All things Old and New

Cleaning the Oven and other stories....

2012-01-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I decided to self clean my oven....which is good. However, most ovens I've owned the only "self cleaning" I ever experienced was done by my own hands and elbow grease! Never the less, the idea of an oven cleaning itself is remarkable....Not to mention a lesser pain in my elbows. What I didn't count on was the flames! Yes that's right FLAMES!! Good thing I have a 1 year warranty on all major appliances in my home and I've only been in the house about 2 months.....
     So I called my mother in law to ask about the possibility of flames and is that normal? None of her ovens have ever been self cleaners : Strike 1. I called my Uncle Pat.....he just laughed : Strike 2

My last resort....my own mom. So I asked if that was normal...flames and such? Her reaction: OH MY GOD....DIDN'T YOU READ THE INSTRUCTIONS??? OR THE OWNERS MANUAL?? Really, mom do you have to shout? I haven't even had my first cup of coffee yet, and my ears are ringing. Then I started laughing, because it was hilarious listening to my dad in the background freaking out a bit....wondering if we had to use the fire extinguisher? C'mon dad, I'm not that horrible of a cook! I was trying to avoid using the "self- cleaner" part and just use oven cleaner. Unfortunately, I didn't get all of the cleaner off the surface before I turned on the oven so the flames weren't huge but it would have roasted a marshmallow quite sufficiently! Of course, the marshmallow would taste a bit like chemicals.....but still very satisfying.

*    So my other story, as you know I've been training for my other job. I still do hair once a week in Grants Pass on Fridays but after a few more steady paychecks I might just call the salon quits. Not because I don't want to do hair, but if I'm driving one day and not enough clients what's the point of wasting fuel for 2 clients once a week? Does not compute.....

  *   Thursday at work, the boss man comes in looks me in the eye and says," Well young lady I believe you need some shirts to work for me." Of course I'm wearing a long sleeved shirt, so don't think I'm standing there nekked; and I'm kinda stunned at this point. He proceeds to tell me that I need work shirts with his logo on them for my shifts when I come to work. I felt like "Dobby" from Harry Potter......I got CLOTHES!!! WHICH MEANS ~ THEY'RE KEEPING ME!

I'm pretty sure my eyes welled up with some moisture....poor boss man thought I was going to cry!
The best part......He told me that he was very pleased that I caught on so quickly, in fact he told me that I was one of the quickest learners they'd ever hired that he'd be nuts not to keep me on the payroll! And my response...................... I got shirts!!!!!!!!

Kicking Butt and Taking Names

2012-01-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't posted in awhile...
I actually have a great excuse for it too! I got a job to help with the household expenses; Left brain and I talked it over and decided it would be good for me to have a part time job.
I started training last Saturday; my hours vary and the staff are very helpful, hilarious in their own ways and downright homey. They've given me various shifts to see what might throw me off or bug me. So far the only thing that bugged me today was a guy who came in and bought a carton of worms! I couldn't find the button on the cash register and it flustered me. Then as if that weren't hilarious enough....my supervisor who was there to help me along bent over to get some change from the box and I opened my register drawer and beaned her in the head! After that, the words to her songs got a bit different than I remember the song to be but hey...to each their own.
Never the less, I enjoy all the folks who've been training me, each of them have a different method to their own madness which helps me to know I'm not such a strange duck afterall!

Water anyone??

2012-01-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

Lately I've noticed some strange things;

and I'm warning you now if you're afraid to discuss

female bodily functions perhaps you should steer away

from this blog.

Yes, I'm gonna talk about something that happens to our bodies,

No it's not the bowels I'm talking about.....

It's the "P" word.

That's right, the Pee Pee word.

I don't know about most women but I've had the discussion with

both of my doctors; one a general practioner and the other a female specialist.

It's about the strangest discussion I've had in awhile

but somehow, my GP and I got on the subject of bladder control.

I asked him what causes this peculiar incident and he says

"usually a woman who has birthed more than 2 children,

carried them low or what not has this problem."

I'm calling the BS card on that one.

You got girls! We wet our "willies" without any warning!

Dr. chalked it up to carrying too much weight around.....

hello have you seen me lately?

I'm a healthy & comfortable size 10 and depending on how the pants are cut

maybe a nice 8...but that's pushing it!

So here's my scenario;

I sit down I tinkle,

I stand up....tinkle.

Laugh out loud?

Make sure my legs are crossed,

and don't even think I could snort out loud;

it would be the flood gates!

Yes, I stopped with the caffeine....

can't drink Coke products anymore tears me tummy up.

Water...you ask?

Oh yeah, like Amel the Camel with 13 humps

and an unending supply to water!

So the next time you see me

and my legs are crossed and I'm standing up.....

you will know!

No Resolutions Here.....

2012-01-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

Here we are 3 days into the New Year

and already I have no resolutions made;

which could be a good thing?

Each year, I resolve to do different things.

One year I chose to keep my desk tidy, which was a good idea

but at the time my 8 year old daughter thought

that the neatness did not apply to her.

Another year I decided to be ruthless and toss out any clothing

I hadn't worn in 2 years.

Yeah, I'm still searching for that beautiful silk cream sweater;

and what's worse? I found it the other day on an old colleague of my folks

who used to work in real estate with them!

Somehow, I think my mom got a little too gung ho in helping me

clean out my closets.

I've gotten better at NOT making resolutions;

so each year, I decide to help others rather than drive myself bonkers.

So far, I've managed to annoy my uncle Pat with worn out Christmas songs,

annoying ringtones and popping my gum within earshot of him.

Afterall, what good is family if you can't drive 'em all nuts?

Merry Christmas from Oregon

2011-12-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

This was the best photo I could find; for wishing everyone in Blog Land a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!

2011-12-08T16:29:00.001-08:00

I've been seeing this sign a lot around town; which leads me to believing that Christmas is not too far off! Some of my fondest memories of Christmas happen to include a 2lbs box of See's Candies.....my favorite being the maple bourdeaux!

Saying Goodbye

2011-12-05T19:54:00.001-08:00

It seems we are saying goodbye again to one of Left Brain's

old friends from school.

We attended a funeral today,

and I don't know about you and any traditions your family might

have but this group of people

took pictures at the funeral.

I'm sure it was because some of them had lost touch with

each other,

maybe they also updated their emails, phone numbers and twitter accounts?

It just creeps me out that there were photos taken,

not just of friends and family but of the deceased

and the ceremony.

Later, after the ceremony, funny attributes in this young man's

life from friends and family;

we all wrote on helium balloons to be released

when they rolled his casket

into the courtyard

at the church.

