook and newspaper, started the Dual Credit Psychology class offered through WKU that meets on Wednesday's. Oh, and did I mention that during the book club meeting on Friday she was also nominated for Homecoming Queen? Can you say that this girl is going all out this year? I am really proud of her and all she is trying to do.

The cloud that had been hanging over this house since Andrew left for the Navy finally lifted this week in the form of a letter. He finally got a chance to write and Tori has been walking on cloud 9 ever since. Makes for happier parents too!

Tuesday is the day that registration opens up for the Inspired Artist Workshop in NC next May. I am taking Tori as part of her graduation. I have been wanting to go for that past 2 years and made the decision to take Tori in 2010. I am beyond excited about the whole trip and am hoping that some of my scrapping buddies in AZ and NY can come too! That would really be the best trip ever!

Well, I am a bit on the tired side after working this afternoon, and I still haven't eaten any dinner. I have some rumblies in my tumblies!

Falling Behind

2009-08-20T13:00:00.002-05:00

or at least it feels that way today. I have a number of projects that I have brewing in the ole' noggin but there are few creative days to be had recently.

I did sit down earlier in the week and make up about 50 Christmas cards for the Cards for Heroes site. I haven't gotten them completed but about half way there. Making up a bunch of cards for the troops is something that I have been trying to do regularly. It makes me feel good and it uses up some of my very large stash of stuff!

I have several ideas for projects to get done to be given as Christmas gifts this year and I just need to unclutter the brain long enough to write down exactly what I want to do for each person. This on top of trying to keep up with the Jenni Bowlin class (not happening for sure) and the Life Well Crafted class that I have been doing. The one thing about the LWC class is that the projects are something that can be done anytime and would make great gifts if so chosen. I have at least been doing the LWC Life Tunes layouts each month. I can manage to sit down long enough to do that.

I have the Cathy Z. class starting in a few weeks that I have managed to get the album and stuff for and have mostly done the homework and hope that I can actually find the time to sit down and work on it because it is something that I have been looking forward to for several months. Plus the Ali Edwards 3 month class starts in October. Nothing like having a full plate! But I refuse to miss out on some of these classes.

I have been trying to figure out the Graduation album for Tori recently. I have all the directions from taking the class a few years ago I just need to figure out the paper I want to use for it. I am torn between just picking something I like and going with that or trying to find something that fits Tori's personality and using that. I would like for her to have some input into it as it is for her so I guess I will have to find the time to ask her.

Speaking of time. I have none. Never see the family all at the same time. Seems like I am walking out whenever some of them are walking in. Tori has taken on Color Guard and Yearbook/Newspaper Co-Editor responsibilities as well as 3 AP classes this semester. I know the biggest reason is because she misses Andrew and hasn't been able to speak to him in 3 weeks now but sometimes I wonder if she isn't doing too much. It is her life and really she isn't doing anything that won't help her out in the future anyway.

Yesterday Emily and I went to Bowling Green for her Orthodontist appt. After that we had a nice lunch at Panera Bread and then hit Macy's. I needed some face stuff from Estee Lauder and we found her 2 pairs of skinny jeans that look adorable on her. We also picked out a great outfit for Tori. It will be perfect for college interviews and just looking nice. Thought she could use a little pick-me-up. After the mall we got our hair cut and then came home. I crashed for a couple of hours as I had to work last night but we had a fun day.

This working outside the home is tougher than I remember. Maybe because the girls are older and they have more demands on their time than when I worked before. It takes some planning to make sure that I have off the time I need to spend with them. For example, Tori will be visiting several schools this year in preparation for going to college next year. We hit several schools last year and so she has a pretty good idea of where she wants to do, it is just going back to visit and chat with counselors, and buckle down on applying for scholarships and admissions and everything. In September we are going to a preview day for UK and a visit up to Georgetown College. I just set up an appointment for the end of October for her to have an overnight stay at Centre College and there may be several more of those to schedule too. I am really proud of her in her commitment to going away to college vs staying close and going to WKU. I think she will be happier.

Well, I have rambled and babbled enough for one post. I have a blue million things to do if I can just get my sore body to move enough to do them. I think I am getting too old for some of this stuff!

So Not Lost

2009-08-13T05:35:00.002-05:00

or at least I hope not!

Things have been a bit busy and in a state of upheaval around here. I never seem to be home during normal hours anymore, and when I am home I am trying to get all those "other" things done so this poor ole' blog has taken a big back seat.

The job. At this moment I am a bit peeved about it. Overall I enjoy the job. I like being out even if that means dealing with people that can be a bit rude sometimes. What gets me is the people I work with. After spelling out all the policy whatnots to me and telling me what you have to do and what you shouldn't do I find every last one of them doing the exact opposite. Talking on the cell phone during work hours- yes they do and no they shouldn't. Smoking in the booth- yes they do and no they shouldn't. This goes for all 5 of the other ladies I work with. I am the oldest and the only one that doesn't smoke.

I spent this week working the day shift from around 10-6, which I liked because I could see the family. Dealing with alot more people is a given, but the damn drama that goes on up there is enough to drive you crazy. The manager has been on vacation all this week so that is just one more thing. The assistant manager hasn't been coping too well with running the joint. There are two that are in their very early 20's and really could care less about doing their jobs. I got written up for not doing something when it wasn't even me. That pissed me off beyond words yesterday. When I have worked hard to make sure that all the daily jobs on the list are completed and the pop coolers are stocked and ready and then to get written up because the next shift didn't do their part? BS but what can I do.

Will is somewhat enjoying his new job. He feels bad about not being able to give Carolyn the two weeks notice she deserved, but when you are not even sure you are going to have a job to come in to the next day you have to do something, and the place he got hired on at needed somebody like yesterday. Guess she is a bit mad over it, but if she was a bit better on the business side of things she wouldn't have gotten herself into the mess she has. She is the owner afterall.

Things around the farm are slow. Summer is just chugging along and thanks to rain through out July and some into August the grass is still growing good and that makes for happy cows. The plan is still to cut the herd down dramatically this fall which will make things even easier this winter. I figure if I am still working at Murphy's I will ask to work straight nights so that I can be able to do the winter farming during the daytime.

Got Tori's senior pictures yesterday and they are great! She looks so good in them and I really like the way they turned out. $450 is a bit much for what we got, but they are good! I also got a nice little care package from Veronica yesterday. Luckily it was still intact when everyone else got home and it was full of scrapping goodies! Gotta love that!

So I took the puppies and Bowzer to the vet last week for shots and checkups. Seems that the puppies are 6 months old (older than we figured) and aren't Great Pyrenees. More like a Labrodoodle. Whatever they are they are BIG! Badger weighed in at 38 lbs and Possum at 34. They are as big as Bowzer in size and have a long way to grow! Bowzer weighed in at 65 lbs and he got a steroid shot and some antibiotic shots for allergies and a major hot spot near his tail. He is one happy old man this week. It is good to see him do more than just lay around and sleep. I gotta get some new pictures of them all together and then I will hopefully get them posted!

Well, it is really too early for me to be up so I think I will get off here, get the girls off to school and then go back to bed for awhile. The plan is to pick them up at school today so that we can get a few things in town and get some yearbook ads sold. I will try to be a better blogger!

The weedend

2009-07-25T16:37:00.002-05:00

Well, I am officially ready to start work. I went up this morning and filled out all the necessary paperwork which is now done completly on the computer and picked up my uniform and my schedule. I start Monday afternoon and work everyday training with various people learning the various parts of the job and then next Sunday I am on my own. I am really excited about it all, and despite being out of the workforce for the past 6 years I am ready to go.

Our trip to Indianapolis didn't happen. The teenagers had a bit of a falling out (they are all better now) and so the concert was a no go. I wouldn't have minded going up to see the zoo and the museums that we had planned to see, but I am not one to travel very far from home unless I have too.

Theft and vandalism have begun to be a real problem around here. Sometime yesterday morning someone decided it would be fun to cut up our brand new barbed wire fence in about 6 places and steal the brand new fence posts. Lucky for us we didn't use many but they got away with enough and really messed up a perfectly good fence. The cows sure noticed it! Lucky for us we have some good people for neighbors and they called about it. It has been reported to the authorities but they have yet to come down to even look at it. I got some pictures of it and it had to be fixed today to keep cows in so I guess they will just have to take the pictures and documentation. Ours was not the only fence hit in the area, and another neighbor lost about a dozen posts that they hadn't put wire to yet. Hopefully someone will slip up and they will catch them.

The girls are ready for school. Emily has her Open House on monday evening and then they are off bright and early on Wednesday. Tori will find out on the first day what her schedule is like and hopefully it will be a good one. I hate to spend the first week of school fighting with the counselor about it. She put in to take all AP and Dual Credit classes as well as some filler classes. I hope that they give her what she wanted and not what they think she should take.

Well, as much as I would love to stay on and chat I need to clean up from working outside in the shop and find something to do before I fall asleep at the desk. I missed having a nap today!

I Got The Job!

2009-07-20T16:31:00.002-05:00

Yea! I am excited to say that I was hired today to be a cashier. The reason behind wanting to find another job on top of working the farm is that right now things are slow, money is tight, and I have time on my hands.

The job will be working at the Murphy gas station that is affiliated with Wal-Mart in Russellville. Right now it will be part time until about October when another cashier will be taking off on maternity leave and I will go full time until she comes back.

This is the type of job I probably have the most overall experience in. I have done some sort of customer service/cashier type of job since I was old enough to work. I don't mind working with people and this is close to home. I think the biggest win with this job is that I don't have to have a new wardrobe. I used to have a closet full of nice office clothing, but time and weight have sent them on to a better home.

Well, off to get started with the dinner for Amber's 20th. And to make plans for the upcoming weekend in Indianapolis.

A New Week

2009-07-20T07:55:00.002-05:00

and it seems to be starting out on the right foot.

Will is home from his house/cat sitting and it is soooo good to have him home. Snoring and all! We enjoyed a very nice meal last night cooked by Tori and just vegged.

I have a job interview at 9 am this morning. I got a call yesterday afternoon asking if I could interview today and you betcha I can! I had talked to the manager just last week and she said that if she had an opening she would give me a call. Well I got the call and I cannot wait! Must calm down!

Today Amber and David are coming over and we are having her birthday dinner/cake tonight. I gotta make the cake which is easy and Will and the girls will make the Spagetti dinner. Easy Peasy. Well, better go!

July Love

2009-07-19T06:29:00.003-05:00

Okay so we NEVER get weather that is anything but hot most July's, but would you believe that starting Friday we have had almost Fall or Spring like temps. I spent Friday running between Bowling Green and Russellville trying to get a Social Security Card for an Amish couple and the temperature never got above 78 degrees all day! Talk about Window Weather!

Yesterday was even cooler and so it called for a little blanket action while watching tv last night. Em and I caught up on some season 1 of CSI:NY after dinner and it got a bit chilly! But to be able to have the windows in the house open getting fresh air, listening to the birds chirp and the frogs croak is wonderful. Definitely a mood booster!

This weather is supposed to last all week and I can only hope that after we have throughly enjoyed it that it doesn't turn off to be 100 for the rest of the summer. I don't like when it get super hot like that. But for now, I will enjoy what we got while we got it!

Will is coming home today! He has been gone for an entire week. His mom and Jim get in from Alaska around 9:30 this morning. It will be good to see him and to have him home. And don't think that the only reason I missed him was because he cooks! I did manage to scrounge us up dinner so we didn't starve! But I will admit that he is the better cook!

And finally, my oldest baby turns 20. I cannot believe that it has been 20 years, but it has and she is a wonderful person. A bit hard headed at times, but she eventually comes around about most things. Happy Birthday Amber!

Crazy Week

2009-07-14T19:11:00.002-05:00

at least it feels a bit crazy around here but I know that the biggest reason is because Will is staying in Bowling Green this week taking care of "that cat".

William is the type of person that brings a sense of calm and wellbeing to me. He knows how to read my feelings so he knows when to steer clear because I am way beyond pissy or when to give be a hug and tell me everything will be okay. Right now I could use one of those hugs.

Last night we all loaded up and headed to BG to have dinner with Will and Granny. We went to O'Charlies. I love their Grilled Turkey Burger, it is awesome. We all enjoyed the meal and the company. After dinner we headed to the mall for a quick shoe exchange in Dillards (Granny's not me) and then we headed back to the house. After a much needed stop at WalMart the kids and I headed home to bed.

Two nights in a row have seen me up until 11pm. Very unlike me and so I have been sleeping in until at least 8am. Tomorrow I won't have that luxury as I have to get up early to haul a steer to market. Oh well, need to get into the school night routine soon.

I have been following along with the free 9-week class that Jennifer McGuire is teaching at 2Peas with Ranger and Hero Arts products. This week it is all about alcohol inks and after watching the 2 videos she made Emily and I got all excited and pulled out all the inks and played for a couple of hours. I have had a project in mind for a specific person and don't really have the right colored paper to do it, but after seeing the videos the ideas just started to click and I am prepared to complete the project. I think it will be even better than if I had used regular ole' patterned paper. I know that she will love it!

Sunday afternoon I got to talk to my good friend Veronica in AZ. We chatted for at least an hour if not longer and it was so good to talk to her. She has been working hard on several projects and swaps to get ready for CE and she is going on the Tim Holtz Cruise in October. Lucky girl! I miss her and wish we lived closer together so that we could get together on a regular basis. If I could I would move to AZ in a heart beat. Too bad $ and jobs are required to do that kind of thing. I would move in no time flat! (yes honey I would take you and the kids with me!)

Well, I guess I am off. No telling what kind of trouble I can find on Facebook!

So, what am I doing today?

2009-07-11T18:33:00.002-05:00

pretty much nothing!

Will had to take off today to stay with the Zip. He is his mothers cat and can't be left alone and because of screwed up family dynamics Granny is having to stay with another set of cats because the sister was feeling a bit left out or some nonsense. His folks are headed out for a much needed rest and vacation to Alaska. Wish I could have fit in their suitcases!

Emily is still at Amber's for another night. Guess she plans on coming home tomorrow when they come for a visit. I am used to her not being here most of the time and figure that she will most likely stay one maybe two nights then head to Grandma's house! She is an equal opportunity visiter!

Tori and Andrew are off to a friends house playing some card game I don't understand. It's called Magic and I guess it is like D&D. Have no idea. Andrew is counting down the days until he leaves for Boot Camp which will be hard for all of us because he is such a great kid. He is always willing to help out and does more around here than the girls do. I tried to trade him but he wouldn't go for it.

Me, I am home alone (if you count 5 cats, 1 dog and 2 puppies alone) and I am pretty much bored. I like being alone during the day when I know that there will be noise at night, but when everyone is gone and it is quiet I really don't care for it. I have plenty to keep me busy and really wouldn't have any trouble at all coming up with something to do if I just felt the teeniest inkling of energy. I would really just rather crawl into bed to sleep off this headache but it is only 7 pm and no way near dark enough. Guess that means I have to do another load of laundry before bed!