Left Brain tried his hardest to introduce me

to former classmates whom I only know through

facebook,

and some I recognized and others I've known for a few years.

I think the hardest part is knowing this young man was only 32

and left behind 5 children who reside with their mother

in Arkansas;

his mother has a limited income

and will struggle to pay for his final costs.

Afterall, at 32 what adult thinks his life will end at such a young age?

Nobody has their life together that young unless

you were raised knowing that

you might someday pass from complications

or living a risky life.

Rest in peace, Jason McClanahan

for you are another guardian angel

sent to watch over us

until we meet again.

Big girl panties

2011-11-30T12:24:00.001-08:00

Little by little, the boxes are being unpacked.

Stuff is being sorted into 3 piles;

keep, give, dump!

So far, the give and dump piles are bigger

than the keep pile.

And that my friends is a good thing!

Now my big flub, is figuring out what the heck I did

to my computer and pinter fiasco!

Apparently, I have two printers.

One came with my new computer

and I just now have hooked it up.....

The crappy part is that it's not very compatible with my Windows 7

computer!

This is why I always stick with HP equipment....

Less hassle and compatibility with almost everything;

while Epson makes great stuff....

I'm still trying to figure out WHY.....WHY CRUEL PRINTER?????

A Thankful Home

2011-11-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

The dining room table is all set for dinner,

The kitchen is brewing up some yummy food.

The game is on; Green Bay Packers & Detroit Lions.....we're rooting for the Lions.

The master bedroom with the bed made, and Tessie's night time crate which we don't use.

The guest bathroom,

and the vanity below.

We have a Thankful Home for certain.

A Home of Our Own.....part 2

2011-11-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

I feel an update is necessary as it's only matter of a mere 1 weekend

before we are able to officially move in

to our new home.

The neighbor lady whom I refer

to as the "night walker"

she works the night shift at who knows where?

She really doesn't like us at the moment,

since all of the construction happens

DURING THE DAY.

However, an inspection was performed

yesterday and given the go-ahead

we had a phone call this morning,

and the interior contractor

will be working this whole week and is

shooting for either this Friday or next Monday

to be finished.

When that happens, we will have a "walk through" and sign off

on the work and be given our keys to our home.

Which we will then do a "Happy Dance"

and start the process of

M O V I N G !!!!

In the meantime, if you hear a woman's voice

screaming from the stress......

THAT WOULD BE ME!!

Bandon by the Sea

2011-11-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

The second weekend in October is Women's Fall Retreat through our church at Trail Christian Fellowship. This was my first time going and I enjoyed it immensely! We have 2 and a half days of fellowship and classes, and wonderful speakers as well as the best food, desserts and friendship.
Since, I am a snap happy camera loving fool, I took some pictures from around the retreat and some downtown scenery as well. Above are my favorite succulents: Hens & Chicks! I absolutely love them and they grow anywhere. Next are vibrant azaleas such beauty after a drizzling rain.

Ah Mr. Seahorse or is that Mrs.? I later learned that seahorses are neither male/female so if someone knows better about this than I do; please correct me in a comment.

A close up view of how handsome and how much carving went into creating this statue. Boy does it smell good too. Don't know what they used to seal the wood with...But I could smell him all day!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

A Home of Our Own

2011-11-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, at approximately 3:25 pm our new home arrived at

3750 Avenue G, #11 White City, Oregon. It's been a long awaited dream to have a home of our own. Especially the fact that Miss Tessie will have her very own yard to patrol and keep the stray cats at bay.

Above, you see the first half of our home which is the back side.

This is the front half of the home and trust me I peeked into every single window!

And in the fore ground is my mother in law whom I affectionately call "Junebugg" she's the red head and a sweetheart, in the middle is my hubby Left Brain,a.k.a. Dodgeman. The blonde headed one is my own mom who is the owner of "Stump" (the short left big toe). Temporarily set on the lot is our new Palm Harbor Home The Bayview II.
It looks different now, it's all buttoned up, the electrical is hooked up thanks to my dad. Now all we need is skirting, stairs and fencing and A LOT OF PATIENCE!!!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Tessie

2011-10-25T22:18:00.000-07:00

This is a normal view of Tessie; she would be in my arms all the time if she could. But alas, this is the look I get when I say the words, " Ready to go bye bye?" The tail starts goin 100mph and the talking begins to say, " C'mon mom let's Gooooooooooo!"

Frazzled...........

2011-10-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

My bookcase is empty now...along with the entertainment center to the left.

In anticipation of moving to a new location; 30 day notice already given....mght have jumped the gun on that one!

Boxes stacked and still more to be packed, not to mention the steam cleaning of the carpets and all the drawers, floors and closets....the list goes on!

My daughter's room...notice the chair in the background? That is her Royal Hiney's chair : Tessie to be exact. Her little world has been turned upside down...

And the frazzled look on my face amid all the boxes, newspapers for packing, and thru it all I managed to get my hair done, and make cookies for Left Brain's lunches. Our official "moving date" hasn't been set....the house arrives on the 24th....and set up begins on the 25th of this month. Anyone live close enough to help me pack???

I can see up your nose.......

2011-10-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you turn the macro on and you're trying to focus the camera and the dog won't stay still much less cooperate; and no matter how hard you try you still find it funny and you post it anyway. Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

Wanderings

2011-09-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

The other evening I was out at my mother in law's house whom I refer to as Junebugg; and I noticed that the moon was coming up thru the clouds and smoke left over from a fire. So being the shutterbug that I am, I unlocked the pick up and grabbed my camera.

This is the best one out of the 4 that I took; and yeah LeftBrain said it looked like the Sun.....but he wasn't there when I took it! I hope you enjoy the photo.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-07:00

Chillaxin'

2011-09-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

And just when you thought you might need warmer clothing.....the weather turns warm again!

Cooling Weather

2011-09-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

When I woke this morning, I found clouds. I also felt the coolness of the morning air crisp upon my face and neck, and wondering if I should head to the barn and locate my warmer clothes. Not long ago we were experiencing warm weather, along with unseasonably warm winds, days and nights that did not drop down from 62 at night.

Now I don't know about my readers, but I prefer a cooler room in which to sleep at night. It makes for a more comfortable sleep; which is what I'm lacking right now.
I look forward to cooler days, and golden sunsets and the first harvest moon.

The feeling of a new day washed clean from an overnight rain, the smell of mulling cider steeping in the teapot and wearing a favorite long sleeved shirt to chase the chill from my arms. The prospect of seeing old friendships renewed again with a simple phone call or a good cup of coffee.