Did you see the new stuff on the blog? I was checking out some of the other blogs I read and came across a new freebie blog site and just had to give it a change. I have been wanting to but seem to have some sort of errors whenever I have tried in the past. These are done a bit differently and worked great. Love it!

Killing time

2009-07-10T18:20:00.003-05:00

seems to be on the menu today. After going to work with Will this morning and hanging out watching some cute cakes get made and actually accomplishing a bit of journaling for my Lisa Day class I have going, eating a great Japanese lunch, visiting with the in-laws for awhile and then coming home to an empty house it seems that we have literally killed another day. Since we got home around 4 or so Will and I have been on our respective computers playing.

Facebook has been a godsend for me. I have reconnected with several former classmates that has been a great booster for me and playing the various games on there, FarmTown in particular, I am hooked. Maybe I should have taken that class from Cathy Z that she had awhile back. I seem to have gotten the hang of it all now that it is too late!

With summer here and the haying done there isn't a whole lot to do on the farm and so I spend my days piddling around the house. I have been debating on turning in more applications at various places or waiting to see what happens this fall after most if not all of the cows go to market. I feel a bit torn over the whole thing.

School starts for the girls in a few weeks and so a routine of going to bed at a decent time and getting up early again will have to start. I personally will not have a problem with this as my schedule is pretty much the same all the time, but both the girls have been taking advantage of the lack of structure around here. They are gonna have it rough for awhile!

I need to get off the computer and get into the scraproom and get some layouts done for the Lisa Day class! I have been doing the section pages the past 3 weeks and downloading/printing all the daily email prompts, but haven't done any of the work. The album I bought especially for this class came today and now I feel like I can really get going. I picked a light brown corduroy album from American Crafts and since she challenged me to do it in the 6x12 size I got that one. This is the first time I have gotten this particular AC album, love the Modern line, and I am really loving the corduroy line too. Of course I may need to hang a tape roller from it to collect the cat hair that is surely going to be stuck to it very soon, but what the heck!

It's July 4th

2009-07-04T07:23:00.002-05:00

Do you have any big plans?

Today we are having family and friends over for a little cookout. Burgers and dogs are a favorite but seem just right in the summer. It is enjoyable to get together with everyone and I enjoy the fact that I don't have to go anywhere! There is rain in the forcast for sometime this evening and into tomorrow and hopefully it will hold off until after we eat, but otherwise we need the rain. Things are a bit on the dry side.

Fireworks are not a biggie with me. I love watching them, but I hate having them close by and I don't do crowds of people very well so going somewhere is usually out. So, I have deprived my kids of yet one more tradition and we do not have fireworks. I blame it on my childhood!

Amber will be turning 20 in a few weeks and I have been trying to get some things done for her. Living in an apartment means that they don't have alot of space for "stuff" and so I have been trying to think along the lines of use. Now granted one thing she is getting she should have gotten 2 years ago for graduation, and I am bad and didn't get it finished until recently, but it is done and I know that she will love it. I am considering making her something to hang on the wall. I know she has admired mine and would love it.

I have been trying to come up with ideas for Christmas gifts that I can make. I have one project about completed and I came up with another one last night that I need to do a bit of investigating on to complete in the best usable way. I want to get a head start on making stuff, and I figure if I get started now then I won't be rushing in the end. Good plan huh!

Well, I'm off to get ready for company.

Can you say half over?

2009-07-01T19:13:00.003-05:00

Can you believe it? Where in the world did the first half of the year go to for criminy sakes. A couple of sleeps and a few more blinks and BAM! its gone.

I spent the day in BG. Picked out Tori's senior pictures which I had to put on a payment plan, picked up my "presale" at the Estee Lauder counter in Macy's and decided I needed to look around for something nice to wear this weekend. I have nothing that fits anymore and I luckily found 2 outfits that will do very nicely. Also picked up some unmentionables that I have been needing and kept putting off.

Browsed through a consignment store next to the studio while waiting to get picked up and found some great little things for gifts. They were having a bit of a sale and I found some nice things that I would sell my left arm for but have no place for. Instead I found a nice set of placemats, napkins, and a runner that will be a nice gift for someone. Also picked up a great little basket that I plan to make into a holdall for my scrap desk.

Today was sign up day for the new class that Cathy Z will be teaching in September. I am super excited about it and can't wait to get started on the pre-class homework. It is going to be so fun and is actually something I have been wanting to do for several years anyway. Luckily I have some great projects to keep my going until then. The July project for Life Well Crafted looks like it is going to be good and I couldn't help but sign up for a class called The Challenge of Me. It has already been going for a week so I do have some catching up to do but I think that it will be a good class. The third segment of the 4 Experts is Jenni Bowlin. I signed up awhile ago and have been looking for some of the things she asked for us to look for, but I really haven't had the time to shop in antique stores alot and when I have I haven't really found anything that jumped out at me so.....It should be fun anyway cuz she is a great teacher.

The free class at JessicaSprague.com starts soon too. Can you say glutton for punishment? Good thing my computer has alot of space to store stuff cuz sometimes I get in over my head.

Finished reading the 15th book in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. Soo dang funny that I end up laughing until I pee. Now everybody needs a good laugh once in awhile and believe me when I say these books will have you rolling tears! Definitly a fast read but so fun! Now I am reading the 2nd book in the Truth series by Mariah Stewart. I found her recently and have enjoyed all her books so far. When you read a book or two a week you need to find some new stuff sometimes.

Possum

Badger

The boys are growing like weeds. They have doubled in size and I am so glad they have eachother to chew on instead of everything else. They make for some good laughs too. Bowzer seems to have taken to them rather well and has started "allowing"them to walk the daily perimeter with him. He is faithful in his routine and walks it every morning and evening making sure to mark all the right spots. You could almost set your clock by him.

Been hooking up with old friends via Facebook this week. It is so good to find classmates and see how they are doing after 20 years away. It is also through this that I found out about Jami's accident. Luckily she is doing pretty good and is out of ICU. Her daughter has gotten to go home and the friend is out of a coma and may get to go home the end of the week. It really makes me wish that we had stayed in closer contact.

Thats it!

Reconnecting

2009-06-28T17:25:00.002-05:00

That is what I spent some time doing on Saturday while I had the house completely to myself. I searched around on Facebook and found so many people that I had lost contact with over the years. Family, old school friends, and friends from an old job. It was a day full of some roller coaster moments.

While chatting with a family member I was reading a post on her wall about my bff from high school Jami. Seems she and her daughter and a friend of her daughters was in a serious car accident this past Thursday morning. I was completely devestated. I had just minutes before reading that found her again and posted a friend request to her. Now I find out she is in the hospital completly broken all over the left side of her body. I did find out today that she is off the ventilater and doing better.

Was able to chat with my old boss Amanda for a bit and it was great to talk again after five years. Neither of us really know why we lost contact other than just being busy with daily life. Hoping to get together with her in the next couple of weeks to really reconnect.

After spending a sleepless night worrying about Jami and her family and thinking about all the changes that have happened in my life over the past 20 years since high school I decided I cannot let life get so busy that I loose focus of my friends. I need them in so many ways even if it is long distance. Email, facebook and the occasional phone call are certainly better than nothing at all.

its 4am and what are you doing?

2009-06-25T04:45:00.002-05:00

Me? I was playing Farmtown on Facebook. That highly addictive fun little game. I have managed to level up quite nicely and just got off a huge job that luckily had me as the only worker so I made some serious bank! Am I a Farmtown Junkie? probably. I check my farm at least a couple times a day. I mean if you are going to spend the coin to plant crops ya gotta check on them to make sure that when they get ready you hire someone to harvest them for ya. Plus the flowers need watering and all those neighbors farms need tending too!

I blame it all on Kristi. She got me started when she was here visiting my parents and even though she is safely home in Idaho I am still here farming away. I had had a facebook account for quite awhile but never really played any of the games on there. Oh, sure I tended my Lil Green Patch and then got some fish but nothing as addictive as farmtown. What did I do with my spare time before? Yea, I cleaned house and scrapbooked and read. Now I do all those things while glancing at the dang computer screen waiting for that crop of strawberries to hit the "Ready to Harvest" stage!

In other news. We are still trying to get the haying done. We finally have it all cut down and if I hadn't broke the rake somehow yesterday I would have gotten all the raking done, but now we have to make a town trip for long bolts to fix it and then if the rain holds out long enough then I can get things raked up and Dad can get things all baled and then we will be done except for the hauling of the bales to the barn part. Amber has been helping with that as she can and as they get ready and it really isn't hard just tedious.

I am still putting in applications online as I find job listings that I like. I put in for an easy job the day before yesterday that I hope I get a call on. I have tons of experience and the job itself isn't hard at all and I don't have to buy good clothes for it. I got rid of all my good office type clothes years ago and even if I had them I couldn't wear them anymore. I hope to get something going in July sometime as my patience is wearing very thin.

Well, it is now almost 5am, my eyes are feeling droopy and I think I will try to get some more hours of sleep in before another awful day starts. The only good thing is Emily is coming home tomorrow afternoon and I have missed by Baby Girl.

Fathers Day

2009-06-18T09:20:00.003-05:00

is just around the corner and I have got to make some cards. I struggle with the whole "manly" card issue and usually put it off until the last minute which for mailing means I should have gotten them done yesterday, but oh well.

I don't have anything really for gifts this year. The one I had for my dad we gave to him for his birthday in March and I haven't gotten anywhere to find him anything else. I suppose I could make him a cake or something. Will is getting a movie, Gran Torino, and a card. We are planning on going to visit with Emily too.

Speaking of Em, we have heard from her twice now. She called again last night and is having a great time. One class, sand sculpting, hasn't gone so well because of the afternoon rains we have been getting but the others are fun she says. I knew she would have fun at SCATS and she is talking about going again next year. I should start saving now to pay for it!

Today is another project for the Life Tunes album and I am all ready to get started on it. I look forward to the 3rd week of class for this handout because it is so easy to get completed and I am loving the way the book is coming together. I am still in the thinking stages for some of the projects and others are getting put off until later to give as gifts.

Well, I think my time indoors will be limited the rest of this week as we are still not done haying and the rains seem to have moved out for now. It is hotter than blue blazes with high humidity which I hate, and so I need to get my cards done if I am going to. I think I would rather just crawl back into bed and sleep the day away.

My Baby is going to Camp today

2009-06-14T08:53:00.002-05:00

Em is off today to a two-week camp in Bowling Green at WKU. It is through the Center for Gifted Studies and is Summer Camp for Academically Talented Students (SCATS). She was asked to pick 10 classes and then they will give out the schedule today when we get there. She is excited and nervous.

Tori attended this camp 3 years in a row and loved every time a bit more. She also matured a bit every year. The first she had a roomie that she didn't get along with and was a complete slob but she made so many other friends that she had a good time. The second year she opted to be by herself as she didn't want a repeat of the first years roomie but ended up with a roomie anyway. They didn't have any classes together but got along well enough. But I think that the last year was the best for her as her best friend also attended and so they roomed together. What a learning experience for her!

I am thrilled that Em is attending too. I think it is such a good way for them to learn new things, meet new people and just have a good time during the summer. I will miss her for sure, but I know that all will be well.

Been a little busy lately

2009-06-09T19:15:00.002-05:00

but not just in the hayfield. Luckily we have gotten some hay done and Dad cut a little more today (maybe 10 acres or so) and as luck would have it, it is supposed to rain again. This is really turning into a long hay season.

I have been busy doing layouts to finish up the Design Your Life class that Cathy Z taught back in the beginning of the year. I had managed to keep up until about the halfway point and then nothing, so I have been trying to get it finished up and actually am on the layouts for week 10 of 12 so not doing half bad.

Lastly I have been farming on FarmTown. My friend Kristi got me hooked while she was out visiting my mom and so I have to have my farmtime. It is way to fun and very addicting. I have finally elevated to the point where I can plant crops that take longer than 1 day to ripen so I can leave it for longer spurts now but it is way too much fun and I have gotten Amber hooked so I call her on the phone to have her harvest my crops so she can make some money.

Got 2 new puppies last week. My dad actually found them dumped beside the road one evening and couldn't resist their cute puppy faces. When he picked them up he was shocked to feel how starved they were. They don't look it because they are long haired, but the poor buggers are skinny. I brought them home and we named them Possum and Badger. Possum is white with a pink nose and his brother Badger is a bit yellower (apricot would be my choice to be accurate) and is a whole lot more rambuctious. They are too cute and as soon as I upload the pics I will post them.

Well, I guess that is it for now. Everyone is enjoying the summer so far and it seems to be going by rather quickly.

Father's Day

2009-06-03T16:32:00.002-05:00

is this month and if you are like me you struggle with coming up with something to give and a card. I haven't bought a store card in several years now, and I really like making cards but the "manly" types are hard for me.

Bring in this site: http://schlosserdesigns.blogspot.com/ and you will be pleasantly surprised at everything. I found the cutest Easter cards when I needed some quick and now she has some great Father's Day cards to print out. Anyone with a computer can print these puppies out and they are so nice!

She is running a contest so get on over and put your name in, or maybe not that way I will have a better chance of winning!

More laters!

A month of color and FarmTown

2009-06-02T06:36:00.004-05:00

As a crafter, I have found that I love classes done by Shimelle. She is great and her classes are really alot of fun. I have done 2 different albums and have a couple of others waiting in the wings for a rainy day. Well she is up to something this month and I am hoping to be able to find enough time to play along.

Won't you play along with me? She has some great stuff planned all month long and already has a free download for the first challenge. Gotta love the free stuff!

Not only is Shimelle celebrating color, but the project for A Life Well Crafted on Big Picture Scrapbooking this month is about color. The project itself involves a round album (which I think is way cool in itself) and will be unveiled on Thursday. I can hardly wait since it is supposed to rain starting tomorrow and that means no haying for the rest of the week!

June really does seem like the perfect time to celebrate color. With all the trees in full green, various flowers blooming in every color imaginable, butterflies of various sizes and colors flitting happily around the yard. And lets not forget the birds! We have ALOT of birds that we tend to year round. Love that.

On to Facebook news. I have been a member of Facebook for awhile now and rarely update it and find it a real pain to do until recently. Oh sure I have my Lil Green Patch and Blue Cove that I try to take care of on a regular basis, but you know, it just isn't my thing. Well that was until I was introduced to Farmtown by my friend Kristi W. well I can say that I am slightly addicted and make sure that I check on the growth of my crops several times a day. I have a spiffy little farm going now and have learned the hard way that you do not plant grapes before going to bed just because they are a fast growing crop. They will be a wasted mess by morning, always be awake for grapes.

Will thinks it is funny because I have a computer game addiction. I promise it won't take over my currently uneventful life, but I can't say that I won't check on things a couple times a day. I had tomatoes harvested and sold by 6am!

Baby Deer

2009-05-31T10:01:00.000-05:00

This little critter was only as big as a jackrabbit (or Chloe) probably only about 2-3 days old. Found it yesterday while picking up electric fencing. It made a god awful sound when the dogs found it and scared it, but soon ran off to hide in the woods and wait for momma.

Last Day

2009-05-29T16:41:00.003-05:00

This is just one of many flower pictures we have captured so far this spring. Love that pink Columbine don't you?

Today is offically the last day of school. In exactly 2 months they will be going back. 8 weeks to find something for them to do or some where for me to be so that I don't have to hear "I'm bored!" Not really, with the plans in the works for camps and possibly a job for Tori I think that things will be okay.

I cannot believe that my girl will be a Senior in high school. Next week we get her senior pictures done and that completely blows me away. In the process of picking out the 5 outfits that she can use for the session. I am rather excited as the same photographer that took the pics at prom will be doing the session. Weren't they just awesome?!

So what did you think of the Jon Schmidt video I posted. Wasn't that just the best! I have listened to it so many times and it just makes me happy. Must get that download to put on my ipod for sure! I will be dancing in the tractor for sure!

June is going to one busy month for Will and the catering business. They have about 12 weddings to do cake and/or cake and food for on the 4 saturdays of the month. He will be baking like 30 cakes in various sizes. But it will be good for him to be doing something to keep his mind busy.

Still busy making cards and have been working on finishing up a class I took at Big Picture. I had finished like the first 6 weeks of the 12 week class and then got sidetracked. I have managed to now get everthing printed out that I will need and can sit down and play. I really want to get this project finished up as I will be taking the Jenni Bowlin class that starts in July and then take the Ali Edwards class and the next Cathy Zeilske class that will be coming up. Cannot miss anything by these ladies I tell ya.

Well, gotta run for now.

Prom pics are in

2009-05-27T16:42:00.000-05:00

This is AWESOME!

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Enjoying the weekend

2009-05-24T21:07:00.002-05:00

We had no plans for the weekend that were out of the ordinary for us. Clean the house up, get the laundry done, maybe a little yard work, really nothing special. We actually got most of what we set out to do done with the exception of moving some railroad ties that have been used to mark out around the swing set that is going to a new home and so the "weed bed" is getting some roundup and a good cleaning out. Maybe we will get some lawn back there again.

If the weather holds out and we don't get the expected rain showers we will start mowing hay tomorrow. I am ready to get started with it. I think we missed a good opportunity to get started this past week, but we are ready now.

One of the things I have been trying to get finished up for awhile now is a Graduation Album I started and nearly completed for Amber. She has been out of school since 2007 and I can FINALLY say that I am finished with it. I think I will give it to her for her birthday in July but may just hand it over since it is LONG overdue! It feels good to get it done and now I can get planning on the next one. I am thinking that if I get started now by the time Tori graduates next year I should be done. If I play my cards right I should be all done with everything up to her senior year and that can be completed as the year progresses. I will have her decide what colors and papers to use as well as pick out an album and since I have everything in a big file folder I really am good to go.

I plan on making another bunch of cards to send to the Cards for Heroes with all the scraps and leftover paper that I used for the album I just finished. I did a little cutting tonight and will have about 60 cards to start. Since I am using patterned paper I can just do a little decorating and they will be good to go. I have been leaving the inside blank so that they have the entire inside to write on and I just stamp some sort of sentiment on the outside. Its good to know that with a little free time I can really make someones day.

Well, since it is a bit past my bedtime and I have a new book calling my name I think that I will head to bed. Have a good conclusion to the holiday weekend!

Cards for Heroes

2009-05-22T11:37:00.001-05:00

and a holiday weekend.

Recently I came across this awesome website called Cards for Heroes and I just sent off my first package of cards yesterday. I made over 60 cards that the soldiers can send out, and also made some thanks and birthday cards for Any Hero. It was alot of fun and I plan to continue making cards as I have time to send. They are having a bloghop and you should really check it out!

I think we missed our opportunity to get going on the haying. We have been dry and hot all week which really meant that the ground itself could finally set up, well we didn't get started and was going to possibly start next week. Yup! I is supposed to rain everyday over the next 7 days. Scattered showers with anything from 20% to 60% and so I am sure that dad will wait. We really could have had alot of it done with a week of nice and at least accomplished something, but now we are in that ever unpopular state of "Wait and See"

We have no plans for the weekend. I figure we will just hang out at home since it will be somewhat nice and maybe we can get some yard work done. I am sure that the girls will make some sort of plans so as not to be stuck home "working" but who knows. They will have Monday off from school and then will finish out the week as make up days. Friday will be a half day and their last one until the end of July sometime.

I cannot believe that Tori will be a senior next year. Amazing girl there I tell ya! She is super smart and talented and has such potential. I know that we will all be busy with planning for college and making sure we hit all those deadlines and filling out countless applications and scholarship forms. Fingers are crossed that she gets alot of aid and scholarships and gets into the school she wants to.

Well, I have been working on some of those neglected projects today and making plans for some that will be gifts. I really want to make some special things for the girls for Christmas, and I have plans to make Tori an album to give at graduation. I really have had that one somewhat planned for about 2 years as I made a similar one for Amber. I have all the stuff collected for the most part just need to decide on the kind of album and the color scheme. It is going to be awesome!

Coming to an end

2009-05-18T10:16:00.004-05:00

Seems alot of things are coming to an end around here. School lets out the end of the month and so there is that "end of year do nothing all day" fun and just basically wasting time and putting your time in. Both girls are rather excited about school letting out. It will last about a week, maybe two and then the "I'm Bored" starts.

Will's job catering may be coming to an end sooner than expected. The economy has hit the catering business hard and people are just cutting back, so he is in the process of looking for another job. At this point he isn't being too particular as to the type of work. Can't be too choosy for sure.

The rains have ended, at least for now. Things are starting to dry out and with luck we will be getting into the hay fields next month. Hopefully this will be it for awhile. I rather like the sunshine.

Prom was great for the kids. They really had a good time and I know that this will be one that Tori doesn't forget for a very long time. Her date, Andrew is such a doll and I know that they really care for eachother deeply but try to play it off as not because he is going into the Navy. He is hoping to get his date to head to boot camp moved up from August to June. I know that Tori will be heartbroken when he leaves, but they are such good friends that I think in the end all will be well.

This is another week of running. Today I head to town to pick up Andrew and take him to get his drivers license. His dad can't get off of work, and so I volunteered. Later I have to take Mom to Nashville for a drs. appt. Tomorrow Emily has an orthodontist appt and will get her last gardisil shot and then its back to Nashville on Wednesday to take back the costume that Tori wore for school. I have no idea if there is anything else going on this week. I hope not!

Doesn't she look very Victorian? It was alot of fun to dress her up in the period costume and she got to see just how miserable those things are! Very heavy and hot. Lucky for her there wasn't a corset to put on with it!

Prom 2009

2009-05-17T08:10:00.002-05:00

My Butt has Wheels,

2009-05-14T11:20:00.002-05:00

or at least that is what it is feeling like this week. Run, run, run and hope that everything gets done.

Tuesday began with fixing fence and then running to pick up Tori from school so we could go the Nashville to pick up a costume for a class project that she is presenting on friday. That took most of the day but we had a good time and she is going to be awesome in 1870's fashion. (I have pics to post when I get them off my camera).

Wednesday started with Emily being kept from school because she had a fever when I went to wake her up. Remember they are testing this week and it isn't a good time for her to miss, but the girl was sick, so we headed to Bowling Green to the doctor and found out she has a sinus infection and needs to stay home until friday. Get home around noon, take a nap because I am so tired, get back up and head to the high school to pick up Tori and Andrew to head back to Bowling Green to pick up the tux for prom. Get to the mall about 3:30 or so and after getting the tux, shoes for him, shoes for her, the right kind of bra for her and dinner we were headed home by around 6:30 or so. Drop Andrew off at home and hurry because we are packing dinner for Will and the sick girl.

Finally get home and am ready to crash. Really need to get something done around the house, but alas it is raining once again and that makes the day so blah! My excuse is I need my rest because it all starts up again tomorrow....

take the girls to school so that Tori doesn't have to ride the bus in her costume, pick said kids up at 2 different times because one gets out at 1pm and the other at 3pm.

Spend most of the day on Saturday in Bowling Green. Hair for prom at noon, dress at MIL's house to get ready there. Tux will go with us and then of course the standard million and one pictures. Prom dinner for the kids at about 2:30 so that they can eat before they head to the school to be bussed to prom. Not only that, but I wasn't thinking when we rented the costume and told them I would return it on Saturday. Well, they are only open from 10-2 and that leaves me no time, so now I have to call them and planned on returning it on Tuesday but alas I have to get Emily to 2 different appointments and don't think I can make it down there too.

Oh, did I mention I have to run back to Nashville on Sunday to pick up my mom's best friend?

I need to check my tires!

For the Love of Geese

2009-05-09T18:21:00.002-05:00

This time of year is such a fun time. I love watching the grass grow, the trees finally get their leaves, flowers are blooming, and the Canadian Geese that have been around for a few weeks are right outside my house with their little broods.

We actually have 4 pairs this year but only two are mature enough to have had babies, and so the remaining 2 pair have about a dozen little ones between them. They are a little hard to spot because the grass is tall enough to hid them, but when they go for a swim it is so fun to watch.

In years past we really have only had one mating pair that would move around between about 3 ponds that are closeby. This year though, we have had at least a pair on each pond. There are 11 ponds on the farm. That makes for alot of quackers!

I haven't been able to get close enough to get any pictures. I doubt I will. They are quite protective of their little broods and I value my life! I watch a gander dive bomb a calf the other day for following them too close. I think I will just have to have you imagine the cute little buggers!

Well, off to make some more cards for our troops.

It is still raining

2009-05-03T09:04:00.002-05:00

here. I am so tired of rain, it really gets on your nerves after awhile. We really haven't had any serious rain that causes flooding or anything, but still the constant drizzles makes me cranky!

I have been trying to do a little something inside by doing a inventory of all my stamps. I never use them much because I really don't have any idea what I have, so I decided to make up a book that I can flip through. I had no idea I had so many stamps. Foam, rubber and clear in somewhat of an order but still not really. Some time ago I thought I was really doing something when I pulled all of my rubber stamps off of their wooden blocks and put them onto the sticky sheets to use like acrylic stamps. I have about 5 sheets that need to be cut out and then find a home for them. I have one basked full of CD cases that have stamps in them, and now they are labeled so I do know what I have at a glance instead of flipping through them each time.

I have not even gotten half way through with them all yet, but I am making progress, and I have managed to make a few cards. I have to get busy making some Mother's Day cards and a couple for Graduation. I have ideas and some started, but need to get them finished.

Since the rain is keeping us indoors, I guess I have no excuse not to get the laundry done and possibly all the cards that I need to get made now do I. Well, off to get something crossed off the old list.

Sitting at Home

2009-05-01T22:34:00.002-05:00

and not in Atlanta as planned. I had hoped that this weekend would be a fun getaway for me, but it was not meant to be. Too much going on around here for me to comfortably take off and shed the stress. Instead I am trying NOT to think about all the fun I am not having and realizing that my family (mainly my folks) need me more than I need to get away.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job and wouldn't change it for anything, but sometimes the stress of working for your parents is enough to make you want to scream, and when neither is in top physical condition, or any condition to be doing the work that this farm calls for then I have to take alot of deep breathes and remember to take that daily little pill that keeps me sane.

Rain has been and will be in the forcast for the next week. All total we probably have gotten roughly 3-4 inches of rain over the past week, and with over a 50% chance everyday for more who knows how much we will end up with. Not gully washers thank goodness, but just enough to keep things wet and muddy and the grass growing like crazy.

School is nearing the end. CATS testing for the next 2 weeks and then they will be playing around everyday until the end. Prom is the 16th. Both Tori and Andrew (the date we like) are both quite excited about it. I can't wait to see them both dressed up and promise pictures. Sometime in June will be Tori's Senior pictures. Yes, she will be a senior next year and boy am I not so looking forward to that. As much as I want my kids to grow and go away sometimes I still want them home with me too.

Well, since it is getting rather late, and Will's snoring seems to have calmed down enough that I may be able to fall asleep I think I will do just that!

You just gotta

2009-04-26T07:22:00.003-05:00

check out the way bottom of my blog. I found a Disney Ticker site and made one but when I tried putting it on the ol' blogger the template I use was too small for it to fit up on the side where you can actually SEE it, so I put it down on the bottom for now.

Things have been a bit busy here finally. We managed to get at least 95% of the cows caught and vaccinated and about 90% of the babies done on Friday and Saturday. I am sore, tired, can't walk because of blisters, and absolutly thrilled that it is done. Today we will haul the bulls and put them in with the cows and then we are pretty much quiet until haying starts. Of course if you listen to my dad we will not have enough hay and that may be true, but if they cut back the herd by at least 50% they would. Plans are in the works for that little project!

Still busy making cards. Since finding the 365 Cards blog that has daily challenges I find myself really enjoying cardmaking. I don't bother taking pictures of them and posting them as I find that such a tedious thing, but I have quite a pile of cards going and really having some fun. I may make some up to sell at a yard sale next month. Not sure if I really want to do that yet as I don't know how well they would sell or anything, but maybe!

Rainy Day Sunday

2009-04-19T06:37:00.003-05:00

and I think I need to do some catching up! Won't be doing anything much outside other than feeding the babes, but inside I have plenty to do.

Yesterday was my honey's birthday. He is spending the weekend in BG babysitting that beloved cat Zip while everyone else is away travelling. I went over in the afternoon and we went to see a movie (Mall Cop) and have dinner (Red Lobster). That movie was hilarious! All 10 of us in the theatre were laughing our a** off! I definitely think that one will be hitting our own movie shelves when it comes out. All in all it was a good time. The girls were elsewhere so we were on our own.

On the crafting front I need to finish up a little bridal shower gift to take this afternoon. I made up a perpetual calendar that seems to be a big hit with everyone that has received one and just have to put it together. I also have plans to do 2 albums for upcoming June weddings. I made one for a wedding last year and the sister of the bride who is now the one getting married loved it and I thought I would do one for her and then my cousin in MN is getting married at the end of June and I think he and his future wife would like it too, so I just need to plan out the papers and get going.

I am swimming in cards around here! Ever since finding the 365 Cards blog I have been whipping out cards left and right. I think I may put together some sort of box to put them in and make several at a time and maybe give them away as a Christmas gift or something. Wouldn't getting a box full of all occasion, handmade cards be great? I think that some hard to get for people I know would enjoy them.