Autumn is my favorite time of year.

Rodeo Rags

2011-09-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

I can understand how most gals would want to look good for the rodeo; heck I even tried to brush off as much barn dust as possible! But, there are certain things a person might want to take into consideration......namely how tight are my jeans? Will I be able to sit, walk or drive comfortably in said pair of jeans???

When I walk by folks are they going to think my jeans are a pretty color or will they wonder how I even got the jeans on?? I can attest that this gal never took these things into consideration because all night long she stood! I never once saw her sit down......well not comfortably anyway. And watching her walk was almost comical; because I'm pretty sure she couldn't even stand upright.

These days I'm glad that I've grown used to my body shape and the jeans I will never wear again even for the sake of fashion.

Road Trip Part 2

2011-09-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

We went to Nevada to visit friends; on our way home we found these little guys & gals grazing just off the road side. They held still long enough to take a couple of pictures.. I just love the ears on the middle one.

Then further down the road in Oregon we found range cows; the bronze colored one she had a belly full of flies following her as she walked down the road. But as much as I tried to sweet talk her over for a pretzel she just kept walking. The guyin the last picture decided it was safer to stay on the side of the road and pretzels be danged; he wasn't having none of it! Maybe if I had offered water he would have come closer. Needless to say, we had a great time and enjoyed our visit. Now we are looking forward to another visit....perhaps in the spring when the salmon are running.

Heading South

2011-09-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time of year for the Dodgeman and I to head south and hoping to find these little gems standing around the road sides and in the road so I can take their pictures. I'm pretty sure none of them will be flaring their nostrils at me like Alan would over at The 7MSN; but one can't help the fact that these little guys and gals are just too cute not to fawn over!! Ah Labor Day weekend......so looking forward to it.

Storm Watch

2011-08-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

While on vacation this summer on South Lake Manistique which is located in the U.P. of Michigan; we rented a cabin. This is how your typical day begins; you have sunshine and cool morning breezes.

Then about 2 to 3 p.m. the clouds start moving in and the humidity shows up.....subtle at first then the breeze slows down and everything gets "sticky" with moisture. You have two sides of your brain......the left brain and the right brain; the "left brain" says stay outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine when you can find it.....regardless that there is thunder and lightning because after all you are sitting on a wood deck in an alumium chair......no harm there eh?

The "right brain" is telling you.......get in the house! Go downstairs where it's cool to get away from the humidity.....which you really can't because it's EVERYWHERE and continue to read your book. You can still listen to the thunder and enjoy the lightning but without worrying for your safety! And where do you suppose "the left brain" was during all this thunder and lightning? He was on the water with my dad fishing with graphite poles and thinking "this too shall pass." It didn't and they were forced to come in to the cabin, but first they had to cover the boat amid a few very close lightning strikes that struck near the shore! At which point, my mom hollered on the 2 way radio to get their "a$$es off that metal dock and get in here!" Ahhhh, family vacations..............

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Summer Clouds

2011-08-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is what people would call Big Sky Country; but at the time of traveling through Montana.....all we could see were clouds. And I'm a sucker for looking at the sky, so I had the chance to snap a few photos of the clouds. Unfortunately, I think the pictures do not do justice to what I actually saw.

There are parts of the clouds that look like you could reach out and touch them, they just floated along right beside you. I know we were traveling at around 65mph and the clouds were moving faster than us. Nature is so awesome in open country.

What's in the Bins?

2011-08-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

So aside from the "nose prints" courtesy of Tessie the Border Collie; I bet you're wondering what's in the cargo bins? Well, I wondered that myself for the 4 1/2 days driving back east.....because that's all we saw in the rail road cars. Then it hit me! Roll down the window and look beyond the nose prints. Guess what I discovered; COAL.....there are hundreds of coal mines across nothern Washington, Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota. And everytime I saw a train which was just about every 45 minutes to an hour; there would be 50+ cars with four engines, two in front pulling and two in back pushing the heavy cars to their destination. We never smelled any foul air that might be associated with mines, just lots of trains and lots of coal.

Summer Scenery 2011

2011-08-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

One of the recreation places along the Columbia Gorge which runs along the Oregon & Washington border.

Clouds that were heavy with rain; never realizing how much you love where you live and the cool rains that come in the Summer until you experience......rain and humidity and high temps at the same time!!!

The Columbia River flowing freely alongside of us. It was a great uneventful trip and it was cool to see other parts of the country; but we really missed being at home.

North Dakota Badlands

2011-07-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

This was a view from the Theodore Roosevelt National Forest; we stopped for lunch and hoped to see some buffalo as well. We spotted some but they were way too far out to photograph. We stopped on our way back home and still couldn't find them. But the scenery was just too beautiful not to share!

Back from Vacation

2011-07-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

We made it back from our vacation with no problems

my legs still jangle a bit from the vibrations of the road.

The important part is we got to see my sister and her daughter,

fish to my hubby's hearts content and relax the days away.

I wanted to work on my tan but the rain and thunder

prevented us from enjoying the deck. We discovered that the best time

to take a shower is very early in the morning or late at night

otherwise the humidity wouldn't allow you to dry off properly.

I'm still trying to sort out all the pictures all 211 of them!

So when I figure out the complexities of my computer then

I will post some of my favorites; including the pictures of the storm that

hit and knocked out our power in the middle of the night.

Until then, I have a massive amount of laundry to catch up on

and get some rest before I return to work.

Post 4th of July

2011-07-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

I could show you some really awful pictures that my digital camera refused to cooperate with; but no I just wanted to tell you that the Dodgeman and I had a wonderful 4th of July with family and friends. My cell phone took better pictures! I think it's time to invest in a better camera; to say the least.

In the meantime, the DodgeMan and I are taking off on a much needed vacation as we drive cross country with my folks following them and their boat and Danny "the dang dog". I call him that because he's just too smart for his own good.....which implies that if he does something it usually results in my dad saying, "Danny, you damn dog." He's pretty ornery, and my mom wants to know if we'd give them a break while driving cross country and let him ride in our car? Yeah.....right. Actually, I raised that dog from a pup and yeah he's too big to sit in my lap so I'd let him ride in my car and shed all over my clean clothes and slobber on my seats. What surrogate mom wouldn't do that for her dog faced boy?? The picture above was taken when Danny was just a pup; and easy to keep in line. Now? Not so much!

Menopause in Action

2011-06-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

So the other day, I was heating up something on the stove. Positive I turned on the front burner...... Judging from the stove top covers I bet you can't guess which burner I turned on?