Plans for summer are starting to get made. Emily is planning on 2 different camps this summer and we are hoping that the timing is right for her to attend both. I am thinking that she may have to miss one because of the dates they are scheduled this year. I haven't checked that out yet. Tori's plans are not as concrete. With no job to go to at the moment I fear she will be a bit hard to contend with for 8 weeks. Hopefully she will either find a job or make some plans that involve some sort of activity!

I think I am on a lucky streak! Not only did I win the spot to Scrap Etc at the end of the month, but on another blog I recently found Amy did a review of the new Yanni Voices CD, and since I am a big fan of Yanni and have been for along time I put in my comment and what do ya know, I won a new cd! I would love to be heading to Nashville on Wednesday night to see his concert, but finding out so late makes it impossible. But at least I will have the CD sometime, and I can say I have seen him in concert before! Very nice music to relax to!

Well, I guess I should be getting dressed to do something. It is still raining and will be all day so there is no avoiding getting a little wet today. Frog Togs, here I come!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T11:08:00.002-05:00

Did the Easter Bunny find you at your house? The bunny here got everything together about 7:30 this morning! Will was making breakfast, Tori was asleep and Emily wasn't even here. She stayed at Grandma's last night so her basket is still waiting to be picked over.

After breakfast Tori and I sat down to watch my easter gift, Marley & Me. I loved the book and was a bit hesitant to watch the movie, but after some thought I decided it was worth it. Now after laughing during the first half and almost peeing my pants and bawling and sniffling at the end I can say that I am glad I watched it. It was a good movie and I know I could almost read the book again.

The sun is out and it is supposed to be a really nice day today, and we should be out doing something but... I feel a lazy afternoon coming on and so I may just do nothing!

Have a good day!

Going to Atlanta!

2009-04-09T11:16:00.002-05:00

I'm going to Atlanta! I am going to attend the Scrap Etc. event for the second year in a row and all because I decided to post a comment on Ali Edwards' blog yesterday. She was giving away one spot and when I checked this morning I was shocked to see that she picked me! YEA!

I really enjoyed the event last year in Nashville and met some wonderful ladies. Jenn and Veronica have become good friends and I noticed several names I recognized from last year that are attending again.

I have never driven to Atlanta before and I really didn't want to drive alone and it just so happens that my MIL is currently on her way back from there today and I called her up to ask if she would like to go again. She doesn't want to attend the event but since the woman loves to shop she figures she can fill the days.

The event is April 30th-May 2nd and has a great set of teachers coming. I am just super stoked to be able to go and I plan to stay out of the "store" that they have set up at these things because I do not need any more stuff!

Card Frenzy

2009-04-08T18:52:00.003-05:00

So lately I have been following along with several wonderful card making blogs and I have been finding myself so jealous of so many of them. I sit down and I go completly blank. I gotta work on that. Well anyway, today I found a great blog: http://www.papertherapy-wendy.blogspot.com/ . Wendy has blog candy that is so great!

I hope that if you are in need of some card inspiration that you will head over to Wendy's blog and also to 365 Cards!

Today Will talked me into going with him to Bowling Green to get out of the house. I made the mistake of not wearing my lovely boot around and I am now paying for it, but I managed to get to Hobby Lobby and pick up some adhesive, thickers on clearance and 2 12x12 scrapbook frames for $10 each. I also headed to Macy's and got me some new things and got a haircut. I think that the haircut makes up for the aching foot, but I sure was saddened by all the glistening that landed on the floor in the form of gray hair! I sometimes feel like I am not nearly old enough to have gray, but I can't stand coloring so I live with it and remind myself that I am not old, (yet)

Well, have a good one and enjoy the weekend!

New Footwear

2009-04-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

This is the attractive monstrosity that I have been sporting for the past 5 days. Pretty huh! Makes it darn near impossible to go up and down stairs at all and thumps nicely. In all fairness though it keeps me from doing too much (which I suppose is the whole point) and that in turn makes for less hurting in the long run. I haven't used the crutches since walking out of the clinic with them, but there again, I haven't really gone anywhere to need them either.

On the weather front we went from lovely spring like weather in the high 60's to mid 70's with the occasional bad/severe thunderstorms that are typical this time of year to 30's and a bit of snow floating through the air as I type this. According to our most watched weatherman it will continue chilly like this for a couple of days and then be right back up where we are supposed to be. Nothing like giving all the lovely spring buds a little last frosting. My big Azalea bush is just about to bloom.

Today is shaping up to be a rather whatever day. The girls are back in school after a 2 week break and Will is in BG helping his mom today which leaves me all by my lonesome. YEA! Quietness! I just wish it was sunny and nice outside instead of so gloomy. My moods are really affected by the weather and I hate the dreary days. Ready for full on sun!

Cards

2009-04-05T08:01:00.002-05:00

I have alot of handmade cards. I try to use up scraps by making cards to have on hand for various birthdays and such. I try to keep cards for just about every occasion around but I find I am lacking in some areas such as Get Well, Sympathy and Holiday specific types. I found a new challenge blog 365 cards and have gotten alot of ideas. Each day is a different "challenge" with chances to win prizes and such but since I really dislike taking pictures and uploading stuff I rarely do that, but with the weekly sketches, ad inspiration and links to such wonderfully crafty ladies I think I just may get some of the cards made in the areas that I am lacking.

I find making masculine cards the hardest. I am not sure why because I try to keep those types of papers on hand for just that reason and with various birthdays and Father's Day cards to keep around you would think they would be easy. Nope, not for me. I am always worried they are too frilly or something.

My foot is feeling a bit better. I have been good about wearing the boot around for the past 2 days. The swelling has gone down and the bruising seems to gone as far as it is going to go. My baby toe still looks like a mess but at least it has gone from dark purple to more of a red grape color. It still hurts like the dickens if I step on it wrong but I hope to be getting back to work soon. I hate having my folks do it all themselves, but in a way it really is good for them. Maybe they will see that we really need to cut back drastically.

Will got the lawn mowed yesterday and it looks sooo much better. I felt bad for not being able to help, but the mowing season around here lasts a really long time so I will have plenty of chances to do it. We bought us a new shrub yesterday while at Wal-Mart. It is some sort of bamboo (looks more like a Nandina) and we planted it on the road side of the new satelite dish to help cover that ugly bad boy up. The bleeding hearts are blooming and most all of the hostas are peeking through the ground. Maybe someday this fall I will get some bulbs planted so that come this time next year I will have some pretty tulips and such. I can only hope!

Off to hobble down the stairs to start on the laundry.

Laid Up

2009-04-03T15:00:00.002-05:00

So far my April hasn't started out too good.

On Wednesday morning I took off to feed the cows and since the folks had their rehab appointment in the a.m. I was on my own. No biggie, do it all the time, usually I just pass over the really pig-wiggin's to keep myself from getting run over or something but I was feeling generous since the day was so nice and pretty. I made my first stop at what we call the "Blue Gate Field" to feed the girls in there. The mob was ready for me and I ended up getting stepped on. My right foot got nailed good and I ended up hollaring and cussing a blue streak and throwing buckets and everyone. I managed to finish up feeding the girls that were close and hobbled on home.

Once I got home and limped miserably to the door I was able to take off my boot and see the big, nasty bruise growing quickly. I was sure that it was broke but with toes there isn't much a doctor can do anyway so I really didn't think much about it. Plus, I was taking Emily to Build-A-Bear in Nashville and I wasn't going to break another promise to her. Will offered to drive us down and we made our way slowly through the mall and had a big time shopping! She got the new lamb and several outfits + shoes and a purse. It was a fun time and since we did go in the middle of the week there was no lines to contend with.

After we finished up in there, we hit a couple of Game Stop stores and she picked out 2 used DS games to play and then we hit Barnes & Noble. We each got a book we had been waiting for and then it was off to Red Robin for lunch. By the time we were all done Will decided that I really needed to see a dr about my foot and we headed to Bowling Green and UrgentCare for xrays.

Of course since I had walked around all day on it the best I could it was really swollen and purple from the base of my ankle to my little toe and quite tender to the touch. Luckily it isn't broken to badly and now I am hobbling around in an air cast and crutches. Not a good start to the month.

In other news. The girls are in their final days of Spring Break and I think that they will be happy to head back to school. They only have about 7 weeks left anyway. We booked our room in Orlando for October and the lawn is in dire need of mowing. If it would only stop raining long enough to dry out so we can mow.

Well, off to finish my new book and try to get some sort of creativity going. I have several projects that I could be working on and classes that I am behind on. Oh well.

Another day

2009-03-29T19:19:00.002-05:00

that accomplished absolutly nothing around the Carver household. Will and I took turns watching a little tv, napping or playing on the computer. I did manage to finish (almost) a project now class from big picture that I signed up for a couple of months ago. One more picture to find and print and put it all together and my Change In Plans album is complete.

Yesterday we celebrated Emily's 12th birthday. A pretty low-key day all around. Pizza for dinner, Red Velvet cake with a peace sign on the top, and presents. Mostly clothes, a new book, a ds game, a mushroom chair for her room and a new dresser to match the rest of the furniture. She also got the alarm clock she wanted and also hangers. That girl asked for some very different things.

After all was finished up, Mom, Dad and Chloe went home, Tori & Emily packed up and went to Bowling Green with Amber for the rest of the weekend and Will and I enjoyed the peace and quiet that has become our home recently. Makes me dream of about 6 years in the future!

The weather has been crappy all week. Rain and wind. Today was down right cold and I wore my coveralls to feed in. NOT very spring like for sure.

Tuesday is a trip to Nashville. Taking Emily to Build-a-Bear and lunch as part of her birthday. She has everything all planned out. Looking forward to it!

Hopefully I will get my pictures off my cameras soon so that I can get some uploaded to show you all. I haven't been very good about that either!

Um, sorry?

2009-03-21T07:28:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe it has been so long since I stopped by to update this thing. Life has just been chugging along at a steady pace and with the weather getting warmer and spring officially here, then I find myself outside more and more and cooped up less and less.

Spring Break starts on tuesday for the girls. Would be Monday, but they are making up from the snow day we had last week that dumped 2 inches of snow and kept them out of school on friday. As far as plans go we really have none. Will will be working more as weddings start happening and Tori may be going to Destin, Fla with a friend for the second week of break. (We haven't decided yet as we haven't met the girls parents yet.)

Emily had a couple of friends over for a little early birthday sleepover. Right now they are crashed out all over the living room furniture and will be going home around noon but she complained that her birthday always falls during break and she never gets to have a party, so we had a little party and she is all better now. Her birthday is next saturday and my baby will be 12. I am undecided how I feel about that at the moment and currently live in denial.

Loving the weather but hate the thought of having to break out the lawn mower already. My lawn is in need already. Maybe that will be a project for next week!

Well, off to work!

My feet are tired

2009-03-08T09:50:00.002-05:00

and my knees are hurting a bit, but we are home and relaxing today after enjoying a good trip to Danville, KY to visite Centre College for Junior Day. We got a nice visit with several of the admissions people, the President gave a wonderful speech, the tour of campus was great on the 70 degree day and we got lunch to boot. Several current students gave us a glimpse into their experiences at Centre and Tori is definitly thinking about it.

College is just around the corner for Tori and I guess that means a busy year for us. We happened to get a trip in to Transylvania last March. We really liked it although the area of town is a bit of a concern for me. We still have at least 2 more schools to got visit: Georgetown College north of Lexington, and Bellarmine University in Louisville. She is definitly looking in to going to a Liberal Arts college, and I personally like that they are so much smaller in student body and get the students so much more involved in their education than bigger schools have a chance to do.

I can really see Tori enjoying her self and really doing alot with her education at either of the schools we have visited so far. She is just that type of person and I know that she would really enjoy it. I also know that the chance to study abroad is a really big pull for her, but who can blame her. We have told her not to worry about the price tag of these schools. Somehow/someway we will make it work she just needs to stay focused and keep working hard in school now so that it really reads well later on.

Well, aside from relaxing I still have to take down, sort and do the laundry for the week. Sundays are my laundry day even though I have tried to do it some other time. With the machines downstairs I don't have a reason to visit the basement except to do the laundry and I am usually plenty busy the rest of the week. So I guess I had better get to it.

So....

2009-03-05T17:30:00.002-06:00

I have been sitting here thinking about what I want to write about. There is so much NOT going on that it makes for difficulty in coming up with something to say.

The kitchen is finally back to normal. New fridge and compactor are in. Old appliances out. The fridge is wrapped in plastic and sitting on the front porch for all the world to see and the old compactor is on the back porch looking for either the dumpster or a new home in the shop. Will says we really look like rednecks now. Hopefully we can sell the fridge and the tv (which has been pushed into Em's room) and make a little $$.

Tori has decided to quit her job. The owner fired the manager last week and several of the other employee's have been tendering their notice as well, and she didn't want to be the only teenager working there. I don't see the business being open much longer anyway, but I wish she would have held out through the month anyway.

Tomorrow Will, Tori and I are headed to Danville to Centre College for Junior Day on Saturday. Because of the time difference, the distance and the early start we are heading up after school tomorrow and staying the night. I booked us a room close to the school, and I even found a scrapbook store within driving range. Em is staying to go to a school dance and then will be staying the weekend with Amber in Bowling Green.

I finally downloaded the handout for the Be Happy class on BPS and sat down last night to work on it. I really liked that it was so technique based and I had alot of fun with it. I still have a little bit to finish on it and then I need to decide what to put in it, but it gave me an excuse to break out the Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper that I have been hoarding for a few months now. I still have a couple of classes that I purchased and haven't downloaded yet, and I have 2 workshops that will be starting later this month to get ready for + I have been hoping to do the Here, There, Everywhere class that Shimelle Laine and TwoPeas are doing. I have printed out all the prompts to this point and I will take them with me this weekend to read in the car. It really is an easy one to do and it is just a matter of going through all the pictures I have and printing them out.

I found a good deal the other day and uploaded 170 pictures to Shutterfly to print. With the code I had I only had to pay for 20 of them, and I also got a free picture book that I put together for the family. According to the email I got today they are ready and shipping. Yea! New pictures to actually hold in my hands!

2 little dogs got dumped off at the house yesterday. They are both female but older dogs. The one looks alot like the dog that played in the movie "Because of Winn-Dixie" they are the smilingist dogs I have ever seen and they want to ride with everyone that shows up. I don't know as we will be keeping them, but will at least keep them through the weekend. Will is not thrilled with them at all but I think that they will grow on all of us.

Must go find something to eat!

March is here

2009-03-01T16:44:00.002-06:00

and it looked like it was going to come in like a lion but the lion moved south and we only have a coldish wind and sunny skies today. Some areas in southern tennessee got a foot of snow yesterday. I was rather looking forward to a little of the white stuff but oh well.