This folks is menopause in action! Not only am I forgetful, but I've also got a case of the dizzy spells and fatigue to match. Last week, I thought I was pregnant; turns out it's the change! But at least I know that if I forget something I have a reason to figure out why; which is better that putting a baby down and forgetting where you put it and then wating for it to cry to find it again! So the "change" isn't exacty what I bargained for but we all go thru it and I guess this is another chapter in my life t experience with mucho gusto!

Father's Day

2011-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

As you can see in the background, the man holding the fish is my dad. Not only did he bait the line for me.......because I think worms are icky; but he also helped me net the fish and hold it while the Dodgeman took our picture. My dad doesn't really like his picture taken, I've yet to meet a man who does? So we snap pictures when we know he isn't looking. So far, I have maybe a dozen photos of him. I aim this summer to take many more because as a daughter you should have oodles of photos of the man who is you father, daddy and best friend for advice, a shoulder to cry on and whip once in awhile for fishing, poker and any lawn game possible.

2011-06-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

I found this at the park where we staged Dodgeman's brother and his wife's vow renewal
last Saturday. It was part of the"dedication rock wall" and it was too beautiful not to share.
It was also the day we were supposed to meet the little boy we were considering to adopt; which is something that the Dodgeman and I feel he needs a home where the family specializes in "Special Needs" for children. We sadly are not equipped with the knowledge and medical background for such a child. For now we are enjoying our "retirement from teenagers" as my daughter ElectricGirl has graduated from high school and all the B.S. that came from her stepmother will now cease to bother me here on out. My daughter is 18 now and her dreams and aspirations are the important things in her life........

Giving Thanks to Those that Serve

2011-05-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

I Am Lost......

2011-05-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

I am lost as a person; I have lost my zest for doing hair. I never thought there would come a day when I would start to question my knowledge of hair, the chemicals used to process the hair and knowing what levels of developer in order to achieve the color desired!
Years ago, while working in another salon I took some time off. When I returned to my job, I walked into the salon and burst into tears....I knew I couldn't work there any longer for whatever reason. I still enjoyed my co workers, the company I kept after hours; I just couldn't do the long commute and missing time with my daughter.
Here I am ten years later, and I'm burning my candle at both ends. I'm missing my daughter, she turns 18 on Saturday; she's moving out into the world and spreading her wings. The more I think about her turning 18 the more I remember being 18 and wanting to conquer the world and believing I could. Its too scary for me to think about being in her shoes and spreading my wings in this day and age. I worry about her in so many ways; she's still a bit naive in some ways and in others maybe a bit more worldly than I was at the same age.
I know I need to turn loose of the apron strings but I want her to know how much I love her no matter what she may or may not do; whether she disappoints her dad and I or not....we will still love her come what may. In the meantime, I have cut my days back at the salon to just one day. I'm also going on a road trip with my folks in July; for which I'm taking the entire month off. I am praying that this time I am taking wth my folks and husband will be the breath of life I need the most to find my old self again.

Yard Sale Complete

2011-05-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

Well we survived our yard sale!

We sold my daughter's bunk bed/futon;

my parents put their above ground pool in the sale

that too sold quickly. I sold several of my mechanical hackamores,

a few sets of spurs and a few other miscellaneous

leather pieces that would accomodate a multitude

of saddles.

I think my favorite part of the sale was closing time on Saturday;

as I was dang tired.

Did I mention to you that I went to the clinic

on Friday to see the doctor for a head cold that

became much more than the sniffles?

No? I didn't menton that....well it turned out that I caught it before

it became a lot worse. The funny thing is the Dodgeman and I had the

same thing!! To make matters worse, we spent all day Saturday and Sunday

taking turns blowing our noses out behind the barn!!

So now we are on the mend; the last of our antibiotics

have been taken and we still are going through kleenex left and right.

The important thing is WE SURVIVED THE YARD SALE!!!

Still Prepping...

2011-05-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is our last day to prep for the Yard Sale on Saturday and Sunday. My daughter ElectricGirl purged her closets of quite a few things; and was sentimental about a few stuffed animals that had found their way into the "kids" box. She immediately picked out four or five stuffed animals and mementos of her childhood....a soft yellow rabbit for Easter one year, and several teddy bears and a coin purse filled with polished rocks.
I found a couple of shorts sets that my mom had bought her for summer when she was 4 years old, one was yellow and pink and the other was purple. Both of them had Tarzan and Jane on them; of course I have a friend who has a set of twin girls so those will go to them for their birthday next weekend. Still going through a ton of stuff, mostly things hidden away in closets held onto for way too many years. Some from my first fiasco of a marriage!!
My daughter has decided she wants to keep her twin/full futon bunkbed and asked us not to sell it. Her dad DodgeMan and I have other ideas; like not having to arrange the bedroom around the bed. Or the fact that we won't have something to pile excess blankets and pillows on and wonder where did something disappear and how come we didn't look there?? But most of all, the idea that I can put my computer desk in the back room and make it a proper office to do my research on family geneaology.
We also made a "pact" with each other that whatever doesn't sell is going to charity....we are not storing it any longer! And that my friends is why as people we spend our entire lives "collecting" things only to turn around one day and say, "I have to sell some of this stuff!"

Time to Purge.. and Drown

2011-05-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Folks its that time of year again....the purging of our closets, homes and memories. You know what I'm saying.......Yard Sales!!!
And we hit the yard sales rain or shine.....Drown or Roast? It's all about the "die hards" those who scour the newspapers, want ads and word of mouth. Its not what you know but rather who you know that gets you happy and drooly about what you might find at those sales?
Several years ago, the Dodgeman and I went to a yard sale/estate sale and found a hand woven wool Navajo rug that had no tags on it to say who and where it was made (that's what you look for) and bought it for $45!!!! If I chose to have it appraised.....I'm sure it'd be worth a lot more than $45....maybe closer to $4500.00?

The idea of selling it is not applicable; we bought it before we were married and trying to add to our collection of furnishings. To sell would be to disown our early years....and I know that someday we will be in a house where we'll need the rug again to either hang on the wall or lay on the floor.

So this weekend, mom and the Dodgeman and I are ridding our closets, home and memories of some much needed "stuff" and having a yard sale. If you don't hear from me for awhile.....you need to know that preparing for a yard sale is NOT for Sissies!!!

Stay Tuned.....part 2

2011-05-10T21:15:00.000-07:00

Here I am again....

writing my little heart out

wondering still what the heck is wrong with my

computer keyboard?

I do know that hopefully, by tomorrow

I will be liking my hair better.

I have found a new liking for.....carrot chips!

Carrot chips are already sliced

fresh carrots in the produce section;

I can eat the WHOLE BAG in one sitting!

They are better for me in several ways;

1. They aren't fattening 2.They have fiber in them

something I don't get enough of these days.

3. They're good for me and you!

My clothes are fitting better;

I have realized that I'm still slender but in a more womanly way.

A size 12 jeans is not considered "fat"but rather, my favorite: curvy!

I still want to run away; but for reasons like I need a vacation and soon.

I have hit the "wall" as a friend so eloquently

described my feelings and my mental health is so important in everything I do.

There are day I still want to stay in bed like ALL DAY!! But that is non productive, so I focus on the laundry which I think is breeding overnight just to mock me! But I will get even with the laundry; and it will all come out in the end! There are still lots of parts to my decisions and I'm not done yet.

Stay Tuned.....

2011-05-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling like a train wreck today; I don't like my clothes, or my hair

and I'm having issues with my computer key board!

To top it all off.....

I WANT TO RUN AWAY.....

FAR AWAY!!

Somewhere that no one knows my name;

where I have no responsibilities,

no job drama, and can comb the beach any time day or night.

And when I come back from this place of rest

and respite I can decide if I want to quit my job,

stay at home....sell Avon....or sell designer purses!

At this point in time....

I am not making any rash decisions.

I recognize that I am....

B U R N E D O U T!!!!!

As to what happens next...

well, stay tuned to find out more!!

Fist Fighting on Easter Day

2011-04-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, the fist fight didn't break out between

the Dodgeman and I.

It broke out after we all had full tummies

and our friends who have twin 4 year olds

were in their bedroom playing

with a 9 yr old girl.

Apparently, the 9yr old has some emotional issues

an after a few sugary cupcakes she got

it in her head that it was okay for an older girl to take a whack

at a 4 year old girl.

She popped the one twin in the left eye

and blacked it pretty good; thank goodness

her twin decided it was important to come tell mom and dad!!

Well I can honestly say that the 9 yr old and her momma

decided it might be a good idea to go home

after a fiasco like that.

The rest of the adults played very nicely,

and no else suffered any black eyes.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-04-13T21:18:00.001-07:00

Dieting anyone?

2011-04-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

My momma says I'm fat; and I kinda am but its because I think I might be starving? So when I'm finished eating my food and before my brother gets to the doggie dish, I eat the dog's food! I know I shouldn't but my momma put me on a special diet and so far it hasn't worked. I can still clean my belly, my toes and my brothers ears. When I was skinny you could see my two bald "boobies", but now that I'm bigger the hair has covered them. I'm still cute and cuddly but with a lot "more" of me to love.

Life and other atrocities....

2011-03-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Almost 18 years ago, I gave birth to this little cutie! She's my pride and joy, we've had some rough patches here and there but I wouldn't change a thing.

Motherhood is a job, more than most people would admit; and it's a difficult job when you are divorced from a former spouse.
It becomes heart wrenching when your former spouse's current wife likes to leave comments on Facebook and other places touting "her daughter's" talents and she didn't even give birth to her!!

I know because this is what I deal with on a daily basis. My daughter comes to visit a bit more regularly than she used to; she tells me of her troubles, her triumphs and her friends. She doesn't try to hide who she is or crazy things she might have been thinking of doing.

Now as my daughter nears her 18th birthday, its as though the step mother really needs to dig in those claws and let me know that I may not have been there all the time. And although I gave birth to her she forgets one important thing: I AM my daughters mother, 1st, LAST AND ALWAYS!!

Out with the Cold.....Er, Old!!!

2011-03-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

The strange smells that greet me each day

when I open my front door from being

in the fresh outdoors!!

Egads....

is that leftover from dinner 2 nights ago,

Or is it my hubby's shoes.

Perhaps its what my neighbors have been cooking;

afterall, we live in a four plex and odors have a

way of travelling around.

No I think to myself...

its time for

S P R I N G C L E A N I N G!!!!!

That wonderful feeling you get

from scrubbing your fingers to the bone;

the feeling of erasing your fingertips for a short while

if you're unable to find rubber gloves.

And all the while of my cleaning, in the corner of my eye

I spot my other half asleep in the recliner

and I have half a mind to tip him over!!

Why you ask me;

because......I can!!!!

Wordless Wednesdays

2011-03-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Big Girl Panties

2011-03-08T16:32:00.000-08:00

So sometime last week, I was approached by a relative

and asked if I would color her hair.

At first, I said yes as it would be a way to showcase

my ability to do "cutting edge" color.

The more I thought about it and how much it would cost

to stock up on these colors and knowing

that she would not have the money to pay full price

I offered to do the service for half the cost.

And how did that go you ask?

Well, as of today and maybe I should mention that the relative

is only 16 or 17 years old; is now on the warpath of "punting"

fake people out of her life....me included!

Apparently, her boyfriend is "telling" her

that whoever came over last Saturday evening

was also talking about her behind her back?

I know for a fact, since I was there; that we were not talking about her....

we were talking about teenagers in general;

and remembering what it was like to be a teenager back when

and how we really had to mind our p's and q's!!!

So looking back at when I was a teenager, I sure did have it good!

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to be a teenager now

unless I could wear my BIG GIRL PANTIES all the time!!!

Icing on the Cake

2011-02-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

This past week was rather busy, and Friday afternoon was the icing on the cake! I have an elderly client who doesn't drive and to make it to her hair appointments I pick her up and a family member gets her home.
Well it all started like this: I have a co-worker whose car is in the shop, and I picked her and her two little ones up to take them to day care/pre school. Along the way I also picked up "Mrs. B" my client; we got a bit of a late start because the little ones were being cantankerous and it was early in the morning. By the time we got to the salon we were running late and I busted my hiney to get her wrapped for her perm.
The perm went off without a hitch. No problems thank goodness and I provided a couple of cookies and some hot apple cider for Mrs. B; her daughter called to see how much longer and was extremely RUDE to my co-worker on the phone. 45 minutes go by Mrs.B is under the dryer and the daughter comes storming in and proceeds to yell AT HER MOTHER IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE SALON!!! Was I upset? you bet!! Was I defensive in Mrs.B's circumstance...of course!! I was absolutely LIVID that her daughter acted like that in the salon and lashing into her mother as well.
What did I do you ask? I waited until the daughter and Mrs.B were out of the salon door BEFORE I let the hairbrush I was holding fly across the room!! I have to admit I felt a lot better after having said a few choice words under my breath and throwing the brush.
Maybe the next time the daughter comes in she'll remember her p's and q's because I refuse to let someone talk to her mother like that.