After waiting all day to get on this dang computer I found in my email some Border Bucks that I had earned and I quickly used them to order me a couple of books. I have one of the 3 but it isn't the first one so I just had to order the 1st and the 3rd. They aren't easy to find it seems but they sound like they will be a fun read. They are also offering a shutterfly code to get 150 free prints and since I am needing to do a bit of printing I am currently uploading as I write this. Love getting me some pictures to play with!

Speaking of fun reads, I have been reading through the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I bought myself the box set of the first 7 and have slowly been reading them. I want to get the 8th one but want to wait until it comes out in paperback so I have been reading other stuff of hers to keep me entertained. She has a couple of other series and I read the first in the Harper Connelly series the other day. It is quirky fun just like I have come to expect from Ms. Harris. She is definitely one of my new favorite authors.

One thing that I can say is that we spend alot on books in my family. We all love to read and usually never get through the mall without stopping in Waldenbooks or making a stop in Barnes & Noble while in town. I am also addicted to PaperbackSwap.com. I have sent out a ton of books that we have read and gotten so many in return. I have tried to pick books that I have heard about from others and figure that since they cost me nothing I can read them. I have another series of 3 that I picked and got last week. They are from an author I had not heard about but after reading the reviews they sounded pretty good, and who doesn't like a good mystery/suspense every now and then. Both the girls are reading constantly and usually read a couple books a week if not more. I usually only read at night before bed, but I have a book with me most anytime just in case. Will does the same thing. You just never know when you will have a few minutes to read, and you cannot be bored while reading!

Well, off to change out the laundry and order me up some more pictures and maybe even read me a chapter or two of "All Together Dead".

Being Crafty

2009-02-26T17:22:00.004-06:00

at least I am trying to be. I have finally decided to start on the Family Grattitude project that Ali Edwards designed for Big Picture awhile ago. I had ordered the kit and just never got around to doing anything with it. I started it a couple of days ago and finally got my printers to print out on the canvas. They were being a bit on the onery side. I just have to get the pictures rounded up that I want to use and it will be good to go.

Another project that I have been working on the past couple of days is the Blue & Black Damask Album from Donna D. She is discontinuing it and so I thought I would give it a try. I printed out the pictures a bit ago and I just have to round up a needle to sew the buttons on and it will be done. I really like the way it turned out and think since I have another album just like what was in the kit I will try to make one for Amber & David in some other colors. I took some really good pictures of them over the holidays and it would be a great little gift for them.

I never finished the Graduation album for Amber. I got stalled on it and just never finished. She graduated almost 2 years ago and so I brought is all upstairs again to get it done. Since her birthday is in July I am going to get it done for that. I have to, Tori will be graduating next year and I would like to think that I can get another one done for her to give her for graduation. Surely I can.

A few new things have made themselves at home here.

A new Kitchenaid refridgerator and a new Sony tv. Will has been wanting the 52" LCD flat screen for a couple of years now and with the tax refund and a savings of over $700 from Amazon plus free shipping we now have a new tv. At the moment it is sitting on the floor on our bedroom on his side of the bed because he is out of town AND we still have the big 60" Sony that we have had a few years that we got for free to contend with. Have no idea where we are going to put either the old tv or the old fridge but I really want them out of my house! Anybody want to buy them? We will be selling them cheap!!!

We all have the winter time humdrums. Will and Tori both have sinus infections that have made them miserable. The weather cannot decide what the crap it wants to do. Today it is in the 60's with wind and clouds. Supposed to get rain all day tomorrow and then the temps fall on Saturday and we get rain first then snow. I need sunshine and green grass and cute little flowers to perk me up! Course right now I could probably do with dinner as it is getting that time and Emily and I are on our own tonight. Sounds like quick and easy is what in on the menu!

Photography Class

2009-02-24T16:49:00.002-06:00

Well, not only did I not win a spot in the Photoshop class that Jessica Sprague is going to be teaching, but I also didn't get into the Photography class that Candice Stringham is going to be teaching on her website. I was only an hour late getting online to register and the class was full already. I can't win for losing I guess. Hopefully the next time Candice teaches I will be a bit more on the ball and sign up as soon as the class opens.

One reason I would like to take the class from Candice is I have met her and she is a doll. I also really like the way the the classes are taught on Jessica's website and the best part was the price. $98 for 6-weeks is a bargain from what I have seen other online photography classes go for. $250 for one from Alison Tyler Jones. Way over my budget for sure.

Well off to see what other trouble I can get into today!

Wishful thinking

2009-02-23T16:14:00.002-06:00

As you can tell from the change in my blog template I am ready for spring to arrive. I am tired of the cold, frosty mornings. I am ready for more daylight hours as I get a bit on the down side when the sun doesn't shine much. I am ready to see the grass green up and the flowers start to poke their little heads out of the ground. But since it is still only February I know that I have some time to wait.

The sickies have hit our house. Both Tori and Will have sinus/upper respitory infections. So far Em and I have been lucky and haven't gotten it, and I hope I don't have to put yet on the end of that sentence! I took Tori to the doctor yesterday afternoon after she had to call into work for the second day and today I had to pick her up from school. She is feeling miserable. Will manage to get to the dr today too and get some medicine.

We broke down and bought us a new fridge. Our old one really isn't that old, we have only had it a couple of years but so far the compressor has gone out and from the sounds it is making sometimes it just isn't healthy. We picked up the new one on Saturday and currently there are 2 fridges in my kitchen. One still has stuff in it and needs to get cleaned out and cleaned up to try to sell it, and the other one was cooling down so that we can use it. Next on the appliance agenda is getting a new trash compactor. That is the only appliance that isn't stainless at this point, and I found one for around $600 that will fit right nicely. With the new lights we finally got installed and the new stuff we are right uptown. No that does not mean I will start cooking. It just means that it looks good!

We have started thinking about where we want to go on vacation this year. We will be going in October so we have some time to plan, but with all the new resorts that Festiva has gotten we have alot more choices and I am even thinking about Orlando. Do I need therapy?

JS Question 3

2009-02-21T16:12:00.002-06:00

Okay. The question is what % of pictures that I take make it into print and out into the real world. Honestly probably about 2%. I take pictures and my family takes pictures and they do get uploaded onto the computer regularly where I try to do something more than put them into the right folder but more often than not that is right where they stay.

If I actually do print them I bought myself a little Epson picture mate that I can have right at my scrapbook table and that has helped get some of the pictures onto projects and I have been known to upload a bunch for printing if they are for a particularly large project but I have not been very good at it I admit.

I would love to not only learn to take better pictures but to be able to fix the ones that are only so-so. I gotta start somewhere right?

Speaking of taking pictures, I plan to step outside right now and get some of it snowing.

Question 2

2009-02-20T15:37:00.003-06:00

What one person, thing, moment, or place do you wish you had a photo of?

I guess I would have to say that I wish I had a picture of my grandparents and I together in one of those everyday moments that we all sometimes miss. I cannot go back 23 years to get that photo but I can always remember them and get those stories down in my scrapbooks.

In case you all are wondering just what I am talking about Jessica Sprague is about to start a new class on her website and she is giving away spots to that class of Photo Editing in Photoshop. I am just learning how to use my dSLR camera and more often than not still shoot with my little point and shoot but I have no idea how to edit the photos that I take. Most of the time I don't do more than just crop a little and print them out.

Jessica's classes are the greatest for actually teaching you how to do something. I finally get how to make a digital page and love that knowledge. Learning from her is so easy and fun. I can't wait to meet her in person again one of these days.

A favorite picture

2009-02-19T09:00:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite pictures. Mainly because it is a natural smile instead of a cheeky forced one that I usually get from Emily. I love that she is my baby.

Where is the month going?

2009-02-18T07:13:00.002-06:00

Can you believe that the month of February is half over already? And what exactly have I accomplished this month? Not much that is for sure! At least nothing to write home about. I have been finding my way around Facebook. Not so sure about that as I am really not someone that cares to spend alot of time on the computer and if I am trying to find someone I want to find them NOW, not hunt through 1000's of like named people. My girls were rather astonished when they seen me on the site though so I guess that makes me cool in their eyes.

We have sufficiently recovered from the ice storm. Most of the limbs are taken care of and aside from some too big to cut with anything other than a chainsaw we are ready for the mowing season to start (next month!) We have had some pretty good wind during some other storms recently and anything that had been broken or loosened by the ice but didn't succumb has taken a fall. There are some really big trees down all over the place. Some areas look like a war zone because of all the broken tops.

Things are pretty much normal around here. Amber and David moved last weekend into a smaller apartment in the same complex. The living with the brother wasn't working out too well and after a year they decided enough was enough. Hopefully they will be happy now. Emily got her second set of braces on Monday. She has been doing pretty good with them and came home from school yesterday all excited because she had been able to eat lunch. It took her 30 minutes, but she managed pretty well.

Valentines Day was spent in Bowling Green. Emily had her class on campus that I went with her to, then we dropped her off with Amber to spend the rest of the weekend with and we hit the line at our favorite restaurant for dinner. We figured a 45 minute wait at 4pm wasn't too bad. Any weekend in Bowling Green you have that. After eating on the way out the line was really backed up and I am sure that the wait was at least an hour if not longer. We were lucky to get in when we did. After eating we did some shopping for Emily's March birthday. She has been wanting a dresser that matches her other furniture so we got her one that will work pretty well. Also found her a cool lamp. Next on her list of wishes is an alarm clock and hangers. Oh and we have to go to Build-a-Bear to use the $20 bear bucks we have.

In farm news we are in the home stretch for having babies. We have little ones in all colors running around all over. Total we have lost 5 this year, and one cow but that really is pretty good odds considering we have 150 head of cows to calve. We are planning on selling about 10 head of cows and 2 more bulls this week at the local market and then we may see about selling pairs. The herd really needs to cut down and sometimes pairs go for more than a single cow does so we will be looking into getting rid of some more.

Well, I must go to work, would much rather crawl back into bed as I feel a bit under the weather.

Can you believe it is February?

2009-02-08T17:42:00.002-06:00

I mean it is in the 60's all this week and absolutely wonderful as far as the weather but geez it is a bit early in the month/year for this and we just end up getting spoiled to it and then freeze our butts off when it decides to continue with winter as I am sure it is bound to do.

But since I have no choice but to put up with it I will say I plan to enjoy it. Today after getting the chores done and seeing all the babies playing in the sunshine (around 80+ now) Will and I took to cleaning up some of the yard. All the fallen limbs from the storm are still laying around and I borrowed dad's little Black & Decker Alligater and we cut some of them up and hauled off the limbs. The bigger stuff we cut up to burn in the stove. We only got about 1/3rd of the yard done but at least we can park in the driveway again. I hope to work on it a little everyday this week.

Since it was so nice and we spent most of the day outside and the girls are both gone that meant the none of the laundry got done. Didn't even get it started. It made it downstairs but not sorted, and I am sure that there will be some "I don't have any clean ......" come tomorrow, but oh well, I am not the maid.

Emily had her first Super Saturday's at WKU yesterday and I stayed in the class to help and we had a good time. It is put on by the Center for Gifted Studies and had been going of for over 25 years. Tori did it for about 5 years or so and Emily has been doing it since the 3rd grade. This summer she is able to do SCATS which is a 2 week summer program that is alot of fun for them. Tori always stayed in the dorm and I am hoping to give Emily the same experience. They really learn alot.

Well, off to scrounge up dinner.

Thoughts

2009-02-05T13:52:00.002-06:00

I don't really have much to write about today. Just a bunch of random thoughts about my life I guess.

I get melancholy when I think about my baby growing up. She will be 12 next month. She is about to get her second set of braces, and when we took her to the eye doctor yesterday for an exam she ended up with contacts. It was bad enough when I had to start buying her little trainer bras after school started but now she is really starting to look grown up.

It is really cold today but the wind is mild and the sun is shining. We were able to graft a calf onto another cow after the momma cow died. Heifer is a good cow and since she just had her own baby she is always ready to take on another.

My dog Bowzer loves to help me feed the birds. He rolls around in the yard while I am filling the feeders and when I am feeding the cows he makes sure that I am okay. He really is a good guard dog even if his hearing and eyesight are fading. There really is no telling how old he is. I've had him for about 4 years or so and he wasn't a spring chicken when he showed up.

I have been reading the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris lately. I bought myself the first 7 in a set and am currently on the 4th one. I find them amusing and yesterday while in the mall I picked up 2 of her other series. I have to take a break in between books sometimes and I have been finding some books at the Dollar General by authors that I have never heard of but the first 2 books I have read have been pretty good and I still have 2 others waiting. Reading is such a passion for me. I probably should read something with a little more substance than what I do, but what the heck right?

Today was download day on BPS. I love thursdays for that reason, and with the new month there is a new project for Life Well Crafted. I haven't read through the handout yet, but I did read enought to get some pictures taken for it. I also splurged a little and got some of the new project now classes and also signed up for 2 classes in March. The great thing is I have the supplies on hand for just about everything and that makes both Will and my checkbook happy.

My yard is still littered with tree branches from the ice storm. I need to borrow a trailer and a small chainsaw and get them picked up. I am hoping that this weekend will be warmer and we can get that done. Can't even park in the driveway there are so many.

Life without hot water is almost as bad as life without electricity. Ever since we got our power back on the water heater has been giving us fits. First tried changing out the elements. Nope didn't help. Bought a new water heater. Nope that didn't help for long either. Found a loose wire and had hot water long enough to take a shower yesterday and then woke up with none today. The only thing left for it to be is the breaker in the junction box and Will has called every electrical store in Bowling Green and the company that made the ones for our box are no longer in business (figures) but one guy thought he may have some that would work. My fingers and toes are crossed because I have no idea what will happen next if this doesn't work.

See what happens when I am by myself and didn't get a nap in? I get a bit loopy and my thoughts begin to wander!

Ice Storms, Power Outages and Prom Dresses

2009-02-02T17:12:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I had this posting all done and it got lost somewhere in blogland, so here it goes again.

I have a slideshow going in the sidebar that shows the pictures I took this past week of the ice and damage that we got. Our trees really look bad and we haven't started the cleanup yet, but at least we are all safe and sound.

Saturday I came home to check on things and work around the farm feeding and getting wood for the folks which pretty much took allday. Will had stayed in Bowling Green, Emily was at her older sisters house and Tori was at work. I finally got back to the house about 4pm and was so glad to see the lights outside were on. The line crews were working so hard to get power to us and I am forever grateful for them working around the clock.

I can honestly say that this past week makes me really appreciate home, family, and modern conveniences. Things like hot water, lights, tv. We read as much as we could and we played games the first 2 nights by oil lamp and candles but we were all going a bit stir crazy. Not to mention that a cold shower just wasn't in my plans. Still isn't and since our hot water heater decided to go on the fritz yesterday and still seems to not want to work after changing out both elements. I have my fingers crossed that it is just taking some time heating up 50 gallons of water and not a complete loss.