Waiting for Snow.

2011-02-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

Waiting for Snow

Days spent watching the skies,

wondering which way the snow pattern will fall.

Turning up the heat to ward off the cold,

turning it down so as to avoid "hot flashes" in the middle of the night!

Cussing Mother Nature for being

a mean old woman,

giving us a hint of Spring only to have snow

for the next three days and snarling traffic.

Seeing people who should NOT

be paring down their wardrobe so soon;

and wondering to myself : do they own mirrors from the waist down?

VisitorMap.org

2011-02-16T12:07:00.001-08:00

Get a FREE visitor map for your site!

Dem Bones

2011-02-13T21:29:00.000-08:00

Dem Bones dem old cracklin bones!

Ever wonder how people told when a storm

was on the way? Yeah me too.

I have an idea though it may seem strange,

old timers who were riddled with arthritis

would tell folks "a storm was a comin" because their bones or joints hurt.

Well, I have a bone that does that too.

* * * *

Now don't laugh, cause it really is a

weather predictor for me anyway and it's never been wrong!

My left big toe has a bunion on it, matter of fact my right one does too

but the left one...starts to throb and burn when a storm is on the way.

It does not matter if it's a winter or summer storm;

to the toe it's a STORM!

All I know is that before the storm hits

all kinds of pain starts coursing through the toe.

I once asked my mom if her toe "Stump" got

any pain in it prior to having the joint replaced?

She said "Stump" before surgery was quite painful

and afterwards no pain!

No pain means my toe is now the family weather vane;

or perhaps I should nickname it "The Weather Pain"?

Either way, I always consult my toe

prior to looking at the weather forecast.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-02-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

Reflecting on Mondays

2011-02-08T16:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a "boo hoo" kind of day.

I woke up feeling pretty good, the next thing I knew

I was sitting on the side of my bed bawling my eyes out!

I have this habit of worrying about the things to come

rather than focusing on the present. Bad idea on my part.

Obviously, if I'm bawling in my room; but here's the facts:

My daughter will turn 18 in May, yeah it's still a ways off

but it matters to me.

She doesn't visit me that much since she's busy with her friends

and I miss the conversations we used to have.

I call a couple of times a week,

but there is only so much one person can do

before it becomes too old.

If I remember correctly, it takes two to tango

and she isn't dialing my number very often.

I'm also suffering from "empty nest" syndrome.

Yeah I know I'm too young, when I got married 3 years ago

I had hoped that my daughter would be over more often?

No such luck, now I have a second bedroom that

the Chihuahua has pretty much claimed as her own room.

Her toys are in there as well as her bed

and her favorite sunshine spot too.

Now, I've decided to sell the massive bunk bed/futon

and put some extra shelving in and rearrange the sparse

furniture we do have and make it a "game/man cave room".

* * * *

Then again, I might just put the desk and computer

in there and the shelving to give me more linen closet storage.

2011-02-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

This is the result of an over eager dog who loves her momma so much! It's very difficult to talk on the phone when the "licking" commences; have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-01-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

Saying Goodbye..again.

2011-01-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here I am saying goodbye to two wonderful

people who made a difference in my life, again.

My dear sweet Uncle Ralph died last Monday from a heart attack

he was 80 years old.

He grew up in New Mexico

and somewhere in his young adulthood while working

in the logging business while he was unloading some logs the chain broke and all the logs rolled off the truck and crushed him. The doctors gave him no hope and told his wife to prepare a place in the family cemetary. She chose prayer and gathered the family around them. One year spent in the hospital, he goes home to a long recovery. I met him in the summer of 1990, a year before I married for the first time. He was a character, asked me a lot of questions: he loved to give a good ribbing, and I loved him for who he was and how he treated me. His wife Ila preceeded him in death as did his second wife Betty; now he'll have his hands full when he gets to Heaven with two wives waiting for him there.

My aunt Grace also passed from a long bout of cancer; she was 82. She had a true pioneer spirit regardless of the era of which she was born. The town in which she resided in called her the "unofficial" mayor; she always had an answer to problems and if she was unable to give a quick answer...well you could always sit down and help her solve a jigsaw puzzle. The teapot was always hot, the company was true and worthwhile. I had the priveledge of calling her not only my "aunt" but also my friend. She lived in the same house in which her father homesteaded some 80 years ago, raised her children in that house and welcomed all who crossed the threshold. I met her in the winter of '92 and stayed at her house for over 2 weeks in which we made an impression upon each other. I returned later to visit after being divorced, and enjoyed my visit tremendously. I'm going to miss both my aunt and uncle; knowing that someday when it's my turn to say goodbye I know I will see them young and healthy and I will embrace them whole heartedly.

The Conclusion......

2011-01-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

Well, we know the conclusion;

Oregon didn't win.

But those of you who rooted so loud

just like the Dodgeman and I

watching the air turn blue

from the swear words

it was a very close game and Oregon almost had it!!!!

So what was the defining moment in my eyes?

When several Auburn players came forward on the field

and told the Ducks what an awesome game they played,

that what a challenge the whole game was for them.

That ladies and gentlemen is the sign of true sportsmanship!

Because if you think about it, it is the love of the game

that attracts Dodgeman and I to college football.

The fact that these kids are not being paid to play.

They are doing it in hopes of someday "being paid the big bucks"

and getting discovered by the big leagues.
GREAT JOB DUCKS!!!!

Oh the Great Big "O".

2011-01-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

Will they or won't they?

That is the question

for tonight!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's

answer!!!!

Second Chance Mom

2011-01-06T19:22:00.000-08:00

I've been helping a friend out these past few weeks. She's currently without transportation to take her son and daughter to pre-school/day care.
I've learned that it IS possible to be in 3 places at once and when you get a set schedule down you find that on your days off you still miss hearing little voices in the back seat!
This morning after picking up the "bebe's" the youngest one I'll call Brubber, decided that he wanted to hear music. Calmly he removed his "barry" aka binky and said very plainly, "Radio". I turned on the radio without missing a beat and we proceeded to the stop sign. When we got to the sign all of us turned around and looked at Brubber realizing what he had said 2 minutes earlier with complete shock on our faces.
He just smiled at us like nothing happened.
His sister is 4 and I call her Precocious; because she is. She is the most talkative 4 year old I have ever met aside from my own niece! Very rambunctious too.
She has a tendency to interrupt her mom (typical) when we adults are talking; so I've taught her to say "Excuse me Mom" when she wants her mom's attention. The funny thing is that when she says that, she does get her mom's undivided attention. Now she thinks that she came up with that all on her own!
I am finding that I enjoy doing the carpooling to day care/school and picking them up in the morning. Guess you could say I'm getting a "Second Chance" at being a "surrogate mom" so to speak.

January 2011

2011-01-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

Five days into January, and I've fallen behind in my blogging.....

What a way to start the new year!

So far, I've had my nails done and I've changed the color of my hair.

My daughter turns 18 this May, and graduates from high school;

I am not ready for her to travel the long road to another city or state to attend college.

However,I am ready for her to join the working force so that she can see what it means to "budget" not only her time but also her funds.

Something she hasn't had to do in all her teenage years;

I believe it will be an eye opener to her.

Schedules will be something "new" to her and I'm hoping she will

conquer it to new heights.

I know I may be reaching on this thought,

but as her #1 fan....

I want to see her succeed in her upcoming new life!

Brownie Points

2011-01-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

Earning "brownie points" in Heaven isn't that hard.

Most people really aren't sure how to earn points;

let alone where to start?

My gramma told me once that in order to earn "brownie points"

you have to be giving of yourself and of your time.

Dodgeman and I were called upon today to help a friend move her belongings to a storage unit;

I know we had plans for a quiet day.

But I feel that we did a good job earning our "points"

today and that should account for something

when we are gone from upon this earth.

Finding Comfort

2010-12-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

Tessie is my "Border Collie" in miniature size. She often finds comfort wherever she can, usually in someone's arms. Most of the time she prefers my lap and when that is unavailable she seeks out her daddy's arms. I have found she likes warm clothes from the dryer that are waiting to be folded and it is not unusual to find her long hair wrapped up in your socks.
However, there are times when she "helps" me type up my blog and adds her own words that make no sense but seem very important to her. I think that is where the label "barking out loud" comes from?

The New Year approaches us fast, and I will be making more of an effort to blog about my life and all that follows, so that you may have a glimpse into my journies.

Christmas Time's a Comin'

2010-12-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

New Travel Ideas

2010-12-08T17:36:00.000-08:00

Sunday Reflections

2010-12-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

2010-11-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

It's a lazy kind of Sunday!

Downtown scenery

2010-11-21T21:25:00.000-08:00

Changes

2010-11-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

Changes in our lives;

is it for the better or for the worse?

Do we accept the change

or do we rebuke it.

Just like the weather we change,

sometimes for the better.....

the Dodgeman and I joined a gym

centrally located to downtown and where I work.

It has yet to open with the finishing touches;

but I look forward to "walking" on my

lunch hour, and enjoying some time on my own.

In the meantime, I have also been asked

by some of my family members and friends

from Bunko to lead an exercise class.

My only reluctance is "where do I hold it &

do they have mirrors available?"

Other than that, sure bring on the challenge!

Ah, changes they are a comin'.....

Fall Foliage

2010-11-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of year has bloomed; Fall! The leaves on the ground, the shuffling of my shoes in the leaves and the smell of crispness in the air. It signals a time of life slowing down, spending time with family and loved ones, looking forward to the chilly nights and warm thoughts of friends everywhere.

Wordless Wednesdays

2010-10-26T21:32:00.001-07:00

Motionless Monday

2010-10-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by late night marathons of House, no sleep and a whiney little dog.
Courtesy of: sleeping in until 10:00a.m. breakfast/brunch at 11:45 a.m.
and getting dressed for the day at 1:45 p.m. Who needs the weekend when you can have
"MOTIONLESS MONDAY'S"

R.B. TREADAWAY........my father in law

2010-10-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

How do you say goodbye to a wonderful Father in law, Grandpa, Husband, Dad and Best Friend?

R.B. ( Dad to us kids), was taken from us all too soon; we lost him to a blood clot in his lungs October 1st, 2010

When I first met him I confessed I didn't know how to "spit" properly; and since he was from Texas and a tobacco user I thought perhaps this might endear me to him more if he taught me how to "spit" ? The incident that led up to my "confession" and made him chuckle with laughter was innocent enough......

I had been drinking a natural juice drink that had left
some after taste in my throat and rather than struggle
with the effects I chose to remove the offensive from my
throat. Needless to say, my attempt was not well done
and the results left my soon to be husband in a fit of
laughter and almost falling down because of the hilarity
of it all! When I saw him next I told him of my dilemma
and he said he'd take me out behind my dad's woodshed
and teach me how to "spit", I never did get that lesson.

But I did get so many more valuable ones from him in the short
5 years that I did get to spend with him and I will cherish the time
and the lessons.

The picture was taken the day my husband and I were married;
you can see the pure joy on his face because his son had found the
right woman and I had found the right man.

We will forever remember R.B. Treadaway.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

2010-09-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

Mondays can seen a bit evil at times; not that I speak from experience or anything.
I have found that the image to the right.....represents how I feel at times: trying to climb through the window and having too much baggage in my "trunk" and not being able to get a foot hold! I posted this to bring a smile to your faces, I hope I succeeded? Tell me your thoughts, as I am nosey like that.

Fall is Just Around the Corner!!

2010-09-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

Something tells me that Fall is just around the corner! Today is the first day that I turned on my heat pump for some blessed warm air!! Three nights ago we slept with our windows open and the fan moving the air! Tonight, I may crack the window for fresh air, but you can bet it will NOT be wide open anymore.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

I'll Never Forget

2010-09-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

9/11/2001 A day I'll never forget.

I awoke that morning hearing that people were falling from the sky;

what a weird dream I thought!

Not strange enough I guessed,

the phone rang and it was my soon to be married baby sister,

she lived in upstate New York.

A school teacher trying to calm her classroom

telling them that everything should be okay,

all the while making phone calls

to make sure that her students would still have parents when they got home.

I went to work that morning, listening to the radio stations

and kept thinking maybe I should just go home ;

but I had clients that day and only one was brave enough

to come in and listen with me to the radio.

I later was sent home on account

that we had a bomb threat at the Mall where I worked.

I drove home with tears in my eyes at the loss of so

many lives gone

Fifteen days later, my daughter and I

boarded a plane heading to New York

hoping nothing bad would happen to us while

on our flight.

The wedding went off without any problems

the next day I went to the local Wal Mart

to develop my photos from the night before.

Standing outside waiting for my dad to pick me up

I encountered several firemen from the local station houses.

They asked me if I needed something and I answed

with my west coast twang, "no I'm fine".

They stopped in awe and asked me "Where are you from?"

I answered, "I'm from Oregon, I'm here for my baby sisters' wedding."