Now, don't you know that when the girls are with Will's mom Carol, shopping is on the agenda. They hit the mall and came home with several nice outfits and after a trip to a very nice consignment store that has prom & wedding dresses Tori came home with the prom dress of the year in my opinion. She is going to knock the sox off of somebody!

Well, off to boil some water I guess!

Frozen

2009-01-28T20:48:00.002-06:00

Okay, so early, early Tuesday morning (around 4am) I got awakened by the power going off and on several times. I looked at the clock to see what time it was and asked for it to hold off for 30 more minutes so that I could see what the weather was like and if the girls had school. No such luck. Out it went.....

And it is still out. After 2 nights trying to sleep in a spooky quiet house with nothing to listen to but the rain falling and the icy trees breaking I got fed up and we decided to head to Will's moms house so that at least we could all take a warm shower, eat real food and sleep with whatever noises her house has. Luckily for us we have a wood burning stove in the basement that we use in the winter to cut the heating costs down so we weren't freezing to death, but we definitly missed out creature comforts.

The girls are going to be out of school tomorrow again and possibly on friday to. There are downed power lines, lots of broken tree limbs scattering roads and lawns. My poor trees really took a beating. I happened to get some really cool pictures though and once power is restored at home I will up load them and show you.

I just wanted to check in. Right now it is about 9pm and I am exhausted from my outdoor work today and the stress of it all. I am hitting the hay and will catch you all on the lighter side of things when I can.

Babies, babies everywhere!

2009-01-26T18:28:00.002-06:00

of the 4-legged and the 2-legged kind.

As you know I big on taking online classes at Big Picture Scrapbooking. I am enrolled in the Life Well Crafted year long version that is being taught by Jason and Kolette Hall. They are two of the most inspiring people I have ever met and after 16 years of marriage they are having a baby! Actually he (Coleman) is arriving 3 weeks early. Kolette's water broke early this morning and there is a little up on Jason's "Daddy" blog. What an exciting day for them.

In other baby news, Ali Edwards is due anytime with Baby A. They know that it is a girl and she is actually due on Feb 15th. What an exciting time in the scrapbooking world!

On the 4-legged front we are currently gaining more every day. Hopefully they will hold off for the next few days as we are supposed to be getting some really bad weather. Ice and snow and yuck!

Well, since I have prom dresses on the brain I think I will be doing a bit of internet searching while waiting for dinner to cook.

Baby, it's cold out there!

2009-01-26T07:15:00.002-06:00

At least it is right now, and although the forecast is for temps in the mid-40's pretty much the entire week they are calling for and Ice Storm Warning for us and the surrounding counties starting around midnight tonight on into tomorrow morning. Uggg! That most likely means no school tomorrow and two girls that will fight over everything.

After school today I have to pick Em up and take her to Bowling Green for her second in the series shot. She was supposed to get it last week but they were out of the office on Monday when we were there and tried, she was sick Tuesday and Wednesday and then I was busy on Thursday and couldn't get away and they don't give shots of Friday's. Hopefully it hasn't been too long and she won't have to start the series over again.

All it so quiet right now. I have the house to myself all day long and I plan to enjoy it, and hopefully get some things done in the process. First thing on my list--enjoy the peace!

The promised birthday

2009-01-25T17:19:00.000-06:00

Meet Wall-E. Our neighbor thankfully made this adorable cake for Tori.

The reaction when she got just what she wanted. A bracelet and necklace that match the Venician Glass earrings that she got for Christmas several years ago. She figured that she would never get them but we suprised her with them.

Loved having "Happy Birthday" sung to her, even at 17!

And here is where her best bud Nathan took cake and gave her the ultimate tasting! It was great that he had me catch this on camera, she never suspected it.

And so there you have the birthday party of my 17 year old. We are taking guesses as to what next years cake will be. She has had Mumble the Penguin, a Dinosaur (Dinorawr as it is called around here) and then Wall-E respectively. Who knows what next years big thing will be, but I do know that I love that childlike whimsy that Tori carries with her. She can get a bit too serious sometimes, but show her a favorite thing and she is all grins and giggles.

Happy Birthday my girl!

I am still here

2009-01-21T16:18:00.002-06:00

at least in spirit. Wow, where has the past few days gone? I have had every intention of posting the pictures from Tori's birthday party to show you all what a cute cake it was and what fun everyone had that night and just haven't gotten around to it, so I will wait to tell you that when I get my pictures uploaded.

Monday was an orthodontic appointment for Emily. She has already been through Phase I and been out of braces for just over a year now. We had pictures taken and xrays done to see just where all those teeth were hiding out. Met the newest Dr at the practice and picked him to be her new orthodontist for Phase II which they want to get started as soon as possible because of the way her 12 year molars are coming in.

Okay, fine we knew we were heading into another term of "metal mouth" at some point. I also figured that the cost would be less than the first set which was $2800. Boy was I wrong! I fell out of my chair when the girl pushed over the paper that had it all broken down. $4200 for the next phase. You have got to be kidding me! How in the heck am I going to come up with the $750 down payment they want to get started much less the whole amount? Easy, get a credit line for the entire amount so that you don't have to starve for the next 2 years or ask the parents to cough it up. So, on February 4th we get started with the first appointment of molds and spacers and on the 16th she will be getting them put on. At least she is excited about it as she knows that she really has no choice.

In other news, the weather is finally taking a turn for the warmer this week. Tomorrow and Friday we may hit the 50's. At least we are in the double digits for the time being and hopefully we won't see many more days like that this winter.

2009-01-17T07:31:00.003-06:00

So picture this ice on a much larger scale and that will tell you what I have been doing each morning. With the temps staying WAY below freezing and mainly in the single digits over night for the past 3 days all the ponds are pretty much frozen. One of my jobs is to take a sledge hammer and shovel and make holes around the ponds and scoop out the ice for the cows to drink from.

The first morning wasn't too bad, ice was about 1/2 inch thick and pretty easy to break up, yesterday it was more like 2-3 inches thick and a bit harder, but still very necessary. In a couple of hours I will "suit up" in my warm coveralls and various layers and head out and hope my face doesn't get frostbite and do it all again. Did I say I love my job?

In other news, we start hauling off most of the calves we have been feeding for the past month or so. The market isn't great, but it beats the alternative of running out of hay that much faster due to 100 extra mouths to feed. Hopefully the temperatures will be a bit more comfortable next week. It is supposed to start rising to closer to freezing and maybe even get above starting today.

Today my Tori turns 17. She is growing up way to fast and is such a beautiful young lady. I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished so far. Her future is very bright! We are having company over for dinner, cake, and presents. She is getting her Wall*E cake and if we don't go to town today we won't be having any ice cream to go with the cake. (I was in town yesterday and it never even crossed my mind. Duh!)

Well, off to get some chores done inside before I head outside and freeze my tush off!

So, what have I been doing?

2009-01-13T19:31:00.007-06:00

Reading this series. So far, I have finished the first two and I have been enjoying them. I bought the box set just before the holidays and after things started settling down I decided it was time.

I have also read: before I started on Sookie. I also have waiting for me thanks to my wonderful husband that knows I really wanted it the other day while we were in the mall and made myself say no. I think I may just have to read it next before it drives me crazy!

We are finally going to sell some of our babies this week. Tomorrow we will move one bunch down closer to the house and pick out about 35 steers to take to the buyer on friday. That leaves quite a few still, but by getting the biggest of them gone now then they will be easier to feed for a few more weeks. I haven't checked the market sites, but I am guessing that it must be up some if we are selling some. I hope that the rest go soon. I really hope that most of the entire herd goes as it just isn't very cost effective to keep them much longer and I don't think we will have enough hay to feed all winter, especially with the temperatures that are hitting this week.

Today I managed to get a couple of gifts made for mom. Her birthday is thursday and I usually save something I have gotten while Christmas shopping but somehow didn't this year. I made her a cute picture frame with a picture of Chloe in it and a set of coasters that I hadn't gave out at Christmas. I think I will plan some sort of dinner or something depending upon the schedule for that day. A trip to Nashville is on the menu as a check up on dad's back but I have no idea what else is going on.

I managed to get my neighbor who is currently in culinary school to make Tori's cake for Saturday. She wants a Wall-E cake and I had gotten the shaped pan from Wiltons at the store awhile back and had planned on making it but since she offered and has all the stuff handy I jumped at the chance to pass it off. In exchange I will help her make the cake and food for her nieces wedding for 300 in June. Sounds fair don't it?!

Well, the KY basketball game is about to come on and I usually try to watch it with Will as he watches the Titans play with me. They are playing the University of Tennessee and I hope they kick some Vol butt!

What a downer

2009-01-11T17:04:00.002-06:00

yesterday was. My team, the Tennessee Titans have had almost a perfect season and then last night, with the help of a really bad call that wasn't even called they lost in the first round of the playoffs. I think if they hadn't had to play Baltimore, the sworn enemy, and they had a few key players that were healthier, and the back judge had pulled his head out and made the call that needed to be made then they would have had a chance. I was and still am very disappointed with the whole thing, but there is still the rest of the playoff games to watch and the Super Bowl in a few weeks. And there is always next year!

Today we did our cleaning up of the house that we always do, and I have been trying (not very hard though) to get the laundry done. My day didn't start off really good and I have been "off" all day. I was hoping that laying down and napping would help, but it really hasn't. I hate when I feel aggrevated over nothing. Irks the heck out of me.

I have all but finished up my first project for January's LWC class. The first Attribute album I did about myself, but I thing I would really like to do one for Will for his birthday and for both of the girls. If I worked really hard on it I could get Tori's done before next saturday and her birthday. I really liked the way it turned out and I would only have to rethink the sizes to make them work. I need to get busy making her birthday card. I found the perfect one on the cover of one of Paper Crafts I had bought. It looks like a converse shoe and will be perfect for my shoe hound. She has about 4 pairs of Converse and still has to have more shoes on a regular basis. The newest are plaid loafers that she got on sale for $20 and were originally $60.

Anywho, the days just keep chugging along and me right along with them. I shall return at a later time to fill you in :)

The weekend is here!

2009-01-09T18:56:00.003-06:00

Not that it really means that much around here. I still have the same daily chores to do. The only difference is that the girls are usually not here. Tori works every weekend, so we only see her in the mornings for a while, and Emily most times (like tonight) go to my parents house. She has probably spent all but a handfull of weekends over there her entire life. She is making good memories!

So, with the house all quiet, I have been thinking about the blessings I have to be grateful for. For one, I have a family that enjoys sitting down to dinner together to chat about our days and what may be coming up that we need to be thinking about, and another thing I am grateful for is having a job I love. I know that there are so many more that I will discover over the next 51 weeks that are left in the year.

Well, dinner is calling our names, and I think that there is probably something that is on tv that we can watch and enjoy eachothers company.

Be Grateful!

Can you say DUH!

2009-01-08T13:56:00.004-06:00

I have been waiting all week for today to get here so that I could take Emily to the orthodontist for xrays. Will and I have been killing the day planning on what all we need/want to do in Bowling Green while we are there when I decide I should get the appointment slip that I have had since August to show them when we get there as they didn't call/email a reminder this time for some reason. I look at the slip and see that I have been axiously waiting for the wrong day all week. Her appointment was yesterday! I have only been looking at this slip all this time and recently hung it up on the fridge so as not to get lost on my computer desk. Don't ask me why I thought it was on a thursday instead of just looking and actually reading the dang thing. Oh well, they were very nice and rescheduled for the 19th of this month. Maybe I won't forget this one!

One to baby news we are really on a role. We are around 25 with at least 2 if not 3 we found today (we are not sure on the one cow if she has had it yet or not). So far we have several shades of black, one gray, one black with a white tail and one black with a white face. So cute!

Well off to pick up the kid and head to town. We are going to do a bit of shopping and I may even get lucky and find Tori a prom dress she will like at Dillards. They are going out of business and everything is over 75% off. Wish me luck~

Can you say DUH!

2009-01-08T13:56:00.001-06:00

Feeling the groove

2009-01-05T18:59:00.003-06:00

or at least I was last night when Mr. Will was raising the roof snoring and I had to get up to keep from smothering him with his own pillow. I managed to get alot of little things done in my scraprrom. I finished putting away the patterned paper that had a home now but hadn't quite found it yet, and then I got working on my January project for A Life Well Crafted . I didn't want to start up the computer and print out stuff but I got my pages all made up and then this morning did all my printing so now I just have to find pictures to go in it.

Today was a busy day on the farm. We moved the older babies around a bit to get them out of their corral at the various barns so that they have a bit more roaming room. It was a bit of a mess for awhile when they are all running, bucking and jumping like they haven't seen daylight in months, but it worked out. Hopefully they will all still be there in the morning!

The girls went back to school today and I think that they were more than ready. It really has been a long two weeks for all of us. The only consistant thing has been Tori working. Tonight is her last night until friday of this week. She really seems to be taking to this work thing okay. I am glad for her and she really has done some growing up the past few months.

Today was pretty dang cold. All weekend it was in the 60's and then today was frigid and barely above freezing plus it started to rain a bit. I know it is January and all, but would it please pick a temp and stick with it? And could the weather man please stop telling us what our "normal" temperature is supposed to be? I don't care I just would rather NOT know that we are 20 degrees below normal! Makes me even colder!

I know this isn't a very good picture, but this is our little striped-tail bruiser boy that we had over the weekend. Today we had 3 more babies and so we are over 20 so far. It is a sight to see when they get to running and being wild, drives their mothers crazy! Makes me love my job even more!

Family Fun

2009-01-03T08:39:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we took a little trip to Nashville to spend the day as a family. Our first stop was for lunch in Mt. Juliet (a little east of Nashville and the airport) at Red Robin. The girls had never eaten there before, and the burgers are soooo good that it was worth the time. After eating we went to Books-A-Million and wandered around for awhile. None of us really needed any new books as we had each brought along one in the car (Emily had 3). Tori started her book in the morning and was more than half finished with it by the time we got home and she only read while in the car. That girl is one fast reader let me tell you!

After walking off lunch we headed over to Opryland and the ICE! show. This was to be the last year for the Grinch and we were all excited about seeing it. I love going to these types of events because the pictures you can take inside are fantastic. I had brought along my new Canon but decided that I would rather use the little point and shoot that we gave Emily last year (poor girl rarely gets to use it!) since I was comfortable with it.

This is the first picture I took as we walked into the building and through the frigid doors.

The girls were not really thrilled about having to pose together at every opportunity, so I tried to get some of them individually also. At the temps in there you had to think very warm thoughts. I still came out with frozen ears, nose, and fingers! Way too much fun!

There were two different slides set up in about the middle of the attraction. There were quite a few people there and we spent a little time at each "spot" trying to get pictures taken. For the most part everyone was cordial and friendly. This picture of Will and I was taken by Tori. Can you believe the reality of the Grinch? I tell you those people know what they are doing when it comes to doing ice sculptures.