They stood there shaking their heads not believing that I was from Oregon

that I had flown with my daughter and that we'd be returning home soon.

Those firemen told the crowd that was donating

money to help with cleanup and supplies in

New York city;

that I was a hero, my daughter and I were both heroes.

For getting on a plane and flying 15 days afterwards;

for not being afraid,

and not letting tragedy get in the way of Family.

I just wanted to share with you what happened

on that fateful day; when I

decided that I was an American

and I was Proud to live in the Land of the Free

the Home of the Brave!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-09-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Camping Trip

2010-08-31T17:46:00.000-07:00

The Dodgeman and I ventured out last weekend for a camping trip. We took our "mini" Border Collie Tessie with us; she loved being outside almost 24/7! What we really loved is the fact that we finally got our air mattress to inflate after the first night!!! It just so happened that we spent the night on the cold hard ground!! It was so much fun inflating it on Saturday morning, that we decided after breakfast we'd indulge in a nap to hopefully relieve the pain in our bodies?? We slept for at least 2 hours and woke up briefly to light drizzly rain.......I have to say though....the fires are the best part of camping!!

Danny.......... That's My Name

2010-08-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Bunko and Friends

2010-08-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

I love to play Bunko! This Tuesday was our regular scheduled time; we meet at 6:30 pm at a friends house
to eat a bit before we start the whooping and hollering......

I happened to make my rounds from table #1 to table #2 & on to table #3; that's when the "fun" really began!!! It so happened that the gal whose house we were playing at has a big furry cat named Gus.
Gus lives near a field of sorts and usually avoids us noisy gals when we play; however he had missed us gals so he frequented the kitchen and dining room often while the dice were rolled.

Somewhere before we broke for dessert, I was absentmindedly squishing my toes on the plush carpeting enjoying the softness. I kept this up until I noticed there was a rough patch on the carpet.....not thinking about what it might be I casually glanced down. Nothing that I could see at first.......

Then I REALLY LOOKED!!!! HOLY CRAP.....THERE WAS LYING IN THE SAME SPOT I WAS SQUISHING MY TOES WAS A D E A D M O U S E!!!!!!!

I WONDERED WHY THE CARPET WAS SOOOOO SOFT IN JUST ONE SPOT????

TO MY DISMAY.....THE BUNKO GALS GAVE ME THE NICKNAME OF "stroker ace" on account of the fact that I lulled the mouse into a "deep dreamless sleep" aka DEATH FROM DA-FEET!!

Reeling it in

2010-08-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

My hubby Dodgeman rarely lets me photograph him. In fact, he has told me several times that I'm not allowed to take pictures of him.....ever! So I sneak in a photo while he is otherwise occupied! I'm thinking that this was the really big trout that got away; which is why I out-fished him again! And was told to "put that camera away" but I didn't!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-08-11T14:27:00.000-07:00

Mondays

2010-08-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Books

2010-08-04T03:22:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Stormy Sunsets

2010-07-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Stormy Sunsets......waiting for the storm to kick in but alas, all we saw was beautiful colors arcing across the sky. We waited with anticipation, looking for the first lighning strike. What we found was mesmerizing, breathtaking at best.....looking forward to the next thunder cloud.

Sundays

2010-07-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Sundays are my most favorite days. These are the restful days, the day you catch up on laundry, watch a movie that's been stored on the bookcase for awhile. I say bookcase because my Poppy is a wood worker by retirement; when he retired he took up several hobbies including making furniture, bookcases, cheval mirrors, hall trees, side tables, tea chests and the list continues.

Sundays are the days I spend out at my folk's house sitting on the deck enjoying the cool breeze and visiting
with them. We play cards, talk about our week and catch up on all their neighbors and who is doing what.
We walk around the yard and look at all that has grown or not growing enough; and when I think they've fallen asleep in their deck chairs I sneak down to the garden for a peek at how my Poppy's "maters" are doing. For the most part they are starting to set on fruit, but it takes so LONG to get them to ripen up! Kinda like watching paint dry. After awhile, if I hang out long enough there is the invitation to stay for supper which is something you should never pass up at my folk's house as my momma is an excellent cook and everything tastes delicious in her kitchen! My mouth is starting to water, guess I'd better go call my Momma & Poppy and see what's for supper on this Sunday.

2010-07-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

What Time Is It?

2010-07-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Camping, fishing, road trips, visiting friends, BBQ's and relaxing in a hammock!!

Thanks to my hubby's late grandpa he held onto this wonderful little "retro" electric clock. This was how he kept the time while in his work shop; now it's how I keep time in my kitchen!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2010-06-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

The place where you might find most dad's on a day like today.........HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!

Ray Stevens - Come to the USA

2010-06-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Which ear?

2010-05-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

I've noticed something lately; as I'm getting "wiser" (older); things are changing in my life.

Like a hearing problem, maybe? I've found when talking on the phone I hear better out of my left ear even though I am right handed!! So if that's the norm, what happens to people who are left handed? Do they hear better out of their right ear? Or what if you are ambidextrous then what??

Well, since you all know how nosy I am......I want to hear from you! Which ear?

P.O. Boxes

2010-05-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

When I last posted, I talked about our mail box situation. I have an update!
The "sidewalk drivers" stole the vehicle that smashed our mail boxes, I'm told they hit 400 different boxes, totaled the car they stole and did about $4,000.00 worth of damage!

Now I'm sorry folks but Grants Pass isn't that boring!! There's lots of legitimate thing to occupy your time; granted most places do have a closing time and not many places are open 24 hours unless you visit Wal- Mart!

Where are they now you ask? Why in jail and they'll have to pay back every single cent on restitution to fix the dilemma!! My personal question is this: Where in the world is my mail???

P.O. Boxes

2010-05-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Mail boxes......we all need them! We want them to be usable, accessible, we even want them to have a little "character"!

What we DON'T want: Smashed, Trashed, doors open mail strewn everywhere......and that's what we discovered on Sunday morning!!

Somebody decided that it would be hilarious to do a little "sidewalk" driving!! We didn't think so.....it made us feel stripped, vulnerable and even a bit scared to think that our mail was "fair game" to any passersby who might want to help themselves to our lives. I have to admit; living in the city is never a dull moment.....sirens, noise, dogs barking (mostly mine) laughter of children on the nearby playground is a plus......
So I keep those thoughts as something positive!

Now I wonder, where is the postal matron going to put our mail, and will she actually get out of her truck and do some "manual labor" and sort the mail into the proper slots in the boxes that are now smashed, defunct and missing most of the doors???