This was actually the first Grinch you came to after walking it. He looks rather menacing don't ya think?

All in all we had a great day. After finishing up and thawing out we headed over to Opry Mills Mall and wandered around. There were some great sales in just about every store if you were in the mind to shop, but we were really only there for one thing. Build-a-Bear. Tori had made up her newest one online and had him named and all. They had come out with another penguin critter and she dressed him in red lumberjack plaid and named him LeRoy Jenkins. What that kid can come up with. Needless to say her birthday is the 17th of this month and so it was kind of an early birthday. She will be 17 this year. Where is the time going?

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T17:26:00.002-06:00

I will tell you I surprised myself last night and actually made it to see midnight roll around with my eyes open. The girls were both gone and so Will and I snacked for dinner and then watched a couple of movies that we had been meaning to watch for about 6 months or so. By the time they were over is was rolling into the new year. I did have to catch a little nap today though!

When I went to feed today I got the chance to see our 3 newest little babies. We are rolling along with another girl and two more boys. Everyone was loving the sunshine we were having and was laid out all over the fields. I zoomed all over the farm with my ipod singing in my ears and the scenery creeping by. I was in heaven!

Tomorrow we are headed to Nashville to see the Grinch in Ice! It will be the first time in about 5 years or so since we have been and I know I am looking forward to it as much as the girls are. We will most likely go to the Opry Mills mall to get a bite to eat for lunch and then hopefully we will get out of dodge without spending any money in Build-A-Bear. Tori has her sights set on the new penguin that they have. She even has it named and everything. $47 and it could be hers with all the required clothing that look like a lumberjack.

Well, it is almost dinner time and I have stuff drug out all over my scraproom floor as I am in the process of purging and organizing. That really is going pretty darn well and I have only heard Will say a couple of times that I have too much stuff and that I need to quit buying. I really will try honey!!!!

My little word for 2009

2008-12-31T14:49:00.002-06:00

Renew

–verb (used with object)
1. to begin or take up again, as an acquaintance, a conversation, etc.; resume.
2. to make effective for an additional period: to renew a lease.
3. to restore or replenish: to renew a stock of goods.
4. to make, say, or do again.
5. to revive; reestablish.
6. to recover (youth, strength, etc.).
7. to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again.

–verb (used without object)
8. to begin again; recommence.
9. to renew a lease, note, etc.
10. to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.

After much thought and deliberation (and a nap) I decided that Renew would be my word for the new year. I like all the definitions of it and it fits with what I want to see in my life this year. If only the "to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again" meant something when you turn 40, but then again, you only turn 40 once and it could be like turning over a new leaf!

I feel the need to renew so much in my life at the moment. There are so many ways to make the changes that I feel need to be made and this little word will help me to remember.

Heres to ringing in the 2009 New Year with much pomp and circumstance. I, for one, will be hitting the hay at my regular bedtime and will only wake up to it tomorrow!

Counting Down + Reflecting

2008-12-30T20:26:00.002-06:00

As 2008 begins to wind down and the new year coming more into focus I find myself reflecting on the past as well as dreaming about the future. What changes did I make that I want to stick with and what changes do I need to continue to strive for. I think overall that 2008 was a good year. I learned some things about myself, I travelled and met many new friends, I watched as my children grew more independent, I watched as my parents' health made some improvements, and I watched another year whisk by in a blink of an eye.

I am really excited for the new year to start and for the chance to start fresh with the goals for improving myself. I know that the year long class with Jason & Kolette Hall is going to open my eyes to new things, and I plan to take part in the Project 365. I plan to get the Becky Higgins KOTM on January 1 and really strive to complete what I know can be a very fulfilling life challenge.

I spent the past few days purging and organizing in my scrap room again. I did the same thing at the beginning of 2008 while taking the class on Big Picture with Wendy Smedley. Over the past year I have discovered that I don't really scrap in the way the at my paper was organized and I set out to get it done. It looks great and I have a box full of paper to go to a worthy cause. It feels great to see all that paper labeled and stored in a proper way. Now for a few other areas to be purged and I will feel even better.

The new year always brings on feelings of organizing and renewing the house. Both Will and I have talked about what we want the basement to be used for other than a scary junk hole. With Emily moved back upstairs into her room and Christmas behind us we can get going on the cleaning out of the "scary" and make room for the "I know just where that is!" Even Tori is in the spirit and is ready to make a trail in her room.

In farm news, we have now got 12 babies. 7 boys and 5 girls. All various shades/hues of black with little to distinguish them from eachother. It is so great to drive through them looking for any new and counting the ones we know we have and watching them play. They really are just like toddlers learning how to walk and run. Way too fun. The older babies that we still have are more like teenagers. Looking for anything to keep them from being bored and always looking for trouble.

Did I tell you we got a Wii for Christmas? I never remember to read back at older posts, and I have no memory. Anywho, too much fun. I am waiting for a day when no one is here but me so that I can try it out without making a fool of myself. Almost had that chance yesterday but ended up working all day long with mom and dad. Luckily for me next week will be the beginning of "back to normal hours" around here.

Well, off to bed! I am not a night owl for sure!

Back to normal

2008-12-27T08:55:00.003-06:00

or at least in the process of it.

Our Christmas Day was good. The girls got us up at 4am! A bit early for me, but not so unusual for them! Poor Tori had been up since about midnight with a headache that was making her sick. Not the way she wanted to start out the day, but she did get feeling better after awhile.

Amber and David showed up at 5am as promised and we proceeded to open gifts. Usually we call my parents to come over, but figured it was a bit early considering..... Santa was a bit more frugal this year. Even though the gifts were on the expensive side they only got one each and then a family gift. Emily had asked for an Ipod Nano and is now in 7th heaven. Tori really didn't say what she wanted but since her last computer fell apart (literally) she got a new HP laptop. The big gift for the family was a Wii and the Fit. Everyone was happy with it and Tori and Will are currently racing away in Mario land somewhere.

I got a Cuttlebug and several Titans related items. Will surprised me with some very hard to find Division Championship items. I shall stay warm and toasty in my new sweatshirts, t-shirts, hat and blanket. I am one happy girl!

Will made out good with some new grilln' items and some much needed clothing items. He also got some books and computer games. He said it was just what he wanted.

After we got done here, we went over to mom and dad's. Mom had to wake dad up, but we had a good time opening over there. I had found some things for both of them that they needed and some things that they really appreciated. They are so hard to shop for, and this year I found just the right things. They were both happy I think. After we spent a few hours over there we all headed to our respective homes. I napped until about choring time and everyone else lazed around.

Yesterday we took down the tree and most of the decorations. The only thing left up are some cute little snowmen that I got new this year and have no box to put them in at the moment. Besides, snowmen are just as wintery as holidayish so they can stay up awhile longer. It really feels good to have things back to normal. I spent some time finishing up a few projects at the scrap table and began cleaning up the old desk. Needs to be dusted something awful.

Well, the clothes are growing up the walls like mold which means it is past time to head downstairs to the laundry. I will leave you with some holiday pictures I uploaded this morning.

Give me 3

2008-12-22T17:55:00.002-06:00

more days and I can relax. I really do like Christmas, but sometimes it can all seem less than ideal. This year is no different. Family tensions still exist plus a few new ones added into the mix, parents that haven't bothered at all (wouldn't even let the kids wrap gifts for them last week when they were out of school and not busy), many "day of" obligations and only so many hours in the day to begin with. Makes me want to scream "BAHHHHHHH"

On a lighter note, we had another baby. This one is a girl and honestly unless you are close enough to catch a glimpse you cannot tell the difference. She is the baby boys new bestest buddy. We also had a cow die today. Sometimes they have trouble calving and they prolapse. If caught early enough about the only thing the vet can do is sew things up and then you have to watch for when they calve to take the string out. Not fun at all, and unfortunatly with this cow there was no way to save her or the baby.

Today we went to Carol and Jim's for the family Christmas. It was nice to see everyone and to meet Everly, what a cutie she is at 4 years old. The only bummer was one child decided to be selfish and stayed home with all 5 of her kids because she has a problem with her step father, who in his defense doesn't even know she has a problem. Carol was really hurt not to see her grandkids.

Right now all is quiet. Tori is at work, Emily stayed the night with Amber and David again, Will is watching his UK Wildcats play ball and I believe I am going to finish the Carol Wingert project I started this morning. Enjoying the calm before the storm.

The Countdown Begins

2008-12-20T07:39:00.002-06:00

The girls are out of school so that means that several times a day I get an update as to how many days there are until the big day. Believe me I do not need the added stresser of actually being reminded how incredibly close it is. I am trying really hard not to stress about things in my daily life and to just go with the flow but come on!!!!!

We have cut the babies down to one feeding a day as they will be butter balls at the rate they are growing and filling out if I keep up the twice a day thing. Suites me, I don't have to get out in the cold first thing in the morning.

Tommorrow we are all driving to Nashville to attend a seminar on paying for college. I guess they are giving us all the options that we as parents and Tori as the student have in qualifying for and getting all we can get. After that we are suprising the girls with a trip to see the Grinch In Ice at Opryland. Tori has no clue, Emily has been sworn to secrecy and I can't wait. This is the last year for the Grinch and we missed it last year. Seeing the lights at the Opryland Hotel are something too. Dinner at the Mills will top of a great day.

Monday is Will's family Christmas. I have to get their gifts rounded up so that we don't forget any of them and there is some cooking to be done today to prepare. I am actually looking forward to getting out of the house a little and getting into the holiday spirit.

Dad is doing really well with his back. He got out and took a ride yesterday and that helped with the cabin fever that was settling in for the parents. I can't blame them, yesterday was in the low 70's for crying out loud. We had ice storms for 3 days and then we are in the 70's in the same week. Like the saying goes here. "If you don't like the weather in Kentucky, wait 5 minutes" That is the truth in a nutshell too!

I have all but finished up my Deck of Me cards and have actually taken pictures too. I just need to finish the one for this week and then get the last one and then I plan to get all the pictures posted to the Flickr site that has been set up. I am really proud of myself for sticking with this project the entire year. It has been fun and I hope to do something like it for 09.

Well, off the get the day started. I have gifts to wrap, house to clean, laundry to do (again), feeding and of course I have to have my nap. I do better with a nap once in awhile.

Meet Baby Boy #1

2008-12-17T06:58:00.002-06:00

Ain't he just the cutest thing? All the hard work of farming is worth it to see these small wonders run and play. He is just that and that is good. He is healthy and his momma gives really good milk so he will be a big boy soon!

It's beginning to look alot like......

2008-12-17T06:26:00.002-06:00

Ice? Yup we got hit with an Ice storm Monday afternoon and although the accumulation wasn't alot, less than an inch, it sure made for some interesting walking. Forget driving, only those with no common sense (18 year old boys in love come to mind) were out driving around on the sheets of ice everywhere.

Our first baby was born on the 14th. He is a bouncy baby boy and so cute. I finally got a chance to get a picture and will post as soon as I find the camera again. There are a couple of other cows really close to having their babies so I have been checking on them regularly. Usually they don't have any problems but you never know.

Dad's back surgery went well and he was able to come home on Saturday. He is finding it easier to get up and down each time and is looking forward to getting out for a ride somewhere (anywhere). Cabin fever is setting in for both mom and dad.

I put Tori to work wrapping presents yesterday and she got most of them done. I still have her stuff to put into boxes so that it can get wrapped up and then hopefully I will be done enough to relax a bit. I have a couple of gifts yet to make but they are now in the beginning stages. If they don't get finished then no biggie, I can save them for another time.

Well, even though it is early, and the kids do not have school (again) I have a ton of chores to get started on, so I better get to it.

Catching my breath

2008-12-15T11:15:00.002-06:00

or at least trying.

Dad had his surgery on Thursday and came home on Saturday. He is doing pretty well with it. Will and I have had to go over several times to help him get up or down out of bed but each day/time get easier for him.

Today starts what looks like a really bad week of rain, cold, sleet and misery. Today we are under a winter freeze warning and I have been watching the news for early dismissal of the schools. When it was 2 degrees in Kansas City this morning and moving our way things can't be good. As of right now schools are letting out at 1pm which is good.

We had our first baby of the season yesterday. He is the cutest and bounciest boy. I haven't gotten a picture of him yet but hope to catch up with him soon. Two more cows are really close to calving and so I have been checking on them when I feed.

I am no more ready for the holiday than I was a week ago. I need to wrap majorly and have only managed to get the gifts that needed to be shipped done. Luckily Tori will be off of work after today until friday and should be able to get it done or at least help me and Emily with it. Plus of course there is the wrapping that needs to be done over at moms house.

I have a couple more cards to make and send out and then I will call it done. I have had alot of fun making up this years cards and there have been a variety for sure.

My boys lost to Houston yesterday, but they are still going to the playoffs with their great record. If they beat the Steelers next week then they will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The next few weeks will be tough but they should do better than they did yesterday.

Well, instead of piddling on the computer I will get off and get something done. It won't be too long before I will be needing to head out to feed again.

Just breathing

2008-12-10T09:44:00.002-06:00

or at least trying to.

Christmas is way too close. 15 days away now. The only decorations that are going up this year (at least at this point) is the tree and a few random snowman knicknacks that the girls put up. Will has already put the totes back away and I don't plan to drag them out again until it is time to put stuff up.

I need to do way too much wrapping. Or at the very least get things ready for the girls to wrap up for me. I need to get a package sent off to Veronica in AZ before too much longer, need to make a couple more cards to mail out, buy more holiday stamps, finish up a few holiday projects or put them away until next year.

Dad is having back surgery tomorrow and due to the calves still being here and needing to be fed constantly (feels like it) I won't be able to be there for it. I hope to go down to Nashville for awhile tomorrow after the morning chores are done but will have to play that one by ear.

The new nerve medication I am on (my happy pills) aren't near as calming as my other ones were, but the $4 price tag more than makes up for that. I can't see shelling out $130 a month just for one little pill and that was with insurance.

I have so many things going on that nothing is getting done. I signed up for Shimelle's Journal your Christmas class and haven't even downloaded the first prompt yet, made my Daily December book and took some pictures the first few days of the month but haven't done a thing with that either. My daily gratitude journal hasn't been updated since election day. I just have to not worry about it and keep chugging on. There is always another day and next year will be here sooner than we think it will.

I am super stoked about the Life Well Crafted class that will start January at Big Picture. I have most of one pre-class assignment done, just have to punch some holes to put the pages in the binder, and then the other project is easy to put together and should go smoothly when I can sit and finish it up. Really ready to start the new year with a positive outlook on my daily life.

Well, off to putter around. Mom and Dad will be leaving for Nashville in a couple of hours and I need to go and visit a little. Chloe doesn't know it yet but she is staying with us while they are gone. Should prove to be interesting at the very least.

Hello December!

2008-12-01T09:23:00.002-06:00

Wow, it is here. Ready or not the last month of the year is upon us and with it brings much......... Today I start my "Journal My Christmas" class with Shimelle and since I finished up my December Daily album last night I can get going on it today too. Jessica Sprague is hosting a picture a day gallery on her website and will be giving away a free class each Sunday.

Today started like a winter day should. Snow. Not alot, in fact it didn't even stick to the the ground at all, and by the time I got in the house from chores and could get to my camera it had quit all together, but it is a balmy 35 and cloudy! Hopefully will see some more snow later on today. I like to see snow!

I have to pick the kids up from school today as they have dentist appts at 4. After we get done with that I think the plan is to get the tree up. They wanted to do it all weekend but luckily they weren't home long enough to get it done. I insisted that they had to wait until at least December 1st and unless something much more pressing comes up I suppose that the decorating will begin tonight.

I need to get busy on laundry as I neglected it all weekend long. The albums I ordered to make gifts came on Friday and I need to get busy cutting all the pages for them. I would like to get them done by the end of the week so that they can get wrapped up. I need to get my Secret Santa stuff sent off to Tammy today, so that means I must get it all packed up.

Busy day ahead and I still haven't warmed up from chores. BRRRRR!~

Good Bye November

2008-11-30T05:56:00.002-06:00

Wow, another month is all but gone. Just where does time go and why must it go so fast! December begins tomorrow and the race towards the 25th begins in earnest for me. I like to wait until after the 1st to get the holiday season rolling. Oh, I shop and get the gift-giving going before then, but I like to wait until at least the first to drag out all the holiday decorations. No one else really likes to see things my way though.

I told Will that him and the girls could put up the tree while I was busy working calves yesterday, but luck was on my side and Tori and Kevin were put to work elsewhere, Emily was at mom's and Will was piddling around the house and cooking a big lunch for all us working out in the cold. No tree and no decorations strung out all over yet. And today ain't looking too good either! Of course there is the whole football thing, and Tori has to work a split shift today which means she has to be there at 11 and work through the lunch rush and then go back and work at 5 for dinner. I personally have another weeks worth of laundry to do and hope to finish up my Daily December album before tomorrow.

We had a really great Thanksgiving dinner. Will's fried Turkey was awesome and we had way to much food! Every one ate their fill and really seemed to enjoy themselves. Tori and Kevin left after we ate to go to his moms house to eat again. It was perfect weather, in the 60's and so nice to be outside for. Made me wish we could eat outside. After everyone went home we watched the Titan's game that we had recorded earlier. First time they have played on Thanksgiving and they kicked the Detroit Lions butts all over the field. A perfect ending to a great day!

Friday we hung out and relaxed. I haven't felt all that great (got an awful cough and stuffed up head) so I lazed around and tried to get some rest. Yesterday we worked the calves. Gave them all their booster shots and banded the little bull calves. Because they have cooperated so well it only took a couple of hours to get 120+ calves run through. The weather was great for it also. No wind and not all that cold.

Since it is so dang early and all I think I will try to catch a few more zzzz's before I have to face the day. If nothing else I can see I will be napping for sure today!

Stressing?

2008-11-25T08:49:00.002-06:00

I think not! My house is far from as clean as I would like it to be, but then it is always like that. Not dirty mind you, but there may be a few dust bunnies lying around, windows that need a bit of cleaning, things that are currently in limbo looking for a new home, etc. I think that worrying about having everything perfect for company on Thursday is a waste of time and I have way more better things to do than clean.

For example: I am, as we speak, printing out my parents Christmas cards. I used the picture I took of Chloe at Halloween all dressed up and put to use a holiday card kit from HP that I have had sitting around for several years and they are now printing after getting the mom okay.

I opened my email this morning and found out that I need to send of my Secret Santa package this week. Now mind you I have had everything bought that was on her wishlist for awhile now and have several projects in various stages of completion, I just lost track of the time and didn't realize that it needed to go out this week, so my plan for today is to get those projects finished and get it ready to wrap up and mail this weekend.

I so enjoyed the Stories at Hand class that I took with Jessica Sprague that I have been printing out the pages for the project in triplicate to give as gifts to my mom, mom-in-law, and Will's granny. He thought that they would all enjoy reading over the sparks and getting things down that they have been wanting to pass on. I ordered AC binders yesterday as I want theirs to be a little more sturdy than I made mine and have most of the pages printed out and will just have to cut everything apart and put together.

I have been impatiently waiting for the project materials to arrive from Cocoa Daisy for the Ali E class on BPS. I have the class bought, downloaded and printed and am more than anxious to put it all together. Would have loved to have it out on the coffee table on Thanksgiving but looks like it won't be here by then. Hasn't even shipped yet that I can tell. :(

Stacy J has her class up that coinsides with her Cocoa Daisy kit. I have been waiting for it to be posted and the best part is that it is free. I hope to have a chance to look things over after Thursday.

Do you watch 60 Minutes on Sundays? We try to catch it after whatever ball games are over and this past week it just happened to be ontime so we missed some of it, but we always try to watch Andy Rooney. I don't always agree with him, and I really dislike his eyebrows as they creep me out alot, but his commentary was right on. He talked about how Thanksgiving gets overlooked anymore because it isn't a commercial holiday. I have dreaded going to stores after Halloween because the Christmas stuff is up the very next day and I really like Thanksgiving. I fight tooth and nail to keep Christmas from invading my house until after December gets here. Of course the girls are excited about putting up all the decorations, me, not so much. I lose out every year, but at least they won't be going up on Friday!

I signed up for the Life Well Crafted year long class with Kolette and Jason Hall right after CE in September and since then I have seen it mentioned on several blogs like Tim Holtz and others and I think from the project tidbits that have been shown so far, knowing just how great Kolettes classes are, and the feeling I get reading Jason's blog and watching his dvd I know that this is going to be a class that can and will change lives. You cannot listen to this couple and not come away inspired in some way. There is an audio only version for those that aren't into the crafty bit. If you haven't thought about taking this class, but are at a crossroads in your life and are looking for ways to change then take it. I have gotten the supplies for January all together and my album that I ordered from WRMK came the other day. I picked the red one as I love red and it will make me happy all year long. I have printed out the papers for it and plan to get it all together soon. So excited.

Well, I have gabbered on long enough. I have laundry to finish, projects to get done, cards to finish printing and then finish printing my SIH stuff. All this and I cannot forget Emily this afternoon!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and eat lots!

Nine words women use...

2008-11-21T08:55:00.003-06:00

I got this off of Dianna's blog. I read it to my hubby and he laughed and agreed. I personally think that this should be handed out to every male!

Nine words women use...

1.) Fine : This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

2.) Five Minutes : If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

3.) Nothing : This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in 'fine'.

4.) Go Ahead : This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

5.) Loud Sigh : This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.)

6.) That's Okay : This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

7.) Thanks : A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome.

8.) Whatever : Is a women's way of saying f u .

9.) Don't worry about it, I'll do it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to #3.Then you RUN!*

To any men out there reading...you're welcome.

That about sums it up!

In other news. It is colder than heck outside and since we failed to wean/sell the babies back in September or October as in past years because of the current market we are just now getting around to getting them off of their mothers. I do know that it has been pretty easy as the babies are all but weaned anyway, and the mamas will be needing to get ready for their next baby in a few months. But back to the cold. We even saw a little snow last night. BRRRRR!

Tori's field trip to Lexington to see the cadaver was very exciting for her. She couldn't stop talking about it last night and told me all about holding a human heart, brain, eyeball, etc. (Sorry to squeem you out). I personally do not have the stomach for it, but she seemed to take it all in stride and is thinking about a career in medicine. Probably not a doctor or anything she says as she is not into dealing with people, but in research or something. I say go for it!

Emily got her Gardasil shot yesterday afternoon. She was brave about it and I promised her ice cream afterwards despite the 37 degree temps. Tori has to go back for round 2 next week and then take Emily back in January. I think that it is a good idea to be preventative. Cancer is not something you want to play around with.

Well, I have to get something in the way of house cleaning done. Time is running out for the holidays and I must prepare. Good day to ya!

2008-11-19T14:52:00.002-06:00

Have seen this on several blogs and thought I would share also.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

I can see by looking over this list of things that I have lead a blessed life. I may not have done all the things that I would like to in this life, but I have done some pretty wonderful things and I can say that I am proud of that!

Okay

2008-11-19T10:35:00.002-06:00

so I am not exactly sure where the last week went. Actually I am not exactly sure where any week goes, just that they go by too dang fast.

Turned off a bit cold here. About 20 or so this morning. BRRRRRRR!

We pulled off some of our babies on Monday and they are currently bellering out in the corral. They are all weaned from momma and have been for awhile, but they are in a new and unfamiliar place so they feel the need to beller.

Emily stayed home yesterday and I took her to the doctor. Tonsilitis and and ear infection as well as allergies going beserk. She got some antibiotic and allergy pills to take and was good to go. Was a bit mad about missing school, but feels better today. Tomorrow I have to pull her out after lunch to go get her Gardisil shot. I didn't tell her how bad it is going to hurt.

I need to get some housecleaning done before we have a house full of people next week. The windows have seen better days and the dustbunnies have taken over in a few places. Still haven't gotten Emily moved back upstairs into her room yet either. New floor is done but haven't gotten a new door yet. Needs baseboards put up also but they may wait.

Well, off to conquer the clutter!

Hello sunshine!

2008-11-13T11:50:00.002-06:00

Can you believe that in 2 weeks we will all be sitting down with family and friends eating our little hearts out! Personally I cannot wait. I love Thanksgiving and all the lucious food! Yum to the turkey and stuffing and mashed taters and gravy and sweet tater casserole and warm rolls and pumpkin pie with LOTS of whipped topping. (Okay gotta stop, making my belly growl in hunger!)

So, I've been gearing up to do the Stories In Hand class over on JessicaSprague.com. I have my handy dandy little book all made and everything. I am really looking forward to seeing how to better tell my stories and how to draw out the memories that are hiding in my murky mind. I am thinking about making up some for both my mom and my mother-in-law as gifts. My mom used to write stories all the time but I don't think she has kept up with it in the past few years, and the "sparks" that we got may be just the ticket, and Carol knows just how important it is to leave behind memories for the future generations and I think she would enjoy it also.

Today we have some great temperatures and sunny weather after a bit of rain and what is promising to be a rather cold and possibly snowy weekend. I guess since it is the middle of November after all that it is to be expected.

Ali is doing a class on Big Picture that starts today and will be an instant download. I am counting down the minutes until it is up so that I can get it. The kit is ordered from Cocoa Daisy, and of course I choked a bit at the cost, but after adding up all the contents it was worth it to get it all at once. I got the November kit that Stacy Julian designed yesterday and can't wait to sit down with it and play. I think she was doing a class for it also and hopfully it will be posted today as well. Gotta love those creative ladies!

Well, Amber is on her way over and I feel the urge to play a little, so chow for now!

What to do on a Saturday?

2008-11-08T09:05:00.002-06:00

I am sure that there are plenty of things I need to do if I really put my mind to it, like clean or something just as boring. Will has a wedding to cater today so he will be gone, Tori has to work and Emily is @ the grandparents for the weekend, so I have this slightly dirty house all to myself. I have got projects laid out all over the place that are in various stages of completion and while I am alone today will be a great time to get some of them done and put away (hidden).

The Stories at Hand class with Jessica Sprague starts sometime today. Just waiting for the email on it and then I can get going on the binder for that class. She has promised some great stuff for it. I also have to finish week 5 and 6 of my design class. The real world color layouts have been piling up and I should be planning out the pictures to print for that.

Have you seen the new class that Ali is doing? She teamed up with Cocoa Daisy and BPS to do a Projects Plus class starting next week that is all about family gratitude and I am excited to do it. I ordered the kit yesterday and hopefully it and the November kit designed by Stacy Julian will all come in about the same time. Stacy has also put together a class for her kit. Can't wait to see it all. Just more stuff to do!

I joined an online swap group a couple of weeks ago, paperbackswap, and so far I have been able to get rid of 12 books that we no longer wanted and have recieved 3 of the ones I ordered from others. I found some for Emily that I will save for Christmas and some for Tori that were on her wish list. I also ordered one that sounded like it would be a really good mystery and it came yesterday so I can't wait to read it. I like the idea of not having to buy books is you can find them somewhere else, and having a family that reads constantly this is really the way to go for us. It only costs us shipping. Not bad.

Well, off to do a little something before I have to take Tori to work. Have a good weekend!

The Outcome

2008-11-05T17:24:00.002-06:00

Wow! What a day huh! I am not a real political person, I have some very strong views, and try to understand what it is that is going on, but pushing my opinion onto others is so not going to happen. Religion and Politics are two things I refuse to talk about with anyone because I refuse to get into it with anyone.

With that said I was a very proud American yesterday when I cast my vote for our next President of the United States. It isn't a job that can be taken lightly and is definitly not a job that I would want but kudos to those that take it with pride.

The one sad note with out current setup is that when there are people out there that want to make changes and get elected on their views and standings that once in office they hit a brick wall because they don't play the big dog games. Politics are a dirty, messy career choice and hopefully one day there will be the changes that allow every voice to be heard, not just those with money to burn.

Floorboards & Freedom

2008-11-04T08:04:00.002-06:00

What a combination huh! Well, it kinda is a long story but I will try to make is short. We live in an old farm house that originially was only a basement house. Sometime 60+ years ago a stick built home was added above the basement. It was only 4 rooms plus a really small bathroom, which was probably added as an afterthought from the layout.

Anywho, oak hardwood floors were put down thoughout, which I love. The last owners for whatever reason put down the ugliest linoleum flooring ON TOP OF THE HARDWOOD in the kitchen, bathroom and what we use as the computer room. Since moving in 12 years ago things have changed alot. New kitchen, somewhat new bathroom, no carpet in the living room and we just tore up the carpet in Emily's room only to discover that the lovely flooring underneath had been termited sometime in the last 60 years.

We thought we could salvage most of the floor and only replace a couple of boards, but I found out yesterday that the damage was worse than we thought and so the whole thing has been tore out. Now it is just a black, tar looking mess. Luckily we had planned on replacing the carpet in the computer room with laminate flooring and have enough to do Em's room. A little construction/deconstruction on the closet and we will be good to go. It always seems that projects in this house snow ball really fast. My advice, tear down old instead and replace with something else because you end up wishing you had in the long run.

Now on to the Freedom portion of this post. Today is a day that every eligible American needs to take advantage of. Voting is a right we enjoy in this country and this years election is crucial and historical. I proudly voted at 7am this morning. I am anxious to see what the outcome is tonight and will be glad that it will all be over (hopefully) tomorrow. I think that "who" you vote for is a personal and private thing, but the act of voting should be exercised by every eligible person.